September 15, 2026

Unfun Fact: There are two questions every GLU has asked her crush at one point or another:

1. Are you okay?

2. What are you thinking about?

99.9% of the time, their answers are:

1. Yeah.

2. Nuthin’.

   Now the GLU is spiraling because she assumes he’s hiding something. But what if there were a way to find out what was happening between those waxy ears of his? Thanks to the Pretty Committee, there is.

Today we’re cackling about the eighth novel in the Clique series: Sealed With A Diss, where we finally get to see what’s inside Skye Hamilton’s secret room.

Eh.

Ma.

Gawd.

It’s ah-mazing.

In addition to the incredible contents, the girls have access to a secret camera that records the Sensitivity Training class at Briarwood Academy. The days of wondering what their crushes think are over. Now they can actually find out. And what they learn will change their relationships forever.

Lisi and Ellen talk about snooping in general: when it’s useful, when it’s problematic, and when it calls for a restraining order.

Digressions include: Lisi’s COVID, RHONY, The Notebook, and why everyone assumes Layne Abeley is queer.

Enjoy!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Happy mid-September!! How in the name of Penelope did we get here so fast? That fire horse is running like Gal Gadot. Ellen and I literally saw Halloween cookies at Whole Foods this weekend. Too soon, fire horse, too soon.

Yes, you heard that right. Ellen and I were at the Laguna Beach Whole Foods TOGETHER. She visited me over Labor Day Week…

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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Hi GLUs!

As you know, most conversations about aging focus on how to cheat it: look younger, feel stronger, think clearer. But we rarely talk about the sloppy junk drawer of ages we schlepp inside us every day. The restless 6-year-old, the brooding 15-year-old, the lost 23-year-old, and on and on and on…

So, on this episode of EhMaGawd, we talk about the dizzying ricochet we feel as we shoot from one age to the other, depending on what’s happening in real time. What “age stage” do we revert to when we’re at our worst? And for the love of Gawd, why can’t we stop feeling like insecure teenagers?

And speaking of ricochet, there are endless digressions in this one. Lisi’s empty next, Ellen’s new one, Mad Men, and the best decade for music, to name a few.

xoxo Lisi and Ellen

Tuesday, August 18

Prepare to have your mind, body, and spirit buh-lown away. Today on EhMaGawd, you get to meet our smart, sassy, and loving SOUL sister, Penelope Mandel. Penelope tells us how she knew she was a spiritual intuitive, what it feels like to communicate with the other side, and whether or not we should be afraid of dying.

Her visions have saved her own life, the lives of her clients, and have even helped the New York Police Department solve crimes. How does she do a reading while holding objects? Over the phone? On the subway? Would we be able to throw her a surprise party without her knowing? And why were Ellen and Lisi sweating so damn much while talking to her?

If you have Penelope’s gift, you already know the answers to these questions. For those of you who don’t, listen up. It’s a great one.

Want a 30-minute reading from Penelope? Text her at 917.796.8205.

Pro tip: wear a strong antiperspirant.

xoxo,

Lisi & Ellen

August 11, 2026

One year.

Twelve mindsets.

A new you every month.

That’s what we’re exploring in this episode of EhMaGawd. Because whoever came up with the whole New Year’s resolution thing, which then morphed into the New Year’s intention thing, had it all wrong. How are we supposed to set goals in January for the GLUs we will become in May, October, or December? We can’t; that’s how.

This is what Mindset of the Month is all about. We’ll tell you what inspired it, what ours are for August, and how the “fresh start effect” will help you tame the fire horse that is 2026 so it doesn’t trample you. So, saddle up, buttercup, let’s ride!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

P.S. You will also witness the worst podcast sign-off of all time. The fire horse rode right over us on that one.

Episode #54

August, 4, 2026

‘Tis the season, GLU’s! Season three of EhMaGawd, that is. We have ah lot planned for you this year and are kicking it all off with The Clique Book Club.

Today we are going deep on It’s Not Easy Being Mean (2007), the seventh book in The Clique series. In addition to recapping the chaotic plot, which includes a cutthroat competition and Claire’s Hollywood drama, Lisi will explain where she got the inspiration for OCD’s secret room and the idea to have the girls raid the boys’ bedrooms.

As always, you will hear our No Fly List- quotes that somehow were okay in 2007 but would absolutely not fly today. And as a special bonus, we have an extra list dedicated 100% to our favorite weirdo, Layne Abely.

Oh, and guess who finally gets her first kiss???

