Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and sit down with Risa and Nick to chat about marriage, parenting, work and everything in between. We'll end each episode with an "Extra Shot."
We're back! After a hiatus of... let's not count the months... we're back with an episode where we ramble about all our music tastes. From hip hop to country, to electronic and Taylor Swift, we cover probably almost every genre but also how those genres ended up on our "Liked" lists.
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Episode Links
"Heartless Hunter (https://amzn.to/40hdddK)"
Morgan Riddle Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/moorrgs/)
Sarah Lynn Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sarahlynnja/?hl=en)
24 May 2024
The Most Magical Place on Earth
We all saw this episode coming, right? In this episode, we're talking all things Walt Disney World and how our trips have changed - specifically what's different from being childless millennial Annual Passholders to parents of a toddler that pay for entry each time?
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Episode Links:
The Imagineering Story (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-imagineering-story/6ryoXv1e1rWW&ved=2ahUKEwiL9PqT-KaGAxV2FVkFHSTgAkkQFnoECDsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3CUEy83ECMVb4wmrRpndBg)
The Ride of a Lifetime (https://amzn.to/4bUs8Nd)
Walt Disney: An American Original (https://amzn.to/4axZL6I)
Founders Podcast (https://www.founderspodcast.com/episodes/37089292/senra-346-how-walt-disney-built-himself)
Queens of Animation (https://amzn.to/3X0P3CF)
Creativity, Inc. (https://amzn.to/4bOJoDI)
12 Apr 2024
It's not a bag. It's a Birkin.
Quota bags. The Holy Trinity. Pre-spend. What does this all mean? Last month, two people in California filed a lawsuit against Hermes about their practices for getting a Birkin (or Kelly or Constance.)
We dive into our POV on luxury goods, including how we define luxury goods, what our guilty pleasures are, and what we really think about this lawsuit.
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Episode Links:
Hermes Antitrust Lawsuit (https://www.purseblog.com/hermes/hermes-antitrust-lawsuit/#:~:text=Plaintiff%20Glinoga%20alleged%20that%20he,did%20not%20purchase%20a%20Birkin.&text=Plaintiffs%20allege%20that%20Hermès)
Acquired: Hermes (https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/hermes)
Business Breakdown (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://open.spotify.com/show/417NPBWqtMbDU0FlWZTRDC&ved=2ahUKEwiMh_KB_biFAxX9kYkEHTaDAeAQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1PpMPOAZn0VjYEDk5gQ7ZS)
Hodinkee (https://www.hodinkee.com)
Love Between Fairy and Devil (https://www.netflix.com/title/81622849)
The Three Body Problem (https://amzn.to/3VS9EIw)
23 Feb 2024
Should We Get the Wingleader?
Spoiler Alerts
0:00-28:45: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame Spoilers
28:45-38:51: Throne of Glass and Crescent City Spoilers
We hinted at this a couple times but we figured we should get our two cents in while this book series is still relevant ;) We're talking about dragons, quadrants, and the ramblings of Violet (or Violence?) Sorrengail.
Be sure to pay attention to the spoiler alerts at the top of this episode description!
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Episode Links
"Fourth Wing (https://amzn.to/42QHoaY)"
Eternal Muse (https://www.eternalmuse.com) Heatless Curls [Risa's Post (https://www.instagram.com/risaxu/reel/C2NL9lGurIq/)]
"Heavenly Bodies (https://amzn.to/3wqEaia)"
King Cake Coffee (https://shop.pjscoffee.com/products/king-cake?variant=46654230728¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA29auBhBxEiwAnKcSqgIDhN6SD_Z_zurjLTvBjmrVBlENNggvmuG4RcoImvdtbVAQuIZUfhoCw80QAvD_BwE)
Spotify Playlist 1 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Cmis3eMnrNBNOA3Oguq9V?si=q7qrCD5cQCWQOHUxqZVbeQ&pi=u-N-tQrFykTHqr)
Spotify Playlist 2 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4jI0w5igu774l980bztksb?si=IyK5zAmjRJSGgsrGxUjMYg&pi=u-aDIfy60kRaCz)
1 Jan 2024
The Not-So-Secret Reflection of Our Year
SURPRISE! We're ending the year with an extra-ish episode reflecting on 2023. There's not really a formal train of thought so, in true 'The Balanced Blend' fashion, grab your favorite beverage and join us for a casual chat about our year.
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Episode Links:
Weekly Dose of Optimism (https://www.notboring.co/p/weekly-dose-of-optimism)
Dandelion Chocolate (https://www.dandelionchocolate.com)
"Fall of Ruin and Wrath (https://amzn.to/49oT2vS)"
4 Dec 2023
TPS Reports
It’s year end, and you know what that means…that’s right! No, not egg nog and holiday parties. Not yet, at least.
Performance reviews, compensation, planning, reflection, and a bunch of documentation that goes along with that (for anyone living corporate life).
In this episode we’re covering tips, tricks, and perspectives on how to make this more manageable and far less painful. Spoiler alert: it’s not only a year-end thing!
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Episode Links:
Lululemon ABC 5 Pocket Pant (https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/Abc-Slim-5-Pocket-32/_/prod9390007)
Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher (https://www.netflix.com/title/81414665)
27 Oct 2023
You've Got Books!
