Our period stories, mishaps, and misconceptions

Summary

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Always Here – Episode Summary

Episode: Our period stories, mishaps, and misconceptions
Hosts: Abby Howard & Abby Howard
Date: May 29, 2026

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Episode Overview

This heartfelt and humor-filled episode dives into the real, often messy, sometimes hilarious, and deeply relatable world of menstrual cycles. With listener-submitted stories, their own first-period mishaps, and a candid discussion of women’s health taboos, the Ab(ie/y)s aim to break the stigma around periods and celebrate the shared experience. The episode moves through period product debates, awkward stories, and generational gaps, blending laughter, education, and encouragement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Down Period Shame & Taboo

• Both hosts reflect on the embarrassment surrounding periods as preteens/teens, highlighting that secrecy was fueled by both personal discomfort and the immaturity of peers—especially boys.
  • “It’s one thing for something to be, like, more private and personal. Another thing to feel, like, embarrassment and shame about it.” – (B) [01:08]
• The conversation notes progress in today's dialogue, crediting the openness brought on by social media, influencers, and public discussion.
  • “The internet...talking about these things openly and very publicly has shaped a lot of conversation around menopause, perimenopause, pregnancy, birth, and obviously periods.” – (A) [28:56]

2. Sharing Hope & the Hard: Recent Life Updates

• The episode opens with sweet recaps: Abby’s baby shower (“Here Comes The Sun” theme), turning 30, and a recent trip to Hawaii.
  • Deep gratitude is expressed for the support network, motherhood’s challenges, and the power of female community.
  • “...the journey to bring life to this world is so hard. And so you should celebrate the mom and build her up and celebrate this life and this baby.” – (A) [07:20]

3. Period Product Deep Dive

• The hosts and producer discuss poll results from listeners: surprising majority still use pads (36%) and tampons (42%), with many mentioning menstrual cups/discs as recent upgrades.
• Experiences with various products are candidly shared:
  • Inserting tampons for the first time (“cardboard applicators should be outlawed!”), learning curves with menstrual cups/discs, pros/cons of period underwear and swimwear, and creative “hacks” for leaks (see memorable moments).
  • “The disc is really comfortable because it goes up a little higher...My fingers have never been so—wow, TMI—but, you know, you’ve gotta put them up there!” – (A) [39:49]
• Addressing fears (“Can a tampon get lost?” - False, there’s an end!) and notable horror stories (see stories below).

4. Learning & Misconceptions: The Period Quiz

• Rapid-fire “True or False” health questions bust common myths:
  • Normal cycle lengths, reasons for brown blood, period pain, PMS symptoms, toxic shock, and more.
  • Notable stats: Average woman has about 450 periods in her lifetime [61:29]; you lose much less than a cup of blood per period ([1–4 tablespoons, 54:16]).
  • Key takeaway: Hormones impact everything (mood, discharge, sleep, cravings), and cramps/varying flow are highly individual.

5. Horror Stories & Listener Submissions

• Real-life period mishaps—from leaking on school chairs and using emergency cardboard tampons, to the infamous “tampon floating out at summer camp” and a menstrual cup mishap that pulled out an IUD (ouch!).
• Both hosts recount their own most mortifying encounters with periods and puberty (e.g., bleeding through jeans, making "diaper" pad creations, embarrassing family moments).

6. Period Products Through the Years

• Discussion of evolving period products and generational knowledge. Candid education about menstrual cups/discs, pros/cons, and tips for new users (folding, boiling, getting comfortable).
• Noted that body education often comes by necessity.
  • “I sat on our bathroom counter...That was the first time I discovered the anatomy down there.” – (B) [40:47]

7. Turning 30 Reflections

• Abby reflects on her 20s: “putting yourself out there opens up opportunity.” Encourages listeners not to fear new experiences or let youth be “the only fun time.”
  • “That is a lie. Your peak is NOT when you’re 18...every phase of life is so exciting and so fun.” – (A) [26:11]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Product Trial & Error:

  • “My mom bought me a box of tampons to practice with before...she bought me cardboard. So, never practiced.” – (A) [37:49]
  • “I pulled that cup out—spilled all over the bathroom rug...It was literally like, one of those moments where I was like...I cannot.” – (B) [82:01]

• On First Period Anxiety:

  • “In my head, I had heard all these, like, crazy stories. I was so, like, on pins and needles for so long. Like, when is it gonna happen?” – (B) [71:36]
  • “...I got my period when I was in seventh grade. I remember that was when all the girls were, like...one by one, girls started dropping like flies.” – (A) [27:49]

• On Bodily Realities:

  • “Let me tell you, my fingers have never been so, like—wow, TMI—but, you know, you gotta put them up there and you gotta do it....It’s invasive, it’s messy, but I’ll continue using it.” – (A) [39:49]
  • “If you have a tampon in, you have to poop—that’s just such a waste of your tampon.” – (C/A) [58:25]

• On Changing the Conversation:

  • “It’s very important...It’s not just our reproductive organs that are different and making us separate from men. It’s every single cell.” – (B) discussing findings from another podcast [33:51]
  • “I hope that—and I actually think it’s probably changing...preteens and teens nowadays [may not] feel that same way.” – (B) [28:27]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |-------------------------|:-----------| | Main content begins | 01:00 | | Hopes, hearts & baby shower | 02:25 | | Turning 30 reflections | 20:31–27:34| | Initial period stories | 27:37 | | Period product deep dive| 36:43 | | Listener poll results | 37:03 | | Menstrual product mishaps | 39:41–45:20| | The period quiz | 49:52–60:14| | Listener horror stories | 62:15 | | First period/embarrassing mishaps | 71:36 | | Cyst/painful incident | 84:47 | | Socially awkward moments (bonus Q&A) | 89:35 | | Bra & breastfeeding tips| 98:07 |

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Additional Nuggets

Book Club:

• Brief review of current book club read, some disagreement but lively literary chat. [103:09+]

"Always Hungry" Segment:

• Easy meal ideas for families: sheet pan broccoli/chicken/sausage/potatoes [107:16], gnocchi shepherd’s pie [107:59].

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Takeaway Themes

• Being open and honest about periods allows the next generation to live with less shame.
• Every woman’s experience is valid—whether heavy, irregular, messy, crampy or “unremarkable.”
• There’s no “right” period product; preferences and body needs change (and it's okay to experiment).
• Female friendship and community are vital support systems.
• Hormones impact women’s lives in ways often ignored by mainstream research—knowledge genuinely is power.

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For Listeners: Get Involved!

• Share your stories or questions via voicemail: 602-456-9690
• Follow “Always Here” podcast on Instagram for interactive polls and episode feedback.

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Closing Words

This episode is an honest, giggly, and supportive celebration of both the awkwardness and the power found in women’s health. Whether you’re 13 or 30 or beyond, you’re always part of the club—and as Abby & Abby say, "we’re always here."

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Transcript

[A]

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by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[C]

Tampons can perfectly get lost inside your body.

[A]

False.

[B]

There's an end.

[A]

Please. Just coughing up one day.

[B]

It's one thing for something to be, like, more private and personal. Another thing to feel, like, embarrassment and shame about it.

[A]

Maybe that does just come from, like, high school boys being immature and not understanding. Do you think it comes from more from the boys or from the girls?

[B]

Let's blame the boys. I pull that cup out so. Spilled all over the bathroom rug. It was literally like, one of those moments where I was like.

[A]

I mean, it wouldn't be honest if I wouldn't say some blood ended up on my floor these last cycles. Welcome back to Always.

[B]

Keep that in, please. Okay, go.

[A]

One, two, three. That's it. Welcome back to Always Here. We're your hosts, Abby Howard.

[B]

And Abby Howard.

[A]

So sorry, I just wanted to jump right in.

[B]

We really need to start because I feel like we are going to talk a lot today.

[A]

This is gonna be a good one. I've actually had messages from girls in my DMs asking for this episode.

[B]

Oh, cool.

[A]

Talking about our periods, our menstrual cycles, and all the fun things in between. Fun things between your legs.

[B]

Shoot. In between. There's a lot. There's a lot we could cover. And I feel like that is why I'm. It's a good day. We are gonna talk a lot.

[A]

We gotta go.

[B]

But we're also here to share the hope and the hard with heart and humor.

[A]

Yes, we are.

[B]

And periods.

[A]

Did you have a hope and a hard.

[B]

I did.

[A]

You did. Okay.

[B]

Every week.

[C]

Every week.

[A]

Every week will happen.

[B]

I'll start every week.

[A]

You have one. I have a hope. I didn't have a heart, but I'll think of one.

[B]

Okay, now you just made me look like a complainer over here.

[A]

No, I don't.

[C]

They some hearts from.

[A]

Yes. That is hard. That is a hard.

[B]

What's your hard?

[A]

I put 100 plus thumbtacks into a wood ceiling.

[B]

Well, your heart was my hopes with my head back. Okay.

[A]

It wasn't really a heart. It was. I was joyful to do it.

[B]

Well, you were exhausted too, I'm sure. Yeah, but it was worth it. Yeah. You're sweet.

[A]

What we're talking about is Abby's baby shower.

[B]

Yes. So Abby and Val and a couple of our other friends. Well, I'll shout them out. Angel and Caitlin, everyone. All our friends literally all listen to our podcast, which for some reason makes me just feel like I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, they are so. They're such good friends. I'm like, you don't have to do that. They're like, no, we love it. And I'm like, you're so nice, but I don't know why that just means so much. I'm like, this is a lot of footage for you to listen to every week. Yeah. When you already have to hear me yap every day.

[A]

I know, it's. But you know what? I'm an unplanned listener. I listen to unplanned almost weekly.

[C]

And sometimes.

[A]

You know why? Because you pick up on things that are going on in your life that maybe we're just not talking about on the reg.

[B]

I guess that's true.

[A]

You know what I mean? It's like I'm getting to know more pieces of you that I could just talk to you about.

[B]

I do always feel ashamed when people are like, I learned about this on your podcast. Why? Because I'm like, you can't tell everybody everything.

[A]

So just go where you tell everybody.

[B]

You know what I mean? 5x times.

[C]

Multiple times.

[A]

Yeah. Addy's sick of it. She's like, I feel like.

[C]

It's like, if you want to hear the depths of. Like, if you want to hear what's going on in Matt and Abby's relationship, just like, hop on up and like,

[B]

I learn a lot.

[A]

We've got therapy. We've got giggly squad. We've got.

[C]

I know I'm in there at the desk. I'm like, what would you say in front of your sister in law? Then we can put that out into the interview.

[A]

Exactly. Okay.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It was a great shower. It was a team effort. I feel like all of our friends brought in, like, Addie pitched in she did help with the balloons. Our friend Amber picked up food.

[B]

Everyone.

[A]

Angel, Caitlin, Val. I mean, Val really did the heavy lifting. She did most of it.

[C]

Ashley made the ranch.

[A]

Yeah, she brought the ranch. Our friend Ashley has a famous ranch, which I was surprised to find out. There's no dill in that ranch.

[B]

No dill?

[A]

No. But it's unbelievable.

[B]

Nothing fresh at all, actually.

[C]

Oh, weird.

[A]

It was one of those recipes. It's like, I'm gonna enjoy eating this, but I don't want to know.

[B]

Yeah, I got the recipe, and I was like, shoot.

[A]

I know.

[B]

It's got some image

[A]

msg, a whole block of cream cheese, a lot of.

[B]

Whole thing of mayo, A lot of mayo.

[A]

Buttermilk. I'm like, that's why it's delicious.

[B]

Nothing fresh, but it is.

[A]

I was like, that is. You could drink that and then ranch, but it's so good.

[B]

I'm like, I don't like ranch, but I like that.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

No, the shower was so, so beautiful. It was just. Honestly, every. I couldn't stop just thinking how grateful I am, like, for all my friends. My mom kept telling, because my mom and my grandma came, too. She was telling my grandma afterwards. She's like, something you should know about Abby's friends is that they are all so, so good. They're so nice. They're the best people ever. And I'm like, I know. I'm like, what do I do? Like, it just. There's just like a. I don't know. There's just something about. It is just so mind blowing that people can, like, love you so much and just. It just. I have no words for how grateful I am for that day. And it was just so perfect and so special.

[C]

One thing I liked that angel, when she reposted it, she was like, One thing you won't realize is how much, Abby, you have impacted that whole group of friends to be together and be friends. Like, all of our us are friends because you're the middle person that made us all friends. And so thank you for that and giving us those friendships.

[A]

Yeah, totally.

[B]

So nice.

[A]

Yeah. I'm glad you felt loved.

[B]

Oh, so loved. I, like, can't even, like, think about it without crying. So I'm like, no, it's just so. It's just. Oh, you're like, what. What did I do to deserve, like, to get this? So it's so cool. It's like, you don't. I don't deserve that. And so the fact that people. Everyone has such busy lives, they all have multiple children or like, so many of them are pregnant when you're going through their own, like, journeys and challenges, and they still, like, set aside so much time and also money to just put this together. For me, it just made me feel so loved, so. It was beautiful. It was so cute.

[A]

Yeah, but the theme was fun. It was Here comes the sun. Yeah. Little boy. And, yeah, the colors were beautiful. We had the paper chains. Kind of 90s nostalgic.

[B]

It was so cute.

[A]

Valid. All those chains. I just hung them. It was. It was really. She looked. It looked really cool. Yeah, I loved it. I. My sister and I got in a debate about how she's like, you should only have one baby shower. And we're like, baby, every. We have baby showers for every kid.

[B]

I know. I was thinking about this. I was like, man, it's kind of ridiculous that this is the third time.

[A]

But it's not gifts. It's just more like a party or like a meal to celebrate, you know, like, bring a diaper, you know, I think it's just more so, like, pregnancy is so hard, and the journey to bring life to this world is so hard. And so you should celebrate the mom and build her up and celebrate this life and this baby. I think it's just.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

I'm like. I think it should be for every. It doesn't have to be a big thing every time, but, like, it's just fun to do that.

