The Making An Effort Podcast with Gabby and Mel

A podcast about all the things we make an effort with, and some of the things we don’t.

Episode 201: MAE vs The Beauty Industry 01/19/2026

Episode 201: MAE vs The Beauty Industry We do a full circle on the beauty industry this week. It starts off with indignation and rage and finishes with recommendations. We're only human. We love a product. Don't forget - if you fancy some bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat and BTS content, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39781945

Episode 200: I'd Rather Have The Cash 01/12/2026

Episode 200: I'd Rather Have The Cash We are SO BACK! We're catching up on the holiday break and we're bringing a new flavour to the New Years conversations with a selection of regrets from 2025! Don't forget - if you fancy some bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat and BTS content, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39696545

Episode 199: Are We Changing Lives? 12/15/2025

Episode 199: Are We Changing Lives? It's the last MAE episode of the year! Today we're giving a masterclass on how to do small talk for Americans. We're discussing the level of involvement is appropriate for our husbands in home decor, and Mel has a shocking revelation to share about her seasonal colour palate! Merry Christmas MAE Gang! We love you! Don't forget - we'll continue to hang over on our Patreon through the break - so if you fancy some bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat and BTS content, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39408045

Episode 198: Your Holiday Food Traditions (with crying) 12/08/2025

Episode 198: Your Holiday Food Traditions (with crying) Well well well! If that wasn't such an emotional rollercoaster! Thank you to everyone who submitted their favourite holiday food and let us into your family traditions. Food is the language of love and we felt ALL the feels recording this episode - a firm favourite of ours this year! All the recipes you hear in this will be available soon on our patreon! So if you want access to that, to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39320345

Episode 197: Grown Up Little Homemakers 12/01/2025

Episode 197: Grown Up Little Homemakers Turns out we are grown ups and we buy and do grown up things. Like bulk ordering toilet roll! Look at us go! We catch up on Thanksgiving in the USA and Mel tells us about her hangover and a really unfortunately bagel situation. Listeners - don't forget to send us your favourite holiday family food tradition stories and recipes! We want a quick voicenote to explain the background and the recipe attached in an email to us on The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39219400

Episode 196: What In The Cult? 11/24/2025

Episode 196: What In The Cult? Hello it's MAEDAY! This week we ponder our sleep patterns, Gabby shares the labour of a Christmas Craft and Mel shares a bit about the fun weekend she had with Hillary McBride! Listeners - don't forget to send us your favourite holiday family food tradition stories and recipes! We want a quick voicenote to explain the background and the recipe attached in an email to us on The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39148585

Episode 195: Your Body Doesn't Do That Very Well 11/17/2025

Episode 195: Your Body Doesn't Do That Very Well Today we get straight into Christmas party chat, Mel gripes about a gym injury and a blunt physiotherapist. Gabby weighs in on premade cocktail recipes, the glory of a bowl of popcorn, and Mel reacts to the HORROR that Gabby has not yet watched a very special holiday classic movie! Listeners - don't forget to send us your favourite holiday family food tradition stories and recipes! We want a quick voicenote to explain the background and the recipe attached in an email to us on The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/39061255

Episode 194: Wipe Down The Shower! 11/10/2025

Episode 194: Wipe Down The Shower! We waste no time getting into important stuff this episode - underwear and jammies. Mel has bathroom renovation woes and beef with her MIL. I give my best pitch for watching 'All's Fair' and we have a CALL OUT FOR YOU! Send us a (short) voice-note telling us about your favourite holiday tradition around food. Attach it, and the recipe send it to and we'll feature it in an episode and compile the recipes! The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38975090

Episode 193: MAE The Musical 11/03/2025

Episode 193: MAE The Musical Welcome back! This week you're getting some spooky chat, some really uneducated thoughts around modern dating and if we missed out on being on apps etc. Mel's mum's dating advice and Gabby gets an unexpected text 😬. Also, what if we made our demands into a musical act - would that get our kids to listen to us? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38890075

Episode 192: I Do Not Consent To Your Tent 10/27/2025

Episode 192: I Do Not Consent To Your Tent This week we talk about our respective Supper Clubs and a tale about Dave being clumsy with a precious plate. We discuss Mel's son's entrepreneurial skills, Gabby's short lived soccer career and all the extra curriculars we did as kids. The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38791320

Episode 191: Her Patience Is In Her Boots 10/20/2025

Episode 191: Her Patience Is In Her Boots We are pre-menstrual - come close at your own risk. We have a whinge, Mel details a netball injury, we discuss Jen Hatmaker's new book 'Awake' Gabs ponders the role of the influencer and the disparity between men and women in that role. We're such a party! The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38642790

Episode 190: The Harvest Moon Got Us 10/13/2025

Episode 190: The Harvest Moon Got Us MAE friends! This week we pay tribute to an icon gone too soon - the formidable, inimitable Diane Keaton. We reminisce on her impact as a staple of our 80's/90's comfort movies, her mystery and fashion superiority. What a loss! We also get into a deeper chat about The Life of A Showgirl, the critique around TS herself and some of the lore of the tracks. The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes (one coming this week!), weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38561595

Episode 189: To Share or Not To Share 10/06/2025

Episode 189: To Share or Not To Share Hello! We're back this week with EXCELLENT audio, birthday tales, food chat, a huge TV update/discussion, merch chat and a brief first impression of the new TS album. Enjoy! And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38477580

