- How is it possible to pack only a carry on for a 2 week trip?
- Who is worried about comfort on the long flight?
- How many "birthdays" can be celebrated on one trip?
- Who is bringing ... laundry detergent?
Three mateys talk friendship, adventure, travel, fitness, and fun. Welcome to the Pirate Life Podcast!
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Travel Talk
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time Management
- I leave things to the last minute.
- I work on the highest priority tasks throughout the day.
- On a weekly basis I set aside time for planning the following week.
- I attend unproductive meetings.
- I leave space in my schedule to deal with the unexpected.
- I use goal setting to determine my most important activities.
- I put off tasks that are difficult or I don't like.
- I routinely protect time in advance for the most important things.
- I work late at night or on weekends to meet deadlines.
- I spend more time than I want trying to find things.
- I feel that email overtakes my day.
- For each activity, I ask yourself "Is this the best use of my time right now"?
- I feel stressed and overcommitted because of all the things I need to do.
- How often do I procrastinate?
- Interruptions (email, Facebook, visitors or telephone calls) continually disrupt my work day.
Not a ninja (yet)? Try utlizing the Four D's to tackle your to-do list:
- Do - Do I need to do this immediately?
- Delegate - Is there someone else who can do this?
- Defer - Can this task wait until later?
- Delete - Does this really need to be done?
You can also check out one of Adrienne's favorite time management tools - the SELF Journal by Best Self! With quarterly, weekly, and monthly views, you can prioritize each day and week based on your goals!Sunday, February 16, 2025
Clutter
At the start of 2025, we kicked off our annual Lose It For Lou Gehrig's Wellness Challenge. The challenge began in 2014 memory of Adrienne's brother-in-law, Perry, who was diagnosed with ALS the year prior. The challenge is now a staple - we have an amazing group of participants who join us annually kick off the new year with healthy habits!
In week one, we were challenged to reduce clutter by purging a total of 50 items from our homes!
Wondering what clearing out clutter has to do with wellness? Every unworn shirt in our closet, expired can in our pantry, and dusty tchotchke on our bureau has a cost that goes beyond our wallets – These things also steal our TIME and ENERGY. Clearing out clutter can help us regain both physical and mental space, reduce anxiety, and find calm.
Can you imagine…
- A closet where everything you pull out makes you look and feel great?
- A pantry where you can easily find foods that nourish your body?
- A home that feels like your own personal showroom because everything within it brings you joy?
It’s possible!
The goal isn’t empty rooms, bare shelves, and stark white walls. The goal is to be INTENTIONAL about the THINGS that we bring into our lives. Basically, we want to get rid of the things that DON’T matter, so that we can focus on the things that DO!
In Episode 132, we share our biggest clutter-related struggles... "treasures" gifted from family, old concert tshirts, outdated power cords, and more. We also share some of our best tips and tricks for conquering that clutter!
Interested in reducing the clutter in your home?
Check Out These Resources:
- JFB and Ryan Nicodemus - When I first started learning about minimalism, these guys were a huge source of motivation and inspiration. They have a great podcast and a documentary on Netflix. It’s only about an hour long, and I absolutely recommend it! (I also got to meet them in person a few years ago - ahhhhh!)
- Courtney Carver created Project 333 where she only wears 33 items for three months. It’s a pretty fun challenge, and kind of eye-opening about the number of things in our closet that we actual need (spoiler: NOT as many as we think).
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo is also a great read!
Thursday, February 6, 2025
2025 Life List
2025 Words:
- Adrienne - LEVEL UP
- Denise - BALANCE
- Shawna - STRIVE
- Australia
- Komen 3-Day in Boston
- Annual beach day
- PA Breast Cancer Coalition Walk
- Day trip by plane
- Automotive class
- Dinner with significant others
- Sponsor a wish (Make-A-Wish)
- Stargazing
- NFL game
2025 Life List Ideas
Since the inception of The Pirate Life Podcast, we've been creating a list of adventures for us to complete each year... our LIFE LIST. In 2024, one of our biggest Life List items was the Komen 3Day in Dallas, TX.
We kicked of episode 130 with a few more of our favorite memories from the 3Day:
- Pickle pops, mimosas from State Farm, shots of tequila, and Twix bars.
- Our fave pic of Denise ever (see right) - and the opportunity to celebrate HER during the survivor ceremony.
- Digging into the "cookie jar" and channeling our inner-David Goggins when the going got tough!
