Episode 49 : Long Live the Sip Squad

Send us Fan MailThis episode is the one before the one. Just Jen and Rachel, a charcuterie board from Aldi, and nearly a full season of memories to look back on. Fresh off the Riverfest Main Stage, with an anniversary party on the horizon and one more episode to go in Season 1 — this is their moment to pause, pour a glass, and say long live all of it.Trend Decoder is back, Rachel pulls off a perfect score (including a dramatic live count of her 36 Amazon lists), and Hits Different lands with a little more emotion than either of them expected. Spoiler: there were tears.---🔍 TREND DECODERTrend 1: "Don't Touch It"The trend where you act out something you love a little too much but probably shouldn't be doing. Rachel's guesses include cactus handling, workplace hot potatoes, and the eternal temptation of a late-night Snapchat from someone you really shouldn't open. She gets there. Jen's version: Sephora online shopping. Rachel's version: 36 Amazon lists. She counted them live.Trend 2: "I Want the Best for You"A soft sell trend — reaching out to someone with something genuinely good to offer, making it dramatic and relatable. Rachel connects it to Prime Day, real kindness, and wanting good things for people even when it's complicated. The STH version: calling every listener personally to tell them about the July 12th anniversary party, the 15% off merch code STHANNIVERSARY, and the specialty cocktail menu at Bubbles. We just want what's best for you.Rachel goes out on top with a perfect score. Season 1 Trend Decoder: complete.---🎉 LOOKING BACK ON SEASON 1A full roll call of the people, places, and moments that built Season 1:• Jenny from Her Edit Candles — the first guest, the first vibe-setter, and the person who accidentally opened every door that followed.• Kristin Beal from Harvester Arts — still the most downloaded episode of all time. She started with a parade and built something extraordinary.• Stacy Ward Lattin from Hopping Gnome — a holiday pop-up that became a full crew outing. The Christmas setup was stunning. Deck the gnomes.• Tracy Hoover from Groover Labs — a startup queen with a fascinating story. The episode ran long and nobody minded.• Kaia and Bella from Roaming Spirits — tequila in an espresso martini, homemade syrups, and a content day that is absolutely still happening.• Brent and Annika from Ballet Wichita — what started as a guest episode became a whole community. Ballet Wichita is basically a second home now.• Kari from Happy Camper Hat Company — an interactive episode, a Chiefs hat, and lake day content that is already planned in Jen's head.• Jovana Vu from Vu Events — where Episode 1 began, and where Season 1's sponsorship lives. Thank you, Jovana. Thank you, Tony. Full circle.• Ghost Girl from Oddfellow — relatably vulnerable, creatively inspiring. They're putting a bat signal in the sky.• Jamie Seipel from Blood Cancer United & Home2 Suites — an absolute queen with a mission and an event calendar that never stops. The FOMO was real.• Jennifer Short from Colour Thairapy & Sovereign Inhale — the hair is still falling perfectly. The breathwork conversation was unforgettable.• Krissy Buck from Digital Wichita / WSU Tech — the woman behind Mission Control Digital Day 2026 (June 18–19, AI-focused, space themed). Jen is Vice Chair. It's a whole thing.And to the Sip Squad — the community that brought back Trend Decoder, sends coffee recs, and showed up for every episode. You made it possible to stand on a stage at Riverfest. You are the kingdom.---🎶 HITS DIFFERENT: "Long Live" — Taylor Swift (Speak Now, Taylor's Version)Rachel's first listen: warm, nostalgic, no hard feelings. A song about cherishing the feeling of a moment even after the moment is over — and still wanting the best for the people you shared it with. Even the ones where it's complicated.Jen's take: this is a love song to Taylor's fans. Written after her very first stadium performance — her second album, before she knew what was coming. The lyric that gets Jen every time: "Point at the pictures, tell them my name." Though she said — she won't have to point at pictures of Rachel. Her kids already know who Rachel is.Why this song, why this episode: for the Sip Squad. For the community that has been here from the beginning, sent ideas, left reviews, and made Riverfest happen. You're the kingdom. Long live all of it. Long live So This Happened. 🥂---📣 WHAT'S COMINGEpisode 50 — Season 1 FinaleNext week is the big one. Jen and Rachel are recording at Revolutsia with Naquela from Planted Tea Shop. Iced tea is confirmed. Naquela also has a popup event coming up: July 11th from 3–7 PM at 102 N. Francis (where Espresso To Go Go used to be). One day before the anniversary party — make a whole weekend of it.Anniversary Party — Uncorked, Unhinged & Bubbling Over📅 Saturday, July 12th | 2:00–4:00 PM📍 Bubbles Champagne Bar, WichitaFree event! Guests cover their own refreshments.Presented by Vu Events. Venue sponsor: Bubbles Champagne Bar.Special limited-edition gifts for past guests (a very exciting collab with Bella Bonita Designs 👀).Specialty cocktail menu. Past guests: come claim your prize. Listeners: bring your ideas for Season 2.MerchUse code STHANNIVERSARY for 15% off the Uncorked & Slightly Unhinged line through July 31st. Shop here.---🔗 FOLLOW & CONNECTListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe + leave a review — it truly means everything.Follow @sothishappened_podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.Long live all the mountains we moved. 🥂So THIS happened.This episode is proudly sponsored by Vu Events — Wichita's premier event production team. 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