Word of the Year: 2026 Edition (with 2025 Flashbacks)

In our last episode of 2025, we revisit our "words of the year" and assess how well we've done individually, and as a podcast.

We also set our words for 2026 - join us on this reflective and look-ahead episode!

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Transcript

Welcome Back And Setup

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello everyone and welcome back to Generation in Between, a Xennial podcast where we remember, revisit, and relearn all kinds of things from being 80s kids and 90s teens. I'm Danny.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Hi, I'm Katie.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

And today we are remembering again. So last week was our Christmas memories episode, which I still don't really understand what we were doing, but it's fine.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

It was a hodgepodge of all the things. It really was. Oh Jesus, was it really? Yeah, it was really long.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

So it's the same day, actually, of us recording, but you'll get this on New Year's Week. Correct. So our goal today, we are going to revisit uh and try to remember. Last year we set a word of intention.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Yes. Instead of like a resolution, we each set a word. A word. That we kind of wanted to be representative of how our actions for the year and what we were focusing on.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

And then we were going to talk today if we actually did that.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:01

And I am already failing because I did not listen back to the full episode.

SPEAKER_00 1:08

That's okay. I did.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Katie gave me a cheat sheet.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

It was fun. And I and I wrote down a few little little cheat notes. Yes. But before we revisit that, and you're going to hear some clips from last year too. So we're going to have to do that. I am well the listeners are. And you will when you listen to this later, because they'll be edited in.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

I feel like we could remember that time we tried to play them ourselves, and Brent was like, what were y'all doing? That was so stupid.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Please let me fix. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Although we could still do that in real time, and he can just take that out. But then that's a lot more work.

unknown 1:38

Okay.

Two Years And 10K Downloads

SPEAKER_00 1:39

We'll make we'll make it work. Okay, so but before we do that, I wanted to say happy two years to the podcast. Right? We had just celebrated two years on December 7th. You know, we started this podcast in 2023.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

That feels so long ago. It was end of the year, December 7th.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

So much has happened.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

So much. And I was like, wow, that feels so long ago since we're going into 2026. It sounds so long ago.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

It really does.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

And I meant to go through and sort of like count the episodes, but it's I can remember. It's in the 150s for sure. Yay, us. So lots of them. And we passed 10,000 downloads.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Which recently for two years is not that good.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

It's so funny because everyone's like, oh my god, that's so amazing. Like if you've like actually divided it, like it's not, but you know what? Yes. Yes, we're gonna celebrate any miles.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

I'll tell you who put me in a quick check about that was Caden.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Oh, really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

He's like, How long have y'all been recording? How many episodes? It's like, okay, thanks.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Yeah, well, you're Caden is her son.

SPEAKER_01 2:40

He's a numbers guy anyway. And I was like wrong.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

But it's still, I mean, look. But it's better than zero guy. It may have been.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

And I mean, we listened to our own episodes.

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Yeah, but not 10,000 times.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

No, but if there's a hundred and some episodes, that's 200 for both of us.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

200 total, you know.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Listen.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

I don't know. It doesn't matter. Whatever. Happy two years.

SPEAKER_01 3:09

Either way, we're still here. We're going about it.

SPEAKER_00 3:12

We're going about it.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

This uh we said last year this was gonna be the year we did all the things.

Last Year’s Word For The Podcast: Growth

SPEAKER_00 3:17

We've done some. We've done some. I feel like we've gotten um we've been you one of the things. Okay, so let's just talk about the podcast word first. So our podcast word for 2025.

SPEAKER_01 3:28

I thought we said we were doing that last.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

I know, but you just brought it up.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Let's just do it. But we may set our word last. How about okay? So for last year, it was growth. And let's listen to that little clip. So we were talking about it for the podcast. It may seem a little it may seem a little obvious, but we came up with growth. Yeah. Yeah. Growth. Because I think 2024, well, I know, was very foundational. Yeah. From an episode perspective, from like technical perspective, from the platforms were on like really like laying all the groundwork. And now that we have a lot of that, uh, that we can just now say, great, right? How do we go from where we are, which is pretty decent and we are enjoying it and loving it, to growing that? Yeah. What does that growth look like?

