In this uplifting holiday episode, Betina and Jen make a bold declaration: they're choosing celebration over survival this Christmas season, regardless of what hardships they're carrying. Through honest conversations about their far-from-perfect lives, they explore why creating beauty and gathering with intention are essential, especially when times are tough. They challenge the cultural narrative that honors past pain more than present possibility, refusing to let trauma steal the magic of the moment. The episode offers permission to those who are struggling, reminding listeners that needing warmth and light isn't a weakness. From decorating to cooking to simply showing up fully for festive moments, they reframe holiday traditions as acts of defiance against darkness, proving that joy doesn't require perfect circumstances, just an intentional choice to amplify what's good even while acknowledging what's hard.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

02:59 Temp Check: What’s your temperature for letting yourself enjoy the holidays fully?

15:53 Backstory: Learning that joy and hardship coexist and that the holidays are where we choose to amplify the joy

34:20 Life Focus: Recognizing that gathering, decorating, creating moments of beauty is a profound spiritual practice; honoring that if you’re struggling, you especially deserve to experience the warmth and light that this season offers; choosing to live during the holidays, not just survive them

49:34 Recipes: Gather around this: Light and warmth, something that feels how the season tastes

Recipes:

The Ham Dish (Potato, Onion and Ham au Gratin)

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a baking dish

Heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter and cook 5 medium onions (sliced thin) until translucent (2 min)

Peel and slice 5 large potatoes into thin rounds, rinse in cold water and dry thoroughly

Layer ½ of the potatoes in baking dish in overlapping rows, top with half onions and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg

Cover onion layer completely with sliced ham and top with remaining onions and potatoes

Pour 1 ¼ cup heavy cream over top, then season salt pepper, nutmeg

Bake 1 ½ hours while basting w/ additional ¼ cup cream, then tip pan and baste with cream from bottom, keeping potatoes moist on top

Cook until potatoes have absorbed most of moisture and are very tender and golden brown on top

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

14:35 “Xmas is Coming” - Sture Zetterberg

33:41 “Jingle Bells (LoFi Version)” - Jobii

49:08 “Caribbean Christmas” - Guustavv

60:20 “Cold Outside” - Gregory David

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We're quick to offer grace to everyone else, but when it comes to ourselves? That's where we quickly pump the brakes. In this Season of Love episode, we look inwardly and ask: what would it look like to treat ourselves with the same compassion we extend to others? Jen shares a tender letter she wrote to herself in the early days of sobriety, written from the woman she ultimately became. Betina opens up about wrestling with the concept of "deserving" rest when her body is screaming for it, revealing how we've been conditioned to earn basic needs and kindness for ourselves. We explore how becoming your own safe place might be one of the most radical acts of love you can practice. If you've ever denied yourself grace while freely giving it away to everyone and everything around you, this conversation will challenge you to finally write that love letter you've been withholding from the person who needs it most: you.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

2:32 Temp Check: Self-Compassion Temperature - What’s your I deserve grace Temp?

15:55 Backstory: Learning that loving yourself isn’t selfish, but it’s a foundation

28:53 Life Focus: Recognizing self-compassion as strength, not weakness; learning to be your own safe place

56:56 Recipes: I deserve this dish: A no-guilt indulgence

Recipes:

Betina had a warm Marie Callender’s Apple pie à la mode

Jen had butternut squash soup with a baguette that she ate in as many ways as possible

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

14:35 “The Lone Traveler” - Will Harrison

28:27 “1999” - SOOP

47:05 “High Energy Bad Attitude” - Bonkers Beat Club

60:53 “Safe and Warm” - Stonekeepers

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In this refreshingly open and honest episode, Betina and Jen tackle self-love through the lens of body acceptance, sharing stories that range from funny to heartbreaking. Betina recounts her culture-shock moment at a Midwest "club" where her Thanksgiving dinner outfit left her overdressed. Jen celebrates Betina's unshakable confidence regardless of pant size, contrasting it with communities where self-assurance feels like a foreign language. Through vulnerable admissions about their own harsh self-criticism, they challenge the idea that bodies are projects requiring constant fixing rather than homes deserving love and gratitude. The conversation moves from comparison culture to genuine self-acceptance, exploring why treating ourselves with the same kindness we'd offer a struggling friend feels so impossibly hard, yet is so necessary for showing up fully in life.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

2:23 Temp Check: Self-Love vs. Self-Criticism Temp - What’s your temp for how comfortable you are in celebrating your body exactly the way it is right now?

