Mini-Ep 427: To Free Bowl or Not To Free Bowl

Summary

Forever35 Podcast - Mini-Ep 427: "To Free Bowl or Not To Free Bowl"

Release Date: January 22, 2025

Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu

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1. Altadena Girls Fundraising Initiative

[03:23 - 07:21]

Doree and Elise delve into the inspiring story of the Altadena Girls, a fundraising group initiated by a 14-year-old middle schooler following the devastating loss of her school to a wildfire. The initiative rapidly gained traction on Instagram, attracting substantial support from celebrities such as Harry and Megan and Charlie XCX. Doree shares her personal involvement in the campaign, highlighting the tangible impact and the swift community response.

Notable Quote:

• Doree Shafrir [05:37]: “We raised, like, over $2,000 very quickly.”

2. Listener Support for Wildfire-Affected Communities

[07:21 - 08:42]

A heartfelt message from a listener in Jasper, Alberta, who recently experienced wildfires in their town. They express gratitude towards the podcast and extend their support to those affected in Los Angeles, emphasizing the importance of holding onto loved ones during such challenging times.

Notable Quote:

• Listener [07:37]: “I see you hang on to your loved ones. They are, of course, what matter most. Thanks for the pod.”

3. Listener Voicemail: Self-Worth and Career Amid Political Turmoil

[17:29 - 21:10]

The hosts share a profound voicemail from a listener navigating the complexities of maintaining self-worth while serving in a federal government role during the Trump administration. Faced with moral conflicts and pressure to compromise personal beliefs, the listener found solace and clarity through therapy, learning to separate self-worth from job performance.

Notable Quotes:

• Listener [17:29]: “I was kind of asked by politicals to do things… It was very soul crushing.”
• Doree Shafrir [20:35]: “It's crazy to think that this will be running when... After he's inaugurated.”

4. The Importance of Therapy and Mental Health

[21:10 - 21:53]

Elise and Doree discuss the pivotal role therapy played in the listener's journey towards self-discovery and mental well-being. Elise references Cord Jefferson’s Emmy speech, which underscored the significance of acknowledging the need for mental health support. Both hosts share their personal experiences, reinforcing the value of seeking professional help.

Notable Quote:

• Elise Hu [21:27]: “I felt very inspired by the Emmy speech of Cord Jefferson... I gotta thank my therapist.”

5. Listener Recommendations: Ninja Air Fryers

[22:12 - 23:46]

The conversation shifts to kitchen appliances as listeners recommend various models of Ninja air fryers. Doree enthusiastically shares her positive experiences, praising the versatility and efficiency of her Ninja air fryer, which has largely replaced her traditional oven and toaster.

Notable Quotes:

• Doree Shafrir [22:17]: “I use it for everything… I barely use my regular oven anymore.”
• Elise Hu [23:18]: “I'll tell you what, though. Bottom line, I am sold on some sort of ninja air fryer product.”

6. "Free Bowl or Free Mugging": A Humorous Segment

[25:28 - 30:10]

In a lighthearted segment, Doree and Elise explore the quirky behavior of "free bowlers" — individuals who drive with oversized, lidless coffee mugs. They share amusing anecdotes about spills and the thrill some people find in this risky habit, highlighting the personalities behind these amusing choices.

Notable Quotes:

• Doree Shafrir [25:28]: “I know you can't really share a pic on the podcast, but that same free bowler on the train gave me a glamour shot today.”
• Elise Hu [29:10]: “He was very, very proud of his free mugging.”

7. Listener Suggests Sam's Club Items

[30:10 - 32:27]

Addressing listener feedback, Doree and Elise discuss alternatives to Costco for those without nearby locations. A listener suggests exploring Sam's Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club, prompting the hosts to consider and discuss the availability and offerings of these membership-based stores.

Notable Quote:

• Elise Hu [31:05]: “It’s not really fair to folks who are in geographical regions that don’t have Costco’s near them.”

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Conclusion

Doree and Elise wrap up the episode by expressing gratitude to their listeners for their contributions and encouraging continued engagement through texts, emails, and voicemails. They emphasize the importance of community and shared experiences in navigating self-care and personal growth.

Final Quote:

• Doree Shafrir [32:52]: “Thanks for the voicemails today, too.”

