EP8 - Deep Breath, Deep Breath

Summary

Podcast Summary: BETH'S DEAD – EP8: "Deep Breath, Deep Breath"

Hosts: Monica Padman, Elizabeth Laime, Andy Rosen
Release Date: December 11, 2025

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Overview

In this intense and pivotal episode, Monica, Elizabeth, and Andy finally connect with the mysterious "professor"—the individual at the heart of their catfishing true crime mystery. As they receive and respond to his emails in real time, the hosts weigh the ethics, strategy, and emotions behind confronting someone who upended their lives and podcasting careers. The episode peels back layers of planning, anticipation, and vulnerability as they prepare to face their past and demand answers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Real-Time Response: The Professor Writes Back

• Setting: The team receives an email reply from the professor during a routine Zoom meeting.
• Anticipation: Each host predicts how the professor will respond—ranging from total dismissal to a willingness to talk.
• Response Content: The professor writes:

  "I'm really reluctant to relive the darkest period of my life, so I'm begging you to not use any information that might lead to me being identified and my family being publicly humiliated. I can be available when you want." (Elizabeth reads at [03:00])

• Interpretation:
  • Monica feels sad, sensing authenticity.
  • Andy sees it as manipulative.
  • Elizabeth is skeptical but surprised at the openness.

2. Planning Next Steps: Ethics, Compassion, and Tactics

• Balancing Intentions:
  • Monica insists on respect and compassion, given their roles as both journalists and victims:

    "Victims get to handle what happened to them however they want." ([06:21], Monica)

  • Andy wants to be assertive and not let the professor control the narrative.
  • Elizabeth is cautious not to alienate him or lose their chance for a real conversation.
• Anonymity & Logistics:
  • The team agrees to protect the professor's identity, change his voice, and avoid naming him publicly.
  • Debate over whether to mention recording the conversation, with consensus to wait until establishing rapport on Zoom.

3. Urgency & Strategy: Striking While the Iron is Hot

• Immediacy:
  • Elizabeth argues for a same-day Zoom:

    "You don't want to give them time to think." ([11:06], Elizabeth)

  • Monica and Andy hesitate, wanting time to prepare but ultimately agree to move quickly.

4. Question Preparation: What Do They Need to Know?

• Areas of Focus:
  • Motive: "What were you getting out of this?" ([14:04], Monica)
  • Specific incidents: The large donation, manipulative tactics, possible use of multiple personas, whether other victims exist.
  • Psychological impact: "Does he ever feel guilt or remorse?"
  • Direct confrontation: What would he have said if Elizabeth had called the number? Has he done this before or to others?
  • Narrative control: Ensuring the story is told from their perspective, not to humiliate, but to gain insight.

5. Technical & Emotional Logistics

• Zoom Details:
  • The professor expresses concern about his WiFi, possibly as an excuse to avoid video confirmation.
  • The hosts insist a face-to-face is crucial to verify identity and set the tone for honesty.
• Elizabeth’s Involvement:
  • She considers joining the Zoom audio-only, weighing her comfort and the impact on the professor.

6. Vulnerability & The Stakes

• Raw Nerves:
  • The hosts openly share anxiety, doubt, and anticipation before the climactic call:

    "I'm so nervous." ([25:03], Monica)
    "If we're nervous, think about how he must be feeling." ([25:06], Elizabeth)

• Practical Humor:
  • Jokes about appearing like they're in "witness protection," or getting a heart attack from nerves, provide levity in a tense moment.

