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Dry turkey on one side of the family, rum-soaked pudding on the other—somehow neither tasted like home. This week it's a re-release of my favorite funny Thanksgiving episode, and I'm pulling you into a holiday world where salt was outlawed, bay leaves did all the heavy lifting, and stuffing came from a box you didn’t want seconds of. It’s funny because it’s true, and it’s tender because it’s about more than food: it’s about learning to rewrite rituals, find the middle between deprivation and excess, and choose the kind of Thanksgiving that actually feeds you. The scary part? This actually happened to me!

I trace the arc from childhood meals that missed the mark to the first adult revelation of a table with real flavor—where seasoning has courage and the stuffing finally delivers. There’s a detour to Skid Row with a volunteer badge and an unexpected lesson about impact when good intentions outnumber the plates. Then comes the career war story: an all-nighter on government proposals, a nap on a dining room floor, and a raw-turkey showdown at dawn that turns into a crash course in timing, triage, and gravy without a safety net.

By the end, we land in a realistic, humane place: smoked turkey, smart store-bought sides, one ambitious homemade dish, and the logistical comedy of someone who really wasn't raised to cook. The heart stays steady—gratitude for partners, pets, and the freedom to craft traditions that fit real lives. If you’ve ever laughed at a lumpy gravy, dodged a crowded grocery store at 8 a.m., or wondered how to make the holidays yours, you’ll feel seen here. Listen, share a laugh, and tell us your most chaotic Thanksgiving victory or fail. Subscribe, leave a review, and pass this one to a friend who salts first and explains later.

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