Why Summer Feels Harder Than the School Year | Ep. 1 of the Summer Survival Guide

Why Doesn't Summer Feel Like Enough? | Episode 3

Summer is supposed to be magical... at least that's what we're told. But what happens when your summer feels more ordinary than extraordinary? When everyone else seems to be making memories, taking trips, and creating Pinterest-worthy moments while you're just trying to keep up with work, kids, and everyday life? In this episode, Jane and Jordan explore the pressure to make summer feel meaningful and why so many moms find themselves wondering if they're doing enough. They discuss the comparison trap, working mom guilt, the pressure to create "core memories," and the reality that sometimes the most meaningful moments aren't the ones we planned. You'll also hear from women in our community through our Summer Survival Voices segment as they share when the pressure to make summer magical hits them the hardest. In This Episode: • Why summer can feel emotionally heavier than we expect • The pressure to make every moment count • How social media fuels comparison during the summer months • Working mom guilt and shifting family expectations • Why boredom isn't a parenting failure • Practical ways to lower the bar and enjoy the season you're actually living If you've ever found yourself wondering whether your summer is "special enough," this conversation is for you. Because maybe summer doesn't need to be magical to be meaningful. Connect With Us: Instagram: @thewhatevenisthispodcast https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/] Email: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who might need the reminder that she's already doing enough. Because life is messy, chaos is real, and none of us have it all figured out. And that's exactly why we're here.

Summer Meals, Snack Chaos & Feeding Kids Without Losing Your Mind | Episode 2

Ever find yourself staring into the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what you’re supposed to feed everyone… again? Same. In Episode 2 of What Even Is This?, Jane and Jordan dive into the chaos of feeding families during summer break — from endless snacks and lunch burnout to the meals we keep making because everyone will actually eat them. This episode is full of real-life parenting moments, funny confessions, summer meal survival tips, and the reminder that sometimes frozen pancakes and pizza are enough. Because honestly? Feeding people is the win.   In This Episode: * Summer meal survival strategies * Easy dinners moms actually make * Why lunch is the worst meal of the day * “Would You Rather: Summer Food Edition” * Snack chaos and picky eater confessions * Meal planning hacks that save sanity * Lowering the bar on family dinners * The emotional support role of hot dogs and popcorn Favorite Moments: * “I’m hungry” every 17 minutes * Skyline Chili explained * Why kids reject your best cooking * The great pancake debate * Snacks officially becoming meals * The reality of feeding kids all summer long Mentioned in This Episode: Joy the Baker: https://joythebaker.com/  - Apricot Balsamic Chicken: https://joythebaker.com/2016/03/apricot-balsamic-chicken/   Serious Eats: https://www.seriouseats.com/ -Skillet Shrimp with Orzo, Feta and Aspragus: https://www.seriouseats.com/skillet-shrimp-with-orzo-recipe   Eating Bird Food: https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/ - Shrimp Scampi Sheet Pan Meal- https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/shrimp-scampi-sheet-pan-meal/   Skyline Chili Chick-fil-A survival dinners   Join the Conversation: What’s your go-to survival meal during the summer? Drop it in the comments — we’re crowdsourcing easy meal ideas from parents everywhere. And if this episode made you feel seen, share it with another parent trying to survive summer one snack at a time.   Connect With Us: Instagram: @thewhatevenisthispodcast https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ Email:thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com   👇 Don’t forget to: LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 SHARE with your group chat moms #MomLife #ParentingPodcast #SummerMeals #MealPlanning #WhatEvenIsThisPodcast #PickyEaters #FamilyMeals #SummerSurvival

Why Summer Feels Harder Than the School Year | Ep. 1 of the Summer Survival Guide