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Yeah. And I think too, like we had a year of just trying to figure out what we were even doing. Yeah. Like what like I haven't listened back to our first few episodes, but I want to go back and listen. Yeah. Because they might be a little cringy, but like figuring out the flow. Okay. So we just pretended like what's gonna be funny is if you don't edit that right. And that's what's in the episode.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

That's gonna take me a bit, but I've got two weeks or so to get this ready. Week and a half.

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Okay, well.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

So growth. So let's talk about the ways we did grow. I mean, obviously we had more episodes. Yeah. We had if we did an episode a week, I don't I don't think we missed any weeks. We might have missed one or two. So let's say we did 50 regular episodes. We also did Dawson's Creek almost every week. So we added probably a hundred episodes, maybe a little under.

What Growth Looked Like All Year

SPEAKER_01 5:07

I feel like, yeah, we I feel like consistency probably was our biggest thing for our like metaphorical growth because we finally got into a rhythm of like doing what like even the way we do episodes that we didn't have the first year, and we were figuring out last year, and I feel like we finally narrowed it down. Yeah, and then also with social media, we did not know what we were trying to post and getting the clips together, like making sure we get that done. Um, that's helped. So we have grown our social media presence because we were not on TikTok or YouTube.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Wait, I think we were, but they were very, very early days, and so that consistency you talked about every week we post now our episodes on YouTube. Yeah, you post the things on TikTok, and from a content perspective, take away like how many people liked it or how many people engaged with it or how many people left a comment. If you don't even look at that, we've grown our presence and our actual content. Yeah, which is pretty cool. That's good for us. And a lot of the things we do are evergreen. We're talking about things from the past. Right. So a lot of those things don't change. Right. A movie was made, who was in that movie, like the controversy surrounding it at the time, none of that changes. Yeah. No matter when you listen. That's true. So if a listener finds, I have found that this year, a s a few people I know for sure who found us for the first time listen to everything, or mostly everything. And, you know, a year ago even, they would have had less to listen to. Yeah. So I think growth is good. I think uh we'll talk about our work for the podcast at the end, but continuing those things will be good. Yeah. And just kind of getting even more creative on how we want to present it and where we can be and what spaces we should be in, yeah, will be helpful. Okay.

Social Media And Evergreen Content

SPEAKER_01 6:59

You have something in your eyebrow.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

I do. What everyone it's always that one. What do you think I'm doing? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Okay, you got it.

SPEAKER_00 7:06

I think I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Maybe it's just skin.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

My nail polish is chipping off. Maybe it's nail polish.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Maybe it's your nail polish in your eye. Yeah, it was actually.

SPEAKER_00 7:15

Okay, it might be my nail polish. And I had this nail polish last time we recorded. Well, that's probably mystery solved.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

She has nail polish on her eyebrows.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

That's it. All right, so let's revisit your word for 2025. Hold on, we're gonna play the clip.

Katie’s 2025 Word: Intentional

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Mine um has been my word before. Yay! Uh, but it's still something I need to work on. And it started off as intention, but then I changed it to intentional because that I struggle sometimes. I I try hard to be intentional with things I do, but sometimes I'm not. I'm good in some areas, in some areas I'm terrible. I'm not very good with intentional words um on a day-to-day. Like I am impatient in my house. Like and that's usually because I have 60 hundred things going on in my brain. Um, and I'm multitasking, which is a problem, because then nothing gets done 100% when you're multitasking. And I'm like a chronic multitasker because I have attention problems. So um I'm gonna work really hard this year on being intentional in things I say, um in relationships, because sometimes that falls to the wayside, especially with performing. Yeah. You know, like I have to be intentional about the time I do have, like you were saying with your family. I need to make sure that when I am there, I'm like not just catching up on life, that I'm also giving them time, just time, you know, right as well. Um and that also goes like in in other areas, that also goes with, you know, with performing stuff, like making sure I'm intentional on picking shows to audition for that I really want to commit to, which I think I'm pretty good about that right now. Like I don't do back-to-back shows and um because it is a huge time suck.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Yeah, you you usually tend to be a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

