Two Noras and a Mic

Nora & Nora

Oh hello! We’re Nora and Nora and we’re glad you’re here!  From parenting and local faves to current trends and recipes, we are two Noras discussing it all with a whole lot of laughter along the way. As we raise our families in the west suburbs of Chicago we invite you to listen weekly as we dish about all the highs and lows and ridiculous amount of tomfoolery that ensue on this journey. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts as we check out new local spots, interview all sorts of interesting people, and catch up with each other! It’s like inviting two friends over to visit and catch up with without all the hassle of getting ready for company. Leave the entertaining to us and be sure to tune in for a new episode each Monday.

  1. 3d ago

    Two Noras and a Community Spotlight

    Send us Fan Mail Someone in the neighborhood treats Super Junk Day like a free shopping trip and rolls off with two kids’ bikes and suddenly it’s not a cute curbside story anymore. We talk through what happened next, why an AirTag made all the difference, and the practical reality of keeping tabs on kids and their stuff when devices die and summer schedules get messy. If you’ve ever wondered whether tracking tech is worth it, this real-life moment makes a pretty strong case. From there, we take a hard left into the internet’s favorite category: food and wellness trends that feel one step removed from parody. Think National Cheese Day, National Tetris Day, the so-called Bible diet, and even energy drinks branded with religious imagery. We unpack the appeal, the discomfort, and the marketing choices that turn faith into a product label. Then we hit a headline that truly tests the limits of our appetite for news: a Spaghettios worms story that is equal parts horrifying and impossible to ignore. Next, we bring it home with a community spotlight on the St. John of the Cross Parish Garage Sale, a 51-year tradition that runs like a mini department store inside a school. You’ll hear how donations are handled, how volunteers clean and stage items, why people line up before sunrise, and the genius of a $10 “shopping spree” that clears the building fast. We also share where the money goes, including scholarships and support for multiple charities, which makes bargain hunting feel a lot more meaningful. If you love neighborhood stories, community events, practical tips, and a little pop-culture chaos, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who lives for a good sale, and leave a review so more people can find us. What’s your best secondhand treasure or your worst curbside mistake? Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    37 min

  2. Jun 1

    Season Five, High Five

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season Five!  A wheel of cheese flying down a steep hill while grown adults cartwheel after it sounds fake, but it’s real and it’s our kind of “what did I just watch?” kickoff to season five. We start with summer creeping in, school schedules getting weird, and that parenting scramble where someone always has the wrong dismissal time. From there, we lean into the stories that make life feel lighter, even when everything is busy. We get into the Gloucestershire cheese rolling contest (unofficial but still unhinged), then move to internet food trends like the TikTok chip bag sandwich and a product we can’t stop thinking about for all the wrong reasons: the Hellmann’s mayo bow tie, a wearable condiment dispenser that should probably come with a warning label. If you love pop culture, viral trends, and the humor hidden in everyday life, you’ll feel right at home. Things turn surprisingly thoughtful when we talk friendship and trust through the “two beers and a puppy” test. It’s a simple way to name the difference between the friends you have fun with and the friends you’d trust with something that matters. We also debate whether the modern handbag is fading out as pockets, briefcases, and cargo shorts surge, and we share what’s actually inside our bags. Add in a creepy seven-foot puppet found on a Massachusetts lawn, some pure 90s nostalgia (Five Alive, High-C, Ecto Cooler), and a quick dive into the origin of the high five, and you’ve got a season opener packed with laughs and real-life warmth. If you enjoy funny, relatable conversations about motherhood, friendship, and modern life, subscribe, share this with a friend who’d pass the puppy test, and leave a review so more people can find us. What’s one trend you secretly hope is over? Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    38 min

