In this episode we talk about how to be both friends and co-workers successfully. We also share our 'best of' book lists. And speaking of sharing, we'd love if you would share your favorite Around the Table episode with a friend this week!

What you’ll hear:

Jacey's pantry confessions
The final installment of Jacey's new dentist saga
Thoughts on balancing co-worker/friend relationships
Tips for being successful friends and co-workers
Our 'best-of' book lists

Can I quote you on that?

"We are friends first...and then we are podcast co-hosts." - Maggie
"It's never 'just business.' You have to care about people first, otherwise they're going to become collateral damage." - Jacey
"Don't have difficult conversations via text or email." - Maggie
"You have to learn to dissociate from your idea. Just because you don't like my idea, doesn't mean you don't think I'm smart or value me as a contributor." - Jacey
"The other people on your team are there to be sounding boards and are there to tell you if one of your ideas is a bad idea." - Maggie
"Communicate clearly and praise often." - Jacey
"There is something in our collective belief system as a culture that says you cannot dispute my feelings." - Jacey

Links:

"Women, stop saying 'just' so much, you sound like children"
Maggie's 'best of' book list:

#1 favorite of all time: Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Top feel good: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Anne Shaffer; anything by Dee Henderson
Most life changing: The Srewtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
Favorite classic: Emma, Jane Austen
Best page-turner: The Dead Don’t Dance and Maggie, Charles Martin
Favorite series: The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis; Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
Favorite nonfiction book: anything by Shauna Niequist
Favorite childhood book: Anne of Green gables,  The Boxcar Children, The Babysitters Club, The Saddle Club, The Secret garden, Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteague, Go Dog Go, The Very Bad Bunny
Best memoir: A Severe Mercy, Sheldon Vanauken
Best book turned into a movie: The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Jacey's 'best of' book list:

#1 favorite of all time: Me Before You, Jojo Moyes
Top feel-good: Bread and Wine, Shauna Niequist
Most life changing: Daring Greatly, Brene Brown
Favorite classic: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald; Macbeth, William Shakespeare; The Awakening Kate Chopin; Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Best page-turner: Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
Favorite series: A Good Man is Hard to Find, Flannery O' Connor; I Was Told There'd Be Cake, Sloane Crosley
Favorite non-fiction: Essentialism, Greg Mckeown; The Icarus Deception, Seth Godin; Quiet, Susan Cain
Favorite childhood book: The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin; The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver; The Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett; James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
Best memior: The Liars' Club, Mary Karr; Bossypants, Tina Fey; The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Best book turned into a movie: The Time Travelers Wife, Audrey Niffenegger

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Find Around the Table on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Maggie on Instagram, Twitter, and her blog
Jacey on Instagram, Twitter and her blog

The post How to be friends and co-workers plus our ‘best of’ book lists appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

In this Five on Friday episode, we each share five things that are working for us right now.

Maggie:

Silence
Sweet potato smoothie and Cascara tea
Yoga
Tribal jewelry
Greeting cards

Jacey:

Under committing
Making my own iced coffee
Beach umbrella
Jumpsuits and joggers
essie's Gel Setter top coat

Links:

Daily Office by Peter Scazerro
What is cascara?
The Pioneer Woman's perfect iced coffee
essie Gel Setter

Image by @jensane

Some links are affiliates. Thanks for supporting our show!

The post Five on Friday: what ELSE is working? appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

This week, we discuss why small talk matters, and curate our panels of experts for everyday life from ANYONE dead or alive, fictional or real. You know, people we'd like to ask for relationship advice, steal their closets, collaborate with on a creative project, work out with...and more!

What you'll hear:

A dentist update from Jacey (for those of you following along at home)
A secret hobby of Maggie's
How small talk can make us happier and more connected
The panel of experts we would choose to get career advice from, collaborate on a creative project with, style our hair, coach us through childbirth, and more!

Can I quote you on that?

"You're not going to get to those deeper conversations if you don't feel comfortable with each other, and that might come from talking about the weather, or the coffee you're drinking." Jacey
"Small talk is far less awkward than instantaneous, deep, really intense conversation where you're really divulging a lot from the get-go." Maggie
"Small talk creates the environment where you can get to know someone just enough to make an intelligent and wise decision about whether you want to pursue a further relationship." Maggie
"At the end of the day, I value the connection that small talk creates over the awkwardness of small talk." Maggie
"I'm going to a podcasting conference next week, because I've reached the height of cool in my life." Jacey
"I don't need a newborn photo shoot. No. I want record of the hard work that I am doing to bring a child into the world." Jacey

Links:

Why Small Talk is So Excruciating
The birth photos feeding Jacey's obsession
Shia Labeouf motivational videos

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Find Around the Table on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Maggie on Instagram, Twitter, and her blog
Jacey on Instagram, Twitter and her blog

The post Why small talk matters and our dream panel of experts for everyday life appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

This week, we are joined by Whitney English, serial entrepreneur and creator of the day designer. Today we are discussing HEART goals vs. SMART goals, the inspiration behind the day designer, and the dream dinner party we wish we were all invited to. 

