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.

Read more

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

Massie: Um, is your name Sam?

Us: No.

Massie: Then why are you playing it again?

Us: Great question!

We are re-releasing the episode of EhMaGawd with actress Elizabeth McLaughlin (yes, Massie Block from the movie) because many of you are late to the podcast party, and we want to make sure you don’t miss this ah-mazing conversation from July 21, 2025. Why? Because this charming, talented, and very Type-A actor knows how to bring it.

Topics include: Elizabeth’s day-one illness on the set of the Clique, the grueling casting process, IRL tension between Elizabeth and Ellen, their favorite movie looks, and the impact Elizabeth’s ketchup obsession had on Massie’s character development.

Digressions include: work ethics, child veneers, business class, and Botox math.

You’re Welcome!!!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen.

April, 14, 2026

You can finally stop wondering what really goes on behind the sex scenes in movies, TV shows, verticals, and episodes of Heated Rivalry. And trust us, it’s way more involved than you think. In this episode of EhMaGawd, actress, genius, and intimacy coordinator Hayley Himmelman tells us what it takes to keep actors and actresses feeling safe while looking sexy. She also gives Lisi some fantastic advice on how to handle sex in the new Clique book because, come on, it’s one thing to accept that our girls are getting down, but it’s quite another to write about it.

So, go slip into something comfortable, and let’s get into it (Pun NOT intended).

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

While promoting The Clique, readers often asked how I managed to connect with twelve-year-olds when I was in my thirties. The answer was always: My dress size may have changed, but my insecurities, desires, and demons are the same.

In middle school, I was afraid the wind would blow my bangs aside and expose my forehead zits. Now, I pray the sun doesn’t reveal an errant chin hair. Back then, my stomach sank when friends came back from summer camp with new inside jokes. Now, it sinks when happy families return from group vacations, while my divorced ass sits home alone. I wondered why some girls were ready to date, and I wasn’t. I wondered the same thing when my friends started getting married and having kids. Shouldn’t I want that too? In middle school, popularity fluctuated more than our hormones. Trust me, mom culture is worse. “The only thing harder than getting in is staying in” was printed on the cover of every Clique book for a reason.

Read more

March 7, 2026

Invasion of the Boy Snatchers, the fourth book in the Clique series, can only be compared to Lord of the Flies if you completely changed the plot but kept the savagery.

When Alicia’s beautiful 13-year-old cousin, Nina, arrives from Spain, the Pretty Committee’s social stock drops dramatically, and their futures are as shaky as Derrington’s butt. (IYKYK). Nina, aka Nina the Obscena, steals their pride, their crushes, and several of their persona items, inspiring a diabolical revenge scheme that harkens the prom scene in Carrie. As if that’s not no buena enough, Claire and Massie are forced to become roommates only to discover that Claire is allergic to Bean, and the dog must go. We have exploding water bras, a shameful amount of boob jokes, and a kiss mishap that might change the course of Claire’s love life forever—and not in a cute way.

The good news? Glossip Girl has arrived. The bad news? Taco Belle is one of the flavors. The best news? This episode’s No Fly List is hilarious, and so is the banter.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Episode #38

On this episode of EhMaGawd, Lisi and Ellen come out of the closet and into your ears to discuss the dopamine addiction otherwise known as shopping. Because, come on, very few of us shop because we don’t have any clothes.

We polled dozens of habitual shoppers to find out what drives them (no two answers are the same) and share tips on how to make the overall experience more intentional and less traumatic.

Digressions include Hulu’s Love Story, The Lilith Fair, and what girls at the University of Arizona are wearing this season. Hint: not much.

This week’s Ask A Glu is about the very relatable fish-out-of-water feeling we all have when we move somewhere new. And, not to brag, but our advice is worth a million bucks. Which is great, considering that’s how much it costs to buy a new dress these days.

If you’d like to get our unprofessional input, spill your soul at Ask a GLU at thestateofthereunion@gmail.com. We’ve got you!

