Redefining “Living the Dream” with Meg Puglisi
EP 016: Meg Puglisi
504 Facilitator, Pastry Chef, and Scuba Enthusiast
Meg Puglisi shares her “topsy-turvy” career journey from Pastry Chef to 504 Facilitator. Through trial and error, Meg has learned that sometimes what you think is going to be the dream, turns out to not be what you’re looking for. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and that’s okay! By embracing the unexpected and finding joy in the freedom, in her experience at least, you can find more happiness than you had ever imagined. It takes work, support, self-acceptance, and usually a little bit of therapy, but by doing the work you wind up resilient as hell and happier than before, and after all, isn’t that the dream?
EPISODE OUTLINE
[00:00:24] Terrible bumper stickers
[00:07:05] How did she get here?
[00:14:00] Learning to teach
[00:25:38] Knowing where your skills lie
[00:33:00] PSA: go to therapy
[00:45:02] Nobody knows anything at 18 years old
[00:56:57] Closing Q&A
RESOURCES
Where to Find Us:
Meg Puglisi’s Cupcake Enterprise on Instagram
How to Support the Show:
Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org
Follow/Leave a review on Spotify
TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:00] Aubrey: Hi there. Quick housekeeping notes: we have some super fun things in the works that I have been teasing here and there over the last few months, and they are almost ready to launch. So if you want to stay in the know and get all the details, maybe hang out with us more often, be sure to subscribe to our email list by heading to our website, goldenapproachpodcast.com. I promise not to spam the hell out of your inbox.
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[00:00:24] Meg: Life happens. Like, it's a terrible bumper sticker but it is the truest statement out there. You plan and God laughs and things, like your priorities, are gonna change. You're gonna get somewhere and they're gonna tell you that you're not good enough, or you're not what they are looking for, and that is fine. Like, who cares? I spent a lot of my life trying to fit in
[00:01:00] Meg: with the cool kids. You don't need to be one of the cool kids because your friends think you're cool, and don't change who you are to fit in someone else's box. The people who are meant to stick around are gonna stick around, and the same thing goes with your job.
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[00:01:21] Aubrey: Welcome to the Golden Approach Podcast. If you've listened before, it means the world to have you back. And if you're new here, I have no doubt you'll find some helpful little nuggets, but first let me give you some super brief context about myself and the show. I'm Aubrey. I've spent the majority of my career as a pastry chef in elite companies with lots of stars, diamonds, James Beard nods, wins, and so forth. And while I love all things food and beverage, what really ties it together for me is the art of caring for others. On this show, I'm excited to share all I've come to learn and introduce you to other talented and insightful professionals, F&B or not, who are passionate
[00:02:00] Aubrey: about making the world a better place. I have full confidence that together we can cultivate growth and meaningful connections as individuals, communities, and in any form of workplace. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff.
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[00:02:15] Aubrey: How often do you feel like time is racing and life is chaos, no matter how hard you try to organize it? On this episode, my guest Meg and I discuss how we keep up with the topsy turvy-ness that just comes with being alive; lamenting, swapping advice, and encouraging each other along the way. Meg and I met working at a teaching kitchen here in Baltimore, where we eventually grew into full-time roles, and fostered a close friendship along the way. As a result, we were able to have a really open and honest conversation about the importance of quality support (especially from therapy), overcoming shame in all its forms, and simply embracing this journey of life. I couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up the first year of the Golden Approach Podcast,
[00:03:00] Aubrey: and I'm so happy to introduce you to Meg Puglisi.
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[00:03:06] Aubrey: First and foremost Meg, thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate you doing this, and for those who don't know you, can you introduce yourself for us?
[00:03:18] Meg: Sure. So, my name is Meg Puglisi. I am, I don't, what, I don't even know what I am. I've done so many things in my life that I can't really, like, label myself as anything.
[00:03:28] Aubrey: Well, give us, like, what do you do? What do you like to do?
[00:03:31] Meg: Okay. I like to scuba dive, so much so that I emblazoned my entire right arm and shoulder with aquatic-themed animals. I am a crazy cat lady. Soon to be a crazy cat and dog lady and that's gonna be a really weird transition for me, but I'm super excited
[00:03:54] Aubrey: For everyone's sake, we will include an adorable photo of Baby Maple, so she can be introduced to the world, as well as [00:04:00] her kitty buddies.
[00:04:02] Meg: I'll get a collage sent over for you.
[00:04:04] Aubrey: Excellent. No one's ever mad about cute animal photos being provided, So, the more the merrier.
[00:04:09] Meg: Absolutely.
[00:04:10] Aubrey: And what do you do?
[00:04:12] Meg: What do I do? Right now, I am a 504 facilitator for a local school district. So, basically, my job is to work with kids who have disabilities, and their parents, their teachers, and their school counselors, and anybody else who might be involved in their lives to figure out what supports and accommodations they need in the classroom and during standardized testing, to be successful and to provide them with equal access to the curriculum that everyone else is getting. So it's a lot of paperwork and running meetings, but I really really like it. It's not a job that I thought I was ever going to do and it wasn't something I was super excited about when the position was offered to me, but I have
[00:05:00] Meg: grown to really love it. And yeah.
[00:05:03] Aubrey: Don't worry, we're gonna dig into that one a bit more. For context, I just want to paint a little bit of a wider lens for people because I know you and I know your background. But I think it's interesting, the kind of transitional journey that you've gone through from where you started in your career to where you are now. And this is something that, like I said, I promise I'm going to tie it all together in the end. But for those listening, can you please tell a little bit more about sort of where you started and how you ended up as a 504 facilitator? Because you're actually also a pastry chef.
[00:05:37] Meg: Correct. You want the whole, you want the whole story.
[00:05:40] Aubrey: Like what's your, what's your highlight reel from culinary school to 504 facilitator? Because that is an interesting career path that I don't think most people have gone through.
[00:05:51] Meg: Absolutely. Okay, so I feel like it's important to mention if we're starting at the beginning, I'm the oldest of four kids. My dad is an
[00:06:00] Meg: accountant. He picked being an accountant because it was the first thing listed, like the first major listed in the course selection guide. If it had been in reverse, he would have been a zoologist. So that's, that's that.
[00:06:10] Aubrey: That's excellent.
[00:06:11] Meg: Uh, so my mom, more importantly, is a special educator by trade. She created and ran special education programs in the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic schools for like, 20/25 years and has since moved into private practice and executive functioning coaching and therapy and that kind of thing. So growing up, I was kind of surrounded with that lens in my life. I am also somebody who had an IEP from the time I was in fourth grade all the way through college and culinary school. I have ADHD and...
[00:06:49] Aubrey: Real quick Meg for those who don't know what an IEP is, can you please tell us what that is?
[00:06:55] Meg: Yeah, so an IEP is an Individualized Education Plan.
[00:07:00] Meg: I really probably should know that.
[00:07:02] Aubrey: That's okay, I'm pretty sure that's correct.
