Sorta Awesome

Get ready to get merry, Awesomes! Your 2021 AWESOME HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS HERE! Join Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah as they share the most unique, unusual, out-of-the-ordinary gifts for all of the kids, teens, and grown-ups on your list! This SUPER-SIZED episode has something for everyone! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: EveryPlate: Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.79 per meal by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code awesome179 Moink: Go to Moinkbox.com/AWESOME to get FREE bacon for a year Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at truebill.com/AWESOME SHOW NOTES: KIDS Custom ABC Photo Book Hot Wheels Storage Shelf Toddler Scavenger Hunt Game Magical Flames Scratch Off Voucher Root beer chemistry set - $18 Scratch Off Mini Holographic Rainbow Notes - $10 Youth gri

This week, we're re-releasing our past gift guides to help you get your holiday gift shopping done early this year! Tune in to hear Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah share gift ideas for moms and mothers-in-law, dads and brothers and husbands, and gifts for a whole family to enjoy. PLUS they each named a gift of the year for 2018! Rebekah’s Gift Ideas: Awesome Gift of the Year: Hape Tap & Pound Bench with Slide Out Xylophone For moms/mothers-in-law: Amber Glass Dish & Hand Soap Bottles from Church Street Designs Set of 4 Air-Cleaning Houseplants Chunky Chenille Reverse To Sherpa Throw Blanket Moccasin Slippers Wooden Recipe Book Book of the Month Club Mask Maven Subscription Stocking Stuffers: USB Car Charger (Dollar Tree) Yes To face masks (Dollar Tree) Amazon Basics Batteries Sugary Cereal Hog Wild Poppers Meg’s Gift Ideas: Awesome Gift of the Year: Jeni’s Ice Cream For men: Shiatsu Back Neck Massager Ember mug Docking station Smart luggage tag Memory foam travel pillow Bombas socks (bombas.com/awesome and use code

We know lots of Awesomes are already in the thick of holiday shopping this year! We thought we would make things a LITTLE bit easier for you by going back into the Sorta Awesome archives and re-releasing our gift guides from holidays past. Please enjoy this flashback conversation with Meg, Kelly, Rebekah, and Laura Tremaine as they shared their top picks for gifts in 2017! When you shop Amazon this year, go to sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon - we'll get a few affiliate dollars and cents when you shop through our link! SHOW NOTES: Meg's Links: Vegan Wallet from Matt and Nat MeUndies GAIA Thistle Farms Child's Cup Full World Vision USA Gift Catalog Novica on Amazon Laura's Links: Dyson Super Sonic Hair Dryer Apple Airpods Opal Ice Maker Nespresso Coffee Maker Ancestry DNA Away carry-on USE CODE AWESOME AT CHECK-OUT FOR $20 OFF ANY LUGGAGE Cashmere sweatpants Kelly's Links: Loot Crate Game of Phones Nerts Hanging Photo Display Glitter Slippers Starter Shave Kit Mini Bluetooth splash-proof sp

It’s 4:45 PM on a busy weekday, and you’ve already spent the takeout budget for the week. And your people have the audacity to want to be fed dinner - AGAIN! What to do? We’ve got you, Awesome! This week, Meg and Kelly give you the best rundown on throwing together filling meals at the last minute - for yourself or for your family! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the best razor you will ever own and for free shiping always! Bombas:  Go to bombas.com/AWESOME and get 20% off your purchase First Leaf: For six bottles of wine at $29.95 and free shipping, go to tryfirstleaf.com/awesome SHOW NOTES: Meg’s AotW: Mother of God Similar to Fire Kelly’s AotW: grocery delivery services for friends Recipes mentioned: Pasta with Butter Parmesan from “Dinner Uncomplicated

It has been over five years since Amy Allen Clark brought her amazing book recommendations and reader insights to Sorta Awesome, but this is no trick, it’s all treat - she’s back! Amy sits down with Meg this week to discuss the health and medical challenges she has overcome, and that ultimately led her to lauch her brand new podcast MomAdvice Book Gang, and she has brought a list of can’t-miss under-the-radar books that are perfect for autumn reading. Plus a BUNCH of beauty fun in Awesome of the Week! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Best Fiends: Download Best Fiends FREE on the App Store or Google Play SHOW NOTES: Olive & June Making Mauves by Colourpop Extraordinary life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni (Bookshop link) Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (Bookshop link) Setting Free the Kites by Ale

It’s the last Monday of October and the Awesomes have REALLY shown up with incredible recommendations for the week ahead! Join Meg and Kyle as they discuss Netflix’s Midnight Mass, the music Meg is playing on repeat, and the story behind two of the most viral videos on TikTok right now. Plus SO MUCH Awesome goodness! Join them and the Awesome Nation in our online communities to tell us what you are into right now: on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Midnight Mass on Netflix AMERICA review: Midnight Mass is Catholic horror at its finest Aleteia: What Midnight Mass gets right and wrong about the Catholic faith Big Macs & Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World Get Booked podcast Practical Magic Nathaniel Rateliff And It’s Still Aliright Against the Odds podcast Awesome Megan’s cute Chico’s dress (currently sold out) Etsy shop with Taylor Swift ornaments Mini crock pot Fairwin Men’s ratchet belt Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co

