Productivity Hacks To Streamline Operations As A Solopreneur

productivity tips

In our new series, Selfmade U, we’ll tackle the most common questions and pain points that come up for business owners with tips and tricks from Selfmade, a virtual business coaching program, led by Brit + Co founder Brit Morin and sponsored by Office Depot OfficeMax. We’ll hear from Selfmade alum, business coaches, and Brit herself on what it takes to run a successful business and make it as an entrepreneur.

Staying on task can be challenging when you’re an entrepreneur. You’re wearing multiple hats and being pulled in all sorts of directions, being often the sole decision maker. “I'm a big list maker,” says Leeanna Gantt, founder of tooktake, a no-tech reminder to take daily meds and supplements. “I make a list at the end of the day, and in the morning, once I've seen what's really happening that day, I'll usually revise my list.”


After receiving breast cancer treatment, Leeanna created a system for tracking all of her medication and realized the system could work for others too. “I thought it can't just be me who can't do this one simple thing. It's not that hard, but for some reason it is that hard,” she recalls.


Even though Leanna was starting to place tooktake in stores, she looked to Selfmade to help her expand her business, earning an Office Depot OfficeMax scholarship to the program. “The scholarship allowed me to join the Selfmade community, which was huge. I get so much advice from the webinars and when I have a really simple question, I have a community to throw it out to and get suggestions from them. It has been so helpful.” (Tooktake is now sold in major drugstores across the U.S.).

Beyond community, the biggest takeaway from Selfmade was learning different organizational tips, says Leeanna. “Just the other day, [Selfmade business coach] Emily Merrell did a webinar about managing your emails in your inbox, which was very helpful for me.” Some of the inbox hacks she learned in the webinar? Consolidate your email accounts, set up folders, use filters, and install Gmail extensions to help streamline your business.

Here are more hacks to help you organize your business and stay productive.

  • Focus on singular tasks. “I think I'm much more efficient when I focus on one thing at a time,” says Leeanna. Dedicating a block of time to one task, whether it’s answering emails, creating marketing content, fulfilling shipment orders, will help you get those tasks done and done well without distractions. “I check my emails first thing, and then I will focus on shipping and ordering and then outreach,” adds Leeanna.
  • Delegate things that are less important to you. “I've delegated things that are usually something that I really don't feel very comfortable doing,” says Leeanna. This doesn’t have to be a full-time employee. But if you need help with copywriting, packaging, accounting, marketing, you can find services to help you when you need it so you can focus on what you love most (and being more productive along the way).
  • Create an office space that works for you. Having an organized and fully equipped office space can help you accomplish more in your business. Make sure you have sufficient space, comfortable seating, and the technology to make your days run smoother. “After our printer died, I'd been putting off buying a new one. I finally ordered one from Office Depot, which has been a huge, huge help,” says Leeanna.
  • Use tech to streamline communication. There are various messaging tools to help you communicate with your employees, clients, and suppliers to keep track of conversations and tasks. “I use Basecamp to communicate with the people I work with because it gives us one central place to put everything,” says Leeanna. “That way I know everyone's seeing the most up to date things.”
  • Don’t reinvent the wheel. Finding a business community of like-minded entrepreneurs can bring a wealth of information that can help you move along more smoothly on your journey. “Connecting with other product-based businesses through Selfmade is so helpful when I'm not sure if I'm going in the right direction,” says Leeanna. She’s able to get other opinions with the experience to back it up. “One of my friends from Selfmade suggested some other avenues to reach customers because she actually would be a customer but hadn't heard of the product. I asked her questions like, ‘How would I reach you with this? She had some really good ideas, which was really helpful.”
  • Get rest. A great night’s sleep, taking breaks throughout the day, and finding ways to recharge will make you a more productive human while avoiding burnout. “I'm one of those people who needs a lot of sleep to think clearly,” says Leeanna. “I've been trying to focus on making time during my day to do things to take care of myself, even if it's just to go for a walk between meetings or do a 10-minute yoga session, so I don't feel run down.”

