The credit for this whole episode goes to Melanie, who suggested that we have a conversation about the books that have shaped us over the course of our lives. So what we have here in Ye Olde 193 is a discussion of Books We Have Loved – from childhood to adulthood. And it’s not just that we love these books; it’s also that, in big ways and small ways, these books have changed us.

I swore and declared that I was absolutely not going to do links for all of these books – I even say that in the episode intro – but lo and behold I ended up adding links for almost everything that’s currently in print.

And just FYI: we are not condoning every situation in every book, we are not endorsing every author of every book, we are not subscribing to every philosophy in every book. We’re just saying, HEY, THIS MEANT SOMETHING TO US, and by the way, that may have happened despite the fact that the author really enjoys the F word.

Enjoy, y’all!

p.s. We also talk about Hamilton again. :-)

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You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

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Show Notes:

– Eliza’s gasp

– Lin Manuel Miranda on writing “My Shot”

– I’ll Have What Phil’s Having

– Salt Fat Acid Heat

– Taste the Nation

– Peter Rabbit series by Beatrix Potter

– The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

– Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene

– The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

– Ramona series by Beverly Clearly

– Judy Blume books (SO MANY)

– The Ring by Danielle Steele

– Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal

– Hail, Hail Camp Timberwood by Ellen Conford

– Just Like Ice Cream

– The Color Purple by Alice Walker

– Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

– The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

– If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, Then What Am I Doing in the Pits? by Erma Bombeck

– Jacob, Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

– Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

– To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

– The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

– Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

– Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

– No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado

– Believing God by Beth Moore

– Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

– Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott

– Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

– Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

– Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

– The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

– The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

– Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

– Bossypants by Tina Fey

– Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

– The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

– Leaving Church by Barbara Brown Taylor

– The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

– The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

– Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison

– The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Sponsors:

– Hydrant (use the promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order)

– care/of (use the promo code BIGBOOCAST50 for 50% off your first order)

– Thrive Market (use this link to join and get up to $20 towards your first order)

To absolutely no one’s surprise, we talk a whole lot about Hamilton in this episode. And also Somebody Feed Phil. And then maybe a little more about Hamilton. But really, all of that pales in comparison to Melanie’s ranch adventures on the 4th of July, a day that just might have changed her forever. Because SWEET MERCY, THE NATURE.

We also discuss Melanie’s new thoughts about Cica moisturizing cream and my deep well of optimism re: a new dress from Amazon. 2020 is really coming through for us!*

*That was sarcasm.

*Deep, biting sarcasm.

Enjoy, y’all!

Become a Patron!

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

Show Notes:

– Stand All the Way Up

– Nobody’s Cuter Than You

– Hamilton on Disney+

– Chris Jackson

– Daveed Diggs

– Leslie Odom, Jr.

– Philippa Soo

– Somebody Feed Phil

– Phil Rosenthal on Instagram

– Anne with an E

– David Foster: Off the Record (just FYI – lots of language)

– Phil Rosenthal’s PBS show

– Loose maxi dress with so many color options

– Loose maxi dress with lots of size options

– Target Stars Above pajamas

– Secret Treasures pajama shorts (you can’t buy separately online)

– The Heir Affair (we’ve waited SO LONG for this one!)

– Cica face cream

Sponsors:

– Best Fiends (download in the Apple app store or on Google Play) (IT IS SO FUN)

– Prose (promo code BIGBOO for your free in-depth hair quiz and 15% off your first order)

– Magic Spoon (promo code BIGBOO for free shipping)

So Melanie and I are taking a little break this week, but we’re sharing an episode that will be new to most of you. Last month on Patreon we did a Closer Look episode on health and body image, and we got more feedback – comments, DMs, emails – than we have on any other episode. People’s reactions were encouraging and candid and inspiring. Given that, we thought we would share the epsiode here, too. Here’s what we told our Patreon folks when we originally posted it:

For this Closer Look episode Melanie and I decided to talk about health and weight and body image and etc. It’s something that I write about in a chapter of the new book, and several of you have asked if we might be willing to talk about this very thing. Melanie and I have both found ourselves in not-great places with our physical health over the last several years, so I think no one is more surprised than we are by how much we have grown to love being active.

So. You’re going to hear a some of our stories from our teenage years through college and adulthood and now into middle age. Two really different body types, two really different histories with food and exercise – but both of us hitting our 40s and realizing that something needed to give.

(Also both of us getting really angry at our husbands before we made a commitment to ourselves and our health. AS YOU WILL HEAR. :-) )

All that to say: no doubt Melanie and I are both works in progress. But we both have gotten to a place where we feel strong and we actually like to move. I struggle with my weight more than Melanie does – this is no secret – but I am so grateful to be in a place where my level of activity helps to quiet the negative voices in my head. And I’m also grateful for friends like Melanie where I can talk about this kind of stuff openly and without judgment. That has been such good medicine.

