In this episode, host Sandra Colton-Medici tackles the post-holiday slump by encouraging listeners to ditch isolation for a collective reset. Acknowledging the exhaustion and heavy indulgence of the season, she introduces the "Post-Holiday Detox Brunch" as the ultimate cure for the January blues.
This post is for informational purposes only. Please see our full [Disclaimer and Terms of Use] for information regarding food safety and professional advice. Affiliate link disclosure: We earn from qualifying purchases made through our links.
The episode provides a practical guide to hosting a low-pressure gathering centered on "Clean Eats" and high energy. Highlights include setting an "Athleisure Only" dress code for maximum comfort and building a DIY Avocado Toast bar. It’s a refreshing strategy to recharge your social battery while prioritizing wellness and connection with your squad.
"Stop hiding under the weighted blanket—it’s time for a reset."
Action Steps:
-
Snag the Clean Eats Detox Brunch Menu Template (Canva link): https://shorturl.at/18JXR
- Take the Poll (In the Friend group, which one are you?)
- Subscribe to the podcast & drop a comment on what you'd like to hear covered in an upcoming episode
Watch/Listen to the first episode of the podcast and browse the transcript below.
Take a moment to subscribe to the newsletter so we can keep this conversation going all year long. While you're here, listen to the latest episode of The Friendsgiving Lifestyle podcast. If you want to learn the history of Friendsgiving, check out "What is Friendsgiving?" - our complete guide.
Episode 1 Transcript:
[00:00:00] We've all been there. It's 4:00 PM on a holiday. You're covered in flour. You just realize that the Turkey is still frozen in the middle, and you haven't even showered yet. The joy of hosting has been replaced by a to-do list that feels kind of like a marathon that you didn't train for and maybe didn't even sign up for the truth.
The stress isn't your fault. We live in a world that waits until the very last second to tell us what we need. Creates a shopping frenzy and calls it tradition. I'm Sandra Colton Medici, and I'm here to tell you we're doing it all differently in 2026. Welcome to the Friendsgiving Lifestyle. This isn't a cooking show.
This is a strategic deep dive into the art of pre-talk on this podcast. We don't wait for the holiday rush. We beat it. Every week, we're going to look at two or three, or maybe even sometimes eight weeks ahead. We're going to map out your logistics, audit your pantry, and lock in your guest list before the rest of the world even hits the buy button.
Why? Because hospitality shouldn't be a performance. It should be a connection, and you can't connect with your friends if you're panicking over a lumpy gravy or a missing chair. Coming up this season, we're building a Friendsgiving war room. We're mastering New Year's Eve luxury before the Thanksgiving bird is even in the oven, and we're reclaiming your kitchen with resets that actually stick.
I'm gonna give you the blueprints, the checklists, and the permission to break all of the rules. By the time the big day arrives, you won't be frazzled cooking in the kitchen. You'll be the calmest, coolest person at the table with a glass of wine in your hand. The table is set, the plan is ready. All that is missing is you subscribe to the Friendsgiving Lifestyle Podcast.
Let's get ahead of the noise together. Let's start it today. Happy New Year everyone.
[00:02:00] I'm Sandra Cote Medici, and welcome to the first episode of the Friendsgiving Lifestyle Podcast. Yes, it's exactly what you think it is. We are celebrating a year of friendship, and that means Friendsgiving doesn't have to be one time per year.
We've all been there. It's January 1st. Your fridge is full of heavy leftovers. Your social batteries at about 2%, and the thought of hosting another event makes you wanna hide under a weighted blanket. But here's the truth. The best way to beat the post-holiday blues isn't isolation. It's a reset. Today we're talking about the post-holiday detox brunch.
We're going to gather the squad without the sugar crush or the stress, and a quick win for today. Before you even send your invite to your besties, clear, one single shelf of your fridge, that is your fresh start zone. Now let's dive in. Alright, so what's on the menu? When we think of Friendsgiving, we think of heavy stuffing and gravy.
