Overview
Welcome to the two-hundred and twenty-eighth episode of the Heart + Hustle Podcast!
In this episode, we dive into our favorite movies, books, and the healthy habits we’ve adopted in 2024. From inspiring films and must-read books to the practices that keep us grounded and energized, we share what’s been making a positive impact in our lives this year. Tune in for some fun recommendations and practical tips to elevate your own 2024!
Links from the Episode
Books
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Movies
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
TV Shows
Shrinking (AppleTV+)
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
The Penguin (MAX)
KAOS (Netflix)
Get Millie Black (MAX)
Abbott Elementary (FOX/Hulu)
Wellness
Follow Us on Social Media
Follow us on Instagram.
Instagram: Charisma | Angelica
Threads: Charisma
Meet the hosts: Angelica Yarde and Charisma O’Keefe
We’re now on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, Acast, and Stitcher! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and rate and review.
Episode Transcription
00:00:00.69
Angelica:
Hello, friends, and welcome back to the Heart & Hustle podcast. I am Angelica Yarde.
00:00:05.24
Charisma:
And I’m Charisma O’Keefe, and we are sometimes here. I won’t say every week, but we are sometimes here. On this podcast, we talk about entrepreneurship, business, and all those sorts of good things—trying to find balance, creativity. We do that from the point of view of being two Black women in America.
00:00:25.63
Charisma:
So, yeah. Yes, yes.
00:00:26.15
Angelica:
Living, existing. Entrepreneurs who have had our businesses for eons now—no, seriously, a handful of decades. We’re rounding the corner on that 20-year mark. It’s coming. It’s coming around the corner.
00:00:40.40
Charisma:
Getting closer, yeah.
00:00:44.04
Charisma:
We started young then, so we’re not adults.
00:00:44.07
Angelica:
She’ll be coming around the corner when she comes. Yeah, we started young. We’ve done tons of things—lots of service-based work, products, everything in between. Consulting, all the things.
00:00:55.23
Angelica:
So we have a myriad of experience. We have lots of friends who are entrepreneurs in different industries, and we’ve been able to learn from them and have them on some of these episodes over the past few years. So, if you are new and this is your first time listening, and you see on your cover art and you’re like, “Oh, this looks great,” welcome! And go back and listen to some episodes. We have a handful that are really worth going back and checking out. And then, please rate and review us on the green app, because that’s where it matters most now—more than some of the other ones, like Apple Podcasts. We love to hear what you guys are thinking, read your reviews, and get in touch. We’ll be coming a little bit harder next year.
00:01:37.68
Angelica:
It was… a year. We had good intentions, but the year did not have good intentions for us.
00:01:41.44
Charisma:
It was a year. It did not.
00:01:48.98
Charisma:
The year did not have good intentions for us, but that’s okay.
00:01:51.66
Angelica:
The year said, “Knock knock, hey, we’re gonna come get you.”
00:01:53.22
Charisma:
It’s okay.
00:01:55.44
Angelica:
And look, nothing really in our interpersonal lives. We’re pretty chill, honestly. It’s fine. Husbands are good, they’re still here, all that stuff. But things outside of our control…
00:02:07.78
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:02:09.55
Angelica:
I’ve been out here in the streets, so dealing with a lot.
00:02:12.33
Charisma:
And that’s life. You know, sometimes, yeah, you know…
00:02:14.61
Angelica:
Yeah, the older you get, more things are gonna happen. We’re going to experience more grief. We’re going to experience more changes. Health’s gonna be up and down. You have to be more responsible for doing things to make sure your health doesn’t go down.
00:02:27.08
Angelica:
You know what I mean? You have to be more accountable. And there are times where we have to do that. We have to choose prioritizing our health and getting ourselves on track over consistency with this show.
00:02:37.87
Angelica:
But, we’re gonna try to make it work a little bit more every day.
00:02:40.37
Charisma:
I will say, it’s like, we’re fine, but cutting down on certain things this year helped us stay fine, right? You know, it’s like, we could have done everything, but…
00:02:49.09
Angelica:
Yeah. Not everybody made the cut.
00:02:55.87
Charisma:
Again, that goes back to balance. Sometimes you have to say, “Okay, what can I cut out of the equation so that I’m taking care of myself?” And I think that’s a lesson entrepreneurs need to learn.
00:03:03.81
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:03:06.19
Charisma:
A lot of entrepreneurs have struggled this year. I work with, like, consulting for small businesses, and yeah, a lot of people have been… I didn’t even mean struggling just financially—just like with time, responsibilities, and that sort of thing.
00:03:18.56
Angelica:
Life.
00:03:22.25
Charisma:
So yeah, please, like, if nothing else, start to focus and prioritize—putting yourself first, your mental health and your health first. And, you know, knowing that not every season is for everything.
00:03:35.66
Charisma:
It’s okay to put things back on the shelf and pick them up later.
00:03:39.14
Angelica:
Especially if you still have access to them. Like… ah, they’re just there. They’re a little dusty. We’ll sit them off for a little bit, but we got an episode! We’re gonna get through it, and in tradition, keeping with the theme of the show…
00:03:55.81
Angelica:
What we’ve done every December since we’ve started is we buy Oprah’s list and do our favorite things. Shoutout to Oprah Winfrey for creating her “Favorite Things” list so many decades ago.
00:04:08.12
Charisma:
Ours are a lot more affordable. Some of them are even free. Many of them are free.
00:04:09.92
Angelica:
But, uh, $3.99, peace of mind, and sense of self. So, excited to get into it. Let’s jump right on in, and we can start with books. It was a good book year for me. I was back in the book streets. I took a break from reading. I feel like for the past two years, I hadn’t been reading. I was like, “I’ll read when I get to it.”
00:04:34.33
Angelica:
I cannot do that. Started the year off strong, and I was done before summer with my book goals. I was really into reading early this year.
00:04:40.61
Charisma:
That’s awesome!
00:04:44.50
Angelica:
I think the cold… it was extra cold for us. That helped a little bit. I had extra time. My kid plays club volleyball. I mean, sports parents know those long practices.
00:04:55.48
Angelica:
That’s my reading time. So, I read a lot. It was great. The first two books I loved the most were interesting because I did try to read a lot of 2023 or 2024 releases… but I missed the back end of the 2024 year since I stopped reading in the summer.
00:05:44.15
Angelica:
One of those books I had been on the fence about reading, just because we had this conversation earlier about how I struggle with cartoons and things that aren’t made for kids. While this book isn’t a children’s book, I thought it might be too lighthearted for me. But it turned out to be my favorite book this year: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It’s about a talking octopus, so I thought, “This is not going to be it for me.” But Marcellus was my… like, my dog. RIP Marcellus.
00:06:05.87
Angelica:
If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it. It’s being developed into a movie, I think. I don’t think it’s streaming yet, but it’s in development as a theater release. You can catch up on the book before it gets too expensive because you know, when books become movies, the price goes up.
00:06:16.09
Charisma:
Okay.
00:06:24.31
Angelica:
It was a sensational hit in 2022. Everyone loved it. I was skeptical, but I was wrong. Let Marcellus talk to you. The story is really good, the themes are great, and all the characters are nuanced. The writing is well done, which is hard to come by these days. So, yeah, Remarkably Bright Creatures is my top book of the year. And, if you’ve never listened to this podcast before, that is uncharacteristic of me. I am usually like, “Books should be big and deep,” but this one was small and lighthearted, and still it was like… top-tier.
00:06:59.48
Charisma:
I’m actually very shocked right now. Oh, that is shocking coming from you.
00:07:01.74
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:07:04.42
Charisma:
And I love it. I haven’t read it yet. I’m going to add it to the list. Um, so my first one of this year—I’ve had a decent reading year. It wasn’t necessarily bad or good.
00:07:14.57
Charisma:
I just kind of read what I wanted to read in the moment. I didn’t reach my reading goal, which was 60 books, but I’ve read 26 books so far this year. I imagine I’ll get through another three or four before the end of the year. I know that sounds like a lot, but John and I actually read a lot in December. Most of our Christmas break is spent reading, and it’s often the time when I can knock out a book in a day.
00:07:44.34
Charisma:
So, I’ll probably read maybe three more books this year. But yeah, 26 is definitely good for me.
00:07:50.38
Angelica:
Again, I didn’t think I was going to get to 25. I think I’m at 31. I haven’t checked, but that’s good because I didn’t think I’d make it to 25.
00:07:56.45
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:07:57.95
Angelica:
Like, I thought I was going to struggle to get to those 25 books this year.
00:07:58.46
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:08:01.03
Charisma:
And what’s funny for me is that I always set a really high goal—normally like 80 books—and I never get there. So people are like, “Why don’t you set a lower goal?”
00:08:12.23
Charisma:
I normally set 80, but I get around 60. This time, I set 60, and I’ll probably end up around 30. So, I’m thinking maybe I’ll go back to 80 because I think that pushes me.
00:08:22.67
Charisma:
It helps me strive.
00:08:24.84
Angelica:
Yeah, to get to your goal. Also, the year was uncharacteristically cruel at times, so it wasn’t you.
00:08:29.86
Charisma:
True, yeah, it really was a rough time.
00:08:32.19
Angelica:
It was the year.
