In this episode I’m doing a quick hang on three of my biggest passions: death, dogs, and deals (yes, it rhymes, and yes, I care that you noticed). I share a little end-of-year “what blocks / what rocks” check-in—because the holidays can bring out the best and the worst in us, especially if you’re grieving or anticipating grief. On the “blocks” side, I talk about the surprisingly emotional experience of turning down a feature film last minute—something I basically never do—and how my intuition (plus confusing production communication, money math, and real-life logistics like being a single dog mom) told me it wasn’t the right fit. I also get honest about comparison demons creeping in after listening to Emma Chamberlain on Call Her Daddy—how envy can pop up even when you genuinely like someone—and why I always say entertainment is the Olympics of the craft and the Olympics of the mind. And then: dogs. There’s a scary dog virus going around, so I’ve been keeping my daycare girly home more, which means more boredom, more chaos, and yes, more pen-chewing. On the “rocks” side, I share my holiday plans (Vancouver + Victoria with my mom), plus a few deal tips I genuinely use—Rakuten cash back, and Amazon gift card promos for Lyft and Airbnb—because if you’re already spending, you might as well get a little something back.