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Episode #37

Hey GLUs (Girl Leprechauns Like Us):

Imagine starting a new job and Massie Block is your boss? Sit with that for a minute. Unless, of course, you’re dealing with a real-life version of her, in which case, LISTEN UP: This episode of EhMaGawd is a MUST if you want to understand the complex dynamics of mean girls at work and what to do about them. Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, authors of Mean Girls At Work and Working with You is Killing Me, share their well-researched insights, real-life stories, and communication techniques to help you survive professional pack attacks. They’re also going to show you what kind of mean girl YOU are, because you’re not as innocent as you think.

If you’d like to make a Mean Girl Amends or get some (unprofessional) help with your drama, spill your soul at Ask a GLU at thestateofthereunion@gmail.com.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen #Nicegirlsatwork

I live in Austin, TX and consider myself somewhat of a margarita connoisseur… I have a ranking of favorites around town and my #1 favorite is called a Gil’s from Maudie’s. It’s simple, high quality, and CLASSIC. The key is to always, and I mean ALWAYS use freshly squeezed lime juice.

Here’s what you need:

• Rocks Glass

• Cocktail Shaker & Jigger

• Juicer

• Ice

• Don Julio Blanco (or any blanco tequila of your choice - I also like Lalo)

• Cointreau

• Two Limes

• Salt

Here’s how to make Claire Lyons’ go to, or as I like to call it “the dos” since everything is in 2s.

• Fill your shaker with ice and add…

  • 2oz Tequila

  • 2oz Cointreau

  • Juice of 2 limes

IF You like a salted rim…

• Pour about a tablespoon of your favorite salt onto a plate, rim your glass with lime juice from your squeezed carcass, and roll the wet rim in the salt.

• Fill your glass with ice (I personally love to use a big rock)

• Shake your cocktail for at least 30 seconds, and strain into your glass over ice.

ENJOY!

xx

Ellen

Episode #36

In this episode of EhMaGawd, Lisi and Ellen explore our dysfunctional relationship with aging. Why is living to see another day viewed as something we need to resist, reverse, and retouch? Why do we hide our years like period-stained shapewear instead of wearing them like badges of honor? When will we learn that we are so much more than our collagen and fertility? And what does E.T. have to do with it?

Grow old with us as we explore these questions and help a GLU with her explosive boundarrhea.

If you need help coming to terms with your age, stage, or rage, send your quandary to Ask a GLU at thestateofthereunion@gmail.com.

Love you madly,

Lisi & Ellen

As you can imagine, there is a cacophony of voices in my head at all times. Like most of us, my characters want to be heard, represented, and seen. But today I am respectfully asking them to STFU and give the real women a chance to speak.

(After I say a few more things.)

Ellen and I are having a blast with EhMaGawd. The podcast has given us connection, community, laughter, purpose, and an opportunity to gnaw on the issues that affect us all. And let’s give it up for our guests!

(Pause for applause).

We’re usually hormonal or irritated when we log on, but by the time we’re done, we’re buoyant, hopeful, and ready to get back out there and fight the good fight. TBH, we’d be doing it even if you weren’t listening. But since you are (thank you!), we want to make sure your itches are being scratched.

What are you curious about? What keeps you connected, not just to the Clique, but to us, and to each other? If you have thoughts, ideas, or wildly niche requests, let us know. We’re listening. We’ve always been listening. But since those damn imaginary voices are so loud, we’ll hear you better if you answer our polls.

Thank you and Happy Saturday.

We’ll share the results as soon as we have them.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen

Episode #35

Revenge of the Wannabes, the third novel in the Clique series, is a great example of why some people want to burn books, and why they ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT! The story doubles as a time machine set to 2005, when it was perfectly acceptable to objectify women’s body parts, poke fun at eating disorders, and use revenge as a form of ‘conflict resolution’. Shame on us for tolerating it and good on us for correcting it. But destroying the evidence? That erases our guilt, undermines our growth, and disrespects those who survived it.

This novel, and those like it, should be read annually. Come for the laughs and stay for the lessons. If you don’t know what we mean, you will when you hear the lines that made it onto this month’s No Fly List.

As always, our girls emerge a little stronger and a lot kinder, just like the rest of us.

xoxo Lisi & Ellen