The Art of Hobbyness

If you blink and suddenly it’s January, you’re not alone. For millennial moms, the holidays come with invisible labor, endless deadlines, and the pressure to make everything magical. Erin & Tam talk about what’s really causing the “fast season” feeling and how simple, cozy holiday hobbies can help you step out of survival mode and into slower, more meaningful moments. @theartofhobbyness www.ar...

Millennial women grew up being told to hustle, overachieve, and stay busy. But what if your most creative, grounded self is waiting in the pockets of time where you do absolutely nothing? Erin & Tam explore the link between quiet moments and creativity, the guilt millennial women feel around rest, and how stillness can help you reconnect with your identity beyond the to-do list. @theartofhobby...

Erin & Tam chat with Ali from Magpie Mahjong who, after moving to a new city, used mahjong as a way to find her people and eventually launch a tutoring business built on play and connection. We dive into how hobbies create space for belonging, how Ali grew from newcomer to community builder, and why connection is one of the most powerful forms of self-care for millennial moms. @magpiemahjong w...

Erin & Tam sit down with Meredith and Robin of Bam Bird Boutique, two friends-turned-founders who transformed their shared love of mahjong into a beautifully creative tile company. We talk about the leap from hobby to business, how they bring modern design to a traditional game, and the intentional ways they protect the joy of play in the middle of it all. www.bambirdboutique.com @bambirdbouti...

Tam shares how leaning into cozy gaming, especially Animal Crossing, became her nighttime ritual for relaxing, unplugging, and breaking the doom-scroll trap.   @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

Between the chaos of mom life and the chase for balance, movement can easily lose its joy. Erin & Tam are joined by Mallory Ruth, Founder of The Energy Up Collective, to explore how movement can become a nourishing hobby that grounds you, connects you, and helps you care for your future self with intention. Links: @malloryruthfit www.malloryruth.com @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com  ...

It’s not about quitting your phone, it’s about choosing what really restores you. Erin & Tam talk about the pull of late night scrolling, the guilt that comes with it, and how simple, hands-on hobbies can bring more presence and peace into your days.    Tips on stepping back from screens and starting a new hobby @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

From the never-ending “shoulds” to the pressure to be everything to everyone, mom guilt runs deep. Erin & Tam explore where those expectations come from, why they hit millennial moms especially hard, and how reclaiming creative hobbies can help us find ourselves again. This isn’t about fixing everything overnight, it’s about making space for small moments of play, rest, and self-discovery in e...

Sometimes the smallest stitches tell the biggest stories. Erin & Tam talk with Ashleigh-Ellan Kavanagh, a historian and writer who explores how knitting and embroidery have long been tools of identity, joy, and even resistance. From suffragette banners to slow stitching, they uncover how soft things, like yarn and care, can hold serious strength. Threads: @ashleighellan

What starts as a nostalgic thrift trip turns into a cozy hobby comeback. Tam shares her favorite finds, the story behind her sewing caddy restoration, and how secondhand shopping became a surprisingly playful form of self-care. @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

Why does one ball of yarn turn into 200? Why does a casual jog become marathon training? Erin & Tam unpack Anne Helen Petersen’s idea of Millennial Hobby Energy and how our hobbies can quickly spiral from small joys into all-consuming projects. @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com https://annehelen.substack.com/p/what-is-millennial-hobby-energy

Do all hobbies have to become side hustles? In this episode, Erin & Tam explore the cultural pressures millennial moms feel to monetize every creative outlet. From financial realities to social media comparisons, they unpack why the urge is so strong and how to check in with yourself before turning play into profit, so your hobbies stay a source of joy, not just another hustle. @theartofhobbyn...

After her New Heights interview, Taylor Swift had us nodding along when she shared about reclaiming hobbies and seeing her time as “expensive.” In this episode, Erin & Tam reflect on what her words mean for millennial moms navigating family, work, and self-care and how hobbies can be the key to finding joy, balance, and even cross-generational community in life’s busiest seasons. #theartofhobb...

In this episode, Erin & Tam sit down with Jamie Shrum, a mom who left behind corporate burnout to follow her plant-loving soul. From Southern California roots to Midwest winters, her journey led her to create SoCal Soul, a plant and gift shop designed to spark joy, build community, and remind us that hobbies can heal. Together we explore how stepping away from corporate life changed the way sh...

Tam takes on baking a pavlova for her latest hobby experiment. The verdict? Just “okay.” Not a new passion, not a total flop. Just a sweet reminder that trying something new doesn’t have to be life-changing to count as self-care. @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

Social media has changed the way we hobby, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. In this episode, we ask: Can we still create just for ourselves? From the rise of content creation to the beauty of private creativity, we’ll explore how to reclaim our hobbies and rediscover the joy of making, playing, and creating without pressure to share. @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

What if self-care could be as simple as smelling a candle, kneading bread, or listening to nature sounds? In this episode, Erin & Tam unpack sensory play for adults and why it matters for nervous system regulation. You’ll learn how different senses can help reduce overwhelm and bring joy without the pressure to produce or perform. Perfect for hobby dabblers and moms who need a quick, grounding...

In this episode, Devan, the newest member of the Art of Hobbyness Team, shares her story of transitioning from full-time teacher to full-time stay-at-home mom. She opens up about the identity shift and the tug-of-war between giving everything to others and saving something for herself. We talk about how hobbies became a lifeline, and why prioritizing self-care matters in every season of life.

Ever joined a hobby group hoping to feel more like yourself only to feel more behind than ever? In this episode, Tam shares the story of her first book club after becoming a new mom, why she felt “behind”, and how she eventually found a version of book club that supports her season of life. It’s a conversation about self-compassion, growth, and how the right hobby space can meet you where you are....

We're back for Season 2 of the The Art of Hobbyness!  This week , Erin & Tam revisit the heart of the show: why hobbying is more than a pastime, it's a powerful antidote to burnout culture, especially for millennial moms. In this season kickoff, we're talking about what it means to slow down on purpose, how "doing nothing" can be the most restorative hobby of all, and why joy doesn't have to b...

If you’ve ever struggled to put yourself on the list, this one’s for you. In our Season 1 finale, Erin & Tam reflect on how The Art of Hobbyness has become more than a podcast—it’s been a practice ground for re-training ourselves (and hopefully you!) to see self-care as something that’s allowed, doable, and even joyful. Through hobbies big and small, we’re learning that millennial moms don’t n...

Hobbies aren’t a “waste of time”, they’re how we remember who we are. In this episode, Erin & Tam dive into the powerful connection between hobbies and healing. Whether you’re in burnout, boredom, or just missing you, this conversation is a gentle reminder that healing doesn’t have to be heavy, it can look like paint, paper, plants, or play.   @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

You don’t need to stick with one hobby to be “serious” about self-care. In this episode, Erin & Tam talk about trying, quitting, dabbling, and circling back to hobbies. Because joy counts, even if the project’s half-finished.    @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

Why is something as simple as starting a hobby so hard once you become a mom? In this episode, Erin & Tam dig into the real reasons millennial moms struggle to make space for joy, like mental load, mom guilt, hustle culture, and the pressure to be “productive” at all times.    @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com

Erin & Tam chat about how millennial moms use the celebrity hobby hack to ignite focus circuits, lower stress hormones, and spark the creative thinking that fuels promotions, calmer bedtimes, and unstoppable confidence. @theartofhobbyness www.artofhobbyness.com