Brains, Brawn, and Bougie

Grab a friend or two and make some plans to get out and enjoy some live entertainment. Make memories while you support gig workers, or someone famous and over priced. How about a comedy show or sporting event? Eileen educates the masses on David Cassidy and the Partridge Family.  Renee provides the extra knowledge that they may have lived in a school bus. Renee impresses Patty that she does indeed...

In this episode of Brains, Brawn & Bougie , Patty, Eileen, and Renée tackle the question of how to stay relevant with plenty of laughs and lots of strong authentic opinions. The conversation explores how women can continue to grow, contribute, reinvent themselves, and find purpose as the world changes around them. Is relevance about your job, your age, your technology skills—or is it something...

Come along on our tribute to Dolly Parton which Eileen loved because she got to channel her inner Dolly - literally!   Dolly was an accomplished humanitarian who happened to be able to sing, act, write and compose all while having the unique talent of bringing mankind together.  She was the best parts of all of us wrapped up in an underwire bra. Renee is just along for the ride. No country music k...

Can you even believe it  - this is our 25th podcast!! The ladies talk about how Brains, Brawn, and Bougie was started, and walk down memory lane as we reminisce about what we were doing in our lives at the age of 25, our 25-year class reunion, our kids at 25, and more.  Deja vu or perhaps a little like the Twilight Zone, at 25 years old Patty was working at a small Iowa college living in Cedar Rap...

Taking care of Mother Earth is something we all want to do but it often feels like our little part is never enough. In this episode, the Brains, Brawn, and Bougie women discuss the things we can do to be sustainable in our own lives - while also doing our part for the environment. Topics include fast fashion, small appliance overload, and real vs artificial Christmas trees. The distress of food wa...

The Manosphere has entered the Brains, Brawn, and Bougie chat. Patty, Renee, and Eileen explore its disturbing influence on young men and its complicated relationship with feminism. They break down what the manosphere is, why it has such a powerful hold on some young men, and how social media and online communities can reinforce these beliefs. The conversation also looks at the impact on women, re...

Did you know the United States has 4% of the world's population, but 64% of the world's known serial killers are from the US? Did you also know that the number of active serial killers is declining? Join Eileen, Patty, and Renee as they talk again with Dr. Jennifer Murray and delve into the psychology and psychopathy of serial killers.  This is another “tough” subject but as always, we find out mo...

We love food!! Doesn’t everyone? In this episode we talk about what we love - and don’t love - about recipes and cooking. Did you know that by age 50, an average mother has cooked over 15,000 family meals!! Renee, Eileen, and Patty understand the recipe “fatigue” and talk about what they still love - and hate - about cooking.   Renee is so happy to finally have all her teeth but says she still is...

Everyone has a hill they're willing to die on... and we have several. In this episode of Brains, Brawn, and Bougie , we unapologetically defend the opinions that simply cannot be changed. Eileen is officially declaring war on those judgmental self-checkout monitors that keep shouting, "Please place the item in the bagging area!" She did put it in the bagging area, thank you very much. Patty has ta...

Why do some people commit acts of unimaginable violence? This week on Brains, Brawn, and Bougie , we welcome Associate Professor Jennifer Murray for a thoughtful conversation about the psychology of mass murderers. We unpack psychopathy, common myths, warning signs, and what decades of research reveal about the people behind these horrific crimes. This isn't a true crime retelling—it's an evidence...

Eileen shows off her doctoral level of knowledge about skin care! Patty and Renee finally know what the heck a dalton is! Renee is sure that a banana peel would work just as well as some fancy ass expensive banana sap moisturizer. Added benefit: she will smell like an ice cream sundae all day! Patty keeps getting yelled at to take notes! She knew her PhD would finally pay off!! This week we discus...

Today we talk cognitive brain decline after retiring so get ready and plan before you retire! Keep your brain sharp and get your strategy in place well before you clock out for the final time – from working, not from life!!   We celebrate Eileen’s 15-year wedding anniversary as well as her 6-year stem cell transplant birthday…..Hooray! Renee comes to the conclusion that while Booyah may be a great...

Patty is going to make us learn Mahjong….YIKES! She also had trouble getting hitched up at UHaul and we all agreed that was probably for the best. Renee shared her most insightful friendship characteristic…true friends will call out your bullshit. Eileen is voted the person you would most want to sit next to on a plane.  She not only lets you vent, but may even provide nuggets of inspiration for y...

