This is a ‘talk story’ episode. ‘Talk story’ is the Hawaiian pidgin English phrase for “shooting the breeze.” You’ll hear us Hawaii born & raised folks freaking out about fall foliage (which you can never see in Hawaii), and just hanging out talking about other Thanksgiving-related stuff: food, cooking, and a bonus Thanksgiving playlist with a twist. Show notes are at https://sienaandtoast.com/podcast Thanksgiving 100 Years Ago...

Is everyone doing their best? What do you think? In this episode, we dissect phrases like “Everyone is doing their best” and “When you know better, you do better.” We talk about how there are different kinds of “knowing.” You may know how certain foods are healthier than others, but not necessarily in the same way you know how to dance or ride a bike. The episode also includes what “participation trophies” reveal about the dark side of our culture’s values and self-awareness. And ways to...

One annoying thing about being human is wanting to do something, and at the very same time, NOT wanting to do that exact same thing. On this episode, we mash and hash on the weirdness and frustration of this phenomenon, and discus some unconventional ways we’ve approached and overcome the quirky obstacle. One of the most important skills to develop is being able to give yourself a command and follow it. Turn off your brain: don’t even try to be grateful or any of that stuff You’ll...

Trauma, it's a spectrum. This episode covers some everyday anecdotes and practices we’ve found helpful. Also, Toast shares the story of a traumatic experience from her young adulthood. It involved being raised evangelical Christian (when you’re gay) and being outed by a really good friend. Then we share some simple practices, perspectives, and aids that we've found helpful to process and support the healing journey. Find show notes with links at...

Do you have a love/hate relationship with your to-do list, too? In this episode, we talk about why that is, and ways we deal with it, including some practical changes we’ve made recently to help us just enjoy life more.  The discussion moves past productivity systems pretty quick, so we can get into topics like the psychological acceptance of not being able to do everything you want, creative and spiritual work not being valued by our society, respecting individual biological rhythms in a...

Maybe don’t write yourself off so easily. We were never the fix-it, handy-person, tool belt wearing kind of lesbians. But then, something happened…. In this episode, we talk about stretching yourself. For pics of the before and after, check out the show notes at sienaandtoast.com/podcast/136 SienaandToast.com Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you center your identity around another person’s weakness? (Or what you judge to be their weakness.) In this episode we have a wide-ranging discussion about forgiveness. We cover phrases and phenomena like “hurt people hurt people," Fundamental Attribution Error, grudges, revenge and punishment, being triggered by others, the Sermon on the Mount, hoʻoponopono, and more. For complete show notes go to SienaandToast.com/podcast/135 Connect with Siena and Toast on Instagram Facebook ...

What’s all the excitement about pumpkin stuff coming on the market in the Fall? Is it really about the pumpkins? Really? In this episode, we talk all things Autumn: the pumpkin spice thing, the marketing, and the spiritual side of Autumn. Also! Lots of unexpected appearances by the clematis vine (!) For complete show notes including links go to sienaandtoast/podcast/134 Find out about Siena and Toast! links, music, Love and Above Cat Club and more here Instagram.com/sienaandtoast...

In this episode, we tell you a true story about a miracle that happened to friends of ours. Then, we talk about how it relates to the meaning of life and the Declaration of Independence. Promise is all makes sense if you listen. Pictures and videos of the cats, including the moment the miracle happened, are in the links. The related episode we mention is 21: Do You Believe This Miracle? Pictures and videos of the miracle brothers Riley and Rocky Find Siena and Toast online...

What are flower essences and how do they work? In this episode, Siena shares why she began using flower essences almost 30 years ago and Toast nerds out on the science of how they work. We discuss to how take and use them, why they’re ideal for Highly Sensitive People, and why they’re best used consistently over time. Also in this episode: Have you ever heard of a high school class having 14 valedictorians?! Learning to grow vegetables in a home victory garden. Relationships with animals can...

In our more than 20 years as a couple, we’ve definitely had some rough times in our relationship. In this episode, we share one of the things we did to help us through. We used a notebook to help us listen to ourselves and to each other better. It took us probably less than 10-15 minutes each day but it made a big difference. Recipe for Matcha Pops Find Siena and Toast on the web www.sienaandtoast.com Facebook Instagram Twitter and YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Our first new episode in over a year! This show is now part of a podcast network. What does that mean? Who even are we? Well in this episode, we give you brief backstories of ourselves as individuals and as a couple (featuring possibly out-of-date terms for LGBTQ folks like us). And we generally just let you know what we’ve been up to in the past year…featuring a big house centipede! Find out more about Siena and Toast at SienaandToast.com LoveAndAboveCatClub.com Connect with Siena and Toast...