I think I'm okay with that, the ones, but to keep doing that. Yeah, I want to keep doing that. But also, like, I want to be more intentional too about what I'm putting into my body, not just food. I'm pretty okay with that. I mean, the holidays through me, but that's everyone. Um, but also like other things I'm doing for my body. Like, I need to be more intentional that I am 44. And um there are things I don't need to keep pushing myself to do, and I need to make sure I spend more time doing other things. Like it's way more important for me to be spending more time with strength training and mobility than it is for me to push out crazy cardio workouts every day, you know? Um so just anyway, intentional is my word. Okay, so your word was intention, right? Which I don't even know what clip y'all played because I haven't really listened to the episode, but Katie told me my word was intention. So that right there can tell you how well I've done that word. Hell look.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

That's been my word for so long. But but you can't be a hundred percent of the time something. True. Just because this week, when you've had a zillion things going on, you maybe weren't as intentional as you wanted to be. What do you think over the course of the year, though, if you looked at the big picture?

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Oh, well, I'm gonna be real. This year was not the best. Okay? This was not the best year for me. It started off crazy back in March when Tori had appendicitis right before tech week for a show I was in. And I feel like ever since then, that third month of the year, things just there was just always something going on. Um, wait, right? Yes, because we're in dis No? Yes. Oh my god. Guys.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

Right, right.

A Hard Year And Small Wins

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Yeah, because then um, you know, and then my mom got sick, and then my mom died, and then Caden graduated, and then my mom died right after she graduated, and then et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Life, life, life. Um The only thing I think I actually did good with intention was I did get a new fitness certification under my belt and started a new class, which is good. Um, a musical theater fitness certification I got, which I'm the only American instructor as of current right now.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

So I and that's that consistency too. You know, you now consistently offer three classes a week. Well, that's three times to come.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

Well, that's also because I now have a location as of March last year, too. Uh or yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

But that's your intention. I think that's intentional that you said, I'm not just gonna go to people's houses, I'm not just gonna do it whenever. I need a spot to go, and these are the times I'm gonna go. Yeah, these are the times people can come.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Yeah, that actually, I mean, it worked out well for me because the way that even happened was I post a friend of mine, a realtor friend of ours, added me to a Facebook group for like local business owners, and I put I out of a crapsheet, I was like really tired of I like doing one-on-one training, but I enjoy classes, teaching classes more. Okay. And but I don't like working in a gym setting, which I've talked about before. So I was like, I've got to find some places to do classes because I was doing classes outside, and guys, no, it that is not the way. It's not the way. Uh and I posted in that group, hi, this is, you know, here's me. This is a little bit about me and my like fitness philosophy. I think a little bit outside the box. Um, if anybody knows of a space, you know, I'd love to start teaching classes. And a physical therapist saw it and was like, actually, I have a studio connected to my business and I'm trying to run it out, and you sound like you'd be a good fit. So we met up, and then anyway, that's how it happened. Perfect fit. So I think, uh, but like the other stuff that I really need to be intentional about.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Like what?

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Well, you know, I mean, I'm always intentional about my workouts because I have to be, because uh, it's my job. So it's and that for me is for mental clarity. So that's never a hard thing. Um, so I still need to be more intentional with relationship stuff, like with my like my husband, my kids. You know, that's the stuff that I feel like we are everybody is like, I've got to like make sure I spend more time. X, Y, Z. So I shall continue to work on that.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

So kind of carry that one over. And then have you thought about what you want your word to be for 2026? No. Haven't thought about it.

SPEAKER_01 13:49

I'm gonna think about it while you're talking about your word. Okay. Let's your word was what?

Building Classes And Finding Space

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Okay. My word was, well, let's listen to the clip. Um, my word is breakthrough. Ooh, okay. So that has to do with the podcast, of course. But um, I have so many projects that are just ready to like go to the next level. Got it. And that includes performing art studios, that includes writing projects that I've had going on for several years, some of them that are like ready for the next thing. And what I mean by that is like it doesn't even have to be, you know, millions of listeners or whatever, although I am holding a mug that says future best-selling author. I am manifesting everyone. Um, but it just that it's kind of like elevating to the next thing. And myself as a performer too, which is gonna be hard to do if I'm not auditioning, but that I got a whole year. I can do it later. Um, that like I can kind of like elevate up to whatever that next thing is for me. Um, and I think I think because of all the foundational work I've been doing, really the last five or six years, but certainly like the last year, year and a half, um, I'm ready for that. So that's mine. What's yours?

