Desert Island Picks - Part 2

Summary

Bad On Paper Podcast: Desert Island Picks - Part 2 Release Date: July 23, 2025

In this engaging episode of Bad On Paper, hosts Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter dive into their personal favorites across various categories, offering listeners a glimpse into their lives, preferences, and current obsessions. Skipping the advertisements and introductory segments, the hosts delve deep into topics ranging from personal highs and lows to detailed discussions on clothing, beauty, travel, and book recommendations.

1. Personal Highs and Lows

Becca and Olivia kick off the episode by sharing recent personal experiences that have brought them joy and challenges.

• Becca's High: Becca shares her excitement about an upcoming lobster roll-off event. She's been meticulously testing recipes to perfect her dish, demonstrating her competitive spirit.

  "I'm really getting into lobster roll off mode. So when this goes live, the lobster roll off will be this weekend. I'm excited." [00:56]

• Olivia's High: Olivia speaks about the return of hummingbirds to her garden, describing their presence as magical and otherworldly.

  "Hummingbirds are so magical. They've been back every day since yesterday." [06:30]

• Becca's Low: The intense heat and humidity have left Becca feeling cooped up and frustrated with the lack of plans.

  "I'm feeling very cooped up with this heat and humidity. I haven't left my house much this week." [06:52]

• Olivia's Low: Olivia echoes the discomfort caused by the relentless humidity, expressing a yearning for the crisp coolness of fall.

  "I'm done with the humidity. I'm starting to feel the urge for the crispy cool breeze and practical magic." [08:10]

2. Clothing and Beauty Selections

The hosts explore essential clothing and beauty items they couldn't live without, offering insights into their personal styles and preferences.

Jeans

• Becca: Prefers her versatile Frame Slim Palazzo jeans for their stretch and ability to be dressed up or down.

  "They're very stretchy, wide leg but not too wide. They could go either way." [10:36]

• Olivia: Opts for comfort with Gap Ultra Soft Barrel Leg jeans, likening them to sweatpants for their ease.

  "They're the most comfortable jeans, like a sweatpant vibe." [11:37]

T-Shirts

• Becca: Chooses novelty T-shirts like her Main Bean Suppers Tee, highlighting their softness and unique designs.

  "It has an angry hot dog in a bowl of beans playing baseball. It's so soft." [16:17]

• Olivia: Loves her beloved Connor's Supermarket T-shirt for its unparalleled softness, using it as her go-to sleep shirt.

  "It's paper-thin, baby soft. The perfect T-shirt." [14:38]

Pajamas and Underwear

• Becca: Prefers the Recliner brand's T-shirt and shorts set for their perfect balance of comfort and style.

  "They're the most perfect T-shirt and shorts made of the comfiest cotton material." [24:00]

• Olivia: Chooses high-comfort underwear like the Skims Fits Everybody Thong for minimal movement and comfort.

  "I prefer thongs because they stay where they're supposed to be without excess fabric." [26:09]

Jewelry

• Becca: Selects her grandfather's signet ring with a sizable diamond, valuing its uniqueness and sentimental value.

  "It looks like a ring a drug dealer would have, but it's actually my grandfather's."* [31:26]

• Olivia: Chooses a blue beaded necklace she acquired in Sicily, appreciating its hidden message of gratitude.

  "Every bead says 'thank you', which I love because it's a hidden message in my author photos." [30:04]

3. Travel Preferences

Becca and Olivia discuss their travel habits, including preferred airlines, accessories, in-flight activities, and favorite airport spots.

Airline Loyalty

• Becca: Remains loyal to Delta, appreciating the airline's handling of delays and cancellations.

  "Delta is the best experience I've had when things go wrong." [40:12]

• Olivia: Shares a preference for Delta, aligning with Becca's loyalty despite not having strong ties to any particular airline.

  "Delta, I'm with you in the air." [40:55]

Travel Accessories

• Becca: Recommends her Dagny Dover duffel bag for its smart design and easy-to-clean neoprene material.

  "It fits a lot with its pockets and is easy to clean." [40:58]

• Olivia: Swears by her Bose QuietComfort noise-canceling headphones to manage anxiety during flights.

  "They're the only way I'm getting from point A to point B with minimal anxiety." [41:34]

In-Flight Activities and Seat Preferences

• Becca: Enjoys reading entire books to pass the time, preferring window seats to control the window shade and monitor turbulence.

  "I need to see outside to know we're still in the air." [43:19]

• Olivia: Prefers aisle seats for the freedom to move around and stretch, finding turbulence at night particularly unsettling.

  "I prefer the aisle so I can walk around and stretch." [44:28]

Favorite Airport Restaurants

• Becca: Loves the Chili's at Palm Beach Airport, finding comfort in their chips and salsa.

  "Airport Chili's is superior, especially when coming back from Vegas hungover." [46:41]

• Olivia: Favors Starbucks in airports for their reliable iced coffee options.

  "Starbucks is consistent, even when Chili's exists." [47:35]

4. Travel Destinations and Outfits

Choosing one destination to visit indefinitely presents a challenge for both hosts.

• Becca: Would select Palm Beach, valuing her annual girls' trip and the presence of Chili's in the airport.

  "I would pick Palm Beach because it's my favorite tradition and has the Chili's I love." [48:02]

• Olivia: Opts for the Outer Banks, drawn to its scenic beauty despite the lack of a major airport.

  "I would choose the Outer Banks for its countryside and seaside." [49:54]

Travel Outfits

• Becca: Chooses a cozy sweatshirt and joggers set for its balance of comfort and style during flights.

  "It's comfortable enough to sleep in but put together enough not to look sloppy." [51:15]

• Olivia: Prefers Athleta linen pants and a compressive tank top, layered with a hoodie or denim jacket for versatility.

  "I like zip pockets so nothing falls out and layers for different temperatures." [52:56]

5. Obsessions and Current Reads

The hosts share their latest obsessions and discuss books they've been reading, reflecting on their thoughts and critiques.

Current Obsessions

• Becca: Is captivated by Barbecue Brawl on Food Network, diving deep into the competitive spirit of the show.

  "It's fascinating how I'm invested in a show about barbecue, even though I don't care much about barbecue itself." [55:14]

• Olivia: Although she hasn't identified a specific obsession, she resonates with discovering new interests through Becca's enthusiasm.

Book Discussions

• Becca: Reviews "Girl on Girl" by Sophie Gilbert, appreciating its analysis of pop culture's impact on women but criticizes its predominantly negative outlook.

  "I found it was all problems, no solutions. It was very negative throughout." [56:29]

• Olivia: Notes the positive reviews of "Girl on Girl" and relates to the desire for actionable solutions in discussions about cultural issues.

  "It would have been nice if some hope was offered... how do we change this?" [59:06]

• Becca: Also discusses "Happy All the Time" by Lori Colwyn, appreciating the glimpse into 1970s rom-coms and the evolution of writing styles.

  "It was fascinating to see how men's perspectives were centered and women were portrayed as arbitrary creatures." [58:46]

• Olivia: Mentions reading "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, intrigued by its epic love story set against the 1980s space program.

  "It's an epic love story set against the backdrop of the 1980s space program." [62:35]

6. Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Becca and Olivia wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to join their community platforms for more interactions and updates.

• Community Links:
  • Facebook Group: Baton Paper Podcast
  • Instagram: @badonpaperpodcast, @ecamfreeman
  • Newsletter: beccafreeman.substack.com

Notable Quotes

• "Hummingbirds are so magical. They've been back every day since yesterday." — Olivia Muenter [06:30]
• "It's key. It's the perfect T-shirt." — Olivia Muenter [14:38]
• "I prefer thongs because they stay where they're supposed to be without excess fabric." — Becca Freeman [26:09]
• "I do find turbulence fun. That's sick." — Olivia Muenter [43:58]

---

Join the Conversation: For more insights, behind-the-scenes content, and to engage with Becca and Olivia, follow them on Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter at beccafreeman.substack.com.

