Sorta Awesome

The time has come, dear friends and Awesomes, to bring you one last conversation. And we thought it would be absolutely perfect to end the way we began - Meg, Kelly, Rebekah, and Laura - all on microphone together! Join the original Sorta Awesome squad for a discussion that includes Meg’s reflections on the past eight years, future plans for each of them, and closing words to the Awesomes. (Plus a quadruple dose of Awesome of the Week!) As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to notion.com/sorta *OneSkin: New customers get 15% off with code SORTA at oneskin.co *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Laura’s AotW: Storygraph app Rebekah’s AotW : Ali Hazelwood novellas on audio Kelly’s AotW: Almond bars Birria beef (t

It’s that time of year again, friends! Pop the bubbly and join Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah for a conversation covering ALL of their favorites from 2023! From pop culture picks to the meaningful lessons they will take from this year, there is a TON of awesome to explore in this super-sized episode! As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Book of the Month: For a limited time, you can join and get the first book for just $5 with code FORYOU at bookofthemonth.com *OneSkin: New customers get 15% off with code SORTA at oneskin.co *Lume: New customers get $5 off a Lume Starter pack with code AWESOME at LumeDeoderant.com *Green Chef: Go to GreenChef.com/60awesome and use code 60awesome to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months SHOW NOTES: Kelly's Awesome of the Year: Salsa Verde Chicken Rice Tortilla Soup Rebekah’s Awesome of the Year: Ca

We continue our reflection back on the best moments of Sorta Awesome, and this week, the spotlight is on Kelly Gordon! Do not miss this introspective conversation with Meg and Kelly as Kelly shares what the past eight years of creating Sorta Awesome has brought to her life personally and professionally, and she shares the one episode she wants to leave with the Awesomes! As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon SHOW NOTES: Kelly’s AotW: American Auto Meg’s AotW: Ghost Story podcast BEST EPISODES Ep 63: What We Know Now That We're Here Ep 162: Self-care, self-comfort, what’s healthy, what’s not Ep 223: Seven kinds of self-care for the holidays Ep 268 Self-care vs. Self-comfort: Everything you need to know Ep 39: Seeking rest, finding delight You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website! Visit sortaawesom

Friends, you are in for a treat this week! As we begin the final weeks of Sorta Awesome, we are taking some time to focus on some of our favorite moments with some of your favorite people. Today’s episode celebrates Rebekah! Meg and Rebekah take some time to reflect on lessons learned and moments to remember from the past eight years. Rebekah has picked her favorite episode to re-share with you, and we include a surprise never-heard-on-the-main-show accidental confession that you don’t want to miss! As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to notion.com/sorta *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Rebekah’s AotW: If We Disappear Here by Mindy Hayes (Get your Kindle 30 day free trial!) In Your Eyes on YouTube Meg’s A

Sure, you’ve seen other holiday gift guides, but how many gift guides are made BY Awesomes, FOR Awesomes?! Let’s revisit Meg’s favorite gift guide - the one where she, Kelly, and Rebekah share excellent gift ideas straight from our Awesome community! As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/AWESOME for up to 20% off your next purchase (limited time offer!) *OneSkin: Get 15% off with the code SORTA at oneskin.co SHOW NOTES: Easily shop items from today’s episode at Sorta Awesome: Things we LOVE! REBEKAH’S LISTS: Babies & Littles Wooden Tables & Chairs Set Learning Resources Jumbo Dinosaurs Other Learning Resources Jumbo Animal Sets Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Stack Fat Brains Toys Whirly Squigz Kids, Tweens, & Teens Book Series Suggestions: Dogman Whatever After City Spies Other ideas: Mail Order Mystery Face Pla

Gather ‘round, Awesomes! Today’s conversation is a big one; the time has come for the final episode in our Midlife with Mindy and Meg series. Sorta Awesome regular Mindy Brouse joins Meg for one last conversation in the midlife series that so many in our Awesome community have loved, and to close out the series, they are talking all things midlife books and reading. From helpful guides to permenopause to captivating storytelling featuring midlife characters, there is definitely a book for everyone on today’s list! FIND THE ENTIRE MIDLIFE WITH MINDY AND MEG SERIES HERE Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Green Chef: For Green Chef’s best deal of the year, get $250 off with code awesome250 at GreenChef.com/awesome250 *Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/sorta SHOW NOTES: Mindy’s AotW: Stay Badass tank or shirt Slippers: XIHALOOK House Slippers Book: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant Meg’s AotW: The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy @holygnocchi on

