Lis and Lisa tackle the mother of all questions: where do we actually want to live when the suburban dream is eating us alive? From German coffin-factory conversions to underground Coober Pedy bunkers, the Vergens explore alternative living that doesn't require selling your soul to the mortgage gods. Plus: mud brick masterclasses, accidental cult formation, and why this conversation escalates from "cute tiny houses" to "apocalypse prep" real quick.

Key Points Discussed

The Housing Crisis is Broken

• One-family-per-dwelling model is expensive and exhausting
• Time to rethink how we live before we're forced to

Alternative Living Inspo

• European co-housing converting old factories, schools, and coffin factories (yes, really)
• Communal spaces for shared resources and skills
• Aussie eco-villages and land co-ownership models (mostly bush-based)
• Tiny house villages everywhere except Australia

The Big Questions

• Community living vs. needing your own space
• Urban vs. rural when things get dicey
• How to avoid accidentally joining a cult while seeking community

Climate Reality Check

• Coastal properties won't be livable soon
• Gippsland, South Coast NSW, and Tasmania looking good
• Three to five years until major system shifts
• Time to learn practical skills like mud brick building

The Vergen Cult Initiative

• Tasmania HQ coming soon™
• CEO already identified (she's a lawyer, we're legit)
• Recruitment perks: caps and community (no actual tithing required)

Links & Resources

• Tomorrow When the War Began - required camping reading
• Earthship Biotecture - radical sustainable housing
• Website: theverge.life
• Instagram: @thevergelife

Got alternative living dreams or apocalypse plans? DM us. We're collecting names for that Tassie property.

In possibly the most unexpected plot twist in Verge history, Lisa casually announces she's been learning to shoot. Yes, you read that right. Our self-proclaimed non-violent, walk-away-loving host has discovered she has a damn good eye for an air rifle, and she's not mad about it. From accidentally loving target practice to navigating Australia's (thankfully) strict gun laws, Lisa takes us through her journey from suburban soccer mum to certified firearm safety graduate. Spoiler: there are A LOT of dick jokes at gun safety school, and absolutely no one else was laughing.

Key Points Discussed

• The Great Gun Reveal: How an ex-partner's "quirky hobby" led to Lisa discovering her hidden marksmanship skills (and why she's keeping it as a potential zombie apocalypse/self-sufficient living skill)
• Legally Blonde Goes to Gun School: Lisa's hilariously awkward three-hour firearm safety course where she was the only one not wearing camo, took eight pages of notes, and definitely didn't fit in with the pig-hunting enthusiasts
• Everything's A Penis: The unintentional comedy of gun terminology (shafts, cocks, butts, and loads) that had Lisa internally dying while everyone else stayed deadly serious
• Australia's Gun Laws FTW: Why we should all be grateful for bolted steel safes, double locks, random police checks, and the fact you can't just Amazon Prime a firearm
• To Gun or Not to Gun: Lisa weighs up whether to go full license and gun ownership, or just keep it as a "fun weekend at the range" skill (her kids are voting hard no on house guns)
• The Verge Philosophy: If I wanted to, could I? Because skilling up isn't just about the end times, it's about that dream of ditching it all for yurt life. And who knows, we might need a gun for that. 

Links & Resources

• Visit us at theverge.life
• Follow us on Instagram: @thevergelife

Could YOU shoot a zombie if you had to? Asking for a Vergen friend.

TL;DR: Lis is moving into a new life stage. selling the house, and staring down a mountain of stuff that may or may not include six flutes and skinny jeans from 2005. Lisa tries (and fails) to convince her that nobody needs that many flutes. 

Spoiler: they're all staying.

What Went Down:

Lis is officially entering her Version 63.4 era - which means separating from her husband, moving house, and facing the ultimate question: Am I a minimalist who lives in a city apartment, or do I need a rural shed for all my weird shit?

We dive deep into the emotional minefield of decluttering. From punch bowls to Princess Diana porcelain dolls, from accordion pianos to unplayable ancestral flutes - nothing is safe. Except maybe the flutes. They're definitely staying.

Plus: why we call each other "babes" (hint: it's ironic), the Marie Kondo method neither of us will ever use, and Lisa's revelation that anything in the freezer is dead to her forever.

Key Vergen Takeaways:

🔹 The Origin of "Babes" – We're taking the piss out of 2013 online business culture. It stuck. We're stuck with it.

🔹 Hoarder vs Minimalist Poll Results – 2/3 minimalists, 1/3 collectors. Lis is shook (and outnumbered).

