In this episode, Shailey and Katie dive into the real, practical side of gratitude — the kind that actually rewires your brain, improves your relationships, and helps you show up as a calmer, less-reactive human (science says so). They unpack how neuroplasticity works, why your brain loves repetition, and why gratitude isn’t about ignoring hard things — it’s about training your mind to notice more than just the problems. Katie jumps in with research on gratitude, self-awareness, and why “toxic positivity” isn’t the goal — acknowledging the real stuff is part of the healing. Together, they introduce a simple experiment to help listeners practice gratitude in a way that feels doable, not delusional. The Practical Gratitude Challenge Pick a trigger category — a person or area that normally sparks frustration — and choose your challenge level: Light: Do a one-time brain dump of everything good or redeemable about that challenging area/person. Medium: Write one genuine gratitude each day for two weeks. Intense: Write three specific gratitudes daily plus one “first-person goal” (a sentence you want to be true about you, written as if it already is). Bonus: Add The Complaint Diet for the week — pause before venting, redirect where it makes sense, and watch what shifts.

“People pleasing is actually about controlling others.”Wait—what? Rude! But it’s true. When we’re trying to make everyone happy, what we’re really trying to do is control how people see us. This week, we’re unpacking that sneaky truth and learning how to say no (without turning into a soulless- boundary-monster). People pleasing. From apologizing for existing 😆 to saying yes when your soul is screaming no, they get real about why we do it, how it sneaks into everyday moments, and what it looks like to finally break free. They share cringe-worthy personal stories (we’ve all been there), and dig into how to set boundaries without burning bridges. You’ll hear about the power of pausing before reacting, assuming positive intent (even when it’s hard), and how curiosity can diffuse 90% of awkward human moments. And because we love a good game, the episode includes a “Boundary Blitz” — a rapid-fire roleplay where Shailey gets to practice saying no. You’ll walk away with practical ways to stop over-explaining, start communicating clearly, and actually feel confident when you say no — without the shame spiral. 

Travel Hacks! The art of traveling — with kids, with friends, or with whoever’s part of your current adventure crew. ✈️ We’re sharing our favorite tips to make trips enjoyable and (mostly) stress-free — from setting expectations before we even leave the driveway to giving everyone small “travel jobs” that build independence and teamwork. We talk about how we balance adventure days with real rest, budget for souvenirs that actually mean something, and use simple games to keep long travel days fun. We also get into creative destination ideas, building a family (or friend group) bucket list, and why having a transition day after getting home might be the most important part of the trip. Most of all, we want this episode to remind you that you don’t have to wait for the perfect season to travel. You can weave adventure and connection into the life you already have — chaos, car seats, or carry-ons included.

Katie's talking about how to fall back in love with your everyday life — the ordinary, in-between moments that usually fly under the radar. Because somewhere between unloading the dishwasher and answering another email, we forget that this is our life. And it’s happening right now. How to romanticize the routine — not by pretending everything’s perfect, but by slowing down enough to notice the magic that’s already there. From making your morning coffee feel sacred to turning carpool into your favorite thinking time, they share small mindset shifts that turn the mundane into something meaningful. It’s about showing up fully awake to your own story — and realizing it’s already beautiful.

Shailey spills her interior design secrets — the little things that make your home look effortlessly styled (without it feeling like a museum where no one’s allowed to sit on the couch). She walks Katie through her favorite hidden design tricks — like how to use coffee table books as instant personality injections, why stacks of three just feel right, and how trays are basically the emotional support system of home decor. They also get real about the struggle of folding fitted sheets (spoiler: Shailey has thoughts) and how to mix colors, textures, and personal items so your space actually feels like you. Expect laughs, stories, and a few moments of deep design wisdom that will have you eyeing your living room differently. Takeaways Coffee table books = instant personality and visual interest. Stack in odd numbers for balance (3 is the magic number). Add personal items — no one else has your memories, so show them off. Trays make everything look intentional (even your clutter). Mix colors and textures for cozy depth. Books are more than decor — they’re conversation starters. Thrift stores are gold mines for unique finds. Swap out seasonal books for a quick refresh. Your personal stories should guide your design choices. Intentional design makes a home feel cohesive, not cookie-cutter.

Upgrade your morning routine using habit hacks. In this epsiode, Katie attempts the impossible: convincing die-hard night owl Shailey that mornings don’t have to be miserable. Katie shares how she went from dragging herself out of bed at the last possible second to actually looking forward to mornings . She’s walking Shailey through seven practical, totally doable hacks to transform mornings. They dive into why dopamine is the secret sauce for motivation, how to beat decision fatigue before it ruins your day, and why a tiny burst of “activation energy” is all you need to get moving. Plus, Katie explains why your mornings actually start the night before and how to “play offense” with your day instead of just reacting to it.