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Engage with Forever35:

• Email: forever35podcastmail.com
• Website: forever35podcast.com
• Instagram: @forever35podcast
• Newsletter: forever35podcast.com/newsletter

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, and non-content segments to focus on the core discussions and insights of the episode.

Transcript

[Dory Shafrir]

ACAST powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.

[Elise Hu]

Hello.

[Dory Shafrir]

Welcome to We Signed an NDA, our.

[Elise Hu]

Podcast where we talk about the people who sign NDAs. Hollywood is the North Pole and the celebrities are Santa. This is a show all about the.

[Dory Shafrir]

Elves, so please don't sue us, Santa.

[Elise Hu]

My name is Amanda Lifford. If my voice sounds at all familiar.

[Dory Shafrir]

It'S probably from the Vile Files podcast.

[Elise Hu]

And my name is Ann Maddox. You may have seen me on Vanderpump Rules. Fired on national television by Tom Sandoval. The Glasgow Willy Wonkin experience. One of the worst jobs in history. Kirsty, you're on the right podcast. I was wearing snow pants lying under Stephen Colbert. Scott Berry, welcome.

[Dory Shafrir]

I've heard of Vanderpump Rules. I don't know what it is, so.

[Elise Hu]

Listen to we signed an NDA. Wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Dory Shafrir]

Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com hello and welcome to Forever 35, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. I'm Dory Shafrier.

[Elise Hu]

And I'm Elise Hu. And we are just two friends who like to talk a lot about serums.

[Dory Shafrir]

And this is a mini episode where we hear from you, we share your comments and your thoughts, and we answer your questions to the best of our ability. But please remember, we are not experts. We are podcast hosts. And we always encourage you to seek support first and foremost from a medical and or mental health professional as needed.

[Elise Hu]

We absolutely do. How you doing? Door vibe check. What's your vibe?

[Dory Shafrir]

You know, hanging in there. Hanging in there. Yeah. How are you doing?

[Elise Hu]

I got outside today and actually did what we were talking about in the last episode, just about kind of like, hey, maybe. Maybe it would be healthy to exercise.

[Dory Shafrir]

And How'd it go?

[Elise Hu]

And I feel great. Like, I have the glow. I have, like the Asian red face of exercise instead of not being able to metabolize alcohol. Different Asian red face.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yes. Yep. Yep.

[Elise Hu]

And so I feel really good. Like, the air quality seems to be normal, or at least in the normal zones here where I live. And it just felt nice to get outside and focus on something that wasn't all of the doom and gloom, so totally is pretty peaceful, actually, given nice circumstances.

[Dory Shafrir]

I also got outside today and it. And it similarly felt good.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah. So, yeah, maybe there's something to this whole nature thing.

[Dory Shafrir]

Hey, weird. Although, you know, a friend just texted me that. They. They're like, I think it. I think where I am Smells like smoke and it's kind of ashy and it's like, not anywhere near the fire. So, you know, who knows? I also think for some people, it's becoming like. People have said this to me. Like, I think it's psychosomatic. Like, it's becoming psychosomatic. So I don't know. It's hard to say. Yeah.

[Elise Hu]

I wanted to ask you about this group that's getting a lot of attention. I know that you were doing some fundraising or you helped amplify them on Instagram. And it's the group, the Altadena Girls. So it's like, teenage girls. Can you tell me a little bit about it? Because I feel like that's very cool and maybe I should try to meet them.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. All I know is that it was started by an 8th grader and I think she's 14. She started it like last week or something. And I don't exactly know how it got amplified so quickly because there's like a million donation drives happening right now. But this one seemed to really like break through, as it were. And she created it on Instagram. I think she got a lot of her friends from her middle school, which burned down, and she, like, she asked for like, teen, like, girl stuff. Teen girl stuff. And it got a lot of like, celebrity support pretty quickly. Like Harry and Megan donated to it. Charlie xcx. Like, there, it just like, it got really big. So a friend of mine who lives in New Jersey had been like, like really wanting to figure out a way to help, but was like, I don't want to like, ship stuff across the country. That seems weird. So she. And she used to work for Rookie magazine. Like, she's. She's just been very involved in like teen girl culture for a long time. So she was like, what if I put out a call for donations on my Instagram and you can buy like they had a wish list of things like beauty products and stuff like that that they wanted and you can go in LA and buy this stuff and bring it them. And I was like, great. I get to like shop for teen girls. Like, how fun. And then, like, as we were raising the money, like four hours into it, they posted. We're all set with. With like physical donations. Like, we're overwhelmed. So we ended up just making like a. We just. Just donated the cash directly to them.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah.