[B]

Well, I especially love this type of one. Just, like, I think this is probably, like, a debate. Like, some people do it with their husband, some people don't. But for me, I love having a woman's shower because it's really just a reminder. It's like, we are all in this together. We're here for you through pregnancy, through birth, through. Through postpartum. Like, it's just such a reminder that, like, you're not alone. And you have so many other women that have the same shared experience and are walking alongside you or various stages of walking alongside you. And that is the most important thing, I think, when entering motherhood, is that you are not alone. And that is just, like, a great reminder with every baby, too, because every. Every. It's a whole new thing every time you're relearning so many things, and you have to. Every kid's a new. Whole different person, obviously. And you're right. You're like, okay, well, I never experienced with my first two, like, what's this about? So it's just a really good network to have, like, strengthened right before you're about to enter.

[A]

Yeah. A hard, crazy season.

[B]

Yeah, a hard season.

[A]

Yeah. For sure.

[B]

But a happy season. And I feel like that's also like everyone's just reminding you so much of the joy too, of like what's to come.

[A]

Yeah, agreed. Yeah.

[B]

It was great.

[A]

It was a great day.

[B]

Your thumbs are still hurting though.

[A]

There's an ant on my hand. What the.

[B]

What in the Orin.

[A]

Where did that come from?

[C]

They came yesterday when the Orkin.

[A]

What is that? Literally, where did that come from?

[C]

It's. It's a brandy or that sprayed for ants yesterday.

[B]

You want to put their helmets on.

[C]

No way.

[B]

Come back. Fighting ants come marching one by one. They had their helmets on. That's great. Full uniform.

[A]

When we bought our house, Orkin reached out to me and was like, hey, we'd love to send you some products for your home, like and congratulate to your house. And I was like, greatest PR package ever. Yeah. I was expecting bug spray. Do you know what? I got the most beautifully curated package of anthropology goods. Like gorgeous bugs on them.

[B]

Butter bugs.

[A]

Yeah. Like butterfly towels. I use every day. Magnets for my. I was like, this is the most. This is the best PR package.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oregon marketing team is killing it. I hope I brought them some business. But I was like that.

[B]

Wow. Thank you.

[A]

No bug spray in there. They probably wanted me to get their service.

[B]

We'll come and do that. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah, we'll spray for that.

[A]

But yeah, shout out Oregon.

[B]

That would be a conflict of interest probably cuz I don't think they have their own products. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Well, I learned about working and I'm great fan of their service. So.

[B]

Yeah, we had a really big ant problem and. Fly problem.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That makes me feel embarrassed in a way.

[A]

No, I wouldn't be embarrassed. I did notice the flies. There's like 50 of them flying around your trash can.

[B]

Why? I'm not. She's not even exaggerating.

[A]

You open that trash can and it's. It was. I mean, I got bombarded with flies.

[B]

It's not even just isolated as a trash can.

[A]

Well, when you have dogs and kids, your doors are just always open. And that's how our house is too. But we. We haven't had as many issues with our backyard.

[B]

But I think our.

[A]

Yeah, you just have a nest somewhere

[B]

is like got some serious flight. I did notice we chatting too much. What was great, Hope?

[A]

Well, I loved. I loved the weekend. It was amazing. It was your shower. My 30th birthday, which I'm sure we'll Talk about a little bit. But I think my hope, what I'm hopeful for is New York this weekend.

[B]

I'm so excited. Did you see in your card?

[A]

My card?

[B]

The P.S.

[A]

i did my gift. I'm so excited.

[B]

We're all going.

[A]

Do we have a show?

[B]

I was gonna see what you were open to. Cause I haven't bought them yet. But I was thinking, I thought Aladdin would be fun.

[A]

Aladdin would be sick. I love a whole new world.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

It's gonna be Broadway.

[B]

It's going to be jam packed.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

Abby and I were working out the schedule of the timings of things, and we're like, we're going to Subway.

[B]

To get there, we have to take the subway.

[C]

I said, this is how my brain is thinking. And I just.

[B]

She's like, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour.

[C]

This is two minutes.

[A]

And I was like, so when do we see our billboard on Sunday?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

We're not gonna see it at night. We'll see it at the show.

[C]

We're gonna be by the show.

[B]

Dinner reservations. We have a show?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Okay. So we're going to New York because we are on a billboard in Times Square with Patreon, which literally.

[C]

Thank you, Patreon.

[A]

Doesn't make any sense. What our life is. It is a mystery.

[B]

It is a mystery.

[A]

But we're so honored and so grateful. So we're going to New York this weekend to see it.

[B]

Yeah. Whenever things like this happen, you're kind of like, this is. I get a feeling. And I'm not trying to put us down at all because I think we're awesome.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I think we're great and amazing. But when you're like, wow, what did I do to, like, actually con my way to this point?

[A]

Literally? Who did we fool? I'm like, this is crazy.

[B]

In my house.

[A]

Seriously.

[B]

I know when they.

[A]

When you send the email, like, we're gonna be on a billboard. I almost threw up. I was.

[C]

So when I got the email, I was like, I can't wait to send this to them.

[A]

I called every single person in my family, said, you're never gonna believe.

[B]

Oh, because I don't believe you recorded Caleb's reaction.

[A]

I recorded my whole entire family's reaction.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Everyone's reaction. I know. Yes.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I should post that. So that's my. I'm really excited. So we'll recap that, I'm sure, next episode.

[B]

But my heart is small. I just have. Sleeping has been kind of hard recently.

[A]

Really? Yeah.

[C]

Third trimester.

[B]

I don't know what's going on.

[A]

How many weeks are you now? As of this, 28. That's the turn.

[B]

It's turning. The tide is turning.

[A]

The tide is turning, baby. Third try, baby.

[B]

It's getting hot. But my heart also comes with a hope because we just got our chili pad instead.

[A]

Did you set it up?

[B]

Yes. And I will say I hope to goodness. Chili pad, that you will sponsor this podcast as well, because I. Everyone in every corner of my life needs one of these things.

[A]

Wow, that's high praise.

[B]

So it's. It's actually so. It's not something that you would think would make such a difference.

[A]

It's so nice the way Dave and Val talk about it. It sounds like it's literally changed their lives. Well, here's the thing.

[B]

We had friends in Hawaii that talked about it years ago. They're like, this changed our life.

[A]

And. Really?

[B]

Yeah, That's. That's. What a luxury.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now I'm like, necessity, really? No, it's like, I turned my bed to 65 degrees last night, and my room is. I have my warm covers, cold bed. That really helped it, really. My sleep score was different. I have data to show that this

[A]

is, like, really good.

[B]

It was a great, comfortable experience. But, yeah, Matt's side wasn't working for a little bit, and I could just feel his disappointment because it was getting late. And I was like, do you want me to look at it again?

[A]

Cause you're getting so frustrated.

[B]

He was like, you need to get. You're pregnant. You need to get some sleep. I was like, I can look at it one more time. And I, like, looked at a long time. I stood up really late to set it up, but it works. Now we can turn our bed down to 54 degrees. That's insane. Yeah.

[A]

I am a really hot sleeper, but I never wake up hot. I just wake up in the morning after a full night's sleep, just soaked. So I don't know what that says about me.

[B]

Well, we don't need to talk about this forever. But what they recommend you do is that you cool it. And then it gets coldest, like, a little more than halfway through when you're gonna like, your sleep period. And then it warms up not to, like, hot, but, like, to room temperature almost by the time you wake up. And they say your body will naturally start to wake up without an alarm and, like, kind of guide you through.

[A]

Oh, that's really about postpartum.

[B]

Like, this feels. I'm also thinking about menopause. I was like, get all of our mom these literally.

[A]

Wow, that's interesting. I want to become one of those women that wakes up like 5am just naturally for fun.

[B]

No, I can't curse.

[A]

No, I can't do that without. You know, my alarm doesn't wake me up, so maybe a chili pad could wake me up.

[B]

My body wakes me up for fun at 6am every day. It's not fun. It's a curse.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I want to sleep longer. I need more.

[A]

I. I could probably sleep like 8am Naturally. I'm waking up like 6:30 now. Well, yeah, I think my hard. No, I don't have one. Nope, don't have one. And not because I. I did was thinking about this. I just. I feel like it's been a really sweet season. My mom and dad left which was really sad. But I think I talked about that last episode.

[B]

Like it's still hard every week. Not sad.

[C]

They were about to leave.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So they moved out last night.

[B]

I was like, I miss seeing your mom at the gym.

[A]

I know, it was really sweet. All of her friends were like, I miss.

[B]

Your mom is sad. Yeah.

[A]

So that was. I mean, it's just. I feel like she is one of the burn girls.

[B]

She is. She is.

[A]

Which is so fun. And I know C.J. misses her, but. Yeah, that was sad. That's my heart definitely. But there's one pro that I cling on to when they're not here to like my way self feel better. It's that I'm really forced to be more independent when she's not here. And that's a good thing. Yeah. I'm an optimist. But that's the really only pro.

[B]

Everything else you can just have. You can still have your mom and be independent.

[A]

I know. Exactly. But listen, I'm just trying to make myself feel better.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That's good.

[B]

Do what you gotta do.

[A]

Yeah. So it's fun.

[B]

How was Hawaii so fun?

[A]

It was.

[B]

We did get sick which so sad. I think I was sick before we left. Remember when I said that I tummy hurt? I believe I.

[C]

That was when you were recording your podcast.

[B]

Yeah. I think I had flu. B. Guys.

[C]

You took Griffin to Dr. Good thing

[A]

none of us got it.

[B]

We had a good.

[C]

That is actually true.

[A]

Yeah. I wasn't confused.

[C]

Yeah. Thanks for leaving. Actually.

[B]

Yeah, it was good.

[A]

We left.

[B]

We left. We took it. We were just outside. So that was. I don't. I hope we didn't contaminate anyone, but it was. That was a little bit of a rough patch. But if you're gonna be sick somewhere.

[A]

Yeah. Be sick on an island. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And no, it was a great time. It was really, really special just being the four. And it was just. It was. I have no. It was just the best time.

[A]

It sounded like you guys did a whole mix of different activities. Like you didn't just go to the beach, you went to a bee farm, you hung out friends, you. You know. I feel like you guys did a lot of different things.

[B]

We went to a homestead.

[A]

We saw like a lot of.

[B]

There's a lot of gardening in like agriculture on Maui. So we got to like see that. We went on a catamaran tour, which was so wild and crazy. Like my kids still talk about it every single day. They call it the pirate ship.

[A]

That's cute.

[B]

They thought the guys that were like the crew members were pirates. Cause they had a lot of tattoos.

[A]

Oh, nice.

[B]

And they like Auggie, every day was just like thinking about that. I'm like, is he going to get padded up? That would be really interesting.

[C]

Shout out to Jamie for senate helping set that up.

[B]

Oh, it was an amazing See Maui. If you go to Maui, go to sea. Maui, Sea. They were incredible. Like, it was just the most generous, best experience ever. Like my kids actually got to snorkel at ages 2 and 3.

[C]

That's cool.

[B]

Snorkeling. They. We saw reef sharks, we saw sea turtles. We saw a ton of fish. And the reef too. It was a younger reef, which was honestly encouraging to hear. Cuz I didn't actually know that. I thought reefs were only being destroyed same.

[A]

Yeah. And they're being built, but I guess that makes sense.

[B]

They're growing.

[A]

That's good. We went to the best snorkeling I've ever done was in Hawaii. It was Hanuma Bay. Did you guys ever go there? Hanam.

[B]

Hana. Yeah, I think. Yeah.

[A]

Did you ever go there when you lived there?

[B]

It's on Oahu. Yes.

[A]

Did you think it was spectacular or

[B]

that's like one of them? No, no, that's like one of the best. I feel like.

[A]

Yeah, I remember when we went.

[B]

Sharks Cove is also really good.

[A]

Did we go there with you guys when we probably. Yeah. I feel like the Hawaii snorkeling is unbelievable.

[B]

Pretty. Yeah. No, we had a great time. It was really, really good to slow down like that. And just. Which is so funny because I say slow down. But like obviously with kids you're kind of just like.

[A]

I mean, you're having fun.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're doing activities.

[B]

But it felt like slow down because we're just like, we're just rolling with the punches of every day. We had no plans and we're just figuring things out. So it was really special.

[A]

Yeah. That's the best. The best. I'm so happy for you.

[B]

Thank you to Goodr for sponsoring this portion of today's episode.

[A]

We're teaming up with Goodr, makers of active eyewear for everyone. So we're gonna activate our eyewear.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

Wow. Everything's darker. I am such a huge fan of Goodr and whenever I wear them, I always have someone that's like, you use Goodr too? Like. There is a cult following for these sunglasses for a reason, you guys. They are so well priced. I'm not gonna buy stupid expensive sunglasses. I sit on those, I leave them places. My kids break a ton of pairs. Absolutely not worth it. No, it's not. I'd rather have a lot of options everywhere on hand at all times. Right? Especially living in such a sunny state. And you guys, they're so comfortable. They don't slip. They're great. You can walk and run, work out in them.

[A]

My mom is obsessed with Goodr. She bought them and her entire pickleball group, then bought the Gooders and their pickleball group chat name is called the Gooder Girls.

[B]

Gooder sunglasses are constructed with special grip coated frames to eliminate slippage and sweating. They are snug and lightweight that prevents bouncing when you crush your workout.

[A]

If you guys are ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun and affordable, head to gooder.com abby to claim $10 off your first order. That's G O o D R gooder.com Abby, get your sunglasses today. Baby shower, Hawaii. My 30th birthday. I'm trying to think what the other things were. I'm officially 30.

[B]

30, baby.

[A]

It feels good, honestly. Feels right.

[B]

30 feels great.

[A]

I feel like 29. I just didn't have any thoughts about it. 30. I feel like, okay, this, I'm supposed to be this age. There's a confidence that came with 30.

[B]

I believe that I, I'm hoping that for myself.

[A]

Yeah, I'm two days in. I feel confident.

[C]

Good.

[B]

I just.

[A]

There's something about entering a new decade that just makes you nostalgic. And I'm not going to like list off my accomplishments or things that I went through, but I feel like the twenties were really formative for me and Caleb. But I think we just tried a lot of different things and we had a lot of successes, a lot of failures and we learned so much and grew so Much together that ultimately also shaped me as a person. And I just feel like the way that we viewed our 20s was, hey, we're okay to struggle in our 20s. Like, we want these to be our years where we try everything and see what sticks. And. Yeah, I just really glad that we did it that way. Yeah, there. So there were a lot of hard things, but overall, I think now to this point, and I just feel so excited and confident about the 30s.

