Ep. 317 Miraculous skincare, the perfect summer shorts, getting Olympic-ready, and more!

What are you up to this week, Awesomes? Are you getting ready for some Olympic fun? Wondering what else there is to watch? Looking for a book recommendation? Meg and Kyle have tons of suggestions for what all you can check out this week that will bring more awesome to your life, plus a ton of news stories that you may have missed but you're going to want to hear!

Any Way The Wind Blows, Rainbow Rowell

Dial A for Aunties, Jesse Q. Sutano

Your Own Backyard podcast

Ultra Comfort Waist Utility Shorts

Just Watch

Magnetic Drawing Board

BudgetBytes.com

Sorta Awesome: Olympics Obsessed Group

Guo Gangtang finds his son

Fudge Cake Balls

WHY IS THIS A THING

Want to live in the heart of Awesome? Make sure you've joined us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout Group!

Ep. 316 Summer Meals Extravaganza!

Summertime and the living is … well, not that easy when you are trying to fight the heat and feed your family! Running out of meal ideas for these long summer days? We’ve got you, friend! Meg and Rebekah share all their best tips, recipes, and meal ideas for everything from fun breakfasts to no-oven dinners to eating on vacation with family. Plus some inspiring decluttering inspo and a great new podcast 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 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:

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

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

Grove: Go to Grove.co/AWESOME and choose a FREE gift (with orders $30 or more).

PlushCare: Go to PlushCare.com/awesome to start your FREE 30-day trial.

SHOW NOTES:

Meg’s AotW: Not Past It podcast

Rebekah’s AotW: cleaning out closet

Grilling:

Ep. 58 Grill It, Girls!

7 Meal Ideas for Leftover Grilled Chicken

Easy Grilled Salmon (and house seasoning!) from The Seasoned Mom

Grilled grilled cheese sandwiches from the Food Network

Slow Cooker:

Creamy Mexican Chicken

Cheesy Pasta & Beef Casserole

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken

Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Bowls

Instant Pot Iced Tea

Kids Breakfast, Snack, and Lunch ideas

3 ingredient banana pancakes

Apple Peanut Butter Cookies from A Farm Girl Dabbles

Banana nice cream

Chocolate Granola Bars from Foodlets

Kids charcuterie board ideas from Six Sisters Stuff

Vacation Meal Ideas:

Baked Pesto Ravioli

Honey Baked Chicken

Pizza Tot Casserole

Ham & Cheese Sliders with Sweet Mustard Glaze

Homemade Sweet & Sour Salad Dressing

Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs

Meal Kit Service like Home Chef. (Use this affiliate link to try Home Chef and get $90 Off. That's $30 off your first two orders and $15 off your third and fourth order.)

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blogFacebookTwitter, and Instagram!

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!

Ep. 315 All the awesome to watch, read, listen to, and discuss in the week ahead!

Sorta Awesome had to take a little time off last week but we are back with our weekly round-up of everything good in pop culture! This week will leave Twilight fans rejoicing, Rainbow Rowell fans celebrating, #FreeBritney conversations buzzing, and Spotify playlists bumping! And in the weird news department, we’ve got heists and hidden treasure, a big wedding in the Sooner State, and ancient oil wrestling. A little bit of everything for everyone!

Any Way the Wind Blows, Rainbow Rowell
The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix E. Harrow
The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah
Called By Name: A Memoir, Anna Shane Stadick
Under the Influence with Jo Piazza
Toxic: The Britney Spears Story
Boil The Frog playlist maker
Saltwater Sandals
National Park Service Facebook account
Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse
Mark Zuckerberg Take Me Home
Forrest Fenn treasure heist
Legendary foul ball catch
TikTok’s travel pillow correction

Are you part of the Sorta Awesome Hangout group? Come join us for daily discussions of all things awesome!

Ep. 314 Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle, News

It's Monday and we're here to start your week off with all the awesome you need to know! What to watch this week on streaming, something to listen to when you need help falling asleep, a TON of recommendations from the Awesomes, fascinating and weird news stories ... we've got a fun mix to start the first week of July!

Show notes:

Nothing Much Happens podcast

Drama Queens podcast

Countertop ice maker

Peepers

Recipe for pavlova

Roomba

Sign up for a free trial of Audible and listen to Project Hail Mary

More details on The Book of Courtesans

Find us on Instagram for daily Awesome!

Ep. 313 Awesome Overflow: Sisterly Advice Edition (AD-FREE)

Have you ever been listening to an episode of Sorta Awesome and thought "Gosh, I wish I could tell them _______!" or "Why don't they know that the name of that movie is  _____?" Have you ever wondered what TikToks we text our friends, or how we let each other know when we just finished an incredible book? 