[00:07:05] Meg: Yeah, same thing as a 504, it's just handled a little bit differently. So I have ADHD and dysgraphia, which is like stuttering, but writing. So I have a lot of difficulty with handwriting. I was the kid who was never allowed to write the notes on the chalkboard, in like middle school. And it's still a sore subject for me. Even 20 years later, I'm just like, one day, uh. I typed everything from the time that I got diagnosed in fourth grade. And, so I just required a lot of supports in school growing up. My teachers were very flexible and accommodating. They knew where my strengths were and where my weaknesses were, and they definitely helped to make sure that those strengths outshined the weaknesses. So when I was in high school, I got a reputation as being the girl who bakes a lot. When I was a freshman,
[00:08:00] Meg: I had grown up playing soccer and they don't offer soccer as a spring sport in high school in Maryland, at least. And so I had to pick something else. And I decided to go out for lacrosse knowing that there was only one varsity team. We didn't have a JV and I'd never played before in my life, but I said, this is really fun. And it seems like it could be a good time. And. Let's just see how it goes. Miraculously, I made the team, the varsity squad. And yeah, I don't know that anybody got cut that year, but I
[00:08:32] Aubrey: Give yourself the win. Don't talk yourself out of the win.
[00:08:36] Meg: Absolutely. But I am very appreciative for my coach for giving me that opportunity because I started playing and I got really close to that group of girls. One of the juniors on my team came up to me like a month into the season and she's like, you know, you really suck at lacrosse, and I said, yeah I know, and she said I hear you like to bake, and if you bake me a birthday cake
[00:09:00] Meg: I will teach you how to play.
[00:09:01] Aubrey: Okay, cool.
[00:09:02] Meg: So I made just like a box funfetti cake with the canned chocolate frosting and rainbow dinosaur sprinkles from the Amish market, brought it in and everybody was just like hooked because nothing gets high schoolers excited like free food. Nothing.
[00:09:19] Aubrey: Truly. No wiser words have been spoken.
[00:09:21] Meg: Yeah. So, I built this reputation over the course of my high school career and, you know, going into junior, senior year, you're starting to look at what you want to do with your life and one of my teachers said you like to bake, right? And I said, yeah. And he said you should go to culinary school. Turn this into a career, I think you'd be really good at it. And I said, okay. And I applied. I went and did a shadow day at Johnson and Wales University down in Charlotte, North Carolina, and instantly fell in love. Knew that was where I was going to attend college. It was the only school I applied to. I got in and started the baking and pastry arts and food
[00:10:00] Meg: service management program. And so then I graduated college, didn't know what I was going to do after, just really overwhelmed. And I was like, all right, I'll just go back home and I'll lifeguard this summer and that'll be great. And like January of my senior year of college, I got an email from the, you know, career recruitment center. And they said we have people coming to do interviews from Augusta National Golf Club. And they're looking for people to work at the masters. And I was like, I don't care about golf. Golf is dumb. But I called my parents and I just casually mentioned it. My dad was just like, stop, stop. No, you are going and you were working at the masters. And I did, and it turned out to be, without a doubt, one of the most influential pieces of my life to date, which you know all too well.
[00:10:48] Aubrey: Oh, I know, for the passion of the masters.
[00:10:52] Meg: But so my first master's tournament, I met a restaurant manager and she, you know, slipped me her business card on her way
[00:11:00] Meg: out the last night and she said, give me a call. I want you to come work for me. And, you know, I didn't know this girl. I'd met her eight days ago. She bullied me into a new nickname, which I now wear with the biggest pride one can have. Marge, my alter ego of Master's Week fame, but I didn't know this chick and I was like, alright, sure. I'll, I'll go work for you. Didn't know where she lived or, you know, the, what I was getting myself into, went home, Googled it. I ended up at the Ocean House, which is a Forbes 15-star hotel in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. So they have a five-star spa, a five-star hotel, and then I was on the team that earned them the 15-star, like the five-star restaurant. and it was, again, a really pivotal moment of my life. Working in fine dining at that caliber is a character builder, if I've ever seen one.
[00:11:51] Aubrey: That's a really nice way to put it.
[00:11:55] Meg: You learn so many things and you have really cool experiences. I hated New England in the winter.
[00:12:00] Meg: I stayed for like two summers and the winter in between and I said, I cannot do another winter I need warm weather. And I had a friend who had a spare bedroom in Charleston. So I moved to Charleston and I worked at Kew Island Golf Resort and got burnt out from the hotel industry, especially five-star hotels. Like fine dining, Forbes, all of that is very taxing on the soul and the body.
[00:12:28] Aubrey: I think I've mentioned this on the show before, but I compare it to dog years. I claim that like one year in the hospitality of elite hotels is equivalent to three years of regular life of wear and tear on your mind and body.
[00:12:39] Meg: That sounds right.
[00:12:40] Aubrey: But anyway, so yeah, so we all burn out eventually.
[00:12:45] Meg: Yeah, got burnt out. I was fat and broke and I'm like, all right, time to move back in with mom and dad because all you do in Charleston is eat. When I wasn't working, I was going to all the restaurants because the restaurants, they're so good.
[00:12:56] Aubrey: Honestly, it is one of my favorite cities in the South. I highly recommend
[00:13:00] Aubrey: to anyone. I think Charleston and New Orleans are by far the best Southern food cities.
[00:13:06] Meg: Absolutely. Road trip.
[00:13:08] Aubrey: Yeah, there's like, there's only better bites. There's no bad bites of food in those cities. It's just truly remarkable. So everyone should just give them a, you know, a checkout but yeah, so you ended up in Charleston and then you moved home?
[00:13:20] Meg: And then I moved back home.
[00:13:21] Aubrey: Because the industry is cruel.
[00:13:22] Meg: The industry is cruel. That is, yes, correct. And once again, I was just like, uh, I don't know where I'm going to go from here. I don't know what I'm going to do. And my mom ran into one of her former co-workers doing their normal Sunday grocery shopping. And, she was, you know, asking about me and how I was doing. My mom said, she moved home and she's, contemplating going into teaching, which was something that I had always kind of considered doing just because I like working with people and I like working with kids, and the idea of teaching culinary would be really cool. And her friend said, send her to Arundel. We're looking to expand our culinary program.
[00:14:00] Meg: And I went in as a sub, got pulled into the main office on my way out the door, and they said we have an opening for a long-term sub position for six weeks as a math teacher. And I was like, oh, gross, but okay. You know, I have nothing better to do with my life. Sure. And six weeks turned into seven years. So I only taught four classes out of six. I was getting paid two-thirds of a salary and still working part-time in the restaurant industry for those first like two years or so, because they were just working to expand the program and we expanded it big enough, at one point, that we had two full-time culinary teachers, plus two full-time child development teachers. It was really, really special.
[00:14:40] Aubrey: Wow. Wow.
[00:14:41] Meg: Yeah, did that for seven years. Loved it. Started working part-time in November of 2021 at a family-owned teaching kitchen teaching culinary classes, which is where I met you and the whole squad. I decided to try that as a full-time position. I was getting burnt out from teaching. Just
[00:15:00] Meg: grading papers, and classroom discipline, and cell phone addictions ruined the thing that I loved. And I was like there are more aspects of this job that I dislike than I like. And that's when you know, it's time to go. So I left, worked full time. Teaching classes and helping run the show at the teaching kitchen left that and got a call from the administrator at my current position and he said I know that you're in the pool to be a work-based learning facilitator, so someone who helps kids get internships within like the same school district, but we have an opening for a 504 facilitator. Is that something you want to do? And I said, well, uh, as long as you understand that I went to culinary school. I have no background in special ed aside from having a IEP growing up and my mom and I'm a career changer. Sure.