Whether you’ve got a furry little animal soul mate at your side or you are happily pet-free, you will definitely want to press play on this conversation! Meg and Kelly are enthusiastic pet people, but Rebekah is not so sure. Tune in to hear Rebekah’s questions about the ins-and-outs and highs-and-lows of living that family pet life! Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/AWESOME for 10% off your next purchase (or use code AWESOME at checkout) *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Rebekah's AotW: Sausage Tortellini Soup Kelly’s AotW: Bluey Meg AotW: Keys to the Kingdom podcast 10 Best Kid-Friendly Soup Recipes for Cozy Days Sorta Awesome Soup Pinterest Board MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME: Ep. 465: Sorta Goodbye Ep. 162: Self-care, self-comfort, what’s healthy, what’s not Ep. 417: Holiday home hacks you’re going to love! Ep. 400: Would You Rather? 4

If we’ve learned anything from Taylor Swift this year, it’s that eras come, and eras go. Today, the Sorta Awesome team is sharing with you that it’s the end of an era for Sorta Awesome. Take a moment to hit play to hear about the podcast closing, and what comes next for your favorite Friday friends! Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME: Ep. 464: The Sex Episode Ep. 463: These discoveries will upgrade your life! Ep. 462: 15 new releases we absolutely loved! Ep. 461: The AWESOME LIST for Fall 2023 You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website! Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter! This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller

What happens when all those Purity Culture kids from the 90s and early 2000s grow up and get married? Well one thing we discovered is a bunch of books were published to “help” us understand sex and marriage. Turns out, some of them were … not so helpful. Meg and Rebekah are here to discuss. Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *OneSkin: Get 15% off with the code SORTA at oneskin.co SHOW NOTES: Rebekah’s AotW: Latuza Pajama Pants Meg’s AotW: Sam and Colby: Surviving a week at the Real Conjuring House The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire Sheila Gregoire on Instagram Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Books Studied for The Great Sex Rescue (listed in order of best to worst): Helpful Books: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M Gottman (tie - scored near perfect)- https://amzn.to/3QvFtE6 The Gift of Sex by Clifford & Joyce Penner (tie - scored near perfect) - https://amzn.to/3FRLwgd Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud & John Townsend (tie)

We are always all about taking care of YOU, and today, one of our favorite Enneagram 2s who always has the hook-up for the GOOD stuff is back! Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome regular Julie Tepperman, and Julie has brought a stash of discoveries that are sure to bring a little extra sparkle for a fun upgrade to daily life. Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Brooklinen: Visit Brooklinen.com and use code AWESOME20 for $20 off your online order of $100 or more *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Julie’s AotW: Baked chicken recipe (Gimme Some Oven) Meg’s AotW: GUTS album, Olivia Rodrigo Hacks: artskills precut neon shapes Products: Typology tinted lip OIL Lune and Aster eclipse volumizing and curling mascara Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize cream eyeshadow in Rose Gold Static nail polish remover (clear) Static nail polish remover (rose gold) Madgabs lipbalm Bella Skin probiotic un

Awesomes, have you noticed that 2023 is just killing it when it comes to amazing new book releases?! Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome regular Katie Proctor, and they have so MANY books to discuss! From memoir to essay collections to literary fiction and all kinds of genres in-between, there’s something on this list for every reader. Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Green Chef: Go to GreenChef.com/60AWESOME and use code 60AWESOME to get 60% off plus free shipping *Rocket Money: Cancel unneccessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RocketMoney.com/awesome.  SHOW NOTES: Meg’s AotW: The Dating Detectives podcast Katie’s AotW: Sex Education on Netflix KATIE’S LIST Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Congratulations, the Best is Over! By R. Eric Thomas Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan Shark Heart by Emily

