Spare Time the Pod
Spare Time the Pod
Alissa Avilov & Marie McGrath
because the best living is done in your Spare Time inyoursparetime.substack.com
Breaking Our Silence...
Addressing the ~rumors~Wedding Rundown:MM Wedding* BOTW - ceremony * WOTW - sitting in my top on the way and ruining it heheAA Wedding* BOTW - ceremony * WOTW - forgot to wear my grandma’s earringsBest of the Hiatus:* Ate* MM: baked char siu bao as a concept (but especially from Mark’s Duck House)* AA: some kind of pickled fish thing at 2AMYs that rocked my sox + broiled maine oysters + my bach breakfast* Read* MM: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch - also ~in my fantasy era~ Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson and the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee* AA: The Names by Florence Knapp + Heart the Lover by Lily King + Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild* Watched* MM: Adolescence, The Studio, Last of Us Season 2* AA: Hacks, Loot, Boots. Beyonce Cowboy Carter tourWorst of the Hiatus:* MM general:* Getting laid off* 3rd degree burn lol* Listen:* MM: Life of A Showgirl so sorry ladies* Ate:* AA: Everything at Kellog’s diner but especially the ice cream sundaeHow we spent our spare time since we last spoke (other than getting married teehee):* MM: sourdough, thinking about writing, tutoring children, doing less, slowing down* AA: Back on my yoga journey, remembering how to cook! (cookie box is going to be insane this year), I continue to be on the fitness journey, using my phone way less, back to concerts TG, small & sweetLook Ahead / What’s Next:* 2026 is the year of the News!* Catch the Best Of edition to see what we’ve really been up to* First newsletter drops 12/7 + we will be posting 4/month from there* Publish every Sunday - 4 newsletters/month - 8AM* Seasonal Monthly (free)* Marie* Alissa* Monthly rundownThanks for spending your spare time with us This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Nov 30, 2025
1 hr 21 min
April 2025
What's that you see? Could it be...the Spare Time Pod dropping on the actual first Monday of the month??? That's right friends, we've got our recap for you, it's right on time, and A LOT has happened.How did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Miami whoa* AA: time off, quitting my job, sleepover with beau, redecorating, etc. starting a new job, small and sweet pop up, meeting HHBest/Worst:* Best:* AA: arsicault chocolate croissant* MM: Walrus Rodeo Miami but also Canva premium honestly. honorable mention Easter kit kat* Worst:* MM: drunk drivers!* AA: is produce bad everywhere?Spare Time Rec:* AA: cookies and cream mask by fenty / facials* MM: The Slowdown pod and Great River by Mia Word (honorable mention Love from the Outer Bands by Mary Block)Culture / 3 Things You Need to Know:* Severance Discussion* Overcompensating Benny Drama* Lucy Dacus concertLook Ahead:* MM: becoming a wife lol* AA: may is crazyyyyy! Camping, travel, my best friends wedding, beau turns 5, summer This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
May 5, 2025
48 min
February + March 2025
0o0o0o0 double header (aka it's a long one teehee)! We talk friendship, flowers, Lucy Dacus, and more, plus Marie finally breaks her silence on the Worst Thing She's Ever EatenHow did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Feb - traveling! South Africa and a lil Miami. March - so much special friend time! Flowers, fitness, sitting outside, getting ready for Miami!* AA: Feb - wallowing! Celebrating Hen, Kelsea Ballerini, celebrating my mom, wedding planning, hatching new ideas March - Getting my shit together, celebrating my best girl!!!, putting wheels in motion, teaching yoga, cherry blossoms, Richmond etc. Spirit is backBest/Worst:* Best:* AA:* Feb: my adult relationship with my sister (shoutout to Michael too)* March: +1 and also Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild* MM:* Feb: Arthur’s Mini Super in Capetown* March: bachelorette * Worst:* MM:* Feb: THE creamy mussel–click here at your own risk* March: honestly…the Lucy album? Sad!* AA:* Feb: radicchio / men* March: why are all sandwiches bad - taste testSpare Time Rec:* AA: I know Marie already talked about this but now it’s my turn - Tommy Lefroy + Love on the Spectrum and also Trousdale new releases - album this week - Growing Pains* MM: We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons AND asking for love letters this IKEA picnic gadget. Okaysyyyy also the app ClearSpaceCulture / 3 Things You Need to Know:Feb:* Lucy + Julien 4ever!