child star to nursing | jennifer stone

Summary

CHEERS! with Avery Woods
Episode: "child star to nursing | jennifer stone"
Date: August 10, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, host Avery Woods sits down with Jennifer Stone—best known as Harper from Disney Channel’s "Wizards of Waverly Place"—who now also works as a registered ER nurse. Together, they share wine, laughter, and vulnerable stories, exploring Jennifer’s unique journey from child stardom to the frontlines of healthcare. The conversation weaves through nostalgia, real struggles in the entertainment and nursing worlds, the impact of social media, and what it means to find passion and purpose in seemingly opposite careers.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Breaking the Ice: Feet Finder Funnies

• [02:39–04:16] Avery and Jennifer start by joking about their “feet scores” online, discovering old photos and poking fun at internet oddities.
• Jennifer jokes about a retirement plan called “Nurse Feet” for her coworkers—photos of nurses’ feet in medical scenarios:

  "We hit two different fetishes, Right?...Our faces don't have to be in it. We can write off pedicures...just put our feet in different nursing scenarios."
  — Jennifer Stone, [04:20]

---

Jennifer’s Unusual Path: From Disney to the ER

• [05:19–06:55] Jennifer reflects on her life’s “twists and turns," saying she no longer makes strict five- or ten-year plans:

  "People ask me about a five or ten year plan and I don't have them anymore. I have goals, but...because my life has taken so many, like, twists and turns, I don't go, okay, well, in five years this is going to happen."
  — Jennifer Stone, [05:32]

Early Passion for Acting

• Jennifer discovered acting in Texas at age 6, went professional at 9, and landed "Wizards" at 13/14—driven by her own passion, not her parents.
• She draws parallels between acting and nursing, both rooted in a fascination for people and their stories.

Life as a Disney Star

• Jennifer likens the Disney set to a “high school on steroids”

  "It was like Disney High...all the high school stuff that would normally happen, happened in that environment. But you also have access to things you wouldn't normally have at sixteen."
  — Jennifer Stone, [07:30]

• Her family kept her grounded; her parents insisted on “normal” jobs, even during “Wizards,” like working as a mall elf.

• She speaks candidly about seeing other child stars struggle:

  "...there's so many sob stories with kid actors, and I just—I got really lucky. My parents...they just saw how passionate I was..."
  — Jennifer Stone, [08:05]

Staying Humble: Nursing & Perspective

• Jennifer’s transition into nursing was deeply informed by her own diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes at 20, which fundamentally changed her perspective.
• She describes the sharp contrast between fame ("Wizards" premieres) and the grounding reality of ER work:

  "I was like, trying to post, and my hospital has terrible wifi...and then literally coming in and, like, wiping ass. Nothing keeps you more humble."
  — Jennifer Stone, [09:14]

---

Finding Meaning in Nursing—and Its Challenges

How Diabetes Inspired Her Nursing Career

• Jennifer explains wanting to become a diabetes educator due to lack of empathy from some professionals, aiming to support patients as someone who truly understands.

Nursing School, Sexism, and Profession Recognition

• Discussion of how nursing was ranked the hardest college major ([23:48]):

  "Nursing is number one. But we're not a profession, though. That's crazy."
  — Avery Woods, [23:50]

• They lament ongoing sexism in healthcare:

  "There's a lot of sexism in nursing...the amount of times I still have patients where I walk in the room and I'll be training a newer nurse that's a guy—they'll always assume he's the doctor."
  — Jennifer Stone, [24:01]

Choosing the ER Specialty

• Jennifer thrives in chaos and variety, preferring ER over ICU and psych:

  "...My coworkers joke...you went from one masochistic profession to another. People see ER nurse and actor, and like, that bitch is crazy."
  — Jennifer Stone, [26:08]

Realities and Trauma of Frontline Nursing

• Jennifer and Avery discuss the emotional toll of ER work, especially during the pandemic, the necessity of selective empathy, and both share stories about the physical and mental demands:

  "You are not a limitless resource...you have to reserve [empathy] for specific cases because you can’t do it for everyone."
  — Jennifer Stone, [29:01]

• The inescapable exhaustion—delaying basic needs, like using the restroom on shift, and how “free pizza” at work always signals something bad ([34:45]).

Systemic Challenges in Healthcare

• Both express frustration with the U.S. healthcare system—insurance barriers, costs for diabetic supplies, systemic failures during COVID-19:

  "...patients I've had that are turning 26 or they lost their job and they come in DKA because they can't get their insulin. And it's insane to me..."
  — Jennifer Stone, [22:57]

---

Candid Conversations about Body Image, Social Media, and Identity

Body Image and the Entertainment Industry

• Jennifer candidly discusses gaining weight with diabetes, fatphobia in Hollywood, and the lack of positive representation:

  “I was getting parts that were like, 'she looks like a bag of mashed potatoes,' and the scenes were like, 'I'll never know what love is.'...I was like, this is not good for my psyche.”
  — Jennifer Stone, [18:24]

• Growing up in the 2010s Disney era, she describes feeling “2010's fat,” the challenges of costumes, and coping mechanisms.

Impact of Social Media—Then vs. Now

• Social media’s rise during "Wizards" increased scrutiny and cruel commentary:

  "At 15 years old, got a ton of 'you're fat, go kill yourself.' How does...As a 15 year old...you just don't have the skills..."
  — Jennifer Stone, [41:49]

• Jennifer values getting to play Harper—a role that made audiences “feel okay to be themselves":

  "She was the character I needed at the time...I'm incredibly protective and grateful for that character..."
  — Jennifer Stone, [41:49]

---

Disney Channel Nostalgia: Stories You’ve Never Heard

Behind the Disney Channel Games

• Reveals what it was like—Disney “high school,” crushes, international teens, and the infamous color-coded costumes:

  “We shot the [games] during the day...got to go to Disney World during the day with a guide, like front of the line stuff...then hang out in the hot tub with whatever foreign person you thought was cute."
  — Jennifer Stone, [38:24]

The Mickey Ears Wand IDs

• Jennifer describes the technical and silly process—all shot in one exhausting day, following PVC pipe templates, getting the “scraps” of creative ideas by going last:

  “I think I did, like, air drums or something...It makes zero sense.”
  — Jennifer Stone, [46:22]

Iconic Harper Fashion

• Jennifer kept several iconic Harper pieces, thanks to a costume designer who told her, “‘You can have whatever you want. Just fill your car up.’” ([48:00])
• Recalls her wildest costumes—cactus suit with a “nubbin,” the infamous beef jerky jacket, and fruit rollup dress:

  “I smelled like a dead carcass. It was so gross.”
  — Jennifer Stone, [53:11]

Favorite Guest Stars

• Rachel Dratch (“SNL”) playing older Harper was a highlight; Jennifer was “geeked out” and learned from comedy icons who guested on Wizards ([53:45]).

---

Wizards and Beyond: Returning to the World of Disney

Details on the "Wizards Beyond" Spinoff

• The show centers on Justin Russo (David Henrie) and family, with original cast crossovers, and original show themes: loyalty, family, and second chances.
• Jennifer and Selena Gomez slipped easily back into their “two-hander” dynamic.
• The return was “incredibly healing”:

  "It was wonderfully weird...It was incredibly healing to play this character that meant so much to me and see how much I had stepped into my own."
  — Jennifer Stone, [58:17]

Balancing Acting and Nursing

• Jennifer sometimes had to call off work last minute to film, noting the unpredictability of both careers ([57:56]).

---

Memorable Quotes & Lighter Moments

On Nursing

• “Nothing keeps you more humble...I still wipe ass. And nobody's above that.” —Jennifer Stone, [09:14]
• “Nurses don't want pizza parties. They want money.” —Avery Woods, [34:43]
• “You know you’re getting screwed when you’re getting pizza.” —Jennifer Stone, [34:46]

On Hollywood & Social Media

• “The moment you start to believe the good stuff, then the bad stuff is real too.” —Jennifer Stone, [43:39]

On Pure Disney Nostalgia

• “Was it hard to do the Mickey Ears? ...They would rotate us around...you'd go to the Mickey Ears station and it was PVC pipes...” —Jennifer Stone, [45:46]
• “I kept so much. I don't think I was supposed to...I have the rubber ducky dress. I have the Marker dress.” —Jennifer Stone, [48:00]

---

Timestamps of Notable Segments

• Feet Finder & Nurse Feet Retirement Plan: [02:39–04:53]
• Jennifer’s Acting and Nursing Origins: [06:08–08:41]
• Staying Grounded & Realities of Fame: [08:42–09:49]
• Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis and Its Impact: [18:24–20:14]
• Healthcare System, Insurance, and DKA: [21:00–23:29]
• Difficulties and Coping in Nursing: [27:41–31:11]
• Body Image, Social Media & Representation: [41:49–43:50]
• Disney Channel Games & Set Stories: [37:13–40:02]
• Mickey Wand IDs Demystified: [44:02–46:53]
• Fashion & Costume Hoarding: [47:13–48:53]
• Wizards Beyond Show Details: [55:47–58:17]
• Rapid Fire Q&A (Disney Movies, Reality TV, Food, Crushes): [59:29–66:52]

---

Memorable Rapid Fire Answers

• Favorite DCOM: "Smart House" (Jennifer), "Halloween Town" (Avery) [59:36]
• Coffee or Energy Drinks?: “Coffee. I have a two coffee shift and a three coffee shift. If it's three, we're boarding!” — Jennifer Stone, [60:10]
• Ultimate Celebrity Crush: "Sean from Boy Meets World" (Jennifer) [65:17]
• Tex Mex or Texas BBQ?: “Texas barbecue.” —Jennifer Stone, [65:03]

---

Tone

The episode is playful and irreverent, but equally authentic. Jennifer is quick-witted, candid, and relatable; Avery is supportive, informed, and a little geeky about Disney nostalgia. Both women are generous sharing meaningful, sometimes heavy, lived experience, but always counterbalance with humor.

