I am a self-proclaimed Podcast Junkie.  It all started with Serial, and it quickly spiraled from there.

About 4 years ago, my job had me in the car a LOT.  Over 50,000 miles in my car in one year.  Yea…  So I had nothing but time, and here’s the thing about radio (even satellite), there is only so much song rotation you can handle.  Don’t get me wrong, I love music, but I needed a change.  Enter podcasts.

Like I said, Serial was the gateway, but when it ended, I was eager to find more.  And over the last 4 years, I’ve subscribed to several, binged others, and continue to seek out more to add to my library.  Below is a list of some of my favorites, sorted by category.

Humor:

2 Dope Queens

Betches

Let’s Go To Court!

Obsessed with Disappeared

True Crime Obsessed

Two Judgey Girls

Health/Fitness:

Another Mother Runner

Diet Starts Tomorrow

The Habyt

The Runner’s World Show

Train Like a Mother

Wellness for the Win

True Crime:

The Apology Line

Atlanta Monster

Betrayal

Catfish

Cold

Crazy in Love

Criminal

Criminal Broads

Dead and Gone

Deadliest Decade

Death of a Starlet

The Devil Within

Dr. Death

The Dropout

Father Wants Us Dead

Fox Hunter

Generation Why

Happy Face

Hoaxed

In God We Lust

Killer Role

Let’s Go To Court!

Man in the Window

Missing on 9/11

Mommy Doomsday

Morbid

The Murder Chronicles

Murder in Alliance

Not Another True Crime Podcast

Obsessed with Disappeared

OC Swingers

Over My Dead Body

Pee Wee Gaskins Was Not My Friend

The Piketon Massacre

Real Crime Profile

The Real Killer

Relative Unknown

Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family

Run Bambi, Run

Scamfluencers

The Seduction

Serial

The Shrink Next Door

Someone Knows Something

Something Was Wrong

Strange and Unexplained

Suspect

Sweet Bobby

Sympathy Pains

The Thing About Helen & Olga

This Is Actually Happening

To Live and Die in LA

True Crime Obsessed

Twin Flames

Uncover

Up and Vanished

The Vanished Podcast

Finance/Banking/Business/News:

BAI

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

The McKinsey Podcast

Morning Announcements

The Skimm

Motivation/Tips/Lifestyle:

By The Book

Happier in Hollywood

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

The Lazy Genius

NPR Life Kit

Self Made Podcast

The Simple Sophisticate

The Simplified Podcast

With Kilee Nickels

You’re Welcome with Hilary Rushford

Human Interest:

Be There in Five

The Everygirl Podcast

Death, Sex, and Money

Even the Rich

The Heart

Kansas City Confidential

Kansas City Magazine: Kansas City’s Only Podcast

KC Top 5

Love + Radio

The Moth

Note to Self

Off Camera with Sam Jones

Pop Cultured

Skimm’d from the Couch

Song Exploder

State Your Line

Strangers

Streetwise

This American Life

Women of the Hour

Food:

Hungry Girl: Chew the Right Thing!

Inside Trader Joe’s

The Sporkful

Taco the Town

Blogger/Influencer:

The BossBabe Podcast

The Goal Digger Podcast

The Influencer Podcast with Julie Solomon

LIKEtoKNOW.it Influencer Radio

The People We Follow

Social Proof

Swiping Up

Okay, now tell me all your favorites!

XOXO,

Molly B.

I’m always looking for more ways to add additional vegetables to our meals, and one of my favorite quick and easy meals is my Bell Pepper Nachos.  These are a hit at our house!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 bell peppers
• Optional Toppings:
  • Prepared meat or meat replacement of choice
  • Salsa
  • Grated cheese
  • Guacamole/Diced avocado
  • Jalapeño peppers
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Peppers–Remove seeds, core, and membrane from bell peppers and slice each one into vertical pieces.  Set sliced bell peppers aside.
3. Bake on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet for 10 minutes.
4. Add toppings of choice to peppers and place back in oven for 1-2 minutes, or long enough to melt everything.
5. Serve immediately.

 

I hope you enjoy and can’t wait to hear what you add to yours!

 

XOXO,

Molly B.

