Laughing, Crying, and Everything In Between - De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan

Transcript

A (0:00)

Foreign.

B (0:07)

The following podcast is a Dear Media production hello and welcome back to your favorite podcast.

A (0:13)

D Influenced. I'm struggling today.

B (0:17)

Don't start off like.

A (0:18)

No, I'm. I'm just not feeling great because neither am I. Oh, really?

B (0:22)

Well, I'm just like really pregnant and it's like kind of hard to talk a little bit and I'm a little congested and I had a tummy ache and I was throwing up all yesterday.

A (0:30)

Do you throw up today?

B (0:32)

Not yet. I think I've had a stomach bug that. It's like, I just have a stomach bug and then like exhaustion. So we were on the way to our doctor or like it was my 36 week appointment and I was telling Jordan, I was like, I don't feel good. I really don't feel good. And then we got the car and I threw up on the way in. And then I threw up once we got there and then the doctor came in and I was crying.

A (0:57)

Yeah, she. And I was rubbing your back and she was like, what happened? I was like, I knew she was gonna come in when you were crying. And I was like, I don't want it to look like we're fighting because it's awkward because we weren't fighting, you know?

B (1:08)

Yeah, yeah.

A (1:09)

But she's cool.

B (1:10)

She was like, what happened? I was like, I don't feel. It's like she said, it's not that I'm sad because I'm sad. I'm sad because I don't feel good. I get depressed when I don't feel good.

A (1:21)

Yep. Every time. It's a vicious cycle.

B (1:23)

Yeah.

A (1:24)

You don't, you get sick. And the sickness is not the worst part. It's the sadness.

B (1:28)

It's the sadness from sickness.

A (1:30)

It's the sadness from the sickness. And then it's. You got to pull yourself out of it. Yeah, it's tough. It's a vicious cycle. Five years.

Summary

Podcast Summary:

De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan
Episode: "Laughing, Crying, and Everything In Between"
Date: February 12, 2026
Network: Dear Media

Overview

In this raw, humorous, and candid episode, Dani and her husband Jordan navigate a vulnerable week of pregnancy woes, marriage, influencer industry insights, and deep dives into cancel culture, public shaming, and the complexities of accountability. They blend laughter, honest tears, and unfiltered debate, particularly around social media call-outs, the “Preachers and Sneakers” phenomenon, and the ever-evolving landscape of AI and job security. The episode is rich with both personal stories and big-picture musings—making it feel intimate, timely, and thought-provoking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pregnancy Struggles and Emotional Turbulence

Early Episode (00:13 – 12:00):
- Dani shares the physical and emotional rollercoaster of being heavily pregnant and ill, describing throwing up en route to her doctor and the emotional weight of not feeling well.
- Quote:
  - Dani: "I don't feel good. I get depressed when I don't feel good." [01:10]
  - Jordan: “It’s a vicious cycle. Five years of it.” [01:39]
The couple discusses the repetitive chaos of pregnancies and the idea of permanent birth control, using humor to keep things light:
- Jordan: "That's why I'm scheduling the vasectomy. We can't let our subconscious crazy get a hold again." [02:14]

2. Relationships, Support, and Gender Roles

They openly discuss how pregnancy affects not only Dani but Jordan, reflecting on the challenges and expectations for men:
- Dani: “Pregnancy is very tough on the men and they don't get enough credit. Maybe you should get a push present too.” [07:38]
- Jordan: “No, I don't want any present. I honestly just wanted you to say that. Thank you.” [07:46]
The duo pokes fun at each other’s responses to emotional needs, with Dani admitting, “Sometimes I just feel like you don't have a heart.” [04:53]—while also appreciating their partnership.

3. Parenting, Readiness, and Letting Go

They laugh about not having logistics sorted for the new baby (no nursery, uncertain of the baby’s name) and embrace a more relaxed “all they need is their mama” attitude:
- Dani: “They don’t need a name. They don’t need a room. They just need their mama.” [10:50]

4. Body Image, Pregnancy, and Social Media

Dani addresses the pressure of comparing herself to others, accidental glimpses at her weight, and the dangerous allure of social media “before and afters”:
- “That’s like my version of porn...I go look at before and afters of plastic surgery.” [14:06]
Jordan offers reassurance, highlighting how personal perception is not always reality.

