34 | Goblincore: A Deep Dive into the Aesthetic & Lifestyle with Author McKayla Coyle

Aesthetic styles like Minimalism, Grunge, Rustic, and Boho have been in the mainstream awareness for a quite a while now— and in recent years, social media has made it possible for folks to connect around more niche aesthetics like Cottagecore, Y2K, Academia, Old Money (for real), and— one of my personal favorites— Goblincore. And similarly to Minimalism, Goblincore is not just an aesthetic, but also a lifestyle.

In this episode of "Honor Your Spark," I had the privilege of diving deep into the enchanting and rebellious world of Goblincore with the brilliant McKayla Coyle, an author who not only has penned a fantastic, detailed guide to Goblincore (Goblin Mode) but also lives and breathes this inclusive and anti-capitalist lifestyle.

Aesthetic styles like Minimalism, Grunge, Rustic, and Boho have been in the mainstream awareness for a quite a while now— and in recent years, social media has made it possible for folks to connect around more niche aesthetics like Cottagecore, Y2K, Academia, Old Money (for real), and— one of my personal favorites— Goblincore. And similarly to Minimalism, Goblincore is not just an aesthetic, but also a lifestyle.
In this episode of "Honor Your Spark," I had the privilege of diving deep into the enchanting and rebellious world of Goblincore with the brilliant McKayla Coyle, an author who not only has penned a fantastic, detailed guide to Goblincore (Goblin Mode) but also lives and breathes this inclusive and anti-capitalist lifestyle.
Goblincore, as McKayla defines it, is an aesthetic and lifestyle deeply rooted in embracing one’s authenticity against the mainstream currents of capitalism and societal expectations. It flies in the face of the strong push toward hyperconsumerism AND the clutter-allergic vibe of minimalism, focusing on handmade and found objects, especially from the natural world.
Goblincore advocates for finding strength in what's deemed odd or unconventional and seeing beauty in every cozy nook of life – be it moss or mushrooms, little trinkets, or the great outdoors. McKayla emphasizes, "It's about listening to yourself, not being swayed by the dominant culture of capitalism... [it's about] being even if it doesn’t make you consumable or able to consume; this is who I am."
One of the most compelling aspects of Goblincore, as discussed in the podcast, is its focus on inclusion and community. It allows for a mishmash of interests and styles without adhering rigidly to one specific aesthetic— meaning you might love to blend some aspects of Goblincore with other aesthetics and lifestyles too, and that’s highly encouraged!
In our conversation, McKayla also shared about how Goblincore emphasizes embracing all parts of oneself. "Goblincore is obviously an aesthetic and a style of decorating, but it’s also much more than that. To be a Goblin, there are a few ideas you’ll want to embrace... it's a loose structure that can guide you in your pursuit of a Goblin life."
In the book and this conversation, McKayla illuminated the compelling and rebellious world of Goblincore, encouraging listeners to find beauty in what's unconventional, to stay true to themselves in defiance of societal norms, and to cherish the communities that allow us to be our most authentic selves. Their insights into Goblincore not only unravel a radical aesthetic but propose a lifestyle deeply interconnected with nature, self-acceptance, and community over consumerism.
About McKaylaMcKayla Coyle (they/them) is a lesbian author from Anchorage, Alaska. They’re the publishing coordinator for Lit Hub, and they hold an MFA in fiction from The New School. In their free time they read fantasy novels and make a lot of jam. Their goblincore lifestyle guide Goblin Mode is available now from Quirk Books.
This episode covers:00:00 Intro00:42 Watching, ReadingLoving04:04 5 day challenge05:41 What does it mean to honor your spark08:20 What is Goblin Core?12:01 Connection between Goblin Core and Anti-Capitalism17:38 Prioritizing what you like and what feels good over the popular aesthetic19:35 Reclaiming Goblin imagery from antisemitic representations in popular media25:27 The Goblin Code29:34 Embracing our weird and others' weird32:42 What is Bookstagram or Booktok35:39 Recommendations for people wanting to read more
Resources + Stuff  Mentioned in This Episode:Watching: Derry GirlsReading: Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca SolnitLoving: Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch SPF 30 Face Serum

Episode Sponsor: My private podcast, You Are Motherf*ing Enough -  https://honoryourspark.com/enough 
The Action Over Perfection 5-Day Challenge - April 29 - May 3
https://www.honoryourspark.com/springchallenge Day 1: Identify Covert Perfectionism & its Impact on PerformanceDay 2: Embrace Imperfect Action & Follow the DataDay 3: Set Human-Scaled Goals Rooted in Your ValuesDay 4: Stop Overthinking & Be Decisive AFDay 5: MASTERCLASS - 90 Days to Your Best Year Ever


Connect with McKayla:Buy Goblin Mode: https://www.quirkbooks.com/book/goblin-mode/Instagram: www.instagram.com/mqcoyle or www.instagram.com/prettyboybooks 


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