Letters to The Coop: Handling Criticism, College Decisions & Thriving Through Tween Chaos

03/12/25 • 29 min

We’re back with another round of Letters to The Coop, and y’all keep bringing the good questions! In this episode, we dive into everything from dating after divorce (Katie Couric gave us GREAT advice for dating in your 50s!) to handling a friend who’s suddenly way too critical. We also talk about surviving the college admissions process (spoiler: the stress is real, but we’ve got tips!), and of course, middle school drama—because is there anything more brutal than those tween years? Plus, Kit spills her best parenting hack for making middle school a little easier (trust us, this one’s a game-changer).

Whether you’re in the thick of it or just here for things that make us all laugh, we’ve got you!

Today we cover:

Dating After Divorce – Okay, deep breath. We talk about confidence, embracing the unknown, and why we’re all about the “don’t chase, attract” mindset and the slow burn (thank you Katie Couric!).

When Your Friend Gets a Little Too Critical – We’ve all been there—one of your closest friends suddenly starts questioning your decisions. How do you handle it without blowing up the friendship?

College Admissions Stress – If you’re a parent going through this process, we see you! We’re sharing what’s worked for us (and what definitely didn’t) to help keep the stress levels down—for you and your kid.

Middle School Madness – The mean girl phase? The friend drama? The why-is-this-so-hard moments? We get into all of it.

Fav quote of Kit's this week:

The lotus flower grows in the mud—sometimes, you’ve got to sit in the mess before you bloom.

---Got a question you want us to tackle? Drop it in the comments or send it our way through our Contact Us on our website (thecoopwithkit.com) — we love hearing from you!

Follow The Coop with Kit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen or stream!

This episode was produced by Kit Hoover and Harper McDonald. Business Development by Casey Ladd. Editing by You & Me Media.
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Follow The Coop with Kit on Instagram @kithoover and @thecoopwithkithoover

Whether you’re in the thick of it or just here for things that make us all laugh, we’ve got you!

Today we cover:

Middle School Madness – The mean girl phase? The friend drama? The why-is-this-so-hard moments? We get into all of it.

Fav quote of Kit's this week:

The lotus flower grows in the mud—sometimes, you’ve got to sit in the mess before you bloom.

---Got a question you want us to tackle? Drop it in the comments or send it our way through our Contact Us on our website (thecoopwithkit.com) — we love hearing from you!

Follow The Coop with Kit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen or stream!

Follow The Coop with Kit on Instagram @kithoover and @thecoopwithkithoover

Previous Episode

Dr. Mary Claire Haver: The Ultimate Menopause Reset From Hot Flashes to Better Sex

Ladies, it’s time to take back control of menopause—and get hopeful! No more raw dogging menopause. This episode is your ultimate menopause game plan, Coop Chicks!

In this eye-opening episode, Kit sits down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver—the #1 menopause doctor—to get mad, educated, and hopeful. We break down the myths, the medical gaslighting, and the game-changing solutions that every woman needs to know. From hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to weight gain, libido, bone health, and brain fog, Dr. Haver gives us the real talk about what’s happening to our bodies—and how we can take back our power with proven strategies.

Why are women STILL being dismissed when it comes to menopause?
- What does testosterone REALLY do for women? (Hint: It’s not just about libido!)
- Can breast cancer survivors safely use HRT? (This answer will surprise you.)
- Struggling with weight gain, brain fog, rage, sleepless nights, or painful sex? Here’s why.
- The BIGGEST mistakes doctors make when it comes to menopause treatment.

Dr. Haver is on a mission to change the conversation, and she’s not holding back with us.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by your doctor, confused by the options, or just freaking tired of feeling like a shadow of yourself—this episode is for YOU.

AND HIT LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE if you’re ready to JOIN US and feel AMAZING! It's go time ladies.

Follow The Coop with Kit on Instagram @kithoover and @thecoopwithkithoover

Next Episode

Natalie Morales: Career Reinvention, Big Leaps & Letting Go in the Saddle

What happens when two longtime friends—TV host & journalist Natalie Morales (The Today Show, Access Hollywood, The Talk) and Kit Hoover—finally sit down to spill the tea on everything they nevertalked about before? Pure magic.

Today’s episode is real, raw, and ridiculously fun—just two girlfriends catching up and dishing on career twists, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and the unexpected things that bring them joy (hint: horses, wine, and letting go of perfection).

Some of Our Favorite Moments:

“What are we waiting for?” – Natalie talks about making the bold move from NYC to LA, inspired by Kit, and realizing that the perfect time never comes—you just have to jump.

“I feed my therapist hay.” – Natalie opens up about her deep connection with horses and how they’ve taught her to let go, trust, and be present.

“Don’t underestimate me.” – For years, she was told she wasn’t “Latina enough” or that she didn’t have the right news “edge.” Natalie shares how she finally found her voice and learned to ask for what she deserved.

“Forget hair, makeup, and glamour.” – Advice for aspiring journalists? Be ready for 3 AM wake-up calls, working weekends, and rolling your own teleprompter—because that’s the real grind.

“Give me wine, cheese, and chocolate, and I’ll talk for days!” – Natalie reveals her go-to indulgences and her undeniable love for a good hangout session.

“Laugh at yourself more.” – Even now, she admits she’s her own toughest critic. But she’s learning to let go, internalize less, and embrace the joy.

“Sleep. Turns. Me. On.” – Forget the fancy answers. A solid night’s sleep is what gets Natalie feeling her best! (Relatable, right?!)

“I’ve just started manifesting.” – While she doesn’t know exactly what’s next, one thing is for sure—Natalie is creating space for new opportunities and FUN.

This isn’t just another interview—it’s two besties getting real about reinvention, change, and finding clarity in life’s pivots. If you’ve ever thought about making a big life move, chasing a dream, or just wondering what’s next, this one’s for you.

And don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more from The Coop with Kit.

Follow The Coop with Kit on Instagram @kithoover and @thecoopwithkithoover

The Coop with Kit - Letters to The Coop: Handling Criticism, College Decisions & Thriving Through Tween Chaos

Transcript

This transcript was transcribed by AI. Inaccuracies may be present.

Hey Coop Chicks, huge favor. I need you to follow The Coop with Kit. Wherever you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, click that follow button. That way you'll get all of our episodes immediately downloaded.

Kit: Hey everybody, welcome to the coop with Kit. We're going to do another segment, letters to the coop.

and Harper, they just keep coming in. So this is just cracking me up. It