Podcast Summary: Bad On Paper – January 2025 Three Things
Released on January 15, 2025
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Title: January 2025 Three Things
Description: Join Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter every Wednesday for a dose of books and banter, along with interviews with women who inspire us.
1. Highs and Lows
Highs:
Becca’s High:
Becca shares her high for the week, expressing pride in taking a gentle start to the year. Despite taking nearly two weeks off, she felt unrefreshed upon returning to work. However, she wisely chose to take a half-week to focus on administrative tasks and household chores, which significantly improved her well-being.
"I'm really proud of myself that I was gentle about it and I wasn't like, just brute force, full steam ahead."
— Becca Freeman [02:29]
Olivia’s Highs:
Olivia recounts a rejuvenating six-day vacation in the British Virgin Islands with her partner, Jake. She highlights the luxury and simplicity of their stay, emphasizing the restorative impact of disconnecting from social media and external pressures. Additionally, Olivia celebrates the public announcement of her upcoming book, "Little One," set to release in 2026, marking a significant milestone in her writing journey.
"I've never in my life experienced a more comfortable bed. All the reviews said the bed's so great. I was like, it's a bed. How good can it be? It was pretty good. Heaven, heaven, heaven."
— Olivia Muenter [04:03]
Lows:
Olivia’s Low:
Olivia addresses the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, reflecting on the immediate and harrowing effects of climate change. She expresses deep concern and empathy for those affected, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action.
"The fires going on in LA are absolutely horrible, so seeing all of that has been really harrowing."
— Olivia Muenter [05:30]
Becca’s Low:
Becca discusses a frustrating experience with her health insurance. Due to an administrative error by the New York State marketplace, she found herself without coverage despite paying premiums. The ordeal involved numerous calls and assurances that left her stressed and anxious about potential gaps in her insurance.
"I have this health insurance clusterfuck is the word for it. So I currently don't have health insurance through an administrative error of the New York State."
— Becca Freeman [06:57]
2. Best of 2024
Olivia’s Best of 2024:
TV Shows & Movies:
Olivia ties her best TV show to "Shrinking" Season 2, appreciating its blend of humor and heartfelt moments.
"Shrinking Season 2... warm and fuzzy, hope for humanity and the beauty and pain of life."
— Olivia Muenter [15:01]
Songs:
Her favorite song of the year is "Right Back to It" by Waxahachie, which she listened to extensively upon its release.
"I'm really obsessed with a song called 'Right Back to It' by Waxahachie."
— Olivia Muenter [15:58]
Trips:
Olivia highlights her first-time visits to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago as her top trips, enjoying the unique experiences each city offered.
"Seeing Portland, Oregon for the first time and visiting Chicago for the very first time were both really cool experiences."
— Olivia Muenter [17:35]
Best Purchase:
She praises Cozy Earth bath towels for their luxurious feel and practicality, making her daily routines more enjoyable.
"I love having luxurious feeling, all matching white bath towels. So much. Like, I never run out anymore."
— Olivia Muenter [22:36]
Becca’s Best of 2024:
TV Shows & Movies:
Becca selects "The Diplomat" Season 2 and "Nobody Wants This," praising their engaging plots and standout performances.
"My first one is 'The Diplomat' season two... 'Nobody Wants This' just surprised me in the best possible way."
— Becca Freeman [14:09]
Songs:
Her top song is "The Bolter" by Taylor Swift, which she played repeatedly despite Spotify’s AI misattribution.
"I was like, there's no way that my top Taylor Swift song is not the Bolter."
— Becca Freeman [15:26]
Trips:
Becca fondly remembers her trip to Maine for the Lobster Roll Off, capturing a perfect blend of relaxation and local culture.
"My best trip was going to Maine for the Lobster Roll Off. Like, I anticipated that so much. It was so perfect."
— Becca Freeman [16:45]
Best Day:
She cites a serene day in Kennebunkport, Maine, filled with simple joys like beach outings and delightful dinners, as her best day of the year.
"It was like, can you believe this is real?"
— Becca Freeman [20:07]
Best Purchase:
Becca highlights her Cloud sneakers for their comfort and convenience, revolutionizing her daily footwear choices.
"I entered my slip-on sneaker era and man, this is... life changing in the most positive way."
