This is a place for ideas, prompts, and reflections on getting more out of life.

I’m interested in learning, growth, and extracting as much as possible from ordinary moments. I share through the lens of personal development, creative work, and intentional living—things I’m testing, learning, and figuring out in real time.

What you’ll find here:

Reflections on presence, attention, and how we spend our time. How to actually be where you are instead of going through the motions.

Lessons from yoga, fitness, design, travel, and whatever else I’m currently obsessed with. Practical stuff, not theory for theory’s sake.

Honest writing about fear, growth, and trying things that feel scary. What it actually looks like to want something and go after it.

Prompts that interrupt your routine in a good way. Small actions that might shift your day—or your perspective.

The approach:

No fluff or posting just to post. I write when I have something genuinely useful to share.

This isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up messy, learning out loud, and sharing what might be helpful.

Who’s behind this:

I’m Curran. I’m a designer, yoga teacher, and someone trying to build a life worth living without overthinking it to death (still working on that last part).

whatisbeans started as an offline experiment—text prompts sent to friends and strangers in Austin. It’s evolved into something broader: a container for everything I’m interested in sharing. The prompts are still part of it, but so is everything else I find compelling.

If you want to connect, reply to any email. I read everything.

You can also find me on Instagram at @whatisbeans.

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.