Wait, wait! Don’t worry - you are going to want to listen to this conversation no matter what your age or stage of life might be! Our culture has placed a nasty stigma on women’s experiences with midlife, and that has left many of us saying, “No one ever told me this!” But you know you can trust us to get very candid and very real to have the conversations that you won’t find anywhere else. Meg is thrilled to introduce a new Sorta Awesome regular this week — Mindy Brouse will be joining her frequently in a series of conversations all about the ups and downs of the midlife season of life. Tune in to hear them discuss the unexpected challenges of brain fog and the wild and wacky chaos of midlife periods!
Want to join Meg and Rebekah in the 22 Tropes in 2022 Romance Reading Challenge?! Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the reading challenge plus hundreds of hours of ad-free episodes you can binge-listen to right now. PLUS! Get full access to texting privileges with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
BYJU: Go to BYJUS.com/podcast to sign up for your first class absolutely free
Everyplate: Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.79 per meal by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code awesome179
Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the best razor you will ever own and for free shiping always!
Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout
LMNT: Go to drinkLMNT.com/AWESOME and get a free LMNT Sample Pack (just cover the cost of shipping)
Dipsea: For an extended 30 day free trial go to dipseastories.com/AWESOME
Show notes:
Trader Joe’s caramelized onion dip
Nick Quah’s 1.5 Speed newsletter
Normal Gossip podcast
God Spare the Girls, Kelsey McKinney
You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Find Mindy at bookendhomeschoolers.com and on Instagram!
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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep.  380 Let's talk about midlife: brain fog and cycle chaos!

Looking for a podcast that will motivate and inspire you to become your best self? Look no further than Sorta Awesome! Hosted by the insightful and engaging Meg Tietz, this podcast is your one-stop-shop for all things lifestyle. Whether you're looking for tips on personal growth, relationship advice, health and wellness, or just some good old-fashioned girl talk, we've got you covered. So pop in your earbuds and become an Awesome! We're more than a podcast - we're your community on the go!

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

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 (thanks to Awesome Jill):
Combine one jar of Target's Mexican-inspired birria cooking sauce with 2.5 pounds of stew beef in a slow cooker; cool on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4. Serve over ramen noodles.
Meg’s AotW: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara (in print and on audio)
Lebanon series: October 2016, start with A Refuge for Refugees
Closing song: Oh My Heart, REM
You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!
Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Find Laura on Instagram and on her podcast 10 Things to Tell You!
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 at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AWESOME EVER AFTER

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: Cayden Cross Body Bag from Target
Meg’s Awesome of the Year: Otherworld podcast
Kelly's Watching: Shrinking and Ted Lasso on Apple TV (sign up for Apple TV with our affiliate link!) 
Kelly's Reading: The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn
Kelly's Listening: Sold a Story podcast
Cozy Acoustic Morning playlist on Spotify
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Lifeby  Dacher Keltner
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May
Rebekah's Watching:
Jury Duty (on Amazon prime)
Traitors (on Peacock)
Rebekah’s Reading:
Nonfiction:







How To Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key







The Great Sex Rescue  by Shelia Wray Gregoire







Caste by Isabel Wilkerson







Fiction:
Yours Truly by Abby Jimeneze
Rebekah's Listening:














The Viall Files "Ask Nick"  episodes and update episodes 














Your Own Backyard 







Rebekah’s viral reel
Rebekah’s post: How to think positively about my house
Meg’s Watching: Never Have I Ever, Heartstopper, and The Bear
Meg’s Reading: The Life Council, Laura Tremaine
Happy Place, Emily Henry
Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross
None of this is True, Lisa Jewell
You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!
Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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 at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

471 The year in AWESOME: 2023

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 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 at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

470 BEST OF Kelly Gordon!

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 AotW: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cream
Sorta Awesome episodes mentioned:

10 Big Things We Stopped Doing (ep. 264)

10 Things We Wish We Had Done Sooner (ep. 183)

Leaning Into The Squirm: How To Talk To Your Kids ABout Bodies, Sex, and Sexuality (ep. 99)

Coming Out Conversations (ep. 137)

Self-Care, Self-Comfort, What's Healthy, What's Not (ep. 162)

Offering Gentle Comfort In Times Of Grief During The Holidays and Beyond (ep. 80)

Heartbreak, Doubt, And Finding Faith Through The Storms (ep. 192)

The Pandemic Broke Me, Now What? (ep. 426)

Every Single Confessions Episode:

Helpful PSAs and A Collection of Confessions (ep. 37)

Lollipop Debates, Starbucks Half-Truths, and Other Things That Keep Us Up At Night (ep. 98)

Confessions: Embarrassing Moments Edition! (ep. 136 - Rebekah ALMOST picked this one for the replay.)

True Confessions: Home Life Edition (ep. 168 - group show!)

Confessions: Year-End Edition (ep. 174)

Confessions: Holiday Edition! (ep. 225 - group show!)

So EMBARRASSING. Hear Our Confessions! (ep. 243 - replayed in this episode)

Confessions: Weird New Habits, Lice Battles, Book Heartbreaks, and More! (ep. 280)

Our Spiciest Confessions Yet! (ep. 359)

Our MOST Memorable Confessions! (ep. 383 - clip show)

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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 at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

469 BEST OF Rebekah Hoffer!

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 Planter Pot
Natural Crystal LED String Lights
Mooas Cube Timer
Adults
Erin Condren Lap Desk
Daily Calendar from Social Print Studio
MEG’S LISTS:
Things I bought and liked:
Shark HyperAir hair dryer
lookHUMAN mugs
Laneige lip mask
Gold hoop earrings
Bose Quiet Comfort Bluetooth Headphones
Quirky gifts:
Flower bouquet bricks
Mini greenhouse
LCD drawing pad
Future Ghost line
Hard-to-shop-for gifts:
Goldbelly’s Top 50 gifts
Tempurpedic sleep mask
Manta sleep mask
Hotel Lobby candles
Simple Modern insulated drinkware
KELLY’S LISTS:
Gifts for Geeks and Nerds:
SnoogTees
My Hero Academia board game
Soundproof foam for walls 
Personalized minifigs
Keyboard skins or covers
Custom Converse
Family Fun:
Clue Escape and Solve game
Bonus: Box One
Jackbox
Cravebox
Pasta maker
Nespresso
Puzzle table
Dowdle
Buffalo Games puzzles (arcade puzzle)
50 States of Beauty
Social Media Made Me Buy It:
Kitch—Non-heating hair wrap for curly hair
Woobles
AirPods case
Cool Pet glasses holder 
Cat glasses holder
MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:
Ep. 357 Awesome Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Ep. 222 Sorta Awesome Holiday gift guide 2019!
Ep. 171 Sorta Awesome Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Extra Awesome: Holiday Gift Guide 2017
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 at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 380 Let's talk about midlife: brain fog and cycle chaos!

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