Two Noras and a Mic

Send us Fan Mail The shortest day of the year brought big energy: we kicked off with solstice coziness, then plunged into a Chicago adventure that ended with a minivan reversing down Lower Wacker so we could make the Nutcracker! We trade laughs and real talk about value and scarcity—from wild penny auctions to a color-of-the-year that didn’t quite land—before landing on the joyful noise of a kid-m...

Send us Fan Mail December hits different when the lights go up early and the shopping falls behind. We open with that honest tension—trees trimmed, carts half‑filled—and a little serendipity: Sidewalk Surfer, the skate shop Nora grew up admiring, just landed on a NY Times national “best stores” list. From there we steer into language shaping our timelines, decoding Oxford’s “rage bait,” the hype a...

Send us Fan Mail The first big snow didn’t drift in; it dropped like a hammer. We swap white‑knuckle drives and holiday detours, laugh about leaves buried under ice. Then curiosity takes over: a Japanese “human washing machine” promises micro-bubble bliss, London falls for Trader Joe’s totes, and a beauty headline reignites the parasite cleanse debate.  A canned sparkling “Proscato” becomes our mo...

Send us Fan Mail A bear behind a dollar store counter isn’t how most holiday chats begin, but that’s where ours goes—straight into the absurd, the timely, and the surprisingly useful. We start with a lightning round of cultural curiosities: a 17-year-old who turned cozy hoodies and dreamy unboxing into a booming brand, the mystery of National “Have a Bad Day” Day, and the Midwest-made story of Swe...

Send us Fan Mail The best conversations start with a small spark, and ours begins with World Kindness Day before ricocheting through weather whiplash, missed northern lights, and two jaw-dropping world records: 374 bagpipers blasting ACDC and a PE teacher drilling 1,516 three-pointers in a row. From there we wander into a modern folklore lesson on Jeep “ducking,” why tiny rubber ducks on dashboard...

Send us Fan Mail Apple pie mac and cheese. You made a face, didn’t you? We did too—and that knee-jerk reaction became our door into a bigger, funnier, and surprisingly useful conversation about comfort, boundaries, and what our ick tells us about how we live. We start with fall’s realignment: darker evenings, earlier bedtimes, and the happy ritual for one Nora of swapping sundresses for sweaters....

Send us Fan Mail A stubborn cold, a cursed bottle cap, and a Halloween cape with a thousand wrinkles set the stage for a conversation about the tiny beliefs that steer our choices. We laugh our way through dubious trends like “hot chocolate” electrolytes and the red-wine-on-ice-cream craze, then stop cold at a time capsule from 1916: a message in a bottle penned by two Australian soldiers on their...

Send us Fan Mail A weekend full of music and family sets the stage for a bright, candid tour through Halloween as it really happens: costumes that may not arrive, kids sprinting between porches, and parents juggling logistics with a smile. We kick off with the pure joy of a Paul McCartney concert—ukulele tributes, Lennon harmonies, and the kind of encore that sticks with you—before pivoting to bir...

Send us Fan Mail A snack aisle scuffle turns into a masterclass on design, trademarks, and how a crimped edge can be worth millions. We unpack the Uncrustables vs Trader Joe’s lawsuit with equal parts curiosity and skepticism, comparing packaging, shapes, and the subtle cues that make shoppers loyal—or confused. Then we veer delightfully off-road: a Tennessee baby that tips the scales at nearly 13...

Send us Fan Mail This week has flown by...From that joyful chaos, we zoom into the strange and delightful: a Taco Bell 50K where hundreds run 31 miles and eat at nine fast-food stops, and a science-backed case for why dancing might be the brain’s favorite reset button. It all leads to a surprisingly rich deep dive on nail polish—how a simple ritual holds time together, why acrylics and press-ons a...

Send us Fan Mail A candy collaboration, a robot named Dot, and a light switch you control from bed—today’s ride is all about the small levers that quietly shape a calmer life. We start with a straight-talking taste test of the Reese’s x Oreo mashup, separating hype from flavor and calling out why the PB-filled Oreos delivered more joy. From there, we take a sharp turn into Phoenix, where bright re...

Send us Fan Mail When the leaves start changing color, something magical happens to our environment and our spirits. We dive into the fascinating science behind autumn's spectacular color show, revealing Mother Nature's specific recipe for vibrant fall foliage: a wet summer, dry fall, sunny days, and cool nights. The process responsible for this transformation—abscision—is when trees ess...

