Gatherings Podcast

In the final episode, we are talking about our favorite parties from the past year and some fun details about what made them so great!

• Chrystina’s Burlesque 29th Birthday Party
• Jess’ Annual Cookie Party
• The 30th Birthday Party that Jess threw for her husband
• Christina’s friend Heather’s Laid-back Pool Party
• Christina’s friend Maddison’s karaoke Birthday Party
• Jess’ Annual Camping Trip
• Friendsgiving
• Christina’s friend Stephanie’s Birthday party
• Year 10 Not-A-Wedding Party in the Poconos
• Then we veered off track a bit about renting houses with large groups.
• Our Usual Final Questions:
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: My 30th birthday party.
  • Jessica: Girls Night Party in the new Year
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Jessica: snail main and carepackages
  • Chrystina: visiting friends in far off places
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: Disney
  • Jessica: Creating a Toxin-Free Home

Episode 10 is all about the kids. We spent some time chatting with Andy Shaw of Instafather.com  about hosting kids parties, hosting a kid at an adult party, bringing kids to parties and more. In this episode, there are a lot of great little tips for navigating the waters with little ones, whether they are yours or not.   

• Meet Andy Shaw
  • How Chrystina + Andy Met
  • Andy's Day Job His improv comedy  
• Kid smoothie recipes (we got a little side tracked)
• Jess’ questions from a parents perspective
  • Bounce House, Actors & Extras vs old fashioned playtime
  • Don’t set your kid up for failure
  • Thoughts on Nap times
  • Gift Opening at parties
  • Buying gifts for kids
  • Throwing parties at facilities vs home
  • Thoughts on decorations
  • Food, dietary restrictions and more
  • When do parents stop coming?
• Chrystina’s questions from a non-parent perspective
  • How long are kids parties?
  • Making small talk with children
  • Getting comfortable with inviting kids to your home
  • Is babyproofing necessary?
  • Andy’s Guest Post on Chrystina’s Blog
  • Snacks for kids to have on hand
  • Portable folding highchair
  • New Mom's Guide to New Dads preview
• What are you planning right now?
• How are you staying in touch?
• What are you into right now?

Find Andy online: ·         Instafather.com ·         Twitter ·         Instagram

In Episode 9 of Season 2, we had the opportunity to speak with Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam, the authors of Brunch is Hell. This was such a fun episode to record where we discussed everything from dinner parties to playlists to icebreaker jokes. Brendan and Rico shared the title they originally wanted to give their book and their most memorable dinner parties. Definitely an episode not to be missed. (Also, if you're a dinner party person, Brunch is Hell should absolutely be on your reading list.)

• Meet Rico and Brendan
• • The Dinner Party Download
  • • Icebreaker
    • Small talk
    • Guest of honor
    • Cocktails
  • Brunch Is Hell
  • Their origin story
  • The end of the podcast
  • The start of the book
• Brunch is Hell
• • The title of the book (and the almost title of the book)
  • Why (restaurant) brunch is awful
• Dinner Parties
• • Dinner party identifiers
  • Helping people with guidance
  • Etiquette rules
  • Nights to throw dinner parties aka "Tuesdays are Dumb"
• Most Memorable Dinner Parties
• • Brendan's Friday night dinner party
  • Rico and Brendan planning to have a memorable dinner party because Rico doesn't actually have one to add to the list.
  • Rico's childhood dinner parties
• Bakers vs. Cooks
• • Rico and Brendan are cooks
  • Great British Bake Show
• Icebreakers
• • The hope of reviving the joke
  • Why didn't the lifeguard save the hippie?
  • Knock knock. Who's there? To. To who?
• Music Playlist Choices
• • Sister Maryam Guebrou (Amazon / YouTube)
  • Movie Soundtracks
  • • Blowup by Herbie Hancock (Amazon / YouTube)
    • Cotton Club (Amazon / YouTube)
  • Rico's belief that 70's Disco Music is perfect dinner party music
  • The P.D.P.D.P.
• Quick Hit Inspiration
• • Don't worry about it.
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: My 30th birthday party.
  • Rico: 90th birthday party in New Hampshire
  • Brendan: Tuna melt
  • Jessica: Blogger meet-ups
• What's happening in your kitchen?
• • Jessica: Local 30 challenge, canning, freezing, and dehydrating
  • Brendan: Brendan's refrigerator in New York
  • Rico: Losing money because of extra cold refrigerator
  • Chrystina: Alcohol
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Rico: All the ways
  • Brendan: Coffee, cocktails, and thank you notes
  • Jessica: Girls' day
  • Chrystina: Not doing so great.
• What are you into right now?
• • Jessica: Nesting
  • Rico: Ava Luna performs Serge Gainsbourg's Historie de Melody Nelson and Lina Waithe
  • Brendan: Romaine hearts and Cate Le Bon's Are You With Me Now?
  • Chrystina: Acai bowl from Oola Bowls in Lancaster, PA
• Find us online:
• • Rico
  • • Twitter
    • Safe for Work
  • Brendan
  • • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • The Paris Review
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

