Episode Details

In this Christmas edition, Anne is joined by family—her cousins (Amy Knudsen and Deidra Christensen) and her sister-in-law, Kaitlyn Westendorf (the self-appointed “Barbara Walters”) to unpack the messy, hilarious, and unexpectedly tender reality of childhood memories, birth order, and generational norms. Between “feral ambition,” chaotic holiday stories, and the sharp moment of realizing “is that not normal?”, the conversation moves from laughter to lived truth: disappointment, scarcity, the phrases that stick with you, and how those experiences shape parenting, identity, and what the holidays mean now. Expect unfiltered stories (including the infamous “Bruce” moment and smoking-era norms), hard-hitting perspective shifts, and a genuine reminder to stop performing Christmas out of obligation and start choosing what actually creates connection—memories, honesty, and a holiday season that doesn’t cost your peace.

Kaitlyn Westendorf is the first of three girls born to her parents that spent the entirety of her childhood working multiple jobs to support her family's agricultural retail business while demonstrating unparalleled work ethic and the importance of family. She is a first-generation college graduate, with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. After watching her parents' hard work come to fruition with the business turning the corner to success, Kaitlyn planned to enter sales that involved agriculture. Life had different plans for Kaitlyn and she ended up being wooed into Aviation. Kaitlyn spent the last 20 years working with Colorado Airports for the state's Aeronautics Division. Kaitlyn married her high school sweetheart after graduating from college and they've been blessed with four amazing children and a friend group that is unmatched. Kaitlyn enjoys playing and watching sports, especially if her kids or nieces and nephews are playing. Some may say she has a card addiction, but it could be worse. Kaitlyn works hard and plays hard and she is extremely luck to have a life partner that feels the same. Kaitlyn is involved in her community in a multitude of ways and enjoy how it feels to "give back". 

Deidra Christensen is a Colorado native, married for 27 years to my college sweetheart, Jack. We have two grown kids, Hannah and Hunter, and a wonderful son-in-law, Seth. I’ve been a licensed real estate agent for over 22 years, mentoring new agents and teaching real estate education. I’m a problem solver, a connector, and a lover of sourdough baking. Acts of service are my love language—I find joy in cooking for others. After our daughter’s recent wedding, I’m even considering investing in a wedding venue! Fun fact: Anne and I are cousins.

Amy Knudsen only hangs with people she trusts… 

This podcast dives deep into real, raw topics—think vulnerability, triggers, and childhood trauma. But just so we're super clear: I’m not a licensed therapist, mental health professional, or anything close. I’m just a human sharing stories, lessons, and life hacks based on personal experience and a whole lot of curiosity.

So, while you might find some golden nuggets here, this is not therapy and should never replace professional mental health care. If you or someone you love is going through it, please—seriously—reach out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. You deserve the real deal.

Need Help Now?
Here are a few amazing resources:

·         988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988
·         NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or nami.org/help
·         Therapy Directory: psychologytoday.com
·         Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 

The opinions expressed on this show are ours and ours alone—no official organizations are responsible for what we say (or how much we overshare).

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