Patty learned something new about herself and is resigned to hence be known as Patty, Breaker of All Things. Renée keeps her fancy hairdo dry by wearing plastic shopping bags on her head. We promise, she is not going senile - yet! And, Eileen’s goal is to get to know the HVAC and pool guys ASAP before she is forced to turn the jacuzzi on by herself.  Most importantly, we have another very special...

Patty justifies her cruising past….cruise boats that is! Renée has a weird obsession with food trucks and an aversion to fine dining. Eileen has been to Stuckey’s and Buc-ee’s but draws the line at Graceland.   If you have done any traveling, even close to home, you are sure to find yourself “traveling” down memory lane with the ladies’ good, bad, and downright strange adventures.

We are so excited to bring a very special guest, Sekou Andrews, creator of the album Koumami, to this week’s podcast. Sekou is an award-winning entrepreneur, a GRAMMY-nominated spoken word artist, and the creator of “poetic voice,” which is a new speaking category that combines inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry, like “Hamilton” meets “TED.” Be inspired and start rethinking what is pos...

Eileen says it best…“if it wasn’t for my disintegrating joints, I do feel like I’m in my thirties.” We all agree, there is A LOT of trauma happening at Target! Just ask Grandma Patty! Freeballing in muumuus and rocks in socks boobs are probably in all of our futures. Renée glitches her way though life and the podcast.   Why do we always feel younger than our actual age? The ladies discuss this in...

Renee questions if some companies may not have everyone's best interest in mind when they market their products….NO (S$%@) KIDDING!! Eileen has initiated the official dating challenge! It’s unanimous, no murder dates for Patty! This week, the ladies discuss online dating and, surprisingly, keep pretty much on topic. No worries though, you are still going to laugh while learning about bizarre dates...

Eileen confirms that bears do indeed shit in the woods and she pees at Camelback. Wine is always the perfect gift. Fast fashion will be the end of us all. Eileen will not be buying Birkenstocks anytime soon but insists penguin sweaters are a staple. Meanwhile, Patty and Renee will most likely be wearing the same shirts every other podcast. Learn what we REALLY think are only landfill items!

June Cleaver was our mom’s role model. It’s hard to shake that in one generation. Eileen is still affected by the childhood drama of her father spelling her name incorrectly…YIKES! We all love people visiting, but what we love most is when they leave. Renée wins for having the most “live in guests.” Patty’s wisdom for the perfect motherhood experience….be a single mom of ONE daughter.   In this ep...

Big boobs just means big bras. A medical punch card would benefit Eileen, buy 11 and get the next one free. Confidence is key- Midwest women don't show pain, we just pack the trauma in. This week we share personal stories of plastic surgery, including the reasons behind it and the extensive list of non-elective surgeries undergone by one of us! This episode is perfect for you if you have had plast...

Junior High rules: Middle School is for losers! Some wedding invites never come and that’s OK cuz the reception probably sucked! Sometimes the goal in life is to keep your husband alive, sometimes it’s to….you fill in the blanks! And who the heck is Captain Silvertooth?!   On this very special episode of Brains, Brawn, and Bougie, Amy and Christine join us the morning after a fun night of celebrat...

Eileen wants to know in advance if she’s going to get 10-12 inches….get your minds out of the gutter - she's talking about SNOW! Renée needs to up her lipstick game. Let the Chapstick go! And, Patty is looking for someone in her life to kill spiders. She’s got all the other stuff nailed, but a spider murder hanging around would be great. In this episode you get to decide if soulmates are real or,...

  “Surround yourself with people smarter than you”…..” nailed it!” says Renee   We were lucky enough to talk to Tracey Newell, a champion for women in the C-Suite, and best selling author of Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite and Beyond . Join us for our first guest interview and learn more about Tracey’s inspirational words of wisdom: Start early, plan, think big, and play the long gam...

First sponsor of Brains, Brawn, and Bougie Podcast - Samuels Sperm Face Mask - found exclusively at Eileen’s house. Statistically speaking, your thirties will be your worst haircuts decade. Renee will NOT be setting up an “only fans” for her feet, however Eileen and Patty will be going LIVE in a town near you soon; there is a pretty good chance peanut butter will be involved.