  3. May 25

    Teachers

    Send us Fan Mail Somebody emails you out of the blue and says, “We’d like you to apply.” Sounds flattering, right? We start there with a real Wordle game show casting invite, then take a sharp turn into the kind of everyday stories that make you laugh and cringe at the same time: a frog surviving inside a bag of lettuce, a woman who literally breaks into a house to clean it and leaves a $75 note, and the Swatch collaboration release so chaotic people end up getting pepper sprayed at the mall. After the snack break and cookie ranking debate, we shift into the heart of the conversation: teachers. Teacher appreciation is nice, but we want to talk about what the job actually requires and why so many educators are exhausted by the end of the day. We trade stories about the teachers who stuck with us, from feisty nuns to legendary high school English teachers, and we dig into what’s hardest now: classroom management, constant emails with parents and students, standardized testing pressure, and trying to reach kids who arrive at wildly different learning levels. We also pull in the bigger education picture with teacher workload and burnout stats, plus the reality of shorter attention spans and why “brain breaks” are not a trendy extra, they’re a practical tool. If you care about education, school culture, student learning, and supporting teachers, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a teacher you love, and leave a review with the name of a teacher who changed your life.

    37 min

  4. May 18

    Two Noras and Best Selling Author Sean Ryan

    Send us Fan Mail The podcast becomes a family affair as Nora and Nora welcome Nora's little brother, New York Times Best Selling Author, Sean Ryan! Sean pops by the pod to talking about his new graphic novel, "Xanar & Mr. Tuxedo"! A robot boy who’s relentlessly upbeat and a grumpy old penguin should not be able to exist in the same story without everything falling apart, yet somehow it works and it’s hilarious and heartfelt. Sean unpacks how his middle grade graphic novel 'Xanar & Mr. Tuxedo" went from an idea he first played with years ago to a fully built, wildly visual adventure you can actually hold in your hands. We talk about the real mechanics of the creative process: why “blank page” fear is normal, how smart constraints make writing easier, and how worldbuilding problems can become story solutions. Sean shares the key breakthrough that made the book click, letting his characters come from different worlds, plus why he chose a Jane Austen inspired setting as a mirror for the theme of partnership and teamwork. If you love graphic novels, comics, children’s books, or storytelling craft, there’s a lot here to steal for your own work. Sean also pulls back the curtain on how you write a graphic novel script, panel-by-panel directions, dialogue, expressions, pacing, and how much trust it takes to collaborate with an illustrator. And yes, we get the origin story of his Marvel internship, including the infamous Spider-Man Frosted Flakes box resume. Pre-order your copy today!  Amazon Barnes and Nobel PaperCutz Subscribe so you don’t miss what we’re making next, and if you enjoyed this one, share it with a friend who loves comics or creativity and leave a quick review. Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    36 min

  5. May 11

    Something's Fishy...

    Send us Fan Mail World Password Day has us spiraling because somehow we all have a thousand logins and none of them are the right one at the right time. We trade honest confessions about password reuse, the “make up nonsense words” method, and why storing everything in a notes app can feel brilliant until you realize you’re one forgotten step away from a full reset loop. It’s funny, but it’s also a real look at how digital security and everyday life collide, especially when you’ve got family accounts, devices, and endless sign-ins to manage. From there, we jump to a headline that makes everyone wince: a Fenway Park Jumbotron proposal where the answer is “I don’t know.” We talk about the weird pressure of public proposals, what a surprise moment should actually feel like, and share our own engagement stories where the plan goes slightly off the rails. Then we pivot into travel and consumer curiosity, including a double decker airplane seat design that promises more legroom while raising big questions about turbulence, claustrophobia, and whether “innovation” always improves the flight experience. And because our brains work like this, we take a hard turn into fish. Not just eating fish and cooking salmon, but pet fish road trips, goldfish history, Goldfish crackers trivia, aquarium opinions, fishnets, and the darker internet side of catfishing scams. We wrap with highs and lows that get real: parenting through injury, fighting off a cold, celebrating a school musical, and the kind of gratitude that shows up as tears over concert tickets. If you like funny conversation with surprising facts and genuine life updates, hit play, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review. Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    36 min

