Parenting Roundabout

A Buzzfeed article obsessing about mom catchphrases naturally led us to do the same. At least one of us has upped her game by adding Broadway show tunes to her catchphrase repertoire.

On this week's Round 3, our complaint is with kids who suddenly need essentials like salt, black shoes, and Revolutionary War-era costumes at the …

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we enjoyed the Valentine's Day fun on One Day at a Time; it was our favorite episode of the season thus far. On The West Wing, new "couple" Josh Lyman and Congressman "Call …

We just talked about college decisions last week, but we had to revisit the topic after the Operation Varsity Blues scandal broke. Could it lead to …

On today's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine recaps her trip to the Fixer-Upper mecca in Waco, Texas (mentioned: Chip Gaines' book, Capital Gaines). …

Today's obsession is sleep, and whether our kids are getting enough of it. Because when the kids aren't sleeping, neither are the mothers. It's quite the vicious cycle.

On this week's Round 3, we complain about those who dare reject our kids (the nerve!). 'Tis the season for college decisions, and it's never easy to …

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, One Day at a Time serves up a classic sitcom plot in "Nip It in the Bud" (but at least the episode …

Whether we watched him on Beverly Hills 90210 in our college days, John from Cincinnati in the more recent past, or Riverdale today, Luke Perry was a …

On today's Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her public library's handy-dandy printing service. Nicole has revamped and relaunched her …

With her daughter off to college soon, Nicole is obsessed with teaching independence and life skills. Terri and Catherine offer advice, despite …

We've tried cute little notes, temper tantrums, and repeating ourselves over and over (and over) again. And yet, our families ignore our wise counsel …

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, One Day at a Time shows us what a daring sitcom it is by not having a phone go overboard (on "Hermanos"). It also introduces us to yet another relative we've never before …

In this episode, we're talking about kids today—or really, kids' activities today and how they're really kids' and parents' activities. Because why …

On today's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out the Pocket Yoga app. Nicole reveals the hotel chain she raved about yesterday, and Terri thanks …

It turns out we're all obsessed with certain hotel amenities. Free, fast Wifi is a given, but you can also make an impression with easy access to hot drinks, USB ports, lap desks, and Netflix.

Parents, trust us when we tell you we would rather listen to your child's tantrum than your cringe-y baby talk. We usually try to show solidarity …

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, One Day at a Time continues to befuddle us with its weird continuity situation (while still charming us with its actors).  On The West Wing, the drama is high as President Bartlet …

Inspired by Amy Brown's podcast, today we're talking about casseroles vs. spoons. Actually, we're all confessing that when it's time to contribute to …

On today's Roundabout Roundup, Terri is cautiously recommending a tool she's long been leery of (Microsoft Word), Catherine shares her latest …

There's almost nothing more delicate than trying to encourage a kid to exercise ("Are you saying I'm fat?!"), which explains why we're all a little obsessed with our children's fitness habits.

Even though she's moved on from having to wrangle small, grabby children in line at the store, Nicole still has some complaints about the system (or …

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, One Day at a Time gives us the family-centered episode we were hoping for ("Outside"), but keeps all the characters couch-bound and Talking About Issues—never our favorite scenario. …

When we heard that photos from inside a wifi-enabled refrigerator might be used in a dating app, we started wondering—and worrying—about where else those pics might turn up.

On today's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's looking forward to the upcoming card game from We Rate Dogs, while Nicole recommends the Instagram feed …

Terri's been obsessing about her kids' jobs for a while, and now Nicole is joining her. How much pressure should we put on our high-school students …

Kids thrive on routines, but so do parents. So today we're complaining about having to deal with changes to our daily habits—and the best ways to bug other people until they fix things.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, we return to our West Wing watch with the season 6 episode "A Change Is Gonna Come." We are very much looking forward to some changes (say, no more clunky explanatory dialogue for …

If kids can sue their parents just for being born, do we need to be prepared to defend our every parenting decision in a court of law? If you'll all be on our jury, we'd feel better about it.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shares her brother's new shop for customized art that illustrates your life story (also on Instagram). …

Marie Kondo and her KonMari method are all over are social media feeds, thanks to her new Netflix show. So on today's Round 4, we discuss our tidying-up takeaways. In a nutshell: We're #KonMaybe. Also mentioned: …

Nicole has a cold, and she's griping about how hard it is for moms to take a sick day. How come there's no such thing as the mom flu, equivalent to …

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, we paused our West Wing watch because the West Wing Weekly podcast took a detour from its episode-by-episode …

Today we're talking about talking on the phone—more specifically, helping our kids make their own calls to employers and insurance companies and other fun places. Why can't we do everything online, please?

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's shouting out Aviation Exploring, which is giving her son an insider's view of aviation careers. Terri's going behind the scenes with the Dancing with the Stars pros on …

Many kids (and teens and young adults) that we know are obsessed with AirPods, Apple's pricey wireless earbuds. Some are lucky enough to have their …

Kids complain when they don't get a snow day. Parents complain when they do AND when they don't. This is why we don't want to be the snow-day decision-makers.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, The West Wing tugged at our feelings in a sappy way ("The Dover Test"), while The Good Place did so in a much more heartbreaking season-ender ("Pandemonium"). For next week, we'll …

Apparently college reveal parties (and godmother proposals) are a thing? Today we're talking about the extra-ness of it all, and why you shouldn't be …

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's tracking her family with the Life360 app, Nicole's giggling at Old School Dads (and Moms) on …

We got our skin care and beauty advice from Seventeen magazine, and our daughters get it from YouTube. Because they definitely don't want to hear it from us.

Happy birthday to Nicole's daughter, who just turned 18! Who know that meant she was supposed to be a fully functioning, 100% independent adult …

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, it's a missable episode of The West Wing, as Josh fails to understand the Internet yet again and the writers fail to live up to the snappy dialogue standards of Aaron Sorkin. On The …

The latest study on screen time and its evils left us sighing and justifying our lack of limits. Since we can't seem to cut back on our own use, it's hardly fair to make our kids go screen-free, is it? (Mentioned: teen …

On the Roundabout Roundup this week: Catherine solved a hair problem she didn't know she had; Terri found a better way to see a concert; and Nicole …

What are parents obsessing about right now? At Nicole's house, it's everything about the going-to-college process, from applying to deciding to (of …

Complaining about jury duty is a perennial topic, but we've managed to find a new, parenting-related twist on it. Would you make the same decision …

On our entertainment-themed Round 2, we meet some new characters on The West Wing (thanks for the spoiler, opening credits). And on The Good Place, …

An incident at Catherine's daughter's high school got us talking about talking: As in, when parents gossip about what's going on at school without …

On this week's Round 5, our shout-outs: • Nicole is listening to an Australian true-crime podcast called Teacher's Pet, which prompted Terri and …

On today's Round 4, calendars and planners: every parent needs one (or several), and if we could only find the perfect one, everything would just …

Wednesdays are complaint day on Parenting Roundabout, and this week's subject is car trips with kids. So much to not like: arguments over the stereo system, bringing way too much stuff, the entire state of Indiana.

On today's Round 2, two very different roles for Allison Janney: On The West Wing's "Third-Day Story," she's competent press secretary CJ Cregg, and …

Happy New Year, and welcome to a new format for Parenting Roundabout! Instead of a lengthy group chat every Monday and mini-episodes the rest of the week, we'll bring you a short segment every Monday through Friday …

Today's question: During the holiday break, would we rather stay home, or visit family, or take a vacation? It's complicated. Happy holidays to you, …

When it comes to holiday foods and treats, Terri and Catherine are very much aligned. They'll take everything Nicole doesn't want, except possibly …

It's so noble when people don't want anything. And yet so infuriating!

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:35 The West Wing: In "The Birnam Wood," come for the lecture on the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate. Stay for the extended footage of a beloved character's …

00:31 Surprise Hamster: Santa Claus did some unauthorized shopping. 08:36 Clickbait Debate: A Buzzfeed article about a chart comparing stay-at-home and working moms prompted us to talk about all the different points on …

Today's question: Do you buy holiday gifts for your pets? 

Today's question is "How many of these holiday movies have you seen?" (With a secondary question of "Is that a holiday movie, really?")

Today's question: What is your favorite holiday candy? Or are you quite happy with everyday, year-round treats dressed up in holiday wrapping? (If …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:31 Dancing with the Stars Juniors: We have a winner! And we're very pleased to see Sky take home the trophy. 09:58 The Good Place: Speaking of winning, this …

00:32 Tired Terri: Her new Fitbit may be contributing to Terri's couch-sleeping, early-rising habits. 06:50 Lies, White Lies, and Santa: Inspired by this Offspring article, we confess some of the lies, fibs, and …

Today's question: What sports do you find the most boring to watch? The most exciting? 

From arcade games of yore to the e-sports of today: Do we play video games?

Today's question: For shopping during the holiday season or any time of year, do you prefer the big box stores or small mom-and-pop shops?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:59 Dancing with the Stars Juniors: It's the semi-finals, so the field is narrowed from four stars to... four! In a surprising twist, the producers opted not …

00:33 Lunch Delivery: Nicole's daughter came up with a clever new solution to the old problem of the forgotten school lunch. 06:29 Raising Kids …

It's that time of the year: Replay time, because we were unable to record new speed rounds for this week. But maybe this one is new to you! Have a …

It's that time of the year: Replay time, because we were unable to record new speed rounds for this week. But maybe this one is new to you! It's the most gift-wrappy season of all. Do you play it fast and easy, or take …

It's that time of the year: Replay time, because we were unable to record new speed rounds for this week. But maybe this one is new to you! For those with petite closets and serious weather shifts, it's time for the …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:35 Dancing with the Stars Juniors: We've now divided the field into Big Kids and Littles, and guess what? We're rooting for the little guys. 09:08 The West …

What with all the traveling, cooking, and eating last week, we could not record a new episode. So please enjoy this serving of leftovers from …

We tell our tales of cars that pull off magical U-turns, a family assembling itself from across the globe, and close encounters with groundhogs.

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, we go around the virtual table and share what we're grateful for this year.

Can't live with them, but definitely can't live without them: Our phones and their pet peeves.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:37 Dancing with the Stars: Unlikely champ Bobby Bones takes home the mirror ball! Mentioned: An early October episode of Bobby's podcast (#141) featuring his …

00:32 High-School Graduation Gifts: Options range from "a pen" to "a trip to Iceland."  07:09 Losing a Pet: For Terri's family, the loss is fresh. …

We'll use our perfect day to catch up on our entertainment and just generally be slothful.