00:08:34.29
Charisma:
Yeah, so that is true. Maybe I should set 60 again and see if I hit it. But if I don’t, and I end up with another 30, I’m just going to keep setting 80 because I think it pushes me to strive.
00:08:45.52
Charisma:
I know some people need to complete their goals, or they feel bad. But I don’t necessarily feel bad if I don’t hit my reading goal.
00:08:52.61
Angelica:
Yeah, I’ve never felt bad about not completing my goal.
00:08:54.26
Charisma:
Yeah, like there are certain things—day-to-day stuff, yes, I love checking things off my to-do list. But I don’t feel bad if I look at it and see, “Oh, I didn’t read 80 books, but I read 50.” I still feel good about that. No one else cares but me, and if I get it, great! As long as I’m reading and doing it in a way that fits my life right now, I’m happy. Reading is my most important hobby. That’s what excites me.
00:09:41.48
Charisma:
The feeling when you have a book you just don’t want to put down, and you carry it with you everywhere—that’s the goal for me.
00:09:47.22
Charisma:
So, the first one I read is actually from this year. I didn’t realize it was published this year until just now. But it’s Daughters of Olympus. I saw it recommended and thought, “I’ll check it out.”
00:10:02.02
Charisma:
I love anything related to mythology, and this one was really interesting. We often hear about what the gods were up to, but this story is told from the perspective of several women in Olympus.
00:10:20.36
Charisma:
It covers several millennia and looks at those early days in Olympus from a female perspective. And what’s interesting to me is that even though it’s mythology and not real, the gods… some of them were not acting right.
00:10:44.91
Charisma:
Even in this fictional world, it’s like, “Wow, this still happens.” It really examines mother-daughter relationships, both from the perspective of the mother and the daughter. It’s a really interesting dynamic.
00:11:11.13
Charisma:
It’s one of those books I didn’t want to put down. It’s a good size—not too long—so you could probably finish it in a week or two if you pick it up when you can.
00:11:27.85
Angelica:
Pick it up, read it! For all you mythology lovers, like my child.
00:11:35.73
Charisma:
Yes! And so much of mythology is based on a man’s perspective, so it’s nice to get something different.
00:11:43.96
Angelica:
Yeah. My second recommendation is American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. A friend recommended it to me because we were both complaining about the state of books—how it’s hard to find a good, interesting read that isn’t just the same story by an author who had a good run but is now publishing the same book over and over.
00:12:09.34
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:12:09.49
Angelica:
I don’t know what’s happening with the BookTok crowd, but in the streets, we feel like a lot of the same authors are publishing the same books again and again. So she recommended American Dirt. It’s about a mother and son fleeing Mexico after the cartel murders their family. They’re trying to reach the U.S., with the goal of getting to Colorado.
00:12:54.62
Angelica:
It’s very intense, with high stakes. Something happens every chapter—something insane. It’s very descriptive and well-written, but nothing good ever happens to this lady. She’s just trying to survive.
00:13:18.42
Charisma:
I haven’t read that one yet. The cover is beautiful, and it’s on my list.
00:13:21.58
Angelica:
The cover makes you think it’s about something totally different, which is funny.
00:13:25.95
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:13:27.40
Angelica:
But it dives into the struggle with immigration, showing how hard it is to cross the border and what that journey looks like for different people.
00:13:35.57
Charisma:
Were you able to see the nuances of immigration, not just for Mexican people but also for people from Central America?
00:13:40.90
Angelica:
Yes, it explores all the nuances. It also touches on how mental health plays a role in the tragedy. One of the reasons her family is murdered is related to a mental health situation. It’s a very nuanced and well-done book. I really recommend it.
00:14:01.51
Charisma:
Love it.
00:14:03.75
Charisma:
So, I don’t usually read a lot of guides or self-help books, but this one caught my attention: 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jamie Attenberg.
00:14:26.32
Charisma:
It was really good, especially since I’ve been working on my novel this year. Sometimes I need that inspiration to keep going—like, “Sit down and write, do your job, don’t make excuses.”
00:14:41.95
Charisma:
This book is great because you can pick it up whenever. It’s filled with tips and inspiration from different authors. You can read a part of it and come back to it later. I’ve read it a few times throughout the year.
Charisma
00:15:04.84
Just going back to that inspiration—there are times when I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this novel is kicking my ass!” It’s nice to have something I can come back to. If you’re writing, an inspirational book can be a great fit. But if your focus is on something else, find an inspirational book aligned with that hobby or goal. Like, if you’re running, I’m sure there are inspirational books about running. Or if you’re into crafting, look for books on that.
Having a go-to source of inspiration is so helpful. I can pack my book with my notebook, and wherever I am, if I feel stuck or unmotivated, I can read a quick section to get back into the groove. That’s been invaluable.
Angelica
00:15:55.64
That sounds like a great idea! I finished NaNoWriMo and should’ve read something inspirational before tackling that—it would’ve helped. Your point reminded me of this B-level comedy I watched called Office Race. It’s about a guy who ends up running a marathon through a convoluted work situation. Jeff Galloway is in it!
For those who don’t know, Jeff Galloway is the marathon guru. He’s written books, has apps, and pretty much everyone starting out follows his methods. Seeing him in this comedy, making jokes, was unexpected but fun. It’s total trash TV, but if you’ve ever tried to run a race, it’ll hit differently.
Charisma
00:16:47.89
That’s funny. He’s also the 5K guy!
Angelica
00:17:10.48
Right! My next book isn’t necessarily a favorite, but it stood out because it’s so unique. You know when a book isn’t your favorite, but it’s so different and interesting that it sticks with you?
I’m talking about an author I initially didn’t care for—Tia Williams. Her first book didn’t resonate with me; I found it problematic despite good writing. But A Song for Ricki Wilde caught my attention because of its unique elements: a touch of time travel, romance, and the New York setting. It’s a Black perspective, with fresh storytelling and whimsical vibes. Highly recommend it—it’s very cute and different from her earlier work.
Charisma
00:18:27.40
Ooh, I love whimsical romance!
Angelica
00:18:29.00
Yeah, it’s a creative shift for her. It feels like she’s found her lane, stepping into more whimsical storytelling. Maybe her earlier work was more about getting her foot in the door, but this feels authentic. Definitely worth reading!
Charisma
00:18:53.80
My third pick is from an author I wasn’t initially interested in: Sarah J. Maas. I’ve been pressured for years to read her books, but I avoided them because “romantasy” (romantic fantasy) isn’t my thing.
However, a friend introduced me to another romantasy author, and I read two books to appease her. I didn’t hate them, so I decided to give Sarah J. Maas a shot. I went to a bookstore and asked for advice. The staff recommended Throne of Glass as a starting point, saying it’s more YA-focused and less romantasy-heavy.
To my surprise, it was fantastic. It’s a fantasy about a badass female assassin navigating her way back into society after being left to rot in prison. The protagonist is likable, and the story is compelling. I don’t know if I’ll dive into the entire Maas universe, but I’d definitely read more books centered on this character.
Angelica
00:22:26.71
I looked up Throne of Glass, and it seems like there’s a whole series about this character.
Charisma
00:23:44.65
Yeah, I think there are. If there are more books focused on her, I’d read them. But I’m not sure I want to explore the rest of the interconnected worlds. Still, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s a solid standalone fantasy too.
Angelica
00:24:25.84
Honorable mention: The Women by Kristin Hannah. Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s the best book they’ve read this year. It’s on my radar for next year, especially since it’s reportedly being adapted into a series. Kristin Hannah’s books always seem to get a lot of attention, and I’m curious to see how this one measures up.
Charisma
00:25:42.75
I have about 30 unread books at home, so I’m really trying to focus on those next year. But if you have book recommendations, send them my way! There’s always the library—and always room for more books.
I’m moving to a bigger place in February, so I’ll have more space for books. That’s how I’m justifying it! Sometimes I need to read what feels right in the moment. I’ve started separating my unread books into one area to make it easier to browse, but occasionally, I just want something new.
00:26:01.07
Charisma:
So much came out! It’s funny because like your first one, I was like, “Wow, that was this year?” I love that one too.
00:26:05.19
Angelica:
Yeah, it did come out this year.
00:26:06.63
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:26:06.91
Angelica:
Um, yeah, we… and the Golden Globe nominations—whenever you’re listening to this, the Golden Globe nominations have just been released.
00:26:07.40
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:26:14.90
Angelica:
And there are so many movies that have been nominated that I haven’t even seen and were not on my radar. I’m like, there was just too much this year. Like, there were a few times I was in the movie theater, and I very rarely go to the movies.
00:26:27.15
Charisma:
Yeah, that doesn’t happen a lot for you.
00:26:28.24
Angelica:
This is…
00:26:28.95
Charisma:
So…
00:26:29.59
Angelica:
And I was there several times this year, like consistently. And I wasn’t disappointed by any of the movies I saw. So, this is not… But the first one is a movie we went to go see together, and I love it so much. That’s Babes by Michelle Buteau and Ilana Glazer.
00:26:42.08
Charisma:
So…
00:26:45.19
Angelica:
It’s about motherhood, parenting, all the things. I think it’s probably one of the more accurate representations of pregnancy and our age group, being like millennials and elder millennials.
