In the grand cosmic sitcom that is my life, the past nine months have seen one hell of a ratings spike.
Last year, on Election Day, I quit my job. Just yeeted myself out of a paycheck and into the great unknown. The Universe, not one to miss an opportunity for drama, said, “Oh honey, buckle up.”
What followed? A deluge of good fortune so over-the-top it felt like I was living inside a vision board. Here’s the highlight reel of what’s happened since I went full main character:
November – Norwegian Cruise Lines and Acendas Travel open the conversation with, “Wanna host a cruise with a swanky mini-day trip to Seville, Spain next fall? PS. It’s Kansas City’s sister city.” Yes. Yes, I do. They’re calling it Morocco Á GoGo, which sounds like a 1960s spy movie starring Ann-Margret. (There’s still one suite left. It could be yours. Just sayin’.)
December – That book I’ve been casually gestating since the pandemic? Surprise! A real-life publisher wants it. I smugly assumed I was finished. The publisher politely informed me I was, at best, 35% done. Cue a caffeine-fueled fever dream of a writing sprint, including penning one chapter per day in February. The result? You Have Four Minutes: My Life as an Unlikely Celebrity Interviewer hits shelves September 9. Pre-order here, dammit. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be in awe that I’ve chatted up eleven Academy Award winners.
March – Square Peg Marketing + Branding came a-knockin’ and offered me the role of Director of Brand Development. It’s like Mad Men, but with less smoking and more hobnobbing. I get to write, pitch, produce, and schmooze professionally. Basically, I’m thriving. (And yes, I’m successfully closing deals like I’ve been doing it my entire life.)
March/April – I usually have to chase and harangue publicists like it’s my lot in life. (Newsflash — it is.) But this spring? The tables turned. Helen Hunt, Patti LuPone, Cheyenne Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Kevin Pollak — all magically slid into my inbox with zero groveling. Who knew “have your people call my people” actually worked? The Pitch really got their money’s worth outta me this spring.
May – Lonely Planet, the Beyoncé of travel publishing, finally returned my calls after years of playing hard to get. (Years, I tell you!) They asked me to write a feature on Midwest State Fair culture — with a particular emphasis on the Iowa State Fair (which may or may not be where I was conceived). Folks, I cried a singular deep-fried tear. It’s legit one of the best things I’ve ever written. Coming in book form 2026.
June – Not only did Lonely Planet love my first piece, they handed me two more just last month. This time, I’m giving Kansas City the glow-up it deserves:
- The Perfect Weekend in KC
- A First-Timer’s Guide to KC
Listen, if you’re not following me by now on Facebook, you’re gonna be real confused when I’m on billboards.
July – This one’s hush-hush (like, NDA-level hush), but I just landed a spokesperson gig that kicks off this fall. All I can say is … it’s major. Like, FIFA-adjacent major. Like, “hope you’re ready to see my face on something other than Instagram” major. It’s shiny. It’s splashy. It has legs. Speaking of, it’ll coincide with FIFA descending on KC. Coincidence? I think not.
So yeah … quitting my job may have been the most chaotically productive thing I’ve ever done. I chose wisely. The universe only confirmed it.
And now I’m just riding this karmic tsunami like I actually know how to surf.
So, to God, the Universe, Oprah, whoever’s pulling the levers — thank you. I owe you a mocktail. Or a fruit tray. Whichever comes first.
Here’s to the next nine months. May they be just as feral and fab-u-lous.