We have lived in Kansas City for almost 9 years, and I have only been to one of our local farmers’ markets a total of three times.  When I see the pictures of people going, I envy their incredible finds, and I promise myself “next weekend.”  But somehow, it just kept finding its way away from my calendar.  But all of that changed last weekend with a visit to the Overland Park Farmers’ Market.  I was completely blown away by my experience, and I wanted to share everything you need to know to plan your next visit.

When the team at Overland Park Farmers’ Market invited me to come check out their Saturday market, I jumped at the chance.  They bill themselves as being very family friendly, so Chad and I decided to make a morning of it with our little crew.

Most people assume that farmers’ markets are only a summer event, but that is not the case!  The Overland Park Farmers’ Market is open 51 calendar days!  Their hours are Wednesdays (through September 25) from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and Saturdays (through December 7) from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and changing to 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM in October and beyond.  This makes total sense, because produce is seasonal, so you can expect to find the freshest options every week.

The market is located in Downtown Overland Park at 7950 Marty St, Overland Park, KS 66204.  Upon arrival, there is plenty of parking, either on the street or in nearby lots.  You will want to look for signs that state parking is reserved for certain businesses to ensure you have a car when you return. 

As soon as you can see the market, you know you’re in for a fun morning.  Instantly, you can see the bright colors of the vendors, signage, and produce; you can smell the yummy treats being cooked and brewed; and you can hear the music from an on-site musician.

When you arrive at the market, you can stop by the Information booth to get more information or answer any of your questions, or you can jump right in.  First stop should be to grab a coffee from Wild Way or a kombucha from TeaBiotics.  If you haven’t eaten yet, grab a pastry from Ibis Bakery.  Once you have your caffeine fix and a little something in your belly, you’re ready to explore.

Overland Park Farmers’ Market has a motto of “Eat a Rainbow Everyday,” and that will never be a problem.  There are over 85 vendors, all located within 125 miles of the Overland Park Farmers’ Market.  You can expect to find fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, honey, pasta, oils, nuts, salsa, pickles, jams/jellies, plants/flowers, local businesses, and so much more!  The vendors accept cash, credit/debit, EBT, and SFMNP.  They have a commitment to sustainability and encourage no plastic bags and recyclable or compostable serve ware, so bring your own bags and bottles.

A few of our favorites were the cookies from Surprise Foods and Yummylicious, the Pink Mushrooms from Dragonfly Mushroom, the pickles from Pat & Rachel’s Gardens, the Zestar Apples from Sunflower Orchards, the Sourdough from Farm to Market Bread Co, the Asian Pears, the stunning flowers, and let’s not forget the Mango Flower from Just Enough Heat–both delicious and totally Gramable.

If you’re starting to work up an appetite, you’re in luck, because there are several local restaurants and food trucks on site cooking up breakfast, brunch, and lunch options.  We grabbed lunch from The Wiener Wagon, and it was delicious.  (Yes, they have a veggie option too!)

In addition to the vendors, they offer live music, with more than 50 different performers, and two acts per day.  They also host special events, theme days, kids activities, and educational curriculum.  Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on their events.

The Overland Park Farmers’ Market was named Best Farmers’ Market in Kansas, and I can certainly see why.  This market started in 1982, and has been going strong ever since.  They have made over $200,000 in upgrades over 2018 and 2019, and there is a $5.5 million renovation coming in 2023!

Visits to the Overland Park Farmers’ Market will certainly be in our monthly rotation from here on out.  We all had fun, and we’ve really enjoyed having all of this fresh local produce in our house.

What are you doing this weekend?  Well, now you know…

 

XOXO,

Molly B.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 3 medium pears

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 2 tablespoons butter (I use vegan butter.)

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400F.

• Cut the pears in half.

• With a spoon or melon baller, gently scoop out the core and seeds using a circular motion.

• Place the pears face down in a 9×13-inch glass dish or large baking sheet. (Spray dish/pan with cooking spray prior to placing the pears.)

• In a small saucepan, combine the honey, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.

• Warm the sauce over low-medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted and ingredients are combined.

• Carefully spoon the sauce over the pears, reserving some of the sauce for later.

• Bake the pears for 30-35 minutes, until slightly soft and beginning to brown. 

• Remove from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes before serving. 