[Dory Shafrir]

So, you know, it was. The only thing that was different was that I did not get to go to Target and buy Sephora. A shit ton of beauty products. Yeah, ex. Exactly. But it Was. It was super fun. We raised, like, over $2,000 very quickly. Right. You know, I think a lot of people outside of Los Angeles, like, want to help in a tangible way. And yes, it is helpful to donate to, like, the United Way or the. A food bank or whatever, but it feels sort of impersonal. And this.

[Elise Hu]

I think.

[Dory Shafrir]

I think part of the appeal of this was that it felt very personal and you could really, like, see who you were helping. And it was a group of people who, you know, I think a lot of people don't necessarily have a. If they don't have a teenage girl, they don't necessarily have, like, a connection to them, but they want to help, if that makes sense.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah.

[Dory Shafrir]

I don't know. So, yeah, so that. That was. That situation.

[Elise Hu]

I just love the sort of public service aspect of it that's driven by young people helping other young people, you know, like, where it's beyond just student council or your really tiny community within your school. This has become Los Angeles countywide, and in. In the. The attention they've gotten is national, if not global. And so, yeah, just to see that you can make a difference like that, and it's probably a formative experience for a lot of these middle schoolers, and I think that's great.

[Dory Shafrir]

It's, like, unfortunate that the circumstances have. From which it arose. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But I'm glad that it spread so quickly and so widely. That was, like, very cool to see.

[Elise Hu]

Absolutely.

[Dory Shafrir]

So we got this text that I do just want to read before the break, and it said, hey, Dorian. Elise. I was listening to the most recent episode with Bridget Todd. How great was she? She was great.

[Elise Hu]

She was.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. Some really great perspective for the current times. Speaking of, I've long considered you, Dori, and more recently you, Elise, my parasocial pals shout out to Kate Spencer. I miss her. I feel even more connected to all of you now. I live in Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and my town was also recently devastated by wildfire. I'm sending love and support to you and all Angelinos. I see. See you hang on to your loved ones. They are, of course, what matter most. Thanks for the pod.

[Elise Hu]

Oh. Oh, that just made me. Yeah, I know. I just got all the warm fuzzies.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah.

[Elise Hu]

Thank you, like, such a sweet.

[Dory Shafrir]

Such a sweet note. Thank you so much for that.

[Elise Hu]

That means a lot. And I'm so sorry that your community, too, has been ravaged by wildfire. I think that these climate shocks just really remind us how fragile we are. And, you know, they bring out some of the best of humanity, even in the worst of times. So yeah, thank you.

[Dory Shafrir]

For sure. For sure. Elise, I just want to remind everyone you can send us texts like this one at 781-591-0390 or leave us a voicemail at that number. You can email us at forever35podcastmail.com. Head on over to our website, forever35podcast.com for links to everything we mentioned on the show. We're also on Instagram @forever35podcast and we do have a [e-mail] newsletter and just.

[Elise Hu]

A quick guide to today's episode. If you were listening to last week's episode, you know this already. But we have some generous support from our friends at Bausch and Lom. And so we are doing kind of a fun editorial sponsored segment about dry eye and that's going to be coming up. So you'll hear that dry eye segment from Bausch and Lom and then we'll throw to a quick ad break and then we will be back. And when we come back we will have more of your texts, emails and voicemails.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yes. All right.

[Elise Hu]

So we will be back after this segment and some messages.

[Dory Shafrir]

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, we'll be transitioning to this special segment brought to you by the eye care experts at Bausch and Lomb and produced by Acast Creative. Dry eye is increasingly common, affecting millions of US Adults and can range from occasional symptoms to a chronic condition known as dry eye disease, which affects about 38 million Americans. This group may experience symptoms such as a scratchy, gritty, tired or heavy feeling, redness overall, eye irritation or fluctuating vision throughout the day that can sneak up and stick around to the point of taking a toll on everyday activities. Elise, I know you have experienced some dry eye symptoms.