In fact, entrepreneurs may be more at risk of burnout than traditional workers because they tend to be more passionate about their work while not having a lot of support. So take those breaks and get that sleep, because in the end, the experience is so rewarding. “I think everyone should try to be an entrepreneur,” says Leeanna. “You learn so much about yourself and it's really fun and empowering. Selfmade means I have the confidence to give this a try on my own and even though I found a really supportive group, I'm really proud that it's something that I'm doing.”

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

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Finding constructive ways to stay productive is a secret to successful entrepreneurship. Along your business journey, let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stay organized & save timewith a suite of business services to help you accomplish more - from signs, posters & banners to get your business noticed to marketing materials to help bring your brand vision to life. With Office Depot OfficeMax by your side, we know you can be your best.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


I can totally understand falling for a costar. One scene gazing into each other's eyes, and (as the kids say), I'd be asking, "What are we?" Zendaya & Tom Holland and Ashley Park & Paul Forman both met on the sets of their most famous projects (Spider-Man and Emily in Paris, in case you were wondering), and this year's biggest movie event also features a brand new celebrity couple: Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater.

The co-stars made headlines when they ended their respective marriages and started dating each other, and Ethan Slater finally spoke out on the response to their relationship. Here's what he had to say, and the latest news on this couple.

  • Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater met on the set of Wicked, in theaters November 22.
  • The couple made headlines when they started dating the same month they separated from their respective spouses.
  • In a recent interview, Ethan Slater reveals the reaction to their relationship was "really hard."

Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's Full Relationship Timeline

Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Late 2022 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Meet While Filming Wicked

After Ariana and Ethan were both cast in Jon M. Chu's Wicked, the movie began filming in early December. Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, while Ethan Slater got the role of Boq, one of Glinda's Shiz University classmates.

March 27, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Were "All Over Each Other"

Ariana and Ethan reportedly could get enough of each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscars party. A source told The Daily Mail later that summer that "They were seen making out at a pub in Hampstead, and they were all over each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscar party."

Aliah Anderson/Getty Images

July 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Split From Their Partners And Start Dating

News of Ariana's split from her then-husband Dalton Gomez broke on July 17, while TMZ also reported Ethan filed for divorce from his wife at the time, Lilly Jay, on July 26. (Ariana and Dalton ended up filing for divorce in September).

After People reported Ariana and Ethan were now in a relationship of their own, Lilly told Page Six that “[Ariana’s] the story, really. Not a girl’s girl. My family is just collateral damage.” However, other sources claim Lilly and Ethan had been separated for a couple months before his relationship with Ariana started.

August 2, 2023 — Ethan Slater & Ariana Grande Are Moving Fast

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater reportedly fell head over heels so quickly, their friends were telling them to pump the breaks. “Ariana’s been told it’s too soon to go public with him and to take things slower,” said an Us Weekly insider at the time. “She’s very aware of how she’s perceived by her fans, and she’s trying to be mature. [But] if it were up to her, she’d be seen with him tomorrow.”

Elsa/Getty Images

September 4, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Are Learning How To Balance Their Relationship

Sources told People at the beginning of September that the costars and couple are trying to figure out how to balance their relationship with their celebrity.

“While this entire situation has been blown out of proportion, it’s much different than what has been portrayed in public,” a friend of the couple says. “They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private."

Another reemphasizes that Ariana and Ethan only started dating after they were separated from their spouses, while a third adds, “They are doing their best to balance the fact that they are in the public eye with the desire to be respectful to all parties involved.”

September 2023 — Ethan Slater & Ariana Grande Go To Disney World

Surrounded by their friends and family, the Wicked movie stars headed for a day at the happiest place on earth. "They went with a big group of friends as well her mom and brother," a source told People. The source also said they're "really happy and really good for each other. All of her friends love him."

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 31, 2023 — Ariana Grande Supports Ethan Slater's Spamalot

Ariana Grande showed up to support her boyfriend for Spamalot's opening night at Broadway's St. James Theater.

December 23, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Grab Dinner In New York City

To celebrate the holidays, Ariana and Ethan headed out to a nice Italian dinner, reportedly with Ari's dad Ed Butera. "They love to support each other in their work," a source told People. "When she’s done with work, Ariana loves going to the theater when she can."