Our thoughts on what's overrated cover rather a lot of ground: Beaches. Amusement parks. Water parks. Camping. Leaving the house ever. (See also: Our recent Speed Round on theory vs. reality.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:32 Dancing with the Stars: It's the semi-finals, and two stars are eliminated—one deserving and one maybe not so (but we have a theory about why it's legit). …

Our entertainment-themed Round 2 will come to you tomorrow, so today we offer an entertainment-themed Speed Round: What is the last movie you watched? (Terri's is Lady Bird, and you can hear her thoughts about it on …

00:27 California Here We Come: Catherine and her daughter headed to sunny SoCal for a skating competition, and Nicole gets to come and watch. 05:25 …

None of us is an avid chef, but we are all very happy to eat delicious-smelling desserts, bread, and bacon.

Just how poor of an example are we setting for our kids, really?

Terri's a writer through and through, so her favorite subject won't surprise you. But Nicole's and Catherine's might.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:30 Dancing with the Stars: On Country Night, it's a double-elimination do-si-do. 12:11 The Good Place: "A Fractured Inheritance" finds both Eleanor and …

00:30 Busted: It was bound to happen sooner or later: Nicole's daughter calls her out after a comment on Instagram. 11:25 Career Check-In: Nicole is …

When given the choice between two occupations, we'll always try to figure out which one has the lower potential for stress.

If you peek in our closets, will you find quality or quantity? Flats or heels? Navy or black? Mentioned: Sherry from Young House Love and her minimalist wardrobe.

It's "Would You Rather?" week for all of our Speed Rounds, and today, we take on WYR questions about how we approach life (and chocolate).

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars: It's Halloween Night, and we get a cringey show-mance and a "star" with unfortunate staying power. Mentioned: Frankie and Witney's …

00:32 Volunteer Woes: Nicole was fired and Terri's retired, leaving Catherine the only sucker who's still putting in those volunteer hours. 09:25 …

We cop to those experiences that sound like a great idea, but kinda suck in reality.

In case this podcast thing doesn't take off, we have some other business ideas.

We know we should do all these important health tests and tasks, but we just don't wanna.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:28 Dancing with the Stars: Disney Night meant a lot of reenacting movies, visits from the Junior stars and pros, and a parting gift from Mickey. Mentioned: …

00:32 Canada Calling: Nicole got to visit the motherland for her annual dose of autumn weather and ketchup chips. Mentioned: Prince Harry gives up …

Two of us are ashamed of our searches, while the third just needs a pretty hair-do.

We try to appreciate those (very few and far between) days when the weather is just perfect.

Our discussion of sundae toppings leads Terri on a walk down SoCal memory lane.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:39 Dancing with the Stars: Trio Night ends on a downbeat note, with excellent dancer Tinashe going home and Grocery Store Joe... not going home. Mentioned: …

00:32 Sanitation Situation: People in Catherine's town have big thoughts and feelings about garbage and recycling bins. 07:04 Meet the Teachers: 'Tis the season for parent-teacher conferences. With many (many, many) …

We've been pretty darn lucky. Our family members, not so much. 

Songs and shows from our youth, and the tappity-tap of an old-timey typewriter, bring back beautiful memories.

Open-concept homes may be all the rage, but at least one of us has a dedicated dining space—sometimes even used for meals!

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:36 Dancing with the Stars: This season's was a surprisingly upbeat edition of My Most Memorable Year, with fewer sob stories and more enjoyable dances.  …

00:31 Hospital Stay: Nicole gives an update on a hospital visit that kept her from podcasting last week. 07:15 The Fill-in-the-Blank Parent: First it …

Inspired by this post at Go Fug Yourself, we tell our tales of finding weird (sometimes disturbing!) items.

When it comes to our clothing choices, are we bold and bright or solid and simple? (Or "whatever hides the dirt"?)

Instead of our usual Wednesday Speed Round, today we bring you a bonus Round 2 so we can cover Dancing with the Stars' Tuesday night edition. Hear our thoughts on voting, time management, and costuming shenanigans—and …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars: It was New York Night, which turned out to mean Broadway, the subway, and skyscraper-high scores from the judges. 11:04 The Good …

In lieu of a brand-new episode today, please enjoy this October, 2017, flashback. We'll be back with a new Round 2 tomorrow and new speed rounds for the rest of the week. 01:03 Post-Renovation Debrief: Terri's bathroom …

In our dreams, we would get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. But we never dream, because we don’t get that much sleep.

Our kids may nag us regularly about upgrades, but we're pretty content with our phones—cracks and all.

Instead of our usual Speed Round, today we bring you a speedy Round 2 so we can cover Dancing with the Stars' Tuesday night edition—in which the first star is sent on her way. Plus, we got a preview of Dancing with the …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:30 Dancing with the Stars: Season 27 kicks off with an onslaught of sparkles and stars (some starrier than others). 16:10 The West Wing: We found this week's …

00:31 Traffic Rant: Terri's tearing her hair out over the poor parking etiquette on her street.  13:36 Too Old to Fail: ...but too young to make smart decisions. That's the pickle we find ourselves in as our kids grow …

Is there just one word that sums up who we are not? For at least two of us, there is.

Summer offers delicious food and drink, but then again, so does fall. Don't make us choose!

Which of us are the losers in our households, and which the finders?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:40 The West Wing: Terri had to pass on "An Khe," an episode loaded with false notes and overly easy drama. 09:45 Challenge Round: Elementary: Terri …

00:32 Pet Roundabout: Time for a quick status check on the animal members of our households. 12:30 Safety vs. Strength: Do we want our kids to take …

One of us is at the top of the spice chain ... but only the New Jersey-level spice chain.

We've talked about what's inside our refrigerators before. Now, we want to know what's stuck to the outside.

What time do your kids turn into pumpkins, and who makes the rules? (Turns out, it's not always the parents.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:52 So You Think You Can Dance: We have a winner, and it's Hannahlei. Power to the tiny, …

00:32 Shoe Situation: Wearing two different shoes all day: Cause for concern, or fashion statement? 08:28 Thou Shalt Obey These Rules: We set out to …

Since Nicole doesn't usually join in on the Round 2 fun, we each give a little report on what's on our TVs these days.

If you take us out to lunch, we will gladly pay our share and maybe even yours too. (Just please, take us out to lunch!)

Back in 2016, we shared our most frequently used emojis. Has anything changed in two years? 

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:35 So You Think You Can Dance: No eliminations, as the top 4 performed a total of 14 different dances for our review. Did those dances help us decide who to …

00:31 School Security: We would like our kids to be able to move about freely, but also stay safe. It's a conundrum. 10:26 Vacations We Need: …

Turns out we're better at passing along clothes, toys, and baby gear than we are at tossing birthday cards (with a few special exceptions, of course).

Hafeez Lakhani, from Lakhani Coaching, is Nicole's guest on this special Speed Round. Hafeez gives us insight into what universities are looking for, …

Birthday cards: Lovingly selected, handsomely paid for, proudly displayed. And then what? 

00:33 So You Think You Can Dance: In this blink-and-you've-missed it season, the Top Four have been named, and there are just two episodes left to go.  12:34 The West Wing: We finally reached Terri's breaking point: She …

00:31 College Competition: When do teens have time to live their lives, if they're so busy stocking up good deeds for their college apps? 12:55 …

We share those few apps that actually make the leap from free to premium—and whether those few bucks were really well-spent.

Forget the running playlist, the breakup playlist, and the poolside playlist. We have some other ideas for songs to live by.

It's time to return to the urgent question of most recent photos on our phones, and this crop is more exciting than last time: A memorable souvenir, a nimbler-than-expected dog, and some possibly illegal activity.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:45 So You Think You Can Dance: Turns out it was Prop Night on SYTYCD, starting with a group number featuring giant rubber bands (?!). Aside from that one, we …

00:31 Spirit Week: Nicole has questions about her daughter's high school's interpretation of a theme. 09:42 What We Missed Out On: New parents today …

Not all of our children's activities are exactly fun for us, but there are those things that became as much a part of our social life as our kids'. On today's Speed Round, we give a cheer for team sports and marching …

In our day, senior photos involved slapping on some sort of drape-like thing and smiling pretty. Now, there are whole photo shoots, with props and …

Doctors whose office is closed when you're sick. Orthodontists who don't keep kid hours. What we wish phone physicians could do. Yep, we've got a few …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:21 So You Think You Can Dance: In a non-shocking elimination, two dancers are sent home. Also non-shockingly, we have some complaints about the producing and …

00:28 School Days: Nicole's daughter is starting her senior year, and Catherine's paying fees for the whole year to come. Mentioned: Last week's …

Nicole's favorite TV series has let her down this season, so she's picked a book series as her fave, and Catherine and Terri followed suit. Our …

Loud bark-y dogs, stealth hedgehogs, attack ants, and black pooches playing speed bump in the dark are on the job of defending our homes. Play it safe—stay away!

On this week's group chat, we talked about first day of school snapshots of our kids, but when's the last time we were the focus of the photo? Our …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 So You Think You Can Dance: Finally, the live shows begin! In two shocking surprises, someone tap-danced, and Terri preferred a contemporary routine over …

00:31 Critter Update: What's going on with Terri's ant invasion and Nicole's personal zoo? 08:04 Back to School, Back to Guilt: An article about …

In a question that proved almost too hypothetical to answer, we try to determine what age we'd like to remain forever and ever. Two of us are going for 30, and the other one can't quite commit.

We look at the pretty places near our homes, from a New York City skyline view to the California beaches--with a stop in the Midwest for historic homes and ice shanties.

