Super Woman Diareis #19: Our Summer Reading List (Light, Spicy, Twisty & Everything In Between)

Super Woman Diaries #21: Home Runs, Hundred-Degree Heat, and Why We're Still Talking About The Crash

Jessica is back from a week at AFA Nationals in St. George watching Gabby's softball team battle through four games in 102-degree heat (and a home run!), while Kelly's son Wes had his own big weekend in Chicago — also with a home run of his own. The sisters dig into the realities of travel ball season, why some kids start losing interest in the sports they grew up playing, and whether kids today need "real jobs" or if summer chores and creative challenges do the trick. Plus: how Jessica used Claude to build a custom writing workbook for her son who hates writing, summer reading picks (hello, Lord of the Flies), and a full true-crime detour into Netflix's The Crash that gets spicy fast. In This Episode, We Talk About: * Surviving four softball games in one day at 102 degrees (and Gabby's clutch home run) * Wes's home run weekend at a massive Chicago tournament * Why some kids start pulling away from sports they once loved * The "should teens have summer jobs" debate — sports vs. work ethic * Turning summer into "worker season": chores, reading, and creative projects * A flag football carpool experiment in independence (yes, public buses were involved) * Using Claude AI to build a custom 60-page writing workbook for a reluctant writer * Prepping for honors math placement and tackling Lord of the Flies before fall * A deep dive into Netflix's The Crash — the parents, the prosecution, and all the theories * A tease for their next true-crime watch, Maternal Instinct * Getting nostalgic over Off Campus and what it brings up about their own college years * What they're reading this summer (hi, The Bollywood Bride) Shows & Documentaries Mentioned: * The Crash (Netflix, 2021) * Mean Girl Murders (Hulu) * Maternal Instinct * Off Campus Books Mentioned: * The Bollywood Bride * Lord of the Flies by William Golding Connect With Us: * 🌐 Visit us at chasingbrighter.com [https://chasingbrighter.com/] * 📲 Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chasingbrighter] and Facebook for giveaways, insights, and behind-the-scenes fun * 💌 Get our Newsletter [https://chasingbrighter.com/newsletter] softball travel ball, AFA Nationals St. George, youth sports parenting, sports tournament parenting, kids losing interest in sports, teen athletes, summer jobs vs sports, work ethic in teens, summer chores for kids, screen time motivation, raising independent kids, public transit for kids, using Claude AI for homework help, AI writing workbook for kids, reluctant writer tips, math placement prep, Lord of the Flies summer reading, true crime podcast moms, The Crash Netflix review, Mean Girl Murders Hulu, Maternal Instinct true crime, Off Campus show reaction, college nostalgia, summer reading list, sisters podcast, Superwoman Diaries, Chasing Brighter podcast

What We Learned This Season — Our Season 5 Finale

It's officially a wrap on Season 5. In this finale, Jessica and Kelly look back at the whole arc of the season — from rest and reset in February, to choosing real over perfect in March, through exhaustion and invisible labor in April, identity and worthiness in May, and joy and presence in June. They get honest about what actually shifted in each of them this season, why they expanded the show beyond "midlife" to all women, and what they're each carrying into summer. Plus — two free downloads, a Brighter Move from each host, and an invitation to do one thing this summer that's just about living. In This Episode: * A look back at the Season 5 arc: Rest & Reset (Feb), Real Over Perfect (March), exhaustion and invisible labor (April), identity and worthiness (May), and joy and presence (June) * Why they shifted the show from "midlife women" to all women, after hearing from listeners in their 30s who didn't feel like the audience * Kelly's biggest shift: moving from "what's wrong with me" thinking to "what do I need right now" — and how that language change lightens the load * How Kelly's gone from needing months to recognize burnout to catching it within weeks * Jessica's biggest shift: reclaiming "Athlete Jessica" after the slow fade that came with motherhood, and what going back to Orange Theory gave her * Jessica's honesty about body dysmorphia, posting outfits of the day anyway, and not giving her inner critic the last word * Why Jessica's GLP-1 journey is a tool, not a shortcut — letting her body catch up to years of consistent work * The "May-sumber" phenomenon and why May always seems to be the month everything piles on * Reframing "stuck" as "in process" — and why the questions you're asking now are proof you're moving * Two free downloads for summer: the Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template and a summer fashion freebie * A shared invitation: put one thing on your calendar this summer that's purely about living, not achieving Quotable Moment: "You can reclaim yourself in small choices over time. It's not a dramatic thing — it's the accumulated decisions where you keep choosing the person you're becoming, in small little pieces." — Jessica Brighter Moves: Kelly's Brighter Move: Name one thing this season that shifted in you — a question you're asking differently, a choice you wouldn't have made before, a moment you were more present for. Write it down, because it matters. Jessica's Brighter Move: Put one thing on your calendar this week that's purely about living — not building, not achieving, just living. This Month's Freebies 🎉 Two free downloads all June long: * Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — big anchors, small rituals, your whole summer in one doc * Summer Style Freebie — for the fashion lovers Grab both at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter [https://chasingbrighter.com/newsletter/] Chasing Brighter podcast, season 5 finale, real over perfect, choosing yourself, midlife women podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, burnout recognition, invisible labor, identity and worthiness, reclaiming yourself, Athlete Jessica, Orange Theory, body image, body dysmorphia, GLP-1 journey, summer planning template, romanticizing your life, presence over productivity, Brighter Moves, season 6 chasing brighter Connect with us: * Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com [https://chasingbrighter.com/newsletter/] * Instagram: @chasingbrighter

