for the first time, again

this week was a lot. i binged maximum pleasure guaranteed on apple tv in 36 hours, tapped out on sterling point, made it 40% through a book about lagos chaos, and somehow got ghosted by a book prefect?bonus: i’m sleep deprived, juggling new work and somehow still here.plus: something exciting’s coming soon🫶tune in for the tea✨

following through with my decision to stop listening to hype or current trends. this week, i’m pulling three african authors off my shelf and judging them strictly on their first line. no blurbs, no reviews, no context. just me and my gut predictions about what’s waiting inside.a feelings first look at mood reading, dnf guilt, and the kind of contemporary african fiction that actually makes you feel something. enjoy🫶

after a year of reading almost entirely on a screen, i walked into a bookstore… and completely forgot how to act.this episode is about nostalgia, the sensory joy of physical pages, spending way too long in the fiction aisle, and the four books that came home with me.settle in and enjoy 🫶

in this episode i’m forcing myself through the fatigue to air out a few book pet peeves that have been driving me completely insane. we are talking about cheap, illogical plot twists in thrillers, copy-paste stock covers, and manufactured book hype that never actually delivers. if you’re tired of lazy storytelling, uninspired design, and overhyped recommendations, this vent session is for you.enjoy!❤️🫶

i tried something different today.this is my first one take episode. no stopping. no starting over. just me talking through a film i still haven’t processed yet, and an album that completely took over my last two weeks.we start with Obsession (2026), then i somehow end up gushing about Faouzia’s Film Noir.thanks for hanging out with me.enjoy🫶💓

why are we constantly chasing that specific, addictive psychological thriller that keeps us up until 3am? tonight i’m throwing it all the way back to the beginning… an exploration of where the obsession actually started. looking at how i went from wholesome childhood stories straight to the exact sidney sheldon books that ruined regular fiction for me forever (and a necessary rant about the sequels that tried to ruin his legacy). it’s raw, it’s a little clunky, and it’s the literal blueprint of how my reading taste was formed.grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy! 🫶

no book/film reviews this week. just a little life update…i talk about missing trains, quiet seasons, rainy days, finding a new favourite artist, trying to build better habits without becoming obsessed with productivity, and what it feels like when life isn’t bad…just a little quieter than you would like.grab a cup of tea and come hang out for a bit🤎

what do you do with a loss that never had a name? not a breakup. not a death you can explain at a funeral. just…someone who was everything, and a connection that didn’t come with a label. so you folded it up, put it somewhere inside you, and kept going.this episode, i’m sitting with loved one by aisha muharrar: the funniest, most quietly devastating book about grief, love, and the blurry line between the two that i’ve read in a long time. we talk about why some losses don’t get flowers. why we’re terrified to ask the people we love if we matter to them. and why the unlabeled things might be the ones that count the most.for anyone who has ever carried something quietly. this one’s for you.if you’re sitting in this gray area right now, slide a single 🩶 into my dms. you don’t have to explain a thing. just send it so I know you’re out there.—for the first time again // vol. II premierefeatured text: loved one by aisha muharrar

hi guys, i’m back at the mic and my brain is completely, utterly fried. today we are unpacking the drama (yes, the one with zendaya and rob that has been all over your timelines). i went in completely blind and honestly... how bad is too bad? where is the line where we stop rooting for people? no spoilers per usual, just my raw, unfiltered thoughts on the chaotic pacing, those unhinged fast cuts, and the sheer discomfort of it all. pull up a chair, because everything is about to get deep in the adenasphere. 🤎

off Campus, my kindle era, and a season two that feels completely different.a lot happened over the break..traveling, time with family, an embarrassing amount of media consumed, and feelings i genuinely could not keep to myself anymore.first up we’re talking off campus. i wasn’t expecting to enjoy this show as much as i did. i watched it twice. that tells you everything.plus, teases of what’s coming this season; the MJ biopic, a childhood rewatch that wrecked me, and a whole lot more.for the first time, again is back. season two starts ✨now✨

I just watched the new Michael Jackson biopic and I’m still processing it.From Jaafar Jackson’s transformation to the energy of the studio scenes, this film left me with a lot to sit with.In this episode of Volume 2, I’m sharing my first impressions, my favourite “it got through” moments, and why it stayed with me more than I expected.If you’re also revisiting MJ’s legacy for the first time… again, this one’s for you 🫶For the First Time, Again.(Music: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod)

i spent five years running away from a movie. i told myself the hype was too loud and the walls i had built were too high, but between the recent NASA Artemis II missions and a quiet Sunday morning, it finally got through. in the premiere of Volume II, we are rediscovering Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and the haunting Hans Zimmer score that defines it. this isn't just about a film; it’s about the specific grief of missing someone who is still alive, the connection between the Artemis splashdown and cinematic space, and why we eventually stop running from the art we need the most. for the ones who have their guards up,this one is for you. Some things just get through.