---

Summary Takeaway

Jennifer Stone’s journey from Disney Channel fame to frontline nursing is a testament to growth, resilience, and refusing to be boxed in. Her story invites listeners to reconsider what “success” and “identity” can mean. Through laughter, honest storytelling, and a bit of Disney magic, the episode inspires anyone balancing life’s many chapters—and affirms it’s never too late to surprise yourself.

Transcript

[Jennifer Stone]

I've been in this library for six hours. I'm out of snacks and energy. Plus I just realized I forgot to put deodorant on. Oh girl, you're a mess. Let's run to Target. Let's rtt. We'll grab some protein chips, body spray and deodorant. And we get 20% off with target Circle so we can get those great face masks for our self care Sundays. I love an SCS. Let's get out of here.

[Avery Woods]

College students get 20% off their next purchase with Target Circle subject to terms. Visit target.comcircle for more details.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nowadays you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what you don't expect? Free drinks. But now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Air Lines. So just sit back, relax and switch to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible Plan and Lynx SkyMiles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms.

[Avery Woods]

Cheers is presented by Ashley. Good news. You can stop scrolling furniture inspo because the new Ashley Luxe line from Ashley has all the beautiful and luxurious pieces you need and they're all designed for how you actually live. I've told you guys I recently completed my home office slash podcast studio using the Ashley Luxe collection and it looks so beautiful. I honestly wish I would have had this line before I started furnishing my house because I'm pretty sure every single room would be full of this collection. It's so high quality for such an incredible price. Ashley makes elevated, intentional pieces made with sculpted wood, soft velvet and leather and brushed metals. The Neo upholster boucle dining armchair is one of my favorite pieces. I have two of them in my office when I'm having meetings. You can mix and match with dining seating. I can move it around my office. It's just very versatile and just looks so luxurious. I paired that with the Bracken round end table that has natural marble inlay and again I get so many compliments on it. I use it daily. And the French black finish adds so much depth and warmth. Discover the new Ashley Luxe collection by visiting Ashley in store or [e-mail] Luxe. Hey, it's Avery. Welcome to Cheers. What's your score on feet? Is it a thing? Ew. Do not look it up. That's absolutely like I'm just automatically on that.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh no, hold on. You have to look at both of ours.

[Avery Woods]

Starting off this podcast by looking up our feet scores on Feet Finder. I didn't even know that's the thing. So people just added Fern. Well, I knew Feet Finder was a thing, but I thought you signed up for it.

[Jennifer Stone]

Wiki. See Wikipedia. Yeah. How dare you. You're barefoot a lot. Thanks, Liz. You're like. Now you tell me. I know. I'm barefoot a lot, too.

[Avery Woods]

I got my raw dogs hanging out.

[Commercial Announcer]

Ew.

[Avery Woods]

Am I on there?

[Jennifer Stone]

Hey, there's 25 photos I'm doing pre Wizards.

[Avery Woods]

25 photos on Feet Finder.

[Jennifer Stone]

Amazing. You're four stars. Oh, okay. You got great feet.

[Avery Woods]

I want to know where the. The fifth star is. Yeah, let's look up Jennifer. By the way, everyone, we have Jennifer Stone here, who's a child actor on Wizards of Waverly Place, which is probably what you recognize her, but I am more so excited to talk to her because she's also a registered nurse that works in the er so she is such a cool story. Anyways, what's her fee?

[Jennifer Stone]

Finder score, which 94 followers.

[Commercial Announcer]

Oh, my God.

[Jennifer Stone]

4.8.

[Avery Woods]

Oh,

[Jennifer Stone]

it's so hard to high five over this. Okay, I did not know that. That's so disconcerting and weirdly flattering.

[Avery Woods]

94. She's 94.

[Jennifer Stone]

All right, Tarantino, where are you? So I get to be in Tarantino's last movie. Is that what 4.89 gets me?

[Avery Woods]

Yeah, and she has 4.89. Star is on FIFA. Oh, my God, look at that one top. It's kind of giving Princess Diaries.

[Jennifer Stone]

It is a little. Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, look at that. Oh, God.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay. That one I did to myself.

[Avery Woods]

Wait.

[Jennifer Stone]

All right, let's get off of this.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. I actually. We're just learning things because I thought you had to, like, create an account and upload, like, an.

[Jennifer Stone]

Only fans, but for feet.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

I'm like, is someone making money and profiting off our feet?

[Jennifer Stone]

Do you want to hear my. And then we will actually get to real questions and not talk about feet. Do you want to hear my joke? And I shouldn't even say it because someone's going to steal the idea. My joke for all of my co workers at the hospital of our, like, retirement plan is called nurse feet. We hit two different fetishes, Right? Okay. We hit the foot fetish. Great. Also, our faces don't have to be in it. We can write off pedicures. Because what it is, is we put our feet in different nursing scenarios. We give them little hats, little Outfits, maybe a jumpsuit. You know, we put them in a code. Right. Like so. Yeah. So I think nurse feet. That's the retirement.

[Avery Woods]

So this has always been a plan for you.

[Jennifer Stone]

This is a joke to get us through a long 12 of like, you know those twelves where you're like, oh, how are we going to survive? This has been, this feels like a lifetime.

[Avery Woods]

Yes.

[Jennifer Stone]

So you know the joke, it makes my co workers laugh.

[Avery Woods]

I remember the days, like sitting down to chart at like 10:30am and I was like, I have until 7:30pm if I get out on time.

[Jennifer Stone]

If. That's a big old if.

[Avery Woods]

That's a big old if. Yeah, we'll get into that though.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. I was up so late last night because I was so excited for this conversation because I feel like I have so much to ask you. Okay. Because your life is so interesting and so different from anybody in your industry.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's. If you had told me when Wizards ended that this is what my life would look like. I'd be like, you're full of it. What are you talking about? But. And it's one of those amazing things where I just, people ask me about a five or ten year plan and I don't have them anymore. I have goals, but I, I, because my life has taken so many, like, twists and turns, I don't go, okay, well, in five years this is going to happen. Ten years is because that was thrown out of the window so many times. But I'm grateful for it because I'm. It's not boring.

[Avery Woods]

No, that's for sure. You know, and you've also lived so many different lives. Did you grow up wanting to an actress? Was that the only thing you were set on?

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, to be honest, it's still my biggest passion and it's something that I'm returning to this year. The cosmic comedy is that I graduated nursing school December 2019 and was like, cool, now I can get back to acting. And then like, the whole world changed, including the industry. But I fell in love with acting in Texas theater when I was six. Started doing it professionally when I was nine after begging my mom to let me do it. Yeah. And then we went from Texas to California six months out of the year until I got Wizards at 13, 14. Wow. So I. But it was driven by me the whole time. I was one of the lucky kid actors. Like, my parents still to this day are like, are you sure you want to do this? I just, I love it. And it's a lot of what I love about Nursing, too, because I'm just so fascinated by people from different backgrounds and understanding what makes people tick. And there's weirdly parallels between the two.

[Avery Woods]

Did you. Was Wizards your first big gig that you booked?

[Commercial Announcer]

No.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, I worked pretty consistently as an actor. I. The biggest thing I think I've ever done was I did a movie when I was nine with Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Haley Josment. But I worked, like, consistently in television and in movies until then. It's the most. It's the thing people most recognize me for, that's for sure. But that's just attributable to Disney. I mean, there's such a. There's such a amazing company of just being able to really connect with people,

[Avery Woods]

you know, how was it as a child being part of the Disney family?

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, I joke that it was like Disney High because it was. You know, I mean, it was. Everybody dated everybody. You know, there were feuds. There were people mad at so and so because I did, like. It's just nonsense. Like, it was our high school. Right. So all the high school stuff that would normally happen happened in that environment. But you're also. You have access to so many things you wouldn't normally have. You have money. You have all these things that at 16, in high school, you wouldn't have. So it's just a heightened version of high school, I think.

[Avery Woods]

Did your parents move with you here? Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. Because you're such. You have such a good head on your shoulders. And I always attribute that to people's parents.

[Jennifer Stone]

That's my parents. Yeah. I mean, I would have been. I would have probably been a mess. I mean, a lot of. And it's sad because I've been in this industry for so long that it's like, I've seen people I used to audition with. I mean, last month, I literally. There was a girl that I used to see all the time, and we would hang out as kids. She, like, overdosed. You know what I mean? So it's like. There's so many sob stories with kid actors, and I just. I got really lucky. They just. My parents are computer science majors. They're not really creative. They just saw how passionate I was about it, and that's the only reason they care about it. And they really. I mean, even. There's a writer's strike when I was 16, when Wizards was going on. And then. I'll stop rambling. But the.

[Avery Woods]

No, please ramble. But.

[Jennifer Stone]

So I came back to Texas in the middle of Wizards. I think it was like, second season or something. And they. I went and got my driver's license, and they were like, you need to get a job while you're here. So I was like. I literally was a. An elf at one of those places that, like, take. Take pictures with, like, Santa Claus and stuff. Yeah. Like I said, the show had come out. Like, I was on. Like, that was fully a thing. I was 16 at the time. And they were like, no, going to get a real job. And I'm so grateful because it's something that, like. And even now with nursing, I mean, I. Can we curse on this podcast? Yes.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, yes. We love cursing.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'm an ER nurse. I curse like a sailor. But, like, literally yesterday, because the Wizards beyond premiered on Disney Channel last night, and then it's on streaming on Disney now. But I was, like, trying to, like, post, and my hospital has terrible wifi, so I was like, getting outside, trying to, like, post and do my job with that and then literally coming in and, like, wiping ass. And I just was like, nothing keeps you more humble. Like, nothing keeps you more humble. Like, literally, I had this guy yesterday that just would not stop shitting. And. And I was like, well, all these comments are really nice. They're like, that's amazing. Oh, my God, Great. Like, lovely. But I'm like, I still wipe ass. Like, you know, and it's. And nobody's above that.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. No, and I. I was kind of opposite and much smaller scale. You're comparing Disney Channel to social media. But my whole life, all I wanted to be was a nurse. Like, that was my. There's a home video of me when I was like, two or three, and my dad's like, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I'm like, a nurse. Or I would say doctor. And so that was my only plan.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. Y.

