Doing the Most with Scarlet and Mitchell

What starts with Mitchell recounting an unexpected battle with nausea and a garden salad gone rogue quickly turns into a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about something we’ve all experienced: having house guests… and being one.

After Scarlet’s brother visits for a few days, Scarlet and Mitchell unpack the tiny habits that can make living with other people surprisingly stressful. From toilet lids and towels to parking direction and dirty glasses, they explore why seemingly insignificant details can become surprisingly meaningful when someone is sharing your space.

Is it about respect? Control? Different standards? Or are so...

Episode 36 finds Scarlet and Mitchell recording their second attempt after deciding the first version just wasn’t working. What starts as a conversation about Oregon’s sweltering summer temperatures quickly spirals into tales of foul-smelling fly traps, overheated chickens, gardening triumphs and squirrel-induced frustration. Along the way, the hosts open up about something much more personal: how different communication styles can create tension in relationships, especially within blended families.

The episode balances laugh-out-loud moments with honest conversations about marriage, step-parenting, and learning to navigate conflict, before wrapping up with updates from the garden and a few television reco...

Building a chicken coop sounded like a fun weekend project… until it wasn’t.

This week, Scarlet and Mitchell are fresh off several exhausting days of construction as they finally finish their backyard chicken coop and move the flock into their new home. Along the way, they discover that chickens aren’t exactly known for following instructions, debate future homesteading projects, and wonder if gardening and livestock have quietly become their entire personalities.

The conversation wanders into summer plans, family vacations growing up, memorable travel disasters, birthday traditions, and the experiences they hope to create for th...

Mitchell and Scarlet are back for another episode of Doing the Most, and true to form, they start with a simple conversation about raspberry sherbet and somehow end up exploring ADHD, hyperfocus, gardening obsession, medication names nobody can pronounce, and the growing list of projects taking over their lives.

The episode begins with a surprisingly passionate debate about whether it’s sherbet or sherbert, along with a few other pronunciation pet peeves that drive them both crazy. As nurses, Scarlet and Mitchell share stories about medication names that seem designed to challenge even experienced healthcare workers.

The...

After a short break, Scarlet and Mitchell are back with an episode that proves life never really slows down. From surprise backyard chickens and first-year homesteading lessons to frustrating neighbors and Oregon driving habits, this episode is packed with the everyday chaos that comes with doing the most.

Along the way, they discuss flexibility, aging, forgotten childhood memories, gardening adventures, and why a simple steel plate in the road seems to cause a statewide traffic crisis.

In This Episode

🐔 The Chicken Expansion Project

In this episode of Doing the Most, Scarlet and Mitchell wander through one of their classic kitchen-table conversations, covering everything from ASMR rabbit holes to accidental squirrel warfare, backyard gardening ambitions, and the sobering math of financial independence.

What starts with a discussion about oddly satisfying videos quickly turns into a neighbor confession, a garden update, and an existential detour into how much money it actually takes to stop working.

Spoiler alert: apparently a head of lettuce can cost about two grand… depending on how you do the math.

In This Episode

...

This week, Scarlet and Mitchell are back in the studio navigating everything from Oregon’s aggressively uninspiring weather to the surprising emotional impact of heart emojis on Microsoft Teams. It’s a cozy chaos episode featuring five cats, double-digit vacuum ownership, and a public debate on whether dogs belong in restaurants (spoiler: it depends… a lot).

Somewhere between jury duty dreams and existential ennui, the duo proves once again that even the most mundane moments can spiral into deeply entertaining territory.

🧠 What We’re Talking About

Welcome back to Doing the Most!
Mitchell and Scarlet hit the big 3-0… barely. Between shifting sunlight, unfinished house projects, and existential debates about flavored coffee, this episode is a beautifully chaotic slice of real life. If you’ve ever owned a home, started a “quick project,” or questioned your life choices in the coffee aisle… this one’s for you.

🧠 Episode Highlights

This week, Scarlet and Mitchell wander from ginger beer reviews to existential time audits—with a pit stop at Costco’s sample aisle (arguably the most dramatic place in retail). What starts as a casual chat about feeling “off” turns into a surprisingly deep exploration of how we spend our time… and why it never quite feels like enough.

🛒 In This Episode:

The Costco Sample Social Experiment™
Why do people perform a full Broadway monologue for a free meatball? Mitchell and Scarlet break down the unspoken etiquette, the sample hoarders, and the mysterious lives of the sample e...