In Episode 8, we spoke with Sean Hand about networking, more specifically how to transfer the networking skills of the office to dinner parties, weddings, and more. In this episode, Sean shares a lot of great stories and tips on how to prepare for an event ahead of time. Not only that, but we talk about how to best utilize your plus ones at an event (and/or be the best plus one you can be). We're looking forward to sharing this episode with you all and hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Sean is the founder of a professional development website – AwkwardNetworker.com as well the Awkward Networker Podcast to help his global audience achieve networking success in their personal and professional lives. He has spoken to a wide range of audiences across the country and has been known to help improve the personal brand of thousands of people. Sean is a tireless advocate for young professional mentorship, with a passion for philanthropy, organizational development, and public speaking.  He sits on multiple non-profit and professional organization boards, with many leadership and developmental roles therein.

• Meet Sean Hand
• • How Chrystina + Sean met
  • Sean's Day Job
  • The start of Awkward Networker
• Extroverts and Introverts
• APQ: Audience, Purpose, Questions
• • A: Plan ahead to know your audience
  • • Do your research on events
    • Searching Facebook ahead of time for parties
  • P: What's your purpose?
  • Q: Create two questions specific enough to be interesting
• Tips for Networking
• • What's the first thing you say to somebody
  • Warming up ahead of time
• Tips for being the / having the Plus One
• • Get the ground rules down
  • The Plus One is responsible for names
• Tips for being the Host or Hostess
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: Her weekends
  • Sean: A Salt Lake City, UT work trip
  • Jessica: Vacation and camping
• What's happening in your kitchen?
• • Jessica: Local 30 challenge
  • Sean: No cheese
  • Chrystina: Haven't cooked a meal in 3 weeks
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Chrystina: One line emails to people
  • Sean: Thank you notes and trinkets
  • Jessica: Photography business hellos
• What are you into right now?
• • Jessica: The Dirty Life
  • Sean: Golf
  • Chrystina: Her travel mug
• Find us online:
• • Sean Hand
  • • The Awkward Networker Website
    • The Awkward Networker Facebook
    • Sean's Twitter
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

In Episode 7, we had the opportunity to speak with Ali Rosen from Potluck with Ali about keeping things simple while entertaining. The conversation takes a few turns, but there are some great tips throughout about avoiding party tension, setting yourself up for success, pre-party preparation tips, and tips to keep things simple. You'll also hear about that time Ali cooked for a bunch of fancy chefs, another version of the bakers vs. cooks debate, and a breakdown of prioritizing relationships for staying in touch. We're excited for you to take a listen! Ali Rosen is the founder and host of Potluck with Ali Rosen, a television show, and website dedicated to sharing the best and brightest in food. Potluck airs on NYC Life and its videos have appeared on HuffPost, Edible, and People. She is also the author of Bring It!: Tried and True Recipes for Potlucks and Entertaining. Ali was named as one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 for Food & Drink. She has also written for sites including Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Fodor's, and Refinery 29. Potluck was nominated for an Emmy as well as two IACP awards and Thrillist said Ali had one of the coolest jobs in food (she agrees). She is from Charleston, South Carolina, but currently lives in New York City.