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!

Show Notes from Awesome Overflow:

Tretinoin information

Foot care kit on Amazon

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

You can find Emily on Instagram!

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!

Ep. 312 Extra Awesome: Christmas in July with Mary Carver!

You know we love any reason to celebrate the everyday around here, and this week, Meg is thrilled to kick off the revived Extra Awesome series with a conversation with Mary Carver about celebrating Christmas in July! Mary returns to Sorta Awesome with some background, inspiration, and ideas and more to get you thinking about making July really special this year with some holiday happiness. Frozen hot chocolate bars, Hallmark holiday movies, homemade cinnamon rolls and more!

Show Notes:
teleparty extension

Listen to Mary’s podcast The Couch with Mary Carver wherever you find your favorite podcasts

Find Mary at her blog or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

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!

Ep. 311 News & Watch/Read/Listen/Lifestyle Recs!

We’re just about to wrap up the month of June, and we’ve got a BUNCH of recommendations for you of what to watch, what to read, what to listen to, and fun lifestyle picks! But before that, Meg and Kyle dig into some silly, fascinating, and awesome news stories that you definitely missed in the big headlines!

What to watch on streaming in July 2021

Starstruck HBO MAX

Try Audible Plus (for Project Hail Mary and other good stuff!)

Project Hail Mary

The Stars of Whistling Ridge Amazon | Bookshop

Storygraph App

Sara Thackwray music

Stella & Grace Dead Sea Mud Mask

Folex Carpet Spot Remover

La Colombe Coffee Roasters

Cotton Flower Clothing on Etsy

Follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram for daily Awesome including everyday celebrations and birthdays!

Ep. 310 Recent books that are worth the hype!

Summer reading season is in FULL SWING, and that means you are probably hearing about great books everywhere you turn. But how many of those books live up to the hype? This week, Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome Regular and author Katie Proctor, and they are here to give you the rundown on which recent books getting lots of buzz actually live up to all the hype! Plus a fun summer beauty pick and vicarious travel in Awesome of the Week!

BECOME A SORTA AWESOME SUPER STAR! This summer, treat yourself to our exclusive Patreon content and catch up on our latest Sorta Spicy series, enjoy monthly Awesome Overflow episodes and hang with other Super Stars in our Facebook community!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Moink: Go to Moinkbox.com/AWESOME to get FREE bacon for a year

Bombas:  Go to bombas.com/AWESOME and get 20% off your first purchase

Brightside: Go to brightside.com/AWESOME and take your free mental health assessment and get up to one hundred dollars credit on your first month of treatment

Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/AWESOME and download the Zocdoc app to sign up for free and book a top-rated doctor.

SHOW NOTES:

Katie's AotW: Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener

Meg AotW:

Vicarious Voyager

WeDoFunThings on TikTok @rooftopreviews

Adult contemporary fiction:
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes Amazon | Bookshop
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Amazon | Bookshop
Circe by Madeline Miller Amazon | Bookshop
Olympus, TX by Stacey Swann Amazon | Bookshop
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Amazon | Bookshop

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Amazon | Bookshop
Daisy Jones and the Six also by TJR Amazon | Bookshop
One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel Amazon | Bookshop
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir Amazon | Bookshop
The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave Amazon | Bookshop

Non-fiction:
Broken, Jenny Lawson Amazon | Bookshop
Live Your Life, Amanda Kloots Amazon | Bookshop

Middle Grade:
Hand in Hand, Katie Proctor Amazon | Bookshop
Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston Amazon | Bookshop
Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt Amazon | Bookshop

Mentioned:
The Wednesday Wars, Gary D. Schmidt Amazon | Bookshop
Okay for Now, Gary D. Schmidt Amazon | Bookshop

Young Adult:
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le Amazon | Bookshop
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley Amazon | Bookshop
Tokyo Ever After, Emiko Jean Amazon | Bookshop

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, 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!


Ep. 309 News: JLo's mom, feet pics, gorilla hugs and more

Happy mid-week, friends! We've got the scoop on all the stories you might have missed in the past few weeks. Instead of bumming you out, however, the stories we cover will keep you looped in on the inspiring, the silly, and the plain old weird. Tune in to hear Meg and Kyle give you your serotonin fix for the week!

Don't forget to follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram for daily celebrations and birthday wishes!

