In this special Valentine's Day episode of Wonder in the Weeds, we take a brief pause from the heavy news cycle in Minneapolis to find a little joy in the fire. We’re breaking down our favorite on-screen romances, analyzing why mutual respect creates the best chemistry, and discussing the "female gaze" in media.

Finally, we end with The Wonder: a spotlight on the incredible resilience of the Minneapolis community, including how neighbors and businesses like the Modern Times Cafe are organizing to support one another.

In This Episode:

1. Favorite Kisses: We break down the famous "trench coat" kiss between Nick and Jess in New Girl and why it remains the gold standard for on-screen chemistry.
2. Parks and Recreation: Why Ben and Leslie represent a "meeting of the minds" and true partnership.
3. Rivals to Lovers: Discussing the dynamic in Red, White & Royal Blue and the concept of "competition" as a form of intimacy.
4. The "Female Gaze": A look at why characters written by women feel more respectful and genuine.
5. The Wonder: An update on Minneapolis mutual aid, where neighbors are feeding neighbors and the Modern Times Cafe is providing free food to the community.

Timestamps:

1. 0:00 - Intro: Life in Minneapolis & The PSA
2. 04:01 - Valentine's Special: Our Favorite Movie & TV Kisses
3. 05:16 - New Girl: The Nick & Jess "Trench Coat" Kiss
4. 16:32 - Parks & Rec: Ben & Leslie’s mutual respect
5. 22:28 - The "Female Gaze" & Writing Men with Respect
6. 44:10 - Moonstruck & My Lady Jane
7. 51:52 - The Wonder: Minneapolis Mutual Aid & Modern Times Cafe

Let's Connect:

1. Website: TheWonder.Life

In this episode, I am exploring a difficult but necessary question: How do we find joy when the "weeds" of life feel overwhelming?

I discuss the vital difference between reacting to an acute crisis and sustaining yourself for the long haul. I share what I am witnessing on the ground, including the incredible mutual aid groups delivering food, walking kids to school, and supporting neighbors in need. We also talk about the importance of not looking away while still protecting your peace.

Finally, I share a personal story about a recent trip to Arizona where I made a purposeful choice to be "dazzled" by the little things (even wild boars) to refill my cup. If you are feeling burned out, anxious about the state of the world, or just tired, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

1. 00:00 Welcome to Wonder in the Weeds
2. 02:07 The reality of the current crisis and occupation in the Twin Cities
3. 05:49 How to decide where to focus your energy when everything feels urgent
4. 11:19 The power of community care: Meal trains, rides, and mutual aid
5. 18:35 Managing news consumption to avoid burnout
6. 23:27 Why holding space for immigrant rights and women’s safety matters
7. 27:42 "Instructions for living": Mary Oliver and the choice to be dazzled
8. 30:01 A lesson from Arizona: Finding wonder in travel mishaps and nature

About the Show:

Wonder in the Weeds is where I explore how we live, love, and grow alongside the grief and messiness of being human. As a trauma and crisis expert, I created this podcast to help us find the light in the day-to-day monotony or trauma of regular life.

Moving beyond the role of the "blank slate" therapist, I combine my professional experience with personal stories of challenge and reinvention. We aren't about toxic positivity or influencer-style advice. Instead, this is a space for authentic connection, community, and understanding that we don't have to wait for life to be perfect to feel good.

Connect with me:

➡️ Website: https://thewonder.life/

Join the Women of Wonder community: A safe space for connection without the algorithms.Welcome to "Wonder in the Weeds" with trauma therapist Cristie Ritz-King. ➡️Join Our community: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder

In this episode, I am setting aside my planned topic to address the Supreme Court case regarding transgender girls in sports. This is not just a headline to me. It is personal.

As a former competitive athlete who spent 18 years in the pool and on the court, and as the mother of a transgender daughter, I am tired of the fearmongering. In this video, I break down why the "biological advantage" argument completely misses the mark. I share my own history playing against women who were taller, faster, and stronger than me, and why we never called that "unfair" before.