Super Woman Diaries #20: Lost AirPods, AI Decor Hacks, and Finding Joy in the Little Things

Kelly kicks things off with an epic (and hilarious) saga of a missing AirPod that turns a weekend getaway into a full-blown investigation — trash cans, lint traps, and all. From there, Jess and Kelly riff on how far audio tech has come, then dive into something they're both obsessed with lately: using AI to tackle home projects. Jess shares how she used Claude to plan a budget-friendly bathroom refresh (cabinet paint job, new light fixture, desert-themed wall art), and Kelly shares how she used it to completely rearrange her home office without buying a single new thing. They wrap up with simple, affordable ways to bring more joy into your space — plus a reminder to grab their free Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet before summer kicks off. In This Episode * Kelly's two-day hunt for a missing AirPod (and where it finally turned up) * A quick trip down memory lane on how far wireless audio has come * Budget headphone hacks for everyday use vs. real AirPods for calls * Jess's $250 bathroom refresh: painting cabinets, new lighting, and the step-by-step cure time for polyurethane * Using AI (Claude) for home decor inspiration and room layout planning * Where to find affordable, non-copyrighted wall art (Unsplash, Etsy, IKEA frames) * Same-day printing hacks using Walgreens and Capital One Shopping discount codes * Why small changes — like swapping a light fixture or hanging new art — can completely shift how a room feels * A reminder about the free Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet Resources & Links Mentioned * Unsplash (unsplash.com) — free, non-copyrighted photos for wall art * Etsy — affordable printable art downloads * Walgreens same-day photo printing * Capital One Shopping — for promo codes/discounts * IKEA — affordable frames Get the Free Download Don't forget to grab our Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — a one-pager with trend recommendations in a fun "try it, skip it, already living it" format. 👉 Sign up at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Follow Us Find us on socials and TikTok: @ChasingBrighter joy, small joys, AirPods, lost AirPods, wireless headphones, AirPod Pro, noise cancelling headphones, home decor on a budget, DIY bathroom renovation, painting cabinets, polyurethane cure time, AI home decor, Claude AI, AI room design, AI office makeover, Unsplash, Etsy printable art, wall art ideas, affordable home decor, IKEA frames, Walgreens photo printing, Capital One Shopping, joy dressing trend, summer fashion trends, Real Over Perfect, Chasing Brighter podcast, Crime Junkie, Ashley Flowers, relatable podcast moments, sisters podcast, women's lifestyle podcast

