Kind of Obsessed

In Sara and Katie’s last episode of the season, they discuss vacation vibes during the pandemic and Katie’s latest obsession with tennis. As a tennis newbie, once Katie realizes Sara was the captain of her high school tennis team, her hopes for playing with her are dashed. Then they have an illuminating conversation with Rebecca Brown and Vanessa Potkin from The Innocence Project about the plight of innocent people who are incarcerated and the systemic factors that cause this to happen more than you would think. Rebecca and Vanessa’s intelligent and empathetic approach to their work is not only enlightening but inspiriting as well.

Katie and Sara tell us how they really feel about Kanye West announcing his candidacy for president (not so great) and then Sara gets maniacal (or delirious or something) about her latest true crime obsession. They interview the one-and-only Jonathon Schnapp, co-owner of the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club in Brooklyn and Chicago and self-proclaimed “moonshooter.” He schools them on why you should take shuffleboard seriously and other light topics such as the world’s current state of affairs.

Katie opines on her new obsession - the face mask - and she and Sara discuss how crazy it drives them when people don't wear them. Luckily their guest Adam Lathan, chef/owner of The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn, calms their nerves. Adam shares how a relatively simple idea thought of one drunken night turned into a thriving business. Adam has brought his love of authentic Southern cooking to the hippest borough and has even made Mr. Mardi Gras himself, Harry Connick Jr., huge fan. Sara is still salivating.

Katie gets into a fight on the streets of Brooklyn (over Starbucks coffee of course) and Sara is going into debt from quarantine online shopping. Luckily, actress Rebecca Mader takes us over the rainbow as we dig deep into her successful career. From modeling in Milan to shooting Lost in Hawaii and Once Upon A Time in Oz, Rebecca has created the life of her dreams. She also discusses the joys and struggles of being a new mom in a pandemic. Spoiler alert: she does it with an impressive dose of humor. Hopefully some of her mystical powers will rub off on Katie and Sara. (They dare to dream.)

Katie and Sara discuss the current state of the world’s affairs and how the coronavirus is helping the world commit to long overdue changes. They then try to lighten the mood when NYC stand-up comedian Seth Herzog joins the podcast to talk about his career, not using his infant twins in his act and how he crushed hard on Sara in high school. That last part may or may not be true. Either way, you won’t want to miss Seth recalling his absolute worst moment on stage and other comedic endeavors!

Sara relays her accidental sleeping pill snafu which leads her to binge on caffeine and wine to stay awake for the podcast. Katie admires Sara's many hidden talents, causing Sara to explain the genesis of her new singing career on Instagram. Then they interview Tracy Walder and Jessica Anya Blau about their riveting new book "The Unexpected Spy" which details Tracy's trajectory from sorority girl to CIA counterterrorism spy to FBI agent. Tracy describes life as a secret agent in the 9/11 era as she hunted down top terrorists, how she battled sexism at the FBI while investigating Chinese spies and why she's currently obsessed with her eyebrows.

Katie and Sara lament the ups and downs of life in the grips of Covid 19 and deliberate the pros and cons of Zoom life. Katie obsesses about her favorite TV show about a world even darker than our own! Then they interview former high fashion model and current modeling agent Taylor Warren who schools them on what life is really like for young models. Spoiler alert: it's hard work, people.

Sara goes gaga for her obsession with Kelly Clarkson and Katie gives us an update on quarantine life with her family in Vermont. Then they interview Dina Berrin, a renowned tarot card reader, astrologist, numerologist and all around ray of sunshine. Dina discusses how the planets aligned to put us in a position to get our asses whooped by the global pandemic. She provides hope that not only will we get through it but we'll thrive. Then Dina gives both Sara and Katie a reading and Katie's cynicism about mysticism starts to subside...

We continue our interview with Pete Leyden, former managing editor of Wired Magazine and an expert on new technologies and future trends. He gives us hope about the future despite current political realities and educates us on fascinating energy and auto technologies that are occurring right now or in the near future. Tune in to find out whether you should be investing in flying cars and cow cell technologies!

Katie opines on the twists and turns of the Democratic primary election while Sara flexes her brain muscles (for the first time ever). They are joined by Pete Leyden, former managing editor of Wired Magazine and an expert on new technologies and future trends. Pete educates us on what to expect from technology in the near future and why you should care. Ever wonder if robots will take over the world or how soon you’ll be sitting in the backseat of an autonomous car? Tune in to find out!