What’s the color you’ll be seeing everywhere this autumn? What little hack can make your mums even more glorious? Which movies should you plan to catch in theaters in the next few months? Meg and Kelly are back with one of their favorite episodes - the seasonal list, and they’ve got everything you need to know for the aiutumnal months ahead. From what to sip to what to wear, from delightful recipes to game-changing hacks, they’ve got the scoop just for you! Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Brooklinen: Visit Brooklinen.com and use code AWESOME20 for $20 off your online order of $100 or more SHOW NOTES: Kelly’s AotW: Laufey Meg’s AotW: None of this is True, Lisa Jewell (on audio) KELLY’S LIST Water mums from the bottom Spooky thrift painting—some examples: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR7h9G9M/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR7h5Suy/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR7hDSK3/ Vegan Coconut Lentil Soup Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea Halloween char”boo”terie MEG’S LIS

It’s a big dream-come-true day for Meg as she gets to sit down with one of her all-time favorite podcasters: Patrick Hinds! Patrick is the co-creator and co-host of True Crime Obsessed, a podcast that is always at the top of Meg’s must-listen list of favorites. But he’s not here to talk all things TCO today! Instead, he’s sharing two incredible, unforgettable stories from his bestselling brand new book Failure Is Not NOT An Option: How the Chubby Gay Son of a Jesus-Obsessed Lesbian Found Love, Family, and Podcast Success … and a Bunch of Other Stuff. From hilarious misadventures with a golden (and grouchy!) celebrity to a touching story of saying yes to growing a family, you simply must hear the wisdom and the hilarity that Patrick has brought for the Awesomes! Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Patrick’s AotW: Stage Combat podcast Meg’s AotW:

Meg and Rebekah had SO MANY WORDS for this conversation that we had to trim it waaaaaay down, BUT! The full-length ad-free version is available right now for all Super Star Awesomes over on Patreon! Not a Super Star yet? Today is a great day to become one! Friends, what was the last … time you cried in public? felt embarrassed? laughed until you cried? Meg and Rebekah dig into each other’s personal lives by asking each other about all the lasts, and it takes them in some unexpected places! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Brooklinen: Visit Brooklinen.com and use code AWESOME20 for $20 off your online order of $100 or more *OneSkin: Get 15% off with the code AWESOME at oneskin.co SHOW NOTES: Rebekah’s AotW: Don't Text Your Ex Happy Birthday by Nick Viall The Viall Files Podcast Meg’s AotW: Locket App REBEKAH’S LINKS: Harry's House. by Harry Styles Jury Duty Harry Styles Birthday Cakes Big Brother 25 Latuza Women's Pajama Pants Harry Styles LOT Sweatshirt Watch TikToks at 2x Speed The Summer I Saved You by Elizabeth

Some of us find joy in the kitchen, and some of us … well, maybe it’s not joy we find in cooking. Or maybe we used to find joy in cooking until we got burned out. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a home cooking expert or if you are happy to get through a meal without setting off the smoke alarm, you are going to love this conversation between Meg and Bri McKoy! Bri’s brand new book The Cook’s Book is fresh off the press, and this beautiful book is packed with inspiration for all the awesome to be found in the kitchen! Can’t get enough Sorta Awesome? Become a Sorta Awesome Super Star! You’ll get immediate access to hundreds of hours of exclusive content made just for the Super Stars! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *K12: Go to k12.com/AWESOME to learn more and find a tuition-free K-12 powered school near you *Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions—and manage your money the easy way—by going to RocketMoney.com/awesome SHOW NOTES: Meg’s AotW: Starwalk app Bri’s AotW: Tipsy braised shortribs with

Oh, if only we could have known then what we know now, right? If you could tell your sixteen year old self anything, what would it be? That’s what Meg and Kelly explore this week, along with a heavy dose of nostalgia as they revisit who they were when they were sixteen! Can’t get enough Sorta Awesome? Become a Sorta Awesome Super Star! You’ll get immediate access to hundreds of hours of exclusive content made just for the Super Stars! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout *Green Chef: Go to GreenChef.com/60AWESOME and use code 60AWESOME to get 60% off plus free shipping SHOW NOTES: Kelly’s AotW: Freeze jalapenos whole to use all winter! Meg’s AotW: How To with John Wilson (on Max) Amy Grant: Lead Me On MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME: Ep. 454: The Internet Made Me Buy It (Part 1) Ep. 453: Advocating for people experiencing homelessness: a conversation by Nate Hoffer Ep. 456: Midlife with Mindy and Meg: the ultimat

