It’s officially our one-year podcast anniversary 🎉 and somehow… yes, we’re STILL doing this.

In this episode, we reflect on how far the show has come since our very first recording (spoiler: it wasn’t as cringe as we feared), celebrate surviving a full year of podcasting, and ease into one of our favorite things—real, unfiltered life updates.

We catch up on what’s been filling our weeks: solo parenting through illness, cake orders multiplying during Valentine’s week, kid birthdays, summer camp sign-ups that feel more competitive than concert tickets, and the ongoing question of how much effort is too much when it comes to classroom holidays and Valentine’s traditions.

Then we dive into pop culture with our long-awaited conversation about Heated Rivalry—why it completely took over everyone’s feeds, what worked (and didn’t) for us, wildly different attraction opinions, and how watching it the “wrong way” can absolutely change the experience. We unpack the hype, the chemistry, the storytelling, and why everyone seems to have a very strong take.

We also circle back to our “trying new things” theme with reviews of several non-alcoholic beverages, breaking down the different categories—from NA cocktails that mimic the taste of alcohol to drinks with adaptogens or mood-boosting ingredients—and what actually feels worth drinking when you’re cutting back but still want a vibe.

It’s honest, funny, a little chaotic, and very much about navigating midlife, motherhood, relationships, and curiosity—without pretending we have it all figured out.

Thanks for being here with us as we head into year two 💛

On today’s episode, we wade through the overwhelming stream of difficult news pouring out of Minnesota — from federal immigration enforcement crackdowns and shootings to community fear and fatigue. Amid that heaviness, we remind listeners that even in the darkest times we still need pockets of joy to stay human. Lauren P. opens up about a book she couldn’t put down — the kind of escape that gives you something good to hold onto even when the news feels relentless. She also shares a recipe so simple that even she couldn’t mess it up (yes, it really is foolproof) and walks us through gel nails you can do at home — little self-care wins that matter more than we often admit.Lauren B. checks in through a rough patch — she’s been hit with a bout of illness that has kept her slow and sidelined. She talks about the comforts that actually help: Vicks Vapor Rub, her go-to cough drops, a must-watch TV show that’s helping her pass the sick days with a smile, and an affordable juice hack that somehow feels like a tiny victory in a gross week.Every story on this episode — the national fury, the personal anecdotes, the practical tips for comfort and joy — ties back to the same truth: life keeps happening, and while the world can feel heavy and those in power can feel untrustworthy, holding onto the good things we can control — books, food, self-care, laughter — is not just optional, it’s essential.

Watch this episode on YouTube!

https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

LP's Dumpling Bake Recipe

LP's At Home Gel Nails

In this episode, Lauren P and Lauren B ease into the new year in very on-brand ways: one is reading books in a cozy cabin pretending life is soft and gentle, and the other is aggressively organizing her house after the holidays exploded it.

Lauren P realizes (once again) that a few casual drinks will absolutely ruin her entire next day and questions why she keeps relearning this lesson. Lauren B shares that she’s officially ready to stop dabbling and get serious about finding a full-time gig — spreadsheets, confidence pep talks, and all.

Along the way, they cover hair disasters, post-holiday chaos, the emotional whiplash of entrepreneurship, and the universal struggle of balancing ambition, rest, and real life. It’s honest, funny, slightly unhinged, and exactly the energy we’re bringing into the new year.

It’s our end-of-year / New Year’s episode and we are unwell (in the best way) over our debut season stats.

Apparently, our brand-new little podcast was more popular than 92% of other new shows on Spotify, landed in the Top 15% of video podcasts, got shared more than 94% of other shows, and somehow made its way into 8 different countries (hi Bulgaria, Germany, Australia, and our ride-or-dies in the US). Oh—and 21 people have us as their #1 show… which honestly feels illegal.

After fully basking in that glow, we took a walk down memory lane and revisited all the challenges we bravely (and sometimes questionably) attempted this year. Remember when LP opened an Etsy shop that absolutely flopped? When LB took a poetry class? When we tried to sell feet pics (NOT our feet, thank you very much)? Some challenges were wins, some were fails, but all of them made this year unforgettable. Bonus plot twist: LP started an entirely new career with her cake business and somehow survived.

We wrap things up by talking about what we’re leaving behind (hello, shame spirals) and what we’re carrying into 2026—a healthier, less unhinged relationship with our phones. It’s reflective, it’s ridiculous, and it’s the perfect way to close out the year with us.

Cheers to trying things, failing loudly, winning unexpectedly, and doing it all together.

In today’s episode, we’re basically here to say: hydration, less scrolling, and touching grass might actually work. We talk about the small habit changes that are making us feel mentally and physically better—drinking more water, moving our bodies, getting off sleep meds, and (gasp) spending way less time on our phones.

We also tackle one of parenting’s greatest mysteries: how to keep the Christmas magic alive when your kids are old enough to ask… questions. Is Santa still believable? Are we still believable? We discuss.

