This week on Three Lil Fishes, we kick off the holiday season with a conversation all about connection—the kind that happens around the table, through the stories we tell, and the dishes we keep making year after year.

Nancy shares how baking Producer Tim's grandmother’s apple strudel keeps loved ones close, even when they’re gone. Kathy tells how The Wizard of Oz became part of her husband’s Thanksgiving tradition, and whether she'll rekindle that tradition this year.  The sisters debate whether Ambrosia Salad deserves a comeback (Producer Tim says "Yes, please!"). They also reflect on how to show up for friends and family who are struggling through the holidays, and how even a small gesture—a text, a shared meal, a craft gone slightly sideways—can keep us all feeling close.

And of course, the episode wraps up with What’s for Dinner, featuring Nancy’s cozy corn chowder recipe—perfect for chilly November nights.

Head to the show notes page at threelilfishes.com/shownotes for recipes, crafts, and photos from this week’s episode (including the craft we made for our tables)

Connection, Comfort, and Cool Whip

Raising teenagers isn’t for the faint of heart — and these three sisters have the stories (and the gray hairs) to prove it. From curfews and mood swings to when to step back and let them figure it out, Lynne, Kathy, and Nancy talk honestly about surviving the teen years with humor, grace, and just enough caffeine. They also dig into why respect has to go both ways, how to stay connected without hovering, and the fine art of not losing your mind when your kid slams the door for the third time this week.

Oh, and stick around for a cozy fall “What’s for Dinner” recipe that’s perfect for stretching your grocery budget and your patience.

👉 Read more and grab the recipe in the show notes. [http://www.threelilfishes.com/shownotes]

Teenagers: A User's Guide (Sort of)

PROGRAM NOTE: An earlier version of this episode had incorrect information about online betting trends.  We deleted that incorrect statistic from the episode.

This week, the sisters are talking tailgates, touchdowns, and total chaos. Kathy shares her game-day adventures at Michigan State — TVs, portable bars, and all — and the unspoken rule of tailgating: never show up empty-handed. The conversation rolls into college football’s NIL money boom and how the game’s changing for today’s student-athletes. Then it’s What’s for Dinner? — and things get messy when Kathy’s homemade noodle project takes a turn for the worse (let’s just say it ends with mold, not marinara).

From football traditions to kitchen disasters, this one’s a classic blend of sisterly laughter, learning, and life in midstream.

👉 For recipes, products, and everything mentioned in this episode, visit threelilfishes.com/shownotes [https://threelilfishes.com/shownotes]

Tailgates, Touchdowns and Total Chaos

This week, the sisters take on Halloween—its ghosts, myths, and mind games.
Nancy opens with a heartfelt tribute to Diane Keaton before diving into her uneasy relationship with Halloween (blame childhood warnings about razor blades in candy). Kathy brings the science, debunking that urban legend and sharing what Psychology Today says about why we love to be scared. Lynne’s in-laws swear they’ve met a ghost, and Kathy shocks everyone by revealing she has a friend who’s a real-life medium. The conversation spirals into whether mediums are actually reading energy… or just reading people, and how the brain looks for patterns to make sense of the unknown.

Meanwhile, Nancy and Tim argue about The Diplomat, Kathy climbs Bowman’s Tower on a fall date with her husband, and the sisters share what’s trending in costumes this year—from K-pop Demon Hunters to LaBoobus.

It’s a perfect mix of science, superstition, and sisterly sass—with plenty of laughs along the way.

Links and more info at www.threelilfiishes.com/shownotes

Pumpkins, Psychics, and Psychological Thrills and why Nancy hates Halloween.

This week, the sisters dive headfirst into “The Craze Craze” — exploring why we can’t resist trendy toys, hot products, and the rush of being part of the moment. From today’s must-have collectible Labubu to the Cabbage Patch riots of the ‘80s, they unpack what makes us chase connection through stuff (and why paying more sometimes feels better).

Plus, Nancy shares a real-life horror story about discovering lice in her house — the stress, the stigma, and the pricey path to being bug-free. And for What’s for Dinner, the answer is simple: you’re off duty. Skip the cooking, grab your phone, and order your favorite delivery instead.

Funny, honest, and surprisingly relatable — it’s the reminder we all need that sometimes, it’s okay to just lose your mind a little.

