Bad On Paper: September 2025 Three Things

Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Episode Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this cozy September "Three Things" episode, Becca and Olivia return after summer travels to share personal highs and lows, discuss the joys of fall nesting, pop culture moments (including Taylor Swift’s engagement), productivity tools, their fall reading lists, and tackle the controversy swirling around Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir. It’s a mix of personal anecdotes, vulnerable storytelling, bookish excitement, and assessments of internet culture—all served with their trademark warmth and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Highs & Lows (00:36–16:00)

Olivia’s High: Getting a Blurb from Liz Moore (00:52–07:24)

• Olivia shares her emotional journey of cold-emailing her idol, author Liz Moore, to request a book blurb for her novel "Little One."
• Overcame self-doubt, sent a carefully crafted email, and was shocked when Moore responded positively and provided a blurb.
• Quote:
  "I just had this gut instinct that maybe she would like my book...I kept a flashcard over the small framed photo of the email on my desk because I was like, I can't look at this like every single day. I can't think about this. But now I can see it and it makes me smile." — Olivia (06:56)
• Takeaway: Follow your gut instincts, especially when sharing creative work.

Becca’s High: Spiritual Flamingo Sighting in Sicily (07:48–10:00)

• Becca returned from a long-awaited trip to Sicily, celebrating a friend’s 40th birthday.
• The unexpected highlight: flocks of flamingos at the villa on a nature preserve, which felt deeply meaningful and "spiritual."
• Quote:
  "There were hundreds of flamingos in this bay in the backyard of our house. Kind of a little bit at a distance you could see them, but they were a little bit far away. There were hundreds of them there every day. It was incredible." — Becca (08:43)

Lows: Lost AirPods & Illness (11:24–16:00)

• Becca lost an AirPod on her flight to Sicily, lamenting the futility of searching the airplane.
• Olivia struggled with a cold, which lingered through the weekend and after hosting family. She shared a sense of fatigue but also resilience.
• The segment captures both the humor and annoyance of small mishaps.

2. Early Fall Nesting & Cozy Energy (16:00–18:22)

• Both hosts express intense autumnal, "nesting" urges: cozying up their homes, hunting for décor, and embracing the routines and slow pleasures of fall.
• Quote:
  "I have a lot of nesting energy right now...I am ready to spend some time at home. And I want that home to be cozy." — Becca (16:04)

3. Pop Culture Deep Dive: Taylor Swift's Engagement (18:22–31:10)

How They Found Out & That Viral Moment (18:22–20:39)

• Both hosts comically recount where they were when they got the news—Olivia at her desk, Becca in a car in San Diego.
• The universal, millennial impulse to “break” big celebrity news to others is lovingly skewered.

The Ring & The Public Announcement (23:02–24:05)

• Discussion about the antique vibe of Swift's ring and speculation about whether Taylor designed it herself.
• Surprise at the very public and "millennial-coded" Instagram engagement post.

The Internet’s (Over-)Investment & Wedding Predictions (24:05–31:10)

• Both express discomfort over the entitlement of some fans and the parasocial relationship dynamic.
• Speculate on how public or private the wedding will be, comparing it to royal weddings or other A-list nuptials.
• Quote:
  "She has created this Easter egg ification of everything...I'm incentivizing people to dig deep into everything I post." — Becca (25:49)
• The conversation balances fascination, gentle criticism of Stan culture, and thoughts on privacy.

4. Productivity Trends: The "Focus Friend" App (31:10–38:13)

• Becca introduces "Focus Friend," a gamified productivity app (akin to a virtual bean that knits socks as you focus, drops stitches if distracted).
• The hosts reflect on how technology both erodes and can potentially restore focus.
• Quote:
  "It's somebody gamifying the idea of using our phones less." — Becca (32:54)
• They share personal struggles around focus, procrastination, and the urge for distraction—often rooted in fear or discomfort with uncertainty.