7. Immediate Developments: The Showdown Arrives

• Live Coordination:
  • The team scrambles to finalize questions, confirm logistics, and prepare for any surprise the professor might spring, including wild theories on his true identity.
  • As the scheduled call approaches, they commit:

    "Deep breath. Deep breath." ([28:39], Monica)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Manipulation vs. Vulnerability:

  "Oh, it feels so manipulative to me." ([03:59], Andy)
  "I'm not buying this." ([04:03], Elizabeth)
  "This email makes me very sad." ([03:43], Monica)

• On Intentions and Boundaries:

  "Our intention is to tell our story how we experienced it. It's not to humiliate anyone." ([05:24], Elizabeth)

• On Verification:

  "I would even be like, no, we really need the Zoom so we can visually confirm it's who we think it is. I'm not trusting a phone call." ([07:46], Elizabeth)

• On Getting Real Answers:

  "You're gonna get answers. Like, real answers. This person is not pretending he didn't do anything." ([05:41], Monica)

• On the Stakes:

  "This is, oh my God. It's also happening so fast." ([17:02], Monica)
  "If we're nervous, think about how he must be feeling." ([25:06], Elizabeth)

• On Emotional Weight:

  "He was so, so specifically, like, manipulative of me and my feelings during such a tender time in my life... All the sexual stuff, all the flattery, the dancing, the weight stuff. Like, it's all custom tailor made." ([18:22], Elizabeth)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:22 – Show begins, recaps prior episode, professor's initial email arrives
• 03:00 – Elizabeth reads the professor's first reply
• 04:00–06:30 – Hosts debate tone and ethics of their reply
• 10:12–13:00 – Plan for Zoom logistics, anonymity, audio, and how to approach the call
• 14:00–16:00 – Writing out top questions, with input from all hosts
• 16:03 – The professor replies quickly to the meeting request
• 18:00–21:00 – Elizabeth discusses whether to join the Zoom and how to manage her participation
• 25:00–29:00 – Final emotional prep, jokes, and the literal countdown to the crucial Zoom

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Conclusion

Episode 8, "Deep Breath, Deep Breath," functions as the dramatic crescendo of the BETH’S DEAD podcast thus far. The hosts' real-time strategizing, ethical wrestling, and emotional transparency are at the forefront. They prepare themselves—and the audience—for a confrontation years in the making, with the promise of long-awaited answers just seconds away. The tension is palpable, the stakes are personal, and Monica, Andy, and Elizabeth’s candor sets the stage for a moment that could finally provide closure—or open up new wounds.

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Transcript

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[D]

Welcome back to BETH'S DEAD Episode 8. I'm Monica Padman, and if you've been following along with us, at the end of the last episode, episode seven, we sent an email to the professor hoping to make contact, and we just hopped on to record because the three of us were just on a just standard logistical meeting about the show. And we got an email back. It says, what is this regarding? We sent one back to that, and we did say this is regarding a catfishing podcast. We'd really like to speak with you. Let us know.

[E]

And so we just got a response to that email literally while we were all meeting on Zoom about everything else, and it's just sitting there in our inbox.

[C]

Ready?

[E]

What do we all think? I think he's gonna say, I have no idea what you're talking about. I. I'm fine, thank you.

[D]

I. Yeah, I think he's gonna say, I'm. I'm not interested in participating.

[C]

I disagree. I think it will be weird, but I think it will be a slightly door, a jar for us to explore more with this person. That's my guess. All right, you guys ready?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Opening up the Google account.

[D]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Here we go. Who wants to read it?

[D]

Oh, my God. Eliz. Elizabeth.

[E]

Okay. It says okay. That's what I thought. I'm really reluctant to relive the darkest period of my life, so. So I'm begging you to not use any information that might lead to me being identified and my family being publicly humiliated. I can be available when you want. Oh, my God.

[C]

Door ajar.

[E]

You nailed it.

[D]

Door ajar. Door blasted wide open. Oh, my God.

[E]

I am. I don't know that I've ever been so nervous.

[D]

Yeah, I feel. I feel you guys. I feel. I'm. This is. I'm stressed out. I'm stressed out. I'm stressed out. I'm. Look, I have to be. I have to be me here. This email makes me very sad.

[C]

Oh, it feels so manipulative to me.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Wow.

[E]

I'm not buying this.

[C]

Okay, wait.

[D]

Okay.

