Friendship, laughter, and the shared chaos of motherhood—these are the pillars of the CK & GK Podcast. What started as two teachers navigating pandemic life turned into a space where Caitlin and Jenny could offer humor, wisdom, and relatable stories to fellow moms. With a foundation built on honesty, inside jokes, and the occasional Stockard Channing reference, they’ve created a podcast that feels like a conversation with your best friends. In this interview, they share the highs and lows of podcasting, the magic of humor, and how they keep showing up for each other—and their listeners.
What inspired you and Jenny to start How to Be a Grownup; A Humorous Guide for Moms?
Caitlin: Jenny and I taught together at a middle school here in Austin, Texas. We hit it off immediately and it didn’t take long for us to become close friends.
Jenny: We taught together because I forced Caitlin to work full time after she was trying to take it slow and sub after the birth of her son. I liked her too much to only see her once in a while.
Caitlin: During quarantine, Jenny and I were on the phone as often as we could be: sharing tips for
- Getting through pandemic teaching,
- Cleaning the bathroom, and
- Generally keeping our sanity.
Jenny: Remember that episode of The Office when Jim and Pam get tiny bluetooths and talk to each other all day at their jobs? That was us for March-May of 2020.
Caitlin: Haha! It really was. Our conversations were so fun! We laughed and learned together, and we felt like others would do the same if they heard our conversations, so we decided to start a podcast.
Can you share a memorable moment or conversation from the early days of the podcast?
Jenny: Caitlin and I somehow referenced Stockard Channing like five times in one episode. There’s also the time Jenny found a roach on her cape at the hair salon.
How did your experiences teaching together influence the content and direction of the podcast?
Caitlin: Jenny and I are both “no-nonsense nurturers” in the classroom, but our classroom management philosophy is rooted in building relationships through honesty and laughter. We both believe that if you get the kids on your side, they’ll learn from you. We apply that same thinking to the show.
Jenny: When you teach middle school, one of two things is usually true about you. You’re either as patient as a saint, or you’ve got the same sense of humor as your students. Guess which one applies here… Caitlin and I both find joy in the everyday stuff, and we aren’t afraid to let it show. Some of the stories that we share—like me thinking a roof inspector’s drone was an entire swarm of bees—are just unsophisticated, immature humor.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of creating and hosting your podcast?
Caitlin: I love getting to spend time with Jenny. She teaches me things and makes me laugh. It’s the best.
Jenny: The scheduled, structured chat helps us stay connected. When something happens in my life, I know I can either text Caitlin right away, or—if it’s funny—save it for the mic and capture her reaction!
What challenges have you faced in expanding your listenership and how have you addressed them?
Caitlin: This is our biggest challenge and something I spend a lot of time on. It gets discouraging from time to time.
We’ve really checked and re-checked our episode content to make sure it’s material that’s valuable to mothers. We know moms don’t have time for anything that doesn’t serve them, and we treasure the time they spend with us!
And of course, I’ve spent a lot of time optimizing our episode titles and website content for searchability (this is a full-time job in and of itself!), and it’s helping, but searchability doesn’t always lead to conversions/listens.
Our social content used to be all about promo and now I post a combination of what makes me happy and promo content. Again, social posts don’t always lead to conversions/listens, but it makes posting more fun.
Jenny: I try to put CK & GK stickers all over the world, but we aren’t sure that has led to listens.
How do you balance the demands of the podcast with your full-time jobs and family life?
Caitlin: It’s not easy! We deliberately make time for recording—scheduling time on our calendars and making sure that time is untouched by our families. And I spend a lot of my time on Sundays prepping episode content.
Jenny: I’m always working toward this. With a blended family, time with kids is precious and hard to share. So setting aside time when the kids have sports practice or Dad can take them on a special date is really the best option.
Can you describe a particularly difficult moment in your podcasting journey and how you overcame it?
Jenny: I had a bit of a breakdown over the holidays one year. I was overstimulated, overtasked, and overwhelmed…basically just “over it.” Rather than reach out and connect with Caitlin, I went AWOL because I was just too embarrassed to say no to the show while I was trying to prioritize. Sending that initial, “I’m sorry I ghosted you,” message was tough, but it was a landmark moment, as Caitlin confirmed for me that the show is VERY secondary to our friendship, and our friendship isn’t tied to the show.
How has working on the podcast impacted your mental health and personal well-being?
Jenny: You’ve heard it: Laughter is the best medicine. Is it taxing to produce a podcast? Absolutely! But the recording sessions are a hair-down, shoulders-relaxed protected hour of laughter and connection.
Caitlin: Metaphorical hair-down. Because my hair is always up in the messiest bun… Let’s just say I usually look like I’m meant for an audio-only format.
