Lots to Unpack There

Jess and Lisa
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

We’re Jess and Lisa, two best friends in our 40s living in Maryland. This podcast is about life, motherhood, leadership, and everything in between. We’re navigating the “messy middle” of personal and professional life and have learned that having someone who just gets it makes the journey less hard. Each week, we’ll share something real from our own lives and unpack it together in real time. Our hope is that as we process and reflect, it’ll inspire and help you do the same—wherever you are.

  1. 08/17/2025

    Reflecting on Season One

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa reflect on Season One, exploring the themes, growth, and insights gathered through 20 episodes of genuine conversation. • Time management, bravery, parenting, confidence, productivity, and authenticity emerged as key topics • Started the podcast in a period of heaviness, now feeling stronger and more supported in carrying life's burdens • Discussed how vision boards serve as powerful reminders of values and help attract aligned opportunities • Lisa shared how her "professional pause" created space for intentionality and new habits • Examined the importance of balancing seasons of intensity with periods of rest • Recognized the podcast's appeal extends beyond their demographic to universal human experiences • Planning to take a brief hiatus before returning with Season Two Join us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast and subscribe to our Substack for more content. We've also opened access to our "Unpacked Snacks" bonus episodes for a limited time. Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    56 min

  2. 08/10/2025

    Lisa is a Social Crockpot

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa explore the changing nature of social connections and unpack their contrasting approaches to building relationships. • Beginning with a discussion about the decline of casual social gatherings like potlucks • Reflecting on how the pandemic accelerated our disconnection from casual adult socializing • Examining how parents now prioritize child-centered activities over adult gatherings • Lisa shares her "breadcrumb" approach to relationships—revealing herself slowly and strategically • Contrasting Lisa's measured approach with Jess's preference for immediate deep connection • Discussing how Lisa's approach evolved from trying to be perfect for everyone to authentic but measured • Exploring their different "rings" of friendship—Jess with fewer close connections, Lisa with a wider middle circle • Reflecting on the transient nature of relationships and how people move between different levels of closeness • Appreciating the complementary differences in their friendship styles We'd love to hear how you approach relationships! Are you a breadcrumb-dropper or do you dive deep right away? Connect with us on social media and share your thoughts. Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    58 min

  3. 08/03/2025

    Music as Memory and Finding Your Happy Place

    Send us a text Music creates powerful emotional connections and serves as a unique memory trigger, sometimes functioning as a sixth sense for those who experience it as a full-body phenomenon. • Music can transport us back to specific memories and moments in our lives • For some people, music is physically overwhelming and makes multitasking impossible • Using music strategically to alter moods or validate feelings is common • Sound creates beautiful visual patterns when visualized through mediums like sand • Children can develop specific music preferences linked to emotional states from an early age • Having a personal "happy place" provides mental refuge during difficult times • Happy places aren't always physical locations but can be emotional states • Incorporating elements of your happy place into everyday life creates ongoing comfort • Coffee plays a significant role in many people's comfort rituals • Finding moments of peace and control helps manage daily stress Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    59 min

  4. 07/27/2025

    Tears in the Zoom Room: An Epidemic of Professional Loneliness

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa unpack the phenomenon of professional loneliness, particularly how increasing responsibility and leadership roles can lead to fewer safe spaces for vulnerability and authentic connection. • Professional loneliness manifests differently than social loneliness • Leaders often lack peers who understand their unique challenges • Creating space for emotions at work is vital yet challenging • Vulnerability paradoxically builds trust rather than diminishing it • Imposter syndrome creates a self-reinforcing cycle of isolation • Most people judge us far less than we fear they do • Asking for help can actually strengthen professional relationships • Solopreneurs face unique challenges in combating workplace isolation • Volunteering and community involvement help rebuild connection • Self-judgment often creates barriers that prevent authentic relationships If you're experiencing professional loneliness, ask yourself what you need to act in ways that might bring other people in, and consider letting go of self-judgment or perceived judgment from others. Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    54 min

