Sorta Awesome

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 367 Debriefing Christmas, two great books, and explaining Gen X Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

'Twas the Monday after Christmas and all through the house, the creatures were stirring with post-Christmas chaos! Meg and Kyle are back this week with the rundown on how Christmas 2021 went down in their family. Plus Meg rounded out her reading year with two not-to-be-missed books she's so excited to tell you about, Kyle weighs in on The Witcher and The Wheel of Time, and they think back fondly on the raise-yourselves childhood shared by all of Generation X.

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! Don't forget to check out the Sorta Awesome store on Amazon when shopping this month!

SHOW NOTES:

Pony, RJ Palacio

These Silent Woods, Kimi Cunningham Grant

Not me, not Hermoine, YOU

TikTok love for Gen X

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

Ep. 366 Best in books & reading 2021! Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

What was your favorite read this year? A novel you couldn’t put down? A collection of poetry that challenged or comforted you? A memoir you can’t stop thinking about? Join Meg and Sorta Awesome regular Katie Proctor as they relive 2021 through the books that stood out from the rest! From children’s books to non-fiction selections to romance to books worth the buzz, they bring you the best from the year, cover to cover!

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

Best Fiends: Download Best Fiends FREE on the App Store or Google Play

Headspace: Go to headspace.com/AWESOME for a free one month trial

LinkedIn: Post your first job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

Katie’s AotW: Vanilla Bourbon Coffee

Meg’s AotW: Reading journal set-ups from Cassie’s Bookish Corner, mochibujo, A Clockwork Reader, readxchra

KATIE’S LIST:

NONFICTION

spiritual: Wholehearted Faith by RHE Amazon | Bookshop

memoir: A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K Barnett Amazon | Bookshop

essays: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John green Amazon | Bookshop

history: How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith Amazon | Bookshop

FICTION

contemporary: The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot Amazon | Bookshop

historical: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Amazon | Bookshop

mythology: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes Amazon | Bookshop

rom/com: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Amazon | Bookshop

YA: This is My America by Kim Johnson Amazon | Bookshop

MG: Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk Amazon | Bookshop

LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Jeffers Amazon | Bookshop

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich Amazon | Bookshop

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw Amazon | Bookshop

MEG’S LIST:

NONFICTION

What is God Like? Rachel Held Evans, Matthew Paul Turner

Spiritual: The Universal Christ, Fr Richard Rohr Amazon | Bookshop

Memoir: Broken Horses, Brandi Carlile Amazon | Bookshop

Essays: Broken (in the best possible way), Jenny Lawson Amazon | Bookshop

Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Amazon | Bookshop

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson Amazon | Bookshop

Sociological: The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker Amazon | Bookshop

FICTION

Women's Contemporary: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Elle Cosimano Amazon | Bookshop

Also in contemporary fiction: How Lucky, Will Leitch Amazon | Bookshop

Historical: Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid Amazon | Bookshop

Science Fiction: Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir Amazon | Bookshop

Romantic: The Stand-In, Lily Chu Amazon

YA: Any Way the Wind Blows, Rainbow Rowell Amazon | Bookshop

MG: Starfish, Lisa Fipps Amazon | Bookshop

LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022

Finding Me, Viola Davis memoir (April 2022) Amazon | Bookshop

Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead, Elle Casimano (Feb 2022) Amazon | Bookshop

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

You can find Katie at her website or on Facebook and Instagram! And be sure to check out her latest book Hand in Hand!

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!

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

Ep. 365 Alias reruns, Nutella slander, and a jury duty miracle Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

As you settle in to the middle of December, let us take your mind off of the hustle and bustle with some chit-chat about pop culture, life updates, and more! Meg and Kyle give the rundown on things to watch, read, and listen to, as well as sing the praises of gifted whiskey and a miraculous escape from jury duty!

Sweet Bobby

Sunshine Superman

Gordon’s Food Service cookies

Nomad Whisky

Redwing Boots

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

Ep. 364 We're Obsessed: life hacks we swear by! Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

Who doesn’t love a life hack, especially one that is Awesome-approved? This week, Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome regular Julie Tepperman, and they have a TON of hacks, tips, and tricks to share with you. From mood rescue to December time boundaries to streaming all the audio books your reader heart desires, they have got so many ways to make life more awesome, and they are spilling their secrets to you!

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 $1.79 per meal by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code awesome179

Legacy Box: Go to legacybox.com/AWESOME to take advantage of an exclusive discount for listeners

BetterHelp: Visit betterhelp.com/sorta and get 10% off your first month

SHOW NOTES:

Meg AoTW: Single All the Way Netflix

Julie’s AotW: Slapzi

Scribd: Get 30 days free with Meg's Scribd link

Audible: Get a free Audiobook with Sorta Awesome's link!