A Facebook post inviting us to keep only two from a list of (allegedly) crucial items made us realize we can get by with some basic essentials.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:35 So You Think You Can Dance: Just like last week, 10 dancers were whittled down to 5, and we have complaints about a lot of it. Mentioned: This "lyrical …

00:32 Hedgehog Happenings: Catherine reports on her spiky houseguest, and Terri also has some guests (overstaying their welcome). 08:54 Sing a Song: We name the tunes that put little ones to sleep, perk up a road …

If you think we live in pristine houses with immaculate furnishings and tables accented just so ... you haven't listened to this podcasts before, …

Nicole's enjoying #Australian slang, Catherine not enjoying being called "extra," and Terri just wishes people would stop making language harder. …

While Terri waits for her central air to be repaired, she's collecting tips on how to hack some chill, or just general gripes about the difficulty of …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:45 So You Think You Can Dance: The heartbreak continues, as we just barely met the top 10 women and 5 of them are gone at the end of an hour. 10:45 The West …

00:27 Plane Plague Tales: Nicole's back from Australia, and she brought home an unwelcome souvenir. 07:47 Kids in Flight: Speaking of planes, is it …

Today's speed round is a Speed Round 2, with Catherine and Terri bringing their Tuesday entertainment chat to Friday for a special round of "Would …

We've talked a lot about inclusion on this podcast (did you hear that Nicole wrote a book?), and today we welcome author Ann Yurcek to tell us about …

Our guest for today's Speed Round is Tim J. Myers, author of Glad to Be Dad, who shares some of those stories of family life that you just might as well laugh at.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:34 So You Think You Can Dance: We tried to skip the audition process. Turns out we failed, because the Academy is just "gotcha! more auditions!" 12:07 The …

00:50 Plane Plague: With one podcaster down for the count, we bring you an assortment of our past conversations on sickness and health. Your road map: 01:07 When Parents Get Sick: When Mom or Dad is under the weather, …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Nicole. No surprise that she picked this one from April 2018.] Hey, did you hear …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Nicole. This one originally ran in April 2017.] On today's Speed Round, we talked …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Nicole. This one originally ran in September 2016.] Catherine's son is still …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:36 So You Think You Can Dance: After giving up on this show two years ago (during an ill-fated "next generation" season featuring tweens), we are trying …

[We're taking turns picking out some favorite episodes to share with you on weeks when vacations disrupt our usual chattiness. Nicole raided our …

Nicole brought to our attention an article about American Dream Miami, soon to be the biggest mall in America, but not exactly our dream of the …

There are plenty of foods we have limited interest in, or enjoy in small amounts, or enjoy not at all. But is there anything we can imagine indulging …

Sure, it's healthy to let things go, and to appreciate that the only people we can change are ourselves. But can we always manage that? Do we still try to get even with people? Or just yell at them in our heads? It's …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 Trophy Wife: We come to the end of this one-season wonder, wistfully. It's quirky …

00:30 Greek Salad Truths: Catherine has just returned from Greece, and can confirm: There should be no lettuce in your "Greek" salad. 07:47 What I …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Terri. This one originally ran in September 2016, and includes our old friend …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Terri. This one originally ran in September 2016, and includes our old friend …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Terri. This one originally ran in August 2017.]  We do some quick takes on pies vs. cakes. Also cookies vs. brownies, hard ice cream vs. soft, and fruit …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:47 Trophy Wife: Terri has figured out why this show works: Its pleasantly surprising plot pivots, like the Scandal parody in "The Minutes." 06:25 The West …

[We're taking turns picking out some favorite episodes to share with you on weeks when vacations disrupt our usual chattiness. Terri raided our …

We can't really enter the imaginary worlds of our favorite movies, TV shows, and plays, but we could theoretically hang with the folks who make them …

So someone throws, say, a PERFECTLY GOOD banana muffin into the trash, one you had planned to eat for breakfast, and it's in a SEALED BAG, and it's in the kitchen trash that got emptied not THAT long ago, and you can …

On a recent Speed Round, in the course of a different discussion, Catherine mentioned this question: "If someone paid you to travel the world for …

[Catherine and Terri are taking a vacation week on Round 2 and bringing you excerpts from a couple of entertainment-related episodes from way back in 2015. Next week's episode is new, though, as are all our other …

00:32 Rory the Hedgehog: Catherine catches us up on her prickly summer visitor. 08:23 Are You a Carpenter or a Gardener? Our discussion of this …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Catherine. This one originally ran in October 2017.] To follow up our serious …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Catherine. This one originally ran back in January.] From cheesesteaks to gelato, barbecue to ketchup chips, we shout out some location-specific …

[This week's speed rounds have been selected from our archives by Catherine. This one originally ran back in February.] Whether they’re questions we don’t want to answer in front of our kids or questions that throw us …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:28 Trophy Wife: We both say "Awww" to a brand-new twist on the sitcom wedding—and "oh …

[We're taking turns picking out some favorite episodes to share with you on weeks when vacations disrupt our usual chattiness. Catherine raided our …

We're not unanimous on this important issue of the day, though Catherine can't imagine there'd even be any question. 

Terri's just trying to walk her dog around her nice suburban neighborhood. Why are people treating her like public enemy #1?

We borrowed a question Catherine saw on an AV Club interview for today's Speed Round: "Would you rather be fluent in another language or a genius at …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode:  00:56 Trophy Wife: We tried to tell Kate not to go into business with Jackie ("Foxed …

00:32 Live and In Person: Nicole and Catherine got to see each other IRL! Terri joined via Photoshop. 11:52 Love Is an Open Door: With six teens and …

They look fun, but some of us don't live in places with a super-long pleasant-outdoor-air season. 

People have problems, and they put up with way more than they ought to. That's what we've learned from reading advice columns like Dear Abby and Ask …

Nicole frequently cycles her profile, but Terri's more set-it-and-forget-it, and Catherine's got a go-to childhood photo that endears her to Skype …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:32 Trophy Wife: We're still laughing at this show every week, but we have some questions about the ads on the ABC app. 09:33 The West Wing Weekly: Instead of …

00:37 Shopping Shocker: You won't believe the article of clothing Catherine purchased for herself.  09:48 Gentle Ranting: We tried to rant about our kids, but it didn't really work out. We reserve the right to try again …

Nicole's getting some pressure to add a puppy to the family. Though we're pretty sure she's gonna cave, we talk about all the reasons why we should …

We've talked about our dogs plenty on this podcast, so consider this listing of their fears and desires and coffee-stealing habits more as a review than a revelation.

We have tales of being bit by dogs and monkeys and even bicycles, but we're not holding grudges. (If those lizards menacing Nicole ever do attack, …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 Dancing with the Stars Athletes: Nice try, DWTS, but this idea did not really work …

00:32 Lake Fly Season: Keep your mouth closed and your umbrellas at the ready if you visit Catherine this week. 08:26 BFFN (Best Friends For Now): We …

Nicole's encounter with a soda machine bearing many options she'd never heard of got us talking about what we get when we go to fill up our cups.

It's a good time to set feet free from shoes and socks. But sandals can be problematic if your spouse disapproves, you have a foot condition that requires sturdier footwear, or your part of the country demands pricey …

Is even a big fancy wedding with lots of people in hats worth getting up at 4 a.m. for? We think the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:44 Dancing with the Stars Athletes: Week 3 and it's already the semi-finals? We are not in favor of this shortened season business (nor did we approve of who …

00:31 Earthquake! Nicole was jolted awake by a quake—and the realization that she's not going to survive an apocalypse. 08:58 Stars of Stage, Screen, …

It's the kind of thing we'd love to say that we do—especially Terri, who used to work for Hallmark—but between the cost and the time and the organization needed to actually buy and mail something, we're not exactly on …

We love our dogs so much we talk about them all the time on their podcast (and sometimes you can even hear them in the background), but birthday …

Catherine confesses to some passive-aggressive temperature shifting, Nicole declares her intention to keep her home "Canada cold" year-round, and …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:35 Dancing with the Stars Athletes: We said goodbye to both basketball players this week, meaning the remaining competitors are evenly split between figure …

00:31 Movin' On Up: Nicole's son is graduating from college, and we have a business idea for white-hat hackers. 7:01 Who Are You Calling …

We recall some shocking plot developments that took us by surprise ... and mourn the fact that watching things months after the fact on our DVRs means it's hard to be shocked anymore. Mentioned: The Extra Hot Great …

We know we should be more careful, but finding the balance between staying safe on the Internet and having fun on it is getting harder and harder to …

From the latest in late night to our college daytime-show faves, we talk talk-show hosts and who we remember most fondly.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:32 Dancing with the Stars Athletes: In a four-week season, the premiere was especially brutal, with two eliminations. As for your podcasters, we are Team …

00:31 Conference Recap: Catherine reported on the Untitled Town Book and Author Festival she attended. Also mentioned: Katherine Reynolds Lewis and …

In praise of Catherine's hearty peonies, Nicole's too-fast-fading tulips, and any flower that's not making Terri sneeze.

Spam phone calls are bad enough, but what about when salespeople come to your door—do you open it or hide until they go away? Or what if it's a kid selling cookies? Or a neighbor with a dead goose? We assess our degree …

Catherine's plans to attend a local writer's conference, and that inspired Terri to share her formative experience with the Santa Barbara Writer's …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:36 One Day at a Time: Things get pretty dark for our heroine in "Hello, Penelope," but she has an unlikely savior—and makes a pretty great discovery in …

00:32 OTT Proms: Forget the school gym or a de-iced hockey rink. Nowadays, schools are putting on their parties at racetracks! 7:07 Sharing Is …

Hey, did you hear that Nicole wrote a book? And it's finally here! We celebrate her book-release day with a little talk about Inclusion in Action: …

Seems like hardly a day goes by without a survey of some sort accosting us via e-mail or phone. Do we share our opinions? Pass the opportunity by? Only respond if it's some fun BuzzFeed thing? It'll only take you five …

On a special speed round, friend of the podcast Katherine Lewis shares some of what she learned while researching her new book, The Good News About Bad Behavior. Visit Katherine at katherinerlewis.com.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:51 One Day at a Time: In the season 2 episode "Exclusive," we get a look at the dating …

00:31 Baby Driver: Catherine's daughter is now licensed to drive, despite a mishap during her road test. 04:20 Frightening Films: Inspired by the movie A Quiet Place, we pitch our scariest parenting-themed horror movie …

It's family birthday season for Catherine and Terri, and book launch season for Nicole, so it seems like a good time to review our celebration …

A tweet about a survey saying Americans would rather clean a toilet than create a new password they'd then have to remember got us thinking ... …

April is Stress Awareness Month, so we took a little look at the stress situation in our personal homes. And we don't even mention the stress of putting out a daily podcast.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 One Day at a Time: In season 2's "Lockdown," we feel for Penelope when her Alone/Boyfriend Time is cruelly interrupted by a neighborhood lockdown (and a …

00:32 Birthday Week: It's official. All our kids are now Facebook-legal (13 and up). 8:16 Self-Care Stagnation: With all these grown-up, independent …

The gas line work being done in Terri's neighborhood, as mentioned in yesterday's Speed Round, is good for a second topic as we discuss gas vs. electric, if that's even a thing.

Gas line work in Terri's neighborhood and the need for a young fellow to come in the house and turn stuff off and on led her to wonder: Is it good …

Like folks didn't already have enough to disagree about these days, top sheets have become a hot topic on the Internet. (Or they were when we …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:30 One Day at a Time: We continue season 2 with "To Zir with Love" and "Roots," which had a nice balance of Big Issues and Rita Moreno Zingers. 7:25 The West …

00:32 SAT Triumph: Nicole and her daughter got a happy middle-of-the-night surprise. 7:10 Valuable Advice: First, we have to figure out what values …

This or that: sand and a sunburn or roller coasters and expensive fun? We're not all that enthusiastic about either one, TBH.

It's a delicate subject, but we do all have some bad diet story or other, from grapefruits to cabbage to partial vegan. There's one we give thumbs-up to, too.

We're dreaming again on today's Speed Round, this time about an all-expenses-paid trip to whatever world monument we'd like to see. Special guest …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:31 One Day at a Time: Season 2 kicks off with some serious conversations about race, immigration, and the stress of juggling everything. Since we recorded, …

00:36 Woot Canal: Like C.J. Cregg before her, Nicole had a "woot canaw." And it turns out we all have dental time bombs ticking away in our mouths. …

Some days your searches are all business, sometimes you're falling down a reality TV rabbit hole, and sometimes, you're all about the podcast topics.