[Avery Woods]

And then during nursing school, I started sharing things on social media about, like, studying and then working with scrub brands, and it just kind of evolved. But on my lunch breaks was when I would post on social media just because it was kind of like an ability for me to disconnect from the world at that time and bring me happiness. Especially during the pandemic because we just saw so many dark things that it brought me so much joy. And I didn't expect it to be my career, but it was the same where it's like, on my lunch break, I'm like, connecting to the WI Fi, trying to upload a TikTok.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, yeah, totally. And it taking forever because, like, the WI Fi is Terrible. Yes.

[Avery Woods]

Or like recording all my content on my days off so I could post cuz I wasn't able to record while I was working or whatever the case.

[Jennifer Stone]

You wouldn't want that.

[Commercial Announcer]

No.

[Avery Woods]

You don't want a nurse that's like

[Jennifer Stone]

doing some dance in the background.

[Avery Woods]

Oh. On the clock. Don't even get me started.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh no. It's a thing.

[Avery Woods]

So that time. It's just so funny how like connected we are in that way. Because you understand it. But I, I'm so grateful for what nursing brought me and what I was able to see in the world because I. Such a different outlook on life.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

And you growing up as a child actor, it's so easy. Like I, I'm friends with Raven Simone and her wife and I've talked to them a lot and she always shares her experiences about being a child actor with me. And it's so easy to become so disconnected from reality and not have appreciation for what you have. And having the perspective as a nurse and seeing real people that come in your ear every day that have no idea who you are, that are constantly or cussing you out or you're restraining them, whatever.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yesterday.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yes.

[Avery Woods]

It's like you have such an appreciation for this other part of your life.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

You know, and also your parents having you work and get a job and provide for yourself. Like that also puts. Puts things into perspective.

[Jennifer Stone]

And it's also, it's the fact that like when you work in something like healthcare and I think it's any profession really where you're just exposed to so many different walks of life is the world gets much bigger. And I think that's something that with the. And let's be. I mean I was not by any means Miley or Selena or any of these like huge people who really had a very easy way of getting stuck in a bubble and a big fight to not right. But I still, even when Wizards ended, I needed to be humbled. I needed to be taken down a few pegs. Granted, God did that. We can stop now. But like because I, I got sick with type 1 diabetes when I was 20. Show ended when I was 18. So I got two years out of it, you know, and then yeah, I was in and out of hospitals for four years. That inspired me to get my nursing degree. And then it just, all of that gave me so much perspective. And then working the pandemic, I mean I, you know, you do not sweat the small stuff. No, like the entertainment industry stuff. Like I'll have my actor friends like spin out about, like, oh, this. Like, I didn't get a callback. Or this happened. And I'm like, doesn't fucking matter. Like, you're like, you're alive. You're getting to do what you love. You're alive, you're healthy. Like, and you don't know how much time you have. Like, it's just. Just, it's. It makes all this stuff so small and so much easier to digest because you've digested such bigger, harder things.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

You know, it's like exposure therapy.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. During the Child Disney days, when you look back, is there anything particular that you miss about that time, or do you feel like it was an era that ended and you're happy to.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, I. I'm. I love what I do. And. And it's actually really nice to hear that we have parallels in the sense of, like, we both were very certain about what we were passionate about early, because I don't think that's everyone. I just. I love my job as an actor, and that's the part I miss, is getting to do what I love on a consistent basis. I mean, other than that, like, I. I'm really grateful for that time. I'm happy that, you know, I wouldn't go back to it, I don't think. Just. And it's not so much that, like, anything during that time, it's just the person that I was. I'm so grateful for the growth that I've had and the perspective that I've gained. That's what I wouldn't go back to, is lacking that. But the experience itself was incredible. And the thing I miss is doing what I love consistently.

[Avery Woods]

When I would talk to Raven, she had said that there were times where, when she was so young and she'd be able to sneak in and out of clubs through the back door because people knew who she were. Do you have any crazy stories from

[Jennifer Stone]

when I was a pretty. I mean, here's the thing. I came out of the womb being like. Like, let's talk about philosophy. You know what I mean? Like, I was always an old fart. I always had a book in my hand. Like, I was not. I think I had, like, a slutty club face for like, a month, you know, and then I just was like, I don't want to do this anymore. This is annoying. You know, I can't sit down and I can't hear in these clubs.

[Avery Woods]

Like.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, I was like, I'm an old.

[Avery Woods]

Screaming at someone to have a conversation. Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And it's something where it's like, I never was really a kid because I just was such. And I hate the term old soul, but for lack of a better term. So even to this day I, like, don't know what to do with children because I'm like, I was never a child. Yeah. And so. But yeah, I mean, there definitely was that. I mean, I was in and out of bars and clubs and stuff. Way too young. Had, you know, my fake ID that I like burned on my 21st birthday. You know what I mean?

[Avery Woods]

Like at the burning ceremony.

[Jennifer Stone]

Not the burning ceremony. It's the fake id. And then your nursing school scrubs. You got to burn those too.

[Avery Woods]

Always.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. Yeah, always.

[Avery Woods]

Except I have mine because I was so nostalgic.

[Jennifer Stone]

I know. I still have. I had two pairs. I burned one, I kept the other. What color yours?

[Avery Woods]

Cobalt blue.

[Jennifer Stone]

Mine were white. I will take any day. Any day. And then later on they were like. Because it was white pants too. So they would send our asses home if they can see our underwear. I'm like, but you're making me wear white pants.

[Avery Woods]

You have to do clinical and white scrubs. See, that's crazy. It's crazy bodily fluids getting on that.

[Jennifer Stone]

I know. And so like. But they changed it recently that you could have burgundy pants. And I was like, you guys don't know.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah, you don't know. But you had.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, yeah, totally.

[Avery Woods]

No, I was the nerd that like kept my nursing school scrubs. And then I got the perfect attendant. So I had like the rope around my neck and I like kept that. I know. Nerd.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, you're preaching to a choir over here, you know, but like I said. But if that was your goal since you were a kid, of course it's a huge accomplishment. You know, you've heard it a thousand times. You've got to eat enough protein, but

[Avery Woods]

you still want it to taste good.

[Jennifer Stone]

Fulfill protein bars are seriously delicious.

[Avery Woods]

Seriously convenient ways to hit those protein goals on the go.

[Jennifer Stone]

Fulfill protein is a delicious protein bar that tastes like a candy bar and

[Avery Woods]

fits into your everyday life.

[Jennifer Stone]

Grab a chocolate salted caramel bar for the perfect sweet and salty combination. Or if you're a peanut butter and chocolate person, fulfilled chocolate peanut butter with

[Avery Woods]

Reese's flavor is so good.

[Jennifer Stone]

So you can power your days with indulgent chocolatey taste, double dipped chocolaty coating and a soft and chewy nougat style center. And the best part, every Fulfill bar

[Avery Woods]

packs a whopping 20 grams of protein

[Jennifer Stone]

with eight vitamins and only one to

[Avery Woods]

two grams of sugar.

[Jennifer Stone]

So break up with your candy bar. Shop fulfill protein on Amazon at a retailer near you or go to livefulfill.com for more information.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nowadays, you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what you don't expect? Free drinks. But now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Airlines. So just sit back, relax and switch to to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible plan and link sky miles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms.

[Avery Woods]

You did Wizards till you were 18 and then were you working as an actor before? So before you were diagnosed with Type one?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, so I was. I was working as an actor pretty consistently after the show. Weirdly enough, everything I did after Wizards was like, the first three projects, I was like demon possessed or like, I look, I don't know what that was. Something needed to get worked out, I guess. But yeah, I was either demon possessed or like, I always played the part of the girl. Nobody suspected it was like killing everybody. It's this. It's the sweet. Yeah, it's the sweet phase. But I don't know if I still have that. But anyway, so, yeah, I worked pretty consistently. Got sick when I was 20. I was a weird diabetic because I normally. With Type one, you lose a bunch of weight. Yes, I gained weight when my blood sugar was high. Like, I gained 60 pounds in like two months.

[Avery Woods]

Interesting.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, my knees and my back still have damage from that because it was so much weight so quickly. But it's not an industry that's kind to. Especially at that time to anyone who's not teeny tiny. So I was getting parts that were like, she looks like a bag of mashed potatoes. And like. And the scenes were like, I'll never know what love is. So I had to pretend to be just bullshit, just absolute bullshit. And so I was like, this is not good for my psyche. I don't physically feel good either. So I took a break to figure out the health stuff and then took a break for school. So it was a long break.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah, in the picu, I would say, at least in the PICU I worked in, probably in the top three most common diagnosis we would get is a new diagnosed Type one kiddo. I remember the youngest I had was six weeks old. Yeah. It's so wild that you were diagnosed at 20.

[Jennifer Stone]

Well, and the crazy thing is, is, like, we're seeing it more and more because. Because my ultimate goal when I got my nursing license was eventually I want to get my diabetes educator certification. I love that because it's something where it's like, I. I know I had a hard time when I would get educators that are just told me what I couldn't do and then would be like, oh, I wore a CGM for two weeks. It was so fun. I'm like, yeah, I'm having a Baja blast over here. You know what I mean? So like, it was. I think that's a nice thing to have someone who actually gets it and lives it.

[Avery Woods]

Which, by the way, they are incredible in the hospital.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, they truly.

[Avery Woods]

They would put these amazing backpacks together for the parents and the kids and so many resources for them and the.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'm. I'm grateful. It's never a great time to be diagnosed with Type one. I always joke it's the club. It's a cool club that you never want to join, but it's great when you're, when you're in it.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

For cool people.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's a great community. But I can't imagine the burden of the parents. You know what I mean? My mom had a hard time and I was in my 20s that I think the oldest I saw was 70. Wow. It was like a new onset type one.

[Avery Woods]

I'd be so pissed.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'd be so pissed.

[Avery Woods]

70, leave me alone.

[Jennifer Stone]

You have to. Having to have that huge, like education barrier and like leap that you have to make at that age when you've lived a certain way for so long. Like, it's crazy.