• Spoon a small amount of the leftover sauce over the pears when serving.

Serve with vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or by themselves. Enjoy!

XOXO,

Molly B.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp chili powder

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

• 1/2 tsp oregano

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 Tbsp cumin

• 2 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 2 tsp pepper

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

• Mix well.

• Store in a tightly closed container.

XOXO,

Molly B.

I remember sitting at my desk on April 15, 2013 when my phone started ringing and multiple text messages started popping up.  “Are you okay?!”  I had no idea why people were asking, but I soon found out: the Boston Marathon bombing.  I was two weeks out from the Nashville Marathon, and all my loved ones knew was that I was training for a marathon, but not sure of which one.  (Bless them for thinking I’m that fast…)  Of course this moment is memorable for all of us, especially for runners, but for me, it stands out for an important reason: It was the first time I realized that runners weren’t safe.

One thing that I love about running is that it is pure.  It is (for the most part) a solo activity.  Just you and the road.  There’s no impact to others.  No hitting, blocking, punching, concussions.  So when something like the traumatic event in Boston, or the abduction of Molly Tibbets on her run in Iowa, I am rocked.  Something so pure and individual attacked by evil.  (I can’t even type this without the tears stinging my eyes.)

The attacks on runners has become much more frequent.  In the past couple of years, I too have been noticeably (and scarily) followed by unwanted spectators in their creepy conversion vans.  The most recent was last week, so I wanted to share my top tips for keeping us safe on the run.

1. Tell someone when and where you are going.  Never embark on a run without telling someone.  You can even share your location with a spouse or friend through apps like Glympse or RunSafe .
2. Don’t share your location.  (I know, sounds like I’m confused after that first tip, but stay with me.)  Look at the privacy settings in your running apps (Strava, Garmin, etc.).  Turn off the location, the tracking, the location, the public settings, etc.  People are smart, and the wrong person could find you on your run.  Closely coupled with this, be very careful about sharing your running summaries on social media, especially if your profiles are public.  You are essentially advertising where you run and when.
3. Run with a friend or a dog.  If you’ve got a dog that likes to run, this is a huge deterrent since a stranger doesn’t know if they bark or bite.  Also, there is safety and protection in numbers.  If someone sees a runner with a friend or group, they will likely pass that up for a solo runner with no support.
4. Run in visible areas that you know very well.  Your route should be in a non-remote, frequently traveled area that has lighting along the way.  In addition, do not try a new route on your own.  If you look confused or unsure, that is evident to those that are watching, and you won’t know where to run (literally) if you encounter a scary situation.
5. Stay aware.  If you’re good to run without music, do it!  If you need your music or podcast, there are still some options:
   1. Run with the volume down.
   2. Run with only one earbud in, so one ear is open.
   3. Invest in some safety headphones.  I am a huge advocate for Aftershokz, because they have bone conduction technology so runners can be open to what is going on around them while listening to their music.  They have more than paid for themselves.
6. Learn self defense.  A lot of community centers and churches offer free classes, so just do a quick Goog to find one in your area.
7. Run facing traffic, even on sidewalks.  (This is kind of a soapbox item for me, but I’ll show restraint.)  This is actually a traffic law, so we can keep it legal.  But moreover, if you have your back to traffic rather than facing it, you can’t see who is approaching.  Face oncoming traffic so you can see who and what are coming your way.
8. Take your phone and keep it handy.  I know it’s ideal to take as little gear as possible, but this is a non-negotiable.  If you are ever in an emergency situation of any kind, you will want your phone.  I actually even have mine pre-dialed to 911 when I’m out on a run so that a couple of quick clicks will get me on the phone with the police really quick.
9. Change up your routine if at all possible.  Vary the time of day that you go, vary the route that you take, vary anything that could make you trackable or predictable.
10. Trust your gut!  If something feels wrong, it probably is.  No run is worth risking your safety.  Call the Police immediately if something happens to you or someone else, or if you notice anyone or anything out of the ordinary.  It is important to report incidents immediately.  Practice memorizing license tags or identifying characteristics of strangers so that you can recall them if needed.  (I do this and it actually keeps me entertained while I run.)

 

I hope you found these tips helpful. Stay safe out there friends!