Forever35 - Mini-Ep 454: We Love A Bucket

Release Date: July 30, 2025
Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu

Introduction

In this special mini-episode of Forever35, co-hosts Doree Shafrir and Elise Hu engage with their listeners by sharing comments, answering questions, and discussing various personal and relatable topics. True to their style, the conversation is infused with humor, self-awareness, and heartfelt honesty.

Elise's Experience with Altitude Sickness

The episode kicks off with Elise recounting her recent trip to Aspen for a seminar at the Aspen Institute. Battling unexpected altitude sickness, she describes her symptoms and the unconventional remedy that helped her feel better.

Elise Hu [01:39]: "When I got here, I immediately felt altitude sickness. It's like having a hangover after not having consumed any alcohol."

Elise praises the use of recreational oxygen canisters available at her hotel, highlighting their effectiveness in alleviating her discomfort.

Elise Hu [02:58]: "What really made a difference for me was oxygen, just getting more oxygen."

Despite her initial struggles, she appreciates Aspen's beauty and cycling-friendly environment, although a mishap with bike rentals resulted in an unexpected charge.

Elise Hu [04:50]: "I just got this email saying, hey, your bike rental is still open. We've charged your card $300."

Listener Appreciation and Personal Updates

Doree shares a heartwarming message from a listener appreciating Elise's composed demeanor during her recent breast cancer screening revelation.

Doree Shafrir [06:23]: "I'm inspired by how calm Elise was about the breast cancer screen that revealed a small mass that needs to be biopsied... Thank you for modeling that."

Elise responds with gratitude, attributing her calmness to her mother's support and emphasizing the importance of having loved ones during uncertain times.

Elise Hu [07:19]: "Credit to my mom. She was just very sanguine and she was like, it's probably nothing because I also had them."

The hosts reaffirm their commitment to supporting listeners while encouraging professional medical and mental health support when needed.

Discussing Death with Children

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to addressing listeners' questions about explaining death to children. A listener named Michelle shares her heartfelt voicemail detailing how she navigated this challenging conversation with her two-year-old following the loss of her stepmother.

Michelle [10:51]: "I ended up explaining it with saying, well, you know, like when we break something, we don't have it anymore... She is still processing it."

Doree and Elise discuss the nuances of such conversations, emphasizing trust in children's capacity to understand and handle difficult topics. They reference popular media, notably Pixar films, as tools to facilitate these discussions.

Doree Shafrir [13:09]: "I thought this was a really nice way to frame it. So I really appreciated this voicemail."

Elise reflects on the portrayal of death in movies like Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Coco, analyzing their impact on children's understanding of loss.

Elise Hu [14:17]: "It seems to be, like, a real trope or having to say goodbye to your parents one way or the other."

Product Recommendations and Listener Interactions

The hosts engage with listeners by sharing and soliciting product recommendations. A listener suggests the Happy Color app as a mindful alternative to social media.

Listener [16:23]: "Happy Color... as a way to keep myself from doom scrolling but still having the distraction of being on my phone."

Doree and Elise respond with their favorite products, including dish cloths and rags, offering specific recommendations like Geometry dish towels and affordable options from IKEA.

Doree Shafrir [18:45]: "We have the Williams Sonoma ones at my house that I think are far more affordable."

They also announce a discount code for Geometry dish towels, enhancing listener engagement.

Favorite Recent Purchases

Shifting to lighter topics, Doree and Elise share their latest favorite purchases from Trader Joe's and Costco.

Elise's Picks:

• Pink Coconut Water: A budget-friendly alternative to pricier brands like Harmless Harvest.

  Elise Hu [22:16]: "I just got super into... pink coconut water. It's super affordable, super hydrating."

• La Colombe Oat Milk Lattes: Convenient for early mornings and praised for their quality.

  Elise Hu [22:24]: "La Colombe oat milk lattes... available at Trader Joe's and not available at other grocery stores."

Doree's Picks:

• Strained, Thick, and Creamy Greek Yogurt: Appreciated for its texture and quality, despite being pricier than regular options.

  Doree Shafrir [23:42]: "We have been really enjoying the strained, thick and creamy Greek yogurt."

• Costco Branded Buckets: Versatile for various uses beyond their traditional role.

  Doree Shafrir [25:41]: "The Costco bucket... you can use them for so many purposes."

Conclusion and Upcoming Changes

As the episode wraps up, Doree informs listeners of her upcoming vacation, signaling a temporary shift to reruns and regular programming.

Doree Shafrir [26:03]: "Next week's mini ep will be a rerun of sorts of the full-length episodes."

Elise warmly acknowledges Doree's well-deserved break, ensuring listeners of their continued connection.

Elise Hu [26:36]: "Summer vacay much deserved. You deserve a break."

Notable Quotes

• Elise on Altitude Sickness:
  "It's like having a hangover after not having consumed any alcohol." [01:39]

• Elise on Oxygen Canisters:
  "What really made a difference for me was oxygen, just getting more oxygen." [02:58]

• Listener Michelle on Explaining Death:
  "We won't be able to see her or hug her anymore." [10:51]

• Doree on Pixar Films:
  "Almost 90% of Pixar movies have death in them." [13:09]

Final Thoughts

Forever35 continues to blend personal anecdotes with listener interactions, creating a space where difficult topics like health concerns and explaining death to children are navigated with grace and authenticity. The hosts' genuine conversations and practical recommendations make this mini-episode both engaging and insightful for new and returning listeners alike.

Connect with Forever35

• Website: forever35podcast.com
• Email: forever35podcastmail.com
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