Finding Joy in Crazy Times

Merry, Messy, and Mildly Inappropriate

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 conversation on healthy mindsets for the season. Plus, Japan adventures, Spartacus, board games, 5Ks over 50, job-hugging, 2026 sort-of-goals, and more tomfoolery. REFERENCES MENTIONED: Job Hugging [https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/10/25/job-hugging-75-of-workers-staying-put-through-2027-study-shows/] Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast with Ina Garten [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTMH76MLiTQ] Websites: Etsy.com [http://etsy.com] LittleBlueCart.com [http://littlebluecart.com] ShopRedBag.com [http://shopredbag.com] Board Games: Ticket to Ride [https://www.daysofwonder.com/game/ticket-to-ride/] Mind the Gap [https://redbarnmercantile.com/products/mind-the-gap] Favorite Things/Gifts: Aura Frames [https://auraframes.com/] Conversation Cue Cards by Jen Mueller [https://www.talksportytome.com/offers/QwcG75kg/checkout] RIO (Reach International Outfitters) [https://reachinternationaloutfitters.com] Rogue Star Beauty [https://roguestarbeauty.com/] Perbelle [https://perbellecosmetics.com/] Ursa Major Skin Care [https://www.ursamajorvt.com/] Woobles Crochet Kits [https://thewoobles.com/] CONNECT WITH US We’d love your feedback and ideas about the show! Follow/DM us on Instagram: @jonniandmaria [http://www.instagram.com/jonniandmaria] @redslicemaria [https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/] @jonniressler [https://www.instagram.com/jonniressler/] Visit Maria’s website: www.red-slice.com [http://www.red-slice.com] Visit Jonni’s website: www.eleven11solutions.com [http://www.eleven11solutions.com]

Finding Joy in Crazy Times

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-watch shows and must-listen podcasts to add some levity to your life. Plus, improv, illness, a Night at the Museum, white noise, disposable cameras, Harry Potter, and more tomfoolery. REFERENCES MENTIONED: Love is Blind [https://www.netflix.com/title/80996601] Project Runway [https://www.bravotv.com/project-runway] Night at the Museum [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477347/] SNL 50th Anniversary [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35469118/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1] Schitt's Creek [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/] Loot [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/loot/umc.cmc.5erbujil1mpazuerhr1udnk45] The Detectorists [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06l51nr] Search Engine  [https://www.searchengine.show/] No Such Thing [https://shows.acast.com/nosuchthing] Chamber of Connection [https://www.chamberofconnection.org/] California Academy of Sciences Penguins and Pajamas Program [https://www.calacademy.org/penguinspajamas-sleepovers] Shutterfly [https://www.shutterfly.com/] Artkive [https://www.artkiveapp.com/] CONNECT WITH US We’d love your feedback and ideas about the show! Follow/DM us on Instagram: @jonniandmaria [http://www.instagram.com/jonniandmaria] @redslicemaria [https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/] @jonniressler [https://www.instagram.com/jonniressler/] Visit Maria’s website: www.red-slice.com [http://www.red-slice.com] Visit Jonni’s website: www.eleven11solutions.com [http://www.eleven11solutions.com]

Restart, Recharge, Reconnect

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're all dealing with change in work and in our personal lives and how we can find joy, link arms, and move forward. We share resources and experts that will help you find joy and take action. Plus, chicken coops, improv shows, love and loss, social media sanity, kids, and more tomfoolery. References Mentioned: Jonni's show Big Tech at Jet City Improv [https://jetcityimprov.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/PatronTicket__PublicTicketApp#/events/a0OVW000000seV72AI] (February 2025) Courage to Advance: Breaking the ‘Things Will Get Better’ Cycle with Aaron Delgaty, PhD [https://red-slice.com/the-empathy-edge/courage_to_advance_breaking_the_things_will_get_better_cycle_with_aaron_delgaty_phd/] The Ezra Klein Show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447] Heather Cox Richardson [https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/] Ruth Bader Ginsburg on The Pendulum as the symbol of the United States [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQzClRA2QLM] ResistBot app [https://resist.bot/] 1440  [https://signup.join1440.com/] Tangle [https://www.readtangle.com/] All There Is [https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper]podcast with Andersen Cooper, exploring grief The Empathy Edge: Stephanie Sarazin: What Is Ambiguous Grief and How To Show Up [https://red-slice.com/the-empathy-edge/stephanie-sarazin-what-is-ambiguous-grief-and-how-to-show-up/] Life is Beautiful  [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/] The Parrot Tico Tango [https://www.barefootbooks.com/parrot-tico-tango] Not mentioned but a great perspective! Elisa Camahort Page: Where Do We Go From Here? [https://elisacp.substack.com/p/where-do-we-go-from-here](about social media usage)

Electrified Election. LFG!

