The Normal Mess

Ashley and Cayce
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

We're Ashley Fetyko & Cayce Lynch. We're Millennials, we're lawyers, we're moms, we’re Swifties, and we're best friends! We're deep in the thick of paid working motherhood. It's real, and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also? It's no joke! It's... The Normal Mess! New video episodes every Thursday. thenormalmess@gmail.com Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess

  1. Aug 13 ·  Bonus

    The Normal Mini Miss: Executive Presence is a Lie

    Got 7 minutes for us to get salty about a topic that is all over our LinkedIn feed and really grinds our gears?! Let's talk "Executive Presence," shall we? We are here to proclaim: IT'S A LIE. If (white) men have it and women (and people of color) don't, there's only one conclusion we can draw: it's a nonsense categorization intended to exclude. Your paper doll has all the presence she needs, so can we collectively agree to stop trying to make her fit some square-shouldered archetype that wasn't built with her in mind? And, let's just keep repeating to ourselves: Fit the role, not the shoes. The Normal Mess returns in September, but in the meantime, we're delivering some normal Mini Messes to see you through. Why? Because sometimes all you need is a voice note from your Messy Besties! If you want the full conversation, you can find it in Season Two, Episode Three: Come As You (Mostly) are. It's real and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow us (seriously, go do those things. We'll wait.) as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess thenormalmess@gmail.com

  2. Aug 6 ·  Bonus

    The Normal Mini Miss: Bring Your Whole Muchness to Work!

    We're back for a Mini Mess to encourage you to bring the whole of your beautiful "muchness" to work! Why do we pretend that our work selves and our life selves are two different people? What is this, "Severance"?! (Ashley is watching it during this season break. It's on AppleTV. Go watch it, but brace yourself to see Ben from Parks and Rec in a very different light.) It's apparently a hot take these days to say you should bring the whole of who you are to work, but we argue it's the only way to go. We think your whole self deserves to be seen and seated at the table. The table, and you, are better for it! Season 3 is coming in September, but until then, we're delivering some Normal Mini Messes to see you through. Why? Because sometimes all you need is a voice note from your Messy Besties! If you want the full conversation, you can find it in Season Two, Episode Three: Come As You (Mostly) Are. It's real and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow us (seriously, go do those things. We'll wait.) as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess thenormalmess@gmail.com

  3. Jul 30

    The Normal Mini Mess: The Galentine's Village We Need!

    It's Galentine's Day in July, Messy Besties! We're ladies celebrating ladies... and breakfast foods! Join us for a quick spark of joy as we pay homage to the uniquely incredible phenomenon that is female friendship. Who's the Anne, who's the Leslie, and who came up with the Leslie-isms that made the show the warm hug it was?! All we know is: we might be Swifties and Pohleroids, but in our heart of hearts, we are mega fangirls for Mike Schur. Season 3 is coming in September, but until then, we're delivering some Normal Mini Messes to see you through. Why? Because sometimes all you need is a voice note from your Messy Besties! If you want the full conversation, you can find it in Season 1, Episode 8: The Galentines Reimagine Power Moves! It's real and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow us (seriously, go do all of those things. We'll wait.) as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess thenormalmess@gmail.com

  4. Jul 23

    The Normal Mini Mess: Power Moves!

    Have you cried in a meeting yet today? Well, if you're ready to pull a real power move, we invite you to show them just how much you really care and bring the heat. And by "the heat," we mean, "your EQ." That's right, it's time for a mini mess of what has become one of our favorite episodes: The Galentines Reimagine Power Moves! Ashley found the worst article of all time, Cayce does a pretty spot-on impression of a breast pump during a Zoom meeting, and we have a new definition for Google. All we can say is: the world would be a very different place. Season 3 is coming in September, but until then, we're delivering some Normal Mini Messes to see you through. Why? Because sometimes all you need is a voice note from your Messy Besties! If you want the full conversation, you can find it in Season 1, Episode 8: The Galentines Reimagine Power Moves! It's real and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow us (seriously, go do all of those things. We'll wait.) as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess thenormalmess@gmail.com

  5. Jul 16

    The Normal Mini Mess: Other People's Opinions!

    SURPRISE! It's our very first mini-sode, or as we're calling it: The Normal Mini Mess! Because a good conversation or a quick voicenote from your bestie is sometimes all you need to see you through. So, if you've got 10 minutes to spend with your Messy Besties, join us! In this week's Mini Mess, we're revisiting Other People's Opinions: Say No to the OPO! Why do we not show ourselves the same grace and love we show our best friends?! And, are some people's brains more predisposed to fear the OPO? Join us for a quick chat, and let us know what you think of the mini! It's real and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow us (seriously, go do all those things) as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess thenormalmess@gmail.com

  6. Jul 9

    It Gets Easier, Mama!