— Becca Freeman [21:11]
3. 2025 Pop Culture Predictions
Becca’s Predictions:
-
Glen Powell’s Unexpected Girlfriend:
Becca anticipates Glen Powell will debut an unexpected girlfriend, possibly someone older or non-celebrity, diverging from his previous high-profile relationships."I think Glen Powell is going to debut an unexpected girlfriend... somebody that is not like, his last girlfriend, who was a model."
— Becca Freeman [24:07] -
Iowa Debris’s Rising Stardom:
She predicts Iowa Debris will land a major casting role, elevating her career significantly beyond her current success."I think she's gonna have a huge next-level moment."
— Becca Freeman [25:23] -
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Potential Divorce:
Becca speculates on persistent rumors leading to a possible divorce between Beyoncé and Jay-Z, potentially influencing Beyoncé’s artistic output."I think that Beyonce and Jay Z are going to either separate or divorce."
— Becca Freeman [25:58] -
Revival of ACOTAR Adaptation:
She foresees the revival of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" adaptation, recognizing the franchise’s immense popularity."It just makes sense to have an adaptation. And even though it's going to be really expensive to make... there's such a huge viewership for that."
— Becca Freeman [27:17] -
Euphoria Season Three Troubles:
Becca predicts that "Euphoria" Season Three will face significant turmoil, possibly due to personal issues among cast members or behind-the-scenes conflicts."I think that Euphoria season three is going to fall apart... in a very public and salacious way."
— Becca Freeman [27:30]
Olivia’s Predictions:
-
Rom-Com Revival:
Olivia envisions a romantic comedy in 2025 that revitalizes the genre, reminiscent of early 2000s classics but with a fresh twist."I think that there is going to be a rom-com in 2025 that brings back the genre to early 2000."
— Olivia Muenter [28:03] -
Taylor Swift’s High-Profile Release:
She predicts Taylor Swift will release new music tied to her personal life, possibly hinting at or reflecting her relationship with Travis Kelce."Taylor Swift is going to drop music of some kind... people are going to be all over it."
— Olivia Muenter [29:00] -
Taylor Swift’s Excessive Merchandising:
Olivia foresees backlash against Taylor Swift for overextending her merchandise offerings, leading to potential fan fatigue."I feel she maybe does a little too much with the merch... there might be a merch decision at some point in the next year where people are like, this is too much."
— Olivia Muenter [30:22] -
Oscars Best Picture Surprise:
Olivia dismisses the notion of "Wicked" winning Best Picture at the Oscars, despite its popularity."I don't think it should be best Picture. Is that a hot take?"
— Olivia Muenter [30:56] -
Rise of Bennifer 3.0:
She speculates on the potential reunion of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, hinting at recurring media fascination with their relationship."Do you think we will see the rise of Bennifer 3.0?"
— Olivia Muenter [32:17]
4. Book Recommendations and Vacation Reading
Olivia’s Recent Reads:
-
"The Most" by Jessica Anthony:
A succinct literary fiction piece exploring a woman's crisis as a housewife and former athlete."It's very good, very short. Not one of my favorites of the bunch, but it was still really great."
— Olivia Muenter [61:51] -
"Godshot" by Chelsea Beaker:
A powerful narrative about a teenager and her mother's involvement with a religious leader during a severe drought."It's super well written. Great cover."
— Olivia Muenter [62:41] -
"Seawife" by Amity Gage:
Olivia highly praises this suspenseful and richly described story set in the Caribbean, revolving around a couple's sailing trip and underlying tensions."It is so, so good. I have to read her back catalog."
— Olivia Muenter [64:12] -
"City of Nightbirds" by Juhaya Kim:
A romance drama centered on ballerinas in Russia, recommended for its engaging portrayal of ballet life."If you like ballet in any form, just go get this book."
— Olivia Muenter [66:23] -
"Rainbow Black" by Maggie Thrash:
A thriller set in the 80s satanic panic era, focusing on a girl whose parents are wrongfully accused of child abuse."It's so good. It's so powerful."
— Olivia Muenter [64:31] -
"Nightbitch" by Rachel Yoder:
A darkly humorous exploration of motherhood and identity, where a mother believes she's turning into a dog."It's very funny. Kind of like All Fours in some places."