Transcript

[Olivia Mentor]

Hi, everyone, and welcome to Baton Paper Podcast. I'm Olivia, Mentor.

[Becca Freeman]

And I'm Becca Freeman.

[Olivia Mentor]

And we're back again with Desert island every Wednesday.

[Becca Freeman]

You sounded so disappointed.

[Olivia Mentor]

So sorry. We're back again with Desert Island Picks Part two because you all seem to like it. And also we had some interviews that are being moved around. So I was like, you know, let's just do this again.

[Becca Freeman]

It was fun. People like to hear us fight about low stakes things. I hope we can deliver.

[Olivia Mentor]

Me too. Well, tell me what your high is. It's been about three days since we last recorded.

[Becca Freeman]

Correct.

[Olivia Mentor]

What has happened? That's great.

[Becca Freeman]

My high is that I'm really getting into lobster roll off mode. So when this goes live, the lobster roll off will be this weekend. So I'm excited. I tested my lobster roll this week.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, wow. You're. Do you always test them?

[Becca Freeman]

I tested it last year. I mean, I feel like if you have a. A bold concept, I don't just want to go in right blind.

[Olivia Mentor]

Do you feed people or is it just solo test?

[Becca Freeman]

I did it myself.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

So many people were interested in coming over for like a faux roll off, and I was like, I just don't know that I want to buy so much lobster to feed seven people.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's a lot of lobster.

[Becca Freeman]

So I did it. I did it on a random weekday. And last weekend there was interest in doing like a lobster roll off trials because a bunch of my friends in New York are so butthurt that they are not invited to this because it's like a tradition I have with my college friends and they really want to participate too. So it's almost like there might be a preliminary one where I try out my role here and then, you know, take it to Maine. Although I don't know that anyone I know here has a big enough kitchen for this.

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm sure you could find someone, but.

[Becca Freeman]

Now we're like, renting the commercial kitchen.

[Olivia Mentor]

Wait, did you, like, like, what's the verdict? Are you going to try another recipe or is that the one?

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, so I like it. I don't know if it's bold enough to win. I've heard rumblings of other people's roles. I think it's gonna be a hard year. I think it's gonna be a hard year to win also. I gotta tell you, I don't think people want me to win. This might surprise you to learn, but I can be too competitive and be a sore winner. Look at the shots on your face.

[Olivia Mentor]

Too competitive. I was like, yes, I'm following sore winner. What is that?

[Becca Freeman]

I'm not gracious about it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, so, like, you win, but then you are like, obviously I was going to. Okay, wow. Well, I could see how that would.

[Becca Freeman]

Calling people names during the competition, you know.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, wow.

[Becca Freeman]

I know.

[Olivia Mentor]

I have a question, which is, is there, like, heirloom lobster you could fly in? You know, Excuse me. Or some lobster? I was like, how can you level up here and, you know, when you have, like, the wagyu beef?

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

So is there, like, a lobster in a pristine sea environment somewhere that is being bred for. Sorry to any vegetarians or vegans listening. That is being bred for consumption by, you know, the richest people in the world. I feel like there is an heirloom purebred. There is a lobster of high, like a wagyu lobster out there. And maybe. Maybe that's how you surprise people. You spend $200,000 on a crustacean, and.

[Becca Freeman]

Where am I getting this? 200 for one crustacean?

[Olivia Mentor]

Listen, that was just a number. 200. You can tell me any number for the heirloom lobster, and I would be like, well, anyway, I don't know. I'm just spitballing here.

[Becca Freeman]

So historically, I think the rule is that everyone uses the same lobster. We get it at a fish market, and we kind of, like, parcel it out. I've always said that I think the way to really differentiate would be if you made the bread. I don't know how to make bread. I'm not willing to put in the months of training to figure out better than store. I don't know. I don't know. And also, you only have an hour, so you. You would need to make whatever bread in an hour. Like, I. I think that's maybe where the biggest innovation is. Can I tell you one rumor I've heard of what somebody is doing?

[Olivia Mentor]

Sure.

[Becca Freeman]

I mean, I don't want to spoil too much so that people are still excited for this sporting event. My friend Elizabeth got a uncrustable mold, like, you know, the PB and J uncrustables. So she got a mold to make that and is going to put lobster and butter and garlic in the middle and then press it with just white bread and then give it a butter wash on the outside and then toast it. And I was like, you know, I feel like as far as innovation goes, it's also, like, a fun take on it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I could really see that working, and it is very fun.

[Becca Freeman]

Me too.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's very Top Chef. Are you defending your title? I can't remember at this point.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, I'm defending my title as co winner last year. Although the previous year's winner went from accepted.

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm surprised you accepted co winner, by the way.

[Becca Freeman]

I know. Me too.

[Olivia Mentor]

Sorry I interrupted you. Go on.

[Becca Freeman]

There is an over complicated points based voting system so I couldn't really refute it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, I see.

[Becca Freeman]

But I was saying the winner from two years ago went from first to last.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, wow.

[Becca Freeman]

All right. What about you.

[Olivia Mentor]

Again? It's been three days. So I was really like, what do I have to share that's new? And what I have is that I walked out my back door yesterday. Something caught my eye in the garden and I thought it was a bug, but no, it was a hummingbird. And all summer, Jake and I have had the hummingbird feeder out. We have waited for them to return. We've talked amongst ourselves like, I guess they're not coming back. What happened to them? Where are they? It's been hot for so long. So I was like, where are they? And sure enough, they're back. I've seen them every day since yesterday. So two days and they're just. Hummingbirds are so magical. We've talked about them here before. I know, I'm remembering, but I just love them and that was my high.

[Becca Freeman]

Now, do you believe in symbolism around them? That they represent things? Like, I know some people think that hummingbirds are like messengers for dead loved ones or it's like a good omen or something. Or do you just like seeing them?

[Olivia Mentor]

I just like seeing them.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. But I think they. I don't know, they're sort of magical. They do feel kind of otherworldly to me in a. In a weird way. Well, what's your low?

[Becca Freeman]

My low is that I'm feeling very cooped up with this heat and humidity. Like, I feel like I have not had a lot of plans this week and so I just haven't left. Left my house. Like the few times that I have left to run errands. I feel like the weather is a beverage right now. It is.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, that's a great line. Oh, write that in a book.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't want to be outside, but at the same time, I'm feeling cooped up.

[Olivia Mentor]

It is pretty bad. We were just talking about this before we started recording. We have the dehumidifier going in our house, but it's just not. It's not battling through. It's pretty bad. But tomorrow, here it is, a low of 56. And as I was just telling Becca, I am so ready for fall? I've officially hit. I'm thinking about Halloween. I went to Costco over the weekend. There were Halloween costumes out and it felt wrong. But then by today I was like, it feels right.

[Becca Freeman]

Halloween costumes feel right.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, I mean, not for me, but I just to think about Halloween now. It's the right time for me.

[Becca Freeman]

Wow.

[Olivia Mentor]

So I'm beginning my slow transition toward fall. Sweating the whole way there.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. What about you? What do you have on the low side?

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't really have any. Maybe it's just the same. I just. The humidity. I'm done. I'm done.

[Becca Freeman]

Wake you up when it's fall.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I'm still enjoying the summer, but it's just like I'm starting to feel the urge for the crispy cool breeze and practical magic.

[Becca Freeman]

Practical magic. Is Practical Magic 2 coming out this year or is that next year?

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, I don't know. I think they just announced the cast, so I'm not sure. But I'm excited about it either way.

[Becca Freeman]

Something to look forward to.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes.

[Becca Freeman]

Let's take a quick ad break and then let's see what battles we can dredge up today.

[Olivia Mentor]

This episode is sponsored by Aveline, which is a wine brand that we have both been loving lately. They are female, founded female Run and partner with sustainable winemakers around the world to make really easy, quick, crowd pleasing wines that pair perfectly with a meal.

