Asking Manny's Mormon brother what he thinks of gay marriage

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fool Coverage – “Asking Manny's Mormon Brother What He Thinks of Gay Marriage”

Podcast: Fool Coverage with Manny MUA and Laura Lee
Episode Date: June 12, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Manny MUA and Laura Lee welcome Manny's younger brother, Nick, for a candid conversation about faith, family, lifestyle, and the intersection of being active in the Mormon church while having a gay sibling. The episode blends their trademark humor with vulnerable moments as the trio explores trending discussions about Mormonism, Nick's perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues, navigating dating as a church member, and some light tea about past relationships. The episode is both entertaining and meaningful—perfect for longtime fans and newcomers.

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Key Topics and Discussion Breakdown

1. Introducing Nick & "Peaks and Pits" of the Week

• [02:01] Nick Joins the Pod:
  Nick, Manny’s “Denki’s brother,” is introduced with excitement and playful banter about family dynamics, appearances, and their different life directions.

• [03:15] "Peaks and Pits" Roundtable:

  • Nick's Pit: Got a ticket for not updating his license plate.
    "I was so pissed. I’ve been dodging this for years… and I just got caught in LA traffic." – Nick [03:20]
  • Manny's Pit: Five coyotes jumped into his backyard in broad daylight; Nick suggests there’s likely a coyote den under Manny’s house.
    "You might have a den under your house? I think you’re breeding coyotes." – Nick [06:23]
  • Lauren's Pit: Struggling to get enough protein to meet fitness goals; Nick’s tips about protein shakes and diet.

• [14:02] Peaks:

  • Nick: Visiting LA, reconnecting with friends, hitting the gym, and spending time with his siblings.
  • Lauren: Celebrates her 300th fitness class, a significant personal milestone.

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2. Family, Tattoos, and Breaking the Mold

• [10:13] The siblings reminisce about who broke the family taboo on tattoos and piercings, with Manny recalling his tongue piercing as a “first sign of gayness for real.”
  "I got my tongue pierced… that was one of the first things. That was so funny." – Manny [11:09]
• [13:08] Mom’s Role:
  Their mom’s unique ways of engaging with her sons, such as foraging golf balls during family outings.

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3. Nick’s Business: Denkies Boba

• [25:19] Denkies Boba:
  Nick shares updates about new seasonal drinks at his anime-themed boba shop in Chula Vista, CA. He guides the hosts through tastings of new drinks:

  • Watermelon lime
  • Mango chamoy
  • Biscoff coffee latte (“Chef Special” – anticipated favorite with a crunch from biscoff)

  Notable reactions:
  "I'm gagged by the latte. That one's insane!" – Lauren [32:08]
  "Nick, you always impress me with these flavors—even though I don’t usually like coffee or matcha." – Manny [31:43]

• [37:01] Future Plans:
  Nick is planning a Denkies Boba food truck to reach festivals and new locations.

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4. Hard-hitting Conversation: Mormonism & LGBTQ+ Topics

• [38:25] Mormonism in the Spotlight:
  With shows like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Mormonism has become a pop culture trend. Nick is still an active church member; Manny is not.

• [39:15] Main Question: What does Nick—the practicing Mormon brother—think of gay marriage?

  • Nick frames his answer with nuance, respecting both his church’s teachings and his love for his brother.
    "First and foremost, I support gay marriage. I support you, your lifestyle. And I do support it. At the same time... I also do believe [in] what the church teaches... That God designed the family to be a man and a wife." – Nick [39:40]
  • He acknowledges the apparent contradiction and explains he is navigating how to reconcile doctrine with real-life experience, especially having witnessed Manny’s journey firsthand.
  • "I think both can be true at the same time, if that makes sense." – Nick [41:11]
  • Nick stresses the church’s evolving attitude: "Our faith is always changing… Every year there's conference, and they talk about things happening in the world." [41:34]
  • Nick emphasizes respect for free will (agency):
    "There was an entire war in heaven fought over agency... The fact that gay marriage doesn’t affect anybody aside from the person getting married, that is a perfect example of how free agency and free will should be respected." – Nick [49:47]
  • Manny and Laura acknowledge the importance of empathy and family growth:
    "You have your core beliefs and I think you'll always have your core beliefs because you're a Mormon member… [but] the fact that you support me and want to be there for me—that says leaps and bounds about your character." – Manny [47:49]

• [51:05] Culture-Wide Reflections:
  Discussion on how many religious people in the South (and elsewhere) act to restrict rights out of fear of personal damnation, rather than Christlike empathy.

• [56:18] Empathy and Social Media:
  "Empathy is lost on people… People always want to infringe their ideas onto you instead of taking your idea onto them." – Manny [56:18]

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5. Spicy Tea: Nick’s Dating History

• [58:45] Dating Daisy Marquez – Influencer Drama!
  Nick shares the story of his relationship with Daisy Marquez, a prominent influencer, including their dramatic, public breakup amid accusations of cheating involving rapper Tyga.
  "He [Daisy's ex’s ex] goes, ‘And Daisy cheated on her man with Tyga.’... I just got up and walked away; I didn't know how to process it." – Nick [64:46]

• [68:11] Nick vows never to date a high-profile influencer again due to the public scrutiny and stress.

• [70:09] Currently Single:
  Nick is recently single and talks about the challenges of dating with his current values (no more partying, wants a woman of faith):
  "I don't want a girlfriend that's out drinking and partying… It's not my lifestyle anymore. And I want a partner that holds herself to those standards." – Nick [75:15]

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6. Modern Mormonism in Media

• [79:44] TV & TikTok Representations:
  The group discusses "Secret Mormon Wives", "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City", and TikTok activism, weighing whether these shows harm or help the church’s image.

  • Nick argues that TV rarely presents accurate doctrine and is often more about sensationalism.
    "If you’re getting information about a religion from a TV show, that’s kind of on you." – Nick [80:57]
  • Nick distinguishes between “Mormon culture” (especially in Utah) and church doctrine, noting that stereotypes don't represent the global church.
    "You have to separate culture from doctrine. Doctrine is what we actually believe." – Nick [86:04]

• [89:39] On Church Attendance and Faith:
  "I always say: You don't have to go to church to have faith in something… I can have my faith without stepping into the building." – Manny [87:55]
  Nick agrees but adds value to communal worship and learning.

• [89:48] Final Thoughts – Loving Your Neighbor as the Greatest Commandment:
  "The two most important commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Once you get those two down, then focus on the others." – Nick [89:48]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Church and LGBTQ+ Acceptance:
  "I have my own personal kind of theory… I think both can be true at the same time." – Nick [41:11]

• On Family Growth:
  "Mom and dad had to go leaps and bounds for me too… I was trying to meet them halfway as well. A lot of gay kids don’t talk about that: your parents can try, but you also have to try." – Manny [47:49]

• On Public Breakups:
  "Our breakup was so public, which is another reason I don’t think I would probably date an influencer again." – Nick [68:03]

• Defining Core Relationship Values:
  "You should marry a person where your values… actually align." – Lauren [76:38]
  "Dating is actually really hard. The talking stage is horrific." – Manny [78:13]

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Key Timestamps

• 02:01: Nick introduced
• 03:15: “Peaks and Pits” roundtable
• 10:13: Family appearance and tattoos
• 25:19-32:10: Denkies drink tasting
• 38:25: Mormonism in the media
• 39:15-52:36: Deep conversation on gay marriage, Mormon doctrine, and agency
• 58:45: Dating Daisy Marquez, public breakup story
• 70:09: Nick discusses his relationship history and current views
• 79:44: Discussion about Mormonism on TV
• 86:04: Culture vs. doctrine in Mormonism
• 89:39: Church attendance and the heart of faith
• 89:48: “Love your neighbor as yourself”
• 91:13: Denkies info, Nick’s closing remarks

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Tone and Style

The conversation effortlessly moves between playful sibling energy, candid confessions, and serious, empathetic dialogue. Manny and Lauren keep things light even in heavier segments, and Nick emerges as thoughtful, open, and grounded in both faith and real-world compassion.

If you’re interested in modern social issues, faith journeys, and influencer drama—with a side of boba tea recommendations—this episode is a must-listen.

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Links & Shoutouts

• Denkies Boba: Eastlake, Chula Vista, CA | @denkiesboba on Instagram
• Manny MUA: @mannymua733
• Laura Lee: @larlarlee

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Manny Mua]

Did it fizzle or was it like a blowout?

[Nick]

It was.

[Lauren]

He laughed. He laughed.

[Manny Mua]

No, he said, fuck me.

[Lauren]

They love you enough to like be able to question and accept a different belief on top of your belief.

[Nick]

It was a blowout. And like.

[Manny Mua]

Hey guys, welcome back to Full coverage, your favorite podcast with your host Manny Mua and Marlee.

[Lauren]

Manny, do you want to bring our guests?

[Manny Mua]

I will bring our guest. In you guys, we have my little brother Nick.

[Nick]

What's up guys? What's up guys? Oh my goodness.

[Manny Mua]

I'm so excited to have my family member on this.

[Nick]

I know, I know.

[Manny Mua]

This is crazy. I'm so stoked to have you on you guys. We have been like talking about this to have Nick come on talk about some things and you know, talk about denkis. Talk about like everything going on in the world with Mormonism.

[Lauren]

By the way, this is the Denkis. This is the Denkis brother. This is the Denki's brother.

[Manny Mua]

You guys, this is Denis right here. This is him. And so, you know, it's just really fun to have you here and you for you to come upside.

[Nick]

Yeah, thanks for having me on. This is cool. Like as soon as I saw the set from when you sent me, I was like, okay, now I need to be here. No, I love the last set. I love the last set.

[Manny Mua]

But this one was just

[Nick]

this one. No, I just really wanted to come see it in person. Really? I was like, well, I might as well be on the pod and just talk about denkies. See, See what's up. But I love the space. Love what you guys did here. It's such a vibe. The browns. So I mean, you look like you back. Yeah, I was like, I was like, you know what? This goes with the little earth bending vibe we got going on here.

[Manny Mua]

Yes, yes, very that. So we're gonna ask Nick a bunch of questions that we have that are just fierce. But of course we like to go into peaks and pits first and just like shoot the shit from our week. So since you are the guest, why don't you give us your peak or pit first, whichever you want.

[Nick]

Okay. Okay, I'll go pit first. Okay.

[Lauren]

I love it.

[Nick]

Drama to get that shit out the way.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, there we go.

[Nick]

Great. But my pit, the reason I came up with it so f was because I got a ticket driving up here. Yes. I was so pissed. I was like, honestly, I've been dodging this for literally years because I got a, I got a ticket for not having my license plate on with my registration on the car. Like my, my, my tag.

[Lauren]

Was it you pulled over speeding?

[Nick]

No, I, I, he just got, I just got pulled out before that cuz I still have my paper plate from on my car since I got my car like two years ago. So I'm like, I get. I should put that on there.

[Manny Mua]

We're in the type B world.

[Nick]

So that my pit, I thought he was, I really thought he was gonna let me go cuz he was vibing with me. I was like, dude, this cop's cool. Like, all right, like maybe he'll let me go. And I've been dodging this for so long, cuz every time like I see a. I'm very aware on the streets. Like if I see a cop behind me, I'm like me pretend like I'm getting off real quick so then he'll like just pass me so he doesn't say that You're. I saw him and of course I'm in la. There's so much traffic. So I literally had nowhere to go. So I'm like stuck in front of this cop I might be right now and I see his lights going. There it is.

[Lauren]

So did you get so much anxiety? I'm always so scared.

[Nick]

Yes. Because didn't know what it was for. I was like, was it my phone?

[Manny Mua]

Was I speaking?

[Nick]

Like

[Manny Mua]

I everything wrong?

[Nick]

I was like, do I have a

[Manny Mua]

body in the car? What did I do today?

[Nick]

So that was. Yeah, I was like, damn. So he pulled me over, gave me the ticket. Luckily it's a fix it ticket. So I just got to get my registration on the car and they do away and. And then I'm chilling. Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Oh, that worked. It's still way with it. Like it, it doesn't go on your record, right? Yeah, I've got the exact same one for the exact same reason. Okay. My registration.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Like I had just had the wrong color sticker. I just hadn't got it in time yet. So, you know, very me.

