The friendship drought is real. As we navigate our busy adult lives, making genuine connections becomes increasingly challenging, especially when established friends move away. In this heartfelt episode of Three Cocktails In, Stacey, Kitty, and Amy continue their year-long "Project 2025: Make a New Friend" journey with practical strategies for connection in the digital age.

Surprisingly, Facebook groups emerge as friendship goldmines when centered around shared interests. Amy shares how her crafting community has blossomed into meaningful relationships despite members living states apart. The hosts exchange laughs about their collective failure to join new in-person groups last month while acknowledging the very real time constraints that make digital connections so valuable for busy adults.

Summer offers unique opportunities for connection, and the conversation sparkles with creative ideas: community education classes that group people by skill level, neighborhood "porch crawls," farmers' markets, local baseball games, and art festivals. The key insight? Consistency matters more than the specific activity—showing up regularly to the same places increases your chances of forming relationships with fellow regulars.

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Kitty opens up about the anger she felt when close friends moved away without warning. This resonates deeply as the hosts acknowledge we're entering life stages where retirements and relocations will increasingly challenge our friendship circles.

With equal parts humor, vulnerability, and practical advice, this episode validates the struggle while offering a roadmap for connection. Whether you're an introvert seeking digital communities or ready to organize that neighborhood gathering, you'll find strategies that respect your comfort level while gently expanding your social horizons.

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

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Two months after the Oscars, it's time to revisit the award-winning films with fresh perspectives and honest opinions. Did these movies truly deserve their golden statues, or were some victories more puzzling than impressive?

"Conclave" emerges as the unexpected star of our conversation. This papal election drama gained eerie relevance following recent Vatican events, with all hosts agreeing it deserved more than its single Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's exploration of church politics, stunning ensemble cast, and nuanced storytelling make it a unanimous recommendation.

Meanwhile, Best Picture winner "Anora" proves divisive. Described by one host as "incredibly depressing, disgusting, and dirty," this so-called "indie dramedy" raises questions about what makes a film Oscar-worthy. The revelation that Academy voters weren't previously required to watch all nominated films before voting casts doubt on the legitimacy of past winners, suggesting some victories might be more about marketing than merit.

Other films receive varied verdicts: Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" surprises Dylan non-fans with its engaging storytelling and Timothée Chalamet's committed performance; "The Brutalist" proves worth its three-hour runtime with Adrian Brody's captivating portrayal of a Holocaust survivor; while horror-satire "Substance" prompts discussion about why established actors like Demi Moore choose such unusual projects.

Beyond film analysis, we propose a new segment for future episodes—"Weirdest Thing on Social Media"—sharing bizarre findings that left us scratching our heads. We also touch on Nicole Kidman's impressive work ethic, appearing in countless diverse projects while rumors swirl about her personal life.

What Oscar films have you caught up on since March? Which deserved their accolades, and which left you confused? Share your thoughts and recommendations for what we should watch next!

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

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What happens when three lifelong friends tackle the complex, beautiful, and often hilarious topic of motherhood? Heartfelt stories, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughter.

Our journey begins with the TV moms who shaped our expectations—from Carol Brady's perfect flip to Claire Huxtable's groundbreaking career-mom balance. We reflect on how these fictional mothers set up ideals that real motherhood rarely matches. Remember June Cleaver vacuuming in pearls? Or the gloriously eccentric Moira Rose? Some of these characters influenced how we viewed motherhood long before we experienced it ourselves.

The conversation turns deeply personal as we share the phrases our mothers said that somehow found their way into our own parenting vocabularies. "Because I said so" becomes the ultimate placeholder when we're too exhausted to explain. "You're fine" and "rub some dirt on it" slip out automatically when faced with minor injuries. We've created our own family sayings too, like "It's hard to be you"—which began as genuine empathy for a four-year-old but evolved into good-natured sarcasm over the years.

Most touching are our cherished memories: mothers who created beautiful dinner party deco from odds and ends around the house, the lingering scent of perfume as they headed out for the evening, the calm reassurance during difficult moments of early parenthood. We explore how our relationships with our mothers transformed as we aged, moving from parent-child dynamics to deep adult friendships.

Whether your mother taught you everything she knew or kept you out of the kitchen entirely, whether she's still with you or lives on in memories, this episode celebrates the women who shaped us and the mothers we've become. Share your own favorite "mom-ism" with us or tell us which TV mom most influenced your idea of motherhood!

Amy, Kitty & Stacey

P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".

Support the show