In our Midlife with Mindy & Meg series, we’ve covered lots of topics from many angles about the physical changes midlife brings, but what about the changes to our family dynamics and the roles we’ve fulfilled for years? Midlife brings seismic changes, and today, Mindy is here to hold Meg’s hand through the giant change of sending a grown child out into the world! How much do the people in your life know about perimenopause and menopause? Quiz them with our MIDLIFE survey and let’s see how much our people know! Find the Midlife with Mindy and Meg playlist on Spotify. (Bonus: share with friends!) Be like Mindy and be a Sorta Awesome Super Star! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *K12: Go to k12.com/AWESOME to learn more and find a tuition-free K-12 powered school near you *Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/AWESOME for 10% off your next purchase (or use code AWESOME at checkout) SHOW NOTES: Meg’s AotW: 4 Pocket High Waisted Skort Mindy’s AotW: Shark Heart: A Novel Brooks Falls Katmai Natl Park via explore.org Beartown by

We know - we left you on a cliffhanger! Sorry about that, friends. But here is part TWO of Meg’s conversation with Kelly and Rebekah talkin’ all about the things the internet has made them buy. Not only do they finish our their purchases lists, they also fill you in on the things that are hanging out in their carts while their fingers linger over the BUY NOW buttons! This is PART TWO of a two-part conversation and it dropped ad-free for all Super Stars last Friday. Did you know that VERY Super Stars get ad-free episodes every Friday? Check out our VERY Super Star tier in your Membership to make the switch to all ad-free, all the time! Come over to Sorta Awesome on YouTube! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: OneSkin: Reverse the signs of aging with OneSkin’s ground-breaking approach! Get 15% off with code AWESOME at oneskin.co SHOW NOTES: Kelly: Uproot pet cleaner IN KELLY’S CART: Prose / tiny ice ball trays Rebekah: Sweatshirt Cult IN REBEKAH’S CART: Simple Modern Tumbler Meg: Rainbow window clings IN MEG’S CART (o

Fire up those browser tabs, friends! This week, Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah are here give you the scoop on all the things they’ve been influenced, pestered, arm-twisted, and convinced to buy some …. interesting … stuff online! From clever candles to chef knife perfection to hydration that may or may not just be water, they will tell you all about what made them hit BUY NOW. This is PART ONE of a two-part conversation. Part Two is available AD-FREE now for all Super Star Awesomes. Sign up to become a Super Star and get immediate access to part two of The Internet Made Me Buy It plus hundreds of hours of Sorta Awesome you’ve never heard before! Come over to Sorta Awesome on YouTube! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions—and manage your money the easy way—by going to RocketMoney.com/awesome SHOW NOTES: Rebekah’s AotW: Stolen Heir by Sophie Lark Kelly’s AotW: Fall menu at Starbucks release Aug. 24 - including Casi Cielo whole bean coffee (the best coffee Starbucks offers, in Kel

The third time is, indeed, a charm for one of our favorite Sorta Awesome spouses - Nate Hoffer! Nate is back on Sorta Awesome this week, and he and Rebekah have fresh insights to share with Meg and the Awesomes about new perspectives and developments in the matter of caring for people with dignity. There’s so much to learn in this conversation, and of course, you know the discussion is an awesome one! Back to school shopping? SHOP OUR LINK to support the show! Come over to Sorta Awesome on YouTube! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: *Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout SHOW NOTES: Nate and Rebekah’s AotW: Jury Duty Meg’s AotW: Cutting Teeth, Chandler Baker Good Samaritan Services Caste by Isabel Wilkerson MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME: Ep. 59: Nate Hoffer crushing misconceptions about homelessness Ep. 220 How to be awesome with holiday gifting (with Nate Hoffer) You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Find Rebekah on her blog, Faceb