Becky and Rachelle are back for part two of season two—only about “87 years” later—and Labor Day finds them wondering where summer went. Between back-to-school exhaustion, a historic school building with an all-or-nothing air-conditioning system, and the special misery of heat plus menopause, the Boathouse Girls quickly establish that everyone is tired, sweaty, and fiercely protective of the thermostat. Rachelle did manage a blissfully agenda-free Wisconsin lake week with University of Kansas friends Amy, Cheryl, and Courtney, while Becky started a full-time ministry position and moved without ever quite getting a summer.

A Bananarama “Cruel Summer” earworm sends them into peak Gen-X nostalgia: farm evenings, cassette recorders, college dorms, homemade curtains, discount carpet, posters, and the modern mystery of professionally decorated dorm rooms. That opens the floodgates for college stories, including a bathrobe-clad boyfriend fleeing a girls’ bathroom past Becky’s visiting mom, and Ned evolving from the half-dressed, beer-offering apartment greeter into the suited manager of Rachelle’s wedding reception venue.

The conversation bounces through honest talk about divorce and pastoral empathy, Grandma’s bicycle, energetic cousin Trent, sugary cereal eaten straight from the bag, vitamin B, mouth guards, Pilates, hot flashes, and dressing for joy—preferably in bright colors, fabulous jewelry, and perhaps a Frida Kahlo duster with a leopard collar. They celebrate Rachelle’s daughter buying a first home and her son making sergeant, trade hilarious parenting stories, meet Gen Alpha’s favorite explanation—“Why not?”—and end with Ted Lasso, The West Wing, the luxury of silence, and one final demand: somebody please turn on the AC.

Welcome back to The Boathouse Girls! We are so excited to officially kick off Season 2, Episode 1. If you’ve been wondering where we’ve been... well, life happened. From job opportunities in the Dakota Territory to navigating the busy schedules of educators, it’s been a wild ride since we last saw you.

Today, we’re jumping right into a topic that feels perfect for spring: the whole cycle of life. We’re talking about the things that are brand new, but really aren't—the old things that have become new again. Have you noticed how the younger generations are suddenly obsessed with our neon, our leotards, and our oversized t-shirts? We’re exploring why Gen-X is the ultimate generation of adaptation and how our 'old' ways of doing things—like hosting proms in a high school gym—are proving to be better than the modern alternatives.

In this episode, we’re also getting personal. We’ll talk about the 'preservation' of our generation, our shared memories of Judy Blume, and why reaching the age where you start enjoying your life makes you want to reconnect with your roots. Whether you’re a Midwesterner at heart or a 'Texan implant' like me, there’s something in this episode for everyone who remembers what it was like to drink from a backyard hose and survive on baloney sandwiches. So, let's settle in and talk about why everything old is officially cool again. Let’s get started!

In this warm, funny, and deeply nostalgic episode, Becky and Rachelle settle in for another round of cousin time – one from a South Dakota blizzard, the other from sunny South Texas. The conversation kicks off with a very Gen‑X confession: Diet Coke addiction. As Becky jokes, “If there was ever a generation that got hooked on something, it was our generation… Diet Coke.” From caffeine‑free coping to 80s “suicide drinks,” the cousins revel in the quirks of their era.

Becky’s BoatHouse Moment sparks a cascade of lake‑life memories: childhood summers packed with cousins, teenage trips with friends, and the unforgettable day a game warden – “the 1990 version of Barney Fife” – ticketed her for paddle‑boating without life jackets in four feet of water. They recall Zorba’s pizza runs, missed flirtation opportunities, and the awkwardness of being Gen‑X girls who “didn’t know how to flirt then… and maybe still don’t.”

The episode shifts into a heartfelt exploration of discipline, grounding, and the emotional vocabulary of their parents’ generation. Rachelle shares the only time she was ever grounded – wrongly, she insists – while Becky admits she was grounded “more times than stars in the sky.” They reflect on how their boomer parents expressed fear, love, and control, often without the words to say so.