[B]

Yeah, I feel like the. Your 20s, it's, like, chaotic. You're seeing what's sticking. You're, like, just. I don't know, just trying to. Obviously, I feel like there's, like, a lot of identity forming that comes your whole life, but, like, especially in your 20s.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That by the time you're 30. Like, I hope that I feel this way at least. Like, I know who I am. I know what my purpose is here. And, like, I have the confidence to, like, I don't know, just pursue that fearlessly, you know?

[A]

Totally. I feel like there's this shift. I mean, you think I was like, man, 20 felt like yesterday, but at the same time, it felt like 10 years. It felt like a long time ago.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

I was a sophomore in college, and through those first few years of my 20s, that was the first time I, like, went against my parents. And I was the first time I put the stake in the ground and, like, really made my own decisions. And so it was like this becoming an adult and trying to flex these muscles that I didn't really have yet, you know, of trusting my gut and my intuition and making hard decisions about my life and the direction I wanted to go. So there's that. That's in the beginning of your 20s. And then in the middle of it, it's like, I'm getting married and I'm forming my life with someone I found Christ. Like, all these big crazy, like, big milestone, monumental things. I really shaped my identity. And then all these career, you know, ups and downs, and now the end. So I feel like, yes, there's just so many identity things just to, you know, I'm just echoing what you're saying, but.

[B]

No, no, I think that's great. Yeah.

[A]

You guys asked me to think about a few thoughts on turning 30. Maybe some things that I learned, I feel like they're the big thing. One big thing that I feel like when I look back at my 20s. Putting yourself out there opens up opportunity, and I think it's saying yes to everything, you know, I mean, being wise about it. But I think sometimes you look at people's lives and you're like, whoa, how are they getting these opportunities? Or how'd they end up there? You know, I want to get to that point in their career where they're at or look, I want, look at their family and I want things like that. And it's just like a lot of really small yeses and a lot of really small steps to get to the big picture of things. And if you're always in fear or like afraid of change or you don't want to take the risk on things, then you're just never going to get really to where you want to be. And so I feel like when I look back, I'm really grateful that I said yes to a lot of little things because it opened up the doors to a lot of bigger things. So good. That's a little general maybe, but I just, I don't know. Don't be afraid to say yes and take risks and try everything. You know, I even just think about someone in like a corporate, a corporate career, like a very traditional route, like, hey, if your boss asks you to do something extra or take the next step or lead a group, if you start saying yes to some of these extra things, like then you're going to be in the running for bigger promotions and bigger things, you know, So I feel like in every area it's, you know, even with your kids, if you're a stay at home mom, it's like, say yes to volunteering, say yes to these things and then you'll be, I don't know, it's just, I feel like saying yes to things and getting out of your comfort zone leads to such excitement later on.

[B]

That's so good.

[A]

So they're not going to give the opportunities to people that aren't there trying.

[B]

We don't, we don't know who you are.

[A]

Yeah, you got to be involved, you got to do things. So I feel like that's something that I definitely learned in my twenties is to say yes. I think also just I feel like I have plans, but the Lord's plans are greater. And even in the hard things, I feel like there's so much purpose that comes out of the hard. And I've talked about a lot, but like in the past of my business and bolt, like I just had such a different vision for my life, but going through like the peeling of that back and the stripping away of those things, I've come to this place now where I feel so excited about what's next. And this podcast and being with you guys and being in Arizona, like, just things I never expected. So I'm just really grateful the Lord has, like, directed our path here, and it's just not where I pictured it. So even if you know, your life isn't going where you thought there's purpose in it.

[B]

Yeah. You know, it's been so cool to, like, even just be on the outside of, like, and watching every stage of. I think I've known you. You're from your 20 to 30.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Like, just seeing all the change that you've been through, all the growth, and, like, also just, like, seeing you where you're at, like, for me to be able to, like, look up to you through everything has been, like, so key in my own experience in my 20s.

[A]

Wow. Gosh.

[B]

Like, you just. You're such a role model to me, and, like, also a friend and a peer, but just, like, also that, like, level of, like, I just know that I can come to you and always receive wise, sound, honest, kind, and encouraging feedback. And, like, you've taken, like, what you've learned, and also just, like, it's been such a blessing to me.

[A]

Oh, so well, thank you. It's been so appreciate that. That's really sweet.

[B]

You make me excited for 30 just in a couple years.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. That was my last piece of advice. I think a lot of people will say, like, oh, your best years are in your 20s or your best years are in college. And I just want to say that's just such a lie. That is a lie. And your peak is not when you're 18. What a sad life that would be. That would be horrible. It's just every phase of life is so exciting and so fun, and so I just. Yeah. Don't believe the lie that, like, your 20 is your only time to go travel and do fun things and be cool and, like, be hot. You know what I mean? You have your whole life to do this.

[B]

We can be hot when we're 30.

[A]

We can be hot when we're 60.

[B]

What are you saying? I'm shooting for 40 for that rock star.

[A]

So that was my other advice. Like, just don't get. I don't live in, like, this fear mode of. This is the. This is the only time of my

[B]

life that has been one of my, like, silent goals. Like, that I just, like, under. Like, I think about with every birthday is I just want to be proud of every birthday I get.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Like, I want to be grateful for. I want to be like, don't ask how old I am, like, I understand people are doing that jokingly, but I do want to just be, like, proud because it's like, I got this whole year, like, to do and live and meet and try and all these things. It's like, I just want to view each year as a gift and not, like, something that's, like, I'm ashamed of.

[A]

Oh, what an amazing. What an amazing outlook. I love that.

[B]

And you do a really good job of that.

[A]

Thank you. Well, we're channeling that. That's really good. AB. Yeah, that's all I got. I think that was enough. People don't really care too much for me to talk about that, probably.

[B]

That was great.

[A]

Thanks.

[B]

Well, today we're talking about period. Well, here's a period. You're 30, and you're still having a period.

[A]

20s were a period. Now we're moving on to 30s.

[B]

How many years did you.

[A]

That's a great segue. There.

[B]

It is.

[A]

I think I got my period when I was in seventh grade.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. What age is that? 12.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I can't remember if it was seventh or eighth grade, but I remember that was when all the girls were, like. We were all panicked about getting it. One by one, the girls started dropping like flies. You know, it's like, I got it, I got it, I got it.

[B]

No, people wouldn't say. Like, it was like, really? Yeah. I thought for. I had, like, my best. One of my best friends. I was like, I thought we told each other everything.

[A]

And when I got.

[B]

I told her. She's like, yeah, I got mine a year ago or something like that. And I was like, how dare you?

[A]

That is shocking.

[B]

I know. But I feel like people. There was so much, like, embarrassment attached to periods.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

That I actually. When I was, like, reflecting on this and, like, preparing for this episode. I hope that. And I actually think it's probably changing. I'm not sure that the, like, preteens and teens nowadays feel that same way. I. I would hope not.

[A]

I would hope not. You know what? I think this is, like, a really amazing blessing of the Internet. And we were kind of talking about this on our call with a girl. Girl on our teams in her 40s. And so she's, like, entering. I mean, she's probably not entering menopause, but it's approaching that.

[B]

And it's like, she's 40.

[A]

You know, she looked. I thought she was 32 when I first met her. Yeah, I know. Goals. Literally goals. But it's. I feel like with the Internet, like, I just. How my mom talks about men, menopause, no one spoke about it. Like, they were just left to fend for themselves. But I feel like influencers on the Internet, social media, like, talking about these things openly and like, very publicly has shaped a lot of conversation around menopause, per menopause, pregnancy, birth, and then obviously periods.

[B]

So I'm like, that's a really great

[A]

pro about people online being too honest about things that happen in their body.

[B]

Right. Like, it's like, it's one thing for something to be like, more private and personal, another thing to feel like, embarrassment and shame about it.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I definitely think that, like, for at least it was like, I was very embarrassed about it. Like, at times, like, even just the conversation about it now when I actually started my period, I was 14. So I feel like I was like the, like everyone around me had already started going through it, but like, the, the initial, like, I just remember, you know, when they do the period talk at school, they take the boys away, come back.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, it was just like, so embarrassing. And when the boys would be like, what did you guys talk about? I'm like, shut up.

[A]

Nothing.

[B]

And they gave you, like a maxi pad. And like, I had to like, shove it to the back of my locker because I couldn't let a single boy see it. And like, if I remember, if I had to change, like, any period product during school, like, I was, I. This was the season of.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Victoria's Secret leggings and ugg boots.

[A]

Heck yeah, baby. Tampon in the boot, Tampon up the hoodie sleeve.

[B]

Don't let anyone all you can and like, or heaven forbid, you have to change your tampon. You're at a boy's house, like, what do we do with that trash can?

[C]

Or anywhere.

[B]

Like, there's just the stress of all that. I'm like, I just hope that that's not necessarily there. Like, it's one thing, like, you can be private about it. Like, that's very understandable and normal and great and normal. But the, the shame and embarrassment is.

[A]

Honestly, maybe that does just come from, like high school boys being immature and not understanding. Do you think it comes from more from the boys or from the girls?

[B]

Great question. Let's blame the boys. I've already.

[A]

CJ comes in the bathroom. I've had my period twice now. And he keeps coming. He goes, you bleeding mama.

[B]

I think you do a great job of that. And I was actually gonna give props to you and our mother in law about that because I feel like women's health and like, the Discussion specifically around, like periods and stuff like, that was very, like, it was an open dialogue with their sons.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

And I think that that's why, like, they are not.

[A]

They're not phased by it.

[B]

No one's fazed by it. And I don't think that's the case in every family. And so then some of these boys are like, what the world is going on? And even though, like, Matt was raised in an all boy household, like, they didn't have. He doesn't have any sisters.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So I'm like, that is. She did a great job of that. I also feel like that was kind of progressive.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

Because I feel like a lot of the boys I was growing up with were just like, what in the world?

[A]

Shocked.

[B]

And I was also just like, so embarrassed. But yeah, that's what I was saying. I was like, I think that there's been a lot of positive growth in this area as far as, like the dialogue. I do think we have a ways to go as far as research and I was kind of like learning and we can talk about that a little bit.

[A]

Yeah. Bring it up. Because Emma, our producer, I wish I had time to listen to it, but I was listening to her audiobook.

[B]

You for sure listen to it.

[A]

I'm going to listen to it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Tomorrow.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because. Yeah, I just. It looked amazing.

[B]

She's referring to. Our producer sent us this very awesome podcast by the Diary of a CEO. He had it with four different, like, female doctors. I think there was an OB gyn. There is an ant on your mic and this is what is happening.

[C]

Ah, I see it.

[B]

Why is it me? It's not you.

[C]

How is it getting all the way over there?

[A]

I didn't know anything.

[B]

They were forced to migrate because orchid.

[A]

Actually, this rug is hiding millions of ants.

[C]

Oh, no.

[B]

Oregon Trail.

[A]

Please.

[B]

No, please.

[C]

Organ Sponsored podcast. Spray the room, please. No.

[B]

They got helmets.

[A]

They had helmets.

[B]

Well, good for them.

[C]

Does that make you.

[B]

To be real?

[C]

They're unsafe if they have helmets on?

[B]

No, I honestly was just like, man, I impressed. Appreciate just the. The commitment.

[A]

Yeah. The level of care here.

[B]

This is so serious. And I appreciate you handling it that way.

[A]

Yes. They said infestations. Say less. We're coming fully suited.

[B]

Seriously, that was great. They were. They were honestly the sweetest guys ever.

[A]

It's awesome.

[B]

One of them was having a baby. Matt had. Matt had emptied our PR closet of all baby products. He was like, please take all.

[A]

That's really joking.

[C]

That's awesome.

[A]

So sweet.

[B]

So sweet. He's Like, I did it because I feel like it's something you would have done. You're so, so kind. I got so sidetracked. But we can link this other podcast. It's gonna be very informative. Ours is more, you know, chit, chatty.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, it's fun. But you had some things that you felt like were really like.

[B]

Yeah, I'll sprinkle in some tidbits as it feels relevant. And I. I haven't finished it either because it is nearly four hours, but it is for female doctors and, like, their experience. And I was just amazed by the honest but respectful conversation about, like, basically just one of their things. They were like, with. Between women and men's bodies. Every cell of a woman's body is different than a man's body. And I feel like he point. Stephen Bartlett, the host of the show, he pointed out, he's like, at one point, that felt taboo to say. And she's like, yeah, but she's like, it's very important that we understand that it's not just our reproductive organs that are different and making us separate from men. It's every single cell, like our bones, our organs and how things function. And anyway, it was just a very, very good conversation. Yeah.

[A]

I mean, that affects everything you think about. Even the foods that we eat versus the foods that men eat. Like, the food is drastically going to affect our body so differently than men. And so if we don't understand how much protein we should actually be having or minerals or vitamins or what medicine, how the medicines, how does Advil affect us versus a man? It's like, wow, that's really. That affects everything.

[B]

Affects everything. It was. It's a really great conversation. These women are just like a wealth of knowledge and experience and they've. They're definitely very well established in their careers. And it was just a really interesting conversation. I learned so much because I was like, wow, this is something that I were always like, we need to talk more about this. But I'm like, I don't even know what to talk about because I don't even. I don't know what. I don't know. And so I was like, this was a great, like, start. Actually, I shouldn't say starting point because it was like, high level.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. But it was. I mean, I can't recommend it enough. I haven't finished it. But it was really good to know as a woman. But I'm also like, Matt, listen to this.

[A]

It's so interesting. I feel like now, after having babies and feeling the My hormone shift and, like, feeling how my body is actually affected by that, I'm more interested in learning about it. Whereas when I was 16, I didn't really necessarily care. Like, I knew there were a lot of hormone things going on, but I didn't know myself well enough to feel what those changes were. Where now as an adult, I'm like, oh, I actually feel that difference.

[B]

Well, I do kind of feel like the conversation around hormones, especially with teenagers, is like, oh, it's making them moody and, like, yellow their moms so sexy and, like, cry a lot. Where it's like our hormones. They describe in this, this podcast that, like, it's our body's messaging system. Like, how we're sending signals to, like, fire certain ways and not, like, turn on things, turn off things. And so, yeah, it does, because I do feel like hormones is kind of just like, oh, it's just this dramatic, like, where it's like, it's so much more than that. And it's actually not even. That's not even really what it is at all.

[A]

Right, Right.

[B]

It was really cool.