This week, we’re going old school—no cameras, just conversation. What starts as a story about a surprise DJ controller purchase quickly spirals into something deeper: the gap between who we think we’ll be when we buy something… and who we actually are once it’s sitting in the corner collecting dust.

We unpack the “DJ Deck Effect”—that universal experience of buying into a vision of ourselves (artist, musician, photographer, gardener extraordinaire) only to face reality: time, effort, skill… and sometimes just plain disinterest.

From unused painting supplies to hypothetical bird photography careers, we explore...

In this episode of Doing the Most, Mitchell and Scarlet spiral through clutter, change, grocery store anxiety, toxic masculinity, existential dread, and… toenails.

Yes. Toenails.

What starts as a reflection on a year of “maybe we should move” energy turns into a deeper conversation about stuff, memory, boundaries, emotional labor, and the repetitive tasks that quietly drain us.

It’s thoughtful. It’s a little chaotic. It’s very real.

Episode Highlights

Are We Craving Change?
Looking back over the past year, there’s been a pattern:

In this episode, Mitchell and Scarlet return with classic Doing The Most energy: slightly tired, heavily caffeinated (tea counts), and fully prepared to unpack everyday absurdities. What begins with cozy restaurant observations spirals into backyard wildlife diplomacy and eventually lands in a full investigative breakdown of… hospital pillows.

Yes. Pillows.

From overheard restaurant feedback nobody asked for to squirrels forming suspiciously friendly alliances, this episode explores the strange places where normal life quietly becomes doing the absolute most.

☕ Episode Highlights

🍽️ The Restaurant Feedback Phenomenon

A casual meal at a cozy Portlan...

Mitchell and Scarlet are back for Episode 25, marking just over a year of Doing the Most. This episode trades chaos for contemplation as the conversation turns toward time, clutter, consumerism, work, purpose, and the quiet urge to live with more intention… even while surrounded by piles, guitars, and a suspicious number of Uno decks.

With a literal timer ticking, the two attempt to do less while unpacking why that’s so hard in a world that rewards excess. From minimalist philosophy and decluttering rules to work burnout, parenting rhythms, and spiritual awakenings, this episode is part reflection, part th...

In Episode 24 of Doing the Most, Mitchell and Scarlet settle in for a long, winding, very familiar conversation about clutter, Costco misadventures, food opinions that spark debate, and the constant tension between wanting a simpler life while continuing to do… the most.

This episode blends everyday chaos, thoughtful reflections, and plenty of restaurant talk, with moments that feel funny, honest, and quietly introspective.

Episode Highlights

What started as a casual New Year’s Day recording turned into an accidental one-year reflection on habits, holidays, clutter, burnout, and the strange little rituals of adult life.

Mitchell and Scarlet look back at how much has changed since Episode 1 and what stubbornly hasn’t. The result is a cozy, chaotic, and painfully relatable conversation about tea journeys, stuff accumulation, hospital culture, introvert holidays, and why a snowman cookie jar should never be trusted.

☕ From Coffee to Loose Leaf

• The hosts reflect on their tea evolution from bagged blends to full loose-leaf devotion...

In this deeply personal, wildly meandering, and unexpectedly heartfelt episode, Scarlet and Mitchell take listeners on a winding ride through home repair victories, surprise workplace cake, grief, faith, family history, and the true story behind Scarlet’s journey out of fundamentalist church culture.

From laughter over shower straddling techniques to raw conversations about death, belief, and betrayal, Episode 22 is equal parts cozy living-room hangout and emotional documentary.

✨ Episode Highlights

🛠 The Shower Drain Saga Finally Ends

After weeks of ceiling leaks, creative engineering fantasies, and questionable brownie-pan backup plans, Mitchell declares victory in the...

In Episode 21 of Doing the Most, Scarlet and Mitchell dive head-first into the whirlwind of late-November life: holiday overeating, chaotic family traditions, questionable restaurant behavior, and the multi-day saga of their missing cat, Kennedy. This episode is a cozy mix of humor, chaos, and real-life family moments.

⭐ Episode Summary

Scarlet and Mitchell open the show reflecting on the post-Thanksgiving exhaustion—specifically the nonstop cycle of indulgence that begins at Halloween and doesn’t let up until Valentine’s Day. They share their mutual fatigue around heavy holiday foods, family expectations, and the attempt to reclaim healthy ro...