[Avery Woods]

I remember a lot of the night shift nurses that I worked with. There were some of them that had diabetic kiddos at home. And while they were sleeping, they'd be constantly monitoring them because the new pumps now you can be connected to an app, which is great because they'd be able to give their kids insulin if needed from their phone virtually. And they actually said they loved working night shift for that reason.

[Jennifer Stone]

Makes sense.

[Avery Woods]

Because their kids were asleep and all monitoring and they're up.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. But I do think that that is one thing that's come so far as a technology. Oh, it's amazing for people with diabetes, although it's so expensive.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's so expensive.

[Avery Woods]

And the healthcare system does not help a lot.

[Jennifer Stone]

No, I mean, and let's be honest, like, it's something. And we don't have to go down this rabbit hole because it's a never ending thing with like, no Answers is it's a business.

[Avery Woods]

Yes.

[Jennifer Stone]

You know, and so it's like the, and that's, and we were talking about that a bit before of like the hard part with healthcare and working in it in any capacity is there's such a barrier to actually being able to help people because of the commerce aspect. And, and I don't know, nobody knows what the answer is. That's why we're still here, you know. And I know people say like universal healthcare, but like there's barriers to that too. And so I don't know, it's a, it's a very tough thing. But I am, I work back with Mini Med, which is a diabetic company and I, I work pretty closely with them. And you can find companies like that that are really passionate about actually going, okay, what does the customer want and need and servicing that. Yeah. And I think that's like the best kind of middle ground you can find is finding this sort of like ground roots, like really passionate companies like that. Because it is, it's crazy to me that you used to finger prick all the time and do insulin vials with like syringes and like that's what you did multiple times, times a day. We're so fortunate to have like, you know, like I have my cgm, you know, and, and to have those things. We're just, we're so fortunate and there's so many game changers.

[Avery Woods]

It would break my heart when I would get kids that would come in and it was a lot of low income families and their fingers and toes, every single one, purple, blue, bruised.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, getting a blood sugar on them is impossible.

[Avery Woods]

It was so impossible. Their fingers are raw and callous and you would have to just, it was terrible. But poke on the side where they would get some sort of blood return

[Jennifer Stone]

next to their crap out of it, even though you don't want to.

[Avery Woods]

And they're not dreading you every time you come in because they see the scrubs entering the room. It would just break my heart because things like a pump or the more advanced technology is not a cheap thing to have access to.

[Jennifer Stone]

Well, and the amount of patients do it makes me like really angry. The amount of patients I've had that are turning 26 or they lost their job and they come in and DKA because they can't get their insulin.

[Avery Woods]

Yep.

[Jennifer Stone]

And it's insane to me because it's like, you know, Banting did the, gave away the, oh my God, my brain, the patent for insulin for a dollar. Because he's like Nobody should be without this.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And then somehow it got bastardized along the way, where it's like, now it's thousands and thousands of dollars. It's crazy. It's. It's just so.

[Commercial Announcer]

So.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's so wrong.

[Avery Woods]

It's terrible. So you were diagnosed at 20, and that sparked your interest to going to nursing school?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

I have so many questions, because here's who we are for. You're working as an actor, and you're like, let me. Do you know that they just ranked the most difficult college degrees?

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I did see that.

[Avery Woods]

And nursing is number one.

[Jennifer Stone]

But we're not a profession, though.

[Avery Woods]

That's crazy.

[Jennifer Stone]

Isn't that wild?

[Avery Woods]

I still am.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, what? No, I did see that. And that was. That was. And I'm sure it was for you, too, like, incredibly validating.

[Avery Woods]

So validating.

[Jennifer Stone]

Because it is something that, like, especially after the not being a profession nonsense. And then also too, like, let's be honest, I don't know if you experience this. There's a lot of sexism in nursing so much where it's like, it's not the amount of times I still have patients where I walk in the room and I'll be like, training a newer nurse that's a guy. They'll always assume he's the doctor, you know, Or I will have female doctors that they talk to like, they're the nurse. And it's. And it's not. Yeah, it's just something. So that was incredibly validating to, like, see that recognition.

[Avery Woods]

So you just said, fuck it and apply to nursing school.

[Jennifer Stone]

It was kind of. I mean, it was something that I come from. My parents are both college educated. It was not an option to not be. And my parents were like, you're not going to acting school. They were like, we're not. No. And so I was a psychology major, and then when I got sick, I spent a lot of time with nurses. And it was something that, I think, from my experience, the most challenging thing was not knowing what was going on and not having a plan. The nurses that I had and I had good and bad. I mean, they're people, right? You're gonna have good and bad of everything. And I know there's the whole, like, mean girl nurse stereotype, which does exist, but, like, you know, it's not everything. The nurses that I had that took the extra time and the extra care were so calming at a time that was so tumultuous and just scary. And so that's something that I wanted to kind of pay it forward and Then also too. I mean, it's consistency with acting, with flexibility and things like that. So it's like multifactorial thing of, you know, acting's the thing I get to do for me and nursing's what I feel like I get to do for other people.

[Avery Woods]

I just admire that so much, like, and having experienced it myself, it's such a giving career that's so underappreciated, underpaid, under recognized. And I always try to use my platform to talk about this because nurses

[Jennifer Stone]

need people to advocate for them 1000%.

[Avery Woods]

It's so important. And I love that you went out of your way and chose to do this, this, and are still doing it while also living the public eye. It's very admirable. Thank you. What drove you to want to work in the er?

[Jennifer Stone]

I. It match, you know, how, like, there's ICU people and there's ER people, which I know, like, we have a love hate relationship with each other.

[Avery Woods]

It's the way our brains are wired.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's the way our brains are wired. So mine, I love variety. And there is a part of me that loves chaos. You know, I mean, I wouldn't be my, My co workers joke that they're like, you went from one masochistic profession to another. What's wrong with you? And I'm like, and also me on dating apps, I look on PA paper like a huge red flag. I promise I'm not nuts. But people see ER nurse and actor and like, that bitch is crazy, you know, which I understand that thought process, which I am crazy. But not, you know, not fully. Not in a boil your bunny kind of way, you know, but yeah, like, it just. It met a lot of. They met a lot of the different things. I knew I would get a lot of variety, a lot of different kinds of cases. I originally wanted to be a psych nurse, which, God bless, that's a hard specialty.

[Avery Woods]

I'll never forget my psych clinicals.

[Jennifer Stone]

Same. And I'm still fascinated by it, but it's something that it just was. Wasn't for me to do full time, but I still get a little bit of the psych with er.

[Avery Woods]

You sure do.

[Jennifer Stone]

And I get peeds and I get. Which scares the crap out of me. And I get, you know, I get the urgent care cases all the way to the codes. You know what I mean? It's like I can go from one room and. And which, granted the ratios wouldn't be this way in California, but I can go from one room where it's A sore throat and the next room where it's putting somebody in a body bag, you know, and so it's, it is a lot of variety. And that keeps my brain really activated because I, I, I tend to get bored easily.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. So coming from your background with child acting, do you feel like when you first saw those really traumatic events of watching people take their last breath or being a part of a code or putting someone in a body bag, do you feel like it took you? It, was it like a shock to you or.

[Jennifer Stone]

Absolutely, yeah. I mean, it was something. It's been, I'll be very blunt because I feel like we haven't talked about this enough and, and not you and me, but I'm saying in general, I think nurses during the pandemic, we were heroes for about six months. And then everybody was angry about a lot of things, understandably. So, like, it was a very frustrating time in a lot of different ways, in a scary time, which a lot of times comes out as anger. But then we just had to go back to, okay, it's done now, nothing happened. So I think a lot of us haven't processed it. And it, I've been in therapy pretty heavily for a few years, just kind of coming to terms with that because I realized that as an actor, my job is to be emotionally very open and to take on everybody's suffering and your pain and everything you have. Because I'm going to take it, I'm going to turn it into something beautiful. I'm going to tell a story with it, that kind of thing, which is the absolute worst way to go into the er. During the pandemic, I was an open wound to everybody. I was just give me all of your suffering, your pain, your hurt. And it was, it was baptism by fire. It was something that, like, I did not realize that, that, and I'm curious to see how you feel about this. It's just a self preservation standpoint of, of the importance of selective empathy. You cannot give it all to every single person. It's not possible. And, and it's, you are not a limitless resource. You're not a limitless. Well, and it's something that I had to learn of. Like, they're gonna be patients. And, and this might not be something people that don't work in it understand, but they're, they're going to be patients that like your utmost 110 empathy is not best spent on that person. They're gonna be okay. But then the harder cases and the stuff like that, that's where you kind of hold those reserves for that. It's not that you're not kind and professional and give your best to that person, but it's that opening yourself up emotionally and allowing yourself to be vulnerable or that's where it's like you have to reserve that for specific cases because you can't do it for everyone.

[Avery Woods]

Well, and you have a different experience because in the ER you see so many people coming in and out constantly, whereas they have to work their way up to the icu, you know.

[Jennifer Stone]

And yes, we weed a lot out down there.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

And yes, there's cases where, you know, we would go down, or if I was SWAT nurse or going with the charge, we'd go down to the ER to a trauma that we expected to be brought up to the icu, but we weren't seeing people as quickly as you are. And that drains you so much emotionally because you're just going from one room or one bay to the next one.

[Jennifer Stone]

Especially, I mean, especially during the pandemic. I mean, I had two years of my life. I have a few key incidents that were really impactful and really. Yeah. And then the rest of two years, two of those years are just black.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And I know I auditioned for one of like the series regulars for the Pit when that first came out. And I remember because at the end of the pilot episode, the Noah Wylie character, he's having like Covid flashbacks. And I was read, as I often do, I was reading the script and like working on lines while we were like waiting for a patient to get admitted or something like that, kind of in those brief little, you know, pockets of time that you have. So I was working on the lines and reading the script at work and it got to those last few pages and I started having like. And I've had this at work before, it's gotten better. But like, I started having a panic attack, like just, even like just hearing about that. Like, I started having like the heavy breathing and I started having to do like the, okay, this is the floor, that's a table. Like, I started having to like talk myself down because it's still, it's still back there, you know, and so to see, like I said, I, I, it's such a bummer topic, but I do think it's important to talk about somewhat.

