Is This A Thing?

By Alli Hoff Kosik + Abby Wolfe

Welcome to ITAT! On each episode, best pals Abby and Alli seek to answer that age-old friendship question: "Is this a thing?" From arguing with a pet and weird food ... more

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FAQs about Is This A Thing?:

How many episodes does Is This A Thing? have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.

Is This A Thing? episodes:

March 26, 2026Episode 20: HANDWRITTEN NOTES... Is This a Thing?
Dear Listeners,

I write to you from my home office (which is...my only office) here in Maine. It's mid-morning on a Monday; a candle is burning; the remnants of yesterday's weird slush storm are dripping down the side of the house; and I already have my desk light on because the day is gloomy.

But despite the gray, today is exciting. It's release day for episode 20 of Is This a Thing?, the last episode of Season 1. I wish I were writing this letter to you by hand. (Well, I guess I am technically using my hands to type this, but...you get what I'm saying.) I wish my hand were curled around my favorite pen, and the nib was digging into the paper, and that in a few days, you were pulling this letter out of a wax-sealed envelope. But alas, here I am, clickity clacking away. And that's probably for the best, because it would be hard to add a "Listen Now" button to a paper letter.

In today's episode, we talk about HANDWRITTEN NOTES. Are they still a thing? Do people still write and send notes, or are they becoming a thing of the past?

We hope you enjoy today's episode. And if you really want to write us a letter...we wouldn't say no. We'll see you soon for Season 2. Keep your eyes on your (virtual) mailbox!

All my love,
Abby (and Alli, too, of course)

P.S. As per usual, here are links to everything we mentioned in the episode:
Checkered Fish Ceramics
Blackwell's
In Her Defense by Phillipa Malicka
The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland by Rachael Herron

The usual links:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Order Alli’s book!

Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
15min
March 05, 2026Episode 19: PARKING ANXIETY... Is This a Thing?
Get in losers, we're going shopping. Beep beep! Or actually, maybe we're not. Because Alli is driving (which she likes) but the parking situation is uncertain, and that makes her nervous, and so...maybe we'll just stay at home and shop from our laptops instead? In case it's not obvious, today we're talking about PARKING ANXIETY.

We also chat about:
Lingering coughs, and how coughing is annoying
The tempting tendency to pathologize people
Alli's fascinating and fervent disdain of Rob from Traitors
Why this season of Traitors doesn't feel as good as last season
...and more!

The usual links:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli’s book!

Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
29min
February 12, 2026Episode 18: THE PITT AS A COMFORT SHOW...Is This a Thing??
Last week we talked about “hate listening” to podcasts. This week, we’re talking about media consumption again—but this time, we’re talking about comfort TV. But there’s one more twist: Abby wants to know if high-stress shows like The Pitt and ER can be comfort shows (because they definitely are for her).

We also chat about:
Going on a cross-country road trip and the roles each of us would play
How it feels for Alli to hold THE FIRST COPIES of her debut novel!
The current and future state of hardcover books
...and more!

And, of course, here are links to things we mentioned in the episode:
LITTLE ONE by Olivia Muenter
The Pitt
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King
GLOSSY by Marisa Seltzer

The usual links:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli’s book!

Advocacy corner:
The state of the country (and world) is weighing heavily on us right now. As such, we wanted to provide some suggestions of how to stay involved. Every little thing counts.
Call your representatives using 5 Calls (there’s also a great mobile app)
Donate to mutual aid orgs. Here are some suggestions:
Food For All
Immigrant Defense Network
List of mutual aid orgs in Minnesota
Project Relief Maine
Stay in the know by following these creators:
Emily Amick of Emily In Your Phone
Aaron Parnas

Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
20min
January 29, 2026Episode 17: "Hate listening" to podcasts... IS THIS A THING?
Raise your hand if you've ever opened up your Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, or [Insert your social media platform of choice] and navigated toward the profile of someone you, well, really don't like.

We won't say you hate that person, per se, but you definitely don't like them, and you may not even know them. Yet you often find yourself scrolling through their page to see what they're up to. (By the way, if you're not raising your hand, I don't believe you!! – Love, Abby).

Many in the world refer to this as "hate following."

In this episode, we discuss something in a very similar vein: "Hate listening" to podcasts, something Alli does on pretty much a daily basis. We also chat about:
Our ideal morning routines (and how soggy socks can interfere)
Hiring a personal driver for two-year-old Will (note: this is a joke)
Throw pillows and commitment issues
Cookie Fridays
...and more!

And, of course, here are links to everything we mentioned in the episode:
Busy Phillips on Pod Meets World
Abby's super cool new mechanical keyboard (I'm sorry that it's from Am*zon!!)
Watch What Crappens episode about the RHOSLC finale
Workhorse by Caroline Palmer

The usual links:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli’s book!

Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
30min
January 15, 2026Episode 16: NEW YEAR'S SPECTACULAR (definitely a thing)
Oh no! You thought we'd abandoned you? Left ITAT behind, and walked off into the sunset? Never! (Well, maybe one day, but not anytime soon.)

Today we're back with the first episode of 2026 (which just so happens to be the year of TOO BLESSED TO STRESS).

In episode 16, Alli and Abby finally open up the Christmas gifts they got each other and discuss a plethora of random things, including:
Claymation squirrels and other package-related drama
Alli's feelings about becoming a published author in less than two months (!!)
Our thoughts on 2026, the year of the horse
Moments we felt most joyful and carefree in 2025
..and more!

There's some great ASMR in this episode. And even better news? Today's 'sode is free for everyone! So grab those headphones and listen in. We're happy to be back in your ears!

And, of course, here are links to everything we mentioned in the episode:
Gilmore Girls Oracle Deck
Culture Study Newsletter: Some Really Hard (But Really Useful) Questions

The usual links:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 4min
December 11, 2025Episode 15: Restless life syndrome... IS THIS A THING?
If there’s one word that really resonates with Abby, it’s restless.

Thankfully, she doesn’t have restless leg syndrome (that she knows of), though she feels for anyone who does. But she does for sure have restless life syndrome, a phrase she discovered while reading one of Nora McInerny’s newsletters.

In this episode, we explore what restless life syndrome means, how it’s showing up in Abby’s life, and what we can do to combat it.

Plus:
The best name to call Abby’s brother
A deep-dive into the joy and pressure of gift giving
Our philosophy on giving books as presents
...and more!
And, of course, here are links to everything we mentioned in the episode:

Jo Piazza's newsletter featuring digital photo frames
Bad on Paper podcast: Gift Guide Episode
Olivia Muenter's newsletter: Nora McInerny's Desk Tour
Nora McInerny's newsletter on restless life syndrome
The Brick
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!

Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
25min
November 25, 2025Episode 14: Conscious consumption of Hallmark holiday movies... IS THIS A THING?
Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! Let's get festive with a deep dive into the business of made-for-TV Christmas movies... and whether or not it's problematic to consume them like candy.

Check it out:
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Democracy in Retrograde by Emily Amick and Sami Sage
This Might Hurt tarot deck
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
26min
November 13, 2025Episode 13: Stars Hollow... IS THIS A THING?
Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)
Yes, yes, Gilmore Girls fans we know that Stars Hollow is a thing in the world of Rory and Lorelei... but is there a version of it that exists IRL?

Check it out:
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness
Good Hang with Amy Poehler (Kate McKinnon episode)
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
26min
October 30, 2025Episode 12: Parasocial relationships with pets... IS THIS A THING?
Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Alli and Abby are both obsessed with their pets, but on Episode 12, they discuss if their relationships with their furry friends are parasocial.

Check it out:
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
30min
October 16, 2025Episode 11: Anxiety about seasonal changes... IS THIS A THING?
Subscribe on Substack for access to FULL episodes, including this one! We appreciate your support :)

Fall is in the air, and we're celebrating on ITAT with a conversation about Abby's anxiety regarding seasonal changes year-round. Sound familiar?

Check it out:
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
ITAT on Instagram
Alli on Instagram
Abby on Instagram
ITAT on Substack
Pre-order Alli's book!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
27min

FAQs about Is This A Thing?:

How many episodes does Is This A Thing? have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.