00:26:58.93
Angelica:
It was very funny, very foul, as per Ilana Glazer’s background. If you’ve never seen her in anything, she’s not into very neat, nice comedies.
00:27:09.73
Charisma:
It’s not demure, it’s not mindful.
00:27:10.51
Angelica:
Her comedies are very raunchy.
00:27:34.80
Charisma:
Yes.
00:27:36.49
Angelica:
They were portrayed more in other films. I think movies like Beaches did a good job of showing the dynamics of friendships. I think if more people would go back and watch Beaches, they’d understand why friendships are the way they are.
00:27:44.95
Charisma:
Yes.
00:27:47.05
Angelica:
Because I think it did a great job of telling the story of how Charlotte and her friendships were so wild. So yes, Babes is going to be number one for me, just because I own it. I bought it.
00:27:57.39
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:27:57.67
Angelica:
Honestly, that shows how much I liked it. I thought it was great.
00:28:00.89
Charisma:
They both did so well. Like, they need to be given a movie every year.
00:28:06.01
Angelica:
They’ve been together for so long, genuinely. And I just saw Michelle Buteau was on Raven’s podcast, and I need them in a project together.
00:28:15.20
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:28:15.17
Angelica:
I’m like, “Why are they not in things together?”
00:28:15.81
Charisma:
Ah, yeah.
00:28:18.53
Angelica:
Like, this actually would work. They have such great energy, and they feed off each other so well. Raven’s wife was there, and she’s great, but she’s not an actress. So I’m like, I need Raven and Michelle Buteau to be in a movie together. They actually look very similar, so if they were cousins or sisters or something, it would work.
00:28:31.49
Angelica:
They have great energy together. I feel like they have good chemistry. And I feel like if you’re a fan of Michelle Buteau, you know she brings people into her projects who are very similar to her.
00:28:44.24
Angelica:
So, I feel like all the people I like comedically, they have that New York comedy scene energy.
00:28:49.22
Charisma:
I feel like we could just put Michelle Buteau in everything, and that could solve a lot of problems.
00:28:56.55
Angelica:
Solve a lot of problems.
00:28:56.95
Charisma:
I mean…
00:28:57.83
Angelica:
She’s great. So yeah, I highly recommend Babes if you’re into comedies. That’s one that will definitely stand out for me.
00:29:04.57
Charisma:
It was so good. That’s probably the most I’ve laughed in a theater. I can’t believe I laughed that hard in a theater.
00:29:10.60
Angelica:
Yeah, I haven’t laughed that hard in a theater in so long.
00:29:13.96
Charisma:
Like, I was genuinely laughing from beginning to end. It was the type of laughing where you’re like, “Oh, I need to get it together.”
00:29:19.68
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:29:19.74
Charisma:
I remember thinking, “I don’t think John was with us.”
00:29:23.92
Angelica:
He was.
00:29:25.38
Charisma:
Okay, because I remember thinking to myself, “Either he’s with me or he’s not.” I had that thought, like, “Oh no, he’s going to lose it, and I’m going to have to bring him back because when he loses it, he loses it.”
00:29:40.80
Charisma:
I remember thinking, “Oh my God, he’s going to lose it in this scene. He’s going to be on the ground laughing so hard.”
00:29:44.70
Angelica:
He was good. He was good. He stayed… he stayed alive.
00:29:47.62
Charisma:
And it was that funny. It was hilarious.
00:29:50.30
Angelica:
It was funny.
00:29:52.05
Charisma:
Definitely one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in the theater in a very long time. Um, so my first one—if you follow me on social media and you followed me at the beginning of the year—this should not be a surprise. And that is Challenges. I absolutely loved Challenges. It was so good. I can’t say enough about how much I loved it. First of all, I love Zendaya—big fan.
00:30:16.15
Charisma:
She’s great. Love her. I loved just everyone in it. I love the cinematography. I love the story. I love the sexual tension. I am a bisexual person.
00:30:27.14
Charisma:
This is like the bisexual national anthem of a movie.
00:30:31.12
Angelica:
And I like, have not seen it, and I don’t know why. I just can’t see it right now.
00:30:33.25
Charisma:
Oh, good.
00:30:36.12
Angelica:
It’s on Paramount, I think.
00:30:37.23
Charisma:
And here’s the thing: this was also my year of becoming the villain. I know you’ll laugh at me, but it’s true. I have been.
00:30:45.33
Angelica:
I am laughing.
00:30:46.16
Charisma:
I know, yeah. You have to say, I put in the effort, right?
00:30:46.91
Angelica:
I’m laughing.
00:30:50.22
Charisma:
Like, I put in the effort.
00:30:50.23
Angelica:
You, I don’t think you put in the effort to be a villain. You put in the effort to stand up for yourself, and people have taken that as villainous. We were like, “What a bitch.” And I’m like, “Okay.”
00:30:59.94
Charisma:
And that’s been big for me, to be like, if someone thinks I’m a bitch, I just have to sit with that and be okay with it. It’s been a big challenge for me. So that’s one of the things I loved about this movie: the main character is kind of a bitch. And she doesn’t care. She’s unapologetic. She’s the best, and she’s better than the boys. I love those power dynamics. She’s literally better than them, and she’s just like, “Yeah, I am.”
00:31:29.00
Charisma:
She’s unapologetic about it, like, “Yeah, there.” Was there misbehavior in the movie? Sure. Some people were misbehaving, but it was just great. I don’t want to give too much away because I do want you to watch Angelica because it’s a fun time. And yeah, I think it’s also a fun rewatch. I’ve seen it twice, but I’d definitely see it again. I think it’s a fun rewatch, and definitely a movie that now that I’ve seen it, I’ll probably rewatch it at least once a year forever because it’s just great. But yes, if you love bisexual tension, you’ll love this movie. Great cinematography, great use of sports too. I do love a sports movie. I’m not a huge sports fan, but I know enough to get by.
00:32:22.67
Charisma:
I like when sports are used in a movie to up the tension, up the drama, all that good stuff. They use tennis very, very well in this movie. Tennis was definitely the right sport for this movie. And I actually like tennis more than most sports. I wish everyone liked tennis the way we watch football. I’d enjoy that a lot more.
00:32:49.43
Charisma:
So yeah, if you like tennis at all, if you like hot people, if you like bisexual people, if you like really crazy soundtracks where you’re like, “What is this soundtrack?” this is the movie for you. Go watch it.
00:33:05.29
Charisma:
It’s amazing.
00:33:05.57
Angelica:
I… I… Yep, but… I won’t report back.
00:33:12.32
Charisma:
Did you see Saltburn, right?
00:33:15.24
Angelica:
And that’s why I haven’t watched Challengers. I saw Saltburn.
00:33:17.20
Charisma:
Ah, okay.
00:33:17.96
Angelica:
Like, girl, that’s why we haven’t watched it. You can’t be trusted.
00:33:18.13
Charisma:
Getting it. Reasonable. I was just going to tell you, it’s not like Saltburn, so don’t worry.
00:33:25.38
Angelica:
And that’s genuinely why I haven’t watched Challengers—because we watched Saltburn.
00:33:28.73
Charisma:
No, I promise. It’s not like Saltburn.
00:33:31.38
Angelica:
And I am still scarred.
00:33:32.89
Charisma:
Saltburn is just unhinged. That’s by far the most unhinged movie I’ve ever seen.
00:33:37.90
Angelica:
I can’t look at Barry, whatever his face is, to this day.
00:33:39.41
Charisma:
Right. I hope that’s the most unhinged movie I see. I don’t want anything that level of unhinged, or more unhinged than that. Challengers isn’t unhinged in that way. It’s just unhinged in a fun way.
00:33:52.43
Angelica:
Oh my God, I can’t. I have to think about it. I gotta pray on it. I’ll get back to you when I watch it.
00:33:57.53
Charisma:
I promise you it’s not like Saltburn.
00:33:59.89
Angelica:
I’ve been led astray before.
00:34:03.71
Charisma:
Ask Margot. Don’t trust me. Ask Margot. There you go.
00:34:06.95
Angelica:
My second movie I really enjoyed was The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. I think it was a February release, and I feel like I’ve yelled at four people to watch it, and none of them have, which is upsetting because it’s such a good movie. Great cast, fun action. If you like broad action films, it’s up there with Inglorious Basterds. It’s so good. The characters are great. It’s not about fighting Nazis, but it’s similar. It has all the elements I like in an action film. Hot dudes go and fight Nazis. Go watch it. I don’t know why people haven’t seen it. It’s a 90-minute movie—perfect for the niche.
00:34:32.45
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:34:50.02
Charisma:
We love that.
00:34:58.84
Angelica:
Perfect for the niche.
00:34:59.44
Charisma:
Yeah. My second choice is Sing Sing.
00:34:59.76
Angelica:
If it got any longer or more convoluted, it wouldn’t work, but it works. So that’s my second choice.
00:35:09.71
Charisma:
So this was a movie I saw on one of those surprise AMC movie nights, where you don’t know what you’re watching until it starts. Margot and I went to do that, and we didn’t know much about it. It’s about Sing Sing prison, and it was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen—not just this year, but ever.
