Life lately

Sarah loved her kids’ winter musical performances.

Abby got her first tattoo with 13 other adult friends in Birmingham.

Reading lately

Sarah finally read the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas.

Abby enjoyed The Wedding People by Alison Espach.

Looking back on 2024 and ahead to 2025

We discuss the past year and look ahead to 2025. Also, surprise! This is our final episode of the podcast and we share our favorite episode and what the pod has meant to us over the last 8 years.

Our favorite episodes: Quitting, Hard times, Enneagram 8 Experience (Sarah) and Everyday superpowers and Personal policies (Abby)

And because we didn’t do a year in books episode this year, here are our favorite reads from 2024:

Sarah

Fiction: In the Wild Light by Jeff Zenter (ya fiction, best book I read for my program)

Romance: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood (ya romance, set in the world of competitive chess)

Nonfiction: Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan

Most enjoyable: You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane 

Memoir: This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz

Audio: Starfish, by Lisa Fipps (j-fic novel-in-verse)

Read aloud: Two great ones: A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus (WWII about children evacuated from London) and The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (books 1 and 2, both equally delightful and we can’t wait for more)

Abby

Fiction: Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer and Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Romance: Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner (A+ sapphic romance set in the world of women’s soccer)

Nonfiction: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Most enjoyable: Fret Me Not by Sarah Estep

Memoir: This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz

Audio: Weyward by Emilia Hart and Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Read aloud: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Pepper was old enough this year)

Eating lately

Abby made egg bites like you can get at Starbucks.

Neil found a recipe for gnocchi pot pie, which is the best .

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!!