Podcast Summary

Podcast: Give It To Me Straight
Hosts: Alex & John
Episode: 78 – "Giving you holiday swaps, daddies, and intrusive thoughts"
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid and humorous episode, married hosts Alex and John dive into the chaos of daily life with a new baby, holiday preparations, and family dynamics. The episode weaves together their personal anecdotes, hilarious banter, and unfiltered advice, focusing on topics like postpartum struggles, intrusive thoughts as new parents, awkward family interactions, and navigating holiday traditions and family boundaries. They wrap things up by answering listener questions about tricky holiday situations and endearing bits about their evolving routines and relationship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life as New Parents (00:30–07:30)

• Catch-up: John and Alex discuss matching cozy outfits and laugh about John's hair and sleep deprivation.
• Sleep & Stress: They've found things a bit easier recently, thanks in part to their mothers helping out, but still struggle with exhaustion and lack of routine. John jokes about being "dead inside" (04:49).
• Food & Family Help: Both sets of parents have commented on their apparent weight loss—thought to be a sign of tiredness and busy schedules. They've even hired Alex's mom to help with baby care and prepping meals so they don't rely on takeout (05:15).
• Postpartum Realness: Alex describes intense postpartum night sweats that have her changing pillowcases nightly, making light of her own discomfort (02:16). She also details “literal baby steps” toward finding a new normal.

"Your mom tells me: 'John, are you okay? You look skinny.' I'm like, what the fuck?" – John (04:57)

2. Intrusive Thoughts and New Mom Fears (07:33–09:44)

• Parental Anxiety: Alex and John admit to vivid intrusive thoughts that occur when caring for a baby, like being afraid of accidentally hurting their child.
• Defensive Mechanisms: They theorize these thoughts might be the brain's way of keeping them alert.
• Pet Concerns: Conversation shifts to their dog Kobe, whom they worry might not see the baby as a person, but as another animal.

“I am holding her, and I walk by the stairs…in my brain I'm like, I hope I don't throw her over the banister.” – Alex (08:00)

3. Family, Food, and The Daily Grind (13:50–21:00)

• Managing Chores: Even when trying to relax, they find themselves knee-deep in chores due to baby messes.
• Entertainment: A supposed Harry Potter marathon turns into a Hunger Games binge, leading to discussions on actors’ earnings and their own acting routines (16:10).
• Embarrassment in Acting: Alex explodes with laughter at behind-the-scenes depictions of actors acting against green screens, noting that “acting is embarrassing” (17:48).

"If you have less lines in a movie, you better bring it home. You better sell that." – Alex (16:29)

4. Home Safety and Community Issues (26:00–29:46)

• Neighborhood Complaints: Alex contemplates contacting the town for speed bumps due to reckless drivers, remarking how they’re now “becoming” the old people in the neighborhood.
• Parental Perspective Shift: Both note how their priorities and awareness about safety have changed since having a child, re-evaluating the suitability of their home and neighborhood.

“We’re becoming people who care about speed bumps ... does that make me old?” – Alex (26:11)

5. Bugs, Pets, and Childhood Anecdotes (42:21–46:22)

• Household Bugs & Ethics: The couple swaps stories about bugs and the strange rules of which creatures are considered okay to kill (flies vs. ladybugs), as well as childhood “bug fighting” games.
• Sibling Storytime: John shares an anecdote about inadvertently destroying his sister's aquarium with a betta fish (45:39).

6. Listener Questions: Holiday Drama & Family Boundaries (51:08–70:51)

a) Spending Holidays Apart After Moving In (51:08–52:21)

• Advice: Open communication is key. If both sides want to spend holidays with their own families, suggest alternating years.
• Notable Quote: “Seems like neither one of you are, because both of you are selfish, right?” – John (52:00)

b) Setting Boundaries with Infants & Extended Family (53:08–54:09)

• Advice: Not unreasonable to limit baby’s exposure to guests at big gatherings. Boundaries are justified and may upset others, but baby’s safety takes priority.