[00:15:58] Aubrey: Yeah, that's so it's interesting to me.
[00:16:00] Aubrey: Well, I guess the way I should put it is that you know, I think at least growing up, it was always sort of like, okay, well, what do you want to be when you grow up? And then you have to pick something, and then they help you build your career path, and you have to do all the little steps along the way, right? And the story you're telling, and I feel like also from my own personal experience when I tell people sort of bits of my path, they're just like, what? That's an interesting journey. I'm like, you know what? That's what happens when you just follow life as it guides you and you sort of listen to yourself and what you're experiencing, how you feel about things. Maybe you don't know exactly what you want your life to look like, but you know how you want it to feel. And so you make choices based on that. And so I just think it's interesting for people to hear the different like twists and turns of how people get where they are because we're not really in a world anymore where it is so streamlined or so, you know, to the point of do this career path, pick the job, work the job for 20 years.
[00:17:00] Aubrey: Or, you know, even longer, and then you get your pension and you retire. That's just not the world that you and I live in. Yeah, no, or is probably ever coming back. So I just, yeah, I think it's really interesting how that happened, but also I think it's really cool how different people saw you for the skills that you offered and for the person that you were versus just like what was on your resume and what's on a piece of paper. I think there's something really interesting about that as well. So yeah, I don't know. I think there's a lot of interesting takeaways from doing this kind of really topsy-turvy journey that you've been on.
[00:17:33] Meg: Yeah, it, it, and it, in the last year, it has been extra topsy-turvy, making two major career moves, and going from a place of safety and comfort, I guess, like knowing exactly what's going to happen every day and having that financial security and all of that to jumping out on a limb, seeing how it's going to go,
[00:18:00] Meg: not failing because of anything that I think I personally did, but just the situation not working. Going back into this kind of safety net zone of the public school system and getting a completely different opportunity out of it has been really. Eye-opening, and just chaotic.
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[00:18:21] Aubrey: Maybe you've noticed, there's no commercials on this show, and that's because currently, we don't have sponsors. And while maybe, I don't know, someday that's going to happen, for now, this show is totally funded by yours truly, and thankfully, the incredible support of you, the listener. So if you like the show and want to make sure it continues to exist and grow, we would super appreciate your support. Just go check out our merch link in the show notes. And, in case you didn't know, every person we interview gets to choose a cause of choice. We then create a custom episode merch piece and donate five dollars for every piece sold, and I would say that's a real
[00:19:00] Aubrey: win-win. So head to the show notes and check out all this season's custom merch. Thank you so much, we couldn't do this without you.
Music fades out…
[00:19:09] Aubrey: Yeah, so that was actually one of the talking points I did want to talk to you based on your experience because life is moving at such a different pace these days for everyone, right? I think this is a very common thing that people are very conscientious of right now. That there's all these different variables that are influencing us, that are so out of our control that are sort of forcing us all to make moves that maybe traditionally we wouldn't have. So can you speak to, like, anything you're doing or how are you doing in holding up sort of mentally, emotionally, physically with all of these changes that aren't things that necessarily you, quote, wanted? Sort of they are, but for the most part, like, you're sort of just following the life path put in front of you and taking it one step at a time. So how are you really handling that and staying in a good place, considering, or, if you're not? If you're comfortable speaking to that…
[00:20:00] Meg: Of course. You know I'm an open book. I will say anything. I think for a while I was not handling it well. That's not true. I know that I was not handling it well. It is, a day by day go with the flow kind of process right now, and taking into account all of the financial responsibilities, social responsibilities, the you know, just responsibilities of adulthood and having to redefine what those were in my life, I think has been something I'm, I'm working on right now with everything that's happened in the past year. I am in the process of getting a dog that I am going to train to be a service dog. And that, I think, will give me a lot of external motivation because I'm not somebody who has a ton of like internal motivation. As someone who lives alone and my house is crazy, whatever,
[00:21:00] Meg: if I'm getting a puppy, it is just as much for her to like help me with staying on top of my mental health and, you know, recognizing those times where I'm not doing so hot and helping me to, you know, see that myself and bring me back to some sense of normalcy. But it's also, you don't take care of your house because you're a grownup. Take care of your house cause if you don't, your puppy's going to eat all of your crap.
[00:21:28] Aubrey: God, is that the truth? I can speak from experience.
[00:21:31] Meg: It's not go for a walk because it's good for you like emotionally and physically and you know, exercise is important to be when you're a grownup. It's go for a walk because your puppy wants to go for a walk and if you don't take her for a walk she's going to be crazy.
[00:21:47] Aubrey: A hundred percent. I, you know, I think this is an interesting thing to talk about these days because I feel like I've spent a lot of effort over the last few years trying to, you know, work through some things, get past some
[00:22:00] Aubrey: things, whatever you want to call it. And one of the things I've really discovered about myself along the way is there were so many years I put a lot of shame and pressure on myself for not just being able to do the thing. You know, okay, you recognize that you should be doing the thing, but why aren't you ever just doing the thing? You're not making the change. And I've learned now that there's obviously the mental aspect of it, right? Nothing really works unless the brain is involved and sort of capable of making that, that move, but it doesn't just go from like, I recognize I need to make a change and your brain's like, okay, girl, I hear you. Let's make the change, you know, you have to really do the fake it till you make it incentivizing whatever in the middle until your brain catches up and is like, oh, yeah, we actually do like this thing. And I don't think that there should be any shame that I think currently does exist a lot of times in that in-between section, where it's like, you know if you need to have something externally to build
[00:23:00] Aubrey: that motivation that really helps set those habits, like, good for you. I think there's a lot of power in having the, the dog in your 20s or like the dog when you're single or, you know, whatever, it doesn't have to be a dog, but you know what I mean? Like having a pet in your younger years. I am a much more complete human because of having my two little gremlins and having to put them ahead of myself than I ever was if I had been on my own. So I'm really excited for you on this and I, I think that it's a healthy thing. I don't think people talk about it as a healthy thing, but I think it's a really healthy thing.
[00:23:32] Meg: I agree. And she's really cute, so.
[00:23:34] Aubrey: She's a freaking adorable. I can't. I cannot wait to hang out with her more. So you really guided me into my part two, which you kind of touched on, but I'm curious like, what is something that you've really learned about yourself? In that particular journey in recognizing, I don't want to say shortcomings because I don't mean it in a negative way, but just sort of our own natural, you know, like things that we have to overcome. What is something in particular that you really
[00:24:00] Aubrey: learned about yourself as a person?
