Gals on the Go: "Moms on the Go with Adina and Michelle" (September 24, 2025)

Overview

In this special, highly requested episode, best friends and “Gals on the Go” hosts Brooke Miccio and Danielle Carolan are joined in-studio by their mothers, Adina and Michelle, for candid girl talk. The conversation moves from family stories to sage advice on handling stress, friendships, boundaries, and social media negativity. With warmth and humor, the foursome reflects on generational contrasts and shares practical insights, uplifting hype-ups, and a deeply relatable look at millennial daughter-mother dynamics—underscored by the enduring bond of both friendship and family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intro & Mother-Daughter Dynamics [01:43]

• First time all four together in the studio:
  • The moms discuss past live shows and the novelty of joining their daughters in the studio.
  • Adina, self-described “soft talker”, jokes about mic technique, while Michelle is outed as the “walk-and-talker” who can be heard all over Danielle’s apartment.
    • “It’s usually once a day that daddy has to remind me that you’re screaming.” – Michelle [03:02]
• Health & Activity Updates:
  • Michelle mentions her husband’s training for a community run and her own “active era.”
  • Humorous discussion of running styles, gym updates, and comparing walking vs. running pride.

2. Community, Celebrities, and Weddings [06:47]

• Adina’s trip to see Matthew McConaughey and his soulful, vulnerable stage presence.
  • “He came out at the very beginning, and it kind of reminded me of you guys when he first started—because he goes, kind of have to admit, I’m a little nervous, you know?” – Adina [07:29]
• Celebrity Crush Confessions:
  • Michelle tells a story about inviting John Mellencamp to her 1992 wedding and his mom signing for the invitation.
  • Both Adina and Michelle reminisce about old celebrity crushes (Sean Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Tom Cruise) and swap anecdotes about growing up with “Tiger Beat.”
• Wedding Guest List Evolution:
  • The moms compare tradition and etiquette: strict adherence to parents’ guest list “back then” vs. today’s selective, cutthroat approach.
  • Reflection on destination weddings and generational shifts around invitations and family expectations.

3. Generational Parenting Styles & “Hype-Up” Techniques [15:20]

• Contrasting Methods of Support:
  • Michelle takes an affirming, overt encouragement route: “Go, do you. You’re amazing. And it’s gonna be great.” [16:07]
  • Adina uses subtle support, distraction, and normalcy ("made the bed, made a yogurt parfait") to calm Brooke’s nerves.
• Discussion on What Each Daughter Needs:
  • The hosts pick which mom to ask for specific situations, recognizing how different motivational strategies work for different people.

4. Stress, Wellness, and Saying “No” [20:12]

• Wellness Tactics:
  • Techniques like breathing exercises, using essential oils, and even self-soothing by humming are discussed.
  • Michelle discovers that humming is her own anxiety-reliever: “I did then of course have to Google it because I’m like, why am I humming? And it is a stress reliever.” [23:33]
• Boundary Setting & Pleasing Others:
  • Adina encourages listening to your heart and identifying your genuine “yeses” and “nos,” highlighting how people-pleasing can lead to resentment.
  • Michelle advises differently on business vs. social stress, urging Brooke to trust her own judgment and priorities.

5. Friendship Wisdom & Lifelong Bonds [29:09]

• Who You Spend Time With:
  • “Who you spend your time with is who you become.” – Adina (quoting Tony Robbins) [29:18]
  • Both moms stress the value of choosing friends—and how your circle reflects and influences you.
  • Long-term friendships from grade school are relabeled as "forever friends" instead of “old friends.” [32:00]
• Selecting Romantic Partners:
  • Adina notes it's important to look at your partner’s friends, suggesting their social circles reveal character.

6. Advice to Young Selves & On Growth [33:05]

• Letting Go of People Pleasing:
  • “The biggest thing I’ve had to mature in is to let go of people pleasing...that creates a lot of energy to do.” – Adina [33:24]
• Pride in Personal Growth:
  • Michelle opens up about transforming her assertiveness—once known for “I want to see the manager!” energy and now choosing kindness.
    • “You don’t have to be a bitch to get what you want.” (A lesson from her husband) [37:03]
    • “With age comes wisdom and actively working on it.” – Michelle [37:59]
  • Adina and Michelle agree that striking the right balance between “stepping up” and “stepping down” is an ongoing journey.