[Becca Freeman]

All of their wines are made with organic grapes and fermented dry, which means there's less than a gram of sugar per serving. They also don't contain any unnecessary additives like colors or concentrates. Yesterday when I was testing my Lobster roll for the lobster roll off, I poured myself a glass of their Chardonnay and it was full bodied but not too oaky and it truly made the perfect pairing.

[Olivia Mentor]

Their Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, light bodied and a great option to keep in the fridge for summer dinner parties. Especially when it has been as hot and sticky and humid as it has been lately. I know. I am going to bring it over to my friends tomorrow night for a nice dinner on their deck. So if you're looking for a wine that tastes great and checks all the boxes, organic, low sugar, no additives. You'll love Aveline. Aveline also makes it super easy to stock up. They ship right to your door and they gave us a special discount code to share with you. Just head to drinkaveline.com badonpaper and use the code batonpaper at checkout to get 15% off your order.

[Becca Freeman]

All right Olivia, so We have some leftover categories for last time, Clothing and beauty. We'll see if we get to them both. We also added a travel category, which feels very summery, so we'll. We'll see what we get into.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, let's kick things off with clothing, something I know we both wear and.

[Becca Freeman]

Love wearing every day my whole life.

[Olivia Mentor]

Even on a desert island, even though I know that's not the real point of this. Okay, pair of jeans. You have one pair of jeans for the rest of your life. What are you wearing and why?

[Becca Freeman]

I mean, I feel like this is a loaded question because I feel like denim trends are going to change, but as of this moment, I feel like I would pick this pair of jeans that I have. It's the frame Slim Palazzo jeans. They're, like, very stretchy. They're wide leg, but not too wide leg. And I feel like they could kind of go either way. You could dress them up a little. I mean, the pair I have is a very light wash, which isn't very dressy, but the cut of it, I mean, I feel like you could go either way. You could, like, dress it up or it could be casual. So I would go with that. Which are you going with?

[Olivia Mentor]

These are very cute on you.

[Becca Freeman]

Thank you.

[Olivia Mentor]

I've seen them. Personally, I'm not a denim fan, so I'm gonna go with a pair of jeans I own that feel the most. Unlike jeans I can imagine. And that's the Gap Ultra soft barrel leg jeans, which they are a barrel leg, but it's so subtle. It's honestly more of, like, a sweatpant vibe. It's like a jean sweatpants. So I'm going for comfort here.

[Becca Freeman]

Do you know, I bought these because I know you had and loved the pink ones. And so I saw the leopard print ones, and I got them, and I was like, oh, these are super cute. And I just. I felt like they were a little too wide. Like, I felt like I was, you know that meme where Steve Buscemi. I think it's from 30 Rock, where it's like, how you doing, fellow kids? That's how. That's what I felt like.

[Olivia Mentor]

I love the leopard print ones. I wear them. I just wore them two days ago, actually. But I get what you're saying.

[Becca Freeman]

Like, I just felt not cool enough to be wearing them.

[Olivia Mentor]

I definitely think you are, but I have had pieces like that for sure. But they don't really feel like jeans. Like they are, but they aren't.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, yeah. I liked the fabric a lot. It was just the cut and the fact that it was leopard together and I was like, I feel like you're reaching a little too far. Back up.

[Olivia Mentor]

I get it, I get it. I do love these and I think they work for me really well because I have broad shoulders. I feel like it balances me out. Not that's really that important. But they have a drawstring and it's just comfortable. They fit me well. They're high waisted, which is a must for me. One of my favorite purchases that I've made, they wash really well, which I enjoy.

[Becca Freeman]

Have you tried the rag and bone sweatpant jeans?

[Olivia Mentor]

I've never tried anything rag and bone because I just assumed they don't make my size. But I don't know if that's true or not. I'll have to look it up.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't know either, but. But I feel like I might.

[Olivia Mentor]

What is a sweatpant?

[Becca Freeman]

Get them this year. So it's literally sweatpants and it's screen printed to look like denim. So it is quite literally sweatpants. So my friend Caitlin has a pair of them and she wears them all the time. And I have got got by these so many times where I'm like, oh I love your jeans, where are they from? And she's like, haha, they're sweatpants.

[Olivia Mentor]

Interesting. So it's not like a jegging where it's like obvious.

[Becca Freeman]

No.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

I mean the only thing if you look closely is it doesn't really have pockets. The pockets are screen printed on.

[Olivia Mentor]

Interesting. Well, they sound really cozy. And I'm all about a jean that's not actually a jean.

[Becca Freeman]

This might be the same thing as we've established.

[Olivia Mentor]

As we've established.

[Becca Freeman]

All right, what about T shirt?

[Olivia Mentor]

T shirt. This was an easy one actually for me. So in the Outer Banks, my beloved outer banks, if you go all the way south to the end of the island, there is a grocery store that has been there for decades and decades and it's called Connor's Supermarket and it's run by this family and they always have this random rack of T shirts and I always buy one and one year they had one that was just the perfect T shirt material. Where do you know when you buy a T shirt and you think this is going to take me 35 years to get at the level of soft that I want it to. But sometimes you buy a T shirt and you're like, we're already halfway there. Yep, maybe it'll take five years. So this T shirt was a five years to softness. I've owned it for about that time. And it's just this gigantic 4 or 5 x T shirt that is like a mini dress on me.

[Becca Freeman]

Yep.

[Olivia Mentor]

It says Connor supermarket. Brings me happy memories. It is like paper thin baby soft. It's just, it's the perfect T shirt. I've never worn it into the world because it's a sleep T shirt, but it's the best. Thank you, Connors.

[Becca Freeman]

So I feel like we are both going to be, I mean, the same choice to this question would be to pick something like really simple and versatile. And I feel like we've both picked like weird novelty T shirts. And so like if we do end up in this, you can only have one universe. Like we're just both going to be weirdos together. So I picked my main bean suppers T shirt.

[Olivia Mentor]

Nice.

[Becca Freeman]

This is a weird long story to unpack here. So Portland, Maine's minor league baseball team, the Portland Sea Dogs, like four times a year they have these games where they rebrand themselves as some type of novelty, usually having to do with a food item team. So there'll be like the Maine Whoopie pies or the Maine Clambakes or something. And so one time they were the main bean suppers. I never heard of this, but apparently it's like very common in Maine that churches host. It's called a bean supper and it's beans and hot dogs basically. And so this T shirt is light orange. It's huge. Again, mini dress size.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's key.

[Becca Freeman]

T shirt.

[Olivia Mentor]

Best T shirt.

[Becca Freeman]

It's light orange and it has this angry hot dog in a bowl of beans on it playing. I think he has a baseball bat too. I think it's.

[Olivia Mentor]

Is he angry because he's competitive or because he's about to be eaten?

[Becca Freeman]

No, he's angry because he's competitive. It always has something angry. I have a long sleeve one with an angry clam on it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

I just think it's so weird and funny.

[Olivia Mentor]

I love it. I love it.

[Becca Freeman]

And it's so soft.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's merch.

[Becca Freeman]

It's one of those ones that was like automatically the right level of softness can only get better.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's key. I will also say our bat on paper T shirts are very soft and they are great sleep T shirts for me as well.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't have a T shirt. I don't think.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh really? No, I have the design we didn't use, which I feel like I have a black market bat on paper T shirt.

[Becca Freeman]

I do have some black market items.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, they're so soft. They're great for sleeping in.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, good to know you heard it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Here first and only. I don't think anyone else is talking about that publicly. Okay, this next one stumped me.

[Becca Freeman]

Same.

[Olivia Mentor]

You put it on the list. I was like, surely you better have an answer to this. Well, okay. Alternative. Alternative. The category was going out outfit. And while I don't really have one now, I feel like we probably both had a go to going out outfit in college, and I. I would love to hear yours.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, well, I want to talk about both. So I feel like post Covid, I don't have a going out outfit section of my closet, and I don't feel like I have plans that are, like, going out wear something slutty, we're going to Vegas type outfits. You know? Like, I don't have that. And so a few months ago, I went out for this big night with friends, and I wore a skirt and a tank top. I felt fine about my outfit, but everyone else was in. Like, it felt like everyone else did still have a going out section of their closet. Like, there were a lot of like.