This week, Shailey catches us up on everything she’s been up to — from interior design projects to video production gigs, big life lessons, a few epic trips, and her new secret anti-aging routine (minus two spots on her neck). We talk about the tricky art of saying no (even when you really want to be a “yes” person), why family time feels so sweet right now, and how she committed to keeping a fitness routine going after bailing on Katie at the gym. Plus, we debate the most ridiculous excuses for skipping a workout (spoiler: they’re good) and share some honest reflections on regrets, growth, and what we’ve learned since our last season. Pour yourself a lemonade and let’s catch up with Shailey — and if you missed last week's episode, go back and catch up with Katie!

We’re back for Season 11 (after just a quick… four-year break 🤷‍♀️) and kicking things off with Katie’s comeback story. From navigating trauma and anxiety to ditching numbing habits (yep, even the Prosecco), Katie shares what it looked like to trade shame for curiosity and rebuild her life one habit at a time. She’s talking midlife crisis, coaching, The Habit Lab, and why curiosity became her superpower. Plus—because we never take ourselves too seriously—this episode is brought to you by weighted vests (you’ll see) and features our very first new-season segment: Old Timey Photos: How to Save Money with Shailey. Next week, we’ll flip the mic to hear Shailey’s own transformation story, but for now… grab your metaphorical vest and settle in for Katie’s big return.

Season 10 and a half: A Very Merry Inbetween-isode! We’re popping in to give you a quick life update, some GOALS we’ve been crushing, and our top 3 gifts to give yourself this holiday season. Katie has a longevity, anti-aging regimen she’s dying to share with you and a VERY CRINGEY massage story gone so wrong she allllmost couldn’t get through the re-telling. Oh and Shailey has become a renovation real estate mogul!

We’re walking you through The New Habit Formula, exploring What are Atomic Habits? AND we’re checking in on the goals we set 12 weeks ago and making new goals for next season premier! Did Shailey ever bodypump with Katie? Did Opal cut her Disney-princess hair? Did Katie stay sober curious? What about reducing screentime and carving out more intentional time with kids? TUNE IN!

Daily Dewy 5-step Makeup Routine with Emily Edgar, pro makeup artist, NYC via Springfield, MO. She’s back with her 5-step make-up routine that ANY of us can do. She empowers us not to just repeat exactly what works for someone else, but choose the feature you love the most and spend your time there. And she answers YOUR LISTENER QUESTIONS! And what does Emily keep TWENTY of in her purse 100% of the time? Bonus, Shailey reveals the one makeup product she’d take with her if she was stranded on a desert island and Katie weighs in with a 15- second hack that gives you Botox-results.

Simplified skincare routine with Emily Edgar! Skincare for busy gals who are aging (and hot take: aging isn’t bad!) What you should NEVER skip and what you can ditch! She’s boiling it down to 4 simple steps. We’ve got Emily Edgar, educator and pro makeup artist from NYC, and the author of The Brides Guide to beauty, online masterclass intended for brides. Coming soon. January 2022!

Our go-to gifts for friends, family and co-workers. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to mean a lot!

Our fixer Uppers! We both recently renovated old houses and we’re bringing you our 5 favorite things we included in our renos, the things we scrimped on and don’t regret and Katie's ONE REALLY BIG regret that she can’t undo and is simply stuck with for all time. (It’s juicy. Shailey gets uncomfy. Stay tuned.)

Vintage Rugs: what on earth are all these dirty old rugs and why is everyone so obsessed? Where to start, what to look for, where to put them. What if you have wall-to-wall carpet? What is the difference between Persian and Turkish. CAN I JUST GO TO TARGET INSTEAD? It's a rugucation.

Walking for Creativity: the surprising benefits of walking both physical and mental health. Geniuses throughout history who incorporated a daily walk and how YOU can get more steps in your day. Is walking better for you than running? (WHAT? HOT TAKE!? Stay tuned.) Bonus: you’ll get to hear Shailey cat-call her neighborhood construction workers which took us STRAIGHT to regret time.)

GROCERY SHOPPING HACKS. The products we love and are not being paid to talk about. (but we would take money for it. Just to be clear.) We will each tell you our go-to items at our grocery store of choice! What items we love and why.

Wow. Katie is like...weirdly excited to bring you some low-maintenance parenting quality-time hacks!!! Starting with Family Movie Night: THE NEXT LEVEL. Listen up for some simple ideas to start your family traditions and the WHY behind what makes it so intentional and special. And if you stay to the end, you'll get to hear Shailey take a movie trivia quiz you WONT want to miss. Let's just say....Nobody puts Shailey in a corner.

Thrifting: How to know where to go and what to look for! This episode is brought to you by: Your Grandma! - You knew what was up. Shailey's Top 5 things she looks for when she thrifts and why she loves it!

Decorating with your roommate when you don't have the same taste! We’ll be talking about how to compromise with a roommate or spouse and then at the end expert interior designer Shailey Murphy will be solving YOUR listener roommate challenges you submitted on instagram. (spoiler: they are HILARIOUS.)