More Better with Stephanie & Melissa

Welcome back!! Look over here!! This week, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the art of observing. And it is an ~art~. People watching, eavesdropping, reading the room. This all takes skill and practice — and our girls? They're experts. Tune in to hear why Steph's favorite spot to people watch is the TSA line (where people might possibly show their truest selves) and Melissa confesses her staring problem. Featuring: Accidentally staring at Rami Malek's crotch on set, the sacred Parisian art of flaneurie and a thespian inquiry into Julie Louis-Dreyfus's Little Kicks. See you on the promenade!

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Come on in and have a seat! Cute outfit! Can we take your coat? This week, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the wild world of Going Out to Eat. On the menu today: Steph's first Big Restaurant Memory (unlimited shirley temples at the Flying Dutchman in Texas, hello?!) and grand tales from Melissa's Sizzler Phase when she'd eat anyone under the table. Plus — the ladies open up about the intricacies of the LA food scene and the skill needed to eat a whole fish. (Mel's very Cuban mom will only leave an eyeball, props.) Afters at Olive Garden! First breadstick's on us.

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At the risk of too many feels and future tripping, the ladies tackle Nostalgia this week. Ah, nostalgia — the bittersweet art of looking back. First, Stephanie opens up about her meticulous ephemera box and why it makes her cry, then Melissa shares about Brooklyn blooper reels, finally and they both reminisce about Stephanie's wedding day. Plus! The neurological power of music in youths and five tips to buck up and transform yearning into hope! Ugh, we miss this episode already!!!!

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Welcome back to More Better! This week, Stephanie and Melissa tackle………………………….waiting. From passive waiting — (traffic (ugh), lines (UGH) — to active waiting — contracts (chop chop!), jury verdicts (she’s innocent, your honor) — to the torturous ambiguous kind — (when will my reflection show who I am inside?). Steph shares her new practice of putting her phone down to be present, while Melissa explains long shipping times to her son, like the olden times. Featuring: leaning boards and corset dress nightmares, napping like a vampire on set, Victorian patience vs. Amazon instant gratification, racing raindrops on bus windows and the whimsy of hand-written letters.

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Welcome back to More Better! This week, Stephanie and Melissa tackle the art of saying no: from people-pleasing tendencies to pregnancy as the ultimate excuse. Melissa opens up about how she learned to say NO by watching Steph during the Brooklyn Nine-Nine years ("You can just say that?!"), while Steph reveals her ancestors' low-key panic about her daughter going skiing (absolutely not). Featuring: teaching your kids to use you as the fall guy, polite lying as a valid boundary tool, a thrilling round of guilt-o-meter roulette, gaggles of girls that aren't your gaggle and Steph’s groundbreaking theory that West Coast snow is soft while East Coast snow is hard, just like their people. Ooooo. Ahhhhh.

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 When listener Lucia asks the ladies for thoughts on nightmares, sleepwalking and building a better bedtime routine this week, Steph and Mel have a lot to say. Melissa opens up about her childhood sleepwalking hijinks watching cartoons at 3 a.m. and shares about her son Enzo's more recent night terrors. What works for them? Cold rooms, weighted blankets and image rehearsal therapy, dream-world machete in hand. Also, Steph shares about her secret sleep weapon — Tony's Sleepy Cocktail and why she prefers it over melatonin (heinous dreams alert!). Plus: why we should maybe get back into the medieval habit of biphasic sleep (two sleeps per night!!!! the dream!! literally!!!!).

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On this week's episode, med student Katie calls in to the ladies and asks for networking advice. *record scratch* NETWORKING?! YIKES! Mel and Steph wince at the word but give Katie advice and share their experiences with what they like to call "Fostering Relationships". From reframing "What are you doing?" as a question for someone to discussing the art of the follow-up text, the ladies get real about building genuine connections in a world that seemingly runs on who you know. Mel shares how genuinely complimenting Phil Augusta Jackson's work led to years of collaboration, Steph reminds us about the importance of "small talk" and they both tackle the old boys club conundrum. So have a listen and remember... sometimes you just gotta be brave enough to ask. *Check out this week's episode in full-length video on the official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MyCulturaPodcasts

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When listener Lucy from London asks for advice on living alone for the first time, Mel and Steph get real about the pros, cons and weird freedoms of solo living. From Steph's pink velvet headboard era to Melissa's bat-by-the-bed security system, the ladies discuss making your space a sanctuary, the importance of self-respect when no one's watching and why leaving big work boots outside your door is actually genius. Featuring: safety tips, pizza bones, dressing up in ball gowns to do puzzles by yourself and a reminder that your space should feel like coming home to yourself.

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Melissa and Stephanie are getting real about skyiiieeein. The trial and error of it, the expensive mistakes and the pressure to have flawless skin while working in Hollywoodlandia. From cystic acne at 11 to navigating filters and Korean beauty standards, the ladies discuss their very different skin types (oily vs. dry), what's actually in their routines and why you should never introduce five new products at once. Steph shares the story of a rude makeup artist who handed her Proactiv on set, Melissa confesses to bruising her nose as a teen from aggressive blackhead extraction and both get into slugging. Featuring: honest product recommendations (not sponsored!!!!!! yet!!!!!!!!), the reminder that expensive doesn't always mean better and the acceptance that sometimes your skin just does what it wants. She’s her own person!!!!!

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Steph’s Disney obsession is no secret (we don’t talk about Bruno…), so it’s ABOUT TIME we finally get magical on this here pod. From VHS clamshell cases and Little Mermaid penis castles to smellitizers and feral cat rumors, join us this week as the ladies break down ALL things Dinsey, including how to actually enjoy the parks without losing your mind or your money. Steph shares her holy grail park tips: 1. pack blister pads 2. change your socks midday 3. prioritize three rides max and 4. for the love of God DON’T wear Converse. Melissa explains her changed tune on Disney adults and reveals her one non-negotiable park move (spoiler: it’s dole whip with tajín). But really, please write in and let us know if you’ve seen the feral cats. For science.

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