15:15 Back Story: Learning to look at yourself with gratitude instead of a to-do list. Think about times when you found yourself being crueler to yourself than you’d be to a friend.

38:20 Life Focus: Understanding that self-love isn’t conditional on perfection; recognizing your body as a home, not a project; celebrating what your body has carried you through.

57:58 Recipes: Body Gratitude Bowl - Food that honors what your body needs

Recipes:

Betina’s Loaded Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup

Chop bacon then cook in dutch oven remove some of the oil droppings

Chop white and green onions and saute in the remaining bacon droppings

Peel and chop potatoes

Add to pot with onion and boil in chicken stock

Wash and chop broccoli and carrots

Add to pot just before potatoes get fork tender also add garlic paste

Make cheese roux

In a pot add butter and all purpose flour

Using milk and cheese build up the cheese sauce and season with salt, pepper and smoked paprika

By now stock should have somewhat cooked down

Add cheese sauce

Mix add heavy cream if necessary

Serve topped what bacon bits and a toasted bread if desired

Jen’s Greek bowl

Chic peas

Tomatoes

Cucumber

olives

Rice

Tahini or hummus

Feta cheese (optional)

Served with flat bread

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

14:45 “Umbele” - Ebo Krdum

37:59 “Back in My Bag, Again” - Iso Indies

46:24 “Chase” - Say3.2

63:34 “Umbele” - Ebo Krdum

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In this grounding episode, Betina and Jen explore the spiritual practice of accepting life exactly as God has allowed it (messy parts and all) while cultivating genuine gratitude for what's already present. Jen shares about her friend's "they gotta know" philosophy of loving honesty, which leads to Betina's hilarious story about a gym enthusiast whose visible reality didn't match his verbal narrative, illustrating the importance of seeing ourselves and our circumstances clearly. Through vulnerable reflections on moments when forced slowdowns revealed beauty they'd been rushing past, they discover that gratitude is about choosing to marvel at the ordinary gifts that fill each day. The conversation culminates with the concept of a "gratitude gathering", creating abundance from what you already possess, which offers a powerful metaphor for life itself.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

1:31 Temp Check: How comfortable are you with accepting what God has allowed in your life; both the perfect and the imperfect

26:26 Backstory: Moments when you were forced to slow down and suddenly saw beauty you’ve been walking past previously

44:13 Life Focus: Understanding that intentional gratitude shifts our entire perspective; celebrating the beauty in our ordinary days/life, health, strength, capacity, joy peace; learning to marvel instead of criticize

56:40 Recipes: Gratitude Gathering: The meal from what you already have in the pantry

Recipes:

Uncle Bob’s Gravy (halve for smaller batch)

1 stick butter

½ cup flour

4 cups stock

Melt the butter, add the flour, and stir with a whisk until it becomes peanut butter colored

Slowly add stock and bring to a boil

Salt and pepper to taste

Betina's Garlic Butter Noodles

Bolil pasta

Strain and toss with Butter, garlic and herb seasoning and maybe a dash of olive oil

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

17:28 “Poti ndal” - Royal Messenjah

25:51 “Why Always Me” - Sam Kramer

43:13 “All Night Dance” - PW

60:55 “Anywhere You Go” - DJ Mayson,

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In this episode, Jen shares relationship guidance from a friend that was so unconventional, everyone she tells says they would have never suggested it, yet it worked. Betina gets vulnerable about the physical reactions her body undergoes when someone tries to correct her, revealing how the ego can literally manifest as resistance in your nervous system. We explore why we dismiss wisdom based on who's delivering it, and how to stay open when advice cuts against what we think we know. If you've ever ignored good advice because it came from an unexpected source, this conversation will challenge you to listen differently.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