[Olivia Mentor]

Like a sexy outfit.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah. Like a mini slip dress type thing. Or my friend Caitlin was wearing a kind of like rocker T shirt and a mini skirt. I don't know. I feel like. I mean, I don't have enough occasions that I need a whole section, but I feel like I need, like, one killer dress that fits this moment that I don't own.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I think that's valid. That's a hole in your wardrobe to fill.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah. Yeah. But to your other question of my favorite going out outfit in college. Okay. I had this halter top from. I think it was from Arden B. Did you have Arden B. I don't think so.

[Olivia Mentor]

We had a. What was the going out store everyone went to? Francesca.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, it was like, slightly. Maybe slightly nicer than that. I don't know. But, like, not as expensive as, like, bb.

[Olivia Mentor]

Got it.

[Becca Freeman]

So it was a kind of ice blue halter top with silver sequin detail. I cannot remember what the placement of the sequins were. And then it was one of those ones that, like, it was low cut, but then it had a second tie between the boobs.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

And then for whatever reason, it was like, because my college years, all of our shirts were very long. So it was, like, kind of long and like a line a little bit. I wonder if I have a photo of me wearing it somewhere.

[Olivia Mentor]

It sounds great. I also personally really like that halter tops are coming back because I think it's just. It's a cute style, hard to wear a bra with.

[Becca Freeman]

I just feel like I associate halter tops with college. I don't know if I could get on a second. A second go round.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, well, I'll try it one day maybe. We're back for you.

[Becca Freeman]

What are your feelings on your current going out wardrobe and your favorite college going out outfit?

[Olivia Mentor]

I do not have a going out wardrobe. I actually went to a friend's birthday party at this club Is generous. This bar over in Catskill.

[Becca Freeman]

And was it the pirate themed bar?

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't think so.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, there's a pirate themed bar I really want to go to in Catskill. Sounds kitschy as hell.

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't think it's pirate themed. Like, at certain points I was like, am I in the belly of a ship? It was very dark and sticky.

[Becca Freeman]

I hope you would know. I hope this pirate themed bar is so themed that you would. You wouldn't have paws. You would be like, yes, the reason.

[Olivia Mentor]

I have paws is that it's a very confusing place. So when we went, it was for her birthday. It was for this night called Primal Disco. And I was like, I gotta wear something to Primal Disco. That's fun. Didn't have anything. We had gone the weekend before because I happened to be in Catskill and I was like, let me check out this music venue. And I walked in and there was performance art happening where I looked this up later and a lot made sense to me. I was like, immediately scarred and I had to leave. I looked up this performance artist and it was like, there may be live bloodletting.

[Becca Freeman]

What?

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. Live piercing, Live bloodletting. When I walked in, it was just. They were just whipping chains on each other anyway, so I don't think it was pirate themed. I don't know. I can't believe I haven't told you this. Okay, so I walk in. I'm with my friends. Oh, I'm wearing overalls. I'm wearing overalls, white overalls, white T shirt, and my cute little mesh flats. And I walk in in my all white cult leader outfit, and there's like 12 people all, like, very seriously watching these three pretty much completely naked people whipping themselves and screaming into a mic, then whipping themselves with the mic. You kind of have to stay for at least a few minutes because it's rude not to, you know? Anyway, so that's kind of my version of going out these days. And I don't think it was the pirate bar. But all this is to say, I don't have an outfit. When we were trying to find an outfit for Primal Disco, first of all, I was scared because of the performance art the weekend before, but I had nothing. I had nothing. I tried some things from Nuuly that I thought were like, cool. One was a halter top. Couldn't do it. Simply could not make myself. I ended up wearing like a silk top from Target. So yeah, I don't have one. I mean, it would be nice to find something.

[Becca Freeman]

Just one. I just want one killer outfit that I feel awesome in.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah.

[Becca Freeman]

That I could re wear for my, you know, like 2x annual very heavy going out situation.

[Olivia Mentor]

I think that's a great staple piece for your wardrobe. I really do.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. But what out in college? What was your go to in college?

[Olivia Mentor]

I really loved wearing like the shortest dresses from Urban Outfitters I could find.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh yeah, I remember that era.

[Olivia Mentor]

And then over the knee boots. You couldn't tell me anything in that outfit. And I also had this very flowy off the shoulder teal top that I would wear with this miniskirt from Francesca's I had. It was the shortest miniskirt I can imagine. It was like gold. And then the flowy sleeve top off the shoulder. Yeah.

[Becca Freeman]

We're gonna see if we can find any pictures of these outfits.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, I have a photo of the teal outfit for sure.

[Becca Freeman]

I would love to see it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. It's actually not that bad of a top as things go. It's not the worst, but. Okay. That was a long one.

[Becca Freeman]

What about pajamas? Did I say that word? Pajamas?

[Olivia Mentor]

I Pajamas. I say I'm a pajamas girl myself, but you know, teach their own. Mine is just my Connors supermarket sleep T shirt.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, so you're Winnie the Pooh ing to bed.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, yeah. I don't wear pants when I sleep ever.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

I can't. I feel like I'm in a jail. My legs are in a jail and. Yeah. So no pants. Not even shorts. I don't like extra layers.

[Becca Freeman]

I was gonna say I. I like a short. And I'm surprised that you don't have this hang up and I don't want to give it to you, but I often think about, what if there was an emergency in the middle of the night? Like I have to be ready to go outside if there was a fire.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, I usually keep them. Like, you know how people keep slippers? I keep pants.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, you keep pants nearby.

[Olivia Mentor]

Cause usually, like when I'm getting ready for bed or when I'm lounging, I'm wearing sweatpants or something. Shorts and then when I ready to get in the bed, I just de pant. And then they're just right there. But that's a fair concern. It's very fair.

[Becca Freeman]

So I'm a very hardcore shorts sleeper. Like, even in the winter, I don't want full pants. And so there was this brand. It was called Recliner, and they went out of business, and I have two short sets from them, and it's just the most perfect T shirt and shorts. The shorts are, like, short, but they're not too short. And it's made out of just, like, the comfiest cotton material.

[Olivia Mentor]

I think I might have worn these because I stayed at your house that one time and I didn't have any clothes, and you gave me a pair of really soft pajama shorts.

[Becca Freeman]

You might have. I'm so sad to think about what will happen one day if they get holes in them or, you know, they wear out. I haven't found my dupe yet. Like, I really like cozy Earth's pajamas, but I like the cut of these better.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

Like, it's the same comfort, but, like, not the same cut.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. When you find something you like, you know.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's hard to recreate it. You should go stock them on Poshmark or something and see if you can backfill, you know, your wardrobe.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, that's a good idea.

[Olivia Mentor]

What about bra?

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. I feel like if I had to pick one, I would go with the skims fits everybody T shirt bra. Also, I just ordered a new one of these because they were on sale the other week, and it's missing. It says it was delivered and I don't know where it is.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, no, I know. I have the same one. I think I was influenced by you to try this, and it is quite literally the only bra I wear unless I have to wear a strapless bra. So I'm with you.

[Becca Freeman]

It's a good bra. Kim figured it out.

[Olivia Mentor]

It is. It's excellent. And a bunch of people I know have tried it, and everyone says that they love it too.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, that's good to know.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. What about underwear?

[Becca Freeman]

I'm also going skims. I did not expect Kim Kardashian getting this amount of wallet share from me, but she really knows her underpinnings. So the skims fits everybody thong, which I replaced my whole underwear drawer with a few years ago. I actually prefer thongs, even if we were in, like, a desert island situation. I feel like when I wear full underwear. Yeah, I don't mind. Oh, they don't bother Me, it's not uncomfortable, but I feel like when I'm wearing full underwear, they're always like riding up too much or falling down or bunching. Like, it's just like too much fabric to deal with. That's like not staying in the place that I want it. Like, I feel like I want, I don't want a G string because that's too little fabric and it's like sharp but a good thong. I'm like, yes. I want as little as possible to be moving or not in the right place. But I have a complaint that I recently bought a new set of these and they now have tags in them and they didn't used to.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh.