It’s ah-mazing to be back!!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Episode #53

If you’re the kind of GLU who likes their pleasure served vicariously, this is the episode for you! Ellen and Lisi break down their epic weekend in Austin, stomach issues and all. You’ll learn about the places they went, a Clique-coded syndrome that you might want to get tested for, and most importantly, why we need to try harder to nourish our relationships IRL.

Digressions include our short summer hiatus, Lisi’s promise to return in August with a decorated office (pinky swear), and Ellen’s upcoming trip to Laguna Beach.

We will return on August 4, 2026, with a book club episode, so beach-read the hell out of It’s Not Easy Being Mean, and know that we can NAWT wait to speak at you after the break.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Dearest GLUs,

We’d normally begin by saying we wish you were in Austin with us, but you were, so no need. While we discussed Massie’s sex life, bonded over IBS, antiqued, ate, ate, ate, cackled at a woman who went to the bathroom and covered her drink with a napkin and readers, sang MMMbop in the car, bonded over morning coffee, and raced to a fancy pharmacy to buy Pepcid, you were there. Which is probably why we didn’t end up recording half as much as we intended. Not only were we in the moment (look it up, Gen Z), but we felt like all of us were together. That’s the thing about our GLU community—we are like the sun: even when you can’t see us, we’re together. Lofty and self-important? Perhaps. We’re that too.

Enjoy our recap. More to come after Labor Day.

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June 30, 2026

Hey GLUs,

Author, award-winning journalist, and State of the Union aficionado (200 and counting) Iman Hariri-Kia returns to EhMaGawd and We. Are. Obsessed. Mostly with how brilliant, charming, and prolific she is. But also, have you read her coming-of-age newsletter, Cherry Picked? The woman is getting after it. Every week, Iman reviews the (multiple) books she’s read, posts pics of her decadent meals, shares her NYC adventures, updates us on the progress of her latest novel, and often does it all en route to a wedding.

How does she get it all done? How would the Clique characters get along with her characters? What is the origin of Massie’s State of the Union? What is she working on next? Is there hope for Gen Z? Listen up. Don’t even try to tell us you don’t have time. No one is busier than Iman, and she showed up.

Twice!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

June 23, 2026

Our “ASK a GLU” inbox has runneth over. Your questions have been ah-mazing, vulnerable, raw, and real. We appreciate everyone who has dared to write in and bare their soul. So, today’s episode is all about you. We chose five highly relatable Ask a GLU questions in the hope that everyone will find something to take away.

Today’s Topics:

1. Wedding dress shopping with mom.

2. Personal style stealers.

3. Visualizing the Clique characters.

4. Kissing your BFF’s crush.

5. When your dream life doesn’t come true.

The good news is we have very different opinions, so you have several options to consider. How many therapists can brag about that??

Keep sending your questions to Ask a GLU, and for those of you who already reached out, feel free to send us follow-ups.

See You Next Tuesday!!!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Episode #50

A few weeks ago, we posted a special episode for subscribers detailing Ellen’s trip to Charleston, SC for Sophie Anna Everhard’s glam X 10 wedding. Yes, Sophie played Dylan Marvil in The Clique movie. And yes, Elizabeth/Massie was there. Ellen and Lisi fondly recalled EhMaGawd episode #2, an interview with Sophie, who at the time had ZERO plan for her wedding. Less than one year later, we can proudly say the GLU over-delivered. I mean, check out some of these pics.

So much can happen in a year. A year to THE DAY, mind you. Yes, Sophie’s episode dropped Monday, June 16, 2025, and we’re replaying it June 16, 2026!!!

I mean, come AWN! How cool is that?

Over the last 365 days, Sophie turned her wedding into a wonderland. Lisi no longer wears glasses (but still has horrible backgrounds; she’s working on it.) And Ellen… a lot can change in a year.

It all goes to show you that worrying about the future is a waste of time. You truly never know what surprises are waiting for you. Including, but not limited to, the fact that we have dropped FIFTY episodes of EhMaGawd. (Even though we already aired this one, so technically it’s #49). But hey, we’re creatives, not mathematicians, and we are creating a universe where this episode counts twice. Because it’s that good.

Ellen and Sophie share their audition stories and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the movie’s filming. Lisi tells the newly engaged Sophie how to make her wedding memorable, and they all discuss the power of passion.

Digressions include: sober grinding at high school dances, wedding pressure, Lindsey Lohan, Jamba Juice, and trippy realizations.

xoxo,

Lisi & Ellen

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Massie: Hey, Lisi and Ellen, do you work at air traffic control?

Lisi & Ellen: No, why?

Massie: Because you just landed a big one!

It’s true. They did!

