Throne of Glass book discussion with my bestie Priscilla about Kingdom of Ash. We're diving into character journeys, emotional arcs, and the question of whether some characters got the endings they deserved. This is part one of our Kingdom of Ash deep dive, and there's so much to unpack.

What we're getting into:

 * Aelin's emotional journey and what it means to go backwards
 * The relationship that almost happened but didn't
 * Why certain characters felt sidelined in the final book

🚨 Spoiler warning: We're talking about the entire Throne of Glass series, so if you haven't finished all the books, save this for later. But if you have, buckle up because we're getting into it.

This episode also includes some multiverse theorizing about how Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City all connect. We have questions. We have theories. We want answers.

Don't forget to subscribe and share this with your Maas-verse bestie.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

What was your biggest frustration with Kingdom of Ash? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

About my bestie Priscilla: Priscilla De Lara is originally from California now living in Milan, Italy working in international education. She is a lover of food, traveling, and reading! Fun fact: Priscilla was a college radio DJ.

Connect with Priscilla on TikTok @priscillainitaly  [https://www.tiktok.com/@priscillainitaly]

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Book Discussion of Kingdom of Ash: Stories that Shape Us

I've been consuming personal finance content for 10 years and I've noticed a pattern that's driving me crazy. After a decade of every creator, expert, and platform giving me advice, it all boils down to the same thing. The bottom line never changes no matter who's talking.

Here's what's frustrating:

 * Every expert says the same message in different ways
 * Once you level up, nobody has real answers for you
 * Investing advice is just buzzwords

The silver lining is that I've realized something important. This isn't a failure on my part. It's a sign that I'm ready for the next level.

If you've hit this wall too, this episode is for you. You're not confused. You're ready to go deeper.

Don't forget to subscribe and share this with someone who's frustrated with finance gurus.

Keep growing! ✨

Where are you in your financial journey? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Financial Advice Gets It Wrong and Here's My Biggest Complaint about It

Effortless self-care is possible and it doesn't require complicated routines or deprivation. Real self-care is about building simple habits that work for you and make life easier, not harder. I have three things that changed how I take care of myself because they require almost zero energy and they actually stick.

What you'll hear about:

 1. A habit that sounds too simple but changes everything about maintenance
 2. Why the thing everyone talks about for mental health is only half the picture
 3. The thing we forget is actually essential self-care

The thing about self-care is we think it has to be this big elaborate thing. Expensive spa days or hour-long meditation routines. But the best self-care is the stuff you don't have to think about. The stuff that becomes automatic. That's what actually changes your life.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that self-care doesn't have to feel like work.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! What's one effortless self-care habit you've built? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Real Self-Care That Doesn't Feel Like Work: 3 Effortless Ways I Take Care of Myself

Productivity slumps happen every year around this time for me and I'm done getting nothing done. Getting out of a productivity slump requires strategy and the right tools. I have three methods that work when I'm burnt out and can't function. One is finding your motivation trigger. One is about how you approach your task list. And one is about rest, but not the way you think about it.

What actually works:

 * Finding your motivation trigger and using it when you're in a pinch
 * How you structure your task list when motivation is gone
 * Intentional rest that actually lets you rejuvenate

This time of year I stop functioning as a human. October and November hit different. But instead of accepting burnout, I'm using these three tools. Try one for two weeks and see what happens.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that productivity isn't one size fits all.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! Which strategy are you going to try first? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Your Guide To Getting Out of A Productivity Slump With Burnout Recovery Strategies

Gratitude practice and self-esteem are connected in ways that directly impact your confidence and ability to achieve your goals. When you're stuck in frustration, comparing yourself to others, and overlooking your micro wins, you're lowering your self-worth. But gratitude helps you recognize your progress, value what you have, and build the confidence you need to keep moving forward.