[00:03:00] Not today. For a detox brunch, we are leaning into clean eats, think colorful, vibrant, and anti-inflammatory. I'm talking a DIY avocado toast bar with radish and sprouts. If you're doing this potluck style, I always recommend. Assign categories rather than specific dishes. Ask one friend for something green.
Ask another friend for maybe unprocessed protein and another friend for seasonal fruit. This keeps the table balanced and ensures nobody shows up with a box of donuts when you're trying to reset. We all know it. Alcohol can be a big part of the holidays and many of our friends are leaning into. What is it?
Dry? January? Of course. So we are retiring the heavy mimosas. I know it's my favorite for this one. Instead, we are building a hydration station. Get your prettiest glasses out and your glass pitchers and fill them with cucumber, mint water or sparkling water with muddled blackberries or rosemary. Ugh, it just sounds refreshing, doesn't it?
Alright, here's one of my hosting hacks. Use your fancy champagne flutes for infused water instead, it makes the detox feel like a deluxe experience. We want the ritual of the toast without the afternoon of brain fog. A fresh, clean restart at the beginning of the year is going to help you. Really power through the month of January and get your headstart into the new year.
Alright, let's create a little bit of success just with this episode. The secret to a successful gathering in January is lowering the barrier of entry. I am no Martha Stewart, and I do not pretend to be so. Tell your friends that dress code is. Athleisure only. Seriously, if they can't wear yoga pants or a sweatshirt, they aren't invited.
Make sure when you're thinking about your environment, also open the windows and doors for 10 minutes before they arrive to crisp up that air. It's been raining a lot here in Southern California, so I would just say.
[00:05:00] Enjoy it while it lasts and put on a lo-fi chill playlist. We wanna transition your space from the high octane chaos of December into a space that feels like a collective deep breath.
Your goal as a host today isn't. To entertain, it's to hold space for everyone to exhale. So let's get intentional here for a second. Since this is the start of a new year, we're gonna pivot the conversation away from what did you get for Christmas to, how are you refueling? Okay? So this is a great pivot.
If the conversation starts drifting toward work stress or holiday drama or whatever that might be, that's sort of itching its way to get back into the convo, steer it back, ask your guests. What is one habit you are leaving back in 2025? It's a great way to bond over shared struggles and realize that everyone's a little bit tired right now.
You'll find that by the time the plates are empty, the energy in the room has shifted from [00:06:00] drained. To inspired. Let's wrap it up by saying, friends. The Friendsgiving lifestyle isn't just about Turkey in November. It's about the consistent choice to nourish your community all year long. That's what I said, 365 days of friendship.
That is the Friendsgiving lifestyle, and this is what we're doing every single episode of this podcast. We are on episode one, so thank you for starting this journey with me. You don't need to have a perfect house or an expensive catering menu or even a budget. You just need a table. That could be your kitchen table.
It could be a picnic at the beach. You need that table and a few people who make you feel seen. Now, let's put this into action. You know you can do this. I've put a Clean Eats brunch menu template. In the show notes for you to use, go ahead and text the group chat and let them know right now you've set a date for your detox brunch.
Next week we're getting even more intentional with our vision board potluck. I'm Sandra Colton Medici and I'll see you at the table.
[00:07:00] Thank you so much for listening to my first episode of the Friendsgiving Lifestyle podcast. You can now head on over to our new website. It's called The Friendsgiving Shop, and you can find it@friendsgivingshop.com.
If you'd like to have a product featured on one of my upcoming episodes or would like to sponsor an episode, please feel free to reach out to this email support@friendsgivingshop.com
The Friendsgiving Lifestyle Podcast is now on Spotify. Subscribe today wherever you get your podcast. You can download one episode per week, catch up on all the things that you missed.
If you need to batch them up and listen all at once. You can find me on most social networks @sandracoltonmedici or @collegeofstyle and I look forward to bringing you back to the table each and every week.