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Breakthrough.

SPEAKER_00 14:59

That's good.

unknown 15:01

There we go.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

That was fun. I actually have listened to the clip. But uh, my word was breakthrough. Right. Yeah. And I would say I haven't done that, but I took a lot of steps to get closer to that because I set myself up for that potentially to be a thing in 2026. Right.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

With your book, especially.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

Finishing the book was a was a huge one. Because it's something I've been working on. And then um just connecting with that publisher and being in talks now for my second book, which is the one I've been working on for like six years, and hopefully being able to get that out there, I feel like that that's great. Uh my studio, it it's interesting because there's like ebb and flow. So my studio like exploded in numbers and locations, and we're actually pulling back some. Which I am so proud of you for. Yes. So I was thinking about that. I'm like, well, does that is that the opposite of breakthrough? But I don't think so. I don't think it is.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

I think that's doing what you need to do to make sure you can keep doing what you're doing.

Relationships, Time, And Boundaries

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Exactly. Exactly. So we're um doing that, and then as far as like performing, I feel like ugh, because I really I I didn't perform this year at all. I was not in any shows. The last show I was in was Christmas Story last year. I wasn't in any events. I mean, I sang at our spring recital, I think.

SPEAKER_01 16:26

Yeah, but you're about to perform. Like you've been in rehearsals right now.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

Yeah, setup.

SPEAKER_01 16:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

So the breakthrough, not that like, oh, all of a sudden I'm gonna be an Academy Award-winning actress. I don't mean that. But y'all wait to know you guys can decide. But I am rehearsing for a pretty big role that will happen early 2026. So I feel like I've set those in motion. Well, were you trying to break through with performing? I always have, I always am. Always. But I mean, like, I would like to be considered uh more seriously as a performer. People want to hire.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

So you you still have that as a goal, even though you're owning your business. Girl, this bitch wants to do everything. She likes, I need to be a paid performer, I need to own three studios, I need to write a book. I need to teach.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Girl. Well, that that's the thing that's my biggest heart of hearts, though. That's the dream I've wanted since I was a kid. That's interesting to me because in my mind, I'm a performer first.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Because you know what? You know what I see you as first? What? As a teacher.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

Yeah, but I don't I don't like that. I don't want to be that first.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

But you're spending so much time doing that.

unknown 17:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

I mean, I have to now. It's my living. I don't really have a choice anymore.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

It's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Yeah. So I'm That's interesting to me. I don't I don't mean that I don't like teaching.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

I no, I feel that.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

I feel that. No, I get it. But I just feel that the teaching is getting in the way of being considered a performer. So I would like to somehow prove that I'm bat first. Not that I'm a bat, not that I can't be a teacher too, but like I want people to be like, I would like her in my show. I would like her in my commercial, I would like her to participate in this project I'm doing, and right now that doesn't happen. I I don't have time for my own it doesn't I mean I audition for things and don't get cast. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Like you haven't auditioned in a really long time.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Yeah, and that's a time thing, but before that, even like I'm having a lot of things.

SPEAKER_01 18:16

Well, I just meant in relation to that word.

Danny’s 2025 Word: Breakthrough

SPEAKER_00 18:18

I feel like I feel like right now every performing opportunity I have to create myself, which is fine.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

But you know what? I think that's because of the time.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

Yeah, and and partly.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

No, I think that's entirely because you don't have, like, for instance, you know, uh, for Christmas Carol. You're like, I don't have time for that this year. And you didn't.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Oh, didn't. I didn't. And I get that. But I guess what I'm saying, and so maybe that goes into I don't know, I don't know if it's a word, but like I want to make sure I'm performing in 2026. And that can be that can be. Well, you're about to. And I'm about to. Go done. Done. But that I'm that it's not, I think there's a, and we've talked about this, how there's a time and place for things to kind of get put in the back burner because you're focusing on something else. You're building a business, finishing a book. But I don't want it back there so long. Oh, I get it. It turns into, wow, I haven't been cast in something in five years or 10 years, or oh, I'm so busy with this that I'm not doing that. So I just, I just really want to make sure I don't have to be in a show every month of the year.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

Yeah, because people who be doing that are cray.