Considering she's a musical girlie, and has been on Broadway herself, I totally believe Ariana heads to the theatre whenever she gets a chance!

December 28, 2023 — Ariana Grande Says She Feels "Deeply Misunderstood"

“I’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me,” Ariana Grande said in an Instagram story. “I have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life.”

A source also told People that the popstar is “serious with Ethan. She loves being with him."

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

January 12, 2024 — Ariana Grande Releases "Yes, And?"

In a line heard 'round the world, Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" (the lead single from her Eternal Sunshine album) begs the question, "Why do you care so much whose d—k I ride?" The song doesn't mention Ethan by name, but there's a lot of room to infer.Although, when the album releases in March, Ariana also talks about a new "interaction" on “Intro (End of the World)," and wonders "if he’s judgin’ me like I am right now."

September 30, 2024 — Ariana Grande Defends Ethan Slater

In a Vanity Fair cover story, Ariana opened up about the reaction to her relationship with Ethan Slater, revealing that “the most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of [the story]."

“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” she says. “No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart...I’m 31 years old and I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming. I will never let disreputable evil tabloids ruin my life or my perception of what is real and good.”

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Lucille Lortel Theatre

October 30, 2024 — Ethan Slater Finally Speaks Out About His Relationship With Ariana Grande

Almost two years after meeting Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater finally opened up about their relationship in a new interview with GQ. “Obviously, it was a really super big year and I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public," he says. "There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard."

But the clouds also came with silver linings. “Of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, and I’m just really excited," he continues. "I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it. I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”

Instagram/arianagrande

November 3, 2024 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Go Instagram Official

These two took their relationship to the next level in the modern dating age — they put it on the grid. Well, not exactly. In Instagram posts celebrating the Australian premiere of Wicked, Ariana and Ethan both shared a picture of themselves. Is it blurry? Sure. Are their faces in it? No. But does this still count as an Instagram hard launch? Absolutely.

Check back here for the latest news on this Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's relationship! Read up on Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce while you're at it ;).

This post has been updated.

When you launch a business, you have to know how to sell it: to customers, to potential investors, and to the people you bring on board. In the Selfmade Fall 2024 Pitch competition, we challenged our female entrepreneurs to sell us their big idea and compete to win over $10K in prizes to build and grow their business. The judging panel was made up of a group of inspiring women in business, including Emily Merrell, founder of Second Degree Society and Ready Set Coach; Niki Shamdasani, CEO of Sani Lifestyle Brand; and Joanne Oparu Ayebo Eriaku, business transformation strategist and founder of SOAR AI School of Readiness.

Selfmade is a unique, hands-on business membership for female founders. Our coaches support our mission to help make the dreams of female founders a reality. "Our mission is to even out the odds and offer a clear route to success for business owners who've been marginalized," Emily said during the competition.

Pitch day was filled with uplifting, celebratory moments as all members cheered on the 10 finalists. Winners were judged on creativity, inspiration, authenticity, uniqueness, and evidence of impact. The finalists were phenomenal in their pitches, but the judging panel had to make the tough decision of picking three women who really stood out. Here are the winners of the Selfmade Fall 2024 pitch competition, plus our amazing finalists below!

Meet the Selfmade PItch Winners

Hyacinth Tucker

1st Place Winner

Hyacinth Tucker | The Laundry Basket

A US Army veteran and wife, Hyacinth owns and operates The Laundry Basket, a laundry subscription service that provides expert, laundry-on-demand and dry cleaning services in Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, Northeast Ohio, and Toronto Canada. The company is committed to sustainability, offering zero-waste practices in partnership with non-profits like Impact Zero. They are also paving the way for minorities and veterans to build careers and businesses through their workforce development program. Hyacinthhas a masters of business administration and is a mom of two. When she’s not running the show, she loves traveling, reading, and playing games with her family.