Episode 188: Slingin' A Deafie 09/29/2025

Episode 188: Slingin' A Deafie We are so back! Thanks for your patience over the last two weeks while we took a hiatus! This week we get stuck back into the big hitting issues: Gabby's HUGE UK celeb sighting, Mel ponders the concept of sleep and shares some fun scottish slang. And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38391805

Episode 187: Proactive & Burglars 09/08/2025

Episode 187: Proactive & Burglars This week we start off with a memory lane chat about teenage skincase and then take an unexpected turn into story time about house alarms and break ins. Mel's got a corker of a story to share that will never have you looking at her dad the same way again. Enjoy! And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38125745

Episode 186: Brown Noise 09/01/2025

Episode 186: Brown Noise A fun little insight into some special memories for us today. We're talking about songs that aren't religious but feel deeply spiritual for us. Would love to hear what songs hit that spot for you too! Leave us a comment here! And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/38045995

Episode 185: Summer of Manifestation 08/25/2025

Episode 185: Summer of Manifestation Bank holiday weekend! This week we're reflecting on a bunch of stuff, including some fun food questions that Gabby brings to the table and a recap of Mel's exciting Oasis story that was manifested RIGHT HERE on this podcast. So thanks for that everyone! And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37944615

Episode 184: Taylor & Travis Are A Real Couple 08/18/2025

Episode 184: Taylor & Travis Are A Real Couple Today we have a sleepy Gabby, and a sleepy Mel too - because she stayed up too late watching Taylor and Travis be cute. We discuss this, we talk about America v UK school systems, read out a listener email and talk about the end of AJLT and the SATC franchise. And, hey! Did you know? The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast! If you want access to bonus episodes, weekly episode commentary, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37859695

Episode 183: Back Alley Scenes 08/11/2025

Episode 183: Back Alley Scenes Gabby is back with another tale to tell about trash. I beg you to consider if you are ready for this. We also talk about how it's never too late to switch it up, start something new, do the thing. Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37756250

Episode 182: Trash Juice Hands 08/04/2025

Episode 182: Trash Juice Hands This week we debrief Gabby's visit to scummy, stinky NYC. We join in our collective annoyance in being asked for money for charity (at the checkout), Mel has a breakdown about her ability to accessorize and Gabby comes to term with being a country girl after all. Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a proud listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37658990

Episode 181: Loons & The Left Phalange 07/28/2025

Episode 181: Loons & The Left Phalange Gabby's back! So we are hearing all about her trip, including insight into a Heurta family obsession. We're also talking about chatty pilots, city fashion and the new season of Shiny Happy People and the late 90's, early 00's fundamentalist Christian movement. Whew! It's a beefy one! Enjoy! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37575400

Episode 180: Return Of The Dave 07/21/2025

Episode 180: Return Of The Dave Gabs in on her family vacation so this week Mel is joined by Dave again (sorry/not sorry?) We have the usual marriage banter/bickering and answer lots of listener questions about pet peeves, how to survive parenting, favourite holidays and thoughts on Couples Therapy. Buckle up! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37470260

Episode 179: Girls Fest 07/14/2025

Episode 179: Girls Fest This week we take a decade overdue dive into the TV show Girls and the nostalgia of the era. We talk Lena Dunham, the contrast with SATC and Lena's new show ' Too Much'. Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37399445

Episode 178: King & Queen of Glasto 07/07/2025

Episode 178: King & Queen of Glasto Summer is in full swing so we're talking about all things music festivals, reading - with a brief segue about the 7/7 bombings in London. Light and shade, here for it all! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37304255

Episode 177: Summer Camp 06/30/2025

Episode 177: Summer Camp Ahh this is a nostalgic episode for us. We get into a bit of a chat about our experiences of working at Summer Camp and the ridiculousness of teenagers being in charge of kids for a whole summer! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37217995

Episode 176: The Brown Valve 06/23/2025

Episode 176: The Brown Valve We are BACK! Thanks for letting us take a hiatus at the start of the summer but we're back for a mammoth catch up including all the holiday chat, stories, tales from our travels and all the best bits in between! It's SO good to be with you again! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/37113750

Episode 175: Explosive Beef 05/26/2025

Episode 175: Explosive Beef Discussing the enormous effort of family holidays, a listener who has BEEF with Gabby and a little discussion of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Season 2 - no spoilers though). Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast - BEHIND A PAYWALL! Imagine! If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/36711595

Episode 174: Mom So Hard 05/19/2025

Episode 174: Mom So Hard Just stories from the trenches this week. Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast - BEHIND A PAYWALL! Imagine! If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/36623785

Episode 173: Tops Off, Shaved Legs 05/12/2025

Episode 173: Tops Off, Shaved Legs Listeners dreams, Motherland, Embarrassing stories on Tik Tok (with a lot of gasping laughing), kitchen utensils, Chat GPT interiors. That's all on the docket for this weeks ep. Enjoy! Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast - BEHIND A PAYWALL! Imagine! If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/36529825

Episode 172: To Paywall or Not To Paywall? 05/05/2025

Episode 172: To Paywall or Not To Paywall? This week Gabs brings Mel up to speed on a current substack scandal where a high profile celeb got low-key bullied off the platform. We discuss the ethics around celebrities monetising their audience, policing peoples presence. It's niche. It's a little granular and we have unformed opinions. When do we paywall? Why do women get scrutinised for this stuff so much more? Don't forget! The Making An Effort Podcast is a listener supported podcast - BEHIND A PAYWALL! Imagine! If you want access to bonus episodes, community chat, and provide input, we'd love you to consider supporting us at /episode/index/show/makinganeffort/id/36436195

The Making An Effort Podcast with Gabby and Mel

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