[00:24:03] Meg: Yeah, I mean, you've heard me say it a million times. We all, we all have our gifts. We all have our gifts. And like, it's okay. It's okay to be the person who… I'm going to take it to the pastry side. Like, it's okay to be the person who is really, really good at coming up with flavor combinations and executing things on like a flavor, texture, whatever basis who can't decorate to save their life. Because that is who I am. I know my lane. I stay in my lane. As far as like decorating skills go, I'm not gonna offer to do a three-tier wedding cake with, you know, the airbrush designs and the piping and the nonsense. And like, I am not a, a royal icing cookie girl. That is not my bag. And it doesn't need to be. You know? I can get by on my decorating skills with really good cupcakes.
[00:25:00] Meg: I'm one of those people that's like willing to work with the client and figure out like, all right, what flavors do you like? Like, what are some desserts that you really enjoy? And then turning those into cupcakes. Like, I have done like cannoli cupcakes, um, Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes. I had somebody who was like, I just really love breakfast food. And I was like. Sick! So we did it was like a maple coffee mocha cupcake with like maple buttercream and candied bacon on top. And that's absolutely one of the best cupcakes I've ever eaten in my entire life.
[00:25:36] Aubrey: Everyone listening, their mouths are drooling now.
[00:25:38] Meg: Absolutely. But like, I know that that is where my skills lie. and knowing what your gifts are and knowing how to make up for the things that you might struggle with. I think that is like the true definition of adulting.
[00:25:53] Aubrey: Agreed. Absolutely agreed. And I think that, again, I know I keep for some reason bringing up the word shame in this episode and I don't know why
[00:26:00] Aubrey: that's my hook this time, but like, I think that there's a lot of shame that people carry in feeling like they have to, you know, accomplish a certain thing or be a certain way. And actually, I relate to what you're saying. But I think there's something really interesting about that and finding that comfort and then like you said going with your strengths versus forcing a square peg in a round hole, feeling like shit about it, and not really reaching your true potential and bringing what you can offer the people around you. Like, you're not meant to be good at everything. If you're not good at decorating, then find the partner that is that maybe isn't as good at the flavor combinations and the thought processes, and then you guys open something together and it becomes a great success. Like, that is totally fine to build out your team.
[00:26:48] Meg: God, if only I knew someone who was good at decorating and someone else who was good at social media. Mm mm. What a great business that would be.
[00:26:57] Aubrey: Add it to the list, Meg. Add it to the list.
[00:27:00] Meg: I don't need to be a 504 facilitator forever.
[00:27:02] Aubrey: Well, and this speaks to an interesting skill of yours. Now that you're bringing that up too, which you and I touched on a little bit in our, prep for this episode, which really is the empathy thing. I a hundred percent agree that that's your strength. You're very good at like meeting people, seeing them for who they are, meeting them where they're at, trying to provide support. Shout out to you for staying as my friend despite the fact that I never answer any text messages or never show up for anything and yet somehow you're still my friend.
[00:27:30] Meg: I mean I'm still gonna give you shit for it every time I see you but I love you.
[00:27:34] Aubrey: I mean please do. Please do. I deserve it. But I'm forever grateful for you and I think the only reason you tolerate it is because you, luckily, see me for who I am and not as this like horrible human that you know is just like faking it and I don't really care or whatever. I just, I don't know. It's a work in progress.
[00:27:50] Meg: We all have our gifts.
[00:27:52] Aubrey: Yes. And that one is not mine. So thank you for sticking with me.
[00:27:56] Meg: Of course.
[00:27:57] Aubrey: And so I really just wanted to kind of touch on this ability
[00:28:00] Aubrey: to, you know, be empathetic to others, being able to read others with the things that they're presenting you so that way you can help guide them to their true potential, which is what you're currently doing in your job. One of the things I liked were the examples you were giving that it's not just, you know, the special needs kid that people all see, like, okay, this kid, quote, needs help.
[00:28:24] Meg: Mm-hmm.
[00:28:26] Aubrey: But it's also the kids that maybe aren't as obvious. Like, you were saying the overachievers, because I feel like you're pinpointing both me and my sister. My sister, people recognized that she needed more help in school and while the system is honestly fucked and she didn't necessarily get the help she needed, they at least recognized that that was a fact and it sort of was a conversation. And then with me, I was just the kid that was always getting good grades and doing what needed to be done, but no one ever talked about the fact that I was turning all my work in late because I just didn't do it. And then my teachers were like,
[00:29:00] Aubrey: taking pity on me and said, fine, if you have it in by this date, and then, okay, well, now there's a fire under my ass, and I'm going to do the entire project in two days that I should have done in two months. Like, that was also a red flag for somebody that they didn't pay attention to. And so I am grateful to know that someone like you is in a position like that. How do you channel that, you know, strength though, into your actual career?
[00:29:28] Meg: I, it, it's probably because I identify with 95% of them. Like, there's a few cases where I'm like, okay, yeah, that sounds really hard for you, but I don't, like, I can't relate, but I'm sure that probably sucks. I just, I see a lot of myself in them and, you know, I think it's really important that the kids are there in the meetings to speak to what's going on because teenagers don't tell their parents everything. And they don't tell their counselors everything, and they don't tell their teachers everything, and they,
[00:30:00] Meg: they probably tell their friends everything, so I would love to be able to just be like, come, bring your best friend so that they can like, you know, shout their commentary, but I'm pretty sure that's illegal. So, we won't. Um.
[00:30:13] Aubrey: There's a good takeaway there that like- it's pay attention to who people's people are.
[00:30:18] Meg: We don't, we don't need the team input forms from teachers. We need them from their friends. We need them from both. We definitely need them from both. I'm so appreciative to my teachers who fill out their forms and show up for meetings and actually have something helpful to contribute. Oh, it makes my job so much easier. Uh, but like, I don't know, just bring the kid, make sure that the kids part of it. And. To see what's going on from their perspective, because you, like, you're not getting the full picture if they're not in it.
[00:30:46] Aubrey: It's the, it's the actual attention to individuality, right? I don't really understand why we recognize that humans are complex creatures. And like, that's something we make movies about, we write stories about it,
[00:31:00] Aubrey: you know, we take it as our pride of why humans are the most special thing on this planet because of our individuality and range, right? But yet, when it actually comes down to it, we don't embrace any individuality and range, we just kind of put everyone in a box.
[00:31:16] Meg: Well, because it's hard.
[00:31:18] Aubrey: It is hard.
[00:31:19] Meg: It's hard. I mean, I, I was a teacher for seven years and when you have 30 kids in a class and each of them has different needs, it's exhausting to make sure that like, all right, this kid needs large font. This kid needs written instructions. This kid needs, you know, extended time, like keeping track of all of that in your head times six. Like if you have six classes with 30 kids each, it's 180 kids. And that is hard. And some people are like, I'm willing to put that extra effort in because these kids need someone to help. And some of them are just like, it's too hard for me. I'm gonna do things the way that I do them, and the kids can get on board, and that's when we
[00:32:00] Meg: run into problems, because, you know, it's a federally mandated thing.
[00:32:05] Aubrey: Yeah, and the individuality thing doesn't stop with the kids. Like, it's still true for the adults, and we don't provide them with the right support, so, I mean, we could spiral down that rabbit hole all day, every day.
[00:32:14] Meg: Accommodations in the workplace.