Monica Casillas

2nd Place Winner

Monica Casillas | Amor Movement

Founder Monica Casillas recognized that many young Latinas faced the same challenges she did in high school, experiencing the weight of generational traumas and their impact on growth and potential. Driven by her own experiences and determination, she set out to create a transformative movement with love as its guiding force. The mission behind Amor Movement is to ignite the passion and leadership potential in young Latinas in high school. The nonprofit is dedicated to equipping these future leaders with essential life skills, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities, empowering them to break barriers and create the lives of their dreams.

Yolanda McCray

3rd Place Winner

Yolanda McCray | Skyler M Style & Wellness

Yolanda's passion for clothing, accessories, and custom products inspired the creation of Skyler M Style & Wellness, named after her Cocker Spaniel who passed away from cancer in 2019. Skyler M Style & Wellness is an online boutique and pop-up shop in South Carolina that offers clothing, accessories, and custom gifts. They are also launching gift and subscription boxes that empower women to embrace their unique style while prioritizing wellness. Their carefully curated products offer a blend of fashion and self-care, solving the common struggle women face in balancing both.

Selfmade

Meet Our Other Amazing Finalists!

Thinking about becoming a member of Selfmade? Founders can join Selfmade for just $39 per month and have a chance to pitch your business at our next pitch competition! Here's how our Selfmade community is breaking barriers and connecting you with like-minded founders:
  • On-demand courses
  • Live coaching
  • 1:1 mentorship with leading industry experts
  • Opportunities for pitching your business (such as this pitch comp!)
  • Digital events
  • AND of course, our community of 4,000+ women founders, just like you!

Learn more about the Selfmade Founder Fund and join us!

Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more tips and news!

Header image via Meghan Lamle on Unsplash

I think Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves are one of the sexiest celebrity couplesalive. From Matthew's Texas drawl and swagger to Camila's beautiful aura, I love keeping up with their relationship. Not only are they parents to three amazing kids, they're the founders of a foundation dedicated to keeping high school kids active...annnnnd they make their own tequila. Does this make them couples goals? I'm going to roll the dice and say, "Yes!" They may even give Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds a run for their money, but I'll let y'all be the judge of that! 😘

Wondering how their love story began and how it's currently going? Here's a brief overview of their relationship timeline!

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves' Relationship Timeline

Image via Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx

2006: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves cross paths at a club

Usher may have been on to something with his single "Love in This Club" because that's exactly what happened for Matthew McConaughey. Well, he and Camila Alves didn't make love in the West Hollywood club they were at. Instead, they met and it was love at first sight for McConaughey.

He told People he remembers the exact moment he saw his future wife. "She showed up, and she moved right to left in front of my eyes across that club," he said. "It was as if she was floating. And I did not say, 'Who is that?' I said, 'What is that?' And then introduced myself."

That introduction sealed the deal for both of them as they begin going on dates shortly after that. I love that it didn't take them long to decide, "Okay, we're doing this" because I still believe in love at first sight. I mean, who hasn't dreamed about the moment they're at a party and lock eyes with the person they're meant to be with?

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

January 2008: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves make their relationship red carpet official

Two years after their fateful meeting, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves made their red carpet debut for the premiere of Fool's Gold. It was clear their relationship was going well because Alves was sporting a cute little baby bump. She actually opened up about the moment they decided to let the world know they were together in a reflective Instagram post.

"I was so nervous, we had already been dating for a while and I had been to movie premiers with him but always sneaking in thru the back to keep our privacy... this was the first time going 'here we go.'" She wrote in the caption.

July 2008: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have their first baby

The couple welcomed their first son, Levi Alves McConaughey, during the summer of 2008 and were beyond grateful for his arrival.

Camila later shared how tough his birth was when she appeared on Sarah Hyland's Lady Parts in 2021. "We tried to go as natural as we could in a hospital setting," she said. "We really wanted to go through without taking [medication]. We wanted to have that experience, and that was what we planned on."

However, Camila had to have an emergency C-section which happens if the medical staff determines there's grounds for an intervention. In baby Levi's case, the umbilical cord was wrapped in such a way that wouldn't have ended in good results had Camila tried to deliver vaginally.