Welcome to Episode 20 of Doing the Most!
Scarlet and Mitchell are back — caffeinated, chaotic, and fresh off a “staycation” that went absolutely nothing like planned. From dreams of productivity to real-life drywall sagging, leaks, existential crises, and a whole lot of straddling in the shower (context matters, people), this episode covers it all.

In This Episode

• Staycation Expectations vs. Reality

Mitchell begins hopeful: tidy the garage, clear the studio, fix a leak, maybe even relax.
What actually happens? …Not that. At all.

Scarlet, ever the realist, focuses on laundry, exercise...

After a short break, Scarlet and Mitchell are back behind the mics for Episode 19 of Doing the Most! This week’s episode blends cozy fall vibes with relatable rants, existential musings, and a dash of humor from everyday life.

They dive into everything from the absurdity of CAPTCHA tests to the grammar crimes found on workplace bathroom signs, all while sipping tea, sweating through recording sessions, and trying to navigate Oregon’s moody weather.

There’s talk of dancing workouts, reviving old bread starters, surviving kid birthday parties, and of course—why daylight saving time just need...

Scarlet and Mitchell are back for another bi-weekly (not fortnightly!) episode filled with relatable chaos and cozy conversation. From fall family outings and pumpkin patch crowds to Q&A questions about dream actors and impossible flights, the duo covers everything from rinse aid mysteries to existential space fears. It’s equal parts hilarious, honest, and human — the kind of “doing the most” we can all relate to.

Topics Discussed

Scarlet and Mitchell talk life with five cats, the endless search for the best hygiene wipes, and their first overnight trip away together. From cat chaos at home to a rejuvenating stay at Portland’s eco-friendly Cascada (wellness sanctuary + hotel), they share laughter, wellness reflections, and what it means to sometimes “do the least” in order to do the most.

Topics include:

Scarlet and Mitchell mark their “Sweet 16” with an episode that mixes heartfelt reflection and household hilarity. They dive into journaling, ADHD distractions, and how K-Pop Demon Hunters sparked deeper conversations about trauma, politics, and humanity. On the lighter side, they debate washcloths vs. loofahs, the mystery of mothballs, and share what shows they’re watching now—from Dexter: Resurrection to The Paper, to what they may watch in the future, like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

feedback@scarletmitchell.com | @lesscatsplease

Scarlet and Mitchell are back with stories of chaos, comedy, and travel gone wrong. Scarlet recounts her “worst day ever” — from solo parenting struggles to a painful yellowjacket sting — while Mitchell relives the drama of losing (and eventually finding) his luggage with a CPAP machine inside.

They also dive into generational parenting styles, questionable hotel stays, and Mitchell’s first trip to the Mall of America. It’s classic “doing the most.”

Scarlet and Mitchell welcome their first-ever guest—Mitchell’s daughter Olivia—for a special episode before she heads off to college. They talk about dorm life, roommates, packing, and what it feels like to leave home. Plus, hilarious throwback stories from Mitchell’s BYU days and Scarlet’s college years. A mix of laughs, nostalgia, and real talk about big life transitions.

Follow us: @lesscatsplease

Scarlet and Mitchell are back with a chaotic, heartfelt episode featuring everything from Avon rings and childhood fashion disasters to hummingbirds, birdwatching, and burnt-out dinner routines.

Mitchell shares a very real health scare at work—a possible but unconfirmed panic attack that masqueraded as a heart event—and the emotional and financial fallout of a $17,000 ER visit. The couple also reflects on how cooking (and life) has changed since kids entered the mix.

Topics include:

Scarlet and Mitchell reflect on their son’s 4th birthday, the pressure of “birthday parent culture,” and how their own childhood parties shaped them. They also go off the rails (in the best way) about buttery-soft t-shirts, skating rink nostalgia, and Mitchell’s idea for a non-religious community church.

Topics include:

Links & more: scarletandmitchell.com | YouTube: @LessCatsPlease
Feedback? Email us: feedback@scarletandmitchell.com

In this episode of Doing the Most with Scarlet and Mitchell, we cover everything from sleep apnea gear and absurd nighttime routines to bird feeder sabotage by a squirrel named Shirley. Mitchell details his CPAP setup, Scarlet vents about parenting toy meltdowns, and we reflect on becoming more like our own parents than we’d like to admit. There’s also a debate on bar soap vs. body wash, and Mitchell introduces the world to his mom’s obsession with removing “egg goobers.”