[A]

Yeah. I'm excited to listen to it.

[B]

So we pulled the audience, you guys that follow us on the always Here podcast, Instagram, which if you don't follow us there or engage there, you should, because it really is fun to include so fast in our episodes as they're happening. We asked, what period product do you swear by? And, you know, I'm actually surprised so

[A]

many people use pads. 36% of people used to pass by that.

[C]

I will put in here the something else. We also had a box for people to say what that is. A type of disc of some sort, like a menstrual cup or a disc. That's what most of the people said under the something else.

[A]

I cannot wait to talk about that. I'm excited to talk about that. 36 said pads. I am curious about that because are people using pads more? Have they always used pads or is it more now because there's a conversation around tampons being toxic.

[B]

Probably.

[C]

It's probably shifted. But I will say, when I first got my period, I did pads. I. Because I was scared of inserting tampons.

[A]

Interesting.

[C]

And then once I did that, I switched. But I feel like there is a fear around putting a tampon in, like, if you've never done it before, a lot of people or it's uncomfortable for some people.

[A]

I remember my mom bought me a box of tampons to practice with before, and she bought me cardboard, so never practiced. Because how in the heck are you supposed to get?

[B]

My dad got me cardboard tampons when we were on a trip to Disney World when I was in high school,

[A]

and I was like, that's a mistake you make. What is this?

[B]

I was actually shocked. There's no applicator.

[A]

Huh? Oh, have you ever seen a cardboard one?

[C]

No. I'm gonna look it up.

[B]

It just. It's all manual.

[A]

And you know what? It hurts because, you know, a plastic applicator, it slides.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So paper tape on just a big.

[C]

I see that. And it's cardboard around it.

[B]

My dad got me that. It hurts. They had at the, like, whatever art of animation was.

[C]

I will say with, like, tampons, you. It needs to. You need to be bleeding for, like, you can't. Like, it can't.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You have to.

[A]

Already some moisture down there.

[C]

There needs to be moisture for sure.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It hurts.

[C]

I didn't know that.

[A]

I. Okay. So I've always used tampons. I did start with pads when I was, like, first starting out, but I didn't like how they. I felt like, you could. I played volleyball, so I feel like you could see them in my spandex and stuff. So I just immediately switched to tampons. I had to get a lesson from my mother on that one. An invasive one, because I could figure it out.

[B]

I love that you have that relationship with your mom.

[A]

Yeah. Well, what are you gonna do? I was like.

[B]

I think I just certain I had

[C]

that book out that I had told you guys about about my body that I was looking over.

[A]

I was like, I certainly thought I was a boy. Certainly. I was like, things. Where does this go? I don't think I'm built like everyone else. No, I'm not kidding.

[B]

I was like, boy, am I a boy?

[A]

They're like, you're not really. That was a thought I had. So that's good. Yeah. I'm glad I figured it out. Am in fact, a woman, but. So I did tampons pretty much all until the past two periods I've ever had.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah. I switched to the disc. Our friend Topanga brought it to the favorite things party.

[C]

Oh, yeah?

[A]

Yeah. I grabbed it. I like it.

[C]

And you started using it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know what? It's invasive, it's messy, but I'll continue using it.

[B]

Do you feel like a woman when you're.

[A]

No. Let me tell you, my fingers have never been so, like, wow, that tmi. But, you know, you got to put them up there, and you got to do it. I Doing it in the Shower. Because it's a lot of blood. You know, you think about it, you put this disc in, it holds six super plus tampons. Six super plus tampons. That's amazing. It's so much more hygienic for your body. Like, I feel better. Like, you know, when you use a tampon towards the end of your period, it's like you get sore down there and like, I don't know, it just hurts. So this never had any of that. It was way. Well, let me smoother.

[B]

This was my journey. I got my first period. I immediately. That day had dance. And so I was like, I'm not my mom.

[A]

This is the day of.

[B]

The day of.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And I, like, had this maxi pad, which, first of all, I actually, also.

[A]

We're not bleeding that much.

[B]

I didn't need that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I was like, I do need something. And so I just remember this. I sat on our bathroom counter.

[A]

Just with your legs open.

[B]

Yeah. I was like, that was the first time I discovered.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The anatomy down there. I didn't know that one. I didn't know that one.

[A]

Right. Yeah. I mean, what opportunity of a young girl are we gonna be going down there?

[B]

I know that one.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I was like, I gotta. I gotta see. I have to know that this is here. Because I didn't believe it.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And then I just figured it out. I just used a tampon. My mom was like, okay. Like, if you want to. She's. She didn't use them. So she was like, I don't really.

[A]

Mm. Can't help you, actually.

[B]

But it's okay. I, like, had all my friends, you know, my friends, like, kind of had prepped me for this, and so I used a tampon then for that amount of time, I always slept with pads because I was worried about keeping those in for a while. But then before I got married. So this is one of those things about waiting for marriage. You have. You know, there's a lot of talks about preparing yourself. And so someone. One of my friends that had been married for, like, two years, two whole years, she's like, this is what really will help. She's like, if you use a menstrual cup for your cycle before you, like, have intercourse.

[A]

Oh, so you don't have pain your first time.

[B]

I guess it stretches things out.

[A]

Oh, interesting. I don't remember sex were being painful, like.

[B]

Well, a lot of people do experience pain the first time they have sex, I think. And so. But she told me, she's like, just like your friends, like, Three cycles before you get married. Just like, switch to that.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

And so I switched to a cup. And you guys, this is such a vivid memory for me because first of all, you have to. When you first get them, it's recommended to boil in. So my roommates are like, what is in.

[A]

You're boiling out this dough.

[B]

I'm just like, it needs four more minutes just floating in this water in the coop. The house that we lived in. And then I was like, everyone, stop. I need this. This is my preparation. Like, what? And so. But then I went and started my period. But I was like, ready. It was like pre boiled, right? Of course. And my parents come into town for whatever reason for some event at college, and I always wanted to stay in their hotel with them when they would visit.

[A]

Your timing is impeccable. My gosh.

[B]

I was like, now's the time to try this. And I go in the bathroom to, like, lock the door. And then I was like, I can

[A]

figure this thing out.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[C]

I don't know if I can figure that out. To this day, I've never.

[A]

It.

[B]

You have to fold it a certain way. And you really just have to get comfortable with yourself.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

And here's the thing about it, is that, like, I tried it and I was like, not. I was getting so frustrated and panicked. And then I was like, I just need to go back to the house with the girls. I need them to, like, help me, help me. And so I like, texted my friend. I was like, I don't. She's like, you just need to relax. Just like, take a bath and take a bath.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

I take. I get in the bath and I'm like, relaxing. And then I go back. I got it in. Couldn't sleep that night because I could feel it.

[A]

I could feel it the whole time, really.

[B]

Now this should not just. I'm not trying to deter anyone from using it. This is also before I was like, sexually active at all. And so I think that probably played a role. But after, I would say it took a good 24 hours for me to be like, okay, I don't feel this anymore. I can relax. And then I. And I had a great experience with the cup. And that's what I used then.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was it. I did just feel better, like, in my body not having, like, all the cotton colds, like, and cotton. And also it lasts way longer. There's no risk of toxic. I mean, you've got to change that thing.

[A]

Yeah. You gotta clean it. Right?

[B]

I would actually. I boiled it, like, after each cycle, too.

[A]

I haven't done that, but that's interesting.

[B]

I don't know that that's necessary.

[A]

Yeah, they just. I think for the disc is just gentle, gently wash with soap.

[B]

Okay. And so I.

[A]

The first time I did.

[B]

Yeah. Just boiling it. Yeah.

[A]

You see, how do you get past

[C]

the fear that it's gonna just be stuck in there? Because, like, with a tampon, I feel good that there's a string.

[B]

It's not unlimited in there.

[C]

I don't. It vibrated.

[A]

What do you mean?

[C]

Like, how do you get it out?

[B]

There's a. It doesn't just go up into your organ. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

You can't get past that cervix. That thing should. Unless you got a baby coming out.

[C]

You just have to, like, go up on the side of it.

[A]

Well, the disc you actually put up over your pubic bone. So it goes up pretty far. Yeah, so it goes up that high. But it's really comfortable because it's not just sitting in, like, your bladder area. Like a cup is.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Not your bladder, but you know what I'm talking about. So the disc is really comfortable because it goes up a little higher.

[B]

But.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Bear down to kind of push it out a little bit, and then there's like a little stem. But you got to be careful taking it out, because one of my stories you're gonna see.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There are some more variables with the cup that you don't necessarily.

[C]

I feel like I should try this just at some point to, like, understand the anatomy of it, of doing it. Look at my face.

[B]

I know your body will thank you. I feel like, because it's just. It's also just the peace of mind. You can leave that thing in for 12 hours.

[A]

Yes. All day long. So I would do. I would get in. Well, I would empty it in the disc. You can self empty, but it's still really messy. So I would just do it in the shower, and I would do it in the morning and then at night before bed. And it was awesome.

[B]

Awesome. You. You master it quickly. Yeah.

[A]

It took me one whole cycle to

[C]

like, you should probably try it. At some point in my life, I

[A]

did feel really good about it. I feel like, you know, really clean.

[C]

Are you guys heavy? When you did tampons and stuff, were you guys heavy bleeders or like.

[A]

I am now.

[C]

Now.

[A]

Now I am after having babies. Yeah. 42 said they use tampons. What do you use, Addie? Do you use pads?

[B]

Yeah, we're the majority here.

[C]

A lot of the or not a lot, but some of the something else where they do both. Like they use a tampon and a pad because they're heavy. I sometimes do a tampon and a like panty liner.

[B]

I always need just in case there's

[C]

always it, like in case it leaks. It's leaking into the. Yeah, it's not like it's gonna be a heavy flow.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I always wear a panty liner too, on my period. Yeah, 8% said period underwear. Have you guys tried that?

[C]

I have not.

[B]

I need education on that one.

[A]

I don't know anything about them.

[B]

I'm really.

[A]

I feel like, would they not smell?

[B]

And you're getting really.

[C]

You can't wear them with like leggings, which is. I feel maybe you can't. No, actually they look like you could, but they're like boy short type.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I'm like, I feel like a lot of time I'm wearing leggings. It kind of. It just looks like a pair of underwear that just like has a thicker,

[A]

like a pad built in.

[B]

I was asking someone that used one of these how they wash them because I think that was the thing that has deterred me always is like in your washing machine. But maybe you do a pre rinse and then wash it. I feel like I would just feel.

[A]

I. I need to be educated. But I feel like I would feel gross wearing my blood all day like that.

[B]

Maybe it stores it away under the.

[A]

Huh? Yeah. I don't know.

[B]

I love the freedom of not having it come out of me.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Until I'm ready for it all at once.

[A]

Totally. Yeah. But I. I'm grateful there are more methods. I feel like there were not as many options.

[B]

Also there's period swim bottoms, which I'm like, that actually that's a good idea. Like a good idea. Like that will keep things in there because I don't know, sometimes I'm like, that was a big insecurity as it like a preteen, like teen, like swimming was like so scary.

[A]

So scary. I was always checking to see if my tampons or something, like whatever you

[B]

were using, but just to have that extra security. Yeah.

[A]

We were being nervous. Like your tampon string was hanging out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Caitlin, our friend, I was with her today and she's like, do you remember asking your friend a million times, like, check me, check me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Being like lifting over. Betty goes to a dance studio.

[C]

When you're wearing a leotard in tights, you're like, can you see it?

[B]

Yes. Always. Always. Before we get in sometimes people would be.

[C]

Yeah, you could.

[A]

Sometimes you could.

[B]

Bleeding through.

[A]

I know.

[C]

Dance was worse.

[B]

Dance was a really hard learning curve. Thank you to Magic Spoon for sponsoring this portion of today's episode.

[A]

I'm hungry. How about you?

[B]

Every time I know I had it for breakfast is worth it. Did you really? Yes.

[A]

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[B]

I love cereal.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But it's not filling.

[A]

No, it does nothing.

[B]

Magic Spoon is different though. It's delicious, sweet and filling because it's protein packed.

[A]

Right. I love their snack treats for before workouts. They're little bars. Magic Spoon treats are crispy, airy, protein packed snack bars with 12 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 0 grams of added sugar, 2 to 3 grams net carbs, and they're certified gluten free. They genuinely feel like a treat, not just like a sad health bar.

[B]

Seriously, I like the chocolate one a lot.

[A]

Yeah, I liked the one that was marshmallowy. Mmm. There's so many good.

[B]

Blueberry one, a peanut butter one. Yummy. Oh, yeah. All their flavors include marshmallow chocolate, peanut butter, double chocolate, and more. They're so nostalgic. They're very dessert coated, but without loading you up on sugar.

[A]

Magic Spoon is really easy to find. Just look for Magic Spoon at your local grocery store. And they just rolled out treats nationwide at 7:11. If you haven't tried them yet, check out Magic Spoon's new protein pastries, A high protein, low sugar take on the classic toaster pastries you grew up with.

[B]

You can get $5 off your next order, including the protein [e-mail] Abby that's magicspoon.com Abby for $5 off.

[C]

Okay, we're gonna do a fun little period quiz. I'm gonna ask you guys the questions. They're all true or false. Okay, so we'll see how you do. There's 30 questions.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[C]

It shouldn't take too long. We don't have to do them all either. But a normal menstrual cycle is always 28 days.

[A]

False. I have no idea. False.

[B]

Gotta be a range. False.

[C]

False. Do you know what the range is?

[A]

28 to 21 to 30.

[C]

21 to 35.

[A]

I was gonna say 32, but I was like, there's not 32 days in a month, but that also my life.

[C]

35 seems like a long one. Do you guys know. Do you guys know what your. Like, how long your guys's cycle?

[A]

About every three. Every. Every fourth week I get my period. Okay.

[C]

You don't know in days, though, so

[A]

I usually count like one.

[C]

Mine's like 26 days.

[B]

So here's the crazy thing. In the past 10 years, I have actually tried to figure out how many cycles I've had. It's been probably 12.

[C]

Birth control and pregnancy.

[B]

Birth control, pregnancy. Pregnant right after. Before even getting a cycle. Then birth control and then pregnancy, and then one cycle pregnancy. Like, I mean, it was like. Yeah, I just. Yeah. Have it. Oh, and also when I was breastfeeding, I went a long time without getting my period too.