SPEAKER_00 19:24

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

Or they're also single.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

And I mean, I have a busy year, like obviously between my studio book, I don't know what that travel maybe travel and speaking might look like. My daughter's graduating. Like there's a lot going on. So I'm not saying I have to be in everything, but I also I never want and writing my book helped me remember that because a lot of my book is about revisiting the things that either you get talked out of or life talks you out of. And so I like I said, I don't want to be pigeonholed by others into well, you're a teacher. Oh no, I just meant I meant that at the at the at the what's the word? At the um And harming the other side of me. And that's up to me. That's up to me to not let that happen.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

I see. So I just need to also it's hard to like. I think when I said that, because what I'm what I'm saying is that not that you shouldn't, I just see you you are naturally good at teaching. Yes. And that doesn't necessarily mean that's your passion.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

And I love my students and I love seeing them succeed.

SPEAKER_01 20:23

Of course.

SPEAKER_00 20:24

But I think they're, and maybe it's selfish, but there's a part of me that's like, well, that's great. I want to succeed too.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Girl, I get it. Listen, people think all the time, because I am a trainer, like fitness is my passion. That's crazy. Now for some people it is. Sure. I'm good at it and I enjoy it. Right. But that's not like my favorite thing in life.

SPEAKER_00 20:44

Right.

SPEAKER_01 20:45

Right it may have been at one point, like I really, you know, but I enjoy it. I'm good at I'm I I'm good at teaching adults.

unknown 20:53

Yeah. Yeah. Adult. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

And and I mean, yeah. So all those things. And I have an entrepreneur. I have an entrepreneurial side. So having my business is is great for that.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

You know what? You do. It's interesting because you have a hustle mindset. Always, and that's really good. And I am not business minded and struggle. And Katie's always trying to help me. And I'm like, I don't want to do that. I'm like, what if you know because I think you know what it is? And I agree with you 100%, like finding time for the there's a book I've that's been sitting on my shelf, and I need to read it. It's called um finding your unicorn space. And it's really about making sure that you make time for your magical, like creating whatever it is that is your special thing, it's like finding the way. And like, listen, we do not all have the same 24 hours on a day. No, I hate it when people say that. We do not. Katie and I do not have the same 24 hours on a day. She has five kids, she got 80 jobs, she got well, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:02

No, I mean I yes, you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 22:05

It is much easier for me to squeeze in 45 minutes, 30 minutes to work out or whatever than it is for her. You have a lot more moving around shit to do. She gotta get up at 4 a.m. I don't have to get up at 4 a.m. Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. So like not everybody has a tw same 24 hours in a day.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

Right.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

And even like my 24 hours in a day is much different than it was 10 years ago.

SPEAKER_00 22:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 22:33

Totally.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

So I think being able to look at your own 24 hours in a day and say, I'm spending this much time doing XYZ, but I need, I want to make sure I at least am spending X like this amount of time doing, I get that. I get it. And I mean, as somebody who I love performing, it, you know, I don't, I really don't have any ambitions to like be a paid performer. If it happens, I will love that. And that is great. I mean, I'm doing a commercial this weekend, which is great. But that was just a circumstance that just fell into my lap. And it's not, and that was the lucky thing. I love performing and I'm grateful to get to do it again because I didn't do it for decades. Right. So it is scary when you have yeah, like when you have a moment and you weren't even away from it as even as long as me, but even just a few months that go by, you panic, right? Because it's like, oh shit, well, what if that happens again? And then I'm stuck in another decade.

Making Time For Creative Work

SPEAKER_00 23:28

Definitely. And like I said, writing the book, I talk about getting back to being informed. And it's not how much work that was. It's and I'm like, I don't want that to, and it won't, but it's it's I'm not saying any all of it's even rational, but that is it. So Right, I get it. So my word and we're gonna break through for this coming year. And I I struggle with this a little just because I feel like a resolution, quote unquote, or a word has to be something in your control, like intention. Um breakthrough really wasn't, but like like something that you can like work toward. But this one is the word I have is just abundance, and I'll tell you why. That's my word. Because of the hustle you talked about. I am um, I've been hustling hard forever. I got my first job when I was 14 and have been going ever since. Um, and parenting is a lot and work is a lot and all the things. Uh, but I'm at a point where I'm like, I think things are really about to blossom in some areas. And yes, that can be financial, but I don't even just mean that.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

I mean being able to enjoy and and maybe not hustle as much or hustle in a different way.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

I love that for you.

