New year, same chaos. Welcome to 2025, SWEople! Kaitlin gets a new phone and promptly forgets how phones even work. “Chip it!”—don’t worry, that’ll make sense later.

Meanwhile, Route 80 East literally falls into the earth, trapping us in Western Jersey. And what does one do when stuck in traffic and desperately needs to pee? Post-Christmas, we’ve officially declared the sibling gift exchange dumb and are finally switching it up.

Plus, Kaitlin and Scott fight over Boxbollen. Emily and Matt get heated over window shades, and have the “luckiest” adventure of all time at CarMax.

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

So What Else Website

This week, we’re thrilled to bring you Part 2 of our conversation with Donna-Jean Breckenridge. If you enjoyed Donna-Jean's story in Part 1, you won’t want to miss Part 2, where we dive deep into the world of homeschooling!

Donna-Jean shares her passion for education, offering insight into common questions like: Can homeschooled children get enough social interaction? How can parents ensure their kids are learning everything they need? What are the unique benefits of the homeschooling lifestyle?

We also explore the timeless philosophy of Charlotte Mason and how it shaped the curriculum Donna-Jean co-created: Ambleside Online, a free resource empowering families to provide a rich and meaningful education at home.

Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler, just curious, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice!

Ambleside Online

Six Voices, One Story: The Heart of Ambleside Online

The Country of Ours

Follow Donna-Jean on Insta → @djabreck

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

SWE Website

This week, we’re bringing you Part 1 of an incredible two-part conversation with Donna-Jean Breckenridge. Her story was so inspiring and rich with insight that we couldn’t fit it all into one episode!

Donna-Jean is a mom, grandmother, widow, author, speaker, and co-founder of Ambleside Online—a free Charlotte Mason-based homeschool curriculum. In this episode, she opens up about her life, sharing her struggles with infertility, the joy and challenges of adoption, the profound grief of losing her husband, and the heartbreak of losing her son-in-law.

Through it all, Donna-Jean’s resilience, faith, and wisdom shine as she reflects on finding hope in the midst of loss. Don’t forget to come back next week for Part 2, where she shares her passion for homeschooling and how Ambleside Online came to life!

Six Voices, One Story: The Heart of Ambleside Online

This Country of Ours

Follow Donna-Jean on Insta → @djabreck

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

SWE Website

Scott manages to order a lifetime supply of Fabletics apparel. Kaitlin orders her own not-so-secret Santa gift from Matt and ships it to the wrong address. But shoutout to Theo from DSW for saving the day. Emily’s henna brows are failing. What’s up with all the Christmas skeletons on people’s lawns? Matt calls Emily passive-aggressive…yikes. Kaitlin thinks no-wheel drive is a thing. Eggnog…what the heck is it? Do SWEpisodes ever cause fights when we stop recording?

Get 20% OFF Magic Mind

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

So What Else Website

They’re back! The Chicola Sisters come in clutch this week to dish on life’s most pressing topics: Emily's brand new eyebrows, favorite childhood Christmas movies, and Caroline's complete lack of skill for baking sourdough bread. But it wouldn’t be a Sisters episode without some sibling spice—Caroline spills the tea on childhood trauma caused by Kaitlin.

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

So What Else Website

Emily fainted. Scott gets the most ill anyone has ever been. (We’re so healthy.) Kaitlin gets a big pay day from selling her clothes. Why do some people put absolutely no effort into their Christmas lights? The Elliott family takes the leap into Christmas cards. Let’s bring back church directories!!

MAGIC MIND BLACK FRIDAY SALE - GET 50% OFF!

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

So What Else Website

In this episode, I sit down with Brenda Yoder, licensed counselor, speaker, educator, and author of Uncomplicated: Simple Secrets for a Compelling Life. Brenda shares insights from her Mennonite upbringing, offering timeless lessons from Amish and Mennonite values, including resourcefulness, folk knowledge, and cultivating contentment. We also tackle some common parenting and personal challenges; how to decide the right number of activities for your kids, strategies to be less reactive in the moment; and tips for gaining control of your thoughts. This inspiring conversation is filled with practical wisdom for a simpler, more intentional life.

Brenda’s Website

Uncomplicated 

Follow Brenda on Insta → @brendayoderspeaks

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

SWE Website

Jill Savage is a speaker and author of No More Perfect Marriages. In this episode, we sit down to have a heartfelt and honest conversation about relationships. Jill opens up about her and her husband's journey through infidelity and the hard work of rebuilding trust. We dive deep into the subtle "slow fades" that can erode relationships, how attachment styles impact our connections, and the dysfunction we all carry from childhood into our marriages. Jill shares practical advice for navigating conflict, healing broken trust, and strengthening your relationship. Whether you’re married, engaged, or simply interested in relationship dynamics, this episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and actionable insights.

Jill’s Website

No More Perfect Marriages

No More Perfect Podcast

Follow Jill on Insta → @jillsavage.author

Follow SWE on insta → @so.what.else 

Follow Kaitlin on insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

SWE Website

It’s Election Week, so naturally, we don’t talk about it. Scotty has fallen ill so sadly SWE is reduced to three (Ts and Ps for Scott). Kaitlin gets a library card. Apparently libraries are still a thing. We check in on the sour bread dough journey and discuss Emily’s “pregnancy brain”… Emily has a few gaps. Matt and Emily are going to Disney, so Emily is deep in the trenches of packing for a pregnant vacation. 

Get 20% OFF Magic Mind

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

So What Else Website

Lisa Steven is the author of A Place to Belong, a former teen mom and co-founder of Hope House Colorado, a sanctuary for teen mothers that empowers them to strive for personal and economic self-sufficiency and to understand their significance in God’s sight. Together, we dive deep into the realities of generational poverty, exploring the differences between middle-class and poverty mindsets. Our guest shares transformative stories of resilience and success from Hope House, offering insight into the challenges and triumphs of young mothers striving for a healthy future for their families.

Hope House

Lisa’s Book: A Place To Belong

Our Water Bottle!

Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else 

Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott 

SWE Website