The Craze Craze-Why We Love Losing Our Minds Together

This week, the sisters invite Big Fish René on for what was supposed to be a conversation about navigating life in the Sandwich Generation — that delicate space between caring for aging parents and still showing up for your kids — but like most family chats, it takes a turn.

What unfolds is a heartfelt, funny, and sometimes raw discussion about how to navigate tough conversations with the people you love most. From aging and independence to communication, boundaries, and grace, the Fishes and their mom open up about what it really takes to stay connected through life’s transitions.

Along the way, Lynne and Little Fish Sarah share their background acting debut on 9-1-1 Nashville (assuming they don’t end up on the cutting room floor — stream the series premiere and see for yourself!), there’s a brief but hilarious detour into Travis Kelce’s anatomy courtesy of Taylor Swift’s new song “Wood,” and the sisters raise a glass to Kathy’s birthday.

In What’s For Dinner, René brings back one of her classic favorites — Steak Diane — the perfect dish for a night of family stories, laughter, and saying what needs to be said.

Because sometimes the hardest part of loving your family… is finding the courage to say it anyway.

Say It Anyway

This week on Three Lil Fishes, the sisters dive into the messy, meaningful layers of family life — from the ties that bind us to the chaos that drives us crazy. With plenty of laughs, heartfelt stories, and a few confessions along the way, they remind us that connection is what keeps everything together, even when life feels unsteady.

In What’s For Dinner, Nancy serves up Thai-style chicken lettuce wraps — light, fresh, and the perfect reminder that sometimes the simplest meals carry the most comfort. Find the recipe at Once Upon a Chef for Thai-Style Minced Chicken Lettuce Cups https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/thai-minced-chicken-lettuce-cups.html

And remember our Move It Fishes! Challenge is ON! Twenty minutes a day, every day in October. Walk, run, jazzercise…whatever….just move that body!

Special Thanks to Tenna Guthrie this week for stepping in and edited this week's pod for Producer Tim who is up to his ears in his own television project and needed an assist.

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to 3lfpod@gmail.com or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes [http://www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes]

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

Practicing Happiness

This week on Three Lil Fishes, we’re talking stress, resilience, and reconnection. From Nancy and Tim’s bed disaster to Lynne navigating her kids’ new medical challenges, and Kathy finding balance in a quieter house, the sisters open up about how they each cope when life piles on. They compare notes on everything from advocating for your kids’ health to scheduling date nights that actually rekindle connection, all while weaving in reflections on documentaries, Matthew McConaughey’s unexpected wisdom, and a revisit of Donna’s beloved Angel Hair Fanucci recipe. It’s about finding your footing when the ground shifts—and remembering that most “crises” never really happen.

https://www.fooddolls.com/greek-chicken-and-potatoes/

https://plantationrelationshipcounseling.com/

Stress, Sheets, and Everything's Fine

This week, the fishes dive deep into the theme of connection—why we need it, how we find it, and what happens when it’s missing. From Kathy navigating her son’s struggle to make friends at college, to Lynne coping with home repair chaos and reconnecting with old friends, to Nancy’s whirlwind weekend of concerts, the Disney Emmy After Party, and a brush with Hacks star Julianne Nicholson, the sisters unpack the ways connection shows up in every season of life. They also tackle the pros and cons of friend apps, laugh about Cosmopolitan’s “advice,” and remind us all that making time for relationships is as essential as taking care of our health.

In What's For Dinner Lynne digs into a cookbook a friend brought back from Australia for an absolutely delish and steak sandwich with garlic créme.  Details at threelilfishes.com/shownotes [http://3lfpod.com/shownotes] or on our Substack [https://substack.com/@threelilfishespodcast]



Cosmo, Concerts & Connection

From Broadway rush tickets to Emmy after-parties, this week’s conversation is all about celebrating the arts in every form. Nancy shares her behind-the-scenes Emmy recap (Tim’s big win and her hot-pink Jessica Simpson shoes that stole the show).  She spills a secret for scoring incredible, affordable Broadway seats. The sisters dig into why supporting the arts matters, even in tough times, and how everything from small theaters to local bands need our love. Plus—What’s for Dinner? Kathy brings us Angel Hair Fanucci, an Italian family recipe you’ll want to try.

Recipes, links, and more from this week’s episode are always up at threelilfishes.com/shownotes [http://threelilfishes.com/shownotes].

Supporting the Arts (and Stealing the Show)

Three sisters sharing stories & secrets about being women, wives & mothers. Jump into the conversation and laugh along with us as we help each other navigate this modern life.