A few links:

Gorilla and human moms bonding at the zoo

Florida Man's birthday prank

JLo's mom weighs in on Bennifer

Ep 308 Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle

Happy summer solstice, friends! We're back with another round of Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle, and Meg and Kyle are sharing some great finds on streaming, a fascinating fiction podcast, a new novel everyone is buzzing about, and lots of great lifestyle picks from the Awesomes!

Stephanie Harlowe's Bonnie and Clyde series

Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid

King Falls AM

Nightgown (with pockets!)

Bubble tea kit

Hotpop microwave popcorn popper

Timber Ridge Botanical cologne sampler

Karina Dresses

Come follow us on Instagram!

Ep. 307 Spilling the secrets of life with twins!

From fictional twins like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia to real life twins like Mary Kate and Ashley Olson, the fascination around twins is real! This week, Rebekah puts Meg squarely in the hot seat with all kinds of questions about what it’s like to have twins. From the moment the ultrasound screen surprised her to what it’s like to navigate parenting older twins to her biggest fears and her favorite moments, she spills all the secrets behind twin life!

Can’t get enough of conversations with Meg and Rebekah? BECOME A SORTA AWESOME SUPER STAR! This summer, treat yourself to our exclusive Patreon content and catch up on our latest Sorta Spicy series, enjoy monthly Awesome Overflow episodes and hang with other Super Stars in our Facebook community!

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

Quip: Go to GETQUIP.com/AWESOME5 and get $5 off a Mouthwash Starter Kit

Grove: Go to Grove.co/AWESOME and choose a FREE gift (with orders $30 or more).

PlushCare: Go to PlushCare.com/awesome to start your FREE 30-day trial.

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Knox Rose Dress at Target (affiliate link)

Meg’s AotW: Podcast Do You Know Mordechai

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blogFacebookTwitter, and Instagram!

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!

Ep. 306 20+ things for 20+ years of marriage!

This week, Meg and Kyle are celebrating twenty-three years of marriage, and they have filled this conversation with stories and moments big and small from having spent over half of their lives together. They dissect fights over McDonald’s on an interstate in Texas, revisit what made Meg clutch her pearls the first time she saw Kyle, and pinpoint some of the biggest surprises of the past few decades. They also share some of the disappointments (especially a very recent loss), as well as giving their best advice for married life.

Ep. 305 Awesome List for Summer 2021!

You guys! It’s finally here! THE AWESOME LIST for SUMMER 2021! Every season, we have the most fun putting together a list of AMAZING things to check out in the months ahead, and this year, Meg and Kelly are thrilled to guide you through their very favorite season of all! From sunscreen and summer makeup to drinks and recipes to keeping bugs at bay and so very much more, there is something for everyone on this list! Plus delightful comedy TV and dreamy Scottish ASMR in Awesome of the Week!

BECOME A SORTA AWESOME SUPER STAR! This summer, treat yourself to our exclusive Patreon content! Catch up on our latest Sorta Spicy series, enjoy monthly Awesome Overflow episodes and hang with other Super Stars in our Facebook community!

From now until June 14th, show some love to Sorta Awesome favorite Jessica Turner by shopping her Zulily event! Great deals curated by an Awesome with great taste! (SA affiliate link)

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Billie: for 10% off of your new favorite razor, go to mybillie.com/awesome

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

Bombas:  Go to bombas.com/AWESOME and get 20% off your first purchase

EveryPlate: Try EveryPlate for just $1.99 per meal plus an additional 20% off your next two boxes by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code awesome199

SHOW NOTES:

Meg AotW: Scottish Undertones ASMR; Relax video

Kelly's AotW: Peacock TV / Rutherford Falls / Girls5eva

Meg’s List:

  1. Breathable nail polish

  2. Innocence perfume oil spray by Poesie Perfume

  3. NYX peekaboo neutral (Shop our ShopList or use our Target affiliate link)

  4. e.l.f. Primer-Infused Bronzer in Forever Sunkissed (Shop our ShopList or use our Target affiliate link)

  5. Linen overalls

  6. Kate Baer’s book What Kind of Woman

  7. Spotify's 70s Road Trip playlist

Kelly’s List:

  1. Asian Cucumber Salad from Well Plated

  2. Tinted moisturizer with SPF

  3. One-person portable mosquito repellent

  4. Slow cooker recipes

  5. Keri Gentry Welch's Spotify playlist "Summer Vibes for Moms + Kids

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!

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!

Ep. 304 Celebrations and News

Grab some peanut butter cookies and draw yourself a bath because there’s all kinds of fun things to celebrate in the week ahead! And when it comes to the news you’ve missed, we’ve got everything from Canadian UFOs to robotic manicures, from women’s urinals to pizza vending machines and more!

