In this episode of Making Up As We Go, Elanna and Paddy are joined by their close friends Sarah and Paul Grant for a relaxed, funny and honest conversation about marriage, parenting, friendship and keeping your relationship strong in the middle of everyday chaos.

From how Sarah and Paul met, to raising three kids, navigating conflict, prioritising date nights, and learning how to communicate well, this episode is full of real-life chat, shared wisdom and plenty of laughs along the way. There’s also a quick-fire round, stories from years of friendship, and of course, a round of Pearls of Wisdom to finish.

This is a conversation about building a healthy marriage, making space for each other, and remembering that even in the busiest seasons of life, connection still matters.

If you enjoy podcasts about marriage, parenting, family life, relationships, faith, friendship and honest conversations, you’re in the right place.

In this episode:

• How Sarah & Paul met
• Marriage and communication in busy family life
• Conflict, connection and understanding each other
• Why date nights matter after kids
• Friendship, shared history and family life
• Quick-fire questions
• Pearls of Wisdom

Hosted by: Elanna & Paddy
Podcast: Making Up As We Go

What started as a university sign-up 15 years ago just became a reality—this week, we’re talking through the surprise of becoming a bone marrow match. Between the "phlebotomist vs. lobotomy" confusion and our (very) different takes on pain tolerance, we’re diving into the media that keeps us sane.

From the "psychology" of why women love true crime to the shows we’ve binged, binned, or rewatched 300 times, it’s a classic catch-up. Plus, we settle the "puff vs. fluff" debate, share a two-minute rule for procrastinators, and reveal the ultimate toilet paper beauty hack.

We’re coming to you live (and in our PJs) from a hotel bed in Copenhagen! In this episode, we’re sharing why we’ve officially decided to ditch the video and stick to audio-only for the time being.

We’re breaking down the ultimate birthday trip to Denmark, including:

• The Great Storage Crisis: Why our hard drives forced us into a "radio-only" era.

• Biking the City: Dodging intersections at 25km/h in mesh flats and zero-degree weather.

• The Vintage Hunt: How the "one clothing item a month" rule was bent (but not broken) for a 28-pound vintage Wrangler jacket.

• Copenhagen Food Scene: Is the Dua Lipa-approved chicken sandwich actually worth the hype? (Spoiler: Yes).

From the impossibly clean streets to re-watching Pirates of the Caribbean in a hotel room, this is our unfiltered recap of a birthday well spent.

In this heartfelt and hilariously unscripted episode, Patrick sits down with the woman who (allegedly) is never wrong: his mum, Jane.

Timed just ahead of Mother’s Day, Jane opens up about her journey—from growing up as one of seven in a tight-knit family in Ballycastle to navigating the profound challenges of the Northern Ireland Troubles. She shares the moving story of her brother Robert and how her family’s unshakable faith guided them through grief without bitterness.

The conversation lightens up as they dive into:

• The Great "Mince" Mystery: How a pound of ground beef led to a 40+ year marriage.

• Parenting Then vs. Now: Jane’s take on the "gentle parenting" of today versus the "do it because I said so" era.

• The Nana Life: Why the rules for sugar and discipline seem to vanish once the grandkids arrive.

• Rapid Fire Revelations: Jane reveals her first celebrity crush, her "guilty" TV pleasure, and the one habit Patrick still needs to kick.

Whether you're looking for pearls of wisdom on faith and resilience or just want to hear a mother chat to her son, this episode is the perfect pre-Mother's Day listen.

• [00:00] Intro: Meeting "Jinny Mac" and the struggle of changing Instagram handles.

• [05:30] The "Favorite Child" Debate: Jessica, Patrick, and Niall the "surprise" third.

• [09:15] Growing Up in Ballycastle: Family ties and losing her father at a young age.

• [12:40] A Legacy of Peace: Remembering her brother Robert and choosing faith over bitterness.

• [18:22] The Origin Story: Meeting Peter, long hair, and the "Mince" dinner date.

• [24:55] Navigating Health: Jane’s journey with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) and the power of community support.

• [32:10] Grandparenting vs. Parenting: Why being a Nana is "mission accomplished."

• [38:45] Rapid Fire Round: Annoying habits, celebrity crushes, and secret talents.

We’re back! After two weeks in the Florida sun, we’re back in a rainy Northern Ireland, catching you up on our family holiday and how we survived a transatlantic flight with three kids. ✈️In this episode, we talk about the "four-episode drop-off" stat and why we’re determined to keep this podcast moving. We dive into our Florida highlights (including why we chose Legoland over Disney this year), the reality of "Sunday scaries" even when you're self-employed, and why you should ignore the 5 AM "hustle culture" gurus.Stick around for a rapid-fire holiday round and our weekly Pearls of Wisdom—including Paddy’s advice on sustainable success and Elanna’s surprising shaving hack!

In this episode, Elanna returns from a "voice-losing" trip to London with Olive to see Matilda, sparking a conversation about the magic of the West End and why Paddy thinks he’s "too bro" for the theater. We dive into our upcoming family trip to Florida, sharing our (lack of) strategy for a long flight with three kids.

Paddy gets vulnerable about his biggest life decision: leaving a secure career in electrical engineering to go all-in on Pearl Beauty. Plus, we settle a heated debate—are shoes considered clothing or accessories?—and we wrap up with a hilarious "Movie Guessing Game" narrated by 5-year-old Oscar.

Welcome back to Making Up as we Go! In today’s episode, the tables have turned. Paddy is in the driver’s seat with a list of "quickfire" questions designed to catch Elanna off guard.From the traumatic tale of a "palm-sized" spider almost moving into Elanna’s mouth to the logic behind being a 6'5" little spoon, we’re covering it all. But it’s not just laughs—we’re diving deep into the turning points of our lives, including:Life in NI: The reality of moving from Canada to Northern Ireland 10 years ago.Business: The risks of starting Pearl Beauty and why we remortgaged for it.Parenting: What we hope to pass on to our three kids (and how we’re handling the "phone generation").Faith: Why it’s the foundation that keeps us grounded when things get tough.Stay tuned until the end for our "Pearls of Wisdom"—including a hair-health tip you didn't know you needed.

Paddy and Elanna discuss the realities of work-life balance, the nostalgia of 90s cereal toys, and the differences between growing up in Canada vs. the UK. They also dive into a serious conversation about the pros and cons of homeschooling and why they’ve chosen a different path for their kids. Stay tuned for their weekly "Pearls of Wisdom".