• Meet Ali Rosen
• • How Jessica found out about Ali
  • How she got into food & entertaining
  • The metaphor (& literal definition) of "potluck"
• Jessica and Ali bond over hating baking
• What Ali brings to potlucks
• • Recipe testing
  • The "this might not be good"self-deprecating tactic
• Cooks vs. bakers
• Party tension
• • If you are calm (as the host), it's going to be a great party
  • Jessica's friend's gender reveal party story
  • Surprise parties
  • Removing as many potential obstacles as possible
• Setting yourself up for success
• • Helping people help themselves
  • Spending money on party help
  • Finding party help
  • • Facebook it
    • Local colleges
    • Care.com
    • Urbansitter
    • Task rabbit
  • Spending money where it serves you best
• Pre-party preparation tips
• • Plan hour-by-hour (and using excel)
  • Have dishes that are all served at room temperature
  • • Pasta (anchovy and pistachio pasta from Bring It)
    • An interesting salad (roasted corn, tomato, feta, and basil salad from Bring It)
    • Meat (with the right amount of sauce, and the right amount of flavor)
  • Do as much ahead of time as possible
• Tips to keep things simple
• • Buying pre-cut things
  • Buy pre-peeled garlic (not pre-minced)
  • Have the right equipment on hand (strawberry huller) 
  • Buy things pre-made
• That time Ali cooked for a bunch of fancy chefs
• • Ask for help
  • Take it back to your roots
  • Make sure you feel comfortable
• Advice for nervous hosts: 
• • Have fun. 
  • If you look over a recipe and it looks daunting to you, skip it.
  • Cook something that you love and you're excited about.
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Jessica: Grilling
  • Ali: Summer produce (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
  • Chrystina: Clean floors
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: Living that travel life
  • Ali: Rhode Island blueberry pies
  • Jessica: Husband's birthday, camping trips
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Chrystina's blog post: Balancing staying in touch and self-care
  • Doubling down on close friends
  • Prioritizing friendships
  • Social media blackouts
  • Community Made podcast episode: Prioritizing relationships
  • If they wanted to keep in touch with you, they could be
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: TJMaxx shopping sprees
  • Ali: Crop tops
  • Jessica: Revamping blogs & painting murals
• Find us online:
• • Ali Rosen
  • • Website
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

In Episode 6, we talk with Jennifer Coyle from Hello Brio about minimalism and party planning. We cover everything from food and drink to table settings, paper products, and more. We also have a detailed discussed about some of our favorite sustainable kitchen items. We all now have plenty of new ideas to make our kitchens more eco-friendly, and would love to hear some of the tips you're using in your kitchen too! Jennifer is the editor behind Hello Brio, a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping people create their own true happiness. She believes in minimalism, mindfulness, intentional living, and nearo waste (near zero waste). Jenn is a self-taught web developer, momma to baby Beans, hand lettering artist, and burrito lover.

• An Introduction to Jenn & Minimalism
• Nearo Waste
• Minimalism and Party Planning 
• • Food & Drink
  • Table Settings
  • • Corelle Plates
  • Paper Products
  • • Etsy Napkins
    • Marleys Monsters
  • Kitchen Towels
  • Decor
  • Guest Lists
  • Gifts (or No Gifts)
  • Sending Invitations
  • • Paperless Post
  • Setup + Kitchen Tools
  • • Labeling recycling
    • Beeswax Wraps
    • Rachel Ray Bowl Covers
    • Product Mesh Bags
    • Sustainable Dog Poop Bags
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: Mafia Party
  • Jennifer: Wedding
  • Jessica: Summer Events
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Jessica: Working with different cuts of meat
  • Jennifer: Chris cooking most of the meals + meal planning
  • Chrystina: Qdoba
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Chrystina: Badass babes dinner
  • Jennifer: One on one texting
  • Jessica: Reaching out, camping trips, and summer events
• What are you into right now?
• • Jessica: Fall of Giants, Second Nature, Third Plate, Will Write for Food
  • Jennifer: Business aspect of blog + walking
  • Chrystina: A new bed
• Find us online:
• • Jennifer Coyle + Hello Brio
  • • Website
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

