The Rise and Hive

Tapping into the toolbox

This week we’re talking about the reality of having a wobble… and how easy it is to get pulled into negative self talk when life feels heavy. We both share some of the challenges we’ve faced over the last week and the importance of recognising what’s actually happening before disappearing down the spiral. Sometimes the answer is tapping into your toolbox, using the things that help you re-regulate, reset and move through the feeling instead of getting stuck in it. We also get into our frustration with the media and the way women are so often treated as easy targets. After the recent backlash around Jemma and Stacey Solomon’s  PR trip to Miami, we unpack why tearing women down continues to be such low hanging fruit. There’s also a conversation around deep listening after we realise there have been a few very real moments on the podcast where we absolutely were not listening to each other properly… and yes, apologies were required. Elsewhere, Liane gives an important update on the new toothbrush situation, and Melissa delivers genuinely groundbreaking news… she has cleaned her AirPods. As always, we finish with gratitude.

Question of the week: Shoes on or off?

This week’s Question of the Week gets unexpectedly divisive… Shoes on or off in the house? What about house shoes? Is that technically the role of a Croc? What if you’re just nipping to the bin? And are you actually enforcing these rules with visitors… or quietly judging them afterwards? We also ask the important question, does the rule only apply if you’ve got carpets? Plus, we revisit last week’s crisp debate and the nation remains split. Potato crisps are strong contenders, but can anything really beat the flavour of a maize-based crisp? And finally… Melissa’s “no chocolate for Lent” situation needed revisiting, with some questionable bending of the rules that absolutely needs unpacking. Short, snappy, and guaranteed to make you look at your hallway differently.

The richness of real life

This week we’ve both been on our travels again, Melissa headed to Manchester to see Tame Impala, while Liane took on the glitter, glamour and intensity of the Open World Schools Championships at Blackpool Tower. Somewhere between concerts, dance competitions and filling the car up with fuel, we found ourselves reflecting on what it actually means to feel rich in life, and how much of that comes down to being values aligned rather than chasing material things. There’s also a strong Glory of the Ordinary section this week, featuring Liane’s electric toothbrush giving up on life, the emotional rollercoaster of nearly losing the electric blanket too, and a genuinely concerning moment involving what appeared to be skid-marked knickers… which thankfully turned out to be fake tan. A false alarm, but an important one nonetheless. Real life, small joys, slight chaos and the usual gratitude to finish.

Question of the week: Crisps - pick a side

This week we revisit last week’s deodorant debate and the people have spoken… there’s not much love for a roll on - apart from Liane’s brother-in-law, who proudly uses an unscented ladies roll on (there was judgement). Some die-hard Dove fans are still willing to splurge, while others are only now discovering the actual price of deodorant and frankly, aren’t coping well. Then onto this week’s important question… Do you prefer a potato-based crisp or a maize-based crisp? Turns out people feel VERY strongly about this. We uncover some shocking revelations around cheese and onion, confess to demolishing family-sized bags solo, and take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a good old Scampi Fry. Short, snappy, salty in more ways than one… and guaranteed to make you crave crisps by the end of it.

The ebbs and flows of it all

This week we’re talking about the highs and lows… or the ebbs and flows… of life, and how quickly your mood and energy can shift from the smallest things. Comparison creeping in? Very real. One tiny thing throwing your whole vibe off? Also very real. We get into the power of self awareness, honest communication, and recognising what’s actually going on before you disappear into a spiral or take it out on everyone around you. Melissa gives an update on her injured foot, which at this point is giving strong dead person vibes, while Liane brings some genuinely exciting Glory of the Ordinary in the form of a fresh bumper pack of Sharpies. Small joys. Mood swings. Real life. And as always, we finish with gratitude.