[A]

Man. I never took a birth control that suppressed my period. So I just never. I've never gone.

[B]

Except during the period was never super heavy. So I think that that's. That's why it would just knock it out immediately.

[A]

Took it out.

[C]

Mine wasn't. I had a. When I was on the pill, I had a period. When I got the. An iud, I didn't have a period. That's how mine was. Okay. You can still get pregnant while on your period.

[B]

I think they say yes. I think that's true.

[A]

I think they say yes, but I don't believe it.

[B]

I think it's very unlikely it says

[C]

true, especially if you ovulate early or have a short cycle.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Brown period blood usually means something is seriously wrong.

[A]

False.

[B]

That's, like, at the end.

[C]

Yep. I feel like that's called the exclamation point.

[B]

Did you guys get this where you'd get your period and then there was a day where nothing would happen, and then one day later, it would just come back for one more.

[A]

Yeah, it's like light, and then it kind of get a heavy splash.

[B]

My mom and I call that the exclamation point.

[C]

That's so funny. The brown would always be at the beginning. I like, tell myself that it was like from the last.

[A]

Yeah. Beginning and end.

[C]

It's like the oxidation of the blood, like, in the uterus.

[A]

Oh, that's good. That's good.

[C]

Severe period pain that makes you vomit or miss work is normal.

[A]

No, no, that sounds horrible.

[C]

I miss school sometimes because the cramps were so bad and they put me on birth control. Stress can affect your menstrual cycle.

[B]

I believe that.

[C]

True. And it can affect your ovulation and the timing. Ovulation usually happens about 14 days before your next period.

[A]

That's what they say, but I can't say that's true.

[B]

Have you taken ovulation tests?

[A]

Never. Never in my life. I didn't even know those were a thing until you took a Maddie. And I was like, what? Is that

[B]

based? Not on anything, my friend the other

[C]

day, she was like, there is a chance that I got pregnant. Like, she was like, there's a chance I got pregnant last night. She, like, just had a baby, too, and she was like. She's like, I'm worried. I said, go take an ovulation test to see if you're even ovulating right now. Cause she, like, kind of had her period or anything, and she's like. Like, not ovulating. I'm like, okay, I know when I'm ovulating.

[A]

I just don't know the amount of days in between.

[C]

It is 14. About 14.

[A]

Before your next period, it just gets really heavy. Like, whoa, things are happening.

[C]

PMS only causes emotional symptoms.

[B]

No, the craving, the hunger.

[A]

The hunger is unbelievable. I always know. I'm like, I'm starving.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Bloating, fatigue, headaches, acne and more.

[A]

Oh, my gosh, the pimples every time.

[C]

Blood clots during a period are usually dangerous.

[B]

No?

[A]

Yeah, I get those a lot. Especially on day two.

[C]

Especially on heavier days. Yep. The uterus sheds its lining during menstruation.

[A]

True, True.

[C]

The lining is what exists or what exits the body during a period. Exercise can sometimes help reduce cramps.

[A]

True.

[B]

Oh, yeah, for sure. True.

[C]

Hormonal acne can worsen around your period.

[A]

True.

[B]

Gotta be true.

[A]

Hey, we're so educated.

[C]

You're doing good.

[B]

It's like, we've done this.

[C]

You lose about a cup of blood during an average period.

[A]

Do you really? True.

[B]

Really?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I'm guessing that's false. Yeah, I was gonna say it's gotta

[B]

be less than that.

[A]

It seems like a lot.

[C]

This one. This says that you lose around 1 to 2 tablespoons. I also saw one that said it was like three to four.

[A]

No, I'm sorry.

[C]

One to four.

[A]

More than that. When I'm looking at this disc. More than one.

[C]

That is kind of crazy.

[A]

One through two tablespoons every 12 hours.

[B]

No way.

[C]

Certainly it's possible to have symptoms from ovulation.

[B]

Oh, yeah. I learned that after having babies.

[C]

Yes. Same with me. I didn't have any before.

[A]

Symptoms as in what?

[C]

You feel your ovulation.

[B]

I do think about, like, being horny.

[A]

Oh, shoot.

[C]

I don't get that one.

[A]

I think that's, like, biological that would make sense because that's the time they went. Your body wants you to make a baby. Makes sense.

[C]

This says people notice cramps, discharge changes, or bloating. My discharge does change.

[B]

That's not even one of them.

[C]

But you want to know what's biological? Like, an interesting thing about that is I do notice the discharge changes. You're, like, very, very lubricated during your ovulation.

[B]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

Which makes sense.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're period blood is dirty.

[C]

Blood your body is getting rid of. Yes.

[A]

No, it's not.

[B]

What?

[A]

That's just a.

[B]

That sounds like beefy stuff. They're like, the women have to go to the outskirts of the city.

[A]

You are unclean for seven to 10 business days.

[C]

Periods can change over time as you age.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Yeah, I think so.

[C]

Agreed. That's true. Hormone stress, health conditions, and aging all affect your cycle. PMS symptoms can begin before bleeding starts.

[A]

I was actually surprised with that this last time. I was like, I feel I'm so crampy. My back was aching. I was moody, really hungry, and then my period didn't come.

[B]

Moody. Abby, thank you for saying that. She's never moody.

[C]

I don't notice it.

[A]

So kindness of you. That whole week, I was like, when is it happening? And it started the week after.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

I know. I had never cramped before my period. Normally, I would cramp on, like, the day that I would get my period. This was the whole week before I was cramping. But it was my second period post baby, so things are still, you know, they're getting back to normal.

[C]

It does say PMS often begins in the luteal phase before the period arrives, which I believe luteal is right before.

[A]

Of course it is.

[C]

So that would make sense.

[B]

Cervical.

[C]

Cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it does.

[A]

Cervical mucus. What is that?

[B]

Discharge.

[C]

Discharge?

[B]

Oh, you've been saying it this whole podcast.

[A]

Scientific term.

[C]

You're discharging.

[B]

No, that's like Abby. Abby says.

[C]

What did she say?

[B]

Oh, no, I think it just. What do you say? Actually, that one really? Abby says jizz.

[C]

Why are you saying that? In what context are you saying

[B]

you've never heard her say?

[C]

No, it's so middle school.

[B]

She says it in front of people. I'm surprised she says it. Yeah, I think it's funny. Okay, I'm sorry. I really derailed this conversation. I just.

[C]

What do you say?

[A]

I just like saying things like a middle schooler's life. It Comes up.

[B]

I don't know why it comes up. It comes up.

[A]

The first time I said that to you, you're like, whoa, don't say that.

[B]

I just take it back. And now I just. When I hear that word, it's usually from your mouth, but if it's not, I think about you.

[A]

I'm honored. It's just so crass and funny and childish and I like saying it.

[B]

I love it. Sorry for that.

[C]

Period hoops are a real thing.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I always know it's a good day. That first day of the period cleaned out. Then I'm constipated for about six days.

[B]

Really?

[A]

That first day. That was amazing.

[C]

It's all. I mean, if we're talking about it, you know, like if you have a tampon in, you have to poop.

[A]

That's just like such a waste of your tampon.

[C]

Literally. Take it out. You can't do it. You can ovulate even if your cycles are irregular.

[A]

I don't know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

It just doesn't always mean that you're. It's like the 14 days before.

[A]

Okay, so you can ovulate but not bleed later.

[C]

Sleeping poorly can sometimes affect your cycle.

[A]

I don't. I'm sure. I'm sure it can.

[B]

Weird ovulation also can be a. I shouldn't say weird. Irregular ovulation can also cause twins.

[C]

Oh, I didn't know that you're.

[A]

Weird ovulation.

[B]

I had weird ovulation happen. Wait, what were we talking about?

[C]

Sleeping poorly can affect your cycle.

[A]

Certainly it can.

[C]

I feel like it affects everything, just like stress can. Yes, it is true. Tampa.

[A]

Say it.

[B]

Addie.

[A]

What?

[C]

Tampons can permanently get lost inside your body.

[A]

False.

[B]

There's an end.

[C]

That's like, I just saw the disc. Just

[A]

he just cough it up one day. I lost that months ago. No.

[B]

I've heard terrible stories of people like, leaving them in for really long time,

[A]

so I forget about it.

[C]

Bad things happen. The cervix prevents tampons from traveling beyond the vagina.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And whatever else, praise the Lord for that

[A]

period.

[C]

Cravings can be influenced by hormones.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, boy. I want that chocolate.

[C]

Last one. Having a regular period means all hormones are balanced.

[A]

I don't think. Balanced, no.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good fault.

[C]

Oh, it is false. You guys are correct.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Someone can still have hormone related issues despite regular cycles. That's it.

[A]

I'm actually surprised that I knew. I was. Honestly. We suggested a quiz. I was like, probably not gonna know much about this.

[B]

Yeah. Wait till we do that.

[C]

There is a question that I read on a different quiz that I was reading. How many periods do you think you have in your lifetime average? Two quizzes have the same number, so I'm going based on that number.

[A]

Well, we have different ages.

[B]

Let me get my calendar.

[A]

I make it. My calendar as well. My calculator.

[C]

The calendar. You make it every month. Wow.

[A]

I have everything tracked from the age 12. No, just kidding. I just started trekking in the last three years. How are we doing this math? There's 12 months in a year. How many years have I lived?

[B]

I'm gonna say 336.

[A]

No, certainly not. Because if I did 18 years of having my period, you know, 30 minus

[B]

more than 18 years.

[A]

But are you talking about your total lifetime or just my current lifetime?

[C]

In your total lifetime, not how old you are now.

[A]

Oh, oh, maybe 28.

[B]

Maybe 336 is. I'm saying I would say almost 300.

[A]

I'm gonna say 400.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

Are those your answers?

[A]

Well, I'm thinking now 30 and I'm gonna go to 45. That's 15 more years. And that was 216.

[C]

336. And you're saying 400. It's 450.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Well, not me.

[A]

I've late bloomer.

[B]

I've obliterated that with my birth control usage.

[C]

That is interesting, because I wonder if you. If it's accounting for pregnancies. I don't know.

[A]

That's why I was thinking. Yeah.

[B]

At least a year gone.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Actually, some people get their period while they're pregnant.

[A]

I'm so sorry for you. I mean, that's just unlucky for you because.

[B]

Well, that's how some people don't know that they're pregnant.

[A]

I know. That's just.

[C]

Or people just have irregular periods and then they just don't realize they're pregnant.

[B]

That's really wild. It's truly the best science.

[A]

Besides your baby. It's a great gift. Yeah.

[C]

Okay, let's read their. Their audience story.

[A]

Yeah. We asked you guys what your audience horror stories are. I feel like every girl has experienced mishap. We're gonna share our horror stories, and we asked you guys on Instagram what your. Some of your experiences were with periods. And you guys had some good ones.

[B]

This first one, Heather west says, while on vacation, the suction from my menstrual cup pulled my IUD out of my uterus.

[A]

Do you think that hurt?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Never had an iud. Really?

[B]

Well, getting it Removed.

[C]

Surely you think that happened gradually though? Or did it just like as soon as she suctioned it, it ripped.

[B]

Well, first of all, why was it. It's not supposed to suction to anything. So something, maybe something was just like

[A]

it was inserted incorrectly.

[B]

Maybe like it was closed and then opened up there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Whoa. All the way at your cervix. The IUD surely had to be slipping out.

[A]

Yeah, hopefully.

[C]

Because if you're having intercourse also and then. But that does it. It seems a little odd to me.

[A]

That would be crazy. We're sorry. Paula said PCOS girly. So once I had my period for one and a half months straight. No, that's horrible.

[B]

That is.

[A]

That's horrible.

[B]

Were you taking supplements? That sounds scary.

[A]

Scary. Yeah. All the iron loss. She surely lost a cup.

[B]

Yeah. I once had my period on a fabric chair in school. They had me carry the chair through the halls to the nurse.

[A]

That's mean. That's mean.

[B]

That's a.

[A]

That deserves a phone call from your mom. That, that deserves a phone call. That's really mean. Kayla said, my first cup got stuck and I had to ask my boyfriend of a month to help me get it out.

[B]

Oh, surely there's another call.

[C]

Yeah, surely there's option for that. Oh my gosh. That's funny.

[B]

Dang it. Candice said having to use a cardboard tampon after bleeding through my uniform skirt at school.

[A]

Truly the cardboard tampon is the biggest drama trauma of them all.

[B]

It's a medieval contraption.

[A]

It really is. Lisa said I passed out my first period seeing the blood.

[B]

Oh wow.

[A]

Shoes.

[B]

I actually know people that pass out at the side of blood. And then my question, follow up question was how do you deal with your own cycle?

[A]

That's interesting. I've actually never thought about that. They probably just pass out and then move on with their day.

[C]

That's wild. Yeah.

[B]

And the blood loss doesn't help.

[A]

They should use the disc. It's only twice a day instead of like six.

[B]

But it's a crime scene. Alyssa says first period on 4th of July at my friend's grandparents house right before going to the water park.

[A]

No, that's sad.

[B]

That was always the fear.

[A]

It's the fear. It's not really a big deal once you figure it out.

[B]

But the first time it's not going

[A]

to gush and no one's going to know that you're on it. But I would just be. It's a tough pill.

[B]

Forefront of your brain.

[A]

Exactly. That's all you can think about when you're In a tiny little swimsuit. Go green. Said non stop bleeding for a month straight. Doctor didn't want. Didn't want to put me on birth control. Ultrasound normal. That's so frustrating. Like, why would we just bleed, you know? That's a bummer.

[C]

So weird.

[A]

There's so many things.

[B]

Yeah. I hope you figured out why that happened, because that sounds miserable.

[A]

It really does.

[B]

Alicia says God of the day before my wedding. Wedding. And my second day is always the heaviest.

[A]

I was so worried about that happening. And you know what I did specifically for this purpose? I went on birth control, like, the month before. Two or a couple months before so that I could time when I would get my period.

[C]

Me too.

[A]

And I took my pills accordingly to, like, time out when I would get it.

[B]

Why am I having no memory of. I guess I just wasn't on my period.

[C]

I definitely got birth control before we got married, and I got it in, like, April.

[B]

Oh, yeah. I was on birth control.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So then. Then I didn't. I knew I'd probably stop having a period, so then I was glad I

[B]

didn't have to worry about it.

[A]

I know. I was just like that.