Give a warm GLU welcome to author Daniel Kraus—the 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner for his novel, Angel Down.

(break for applause)

Sure, the episode touches on Daniel’s award-winning masterpiece, the film adaptation of his Bestselling novel Whalefall, starring Josh Brolin, and Graveyard Girls, the 5-book series he wrote with Lisi.

But they’re not going to dwell on the specifics. That’s what Google is for. This episode is about what happens when you finally get the thing you’ve been dreaming of. The date, the engagement, the job, the baby, the house, and, in Daniel’s case, the Pulitzer Prize. Is life really better? Can we actually “die happy”? Is achieving the dream a finish line or simply a new starting line?

Listen and learn.

They also discuss the surprising similarities between psychological horror and female friendship. And, most importantly, Daniel’s obsession with Sex and the City.

DK will also answer questions from the GLUs, make a Mean Girl Amends, and share his Current State of the Union (sort of).

This Guy Like Us is a true prize.

Enjoy!

Lisi & Ellen

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Hey GLUs! Welcome to book club. Today, Lisi and Ellen break down the breakdown that is Dial L For Loser.

Now that the girls are expelled from OCD, Massie, Claire, and Alicia experience what every seventh grader experiences when kicked out of school—they fly private to Los Angeles, get put up in a five-star hotel, and audition for a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Sure, there are three of them and only one role. But they’re the best of friends. They’re supportive. When one succeeds, they all succeed. Right?

PUH-LEASE!

The peace that existed between Massie and Kuh-lair in Revenge of the Wannabees is Dial O for Over. Claire beats out Massie and Alicia and gets emotionally abused as a result. When she dares make friends with her castmates, whell, that’s the last straw! They ice her out, sabotage her relationship with Cam, and hide embarrassing ointments and diarrhea meds in her trailer, which they broadcast on national television.

Lisi and Ellen discuss the insanity; Ellen shares how she prepared for the role of Claire; and Lisi reads lines that somehow passed inspection in the aughts but would never fly in 2026.

**Bonus points if you can name the 1952 movie this title pays homage to.

**Gossip points if you can name the IRL celebrity feud that inspired the fictional drama between Hadley and Abby.

**No points if you get your answers from this episode. (Sorry, Millennials, your days of getting trophies for showing up are over. )

xoxo Lisi and Ellen

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

This episode of EhMaGawd explores why 47% of Americans identify as spiritual but not religious (or SBNR, as the cool GLUs like to call it).

Lisi and Ellen discuss the reasons so many of us are choosing psychics over priests, vision boards over verses, and tarot over temple. They explore social media trends that encourage men to double down on self-control while telling women to surrender. And they share the first moment each of them strayed from their own religions and went rogue.

Digressions include: Ellen’s political crush, predictions from Penelope, the pod’s official psychic, and the Friday night of it all.

They also answer a question from a GLU who is desperately trying to put the “man” in manifest.

If you have any questions about spirituality, political crushes, love, drama, outfits, careers, weddings, hair, nails, animals, sea life, physics, topography, ballroom dancing, or the Clique, please email us at thestateofthereunion@gmail.com, and we’ll get right on it.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

This bonus episode is rated K for Kettlecorn because it’s part sweet and part salty.

It was supposed to be a recap from Ellen, who just attended Sophie Everhard’s beyond glamorous wedding (seriously, the girl should teach a Master Class), and it very much is. Ellen talks about Sophie’s jaw-dropping outfit changes, the brilliant way she breathed new life into tired old traditions, and the unique dynamic between Elizabeth and her husband. Yes, Massie has a husband. Ellen will also share news from her psychic and report on the state of the IRL Pretty Committee’s reunion after 15 years apart. (Sounds like a cool book idea).

That’s the sweet part.

The salty part is the reason this bonus episode is behind a paywall. Because, yes, there are tears. Ellen shares some heartbreaking news that, no offense to the masses, is not for the masses.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2026

In this episode of EhMaGawd, Lisi and Ellen discuss social media and try to decide whether it’s helping or hurting our relationships. Topics include: Parasocial relationships, Lisi’s social media social awkwardness, Ellen’s need for Finsta rehab, and AI boyfriends.

Digressions? There are many. For those of you interested in Hacks costumes, Brokeback Mountain quotes, and tragic Instagram purchases, this one is for you.

They also answer a burning question from a GLU and, of course, share their In/Out list for the week.

If you have questions (or questions about burning), send them to ASK A GLU. and then tune in for the answers. It’s that easy.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Prom season is officially upon us, and this week’s Fan Fiction Friday prompt is giving corsages, chaos, and couture. Ah-bviously, we had to ask the most important question of all: what happens when the Pretty Committee takes prom night into their own perfectly manicured hands?