I also dive into the reality of gender-affirming care, how hormones actually affect performance, and why the narrative that boys are transitioning "just to win medals" is not only false but offensive.

If you are looking for a conversation grounded in compassion and actual experience rather than fear, this is for you.

Chapters: 0:00 Intro: When life gets messy 0:48 The Supreme Court case on trans athletes 2:50 My 18 years as a competitive athlete 9:23 Why "biological fairness" is a myth 13:14 The reality of puberty blockers and hormones 20:00 Debunking the "boys transitioning to win" lie 23:41 The beauty of watching my daughter bloom

#TransRights #WomensSports #TransAthletes #Parenting #LGBTQ #SupremeCourt #Inclusion

It has been a difficult start to the year. Between navigating the emotions of an empty nest and processing the intense events unfolding locally in Minneapolis, the "weeds" of life feel particularly overgrown this week. In this episode, we discuss the feeling of living through a firehose of crisis events and how to maintain your mental well-being when the news cycle feels relentless.

We explore the reality of collective trauma and why it often feels like we don’t know where to look or how to help. More importantly, we talk about the antidote to this anxiety: taking action. However, action must be balanced with grace. You cannot do it all, and that is okay. Finally, we touch on the toxicity of social media scrolling during difficult times and why real-world human connection is the wonder we need right now.

Key Topics:

1. The Reality of Crisis Fatigue: Managing the overwhelm of local and global news.
2. Action as an Antidote: How doing one small thing can lower anxiety, provided you accept you cannot fix everything.
3. The Trap of the Scroll: Why social media often fuels anger rather than connection and how to step back.
4. Real-World Connection: The importance of "touching grass" and interacting with actual neighbors to restore your faith in humanity.

Resources:

1. Join the Women of Wonder community: A safe space for connection without the algorithms.
2. ➡️Join Our community: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder

Is the war between Gen X and Gen Z real, or is it just the algorithm at work? In this episode, we explore the "generational divide" and question whether the internet is manufacturing conflict to keep us distracted.

We address the surprising feedback from our first episode and discuss why short social media clips often misrepresent the true relationship between mothers and daughters. From there, we move into a deeper conversation about parenting transparency, specifically how Gen X parents are choosing to be honest about financial mistakes like the housing bubble rather than hiding them.

We also examine how the political landscape—specifically the 2016 election—shifted the way Gen Z views systemic issues versus personal responsibility. Plus, we share some laughs about 2016 makeup trends, the relevance of Vogue magazine, and overcoming driving anxiety in the snow.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The "Fake" Conflict: Why social media pushes a narrative that generations must fight each other.
2. Parenting with Honesty: Moving away from "because I said so" and discussing adult financial realities with kids.
3. Systemic vs. Personal: How Gen Z views hardship as a system failure, while Gen X often views it as a personal hurdle to overcome.
4. The 2016 Shift: How the political climate forced a change in how we discuss morality and privilege.
5. Cultural Time Capsules: A look back at heavy contouring, "Instagram eyebrows," and why media literacy matters now more than ever.

If you are about to buy a new planner or sign up for a gym membership because you feel like you need to "fix" yourself, press pause. In this episode, I explain why the commercialized version of New Year’s resolutions is often just a trap designed to make you feel like you aren't good enough.

I spent years (and thousands of dollars) trying to organize and plan my way into being a "better" person, but it never led to lasting happiness. Today, I’m sharing the alternative that actually works: a "More of/Less of" audit inspired by a financial strategy from my friend Brittany Ross.

We also discuss why you cannot "curate" joy but must intentionally look for it, and I share a personal story about a 24-hour hotel stay with high school friends that taught me why you shouldn't try to manufacture deep connections.

