Young Adulting

In this episode we dive into our personal reading histories and talk about our reading lives. We share stories about how we became readers, our favorite childhood books - Sweet Valley High, Babysitters Club, R.L. Stein, etc. Although we have different reading routines, ways we organize books, and views on putting a book down (to DNF or not to DNF, that is the question!) - we can agree that vacation reading is the best reading. We share our favorite recent books, our process for vetting the books for our monthly book club, and the  books we think are overrated. If you ever have trouble finding new books, or picking something to read we list our top ways to find new reads.    Podcast mentioned: Grace & Becca on The SSR podcast discussing Sweet Valley High Book #1   Obsessions: Alison Roman’s Tiny Salty Chocolate Cookies (From her cookbook Nothing Fancy) Corgi Pods silicone air pods case   Instagram: (Authors!) @emmastraub @kathrinemcgee @kristywharvey @andreadunlop @lindseykelk @jasminespics   Books

In this episode we talk clean beauty with the founder of Follain, Tara Foley. Tara, a self-described “activist-at-heart” shares with us her journey from discovering clean beauty to opening Follain. We dive deep on what clean really means and the regulation around the terms natural and clean (spoiler: there is none). She also gives us her top ingredients to watch out for. Our favorite part of the episode, though, has to be Tara’s amazing product recs. We chat about everything from budget-friendly to high-tech clean beauty recs and she gives us specific suggestions for both dry skin and acne-prone skin routines. If you’re thinking about using more clean products, Tara makes that sound a whole lot less daunting and this episode is the perfect place to start!   More Tara: Follain stores and Follain.com Products are also sold at Anthropologie & Ulta Instagram: @tcofoley   Products mentioned: Follain Refillable Everything Soap Reverie hair products (specifically the hair milk & heat protectant) Inner

Followers by Megan Angelo is a thought provoking take on influencer culture. The book alternates between the present day story of Orla and Floss living in modern day New York with their own reality TV show; and Marlow, 35 years from now living in a town called Constellation where influencers have become government employees and have their lives broadcasted 23/7. It’s sharp and witty (and a bit of a cautionary tale - when does sharing go TOO FAR?) This book is a great conversation starter and will take you on a wild ride from New York to California to a futuristic (internet-free) colony called Atlantis. We couldn’t put this book down and are still thinking about it weeks later!   Obsessions: Under Armour Eclipse Sports bra (not the one with the zip) Cadbury Creme Eggs Love is Blind on Netflix The Outsider on HBO Urban Stems x East Olivia flowers   Instagram: @eastolivia   Books: You Are Not Alone by Green Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters Tw

Taylor Lorenz is a journalist at the New York Times covering Internet Culture. In our conversation, she maps out the jobs that led her to where she is today and how she developed her own beat. We also delve into everything going on on the internet: from influencers to trolls to TikTok. Whether you’re looking to get current (what is The Hype House?) or are an internet culture vulture with strong feelings on Caroline Calloway, we cover it all in our conversation.   More Taylor Lorenz: twitter: @taylorlorenz instagram: @taylorlorenz tiktok: @taylorlorenz   Taylor’s Favorite Journalists to follow: Check out her list on twitter!   Articles mentioned: Podcast Groups Aren’t Just About Podcasts High Schools to TikTok: We’re Catching Feelings Hype House and The Los Angeles TikTok Mansion Gold Rush What It’s Like To Be The Parent of a Social Media Star The Original Renegade   Products Mentioned: Dyson Airwrap Amazon makeup brush cleaning mat Beauty Blender: Blender Cleanser Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstic

In this (highly requested) episode we are talking about being single in your thirties! We answer all of your questions about dating, and give the best advice we can from our own experiences. This episode is broken into four parts: why being single in your thirties is actually pretty great, how to stay positive, how to make new friends (and keep the old), and all things DATING (another hot topic). We share our weirdest dates, our favorite apps (and when to delete them), ways to meet people IRL, thoughts on freezing our eggs, and managing dating app burnout. If there’s one thing you take away from this episode, it’s the importance of building a life you truly love - one that feels good to YOU… with our without a partner!   Podcasts: Girls Gotta Eat Podcast U Up? Podcast   Obsessions: Cheer - Netflix Serum Stick - Tatcha   Instagram: @clairemazur @ericacerulo @charlidamelio   Books: Know My Name By Chanel Miller The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver Allison Roman Nothing Fancy Cookbook The Right Swi

