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We are Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay, and today we’re getting into our Ins and Outs for 2025.

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Episode 176 Transcript

Virginia

Okay, Corinne, since you introduced me to this concept, can you explain for the people what an in and out list is?

Corinne

This came onto my radar maybe two years ago. Everyone on Instagram was posting a screenshot of their Notes app, with a list on the left of things that are IN for the coming year. And on the right, a list of things that are OUT.

I think it’s kind of a fun exercise to do. You could really do it at any time of the year, but, you know, it’s New Year’s. We’re reflecting.

Virginia

Why not?

Corinne

It’s kind of like a resolution, but it’s a different framing. Because it’s this is what’s in for me this year. And this is what I’m leaving behind.

I also think a lot of the lists that I’ve liked and appreciated are a little cheeky. Like something that’s out will be something you’ve been seeing everywhere.

Virginia

And you’re over it.

On the diet culture front: You could certainly be like, “carbs are out,” and it would be very obviously diet culture. But it feels like there’s a little more room to breathe and make In/Out Lists not diet culture. Because it’s not even necessarily you resolving to do the things on your list. It could just be something you’re enjoying or bringing in. I like the flexibility of that a lot.

Corinne

That was one thing I wanted to bring up, because we talked about it last year. I intentionally have not looked back at my list from last year. I hate looking back at my old lists, because when I look at them, I literally feel like, who was that person? If I look back at old pictures of myself, I feel sort of tender for that younger version of myself. But when I look back at the in and out list, I’m like, who was that idiot?

Virginia

I think because they are cheeky and responding to trends? It’s kind of capturing a moment in time. Like, whatever is on your out list isa time capsule of the year before, which is fun, but it’s not necessarily going to be your truest core self. These are whims, these are our hot takes or unpopular opinions on things in this moment. It’s fine. I don’t think we have to look back at it. I don’t think we have to hold ourselves to these things lasting all year long. It’s just where we are in this particular moment.

Corinne

Definitely. It’s also something that I enjoy as a social activity. I like to ask my friends, what’s in and what’s out for you?

Virginia

Did I end up making one last year? I can’t even remember.

Corinne

I think you did, but I think it was a little late. I didn’t look back for yours because I didn’t want to look back for mine.

Virginia

Right, right? We’ll just let that go into the ether.

[Post-recording note: Or you can find Virginia’s 2024 list here, if you’re curious!]

Corinne

Another thing I’ve seen people doing around New Years is the bingo card, instead of an in and out list.

Virginia

Oh yeah, someone dropped this in chat this week. What is a bingo card? I don’t understand.

Corinne

The concept is basically that you make a bingo board. So what is that? Five by five squares? And each square has a thing in. It can be activities you want to do, or it can be outlandish predictions like, “Drake will be the Super Bowl performer.” Or a combination of both. And then you try to get bingo, and reward yourself.

And this year, I was sort of feeling like, ooh, that feels a little more fun. Because I have some things that I wanted to put on my in/out list that don’t really fit. Like, getting a tattoo, or visiting my sister—you know, stuff like that is a little more concrete and bingo card-ish.

Virginia

Okay, well you decided it was an in and out episode, though. So that’s what I’ve come prepared to discuss.

Corinne

I’ve still come prepared to discuss in and outs! I just wanted to present the bingo card as a concept.

Virginia

We’re noting that we are aware of it in the zeitgeist—at least Corinne is. And I am now aware of it, so I appreciate that.

Corinne

Yeah, and if ins/outs feels bad to you, then you could do bingo. Or you could do nothing.

Virginia

This may just be where my brain is on this particular day, but the whole making a grid of five squares is like sounding hard and sort of like math homework. And I’m like, no, no, don’t make me do it. But I might feel differently another day.

Corinne

I would lose it. Like, where would I keep it? Because I don’t know how to do that in my notes app.

Virginia

I mean, I had to text you and be like, “How do we make a table in the notes app?” So this is where I’m starting.

Alright, Corinne, kick us off. Give us your first.

Corinne

Well, as you might expect, I have a lot of ins and outs that are somewhat clothes related. So, IN for me is wearing one thing over and over again. OUT is buying multiples of the exact same thing.