[Nick]

But.

[Manny Mua]

So that was my first shitty pitch. What are yalls pits? I have a pit too. That is very annoying. So yesterday I was in. I was just like out in the living room. I see a coyote jump over my fence and I was just like, oh my God, like coyotes in my yard, you guys. I literally have like a lot of like land. Land.

[Lauren]

There's land?

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, there's a lot. There's like in my area on my street, there's a lot of like land and greenery and so there's a lot of like animals constantly. And so one hopped over and I was like, oh my God, this is so annoying. But I remember it reminded me think of a couple days ago. I had one jump over but then four more jumped over. So there was five coyotes in my backyard. And this is by the way at like 3 in the afternoon. This isn't no 8pm evening. It's 3 o' clock and they're all there. So of course I like slam on my window and they like scatter immediately. But Nick was telling me, he was like, I think you have a den.

[Nick]

Yeah, no, I really do because. Because I've seen them. When I was living with him. I saw like horrific. I would see this group of coyotes too coming from the backyard. Like they would go down the side and then I was like, oh, let me run to the front. He's like, they go to the street and then they didn't come out to the street. So they just disappeared. So between the front and the back, there's this patio that has, like, just a bunch of space underneath it. So I'm like, they probably either went under there or they're chilling on the side yard. Just. I don't know.

[Manny Mua]

I think I have a.

[Nick]

So you might have a den under your house?

[Manny Mua]

I think I'm breeding.

[Lauren]

You are breeding coyotes, and I think that's what it is. I love. Manny was telling the story, and Nick's like, you know, you have like a. You talk about your coyote den in your backyard.

[Nick]

Didn't I tell you about this? Like, that you have family living.

[Lauren]

He's like, of course. You saw coyotes at 3pm Silly. Did it your backyard?

[Manny Mua]

I think I have a den. But also, like, the thing is, coyotes are like, like, not dangerous, but they're protected.

[Nick]

What do you do in your house that's just like.

[Manny Mua]

Do I just, like. Essentially you fence that off, right?

[Nick]

You guys.

[Manny Mua]

You close it off for them. Smoke them out. No, I literally. I don't know what to do in this situation.

[Nick]

Or what you could do is put a fence. Well, obviously, they'll get. Oh.

[Lauren]

Oh, that works. It works. But the problem is in rainy season, because we use Wolf P2 because we have a little Cody problem. And it work. It really works. But if it rains a lot, it just washes away. But it works really well if you put some.

[Nick]

Or if you eat a lot of meat and you pee out there. Oh, I actually just heard that the other day. It's a thing.

[Manny Mua]

So it's like iron. Just, like, a lot of iron, I'm assuming.

[Nick]

I think they could smell, like, the protein in it, maybe that testosterone. Who knows?

[Manny Mua]

You guys, I'm going to assert my dummies in my own backyard.

[Nick]

Imagine my neighbors seeing me.

[Manny Mua]

They've seen so much for me.

[Lauren]

I feel so bad for them.

[Manny Mua]

But, like, imagine me just sleep all over the backyard.

[Lauren]

And I'm like,

[Manny Mua]

my neighbor. No, because my neighbor's like, they'll go into their backyard and stuff like that. I'm just, like, not going into my backyard very often.

[Nick]

The wolf sniffs it. Bitch.

[Manny Mua]

The coyotes are like, someone cooked you this. They're like, oh, I love girls. And I'm like, okay, now we're already getting offensive.

[Nick]

The coyotes are offensive. Maddie that lives at this house, I

[Manny Mua]

knew that was a baddie. So I'm very like, ugh. I think I have a den. And I just. Now I'm trying to figure out how to deal with that. That. That. That. Mind you, that was just Right now. Earlier, it became my pitch. That's so funny because Nick was like, I think you have a den.

[Nick]

You have a dent.

[Lauren]

Which is, by the way, hilarious.

[Manny Mua]

It's not.

[Lauren]

It's so funny that you of all people have a coffee den at your house. You're gonna get mauled. And I can't wait for the phone call. I cannot wait for it. My pit is. We were just talking about this at lunch. How are we getting protein in, guys?

[Nick]

Oh, my gosh.

[Lauren]

What are we doing? Nick gave me a shake that he likes. That's like a liquidy you can get down pretty quickly. So that's gon my next adventure to get more protein. But my strength trainer was basically like, we're wasting our time. If you're not going to eat enough,

[Manny Mua]

you understand that she will graze like she's putting down 30 grams of protein. You're just not doing that.

[Lauren]

And that's like.

[Nick]

The annoying thing is, like, it's like 80% of, like, your body or like, your fitness journey is just eating in the kitchen 100%. That's the least thing I like to do. Like, I just want to work out.

[Manny Mua]

I don't want to work out.

[Lauren]

I didn't really know that getting into it, though. Like, I had no idea. And that's how I was. I was like, I just want to work out. Put the work in. Like, that's fine.

[Nick]

Yeah, that's cool. I'm fine with that. But eating more than three meals a day don't.

[Lauren]

Insane.

[Nick]

Don't ask me to do that.

[Lauren]

Insane choice.

[Manny Mua]

Nick, like, naturally was more like the skinnier person. So, like, he's been on the protein journey as well for years. And, like, that's why I know that it's a thing I'm over here, like, trying to take back, and he's, like, adding on.

[Nick]

I'm like, no.

[Lauren]

Literally brothers.

[Manny Mua]

You don't think so?

[Lauren]

No, you.

[Nick]

I don't think so either.

[Manny Mua]

I do, too. I do, too. I think it's a beard.

[Nick]

I get. I get the beard a lot.

[Manny Mua]

Like, I'm like, that helps big time.

[Nick]

I think it's the beard.

[Manny Mua]

It's the beard.

[Lauren]

Y' all have a different face.

[Nick]

We have a different face. Different features, different hair. Different hair.

[Lauren]

Way different hair.

[Nick]

I have, like, pretty curly hair.

[Lauren]

You have thick ass.

[Manny Mua]

Very savannah. Slow down, slow down. I feel like this. No, seriously, though. I feel like. But also, I get told I get. I look like a lot of people.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Or like a lot of people. I'm sorry. A lot of people look like me.

[Lauren]

Hold on.

[Manny Mua]

I do get tagged in a lot of those. Like, like, oh my God, you look like Manny Mua. And so like, I wonder if it's just like the beard and our complexion.

[Nick]

Honestly.

[Lauren]

Complexion.

[Manny Mua]

We have similar complexions, cuz he's very fair, but can tan. Yeah, but we'll burn too.

[Nick]

Like 30 minutes.

[Lauren]

You both have tattoos. How does Greco feel about this? Does Aaron have tattoos?

[Nick]

Did you.

[Manny Mua]

No, no, no.

[Nick]

My brother had to break the ice for that first. Didn't you get it?

[Manny Mua]

No, I think I. I think you did. I think you broke it first.

[Nick]

No, I'm pretty sure you did. I think it was you also.

[Manny Mua]

I broke. I broke. I broke the pier. I think it was this.

[Lauren]

Yeah, that does not count.

[Manny Mua]

It doesn't count though. It's like nothing. But I think I broke it because I had my tongue pierced like first of like any. Yeah, I think that was like the first. Like the first, like, yes. Sign of gayness for real. But like, no wonder I feel like that was one of the first things. That was so funny. Yeah, you're like, I think I broke the mold from like the jump because I got my tongue pierced.

[Lauren]

I forgot you had that. And I was like, that's worse than a tattoo.

[Manny Mua]

For sure. Like for sure.

[Nick]

100%.

[Manny Mua]

And mind you, I got it when I was like like 20. Like, I was like, not.

[Lauren]

I think my mom.

[Nick]

By the time I got mine, I think mom was already like over that.

[Lauren]

She was like, it's box.

[Nick]

Yeah. She was always like, whatever. Yeah, this one right here.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, we got.

[Nick]

We got.

[Lauren]

But they didn't care. They didn't mind your tattoos?

[Nick]

No, they, they didn't mind. They didn't love them.

[Manny Mua]

But like, they definitely didn't love them though.

[Nick]

Yeah, they didn't love them. I was gonna get. I was getting tattoos, but they, they didn't mind before I got them. My mom was like, no, no, you're not gonna be. Yeah. Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

So I was like, mom, what about your dad?

[Nick]

And my dad didn't care.

[Manny Mua]

He does it, but he wants.

[Nick]

He has a plan to get him, I think.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, he like wants one. He has an idea.

[Nick]

I think he will.

[Manny Mua]

And I always tell. I was like, mom just get one.

[Lauren]

Like with. She should.

[Manny Mua]

And I feel like, you know what if we all were to get one? I think she would like. I'm not kidding you. I feel like she would do it.

[Lauren]

She would.

[Manny Mua]

But then my like third tattoo I think was this one or my. This is my second tattoo. And I was like, it's A family tattoo. Tattoo. I love my.

[Lauren]

You liar. Cuz it has their.

[Nick]

So.

[Manny Mua]

Because that has all their signs. I was like, you guys, I just like to my parents, I was like,

[Lauren]

does Aaron have tattoos?

[Nick]

No, but he. He plans.

[Lauren]

I think he's in the fire department. Tattoos.

[Manny Mua]

Aaron, like, has the.

[Nick]

No ideas.

[Manny Mua]

Aaron has bad tattoo ideas. We're always like, no.

[Nick]

They were like, thank God he doesn't have tattoos.

[Lauren]

Hands on his arm.

[Nick]

No, no, worse.

[Manny Mua]

Worse. What was his last idea was like, big 619, but I think.

[Nick]

I don't know. I can't tell if he's trolling. I never can tell if he's. But he might be okay. But he wanted a buffalo.

[Manny Mua]

He wanted a buffalo head, like, over.

[Nick]

Up.

[Manny Mua]

Like, up here. I'm like, big.

[Nick]

But the thing with Aaron, you. He could be so serious. But he could just be trolling. Like, no one knows until it's there

[Manny Mua]

on his body, you know, it's Aaron. Like, he just.

[Nick]

He's a fool.

[Lauren]

By the way, you guys, Manny's the oldest. Nick's the middle. Aaron is the youngest.

[Manny Mua]

There's three of us.

[Nick]

Three boys.

[Lauren]

Three boys. Wild.

[Manny Mua]

Honestly, like, as we've become grown up, I know my mom's like, I'm so happy I have three boys. She's very happy. And I'm a queen, so I'm like, I think she gets.

[Lauren]

She gets a lovely. She gets the.

[Manny Mua]

Yes, she gets a little bit. But honestly, you know what's funny? Like, she. We were just talking about this how she, like, will go golfing with them. She doesn't, like, golf, but, like, she'll go with them.

[Nick]

And like, yeah, she still comes out. She'll drive the car, like, do her little nature thing, pick up pine cones and. And hold all. We're like, mom, we have to go to the next hole. She's like, wait, wait, wait.

[Lauren]

I can hear it.

[Manny Mua]

I can hear it.

[Lauren]

I hear it. I can visualize.

[Nick]

We're like. And we're literally, like, on the next hole. And Dad's like, I'm not go pick up my bro.

[Manny Mua]

She's foraging. She's forag.

[Nick]

Like, as if people aren't hitting onto

[Manny Mua]

that hole where she's at.

[Nick]

And she's just there just, like, living her best life.

[Manny Mua]

Okay, so what's your peak?

[Nick]

Okay, my peak is. Is. Is just coming to la, like, seeing you guys, seeing Shahan. Like, Shahan's like, one of my best friends, and I haven't seen him in a minute. And it's been so long since I've been to la. At least to, like, see people. I. I came, like, like, a little while back, but not to see people. But, yeah, just seeing him, we. We went to the gym, we went to dinner. I met his girlfriend. Super cool people, all good vibes.

[Lauren]

That's fun.

[Nick]

Yeah, it was cool. This is a fun LA trip so far. I'll be here until tomorrow, so.

[Manny Mua]

Oh, slits. You're saying to your Tonight, too?

[Nick]

Yeah, I'll probably be here tonight.

[Lauren]

What are y' all been doing?

[Manny Mua]

Why'd you hear? Oh, let me tell you something.