    Spotify is shaming Ashley because we don't have enough followers/subscribers. So, to save her from that shame, can you please go click the "Follow" button on Spotify, the check mark on Apple Podcasts, and the "Subscribe" button on YouTube? IT'S FREE. We do this because we love it. And then, can you follow us on Instagram and TikTok (@thenormalmess) and share us with your bestie? Please save us from the shame. Ok, thanks. Plug over. Onto your regularly scheduled Messy Bestieness: Why did Cayce live the premise of a Hallmark Christmas movie this morning in a San Diego coffee shop, and are we wrong or is it patently insane to restrict WiFi usage until 2 pm?! Ashley is Bricking, and Cayce wants to make sure their text habits will not be interrupted. TBD, Messy Besties. It's the final episode of Season Two of The Normal Mess, and we are taking this opportunity to reveal what we would be doing if we weren't lawyers. We have a couple safety schools, and in another life, we might have been A-list celebrity movie star/pop stars besties. That ship might have sailed, but maybe Ashley has a future in playground design, because WHAT IS WITH ALL THE HIGH PLATFORMS WITH NO RAILINGS, PEOPLE?! Then, the tofu of the episode: IT. GETS. EASIER. MAMA. We say it in our intro: it's real, it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! It's motherhood. And the good news? Nothing lasts forever. The bad news? Nothing lasts forever. We pay homage to our experienced mom friends who gift us hope and perspective, and in this discussion, we pay homage to ourselves. We've grown as moms, and we can see the hard seasons we've lived through a little more clearly, now. So, join us for a hopeful and validating chat where we answer: what has gotten easier in motherhood, and what are we most looking forward to next? We close out with some Season Two reflections and teasers for what comes next. Spoiler: you'll see us regularly, even during our break. So... subscribe/follow us. (Did we say that already?) And stay tuned! See you sooner than you think! xoxo, Ashley & Cayce It's real and it's funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow along as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess Email: thenormalmess@gmail.com

  7. Jul 2

    It's a Wonder-full Life!

    It's officially summertime, and we couldn't be happier! We are mere days away from Cayce's favorite holiday, and potentially, America's Royal Wedding?! We are wearing matching, Tay-themed shirts (thank you, Jenny!), and we have thoughts about the allegedly impending nuptials of the Queen of our Hearts, Taylor Alison Swift . Hot take: there is no way on earth this woman is getting married at Madison Square Garden. Then, settle in, because the topic for today is so deliciously good that you might put this episode on repeat. We're talking awe and wonder. What is "awe", what is "wonder", are they the same, where do they come from, and how do we make them more accessible as adults? Cayce is making Ashley's brain fall out thanks to Brené Brown, Ashley has some neuroscience and psychology research that validates our experiences, and we have a blueprint for you to bring some awe and wonder to your daily life. Plus, for moms with older children: how can we bottle and save the wonder that is our kids' early language and speech?! We are not ready to let this tiny sweetness go. We close out with a segment we encourage you to bring to your own personal board of directors: Mirrors & Permission Slips. Ashley needs a permission slip to let summer be summer, and let kids be kids. And Cayce needs the loving reflection that only a Messy Bestie can provide. Listen 'til the end and tell us if you fall into the same pattern she does. To bring us full circle: it's very Eldest Daughter-coded! It's real and it's funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow along as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess Email: thenormalmess@gmail.com

  8. Jun 25

    The Parenting Trap Nobody Warned Us About

    Cayce has a debut, and it has to do with dinner plates. Then, let's talk about hair! Teddy Bear Brond is a thing, people; just ask Ashley's other long-term relationship (her hair stylist, Natalie). In celebration of all the little girls who were told they were "dishwater blond," we present: the hair color rebrand. Same quasi-blond color, new name! Then, our tofu (thanks for the vegetarian inclusivity, Cayce) of the episode: the bars we set (accidentally or intentionally) in motherhood and beyond. To quote Admiral Ackbar of Star Wars fame: IT'S A TRAP! And by "it," we mean, bedtime, summertime, holidays, birthdays, photo books... Where is the line?! We talk all things bars (not the alcohol, bar exam, or prison kind) across motherhood, friendship, career, and more: where do our bars come from, and which ones do we solemnly swear we will never set? (Hint: Cayce is NOT an Elf-on-the-Shelf-Mom!) Then, it's time for a classic (and sometimes gross) game of "Would You Rather?". Ashley's number one (only?) question: Can I fly?! It's real and it's funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Rate, review, comment, and follow along as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you: Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess Email: thenormalmess@gmail.com

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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

We're Ashley Fetyko & Cayce Lynch. We're Millennials, we're lawyers, we're moms, we’re Swifties, and we're best friends! We're deep in the thick of paid working motherhood. It's real, and it's funny, and sometimes, it's real funny. But also? It's no joke! It's... The Normal Mess! New video episodes every Thursday. thenormalmess@gmail.com Instagram & TikTok: @thenormalmess

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley and Cayce
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ashley and Cayce
  • Show Website
    The Normal Mess

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