More Better with Stephanie & Melissa

Welcome back! Tune in today as pod listener Leanne from Singapore asks: “What is your PERFECT bag?” Spoiler alert… it doesn't exist. As Steph so eloquently puts it — it's like searching for the Ark of the Covenant out here. Nevertheless, this week Steph and Mel dive into their bag dos and don’ts. From Steph's trendsetting gingham smiley face tote in high school to Melissa's 2004 Coach bag (Now conside...

Welcome back!! Look over here!! This week, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the art of observing. And it is an ~art~. People watching, eavesdropping, reading the room. This all takes skill and practice — and our girls? They're experts. Tune in to hear why Steph's favorite spot to people watch is the TSA line (where people might possibly show their truest selves) and Melissa confesses her staring problem. Featuring: Accidentall...

Come on in and have a seat! Cute outfit! Can we take your coat? This week, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the wild world of Going Out to Eat. On the menu today: Steph's first Big Restaurant Memory (unlimited shirley temples at the Flying Dutchman in Texas, hello?!) and grand tales from Melissa's Sizzler Phase when she'd eat anyone under the table. Plus — the ladies open up about the intricacies of the LA food scene and the s...

At the risk of too many feels and future tripping, the ladies tackle Nostalgia this week. Ah, nostalgia — the bittersweet art of looking back. First, Stephanie opens up about her meticulous ephemera box and why it makes her cry, then Melissa shares about Brooklyn blooper reels, finally and they both reminisce about Stephanie's wedding day. Plus! The neurological power of music in youths and five tips to buck up and transform ...

Welcome back to More Better! This week, Stephanie and Melissa tackle………………………….waiting. From passive waiting — (traffic (ugh), lines (UGH) — to active waiting — contracts (chop chop!), jury verdicts (she’s innocent, your honor) — to the torturous ambiguous kind — (when will my reflection show who I am inside?). Steph shares her...

Welcome back to More Better! This week, Stephanie and Melissa tackle the art of saying no: from people-pleasing tendencies to pregnancy as the ultimate excuse. Melissa opens up about how she learned to say NO by watching Steph during the Brooklyn Nine-Nine years ("You can just say that?!"), while Steph reveals her ancestors' low-key panic about her daughter going skiing (absolutely not). Featuring: teaching your kids to use you as ...

 When listener Lucia asks the ladies for thoughts on nightmares, sleepwalking and building a better bedtime routine this week, Steph and Mel have a lot to say. Melissa opens up about her childhood sleepwalking hijinks watching cartoons at 3 a.m. and shares about her son Enzo's more recent night terrors. What works for them? Cold rooms, weighted blankets and image rehearsal therapy, dream-world machete in hand. Also, Steph shar...

On this week's episode, med student Katie calls in to the ladies and asks for networking advice. *record scratch* NETWORKING?! YIKES! Mel and Steph wince at the word but give Katie advice and share their experiences with what they like to call "Fostering Relationships". From reframing "What are you doing?" as a question for someone to discussing the art of the follow-up text, the ladies get real about building genuine connections i...

When listener Lucy from London asks for advice on living alone for the first time, Mel and Steph get real about the pros, cons and weird freedoms of solo living. From Steph's pink velvet headboard era to Melissa's bat-by-the-bed security system, the ladies discuss making your space a sanctuary, the importance of self-respect when no one's watching and why leaving big work boots outside your door is actually genius. Featuring: safet...

Melissa and Stephanie are getting real about skyiiieeein. The trial and error of it, the expensive mistakes and the pressure to have flawless skin while working in Hollywoodlandia. From cystic acne at 11 to navigating filters and Korean beauty standards, the ladies discuss their very different skin types (oily vs. dry), what's actually in their routines and why you should never introduce five new products at once. Steph shares the ...

Steph’s Disney obsession is no secret (we don’t talk about Bruno…), so it’s ABOUT TIME we finally get magical on this here pod. From VHS clamshell cases and Little Mermaid penis castles to smellitizers and feral cat rumors, join us this week as the ladies break down ALL things Dinsey, including how to actually enjoy the parks without losing your mind or your money. Steph shares her holy grail park tips: 1. ...

It’s our Valentine's Day episode and the husbands are in the stood! Brad and David join Stephanie and Melissa for an honest and ridiculous conversation about staying connected. The gang plays "would you rather" to figure out their love languages, share their worst gift-giving moments (never, ever, ever give your partner a blender) and get honest about what ACTUALLY makes them feel loved. Touching on everything from aggressive...

 Beep beep delivery! Step aside because the mail truck is backing up into the podcast booth this week, babyyyyy. This week, Steph and Mel answer your questions once again. Responding to e-mails about everything from dance to secret animosity in friendships, budgeting on a tight income and biohacking (ew?), the ladies riff about thrift store addictions, high-yield savings accounts, bad friends and more. Join us and let us know ...

Feeling paralyzed by everything happening right now? You're not alone. This week, listener Shalome writes in about struggling to find joy when their identity feels under constant attack. Stephanie and Melissa discuss why joy is a form of resistance, not a distraction, do a "joy banking" exercise together (join us!), dig into historical examples of communities using celebration to survive oppression and share practical ways to take ...

 It’s happening! Put it on the calendar! On today’s episode, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the beautiful chaos of making plans. From color-coded family calendars to the dreaded LA slogan “OMG, we should hang out!” (do they mean it?!) that never quite comes true, they discuss the art of scheduling social time, dealing with flaky friends and why cancelling plans sometimes feels EUPHORIC. Also, the ladie...

You’re doing amazing, sweetie! You look great today. No seriously, you do! On today’s episode, Stephanie and Melissa dive into the beautiful, awkward and sometimes complicated world of compliments. From girly pops in the bathroom culture to the mortifying experience of receiving praise you don’t believe, they explore what it means to give and receive kind words. The ladies share their most memorable compliments, d...

Buenos dias More Betterinos! Since it’s January and we’re all in that More Year, More Better spirit (or trying to be), we thought we would tackle one of the most important parts of the day: Mornings. Stephanie (Morning Person™) and Melissa (Not A Morning Person™) discuss all of the things that come with starting the day. From waking up with the sun (or not), to early workouts (or not), wellness hacks and the...

Listen. Sometimes it’s just time to hit the reset button. Nothing to do with a certain date on the calendar necessarily… but this time of year may or may not make you start taking stock of your life. Whether it’s having that hard conversation with a friend, reorganizing the ol’ junk drawer or eating your feelings with tortillas, we all need to shake things up once in a while. On today’s episode, Steph...

What to do when you’re about to marry the love of your life and your family ACTUALLY speaks now and do not forever hold their peace? This week, Stephanie and Melissa read an email from listener Rachel, who is having trouble navigating the fact that she and her now husband come from completely different cultures. Steph and Mel share their experiences and thoughts on how to navigate multicultural families — and they quote...