Crashing out about mean TikTok comments, Connor Wood DWTS & messy middle

Summary

The hosts catch up on podcast upgrades, content creation, dating, social-media criticism, pop culture, and Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars.

Podcast and business growth

They’ve invested in microphone arms, better microphones, and a Zoom audio recorder. They’re excited to record an upcoming New York episode in a professional studio, attend a Busy Blooming event, and vlog the trip. They’re also planning a podcast rebrand and cover shoot.

Content strategy and the “messy middle”

One host has reached 13,000 TikTok followers and found that green-screen videos about fashion trends reliably perform well. Her takeaway is to lean into formats that are already working rather than constantly trying to reinvent her content.

The hosts also discuss feeling caught between current projects and future plans, and how short-form content can feel less natural than podcasting.

Dating and online comments

One host has paused and reactivated Hinge but is considering taking a break from dating. The hosts joke about researching potential dates online.

They also discuss deleting or blocking negative commenters and wonder whether some hostile comments come from bots, though they haven’t confirmed this.

Shopping and seasonal routines

The hosts switch their wardrobes from spring and summer to fall and winter, and talk about shopping for cozy outfits and a faux-leather midi skirt. They also puzzle over a Gap promotion: stacked discounts apply one after another to the reduced price, rather than adding up to a straightforward 70% off.

Canadian Thanksgiving drink

One host made an apple-cider spritz with prosecco, sparkling water, apple slices, and a cinnamon stick.

Anecdotal period remedy

One host says her period was a week late. After taking a pregnancy test, she drank a homemade shot with fresh ginger, turmeric, apple, and lemon, followed by ginger-turmeric tea. Her period began about an hour later.

This is presented as a personal anecdote, not as established medical advice or evidence that the mixture induces a period.

Pop-culture discussion

The hosts discuss:

• Doug from the canceled Bachelorette season and whether he might become the next Bachelor.
• Taylor Frankie Paul and what they see as the increasingly troubling tone of her online presence.
• Chris Harrison’s planned dating show, The Vow, which reportedly faces a cease-and-desist dispute.
• The podcast Love Trapped, which one host recommends. It covers a complicated case involving former Bachelor Clayton Echard.
• Taylor Swift songs that have grown on one host, including “Cleveland.”

Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars

The hosts criticize what they see as inconsistent judging, particularly Connor Wood receiving a 25 while Tyler Cameron received a 30. They feel Connor is improving but being judged especially harshly, and encourage viewers to vote for him.

They also debate Carrie Ann Inaba’s criticism of Jenna Johnson’s lift, praise Amber Glenn’s dance and Ezra Frech’s performance, and note that GMA was eliminated. Other contestants discussed include Moriah Higgins, Jackson Olson, Julia Stiles, and Tatiana Ali.

Notable locations, products, and speakers

• Locations: New York City; Toronto and Cambridge, Ontario
• Products and ingredients: Microphone arms, microphones, a Zoom recorder, Gap clothing, ginger, and turmeric
• Hosts and organizations: Maddi, Tess, and Busy Blooming
• Public figures: Connor Wood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jenna Johnson, Taylor Swift, Chris Harrison, and Clayton Echard