From there, the cousins dive into what Gen‑Xers actually fear (spoiler: not much), how growing up “the forgotten generation” shaped their grit, and why they’re fiercely protective of their own kids. They close with humor, honesty, and the familiar comfort of shared history – Becky enjoying her blizzard, Rachelle her spring sunshine, both grateful for another episode together.

In this nostalgic and free‑flowing episode of The Boathouse Girls, Rachelle and Becky dive into a whirlwind of Gen‑X memories, family stories, and the universal quest for joy amid adulthood’s chaos. What begins as a light check‑in quickly spirals into hilarious recollections of lake life—speedboats, the notorious “Green Monster,” and the questionable decision to take pontoons far faster than any manufacturer intended.

From there, the cousins wander through formative driving adventures, from learning stick shift on rural gravel roads to the pride (and terror) of handling their first clunky cars. They laugh about cruising small‑town strips with boom boxes, wearing out Def Leppard tapes, and crafting the perfect mixtape from Casey Kasem’s Top 40.

The episode also celebrates 80s and 90s music obsessions—Menudo posters, Prince stories, the arrival of grunge, and why today’s teens need to earn their band t‑shirts. They reflect on cultural shifts, parenting, and how finding simple joy still matters.

Anchored by humor and heartfelt storytelling, this episode captures the essence of Gen‑X life: resilience, nostalgia, and the bonds that make even an exhausting week feel lighter when shared with someone who remembers it all.

In this episode of The Boathouse Girls, Rachelle and Becky dive into memories of growing up in Gen X, specifically what it was like to be raised by stay‑at‑home moms in their small Midwestern farming communities. They reminisce about the comfort and predictability of always having a parent at home, especially when they were sick, recalling details like the family “puke bucket,” soothing soups, and the steady rhythm of daytime TV - Phil Donahue, The Price Is Right, Days of Our Lives, and more.

Food and baking feature prominently in their memories of warm kitchens, fresh cookies, caramel rolls, and the joys of school lunch, made by skilled local cooks who baked homemade buns, soups, and sweets. The cousins also revisit pop‑culture memories, such as Pop Rocks, the urban legend about mixing them with soda, and nostalgic candies like peanut-butter Twix. They share family trivia, including stories about the Brown quadruplets, believed to be the first surviving quads in America, and laugh about tracing their lineage to Levi Strauss.

The episode circles back to how being raised in close‑knit communities by stay‑at‑home moms shaped their expectations of adult life, work schedules, and daily rhythms, leaving them both grateful and slightly amused at how those early routines still influence them today.

In this heartwarming and hilarious episode of the "BoatHouse Girls," Becky and Rachelle dive deep into their Gen X childhood memories—from freezing lake days ruled by strict "no swimming before 11 a.m." thermometers to endless road‑trip chaos packed into old Buicks, igloo coolers, and questionable bathroom‑break negotiations. They revisit the iconic family vacations that defined their youth, complete with rainy‑day boathouse adventures, comic‑book hideouts, and the unforgettable Sioux City and Omaha holiday meet‑ups.

As adults, their get‑togethers now include annual Mayo Clinic checkups, DoorDash dinners in pajamas, HGTV marathons, and long drives through Minnesota—still filled with family comedy, comforting nostalgia, and a few too‑late nights. They reflect on generational health, the importance of sharing family history, and the joy of reconnecting with cousins who feel more like siblings. It's a warm, funny, deeply relatable journey into family, aging, and the unbreakable bond of Gen X cousins.

Rachelle and Becky go back to the history of the boat house and start the story of the family feud on the lake and the many antics it caused. Christmas memories are discussed as Becky asks questions about holiday traditions of Generation X And, Rachelle outlines why Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

Rachelle and Becky discuss some of their first memories from the boat house. They remember Becky's father Jerry (uncle Jerry to Rachelle) and how he influenced their childhood. Rachelle asks the question of what items from the 80s that are no longer around; the good and the bad. And, Becky talks about AARP.

Becky and Rachelle introduce themselves and explain the importance of the Boat House in their lives. They also discuss some of their early memories of growing up in a small North Dakota community in the early 80s.