[00:32:17] Aubrey: Yeah, yeah, I just, I think it's an interesting point because I don't know, I'm sure a lot of people listening feel like they've been unseen in a lot of ways. And that's what's led to them not, reaching their full potential. Like you said, going with your strengths. But also, it is a lot of extra responsibility to do that for yourself. And then to also do it for one plus other people. And I really feel for people. I don't think that this is like an easy thing to just say, Oh, you know, respect people's individuality and all as well. Like it's definitely effort. But I, I still think that even though it's more work upfront in the long run, it's what's best for all. And so anyway, like I said, we can go down a rabbit hole on how we get there, but I think it's just
[00:33:00] Meg: Right. I mean, you have to start with yourself, honestly. Like, a lot of people don't reach out and, like, try to make the accommodations for another person because they don't do it for themselves. And if you don't do it for yourself, why would you do it for someone else? And everyone should go to therapy. That's my PSA for this episode. Everyone go to therapy.
[00:33:21] Aubrey: Girl, same. I mention this in almost every episode and I 100% stand by it. Like, if you and your brain are not on the same page, your emotional self is not balanced, your physical self is not balanced, like, it all starts with the brain and you have to work with someone who actually can help you understand what that is and how that reaches its potential. And if that reaches its potential, everything else starts to fall into place, and that is definitely the biggest takeaway I have had for the last, like, two years of really invested time into therapy. But I also want to mention that I think there's a misconception that like, just because you go to therapy, you're
[00:34:00] Aubrey: healed. And you have to do the work, like you go in, you have the conversations, and you have to really reflect on those takeaways that were discussed or that whatever surfaced in those conversations, and you have to really be comfortable to sit with that and process that and see where that guides you. So hopefully people will listen to you, Meg, because I agree. I think everyone should go to therapy. However, I hope they actually understand how to make therapy work for them. Because I have a couple friends who are therapists and one was telling me about how like, she'll have people who will come in for a particular scenario, right? Maybe it's a death or a life change of some other kind, positive or negative. And they'll stay with her for, you know, maybe six months until the, the major influences of that life change have happened. And then they're like, okay, I'm good. And they stop and I'm like, no, no, no. The work happens in the weird off quiet moments in between
[00:35:00] Aubrey: all the big life stuff, where you can really dig in and actually process, and reflect, and practice or whatever it is in between. So, yeah, everyone go to therapy and don't only do it when there's like horrible or, you know, major things happening in your life.
[00:35:16] Meg: Right. I mean, there have been plenty of times where I've sat I've had the same therapist for, oh lord, what, four years? Almost four years? And I adore her. She's the best. But like, there have been times where I've gone in and I'm like, do I need this anymore? Like, things are fine and it's important to stick with it because things eventually are gonna be not fine, you know, and you need someone who knows you at your like normal baseline level so that when things get bad, or get really good, they know that that's abnormal.
[00:35:53] Aubrey: It ties back to what we were talking earlier. life is a moving target. It is constantly changing. There's so much out of our control. You never know when
[00:36:00] Aubrey:those things are going to hit. We live in a very comfortable world these days where a lot of things do stay the same. You know, we're very lucky, I think, especially in America, that even with all the drama happening in our country, like it's still, for the most part, a reasonably predictable lifestyle. But life is just life, and eventually, it's just gonna come out of nowhere and hit you with something. So I, I agree. Don't, don't be trying to solve the problem when you're deep in the problem.
[00:36:28] Meg: Yeah.
[00:36:30] Aubrey: And I think that goes back to the empathy thing as well, too, of if you're not empathetic towards yourself, you're not supporting yourself. If you're not conscientious of who you are, who you want to be, then like, really, how do you do that connecting that you were talking about? You're able to connect with people because you're able to connect with yourself and these different facets of your personality and your experience and so if you're not in tune with those facets of yourself then, yeah, you can't pull from it to connect with other people and to
[00:37:00] Aubrey: see them for who they are. So it's all interconnected, per usual,
[00:37:05] Meg: And always, always comes back.
[00:37:08] Aubrey: It does always come back. So the, the third big point I wanted to touch on with you in this kind of realm was how do you find like the people in the places that do support your growth and potential? How do you maintain them? Because I think you're really good at that, at being able to, when you do find the people, hold on and maintain. And I am very bad at that, as we just pinpointed a couple minutes ago. So I'd be curious, do you have anything in particular that you do? Is it just natural for you? And you know, what does that mean to you?
[00:37:40] Meg: I mean, I am a nag, and I know that about myself, like, I know that I will be the person who will text someone out of the blue and just be like, I miss you, hi, remember me? And like, if they respond, great, and if they don't,
[00:38:00] Meg: you try again in a few weeks. And if they repeatedly don't, obviously it's not something worth following through on. But knowing that it's taken me a really long time to get here actually, because I have, I'm absolutely the person who is like, Oh my God, they didn't respond. They hate me. that is one of the big facets of my anxiety is like, they're not answering because they don't want to be around you anymore. Stop bothering them. And forcing myself to kind of push past that, and recognizing that everyone's life is just as intricate and complex as yours is, in a different way. Like, everyone's got their own shit going on, and they're not ignoring you because they hate you, they're ignoring you because their kid needed to go to urgent care, or, you know, their brother's getting married, and they're off or they're, they just had a baby, they're up all night, like, everyone's got something, and when you find the people that you are like, These are the people I, these are the people that make me
[00:39:00] Meg: a better me. You do whatever you gotta do to keep them around. And if they're not supporting your growth as a person, cut them loose.
[00:39:14] Aubrey: Fair. Fair, fair, fair. Well, please, please do give me a heads up should I ever be getting up to that threshold. Because, again, I know me. I'm the one that never responds. So, please, God, let me know.
[00:39:24] Meg: You respond occasionally.
[00:39:26] Aubrey: But I wholeheartedly agree with what you're saying. Whole, wholeheartedly. And, I think it's interesting to point out that time is crazy. I don't know if you feel this way, but I swear I blink and like a week has gone by. And I'm just like, did I do anything? I've been moving, but I don't know what I've accomplished in this time. And yet somehow I, I was doing something.
[00:39:51] Meg: The realist gauge of how long it has been is cleaning out your refrigerator and finding all the leftovers in your fridge and being like, oh that's
[00:40:00] Meg: probably still good, and you're like, that pizza's from two weeks ago, throw it away.
[00:40:06] Aubrey: Yes. That. I feel that in my soul. I'm just like literally, where has my life gone? I just know I lived because there's 10 boxes of food in here.
[00:40:16] Meg: Well, like my ADHD brain will not remember what's in my fridge. I was driving home yesterday and knowing that I bought a rotisserie chicken at Costco. Two days ago, and I shredded it all up and it's ready to go. I can toss it with whatever sauce and put it on whatever. I don't even know if I have any starches in my fridge, whatever. But I was like, you don't have any food at home. Go, go pick something up on your way home. And I did and then I got home and I was like, shit, there's that chicken sitting in there. And this happens every single day and eventually it's just like, well, the chicken's bad now.
