Mildly Thriving

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Meredith and Kimberly tackle the surprisingly morbid (yet oddly satisfying) concept of “death cleaning,” a Swedish tradition that’s basically decluttering… but with consequences. They unpack why inherited stuff is so emotionally loaded, how consumerism turned all of us into accidental hoarders, and why having a will is actually a gift, not a curse. Along the way, they laugh their way through uncomfortable truths about mortality, memories, and the boxes of junk we’re all going to leave behind, all while offering practical ways to make life (and death) a little easier on the people we love.

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 In this week’s episode, Kimberly absolutely rocks Meredith’s worldview by proposing a truly radical concept: platonic marriage. That’s right… two besties, legally married, doing life together… minus the romance. Watch Meredith process this information in real time as they interrogate why society insists marriage is ONLY for lovers and not, say, the person who already knows your coffee order and your weird family. Is it genius? Is it delusional? Is it honestly kind of tempting? Tune in.

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 On this episode of Mildly Thriving, Kimberly and Meredith tackle the most important question of our time: what actually makes a girls’ trip iconic… and not an emotional nightmare? Fresh off Kimberly’s recent cruise with three friends, the girls break down the essential what makes a good travel companion (and the red flags that should’ve stayed home). Kimberly recounts her topless sunbathing moment and she finally takes her own advice and tries the classic “I have diarrhea” excuse to dodge taking shots. Does it work? Is it convincing? Is anyone emotionally prepared for this information? Press play and find out.

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Mildly Thriving, Kimberly and Meredith brave the horror of boredom, aka being alone with your thoughts for more than 10 seconds and having to poop without watching Reels. They reminisce about feral, screen-free childhoods, discuss our collective phone addiction, and unpack why constant stimulation might be killing our creativity. With plenty of personal confessions (and failed attempts at cutting back on social media), they explore what it means to unplug, be mindful, and maybe, just maybe, let ourselves be bored again. Mildly thriving has never been so uncomfortable. 

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Mildly Thriving, Kimberly and Meredith reunite after the holidays to catch up, overshare, and unpack a truly important event: Meredith and her friends getting their auras read by a very drunk stranger during a night out. This naturally sparks a conversation about what auras actually mean (if anything at all) and how much we should trust spiritual insights delivered at last call. Things then take a slightly unhinged but surprisingly thoughtful turn as they dive into the big question, what do we think happens when you die? Leave it to them to be sentimental, sarcastic and highly existential in one episode. You're welcome. 

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 In this episode, Kimberly and Meredith unpack everyone’s favorite invisible life-ruiner: expectations. The ones society dumps on us, the ones we quietly dump on other people, and the ones we dump on ourselves that keep us awake at night. They chat about how unspoken expectations are basically premeditated disappointment, why “they should’ve just known” is a big ol' trap for everyone involved, and how keeping your expectations mild might actually save your relationships (and your sanity). Expect personal stories, gentle call-outs, and a few uncomfortable realizations you didn’t ask for, but probably need. You're welcome.

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 Meredith and Kimberly share exciting end of the year updates about their biggest achievements... one of them might involve not shitting one's pants. On the cusp of a new year, the girls wanted to dive into why we even do this whole New Year's Resolutions thing and want to learn where they even came from. Join them as they Google things like "Where is Babylon?" and talk about their New Year's resolutions or lack there of. 

Here is the link to Meredith's article: https://www.history.com/articles/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 On this episode of Mildly Thriving, Kimberly gets real with Meredith about the slow, slightly uncomfortable, very honest process of coming to terms with being childfree and… average. (Or, as we prefer to call it: mildly thriving.) The two dig into the quiet but constant pressure on women to either do everything or justify doing nothing, unpacking the traditional narratives we’ve all inherited and the subtle ways we push back against them. Along the way, they catch themselves in moments of preemptive defensiveness, because apparently even when you’re confident in your choices, society still wants a PowerPoint. This episode is for anyone who’s tired of justifying their happiness and ready to redefine what “enough” looks like to them.

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 In Part 2 of this friendship deep dive, Meredith and Kimberly take the “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” theory and absolutely overthink it (for your benefit).  The girls break down the traits that actually matter when choosing friends and partners…and remind you that it isn’t always just hobbies or politics, it’s about the details: humor that doesn’t make you cringe, communication that doesn’t raise your cortisol, and emotional maturity that doesn’t require a PowerPoint. They unpack what traits actually make relationships sustainable, why compatibility lives in the small stuff, and how to stop accidentally surrounding yourself with people who low-key stress you out.

Here's the link to the article that Meredith mentions in this episode: https://nosidebar.com/choosing-good-friends/

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?

Send us Fan Mail

 In this episode, Meredith and Kimberly get real about how the people you hang with can make you thrive… or slowly drain your will to live. With personal stories, questionable decisions, and a few friendship red flags waved proudly in the air, the girls dive into what accountability and real support actually look like. They also unpack why keeping friendships alive during major life plot twists can be really freaking hard and why negative friends should come with a warning label.

This is our first video episode and we're just figuring it out! Thanks for your patience as we navigate this difficult time (learning new stuff is hard!).

Insta: @MildlyThrivingPod

Original audio by Patrck Joseph (Thanks Patrick)

Insert legal disclaimer and jargon here... but like... don't steal our shit?