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PODCAST

Friendlier

Sarah Kopper & Abby Olena

Friendlier is like eavesdropping on a phone call between Sarah and Abby, long time friends—and now parents—who love to talk, read, and eat. Every episode we review books, share recipes, and explore a sometimes random/sometimes serious topic. Join us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

33:27

Final episode: looking back on 2024 and ahead to 2025

Friendlier ·

2025/01/07

We discuss the past year and look ahead to 2025. Also, surprise! This is our final episode of the podcast and we share our favorite episode and what the pod has meant to us over the last 8 years.Our favorite episodes: Quitting, Hard times, Enneagram 8 Experience (Sarah) and Everyday superpowers and Personal policies (Abby)And because we didn't do a year in books episode this year, here are our favorite reads from 2024.Life latelySarah loved her kids' winter musical performances.Abby got her first

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33:38

Day in our (fall) lives

Friendlier ·

2024/12/03

Day in our (fall) livesWe share the details of our days from Tuesday October 22nd. You can also listen to our first day-in-the-life episode orsimilar episodes from2020 and 2022 if you’d like to see how our days have changed. Links we mentioned:The Lost Apothecary by Sarah PennerThe Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth LincolnFever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over American, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy EganLife latelyAbby and Sarah both share about recent

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28:16

Our dream lives

Friendlier ·

2024/10/01

Life latelySarah has a running injury and is rethinking her fall race plans.Abby and fam had an incredible long weekend at the beach.Reading latelySarah shared two nonfiction hits: Behind Their Screens by Emily Weinstein and Carrie James and Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey.Abby read yet another witch book, The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings.Our dream livesWe talk about what we dream of for our lives in 5, 10, 20 years, as well as what dreams we'd have if money was no object or if we could go

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29:34

Transportation update

Friendlier ·

2024/09/03

Transportation updateWe share our current transportation situations, how they've changed since our last episode on the topic, the challenges and joys of this stage, and our transportation dreams for the future.Life LatelyAbby is over the summer and ready for fall.Sarah's family is adjusting to new school year routines with HP in middle school.Reading latelyAbby loved the witchy vibe of Weyward by Emilia Hart.Sarah got a lot out of listening to Die With Zero by Bill Perkins. She originally heard

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31:59

Choices in parenting

Friendlier ·

2024/08/06

We chat about the ways in which we support our kids to learn to make choices and how that's changed in the different seasons of parenting.Life latelySarah and her people had an amazing week at family camp.Abby is over summer and ready for school to start again please and thank you.Reading latelySarah read the contemporary romance Better Left Unsent by Lia LewisAbby loved the trio of queer romances in the Love and Other Disasters series by Anita Kelly.Eating latelyAbby made the crunchy roll bowl from

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27:49

Midyear check-in, 2024

Friendlier ·

2024/07/02

Checking in on 2024We reflect on how the year is going so far, remind ourselves of our words for the year, and look ahead to the second half of 2024.Life latelyAbby is starting a new job.Sarah loved the show The Break: A New Rock Musical.Reading latelyAbby thoroughly enjoyed Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Törzs.Sarah recommends two romantic comedies: Funny Story by Emily Henry and The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren.Eating latelySarah tried a new breakfast casserole (with

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28:23

Family life lately

Friendlier ·

2024/06/04

Family life latelyWe chat about what's going well and not so well in our families these days, as well as share some optimism about things that have been hard in the past and aren't any more.Life latelySarah's children are out of school and summer has begun!Abby is eagerly anticipating a friend group camping trip to Rickwood Caverns State Park.Reading latelySarah read the nonfiction book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.Abby enjoyed the spicy romance Scandalized by Ivy Owens, which is a pseud

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26:22

Obsessions

Friendlier ·

2024/05/07

ObsessionsWe share what we've been into lately, from camping to curry. Links mentioned:1000 Hours Outside podcast about campingWhere Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping by Stephanie and Jeremy PuglisiLife latelyAbby's family is down to one car after the Volvo's transmission died.Sarah graduated from library school!Reading latelyAbby listened to You Need a Budget by Jesse Meacham and Sarah read the YA historical fiction novel We Are Not Free by Traci Chee.Eating latelySarah is making curry with these

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27:38

Getting stuff done

Friendlier ·

2024/04/02

We chat about how good we are at getting things done, which tasks are easy for us to start and finish, and whether anything helps us check things off our lists.Life latelySarah (along with all of Bloomington) is prepping for April 8's solar eclipse.Abby got a puppy, Edie.Reading latelySarah highly recommends the YA novel, In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (especially the audio version).Abby has been slowly making her way through the first three books of the Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys

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23:18

Looking ahead to turning 40

Friendlier ·

2024/03/05

Life latelyAbby is feeling good about their family's summer plans.Sarah's kids are enjoying some winter hobbies.Reading latelyAbby read True Biz by Sara Nović and Sarah read S.K. Ali's young adult novel Saints and Misfits.Looking ahead to turning 40As we enter the last year of our 30s, we look back over the last decade, look ahead to our 40s, and share how we hope to celebrate our milestone birthdays.Eating latelySarah tried two new focaccia recipes but had the most success with this one from

