Three friends raise their red mocktails in a bittersweet toast as they announce their final podcast episode after nearly two years of weekly recordings. What began as pandemic-era Zoom calls evolved into a journey that pushed them far beyond their comfort zones, teaching them valuable lessons about technology, friendship, and embracing change.

"When you let something go, it doesn't mean it was a failure. It means it was accomplished," one host reflects, capturing the spirit of this farewell conversation. The trio looks back at favorite moments – from interviewing reluctant but ultimately enthusiastic guests to documenting their adventures in Paris, Florence, and Venice despite minimal language skills. They reminisce about episodes that resonated most with listeners, including discussions about making new friends in midlife, career transitions, and personal growth.

Throughout their podcasting journey, these women navigated significant life changes together. One returned to a relationship after five years apart, another received news of becoming a grandmother, and all three made career shifts that transformed their daily lives. One host shares how she finally established a consistent exercise routine after leaving her corporate job, noting that sometimes we need decompression periods before we can move forward: "It just wasn't time yet... but then, all of a sudden, it was time."

As they transition back to private weekly Zoom calls – "scheduling friendship" as they call it – the hosts express gratitude to their loyal listeners and leave the door open for possible "special edition" episodes for major life announcements. Their parting wisdom: "Do the thing and surround yourself with people who will cheer you on" and "Pour your energies into the good things that you want to happen."

Want more inspiration for embracing change and stepping outside your comfort zone? Follow our Facebook page, where the conversation continues even as this chapter closes.

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

Two friends, two carry-ons, and one unforgettable Italian adventure! Amy and Stacey take us along on their summer journey through Florence, Venice, and beyond, sharing candid insights that will inspire even hesitant travelers to pack their bags.

Their contrasting travel styles create the perfect balance – Stacey embraces the "we've never been there so how do we know it's not great?" philosophy while Amy researches options meticulously. This partnership leads them to unique accommodations including an art-filled Florentine apartment where royal family portraits hang in bathrooms and an unexpected boxing match unfolds outside their window.

The duo navigates Italy's efficient train system between cities, discovering the charm of Murano island with its legendary glass blowing traditions and comically tiny showers where "if you drop the soap, you have to turn everything off and open the door to retrieve it." They explore Florence's historic wine doors from a vintage VW van, tour Chianti vineyards with fascinating backstories, and battle 99-degree heat that transforms museum visits into endurance challenges.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is their practical wisdom for everyday travelers. They debunk common fears about language barriers, demonstrate how to pack efficiently for extended international trips, and show that meaningful travel doesn't require expertise – just willingness to embrace new experiences. Their genuine enthusiasm for discovery comes through in every story, from hunting perfect Murano glass souvenirs to sipping Negronis (despite finding them "awful") and shipping home Italian wines.

Have you been putting off international travel? Listen as these friends prove that with minimal planning, reasonable budgets, and open minds, unforgettable adventures await. Where will your next journey take you?

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

What would you do with $200 million? It's the ultimate daydream – one that reveals surprising truths about our values, relationships, and what we find most burdensome in daily life.

We discovered that fantasizing about lottery winnings can actually be therapeutic. As one host explains, imagining how she'd distribute newfound wealth helps pull her out of bad moods. It's pure fantasy without the disappointment of reality crashing in.

Beyond the expected luxuries (dream homes with pools and personal chefs), the conversation takes thoughtful turns. They debate the wisdom of lump sum versus annuity payments, strategies for gifting money to family without creating dependency or resentment, and how to maintain friendships when sudden wealth creates imbalance. One particularly clever idea: creating a "girlfriend travel fund" ensuring annual trips with friends who might not otherwise be able to afford them.

What's most revealing are their charitable priorities. Libraries with banned books included, funds ensuring no child misses a school field trip due to family finances, and endowments that continue giving perpetually. These choices reflect deeply held values about education, opportunity, and equity.

Curiously absent from their wish lists: fancy cars, designer clothes, and ostentatious displays of wealth. Instead, their desires center around freedom from daily burdens, meaningful experiences, and positive impact. As one host notes, the chances of winning are infinitesimal – "you're more likely to die in a vending machine accident" – but that doesn't diminish the pleasure of the thought experiment.

What would YOUR lottery list reveal about what matters most to you? Share your thoughts and join us for this delightful conversation that's less about money and more about examining what we truly value.

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

The journey to forge meaningful adult friendships continues as we check in on month four of our year-long Friendship Project. Overcoming the inertia of social isolation takes creativity, courage, and sometimes just a flat driveway and some pickleball paddles!

Stacey shares her brilliant success story of inviting six neighbor women for casual pickleball games, creating a regular gathering where the breaks have become everyone's favorite part. "The best part is when we sit in my lawn chairs, chat, and then finally one of us will say, 'We have to get up and play some more,'" she explains. This organic approach to deepening casual relationships has created consistent social connections that everyone looks forward to.

