I'd Rather Stay In

It's that time of year again! We're back for our second annual fall foods taste test. Find out which pumpkin- and apple-flavored treats we loved and which ones we would never try again.

It's the summer of womanhood. Let's talk about it and why the dude bros are so pressed about it.

Traveling as an introvert can be an interesting process. This week, we're talking about how we travel as two introverts and how we handle it

Oops. We forgot that we existed there for a minute. But don't worry, we're still here! Find out what we've been up to these past few months.

It's time for another episode of IRSI Book Club! This time, we're discussing Spare by Prince Harry and are joined by one of our favorite guests, Ade Olayinka

What is a fandom, and why and how does it go beyond simply enjoying a piece of media? Today's guest, Connie Lau, helps us investigate this question as we dive into the good, the bad, and the healing of fandoms and fandom communities.

Today we're having some fun and sharing some of our top 10s! Find out what annoys us AND what makes us happy, our favorite pieces of comfort media, and our top food experiences.

For children of trauma, breaking generational cycles for their own children can be hard and heavy, yet healing, work. This week, we are joined by adoptee and former foster youth Tina Bauer to talk about what breaking generational cycles means to her and how she's working toward doing so with her own son.

We're finally talking about Valentine's Day! (We know, we know, you've been waiting with baited breath.) We're chatting about the origins of Valentine's Day, what we like about the holiday, and what we could do without.

Do credit scores and the credit system have you confused? Trust us, you're not the only one. This week, we're joined by financial consultant and credit coach Janeil Pierre to learn the ins and outs of what credit is, how it's calculated, and what that means for you.

How do we handle setting goals? What are SMART goals? Why does Stephie struggle with goal setting? What are our goals for 2023? Find out the answers to all of this and more this week!

What happens when you quit your job to work for yourself and are suddenly free to live wherever you want? Well, if you're today's guest, you load your dog up in your Prius and hit the road to find out exactly where you want to live! Megan and Stephie are joined again by their friend Chloé Daniels to hear all about her 6-month road trip to discover the city of her dreams. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Chloé on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clobaremoneycoach/

We may not be able to afford to give our audience one of everything on our lists, but we're still sharing a few of our favorite things right now. Find out what we're loving these days (and one thing we definitely aren't). Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com.

Last year we asked, "What's the deal with Santa?" This year we're asking, "What's the deal with Krampus?" Find out who Krampus is, how he came about, and how he shows up in current times. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com.

This week, Megan and Stephie are reading some holiday themed "Am I the Asshole" Reddit posts and giving their judgement on these holiday predicaments. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com.

We're back! Did you miss us? This week, catch up and find out where we've been. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

This week, Megan and Stephie are joined by Nikki Lewis, a birth mom who later went on to choose abortion after finding herself in a second unplanned pregnancy. They discuss how adoption is not the opposite of or solution to abortion (and why that rhetoric is harmful), why only one of her pregnancy decisions has had long-term effects on Nikki, how to get involved in the fight for reproductive justice, and resources for those looking to get involved. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Nikki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkinowknows/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Been wandering down the aisles of your grocery store and wondered if some of the fall-themed snacks you've seen are worth the money? Today Megan and Stephie are doing the tough work of giving some pumpkin spice treats a try to see if they live up to the hype! Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Do you ever wondered what it's like to own an independent bookstore? Learn why indie bookstores play an important role in their communities, what some of the best and worst parts of owning a bookstore are, and get some reading recommendations right from the owner of Megan and Stephie's favorite local bookstore! Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Liz and the bookstore on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobzbay/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

This one is for anyone who likes hearing Megan and Stephie yell about the patriarchy. This week, they're digging into the pink tax and sharing some things they discovered on a recent trip to the store. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

In this episode, Megan and Stephie do a deep-dive discussion on the novel Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

In part 2 of this 2-part series, Megan and Stephie are joined by Dirty Lola, sex educator and self-proclaimed dildo slinger, to discuss the stigmas and issues with sex that many people with vulvas experience. From how to spark communication with your partner about sex to digging into your own sensuality to understanding sex toys better, we're learning and talking about it all. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Lola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtylola/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

In part 1 of this 2-part series, Megan and Stephie are dishing about their personal backgrounds and experiences with sex, from the sex ed they received (or lack thereof) to sharing when they first had sex to what they wish people would talk about and more. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What does is it like to parent a gender-diverse child in America? This week's guest, Crystal T., is sharing her experiences raising a trans teen in our society. From navigating the education system and the medical system to practicing new pronouns, Crystal shares what she has learned along the way and recommends resources for being a better ally and support system to trans youths in your life. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

After 120 episodes, Megan and Stephie are finally talking about one of the biggest parts of their lives: food blogging! Find out how they got into food blogging, what they love about it, and more. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What is it like to live daily with chronic illness and chronic pain? This week, Megan and Stephie are joined by Jenna Hahn as she shares some of her experience in living with multiple chronic conditions. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What was Megan's first exposure to the idea of aliens? Why are alien movies really just about communism? How are our typical depictions of aliens problematic? What is Stephie yelling about this week? Find out all of this and more this week as Megan and Stephie talk about aliens. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