Our splurges aren't exactly extravagant, but our teeth, hair, and Fitbits have been the beneficiaries of some special spending. But are we always …

Even if you're not a teenager living and dying by the amount of likes your posts receive, it's always nice to get some attention for the things we put on Facebook and Instagram and what-all. Today, we chat about some of …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:31 One Day at a Time: We close out season 1 with "Quinces," an episode we enjoyed very much. Overall, cheers to Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, and Stephen …

00:32 Injury Report: Terri's husband is sidelined, which means many different challenges. 5:45 When Kids Face Rejection: We've found that helping our …

Having picked our favorite weekday, we now turn our attention to Saturday and Sunday, and wonder whether there's a definitive fave or "it depends."

Things that make for memorable birthdays: proximity to weddings, proximity to big cross-country moves, proximity to alcohol.

From the West Coast to the East Coast, from the suburbs to the sprawl, we shout out some cities we've loved or liked or had mixed feelings about. It's complicated.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:36 Family TV Habits: When we're not watching, what's on TV? Terri's husband and Catherine's son might be kindred TV spirits. 8:42 One Day at a Time: We're …

00:31 SAT Aftermath: The test may be over, but the stress is still lingering. 6:09 About the Walkout: When students walk out of class this …

From vitamins to pop-sockets to surprise boxes, we talk about our latest purchases and some Prime particulars.

It's that time of year when we start dreaming about Thin Mints and Samoas and those peanut-butter sandwich cookies we can't remember the name of. Mmmm, cookies.

Do you identify your car by something impersonal like color, make, or who drives it? Or have you come up with a more creative tag, like Blueberry or …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:30 The Oscars: Have we seen these movies? Barely! But will that stop us from commenting about attire and random clip montages? Not at all! 20:15 One Day at a …

00:31 Warnings: We have a public service announcement about a phone scam, and some questions about the anonymous skunk in our Google doc. 05:58 Take a Picture, It'll Last Longer: But will you be able to find it when you …

It's nice, value-for-money-wise, to get lots of lovely throw pillows with a new sofa and love seat, but when there are so many that there's no room for humans to sit, things start getting out of hand. Of course, it …

From Wisconsin and New Jersey, where kids wear shorts when it's freezing, to Southern California, where kids wear woolens when it's warm, we discuss …

A chat about our zombie survival skills gets sidetracked by our musing about how people in breakdown-of-civilization movies somehow always have …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:53 Black Panther: Catherine saw the highly anticipated film at the beginning of its run, and loved its production design, bad-ass women, and layered …

00:32 The Flu Strikes Again: It's traveled from Terri's house to Catherine's. Watch out, Nicole! 05:05 Stop the Madness: When seventh-graders are …

Nicole's questioning of her husband's movie taste led us to a chat about works of entertainment we just can't get on the bandwagon with, from Harry …

Covers flinging, pillow stealing, preferred bed size, dog bed hogs, and more bedtime issues have our attention today.

Upside: No constant blather from NBC commentators. Downside: Below-zero temps. Though we like watching the Winter Olympics just fine, we're not so sure what we'd want tickets for.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:31 One Day at a Time: The great and good Rita Moreno continues to delight in this show that is very good, but not quite great. Mentioned: Moreno on WTF with …

00:33 Lenten Sacrifices: Tread lightly, for Terri has given up coffee for the next 40 days. 07:15 Child Proximity Associates: We turn to the one and only Ron Swanson for a description of our current friendship life. …

It's that time of day that goes by really slow. Or that time of day that goes by way too fast. And maybe, depending on who you're talking to, those are the same time of day.

Depending on which one of us you're visiting, you might find barbecue sauce, bread, or waffles. But don't count on ice cubes.

We've had some luck buying stuff from Goodwill and giving stuff away on Freecycle. Also mentioned: Craigslist Oodle Sell.com Facebook Marketplace NextDoor.com

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:47 One Day at a Time: With The Good Place in the void for now, we checked out Netflix's re-imagining of the classic 70s sitcom. Rita Moreno and Justina …

00:33 Up in the Air: While her daughter travels, Nicole is more dependent on WiFi than ever. 07:40 You Should Be Ashamed: We go beyond dogshaming.com …

We think Clue, Careers, and that game Catherine's family got at a garage sale could use some freshening up.

Nicole recently discovered a surprising hobby of her hubby's, which made her wonder whether Terri's and Catherine's spouses also have unexpected …

Whether they're questions we don't want to answer in front of our kids to questions that throw us into an existential career crisis, we recall some questions we wish we'd never been asked.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:31 The Good Place: In the season 2 finale, Eleanor went back to Arizona (maybe?) and Ted Danson went back behind a bar. And we went into mourning at the …

00:32 Cruising vs. Camping: Nicole and her college student have different ideas about spring break travel. 7:09 Course-Correcting as a Parent: Let's …

Some of us have specific requirements for cake, but others? You had us at "cake."

We have our faves, sure, but it depends on whether we're at a restaurant or home; or it's morning or evening; or we're in the US or Canada.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:45 The Good Place: We're watching with bated breath as this season nears its close; we're already worried about how we'll be left hanging for months after …

00:27 Travels with Catherine: We know you'll be jealous when you hear where Catherine stopped on her 15-hour trip from Wisconsin to Kansas. 06:22 The Buzz About Bouncing Back: "Resilience" is a big buzzword in parenting …

Though it seems like we already have too many channels to watch, we can still think of a few we wish we could see — whether they don't exist yet or …

We try to avoid the sounds of human suffering and anguish, whether from Criminal Minds or The Bachelor or sports.

We talk about the video games we've played, the video games we've watched other people play, and the apps we'd like to call video games.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:37 The Good Place: The gang travels to the Bad Place HQ, apparently via the Wayback Machine. 08:47 The West Wing: Yay, West Wing is back, and also sends us …

00:29 Kristen Goes North: Nicole's daughter is planning a trip to the motherland. 07:20 Way Beyond Fire Drills: What happens at school when there's a …

Did he have a nice hairdo? Did he wear a very stylish shirt? Was he simply, blessedly available? We look back at the things that made our guys stand out.

Whether you're into hifalutin rhymes, delightful children's verse, or stuff that will make Terri have to dig out the bleep sound effect again, we've …

Whether for an advanced degree, motivation to finish a project, or a chance for random people to destroy our will to create, we contemplate returning …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:33 The Good Place: Terri has a theory about the connection between this show and a classic movie... and she's not alone! 09:56 Challenge Round: Suits: Terri …

00:31 Homework Crisis: What assignment did Catherine's son leave to the last minute? Recording a podcast! 06:43 Just Trying to Help!: Step in, and you're judgey. Ignore, and you're heartless. What do you do when another …

Here's a this or that for you: delicious ice-cream-rich beverage or something people use to hide spinach and worse? Yeah, Nicole and Terri are all-in …

We've got our piles of past concert souvenirs, sure, but the cost of doing memorabilia business has gotten to us in recent years.

From cheesesteaks to gelato, barbecue to ketchup chips, we shout out some location-specific specialties we love.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:30 The Golden Globes: Awards season is here. We start with a show that's mercifully …

00:37 Hawaii Report: Catherine shares some highlights of her trip; Terri's just glad her fellow podcaster didn't stumble into an episode of Hawaii Five-0. 10:21 Celebrating 200 Episodes: My, how we've changed, and …

Printing or cursive? Board games or card games? Painting or drawing? Writing or reading? Hear our answers to this latest batch of questions and play along!

We give credit to the people who have made us who we are today, for better or worse.

Back in our day, children, we had to haul firewood! Bring up our laundry all the way from the basement. Even practice the flute! 

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:35 Vacation Entertainment: Who would watch a goofy movie musical set on a Greek island …

00:28 USA! USA! Nicole's family is celebrating their first decade in the United States with a party. Mentioned: Factile, an online Jeopardy-style …

We pay tribute to a few characters we identified with as kids and one who speaks more to our current parenting identity.

The future's so bright, we've gotta watch televised sports, renovate our home, and publish books. 

In this holiday week, we're focusing on happy things, like having family around us, and maybe having podcasting friends around us too.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:35 The Good Place: It's season 2! Hang onto your hats, lest you drown in a chowder fountain. 11:57 The West Wing: We still can't explain the title of "Arctic …

Merry Christmas! Today, we're flashing back to a holiday episode that first aired on December 16, 2016. 06:02 'Tis the Season — Family traditions …

It's the most gift-wrappy time of the year. Do you play it fast and easy or take a little time to wrestle with rolls of paper?

Decorate with them? Make crafts with them? Let them collect in a pile on the table and leave them there until March?

We know we shouldn't be turning to food to make us feel better, but ... mashed potatoes are delicious. And warm bread. And ketchup chips. And …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:48 The Good Place: The twist at the end of season 1 was every bit as good as we hoped, even though we knew it was coming. Mentioned: This video of the …

00:30 Holiday Prep: Let's just say we're not the type of people who buy all their Christmas gifts in July. 06:42 Self-Care: Our methods may not be …

We've noticed an uptick in inflatables and projections; when did those become such a thing? We're divided on whether they should be put away …

When it comes to neighbors, some of ours are good friends we'll miss when they move, some are like grandparents to our kids, and some we barely wave at from our driveways.

Seems whenever we buy an appliance or furniture or anything tech-y, we're offered the opportunity to shell out some additional money to extend a warranty or compensate for possible damage. Do we pay our money, or do we …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:34 The Good Place: We're in the home stretch of season 1 (episodes 9, 10, and 11). …

00:37 Holiday Baking: Nicole worries about homemade goodies for a party, and Catherine ("Turnips!") and Terri ("Storebought!") try to help. …

Sometimes bulk buying at places like Costco makes sense, but other times, we'd just as soon go to the regular grocery store a whole bunch of times …

A funny article by Brian Grubb of Uproxx on "The Mustaches of Godless, Ranked" inspired us to see if we had strong feelings ourselves about men's mustaches and beards. Which led to another question: Is it possible to …

It's dry-skin season, at least for the two non-Californians among us, and that means either disgusting greasy lotion stickiness or constant itching. Terri's hoping for some go-to moisturizer tips. Maybe you have some? …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 01:12 The Good Place: Things heat up for Eleanor in episodes 6, 7, and 8 of season 1, as she narrowly avoids a trip to the Bad Place (for now). 12:52 Challenge …

00:32 It's Getting Cold in Here: Two out of three of us are shivering through this podcast. The transplanted Canadian just wishes she were. 04:55 …

It's the most wonderful time of the year for watching those films that fill us with holiday joy, including Love Actually, Elf, and ... Toy Story?