[E]

Can we not. Can we stop sharing this screen? Because I want to see Monica as we, like, discuss moves.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

I think our response has to be kind and calculated.

[C]

Totally agreed. And also kind of forthright. I think it would be like, we understand.

[E]

We understand.

[C]

We understand. And we address his concerns and we say, you know, in an. In an ideal world, we would love to set up a zoom with myself and one of the producers from Armchair. Or however you want to say. Like, it would be me and Monica from Armchair Expert. We are definitely open to keeping your identity.

[D]

We're definitely working. Open to working with you to.

[C]

On anonymity.

[D]

Or maybe we're. I mean, I don't know how nice you want to be, but, like, making this easiest for you, like, I think we really have to fawn a little bit here.

[E]

Yeah. I think it's like, our intention is not to humiliate anyone.

[D]

That is not my intention, actually, at all.

[C]

We're not naming him, but it will be humiliating to him hearing the show. But we're not publicly humiliated.

[E]

But that's not our intention. Our intention is to tell. I think we could say this. Our intention is to tell our story how we experienced it. It's not to humiliate anyone. We would really love to hear from you about how you experience this.

[D]

You guys. You guys, you're going to get answers. Like, real answers. This person is not pretending he didn't do anything.

[C]

And, well, I don't think he can. I do. I love.

[E]

Yeah, he's not. He's copping to it.

[C]

I just. I want. I mean, I love that you're here with us for this, Monica, because I do think that my radar's up so high of, like, he's this is so manipulative where you're like, it's not. So I think it's good that we're going to have like both perspectives. But I'm already worried I'm not going to believe a word that comes out of this man's mouth. Do you know what I mean?

[E]

But you can't show that while you're talking to him. You have to play the role of the like understanding you.

[D]

Well, you do and you don't. Look, that is why we're both there. This happened to you two. It did not happen to me. So I do have the ability to be removed and potentially offer some compassion in a way that maybe you like just can't. And also that's fine if you can't like, you know, victims get to handle what happened to them however they want. So I think the response is, we understand. We appreciate your willingness.

[E]

Here's what I, I think it should be. Let me just jot this down. I won't even do it in the reply yet because that scares me. I'm just composing new thing.

[C]

Okay, well, there's another message.

[E]

Oh, oh, wait, no, that's just from. That's the original thing that came in.

[C]

Okay. I mean it wouldn't be out of character. That's why.

[E]

So say we understand our intention is only to tell our experience of this story. It's not to humiliate anyone. We appreciate you talking to us. It will be myself, Andy and our producer from Armchair. We would like to set up a zoom.

[D]

And a zoom is just a lot to add. Like I think I would even be.

[E]

Like, no, we really need the zoom so we can visually confirm is who we think it is. Like, I'm not trusting a phone call.

[D]

Well, maybe we could say, can we set up a zoom? We won't use any video. We just would like to see you. Or we'd like to have a face to face interaction.

[C]

Oh, you mean like we won't use the video of him later?

[D]

Exactly.

[C]

Gotcha, gotcha.

[E]

We won't use any video and any audio would remain anonymous. That's a tricky.

[D]

He's gonna be weirded out about a recording. I mean, it seems like he wants to make his piece right now, which is.

[C]

No, it doesn't.

[E]

I don't think so.

[C]

I think we have the upper hand here too though. I actually we say ideally, we would like to zoom with you. We will be recording the audio with your permission.

[D]

I don't think we say record. We just say we'd like. We'd like to zoom so we can have. So we can be face to face.

[C]

And then are we.

[D]

Then we have to decide from there what we feel is ethical because I don't know what that's going to happen in that conversation. And I don't know if it's just a retelling for us or if we do want to use the audio.

[C]

That's why I'm saying we say what we want. Like we would like to record the audio for the show. And then if he pushes back, then we might have to pivot.

[E]

I think it gives him too much of a reason to shut the door.