00:35:26.97
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:35:29.28
Charisma:
It was phenomenal. What’s interesting is that my uncle passed away this year, and his job was to help people going to jail get reduced sentences if they committed minor offenses. He helped them get good programming and integrate back into society successfully. There were parallels to his work in the film.
00:36:33.94
Charisma:
He worked with people like Martha Stewart. Losing him, of course, made me think of him during the movie. There’s a character in the film doing similar work, and Margot looked at me and said, “Oh.” We both cried the whole time because of the connection to my uncle, as well as what was happening in the movie. It’s a reminder of how unfair the system is—how people are released into nothing after jail. It’s rough.
00:37:25.05
Charisma:
After the movie, we had to wait for everyone to leave because our eyes were red from crying. It was so good, and I think it’s one of my favorite movies of all time. I want John to watch it, but I haven’t had the emotional capacity to rewatch it this year. It’s just phenomenal.
00:37:53.92
Charisma:
Certain things will get thrown out over the dumbest things sometimes—there’s no evidence. It’s ridiculous. We have a terrible system, and people like this will be in jail for however long. Sometimes when they get out, no one shows up to pick them up. They’re literally just released into nothing. I think that was really eye-opening for me. You already know that, but seeing it play out is just rough. After the movie, it wasn’t like a ton of people because it was an indie showing, but we had to wait for everyone else to leave the theater because we were just…
00:38:27.92
Charisma:
Our eyes were red. It was a mess. But it was so good. It was probably one of my favorite movies of all time. I do want John to watch it, but I haven’t had the emotional capacity to watch it again this year because it’s been a really rough year for me emotionally. I think I’m feeling better now, so we’ll probably watch it in the next few months. Or at some point, I’ll just have to be like, “You have to watch this alone,” because it’s that good. It’s phenomenal.
00:38:56.80
Angelica:
Yeah, it hasn’t been available to stream anywhere yet, so I hope it does soon because it’s definitely one of those movies that could be a serious Oscar contender. If you’re a Coleman Domingo fan, you know what he’s capable of.
00:39:01.78
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:39:12.72
Charisma:
Honestly, I’d watch a movie where he just walks around and does whatever.
00:39:17.16
Angelica:
I would watch Coleman Domingo get dressed every day, you know what I mean?
00:39:19.97
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:39:20.22
Angelica:
He can do no wrong.
00:39:21.29
Charisma:
And that’s the thing. The acting in this film—oh my, it’s a masterclass. Most of the film takes place in a prison, so the sets are simple, but everything comes from the actors, and they all did a phenomenal job. It was just overwhelming how good they were. They need all the awards.
00:39:45.89
Angelica:
Can’t wait! My last one is another movie that, clearly, no one but me saw. I feel bad about it because I love Pharrell Williams. Though it’s probably becoming problematic as news about people who became famous when Pharrell did continues to come out. But right now, I’m still loving him. Loving his career, his music—N.E.R.D. is one of my favorite bands, top tier. If you know, you know. So I was excited about Piece by Piece, which is his Lego biopic film about his life. It’s all Lego, so it’s very much in the style of The Lego Movie or Lego Batman.
00:40:08.19
Angelica:
No one else saw it. It’s great. It’s a documentary about Pharrell Williams, and I know I am the target audience. I don’t know who else out there would be. But it was really well done. I thought it was great.
00:40:44.39
Angelica:
I thought it was funny. Missy was funny in it. The people with pushy teeth were hilarious in it. If you’re into the Kendrick and Drake beef, you probably should watch it because it shows you a little bit about what happened when Pusha T and Pharrell got together and why Drake hates Pharrell.
00:40:54.70
Charisma:
Interesting.
00:41:00.63
Angelica:
There’s some hip-hop history in it, a bit. They talk about giving the beat to Pusha T, how they started The Clipse, and all the other projects Pharrell worked on. A lot of those big hits, like Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot”—those are talked about in great detail. It’s great if you’re a fan.
00:41:27.74
Angelica:
And he talks about other things too, if you’re a real fan, you’ll love it. I watch documentaries every day, so it was up my alley.
00:41:37.13
Charisma:
Well, I don’t think this was advertised well because when you told me about it, I thought, “Oh, that sounds interesting,” but by that time, it was already out of theaters. I thought it was a kids’ movie, but you were like, “No, it’s a documentary.”
00:41:41.08
Angelica:
Yeah, it was not advertised as a documentary. It really did feel like it was supposed to be a kids’ movie.
00:41:50.80
Angelica:
They pulled it really quickly.
00:41:51.61
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:41:52.08
Angelica:
I think it was only in theaters for like two weeks before they pulled it.
00:41:52.58
Charisma:
Yeah. And I literally thought it was like a Lego movie, and he was just doing the soundtrack for it.
00:41:58.21
Angelica:
It does look like that, because he did the Despicable Me soundtracks.
00:42:02.57
Charisma:
Right. And he has this kid-friendly vibe around him because of that.
00:42:03.08
Angelica:
Exactly.
00:42:08.52
Angelica:
But this is actually a documentary about his life, and it’s not what I expected.
00:42:10.58
Charisma:
Right. And I thought it was just a cute kids’ movie. I figured I’d watch it when it comes out on stream.
00:42:17.67
Angelica:
Yeah, I feel bad because no one saw it.
00:42:18.37
Charisma:
The marketing team really messed that up.
00:42:23.66
Charisma:
But the music was great, obviously.
00:42:25.44
Angelica:
They did a terrible job. But his wife’s in it as a Lego character, which is pretty cool. Again, he’s a very private person, so this is rare. They also talk about his grandma, his roots in Virginia, and the music scene there. A lot of people from that area went to school together.
00:42:47.08
Angelica:
If you’re a music or hip-hop fan, you’ll love it. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, especially if you’ve watched a lot of Timbaland’s stuff. Pharrell talks about hanging out with Missy, Ginuwine, and all of them. But no one really talks about how Missy went to the same high school as Pharrell, and they all hung out together. There was a bigger group of people, then you’ve got Pusha T coming in.
00:43:08.01
Charisma:
I want a movie about a kid trying to prepare for the talent show, but they’re at school with all these legends, and no matter how much they practice, it’s like…
00:43:27.19
Angelica:
Yeah, I would love that too because all of them did the talent show, which is hilarious.
00:43:30.90
Charisma:
Right? Could you imagine? You’re playing the tuba, and then Missy Elliott is rapping, Pharrell’s performing with Chad Hugo, and all these other icons are on stage? It’s insane!
00:43:43.28
Angelica:
And then Teddy Riley’s in the audience thinking, “That tuba player is terrible.”
00:43:43.48
Charisma:
Yup.
00:43:48.13
Angelica:
It’s so random.
00:43:49.26
Charisma:
It’s just wild to think of so much talent in one place like that.
00:43:54.80
Angelica:
Yeah, and Pharrell talks about how mental health was an issue in the industry at the time and how some of the things he did were unhealthy. He knows he got in his own way, and that’s why his solo career didn’t take off as much as it should have. He’s very self-aware about it.
00:43:55.28
Charisma:
Yeah, and…
00:44:17.12
Charisma:
It’s so wild to have all that talent in one space.
00:44:23.17
Angelica:
He really takes accountability for his mistakes, like how he almost didn’t end up with his wife. He’s very aware of the problems he caused. He didn’t talk about the rift with Chad Hugo, though. If you want to know why the Neptunes are fighting, that’s not covered in the movie. But if you’re a hip-hop fan from the early 2000s, and you like Justin Timberlake’s collaborations or all the hits from that era, this movie’s great for getting a behind-the-scenes look.
00:44:59.33
Charisma:
I love that. So my third one, as no one will be surprised, is Wicked.
00:45:05.41
Angelica:
No, I would have put it in here, but you put it down, and I was like, we can’t have the same thing. But we do have the same thing later, so I’m just gonna piggyback on your “Wicked.”
00:45:11.11
Charisma:
The girlies that I don’t know.
00:45:12.93
Angelica:
Kid.
00:45:13.86
Charisma:
It was just fantastic. It was everything I wanted it to be—beyond what I could have imagined. I’ve always loved the story, but I connected to it even more because of Elphaba being Black, specifically Cynthia Erivo playing her.
00:45:28.46
Charisma:
I think she did an amazing job. Ariana Grande also did a great job; she was definitely born to play Glinda. Everyone was very well cast. The cinematography was amazing, the direction was amazing, and the world-building was fantastic. They chose the perfect scenes to adapt from the stage to the movie. They didn’t make many additions, but the ones they did make felt meaningful.
This is such a fantastic adaptation. I echo what everyone is saying—that it’s the best adaptation since Chicago. Every theater kid is saying it, and I agree. I also think this one is more universal because the story feels familiar to so many people.
00:46:06.98
Charisma:
If you didn’t like Chicago—
00:46:07.14
Angelica:
Yeah, I was gonna say! If you didn’t like Chicago—because I didn’t—you might still like Wicked.
00:46:10.67
Charisma:
Right, right. Chicago definitely leans more towards hardcore theater kids, though there are some exceptions. But Wicked is different. The Wizard of Oz is such a classic—it’s a story so many of us grew up watching in school or at home. It just builds on that.
00:46:39.79
Charisma:
They did an incredible job with the world-building. I’ve only seen it once so far, which is surprising for me. I went on Thanksgiving, but it was so emotional that I decided to wait until Christmas break to see it again. It hit me in the feels, for sure.