- Read a book by Jane Austen
- Cliff dive
- Go to a Super Bowl/any NFL game - preferable involving the 49ers
- Take a day trip to Chicago (via plane)
- Visit the White House
- Come to a Student Government Association meeting at Penn State Harrisburg
- Ride in a Zero Gravity airplane
- Skydive
- Do a backflip while skiing
- Travel to Southeast Asia
- Plan our annual Beach day
- Travel to Australia
- Participate in the Komen 3Day in Boston
- Take a Jeep adventure
- Spend the weekend at Denise's cabin
- Enjoy a Pirate dinner with our partners
- Sleep in a treehouse
- Walk in the PA Breast Cancer Coalition 5K
- Take an automotive class
- Take an art class
- Test drive a fast car
- Go stargazing
- Raise a carnivorous plant
- Take a hot air balloon ride
- Pet a wild animal
- Dance in the rain
- Sponsor a child's wish for Make-A-Wish
- Send a message in a bottle
- Go zorbing
- Sleep in a castle
- Visit a ghost town (Centralia)
- Take a photo of something every day for a year
- Make a time capsule
- Jump fully clothed in a pool
What do you think should make the list for 2025? Listen to Episode 130 to hear our deliberations. Then let us know YOUR thoughts!
Monday, December 30, 2024
Komen 60 Mile Walk Adventure
Spoiler Alert: The Pirates already signed up to do the 60 mile walk again in 2025 - this time in Boston on August 15-17. Additional walkers are encouraged to join the Pink Pirate Team (links to sign up are below). Please use referral link on the specific pages to sign up, as that contributes to the overall fundraising amount! Or reach out to the Pirates individually to discuss participating and/or how to sign up. Donations can be submitted at any of the links below, as well.
On behalf of all the Pink Pirate team members, we cannot thank you enough for your support!
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Christmas Trivia
- What popular Christmas song was originally written for Thanksgiving?
- What country is credited with starting the tradition of decorating Christmas trees?
- What is the most popular meal served for Christmas dinner in Japan?
- In the movie Home Alone, where is the McCallister family going on vacation when they leave Kevin behind?
- What Christmas movie features a young boy named Ralphie who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas?
- In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, what does Clark Griswold hope to buy with his Christmas bonus?
- What is the name of the Grinch's dog in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
- In Elf, what are the four main food groups according to Buddy the Elf?
- Which Christmas movie takes place at Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles?
- Who is the historical figure that inspired the modern-day Santa Clause?
- What year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the United States?
- What is the most streamed Christmas song of all time on Spotify?
- What year did the book Elf on a Shelf come out?
- What percentage of Americans buy artificial Christmas trees instead of real ones?
Slang
- Shawna is one payment away from paying off her car! Congrats on this milestone!
- Adrienne is teaching Zumba again! She is back in Halifax on Monday nights with the Halifax Hotties!
- Denise is heating up the kitchen and making tuna steaks (but forgot to invite her mateys)!
- Docket - Receipt
- Boot - Trunk
- Arvo - Afternoon
- Good on ya - Well done
- Barbie - BBQ
- Maccas - McDonald's
- Bottle-o - Liquor store
- Thong - Flip flop
- Cozzies/Togs - Swimwear
- Footie - Football
- Dunny - Toilet
- Outback - Wild
- Power point - Electrical outlet
- Brekky - Breakfast
- Bog in - Eat in
Sunday, November 17, 2024
MORE Questions???
- What initially got you interested in the industry you are working in now?
- What is your favorite food?
- What is the last dream you remember?
- What podcast do you recommend listening to? (We all agreed on the answer to this one!)
- What is a skill you are grateful others have that you do not?
- What makes someone a great boss?
- What is your dream job?
- What's the first thing you do in the morning to get your workday started?
The Book "Why We Get Sick"
Sunday, October 20, 2024
100 Questions
- How do your closest colleagues describe you?
- If you started a band with your closest friends, what would your band name be?
- Do you prefer sweet or savory snacks? What is your favorite?
- What is your most prized possession?
- What's your favorite kind of weather?
- Do you have a catchphrase?
- What's the nicest car you've ever been in?
- What's one movie you can watch over and over again?
- Do you have any hidden talents?
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Denise's Breast Cancer Story
- One case of breast cancer is diagnosed in the U.S. every two minutes.
- One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
A Good Book is like a Good Friend
- Shawna's new grandaughter is here! Welcome to the world, baby Christine!
- Denise had an amazing trip to Iceland.
- and all the pirates had an amazing time at our Charity Movie Night at Hemauer Brewing Co in Mechanicsburg! Thank you to Brooks, Bitsy, and all of the friends who came to support us!