🔹 The "Light vs Heavy" Method – Lisa's financial advisor's genius hack: make a list of what feels light vs heavy in your life. Dump the heavy stuff. Revolutionary. Also terrifying.

🔹 Kids Don't Need ALL Their Artwork – Lisa said it. Not every finger painting is a masterpiece. The children will survive.

🔹 Relationships > Stuff – When everything else could literally burn down, people are what matter. (But also maybe keep the accordion.)

🔹 Legacy Goals Shift – From "I want them to remember my weird stuff" to "I want them to remember I was fun, I laughed a lot, and I taught them random skills like welding."

🔹 The Shed vs City Apartment Dilemma – Spoiler: Lis needs the shed. 

🔹 Timeline: 4 Weeks – Lis has ONE MONTH to sort her entire life. Send thoughts, prayers, and moving boxes.

Referenced (But Not Linked Because They Don't Deserve It):

• Marie Kondo's "spark joy" method (which neither of us has time for)
• Marie Forleo's Brisbane dance party energy (we're still recovering)
• That whole 2013 "boss babe" era (ick)

Connect With Us:

🌐 Website: theverge.life
📱 Instagram: @thevergelife (come help Lis decide what stays and what goes)

Next Episode: Lisa’s very (VERY!) random new skill

Stay messy, Vergens. 💛

This week on Women on the Verge: Lisa tackles the DIY project that's been haunting her for YEARS - installing a key lockbox after approximately one million lockouts. What starts as a simple solution spirals into drilling brick, phoning friends with actual upper body strength, and confronting the harsh reality that teenage boys are now stronger than us.

From ADHD quirks and expensive Uber trips for spare keys, to discovering the hot handymen of Abbotsford Bunnings, this episode is part home improvement tutorial, part existential crisis about getting old and weak. Spoiler: The lockbox is up, the combination is not set and we're both getting kettlebells. Maybe.

TL;DR: Lisa drilled some holes, solved her key crisis, and we're all getting ripped now. Obviously.

KEY POINTS DISCUSSED

The Great Key Lockout of 2025

• ALL spare keys AND actual keys locked inside at once = $100+ Uber from parents an hour away… and tears.
• Why Lisa finally installed a wall-mounted combination lockbox - thanks Whataspp group
• The combination number *might* be 6969

Drilling Into Brick: Reality Check

• Wall plugs are essential (screws don't just go into brick, Vergens)
• Drilling into brick requires actual muscle - Lisa had to phone a friend
• Lis and Lisa realise they're concerningly weak and need to get ripped
• Perimenopause strength chat: cottage cheese, degenerated discs, and kettlebells that never move

Critical Intel

• Hot handymen hang out at Abbotsford Bunnings on weekdays
• Take your drill bits INTO the store and ask for help sizing them
• Being the only adult in the house at night is nerve-wracking (Lis is known to lock herself in her bedroom)

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

Products Mentioned:

• Wall-mounted combination key lockbox (Amazon—we hate you but also thanks)
• Wall plugs (available at your local Bunnings)

Skills You'll Need:

• How to drill into brick (requires: drill, correct drill bit, wall plugs, and someone with actual upper body strength)
• How to change a combination lock code (Lisa will Google this. Eventually.)

Places Referenced:

• Abbotsford Bunnings, Melbourne (hot handyman headquarters)
• Any Bunnings (for all your DIY therapy needs)

THE VERGE TAKEAWAY

Skills are one thing. Strength is another. We need both. And also community. Because no woman is an island, especially when she's trying to drill into brick at 45.

Next Episode: We'll either have six-packs or more cottage cheese opinions. Probably both.

Got a DIY disaster or a skill you're scared to tackle? Message us! We'd love to fumble through it together.

Connect with Women on the Verge: 🌐 theverge.life 📱 Follow us on Instagram @womenontheverge

Remember Vergens: You're not losing your mind. You're just living on the verge. 

Episode Summary: 

Lisa's power went out. Sort of. Welcome to the mysterious world of brownouts - where some lights work, some don't, and your WiFi dies but your oven keeps humming. What happens when a suburban mum discovers she's completely unprepared for even the mildest power disruption?

ChatGPT to the rescue with emergency prep tips, while Lis reveals she's been secretly hoarding supplies like a suburban prepper queen.

