Gotta Be Done - A Bluey Podcast

As we bounce around Yoga Ball, we really hope our bosses aren't tuning in - this is not a good sell for working from home! But even with distractions we get there eventually - via the many alternate identities of Bingo, the confusing Heeler house layout, and whether it was dino bones or Nazis battles that made 80s archaeology more appealing.  Like a resilient second-born child, it's the episode th...

We're off to the Markets, and what must be some of the most quotable moments to come from the Blueyverse... do we hear "FIVE BUCKS?!" This Gotta Be Done ep has everything, from the role Myf Warhurst was made to play, to toffee apple skepticism, the existence of unicorn ponyrides and who needs them, wild German sausage theories, and the greatest Christmas movie ever made.  A bit like a good market,...

We've given up on our own destroyed attention spans, but what are the chances of imparting mindfulness on our munchkins? And do we need a dog-gnome-buddha to make it happen? As we tackle Hide and Seek, we explore napping in yoga classes and games of dead fish, to 1990s toy craze Furbies and how the hell you shut them up. Also, why do any toys have accessories - and will Kate's toy-tub life hack fi...

At long last, an episode of children's television for all the parents who want dinner to be a more drawn-out and hysterical affair. Oddly, that's not Mary and Kate - and when it comes to Asparagus, we're not eating it.  Of course, we are quick to note some great moments, and pay serious homage to the creativity of the animators in turning phone-shaped Blue Heelers into a cast of other zoological w...

We've darkened many a dodgy backpackers' doorway, but those days were before our little darlings - lucky the Heelers' realistic re-eneactments can refresh our recollections!  We debate the benefits of guide books, our abilities at haggling, and whether every couple on the road face the same relationship dynamics as Bandit and Chilli... or just us?!  Also, will our kids ever appreciate our travel t...

When Bluey creator Joe Brumm offered us a hand "if you're ever stumped with a question" - we were never going to stop at just one! We had the longest list of things we wanted (needed!) to know, and Joe had thoughtful and generous answers for all of them.  From the challenges of writing new episodes for the millions of fans, to childhood inspiration from across the ditch, and the earliest versions...

Determined to deflect public outrage about our never-ending holiday, we give the people what they want: Grannies! But is this the most popular Bluey ep so far? Kate suggests it's a particular variety of number two, and suddenly we're flush with toilet humour! We also ponder dance trends (or in the case of flossing, "dance" trends), boomer technology uptake, and what exactly Bandit is constantly ha...

Without getting too "what I did on my holidays" on everyone, thought you might like to know - WE WENT TO LUDO STUDIO! The exciting destination is a well-kept secret that far outstrips anything that Dreamworld/Movie World/Australia Zoo has to offer, and even better - we left the kids at home! Not only did we see where the Bluey magic happens, we also recorded a whole Gotta Be Done ep with creator J...

Still in Queensland, Kate gets a for-real-life Bluey moment as she takes on a claw machine at the RSL/surf club - and disappointment swiftly becomes the theme of the episode.  Which is fitting, Mary reckons, for any attempt to take your kids out for a feed - is the theoretical convenience ever worth the suffering? We also celebrate nicknames (and our podcast heroes over at Chat 10 Looks 3 ), trash...

UPDATE: Our first post of this ep cut it off at 8.25 (Oscars-style technical error, whoops!) - but you can now listen to the full and glorious 13.30. Sorry about that, but rest assured, that final five minutes is worth it! We can't wait til Friday folks - Bluey's got a Logie, and we're too bloody excited! (Well, we were once we finally got out of bed.) This cheap and cheerful bonus ep sees us in Q...

It's THE favourite episode for both of us, and Bike presents our ultimate podcasting challenge - can we make it through without a flood of tears?? We worship Bluey musical genius Joff Bush  (and Beethoven also gets a mention), aspire to Bandit's hands-off approach to persistence, and wonder how our determination (or lack thereof) in childhood shaped our adult lives.   It's a free-wheeling episode...

Sure Scorsese and Seinfeld tell a decent story, but have you people seen Takeaway?? There's so many reasons this episode is a masterpiece - we hope we can remember to mention them all! (And Mary does remember to mention Aussie film of the nearly-same-name Take Away - has anyone ever seen this?? Should we bother?!)  Plus we debate the merits of spring rolls, wonder what "Chutney Chimp" might be ref...

We've all been there (but some more recently than others, go Kate!) - managing that drunk friend drunkenly on a drunken night out. Yet again, wrangling toddlers is not so different to your carefree 20s - and The Sleepover is cross-over proof! Underslept Muffin has (equally underslept?!) Mary and Kate stumbling down memory lane, while hoping our little people never drop their day sleep. Plenty of c...

