In this uplifting holiday episode, Betina and Jen make a bold declaration: they're choosing celebration over survival this Christmas season, regardless of what hardships they're carrying. Through honest conversations about their far-from-perfect lives, they explore why creating beauty and gathering with intention are essential, especially when times are tough. They challenge the cultural narrative that honors past pain more than present possibility, refusing to let trauma steal the magic of the moment. The episode offers permission to those who are struggling, reminding listeners that needing warmth and light isn't a weakness. From decorating to cooking to simply showing up fully for festive moments, they reframe holiday traditions as acts of defiance against darkness, proving that joy doesn't require perfect circumstances, just an intentional choice to amplify what's good even while acknowledging what's hard.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

02:59 Temp Check: What’s your temperature for letting yourself enjoy the holidays fully?

15:53 Backstory: Learning that joy and hardship coexist and that the holidays are where we choose to amplify the joy

34:20 Life Focus: Recognizing that gathering, decorating, creating moments of beauty is a profound spiritual practice; honoring that if you’re struggling, you especially deserve to experience the warmth and light that this season offers; choosing to live during the holidays, not just survive them

49:34 Recipes: Gather around this: Light and warmth, something that feels how the season tastes

Recipes:

The Ham Dish (Potato, Onion and Ham au Gratin)

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a baking dish

Heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter and cook 5 medium onions (sliced thin) until translucent (2 min)

Peel and slice 5 large potatoes into thin rounds, rinse in cold water and dry thoroughly

Layer ½ of the potatoes in baking dish in overlapping rows, top with half onions and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg

Cover onion layer completely with sliced ham and top with remaining onions and potatoes

Pour 1 ¼ cup heavy cream over top, then season salt pepper, nutmeg

Bake 1 ½ hours while basting w/ additional ¼ cup cream, then tip pan and baste with cream from bottom, keeping potatoes moist on top

Cook until potatoes have absorbed most of moisture and are very tender and golden brown on top

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

14:35 “Xmas is Coming” - Sture Zetterberg

33:41 “Jingle Bells (LoFi Version)” - Jobii

49:08 “Caribbean Christmas” - Guustavv

60:20 “Cold Outside” - Gregory David

Follow Links:

https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_

Follow on Facebook:

https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast

Contact:

[email protected]