7. Communication, Boundaries, & Social Media [39:30]

• Being Direct:
  • “To directly ask for what you want. People aren’t mind readers and to be more clear.” – Danielle, sharing learned advice from Michelle [40:33]
  • The group discusses the importance of clear communication in relationships and business.
• Navigating the Social Media Landscape:
  • Moms share candid reactions to mean comments and “haters,” balancing protective instincts with the reality of public life.
    • “Whenever anybody outloads all that kind of stuff, it’s a projection of how they feel within themselves.” – Adina [44:46]
    • “You put yourself out there and this is what you’re gonna get.” – Michelle [45:29]
  • Humorous story about Michelle confronting a former grade-school peer who posted rude comments about Brooke.

8. Childhood Ambitions & School Stories [46:09]

• Running for School Office:
  • Danielle recounts running for (and winning) school secretary, inventing birthday announcements for classmates.
  • Brooke shares being “vice president,” learning to see the value in her unique path (“I got to do pep rallies. That’s more me.” [51:25])
• Embracing Failure and Finding New Paths:
  • “If I was president, I wouldn’t have been able to do Jolly Rogers…and it was so fun.” – Brooke [51:32]

9. “Moms on the Go” Now: New Eras and Joyful Living [53:51]

• Travel Eras & New Adventures:
  • Adina discusses her “travel era,” born from a necessary step back from teaching yoga, now filled with freedom and new opportunities.
    • “Having made space in my schedule has created new opportunities. So that’s what’s new.” – Adina [55:42]
  • Michelle is seeking balance, working remotely, traveling between Florida and elsewhere, and ensuring her husband enjoys retirement.
• Work-Life Balance & Technology:
  • Michelle chats about her evolving career, continued relationship with QVC and HSN, and manages 55 brands with a focus on balance—even using ChatGPT for definitions!

10. What Fills Their Cups [62:03]

• Inspiration from Children’s Happiness:
  • “You can’t even imagine...It fills me up just to see you two glowing and growing and doing what you love so much.” – Adina [62:08]
  • “To watch the people that you love experience happiness, that’s really all that you ever want out of life. That’s when your cup runneth over.” – Michelle [63:47]
  • Both moms agree the present moment is the happiest: “When’s the happiest time in your life? It’s like, right now. Always right now, right now.” – Michelle [63:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Encouragement Styles:

  • “Go, do you. You’re amazing. And it’s gonna be great.” – Michelle [16:07]
  • “Actually what I was trying to do was not talk about it. Like, make it just be normal. We’re all just people doing what we do, so…” – Adina [17:10]

• On Wedding Guests:

  • “You didn’t say no to your parents’ list. You’re like, okay, sounds good.” – Michelle [10:45]
  • “Now it’s...like, no, actually, I’m paying a lot of money for them to go.” – Danielle [10:54]

• On Social Media Negativity:

  • “You put yourself out there and this is what you’re gonna get.” – Michelle [45:29]
  • “It’s a projection of how they feel within themselves.” – Adina [44:46]

• On Letting Go:

  • “With age comes wisdom and actively working on it.” – Michelle [37:59]
  • “Let go of people pleasing.” – Adina [33:24]

• On Lifelong Friends:

  • “We’re friends since first grade. That’s a very long friend.” – Adina [32:08]
  • “Why don’t we just say our forever friends?” – Aunt Andrea, via Michelle [32:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:43] Start of main episode; all four women introduce themselves
• [07:00] Adina’s Matthew McConaughey story
• [09:24] Michelle’s John Mellencamp wedding invitation anecdote
• [15:20] Contrasting motherly hype-ups and approaching big moments
• [20:12] Advice on managing stress, boundaries, and self-care
• [29:09] Friendship selection and its impact
• [33:05] Best advice to their younger selves
• [39:30] Communication, boundaries, and asking for what you want
• [44:46] Handling negative comments and online hate
• [46:09] School elections and embracing outcomes
• [53:51] What’s new with Adina & Michelle (“Moms on the Go” now)
• [62:03] “Filling your cup”—what brings the moms joy

Distinctive Episode Tone

The episode is filled with laughter, nostalgia, and loving honesty. The mother-daughter pairs share a rare, open camaraderie, allowing listeners to feel like part of a group chat between friends and family. With advice practical and heartfelt, the episode is both comforting and empowering for anyone seeking multi-generational wisdom with a dose of lighthearted banter.