In Episode 5, Jessica interviews Chrystina about starting a conference. Chrystina started a blogger community called PHLbloggers in Philadelphia in September 2014. Since then, it has grown to a community of 350 members with an annual conference called The Blog Connect. This past April was year three. Jessica gets inside Chrystina's head about where the idea came from, how to handle the logistics, and tips she's learned along the way.

• The Blog Connect Recaps: 2016, 2017, and 2018
• What made you start a conference?
• What was the first step from idea to action?
• What makes a good conference?
• Is there anything you've wanted to do with the conference so far that hasn't worked out?
• What's something you thought would be hard that wasn't?
• What were any unexpected hurdles that you faced?
• How do you keep everything organized?
• How do you keep a team in line with your vision?
• How do you get speakers?
• How do you get sponsors?
• How do you set a price point for tickets?
• What are you planning right now?
• • Chrystina: A work badass babes dinner
  • Jess: !!!!!
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Chrystina: Stephen's making homemade pasta (again)
  • Jess: All the cheese and potatoes
  • Jess' 100 Days of Meal Planning
  • Chrystina's mom's twice-baked potato casserole
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Jess: Actually avoiding people
  • Chrystina: Snail mail!
  • MyPostcard
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: Cleaning
  • Jess: Television, Lost in Space
• Find us online:
• • The Blog Connect Team
  • • Skinny Affair
    • Shades of Sarah
    • Paint the Town Chic
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

For Episode 4, we had the chance to chat with Kristin Donnelly, the author of the Modern Potluck cookbook, and her newest cookbook, Cauliflower. Throughout this episode we talk about Kristin's past career as a Food & Wine magazine food editor, the logistics of hosting potlucks, potluck tips for guests, and more. We definitely all hit it off and ended up on a few tangents including pyrex outlet stores and pig roasts. Hope you enjoy!

• Meet Kristin Donnelly 
• • A discussion of what it means to be a food editor of Food & Wine magazine
  • Life of a blogger
  • Work life balance
• The Modern Potluck cookbook
• Potlucks & casseroles
• Tried & true dinner party habits
• The rules of the potluck
• The logistics of potlucks
• Potluck tips for guests
• Holidays & potlucks
• What are you planning right now?
• • Jess: Son's and husband's birthdays
  • Kristin: Husband's birthday & pig roasts
  • Chrystina: Roommate's surprise birthday party
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Chrystina: Dino nuggets
  • Kristin: Cleaning out the fridge
  • Jess: Still figuring out sour dough bread & fresh produce
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Jess: Texting
  • Kristin: Picking up the phone
  • Chrystina: Setting up phone calls
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: Boxed rose wine
  • Kristin: Stewart & Claire, Artemis Design Co.
  • Jess: Her garden (again) & garden videos
• Find us online:
• • Kristin
  • • Eat Better, Drink Better
    • Instagram
    • Kristin Donnelly.com
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

Y'all are in for a treat today. In Season 2, Episode 3 of Gatherings Podcast we sat down with Madeline from Where is the Damn Corkscrew about 10 overlooked party to-dos and went over her handy last minute party checklist. We each shared our own stories about times that things went well (and not so well) in each of these areas, and we're so excited to be sharing the list with you today! If you are interested in downloading Madeline's freebie, make sure to sign up for her VIP list here. Madeline is the founder and hostess-in-chief over at Where Is The Damn Corkscrew. She's a checklist champion, recovering people-pleaser, reformed perfectionist, and self-identified ambivert (half introvert, half extrovert). She spent years struggling with awkwardness, disorganization, and psychological barriers when hosting and attending parties and events. Despite those challenges she forged ahead into the abyss anyway, organizing and attending and professionally staffing events left and right, because she loves sharing quality time with friends and family. The struggle was worth it, event planning is now as natural as breathing, and she teaches her Sane Party Planning system over at Where Is The Damn Corkscrew to help ordinary people plan extraordinary parties and events in their personal lives - with sanity and budget intact.