Choosing Joy Is an Act of Courage

Joy isn't something that just happens when the circumstances are right — it's something you have to practice, protect, and sometimes fight for. In this episode, Jessica and Kelly unpack the real difference between happiness and joy, why so many women struggle to fully inhabit the good moments in their lives, and what it actually looks like to choose joy as a daily practice. From the fear of letting yourself feel good, to guilt, to the mental habit of "half-leaving" a beautiful moment — this conversation is honest, grounded, and full of the kind of realness you don't find on a greeting card. Plus: joy sprinkles, banana bread matcha, and a brighter move you can try today. What We Cover: * Why happiness and joy are not the same thing — and why the difference actually matters * Joy as a practice: how to orient toward it deliberately instead of waiting for it to arrive * The fear of joy — that anxious waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop feeling when things are going well * Why women in high-efficiency mode can lose access to joy and how to rebuild that channel * The guilt dimension: is it okay to feel this much joy when others are struggling? * Research on joy: people with more access to genuine joy tend to be more generous and more present * Real-life joy in action: Jessica's lunch with Gabby, Dom, and Gio, bathroom renovation chaos, and banana bread matcha * What "half-leaving" a good moment looks like — and how to stay in it * The 5% better question: small, accessible ways to invite more joy in even on hard days * Brighter Moves: a joy practice you can start this week Brighter Moves: Kelly: Name one thing that genuinely brings you joy — specific, personal, not aspirational. Ask yourself: when did I last do this? When can I do it next? Then make it real. Jessica: Practice staying in a good moment this week. When something genuinely lovely is happening — a conversation, a meal, a quiet evening — try to stay in it instead of half-leaving. Add 10 more seconds of presence. That's the practice. Mentioned in This Episode: * June download: Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — chasingbrighter.com/newsletter * Smartless podcast (Jessica's go-to pick-me-up) * Banana bread matcha at Starbucks (highly endorsed) Next Week: Season 5 Finale — Jessica and Kelly share what this season actually changed for them. Not just the content — the real shifts. Plus a summer invitation you don't want to miss. Connect with Us: Follow us on Instagram @chasingbrighter | Blog & show notes: chasingbrighter.com | Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter choosing joy, joy as a practice, happiness vs joy, fear of joy, women and joy, intentional living, joy guilt, being present, half-leaving, overcoming perfectionism, personal growth podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, mindset shift, joyful living, real over perfect, chasing brighter podcast, summer mindset, brighter moves, joy for women, letting yourself feel good

Super Woman Diareis #19: Our Summer Reading List (Light, Spicy, Twisty & Everything In Between)

It's officially summer reading season — and Kelly and Jess are giving you their full list. From spicy hockey romance to psychological thrillers, cozy small-town reads to historical fiction, there is genuinely something here for every kind of reader. Plus: why reading might be one of the most underrated wellness habits of all, and how to romanticize your reading life this summer even if you're only sneaking in 10 minutes at a time. In This Episode: * The science behind reading as a wellness tool — including a study showing it reduces psychological stress by 68% in as little as six minutes * Kelly's reminder that June is the month of joy — and that reading is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your everyday life * Jess's confession: she always reads the book before the show drops, and she will always be disappointed by the adaptation. Every time. No regrets. * The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — Jess's top spicy vacation rec (first book: The Deal; now streaming on Prime Video) * Kelly's best beach bag pick: Typewriter Beach — a 1957 historical fiction set in Hollywood and Carmel by the Sea * Jess on Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend — twisty, bingeable, and won't emotionally wreck you * Kelly's pick for the book you'll lose an entire weekend to: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) * Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — a contemporary fiction born out of the "tradwife" trend, perfect for readers who want something with a little more edge * Jess's cozy comfort rec: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Lori Gilmore (book four in the Dream Harbor series) * Kelly goes a little darker: Bright Young Women — a page-turner rooted in Ted Bundy's crimes, set in 1978 Tallahassee * Jess's pick for those who want some cozy cowboys: The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown * Kelly's final rec: Alan Opts Out — a funny, relatable story about a successful man who steps off the treadmill and what happens next Books Mentioned: * The Deal (Off Campus series) — Elle Kennedy * Typewriter Beach — Meg Waite Clayton * The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden * Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett * Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke * The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Dream Harbor series) — Lori Gilmore * Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll * The Lucky Shamrock — Carolyn Brown * Alan Opts Out — Courtney Maum Brighter Move — Jess: Give yourself permission to read what sounds fun — not what sounds impressive. Light and fluffy is a completely valid summer choice. Brighter Move — Kelly: Even 10 minutes counts. Find the nooks and crannies in your summer and bring the joy back to reading. This is the month of joy — and your book list is part of that. Free Download: Grab our Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — perfect to screenshot and save for those "what do I even wear?" summer mornings. Sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter and it's yours. Check out the full book list on our blog at chasingbrighter.com 📱 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com 💌 Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter   summer reading list, beach reads 2026, book recommendations for women, what to read this summer, best vacation books, cozy romance books, spicy romance recommendations, psychological thriller books, Elle Kennedy Off Campus series, Freida McFadden books, Kathryn Stockett new book, historical fiction summer reads, small town romance books, Carolyn Brown books, chasing brighter podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, romanticize your life, joy habits summer, reading for mental health, stress relief reading, books that reduce anxiety, summer book club picks