[Lauren]

Oh, he said you, huh?

[Manny Mua]

No, he said me. Because yesterday he texted me. He's like, I'm gonna leave in a few hours. Guess when he sent me that. 11:00am oh, okay. No, get this, get this. I'm gonna leave him probably next few hours. I'm like, cool, sounds good. He's like, I'm gonna bring my PS5. We're gonna play Rivals. Like, it's gonna be sickening. It's literally 8pm And I'm like, oh, what the. Like, and I text him. I was like, I think I had text. I was like, yo, like, where are you? And he's like, oh, no. He texted me a high map photo.

[Nick]

Oh, yeah. At the gym.

[Manny Mua]

And I'm literally like, okay. And I was like, oh, are you gonna come over? Like, are we gonna play? Like, what's the tea? And he's like, I forgot my PS5. I'm like, of course. Okay. It's fine. Like, it's cool.

[Nick]

Whatever. I know it could be effortless.

[Manny Mua]

I see. It's maybe midnight. I see. Posting his stories. Watching Obsession.

[Lauren]

No.

[Manny Mua]

So, yeah, you responded. Like, so you're just not coming tonight or whatever. Yeah, he's not coming over.

[Nick]

And he's like, I figured you were, like, out and about, like. Because I swear he's out.

[Manny Mua]

He thinks I'm in about every day. I'm not out every day.

[Nick]

And comes home at three.

[Manny Mua]

I'm like, no, this guy's a heated old me. That's old me. I'm recording.

[Nick]

He was like, that was me last week. That's old me.

[Manny Mua]

That's old me. I don't do that anymore. But he ended up getting it at, like 2:30am Damn. We were in that room, and I'm like, this.

[Lauren]

You were so awake. Don't lie.

[Nick]

I knew it.

[Manny Mua]

But I was on my phone.

[Nick]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

It's a good trip.

[Nick]

Cool.

[Manny Mua]

What's your peak?

[Lauren]

Oh, I'm celebrating my 300th workout class tonight.

[Manny Mua]

That is.

[Lauren]

I've never seen a person in the class at 300 either.

[Manny Mua]

I know they're thinking like when you

[Nick]

think about it, that's like a whole year. That's literally a whole year.

[Manny Mua]

Like that's crazy.

[Lauren]

It's sick. Yeah. So I've seen someone hit 300 classes in there before either.

[Manny Mua]

That is like impressive.

[Lauren]

I don't know if I'm embarrassed.

[Manny Mua]

It's a milestone. I think it's a little bit of both.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Yeah. It's actually my 303rd class. I was too embarrassed to tell them three classes ago. Cause I was like, you know, that's a lot to shout me out.

[Manny Mua]

But now you're gonna be like, yes, yes.

[Lauren]

I decided when I claim it, shouting people always like 50th class, 100. I'm like, what the fuck am I doing? I was like, I'm telling.

[Manny Mua]

Exactly. And also like you should own the fact that you have been dedicated to this class, this that many times because you enjoy it that much. Like why he should.

[Lauren]

And it's still the hardest class I've ever taken.

[Manny Mua]

Exactly. And the fact that he like, he should like know that. Thank you so much to hers for something. This portion of full coverage, you guys. Between diets, workouts, endless advice, it's hard to know what actually works for weight loss and what's worth your time. And that's why hers offers access to an affordable range of FDA approved JLP1 medications that now include the Wegovy pill and the Wegovy pen. Which I think is absolutely amazing that there's a site that you can go to that has access to multiplitudes of weight loss situations.

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[Manny Mua]

Ready to reach your goals? Visit for hers.com full to get personalized affordable care that gets you. That's F O r h r s.com full for hers.com full weight loss by hers is not available in all 50 states with govi is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk as to get started and learn more including important safety information, WOVI clinical study information and restrictions, visit

[Lauren]

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[Nick]

What class is this? Is this a.

[Lauren]

It's like burpees and like heavyweight. It's not like little things, you know, like little squat. And he's like a massive muscle daddy. And he.

[Manny Mua]

I've seen him. He looks.

[Lauren]

And his class is like 100, and I would say 119, 217 degrees.

[Manny Mua]

Doing the class in 119, by the way.

[Lauren]

And it's like humid wet heat. And you're in there with 55 people and your mats are about that far apart. So the heat also, like, accumulates and gets hotter and hotter and hotter. The guys are the weakest in the class, though, of course.

[Nick]

Oh, by far.

[Lauren]

They are. It's the heart rate. They can't do it with the heart rate up.

[Nick]

I took my Pilates class for the first time in a couple weeks ago.

[Manny Mua]

I was crying, laughing, his videos.

[Nick]

It was. So I took it at my friend's gym, Red Body, and he was the one teaching the class. And it was like heated too. They put like the heater up. I don't know how hot it got, but I felt like an oven. And it was. I was the only guy in there. I was the only one struggling. And we're using these three pound dumbbells. And I'm like looking down like, is anybody else stopping? Because I'm literally.

[Manny Mua]

The accuracy is too.

[Nick]

No, it was so. And then these girls are just like busting things out. I'm just like. Xavier's like, nick, we're not stopping. I'm like. But it was so hard. I was drenched. I was like, this is so tough.

[Lauren]

I think girls handle the high heart rate better.

[Nick]

It's so hard.

[Lauren]

It's the high heart rate that's the miv.

[Manny Mua]

I also feel like your endurance, because

[Lauren]

think about it, if you had three pound weights in the gym, you'd be throwing them things around. It's with your heart rate elevated, like 1170 now in the pulsing. It's like, yeah, it. It all adds up. You know, that makes sense because my

[Nick]

cardio is also really bad. Like, I'm good at lifting weights. Yeah, cardio is horrible. And I think it was like. It was a lot of that. It was a lot of that.

[Lauren]

I'm literally the opposite. I'm like, cardio monster. Like, I love cardio. I want to do cardio only. But obviously I'm withering away.

[Manny Mua]

So now I guess too much cardio will wither you.

[Lauren]

Yes, it will. It will wither you away. So I'm strength training now and I'm like currently working on grip strength because I can barely hold 25lb weights. Like it feels like my wrist is going to detach from my hand. I tell her all the time, I'm like, damn, pick it up.

[Manny Mua]

You're like this?

[Lauren]

Yeah. No, I can't get it. I'm like, I have to keep setting on the ground and like regrip it. I have gloves on with grippy.

[Nick]

They have like the rib straps.

[Lauren]

Someone told me, they said you need to get the gloves with a wrist strap. Cuz I was like this part's going

[Manny Mua]

to detach to strengthen this part.

[Lauren]

Like give me a little more enforcing.

[Nick]

Or they have ones that like they'll wrap here and then they wrap around the handle that way it's like your arms kind of holding.

[Lauren]

I feel like I need to look into getting something like that. I'm struggling in strength training.

[Manny Mua]

But you're doing a good job.

[Lauren]

I think I'm doing it, but it's hard.

[Manny Mua]

It's really hard.

[Lauren]

Cardio is easy. Running's easy. Old seasy hot classes are easy.

[Nick]

That is. You know your trainer's not gonna let you do that, right?

[Manny Mua]

You don't think she'll let her?

[Nick]

Actually yeah, probably.

[Lauren]

My trainer's a monster.

[Nick]

Good to have like build your grip strength with. Cuz like right now like I can lift more than my grip can hold. So it's like I can't fully like get my workout in cuz my grip is so week. I have to build up my grip on some, on some workouts. Some, some I'm able to hold it

[Lauren]

like what's the thing that's like so what's a weight that's so heavy? That's like, would be hard to like keep holding in your grip but your arms are strong enough to pull it.

[Nick]

I would say like if I'm, I like hardly ever deadlift but if I deadlift or if I'm doing back rows and I'll put like maybe two or three two plates on just to like do that after a couple reps or my grip will start to give out. But like I can still go with my back for a little bit longer but like my, my grip just isn't there so I have to like stop it it get it again and it's like I'm already tired.

[Lauren]

£25, that's my, that is my, that's the limit. And I'm like slipping at £25. It's like slipping out of my hand. I'm like,

[Manny Mua]

I wonder if that's something for me too. Like I feel like I can't lift heavier at times. But then my.

[Lauren]

It's the grip man.

[Manny Mua]

You guys. That never even like. I'm not kidding you. The idea of a grip straight that never even like came across my mind. Like I did not think that that was something that I like would struggle with. But I think that is something that

[Nick]

like I told rock climbers they can like hold their body with just like a finger. Like their grip strength is insane.

[Lauren]

Even their toes. Cuz their feet, they will like latch them onto rocks. They're so strange. It's a whole thing.

[Nick]

It's grip whole different like muscle or different like.

[Lauren]

And you don't even realize how powerful it is and how much you need it until you get in there.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

I'm shocked.

[Nick]

Yeah. Fact.

[Manny Mua]

So my peak is that we're about to get some Denis drinks right now. I'm so excited cuz Nick ended up bringing some like sweet treats for us to like try out. He has like like. Are these the new summer drinks that you're launching?

[Nick]

We have. Yeah. We have two summer drinks coming out. We have a. A watermelon. Like a watermelon lime one. And then we have a mango chamoy. Like mango chili pop kind of one.

[Manny Mua]

Hello.

[Nick]

So those two are coming out for like summer. And then we have another three coming out in a month or two. But those three are going to be like. Those are like like character themed. So those are gonna be a lot more to those drinks than these ones. But one of those is a biscoff coffee one that we're gonna make today.

[Lauren]

Yummy.

[Nick]

No, that one's really good.

[Manny Mua]

I gotta love.

[Nick]

I just realized I love biscoff so

[Manny Mua]

I don't even know what that is.

[Lauren]

Yeah, they're really good.

[Nick]

So we have one of those. So those two, three.

[Manny Mua]

Love that.

[Nick]

We'll see. We'll try it.

[Manny Mua]

Other you guys, Denkies is like the boba shop in San Diego. Just so you guys.

[Nick]

Yes.

[Manny Mua]

Just in case you guys aren't aware

[Nick]

if you guys are ever down there.

[Manny Mua]

Nick has a boba shop in San Diego. It's called Denkies boba and it's in Chula Vista and it's awesome. It's a anime themed boba shop and it's honestly really, really dope.

[Nick]

It is cool. It is cool in there. We have. We just. We did have a couple drinks for spring too that came out. They're doing really well.

[Lauren]

The.

[Nick]

The banana match is super popular.

[Manny Mua]

Oh people.

[Lauren]

I was gonna ask you. When someone comes in what's your most popular drink? They just go to.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, what is the. What's the.

[Nick]

That one I've seen go. But it's usually our Taro Chimaru. Yes, like a taro UBE one.

[Lauren]

What's that?

[Nick]

Yeah, I know that drink. We gotta get bring those back into ropes. That one is like our. Probably our bestseller. And then the UBE Creme is really, really popular. Those two. And then most of our matches, like all of our matches kind of hit right now.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, people love matcha. And then the matcha here is actually quite good.

[Nick]

No, it's really good because I don't

[Manny Mua]

like, like grassy matcha.

[Nick]

Make it a little sweeter because same thing. I. I didn't really love like the super, super grassy flavor of it. So we. We sweetened it up a little bit. And then we have like a really premium matcha that we. We import in. So it. It balances. It's like super matchy still, but sweet. So it kind of gives it that middle ground.

[Lauren]

Yummy.

[Manny Mua]

I love that. Go bust some up.

[Nick]

Let's get some drinks up.

[Manny Mua]

Okay, Nick. So Nick just busted out some drinks right now. We have to see. Give us a tour of each drink.

[Nick]

Okay.

[Manny Mua]

To show us.

[Nick]

So this front one here, you can pull it up.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, give it. Strike the camera.

[Nick]

So this one for our listeners.

[Lauren]

You guys want to tune in on YouTube?

[Manny Mua]

Cuz I need y' all just so you can see. But the first one is like a red visual.

[Nick]

The visual. So this is like a red. This is a watermelon, like lime drink we have. So this is one of our summer drinks.

[Manny Mua]

So it's like a fresh drink.

