New Episodes!

New episodes of the Pirate Life Podcast are now available:

Episode 119 - Cabin Trip Prep
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!

VISIT OUR LINKTREE to find our most recent episodes on your favorite podcast platform.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

Podcast Catch-Up - New Episodes!

New episodes The Pirate Life Podcast are now available: 

Episode 116 - The Terminator... aka AI!!

The Pirates discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI). How is it used in daily life, relating to careers and for fun. Is it like the Terminator? Should it be feared or embraced... or both?

Episode 117 - Workout on Vacation... or Not?

The Pirates discuss fitness on vacation... or not. Is working out on vacation a fun thing to do, or not? Some vacations completely revolve around fitness, such as hiking, swimming, walking, etc. Some vacations are just that... VACATION. Listen to find out the "Pirate opinion" on working out while on vacation.

Episode 118 - Visit Central PA

The Pirates talk about cool places to visit in Central PA. Daytrips, cool eats and drinks, and fun things to do all over the area.

VISIT OUR LINKTREE to find our most recent episodes on your favorite podcast platform.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

Mushroom World

Raw, stuffed, or in a bun... We are loving MUSHROOMS! In Episode 115 the Pirates  talk about finding, growing and cooking mushrooms, as well as the health benefits associated with them. 

Cool Facts: 

• 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!

Benefits:

• 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!

Resources to learn more: 

• Podcast: The Medicinal Benefits of Mushrooms with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
• Website: 7 Health Benefits of Mushrooms
• Website: 30 Amazing Mushrooms Facts to Share with your Friends
• Website: Broadfork Farm Mushroom Parties 

VISIT OUR LINKTREE to find Episode 115 on your favorite podcast platform.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

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? 

In Episode 114, the Pirates discuss a new fitness app, Little Bits of Fitness - housed by Playbook and created by celebrity Zumba instructor Kass Martin and her sister Emily. 

Pros: 

• 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

Cons: 

• 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 

What do you think about Little Bits of Fitness? Try it for a week for free and let us know!

Find Kass and Emily online: 

• 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

VISIT OUR LINKTREE to find Episode 114 on your favorite podcast platform.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

Pink Pirates in Texas!

For as long as we've been "the pirates," we have challenged ourselves to step out of our comfort zones (sometimes WAY out of our comfort zones) to learn, to grow, and (most of all) to have fun!! At the start of this year we struggled to decide what to put on our 2024 Life List - but we knew it was time for something BIG. 

Denise came up with the perfect challenge... The Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, happening Nov. 1-3. 

• 3 days.
• 60 miles. 
• $2300 toward breast cancer research, care, and advocacy... EACH.

It's BIG. It will challenge us. But we also can't think of a better way to honor Denise and her recent journey through a breast cancer diagnosis - as well as the others in our lives who have been affected by the disease. 

To date, over 500,000 walkers have participated in a Komen 3-day event. And together that group has raised over $92 million. Those funds go directly to research projects and clinical tries leading to new developments in cancer treatment. Learn more. 

And our pirate crew is growing! After a little "convincing," Heather has joined us as the fourth member of Pink Pirates in Texas! She's the perfect addition to balance out our team and the FIRST pink pirate to hit her fundraising goal! 

Now it's time to focus on training - and the rest of that fundraising. To date, we've planned the following: 

• ✅ Zumbathon 
• ✅ Wellness Challenge 
• ✅ Yard Sale 
• ✅ Bus Trip to NYC 
• 🔜 Music Night - In the works! Details coming soon!

We are excited to share our progress with you as we get closer to that starting line. Learn more about the Susan G. Komen 3-day, our new teammate, and our plans to raise almost $10,000 in episode 113. 

We also invite you to support your favorite pirate with a donation to Susan G. Komen. Donations of any amount are welcome and greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting us in our biggest adventure (yet)! 

VISIT OUR LINKTREE to find Episode 113 on your favorite podcast platform.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

The "Future" App

"Friends don't let friends skip leg day." 

During Adrienne's fall vaca in Grand Cayman, she found herself spending her mornings in the Marriott fitness center testing out a new fitness app called Future (Shoutout to Staci for the morning motivation!). 

After a positive first experience with the app, Adrienne signed up for a free 30-day trial and invited the Pirates to test it out with her. In episode 112, we share our experiences.

About the App: 

• An initial survey helps to match you with a compatible coach who provides personalized workouts and consistent communication and encouragement.
• The app incorporates videos for each exercise and periodic voiceovers from your coach for additional direction and inspiration. 
• It connects to your Apple watch - so your coach gets moment to moment stats on your workouts. You can also control your workout from your wrist!
• Base price: $200/month (but you are able to earn reduced rates when friends sign up for a free month using your unique code).

Our Impressions:  

• It initially took some time to figure out the app (and the autoplay feature).
• We liked the short and manageable workouts, and the video demos were great!
• We all craved connection with our coaches outside of the app. 
• It's expensive. The sticker price ($200/month) is prohibitive and doesn't match what you get. 
• No one will ever match Derek.

Bottomline:  Glad we took it for a trial run, but it just wasn't a keeper for any of us - for different reasons. We still encourage YOU to try your 30 days free! Visit FUTURE to sign up or download the app!

Other (unrelated) things that we are celebrating: 

• Shawna is going to be a MiMi (again)!
• Denise is "annoyed" because she needs to buy new (and smaller) swimsuits!
• Adrienne is heading to Italy!

CLICK HERE to listen to Episode 112.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!

A Positive Impact

Realizing we needed a little positivity in our lives, we dedicated Episode 111 to POSITIVE NEWS! Throughout the episode, we highlight celebrities, kids, and friends who are impacting not just their local communities but the world! 

Here are a few that made our list: 

• Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson made kids' dreams come true through the Make a Wish Foundation!
• One of our favorite Local Girl Scouts, Brooke, built birdhouses for Detweiler Park in Dauphin, PA! 
• Chelsy-Sippora Funebe, Ethan Cordova, Maggie Scicchitano, and Clara Baker represented Penn State Harrisburg in Penn State's annual dance marathon, THON! These students danced for 46 hours to raise money for pediatric cancer (spoiler alert - this year's event raised over $13 million)!
• Christine Drexler created and continues to expand Cocoa Packs - a non-profit in Hershey, PA, that is committed to food security for children. They focus on providing nourishing meals and snacks for those days when children are not in school (and don't have access to subsidized meals). 
• 
  Dr. Megan Peterson directs a performance of Tales From Down There: Narratives Inspired by the Vagina Monologues each year at The Black Gryphon. Over the past thirteen years, she has raised over $30,000 for Milagro House, a residential program for mothers facing homelessness. 

Who do you see making a positive impact in the world right now? Post in the comments or tag them on our social media pages!

CLICK HERE to listen to Episode 111.

Don't miss an episode... Subscribe to The Pirate Life Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Thank you for living the pirate life with us!