And That's Why We Drink – Episode 472 "Milkshake Tears and a Lego Hair Wig"

Release Date: March 1, 2026
Hosts: Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz (with frequent guest co-host Allison)

Episode Overview

In Episode 472, Christine and Allison weave together emotional highs and chilling lows in classic "And That's Why We Drink" fashion. The first half brings laughs, cravings, and heart via Allison's impassioned love affair with a Shake Shack milkshake and Christine's sticker shop saga. Then, Allison shares the remarkable legend of Scrim, New Orleans' most ungovernable and beloved runaway dog. The second half plunges into a heavy, updated look at the true crime case of the Turpin family, focusing on their 2018 rescue, the aftermath, and fresh insights from new interviews as of 2026. Expect plenty of tangents, deadpan humor, and empathy—plus a running joke about one of the most unforgettable haircuts in true crime.

Notable Moments & Quotes

• Allison’s milkshake meltdown (03:16):
  "[This Shake Shack Valentine's milkshake] has rocked my... And I'm so mad. I was introduced to her because she's gonna leave. She's fleeting."
  The team jokes about Allison's tearful yearning for a limited-edition milkshake. Christine quips about feeling inadequate compared to the love Allison has for the drink.
  [03:16–04:32]

• Christine’s sticker shipping disaster (08:07):
  "All the zip codes and cities are different, but the street address—somehow I had copy and pasted into 400 address labels, but not the city and state and zip. So... I'm just so glad those didn’t get mailed out and then 400 of them came back to my PO Box."
  The pair riff on the perils of productivity and "lucky girl syndrome."
  [08:07–10:37]

• On the Scrim saga’s community impact:
  Allison: "They made literal search parties. Strangers were crawling under abandoned houses... They tried luring him out with Popeye’s, which would have worked on me. Did not work... They even started online forums called Scrim Spottings."
  [27:42–28:33]

• Christine on Scrim’s mythic status:
  "New York Times actually called him a mythical creature. And so I’m like, well, I’m using it. I’m running with it."
  [14:47–14:54]

Episode Breakdown

1. Opening Banter & Drinks of the Week [02:34–13:17]

• Milkshake Emotions (02:34–07:47)
  • Allison launches into a semi-tearful ode about a Shake Shack Valentine’s Day special milkshake (the “True Love Milkshake”)—chocolate shell, strawberry flavor, ephemeral and coveted.
  • Dramatic responses: mock tears, Christine joking about feeling inadequate, reflection on what foods they’d “yearn for” on death row.
    • Allison: “There's no one who yearns for this milkshake, though. Like, I want to be yearned the way I yearn for this milkshake.” [06:12]
  • Milkshake talk segues into a humorous, “non-existent sponsorship offer” and imagined mafioso-style secret password: “ATWWD sent you.”
• Christine’s Sticker Snafu (07:47–10:37)
  • Christine celebrates selling out “Abolish ICE” stickers benefiting the National Immigrant Justice Center—then admits to a major labeling mishap nearly causing mass shipping chaos.
  • Discussion on productivity collapses, “delusional optimism,” and being betrayed by organization.
• Mini Ads & Tangents (10:37–13:17)
  • Interstitial discussion about Rocket Money, Bilt, and other sponsors (skipped in this summary except for organic tangents).

2. Story #1 - Scrim, the Urban Legend Dog of New Orleans [13:17–55:38]

Introduction & Context [13:17–15:00]

• Allison asks for patience: “We’re bending the rules today... This is not paranormal. However, we found a way to stretch the truth last week when you called it an urban legend.”
• Christine: “This dog will live in the lore for centuries. I feel like this will be a local legend.” [14:38–14:47]

The Legend of Scrim [15:00–36:00]

• Scrim’s Origin Story

  • Found as a stray near New Orleans in 2023, picked up by a kill shelter, named “Michael.”
  • Rescued at the last minute by Michelle of Zeus’s Rescue (no-kill), renamed “Scrim” after a local rapper.
  • Notable moment: “Not a dollar sign to be found with Michael.” [23:12]

• First Escape & Mythos Building [23:41–29:52]

  • Scrim bolts from his trial placement family on his first night.
  • Flyers are posted—response is massive and citywide.
  • Scrim sightings become viral. Residents hold search parties, crawl under houses, and even try to lure him out with Popeye’s chicken.
  • “Scrim Spottings” forums and memes proliferate—locals root for the “free Scrim” movement.