[00:40:50] Aubrey: Yeah, but to tie it back in a bow, talking about, you know, to your routines and figuring out the things that work for you. That has also been a journey to break those habits. Like, I,
[00:41:00] Aubrey: I am constantly trying new things. I'm always worried people are going to look at me like I'm super scatterbrained or I'm crazy. I have no commitment. And it's like, if you actually look, I am so committed to trying to solve the problem. But in the meantime, if you're only looking at like one little piece, I look very scatterbrained because I'm like, oh, I tried this app. Oh, I tried this program. Oh, I tried this notebook or I tried this system. And as a fellow ADHD human, I love that my ADHD friends send me videos or like, you know, you do this because of ADHD or when you, you know, are doing this because of your ADHD. And I'm like, God damnit, I didn't even know that was an ADHD thing. Yep. When will I ever accept it?
[00:41:47] Meg: I was just normal. No, yeah.
[00:41:48] Aubrey: That 97% of my actions are a result of me just being ADHD and had no idea until I was in my thirties. So I'm trying to figure out what that means. And I don't know, I just, I think this all correlates. Like, maybe someone is like, what are you ladies talking about, but I,
[00:42:00] Aubrey: to me, this all correlates to each other. Be kind to yourself. Be open-minded. And maybe, maybe if you do those things and you get far enough, you got half a shot at doing it for other people.
[00:42:12] Meg: Facts.
[00:42:13] Aubrey: And then also, yeah, just the patience and kindness that everyone is doing this. Everyone is struggling. No one knows what the fuck is happening.
[00:42:21] Meg: No one.
[00:42:22] Aubrey: And the algorithm is putting us in little boxes and it's making it even harder for us to figure out what the fuck is happening.
[00:42:28] Meg: People only share like the really high points and the really low points of their life on social media. You don't see the day-to-day. It's either “here I am living my best life at this winery” or “my cat died.” No one's saying “here's me at the grocery store”, “here's me folding my laundry”, “here's me avoiding folding my laundry.”
[00:42:48] Aubrey: Yes no, it's so true. It's so, so true. And yeah, that's where the real, the real stuff is happening is in those moments that we're all living on repeat, like Groundhog Day.
[00:43:00] Aubrey: We're all tired of doing laundry and picking out meals and going grocery shopping and all the in-betweenss. One of the reasons I really wanted you as the season finale,
[00:43:12] Meg: I'm the season finale?
[00:43:14] Aubrey: I didn't tell you that, yeah, congrats.
[00:43:15] Meg: No!
[00:43:16] Aubrey: Surprise!
[00:43:17] Meg: Yay!
[00:43:19] Aubrey: One, because despite my not answering you, you are so important to me as a friend, and shout out to being like, truly number one fan of the show. Like, you're almost higher level than my mother, so truly, thank you. But I really wanted to tie the end of the season because we started with being really in the zone, really tangible things on, you know, this is hospitality, and here are specific ways that we can influence our industry, and here's how we make it better. And as we've gone through the season. It's kind of blossomed out and loosened partially because of my own journey of taking some steps away from the industry, but also
[00:44:00] Aubrey: just my own self-work, as we've talked about, all that time in therapy and self-discovery and things of that nature. So I really kind of wanted the closing to be about redefining what, quote, living the dream means. And I feel like you and I have spent a lot of time in our friendship talking about that. Supporting each other as we do that work and, you know, just sort of commiserating as like you mentioned briefly, like, oh, good, we found our thing. We're going to get to live our happy little lives now and build some routine. And then you get in and you're like, it's not that either. And a lot of times, not even because of what we've done, just because of, you know, other people's visions, other people's expectations, other people's limitations, blah, blah, blah. And so, I guess I was curious to hear from you since you've been such a supporter of the show, you've listened to all the episodes, you've kind of gone through this journey yourself. What does redefining, living the dream mean to you, and, sort of in correlation to the show,
[00:45:00] Aubrey: if you don't mind?
[00:45:02] Meg: Oh, no, I don't mind at all. I got so many thoughts. Um, living the dream. So, you know, when you're 18, you're an idiot. Preface it with that. 18-year-olds have no clue what they're doing. And when you're 18, you think you know everything and you think that you have got this perfect plan. If you asked me at 18 what I thought my life was going to look like at 30, I would have told you married two to three kids, um, and owning, this is embarrassing, a 90s-themed bakery.
[00:45:36] Aubrey: Why is that embarrassing?
[00:45:38] Meg: I don't know because it's ridiculous. It was gonna be like all like NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears-themed baked goods in New York City.
[00:45:51] Aubrey: Uh, I bet you that would have been an Instagram dream.
[00:45:53] Meg: Oh, sure would.
[00:45:54] Aubrey: Dream.
[00:45:55] Meg: I mean, we can make a pop-up.
[00:45:57] Aubrey: Ooh, fun. Okay, excellent.
[00:46:00] Meg: Um, I'm putting it on the list. And that was, that was it. And nobody was going to stop me from getting that goal. And then life happens, and you meet people, or you don't meet people. I'm 30 and single, and on the market, gentlemen.
[00:46:21] Aubrey: Honestly, Meg, is a catch and I fully believe you will find your person. And I feel bad because I feel like the best people just, they have a really hard time finding their people, and then they take it on themselves. And I'm like, no, you are an excellent person. It's just, I don't know why you haven't crossed paths with your person yet, but you haven't.
[00:46:39] Meg: He's out there.
[00:46:41] Aubrey: I know it.
[00:46:42] Meg: But yeah, I don't know, like life happens. Like, it's a terrible bumper sticker,
[00:47:00] Meg: but it is the truest statement out there. You plan and God laughs. And things, like, your priorities are gonna change. You're gonna get somewhere and they're gonna tell you that you're not good enough, or you're not what they are looking for, and that is fine, like, who cares. I spent a lot of my life trying to fit in with the cool kids. You don't need to be one of the cool kids because your friends think you're cool. And don't change who you are to fit in someone else's box. The people who are meant to stick around are gonna stick around. And the same thing goes with your job, you know, like, I know you asked about the dream job and I went on a whole different tangent.
[00:47:40] Aubrey: That's fine. It's whatever speaks to you.
[00:47:42] Meg: But like, as far as your dream job, it's the same thing. Like, you envision this life for yourself and then you get into it. And I had a job that for a while was my dream job. I loved being a teacher. I loved working with kids every day. And then it stopped being my dream job, and then I found a job with
[00:48:00] Meg: a team that was, honest to God, the best group of coworkers I've ever worked with in my entire life. Across the board. And it's a position that, you know, I thought was the dream. And things happen, and you get out of a bad situation when you need to, again, like, when the cons outweigh the pros of the job, you know it's time to go. And now I find myself in this job that isn't anywhere near what I envisioned for myself at 18. And it's providing me with enough financial stability that I can continue to live my life. It is providing me with an opportunity to do what I do at work really, really well. But the second that I am off the clock I don't have to think about it. When I was a teacher, every second I was not at work, I was thinking about work. I don't have any of that anymore. And so I have the newfound gift of free time, like unscheduled
[00:49:00] Meg: free time. Like what am I going to do with my life? I'm going to train a puppy, that's what I'm going to do. And when you have a job that like, lets you live the lifestyle that you want, and gives you the flexibility that you want, and, you know, make someone else's life a little bit better, like, that's the dream.