[Becca Freeman]

And I feel like there might be some legal reason why with like needing to put the fabric composition on it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Or something, but I'm like, so little room.

[Becca Freeman]

I know. I'm like. And the tags are so long. I'm like, why did you do that?

[Olivia Mentor]

Sometimes I see them in the wash because I have these too, and I mistake them for hair ties because they're literally so small they fit in the palm of your head.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

I respect your choice because it's, it's a practical one. Personally, sleeping in a thong for me is like sleeping in earrings. Like, I, that's a lie. I sleep in earrings every day because I never take these out. But sleeping in like elaborate earrings.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

Actually makes me want to die inside.

[Becca Freeman]

Wow.

[Olivia Mentor]

Or like a tangly necklace. Like, oh, jail. Neck jail. I. I can't do it. Neck jail. Yeah. I just like to feel loose and free. But that thong is a great one and it is like a great universal staple. So I see why you chose it. For me. I went pure comfort because there's nothing that can enrage me more than just suddenly feeling I like, I don't want to be wearing a thong anymore. Like, I just. No, wrong. Don't want it. So I went with. I only ever owned like two pairs of this underwear, but they were the softest, most comfortable underwear I ever wore, which is the cup. High waisted underwear.

[Becca Freeman]

C U U P. Are we talking like a cotton? What are we talking?

[Olivia Mentor]

They're like the softest cotton. They're high waisted, but they're like kind of a cheeky cut. So they're not grandma y. They feel like a little bit sexy and they have like a nice sort of seam down the back that I think looks nice like a high waisted bathing suit. Bottom basically, except the softest cotton. And in fact they are so soft that they fell apart in the Wash. I think technically you should wash them in a lingerie bag. They were just, like, every time I'd be putting on my sleep underwear, which. Is that a thing for you, too?

[Becca Freeman]

No.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

All underwear is sleeping underwear, because I only wear one kind of underwear all the time.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's fair. That's fair. I just. I want to be comfortable in a very specific way, and I always reached for these. So I. I admit I approach this from more of a. I'm actually on a desert island and I want to be comfortable. But also, if I only have to wear one pair for the rest of my life, I'm going to be comfortable before I'm going to, I don't know, have panty lines or something.

[Becca Freeman]

That's not even what it is for me. It's. It's about, like, staying where they're supposed to be.

[Olivia Mentor]

That makes sense. But I do find that the skims thongs do sometimes roll for me.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, I don't have that problem.

[Olivia Mentor]

Hmm. Well, okay, Thong lady.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, sorry. What about one piece of jewelry? You could only have one.

[Olivia Mentor]

This is a tough one. I love jewelry. For me, I mean, obviously, like, I love my wedding rings. They're special to me for lots of reasons. But, I mean, I feel bad saying anything other than my wedding rings now that I'm actually thinking about the purpose of this. Like, you can only have one.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't think Jake's made it this far in the episode. I think you can just say it.

[Olivia Mentor]

No, I mean. Well, what I was going to say that is special to me. I don't know if it's actually the one I would choose forever. I'm sorry. I'm breaking the game's rules once again. So I got this necklace in Sicily years ago when we visited, and it's this blue beaded necklace. And to my delight, beaded necklaces are very trendy right now. Like, all of the sort of same size beads, same color. And this one has little gold heart charms on it. And I bought it and I saw they said something, and then later I looked at it and just saw they all said thank you. And I was like, that's a weird. That's a weird message to put on a heart. You know, I thought it would say, like, love, hope, joy, live, laugh, love. They all say thank you.

[Becca Freeman]

In Italian or in English?

[Olivia Mentor]

In English.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

So I was like, okay. But I actually wore this for my author photos. And in the photo, that is going to be my new author photo. And I kind of love it because I love the idea that People will get to the end of the book and look at my picture and I have this little hidden message of thank you to everyone because, you know, that's how. That's how it feels. So, yeah, I love that necklace because it's just weird and quirky and it continues to look good, I think, and hasn't fallen apart, which is always nice for an impulse jewelry purchase in a different country.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

What is your choice?

[Becca Freeman]

I would pick this ring that I have that used to belong to my grandfather who died before I was born, so I never met him. And I've had it for years. Somehow this passed me when my mom died, I guess, and I don't know, I held onto it and I originally held onto it. It has, like quite a sizable diamond in it. And I. I always said that I was going to reset it into something, and I'm so glad that I didn't. I feel like it looks like a ring that a drug dealer would have. Like, it's a signet ring with a big diamond in it.

[Olivia Mentor]

I was gonna ask, is this like a pinky ring?

[Becca Freeman]

I must have bet on him. I think it's so cool.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's like, do you ever wear it?

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, I wear it, like, on special occasions. I don't wear it often, but I love it. It's like, really unique. And I'm also like, who was this man? I mean, my grandfather was a carpenter and then later owned like a small chain of pharmacies. Like, I have no sense of what his personal style might have been like, but I'm like, this was your ring.

[Olivia Mentor]

I love that. I love a signet ring too, in general.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, I think it's really fun and I'm actually really, really glad that I didn't reset it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Good. I can't wait to see it sometime. What about your favorite clothing store to shop from right now?

[Becca Freeman]

Honestly, I struggled with this because I'm trying to do the. I'm trying to maximize my choice here. So I'm like, I feel like it needs to be a multi brand retailer, which I don't shop from a lot of multi brand retailers right now. Like, I shop a good amount from Tucker Knock, but I'm not sure I would want that to be the only place I shop from because it does run a little preppy and like formal. I think I'm gonna say Nordstrom because I feel like it has a good mix of cheaper stuff and then contemporary designers. I think they carry madewell. Like, I feel like I could be happy only shopping in Nordstrom that Is a smart choice.

[Olivia Mentor]

And it's making me realize that I answered this incorrectly. Again. I really have trouble grasping this concept. I'm actually a little bit worried for myself because I was like right now. I would choose Goodwill, which, I mean for my own personal enjoyment. Yes, I would choose Goodwill because I never have a more pleasant shopping experience. Experience. Even when it's stressful. But I would not have a full wardrobe if I only shopped at Goodwill.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, you would just have a strange wardrobe.

[Olivia Mentor]

Perhaps it would be strange, but I mean, like, if I was like a size zero, absolutely, I would say Goodwill, but I simply can't. I mean, Nordstrom is the smart choice. They have makeup. They. Oh, wait, no. It's only clothing we're talking about. I'm real. What is wrong with me?

[Becca Freeman]

I don't know.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's like I can't grasp this. I failed. Let's move to the next one. Shoe. Shoe.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. I.

[Olivia Mentor]

What is the shoe?

[Becca Freeman]

I feel like I would pick a closed toe shoe because that seems practical. So I got these sneakers on the recommendation of Sarah from my sister made me buy it. I got them a few months ago. It's the Onitsuka t. Gray Mexico 66 sneakers. They're like the flattest, lowest profile sneakers that somehow must contain witchcraft because they are so comfortable. They're like really light, but they have such a thin sole. I'm like, how are you this comfortable? But they are. I could walk easily 20,000 steps. I mean, I think at some point my legs would give out before the comfort of the shoe gave out.

[Olivia Mentor]

Right.

[Becca Freeman]

But like, I really feel like I could wear them to my maximum walking and not be bitching about my feet hurting.

[Olivia Mentor]

I want to feel these at some point on my feet. I want to try them out.

[Becca Freeman]

I'm the same size, so you might have to buy your own. What's shoe size do you wear?

[Olivia Mentor]

We're close nine and a half.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah, you can wear mine then.