01:38 Temp Check: How’s your Know-it-all temperature this week

19:45 Backstory: Moments you realized your expertise bias blocked you from learning

43:42 Life Focus: Breaking down assumptions about who gets to be wise

58:32 Recipe: Humble Pie remix

Recipes:

Betina’s Beans

Soak beans

Boil smoked turkey

Chop & saute andouille sausage, remove

Chop bell pepper, onion, and celery. To the pot with your turkey, add your washed beans, veggies, and water

Season with the go-to-four, also add beef and chicken bouillon, & bay leaves

Boil until tender

Remove the bones from turkey & add sausage

Smash down some of the beans to thicken juice

Serve

Jen’s pie crust

10 tbsp unsalted butter, chilled

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups ice water

1. Grate 2 tbsp butter on large holes of box grater and place in freezer; cut remaining 8 tbsp butter into ½ inch cubes
2. Pulse ¾ cup flour, sugar & salt in food processor for 2 pulses. Add cubed butter & process 30 seconds until pasty. With hands, break paste into 2-in chunks & redistribute evenly around blade. Add remaining ½ cup flour & pulse until mixture is no larger than 1 inch pieces (most will be smaller), 4-5 pulses. Transfer to a medium bowl, add grated butter & toss until butter pieces are separated & coated in flour.
3. Sprinkle 2 tbsp ice water over mixture & toss until evenly moistened. Sprinkle remaining 2 tbsp ice water & toss to combine, press dough with spatula until it sticks together. Draw edges of plastic over dough & press firmly to form a compact, fissure-free mass, press to form a 5 inch disk. Refrigerate for 2 hours to 2 days. Let chilled dough sit 10 min to soften before rolling.

Apple filling: Peel, core & slice 2 lb apples & toss in juice of 1 lemon. Mix ¾ cup sugar, 3 tbsp corn starch & ½ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg. Dump onto apples & stir.

Pumpkin filling

1 can pumpkin

Mix ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ginger, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 cup sugar

Mix 2 eggs with 5 oz can evaporated milk

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

19:20 “Stay a While” - Ryan James Carr

43:16 “Everything You Want” - Gloria Tells

65:45 “Con Fuerza” - Sonido Mundial

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Backed up by a killer soundtrack, Betina and Jen explore whether the pressure to send every kid to college is actually setting them up for real success. Jen gets brutally honest about choosing her college based on criteria that guidance counselors would absolutely not recommend. Betina shares her coveted Oxtail Birria taco recipe alongside a surprise reveal of her American Idol audition. To degree or not to degree, that is the question!

00:00 Intros

01:47 Temp Check: What’s your “My kid HAS to go to college” temp?

14:32 Backstory: Supporting each other through non-traditional career paths

35:21 Life Focus: Challenging the one-size-fits-all education narrative: recognizing that college isn’t for everyone

59:10 Recipes:

Betina’s Oxtail Birria Tacos

Blend the following ingredients

Bell peppers: Red, yellow, & orange, 2 carrots, 4 garlic cloves, 1 scotch bonnet, bay leaf, thyme

onion sliced, Green onion, 2 tomatoes. a cup of water +, tbsp of browning sauce

Pour over oxtails

Lightly season with

Garlic and herb seasoning & Allspice

Let it marinate for 2 hours

Pour into pot and cook in oven uncovered for an hour at 350 degrees

Stir

Cover and bake for another hour

Remove excess oil (meat produces oil)

Bake for 30 more minutes and duplicate

Add store-bought birria sauce

Add cinnamon stick

Fresh thyme

Finish cooking in the oven until falling apart

Once done, remove the meat and shred it for the tacos. Discard excess fat

With the remaining juices, strain and separate from fresh herbs. This is your consommé.