How can art serve as a form of resistance? What does this look like? Why is it important? This week, Megn and Stephie are joined by painter and art professor Ruth L Poor to dish on all of this and more. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Ruth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthlpoor/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Do you love road trips? There are some things we LOVE and some things we HATE about road trips, and we're sharing all of it! Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

How is finance gendered? What do women specifically need to know or watch out for when it comes to their finances? Chloé Daniels (aka CloBare) is back and helping us understand all of this and more! Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Chloé on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clobaremoneycoach/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

The world is tough right now, so let's talk about some things that are bringing us joy! That's right, it's a full episode of joy. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What does it take to run a successful Airbnb? In this episode, Megan and Stephie are talking to Monica Bullington about her experience running her two Airbnb properties and what she feels anyone hoping to run a successful vacation rental property should know. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicabullington_realtor/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Have you ever heard of numerology? Have you ever been to a medium? This week, Megan is sharing what she's learned recently about numerology and Stephie is sharing her recent experience at a medium. If you're into things that are a bit woo-woo, this is the episode for you. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

This week, Megan and Stephie are joined by pysanky artist Stephanie Cheeseman to talk about how she uses these beautiful eggs to connect with her Ukrainian heritage and how she's sharing the art to spread the word about the crisis in Ukraine. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pysankysteph/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What are your first memories of getting and using the internet? This week, we're taking a walk down memory lane and reminiscing about the early days of the internet. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Do you remember celebrating Earth Day in elementary school? If you grew up in the 90s, you definitely do! This week, Megan and Stephie are musing on their memories of reduce, reuse, recycle and how we probably didn't learn as much from those lessons as we could have. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What are Megan and Stephie's guilty pleasures, and do they feel guilty about them? (Spoiler: Absolutely not) From movies to snacks to music and books, this week they're dishing on all of their not-so-guilty pleasures. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Have you ever wondered if it's really important for you to vote in your local and state-level elections? Does state-level legislation and representation really matter? The answer is YES! This week, Megan and Stephie are talking to friend of the pod and Arkansas state sentate candidate Allison Grigsby Sweatman all about why. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Allison's campaign: https://www.instagram.com/allisonforarkansas/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

It's the first edition of IRSI Book Club! This week, Megan and Stephie are discussing Tired as F*ck by Caroline Dooner – their favorite takeaways from the book, what they resonated with, and their overall thoughts. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Drinking culture in the United States is different in so many ways from other countries. In this episode, Megan and Stephie are joined by their friend and cocktail blogger Susannah Brinkley Henry to talk about why this is and how we can navigate drinking culture. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Susannah at https://www.instagram.com/feastandwest/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Popular media would make us believe that the grieving process is very specific, always happening in the same way and within a specific time period. In real life, however, that is not even close to the truth. This week, Megan and Stephie are talking about grief and how we navigate both personal and collective grief in these uncertain times. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Have you ever been curious about tarot or wondered what it is all about? This week, Megan and Stephie are seeking to better understand tarot with the help of intuitive psychic Mercedes, aka MercyMeTarot. Learn about what tarot is, what it is not, and how it can help on your path to self acceptance and discovery. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Mercedes at https://www.instagram.com/mercymetarot/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Is toxic positivity getting to you? Same. This week, Megan and Stephie talk about toxic positivity, why it's dangerous, and how they try to combat it in their own lives. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

We'll never be royals, but would we really want to be? Megan and Stephie are again joined by their friend Ade to talk all about the royal family. They're touching on the Commonwealth, the big deal about titles, why the royal family is sometimes called The Firm, and so much more. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

100 episodes, can you believe it?? To celebrate, Megan and Stephie embarked on the journey of watching all of the Twilight movies for the first time and are sharing all of their (many) questions about the series. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What's it like to parent disabled children in this country? How can you navigate ableist systems while advocating for your kids in an anti-ableist way? This week, Allison Grigsby Sweatman – social worker, law student, and mom of two – is sharing her experiences with just that as Megan and Stephie continue their series on Parenting in America. Please note that this episode does contain discussion of medical trauma and diagnoses. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Follow Allison: https://www.instagram.com/allisongs_lmsw/ Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Have you ever experienced someone pretending they don't know how to do something, just so they can get out of having to do it? That's weaponized incompetence, baby! Megan and Stephie (and Megan's cat) have a lot to say on this topic this week. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

What are you taking with you into 2022? What are you leaving behind in 2021? In this episode, Megan and Stephie share what they're hoping to bring into this new year and what they hope to leave behind them. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Was Santa Claus a big part of your Christmas celebrations as a kid? This week, Megan and Stephie are sharing how they perceived Santa growing up, how they approach Santa with their kids now, and some of their favorite (and least favorite) Santa-centric holiday movies. Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!

Ever shopped at Aldi? Megan and Stephie love that weird store, so this week they're sharing some of their favorite Aldi tips and tricks! Grab the transcript for this and other episodes at idratherstayinpodcast.com and connect with us @irsipodcast or idratherstayinpodcast@gmail.com. Want to support the podcast? Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irsipodcast to buy us a coffee!