Are you looking for your next cozy, autumnal read?  Wondering what atmospheric TV show or movie to put on next? Look no further!  In this extended edition of "What We're Loving This Week", originally released for our Patreon subscribers, we are sharing our favourite recommendations to enjoy, especially this time of year.  So grab a cuppa and join us as we discuss some great options to check out for some seasonal leisure!

The later days of October introduce a new chill to the air - both in the natural world as temperatures drop and in society as we anticipate Hallowe'en.  But there is also stirring within and of the heart for many people around the world, because this time of year brings to the forefront of our minds the reality of death and spurs the remembrance of those gone before us. Though at times it can be a contentious discussion, we were fascinated by the real history of Hallowe'en and how what is presented in our culture today may be missing quite a lot of the mark.

When we think of "wealth", our minds often turn to monetary terms.  But the things that truly define a rich life are usually those things that money can't buy: time, health and connection, to name a few. In this first part of our "Build Your Wealth" series, we reflect on the issue of time in today's world: how we spend it, how our perception of time is influenced by our seasons of life, and how we can invest in what is one of our greatest gifts and treasures. "Time is money," Benjamin Franklin once quipped in an essay he wrote in 1748.  Hundreds of years later, his metaphor still resonates, but we can still unpack the deeper sentiments that lie underneath.  Come and join the discussion! 

It's never been easier to access content than it is in our modern day - with a click of a button or a swipe of our finger, we can engage in any topic, however we'd like, whenever we'd like. But should we?  In a world saturated with short form content like Tik Toks and Reels, there's still an undeniable appeal of long form content that calls to us.  But what exactly is long form content, and why does it matter that we still insist on seeking it out today? Let's discuss!

The Modern Lady Podcast is BACK!!  After a year-long sabbatical, Michelle and Lindsay have dusted off their mics and are keen to jump back into the swing of things!  And what better way to relaunch the podcast than to revisit one of their favourite episode topics, at the start of their favourite season, with some of their favourite people (that's you, friends! We've missed you!) So buckle up and prepare yourself for the Fall Trends of 2025 - What's in? What's out? And most interestingly, what kind of cultural commentary do these trends really provide when you take a deeper look? 

Well, friends, we've made it to the end of another amazing year here on The Modern Lady Podcast and it's time to wrap things up. But as we've been winding down this season, we've been sensing that perhaps we're being called to take another longer break from producing the podcast. It's a natural pull that we seem to collectively sense as summer comes upon us: this desire to pull back, draw ourselves away from the hustle and bustle of the ordinary year, and… breathe! As we wrap up the sixth season of The Modern Lady Podcast, this familiar pull is also accompanied by something else: an invitation to consider the idea of a sabbatical, and letting the fields lie fallow.  

'Burnout' is a popular term in our culture today… but do we truly understand it? The truth is that many of us have experienced or are experiencing stress at high levels, all while trying to still keep life firmly on the rails.  And when left unchecked, this can quickly lead to burnout.  But what is burnout, really?  And are there some ways that we can curb it in our own lives?  This week, we'll dig into the history of burnout, how to recognize the stages of it and discuss various tips and advice on how to keep it at bay .

As we settle into the spring season, one theme has been popping up for us here at The Modern Lady, and that is the subject of self-care and what it REALLY means to take good care of ourselves.  We're hoping to revisit this topic again on the podcast soon, so we thought it would be a good time to rebroadcast our episode on self-care from back in 2019 first - it's another gem from our very first season of the podcast!  While in some ways this episode may sound a bit dated (given how radically our world has changed in the last few years!), we were pleasantly surprised to find that our views on self-care, though perhaps deepened, haven't really changed all that much!  So journey back with us today to visit "2019 Michelle and Lindsay" and chat with us about what it truly means to seek sustainable self care!   (Originally aired: February 5, 2019)

The temperatures are slowly rising, the birds are gradually returning and the Easter season is upon us!  It must be spring!  And you know what that means, dear listeners:  it's time for our annual Spring Trends episode!  What's in and what's out in 2024?  Well, stay tuned, friends, as we dig into the food, fashion and travel "its and icks" this year!

Cultivating friendships is deep work.  Heart-work!  But making friends and maintaining relationships can sometimes be easier said than done, especially in today's society. The desire and search for meaningful friendships remains foremost in many of our lives.  And while we look for those who will leave those lasting footprints in our hearts, it's also important to consider how we too, by our friendship, impact the hearts of others as well! This week, we're chatting about the changing landscape of friendship, including on how we've changed since recording our first episode on the subject in 2020, how technology and AI may have a bigger impact than we think, what Dunbar's Number adds to the equation and how, in spite of all these things, that perhaps the core of what friendship is may not have changed so much after all.