* Is social media going to save us or be the end of us (light fodder)Podcast ep Marie referenced* SeveranceMarch:* Women’s NCAA specifically Paige Bueckers* Something im thinking about is the decline of Maren Morris* Demi Moore losing best actress to Mikey Madison (Oscars if we care at all)* Also: White LotusLook Ahead:* MM: Poetry Festival lyfeeeeeee* AA: hopefully an absolutely new life all around lol hopefully a miami trip and a full spring cleaning This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Apr 7, 2025
1 hr 16 min
January 2025
One month down, an Elon to go...I mean an eon. But we're not talking about the Muskocracy, we're keeping it light!! Listen as we dunk on oscar noms, wax poetic about our current fave song, and more How did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: so much friend time! SNOW! Home Alone, fitness, writing, and films* AA: murder mystery, with my boys (hockey game!), christmas round 2, cape cod!!! Things have really locked inBest/Worst:* Best:* AA: cape cod with Friend Group * MM: Same Recoveco with Ada Limon* Worst:* MM: having the flu on a work trip* AA: my nails are ruined (again)Spare Time Rec:* AA: Angie McMahon’s album Light Dark, Light Again* MM: Severance Season 2 droolCulture / 3 Things You Need to Know:* Grammys* The Substance, A Complete Unknown, and The Brutalist Reviews* Lucy Dacus’ very gay press tour (and new album out 3/28!)Look Ahead:* MM: big boy vacation! Continued routine, wedding, wedding, wedding!* AA: teaching yoga!!, cultivating more community, creative projects, wedding planning, celebrating my mama and henrito, Atlanta, consistency with SWEAT, kelsea ballerini This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Feb 10, 2025
49 min
Best of 2024 (ft. December)
Another year of this world famous podcast! Hear us yap and yap about all our faves of 2024 and some of what we're looking forward to in 2025 (with a very brief moment at the top for good ol' December)DECEMBERHIGH:* AA: Christmas Family time + a white christmas! Grateful for the luv in my life + murder mystery new years* MM: New Goodwill in DC lolLOW:* AA: what am I doing with my life * MM: parking ticket festBEST OF 2024MOVIE:* AA: Wicked / Blink Twice (worst: Love Lies Bleeding holy shit)* MM: My Old AssTV SHOW:* AA: Shrinking (duh) + Bad Sisters + Traitors (recency bias tho?)* MM: Boring but honestly same!!! Minus traitors plus Hacks season 3BOOK:* AA: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors + All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker* MM: All Fours by Miranda July + Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenjah (other five star reads: Martyr, The Round House, The Friend, The Night Watchman, Small Things Like These, Concentrate, Clear, Sandwich, There Are Reason for This)WORST BOOK:* AA: Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler* MM: I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokpokki by Baek Se-heeALBUM:* AA: Weird Faith by Madi Diaz + The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams (Cowboy Carter)* MM: Brat by Charli XCX (my preference is for the remix album) (honorable mentions: Stick Season (Forever), Noah Kahan, Cowboy Carter, Beyonce; Tiger’s Blood, Waxahatchee; What A Relief, Katie Gavin; The Secret of Us, Gracie Abrams)SONG:* AA: Starting Over At the End by JOSEPH* MM: Right Back to It by Waxahatchee / The Baton by Katie GavinCONCERT:* AA: Madi Diaz + All Things Go MUNA / Hozier / Japanese Breakfast / Holly Humberstone + JOSEPH @ Sixth and I* MM: Joseph @ Sixth and I / Brandi @ The Anthem / Betty Who @ Lincoln Theater (wait I forgot about all of these and same)MEAL:* AA: Mr Tuna * MM: Burrito from Uptown 66BREAKFAST:* AA: beyond boring but Siggi’s in the summer with peaches, raspberries, and Nantucket Bake Shop cranberry granola - sometimes honey* MM: only counts as breakfast on a technicality but Paul’s Pel’meni in Madison, WILUNCH:* AA: Yume Ga Arukara cold noodles* MM: Eggplant sandwich from Ideals & lobster roll from Sesuit Harbor Cafe (DINNER:* AA: Dame in NYC* MM: Entrenos in MiamiDESSERT:* AA: hawaiian roll ice cream sandwich w/ vanilla bean gelato, caramel, butter, and salt from Mr. Tuna* MM: Passionfruit pie from Doubting ThomasPURCHASE:* AA: Vintage Inspired Persian Runner for the Kitchen or Airpods Max* MM: CarKit for our old dumb carDISCOVERY:* AA: yin yoga / sound baths / restore yoga in general* MM: builder gel nailsTRIP:* AA: Maine* MM: Canada#1 RECOMMENDATION:* AA: Cupping* MM: Buy a kitchen timer and put it on your desk (I have this one but I covet this one)What completely ordinary thing are you most grateful for right now in your life?