This week, Jenn and Alexa start with a little fall fashion talk—what they’re wearing, what they’re buying, and what trends they’re actually into this season - before the conversation takes a turn they definitely didn’t see coming: free bleeding.

After discovering that some people are choosing to ditch traditional period products altogether, they have...questions. They get into what free bleeding actually is, why people choose to do it, period underwear and other alternatives, the cost of menstrual products, and the difference between something being empowering in theory and something you’d personally be willing to try.

Then, somehow, periods lead to love. Jenn and Alexa get into a completely different debate: is the love you have for your partner comparable to the love you have for your children? They share their very different perspectives on marriage, motherhood, and whether those relationships can—or even should—be ranked against each other.

Basically: fall clothes, periods, bodily fluids, marriage, and motherhood. A completely normal conversation around here.

Chapters

00:00 Fall Fashion & What We’re Wearing
16:10 Wait… What Is Free Bleeding?
24:28 Period Products, Choices & Empowerment
26:13 The Cost & Reality of Having a Period
37:36 Partner vs. Kids: Can You Compare the Love?

A quick note: This episode includes discussion of menstruation, menstrual products, hygiene, and personal health experiences. Jenn and Alexa are sharing their own opinions and experiences and are not medical professionals. Nothing discussed should be taken as medical advice.

This week, Jenn and Alexa are talking about the “third place”—the places outside of home and work where we used to just… hang out.

They get into why those spaces matter, where they’ve gone, and whether our increasingly online and convenient lives have accidentally taken away some of the everyday connection we actually need. From coffee shops and workout classes to neighborhood hangouts and community spaces, they talk about what it means to have somewhere you belong simply because you keep showing up.

The conversation also turns into something bigger: if connection matters to us, we have to make room for it. Jenn and Alexa talk about making sacrifices for the people and things that are important, putting effort into friendships as life gets busier, and figuring out the difference between protecting your boundaries and accidentally shutting people out.

Because maybe we don’t need more group chats - we just need more places to actually be together.

Chapters

00:00 What Is a Third Place?
15:19 Have We Lost the Art of Just Hanging Out?
20:32 Creating Community Again
22:59 Making Time for What Matters
25:00 Relationships, Priorities & Boundaries

This week, Jenn and Alexa are talking about something that’s easy to forget as parents: our kids are always listening, even when we’re not talking to them.

The conversation gets into the way we talk about our bodies, our appearance, food, success, and ourselves in front of our kids and what they might be picking up from it. If your daughter hears you constantly criticize your body, what does that teach her about hers? If our kids watch us compare ourselves to everyone online, are they learning to do the same thing?

Jenn and Alexa also talk about raising kids in a world of TikTok, filters, algorithms, skincare routines, and constant comparison, especially the pressure young girls are feeling to look older, buy more, and care about their appearance earlier than ever. And while we can’t control everything our kids will see online, we can think about what they’re seeing and hearing at home.

They also get into the pressure to be good at everything, why kids need to see us be imperfect, and how something as simple as putting down your phone and giving someone your full attention can feel increasingly rare.

And, of course, there’s plenty of catching up along the way; travel plans, pets, shopping, skincare, and the usual side conversations.

Because maybe raising kids who are kinder to themselves starts with letting them hear us be a little kinder to ourselves, too.

Chapters

00:00 Life Updates & Travel Plans
01:32 Pets, Kids & Everyday Chaos
03:00 Skincare, Shopping & What We’re Loving
11:37 What Social Media Is Teaching Young Girls
22:39 Our Kids Are Listening
23:18 The Pressure to Be Good at Everything
37:34 Put the Phone Down & Be Here

This week, Jenn and Alexa are catching up after the weekend and somehow make their way from tech problems, shopping, and productivity goals to a much bigger conversation about cancel culture and where we choose to spend our money.

They get into what happens when a brand you love doesn't necessarily align with your values, whether choosing not to shop somewhere actually makes a difference, and where the line is between holding people and companies accountable and canceling them altogether. They also talk about navigating uncomfortable conversations, supporting causes that matter to you, and why sometimes putting your money behind the things you believe in feels more meaningful than simply posting about them.