“Your mother should be so accommodating and understanding. It's not about her.” – John (53:49)

c) Excluding Toxic/Abusive Family Members (55:32–56:42)

• Advice: Do not compromise home safety or comfort for tradition—uphold personal boundaries regarding whom you host.

d) Dividing Holiday Time Amid Conflicting Traditions (57:17–59:07)

• Advice: Once you have kids, their experience takes priority—consider switching family holidays or compromising in other ways, but ensure the child can enjoy festivities.

e) Gifting for Stepparents (61:02–62:47)

• Advice: Consider joint gifts to minimize cost and effort, or create new traditions (like dinners out) instead of exchanging gifts.

f) Avoiding Unpleasant Partners at Gatherings (64:22–68:43)

• Advice: Distance is a valid boundary if you dislike someone’s partner, but be aware it could strain relationships with your loved ones.

g) Complaining In-Laws & Rotating Holidays (68:44–70:51)

• Advice: Sometimes, the best response to a grumpy patriarch is to ignore it and do what works best for your own family.

7. Parenting Wins & Emotional Moments (38:38–41:48)

• Parental Joy: Alex and John gush about the unexpected depth of love they feel for their daughter, getting teary at the pediatrician, and delighting in their child’s mundane milestones, like discovering the kitchen lights.
• Reflection: They draw parallels between fulfillment from giving children new experiences and the satisfaction found in helping others.

“It actually is painful to my heart how much I love her...” – Alex (40:29)
"Nothing brings them that much joy. Then they turn to philanthropic things and that brings them so much fulfillment... You're helping people experience things you've already experienced." – John (41:07)

8. Holiday Preparations & Christmas Spirit (36:55–38:22)

• Decorations: The house is already “decked out for Christmas”—a necessity of the content-creator lifestyle, but also a family joy.

"Record players are a vibe. That's what we did this weekend too—lit the fire, had a cocktail, and played Christmas music on the vinyl." – Alex (38:15)

9. “Wrecks” (Recommendations) & Wrap-up (72:09–73:44)

• Alex’s Rec: The set of cozy, matching loungewear they’re both wearing (outfit details earlier in episode).
• John’s Rec: “Time management”—work out or do chores incrementally when the baby naps.
• Endnote: Encourage listeners to be productive and engage with the show.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On intrusive thoughts:
  "I walk by the stairs and there's the banister—in my brain, I'm like, I hope I don't throw her over the banister."
  – Alex (08:00)

• On old age and suburbia:
  “We’re becoming people who care about speed bumps... does that make me old?”
  – Alex (26:11)

• On acting:
  “There is nothing more embarrassing than doing special effects. For any superhero movie, it’s dead quiet.”
  – Alex (17:48)

• On parental love:
  “It actually is painful to my heart how much I love her.”
  – Alex (40:29)

• On grumpy in-laws:
  "Enjoy a can of beans with your Coors Light."
  – John (70:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Banter & New Parent Talk: 00:30–07:30
• Intrusive Thoughts & Anxiety: 07:33–09:44
• Family, Food, and Daily Grind: 13:50–21:00
• Entertainment & Acting Embarrassment: 16:10–21:00
• Neighborhood Gripes & Safety: 26:00–29:46
• Childhood Mishaps & Bug Morality: 42:21–46:22
• Listener Questions (Holidays & Boundaries): 51:08–70:51
• Parenting Joys & Emotional Parenting Moments: 38:38–41:48
• Holiday Decor and Christmas Mode: 36:55–38:22
• Recommendations (“Wrecks”) & Closing: 72:09–73:44

Tone & Style

Alex and John maintain a playful, irreverent, and candid tone throughout, layering humor with bits of genuine emotion and practical advice. Their banter provides levity even when addressing common but tough topics for young parents and couples.

This summary captures the heart of the episode, highlighting all significant themes and providing useful context for those who want the wisdom (and the one-liners) without the full 74-minute runtime.