You know the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, right? It's that endearing story of a reindeer who's different from all the other reindeer, and he basically gets bullied and treated like crap because of it.

I loved watching that stop-motion special from 1964 as a kid. I knew how he was being treated wasn't right, but I didn't realize how messed up it actually was until I got older. And watched it with a different level of awareness, and then...as a parent.

I still love this show - don't get me wrong. But the takeaways I have from it are totally different - and if you want to know what those are, give this one a listen!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

Do you love stories about Santa Claus?

Me too! And I feel like this one is super underrated. But...it's also not about SANTA - it's about his brother, Fred!

This movie is funny. But it's also pretty deep. So grab your floaties and maybe a glass of "Jingle Bell Juice" and join me as we "deep dive" into "Fred Claus."

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

You've seen "Elf," right?

If you haven't, we can't be friends.

Seriously though - most of us have seen that movie about the elf that's not really an elf, but has more Christmas spirit than any REAL elf who calls the North Pole home could ever have.

And we know how it ends - with everybody singing, and Santa's sleigh soaring high into sky because "Christmas Spirit" has been restored.

Watching that movie with my son last year touched my heart in an unexpected way, and I share a little bit of why that was...here.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

Are you "A Giver?" Do you love giving to others, being kind to people for no reason other than it feels good and "right?"

Do you like giving, but feel like you're beating your head against the wall to come up with something to do that's more thoughtful than expensive?

Now...how are you at receiving? Do you turn down peoples' offers to do something nice for you, or ask them "Are you sure?" or tell them "You Don't Have To!"?

If any of this has you nodding your head in agreement...then you may want to give it a listen.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

It's easy to get stuck in a rut. To not see all that you're capable of because you're so deep in that rut that it's pretty freakin' dark in there.

But what if you just imagined getting out of that rut? What if imagining a different possibility for you was all it took to actually get out?

What if, when you get out of that rut, you now see a world of possibilities, instead of IM-possibilities?

I came across a book called "Maybe" that reminded me how special we all are, and how much we're all capable of...if we just had the courage to believe in the possibilities of ourselves. And I decided to share it with you here.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

You've heard the term "manifestation," right?

Well, here's a little story about how I "manifested" my move, and my family's move, to Montana after living in California for 44 years. And - I think it's important to note - I'd never been to Montana before we moved here.

When I think about it...I don't know that this is a "manifestation" as you hear everyone describing it. I believe it was God putting something on my heart, and I welcomed it with arms wide open (cue that song by "Creed") because I was not happy where I was, and I deserve to be happy.

And really...what did I have to lose by having faith and taking inspired action?

Nothing.

And what do you have to lose by having faith and taking inspired action if something has been placed on your heart and you just can't shake it?

Probably nothing.

I hope my story inspires you to take action when you feel pulled in a certain direction. Because you deserve to live the life of your dreams.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

How are you feeling today? Are you feeling incredibly thankful, or are you feeling like "what in the heck do I have to be thankful for today?"

Well, I get it. Trust me.

Sometimes life is hard. Life sucks. And it's challenging to find things to be grateful for during those times.

So sometimes you need to channel your inner Laura Dern from that scene in "Jurassic Park," and dig through the pile of crap until you find something good (you probably don't even need gloves!) that allows you to be thankful.

It's easy to focus on the good when things are going well. It's harder when they're not - but I'm pretty sure, if you look hard enough, you'll find something.

And by the way, something I'm thankful for? YOU. You don't have to listen, but you do. And I appreciate that so much.

I really do. Thank you. And have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

I launched this podcast on October 31, 2021 - so that means it's been around an entire year!

In this episode I share what I've learned over this last year as a result of having this podcast - what I've learned about podcasting, podcasting etiquette, and myself.

I also share a bit about why this podcast means so much to me - and you, my friend, are a big part of that.

So...welcome to Season 2! Thank you so much for being here and supporting MY dream by actually listening! ;)

I appreciate you!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

Don't you love when people do Q & A sessions?

Even if you don't ask the question, I always find the randomness fun, and I like learning things about people that I may not have known before.

It's been challenging to record podcast episodes lately. Just being honest. But doing an episode like this - even though it was in my car - allowed me to get kinda deep without having to focus too much (which is challenging right now too), AND have some fun, given the format.

So, if you're intrigued enough to listen, go ahead and press "Play."

Oh! And you know how I talk about being unscripted and just hitting "Record" and being off and running? This is exactly that. So if you're looking for polished perfection...this ain't it. But I hope you love it anyway.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

Have you ever sat down with a friend and meant to talk about one thing, and then ended up talking forever about something else?

That's how this conversation was with Valerie from "The Vulgar Vegan Cupcakes." I wanted to chat with her about veganism, vulgarity and cupcakes...but instead...we really went down our own little rabbit hole, and chatted passionately about plant-based diets, why we don't eat meat, and how - if you're interested - you can flirt with veganism or vegetarianism to determine if it's something you want to commit to long-term.

We also chat about how this type of lifestyle doesn't have to be "all or nothing." What works for you is what works for you - and that's what matters.

You can keep up with Val on Instagram @thevulgervegancupcakes, or check out her website at www.thevulgarvegancupcakes.com.

If you want to check out the books we referenced in the podcast, you can check 'em out below:

The Bad Manners Cookbook: https://www.badmanners.com/book/official-cookbook

The Kind Diet:

https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Diet-Simple-Feeling-Losing/dp/1609611357

Did you love this episode? If so, we want to know! Send Val a DM @thevulgarvegancupcakes, and send me one too @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram. You can also send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share this episode in your Stories! If you do, be sure to tag @thevulgarvegancupcakes and @awakentheextraordinary, and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!