For those with petite closets and serious weather shifts, it's the most arduous time of the year as the T-shirts and shorts go away and the sweaters and long pants emerge. No need for that in your life? Know that Terri …

"Homework Catch-Up Day," "Stress Overload Day," "I Can't Find Two Matching Shoes" Day, and other day-off excuse we'd like to be able to make.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:34 The Good Place: We gobbled up three episodes ("Tahani Al-Jamil," "Jason Mendoza," and "Category 55 Emergency Doomsday") like so much Thanksgiving gravy …

Welcome to our new schedule: Group chats every Monday morning, with Round 2 on Tuesdays and speed rounds Wednesday through Friday. 00:31 Cyber Monday …

From November 29, 2016: The seasonal music switch is officially flipped now to Christmas tunes, whether we like it or not. And since so many folks …

From November 27, 2016: Happy Thanksgiving! Are you eating a lot of traditional family foods today? Do many of them involve cream-of-mushroom soup, …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:42 Dancing with the Stars: We have a winner! And a couple hours of faffing about! And a …

From November 4, 2016: It's no surprise that some of our kids won't eat vegetables, but do we really have a kid who won't eat chocolate?

From December 2, 2016: Maybe you decorate your home with trees and ornaments and wreaths this time of year, or maybe you just decorate with the jackets and scarves and gloves and hats and boots that get flung about. …

00:32 Podcast Listening Habits: We discover that in our own listening, we love starting the week with shiny new episodes, so we'll be shaking up our …

Catherine's going to debate camp, Nicole's ending up in Chicago with the Gallaghers, and Terri will either be old-person out with NYC …

There's a nostalgic tug that keeps us from throwing away those toys our kids outgrew ... and also a sharp memory of how much money we paid for that stuff. Let's just go with the sentimental angle, shall we?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:44 Dancing with the Stars: "Iconic Dances" night with a side of injuries meant even more pressure on the remaining stars. Good luck in the finals, everybody! …

When it comes to horoscopes, we've read them and we've even written them. The believing part, though? Depends what they've got to say.

Brainstorming Speed Round questions in the kitchen brought last week's topics on Tupperware and refrigerators, and today's on those collections of …

00:32 Winter Weather: Not only is snow in the forecast for Catherine, her daughter has to learn to drive in it. 07:19 Baby's First Heartbreak: Nicole …

Organized? We're just happy if people know generally which quadrant to look for stuff in, and to keep stuff out of the corner where everything freezes. (Mentioned: Tupperware edition.)

Is the relaxation of soaking in a tub worth the hassle of cleaning a tub? We're not so sure.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:43 Dancing with the Stars: The remaining stars danced in couples and in trios, with varying degrees of success, but we enjoyed seeing some of the past …

Terri's ongoing war with coffee-dive-bombing gnats led to a chat about satisfying homemade fixes for everyday annoyances ... like apple-cider-vinegar traps for GNATS GNATS GNATS! (Mentioned: our Tupperware abundance.)

How is it we have so many? They multiply, don't you think? And why can we never find the right lid? We compare notes on …

00:37 Autumn in Vancouver: Nicole is stocking up on ketchup chips, but is still waiting for an opportunity to wear her raincoat. 05:03 White Lies and …

Whether we're trying to pry off a lid, cut up an apple, or toss something hot, sometimes the humblest tools are the most useful.

Nicole doesn't get why people love Trader Joe's and Terri's still holding a grudge because they didn't hire her family members, but Catherine would …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:36 Dancing with the Stars: Terri discovered that she can enjoy a contemporary routine, but neither of us enjoyed the very rushed double elimination that …

We've previously gone on record with our dessert decisions (or indecisiveness). Today, in honor of Halloween and bags of sweets coming into homes everywhere for moms to pick through, we play "this or that" with hard …

Last Monday, we talked seriously about some possible additions to valedictorian in honoring high-school seniors. Today, we take a lighter look, …

00:38 Homecoming: Nicole gets to visit Canada, and the season  of autumn. She packed sweaters! 06:33 The Romantic Lives of Our Teens and Young …

To be honest, we have some hobbies and habits that make us wonder just how over the hill we are.

Have you seen the pictured remove-dog-hair-from-upholstery item in a store anywhere? Let Nicole know, would ya? She's searching for that, and Terri …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:41 Dancing with the Stars: Movie Night brought us everything from a hockey-themed paso doble to a classic Rhumba for a Dead Person to a pretty unfortunate …

Some folks want to put limits on who gets to hit us up for candy, but we're more likely to impose a minimum age limit. (You want candy for your …

With some school districts considering ditching the valedictorian designation due to out-of-control competitiveness, we propose some other efforts …

00:29 Canada Mourns: Nicole is saddened by the loss of two important Canadians, actor John Dunsworth and Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. 06:40 …

Having talked about things growing indoors, we move to the wild outdoors to see if Catherine and Terri can at least make things grow in the yard and …

Catherine and Terri both have black thumbs, but Nicole ... ah, Nicole used to be a houseplant person. Listen to her sad, sad plant story. (Mentioned: …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars: It was Disney Night, so we got wigs, jungle creatures, and one slow waltz of awkwardness, plus said goodbye to Sasha (the star, …

As we did a while back about computer screens, we count up the number of TV screens in our homes.

We long for the return of The Brady Bunch, thirtysomething, and Trading Spaces. (And also kind of butcher the Brady Bunch theme song.)

00:31 Renovating in Secret: Home repairs continue, but please don't tell the city inspectors. 08:33 We Remember It Well: We take a cue from Dancing …

Seems like actually answering one's home phone is an activity of the past, like being excited about the mail delivery.

With direct deposit and online bill-paying, the daily mail delivery has become less of a thing. But it's still a nice distraction for freelance writers and dogs.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:56 Dancing with the Stars: The cry-fest known as "My Most Memorable Year" was actually pretty enjoyable to watch, even with all the dramatically barefoot …

With Terri's bathroom finally finished (yay!), she's thinking of which disaster in her home will move to the front of the line. Catherine and Nicole …

If you think we're the kind of people who keep our digital storage neat and trim, you've forgotten that Nicole's phone has nine screens of apps.

00:31 Post-Renovation Debrief: Terri's bathroom reno is complete, but it will never be perfect. Just like our reflections in every mirror we …

Terri needs her black stick pen to do her crosswords, Nicole clings to her trusty Parenting Roundabout pen, and Catherine talked pens with her …

We're looking forward to returning shows This Is Us, Speechless, and Scorpion, and curious about The Good Doctor, but already we're behind in our viewing.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:31 Dancing with the Stars: Guilty Pleasures night was also Happy Judges night and Let's Not Ruin Our Mood by Eliminating Anyone night. 16:39 The West Wing …

Twitter's apparent intention to switch to a 280-character limit from 140 has us mourning that poetic short form and dreading longer rants to read. (Mentioned: @Lin_Manuel, @MayorEmanuel)

We give a shout-out to all that need-to-do stuff waiting on us, and then stuff it back in our purses and inboxes for a little while longer.

00:31 Our Handyman Friends: Catherine got some good news on a household project, which led to a discussion of how familiar we are with some of the …

Catherine belongs to a group for displaced magazine editors, and that got us thinking what other niches of professional and personal interest we'd like to be able to crawl into.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:41 Dancing with the Stars: We cover four hours of dancing in about 11 minutes, plus award our own prizes for Entertainment and Enthusiasm to two of the …

It seems like a good idea at the time, but are we really ready to roll in a humongous moving house? Nicole shares her dream.

Since we're past our stage of life for shows like The Bachelor and Big Brother, we broadened our choice to Food Network and HGTV shows, and allowed ourselves to imagine we're foreign travelers and stars.

Terri's upcoming trip to the Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly Expo got us thinking about all the different allergy-accommodating foods available today and whether we really have to have that restriction to enjoy them.

00:31 Parental Independence: Catherine's son is walking to and from school by himself, and it's a beautiful thing. 04:45 Kids (Parenting Kids) Today: …

Terri already had her fangirl experience (listen to the podcast ep and check out the book mentioned), but Rob Lowe, Jared Leto (conditionally), and Lin-Manuel Miranda are still on our list.

Snacks for the road! Two of us advocate for every kind of junk food, diets be darned, while one will allow for apples. We're leaving her at the side of the road.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:34 Dancing with the Stars: The season kicked off this week with an appealing and promising cast of characters. Fingers crossed that it will continue that …

Is it weird to eat hamburgers on a random Wednesday instead of at a cookout? Do you ever put a turkey with the trimmings on the table outside of Thanksgiving? We chat about the way certain foods get attached to certain …

The school year has started, and soon kids will be bringing fundraising catalogs home from school for our perusal. We chat about whether we're eager …

00:31 Reno Report: Terri's master bath is getting a makeover, and we get a progress report (there is some!). 07:57 Pupper Parenting: We recount just a few of the many ways that caring for our pets is remarkably like …

Following up on yesterday's chat about zoo animals we love, we talk about animals we're somewhat less fond of (that is, hiding from right now).

We're talking about our fave koalas and pandas and trained seals, and Nicole's dog is eating noisily in the background to represent for domesticated …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars: We preview the stars (or "stars") who'll appear this season. We'll be watching, so check back every Tuesday for our recap. 07:55 …

Cringe with us as we recall labor without drugs. Mighty migraines. Gum surgery. And strep toe.

Why do Facebook Messenger, Fitbit, and autocorrect hate us so?

00:31 Aloha: Speaking of jealousy, Nicole and Terri are feeling a few pangs over Catherine's Christmas plans. 07:15 Sibling Jealousy: Forget "growing …

We admit to some posting paralysis when it comes to tossing off comments, updates, and tweets.

Our childhood aspirations ranged from doctors to lawyers to linguists, but only one of us got our dream from Day One.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:54 The Big Sick: Catherine entered an actual movie theater to see this movie, which is …

Parallel parking used to be a thing that new drivers had to learn and old drivers took pride in. Self-parking cars haven't stopped that just yet.

Theoretically, making your bed lets you start off each day with one thing accomplished, but who has time for hospital corners?

00:33 Sunrise, Sunset: School is starting, and Catherine's daughter has a strange tradition. 07:05 Triple Career Crisis: Turns out all three of us …

Who tells you the date? A calendar? Your phone? Your computer? We compare notes and even learn a new trick.

Finding something that everyone will enjoy and won't sit idly growing cold in the back corner of the table? It's stressful!

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars Pros: Before heading to D.C., we made a quick stop in the Ballroom to discuss the pros who will be competing in the upcoming …

We are glad to be living in the age of the gift card, let's just say.

We do some quick takes on pies vs. cakes. Also cookies vs. brownies, hard ice cream vs. soft, and fruit vs. chocolate. Mentioned: discussions on bake …

00:32 Eclipse Report: Catherine traveled to a country road along the Path of Totality to watch the eclipse, and says it really was worth it. 12:30 What Kids Are Watching: Terri wondered whether she's the only one whose …

Uptown? Downtown? On the wrong side of the tracks? In the suburbs? We put ourselves on the map.