It's raining money blog post at The Seasonal Home

Meg loves PIXI Glow Tonic

The three song method:

Example 1:

No roots by Alice Merton

Good to be alive (Hallelijah) by Andy Grammar

I love it (featuring Charli XCX).

Example 2:

Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus

Should I stay or should I go by the Clash

Feel it still by Portugal. The man

Life hacks from TikTok:

Microwaving rice with ice cubes in it

Bathrobe tie

Loop ear buds

Clip on colander

Chicken soup (two kinds, both recipes by Smitten Kitchen): Matzo ball soup and perfect uncluttered chicken broth

TikTok made me buy it:

Dieux reusable eye masks

Cicapair tiger grass camo drops

Disposable adhesive hair catchers

It cosmetics Confidence in a cream anti-aging armor

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

Find Julie on Instagram and Facebook!

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

Ep. 363 Spotify Wrapped, bourbon recs, and the audiobook debate Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

The end of the year brings many good things, including Spotify's annual year in review of the music you loved. But what if your kids absolutely wreck your Wrapped? That's part of what Meg and Kyle discuss in this episode, along with sharing some recommendations for shows to watch, a fun book to read, and a fierce debate over reading via audio!

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!

Finlay Donovan is Killing It! by Elle Casimano

Bourbons mentioned:

Four Roses

Woodford Reserve

Bulleit Bourbon

Don't forget to check out the Sorta Awesome store on Amazon when shopping this month!

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

Ep. 362 Re-imagining our holidays Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

Is it just us, or does it seem like the holidays get harder every year? This week, Meg and Kelly are here to share some ways their families are bringing the AWESOME back to the holiday season! Whether it’s discovering fun new traditions or celebrating with ancient rhythms, they have lots of encouragement that you can re-imagine the way you do holidays, and it might make this season merrier than ever.

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!

First Leaf: For six bottles of wine at $29.95 and free shipping, go to tryfirstleaf.com/awesome

Better Help: Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/SORTA

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AotW: Kelly’s Apple Pie Oatmeal recipe

Meg’s AotW: Jones Road: Bobbi Kit

(or just check out the Miracle Balm!)

Is It Time to Rethink Holiday Traditions?

Pandemic Holiday Season Offers Opportunities for Community, Too

Saran Wrap Ball How-To

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

Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!

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

Ep. 361 Bad pipes, Moka upgrade, and the Great Advent Debate Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

So much is happening this week on the heels of Thanksgiving including the beginning of Hanukkah and the Advent season! Today, Meg and Kyle decompress and discuss joys and pains as November comes to a close, and they reflect on how sometimes you've got to lose something to find something better. They share a few more gift ideas, and Kyle is wrong about the liturgical calendar!

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!

Boss Bluetooth speaker

Glass-top moka pot

Rayban Havana

Moccasin-style slippers

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

Ep. 360 Lovehard, Taylor's trilogy, and our TikTok overlords Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

It’s the big turkey feast week here in the United States, and we are more than happy to keep you company while you drive, cook, or go for a long walk to escape all the family TOGETHERNESS! Meg and Kyle have some thoughts on what you could watch, read, listen to, and find delightful in lifestyle in the week ahead. From Netflix rom-coms to Adele’s 30 to a possible snore-stopper and an introduction to Kum & Go, they’ve got all kinds of silliness to keep you distracted (and maybe inspired?).

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!

First Frost, Sarah Addison Allen

Lovely War, Julie Berry

Adele 30

Frndly

Kum & Go TikTok guy

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

Ep. 359 Our spiciest confessions yet! Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

Buckle up and hang on tight, Awesomes! Meg and Rebekah have another round of confessions to share with you, and these are by far the most cringey, most earbud-worthy ones yet! From misheard song lyrics to feminine product mishaps, you’ll never look at these two the same way again!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME for 20% off your first purchase

Best Fiends: Download Best Fiends FREE on the App Store or Google Play

Headspace: Go to headspace.com/AWESOME for a free one month trial

LinkedIn: Post your job for free at linkedin.com/AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Caren Hand Treatment

Meg’s AotW: Taylor Swift Red (Taylor's Version)

Taylor Swift: All Too Well film version

Garden Spells, First Frost: Sarah Addison Allen

Harry's cover of Juice

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

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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

Ep. 358 Yellowstone, The Future, and sorta salacious gifts for men Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

It's Monday and we are back with a brand new Monday convo! This week, Meg and Kyle discuss the buzz around Yellowstone, flashback to 90s television with Seinfeld and The Sopranos, rave about the new release from Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats, and talk about gifts for men for this holiday season!

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!

Wholehearted Faith

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats The Future

Fallen Angel podcast

Let's Go To Court podcast

Cortez / Superstar / Campus

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