[Elise Hu]

I tell you what, when I hear you list out all those symptoms, I'm like, yes, yes, guilty, guilty. I have been really dealing with especially I call it my leaky eye. My right eye is constantly tearing and my eye doctor says it's actually because it is dry.

[Dory Shafrir]

That's so crazy.

[Elise Hu]

And it really started because I spent so much time on my laptop, hunched over my laptop writing my book like around my late 30s. And it affected my, it really exacerbated a problem that I think I already was showing signs of. But apparently symptoms of dry eye are showing up in people earlier and earlier. And then I just started noticing this persistent tearing in that eye. It's not really itchy, it just tears up a lot. But then I'm constantly having to wipe it and then Rob is reminding me like, your eye is leaking. So I've tried all my over the counter products. Yep. Yep. The symptoms are becoming more and more persistent. So I think it's time to go back to my eye doctor.

[Dory Shafrir]

Okay.

[Elise Hu]

And consider maybe prescription eye drops before the symptoms get worse.

[Dory Shafrir]

Well, I'm glad that you know that it is caused by dry eye.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah, yeah. It was a surprise. It was a surprise.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. Because I mean, I only recently learned that dry eye is caused by too much tear evaporation, which can lead to inflammation and damage to the eye surface, which is like, again, like you were saying, kind of counterintuitive.

[Elise Hu]

But there's no reason to suffer. I actually could just since I am at this point of experiencing persistent dry eye symptoms and the over the counter drops just aren't really doing the trick.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah.

[Elise Hu]

It's time for me to go see an eye doctor to learn more about prescription treatment options. And I know it. I know I've got to.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. So if you are experiencing these symptoms too, it may be time for you to see an eye doctor to learn more about prescription treatment options. And this segment was brought to you by the eye care experts at Bausch and Lomb and produced by Acast Creative. Dry eye can cause discomfort due to symptoms like a scratchy, gritty, tired or heavy feeling, redness, overall eye irritation or fluctuating vision throughout the day that may eventually disrupt your daily activities. And the thing is, these symptoms can get worse over time. If your occasional symptoms of dryness have become more chronic, you might need intervention from an eye doctor to discuss potential prescription treatment options like the ones Bausch and Lom offers. You can also visit knowyourdrye.com for more info about dry eye symptoms, causes and more.

[Elise Hu]

This episode is brought to you by the eye care experts at Bausch and Lom. If you've been dealing with dry eye symptoms, which can include redness, a scratchy, gritty, tired or heavy feeling, and or overall eye irritation, you're not alone. Dry eye is increasingly common, affecting millions of US Adults and can range from occasional symptoms to a chronic condition known as dry eye disease, which affects more than 38 million Americans. Two common causes of dry eye symptoms are too much tear, evaporation and underlying inflammation. And dry eye can also be influenced by several factors, including increased screen time, age, environment, or even the medications we're taking. If your occasional dry eye symptoms have progressed to more chronic issues, talk to an eye doctor about possible treatment Options and visit knowyourdrye.com for more information.

[Dory Shafrir]

With a new year comes a new opportunity to reimagine ourselves and maybe more importantly, our wardrobes. This year I'm resolving to refresh my look with quality pieces and stay on budget. And I can thanks to Quince. I truly think everyone needs Quince's cozy Mongolian cashmere sweaters. They start at $50 $50 and there's no better workout motivation than some new activewear. Their moisture wicking bras and leggings are designed to move with you during your workout. I have their leggings. They are great as advertised. I can wear them for my workouts. I can wear them just hanging around. They're perfect. I'm also in love with their 100% organic cotton cropped cable crew sweater. It's a perfect weight for Los Angeles and I just placed another order for their Comfort Stretch High Rise or Lax Straight Jeans. Realize that's a lot of adjectives for some jeans, but they look very nice. And the Transit quilted small crossbody tote which I'm hoping will be my perfect like Take Henry to Soccer Bag, so stay tuned. But however you choose to refresh your look this year, all Quince pieces are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands and they're able to do that by partnering directly with top factories, cutting out the cost of the middleman and passing the savings on to you. And they only work with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices. And of course they use premium fabrics and finishes for that luxury feel in every piece. Upgrade your closet this year without the upgraded price tag. Go to quince.comforever35 for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q U I n c e.com Forever35 to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Forever35 if you have a business.