In a pan, crisp up some of the juice and meat. Birria tacos are crispy. Toast on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove.

In that same skillet, add consommé. Lay down a corn tortilla, turn, add Oaxaca cheese, and crisped meat. Fold. Flip and remove.

Jen’s (Uncle Bob’s) Taco Surprise

Top Fritos with taco meat (ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning)

Garnish with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, onions, cheese, sour cream, avocados, and hot sauce

Enjoy!

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

15:01 “Starfields” - Hallman

28:51 “Modest” - Katori Walker

45:07 “Some Days” - Mo Stacks

81:07 “Modest” - Katori Walker

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Can men and women really be just friends, or is that naive optimism? In this episode, we tackle one of the most debated relationship questions head-on. Betina shares surprisingly candid stories from her past where physical connections actually opened doors to genuine platonic friendships, though she wrestles with how to tell those stories now that her life looks completely different. Jen brings insights from conversations with multiple friends, including her life partner, that challenge common assumptions about what's possible between the sexes. We explore whether society's skepticism about cross-gender friendship says more about cultural narratives than actual reality, and discuss how to create authentic connections that honor boundaries without being imprisoned by fear. If you've ever been told that opposite-sex friendships are impossible or inappropriate, this conversation will permit you to trust your own experience.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intros

2:10 Temp Check: Platonic Possibility Temperature

15:53 Backstory: Times when opposite sex friendships thrived without romantic complications

35:32 Life Focus: Exploring whether men and women can truly be friends; examining societal assumptions versus personal experience; creating space for authentic connection beyond romance

57:47 Recipes: Just Friends Flatbread: Simple ingredients that compliment without overpowering

Recipes:

Jen’s Fig, goat cheese, and arugula flatbread

Layer a flatbread with goat cheese, caramelized onions, figs, and arugula.

Bake.

Enjoy

Betina’s Sweet Potato Flatbread

Boil a sweet potato

Slice and smash

Add an egg

Add sesame seeds

Flatten in a skillet with avocado oil

Brown lightly on both sides.

Serve as you choose with cheese and veggies

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

15:27 “A Little Closure (Heyson Remix)” - Deanz

31:17 “What’s Your Vibe” - Lofive

44:02 “Please Come Back” - NIGHTCAP

61:04 “A Little Closure (Heyson Remix)” - Deanz

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Sometimes, the hardest wisdom to accept is that caring deeply about someone doesn't automatically mean the relationship can work. In this continuation of our conversation about love's limitations, we explore the gut-wrenching question: how do you know when to keep fighting for a relationship versus when to walk away? We dig into the complexity of adult relationships where there's no villain nor a clear wrong answer, just two people who may not be compatible despite having genuine affection for one another. Betina serenades us with a classic country tune about knowing your limits, and in a tender moment, publicly honors Jen for showing up with grace during a season when Betina wasn't easy to be around. We wrap with a cooking lesson that's really about discernment: understanding when adding more actually makes things worse, and having the wisdom to stop before you ruin what could have been good enough.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

0040 Life Focus: Love alone doesn’t make a relationship viable; recognizing when to stay and when to go; honoring the complexity of adult relationships

27:02 Betina gives Jen her flowers

44:10 Recipes: Know when to fold: The dish that teaches you when to stop adding

Recipes:

Vegetable Omelet

Chop the desired vegetables

Oil skillet with olive oil

Saute veggies and season with salt and pepper

Beat eggs in a bowl and season

Remove vegetables from pan

Add butter to pan

Pour in eggs

As the edges firm, add vegetables and cheese if desired and fold

Flip and cook for 30 seconds

Plate and garnish. Enjoy!

Music Credits:

0:00 “For My Good” - AFTR

15:46 “Say It To My Face” - Gloria Tells

28:43 “Best Kind of Weird” - Gloria Tells

43:39 “Climb Down from Your Pedestal” - Gloria Tells

50:07 “Say It To My Face” - Gloria Tells

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