Today, there was a tornado in Scotts Valley, about five miles up the road. I never planned for my podcast to cover natural disasters, but after the tsunami and Trae Crowder, and now this crazy day of “where are my people? I’d prefer they don’t end up in Oz,” dare I ask what’s next—not going to tempt the gods.

The world may be insane, but it’s still okay to shine.

Today, guests Jen and Harper from Salon Confessions talk about the importance of self-care in trying times. And laughter, we need to keep laughing.

Salon Confessions covers health, beauty, relationships, and self-care but always goes past the surface
level to look underneath the buzz and dig into what is typically hiding below the hype. Self-doubt, toxic relationships with friends and family, generational trauma, and the incredible brokenness of our healthcare system. We also clutch our pearls in unison as some of the funniest secrets of life – those rarely discussed among decent people – like nipple hair, why there are so many extra settings on vibrators, and the nuances of boudoir photography. Apparently, Jen is NEVER wrong in her household, and Harper routinely manages to hold it all together until she reaches the meltdown stage and flings those pearls all over the damn place (sound familiar, anyone?).

Their most popular episode to date was about ethical nonmonogamy (ENM), where guest Zoe talked about her experience entering and now living with her partner in ENM. It was a very positive, non-salacious discussion that was informative, loving, educational, and delightful!

Here’s their latest episode!

They’d love to connect with you and invite you to follow their podcast.

• The podcast is syndicated to most places, including Spotify, Apple, and Podcast Addict.
• Follow pent-up demand Harper on Bluesky and Instagram.
• Confess to Jen, who is never wrong (see above) on Bluesky and Instagram.

And here you go, Five Tips for Happier Holidays

I hope a right-click lets you save so you can 1) remember and 2) share – even ahead of time with family members or friends.