We discuss how we can fight back the national wave of sadness and find out what we should do if we test positive for COVID-19

We find out which movies can help kids manage their grief and get some tips for finally getting off of the couch and working out.

We learn how to organize all of our kids' new toys and find out what the job market will look like this year.

Quick Service Ideas (0:04:33)

 

The holidays are a time of selflessness and giving. But then once New Year roles around, we too easily slip back into the hustle and bustle of our own lives. While we all are a little busier after the holiday season, people need service every time of year. Today we’re welcoming Michelle McCollough on the show to talk to us about ways we can serve in 2021. She’ll also be telling us how we can get our kids involved in the activity and help them understand why it’s so important. Michelle is a speaker and CEO of DreamBoard Media.

 

 

 

Interior Design Trends of 2021 (0:33:42)

 

It’s a new year and we all know what that means—out with the old and in with the new! And we think we’re all more than ready to toss 2020 right out the door. However, this begs the question: what interior design trends from the past year will be following 2020 out the door? And what can we expect in terms of comfort, color, and entertainment from this year’s interior design? Lucky for us, friend of the show Carrie Ann Rhodes is here to give us a sneak peek into this year’s interior design trends and what we can expect to see in our homes in 2021.

 

 

 

Winning the Lottery (0:56:35)

 

We’ve all heard the age old phrase: “Money can’t solve your problems.” But...it can take care of those care payments, medical bills, and the vacation you wanted to take... It seems like money can actually solve a lot of problems. This is why Americans spend about 71 billion dollars on lottery tickets every year—despite their odds of winning being worse than their odds of getting attacked by a bear. Nevertheless, someone has to win right? And for those winners, does all that money really solve their problems? Here to share his insight with us is financial advisor to the suddenly rich, Robert Pagliarini.

 

 

Holistic Healing (1:14:59)

 

Our next guest, Veronica Villanueva, learned the true meaning of taking matters into her own hands when she was diagnosed with incurable stage IV lung cancer. Being told she only had six months to live, she developed her own treatment plan which combined traditional western treatment, holistic lifestyle changes, and alternative treatments. After achieving what doctors had told her was impossible, she beat cancer. Now she wishes to help others take back control of their lives no matter what type of battle they’re facing. Veronica is now here with us to discuss her incredible journey and what she has learned.

 

 

 

Checking in with Teachers (1:30:04)

 

Teachers have had to take on extra work to adapt their lesson plans for in-person and online classes, deal with more stress and frustrated families. So how can we support our teachers during this time and work with them to make sure our kids succeed during such a crazy school year?  Here to share her advice for appropriately checking in with our kids’ teachers is Dr. Amanda Witte, expert on family-school partnerships from the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools.

We discuss the hottest interior design trends of 2021 and find out how one woman beat stage IV lung cancer that was supposed to be unbeatable.

We discuss the history of presidential inaugurations in the United States, and we tell you what new movies are hitting streaming services this weekend.

Dealing with Social Anxiety (0:00:00) 

Many people get a little nervous in new social situations-- we want to make a good impression while still enjoying ourselves. But some people don't handle the social pressure as well as others. Not to mention, the pandemic has socially affected all of us! Dr. Wendy Patrick, career prosecutor and author, joins us to share how we can manaage social anxiety and feel at ease in social settings. 

 

History of Presidential Inaugurations (0:13:15)

Presidential inaugurations mark a transition for our country as we welcome in a new or incumbent presidential administration. Despite not being set apart as a holiday, they are highly anticipated around the country. Presidential inauguration expert Jim Bendat joins us to discuss the history and traditions behind the event. 

 

Psychology of Stanning (0:32:36)

Have you ever heard the term "I stan"? You might have seen it thrown around Tik Tok, used mostly by Gen-Zers. If you don't know what it means or haven't seen it before, don't worry-- we don't know much about it either. But knowing what it means might be important to understanding your kids better. Social media psychology researcher Dr. Ruth Sims shares the meaning and psychology behind the phrase. 

 

Pandemic Empowerment (0:52:45)

We are all too familiar with the many atrocities brought in by 2020. But instead of focusing on the negative aspects of such a difficult year, we invited Matthew Ferry to share how we can actually be empowered in the fallout of the pandemic. 

 

Weekend Review (1:27:57)

We're giving you ideas on how to make this weekend great, including cozy recipes to try, exciting books to start, and classic movies to stream.

We talk to actress Hailey Smith about shooting a movie during the pandemic. We also discuss life hacks that will help us make daily improvements.

Different Hobbies for Different Phases of Life (0:00:00)

As we go through different phases of our lives, we develop different hobbies. Things we liked and had time to do in college aren't the same as when we are married with kids. But coming up with new hobbies for a new period of our life isn't always easy. So what hobbies can we take up to enrich our lives, no matter what phase we are in? Clinical psychologist Jamie Kurtz shares her ideas. 

 

How to Motivate People (0:18:15)

The holidays are fun and relaxing, but getting back into the groove after they are over is difficult. Regaining motivation after a few weeks off can seem daunting. But like it or not, we have to get back to work. Dr. Freddy Starr joins us to share how we can find our motivation again. 

 

Hailey Smith (0:36:05)

Actor and producer Hailey Smith joins us to share her experience of working on her new film, "Once I Was Engaged," in the middle of a pandemic. She also shares what this project means to her personally, as well as discusses the effects the pandemic has had on the arts. 

 

Breakup Boot Camp (0:52:45)

Breaking up with someone is one of the hardest things we have to do in life. Even when we know it's best for us, we don't want to hurt the other person. And many times, we don't want to be alone. Especially now, when we're in a pandemic and social distancing is the norm, breaking up seems even harder knowing that our odds of meeting someone new are low. So instead of avoiding a necessary breakup or fixing our sorrow with cartons of ice cream, Amy Chan, the "Chief Heart Hacker," walks us through steps to make break ups easier. 

 

Mini Book Club (1:08:11)

Looking for a new book that goes in line with the new year and enjoying a clean slate? Rachel Wadham shares her recommendations in our Mini Book Club. 

 

Life Hacks (1:29:03)

Regardless of whether you've made resolutions or not, I think we can all agree that we want to make 2021 a great year. And whether you're an expert at improving your life or not, we all enjoy hearing new hacks to make things more manageable and more permanent. Jordan Calhoun, editor of Lifehacker and host of The Upgrade podcast, joins us to share his best life hacks for self-improvement.

We share the list of awards for 2021's Best Cars, and we give advice for supporting your adult kids when they live at home and also when they move out.