I'm just grateful that things ended up going well even if Camila experienced a change in her birth plan.

Image via Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

June 2009: Matthew McConaughey announces baby no. 2 is on the way

Almost a year after Levi's birth, Matthew McConaughey announced that he and Camila Alves were expecting their second baby via his website. Though the post is no longer available, People grabbed a portion of the announcement.
"Happy Father's Day. It's my first, and the last 11 months with Levi and Camila have been the most rewarding adventure...We have more blessed news to celebrate this Father's Day that makes this time next year double the fun. Levi is going to be a big brother … Yeah, we pulled off the greatest miracle in the world one more time," Matthew wrote.
Maybe I'm delusional, but I swear I can picture his signature grin as he sat down to type this announcement. For all I know, he may have even said, "Alright, alright, alright' when he published it.

January 2010: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome their second baby

This time, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome a little girl. Vida Alves McConaughey was born two days after the New Year began in 2010.

Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images

December 2011: Matthew McConaughey decides to proposes to Camila Alves

Not prone to rushing things, Matthew McConaughey decided to propose to Camila on Christmas in 2011. He shared more about the proposal in an interview with Esquire. "I remember her face. I remember this smile coming up from her feet. I remember her having to catch her breath. And she didn't say yes right away. And then the whole family was going, Jeezus,she's gonna say no."
However, Camila said yes and this led to their wedding next year.

June 2012: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves tie the knot

The couple chose to get married at home in Austin, TX instead of jetting off to a swanky destination. While he wore a Dolce & Gabbanna tuxedo, Peoplereported Camila looked gorgeous in gown designed by Ducarmo Castelo Branco.

Image via Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

July 2012 — December 2012: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves announce she's pregnant with baby no. 3

The couple wasted no time by announcing Camila's pregnancy with baby no. 3! The actor took to Xto share the exciting news by writing, "happy birthday America, more good news, Camila and I are expecting our 3rd child, God bless, just keep livin."

When their youngest son, Livingston Alves McConaughey was born, he arrived one year and three days after Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves got engaged. According to CBS News, Matthew shared this on X: "Camila gave birth to our third child yesterday morning. Our son, Livingston Alves McConaughey was born at 7:43 a.m. on 12.28.12. He greeted the world at 9lbs. and 21 inches."

April 2024: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves make an appearance with their three kids

The McConaughey family made a red carpet appearance while attending the Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala a couple of months ago and everyone looked great! Based on the photos that Page Six shared, it's safe to say the kids are a beautiful blend of their parents.

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

June 2024: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Celebrate 12th Wedding Anniversary

It's unbelievable to think Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have been married 12 years, but time flies when you're enjoying moments with the love of your life.

Matthew took to Instagram to share a heartfelt photo and message to celebrate their marriage, and I'm pretty sure someone is cutting onions because my eyes keep watering. He simply wrote, "thank you #happyanniversary" as his caption, but those two words feel like they hold a ton of weight.

From their philanthropic efforts to founding their own Tequila brand, Pantalones, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have found ways to support in each other in love, life, and business. Frankly, I love to see all of it.

November 2024: Camila Alves Celebrates Matthew McConaughey's 55th Birthday

Much like it's shocking to realize this couple's been together for over a decade, it's also shocking that Matthew McConaughey could possibly be 55 years old. And yet, he is — and Camila Alves is ready to celebrate it!

Alves shared a post on Instagram to honor her hubby's birthday. The caption reads, "Today we celebrate you! …. Well technically we celebrated you all weekend!" wrote Camila, 41. "Hoo you bring so much Joy Matthew … but I am stopping here before I get all sentimental … ! To many more sleigh street rides celebrating YOU!"

Alongside her thoughtful musings, Alves shared a video of the two of them on a sweet nighttime — and bike-drawn — sleigh ride. Throughout the windy video, you can hear "Will The Lord Remember Me" by The Red Clay Strays in all it's twangy, gospel-inspired glory. It really is clear these two are a match made in heaven!

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This post has been updated.