SPEAKER_00 24:39

Yeah. To to be like, okay, the book is done.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

Right.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

So now I can talk to people about it. Right. Or I can whatever, or my studio, like I have awesome teachers and we're pulling back a little. I don't have to do as many things. I can go, like I watched recital this past weekend, and you know, some of my students were in it, but a lot of them weren't my students. And I could that was an abundance moment to me where I could see like the fruits of like a thing that I planted, but other people are taking the ball and running, right? Like that was like five metaphors all in one. But yes, look at that.

SPEAKER_01 25:12

She's around.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

There you go. And I could sit there and enjoy it. Yeah, good for you. And I'm like, I want more moments of that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

In 2026. So that's mine.

SPEAKER_01 25:22

Abundance. That's good. And you know, I I yeah, because what's the point of all the hustling if you can't just chill and enjoy it?

unknown 25:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:29

Right.

Setting 2026 Word: Abundance

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Right. And and there'll be moments when I've got to hustle again. Oh, right. I mean, life, life, you know. To really, and what I mean by it too is is in like you said, enjoying and saying, wow, look at all these things that have happened that I can take a moment or longer and just sit with and enjoy and observe. Yeah. And not be like, okay, but now we gotta do this, this, this, this, and this. There'll be some of that, of course. But business ownership and like being alive. Right. But I think I can already see a vision of mom a lot of abundance moments for me, or even like like my second kid will graduate, enjoying that and being like, look, it was hard work to get here in both cases, and let's enjoy it for a moment. Yeah. So anyway, that's mine. Yeah. What do you think about yourself? I still have I'm going. I think worst case, if you don't have it today, you can circle back.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

It'll probably always have to be intention. Like I always have to be. You know, I don't know. I I mean, I think thinking I like to think of um when the new year comes, not about things I need to add to my life, about it's more about things I can scale back on.

SPEAKER_00 26:41

It's good.

SPEAKER_01 26:42

Um, because adding something can be super overwhelming, especially if you have anxiety. Hello, everybody, all of us right now.

SPEAKER_00 26:50

Or looking at things that are already going good and saying more of that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:54

And so I think I will maybe I don't I don't know what my word is, guys. I'll come back to it. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:01

You don't have to do that.

Scaling Back To Grow Well

SPEAKER_01 27:01

I think I I mean things I want to keep doing, like, you know, I've been really something that I have done the past couple years is I've really been serious about dance classes because I feel like I forgot how much I really I've never called myself a dancer, um, which is silly because if you dance, you're a dancer. You know, you don't have to, that doesn't mean you're a plus pro. But I forgot how much I really just enjoy it. And I mean, I take two classes a week and I very rarely miss, like, because I'm like, you said you needed to work on it. And the nice thing is it can be a business expense for me because it counts as continuing education for training and workouts and stuff like that. Uh and then I, you know, everything is so expensive right now though, which sucks because I know I'm like, Cooper and I have got to start doing both voice lessons again. But it's like, you know, I can't count that as a business. I've tried. I was like, I asked my accountant, like, how can I count? She's like, yeah, no, you don't it's not.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

Yeah, it's not a direct, like, I know, I know.

SPEAKER_01 28:07

Like, I so wish I could. But you know, I mean, he does plenty at school. I mean, he's still doing things.

SPEAKER_00 28:14

He is.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

So I have to find ways to continue to work on that on my own and not think it has to be inexpensive, like all or nothing. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That's a great point. We do that to ourselves. We're like, well, if I if I'm not in like a voice lesson every week, well, you can still do things at home.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

You can do absolutely it's just like fitness.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

If you can't make it to my class, you can go for a walk.

