In this episode of the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast, hosts Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim are joined by producer Ken Carlson for a year-end holiday reflection on resilience, hope, and community.

We begin on location at Marquez Elementary School in the Pacific Palisades. We walk the campus, see the play structure that survived the fires, and meet a community that stands as a powerful symbol of resilience. It is a community rebuilding after loss, led by children, teachers, and staff who continue to show up for one another with courage, care, and hope.

From there, the conversation returns to the studio for a thoughtful reflection on the year. We focus on three themes that wove their way through many of our most meaningful conversations: resilience and rebuilding, maintaining hope in the face of injustice or trauma, and fostering community and belonging.

Throughout the episode, we share practical takeaways drawn from our Crazy Amazing guests and our own lived experiences. We explore resilience not as bouncing back, but as bouncing forward through conscious choices, reframing perspective, taking small actions that build momentum, and allowing timelines to unfold without self-judgment. We reflect on hope as a discipline rather than a feeling, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy, rejecting toxic positivity, and remembering that there is always something new to try, even when circumstances feel overwhelming or unjust.

The conversation also centers on community as both a lifeline and a responsibility. Through personal stories, legacy lessons, and research-backed insights, we underscore that belonging is created through small, intentional acts of care. We remind listeners that the more love we give, the more love there is to give, and that community is the antidote to isolation, especially during the holidays.

We close the episode with Katrina and Jefferson singing and playing their co-written Christmas song, "You Are Christmas." If this episode encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope and belonging right now. Don't forget to make sure you're following us at Instagram and also subscribe to our newsletter so that you'll know about this episode as well as the many crazy amazing humans featured in all of our episodes.

Thanks for being part of the Crazy Amazing Humans community. We appreciate you!

What if joy—not time, success, or wealth—was the real measure of your life? And what does joy truly mean?

In this powerful episode of Crazy Amazing Humans, hosts Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim sit down with Dr. Kerry Burnight, a nationally recognized gerontologist, and her daughter Claire Burnight, a future naturopathic doctor, to explore how to move beyond Lifespan and Healthspan into the groundbreaking concept of Joyspan—the measure of how much joy, vitality, and meaning we experience throughout our lives.

Drawing from over 30 years of gerontology research, Dr. Burnight challenges our culture's obsession with anti-aging, inviting us to redefine aging as a season of continued growth, connection, and purpose. She shares her keys to living with vitality and fulfillment, helping you shift your mindset, cultivate connection, and embrace aging as evolution—not decline. You'll also learn practical ways to strengthen both body and spirit through her Inner Four: Grow, Connect, Adapt, and Give.

Meanwhile, Claire Burnight shares her deeply personal story of surviving a life-threatening brain tumor in her twenties and finding alignment through holistic medicine. She encourages us to find stillness each day, listen to our bodies, and see illness not as failure, but as communication guiding us back to balance. Her gentle wisdom highlights the essential determinants of health—sleep, nutrition, connection, sunlight, and gratitude—and how to nurture them in our daily lives.

Together, this inspiring mother-daughter duo reminds us that joy is an inside job, available to every person at any age. Whether you're 4 or 104, thriving means using all the tools you have to shift your mindset, strengthen your connections, nurture gratitude, find purpose, and embrace each season of life.

As Dr. Kerry Burnight says, "It's not about adding years to your life—it's about adding life to your years."

Don't forget to make sure you're subscribing to our newsletter, following us on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you'll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes.

Thanks for being part of the Crazy Amazing Humans community. We appreciate you!

Peace and love,

Katrina Carlson

Every year, Halloween in Santa Monica becomes something truly special. It's not just a night of costumes and candy, it's a joyful neighborhood celebration of community, creativity, and compassion. What started years ago as a simple night of trick-or-treating for the Carlson family, neighbors and close friends has transformed into the Annual Halloween Spooktacular, a beloved community event that now draws thousands from across Los Angeles.

For this fun and festive episode, we're on location at the Carlson's haunted home with all their Halloween decor-–monsters, vampires, ghosts, oh my! You'll get the real, behind-the-scenes story of why Ken and Katrina Carlson have decided to put in the effort to make Halloween a magical time for kids of all ages. You'll hear how it has grown organically into such a beloved community-building event. They also offer some helpful advice for communities that might want to create their own Halloween experiences in their neighborhoods. After listening to the audio, check out the YouTube version of the podcast to see the Carlson haunted home decorations (inside and out) in all its spooky grandeur!

In this inspiring and delightfully spooky episode, hosts Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim welcome Ken Carlson—Katrina's husband and the creative force behind the event—to share the untold story of how this neighborhood tradition evolved into a joyful symbol of community, creativity, and compassion.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The origin story of the Halloween Spooktacular—how one family's front-yard fun became a city-wide celebration.

• How the Carlsons transform their Santa Monica home into a magical, family-friendly Halloween wonderland each year.

• The passion and purpose behind the festivities, including support for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Angel City Sports, and Palisades wildfire relief efforts.

• What the Spooktacular reveals about the power of imagination, generosity, and togetherness in today's world.

You'll laugh, you'll be inspired, and you might even get a few chills as Katrina and Ken pull back the curtain on the planning, heart, and humor that fuel one of L.A.'s most uplifting Halloween traditions.

This episode captures everything that defines the Crazy Amazing Humans spirit—people using their time, talent, and creativity to bring light, hope, and connection to their communities.

Listen now and rediscover how fun, kindness, and creativity can turn even the spookiest night of the year into something truly extraordinary. Check out the website www.crazyamazinghumans.com

Subscribe and follow the Crazy Amazing Humans Podcast wherever you listen for more inspiring stories, and join us in celebrating the crazy amazing humans making the world brighter—one act of kindness at a time. Thanks for being part of the Crazy Amazing Humans community. We appreciate you!