Meanwhile, Amy describes her strategy of making "micro-connections" through thoughtful social media engagement, discovering how these small touchpoints can blossom into rekindled friendships. Kitty reveals how she's leveraging professional online groups to create relationships that will transition to in-person connections at an upcoming convention.

Looking ahead to month five, we outline practical next steps for strengthening these budding friendships, including follow-up texts, transitioning group acquaintances into deeper one-on-one relationships, and attending community events with a new mindset. As Kitty reflects on an upcoming concert, "I don't give a crap if we're going with somebody or meeting somebody up there. I just want to go, just the two of us, and who knows who we'll run into?"

Join us to learn how small, intentional actions can break through social barriers and create meaningful connections in adulthood. What friendship-building strategy might work for you? Listen, try something new, and let us know how it goes!

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

Ever held onto a grudge only to realize it was weighing you down more than the person who hurt you? In this illuminating conversation with our friend Deanna, a certified faith-based counselor, we unpack what forgiveness truly means and why it's critical for our emotional health.

Forgiveness isn't about pretending nothing happened. As Deanna explains, it's making "a commitment to no longer hold the offender to a standard of moral liability before you." In other words, it's letting them off YOUR hook of justice – not eliminating consequences altogether. This distinction completely changed our understanding of what it means to forgive.

The cost of unforgiveness is steep. Deanna walks us through the emotional ladder we climb when we refuse to forgive: from hurt to anger to resentment to bitterness and finally to hatred. Meanwhile, the person who wronged us is often "tripping through the tulips," completely unaffected by our internal turmoil. When we grasp this reality, forgiveness becomes an act of self-liberation rather than a gift to the offender.

We tackle tough questions you've probably wrestled with: Should we forgive people who don't think they've done anything wrong? Is "forgive and forget" actually possible? How do you forgive someone who's no longer in your life? And how does setting boundaries play into the forgiveness process? Deanna's insights on these questions are both practical and profound.

Whether you're struggling to forgive someone who deeply hurt you, wondering if you should reconcile after betrayal, or simply curious about what healthy forgiveness really looks like, this conversation offers a roadmap for moving forward. As Deanna reminds us, "Forgiveness is worth it. Forgiveness is necessary. All relationships flourish with it."

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

What happens when beloved stories from our past get reimagined for today? The Four Seasons, a 1981 film starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett, recently received the Netflix treatment as an eight-episode series. This transformation provides the perfect lens to examine how our storytelling, character development, and cultural values have evolved over forty years.

The original film centered on three couples who vacation together throughout the year until one husband abruptly divorces his wife and introduces a younger girlfriend into their tight-knit circle. While this core premise remains in the Netflix reboot, the modern version dives deeper into the emotional complexities and friendship dynamics that ensue. One fascinating revelation: while the basic human emotions around friendship breakups haven't changed much, social media has profoundly altered how these ruptures unfold. As one host notes, "What you didn't know didn't hurt you" in the pre-digital era – but today, we're constantly confronted with visual evidence of events we weren't invited to.

Perhaps the most striking evolution appears in how women are portrayed. The 1981 film presented female characters primarily as "the wives," reacting to their husbands' actions despite being smart and witty in their own right. Fast forward to the Netflix series, and we find women as entrepreneurs, therapists, and creatives with full agency and independent storylines. In some cases, the dynamic flips entirely, with female characters taking on the dominant roles their male counterparts occupied in the original. This shift reflects four decades of progress in how we represent women in media.

The conversation extends beyond The Four Seasons to consider other classics that have been (or perhaps should be) remade. Some, like The Ten Commandments, might benefit tremendously from modern cinematography and storytelling approaches. Others, like The Sound of Music, stand perfectly well on their own. What makes a reboot worthwhile? When it honors the original while bringing something new to the conversation – exactly what the Four Seasons series managed to accomplish. Have you watched both versions? We'd love to hear which elements you think were most successfully updated for today's world.

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

What small things make your blood boil? Those tiny, seemingly insignificant behaviors or mistakes that somehow manage to drive you absolutely crazy? We're diving headfirst into the therapeutic world of pet peeves in this candid, laugh-out-loud episode.

Grammar mistakes top our list of irritations. From the cringe-worthy "these ones" and "irregardless" to people who say "I seen that," we're letting loose about the language errors that make our skin crawl. As one of us points out, "It makes you sound uneducated, and I would think you'd want to improve." But our venting doesn't stop there.

The marketing world gives us plenty to complain about, particularly with misleading product descriptions. "Vegan leather" – an oxymoron deserving special scorn – alongside "almond milk" and "cauliflower rice" exemplify how language gets twisted for sales purposes. Meanwhile, social interactions provide endless material: conversation dominators, one-uppers, and people who simply cannot read social cues that it's time to wrap things up.

Technology and media haven't escaped our notice either. News programs that tease stories only to deliver them at the broadcast's end, vague social media posts asking for "thoughts and prayers" without context, and those multi-post Twitter threads that force readers to hunt for information all earn our collective eye-rolling.