This is hands down one of our favorite interviews yet! Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur, founders of Of a Kind (RIP!), join us to talk about founding and running a business with your friend. We dive into how they split their roles in the business, travel styles, and hiring a management coach (AKA a business therapist). We also chat about how they’re processing the closure of their company and what’s next.    Then we turn to the subject of motherhood, and have an incredibly candid conversation about how Claire grappled with whether or not she wanted children, how Erica has defended her choice not to have children, and how they’ve supported each other and stayed close despite their disparate decisions. We wrap up with some recommendations for everything from skincare to podcasts to books.   More Claire + Erica: @clairemazur @ericacerulo Claireanderica.com (sign up for their newsletter here!) A Thing or Two Podcast Work Wife: the Power of Female Friendship to Drive Successful Businesses Refinery29: Why I Don’t

This month we read Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison. This book combines some of our favorite things: rich unsupervised teens at a boarding school, secret societies… and murder. Ash is an outcast, relocating from England to attend boarding school at the prestigious Goode School in Virginia. Her parents have passed away, she has an abusive past with her father, and she definitely has a lot of secrets. When she gets tapped for the Ivy Bound secret society, things go haywire. Her roommate dies and now we are trying to figure out who did it and why. Even though we found (nearly) every character to be deeply unlikable, we still really enjoyed the book. We got to rehash our love for secret societies (and the movie The Skulls). Grace reveals what happens in her sorority’s initiation rituals... and that she doesn’t like Gilmore Girls (gasp!).   Obsessions: Amazon Weighted Blanket Grace’s Gravity Blanket Blog Post Grace & Frankie Season 6 on Netflix Virgin River  Jexi (movie) 1917 (movie) Healthy Chicken Tenders Re

We welcome back friend of the pod (and former Obama Deputy Chief of Staff), Alyssa Mastromonaco to answer our burning questions about this presidential election. Alyssa explains what happens to donations when a candidate drops out of the race, endorsements, and where you can go to find out more about the local politics that you can have a direct effect on. She also touches on Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg, and why we need to keep an eye on how the candidates spend their money (like during the Superbowl). She also explains how the caucus system works (it’s kind of crazy!) and why local politics are so important if you want to enact real change.   More Alyssa: Twitter: @alyssamastro44 Instagram: @mastro175 Podcast: Hysteria   Alyssa’s Books: Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? So Here's the Thing . . .: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older, and Trusting Your Gut   Alyssa Recs: Vote Save America   About Bad on Politics: Bad on Politics is a monthly bonus episode where we invite a guest expert t

We’ve got that January motivation and are talking all about organization in this ep! We share about how we organize our lives (both physically in our homes, and our digital lives). We discuss how we handle filing papers, managing our closets, email boxes, and even reveal how often we clean! Becca breaks down her calendar system and Grace tells us about a paper planner that helps you organize your time (and looks pretty too). We also have plenty of recs on home goods that help you find a place to keep everything.    Products Mentioned: Clean My Mac Ink & Volt Planner The Laundress white linen boxes Horderly Ikea glass cabinet jewelry armoire Black velvet hangers Shelf dividers Under bed bins Shoe cubby Under sink drawers (Grace) beauty lazy susan Command ledges Pan organizer Rafia baskets from container store large line post it notes Under sink shelves Dyson V10 vacuum ChomChom Lint Roller   Obsessions: Financial Confessions Podcast Workaday Handmade Mugs + Ceramics   Instagram Obsessions: @junip

We’re thrilled to have sister-in-law duo Veronica Swanson Beard + Veronica Miele Beard with us today! Besides being two of the most stylish women we know, they have built an incredible brand. Both women have incredible backgrounds (and stories) to share - it was fun learning how they got their start and went into business together. With backgrounds in design, entrepreneurship, finance, and a mutual love for fashion, they created  a brand that it smart, stylish, and inclusive. We talk about extending their size range, their best-selling Dickie jackets, their 10 year anniversary, favorite fashion trends, and personal style icons. We also talk about the importance of family and life outside of work.     More about Veronica Beard: Veronicabeard.com @veronicabeard   Products Mentioned: Vintner’s Daughter Nars Laguna bronzer Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow palettes & IG tutorials Active Argan Oils    Obsessions: Conair Fabric Defuzzer Zalto Wine Glasses   Instagram Obsessions: @veryrealfantasy @cobblerscove