Key Points:

⚡ The Great Brownout Mystery

• Power outage meets selective shutdown
• Vulnerable devices need protection (spoiler: everything is vulnerable)
• Tom from Facebook group: unexpected suburban hero

🔦 Emergency Essentials Revealed

• Lis's secret prepper status exposed
• Headlamps: mining vibes but practical AF
• Solar lanterns: ambience meets apocalypse prep

💧 Water & Food Reality Check

• Several gallons per person per day (where does this even go?)
• Manual can opener: the unsung hero
• Dried fruit controversy ignites

🏠 The Prep List Breakdown

• First aid kits, fire extinguishers, face masks
• Hand-crank radios for mystery frequencies
• Neighbourhood tool sharing: the future of single women

Links:

• ChatGPT - Your new emergency planning consultant
• Local Facebook Groups - Where brownout intel lives
• YouTube: "How to use vulnerable devices during power outages"
• Bunnings - For all your prepping needs (and fire extinguishers you can't find)

New Vocabulary:

• Brownout: The polite version of a blackout
• Vulnerable Devices: Basically everything with a chip
• Indigo Out: Our proposed rebrand (work in progress)

Quote of the Episode: "I'm in my brownout phase. I'm just turning some things off." - Lisa, redefining midlife

Connect: @thevergelife | theverge.life

Next episode: Will Lisa finally meet her neighbours? Will Lis share her secret prepper shopping list? Stay tuned, Vergens.

Episode Summary: 

Lisa's gateway drug into Verge Life? Growing her own food. What happens when someone who's killed every plant she's ever owned decides to build veggie planter boxes from scratch? Spoiler: wood jokes, tool confusion, and the revelation that nails and screws are different things.

From pink toolboxes to wicking beds, this is DIY with a steep learning curve and helpful Dad energy from the soccer sidelines.

Key Points:
🔨 Tool Time Reality Check

• Pink toolbox from Sweden (all tools mysteriously disappeared)
• Nails vs screws: today we learned they're different
• Neighbourhood tool sharing: the future of single women everywhere

🪵 The Great Wood Adventure

• Reclaimed timber from Ceres Fairwood (because we're fancy like that)
• Spirit level: apparently essential for straight things
• Power drill debut: "I drilled those holes myself!"

💧 Wicking Beds: The Plot Thickens

• Watering from the bottom up (genius!)
• Uses 1/3 the water of normal watering
• Involves actual plumbing and keeping soil... moist

🌿 The Growing Plan (TBD)

• Winter vegetables in Melbourne shade
• Kale under the citrus trees
• Stinging nettle pasta: Jamie Oliver's fault

Links:

• Ceres Fairwood Melbourne - Sustainable timber supplier
• Very Edible Gardens - Wicking bed kits with video instructions
• YouTube: "How to drill holes in wood" (American old guys know everything)
• Bunnings - Where dreams of self-reliance go to spend money

Skills Unlocked:

• Power drill operation
• Spirit level usage
• Wood measuring and cutting coordination
• Asking dads at soccer for tool advice

Quote of the Episode: "I could have just gone and got it done easily... but the point is the skills building." - Lisa, embracing the learning curve

Connect: @thevergelife | theverge.life

Will Lisa actually get those holes drilled? Will anything survive her gardening attempts? Stay tuned, Vergens.

Episode Summary: 

Lis spills the tea on her gateway drug into Verge Life - CAMPING. What happens when a non-camping suburban mum decides she needs to become Bear Grylls overnight? Spoiler: ratchet straps, tears in a Super Cheap Auto car park, and something called "Big Daddy Deluxe."

From roof rack disasters to gourmet camp oven pizza, this is survival with snacks at its most chaotic.

Key Points:
🚗 The Great Ratchet Strap Massacre

• YouTube University crash course at 6am
• 4 ratchet straps died for this camping trip
• McDonald's car park therapy session

🏕️ Big Daddy Deluxe: A Love Story

• Why swags beat tents for solo parents
• 2-minute setup (finally!)
• Takes up entire station wagon

🔥 Gourmet Camping Gone Wrong

• Camp oven pizza (not beginner-friendly)
• Fire vs coals: apparently different things
• Metal shovel added to shopping list

🐍 Snake-Proofing Your Perimeter

• The zipper protocol (kids don't follow it)
• Why car-top tents cost "thousands and thousands"

Links:

• Big Daddy Deluxe Swags - Facebook Marketplace
• Ratchet Straps - Super Cheap Auto (buy extras)
• Stand By Me (1986) - Lisa's dare for Lis

Vergen Challenges:
Lis → Lisa: Go camping with your kids
Lisa → Lis: Watch Stand By Me, report back on leech feelings

Quote of the Episode: "I'm looking at things through the lens of can I ratchet that?" - Lis, Ratchet Strap Queen

Connect: @thevergelife | theverge.life

Episode Summary
Meet Lis and Lisa - two mid-40s single mums who've suddenly realised they can't even put oil in their cars, let alone survive the apocalypse. After spending years building successful online businesses, they're now staring down a rapidly changing world wondering: "If shit hits the fan, would we be okay?"

