Hi. This is my most vulnerable episode yet. I cry multiple times. If you have been a consistent listener, you probably know who Ben is. If you are new here, Ben was a bonus big brother of mine who passed away at the beginning of 2025. There have been little snippets of him on the podcast over the past year. Now feltlike a good time to dedicate an episode to the things he taught me, stories of how he lived, and the complexities of grieving someone young. If you knew Ben personally, please only watch or listen to this if you think it will help you. I do not want this to make anyone any sadder than you might already feel. Thereis not much more to say. I hope you take something from this episode.

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Jumping in the pool & doing what Ben said

00:26 – Welcome to The Good Stuff

00:38 – A different and deeply personal episode

01:12 – Why today’s episode is about Ben

02:46 – Growing up with Ben as family

03:15 – Losing Ben & letting life guide the timing

04:14 – Honoring anniversaries and grief

05:24 – Choosing privacy and intentional sharing

06:44 – Who Ben was and why he mattered

07:02 – Ben’s cancer journey & living vibrantly

08:23 – Celebrations of life and shared impact

09:43 – Grief when someone passes too young

12:22 – Ben as the oldest and paving the way

15:08 – Shifting to lessons from Ben’s life

17:04 – A sticky note, crazy faith, and hope

21:50 – Story 1: My third birthday & the Barbie Jeep

25:40 – What that story says about Ben

26:17 – Story 2: Paddle tennis, losing, and jumping in the pool

29:04 – Story 3: Ben’s meticulous notes to help others

30:49 – Story 4: A moment at the river in Montana

34:29 – Seeing Ben live on through others

37:26 – Two celebrations, one consistent character

39:37 – Quiet kindness and unseen impact

40:29 – What Ben taught me

42:15 – Lessons: strength, integrity, and meaning

43:49 – Honoring people by carrying them with you

44:36 – Final reflections and gratitude

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“I can’t say that New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day are my favorite holidays. I actually think they are super overrated. But, it is an inspiring time as it feels like the world and people around you are motivated to start fresh and do better. And while I am not a big New Year’s Resolution person (because I just like to course correct as issues present themselves), I do like to reflect onthe previous year to see what I can take from it. This year I put together 25 things I learned in 2025. Unlike my birthday episode, these are all really things that presented themselves to me in the last year. Some lessons were tough, some were surprising, and some were affirming. But, I feel like they allare making me a better version of myself as I head into 2026. I hope you feel seen in some of what I chat about. And most of all, I hope you enjoy it!” – xo,Caitlin

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
00:40 – Welcome to The Good Stuff + NewYear’s Eve episode setup01:15 – Why this episode: reflecting on 25 lessons from202503:05 – #1 It’s okay to change your mind04:45 – #2 Your friendships really matter07:10 – #3 You can’t have a village without being avillager14:20 – #4 Do the right thing just because it’s right16:00 – #5 Be good with yourself first18:10 – #6 Nobody is going to do it for you20:00 – #7 Believe in what you’re good at21:45 – #8 We create most of our own ceilings25:30 – #9 If someone is meant to be in your life,they’ll be there26:40 – #10 Don’t wait until it’s too late to saysomething30:15 – #11 Take (and accept) help31:40 – #12 “That person doesn’t need to hear thatthought”35:00 – #13 Let your loyalty be loud37:30 – #14 A friend to all is a friend to none41:00 – #15 You can’t get better without trying42:45 – #16 Imitation is flattering… until it’s annoying44:10 – #17 Cutting my hair changed how I see myself46:15 – #18 Don’t make a relationship your entireidentity49:10 – #19 There’s a difference between being nice andbeing kind51:00 – #20 Honesty should be gentle 53:10 – #21 We’re all just big kids55:00 – #22 See the other person’s perspective (withhumility)57:00 – #23 Treat people how you want to be treated58:20 – #24 You can’t beg someone into caring59:40 – #25 Feelings aren’t facts01:02:30 – Final reflections + New Year’s Eve thoughts01:04:20 – 2026 intention: Weekly Good Stuff episodes01:05:00 – Outro & where to follow the podcast

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We can find joy in the biggest moments and smallest things in life. It is also a word used commonly around the holidays. There is such a focus on seeking joy through the activities we do, traditions we have, and people we spend our time with. Joy is celebratory. Much like hope, it is also active. In this episode, Caitlin goes through many renditions of the word joy – assessing all the places you can find it in your life. She talks about some recent motivation and encouragement she found in her work life. Caitlin also gives her listeners permission to understand that their joy might look different than other peoplein their lives. And, that is OK. People don’t have to always understand what makes you happy, but they do have to respect it. She ends the episode with a story that she classifies as a Christmas miracle. Things get a little weird in a good way. Hope you enjoy this episode. Send it to at least one friend to share with their families this holiday season!

p.s. The Good Stuff is now on YouTube! Subscribe here

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction of The Good Stuff
05:28 – Introducing the word of the episode: Joy
06:18 – What joy really means when you strip it down
07:54 – Why joy feels amplified during the holidays
08:55 – Being “allowed” to be happy during Christmas
10:12 – Gratitude, loss, and rediscovering joy after hard seasons
12:05 – Christmas lights, routines, and everyday magic
13:48 – Finding joy while working late and chasing the life you asked for
18:33 – Seeing joy through Erin Andrews and loving your dream job
22:42 – Being paid for your opinion and owning your confidence
27:25 – Letting yourself feel proud and how joy builds momentum
29:15 – The Christmas soldier story and joy tied to nostalgia

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