A lost cat in a Wyoming blizzard. A devastating cancer diagnosis. A father she hadn’t fully reconnected with. Melissa’s final Season 1 story ties these moments together in a way that may change how you think about coincidence, faith, and the hidden meaning in your own timeline.When Dink, her mom’s orange cat, vanished after being dumped 60 miles into the mountains, everyone assumed the story was over. But months later, on a dark road near Yellowstone, Melissa and her mom see something impossible and what happens next becomes the kind of moment you don’t forget. As the episode unfolds, that single miracle starts to echo through everything else happening in Melissa’s life, from her best friend Kylie’s breast cancer diagnosis to the painful reconnection with her father. This heartfelt story explores grief, resilience, faith, and the possibility that even life’s strangest coincidences may be connected.

Notes and Resources:

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Buy Cowboy Dad: June Bloom Lavender's Store

Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country featuring English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, and skincare products developed by Melissa, a licensed esthetician. The shop is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa’s memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the resident therapy cat and local celebrity. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Melissa answers your questions about how she wrote and self-published her memoir, Cowboy Dad. She shares how she found her editor, why she avoided vanity publishing, and how a chance meeting with Guy Kawasaki led her to publish through Amazon KDP, plus a surprise announcement about what’s next for Cowboy Dad.

Resources mentioned:

Narrative Therapy, Affect & the Body – Re-Authoring Teaching

Division of Narrative Medicine | Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics

Writing Life Stories by Bill Roorbach: 9781582975276 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

Bio | Bill Roorbach

Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo

Guy Kawasaki - Wikipedia

Guy Kawasaki

APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - Guy Kawasaki

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Self-publish your book to Amazon's Kindle Store

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - Wikipedia

Considering the Oscar Best Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay Categories - Filmmaker MagazineFilmmaker Magazine

Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Buy Cowboy Dad: June Bloom Lavender's Store

Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country featuring English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, and skincare products developed by Melissa, a licensed esthetician. The shop is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa’s memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the resident therapy cat and local celebrity. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

In episode 10 of Side Note, Melissa explores self-advocacy; why it’s so hard for most people (especially women) and how she developed it through her upbringing as a child of an alcoholic, her natural intuition, and formal mediation and negotiation training at Pepperdine Law School. She shares how those skills culminated in an eight-year class action lawsuit against Pepperdine University after being let go from her MBA recruiter position, a case she ultimately won. She closes by warning that staying silent leads to illness and unaccountability, and challenges listeners to reflect on whether they’ve ever stood up for themselves or had anyone truly stand up for them.

Resources mentioned:

Pepperdine University | Christian University in California

MBA Programs - Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law: Your World of Opportunities

Women’s Negotiation Academy | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

Legal Professional Training and Conferences | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

Westmont Goes Downtown | Westmont College

Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Almost 40, working three jobs, and 100 rejection letters deep, Melissa shares how the fear of regret pushed her to self-publish Cowboy Dad, reinvent her career, and finally face her drinking. Plus: The porch swing test, a packed book signing at Chaucer's, and the glass of wine that changed everything.

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Resources Mentioned:

TESOL | Department of Linguistics

Welcome to Addictive Disorders Counseling - Santa Barbara City College

Secretary Kennedy Announces Over $700 Million in New Funding to Address Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness | HHS.gov

Five stages of grief - Wikipedia

Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton

Memoir Remembers “Cowboy Dad” - The Santa Barbara Independent

June Bloom Lavender's Store

home - enjoy cupcakes

Santa Barbara Public Market | Food Hall, Cooney’s Bar & Events

ELC English Language Center Santa Barbara - Learn English in Santa Barbara

Saudi Arabia to End Ban on Women Drivers

Grief can break you open, or it can become your fiercest teacher. Melissa shares the decade that changed everything, tracing how loss, trauma, addiction, and recovery collided in her 30s and forced her to confront what she could no longer outrun.

Resources mentioned:

Five stages of grief - Wikipedia

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Assessing the Evidence - PMC

PTSD | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families

Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton

Memoir Remembers “Cowboy Dad” - The Santa Barbara Independent

June Bloom Lavender's Store

Triple-negative Breast Cancer | American Cancer Society

Counseling & Bereavement Services | Support Healing - Get Started Now — Hospice of Santa Barbara

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

After losing her job post 9/11, Melissa takes another leap, grad school,. From founding a Women's Resource Center to bankruptcy, a repossessed car, and a serendipitous Miata, this episode is about firsts, fresh starts, and reframing weaknesses into strengths.