[D]

But if I kind of do too, because he's already asking in this email. He's already saying he's begging us. Yes, I'm happy he is. He's like, I will chat with you basically, like to end this. And the thing I'm asking is, please don't. Don't do what we're about to ask him to do. I mean, unless we changed, morphed his.

[C]

Voice, that's super easy to do. That's not a problem.

[D]

Okay.

[E]

All right, so maybe what we do here is don't mention the recording. See if he'll get on Zoom. You guys are gonna get on Zoom with him and see in the first second who it is. And then you can say, we really appreciate you doing this. We completely understand your concerns. By that point, I think it's fair to say we wanna ask you if you're okay with us just recording this audio and we are happy to change your voice to keep it anonymous. So I think that's the move.

[D]

Yeah. Like once we see him.

[C]

And then navigate that in real time.

[D]

Yeah, yeah.

[E]

And if he's like, no, no way. It's like, okay, we tried. But the most important thing I do think out of all of this is verifying who this is.

[D]

Exactly. I agree. And asking them the questions. This is like, I can't believe that there's going to be real answers. Like, that's. I was not really expecting that.

[E]

I wasn't either. I thought it was going to be, no way, you guys, we need to do this quickly. And I think we need to say to him, do any of these times work? Like we need to. Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Let's be like, very pro.

[D]

I mean, should we offer tomorrow when we were supposed to record?

[E]

We can do that. I almost feel like, can we do today?

[C]

I think we need more time to.

[D]

I think we might need to sit.

[C]

With this for a day and we need to decide. We need to have a list of Questions that we're going to ask.

[E]

I know, but I'm like, can you do 2pm our time today? Because you don't want to give them time to think.

[C]

That's true. Is there one window that we could do today?

[D]

I. I could. I have an appointment at 1:30, but I could do 2:30 or 3. 3. Do it, guys. It feels crazy to do it today.

[E]

It's not. We're in it. It's not crazy. And I have. I have the questions. Like, I can jot them down in the next five minutes to have a jumping off point. Okay, Are you available to Zoom today at 3:00pm PST? Thank you. Andy. How do we feel?

[D]

Okay. I feel good. The only other thing I would throw in that maybe we could say to get him off his defenses would be our intention is to tell our story and speak to parasocial relationships. Like maybe make it something that seems a little intellectual so he doesn't think this is just about him. It's kind of like we're doing like a thing on.

[C]

Oh, that's sort of interesting.

[D]

Parasocial relationships. And. Yeah, so it's a little less about.

[E]

Like, tell her story and the dynamic of parasocial.

[D]

Largely to parasocial relations.

[E]

I like that. Largely to parasocial relationships. Okay, guys, we completely understand our intention is only to tell our story and speak largely to parasocial relationships is not to humiliate anyone. And we appreciate you talking to us. It will be myself and our producer, Monica from Armchair. Are you. This is good. Are you available to Video Zoom today at 3:00pm PST? Thank you, Andy.

[D]

Yeah, great. Oh, my gosh.

[E]

Okay, I'm sending it, guys.

[C]

Okay, I think we need to go over questions right now then, if that's good with you guys.

[D]

Yeah, absolutely.

[C]

High on my list is some way of asking him about the thousand dollar donation. And so I would love to craft a question that we figure out the best way to ask him about that.

[D]

And what do you want to know about it?

[C]

Just kind of like, you know, one thing that we've been scratching our heads about revisiting this is the large donation that you made to us. And I mean, maybe this is as simple as that. Was wondering if you could speak to that at all. Was that calculated in any way? We've just never really been able to understand that aspect of this whole.

[E]

Yeah, I want to know was it a way for him to indebt me to him or the character of Beth, which I'm assuming it was. Or like, what. Where did that come from?

[C]

Maybe, like, what kind of hobbies is he into? Favorite colors.

[E]

That's hilarious.

[C]

What's, like, top of your list, Monica? Being more on the outside?

[D]

Yeah. For me, it's. What were you getting out of this? I need to know that, like, what was happening that made you keep coming back and engaging? And was it, like, you felt connected? You know, there's a. I want to know what he got.