[Elise Hu]

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[Dory Shafrir]

Okay, we have returned. I hope everyone is still with us.

[Elise Hu]

We're here.

[Dory Shafrir]

We're here. I want to start off this segment with a voicemail.

[C]

Hey, I just want to say, wow, Elise is so damn eloquent. Like the response we had about relationship having so many colors, like, I don't know, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It was just so beautifully said. Anyway, I'm calling about the very moving email from a caller. Having a violinist, having a career insight. I just want to say kind of what Elise said. I'm really proud and impressed that at such a young age she's having such insightful thoughts. Coming around to what I think a lot of people have 15, 20 years later. I experienced something similar during the first, oh, I hate that I have to say, first Trump administration, the work that I do for the federal government is very mission driven, help people type of stuff, you know, liberal. And I've done that type of work my whole career. And during the Trump administration, I was at a very high level and basically my whole worth. I was kind of asked by politicals to do things and say things and write things that made my stomach hurt and went against my entire purpose for and beliefs. And it was very soul crushing. And I started to ask myself, well, I've defined myself by my job, which I feel is very important my entire life. That's who I am. And I went to therapy and my therapist really helped me kind of decouple myself from that and seeing myself as not just that job and that therefore provides my worth, but being a whole human and what else I am and what else I have and who else I have in my life. And it was really kind of life changing. And now I, it was actually really was life changing. Now my job, I'm so much healthier at my job because I don't want to say I don't care because I do care. But I'm like, okay, whatever. You know, that thing I got pulled at the 11th hour. Okay. You know, do something else or try, try again. Like, I'm not so invested in. It's in a really positive, healthy way. So I don't know. I just wanted to share my experience. Also, coming up to another Trump administration, I am hoping to weather the storm better now that I've been through it once. So, yeah, just thinking of that caller and super impressed with them. And I thought the email they wrote was very eloquent. All right, thank you too. Bye.

[Elise Hu]

Bye. Thank you so much for that. Not only for your kind words about us and. But also, you're right, that. That note that was in last week's mini app. So it would be mini app 426 really got to an existential question about our worth and where we find meaning that I think all of us have struggled with at one point or another. And so if you haven't heard that episode, that episode is mini ep. 426. And then, caller, thank you. And we wish you strength. We wish you strength in your public service in this next administration.

[Dory Shafrir]

It's crazy to think that this will be running when. After he's inaugurated.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah, we're gonna be back in it. We're back in it.

[Dory Shafrir]

We're back in it. Oh, my God. Okay. All right. We got another text about this same email, and they said for the listener on Mini at 426 that is trying to figure out what to do with their career. I didn't hear you say this, but counseling therapy could be really helpful. My counselor was super impactful when I was trying to figure out something similar.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah. Yeah. I think the various therapists that I've. Yeah. Worked with, I've been fortunate to work with and been able to afford, have also been really crucial. And they are thanked in the acknowledgments of my book, in fact, because I think just.

[Dory Shafrir]

Oh, wow.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah, it's sort of like I felt very inspired by the Emmy speech of Cord Jefferson, who is a fellow journalist who turned screenwriter. And I remember during his Emmy speech, he won an Emmy during the COVID Emmy ceremony. So it was kind of only all televised, but he was like, I gotta shout out my therapist. And so important. And I didn't think I needed him. And I love that. It was really lovely. So I remember I was writing my book around the time, and I was like, I gotta thank my therapist.

[Dory Shafrir]

That's really funny. I. Yeah, my therapist makes an appearance in my. And actually makes a couple of appearances in my memoir.

[Elise Hu]

In your memoir?

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. Yep, yep, yep, yep. All right. We got another text With a link to a ninja air fryer.

[Elise Hu]

A different ninja air fryer. Different than the one that we identified.

[Dory Shafrir]

Oh, yeah.

[Elise Hu]

Hey, another ninja air fryer that's getting a wreck.

[Dory Shafrir]

And they wrote, I do not think this is the one that the listener was referring to previously. I think she had the one that flips up. But this is the one I have and love. I love it. I use it for everything. Air frying, baking, roasting, pizza, toasting, etc. I barely use my regular oven anymore, and I definitely don't use my toaster. Highly recommend. And then they said, obviously I'm playing catch up on episodes. They recommended the Ninja Prestige Smart XL air fryer and countertop oven.

[Elise Hu]

Okay.

[Dory Shafrir]

All right. Ninja does seem to have a dizzying array of air fryer appliances with various, like, you know, some of them are toasters, some of them are not. Some of them, you know, it's like they. Each of them has, like, different variety of things that they can do.

[Elise Hu]

I'll tell you what, though. Bottom line, I am sold on some sort of ninja air fryer product. I am getting it. And then I'm gonna put my older appliances, like my separate toaster, my separate air fryer or toaster oven, various appliances. I'm gonna put those in the back house for guests, because now I want a cool all in one ninja. Oh, toaster, air fryer, microwave, everything concoction.

[Dory Shafrir]

I love that. I love that idea. How cool. Yeah.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah.

[Dory Shafrir]

That's such a good idea. All right, well, you know what, Elise? Let's take another short break.

[Elise Hu]

Okay.

[Dory Shafrir]

And we'll be right back.

[Elise Hu]

We'll be right back. I'm feeling the need to learn something new itch that comes with every new year. And if you're feeling the same age, then I highly recommend you check out masterclass. And the classes really make a difference. 88% of members feel that masterclass has made a positive impact on their lives. I have recently taken the Shonda Rhimes writing class. I also did one from Aaron Sorkin because I'm trying to learn how to be a screenwriter or be a better one. And it's not just the classes themselves. It's also the materials that really help me out because I can kind of draw on them when I'm thinking about things like structure. But obviously, masterclass isn't just full of writers. It has experts on every topic imaginable. One of my go tos is the one about negotiation with the FBI negotiator Chris Voss. For just $10 a month, an annual membership with Masterclass gets you unlimited access to every instructor. Let's learn by doing this here right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual [e-mail] forever35 that is 15% [e-mail] forever35 masterclass.com forever35.

[Dory Shafrir]

Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.

[Elise Hu]

Hello.

[Dory Shafrir]

Welcome to We Signed an NDA, our.

[Elise Hu]

Podcast where we talk about the people who sign NDAs. Hollywood is the North Pole and the celebrities are Santa. This is a show all about the.

[Dory Shafrir]

Elves, so please don't sue us Santa.

[Elise Hu]

My name is Amanda Lifford. If my voice sounds at all familiar.

[Dory Shafrir]

It'S probably from the Bio Files podcast.

[Elise Hu]

And my name is Ann Maddox. You may have seen me on Vanderpump Rules getting fired on national television by Tom Sandoval. The Glasgow Willy Wonka experience. One of the worst jobs in history. Kirsty, you're on the right podcast. I was wearing snow pants lying under Stephen Colbert. Scott Berry, welcome.

[Dory Shafrir]

I've heard of Vanderpump Rules. I don't know what it is.

[Elise Hu]

So listen to we signed an NDA. Wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Dory Shafrir]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com okay, we are back and someone texted us a picture. Elise, you can see it in our document. You might need to zoom in a bit. They wrote, I know you can't really share a pic on the podcast, but that same free bowler on the train gave me a glamour shot today. Haha. Take care. In la. Looks like some kind of roasted veg.

[Elise Hu]

Now, now there's paparazzi photos of this free bowler.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah, now there's creep shots of the, of the free bowler.

[Elise Hu]

Oh man. Well, you know, free. It seems like this is a persistent and very bold free bowler like this. They're not bothered. They're not bothered by this. The decision of free bowling or not free bowling is not something that they ever really overthought or contemplated at all. Probably. Yeah, it, it occurred to me, I discovered the other day that my partner Rob is a free mugger. I didn't know this about him. It was bold. It was bold. We were running late to something. Oh, we were running late to go get Oscar's stitches out. And he comes out to the car with just like a full on coffee mug, but not even a coffee mug that was small enough to fit in the cup holder of the vehicle. It was like a giant coffee mug that you could, you know, have a bowl of cereal in. So it was kind of. It was practically free bowling. It was like a free mugging tipping over into a free bowling situation. And I was like, wow, you, you free mug.

[Dory Shafrir]

Wow.

[Elise Hu]

I didn't know this. And, yeah, he didn't know the context at all. Oh, sure. And. And I called him out on it. I was like, I wouldn't do that. You know, I usually use a drink vessel that's appropriate and can fit into a cup holder in a car and maybe has a lid, you know, has some sort of lid. And he was like, I like living on the edge. It's like he was very, very proud of his free mugging. And I was like, where are you going to put it while you're driving? And he just held it. He held it in his lap between his legs sometimes when he needed both hands on the wheel, and other times he drove with one hand and held his free mug in the other.

[Dory Shafrir]

You know. You know what's so interesting, Elise, is. And Kate admitted this as well. Kate, the, you know, the OG free mugger. That there is something about the risk of free mugging that free muggers actually enjoy. Like, they like the danger.

[Elise Hu]

Yep, yep. He was sort of like, danger is my middle name. I'm. I'm doing this right.

[Dory Shafrir]

It's so interesting.

[Elise Hu]

I know.

[Dory Shafrir]

And then they end up with third degree burns from hot coffee. And you're like, you wanted the danger. Kate would always text me pictures when she would spill from her free mugs.

[Elise Hu]

But it didn't stop her.

[Dory Shafrir]

That's the thing. She would spill and then she'd be like, well, bold, just gonna keep going. And that is the mark of a true free mugger.

[Elise Hu]

You don't get discreet.

[Dory Shafrir]

You accept that every so often you're gonna spill. And that's just. That just comes with the territory. And you have to be willing to take that risk.

[Elise Hu]

But the risk is the part of feeling alive.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yes.

[Elise Hu]

What you're saying. Essentially, yes.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yes. And these people have chosen to express that in the form of driving with drinks without a lid.

[Elise Hu]

I was gonna say I'm also like risk happy, but just not in that particular way.

[Dory Shafrir]

Right.

[Elise Hu]

It just doesn't express itself in that decision. But it's fine now. Now I know. Now I know this is something. You know, I've been with Rob for five plus years. This is a big discovery. Now I know this about him. It has deepened my understanding of Rob. Thank you, Rob.

[Dory Shafrir]

And now we can all move forward with this information. With this information. I mean, granted, the next time I see Rob I will look at him differently, but.

[Elise Hu]

Absolutely. I mean, it changes.

[Dory Shafrir]

Changes everything. Our.

[Elise Hu]

Our understanding of people.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah, exactly. All right, one last text that we got here that said, I know you were all about the Costco recs, but can we put out a call for Sam's Club? Are there any fun Sam's Club items, or am I just destined to dream about all the fun stuff from somewhere I don't have near me?

[Elise Hu]

You're right. It's not really fair to folks who are in geographical regions that don't have Costco's near them. And there were Sam's Club, where I grew up. I grew up in Missouri and then Texas, and so we did kind of have to have a choice. Like, when I was super little, we were members of Sam's Club, and then Costco kind of came online and became bigger, and then we switched to Costco. But I remember Sam's Club also being, you know, a great option, you know, and a great giant where members only.

[Dory Shafrir]

We had. We had BJ's.

[Elise Hu]

Oh, yeah.

[Dory Shafrir]

Oh, yes. BJ's Wholesale Club.

[Elise Hu]

I'm familiar with it, but I've never been in one. I don't think I've been in one.

[Dory Shafrir]

It's kind of all the same. So I did. I was not aware there are three Sam's Clubs, like, in the greater Los Angeles area. They're not close to me. Like, I would have to. It would have to be like, oh, I must go to Sam's Club for this very special item because it is. It is quite a drive to get to the nearest Sam's Club. So that's interesting because Costco has definitely, like, staked out territory, like, in Los Angeles.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah, yeah. Like, but listeners, you can help each other out. So if you are a Sam's Club shopper, please. I mean, we welcome any suggestions for your fellow Sam's Club members for our little, you know, last couple of minute segment of the show.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah. Please share or BJ's, if you have BJ's recommendations. Yeah, let us know. All right, well, Elise, that brings us to the end. Thanks, everyone, for coming on this journey with us. We appreciate you. And yeah, please call or text, email us. These mini apps are only as good as the correspondence that we receive.

[Elise Hu]

Yeah, thanks for the voicemails today, too.

[Dory Shafrir]

Yeah, thank you. All right, bye, everybody.

[Elise Hu]

Bye.