Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. This episode included one unnecessary break-up, one child who gave a parent a dose of their own medicine, and one person who's possibly in the wrong profession. Mentioned: Disney adults and a women-hanging-out scene from Jerry Maguire. Next week, we'll watch the finale of season 2, "The Last Thanksgiving.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting...
Jan 15, 2025•15 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . On the island, poor Hurley got stuck with a thankless job, while in flashback, he got a scolding from his mom that we found relatable. Elsewhere, we learned more about the Dharma Initiative bunker and the tail-section survivors. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 5, "...and Found." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 11.
Jan 14, 2025•19 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a resource that you can most likely find at your own library: Newspapers.com , a repository of archives from all over the U.S. and six other countries. Find your great-grandparents' wedding announcement or read up on crimes like the Panama Hat Heist of 1904. Terri's random recommendation this week is not one, but three books: Two she's recently finished, and one she's just starting. She finished (and...
Jan 09, 2025•28 min
Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . On this episode, a parent tried and ultimately failed to make a child's birthday special, and a child tried to set boundaries with a parent--which also didn't go very well. But at least Liz is back to her snarky self. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 11, "The Drugs Don't Work.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be ...
Jan 08, 2025•16 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . On this episode, we met a few of the threatening Others that Jin warned us about at the end of the previous episode, re-met a survivor seen previously in flashback, and heard yet again that Locke wasn't always the tough guy he is now. Mentioned: Game show challenges for parents and Mouse Rat's song " The Pit " from Parks & Rec. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 4, "Everybody Hates Hugo....
Jan 07, 2025•21 min
Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . There were a lot of parenting and family breakthroughs in this episode, along with a little more comic relief than we got last time (thanks, Sean). Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 10, "Changing Patterns.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) And we'll be changing back to our usual pattern of Shrinking on Wednesdays and the...
Jan 02, 2025•14 min
While we’re celebrating New Year’s with our families, we bring you this relic of podcasts past: A speed round devoted to our resolutions for the coming year. That year was 2020, but … yeah, we’re still rolling them over. And since this is a replay, you'll hear from our old pal Nicole Eredics. We miss you, Nicole!
Jan 01, 2025•6 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . Along with Michael flashbacks and the aftermath of Walt's kidnapping and the raft explosion, this episode revisited the in-the-hatch events of the prior one. So we got some time and pacing weirdness to go along with all the other island weirdness. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 3, "Orientation." Tomorrow, we'll replay a New Year's chat from our archives, and then we'll be back with a new e...
Dec 31, 2024•20 min
On Wednesdays (usually), we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking, a happy fun sitcom that does its best to make us cry every week. This was an extra-sad one, with many characters facing the consequences of their actions (Liz, Derek, Louis, Jimmy) and their mortality (Paul). Like we said, fun and happy! Mentioned: Shrinking playlists on Apple Music ( season 1 and season 2 ). Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 9, "Full Grown Dude Fac...
Dec 26, 2024•15 min
While we’re celebrating Christmas with our families, we bring you this relic of Christmas past: One of the only original podcast episodes we put out on Christmas day, back in 2019. As you’ll see, we don’t take vacations from complaining. We'll be back tomorrow with our discussion of Shrinking , season 2, episode 8, "Last Drink."
Dec 25, 2024•13 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . In this season 2 kickoff, we meet a new character, get yet another Jack flashback, and watch both Locke and Kate take a dive down into the hatch. Mentioned: Our discussion of a Good Place scene that called back to the opening of this Lost episode. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 2, "Adrift." Tomorrow, a special Christmas relic, and then Shrinking , season 2, episode 8 on Thursday....
Dec 24, 2024•24 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a board book that's ostensibly for babies... about electrical engineering . Better yet, it has a Christmas theme! (And it's part of a whole series of science-themed board books ). We'll stick with colors, shapes, and ABCs, thanks. Terri's random recommendation this week is a lighter topic than electrical engineering: Funny videos on Instagram. Check out Farbsy for goofy takes on workplace emails , cu...
Dec 19, 2024•23 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . This episode gave us the happy resolution of one of the unhappy plotlines we've been following, as Alice and Summer made up (but only after Summer worked out her feelings in a very NSFW song ). But it also included the reveal of two serious betrayals, so we have that fallout to look forward to next week. Mentioned: An in-on-the-joke response to the episode from Craig of Craigslist . ...
Dec 18, 2024•18 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . This two-hour episode, the season finale, was predictably action-packed--with some catastrophes we did, in fact, predict. Mentioned: Guest Taylor Cole's musical tribute to Locke on the Extra Hot Great podcast . Next Tuesday, we'll starts season 2 with episode 1, "Man of Science, Man of Faith." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 7....