[Avery Woods]

Totally. It is.

[Jennifer Stone]

Cuz I think a lot of us still carry it because it is so much throughput.

[Avery Woods]

Absolutely. And I, it's funny because people are like, don't you love Grey's Anatomy? I'm like, I Can't watch it?

[Commercial Announcer]

No.

[Avery Woods]

I think I tried watching one episode years ago, and I always tell people, I'm like, if you have the opportunity to watch a medical show, please watch the Pit. Because it's.

[Jennifer Stone]

I have a hard time watching it because it's too close to home. A little bit.

[Avery Woods]

It's very close to home for you because you work with adults in an

[Jennifer Stone]

er, but for people who. Who don't have. Because here's the thing. I love Grays. Like, the first two seasons I played on repeat during nursing school because it also helped me get the lingo down. Yeah, right. Because it is a different language, but it is a. There is more of a fantasy aspect to that show than there is something like the Pit. And more of an entertainment value. Yeah. The Pit can be hard for me to watch just because it is so close to home.

[Avery Woods]

I tell people, I think it. For people that are far removed from the medical field, it puts it into perspective because it's one continuous shift.

[Jennifer Stone]

Shift. Correct.

[Avery Woods]

And it's important for people to understand the luxury of being able to go to the restroom or the luxury that I had if I was able to pump when I was postpartum.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I can't even imagine, you know,

[Avery Woods]

like, I was given eight weeks leave at only 60% pay after a cesarean, and it's like, if my husband wasn't able to bring in his income, I would be gone for like, six, eight weeks and go right back to a 12 and a half hour shift. So people don't think about things like that. And why would they? Exactly. But when they ask questions, I'm like, you should watch the Pit.

[Jennifer Stone]

Well, and it's something. It's interesting you bring that up because a lot of my co workers that we've talked about, like the PTSD of COVID or things like that, where it's like that show has sparked so many conversations between spouses or family members that aren't in healthcare that it is really hard to understand what you're talking about. But, yeah, as far as the peeing thing, I don't. Have you ever had this? Well, maybe not, but, like, I've had a few times where, like, I have had to pee so bad. And I'm like, I just have to get this catheter done. I just have to get this straight cath done. And I'm jealous.

[Avery Woods]

Yes.

[Commercial Announcer]

I'm like.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'm like watching them empty their bladder

[Avery Woods]

and I'm just like, 100, you know? 100.

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Avery Woods]

Okay.

[Jennifer Stone]

I figured that was kind of a universal Experience.

[Avery Woods]

Especially because in the PICU we would max be paired with two patients, which was very lucky, but they were also really sick. And especially if we had a one to one. Like, unless someone is there, eyes on. On your patient in the room, you are not leaving.

[Jennifer Stone]

No.

[Avery Woods]

Like you're not going anywhere. And our computer is right outside the door with a window so we can keep an eye on them and the monitor. Like you're not going anywhere.

[Jennifer Stone]

No. No. Your butts glued.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. And when we were super short staff, when Covid was happening, it's like still to this day no one's around, you know, And I don't know what your hospital experience is, but a lot of our management that were making the rules and the decisions were not qualified to watch our very sick patients. Patients. And they were not able to help us.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

So we just kind of like fend for ourselves.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. I mean, but there's a lot of fending for yourself in nursing. There's a lot of. I mean, and, and I appreciate the fact that, like you're using and I hate this term, it's so cringe. But like, your platform, if you will, to advocate for nurses, because you're right, like you saw a lot of times it is one nurse against a huge corporation or a huge, you know, hospital. And like, it feels like you're going to battle with a bear, like you're going to lose, you know?

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And it does a lot of times feel really overwhelming because you're like, who's here to take care of us? And that's where you really lean on each other. If you're lucky to have those co workers. And I know not everybody does to have people have your back.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. And nurses don't want pizza parties.

[Jennifer Stone]

No.

[Avery Woods]

They want money. No.

[Jennifer Stone]

I literally, I posted something the other day where I literally was like, you know you're getting screwed when you're getting pizza.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, yeah. The second I walked in the break room, I could smell pizza from night shift.

[Jennifer Stone]

I was like, can you enjoy pizza the same way? No, I can't either. I can't eat either. I literally, I still love pizza. It's still delicious. But there's always a part of me

[Avery Woods]

that I'm just like, I felt the same about. Donuts.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yes. Yes. Literally last shift I we there were donuts in the break room. And it was from a nursing student who was like, it was her last day. It was very sweet, but every time I see him, I'm like, what's going on? How many beds are we holding? What's yeah. How are we getting screwed?

[Avery Woods]

Something bad.

[Jennifer Stone]

What's the donut holes for?

[Avery Woods]

You're walking into something bad.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'm walking into something so literally like just the guttural reaction and then finding out it was just the nursing student being nice. You're like, okay, yeah, yeah. I'm like, that's fine. Okay, I'll have one.

[Avery Woods]

The first few weeks of school are the best time to catch up on last year's skills. IXL pinpoints exactly what each child needs to review before gaps snowball. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're building math confidence, strengthening reading and writing skills, or reviewing science concepts. IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the US and studies show kids who use IXL score higher on test tests proven in all 50 states. I've talked about how much my kids are obsessed with ixl and my kids have had a very long summer. So it's important for me to be able to keep up their skills and make sure that they are not falling behind. And what I love about IXL is they can do it on their tablet. So they think it's like a fun video game. It encourages them to learn and it's easy for me to get it done. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and Cheers with Avery Woods. Listeners can get get an exclusive 20 off an IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com cheers visit ixl.com cheers to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nowadays you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what you don't expect? Free drinks. But now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Air Airlines. So just sit back, relax and switch to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible plan and link SkyMiles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms.

[Avery Woods]

Okay, going back because I was requested to ask you something.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay.

[Avery Woods]

Many unwell staffers requested to know what were the Disney Channel games actually like behind the scenes?

[Jennifer Stone]

I do. I feel like maybe this was sparked after Nick Jonas was like, everybody was sleeping with everybody. I'm like, that wasn't my experience.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, did he say that? No.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean he didn't say. He said. I think he said it was Like Love island or something.

[Avery Woods]

Love island for Kids on Kids for

[Jennifer Stone]

Kids, which I'm just like. That's a weird thing to say, but I mean they're definitely. Again, it was high school on steroids especially. There was like one Disney Channel games, I remember. And oh my God, it was catnip for all of us. They decided to bring to a boy and a girl from like all these different countries.

[Avery Woods]

Okay.

[Jennifer Stone]

From Disney Channel. And so we had, we all knew each other from the States because we're all. We all like would have press days together where we're all hanging out or whatever. So we, we were all old hat to each other. So you bring in all these new young, you know, accents and all the Brazil and London and like all this kind of stuff. So there was a lot of that particular Disney Channel games. There was a lot of flirtations, a lot of like going around. And we'd shoot during the morning because it was Florida, so it's like it was really hot. So we only would like shoot a couple games in the morning and then the rest of the day you can just screw around Disney World with a guide. And so that's what you guys did.

[Avery Woods]

You hung out at Disney World?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yes, it was great. I mean, literally, like I said, we shot the games during the day and those awful little like, oh, I remember the outfits. Oh God, the outfits were terrible.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, I remember the color coding.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh God. And as a 15 year old. And yellow, which like I have to wear a very specific color of yellow, which was not what I got assigned. And as a 15 year old girl wearing shorts and like knee high socks. Socks.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, the knee high socks.

[Jennifer Stone]

God.

[Avery Woods]

But you know what, I watched that as a kid and I was like, I'm buying that outfit.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'm getting knee high socks. I wish I kept it. Even though, like, it does bring back like 2010s trauma of being like. Because you remember they were all into like the anorexia.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Super teeny tiny. Yeah. So I was 2010's fat. Like I just was like, I was, I was. Which I looked back and I'm like, it's so sad because I was like, I felt so huge.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And I wasn't. But. But so to put me in 2010's Fatland in that freaking yellow thing. Yeah. Was just terrible. But no, I mean, they were a blast. The Disney Chann games were a blast. Like I said, we got to hang out and sweat in those weird little outfits in the morning. We got to go to Disney World during the day with A guide, like front of the line stuff, which is crazy. Disneyland and Disney World is totally spoiled for me for the rest of my life, which is an incredibly privileged experience. And then hang out in the hot tub with whatever foreign person you thought was cute or whatever.

[Commercial Announcer]

Period.

[Jennifer Stone]

Well, I mean, not me. I have no game. Didn't then, don't now. Like, so it's. I was not in the hot tub. I was in the hot tub weirdly like homeschool, leering at the guy that I thought was cute and then not doing anything about it, which is still very much the case today.

[Avery Woods]

You talking about the foreign people coming in reminds me of like the Goblet of Fire from Harry Potter when like all the foreign schools are coming, essentially. Whatever.

[Jennifer Stone]

Which is maybe that's where Nick got the Love island thing, you know. But no, it's very much Goblet of Fire.

[Avery Woods]

Well, I was never like a petite child. I always like, had a little bit of chunk on me. I got boobs really young. So I remember growing up watching Share.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, I never got those.

[Avery Woods]

No, I talked to Raven about this too because she was always, always curvy and I, I looked up to her so much because I couldn't watch a lot of kids on Disney Channel and relate to them because I. It made me feel very large. Yeah. For my age, you know. So what you're saying about feeling uncomfortable because you were a different size and a lot of people that you were working with makes a lot of sense because I was also that same way as a kid. And that's hard when you. Incredibly hard when you grow up watching that, you know.

[Jennifer Stone]

Well, and also too, I mean I. Twitter came out, I think the first or second season that we were on and then Instagram came out the last.

[Avery Woods]

I was gonna ask you about social media, dude.