• Meet Madeline
• General Awkwardness
• • Turning 30: Words of Wisdom from 30 Women Who've Been There
  • Giving people an opportunity to party
• 10 Overlooked Last Minute Party Items
• • To get a copy of the full list, sign up for Madeline's VIP list
  • Your job as a host is to make your guests not feel like an idiot
• What are you planning right now?
• • Jess: Summer planning
  • Madeline: Bachelorette Party
  • Chrystina: Murder Mystery Party
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Chrystina: Running out of everything
  • Madeline: Bread baking!
  • Jess: Bread and using green things!
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Jess: Girls day party, high school friends, and making new mom friends
  • Madeline: One on one girl time via the buddy system
  • Chrystina: Tribe emails
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: Getting rid of things, no spend March (The Year of Less)
  • Madeline: Fountain pen notebooks
  • Jess: Books on getting your baby to sleep
• Find us online:
• • Where is the Damn Corkscrew
  • • Instagram
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger

Episode 2 of Season 2 and we've decided it's time for us to get real with y'all. Even though we've been hosting parties for years, it doesn't mean that we're not affected by imposter syndrome. (Which, in case you didn't know is when you feel like a fraud while you're doing it.) For this discussion we've brought in Ana from Rosemary and Rye to bring her own insight to the discussion. She's the most positive person, and you're going to love her. We're super excited to share the episode with you, enjoy! Ana is the self taught chef, photographer, baguette lover, and blogger behind Rosemary + Rye. She lives in the beautiful state of Colorado and, naturally, enjoys craft brews and kombucha. If she's not making a huge mess cooking in the kitchen, she can be found snuggling with her rescue pup, Harper; hiking; or sneaking bites of home made ice cream out of the freezer.

• Meet Ana and Rosemary & Rye
• Why we're talking about the imposter syndrome
• Our imposter syndrome moments
• • The social media problem (Pinterest, Instagram, and more)
  • Living in a small space
  • • BBQ in the Park
    • Chrystina's tips for hosting in small spaces
  • Qualifying things before serving them
  • • Taco bars & burrito bars
  • Worried that you're forcing people into things
  • • The "here's a bottle of wine" approach
  • Worried about leftover food (and also making too much food)
  • • Jess' red pepper dip (Sometimes she skips the mozzarella and parm and just goes for the smoked gruyere or gouda - whatever she's feeling.)
    • What to keep in the house at all times
    • Ana's bread maker best loaf of bread with concentric circles
    • Round proofing bowl (with concentric circles)
    • Jess' dutch oven bread
  • Bringing multiple groups of friends together
  • Not cooking meat
  • • Dietary restrictions
    • Meat thermometers
  • Mismatched flatware, glassware, and plates
  • • Light brown cloth napkins
  • When the first 10 people RSVP 'No'
  • Worrying your themes are corny
  • How to facilitate good conversation at a party
  • • The Big Life by Ann Shoket
    • Chrystina's post on badass babes dinners
  • How to deal with some of these things
• What are you planning right now?
• • Jess: Girls' Day
  • Ana: Pancake Breakfast Bar
  • Chrystina: Badass Babes Dinner #5 and a Murder Mystery Party
• What's going on in your kitchen?
• • Chrystina: All the Pyrex
  • Ana: Soft dinner rolls
  • Jess: Sour Dough
• How are you staying in touch?
• • Jess: Girls' Day & Overnight Guests
  • Anna: Mario Kart Party
  • Chrystina: Do something with my staying in touch list
• What are you into right now?
• • Chrystina: The Slow Home podcast
  • Ana: Top Chef (Colorado edition)
  • Jess: Almost toddler life
• Find us online:
• • Rosemary & Rye
  • • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Gatherings Podcast
  • • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Chrystina Noel
  • Sweet Love & Ginger