We became the over-the-top birthday party parents… (+ big news & the iced coffee debate)

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, happy Monday!! First, the big news: WE ARE OFFICIALLY A DEAR MEDIA PRODUCTION!! (yay) If you're new here from the Dear Media world: hi!! We're Alex and Harrison, married, two kids (Tate and Rocky), and the “third-wheel” (lovingly) is Jules our producer!!! Welcome, we're so happy you're here. And if you’re not new here, the short story is - nothing is changing!!!

Then we get into the episode with a confession: we are officially the parents who throw the over-the-top birthday parties. The exact parents we judged before we had kids. We get into why we've fully made peace with it (the joy is REA), plus the undisputed best time slot for a toddler birthday party: 5 to 7 PM. Everyone's out of nap territory, people are always looking for something to do during this dead zone, and dinner is handled. We will be taking no further questions at this time hahaha

And the rest: Harrison is teetotaling 13 out of 14 days “per week” (his math, not ours lol), the Tweet of the Week we're carrying into fall ("the curse of no discipline is every year looks the same"), and the TikTok discourse we had to weigh in on: is going to your friend's birthday party optional?! Plus a Rocky update: he's officially in the nanny share and he LOVES it.

Then book club: Princess Diana's brother wrote a memoir about her (Swan Song, out tomorrow!!), and Harrison's corner: Warren Buffett officially stepped down from Berkshire Hathaway (we think it might be because he’s 96 but idk you tell us lol). The math will break your brain: $1,000 invested with him in 1965 is worth almost $60 MILLION today. We get into what made him one of one, whether anyone can do it again, and Alex's hot take that Paris Hilton is the Warren Buffett of influencing (out of respect for Mr. Buffett, Harrison disagrees LOL).

We close with the dog corner: two studies say dogs are genuinely good for your brain (dog owners, your pet might be syncing to YOUR stress levels??), our updated family dog rules (short version: no diapers in the house), and the internet's current debate: can you bring an iced coffee to a job interview?!

Hope everyone has a great week :-) LOVE YOU!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast!

00:00:10 We are officially a DEAR MEDIA production!! (+ VERY short intros for the new listeners)

00:04:43 We're now the parents who throw the over-the-top birthday parties…

00:15:32 The undisputed best time for a 2 year old's birthday party

00:17:12 Harrison is teetotaling 13/14 days per week lol

00:19:57 Tweet of the Week: "the curse of no discipline is every year looks the same"

00:25:56 Is going to your friend's birthday party optional?!

00:34:35 Rocky officially joined the nanny share!!

00:36:41 BOOK CLUB: Princess Diana's brother wrote a memoir (out TOMORROW)

00:38:28 Warren Buffett retires at [AGE REDACTED]

00:50:37 Dogs are officially good for your brain (two studies + our update thoughts on getting a family dog)

01:00:12 Iced coffee at a job interview: yay or nay?!

01:09:34 LOVE YOU GUYS!

#twoparentsandapod

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Sources:

*Warren Buffett steps down as chairman: NPR — https://www.npr.org/2026/09/18/nx-s1-5973852/warren-buffett-steps-down

*Berkshire vs. S&P returns: credited on graphic

*Swan Song: Diana, My Sister: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/836436/swan-song-by-charles-spencer/

*Pets & cognitive decline study: https://x.com/NTFabiano/status/2101664911738683802?s=20

*Dogs mirror their owners' stress: https://x.com/anishmoonka/status/2101906772017455410?s=20

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Thank you to our sponsors this week:

*Merit Beauty: Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at https://www.meritbeauty.com

*Little Spoon: Give them meals + snacks that are actually right for where kids are developmentally—balanced, intentional and made