Send us Fan Mail Two friends named Nora dive deep into the simple joys and unexpected facts of everyday life in this delightfully wandering conversation that feels like eavesdropping on your wittiest friends. They kick things off discussing National Cheeseburger Day and their personal burger preferences before introducing listeners to the concept of "house cooling parties" – the refreshi...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why some conversations just flow while others feel like pulling teeth? We kick off this episode exploring a fascinating New York Times study that reveals the secret to meaningful connections isn't finding similarities—it's creating shared moments through "riffing." This simple technique transforms small talk into genuine connection, whether with new...

Send us Fan Mail Fall has officially arrived, and we're celebrating with our signature blend of random observations and seasonal musings! Fresh off our annual Chardy Party (complete with a giant bottle of Rombauer and an unexpected second wave of late-night revelry), we're diving into autumn with renewed energy and plenty to discuss. Have you ever wondered what Chardonnay-flavored lip oi...

Send us Fan Mail Remember when video games were simple pixelated adventures where building digital burgers or catching frogs occupied us for hours? The Noras take us on a delightful journey through gaming history, from the early days of Intellivision (with a surprise call from Nora's dad!) to the psychologically engineered experiences of modern games like Fortnite. Nostalgia flows as they rem...

Send us Fan Mail Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it's definitely keeping our conversations alive! In this lively episode, we dive into the fascinating world of questions - why we ask them, how many we should be asking, and what they reveal about us. Did you know that toddlers ask a staggering 300 questions daily while adults barely manage 20-30? We challenge this statistic, noting th...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you're drowning in back-to-school chaos? You're not alone. In this refreshingly honest conversation, we explore the art of "taking a minute" during life's most overwhelming moments – particularly that jarring transition from summer freedom to structured school schedules. Did you know parents spend an average of 17 hours weekly just coordinat...

Send us Fan Mail Zooming across states but still connected, the Noras dive into the bittersweet final moments of summer in this heartfelt conversation about family, adventure, and unexpected discoveries. We kick things off with a lively debate about back-to-school shopping strategies. Should you buy all thirty-six pencils requested on the supply list? Do you shop online or brave the stores in pers...

Send us Fan Mail Remember waiting anxiously by the radio, finger hovering over the record button, ready to capture that perfect song for your mixtape? That deep musical nostalgia kicked off our conversation this week as we explored how our relationship with music has evolved through the decades. From the ritual of recording songs off B96 and Q101 in Chicago to the innovative CD cases that held our...

Send us Fan Mail Nothing kicks off summer quite like a deep dive into ice cream preferences and a candid taste test of Lady Gaga's questionable beverage choice. We start with updates on the helicopter "wiener drop" event we'd been anticipating - complete with the unexpected appearance of Bill Murray helping distribute 2,600 hot dogs raining down on a stadium field. We couldn&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Two friends named Nora take listeners on a delightful journey through the quirky side of summer, beginning with a hydration challenge that's led to frequent bathroom breaks and the surprising sacrifice of a beloved afternoon Diet Coke. Their conversation flows naturally from horrifying food innovations (a deep-fried hot dog rolled in Hot Cheetos and Fruity Pebbles, anyone?) t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how champagne gets those magical bubbles? Or why bubble wrap is so satisfyingly poppable? Join the Noras for a fizzy, fun exploration of everything bubbly while we catch up after the holiday weekend! They start with Fourth of July stories - from neighborhood fireworks traditions to the simple joy of writing your name with sparklers. Then prepare yourself for the horr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your entire identity has been scripted? In this captivating conversation with bestselling author Annabelle Monaghan, we dive deep into her fourth novel, "It's a Love Story"! Annabelle reveals how Jennette McCurdy's raw memoir "I'm Glad My Mom Died" sparked her curiosity about teen stars who grow up on camera – young people who s...

Send us Fan Mail Grab your favorite cocktail and join The Noras for a delightful conversation with Western Springs' newest entrepreneur, Amanda Sutter, founder of Jolie dress boutique. Amanda shares her journey from dress enthusiast to shop owner while we sip on custom blackberry lemonade cocktails crafted by The Opry's talented Dan Schovain. The magic of Jolie lies in Amanda's thou...