This week we’re catching up on our holiday chaos before diving into a very real day-in-the-life of TJ as a veterinarian. From a shattered femur and back-to-back urgent cares, to a behavioral euthanasia, a tongue-laceration emergency, and finally… two adorable puppies saving the day, we walk through the emotional rollercoaster of what vet med really looks like behind the scenes hour by hour.

In this lighthearted episode, Amanda and TJ recap Thanksgiving, talk Q4 chaos, and TJ shares a wild vet clinic story. Then things get competitive with an Agree or Disagree showdown and a very heated Start, Bench, Cut segment.

We wrap with some real talk about why Christmas lists feel weird as adults… and a simple challenge that might make someone’s holiday a little brighter.

🎄 Grab your coffee, take a breath, and come be mostly thriving with us.

Today we’re sitting down with Kelsey & Ryan — the powerhouse couple behind @Newbuild_Newlyweds. With 1.6M TikTok followers, 518K on Instagram, a #3 spot on Forbes’ 2025 Top Home Creators list, and an HGTV debut on Battle of the Beach, they’ve built a DIY empire from the ground up.

We talk all about:

• How their DIY journey started
• The messy moments nobody sees
• Ryan leaving engineering
• Moving states + flipping houses
• What really happened behind the scenes of HGTV
• The questions they get asked the MOST
• Rapid-fire relationship + creator life moments

It’s real, inspiring, and a reminder that “mostly thriving” is still thriving.

This week on Mostly Thriving, we’re tackling two big things: holiday chaos and a hidden crisis almost no one’s talking about: the men’s loneliness epidemic.

First we talk through, the holiday juggling act of trying to make it to multiple houses, keep the kids semi-civilized, and still find a moment to breathe. We talk about setting boundaries, giving grace, and remembering that the holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

TJ gets vulnerable when we shift gears into something deeper: why so many men feel disconnected. From shrinking friendships to silent struggles, we break down the loneliness crisis that no one’s talking about and how purpose, brotherhood, and real connection can change everything.

It’s honest, heartfelt, and maybe the conversation you didn’t know you needed before the holidays hit.

Inside the NBA Entertainment World: What You Don’t See on Game Day

What really goes on behind the scenes of an NBA game? From trampoline dunks to court-side dances, we’re sharing the wild, funny, and unforgettable stories from our time performing for the Detroit Pistons — how it brought us together, what we learned, and the moments we’ll never forget. Amanda shares her experience as an NBA dancer for 3 seasons and TJ shares the story of how he fractured his skull being a member of the acrobatic dunk team. Plus, we’re answering all the burning questions everyone always asks… What was the pay really like? Did dancers ever date players? And what was it actually like performing under all those lights?

What was supposed to be a dream bathroom turned into our absolute nightmare. In this episode, Amanda finally shares the full story she never posted on Instagram about what really happened with the master bathroom renovation. It's safe I should of just did this project myself instead of hiring this company.

We open up about how this project pushed us both to our breaking point, what it’s really like partnering with brands behind the scenes, and the lessons we learned the hard way about hiring, communication, and keeping your sanity when everything goes wrong.

🎙️ New episodes every Thursday
Follow @mostlythrivingpodcast for behind-the-scenes clips and chaos.

We’re diving deep into the impact of screen time on kids — what the research says, what we’ve seen firsthand, and how we’re trying to find balance in our own home. From language delays and sleep struggles to the surprising benefits of moderation, we unpack the scary truth behind screens and how to raise kids who thrive in a digital world. Plus, this week’s Ask the Vet covers everything from ear infections and allergies to TJ’s least favorite dog breeds to see in appointments.

In this episode, Amanda opens up about her lifelong struggle with anxiety and panic attacks and what it’s like navigating that while juggling motherhood, marriage, and two thriving businesses. TJ shares what it was like stepping into a world of anxiety he’d never experienced before, and how it shaped their relationship and parenting. Together, they get honest about perfectionism, fear of failure, and raising confident kids in an imperfect world. It’s raw, real, and a reminder that even in the chaos, you can still be mostly thriving.