We wonder which of our talents would gain us world ranking if we could make any activity an Olympic sport. What would you be a contender in?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 Dancing with the Stars Live Show: We chat with a friend of the podcast who got to see the DWTS tour when it came to Milwaukee earlier this summer. …

Maybe we'll start the day by clearing out that e-mail inbox ... just as soon as we finish this game.

Thanks, technology, for making it easy for us to be hostile introverts!

00:32 Incoming Australians! Nicole has visitors; later in the episode, we'll discuss how they can earn their keep. 10:43 Milestones to Love and Hate: …

We scour the addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates of our lives to discover digits that seem to be following us around.

Monet, the pre-Raphaelites, and the textile work of folksy artist collective the GAP have caught our eye.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:43 Master of None: We say "buona notte" to this season, having liked it quite a bit (Catherine) and with some reservations (Terri). 11:37 The West Wing: In …

In the past year, our kids have started high school, started driving, and started new jobs. And us? We're working, publishing, and podcasting on.

It's not just us, right? Wearing shirts so worn through that it looks like they've been in a knife fight is some kind of guy thing?

00:31 Back to School: Nicole's daughter headed back to school, which somehow led us to reminisce about Gym Classes of Our Past. 07:35 All the Drama, …

Nicole's got us all beat as we count up the houses, apartments, dorms, and other domiciles we've occupied in our lives.

Yesterday, we talked about foods we loved as kids that we'd leave now, and today we flip the question to tally the foods we've grown up to enjoy. (Still no to liver, thanks.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:33 Master of None: Terri tends to like every other episode of this show, and this week's "Amarsi Un Po" was the "nope" after the "yes!" of last week's. (But …

Hate's a strong word, but Nicole might use it to describe her grown-up feelings for Shake-and-Bake chicken.

Our case choices at the moment seem to be style over substance, but a big fat protective case can't fit in your pocket. (Mentioned: PopSockets, iPhone leather case)

Excuse the thunderstorms and technical difficulties in this week's episode. Just keepin' it real for y'all. 00:32 Doggie Diagnosis: Think good …

Is it possible that our Canadian member is the only one who doesn't pick Canadian-hosted Jeopardy?

Turns out we're two night owls and one "don't you dare bother me after 11 p.m.!"

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:34 The Emoji Movie: It's true, Catherine took one for the team and saw this with her son. Her review is a sad face and a thumbs down. 07:35 Master of None: …

Yesterday, we talked about what's obsessing us now, as, you know, old people. Today, we share what we were into as kids.

Catherine's trying to duck a movie, Nicole needs her Canadian iced tea, and Terri would like you to make our podcast stats move, please.

00:31 Bathroom Beautification: Terri's master bath is getting a spruce-up, to ensure that the floor doesn't cave in. 06:22 You Win Some, You Lose …

Checking out the Kickstarter for the super-duper Sandman Doppler clock radio got Terri wondering why ordinary clock radios are so @#$%@ inscrutable.

We're listening to Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and iTunes purchases ... yet it's hard to let those old physical music-bearers go.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:48 Master of None: "Door 3" brought us back to more conventional storytelling, and got us thinking about a totally different show ("My Grandmother's …

A chat last week about losing things loaned leads us to today's discussion of actual deliberate theft. And mugging!

We check in from California/Canada, New Jersey/California, and Wisconsin/New York to compare notes on the different way people talk about things like carbonated beverages, major driving thoroughfares, an Italian …

00:31 Camp Report, and an Apology: Catherine's son successfully brought home three dirty rags from camp, and Terri has a correction on last week's …

If called on to lead, oh, all right, we'll do it — but we'd rather be the workhorse or the puppet-master.

Books, photos, and a stuffed cheetah just seem to have wandered away.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast, featuring NYC, DC, LA, and London: 00:40 Master of None: This week's episode, "New York I …

Let's just say that perms have not been our friends. Also, if your hairstylist is wielding a shaver? Ask.

We've been recently captured with lunch companions, new jewelry, and trolls. (See photos on our Facebook page.)

00:31 A New Fitness Trend: Why and how is trying on clothes like working out at the gym? 06:33 Shame-Rich and Cash-Poor: We talk about the weird ways having money, not having money, spending money, and not spending …

We're just glad we got our guys to participate the first time around. Why push our luck?

Some of our yummiest things didn't even last long enough to be talked about. (Though Nicole's showing some heroic cheesecake restraint.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 01:48 Wonder Woman: Catherine and her daughter thought this super-heroine summer movie was …

We're always on our computers and all about the online shopping, but occasionally we have to go to an actual brick-and-mortar non-virtual emporium. Can we even remember the last time?

Mentioned: Awkward Family Photos, Images of Canada, The Well-Dressed House, Poppystone, and ... something called PR Podcast!

00:31 Congratulations, Nicole! She finished editing her book manuscript, so all that's left is waiting for fame and fortune to arrive. 07:24 Ready …

Whether it's computers, sneakers, iced tea, ketchup chips, or coffee creamers, we're true to our faves.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 01:01 Battle of the Network Stars: Well, that was a thing that happened, and we're not …

On lizards in shoes, lake flies, ticks, and that moment you realize the bug you thought you captured to take outside is now probably crawling on you somewhere. Eek!

Happy Fourth of July! Will you be enjoying today's pyrotechnic displays or just providing moral support to your freaked-out dog?

Ballroom? Latin? Tap? That annoying barefoot contemporary stuff Terri hates on the TV dance shows? We name the styles we'd learn if we could.

00:32 Delegation Fail: Terri tried to stay out of the doctor visiting, but the doctor had other ideas. 06:45 Teen Screen Queens: We are very …

When we took on the question of favorite childhood cartoon, there was some confusion over comic strips vs. animation. So we answered both.

After crossing U2 off her bucket list, Nicole's wondering who we're still waiting to see.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 01:15 Master of None: Season 2, episode 3 gave us a light-hearted, but still thoughtful, …

Just how handy are we? We can fix stuff, sure! And also, call the Geek Squad.

On the hot topic of licorice, we have divisive opinions on black licorice, and we're particularly unsure about the salted kind Catherine brought back …

00:31 Travel Report: Catherine is back from Iceland, which she loved despite the prevalence of dried fish; and she recommends the tour company Pink Iceland to anyone who's thinking of visiting. 09:42 Terms and …

00:31 Ice, Ice, Iceland: Catherine and her son are headed to Iceland. Wish them luck with the jetlag, and the part where the kids have to sing in …

We count up all our household computers — the living, the dead, the well-used, the idle, the laptops, the desktops, the iPads, and the ones that come …

It's important to look after our health, sure, but some of the stuff we have to put up with before and during that exam make us kind of sick of it.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:47 Master of None: In the second episode of this season, Dev's very tall pal Arnold …

Last week, we checked in to see whether we're still friends with the women in our wedding party. Did our husbands do any better with the guys who stood up with them?

A funny story from Ellie Kemper about what calmed her baby on a plane got us thinking about unusual things that comforted our little ones.

00:31 Boarding School Dreams: Catherine's daughter is angling to move away from home three years early. She'll have to win the lottery first, though. …

On last week's group chat, we talked about graduations, and earlier this week, our topic was weddings. Today we finish our review of late spring/early summer with a look back at our own long-ago proms.

Here are all the games we could name from our childhood, with links to the Board Game Geek site to prove we didn't make them up. Not even "Barbie …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed (and cooking-themed, it turns out) podcast: 00:31 Master of None: Allora, Catherine loved the first episode of season 2 of this Netflix original series created by Aziz …

Even though our ceremonies were back in the day before enormous wedding parties were a thing, we don't all have happy stories to tell.

A cartoon from Hedger Humor for Babble (go look at it now, we'll wait) got us thinking about the sweet simple things that make us happy now, in our grown-up years.

00:32 Desk Excavation: Next week, Terri may be podcasting from her new/old office. Stay tuned! 06:19 Stop the Calendar, We Want to Get Off: It's late …

Along with more obvious essentials like wallets, keys, and phones, we speak out for the need to have constant access to things like bandaids, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. You never know when you'll need 'em!

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:37 Dancing with the Stars Finale: One of our favorites, Rashad Jennings (and Emma), won the Mirror Ball, but only after the show tossed in one last …

Some prefer the fresh air; some prefer to never ever be hot; and some can't quite figure out where the line between pleasant and sweltering falls.

We checked out a Good Housekeeping list of 50 (Big and Little) Things It's Finally Time to Get Rid of and found ourselves guilty of having most of them hanging around.

We chat about things that have completely fallen out of our everyday routine, and hatch a plot to fool today's kids about what that ancient relic the …

00:32 Reunion Report: Catherine went back to school for a college reunion, which baffled our resident Canadian. 08:27 How to Live Happily Ever After: …

We're still in awe of how they put dinner on the table night after night. But the cooking grease under the sink or the alfalfa sprouts among the glassware? Not so much.

Maybe it's the four-hour plane ride. Maybe it's the old unhappy memories. Maybe it's some recent memories that aren't so great. For whatever …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast: 00:57 Dancing with the Stars: It's the semi-finals! The question of whether this is a …

Before there were computers and smartphones and fancy prefab fidget spinners, we kept ourselves distracted with ... taking apart pens. Peeling pencil paint. Unwinding paper clips. Doodling. So much doodling. (For more …

Ah, sleep time, when the subconscious opens the door on every stupid thing you could possibly imagine worrying about or wondering about or thinking …

00:32 Holding a Grudge: Nicole has a bone to pick with a high school boy. 06:25 Well, That's a Bummer: There's a very fine line between encouragement …

In which we download but maybe do not keep apps for virtual reality, car financing, and (Terri's nemesis) Spotify.

Howdy, neighbor! Have you a baseball mitt we might borrow? A wheelbarrow? A hand-me-down wardrobe, perhaps?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:33 Dancing with the Stars — Trio Night brought a trio of stupidly sexist dances (with varying levels of grossness), but it also brought an end to Bonner's …

Our most recent listens: The West Wing Weekly podcast, TV Avalanche, and ... what's that? A little thing called "Parenting Roundabout"?

Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, and to mark the occasion, we've gathered a few of our favorite thoughts about what it means to be a mother. We tend to hit it right between inspiration and negativity.

00:31 School-Day Survivor: Who will make it out of the house alive, the kids or the parents? 05:08 Junior Financial Know-How: Teaching kids about …

Sometimes we're feeling classical. Sometimes we're feeling pop. And sometimes certain songs just play themselves.