Pour a cup of coffee (or maybe a little glass of wine!) because it’s time to chat! This week, Meg is thrilled to be joined by Rebekah AND Kelly for some much-needed good-friends conversation. Kelly brought some fun and fascinating questions, and all three take turns digging in and answering. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts, too! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME for 20% off your first purchase Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at truebill.com/AWESOME Moink: Go to Moinkbox.com/AWESOME to get FREE bacon for a year SHOW NOTES: Kelly’s AotW: Chobani Flips Rebekah’s AotW: Qwirkle Meg’s AotW: Mika Grace Kelly Ryan Reynolds/Will Ferrell viral TikTok Mika My Name is Michael Holbrook Kelly Corrigan Hello World Swimsuits Rebekah loved

We are rolling into mid-October, and Meg and Kyle have the heads-up on some fun things to check out in the week ahead, plus some brilliant recommendations from the Awesomes! They've got TV talk, books for your TBR, and of course, Adele's new single! Join them and the Awesome Nation in our online communities to tell us what you are into right now: on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! The Universal Christ, Fr. Richard Rohr The Showings of Julian of Norwich, translation by Mirabai Starr The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood When God Proves Faithful, Adrienne Terrebonne Easy On Me, Adele Baking Impossible on Netflix Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Do you have that eldest daughter energy? Are you in your 30s, but your parents still refer to you as the baby? Ever wondered if your kids will grow up with certain personality traits based on when they were born? This week, Meg and Rebekah do a super-sized deep dive into ALL THINGS birth order! Not only do they discuss traits of each of the types of birth order personalities, they also provide some questions for us to ask ourselves for growth and healing. Listen to this one before you gather with family for the holidays! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Headspace: Go to headspace.com/AWESOME for a free one month trial LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME Grove: Get a FREE starter set with your first order at grove.com/AWESOME SHOW NOTES: Meg’s AotW: Criminal podcast (check o

What songs would YOU put on a playlist that explained what it was like to be a teen in the 90s? Meg and Kyle take up that challenge, plus they share tons of food talk, and the power of journaling even if you don't have fancy journals and pens. Let's start this week off with awesome! Mel's Kitchen Cafe Instant Pot Creamy Ziti Little People Christmas Story set Join them and the Awesome Nation in our online communities to tell us what you are into right now: on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

FRIENDS! It’s here! Meg and Kelly are thrilled to bring you the AWESOME LIST for Fall 2021! From shackets to apples to fall scents to the very best fall tea, they’ve got everything you need to have a gorgeous autumn season (and maybe even a Practical Magic Fall!). Don’t miss their list, and you definitely want to hear the very unexpected reveal in Kelly’s Awesome of the Week! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the best razor you will ever own and for free shiping always! Bombas:  Go to bombas.com/AWESOME and get 20% off your first purchase EveryPlate: Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.99 per meal by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code awesome199 First Leaf: For six bottles of wine at $29.95 and free shipping, go to tryfirstleaf.com/awesome SHOW NOT

Being a new mom - whether it's your first baby or your fifth - is such a tender time, and it's a time when women need support in so many ways. That means it's a great time to "be the awesome" for each other, and today's episode in the Extra Awesome series will introduce to you an Awesome who has made this her mission in life! Shaunta Caine is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and she is passionate about supporting new moms in many ways, and especially in breastfeeding. Listen to her conversation with Meg about how an unexpected and painful chapter in her life led Shaunta to discover a calling that is touching the lives of so many women! You will love hearing her hopeful, inspiring words for all of us in the Awesome community! SHOW NOTES: Count the Kicks app Follow Shaunta and her work at @mamataymilkmaid on IG! Join the Awesome Nation in our online communities on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor

Hello October! Who doesn’t love this month with its cooler, temps, spooky stories, and delicious goodies? Meg and Kyle are starting off the month with a highly-bingeable Netflix series, some deep and thought-provoking spiritual reading, and a homemade pizza fest. Plus they have some fantastic recommendations for you from the Awesomes that will bring some sparkle to these autumn days! Join them and the Awesome Nation in our online communities to tell us what you are into right now: on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Slow Cooker Korean BBQ tacos Al Rawabi School for Girls The Big Leap Autumn Sweater skin oil from Black Hearted Tart TikTok famous bathrobe Mandy’s Gourmet Salads Taco Bell’s Creamy Jalepeno Sauce copycat Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

