Sorta Awesome

Phone calls? Sometimes. Texting? Sure. But we use our cell phones and mobile devices for so much more than that every single day! This week, Meg and Rebekah do a deep-dive into the wonderful world of apps and share the ones that have changed their lives in the most awesome ways! 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 (!), gift exchanges (!!), 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: 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 Quip: Go to GETQUIP.com/AWESOME5 and get $5 off a Mout

Every weekend, millions of Americans enjoy Eva Pilgrim's upbeat presence as co-host of Good Morning America's Weekend Edition. Today, Eva joins Meg for the Extra Awesome series! We know you'll love Meg's conversation with her as they talk about Eva's brand new book, Walter Does His Best: A Frenchie Adventure in Kindness. They cover a lot of ground in this bite-sized bit of Awesome including the importance of kindness in our world, Eva's any-day-now baby watch, and even a little bit of skin care obsession. Walter Does His Best is in bookstores now, and it makes a great addition to home or classroom libraries! Find Walter Does His Best on Amazon or Bookshop. You can follow Eva on Instagram at @evapilgrim and you can find Walter there @walterunleashed, too. (PS - this is the CosRX snail mucin cream that Meg loves!) Come talk all things Awesome in the everyday on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Happy Monday, happy September, and happy Labor Day, Awesomes! It's Monday, and Meg and Kyle are kicking off this week with streaming recommendations that lean nostalgic. They bemoan the Topo Chico shortage, celebrate a MacBook rescue, and explain that pregnant emoji ladies meme. Finally, they check in with the 10th dentist for some outrageously unpopular opinions! NOTES: The Lies that Bind, Emily Griffin Bartender Song, Rehab Drunken Lullabies, Flogging Molly Outfit Formulas Fall 2021 Capsule Maybelline Superstay Matte Crayon Pylies Heavy Hand Cream Physicans Formula All Star Face Palette Eudoia Wheat Straw set Kate Spade candy stripe planner Magic Candle Company 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

As the great Joni Mitchell sang, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone! This week, Meg and Sorta Awesome Regular Julie Tepperman take up the hallowed internet tradition of going through their "empties" - the products they love so much that once they're gone, it's an immediate re-purchase. They talk through everything from beauty and skincare to favorite beverages and office supplies and more! 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 (!), gift exchanges (!!), 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: Best Fiends: Download Best Fiends FREE on the App Store or Google Play SHOW NOTES: Julie’s AotW: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig Meg’s AotW: @join_jules on IG and TikTok JULIE’S LIST: Benefit High Brow eyebrow highlighter:

We're changing things up a bit this Monday, Awesomes! Life has been chaotic to the max for Meg and Kyle, so instead of your usual Monday conversation about what to watch, read, listen to, and laugh about in the news, this episode is just low-key chitchat. They manage to touch on joining the cult of Ted Lasso, ponder the world of flashlight hobbyists, and reveal the Sword of Awesome. Happy listening, friends! 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

This conversation started with co-host Kelly in her kitchen, thinking about how much she LOVES her Kitchenaid Stand Mixer and how she wishes she had done herself a favor and gotten one so much sooner! Meg and Kelly discuss a list of those items that bring so much help and delight, and they are kicking themselves that they didn’t buy one sooner! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new monthly episodes created just for our Super Stars (including our Sorta Spicy series!), and access to our exclusive Facebook group. All for $5/month! Sign up to become a Super Star Awesome here! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME

Ever wondered exactly how a podcast like Sorta Awesome gets made? This week for Extra Awesome, Meg takes you behind the scenes of producing Sorta Awesome by answering some questions from Super Star Awesome Heather. From microphones to editing and everything in-between, she has answers to lots of common podcast production questions! Be like Heather! Become a Super Star and get access to hours of exclusive episodes to download and binge, our Super Stars ONLY Facebook group, AND texting with Meg and the team! Patreon.com/sortaawesome SHOW NOTES: Blue Yeti mic AT 2005 mic ZOOM H4N Audacity Libsyn Art19 Come talk all things Awesome in the everyday on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Why not start the week with something that's going to be a game-changer? It's Monday and Meg and Kyle have some great finds for you to watch, read, and listen to AND their lifestyle finds include some real game-changers from the Awesome community! And instead of news this week, they talk about how to change the game for shaving your face - great tips for any person who needs some help in the shaving department! Come talk all things Awesome every day on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! SHOW NOTES: SHOP THE SORTA AWESOME MERCH SHOP! The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, Marianne Cronin Lucy Parker books Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats Survivor Dawn Powerwash Spray Salad Chopper Bowl Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This is the time of year for freshly sharpened pencils, brand new backpacks, and books! And if we are talking books and reading, you know that Sorta Awesome regular Katie Proctor is back! This week, Meg and Katie have a whole list filled with inspiration for that back to school mood. From middle grade books that can’t stop gushing about to young adult picks of all kinds to the books from their own school days that they remember fondly, they have something for EVERYONE in this conversation! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new monthly episodes created just for our Super Stars (including our Sorta Spicy series!), and access to our exclus

Grab your shopping cart and hit the aisles of Trader Joe's with us, friends! For this episode in the Extra Awesome series, Meg is joined by Kate Nixon Anania who returns to Sorta Awesome to talk about all the awesome at Trader Joe's right now. From food finds to household to the best in TJ's beauty, they cover what they are loving (and a few things they don't recommend, too!). Ep 185 Be More Awesome with your money! Extra Awesome: Let's go to Trader Joe's! Trader Joe's YouTube channel Trader Joe's meals for busy moms Trader Joe's subreddit Find Kate's book Twenties in your Pocket - Amazon and find more from her on her website twentiesinyourpocket.com For more awesome in the everyday, follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram or join our community in the Sorta Awesome Hangout Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On a scale of 1-10, how great do feel about where all of your photos are living right now? Not just the ones on your phone (but especially the ones on your phone!), we’re talking ALL the photos important to you? If thinking about how secure and organized your favorite memories are leaves you in the grips of anxiety, you are going to LOVE this conversation Meg had with professional digital organizer Lisa Mast! Lisa is an Awesome who specializes in helping people find answers to all of their questions and concerns when it comes to photos, and her mindset-based advice will bring you so much hope! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new month

After nearly three decades teaching elementary students, Jennifer Williams left the classroom, but she couldn't leave behind her passion for books and reading. After so many years of watching how becoming a reader changes the life of a child, Jennifer found a new mission - getting books into the hands of some of the most vulnerable members of her community. Friends, you do NOT want to miss Meg's conversation with Jennifer, a conversation that moved them both to tears! Tune in, be inspired, and get in on this bookish movement! SUPPORT JENNIFER'S WORK: Follow Joy of Reading (Jennifer's One Million Books giveaway) on Facebook Follow Second Chance Bookclub on Facebook Donate to Jennifer's work via PayPal: jen@jen-scottwilliams.net For more awesome in the everyday, follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram or join our community in the Sorta Awesome Hangout Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Why not start your week out awesome, friends? Meg and Kyle have the rundown you need on what’s coming out this week to Netflix, Prime, Hulu, and more! Plus Meg shares her experience with the ASMR channels helping her sleep lately (sorta) and she has lots of fun lifestyle picks from the Awesomes. Kyle brings you all the news you probably missed last week, but the news that is weird, fascinating, or downright Awesome. (Here’s looking at you, Allyson Felix!) Come talk all things Awesome every day on Instagram or in the Sorta Awesome Hangout and Awesome Today groups! Susan Page biographies Pavoi Huggie earrings Madewell Whisper Cotton V Neck Tank Kohls midi dress Aeropress coffee and espresso maker Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

It’s time for some REAL TALK, Awesomes! Let’s get honest, let’s let go of some stuff, and let’s live in better alignment with the person we are truly meant to be! Meg and Rebekah explore who they are ideally versus who they really are in this conversation that is part confession, part pep-talk, and 100% inspiring to be your best self! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new monthly episodes created just for our Super Stars (including our Sorta Spicy series!), and access to our exclusive Facebook group. All for $5/month! Sign up to become a Super Star Awesome here! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the be