Where the Gilmore Girls cast leads, I will follow, which includes numerous roles on shows like Étoile, The Handmaid's Tale, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and now Shrinking. Season 2 of Harrison Ford's hit show premiered on Apple TV+ October 16, and one of our favorite GG actors is making an appearance: Kelly Bishop! She's starring as none other than Harrison's ex-wife Susan. The thought of these two onscreen together makes me giddy — talk about a power duo! Here's when Kelly Bishop will be on Shrinking season 2, and everything else you need to know about the new season.

  • Shrinking season 2 premiered on Apple TV+ October 16.
  • While season 1, which follows a therapist who begins telling clients what he really thinks after he experiences tragedy, was about grief, season 2 focuses on forgiveness.
  • Kelly Bishop will guest star as Paul's (Harrison Ford) ex-wife Susan in episode 5.

When will Kelly Bishop guest star on Shrinking season 2?

Beth Dubber/Apple/EW

Kelly Bishop will guest star as Susan in episode 5, which drops on Apple TV+ Wednesday, November 6. And thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have a look at her character! “We always knew we were going to bring Paul’s ex-wife in because the second season was a lot about dealing with your past," creator Bill Lawrence tells EW. "And you can’t really move forward until you deal with your past."

"This season is about forgiveness," he continues. "Her arrival is a huge component because it’s tied into Paul’s family, and getting to hear, through Kelly, why he’s estranged from his daughter and what he feels guilty about was a great thing for his character."

There are two sides to every story, and let's just say I'm excited to hear Susan's side of things after hearing Paul's perspective for so long! And it looks like I wasn't the only one who could tell Kelly and Harrison are the ultimate duo. "We knew Kelly, just from having been fans, could definitely not only stand up to Paul, but even just dropping in for a few scenes, immediately feel like his equal and someone that could give as much as she got," Bill says. "Man, we love that combo of the two of them."

"This was the first time I had the pleasure of working with Harrison Ford," Kelly Bishop told EW. "I found him professional, amiable, and a delight to work with." I wouldn't expect anything less.

Where can I watch season 2 of Shrinking?

Shrinking Season 2 Release Date

New episodes of Shrinking season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+ every Wednesday. Catch up on the first four before episode 5 drops this week!

How many episodes are there? 

Shrinking Season 2 Episodes

Shrinking season 2 will have 12 episodes total, and had a surprise two-episode premiere Tuesday, October 15. Here's when you can watch each episode:

  1. “Jimmying” on October 15
  2. “I Love Pain” on October 15
  3. "Psychological Something-ism” on October 23
  4. “Made You Look” on October 30
  5. “Honesty Era” on November 6
  6. “In a Lonely Place” on November 13
  7. “Get in the Sea” on November 20
  8. “Last Drink” on November 27
  9. “Full Grown Dude Face” on December 4
  10. “Changing Patterns” on December 11
  11. “The Drugs Don’t Work” on December 18
  12. Finale on December 25

Who's in the Shrinking season 2 cast?

Shrinking Season 2 Cast

In addition to Kelly Bishop (who's now my favorite cast member), the cast of Shrinking season 2 includes Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley.

What is Shrinking about?

Shrinking Season 2 Plot

Shrinking follows grieving therapist Jimmy, who throws policy & training out the window after his wife is killed by a drunk driver and starts to tell his clients what he really thinks. But as he makes these huge changes in people's lives, he realizes just how much his own is changing, too.

“When you pitch a show, half the time you’re dancing with sparklers and you’re not sure if you’re going to do what you said. You’re just trying to get somebody to agree to put it on TV,” Lawrence tells TV Insider. “But we pitched the first season as dealing with grief. And the second season, we pitched to these guys as forgiveness. In your head, you’re like, what does that mean? What does that look like? But I think anybody that’s a fan of the show will realize it’s not just for one person.”

And season 2, while focusing on forgiveness, also sees the fallout of Jimmy's choices — like how Grace is now in prison for pushing her abusive husband off a cliff or how Jimmy's relationship with his daughter Tia is still far from healed. Tune into the rest of Shrinking season 2 to see how that forgiveness plays out.

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