WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY Heard Whales Sing in Maui

Summary

Podcast Summary: "WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY Heard Whales Sing in Maui"

Introduction

In the February 25, 2025 episode of Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers, hosts Seth Meyers (referred to as "Sufi") and Josh Meyers ("Pashi") welcome actress and comedian Wendy McLendon-Covey as their guest. The episode delves into Wendy's childhood memories, family vacations, humorous disasters, and her journey in the entertainment industry.

Early Childhood and Family Vacations

Wendy shares vivid recollections of her upbringing in Bellflower and Long Beach, California. She describes summers spent with her grandparents, emphasizing a "free-range childhood" where she and her sister engaged in activities like roller skating and staging backyard pageants.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [22:42]: “We staged pageants and musicals.”

Wendy’s family vacations were a mix of camping and luxurious stays. She recounts the challenges of fitting four people into a camper and the eventual shift to hotels, enhancing the vacation experience. A significant change occurred when her father won a trip to Hawaii, leading the family to transition from Lake Powell to annual Maui vacations.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [30:05]: “We started staying in hotels and that made it better.”

Embarrassing Moments and Family Dynamics

The Meyers brothers discuss various embarrassing family moments, including Seth's infamous toast that ended in a shattered wine glass and plate during a dinner.

Seth Meyers [02:14]: “I held up my wine glass and I tapped it three times, and I would say on the second tap, it shattered into a thousand pieces.”

Wendy adds to the humor by sharing her experiences with water skiing, highlighting her father's passion for the sport contrasting her own disinterest.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [29:18]: “I hate water skiing. I like watching other people.”

Sibling Rivalry and Parental Expectations

The conversation touches on competitive moments, such as Seth and Josh's children's performances in ski races. Seth’s son’s reflection on his improved ski times showcases the blend of innocence and criticism within family expectations.

Seth Meyers [06:17]: “My eight-year-old at a ski race...a very thoughtful and completely ignorant moment.”

Wendy discusses her own challenges with family activities, particularly water skiing, and her parents' expectations for her to participate, which added stress to her childhood.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [29:47]: “They just wanted me to get up at all.”

Life Lessons and Responses to Past Challenges

Wendy recounts a pivotal moment during a Christmas trip to Maui, where a magical encounter with marine life inspired her to take a significant career step—joining the cast of The Goldbergs.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [42:13]: “We start hearing whales singing. It was the most magical thing...I felt it was a sign I should take that job with the Goldbergs. And I did.”

She also shares poignant memories of traveling with her in-laws during the tragic events of 9/11, highlighting the intersection of personal and national crises.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [49:36]: “We got there on 9/10...heard that the Twin Towers had been hit.”

Career and Achievements

Wendy celebrates her success in the entertainment industry, particularly her ongoing role in a beloved sitcom and her sister's achievements in comedy theater.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [16:12]: “We have the room if they would prefer an ADU.”

She expresses pride in her sister's Siren Theater in Portland, Oregon, praising her comedic talents and dedication.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [22:58]: “She was so damn funny. I was so proud of her.”

Reflections on Family and Future Plans

The discussion moves to future family dynamics, with Wendy expressing a strong desire to care for her aging parents at home rather than in facilities.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [46:25]: “I want us to finish the way we started, which is yelling at each other on the couch in front of the television.”

Seth and Josh empathize, sharing their plans to eventually have their parents live with them, underscoring the deep familial bonds and responsibilities.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a lighthearted speed round of questions, revealing Wendy's adventurous spirit and her humorous take on family vacations.

Wendy McLendon-Covey [58:07]: “Adventurous.”

Wendy’s honesty and humor throughout the conversation provide listeners with an engaging glimpse into her life, blending heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud anecdotes. The Meyers brothers successfully create a warm and relatable atmosphere, making the episode both entertaining and insightful for those who haven’t listened.

Notable Quotes

• Seth Meyers [02:14]: “I held up my wine glass and I tapped it three times, and I would say on the second tap, it shattered into a thousand pieces.”
• Wendy McLendon-Covey [42:13]: “It was a sign I should take that job with the Goldbergs. And I did.”
• Wendy McLendon-Covey [29:18]: “I hate water skiing. I like watching other people.”
• Wendy McLendon-Covey [22:58]: “She was so damn funny. I was so proud of her.”

Timestamp Highlights

• 00:17-00:50: Hosts discuss their first live podcast at On Air Fest and share initial banter.
• 02:14-05:00: Seth narrates his embarrassing toast, leading to humorous exchanges.
• 22:42-23:51: Wendy talks about staging backyard pageants and her sister’s comedy theater.
• 42:28-46:44: Reflections on family responsibilities and future caregiving plans.
• 58:00-59:44: Speed round of questions, showcasing Wendy’s adventurous personality.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, emotional moments, and humorous exchanges that make Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers a delightful listen.

Transcript

[Sufi]

This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by the all new 2025 Nissan Armada. Because going big never goes out of style. Learn [e-mail] hi Pashi.

[Pashi]

Hi, Sufi.

[Sufi]

You are in your childhood bedroom.

[Pashi]

I sure am.

[Sufi]

Shout out to On Air Fest, which is a wonderful podcast festival that we did a live podcast. Our first live podcast this past Friday.

[Pashi]

Yeah, yeah. I don't know when we'll release that episode, but. But it was fun. It was fun to do in front of people.

[Sufi]

It'll be fun for you, the listeners to say, would I have laughed more or less than the audience at any given moment?

[Pashi]

I don't know. Yeah. I wish I recalled like just waves of laughter, but I don't think I recall that.

[Sufi]

I think it was a nice, comfortable amount of laughter.

[Pashi]

I don't know.

[Sufi]

I'll have to listen. This isn't a straight jokes podcast. You know, we're also, you know, sometimes the comedy is sucked out of it by your adherence to only talking about trips. So anytime you hear the audience not laughing, just know that was cause Josh was. They. They. He would shame them with a face.

[Pashi]

Yeah, well, as you know, the best way, the best SNL laughs are talking about previous SNLs. It's not watching the show. It's just.

[Sufi]

By the way, I mean, the weekend Josh had to suffer. Josh. Because we did the On Air Fest and then Pashi spent the weekend with my family and it was amazing. But we socialized a fair amount and it was basically the week after the SNL 50th. So I even did say to you, I want to apologize in advance.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Because everyone did want to talk to you about it and it was a. And rightfully so. Like, it's just, it was a cultural moment that you were a part of and they weren't and everyone sort of wanted to know the. The goss and what it was like for you and. Yeah.

[Sufi]

And as much as I would love to say right now that you were a real ass ache about it, you were super cool and I remember you even said no, I totally understand. Of course.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And I tried. Would you say the most embarrassing moment of the weekend was when I tried to make a toast?

[Pashi]

It was the best. I mean, there was a moment at an earlier party with kids where I was at a bumper pool table with your daughter and we were just sort of like bouncing balls around. And then my. Our brother in law, Tolia walked in and she just said, tolia, I'm peeing. And she just like started peeing.

[Sufi]

Yeah, she'll do that every now and then.

[Pashi]

Right. So I think that was embarrassing.