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40:35

Religion and spirituality

Friendlier ·

2024/02/06

Life latelySarah is thankful that January is behind us, and night shift is going surprisingly well for Abby.Reading latelySarah read (and loved) The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.Abby listened to Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann.Religion and spiritualityWe discuss our experiences with religion and spirituality, growing up, today, and how we think about religion and spirituality as parents.Eating latelyAbby ate Torchy's Tacos every day she was in

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29:55

New year's intentions, 2024

Friendlier ·

2024/01/02

New year’s intentions, 2024We set our intentions for the year, share our words for the year, and discuss specific goals in various categories.Life LatelyAbby is looking forward to time with family over the holiday (plus Tex-Mex!).Sarah shares to home winds: the headboard Neil made and all the secondhand plants.Reading latelyAbby found a new romance series by Sarah Estep--the Brunch Bros.Sarah read the technology parenting book Growing Up In Public by Devorah Heitner.Eating latelySarah found success

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37:53

Reflecting on 2023

Friendlier ·

2023/12/19

We look back on our respective years, talk about how we did with our intention words, and do a lightning round of favorites from 2023.Life latelySarah recommends the Fantastic Fiction website.Abby is leaving the leaves this year.Reading latelySarah read the nonfiction book The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher.Abby enjoyed the first two installments of the Wilmot Sisters contemporary romance series by Chloe Liese.Eating latelyAbby is

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29:19

Our year in books, 2023

Friendlier ·

2023/12/05

Our year in books, 2023We share the highs and lows of our reading year as well as our favorite books in various categories.Life latelyAbby loves her new Pact sweaters.Sarah is cozying up with the Calm Christmas podcast.Reading latelyAbby read the spicy romance novel (set in Bloomington!) How Not to Fall by Emily Foster.Sarah read Michelle Huneven's novel Search.Eating latelySarah made cranberry orange bread and Abby wants you all to know about shrimp toast.If you’d like to join in the conversation,

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36:17

Our current clutter

Friendlier ·

2023/11/07

We give an update on the state of clutter in our homes and discuss how we think we might manage it better. We'd love your ideas! (And here's the podcast Sarah mentioned: A Slob Comes Clean)Life latelySarah ran a half marathon—yay!Abby built a screen door.Reading latelySarah read the satirical novel Wellness by Nathan Hill.Abby enjoyed the first two mysteries in the Jane Austen-inspired Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series by Claudia Gray.Eating latelyAbby tried out a new spinach dip recipe, and it was a

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31:12

Parenting strengths and downfalls

Friendlier ·

2023/10/03

Parenting strengths and weaknessesWe share areas of parenting that come easily to us (and those that don't!), our partners' parenting superpowers, and a recent parenting win.Episode about our everyday superpowersLife latelyAbby shares the sad news that the hospital where she works will be closing Labor and Delivery later this month.The renovation continues at Sarah's house... In this update, concrete stain!Reading latelyAbby read the YA fantasy novel To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill

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33:59

Summer reflections

Friendlier ·

2023/09/05

We look back on how the summer went and what we learned about how to make next summer even better.Life latelySarah is picking paint colors again. (What a nightmare.)Abby healed one of her kitty's ears without a vet trip thanks to this product.Reading latelySarah read the Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom Duology by Leigh Bardugo.Abby read Feed the Baby: An Inclusive Guide to Nursing, Bottle-Feeding, and Everything In Between by her dear friend and IBCLC, Victoria Facelli.Eating latelyAbby loved this

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32:21

Mindsets

Friendlier ·

2023/08/01

MindsetsWe share mindsets and mantras that have served us well over the years, ones that do not work for us, and mindsets we are trying to help our kids cultivate.Life latelyAbby was on television for her work.Sarah's family has joined the local climbing gym.Reading latelyAbby is all-in on Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.Sarah recommends Maame by Jessica George.Eating latelySarah and Abby both enjoyed meals cooked by their moms: orzo pasta salad and hashbrown casserole.If you’d like to join in the

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22:43

Midyear check in

Friendlier ·

2023/07/04

We reflect on how the year is going so far, remind ourselves of our words for the year, and look ahead to the second half of 2023.Life latelySarah’s children are at sleep away camp for the first time.Abby recently did a refresh of her indoor plants.Reading latelySarah read and lovedYou Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoirby Maggie Smith.Abby listened toRemarkably Bright Creaturesby Shelby Van Pelt.Eating latelyAbby and her family have been harvesting their homegrown blackberries.Sarah enjoyed a

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33:03

Our preferences

Friendlier ·

2023/06/06

PreferencesWe share our preferences in our lifestyles, food, music, tv/movies, books, and socializing, as well as how our they have changed over time and whether they align with our spouses' preferences.Life latelyAbby's battling the lice that made their way into her home.Sarah's family is preparing for an egg drop competition. Reading latelyAbby read the queer, young adult romance Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth.Sarah read Laura Bates' Men Who Hate Women, which she heard about through an interview

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