Pull up a chair for the Thanksgiving episode Jen’s been giddy about and where Nic once again tolerated her misty-eyed nostalgia…this time, over our guest’s stories from the front line of television memory-making. 

Today, we’re joined by Amy Kule…former executive producer behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. (And, yes: that parade. The balloons, the Broadway block, Santa’s finale. Basically, she shaped the magic we grew up watching in our PJs.)

If you loved TV Guide, lived for Entertainment Tonight, or geeked out over how television gets made, this episode is pure nostalgic gravy. Amy walks us through the chaos, creativity, and childhood wonder tucked behind the scenes of a nationally beloved tradition. And because life is sometimes stranger than fiction, we had to talk about Miracle on 34th Street, the movie whose lead character basically had Amy’s job before Amy did. 

Beyond the floats and fanfare, we also dig into messy midlife rhythms, evolving traditions, cozy lighting, hormones playing the role of The Most™, and how our holiday memories shape who we become. And we promise: even if your house is filled with bad overhead lighting and chaos, you can sit with us.

P.S. We’re still new at this podcasting game…sound included. Thanks for rolling with us as we learn, tweak, evolve, and figure out what all these knobs do. Womp.

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Stuff we loved talking about...

• Amy Kule's second act

• Comedic genius behind "sad childhood lighting" and "pump-pump-pump" bits

• Best-ever turkey hash and chestnut recipe (thanks to Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock) is in this book. (Page 194 and you're very welcome.)

#womenaroundatable #wtfpodcast #midlifewomen #macysparade #amykule #thanksgiving #holidaytraditions #miracleon34thstreet #womeninmedia

women around a table, midlife women, macy’s thanksgiving day parade, amy kule interview, holiday traditions, miracle on 34th street, women in media, women in production, nostalgia podcast, merry wonderer, friendship podcast, food and friendship, behind the scenes parade

Pull up a chair: This one goes deep into the trenches of purpose, calling, and the “Oh right: This is who I am” phase of the messy midlife.

In this Just Us episode, Nic and Jen ditch the guests and dish on their professional trajectories…from when they were nudged toward therapy and writing, to a fateful fax-machine epiphany, to the gut whispers that grew louder as they hit their 40s. They trace how two best friends, one a clinicalist (yes, we’re coining it) and the other a storyteller-ist (we’re coining that, too), built parallel careers centered on listening, curiosity, and helping people make sense of their lives.
Listen in on how they explore power dynamics in therapy, flattening hierarchies, learning how to hold space, interviewing as an art form, and how midlife shifts our sense of competence, confidence, and identity. With laughs, reflection, and a few “remember fax machines?” moments, enjoy the unmistakable comfort of two women who have spent 30 years growing up—and growing into themselves—together, and the permission to evolve in real time.

Weck Jars: https://weckjars.com/

Kite Hill Plant-Based Yogurt: https://kite-hill.com/collections/original-yogurt

(Come back in two weeks to queue up our VERY special Thanksgiving episode with guest and former Grand Marshall of the Macy's Day Parade, Ms. Amy Kule!)

women, midlife, professional growth, career change, therapy, writing, friendship, identity, purpose, calling, Jen Chase-Corwin, Nicole O’Brien, storytelling, personal growth, women’s stories, WTF podcast, Just Us, midlife careers

Pull up a chair because this one’s got meals and feels! In Episode 3, Nic traces the crumbs of her culinary origins to Gram’s Italian kitchen and a legacy of Christmas disguised as carbs. Jen takes you to her dad’s “variety is the spice of life” universe where meal prep’s an art and linguica’s a love language. Nic drops her fave Erin Chase lore. And the big reveal? Just how nutritionally questionable Jen’s solo dinners get when Parker travels.

It’s all about our WHY for food and the unforgettable WHOs who make every bite matter (which, let’s be honest, is exactly why we started this pod).

Warm, funny, and a wee unhinged, this “Just Us” episode proves that family food stories—and the friends who feed us—are the ingredients to surviving midlife with our digestion (mostly) intact.

What does “strength” really mean? What does it mean to you, Dear Listener? In this loaded and varied conversation, world record-holding powerlifter and coach Lisa Maximus blows up the old-school rules—about women, weights, and what’s possible—one rep at a time. She gets truthy about the emotional side of fitness, why everyone (especially women) should be training for longevity, not looks, and how our so-called “self-governor” is a bold-faced liar. (Plus, she shares her go-to supplements, her go-to mental-toughness tome, and why she believes lifting heavy benefits everyone…not just the “fitspo” crowd).

Come for straight talk; stay for the friendship, food chat, and behind-the-scenes messiness that makes WTF feel like midlife therapy with your besties (with snacks). Lisa’s straight-up advice on getting strong, aging well, and ignoring that little voice that says, “you can’t!” will keep you thinking long after the show’s done.

⚡️Bonus: If Lisa inspires you to prioritize your healthcare a smidge more, here’s where to find her (along with some stuff she mentioned that she loves):

Some Swiss. A Sarah McLachlan surprise. And one determined “capture” that launched a 30-year friendship. (Spoiler: Nic snagged Jen.) In this debut of Women Around a Table Eating Food (WTF), Nicole O'Brien and Jennifer Chase-Corwin unpack how their through-line of food, friendship, and messy midlife moments became the heartbeat of their sisterhood and the backbone of this podcast that neither of them can agree on whose idea it was. It’s just the two of them this time (and be nice...it's the first flippin' episode!), but you just wait ‘til they invite other inspiring women (and their stories!) to the table.

At Women Around a Table Eating Food (aka: WTF), we don’t sugarcoat midlife...we snack through it. We’re Nicole O’Brien (therapist) and Jennifer Chase-Corwin (journalist)—30-year best friends and curious as hell about relationships (and pretty much everything else)—and the tables between us have seen it all. Tears. Triumphs. Laugh-riots. More cheese boards than we can count (back when cheese didn't f* us up). Now...we invite you, Dear Listener, to join. Expect messy truths, unfiltered stories, some cussin’, expert guests who challenge and inspire us, and conversations that nourish. Come curious and hungry. Bring snacks!