• The Chases, the Traps, and the Fame

  • Multiple failed capture attempts: blow darts (tranquilizer gun, which Scrim somehow powers through), a net gun, civilian pursuit.
  • Christine wonders, “Can’t he be free? Are we just not letting him be free?” [32:35]
  • Some locals root for Scrim’s freedom: “Free Scrim” becomes a hashtag as he evades even the pros.

• Vision of Scrim as Urban Myth

  • Christine: “It sounds like a Disney movie.” [30:21]
  • Video evidence—lots of “almost” captures, social media blitz, daily Scrim tracking.
  • Scrim is New Orleans’ own Houdini.

• Capture and Aftermath [34:55–41:02]

  • After 177 days, Scrim is caught in a fenced lot thanks to a tranquilizer (finally effective).
  • Found with “several abrasions, lost and broken teeth, chunk of ear missing, 108-degree fever, and two air pellet bullets lodged inside.”
  • Christine: “If he wasn’t already a legend, now he’s an outlaw.” [37:08]

• The Sequel: Scrim Escapes Again [41:02–47:28]

  • During post-capture rest, Scrim jumps off a 13 ft roof, escapes again. Security footage exists (which Allison gleefully sends to Christine).
  • “He just, like, runs off… takes off…” The myth only grows.
  • City, media, and nation join new search—GPS tracker dies after two hours, Scrim is on the loose for three more months, including through blizzards.

• Final Recapture & Custody Drama [47:28–53:32]

  • February 11th: Scrim is caught in a feral cat trap after traveling 60 square miles, surviving heat, hurricanes, cars, trains, blizzards, and fireworks.
  • Custody Battle:
    • Michelle (the shelter) decides to keep Scrim, sparking outrage from the couple who tried to adopt him and from the broader NOLA community.
    • Death threats, public disputes, and eventually a visitation agreement set up—amicable but controversial.
    • Christine and Allison discuss the local drama, referencing their own visit to New Orleans and the palpable Scrim fever.

• Scrim’s Cultural Impact & Legacy [53:32–55:38]

  • Celebrated by the New Orleans City Council, Mardi Gras float, Barkus dog parade, murals, tattoos, limited edition bobblehead, a book (“Scrim on the Run”), and his name becoming slang for leaving without looking back.
    • “If he wasn’t already a legend, now he’s an outlaw.” [37:08]
  • Christine: “Now I'm gonna scrim to the bathroom real quick.” [54:43]

3. Story #2 - The Turpin Family Update (True Crime) [57:46–118:56]

Intro & Discovery [57:46–65:32]

• Christine launches a "wild one"—the Turpin family case. Realizes mid-story that she actually covered the case once before (episode 57; 2018), but returns now with updated information from Diane Sawyer's interviews (2022, 2026).
• Allison: "You're going to see how your research has changed throughout the years."
• The narrative: On Jan 14, 2018, 17-year-old Jordan Turpin escapes her family’s house of horror. She calls 911; she's never spoken to anyone on the phone, doesn’t know the word “medication,” has never been outside.

Rescue & Initial Aftermath [65:32–85:01]

• Police arrive at the Turpin home, find Jordan’s 12 siblings (ages 2–29) emaciated, some chained to beds.
• Jordan: “We live in filth. Sometimes I wake up and I can’t breathe because of how dirty the house is.” [65:33]
• Christine describes the utter squalor: feces on the walls, bunk beds in tiny rooms; recalls bodycam and Barbie camera footage.
• Jennifer (oldest) recalls dancing to music in the hospital and thinking: “How could heaven be better than this?” [84:33]

Deep Dive: Family Background & Abuse [85:01–101:09]

• Parents David and Louise Turpin:
  • Married when Louise was 16, David was 22. Both from abusive backgrounds, fundamentalist Pentecostal, telling family “God wanted them to have as many kids as possible.”
  • Louise’s sister reports sexual abuse in their childhood home.
• Children are taken out of school, isolated, forced to survive in appalling conditions, and regularly starved.
• Attest to the depth of Louise’s mental illness, possible hoarding and shopping addiction, and delusional hold on her family.
• Notable: Surreal family outings (Disney parks, vow renewals in Vegas), with kids always in matching outfits—a macabre public charade.
• Photos: Christine shares real and trial images (Bob haircut noted throughout with disbelief and horror).