* MM: The cup known in our home as Cup™* AA: pockets of communityTune in to the next episode for our culture speed round! ily This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Jan 13, 2025
1 hr 15 min
November 2024
One of the longest months of our lives! So much has happened, high highs and, well...democratically apocalyptic lows. We're looking for the joy. Thanks for being here with usHow did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: North Carolina, Atlanta, Miami, Thanksgiving! An extreme amount of work which also involved catching up with everyone I’ve ever met. …the presidential election. IRL AA time. Hosting and informal hangs as a balm * AA: wedding dress shopping 400 times, NC, not working but somehow working more than ever, friensdgiving, thanksgiving, jeffsgiving, ~new beginnings~Best/Worst:* Best: general honorable mention to our eggplant sandwiches in NC* AA: I love my wedding dress * MM: SANDWICH from Ideals, pitas from Yellow* Worst:* MM: too much ham (honorable mention best)* AA: sick for 2 weeks while being off FML / my new company uses microsoft systemsSpare Time Rec:* AA: Bad Sisters on Apple TV* MM: Searows (start with “Older” and “End Of The World”), Sydney Ross Mitchell (“Forward To The Kill” and “Porn Star”) and new EP “born blue” by Tommy LefroyCulture / 3 Things You Need to Know:* What do we think about the gift guides of it all* Spotify Wrapped / Grammy Noms* WickedLook Ahead:* MM: Holiday festivities galore. It’s freezing so…coats? Trying to thrift my christmas gifts, it’s time for my best playlist, getting through my reading goal just in the nick of time I hope, and End of Year nostalgia–my fave.* AA: cookie box time! December by Sara Bareilles on repeat. Finishing reading 100 books. Thinking about who I want to be next year besides a wife and a girl who watches my bestie become a wife! Murdering one of my friends before the year ends (maybe). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Dec 9, 2024
1 hr 14 min
October 2024
This month was a year long and with almost 0 minutes of spare time for either of us...but you know we found plenty to talk about anyway ;) happy listening love u go volunteer to elect Kamala Harris How did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Salem, Miami, Los Angeles, election madness, it’s giving season, etc* AA: Philly, Betty Who, a night away with my boys, NYC, yoga mentor, but honestly not a ton and also my brain is full - not reading :( Best/Worst:* Best: * AA: yellow rose quesadilla was truly fantastic + radio bakery french onion croissant * MM: basically the city of Los Angeles as a whole and even more specifically driving around the city of Los Angeles in a CONVERTIBLE, but even more more specifically tomato and burrata at Birdie G’s, passionfruit pie from Doubting Thomas, and The Ruby Fruit as an establishment overall* Worst:* MM: this NYT cacio e pepe* AA: I am stressed about the election!!! + its been a taxing few weeks lol Spare Time Rec:* AA: new Kelsea Ballerini album is out - a quart of frozen yogurt is a good thing to have in your freezer * MM: English Teacher,  followup about Katie Gavin’s album Culture / 3 Things You Need to Know: * You should be phone banking today (or knocking on doors or volunteering at the polls! Go do it it’s fun not scary!)* Thanksgiving * Take your friends to work day—what do we think about this as a conceptLook Ahead:* MM: sending out our f*cking save the dates ughhhhhh, last wedding of the year, big boy work times, holidays and…..waiting to see if the Republic will stand?? Lol* AA: wedding dress shopping SOS, taking 2 weeks off but kind of not, might be the busiest couple of weeks of my life in fact, finishing my YTT?? Starting a pottery class This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Nov 4, 2024
48 min
August / September 2024