Spoiler alert: Probably not. But they're gonna have fun figuring it out.

This is the origin story of two friends who decided to stop doom-scrolling and start skill-building. From their WhatsApp chat obsessing over property listings with gold in the river to actually learning how to use a drill - welcome to survival with snacks and self-reliance with sarcasm.

Key Points Discussed
🌍 Why We're All On The Verge

• Climate change, AI, economic instability, the patriarchy - it's all heading toward... something
• Traditional advice (uni → job → mortgage) doesn't make sense anymore
• Even the EU is telling citizens to prep for 3-day power outages

💡 The Great Skills Gap Crisis

• Two resourceful women who've survived divorce but can't change a lightbulb
• When did we stop learning basic life skills and start replacing everything instead of fixing it?
• The embarrassment of asking "stupid" questions (spoiler: we're not embarrassed)

🏡 From Rat Race Philosophy to Reality Check

• 13 years of friendship built on questioning "how should we actually live?"
• The suburban trap: two cars, two dogs, mortgage payments, and falling-down fences
• Dreams of communes vs reality of school lunches and mammogram bookings

🎯 The Verge Mission

• Teaching our teenagers to navigate an uncertain future
• Back-to-basics empowerment for the modern woman
• Community over bunkers (we can't afford bunkers anyway)

📱 Why Now?

• Technology disrupting every industry at unprecedented pace
• Financial advisors who don't factor in crypto (what's the point?)
• The choice: let change destabilise us or "get to fucking work"

What's Coming Next

• Current status updates (spoiler: many skill gaps, maximum enthusiasm)
• Project reports from the field
• Challenges set by fellow Vergens
• Bush tucker foraging adventures
• Lisa's elaborate contraption builds
• Lis's camping survival experiments

Links & References

🌐 Website: theverge.life 📱 Instagram: @thevergelife 🎧 More Episodes: Coming soon to all podcast platforms

Community Corner
Hey Vergens! 👋

Want to set us challenges? Got survival skills to share? Know how to Google translate IKEA instructions? Hit us up!

• Challenge Lis on her next camping trip
• Dare Lisa to build something unnecessarily complicated
• Share your own "I can't believe I don't know how to..." moments

Remember: We're making up for our significant skills gap with pure enthusiasm. You've been warned.

This is survival with snacks ✳ Self-reliance with sarcasm ✤ And a friendship that's built for the long haul ✦

P.S. Yes, we know "verge" means penis in French. We're transparent like that. 🤷‍♀️

Episode Summary
Welcome to chaos, Vergens! This was supposed to be a cute 2-3 minute intro... but here we are 13 minutes later having shared way too much about banana issues, childhood stage names, and questionable online profiles.

Two longtime friends who've survived urban life but realised they're woefully unprepared for anything else (blackouts? building stuff? basic survival?) are starting a journey toward self-reliance. Expect fumbling, oversharing, and zero expertise – but maximum commitment to figuring it out together.

Key Points Discussed
🎵 First Concert Confessions: Lisa saw Roachford at The Palais (still traumatised), Lis moshed to Frenzal Rom at Tamworth Town Hall

🍌 Banana Conspiracy: Both hate bananas (how did we not know this?!), plus Lis's banana trees make excellent fire starters

📚 Childhood Obsessions: Lisa loved The Children of Willow Farm, Lis renamed herself after Russian ballet dancers and briefly went by Kylie Minogue

🎭 Identity Crisis: The origin story of why we call each other "babes" remains mysteriously unexplained

Links

• Website: theverge.life
• Instagram: @theverge.life

What's Next
Episode 1 promises actual structure and clearer explanations of what we're doing here. Fair warning: This episode is peak "us" – random, oversharing, and completely off-script. If you can handle this level of chaos, welcome to the community, Vergen!

"This is survival with snacks ✳ Self-reliance with sarcasm ✤ And a friendship that's built for the long haul ✦"