Parenthood Pals

06/01/2024

Big poetry update: Cover reveal and pre-order info for Midlife Abecedarian!

I'm so happy that this book will be in the world soon. This is the best work of my life, and I'm really proud of these poems.

Thanks to so many people, especially:

Courtney LeBlanc at Riot in Your Throat, my publisher turned dear friend. This is one of the healthiest and most supportive relationships I've ever had in my life. (Also, RIYT is having an open reading period this whole month, so if you have a poetry manuscript looking for a home, it's my opinion that there's no better home!)

Jai Johnson, who isn't on social media, but she still deserves credit. She's designed every book of mine, and she's so talented. I love everything about this cover, including hanging out with her and working on it together. Maybe especially that!

Joan Kwon Glass, Laura Passin, and Leah Umansky for writing the most generous, beautiful blurbs--more about those later.

And Lynn Melnick, whose invaluable feedback is the reason this book exists at all!

https://riotinyourthroat.com/product/midlife-abecedarian-by-melissa-fite-johnson/?fbclid=IwAR38dqlgSgQX_dhpC9M0GSCoPc9xV-jVv3DcTbRxZjzk-TB9bZ1rrA2ayq0

Midlife Abecedarian is a nostalgic collection that takes the reader on a journey through time. It provides a template for a life well-lived, even if you’re only halfway through. Conjuring memories and a sense of satisfaction and comfort, Midlife Abecedarian is a map to things remembered and things...

19/05/2023

Hey Pals! Huge thanks to our listener Cary who found a link to the deleted scenes from the PARENTHOOD finale on this Reddit thread. We discussed them in our final podcast but had never seen them. Enjoy!

Posted by u/NoraCharles91 - 27 votes and 11 comments

07/03/2023

FINAL EPISODE! We've made it to Season 6, Episode 13, "May God Bless and Keep You Always." We talk about darn near everything over the course of these 5 hours: the fate of The Luncheonette, Sarah and Hank's wedding, Amber's arrangement with her grandparents, Haddie's return, Joel and Julia's phone call from the social worker, the proliferation of Braverman babies, those flash forwards, and the passing of the family patriarch. We also play a game, unearth Facebook time capsules about our previous viewing of the show, and break down multiple aspects of the series as a whole. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all who listened to the podcast. It began as a way for us to connect during the darkest days of the pandemic, and it became a way for us to connect with friends and strangers across the country and around the world in ways more surprising and beautiful than we could have predicted. Your participation in these conversations is what kept us from just shouting into the void and we are extremely grateful!

06/03/2023

We're going guestless for our final podcast tomorrow, but thank you to all the incredible guests we've had over the years! Your insights, experiences, and humor have sparked so many wonderful conversations and made the podcast more fulfilling than we could have imagined. THANK YOU!

28/02/2023

NEW EPISODE! We've got Marc Johnson as our final guest to discuss Season 6, Episode 12, "We Made It Through the Night." We discuss Zeek's end of life decision, Sarah and Hank's impending wedding, the rocky reconciliation of Joel and Julia, and much more! Enjoy!

21/02/2023

NEW EPISODE! We're giddy to welcome back Shane and Alicia O'Neill for Season 6, Episode 11, "Let's Go Home." We talk about the resolution (?) of Joel and Julia's marital problems, Hank's lingering proposal, Drew's good looks, Caleb's foul mood, a potential Full House crossover, and so much more! Enjoy!

14/02/2023

NEW EPISODE! Just the Pals today for Season 6, Episode 10, "How Did We Get Here?" We discuss matters of life and death (literally), our attitudes toward risk vs. practicality, Hank's big question to Sarah, the 100th episode milestone, and more! Enjoy!

09/02/2023

This is Melissa wishing Caleb the happiest possible birthday, from one Pal to another! This is the last time either of us will have a birthday while we're doing this podcast, but definitely not the last time one of us will have a birthday during the rest of our friendship. Ooh, unless something goes horribly wrong. This took a turn! Anyway, I love you!

08/02/2023

Here are the articles mentioned in our latest podcast. First, the Washington Post article by Alyssa Rosenberg, "How Parenthood drove me crazy" (which you may have to be a WaPo subscriber to read).

Jason Katims' once-loving show about an extended family has turned its characters into a conservative parody of liberal values.

