*DISCLAIMER* In typical Herm's House fashion we had some technical difficulties with sound for this episode but it was too good not to share. Thanks for supporting us through our flaws.

Birthdays aren’t always about cake, candles, and celebration—sometimes they bring old baggage, unspoken expectations, and a deep desire to feel seen.

In this episode of Herm’s House, Kristin and Herm unpack the emotional weight birthdays can carry, especially when childhood experiences quietly shape how we show up as adults. What starts as a conversation about birthday stress turns into an honest reflection on emotional labor, gift-giving misunderstandings, and the pressure many partners feel to “get it right.”

Herm opens up about why birthdays can feel overwhelming—not because of extravagance, but because of past moments where he didn’t feel prioritized. Kristin shares his perspective on intention versus impact, and together they explore how communication (not perfection) is what actually makes someone feel valued.

This episode is a reminder that it’s rarely about the cake—it’s about feeling understood, appreciated, and chosen.

✨ Episode Highlights

• Why birthdays can trigger more emotions than we expect
• The deeper meaning behind gifts (yes, even gift cards 😅)
• How childhood celebrations shape adult expectations
• The mental load of planning and wanting someone to feel seen
• Learning to communicate needs instead of carrying them silently

🔊 Sound Bites

• “It’s not about the gift—it’s about what it represents.”
• “Birthdays bring up old feelings you didn’t realize were still there.”
• “Feeling seen matters more than doing it perfectly.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome back to Herm’s House

02:10 – Birthday expectations & stress

07:45 – The gift card story

15:30 – Emotional labor & planning pressure

23:40 – Childhood birthdays & adult reactions

32:15 – Communication over perfection

41:20 – Final reflections

🤝 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ANCHOR FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC

📍 2544 E 10th Street, Tucson, AZ 85716

📞 520.620.5320

🌐 www.anchorfinancialsolutionsgroup.com

Helping families and veterans build clarity, confidence, and financial stability.

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In this special birthday episode of Herm’s House, Kristin and Herm hit pause to celebrate a major milestone — Herm turning 40.

From childhood memories and early life lessons to fatherhood, marriage, and the moments that shaped who Herm is today, this episode is equal parts reflection, humor, and heart. Kristin walks Herm through the lessons learned along the way, the mistakes that mattered, and the growth that came from becoming a husband, a dad, and a more intentional partner.

There’s plenty of laughter, a light roast (because it wouldn’t be a birthday without one), and honest conversation about what 40 really feels like — listening more, failing forward, choosing family, and learning to be deliberate with the life you’re building.

This episode is a reminder that milestones aren’t about perfection — they’re about perspective, gratitude, and showing up for the people who matter most.

✨ Episode Highlights

• Herm reflects on childhood memories and how they shaped his outlook

• Lessons learned from relationships, marriage, and fatherhood

• Why being deliberate matters more than being perfect

• Humor as a survival tool (and love language)

• Loyalty, legacy, and the Cowboys (because of course)

• A birthday roast and a look ahead at what the next chapter holds

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Celebrating a milestone: Turning 40

04:32 – Childhood memories & early life lessons

17:51 – Growth, responsibility & fatherhood

26:17 – Resilience, failure & learning the hard way

34:00 – Love, marriage & showing up

39:05 – Life reflections & unforgettable moments

51:50 – Looking ahead: goals, family & what’s next

🤝 Thanks to Our Sponsors

Anchor Financial Solutions Group, LLC

📍 2544 E 10th Street, Tucson, AZ 85716

📞 520.620.5320

🌐 www.anchorfinancialsolutionsgroup.com

Helping families plan, protect, and build financial confidence for the future.

Beautiful Sunday Marketing Collective

📧 createabeautifulsunday@gmail.com

📞 520.405.3298

🌐 https://beautifulsundaymc.wixsite.com/beautiful-sunday-mar

Supporting creatives, brands, and storytellers through intentional marketing and design.

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Your engagement helps us grow, reach more veteran families, and continue producing meaningful conversations — both at home and in studio.

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In this episode of Herm’s House, Herm and Kristin catch up after a chaotic few weeks filled with sickness, travel, football hype, and some major parenting wake-up calls.

They recap their whirlwind trip to Washington D.C., where Herm sang the national anthem (while feeling sick), celebrated their friend Desmond’s promotion to Senior Master Sergeant, and squeezed sightseeing, metro rides, and tight living quarters all into one unforgettable adventure.

Then it’s off to Texas, where Thanksgiving brought Cowboys and UT wins, a Texas State game, and one big realization:

👉 They are absolutely not ready for their kids to go to college.

Dorms, applications, finances, letting go? Yeah… still processing.

It’s travel stories, football energy, parenting panic, and plenty of laughs — all wrapped in that real, honest Herm’s House storytelling.

✨ Episode Highlights

• Getting sick right before the big D.C. trip

• National Anthem nerves & military promotion pride

• Exploring D.C. landmarks on a time crunch

• Thanksgiving in Texas

• Cowboys & UT wins 🏈🔥

• Texas State game family memories

• Real talk about preparing kids for college

• Parenting through big transitions

• Why shared experiences matter more than perfect trips

✨ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome back to Herm’s House

02:18 – The sickness saga & almost-canceled trip

05:44 – D.C. travel chaos & promotion ceremony

12:30 – National Anthem performance (while sick)

18:12 – Exploring monuments & scooter debates

22:55 – Texas Thanksgiving recap

27:30 – Cowboys & UT win!

31:48 – Texas State game & college panic

39:10 – Parenting reality checks

45:22 – Final thoughts & episode wrap

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ANCHOR FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC

www.anchorfinancialsolutionsgroup.com

2544 E 10th Street
Tucson, Arizona 85716
520.620.5320

BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY MARKETING COLLECTIVE

https://beautifulsundaymc.wixsite.com/beautiful-sunday-mar

520-405-3298

createabeautifulsunday@gmail.com

📌 Support the Show

Like ⭐ Comment 💬 Subscribe 🔔

Your engagement helps us grow, reach more veteran families, and continue producing in-studio conversations.

Interested in sponsoring an episode?

📩 hermshousepodcast@gmail.com

📱 @HermsHousePodcast

Support the show