It takes us a while to get to the actual episode this week, because damn, talking about equitable division of household labour is hard! And that's pretty much what Mums and Dads is about, Mary reckons (and with her bloke succumbed to man flu for the past five weeks, don't even get her started...) Kate has a different perspective though - is this ep actually about stepping out on your spouse? (And...

The lessons continue as we're back at Calypso's school for Early Baby - a chance to relive our own more marathon-like labour ward experiences (wish we'd gone to Dr Bluey!), and revel in the fact that even Steiner school kids fight sometimes (phew!) Also, is #bravery trending right now? Mary's seeing it on tshirts everywhere, but wants it distributed equally between the boys and the girls - just li...

School's in, and Mary's been researching for the occasion. Or at least, furiously Googling "steiner school + gnomes" - and it's turned up some fascinating facts about what seems to be the education model at Bluey's school, and why there are so many gnomes everywhere.  Small spirits aside, we're both in awe of how all-wise Calypso brings out the best selves of all the kids, with the lightest touch...

High-flying Fruitbat inspires Mary and Kate to compare notes on how end of daylight savings is impacting kids' sleep patterns (or lack thereof) - Panadol and warm milk anyone? (Please note, Kate is not a medical professional.) Then there's how we maintain identity as a parent, and who gives up what to have kids: shout outs to rugby dads, soccer vs hockey mums, roller derby mums, and of course podc...

Um, did we just use "dichotomy" in a sentence? Well, Mary did - but Kate is name-dropping Jacques Offenbach and Ludwig van Beethoven by the end of this very musical episode, so perhaps we're both getting a bit pretentious?? Don't worry! We're also sitting in a backyard with an under-groomed Schnoodle and a cranky baby, and confess we're now calling cash "dollar-bucks" in all our financial transact...

Okay, a couple of confessions up front.  We recorded this episode before Mary's bloke Adge helpfully pointed out that Jean-Luc was French CANADIAN. (In fact, we're still dubious - don't those Quebecois all speak English?? And surely some French people are partial to maple syrup?! Are we overthinking this a bit?!?) But if we've incorrectly stereotyped this (handsome!) Canuck dog as a Frog, apologie...

Following last week's new-episodes high, we roll back into old favourites, and analyse different creative play styles with Wagonride.  (Like distracted mums, we also forget to shout out to the most romantic exchange in recorded history: Kids: Monkey bars?? Bandit: Argh, Chilli! Chilli: Asleep! Bandit: Okay, let's do this! Us: Swoon!) Mary appreciates a little old lady-dog's approval (or any approv...

New Bluey episodes have dropped - excuse us while we hyperventilate!  And first up the mainsail, Pirates! With new stories comes new character directions - but are we right to feel just a little bit betrayed?? (We still love you, Bandit-perfect-husband-dog-of-our-dreams!) When it comes to park antics turning awkward, we've got a tan-bark-load of stories (it is edible, right??), and some pretty goo...

We need a day at the beach after this session - prepare for vomit explosions, peeing pippies, menacing waterfowl and more! Join us to celebrate a celebrity cameo, cry foul at the Heelers' easy-breezy transportation choices, and take the podcast to new literary heights as we discuss Tim Winton's The Swimming Chair . Why? Why not?!  The Beach is even an excuse to reveal our winter holiday plans - Bl...

Academy Awards are free-flowing as Kate and Mary rate theatrical performances in Taxi - seriously, does Bandit have a secret past at NIDA?? As free-ranging as Bluey's driving (or Chilli's navigating), this episode sees us let fly on unachievable Play School craft, unsympathetic frequent flyers, and anyone else who gets in the way. And we get there in the end - but where are we going again?? ++ Got...

First deep dive into a Bluey episode - and how appropriate, it's in The Pool! Kate and Mary compare their childhood water-based games, ask tough questions about Uncle Stripe's Bali-hopping lifestyle, and demand to know why THE BAG is always Mum's responsibility!  ++ Gotta Be Done is ex-journos and Melbourne mums Kate McMahon and Mary Bolling, as we deep-dive on every Bluey episode, with plenty of...

Ever watched so much of a show you need to debrief? We're there - with Bluey! ABC TV's adorable family of blue heelers is haunting our dreams, and putting our parenting to shame - so we're taking our obsession to the podcast-waves.  Gotta Be Done is ex-journos and Melbourne mums Kate McMahon and Mary Bolling, as we deep-dive on every Bluey episode, with plenty of detours into mama life, childhood...