[Olivia Mentor]

I mean, it doesn't have to be yours to be clear, but. But I don't know if there's like a try before you buy option with shoes.

[Becca Freeman]

No, you can try mine. I mean, I don't know if you want to. I also wear them all the time with no socks, which I read online that you're allowed to do. My feet don't get sweaty in them either. I mean, I guess if I went outside in this weather, but just wanted.

[Olivia Mentor]

You to know I appreciate that. I appreciate the transparency. I don't want to try them. Maybe that bad, but I will find. I'll go to Nordstrom because it's the only place I can go. We know.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't know if they sell them in the United States anymore, to tell you the truth.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, gosh. Well, that makes them more intriguing, actually.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, I got them on, like, Goat or Stockx or one of those, like, sneaker resale sites. They're new, but I got them from, like, a reseller.

[Olivia Mentor]

Good to know.

[Becca Freeman]

All right, what would you pick?

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm gonna go with the rubber. The plastic Birkenstocks. These are the most comfortable shoes ever. I can wear them with socks. Hopefully on the island. The metaphorical island.

[Becca Freeman]

I have to try these. I tried a knockoff pair of these a couple years ago, and I got some of the worst blisters of my life from them.

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm wearing a pair right now that are from Target, and they're fine. Like, they're comfortable, but I switch between these and my Birkenstock ones all the time, and there's no comparison. I don't know what exactly they're made of, but they are weirdly breathable. So comfortable I could wear them for miles. I'm actually. This is my greatest grievance of this week. This should have been my low. I should have made this my low. I have been wanting a black pair of these Birkenstocks because I wear a lot of black. It's. I wear whatever. I just wanted them. I found them at Goodwill in my size, and I was, like, elated. They were 29.99 at Goodwill. I was like, are you guys out of your mind? These retail for 40 or $50. $29.99 at Goodwill. No. A used plastic sandal. I refuse. I was actually angry. I threw them back on the rack. I put them there nicely, but I.

[Becca Freeman]

Think you're cutting off your nose despite your face there. You want these? They're less than retail. They are your size at Goodwill.

[Olivia Mentor]

Like, I was at Goodwill the other day. I also saw a KitchenAid mixer for $150. It's Goodwill. There's this container of half used Pepto Bismol on the counter. Anyway, now can you.

[Becca Freeman]

At Goodwill, could you be like, I want this, but I don't want to pay this price?

[Olivia Mentor]

I actually think you can, and I really regret it that I did not. Okay, so maybe I'm a little angry at myself, too.

[Becca Freeman]

Do you think they'll still be there?

[Olivia Mentor]

No.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, well, as we think about the Birkenstocks we did not buy, let's take a quick ad break.

[Olivia Mentor]

This episode is sponsored by Ritual. I find that the more I stick to tiny habits and routines that make me feel my best, the happier I feel. So, for example, when I make sure to eat carbs and fat and protein and fiber at every meal, I feel my best. But if I don't, that is okay too, because life happens. But I do love knowing that I have baseline foundational healthy habits to go back to. And taking a daily vitamin is one small habit that makes me feel like I'm doing something nice for myself in a similar way, especially when my schedule is hectic. Ritual's Essential for Women 18 plus multivitamin is formulated to help you fill key nutrient gaps that you might not be getting enough of from your diet.

[Becca Freeman]

So I had completely fallen off taking a multivitamin the past few years, so I've just been starting to build taking my Ritual multivitamin into my morning routine. In a clinical trial for their multivitamin, Ritual found that it increased vitamin D levels by 43% and Omega 3 DHA levels by 40, 41% in just 12 weeks. I also really love that Ritual's vitamins are designed to be gentle on the stomach with a minty essence in every bottle that helps make taking your vitamins actually enjoyable.

[Olivia Mentor]

Instead of striving for perfect help, aim for supporting foundational health. Get 25% off your first month only at ritual.combadonpaper start ritual or add essential for women 18 + to your subscription today. That's ritual.com batonpaper for 25% off let's.

[Becca Freeman]

Get into some travel. Travel. You can only have ones.

[Olivia Mentor]

What airline are you going on? Becca?

[Becca Freeman]

I am so Delta loyal. I do feel like it's gotten slightly worse in the past couple of years with everyone getting on the Delta status thing and your status is worth less. But I still think that in terms of not getting dicked over when you have delayed flights or canceled flights or something like Delta is the best experience I've had when things go wrong.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay. I am not loyal to one brand, which is just silly, but I guess Delta.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh wow. So casual about that.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, I mean, you recommend it and I mean, just honestly, the real answer is anything that is not frontier or spiritual.

[Becca Freeman]

Sure.

[Olivia Mentor]

Or honestly not a huge Southwest fan.

[Becca Freeman]

I'm not.

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't like American panic of not knowing where I'm sitting. Really? You don't like American?

[Becca Freeman]

No, I've had so many bad experiences with them.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, well, Delta, I'm with you in the air.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

What about travel accessory?

[Becca Freeman]

So I was trying to think of some kind of like fun in flight doodad that I have. And I'm kind of a minimalist. I'm going to go with my Dagny Dover duffel bag. I just think the way that it's designed is really smart with like the pockets. It fits a lot. The one I have is neoprene which is kind of a gross material to me. Like when I first got it I was like this kind of makes my skin crawl. But it's so easy to clean. I feel like it gets any dirt on and it just wipes right off. Which I do really appreciate. So yeah, I'm gonna go with that. What would you go with?

[Olivia Mentor]

I have to go with my Bose quiet comfort noise canceling headphones that it's the only way I'm getting from point A to point B with just being minimally anxious and angry. So my trusty pals.

[Becca Freeman]

That's a good one. What are you doing on the plane? What's your airplane activity? If you could only do one thing?

[Olivia Mentor]

Watching TV probably.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh wow.

[Olivia Mentor]

Watching reality television that I have not yet seen. Specifically Real Housewives. It's my happy place. It's my place where I don't remember that I'm in a. Just a steel tube hurtling through the air that could collapse at any moment. So that's me. What about you?

[Becca Freeman]

Reading? I generally have my TV tuned to the track, my flight map station. I love a good plain reading experience. Reading a whole book, start to finish on a cross country flight. Like absolutely. Live for it. I don't know, I feel like it's one of my peak flavors of reading.

[Olivia Mentor]

I love this for you but I have to tell you I hate when people have that open.

[Becca Freeman]

I love it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Especially when you're flying over water because I look up and I'm like, I'm trying to forget that below me is the deep sea. And you're trying to remind the rest of us and that feels bad. But it is your choice and I'm glad you're making it.

[Becca Freeman]

I just like to know how far into the flight we are and how much time we have left.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's rational. Okay. What about airplane seat? I didn't give an option for center. Obviously. If you choose center, I will walk out of this request.

[Becca Freeman]

I was gonna say is this where we get in a fight if you. No, it's not middle. I have but I think, I think you're opposite me. I think you're either strongly one or the other. I'm a window seat person.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I'm Mile. Yeah, I Mean, I will sit in the window seat. It's just another form of jail for me.

[Becca Freeman]

I have gone through phases in my life where I'm a nervous flyer, but I do need to be able to see outside. I need to control the window.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, you want to control the shade. And.

[Becca Freeman]

And I want it open. Unless to check it's at night and we're sleeping. I need to see that we're still in the air.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, okay. Right.

[Becca Freeman]

And if there's turbulence, I need to. I don't know what I need to look at, but I do need to be able to look outside.

[Olivia Mentor]

What do you do when there's turbulence? Like, what is your usual reaction? Are you completely. You have no reaction. You're like, oh, this is fun. Like some people, I'm like, I find turbulence fun. That's sick.

[Becca Freeman]

No, you're sicko.

[Olivia Mentor]

If that's how you. Not you. But people like that.