5. Cancel Culture: Personal Experience & Societal Impact

The "Preachers and Sneakers" Conversation (21:47 – 46:07):
- The couple shares their encounter with the creator of “Preachers and Sneakers,” an Instagram account that highlighted the expensive designer gear worn by celebrity pastors, sparking debates about accountability in religious circles.
- Dani: “It was kind of like a troll account...but he was always very, like, lighthearted about it. It wasn’t mean. It was definitely callout culture, but it wasn’t mean.” [23:38]
They juxtapose this with Dani's own experience of being “canceled” twice by the fashion watchdog account “Diet Prada”—which resulted in heavy hate, depression, and a major reassessment of her business ethics and practices.
- Dani: “It was the craziest amount of hate I've ever received. Like, death threats. I was depressed for like a whole week. I didn't want to ever show my face again.” [28:29]
They deeply debate the value, risks, and morality of public shaming versus accountability, and whether call-out culture fosters growth or just chaos and ego.
- Jordan: “Shame is a very powerful weapon.” [31:17]
- Dani: “In your heart of hearts, if you feel like it’s okay to go after someone else because you’re so perfect...that’s where I don’t understand the self-righteousness.” [33:16]
The pair wrestle with whether personal change should come from community, private conversations, or outside public pressure.

6. AI, Automation, and Job Insecurity

Late Episode (52:44 – 61:41):
- Jordan voices serious concerns about the rapid advancement of AI, specifically how it’s affecting job markets—even for graduates of elite schools.
- Jordan: "For the first time, I’m really, really worried about the future because of AI… It's helping us solve problems we’ve been stuck on for six months, but I don’t see how this goes well for knowledge workers." [53:12, 54:35]
Dani shares her experience watching makeup tutorials online and realizing some creators are actually AI-generated avatars—underscoring both the uncanny and unsettling reach of tech in daily life.
- “She was so good at makeup…She was an AI girl. And I’d been following her.” [56:20]
They talk through anxiety around universal basic income, the loss of purpose that jobs provide, and pragmatic advice:
- “One of the best times to be an entrepreneur. One of the worst times to be an employee.” [58:59]
Advice for employees: embrace and rapidly adopt AI tools to stay competitive.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

“I get depressed when I don't feel good.” — Dani [01:10]
“That’s why I’m scheduling the vasectomy. We can’t let our subconscious crazy get a hold of us again.” — Jordan [02:14]
“You've been crying a lot. Have you felt supported in your cries?” — Jordan [04:39]
“Pregnancy is very tough on the men and they don't get enough credit. Maybe you should get a push present too.” — Dani [07:38]
“All they need is their mama…They don’t need a name. They don’t need a crib.” — Dani [10:50]
“That's like my version of porn...before and afters of plastic surgery. I'm like, wow, you can do that.” — Dani [14:06]
“Shame is a very powerful weapon.” — Jordan [31:17]
“If you feel like that's okay to go after someone else because you're so perfect...that’s where I don't understand the self-righteousness.” — Dani [33:16]
“I think people in power… it takes something like public shaming to get them to listen.” — Jordan [40:12]
“For the first time, I’m really, really worried about the future because of AI… It’s happening so fast.” — Jordan [52:44, 54:35]
“One of the best times to be an entrepreneur…one of the worst times to be an employee.” — Jordan [58:59]
“She was so good at makeup… She was an AI girl. And I’d been following her.” — Dani [56:20]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Start | End | |--------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------| | Pregnancy struggles & emotional support | 00:13 | 12:00 | | Parenting logistics & laid-back approach | 10:48 | 12:35 | | Body image & pregnancy | 12:36 | 16:06 | | Call-out culture; Preachers & Sneakers | 21:47 | 46:12 | | Dani’s “Diet Prada” cancel story | 26:09 | 31:58 | | Debate: Accountability vs. Self-Righteousness | 33:16 | 43:32 | | AI, job disruption & universal income | 52:44 | 62:12 |

Tone & Vibes

Unfiltered, playful, and deeply honest.
A mix of vulnerability and humor.
Reflective, occasionally heated debate—particularly around morality, forgiveness, and call-out culture.
Empathetic but pragmatic in discussing modern anxieties like job security and technology.

Takeaways for Listeners

The episode offers a rare, behind-the-curtain look at the emotional realities of pregnancy, the nuances of marriage, and how influencer culture intersects with broader social trends like cancel culture and technological disruption.
Dani and Jordan’s conversations provide thoughtful (often unresolved) perspectives on accountability vs. self-righteousness, suggesting personal growth is best rooted in humility and honest self-examination.
The looming impact of AI is spotlighted as both an opportunity for innovation and a looming threat to traditional workforces—urging listeners to stay ahead by embracing new tools and skillsets.

Skipping detailed sponsor reads, as requested. For full stories and in-between banter, listen to the episode directly.