
In this unfiltered episode, Donald and Autumn take you on a wild ride through their history with alcohol — from hilarious “party days” moments to life-changing, sobering experiences. They share first-time drinking stories, embarrassing mishaps,...
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A
Take two.take two. Our first guest on the fucking show. A fly. I knew we kept these note cards for something. It's circling every time I try. It's trying to. I might have to handle this.
B
I'm having heart palpitating.
A
It's like cardio when you're not even doing cardio.
B
Six days of croissants, bread, butter, coffee, and walking 25,000 steps a day. My body is like, what?
A
When I notice, I just realign on my mind, crying. How's it going? Welcome back.
B
Thank you.
A
How is Paris?
B
Still in my Paris wardrobe.
A
I know. I just need a bread stick. I feel right, right there.
B
Cannot eat any more bread, croissant, or coffee. I'm having heart palpitations.
A
What's your favorite thing that you ate while you were there? Like, the most delicious thing.
B
It does not matter what was interesting the last time I went to Paris, felt like the food was amazing. It was like back in 2018, I was with Kaylee and Bobby. Bobby picked some of the restaurants. We were only there for two days. Kaylee and I stumbled into what can only be assumed was, like, the eighth. Like, they have different districts. Like, looking back at it now, I'm like, oh, I think we might have been in the eighth to, like, a little bakery. And we had, like, the most amazing eclair.
A
Are eclair's things filled with chocolate?
B
No, they're like the donut that has, like, the chocolate on top that's filled with custard.
A
Okay.
B
The thing was like, the size of my head. But that was back in 2018, and so I was really excited for the food this time. Also, the hotel I stayed at last time in 2018, they had this, like, chicken and vegetable soup. We went in the winter that was so good with the bread and the butter. I ordered it, like, every chance I could. I was like, I need more of this soup. Anyways, this time, I mean, we tried a lot of places, and I was not super impressed with any of my food, which was unfortunate.
A
I'm a foodie, but if I would never, like. If someone's like, top five favorite cuisines. French cuisine is something which I've only ever. I've never been to Europe, so I've only experienced it at restaurants in the States. But it's never like, oh, a French restaurant. That's where I want to go. So may. I don't know, like, compared to Italy, you were in Italy.
B
I mean, the food in Italy was delicious, but I got bored with it. I was like, I can only eat so Much pizza and pasta. Like, here's the thing. Nobody eats vegetables.
A
Yeah.
B
And I really like vegetables. I want a good salad. Like, everybody had a Caesar salad, but it even, like, they don't put a lot of dressing on it, and there's nothing really interesting about it. And then the green beans were, like, the only other vegetable I could really find.
A
So is that what they call them? Air cover bear or something? Skinny green beans? Is that what they're called?
B
Air cover? I don't know. We should not try to speak it. We should stick with Spanish.
A
Yeah.
B
So anyways. But it was fun. We did that. My favorite thing that we did was the Emily in Paris walking food tour. And even though it was like, okay, the food was. It was like, oh, try this. Which is, like, a chocolate croissant and, like, this little piece of chocolate and, like, this cheese with this sip of wine. So all that was fun. It was so cool to be in, like, where they're shooting Emily in Paris and to really see it. So that was. We. We had the best time.
A
That's so great.
B
Yeah. How have you been? What'd you do while I was gone?
A
I've been good since. Well, while you were gone, I've just been like, business as usual. I think, honestly, everything's a blur. Since we recorded last. Nel family came into town. I went to Universal for the first time.
B
Did you like it?
A
I did enjoy it a lot. I was gonna say loved it, but it's not. It's just not, like, totally my thing. Like, we live. You know, we live like, five minutes from there.
B
It's not the biggest. It's not like Universal.
A
We thought. Yeah, we thought about. About getting a member, like, a season pass there because it's close. But I was like, this is cool, but I don't think this is season pass. Cool. I would get season passes to, like, a Six Flags if we'd go.
B
I think it's closing more often for good here. Yeah.
A
I've never been to the one here.
B
I wouldn't go now.
A
They're like, all the. All the. Yeah.
B
Yeah. That's a dicey situation. It's closing like, I'm here for Six Flags. Hmm. I think so.
A
Well, that's upsetting. I'll check it out.
B
Everything's perfect.
A
Everything's perfect. Except the roller coaster business these days. Why get on a roller coaster when you're living on one? The current state of the world, anyway. But it was really good. And then we went on a cruise, and I, too, ate all of the things it's actually the first time since I've not been. Since I started eating animal products again, that I've, like, willingly eaten dairy. Like, I wasn't having milk and cereal or anything like that, but I would. I did put some real butter on the bread, and I was like. Because I was like, you know, this isn't less healthy and see what happens. And honestly, I was fine, but I don't know. It. The thing. The good thing about not eating butter is it helps you not eat as much bread. But when you eat that butter, let.
B
Me tell you, the butter in France might be the best thing. Wow, that is so good. Dom and I were literally like. At one point, Dom, I was like, did you just eat that with a fork?
A
That's funny.
B
He goes, Tom's like, if you weren't here, I'd eat the whole thing with my fork.
A
Oh, my God.
B
I was like, put it down.
A
I mean, legit. It really does change things. I remember growing up in the Midwest, you know, we. Where I lived, we only really had chain restaurants, or at least those are the ones we went to. And, oh, Charlie's had, like, this honey butter on their rolls. And I was like, I'm gonna need another basket.
B
It's like, when the sauce is real good and those chips, you're like, exactly. The chip is the delivery method, Right?
A
I don't make the rules.
B
Yeah, the delivery method of the butter.
A
Exactly.
B
I can't just eat butter by the stick.
A
My grandma, before she passed, My grandma is literally my soul mate. She was spreading but so much butter on this bread, and she's like, the bread's just, you know, where you hold the butter. The butter is really what I'm eating. I was like, okay, granny, get it. So anyways, we had a really nice time, and it's been good for me to stop and take account of, like, really how even though I have challenges, we all have challenges. Just how fun I have in my life, and I think that's really important. And I've had a lot of fun.
B
I love that. I was actually really trying to do the same thing. Like, despite still sort of being in this process of, you know, change relationship, boyfriend stuff, like, was really trying to be present with Dom and appreciate that we were there in Paris and, like, how. How amazing it was. The weather was beautiful. It was not too hot. We walked everywhere. We saw all of Paris. We did not miss anything.
A
Yeah.
B
And it. And it was so fun. It really was just, like, a good bonding time.
A
That's awesome.
B
By the way, guys, this Episode. It's not about food, nor is it about parks or Paris.
A
Yeah. At least not the main part of it, but somehow.
B
But we had to catch up.
A
Yeah.
B
I haven't seen him in. I haven't seen you in over a week. So it was like.
A
Okay. Did you have any alcohol in Paris?
B
I did have, like, a few sips of a glass of wine one night, even though I'm not really supposed to be drinking because of the stem cells. But I was like, you can't be in Paris and not try any wine. Yeah, like, any French wine. Like, come on. So I literally just. I ordered a glass. I just wanted to taste it. With the meal, I Like I said I think I had maybe, like, three sips of it.
A
Well, good.
B
It was delicious.
A
Unlike the olden days, girl, which this is more what we're talking about. Tell you the drinks and the.
B
How I love that we called it the olden days.
A
Well, for me, they feel like the olden days. I feel the version of me that could drink, like when I was in my 20s or early 30s, feels like a lifetime ago.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
I can't imagine doing the shit I used to do.
B
The. The rubbing alcohol that we basically drank in my college years. I'm like, not on your life.
A
And then just bounce up like a spring.
B
And shots.
A
Oh, my God.
B
Sugar shot. Like the. Oh, okay. When I was in college, we used to go to this place called have a Nice day Cafe. It was a giant warehouse. It was like, 70s theme. They had these giant, you know, like the fishbowl that you put a goldfish in the plastic. Okay. They served you alcohol that. I think they just poured all the liquors they had in there. They would have these giant straws that would change colors when you drank out of them. And you would have, like, seven straws in there. There would be, like, multiple of your friends drinking out of it. They had the shotgirls walking around with, like, the lemon drops and the kamikazes and, like, I mean, that is hangover city. But we dance so hard that I think we sweated it out a lot.
A
Well, I mean, there have been a few times that I've been leaving the club when I was younger, and I would see, like, you know, people puking in the parking lot, and I'm like, nothing that comes out of you should be that color. Like, Like. Like bright blue. Like. Like the color of the book that you released. Like, what. What were you drinking? And why is it still that color? We should.
B
Yes.
A
We should not. Should not be having that Shit. But we did it.
B
But we did it. Redheaded sluts. Always loved them body shots. I mean, it was fun.
A
It was really fun. My. I remember. So the. I never drank before I was 21. So my. My boy. I was. I really was up till then. And everyone always said, o' Donnell's not going to be a drinker. Because my friend. Because I had plenty of opportunity to drink, and I chose not to, even when, like, I wouldn't have gotten in trouble or anything like that, but I was just waiting. And then when I turned 21, I remember the first. Like, after maybe two drinks, I remember the first time feeling the effects of alcohol. And I was like, wow, this is weird. And I remember I was just sitting there turning my head to the left and turning my head to the right because I thought it was so wild. I'd never experienced before that, where it's like, it took the room a minute to catch up. Yeah. Like, oh, my gosh, this is wild. And I didn't get really. That was like. That was a weekend of drinking because it was my 21st birthday. But that was after midnight when I turned 21.
B
Yeah.
A
So. And just one friend. It wasn't like, my party. It was my friend Risa. And we went to the club, and I was like, this is crazy. The next day is when I really did the deed and drank more than I needed to. But that was the first time I was like, okay. But. Oh, even thinking of that now, it makes me feel, like, a little nauseous because I just. My tolerance has gone way down. When was your first.
B
First time I ever drank was high school. I actually, believe it or not, I was. I was really good. Like, I. I think I only drank two times in high school. The first time was my junior year. It was New Year's Eve. It was at my house. My mom and stepdad and little brother and sister had gone down the street for a New Year's Eve party. I was allowed to have a couple friends over. So there was, like, six of us. And my parents had had a. Like, a party that summer, and there was a bunch of alcohol left over. Like, a bunch of beer. Huge amount of beer left over in, like, a cooler in the fridge or in the garage. So we were drinking those. Mind you, we might have each had two. So we might have gone through 12. Like, there was no way they were gonna notice that 12 beers were gone. But I remember the same thing. I remember going into, like, the little bathroom that was off the kitchen and, like, looking in the mirror and I was like, am I drunk? Is this what drunk is? But, like, I don't think. But maybe I am, because I did have, like, looking back, I'm like, no, you had a buzz going for sure. And we had a great time. And our dumb asses, we didn't want to get caught. And it was like, what do you do with the beer cans? And our house had this, like, wraparound patio on the back. And then the woods were, like, behind us. Enough are. So we were throwing the empty cans into the woods. So we thought, an empty beer can doesn't go very far.
A
Like, what? By the way, I'm picturing right now trying to throw an empty beer can as far as I can. It's like, probably five feet.
B
Yeah. So basically, it's just in the back fucking yard. Okay. But it's New Year's Eve, and so great. Everybody, like, they go home, mom comes home, no big deal. Nobody knows anything. I've already gone to bed. The next day, I come down and I'm walking past the living room where the Christmas tree is still up. But New Year's Day, my mom takes the Christmas tree down, and I see that there's a beer can outside on the patio. The Christmas tree is kind of hiding it inside because where it is. But I saw it and I was like, oh, my God, how am I gonna go out on the patio and get this beer can? Because there's, like, snow. Like, this is St. Louis. Like, there's no, like, good reason to go out on the patio right now. I was like, calling my friends, and they're like, you gotta get out there and get it long. And short of it is, I did not get out there and get it. My mom starts taking the Christmas tree down, is like, why is there a beer can on the patio? Because obviously nobody had been out there in months. They realized it was half drank. They look over the balcony, see that there's ones in the back. My stepdad was smart enough to pull a number on me and basically told me that they looked at the beer cans that were down in the yard and looked at the serial number on them and matched them to the ones that were in the garage. That is not true, by the way. There was no way to do that. They ended up laughing at me later. But that's how they got me to admit that we drank. See, I got grounded for a month. I. I didn't have my driver's license yet, or. Or I might have, but I. I didn't drive to school. I think I had my Driver's license. But I didn't drive to school. I worked with one of my friends who lived down the street. No, my parents made me take the bus in the dead middle of winter for a month. So I'm a junior. All my friends are still driving to school. I'm having to get up an hour earlier, wait on the corner for the bus while they all drive by, and then I have to get off the bus in front of everybody.
A
See, that's messed up. That's it. That is all right. You should not. They went too hard. But I think should have happened in this story is your stepdad should have been played cool. Got in the beer cans and pulled you aside and said, I know what you did, and you shouldn't have got in trouble. That's how I would like you to go in the movie.
B
I would have liked it to go.
A
I'm not going to tell.
B
Well, my mom already knew. She was the one that found it out on the patio. So they were in it together. But yeah, they.
A
It's a lot worse that could have happened.
B
I know. It's just funny you guys one time, but yes, it was hilarious that we thought. So it's all fun and games until you've had one too many and you think you're throwing them into the woods.
A
Yeah, everything's perfect. Until I had one, too. Well, so I would. My. I remembered my mom when I was in my twenties and I was. I drank a lot, but I was social. And I also was homeschooled pretty much my entire life. And so I loved in my 20s, I felt like I was living more of a social experience because I was in with working places and meeting friends and just. So I was out a lot. It's not like I was like, oh, I need to go have a drink. But also, that's just when you want to do something, you go out with your friends, get drinks in your 20s. And so anyways, my mom told me that her grandmother. So my great grandmother told her, genie, honey, I've never seen a pretty drunk. So I'd get drunk and whenever I'd go in the bathroom, I'd stop. And when I tell you, my duck lips. Like. Like, try to be the prettiest drunk I could. Like, if great granny could see me now, like, she would prove her wrong. Pretty drunk right in front of her.
B
No, you know what? She would see somebody exactly.
A
Like, why is he doing that with his face? So.
B
Oh, that's awesome. Okay, question. Do you have like your funniest drunk story and do you have any bad drunk stories?
A
Totally. I got lots of them. I actually have to think of my funniest. Well, okay, so one time, this is my later 20s, I was. I just started learning ballroom and teaching beginners. And they. The owner of the studio invited us to this event. That, for me, where I was at that time felt like a very swanky event. You had to be. You had to buy a table to go. And so the owner of my dance studio, her husband was like my city's number one plastic surgeon. And so he bought a table and invited us to go. And it was black tie and all the things. And so I was just having all the drinks because, you know, you just let loose and you're like, oh, my God, it's fancy. I'll have another. And so it was fun dancing the night away, the whole thing. But I had to. So that was a Saturday night, and I had to sing at this big, very large church the next morning. This is my hometown, okay? So I get. I get home brought home, and I literally pass out on the love seat. Not even the couch. So I'm curled up. I can't even fit on the whole thing in my parents living room. And they can't wake me up for church the next morning. I literally wake up when I'm supposed to be out the door five minutes ago. My brother saying, but, mom, no matter what I do, I can't get Donald to wake up. And I w. I was like, what time is it? I'm literally still buttoned up in my tux that I was wearing the night before. Quickly change, and I get to church. And my job at church that day, it actually wasn't singing.
B
I was. I love the laugh.
A
It's just so crazy. I was supposed to, like, give. Give announcements, but basically be like, the Ryan Seacrest service that Sunday. And so first I came in there and I was like, I am so. Well, before I left, I was like, mom, do I stink? And she was like, tell everyone you're sick and you're on Robitussin. I was like, okay, so I'm gonna lie to everyone at church and this shirt. They had some services the night before that I went to before the event and did this. I was very professional and scripted and like, hey, guys, and make sure you check out the new coffee shop. And we literally had, like, a coffee shop with weekly special, like, drinks, like a. You know how Starbucks will have their whatever. And so I was just talking about all these things. And so the next morning, I go, and I'm sitting there, and one of the pastors who's speaking comes up and sits next to me. And I was like, hi. And he looked at me and said, oh. I was like, I know. I was like, I didn't mean to, but I drank too much last night.
B
So you didn't lie?
A
I didn't lie. I was like, I feel really badly about it, but it was a really fancy event, and I didn't know what to do, so I just kept going. He was like, it's okay. You know, none of us are perfect. And when I tell you I would think I was still drunk in that service, like, I'm not proud of this, but when I got up, I was laughing at myself. I went up once and I had the coffee. I was like, and the coffee at the coffee shop is so good, and I need another. So if you want to bring me one, find me after service. Like, just saying the craziest stuff. Everyone was literally looking at me. And there were a thousand. I had three services that morning, and there were a thousand people in each service. And I was just like, totally.
B
You just being.
A
You were coming up to me like, wow, you're so comfortable up there. And I was like, girl, I'm. I'm. You just. This is before. This is that phase where you're not quite drunk, but the hangover hasn't hit yet. So it was really. In hindsight, that was a pretty. Like, that was the most bold getting up on stage in that condition at church. Oh, I can't believe I did that. And now there would be no way in hell that I could. I don't think I would have survived. Like, I don't think. I think that would just be. I'd be done. I definitely be bedridden for days. Like, two days after that, for sure.
B
Not. Not definitely. That's where you're calling. Like, I'm sorry.
A
Yeah.
B
It's just not happening.
A
But there was just so many things.
B
People.
A
People were like, my friends who knew were dying, laughing the entire time because it's like I had no control of what was coming out of my mouth. So. And the night before, I. No control of what I was going in. Yeah. Anyways, what about. Do you have, like, a funny one other than your Chuck the Cans?
B
Oh, yeah. That wasn't really funny. That was more tragic a little bit like, oh, like, you could have gone.
A
Harder if you were going to get grounded for a month.
B
Yeah, exactly.
A
You should have earned all my parents. Like, if you're gonna. I'm gonna do a crime to match the punishment. If you're gonna bring that up. Come on.
B
A month. I should have been a week for each can.
A
Exactly.
B
I have. Okay, I'll. I. I have three, but I'm going to tell two of them really short. And then. Remember when we started? And I was like, oh, my gosh. I have a story that combines. Okay, that might. That might actually be the funniest one. But there was one time college. Went out drinking too much, had to go to dance class. The next day was definitely still drunk. And I had to go to jazz class.
A
Oh, no.
B
And I rolled it just looking like a truck hit me, first of all. And my best friend is standing next to me, and her and I just were always cracking jokes. We were always getting in trouble, no matter what. Like, they hated us, but we would dance our asses off. But we're dancing and, you know, like, you're breathing heavy, and I'm turning, so wind is. And she looks at me, and she's like. She, like, sniffs, and she's like, are you drunk? I was like, yeah. Can you tell? And she's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I had no balance. And I actually think at a certain point, the teacher asked me to leave the class.
A
Well.
B
Because her and I couldn't stop laughing about it. There was just no. And she knew that I was like, I'm sorry. And she was like, you go. Like, she wasn't. I don't even know if she was mad. She was more just annoyed, I think, that we were laughing. That was one of them that I actually think was pretty funny. There was another one I was gonna tell you. Oh, okay. Well, this one I don't know. Again, I don't know if this is funnier. Magic. So after my divorce, I was dating a guy who was a little bit younger than me. We've talked about him before. Was really close with not just him, but, like, his group of friends. Like, he had a couple really close guy friends. He. I told you, he was always very honest, like, that he was dating multiple people. He wasn't just dating me. And it was coming up on my birthday. I have such trauma around my birthday. I swear to God. And, like, right before my birthday, he, like, sort of cut things off. I don't know if he was dating one other girl or multiple other girls, but anyways, I was pretty upset by it. And so his. One of his best friends was like, no, this is. We're going out for your birthday. And so he gets the rest of the group of friends together. They all go In. They rent a limo. We go to this club, Dre's, that was, like, super popular back in the day. Table service. And, you know, I'm. I'm angry about it. First of all, that, like, he is not a part of it.
A
Yeah.
B
Then this shows up with a girl.
A
Oh, hell no.
B
Doesn't come to our table, but posts up in front of us. And our table backs up to the stage. And you're allowed to dance on it, but I'm just throwing them back. It's my birthday. Everybody's buying drinks. It's table service. I get up on the stage. My girlfriends and I are dancing. But it's from a couch. Like, so you step up from the couch onto the stage. We're dancing, and we're having the best time. And I step down onto the couch to come off the stage, lose my balance. No, Donald. It's.
A
Oh, my God.
B
I take out the table.
A
Oh, my God.
B
With Drace on it, with candles on it. All the things. The bouncer comes over, the bouncer's ready to throw us out. They're like, pull it together.
A
See, if that happened today, we'd have that on video, because people would have been filming you on stage, of course.
B
And so they're like, no, no, no. She just lost her balance stepping onto the couch. So they managed to smooth it. Smooth it over and convince the balancer that I wasn't super drunk and that it was okay. I just, you know, high heels. Lost my balance.
A
Yeah.
B
But when I tell you candles went, the outfit is covered in different drinks.
A
Like, oh, my God.
B
Yeah. So that was the other one that I feel like, was pretty. I. Epic.
A
I had a tragic one. I went to, like, funny trash in hindsight, by the way, if you're listening and if you've made it this far and you're sober, this is. We're just talking about the past. We're also now have a lot of fun. It's not reliant on tons of alcohol.
B
No, not at all.
A
So I just want to say we do support.
B
That's why the title of the alcohol is Everything's perfect until you too one too many.
A
I. One time was I was in New York and I was, like, not seeing Todrick, but I still had, like, was emotionally. I mean, we were. I was seeing him physically. I was staying with him, but we weren't, like, together. And so anyways, my feelings were hurt or something. You know, I was young and dumb. And so I. I went to look at this apartment, and this guy was like, that was Showing me his apartment because he wanted to sublease it. At the time, I was like, I'm going to move to New York City. Was like. We just weren't having nice conversation. He said, can I take you to dinner tonight? So anyways, I was like, sure. So we went to dinner and then he was like talking about Washington D.C. and I said, I love Washington D.C. and he said, well, I'm going tomorrow if you want to go. And I said, don't tempt me with a good time. Literally the next day I rode with him, this person that I just met the day before, to Washington D.C. anyways, we went out and I got so drunk, Autumn, that. And, you know, I'm trying to play it cool because this is a cute guy and whatever. And I felt so like I was going to puke, but I was too embarrassed to ask him to pull over. And I had my jacket sitting on my lap. And I literally just think you can do things inconspicuously. I was just like looking out the window and puked in my jacket. What?
B
How do you puke in a jacket? It's not a pouch, it's not a purse. What did you do with the jacket?
A
Like, you know, parachuted it.
B
And you didn't think he was going to smell it?
A
I don't want to think about this, you know, those things out of your mind. He was like, are you okay? I was like, yeah, I'm fine. Letting it out. Oh, my God. Because I am a good, quiet puker. Which is. I don't know if that's a skill to be proud of, because like, my. My dad or my brothers, they get sick growing up and stuff. And I'm like, oh, God, do you just need attention? Like. Like, yeah. I'm like, okay, but exact. And then the next day, looking at it, I was like, oh, you didn't.
B
Throw this thing out?
A
No, I put it in a plastic bag because I didn't know where to throw it. So I was like, I'm just gonna act like nothing happened and I'll wash it later. It was disgusting. And also I was like, what? Anyway, so that was like a very tragic. It's funny now to look back on, like, how disgusting and this stupid. Like, why didn't I just say, can you pull over? I'm gonna be sick instead I'm like, I know I'm gonna puke in my jacket. And it was like a little. It was an all white track jacket.
B
Oh, stop it. I know. Oh, my gosh. This gets better. By the way, it was like from.
A
Zara or something, which to me, being from Ohio, Zara was couture. Yeah, it was a very. Because they only had those at the time. Like, Zara or H M was only in, like, Chicago, Louisiana. New York. It was before it was all over.
B
Oh.
A
So I was like, I'm gonna save this fine garment. And I. Yeah, it was not good. Yeah.
B
Okay. This is my. This is my worst funny. But also like, whoa. Okay, so my wedding. It wasn't my wedding day. It was two days before everybody was in town because we got married in San Diego. That's where Ken's family's from. But all my family had to come in town. My family can drink. And so we have this really nice dinner, and I had, like, a glass of wine at dinner. And then the guys were going their way, the girls were going our way. My cousin Jason, I remember he was like, this is when Jason still drank. He doesn't drink anymore, but he was like. We were getting ready to leave, and he's like, let's do a. I don't know if it was a Jaeger bomb where you drop it in the beer. It wasn't sake, I think.
A
Yep.
B
Okay. First of all, I have no business doing a Jaeger bomb ever in life. I don't even think I did the whole thing. I did, like, what I could, but that alone was like, okay, we're mixing things. I've already had wine. Now we're mixing liquor and beer. What do they say? Beer before liquor. Never been sicker. Liquor before beer, you're in the clear. First of all, it's. Yeah, too much is too much.
A
Still sick.
B
Still sick, still drunk. Okay, so we go out to this club, and mind you, I'm like, What was I, 28, I think, when I got married? No, I'm sorry. 20. Maybe 26. I think I had Dom at 28. But nonetheless, I'm not 19 or 20 or 21. Shouldn't have been drinking at 19 or 20. But it's. My partying days had been over. Like, I had not been partying, drinking on a regular basis. Okay? We go to this club. They're buying me drinks. They're handing me shots. We're dancing. And all the other times in the past, I've danced my ass off, and it's been fine. Oh, no. This club is packed. It's hot. And all of a sudden, it hits me, and I am like, get me out of here right now. Get me out. Get me out. Give me out. Like, I'm pan. I know I'm gonna throw up. Oh, they get me outside. We have to get in a cab to go back to the hotel.
A
Oh, no.
B
They're like, don't you puke in this cab. And I am sitting in this cab, and I am just like, oh, my God. But I know, like, if I have to puke, I'm gonna roll the window down. Okay? The cab driver is like, she better not throw up in here. They're like, she won't. They're like, you better puking your purse if you have to.
A
Okay?
B
We get back to the hotel. I don't throw up. I'm sharing a room with my two sisters. So Kaylee and then sister. Now, my younger sister is 11 years younger than me. So if I'm 26, she's like 15. Okay? So I'm in my bed. Like, there's two queen beds. Kaylee and my other sister in the other bed, go to sleep, pass out. I get up in the middle of the night to go pee. I get out of bed, walk, turn the corner to go into the bathroom and pee. So I'm peeing, and my little sister's like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I'm going pee. Give me a minute. And she goes, you're not in the bathroom.
A
Oh, my God.
B
I had gotten out of the bed on one side, turned the corner to go into the bathroom, but all I did was walk between the bed and the wall.
A
Huh.
B
Now, mind you, you would think I would know that I'm not sitting on a toy.
A
Yeah, you would. You were just squatting. See, I told you guys peeing.
B
I was.
A
Oh, my God.
B
And I was like, just let me be funny. She was, like, yelling at me. She's trying to wake my sister Kaylee up. Like, what do we do? Like, then I finally go in the bathroom, and I pass out on the floor with a pillow next to the toilet for the rest of the night. And then we were checking out the next day. I didn't know what to do. Like, towels. I'm trying to put water on. Gotten it. Like, I felt so bad. I'm sure.
A
Hey, we said no pets. You're like, we don't have any. Oops, gotta go that.
B
Low moment, guys. Low moment.
A
Okay, that is hilarious.
B
So the whole point is don't have one too many or more than that. And by the way, I just want to point out, like, these stories are so far between. Like, we can laugh about them. Yes. And also, I just was not a big drinker in general. Like, it wasn't like, every night or every weekend. I was drinking like crazy is probably.
A
Why I was a big drinker, I'm not gonna lie. I mean, I. Well, I was just. I loved to go out, and I liked to drink with my friends, if that's what we were doing.
B
I mean, I love to go out. Like, okay. I danced for the St. Louis Vipers cheerleaders, by the way, if you don't know what that is. That was our professional roller hockey team. This is when I was in high school, but some of the girls were in high school. Some of the girls were in college on the team. And we would go out and, like, the blues players would. Or the hockey players. Sometimes we would run into the blues players, like, the actual hockey team players, but the roller hockey players would invite us out, too, even though these guys were, like, older and shouldn't be. And they would get us in. I also had a fake id, Compliments my older sister.
A
Oh, that's right. That's perfect.
B
I know. She gave it to me when I graduated high school as, like, a gift. And she's four years older than me, so I had a fake ID for a long time so I could get in even if I wasn't going to drink. But. Oh, my God, we would drink White Russians, Kahlua and cream, basically.
A
Yeah.
B
And do you remember sour apple martinis with apple puckers?
A
Oh, my God, my mouth's watering a little bit. Like I'm having a physical response, remembering.
B
These kids don't even know the liquor that we drank. Mad Dog 20. Like, Zima. Do you remember Zima?
A
No.
B
Oh, my gosh. Zema was like a quasi beer, but it wasn't really a beer, and it was super sweet. Like, I remember. I feel like it came out when I was in college, and if it didn't come out when I was in college, it became popular when I was in college.
A
You know what I'm remembering that I feel like ended up having to be taken off the shelf or something. I don't know if I ever had one. They were called Four Locos.
B
I remember those.
A
I think they were, like, alcoholic energy drinks. And they were literally, like, messing, because alcohol is a downer, obviously. And then they were, like, messing with people, but now everyone just gets Red Bull and vodka.
B
Yeah.
A
Oh, my God. Like, the thing. Even now when people order, and if you're listening, you might be one of these people, and you know, when you order a Long island iced tea, you just have one thing and in mind, and that's to get turned. Yeah, you are the way you.
B
Yeah, really? When somebody orders a Long island, you should say, are you okay?
A
Yeah. What pain are you numbing?
B
What? Do we need to talk for real or mind erasers? Which were even, like, more brutal.
A
Trying to remember what those were called. Mind erasers. No, I really. Did you, like, have you blacked out?
B
No, I have never blacked out from drinking. I think the closest was not really understanding where I was when I was peeing.
A
Yeah, right. You knew the whole time. Girl, I know how you are with peeing.
B
It really didn't. I swear to God.
A
You're like, that looks like a nice corner to pee in.
B
I was in my hotel room. No, I. I will tell you my serious story, but go. What were you gonna ask me? You. If. Because you said, if I blacked out. Have you blacked out?
A
I have. I. There have been so many times that I do not. I think they're called brownouts. Where, like, you remember, someone told me that one time. I don't know if that's actually what people call them, but I'll remember, like, pieces. But there's also, like, pieces I just don't remember. And I would have to ask, like. And you know what's really wild is that started happening later without me even drinking as much as I used to. I was like, it's not funny, but I was like, I'm just going literally brain dead.
B
Like, my liver is just not keeping.
A
Up and I can't remember. I. I just. I would be like, I don't remember that at all. And people were like, oh, my God. We were all, like, drank the same. And I'm like, it's scary. So there were little things like that, that as I got older and it went from. Because, you know, you start drinking at 21, your frontal lobe's not even finished developing until you're 25. You don't think about the consequences of things. And then at some point, I. You start to realize, okay, this. Like, I should be concerned if I just don't remember portions of my life. You know what I mean?
B
I haven't actively tried to block them out. Exactly.
A
No, I'm searching like, like, like there have been times where I just don't remember how I got home.
B
Oh, wow.
A
And I'll have to be like, did we take an Uber? Did a friend drop us off? Did I. Like, I'm just keeping it real.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
And it's like, okay, this. That caught. That should call you to ask yourself, yeah, is this healthy?
B
Yeah.
A
Might not be right for you.
B
What pain Again, are we trying to. What are we dealing with here exactly? Okay, so do you have any. Do you have any serious ones or something that made you either like, stop drinking for a while or just like sort of examine relationship with it with alcohol or anything like that?
A
I do, yeah. I. The biggest thing that comes to mind is I actually had a drunk driving accident. And I was the drunk driver, and it was very serious. I was the. I was. It was in my hometown. It was early winter. I think it was like our first snow that night when I was driving. Snow had just started. So, you know, being from Ohio, it's like before the street cleaners come and everything just sort of gets that white coating on top. And I had. Was out with friends, and I was at my friends. He was having like a little house party. And I just. I. I remember something upsetting me. It was a little bit of a jealousy thing, actually, if I'm being honest. And I was like. Didn't like the way I felt. And I was like, I'm just gonna go home. And I was about a mile from my mom and dad's where I lived at the time. And when I was driving, I shouldn't have been driving because I was intoxicated. And I looked at my phone and all of a sudden it was like, boom. And I. I remember, you know, if you are driving and you hit a puddle and your car, like, starts to spin out and you instinctually, you try to get control with the steering wheel. I was trying to do that. And I remember being like, you're not. Like, I was rolling, like, going upside down.
B
I was like, we weren't spinning. You were rolling.
A
Exactly.
B
Oh, wow.
A
And I kind of just like let go and Jesus, Jesus, take the wheel. And I remember, like, I must have.
B
What was the boom? What did you. Did you hit something?
A
Yeah. I didn't know until I got out of my car. I had to. All of my windows were shattered. All of my Airbot bags had deployed. It was also a brand new car. My first brand new car I ever bought. It was a. It was a Ford Focus. But I felt like a bad because it was my first brand new, like, first owner car car that I got. And the. If. If you're watching, I'm gesturing it. But the. The ceiling of my car because we rolled was like pressed down on my head. I said, we.
B
I was gonna say, wait, yeah, I.
A
Was the only person because I rolled the car. And so I like ducked under the ceiling and had to push the door open. And I couldn't Find my phone. Because obviously I let it go while that was happening. And so the car rolled and landed back on its four tires, but the ceiling was, like, pressed down because of how it. And there was a parked car, which is what I hit, that would have been on the opposite side of the road. So I crossed. I was on the right. Right side. And I crossed the center line and hit a parked car. And that car was pushed up onto the sidewalk. And it was bad. And I was like. The first thing I said. And this was just sort of like, I was in shock. Obviously, I was like. Because my parents told me when I first started driving, if you ever have a fender bender or something like that, you don't have to call the police. Like, my insurance. You can still make an insurance claim without a police report. And sometimes the police will just give you a ticket. And so if both parties agree, it's better just to exchange insurance information. So the first thing I said was, you don't have to call the police. I have insurance. Because I knew I was.
B
Who are you talking to?
A
There was already a crowd of people who had started to come from their homes. And this is at, like, 1:30 in the morning.
B
Okay. So people heard it. Obviously, people heard it outside.
A
Yeah. And someone was like, you're bleeding. And I looked down and I had blood all over me. And I was like, I need to find my phone. And so I started digging through, like, the glass and everything disheveled in my car, found my phone, called my mom and was like, I had an accident. I'm pretty sure I'm okay. And no one else was involved, but it's very bad. Like, no one's hurt in terms of like, yeah, but it's bad. And she said, have you been drinking? And I said, yeah, I have. I was like, it's bad, Mom. Please hurry. And she said, okay. And then I called a friend of mine who actually had just gotten to the party that I went to, but she worked, like, nights at a hospital, so she hadn't been drinking, and she was in her scrubs. And I just felt very alone. And also all those strangers were just looking at me. And it was cold. Like, I didn't have a proper coat for the snow because I was out from earlier. I just had a hoodie. And so I was like. I just didn't know what to do. So I called her. The police came. And the police pulled up at about the same time as my mom. And then my friend came also. And then the news came. A fire truck, the ambulance. It was a scene and I was just sitting on someone's, like, front yard steps. And the. I remember the cop asked me what direction I was going, and I actually said the wrong direction. But at that point it. I was so turned around and in shock and just.
B
Yeah, you were trying to lie. You just.
A
Yeah. And you know, they were like. She said, I need you to take. To write down what happened. And so I said, I'm in shock and shaking. Can my mom do it for me? And she was like, sure. And it was interesting because since my friend had scrubs on and was sort of like standing with me, the police officer never tried to come closer to me. So if I would have smelled like alcohol or something, I don't know if that was intentional or not. But then the ambulance came up and they were like, do you need to go to the hospital? And I was like. I whispered to my mom, I was like, I don't know if I need to go to the hospital, but I'd rather go to the hospital than jail. And if I said. And I also don't know if something's wrong with me, but if they're not going to check if I'm drunk now, then I would don't want to go to the hospital because they'll probably check my blood alcohol level. What should I do? And my mom was like, bitch. She didn't say bitch. She was like, I don't know. If you think you're seriously injured, though, you should go to the hospital. And they were like, we need an answer. And I was like, I'm not gonna go. And I was. My plan was, if I'll just ask to go, I'll change my mind if I end up. They're gonna take me to jail. I was really afraid and.
B
Yeah.
A
And I was really irresponsible of me. I just want to say, as I'm sharing the story, I know that it was. It was a long time ago. And so let's quickly wrap it up. My. The police officer came and said, I have to cite you with failure to control. It's the same as a speeding ticket. And she looked at my mom and said, get him home safe.
B
Wow.
A
And it was like, it felt like such a blessing, but I also felt so much guilt and shame and all kinds of things. So it really called me to take a pause and to think about a lot of. A lot of, like. Because up till then, everything was so loose and free and fun and none of my decisions when it came to drinking had any real consequences. And at that moment, I was like, I could have lost everything in an instant. And that really just displayed it for me.
B
That's crazy, too, because you were a mile from the house. Like, how long does it take to drive a mile? Five minutes, maybe. Like. And. But they do say that lot of times that that's when the worst accidents happen, because that's when people will sort of.
A
They get proud, like.
B
And they also are, like, just a little less intentional, maybe. I don't know if that's the right word, but, like, just not so diligent because it's like, oh, I'm almost home.
A
Yeah. Right.
B
And that's when, you know, you might pick up the phone or. I remember, like, when I was a kid, them saying, like, oh, that's when people take their seat belt off. They're almost home, and they take their seat belt off. Like. Like.
A
Yeah.
B
Because seat belts, oh, my God. Became a big thing in, like, the late 80s, like.
A
Right. If I didn't have a seat. But my dad never wore a seatbelt when I was growing up and we lived there, if I wasn't wearing a seat belt, I probably wouldn't be sitting here to tell that story. It was very serious.
B
Wow, that's crazy. I never knew that story.
A
Yeah. What about you? Any, like, real heavy moments with alcohol?
B
Yes. 1. When Dom was 2, I was trainer at Equinox. Kent and I were already going through the divorce. I did not have him that. Like, the night I went out with friends after work, and actually I went over to one friend's apartment and we had dinner together. I was in competition prep, so. But I was, like, far enough out from competition that I was still able to have drinks if I wanted to, but I would. I would clean. Like, I wouldn't have sugary drinks or anything. Anyways. We had. I know exactly what I had for dinner. I had a big steak. I had rice. I had vegetables, because, again, I was in training. And we had one drink there. So, you know, you're drinking it while you're eating dinner.
A
Yeah.
B
Then we leave. We go meet friends at this, like, sort of restaurant y bar. So there's like, a good hour between the drink, the first drink, and then getting to the bar and having the next drink. So I have the second drink. Fine. That's only two drinks. There's been time. There's been a big meal in between. Like, that's. That was not a big deal for me. And it was a big group of people I worked with. And then a few more people showed up, and one of the Guys was like, oh, let's all do a shot. And I sort of knew in my mind, like, okay, the shot's gonna be the last thing I do. Like, I'm. That's fine. Like, okay. And he goes to the bar, he gets the shots, comes back, we all take shots. And very quickly after that, things started to go downhill. All of a sudden, like, the whole room sort of got blurry. Couldn't. Like, I could hear everybody, but, like, couldn't really process the information. I could tell that people were looking at me like something was wrong. And they were like, holy clap. Like, she's really fucked up. But in my mind, I knew I shouldn't be really messed up. And my girlfriend was like, are you okay? And I said, no, something's wrong. And I could barely stand up straight. So, like, she walks me to the. She's like, you need to throw up. She walks me to the bathroom, and I'm, like, leaning on her, like, fully. Like, she's holding me up. Get to the bathroom. I'm like, hand down my throat, trying to throw up. I know some. I know something is not right. Can't get it to come out. Come out of the bathroom. Same thing. Like, I am just all over the place. Like, I'm a mess. And everybody's like, how much did she drink? And I was like, no. Like. And I'm trying to tell them something is wrong.
A
Yeah.
B
And the guy that brought the shot over, he was like, yo. Yo, you okay? You okay? I never liked this guy. This guy was a scumbag from like. And I was like, no, I'm not okay. And he's like, you need to throw up. And I was like, I know. I can't. I can't. I tried. And he's like, no, no, come outside. Come outside. So he takes me outside, and he's like. I'm sitting there on the ground, and, like, head in my hands, and he's like, you need to throw up. And I was like, I can't get it out. I've tried. And he's like, open your mouth. And I'm like, what? And he's like, my hand's bigger than yours. Open your mouth. And he shoves his hand down my throat. And I start puking.
A
Oh, my God.
B
And I am just puking and puking and puking. And I. At this point now, everything's black. I can't see anything, but I can hear. I am fully. This is what was crazy. I could tell you right now everything that was said that night, I could tell You. I'm sitting on the curb. I'm puking. I'm asking them to call me an ambulance. I know I need to go to the hospital. Nobody will call me an ambulance. I think they thought, like, I was just drunk. He wouldn't call because he roofied me. I couldn't. I had my phone. I had my BlackBerry in my hand. I couldn't see. Like, literally, it was black. I couldn't see the numbers to dial. And he's. He's saying to me. He's like, yo, yo, yo, you want me go home with you? You want me to go home with you? And I was like, no, I'm not. I'm going home by myself. You sure? You sure I can take you home? But I was like, no. Like, so he was literally just trying to come home and take advantage. And as I'm sitting out there on this curb puking, one of another guy that we worked with that was actually, like, in the, like, janitor department, a little bit older than us. Nice. Had just pulled up to meet everybody and had. So he hadn't been drinking yet. And he could tell I was not okay. And he's like, I will take her home. Like, she needs to go home. They give me a plastic bag. I puke in the bag the whole way home. I can't stand up even getting out of the car. I have to crawl and pull myself up the stairs by the banister, which was so scary because, like, looking back on it, I at least had the common sense to not get in bed right away. Like, I sat on the toilet and puked into the bathtub. But, like, looking back now, it's just the scariest thing ever, because, like, again, if you lay down and pass out, you could choke on your vomit. And it wasn't my. Like, this was not me choosing to drink too much. This was somebody being a scumbag trying to take advantage of me. I was so messed up. The next day, I had called Kent, and I was like. Because he needed it. He was supposed to be bringing me Dominic so he could go to work. And I was like, you can't bring me dom. He was 2. I was like, I'm not okay. I need to go to the hospital. And he's like, it's not going to be in your blood anyways. At this point, it'll be out. Kent used to be highway patrol, so he knew. And I was like, I'm telling you, I. I'm not capable of taking care of him right now. And he was like, I have to Go to work, Autumn. So he brings me Dom, which is just crazy. In hindsight, I think maybe he didn't really think that I had been roofied. Maybe he thought I had just drank too much until he saw me and he realized. But there he was already like, yeah, I like, Mickey Mouse clubbed it for Dominic all day long. Like, again, he was 2, so he was fine to watch Mickey Mouse. And I'm like, crawling to the kitchen to get him food, putting it on the table. Like, I just felt like the worst mom ever. By five o' clock that night, I finally was starting to feel better. Put him in the stroller. McDonald's was across the street. Walked. He got us food at McDonald's. You know, you just need, like, grease and things. But at that point, like I said, I was very aware that I had been roofied. Kent had now understood. He was calling, like, every hour to check on us.
A
Yeah.
B
And it was crazy because the next day when I went to work, Kent came. And as I was walking in, the guy who roofied me was walking out. And he looked at me and he looked at Kent. And I think he tried to say something to me. And I said. I looked at him and I said, don't ever fucking talk to me. Don't ever fucking look at me or I will tell everybody what you did. And he didn't. He. I mean, it was years that I still worked there. And he knew he. If I was in one area of the gym, he knew to not be near me. He knew not to talk to me. He knew not. He, like.
A
Well, that's the thing about, like, drinking heavily because people be. It's easier to be victimized, like, roofied because people are around, you are a little tipsy, so they're not noticing when your behavior really changes or because some people are like, oh, she's just drun. And yeah, that's scary.
B
It was so scary. And from that point on, I. To this day, I. I rarely let somebody get me a drink. And like, yeah, from that point on, I just was like, again, I didn't drink that much. It was two drinks in a shot over the course of four hours. But I just. Everything changed. I was like, nothing is worth that. Like, that was my life. That was my son. Like, that could have been so bad. Like, thank God, for whatever reason, I was aware enough of everything still happening and to say, like, no, you're not coming. Like, so, yeah, we have all our fun jokes about, you know, it's all fun and games until it's not. And that's the thing is you just never know when it's not. So it's like, I think always having a good, like conversations around it. Always being aware, looking out for the yourself, looking out for the people that you're with. You know, I mean, don't get me wrong, it's fun every once in a while to get a nice little buzz.
A
Totally.
B
But.
A
But like they say, drink responsibly.
B
Yeah.
A
And it. There really is a line, I think, for. Because I'm confident that you and I do not have drinking problems. Like the way like someone who struggles with alcoholism or something like that, but you can still find yourself in. Situation gets a little. Little scary.
B
Little dicey.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah.
A
So I do it definitely. You know, I've gone through a journey and it's. It's been a big part of me accepting where I'm at in life now realizing I just don't like that the way that I did. Like my. If I have. I know this sounds like a lot to you, but if I have more than three drinks, I'm starting to not really in like, like, I'm like, okay, Donald, you're actually not gonna enjoy yourself. You're gonna get too buzzed.
B
Yeah.
A
You're gonna feel lethargic. You're gonna. You kind of feel cloudy and puffy. And it's just. It's different when you're 40, when you're in your 40s, if.
B
If there's a time when I'm like having drinks, which, like I said, I don't have it that often. Like, it was more like, oh, date night, you know, a glass or two of wine. Love that. Or a paloma or two. Love that. So three doesn't like, you know, you're a guy, I'm a girl, our size is different. So two does not sound like a big deal to me. Even, I guess three, maybe over the course. Three would be a lot for me these days because like now I'm just.
A
You don't drink?
B
I just don't drink very much. But yeah, same thing. Like the next day you're just like, oh, yeah, you gotta really decide.
A
You gotta really.
B
Okay, I will say this. So one of my girlfriends who I've been friends with literally since Dom was 2. It's funny because now, obviously Dom's 16 and she has a 9 month old. Like, she just had a baby. But we are going to Backstreet Boys in Vegas next weekend. Oh my God, I'm so excited. We're celebrating both of our birthdays. Her birthday was August 6th. Obviously mine's in September, but they'll already be gone. So we were like, okay, let's do this.
A
Yeah.
B
I will have two drinks at night at. By that point, by the time we go to Backstreet Boys, I will be, I think, six and a half weeks post stem cells.
A
So if they ain't stuck yet, baby, I'm just kidding.
B
I listen, I am making a calculated decision and here's the thing, I might get there and decide not to at all. But I've also said in my mind, like, if I want to have a drink or two, like, this is her and I have not gone out in forever. Like, I'm gonna have two drinks. I'm gonna make sure I'm very well hydrated. We are going to see the backstory boys. It's literally like we're flying in on Friday. We're seeing them Friday night, and we're flying home on Saturday.
A
Yeah.
B
I'm gonna do all the things, all the hydration, all the things anti inflammatory. But I am really excited for that.
A
That's awesome.
B
Yeah.
A
Now, while you were away, Nell and I took. Took Katrina out for her birthday and she's not really drinking a lot right now, but so I had one cocktail. But then afterwards, Nell and I went to a consumption lounge, like, for like a dispensary that in the back has this really beautiful patio and lounge and places where you can drink these THC drinks or mocktails.
B
Okay.
A
They have no alcohol or can smoke them if you got like whatever you bought inside.
B
Oh, my God. Okay. You can do all the things.
A
I gotta tell you, you know, it's legal here in California, so I thought it was so cool because I had that, like, being out vibe. But everyone was just so chill, you know, like, everyone's just like. I was like, if they wanted to make some money, they put a food.
B
Truck up along this patio, put a kitchen in.
A
Exactly, exactly. Like sell some frozen money.
B
Right.
A
But anyways, it's just like, it is interesting to see. I still like to, to, you know, enjoy at from sometimes and have a cocktail or a gummy or something like that. But it's just. It feels really good to be where I'm at in life because I'm just like. I also know there's. There's just so many healthy boundaries around it that weren't there. And it took a little bit of living. Some like, funny stories that were like, still like, you don't want to do that as an adult. It ain't cute.
B
Yeah, like his Grammy says.
A
Exactly. Never Seen a pretty.
B
Never seen a pretty drunk.
A
So I'm happy to be. Have made it past those stages.
B
And yeah, I think it is really curious or like really interesting because the younger generation now, now has this much more like sober curious movement where they're not drinking as much. Like yeah, they are maybe leaning more towards like a THC or a CBD or just not at all. Like, it's just like they're probably because they all watched us and had all our crazy stories and they're like, yeah, they're like, yeah, it ain't cute.
A
When Anel's family was in town, he has two younger cousins. They're, they're. But their family is. Culturally, it's normal for teenagers to have a drink with their family. If they're having wine or champagne or even if they're mixing cocktails or something, they'll share a little bit with them. And it's interesting because I've just never seen two girls their age seem to have such an adult balanced perspective of alcohol. Because when I was that age, every. Well, I didn't drink was 21. But everyone that age was like late teens, early 20s. Was like, wanted to get up, I.
B
Think because it's introduced to them and they're allowed. So the curiosity is gone.
A
Yeah. I do wonder if it. Because it's this big thing that you have to wait to do and you can't do it yet. And I wonder if it builds up the. I don't know.
B
Well, in Paris, actually in Italy and in Paris. So when I took Dom to Italy last year, Dom was 15 and a half and we did this like cooking class thing and the guy just poured Dom a glass of wine without asking. And I mean, don't get me wrong, Dom looks a little bit older than his age, but obviously he doesn't look 21.
A
Yeah.
B
And Dom's looking at me like what? And I said, I was like, if you want to try a sip of it, you can. I know Dom doesn't like alcohol. And so he took a sip and he was like, yeah. But in Italy they let kids drink wine.
A
Yeah.
B
Even at restaurants and stuff like that. So now this year we go to France. Our first night out at dinner, we're at this beautiful restaurant. It's overlooking the Eiffel Tower. It was like this five course meal. The first thing they do because I guess a bottle of champagne was included with the meal. I didn't realize it is they pour the champagne, but they pour it for me and Dom and I'm like, okay.
A
You Go card him or.
B
No. Like. Like, he doesn't look old enough to drink.
A
Right.
B
And I. Like, we did a cheers with it, even though we didn't drink it. Like, I posted a boomerang of it. It. And I was like, I guess Dom looks old enough to drink. And everybody was messaging me. They're like, in France, you. I think they were saying, like, I think they were saying you have to be 16 to drink with your parents and 18 to drink alone. But everywhere we went, they poured Dom a glass of wine. Like, if. If it came with the thing with the experience. They just poured one for him. He did. Obviously he didn't drink.
A
Not, like, all of a sudden.
B
He. He just thought it was so funny that it. Because when we did the Emily in Paris walking food tour, it ends at this place where they do, like, this cheese board and blah, blah, blah. And same thing. They pour the wine, pour it for Dom.
A
Yeah.
B
But I do think same thing. It's just in other countries and other cultures, there's not such this stigma on it. And so I think it's not like this, like, let's get right. It's interesting because I actually feel like it's the same way when it comes to, like. Like, I'm gonna go off topic a little bit, but, like, sex and the naked body.
A
Oh, I agree, girl. That's it. We should do that.
B
We should do that. Because we went to see Moulin Rouge in France or in Paris, which is a burlesque show. They're topless, their tatas are out. Dom was so uncomfortable. Would not look, like, turned his head the other way. And he was like, well, you know, because he's trying to find his way actually, with God and religion anyways. And so he feels a little bit, like, conflicted about what. Yeah, and he shouldn't. And that's bad. I was, like, dumb. It's just not a big deal. I was like, you have nipples. They have nipples.
A
That was your food source. Your first food source.
B
Also, like, they were all. All natural boobs. So, like, none of them had, like, ginormous boobs. They were all actually pretty small. And, like, I was like, what's the difference? Like, I was trying to explain to him, like, it's only sexual if you make it sexual.
A
I agree. I think that the idea of. And to your point, and this is something I think we could add another time, really dive into people being told. Like, I remember thinking that I judged people who showed too much of their body, especially girls and women. And I think that society and that. That is a problem. And it creates more of a perversion in people's mind because they're like, oh, oh. When someone's naked, you think about fill in the blank instead of just like, respecting people's bodies.
B
And she's doing that because she wants.
A
Right.
B
Blah, blah, blah.
A
It creates this narrative that doesn't have to exist. I think it's just. Yeah.
B
Oh, we got a whole another podcast episode coming for you guys. But for now, I think we could stick a cork.
A
I like that. Put a cork in it. That's right.
B
Put a cork in this one.
A
Yeah. Thank you guys for listening today. And I do just to want to say, if you're someone who is. Who struggles with alcohol or anything, if you're struggling with addiction of any kind, there's nothing to be ashamed about that. And I just want to give a blurb of definitely seek. Seek the help and support that you need because it's very serious and you're not alone. There's a lot of people who struggle with those type of.
B
We can put some resources in the show notes for sure. I always think it's good to give the resources. Yes. We were having a little bit of fun today. Obviously reminiscing about our early days.
A
Cringing a little bit.
B
Yeah.
A
Can't believe I did that.
B
Okay. Actually, now that we relive that, I'm a little embarrassed.
A
I love the peeing in the hotel room story. That's amazing.
B
That was a bad one. Like I said, that was. If you guys have any funny stories you want to share with us, you know, you can always email us@everythingsperfectpodcastmail.com that's right.
A
Don't forget to like. Like, subscribe. Follow us on Instagram if you haven't yet at Everything's Perfect Official, and we'll see you next time.
B
Bye.
A
When I notice, I just realign on my mind.
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Autumn Calabrese & Donald Stamper
This episode of Everything’s Perfect dives into the complicated, messy, and often hilarious relationship many people have with alcohol—ranging from youthful party days to sobering (sometimes quite literally) lessons in adulthood. Hosts Autumn and Donald share candid stories about their wild nights, embarrassing mishaps, and the deeper, sometimes darker experiences that led them to rethink their drinking habits. The episode balances unfiltered humor and nostalgia with serious reflections on safety, boundaries, and the societal attitudes surrounding alcohol use.
“The bread’s just, you know, where you hold the butter. The butter is really what I’m eating.” — Autumn’s grandma, [06:18]
“It’s all fun and games until you’ve had one too many and you think you’re throwing them into the woods.” [15:40]
“I had gotten out of the bed on one side…all I did was walk between the bed and the wall…I was just squatting.” [33:10]
Both hosts discuss how, in their 40s, their tolerance and interest in drinking has drastically changed.
“If I have more than three drinks, I’m starting to not really like…it’s different when you’re in your 40s.” [57:03]
“Even, I guess three…maybe over the course. Three would be a lot for me these days.” [57:34]
Importance of healthy boundaries and moderation now; preference for low-key drinks and cannabis alternatives.
“Why get on a roller coaster when you’re living on one?” — Donald, [04:39]
“I think they just poured all the liquors they had in there. They would have these giant straws that would change colors when you drank out of them.” — Autumn, [08:49]
“I was very aware that I had been roofied…From that point on, I rarely let somebody get me a drink.” — Autumn, [55:08]
“You have to really decide: Is this worth the next day?” — Autumn, [57:44]
“In Paris…at dinner, we’re at this beautiful restaurant…it was like this five course meal…they pour the champagne, but they pour it for me and Dom…” — Autumn, [63:13]
“If you’re someone who struggles with alcohol or anything…there’s nothing to be ashamed about that. Seek the help and support that you need…you’re not alone.” — Donald, [66:04]
The hosts recommend seeking support if you struggle with alcohol or addiction and note that resources will be added to the show notes.
Contact:
Share your stories or feedback: everythingsperfectpodcastmail.com
Follow: @EverythingsPerfectOfficial
Next Topic Tease: Society’s views on the naked body and sex—stay tuned!