We are the Rockets! The Mustangs! The Terriers! We are the Quakers! The Gauchos! The Lancers! The Little Lions! And we are a bunch of mascots Nicole …

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:30 Dancing with the Stars - "A Night at the Movies" had a tragicomic ending, as we said goodbye to Nancy (boo) and Nick (yay). Mentioned: Last season's …

As seems to be the thing to do on Facebook these days, we talked about some concerts we've seen — and no lies on the list. (Mentioned: Terri's report on Lyle Lovett/Bonnie Raitt vs. Aaron Carter.)

Statistics say 10 percent of the population is left-handed, but for our podcast, it's more like 33.3%. Guess which one of us is the leftie.

00:32 A Major Award: Nicole's brother was nominated for an Emmy! 4:17 Ladies in Waiting: When we were handing out our own awards a few weeks ago, we …

On our Thursday Speed Round, we consider the degree to which the cool things of our youth — Walkman! Stirrup pants! The Seventies! — have not fared …

When it comes to hiccups, some form of not breathing is our go-to strategy.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:40 Dancing with the Stars—Last week, we hoped we wouldn't see Julianne's top-knot …

On our Tuesday Speed Round, we talked weird foods we're not afraid to say we like. Hear us justify our appreciation of rice cakes with margarine, Brussels sprouts, and Vegemite.

When it comes to TV, movies, and books, do you prefer trying new things or revisiting old favorites? The sheer volume of new entertainment these days …

00:32 The DMV: Nicole takes a birthday trip to everyone's favorite government agency. 06:36 Purchasing Power: Spending money is stressful, especially …

We recall some cruises we have experienced, both life-changing and nausea-inducing, and wonder if we'd still enjoy them as much today.

Clipping coupons seems like such a good idea, but sometimes, our time is worth more than 20 cents off. (Mentioned: Honey.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:34 Dancing with the Stars: Disney Night was self-promotional in a very adorable way. We …

We chatted about the odors that bring back memories, and found that one person's delightful campfire smell is another's emergency brushfire alert.

Following up on our crisis chat from Friday, which included an account of Nicole's son's scary car crash, we talk about some other car accidents in …

00:32 You Need What Now?: Catherine fields a strange "I forgot my..." request from her high-schooler. 05:45 The Situation Is Critical: We're lucky …

If you're looking for us, we're probably checking our social media pages, or maybe our bank balance.

Whether it's suffer like we did or learn from our mistakes, we've got some suggestions for essential life experiences.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:44 Dancing with the Stars: "My most memorable year" week was surprisingly upbeat, with some notable exceptions. We were happy that one Miss T (Tonya Harding) …

If you want to find something, research something, or maybe get some under-qualified tech support, we're your girls.

We'd like to think we're good at writing and teaching and maybe even podcasting, but there are some jobs that are just not for us.

00:31 Alpaca Love — Catherine's son received a birthday gift that fuels his passion for alpacas (just don't tell him that his gift actually features llamas). 05:05 The Award Goes To ... — We decided that parents aren't …

Beautiful scenery, adorable kids, amusing animals? Nah. Our latest snaps are much more utilitarian.

On the one hand, literature. On the other hand, a story you can multitask to.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:36 Dancing with the Stars: Week three brought a theme well-suited to the ballroom's vibe, a toe-tapping opening number, and another no-surprises here …

We can remember when stick shifts were cheap. But can we remember how to drive them? 

If you can sit and listen to this three-minute podcast without having to check your phone for important messages, you're stronger than us.

00:31 Beverly Hills Mammogram — Nicole actually had a very positive experience getting a mammogram! PSA: You should get one too, even if you can't …

This isn't one of those name games that uses the name of our childhood street or pet. We're just wondering whether we'd ditch our last names — which people find unaccountably confusing to pronounce — for something more …

Maybe because we work at home in sweats and yoga pants, we're all for comfortable over constricting. But only really sloppy-looking sometimes.

Your road map to this week’s entertainment-themed episode: 00:43 Dancing with the Stars: The first elimination was no big surprise, and we've got the next one picked out too. Are you watching? 18:10 Beauty and the …

Household maintenance can be a ... well, chore, but some things are surprisingly satisfying. (Look for the stuff that has a clear finish line.)

After praising what we like best about our current hometowns in last Thursday's Speed Round, we go all negative on our burgs on today's edition.

00:32 Luge Camp Report: Catherine's son had another round of learning how to fly downhill on a tiny sled without your mother screaming "No!" 03:57 Reading, Writing, and Ranting: When we read a Popsugar post about a …

We like our towns walkable, Norman Rockwell-like, and full of supportive people.

Could anybody not have Friday as a favorite? Could anybody actually like Mondays? We mix it up a little with choices predictable and un-.

Your road map to this week’s entertainment-themed episode: 00:33 Dancing with the Stars: It’s time to return to the ballroom, and we’re happy to see our beloved Tom Bergeron, the pros, and (most of) the celebrity …

Are we closely following the NCAA basketball tournament? What do you think? One of us doesn't even know what brackets ARE. 

Last Monday, we talked about our oldest friend, which got Terri wondering why she had old friends from elementary school, high school, and her …

00:32 Nicole's SXSWedu: It may be all cutting-edge and stuff, but SXSWedu needs to step up its snack game. 06:16 That Ain't No Way to Treat My Baby: …

On our Thursday Speed Round, we talk about those things that wind up in our cart on every shopping trip (at least, the two of us who ever go shopping …

On today's Speed Round, we talk about those things other people do that drive us up a wall. All we'll say here is, be careful eating around Nicole.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:33 Dancing with the Stars: Our favorite pros are back with the usual motley crew of stars ... er, “stars.” We’ll be watching when the show premieres next …

Normally our Speed Round questions are kinda frivolous, but today we take a turn into something potentially serious. Fortunately, though, the hamster …

We've talked about class reunions and our high-school selves, and now we see if we still have some friends from those old times, or maybe even …

00:32 Everybody's Talking About the Weather: And so are we. Can you hear that wind? 03:29 Today's Topic: Don't Ever Change: We try to keep things steady and stress-free for the kiddos, but there's not much we can do …

We've read a lot of parenting books in our day. But when it comes time to read something for enjoyment, do we like our worlds real or made up? 

On Monday, we talked about how organized the apps on our phones are or are not. Today, it's our medical records. Can we even say with any certainty where they're at?

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:33 The Postmistress: Catherine did not appreciate the way the author, Sarah Blake, needlessly killed off a character at the end of this book. But things are …

Catherine's got a college class reunion coming up, so we chatted about some not-that-spectacular reunion experiences ... sort of confirming Nicole's …

Almost a year ago, we chatted about the relative neatness of our computer desktops. Today, we look at the handheld version and talk about whether our phone apps are orderly.

00:32 This Is Us, Total Wrecks Over This Is Us: Catherine and Nicole are still drying their eyes from That Episode. (Mentioned: the cast's apology …

The last question in that US News and World Report article on parenting vision statements asks us what we'd like to change about our parenting, and ... yeah, regrets, we have a few. You too? Tell us about them in the …

We continue answering questions from a US News and World Report article on dad vision statements with a look at parenting priorities. Ours aren't so complex. How about yours? Share them in the comments.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode: 00:30 The Oscars: We talk about that one thing that everyone’s talking about, but also touch on some other highlights and lowlights of the evening. 10:11 The …

We continue our fun with that US News and World Report article on dad vision statements with a look at the things we hope the warm glow of memory will erase from our children's perception of us. What are you hoping your …

An article in US News and World Report proposing that dads create a parenting vision statement made us think for a second and laugh for way longer. All this week, though, we'll be looking at the suggested vision …

On this week’s group chat, we talk about kids and sleep (and adults and no sleep); recognize some important family milestones; shout out some stuff …

We've chatted before about what happens when our kids get sick. On today's Speed Round, it's Mom and Dad who are under the weather. Does everything stop? Does life go on? Does it matter which parent we're talking …

An earlier conversation on skills we'd like to learn got us wondering if any of us had ever actually gone to a class to do so. What we've mostly found out is that learning new skills is easier said than done. Have you …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri check in on Speechless, continue watching The West Wing, and try out an episode of Lost on the Challenge Round. Here’s …

Maybe we'd feel more excited about a carefully planned-out trip if the work of making that happen didn't always fall to us. As it is ... there's a …

You've seen that meme going around Facebook where you answer questions about your senior year in high school, right? There are way too many items on …

On this week’s group chat, we talk about family nicknames on our Friday Speed Round; shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup; hear an interview with a special-education advocate; and do some shameless …

Today’s a mini-rant day for just complaining about the constant calls we get from telemarketers and scammers. Leave us alone! Do we have to just stop answering the phone? How annoyed are you by junk calls these days? …

Catherine’s “grocery fair” typo already gave us inspiration for a discussion of fantasy school fundraisers, and now we extend that to any sort of …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The West Wing, listen to some of Catherine’s favorite music on the Challenge Round, and discuss the …

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today we talk about what we hope we’ll get for the heart-filled holiday. Candy? Flowers? Cards? A quiet house? We can only …

As much as we love our computers and devices and online opportunities, it’s hard not to think sometimes that things were simpler when we couldn’t …

On this week’s group chat, we consider the importance of helping kids find things they’re good at, imagine new fundraisers we’d like to see schools …

Sure, we recycle, at least if there's a bin handy. But when it comes to major lifestyle changes that might have a bigger impact, we're not so consistent. Are you gung-ho or not-so about environmental friendliness? Tell …

Catherine's noticing of crafting moms on a skate-team bus made her think of what she'd like to learn how to do, and ask the rest of us for our skill wishes. Music and maintenance are at the top of our list. What's on …

On this week's super-sized episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The West Wing, check out the Super Bowl (mostly for the commercials, of course), and …

Finding the right position for comfortable sleep is important. It's sometimes made more complicated, though, by the humans and dogs who share our bed. How do you sleep? Share in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Space may be vast and full of wonders, but the idea of living in it makes us feel cramped and claustrophobic and depressed. Do you long to explore …

On this week’s group chat, we explore the sorry state of our social lives, assess our level of interest in the Super Bowl, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, and do some shameless self-promotion. …

Our answers to this "Would you rather" question were pretty quick and unanimous. Whether that says something about fame today or our personal …

We debate a bit as to whether today's question on where we'd rather live is about size of abode, freedom from yard work, or sharing walls with strangers. However we frame the question, though, we've got opinions. What …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The West Wing, Catherine gives a book report, and our entertainment challenge continues with …

Understanding? Honesty? A promise to always listen to your podcast? Today we consider the things we expect and appreciate from our friends, and find out that one of us has dangerously high standards. What do you look …

Peek in our car trunks, and what will you find? Let's just say that we're safe from earthquakes and starvation, but we're stumped when it comes to storing spare tires or removing dog hair. What's in your trunk? Reveal …

On this week's group chat, we let off some steam with some big rants over small annoyances, imagine what kind of grandparents we'll be, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, and do some shameless …

Groceries. Bank. Post Office. Bills. We warm up for tomorrow's rant-filled group chat by lamenting some of our least-favorite errands, both out and about and online. What errands do you most hate (or love, for that …