[Sufi]

Uh huh.

[Pashi]

But also not as. Maybe not as embarrassing as your toast.

[Sufi]

Well, the thing about a toast is you get everyone's attention.

[Pashi]

Yeah. And the classic way to do that is.

[Sufi]

Is you hit your glass with a piece of silverware. And by the way, I had no intention to make a toast. We were just at a lovely dinner and my friends, Ian, Courtney, had made an incredible meal. And then my friends sitting next to me said, oh, you should make a toast and thank them for this incredible meal. And I would say there were about, you know, fair amount of people there. And anyway, I held up my wine glass and I tapped it three times, and I would say on the second tap, it shattered into a thousand pieces. And then I dropped it and it landed on my plate. My plate split in two.

[Pashi]

It sure did.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Then you, like, there were tiny bits of glass and you went into the kitchen and got, like, a fistful of paper towels.

[Sufi]

Like, I've already gotten shamed by other people there. I've already received texts today saying, we keep talking about how you thought the proper way to address tiny pieces of.

[Pashi]

Glass was paper towels, like, also, and, like, a fistful of them. So you were just gonna, like, grind them into the tablecloth or the table or.

[Sufi]

There's no. I was spinning out.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And because I would imagine fairly everyone is jumping to the conclusion that I maybe had one too many. I hadn't had any.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

I'm in the midst of a dry February. Do you think it's a. It basically is you telling the world you have a drinking problem when you wait till February because it's three days shorter.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Shorter month.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Also, it's the one no one's doing.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

It's like, a lot of people do dry January, they do dry July. Cause it rhymes. But dry February is like. Wait, what?

[Sufi]

It's. I don't know. I think I'm kind of a trailblazer. Well, I also. January. We've talked about this. There are a lot of intense stuff happened in January.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

I'm very impressed you managed to get through it. So I drank my way through January and then dry fab'd my way into the most embarrassing toast I've ever given, where it was, and I fully went on tilt for the rest of the evening.

[Pashi]

Yeah. But it was fun. It was really nice to spend that weekend with you and your wife and your kids. And. Yeah.

[Sufi]

There was one other embarrassing thing that I got busted for. It was during the Dessert course. And there was a. It was a delicious piece of cake. And I had basically eaten 90% of the cake when I. When. When toast gate happened. And so, you know, glass covered again the final 10% of my cake. And so when I went in and the host handed me a new plate and she said, oh, don't worry about it. And I was so apologetic. And then she said, oh, my God, I bet glass got all over your cake. And I said, it did, and she gave me a whole nother piece. When I sat back down, the people were like, wait, did you also get. They thought. They acted like the whole thing had been a ruse for me to get a second piece of cake.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Well, if it's any consolation, your wife Alexi noticed that I wasn't eating my cake because I'm a vegan. And I wasn't gonna just say, don't put this in front of me, as someone put a little plate down. And during all that kerfuffle, she just snatched my piece of cake and put it on her plate.

[Sufi]

So that's a. Yeah. She would see that as an opportunity.

[Pashi]

To get something, and she painted it as doing me a favor so it didn't look like I was being rude. Rude about the cake? Yeah, she was doing herself a favor.

[Sufi]

In my book, it was a chocolate ham cake. You hit the slopes with my kids.

[Pashi]

I hit the slopes.

[Sufi]

Although you didn't really get to ski much with our kids.

[Pashi]

No, because they had stuff going on.

[Sufi]

They were ski school.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Your eight year old had had a race.

[Sufi]

My eight year old at a ski race. His first run was 29 seconds. His second run was 26 seconds. Yeah, these are slower than average, I would say. But yeah, I. We were driving home and I said to him, hey, so why do you think? Cause he was very proud about being faster.

[Pashi]

Sure.

[Sufi]

And I said, why do you think you did so much better your second run? And he said in a way that was very thoughtful and completely ignorant to how stupid it sounded. He said, oh, in the first run, I forgot you were supposed to go fast. Just the amount that he's showing us that competitive sports is not his future.

[Pashi]

Yeah, they got awards, medals for the three fastest girls and the three fastest boys.

[Sufi]

Fastest girl was the fastest of everybody.

[Pashi]

Yes, Imogen. And she was in Ash's group. And when she took off by the second gate, you were like, oh, this is. This girl's cut from a different cloth. Or she's, you know, she. She's talking.

[Sufi]

I had been. I got stuck. Not stuck, but I was skiing with Addie. And so you and Alexi were watching the races. Yeah.

[Pashi]

And these two girls. There were two girls in that group who came one and two. And they were just, you know, they were pros, Little pros.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah.

[Pashi]

And then Ash was forlorn and despondent that he hadn't gotten a medal. And he was a good five seconds off the podium.

[Sufi]

They sent the final tally of everybody's times.

[Pashi]

Uh huh.

[Sufi]

And you could say he was the farthest away from the podium.

[Pashi]

And he was really mad and his argument was. But I went so fast.

[Sufi]

Yeah, it's a problem. It's a problem. And you know, we. That thing of. I'm. He's not. He doesn't have a competitive drive, but he wants competitive glory and that's real. Those two don't line up particularly well.

[Pashi]

Yeah, well, he's just gotta crawl up that list. Wherever he finished, you know, whatever his number was. If there were a hundred kids, let's say he was 60th. Let's do him a favor.

[Sufi]

Sure. Or if you want to say, what, 21 of 21.

[Pashi]

Next year you could be like, maybe try to. Try to finish 15th next year, try to make top 10.

[Sufi]

He was the youngest skier.

[Pashi]

Okay.

[Sufi]

Although I'm realizing that's absolutely not true. It was his friend. All right. Well, yeah, his friend, who is a full year younger than him, totally smoked him. I'm listening to him now. He's saying, I'm listening to his excuses and I'm just totally buying him without doing any of the legwork. And now you're home with mom and dad, which is super rad.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

How is the crazy leak?

[Pashi]

Oh, yeah, we had a leak that came from the attic into your room and into downstairs.

[Sufi]

Is it moldy? Do you feel like it's mold city in there or is it okay?

[Pashi]

No, it's just like there are pieces of the wall cut out and you can sort of see the boards inside the walls and there's plastic taped over them. So it's. Everything looks fine.

[Sufi]

Okay, good. Doesn't feel damp or anything.

[Pashi]

No, it doesn't feel damp. Although your room, because of your allergies growing up and your asthma years ago, when I forget how old you are, but put in like a little mini parquet floor that looks like the Boston Celtics court.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

And it seems like the parquet is going to go the way of the dodo. Yeah, I believe it. Yeah. I thought you were gonna maybe be more sad about that, but.

[Sufi]

Well, I feel like I still have trauma for how angry dad was when he put in that parquet floor.

[Pashi]

I think when he thought. When he thought, oh, let's do a parquet floor. He probably thought it was gonna be pretty easy. But it's like very, very small, like cross hatching.

[Sufi]

I would. The way I would describe the parquet floor is not flush to the wall.

[Pashi]

Well, it's definitely not anymore. There's a big chunk of it cut out.