Oops - life got a little hectic and we missed an episode. So we're a little off cycle but we appreciate your patience and coming back to listen to us chat.
In today's episode, we're covering books! Specifically, our top 5 reads the last year (and a bit), books we're looking forward to reading, and our favorite bookstores.
If you thought you could be sneaky and get all our book picks in the episode notes as links, Risa is way ahead of you ;)
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Episode Links & Details:
Strand Bookstore (https://www.strandbooks.com)
McNally Jackson (https://www.mcnallyjackson.com)
Yu and Me Books (https://www.yuandmebooks.com)
Harvard Coop (https://harvardcoopbooks.bncollege.com)
Coffee, the World's Favorite Stimulant (https://tim.blog/2023/10/13/story-of-coffee/)
Once Upon a Studio (https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/once-upon-a-studio/2lskBMjkAn3w)
6 Oct 2023
This Episode of The Balanced Blend is Called...
Bluey!
See what we did there?
This is probably the first of many episodes about Bluey because we ran out of time!
We talk about how Bluey has helped us be better parents, why we love this kids' show about a family of Blue Heelers from Brisbane, and our parenting philosophy that ties perfectly into the show's episodes.
As always, we have our extra shot at the end where we share what we're obsessed with.
BTW, did you know coconuts have water in them?
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Notes & Extra Shot Links:
DadChats on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@dadchats/video/7267550407436619050?_r=1&_t=8g9X0vBLMtO)
Range (https://amzn.to/3ZBzuQU) by David Epstein
Nescafe Classic Instant Greek Coffee (https://amzn.to/3ZCSoHa)
Handheld Blender (https://amzn.to/3PGyYwF) for Frappe
Olympians Use Imagery as Mental Training (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/sports/olympics/olympians-use-imagery-as-mental-training.html)
How to make Greek Frappe (https://youtube.com/shorts/cIS1WiNmcIQ?si=8zwD6HGxW-OicsNR)
Smart Brevity (https://amzn.to/3F5kdOJ) by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz
Laid Back Magic (https://somewhereworthwhile.com/laid-back-magic#via=risaxu) (Affiliate Link)
22 Sept 2023
Coffee Contemplation
WHO WANTS COFFEE?!
While we can't serve you an actual cup (and also, we record these at night) we can probably guarantee this episode will have you craving your favorite cup of coffee.
Nick & Risa discuss their coffee journeys, any controversial takes, and share their favorite coffee spots in NYC.
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Episode Notes & Extra Shot Links:
How to Make the Best Coffee at Home (https://amzn.to/45XzDjV) by James Hoffman
Cafe La Tranquilidad (https://cafelatranquilidad.com)
Aritzia The Effortless Pant (https://www.aritzia.com/us/en/product/the-effortless-pant™/77775.html)
Legacy: What The All Blacks Can Teach Us About The Business Of Life (https://amzn.to/45T1QbG) by James Kerr
Founders Podcast (https://founders.simplecast.com)
Dermaflash Dermapore+ (https://dermaflash.com/products/dermaporeplus)
8 Sept 2023
Nick & Risa's Parenting Adventure
We're back! And we're talking about something a little more serious and just a taaaaaad more personal.
Our daughter is almost two (WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!) and we're taking a look back at our parenting adventure, including where the similarities are to (gasp!) dog parenting.
We talk about the hardest parts for us (so far) and our favorites. And of course, can't forget that extra shot - cue that coffee grinder sound!
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Episode Notes & Extra Shot Links:
"Good Souls, Bad Souls and Assholes (https://amzn.to/3Z2HUR1)" by Tina Thomson
"Creative Selection" (https://amzn.to/45xNAF0) by Ken Kocienda
玫瑰少年 Womxnly (玫瑰少年 Womxnly) by Jolin Tsai (蔡依林)
25 Aug 2023
A Court of Marriage and Romantasy Books
Well, here's our first episode. Not only did I completely fumble the recording so we had to record the intro a second time, I still haven't mastered the art of the mic setups. So please bear with us!
SPOILER ALERT: If you are reading ACOTAR and are still really into Tamlin, you should not listen to this episode and come back later.
We figured for our first episode, we'd dive into something fun and less serious so why not the book you've probably seen all over your social feeds (or stacked on your partner's bedside table.)
We're talking High Fae, men and relationships (in Prythian but also IRL??), and how we both got bamboozled into reading not just 4.5 books but also the two additional series in the SJM universe.
So grab your favorite beverage and join us at our (smol) kitchen table for the first episode of The Balanced Blend.
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Episode Notes & Links:
A Court of Thorns and Roses [Physical (https://amzn.to/45my1Ad) | Kindle (https://amzn.to/3Ed3CZc)]
Crowns of Nyaxia (https://amzn.to/3PaP9mA)
The coffee we currently have on rotation from Trade (https://www.drinktrade.com/9-to-5-dark-roast/p/4700)
Lux Capital's Securities Podcast: Simulating Evolution: Playing God or the Next Frontier? (https://www.luxcapital.com/podcast/simulating-evolution-playing-god-or-the-next-frontier)
Lenia: A class of continuous cellular automata (https://alife.org/encyclopedia/software-platforms/lenia/)
Cover Art by Candace Gabel (https://www.candacegabel.com/about-avenue)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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