Heartbreak & Hot Pot: a memoir
Heartbreak & Hot Pot: a memoir is about my tumultuous journey through the last few years of my life. Why will you enjoy this tale? I am sharing a very vulnerable, heart-wrenching, sometimes funny story about how life can go drastically wrong. BUT, with all the bad things that happened I was able to lose unwanted pounds through an unusual dietary change featuring a dish I ’discovered’ while in China. It’s a side benefit of the heartbreak. I hope you enjoy getting a very up-close look into the mind of someone working through challenges and trying to improve every day. This is adapted from a book I wrote. There will be 20 episodes. I will publish an episode or two every week. Diving into this tale you’ll learn about loss of a loved one, loss of love, loss of a business, a restraining order (!) and how I created a new brand of hair salons, as well as many side journeys into my life. I hope you enjoy. If you have any questions or have feedback please email me at kevin@hotpotforlife.com
Episodes
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Hello! It's time for the last episode, Episode Twenty. How fitting that it is also the last episode alphabetically.
Our final episode takes a look at (maybe) leaving this world, the work of Sufjan Stevens, and then gives us two epilogues.
We find out about another Hot Pot journey, dreams of a new love, exploring feelings for 'dumpy' Lori, and then a look at what the Hell I Should Do.
Then we wrap things up - until next time. Blah blah blah.
I'm signing off now. I really hope you found something of value - listening all the way to the end. I tried my best to convey the emotion, the terror, the joy and facing the unknown in this journey of Heartbreak. I hope you are at peace or are at least close to finding peace in your life. I love you. Bye for now!
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Episode Nineteen: Beauty and Terror
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Hi! I hope you're getting something out of all these recordings. I know I did. It's pretty cathartic to spend time recounting all of these events.
Episode Nineteen spends some time dwelling on time spent in my hair salons, then explores finding a new marketing position at the age of 57.
We touch on Alligators, Nietzsche and living on your own (and how that aids or takes away from personal evolution).
I hope you enjoy! Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Episode Eighteen: Leaving Minnesota
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Episode Eighteen. We're getting close to the end of this Audio Book. It has twenty chapters.
I hope you're enjoying, and are having a wonderful day!
In this episode we'll finish up with Luke the Thief, then explore such topics as great friends, Dan and the talent show, and preparing to leave Minnesota (and deciding where to go for the next part of my life). I hope you enjoy!
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Episode Seventeen: Some Romance, Intimacy and a Thief
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Welcome back. I hope you're enjoying this tale. The book of this tale should be published soon. Very excited!
In Episode Seventeen I'll take you into the end of celibacy with some romance and then rejection.
And then we journey into the tale of the Thief. My own personal slice of evil from a small Minnesota town. You'll learn how to scam
someone as trusting as me (never again, he says). We will also journey back to my scramble to sell assets fast, before they are taken away.
I hope you enjoy! Remember to contact me if you have any feedback at kevin@hotpotforlife.com. Thanks!
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Episode Sixteen: Nice People, Angry People and Making Payroll
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Hi listeners! Welcome to Episode Sixteen!
In this episode we take a look at some nice people, the people you hopefully run into often in your life.
We also encounter how former employees can stop being friends (or friendly) and transition to an adversarial relationship.
Finally you'll hear about my second scramble in the time I had running this business to make payroll (or suffer the consequences from the State of MN).
I hope you enjoy!
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Episode Fifteen: And Now It’s Time for Another Heartbreak
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Greetings listeners! Thank you as always for spending time with me and listening to my tale.
This episode takes us into my world after the drastic change in our business.
We get to learn about how rapidly people can change when circumstances go sideways.
There's also an interesting story about drinking wine... too much wine.
Thank you for listening, and please share with a friend (or with anyone you vaguely know, for that matter)!
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Episode Fourteen: We’re Going to Court!
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Hi everyone! It's time to go to court to defend our freedom from the franchise. Did we succeed?
Listen and learn. This is the harrowing journey of a small company trying to do what it can to survive in the face of COVID, hiring problems and
a franchise system that is broken. Completely broken.
Thank you for listening. Please share with a friend if you enjoy the tale! Thanks!
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Episode Thirteen: Introducing SOTA Styles Salon
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Hi! I hope you're enjoying the podcast. We have a little ways to go yet.
Episode thirteen takes us back to the business after the judge has released us from the Fantastic Sams franchise contracts.
This is one of the most exciting parts of the 'business' tale. We create a new brand! SOTA Styles Salon! It's hard to believe we made it to this exciting juncture, and we were going to make the most of it! We had a wonderous platform for success!
Sit back and listen to how we launched this new brand of hair salons!
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Episode Twelve: A Restraining Order
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Join me as I recount a most amazing part of my journey. It's the part where my ex-fiancé tries to file a restraining order against me! Through the process we get a glimpse inside the mind of my former love. And it's not pretty. I hope you enjoy this odd tale. Oh - and remember, I do not want to kill dogs. I love dogs. You'll understand soon.
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Episode Eleven: COVID and Dating
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Hello! Episode Eleven takes us back into the world of COVID and its effects on our business and lives. The episode also spends time looking into the world of dating for our hero, including a bizarre incident at a MN United Soccer match. Finally, we go into bankruptcy. Yes, bankruptcy. Enjoy!