[Sufi]

So this might be an inside job by dad to finally covering his work. Yeah, yeah. Who's in there? Just going to town on a pipe. Well, it was so nice to see you. And I mean, nobody does the east coast better than you, Pasha. You just. You just roll through town. Oh, can we say real quick, because now I would die. I mean, I would love to have either of them on the podcast, but we went and saw oh Mary on Thursday night. Oh, Mary. If you haven't heard of it, Cole Escola wrote in stars in this incredible 80 minute Broadway show. Started off Broadway. And it's basically the story of Mary Todd Lincoln. But when Cole was on my show, the way they described it was I wanted to write this show without doing any research. So it's a totally off the wall, batty, incredibly memorable, special, unique show. And then Cole is now out of the show. And Betty Gilpin, who is a incredible dramatic actor, but is so funny as Mary Todd Lincoln. And it was.

[Pashi]

Yeah, she's excellent.

[Sufi]

And it was a really nice New York City night. You were there for one night and we went out, we saw a Broadway show.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Then got to do the on air fest. And then. Yeah, then I got out of New York just like that.

[Sufi]

You also got a real best of my mother in law Joanne moment.

[Pashi]

Oh, man.

[Sufi]

Freezing cold night. Freezing cold night. Freezing cold night. The four of us leave the theater and we're Alexi again. A woman on a mission at all times.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Her mother, by the way, we are talking about her mother.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

She just charges into Times Square, throws a hand up to get a cab. Alexi does Alexi going down 7th Avenue.

[Pashi]

And you got waylaid coming out of the door to take a picture with somebody. So I'm walking with Joanne.

[Sufi]

Yep. And then all of a sudden, I run up to catch Alexi, and I don't see you or Joanne. And then you run up with an update. And what was the update?

[Pashi]

Joanne had stopped in a bodega. She walked in, she's like, oh, let me grab something real quick. And when I went back to see what was taking so long, she was looking in A display case of various cakes and pies. And pie pointing to one of them. And the bodega owner was like, you know, cutting a little slice and wrapping it up in wax paper and then putting it in a little plastic container. And then there was the.

[Sufi]

It was 10:30 at night and she was getting bodega cake.

[Pashi]

And meanwhile, Alexei is in, like, in Times Square with a taxi that has pulled over with traffic, trying to drive behind that taxi that can't.

[Sufi]

The only reason Alexi hasn't left is you and I won't get in the taxi. We know that if we get in the taxi, Alexi will slam the door and punish her mother.

[Pashi]

Yeah. I feel like it was like when Mike Pence wouldn't leave the Capitol or something like that.

[Sufi]

Yeah, it was. Yeah.

[Pashi]

We had to do something.

[Sufi]

She was so.

[Pashi]

We had to stand up.

[Sufi]

She was so ready to go.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And I think it was an incredible act of nobility for me, the way that I stand up for my mother in law, even though my mother in law, you know, it should be noted that behavior was insane.

[Pashi]

Yeah. She said she also had to get aspirin, but I didn't see that.

[Sufi]

All I saw was, by the way, guess what? You know who doesn't have a headache? Somebody who's buying bodega cake.

[Pashi]

Maybe the sugar. It's just like some people before they have their coffee and they're like, oh, a little sugar. I'll calm down. My head down.

[Sufi]

There you go. So it was great to see you. This is a lovely conversation with Wendy McClendon Covey, and we do hope you will enjoy it.

[Pashi]

Family trips with the M Brothers. Family trips with the Mico.

[Sufi]

Yes.

[Pashi]

Hello.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Hello.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Have you ever. Have you ever met Josh?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I haven't.

[Pashi]

Very cute. I feel like I've been in a couple audition waiting rooms maybe, where it's just like a murderer's row of, like, the funniest women I've ever seen in my life. And I'm like, oh, this show's gonna be good.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Wow.

[Pashi]

But, yeah, I feel like I've crossed your path there, but I don't think I've ever said, like, hey, I'm Josh.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You guys sound exactly alike.

[Sufi]

Yeah, it's a problem for a podcast.

[Pashi]

Wow. You're in the catbird seat, though, because you can see us, so.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I sure can.

[Sufi]

Yeah. It's easier for you than our listeners, for sure. Are you real quick? It is very exciting because. And I said this to you and we talked about it the last time you were on my show, like, you're on like an old school, 20 plus episode sitcom right now. And it is. I am just so happy they still exist. And I'm so happy you're on one. Congratulations.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Thank you so much. And we just got renewed for a season two, and it just sounds like things are picking back up again across the board for the industry. And God, I just want to see actors working right now.

[Sufi]

And St. Denis Medical is a big old ensemble, and so those are fun too. So you have a lot of actors working on one show.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes, it's gorgeous. And a lot of guest stars coming in and out, and it's so much fun.

[Sufi]

This is. And it's a Justin Spitzer show who we went to college with.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You did.

[Pashi]

He was in the college improv troupe with me. He's, I wanna say one or two years younger than me, but yeah, we were.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, my God.

[Pashi]

We were in Meow, the Northwestern improv troupe together. And we're just both.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, you went to Northwestern.

[Pashi]

We all weeded our parents.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

The legacy of greatness that comes out of Northwester. I mean, consistently churning out like the best actors and performers. And Northwestern, it's like, wow, why didn't I go there?

[Sufi]

Well, you didn't have to, people. Somebody who went there made a show for you.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, that's true. I'm still benefiting.

[Sufi]

You didn't have to. You didn't have to spend a winter in Chicago. So you did. You did far better.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That's true as well. That's right.

[Sufi]

Plus, you. You met your husband in college.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes, in community college, which is not a flex, but that is where we met and it seems to have stuck.

[Sufi]

Did you meet because you were both actors?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No.

[Sufi]

Okay.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I didn't really do any college acting. I was more of a dancer back then. Got it. But no, we met. Cause we were in a class together and we became lab partners and we're still partnering.

[Sufi]

That's great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Excellent.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

31 years later, still working.

[Sufi]

Born in Bellflower, California. Where is that?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So that's about six miles away from where I currently live in Long Beach, California. So it's just inland. It's a little city that used to be full of orange groves and dairies and things like that. And I'm trying to think who. There's some notable people that were born at my hospital. Like the Octomom. The Octomom had her litter there.

[Sufi]

So then a lot of people were.

[Pashi]

Born at that hospital.

[Sufi]

I mean.

[Pashi]

Yeah, she ups the average.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. Yeah, she does.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And was it a. Was it a peaceful place? To grow up. It sounds. Bellflower sounds very peaceful.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It. Yeah, very peaceful. It's called the, the friendly City. But I think now it should be called the city of Apartments. Cause that's basically all that's there. And automotive stores and churches. But yeah, I didn't live there for very long. We moved down the street into Long beach and I've stayed here for the rest of my life. But my grandparents lived there and I stayed with them a lot. So we had a very nice childhood of summers just hanging around old people.

[Sufi]

So summer would happen and you would just go chill with your parents. I saw your grandparents and Bellflower.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, they watched us because my parents worked.

[Sufi]

Got it.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. And yet, and yet there were so many times when I remember being. You know. Cause I'm Gen X, so we didn't have babysitters a lot of the time. But my grandparents did this for free. But when my parents needed to go out or something, I remember being left as a, as a seven year old with my little sister. And we were fine.

