Who tells you the date? A calendar? Your phone? Your computer? We compare notes and even learn a new trick.

Finding something that everyone will enjoy and won't sit idly growing cold in the back corner of the table? It's stressful!

We are glad to be living in the age of the gift card, let's just say.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast:

00:40 Dancing with the Stars Pros: Before heading to D.C., we made a quick stop in the Ballroom to discuss the pros who will be competing in the upcoming season. (Stars will be announced September 6.)

04:42 The West Wing: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" made Catherine tear up not once but twice.

12:58 John from Cincinnati: Episodes 4, 5, and especially 6 got dramatically weirder, but John's message is starting to seep out and lodge in our brains. Mentioned: Alan Sepinwall's recap and this behind-the-scenes video of creator David Milch.

We'll return to the Challenge Round next week: Catherine challenged Terri to watch Amélie, a movie that shares John's surrealism but is diametrically opposed in tone and vibe.

For next week, we'll also continue with two more episodes of John from Cincinnati ("His Visit: Day Six" and "His Visit: Day Seven") and The West Wing's "The Black Vera Wang."

We do some quick takes on pies vs. cakes. Also cookies vs. brownies, hard ice cream vs. soft, and fruit vs. chocolate. Mentioned: discussions on bake sales, raisins (38:15) and refrigerator freezers (29.12).

00:32 Eclipse Report: Catherine traveled to a country road along the Path of Totality to watch the eclipse, and says it really was worth it.

12:30 What Kids Are Watching: Terri wondered whether she's the only one whose children have abandoned shared TV watching in favor of random series on YouTube. (She's not.)

25:30 Friday Speed Round: Recent Texts to the Family: There was one fervent prayer, one tantrum, and of course, one heart-eye emoji.

31:41 Roundabout Roundup: Terri's not throwing away her shot thanks to the new Hamilton app; Catherine recommends these Usborne books for tiny tots; and Nicole is enjoying the wisdom of Dr. Jen Gunter.

38:15 Shameless Self-Promotion: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and 9 Other Treats You Should Never Bring to a Bake Sale; all of Terri's posts at the Friendship Circle blog; and Top 10 Ways to Tell If Your Child's School Is Inclusive. 

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

Uptown? Downtown? On the wrong side of the tracks? In the suburbs? We put ourselves on the map.

We wonder which of our talents would gain us world ranking if we could make any activity an Olympic sport. What would you be a contender in?

Maybe we'll start the day by clearing out that e-mail inbox ... just as soon as we finish this game.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed podcast:

00:37 Dancing with the Stars Live Show: We chat with a friend of the podcast who got to see the DWTS tour when it came to Milwaukee earlier this summer.

15:14 The West Wing: In another twist on the usual, the West Wing Weekly podcast covered a special documentary episode of the show, so we watched it too (and liked it, because surprise! we like The West Wing).

22:19 Challenge Round: John from Cincinnati: As Terri warned us, things took a weird turn when she challenged Catherine to watch the first three episodes of this one-season HBO series. Catherine agreed: It's weird, but she's willing to jump on the roller-coaster and see where this goes.

So for next week, we'll watch the next three episodes of John from Cincinnati (entitled "His Visit, Day 3," "His Visit, Day 4," and "His Visit, Day 5"), as well as the West Wing episode "Enemies Foreign and Domestic."