[B]

Yeah, that would be a big bummer.

[A]

Suck. Lizzie said the first time. The first ever time I got my period, I thought I pooped myself, and I was terrified.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Well, it's brown when it first comes out, you know, can I poop out my vagina?

[B]

That would be concerning.

[C]

That would be concerning.

[B]

Tally. Joy says I pulled my tampon out in the morning, and there was still another strain.

[A]

Oh, that's every girl's first timer.

[C]

I've never. I haven't done that.

[A]

I haven't either. But I know people that have. I've had. I've had friends had to get surgery because they've left it in so long. Ah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, it's rare. It's happened to, like, two people, but.

[B]

Did they get toxic shots?

[A]

No. I've never known anyone to get that.

[C]

I can feel it. Like, I just. I could never put them both in. Not that that doesn't happen.

[A]

I mean, if you have a light tampon up there, I mean, those look really comfortable. You know, I could see it. I know.

[B]

From Hannah Carter. First time using a tampon was in the condo bathroom at church camp before heading to the beach. My mom was trying to explain how to use it over the phone while I panic cried in the bathroom. Thought I finally got it right until I got in the ocean and watched it. Float past me because I didn't Put it in far enough. Needless to say, I stayed out of the water the rest of the trip. This sounds like one of those situations.

[A]

I just picture her stand there, just like your eyes, just following it.

[B]

I feel like that type of thing would happen to me, and I was just like, get it out of here. Who's that? I always just. Whenever things like that happen, I just flee. So I feel like that would just

[A]

be my blaming it on everyone else.

[B]

Yeah, that's great.

[A]

This is.

[B]

Whoa. You see that? That fish?

[A]

That's like everyone's worst nightmare.

[B]

Like, that fish.

[A]

These losers out here littering. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Well, now you have a good story. That's an amazing, amazing story. I'm not kidding, Hannah. That would really happen to me. That would really happen to me.

[A]

That would be a great movie. Somebody writing a movie should put that. That in there.

[B]

They're gonna steal it.

[A]

It's really good.

[B]

Steal it for sure. And also, hey, good news. You don't get your period when you're in water.

[A]

It's true. So you don't even need it.

[C]

I would have said she should have just stayed in the water, actually.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

You don't bleed as much in the water. That's great. Sarah Jo Taylor said first period came while on a camping trip. Thought I had the stomach flu. Mucho cramping and nausea. I thought I was gonna die. No supplies. I now always have tampons with me. I've been scarred.

[B]

Oh, God. Don't you have to dig a hole when you're camping or you're gonna attract the bears?

[A]

The bear's coming in. I smell some blood. I don't know. I've never. Can't.

[B]

Piranhas. I don't know what it. Citrus. Lions.

[A]

Piranhas. She's camping in Africa.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Those are in water. I know.

[B]

That's what. That's what she had to worry about in the ocean. Wait, where are piranhas?

[A]

Can you please look that up? It's Africa, right? Amazon.

[C]

What are you talking about?

[A]

Piranhas.

[C]

Why did she.

[B]

Where do piranhas live?

[C]

Oh, I thought you were.

[B]

You know how many times I ask Siri animal questions because of my kids? Hey, Siri, where do piranhas live? Piranhas live in the water bodies and

[A]

rivers of South America. In particular, Amazon, La Plata and Orino.

[B]

Every answer is the Amazon.

[C]

Tropical freshwater rivers and lakes of the South America.

[A]

Oh, South America. Yeah.

[B]

That's one of those fears. That's like quicksand.

[C]

Piranhas.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You think it's Going to be a bigger issue than it ends up being.

[A]

The Amazon.

[B]

Just don't go to the Amazon. Gosh.

[A]

Who's going there? Why would we?

[B]

The largest spiders are there. We're learning a lot.

[A]

Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this portion of today's episode.

[B]

You guys know that outfit that you just live in? You put it in the washing machine, put in the dryer, put it directly back on your body.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And wear it until you have to wash it again.

[A]

Oh, yeah. It hits every time. You're like, this is the outfit that

[B]

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It is.

[A]

It's luxury, it's quality. I mean, you're getting what you're paying for. It's just perfect, honestly.

[B]

Seriously. They are lightweight, breathable and made from viscose from bamboo, which makes it breathable, not super sweaty heavy. Especially in the summer months. You want something that is breathable.

[A]

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[B]

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Wow.

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[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Pass this on to your daughter. Most periods, first periods Are not majorly eventful.

[A]

No.

[B]

And I think in my head, I had heard all these, like, crazy stories. I was like, so, like, on pins and needles for so long. Like, when is it gonna happen? Actually, I thought it was gonna happen a long time before because I started getting discharged.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

In fifth grade.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that day I went to the. To the bathroom, like, eight times. My teacher surely thought I got my period because I surely did. And I was like, what in the world? Little did I know, years later. Yeah. Years down the line. But I got it. And I was just at school, and I just went to the bathroom, and I was like, oh, that's what it is. Crazy. Went to my locker because they had the stuff already ready from my mom. I do remember the underwear I was wearing.

[A]

You do?

[B]

Because I was like, this has to be the last day I ever wear this underwear. Obviously. But then any other underwear like this, I need more mature underwear. It was purple underwear with frogs on it. And I was from limited to probably.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was like, it's. It's got to end today.

[A]

I'm now a woman.

[B]

No, I don't think it was cool. I don't. I think if it was from limited to, I would have thought it was still cool.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It was certainly probably just Fruit of the loom bikini. I was like this.

[A]

I mean, you were 14. It was tough.

[B]

And then I got cheetah print underwear.

[A]

Perfect.

[B]

From Victoria's Secret.

[A]

Wow. You skipped from child to school.

[B]

Jumped a lot. And then I had dance that day, like I said. I plopped myself right in front of the bathroom counter. Shared a bathroom with a boy. My brother. And I was like, he just had to get used to it, I guess. I didn't hide anything. Anything from my brother.

[A]

Like your pain? Like your products, you mean?

[B]

Yeah, like, not. I didn't hide it. I put in the trash.

[A]

Right. Like, you closed the door when you were sharing.

[C]

Put the tampon in. He wasn't in there.

[B]

So I was not in there. You framed the story like he was in there. He was nowhere to be found. But I never hid, like, where I stored the tampons or even, like, in the trash. I didn't feel like I. Yeah, that's great.

[A]

Certainly.

[C]

I appreciate that.

[B]

Yeah. Well, he was set up for six, but, yeah, it was very uneventful.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But, you know, it was one of those things. I had dance that day, and I just remember telling my friend, I was like, hey, got my period. She's like, oh, yeah. I've been doing that for a Year. How dare you?

[A]

My first period was really chill, too, actually. I remember being that anxious feeling all the time at school. Like, oh, that feels kind of weird. And then running to the bathroom and thinking that I got my period and all my friends, like, trading tampons when they needed them. And it's like, oh, yeah, you got yours, you got yours. And I actually, now I think. I think it was eighth grade when I got mine and I was in math class. I remember exactly the class that I was in. And I went to the bathroom, I was like, I gotta go pee. Pull my pants down, little brown discharge. And I texted my friend and she brought me a tampon or maybe just a pad. I don't remember. And I went home that day, told my mom, and she took me to Cheesecake Factory for a little girl's date.

[B]

A sweet.

[A]

She was like, welcome to the club. The club? Yeah, I actually really liked that. Like, our little ritual of celebrating it.

[B]

Yeah, it was cute like that, but it was pretty.

[A]

It was, like, low key and uneventful. I don't remember a ton about it. I also don't remember it being regular for a long time.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

Like, I would get it and then I would go a couple months without getting it, and then I would get it again. Like, I never was able to track it.

[B]

So my second was my first incident, which also happened in eighth grade. And I was sitting in history class with the teacher that everyone thought was like, the hotel. His teacher. Like, everyone had a crush on this teacher in his class. I get up from the chair. Not only have I bled through my underwear. Oh, my. My jeans. It's all in the chair.

[A]

No, that's horrible, you guys.

[B]

Can you predict what I did?

[A]

Sat there all day.

[B]

Ran away. I just ran away to where I left class because that was. The bell rang and I was like,

[A]

whoa, get me out of here. You left the blood on the seat.

[C]

Someone else.

[A]

Oh, shoot. Shoot.

[B]

Yes, shoot. That is so. Like, I. I literally just froze. And I was like, panic.

[A]

Run, dude. That's crazy.

[B]

And you know what I was wearing? Everyone? Everyone's got a guess.

[A]

White jeans.

[B]

Justice Cami. White cami underneath my shirt. Just pulled it all the way down. You know the cami cammies?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Pulled that real far down. Went to the bathroom. I don't even. Like. I just think I had very little coping skills with this type of thing. I just was like, this is emergency. Emergency, emergency.

[A]

I'm blacking out.

[B]

What's happening? I feel like I probably just did not do the sanitary thing. I just don't know what I did.

[A]

Certainly not. You left the blood on the chair.

[B]

I certainly was not. But. But even, like, where was I going after that? Like, what did I do? I would like to think that I went to my PE locker and changed into my gym shorts. But then in my thinking about my, like, middle school brain, I probably was like, that will be so obvious that that's what happened. So I have no idea what happened, but I just know that I fled the scene.

[A]

Did your mom bring you any clothes? Did you text her? I guess she was working, so she couldn't.

[B]

My mom did not stay home.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

If you guys, like, start to bleed through or something like that. Did you just, like, wad up toilet paper?

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Wad it, Wad up toilet paper, set

[C]

it in your underw and hope for the best.

[B]

Make a little hamburger.

[A]

Literally. I said so. Dread. I forgot about that. The wad.

[B]

Okay, so, yeah. Just bled that scene.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Not proud of that.

[A]

That's. Hopefully it was a boy and he just wouldn't expect a period. I don't know.

[B]

That's foul. I mean, I don't know. It's natural, but that's.

[A]

I know. But then if he got blood on his pants next, no one would say anything. The next girl gets blood on her pants.

[B]

She's like, I swear.

[A]

Oh, man, that's great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's a hard one. That's like. That's scary.

[B]

I think I was shocked because I had never really had a heavy cycle, but sometimes, like, first year, you're like, things are kind of crazy.

[A]

They totally are.

[C]

I.

[A]

My first. Well, this wasn't my first incident. This was an incident that, like, burned in my head. And it happened a couple times. I was very scared of getting toxic shock syndrome, so I would refuse to sleep in tampons, which was just silly. You're not going to get it from sleeping in a tampon. Right. So after a couple of these incidents, my friend was like, girl, just sleep in your freaking tampon.

[B]

I. I didn't like doing that.

[A]

Woke up multiple times at night. Well, in the morning, and I would get out of bed and it'd be massive blood spots on my sheets and my mattress. Like, it bled through my bed multiple times.

[B]

That's a heavy.

[A]

So here's what I would do. Here's what I would do for my solution. I would put one maxi pad in the correct spot, and then I put two maxi pads across my butt. So I'd wear, like, a diaper almost.

[B]

Wait on your bed?

[A]

No, Like, I Wear full. I'd wear big underwear, and I'd put one maxi pad, you know, in the crotch and then two across my butt because I didn't. I was so upset that it would, like, bleed through because I lay on my back so the blood would travel down my crack.

[B]

I see.

[A]

Any details?

[B]

Puppy pad at this point?

[A]

No, honestly, it didn't. They made him. Never had a dog.

[B]

Did you have, like, crampy?

[A]

Like, I did have some cramps, but not, like, bad bad.

[B]

You were pretty crampy.

[A]

Did you.

[B]

Was it heavy?

[C]

It was not that heavy, no.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

But really, really crampy.

[A]

Yeah. It only happened at night when I was laying down.

[B]

I was. I never had a painful period.

[C]

I would call my mom and I would leave. I would, like, leave school. And so I would, like, hope to, like, when I would start feeling cramps. Like, I'd take a Midol, like, right away and hope I could catch it before it got bad. But if not, I have, like, so many memories of me laying on the bathroom floor, like, crying to my mom, in pain. I said so many times, I was

[B]

like, I don't know how I'm ever

[C]

gonna have a baby if I can't get through my period. Like, they were so. I'm like, if contractions are anything like period cramps, they were so bad. And so. Yeah. And then that's why I got put on. On birth control.

[A]

Did you ever grow out of that? Like, now?

[C]

Yeah, they're not as painful anymore. As soon as I got off birth control, they weren't as painful.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So I'm like, was I a wimp or did I do it a little

[A]

bit, or, you know, because I was on it, too. I went on birth control in high school. I had cramps. I don't think they were that bad. But then, like, later in the years, like, I don't do birth control now, and I feel like my cycle is so much more regular and way less. I mean, it wasn't bad when I was on birth control, but I just feel like maybe I was just young and, like, needed to give my body more time to. To.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Figure it out.

[C]

Probably.

[A]

Probably, you know? So I feel like mine was the

[C]

worst in high school. Like, yeah, freshman, sophomore year, and then I got birth control. Junior.

[A]

I also think about, like, what I ate in high school. You know what I mean? Certainly didn't help my cycle, my hormones.

[C]

That could be my problem. That could have been my problem.

[B]

I. I certainly remember, like, hamming it up, though. Especially, like, when I started dating Matt. I Would be like, I just wanted. I just want to be taken care of. So I was like, oh, I'm on my period so bad. And I was like, it's really over? Yeah, I never really had it.

[A]

Well, they don't know. Don't hurt them.

[B]

I did feel like, less of. I wanted to feel that. Like, sometimes I want to feel like a part of a club.

[C]

Oh, it's not a fun club.

[B]

It's not a fun club. That's what. That was really naive of me. That was like, the same side of me that wished I had glasses and braces.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, Right. Like, I just wanted to be a part of.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

I just wanted to be one of them.

[A]

Totally. Totally.

[B]

This one. When I talk about the Diva Club having a learning curve. This. I was in college, obviously, when this all. I was like, yeah, not in high school. I was an established woman, a young woman. And I just remember this day. I remember this whole day just going south. Like, it was like I had. I work. I would work out in the morning and I had classes like this. I would, like, bulk my classes because it would help with my work schedule because I was also trying to get married. So I was like, I gotta work and I gotta do school and I like. So I would do all my classes, and then I had a. Like a really long shift at the pizza restaurant. Actually, no, no, this was at the cocktail lounge. So I was working till really late. Like maybe like 10 or 11. I just had the longest day ever. And it was going so bad. Like, everything was going so bad. And then I had so much homework and I was just, like, so stressed out. Hadn't eaten much that whole day. And I gotta change my cup. And I was at the house that we, like, Addie lived at, the house that I lived in in college after I moved out. Anyway, I pull that cup out. Spilled all over the bathroom rug.