00:47:08.71
Angelica:
Yeah, I’m really excited about this film. They did such a good job. I love Jon M. Chu—loved what he did with Crazy Rich Asians.
00:47:20.76
Charisma:
Yes!
00:47:20.87
Angelica:
I’m excited for the sequel—if we ever get it—but he’s too booked and busy.
00:47:23.15
Charisma:
The world-building definitely reminds me of Crazy Rich Asians.
00:47:23.75
Angelica:
Absolutely.
00:47:26.79
Angelica:
This project was perfect for him. It’s very over-the-top, and he really brought something special to the musical.
00:47:28.09
Charisma:
He was the perfect person for this.
00:47:51.58
Angelica:
I went with a friend who’s a Wicked superfan—like a Wicked-pedia. She knows everything about it. I’d seen a traveling production back in 2017, and I wasn’t a fan of the Glinda in that production. It left me thinking I didn’t like Wicked.
00:48:27.87
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:48:30.61
Charisma:
That can make a big difference.
00:48:33.52
Angelica:
It really did. I was so excited about Ariana Grande as Glinda because I know she can sing, and she takes her work seriously. She redeemed Glinda for me. She was fantastic—so were all the other supporting characters. The CGI wasn’t over the top either.
00:49:16.25
Charisma:
I’m an Ariana fan—she’s my problematic fave. I get why some people have issues with her, but I feel like men in the industry get away with so much worse.
00:49:32.66
Charisma:
I hope she didn’t get with that man when he was married.
00:49:42.36
Angelica:
Oh, she definitely did. But let it go.
00:49:44.85
Charisma:
Well—
00:49:45.07
Angelica:
It’s okay. We’re moving on.
00:49:48.65
Charisma:
I wasn’t there for the timeline, but both of them—Ariana and Cynthia—did an amazing job in the film.
00:50:01.64
Angelica:
They both broke up marriages. But we’re not judging; we’re talking about Wicked.
00:50:05.86
Charisma:
Right. And despite all that, the talent was undeniable.
00:50:45.86
Angelica:
Yes! The movie is amazing, and the CGI is fantastic. The younger versions of the characters were so well done.
00:51:08.45
Charisma:
I loved Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.
00:51:44.03
Charisma:
Sometimes Jeff Goldblum is just so Jeff Goldblum that it can be distracting, but he played the role perfectly.
00:53:14.34
Angelica:
Jonathan Bailey was incredible. I hope this is a major breakout moment for him.
00:53:29.33
Charisma:
Yes, absolutely. Everyone who watches Bridgerton is obsessed with him, but a lot of people still don’t know who he is.
00:53:38.70
Angelica:
This role is above and beyond Bridgerton. He has range, and he’s funny. He did an amazing job.
00:53:45.52
Charisma:
Snaps for Jonathan Bailey!
00:53:47.77
Angelica:
Go see Wicked if you haven’t already. It’s going to be in theaters for a while, and it’s worth watching.
00:53:50.60
Charisma:
Mhm.
00:53:54.33
Angelica:
I loved it, and it was great. So, we are sharing it on TV Land. Moving on to TV shows. Right now, we are in season three of Shrinking.
00:54:05.34
Angelica:
It’s been my favorite TV show this year. And I’ve watched a lot of media.
00:54:10.97
Charisma:
You do.
00:54:11.17
Angelica:
I do! I watch things— a variety of different types, like all kinds of stuff. I watch horror, reality, all kinds of things. The writing in Shrinking season three… I’m obsessed.
00:54:23.69
Angelica:
Whoever is writing Shrinking season three deserves awards. I’m so happy that Harrison Ford and Jason Segel have been nominated for Golden Globes. I’m very upset that Jessica Williams wasn’t nominated because whoever is writing her character right now is killing it. She’s been great—funny, on point, and her interactions with Harrison Ford’s character this season are just full of zingers. It’s so funny, so self-aware, so great.
00:54:55.24
Angelica:
Damon Wayans Jr. is on this season as a recurring guest character. Great cast. Such a fun story. It’s on Apple TV Plus—go watch it!
00:55:07.55
Angelica:
It’s so funny. There are now three seasons, so there’s enough to really get into it.
00:55:14.68
Charisma:
Yeah, honestly, I cycle my Apple TV in and out, but I’ll add that to my list for sure.
00:55:22.45
Angelica:
It’s so funny. So good. Highly recommend.
00:55:25.66
Charisma:
So, my favorite show of the year was hands down Agatha All Along. It’s my personality now. Truly, it was my personality before it even aired. It’s so on brand for everything I love—coming together in one thing. It’s so me that I’m like, “Did I write this?” If you know me well, you’d say, “Yeah, that’s all the stuff you love in one.”
00:55:50.11
Charisma:
It has a Wizard of Oz vibe, witchery, spooky stuff, adventure—and then Kathryn Hahn! It’s just all the things I like. A phenomenal cast, mostly all women and queer cast, which was amazing. They did such a good job, and they’re winning all the awards, so I know other people liked it too.
00:56:17.04
Charisma:
I don’t know if they’ll do a second season or if we’ll see these characters in other places.
00:56:24.03
Angelica:
Yeah, you’ll definitely see some of the characters in other places.
00:56:25.91
Charisma:
Yeah, we’ll see the characters again, but I don’t want to give too much away.
00:56:26.65
Angelica:
They’ve already alluded to it, yeah.
00:56:30.51
Charisma:
If you haven’t seen it, you should watch it. And you can still watch it even if you haven’t watched much else in the Marvel universe.
00:56:37.25
Angelica:
Yeah, they explain everything you need to know for the continued storyline.
00:56:39.34
Charisma:
Some people say, “Oh, you should watch WandaVision first,” and I think you could, but it’s not a necessity.
00:56:43.57
Angelica:
No.
00:56:46.91
Angelica:
You don’t have to.
00:56:49.88
Charisma:
I do think WandaVision is my second favorite MCU project. So for me, I’m like, “Yeah, watch it because it’s good,” but I could also see some people who would really enjoy Agatha All Along not liking WandaVision.
00:57:02.98
Charisma:
WandaVision is very specific and very weird.
00:57:02.94
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:57:05.70
Charisma:
And it works for me, but it’s just two different vibes. The shows are not the same vibe, so I would say if you’re interested, and you haven’t seen anything else in the MCU but you like adventure…
00:57:21.87
Angelica:
Yeah.
00:57:22.40
Charisma:
…if you like witchery, it’s definitely one to watch.
00:57:22.46
Angelica:
If you like Kathryn Hahn in anything, I feel like it’s a must-watch.
00:57:29.27
Charisma:
And I would also say if you’re a fan of live theater or Broadway, it’s something to watch.
00:57:36.22
Angelica:
See, this is one of those shows…
00:57:37.08
Charisma:
There’s no singing in it, so don’t think that!
00:57:37.70
Angelica:
I feel like we were talking about our friend who doesn’t like musicals.
00:57:39.08
Charisma:
Well, there is singing, but not a ton.
00:57:43.06
Angelica:
And this was one where I knew there was singing, but I didn’t know it was that much. So, if she doesn’t like musicals, I’d be fine with less singing.
00:57:50.38
Charisma:
To me, there’s not a lot. Just a little bit.
00:57:53.95
Angelica:
I’d love less singing, but I thought it was good.
00:57:56.94
Charisma:
Oh my god, there are just a few new songs.
00:57:57.07
Angelica:
I don’t like that one song, though. It’s the main song, and it sucks for me because they sing it all the time.
00:58:08.81
Charisma:
Oh, I love that song!
00:58:12.50
Angelica:
It hit the charts! Kids sing it.
00:58:14.37
Charisma:
Yeah, I love it.
00:58:15.52
Angelica:
It’s crazy. I hate that song. But as I was rewatching Endgame and Infinity War over the holidays, I kept thinking, “And this is why we had to deal with Agatha. Because y’all didn’t have it together back then.”
00:58:17.36
Charisma:
Oh my god, I love that song!
00:58:32.98
Charisma:
That song has gone purple platinum in my house.
00:58:32.98
Angelica:
You let this lady go crazy.
00:58:36.91
Charisma:
The first version, yeah.
00:58:37.16
Angelica:
Oh, I’m sure it’s gone platinum in my home as well, but not with me. There’s a nine-year-old playing it nonstop on their iPad.
00:58:44.34
Charisma:
Yup, yup.
00:58:44.66
Angelica:
I can’t stand that song. But I do think the show is cute. I think they did a good job, and I think it’s…
00:58:49.66
Charisma:
I will say, though, you’re in the minority. I think a lot of people like this song.
00:58:54.44
Angelica:
Oh, yeah, no, I know that. I just don’t like it.
00:58:57.26
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:58:57.32
Angelica:
It’s just me. I don’t like it.
00:58:59.72
Charisma:
Don’t let that stop you from watching it, though!
00:59:02.19
Angelica:
Yeah, watch the show, please.
00:59:03.13
Charisma:
Yeah.
00:59:04.51
Angelica:
Even if you don’t like the song, you can fast-forward through it. I promise you, nothing happens when they’re singing. Take it from me.