[Jennifer Stone]

I have a love hate relationship with it. So I mean I. And Twitter, I mean more so even now is just a chasm of people's negativity sometimes, you know. And so like I got a ton of. At 15 years old, got a ton of you're fat, go kill yourself. And it's just like how does. As a 15 year old. And this is why I say like I wouldn't go back to that time because it's just, you just don't have the skills, you know, you don't have the self possession or the comfort in yourself because you've. You're so uncomfortable. And then to have people reaffirming like your biggest fears in a very public way is rough. But as far as like being somebody that people can see themselves in or feel like they're not alone. I feel really lucky with Harper because I, I meet people all the time and sometimes they're on the spectrum, sometimes they're quirky or really creative or whatever. And I meet people all the time that they're like, you made it feel okay to be myself. You made it okay to feel different and be proud about it and not have to hide it or feel too much. And that's something that, like she was the character I needed at the time. Like I wasn't as confident as she was, but I got to play out, you know, wanting to be that or, you know, having that kind of self expression. And so I'm incredibly protective and grateful for that character for that very reason.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah, I love that. I have talked to a lot of child stars before about the difference between being in this industry now as a kid versus before social media. And it's very different because you, if you were published anywhere, it was a tabloid or like paparazzi, but there wasn't like Tiger Beat. Yes.

[Jennifer Stone]

It was very controlled.

[Avery Woods]

It wasn't millions and millions and millions of opinions about the way you look, how you talk, everything. And it's. I can't even imagine how detrimental it would be for a child to have access to that at such a young age, you know?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, I mean, it was something I struggled. I mean, I'm an open book because I think it's helpful. You know, I don't think having preciousness about your image or whatever is helpful because I think we all need people to talk about the unspoken things. But when I was a kid, I had, I struggle with eating disorders a lot. Like that started for me when I was 11 and it went back and forth between restriction over exercising and binging. So to have that kind of monster in the back of your head, that's a voice you're constantly trying to keep down. And at 15, I still was very much in that cycle. Yeah, to have that, that little voice in the back of your head reaffirmed by a ton of other louder voices outside of you is incredibly difficult. You know, and it's something that does teach you how to really draw that circle around yourself and to, to acknowledge the good and the bad, but you can't really believe any of it because the moment you start to believe the good stuff, then the bad stuff is real too.

[Avery Woods]

Yes.

[Jennifer Stone]

You know, and that to me is the key is just being like, that's nice. I really appreciate that you're saying these lovely Things. But like, you have to set a boundary and put some distance with it. Otherwise it's all true.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. Very, very important question. Walk me through the process of drawing the Mickey ears with the wand. Because my whole life, this is me. Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

And I just want to know like everything about it.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Was it hard? Do you have like a clear thing in front of you you're following, like, tell me everything.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay, so those press days that I mentioned where we would be doing like Friends for Change or, you know, it's Halloween. Here's the 31 days of Halloween countdown. You know, Halloween Town. I remember all of them, all that stuff. So we would film all those. We would knock them out in like a day. Right? So we'd have these massive press days where we do like interviews. We would do the little commercials in between. Stuff, stuff. Photo shoots. But then they would put the Mickey ears on a day like that where like, It's a massive 12 hour day. So when people ask what nursing? They're like, can you do 12 hours? I'm like, I've been doing 12 hours. Which granted, like, we were kids, so it was, I think it was like eight or something. Whatever.

[Avery Woods]

I'm like that too. But now they're like, so we do have a shoe. It's. It might be 12 hours. We can totally split it into two six hour days.

[Jennifer Stone]

But I can pee whenever I want to.

[Avery Woods]

I worked 12 and a half hour days until five days before my daughter was born. Born in the hospital. I said, I'll do a 15 hour photo shoot day where I'm sitting there. I don't even have to do my own hair.

[Jennifer Stone]

Totally.

[Avery Woods]

Please.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, this is a cakewalk. You're bringing, you're bringing me coffee, you're doing my hair and makeup, you're dressing.

[Avery Woods]

What snacks do you like? I don't finger.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. I just have to look good in

[Avery Woods]

front of a camera.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. This is again and again. It's the perspective where you're like, I will never take a shoot for granted again. Because it's like, I know what it's like to be on your feet for 12 hours where you are not allowed to pee.

[Avery Woods]

Yep.

[Jennifer Stone]

Or not that you're not allowed. You just can't.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

But yeah, so they would put those into those long days and they would rotate us around. So, you know, you would basically go to different stations and do different things. Like, okay, here's your photo shoot, here's your commercial, here's your this. And then you'd go to the Mickey Ears station and it was PVC pipes that were, like, shaped like ears.

[Avery Woods]

Okay.

[Jennifer Stone]

And you would be up on a platform. The problem with that, though, is we all had, like, a weird, quirky thing that we did with ours. Right.

[Avery Woods]

Wait, can you do an impression of yours?

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, God, no. It's so cringe. Mine was so cringey. And I'll tell you why it was cringy, because they had so many of us cycling through, and I was at the end of the day on my. I think I did, like, two, but the one I remember that is so cringe that I will not reenact because it's just makes no sense. The problem with being at the end of the day is everyone's already taken all the other quirky little things that you can do. So I was like, scraps, Totally. So I got the scraps left. So I'm like, well, what about this? They're like, no, so and so already did that. What about this? No, no, so and so already did that. So I think I did, like, air drums or something.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And then, like, did that. Yeah, totally. Which makes no sense. My character has nothing to do with drumming. I don't drum.

[Avery Woods]

She's a punk rock girl, I guess.

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, I was in my soul at the time. I still am, but, like, it was something that, like, made. I see it now, and I'm like, it makes zero sense.

[Avery Woods]

I'm gonna look that up later.

[Jennifer Stone]

You said it's so cringe. Wait till I leave. Please wait till I. It is so just, like.

[Avery Woods]

So you're, like, following the pvc.

[Jennifer Stone]

You have to follow the PVC pipes. So. Yeah. And then they'll tell you, like, oh, you're too far away. You're too close. Like, so it is a pretty precise.

[Avery Woods]

Are you holding an actual wand?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. You're holding, like.

[Avery Woods]

Because they add, like, the little sparkles.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

I think. I think it was, like, a green screen wand. So it was like a green wand or something?

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Wow, this is really opening my eyes.

[Jennifer Stone]

Good. I'm glad I came back.

[Avery Woods]

I'm so excited. 31 years old. Yeah. I'm a 95 baby. So, like, this is everything.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. Harper was such an iconic character on wizards, and everyone was obsessed with her quirky fashion. Did you keep anything?

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I kept so much. I. I don't think I was supposed to. I won't tell anyone. Well, I mean, I think the ship is sailed, but. And I've said it before, too, because, I mean, it's been so long. But I was really close with the Costume department because we worked pretty closely together. It was such a beautiful, like, collaborative creative process. So the Vault was coming to pick up everything when the show was ending. They were tearing down all the sets, like as we would finish the last episode. And they were. The Disney Vault was. People were coming with the big van to take all the costumes and put them into wherever the vault is. And she goes, okay, so they're coming tomorrow. She goes, you can have whatever you want. Just fill your car up.

[Avery Woods]

What an icon.

[Jennifer Stone]

What an icon, right?

[Avery Woods]

Love her.

[Jennifer Stone]

Amazing. Amazing. I still love her. Julie. I love her to death. So I. Julie gets tired. No, no, no, no, no. Julie's retired. Julie's retired. That's why I'm in Serenade. That's why I'm in Serenade. Yeah. So I just loaded up my car so I have the. My little Prius. At the time I had. I have the rubber ducky dress.

[Avery Woods]

I love that. You drove a Prius.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I. I drove it into. I just got rid of it two years ago. Oh my God. I had it for 14 years.

[Avery Woods]

I'm obsessed with you. Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Thank you.

[Avery Woods]

I love this.

[Jennifer Stone]

But yeah, so they. So yeah, I have the rubber ducky dress. I have the Marker dress, which some people are like, oh, cuz a D23. I think they had the Marker dress, but there was two of them. There was Bridget Menler's Marker dress and mine. Cuz, you know, there's always a gag with whatever y. I have. Have one from like the opening sequence. I have one from when I got my driver's license on the show. And like there's like a horn honking thing. Yeah, I have so many of them.

[Avery Woods]

I love that.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. Yeah. They're in my. My office closet.

[Avery Woods]

I feel like people now since Sarah Jessica Parker talked about Sex in the City and how she negotiated that in her contract. I feel like people are doing that now. But I mean, it's just she was such an iconic character. Harper was. And she was so like, you knew when she was coming on the screen even if you couldn't see her face, you know?

[Jennifer Stone]

It's true. And it also. It made my job so much easier comedy wise, because it's a hell of a lot easier to laugh at somebody who's wearing like a stuffed leopard on their shoulder or like cat ears or whatever creepy stuff I was wearing. Oh, yeah. No, but I mean, the costumes are just so fun, even if, like, you're not into the show. Like, the costumes alone were so fun. And I know when the Met gala did the the camp theme. They're like, where's Harper? This is right down our alley. And it's so true. Like she, she is so camp.

[Avery Woods]

Does anyone else feel like August is the Sunday of summer? It's the perfect time to hit reset before the autumn rush. And your wardrobe is the perfect place to start. Quince proves you don't need a crowded closet to look incredible. You just need the right pieces. Everything at Quint is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. They work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. So you're paying for high quality, not brand market up. I've raved about Quince's European pajamas to you guys for so long. They're so breathable and soft. But for summer, I've been obsessed with the 100% European linen wide leg pant. There are so many different colors. It's such a great quality. For the price, they're only $42. And other linen pants that I've purchased from other brands are double, if not more than that. Pairing that with just a simple button down or T shirt is the perfect outfit for summer. It's breathable, it's elevated and you are overheated. Upgrade your everyday go. Quince.com Cheers for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK too. That's Q-U-I-N C E.com Cheers for free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Commercial Announcer]

Quince.com Cheers Nowadays you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what you don't expect free drinks. But now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Airlines. So just sit back, relax and switch to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible plan and link sky miles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms.

