Stationery Freaks
A podcast for stationery freaks, hosted by stationery freaks. Dedicated to the love of stationery - and the potential it brings to our lives.
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The 2026 Planning Episode: Painted Pictures, Todoist, Obsidian & Too Many Notebooks
<p>It’s our first Stationery Freaks episode of 2026, and we’re going deep on goal setting, as we usually do for the first cast of the year. <br><br></p><p>Rob and Helen compare two different approaches to planning the year: outcomes vs lifestyle, goals vs systems, and why the “right” method depends on what helps you keep going (not what looks good on paper). </p><p>Helen shares her shift toward building routines that protect what matters - writing time, movement, mental bandwidth - plus a surprisingly brilliant charity-shop find: a Rocketbook reusable notebook for 50p. </p><p>Rob ref...
Stationery Advent Calendars, SmartPlanner Time Blocking & getting ready for 2026 (Stationery Freaks)
<p>It’s the last Stationery Freaks episode before Christmas, and after a slightly chaotic month we’re back with a free-form catch-up full of notebook temptation, planning experiments, and advent calendar joy.</p><p>Helen reviews two very premium stationery advent calendars — Martha Brook(s) and Tom’s Studio — including what you actually get, which one feels more “decorative vs functional,” and the one item she absolutely refuses to touch (again). </p><p>Rob shares his new structured SmartPlanner time-blocking experiment (and why he’s moved from pen to pencil), an everyday-carry bag confession featuring nine notebooks, and an early idea he’s...
Live From Brick Lane: Mark+Fold’s 10th Anniversary & The Stationery Freaks Origin Story
<p>In this special on-the-road episode, Rob and Helen meet in person for the first time in almost six years — to celebrate Mark+Fold’s 10-year anniversary at their Brick Lane pop-up.</p><p> Recorded between a noisy East London bar and the beautifully minimalist Mark+Fold shop, this episode is a blend of celebration, nostalgia, and stationery-fueled creativity.</p><p>Apologies for some of the audio quality - London doesn't have many quiet bars and restuarants!</p><p>You’ll hear:</p>The Stationery Freaks origin story — how a shared love of pens and notebooks sparked a 7-year podcastWhy Mark+Fol...
Household Stationery That Actually Helps: Labels, Whiteboards, Junk Drawers & Kitchen Kanban | Stationery Freaks Podcast
<p>Household stationery isn’t “our precious pens and paper in our study” — it’s the everyday tools that keep a home ticking. We talk freezer-proof labels, kitchen whiteboards, year-at-a-glance calendars we forget to update, junk-drawer essentials, elastic bands vs Velcro ties for cables, and even a full Kanban wall system that helps a building business run. </p><p>Plus: Magic Click (a colour-pen system we need help decoding), why shrink-wrap on notebooks should be illegal, and the enduring magic of handwritten notes in old recipe books.</p><p>What We Cover</p>Labelling the real world: freezer labels that don’t fall...
Rituals, Routines & Stationery: Why the tactile nature of stationery can help us with rituals
<p>In this episode of Stationery Freaks, Rob and Helen dive into the world of rituals and routines, exploring how our favourite stationery tools (along with time and space) can transform tasks into meaningful, mindful moments.</p><p><br>Helen discovers other writers are now using Blackwing pencils in her writing class. Rob spent so little time choosing which notebook to use for a business book he's writing (the Rhodia A4 notebook) - that he wonders what is wrong.</p><p>Rob and Helen also receive a very awesome poem in Zine format from previous guest, Richard. Very cool...
Stationery Hauls, Fountain Pen Finds & Writing Success – Sailor, Tom’s Studio & More
<p>In this episode Rob and Helen dive deep into their latest stationery hauls — from Japanese Sailor pens and Tom’s Studio Wren to Martha Brooks advent calendars and Zebra limited editions. </p><p>Plus: writing contest success, notebooks you’ll never dare write in (that are ridiculously expensive), and a new digital note-taking tool that’s winning Rob over. </p><p>Helen refuses to talk about her sticker addiction and Etsy is properly off the table for conversation.</p><p>Helen is already buying advent calendars....in September. Rob is trying not to buy anything else, he's changed.</p><p>We cha...
The Art of Commonplacing : Curating a Life – Richard Barnard on Collage & Commonplace books
<p>In this episode of the podcast, Rob & Helen chat to Richard Barnard; collage enthusiast and commonplacer. </p><p>Have you ever wondered what a Commonplace book is, and what it's used for? </p><p>Well, in this episode we explore the origins of the Commonplace book, how Richard uses his, the stationery he uses for it and how he searches through the wealth of insights, observations, quotes and thoughts.</p><p>Richard Barnard, an avid commonplacer and passionate collage artist, explains that it's a way of "creating the best book you've ever owned." </p><p>He shares his analog-first, bu...
The Art, Craft & Purpose of Travellers Journals with Frank from Yokogaki
<p>Join Rob and Helen in this edition of Stationery Freaks as they welcome special guest Frank, from Yokogaki, for a deep dive into the fascinating world of travel journals / notebooks!</p><p>Frank shares a mini masterclass on exactly what traveler's journals are, how they differ from the typical notebook, and various ways to use them for everything from bullet journaling to light scrapbooking on the go. </p><p>Frank, who found himself crafting his own high-quality, leather journals, shares his unique philosophy behind creating companions that "love you back," exploring the Japanese concept of Mottainai (regret over waste...
An interview with author Jenny Kane - prolific writer, collector of notebooks, desert island stationery specialist
<p>Stationery Freaks: A Deep Dive into the Prolific World of Author Jenny Kane (and Her Emotional Support Pencil Case!)<br><br></p><p>In this very special episode Rob and Helen are joined by our very special guest, the incredibly prolific author Jenny Kane. </p><p>We have briefly mentioned Jenny in the past as she is Helen's writing mentor. </p><p>In this episode we chat about the astonishing breadth of Jenny's literary career, spanning over two decades and encompassing more than 200 short stories and over 70 books across various genres and pen names – from her novels as Jenny Kane...
From Paper Obsession to Published Pages - How we write books as Stationery Freaks
<p>How do two writers, bound by their devotion to beautiful stationery, actually write books? </p><p>In this episode, Helen and Rob reveal their individual paths, uncovering the shared foundation of paper-based ideation – the noodling, expanding, and connecting that begins on the page with their beloved notebooks. </p><p>Explore their transition to digital tools (Rob's a touch more intricate!), their editing journeys, and their distinct publishing routes – Helen to her website, Rob primarily through self-publishing. </p><p>Expect delightful detours into UK National Stationery Week, Rob's exciting new project requiring more notebooks, and Helen's potential planner evolution. </p><p>Wa...