Of course, there's plenty of the usual along the way—weekend recaps, fashion and style, trying to get their lives organized, kids' fundraisers, content creation plans, and a few products they're currently loving (or questioning whether they needed in the first place).

It's a little shopping, a little life update, and a bigger conversation about what—and who—we choose to support.

Chapters

00:00 Tech Troubles & Weekend Recap
02:03 Merch & Minneola Adventures
03:27 Weekend Highlights
04:07 The Post-Trip Unpacking Debate
05:07 Organization, Productivity & Lazy Sundays
06:10 What We're Listening To
08:14 Productivity Goals & Content Plans
09:00 Fashion, Personal Style & What We're Wearing
16:19 Cancel Culture & When Brand Values Matter
24:18 Where We Choose to Spend Our Money
27:03 Having the Uncomfortable Conversations
30:21 Kids, Fundraising & Showing Support
33:01 How We Choose to Give
38:59 Things We're Loving Right Now
42:32 Fashion & Lifestyle Favorites
45:19 Wrapping Up

This week, Alexa and Jenn are talking about slowing down, getting outside, and why some of the simplest things might make a bigger difference in how we feel than we realize.

Alexa starts by sharing the emotional roller coaster of moving her son into college - the excitement, the sadness, and the very weird feeling of watching your kid start a completely new chapter of their life.

Then, Jenn and Alexa dive into Indoor Epidemic: 93% Inside Steals Sleep, Focus & Years—The 7% Outdoor Rx Restores Them by Dr. John La Puma and some of the ideas that really stuck with them. They talk about just how much time we spend indoors and what getting outside, natural light, greenery, water, sleep, hydration, and even simply slowing down can do for our overall well-being.

They also get into their own sleep struggles, stress, mental health, breathing and relaxation techniques, and small ways they're trying to be more intentional about taking care of themselves. Nothing extreme—sometimes it's literally just putting the phone down, stepping outside, and giving yourself a minute.

It's part college-mom emotions, part wellness rabbit hole, and part reminder that maybe we all need to go outside a little more.

Chapters

00:00 Alexa's College Mom Era
02:53 Sending Your Kid Off to College
13:02 Why Sleep Matters So Much
14:03 Are We Spending Too Much Time Inside?
24:54 Nature & Mental Health
25:49 Light, Color & Sound
26:17 Managing Everyday Stress
28:20 Breathing, Meditation & Actually Pausing
29:30 Why Being Outside Feels So Good
31:11 Sleep, Our Brains & Modern Life
41:30 Hydration & Simple Self-Care

This episode discusses personal experiences and general wellness topics inspired in part by Dr. John La Puma's book. Jenn and Alexa are not medical professionals, and nothing discussed in this episode is intended as medical advice.

This week, Jenn and Alexa are talking about something that feels basically impossible to avoid these days: social media and the way it's changing how we interact with each other.

They get into what it's like raising kids in a world where being online is just a normal part of growing up, and how different that feels from the way we grew up. From figuring out when and how to introduce kids to social media to wondering how you even teach them to handle the negativity that comes with it, parenting in the digital age is a whole new territory.

They also talk about the way people behave online versus how they'd act in real life, why comment sections can bring out the absolute worst in people, and how easy it has become to forget that there's an actual person on the other side of the screen. Plus, they get into generational differences, online pile-ons, and what can happen when people actually come together and use social media for something good.

It's a conversation about raising kids, being online, protecting your peace, and maybe just remembering that we don't have to say every thought that pops into our heads.

Chapters

00:00 Parenting in the Digital Age
06:04 The Power of Us
07:02 How Social Media Is Changing Us
15:52 Growing Up Online: Then vs. Now
27:52 Why Do People Act Like This Online?
29:26 When Online Negativity Goes Too Far

This week, Jenn and Alexa are catching up on everything from hair transformations and doctor visits to neighborhood drama and the very important question of whether we've officially reached the age where we're excited about pajamas.