We've got a great giveaway in the works, so make sure to follow us on Instagram and keep an eye out for details on how to enter!

What you’ll hear:

The inspiration behind the creation of the day designer
What a typical day looks like for Whitney
HEART vs SMART goals and how the SMART goal model falls short
Plans for an epic black and white ball (think champagne and popsicles)
Why running playlists aren't for public consumption

Can I quote you on that?

“If I could figure out a way to bind my to-do list and join it together with my calendar, then I’d have the solution that I needed.” – Whitney
“I hadn't used who I was as part of the formula." – Whitney on the shortcomings of SMART goals
“HEART goals are about making sure you have the right categories of goals in your life.” – Whitney
“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”– F. Scott Fitzgerald
“I think the best dinner party ever is going to be in heaven.” – Whitney

Links:

Why SMART Goals Aren't So Smart - Whitney's blog post on HEART goals
Find the Day Designer HERE
Find Whitney on her blog, twitter, and instagram

Image by @jensane

The post Lunch Break with Whitney English appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

In this week’s episode, we discuss emotional health and share our thoughts on practical ways to cultivate mental and emotional well-being. We also offer some practical tips for improving both writing and cooking skills.

If you’ve had a chance to rate and review our show on iTunes, THANK YOU! If not, would you please? It only takes a minute.

What you’ll hear:

Maggie's Diet Mountain Dew confession
The role of relationships in emotional well being
Thoughts on authenticity, self-awareness, and living outwardly
The benefits of practicing thankfulness
A few tips on how to become a better writer and chef

Can I quote you on that?

“I’m making an educated decision, it’s just the wrong one.” – Maggie
“Close relationships depend on a lot of things, but one thing that they do not depend on is making sure people have a positive opinion of you all the time." – Jacey
“It's not doing yourself or anyone else any favors to pretend to be ok when you’re not.” – Jacey
“Treat yourself like a toddler.” – Jacey
“One of the ways we can help foster emotional health for ourselves and our communities is to fight against the stigma- make the conversation one that’s easy to have, and create an environment and a space where those types of conversations can happen.” – Maggie
“Pay attention to the things that move you.” – Jacey
“If you want to become a better cook…you have to cook.” – Maggie

Links

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Ira Glass on the "taste gap"
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
How to hold and use a knife properly

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Find Around the Table on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Maggie on Instagram, Twitter, and her blog
Jacey on Instagram, Twitter and her blog

Some links are affiliates. Thanks for supporting our show!

The post Emotional health and tips for writing and cooking well appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

In this Five on Friday episode, we are sharing five awkward (but unavoidable) conversations, and how to make them more bearable:

Calling it quits with a job
Anything relating to money
Assumed life stages i.e. "Do you think you'll have kids soon?" or "Are you dating anyone?"
Relationship conversations i.e. break ups or the "DTR"
Holding ground when you disagree

The post Five on Friday: Awkward Conversations appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

In this episode, we host our third book club with B.J. Novak's collection of short stories, One More Thing, and we discuss what we're reading, watching, listening and following. 

BUT FIRST! We would love for you to fill out our survey. It helps us create a better podcast and also lets us know a little bit about you, the listener. Find the survey HERE and don't forget to share your email address to be entered to win a $30 Amazon gift card!

What you'll hear:

Why Maggie doesn't love the short story genre
Our favorite stories from One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories
Why Jacey doesn't rewatch or reread things, and why Maggie does
What we're reading, watching, listening and following lately!

Can I quote you on that?

"Slow and steady wins the race until truth and talent take their place." - excerpt from "The Rematch," our favorite story in One More Thing
"Even if you have an eternal amount of time, you're going to use your time to do the things you want to do." Maggie
"It's not that I don't have a heart; it just beats in an odd way." Jacey
"Reading is such a restful activity." Maggie
"When you see people [from your real life] in your feed, follow up with them...reach out to make a connection off of social media." Jacey

Links:

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak
New York Times book review of One More Thing
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
The O'Malley Series by Dee Henderson
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Birdman
Still Alice
So You Think You Can Dance
The Death Sex and Money podcast episodes: Siblinghood, In Sickness and Mental Health, A Dirty Cop Comes Clean
Empires by Hillsong United
Gungor on the Relevant podcast or on Youtube
@runwithtweezers
@alexmaeland
@rj_christopher

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Find Around the Table on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Maggie on Instagram, Twitter, and her blog
Jacey on Instagram, Twitter and her blog

Some links are affiliates. Thanks for supporting our show!

