Boozy Breakfast Banter

Boozy Breakfast Banter

Drunch, a Spokane project “by womxn, for womxn and about womxn,” highlights female issues in a relaxed, conversational format 

Alcohol isn’t required, but it helps Lara Estaris, left, and Alisha Merkt break the ice. | Photo by Emily Mitchell.

Drunch is the podcast equivalent of you and your closest pals going to weekend brunch, having perhaps more than a few mimosas and, with a sincere sense of shamelessness, talking about everything from parenthood in the modern age to feminist issues, healthy sex lives to community activism.

It’s a wild and fun ride, offering an informed and judgment-free space for discussion in each of its (usually) biweekly episodes. Hosted by Spokane women Lara Estaris and Alisha Merkt, Drunch was launched in early 2018, and has since released 15 full-length episodes.

“We used to have these girls nights at another co-worker’s place and we would just make dinner and drinks and share stories with each other with no inhibitions, no shame or guilt,” recalls Estaris.

“And I was like, ‘Why are we not recording this?’ The stories we were telling were really hilarious and almost unbelievable. Alisha and I have such a good rapport with each other, we decided to start a podcast.”

Most of Drunch‘s episodes so far feature women in the Inland Northwest community, including the hosts’ friends who’ve volunteered to be featured, pitching their own topics to discuss. For last year’s Father’s Day episode, however, Drunch invited a local single-parent dad with a young daughter, and for its recent Valentine’s Day episode, the women quizzed a straight man and a gay man on women’s reproductive anatomy.

“It’s really informal,” Merkt notes. “We make sure to talk to guests about what they want to talk about, although we still have some things planned.”

Before sitting down to record, the co-hosts cook a breakfast meal requested by their guests, like vegan chicken and waffles, Dutch babies or breakfast casseroles. Alcohol is also served, but not required for guests to consume.

“We do want it to be more of a conversation they would be having with a friend,” Estaris says. “Drinking helps if you’re nervous to be recorded, and food makes everyone happy.”

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