[Nick]

Yeah. Yes. That's why it's a little bit lower than usual because these are the measurements for like when with ice. Okay. But I didn't bring ice. So. So. But this is so a little bit lower than it is. But this one is like a mango chamoy. Like a mango chili pop one. And then so we put like a little chamoy rim with Tajin. This is like from tj. We found this really, really good. Like, it's so, so good.

[Manny Mua]

From Tijuana and everything straight from the. Straight from the source.

[Nick]

And then it has like mango jelly in it. So this is kind of. These two are like our summer drinks. Like more refreshing for hot days type things thing. And then this third drink. This is so cool. I know. This one is like my favorite one right now. It's so good. I make this like every day. This is a Biscoff latte. So this one is going to be part of our next themed drink collection that we're doing. So we're doing a one piece collection coming out. The one piece themed. So this one. Yeah, it's like a huge anime. A lot of people have been asking for that since we have like other. We have like the Naruto drinks, a Dragon Ball Z drink. So the one piece is like one of the last huge shows to do. So we have three drinks coming out with those. This is, this is going to be Sanji's drink. So if you know Sanji, he's like a chef in the show. So we. This is called the Chef Special Love. But it's like a biscoff has like a cream that we have on house made cream that we put on top and then the biscoff crumbles and then the biscoff cookie butter on the cup. So good. It's like coffee vibes because a lot of people have been asking for like coffee more. More coffee drinks. So like. All right, we'll put some more coffee in there.

[Manny Mua]

But yeah, I want to sip, I

[Nick]

want to try them.

[Manny Mua]

Okay. So I'm gonna do a sip of the watermelon. Just try and see what it's giving.

[Lauren]

This is like make my mouth water,

[Nick]

isn't it? So just refreshing. Dude.

[Manny Mua]

It's actually like so refreshing.

[Lauren]

I feel like this one's gonna be my favorite.

[Manny Mua]

Really?

[Lauren]

What's this one called?

[Nick]

Called? That is. We're going to call it Mango Chili pop.

[Lauren]

Mango chili pop.

[Nick]

We have like mango chili pops out with this.

[Manny Mua]

This is like that fresh like summer like awasandia vibes like watermelon. So I'm like it's. It has like that limey taste to it but it's a. It's sweet.

[Lauren]

This one you, you could chug. This one's real really quick to get down. You can chug this like on a hot day.

[Nick]

Yeah, this is definitely a sipping one way.

[Lauren]

That's a sipper. Cuz you have to get a little bit of the tahin chamoy and like take it in this.

[Nick]

You can literally buy you a straw for the jellies at the bottom.

[Manny Mua]

Nick, this is. Oh my God. Yes.

[Nick]

I don't know if they'll fit in there.

[Lauren]

Yeah, maybe that's trauma cuz it's not Bo.

[Nick]

She's going to like. No, I couldn't get it. I'll get it.

[Manny Mua]

I was trying.

[Lauren]

I was like this is so good.

[Nick]

Right.

[Lauren]

I'm going to try this coffee one.

[Nick]

This coffee one.

[Lauren]

Okay. Maybe we Put straw on that one.

[Manny Mua]

Wait. Go, go. I'm not like a coffee drinker. I'm excited to try it.

[Nick]

Try, try to it. Because it's good with the foam and then the crumbling.

[Manny Mua]

See what you think.

[Nick]

Oh, yeah. Tyler, get up in here. I know you like coffee.

[Manny Mua]

Oh, my God.

[Nick]

Big straws.

[Manny Mua]

Yes. Here, Tyler, you have to like. I know you like. You'll like one of them.

[Nick]

Here, papa.

[Lauren]

Yeah, get in here. Share mic with Nick.

[Manny Mua]

I can't reach it.

[Nick]

Let's see what's up here, Nick. That's good enough. I'll just reach in your lap. You know what, buddy?

[Lauren]

Is it good?

[Manny Mua]

Okay. Sip it first and then do like a thing. Okay.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Manny Mua]

I have to say, I'm kind of gagged for like a coffee drink.

[Nick]

Watermelon.

[Manny Mua]

I don't like coffee.

[Lauren]

Oh, I just got the crunch. This is delicious.

[Manny Mua]

Nick, I'm telling you, like, you impress me with some of these things because I don't like matcha. I don't like coffee. But there's some things that I'm like. That's really good.

[Lauren]

There's a chocolate milk essence to this coffee one.

[Manny Mua]

I mean, that's why there's like a chocolatey tequila.

[Lauren]

That's the best one. And I don't like coffee.

[Manny Mua]

You like coffee.

[Nick]

I know, dude. This is good research, though. Like, good to have. That's why I had try to have everybody.

[Manny Mua]

Nick, I'm gagged by the latte.

[Lauren]

That latte one's insane.

[Manny Mua]

Because I don't like coffee. Maybe Is it the biscoff that you crunch.

[Lauren]

A little crunch is so good.

[Nick]

The cookie butter is like.

[Lauren]

It's the cookie butter.

[Manny Mua]

There's like a sweetness to it.

[Lauren]

Yeah, that's what.

[Manny Mua]

Let me try that. Let me try with a little jelly.

[Lauren]

Babe, that one's crazy. Get a little bit of the cream and crunch in your mouth. You gotta get a little of the top cream and crunch in your mouth. And then.

[Nick]

And then just drink it from the top.

[Lauren]

I did both.

[Manny Mua]

Do it from the top and then do a sweet.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And then I sucked it from the straw.

[Nick]

Damn, I'm gagged.

[Manny Mua]

I'm really good.

[Nick]

Ever since I made that one the other day, I've just been having everything I'm getting. Dude, that's amazing.

[Manny Mua]

For like. That's what I'm saying.

[Nick]

Holy.

[Manny Mua]

For like a latte. All three of these. Like, I'm gagged. They're all so different. Shockingly different.

[Nick]

Yeah, they're very different.

[Manny Mua]

Like, this one's a chugger. Like, literally, I can just drink this

[Lauren]

like on a hot day. One of these. Me too.

[Manny Mua]

Same toad. Right. And you, you can add boba to them all.

[Nick]

Yeah. And then, yeah, you can add boba to these if you want. A lot of people, we have a ice caramel macchiato that we already have at the shop that's pretty popular. But. And people do get boba now. People get it without it. It's kind of, kind of its own thing.

[Lauren]

Like that one's dangerous.

[Nick]

That one's so good.

[Lauren]

If I want a sweet treat, I'll do that one. If I want to be refreshed, I do the watermelon lime. And if I want something savory, I would do the mango. So you really are tapping into all three.

[Manny Mua]

Three People always say you spend one third of your time asleep, but I probably spend about half of my life in my mattress and I are very familiar with one another, you guys. This podcast is sponsored by Casper. Casper makes reliable, high quality mattresses designed to deliver consistent, comfortable sleep night after night. Casper's mattresses are highly rated by Consumer Reports. And out of 99 mattresses you guys, Consumer Reports named Casper's the one one matches their top rated all full matches of 2026.

[Lauren]

I feel like Casper mattresses are actually the perfect blend of firmness but yet softness and you'll genuinely sleep better than ever on a Casper mattress. And I feel like mattresses are something that again, we spend so much of our time and so it's so important to invest in something that gives you the best night's sleep and makes you wake up feeling good. Right now you can save up to 20 on mattresses when you go to Casper.com one last time. That's C-S-P-E-R.com and save 20% on mattresses you deserve.

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[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Wow.

[Nick]

But I know.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah. The Chumoi rim is.

[Lauren]

Oh yeah.

[Nick]

Incredible, bruh.

[Manny Mua]

Nick, I'm so impressed.

[Lauren]

Me too.

[Manny Mua]

You guys. You guys have to check out denkies. The drinks are coming.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

This one of the summer drinks launch.

[Nick]

The summer one.

[Manny Mua]

This actually goes live in two weeks. So technically this goes live and there will already be. What do you think?

[Nick]

Probably, I want to say they. Let's see what it is. I want to say it'll probably be the 5th, the 15th.

[Lauren]

So pretty close to it.

[Manny Mua]

Close. Well, like this will be. This will be close. Like this will be cutting it close, but it'll be out sometime around there.

[Lauren]

What's the official name for the coffee one?

[Nick]

That one's called the chef special.

[Lauren]

You guys really need to lock in on that chef special.

[Manny Mua]

I'm actually shocked.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Like, I don't like on top.

[Nick]

Is that graham cracker? What is that? It's Biscoff.

[Manny Mua]

That's what he was talking about.

[Nick]

Biscot. It just makes it like the crunch, bro. Like, I just love things.

[Manny Mua]

So the cookie butter with it.

[Lauren]

The cookie butter is crazy.

[Manny Mua]

I'm shocked.

[Lauren]

Also like the house cream topping. I know.

[Nick]

I'm glad you guys like, you did

[Manny Mua]

a really good job. I'm actually very, very like, if I

[Lauren]

want a yummy, sweet treat, I would get that.

[Nick]

Chef Nick.

[Lauren]

Chef Nick.

[Nick]

I threw that one together like so quick too.

[Manny Mua]

I just.

[Nick]

Wow. We needed. Now it's kind of like. It helps. I know. You need what a dankies in la, dude. We do. I was actually. We were just talking about it earlier that we're were looking to get a like a food truck type thing. Yeah. That way we could do mobile. Like hit different cities.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Nick]

Instead of like having a Whole ass store out here.

[Lauren]

Yes, yes. So smart.

[Nick]

Yeah. That way we could do

[Lauren]

fair where it's like thousands of food trucks line up and there's just lines out of the wazoo. So you could like pull your truck

[Nick]

up to those events and man, he'll do a meet and greet. It's crazy. Yes. I would be in that truck.

[Lauren]

We don't need you there long.

[Nick]

I'll be a customer.

[Manny Mua]

I think just Deku. I think Deki alone can hold it.

[Lauren]

They don't need us.

[Nick]

They don't even need us.

[Manny Mua]

No, Nick, they're amazing. You did a great job. Congratulations. Absolutely love them.

[Nick]

Thank you.

[Lauren]

Wow.

[Manny Mua]

We have also the questions I wanted to ask you.

[Nick]

Yeah, let's hear them based off of

[Manny Mua]

like the actual pod too. I'm like, okay, you're here. We want to ask real hard hitting questions. Okay, guys, so the reason I wanted also to have Nick onto is because I feel like, I mean, Laura have talked about this, that Mormonism is like trending.

[Lauren]

It is. It's a trend right now.

[Manny Mua]

It's like a trend because people are almost like, because of like superiorized Mormon wives. Like, there's been so many things happening and there's been so much like happening on social that has made like, like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. There's so many things that have, like, put Mormonism more for. More so in the forefront in media in some capacity, more than it has in a long time. And so, you guys, the thing is, my brother Nick, he's an active member,

[Lauren]

unlike his brother Manny.

[Manny Mua]

Unlike his brother Manny, who is no longer active. But Nick is an active member and he goes every Sunday. He's like a full active member. So I have. I'm like, I'm like, can we debunk?

[Nick]

Let's, let's get. Let's get into it.

[Manny Mua]

I like to debunk. Okay, so the first, the first one I want to ask because I do feel like, you know, it's pride. It's Pride month. And I do want to ask this question. What do you think of gay marriage? You. And then what does like. And just an overarching what you think, like, okay, the church.

[Lauren]

With the church.

[Nick]

Okay, okay.

[Manny Mua]

You know, give us one of the these.

[Nick]

All right. I feel like I have a very, very unique perspective with this.

[Manny Mua]

Right.

[Nick]

Because I'm in a. I'm in a unique position. Like, I'm a member of the church, but I also have a gay brother. So it's like, okay, where does, where do you fall with that? So first and foremost, Obviously, like, I support gay marriage. I support like you, your lifestyle. And I do support it. And then on the same side, like, flip side of that coin, I also do, do believe in the kind of, kind of what the church teaches around it. And we call it the family proclamation. Right. Like that God kind of designed the family to be a man and a wife. And, and that's kind of the structure of the household, which, which I see like as good because it, they just work so beautifully together like a man and a wife, and they, and they compliment each other so well and they, and when a family's designed that way, it's, it's, it's good for the kids and it kind of just the family units unit. I feel like both of them bring very uniqueness and, and kind of to the table. But, but I still, like, I still support gay marriage because obviously, like, I know that. So, so I know the, what the, what the doctrine is in the church, and I believe it to be true. But I also know that my brother was born gay and that you are the way you are, and I think God made you that way. So it's like now I'm kind of wrestling in like, how does that work in my head, right? So like, I, I know what,

[Lauren]

I

[Nick]

know what the Bible says about homosexuality, but then I'm seeing like, what, what this is, and I'm like, okay, real life. Real life. Like actual. Yeah, real life stuff. So I'm like, okay, how does this make sense to me? And I have my own theories. Like, this isn't, this isn't doctrine anymore.