[Pashi]

Yeah, you know, I mean, I guess. Were you told, don't go outside, don't open the door for anyone? Was it?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Exactly.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We're going to be gone for two hours, don't light any matches, don't open the door for anybody. And it was fine. We watched tv. We, you know, beat each other senseless.

[Sufi]

It's so, I mean, so, I mean, part of it, I guess, is maybe New York City is more dangerous than Bellflower. So begin with that. But I remember I had my two boys and they were watching a movie and I had ordered dinner for them and I got a call being like, hey, we're not delivering. Can you come pick it up? And it was like two blocks away. And the amount of stress I had at just leaving my kids in an apartment in a building with a doorman, like so much would have to go wrong. But it was fine. But I was just heart pounding for two blocks. And then I remember again, same thing. Josh and I, our parents left us alone all the time.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

All the time. All the time. And how old were your kids when you had to make this great escape to get the dinner?

[Sufi]

Like one week old. No, they were.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

What's he gonna do, just lay in the basket?

[Sufi]

No, they were like. It was like last year, so they were like seven and five, same thing. And you know, I came back like panting with their burgers and they didn't notice I was gone. They were just watching tv.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Right, right.

[Pashi]

I wonder how many New York City doormen are told like, don't let my child leave this building. And like, what?

[Sufi]

Well, we say it all the time, but we're worried about this, that when they become teenagers, we think the doormen are team teenagers.

[Pashi]

Oh.

[Sufi]

Like, cuz they, they've watched these kids grow up and they feel very close to the kids. And so when a kid is 16 and like they sneak out, all our parents who have kids that are older, like, yeah, you gotta look out. The doormen are all like, team teenager.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh my God, that's so interesting.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I have no kids and all my friends have kids. So sometimes the kids will be like, can I tell you something? But you don't tell my mom. And I say, no, I'm telling your mom. If you don't want your mom to know, don't tell me. I'm not playing that game with you.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Unless it's about a surprise party for your mother, then I'll be quiet. And I love that you trust me. But I will tell your mom.

[Pashi]

Yeah. Do they ever say, like, it's about a surprise party for my mom. And also, never, ever, ever, can you buy us two bottles of tequila? That's it. And then maybe the party's not gonna happen. We're not sure.

[Sufi]

So when you would spend the summer hanging out with your grandparents, would you spend the night or would your parents. Would you just go for the day? Cause you were close enough to where you grew up. They were close enough.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. Just for the day. Just for the day. And my grandma was a former school teacher and kind of a. Kind of a hard ass. So she's like that TV turns off at 10am and then you go outside and you don't come back in until I call you for lunch. And then you go back outside again and you don't come in until 4:00pm yeah.

[Sufi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So she made us do things, which was fine. We had a. We had a stage in the backyard.

[Sufi]

Ooh. Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We staged pageants and musicals.

[Sufi]

Was this a physical stage that had been built for the purposes.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, it wasn't. It was an outdoor fireplace that just happened to have a hearth.

[Sufi]

Great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

But we used it as a stage. It was perfect.

[Sufi]

And this we as you and your sister.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Me and my sister.

[Sufi]

And what's the age gap there?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Three years.

[Sufi]

Okay, close.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes. I love her so much. I worship her. I'm a big fan. She is a family therapist, but she owns a comedy theater.

[Sufi]

Get out of here.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

In Portland, Oregon. That actually makes money.

[Sufi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

She works all the time and she's like a little celebrity out There. And when I go to see her, it's like incredible.

[Sufi]

What a cool thing.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, it's really great.

[Sufi]

What's the name? Plug the Comedy Theater. What's her comedy theater called?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, it's called the Siren Theater.

[Sufi]

Okay, great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And yeah, I went to see her in a show. You know, she started a theater I think mostly to get her own stuff out there.

[Sufi]

Right.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Which I respect. Why not? And they did a parody of Dirty Dancing and I was like, oh great, a parody. Meh. I went out there, I laughed so hard, you guys. I was not even making human sounds.

[Sufi]

That's fantastic.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

She was so damn funny. I was so proud of her. I couldn't. I practically went on stage to give her a hug in mid show because she was so fricking funny.

[Pashi]

Oh, that's great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Hey, we're going to take a quick break and hear from some of our sponsors. This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by Nissan.

[Pashi]

Hey, Sufi.

[Sufi]

Yeah, Pashi?

[Pashi]

What's that thing I always say about going big and it never going out of style?

[Sufi]

Oh, I remember. Going big never goes out of style.

[Pashi]

Yeah, that's it. And that's why we at Family Trips love partnering with Nissan. Because they know that going big never goes out of style. Especially when it comes to the 2025 Nissan lineup and the Nissan vehicle we.

[Sufi]

Want to give a huge shout out to today. The all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X.

[Pashi]

Sufi, what's that thing I always say about the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X?

[Sufi]

Paschi, you always, always say that no terrain is too tough for the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X. It's the most capable Armada ever built.

[Pashi]

Yeah, that's right.

[Sufi]

It's like your catchphrase.

[Pashi]

Yeah, I'm known for saying that. And how could I not? With a new powerful engine, incredible towing capacity and adventure ready technology, this is the first Armada to earn the Pro 4X badge.

[Sufi]

It's built for the most rugged of terrain thanks to the fact that it's powered by a twin turbo V6 engine, which means it's that's ready to give you the freedom to explore further and to propel your adventures to new heights.

[Pashi]

And my favorite part, the Armada's premium interior seats up to eight passengers. That means we can bring our six best friends with us on our next adventure. Let's name them right now.

[Sufi]

And we're out of time. So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Family Trips. Explore further with the Nissan Armada Pro 4X. Learn more at nissanusa.com Intelligent Four Wheel Drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions. Support for family trips comes from Airbnb. Man, oh, man, Airbnb. They've really taken care of us in this podcast. We've had some of our best trips with mom and dad at Airbnbs recently.

[Pashi]

Absolutely. I feel like I've had some of the best trips of my life in Airbnbs.

[Sufi]

And, you know, I remember when we got to the last Airbnb that we stopped with mom and Dad. I walked in the door and you had on a giant dining room table, you had already set up a brand new board game. Now, again, we're a board game family. You've done some research, and it was one of those games with a million pieces, and I feel like there would never be a place in a hotel room to do this sort of thing, but it was just laid out, ready to go. It felt like a home away from home.

[Pashi]

Yeah. I mean, if I had done that at a hotel, you probably, like, I'd have to lay it out on a bed, and then you'd probably come in and just jump on the bed and mess it all up.

[Sufi]

That'd be exactly what I would do.

[Pashi]

Because it would be funny. It would be a jerk move, but it would also be funny.

[Sufi]

I recognize that it's nice when you're reuniting, be it with friends that you used to hang out with or your family that you used to hang out with and warm spaces to go to an Airbnb and have that instant connection that you used to have in places that were not hotels.

[Pashi]

Also, sometimes you're like, I don't know, is this place going to be okay? Well, then you should just try a guest favorite. And, you know, it's going to be okay because. Because people aren't gonna find a place that they were not impressed with and say, that's my favorite. So get yourself a goodie.