Welcome back to the Extra Awesome series, friends! At Sorta Awesome, we’ve always hoped to make a place for women in all ages and stages of life, but it’s not often we get to hear from our Awesome community members on the younger side of life. Embo Tshimanga is a recent college graduate who just moved into her very first place, all on her own! Join her conversation with Meg as they talk about why, as a former foster youth, this big move is especially meaningful for Embo. They cover everything from letting triggers be your teacher to the best place to buy frames for a gallery wall and so much more! SHOW NOTES: It is what it is :: Nobody’s Damsel podcast Finding Healing After Aging Out :: Archibald Project podcast Racism and trauma with Embo Tshimanga :: Happy and Holy podcast You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Find Embo on her Instagram: @embopriscilla 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 @

August is here, and let's make it AWESOME! We start this first week of August with Meg and Kyle giving you the rundown on all kinds of good stuff coming to streaming, much of it packed with nostalgia feel-good fuzzies. We've got recommendations from the Awesomes on all that is good to watch, two great reading picks, a bookish soundtrack, and some great recommends for awesome in the everyday. We also have crazy, funny, and bizarre news items you probably missed in the news last week! Come join us on Instgram or in the Hangout group for more awesome, every single day! SHOW NOTES: NBCOlympics TikTok The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren The One, John Marrs The Song of Achilles playlist Megababe powder Pleated skirt on Amazon THE SNAKES Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

One of our favorite things about being an Awesome is how we are all on a journey to knowing and doing better! This week’s conversation guides us all gently further down that path. Meg invites Awesome Mindy Brouse (co-host of Bookend Homeschoolers podcast and co-host of Currently Reading podcast) to have a warm, candid discussion about how we can recognize the need for more inclusive play for kids with special or additional needs in our families, schools, and communities. You do not want to miss this conversation! And there’s definitely a lot of bookish fun in Awesome of the Week! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new monthly episodes cr

For many people, creating art was a beloved pastime of childhood, and it may be a source of creative relaxation as an adult. But some people follow their natural gifting and develop the skill to turn art into a vocation. Today, Meg talks to Awesome artist Jordan Leigh Tellis about what that path has looked like for her, and how an unexpected portrait subject has allowed her to be part of the lives of customers in a meaningful way. Find Jordan Leigh Tellis’ Etsy shop here, and follow her on Instagram at @j.leigh.tellis.art Resources for getting started with watercolor: Anna Mason online art school Emily Lex online art classes Get started with gouache Gouache set Follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram or join our community on Facebook! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

If the summer heat has you on the lookout for awesome ways to cool off, we’ve got the recommendations you need for the week ahead! Whether you are looking for a show to binge in the air-conditioning, a fun and fizzy drink to fix up for your kids (or yourself!), or a mountain-side festival with a big dose of nostalgia, you’ll find everything you need in our weekly Watch, Read, Listen, and Lifestyle updates along with the most fascinating news items you might have missed! The Invisible Life of Us, Kate Jones & Mandy Hose Endless Thread: The Great Glitter Mystery Dr. Squatch Star Wars soaps Wanderlog ColourPop eyeliners Buxom Plumping Lipstick in Baller The Nester Fancy, Fun & Fizzy popsicle drinks Ian Ross For the Good Of All Follow us on Instagram or come be part of our Awesome community on Facebook! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Whether you're leaving on a jet plane or just packing up for a trip to Grandma's house, whether you're on the road in the summer or looking forward to a winter getaway, we have ALL THE GOOD TIPS to make travel a lot more awesome! Join Meg and Kelly in this episode that our community has been asking for for YEARS - travel! From plane trip tips to road trip hacks and more than a few funny stories in-between, we'll help you get out the door for wherever you are headed! We are THRILLED to announce that our latest Super Star perk is texting with us! Through the Community app, we are able to send texts to our community and communicate back and forth via texting. No bots, no AI, just your friends at Sorta Awesome texting you! When you sign up to become a Super Star supporter of Sorta Awesome on Patreon, you’ll get access to texting, over 150 bonus episodes to download and binge, new monthly episodes created just for our Super Stars (including our Sorta Spicy series!), and access to our exclusive Facebook group. All