Why this matters right now:

 * Micro wins are progress even when they don't feel like enough (the friendships you've built, skills you've learned, obstacles you've overcome)
 * Comparison steals joy and lowers your self-esteem (your challenges are different from theirs)
 * Gratitude practice improves psychological wellbeing and directly boosts self-worth (less stress, better sleep, higher confidence)

You don't need to journal essays. You don't need a huge commitment. You can pick one gratitude practice: write one thing in your planner, make a mental note, or tell someone how much you appreciate them. That's it. That's enough to shift how you feel about your own worth and your progress.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that your micro wins matter.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! What's one micro win you've been overlooking? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]



Want to read what I referenced?

 * Psychology Today: Gratitude [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gratitude]
 * RADIAS Health: The Mental Health Benefits of Gratitude and How to Cultivate It in Your Life [https://www.radiashealth.org/the-mental-health-benefits-of-gratitude-and-how-to-cultivate-it-in-your-life/]
 * HelpGuide: Gratitude, The Benefits and How to Practice It [https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/gratitude]

How To Recognize Micro Wins and Value Your Current Life & Confidence

Boredom feels like a luxury I can't afford anymore. I'm busy, and constantly reaching for my phone the second I feel even slightly bored. But here's what I've learned: boredom is actually essential for creativity, stress relief, and mental health. Our phones have rewired us to escape boredom instead of experiencing it, and it's affecting our ability to think, create, and rest.

Why boredom matters right now:

 * Boredom allows your mind to wander and create (showers, mindless activities, that's where ideas come from)
 * Phone escaping is actually making you more anxious and depressed (doomscrolling doesn't help, it hurts)
 * You can practice boredom again without a full digital detox (meditation, reading, waiting without your phone)

Boredom used to be something I experienced all the time as a kid. Now I actively avoid it. My generation grew up with enough boredom to know how to handle it, but now I need to relearn that skill. We're all reaching for our phones constantly, and it's stopping us from the creativity and mental clarity that comes from just sitting with our thoughts.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that your phone is a tool, not a requirement.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! Do you find yourself reaching for your phone whenever you're bored? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

👓 Research referenced: 

‣ Potential Benefits of Boredom [https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/benefits-of-boredom]

‣ Boost your brain with boredom [https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/boost-your-brain-with-boredom]

‣ 5 Benefits of Boredom [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-of-choice/202004/5-benefits-of-boredom]

The Value of Boredom for Your Creativity and What It Means to Me

Nonfiction audiobooks are my strategy for learning when traditional reading feels like a struggle. I'm out of my reading slump and ready to learn about investing, feminism, economics, and tech through four books that are calling to me. All of these have changed how I think about women, money, and society.

What's drawing me to these books right now:

 * Financial independence is a feminist issue (investing means women can have freedom and agency)
 * Retirement is personal (as a millennial without a pension, I need to understand my future)
 * Everything connects to economics (feminism, attraction, democracy, even tech fascism all tie back to economic systems)

The four nonfiction books I'm reading are:

 1. "Friends That Invest" by Simran Kaur, [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9781394377770]
 2. "How to Be a Rich Old Lady" by Amanda Holden, [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9781668066928]
 3. "Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism" by Kristen R. Ghodsee [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9781645036364], and
 4. "The Nerd Reich" by Gil Duran [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9781668221402]

All are also audiobooks because that's how I actually finish nonfiction.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that learning through nonfiction is an investment in yourself.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! What nonfiction audiobooks are you reading? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

Four Nonfiction Books I'm Actually Reading

Reading slumps happen, especially when life gets chaotic and burnout creeps in. But the thing is, reading makes me feel alive. So finding cozy fall books is my strategy to break out of the slump and fall back in love with reading during the season I love most. These four books are exactly what I need right now: low stakes, autumn vibes, romance, and the kind of stories that heal.