[Sufi]

Book your next awesome trip [e-mail] Here we go.

[Pashi]

Were there other kids in the neighborhood around your grandparents that you guys would hang with? Or could you leave the confines of the yard because it was that kind of safe neighborhood? Or was it like, just stay in here in the fence?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, we were able to leave and there were kids there. And, you know, of course you want to make friends because someone always had a pool.

[Pashi]

Oh, yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And you need that access. But we also were big roller skaters and. Pretty good, you know?

[Sufi]

Pretty good. What's pretty good? Yeah. Is that skate backwards. That's what I want to Know, oh.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Skate backwards, shoot the duck, do all these tricks. Like, we were. We were pretty amazing, I have to say.

[Sufi]

What? Shoot the duck?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Shoot the duck is when you go down on one skate and your other leg is out.

[Pashi]

Oh.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

So it's a real like sort of squat and kick.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. You go low to the ground.

[Pashi]

Yeah. But the squat and kick sounds weird. So they called it shooting the duck.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Which also sounds totally.

[Sufi]

Still better. Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. So we had kids to play with and it was. And on my own block in Long beach, we had so many kids. So it was a party in the streets. It was really, really fun. Like a free range childhood. And nobody's parents were paying attention.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know, so we were all just getting into it in the street.

[Sufi]

It was great. Josh is the LA Myers brother. I'm the east Coast Myers brother. How far from the beach did you live in Long Beach? Is that a dumb question or is.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, it's not a dumb question because it sounds like, oh, you must live right on the water. We don't. We can't even see the water. But we had. We had a ski boat for most of my childhood, and we would go water skiing rain or shine every weekend.

[Pashi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So we were, you know, just a couple minutes away. But I hate water skiing.

[Sufi]

Did you always hate it?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I've always hated it. I like watching other people. I like pulling in the rope and holding up the flag. But I didn't like to ski because my dad would get so impatient with us. Like, come on, come on. And it was like, well, I don't want to do this to begin with, so you can just take my turn if you're in such a hurry.

[Pashi]

Did he want you to reach a certain level, to, like, compete? Was it. Was it something like that?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

They just wanted me to get up at all.

[Pashi]

Okay, I see.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know, but I hated it.

[Sufi]

I absolutely hated it so that your dad loved it so much that the thing that you could also do in Long beach, he wanted to take a second trip to a different place to do the same thing.

[Pashi]

Yes.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes.

[Sufi]

What was the difference in the water skiing quality when you got to Lake Powell versus Long Beach?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It was so much better. It was like, because, you know, the lake didn't have a lot of congestion, a lot of boat congestion.

[Sufi]

Right.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So you weren't, you weren't like, trying to dodge other skiers at the same time.

[Sufi]

Yeah. That's an element anybody wants.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. And any boat owner knows the worst thing you can do for a boat is put it in saltwater. So, you know, being on a freshwater lake was optimal. And my dad, he was really good, I have to say, an amazing skier. So it was mostly just his thing. And we had a great time, you know, swimming and doing things on the lake. But again, I hate water skiing.

[Sufi]

I. So I also would love to just tee off on water skiing real quick. Josh.

[Pashi]

Yeah, you know, go, go, go.

[Sufi]

I expected you to. I also don't like water skiing, but I will do it to stop having to watch other people water ski, because that might be the thing I dislike even more. So I cannot believe that you find joy in watching people water ski. I now that will all change when my kids get up and they came really close this summer. I will love watching. But sometimes my wife, who's an excellent water skier, will say, can confirm. She'll say, I'm going to go take pictures. So I have to take pictures of her water skiing. Each one looks identical to every photo I've ever taken of her waters.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes.

[Sufi]

And then she comes back on the boat and looks at him and is disappointed with the work I've done as a water skiing photographer. And I hate. And I. It's. I hate. It's so boring watching people water ski. Also, I think it is very boring to water ski. I. Josh, I'm going to just say it. I can get up on one ski. I'm not a bad water skier.

[Pashi]

Uh huh.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Uh huh.

[Sufi]

Uh, you know, I don't think I maybe look as graceful as my wife, but I can water ski. The whole time I'm water skiing, I'm thinking, what? To what end? What is this for?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I'm just, why are we doing this?

[Sufi]

Why are we doing this? I just don't. And at least with skiing, skiing, I know I have to get to the bottom to be done, but when I'm in the lake, I'm like, I can let go at any time and this could just be over.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And someone can just circle around and pick you up and you say, don't make me do this again.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

One more time.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I never tried getting up on one ski, but I feel like that would be so much easier than two skis.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And I always beginners on two skis.

[Pashi]

It's just more. All you're gonna do is, I don't know, do you catch an edge on water skis like I would assume?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, you just end up doing the splits and falling face forward.

[Sufi]

I do think for kids it's easier too. It's just like there's just a little bit more but it is. The whole thing is dumb, and it's a. It's a ripoff. And the whole. The whole industry is a sk.

[Pashi]

And thank you.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Finally, someone said it out loud.

[Sufi]

But your dad loved it. When did your dad. Was it something that he did as a kid?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes. Yes. And, you know, we all like to do things that we're good at, so I feel like this was the time for my dad to really say, hey, I'm top dog here. This is why you all respect me. I make money for the family, and I ski like a water demon.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know, did the boat.

[Pashi]

Did the boat live at home on a trailer? Was it, like, in the driveway? Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, it lived in our garage.

[Pashi]

Okay.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Which was a whole procedure. The whole neighborhood knew when we were back in the damn thing to the garage.

[Sufi]

Oh, my God. Thank God we didn't water ski. The idea of my dad having to back a trailer into a garage with.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

My mom in the car, the amount of swearing. Yeah, that went on. And, you know, if we had had. It was just a ski boat, so it was fine. It didn't. You know, it didn't have a bathroom. It didn't have bunks. You know, you couldn't stay on it overnight. But a lot of people in our neighborhood would park their boats in the driveway and almost use it as, like, a guest house.

[Pashi]

Oh, yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Like, oh, relatives are coming for Christmas. They can sleep on the boat.

[Sufi]

Now, this is very stereotypical to the way I'm picturing a place called Long beach is that people just have houseboats in their driveway.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Well, there's a lot of that. Yeah. You don't want to put it on the crab grass, though, because that's tacky. Just keep it in the driveway.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And don't use it for years and years and years. Yes, exactly. Buckingham Palace. Where do you think they keep that yacht? Smack in the driveway.

[Sufi]

I don't put it on the grass.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

And would you. Would you guys ever take vacations? Would you leave the. The cozy confines of Long beach and Bellflower? Would you ever go further afield?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes. Well, we went to Lake Powell Choice twice a year, so we would do.

[Pashi]

That, but then that was twice a year. Sort of every year.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Every year.

[Sufi]

Where did you stay in Lake. Where did you stay in Lake Powell?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Well, there was a time when we would camp, which is really fun to fit four people in a camper with a bathroom that you have to walk to. Okay. So that's luxurious. We have a picture of my sister and I sleeping and her Foot is in my face. And it was awful. Like, we couldn't move. I don't know why my parents thought this was a vacation. This was just a trip. My mom was miserable the whole time. This wasn't a vacation. It was just housekeeping somewhere else. But then we started staying in hotels and that made it better. But then my dad got a taste of Hawaii. Cause he won a trip. And then it was, we're selling the boat. We're gonna start going to Hawaii on vacations. So that happened when I was probably a junior.