The post Read Watch Listen Follow and One More Thing book club appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

This week, we are joined by Gretchen Saffles of Life Lived Beautifully. We discuss the slippery slope of body image, instilling purpose in dressing up, and 90s music we still know by heart.

We will be giving away one of Gretchen's beautiful 'Be Still and Know' mugs, so make sure to follow us on Instagram and keep an eye out for details on how to enter!

What you'll hear:

What it means to 'Be Still and Know'
Gretchen's story of struggling with an eating disorder
Where Jesus fits into style, fashion, and outward appearances
Why Gretchen likes eating with tall people
Why us 90s kids have to stick together

Can I quote you on that?

"The words 'be still' also mean to sink deep and to cease striving." - Gretchen
"I've got this blank reminder on my mug that it's not about the caffeine that gets me through the day, it's about Christ and His strength." - Gretchen
"Comparison was the very first thing I started struggling with." - Gretchen on her battle with an eating disorder.
"This is not just about clothing. Our outward appearance is a reflection of our heart, so the way that we dress really depicts that." - Gretchen
"Animal print is really in right now...I bet Adam and Eve probably looked pretty good." - Maggie referring to God's choice of animal print clothing
"There is a joy in being around a woman who is free." - Gretchen

Links:

Find Gretchen on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest
Check out Life Lived Beautifully and Gretchen's store

Image by @jensane

The post Lunch Break with Gretchen Saffles appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

In this episode we share all of our favorite things about summer! Summer food, summer fashion, summer festivities.

BUT FIRST! We would love for you to fill out our survey. It helps us create a better podcast and also lets us know a little bit about you, the listener. Find the survey HERE and don't forget to share your email address to be entered to win a $30 Amazon gift card!

What you'll hear:

A white chocolate fountain horror story
Thoughts on breaking up with your dentist
Our typical summer activities
Summer style thoughts and tips
Our summer food favorites, including what's in season

Can I quote you on that?

"You need to be able to feel comfortable when someone's hands are in your mouth." - Maggie
"Let's use this season to kind of rest from innovation, do well what we're already doing, but be ready to go and grow in the fall." - Maggie
"That's something that I don't love about summer...that I have to take so many more showers." - Jacey
"I love hotdogs." - Jacey
'Tomato Sandwiches are a thing." - Maggie
"Steak tacos, chicken tacos, pulled pork tacos, shrimp tacos..." - Mike (Jacey's husband)

Links:

Summer Lipsticks Recommendations

Mac: Impassioned, Vegas Volt, Sweet and Sour
Chanel: Rouge Allure Number 91
Butter London: Macbeth
It Cosmetics: Damsel

Dolce Vita Shoes
Spiralizer
Don't forget our SURVEY!

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Find Around the Table on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Maggie on Instagram, Twitter, and her blog
Jacey on Instagram, Twitter and her blog

Some links are affiliates. Thanks for supporting our show!

The post It’s a Summer Extravaganza appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.

Welcome to this Around the Table Lunch Break with Val Keinsley of Vallarina Creative. In this episode, we discuss using storytelling and creativity for a cause, who is eating at McDonald's, and whatever happened to Amelia Earhart.

What you'll hear:

The amazing work the Archibald Project is doing around the world
The power of media missions and story telling
Why life sometimes calls for Filet-O-Fish
Our plans to start a social media revolution

Can I quote you on that?

"Personal stories have the power to change the world." - Val Keinsley
"We tell the story of an organization, and then we put it out there, harnessing the power of the internet and social media, and give people a way to support that organization if that is what they want to do." - Val Keinsley
"Sometimes we go days on end of eating super clean, paleo, only chickens that were hugged, and sung to, and loved in their life."- Val Keinsley
"I'm a perfectionist, gonna do it all, and make it all seem like its rainbows and butterflies. But it's not, and so I think that is valuable, too, adding that to the social media conversation." - Val Keinsley
"We're all just real people and we're all just screwing up over and over again, and it's ok, because...life." - Val Keinsley

Links:

The Archibald Project
Jim Gaffigan on McDonald's
Find Val on Instagram, her blog, and Pinterest
Peruse Val's online shop

Some links are affiliates. Thanks for supporting our show!

Image by @jensane

The post Lunch Break with Val Keinsley appeared first on Around the Table Podcast.