'Do it for your future self'
Serial language learner, lifelong journaller, TV host and entrepreneur, Jo Franco, shares her day well spent
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I am delighted to bring to you the next interview on A Day Well Spent where every few weeks, I ask someone who inspires me, interests me and embodies the ethos of this newsletter 15 quickfire questions.
When I think of Jo Franco, I think of two main things: language learning and journaling. Jo is a Netflix travel host, a serial language learner currently speaking six languages, a lifelong journaller and founder of JoClub, a journaling company.
She has also recently published her first book called Fluentish, a journal designed for people learning a new language. And it’s through this book that I was first introduced to Jo and her work.
My Spanish tutor, Ilenia, had been following Jo’s adventures for some time and bought me a copy of Fluentish as a gift as soon as it was released (yes Ilenia, is great).
As someone who already journals daily, I think it’s such a clever and novel approach to language learning.
Jo is brimming with good vibes and through her obvious hard work and dedication to her passions, she has forged her own life path — muchas gracias por hacer esta entrevista, Jo!
As always, thank you all for being here and I hope you enjoy this piece.
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1. What makes up a day well spent for you?
Nothing makes me smile before opening my eyes like waking up without an alarm and hearing birds chirping in the background. Ideally, I’d be somewhere with beautiful nature, somewhere cozy.
I’d bike to a local ma and pa coffee shop or bakery for a moment to read a good book and journal and chat up strangers. Then I’d visit a bookstore, have lunch or dinner with friends or family, and play board games at a vineyard or brewery at night.
2. What compliment have you received in recent times that's stuck in your memory?
“You bring really diverse people together and create safe spaces.”
I founded my journaling company, JoClub back in 2020 because Covid stopped the Netflix show I was hosting for four months and I did what I had always done: journaled.
Only in 2020 did I post it on my Instagram stories, and it started the most beautiful movement of diverse strangers coming together to be vulnerable in the name of growth. Now I host retreats multiple times a year, and love it.
3. What quotes or mantras do you try to live by?
“Do it for your future self” and “Not all are lucky enough to experience saudade.”
The first quote is all about discipline and making sure I’m paying my future self-attention and gifting older Jo with financial stability, intellect, and great relationships.
The second one is about the luck I have to miss people. As a traveler, you’re constantly away from people you love. Ten years ago when I started traveling, I felt terrible; now I consider it an honor.
4. What practical skills do you have that you value the most?
I call myself “tech department” because I’m secretly really tech savvy. That skill boils down to my ability to learn anything I set my mind to. I’m also a seasoned video editor on the low, which is why I’ve been able to build everything else that I’ve created.
Most people think being on camera is a natural talent, which it is. But after hosting two seasons of a Netflix travel show, I can confidently say it’s a skill that I’ve put more than 10,000 hours of practice into.
5. What do you know today that you wish you'd known five years ago?
It’ll all work out, just not how you expect it to.
This applies to all of the buckets in my life: housing, romance, career, finances. Every single thing I desired came to reality, but in ways I could never have anticipated.
I own a house in Connecticut in the middle of nowhere – I always wanted roots and stability but never thought I’d end up back in the State I initially escaped from as an angsty 18-year-old.
6. What character or personality trait about yourself do you value the most?
My “activator” spirit. The minute I think something is a worthwhile idea, I put energy into it and make it happen.
I don’t hesitate to start because I know it’ll be imperfect. It’s been shocking to see how that activator’s mindset has paid off. Many people can have brilliant ideas, but if there’s no energy behind them, they’ll fall flat.
I also love how people feel welcome around me and safe to be themselves. I’d love to keep building a home for the “in-betweener” to feel seen and heard.
7. What does 'eating well' mean to you and how do you manage it?
Eating well means eating when my body feels hungry. I avoid drinks with sugar, dairy and alcohol on weeknights. I have a weakness for dark chocolate that’ll never go away, but I try to get the healthiest alternatives.
I use this free app called Yuka to scan all the items I want to buy at the grocery store to see the health contents, and it’s helped me pick better items with fewer preservatives. I like sticking to less processed whole foods if possible!
8. What is your ultimate dream?
I’ve already reached it: have financial stability doing what I love. Now my next stage is to give more opportunities to people who have vibrant lights to flourish even more.
I’ve started mentoring professionally this year and I have to say it’s checking all the boxes — I get to amplify my impact through the talent and work of others in ways I could never do alone.
The next chapter is connecting the dots for people, helping them thrive, and introducing them to future best friends they wouldn’t have met otherwise.
9. What's your most loved skincare / beauty product or secret?
CeraVe AM/PM combo for life! Also, I use pretty much the same products every day: Kosas concealer is preferred, Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills blush trio, KVD eyeliner, Hourglass brow pencil, setting powder.
Oh, and for my curly hair, I order Brazilian hair products from the Salon Line brand. As a Brazilian, it’s the only way to make these curls bounce right.
10. How do you counter the fast-paced and immediate nature of today's world?
For starters, I turn off notifications on almost every app and live in Do Not Disturb, with only family and my partner on the favourites list. I also try to only take meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays to keep the rest of the week reserved for deep work.
I also structure my days based on buckets of things I need to do, so I get into a flow state. For instance, ‘write four scripts on Monday’ or ‘film four videos’. And I keep a to do list with me at all times that has work-related and personal items like ‘call mom’, so not everything I do is about external success metrics.
11. What are your hobbies and interests? What do you like to do in your free time?
I love learning languages and have a daily language learning routine where I read in my target language. Right now it’s Dutch because my boyfriend lives in Flanders; I journal in Dutch, study vocab and grammar, do Duolingo, Pimsleur and Mondly on as close to a daily basis as possible.
I also read in English daily, multiple books at a time. Right now, I’m reading Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider by Stacy Spikes, Mastery by Robert Greene, Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo and Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder for TV Writers.
Journaling isn’t really a hobby, it’s a lifestyle, lol!
12. What's the latest thing you have learnt?
Despite people telling me it would be a waste of time, I signed up for a filmmaking masters degree in a university based in the UK, and it’s self-negotiated, meaning I create my own goals, curriculum, assignments, and final project.
I’m planning on creating my own travel docuseries, but it’s been so helpful to have to read books, understand theories, and start putting them into my work. I’m learning how to write a TV show bible so I can sculpt the pilot episode!
13. Tell us about something you tried or did for the very first time recently
I picked up the bass guitar recently! Before studying languages, I was big into music and I missed the connection between my hands and music. Working online and constantly reading and studying can get stuffy, so getting analogue is the way to go. Sadly, I can’t travel with my bass, but I’ll practice when I’m back home in between my trips.
14. What book should everyone read and why?
This is the hardest question!!! There are so many!
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman is incredible. The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr; Rich Dad Poor Dad and Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki; The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel; and anything by Robert Greene, specifically The Art of Seduction, 48 Laws of Power and Mastery.
Oh, and The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield, a good friend of mine.
15. What are you working on that we should know about?
I launched my language learning journal, Fluentish, late last year, which has been a big project to get off my plate!
Right now, I’m just focused on getting back to making consistent content on my YouTube channel, Instagram and newsletter! I’m also getting ready to sell out all of the retreat spots in Greece this June – I plan and organize those myself so they’re full of heart! Hope to see other global souls there. Thank you!!
If you enjoyed this piece, you might like to check out the other interviews on A Day Well Spent.