[Manny Mua]

What.

[Nick]

I guess what the church is stance on is like, we wouldn't say same sex attraction. Same sex attraction is a sin. We don't, we don't say it's a sin anymore. We just say it's.

[Manny Mua]

Do you, do you feel like there's like, things have been changing throughout the years in the church, like, in that direction of like, being more open?

[Nick]

I think it's, I mean, we're like our, our faith is. We believe in like, continued revelation. So we think the church is always changing. We think that that's true.

[Manny Mua]

Like, they have like that, like, that's why every year there's a thing called conference, and they talk about just things happening in the world. Yeah, that's what it's.

[Nick]

So, so it's like, okay, it's like I have my brother who's gay, born gay, and I. And I know for a fact you are because of, like, we live the same childhood. Like, I know how you were when you were a kid, I know what. How hard it was on you, like, during your. Your, like, childhood. Like, nobody would choose to kind of do that.

[Manny Mua]

Know. Which is.

[Nick]

So I know for a fact that's true. And then I'm. And then I'm trying to figure out, okay, why I. I believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. And so, so, like, how it says homosexuality is sin. So, like, where are we with that? Like, so I have my own personal kind of theory, right. Where I'm like, I think both can be true at the same time, if that makes sense. You know what I'm saying? Like, I think that, like, for instance, if I'm like, when people are at the club, like girls are at the club, and they get drunk and they start making out with each other, like, it's homosexuality. Right.

[Manny Mua]

But.

[Nick]

And I think that would be a sin because it's not naturally the way how they are created. They're like, I see what you're saying. Yeah. It's for fun. Yeah. It's not where, like, it's not the way God intended them to. Like, it's not how God made them. I would say, like, their own thing.

[Lauren]

They were born that way.

[Nick]

Yes.

[Manny Mua]

Yes.

[Nick]

With you, it's a whole different story. Right. Because you're born this way, and so now you're living a life that's kind of authentic. Yeah. In this. In this light. So I think both can be true. Like, I think homosexuality isn't a sin, and. And I do support gay marriage, and I think it can be a sin. And we have to be kind of careful with, like, how it's like, it. Like, I think there's a middle ground. It can't be, like, too widely accepted where everything's like, like, all in. And then it can't be, like, just completely shut off and not exist and like. Like, gay. Gay people can't have rights, you know, I mean, like, there's. There needs to be a middle ground with it. So that would be my answer for that. It's. It's a very, like, hard topic, I guess, because. And I try to give other people grace and like.

[Manny Mua]

Because they.

[Nick]

I'm sure they don't. Like, if I. If I didn't have a gay brother, like, let's say, would I have the same perspective? No, it's, like, probably not.

[Manny Mua]

There's no way. Because same with mom and dad, like, with how we were raised. And I feel like you've also, like, everyone in our family has made such strides to get to, like, where you are for you to even be here and be like, I believe in both. Like, you know, I feel like a lot of people can be very close minded when they grow up a certain type of way.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

And because mom and dad had me and I came out and I've lived my life the way it is, you've all changed, you know what I'm saying? Like, in a way I think we

[Nick]

see firsthand, like it's not a choice.

[Manny Mua]

And the thing is you guys all, you guys all are very like supportive of me. And then you tell people in church, in your life that you support me.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah.

[Manny Mua]

So I think that's also like an important thing.

[Nick]

I think so too. Yeah, I think, I think it's, it, it takes a very, very open mind to kind of even have that conversation. Like, like for other people, like let's say other Christians or other people in the church to even think that that could be a possibility. Like you have to have an open mind for that and a lot of people don't. So it's, it's very closed off and it's like, well the Bible says this, so I gotta go this way. And I'm like, well the Bible says a lot of things, but not all of them are or you're. See the thing is with the Bible is like it says a lot of things, but people are interpreting it the way they want to interpret it. And that's the issue that you see with majority of Christianity. That's why there's a million churches.

[Manny Mua]

Because like we always say too is that, that like it can say something but how you interpret it is like depending on how you feel in some type of fascist, like what you think you're choosing.

[Nick]

Why that's one of the core reasons why I'm Mormon and member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints is because we believe in apostolic authority, right? Which is like we have prophets and apostles. Kind of like how Jesus when he was here, he, he, he had apostles and they were the ones with this authority to interpret scripture. Like they're, they're like, oh no, this means this so that there's such a need for that. Because then if you don't have that,

[Manny Mua]

you have one person, you have so many things.

[Nick]

Well, you have a million people dictating million things. So if, if one person in this con, like let's say I go to a church and I don't agree with how the pastor's interpreting that, that passage, I just go and start my own church and then I'm teaching this doctrine so it's like. And you have that web and then now you have a million different churches. So there needs to be some, some position of authority to interpret correctly that makes sense. But yeah, the Bible is it. It is like a, like there's definitely things in there to, to wrestle with and kind of figure out. It's not as black and white as people. People think it is. I'll say that because it is. When you understand what the Bible is, it's just a, it's. It's a library. It's just a collection of books that, that they're all written by different authors to different people, to different. At different times. Like, it's very. You gotta, you gotta see the context of each book. Like to really understand it, you can't just take it as, oh, this is the Bible and this verse and this chapter says this and this verse and this chapter, so this. And then together it makes this doctrine. Like it doesn't work like that. It's not usual separate things you would say.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, I never thought of it like that.

[Lauren]

Me though.

[Manny Mua]

That never even came to my mind. I think it's really important too. And I like that you as an open mind person say like, that you can believe in like the sanctity of like what you believe in, in marriage and like how you feel like important for like a man and a wife and have your own family, then also believe in that. You know, gay people are how they are and they can have their own lives and their own thing. And I think that's important for people to understand that you two things can be real, two things can be true. And it doesn't have to be one or the other. You can still feel how you feel about something and you can still feel for or someone else. Like, I know you can sympathize with me with things and understand, you know, I might not empathize and know what I'm going through, but you can sympathize. And I feel like you always have. And I think that my family is really good at understanding where I'm coming from.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Even though they don't know what I'm going through or know what's happening, they can be like, well, they love you so much.

[Nick]

They love me.

[Lauren]

That's how much they love you.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, exactly.

[Lauren]

They love you enough to like not change their core beliefs because you still believe in your core beliefs, but be able to question and accept a different belief on top of your core beliefs. That's how much your family loves you.

[Manny Mua]

Exactly. And I feel like it's very important because like, you have your core beliefs and I think you'll always have your core beliefs because you're a Mormon member. Like you're an active member. The fact that you support me and you want to be there for me, I think that says like, leaps and bounds of like your character, my family's character, people like that. You guys care for me. You know, us being such a close knit family. Because my parents, like, they had to go leaps and bounds for me too. My dad too, my mom, they both had to really make strides to even just meet me halfway because I was trying to meet them halfway as well. And I think that's important. I think a lot of people don't talk about that. A lot of gay kids don't talk about that. Is that your parents can try, but you also have to try. There's no like, such thing as you only trying. And the parent, like, it's never going to work if most parties are not trying. And I know it's hard because as the kid you would be like, they don't get it. They don't love me, so fuck them. Like, it's easy to think that you

[Lauren]

should get to go that way. Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

But you have to think like, okay, my parents, they don't know, don't even know what gay is.

[Lauren]

Exactly.

[Manny Mua]

So you have to think about that, you know, and you have to think of that introspectively. And when I started thinking about that, it wasn't just about, about like my parents don't love me, they don't understand me. It was like, how can like, I help them learn a little bit more and understand where I'm coming from. And now I feel like they've all become beacons of like, or like kind of like advocates for me and advocates in their own way. So I know my mom has told me that she's been in church things and she's like, yo, like, well, my son's gay and she'll like stand up for gay people and she's very much like, don't, don't. And my dad will like literally go to jail for me. Like that kind of thing.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

So I think that, I think like

[Nick]

the talk about the biggest thing that Christians or people in faith should just like, or realize is like, even if, even if you don't agree with, let's say gays in their lifestyle at all, at all. When you start taking away rights and like interfering with agency, I think that for God, agencies are one of our, is the most important things.

[Manny Mua]

Most important.

[Nick]

Right to choose, the right to choose for yourself.

[Manny Mua]

That means having agency means that you can.

[Nick]

Free will. Free will.

[Lauren]

You taking away other people's free will.

[Nick]

So like the fact that gay marriage doesn't affect anybody in the slightest aside from the person getting married, like, that is a perfect example of how free agency and free will should be respected. Like, it's your choice. You. You do whatever you want to do. To do. Let's say I still have this belief that I don't support gay marriage whatsoever. But that's, that's fine. And then like, but me imposing those onto your life is. I'm taking away. Essentially I'm taking away your, your free will, your agency. And there was an entire war in heaven, like fought over our agency.

[Lauren]

Wow.

[Nick]

Is. Which is kind of like. So, so just puts it on perspective of how important that agency is. And know we need some rules and balance to kind of operate as a society. Yeah, right. But. And we need to restrict that somewhat. Like you can't go around just shooting people. Right. Like, that's a form of like restricted agency that needs to. Needs to be about, but that affects other people. That's what I'm saying.

[Lauren]

Different.

[Nick]

Yeah. So it's very different. Like if it's harming other people or if it's like, if it really has nothing to do with you, then you, you kind of have to like, take a step back and like, okay, this is them. They're. They can choose whatever they want. I don't support. I do support whatever.

[Lauren]

A lot of people in the South, I think because I lived in Alabama for 25 years, they're stuck under the belief system that if I vote this way or, you know, root for this, for people to have free will, I'm gonna go to hell. Like, I'm gonna go to hell because I gave them free will to do these terrible things. Like that's the kind of the mentality

[Manny Mua]

that's on them in some way.

[Lauren]

It's on them in some way. And see, I think. Yeah, yeah. That's such an old school. You're willing to take away someone's freedom agency to ensure that you, you know, are not going to go to hell.

[Manny Mua]

So it's like selfish.

[Lauren]

Yeah, absolutely. It's, it's. And then isn't that like a sin in itself?

[Nick]

It's just contradictory because in heaven, the people that agreed to take away agency, like the wanted to go with Satan's plan. Like that was whole. The whole Satan's plan. Right. Like he wanted to take away our agency. That way nobody would be lost. Like everybody just comes here, is forced to do good and accept Christ and then everybody comes back. But then it's not. There's not much of.

[Manny Mua]

There's no choice.

[Nick]

There's no relation. Yeah, you're just. We're just robots at that point. So like there was a whole thing about agency specifically. So the people that wanted to take away agency did end up getting b. Like, like a third of the host of heaven was banished from. From heaven. So it's just like it's contradictory in that point. Like it's like taking away agency is what really is going to separate you from God, not bring you closer. Wow.

[Manny Mua]

I love that.

[Lauren]

I feel a lot of people need to hear that.

[Manny Mua]

They need to hear that.

[Lauren]

They need to hear also the same people sometimes I think the battle is. And I'm talking about the south because I haven't been to a Mormon church before. So I don't want to say like just because of Christian churches this way. Mormon church stopped are. But what were you saying? What did you say? Oh yeah, that takes you away. They're willing to judge people, to treat other people differently to on other people. That's not like them to get to drink, to say cuss words. The Bible says all that's a sin. Right. Then why is the sin of homosexuality so practice as a sin. But the other ones aren't like, they're so heavily like, we can't let this happen, but we can let all the other ones. But the Bible says all sense the same. So it's so for me, it's like, how do you not stop and see that and be like, oh, we're putting so much power in this one because we don't like it.

[Nick]

Correct.

