It’s just Becky and Allyson this week (Katie’s off living her best conference life), but we’re not flying solo, we’re welcoming our very first guest! After a quick catch up that includes kindergarten chaos, Moana Jr. auditions (95 kids?!), and a week that felt like a full moon fever dream, we bring in Alex Baker (@ketchuptocancer) for a conversation that’s equal parts heartbreaking, inspiring, and unexpectedly hilarious. Alex shares how losing his wife to stage 4 colorectal cancer changed everything and how he turned grief into forward motion through running, fundraising, and his mission to “catch up to cancer” (yes, there’s ketchup involved). We talk charity marathons, the pressure of fundraising, why forward is a pace, and how a wild idea (and 5,000 ketchup packets) grew into something way bigger than he ever imagined. Bring tissues… and maybe a mustard-only hot dog.

This week is all about weather chaos and the whiplash that comes with it. From thunder sleet in Texas to snow covered Indiana mornings, and Florida kids somehow overheating in January. We’re catching up on how wildly different (and equally unhinged) winter looks depending on where you live. We talk school delays, panic grocery runs, sundress worthy recess, remote learning curveballs, and what happens when winter shows up without warning. Same friends, same chaos… just a very confused forecast.

This week is a full on catch up with all the chaos we swear is “normal” at this point. Becky officially enters her sourdough era (starter, folds, the whole nine yards) and brings two kindergarten stories that prove you truly can’t be prepared for what five year olds will say, especially when bathroom help is involved. Allyson shares a birthday weekend tradition that takes a turn when one kid gets sick plus a surprise snow day and the very real Indiana obsession with delays (weather… or basketball… or both). And Katie recaps marathon weekend: carb loading, expo crowds, and a finish line moment that turns into a “guardian angel” story, complete with salt tabs, a Boston Qualifier, and a new coffee date. Same friends, same chaos… and somehow, it all comes full circle.

We’re kicking off a refreshed season of the podcast with a new pace and a slightly reworked format, shorter episodes, more current updates, and plenty of room for real life catch ups. This episode is less about a single topic and more about reconnecting, checking in, and easing into what this next season will look like.Katie is in full marathon weekend mode, from carb loading and expo crowds to race day traditions that have become events of their own. Allyson and Becky share what it’s been like stepping back into teacher life after break. Planning ahead when you can, adjusting on the fly when you can’t, and navigating testing season, class sizes, and the never ending juggle of work and home life.It’s the same friends, the same chaos, and the same relatable conversations, just with a new rhythm that fits real life a little better.

A fresh start without the pressure—just real talk, small wins, and big-picture goals for 2026.

It’s officially post-Christmas, winter break is here, and the girls are in that weird in-between space where Friday feels like a month ago—but the new year is right around the corner. In this episode, they debrief the last chaotic days before break (winter performances, a surprisingly peaceful “three-kids-left” classroom miracle, sock exchanges, escape rooms, and finally an approved Grinch watch), while also looking ahead to what January can bring.

From running goals and race planning (Katie heads into marathon season with a January 11th finish line in sight) to the teacher “fresh start” that hits differently than a typical calendar-year reset, the conversation is a mix of practical, funny, and honest. They chat gym crowds, travel chaos, why teachers think in school-years instead of calendar years, and how it feels when former students are suddenly grown enough to work alongside you.

Plus: a little elf mischief, a lost tooth surprise, and a reminder that New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be intense—bulleted lists are welcome, vision boards are optional (and may cause anxiety). The girls wrap up by inviting listeners to share their own resolutions, traditions, or goals so they can spotlight them in the next episode.

From half marathons to holiday breakfasts, faith, food, and family traditions—December is about holding on and letting evolve.

In this cozy December holidays episode, the girls reflect on the traditions that shaped them—and the new ones they’re building now as moms, teachers, runners, and partners. Becky kicks things off fresh from a half marathon, celebrating strength, growth, and the quiet pride that comes with showing up for yourself during the busiest season of the year.

From there, the conversation turns heartfelt and real. Allyson shares the story behind her family’s beloved gooey rolls (and the year a dog nearly ruined Christmas), while Katie talks about French toast casserole, blended traditions, and what it looks like to celebrate in a mixed-belief household.

Together, they unpack how December holidays can be full of magic and stress—how traditions evolve through marriage, loss, faith shifts, and school pressures—and why the small things (food, music, performances, cozy moments) are often what we remember most. If your holiday season feels joyful, complicated, tender, or all of the above… this one will feel like a warm table conversation with friends who get it.

Between school shows, field trips, elf drama, and mile-a-day runs… we’re surviving December one checklist at a time.

December hits and suddenly everything is happening at once. Becky’s kindergarten world is pure holiday mayhem—gingerbread houses (hot glue and all), Holidays Around the World lessons on repeat, Grinch/Reindeer/Pajama days, and a surprise circus field trip in the middle of it all. Allyson’s juggling snow days, remote learning curveballs, school improvement-plan expectations, and the nonstop family chaos that comes with elf season, gift planning, and keeping holiday “magic” alive. Meanwhile Katie’s work calendar slows down while her running schedule ramps up, and she’s here for the Texas-sized holiday energy—parades, Christmas towns, and all the festive extras. From classroom celebrations to family traditions to the reality of doing all the things (even when June-You thought it was a great idea), this episode is a real-talk snapshot of the holiday hustle.

This week, the catch-up is equal parts cozy and chaotic. Katie recaps a birthday week full of office decorations, nonstop “people-ing,” and filming in classrooms where the flu and strep have officially been rebranded as the “pioneer plague.” She also meets a first grade teacher who gives full-on Miss Honey vibes. Meanwhile, Allyson updates everyone on life after reshuffling reading and math groups with no official curriculum—just bins, data, AI experiments, and a whole lot of flying-by-the-seat-of-her-pants teaching victories.

Then the crew dives into all things reading: the thrillers that keep them hooked (hello, Freida McFadden and brain-bending twists), the emotional gut-punch of Colleen Hoover, Holocaust and historical fiction that linger long after the last page, memoirs that move them, and the very real appeal of “smut” and escape reads after a long school day. They also get honest about professional development books—like The Growth Mindset Coach, Grit, Teach Like a Pirate, The Writing Revolution, and The Complete EdTech Coach—what actually inspires them, what feels like “one more thing,” and how much teaching has changed since they left college.

If your bookshelf is a confusing mix of murder, memoir, education, and romance, this episode is your reminder that reading can be both an escape and a tool—and that your TBR list is absolutely a form of self-care.