Summer is supposed to feel relaxing and magical… so why does it sometimes feel harder than the school year? In this kickoff episode of our Summer Survival Guide series, Jane and Jordan are getting honest about the chaos that can come with summer parenting. From disappearing routines and endless snack requests to working from home with kids around full-time, we’re talking about the emotional load many parents carry this time of year. If you’ve ever wondered: * Why does summer feel so overwhelming? * Is it okay not to love every moment? * How do I balance work, parenting, and making memories? * Why does social media make me feel behind? …you are not alone. In this episode, we discuss: * Summer overstimulation and emotional exhaustion * The pressure to create a “magical” summer * Social media comparison and summer FOMO * Working from home while kids are home * Why boredom can actually be good for kids * Learning to lower the bar and release unrealistic expectations Plus, Jane and Jordan play a round of “Survive or Skip” and share their weekly “Lower the Bar” moments. This week’s challenge: Choose ONE thing you’re not doing perfectly this week — and let it go. Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/] Email: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com [thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com]  We’d love to hear your own “Lower the Bar” moments, summer wins, or hilarious fails. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode: “What Do I Feed These People All Day?” — our Summer Food Survival Guide. Because life is messy, chaos is real, and none of us have it all figured out — and that’s exactly why we’re here.

Episode 10: Okay But Really… What Are We Doing Here?

We made it to the end of Season 1… and we’re still asking the same question: "What are we doing here?" In this finale episode, Jane and Jordan pause to reflect on what it’s actually been like to build this podcast in real time—while navigating work, motherhood, exhaustion, and the everyday chaos that never quite turns off. This isn’t a polished wrap-up or a listener Q&A. It’s an honest conversation about what surprised us, what stretched us, and what kept showing up again and again this season. Because somewhere along the way, we realized every episode kept circling the same themes: comparison, guilt, and exhaustion. And underneath it all, one quiet question: Am I doing enough? In this episode, we cover: * The invisible mental load of motherhood * The constant tension of working mom guilt * What surprised us most about starting a podcast * The emotional side of showing up and being seen (and heard) * Burnout, productivity culture, and why “doing more” isn’t the answer * Our favorite moments from Season 1 * What this podcast has meant to us personally * A look ahead at what’s coming in Season 2 Season 2 Preview: If Season 1 was about naming the chaos, Season 2 is about shifting the narrative. We’re diving into the conversations many women are having quietly but rarely saying out loud—about identity, pressure, motherhood, and the expectations we’ve been handed. Less hustle. More honesty. More room to breathe. If this episode (or any from Season 1) resonated with you, we’d love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. It helps more women find the show and reminds them they’re not alone in the chaos. Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/]Or email us: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com Thanks for being here this season. We’re just getting started.

Episode 9: What If Your Worth Isn’t Tied to Your Work? (with Emma Sharma)

What happens when achievement becomes part of your identity? In this episode of What Even Is This?, Jane Doerman and Jordan Johnstone sit down with leadership coach Emma Sharma to unpack a question many high-achieving women quietly wrestle with: What if your worth isn’t tied to your productivity? For working moms and ambitious professionals, the pressure to constantly perform can make rest feel uncomfortable—and contentment feel like settling. But what if the constant striving isn’t actually where our value comes from? Through an honest “question spiral,” Jane, Jordan, and Emma explore how achievement subtly becomes tied to identity, why it’s so difficult to believe we’re already enough, and what it might look like to lead, parent, and live from a place of authenticity instead of pressure. They also dive into how hustle culture impacts women, why stillness can feel so challenging, and how reconnecting with who we are beneath titles and to-do lists can reshape the way we show up in work, leadership, and family life. Plus, Emma joins the hosts for a rapid-fire round of Unqualified Advice, sharing everything from her definition of rest to the belief about success she wishes we’d all throw in the trash. If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn your worth through achievement, this conversation will resonate.   In This Episode: • Why achievement often becomes part of our identity • The hidden cost of always needing to “do” in order to feel valuable • Why contentment feels uncomfortable for ambitious women • How hustle culture shapes our view of success • What we might discover if we stopped striving—even briefly • Why authenticity starts with asking: What do I actually want? Connect With the Podcast Have a moment where you thought “What even is this?!” Send us your chaotic, messy, or hilarious life stories—they might be featured in a future episode. Email: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/] About the Show What Even Is This? is a podcast for women navigating adulthood in real time—working, parenting, believing, doubting, achieving, unraveling, and trying to make sense of it all. We’re not experts. We’re not pretending to have it together. We’re just asking the questions everyone else is thinking. Because life is messy, chaos is real, and sometimes the only honest response is: WHAT EVEN IS THIS?