Join us as we revisit another one of our past episodes!  This one is from our very first season of the podcast in 2019.  We have been wanting to record another episode on friendship for quite a while now, and are ready to finally dig back in - stay tuned for a brand new episode on friendship next week!  In the meantime, though, we invite you to tune in to this episode from Season 1 first.  Enjoy!

This week, where we live, temperatures are balmy and warm, prompting us to begin thinking about spring cleaning!  So we dug through the archives and found one of our favourite episodes, The Cleaning Compendium, from January 2020 to help inspire us: "This week, Michelle and Lindsay tackle the MANY questions they received from The Modern Lady community and dish the dirt on all things housekeeping!  From "The Friday Clean" to "The Five-Minute Tidy", cleaning with kids to cleaning green, from laundry flow to listener tips and tricks – this truly is the "catch all" of cleaning resources from the ladies!"

Lent is the perfect time to tackle this topic!  The reality of temptation in our lives is guaranteed and hard to ignore.  Whether it's avoiding sin, or sticking to a new routine or good habit, the temptation to take the easy road sometimes seems to be omnipresent.  But by seeking to understand why we are tempted and how we can overcome it, we believe that we can, indeed, face it with hope!

In every generation, there is a desire to be somewhat of a "radical", to buck the current culture and trends, and to leave our own unique mark on the world.  But what if there were radical things we could do, starting today, that had the potential to change our own hearts, strengthen our homes and relationships and that would leave a legacy in light of the eternal?  This week, we're discussing three simple things we can do that may be counter-cultural according to the world's standards, but that have the potential to truly transform your new year!

'Tis  (almost) the season!  After decking the halls, many of us are welcoming guests into our homes for the holidays!  And whether you're hosting a large family party or an intimate soiree with close friends, the thought and planning that goes into preparing to host can be overwhelming!  But what if we reframed hosting this holiday season?  From common stressors, to hosting tips, this week, we're chatting about why it's ultimately important that we, as a society, remain open to opening our homes to others and how, then, inviting others in has the potential to be one of the most special and intentional gifts we can give!

[Originally aired: November 26, 2019]  Michelle and Lindsay dive into ALL things Advent and anticipation for Christmas!  From when to put up the Christmas tree to comparing Advent with Lent, to eyeballs on a platter to profound devotional reading for the season, the ladies attempt to cover all the bases with their usual humour and research!  Join in for a little bit of fun and preparation as we journey through the season of Advent!

It's one of the social media trends du jour: #softlife - encouraging us to strive for a life of ease and comfort. For decades, "hustle culture" has been been top of the podium in terms of lifestyle goals. But in striving to get there, we are often left exhausted, depleted and run down - and a hardness begins to settle in our hearts. And the antidote to this may be found squarely within the "soft life" movement and the deep work it invites us to undergo for our own sakes and for those around us. This week, we are chatting about how and why soft living has gripped the imaginations of people all over the world, what it is (and what it is not!), and discuss what makes Advent the perfect time to soften ourselves.

Everywhere you look in today's culture, there is an invitation to escape the uncomfortable and unpleasant things in life, and to indulge instead in things that make us feel good. But when the balance tips too far in favour of complete exclusion of anything other than pleasure, one may have to stop to consider… is this truly the way to long-lasting happiness, or is there an even deeper truth that we may be missing?  This week, we are chatting about dopamine detoxes: what we've been hearing and seeing online, and why now might just be the best time to consider doing one!

We live in a world of great excess. Advertisements and the media beckon from every corner of our culture to indulge and to seek a life of unbridled luxury. But does this truly make us happy? This week, we are chatting about the art of a balanced life, our quest for contentment and a wonderful Swedish concept called Lagom.

This week, we are excited to re-release one of our episodes from Season 1 of The Modern Lady Podcast!  From the vault: "Life is often made up of all those little moments that come together in big ways.  Women throughout history know exactly what those little things are and tend to carry the brunt of the responsibility for taking care of them for their households.  In this week's episode, we respond to an online post discussing emotional labour in marriage and discuss what it is, exactly, and how to put it all into proper perspective."  (Originally aired: July 2, 2019)