Katie and Sara make KOO history by having the same obsession and the results are complete hysteria. Then they welcome Peter Shelsky, owner of Shelsky’s of Brooklyn and Shelsky’s Bagels and the leader(ish) of the Jewish food revolution in NYC. Peter talks with such passion about all sorts of incredible flavor sensations that Sara may or may not sound like she’s having an orgasm. Peter schools us on the history of the iconic New York Jewish deli and what makes a good bagel. This episode will definitely make your mouth water!

Sara gets enthusiastic about Jessica Simpson and obsesses about her autobiographical debut. Then she and Katie decide to get in the hot seat and interview each other! They let it all hang out and the discussion gets...dangerous and at times a little awkward. Katie describes a harrowing yet hysterically funny embarrassing moment involving a trampoline. Sara blushes uncontrollably when asked about an encounter she had with a celeb long ago. Throughout this episode they both reveal fun and interesting things about themselves that will make you laugh and leave you feeling like they’re your new best friends!

Part two of Sara and Katie’s convo with the incredible Maureen Callahan takes a sharp pivot from teen heartthrobs and politics into the mind of a psychopath. Israel Keyes, the most meticulous serial killer in American history, is the focus of Maureen’s riveting NY Times bestselling book American Predator. She details how Keyes had law enforcement grappling to understand his particular type of madness. If you’re obsessed with true crime you’ll love part two of our interview with Maureen Callahan!

Katie discusses her attempt to eat a keto diet with a few carbs tossed in for good measure. Sara falls asleep until their interview with bestselling author and pop culture critic-at-large Maureen Callahan about all things celebrity, politics and true crime. Join us for part one of this fun and powerful discussion about the blurred lines between celebrity and reality, Oscar hypocrisy and Sassy, the best magazine to ever grace this earth.

In this episode, Sara gets passionate about the prevalence and insidiousness of sexual assault and and those who perpetuate it. Then Katie and Sara invite three of their fave Bar Method studio owners to discuss their experiences as badass bosses. They cover everything from the highs and lows of small biz ownership to sex toys and gut health.

Katie and Sara break down their obsession with all things Royal and Sara lies about not wanting to be a princess. Then they interview New York Times best-selling author Turney Duff about his former life of excess as a Wall Street hedge fund trader which is chronicled in his book The Buy Side. Turney lets us in on his fast-paced life fueled by money, partying, alcohol, cocaine and escorts, all of which eventually led to his downfall. We find out how he turned his life around and what he learned along the way. Turney’s openness and honesty about his vice-filled journey is eye-opening and not to be missed!

In this episode Sara obsesses about her newfound contentedness with being single while simultaneously encouraging listeners to find her a man. Then we talk with Vye and Tofer Moran, friends of Sara’s who are former members of Sovereign Grace Ministries, an evangelical mega-church that has been plagued by scandal. Join us for this riveting conversation about how growing up in a church that promotes a purity culture and turns worshipers against each other to maintain control shaped their education, socialization and pre-marital courtship and sex life. Katie and Sara are beyond obsessed with how Vye and Tofer kept their sanity as they turned their backs on the fanaticism in which they were raised. Neither of them hold back and the honesty of the discussion leaves us wanting to learn much, much more.

Katie goes down a rabbit hole about entering a new decade of her life and insults Sara in the process (hurtful). Their interview with accomplished John Jay College research professor Meredith Dank delves into the topic of human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Meredith enlightens us on this enraging and fascinating subject and the progress of ongoing efforts to mitigate it.

Katie attempts to get organized in an unorganized world. Then both Sara and Katie get (just a little) tipsy with professor and prize-winning author Donna Freitas and discuss her research on the dangers of social media and being glued to your smart phone. They also discuss Donna’s memoir, Consent, which tackles Donna’s harrowing experience of receiving unwanted attention from her professor in graduate school. Juice up your smartphones and get ready to be obsessed!

Sara Giller and Katie Muehlenkamp introduce themselves and get to know each other over a bottle of wine and by asking basic questions with embarrassing consequences. They also interview famed burger expert, filmmaker and cookbook author George Motz and get him to spill meaty secrets over several rounds of beer. This episodes SIZZLES!