“What Even Is This?” with Jane and Jordan

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?

Episode 8: Let’s Normalize the Fact That No One Knows What They’re Doing

What if the big secret of adulthood is that no one actually knows what they’re doing? Not your boss. Not the mom with the perfectly packed lunches. Not the person confidently leading the meeting. This week on What Even Is This?, hosts Jane Doerman and Jordan Johnstone talk about the strange moment in adulthood when you realize you’re the adult in the room… and it feels slightly illegal. From imposter syndrome at work to parenting moments that require asking the pediatrician to explain things like you’re five, Jane and Jordan unpack the quiet pressure to appear confident while secretly wondering if everyone else got a handbook you somehow missed. Spoiler: they didn’t. If you’ve ever stared at your calendar, your responsibilities, or your life and thought “How am I in charge of anything?” — this episode is for you. Because sometimes the most freeing realization is this: Everyone is just figuring it out in real time.     In This Episode: • Why imposter syndrome shows up in work, parenting, and social life • The viral internet truth: “Adulthood is mostly whispering ‘what the heck is going on’” • Why we assume everyone else has the manual • What changes when we normalize being beginners • How learning in motion builds real confidence     Segments in This Episode: WHAT EVEN IS THAT? Jordan brings internet trends that prove we’re all collectively winging adulthood. WHAT EVEN IS THIS QUESTION? Jane and Jordan unpack the pressure to have life figured out and why most of us are just guessing with confidence. WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING? Listener chaos stories including lunchbox mix-ups, a 24-hour crockpot situation, and a child who hums elevator music after being told “hold please.”     We Want to Hear From You Have a chaotic moment that made you think “WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING?!” Email us: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/] Your story might be featured in a future episode.     About the Podcast 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 the chaos. Because: Life is messy. Chaos is real. And none of us actually have it all figured out. Which is exactly why we’re here.

Episode 7: We’re Not Failing…Right? Redefining Success

Hosts: Jane Doerman & Jordan Johnstone Guest: Cheyanne Skeldon Are we actually failing… or are we just measuring our lives with the wrong ruler? In this episode, Jane and Jordan sit down with certified LifePlan coach Cheyanne Skeldon to unpack the pressure so many women feel to constantly achieve, produce, and prove. Some days you accomplish a lot and still feel behind. Other days you’re barely hanging on and wondering how everyone else seems so confident. This conversation challenges the idea that success is about trophies, titles, or checking every box—and invites you to consider that maybe the definition you’re chasing doesn’t even fit your season anymore. Together, we explore what it looks like to redefine success in a way that aligns with your real life, your current capacity, and your deeper purpose. In This Episode: * Why it’s so hard to feel like we’ve done “enough” * The exhausting reality of shifting goalposts * Comparison, capacity guilt, and invisible expectations * How success changes in different seasons of life * The difference between purpose and performance * One practical step you can take today to redefine success * Why “whose you are” matters more than “who you are” * Small wins that don’t show up on Instagram—but absolutely count We also wrap the episode with our signature segment, Unqualified Advice, where we tackle modern dilemmas like inbox overwhelm, fake-it-till-you-make-it culture, and whether binge-watching counts as strategic downtime. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why doesn’t this feel like enough?” — this episode is for you. Connect with Cheyanne Skeldon: Website: https://cheyanneskeldon.com/ [https://cheyanneskeldon.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheyanneskeldon/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/cheyanneskeldon/?hl=en]  Connect With Us: Email: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/] If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who might need permission to breathe—and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Life is messy. Chaos is real. And maybe… we’re not failing after all. WHAT EVEN IS THIS?!

Episode 6: Relationships Are WEIRD — Let’s Talk About It

Why does one “K.” feel like a declaration of war? Why does making friends as an adult require three calendar confirmations and a childcare miracle? And when did marriage start feeling like co-managing a small, chaotic company? In this episode of What Even Is This?, Jane and Jordan unpack the strange, hilarious, and occasionally fragile world of adult relationships — friendships, partners, coworkers, group chats, Slack tone, and all. Because sometimes you’re not even fighting… you’re just both tired and your nervous systems are freelancing. Today’s big question: Why do relationships feel harder in adulthood — and how do we communicate without spiraling?     In This Episode, We Talk About: * Why adult friendship feels logistical instead of effortless * The emotional risk of sending “too many” exclamation points * The viral “We listen and we don’t judge” confession trend * Golden Retriever vs. Black Cat relationship archetypes * The “roommate phase” of marriage * How logistics quietly replace flirtation * Slack tone, emoji politics, and read-receipt anxiety * Why most fights are actually stress + depletion + bad timing * How to tell when you’re misreading tone * A simple repair script you can use immediately: “When you said __, I heard __. Is that what you meant?” We also play Relationship Translation Hotline, where phrases like “No worries!” and “All good.” get interpreted four different ways. And in this week’s WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING?! segment: * The mom-friend coffee plan that disappeared into a 12-day scheduling void * Accidentally starting a Cold War over “I’m fine.” * A Slack message that unintentionally launched emotional warfare     Key Takeaways * Adult friendship isn’t hard because you’re bad at it — it’s hard because life is heavy. * If you’re depleted, everything sounds like criticism. * Most relationship tension is misinterpretation + exhaustion. * Relationships need maintenance, not perfection. If relationships feel harder right now, it might not be because you’re doing them wrong — it might be because you’re doing too much.     Have a chaotic relationship moment that made you say, “WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING?!” Email us at: thewhatevenisthispodcast@gmail.com Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/]     What Even Is This? is a podcast for women navigating adulthood in real time — working, parenting, believing, doubting, laughing, crying, and spiraling along the way. Life is messy. Chaos is real. None of us have it all figured out. And that’s exactly why we’re here. 🎙 Hosts: Jane Doerman & Jordan Johnstone ⏱ Runtime: ~45–60 minutes