5. Seasonal Reset & Fall Routines (42:23–45:16)

• Both hosts celebrate the chance to "be boring," return to routines, finish writing projects, and indulge in hobbies like mahjong, pickleball, and soup-making.
• Olivia dreams of a solo thrift store and café road trip; Becca plans on nesting and connecting with college football traditions.

6. Fall Book TBRs & Anticipated Reads (48:41–55:08)

Olivia’s Fall Picks

• The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – waiting for a fire-in-the-stove, spooky read.
• Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild – twisty, emotional literary fiction with romance.
• What a Time to Be Alive by Jade Chang – sharp, darkly funny exploration of unexpected fame.

Becca’s Fall Picks

• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy – a multidecade novel about Black women’s friendships.
• Boomtown by Nic Stone – adult mystery-thriller by a renowned YA author.
• Patti Smith’s upcoming memoir Bread of Angels – highly anticipated by Becca.
• Brimstone by Callie Hart – the conclusion (?) to a Romantasy duology.
• Mentions high anticipation for the new Elizabeth Gilbert memoir.

7. Dissecting the Elizabeth Gilbert Memoir Discourse (55:08–70:45)

• The hosts explore the controversy and cultural conversation around Elizabeth Gilbert’s forthcoming memoir, "All The Way to the River."
• Discuss the viral Cut excerpt and New Yorker (Gia Tolentino) review: Gilbert’s "radical honesty," her depiction of relationship turmoil, addiction, and loss.
• Olivia questions the ethics of writing about a deceased partner; Becca is fascinated by Gilbert’s unapologetic, heart-led decision-making.
• Quote:
  "It's a type of storytelling...it feels very fresh and very missing to just hear unvarnished stories." — Becca (70:02)
• Conversation ends with musings about memoir ethics, vulnerability, and the value of unfiltered storytelling.

8. End Matter: Obsessions, Recent Reads, Book Club (71:14–81:05)

Obsessions (71:14–74:59)

• Becca: Discovered the day-use hotel room app ("Day Use") to survive early travel arrivals; recommends it as a game-changer.
• Olivia: Loves the "Shooting the Shit" miniseries (industry gossip, but not snarky) on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast.

What They Read

• Becca: Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand (perfect, non-scary beach read mystery); started The Academy (YA-adjacent, very "Eleany") ahead of next week’s interview episode.
• Olivia: Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan (body image, generational trauma, beautifully written).
• September Book Club Pick: Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach.

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• "If you're out there and you're like, I am scared to share my work with the world or whatever, or scared to ask for something, just, I don't know. If you have a gut instinct, follow it." — Olivia (06:55)
• "There were hundreds of flamingos in this bay in the backyard of our house...It was incredible." — Becca (08:43)
• "I'm excited for a big fall of hobbies that also includes painting...I'm excited to get back to cooking too." — Becca (44:55)
• "Do you remember when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez...called off the wedding right before because...the stress of all of the public scrutiny around it was like so much." — Becca (30:08)
• "It's gossipy without being snarky, which I think is a really tough balance." — Olivia (74:51)
• "The party scenes [in Swan Song] were so good. There were so many good cameos...I loved it." — Becca (76:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Highs & Lows: 00:36–16:00
• Home/Nesting Energy: 16:00–18:22
• Taylor Swift Engagement: 18:22–31:10
• Focus Friend App & Attention: 31:10–38:13
• Fall Goals & Routines: 42:23–45:16
• Book TBRs: 48:41–55:08
• Elizabeth Gilbert Memoir Discourse: 55:08–70:45
• Obsessions & Book Recs: 71:14–79:34
• Book Club & Outro: 79:34–end

Tone & Takeaways

Stay for the friendship banter; leave with new fall routines to try, pop culture to process, books to read, and encouragement to share your work with the world—no matter the self-doubt. Becca and Olivia invite you to lean into cozy season, be gentle with yourself, and enjoy the power of honest conversation.