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 politics right now to preserve our democracy and rights. And what the Biden administration has actually done for this country and what we are most excited about for a more equitable and joyful future. We are all about providing the facts, with color commentary of our own as progressive women, moms, business owners…and hopeful Americans. We share info you may not know and would love to hear your own viewpoints and perspectives. Plus, Maria's big move to the Burbs, horse neighbors, back to school, and book launch, Jonni's two graduation marathon, teen world travels, empty nest adjustments and more tomfoolery References Mentioned: Maria's new book The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries [http://www.theempathydilemma.com]. Grab your copy! September 11, 2024, Seattle The Empathy Dilemma fun book launch, panel, and workshop with Jonni and Maria! RSVP now - space is limited. [https://lu.ma/kr7xfsde] Elisa Camahort Page, OpEd podcast [https://www.elisacp.com/podcast] and the book she co-authored with Carolyn Gerin and Jamia Wilson, Roadmap for Revolutionaries [https://www.elisacp.com/books], What the Biden Administration has done for this country and why it matters:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/23/biden-sacrifice-democrats-win/Voter [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/23/biden-sacrifice-democrats-win/Voter] White Women for Harris Zoom call: Organized by Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action https://www.wjbf.com/news/white-women-for-harris-meeting-raised-millions-broke-zoom/ [https://www.wjbf.com/news/white-women-for-harris-meeting-raised-millions-broke-zoom/] More on the GOP Project 2025 Agenda: https://act.moveon.org/go/194441?t=9&akid=398263%2E38337520%2EbKqQDo [https://act.moveon.org/go/194441?t=9&akid=398263%2E38337520%2EbKqQDo] Turnout information: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/07/12/voter-turnout-2018-2022/ [https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/07/12/voter-turnout-2018-2022/]   Do something! Find ways to volunteer that work for you: https://votesaveamerica.com/ [https://votesaveamerica.com/]   Understanding and fighting voter suppression: https://www.fairfight.com/ [https://www.fairfight.com/]   Swing States: https://usafacts.org/articles/what-are-the-current-swing-states-and-how-have-they-changed-over-time/ [https://usafacts.org/articles/what-are-the-current-swing-states-and-how-have-they-changed-over-time/]   Sharon McMahon, America’s Government Tacher: https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/ [https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/]   Harris’ High Level Economic Views: https://apnews.com/article/harris-economy-taxes-homes-food-prices-insurance-e1ad3f26f2ce8e6cb365a4ffe2ca3e6b [https://apnews.com/article/harris-economy-taxes-homes-food-prices-insurance-e1ad3f26f2ce8e6cb365a4ffe2ca3e6b]   Trump VP choice JD Vance's former criticism of Trump: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-trumps-potential-running-mates-harshly-criticized-him-in-the-past [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-trumps-potential-running-mates-harshly-criticized-him-in-the-past]

Spilling the Tea on Embarrassment vs. Shame

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, physiological reactions and emotional scars that stay with us, how to take away the power of embarrassment, how sometimes embarrassment can lead to shame when handled badly  - and explore the moments that remain with us.  We break down an "official" difference between embarrassment and shame, and of course, cite Brene Brown. Plus, kid updates, slumber parties, Alcatraz visits, what the hell is "snappy casual?,  Maria's new book coming in September,, and more tomfoolery. REFERENCES MENTIONED: NIH National Library of Medicine, "The Neural Signatures of Shame, Embarrassment, and Guilt: A Voxel-Based Meta-Analysis on Functional Neuroimaging Studies [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10136704/]" Adding Shame, Guilt, Humiliation, Embarrassment, Empathy, and Self-Compassion to the Social Emotional Learning Vocabulary [https://brenebrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Integration-Ideas_Emotional-Vocabulary_092221-1.pdf] CONNECT WITH US We’d love your feedback and ideas about the show! Follow/DM us on Instagram: @jonniandmaria [http://www.instagram.com/jonniandmaria] @redslicemaria [https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/] @jonniressler [https://www.instagram.com/jonniressler/] Visit Maria’s website: www.red-slice.com [http://www.red-slice.com] Visit Jonni’s website: www.eleven11solutions.com [http://www.eleven11solutions.com]