But the conversation also gets a little deeper. They talk openly about mental health, knowing when it's time to ask for help, and why being honest with your doctor about how you're actually feeling matters. They also get into protecting your peace, setting boundaries with the people around you, and realizing that sometimes taking care of yourself means deciding what you simply don't have the energy for anymore.

As always, there's a little bit of everything - real life, mental health, neighborhood chaos, self-care, fashion, and plenty of side conversations that somehow all make sense in the end.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the noise of everyday life, struggled with knowing when to ask for help, or found an unreasonable amount of joy in a really good pair of pajamas, this one's for you.

Please note: This episode includes conversations about mental health and personal experiences with mental health struggles. Jenn and Alexa are sharing their own experiences and are not medical or mental health professionals. Nothing discussed in this episode should be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for online support.

Additional resources:
• NAMI Mental Health Resources: nami.org/resource-center
• NAMI Support Groups: nami.org/support-education/support-groups
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator: findtreatment.gov

Disclaimer: This episode includes conversations about weight loss, body image, and our personal health experiences. We're sharing what has been true for us, not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to you.

This week, we're diving into the messy, complicated, and very real relationship we have with our bodies. From body positivity versus body neutrality to the emotional side of weight loss, we're talking about what it's actually like to navigate health while living in a world that's constantly telling us how we should look.

We share our own experiences, the mindset shifts that have helped us, and why it's okay if loving your body doesn't happen overnight. We also talk about the pressure to "have it all figured out," finding confidence beyond the number on the scale, and giving yourself a little more grace along the way.

And because no episode of Do I Need This? stays on track for long, we wrap things up with a very relatable rant about customer service, being passed from department to department, and why getting a real person on the phone feels like winning the lottery.

Whether you're on your own health journey or just looking for an honest conversation with a few laughs along the way, we're so glad you're here.

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Body Neutrality
• 03:00 Physical and Mental Health
• 23:02 Weight Loss Journey
• 24:27 Body Positivity and Acceptance
• 29:10 Customer Service Challenges

This week, we're talking about something so many of us do without even realizing it: apologizing for simply existing.

But first, we catch up on the chaos of vacation logistics, certification renewals, and the bittersweet emotions that come with watching our kids grow up. From preparing for big life milestones to navigating the ever-changing dynamics of family life, we share what's been on our minds lately.

Then we dive into the real conversation: Why are women so quick to say "sorry" for taking up space? Whether it's speaking up in a meeting, asking for help, standing in someone's way for two seconds, or simply existing, we've been conditioned to soften ourselves with an apology. We unpack where that habit comes from, how it shows up in everyday life, and what it looks like to start replacing "sorry" with confidence.

If you've ever felt like you needed to make yourself smaller to make everyone else comfortable, this episode is for you.

Chapters

• 00:00 Vacation Logistics and Takeaways
• 15:59 Parenting and Family Dynamics
• 23:40 Preparing for Milestones
• 24:42 Taking Up Space
• 39:06 Apologizing for Taking Up Space

The conversation covers the challenges of parenting during summer, the excitement of vacation and family time, and the impact of technology on healthcare. It delves into the experiences of managing children during the summer, the anticipation of a family vacation, and the convenience of technology in accessing healthcare services. The conversation delves into the significance of honesty and boundaries in relationships, emphasizing the need for raw honesty and the ability to set boundaries in close circles. It also explores the liberating power of self-acceptance and honesty, highlighting the importance of embracing one's true self and being honest with oneself and others.

Takeaways

• Parenting during summer
• Vacation and family time
• Technology and healthcare Honesty and Boundaries
• Embracing Self-Acceptance

Chapters

• 00:00 Parenting During Summer
• 03:05 Vacation and Family Time
• 11:33 Technology and Healthcare
• 23:30 The Importance of Honesty and Boundaries in Relationships
• 25:14 The Liberating Power of Self-Acceptance and Honesty