00:59:12.15
Charisma:
But give the song a chance because you’ll probably like it.
00:59:14.13
Angelica:
I’m saying, if you don’t like it, the girlies who don’t like it, you can fast-forward through it.
00:59:16.57
Charisma:
If you don’t like just good harmonizing and witchy songs… Oh, love it.
00:59:23.33
Angelica:
Especially because of the spoiler at the end. I was like, “So, we were doing this. We were just doing this, okay.”
00:59:30.40
Charisma:
I don’t like the second version as much as the first, though. I’ll give you that.
00:59:33.67
Angelica:
Yeah, but Sasheer Zamata, fantastic. I love Sasheer in most things she’s done.
00:59:38.54
Charisma:
I was so happy to see her in there.
00:59:38.63
Angelica:
I’ll watch anything she’s in. She’s in that office movie, the marathon movie. I watch terrible films for people I love.
00:59:44.69
Charisma:
I love her because she gets to be herself, the pretty one.
00:59:49.08
Angelica:
This is kind of her first post-coming-out role.
00:59:55.04
Charisma:
She didn’t have to do a ton, and it was a different type of comedy, which I liked.
01:00:00.07
Angelica
Yeah, yeah, but I thought this was great for her. I think I’m excited for her, hopefully she’ll be in more stuff next year. I love most of the things she does. We’re very excited about that. Um, my second show, which has one of the highest-rated episodes of television ever in it, is The Penguin.
01:00:17.71
Angelica
You guys, it’s so good! Mob Oz is doing too much, so much is happening. It’s so good. If you don’t like Batman but love mob stuff, watch it. If you like Batman and don’t like mob stuff, still watch it. It’s just good TV. The way Colin Farrell acts, we already know he’s a great actor, but I think people don’t take him seriously because of the prosthetics with Penguin. He’s really acting.
01:00:48.02
Angelica
They are acting in this show.
01:00:48.96
Charisma
Yeah.
01:00:49.02
Angelica
They are. Every person in this show is taking it very seriously. It is not your campy Batman, nothing like that.
01:00:55.41
Charisma
Um, I think that’s what Batman needs and deserves. I think what doesn’t work for Batman is when it’s not taken seriously. When Batman takes itself seriously, that’s when it’s really good.
01:01:02.10
Angelica
Very campy, but this is not.
01:01:07.75
Angelica
It’s in the same universe as the Robert Pattinson Batman, so it’s a continuation. After this, they’ll be doing the Batman 2, which will follow what happened in The Penguin. It’s very heavy, with lots of themes about family trauma, drama, poverty, and action. You don’t feel sorry for Oswald because he’s terrible, but you still want to know what happens next. It’s just really well done. The cinematography was great, pacing was good. Every episode had stuff happening, and it kept moving.
01:01:54.07
Angelica
There’s an episode, I think it’s either episode four or five, that centers around the female protagonist’s family story. That episode is one of the greatest episodes of TV of all time, and for good reason. It’s insane.
01:02:07.27
Angelica
If you liked Batman: The Animated Series as a kid, this is actually really good. It follows a lot of that type of storyline.
01:02:19.07
Angelica
So, yeah, go watch it.
01:02:21.70
Charisma
I always want to tell people not to watch my second one because it’s canceled.
01:02:28.82
Charisma
But did you watch it?
01:02:28.93
Angelica
You know, I was going to watch it. It was on my list because of Jeff Goldblum.
01:02:33.26
Charisma
Okay, so my second one is Chaos. Jeff Goldblum is in it. It’s a fun, easy watch. We’re going back to mythology here. He plays Zeus. It’s about him and all the gods, and it’s really good. I don’t think it’s too long, and I’m hoping that people keep watching and maybe someone will pick it up or they’ll change their mind about canceling it.
01:02:59.47
Charisma
It’s just really well done. My friend, who’s super judgmental, loves it, so that says a lot. Zeus is not nice in this one—sometimes adaptations make him nicer, but this one sticks to the mean Zeus. It’s fun to watch. The story involves humans on Earth and a whole bunch of different things. It’s funny, dark, and there’s a lot about death. The cast is great, with some actors I wasn’t as familiar with, so it was cool to see new faces.
01:03:42.80
Charisma
I’m hoping it gets picked up by someone else because it looked like it was doing really well. It was always number one when you opened Netflix. So, I’m confused.
01:03:50.69
Angelica
Yeah, I’m confused about why they canceled it. I was stressed out about that. It’s still on my list.
01:03:53.10
Charisma
Yeah.
01:03:55.66
Charisma
I’d say it’s worth a watch because by the end of the first season, it wraps up a lot of mysteries. They could have made it a one-season thing, but I’m not sure why Netflix decided to cancel it.
01:04:29.73
Charisma
But I’m hoping they change their mind. People complain, and networks sometimes pick up shows. So we shall see.
01:04:40.09
Angelica
Yeah. My number three, honestly, would be Somebody Somewhere, which is another Max show. It just got canceled, but it had three seasons, and the last episode aired this week. It’s a great show about queer folks, small-town Midwest life, family dynamics, and grief. Highly recommend it, but it’s already been canceled, so I’m not putting it in my favorite list.
01:04:55.80
Angelica
I will, however, tell you to watch Get Milly Black. It just started, it’s also on Max, and it takes place in Jamaica. It’s about a Jamaican detective and her transgender sister. It’s insane—really good detective work, crazy family dynamics, amazing acting, and solid cultural representation. Please watch it so it doesn’t get canceled!
01:05:27.24
Angelica
I want more media set in places where people are from. It drives me crazy when a story set in Jamaica ends up in Miami. So go watch Get Milly Black so it can get renewed. Thanks!
01:06:00.29
Charisma
Love it! My third pick is Abbott Elementary. It’s not new, but if for some reason you’ve missed it, you need to get on it.
01:06:08.10
Angelica
How are you not watching it, people?
01:06:09.43
Charisma
Yeah, what are you doing?
01:06:15.20
Charisma
I love this show. I worked in a school for five years and am married to a teacher of 18-19 years. A lot of it feels really accurate. It reminds me of the first school I worked at, Citrus Elementary. It’s just a great vibe—funny, heartwarming, like a warm hug. All the characters are wonderful, and I hope it lasts a bajillion seasons. Go watch it if you haven’t. It’s also one you can rewatch again and again.
01:06:56.00
Angelica
Yeah, it’s a top-tier show. I feel like I’m getting picky with TV shows because I watch so much. I didn’t love the previous season of Abbott Elementary, though. The direction with Janine’s character arc, especially when she was working with the district, felt too much, too soon.
01:07:13.42
Angelica
That whole thing with Janine going downtown didn’t vibe well with the other characters.
01:07:17.86
Charisma
Yeah, it really didn’t make sense.
01:07:20.44
Angelica
It felt like two different shows. You had Janine in the district and Abbott Elementary happening separately.
01:07:25.68
Charisma
No, it didn’t make sense at all.
01:07:29.37
Angelica
I’m glad this season has redeemed it, though.
01:07:42.54
Charisma
Yeah, I agree. This season is so much better.
01:07:47.34
Angelica
And I don’t really care about Janine and Gregory as a couple. Whether they’re together or not doesn’t make or break the show for me. I like them as individual characters, and the romance is just a nice bonus.
01:07:58.90
Angelica
I’m not shipping them, but it’s fine if they’re together. I don’t care.
01:08:06.50
Charisma
It’s funny that they did all that just to keep them apart, but then they didn’t even show when they got together.
01:08:12.02
Angelica
Very dumb.
01:08:17.29
Angelica
We didn’t even see when they got together.
01:08:19.31
Charisma
Right? It’s like, hey’re obviously like the main ship of the show. And that’s fine. But like, I agree. It’s like they don’t really sell it. Like, it’s like they don’t want us to want it too much.
01:08:27.30
Angelica
Are you guys into it?
01:08:29.93
Charisma
I don’t know.
01:08:30.40
Angelica
They’re like, “We don’t want it, you don’t want it, it’s fine.” And again, I love every person that’s on it.
01:08:33.57
Charisma
Yeah, I don’t mind it, but I’m not like, “If they’re not together, I’ll ride at dawn.” It’s not that serious. You can just watch this season.
01:08:41.02
Angelica
Yeah, it’s a good show. Do watch it. But if you’re one of those people who stopped watching last season, because I know some people did, they were like, “This is…” Go back and come back this season. Don’t even finish last season, just watch this season because they’re free.
01:08:52.26
Angelica
It’s very well done and very funny. And now that they’re back together, you can tell that dynamic makes the show. It’s them all working in the same place.
01:09:00.09
Charisma
And I feel like last season was still good. It was just like… yeah, I didn’t need to meet any of those new people.
01:09:03.67
Angelica
It was just, again, the Abott Elementary part was good.
01:09:10.68
Angelica
Yeah, and who are they, and why do we care? And we don’t, so…
01:09:12.97
Charisma
Like, everyone who was still back at the main school was great, and then the new people, I was like, I don’t need any of this.
01:09:16.18
Angelica
Yeah. And Zach Fox is still on the show as a recurring character, which is insane to me, but Zach Fox in general is one of the funniest people I think exists in the world.
