Sorta Awesome

We would love to introduce you to “Help Me Be Me,” a podcast and emotional toolkit for creating positive change in yourself. I like to think of it as self-help for people who hate self-help. Join host Sarah May, coach/author/all-around happy person, as she shares tools that helped her in her life and journey!

Help Me Be Me on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/helpme

Help Me Be Me on Spotify

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

Well, 2022 was a year, right?! And as is their annual tradition, Meg is joined by Kelly and Rebekah to give you the awesome rundown! Tune in to hear about what they learned, learned, as well as the amazing things they watched, read, and listened to!

And just a reminder that this is a GREAT time of year to become a Super Star Awesome. Patreon offers annual membership plans which might be the perfect gift to give YOURSELF this year!

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:

*OMGYes: Visit OMGYes.com/awesome for a special discount

SHOW NOTES:

Meg Awesome of the Year: Birkenstock Tokios!

(or use this link to purchase Birkenstocks on KITH)

Kelly's Awesome of the Year: Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup from Pinch of Yum

Rebekah’s Awesome of the Year: Ticket to Ride

Wet N Wild Breakup Proof Eyeliner

MEG’S LIST

Watched:

Stranger Things season 4

Heartstopper

Yellowjackets

Read:

This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch

The Violin Conspiracy

The House Witch

Listened:

Bone Valley

Normal Gossip

Steve Lacy’s Gemini Rights

KELLY’S LIST

Watched:

Abbott Elementary

Only Murders in the Building (watch on Hulu using our affiliate link!)

Read:

All the Ways Our Dead Still Speak by Caleb Wilde

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Listened:

The Holy Post podcast

Ivy Eld

REBEKAH’S LIST

Watch:

Cheer (season 2)

Don't Worry Darling

My Policeman

Read:

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch

Listen:

Harry's House by Harry Styles

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 368: What we learned in 2021, and our favorites, too!

Ep. 272: Finding awesome in a year that wasn’t

Ep. 418: Gift Guide 2022: All the gifts we love!

Ep. 386: Never have I ever (a group show!)

Ep. 226: All of the Awesome of 2019!

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

As December ticks by, the end-of-year lists are popping up everywhere! Meg and Kelly have got some thoughts that might be a little teeny-tiny bit spicy on trends, news stories, and pop culture moments of 2022, and they are more than happy to share their thoughts (and some from the Super Star Awesomes, too) with you!

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:

Bare Necessities: Get 20% off your order at BareNecessities.com and use code awesome20

Pair Eyewear: Go to paireyewear.com/AWESOME for 15% off your first purchase

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly's AotW: Wintry Mix newsletter by Kari Liebowitz

Meg’s AotW: Bone Valley podcast

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 418: Gift Guide 2022: All the gifts we love!

Ep. 403: Who am I if I’m not this?

Ep. 386: Never have I ever (a group show!)

Ep. 364: We’re Obsessed: life hacks we swear by!

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

Raise your hand if you’d like to take a little break from all things holiday, and go deeeeep into some fascinating topics with Meg and Rebekah! You know how sometimes, you just get totally into a subject and the next thing you know, you are chatting up strangers at the grocery store with all of your newfound knowledge? Well, that’s Meg and Rebekah this week, except instead of bothering strangers, they are bringing the Awesomes along for the dive! From movie magic to YouTube concert footage to viral frustrations to what TikTok gets wrong about feminism, they have a LOT of words about what they can’t stop thinking about these days!

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:

*Raycon: Go to BUYRAYCON.com/sorta to get 15% off SITEWIDE with code HOLIDAY—plus free shipping!

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

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Soma's Enbliss Soft Stretch Hipster underwear

Meg’s AotW: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner

Meg’s favorite YouTube deep dive: Defunctland: Disney’s FastPass: A complicated history

Movie Making Deep Dive (starts at 17:00)

Josh Props

Stunt Props

Fake Ice Cream

Fake Poop

Jessica Steinrock

Modesty & Barrier Protection

Strapless Thong

Kevin and the Female Gaze deep dive (starts at 35:05)

Note from Meg: Kevin’s TikTok profile is no longer available

CLIP OF KEVIN VIDEO is in 2:15 of this video from Jarvis Johnson: The Female Gaze Guy Sucks

The Problem with the "Female Gaze Guy"

Explainer: what does the ‘male gaze’ mean, and what about a female gaze?

