Jonni and Maria Go There!

Jonni and Maria discuss all things holiday - from dealing with the recession to how to painlessly alter your shopping habits to be a force for good, to the traditions we hold dear from childhood, and those we create - or lack thereof - within our own families. And while we're not giving away cars Oprah-style, we share some of our favorite things that make great last-minute gifts. We wrap with a co...

Today Jonni and Maria talk about joy: All the ways we find it, it finds us, and how we need it in tough times. From game show addictions to leafing through old photo albums and building Chambers of Connection, we discuss the important role community, camaraderie, and laughter play in our lives and how you can find ways to stay involved while still embracing joy right now. And we share a few must-w...

Jonni and Maria discuss how we can balance what's happening around us and why building community will be the key to making it through, finding joy, and activating change. We discuss why we're all grieving something. We share about optimism, activism, the cycle of progress and retreat, and how we can find sanity and sanctuary while still staying involved. Listen in to think and laugh about how we'r...

In a unique time travel episode (we recorded the first half weeks before the second due to tech issues), Jonni and Maria discuss why your vote in the 2024 election matters more than ever to the future of our country and break down exactly what we like about Harris/Walz  - and what is so dangerous about the Trump/Vance agenda. We share why every American needs to be paying attention to politic...

Jonni and Maria talk about the differences between embarrassment and shame and spill the tea on some of our award-worthy embarrassing moments. Whether from middle school plays to brazen attempts to bond with the cool kids. Whether it’s attending the wrong party for almost 30 minutes (and drinking their wine) or the everyday embarrassments we all feel. Jonni and Maria share the laughs, physiologica...

Jonni and Maria talk about the evolution of language and how the heck we can understand each other better..From the ways we now refer to different groups to be more inclusive and respectful, and how this is constantly evolving - and should be, as we learn more and strive to be better to each other. We talk about generational slang, from the 50's to the 80's to Gen Z, "professional" talk versus cas...

Jonni and Maria talk about the movies and TV shows that shaped us. The ones we recall fondly, that are forever linked with important milestones, and which ones we feel like our kids MUST know in order to get certain jokes, references, or truisms in our current culture.  We discuss what we loved and why, what we have tried to share with our kids (to varying degrees of success), and how some of...

Jonni and Maria talk about the mayhem that is motherhood, especially for those who work outside the home, but for all of us dealing with raising humans. We share the ridiculous myths we all tell ourselves about motherhood should be, why every developmental stage is like getting used to a new kid all over again, why it's okay to admit your kid is being a jerk sometimes, and how to start the process...

Jonni and Maria talk about the demise of malls and other "Third Places" in American culture. The term Third Place was coined in 1989 by sociologist Ray Oldenburg " describing a place beyond home and work where people could gather, relax and talk." Today,we share what's going on,, how such places shaped our culture and childhoods, where people go to connect outside of home and work, and what we thi...

Jonni and Maria recorded live at the Women in Tech Regatta in Seattle on April 27, 2023.  Tech can be a tough industry to navigate when you want to be your true self, focus on relationships and not ruthless competition, and truly connect to do great work. But how can we embrace vulnerability to build stronger connections? Where can our self-doubt, false narratives, and internal gaslighting lead us...

Jonni and Maria chat about the upsides and downsides of vulnerability and how it shows up in our real lives beyond a Brene Brown TED talk. We share our stories of vulnerability leading to good - and leading to pain. And discuss how we feel about vulnerability with different people in our lives, from co-workers to kids to souses. This episode will make you think and inspire you to embrace vulnerabi...

Jonni and Maria chat about the good, bad, and weirdness of aging. Everything from owning our confidence and ability to not give a flying fig about trivial things, to creaky joints, supplements, and watching our parents age and friends grow ill or pass away. We dish on whether our culture is really geared to the young in today's world, and how age and experience are being modeled and celebrated by...

