Valentine boxes, field trips, PD drama, and one kid’s instant switch from hugs to mean mugs.

This week on Espresso Yourself, the girls are back for a post Valentine’s catch up, classroom edition and real life included. Becky breaks down the wild world of kindergarten Valentine boxes (think: a full 3D shark and an entire soccer field), plus the chaos of passing out goodies with 20 kids and zero patience. Add in a “Love Our Authors” celebration, baseball opening day, and a Valentine’s dinner tradition that ends with her too tired to even pour a glass of wine.

Katie shares her own unforgettable kindergarten moment from filming a small group lesson, complete with a sweet hug at the beginning and an Olympic level mean mug by the end (plus the audacity of asking for a ring pop after acting up). Then the conversation shifts into the very real teacher life: PD days, tech tools, bandwidth fails, and what actually makes professional development helpful (hint: smaller groups and real follow through).

It’s funny, honest, and full of those “only in education” moments, plus a sneak peek at what’s coming next week with field trips, shirts, and all the stories still brewing.

From sparkly cowboy hats to school chaos, this week is a full cup kind of recap. Katie is back from her Texas tech conference and returns with big takeaways, major exhaustion, and the most iconic piece of conference merch imaginable (yes… it involves a light up cowboy hat). The girls catch up on everything from unexpected run ins with running friends, education tech overload, and the post conference crash… to Moana rehearsals, classroom life, and the kind of everyday chaos that somehow always finds a way into the conversation. It’s a little bit teacher life, a little bit mom life, a little bit running talk...and a whole lot of real life.

It’s just Becky and Allyson this week (Katie’s off living her best conference life), but we’re not flying solo, we’re welcoming our very first guest! After a quick catch up that includes kindergarten chaos, Moana Jr. auditions (95 kids?!), and a week that felt like a full moon fever dream, we bring in Alex Baker (@ketchuptocancer) for a conversation that’s equal parts heartbreaking, inspiring, and unexpectedly hilarious. Alex shares how losing his wife to stage 4 colorectal cancer changed everything and how he turned grief into forward motion through running, fundraising, and his mission to “catch up to cancer” (yes, there’s ketchup involved). We talk charity marathons, the pressure of fundraising, why forward is a pace, and how a wild idea (and 5,000 ketchup packets) grew into something way bigger than he ever imagined. Bring tissues… and maybe a mustard-only hot dog.

This week is all about weather chaos and the whiplash that comes with it. From thunder sleet in Texas to snow covered Indiana mornings, and Florida kids somehow overheating in January. We’re catching up on how wildly different (and equally unhinged) winter looks depending on where you live. We talk school delays, panic grocery runs, sundress worthy recess, remote learning curveballs, and what happens when winter shows up without warning. Same friends, same chaos… just a very confused forecast.

This week is a full on catch up with all the chaos we swear is “normal” at this point. Becky officially enters her sourdough era (starter, folds, the whole nine yards) and brings two kindergarten stories that prove you truly can’t be prepared for what five year olds will say, especially when bathroom help is involved. Allyson shares a birthday weekend tradition that takes a turn when one kid gets sick plus a surprise snow day and the very real Indiana obsession with delays (weather… or basketball… or both). And Katie recaps marathon weekend: carb loading, expo crowds, and a finish line moment that turns into a “guardian angel” story, complete with salt tabs, a Boston Qualifier, and a new coffee date. Same friends, same chaos… and somehow, it all comes full circle.

We’re kicking off a refreshed season of the podcast with a new pace and a slightly reworked format, shorter episodes, more current updates, and plenty of room for real life catch ups. This episode is less about a single topic and more about reconnecting, checking in, and easing into what this next season will look like.Katie is in full marathon weekend mode, from carb loading and expo crowds to race day traditions that have become events of their own. Allyson and Becky share what it’s been like stepping back into teacher life after break. Planning ahead when you can, adjusting on the fly when you can’t, and navigating testing season, class sizes, and the never ending juggle of work and home life.It’s the same friends, the same chaos, and the same relatable conversations, just with a new rhythm that fits real life a little better.

A fresh start without the pressure—just real talk, small wins, and big-picture goals for 2026.

It’s officially post-Christmas, winter break is here, and the girls are in that weird in-between space where Friday feels like a month ago—but the new year is right around the corner. In this episode, they debrief the last chaotic days before break (winter performances, a surprisingly peaceful “three-kids-left” classroom miracle, sock exchanges, escape rooms, and finally an approved Grinch watch), while also looking ahead to what January can bring.

From running goals and race planning (Katie heads into marathon season with a January 11th finish line in sight) to the teacher “fresh start” that hits differently than a typical calendar-year reset, the conversation is a mix of practical, funny, and honest. They chat gym crowds, travel chaos, why teachers think in school-years instead of calendar years, and how it feels when former students are suddenly grown enough to work alongside you.

Plus: a little elf mischief, a lost tooth surprise, and a reminder that New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be intense—bulleted lists are welcome, vision boards are optional (and may cause anxiety). The girls wrap up by inviting listeners to share their own resolutions, traditions, or goals so they can spotlight them in the next episode.

From half marathons to holiday breakfasts, faith, food, and family traditions—December is about holding on and letting evolve.

In this cozy December holidays episode, the girls reflect on the traditions that shaped them—and the new ones they’re building now as moms, teachers, runners, and partners. Becky kicks things off fresh from a half marathon, celebrating strength, growth, and the quiet pride that comes with showing up for yourself during the busiest season of the year.

From there, the conversation turns heartfelt and real. Allyson shares the story behind her family’s beloved gooey rolls (and the year a dog nearly ruined Christmas), while Katie talks about French toast casserole, blended traditions, and what it looks like to celebrate in a mixed-belief household.

Together, they unpack how December holidays can be full of magic and stress—how traditions evolve through marriage, loss, faith shifts, and school pressures—and why the small things (food, music, performances, cozy moments) are often what we remember most. If your holiday season feels joyful, complicated, tender, or all of the above… this one will feel like a warm table conversation with friends who get it.