Recreating Adam: Romance and the Hazard of the Female Gaze

Music Releases & TikTok (starts at 57:28)

"Unholy" is a Hot & Heavy Single with a Lukewarm Reception

Lewis Capaldi

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR4CbsNf/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR4CGbGs/

The Awesome of Nathaniel Rateliff (starts at 1:04:52)

Rolling Stone: The Long Shot: Nathaniel Rateliff’s Long, Hard, Booze-Soaked Road to Stardom

Solo Album: And It’s Still Alright (2020)

with the Nightsweats: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (2015); Tearing at the Seams (2018); The Future (2021)

YouTube performances:

Sessions: At home with Nathaniel Rateliff (November 2020)

Levitate Music & Arts Festival (July 2019)

Live at Red Rocks (September 2020)

Rock the Garden (September 2022)

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 416: You’re invited to our FAVORITE THINGS party!

Ep. 415: What happens when you love what you love

Ep. 409: Would You Rather—Round 2!

Ep. 400: Would You Rather—4 vs 400 edition!

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

The holidays are here, but not everyone is feeling festive. Grief all of kinds can feel even heavier during the holidays, and a difficult part of the midlife season is grieving the loss of parents. In this new episode of the Midlife with Mindy and Meg series, they discuss their own experiences with losing a parent and share helpful, encouraging, compassionate insights on how to support friends who are experiencing this loss. As always, they offer inspiration for discovering the beauty even in the darker moments of life!

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:

*Everlywell: Go to Everlywell.com/awesome for 20% off your next at-home lab test

SHOW NOTES:

Pediatric pulse oximeter

Adult pulse oximeter

Blockbuster on Netflix

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 413: Let’s Talk About Midlife: How to Know if You are in the Club

Ep. 380: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Brain Fog and Cycle Chaos

Ep. 389: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Nonstop Appetite & Historical Hysteria

Ep. 395: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Parenting Our Parents and Life in the Middle

Ep. 401: Let’s Talk About Midlife: The Ups and Downs of Sex!

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

Find Mindy on Instagram and as a regular on the Currently Reading podcast! Mindy also produced and created Bookend Homeschoolers.

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

Sure, you’ve seen other holiday gift guides, but how many gift guides are made BY Awesomes, FOR Awesomes?! Meg is joined by Kelly and Rebekah this week for the newest edition of the Sorta Awesome holiday gift guide!

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:

*Butcher Box: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/AWESOME and use code AWESOME to get two 10 oz ribeyes FREE in every box for a whole year when you join. Plus $10 off!

*Issu: Get started with Issu for FREE today or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off at Issu.com/podcast and use promo code AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

Easily shop items from today’s episode at Sorta Awesome: Things we LOVE! 2022

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

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

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!

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

The holiday season can be … complicated. But your friends at Sorta Awesome want to make things EASIER for you this year because easier = MORE AWESOME. Meg and Kelly have done the digging and researched the web to bring you some tips, tricks, and hacks to make this holiday season just a little bit easier for you! From tree trimming to what to serve guests to ways to make your home look (and smell!) holiday-tastic, they’ve got you covered!

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

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*Pair Eyewear: For a limited time, shop Pair’s holiday sale for 20% off at paireyewear.com!

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

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AotW: Torani seasonal syrup packs (bonus—this would be a great gift!)

Meg’s AotW: Beyond the blinds podcast

FOR THE KITCHEN

Designed to the Nines (transform a store-bought cake)

Sheet pan pancakes

Ree’s sheet pan pancakes

Even faster sheet pan pancakes (with Bisquick!)

FOR THE HOME

DIY Snow globe scenes

Inexpensive bottle brush trees

Make an icicle hallway

FOR THE TREE

Evergreen pipe cleaners

Kelly’s tree timer

LightKeeper Pro Holiday Light Repair Tool

Christmas tree water sensor

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Cedar Cranberry Luminaries

Holiday stovetop potpourri (Bonus: give it as a gift!)

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 362: Re-imagining Our Holidays

Ep. 270: Hallmark and Chill: Cozy Movies for Your Holiday Season

Ep. 224: Favorite Holiday Traditions: Yours & Ours

Ep. 220: How to be Awesome with Holiday Giving

Ep. 218: Do This now for a Less-Stress Holiday Season!

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

It’s a party, and of COURSE you are invited, Awesome! As the holiday season kicks off, we want to make sure you are ready for every gift exchange you are invited to, so the Sorta Awesome team is throwing a Favorite Things party just for you! Tune in to hear what each person on the team picked to get you all ready for the gift-giving days ahead!

