Vicky Christina Madelyn Cline

Summary

Dear Chelsea – “Vicky Christina Madelyn Cline”

Podcast: Dear Chelsea
Host: Chelsea Handler
Episode Date: August 6, 2026
Guest: Madelyn Cline
Co-Host: Catherine Law

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Episode Overview

This episode of Dear Chelsea is a characteristically witty, candid, and wide-ranging exploration of life, love, friendships, and self-acceptance, featuring actress Madelyn Cline (Glass Onion, Stranger Things, Outer Banks). Madelyn chats with Chelsea Handler and Catherine Law about her career, body image in Hollywood, dating, friendship breakups, imposter syndrome, and more. As always, listener letters spark honest, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartfelt advice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chelsea’s Spanish Immersion & Self-Care Adventures

• Chelsea shares updates on her Spanish learning trip to Madrid, describing her immersion experience and solo adventures.
  • “My driver in New York’s named Rafa and he speaks Spanish and he cannot believe how much I've improved in two weeks.” (04:03)
  • Discusses loving hotel life, solo lunches, feeling rejuvenated and whimsical (05:41).

Introducing Madelyn Cline

• Chelsea introduces Madelyn as “cutie patootie, fresh and fruity” (06:47).
• Quick banter about wakeboarding, snowboarding, and sporting mishaps leads into shared anecdotes about embarrassing public moments and social anxieties (07:16–09:10).

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Red Carpet Pressures & Navigating Hollywood

• Madelyn discusses the awkwardness of red-carpet interviews and misconceptions about being ‘drunk’ in the spotlight.
  • “I go back and rewatch it, and I’m like, I sound so drunk... Maybe had a glass or two before, but I wasn’t that gone.” (08:11–08:32)
• Chelsea relates, sharing how having a pre-show drink helps her slow down her speech onstage (08:32–09:00).
• Both reflect on superficiality in press coverage—like the obsessive “Who are you wearing?” question (09:18–10:06).

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Dating, Dealbreakers & Generational Attitudes

• Discussion about engagement vs. marriage: Both a bit cynical, both like the idea of rings over weddings.

  • “I think it would be cute to get engaged and just stay engaged and keep having engagement parties.” – Chelsea (10:08)

• Dating dealbreakers and “icks”: Madelyn cites mouth-breathing; Chelsea dislikes men failing to complete tasks (15:01–15:41).

  • “What is something that somebody would have to do to ick you out in a dating scenario?” (14:51)

• Conversation about dating within and outside Hollywood, and how work schedules complicate relationships (35:12–38:04).

  • “The reason why we, everyone in the business, dates other people in the business is obviously because of proximity.” – Chelsea (36:02)

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Communication Styles: Text, Calls, FaceTime

• Madelyn prefers phone calls; emails and texts overwhelm her (17:26–18:01).
• Chelsea is skeptical about unexpected FaceTimes but has warmed up to phone calls (18:05–18:47).
  • “I want to be on the phone and also be doing other things.” – Chelsea (18:43)

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Friendship Breakups & Gossip vs. Awareness

• Both reflect on how friendship breakups can be more painful than romantic ones.
  • “For me, they...were worse than actually boyfriend breakup. Like, that is the worst thing ever.” – Madelyn (25:59)
• Madelyn and Chelsea debate the ethics of gossip, reframing it as sharing information or ‘spreading awareness.’
  • “It’s not gossip if you’re just spreading awareness.” – Madelyn (24:26)
  • Validating feelings after friendship loss and how age brings better coping skills (25:00–27:14).

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Madelyn Cline on "Outer Banks" Ending & Life in the Spotlight

• Discusses the final season of Outer Banks, including her character’s surprise pregnancy storyline and the joys and challenges of filming in hot, bug-infested, windy on-location shoots (28:01–34:43).
  • On unwanted “character development”: “They made me pregnant. You know that’s when a show’s done.” (28:34)
• Madelyn’s evolving response to public fascination with her appearance:
  • “I liked your response...‘Yeah, because I’m getting older and, like, things have changed.’” – Chelsea (30:20)
  • “My body reflects whatever’s going on with me, and so I understand that sometimes it’s going to change...” – Madelyn (31:21–31:50)
• Commentary on unrealistic beauty standards in Hollywood and how filming conditions (fake tans, sweat, lack of ‘pretty’ makeup) often lead to scrutiny (32:58–34:05).

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Listener Letters & Live Advice

1. Rejecting Unwanted Advances from Acquaintances (51:00)

Listener Meg: Struggles to reject men she sees regularly at work/neighbors.

• Chelsea’s advice: Be direct but kind; use statements like, “I just started seeing someone” or “I’m not feeling it.”
  • “I’m a fan of letting people down lightly and just saying, being direct and saying, ‘I’m not feeling it.’” (53:20)
• Madelyn admits sometimes letting things go too far to avoid hurt feelings (53:38–54:04).

2. TV Triggers, Marriage, and Eating Disorders (59:11)

Listener Lene: Husband wants to bond over “food challenge” videos, but as a survivor of bulimia, she finds it triggering.

• Chelsea: Urges complete honesty; “You don’t have to watch TV together...You are the number one priority in this situation.” (61:13–65:44)
• Madelyn: “That is so sweet...but this activity is maybe not a group activity for me to be included in.” (64:08–64:47)

3. Advice for a Young Mom-to-Teens (73:43)

Listener Hallie: At 27, raising two 15-year-old girls she adopted out of foster care; struggles with ‘missing’ her 20s.

• Chelsea: Flips the perspective. “You gave these girls a safe place to grow up...That is invaluable. Your 30s are going to be even better than your 20s.” (78:40–79:31)
• Both praise Hallie’s generosity and encourage her to embrace her future freedom, not guilt-trip herself, and continue being a supportive presence (81:15–83:04).

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Memorable Quotes

• “Sometimes friendship breakups are worse than boyfriend breakups. There’s a sisterhood, and that betrayal is more unexpected.” – Chelsea (26:13)
• “It’s not gossip if you’re just spreading awareness.” – Madelyn (24:26)
• “My body reflects whatever’s going on with me...I don’t care [about comments].” – Madelyn (31:21)
• “I just want my ring.” – Madelyn (39:07)
• “You have the whole world ahead of you, and of course, you’re missing out on this time in your 20s, but honestly, this isn’t the best time of your life anymore. Your 30s are gonna be even better.” – Chelsea (79:30)

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Notable Timestamps

• 04:01 – Chelsea recaps her solo trip and Spanish lessons.
• 06:47 – Madelyn Cline joins, talks snowboarding/wakeboarding.
• 14:51 – “What is something...that would give you the ick?”—dating dealbreakers.
• 23:07 – Friendship group talk & handling friendship breakups.
• 28:00 – Outer Banks final season; being “made pregnant.”
• 31:21–32:58 – On changing bodies, public scrutiny, and self-acceptance.
• 51:00 – Advice: Politely rejecting neighbor/co-worker advances.
• 59:11–65:44 – Advice: Husband’s food video triggers listener’s bulimia.
• 73:43–83:04 – Advice: Young woman navigating life as a sudden ‘mom’ to teens.

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Recurring Themes

• Efficiency (and exhaustion) of womanhood: The prevailing pressure for women to be productive, efficient, and tolerant—especially in relationships.
• Radical honesty: Whether in dating, friendship, or marriage, openness (even when awkward) is championed.
• Self-acceptance: Madelyn and Chelsea model self-acceptance and humor in confronting public scrutiny, body changes, and professional insecurities.
• Female solidarity: The unique pain and healing involved in female friendships is acknowledged and validated.

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Conclusion

This episode balances tactful, heartfelt advice with laugh-out-loud female camaraderie. Chelsea, Catherine, and Madelyn Cline normalize the anxieties, fuckups, and triumphs of womanhood—reminding listeners to advocate for themselves, embrace their quirks, allow friendships and relationships to evolve, and never apologize for living life honestly.

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For advice from Chelsea Handler, email [e-mail]. For live show dates and more, visit chelseahandler.com.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Hi, Chelsea. Are you fluent in Spanish yet?

[A]

I am doing pretty well. I mean, my driver in New York's named Rafa and he speaks Spanish and he cannot believe how much I've improved in two weeks.

[B]

Oh, fantastic.

[A]

Yeah. He didn't know I went to school in Spain, so I told him in Spanish and he was like. And then he started. And then he's like, oh, my God, I'm not going to be able to correct you anymore. And I'm like, oh, don't worry, you'll find a fucking way. And then of course, within it. But. But yeah, he was really impressed. And my. Also, a couple of people I work with were I was talking Spanish with. So I definitely understand a lot more and I know a lot more. I'm not fluent, but I am definitely way better than I was when I got there. So that's exciting.

[B]

I noticed you've been improving with your, like, low and lot. Like the. I think it's the possessive stuff. I mean, you're crushing.

[A]

I just, I loved my time alone. It felt like I was a mother away from her children. Even though I don't have children, I just walked to school every day by myself with my little rucksack. And then, I mean, I don't have a rucksack, but I just wanted to throw that out there. And then I already had, like, a group of doctors. By day three, I was getting a massage, and then I was like, oh, I need to get this kind of dry needling. They had this. Madrid is such a beautiful city. So many of my friends were coming through Madrid, unbeknownst to me. So that was a surprise. I'd go to school for three hours. My teacher only. My profesora only spoke Spanish. And then after that, I would take myself to some ridiculously delightful lunch, have, like, two glasses of wine, and then I'd walk through the streets of Madrid. It was heaven on earth. How lovely.

[B]

You're just, like, filling your life with whimsy.

[A]

That's just. Loved it. I just was so happy. Everyone at the hotel was like. They kept testing me on my Spanish. Day three, day four. And I was like, eloise at the Plaza. I just was like. I was just so happy. I love. I just belong in a hotel.

[B]

I agree with that. How did your blind date go, by the way? Did that materialize?

[A]

Oh, I don't think I went on a blind date. No. I was set up with people. Like friends. Not, like in a romantic way. No. I didn't even think about men, honestly. There was one guy that was trying to hit on me once I was in the bar at my restaurant, and I was like, is this guy hitting? And he was. I mean, he must have been 20 years old, and he was, like, seriously trying to stray. And I was like. I was like. At one point, I wanted to go. I meant to say, like, not senor, but whatever the other word for it is in Spanish. But I couldn't think of what it was. I was about to call him, like, boy, and then I'm like, don't call him boy. That's not right either. But I wanted to be like, I could be your mother. Get away from me. I'm not interested in that. I like young boys. I mean, not. I like young men. I don't like young boys.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

Like, it's gotta be something, like, in the appropriate age range. I'm not interested. Anyway, I'm home now. I'm in New York City. We have a great episode today. You know this actress, she was adorable. From Glass Onion, Stranger Things, and her hit series, which is now in its final season, Outer Banks. Please welcome Madeline Cline. Oh, my God. We have Madeline Cline here today. Hi. Cutie patootie, fresh and fruity. What were you talking about? You were talking about snowboarding.

[C]

Yes. So I so we were talking about how wakeboarding makes you feel like you can absolutely snowboard because it's like, kind of the same thing.

[A]

Yes, I understand this.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

I had a very easy time wake surfing the very first time I did it. I think I got up on the

[C]

first time I did, too.

[A]

Have you been water skiing?

[C]

No.

[A]

Okay. That's much more hard. That's much more difficult.

[C]

Especially when they do it on, like, the one ski.

[A]

Yeah, I can't do that.

[C]

That's insane.

[A]

I can't water ski, period. And I can snow ski really well, but I can't water ski.

[C]

I just know I would wipe out and, like, break every bone in my face.

[A]

It feels like if one of your legs goes in the wrong direction, all breaks loose. Oh, you're cutting. And it does. It does. It's not pret pretty when you wipe out.

[C]

No. So, like, I went snowboarding for my birthday in 2021, I think.

[A]

And I like the way you said 21.

[C]

21.

[A]

20, 21. Very phonetic.

[B]

Thank you. It's Christian.

[C]

I'm trying to enunciate more because a lot of times I just. So I've been on. I've been on, like, red carpet interviews, and I go back and I rewatch it, and I'm like, I sound so drunk. And then I'll, like, look at the comments and they're like, oh, our girl's. And I'm like, I really wasn't. Maybe had a glass or two before, but I wasn't that gone.

[A]

Sometimes I'll record a standup set that I'm doing. And I always have a drink before I go on stage, obviously. And I. Yeah, of course. And I. Then I look and then I'll watch it and think. I'm like. I'll be like, oh, clip that for socials to my social team. And then they'll send it to me. And I'm like, oh, my. I'm like, look for this area when I'm talking about this. And I'm like, my God. But there's just like a. Yeah. Because if I don't have a drink, I talk too fast. I talk like this, and I have to take it down.

[C]

Yeah. If I don't. If I don't have a drink or a beta blocker or both.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Or a beta blocker. I take beta blockers as well.

[C]

I get so scared and so anxious, and I'm like. And then I'm like, what I'm saying is so stupid. And then I just.

[B]

To be fair, some of those questions are Stupid. You know, like a red carpet.

[A]

Like, who are you wearing? That's the first stupid question.

[C]

I know. I hate that.

[A]

It's like, why do you have to talk about that?

[C]

Who cares?

[A]

I mean. Well, I mean, some people. The designer does care.

[C]

The designer cares.

[A]

So that's for their. But, like, sometimes it's just not. I don't know. It doesn't always feel like an appropriate question.

[C]

No, because it's like, the designer obviously does care, but, like, for the majority of the people watching, I don't think it's really, like, the most.

[A]

The most important thing. And also, when we post it, you give credit to who you're wearing anyway, so it's just a silly conversation to have. I agree with you.

[C]

It's like, also a really weird opener.

[A]

Yeah. Who are you wearing? And then you're like, you're wearing Wang. It's my wedding. Obviously, I'm wearing Vera Wang. I've been married multiple times.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Yeah. Seven.

[C]

How seven?

[A]

No, I've never been married.

[C]

Oh.

[A]

And I will never be married.

[C]

I think that's chic.

[A]

I know. I think it would be cute to get engaged.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And just stay engaged and keep having engagement parties.

[C]

I'm just like, just give me the ring.

[A]

But do you need the ring from some man? I mean, can't you buy your own ring?

[C]

Yeah, but I don't really feel like paying for it if he will. Right.

[A]

Okay, copy that.

[C]

You know what I mean? Like, then I can go spend my money on something I want, like, another ring.

[A]

You've never been married. You're too young to be married.

[C]

No, I've never been married. How old are you? 28.

[A]

28, okay. That's not too young to be married.

[C]

The other day, someone. Someone asked me my age, and I was like, 26 or 27.

[B]

I pick one.

[C]

I don't know.

[A]

Did you forget or you just.

[C]

Oh, you did genuinely forgot. And I'm not even. I'm neither 26, nor am I 27. I'm actually 28.

[A]

28.

[C]

But I actually forgot, and I had to go and do the math because I just.

[A]

How did you do the math?

[C]

You went and figured it out. I counted with my finger.

[A]

You went back to the year you were born and counted backwards.

[C]

7, 8.

[B]

99.

[C]

Went 100. I just genuinely stopped caring, I think, about which birthday it was after. 25. 25th.

[A]

Yeah. Well, you'll care again at 30 and then 35 and then 40.

[C]

I'm excited about 30.

[A]

It's gonna get better and better and better. So you have nothing to worry about. Life gets better as a woman. The more experience you have being a woman, the better it gets.

[C]

The closer I get to 30 is. I can feel my cortisol dropping. It's awesome. I'm like, okay, great. I'm getting less stress.

[A]

That's a good ad for something.

[C]

Making for agency. I really need to, like, I need to invent something. I need to invent a brand. Maybe I can do something.

[A]

I'm sure there's something.

[C]

Maybe that's my ad.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. That's a good tagline for whatever your ad is. The closer I get to 30, I can feel the cortisol dropping.

[C]

Yeah. So I'm like, well, then I wonder how 30s are gonna. I'm gonna have zero cortisol at all.

[B]

That's the thing. Like, as you age, you kind of, like, care less about what other people think. You become more of yourself. And I think there's so awesome. You have to take an active role a little bit, too. But I think it also just happens as you age.

[A]

So are you a millennial or. No, you're not a millennial.

[C]

You're Gen Z. I'm like a millennial. Gen Z. Cusp.

[A]

Cusp.

[C]

Yeah. So. But I feel like I am technically Gen Z, but I feel like sometimes I do millennial things. Like the millennial pause that everyone, like, flames millennials for doing. Like, when you go on cameo and you get a cameo from, like, Jax Taylor, and he's like. You can tell he, like.

[A]

Not that you've done that.

[C]

No, I haven't. But I've seen someone else's, and he is recording, and it's like, literally three seconds where he's just waiting for it to start.

[A]

Oh, that.

[C]

I have done that. It's embarrassing. I did get a cameo from Boston Rob.

[A]

I've never gotten a cameo for someone, but people seem to like that as a gift.

[C]

It's really funny. I think. As a gag gift.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. Not as a serious gift.

[C]

No. Like an ironic.

[A]

Yeah. Because usually the people who are giving you providing the cameos are, you know, they're.

[B]

It's the Jack Taylors of the world.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, no, it's. That's not gonna sound good. However, I try to clean up, so never mind. I'll just skip it.

[C]

Rotten hail.

[A]

Anyway, sign up for cameo.

[C]

Everybody get a cameo.

[A]

Yeah, get a cameo account or order one.

[C]

Maybe we could do a one for someone together, you and me.

[A]

I would love to do that.

[B]

You can do one for Bobby Austin.

[C]

Rob.

[A]

We should we should create the next level of cameos. Cameo plus this is for more legitimate people.

[C]

Oh, it's like riot for cameo.

[A]

Exactly. What is your like biggest dating deal breaker?

[C]

I feel like sometimes when you're in a relationship with someone, especially when it's new, I'm like, I'm always like, I feel like I'm being pranked because there's like you hit like a certain month mark and all of a sudden they

[A]

start being mean or they start being real.

[C]

Right.

[A]

You start to see them like the real. What do you think that month mark is? How many months?

[C]

I feel like it's like it's always been kind of like three for me.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

If I even make it that far. Like, because I feel like I'm always away, like on.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Working. So I feel like it usually expedites that process.

[A]

Yes. Well, I feel like it's kind of. Similarly, I also date like a lot of long distance people, so it takes longer to get to that three month mark. So it usually happens around the five or six month mark.

[C]

True.

[A]

Where you start to see more than you saw in the beginning.

[C]

Totally.

[A]

Where it's not all sunshine and roses.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

What is something that somebody would have to do to ick you out in a dating scenario?

[C]

The problem is like I get the ick so easily.

[A]

Me too. We're women.

[B]

I'm like, what's the littlest thing you've gotten an ick from?

[C]

I like like mouth breathing. Like, close your mouth.

[A]

Yeah. I don't like when somebody, a man says they're gonna go take care of something and then they come back empty handed.

[C]

I don't like that either.

[A]

Like even if it's just like if we're out of function and then we can't find the bar and I'm like, okay, you need to go get us the drinks.

[C]

Yeah, that's very true.

[A]

And they're like, I couldn't get it. And it's like, no, no, that's not an option.

[C]

Use your brain.

[A]

You have to. Can't come back empty handed. It doesn't have to be only alcohol focused either. I just wanna make this clear. I don't know, it has to be task focused. If you're getting me something, get the job done and don't come back until you've got it done. Like, I would never. If you needed something and I said I was gonna get it, I would come back with it.

[C]

Or just like, okay, so this maybe wasn't like a relationship thing, but like on the same note is like when People don't, like, use, like, their brain or common sense to, like, solve a problem. Right. Like, I was on a trip one time, and the person I was on the trip with, like, we were. Our. Like, our tickets to, like, this one. Our tickets. The QR code was not scanning. And then, like, they just stood there, and I was like, go. Go to the ticket.

[B]

Like, go talk to someone.

[C]

They were like, I just don't know what to do. And I'm like. So I had to sprint to the offices, like, try to, like, express what was going on. The boat was about to leave, and it was just like. It's just. I don't like feeling like I have to do everything.

[A]

I think women in general are feeling this malaise. We are exhaust. I'm exhausted by being so efficient.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

What I get done in the first two hours of my day would rival what any man I've ever dated gets done in the first two hours of

[B]

their day or the whole day.

[C]

Productive. Like, so, like. And I mean efficient, though.

[A]

Yeah. Not only productive. Efficient multitasking. Okay, there's 18 emails. I'll get them all taken care of before I get going. And so, like, I once dated a guy who didn't answer email. He didn't look at emails. And I was like, what do you mean you don't look at emails? You're a professional. He's like, I only operate through texts.

[C]

I respond better to text. Actually, no, I take it back. I'm really bad at text. I'm phone call.

[A]

Like, pick up the phone and talk. I'm curious about people who are bad at texting, because that is, like, the most immediate way to communicate. And it's coming up on your phone, right?

[C]

Yeah, and it's coming up on my phone. And the thing is, I am so, like. Like, there's so many things happening at one time that, like, I see it and I'm like, okay, I'm gonna respond to that. So I don't open it. And then by the end of the. By the time I have, like, a chance or I remember to look, there's, like, 10 more.

[A]

I see.

[C]

And I get so overwhelmed.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

And so I end up usually, like, calling.

[A]

But you just said you don't like phone calls.

[C]

No, she does. I do.

[A]

Oh, you do like phone calls?

[C]

I prefer. Because I feel like that is. I don't know, my thumbs get tired.

[B]

I like that a phone call. Like, to respond to a text.

[C]

I think that's very respectful.

[A]

That is nice. I mean, you can't ever get mad at A phone call. Unless you're me. And you do get mad at phone calls, but I've actually warmed up to phone calls. I don't like a surprise FaceTime. Like, I don't like a. I need you to like preliminarily discuss that with me or give me a heads up. Like, I'm gonna. And the people who FaceTime me are wackadoos. Like, I'm like, I'm not just answering a random FaceTime, but I've grown. Like, I've kind of gotten more okay with FaceTime. I don't like the act of sitting there and holding a phone for that long. You know, that's annoying. So, like when you're talking to the phone, you can put an AirPod in and walk through the airport. Like, I'm not gonna walk through the airport on a FaceTime again.

[B]

Efficiency. You got shit to do.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. I want to be on the phone and also be doing other things.

[C]

Yeah, that's fair. I understand that. I just feel like, I always feel like I'm able to convey information much more, much clear, much more clearly if it is me. Just my stream, in my stream of consciousness, I'm like, okay, and. Oh, and this thought and that thought. And I feel like sometimes over email or text, I can't quite do that as well.

[A]

Yeah, I understand.

[C]

Yeah, totally.

[A]

I have been looking for ways to improve my skin. And a few months ago I heard about the Lima Laser and I tried it three minutes daily. It's perfect. On my couch or on the go. A fuss free regimen. I can really get behind. Just eight weeks and my skin is tighter, my jawline is lifted, the lines around my eyes are softer. It has been game changing for my routine. The laser is a handheld cold laser device used by surgeons and dermatologists in clinic. Engineered to fit in your handbag for use on the go. Portable. Powerful, painless, firmer, younger looking skin, softer lines, a jawline that looks lifted. A neck that doesn't give your age away. Total skin transformation in as little as 30 days. The kind of skin that has people asking what work you've had done when you haven't had any. If you want better skin, visit Lima Life. Use code Chelsea10 for 10% off. The Lima Laser that's L Y M A Life with code Chelsea10 for 10% off. Not valid on the Lima Laser Pro. This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir Lamivudine. Living with hiv. Do learn about Devato Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[D]

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[A]

Do learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path. At Rasmussen University you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, ET exceptional student support, and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on campus programs. Enroll in a fully online program or one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen. Edu it's the new year, which means everyone's talking about doing better, eating better, feeling better, taking care of themselves. And if you're thinking that way about your own health, your dog probably deserves that same energy. Doug eats just fresh from just Food for dogs. It's real human grade food, not processed junk. And it's the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. And yes, I've seen the difference. More energy, shinier coat, and a dog who suddenly cares very deeply about dinner. Because let's be honest, you wouldn't eat the same processed thing every day. So why are we feeding that to our dogs? No judgment, just logic. What makes this work is that it's shelf stable, I don't need freezer space, I don't need to plan ahead, and I definitely don't need a lifestyle overhaul. If you're starting the year trying to do better, start with your dog. Go to justfoodfordogs.com and get 50% off your first order. No code needed, just a Smarter way to start the year. Right. Do you have, like, a group of girlfriends, or are you, like a best friend kind of girl? Like, what's your.

[C]

I have a group, so it's. I wouldn't say it's like a girl group, but I guess it's just a bunch of people.

[A]

Have you ever had a really bad friendship breakup?

[C]

Yeah, I've had a couple.

[A]

Really?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And how do you handle that?

[C]

It's really gnarly.

[A]

It's gnarly for anyone. I say this. I was at dinner with a girlfriend last night, and we were talking about it. We had the same breakup with the same girlfriend, and we didn't know. And so she. And so then we went to dinner when we found out.

[B]

That's good, too.

[A]

And we just sat there and like. And I was like, God, I feel great.

[C]

I feel so much. Was it, like, for the same reason?

[A]

Yes. So that was, like, very cathartic because it was like we both. It was both unveiled that the same person did the same thing. And I already knew that because I've been around this town. I know a lot of the same. We know. And. But it was very. It felt like we were little girls in a sense. Cause, you know, I'm much older than you, obviously, and you kind of want to get out of the habit of, like, gossip. But it didn't feel like gossip. It felt like therapy.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Being validated. It felt being seen and validated, like, oh, I was exactly right in what I deduced. But it took me so much longer than it took her to figure out what was going on.

[C]

Right. Also, like, it's not gossip if you're just spreading awareness.

[A]

That's a great line, too. That's for your other brand. It's not gossip if you're spreading awareness. My driver the other day said to me, it's not gossip. Because I said the same thing about this conversation to him. I go. It was like. He said, it's not gossip if it's information. That's the thing, you know, actually, because there is a way. There is a way where you can get with your friends, whether they're your guy friends, girlfriends, whatever, where it can be nasty and you're talking about someone.

[C]

It can be malicious.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

That is. That, to me, like, is toxic and bad.

[A]

Bad and a bad habit to get into on the regular.

[C]

Absolutely. Like, there's no reason to say nasty things about people. If there is something that needs to be conveyed, then if you're just telling the truth, then, like, if they get mad at it, Then they shouldn't have done it. But I lost your train of thought. Yeah, I did.

[A]

Well, luckily, we're on the phone and not texting, so I can pick up the conversation for you.

[C]

We're in person.

[A]

But I do. I think that's a good way to. Because there is a way to do something meanly, and then there is a way to just send somebody a warning, like, hey, just so you know, I know that person. And this is how that. And sometimes people are on the exact same page as you, and you can just know they are.

[C]

Yeah. And you know that they're also not saying anything in, like, to paint anyone in a bad light.

[A]

So when you do have, like, a friendship breakup or any, like, experience that you've had, how do you handle that situation?

[C]

Honestly, I feel like sometimes they're worse, if not the. For me, they. I think both times were worse than actually boyfriend breakup. Like, that is the worst thing ever. And because it's.

[A]

You know why? Because it's like, there's a sisterhood.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And that betrayal is more unexpected than a betrayal from. From a guy.

[C]

Totally. And with friendship breakups, I don't know, I think I just, like, have to fully, like, completely remove myself.

[A]

But do you. Do you let the person know, like, this relationship is over, or do you go see them?

[C]

I've not ghosted in this. In this particular instance with a friendship breakup. But, like, I also. It's happened two times. The first time was something I up, and I did something bad, and I spoke to her, and I was like, I'm really sorry, and I did something really bad, and if you can forgive me, I would totally appreciate it. But I also understand if you won't. And I'm sorry. And the other time it happened where it was done to me, and I have. It's like. It's not ghosting, but I'm trying to figure out how to have, like, the conversation.

[A]

I see. Right.

[C]

You know? Cause it's like. It's just as painful.

[A]

Well, I think that's something you learn, too. You get better at as you age. I think you get better at, like, breakups all across the board because you just realize that's kind of part of life. And your expectations not fade as you get older, but your expectations just aren't where they are when you're idealizing things. Like when you meet a guy when you're in your 20s, it's a different expectation and romanticizing of a relationship than it is if you meet someone at my age. You're like, oh, That'll be a fun fling for a few months. Or like, oh, this guy will be fun. Let's see what he's got. There's an adventurous spirit, but it's not like I'm tying myself to the end result of.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So congratulations. First of all, this is season five of Outer Banks.

[C]

We're done.

[A]

The final season. How does that make you feel?

[C]

I'm really, really proud of everyone. And I mean, it's crazy that we had a show that went for five seasons, because that's impressive.

[B]

Right?

[C]

And I'm also. I'm happy. Like, you know, it's time to close the book. And I think it's bittersweet, but I think everybody knows. And everybody is, like, appreciative of. Of how and when we've decided to cut it off. We've told all the story and they made me pregnant. You know, that's when a show's done.

[A]

I like the idea they made you pregnant. I like that sentence. They made me pregnant. Like a group of men did it. Yeah, that would be problematic. Real quick.

[C]

It definitely was not my favorite character development.

[A]

It wasn't.

[C]

You weren't.

[A]

You weren't happy about that?

[C]

No, I was like. I was like, I don't want to wear the belt. Like, I don't want to wear those heavy silicone in the South Carolina summer heat where the heat index gets to, like, 110.

[A]

Yeah. When I was watching that show, I was just thinking to myself in my sinister, well, cynical way. Cynical way. I was like. And tell me if this is true, because I've never filmed anything in that climate, but to be on an island seems like a nice idea. But the filming aspect is probably not that nice. Being in the sun all fucking day long.

[C]

Yeah, it is. I mean, when we were in Barbados, it was like. I don't know, it was both at the same. It was so beautiful. And so. I mean, a lot of our locations are stunning and so windy. Sometimes we have to re record sound for all of those.

[A]

That's all I was thinking. There was so much wind in some of the scenes that I'm like, how can they even hear each other on a set?

[C]

Because usually you have to stop down for a while. I know. Especially when we're having, like, a really, like, intense scene and conversation and like, maybe my. My. My psychotic brother comes into the scene and then everyone's, like, yelling at each other. And then, like, I don't know, Dad's dying and it's just like, your hair's in your face. It's like, it feels. It starts to feel very, like, Scooby Doo ass. It, like, becomes a little, like, silly. It's like, okay, like, what? What else?

[A]

I like the way that you handled people's responses to your growing over the course of five years or five seasons. Like, your body, your face, the way you look. And I liked your response to that is like, yeah, because I'm getting older and, like, things have changed.

[B]

I'm having experiences in life.

[D]

Different.

[A]

Yeah. I'm eating different things. I have been through breakups. I've been through all of those things. Like, you have changed as a person over the course of five years. Of course you're going to start to look different after five years.

[C]

Totally. Or like, you go through breakups or, like, you find, like, comfort in food or, like, I don't know.

[B]

Right. Like, we're always changing.

[C]

Yeah. Like, drinking sometimes or, like, unhealthy habits, or you're not going to the gym or, I don't know, you're on your period. Like, it's just. But it's always, like, insane, like, people's. To me, people's fascination with especially women's bodies and, like, like, I mean, thanks. What? But, like, so shut the up. I'm sorry.

[B]

Have you, like, made your peace with that? Like, how, like, being the subject of sort of this endless online fascination?

[C]

I've made my peace with it. I've also, like, I also just accept that, you know, my body, like, my body reflects what's. Whatever's going on with me, and so I understand that sometimes it's going to. To change. And. And it's also, like, carried me through everything that I've been through, and I'm, like, healthy and alive because of it. So I also, you know, like, if people can make comments about it, I don't care.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I. I mean, just in, like, being even, like, say we just take this podcast. Like, there I will see comments of like, oh, my God, look at all her podcasts. Plastic surgery. And I'm like, first of all, I was hungover that day.

[C]

You know what I mean?

[A]

Like, my face can be literally, like, twice the size that it is. Some days I have cheekbones, some days I don't.

[C]

My face is the first place it shows.

[A]

I mean, it's like, are you. I'm a woman. I look completely different every single day. Like, it's the lighting. It's what you. It's the camera.

[B]

It's like all those little shots.

[A]

I know for two episodes I looked orange, and I'm like, why am I so orange?

[C]

And. And then we realized that the lights are orange.

[A]

Stream of orange light. I was like, is it the curtains that are orange that are refracting off of me or I'm refracting off of. But it's so ridiculous that you don't understand that people look like. I mean, when I was on. When I had a talk show, it was every single day. And I could look vastly different day to day. You know what I mean? I don't think people quite understand that all of this stuff is not reflective also of how you look in real life life. Like, all of the camera stuff adds stuff.

[C]

Oh, and also the camera, like, the way it magnifies, like, any and everything it possibly can. And that's how, like, when we were shooting, I mean, seven years of Outer Banks and been through so much, but, like, from season to season, I look so different. And it's reflective of, like, what I was going through. And, like. And that's okay, but people would make comments about it, and at first it bummed me out, but I'm like.

[A]

Like, yeah, you have to let it go.

[C]

But also, they're making us like we were. We would have to wear, like, crazy, like, fake tans, and then they'd, you know, lots of, like, dirt makeup and silicone belly. And also, like, I wasn't allowed to, like, to wear mascara. And there was. No. There was not. They didn't want anything to make us look, like, no concealer. They didn't want any. Any, like, pretty makeup, because why? They wanted us to look supernatural and sweaty and dir. And so, like, so automatically it's like, well, they're not setting us up for success, for people to make nice comments about the way we look. We were already at a disadvantage.

[B]

I have always wondered this. When you're out in the sun all day and you're on set, like, what is the sunblock situation? Are there people slathering you? Like, how is that working?

[C]

I mean, there's spray, obviously. Like, the spray sunscreen was king because. And then we would put, like, SPF foundation on, but it was so hot, we would just sweat it off.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So just respraying. But also, the bug situation was so bad. So we were laying our layering ourselves with spray sunscreen and deet, and we all smelled so bad.

[A]

I know that DEET stuff smells so bad.

[C]

Oh, it's insane.

[A]

It's like, I think I would rather be fried by the sun. Well, I don't know. The bugs. I'm trying to think which element is More annoying because the bugs are so annoying.

[C]

They're so bad.

[A]

Yeah, but then the sun can kill you. The bugs can't really kill you. I mean, they could if they're carrying malaria.

[C]

I don't know. The bugs in South Carolina are kind of like, they're kind of metal as they're.

[A]

They're middle as.

[C]

No, metal.

[A]

Metal.

[C]

Oh.

[A]

I was like, is that a phrase

[C]

I don't know about middle?

[A]

I'm like, middle. So you've dated a lot of people. You've dated a dj, you've dated an actor, you've dated. Have you dated a musician? Have you dated a comedian?

[D]

Sure.

[A]

Yeah. So is there anyone that you would never date again? Any type of career that you would never date again? Or is there a career choice out there of somebody you wouldn't date? Like, would you date a finance guy?

[C]

I don't know.

[A]

I don't think I would.

[C]

I don't. I don't think I could.

[A]

Unless they were bringing like huge amounts of cash.

[C]

Well, yeah, okay. Actually, maybe. Yeah, maybe. So I wouldn't say like never again to any of them, but I do think, you know, after a while I was like, maybe, like, maybe this industry is a little gnarly for dating. Like, maybe I should look elsewhere. So I, you know, maybe that lends itself to a finance guy, but probably not.

[A]

Or just somebody that's not in the business. The reason why we, everyone in the business dates other people in the business is obviously because of proximity. Like, those are the people you meet and those are the people you're around the most. That's why I feel like it's so important to have a real life, you know, like outside of work, so that you can meet real people and normal people. But then it's really hard for those normal people to kind of assimilate to the lifestyle because the lifestyle is not like movable or manageable. It's like shoot dates. Those are non negotiable. You don't know how long you're gonna work each day and there's no room for like.

[C]

That's the thing is like, I have also dated people who weren't in the industry in an effort to fix that problem. But that was the problem or fixed the problem of dating in the industry or on set. Yeah. And then I got annoyed because I felt like I having to explain every.

[A]

How work goes.

[C]

I'm like, this is just my job. And also this is my life.

[A]

Yeah. I had a similar situation where I recorded a podcast. This is a guy I dated a couple of years ago, I recorded a podcast. It was before I had met him, and I was just talking about how great it is to be single. And they held the podcast for a couple months. And then the podcast came out after he and I had gone public. And he couldn't wrap his head around the fact that I had recorded a podcast. It was old. And he's like, why would you talk about having sex with guys? And I was like, cause that's what I was doing before I met you. And he couldn't wrap his head around the fact that the podcast had been recorded months ago and they just released it like he thought it was live.

[C]

So that also happened to me one time where I made comments before, like, you know, we had, you know, become official. Official. And then in the timing of the release of those comments was really bad, like, really gnarly for him. But I, like, I explained, I explained everything. But, you know, it just, it still felt like he was still just not happy. And I'm like, I don't.

[A]

I'm sorry, are you someone that looks to like. Do you think about yourself in the future? Do you think about being married? Do you think about having children? Is that something you care about?

[C]

I do. I think it's, you know, I think they're all fun things to think about, but the idea of childbirth really terrifies me.

[A]

Really?

[C]

Yeah. Because I was only, like, only last year did I learn like really gnarly details about childbirth.

[A]

Yeah, childbirth seems like something that, that the less you know about it going in.

[C]

There's a girl on TikTok who has a list. So when women go onto TikTok and tell their birthing stories and she gets really specific, it cuts to this girl writing down a list and there's like 300 reasons she has so far of why not. She does not want to have a baby. So I like to think about all these things. But like we were saying earlier, I mean, I'm just like, marriage, sure, but just give me the ring.

[A]

Yeah, you've said that now twice that you want the ring.

[C]

So hopefully you do a ring because it's sparkly.

[A]

Yeah, I get it. I get it. I understand. People want rings and jewelry. Girls like jewelry.

[C]

They love jewelry.

[A]

I have been looking for ways to improve my skin. And a few months ago I heard about the Lima laser and I tried it three minutes daily. It's perfect. On my couch or on the go, a fuss free regimen. I can really get behind. Just eight weeks and my skin is tighter, my jawline is lifted, the lines around my eyes are softer. It has been game changing for my routine. The Laser is a handheld cold laser device used by surgeons and dermatologists in clinic. Engineered to fit in your handbag for use on the go. Portable Powerful, painless, firmer, younger looking skin. Softer lines A jawline that looks lifted A neck that doesn't give your age away. Total skin transformation in as little as 30 days. The kind of skin that has people asking what work you've had done when you haven't had any. If you want better skin, visit Lima Life use code Chelsea10 for 10% off the Lima lasers that's L Y M A Life with code Chelsea10 for 10% off not valid on the Lima Laser Pro. This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir lamivudine. Living with hiv DO learn about Devato Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[D]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B if you have Hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[A]

Do learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path. At Rasmussen University you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on campus programs. Enroll in a fully online program or one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen. Edu Here's a slightly uncomfortable question. You care about what you eat, right? You read labels. You avoid processed junk. You try to make Smarter choices. So why is your dog still eating ultra processed kibble? Doug eats just food for dogs. Real 100% human grade food. Not kind of fresh, actually fresh. And it's the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. And I've seen what happens when dogs switch. Better digestion, better skin, more energy, and suddenly dinner is the most important event of their day. This isn't about being perfect. It's about not feeding your dog something you wouldn't even consider eating yourself. If you've been curious or your dog has stomach issues, skin issues, or just seems blah about food, this is worth trying. Go to justfoodfordogs.com and get 50% off your first order. No code needed. Worst case, your dog eats better for a week. Best case, you never go back, do you? Still, I heard something when I was doing my research on you that you felt like you had imposter syndrome in this business, which I hear all the time from everyone, which I've also felt. Do you feel that way still?

[C]

I do. I feel like I'm getting a lot more comfortable in my skin, but I do still feel like I just went and shot a movie with Judd Apatow. Oh, yeah. How was that? It was the best time I have truly ever had shooting.

[A]

And that's nice.

[C]

It was really fun. But it's the first time I've legitimately done comedy. And I've always wanted to, but I was just once. It was. Was once we were in prep and once, you know, we were getting scripts, I was like, oh, my God. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe I'm not funny. Like, just, like, I don't. I don't think I'm. I maybe. Are they sure they've got the right girl? And then, you know, also I was playing a singer, and then so there with that also came a lot of movement and vocal training, which was very cool. But I was so afraid that on the day I was gonna walk on and just, like, be a fraud.

[A]

Right.

[C]

So, yes, I still get it badly. But then, like, once we started getting into our flow state, then it went away.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, the singing part is scary, too, to have to sing. Cause. Are you a natural singer?

[C]

No. Eric Vitro did some miracle work on me.

[A]

Yeah. I think you can get almost anybody to be able to, like, at least hold a tune. Yes. Which is what? Yeah. Carry a tune. See, I can't even refer. I don't even know the lango.

[C]

I think I feel like I've said that, too. Hold a tune. Are we both wrong?

[B]

I think so.

[A]

I think it's carry a tune, but, I mean, it's the same idea. It doesn't really matter. It's semantics.

[B]

Is there anything that you're, like, you know, talking about trying comedy for the first time? Is there anything that you are. You want to do in the future, but you are scared to do?

[C]

I think comedy I was really scared of because it's hard. It's not like you can't just make something funny. It either is or it isn't. And it's also, I think in a comedy movie, all four wheels have to be hitting the ground. Everyone has to be kind of throwing their fastball. And so that was really scary. But I would love to do more. We had the best time. I would love to do action. We do a lot of action on Outer Banks. I think that's fun.

[A]

What do you like about that?

[C]

Cause it kind of makes me feel a little badass.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know what I mean? So I think it'd be really fun to do more. And I think comedy is also really closely related to horror and, like, camp or camp horror, which I think is really sick.

[A]

Yeah. What did you grow up watching?

[C]

I grew. So actually, I wasn't allowed to watch horror growing up. But the very first horror movie I did see, which is actually a comedy, were the scary movies.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. Those are hard to miss. Yeah. There's another one that just came out.

[C]

Yes. And then. And then I think, like, oh, and then the first real horror movie I watched, I think was insidious 2.

[A]

I don't know if I saw that.

[B]

Oh, yeah, those are good ones.

[A]

I'm not into horror as much.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Have you done any horror?

[C]

I did. I know what you did last summer that was like, slasher.

[A]

What's the difference between slasher and horror?

[C]

Like, slasher, slasher. Horror is like, there's a deranged serial killer on the loose who's gonna get you, and it's probably, like, your ex boyfriend's uncle for some reason. Okay.

[A]

And he was like, so it's very heightened even more than horror. Like slasher, like, Right.

[B]

Horror is gonna, like, really scare you. Whereas, like, slasher is like a romp with scary themes.

[C]

Yes. And that's what we did, which was really fun. I enjoyed that very much. My favorite thing, too, is, like, when you're. When we were making a horror movie and, like, something in the take would go wrong or the timing would go off, it would immediately turn it into Scooby Doo and, like, really funny, like, where, you know, they're running down the hallways and they miss each other. And it was really funny. Cause I was like, oh wait, this could so easily become hilarious. It just. Which I guess is what they like do in a scary movie.

[A]

But what about lying? Are you good at lying?

[C]

I'm a terrible liar.

[A]

You are.

[C]

I'm a terrible liar.

[A]

As an actor. You're a bad liar.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Isn't acting just lying?

[C]

But the thing is, like, when I'm lying, I don't believe myself. But when I'm acting, I'm like, I have to believe what's coming out of my mouth or I just will start over.

[A]

How did you discover that you were bad at lying?

[C]

I think it was pretty early on. I specifically remember my mom one time asking me if I had done my, my reading for the day, like my 20 minute reading for school. And she was like, when did you finish? And I was like this. I was also really young too. I wasn't this stupid. But I said, at 3. 72.

[A]

That is stupid. That's funny. I'm like, I feel like I was a good liar, but I'm sure I probably wasn't. I don't like to lie just because my lies would turn into these volcanic eruptions. Like, I wouldn't just tell a lie. I would like double mouth the lie. And then there were like three other people involved and like the things that people could easily check and then just like basically implicate other people. Like I. Yeah, I would basically implicate people that weren't involved in it at all. So you're basically dragging everyone down with you. And my friends would be like, why didn't you just say, like, you're not in the mood? You know, like, why do you involve everyone else? Why are you involving so many people in your lives? Like, why are they so multi, like, leveled?

[C]

I can't go to dinner because my best friend's dog died. And then.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I was once trying to get rid of a guy. We were in Barcelona and I was on a date and I was trying. I mean, this guy flew to Barcelona to meet me, right. I had a bunch of friends there. We were there. And then as soon as I saw him, I was like, oh, no, no, this is not gonna happen.

[C]

I love. Yeah.

[A]

And then I made up a friend, I made up a fake character. I made up a wedding. I made up. It was right after that Vicki Cristina Barcelona movie came out. So I kept calling her Vicky Cristina, my cousin. And I was like, she's getting married in Barcelona. And we Actually have to go buy her some wedd shoes right now. Some wedding shoes is crazy. And my friend was watching me and was like, you are? And we ended up running into them at the hotel when we were supposed to be at the wedding. This guy who came out and flew out with his friend. We thought when we said it was a wrap and I was going to the wedding that he would go back to London where he came from. But he came back and stayed there. And we got caught red handed. And as I saw him, I just. I was like, don't. No matter what. And they're like, chelsea, she shut up. Like you are caught red handed. Because I was gonna say, no matter what, we are still going to the wedding. Just keep this stick. Delayed by a story. Stick with the story.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So I can't. Nikki.

[B]

Christina.

[A]

So I don't lie just because. I mean, I.

[C]

Because you're.

[A]

I do sometimes, but I do. When I think about lying, I'm just like, just. It's just so much easier to tell the truth.

[C]

Totally.

[A]

Don't implicate other people.

[C]

Yeah. And.

[A]

And just say the truth.

[C]

I know, but that's the thing is like, I also do that. I just tell the truth. I am such a confessionalist that sometimes I give people too much information and then it actually does throw people under the bus.

[A]

Yeah, I'm with you. That's what I do. I've made a career out of doing that. Or stunted my career from doing that chippy D cbd.

[B]

I actually have a listener question that's all about how to lose a guy. So maybe we just transition.

[A]

Oh, okay, great.

[B]

Are you ready for some advice questions?

[A]

Yeah, let's do it.

[B]

Okay, well, this one's just an email, but Meg says, Dear Chelsea, I'm a 32 year old female. I recently escaped a five year relationship and I find myself getting into pickles with men I'm not interested in.

[A]

Pickles is an interesting guy. Interesting.

[B]

Specifically, men I'm acquaintances with and see on a regular basis. Work neighbors. When they ask to spend time with me, I regrettably agree on the spot because I'm not sure how to reject them politely. I then struggle to either reject them later or I avoid them like the plague. I know I don't owe them anything, but the fact that I. That they're people that I will continue to see on a regular basis and the desire not to make anyone feel bad makes it hard to say no. I need a blueprint on how to handle these situations on the spot because they usually Happen when I'm not expecting it and when I've got my friendly coworker or neighbor mask on. Thanks, Meg.

[C]

Whoa.

[A]

So these are people that she's gonna see again.

[B]

Uh huh. And they're like, wanna hang out like a co worker. It's a neighbor. It's somebody you see regularly.

[A]

Oh. Cause I have a good answer for people you'll never see again. You can tell her you're going to a wedding or that you're having a terrible herp. That usually ends the conversation right away.

[C]

Well, that's a good one.

[A]

But I think what's a good way to shut someone down if you're not interested in a nice way? Because I do think it's important to not leave people hanging and holding on for hope. So I mean, and if you're saying you have a. You can't lie and say you already have a boyfriend or a girlfriend if you're going to. If these are recurring characters, but you can say I just actually started seeing someone and then that could fall apart.

[B]

I know, it's new.

[A]

Yeah, it's new. And then that way it doesn't have to come to fruition. Right. I mean, I think that's a decent way. Another thing you can do is just say, I'm so sorry, but I'm totally not even looking at you in that way or feeling anything in that way. So I don't even want to. I mean, I know that's a little. It sounds hard to say, but there's a succinct way to say that. To say like, I really want to keep it professional. Especially if you work with them. You can always use that as an excuse to be like, I really don't want to mix work with pleasure. I've had a bad experience in the past.

[B]

Totally, totally.

[A]

Or you could say I, Yeah, you could say that. And then the only problem with that is if you start dating a different coworker, but at that point, who gives a shit? But I'm a fan of telling people, letting people down lightly and just saying being. Because so many people ghost. So many people.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And I think that's kind of really fucked up. It fucks with people's psyches. Like you have to just be really direct and say, I'm not feeling it

[C]

or I'm not seeing it.

[B]

I don't want to see anybody right now.

[A]

Or I'm in something slow and I want to see where this goes, you know, like, that's a nicer, softer land.

[B]

I like that.

[A]

What do you tell somebody when you're not interested.

[C]

See, here's the problem. Like, sometimes I let it go too far.

[A]

I did. I used to do that too. I think every woman does that.

[C]

Because I don't want. I hate letting, like, I hate hurting people's feelings. And then I'm like, what was I thinking? But whatever. And so then I usually call and I'm like, like. And I just tell them. I just. But sometimes say, what?

[A]

What do you say?

[C]

Well, sometimes they ask, like, why?

[A]

Right?

[C]

And then I'm a confessionalist and I'll tell them. But then that ends up hurting their feelings.

[A]

Like, what, What. What have you said to someone who's that? Whose feelings have been hurt in that. In that kind of situation?

[C]

You ate all my food and you didn't pay for anything.

[A]

Oh. You're like, I want my ring.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I'm out here looking for a ring, everybody.

[C]

I'm like, I just don't think it's gonna work out. Yeah. And I think we should not speak anymore.

[A]

I love that men don't think that they have to pay for things. Like, what's that about? I think they're confusing. They're confusing, like, chivalry with misogyny. Almost like. Or, you know what I mean, all of that.

[B]

Like, they don't have to make an effort.

[A]

Like, everyone's getting everything confused. It's like, well, why do we have to pay for things? You guys want to be treated equally. It's like, that's not the reason. That's not. That doesn't have anything to do with that.

[C]

I feel like you didn't say anything. I'm like, I'm literally, Use your brain.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Just like.

[A]

And also, it's like a polite thing to do. If I were to take a woman out to dinner or ask a woman to dinner, I'd pay. I would pay. Like, just. If it's a friend situation, it's like, whoever asks you, pay. And dating historically and traditionally is just like a nice way for a man to be like, I'm gonna take you out for on a date.

[B]

Just show them a nice time.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Totally. Yeah. It's nice, right, Meg? Yeah. Sorry, Meg. Yeah.

[A]

I have been looking for ways to improve my skin. And a few months ago, I heard about the Lima laser and I tried it three minutes daily. It's perfect. On my couch or on the go, a fuss free regimen. I can really get behind. Just eight weeks and my skin is tighter. My jawline is lifted, the lines around my eyes are softer. It has been game changing. For my routine. The Laser is a handheld cold laser device used by surgeons and dermatologists in clinic. Engineered to fit in your handbag for use on the go. Portable powerful, painless, firmer, younger looking skin. Softer lines, A jawline that looks lifted, A neck that doesn't give your age away. Total skin transformation in as little as 30 days. The kind of skin that has people asking what work you've had done when you haven't had any. If you want better skin, visit Lima Life use code CHELSEA10 for 10% off the Lima Laser that's L Y M A Life with code Chelsea10 for 10% off not valid on the Lima Laser Pro. This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir lamivudine. Living with hiv do learn about Dovato. Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[D]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B if you have Hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Devato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[A]

Do learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844887. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path. At Rasmussen University you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on campus programs. Enroll in a fully online program or one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen. Edu it's the new year, which means everyone's talking about doing better, eating better, feeling better, taking care of themselves. And if you're thinking that way about your own health, your Dog probably deserves that same energy. Doug eats just fresh from just food for dogs. It's real human grade food, not processed junk. And it's the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. And yes, I've seen the difference. More energy, shinier coat, and a dog who suddenly cares very deeply about dinner. Because, let's be honest, you wouldn't e the same processed thing every day. So why are we feeding that to our dogs? No judgment, just logic. What makes this work is that it's shelf stable. I don't need freezer space, I don't need to plan ahead, and I definitely don't need a lifestyle overhaul. If you're starting the year trying to do better, start with your dog, go to justfoodfordogs.com and get 50% off your first order. No code needed. Just a smarter way to start the year right. We have live callers. Are you ready for this?

[C]

I'm so excited.

[A]

I hope you've been to therapy so you can give some, because that's what we do here.

[C]

Oh, my gosh, yes.

[B]

All right. Lene has a very tricky question. So she says, dear Chelsea, please help me know what to say so I don't feel like a ball busting asshole to my husband. I'm married to a wonderful, thoughtful and caring man who only wants me to feel fulfilled and happy. I know some men would think I'm impossible to live with, but this man has never said a negative word about my hatred for football and video games. I know that he. I know that he participates much less in both of these interests because of a clear boundary I set when we were doing dating. Lately, even our choice of what we watch on television together isn't vibing. I'm interested in documentaries, and my husband finds these to be mostly depressing. He prefers something lighthearted. But I cannot watch another rerun of Friends or the Office. My husband thinks he's found the solution for us, but I don't have the heart to tell him that this solution is triggering to me. He thinks I love watching food eating challenges with him on YouTube. Beard meets food seems to be his favorite. He'll wait for me so we can watch new episodes together. And he travels a lot for work. He sees it as our new show and gets excited to watch it together. The thing is, I have struggled with bulimia since I was 12. He knows this, but we haven't discussed it in years. I'm now 40, and it's been getting harder and harder not to binge and purge when my husband isn't around this show triggers me.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

When I'm watching, I'll be dreaming of the moment I get to be alone again to binge and purge. And I hate that feeling. I feel like if I tell my husband, it will be yet another thing that I hate and he enjoys. How do I have this conversation without him feeling like I'm micromanaging his interests? Am I just doomed to sit through sitcom reruns for hopefully the next 40 years with the love of my life, Lenae?

[A]

Hi, Lenae. Hey, sweetie.

[C]

Hi. Hi.

[A]

Hi. This is our special guest, Madeline Klein.

[C]

Hi. Nice to meet you.

[A]

Hello.

[C]

Maybe you guys can watch Outer Banks.

[A]

Yeah. Have you guys tried watching Outer Banks together?

[C]

We haven't.

[A]

We haven't tried that show.

[B]

It's a fun. It's a fun romp.

[A]

I think that you have to be really honest with your husband, because now you're in a precarious situation with a history of an eating disorder that is triggering. Like, that is completely valid information. And listen, here's the thing. You guys don't have to watch TV together. You just don't. It's not like, a fundamental necessity. It's great if you can find something or a series that you guys are gonna like to get, but it's not absolutely necessary. You can do other things together. Why don't you go for a walk? Like, I know that sounds like blah, but actually, lots of people do that. And it's a way to connect without any distraction. Because I don't really feel like necessarily watching TV with people is the biggest connection.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's kind of like a lazy connection.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

We've been talking a lot. We own a lot of book. I have quite a book collection. We've talked about needing to read more together.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Book club.

[A]

When we've tried, it's just the dead silence in the house. And so we're talking about music in the background while we read. We just haven't quite found the groove of that yet. But you know what's on our list? Okay. With reading, I can help you with this. With reading, you have to set the tone. You have to get into the groove, and you have to force yourself. You can put on some jazz, put on some classical, so it's not distracting. Obviously, you know, you're not gonna be listening to hip hop and reading, so, like, just put on some background music and literally sit there with your partner. You don't even have to read the same book.

[C]

No.

[A]

Yeah. You can just both read 50 pages of a book. And sit down and discuss it after. Or you can read 50 pages. I mean, you can read 50 pages of the same book or you can read. And you can start small. Start with 25 pages. Anyone could read 25 pages of a book and just set a new pattern of something that you guys can do together. And if you're not really agreeing on shows to watch, I don't know that you're gonna be having the same interest in books necessarily. So I think you can be open to reading two different things and then just talking about it, telling each other the story about it. It's just more of a connectivity. I find watching TV with a partner to be pretty lazy, quite frankly. I mean, no judgment, but, you know, when I do it, I'm always like, what are we doing this for? Shouldn't we be like fucking or doing something more? I definitely agree. You know, and maybe there's some other things you guys can start doing together, like going out at night and going to the movies or going bowling or stupid shit. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, he does. He travels so much for work. I feel like it's like he looks forward to like actually being at home and decompressing and, and, and enjoying that. And my biggest hesitation, because I can tell him anything, I, I just. He's a huge over corrector. So I feel anytime I'll, I'll give him feedback, you know, help cooking more dinners. The next thing is a homemade from scratched lasagna, rather taco night or something. So I don't ever want him to feel like a huge overcorrection is needed.

[C]

But just you should tell him that honestly, because like, that. Right. Like that is so sweet. And that the fact that he's, that he's actually like, he's listening to you and he's hearing what you're saying and just tell him like, I don't want you to overcorrect. But this habit or this, this activity is maybe not a group activity for, for me to be included in. And like, don't make him feel like his interest is like invalid or lame. But I think if he will, if he does overcorrect, then maybe there's the potential that he can just correct course correct to a different activity together.

[A]

Yeah. Play games, like play rummy cube.

[B]

There's always puzzles.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Puzzles are just boring though. Like what do you have a puzzle, A game at least there's like conversation going a little bit more than a puzzle. And I just think like, I understand if he's tired and I Feel that way when I come back from the road. Like, I'm tired. I just want to, like, get in bed and not think. I get it. I totally feel. So give a couple of options and be malleable, which I'm sure you already are. But the most important thing is you don't have to care for his feelings into the degree that you're talking about when you're talking about an eating disorder. Like, you're the number one priority in that situation. And he would say the same thing.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

So, like, don't apologize for his overcorrection. If he's gonna overcorrect, you can tell him. Like Madeline said, like, you can tell him. You don't have to over overcorrect, but also, like, you need to be very honest about your truth. You are the number one priority in this situation.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And a great thing to tell him is, like, you can go ahead and watch this show. This is your show to watch in the hotel when you're traveling for work. Like, this is a new show. I just can't watch it.

[C]

Right.

[B]

To get a little more book nerdy about setting the stage for when you're reading together.

[C]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

I like putting on music, but this is, like, very nerdy. You can go on YouTube and find backgrounds that you put on the TV.

[C]

I put those on, too.

[B]

It's kind of fun. Like, if I'm reading a spooky book, I'll put on a background that's, like, stormy night, and you're in a cabin, and it's kind of fun.

[A]

Well, you were right to warn me about that advice. Thank you. First of all, if I could figure out how to fucking do that, my life would be a lot different if I could set the settings on my TV screen. I mean, I go to people's houses. I'm like, how did you do that? But also. So, yeah, find some stuff to do that's like, you know, there's so much you can do. Like, learn how to play cribbage together. Learn how to play gin or play gin together. Play a card game. There's other ways to connect and relax that don't require, like, leaving the house. You know, if he really wants to chill out. I had a small conversation about wanting to have more deep conversations with each other a few months ago, and he literally went out and bought this card game that's for connecting. And then I'm the one who. Who kind of stopped. The questions got real, and I kind of shut down a little. So I know we should pick that game back up again. He took the effort to hear me and move forward with us, to connect through that. I just, you know, one of the first questions, how have I ever let you down? And it just was so, so deep, so quick.

[C]

Yeah. I bet there's other card games, though, that I feel like there definitely are, that are, like, more conversation starters than, like, relationship bummers.

[B]

You know what? I'll send you a link. I can't remember what they're called, but there are these, like, packs of, like, conversation starters that you can, like, use together. And they're fun when you have guests

[C]

over and that sort of thing. Yeah, super fun.

[B]

Yeah, perfect.

[A]

Thank you so much. Yeah. But definitely, like, you know, that is your. A number one, like, focus on telling the truth. You would want to know.

[C]

Yes. It's not an excuse. That's a reason, and it's valid.

[A]

Oh, there you go. That's another tagline for your other brand that we're going to come up with.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

We have three brand taglines.

[B]

Will you check back in with us? Have you guys have the conversation?

[A]

Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I'll follow up. Thank you so much.

[B]

All right, thanks, Lynae.

[C]

Bye, Lynae.

[A]

I bet lots of couples have problems connecting, like, after a while, because it's like, what do you talk about after you've been with somebody for 15 years?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You're of the generation where everyone was named Madeline because I had a Cabbage patch kid named Cabbage Patch Kids were a prelude to a generation of names because everyone name everyone who was my age who named, like, Gretchen, Gracie, Taylor. And then everyone grew up that was my age and had babies and then named them those babies.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But I like the name Madeline a lot.

[C]

I do, too.

[A]

It's a good name. What's your middle name?

[C]

Renee. Okay. Yeah. I liked Madeline. I think. I think the story, like, my parents found out that they were gonna have me when they were visiting their impairment, Paris. And they thought that the. The book, the Madeline book was really cute.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

The little cookies. So they. They just changed the name.

[A]

Do you have siblings?

[C]

I'm an only child.

[B]

Oh, really?

[C]

Oh, yeah. They had a hard time having or getting pregnant with me, so. And then I was apparently a very happy, quiet baby, so they were like, maybe we should just, like, quit while we're ahead.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But they took me to the doctor when I was little because I would not. Not speak.

[A]

How long did it take you to speak?

[C]

It was pretty quiet up until, like, maybe when I was 10, I just started yapping away.

[A]

What do you mean, 10?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

I just didn't really speak. Like my mom would be like, how was your day?

[A]

And be like, at 6 and 5, like when you went to school, I could speak.

[C]

I just chose not to. I just didn't want to.

[B]

Interesting.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That must have been concerning for them.

[C]

That's. Yeah, that's. They, they were like, she just fine. She just, she doesn't see a reason to.

[A]

That's an interesting attitude for a little kid.

[C]

Yeah. It's so funny to abstain.

[A]

Yeah. I'm the youngest of six kids, so it would never have occurred to me not to speak because that was the only way to get shit done or

[C]

to get like, I'm sure to be like, heard.

[A]

Yeah. I'm like, fuck all these other people.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

Hello. You know, I need some attention. But if you are an only child, why are, why would you talk? You're like, I got everything I need.

[B]

I got everyone's attention already.

[A]

It's right here.

[C]

We did like lots of puzzles without speaking. Did you see my family?

[B]

We just yap while we're doing puzzles.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I have been looking for ways to improve my skin and a few months ago I heard about the Lima laser and I tried it three minutes daily. It's perfect. On my couch or on the go. A fuss free regimen. I can really get behind. Just eight weeks and my skin is tighter. My jawline is lifted, the lines around my eyes are softer. It has been game changing for my routine. The laser is a handheld cold laser device used by surgeons and dermatologists in clinic. Engineered to fit in your handbag for use on the go. Portable. Powerful, painless, firmer, younger looking skin, softer lines, a jawline that looks lifted. A neck that doesn't give your age away. Total skin transformation in as little as 30 days. The kind of skin that has people asking what work you've had done when you haven't had any. Any. If you want better skin, visit Lima Life use code Chelsea10 for 10% off. The Lima laser that's L Y M A dot life with code Chelsea10 for 10% off. Not valid on the Lima Laser Pro. This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir lamivudine. Living with HIV do learn about Devato. Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[D]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and Hepatitis B. If you have Hep B, don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Devato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[A]

Do learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844887. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path. At Rasmussen University you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on campus programs. Enroll in a fully online program or one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you you need. Visit Rasmussen. Edu let's be honest. Most dogs are eating ultra processed food every day and we just accept it. Doug eats just food for dogs. Real 100% human grade food. And the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. And yes, the difference is obvious. Better digestion, more energy, way more excitement about dinner. If your dog deserves better and they do, just try it. Go to justfoodfordogs.com and get 50% off your first order. No code needed.

[B]

Okay, I really want to get to this caller because this is a really interesting question. So Hallie is 27 and her subject line is the 27 year old with 15 year old daughters. Dear Chelsea, when I was 24 years old I accidentally became a mom to two 12 year old girls.

[C]

Oh okay.

[B]

When I say 24 I mean barely 24. They celebrated their 12th birthday and I celebrated my 24th to together. I know accidentally adopted two pre teens. Sounds like a story that would involve a cult, drugs, possibly a head injury. But I worked with foster kids and was started as helping out somehow turned into motherhood. And before anyone tells me this is normal, I know people start families young all the time. I genuinely just never thought it would happen to me. Now I'm 27 and they're 15. I envisioned my 20s, dating, traveling, partying, and making regrettable decisions. Instead, I spent mine explaining to two teenage girls why they shouldn't make regrettable decisions. Decisions. Although, to be fair, I do try to lead by example. To be clear, I love these girls more than anything. But I do occasionally feel like I skipped directly from age 24 to exhausted mother who's fighting for her life every day. And the time flies when you're fighting for your life. My biggest fear, becoming a grandmother. Chelsea, I cannot stress this enough. I am not built for grandmotherhood. I still get carded. I have brought them to school hungover. Some days I feel like I'm moving backwards on the responsibility scale. I can't cook and have no understanding of finances. There's absolutely nothing about me that says mom, much less grandma. So now I spend most of my time trying to raise two independent, responsible, successful young women while simultaneously begging them not to do anything that could result in me raising another child. Here's my question. Am I delusional for looking at the calendar and thinking, okay, when these girls graduate, I can finally have my twenties? Or is that selfish? Is there such a thing as a delayed young adult phase? Can I be grateful for my life and still feel like I missed a chapter? Or am I just a mom now? Honestly, I'm receptive to any advice, criticism, reality checks, or tough love. I'm just desperate for at least one person not to answer with, well, what did you think was gonna happen? Because clearly I was not thinking sincerely. Halle.

[A]

Hi, Hallie.

[C]

Hi, Halle. Hi. Hi.

[A]

This is our special guest. Madelyn Klein is here today.

[C]

Hello.

[A]

Hey. First of all, way to go. That is awesome and generous and loving and such a thing that a woman would do is adopt 212 year olds. So that's awesome that you did that. And you're giving them a stable home and you're giving them love and you're giving them an education on life. So all of these things are beautiful. Are you delusional to think that you can have your own life once they hopefully. Are they going to go to college, these girls?

[C]

That's the hope.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

They want to.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, great. That's all they need is to want to do it and then that will most likely happen. No, you're not delusional. Yes. You're going to have your. This is fucking awesome that you already have two. 16, 15 or they're 15 now, right? Three years. Okay. You have two more years of this until they go to college. Two more years. Dive into them big time. Make sure they know that you are not gonna be a grandmother. Make sure that they are educated about birth control. Get them injected with whatever NuvaRing they need to have. I don't know why I touched my elbow or the inside. I was thinking of an IV. Cause that's how you get a NuvaRing in my mind.

[C]

You know what I'm saying?

[A]

But just make sure that they are, you know, they've got it. They don't want to have a baby. Do they want to have a baby?

[C]

No, but I just worry, of course, where.

[A]

Okay, but don't. Don't worry about things that haven't happened. Do you know what I mean? That's just like you're almost, almost like manifesting it by worrying about it so much that you should probably flip it and reverse it and be like, they would never do such a thing. You're not even their biological mother. Like, how could you be expected to raise another generation of children? That's just like, that's not a default setting in my viewpoint. You would be there to help, but you're not gonna be there to step in and raise a baby. So obviously. Have you made that clear to them?

[C]

I did.

[A]

I worry because they crave, like, negative attention a lot of the times.

[C]

And so I try to give them space to kind of be who they are, figure out who they also, while setting boundaries. And it's just a little difficult. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And do you have someone who helps you? Like, do you have like a parenting coach or do you like, what do you. How do you know how to do this? You're just figuring it out as you go Google. Yeah, great. Well, that's what most parents are doing anyway, so don't worry about that. But the broader question is you're going to have your own life. The fact that you have two kids that are going to college, when you're going to be like 29 years old, that's when your life is gonna begin again.

[C]

We were just talking about at the beginning of this podcast was how excited I am for my 30s. Cause I feel like they're gonna be even more awesome than my 20s.

[A]

So I feel like they are and they are awesome. I'm here to tell you it gets better as you age as a woman, it just keeps getting better and better and better. You're more like, look what you've already accomplished. Most people are gonna be like 10 years from where you are raising 17 year olds children or 15 year old children. Do you know what I mean? Like, you have an advantage because you were so young. So stop looking at it as a disadvantage and look at it as an advantage. You gave these girls a safe place to grow up. So, like, that is invaluable. Like, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And thank you. Yeah. And so, like, you have, like, the whole world ahead of you, and of course, you're missing out on this time in your 20s, but honestly, this isn't the best time of your life anymore. Like, your 30s are gonna be even better than your 20s. So then you can be free, and then you can go out and spread your wings and fly when you're smarter

[C]

and cooler than ever.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. I hope so.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But don't hope so know so that's what's gonna happen. Where do you live? I live in Louisiana. Okay. I was gonna say that accent I couldn't quite place. And that's usually Louisiana when you can't place it. Are you in New Orleans or a new. Another part close by. New Orleans. Okay. So how did these girls come into your life?

[C]

I work with kids in the foster care system, and I worked closely with them. They went home with their dad, and I just kind of kept in touch just in case. And one day he dropped them off and said, pretty much, he. He can't do it anymore. And I. I tried to work with them the best that I could, but then it was like I had to make a decision to step up or I would have had to be the bad guy and put them back where they did not want to go. And so, I mean, it was an easy yes for me at the time.

[B]

I just.

[C]

I didn't think future. Like, I wasn't thinking what my life would look like, you know, five years from that moment or whatever.

[B]

And how good for those girls that

[A]

you weren't thinking, you know, yeah, yeah, you did it. That's a beautiful thing that you've done. And these girls aren't gonna. They're gonna get it. They're not gonna go out and get pregnant. And if they do get pregnant, then hopefully they'll get an abortion and they won't have a baby before they're ready to have a child. You know what I mean? Like, people do make mistakes and that. And then. And you can. You know, I don't know if Louisiana's a state where you can. But whatever. Don't, like, think about that aspect of things. Just make sure they're educated, which I know you already are doing, about getting pregnant and about protecting themselves. And I understand that young girls. Girls get off on negative attention. I know that. And that can Be a bad habit. But it's also kind of part of

[C]

growing up and the fact that you're also, like, allowing them space while also setting boundaries with them and like, allowing them to be individuals with their own thoughts and feelings. And you're not. You're not helicoptering them. You're allowing them to grow up and still teach them them or. And tell them to, like, learn from me. Is. That is so amazing.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, the. The lessons and the freedoms that you're giving them is truly, like, especially. I know it's so difficult when. When they're teenagers, I remember, like, how annoying I was, but, like, I was always so grateful when my parents gave me a little bit of freedom. So I.

[A]

And trust.

[C]

And trust. Yes.

[A]

I think the way to build trust is to give it. Give people a little attitude and see what they come back with. Like, sometimes when you trust people who haven't been entrusted before, they. They really value that. You know what I mean? So it's like giving them a little of latitude and seeing how they respond in that situation. And I'm sure these girls are, like, endlessly grateful to you.

[C]

They are. It's.

[A]

I just want to make sure that

[C]

I'm doing the best possible thing. And I know that no parent is perfect, like, for sure, but that's why I'm always willing to learn and to hear from other people.

[A]

Yeah, you're doing. You are. You're doing a great job. You are. And calling and asking questions and being open to that is also great. I have no doubt that you're the best influence that these girls have ever had.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. So just hold tight and then get your pussy out when they go to college and get the fucking party started.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I can't wait.

[A]

Okay, thanks for calling. Thanks, Ellie.

[C]

Thank you all.

[B]

Bye.

[C]

Bye.

[B]

I love that Cajun accent.

[A]

I know. It was like. I was like, wait. And then she said something else and I'm like, wait, no, that's not. Mrs. Yeah. And then that is a Cajun accent for sure.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. Well, that's our episode. Madeline Klein, who has been so cute and lovable.

[C]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

God. You guys can watch outer Banks. Season 5 is going to be on Netflix in.

[B]

In a couple weeks.

[C]

August 20th.

[A]

August 20th, everybody.

[C]

Oh, my God, his tongue.

[A]

I know. They have purple tongues like giraffes. Coming over for some love. Oh, you look how beautiful you are.

[B]

If you want advice from Chelsea, write in to dearchelsea podcastmail. Dear Chelsea is a production of I Heart Media. Follow Chelsea on all socials Chelsea Handler and find Catherine on TikTok at Flash Cadabra. Dear Chelsea is edited and engineered by Brandon Dickert Executive Producer Katherine Law. Find full video episodes and minisodes now on Netflix and get tickets to see Chelsea [e-mail].

[A]

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[A]

Guaranteed Human.