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.