— Olivia Muenter [67:00]
Becca’s Recent Reads:
-
"Early 30s" by Josh Duboff:
A complex portrayal of online personas and their impact on personal relationships, reminiscent of the HBO series "Girls.""It was an interesting reading experience... if any of those things I said clicked, I think it's worth reading."
— Becca Freeman [69:35] -
"Sunny Side Up" by Katie Storino:
An upcoming romance about a plus-sized woman navigating post-divorce life and modern dating in New York City."It's like, how it's like a very Sex and the City for a modern day."
— Becca Freeman [73:46]
Vacation Reading Pick:
Both hosts delve into their current reading lists, sharing insights and personal connections to each book, enhancing listeners' literary exploration.
5. Organizational Systems and Microhabits
Becca’s Organizational System:
Becca introduces her new private reading journal using Notion, a versatile database tool. She highlights its benefits over public platforms like Goodreads, emphasizing privacy and detailed personal reflections.
"This is exactly the information. It's like so many times people DM me... I'm like, oh, I think this will be really helpful."
— Becca Freeman [44:14]
Olivia’s Microhabits:
Olivia discusses adopting microhabits to enhance daily productivity and well-being. She shares her goals of flossing regularly and making her bed every day to build a sense of accomplishment.
"It makes me feel so accomplished... and I think similar is making my bed, which I do every day."
— Olivia Muenter [49:28]
Becca’s Microhabits:
Becca shares her two microhabits: maintaining a five-year journal and preparing iced coffee in advance to reduce morning routines.
"I make a pot of coffee at a time and I keep it in an airtight carafe in my fridge for iced coffee."
— Becca Freeman [47:49]
6. Additional Discussions
Let Them Theory:
Becca introduces the "Let Them" theory from Mel Robbins' new book, discussing its principles on not letting others' opinions dictate one's life. Both hosts reflect on the importance of controlling one's own responses and maintaining personal boundaries.
"People's opinions of you don't matter. And I think that side of it is quite interesting and freeing."
— Becca Freeman [55:06]
Podcast Recommendations:
Becca recommends the "Stuff You Should Know" podcast as an engaging alternative to morning news, highlighting its informative yet calming content.
"It's almost like somebody reading you a Wikipedia page of like an incredibly obscure topic."
— Becca Freeman [51:29]
Book Club Announcement:
The hosts announce their January book club read, "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari, aimed at addressing attention challenges and reducing screen time.
"We are reading 'Stolen Focus' by Johann Hari, which is a nonfiction book about why it is so hard to pay attention to anything these days."
— Becca Freeman [74:04]
7. Final Recommendations
Olivia’s Show Obsession:
Olivia raves about "Day of the Jackal" on Peacock, praising Eddie Redmayne's transformative performance and the show's captivating European settings.
"It's like a two-hander. So Eddie Redmayne is an elite assassin... he's fantastic in it."
— Olivia Muenter [60:12]
Becca’s Top Reads:
Becca emphasizes the exceptional quality of "Seawife," "Rainbow Black," and "Godshot," recommending them highly for their suspenseful storytelling and emotional depth.
"Seawife... it's so romantic, but also terrifying... it's fascinating."
— Olivia Muenter [64:31]
Notable Quotes
-
"I really took time off and I felt like it worked. I do feel better."
— Becca Freeman [02:29] -
"I've never in my life experienced a more comfortable bed."
— Olivia Muenter [04:03] -
"Health insurance is so complicated in this country."
— Olivia Muenter [09:24] -
"I just think there's going to be one that does it differently and really just makes a big impact."
— Olivia Muenter [28:03] -
"This is exact the information... if you just want to make like, you don't even have to put notes."
— Becca Freeman [44:14] -
"Let them do whatever and then you can choose if you want to still see that person."
— Becca Freeman [56:18]
Conclusion
In this episode of Bad On Paper, Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter offer a heartfelt exploration of their personal highs and lows, insightful pop culture predictions for 2025, and a wealth of book recommendations. Their candid discussions on organizational systems and microhabits provide valuable takeaways for listeners seeking to enhance their daily lives. The hosts foster a supportive community atmosphere, encouraging engagement through their book club and social media channels. Whether you're catching up on the latest in TV, music, literature, or personal growth strategies, this episode delivers a rich and engaging experience for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.