[E]

I think that's a great question. Yesterday, listening to her web designer conversation, she goes, I think that this was his way of forcing you and Andy and all of your listeners to participate in his kink. I was like, whoa.

[C]

I don't know if he'd ever say that exactly, but that's such a good theory.

[D]

He probably wouldn't know it's his kink. I mean, that.

[E]

Well, no, I don't think he's gonna say that, but I do think y. It's an interesting angle.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Like, psychologically, my main question is.

[D]

What.

[E]

Was he going to say to me if I called that number?

[C]

That's a great one.

[D]

Yes. And also, I think it's like. And what do you wish you could say to her? Yeah, now.

[C]

Yeah, that's, I think, a great way to wrap it up.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

I want to know from the get go, was it supposed to go this way, or did it evolve over time? Did it get away from you?

[C]

Was the suicide always in the plan?

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah. I also want to know about guilt. Like, does he think about this ever? I mean it. I think he does if he thinks about it. And if he has remorse. What part. What specific part? Like, lingers? What part gives him.

[E]

He wrote back.

[C]

Oh, boy. Okay. I kind of want to see it. Do you want me to share screen, Monica?

[D]

God, he's so fast. Yeah.

[E]

I don't have reliable WI fi, so I don't know how well Zoom will work. We can try it or something else. Okay, okay. Okay, great. Let's give it a try.

[C]

I think it's just we sent him.

[D]

A link, but is he gonna use the WI fi as, Like, I can't get on video? Probably, yeah.

[C]

Oh, yeah, he is.

[E]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, fuck. If he's not on video, Motherfucker. I think we push back a little bit and say that this needs to be face to face.

[D]

It's important to us that this is.

[E]

Face to face to face. Like, we want to talk like human beings.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

And then should we just share the link?

[E]

Yeah. Okay. I think that's good. Oh, my God, this is wild. I mean, we've gotten farther than I Even thought we would.

[D]

This is nuts. This is. Oh my God. It's also happening so fast.

[E]

I know. Well, it's good though. I mean, we got jump, strike while the iron's hot. I really.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Think this is the way to do it.

[D]

So, Elizabeth, you're going to be like, you're going to not hear any of it or are you.

[E]

I'm going to not hear any of it. Which might be cool. You guys like reporting back to me.

[C]

I mean, I wonder if you're on the zoom as a camera. Off.

[D]

Yeah. Because Elizabeth, what if you get so compelled and you're like, I want to say something.

[E]

Yeah. You know what? I do want to be a fly on the wall.

[D]

I think you should be close by or on. Off camera.

[E]

Yeah. And also that way I can text you things if I have questions that come up as it goes. Not that you need to be beholden to that, but you'll text.

[D]

But I think you need to experience this. Like you were the largest victim in this whole thing. And so.

[E]

And you know what? Maybe I will pop on. I'll text you guys if I'm like going to. I'm not just gonna like, hey.

[C]

But I don't. I think we need to decide. I think that because we didn't give.

[E]

Him a heads up either.

[C]

I don't know why that feels weird to me.

[E]

Okay.

[D]

In some ways it's like you want him to see the face of the person he's been doing this to.

[E]

Yeah. And he was so, so specifically, like manipulative of me and my feelings during such a tender time in my life.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

You know, like the mother. The mother dying. All the sexual stuff, all the flattery, the dancing, the weight stuff. Like it's all.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Custom tailor made.

[D]

Personally, I think it will be a game time decision. Like I don't think you can right now make it decide, actually. And I, you'll know.

[E]

By the way, another thing, I mean, this is more for the conversation afterwards, but just because he says it doesn't mean that's what it is. For example, him being like, it's the hardest, darkest time of my life.

[D]

I just also, I do know a lot of people who've done really bad shit in the darkest moments of their life. And that is the. Whether it's manipulative or not. Maybe we'll find out, maybe we won't. But that is also an option. Like it is. I mean, I don't know. I know he's obviously, he's not a well person. The way he behaves in life is not normal. Even still.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

None of us thought this was how today was.

