2AM Reckonings

2AM Reckonings with Amrutha & Sheila Ep. 19

We debate the ordeal of going out for lunch vs. crushing a sad desk salad. Dishwasher unloading habits, and what they say about us. Sheila went to the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe [https://theinnatrsf.com/] and found that its bar is nothing like what its cozy cottages would lead you to believe. Amrutha’s getting her first curly girl haircut. We unpack the two glasses of wine that “ruined” Steven Bartlett [https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/health-fitness/female-health/steven-bartlett-health-optimisation-debate] and wonder whether the imperative to optimize has gone too far [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/style/biohacking-fitness-tracking-fitbit-whoop.html]. Can’t a gal just enjoy a night out without morning after atoning? Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe [https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

2AM Reckonings with Amrutha & Sheila Ep. 18

Sweating after the post-workout shower. Dips in a bracingly cold sea. Beaches you can drive onto, with your dogs! Walking book clubs. Why is there never enough space on airplanes? When the TV version is better than the book. Is sleep the ultimate luxury product [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/08/fashion/sleep-tips-and-tools.html]? We’re trying to unlock our way to the next level of restfulness, and here’s what we’re using: Moonjuice Magnesi-Om [https://go.shopmy.us/p-62647104] Hatch alarm clock [https://go.shopmy.us/p-62647863] Bearaby weighted blanket [https://go.shopmy.us/p-44817842] Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe [https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

2AM Reckonings with Amrutha & Sheila Ep. 17

Sheila traveled 24 hours to reach Mali Lošinj, the Croatian “island of vitality” that more than lives up to its moniker. She’s teaching at the Adriatic Writers Conference [https://www.adriaticwritersconference2025.com/awc/workshops] and hopes her class is up to snuff. Amrutha went to an adult slumber party with a blessedly simple dress code. We’ve got many, many thoughts about The Crash [https://www.netflix.com/title/81941710], the polarizing Netflix documentary. How much of what’s on your phone can be used against you? Should we clean up our camera roll? Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe [https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

2AM Reckonings with Amrutha & Sheila Ep. 16

A.I. photoshop, we need to talk. The youths are really, really good at makeup and we can learn a lot from them. Today’s high school graduations are DIFFERENT. Sheila’s at war with protein and kind of okay with it. Ahead of the Adriatic Writers Conference [https://www.adriaticwritersconference2025.com/] and summer travel, we’re thinking about what we have to have in our bags, besides chargers and passports and all that jazz. A beach cover up that doubles as a dress / thing you can throw on over pants and a shirt to FEEL dressy (here’s a steal [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59813828], here’s a splurge [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59829356]). A sketchpad [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59829800] and watercolor pencils [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59829920] to keep you off your phone. A Cadence kit [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59830541] that makes all your skincare magically travel size. Corded headphones [https://www.target.com/p/apple-earpods-usb-c/-/A-89827259?sid=&ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tmnv&DFA=23699302556&CPNG=PLA_DVM%2Ba06Do000000WDSnIAO-Apple_BMP_HW_Apr_Q2_2026_Accy-1826776&adgroup=PLA_Apple_BMP_HW&LID=5143198495pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9030930&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23699302556&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfbO8cY7kGk2_ARgLAcsvSrrQ&gclid=CjwKCAjw2rrQBhBuEiwAarLWHRGv1hwNRRG5_ffSnvfcEvmHUSbK0UE7fltMLhNH9kIROSemG85L0RoCtw8QAvD_BwE] (Amrutha calls them “punishment headphones”). Sunglasses galore, the best to switch up your look (how cool are these [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59831328]). A wax stick [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59831546] for when you can’t / don’t want to do your hair. Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe [https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

2AM Reckonings with Amrutha & Sheila Ep. 15

How to celebrate an anniversary? Osteria Mozza [https://www.osteriamozza.com/] is never a bad call. (Try for corner seats at the Mozzarella Bar, the best in the house.) Sometimes a movie’s [https://michael.movie/] entertaining, and that’s enough. Is a screen version of the Wall Street lawsuit [https://www.wsj.com/business/jpmorgan-banker-chirayu-rana-sexual-assault-lorna-hajdini-179b67b3?mod=e2fb&fbclid=IwY2xjawRwMpxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJbVNJck9uZnFxNE1WdnVJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjVkPApnFa1zkZ57ASsBfhY5gRoUL_1bwX2EyJeWPTCxFYKsBk0hhhY0-I8Y_aem_fidPlImrY78Jwk3zQyajjw] in the works? Because that one’s WILD, and thank goodness one of us is a lawyer who can shed light. Is every election destined to have a reality TV contestant [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/opinion/spencer-pratt-mayor-los-angeles.html]? Should Bravo start a bootcamp? One thing that is not up for debate: the supremacy of head massages. This Vietnamese head spa [https://www.nhienheadspaandwellness.com/] is at the top of our list. We’ve got an at-home scalp massager [https://go.shopmy.us/p-58426850] for a fix between sessions, but we might have to put the LED version [https://go.shopmy.us/p-58427693]to the test ... Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe [https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]