[Sufi]

Were you excited about this shift in.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Hell, yes.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Hell yes. I mean, the dining was so much better, Right. The boys. It was just so exotic.

[Sufi]

I mean, Hawaii and how would that be an annual.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes, that was an annual thing. And I have very. I love Maui. So when all that stuff happened last year with Maui, it was like, no, no. Just terrible. I have so many beautiful memories there, as I'm sure a lot of people do. But. Yeah. So that was our.

[Sufi]

Was your. How did your dad present to the family that were a Hawaii family now?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

He just said, I'm selling the boat. And that's it. You don't question it.

[Pashi]

How did he win the trip?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It was a work thing. So I think he outsold some. Some people that he worked with. He works for Coca Cola.

[Pashi]

Okay.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So I think he. He won like a sales prize or something like that. Went with my mom again. We were left alone to get ourselves to school.

[Sufi]

Oh, they went on a school week?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, yeah. On a school week, my grandparents would check in, but we were mostly alone. And it was fine.

[Pashi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know, we had no parties. We didn't do anything terrible. Did our homework, got everything done. And he was like, this is it. This is what we're doing Forever.

[Sufi]

Great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It was fine with us.

[Pashi]

And always. Maui.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes.

[Pashi]

Yeah, Maui. Have you been to the other islands or do you. You're sort of so committed to Maui at this point.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I've been to Kauai and Oahu, but Maui's my favorite. It really is. It really is.

[Sufi]

And what was a Maui vacation? Was it all beach centric?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, it was. You know, go to the beach all day. And even when we're bored out of our minds and sunburned to hell, we couldn't leave until my dad was ready to leave. And one year, my sister and I got so sunburned on the first day that it ruined the trip. We had to stay inside for the rest of the trip. They had to leave us in the condo. Oh, no. It was really Bad. We were glowing in the dark. We could not go out in the daytime. We could only go out after five. It was terrible.

[Sufi]

You do seem fair skinned like Josh. And it was a big concern that Josh would overstay his welcome in the sun and ruin the trip for everybody.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, would you do that, Josh?

[Pashi]

I mean, not intentionally, but I would get sunburned. I really don't know why our parents didn't just sort of like constantly reapply sunscreen. At some point, someone needs to take responsibility for their child.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Right.

[Pashi]

And I would say the same of your parents, Wendy. Like, how did you and your sister get so sunburnt?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Well, yeah, that day was terrible. And we thought, oh, well, we're in the water so the, you know, the rays aren't getting us. Well, that's a big, big no, no. And my sister has kind of olive skin, so she tans really well. I don't. I freckle and I burn. But yeah, since then I've really been very careful. But yeah, it's. It's a problem. And back, back when I was growing up, Skin cancer.

[Pashi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That's something old people get. Yeah.

[Sufi]

But now, now it's like, oh, I am old. Yeah. And they're like, hey, you know when you got it a long time ago.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Like you could sit in the dark for the rest of your life and you're still going to get it because of what you did. But anyway. Yeah.

[Pashi]

Hey, we're going to take a quick break and hear from some of our sponsors.

[Sufi]

This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by Nissan. Hey, Pashi.

[Pashi]

Yes, Ufi.

[Sufi]

Let's talk about some things that never go out of style.

[Pashi]

Ooh, I love this game. Like pasta, bomber jackets, high top shoes.

[Sufi]

Jean jackets, baseball hats. You know what else? It never goes out of style.

[Pashi]

What's that?

[Sufi]

Going big. That's why we at Family Trips love partnering with Nissan. Because they know that going big never goes out of style. Especially when it comes to the 2025 Nissan lineup and the Nissan vehicle we want to give a huge shout out to today. The all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X.

[Pashi]

No terrain is too tough for the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X. It's the most capable Armada ever built with a new powerful engine, incredible towing capacity and adventure ready technology. This is the first Armada to earn the Pro 4X badge.

[Sufi]

It's built for the most rugged of terrain thanks to the fact that it's powered by a twin turbo V6 engine, which means it's ready to give you the freedom to explore further and to propel your adventures to new heights. So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Family Trips. Explore further with the Nissan Armada Pro 4X. Learn more at nissanusa.com Intelligent Four Wheel Drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions. Here. Go. So a long day on the beach. Are you. As a kid, were you somebody? Did you like to read a book on a beach? Or were you always just running around in the water playing games?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

There was that, and then when I finally got a Walkman, it was pretty much over. I would just listen to my favorite music and isolate myself from everyone and just listen and think about how George Michael was going to be my boyfriend at some point. I think a lot of us gals had that. Had our dreams dashed with that one.

[Sufi]

But I like that. The only problem, if he'd have been straight, everybody, you all would have dated him.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We all would have had a chance, you know, I mean, come on now.

[Sufi]

It was already. There was. The deck was already stacked against you being in Bellflower. And then on top of it all, he's not. He's not into ladies. Strike. Strike two.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, but. Well, anyway, yeah, I really thought that was going to go my way. But my. Okay, so we went to. My husband and I went to Maui one year for Christmas. And I've never ditched out on the family at Christmas ever, ever, ever. But this one year, we were like, screw it, let's get out of here. I don't want to deal with this.

[Sufi]

Is ditching out on your parents, on.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

My parents, on my in laws, on everybody. So this was right around the time of I was starting to get whispers in my ear about, you should be on the Goldbergs. We want you for that show.

[Sufi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

So Christmas Eve day, we went kayaking at the crack of dawn near McKenna Beach. I don't know if anybody knows where. That doesn't matter. But we're kayaking and we start hearing whales singing. It was the most magical thing in the world. We're out there with our guide. There's no one else on the water. We're hearing whales sing, and we see a mama whale push her baby whale up. And the baby whale kind of unfurls its fins and it was like, oh, my God, this is a sign. This is a sign I'm supposed to.

[Sufi]

Spend Christmas with my family.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Exactly. The sea is calling to us.

[Sufi]

Nature is trying to tell me.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Then we got in the middle of a pod of spinner dolphins who were. When they're in a trance. Spinner dolphins kind of go into a sleeping trance, and you see them just sort of emerge from the water and go back down. So they're like swimming in a little pattern all together in a group. But they all woke up at once and were spinning and flipping all around us. We were right in the middle of it. It was insane. And I'm like, this is the most magical thing we've ever been a part of. And I'm gonna take this to mean I should take that job with the Goldbergs. And I did. And I did.

[Sufi]

Wow. This is. This tells you there was a time where there was so much money in Hollywood that if you wanted someone to take apart, you could pay for dolphins.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

To surround. To surround. Their paddleboard, their kayaks. Yeah, exactly. To close the deal.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Because a lot of Hollywood people flock to Maui for the holidays, and that's not. That is not a joke. It was like, oh, my God.