Hope y’all enjoy!

p.s. Quick disclaimer: if you have dealt with an exercise or eating disorder, this episode may be not be the most enjoyable for you, especially if you struggle with negative feelings about your physical body. We certainly don’t want to trigger that or say anything that might make you feel anxious, so I just wanted to make you aware that we talk a lot about exercise and size and body image in this episode in case it’s healthier for you not to listen. And also, if we could, we would give you a big hug right now – because you are awesome. :-) 

If you would like to join us on Patreon, we would be delighted to have you. For $5 a month (plus tax, in some states), you get a Closer Look episode – where we talk about something we’re both thinking about or obsessed with or analyzing like crazy – and a Q&A where we answer Patreon listeners’ questions. It has been a ton of fun, and if you join now, you’ll have access to all the old episodes as well as the new content. It’s easy-breezy to sign up.

Become a Patron!

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

Show Notes:

– Stand All the Way Up  

– This is a sad state of affairs for show notes – but we mostly talk about our personal stories instead of products. The good news is that maybe this episode won’t cost you a lot of money for new skin care products. :-) 

This episode is a real hodge-podge, which might well be our very favorite kind. We talk about corn and laundry detergent and hair ties and Melanie’s pre-Hamilton television concerns.

We also discuss a guasha stone tutorial Melanie recently watched as well as how tired we are of cooking. Because PANDEMIC. And we spend some time breaking it on down in terms of some big ole takeaways from Somebody Feed Phil.

Enjoy, y’all!

Become a Patron!

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

Show Notes:

– Kasey’s Summertime Corn – 2 14 oz. bags frozen corn, 1 block cream cheese, 4 Tbs. butter, 2 Tbs. sugar, salt and pepper to taste. 4 hours on low in crock pot, or add 1/4 cup half and half and cook on medium low on the stove, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes

– Nike Hair Ties

– Guasha Stone

– Tutorial on how to use the Guasha Stone

– Hamilton on Disney +

– Erin Moon’s Hamilton spreadsheet

– Gain Essentials Orange and Energetic Grapefruit

– Family Savvy Baked Ziti

– Somebody Feed Phil

– Karen Howell

Sponsors:

– Magic Spoon (promo code BIGBOO for free shipping)

– Thrive Market (use our link for up to $20 toward your first order)

When we start this episode, I’m maybe not in my best frame of mind on book release eve (Stand All the Way Up came out this past Tuesday). But then Melanie compares my writing to mashed potatoes, and then we talk about Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book, and let me tell you: my frown turned upside down.

DO NOT SLEEP ON JESSICA’S WRITING ABILITY, my friends.

For the rest of the episode we do a Q&A, and this, this is one of our very favorite things. We didn’t make much of a dent in the questions y’all submitted via IG, but we had a blast talking about Melanie’s skin care regimen and my green ring and why we will likely never have a YouTube channel, among other things.

Enjoy, y’all!

Become a Patron!

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

Show Notes:

– Stand All the Way Up (Sophie’s new book)

– Open Book by Jessica Simpson

– Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions mascara

– Ben Rector

– Dave Barnes

– Dave Barnes on episode 89 of the podcast

– Bright Balance 3 in 1 cleanser

– Ponds Cleansing Balm

– Zo skin health products that Melanie is currently using

– Elta MD clear face sunscreen

– Sunday Riley Luna retinol sleeping night oil

– Obagi Retinol

– Sunday Riley Vitamin C serum

– Elta MD sport sunscreen

– Cheeky Maiden complexion soap (Sophie’s fave -and it’s so affordable)

– Teddy Organics rosehip oil

– Creme de la Blair moisturizer

– Gua sha facial tool

– Glo revive light therapy anti-aging light

– Jouer Soft Focus Hydrate & Set Powder

– Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow

– Downluxe Goose Feather Down Pillow

– Garth is on Netflix! (The Road I’m On)

– Somebody Feed Phil

Sponsors:

– Beachbody on Demand (text BIGBOO to 303030 for a free two-week trial)

This week we talk about Caroline’s recent wisdom teeth removal, a couple of recent Amazon finds, and a strange Instagram account that is also somewhat captivating. We also discuss a viewing strategy for Hamilton on Disney Plus and reminisce about the cough drops of our youth. As you do.

We also discuss Alex’s return to football workouts and Melanie’s dry shampoo strategies. We trust that your life will be enriched by this illuminating content.

:-)

Enjoy, y’all!

Become a Patron!

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

Show Notes:

– Living Proof Dry Shampoo

– Sally O’Malley

– Hamilton movie on DisneyPlus

– Lin Manuel Miranda’s White House performance before Hamilton was a musical

– Hamilton on CBS Sunday Morning

– Erin Moon’s extensive Hamilton spreadsheet

– The Heir Affair

– amusing_asmr Instagram account

– This is my favorite from the asmr IG page

– Evriholder Fur Removal Broom

– Guasha Facial Massage Tool

– Sucrets

– Luden’s

– Dot’s Pretzels

– Mrs. America on Hulu

– Mrs. America opening credits

– Mom Celebrity Translator

– Stand All the Way Up (releases June 16th!)

Sponsors:

– Magic Spoon (promo code BIGBOO for free shipping)

– Best Fiends (available in the Apple App Store or Google Play)

– FabFitFun (promo code BIGBOO for $10 off your first order)