Cultivate the Ordinary

Year in Review: Random Gas Station Stories to Crazy Karaoke Experiences to Lessons in Faith and Life

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess reflect on the past year, sharing personal anecdotes, funny stories, and lessons learned. They each share a quote for the year that best represented what they were most inspired by or learned in 2025. They discuss the importance of finding beauty in everyday life, the power of quotes, and the significance of community and relationships. As they look ahead to the new year, they emphasize the need for personal growth, curiosity, and the cultivation of positive habits, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with it. Key Takeaways: 1. Travis humorously describes their podcast roles as interchangeable sidekicks, adding a light-hearted touch to their dynamic. 2. Jess shares a funny incident where she got sprayed with water at a gas station, and instead of getting upset, she laughed it off, showcasing her graciousness. 3. Travis recounts a karaoke night where he was pressured into singing "Barbie Girl," a song he found hilariously awkward, especially when a stranger joined him on stage. 4. Jess emphasizes the importance of embracing play and lightheartedness, reflecting on her word for the year, which was "play." 5. Jess discusses the importance of forgiveness, inspired by a pastor who forgave the man responsible for a tragic event, encouraging her to let go of personal resentments. 6. Both Jess and Travis talk about the significance of community and vulnerability, highlighting how opening up to others can lead to profound personal growth and connection. 7. Jess emphasizes the value of finding beauty in stillness and nature, which has reignited her passion for art and creativity.

Everyone Has a Book in Them: A Fun Conversation on Writing and Self Publishing

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess get back together after a bit of a break from this podcast. They discuss their recent creative projects, including two new podcasts they've launched. This episode centers on the power of writing, the creative process, and what it looks like to publish a book on your own. Books and podcast links below: Jessie is writing her first book and Travis talks about the two books he wrote. They share personal stories about their writing journeys and offer encouragement to aspiring writers. Travis shares some practical tips on what it takes to write a book and get it published. His belief is that everyone has a book in them. The conversation highlights the intersection of creativity, personal growth, and the transformative power of words. Travis and Jessie's other podcasts: That's So Rad! Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-so-rad/id1810887342 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-so-rad/id1810887342] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thatissorad [http://www.youtube.com/@thatissorad] Transforming Us Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-us/id1823554264 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-us/id1823554264] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@transformingus [http://www.youtube.com/@transformingus] Travis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope [https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Eyes-Seeing-Better-Through-ebook/dp/B09KMKKQR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HE3764V58ZVV&keywords=shiny+eyes+book&qid=1706027917&sprefix=shiny+eyes+book%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1] Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace [https://www.amazon.com/Redemptions-Echo-Living-Reflection-Grace-ebook/dp/B07RLNBKRQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=16SKLNYZ3D351&keywords=Redemptions+echo+book&qid=1706028848&sprefix=redemptions+echo+book%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-5] Writing or book publishing questions? Contact us on socials or below at: https://guidedpace.com/ [https://guidedpace.com/]