[C]

The amount of things that have been on that bathroom floor.

[B]

The rug and had been in all day. Day. Yeah, that rug. And I. It was literally like one of those moments where I was like. I like, audibly made that sound because I was just like, I cannot. Because I also just knew I had so much homework. I'm like, I'm good all night. I'm already so tired and I'm on my period. Like, there was just so many things you do.

[A]

The taller thing, you just throw the rest of it down. I just might as well bump it out. Probably did.

[B]

And I just hear a knock at the door as Matt, and he's like, Is everything okay? I was like, yes, it's fine. And then he's like, what's wrong? We're about to get married. Because this is around the time I started using the cup, right?

[A]

Oh, yes. Three months before.

[B]

He's like, do you need. Do you need help? And I was like, no, I'm just gonna throw this away.

[A]

Yeah, honestly.

[B]

And then he's like, I can clean it for you. And I'm like, they're probably like, this maybe was inappropriate in some fashion, but he cleaned that entire rug. Sweet.

[A]

That's not inappropriate.

[B]

It was covered in, like. I was so covered. It was so gross. I remember being like, thank you so much in my head. I was like, it's not even my rug.

[A]

That's really.

[B]

Yeah. And Matt cleaned that entire rug, bless his heart. And I'm like, doing my schoolwork. And I'm also just, like, still kind of embarrassed because we just, like. Like, we were really close, but we weren't married. Like, we didn't, like. I don't know. And he was so nice and so gracious about it. It was. Didn't act grossed out at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I was like, this is one of those things where I was like, wow, that's one to two tablespoons. You saying. I was like, wow, I saw what it looks like on a bathroom rug.

[A]

It looks like a lot more. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

So, yeah, that was. You gotta go slow with those.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Gotta go slow and be in the shower. Maybe over the toilet. Yes. I don't know how that even happened. Just, like, flung.

[A]

I know. It's.

[B]

It's understandable.

[A]

It happened. There's a learning curve.

[B]

Learning curve.

[A]

Yeah. That's a good one, AB. It happens to the best of us.

[B]

It was. I mean, that graphic is in my head forever.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't be honest if I wouldn't say some blood ended up on my floor this last cycle.

[C]

Like, it's.

[B]

I just thought about the fact that our editor is a guy. Our editor is a guy. Sweet.

[A]

Sorry, Randy.

[C]

I bet Randy's sweet about his wife.

[B]

He's like, you'll never guess what I listen to for four hours today.

[C]

He's gotta clip it up.

[A]

He's gonna ask her, what do I cut out of this?

[B]

How do I tie this?

[C]

Randy, make sure it's okay with your wife here.

[B]

Get the jizz in.

[A]

Shut up.

[B]

Last story. Sorry.

[A]

Okay, my next story. Okay. When I was in fifth grade, this isn't period blood, but this is related to, like, menstrual cycle stuff. I was At a track meet, very hot day. I'll never forget the setting of it. And I started to feel kind of sick, like crampy, painful. I'm like, man, that's weird. I'm best. I think I'm really nervous for my race. I'm like, I'm so nervous. I'm having, like stomach problems. It was fifth grade. It was okay. Yeah, it was just a low key track team. And I was so nervous. My race, I just must be really sick. And I remember the bathroom was really far from the track. Like the track was down below. And it was at a high school. So, you know, you think about like football field in the school away. So I kept going back and forth to the bathroom thinking that I had to go to the bathroom, having the worst cramps. And so then I'm. I'm in the bathroom and I don't even realize it, but I am. I'm actually screaming in the bathroom and my dad kicks the door in of the bathroom and I feel like I'm gonna throw up in like. Like I have to go to the poop at the same time. Like, I feel so sick and I'm like moaning in pain and I'm screaming and my dad opens the door, grabs me and runs me to the car. I was like, screaming in pain. They thought I was having appendicitis. What was happening was I was having an ovarian cyst burst in the fifth grade. And so I remember that my dad threw me in the car. Luckily we were really close to a hospital, and he rushed me to the ER and he carried me. I couldn't walk. I know he ran me into the er. I. I was screaming in pain. And I just remember they gave me some loopy gas and it was like I turned my mood around so fast, but they didn't know it was wrong. So I do like the CAT scan and all that stuff. And I just remember them saying this could happen potentially every time she has a period. Because, I mean, we didn't know anything about ovarian cysts. I've never had one since. But yeah, I had an ovarian cyst burst when I was in the fifth grade.

[B]

Wow. Yeah.

[A]

Spend the night in the ER for that. Very crazy.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But they gave me pain meds and

[C]

you'd already had a period.

[A]

I had never had a period. No, this is not fifth grade. I didn't get my period till eighth grade.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Isn't that so random and weird? Yeah, but it felt like my appendix was bursting. I know. Weird.

[B]

I Had a friend growing up that always gets cysts in her breasts.

[A]

Really?

[B]

And they were painful.

[A]

Really.

[B]

Sometimes they would rupture. Okay, we have a couple more stories. Since this is going long. Just a friendly reminder that I just want to throw in there. Like, Patreon is just an entirely added value additional thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For those of you that are able to opt in or are interested in any way, our episodes are actually longer now than they've ever been. Not including the Patreon episode. Yeah.

[A]

Which is so funny.

[B]

It's really just an overflow because we can't shut our mouths, but it doesn't fit into a normal podcast length. So this is just entirely extra.

[C]

At this point, before we're even going over to Patreon, we've already recorded for an hour and a half and we're not even done.

[B]

There's more in the regular episode too, so that is. It's really out of necessity of like, wow, this is just so much extra. We're gonna hop over there and just a couple more.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Extra bits.

[A]

Yeah. We're gonna do our stories. And then we started doing this. I think it's fun taking a Patreon exclusive question. So someone who's a part of the Patreon community asks a question and we answer it on our bonus. So it's like an extra cute. A little part two.

[B]

Yes. Yeah.

[A]

So we'll go do that and we'll come back.

[B]

Thank you to Shopify for sponsoring this portion of today's episode.

[A]

When I was 21, I started my first business, which was scary, emotional, a learning curve, and exciting all at the same time. And if you're starting something new, it's really hard. It's very scary. And so much work goes into it, you're not entirely sure what's going to work out. Partnering with a platform like Shopify made it so much easier to navigate these scary. The start of something new. And it made it really easy to learn to. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world. You want to get started? They have their own design studio. With hundreds of ready to use templates. Shopify helps you build a beautiful online store that matches your brand style. I remember we started with a free template, and as our business got bigger and a little bit more established, we bought more professional templates. So it's really nice having a range that we could customize and make it feel like our brand. And as we grew as a business is, we could adjust our store to that as well.

[B]

We're also endeavoring on our own project. And I know that, like, starting anything new is really overwhelming, but I think that Shopify does a great job of walking you through that process so you can tackle all those important tasks in one place. From inventory to payments to analytics and more. You have no need to have multiple websites or try to figure out what platform is hosting the certain tool that you need. Everything is all in one place, making life easier and your business operations smooth. Smoother.

[A]

It's time to turn those what ifs into with Shopify today. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com Abby go to shopify.com Abby that's shopify.com Abby ask, ask, ask Abby. Okay, it's time for voicemails. Favorite hello, chica Lindas.

[B]

Hi, my name is Danielle. I am also from one of the four corner states, repping from New Mexico. And I love your podcast. So my question to you is, what

[A]

was like, one of your most socially

[B]

awkward moments that you think you've had? One of mine was, I was in the grocery store and I thought this

[A]

lady was talking to me.

[B]

Turned out she had her AirPod in

[A]

and it was very awkward for both of us.

[B]

So I would love to know one of y' all's most awkward moments.

[A]

Love y'. All. Bye.

[C]

Wait, I want to know what she said. It. Did you say chicka chicka?

[A]

That was really cute.

[C]

It was so cute.

[B]

Hello, chica Linda. I have so many. But the problem about me is I don't get embarrassed so it doesn't get seared in my mind.

[C]

You're like, what was it like?

[B]

I want to remember them. Because I'm like, please, I want to have that story. I love telling a good story. Same, especially where it's at my own expense.

[A]

I have one. And this.

[B]

Oh, is it the plane?

[A]

No, not the plane that you already shared that one. Shared that one. Okay. I was at our friend. Our friend did a collaboration with a big company, and I was sat next to her agent at this dinner,

[B]

and

[A]

he was telling us about some of the people that he represented. And two of them were Olympic athletes. Athletes. And they were pretty famous. Like, they had gone viral a couple times. And I was like, Caleb telling him, like, oh, my gosh, this is amazing. The guy. What is in the Special? I said, the guy, like, he's a runner. He's a trackstor. He has one leg. He was in the Special Olympics. And the agent was like, no, no, no. He was a. What's it called?

[C]

The Paralympics.

[A]

He was in the Paralympics. And I'M like, I look at him. I was like, that is a mistake. Those things are very different.

[B]

That is a mistake.

[A]

I felt so embarrassed. I was like. Because then it was like, not. It's not appropriate to laugh at that. You know what?

[B]

I don't know. I just felt so like, you can't

[A]

laugh at that because it's not funny. I'm just like. But I just got that mixed up when I said it, and I was so embarrassed. And I felt really. I still think about it. I'm like, telling these people that, yeah, he. I mean, he didn't have a leg, so it wasn't like, you know, he's in the Paralympics.

[B]

Different disability.

[A]

Different disability. Yeah. Yeah. That was a bad one. That was really awkward.

[B]

That is really. That's a good one.

[A]

Also isn't like the Special Olympics. Like your church can put on a Special Olympics.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Like a charity. More so. Yeah.

[B]

I really want to think of an embarrassing story, guys.

[A]

I mean, your. Your worst, most socially awkward moment with trying to have sex on the airplane.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, that is true. You haven't told that story on this podcast.

[B]

That is the worst. I'll tell it. I will tell. Don't clip this because then my mom will see it. And she got mad the first time. This regulated.

[A]

The secondhand panic I feel for you.

[B]

It hurts my stomach. It hurts my stomach just thinking about it. It's like not a funny.

[C]

I don't know how you make.

[A]

If it hurts.

[C]

Hurt your stomach now.

[A]

I don't know how you thought.

[B]

I think that I dissociated. Like, I think my brain just left the building.

[A]

I'm sorry. It's so crazy.

[B]

Do I have to tell the whole story? Okay, I'll just give the Cliff Notes. So I don't know how long I've been married.

[C]

Almost seven years. Oh, the time.

[A]

That's a newly married move.

[B]

Two years. You know what? He brings it up every time we get on an airplane. Never freaking learned his lesson. I literally look at him with, like, daggers.

[A]

You have children? Children with you?

[B]

I think it's like the main quest to remind me of how horrible that was. Okay, okay, well, let's just. Just do it really quick. I'm pretty sure it was Southwest or American economy flight. Nothing first class. Nothing private. Nothing. Surely not private. What the world? Nothing special. Not even. Not even premium economy. And we just are driving. It's a long flight.

[C]

Where are you flying to?

[A]

Hawaii, certainly.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Such a long flight.

[B]

I think it was from Chicago to Hawaii, which is about nine Hours too long, apparently. And Matt. Matt is like. He's. Here's the thing. He's been planting seeds for so long at this point, and I'm like, fine, give it a shot. It's not like I was like, yeah, right now, I was terrified. But I was also just like, you

[A]

know, we're young, we're in love.

[B]

Great. I love a good story. And it just gets so bad, you guys. I think the plan, if I can remember through the blackout that has happened in my brain, I think that one of us went to the bathroom first. The other one went in after this flight attendant. You guys is knocking so hard. And then I'm like, panicking. And Matt's like, one minute, like, talking.

[A]

He's, like, negotiating with her.

[B]

Meanwhile, nothing special is happening. I don't need to paint the picture for you, but no, nothing special is happening inside. I'm freaking out, essentially. And it's very close quarters. I can barely change a diaper in there. Just so everyone knows. So I don't even know what logistically was going.

[A]

I don't know how it works.

[B]

So then she starts hollering at us through the door. Something along the lines of, this is illegal. Shoot.

[C]

Shoot.

[B]

This is a full flight of people.

[A]

Shoot.

[B]

Full flight of people.

[A]

Shoot.

[B]

Every seat is filled, and she's like, yelling. And then everyone's attention is now drawn to the restroom in the back. Daytime flight. Everyone's awake. The sun's up, windows open. The walk back to our seats afterwards, I literally was like, it's going to take just something stronger than me to get my feet to move down. Yeah, we were not in the back row, right. All the way walking, they talk about the walk of shame. Couldn't get worse than that.

[A]

I'm sweating.

[B]

Possibly get worse than that. And that's one of those things where

[A]

I'm like, did they come have a talk with you after or something?

[B]

No, she came back. Yeah, you're right. Came back and was like, that is illegal. Or something like that.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

And what did I. Who knows what I said? Who knows what I did? I doubt I looked at her.

[A]

Put my headphones on.

[B]

I doubt I looked. I doubt I made eye contact with anyone else on that flight. And I doubt I slept that night. And I doubt I ate a bite of food the rest of the day.

[A]

That's so real, like, not being embarrassment about. I'm like, I. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

So bad. It's so bad. It's not funny. Like, I can't laugh about it.

[C]

Surely that flight attendant now has, like, seen you guys somewhere for something, and she's like.

[A]

She's like. That was.

[C]

I remember.

[B]

I. I revoked that. Addie. I. She never did.

[A]

They skip you for card service. Like, you don't deserve it. I don't.

[B]

I have no memory of the rest of flight.

[A]

How long, like, much longer did you

[C]

have on the good amount of this story?

[B]

Yeah, Honestly, I need him to fact check me because I feel like I'm

[C]

curious how he was processing it.

[B]

In my head. There was, like, hours left, and I don't even think that we were seated alone. Like, I think we were next to somebody else.

[A]

That is such, like, a. My brain is not fully formed yet. Move.

[B]

Don't you thank God for prefrontal cortex

[A]

because you guys were like, what, 21? Yeah.

[B]

21. I think I was 21.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

God.

