Tiny Victories

Annabelle is not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but she’s willing to accept that she could be, were someone to convince her. Or maybe there’s another way to celebrate the holiday that even people distrustful of Big Greeting Card could get behind. Plus, we’ll hear from Ryan in Colorado, our new hero.

Laura notes that Annabelle’s neighborhood is Schitt’s Creek-ian, after an account of Annabelle’s difficult day, made a little bit brighter by an act of neighborly kindness. Speaking of tears, after Maura broke TWO bones, she made chocolate tear soup and discovered a new skill. This episode proves that just cause they’re tiny, doesn’t mean these victories aren’t mighty.

This week we hear from Jeannie, whose victory wouldn’t have happened if her nutritionist hadn’t intervened. Plus, how long would you let dirty laundry pile up on your kitchen floor? Producer Swish went over a month. And a past caller…calls again…with an update!

For weeks, producer Swish has been urging hosts Annabelle and Laura to Wordle. Both resisted. Then House tried it, and texted, “I get it.” But New York Times bestselling author and self-described lover of words Annabelle? “Too busy,” she’d say. This week House decided to force the issue, and made Annabelle try the popular game…while we recorded. Tiny victories ensued.

Sometimes it takes a waiter dropping a tray of food on you to realize who you want to spend the rest of your life with. At least, that’s what it took for Laura to upend everything she thought she knew about love. Plus, Annabelle comes clean about why she really went grocery shopping.

Annabelle Gurwitch is not proud to have dropped out of college, but if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to share this week’s tiny victory. That’s because her decision to forego dorm living and hacky sack on the quad, meant she was out in the world, befriending people of different age groups. And in this episode, listeners will be privy to the hard-fought wisdom of Annabelle’s friend Claudette. Plus, a hotline caller’s penchant for to do lists leads to a remarkable shift in perspective.

Happy New Year! This week’s episode is full of laughs and gassy confessions. Laura and Annabelle take turns playing the role of “Ellen”, a listener who wrote about a pandemic hobby she stumbled into after hearing a Tiny Victories episode. Plus, we’ll hear a hotline call from a listener who’s not going to let a little food allergy keep her from enjoying a popular seasonal beverage (egg nog).

Annabelle and Laura wrap up this comically-awful year with a somewhat different approach to New Year’s Resolutions. While millions (billions?) of people around the world choose to make resolutions that can be quantified, they plan on cultivating a state of mind to get through 2022. We invite you, dear listener, to join us. Plus, Christine calls the hotline with a technological triumph.

This week, Annabelle has an objective. She wants to convince Laura that, “giving into grief can be a tiny victory.” In this episode, Annabelle celebrates the life of longtime friend Willie Garson, including an account of the beloved actor’s service that shows how, through his legacy, he put the “fun” in funeral. In addition, we’ve got two calls from the Tiny Victory Hotline, one of which tickled Laura so much she created a brand new category of victories that she calls F**k It!

23 & Me brought Laura House and her younger brother together, and now it’s up to the two of them to make up for lost time. Plus, Annabelle’s grandma made the best matzo ball soup–the kind of soup that doubles as a metaphor for life.