01:09:29.09
Angelica
So the fact that he still pops up on this show with his problem, and now he’s like a stepdad, like, he has no reason to still be on this show, but he still is on it.
01:09:35.14
Charisma
Yeah, now.
01:09:38.36
Angelica
It’s so funny, and I love that.
01:09:38.79
Charisma
I love that they found just how ridiculous it is to keep him on.
01:09:41.49
Angelica
I just, he’s so dumb.
01:09:42.78
Charisma
It’s great. Yeah.
01:09:43.82
Angelica
So dumb. He’s so funny. So we’re going to switch over to wellness as we show our heart and how we talk about balance. We talk about wellness a lot—habits, products, or things we’ve been doing this year that we really liked.
01:09:55.17
Angelica
One thing I decided to do was travel more this year and just go see different trees. Like, I’ve been telling everyone, I just want to see different trees. It doesn’t have to be far, doesn’t have to be… I just need to look at a tree that’s not the one I’m constantly looking at, to reset my mindset and get into a positive space. I am aware of where I live. If the election surprised any of you, it didn’t surprise me. I know who lives around me, I know what I’m surrounded by.
01:10:25.10
Angelica
And within, like, a thousand-mile radius, it’s kind of the same. Either it’s hot or cold, but the same kind of political climate, so to speak. There are great people here. I like the people that I like and dislike the ones I don’t—surprise. I didn’t want to spend too much time stuck in a place I don’t love. Like, I’ve never really loved Florida. It’s not one of those top-tier places for me. I’m here because I am. And if I still have to be here, I’m going to get out as much as I can. It’s just too hot, it’s getting way more expensive, and there’s nothing to do. So to avoid getting hit in the back, like, 17 times (as we have been in this car), I just went to see different trees.
01:11:12.28
Angelica
I feel like that’s been a good rhythm for me. The way we’ve traveled, when we’ve traveled, and the places we’ve gone—even if they’re short trips or longer trips. It started at the end of last year when we were doing road trips, and I think it helped change my perspective and really center me to deal with this year because it’s been very interesting. But we had some good trips, and I’m really excited for next year and all the things I want to do. The things I couldn’t get to this year are already at the top of my list for next year—how can we get there, and what can we do to make it happen? I love experiencing different cultures. I love eating other people’s food. I love being anywhere else. So, I definitely think it helped improve my mentality for this year.
01:12:05.52
Charisma
Love that. Yes. I think travel is such a great habit to add in and make time for, make money for, because a lot of people will say, “I don’t have it,” and I’m not saying everybody does, but sometimes they say that, and then they’re out drinking or eating out all the time. I’m like, well, that’s probably where it could be. Also, you can travel, and it doesn’t have to be far.
01:12:27.88
Charisma
You know, it’s…
01:12:28.20
Angelica
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Even just going to the other coast—we go to parks that are on the other side of the state, just because they’re different than the ones I always have access to. I’ve lived here for 15 years, and I know what I’ve got in Central Florida.
01:12:32.71
Charisma
Like you said, different trees are real.
01:12:47.04
Angelica
Exactly. I know what’s in Orlando. I’ve seen it. They keep building stuff on top of the stuff, but it’s still the same stuff. I’m good. I can just go two hours south, two hours west, or two hours north, and I can see something different. I’ll take that. I’ll do it.
01:13:02.59
Charisma
Mm-hmm.
01:13:02.66
Angelica
So, mine is simple: 10,000 steps a day. And I don’t even mean exactly 10,000—it’s really just about having a step goal. I think it’s just good to have a step goal and be consistent with it, whether it’s different weather, crazy stuff going on in the news, or whatever. Having that goal that you’re like, “This is non-negotiable for me,” like, “I’m worth it,” I think it’s important if you’re able to take steps.
01:13:18.34
Charisma
I agree.
01:13:35.79
Charisma
So, just committing to that this year. There are days I don’t feel like it, but for me, it’s very beneficial to do them outside of the house. I know that’s not always possible, but normally, the weather’s pretty doable here. Getting out of the house helps me mentally a lot. But yeah, just having that time to walk has been a game changer for my mental health. It’s not a huge commitment. It’s not necessarily moving your body in a way that’s extremely challenging, but if you can do it, it’s worth doing.
01:14:16.39
Angelica
For real. This year, I went back to the gym—the girly renewed her membership, picked up some heavy weights, and put them down. They felt great, and I was like, “Crazy how I solved so many of my problems.” It’s so dumb, because I knew that. But it was a conversation I had at the end of last year with my friends. We were talking about, outside of obligations—like being a parent or your job—what makes you happy? And I was like, “I love picking up heavy things and putting them down.” And I was like, “Why am I not doing this? This is so dumb.” So, I started doing it. And it was great. I missed it. My gym is empty, which is also great—for me at least.
01:15:13.05
Angelica:
Because nobody’s in there, and I love it. I’m able to reclaim a small moment for myself. So that’s been great, and I can’t wait to do more next year.
01:15:24.66
Charisma:
So yeah, I haven’t lifted as much as I usually do. I haven’t power lifted this year, but I have been lifting, and there’s just something about it. I think sometimes, as a society, we overcomplicate movement. Our connection to it is weird, and I don’t know… it’s just strange. But I’m like, literally, just move. Find ways you like to move, and it will make a huge difference in your life. Just stay in motion. My second thing would be my organic bedding.
01:15:56.24
Charisma:
Mine is from Cozy Earth, but I’m sure there are other places that carry it. One of the things I’ve worked on over the past few years is making sure my bedroom is my sanctuary, and pretty much everything in it is organic.
01:16:11.45
Charisma:
If you’ve followed me for a while or follow me on social media, you probably know I have a hormone imbalance, which has been a constant struggle. It’s not as bad as it used to be, thankfully, but I’m highly sensitive to things like fragrances and plastics, and most people are overloaded with these things—some notice it faster than others. Having organic bedding has been very helpful for me. I have an organic mattress, organic sheets, organic pillows, and all that. But if you can start with the sheets and pillowcases, that can make a huge difference in how you sleep. I sleep so well. I’ve always been vocal about how important sleep is to me, how much I love it, and how it impacts everything I do in life. Organic bedding has really helped my sleep even more. John and I sleep amazing every night, which is awesome.
01:17:21.50
Angelica:
I’m a trash sleeper—can’t sleep, very bad, insomniac to the core. But I will cosign bamboo sheets. Bamboo sheets have changed my life. So I’m looking into upgrading to organic ones now. I’ve tried regular bamboo sheets to see how they work for us. You never know—I’m hot, he’s cold. You have to figure out what works.
01:17:47.79
Angelica:
Game-changing. If you’re into sheets and looking for a new set, I recommend bamboo sheets. Cozy Earth has them, so if you’ve got the extra cash, go for it. I just looked it up.
01:17:55.46
Charisma:
Yep. Perfect. Fantastic.
01:18:02.52
Angelica:
They don’t have the color I want, so I’m adding myself to the waitlist to get that color and switch them out because they’re great.
01:18:08.01
Charisma:
They’re a game changer. I did a ton of research before choosing Cozy Earth. It’s funny because we’ve been talking about our favorite things, and you know, Oprah’s favorite things list—well, Cozy Earth is on hers too. It’s the only item on my list that’s also on hers. I’m not saying it’s cheap, but in my research, I realized it was worth the investment, especially since I’m using it every day. But there are probably cheaper options out there. For me, though, when it comes to bedding, I wanted the best.
01:18:37.71
Charisma:
I know different people have different areas in their lives where they want to invest, and for me, that’s bedding.
01:18:53.01
Angelica:
Yeah.
01:18:53.49
Charisma:
Anything in my bedroom—that’s where I want top-tier everything.
01:18:57.97
Angelica:
Well, I’ll cosign that based on the fact that bamboo sheets are the truth. My friend sucked me in—she was like, “You’re going to like them,” and I was like, “I don’t know, I don’t sleep.” But I tried them, and she was right.
01:19:11.74
Angelica:
So adults, do the thing, go to Cozy Earth. Cozy Earth, sponsor us so we can get links to help adults save money.
01:19:17.30
Charisma:
Yeah.
01:19:18.55
Angelica:
That’s what I want. Moving on to my last wellness tip—it’s just about consistency. To my fellow perfectionists, I’m talking to you. We want everything to be perfect. I’ve been focusing on showing up every day, even if things aren’t perfect. Over the past four years, through the pandemic and reset time, I realized it doesn’t have to be perfect—you just need to show up every day.
01:19:44.17
Angelica:
I’m trying to show up for relationships that matter, be more consistent in what I do—whether it’s talking to people, hanging out, traveling, making healthy choices, or even parenting. It’s about being more consistent in the things that matter.
01:20:09.64
Angelica:
I found it really easy to be consistent with writing. 2020 was the first year I completed NaNoWriMo, and before that, I couldn’t get anywhere close to 50,000 words. But in 2020, I wrote over 120,000 words! It’s all about showing up, doing what you can when you can. And if you can push yourself further, do it. With wellness, it’s up and down because there are factors you can’t control, but you have to be happy with the small wins. People need to realize that progress isn’t always about huge leaps.
01:20:58.16
Angelica:
We want to be great fast, and that’s what things like 75 Hard are for. We want to work out for 90 minutes a day, eat perfectly, read—all of it. But you can do something similar and adapt it to fit your life. People need to start focusing on consistency.
