Sorta Awesome

One of our foundational beliefs at Sorta Awesome is that strive to be awesome to ourselves so that we can be awesome to the world around us. This week’s guest has a story that shows just how true that is! Meg sat down with Arkansas Lt. Governor candidate Kelly Krout to talk about how her family’s story led her to a passion for advocating for children, and from that passion, she’s looking to make change in a civic capacity. Tune in to hear how Kelly blends family life with life on the campaign trail, what her kids and husband really think about her being in politics, and how her viral TikTok is helping her make a name with voters!

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:

Headspace: Go to headspace.com/AWESOME for one month free of their entire mindfulness library

Evite: Go to evite.com/awesome to find beautiful, one-of-a-kind designs in minutes—for free!

Thrive Market: Join Thrive Market today and get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift worth over fifty dollars. Go to thrivemarket.com/awesome!

SHOW NOTES:

Modern Family

(10 reasons why Modern Family is the perfect show to binge)

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

Kelly Krout on TikTok (and don’t miss her VIRAL Elyse Myers inspired TikTok from last fall!)

www.kellyforarkansas.com

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok! Also visit www.kellyforarkansas.com!

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

Never have we ever played a game like this on Sorta Awesome! Meg is joined by Kelly and Rebekah to commemorate seven years of Sorta Awesome, and surprises abound when they play a good old-fashioned game of Never Have I Ever. Think you know all of their secrets? Push play and find out!

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:

Raycon: Get 15% off your Raycon order at BUYRAYCON.com/sorta

Thrive Causemetics: Get 15% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/AWESOME

Dipsea: For an extended 30 day free trial go to dipseastories.com/AWESOME

Genucel: Go to genucel.com/AWESOME and enter code AWESOME for a FREE gift plus an additional 20% off when you purchase their Most Popular Package. Free priority shipping for a limited time too!

Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at truebill.com/AWESOME

LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly's AotW: Automatic cat feeder

Rebekah’s AotW: Cheer season 2 (on Netflix)

Meg’s AotW: SudShare app

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!

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

What book whisked you away into the wonderful world of reading when you were younger? What book written for young teens do you find yourself recommending over and over? This week, Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome’s books and reading regular Katie Proctor, and they are here to shout out ten of their favorites from the middle grade genre of reading! From monkeys in Oklahoma to a magical harmonica and all kinds of beautiful, heart-soaring themes in-between, Meg and Katie will get you excited to check out a middle grade book for your family or for yourself!

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:

Olive and June: Visit oliveandjune.com/awesome for 20% off your first Mani System!

Framebridge: Go to framebridge.com and use promo code AWESOME to save an additional 15% off your first order

Care/Of: For 50% off your first Care/of order of $40 or more, go to takecareof.com and enter code “awesome50”

Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the best razor you will ever own and for free shiping always!

Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/AWESOME and download the Zocdoc app for FREE then start your search for a top-rated doctor.

Factor: Head to go.factor75.com/awesome120 and use code awesome120 to get $120 off

SHOW NOTES:

AOTW: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Amazon | Bookshop

Foodbelly.com

MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS:

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech Amazon | Bookshop

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech Amazon | Bookshop

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier Amazon | Bookshop

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat Amazon | Bookshop

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat Amazon | Bookshop

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Amazon | Bookshop

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera Amazon | Bookshop

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Amazon I Bookshop

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson Amazon I Bookshop

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper Amazon I Bookshop

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson with Omar Mohamed Amazon I Bookshop

Pony by RJ Palacio Amazon | Bookshop

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

You can find Katie at her website or on Facebook and Instagram! And be sure to check out her latest book Hand in Hand!

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

Spring is here, and we know you need to know what to look out for to keep life AWESOME these days! Join Meg and Kelly with a list of ten amazing things to bring more color, joy, and fun to your spring season. They have everything from spring-y scents to spring cleaning products for the less-than-motivated to fashion trends from their teenage years that are very much the vibe for Spring 2022 and MORE!

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:

Grove: Go to grove.com/AWESOME and get a free gift set worth up to fifty dollars with your first order

Genucel: Go to genucel.com/AWESOME and enter code AWESOME for a FREE gift plus an additional 20% off when you purchase their Most Popular Package. Free priority shipping for a limited time too!

Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout

Just Thrive: Get 15% off when you go to justthrivehealth.com and use code AWESOME at checkout

Daily Harvest: Go to dailyharvest.com/awesome to get up to forty dollars off your first box

SHOW NOTES:

Meg AotW: Twin Flames podcast, Wondery

Kelly's AotW: The BEST Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Meg’s List

Kelly’s List

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!

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

Join Meg as she shares some of the most memorable confessions of the podcast! Including a NEVER BEFORE heard confession!

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:

HelloFresh: Go to hellofresh.com/awesome16 and use code "awesome16" for up to 16 free meals and 3 free gifts.

Dipsea: Get 30 days of full access for free when you go to dipseastories.com/awesome

Ana Luisa: Go to shop.analuisa.com/awesome and use code "AWESOME" for 10% off.

Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at truebill.com/AWESOME

Headspace: Go to headspace.com/awesome and get one month free of their entire mindfulness library.

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or 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

Join Kelly and Rebekah as they share favorite family games! Learn some of their personal favorites as well as recommendations for families of all ages and stages!

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:

Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/AWESOME and download the Zocdoc app for FREE then start your search for a top-rated doctor.

LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME

LMNT: Go to drinkLMNT.com/AWESOME and get a free LMNT Sample Pack (just cover the cost of shipping)

Thrive Causemetics: Get 15% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/AWESOME

Daily Harvest: Go to dailyharvest.com/awesome to get up to forty dollars off your first box

Genucel: Go to genucel.com/AWESOME and enter code AWESOME for a FREE gift plus an additional 20% off when you purchase their Most Popular Package. Free priority shipping for a limited time too!

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Love is Blind Season 2

Kelly’s AotW: Zoom Earth

GAMES FOR YOUNG KIDS:

Cranium's Hullabaloo (look for it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace)

Elefun

Balloon Lagoon (another one to look for on eBay or Facebook Marketplace)

Connect 4x4

Trouble

Candy Land

Zingo

GAMES FOR OLDER KIDS/FAMILIES

Awkward Moment

Ravine

Nertz

Tenzi

Qwirkle

Most Likely To: Kinda Clean Family Edition

Dutch Blitz

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!

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

This is the ultimate girlfriend chat. Rebekah and Kelly take over the podcast this week, to allow Meg to tend to her hospitalized mother. They asked the Awesomes in the Hangout if they had questions they wanted us to tackle - and as usual, the Awesomes delivered. Expect a few life updates, some honest talk about what they are watching these days and what will happen if/when (we're going with when) the Sorta Awesome team ever meets in person. Then they share their favorite frugal meal tips - including a snack from Kelly that shocked Rebekah - and some recipes that work well to feed your people when you are pinching pennies.

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:

PrettyLitter: Visit prettylitter.com and use promo code awesome for 20% off your first order

Thesis: Go to takethesis.com/AWESOME to get 10% off your first starter kit

Care/Of: For 50% off your first Care/of order, go to takecareof.com and enter code “awesome50”

Olipop: Receive 20% off plus free shipping. Go to DRINKOLIPOP.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout.

Factor: Head to go.factor75.com/awesome120 and use code awesome120 to get $120 off

Framebridge: Go to framebridge.com and use promo code AWESOME to save an additional 15% off your first order

Evite: Go to evite.com/awesome to find beautiful, one-of-a-kind designs in minutes—for free!

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AotW: Cureology

Rebekah’s AotW: I Love Hue app

Heather Havrilesky on the divine tedium of a long marriage

Chicken soup with barley

Spicy black beans and rice

Curried Lentils

Sausage Lentil Rice Skillet

Rebekah's 10 Favorite Soup Recipes

More With Less Cookbook

Additional More With Less Recipes Adapted by Rebekah:

Homemade Chicken Fried Rice

Honey Mustard Baked Chicken

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!

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

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

Many of us know the thrills and joys of reading, and it’s natural for us to want that love of reading to rub off on the kids in our lives. But not all kids are enthusiastic readers - especially when there are so many screens and things competing for their attention. This week, Meg is joined by her longtime friend and children’s librarian Emily Jones who has some compassionate, thoughtful, and encouraging advice for anyone who wants to encourage reluctant readers. She also brought a ton of suggestions to get even the most skeptical of readers excited to dive in! Plus the cutest sneakers, delicious chocolate, and riveting journalism in Awesome of the Week!

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:

HelloFresh: Go to hellofresh.com/awesome16 and use code awesome16 for up to 16 free meals AND three free gifts

Honeylove: Get 20% off your second item plus an additional 10% off your entire order at honeylove.com with code AWESOME

Public Goods: Go to publicgoods.com/awesome or use code AWESOME at checkout to receive $15 off your first order

Just Thrive: Get 15% off when you go to justthrivehealth.com and use code AWESOME at checkout

LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME

Ana Luisa: Use code AWESOME to get 10% off at shop.analuisa.com/awesome

SHOW NOTES:

Meg’s AotW: The Trojan Horse Affair

Emily’s AotW: Madewell tennis shoes (bonus AotW: these chocolate bars)

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab Amazon | Bookshop

Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis Amazon | Bookshop

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins Amazon | Bookshop

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston Amazon | Bookshop

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett Amazon | Bookshop

100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson Amazon | Bookshop

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk Amazon | Bookshop

View the full list of books at our Bookshop book list here.

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Follow Emily 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

Hey Awesomes, as you know, we are all about discovering new things here at Sorta Awesome. Except sometimes the most important discoveries aren’t actually things — new knowledge, new perspectives, and new insights are so important to discover, too! This week, Meg and Kelly share some of the most fascinating things they have learned lately. From giving yourself permission to quit to letting yourself free of the parenting guilt to how to order the perfect boba tea, they have so many interesting things that they think you need to know, too!

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:

Grove: Go to grove.com/AWESOME and get a free gift set worth up to fifty dollars with your first order

Thrive Causemetics: Get 15% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/AWESOME

Daily Harvest: Go to dailyharvest.com/awesome to get up to forty dollars off your first box

Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at truebill.com/AWESOME

Thesis: Go to takethesis.com/AWESOME to get 10% off your first starter kit

PrettyLitter: Visit prettylitter.com and use promo code awesome for 20% off your first order

SHOW NOTES:

Meg’s AotW: Loreal Age Perfect sunscreen

https://myshlf.us/p-324185Trader Joe's Nourish SPF moisturizer

Kelly’s AotW: Abbott Elementary (on ABC or streaming on Hulu)

2022 Regroup series of Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast

Annie Duke on A Slight Changes of Plans podcast about the Science of Quitting

Anne Helen Peterson's essay on Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

Dr. Yuko Manukata TED talk on parenting

Safia Nygaard Youtube: I Ran A Boba Shop For A Day

How TikTok took over fashion

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!

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