[Becca Freeman]

I think it depends how bad it is. Usually I try to ignore it. I actually. I do find it kind of soothing if I'm sleeping and there's a little bit of chop. I don't know why, it's like it's rocking you. But if, you know it's during the day, we're awake. I try to ignore it, but if it gets really bad, I have to turn off my Kindle and just put on music. But I also have to be able to look out the window because I think sometimes if you can see that you're going through a cloud, it makes me. I'm like, oh, yeah, this is logical. There's turbulence. It's fine.

[Olivia Mentor]

I actually agree with you. And this is why I find turbulence at night the worst. Like that to me is nightmare territory. Don't like it. Don't like it at all.

[Becca Freeman]

So you're an aisle person?

[Olivia Mentor]

Aisle, yes.

[Becca Freeman]

So that you can get up. Do you care about the window being open or not?

[Olivia Mentor]

No, not really.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

Not really. I actually prefer it closed if we're going over water because I really just don't like the deep, deep sea, as I said, but I don't really pay attention to it. I like the aisle. I can get up. I can walk around. I can kind of stretch out a little bit.

[Becca Freeman]

Are you an aisle wanderer? Do you get up and, like, walk during flights? Oh, okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

Because, you know, there's always a guy to the restroom.

[Becca Freeman]

It's usually an older man on a.

[Olivia Mentor]

Flight who's, like, doing squats. I've seen that.

[Becca Freeman]

Not doing squats, but just, like, going up and down the aisle.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. I always think, you know, who's gonna get a blood clot of the two of us? It's not gonna be him.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, it's not gonna be him. It's probably smart, but.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. No, I don't wonder. I don't. I try not. I hate using plain bathrooms, so I'm like, it's minimal. I do my little calf raises to keep the blood flowing.

[Becca Freeman]

I just. I don't think we've ever been on a plane together, so I. You know, you could have all sorts of secret plane behaviors that I don't know about.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, I need to share this. I need to share this. My cousin told me she was on a plane the other day, and the person in front of her to, like, across the aisle had taken off her shoes and then put her bare feet in. In the little container where the magazines go.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh.

[Olivia Mentor]

Like, what is wrong with people?

[Becca Freeman]

Feels very unsanitary, but also not in any way comfortable.

[Olivia Mentor]

No, in no way comfortable.

[Becca Freeman]

What are you getting out of that?

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't know. I don't know. It haunts me. Actually, you know what? I think it was next to her because she told me that they. She handed her, like, all the pamphlets, you know, and, like, put them in her little container because. So. So disturbing.

[Becca Freeman]

Who.

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm not doing that. Just rest assured, it's a menace. I hope we get one person that was like, oh, my God. I've seen them. I've. I've experienced this, too. Wow. Oh, man. We know this next one. Airport Restaurant.

[Becca Freeman]

I was like, thank you for putting this category in so I can speak my truth of the sheer joy of an airport Chili's. It is superior to a Chili's in another situation, even though the food is usually inferior at an airport Chili's. But it is just so lovely to be able to get some chips and watery salsa before your flight.

[Olivia Mentor]

I agree with you.

[Becca Freeman]

I love it sometimes, especially, like, I know there's a Chili's in the Vegas airport, and, like, if you're coming back from Vegas a little hungover, oh, my God. You know what's gonna help that? Chili's chips and salsa.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, that sounds very nice. And I'm hungry right now.

[Becca Freeman]

I've spent a lot of time in the Palm beach airport Chili's to go.

[Olivia Mentor]

A lot of time. So you have a residency.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, I mean, I've just been in that airport a lot. I would be honored if they gave me a residency.

[Olivia Mentor]

I hope they could be like, a plaque.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't think Chili's knows who I am. What about you?

[Olivia Mentor]

I mean, Starbucks, probably. If there's any place I'm consistently going, it's probably a Starbucks.

[Becca Freeman]

How would you choose Starbucks?

[Olivia Mentor]

When Chili's exist, they don't have iced coffee. And I traditionally need coffee more in an airport than I do need chips and salsa.

[Becca Freeman]

That's where we differ.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's a me problem, to be clear. Like, you're living the better life in that scenario.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, what about a destination domestically? This is hard.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's hard. I did this, and I did not even think of my answer.

[Becca Freeman]

It's like, what's the context? You can only. I guess the context is you can only go one place for the rest of your life.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, we'll make it. You can only go one place for the rest of your life in the United States, but you can also go back to your home. This is tough for me because I feel like I have to choose where my parents live in Charleston, but if I had no obligations.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't think you do, because I think they can still travel other places. You're just in this kind of like, genie curse type situation where you can only go one place, but they're fine. They can meet you.

[Olivia Mentor]

Right. Fair.

[Becca Freeman]

I wouldn't let that. Pick your place.

[Olivia Mentor]

God, this is so hard. Do you have one?

[Becca Freeman]

I feel like I would say Palm beach. Because there is a Chili's in the airport. No, because I have my annual girls trip there and it is, like, my favorite tradition. And I just feel so happy and relaxed whenever I go there. I would be very sad to lose literally every other destination.

[Olivia Mentor]

But at least you'd have the Chili's in the airport.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, yeah. Like, I'm kind of thinking in my head as my mental workaround that I can still, like, drive or get to other places. Not on a plane. I don't think that's true. But that's just the carve out I've made for myself. Because otherwise it's so hard to pick just one place. Like, I guess if it was, I could only pick one place. That's truly the only other place I could go. I would pick. I guess I would pick Maine.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, that's a solid. That's a solid pick.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

If I'm thinking about my favorite place in the United States, I would probably choose the Outer Banks. The thing is, there's not really an airport, you know, there. So I don't. I don't want to choose like Norfolk, Virginia. That's. I mean, no offense to them, but I don't know. I don't know. I did this to myself. I'm sorry.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

I've got nothing.

[Becca Freeman]

What about saying one international destination is the only place you could go?

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay. This is easier for me. I would choose Italy because I think Italy offers countryside, seaside.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, you're not even picking a city. You're the whole country of Italy.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. I mean, once I'm there, you can't hold me back. Okay. You don't know where I'm going. There's mountains, you know, there's Venice, which is its own weird little thing. There's gray food, great wine. That's what I've got. History. Where are you going?

[Becca Freeman]

So my gut was to say London, but I think I could be just as happy picking Paris. I feel like I might go with Paris. I mean, they're both large cities, but I feel like I could get less bored going back to Paris over and over and over, and I would still be delighted. And now I'm learning French.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's true.

[Becca Freeman]

I could tell them all sorts of things about the owls.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's a good. That's a very good destination. I feel like a lot of people are in Paris right now because my feed is a lot of Paris, my Instagram feed, and I love it. I'm like, I should go. I haven't been in years. I can't now because it's only Italy.

[Becca Freeman]

But you're really stuck on these rules.

[Olivia Mentor]

It's really. It's breaking my brain. Maybe it's the heat combined with the rules. It's really making me sluggish. What about travel outfit? Do you have a go to travel outfit?

[Becca Freeman]

So this so depends on the time of year and if it's an overnight flight light or not. I feel like if I just had to pick one blanket, I would probably go with cozier sweatshirt and joggers. Like, I feel like it's put together enough that it doesn't look sloppy. My set is black. It's comfortable enough to sleep in. I do think I would pick that. I think I would regret that in the summer it would be too hot. But, you know, I think that's a good choice. I also have this pair of jeans from Frame. I don't know that I would wear them on an overnight flight, but they're like those stretchy three sizes in one jeans. So it's like, they're not leggings. Minor flare, but it's like super jegging material. So it feels like you're not really wearing jeans at all. So I wear those a ton on flights.

[Olivia Mentor]

Jeans on a plane is impressive.

[Becca Freeman]

To me, I feel like I would go with my cozy earth set, but I would just be unhappy about it in summer because it would be too hot.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, you'd roast. And the air conditioning goes out in that plane. I gotta help you. But you'd be very soft. I have a very consistent outfit. It is the Athleta no longer made Cabo linen pants. They have zip pockets, which is great because you can put stuff in them. You can like go to the bathroom, nothing's going to fall out. And then some sort of a not tight but like a compressive sort of tank top, you know, so just like kind of a smooth layer. And then over the top, a hoodie if it's cold or if it's hotter. A denim jacket or a button down. Yeah. And I really do like a socks and Birkenstocks combination at the airport.