Control, Escape, and Pop Culture [101:09–109:17]

• Methods of control: Threats of separation, psychological abuse, and chains.
• Christine: “Nobody wants you. This is the only place anybody would ever want you…” [99:03]
• Jordan finds forbidden escape by sneaking a sibling’s basic smartphone, connects to the outside world via Justin Bieber music videos and High School Musical.
• “Never underestimate the power and reach of a teenage heartthrob.” [104:07]
• Jordan gets caught watching Bieber, is choked unconscious by her mother. Decides to escape during a threatened move to Oklahoma. Plots with sisters, collecting evidence and preparing for the breakout.

Escape & Rescue Aftermath [109:17–118:02]

• Jordan successfully escapes; police rescue the siblings.
• Both parents arrested—Louise gives interviews stating, “When I get them back, I’ll never use chains on them again,” demonstrating disconnection from reality.
• Foster system post-rescue was often traumatic—some siblings were further abused, poorly supported, and denied access to donated funds.
• By 2026: Most siblings are thriving, very close, living as adults at varying levels of independence and happiness. Jennifer’s gothic wedding and Jordan’s influencer career highlighted.
• Christine, on the siblings’ resilience: “They seem a lot healthier than I think I could be… wow.” [118:01]
• The section ends with the hosts doubling down on their disgust for David Turpin’s infamous “Lego hair.”

Timestamps – Key Segments

• [03:16] – Allison mourns the Shake Shack “True Love” milkshake
• [08:07] – Christine’s sticker shipping saga
• [13:17] – Scrim’s story introduction
• [27:42] – New Orleans’ citywide search party, Scrim mania
• [34:55] – Scrim’s 177-day marathon, capture, and veterinary assessment
• [41:02] – Scrim jumps off a roof, escapes again (includes viral video)
• [47:28] – Scrim’s final recapture; legacy review
• [57:46] – Turpin family story introduction
• [65:32] – Escape/recovery: police rescue and conditions in the Turpin home
• [85:01] – Family background, abuse patterns, and the “public mask”
• [104:07] – Jordan learns of escape via Justin Bieber/interweb
• [118:02] – Updates: where the Turpin survivors are now

Memorable Quotes

• Allison, on yearning:
  "There's no one who yearns for this milkshake, though. Like, I want to be yearned the way I yearn for this milkshake." [06:12]

• Christine, on Scrim’s mythic status:
  "New York Times actually called him a mythical creature. And so I’m like, well, I’m using it. I’m running with it." [14:47]

• Allison, tying paranormal with true crime fun:
  "This is the search party everybody wants on their case. Like, this is the one you want." [26:22]

• On the Turpin parents' bizarre appearance:
  "He looks like he put a wig on to look stupid, but he just is... It’s literally a LEGO head.” [73:16–93:08]

• Christine, on the resilience of the Turpin siblings:
  "They still admire the sky, they still love to sit in the grass…" [84:58]
  "They seem a lot healthier than I think I could be… wow." [118:01]

Episode Takeaways

• Lighthearted Start, Serious Finish:
  The episode delivers cathartic joy (cravings and dog heroics) before bracing for the tragic but hope-filled update on one of America’s most infamous child abuse cases.
• Recurring Themes:
  • Community: The Scrim story is a testament to the power of collective action.
  • Survival and Resilience: Both Scrim and the Turpin kids survive against unthinkable odds.
  • Humor as Coping: Through darkness, Christine and Allison use wit, incredulity, and side-bar laughter to provide relief (notably recurring references to “ass bob” haircuts).
• Cultural Impact:
  Scrim becomes an urban legend and a civic symbol; the Turpin siblings, after fresh interviews, become advocates for foster reform and survivors’ healing.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode is rich with inside jokes (e.g., the “ass-bob” wig), delicately handled heavy content, and moments of absurd comic relief. The detailed telling of Scrim’s doggy mythos will endear you to New Orleans, and the Turpin revisit is essential listening for anyone interested in true crime, trauma, and the redemptive possibilities of survival.

End of summary.