Jonni and Maria chat about our take on the wellness industry, and our own definitions, dilemmas, and habits. We question the blurring  lines between beauty, health and diet culture. We dish on benefits, placebos, body positivity, how our brains work and if wellness industry players have good intentions or if some are grifters. We share many resources and also explore how privilege and white suprem...

Jonni and Maria chat about New Year's goal-setting  and offer a new way to look at reinvention, renewal, and reflection instead so we can stop trying to fix ourselves and start leaning into more fulfilling action. Maria reveals her brand reinvention coming in January, and Jonni shares some great ways she has helped her kids - and her company - set goals. We talk about reflecting and focusing on va...

Jonni and Maria chat about a "mélange of topics" today that may be top of mind for many of you, dear listeners. We chat about U.S. midterm anxieties and results, how political awareness is good but we think it is making us less happy.  We also muse on societal norms related to proper monikers, holidays and commercialism.  Plus, Gen Z and the evolution of language and text/email etiquette (PS, "tot...

Jonni and Maria chat about all things friendship - especially as women: How we make friends, how we value friendships, friendship break-ups, being friends with our kids and siblings, and how we balance friendships in our busy lives. We talk about the epidemic of loneliness, technology's role in modern friendship, and cite experts who can explain the dynamics of friendship - and relationships in ge...

Jonni and Maria chat about the ways we try to be conscious consumers and kinder to the environment. We share our favorite green products and habits (you’ll love!) and discuss recent historic U.S. and state climate change legislation as winning steps in the right direction. We also talk about climate anxiety (it's real, ya'll) and the surprising true story behind the 1970's "Crying Indian" public s...

Welcome back to Fall! Jonni and Maria candidly share the history of their unique names and how that helped shape their identity. We talk about how we named our kids, why pronouncing someone's name the right way is a sign of respect, and how names bear family and cultural history. You'll learn the secret behind Jonni's name, why Maria's unique maiden name was fist a curse and then a blessing, and h...

Jonni and Maria have a reasonable and nuanced chat about the recent mass shooting tragedies in the United States. We talk about why blanket stereotypes about gun owners, Democrats, and Republicans are not always true and don't serve us; Why the NRA is not the organization it once was, and why it makes no sense that they are not leading safety and advocacy efforts. We share examples of when America...

Jonni and Maria dig into the leak of the U.S Supreme Court opinion that will overturn Roe vs. Wade and remove abortion protestions for women. We are speaking out against taking this very personal choice nad right away from women to have autonomy over their own bodies - and destinies. We talk about our own views on abortion, play out all the reasons women have abortions that many anit-abortion supp...

Jonni and Maria tackle "The Patriarchy:" What it actually means, what it means to us and how it damages women AND men alike. And how we can want to "smash the patriarchy"and still love men at the same time! We share how we were raised, our early female role models, why we appreciate male allies, and why we were hesitant to claim the term "feminist" in the past. We discuss the emotional and opportu...

Jonni and Maria talk about the stories we tell ourselves - and our kids - and whether they are lies or magic making. Is it ever okay to lie to ourselves, our kids, or others? We candidly share how we've navigated the Santa, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy myths - and balancing those magical childhood memories with teaching our kids about honesty. We share some doozies we told growing up (shoplifting...

Jonni and Maria talk, with humor and heart, about mental health - the power of sharing and creating safety for yourself and others.  With everything going on in the world today, many of us (especially kids and young adults) are not "fine." We talk about the COVID impact, the distinction between self care, self maintenance,and self compassion and what we're doing to maintain our own sanity: Boundar...

In this episode, Jonni and Maria talk about the magic of improv and acting and how creative outlets can enrich your life and work. We share how we both got into them, what we get out of performing, and some horrific audition stories. What have these passons taught us about public speaking, vulnerability, and rejection, and how do we apply it to our everyday lives? How can leaders and business team...

Jonni and Maria discuss everyday activism and how to use your voice and work to make the world a better place. We share our journey and offer up small actions that make a big difference - even if you feel like the world’s problems are too overwhelming.  We got a little vulnerable in our own wins and fails and why we really believe the world needs us all to take brave little steps toward equity and...