07/02/2023

NEW EPISODE! Ruth Williams return for Season 6, Episode 9, "Lean In." We discuss the horrendous and frustrating fallout of the Max/Dylan fiasco, the return of Mark Cyr, Joel's tactics for getting Julia back, the pros and cons of long runs on TV, and much more! Enjoy!

31/01/2023

NEW EPISODE! Not only that, but it's our 100th episode! We're joined by Manal Wiedel to discuss Season 6, Episode 8, "Aaron Brownstein Must Be Stopped." We talk a lot about Max's behavior and how his parents deal with it, Jasmine finally getting a storyline, a Braverman-less plotline, the struggle between dreams and practicality, and more. Enjoy!

24/01/2023

As promised - a screenshot from our recording with Juliet, featuring Gizmo!

24/01/2023

NEW EPISODE! We're back with Juliet Traub for Season 6, Episode 7, "These Are the Times We Live In." We evaluate Amber's babysitting, admire Max and Hank's friendship, tear our hair out over Joel and Julia's back and forth...oh yeah - and guns! And creamed corn! Enjoy!

17/01/2023

NEW EPISODE! We're joined by returning favorite Lauren Hansen to talk Season 6, Episode 6, "Too Big to Fail." We discuss our feelings about Dylan, the efficacy of game night, whether it's ever okay to let a kid get away with bad behavior, which Harry Potter house the grandkids would be sorted into, and much more. Enjoy!

10/01/2023

NEW EPISODE! We're joined by Sara Russell for Season 6, Episode 5, "The Scale of Affection Is Fluid." We talk about said scale, our opinions of Chris and Griffin, whether or not Crosby and Jasmine should be together, borrowed Friends plotlines, and much more!

On a serious note, between the recording of this episode and its release, Sara very unexpectedly lost her father, Paul Hoyer. We'd like to dedicate this episode to him and ask you to join us in lifting up Sara and her family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve his loss.

03/01/2023

NEW EPISODE! What better way to ring in the new year than with Season 6, Episode 4, "A Potpourri of Freaks" with our returning favorite Amy Shaughnessy!? We discuss Sydney's fledgling career as a bully, Season 6's rehabilitation of Hank, which direction Big Sur is from Berkeley, and much more. Enjoy!

20/12/2022

NEW EPISODE! We're looking at Season 6, Episode 3, "The Waiting Room" with Eric Komo. We talk about Amber's amazing trip to Wyoming, shoplifting, motorcycles, the rediscovered strengths of Season 6, and much more. This is our last episode for 2022, we'll be off the week of Christmas and back in the new year. Enjoy!

18/12/2022

Here is the full poem that Melissa referenced in our latest episode: "From Blossoms" by Li-Young Lee.

13/12/2022

NEW EPISODE! We're discussing Season 6, Episode 2, "Happy Birthday, Zeek" with Lindsey Martin. We talk about the value of family rules, Julia's lack of growth, quality vs. quantity of life, how to react when someone's pregnant, and lots of pronunciation. Enjoy!

12/12/2022

Kicking off our Season 6 parade of returning guests is Caleb's sister and podcast fav, Lindsey Martin! Lindsey finally gets the chance to comment on storylines that involve actual parenting, plus gets to express her strong feelings about the Joel/Julia situation. Plus we get a few little cameo squeaks and chirps from her sweet baby, Austen. Check it out tomorrow!

06/12/2022

WE'RE BACK! NEW EPISODE! We embark on the 6th and final season with a discussion of Season 6, Episode 1, "Vegas." We talk about the contractual compromises of the final season, the evolution of Hank, Amber's pregnancy, Las Vegas, and much more! Enjoy!

22/11/2022

A big thank you to all of our guests, old and new, who talked with us in Season 5! They joined us from Ohio, Missouri, New York, Minnesota, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia. Their insights and experiences enriched every episode and we're so happy to know them!

31/10/2022

Happy Halloween, Parenthood Pals! It's time for our annual game of SLEUTH! Who will be the murder suspects this time? Who will be the culprit? Watch the video to find out!

31/10/2022

25/10/2022

NEW EPISODE! It's just the Pals today for the Season 5 finale, "The Pontiac." We say goodbye to the Braverman house, discuss coming out, assess season 5's strengths and weaknesses, and so much more. It's been a long season, thanks for sticking with us! We'll be off in November, but we'll return in December to kick off the 6th and final season!