SPEAKER_00 28:35

Absolutely. Five minutes is better than nothing or whatever. Always. Yeah. And that's a fitness is a good example, but that's true with everything. I really added my writing too. I think what finally got my book over the finish line was not thinking I needed several hours at a time. Yeah. Was being like, I'm gonna get up, I'm gonna write for 20 minutes every single day, and then the days I've got extra time or extra blocks, then I'll do it. And that those 20 minutes at a time add up. Yeah. And I think that was, I mean, that's a lesson I'm constantly trying to remind myself of not to have that all or nothing mentality. It's hard. It is hard.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

It is hard. It's just like, for instance, with your business, you know, when you started growing, it's like, well, let me have this location, let's do another location, let's do bigger and bigger and bigger, which was great. But now it's time for you to be like, actually, let's scale back a bit.

The Podcast’s 2026 Focus

SPEAKER_00 29:27

Yeah. And I think all those decisions were the right ones. And sure. And and in all cases, it was opportunities that came to me. Right. It wasn't something I was seeking out. So then to now go, I mean, for those who are listening, they're like, what are you talking about? We aren't gonna have multiple locations going into 2026. We're coming back to Satellite Beach. Uh, and thankfully, a lot of families, that's fine with them. Some families, it's inconvenient for them to come here and um hopefully we'll see them again in a future iteration. And but you know, that's life, especially right now. Especially finances be hard. Yeah, and and that's the thing too. There's people that maybe wouldn't have come back in the new year anyway, understandably, because another activity is starting, especially with youth stuff or money's tight or you know, whatever. So I just um it's good to kind of make a decision, even if a couple people or more are disappointed or whatever, but you know it's right for you and your staff and your mental health and all the things. Okay, so let's talk about then the podcast. I mean, obviously a word, right? I think growth is still there. I just think how the growth happens, right? Like I think connecting what we haven't done a lot of is connecting with other communities like ours.

SPEAKER_01 30:41

I know.

SPEAKER_00 30:42

And I think we should do more of that.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

Like we went to Podfest in January and that was kind of it.

Community, Events, And Outreach

SPEAKER_00 30:47

That's kind of good. So whether it's like listening to other ones and leaving comments, well, I've listened to I've got that down. I listen to you. But I mean like people in our spaces, maybe like in 80s, 90s, vintage, whatever. Yeah, true, true, true. Um, we could look for some events. I think I've been saying forever that I'm gonna write um one of my ghost story letters to to morbid, even though they don't they don't do the same kind of podcast as us, but I know they'll give us a shout-out if they read it. You know, simple stuff like that, where we can kind of get our get in front of people who will be enthusiastic about what we're doing outside of our listeners who are awesome.

SPEAKER_01 31:25

Yeah, I think it would be helpful for us to go to to events to uh hear.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:31

You know, like the America's Antiq Mall, they had like a decades day and they did like 80s, but neither one of us could go because it we were both doing right whatever. So yeah, I guess we just have to figure that out.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Maybe our word could be I don't know if it should be like connection or networking or outreach. I don't know. Outreach. Outreach, like going to events and like oh seeking out. I'm thinking of like charity. Oh, I see what you mean. Like philanthropic work.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

That's what I thought you meant. I'm like, what?

SPEAKER_00 32:04

I mean, that's great. Not that I don't want to do that. But everything we just said, try to work.

SPEAKER_01 32:11

Well, let's think about it and come back again. This episode has worked well for Katie. Not for our podcast or me.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

And and abundance applies to the podcast too. We've got the content. So let's get the ears in even more, even more people. Yeah. And I think that that will um also lead to more opportunities for the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 32:31

Every time you say abundance, I'm picturing I'm picturing Billy Porter saying abundance in my head, and I don't know why. But I think it's because you never watch the show Pose.

SPEAKER_00 32:39

Yeah, I watch Pose. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

Yeah. Was there not like a house of abundance or something on there?

SPEAKER_00 32:44

Yeah. I think you're right.

SPEAKER_01 32:46

I keep that up in my head hearing Billy Porter say abundance.