[Sufi]

I mean, that you've described. I feel like an acid trip of the different marine life that came with the almost feel. At this point, you're like. And then a seal popped his head up and said, do the Goldbergs.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, I have a message. I have a message from abc.

[Sufi]

Take the Goldbergs job.

[Pashi]

Have you done a Christmas with your family since then?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, yeah. I mean, they're down the street.

[Pashi]

I was just wondering if that was such an experience that you're like, all right, never again. Never again with the family.

[Sufi]

So your parents are still. How far away do you live now from where you grew up, the house you grew up?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

About three or four miles.

[Sufi]

Amazing.

[Pashi]

All right. And are your parents in that house and the.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

In the house we grew up in? Yeah.

[Sufi]

Was this something, do you think, if you had gone back to your 16 year old self, let's say, do you think you were someone who was so content with where you grew up that you would have predicted this, or is this sort of. Are you. Are you surprised? Looking back at me like, oh, look at this.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I'm not surprised. Yeah, I'm not surprised. And I don't know why I can't leave here, but I can't.

[Sufi]

Right. Do you think you would have left if your dad still had the boat and was making you water skiing?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

So really, he's the reason.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Definitely would have moved to the South Bay.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Redondo beach or. Sorry. Which is, again, down the street. But no, I. Yeah, I can't leave for some reason. And again, I love my family. They drive me a little crazy, but that's how families are. But, like, I feel very responsible for my parents now that they're older. And I keep trying to tell them, like, you're going to live with me at some point, so emotionally prepare yourself. And I don't think they want to, but I don't care.

[Pashi]

Will it be your rules when they're coming to live with you? Or there'll have to be some sort of a summit.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I think I'm gonna let them do whatever they want as long as they don't burn anything down or just walk in on me in the bathroom.

[Pashi]

Sure.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

But, like, I don't want to put them somewhere where they're gonna be unhappy.

[Sufi]

Do you mostly want this just so you can repay the favor of leaving them home alone without a sitter? You can just be like, don't light any. I'm going out for two hours.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Fend yourself.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, you nailed it. I want us to finish the way we started, which is yelling at each other on the couch in front of the television, because that gives me a warm, toasty feeling.

[Sufi]

Do. Is your husband from California as well? Is he from the area? Yes.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. So he lived in a wealthier area again down the street. We went to rival high schools, but didn't meet till college. But his family. His mom is still with us, and she lives nearby as well, so the same goes for her. I don't want her going anywhere. I don't want to put her in a facility. I want them here with us.

[Sufi]

I mean, you're the dream. Let me just say. You're the dream of a daughter.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Well, I love them.

[Sufi]

All right. Well, you're saying it now. I love them so much.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I love them so much, and I cannot bear the thought of. I mean. Cause we just went through this with my grandma being in a facility, and it was like, all you do is fight with those people. Like, can someone get in there and give her a bath, please? More than twice a week. Like, it's ridiculous and it costs a fortune, and the care is not great, and I don't. Oh, God, that breaks my heart to think about that. Although if they just want that, I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna stand in their way. But I don't know why they'd want that when.

[Sufi]

I mean, everything you say rings so true to me. Because I. I feel very strongly that, you know, when my parents get older, they're going to live with Josh and.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, I think that's great.

[Sufi]

You're thinking forward, Seth, by the way, their preference. Their preference. It should be noted.

[Pashi]

Do you have an adu? I forget what that is. It's something dwelling unit. But like will there be a little outbuilding that they'll be in or will they be in your. Up in your business? Will they be like.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We can have them in the house.

[Pashi]

Okay.

[Sufi]

All right.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know we have the room if they would prefer an adu.

[Pashi]

Right.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You could, we could make that happen as well. Pick out the Amazon tiny home of your choice and we'll put it up in the backyard because some of those things are cute.

[Pashi]

How do your parents get along with your mother in law if they were all there at the same time? Is there friction?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, they get along well.

[Pashi]

Okay, that's great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Especially the moms.

[Pashi]

Uh huh.

[Sufi]

Great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

The moms even look alike weirdly. They kind of look like sisters. But yeah, they get along very well and everybody's sharp, you know, no one's lost their marbles.

[Pashi]

But anyway, do you take, have you done trips with all of them sort of later on now in life?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No. And I proposed that once actually. No, that's not true. We did go with my in laws to Washington D.C. for 9 11. We got there, we got there on 9 10.

[Sufi]

The 9 11.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And yeah, that was our first trip to dc. We were gonna go to DC and then Manhattan. And the next day I'm. I'm awake, I'm listening to Howard Stern and I hear that the Twin towers had been hit. And then we hear the Pentagon. We were near the Pentagon. Okay, this is turning dark.

[Sufi]

Well, I was just going to say this is, this is the opposite of a pot of spinner dolphins. As far as the message that was being said.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Exactly.

[Sufi]

Do not go on vacation with both sets of in laws.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh. So yeah, we, that was when we went with my, with my husband's parents and that was the only trip we ever took together. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So let's not do that again.

[Sufi]

When you traveled to Hawaii, I would imagine it sounds like you're the sort of family that's close enough. Were you all in the same room or did you and your sister have your own room?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We rented a condo. So yeah.

[Sufi]

Gotcha.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms, which is.

[Sufi]

I feel like it's weird how long we all shared a room, don't you think, Josh?

[Pashi]

Yeah, but we weren't staying in like condos very often. We were always in hotels and I.

[Sufi]

But it was like one room, right?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No, we did that too.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Two beds, four people.

[Sufi]

Two beds, four people and one bathroom.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Dear God.

[Sufi]

I Mean, I guess it just would be crazy to expect that mom and dad would, like, double the cost of the hotel just for us to have a little privacy.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Exactly.

[Sufi]

Or for that, I guess, really for them to have privacy.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Yeah. I feel like at some point we had, like, connecting rooms.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It seems later makes sense.

[Pashi]

Yeah, that was later. But that also. Yeah, that's always a fun thing.

[Sufi]

They. I thought they would want their own room to bicker in private, but it turns out they kind of like doing it with an audience. I think it only resonates for them if they get. Other people get to see it.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah. You need to have witnesses.

[Sufi]

Yeah. You know, did you. Did you ever travel overseas as a family when you were little? No, we never did.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Never did. Never did.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And I don't know. I. I kind of love that we didn't. Road trips are really fun for families. Yeah. You make a lot of memories, and even though some of them are miserable, you laugh about them later. You know, sure, you. You get in a fistfight in the backseat and your mom turns around and smacks the both of you, but that's fun.

[Sufi]

It is fun.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It is fun. And so the term yacht rock, like, that resonates with me because we listened to that music on our boat. It wasn't a yacht, but, like, I have such fond memories of listening to Boz Skaggs, you know, I mean, I'm.

[Sufi]

Real happy that a Long beach dad in the 80s was, you know, in late 70s, early 80s, was putting on yacht rock.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Oh, yeah, yeah. My dad had excellent taste.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Christopher Cross, Fleetwood Mac.

[Pashi]

I just watched the Netflix documentary on yacht rock, and it's worth a watch. It's great. It's great. It's a Bill Simmons doc, and it's really fun. And they. Yeah, it was. You know, it was a term that was invented 25 years after the genre. And they do ask, you know, they're like, you know, never before has a genre been created so far after. And. But then Fred Armisen points out, like, classical, like, those. It wasn't like, no one was telling, like, Beethoven and Bach, like, hey, do you guys want to play something else? And they're like, no, no, no. We play classical.

