Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak

Episode: Aunties At Rest

Release Date: February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this introspective and witty episode of Add to Cart, real-life friends and self-proclaimed “Aunties” Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak reflect on 2026’s challenging start and discuss how they’re responding with gentler, more restorative rhythms in their lives. They open up about their evolving shopping habits (including no-buy eras and the thrill of hemming over new purchases), introducing kids to “big girl beds,” loving and lamenting flat butts, and, most importantly, the myriad and underrated ways we rest. The episode is equal parts cozy catch-up, practical shopping tips, and honest contemplation about self-care in difficult times—all delivered in Kulap and SuChin’s signature mix of laughter and candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Embracing a New Era: From “Loose” to “Somewhat Scheduled”

• SuChin and Kulap muse about their intentions for a “looser” season of the show, only to notice they’re falling into a familiar, comfortable cadence.
• They acknowledge that what feels “tight” or structured for them is still loose compared to many listeners’ lives.
  • Memorable Quote:
    “Our tight is the loosest you’ve ever been, and we get that.” — SuChin (04:49)

2. Shopping Habits: From No-Buy Pacts to “Old in Closet, New on You”

• Both hosts share about their respective “no-buy” kicks, especially after overindulgence (Italy trips, holidays).
• SuChin details her habit of buying multiples when she finds something she loves, perfectly illustrated by her love of Everlane’s barrel-shaped “Way High Curve” jeans (13:10).
• Kulap and SuChin poke fun at the Jason Mantzoukas “1=0, 2=1” redundancy shopping philosophy and their own bulk-buying quirks.
• Both admit the thrill is more in the hunt and discovery, not just acquiring the item.
  • Memorable Quote:
    “If I really love something, I am going to buy multiples of it, and it’s a weird one.” — SuChin (12:45)
• The hosts discuss transitioning away from online impulse shopping ("the dopamine fix") in favor of shopping used or in-person for tactile satisfaction (19:46).

3. The Joy of Hemming (Feeling Fresh Without Spending New)

• Kulap highlights the satisfaction of finally hemming long-owned pants, making old items “feel like new.”
  • Memorable Moment:
    Kulap describes how altering clothing gives the double satisfaction of both decluttering and “shopping” your own closet (37:22).
• They reflect on body image, leg length illusions, and the comic realities of being convinced you’re taller than you are.

4. Dry January, Drier February, and “Incremental Self-Management”

• Kulap tries Dry January and considers stretching it to Drier February—noting mild benefits but admitting the real work is cutting late-night snacks.
  • Memorable Quote:
    “Didn’t lose a pound. In fact, gained weight. My problem really is I need to stop snacking after 7 pm.”—Kulap (42:14)
• They riff on how managing oneself is about small, self-aware strategies rather than all-or-nothing lifestyle overhauls.

5. Flat Butt Chronicles: A Family Affair

• SuChin shares her husband Mike’s humorous essay in Men’s Health about living with a flat butt, and the shifting “male butt” cultural conversation.
  • Memorable Quote:
    “My flat ass has haunted me since high school. So I did what any man would do and sought out some wisdom from the Internet. This is a story of my midlife butt crisis.” — Quoting Mike’s article (45:13)
• Both hosts joke about loving, mocking, or simply living with the butts in their family.

6. Auntie’s Add to Cart: Big Girl Beds and Whimsical Purchases

• Kulap reveals a spree for her daughter Emmy—a Nestig Wave Montessori convertible bed, Avocado mattress, Pottery Barn Kids Storybook Friends duvet, and a strawberry pillow.
  • She discusses the emotional milestones of these purchases, plus practical parenting hacks (the “clock that turns green” to teach Emmy when it’s okay to wake up).
  • Memorable Quote:
    “She can’t get out of bed until it turns green... She’s pretty good.” — Kulap (56:52)

7. The Many Types of Rest (and Why We All Need Them)

• SuChin introduces the concept of “seven types of rest,” emphasizing that “rest” isn’t just sleep—it's social, sensory, creative, emotional, and spiritual rest as well.
  • They reject the capitalist view that rest is only for productivity, arguing for rest as a right and necessity for well-being.
  • Memorable Insight:
    “Anything that charges your battery is rest.” — SuChin (65:32) “It's a better life. It's about endurance and enjoyment.” — Kulap (68:43)
• SuChin shares that it took her years and her children’s blunt wisdom to realize her own limits and the value of realistic self-care.
• They laugh about how rest—even in the form of short TV-fueled cat naps—becomes vital for parents and acknowledge the micro-moments that restore us.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On shopping in bulk / Mantzoukas philosophy:
  “If you have one, it is if you have none ... For certain items, there must be redundancy.” — Kulap (09:36)
• On nostalgia for real, in-person shopping:
  “Nothing is ever gonna compare to you being in a mountain town, happening upon a rich lady, closing her shop and selling things for €10...” — Kulap (21:31)
• On body image and clothing fit illusions:
  “I believe that I’m much taller than I actually am.” — Kulap (32:41)
  “And I believe I’m shorter than I am.” — SuChin (32:43)
• On rest and its many forms:
  “With my sleep struggles, one of the shifts for me was when I heard someone say, okay, if you’re up late at night and you're not asleep… you’re still resting. Like, take that pressure off.” — SuChin (62:13)
• On flat butt culture:
  “Let’s focus on the shit—men's butts. I want to objectify, demoralize, I want to do everything that's been done to the woman's boobies to the man's butt.” — SuChin (46:18)
• On parenting and self-awareness:
  "Well, if you're so tired all the time, why'd you have kids?" — SuChin’s daughter (72:47)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:19 — Episode check-in & “loose era” discussion
• 07:11 — No-buy resolutions and shopping for basics
• 09:35 — Jason Mantzoukas “bulk buying” philosophy analyzed
• 13:56 — SuChin’s Everlane “Way High Curve” jean obsession
• 19:46 — Moving away from online shopping for tactile pleasure
• 37:22 — Kulap’s hemming/alterations epiphany
• 39:41 — Dry January/Drier February & sleep goals
• 45:33 — Mike’s Men’s Health “flat butt” article
• 55:29 — Kulap’s big girl bed and bedding spree for Emmy
• 61:02 — The seven types of rest, explained
• 72:47 — Hilarious honesty from SuChin's daughter

Episode Tone and Style

• Genuine, intimate, playful, and self-effacing
• Encourages reflection while making hilarity and confession central to the “Aunties” style
• Balances anecdotes, honest struggles, and practical tips with light-hearted ribbing

Takeaways for Listeners

• Rest and renewal aren’t luxury goods or reserved for “retreat” moments—they’re daily, diverse, and essential.
• Shopping thoughtfully (or not at all) can be deeply satisfying, especially when you re-discover, repurpose, or mend what you already own.
• The “hunt” can matter more than getting—and sharing laughs about your quirks is its own reward.
• Sometimes wisdom comes from children, a hemmed pant, or a well-objectified flat butt.
• It’s okay for your “tempo” to change with the season or your needs—in 2026 and beyond.