Bagel Bagel – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Bagel Bagel! New episodes drop every Thursday (beginning 11/13). Like and subscribe for updates. Follow @thebagelbagelpod on Instagram for more info and behind the scenes fun.

Welcome to Bagel Bagel! In our first episode, we chat with Faren Wise of the hilariously relatable Instagram account Hot Mess Tennis and what it means to be a beginner adult tennis player.

In this episode of Bagel Bagel, Lia sits down with Christine Santos—coffee shop owner, entrepreneur, and one-time singles opponent turned friend. They talk about the unexpected human connections that unfold on the court, how tennis has shaped Christine’s personal and professional life, and why the sport continues to anchor her through the chaos of business ownership. It’s a conversation about friendship, community, and the way tennis brings people together long after the match is over.

Happy Thanksgiving! To keep it short and sweet on this holiday, host Lia Picard chats with her tennis inspiration, her husband. Find out why he got into tennis and why he believed Lia could do it, too. 

In this episode, Sam McCoy shares the humorous and unexpected journey of creating "Carpools and Country Clubs," a social media account that started as a joke among friends and grew into a popular platform. The conversation delves into the cultural nuances of tennis, the camaraderie it fosters, and the relatable experiences of adult life that resonate with a broad audience. Sam also discusses the challenges and joys of balancing personal life with the public persona, highlighting the importance of community and authenticity. Follow Sam on Instagram: carpoolsandcountryclubs Follow Bagel Bagel on Instagram: thebagelbagelpod

In this episode, Lia talks with Shawanda Mason, co-founder of the Chattery, a non-profit in Chattanooga that promotes adult education outside of a traditional school setting. They discuss Shawanda's journey back to tennis, the importance of having hobbies as adults, and the joy of "unserious" tennis happy hours.

Some links from the conversation:

Check out the Chattery in Chattanooga

Lia's story about the Atlanta Cup Noke's Granola (Shawanda's must-have) Lucky In Love - the brand Lia wants to try but hasn't yet

In this episode, Lia chats with Jane Forman, of the Jane Forman Tennis Academy, about her journey from professional tennis player to coach. They discuss the mental challenges of tennis, what makes the sport so irresistible, and her unique teaching style. 

Links:

The Jane Forman Tennis Academy (and Experience) League Queens - with Jane Forman and Kim Wojnowich

The Bagel Bagel Pod Instagram

Happy holidays! In case you're traveling this week or new to Bagel Bagel, here's a re-run of Bagel Bagel's first interview: Faren Wise of Hot Mess Tennis. We hope you're enjoying the holiday season however you spend it (hopefully there's lots of tennis). 

It's the first Bagel Bagel of 2026 -- welcome! It's a short and sweet episode in which host Lia Picard shares her tennis resolutions, as well as the resolutions of listeners, for the year ahead. Have a great first week of the year!

It's the season one finale of Bagel Bagel, and to wrap things up Lia chats with her friend and fellow journalist, Allison Ramirez. Allison doesn't play tennis (...yet), but was happy to dive into what drew Lia to the sport and what listeners can expect for future episodes of Bagel Bagel. The podcast will return in a few weeks, but for now, follow along on Instagram. 

Links:

the Vogue essay

Allison Ramirez's Instagram