What I'm looking for in cozy fall reads:

 * Low stakes stories that don't demand emotional labor (give me bookshops, tea shops, tea, dragons, magic without the heavy plot trauma)
 * A little bit of romance mixed with cozy vibes (the kind that makes you feel safe while still feeling butterflies)
 * Stories about understanding and connection (whether it's goblins and halflings bridging cultural gaps or vampires finding love)

The four books I'm reading this fall are "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne, "My Vampire Plus One" by Jenna Levine, "They Love Me Not" by Winnie Aster, and "How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days" by Jessie Sylva. Some are cozy fantasy, some are romance with low stakes. All of them are exactly what my nervous system needs right now.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that fun is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! What are you reading this fall? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

📚 Books mentioned: 

 * Can't Spell Treason Without Tea: Rebecca Thorne [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9781250333292]
 * My Vampire Plus-One: Jenna Levine  [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9780593548936]
 * They Love Me Not: Winnie Aster  [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9798232269838]
 * How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days: Jessie Sylva [https://bookshop.org/a/56486/9780316585910]

(All linked in the show notes with affiliate links)

4 Books For a Cozy Girl Fall: My Must-Read Recommendations This Autumn

You're not shy and they're not your people. This is about understanding that not vibing with certain people doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means you've found people who don't match your energy or compatibility, and that's completely okay. Acceptance here is powerful.

Three things about finding your people:

 * Shy is a label, not who you are (kids are honest, not shy, about who their people are)
 * Energy compatibility matters more than commonality (demanding vs welcoming interaction types are different)
 * Accepting they're not your people brings peace (stop trying to force friendships that don't work)

Growing up I was labeled shy for being honest about who my people were. I spent years trying to figure out what was wrong with me when I didn't vibe with certain people. The truth is simpler. Some people are your people. Some aren't. And that's not a character flaw in either direction. As an introvert, my segment of people who are my people might be smaller, but that doesn't make it worse. It just makes it real.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that not everyone is supposed to be your people.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! Have you experienced the "they're not my people" moment? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

You're Not Shy, They're Not Your People and That's Okay

Being quiet isn't a character flaw or something that needs fixing. It's about how your brain is wired to process stimulation and manage energy. Understanding introversion means understanding that quiet people aren't antisocial or shy, we're just selective with our energy and the people we engage with.

Three things that define being quiet:

 1. Energy management is everything (introversion is an energetic style, not a personality flaw)
 2. Selectivity with people and activities matters (it's about how your brain handles stimulation)
 3. Your brain chemistry is different (dopamine vs acetylcholine means you need different things to feel good)

From childhood until I understood what introversion actually was, I thought something was wrong with me. But learning that Carl Jung defined introversion in the 1920s and understanding the science behind it changed how I see myself. My quiet nature isn't a flaw to fix. It's just how my brain works.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that quiet doesn't mean boring or broken.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! Which introvert trait do you most relate to? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari!

💬 LET'S CONNECT:

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] | Growing with Sol Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/]

Buy Me a Cafecito [https://hustling-innovator-3453.kit.com/products/buy-me-a-cafecito]

Mari's Book List: https://bookshop.org/shop/Marisol-Book-List

🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER: Schedule your discovery call [https://calendly.com/yourcoachmari/30-minute-discovery-call]

👓 Articles:

Introverts and Extroverts: The Brain Chemistry Behind Their Differences [https://therapychanges.com/blog/2016/12/introverts-extroverts-brain-chemistry-differences/]

What Makes Someone an Introvert: Definition, Personality Traits, and Self-Care Tips [https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/introvert/guide/]

What It Really Means To Be a Quiet Person: The Science and Lived Experience

Marisol Moran (@mmoran29) · Zencastr

Marisol Moran (@mmoran29)

Life's little lessons with a big impact. 

Welcome to Growing with Sol, where we explore the moments and stories that shape who we're becoming. I'm Marisol, and I love having conversations about growth, self-discovery, and learning to put yourself first.

Whether we're diving into books that change our perspective or unpacking personal experiences that teach us something new, this podcast is for women who are done playing small and ready to embrace their own journey.

If you've struggled with putting everyone else first or battled self-doubt, you're in the right place. This isn't about perfection—it's about the messy, beautiful process of growing into yourself.

Come grow with me 🌱

Let's stay connected! Join our growing community @YourCoachMari [https://www.instagram.com/yourcoachmari/] and @GrowingWithSolPod [https://www.instagram.com/growingwithsolpod/] on Instagram, and catch me on TikTok @YourCoachMari [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourcoachmari] for bite-sized growth tips between episodes.