CHEERS! with Avery Woods

Episode: Life After Nursing | Tay Lautner
Release Date: March 3, 2025

Introduction

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of CHEERS! with Avery Woods, host Avery Woods welcomes Tay Lautner, a registered nurse turned mental health advocate and co-host of the Squeeze podcast alongside her husband, actor Taylor Lautner. Recorded at the Unwell headquarters in Los Angeles, this conversation delves deep into Tay's transition from nursing to podcasting, her advocacy for mental health, and her personal journey navigating life alongside a public figure.

Background and Early Life

Avery Woods opens the conversation by expressing her admiration for Tay Lautner's advocacy work:

"Tay Lautner has been such an advocate for mental health... And as you guys know, this last year I've really struggled with my own mental health."
(00:28)

Tay Lautner shares her upbringing in a suburban town near LA, highlighting a normal childhood filled with dance and academic interests:

"I danced growing up. Only child... life was very normal, normal suburban child."
(03:04)

Journey into Nursing

Tay recounts her initial foray into dance at Cal State Long Beach, only to pivot towards nursing after realizing her passion for anatomy and physiology during high school:

"In high school, the one class I really cared about was my AP anatomy and physiology class... maybe there's something there."
(04:06)

She details the challenges of nursing school, especially balancing being a straight-A student in a demanding field:

"Being a straight A student in nursing school was insane because that was not ever me. I freaking loved it."
(05:06)

Tay emphasizes the versatility of nursing, noting the diverse pathways available within the profession:

"The versatility of nursing... you can truly try something else before."
(05:43)

Transition from Nursing to Podcasting

The conversation shifts to Tay's decision to leave nursing due to severe mental health struggles exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic:

"I ended up getting COVID... I needed to leave. This is my time to do this or else I probably would still be working there right now."
(21:16)

Tay explains the genesis of her mental health advocacy:

"I started a blog called Lemons by Tay, which then morphed into a non-profit. Two years after that, it became the podcast."
(22:28)

Avery Woods highlights the importance of Tay's podcast in providing a platform for diverse mental health discussions:

"You cover so many different aspects and people on a scale that you would never believe... Everyone deals with it."
(27:34)

Personal Life and Relationship with Taylor Lautner

Tay shares the serendipitous way she met her husband, Taylor Lautner, through a mutual friend and how their paths converged despite attending rival high schools:

"We met December of 2017. His sister's a year younger than me... then a game night brought us together."
(15:00)

They discuss their shared love for the Harry Potter series and how Taylor's past as an actor from the Twilight franchise intersects with their lives:

"We did watch Harry Potter because it's our love language. Taylor had to hide his first editions from his religious family."
(18:17)

Tay recounts their intimate proposal in the kitchen, contrasting with Taylor's elaborate public proposals:

"He proposed on our kitchen counter surrounded by roses. It was so sweet and just a moment with us."
(52:09)

Mental Health Advocacy and Podcast Insights

Tay elaborates on the mission behind the Squeeze podcast and the Lemons Foundation, emphasizing creating a safe community for open mental health conversations:

"Our foundation is based on building a community where you can talk about this stuff that's safe to talk about."
(46:59)

She discusses the challenges of maintaining the podcast's integrity amidst enticing but misaligned guest opportunities:

"I've had to stay true to what I want this podcast to be... we're able to have famous people all the way to normal people."
(23:05)

Tay reflects on handling criticism and backlash from podcast episodes, particularly when featuring reality TV personalities:

"We've received hate comments when we had reality people on, but I've learned to take it in stride and focus on our mission."
(44:02)

Balancing Public Life and Personal Well-being

Both Avery and Tay discuss the impact of social media on their mental health, with Tay expressing gratitude for positive interactions while acknowledging the pressures of public scrutiny:

"I've been very blessed with the people that follow me... I'm somewhere in between not being an influencer."
(40:56)

Avery shares her own struggles with social media-induced anxiety, especially following the birth of her child during the pandemic:

"When my social media took off, I started having panic attacks and thought it would be easier if I wasn't here."
(24:08)

Fertility and Family Planning

Tay opens up about her experiences with fertility, emphasizing the importance of having a solid marital foundation before expanding their family:

"We're happy as we are, just the two of us... It's so important to have that time of just you guys."
(29:28)

They discuss the societal pressures on women regarding timelines for marriage and motherhood, advocating for personal readiness over external expectations:

"There's this timeline for women where you get married and then when are you having kids. It's important to have that time."
(33:41)

Future Endeavors and Closing Thoughts

Looking ahead, Tay expresses excitement about growing the Squeeze podcast and expanding the Lemons Foundation:

"More podcast stuff... I'm ready to grow more and talk to more people."
(46:18)

Avery and Tay exchange warm goodbyes, celebrating their shared experiences and mutual support in their respective journeys:

"Thank you for being here. Cheers, guys."
(56:38)

Notable Quotes

• Avery Woods: "Mental health is something that is so important to be open and honest about and speak on."
  (00:28)

• Tay Lautner: "Being a straight A student in nursing school was insane because that was not ever me. I freaking loved it."
  (05:06)

• Tay Lautner: "I had to leave because I'm not a quitter. That's just like a nursing mentality thing."
  (21:38)

• Avery Woods: "It doesn't matter how famous someone is, everyone deals with mental health."
  (27:34)

• Tay Lautner: "Having someone who is so normal despite being a celebrity makes our life much more content."
  (49:16)

Conclusion

This episode of CHEERS! with Avery Woods offers a profound exploration of Tay Lautner's journey from nursing to mental health advocacy, underscored by her personal experiences and the dynamics of her relationship with Taylor Lautner. The conversation serves as a testament to resilience, the importance of mental health awareness, and finding balance between public personas and personal well-being.

Note: For full authenticity and context, listeners are encouraged to tune into the original episode.