In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things, Karen and Bill celebrate the beauty of embracing your quirks, differences, and glorious weirdness — because as Eddie Munson reminds us, “Forced conformity is the real monster.” From Jonathan and Will’s brotherly bond over The Clash to Eddie’s unapologetic leadership of the Hellfire Club, Stranger Things reminds us that it’s our individuality that saves the world — not fitting in.

Karen connects this lesson to the wisdom of Brené Brown and Rick Rubin, exploring how authenticity and creativity are rooted in imperfection. Together, she and Bill share their own “strange” stories — from cat colonies to Comic-Con — and offer five playful ways to Stay Strange in a world that often rewards sameness.