In this episode:

1. The Resolution Trap: Why the pressure to "change" is often a sales tactic.
2. The "More of/Less of" List: A simple method to audit your life based on feelings, not productivity.
3. Body Intelligence: How to use the "chest tap" to identify what true motivation feels like physically.
4. Friendship Reality: Why sitting in a hotel room with old friends beats an elaborate vacation with new ones.

Timestamps:

1. 0:00 - Intro: Why I Hate New Year’s Resolutions
2. 0:46 - The "Not Good Enough" Scam
3. 02:14 - I Spent Thousands on Planners (And Failed)
4. 07:52 - The "Finance Rule" That Fixed My Life (Brittany Ross)
5. 11:37 - How To Audit Your Feelings (The Chest Tap)
6. 14:40 - Why "Mindset Shifts" Are Often Oversimplified
7. 18:34 - The Hotel Story: What True Friendship Looks Like
8. 23:55 - How To Join The "Women of Wonder" Community

Join the Community: The Women of Wonder community is where we leave the judgment at the door. If you want more laughter, less pressure, and a place to celebrate yourself judgment-free, join us here: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder

he holidays are supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year," but what happens when everything familiar has changed?

In this episode, I share my personal experience of navigating our first holiday season after moving cross-country. We are facing the unique challenge of welcoming our college-aged kids back to a house that isn't their childhood home.

I open up about the "weeds" of this season: the pressure to recreate old feelings in a new place, the jealousy I feel when scrolling through social media, and the reality that my kids don't have their usual friends or cars here.

But we also talk about finding the "wonder." We discuss how to hold two opposing emotions at once—like gratitude and sadness—without letting one cancel the other out. Plus, I share how we are embracing the Minnesota winter, exploring outdoor holiday markets, and even starting unlikely new traditions like going to an NBA game.

If you are feeling like a fish out of water this season, this episode is for you.

Online Community Our Women of Wonder community is a safe place to say the quiet stuff out loud, free from judgment. Women helping other women is a tried-and-true approach for empowerment and success, not to mention laughter and love. W.o.W. offers continuous support and resources.

➡️ Join Our community: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder

Are Warner Bros and movies as we know them over? We break down the Netflix vs. Paramount acquisition battle, the death of movie theaters, and why we are going back to buying DVDs.

Full Summary:

In this episode of the Wonder in the Weeds podcast , we dive into the chaotic news surrounding the potential acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Is Netflix about to buy HBO Max, or will Paramount Skydance force a hostile takeover?.

We explore what these massive mergers mean for the future of cinema—not just for the stars, but for the crew members, writers, and artists who actually make the films. We also discuss the "Disneyfication" of AMC theaters , why original movies like Ryan Coogler's Sinners are becoming rare risks , and why the era of streaming has us returning to physical media and DVDs.

In This Episode:

• The Merger Chaos: Understanding the Netflix bid vs. the Paramount Skydance hostile takeover.
• The Theater Crisis: How block-booking by giants like Disney is pushing indie films out of theaters.
• Worker Protection: Why consolidation hurts the "below the line" workers (grips, lighting, makeup) most.
• Digital Ownership: Why streaming services deleting shows like Gilmore Girls proves you need to own physical copies.

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Is this a Solo Podcast Now?

04:47 The News: Netflix vs. Paramount Skydance Explained

05:59 What is a "Hostile Takeover"?

08:38 The Death of Theaters: The Disney/AMC Monopoly

13:09 How Mergers Kill Jobs (It’s Not Just Actors)

17:31 Can Original Movies Survive? (The Sinners Case Study)

22:29 Why We Are Going Back to DVDs & Physical Media

33:35 Wonder of the Week: Embracing Winter & Nostalgia

Mentioned in this Video:

• Movies: Sinners (Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan) , The Godfather.
• Companies: Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, Paramount Skydance, Disney, AMC.
• Sources: Morning Brew.

#WarnerBros #Netflix #PhysicalMedia #Cinema #FilmIndustry #Podcast