What strategies do you use to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Jenny: I recently heard someone refer to work-life “rhythm” rather than balance. It gave me goosebumps! What a difference in mindset and expectations for myself when I think about creating a rhythm rather than trying to balance. In Shonda Rhimes’ book, Year of Yes, she says that when she’s succeeding at work, she’s failing at home and vice versa. No one can do it all, and we shouldn’t expect that of ourselves. Just last weekend, I texted Caitlin to cancel a recording so I could focus on edits and then go to a baseball game with my family.
What role does humor play in your podcast, and how does it help with managing challenges?
Jenny: It’s the Leading Actress. Humor is the glue that holds the show together. Otherwise, it would just be a meeting that could have been an email. The original idea for the show came from us laughing together and thinking, “Maybe someone else will laugh at, I mean, WITH, us.”
How do you and Jenny support each other through the ups and downs of podcasting?
Caitlin: Grace and empathy. We’re both wives, mothers, full-time workers… you have to be able to put your friendship first. Everything else is secondary. And, not for nothing, but I tend to be the one who gets “down” about podcasting sometimes. I love the creativity and how our ideas come together. I looooove recording. At the same time, the amount of work does get taxing. Jenny is amazing at bringing me back up and helping me find the joy in this process.
What advice would you give to other women looking to start a creative project while managing other responsibilities?
Jenny: Allot double the time you think the project will take. Being creative, especially if you have perfectionist tendencies, is a process that can’t really be rushed. It’s not fair to you or your family to underestimate the amount of time you will need to work on the project the way you truly want to. Set time aside on your family calendar opposite activities you can miss without missing out. For example, don’t schedule project time for a weekday evening when you’re going to want to be spending time with family. Instead, work while the kids are busy (Jenny has recorded from the baseball fields more than once) or when everyone’s focus is on something else.
Caitlin: I love how she said “allot the time.” We’re both so busy that this show would never get made consistently if it weren’t for a scheduled appointment on both of our family calendars.
How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue producing content for your podcast?
Caitlin: I mean, this isn’t always easy, right? There are times that I’m frustrated by podcasting and feel like it’s just an expensive hobby. And don’t let anyone tell you that creating content is easy, because it isn’t. But truly, the dedicated time with my best friend is so good for me. I love teaching her something new and making her laugh. I know she feels the same way about me. As long as we get to do those things together, that’s all the motivation I need.
Can you share any personal stories that have shaped your approach to podcasting and creativity?
Caitlin: The number of times I’ve called my mom or dad (you know, an adultier-adult than I am) and asked for their “real grownup advice” is an infinity loop. So that’s certainly something that shapes how I approach the show. But I always turn back to when I was teaching.
Sometimes, teachers are sitting in these loooooong professional development sessions and the material being presented is just worthless. I’ve participated in 3-day sessions that did absolutely nothing to improve my teaching. And that’s just not okay.
My favorite PD sessions were the ones that I walked out of with actionable tips, activities, resources, etc. that I could use the next time I saw my students or the next time I planned a lesson or project. That’s really valuable. And that’s the kind of material I like to bring to the show.
What are your long-term goals for the CK & GK Podcast, and how do you envision its future?
Caitlin: Okay so that “expensive hobby” comment? At some point, I’d love to be able to break even. 😉 Seriously though, I’d really love to grow our listenership and expand to a point where we’re primarily doing deep dives into listener questions over the course of a few episodes. And, I’d like to keep doing the show as long as it’s making Jenny and me happy.
Jenny: My goals for the future are the same as from the very start: have fun, capture the laughs, and make someone else’s day. Would I love to make money while I sleep? Sure! But that’s not a driving factor for me. This really is like painting, crafting, composing, or baking; it’s a creative outlet that lets me use my skills to improve the lives of others. What’s that skill? Well, it’s being a downward social comparison, of course! Live your life by the mantra, at least I’m not as messy as GK!
Websites and Photos
Website
Our website: https://www.ckandgkpodcast.com/
Boilerplate
We’re Caitlin and Jenny—moms just like you, navigating the everyday chaos and unexpected surprises of adulthood. On How to Be a GrownUp, we bring a relatable and humorous perspective to all things motherhood, drawing on our own experiences (and misadventures) to share honest, practical advice you can actually use in your own life.
Our show is a supportive and entertaining space where listeners can laugh, learn, and connect with other grown-ups who are just trying to figure it all out—because let’s face it, none of us really know what we’re doing.
Listen here:
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-be-a-grownup-a-humorous-guide-for-moms-with-ck-gk/id1600435714
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18bYm4GWnS5JKiKcTqRQsT
- Or on our website at https://www.ckandgkpodcast.com/episodes