Double header! We've been traveling, going to concerts, trying cupping, bumping tunes, getting our nails done and much, much more. Tune in to this XL ep for the deets!How did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Canada, NH, Miami, drove across the country [Pittsburgh, Glen Arbor, Middle of Lake Michigan, Apostle Islands in Wisconsin] and back, back to Michigan, back to Miami twice, and finally, home * AA: settled on my bday goal, women's soccer, August produce, my favorite state Best/Worst:* Best: * AA: the ice cream sandwich at mr tuna / New England / the cold noodles at Yume Ga Arukara * MM: The Mill in Glen Arbor, MI, Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, NH, Paul’s Pel’meni in Madison, WI (aug)* Worst:* MM:  too many plums! (aug) / fridge! Lmao (sept)* AA: fridge ttyl (Aug) + fletcher :( Spare Time Rec:* AA: all in on Sabrina Carpenter + bokksu * MM: My Old Ass, Katie Gavin’s solo music, Fruit game (either I Want Watermelon or Cantaloupe) if you need to be smooth brainCulture / 3 Things You Need to Know: * The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* Builder gel nails - nail technology has really evolved guys* Laptop purchases: let’s discuss* I Just Want A ‘Dumb Job’* Bonus need to know: Erika is a witchLook Ahead:* MM: hopefully less humid weather! One of the final weddings of the year! Home improvement journey.* AA: spooooky season, maybe a new life, maybe engagement photos, working out sorry that I have to keep talking about it  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Sep 30, 2024
1 hr 27 min
July 2024
Y'all, we have not heard each other's voices since the June episode...and it shows because this is a long one. We talk Cape Cod, Canada, the Olympics, coconut trees, and more! Buckle up xoHow did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Vacation in the woods! A lil Miami time, a little fam time, a little home time! Eating crabs, fruit, being hot, general summer tings* AA: Cape cod Best/Worst:* Best: * AA: CC birthday dinner* MM: feeling like a nature girlie after a long hiatus* Worst:* MM: a macaroni and cheese that deserves jail time from Rose and Crown in Canmore, Alberta, Hannah’s spooky fall* AA: it's so sad to say that literally every grossy pelosi recipe is bad * RETRACTION: Benito Skinner’s boyfriend is Terrence O'Connor NOT known sexual predator/former fashion photographer Terry Richardson (lmao)Spare Time Rec:* AA: All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker / art that makes you cry * MM: Louise Erdrich!Culture / 3 Things You Need to Know: * The Olympics - snoop dogg, flava flav, etc. * Good things are always happening to me note - discuss * Election update: goodBiden, the month of The Coconut TreeLook Ahead:* MM: continuing my relentless travel schedule, wedding tour, introducing Hannah to many of my cousins, Thais’ bachelorette and work in Miami, reading (!!!), wedding planning * AA: summer cleaning, enjoying summer???, at long last my return to Maine, holding onto the peace from CC, starting over at the end??? We can only hope, cook90 altho that is no longer possible This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Aug 12, 2024
1 hr 14 min
June 2024
Loving summer so much we are two weeks late on this episode...let's blame it on the childhood expectations of summer vacation and move on! It's about: fruit, Asheville, queer weddings, and more How did you spend your spare time this month:* MM: Chicago, a hot 24 hours in nyc, friends visiting, being so fucking hot, celebrating Hannah’s birthday, two baby showers, baby news, and new baby arriving!!!! Also I am in my ricotta era* AA: Mostly in DC! Going to the farmers market, blueberry picking, pool, NYC, asheville, my first queer wedding! Best/Worst:* Best: * AA: apricot jam * MM: SUMMER PRODUCE* Worst:* MM: a Truly Horrible cobb salad* AA: …asheville…Spare Time Rec:* AA: The Japanese House * MM: Minor league baseball, Gracie Abram’s album The Secret of UsCulture / 3 Things You Need to Know: * brat* Love island * Regrettably I must bring up the presidential electionLook Ahead:* MM: first trip abroad with Hannah B! Enjoying some big boy mountains for the first time in a long time, college essay tutoring* AA: cape cod, wedding planning, pickleball and pond every day This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit inyoursparetime.substack.com
Jul 15, 2024
57 min
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