[Avery Woods]

What was one of the wildest or most unhinged outfits you remember wearing? Wearing. Like, did you. Was there anything you put on? You were like, oh, there was a few.

[Jennifer Stone]

Here's the thing, I. I love Harper so much and I love her fashion so much. As a teenager who was 20 tons fat, had acne and cut my own bangs. It really was. It was a bit of a cock block. Like it was not great as a teenager, it was not great.

[Avery Woods]

I remember Disney games were not Disney slot games for you?

[Jennifer Stone]

Not for me. I was reading A book in the hot tub, just staring at the British guy I had a crack crush on, but, like the weird homeschooled kid that I was. But I. I never forget there was a guy that I had a crush on because, I mean, I've. I always crush every week. Like, you know, I love having a crush and just being the weird homeschool kid in the corner who doesn't know

[Avery Woods]

what to do about it.

[Jennifer Stone]

Still to this day, in my 30s. But I invited him to set and I was filming something where I was wearing. I was dressed as a cactus for some reason. Got it. Sure. Who knows? But it literally, it was like a giant cactus and it was just my face. And I also. I don't know who was mean and decided to put like a little cactus nubbin like right there. That looked like a third nipple. Like, it just was not. It was not a cute look at all. And I saw him come to set, take a look at me, get horrified and leave. I could see him and I just was like, which. We're all teenagers. I mean, like, hopefully that person would not do that now. But yeah. So, like, as much as that one was one that was not great. Great. There was a beef jerky jacket that had actual beef jerky on it. And we were shooting three people at a very tiny, like, merry go round. Not merry go round, the carousel car. So we were very close proximity. And I smelled like a carcass.

[Avery Woods]

I was gonna say. Did you just, like, smell it?

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I smelled like a dead carcass. It was so gross.

[Avery Woods]

And we know what that smells like.

[Jennifer Stone]

And we know what that smells like. Maybe not like beef, but maybe. Maybe less smoked. Yeah, that's a dark joke. That's a dark, er mentality. But yeah. And also, like, any food stuff, like, I know I had a fruit roll up dress that, like, literally in between, I could just hear the fruit roll ups, like falling off the paper under the hot lights. So, yeah, I mean, there's so many that. Just ridiculous. Interesting, but so fun at the same time.

[Avery Woods]

Out of all the seasons. Because you guys had so many great guest stars.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Do you have any favorites you remember working with?

[Jennifer Stone]

I mean, Rachel Dratch played older me, which I'm a huge SNL fan.

[Avery Woods]

Obsessed with her.

[Jennifer Stone]

She's so funny and I'm so excited for her being on Broadway and she's just such a good person.

[Avery Woods]

Did you see her on Amy Poehler's podcast? Good.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, yeah. Such a good episode dying.

[Avery Woods]

Did you see the ones with the

[Jennifer Stone]

headphones and Then she ordered food. No, that Rachel's. Rachel's like, just. She's such like a masterful comedian and she's also just incredibly naturally funny. So those two things together are just a one, two punch. Like, she's just like comedy gold. She's just. And so for me, at 15, being such a fan of like, like, you know, Gilda Radner is like one of my biggest, like, comedy icons that I love and have her in that same, like, SNL lineage and that time that cast was so strong and. And to have her watching my actions and then trying to mimic me, like, made my little 14, 15 year old brain explode. Like, I was so geeked out about that. We, Rob Reiner came on for like a quick moment, which is incredible. So, you know, just. We. So there's so many. We lucked out so much. We had such great people that would come to the show because they, they had kids that liked the show or grandkids that liked the show. And so we got to work with some real comedy icons that I still can't believe I got to watch and learn from, even for just a quick scene.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. When you guys would have such icons come on, did they ever give you guys, as kids advice or like have chats with you or was it just strictly professional?

[Jennifer Stone]

Sometimes. Sometimes they would. Usually when they were there longer, if they came in for like a quick, you know, kind of thing. Because it's a weird thing. It's not your kid. Like, it's this weird. And I felt this honestly on, on Wizards Bey, where it's like I was coming to this thing that I was used to this environment as a kid, but now I'm an adult. So now I'm like, I'm an adult working with kids. And there is that thing of like, what's appropriate? Like, I don't want to overstep, but I also want to be supportive. Like, so it is that kind of strange thing. So when they were there for the whole week, then we actually, they would be more forthcoming with, you know, advice and things like that.

[Avery Woods]

Tell me about the new project, Wizards and Beyond.

[Jennifer Stone]

So the cool thing about Wizards beyond is it's a spinoff show about basically David Henry, Justin's character and his family. And the show's wrapping up, the series finale is now all on Disney. And it's great because it's a beautiful joining of the original show in this new iteration and this new kind of imagining in the Wizards universe. And it ultimately hits on what I think Wizards was always about, which is that we Always. It's a family that always has each other's backs, no matter what happens. Right. No matter the, the magical mishaps or what have you. Like, it's something where at the end of the day, it was always about family and it was always about loyalty and being there for each other. And that was what was great about coming back as Harper and, and getting to work with Selena as Alex. Because we are a two hander.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

And we just. It's crazy how I haven't played that character in 15 years and we jumped right back into it. Like, we didn't miss a beat. And, and, and her and I, like, we have that timing locked down because we did it for over 100 episodes. Yeah. So it's like muscle memory at this point. And getting to play in that again was just such a gift.

[Avery Woods]

How did that get started? Did. Who called you? How did that come up?

[Jennifer Stone]

So it was originally because this was kind of David Henry's thing. And so he told me early on that he was like, hey, so this is the thing about the show. Like, we'll bring you on for like an episode or two down the line if it makes sense. I was like, all right, that makes sense. Because, like, Selena I knew was executive producing, but she's. She's a little busy. Yeah. So like the she. I think at the time she was only planning to come on for one episode to kind of kick him off, and then that was it. And I think she came. She enjoyed it because it's obviously like where we all started and it's a safe place for her and it's nostalgic for all of us. And so she came on for more than one episode. And then when the series was wrapping up, I think they wanted to kind of really join the two. And so they came up with a storyline with me, her and Greg and. Yeah. And it was great to just, like I said, jump back into this muscle memory that we've had since we were teenagers.

[Avery Woods]

I love that. How did that filming schedule work with your nursing schedule?

[Jennifer Stone]

I think, I think I called out, if I remember correctly. I know a few people were like, how'd she get the time off? And I was like, I. I think because you know how it is, the schedule comes out, like, for at least for us, it's like two months ahead of time. Right. And this business, the entertainment business can be very last minute.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

So I think one of them I was able to request often that got granted. And then the other one I just had to call off.

[Avery Woods]

I mean, I don't blame you.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's. It's a week. They'll survive without me, you know, how

[Avery Woods]

was it stepping back. Back onto set as an adult that came from Disney, but also now having a healthcare work background.

[Jennifer Stone]

It was wonderfully weird is the best way I can put it. And also Wizards is the show with all the W's, so I guess that works too. But thinking about, and we touched on this earlier of the vulnerable kid that I was, and there's a lot in the entertainment industry and that I experienced at the time, and I think any kid in that environment, it does. Which you're just in over your head. You don't have the skills yet. You don't have the coping skills. And so it was incredibly healing to play this character that meant so much to me and then to see how much I had stepped into my own and how much this stuff that used to devastate me or, like, I'd be really insecure about that. I couldn't enjoy the process of making it because I was such a perfectionist or, you know, just so needed validation or approval or whatever at the time. I don't anymore. And so it was incredibly healing to go back and play this character through that I have such a soft spot in my heart for and just get to really enjoy it and soak it in and not have all of the, as my grandfather used to call it, mind taffy of, like, the stuff that we just spin our wheels over that it's like you're missing it. It doesn't matter.

[Avery Woods]

Totally.

[Jennifer Stone]

You're fixating on stuff that doesn't matter. Be in the moment. Enjoy this. You know, it's fleeting and it's something. Yeah. I was just incredibly grateful for that.

[Avery Woods]

I love that. Okay. We like to end with rapid fire.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, I love rapid fire. Let's see if my brain is sharp enough right now.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. Favorite Disney Channel original movie of all time.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, this is such a tough one.

[Avery Woods]

I know in my head what mine is.

[Jennifer Stone]

Smart house.

[Avery Woods]

Oh. I just showed my kids out for the first time.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, you did?

[Avery Woods]

And they loved it. They were like, yeah. Well, first it turns on and Ziggy goes, my son. Why is it so blurry?

[Jennifer Stone]

You're like, that was the 90s.

[Avery Woods]

I was like, the high quality HD.

[Jennifer Stone]

Even Wizards. Even wizards. You go back and I'm like, that's blurry as hell. Wild.

[Commercial Announcer]

I know.

[Avery Woods]

Mine's Halloween Town.

[Jennifer Stone]

Ah, sure.

[Avery Woods]

I love Halloween Town.

[Jennifer Stone]

One or two. You like the original?

[Avery Woods]

I like the original.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay. Fair.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Classic.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay.

[Avery Woods]

Coffee, energy. Drinks or raw willpower to get through a 12 hour shift?

[Jennifer Stone]

Coffee.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Here's the thing. I have two different kinds of shifts. I have a two coffee shift and a three coffee shift. If it's a three coffee shift is rough. Yeah, we're boarding. We're understaffed.

[Avery Woods]

See, I would have like a double shot of espresso latte in the morning and then I usually crack open an energy drink at like 11:00am yeah, see,

[Jennifer Stone]

I can't do energy drinks.

[Avery Woods]

But when I got pregnant, I cut that out. Out. I only have my coffee in the morning and I was like. So I would sit with a Costco double chocolate muffin on top of my belly and I wouldn't even stand. When I would give report to the ICU doctors, they're like, just stay sitting down. Yeah, but when I worked night shift, I would go as a new grind. I would get a double shot of espresso from Starbucks and a chai and I would chug the espresso and then drink the chai throughout the night. Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

I do a two coffee. So I start my. I have my two coffee things. So I get my warm coffee in the morning and then after my breakfast break, which we're lucky to have, have. Thank you, California. I would then have my second coffee after that. And then I try to transition to like green tea, but sometimes it's just a third.

