In this episode, Brooke and Deb share their personal routines for self-care, both physical and mental. Brooke shares that she is noticing changes to her skin and needs to change her routine skincare because of these changes. On the physical aspect of self-care they talk about skincare, hair care, and healthy eating/drinking. On the mental aspect of self-care they both share their concern for others and the importance of caring for and showing respect to others.

Care for and respect for others was a primary component of Dr. Deb‘s research in educating autistic students in higher education. However, the same principle applies to how we react to and with everyone in our everyday interactions.

At the start of Pride month we want to say that our care and respect reaches beyond the members of our own family in the LGBTQIA+ community. We see you, we hear you, we care for and respect you.

In this episode, Brooke and Todd recap the 2024/2025 season!

This week Brooke and Deb tackled conversations regarding cultural differences in regard to compliments to strangers and food preparation. (Please people, a salad deserves more than a partial cherry tomato!)

They also mentioned generational differences around drinking alcohol. There was mention of alcoholism.

The takeaway is… don’t judge others… just be kind and caring. There is enough divisiveness without adding fuel to that fire.

Ton Holland’s non-alcoholic beer brand is BERO.

Podcast mentioned by Brooke:

Reddit on Wiki

On this special episode at the end of May our guest is Crystal Kirkus. Crystal is Brooke’s sister-in-law/Deb’s DIL… and the mother of two awesome kids who are gonna make the world a better place.💜

We shared fun experiences we have had at amusement parks … and full disclosure… Brooke forgot that she had visited a park other than Disney World. When Brooke was in middle school, her dance group performed at King’s Dominion in Virginia.

The conversation was definitely family-centered. Deb seems to always find a way to make most conversations about her family.😁💜

We thank Crystal for joining us and hope to be with her face-to-face for another episode later this year.

The parks mentioned in the show:

Carowinds

Disney World

… and forgotten to be mentioned:

King’s Dominion

This week Brooke and Deb reminisced about some of their favorite markets, restaurants, and trips they have had the past few years while living abroad. As usual, books and television watching came into the mix!😁

Deb shared that she just started watching The Morning Show and Reacher while Brooke mentioned again how much she enjoyed Sunderland ‘til I Die.

Some other shows and movies mentioned:

House

Over the Hedge

The Dark Knight Rises

Shark Boy and Lava Girl

Welcome to Wrexham

The James Bond Movies

Some favorite actors mentioned:

Robert Sean Leonard

Alan Ritchson

Fun store mentioned:

The Flying Tiger

We hope you enjoy watching and listening.

In this episode of Football Friday, Brooke and Todd learn about the transfer window!

This week Brooke and Dr. Deb talk about what it is to be on the receiving end of a mother’s care. Deb shared that she had recently read a book which really encapsulates motherhood from someone who had to reckon with loving someone who did a bad thing… a horrific thing… but he was still her son that she loved and believed that she had been a good mother. Her experience is not much different than Deb’s own experience of mothering and yet this author was at one time considered a “bad mother.”

Brooke was gracious in stating that she had a good experience in the household in which she grew up with lots of joy and laughs with her parents and siblings.

We hope you all had good experiences growing up. However we are not unaware that “good experiences” are not what everyone is able to express when speaking of their past. To those, we want to say that you matter to us. We care for respect you and hope you find your way to peace and happiness.

The book:

A Mother’s Reckoning: Living In The Aftermath of Tragedy

by Sue Klebold

In today’s episode, Brooke and Dr. Deb share some of their favorite documentaries they have seen or intend to see in the near future. 

Brooke has a favorite she has just finished titled, Sunderland ‘til I Die in which Deb loves the music. The band – The Lake Poets – is from the same town and the song is Shipyards.

Deb’s List of favorites from the past 2-3 years:

The Staircase

The Keepers

Sins of Our Mother

The Program

Evil Genius

Gone Girls

From Rock Star to Killer

Deb’s list of ‘want to see’:

Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror

Dancing For The Devil

The Twister

The Lost Children

Schitt’s Creek (the making of)

Brooke’s List:

Dachau

Winter On Fire 2014 (Crimea invasion)

Gabby Petito: American Murder

How To Become A Tyrant; A Mob Boss; A Cult Leader

Keep Sweet Pray and Obey

La Liga All Access

Together – Treble Winner

Hitler and the Nazis

Evil On Trial

They Shall Not Grow Old

The Tindr Swindler

God Grew Tired of Us

First Position

Ballet 422

This list is long and we have so many more we will enjoy in the future… we like to learn in many different ways… watching documentaries is just one of the resources we use. 

In this episode of Football Friday, Brooke and Todd learn about football kits!

In this episode, Brooke and her brother Mason chat about their college experiences and quite a few other things along the way!