Don’t forget to follow Sorta Awesome on Instagram so you can get your daily dose of awesome along with a personal birthday greeting from Meg! We’re @sortaawesomeshow on IG!

Ep. 303 Awesome Ideas for Father's Day Gifts

With Father's Day just around the corner, we wanted to share some ideas for the Awesome men in your life! Join Meg and Kyle as they give specific suggestions sure to be a hit for your partner, your father or father-in-law, or any man you are shopping for this year!

Mack Weldon

Tommy John

SAXX

Fresh Clean Tees

True Classic Tees

Caswell Massey Jockey Club (and other classic products)

Geo F Trumper Eucris, Lime Skin Food

CRKT CEO

Portable Battery Starter/Charger

Ep. 302 Your Best Summer Based on Your Personality Type

Summer is here, friends! And we have some very awesome ideas for how you can have a GREAT one all based on YOUR Myers Briggs personality type! Tune in to hear Meg and her sister Sorta Awesome regular Emily Harris break down all 16 Myers Briggs types and give some suggestions for the season ahead!

BECOME A SORTA AWESOME SUPER STAR! This summer, treat yourself to our exclusive Patreon content! Catch up on our latest Sorta Spicy series, enjoy monthly Awesome Overflow episodes and engage with other Super Stars in our Facebook community!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/AWESOME and download the Zocdoc app to sign up for free and book a top-rated doctor.

Outfit Formula Summer 2021! Not sure what on earth to wear this summer? Pick up the Summer 2021 Outfit Formula and let AWESOME stylist Alison Lumbatis tell you what to wear every single day!

SHOW NOTES:

Emily’s AotW: Sweese 150.003 Porcelain Dinner Plates - 11 Inch - Set of 6, Cool Assorted Colors

Meg’s AotW: Friends Reunion

16personalities.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR CHEAT SHEET with all the ideas from this episode!

You can find Meg on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

You can find Emily on Instagram!

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!

Ep. 301 Celebrations & News

Roll up your sleeves, friends! It's the middle of the week and we've got a lot of awesome to get to! From Kyle's rotisserie chicken PTSD to Bennifer to a swimming pool floating ten stories above the ground, there's all kinds of fun stuff and silly stories to cover.

A few notes:

It's National Donut Day, baby!

Stay At Home Mum's community will make you feel better about ruining the lives of your kids

Go scroll @totheguysivedated

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO SWIM HERE

Ep. 300 Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle

Pop the popcorn and grab a box of Junior Mints because summer movie season is here! This week in Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle updates, we have a mini-preview of movies coming out in June on both streaming platforms and in theaters! Plus the Awesomes showed up with some GAME-CHANGERS for your life.

The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything, Fr. James Martin

Hand in Hand, Katie Proctor

(@katieproctorwritesandreads)

Done Playing By The Rules podcast

Carpenter Creek Cellars (Sara loves the Sunset Rosé)

SMARTAKE parchment paper

Conscious Crop Bra, Athleta

FitOn app

Face shaver

GiveInKind

Free Assembly shorts

(Go check out the Summer 2021 Capsule Wardrobe from Outfit Formulas!)

FrSara neck cooling fan

Ep. 299 Celebrations & News

Whether this week is dragging or if it's racing by, you know you need a dose of awesome to get you through to the weekend! Meg and Kyle have holiday highlights for you to celebrate with your friends or on your own in the week ahead, plus a TON of fascinating, hilarious, puzzling, and weird news stories guaranteed to give you something to talk about at your Memorial Day cookouts.

Meg's very favorite sunscreen EVER is this one from Paula's Choice!

Isn't this mint julep kit THE CUTEST?! Order TODAY to get it in time for National Mint Julep Day!

YouTuber Sarah Funk gives a little tour of NYC's Little Island

Four Words: SUPER. FLOWER. BLOOD. MOON.

Ep. 298 Watch, Read, Listen, Lifestyle

Wondering what to watch this week? Need some inspiration in the world of great recommendations? You know the Awesomes have got you covered! Meg and Kyle have the highlights of what was great in May on Netflix along with what the Awesomes are super loving on streaming right now, too. We've got reads to inspire your kids, the first great pop bop of the summer, and lots of products to check out, too!

When Stars are Scattered, Victoria Jamieson

Heartbreak Anthem, Little Mix, David Guetta, and Galantis

Sephora #lipstories in A Little Magic and Oui

Aquage Illuminating Gelade

Garlic Ranch Pretzels Recipe