Coffee Break

Tonight, join Richard M. Simms, the executive editor of Soaps In Depth magazine as he takes a look at the wide world of television. We'll be talking about soaps, primetime, reality and more and taking your calls to discuss the good, the bad and the downright awful (Utopia, anyone?). Which soap had the best story of 2014? Which upcoming shows will everybody be talking about in 2015? And do we really still care if THE BACHELOR finds true love? All this and more on tonight's episode of Sweatpants & TV!

In which Nanea Hoffman and Barbara Sirois Doyle drink coffee and do their version of a Joyful Meditation, an exercise focusing on things that were good, stuff you did well, and what you are looking forward to. Find out why a phone call from an IRS scammer turned out to be a stress-reliever, why you should give yourself more credit for being a parent who isn't a jerk and for doing normal adult tasks like showering, and why they cannot wait to meet up with their nerdy brethren at a Supernatural Convention in Burbank.

You've read the book. You’ve seen the movie. Now, join the conversation as the Sweatpants & Coffee book club, hosted by Richard Simms, takes on the most buzzed about novel of the past few years. What is it about Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl that elevated it from a decent thriller to a literary sensation. Why did the book’s ending upset so many readers? And did the book manage to make the leap to the big screen in tact? We’ll discuss all this and more during this week’s Sweatpants & Novels podcast. Join the conversation by calling in... and consider having a favorite quote/passage from the book to share with your fellow members!

Sweatpants & Novels invites you to slip into something comfy, pour a cup of coffee (or someting stronger!) and join host Richard M. Simms as he chats with Kathryn O'Sullivan, author of this month's read, Murder On The Hoof. The author -- whose third book, Neighing With Fire is set to come out this spring -- will share with us how she comes up with her delightfully devilish plots, why she chose to set the series in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and exactly how she manages to find time to write inbetween teaching and working on her award-winning Web series, THURSTON! Got questions? Give us a call. Otherwise, sit back, saddle up and enjoy the ride!

"Your entire life, for years, will be consumed by this man who does not love you. You don’t see it, but everyone else does." Tomi Wiley's powerfully moving letter to her younger self. What would you say to yourself if you go could back in time? What wisdom would you share? What do you know now that you wish you'd known then? This tender, wry, gorgeous piece will remind you of the hopes and aches and resilience of youth. Read the original on Sweatpants & Coffee here: http://bit.ly/1gm7Fj3

We've all faced those crucial moments - turning points. A moment when a particular choice, no matter how small or insignificant-seeming, changes the course of your life. Amy, Tomi, and Nanea discuss theirs. What have your own turning points been like?

What's a blanket fort book? A book you loved so much as a kid that you read it until the pages were dogeared and the cover had to be fixed with Scotch tape. A book you'd read with a flashlight under the covers way past bedtime, one that you read so many times you can recite parts of it from memory, still. In this episode, Nanea and Barbara discuss the Little House On The Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Often, words can inflict deliberate damage that lasts for years, but sometimes the most hurtful things ever said to us weren't even meant maliciously. Alegra and Nanea discuss the words that have stayed with them and why.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? How much of that is affected by what you perceive as society's standard for physical attractiveness? What do men and women really find attractive?

Words can damage. In this powerful episode, Jordan and Barbara share their stories of the worst things ever said to them and how those words changed them. How have words changed you?

Do you spank your kids? What are your thoughts on physical punishment? Do you support it? Why or why not? Mike and Nanea discuss what works and what doesn't.

What happens to a relationship or friendship when trust is broken? What is the aftermath of betrayal and how do you move forward from there? Mike, Nanea, and Alegra share their stories.

The Boss by Abigail Barnette is everything a Hot Cocktail Read should be - pure escapist pleasure. Find out why we loved it

Do you swear around your kids? Are they allowed to curse? How much policing should you be doing? How worried are you about what language your children use?

Ever been lonely in a room full of people? We've all been there and we all crave connection. How do you find the other members of your tribe? What is chosen family?

Are you sending out the right signals? What are the dynamics of friendship when romantic interest is involved? Was When Harry Met Sally right? Mike offers his insights. This week: Mike On Relationships.  

Talking with author Jen Violi about her book Putting Makeup On Dead People, why Nanea identifies with a teenager who works in a mortuary, and what advice Jen has for writerly types. Plus - a win a copy of Jen's book!

What are you passionate about? What brings you joy? The Sweatpants & Coffee crew discuss their "passion projects" and what happens when you unabashedly pursue what you love.