twelve episodes ago, this was just an experiment in rediscovery. today, it’s a community. as i close this first chapter, i’m looking back at the stories we have found together and teasing the new world we’re building for volume II🫶tiktok: firsttimeagainpodIG:adenasphere💌: [email protected]

a special collection of "firsts." because whether you're celebrating with someone or choosing yourself this year, every love story starts with a single, brave moment. featuring wisdom from a 56-year love journey and my darling friends and book besties who made this episode possible. thank you so much! a very special thank you to dav for the one-take that spoke volumes. this one is very dear to my heart indeed. enjoy!🫶

we’re officially 8 days out from Valentine’s and I’m making an executive decision: january was enough stress for the year. this is why i’m only hunting for black joy this month, and why we need to stop centering black stories on pain.also... stay until the end. i’m teasing a secret project for next week that is going to be quite different from our usual vibe. that’s all i’m saying🤭go listen🫶✨

episode 9. i talk about the "whoosh," that 3am feeling only a good thriller can give you, and why we gatekeep the books we love. i also feature a few of my book besties and read out their "secret" book recommendations while planning to pivot to softer energy for February. settle in and enjoy🫶

i’m being completely honest: i was ready to give up on thrillers this month!! after a string of overhyped, mediocre reads, i was stuck in a massive slump, until i picked up Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh.in today's episode, i break down the "Strangers on a Train" swap, the ethics of unprocessed justice, and why this book finally broke my streak of recent mid reads. i also get a little vulnerable about the pod’s growth and why i am raising my standards for what I recommend to you guys.

happy new year🥹the algorithm now thinks i’m non existent, but i’ve actually just been home having a crisis over fictional characters and dealing with life stuff.this week: admitting the evelyn hugo hype was real (i'm late, i know), plus the thrillers that actually ruined my sleep: kill for me, kill for you, netflix’s adaptation of “his and hers”also, a 40% check-in on “next of kin” (the anxiety is already peaking)um there was also “you'll never know” by caleb stephens... and i have thoughts (spoiler: i didn't like it).grab a coffee. let's spiral❤️

It’s December 19th, and the holiday movie delusion is at an all time high so i’m doing a holiday audit of the Christmas movie tropes we keep romanticizing every year, from the big city girl who “finds herself” in a small town to the unrealistic miracles that only exist in fake snow.We’re talking classics like Home Alone, staples like The Holiday, and the newer Netflix gems that somehow recycle the same sweater in different fonts. So grab a drink, stop refreshing your tracking number, and settle in.

The Zero~Effort Escape is finally here! I'm officially too tired to discover new things this December, so I'm leaning into the chaos and celebrating the Accidental Aesthetic of being cozy and lazy. This episode is your permission slip to stop stressing and reembrace familiar comfort media that requires exactly zero brain cells. Join me for the ultimate soft escape and quietest comforts this week. Zero effort required🫶

This episode is me slowly gliding into December. Not quite a Christmas episode yet, but the energy is creeping in. Today, I am sharing some of the stories that shaped me. The childhood books and movies that built my imagination and raised me more than I will ever admit. Enid Blyton. Babysitters Club. Goosebumps. Parent Trap. Home Alone. All the fun stuff that take me back to cozy memories. Think of this as a soft December reset. A gentle reflection before the holiday episodes begin. If you love nostalgia comfort and a little Christmas whisper, this one is from me to you 🫶Follow the podcast on:TikTok @firsttimeagainpodInstagram: @firsttimeagainpod💌: [email protected]

I reread Sweet Valley High book 7 “Dear Sister” and let me tell you; this book is pure mayhem from start to finish. I talk about the characters, the drama, the unhinged moments and why this story hits very different as an adult. If you grew up on Sweet Valley or you love classic teen books this episode will feel like a throwback and a reality check at the same time.New listeners this one is a perfect place to start🫶Follow the podcast on:TikTok @firsttimeagainpodInstagram: @firsttimeagainpod💌: [email protected]

Diving back into Sweet Valley High book three “Playing With Fire” with adult brain commentary, because apparently I can’t stay away. We talk about teenage drama, retro romance, and how the 1980s YA culture still resonates in 2025.Whether you're here for book discussions, revisiting your childhood favorites, or you just love storytelling podcasts, this one is for you. Let's explore the hilarious characters, the manipulation, heartbreak,....and the abomination that is Bruce Patman.Follow the podcast on:TikTok @firsttimeagainpodInstagram: @adenasphere

in this episode, we revisit sweet valley high: double love, the book that introduced many of us to high school drama, identical blonde twins, and the wild chaos of the wakefield universe.i reread this iconic y2k era classic with adult eyes and wow… too many things hit different.i talk nostalgia, a misjudged affair, teen drama, twists, character tropes, and whether this book still holds up today.if you grew up reading sweet valley high or love revisiting childhood books, movies, and shows, this is your cozy throwback.