With Nicole's daughter recently getting her driver's license (as preemptively worried about on last week's group chat), we thought back to our own …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The West Wing, plus tee up a new challenge for each other. And Catherine even saw a first-run movie! …

A story about a mom who built a house by following YouTube videos inspired us to chat about things we may have learned how to do from YouTube. Like …

Ah-choo! On last week's group chat, Catherine sang the phrases of an Advil flu remedy, and we thought we'd talk a little more about for today's speed round. Do you prefer chemicals, natural remedies, a little of both, …

On this week's group chat, we talk about grades and how much we should care about them, talk about celebrating big birthdays on our Friday speed …

When it comes to exercise, some of it is best done in groups, some with maybe one or two agreeable companions, and some all alone. We compare our exercise-company preferences in today's episode. Are you a person who …

Yesterday, we talked about how we keep kids amused on car trips. But car trips can be tedious for adults too, even if there are no kids yelling "Are …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The Great American Baking Show and The West Wing, plus tee up a new challenge for each other. Here’s …

The era of personal electronics and in-car DVD players has certainly made things easier, but a lengthy road trip can still be a test of a parent's creativity and endurance. We share some of our strategies for keeping …

After talking about claustrophobia in a chat about riding up the St. Louis Arch on Episode 152, Terri asked her fellow podcasters about their …

On this week’s group chat, we talk about our recent winter travel, share some tourist-attraction disappointments on our Friday speed round, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, and do some shameless …

Time for a little truth in business cards. We need ones that confirm our status as family insurance case managers, celebrate our …

Yesterday, we talked about how many states we've been to. Today, to keep things fair for our Canadian podcaster, we went north of the border and …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The Great American Baking Show …

As a relative newcomer to the US, Nicole’s well behind Catherine and Terri in the “states visited” count. Surely she’ll show us up, though, in …

At least in the snowier parts of the US, it's the season for skiing, sledding, snowshoe-ing, hockey playing, ice fishing, and all manner of winter sports. On today's episode, we assess our level of enthusiasm for snow …

Happy 2017! But before we’re totally done with 2016, Catherine and Terri take a little look back at the pop culture resolutions they made and sort of …

Everybody's got an opinion, and a strong opinion about something or other. Us? We're a little on the snobby side about TV we don't like and hotels …

Say, hypothetically, you weren't ridiculously overworked and had time to hit a museum in some mythical free time. Would it be the art, history, or …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri continue watching The Great American Baking Show and listening to The West Wing Weekly podcast. Plus, Catherine read two …

The person in front of Nicole at the Starbucks drive-through bought her coffee the other day, and she wondered if Catherine and Terri had similar …

A new year has begun, with unlimited potential (for good or bad, we suppose), and it got use thinking about what we'd like an unlimited supply of if we had a chance to choose. While Terri went a little big-picture with …

On this week's group chat, we discuss yet another new parenting philosophy, confess our childhood misdeeds on our Friday speed round, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, look forward to upcoming pop …

Some of our Speed Round topics are just frivolous or fun, and some offer an opportunity to find out things we never knew about each other. This one …

It's a stressful time of year, but c'mon, there's got to be something good going on. For today's Speed Round, we challenged each other to come up …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri check in with Netflix’s original series The Crown, and continue watching The Great American Baking Show and The West …

You don't have to listen to our podcast very much to know that we're dog-friendly. Our episodes are often punctuated by barking or collar-jingling or …

Our first cars were largely large — the ones we learned to drive on, anyway. The first cars we bought were smaller, possibly explosive, and in one case not purchased until after marriage and family. Listen to our …

On this week's group chat, we discuss holiday traditions, list some things we wish we could put on a wish list, share some stuff we love on the …

Two out of three of us don't particularly cook, but still the question came up: what's that special thing you make, your signature dish? Baked goods, …

Not everybody in our households has embraced texting and other handy electronic communication, but we have. If it was up to us, maybe we'd never talk …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri check in with NBC’s latest live TV musical and …

A famous woman, a favorite author, and Nicole's possibly felonious forebears make an appearance in our fantasies of which historical figure we'd like …

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us and holiday shopping in full swing, we've got buying on our minds. In discussing our latest purchases, …

On this week's group chat, we discuss kids speaking up for themselves at the doctor; talk about holiday decorating on our Friday speed round; shout …

Come to think of it, this probably would have been a better topic for summer, but we all eat ice cream even when it's icy out, right? Listen to hear …

Shower? Breakfast? Paper? Yelling at kids to hurry up and get ready for school? There are all sorts of ways to start your day, but it shouldn't …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri check in with a new TV series and an old one, plus …

Sometimes in our lives, time is worth more than money, and we can spend for convenience without hyperventilating Other times, when money is not so easy to come by, we're willing to invest more of that time thing. In …

Our couches get a workout, between dogs and kids and grown-ups who fall asleep there. We assess the sorry state of our sofas and congratulate Nicole …

On this week's group chat, we discuss parental teasing; talk about winter gear on our Friday speed round; shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, hear an interview with occupational therapist Meghan …

We all agree that covering your windows is important (though some of Nicole's neighbors? Not so much.) But what are we covering them with? Blinds? …

On this week’s episode of Parenting Roundabout’s entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri take a break from all the TV they’ve been watching. Instead, they report on a book and two movies, and (because they …

Are you in a "you drive it, you fill it up" household, or is gassing up the vehicles part of the dividing up of household duties? Surprisingly, the …

The seasonal music switch is officially flipped now to Christmas tunes, whether we like it or not. And since so many folks seem to be picking not at …

The great deal Terri got on a laptop on a bygone Cyber Monday got us thinking about the computers we're using now and whether we're due for an upgrade. Is this your long weekend for tech-shopping? Tell us in the …

On this week's group chat, we talk about special-occasion pressure, discuss the start of the holiday shopping season on our Friday speed round, shout …

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you're not surrounded by nitpicky family members who make you feel like something's wrong with you. But come to think of it, there might be something we'd like to change about our appearance, …

We seem to be talking about grooming a lot this week, and today's question asks about how much we can bear to pay for hair cutting (and styling and …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri discuss the two-part finale of Dancing With the Stars, finish off their Sports Night episodes, and continue on with West …

Continuing on our grooming theme for the week, we look at shampoos and wonder how much is appropriate to spend. Our preferences range from pricey salon selections to the bottom of the supermarket barrel. How much do you …

This turned out to be kind of a grooming-themed week of speed rounds, and we're starting out with a discussion of good old-fashioned bar soap vs. …

On this week's group chat, we talk about parenting and work burnout; look for our own traits, good or bad, in our kids; shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup; chat with Robert Rummel-Hudson about the …

Terri's having a fight with her dentist. Nicole's always shopping around for a better one. Catherine lives in dread of being sent back to the gum …

Earthquakes. Fires. Tornados. Floods. Hurricanes. Hurricane panics. We've seen 'em all, and in some cases bought the insurance. What is Mother Nature up to in your part of the world? Share in the comments here or on our …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri watched the next to last week of Dancing With the Stars, the next to last batch of Sports Night episodes, and a real …

Hobbies like sewing, knitting, and crocheting theoretically have as their end product something somebody can wear. For today's question, we wanted to see if any of us are quite that industrious. Maybe our moms were, and …

Being sick is no fun, but sometimes, we wish for the ability to just put school or work on hold for 24 hours and take good care of ourselves. Sick …

On this week's group chat, we talk about grown-ups who bully our kids; wonder if our families could figure out how to pay bills without us; shout out …

Sure, we're there in sickness and in health, but in the watching of Adam Sandler movies and the adoration of Hamilton? Spousal unity may only go so far. On today's speed round, we shared the state of our entertainment …

Harry Potter had his invisibility cloak, and we're jealous. If we had the power to move about undetected, just think of all the good intel we could …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri watched the third to last week of "Dancing With the Stars," our second to last batch of "Sports Night" episodes, and …

Catherine's son wanted to know who the Justin Bieber of her day was, and though we can't quite figure that out, we do recall some of our celebrity fandoms and crushes from years gone by. Who was your fave celeb when you …

Whether it's moving to a new country at a moment's notice, moving to the big city with big dreams but no job, or traveling abroad without really being sufficiently wordly, we've done some things in our lives that still …

On this week's group chat, we talk about tough choices moms have to make; share some kid food quirks on our Friday speed round; shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Round-Up, and hear an interview with …

In appearance, in temperament, in lying-down-in-a-dark-room-with-a-wet-rag-over-your-eyes anxiety, we all take after one or the other of our parents. Find out which side of the tree our apple doesn't fall too far from, …

A while back we talked on a Speed Round about places we'd like to visit, and thinking a little more along those lines, we share some other things we'd like to do before it's too late, from education to travel to all …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri chat about Dancing With the Stars, three season-2 episodes of Sports Night, and the latest episode in our West Wing …

From high cliffs to dark forests to a scene right out of a suspense movie, we share some scary spots we've found ourself in. What's the scariest place you've been? Relive it in the comments here or on our Facebook page.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We're marking the day with a speed round on some costumes our kids have worn that we're proudest of, or maybe just happy they took as little work on our part as possible. Watch our Twitter feed for a …

On this week's group chat, we talked about neighborhood life; shared some family rules on our Friday speed round; shouted out some stuff we like on …

Used to be, family photo clutter meant shoeboxes full of snapshots to sort through. Now it's more likely to be thousands of phone-snapped images …

Home TV screens are getting bigger, yet phone-size screens are more and more becoming the place our eyeballs soak up entertainment. We talked today about which screens we're most likely to watch TV and movies …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri chat about Dancing With the Stars, the #Hamildoc, four season-two episodes of Sports Night, and the latest episode in …

TV commercials for Alexa have got us thinking about our personal degree of home automation and whether we wish we were more hooked up. Are you living it up in a Smart Home? Tell us about it in the comments here or on …

Candy bars? Chips? Toothbrushes? We share what we'll be dropping in trick-or-treat bags—or eating ourselves if the trick-or-treaters are sparse—on today's Speed Round. Let us know what you're giving out in the comments …

On this week's group chat, we talk about the dreaded Letter from the School; share some favorite quotes from past podcasts on our Friday speed round; …

Yesterday we talked about reappropriating other people's trash for our own purposes. Today we turn to the junk we're looking to get rid of. Do we turn to Goodwill, Freecycling, or any of the numerous organizations that …

An episode of Speechless that featured the family scrounging home furnishings from the curbside discards of neighbors got us thinking about whether …

Accumulating tapes and discs seemed like a good idea back when that was the only way to watch our favorite movies and TV shows at will. Now that …

On this week's episode of Parenting Roundabout's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine and Terri chat about Dancing With the Stars, the start of the second season of Sports Night, and the latest episode in our West …