[Avery Woods]

Also like, I could drink green tea and go the to sleep like green cheese.

[Jennifer Stone]

I know, I know it doesn't do anything. It's more of a placebo. But I don't even know if coffee hits me anymore.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. I feel like I just, I also just needed something to sip on.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Like just kind of help me like move along.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. And don't hand me this like drink station nonsense.

[Avery Woods]

No, I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear from anyone. What. When they would. Sorry, I know this is rapid fire,

[Jennifer Stone]

but when they would.

[Avery Woods]

During COVID When they would come with the hot. The. The health evaluators and they would be in their little suit and tie and they'd be like, I need you to move your water. And I was like, I haven't left

[Jennifer Stone]

this all the room for eight hours.

[Avery Woods]

And I like turn my huge belly. I'm like, do I. I'm not allowed to drink water at least.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay. But at least you had them. We didn't have them. I don't know where the hell they were. There were times where I was like, I could really use a commission of some kind. Right now. And so it's something where it's like, I. Now when I see them, I'm like, where were you when we needed. Needed you? Yeah, I'm gonna drink my coffee at the nurse.

[Avery Woods]

See, it was like a weekly thing they would do their route.

[Jennifer Stone]

We did not have that at all.

[Avery Woods]

But at first it was like, oh, like, the police is here. Then it was like, if they said anything, we would look at them like, really? I've been wearing the same N95 for six months, and you're gonna come correct. Be upset that I have a hydro drug at my nurse's station.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, but I'm like, where were you when we were pulling 10ccs out of one universal normal saline bag? Where were you when my, like, thing was all crumpled up or we didn't have enough papper? Like, I don't want to hear it. It's. The coffee's not the problem.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. And we would come back and be like, okay, so can you bring me more masks?

[Jennifer Stone]

Or.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, we don't have any route of supplies. I said, then go somewhere.

[Jennifer Stone]

Then why are. Then why are you here? Yeah. Anyway. Yeah, not so rapid fire, but. Yeah, that's a whole spiral.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. Dream reality show to be on.

[Jennifer Stone]

I don't know if I'd want to be on it, but I was obsessed with America's Next Top Model. Obsessed. I would not want to be on it.

[Avery Woods]

Did you watch the documentary?

[Jennifer Stone]

Yes, of course. Of course. Crazy. Not surprised by any of it.

[Avery Woods]

No, me neither.

[Jennifer Stone]

I was obsessed with that show. I. But, no, I would not want to be on that show. Reality show. I'd want to be on all the ones I. I wouldn't want to be on them that I love.

[Avery Woods]

We like, all the most toxic ones.

[Jennifer Stone]

Right? Like, well, even, like, I survived, I love. Which I don't even think they make anymore. But I don't even know if that's a reality show. I think that's, like, a true crime thing. I definitely don't want to be on that one.

[Avery Woods]

Have you seen Alone?

[Jennifer Stone]

No, but I've. I've heard great. I've heard great things.

[Avery Woods]

I wouldn't survive a day, I think.

[Jennifer Stone]

Okay. I think I would want to do, like. I don't even even know if he still does it. But, like, the Bear Grylls one, I really love that one because I love nature. I love camping. I always love to, like, push myself physically.

[Avery Woods]

My son's obsessed with bear girls.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, he's amazing. Like, I want to strip a snake and eat it. Like, that sounds great.

[Avery Woods]

That's what my son says. And he's like. He's seven, by the way.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Going to second grade. And, like, that's his favorite show ever. And I'm like, I don't care. Go ahead.

[Jennifer Stone]

But, like, a no reservation or like, a Surviving with Bear Girls. Those would be great. Or like, on the opposite end of the spectrum. I love a below deck. Med. Love a below deck.

[Avery Woods]

Okay. Yeah, I've never seen it, but everyone.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, no, you have to watch it. I, like, I had, like, a small DM flirtation with, like, one of the chefs one time from. Oh, and I'll tell you off camera with one of them, but it didn't work out. But, like, it was one of those things where I was like. I internally was geeking out and being like, I fucking love this show.

[Avery Woods]

That's so funny.

[Jennifer Stone]

It's very cute too, but whatever. All right, again, no game.

[Avery Woods]

Tex Mex or Texas barbecue also?

[Jennifer Stone]

What?

[Avery Woods]

What's Tex Mex?

[Jennifer Stone]

Tex. Oh, girl. Okay. That hurt my heart. That hurt my heart. That hurt your heart too. Oh, okay.

[Avery Woods]

See, I'm not from Texas. I don't know.

[Jennifer Stone]

So. Okay, let me know if I this up. But Tex Mex is basically a Texas version of Mexican food. So when I came to California, Mexican food was incredibly bland to me because there's a lot more spices. There's a lot more. Like, queso is totally different in Texas. Like, Tex Mex, queso slaps here, it's just. They melted cheese in a bowl. I don't know what's going on, because, like, in Texas, there's meat in it. There's tomatoes, there's spices. Spices. Like, it's so good.

[Avery Woods]

Diarrhea.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. That's what it looks like, too, but it tastes delicious.

[Avery Woods]

It would run right through.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. Well, you know, sometimes you gotta clean it out. Yeah, But. But, yeah, so, like, it. Yeah, it's just. It's more flavorful to me, but I think I would do Texas barbecue.

[Avery Woods]

Okay.

[Jennifer Stone]

My dad has a cattle farm, I have to say.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, that's cool.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, I'm not allowed to be vegan. He won't let me. Yeah, I tried for, like, a little bit, and he stopped talking to me.

[Avery Woods]

I just like dairy and meat and cheese and everything, so. Okay. Ultimate celebrity crush. Growing.

[Jennifer Stone]

Growing up, I had so many. During what phase of my life? My first one was Sean from Boy Meets World.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, Loved him well.

[Jennifer Stone]

But also two. Absolutely tracks with my. Let me find a project and fix them. You know what I mean? Like, that started real early.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

We've learned. We've gone to therapy and hopefully fixed that. So, no, I look back at that, I'm like, oh, maybe not like the best first crusher, but, yeah, he was the first one that I was like,

[Avery Woods]

who is that I love.

[Jennifer Stone]

He's got problems. He comes from a broken household.

[Avery Woods]

I remember having the.

[Jennifer Stone]

I'll make it better. Oh, yeah, he was the best.

[Avery Woods]

Love that show. Last time you cried.

[Jennifer Stone]

Oh, my God. This, like, this little. I'm a cry just thinking about it. This. This little dog was, like, smiling because he learned that he got more attention at the pound because he smiled at people.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, I saw that video.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. I literally started because they just. They just love you so much, and there's. It's such uncomplicated affection and they just. Yeah. I mean, I'll cry at an IMS commercial. Like, if it's about animals and stuff, I lose my mind.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah. Sometimes I think about the trauma that I saw in the. And unfortunately was, like, so disassociated. But then, like, I'll scroll on reels and just sob it. Like a cat.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, a cat that, like, sits on. Not. I don't think it's cat. I think this was a dog, but, like, sits on its owner's, like, grave. Like, is waiting for him to come

[Avery Woods]

home or, like, is missing one leg. It was going to be euthanized and then got adopted. This beautiful family and a birthday cake every year.

[Jennifer Stone]

Like, oh, there is goodness in the world. Yeah, Totally. Just a total mess. And there was something. I don't know if you've seen the Odyssey yet, but the dog and the Odyssey where I just was, like, when

[Avery Woods]

they kicked it outside and it's, like, all wimp. Oh.

[Jennifer Stone]

And then his little tail.

[Avery Woods]

I know, I know.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah. So last time I cried was for sure a TikTok animal video.

[Avery Woods]

Okay, Got it. We're the same. Well, I'm obsessed with you. You're so obsessed with you, too. So cool. Thank you. I'm so grateful that you came on

[Jennifer Stone]

and thank you for having me.

[Avery Woods]

I can't wait to see all the amazing things that you continue to do while also working as a nurse.

[Jennifer Stone]

You and me both. Well, hopefully getting sleep will be the first thing that I do.

[Avery Woods]

Yes.

[Jennifer Stone]

Because, yeah, I'm not a morning person, but working day shift, so it just. You get used to working on not very much sleep, but.

[Avery Woods]

Correct. Yeah.

[Jennifer Stone]

But you know the feeling.

[Avery Woods]

I'll take day shift over night shift. Same.

[Jennifer Stone]

I. So I think we all had the year of night shift, or I. I was lucky that I only had a year of night shift.

[Avery Woods]

I was only one year too, but

[Jennifer Stone]

because, yeah, with the diabetes too.

[Avery Woods]

Oh, I can't.

[Jennifer Stone]

My body shut the hell down. Was not happy. But anyway, we can just keep talking.

[Avery Woods]

I'm so grateful to have met you.

[Jennifer Stone]

Yeah, me too.

[Avery Woods]

I enjoyed talking to you. It was so fun.

[Jennifer Stone]

I know we could have kept doing it for like an hour, but everyone else is like, let me move on with.

[Avery Woods]

I'm like, shut the cameras off. We're gonna continue this conversation. All right, Cheers everyone.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nowadays you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what you don't expect? Free drinks. But now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Air Lines. So just sit back, relax and switch to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible plan and link SkyMiles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms Lots of places

[Jennifer Stone]

can expose you to identity theft. Oh, no.

[Commercial Announcer]

That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity, which is way more than anyone can do on their own. If we find. If you find anything suspicious, like new loans or changes to your financial accounts, we alert you right away.

[Jennifer Stone]

All through text, phone, email or the LifeLock app.

[Commercial Announcer]

Get the alerts that could make all the difference. Save up to 30% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply.

[Jennifer Stone]

Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of Angie, and one thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. Because with every fix, update and renovation, it becomes a little more or your own. So you need all your jobs done well. For nearly 30 years, Angie has helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for the projects that matter, from plumbing to electrical roof repair to deck upgrades. So leave it to the pros who will get your jobs done well. Angie the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find a pro for your [e-mail].