Listener Words And Reflections

SPEAKER_00 32:51

I thought, I don't know why I thought you were gonna say this, but I thought you were gonna say you thought of like a cornucopia with like what? That's what I think of with like the gourds. Oh, like an abundance. Yeah. Oh my god. I don't know why.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

Well, I said Billy Porter instead. That did not go with cornucopia.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

That's why my face was like, even though I know who Billy Porter is.

SPEAKER_01 33:11

Abundance. That's I got we're gonna have to look this up because it's gonna don't worry. I'm not gonna do it right now because that never goes well.

SPEAKER_00 33:17

Well, let us know, listeners, what your words are or goals or resolutions, or honestly, I would love to know what you're proud of from this year. Tell us. Send us a message. Maybe we'll even do a little shout out on Instagram and people.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

We've been really bad about those lately.

SPEAKER_00 33:32

Yeah, and ask you guys because I think that's the best place to start is the reflection is to look at like and look, I ordered my journals. I was like, Katie, Katie's missing out on a whole New Year's Eve party so she can journal. Look, if I'm done, maybe. I already said no, so you're not planning on making it.

SPEAKER_01 33:50

Girl, there's like 70 people coming. It don't just come on.

SPEAKER_00 33:53

My uh my daughter asked me about it, Eric. She's like, Are we going to this? And I said, Oh, we're not. She's like, Oh, faith and dad. I was like, we'll see. It was just funny. I go, I don't think fids are allowed. And she was like, Well, I'm just gonna meet up with them and go do anyway.

SPEAKER_01 34:06

I said, well, here's a here's what I said to Cooper. I said, This is an adult party that I'm allowing teenagers to be at.

SPEAKER_00 34:13

Right. Makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 34:14

And I said, because Troy and I were trying to do Spotify list, and Cooper's like, I want to add stuff. I said, he's like, well, my friend, I said, I don't care about your friends. I mean, I said, care about a friendship, but the player is not a good one. Like, but you're not inviting people who aren't just gonna be here because their parents are here. Right. Like Aaron is not coming without no Amelia's different because SK is a girl. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, and if Daphne's parents don't come, she ain't coming.

SPEAKER_00 34:33

Right.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

Like, I'm not taking I'm not responsible for nobody.

SPEAKER_00 34:36

No, no.

SPEAKER_01 34:37

And also, I don't like young children. So teenagers are fine because they will do their own thing.

SPEAKER_00 34:43

They will.

SPEAKER_01 34:43

I do not care. You can walk around the neighborhood, I don't give a care. You know what I'm saying? Right. Like, take the golf cart, go do whatever you want. But I I told I was like, you need to quit telling people this is your New Year's Eve party.

SPEAKER_00 34:54

Yeah. Because then yeah, like it is not your party. Right. It's your party.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

It is mine and dad's party that y'all are allowed to be at. Right. And if people just happen to have kids, teenagers, they can bring them.

SPEAKER_00 35:07

Of course.

SPEAKER_01 35:08

Otherwise, it's a na. It's a nah.

Journals, Routines, And Real Life

SPEAKER_00 35:12

Awesome. But now look, now your kid is gonna be like, oh, well, she's gonna be the one that talks to me in the coming, I guess. Not that I'm to, but listen, guys.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

You heard it here first.

SPEAKER_00 35:23

So usually the day after Christmas is when I start journaling. I'm not kidding. So it's very possible by the 31st I'm gonna be all squared away. Okay. It's very possible.

SPEAKER_01 35:32

And meanwhile, I try so hard and I can't do it. I will I will start off great. Like the journal you gave me last year. I started off for about a week or two great and then you should reread it.

unknown 35:43

Alright.

SPEAKER_01 35:44

You should. Well, I should probably still won't do it. But okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:46

Not saying you need to write it, just reread it.

SPEAKER_01 35:48

I have so many unfinished notebooks for what you wrote. So many unfinished journals. So many. So many.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

That's okay. Well, listeners, thanks so much for being here for all of 2025. We're looking forward to an awesome 2026. Woo! We're cheering for you. Whatever is on your list this coming year, and continue sharing us with your friends. And give us a review, all the things.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Yeah, and buckle up for more eighties and nineties fun stuff coming.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

Oh my god, we've got some fun plans. All right. We'll see you guys soon and happy new year.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

Happy New Year.

SPEAKER_00 36:19

Bye.