We wrap up by comparing our grievances with the "official" top ten pet peeves, finding common ground in universal irritations like loud chewing, chronic tardiness, and the office criminal who reheats fish at lunchtime. This episode serves as both comic relief and validation – you're definitely not alone in being bothered by life's little annoyances!

What's your biggest pet peeve? We'd love to hear what drives you crazy. And feel free to share this episode with that friend who's guilty of your particular irritation. As we say, "Blame it on us – we've got big shoulders."

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media and suddenly feeling inadequate? Or glanced sideways at a colleague's success while trying to stay in your lane? The comparison trap has a sneaky way of creeping into our lives, stealing our joy and zapping our confidence in milliseconds.

In this deeply relatable conversation, we unpack the various ways comparison manifests in our lives – from coveting the seemingly perfect lives of social media influencers to measuring ourselves against colleagues' successes and even comparing our current selves to who we once were. We explore how comparison operates on multiple levels and why it can feel so difficult to escape its clutches.

The discussion takes an honest turn as we share personal struggles with comparison and the self-doubt that follows. We examine how social media creates unrealistic benchmarks for success and happiness, showcasing curated versions of reality that nobody – not even the influencers themselves – can actually maintain. But this isn't just about identifying the problem; we offer practical strategies to break free: unfollowing accounts that trigger negative feelings, focusing on your unique journey, practicing gratitude, and celebrating others' successes without feeling diminished.

Perhaps most powerfully, we discuss the importance of extending grace to ourselves. As one host notes, "The comparison trap is the opposite of grace." Learning to accept where we are right now doesn't mean giving up on growth – it means acknowledging our humanity and treating ourselves with the compassion we'd easily offer others.

Ready to break free from the comparison trap? Listen now, and remember this powerful affirmation: "My worth isn't up for comparison. My story is mine alone." Subscribe, share your experiences with comparison, and let us know what topics you'd like us to explore in future episodes!

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

Ever found yourself staring blankly at something that absolutely refuses to make sense? You're not alone. In this hilarious and relatable episode, we dive headfirst into life's most persistent mysteries – those things we just don't get no matter how many times they're explained.

Retirement savings limitations kick off our confusion tour. Why, when you're finally making enough money to seriously save for retirement, does the government cap how much you can put away tax-free? This leads us down the rabbit hole of unnecessarily complicated tax systems. We've all seen the memes about the IRS making you guess what you owe – but the frustrating reality isn't far off!

The conversation takes a turn toward the automotive when we ponder why anyone would want their car to be louder with dual mufflers, or trucks to be higher with lift kits. Is there a practical purpose, or is it just about making a statement? Either way, we remain thoroughly perplexed.

Things get particularly entertaining when we explore modern slang terms that leave older generations completely bewildered. From "gyat" to "sigma males" to the completely nonsensical "chicken jockey" (apparently something you randomly shout to disrupt quiet moments?), we attempt to decipher the code of Gen Z communication with mixed results. Our conclusion? Maybe every generation creates linguistic barriers specifically to confuse their elders.

We also touch on the psychology behind internet trolls, the importance of establishing family "safe words" to protect against sophisticated AI scams, and why meaningful change to broken systems faces such strong resistance. Through it all, we find comfort and humor in our shared confusion.

Want to join the conversation? Share the things that leave you scratching your head with us on social media, or submit your own questions for a future episode! And remember – sometimes the best response to life's mysteries is simply "chicken jockey."

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

The friendship drought is real. As we navigate our busy adult lives, making genuine connections becomes increasingly challenging, especially when established friends move away. In this heartfelt episode of Three Cocktails In, Stacey, Kitty, and Amy continue their year-long "Project 2025: Make a New Friend" journey with practical strategies for connection in the digital age.

Surprisingly, Facebook groups emerge as friendship goldmines when centered around shared interests. Amy shares how her crafting community has blossomed into meaningful relationships despite members living states apart. The hosts exchange laughs about their collective failure to join new in-person groups last month while acknowledging the very real time constraints that make digital connections so valuable for busy adults.

Summer offers unique opportunities for connection, and the conversation sparkles with creative ideas: community education classes that group people by skill level, neighborhood "porch crawls," farmers' markets, local baseball games, and art festivals. The key insight? Consistency matters more than the specific activity—showing up regularly to the same places increases your chances of forming relationships with fellow regulars.

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Kitty opens up about the anger she felt when close friends moved away without warning. This resonates deeply as the hosts acknowledge we're entering life stages where retirements and relocations will increasingly challenge our friendship circles.

With equal parts humor, vulnerability, and practical advice, this episode validates the struggle while offering a roadmap for connection. Whether you're an introvert seeking digital communities or ready to organize that neighborhood gathering, you'll find strategies that respect your comfort level while gently expanding your social horizons.

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".