- Can't Hurt Me, David Goggins
- Twlight, Stephanie Meyer
- A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving
- My Antonia, Willa Cather
- The Self Love Experiment, Shannon Kaiser
- The Bible
- The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff
- The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
- The Power of Moments, Chip Heath and Dan Heath
- The Abide Guide: Living Like Lebowski, Oliver Benjamin and Dwayne Eutsey
- Forever Strong, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
- Firefly Lane, Kristin Hannah
- The Dreamers, Karen Thompson Walker
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Mid-Year Life List Update
- Denise's word: Spontaneous - Denise won her word for 2024 by booking an impromptu trip to Iceland!
- Adrienne's word: Emerge - Adrienne is leaning into her new role at Penn State Harrisburg and feeling like her best self is ready to hatch!
- Shawna's word: Optimal - Shawna has made positive changes throughout the year and is feeling optimal in her life!
- Have a beach day - For our annual beach day, we headed back to one of our favorite places... Point Pleasant, NJ. The weather was perfect, and we soaked in as much sun and sand as the day would allow!
- Volunteer at Cocoa Packs - We joined Shawna and her co-workers from JEM Group as volunteers on the Cocoa Packs distribution line. Our mission: to pass out snacks and baked goods! A great day for a great cause!
- Watch roller derby - We got to watch two bouts with Harrisburg Area Roller Derby, learned scoring basics, and had a blast cheering for the Nuclear Knockouts!
- BONUS! The Price is Right - Not on the original list, but one of Shawna's all-time life list items. We made it to Hershey Theatre to join in the fun of a live, stage version of the Price Is Right.
- Complete the Komen 3-day - Luggage tags and pink socks are purchased, and we fly to Dallas on Oct. 31! Follow us on social for updates during the 3-day, 60-mile walk happening Nov. 1-3!
- Enjoy seasonal celebrations - We have sniffed flowers in NYC (spring), but still working on those other seasons! We are soooo ready for rolling in leaves (fall)!
- Visit Denise's cabin - We had this planned for August but had to cancel due to weather. Plan B still TBD.
- Make goat's milk soap - We were hoping to go to a class at Barking Goat Farm, but classes are now being held on Fridays - which conflicts with work. Scheduling TBD.
- Sleep in a treehouse - Still working on locating an affordable treehouse that we can book for just one night.
- Serve food at a shelter - To be scheduled.
- Be a movie extra - Still in progress. This one has been on the list for the past two years, but we haven't been able to make it happen. Any leads??
New Episodes!
The Pirates discuss preparations for their upcoming trip to Denise's Cabin in Tioga County (lifelist item) including what to do, where to go, and fun experiences from past trips. We also chat about our positives: baby showers, Disney trips, and milestones. *Unfortunately weather kept us from taking this trip as scheduled. Will Adrienne ever get to ride a covered wagon?
Episode 120 - Pop Culture Trivia
The Pirates test their knowledge (and luck) with Pop Culture Trivia. Take a tour down memory lane with 80s, 90s, 2000 and 2010 pop culture questions/answers ... and a few investigations and stories!
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Podcast Catch-Up - New Episodes!
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Mushroom World
- Mushrooms are solar powered! Sit them in the sun before you eat then to increase their levels of vitamin D!
- Mushrooms "breathe." They consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
- Certain types of mushrooms are bioluminescent... They glow!
- Mushrooms have nutrients, and lots of 'em, including vitamin B, protein, zinc, and vitamin D.
- Some studies have shown that mushrooms can keep cancer from returning after chemo/radiation.
- Mushrooms help build memory and brain power!
- This superfood will also boost your immune system!
Fitness App Review: Little Bits Of Fitness
The quest for the perfect fitness app continues! Adrienne couldn't fit Future in the budget, and JEFIT wasn't the right fit. Perhaps third time's a charm?
- Kass and Emily's POSITIVE ENERGY!
- Short, stackable workouts
- Can mix/match workout types (HIIT, stretching, etc.)
- Affordable - just $14.99/month
- Great for beginners
- Convenient when traveling
- Sidetalk (although some pirates loved the distractions these convos provided)
- May not be enough for fitness-minded folks with more experience
- Limited guidance on proper form for exercises
- Little Bits of Awesome - Website
- Little Bits of Awesome on Insta **We recommend following for lots of positive, fun content! And we LOVE the dance mixes!
- Kass Martin on Insta
- Emily Engemann on Insta
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Pink Pirates in Texas!
- 3 days.
- 60 miles.
- $2300 toward breast cancer research, care, and advocacy... EACH.
- ✅ Zumbathon
- ✅ Wellness Challenge
- ✅ Yard Sale
- ✅ Bus Trip to NYC
- 🔜 Music Night - In the works! Details coming soon!






















