Beeswax Biz

Michelle Mahurin and Karin Reed
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Two special education teachers with over twenty years of friendship share what they’re streaming, how their career is going in public schools, and their latest travel shenanigans. Through their humor and candor they tackle challenges as they navigate them together rolling through their fifties and finally doing whatever they want.

  1. 4h ago

    #248 Love People, Not Things: A Reminder to Consumers

    Michelle and Karin compare two documentaries, Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy and The Minimalists, to explore why we buy so much, why it is hard to let go, and how companies shape our habits. They connect the films to real life with stories about Amazon, Temu, fast fashion, recycling confusion, and the emotional pull of clutter. In addition, Michelle and Karin also cover Mariners baseball, the start of the school year, and a very funny ongoing campaign to normalize car tweezers. In this episode: the Mariners win, Cade Anderson’s debut, and the frustration of games being spread across different TV platforms.Marcella and Karin explain why they wanted to discuss Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy and The Minimalists, especially as both try to declutter and spend more intentionally.They break down the documentary ideas around consumer manipulation, including the rules of selling more, wasting more, lying more, hiding more, and controlling more.They talk about how social media and ad targeting can feel invasive, including a case where a text about Hot Poop, a record store in Walla Walla, WA led to a Facebook ad.The conversation gets very practical around planned obsolescence, with examples like phones, tablets, subscriptions, and disposable upgrades.They discuss fast fashion, poor-quality clothing, and how cheap items often end up in landfills, donated overflow, or shipped overseas as waste.They reflect on recycling confusion and greenwashing, noting that labels and package claims are not always as straightforward as they seem.The episode also circles back to minimalism as a mindset, not a sterile lifestyle, with emphasis on keeping what is useful or meaningful and letting go of the rest.Marcella shares a few family and childhood influences that help explain why hats, shoes, and certain clothes still feel emotionally loaded.The show ends with a reminder to love people, not things, plus a giveaway update and some very enthusiastic appreciation for car tweezers.

  2. 15h ago

    Giveaway Minisode! 8/22/26

    The bowl of chance does its thing and chooses our latest giveaway winner.

  3. 4d ago

    #247 Remembering our amazing summer

    Michelle and Karin remember all the adventures they had this summer. You don't want to miss this walk down memory lane -- it went by fast!!

  4. Aug 16

    #246 National Relaxation Day

    This episode is a warm, funny conversation between Karin and Michelle about National Relaxation Day and why rest matters more than we often admit. They talk about stress, people-pleasing, work-life boundaries, breathing, body tension, and simple ways to unwind, from sitting outside with coffee to taking a nap or a bath. Along the way, they share personal stories about decluttering, new shows and books, camping, teaching, and the challenge of giving yourself permission to slow down. The episode blends humor, honesty, and practical self-care reminders, with a recurring message that you can’t pour from an empty cup and that relaxation is something worth practicing. If you need a reminder to unclench your jaw, take a breath, and give yourself a break, this episode delivers it with heart and laughs.

  5. Aug 13

    #245 What are we supposed to eat?

    Michele and Karin discuss two documentaries about food. One is found on Netflix, "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment," and "Eating You Alive," available on the Roku Channel. So much information and so little time. You won't want to miss this episode about plant-based eating, the trouble with dairy, and much more!! DISCLAIMER: Karin and Michelle are not doctors and are not giving any medical advice about anything ever.

  6. Aug 9

    #244 DoorDash AMA with Michelle

    Karin and Michelle kick things off with a chat about wildfire smoke, summer heat, and a very on-brand update on Karin’s closet purge before shifting into a practical DoorDash ask me anything. Michelle shares what it’s really like to dash in her area, how pay works, which stores are easiest, which ones are a pain, and what advice she’d give anyone thinking about trying it. Michelle explains the two DoorDash pay options: hourly while actively moving, or per offer, which she prefers.She breaks down how she gets paid weekly by direct deposit, with the option to use a red card setup for faster access.Karin shares her “buy one thing, donate two” decluttering rule, which becomes a recurring theme about mindset and space.Michelle’s favorite dashing zone is her own neighborhood, but she’ll head to other neighborhoods where the tips are better.McDonald’s and Taco Bell get the highest marks for pickup simplicity because of flat-bottom bags, handles, and good drink carriers.Starbucks is Michelle’s hardest pickup because the store is efficient for customers, but awkward for dashers waiting to be acknowledged.Chick-fil-A is off her list because the parking lot is too difficult to navigate in and out of.Michelle explains tip baiting, shop-and-deliver surprises, and why she sometimes unassigns huge grocery orders that add cases of water after she accepts.She talks about safety, including avoiding dark deliveries, using the app’s support buttons, and one unsettling encounter with a man having a mental break.Michelle’s best advice for new dashers is to track mileage, use gas-back apps, and not waste time sitting in a slow zone if orders aren’t coming in.

  7. Aug 5

    #243 Michelle's tent made it back...and other tales from camping

    You don't want to miss this funny episode on the annual camping trip. Smash booking, Cribbage, coloring, laughing - and some accidently swimming. This was a great time and we can't wait until next year!!

  8. Aug 2

    #242 Beeswax Biz Attends a Mariners Game!

    Michelle and Karin share stories from recent summer adventures, namely a Mariners game.We discuss struggles with the tickets and getting into the game, being hot AF during the game due to laser beam sun rays, enjoying baseball food-hot dogs, nachos and cotton candy, and cheering our hearts out for the Mariners.Join us for this lively and engaging commentary and Go Mariners!

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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Two special education teachers with over twenty years of friendship share what they’re streaming, how their career is going in public schools, and their latest travel shenanigans. Through their humor and candor they tackle challenges as they navigate them together rolling through their fifties and finally doing whatever they want.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Mahurin and Karin Reed
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Mahurin and Karin Reed
  • Show Website
    Beeswax Biz