Shaped by the Places We Live and Our Need to Be Rooted

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, host Travis explores the themes of rootedness, geography, and personal history as he reflects on his time growing up on a farm in North Dakota. He shares on the importance of place in shaping identity and the innate human longing for connection to our origins. Through personal anecdotes and reading book excerpts, Travis discusses how experiences in various landscapes influence our character and sense of belonging. He also emphasizes the need for stability in a fast-paced world and the profound impact that specific places can have on our souls. Because of the freedom of technology and remote jobs, many of us can live in places but not be rooted in those places. That's a big problem and the difference between "being stationed" vs "being rooted" changes how we live life. Books mentioned in this episode: The Language of Cottonwoods: Essays on the Future of North Dakota [https://www.amazon.com/Language-Cottonwoods-Essays-Future-Dakota/dp/1646630998/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LB1TWJV3T9WM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lOMge9-pn8VKhKAvkdNTgSVYdAaFsat2maiiMsojelkC46pRBDj3RGE1t5mtbNHZOO2gjTH3mZY9YV101k1ibJVKi4P_UKKVuVcJLPTWashKuMreaQtoziQzV344zsJfxf3X3Fyg7rlWDfIdTjnkKfluJzh68DLzeA6wD0F4l_sm2HzcFitEICK-2jIj1DfmDqwxWCfLs-7pNful6JhJ2I1H_njqt4wM7DYZtmGlT3E.XFHSAulJp0HKFkyrubHr4RUtqYyYBM0MJlpy1DuPx_w&dib_tag=se&keywords=language+of+cottonwoods&qid=1744325731&sprefix=language+of+cottonwood%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1] Dakota: A Spiritual Geography [https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Spiritual-Geography-Kathleen-Norris-ebook/dp/B004H1UOEK/ref=sr_1_11?crid=CEDEZE5O53TG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oGjiEshgZL-cIlVAMzdt8FU5Dk-Mi4q5e_mVFEwkMa7KkMP5cmZTXf5frva2sMfgvliE1QmLnHRHBWYR4R3RNDGzowqgCkXW9A8_IT-XqJW4ZNRNIHx7zTZnqPMAuunbRdFYf5yKgvP-sSmBBRHiR-Uq8PJBmuMnydmckAj-cWP8fZnztlL5klAAd_47XE8-9iw9-YlQcZ5DEYySMxr0gdfALM1lixjU_HvPMIeugeND2dQVTJane0CVHvb8teSGiGSyQFq8TuOQpOL-49lUD8_Lc8-eExGfjIHxMANWmp4.m-Y2MzcfaRKO7yjcItg434KGgExDXtl_7tkw2d3154M&dib_tag=se&keywords=kathleen+norris&qid=1744325879&sprefix=kathleen+norris+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-11]

Being Astonished and Telling About It

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, Jessie and Travis explore some exciting things going on in their lives and how they're finding inspiration in these things. They talk some about the current journey of Travis's brother Jeremy, who has faced significant challenges due to a traumatic brain injury (in 2009). They also share some cool stories of all the things he is doing to bring joy and hope to the world despite limited abilities. The conversation also highlights the joy of music through Travis learning to play the ukulele, the development of a documentary about Jeremy's life, and the importance of community and friendship in their lives. They discuss Jeremy's artistic endeavors, the gift of friendship, and the inspiration they and so many others draw from his story. Cool stuff to checkout from this episode! Follow Jeremy on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/broomexc]: Jeremy's Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyvangsnes/] Jeremy painting [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSi1k9z8d_g] Wes performing a spoken word for Jeremy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFmmPA9Jj_8] Jeremy's website: joyindespair [https://www.joyindespair.com] Checkout the band Wasperjaws [https://g.co/kgs/GMpek9q] Wes' website: https://www.meaningfulscience.com/ [https://www.meaningfulscience.com/]

Why Beauty Should Matter More in Your Daily Life

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, hosts Travis and Jessie explore the theme of beauty through personal experiences, reflections on a recent cruise, and the evolution of their understanding of beauty over time. They discuss moments of astonishment, the connection between beauty and art, and how beauty can serve as a bridge to deeper understanding and connection with the world around us. Travis and Jessie discuss the profound impact of beauty in our lives, discussing how it can inspire, captivate, and connect us to deeper truths. They delve into the relationship between beauty and art, the importance of imagination, and how beauty can transform our perception of the ordinary. The discussion also touches on practical ways to cultivate beauty in daily life and community, emphasizing that beauty is essential for our well-being and creativity. Travis' book: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope [https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Eyes-Seeing-Better-Through-ebook/dp/B09KMKKQR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HE3764V58ZVV&keywords=shiny+eyes+book&qid=1706027917&sprefix=shiny+eyes+book%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1] Podcast: John O'Donohue- The Inner Landscape of Beauty [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-odonohue-the-inner-landscape-of-beauty/id150892556?i=1000550716562]