It’s chaotic, relatable, and painfully funny—basically, life as RN parents trying to do the most.

We’re in the double digits, y’all! In this milestone episode, we go deep on adult friendships—why they’re hard, how they change, and what “soul friends” really are. Plus: forgotten corrections, spontaneous memory dives, old lady hairdos, and an actual count of the fans in our house (hint: it’s six).

Also in this episode:

We are back with stories of baby birds, graduation ceremonies, and an unexpected decluttering intervention. Scarlet forces Mitchell to face his “emotional hoarder” tendencies in a hilarious showdown over an old poster and some random books. They also explore why some men never stop coughing, how to spot bad diner etiquette, and whether being rich is ever worth the social pressure.

Topics include:

In this slice-of-life episode, we dive into the everyday chaos of homeownership, dental checkups, plumbing woes, and the ultimate Portland pie experience, called Lauretta Jean’s. It’s part vent session, part food review, and 100% real-life energy. Whether it’s rants about iPhone keyboard flaws or existential sighs over adulthood, this episode is full of laughs, relatable stories, and a lot of pie (at least that’s what ChatGPT told me).

So in the end, just remember, if you are not doing the least, then you’re probably…Doing the Most!

Back at it, after our vacation to Arizona! Too much to catch up on and too little time.

Do you, or someone you know, struggle with thick mucus residing in the nasopharyngeal region, exacerbated by seasonal allergies, and requiring obnoxious snorting-like noises to clear the aforementioned mucus? Then we have no solutions for you, rather, just harsh criticism from Scarlet. But at least you will know, you are not alone.

And if you want to know the difference between dirty and filthy, then you most certainly want to listen in and find out. We probably...

Not unexpectedly, a fortnight has not changed the world, nor us, by much. This time however we get a little touchy-feely as we discuss time and parenting, along with some of life’s struggles to find fulfillment and actualization. What would you do with $100 million dollars? What would you do if time were not an issue?

Of course we tackle other compelling topics, as you know if you have been following along. This time, it’s the birds in the sky, the eagles on YouTube, and whatever creatures are living in our chimney. And they are wearing out...

So what do you do when it is cold and rainy outside? As it turns out, Scarlet has remedied that situation by having Mitchell assemble a porch swing…. in the family room. Which, as it turns out, is yet another wonderful place for cats, namely Kennedy, to now sit. (Well, actually, swing.)

This episode continues to follow the saga of cleaning the garage out and the conundrum of donating to your local thrift store with its stringent acceptance criteria versus selling it online to a guy who wants to “BUY IT NOW GIVE ME ADDRESS IM COMING” only t...

Famous words from a three and half year old: “Don’t look at me!!”

Oh, Dr. Becky, I need to stop podcasting and read your book before it is too late. Our boy is not out of control. In fact, the problem is more likely to be the nuts that are raising him… or trying to.

This fortnight’s episode continues the discussion of the feline fecal frenzy that is our laundry room along with the ever evolving thing we call “parenting.” Sure, there’s plenty of side trips along the way, so we certainly hope you enjoy t...

First off, what is this show really about? Really, really?? Ultimately, we are just a couple with everyday problems, struggles, and issues. We laugh, we cry, we get on each other’s nerves, and we love each other. This show is your opportunity to join us, reflect on your own relationships, have a laugh, learn what not to do, and hopefully, escape the mainstream deluge of politics.

If that sounds like something you want, then join us this episode about the challenges of pet ownership, cutting the streams, hoarding, and life be...

Well, we did it. We made a second episode, despite the fact that we are full time nurses with full plates. And did I mention the five cats, the teenager, and the toddler?

In this episode we check in on Project Skid Mark, the semi-experiment to see how skid marks actually come to be. We also do a review of the teas we mentioned in episode 1 (a review that seems to be at once both long and yet uninformative).

Combine that with a recent trip to urgent care for stitches, the glamour of being a...

Well, it’s out now.

I think.

First episodes are always the hardest to get published quite frankly. (Second episodes are usually hardest to record, by the way.) It has been a long road to get here, but, I hope the road continues and smooths out. Only time will tell if we stand the test of time. (Thank you Sammy Hagar, for such inspiring words that are really redundant.)

So, what is this episode all about? Introductions, getting it out there, tea, underwear stains, and cats. Lots of cats. Why…. so…. many…. cats….

As...