Podcast Summary: "You, Me & Mike – Ep. 213: New Year, Same Us"

Original Air Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Jenn and Mike Todryk
Podcast by: Thirteen Media/The Rambling Redhead

Episode Overview

In this special New Year’s episode, married co-hosts Jenn and Mike Todryk reflect on personal growth, routines, resolutions, family dynamics, and the importance of novelty as they head into 2026. Using their trademark banter and candid storytelling, they dive into lessons from the past year and their hopes for the next, mixing nostalgia, practical advice, humor, and heartfelt moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

New Year’s Reflections and Traditions

• Nostalgia and Milestones:
  • The couple discusses major milestones — their 15th wedding anniversary and Mike’s 20-year high school reunion.
  • Jenn humorously recounts her role as her class's “parliamentarian,” only recently learning it meant she was supposed to be the rules expert and adviser for the class president, not just a party planner.
    • “I could have really made this role big.” (03:38, Jenn)
• Auld Lang Syne Fumbling:
  • Opening with a lighthearted mix-up about the traditional New Year’s song.

Personal Growth, Burnout, and Renewed Inspiration

• Jenn’s Burnout and Renewal:
  • 2024 was supposed to be Jen’s year for renovating her own home, but after three years of heavy client work for her HGTV show, she felt burnt out and did little until unforeseen water damage forced her to design again.
    • “It forced my hand to actually sit and design. ...I think as of last week, I have caught the bug, and I want to keep going.” (07:23, Jenn)

Family Dynamics and Change

• Routine and the Passage of Time:
  • How raising kids accelerates the perception of time, and how adulthood routines can make life feel faster and less memorable.
  • “The minute we had children, time got put on the 4x speed button and I hate that.” (11:36, Jenn)
  • Mike cites psychology research: new experiences anchor memories and slow down perceived time, routine speeds it up.
    • “Novelty creates memories. ...Routine has no memory associated to it.” (13:04, Mike)
• Making Memories:
  • Both host emphasize that meaningful memories don’t require extravagant vacations, but rather, intentional new experiences as a family or individually.
    • “We don't need a bigger life for our families, we need a more memorable one.” (52:31, Mike)
    • “You don't need huge vacations to create memories; you just need to do something new.” (52:40, Mike)

Trying New Things and the Importance of Novelty

• Challenging Themselves and Each Other:
  • The couple explores practical ideas for novelty, from board games and family tennis to personal hobbies like Mike entertaining the idea of painting or even voice acting.
    • “As an adult, if you only do the same thing over and over... I think we're losing what means it's. God didn't intend us here to just do the exact same everything.” (41:02, Mike)
• Kids and Novelty:
  • Noting their daughter Berkeley’s love of trying new things and suggesting a “Berkeley approach” to adulthood.

Setting & (Not) Sticking to New Year’s Resolutions

• Resolution Skepticism:
  • Both dismiss resolutions as largely ineffective (“Resolutions are like dreams. Sure, just do it.” – 33:33, Jenn), instead suggesting practical, attainable goals.
• Why Resolutions Fail:
  • Mike shares data: only about 1 in 10 people stick to New Year’s resolutions. Reasons include setting vague or guilt-motivated goals.
  • Forming new habits takes about 66 days (not 21 as commonly believed).
• Accountability and Community:
  • The likelihood of success dramatically increases with accountability.
    • “If you want to make a resolution... accountability turns intention into action.” (58:04, Mike)
    • Jenn: “Half the battle is having... someone to check in and be like, how you doing on that?” (58:27)

Personal Goals & Habits for 2026

• Jenn’s Micro-goals:
  • Go to bed earlier and prioritize sleep (“I would love to be in bed by 10...” – 48:13)
  • Maintain her tennis hobby and perhaps embrace cross-stitching.
  • Acknowledge she’s an “old soul,” loves productivity but needs downtime.
• Mike’s Micro-goals:
  • Reintegrate regular fitness after back injury (with comedic references to “bodybuilding”).
  • Find a new personal/family hobby for the sake of novelty.
  • Lower his golf score and play more regularly.

Balancing Routine, Novelty, and Family Life

• Recognize the inherent comfort and security of routine but stress that adults must actively seek novelty for fulfillment.
• Small things can create new memories — even trying a new restaurant together or learning a new simple skill.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Routine and Memories:
  • “If you did the brain mapping of a person in a coma and a person that does daily routines, they look the same. So basically when you're in routine, you are in a coma.” (40:26, Mike)
• On Adult Hobbies:
  • “I really have enjoyed cross stitching, so I wonder if I want...”—“All right, Nana.” (24:36–24:43, Jenn & Mike)
• On the Joys and Ironies of Parenting:
  • “Kids 100. I didn't feel that way, like after we got married. ... You almost devalue it in your mind. You're like, what did we do with all that time?” (11:42, Jenn)
• On Prioritizing Time:
  • “We do all have time... We just have to assign it differently.” (46:53, Jenn)
• On Memory and Novelty:
  • “The goal shouldn't be to do more this year. It's to remember more.” (53:54, Mike)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–03:30 – Intro, New Year’s wishes, anniversary, parliamentarian story
• 06:30–08:30 – Reflections on burnout, changes in home/family routines
• 11:19–14:00 – How novelty influences time perception and memory
• 19:05–21:36 – Segment on the benefits of Seed, importance of new wellness habits
• 25:13–27:05 – Personality types, introversion/extroversion in adulthood
• 33:06–36:35 – Resolutions vs. goals, data on habit formation
• 41:02–44:50 – Routine vs. novelty and practical steps for change
• 46:53–48:10 – Discussion about prioritizing time and realistic goals
• 52:31–56:06 – Making memorable family moments, importance of small adventures
• 58:04–59:44 – Accountability as the key to success, role of partners/friends

Takeaways & Closing Thoughts

• The hosts champion intentionality over intensity — consistently trying new things, even small ones, can make family life more meaningful.
• Resolutions only work with clear intentions, attainable micro-goals, and accountability.
• “Novelty” is the thread that weaves memorable years, not just busy ones.
• The Todryks encourage listeners to choose even one tiny new thing in 2026, treasure routines but disrupt them occasionally, and savor the gift of everyday life with humor and heart.

Happy New Year from Jenn & Mike!

Listener Call-to-Action:
Share your resolutions or questions by emailing youmeandmikepodcast@gmail.com or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts.