De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan: Episode Summary – "Setting the Record Straight About Bear Gate"

Release Date: July 17, 2025
Hosts: Dani and Jordan Austin
Episode Title: Setting the Record Straight About Bear Gate
Podcast Description: De-Influenced with Dani and Jordan offers unfiltered conversations on a wide range of topics, drawing from over a decade of experience in the influencer industry. This episode delves into personal anecdotes, a memorable Aspen trip involving a bear encounter, discussions on spirituality, and recent celebrity happenings.

**1. Family Moments and Lighthearted Banter

The episode kicks off with Dani and Jordan sharing amusing family stories, highlighting the spontaneous and humorous dynamics of their household.

• Stella's Pimple Comment: Dani recounts a moment when their daughter Stella humorously remarked, “bad things happen to good people” (00:44), a phrase that has since become a go-to expression in their home whenever minor mishaps occur.

2. Aspen Trip and the Bear Encounter ("Bear Gate")

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Dani and Jordan’s recent trip to Aspen, where they experienced unexpected wildlife interactions.

• Absence of A-Listers: Jordan expresses surprise at not encountering many celebrities in Aspen, only spotting the drummer from All Time Low (01:31). Dani counters by mentioning their sighting of the band's drummer, pointing out that A-listers might not frequent Aspen during peak seasons.

• Bear Incident: The central topic, "Bear Gate," revolves around an incident where a bear repeatedly accessed their Aspen rental house by knocking over an unlatched trash bin. Despite their understanding of basic bear protocols, the bear continued to forage for food, leading to online backlash.

  • Initial Encounter: On the first night, a bear was seen eating diapers and spaghetti from their trash (19:08). The couple filmed the encounter, capturing the bear's behavior.

  • Online Backlash: Posting the bear video led to criticism, with viewers accusing them of irresponsibly feeding wildlife, despite the couple's adherence to general bear safety guidelines (19:55).

  • Resolution: The trash bin latch was fixed after multiple incidents, deterring the bear from returning (20:51). They faced unfair accusations but maintained that the situation was beyond their control (21:16).

• Community Perception: The hosts discuss how such incidents shape public perception of bear behavior and the challenges of balancing human presence with wildlife conservation.

**3. Spirituality and Religious Discussions

Dani and Jordan delve into conversations about spirituality, Catholic practices, and personal beliefs.

• Near-Death Experiences and Telepathy: Dani shares her interest in studying near-death experiences, citing a friend's account where telepathic communication occurred (03:10). This leads to a broader discussion on the validity and understanding of telepathy.

• Catholic Practices: The conversation transitions to Catholic traditions, such as anointing with oil and the distinction between saints and sinners.

  • Anointing and Saints: Ellie, Dani’s best friend, explains that while all Catholics are considered God's children, sacraments can elevate individuals to sainthood, though saints can still be sinners (09:21). This sparks a lighthearted debate about the concept of sainthood and sainthood branding (09:38).

  • Religious Rituals: The hosts discuss the practical aspects of Catholic rituals, like reading the catechism and the role of homilies in connecting scripture to everyday life (11:14).

• Personal Reflections: The episode highlights the personal journeys of the hosts in exploring and integrating their spiritual beliefs into their lives.

**4. Justin Bieber’s Album Release and Media Scrutiny

The hosts shift focus to recent events in the celebrity world, specifically Justin Bieber's surprise album release amidst personal and media challenges.

• Album “Swag”: Justin Bieber released his seventh studio album, "Swag," which garnered immediate attention. Dani shares her mixed reactions, praising the musical production but critiquing some of the lyrics (27:13).

• Media and Personal Struggles: The discussion touches on Bieber's tumultuous relationship with the media and his marriage to Hailey Bieber. They analyze how media narratives can influence public perception and the personal toll it takes on celebrities.

  • Hailey Bieber’s Instagram Post: Hailey’s controversial Instagram announcement regarding Justin’s album sparked debates about their relationship and media portrayal (36:59). The hosts express frustration over the ongoing criticism and the impact of constant media exposure on their mental health.

• Public Personas vs. Private Lives: Dani and Jordan explore the dichotomy between celebrities' public personas and their private struggles, emphasizing the difficulty of escaping media scrutiny.

**5. Tattoos, Piercings, and Personal Aesthetics

A lighter segment where Dani and Jordan discuss tattoos, piercings, and personal style preferences.

• Tattoos Across Ages: The hosts debate the appeal and perceptions of tattoos as individuals age, referencing celebrities like John Mayer and discussing societal standards for body art (41:08).

• Piercings and Personal Boundaries: The conversation shifts to eyebrow and nipple piercings, with Dani expressing discomfort and Jordan humorously contemplating temporary tattoos to experiment with edgy looks (47:24).

• Social Perceptions: They analyze how tattoos and piercings influence attractiveness and perceived personality traits, questioning societal stereotypes associated with body modifications.

**6. Epstein List Controversy and Political Implications

Concluding the episode with a deep dive into the controversial Epstein client list and its ramifications on political figures.

• Lack of Disclosure: The Department of Justice and FBI confirmed that no extensive Epstein client list exists, leading to disappointment and frustration among those seeking new revelations (60:56).

• Trump’s Involvement: The hosts discuss former President Donald Trump's previous suggestions about releasing the list and his ambiguous stance, contemplating whether he is personally implicated (60:27).

• Legal Outcomes: The conversation touches on Diddy’s legal battles related to Epstein, noting that while he was found not guilty on major charges, he was convicted on lesser charges of transportation for prostitution (63:07). This outcome sparks debate on the effectiveness and fairness of the judicial process.

• Trust in Institutions: The hosts express growing distrust in institutional transparency and the politicization of serious allegations, highlighting a broader societal skepticism towards authorities and legal systems (64:10).

Notable Quotes:

• Dani on Bear Incident:
  “If you were there, you really watched that story.” (00:56)

• Jordan on Apes and Bears:
  “They can climb trees. That's the scary part.” (24:58)

• Dani on Justin Bieber:
  “It's either, like, to me, it just seems so unhealthy to, like, continue to open yourself up to…” (29:43)

• Jordan on Trusting the System:
  “It's really made me not trust really anything about the system.” (64:19)

Conclusion

In "Setting the Record Straight About Bear Gate," Dani and Jordan Austin provide an engaging blend of personal stories, wildlife encounters, spiritual musings, and current events analysis. The episode highlights their ability to navigate complex topics with humor and insight, offering listeners a comprehensive and relatable discussion on contemporary issues and personal experiences.