In perhaps the most important episode that I've ever recorded, I complete the "How I Built This" series by detailing how I weathered a difficult time in my entrepreneurial journey to attempt a career at what I've always wanted to do; write a book. From a very low point on a snow day, throwing darts in the form of book proposal emails, all the way to the past couple weeks, when my book, Twinkle, Twinkle, Social Media Star hit shelves. I discuss the whole process that I haven't told before; from the first books I wrote that were vastly rejected, to why the one that got signed was originally a backup idea I sat on for months, to how I figured out how to write a book proposal, to how the idea for Twinkle, Twinkle, Social Media Star even came about, to how the verses and narrative changed, to even reading aloud my original letter to the editor. This episode explains how I got a publishing deal as an unrepresented, agent-free, first-time author with no professional or formal educational experience in writing a book. More important than being publishing-specific, this episode explores something broader conceptually; stopping the cycle of arguing for our limitations. Embracing that progress doesn't happen in the form of sweeping gestures, linear narratives, or a static form of contentment. It happens on your bad days, when the work feels the most thankless, when the tasks at hand feel pointless. It's the micro moves that lead to macro movements. If anything, I want people to walk away knowing that every hour of your day is important, everything you're doing is a contribution, and no matter what you make up in your head about a future you have no right to predict, you're capable of changing your whole life. Step 1: Buy my book. Just Kidding. Actually not kidding, I need to sell books.

Enjoy!

Topics discussed:

Adult hangovers

Grinding

Center Stage

Coyote Ugly

Wearing all black

Somm 3

Wine tasting

Listen to me borderline weep in an episode from March where I told faithful Patreon subscribers vaguely about signing a book deal, what it means to me, and why it links back to signs I've seen over the years about Be There in Five, my career, and life in general. I recorded this in one take, very tired, very relieved and very much not knowing what to expect, but I can hear so many different emotions in my voice. Upon listening to it again, I don't think there's a better way to capture how I felt at that time.

Kate's having a bit of a week, and starts by giving some delightful updates she woke up to via the Nextdoor App, then provides a life and book update, followed by breezy pop culture analyses of the Kaitlyn/Shawn split, Ariana Grande's new jam, Hallmark movies, her review of Haunting at Hill House, this week's KUWTK, some controversial opinions about marathon training, frustration with how many chances we give Alec Baldwin, and my endless gratitude for celebrities acting like arbiters of American civics on this election day. Enjoy!