It’s a brand new year (and a brand new decade!).  While neither of us are huge fans of setting “resolutions,” (it just sounds so drastic!) today we wanted to reflect on last year and share some goals for 2020! This week we are looking back on 2019 and sharing our biggest accomplishments from the year (and what could have been better) and setting some goals for the year ahead! We have have a few shared goals too (growing the pod, making Delta platinum, to name a couple). We both have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to. So here’s to making this year calmer, cozier, and even better than the last!   Obsessions: You on Netflix Augustus Bader Primer Milk Skin Tint Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Youth Dew by May Lindstom Vintner’s Daughter Beauty Pie Luminizing Drops Flesh Beauty Drops   Instagram Obsessions: @robinberzinmd @brooklynblonde1 @shityoushouldcareabout @pennbadgley @ambyrchilders @then0t0ri0usvip   Books Mentioned: Things in Jars by Jess Kid (April release) Quiet by Su

Happy New Year! Today our friend Kellie Brown joins us. Kellie is the founder of And I Get Dressed, a brand consultant, blogger + Youtuber, fashion industry PR prodigy, and body positive activist (she created the #fatatfashionweek hashtag)... amongst other things! She is a long time New Yorker, who recently made the move to LA and tells us about her career journey, the evolution of her blog + Youtube channel, and working for herself. She shares her views on weight loss, the dangers of “new year, new me” mentality, confidence, the ways that people can weaponize words, and a quick cheat sheet on how to respond to fat-phobic friends and family. She also shares her “mirror trick” for self confidence. Kellie talk about what she is most proud of in her career and gives advice on how to make even the most basic (or some my say, classic!) wardrobe cooler with just a few key pieces. More Kellie! @itsmekellieb And I Get Dressed on Youtube https://andigetdressed.com/ Body Party Podcast (coming soon) Products Mentione

For our December book club, we’re reading One Day in December by Josie Silver. This was one of our favorite books from last year, so we had to make it a book club pick! What would you do if you had a “love at first sight” moment, but the man of your dreams turns out to be your best friend’s new boyfriend? The book follows the three of them over the course of a decade through life’s ups & downs and heartbreaks as they each grow and change. Grace reveals she once had her own “bus boy”. Both Grace and Becca share opinions on audiobooks (nuances and lack thereof in some cases), meeting men (#morecrushes2020), modern dating, and definitely think this should be a Hallmark movie.    Grace’s Top 5 of 2019: Save me the Plums by Ruth Reichl Verity by Colleen Hoover Becoming by Michelle Obama My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante The Idea of you by Robinne Lee   Becca’s Top 5 of 2019: Idea of you by Robinne Lee I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson American Royals by Katharine McGee Throne of Glass Series by Sara

For this month’s “Just Us” episodes, Becca had the idea to interview each other! This week Grace interviews Becca. We crowdsourced the questions from you and had so much fun interviewing each other. You already know Becca, but how well do you really know her? Today all of your questions are answered. Does Becca have a secret boyfriend? Becca tells us her goals for the podcast (and her instagram too!), what it’s like gaining an online following, thoughts on the word influencer and why she doesn’t consider herself one. Becca also talks about shifting to freelance, getting clients, managing people, and knowing when it is time to leave a job. We also get the scoop on using an interior decorator, the process, pros and cons, and of course a glimpse into her friendship with Grace!   Girls Weekend Ideas: The Breakers in Palm Beach   More Mentions: Digit App (for Budgeting) We are Knitters   Christmas Movies Mentioned: The Christmas Contract  (Lifetime movie, basically a One Tree Hill Reunion) A Christmas Inheri

We’re so excited to have our friend Kate Kennedy join us today! You probably know her from her podcast, Be There in Five… OR her book Twinkle, Twinkle Social Media Star, her hilarious pop culture commentary on Instagram, or her viral doormat business. She talks about how she started her business, how she came up with the idea for the podcast, and her career journey. We talk about press trips, Instagram triggers, the influencers we admire most, and (of course) Taylor Swift, and why Kate is such a Stan. Kate makes her 2020 predictions for pop culture and influencer trends and gives great advice on following your dreams and how to inoffensively block your significant other and family on Instagram.   More Kate! @bethereinfive Be There In Five Podcast Grace’s Episode of Under the Influencer on Be There in Five.   Products Mentioned: Revlon Lipstick in Black Cherry Crest White Strips   Obsessions: Jackson Vaughn, the JV Christmas candle  Knitting Kits from We are Knitters Wander Beauty the Dualist concealer