  5. 07/20/2025

    Lost Kids, Lost Tuesdays & BATNA

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa explore the disorienting experience of losing track of time and unpack the complex interplay between confidence, uncertainty, and knowing what you truly want. • Lisa shares about losing an entire Tuesday after her daily routines were disrupted from being laid off • Jess recounts a frustrating Girl Scout meeting mishap when leaders moved locations without informing parents • Discussion about the crucial but undervalued importance of logistics in every organization and relationship • Exploring the difference between regulating emotions versus suppressing them • Lisa unpacks a conversation where a friend suggested various career paths she felt unequipped for • Distinguishing between confidence in abilities versus confidence in knowing the right next step • The importance of maintaining non-negotiables in job hunting while remaining flexible on nice-to-haves • Introduction to BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) as a powerful negotiation concept • How having alternatives gives us confidence and freedom to be authentic in any situation • Recognizing that not having confidence about the future is perfectly normal and healthy Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    56 min

  6. 07/13/2025

    The Lives We've Lived

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa explore life's big questions about identity, personal growth, and whether our younger selves would be proud of who we've become. This thoughtful conversation weaves through personal turning points and the wisdom that comes from seeing life as a series of chapters. • Reflecting on how our 14-year-old selves would view our adult lives • Finding peace with life's unexpected turns and the different "lifetimes" we've lived • Understanding how our stories change depending on where we choose to start and end them • Recognizing decision fatigue and what we offload first when we're overwhelmed • Exploring our personal "superpowers" like intuition and reading people • Appreciating the perspective that comes with middle age and looking back across life chapters • Considering the "what ifs" of paths not taken without regret We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Share with us whether your younger self would be surprised by your life today, and what lessons you've learned from navigating your own life chapters! Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    58 min

  7. 07/06/2025

    Barrels and Buildings: The Debt that Wasn't

    Send us a text Jess and Lisa confront the psychology behind feeling indebted to employers who provide remote work accommodations, questioning whether workplace flexibility should come with the burden of overperformance. • Judgment versus curiosity: how these mindsets are mutually exclusive and impact our perspectives • The concept of remote work exemptions and the psychology of feeling indebted to employers who provide flexibility • Examining non-negotiables in job searches and what they're designed to protect • Time as the most precious resource and how commuting impacts personal and family life • The difference between community and geographical proximity in career decisions • Career values and priorities beyond salary and title • The evolving nature of workplace loyalty and viewing employment as a renewable transaction • The tension between short-term security versus long-term prosperity in job decisions Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every week. We'd love to hear your thoughts—share your own career non-negotiables with us on social media! Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    1h 4m

  8. 07/03/2025 · BONUS

    Unpack Snack: Beach Days and Mom Swaps

    Send us a text We discuss strategies for surviving beach vacations with pale children, including the "reverse beach day" approach of going to the beach after 3pm when UV rays are less intense. We share our upcoming childcare swap plans and navigate the anxiety and excitement that comes with watching each other's children. • The "reverse beach day" strategy: doing indoor activities during peak sun hours and beach activities after 3pm • Navigating different house rules – one household allows couch jumping while the other doesn't • Planning a "mom swap" where friends trade overnight childcare duties • Different levels of anxiety about watching each other's children • Creative ideas for entertaining each other's kids, like reading Harry Potter with character voices • How our different backgrounds (coastal vs. landlocked upbringing) influence our parenting approaches Support the show Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved: Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com. Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together! 📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack 🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

    8 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

We’re Jess and Lisa, two best friends in our 40s living in Maryland. This podcast is about life, motherhood, leadership, and everything in between. We’re navigating the “messy middle” of personal and professional life and have learned that having someone who just gets it makes the journey less hard. Each week, we’ll share something real from our own lives and unpack it together in real time. Our hope is that as we process and reflect, it’ll inspire and help you do the same—wherever you are.

Information

  • Creator
    Jess and Lisa
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Lots to Unpack There
  • Show Website
    Lots to Unpack There