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

Resources Mentioned:

Azusa Pacific University | #1 Christian University in California

(1) What Happened to Jennifer Lopez Restaurant Madre’s ??? #jenniferlopez #madres #losangeles #celebrity - YouTube

Students Are the Answer - PeerForward (previously College Summit)

By the Company It Keeps: J.B. Schramm

Janet Reno - Wikipedia

Will Farrell on SNL impersonating Janet Reno

Will Ferrell Regrets 'SNL' Drag Sketches Like Janet Reno

Women, Sex, and Addiction: A Search for Love and Power: Kasl, Charlotte Davis: 9780060973216: Amazon.com: Books

A Tribute to a Strengths Legend: Chip Anderson - Leadership Vision

Strengths Quest: Discover and Develop Your Strengths in Academics, Career, and Beyond: Donald O. Clifton, Edward Chip Anderson, Laurie A. Schreiner: 9781595620118: Amazon.com: Books

Brooks Institute - Wikipedia

After 70 years, Brooks Institute of Photography has closed. As a testament to its legacy I wanted to share this EPK video from one of my best friends graduation piece, one of the final projects from that school. : r/photography

Ernest Brooks Foundation | history

Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education - BPPE

Leap of faith to California, working with a cult, working for 2 authors, writing and self-publishing my first book, 9/11, Santa Barbara living and rent, Girls Inc

The Oprah Winfrey Show - Wikipedia

Montecito, California - Wikipedia

The Daily Grind – Santa Barbara Coffee Shop – Santa Barbara Coffee Shop

Jeannine’s Restaurant and Bakery – Jeannine's Bakery

Santa Barbara News-Press

craigslist: santa barbara jobs, apartments, for sale, services, community, and events

Amazon.com: The Little College Handbook eBook : Broughton, Melissa: 

Education Defined Blog and Education Articles by Melissa Broughton

Kate Ludeman, PhD - Worth Ethic

Girls Inc. | Inspiring All Girls to be Strong, Smart & Bold

About Susan Bridges | Tamsen Gallery

September 11 Attacks: Facts, Background & Impact | HISTORY

Home - Laguna Blanca School

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Peeing in a Folgers can. Purple irises outside a trailer home window. Chocolate for dinner. The smell of Apple Jolly Ranchers on the morning commute. And $100,000 in student loan debt.

Melissa, lavender farmer, ranch kid, and the first in her family to graduate high school asks whether college was worth it. Raised by a cowboy and a waitress in a one-stoplight Colorado town, she navigates FAFSA with zero help, bombs the interview that changes her life, gets told she’s got “a pretty face, just pick something else,” and survives heartbreak that reawakens a childhood California dream. This is what chasing the college dream looks like when nobody’s shown you the way.

Mentioned Resources:

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

Flying W Ranch

Colorado State University

Colorado Mesa University

University of Colorado Boulder

CESDA Diversity Scholarships

FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid

Teen Corner (Alateen) - Al-Anon Family Groups

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous

Adult Children of Alcoholics Anonymous

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Melissa continues her esthetician story: reviewing spas on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, teaching skin physiology in Santa Barbara, and leading spa-writing retreats in Ecuador. Then came bullying, a layoff, and a skin cancer diagnosis and the unexpected gift that followed: writing Cowboy Dad. Don’t kill the messenger.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Le Sirenuse - Hotel in Positano - Amalfi Coast, Italy

J.K. Place Capri - Luxury 5-star hotel in Capri

Melissa in Tuscany

Welcome to Cosmetology - Santa Barbara City College

Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals | Milady

Pivot Point International - Your Trusted Education Partner #LearnForward

Jack O'Connell (American politician) - Wikipedia

Jazz Z Beauty and Barber Supply | Los Angeles, California

Start Your Career as a Beauty Professional | Lu Ross Academy

DNA Skin Institute™

Santa Barbara Aesthetics Academy Opens - The Santa Barbara Independent

mirage-experiences - lamiragehotel

Santa Barbara Skin Institute - SB Skin

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Book: Cowboy Dad by Melissa Broughton

Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: 

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California.

The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

What if losing your job led to the best decision of your life? Melissa Broughton shares how a spontaneous trip to Italy, a leap into aesthetician training, and a fearless mindset turned an unexpected detour into a global spa career. It’s a story about reinvention, risk, and the surprising power of saying yes to the unknown.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Everything Santa Barbara, www.santabarbara.com

Meet The Restaurant Guy - The Santa Barbara Independent

Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine: A Journey of Inspiration and Love | Acupuncture Today

www.spasofamerica.com

Ojai Valley Inn | Official Site

Offers - Lake Austin Spa Resort

American Spa Homepage | American Spa

Discover Spas Near You with the Spafinder Wellness Gift Card

Mii amo | Sedona Arizona Spa Resort | Wellness Journeys

WHO WE ARE - broughtonHOTELS

Spa Defined Blog

Learn Italian in Siena - Saena Iulia School

Melissa in Tuscany

Terme Di Saturnia, Spa E Golf Resort Con Terme In Toscana

Santa Monica Resort | Luxury Hotel | Shutters on the Beach

Terme di Chianciano Benessere e Spa in Toscana

Four Seasons

This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. More than a gift shop, June Bloom is built around the belief that self-care, storytelling, and mental health matter. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.