Small Achievable Goals puts a mid-life twist on the coming-of-age sitcom

The new sitcom Small Achievable Goals is sort of a coming-of-age story — but instead of dreading their periods, the two lead characters are dealing with another major, yet little-talked about fact of life: menopause.

The CBC original series stars Baroness Von Sketch alums Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen as Kris and Julie, colleagues who are opposites in almost every way as they try to make a podcast together, while also struggling with the ways their bodies are changing every day. The show is now available to stream on CBC Gem.

Today on Commotion, screenwriter Catherine Hernandez and entertainment reporter Teri Hart join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their thoughts on Small Achievable Goals,

We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.

Elamin: Catherine, how did you feel watching the first few episodes of Small Achievable Goals?

Catherine: You know, it's ironic it's called Small Achievable Goals because it's quite the feat, putting this kind of content on television. As a TV writer, I know firsthand the uphill battle it is to convince networks about the commercial viability of these kinds of stories. And my first thought was, please let this pave the way for more content about women's bodies and the bodies of anyone who has a uterus. I'm so jazzed about it that I'm having, like, a hot flash right now.

Elamin: That's the right level of jazzed to be about the show. It is funny from the first moment that you meet these two women on the street…. This is a show about creative women in the entertainment industry. That is also both of you. I wonder if there's an example of a moment that maybe really resonated with you, Teri?

Teri: Yeah, I think that B story really supports the A story in the fact that they're in transition everywhere in their life. It's not just their bodies that are transitioning, but the world is asking them to be different also. It's not just enough for Kris to be a TikToker. She has to transition into also being a podcaster, something she's never been before. It's not enough that Julie is an award-winning podcast producer of serious material. That doesn't sell anymore, so she gets relegated to producing Kris's not-so-serious podcast. And I think that is what happens. Yes, we're dealing with perimenopause in Small Achievable Goals, but we're also dealing with ageism. And that is not only unique to women. I think that the world asks people to transition, and I think that's kind of an "in." If some men are listening to this and saying, "Perimenopause, what? I don't want to know about that. That doesn't affect me." Well, A) it does affect you. And B) it's not just about that. It is about all kinds of transitions into our kind of the third act of life.

Elamin: I've got to say, Teri, as you mentioned all of these transitions, I'm thinking of your career — the ways that covering entertainment has entailed different things over the last 20 years or so, you know? Like, "Here's a new platform. Go master it. That's where the audience is." And it's just kind of repeatedly that, over and over again.

Teri: Yeah, I've avoided dancing on TikTok so far, but I am not ruling it out.

Elamin: I think you'd be great at it, just saying, if you want to be.

Catherine: I vote for it. Tap in.

Elamin: Catherine, let me ask you the same question. This is a show about women in the creative industry. What are some of the examples from the show that are maybe resonating with you?

Catherine: Well, there's a scene where Kris [is] dealing with abnormal bleeding during a photoshoot, and wardrobe only has a rack full of white outfits for her to wear. And that really— the only way I can describe it is that it really hit me in the "emotional gonads." What we do to hide what is stigmatized, especially in the entertainment industry, just so that we can do our jobs, it's absurd.

I recently worked as a showrunner, and every time the director called "cut," I had to run outside to feel the cold air on my face. And at first, I pretended that I was just getting something outside. But then … I was like, why lie? Why am I lying? My changing body is nothing to be ashamed about.

Teri: It's been so fascinating for me as a woman to see all the period positivity that's out there for younger girls now — like, shout it from the rooftops. You have your period. Versus when I was coming of age … the whole thing was camouflaging pads and tampons, so they had flowers, and they had their special case that nobody knew you were even carrying it. So, I mean, period positivity has changed around women's bodies. Now let's try to do the same thing. And I think Small Achievable Goals is doing that — maybe hence the title, it works on many different levels — of talking about perimenopause, and what then leads us to a post-menopausal life.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Panel produced by Jane van Koeverden.