[00:49:19] Aubrey: I agree. I agree. I truly feel like what you're describing, and having worked so hard to create, that in my life has been literally life-changing and I am a different, better person because of it. And I think you're figuring that out a little. Like, I think you're just a touch behind me in having started that journey, but I see it for you and I see how far you've come over the last few years that we've known each other. And that's specifically why I wanted to have this conversation with you. Because I feel like we've both been doing that work and seeing that impact. And I don't know where it's going to go. I feel like I'm still just taking it one day as it comes. I'm not saying it's figured out, but
[00:50:00] Aubrey: being able to actually have tasted and understood the impact of what having that time, and that space, and that ability to reflect, and do self-investment has literally been life-changing and I want that for everyone.
[00:50:14] Meg: Absolutely. It doesn't have to be the grind 9 to 5, and like, work hard when you're at work, and find a job that you can tolerate doing. Cause like, your job's not meant to be your whole life. And I think working in the hospitality industry, you kind of get conditioned to, your job is your life, and your life is your job, and It doesn't have to be. If you surround yourself with the right people, and you, pick something that you don't hate going to. You don't have to love going to your job every day, but if you hate it, you're not in the right dream job, like, get out.
[00:50:52] Aubrey: Yeah.
[00:50:53] Meg: Don't waste your time.
[00:50:54] Aubrey: I saw a really interesting thing recently, unfortunately, it was on social media, cause that's the world we live in.
[00:51:00] Meg: I say that it sucks, but I'm on it all the time.
[00:51:02] Aubrey: I know, I'm like, I'm not on it luckily as much as I used to be. I definitely was one of those people that started setting timers on my phone to catch myself. Because you just don't realize how much time you waste scrolling.
[00:51:13] Meg: The doom scrolling.
[00:51:14] Aubrey: Yes.
[00:51:15] Meg: It's terrible. Anyway.
[00:51:16] Aubrey: Yeah, so on that note, it was something that was, someone was traveling. It was an American who was traveling and someone had asked them like, oh, what do you do for a living? She's like, oh, you know, I'm a whatever executive. What do you do? And the guy's like, I play tennis. And she's like, you're a professional tennis player? And he's like, no, like, I just like playing tennis with my friends. It's a good for you sport, blah, blah, blah. She's like, why do we as Americans only define ourselves by our jobs? And it's because it's another conditioning thing. We're conditioned to see ourselves of the value that, that provides society or others, you know, it's very addictive sometimes when I tell people like, oh, I'm a pastry chef. And I know the reaction I'm gonna get. They're gonna go, oh, that's
[00:52:00] Aubrey: so cool. I love that. Oh my God. You know what I mean? Like, it's a very unexpected thing. People get really pumped about it. But at the same time, once I know what's behind the scenes and I know how much, like, misery it's brought me, it's a weird thing to be like, oh, I'm so excited to tell people I do this thing.
[00:52:17] Meg: Right.
[00:52:18] Aubrey: But behind the scenes it's ruining my life. So I hope people will challenge themselves to stop thinking about themselves in the definition of like, what do I do that makes money? Because, yes, we all have to make money, we all have to pay our bills, but where can you build those boundaries? Where can you start investing in other things that do bring you joy? I think that's kind of an exciting thing.
[00:52:42] Meg: Yeah, it's wild.
[00:52:44] Aubrey: As we finish up, because I'm so grateful for your time, is I want to give you the option of sharing anything that you feel like hasn't been touched on or that you feel like really should be elaborated on.
[00:53:00] Meg: Um, let's see. Just don't be afraid to just like, do it. You know? Like, life is, life is tough, but so are you. That's a quote from Kid President, and I take it with me, always. Like, just do it, it's, it's fine. You screw it up, you can fix it. It's not the end of the world. You know, obviously don't make completely irrational decisions. You need to put some thought into it, and a pro-con list will take you very, very far in life. I am a big fan. Pro-con list, the Venn diagram, like, so many graphic organizers that one can use.
[00:53:38] Aubrey: That's why you're a teacher.
[00:53:39] Meg: Um, but like, don't jump into something just because it sounds really great in the moment. Give it some thought, but don't let the con side of the list be the thing that scares you out of doing something. It's worth trying. Most of the time.
[00:53:56] Aubrey: I think this is good advice because I think people usually only choose one side or the other. You
[00:54:00] Aubrey: need to put some thought into things, take a minute, be intentional, but also do it scared.
[00:54:06] Meg: Yeah, and it's worth talking to someone if you don't have a therapist anybody that you trust. Talk to your parents, your best friend, your cool aunt, your teacher, your coach, your next door neighbor, that random guy on the street and be like, hey, do you think this is a good idea?
[00:54:25] Aubrey: 100%. And I just want to add two disclaimers here because I think these are all very important points and I'm just thinking about things that people always say to me whenever I tell things like this in real life. One, if you don't like your therapist…
[00:54:35] Meg: Find a new one.
[00:54:37] Aubrey: Get another one. They are not permanent. I don't know why people feel so much pressure that they have to stay with someone. Like, if you feel in your gut like, give it a month or two at least, right, depending on how often you're seeing them, but if you hit the two or three-month mark especially and you are not feeling like you're connected or they're providing the right support, have a conversation or try again.
[00:54:57] Meg: I've dumped many a therapist in my day. It's fine.
[00:55:00] Aubrey: Any relationship. You're not always gonna hit the nail on the head on the very first go, so just be, be okay with moving on. And also to your point about like, asking all these different people. It's great to have your confidant, right? It's great to have your, your parent, your partner, your sibling, your therapist, your best friend, that's great. But they're not always the right person in every single circumstance. And so it also is important to have different people for different scenarios who can give you different advice or different perspectives and things of that nature too. Sometimes I think we get a little, again, one-sided of, Like, oh, I always go to my, my best friend, or I always go to my partner. Well, no offense, they've not lived everything. They may not be able to relate in the same way that someone else can, so find the right confidant for the right scenario.
[00:55:52] Meg: Yes.
[00:55:53] Aubrey: But, no, I, I love all of this advice. I think there's a lot of very good takeaways in this episode, Meg. You really nailed it.
[00:56:00] Meg: Look at me.
[00:56:01] Aubrey: I know.
[00:56:02] Meg: My therapist is going to be so proud.
[00:56:04] Aubrey: See, this is what happens when you go to therapy. People always say to me, they're like, wow, I feel like I just was in therapy. And I said, that's because my therapy is working.
[00:56:12] Meg: Right.
[00:56:14] Aubrey: Go find your therapist.
Music fades in…
[00:56:16] Aubrey: Pardon one more quick selfless plug. Anyone who knows me knows I love books, so we are affiliate partners of bookshop.org, an organization dedicated to keeping local bookstores alive and thriving, because those big corporations; they just don't need any more of our money. So head to the show notes where we've linked our bookshelf and bonus, we'd love if you sent us suggestions to add, you can do so by DMing us on Instagram at golden approach pod, or join our email subscriptions on our website, golden approach podcast.com. Okay, let's dive back in.
