We've been gone for a while and it really isn't surprising at this point, but we do have our reasons and we talk about them in this episode.  Other than catching up with each other after our respective literal and figurative moves (Ryan to another country and job, Jika to another employer), we go into our newest finds, what we're excited about, and our most recent learnings too about what makes us do what we do or do not in this happiest hobby of ours. Yes, everyone, we're demotivated and that's actually been a good thing. :) Here are the usual links relevant to the episode:  Leonar ..read more

So it's Pride Month and we'd thought that it'd be a right enough time to celebrate not just queerness in the now-conventional sense, but also queerness--the characteristic that distinguishes, sets apart, makes special--the habits and things that we know and love in the hobby. This isn't an episode about buying yet another thing, but really, just celebrating the innovations and aspects of pens and stationery that are not so conventional but oh-so attention grabbing.    * Apologies for the audio flitting in and out in the end because, as it turns out, our mic's USB was loose in its por ..read more

So we're a spot out of sorts in this one but we showed up regardless because we want to talk about current events but, technically, cannot talk about it given the current climate in our country. Thus, we resort to talking about the issues relevant to our circumstances through pens and stationery controversies as of late. There aren't any noob discoveries in this one but we do cover the Noodler's Ink Volcker Green and Bernanke Red controversy, harken back to the Hobonichi Michael Jackson line recall, and update you about the Esterbrook-Skybambi property rights thing (which we hinted at previous ..read more

We begin season 2 with an exploration of the overlaps between our hobbies in the pen and stationery community and content creation. Intellectual property doesn't seem like something overtly related to all the good stuff--journal spreads, pen pictures, shopping hauls, and the like--but, apparently it all is. So listen in on us as we talk about the tea on intellectual property in the first episode of the second season of The Pen Noobs Podcast with Jika and Ryan.  Again, some relevant links:  "What is Copyright?" by Atty. H on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhSuf1xc2iU&t=6 ..read more

Happy anniversary to us and thanks for being here to tune back in. Ryan and I have been on a month-long hiatus, not to take time off, but really because work has been relentless. However, we're back and happy to catch-up with each other and with you. In this episode, we cover our personal highlights, look-forward-tos, and leave-behinds, and close things off with the quickest "fast talk" rounds we can muster for each other. Keep listening till the end for our giveaway mechanics, where we're to send off one of Jika's bespoke leather 2-pen cases by the end of April. :) Anyway, that's all and, wel ..read more

Before we get to the description relevant to this episode, Ryan and I thought it important to dedicate a space to important current events and the things we can immediately do to address them: inform and encourage. We want to emphasize that, despite the leisure-related topics this podcast covers, we still are educators and citizens and humans at core; as such, we cannot be impartial. You are all likely aware of what’s going on in Ukraine right now, what with war befalling them over the past two days, so here are a few credible organizations where we and our audience can extend our help: UNICE ..read more

Jika took one for the team by being a guest alongside her one and only, Paulu (pronounced "paul-oo"), an artist and film scholar. In our desire to discuss consumerism and love, there was no better way to celebrate and critique these two themes than through an interview of a pen couple. Ryan prepared the cheesy questions, and Jika and Paulu willingly and honestly answer all of them.   Here are the usual links:   Platinum Carbon Black on mountainofink  Pelikan M200 Cafe Creme 2015 LE review on The Pelikan's Perch  Trouble Maker Inks x Jim Weaver X Scribe LE Ink "Tarsier" &nb ..read more

At the time of recording, it was Jika's birthday and also the full moon, so what better time to talk about tarot and journaling at once, right? For this one, we invited a familiar face, Unisse of @sushi.plans, once again to hangout, catchup, and share her tarot journaling practice. It's our goal to get Ryan in on the tarot train, really. Hopefully, our conversation makes you consider it and its benefits as well.  As usual, here are some relevant links:  Platinum x Clamp 30th Anniversary "xxxHolic" fountain pen Tony Tony Leathercrafting on Instagram Practical Magic's "Pinoy Practical ..read more

The amount of times "noob" is said in the thumbnail is no joke, but rather a way to impress upon our viewers/listeners that there are, and have been since 2018, more than 2 pen noobs. This episode's guest is Ronin Bautista of pennoob.com, known for their helpful articles on everything from the Troublemaker Inks duo, pen people profiles,  the Tomoe River Paper ruckus, and helpful fountain pen related lists for Filipinos to find what exactly they're looking for locally.    We apologize for some lag in both video and audio, but hope that you persist to tune in because there is gold ..read more

Cuffing season is that period just before or after Christmas/the New Year when people tend to, well, break up with each other. We're hijacking that concept to talk about the things and habits we're breaking up with in preparation for 2022. So, though this is a short one (shorter than most of our episodes, at least), hang tight and keep listening as we cover everything from sheening inks to carbon emissions in this one. Also, happy merry advanced Merry Holidays and a Happy New Year! Here are some links of note: HGTV Handmade's Video on Rajiv Surendra: https://youtu.be/7Uo2nomf4I0  Muji Ca ..read more