Greetings from The Sister Project
We’re Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson, Midwestern sisters from the same mister, and the dynamic duo behind Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project ® podcast.
Our podcast is the ultimate blend of info-tainment—born from a genuine desire to have more fulfilling, meaningful conversations. We discuss our lives, what we’re reading, watching, and listening to, to the news we think you should definitely know (because we’ve got opinions and we’re not afraid to share them).
Our commitment to cozy, mindful, well-being is strewn throughout each conversation. It’s funny, raw, and inspiring. We promise you will learn a little and laugh a lot.
At The Sister Project, our mission is to help you slow down, care less, and embrace the art of doing nothing. By slowing down and savoring life’s simple pleasures, you’ll find joy in the little things that make life truly wonderful.
Join us on this cozy journey as we find joy in the little things.
FAQs
Where can I listen to Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project?
Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project ® is streamable on every podcast streaming service including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and right HERE.
What is their podcast about?
Our podcast is the ultimate blend of info-tainment—born from a genuine desire to have more fulfilling, meaningful conversations. We discuss our lives, what we’re reading, watching, and listening to, to the news we think you should definitely know (because we’ve got opinions and we’re not afraid to share them).
Streamable everywhere. New episodes drop every Thursday.
How often do they release a new episode?
Tune in every Thursday for a new episode of Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project ®. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on your preferred streaming platform so you don’t miss a thing!
Another way to stay connected and up to date with our podcast is to receive our weekly newsletter. Sign up here.
Latest episodes
- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
349 | When Your Mom Dies of Dementia, You Take Care of Your Brain
This episode is a full-bodied pour of pop culture, personal reflection, and practical wellness. Lauren and Michelle unpack their thoughts on high-profile weddings (you know the ones), gush about recent family gatherings, and deep-dive into the unglamorous but essential terrain of perimenopause and brain health.
With their mom’s early passing from dementia, the sisters are on a mission to share what they’re learning—about prevention, lifestyle shifts, and how small daily choices can support long-term brain vitality. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by health info or just need a nudge to prioritize your noggin, this one’s for you.
Because cozy isn’t just candles and comfort food - it’s also taking care of your brain, your people, and your peace.
Hot Topics: Bezos wedding, Portillos, and Bob Dylan
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- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
348 | Dear Girls, Beware the Patriarchy
In this episode, we’re diving into a New York Times article that had our jaws on the floor and our middle fingers in the air. The headline? Less Burnout, More Babies. The message? Young women should avoid burnout by skipping careers, getting married young, and cranking out kids.
We unpack how this shiny new packaging of tradition is just the patriarchy doing what it does best - rebranding control as care. From subtle language shifts to full-blown regressive ideologies wrapped in cottagecore aesthetics, we’re talking about what’s really behind this push and why it’s showing up now.
If you’re a woman feeling tired, lost, or overwhelmed by modern life, this episode is your reminder: the answer isn’t to shrink your life to fit someone else’s mold. It’s to question everything - especially systems that benefit when women stay small, silent, and stuck.
Expect laughs, some “can you believe this?!” moments, and a solid dose of sisterly wisdom. Bonus: a few feel-good content recs to balance out the existential dread.
Hot Topics: Marlee Matlin (actress), Wendy Freedman astronomer), and Pride.
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- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
347 | Living in a Hypernormal, Not So Cozy Hellscape
Lauren and Michelle tackle the big, uncomfortable stuff: how do we keep living our “normal” lives when everything feels like it’s on fire? From grocery store sticker shock to the emotional whiplash of scrolling social media, they unpack the weird disconnect of modern life - aka hypernormalization.
They open up about guilt, anxiety, and the helplessness that creeps in when the world’s problems feel too big to fix. In an effort to survive these times, they talk about the power of small actions, the role of protest and community, and why hope still matters.
Hot Topics: Musk/Trump break up, the LA protests, and mental health.
Resources:
Chicago Empower Breakfast Networking Event
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Thanks to our sponsor Lemolade.
- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
346| We Took Our Cozy Chaos to the Farmers Market
This week, we’re recapping our farmers market debut. Yep, your girls popped up on a Thursday with candles, iced coffee, and permission slips to slow down, care less, and do nothing. What we didn’t expect? To walk away totally lit up by the connections we made. Wow.
In this episode, we unpack what it meant to meet our community face-to-face. From heartwarming chats with longtime listeners to surprisingly deep convos with teenagers who were like, “Wait, slowing down is kinda cool?” Spoiler: it sure is.
We also share a moment that stopped us in our tracks: a wise and super cool elder who gave us a TED Talk on living fully.
It was cozy, chaotic, and everything in between. Tune in for a peek behind the booth and a reminder that showing up- on a Thursday, no less- can lead to some seriously unexpected magic.
Hot Topics: And Just Like That, Outstanding Young Women of America (1970), and thrifting.
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Thank you to our sponsor Lemolade
- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
345 | Escaping the Scroll and Digital Burnout for Simple Joys
In this cozy and refreshingly real episode, Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella unpack the ever-growing weight of social media burnout and the underrated magic of simple pleasures.
From the grounding joy of gardening to the sweet escape of live music, they explore what it means to reconnect with ourselves—and each other—outside the noise of digital life. They swap stories about parenting in the age of endless scrolling, laugh over a darkly funny memoir about the funeral industry, and reminisce about childhood joys.
Whether you're craving more presence, less pressure, or just a good laugh, this conversation serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best moments are the ones that don’t make it to your feed.
Hot Topics: Pee Wee As Himself, The Wedding People, Beyoncé, and Post Malone.
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Thank you to our sponsors Lemolade and Crescent Moon Therapy.
- by Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson
344 | Small Steps, Big Shifts: How Nature, Travel & Gardening Heal with Jennifer Neubauer
In this heartwarming episode, The Sister Project sits with Jennifer Neubauer of Hook and Garden — gardener, traveler, and all-around soul-led creator. Jennifer’s journey is rooted in trust: trust in the universe, in herself, and in the whispers of life that tell us when to pause, when to leap, and when to plant new seeds (literally and figuratively).
From unforgettable travels to Africa to the meditative magic of working with soil, Jennifer shares what rebuilding a life is like through intention, connection, and curiosity. Whether she’s amongst gorillas in the jungle, cultivating a garden, or launching a new creative endeavor, she leans into the unknown with a quiet confidence that everything will unfold as it should.
Together, we explore the beauty of simplicity, the healing power of nature, and what it means to start over—one small step at a time. We also chat about local living, meaningful provisioning, and how gardening can become both a grounding ritual and a spiritual practice.
This one’s for the wanderers, the wellness seekers, and anyone in the middle of a life pivot.
Hot Topics: Local Provisions, Hook and Garden, and Gorillas in the Midst.
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Thank you to our sponsors Lemolade and Crescent Moon Therapy