Music fades out…
[00:56:57] Aubrey: But anyway, on this lovely note of healing, it has been such a dream to have you.
[00:57:00] Aubrey: It means, again, truly the world that you feel comfortable doing this is a very vulnerable thing. So truly, thank you.
[00:57:07] Meg: You're welcome.
[00:57:08] Aubrey: Our final fun thing is, you know it's coming.
[00:57:14] Meg: Oh gosh, we're bringing the questions back? I've missed those.
[00:57:17] Aubrey: Rapid fire time! Okay. So I picked them randomly. Now we're gonna pick them in a random order so we'll find out together.
[00:57:24] Meg: Great.
[00:57:26] Aubrey: This is an easy one. What is your favorite thing to eat or favorite meal you've experienced?
[00:57:31] Meg: Favorite thing to eat... I love a good crab feast, you know?
[00:57:35] Aubrey: Oh my god, my Baltimore soul.
[00:57:37] Meg: It's, it's, the sun is out, and it's nice, and just like, get your people together, and a couple cases of beer, and some hot dogs, and some crabs, and, just, like, go all out.
[00:57:50] Aubrey: Ugh, I love a long sit down. People complain about crabs. It's like, oh, it's so much work to pick. And, like, that's the point. You're meant to be conversing and socializing.
[00:58:00] Meg: Nobody eats crabs to eat crabs. People eat crabs because it's fun. And it's messy. And it's, you know, it's like, it's an experience, like.
[00:58:11] Aubrey: Exactly. 100%. Oh man, okay, I definitely need to get that on the list. Alright, what is something others usually don't know about you?
[00:58:19] Meg: People don't know about me. I feel like I'm a pretty open book. Um, I've met a lot of famous people.
[00:58:24] Aubrey: I mean, such is the industry. That's cool. What is your favorite famous person you've ever met? Or what's been the best experience?
[00:58:32] Meg: I don't know if I'm allowed to name names because of like, you know
[00:58:35] Aubrey: Okay, well then you can just say where you met them and about the experience.
[00:58:40] Meg: So, I was a very, very big fan as a kid of, a female country singer from Canada. Google it. And she came to one of the places [00:59:00] that I worked at. She was doing like a concert fourth of July weekend in the area and had dinner with us one night and I was the expediter on the line. the expediter for people who aren't industry folks is the middleman between the kitchen and the front of house. So, I had to not only keep the front of house staff happy, I had to keep the back of house staff happy and it was a really hard job that I loved and was pretty darn good at not to toot my own horn, but it's the best. Anyway, so one of my coworkers was taking care of this lifelong celebrity-idol of mine, and her entree came up and she's like waiting next to the line for it. I'm going to run this plate. And she said, “It's my table. I can just take it”, and I'm like, “I'm going to run this plate”, and she was just like, okay, go run the plate, like, whatever. And so I brought it down. I was like, oh, here's your, you know, kale salad with salmon. And she was like, “oh, thank you so much, like, could I get some extra lemon?” And I,
[01:00:00] Meg: I like, ran away like a literal child. Um, she got her extra lemon. That was not the most intimate celebrity experience of my life, in terms of like length of time and like conversation, but it was the highlight of my celebrity experiences.
[01:00:15] Aubrey: It was meaningful, it was your person.
[01:00:16] Meg: She's my person.
[01:00:17] Aubrey: That's so cool. What is your superpower?
[01:00:18] Meg: What's my superpower? Can I do what superpower do I want?
[01:00:25] Aubrey: Yeah, you can do either version.
[01:00:26] Meg: Great. I want to be able to teleport places. I hate traffic. Everyone who's ever been in a car with me knows that I have the worst road rage on the planet. I hate sitting in traffic. I hate the airport. And I hate that I have all these people that I wish that I'd stayed in contact with more and it's hard because they live in Rhode Island, or Utah, or Charleston, or Hawaii, or Maine, or Charlotte, or 8,000 other places. And
[01:01:00] Meg: it would be so much easier to just be like, snap, there we go. You would never have to stay in a hotel again unless you really wanted to. I could just snap my fingers and be in my bed and really, that is the my ultimate life goal.
[01:01:15] Aubrey: Um, that is the dream. I am 100% with you. Yes. Just yes. Well, this is lovely. Thank you. Truly. I just keep always saying thank you because I'm just genuinely shocked every time someone A says yes, we'll be on the show, and B actually listens to the show, and you do both. So, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart.
[01:01:36] Meg: It's entertaining as hell! And it's, you know, I have a long commute every day, so it keeps me entertained. I usually listen while I'm, like, trying to be a grown-up and vacuum.
[01:01:47] Aubrey: Well, since you have actually listened to all the episodes, I know that you are in our top 1 percent biggest fans per Spotify.
[01:01:53] Meg: Per Spotify.
[01:01:54] Aubrey: What has, if you don't mind me asking, been like a favorite thing about the show or a favorite episode thus far?
[01:02:00] Aubrey: I mean, because I'm too nosy.
[01:02:02] Meg: No, no, I just like how open everyone is. Like, you've got good people in your corner and it's just, it's nice to like, hear about everyone else's experiences, especially like, you know, the people from the restaurant industry. It's nice to know that it's not just you going through all of that chaos, but like the people. I know we're moving into more people from other areas and it's really cool to like, see that the problems that we experienced in the restaurant industry all kind of translate and like the stuff that everybody deals with, it doesn't matter if you are an accountant, or a zoologist, or a special educator, or a pastry chef. Like, it's the human, the collective human experience is true.
[01:02:46] Aubrey: Honestly, I need you to sell the show. Thank you for seeing it for what it is. I adore you so much.
[01:02:52] Meg: Oh, I love you, too.
[01:02:53] Aubrey: Oh, man. Alright, well, I'm gonna let you go. I've taken up way more time than we meant to. So yeah, I just appreciate you and I promise I'll be your friend sooner rather than later. I promise.
Music fades in…
[01:03:05] Meg: I have a pool.
[01:03:06] Aubrey: Yes, summer pool day.
Music transitions…
[01:03:09] Thank you for listening to another episode of the Golden Approach Podcast. I hope you've enjoyed this episode as much as I did. I find it to be a good reminder, as Meg said, that if we better understand ourselves, then we can truly start to understand others. And I think we could all benefit from a little more empathy in the world. I'll see you back here in August for our season two premiere. Oh my goodness. So stay up to date on all the details by following on Instagram @GoldenApproachPod and subscribing to our email list. As I mentioned at the top of the episode. I do this show because I genuinely love connecting with and helping others. And I am so excited to build new ways to connect with you, the listener. So I really hope you'll consider being more of a part of the GAP community and you can do so by heading to GoldenApproachPodcast.com, and if you liked
[01:04:00] today's episode or any episode prior, please show us some love by following the show and leaving a review wherever you're currently listening bonus, if you share us with a friend, because honestly, the hardest part is having people find the show. So your efforts are appreciated. You can also stay in the know by visiting the website for details, like reference links, merch, affiliate partner info, transcripts, and more, all of which will be linked in the show notes. Until next time though, buh bye!
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