[Lauren]

Because it makes sense, uncomfortable. Because we're not like that. We don't understand it. So we're scared of it. So we're weaponizing it. Yes. So that becomes quite frustrating. You know what I mean?

[Nick]

But I agree with that.

[Lauren]

I think it's really good for people to hear from you who actually go to church, actually believes in it practices and to hear, you know, it's just like it's.

[Nick]

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[Manny Mua]

Empathy is lost on people. Yeah, and it's really something that we've talked about this for a long time time. And as social media progresses forward, empathy loses more and more and more. And people always want to infringe their ideas onto you instead of taking in your idea unto them. So it's just a harder thing because the more people should be practicing empathy and trying to relate to People and trying to see where someone is coming from. It almost feels like it's the complete opposite. And it's actually. We're losing a lot of empathy as we get older. Come almost more robotic and more selfish in, like, capacities. In some ways, I do like that I appreciate your candor and you being honest and, you know, sharing how you feel. And I think that's really cool that you can have your beliefs and you feel what you feel, but then also be super respectful. And I think that if, I swear, if other Christians were like, you, oh,

[Lauren]

my gosh, such a better place, it would.

[Manny Mua]

Because you could have your beliefs, like, dude, that it doesn't take away. And all my family and all the people that I know that have, like, been church who support me, they can believe what they believe and still support me. That's the crazy part. You don't have. It doesn't have to be this or that.

[Nick]

Yeah. And. And not to seem like I'm, like, holier than thou and like, oh, I have this perfect Christian perspective. Like, I struggle in different areas. Like, this is one that I'm like, thankfully, I'm in this position to kind of, like, have this knowledge and. And be able to share it or kind of maybe have people pick their brains a little bit, like, oh, maybe there is something more to it than just what my idea of this whole thing is. So, yeah, I feel like I'm in this unique, very unique situation, like, given my situation and circumstances. So it's almost. I feel, like, not obligated to share this, but kind of like, you know what I'm saying?

[Manny Mua]

I think that if you feel called to share something, you should share it. Like, I think that, you know, we, like, create content for a living, like, because we want to share. Like, that's like, I think that us as humans. Humans, it's nice. Like, it's nice to share something that you feel passionately about and you feel like you have, you know, knowledge about something or a different perspective of something. And I think that's why even when I started sharing my story online about growing up LDS and then hiding myself, and it was a perspective that I didn't really see.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

So that I shared it and then people could relate to it because it wasn't something that was readily available or readily there, and it gave other people an idea to, like, changes their mind about things and be kind of like, hmm, maybe being gay isn't a choice, you know? So I think that's really important, and I really appreciate that. Yeah.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Something spicier now.

[Nick]

Spicier.

[Manny Mua]

Spicy. Okay, so this is.

[Lauren]

Jesus.

[Manny Mua]

No, like spicier in like more of a fun way. That one was more like deep. Spicy. This is like fun spicy. Okay, so me and Lauren know that you dated a girly in our industry.

[Lauren]

I almost forgot about that.

[Nick]

I know a messy, messy.

[Manny Mua]

There's herstory. And. And her name is Daisy Marhez.

[Lauren]

Daisy Marquez.

[Nick]

And listen, good old Daisy.

[Manny Mua]

I'm a Daisy fan.

[Nick]

Good old Daisy.

[Lauren]

Good old Daisy.

[Manny Mua]

I live for Daisy. Okay, like that is a Judy.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Nick]

How?

[Manny Mua]

I'm curious. So you guys had a dating stint. Like, you guys did date. And it was like, it gagged me. Fierce.

[Lauren]

Oh, I know.

[Manny Mua]

Gagged me some fierce.

[Nick]

But I was so random too.

[Manny Mua]

It was very random. But what I was curious about is like, what was it like from your perspective, dating like an influencer? Because. Because when you guys dated those years ago, she was like still living in la.

[Lauren]

It was very like doing the full time influencer thing.

[Manny Mua]

You influence her full time, like in our world. And how was it like? Because you obviously had me as a brother and you were like, in the world, but you weren't like dating a creator. How was it like dating a creator?

[Nick]

It was very, very interesting. It was such a new experience to me.

[Manny Mua]

I was like, how long ago was this again? It must have been 19.

[Nick]

Okay.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah. Oh my God. Eight years ago.

[Nick]

It was a minute ago. After 2016, everything kind of. But I think me and her dated 2017, 2018. But it was, it was just wild because, yeah, she was very in the influencer scene. So we were going to events. Like, I would go to events with you every once in a while and it was, I would. I wasn't new to the event space in that sense, but just I feel like dating somebody, it's. It's a different experience. You're. You're more like almost like one. Like, not one. Yeah, it's. It's more so like you have to act more properly now. You gotta just like, you're. It's a case more like eyes on you in a sense. So it's very, very strange in that sense. But it was cool. I was, I was young. She was young, young. We were just. We were having fun. Like, we were like. We would go to events and go on trips. Like, it was cool. It was like that young love, like just. And which is crazy because she lived like five minutes from us. So I was literally at her house damn near every day for months. And it was, it was hiding this whole thing. Damn.

[Manny Mua]

Living in Hannah Montana. Under my own roof?

[Nick]

No. And which is crazy because I've never had a girlfriend that has lived in the same city. Besides her, she was. She was the only one. So we were inseparable. Like, we were always together. And it was cool. It was very like. It was. But at the time, it was. It was always doomed for a disaster because we were both young. We were both, like, neither of us were ready for a serious relationship. Honest, if I'm being honest with myself, for sure myself. I wasn't like, we were drinking, partying, and it was very. That and just not really sustainable, I guess, for a healthy relationship. So it kind of.

[Manny Mua]

Did it fizzle or was it like a blowout?

[Nick]

It was.

[Lauren]

He laughed. He laughed.

[Manny Mua]

I'm like, be real.

[Nick]

No, it was. It was a blowout.

[Manny Mua]

And then, like, by the way, I don't. I never, like, asked about his old relationship.

[Nick]

I don't think.

[Manny Mua]

I never even told. I don't bring it up any.

[Nick]

Anything about, like, this relationship to you. Now that I think about it, I'm

[Manny Mua]

very, like, respectful with that kind of stuff. I'm like, I'm not. If it's in my face, I'm going to ask a question. But if you're being like, I'm gonna respect privacy.

[Nick]

Yeah. I don't think even my parents, like, nobody really knew.

[Manny Mua]

Like, well, you can say whatever you want to say. How about that? You can say whatever you want.

[Nick]

Okay, well.

[Manny Mua]

Well, it doesn't have to be crazy.

[Nick]

You can just be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll keep. I'll keep her details to the. To the respectful. Respectful to her. But so our. Our breakup, I mean, we. We struggled like, in our relationship just like with day to day things that, like, couples would struggle about. Like, I don't know, just. Just random stuff. But what I guess broke us up or like the. At the end of our relationship was so Daisy had this. She had these two friends, and one of them was. Had just broken up with her boyfriend, and they were like a social media couple, I think, as well. So they had a following. And I guess it ended bad or ended like a. It was a bad breakup, I guess. And then the guy, he was basically like. He's like. I think he tweeted or something. He's like, like, what do you say? He's like, I'm gonna go on live and air all. Whatever that girl's name was. And. And her friends Daisy and all this stuff too. And then so we're all. Everybody. The tweet kind of went, I don't know if it went viral or everybody was just seeing it. I know everybody was seeing at least in our group and 2018 tweets, mind you, we're. We're. We're in Vegas at the time for Daisy's birthday. So we're. There's a group of us in, in Vegas. And so I'm there, Daisy's there, some of our other friends are there. And so we're basically. And we see this like earlier in the day. So now we're just kind of waiting till 7 to like see kind of what he's gonna say. Like, oh, what's gonna happen? Yeah, so he was gonna go live. So we're all basically just waiting like in anti anticipation. Like, and what is he gonna say? I was more so like, what is he gonna say about you? Like, yeah, of course.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah. What's he gonna say about you?

[Lauren]

He's like, hold on now. Yeah, she's at the club. He's like, as a matter of fact.

[Nick]

So around seven came around or whatever that time. And then we're all in Vegas and we all sit at this table and we're just literally watching this live all together. And so he's basically just going in on his ex, like airing all her their dirty laundry out. And then.

[Manny Mua]

That's messy. It was so messy.

[Lauren]

Also for a dude too, though. You're weird.

[Manny Mua]

Like, nasty.

[Nick]

It was wild.

[Manny Mua]

And I was like, never side with the guy either.

[Lauren]

I know. That's our problem. I'm like a girl.

[Nick]

Hey, she had reasons. So, yeah, we're watching it. And then their whole thing's going on and then he's like, and Daisy cheated on her man with Tyga. And I was like, so we're all watching this and I'm like, I literally look up and everybody, like, is staring at me, looking at me. And I'm like, I didn't even know how to process it.

[Manny Mua]

I mean, I.

[Nick]

What the do I even. So I just got up and walked away. I was like, I don't. I don't know what to do. This is wild. And then my friend came after me and like, was just talking to me. I'm like, I'm chill. I just gotta, like, process. Yeah, chill and. But I was obviously heated. I was pissed and. But I'm. We all went up in a sprinter van, so I'm literally stuck with them in Vegas and me and her sharing a room. So it's already weird. And it's sort of like, so I gotta stop cussing. But I was gonna bring a swear jar to start.

[Lauren]

It's a Christian out. Sorry.

[Nick]

Sorry. God. And then.

[Manny Mua]

So.

[Nick]

So, yeah, that. That was that. And then she, like, tried to, like, fix things, and I was like, you know what? Like, let's at least just get through this, and then we'll figure out later. Like, it was a. A mess. And then. So the. I think it was, like, the last day or the day before last we. That we were leaving. So thankfully, it was like, toward the end of the trip. And then. So that happened. And then. And then, yeah, we ended up just separating after that, and then we kind of just went our separate ways and she did her thing. And so that was probably the ultimate

[Lauren]

thing that, like, blew you guys up, though.

[Nick]

Yeah. Yeah. And it was because it was like,

[Manny Mua]

you're young, too, so, like, I feel like trust issues are even tougher when you're young. Like that. Hello. That too, of course. But it's just like that, like.

[Nick]

And see, the thing was, like, I couldn't. I. I didn't really have proof that she did or not. I just. Right.

[Manny Mua]

It was like.

[Nick]

But then all of these drama channels at the time were, like, digging up crazy, like, things like a screenshot from her Snapchat from months ago and, like, his corner of his bedroom and, like. And, like, matching the pictures or whatever. So it was like there was some evidence. But, like. Yeah, it wasn't. It wasn't anything. But still, it was already like. I don't know. I just didn't. I had a feeling maybe it was true. I was like. I couldn't really trust her in that sense. I was like.

[Manny Mua]

You had, like, that gut.

[Nick]

Yeah, but. But then again, I don't know if she did or not, so. But that's kind of besides the point. I was kind of. It just wasn't gonna work out anyways. We were both young, both not in a place to be in a serious relationship anyway, so.

[Lauren]

Damn.

[Nick]

Yeah, it was.

[Lauren]

That got a little crazier than what I thought you were gonna say.

[Nick]

The craziest thing was, like, Tyga from back then was like, he hadn't. I hadn't heard his name in, like, 10 years before that.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Nick]

But then that happened, and then literally five days later, maybe he drops Taste, which was, like, his biggest song ever. And it was, like, all over everywhere. I was hearing it in the car. I was hearing. It was like, in the radio, elevators. I was like.

[Lauren]

And he's, like, the most irrelevant dude before that.

[Nick]

Yeah. But, you know, and he was like,

[Manny Mua]

grocery store, the gym.

[Nick]

And it was just, like, constant, like, reminders and I'm like, dude, this is wild. And then, but our, our breakup was so public, which is another reason, like, I don't think I would probably date an influencer again. I, I, I, I was wondering if

[Manny Mua]

you would, like, if, Would that be a thing?

[Nick]

No, Hell no. And hell no. Hell no. But because it was like, it was super public.

[Manny Mua]

It's hard, it's hard in the public light.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Nick]

And it's, it's str. Strenuous even on the relationship itself. So. And then, yeah, after our, our, our breakup was really public and, and not in a great light. I had just people texting me that I had. I haven't talked to them in like, seven years. Like, random people messaging me like, oh, bro, are you okay? I heard what happened. I'm like fifth grade.

[Manny Mua]

Like, what do you mean?

[Lauren]

I know, the tea.

[Nick]

Yeah. I was like, we know.

[Manny Mua]

We have dealt with that. Or they just like, hit you up after 10 years and we're like, don't.

[Nick]

I'm like, why don't, like, what do you think I'm going to respond to? Oh, yeah, I'm chilling like this. No, like, I'm not trying to. People I know about this, let alone. So, yeah, it was, it was a wild time.

[Manny Mua]

But, hey, you guys are now in better places.

[Nick]

Yeah, no, I think, I think she, yeah, she's, I'm sure doing great. I haven't, I haven't talked to her in a little while. I think after that, we, me and her did rekindle at your party and just, like, so record you, like.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, I remember you guys, like, seeing each other and I was like, yeah.

[Lauren]

Did online feel like it was true? Did they perpetuate that she.

[Nick]

But, like, see, that's the hardest thing because, like, you could.

[Manny Mua]

Right?

[Nick]

You can perpetuate or, like, anything, make anything seem real. Absolutely.

[Lauren]

Absolutely.

[Nick]

And it's like, so, so I'm like, I don't know.

[Manny Mua]

I want to give her the benefit.

[Nick]

Doubt that she didn't. But it's, I don't really.

[Manny Mua]

You just never know at the end of the day. At the end of the day.

[Lauren]

So it's like, it's done.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

So it is what it is. But again, like I said, at least, like, you're doing your thing, she's doing her thing.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

You know, and you guys at least had great moments when it lasted. And that's awesome. And it's unfortunate how things ended, but at least you guys were able to reconnect and soften and just, like, be

[Nick]

cool,

[Manny Mua]

like, of being a Grown up and like maturing. And I'm sure if you saw it back then, it wouldn't be the same. But now it's like, you know, with time heals all. Truly.

[Lauren]

I know you've had relationships tons. I mean, maybe not tons, but you had dated people. You had a good few relationships after that. Of course. Are you single now?

[Nick]

I am single now, yes. I am single now. Recently single.

[Manny Mua]

Recently single. Are you mingling though?

[Nick]

Are you mingling?

[Lauren]

Mingling?

[Nick]

Not really.

[Manny Mua]

It's like, I'm like, oh, shock to me.

[Nick]

Dating is so hard now. I do love being in a relationship.

[Manny Mua]

I don't like being serious.

[Nick]

Yeah, I do like being like. I just like having my person. Like having someone 100. But the last one, like the last relationship actually was. The breakup was tough on me. It was, it was pretty tough. Just cuz, like, I really did like her a lot. And it was. It was the prior ones. I was kind of ready to. For the relationship to end. This one I really wasn't. So it was one of like those ones.

[Lauren]

It was like, like, was this the girl or. No?

[Nick]

Which girl?

[Lauren]

I'm like, I asked him all the time and he tells me relationships next. I'm like, okay, what's going on?

[Manny Mua]

We always give each other like, sister, what's going on? Like the whole thing, the rundowns.

[Nick]

No, it. Yeah, it was, it was also the last one. It was long distance, so it wasn't like. And it was very long. Like they keep getting longer and longer and farther away.

[Manny Mua]

I'm like, it was crazy, you guys.

[Nick]

I needed.

[Manny Mua]

When I first heard. Let me tell this real quick. When I first heard where she lived, I said, are you kidding me? It was, it was buffoonery from the jump.

[Lauren]

It was Egypt.

[Manny Mua]

It was a different country. It wasn't in the United States.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Manny Mua]

Let me tell you, that was in the U.S. oh, so this is a

[Lauren]

different person than the one before, is a different state. It was a different state.

[Nick]

So it was a different city. Different state. It was a different country after that.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, we're a different country now. And my. I don't know, you guys still like saw each other.

[Nick]

Each other a good amount of times. Like she, she came out a few times and she would spend like a week here. Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren]

His brother's with someone in another country. None of us have met her too, so.

[Manny Mua]

Oh, yeah, there you go.

[Lauren]

Yeah, it happened. Actually. He married her.

[Nick]

Really?

[Lauren]

And no one's even met her.

[Manny Mua]

At least we met her.

[Nick]

Oh, you did met her.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah,

[Lauren]

we don't even give a. We're like, do whatever the you want. It's your life.

[Nick]

I just like, I don't know, like, I just. For some reason it's very, very hard for me to find a girl that I'm would date or interested enough to date. Like there's beautiful women that I talk to and like we vibe, but I just, for some reason I don't get that like, feeling.

[Manny Mua]

Of course, I know it so well.

[Nick]

So it's very. It's. So what are like two things that

[Lauren]

you're kind of like. Like kind of need to have?

[Nick]

Okay, that's a great question. They're a lot different nowadays than. Which makes dating even harder.

[Manny Mua]

Cuz now. Cuz also like you guys, Nick went through like a period which he wasn't like as active I feel. Right. Like, that's also like something to note too. Nick is like an active member and he's going to church and he's. He's in it. But there's been like, there was a

[Nick]

good amount of time where I wasn't like.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, and you were like, weren't active. You're just doing whatever the. You were young, you said thing. So I feel like, like when you're saying like now it's like different because you just have different. A different moral set, a different like compass for yourself.

[Nick]

Yes, yes, yes. So like exactly. Like the time that I wasn't really going to church and I was doing my own thing, I was partying a lot, drinking, and that was my lifestyle. So like I would find girls in that scene. Like, like Daisy, for instance, was in. We were both in that kind of stage in life. My next one, she was a bottle girl, which was the stupidest idea I could have ever had to do that.

[Manny Mua]

Wait, the way they went after Daisy.

[Nick]

Yeah, the don't.

[Manny Mua]

And you know her, you know, you know who it is. I've told you about her. I've told you about her.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

And she.

[Nick]

Messy, messy, nasty.

[Lauren]

You had to give me a wink

[Manny Mua]

later, the whole rundown. That one was rough. But.

[Nick]

But again it. It all stems.

[Manny Mua]

Alcohol.

[Nick]

It all stems from like you were

[Lauren]

young, having fun and being a kid.

[Nick]

Exactly.

[Lauren]

So we were experiencing life.

[Nick]

Yeah. And she was very on that same boat vibe. And so I just for me personally, that type of lifestyle, it's not sustainable for relationship that I want. Like.

[Lauren]

Right, right.

[Nick]

So now my standards are a lot. So after those two relationships, then I dated a member. So then, then I dated her.

[Lauren]

How did that go?

[Nick]

And that one was.

[Manny Mua]

Oh my goodness.

[Nick]

So it was like, there was a lot of good and growth that I learned in there. And so like, I. I adopted a lot of the standards that she had had for herself and her relationship and her future. Man. Yeah. So now I kind of hold myself to that standards because it really does set the foundation for a good relationship.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Nick]

But it was her first relationship, so she, she was learn. She was doing the Growing Pains with me, so that was very.

[Manny Mua]

So you already went through the going. Growing pains.

[Nick]

Yes. With her.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

She was probably like, a little bit more sheltered than you too, because you

[Nick]

had like, gone live, which would make like. Which caused a lot of issues too, because, like, I've lived so much life and she's. She had it. So like, obviously those things are going to be issues for her because she's like, I haven't, like, I'm not that I haven't done that like you've done. So it was, it was already kind of like, it was rocky from strange.

[Manny Mua]

It was a strain.

[Nick]

But she did teach me a lot of, like, what, like a good relationship has. And so then once I. After her and I. Her and I relationship, then I'm like, okay, now I know a standard of a relationship that I want for myself, for my partner. And then like, what we. What I want for us together. So I guess to answer your question is like, two things I would say is like, one, I. I don't want a girlfriend that's out drinking and partying. Like, that's just kind of. Because I don't do that. And I'm not like, not your lifestyle anymore. Yeah. So I hold myself to those standards. So I, I want my partner to also hold herself to those standards and hold me to those standards too. Just so, like, not to say that, like, people that drink can be in healthy relationships, but it's just, it just keeps the relationship more safe. Like your lifestyle, like, it just kind of. Yeah, it. So that's, that's one. And then two. Just a woman of faith, too, because I feel like something, something, something that we could align on and that we have like, that foundation. I think those are two foundations that are important to like, grow on or just to be on the same page with. Because, like, for instance, I have friends that they both party, they both drink, but they're in great relationships because they're both on that same vibe and same. Yeah, but then if. If like, let's say I'm not and she is, it's just not going to work.

[Manny Mua]

Or she is and I'm not that's

[Lauren]

what I always say before people should get married. Like, you should marry a person where

[Manny Mua]

your values, no matter what values are.

[Lauren]

Yeah. You can be completely different people and have different hobbies, but do your actual core values align?

[Nick]

I agree with that. 100. 100. Yeah. So those two, I think, are really important for me is everything else can, like, you can work with. You could work with. Like, you're going to be different people. You're going to not like things about them, but they're doable.

[Lauren]

But I think that's very fair.

[Nick]

Yeah. When you have, like, you said, values that match with each other, then the

[Lauren]

only reason you have all that insight is because you date it exactly what you want or about values. If you didn't date these people and have these life experiences.

[Nick]

Yeah, I think. I think dating is important. That's why, like, now I'm gonna. When I do start dating again, like, I want it to be like healthy dating, where you're like, just. You're getting to know somebody for them and, like, because once you start, like, hooking up with girls and, like, then it just. All these things, like, it gets muddy, muddy. And. And like, you're then. Then you're like, once you make that bond with somebody now you're attached to them when you. And then date them when you should have never dated them in the beginning. Like, if you would have just dated them casually, usually, and. And really learn to, like, what kind of person they are, then you would be able to make the decision, like, no, I'm gonna step away from this. But now you're, like, so attached to them. You're like, all right, well, and they're

[Lauren]

not right for you, and you don't need it. You're wasting your time. You don't need to be a relationship. You have to go through the heartache and the split and the drama for no reason.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, like, I just. I want to handle this. This because I really am tired of dating. I. I like it. I like. I like being with my partner, but I don't like dating. Like.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Nick]

In a sense of completely different than being.

[Lauren]

Finding.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, finding your girlfriend and like, all that stuff is like, it's.

[Manny Mua]

Dating is actually really talking stage is horrific. The worst part, this is why I, like, so in and out of, like, wanting to date because it's so strenuous and so hard on you because you, like, do so. Like you're trying to get to know somebody. You restart. You restart your story every Single time. It's so hard to just keep doing that over and over and over again, and then for it to, like, fizzle out or not work out, you're just like, what the fuck am I doing? So then you, like, stop dating.

[Nick]

Yeah. Yeah. So.

[Manny Mua]

Because it's. It's so frustrating.

[Lauren]

You know what I mean?

[Manny Mua]

So it's an easy thing to get frustrated. Frustrated from. Would you. There's, like. There's apps for dating, like, Christians or, like, dating members. Like, have you ever used them or have you ever, like, wanted to, like, think about using them?

[Nick]

I've. I've. I've dabbled in them, but they're just, like, not really. I don't know, not really my type or, like, I just really haven't found anybody through them. So I don't know. I just. I think I'm gonna find my person more organically. Yeah, totally. So I don't know. But then I don't know, know, like, I'm at the gym, I'm at work, and I'm at church, so I'm like, I don't know where.

[Lauren]

Those are great places to meet people.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, I mean, the gym is a great place. The gym is the church where you're.

[Nick]

My. My church.

[Lauren]

Spooky.

[Nick]

Okie. It's just not. They're. They're not too many people, like, my age, and they're not really my type. They're just all friends. I see them as friends, so. But I don't know. Yeah, it's.

[Manny Mua]

And it's like, you have more friends there.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. Definitely.

[Manny Mua]

Friends heard things.

[Lauren]

Me too.

[Manny Mua]

And I know you heard me too, because if I heard things, you heard things like.

[Nick]

No, that's.