01:21:25.98
Charisma:
Yeah, we don’t do all that. That’s not the goal.
01:21:38.41
Angelica:
I know January is around the corner, and challenges are happening. Rest in peace to Adrienne’s January challenge—she says she’s done with that. But you don’t have to wait until January. Start tomorrow. Show up for yourself and be consistent. It will keep you further along in life.
01:22:06.61
Charisma:
Mmhmm.
01:22:07.29
Angelica:
You don’t have to create a new project every day. You don’t have to solve all the problems, but just be consistent, make an effort. It goes a long way—whether it’s kindness, writing a little bit every day, or any goal you have. And I think that’s something I like about the IB program. It focuses on consistency, but I wish college taught this in the first year—to help you be consistent without burning out.
01:22:40.46
Charisma:
Yes, because a lot of people burn out, especially entrepreneurs.
01:22:45.05
Angelica:
Burnout is real.
01:22:47.84
Charisma:
So true.
01:22:48.80
Angelica:
We need more focus on how to be consistent without burning out. That’s my last tip.
01:22:55.93
Charisma:
My last wellness habit or product would be alternative therapy. I’ve done talk therapy in the past, and it’s awesome. It can work for some people, but it wasn’t enough for me. My anxiety was out of control at the beginning of this year, and I was having anxiety attacks again. I needed something more intense than talk therapy.
01:23:21.00
Charisma:
So I tried alternative therapy, which comes in different types. Many are familiar with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), but there are other methods as well. My goal was to find something that wasn’t traumatic but still effective.
01:24:00.46
Charisma:
The alternative therapy I did wasn’t too intense, and it helped me process things faster. Now, I don’t really have anxiety, which is crazy because anxiety had been part of my personality for most of my life.
01:24:50.08
Charisma:
Now, I process feelings more deeply. I used to feel everything at 40-60%, but now when I grieve, I grieve 100%, when I’m mad, I’m mad 100%. It’s intense but I can move on faster. Alternative therapy has been a big help for me.
01:25:40.58
Charisma:
If you’ve done talk therapy before and it wasn’t enough, or if you don’t think it’s the right fit for you, consider trying alternative therapy. EMDR is a good starting point.
01:25:40.58
Charisma:
Um, so yeah, I definitely think alternative therapy has been a big help for me. So if you are considering it, if you’ve, you know, just kind of like maybe you’ve done talk therapy before and just didn’t move along as quickly as you wanted, or maybe you just don’t know if talk therapy is the right fit for you, I would say try one of the alternative types of therapies. You can look up…
01:26:02.12
Charisma:
Um, EMDR is like a starting point to just kind of look into, and then look at some therapists in your area who offer alternative types of therapy.
01:26:14.00
Angelica:
Sounds good, sounds like a move, sounds like something you gotta find. I think, yeah, not everything is an out-of-the-box solution. And when people say you need therapy, oftentimes people just think talk therapy is the only option, but there are several options. But you do need therapy.
01:26:21.76
Charisma:
Right.
01:26:30.23
Angelica:
So you can’t skip out on it; you just gotta find the therapy that works for you and figure out what that is and what that looks like. And sometimes it’s not even, like you said, like it’s not just talking. It’s physical movement, it’s meditating, it’s figuring all of this out, and there are different types of things in different ways.
01:26:45.75
Angelica:
People do like therapy—there are a lot of different options out there.
01:26:48.63
Charisma:
Yeah. And I’ll say, like, if you’re an anxious person, if you’re an overthinker, if you’re neurodivergent, if you’re a perfectionist, a lot of these different things, I think, sometimes don’t do well in talk therapy. Because in a lot of senses, like you sometimes know what the problems are, right? Um, and you are sometimes even doing the things—like, I would do the things that they would say help anxiety, like I was meditating, I was, you know, doing the sort of stuff that I was supposed to do. And it was not—it was not working, you know? And of course, some people, they’re going to need to be medicated, and that is definitely a valid option as well. Um, but yeah, I felt like in my mind, I was like, I want to get to, like, a baseline, and then maybe I’ll try those things, and they will help. And that’s pretty much what happened. I felt like I did three very intense sessions that were long and intense, and then…
01:27:40.89
Charisma:
After that, the anxiety has, like… I felt like it was like pulled out of my body. That’s the best way to describe it—not in like a scarier, painful way, but just, it just felt like, wow, it’s out. And then from there, to manage stress, I’ve been able to do those things that everybody says, like, do this breathing technique or meditate. And now those things actually work, which is awesome.
01:28:02.60
Angelica:
We love to see it! Snap, snap, snap to the kids. We love progress. So that is kind of it. I mean, we had some viral moments, but unfortunately, I gotta go. So it’s me. I’m the drama. Um, but there was a lot of viral stuff that happened. Maybe the Olympics, MooDang…
01:28:18.90
Angelica:
Chapel room yelling at everybody—we loved all of that. Um, so we hope—if you use this again, if this is your first time listening, please subscribe, because we’ll be back at it in 2025. I can’t believe I’m saying those words—that is insane. Very excited to be here.
01:28:34.10
Charisma:
Um, I posted on Instagram today, like one of those little things on stories. And it was like, when you got—when you met, when you got engaged, whatever. And like I put that John and I met in 2005.
01:28:45.97
Charisma:
And people are in my DMs like, what? How? Like, yeah.
01:28:50.47
Angelica:
Yeah, we all met our significant others way before everyone else is what I’ve learned. I know one other couple who is in their 40s who met before we met.
01:28:56.28
Charisma:
Yeah.
01:29:01.78
Charisma:
But it did feel really weird to like write out 2005, 2008, 2009.
01:29:07.07
Angelica:
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
01:29:10.38
Charisma:
And to be fair, like I was graduating—I was graduating from high school when we met.
01:29:15.89
Angelica:
Yeah.
01:29:16.96
Charisma:
And then around the time, like graduation—like college graduation was around the time that, um, we got married. So yeah, it was very early, but I don’t know, it worked out.
01:29:27.72
Angelica:
It was early, but it was 20 years ago. It was, and I was not graduating high school, but yikes. More for me. More yikes than my five.
01:29:38.46
Charisma:
But you’re younger than me, so that’s good.
01:29:40.06
Angelica:
Yeah, I know, but it’s still yikes, because I still—it’s still yikes.
01:29:41.48
Charisma:
Did you guys meet when you were 18?
01:29:46.02
Angelica:
No, I was 15.
01:29:46.76
Charisma:
How old were you? 16, okay.
01:29:48.70
Angelica:
That’s 2015, 2005, same year.
01:29:50.90
Charisma:
Oh, wow, okay.
01:29:52.14
Angelica:
Oh, I was a child.
01:29:53.80
Charisma:
Yeah, you really were. Yeah, you were very young.
01:29:56.16
Angelica:
Yeah, yeah, that’s gross. Um, no, no, no, I was not—I wasn’t 8. I was 19 when I got married. Yeah, so yeah.
01:29:58.06
Charisma:
You know, I was 18 when we met, so I’m like, I felt, you know, yeah.
01:30:04.66
Charisma:
I’m 22 when we got married. You guys were 20? 19? That’s—see, that’s—people talk about me getting married. Yeah. Yeah. See, look, I’m just going to point to you now, and people are like, why are you married? I’ll be like, well, Angelica.
01:30:23.53
Angelica:
Yeah. Toss sauce, toss sauce. Oh no, look at the time. Toss, toss. We gotta go.
01:30:29.21
Charisma:
Yeah. No, I told John, I was like, don’t propose to me until I’m 21. Because for whatever reason, I had in my mind—because I would just get ridiculous things in my mind—and I was like, I think I need to be able to legally drink before I can be engaged.
01:30:41.37
Charisma:
And that was just a thing that I made. I made up a lot of rules. I see memes that are like, oh, I broke one of my rules that only I have to follow.
01:30:44.52
Angelica:
I love that for you.
01:30:48.62
Charisma:
Like, that was my life in like my late teens to early 20s. It was just a whole bunch of made-up rules that I made up just for myself. So that was one of them. Yeah.
01:30:57.84
Angelica:
Neither one of us could legally drink when we got married.
01:31:01.46
Charisma:
That’s really funny.
01:31:02.62
Angelica:
Very funny. We are thriving. We are great. It’s fine. Nothing…
01:31:09.07
Charisma:
Love it.
01:31:09.37
Angelica:
Nothing about that. So anywho, please subscribe, share with a friend, post to your Instagram, post to your TikToks if they’re still around, if they have not been banned, post to your blue skies and your spill mobs and all of the places, the threads.
01:31:29.65
Angelica:
People are out there—Reddit, if you need to. I’ll take that too. But we are excited to kind of get back in and get in the swing of things and have more content for you guys that is more helpful and more relevant to help you continue to boss so hard in 2025. So we will see you guys there!
01:31:47.97
Charisma:
Yes, we’ll see you guys in January. We’ll be back with some great episodes and some guests that are amazing. So be sure to check this space then. We’ll see you next year.
01:31:57.79
Angelica:
Toodles!
01:31:58.12
Charisma:
Bye.
01:31:58.73
Angelica:
Bye!