  6. May 4

    A Tip Top Episode About Jobs

    Send us Fan Mail A four-ounce canned margarita that drinks like a full-sized cocktail, a gas-pump mistake that turns into a full-body wardrobe emergency, and the kind of week where you’re sprinting from sports to rehearsals and still trying to be a functioning adult. That’s where we start, and it only gets better from there.  We talk about the real work behind a middle school musical, from tech week logistics to the emotional side of getting kids onstage when nerves and peer cruelty show up. One moment with bubble guns in a gym becomes a surprisingly good lesson in leadership, arts education, and how to shift a room’s energy fast. Then we jump to prom culture and how it’s changed, why the pre-prom hoopla can overshadow the actual dance, and why so many kids seem completely wiped out by sleepovers now.  From flying-car headlines to fashion nonsense, we also dig into what we’re willing to trust: autonomous air taxis from Manhattan to JFK, self-driving cars like Waymo, and the strange marketing power of Chanel’s heel-only “shoe.” It’s funny, but it’s also a look at attention, safety, and why novelty sells.  Our main topic is jobs: first jobs, summer jobs, college jobs, and the stories you carry forever. We swap everything from babysitting as kids to courthouse filing in domestic relations, getting fired and handing over the shirt off your back and theater department gigs. We wrap with kids’ chores, side hustles, and the idea that the most meaningful work might not come with a paycheck. Subscribe, share with a friend, leave a review, and tell us: what job taught you the biggest lesson? Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    46 min

  7. Apr 27

    This Episode is Fire

    Send us Fan Mail Fire is one of those words that sneaks into everything, and once we noticed it, we couldn’t stop. We start with the real-life stuff, the sprint to opening night for a school musical, a week packed with family events, and a little Chicago love with Wrigley Field’s 112th anniversary plus a truly wild baseball moment. Then we take a sharp left into the kind of pop culture details we can’t resist, including a New York Times crossword mistake that had puzzle people furious. From there, we dig into two trends that say a lot about where we are right now: summer fashion and modern family design. We debate “messy girl” style, the return of early-2000s shimmer makeup, and the refreshing idea that the current pants trend is basically anything goes. Then we get into the bigger question: platonic co-parenting. We talk through what it means to choose a parenting partner without romance, how co-parenting apps like Modamily work, and why three-parent arrangements sound practical on paper but can get emotionally complicated fast. Things get even stranger with a keepsake trend we can’t unsee: breast milk jewelry and baby hair jewelry. We ask the obvious questions, laugh at the marketing language, and try to figure out where sentiment ends and chaos begins. We wrap by coming back to fire in the literal sense, from childhood “firefort” memories and fireplace habits to firefighter family stories, quick fire history, and the way fire shows up in music and slang. If you like funny, curious conversations that jump from culture to parenting to history without losing the thread, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us. Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    42 min

  8. Apr 20

    Calendar People

    Send us Fan Mail Your calendar isn’t just dates and boxes. It’s the story of your life, the mental load you’re carrying, and the one tool that can either calm the chaos or make it louder. We’re two Noras comparing notes on how we actually keep a family schedule running, from paper planners and wall calendars to shared phone calendars that everyone can see. We get specific about what works: weekly planning on Sundays, color-coding each kid’s appointments, and why school calendar subscriptions can be helpful or completely overwhelming. We also talk honestly about the exhausting dynamic of being the only person who “knows everything,” especially when kids won’t write anything down, and how a shared system can give you your brain back. If you’re searching for real-world time management, planning routines, and family organization tips, this is the kind of conversation that makes you feel less alone and more equipped. And because our lives are never just one topic, we weave in the day’s headlines and real moments too: jury duty surprises, a flock of sheep taking over a store in Germany, a pen name scandal around a bestselling thriller author, and a wild wedding story that ends with jail time. We even nerd out on the Gregorian calendar reform and the missing days of 1582, plus why the month names still don’t line up. Subscribe for more, share this with your favorite calendar person, and leave a review if it made you laugh or rethink your system. Are you team paper planner or team phone calendar? Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    46 min
See All (205)

4.4
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Oh hello! We’re Nora and Nora and we’re glad you’re here!  From parenting and local faves to current trends and recipes, we are two Noras discussing it all with a whole lot of laughter along the way. As we raise our families in the west suburbs of Chicago we invite you to listen weekly as we dish about all the highs and lows and ridiculous amount of tomfoolery that ensue on this journey. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts as we check out new local spots, interview all sorts of interesting people, and catch up with each other! It’s like inviting two friends over to visit and catch up with without all the hassle of getting ready for company. Leave the entertaining to us and be sure to tune in for a new episode each Monday.

Information

  • Creator
    Nora & Nora
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Two Noras and a Mic
  • Show Website
    Two Noras and a Mic

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