Christmas Joy in the Middle of Hard

Christmas Joy in the Middle of Hard

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 Follow Links: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_ [https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_] Follow on Facebook: https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast [https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast] Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast] Contact: info@whatsthetemppod.com [info@whatsthetemppod.com]

The Love Letter We Never Wrote (to Ourselves)

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 Follow Links: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_ [https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_] Follow on Facebook: https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast [https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast] Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast] Contact: info@whatsthetemppod.com [info@whatsthetemppod.com]

Mirror Work

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 Follow Links: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_ [https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_] Follow on Facebook: https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast [https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast] Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast] Contact: info@whatsthetemppod.com [info@whatsthetemppod.com]

Eyes Wide Open

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, Follow Links: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_ [https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_] Follow on Facebook: https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast [https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast] Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast] Contact: info@whatsthetemppod.com [info@whatsthetemppod.com]

Expert, Free Advice

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 Follow Links: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_ [https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetemp_] Follow on Facebook: https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast [https://www.https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetemppodcast] Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WhatstheTempPodcast] Contact: info@whatsthetemppod.com [info@whatsthetemppod.com]