Ashley and Cayce are feeling festive! We talk holiday traditions, and we are weirdly in synch when it comes to... tree skirts?! Then, we dive into one of Ashley's favorite rabbit holes: OPTIMISM. Where does it come from? Is it a tree? How do you cultivate it? And, what does it possibly have to do with the California Bar Exam?! We were optimistic to think we'd get through all our big feelings on this topic in a single episode. Stay tuned for part 2! In the meantime, we have our top seven (or eight, because Cayce is not a rule follower when it comes to favorites) holiday movies. The Normal Mess is not affiliated with Nicholas Cage or Sandra Bullock, but you wouldn't know it from this episode. It's... episode four of The Normal Mess! Come for the optimism, stay for the movie recs. Oh, and see you next year!

Rabbit Hole Research brought to you by:

Professor Michael Milona, Philosophy, Ryerson University

Applied Positive Psychology, "Exploring the Different Types of Optimism," available at Psychology.Town

It's real and it's funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Subscribe, rate, and follow us as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you:

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Grab your sauv blanc and settle in: we are back with more of The Normal Mess! Ashley and Cayce are watching good shows, and for once, Ashley’s is still on the air! Brenè Brown is a genius and Amy Poehler is a goddess. Cayce knows a thing or two about green grass, and adult friendships can be HARD. Are you a big circle person or a deep circle person? Cayce can’t do bluegrass music, Ashley wishes she liked olives, and (unsurprisingly), we discuss cheese.

It’s real and it’s funny, and sometimes it’s real funny. But also, it’s no joke! Subscribe, rate, and follow us as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We’d love to hear from you:

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Ashley and Cayce play a game from our next (future) sponsor, and Ashley apparently relates to many birds. Then, we discuss why nonchalance equates to "cool" and why fangirling is so much more fun. ChatGPT offers its two cents, and Cayce's grandmother continues to bless us with a life motto we should all embrace. Ashley debuts her "serious photographer ex-boyfriend voice," we talk Grit, Cayce teaches us about tuberettes, and our gifts to each other are the gifts that keep on giving. In short: we chalance the sh*t out of it.

It's real and it's funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Subscribe, rate, and follow us as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you:

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It's the first episode of The Normal Mess! We're Ashley and Cayce, and Ashley would like to formally thank Taylor Swift for convincing Cayce to finally make this podcast. In our inaugural episode, we break down what we not-so-affectionately call "the busy trap." Being occupied does not = fulfilled, so why are we so obsessed with it? Ron Swanson continues to provide life advice, Pimp My Ride and Zelda Fitzgerald both make appearances, and we do not need to learn any more about oboes. Sorry, woodwinds!

It's real and its funny, and sometimes it's real funny. But also, it's no joke! Subscribe, rate, and follow us as we bring The Normal Mess to the masses! We'd love to hear from you:

Instagram @thenormalmess

[email protected]