What is UP with teens these days? Should we be freaking out about Gen Z? We’re here to tell you that the only freaking out should be a GOOD freak out because this generation of teenagers is pretty amazing! Join Meg in a conversation with her sixteen year old daughter Dacey who returns to the show this week to answer questions from the Super Star Awesomes! From her recommendations for getting into geek culture to how teens can best feel supported by the adults in their lives, you will learn so much from all that Dacey has to say! Wanna get in on that texting fun with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team? Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the texting perk along with bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, a Super Stars-only Facebook group, and more! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Best Fiends: Download Best Fiends FREE on the App Store or Google Play 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: Meg’s

There's nothing quite like parenting to remind us of how much we have yet to learn. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have some go-to prayers to rely on when you need support in the trenches of parenting? Kayla Craig tapped into that need with her wildly popular Instagram account Liturgies for Parents, and today, she joins Meg for a conversation about how and why parents are turning to time-tested liturgical approaches to prayer. Kayla introduces us to her book To Light Their Way, and even shares a poignant prayer of blessing for the Awesomes! Find all of the preorder bonuses (SO GREAT!) for Kayla's book on her website! Order To Light Their Way here Follow Kayla on IG and on her Liturgies for Parents account Join the Awesome Nation in our online communities on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

We’re rounding out September 2021, and we thought it would be a good time to check in with some things we are into right now, and you know we want to hear from you, too! In this conversation, Meg and Kyle talk about what what they are into these days, and there’s a surprising amount of YouTube involved. From sunny, beachy Bahamas to soaring the friendly skies, their free time has been filled with daydreaming. Join them and the Awesome Nation in our online communities to tell us what you are into right now: on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! SHOW NOTES Rogan, ThisBahamianGyal (10 Best Bahamian Foods video) Gone with the Wynns Anne Helen Petersen newsletter What Got Left Out of LulaRich (interview with Meg Conley) The Daily Connoisseur interview with Dr. Patty Tae (Jennifer’s book Lessons from Madame Chic) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Last month, we asked Awesome digital organizer Lisa Mast to come hold our hands and help us get our photos and other digital memories organized. Good news, friends! Lisa is back this week for another conversation with Meg that is an absolute game-changer for what to DO with all of your amazing photos! She has a list packed with ideas to share with the Awesome Nation that go beyond the basic photo book or calendar. NOW IS THE TIME to get started on your photo projects for the holidays, but seriously, these ideas for telling your story thourgh photos can be used year-round! SHOW NOTES: Lisa’s AotW: This is Ashlynn (podcast) and Ashlynn Mitchell (IG) Meg’s AotW: LuLaRIch on Amazon Prime Episode Resource Page on Lisa’s website Mpix: Lisa’s decide-once recommendation for photo prints and photo books. Use code awesome2521 for 25% off an order through October 8, 2021. This discount is valid for 25% off your order. The promo code is valid for one use per customer and cannot be combined with other offers except free S

It’s the start of a fresh new week, and the Awesome community is bursting with recommendations to make the days ahead a lot more awesome! From fall recipes to great TV to the perfect cup of tea for the fall, Meg and Kyle have got tons of recs you will love! Plus they take on some r/AskReddit debates, and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts! SHOW NOTES: Come From Away (AppleTV link for Sorta Awesome) With You Forever, Chloe Liese (more from her) The Fellowship of the Ring on Spotify Other Words for Home Taylor Swift Essentialized Meg’s Class of 95 playlist Elastic shoe laces Garlic Parmesean Spaghetti Squash Friday Night Chili Vermont Maple Ginger Tea TikTok can opener trick Come talk all things Awesome every day on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Who’s the teacher that made a difference in your life? Chances are, there’s at least one teacher that comes to mind for you, and this week, we are celebrating all those awesome teachers who are changing lives every day. Listen to Meg and Kelly’s conversation recalling the teachers who most profoundly impacted them, as well as their own fond (and funny!) classroom teaching memories. PLUS they share an incredible resource that is free for teachers everywhere and give the Awesomes a special assignment! Also, this is a fantastic time to become a Super Star Awesome! There are so many fun things happening for Super Star supporters of this show through Patreon. Bonus episodes, ad-free episodes (!), and texting for starters. Come check out what we've got going on and let your awesome shine even brighter by becoming an official Super Star on Patreon! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Headspace: Go to headspace.com/AWESOME for a free one month trial LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME Grove: Get a F

It’s Monday, let’s get into it! Meg and Kyle have some suggestions for you to watch, read, listen to, and amp up your lifestyle in the week ahead. Then Kyle delivers on his promise to find some of the most unfortunate names in recent history! SHOW NOTES: Zack Morris is Trash by Funny or Die on YouTube Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo Meg on Bookend Homeschoolers, Season 2, Episode 7: Community Just for You? I Got Love, Mother Mother Metaphysical Milkshake podcast Dyson toy vacuum Bird of Paradise Come talk all things Awesome every day on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com