In this episode of Bad on Politics we dive into one of our most-requested topics… healthcare! We’re joined by New York Times journalist, Margot Sanger-Katz, to break down the various healthcare structures on the table in this election and which candidates support which plan. We also spend some time discussing the implications of these plans and whether they’re feasible (or likely given our current congressional map). We’re certainly feeling way more healthcare-literate after this episode, and hope you do too!   For more Margot Sanger-Katz: @sangerkatz on twitter https://www.nytimes.com/by/margot-sanger-katz - for her articles   About Bad on Politics: Bad on Politics is a monthly bonus episode where we invite a guest expert to help us break down a political topic. We get it, politics is confusing and there's a anxiety-inducing amount of news coverage to follow. So, we're here to ask the "dumb" questions so you don't have to. We want to break things down so you can understand what's going on and make an informe

For this month’s “Just Us” episodes, Becca had the idea to interview each other! This week Becca interviews Grace and in two weeks, Grace will interview Becca. We crowdsourced the questions from you and had so much fun interviewing each other. You already know Grace but today she’s answering your questions. What really goes into working for yourself as an influencer, the nitty gritty behind choosing brands to work with, how sponsorships work, testing products, and even turning down brands she doesn’t like (awkward!). She shares some of her best dating advice and tells some juicy stories too! We chat about her love of Becca’s cooking, her work ethic, her love affair with Charleston, and of course her cat, Tyrion too!  Products Mentioned: Farmacy Cleansing Balm Dr. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream Weleda Skin Food & Skin Food Light  (under $30) Olay Retinol Serum  Olay Retinol Eye Cream  Seaweed Bath Co. Face Scrub (under $30) Glossier Lash Slick (under $30) L’Oreal Lash Paradise (under $30) L’Oreal Liquid

Yesterday we talked about We Came Here to Forget by Andrea Dunlop and today we’re so happy to have her with us for a special bonus episode where we talk about the book! We talk to her about her writing process and how she developed the plot line for the book (which is somehow both thrilling with a happy redemption story). We loved this book, and we learned more about Andrea’s personal experiences that led to writing this. She set out to debunk myths about the issue and what pop culture is getting right and wrong about Munchausen’s by proxy. Andrea is a pantser (not a plotter) when it comes to writing, and she reveals her process, the importance of resilience in the industry, and how she gives back to the community through social media.   Andrea on Instagram: @andreadunlap   Andrea’s Books: Losing the Light She Regrets Nothing Broken Bay: A Novella We Came Here to Forget   TV Shows that feature Munchausen’s by Proxy: Sharp Objects on HBO The Act on Hulu The Politician on Netflix   Famous Munchausen

For this month’s book club, we’re talking about We Came Here to Forget by Andrea Dunlop. The book follows ex-professional skier, Katie Cleary as she starts a new life in Buenos Aires. Along the way, this book kept us guessing about the dark secret in her past that led her to move away and start a new life. We both devoured this book in one day: Grace needed to find out the shocking truth about Katie’s sister, while Becca was living for Katie’s story of redemption in Argentina—complete with tango lessons and a new, foreign lover.   Obsessions: Barefoot Dreams Socks Barefoot Dreams Cardigan Lele Sadoughi x Stoney Clover Lane collab Tuleste Pom Pom Earrings The Body Stone   Instagram Obsessions: @bookbaristas @fatpompoms   Books Mentioned: We Came Here to Forget by Andrea Dunlop (November Book Club Pick!) Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid One Day in December by Josie Silver   Sponsors:    Care/of: 50% your first order at takecareof.com with offer code BOP50 at checkout. Borghese: Get 25% off site wide at borg

Today we are joined by Lauren Chan, the founder and CEO of Henning, a newly launched luxury plus-size clothing brand. We’re completely in love with this brand and all its thoughtful details! We’re also obsessed with Lauren, TBH. She gives us a peek into her experiences as both a plus-size model and fashion editor for Glamour Magazine. We get her insight into how the plus-size modeling landscape has changed over the years and how modeling has affected her relationship with her body. Maybe most interesting, she pulls back the curtain on all the retouching (and padding!) that goes on behind the scenes. We’re shook! We also chat about her experience starting her own business (without any outside funding!), and the lessons she’s learned along the way.   Products, places, and links mentioned:   Check out Henning here. You can also take 15% off with code badonpaper15. Follow Lauren at @lcchan and Henning at @henning We had our celebratory pod dinner at Gramercy Tavern We stayed at The Statler hotel in Dallas (and l