Remember: This is purely for fun and community enjoyment—all stories shared here are separate from official works.

This Week’s Prompt: Prom Night.

It’s senior prom, and the Pretty Committee is determined to make it the most iconic night Octavian Country Day has ever seen. But between limo politics, prom-posals gone wrong, dress drama, and secret hookups lurking behind the ice sculpture, the night might end up more MAJOR disaster than majorly hot.

Your mission: In under 500 words, take us into the madness of prom night. Is this the perfect fairy-tale ending… or a total social apocalypse?

Guidelines for Your Scene:

• Choose your POV character (Massie, Claire, Alicia, Dylan, or Kristen)

• Set the scene (Pre-prom photos? The limo? The dance floor? The afterparty?)

• Include at least one callback to their OCD days (old crushes, inside jokes, lingo, etc.)

Some Inspiration to Get You Started:

Is Alicia using prom night to soft-launch a mysterious college boyfriend?

What is each girl wearing?

Is Kristen on the Prom Committee?

Do Claire and Cam go together?

Who wins Prom King & Queen?

Is anyone secretly plotting a “Invasion of the Boy Snatchers” style revenge?

How to Participate:

1. Share your scene in the comments below

2. Use the header format:

POV: [Character Name]
Location: [Where each girl is zooming from]
Title: [Your scene’s title]

Community Guidelines:

• Respect other writers’ creative choices

• Leave encouraging comments on others’ work

• Feel free to build on others’ ideas (with credit!)

• Remember, this is for entertainment only

Share yours in the comments below, and don’t forget to read and respond to other writers’ work! You might just discover the next Pulitzer Prize winning author.

xoxo,

Lisi and Ellen

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Fresh off Mother’s Day, Lisi and Ellen use the characters from the Clique to illustrate different parenting styles. But they don't stop there. Lisi shares her parenting philosophy, exposes what she has witnessed from moms in the wild, and shines a light on the many ways parenting has changed over the generations. And yes, Millennials winning awards for everything does come up—AS IT SHOULD.

They also give props to Daniel Kraus, the ah-mazing GLU, who just won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It doesn’t get more alpha than that.

If you can only tolerate this podcast for five minutes, fast forward to this week’s Ask a GLU segment and witness Ellen losing her mind over this week’s problem. It’s worth it.

If you have a problem that might fire Ellen up, send it to thestateofthereunion@gmail.com, and Lisi will do her best to keep her under control.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

The Pretty Committee Strikes Back is the fifth novel in the Clique series and one of the most memorable.

The OCD girls and the Briarwood boys embark on a field trip to Lake Placid to learn how to survive in the wild. But the only skill our girls want to master is kissing. Massie sees this as an opportunity to regain her credibility in the post-Nina era and offers to teach a kissing clinic. The problem is that Massie has zero lip experience and a ton of fear. Shocker of all shockers, she turns to Kuh-laire for training. Claire agrees to keep Massie’s vulnerable secret as long as Massie helps Claire get Cam back. What could possibly go wrong?

Alicia is determined to find out who kissed her crush (Claire). Kristen, who can’t afford the trip, sneaks in and must spend the week hiding under a bed. Dylan’s mother surprised them all when she showed up with a camera crew and then hooked up with their geography teacher. And Derrington catches Massie in a lie that might ruin her reputation forever.

The story ends with the girls lost in the woods, pee-soaked, and scared for their lives. When they finally return to camp, they learn that Mother Nature is far less punishing than Mr. Myner.

This novel is packed tighter than their LV suitcases. Don’t know what we mean by that? Lisi’s recitation of Massie’s CONFIDENTIAL packing list should refresh your memory.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

It doesn’t matter how happy, successful, therapized, in love, in shape, on-trend, or out of debt we might be—when we are around the people who knew us before we knew ourselves, we regress. Family members, hometown friends, exes, siblings…it doesn’t matter; we return to the roles we thought we had outgrown. Old behaviors return, and long-forgotten insecurities and resentments resurface.

This is the theme in the new Clique novel, State of the Reunion, and it’s also an undeniable part of the human experience. In this episode of EhMaGawd, Lisi and Ellen use the Clique characters to illustrate these dynamics and discuss why they exist.

Digressions include: Lisi’s cataract surgery, Ellen’s medicinal New York trip, and Amazon Warehouse Syndrome.

They also answer a question from a GLU who feels judged for not keeping up with the Joneses.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen