We rewind a full year of travel, tournaments, tough losses, and quiet wins to find the moments that mattered and the habits that actually stick. From Dallas to Italy to a cottage by the lake, we share what we learned, what we’re chasing next, and why hope still leads.

• first solo basketball trip to Dallas and early podcast milestones
• family time in Vancouver and 100 downloads in the second month
• Italy in March and the value of imperfect travel days
• cross-country work travel to New York, Nashville, and LA
• birthday tournament, meeting a favorite creator, and a great family dinner
• stepping away from dance after ten years and making space in the schedule
• Huntsville friendships, summer camp bonds, and a cottage reset
• Winnipeg reunion and the start of basketball season
• Blue Jays heartbreak and the case for 2026 optimism
• December travel wins, gratitude for listeners, and plans ahead

“Join us next time, next year in 2026 for more hoops and crumbs on Apple Podcasts... Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere else you can find your favorite podcasts”

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We trade the timer on the oven for the shot clock, moving from a cake-filled kitchen recap to bold picks for the NBA’s Christmas Day slate, then settle into family traditions, travel plans, and the cozy rituals that make the season feel like home. A warm, thoughtful look at what we bake, who we back, and the memories we keep.

• chocolate, carrot, and sticky toffee date cake recap and why simple bakes win
• Christmas Day NBA preview with Knicks vs Cavaliers and Spurs vs Thunder highlights
• star power, momentum, and home-court energy as predictors
• first Christmas spent apart and travel plans to Cuba and Fiji
• Nochebuena memories, midnight Mass, and Chinatown takeout tradition
• cozy rituals that restore: decorating, wrapping, fireplace time, and rest from training
• keeping Lola’s traditions alive with Christmas Eve dinner
• goals for more episodes and a request for listener topic ideas

Join us for more Hoops and Crumbs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere you listen. Get your flu shot, folks. Drop ideas in our DMs on Instagram so we can hit three more episodes before year-end.

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

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The mics are back on & the oven is warm. We catch up on two fast months that packed in a Winnipeg homecoming, a Toronto Blue Jays playoff ride that took over our screens, and a kitchen marathon of cheddar biscuits, sticky toffee pudding cake, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. It’s equal parts comfort food and clutch moments.

September felt like a reset. Winnipeg brought us back to family, old stories, and the kind of easy love that makes a city feel like home. The reunion turned social media acquaintances into real hugs and reminded us why showing up matters. October turned the dial up: a birthday planned around steak and baseball, holiday hosting with smoked turkey, and the shared ritual of watching games with people you love. The Jays fell short, but the journey stitched together restaurants, living rooms, and a lot of hopeful innings.

Looking ahead, we split paths in November. Esteban leans into exams, back-to-back games, and new music drops. Maria boards a flight to Spain for a fall adventure. We talk honestly about time management, what we missed about recording together, and how to protect one-on-one time when life gets crowded. We set simple goals—finish strong at school, maybe attempt a freezing lake swim, definitely record four more episodes before year-end—and we celebrate a delightful surprise: listeners across 16 countries tuning into our small corner of basketball, baking, and everyday life.

If you’re here for family stories, sports heartbreaks that turn into inside jokes, or recipes that double as love letters, you’ll feel at home. Press play, ride the highs and lows with us, and stick around for the promise: more hoops, more crumbs, more real talk. If this episode made you smile, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave a quick review so more people can find our little kitchen-court combo.

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

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Esteban and Maria return to the podcast after a summer break, discussing the challenges of balancing 5AM basketball practices with school demands, and their mantra for the year: "Keep Your Doors Open."

• Chocolate chip sour cream cake taste test kicks off the episode
• Summer highlights including a cottage vacation and visiting friends from camp
• Coach Z's no-nonsense approach and focus on discipline
• Esteban's goals to be more assertive on the court and improve defensively
• The importance of not limiting yourself academically
• Mental challenges of pushing beyond comfort zones
• Advice for students returning to school: don't fall behind by getting caught up in social distractions
• Grade 10 as a crucial year for establishing academic foundations

Join us for more Hoops and Crumbs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere else you can find your favorite podcasts. We'll talk about basketball, cookies, and share other random life musings.

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

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In this first episode of a new season, Esteban starts a series called "Shooting Hoops & Chasing Dreams" where he interviews folks about their careers as he starts to think about carving out his own path. With summer break winding down in 4 weeks, it's time to get that future mindset going again.

For the first installment of this series, Esteban sits down with Jeff, who shares his journey from corporate success to founding his own business, offering practical advice and inspiration for aspiring business owners. His story highlights how identifying market gaps and persisting through challenges can lead to entrepreneurial success.

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs with your questions for future episodes and join us next time for more basketball, cookies, and life musings. Send us a message if you've got an idea for who should be featured next for another segment of "Shooting Hoops & Chasing Dreams"!

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

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The Browns are back at the microphones after a busy April hiatus, returning with their signature blend of basketball talk and life reflections that make Hoops and Crumbs so delightful.

Esteban kicks things off with a lively NBA playoffs update, sharing his excitement about matchups like Detroit versus New York and the Lakers taking on Minnesota. For basketball enthusiasts, his breakdown provides the perfect appetizer before the episode dives into deeper waters.

The heart of this episode revolves around a series of thought-provoking questions that Maria and Esteban take turns asking each other. Their answers reveal fascinating glimpses into their personalities and perspectives. When asked who he would choose as presidential advisors, Esteban thoughtfully selects family members known for their intelligence, along with his basketball coach for physical and emotional support—a choice that reflects both his values and priorities.

Perhaps the most engaging moment comes during their debate about whether money can buy happiness. This generational difference in perspective creates a moment many families will recognize and relate to.

Other highlights include discussions about what makes their blended family unique, who Maria would choose for a dream dinner party (Victoria Beckham, Oprah, and Jason Bateman at dim sum), and whether it's better to excel at one skill or be competent in many.

Listen now to experience this warm, genuine conversation between mother and son, and stay tuned for their promised Mother's Day special episode coming soon!

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

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Seven questions that every parent should ask their child—this powerful framework creates the backdrop for one of our most revealing and heartfelt conversations yet. Maria puts teenage son Esteban in the hot seat, exploring everything from his deepest fears to his proudest moments in an exchange that showcases both vulnerability and growth.

What begins with casual banter about chocolate croissants and French NBA players quickly evolves into profound territory as Esteban opens up about his wish for a younger sibling, his complicated relationship with personal accomplishments, and his fear of missing out on typical teenage experiences. The conversation reveals the unique challenges faced by a young athlete attending a highly specialized school with only six classmates—all while pursuing academic excellence and basketball dreams.

For parents listening, this episode offers both a template for meaningful conversations and a window into the adolescent mind. The questions discussed provide a framework that any family can use to deepen their connections before it's too late. Whether you're raising teenagers, have adult children, or are simply curious about parent-child dynamics, this conversation will leave you reflecting on your own family relationships and the questions you wish you'd asked—or still can.

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

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Ten episodes in and 250 downloads spread across eight countries later, we're celebrating with blueberry cornbread and reflections on our Italian adventure! Taking you with us through the cobblestone streets of Rome, Florence, and Venice, we unpack what surprised us most about Esteban's first European journey.

From duck pasta to eggplant parmesan, we dive into our favorite meals and special moments - like finding shelter from rain in a cozy Florentine café, savoring cappuccinos and citrus cake while watching the world go by. Perhaps most meaningful were the unhurried family moments between destinations, reminding us that sometimes the best travel souvenirs are the connections strengthened along the way.

Having transformed Esteban from reluctant traveller to world explorer with 17 countries under his belts in just four years, he's already dreaming about his next adventure.

Where should we go next? Drop your suggestions in our Instagram DMs @HoopsandCrumbs

Have a question for us to ask each other? We’d love to hear it!

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

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