[A]

Just reckless behavior.

[B]

I'm ill.

[A]

It's hilarious. I'm ill. Hey, we've grown you.

[B]

But I'm ill.

[A]

They sing about it and all the rap songs, and you just think, let's do it on Southwest.

[B]

That's not what I was thinking.

[A]

I was literally.

[B]

I had never heard a rap song

[A]

talking about the Mile High Club.

[C]

No.

[B]

Oh, yeah. No, I knew that was. And I think we were just so dumb.

[A]

It's okay. That's definitely your awkward to.

[B]

That will forever be my most embarrassing story that I'm like, it can't get worse than that, right?

[A]

Right, Sure.

[B]

I really hope not.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

You're like, that's as bad as it gets made out. I think that's the worst. My mom will have words with me, and I'm still scared of her, even though I'm.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

Oh, I actually need to clear my mom's name. That was my grandma that got mad at me.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Okay. Hi, Abby.

[B]

My name is Sarah, and I'm from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and you guys are the first podcast that I've actually.

[A]

Actually ever fully listened to.

[B]

And I love that you got me started on that. Anyways, I am a new mom. Well, I guess new.

[A]

Ish.

[B]

My baby's just turned six months, and we're entering wedding season here, and I am exclusively breastfeeding, and I'm trying to

[A]

find outfits and dresses and lots of them.

[B]

If they have bra straps showing, they're not pretty.

[A]

So do you guys have any tips

[B]

or tricks or ideas for wearing bras while nursing?

[A]

Stick on bras.

[B]

Kind of scary.

[A]

A little bit. While nursing.

[B]

What have you guys done in the past? You can't do Sticky Boobs.

[A]

No sticky boobs. Nipple free girl.

[B]

Any. Any moisture will.

[A]

Oh, boy.

[B]

I was literally just thinking about this. Like, there's embarrassing period stories and then there's a whole other area category of embarrassing sticky boobs boob stories.

[C]

Honestly, I have a good one for that.

[B]

They end up everywhere.

[A]

Embarrassing sticky boob stories also. Wait. Thank you so much for listening to our podcast. Thank you so much. Yeah, I agree.

[B]

Here's my. Here's my advice. Wear the bra that makes you feel the best about your boobs. And weddings are an over stimulating experience anyway. Take that as a gift that you get to go in private and disrobe and feed your baby in quiet. Like it's just. Just take that one.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, honestly, like, even for me as someone that I'm like, I love, I hate missing out on things. Anytime I would like leave an event to nurse. I was like, it was a good recollecting moment. But do wear one that you can do. Wear a bra and not a sticky boob.

[A]

Yeah, I would say wear the bra that you feel the most comfortable with and buy your dress. Dress to fit your bra. Yeah, I, I haven't had to go to too many formal events, but I mean just anything with a thick strap. And I know it's not always the most flattering, but sometimes I'll wear it like the puff sleeve dresses, you know? Yeah, that was part of our question. Right?

[C]

Like, yeah, like what kind of bra would you wear?

[A]

You just got to wear your bra that you're the most comfortable with and that fit your boobs and you just got to wear an outfit around it.

[B]

And also in this stage, like six months out, I feel like you would almost get away with wearing a tighter. A dress with a tighter bodice. And you don't necessarily really have to wear a bra. And it can if you're much more comfortable.

[C]

Yeah, I, I like that too. If I think there's just. It's tighter on the top, but you don't want to wear like a strapless bra. I always like, take the pads out of like a sports bra or something and just shove them in there and then you don't have to worry about the nips if you don't want them to add.

[B]

He has a great hack with that.

[A]

Great tip. Yeah. Good reminder. I always take the sports bra pads and I put the milk pad on it and I just move it from bra to bra. So actually I need to throw mine away now. They're pretty nasty. They've seen. Some days they're like peeling at this point, like the bra pad. But yeah, if you have a tight dress that has a tight bodice, like you're saying Addie. And you can stick the bra pad in there with the leakage. It's great. And then when you're nursing, you just pull down.

[C]

I'll say this about bra straps, too. I don't follow this because I'm like, I don't like them showing. But Blake, my husband always tells me, we know you're wearing a bra. It doesn't matter if you see the straps. I'm like, thanks, Blake, but no, I can't wear that bra.

[B]

I don't listen to him, but at

[C]

least he has that. Like, he's like, you're wearing one. It doesn't matter.

[A]

Yeah. Like, so true that. Over the shoulder.

[C]

What kind of bra are you wearing right now?

[B]

None.

[C]

Oh, really?

[B]

I'm wearing the. What's it called? Cakes.

[C]

Oh, you're wearing a sticky.

[B]

It's not sticky. That's what's great about it. It's.

[A]

It.

[B]

It sticks. But I wouldn't have believed this if you would have told me this before I tried it. It suctions on. But there's nothing sticky. Because with sticky boobs, when you take them off, it's like.

[A]

Does it give you support or is it just. It's just like coverage, basically.

[B]

Just so your. My nipples aren't.

[A]

That's cool, right? Exactly. Hi, Abby.

[B]

Abby and Addie, Congrats on your first guest that came on the podcast for the Mother's Day episode. I know Abby and Matt have had great guests on Unplanned.

[A]

So my question for you is, what

[B]

would be your dream guest on this podcast? Thanks. Have a great day. Bye.

[A]

That's cute. Congrats on your guests. Our mom's.

[C]

If we had a different type of guest, we got to figure out the CD range.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We have like, non family members. Yeah. To treat them a little better.

[B]

Probably like get off.

[A]

Cuddle on our couch. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, we're not really a guest podcast as of right now. That's not necessarily like, where a direction we want to move this show, but I feel like in general, who would. We just. It's just whoever. We'd love to have a talk.

[A]

Like, I feel like Devin would be so fun.

[B]

I was thinking of her too.

[A]

I love Devin.

[B]

Devin Cordle is. We were saying. She's just. She definitely fits the vibe.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

She would be so fun.

[A]

So fun. We are moving, like, our long discussion onto the Patreon. This is way too long and so we'll give you, like, a little brief review.

[C]

You feel like we're cutting it out. We've recorded for two hours and 14 minutes.

[B]

Hold on, please. I'm getting my legs.

[A]

Falling asleep. He's like, I can't keep looking at these comments. What were we saying? Oh, we're gonna rate the book. We'll announce the next book, and we'll give, like, a little tiny maybe just why we gave it our stars.

[B]

Go for it. Okay.

[C]

We'll go deeper into.

[A]

Into the whole discussion on Patreon. So I gave the book two and a half stars. Listen. I enjoyed listening to it. I would have never liked reading this book. That's it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. It's five stars. Yeah.

[B]

I gave it four stars. And I honestly think that I could even bump it to 4.5.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I really like this book.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Of course daddy doesn't like it, you guys. Honestly,

[C]

I will say I read 25 of it on the Kindle, and the other 75 I listened to over the course of sev. Like, yesterday and today.

[A]

Yeah, I did.

[C]

So it didn't. I was kind of rushing through it, I guess, but.

[A]

But I don't think.

[C]

Yeah, my. My one star is because I didn't care about any. Anyone.

[A]

Yeah, no, I. I grew into liking the characters, but I just felt like,

[B]

let's be honest, you guys only like romance books.

[C]

I think it took to, like, 85 to care.

[A]

I enjoyed hearing about her life, and I enjoyed that, but I just overall was like, I don't think I'd recommend it.

[C]

It's not my style of book.

[A]

I'm not gonna think about it after I finish it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. We could deep more into. On Patreon. That's my. That's my, like, review and my star.

[C]

Dive into it.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Okay. Let's dive into the book club.

[B]

I knew you guys weren't gonna like it, and as soon as I started, I was like, I didn't dislike it.

[A]

I just wouldn't recommend it.

[B]

Let me just actually first start off by saying this is a widely loved book.

[A]

I think it's a widely hit or miss book.

[C]

I think that's probably.

[A]

My mom loves to read. My mom didn't like it.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[C]

I think it's a. It's a good audio book.

[B]

One survey.

[C]

I don't think I could have read it like. And, like, understood the characters as well as I did on audio. Audiobook. So I will say audio gave it a higher.

[A]

Yes, Audiobook was the way to go.

[C]

There's the different characters, the different.

[A]

Like, she said it gave it a bigger boosting. She gave it a one star. He said he bumped it up. You would have not finished it. Yeah, Yeah.

[C]

I didn't pick it up once after. I like, was that spot reading it. I never picked it up.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

What book are we reading next?

[A]

Yesteryear by. Who's the author?

[B]

Caro. Caro. Clara Burke.

[C]

Mm.

[A]

Clara Burke.

[C]

I've heard lots of things about this book.

[A]

I have only heard that Anne Hathaway's doing a movie about it. I'm very curious about this book.

[B]

Is there an agenda?

[A]

Yeah, that's kind of the vibe I'm curious to see. But, I mean, I'm sure.

[B]

I'm worried it's gonna trigger me. I hate reading about influencers.

[A]

Isn't it funny that that's like, what books are about now?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That's what makes me. I'm like, wait, this was supposed to be fiction?

[A]

Yeah, I know. I'm so curious.

[B]

This is supposed to be my release,

[A]

but yeah, I'm excited to read it. I mean, there's obviously gonna be a movie about it, and I think we'll probably have a lot of thoughts on it. Yeah. So how will an author write depicting?

[B]

Okay, for those of you that don't know, just to get you interested, it's supposed to be about a creator that creates like, quote unquote tribal content and how, like, irony between her real life and, like, the content she puts on, like, online.

[A]

I thought she gets, like, transported back.

[B]

She actually has to live to like what she's depicting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Which I don't even actually necessarily follow. Trad wife Kant.

[A]

I mean, I do some of it. I love, like, some of the inspiration, how they cook and growing their gardens and stuff.

[C]

She wakes up to find herself in 1855, forced to live the harsh reality of the 19th century farm life contrasting sharply with her curated online Persona.

[B]

Okay. I just don't want this to be a slam piece on ballerina farms because I like her.

[A]

I don't see how this book, it doesn't have an engine, to be honest.

[B]

So then is this a bad idea?

[A]

No, I think it'll be interesting conversation.

[B]

We'll read it.

[A]

No, and I'm sure it's gonna be a good.

[B]

I mean, I've been wanting to read

[C]

it, so we should read it.

[A]

I think it'd be a great book.

[C]

Okay. Okay, let's quickly do Always hungry.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And wrap this thing up.

[A]

This is a restaurant or a recipe? Restaurant. A recipe I've made for A couple years. It is a one pan, sheet pan dinner, which makes it so easy. It's broccoli, chicken, sausage, and potatoes. The only beef is that this cooks for an hour. But it's very simple. You mix things in the bowl, you season it. You put the potatoes on first. Then after 20 minutes, you shift the potatoes over, put the broccoli on, shift them, put the. And then you drizzle everything at the end with maple syrup. And it's unbelievably good. Maple syrup, unbelievably good.

[B]

I've made something like that before.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But it didn't take an hour because I didn't use potatoes.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

That's probably what it is.

[A]

Yeah. And you put them all in one pan, so it takes a long time for them to cook. But it's so simple. Three ingredients, healthy filling. So good.

[B]

Yum.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Mine, I actually just tried for the first time last night, but it was a winner. My kids actually ate it, which I was really surprised by, because whenever I try something new, it's always like, it was a shepherd's pie take on it, but with gnocchi, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it, because gnocchi is potato, and so. And it makes it a lot quicker and easier to make. But it's like the. Basically the filling of a shepherd's pie, but mixed with gnocchi, it's one pan minus the pot you use to boil your gnocchi, but that's not a big deal.

[A]

Just boiling water that takes two minutes to boil.

[B]

And so I feel like it. There is kind of a lot of ingredients, but it's stuff that you probably already have. Yeah, a lot of it. And it was very cozy and warm. I would say. It's also a great portion size for a family of four. If you have a bigger family, double it.

[A]

Good. Good tip. I would say the same thing for the sheet pan. It's great for three people.

[B]

Also, I didn't use lamb. I used beef because. Who's buying lamb?

[C]

I don't know who's buying lamb.

[A]

Oh, I like lamb, but I've never cooked it. But I'll eat it if it served.

[B]

That feels sad to me. Yeah, I'll eat if it's served.

[A]

I'll order it at a minute.

[B]

It's probably more traditional in a shepherd's pie. Shepherd.

[A]

Shepherd left. Well, you guys, thank you so much. You got it. You got it. I love it. Well, thank you, you guys, so much for listening on this episode. That was a fun one.

[B]

This was so long. This was really fun and I feel like we could talk a lot more about women health, women's health categories and I'm sure we will enjoy this. Let us know because I feel like there's a lot more you can go with this.

[A]

Yeah, totally.

[B]

If you also want to leave a voicemail. We should have said this when we did the voicemails, but the number 602-456-9690. We love hearing from you, especially your voice. So that's really special call in there. We'd love to put you on the show. Yeah. And then heart it, star it, like it, subscribe, comment, all the things and we really, really appreciate it. There's a lot of people that work on this podcast every single day of the week. That it really is a is a wheel that keeps turning and your feedback, positive feedback specifically, just really is very encouraging to all of us. So we really appreciate it. And so we're Read a review. Yeah.

[A]

This is from Kate Clark, 88. She gave us five stars. Light hearted, funny and encouraging. I recently found this podcast and I'm so happy I did. Abby, Abby and Addie are kind, curious and all being a different but equally important perspectives. As a working mom with a somewhat stressful job, this podcast encourages me and brings laughter to my day. Thank you for sharing your lives, stories and conversations. That's really sweet.

[B]

That's so nice.

[A]

Yeah, thanks.

[B]

I really appreciate you guys. I'm so grateful. So thank you for listening. And remember, we're always here. Summer adventures are better with Minky Couture.

[A]

From road trips to ball games, beach nights to backyard movies, Minky has you covered. Don't miss the Everywhere Blanket. Water resistant, ultra soft and made for life on the go. Wherever summer takes you, bring comfort along. Minky couture.com the original best Blanket Ever. Summer adventures are better with Minky Couture. From road trips to ball games, beach nights to backyard movies, Minky has you covered. Don't miss the Everywhere blanket. Water resistant, ultra soft and made for life on the go. Wherever summer takes you, bring comfort along. Minkycouture.com the original best Blanket Ever.