[C]

No.

[D]

No, we did not.

[E]

Okay, so what am I saying? Okay, he said, I don't have reliable WI fi, so I don't know how well Zoom will work. We can try it or something else. We'll say, okay, it's important to us that this is a face is face to face. Let's give it a try. We won't record the Zoom video.

[D]

Here's the link.

[E]

Here's the link. Great. And then see you at 3 PST.

[D]

Thank you. Have you said love you?

[E]

Thank you. Exclamation point. Are you okay with that?

[C]

Oh, no, thank you. Yeah, we don't need the exclamation point for him.

[E]

Okay. Am I doing it?

[C]

Fuck, yeah.

[D]

Yes.

[E]

Barf.

[C]

And then, Monica, I'll record.

[E]

I'm so glad you're in this with us, Monica. I don't think we would. Yeah, you're like, me too, but you're like our rock emotionally through this.

[C]

We'll get on at like, 2:30, Monica.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Because I want to make sure my system's set up to record his audio coming in.

[D]

But this. But then should I still record here?

[E]

He wrote back. Okay, let's try it. See you at 3 PST. Hopefully.

[C]

Of course. Hopefully.

[D]

Oh, boy.

[E]

I think this needs to feel as, like, not intimidating as possible. And honestly, I know it's our one shot, but, like, let's really go through all the questions and it is what it is. The main thing is to find out who is this, why they did this, and what they were getting out of it. You know, like. And if all of. All of the questions I have ever had aren't answered, that's okay.

[C]

Okay, so let's walk through our prep.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Number one, we get on. Monica, how are we addressing, like, thank you so much for doing this right off the gate, we know this might be a little uncomfortable. We are working on a show that chronicles what happened to us and our show involving you back in 2016.

[E]

But would you be okay with us recording audio and if we were to use it, we will change your voice.

[C]

And that kind of implies we're not using his name.

[E]

Yeah, I think that, that.

[C]

What if he asks, like, are you going to name me in this?

[D]

If he says, I'm getting off unless you tell me that you're not using my name? I think, yeah, we should say we're not going to use your name. Because, look, the truth is we're not going to use his name. I don't Think.

[C]

Right.

[E]

If giving him that assurance is what gets you to be able to record or keep talking to him, then you can say, yes, we will agree not to use your name if you allow us to record this.

[C]

Yeah, I think it's smart to do that.

[D]

Yeah. I think we need to see who it is. Like, that is first and foremost. That's the big question. So we do need to find that out. And I am worried if we say we need to find another time where you have WI fi, I think that we might be closing the door. I guess that's why we decided to do it today as opposed to waiting.

[C]

I do think big advantage. The sooner we do it better. Right? So part of me thinks we do play the card of, if he can't get his camera on, we need to see you so we can confirm your identity. And if he's like, I can't do that. I think we can be like, Then, to be honest, we can't promise we're not gonna use your name in this piece. Then I think we can say something like that. We do have the upper hand for him to. I don't think he would risk us using his name in the piece.

[E]

I think that you guys will figure it out.

[D]

Like, I kind of do too. And I think I don't want to get too heady.

[C]

I know. I'm just. I'm just worried that I'm going to get too aggro, and then you guys will be upset with me after the fact, like, you blew it. Because my instinct is not just to be an asshole. It's more like I feel like we do have the upper hand, that I feel like it's within our grasp to get what we want. That's why my instinct's like, well, if you don't do this, then. Sorry, the jig is up. Sort of.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Holding his feet to the flame, he might just be like, actually, let's just do this.

[D]

Exactly. We'll see how it goes.

[C]

Okay. Do we have all of our questions? I'm so nervous.

[E]

Did you guys both get the Google Doc?

[C]

Where'd you send it to?

[E]

I put the link in our text.

[C]

I don't see anything.

[E]

I sent it to him.