[Sufi]

Very good observation.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That's very true. That's very true.

[Pashi]

But, yeah, that's worth a watch for your yacht rock love. And we were. We took a trip a few years ago. A friend of ours lives in Minnesota and had us, like, rented a house right on Lake Minnetonka. And when you're out on a boat there's something about that music that just feels right.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You just want to hear Michael McDonald.

[Pashi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sufi]

My, my father in law. And that's when I'm on a boat. It's on his boat. When I'm being, you know, subjected to water skiing. A little bit too much country music for me. And I get it. I think there's a. I do think there's a country music fits on a boat. But I would, I might try to push for a little more yacht rock next summer.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Now, where do you go skiing with your in laws?

[Sufi]

New England. So it's like Martha's Vineyard. Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Okay.

[Sufi]

And.

[Pashi]

And again, when you say go skiing, to me that implies downhill skiing. But as a water skier, you can say go skiing and you mean water skiing. Is that. I'm getting that right? Yeah, that.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Well, I, Yeah, that makes sense. I've never been snow skiing.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Okay, so you would say we're gonna go skiing. You wouldn't say, we're gonna go water skiing.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I should say water skiing.

[Pashi]

I should.

[Sufi]

But you don't have to. You don't have to.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, Yeah. I actually don't say it anymore, hardly ever, but yeah, I should make that a distinction.

[Sufi]

Yeah. I mean, I think if someone in Long beach is, like, walking out the door, being like, we're gonna go skiing, you kind of assume it's probably water skiing.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I mean, we are close to the mountains, too.

[Sufi]

Yeah, that's true. Josh skis Cool.

[Pashi]

You know.

[Sufi]

All right, I take it all back.

[Pashi]

Yeah. So you're not, you weren't above taking a camper somewhere, like out to the lake? Would you ever go to the national parks? Would you ever go to Yosemite or.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes. Love Yosemite. But I'm. This is a really beautiful thing that I'm gonna tell you. I get car sick really easily, and so getting out of Yosemite is a nightmare for everyone that has to be around me. Oh, it's not pretty.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, it's not pretty. But I do love Yosemite. I love. I'm a tree hugger. I'll freely admit it.

[Pashi]

Right.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I'll just go out and make out with a redwood and I don't care who's watching.

[Pashi]

Great.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, I love critters.

[Pashi]

Lots of critters up there.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I love a deer. I love a bear.

[Pashi]

Okay, bunny.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

What?

[Pashi]

If you see a random bunny in the woods, do you like that or hate that?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I'll follow it and end up in Wonderland. I got bunnies around my house, too. Yeah, Yeah. I, I, I Just love the outdoors and living things. As long as I'm covered in sunscreen.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Joshua Tree. Would you do other, would you do other national parks? Sort of.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I've never been to Joshua Tree.

[Pashi]

Oh, wow.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Which is so stupid. It's right there. It's two hours away. I should go there.

[Pashi]

Yeah, that's pretty great. But definitely, definitely a place for some sunscreen.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That's what I hear. And what is that weird place near Joshua Tree where there's all the graffiti on the mountains and it used to be a man made lake and now the lake is toxic.

[Pashi]

Oh, yes, yes, yes. The Salton Sea.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That's fascinating.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Pashi]

Because it was like, it was like, and I want to say, I don't know if I'm wrong to say prehistoric times, but it was like enormous.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah, it was. And there was, there were resorts.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And ski competitions. And now it's just like, I think.

[Sufi]

Just for our listeners, I want to clarify. Wendy wasn't saying there were resorts in prehistoric times.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

No.

[Pashi]

The Flintstones.

[Sufi]

Oh, yeah, you're right.

[Pashi]

Yeah. From Bedrock. They would go to the Salton Sea.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

And drive in movies.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And there would be like a prehistoric bird with a big beak and you put your luggage in there and they'd fly to your room.

[Pashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

I think that's. The Salton Sea was also the name of a movie with Val Kilmer.

[Pashi]

It was. Yeah.

[Sufi]

Methy. Was it like meth. Meth. Drug y undercover.

[Pashi]

It wasn't like.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

It's just a weird, lawless place now.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

You know, full of meth heads and whatever. It's just everyone fending for themselves and you can go there and climb around and see things, but it's like you're on your own. There are no cops. I don't know who you think you're going to call if there's an emergency.

[Sufi]

Yeah. I feel like they're. The next season of the White Lotus is not going to be at the Salton Sea.

[Pashi]

No.

[Sufi]

Based on the, based on the first three seasons, but it would be pretty cool.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Wendy, we have, we have a speed round of questions that we ask all of our guests.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Let's do it.

[Sufi]

All right.

[Pashi]

You can only pick one of these. Is your ideal vacation relaxing, adventurous or educational?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Adventurous.

[Pashi]

What is your favorite means of transportation?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Car.

[Pashi]

If you could take a vacation with any family, alive or dead, real or fictional, other than your own family, what family would you like to take a family vacation with?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

The Griswolds.

[Sufi]

Great call.

[Pashi]

Great call. If you had to Be stranded on a desert island with one member of your family, who would it be?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

My husband.

[Sufi]

Lovely.

[Pashi]

You are from Bellflower, California. Would you recommend Bellflower as a vacation destination?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

God, no.

[Sufi]

Yeah. All right.

[Pashi]

It struck me as the no shame in that. That answer comes when you said it.

[Sufi]

Was a riverbed, a town of apartments.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

That was kind of a good one.

[Pashi]

And then Seth has her final questions.

[Sufi]

Wendy, have you been to the Grand Canyon?

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yes. Was it worth was more than 45 years ago, so I can't remember.

[Sufi]

Gotcha.

[Pashi]

Okay.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Didn't. Didn't leave an impression. One of the. One of the world's great physical impressions. And yet I think.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I think we just looked at it and that's it and got back in the car.

[Sufi]

But I would be grizzled it.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

We griswold it. Yeah. Yeah.

[Sufi]

All right. Well, your honesty is appreciated, and it's always lovely to see you. Thank you for joining us. Congrats on the show.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

I hope I see you in a room at some point.

[Pashi]

I hope so too. I know that'll be a good room.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Seth, continued success to both of you.

[Sufi]

Thanks, Wendy.

[Wendy McLendon-Covey]

Thank you so much. All right, take care, you guys.

[Sufi]

Bye.

[Pashi]

All right, come on. Water. Water skiing. Socks. Skate. Ow. Yeah. Ha ha.

[Sufi]

I Love that.

[Pashi]

Wendy McLendon Covey. Born in Bellflower, but then she moved down to Long beach on the weekend. They'd go boating so they could water ski. But she preferred a date on some roller skates. Life was so carefree when she was shooting the duck. Skate backwards. Backwards. Go down in a squat and kick out the other foot. Shooting the duck? More like quackwards.

[Sufi]

Quack.

[Pashi]

Words ain't nothing wrong if you want to shoot the duck all day long.