Dec 17, 2024•21 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a trio of cozy mysteries by Claudia Gray, all starring Jane Austen characters: The Murder of Mr. Wickham (2022), The Late Mrs. Willoughby (2023), and The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bough (2024). These are an absolutely delightful (and non-stressful) way to revisit these characters, and there's even a little helping of romance. Mentioned: Death Comes to Pemberley , another contemporary author's take on...
Dec 12, 2024•29 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking , and an episode that gave us quite a lot of parenting and therapizing and dads trying to overcome daddy issues (plus Gabby trying to manage her complicated family, too). Good on the dads and surrogate dad figures! But at least one other storyline is going someplace we'd rather not follow. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 7, "Get in the Sea.” (Yes, we're watching this a few w...
Dec 11, 2024•13 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . This episode gave us the launching of the raft (so, everything's going to be fine from this point on, right?) and the return of Danielle Rousseau, bearing ominous warnings (so, maybe not so fine). Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 23, "Exodus: Part 2" (the two-hour second half of the season finale). Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 6.
Dec 10, 2024•20 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is an instructional picture book for kids called How to Pee Your Pants* (*the Right Way ) by Rachel Michelle Wilson. It's cute and relatable (and Terri thinks it could have applications beyond the preschool crowd). Terri's random recommendation is back, and this week she has a simple way to reflect on the holiday season: The Pray More Advent retreat from Pray More Novenas . In the archives , we check...
Dec 05, 2024•18 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . And TBH the honesty in this episode caused a lot more problems than it solved, and that's not really why we're here. Bring back the jokes and the friends hanging out! Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 6, "In a Lonely Place.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup....
Dec 04, 2024•16 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . This Kate flashback gave us a bad daughter, a bad ex-girlfriend, a bad mom, and yet another bad dad, but not a lot of forward progress on many plots. Mentioned: Mackenzie Astin in How to Deal . Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 23, "Exodus: Part 1" (the first half of the season finale). Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 5....
Dec 03, 2024•15 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a trio of parenting books, because the publishing industry will never give up on promising parents a simple fix for all their problems. The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself by Sarah Ezrin Project Management for Parents: Engage the Family, Build Teamwork, Succeed Together by Hilary Kinney, PMP The Danish Secret to Happ...
Nov 28, 2024•35 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . On this episode, our old pal Daddy Issues is back with a vengeance, but there's also some good fathering (or surrogate fathering) going on too. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 5, "Honesty Era.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.
Nov 27, 2024•16 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . This was a Sayid episode, and while we found the connection between the flashbacks and the action on the island to be tenuous, we were OK with it (especially for the side plot of "Sawyer reads to the baby"). Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 22, "Born to Run." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 4.
Nov 26, 2024•18 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a three-book series for young readers called My Pet Slime . Because slime is still a thing, and nonfiction titles about how to make it just aren't enough. Mentioned: Publisher Andrews McMeel . Terri's random recommendation is back on the shelf for a few more weeks while we finish out the season of Dancing with the Stars . This week was the semi-finals, which turned out to be a lot of drama for nothin...
Nov 21, 2024•36 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . While the Grace storyline from last season was resolved (to our liking) in this episode, we ended up back in the danger zone by the end, with both Liz and Alice making bad decisions that are going to reverberate from this point on. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 4, "Made You Look.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We...
Nov 20, 2024•14 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . While the Jack flashbacks didn't tell us much we didn't already know (bad dad! can't let go!), there was a lot of drama on the island, with both a birth and a death. Mentioned: The show's music, by Michael Giacchino . Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 21, "The Greater Good." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 3....
Nov 19, 2024•20 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a book of short essays whose title, Get Me Through the Next 5 Minute s , really spoke to her at this moment in time. Mentioned: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick; The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green; the song "The Next Ten Minutes" from the musical The Last Five Years ( movie version with Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan; COVID version with Skylar Astin and Shoshana Bean). Terri's random recommend...
Nov 14, 2024•32 min
On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking . On this episode, Alice's friend Summer came in clutch with both some good advice and an interest in the neighbor boy who keeps watching Alice over the fence. Alice needs the help, since her dad is still floundering. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 3, "Psychological Something-ism.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'l...
Nov 13, 2024•14 min
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost . In the flashbacks, we return to Locke's story, which just keeps getting sadder. On the island, things are also not looking great for Locke, as he worries that the magic island is taking away the gift it initially gave him. Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 20, "Do No Harm." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking , season 2, episode 2.
Nov 12, 2024•17 min
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a picture book called Edmund Unravels , starring a cute little ball of yarn who likes to take adventures (and has his very own yarn version of helicopter parents). Mentioned: This Target back-to-school ad . Terri's random recommendation is a recent edition of her Substack newsletter that lists the many books on her to-be-read list. If you're interested in celebrity memoirs, Hollywood behind-the-scen...
Nov 07, 2024•27 min