[C]

You sent the questions to him?

[D]

No, you did not. Oh, my God.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[D]

Oh, my God. I mean, look, I think that we're gonna get what we can get, and.

[E]

And, yeah, take the pressure off yourselves. You're prepared.

[D]

Yeah, I think it's.

[E]

It's gonna be great.

[D]

Okay. So we are back from our little lunch break and we are on our computers. We are about to call the professor. How's everyone feeling? I'm so nervous.

[E]

I said to Andy, I was like, if we're nervous, think about how he must be feeling.

[D]

Like, I know. I'm sure he's. You're right.

[C]

We curious to ask him if there were more characters than Beth. Sasha, you have that.

[E]

Oh.

[D]

Oh. I want to ask. Were there more people? Has he done this to more people?

[C]

Yeah. Oh, I definitely am curious about that. Yeah. And how do we navigate bringing you on? Elizabeth, how are you going to let us know if you want to come on or not?

[E]

I think I'll text you guys. And I think you should just say to him, like, hey, I know we told you it's just gonna be us, but Elizabeth actually has a few questions she feels comfortable asking. Like, would you be okay with that? I guess.

[D]

Do we need to even ask him? Like, there's a part of me that's like, Elizabeth is. Wasn't gonna be a part of this because Felt like it was a lot for her. But she's here and does have some questions.

[E]

Yeah. Okay.

[D]

I don't think we need to ask him for permission.

[E]

Permission for me to. Yeah.

[D]

Yeah, exactly.

[C]

But it is later in if Elizabeth wants to chat. Right. It's not like, you don't have to say that at the top of the thing, like, just. Right. So he is under the assumption that.

[E]

Real bad, bad feelings. I think I will do this. So I'll just let you know when it seems like things are kind of in a place where it would make sense.

[D]

I'll.

[E]

I'm going to take Andy's iPad outside.

[D]

Okay.

[E]

Log in from his account so it's like a new person coming in. And I'll just do audio.

[D]

Okay.

[E]

We got this, team.

[D]

This has been a long time coming.

[E]

Yeah. How crazy.

[D]

Everyone get your. Your faces ready.

[C]

I do a spit take when the camera comes on.

[D]

You know, I just. Like, when I was in our little break, I was like, what if it's the wife?

[C]

Oh, my God. If it's the wife, we gotta be cool.

[D]

Can you imagine?

[C]

It's my buddy Josh.

[E]

After all. Oh, God.

[D]

Elizabeth, you look like you're in witness protection.

[E]

I look what?

[D]

You look like you're in witness protection. Your background.

[E]

I did it on purpose because, like, the way it was set up, there are pictures of our kids there, and it's just smart. On the off chance that there's an earthquake and I press the video button.

[D]

No, it is mine.

[E]

Okay. I feel like maybe I should get off.

[D]

I feel like we're, like, waiting for the New Year's ball to drop.

[C]

Yeah, well, I don't know if that's the analogy for me. I'm. I don't feel this nervous for that.

[D]

Okay, fine. The New Year's ball drop in in 1999.

[C]

There you go. Y2K. Yeah. Y2K situation. Make sure your camera's off, Elizabeth, when you pop in like that again next time.

[D]

What if I have a heart attack because my cholesterol? That'd be a twist, too.

[C]

All right, we're almost at showtime. If he shows up on time, make sure to text us. Elizabeth. We'll see him.

[D]

Okay, deep breath. Deep breath.

[E]

Hey, can you see me? Now.

[D]

We'Re gonna be honest. We weren't expecting to see you.

[C]

If you don't want to wait for more Beth's Dead, you can binge the entire series today at patreon.com bethsdead where all 10 episodes are available ad free right now. Beth's Dead is presented by armchair experts Monica Padman. And no. Everybody's listening, Right? It is produced and edited by Andy Rosen, Elizabeth Lame, and Monica Padman. Additional engineering by Rob Hollis. Music and sound by Andy Rosenberg.