In this episode, Angie and Shelly dive into the idea of success and how wildly different it can look depending on where you are in life. They talk about why measuring success only by money misses the point, how goals need to be personal and flexible, and why so many of us set ourselves up to fail by aiming for things that were never realistic in the first place.

This is an honest conversation about redefining success, setting goals that are attainable and sustainable, and giving yourself permission to measure your life by what actually matters to you.

💰 Why Success Is Not Just About Money
How financial stability can reduce stress but does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment

🧠 Success Changes With Seasons of Life
Why what felt like success at thirty may look completely different at fifty

❤️ Time as a Measure of Success
Having time for people you love, rest, travel, and experiences that fill you up

🌍 Experiences Over Things
Why travel, culture, food, and shared memories matter more than stuff

📋 Working Backwards From a Goal
How starting with the end in mind helps you break big dreams into realistic steps

⚖️ Big Goals vs Real Life
Why setting goals that ignore your current reality almost always leads to burnout

🍽️ The Weight Loss Example
How unrealistic expectations and all or nothing thinking sabotage progress

🔁 Micro Adjustments Add Up
Why small consistent changes matter more than dramatic overhauls

🪜 Saying Yes Means Saying No
How every commitment costs time and energy and why that matters

🧘 You Only Have So Many Spoons
Why you cannot do everything every day and how choosing your priorities helps

📝 Counting What You Did Do
Why acknowledging your daily wins changes how you see yourself

💬 People Pleasing and Authenticity
Why not everyone has to like you and why that is actually okay

🌱 Grace and Patience With Yourself
Why change takes longer than we want and why that does not mean you are failing

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In this episode, Angie and Shelly dive into the topic of AI in the most Hot Flash Chronicles way possible. It starts with cookie baking, food talk (obviously), and quickly turns into a very real conversation about how artificial intelligence is already part of our daily lives. From AI phone assistants and social media trends to fears about jobs, body image, creativity, and authenticity, this episode balances humor with thoughtful insight.

They talk about what they would love an AI clone to handle, what they never want it touching, and why intention matters more than the technology itself.

🍪 Cookie Baking and Food Detours Russian tea cakes, German cookies, biscotti, sourdough, and why every episode somehow becomes a food episode

🤖 If We Had an AI Version of Ourselves Cleaning grout, folding laundry, making phone calls, potty training dogs, and doing all the chores we hate

📞 Real Life AI in Business Angie shares how her AI receptionist is booking clients and why transparency matters

🚗 Smart Cars and Coffee Cup Alerts When your rental car thinks you need caffeine and starts judging your life choices

🧠 How AI Is Changing Work From programming to customer service to education and why prompting is becoming a real skill

📸 AI Images and Social Media Holiday trends, filters, viral prompts, and the difference between fun and misrepresentation

💄 Is AI Harmful to Women A real conversation about body image, feminism, filters, makeup, and intention

📷 Why Real Photos Still Matter Why connection, trust, and human presence cannot be replicated by AI

⚖️ Good Bad or Somewhere in the Middle Why most technology lands in the gray area and how humans adapt

🔮 The Future of AI Will AI talk to other AI, replace jobs, create new ones, or just continue to evolve alongside us

😂 Rapid Fire and Food Closes Fig sourdough, New Year intentions, vision boards, and pistachio gelato dreams

📢 Follow and Support the Podcast 🎧 Podcast Episodes: https://hotflashchroniclespodcast.podbean.com 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-flash-chronicles/id1802239722 🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5f8iMNCItgjL79nC1jXA5w 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HotflashChronicles 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HotFlashChronicles 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotflashchroniclespodcast 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotflashchronicles 🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotflashchronicles

💬 If you had an AI clone, what task would you hand off immediately and what would you never let it touch. Be honest. We want to know.

Angie and Shelly are all in on the holiday spirit in this light and funny episode. From weather shifts and morning coffee rituals with dogs to the chaos of family travel, Friendsgiving, quartets, and cookie baking days, this conversation is full of real life holiday energy. They share the traditions they love, the ones they have outgrown, and the ones they are reinventing as grownups.

This one is warm, cozy, relatable, and keeps the holiday stress to a minimum.

☕ Cozy Season Vibes Dark mornings, fuzzy blankets, warm drinks, and dogs who may or may not be on social media

🎄 Decorating on Your Own Terms From three trees to one tree, from garlands to just a few sparkly touches, finding what feels right this year

🦃 Thanksgiving Recap Travel, traffic, Friendsgiving that lasted till midnight, and a smoked turkey that absolutely slapped

📅 Holiday Scheduling Without Regret Learning to plan ahead, block days off, and say no without guilt

🎁 Gift Giving With Less Stress Buying for grandkids, choosing experiences, sticking to budgets, and not needing to shop for twenty eight people ever again

🔥 Holiday Food Love Turkey, brisket dreams, oysters in the smoker, curry wonton soup, homemade candy, and Angie’s sourdough selling out

✨ Traditions That Stick Christmas tacos, Chinese food on the day after Christmas, nostalgic memories, cookie baking days, and favorite ornaments

💬 Social Comfort Zones Why some parties feel amazing and others feel like a hostage situation, and how to honor what works for you

😂 Sandwich Ploppers and Childhood Craft Projects Kitchen gadgets, sentimental preschool ornaments, blown glass bird decor, and the stories behind them

📢 Follow and Support the Podcast 🎧 Podcast Episodes: https://hotflashchroniclespodcast.podbean.com 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-flash-chronicles/id1802239722 🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5f8iMNCItgjL79nC1jXA5w 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HotflashChronicles 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HotFlashChronicles 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotflashchroniclespodcast 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotflashchronicles 🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotflashchronicles

💬 What are your must do traditions this time of year? Do you decorate early, shop late, bake with friends, or lean into quiet nights? Tell us how you make the season feel special.