[Manny Mua]

That's really good, actually. Okay, my last, like, question. Just. I'm curious. So me and Laura watch Secret Mormon Wives. Okay. So we are, like, big avid watches of that, and a new one's coming out soon. And this is also why we were kind of talking about, like, the trending things, because, like, the Secret lives of Orange County.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Manny Mua]

Of Orange County.

[Nick]

Are they doing one year?

[Manny Mua]

It's a spin off, but with. With, like, different cast members that are. Some are LDs and some are not, some are not. So it's kind of like, well, what the are you on if you're not lds? So there's a lot of, like, conversation about that topic specifically. And I was curious about someone who's a member, like an active member. What do you think about the shows, the Secret More Wives? The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City? Like, do you feel like. Because I know you're not really like watching that.

[Lauren]

I mean, your religion is a trend on these shows. None of it seems unserious.

[Manny Mua]

Exactly. It's literally like camp television.

[Lauren]

It's camp.

[Manny Mua]

Do you, do you ever feel like, oh, I'm curious. Is like, let's say someone has a member? Because obviously I don't talk to anyone that goes to church. Do you like, think that they do bad for the religion or do you think it's kind of like whatever. Does that make sense? Like, am I like the reputation tarnished reputation or does it elevate the religion?

[Nick]

I don't think it. I mean, I don't think it's. I don't think it's great for it.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, like, I actually don't think it's elevated.

[Nick]

I don't think it's elevated at all. But no, there's always been negative talk about the church, like always. And so I think it's like, if you, if you, if you're taking like the information you're getting about a religion from a TV show, then like, that's kind of on you. Like, you're totally pretty dumb to do. But honestly, just put it in the terms. I mean, so like, I guess

[Manny Mua]

the credits.

[Nick]

But if you're genuinely looking for truth and like, like want to know about the religion, then obviously there's ways to go about it. But it does put, put the, put a light on, on I guess, the faith. Like, if you're taking it for like, oh, that's what they do or that's what members are like, you're taking it for a face value or like that it's not a TV show, that that's actually how it is. And then you're. I could see you being like, oh, like I'm good off that. But I mean, you couldn't make. Make that. You can make a show like that for every religion out there.

[Lauren]

So it's.

[Manny Mua]

Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't because there's a lot.

[Lauren]

They do. A lot of religions have. Mormonism has nuances that are unique. They're unique. I didn't know Mormonism existed in Alabama. I never even heard of Mormon before. Also, it wasn't a trend. It wasn't on tv. We didn't have social media like that. There was just like my space whenever I was in Alabama. So we had Jehovah Witness, Catholic and like, you know, Baptist and some others. I didn't even know what it was.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah, I think it's, it's. It's also very like because before, when you, when you talk negative, negative, negatively, negatively about the church, it catches fire and it goes because one thing about Christianity and in as a whole like Catholics and Protestants and Christians and Jews, like they all kind of bicker amongst each other but they all collectively hate Mormons. You know I'm saying. So like they know that well like hate a strong word but they all have a dislike. Yeah, yeah. They're like they might be debating the theological debates here and there and then the Mormons come like heck no. They could all agree that heck no.

[Lauren]

They're the odd man out.

[Nick]

Yeah, yeah. So that's why like when negativity is talked about with the LDS faith it catches fire because so many religions can relate to that. So they're all reposting it. They're all like so true, so true, so true. So I think that's why these TV shows come about because like they're like dang like these get views and like a lot of people engage with these things. So then they're like that's why the whole Mormon thing came about. But now I really do love the. So we have a few like LDS creators that have started to like debunk so much like like misinformation or like just talk about our theological positions in a very logical way and then they do such a good job like they'll go on tik tok lives and just debate Catholics, Protestants and it's so entertaining and just like interesting cuz they do so well when, when, when somebody that knows the religion is, is speaking about it and somebody knows the faith and knows the doctrine, the Book of Mormon and Bible they, they're so well versed in both of them and they, they're kind of like on the offensive side now or like they're, they're more like kind of showing the truth I would say or like what's, what's real. Like you can make your own opinions of the facts but just make like they do is like they present the facts as what they are and then you can make your own. Yeah. Like if it's, if it's crazy, if it's not, whatever. But they, there's a lot of misinformation I would say like out there. And I mean that's kind of what

[Manny Mua]

shows like that they do give out. Also there's been misinformation like before the shows like there's always been some people like remember I was in high school once and asked they like oh, is Mormonism the one that I Believes in, like, lizards.

[Nick]

And I go, yeah, yeah, yeah. What.

[Manny Mua]

How the are you talking about? It's Christian.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

God of Jesus, man. So, like, there's. There's always been a lot of that, but I do. Yeah, I was just. I was just curious of, like, you felt like it perpetuated, like, a certain narrative or it's like, has it brought more attention to the church so people are more interested in the church? Like, I wonder if there's like, that catch, too, where it's like, oh, do you think. Think that people maybe are more interested in, like, learning about it and then maybe potentially joining?

[Nick]

I don't. Yeah, I don't think if you're. If you're getting. If you're learning about it from the show.

[Manny Mua]

I don't think it's also in Utah. Let's actually.

[Nick]

Let's just clock.

[Lauren]

It's different.

[Manny Mua]

The Utah lifestyle and the Utah Mormonistic way that just the state in general is not the same as SoCal. It's not the same as, honestly, any place in the United States. States in the world, really. It's its own almost like, hyper bubble.

[Lauren]

It is.

[Manny Mua]

It's a hyper bubble of itself because the entire state, even if they're not lds, it's almost like they're acting like they are. So it's. It's a different thing. And they all take place in Utah. Utah. So then it's going to catch, like, in a different way where it's going to make everything look a little bit more dramatic. Dramatic, a little more intense, a little more like, oh, no, I can't believe they would do that kind of thing.

[Nick]

Yeah. Because there's already astigmatism with. With, like, the Mormons over there versus the world. Right. And, like, the way I look at it is, like, you have to separate cultural from doctrine. Like, there's doctrine, which is, like, what we actually believe. Like. Yeah. And then there's cultural, which is like, how the members live out that doctrine and everybody lives it out differently.

[Lauren]

Yep.

[Nick]

So they're. Everything that they do that they look like. Like, how do you say it? Like, they're. Most of it is just cultural. Kind of like it's like an echo chamber. Yes. They are like, bubble where they all think the same, look the same, talk the same, do the same things. Like, they all are just living in this bubble where. But, like, yeah, here in Cali, everybody's so different and, like, so diverse and

[Lauren]

so, like, we're not attached to, like, you know, long hair and no caffeine and, like, getting married at 15. And, like, all that is when they know I'm here. Oh, yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Shocked.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

Because I'm Mexican. They even know Mexicans could be.

[Nick]

And.

[Lauren]

And when you hang out with you guys, honestly, you wouldn't, like, first be like, oh, they're definitely mormies.

[Nick]

Right?

[Manny Mua]

Right.

[Nick]

Yes. So I think, yeah, they for sure.

[Lauren]

You'll know quickly, though. You would know quickly. Culture there. That makes sense. It's like a culture thing in the way they're dispersing their religion within their culture. In Utah, it's gonna be like that.

[Nick]

It's very.

[Lauren]

You can't generalize it as, like, this is how every Mormon. Yes.

[Nick]

No, that's why I, like, I. I strictly just look at. At least for myself, just doctrine. Like, I just want to know what a faith teaches, not so much like, how. How they live or it's portrayed. Like, what do they believe in? Like, what's their core doctrine? And then I kind of go about finding out truth for myself based on that or, like, making my decisions based off that. But. But yeah, it's.

[Manny Mua]

I think that's really cool. I actually really like that because I feel like that's important for people to know that. And I always actually preach this in my own ways. I always say, like, you don't have to go to church to have faith in something. You don't have to go to, you know, a building to feel a faithful connection. Like, I just. I've always thought that and that, like, just in general, I've always, like, just been in that world, and I was like, I can feel like I can have my faith or believe in something because I want to believe in it. I don't necessarily have to step into the building to feel like I believe in it if I can believe in different areas. And I feel like, in a way, it's like you're saying that you believe in a doctrine. You believe in, like, teachings of something, and you're not following the ideas of, like, people and, like, what they're doing as, like, that's Mormon. No, this is Mormon or lds. And they're acting the way they act, I think.

[Nick]

Yeah. Like, like you said, you don't have to go to. To church to show that or to prove your faith. In a sense. I think it's. It is good to go to church. You.

[Manny Mua]

You.

[Nick]

You learn more.

[Manny Mua]

It's like that.

[Nick]

Like, you. You just get, like, spiritually fed, and then you're able to. I mean, you should be doing, like, every week what you're doing, like, reading the scriptures, praying Kind of taking church home with you. But it's good to have that like camaraderie and community that you are all have like equal value or like similar values. And. But the people that do. Yeah, exactly, like go to church, but then they leave church and then they live nothing. Like how what Christ teaches us to live. Like it's. And then they go to church again the next week and then they're kind of like just checking the, checking the box. It's like that's not really what church is for.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, 100%. Oh, that's like, I feel like that's the ideology of like someone like, oh, I go like, it's like the epitome of like a Bible thumping Christian where it's like, well, I go to church. But like they're spewing hate the whole week when they go to church every Sunday.

[Lauren]

So it's like that's not the idea.

[Manny Mua]

That's not, that's not being faithful to. That's literally the opposite of that. I feel like you're being hateful, but you're just going to church, like protect yourself in some capacity.

[Nick]

No, I agree with that. That's. And, and I think a lot of Christians and just people in general get faith wrong because they look at all the rules and, and who's breaking the rules and this, this and that. But it's, it's. And they're like, oh, this commandment says. This commandment says that. But it's like they forget that the two most important commandments and before anything else, else is to obviously love God, let love God and then to love your neighbor as yourself. So it's like once you get those two down, then focus on like the other ones. Like once you can. Yeah, yeah. Then, then you can start figuring out the other ones. But until you learn to love people as yourself and I think so many issues would be solved that way. Someone so much less judgment, so much less like like casting stones and, and things like that. So. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. That's interesting.

[Manny Mua]

I love it.

[Lauren]

I feel like that's very intense.

[Manny Mua]

That was kind of like the last of my questions. Is there anything you want to talk, say, like leave off with?

[Nick]

I don't know. Actually. No, I think I got everything.

[Manny Mua]

Yeah, we got denkies. I got my attention.

[Lauren]

Where can they go to get denkies?

[Nick]

Okay, we are in East Lake Chula Vista. Vista. We're right by Crumble Cookies, if you're familiar with East Lake. It's right by the Crumble and Our. I mean, our address is on Instagram. Instagram is Denkies Boba.

[Manny Mua]

I will link you guys. I'll put dankies link in the description. And of course, if you guys want to slide into next dms, I will leave his.

[Lauren]

He's single right now.

[Manny Mua]

He's single right now. But you have to have faith.

[Nick]

Only women. Only women of God.

[Manny Mua]

You can't be in the streets.

[Nick]

I'm sorry. You can't be in the streets.

[Manny Mua]

That time is over.

[Lauren]

You could have been in the streets, but you can't be in the streets.

[Manny Mua]

But no, I really appreciate having you on and it was nice.

[Nick]

Yeah, thanks for having me on.

[Manny Mua]

This is real conversations about things and it's. I think it's important conversations too, especially because you have a different, like, lifestyle than most people.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

And different, like, life sense, I guess.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Manny Mua]

But I love you.

[Nick]

Love you, too. Thank you for having me. This has been great.

[Manny Mua]

I love you. But anyways, guys, we will see you guys in next week's episode. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Tuning in. I'll leave everything linked down below and we'll catch you guys in our next episode.

[Lauren]

Bye, guys.

[Manny Mua]

Bye. At first, I didn't think it was real. I woke up to this blinding light, and I was transported to another place.

[Nick]

Pluto tv.

[Manny Mua]

Then I heard a voice. Come with me if you want to live. There were thousands of movies and shows, and they were all free.

[Lauren]

Truth, isn't it?

[Manny Mua]

It's just so Beautiful on Pluto TV. Free streaming of Terminator 2, Fringe, Arrow, the 100 and the X Files may cause excitement, loss of sleep, and sudden belief in extraterrestrials. No credit cards or alien encounters necessary. Pluto TV stream now. Pay never.