Original publish date: May 16, 2007. When MySpace was a thing. It must’ve been, because we just casually mention it somewhere in this ep! Also, our voices are like two octaves higher. I guess it’s one of the things that drops – which is different from droops! – as you age. If you want to skip to the main topic of “Dykes are from Mars, Femmes are from Venus,” go to the 30 minute mark. https://sienaandtoast.com/podcast/131-vault-ep-20070516-dykes-mars-femmes-venus  

It only *sounds* like we inhaled helium! Because: as you age, your voice gets lower. 14 yrs ago, this is how we sounded (chipmunks!) 🐿  Enjoy your trip back in time to when George W. Bush was POTUS. Here are time stamps for some of the segments in this episode: The topic of “how to handle criticism” starts at: 11:35. The song “Ka Manu” starts at: 57:49. How about a recipe for a “Summery Sandwich”? That starts at: 1:01:12. ...

ukulele-playing LGBTQ+ folks: check out UkeCurious on Facebook and Instagram (@ukecurious) the evolving alphabet soup of LGBTQIA+ Toast’s emotional reaction to the nouns: girl, woman, ladies, sir, son ‘femmes’ are more common than ever these days, no? support for Pride from mainstream culture (business, entertainment) did not used to happen! The Advocate, an LGBT newsmagazine, was only available at a special magazine store Siena’s first time in a gay bar: underage and...

Things are opening up as COVID-19 is being beaten back here in the U.S.. We have stories and thoughts about getting back out there. Topics we touch on in this ep: Happy Pride, we’re boring lesbians. Downtown districts & one way street games NEW, new-fangled parking meters? Bah, humbug. GaithersburgUkeFest.com - we’re participating in their Hawaiian theme on 6/12/21 Post-quarantine & social anxiety self-awareness, self-respect, and other-respect for going at your own pace the...

Virtual communication has downsides. In this episode, our chat includes the following thoughts. “productivity” is part of, but not actually everything personal capacity: can you bring your whole self to your social interactions? you’ll have more time if you “waste time” on self-care the strangeness of being the first humans ever, to socialize virtually maybe we’re living in a Black Mirror episode? (Netflix) why Zooms are still taxing, even though you didn’t actually go anywhere or do...

Ahh, the Oregon DMV. It wasn't bad, actually! According to Toast. Siena had a somewhat different take. But one thing's for sure: we both had a blast talking about it afterwards.  Join us for the 'first-world problems' and laughs in this ep that includes: iPhone notifications not working "Real ID" technology in new driver's licenses dick-nose mask wearers low-tech stylus simple kindness during heightened race-based violence Oregon vs. California DL pics coconut flour biscuits, Old...

In this ep: I Know This Much Is True (HBO Max) people's reactions to your dreams self-doubts and inner conflict an appropriate language of violence within spirituality and personal development we all have wounds, and relationships are in many ways all about that reality one-second kindness

In this episode:  people's *real* opinions about having kids ;) Romero Creations artist spotlight video LoveandAboveCatClub.com COVID-19 survivors: podcast listeners' experience and the symptoms they're still suffering with observations on what life feels like after a year of coronavirus quarantine: hair, shopping, errands, etc.  

In this episode, Siena leads us in introducing a labor of love that has some very personalized goodies created especially for very specific people. People who are lovers of cats, and woo, and who welcome support when it comes to self-care. What exactly is this labor of love? It’s Love and Above Cat Club - loveandabovecatclub.com Also in this episode: one thing about social media that’s good the amazing and amusing thing about the times we are living in the evolution of LGB to LGBT to...

A rambling conversation about our first road trip together, to film a music video for Hawaiian Airlines back in the early 2000s. The convo goes off-track most of the time, and so it also includes... The best recipes we've ever tried for vegan alfredo sauce and bacon; recipes from Detoxinista.com   Probably don't go hiking up a small mountain in the Southwestern US in wedge heels, with just one row of fig newtons, even for golden hour When was the last time you bought a CD from a store and...

After a hiatus, we're finally back, with the intention to release 1-2 episodes per month. Until further notice, of course. We're keeping it casual, as this podcast is generally less of a narrow subject-matter-based thing and more of a simple-regular-life-lived-by-a-lesbian-couple thing. In this ep, we just "talk story" (the Hawaiian slang for "chit-chat"), catching you up on some of the stuff that's transpired since our last ep. Christmas music videos we posted on Instagram (@sienaandtoast)...

We'll be taking a hiatus from the pod; to stay in touch, please follow us on social media: we are @sienaandtoast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and/or join our email list. This is the final episode in our series about the Preamble to the Constitution of The United States.  Here’s a short list of things we cover. John Adams quote from a letter to his wife Abigail in 1780: "I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons...