Better With Friends - Conversations with Andrea and Lorilee

Andrea & Lorilee talk about reading and audiobooks, what they did and received for Mother’s Day, and discuss the pros and cons of buttercream on cheesecake. What we are watching: 9-1-1 Worst Ex Ever Relevant Show Links: Is Listening to Audiobooks the same as Reading Ramen Library We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @betterwithfriends.pod Email: Betterwithfriends@outlook.com  

Andrea bemoans her online clothing purchases that she missed the return window on, Lorilee expresses her displeasure at 1980s home decor as seen on Instagram (link below), and both share the books and tv that have been huge disappointments. Awful books: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson Good books: My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeny Black Cake Charmaine Wi...

This episode discusses various book lending practices, becoming cruise people plus dating and rejection in midlife. Relevant Show Links: Crime 101 The Introvert's Guide to Cruising - Mak'n Waves Dating Again in Middle Age | Psychology Today We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @betterwithfriends.pod Email: Betterwithfriends@outlook.com

This week, Lorilee unleashes a rant on the chaos that is online jewelry shopping and subsequent delivery. Andrea jumps in with her own holiday‑season confessions as the two compare Christmas lists, gifting strategies, and the annual tradition of pretending we’re more organized than we actually are. To wrap things up, the girls share the books that carried them through 2025 — the ones they loved, t...

Our regularly scheduled episodes have taken a spontaneous twist — thanks for tuning in! In this episode, we dive into the sudden arrival of winter in Calgary and how we’re adjusting to the chilly season. Lorilee reveals the strangest gift she’s ever received (shout‑out to Grandma for keeping things interesting), while Andrea opens up about her experiences with ChatGPT therapy sessions. It’s a mix...

The ladies are back, shaking their heads at society—one bizarre, influencer-hyped invention at a time. Lorilee shares her latest literary loves, while Andrea breaks down a movie that would have actually lived up to the popcorn if she wasn’t too late to stand in line and purchase it. Relevant Show Links: The Roses The First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston Armchair Anonymous Podcast with Dax & Monica...

Andrea & Lorilee return to tackle life’s big questions: What shoes don’t get you banished by royalty? How fancy is too fancy for dinner? And is there a correct way to hold hands—or have we all been doing it wrong this entire time? Expect zero actual etiquette advice, but plenty of judgment. We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @betterwithfriends.pod Email: Betterwithfriends@outlook.co

WE'RE BACK! For now.... listen in as Andrea & Lorilee catch up after a summer hiatus, discuss fears and disappointments and question what is actually in a Pumpkin Spice Latte. We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @betterwithfriends.pod Email: Betterwithfriends@outlook.com   _______________________________________________________________________

Andrea and Lorilee both hate being early and Andrea shares some times on not being too early or too late (results vary). They chat about their names, and the names of their children and also discuss the benefits of not staying with family while visiting them. Relevant Show Links: Can you guess the most popular names from when you were born? ⁠ a professional baby name consultant is begging parents...

This episode tackles the possibility that AI might be making us dumber (or just worse at trivia), the gamble of trusting health advice from someone who also conveniently has a supplement to sell you, and the sacred role of audiobook narrators. Plus, Andrea’s Mystery Man Update—is he real, or just an elaborate AI-generated boyfriend? Relevant Show Links: Calgary climate perennials Critical Thinking...

Andrea and Lorilee discuss how their jobs may or may not have been made easier by technology, talking or not talking politics with friends and spouse, and share their latest media consumption. Relevant Show Links: Lorilee’s Instagram follow @aysat_officiel Hybrid/ Remote working after Covid How to Dress for your Body Type What we are watching: Four Seasons Wear Whatever the F You Want What we are...

With warmer weather come cooler treats and so Andrea and Lorilee talk about ice cream, of course! They discuss outdoor furniture and online shopping, and Lorilee confesses her most recent wardrobe malfunction. And a new segment is introduced - Beef of the Week. Relevant Show Links: Lorilee’s Dishes set Andrea’s Wish List Chairs Lorilee’s Belt for your wardrobe malfunction needs What we are listeni...

Lorilee contemplates new plates for her house, Andrea makes jokes about donating blood, and they discuss air-frying Easter candy (spoiler: not a fan). Relevant Show Links: Lorilee’s IKEA plates A Closer Look at Fruit Nappies Separate Bedding Leads to Better Sleep ARFID - Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder What we are watching: Firefly Lane Love On the Spectrum Back In Action What were readi...

Andrea & Lorilee bemoan the disappointment of their morning coffee today, both for different reasons. Andrea goes on a bit of a rant about food and expectations of deliciousness, and Lorilee talks about sibling sabotage. Relevant Show Links: Recipe for Roll Kuchen - Mennonite Girls Can Cook 30 Simple Recipes for Delicious Food Make Good Coffee at Home What we are reading: Unromance by Erin Con...

This episode is heavy on the movie, podcast and book content! Andrea and Lorilee also chat about being too busy, and things they had to cut out of their lives. Relevant Show Links: Audio headband Color Quest Coloring Book   (actually not “extreme”) What we are reading: The Plan by Kendra Adachi Sweet Magnolias Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods What we are listening to: The Popcast The Bible Recap...

Lorilee chats about her new purchases and making homemade pizza after a supper fail, Andrea tries a new food, and together they discuss buying Canadian products. Relevant Show Links: 11 Trench Coat Trends How to Try (and like) New Foods From made in Canada to product of Canada: How to make sense of Canadian labels What we are watching: Grey Anatomy Paradise He’s All That What we are reading: Assis...

Lorilee’s tween son brings out his Playdoh sets again, Andrea ponders the pros and cons of an Amish lifestyle, and the girls discuss when to keep a secret and the Canadian flag. Relevant Show LInks: PlayDoh Sets MAF Mission Aviation Fellowship National Flag Day of Canada What we are watching: Sweet Magnolias XO Kitty What we are reading: Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker We'd love to hear from y...

Andrea & Lorilee ponder how to survive an economic downturn, Lorilee shares an embarrassing game she refuses to play and her thoughts on being called “Grandma Penner”. Related Show Links: Leland Klassen Date Night Comedy Show What We are Watching: The Recruit Veronica Mars What we are reading: His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Alia Macneil The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (audiobook) The God of the...

A regular catch up between friends! Andrea talks about being sick and making do with whatever is in the house and Lorilee identifies her son’s illness, as well as sharing TV and book recommendations. Related Show Links: Fifth Disease Is it ok to take expired medicine? (Spoiler: no) What We are Watching: Beast Games Superstore What we are reading: The Coworker by Frieda McFadden The Inmate by Fried...

After a holiday break, Andrea and Lorilee catch up with weird things their kids believe, their hopes for 2025 and try to understand how AI actually works. Related Show Links: How AI is draining our water resources Why are my feet itchy That Julie Girl on Instagram Common mistakes in shampooing hair Get BWF merch here We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @betterwithfriends.pod Email: Betterwithfr...

Andrea and Lorilee are taking an extended break for the holidays, and are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes of 2024! Please enjoy Episode 87: Pocket Privilege, Wardrobe Levels and Instagram Algorithms: Do you know what to wear for a dinner at a family restaurant on a Wednesday evening? Andrea proposes a grading system for wardrobe decisions, the girls discuss pockets vs. purses and the...

This mini-episode features tips to minimize unexpected gift-giving, hacking your morning coffee and buying the perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater (or is it??). Related Show Links: The History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Keurig Coffee and Latte Maker What we are watching:  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Jingle Bells Rock - Energetic Positive Upbeat Happy Christmas Party by SoundGalleryByDm...

This episode includes stories of unexpected behaviour by the person cooking you dinner, discussing winter walking and a gift-wrapping supplies hack which Andrea tries to over-complicate. Lorilee misses out getting rich on another invention. Related Show Links: Dog Booties with Straps 11 Dating Rules You Should Probably Follow Living Funerals What we are watching: Wicked Hot Frosty What we are read...

IT’S OUR 100TH EPISODE!!  Thank you for following along with our little experiment 🙂 Andrea and Lorilee chat about different ways to remember and celebrate birthdays, ways to give a gift and share wish lists, and when the Christmas decorations go up at our respective houses.   Related Show Links: ​ GoWish app   ​ Birthday Wall Calendar What we are watching: ​ Outer Banks ​ Bad Monkey ​ Disclaimer...

Andrea’s brief re-entry into the realm of dating takes a turn, Lorilee experiences some awkward moments with her Mother-In-Law, and they discuss when advent calendars became their own market share. Related Show links: ​ Best Advent Calendars of 2024 (Canada) ​ 23 Breakup Texts ​ Christmastime is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio What we are watching: ​ The Lincoln Lawyer ​ Nobody Wants This What we are...