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

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*Everlywell: Go to Everlywell.com/awesome for 20% off your next at-home lab test

*Raycon: Go to BUYRAYCON.com/sorta and use code EARLYBF to get 20% off SITEWIDE! Or get 30% off Raycon’s exclusive holiday bundles!

*Fabric: Apply today in just 10 minutes at meetfabric.com/awesome

SHOW NOTES:

REBEKAH’S FAVORITE THINGS:

SARA’S FAVORITE THINGS:

KATIE’S FAVORITE THING: This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch, Tabitha Carvan

SUPER STAR PICKS FOR FOOD/COOKING:

Bentgo Salad Container

Mini Measuring Cup

Eat Like a Gilmore cookbook

LORI LYNN’S FAVORITE THING: ELF Cosmetics no-budge shadow sticks

KATHRYN’S FAVORITE THING: super soft face washcloth

JULIE’S FAVORITE THING: benefit Highbrow highlighter

SUPER STAR PICKS FOR SELF-CARE

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub

Soap and Glory body butter

Mario Badescu mini facial spray

MINDY’S FAVORITE THING: Tim Tam Slam

EMILY’S FAVORITE THING: Better Homes and Gardens candle Farm Apple Pumpkin candle

More fun SUPER STAR PICKS;

Sip Caddy

Zebra Sarasa Retractable gel pen

KELLY’S FAVORITE THINGS:

MEG’S FAVORITE THINGS

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 357 Awesome Holiday Gift Guide 2021

Ep. 263: Awesome Haul: Black-owned businesses

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

Here on Sorta Awesome, our very first call to action was about discovering the awesome in the everyday, and that mantra has evolved into LOVE WHAT YOU LOVE. But for some of us (many of us?!), finding the freedom to pursue joy can be challenging. Today, Meg and Rebekah dig into what happens in our lives - to us and those around us - when we allow ourselves to celebrate the things we love, no matter what those things might be. If you need a big dose of freedom to feel joy, this conversation is for you!

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

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Bare Necessities: Get 20% off your order at BareNecessities.com and use code awesome20

Issuu: Get started with Issu for FREE today or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off at Issuu.com/podcast and use promo code AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

Meg’s AotW: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Rebekah’s AotW: Olive & June Quick Dry Polish (SIMPLYREBEKAH20 for 20% off any system)

This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something—Anything—Like Your Life Depends On It, Tabitha Carvan

MORE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 392 Romance Starter Pack Part 1

Ep. 393 Romance Starter Pack Part 2

Ep. 377 How to REALLY love yourself!

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

One universal truth unites us all - life is hard right now! But we want to make life just a little bit easier if we can, so join Meg and Sorta Awesome regular Julie Tepperman as they share with you all kinds of pro-tips and products that can help things just a tad bit easier (and definitely more awesome!). From recipes to gift ideas to skin care hacks to music to be productive and music to help you focus, they have suggestions and recommendations for everyone!

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

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*LUS Brands: Get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more when you go to LUSbrands.com and enter promo code AWESOME

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

SHOW NOTES:

Julie’s AotW: Taylor Swift’s Midnights

Related article: NPR Midnights music review

Related article: Taylor Swift conspiracy theories at Vox

Meg’s AotW: Rare Beauty lip souffle: Transform

Rare Beauty Kind Words matte lipstick in Fun

JULIE’S LIST:

Zwilling Fresh and Save

Ayr gel

Chloraseptic spray

Julie’s homemade medicine ball recipe:

Heat your water and lemonade either separately or together, put in your tea bags and honey, let it steep for a few minutes and enjoy!

Vicks VapoShower Soothing Vapors Tablets

Shower steamers: Etsy

Allie Bennett on Spotify 

SkinFix Excema + Hand Repair cream

U brands soft touch catalina felt tip pens

Li’l davinci art cabinet

Alarm clock

Cookbook: Dinner in One - exceptional and easy one pan meals

Recipe: Slow cooker turkey meatballs

MEG’S LIST:

Abzu soundtrack on Spotify

Finishing Touch Facial Hair Remover

Glamnetic Brush On Nail Glue

KISS acrylic press-on nails, real short length

Kodiak cups

MORE JULIE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 281 We're obsessed!

Ep. 336 Go through our EMPTIES with us!

Ep. 364 We're obsessed: life hacks we swear by!

Ep. 375 10 Inexpensive purchases that improved our lives

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

Find Julie on Instagram and Facebook!

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