[Becca Freeman]

Honest.

[Olivia Mentor]

I hate untying my shoes. Well, now I. We don't have to, I guess, but I hate taking off the converse at the airport. But converse if it's cold, probably.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, let's take one more quick ad break and then let's get to the end matter because I have some things to discuss with you.

[Olivia Mentor]

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. I feel very lucky to work for myself, and even when it's tough, there is no job I'd rather be doing. But that doesn't mean it isn't stressful sometimes, because it is. And I have spent many hours in therapy talking about all of my stresses and fears when it comes to being an author. And in fact, workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health. With 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress.

[Becca Freeman]

Whether you work a traditional 9 to 5 or self employed, it's hard to avoid feeling stressed out about work. Most of us don't have the option of simply checking out when it comes to work, but we can focus on wellness. When I'm feeling stressed, I make a point to take a long walk or talk to a friend. And therapy is also a great way to manage work stress.

[Olivia Mentor]

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[Becca Freeman]

All right, Olivia, what are you obsessed with?

[Olivia Mentor]

I have no obsessions.

[Becca Freeman]

What?

[Olivia Mentor]

It's been three days, and, yes, I am obsessed with many things, but. I'm sorry. Tell me yours.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. I feel like I have this whole secret side to myself. I mean, last week, it was the Margaritaville pool. Unexpected. This week, I'm really obsessed with the TV show Barbecue Brawl on Food Network. Have you ever seen it?

[Olivia Mentor]

No, but I think my dad has talked about this, maybe.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. I could talk about it with Bruce all day.

[Olivia Mentor]

He'd love to, I'm sure.

[Becca Freeman]

I was with my aunt in Maine last month, and she's, like, a huge Food Network devotee. And one night we were watching the show, and I was, like, really into it. And then a few weekends ago, I had no plans, and I was looking for something to watch, and I realized that it's on hbo Max to stream. And I have gotten so into it. It's like three different chefs, and they each have teams. They compete against each other, and, you know, they're making barbecue things. I don't even care about barbecue, really, as a food group, but I'm so invested in this show.

[Olivia Mentor]

It sounds great. I think I understand. I understand the process of getting into a Food Network show and just falling deep, deep in passionate obsession with it. I've been there. I'm glad you discovered this. It's great for, like, a hot. Actually, no. I don't know if it is really the best for hot weather to watch people just sweating over.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, that doesn't bother me.

[Olivia Mentor]

Brisket.

[Becca Freeman]

But it's them sweating, not me.

[Olivia Mentor]

Right. All right, well, fun.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

What have you read?

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, I read two things, and I don't super recommend either, but I want to talk about them. So the first thing I read is this book called Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert. And the subtitle of the book is How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves. Have you read this or seen this? I feel like this is very aligned to your interests.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes, I have it. It is sitting on my bedside table. I have not started it.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. So I listened to it on audio, and I partially enjoyed it. So I think that I especially enjoyed the parts having to do with the 90s and very early 2000s, and it was very interesting to recontextualize things that I was too young to think critically about, like, for instance, like the rise of the Spice Girls. Or kind of the decline of the 80s supermodels and being replaced with these, like, frailer teen models. Like, these are things that I didn't have any critical thoughts on because I was living through them and I was like 10. So I thought those parts were really interesting. It focused a lot more on porn than I would have expected. But I do think that that was interesting. Here's the thing. I don't think I disagreed with her theses or her analysis at any point. It was just like, at some point this book was so negative. And I have a really hard time with this brand of nonfiction that it's like, all problems, no solutions. And it's like everyone is part of the problem. It's like Lena Dunham's part of the problem. Phoebe Waller Bridge is part of the problem. Britney Spears is part of the problem. It's like literally everyone. And the author does recognize that they're also victims of, you know, a patriarchal and capitalist society. But it was just like, there was not one positive piece in it of like. But also on the flip side, this other thing was positive for feminism. And it's like, I just, I fundamentally refuse to believe that absolutely everything has been negative, even if overall the steer is like net negative.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I've read a lot of very positive reviews of this book, which is why I bought it. But I also did read something where they said, like, okay, well, it would have been nice if some hope was offered. Yes, what do we do with this? How do we change this? How do we course correct the similar problems that are happening now? So it sounds like you were kind of aligned with that take.

[Becca Freeman]

I was. And again, I thought it was interesting and I don't think her points were wrong. It was just like one side of an argument. I feel like the other side wasn't represented. And then like, there was no future looking of like, here's what we could do.

[Olivia Mentor]

Right.

[Becca Freeman]

I kind of soured on it as I went. And then I read one of the books that I said I was going to read in our backlist episode on my reading list for the year. I read Happy all the Time by Lori Colwyn, which is, I think we would call it a rom com from 1978. It took me a while to read this. I've probably had been reading it for like three weeks. I netted out fairly neutral on it, like a 3ish stars. But I'm not upset that I read it because it was so fascinating to read what is almost a 50 year old Rom com and see how Different. It was. And also see how, like, writing styles have changed. And I found that part fascinating. Like, okay, so first of all, it's written by a female author. It tells the story of the love lives of these two pretty affluent male cousins over the course of, I don't know, maybe like five or eight years. And it was really fascinating because it definitely centered the men more. You did go into the women's point of views sometimes, but it was much more about the men. And it also felt like the women, like, you didn't really understand their motivations or why they were doing anything that they were doing. Like, they just kind of, like felt like arbitrary creatures that the men were confounded by, which was very different than how rom coms work today. There was also so much telling versus showing. Like, I cannot imagine any modern author getting away with that much telling. It worked really well. And the book is only like 200 pages, so it probably shortened a lot of things that in a modern book you would need to see in Scene. I thought that was really interesting. It was sort of plotless. Like, there were not really stakes to it. Like, the whole premise of the book was like, everyone worrying if they were too happy, which I'm like, wow, I can't really imagine a modern book dealing with that.

[Olivia Mentor]

And now we're like, is the world ending?

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah. So it was like, are we too happy? Which is kind of low stakes. You're like, well, if you are, you'll also be fine.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. Like you'll survive that. I think so.

[Becca Freeman]

It was really interesting. I read it because Laurie Colwyn is Ellen Hildebrand's favorite author. I don't know if this was the right one to pick. So Laurie Colwyn wrote both novels and then she also wrote these memoirs in recipe books. And I feel like maybe she might be more known for the latter, so maybe I should have read one of those. I think Home Cooking is probably her most well known book, which is on the memoir side, so we'll see. I don't regret it. I do think it was really interesting just from the author part of my brain to think about it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Could you see influence? Like when you read. Were you thinking about Ellen Hildebrand's work at all?

[Becca Freeman]

No, not really.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, it sounds like you're glad you read it, so.

[Becca Freeman]

I am. Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's good.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah. What about you? What have you been reading?

[Olivia Mentor]

I've been reading a lot, but I haven't finished anything.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

So.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, you know what else I'm reading? Haven't finished it yet, but I'M reading this month's book club pick, which is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. And this is an epic love story set against the backdrop of the 1980s space program. And I can definitely see what she meant. In the Time magazine article that we discussed a couple of months ago, there was this quote in there where she said the inspiration for this book was her thinking what is my Titanic? And being about 25% into the book, I'm like, yes, I understand why that was the inspiration here. So very big dramatic story. I'm excited to discuss it next week with everyone and in the meantime, if you would like more of us, you can join our Facebook group under batonpaper podcast. Join our Geneva group which is like a chat room app. Batonpaper podcast. We're on Instagram atonpaperpodcast and I am on Instagram ecamfreeman and my newsletter [e-mail].

[Olivia Mentor]

And I am all the places at.

[Becca Freeman]

Olivia Mentor and we will see you next week. Bye Bye.