Most of this episode is a love letter to How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price, because WOW. We’re on day 16 of the 30-day Phone Breakup, our phones no longer sleep next to us (scandalous), our worst apps have been deleted (RIP), and we’ve replaced doom-scrolling with reading, walking, and cleaning like people who suddenly “have their lives together.” If your phone has a little too much power over you, come break up with it alongside us.

Links

How to Break Up With Your Phone

https://www.amazon.com/How-Break-Up-Your-Phone/dp/039958112X

The Brick

https://getbrick.app/products/the-brick

Tin Can Phone

https://tincan.kids/

In this week’s episode of Are We Doing This?, Lauren P kicks things off by recounting how her friend almost drowned in two feet of water in Mexico—because nothing says “vacation” like a near-death experience in ankle-deep waves.

Lauren B then shares her recent ADHD diagnosis, connecting the dots on a lifetime of “Wait… is this not how everyone’s brain works?”

Separately, the Laurens reflect on their former Texas era, when they felt obligated to keep up with the Joneses—and how moving away cured that instantly. They no longer get their nails done, and honestly? Freedom has never looked so chipped.

They also dive into their newest self-help adventure: How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price. They’re on Day 2 of the 30-day Phone Breakup, still recovering from Day 1’s assignment to freak yourself out. Spoiler: it worked. They learned exactly how many hours they spend on their phones and how often they’re interrupted per hour… and let’s just say the numbers were not kind.

The moral of the episode? If they’d just put their damn phones down, they actually could do all the things they claim they have no time for—cleaning, working out, reading, writing, and maybe even resurrecting their nail care era. But no promises on that last one.

A chaotic, relatable, and slightly alarming episode. Enjoy!

In this episode, Lauren and Lauren Parajon catch up on all the big things—like conquering Thanksgiving, surviving the 2,768-step Manitou Incline (aka: the StairMaster from hell), and planning a handmade Christmas because apparently nothing says “festive” like stabbing fabric thousands of times with a tiny needle.

Lauren Butler shares how she’s rediscovering her crafty side through hand embroidery, all while navigating the rollercoaster of parenting older kids—complete with new boundary-setting adventures and the realization that big kids can outsmart you.

The Laurens also dive into their complicated relationships… with their phones. They talk about what it might look like to officially “break up” with their devices, how screen time hijacks real-life moments, and why a digital detox might actually save their sanity. Toss in some tips for cutting back on scrolling, a rant or two about social media brain fog, and a group challenge to put the phones down before they fuse to our hands.

And because we’re grown-ups now, they even squeeze in some chat about sleep, health, and doing small things to prevent future problems—like dementia, burnout, or turning into those people who insist they don’t need rest. It’s an episode full of laughs, honesty, and the shared goal of being a little healthier (and slightly less glued to our screens).

Helpful Links:

How to Break Up with Your Phone (book)

https://a.co/d/0wqlNXT

Dementia Prevention (book)

https://a.co/d/50F7LWo

Lauren and Lauren reflect on how much the podcast—and their lives—have evolved. Turning 40 has brought new perspectives, new hobbies, and a whole lot of self-discovery. From handmade holiday gifts to ADHD, perimenopause, and the rollercoaster of mental health, they open up about what it means to really understand yourself in midlife. They also talk writing as therapy, reality TV as research (hi, Love Is Blind), and why embracing change might just be the best gift of all.

Sleep-deprived and slightly unhinged, Lauren P kicks things off by confessing that life without her sleep meds has turned her into a nocturnal raccoon. Meanwhile, Lauren B channels her inner activist at the No Kings rally and comes back feeling empowered. Then it’s time for this week’s obsessions: Lauren P is deep in the Plated Prisoner series (a spicy romantasy involving King Midas, which isn't as weird as it sounds), Lauren B is reading Culpability and questioning whether AI is about to take her job and her soul, and both Laurens dive into their latest TV addictions—Love Is Blind (Lauren P’s Halloween costume inspo) and Chad Powers (Lauren B’s newest crush). Lauren P also introduces Lauren B to the strange, seductive world of “MaskTok,” proving once again that her algorithm is chaos incarnate.

Watch is episode on ⁠YouTube⁠!

Lauren and Lauren are officially 40! In this episode, they look back on their birthday celebrations and what it really feels like to enter a new decade. Lauren P. shares stories from her throwback slumber party—complete with games, laughter, and heartfelt moments—while Lauren B. recounts the surprise of a lifetime: a Life of a Showgirl–themed celebration, a spa day, and three of her best friends flying in from Texas and Colorado to join the fun.

Together, they unpack what turning 40 really means—saying goodbye to old habits from their 30s, rethinking social media, and finding balance between parenting, self-care, and personal growth. It’s a warm, funny, and honest reflection on friendship, change, and celebrating life—messy parts and all.

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