Podcast Episode Summary
Give It To Me Straight
Podcast: Give It To Me Straight (Dear Media)
Episode: 85. Giving you mama’s boys, manifesting, and ultimatums
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Alex & Jon
Episode Overview
In this lively and unfiltered episode, husband-and-wife duo Alex and Jon kick off the new year with candid reflections on family gatherings, boundaries with in-laws, relationship dynamics, and manifesting. The couple answers listener questions on everything from moving in with family, ultimatums around proposals, handling "mama's boys," and the ethical lines around keeping secrets in relationships—infused with their signature humor, playful bickering, and zero-filter advice from both perspectives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. New Year, Same Sweatpants: Holiday & Life Reflections
- The episode opens with relatable banter about working from home and the sad neglect of their wardrobes—Jon jokes about rarely leaving the house and always wearing sweatpants and Crocs.
- Alex contemplates leaving the house more as a resolution, while Jon aspires to be less judgmental:
"Stop being so judgmental. I always vibe check people … and then I feel bad." – Jon [02:26]
- They touch on the tendency to talk about people and the gray area between factual discussion and gossip. Alex insists on keeping the energy positive.
2. Family Gatherings and In-Law Dynamics
- Both recount holiday experiences, highlighting awkward and gross moments (like someone double-dipping at Christmas dinner—Jon couldn't eat as a result).
"Someone was sticking their hands in the food … I just watched and starved myself for three hours." – Jon [06:19]
- There’s a humorous debate on being friends with neighbors and hanging out with family for prolonged periods, with Jon preferring short visits.
- The couple also bemoans failed holiday crafts with their infant daughter ("Just torturing me, you know?").
3. Parenting and Relationship Anecdotes
- Alex and Jon describe navigating parenthood while balancing sleep, laundry disasters, and bedtime routines—featuring a hilarious struggle to put a comforter back on in the dark:
"Every time we put the comforter on … we’re not on cue." – Jon [21:07]
- They recount a petty argument on Christmas Eve, leading to a viral TikTok video:
"We were so mad at each other that day…" – Alex [19:06]
- Dream talk: Alex’s mundane dreams prompt Jon’s playful complaints, then a more serious one makes her check on their daughter at night.
4. Listener Q&A: Relationships, Boundaries, and Modern Dating
Meeting People in a New City
- Advice: Get involved in group classes, clubs, or online dating (how Alex & Jon met).
- Jon admits he used to like “the chase,” and both reflect on female-forward courtship.
Moving in with Family to Save Money
- Listeners are reminded not to be entitled when staying with family:
"You're lucky they're letting you move in … help in any way you can." – Jon [36:21]
Manifesting vs. Prayer
- Alex sees overlap between manifesting and prayer, viewing both as forms of intentional focus.
- Jon half-jokes about being "psychic" because of coincidences in his life.
"I put something out and it happens. I'm love Dr. Jon. I'm fun fact Jon. And I'm psychic, you know." – Jon [39:28]
- Alex believes the real value is in positive thinking and acting toward your goals.
Ultimatums & Proposals
- Listener struggles with setting a proposal deadline. Alex urges ongoing mutual conversation instead of one-sided demands or leaving timelines ambiguous:
"…to have one person sitting around waiting on the other's timeline, that's not fair." – Alex [47:29]
- Jon acknowledges not everyone will get what they want, and compromise is key.
Mother-in-Law Dramas & "Mama's Boys"
- Several stories are shared about toxic in-law dynamics:
- Mothers-in-law who want too much attention or control (“She wants to marry her son. She’s obsessed with him.” – Alex [49:25])
- Husbands who take their family’s side, leaving wives unsupported.
- The couple’s consensus: Protect your peace, limit exposure to toxic relatives, and involve your partner in setting boundaries.
Secret “Finsta” Social Media Accounts
- Listener confesses to using a secret Instagram to spy on exes/friends. Both Jon and Alex call this immature and a crossing of relationship boundaries:
"If I found out you had a Finsta, that would be a huge red flag for me." – Alex [69:47]
Engagement Rings & Gifts
- Listener discovers her sister-in-law’s “$15,000” ring is listed for $150 online. Both hosts suggest that unless the bride cares or is being scammed, it’s not your business:
"If she's happy, she's happy. Who cares? She'll find out one day… Or not." – Alex [56:04]
5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "It's like Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice—Jon cracks!" – Alex on Jon’s inability to keep from gossiping [03:22]
- "Being friends with your neighbors is dangerous." – Jon [09:04]
- On comforters: "We laugh hysterically every time we put the comforter on … we're not on cue." – Jon [21:07]
- "I just think it's a maturity thing. Why do you need to be stalking to see what they're up to?" – Alex, on ‘Finsta’ [70:32]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Time | Segment Description | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02–02:23| New Year check-in, resolutions, and judging people | | 04:45–07:22| Gross Christmas dinner and navigating family dynamics | | 15:52–23:17| Parenthood, dreams, and marital spats | | 24:40–29:48| Renting movies, relationship hypotheticals, and “eternity” choices | | 32:21–35:20| Q&A: Meeting people in a new city, dating stories | | 35:43–37:24| Q&A: Moving in with in-laws, boundaries and humility | | 37:38–41:27| Q&A: Manifesting vs prayer, “psychic” stories, and confirmation bias | | 44:31–47:41| Q&A: Engagement ultimatums and relationship timelines | | 49:23–51:41| Q&A: Toxic mothers-in-law and family conflict | | 52:48–56:04| Q&A: The $150 faux diamond ring dilemma | | 60:04–63:46| Q&A: Deep dive into “mama’s boys” and non-blended families | | 65:23–67:57| Q&A: Dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law who visits for weeks at a time | | 68:03–73:18| Q&A: Is a secret ‘Finsta’ a harmless hobby or relationship red flag? | | 75:51–end | Show wrap-up, recommendations, and closing banter |
Tone & Style
The episode is equal parts sarcastic, vulnerable, and direct—Alex and Jon’s rapport mixes playful ribbing with earnest, experience-based advice. They maintain a relatable, sometimes irreverent, conversational tone throughout. Arguments are lighthearted and self-deprecating.
Summary Takeaways
- Family and in-law relationships are often messy; boundaries (and humility) are key.
- Major life steps (proposals, moving, marriage) require honest, ongoing conversations—not emotional ultimatums.
- Manifesting and prayer may overlap, but both are most valuable as tools to refocus your goals and mindset.
- “Mama’s boys” and over-involved in-laws can’t be changed, but your response and boundaries can be.
- Secret social media behaviors (like ‘Finstas’) cross lines of trust in relationships.
- It’s rarely wise to interfere in others’ relationship details (like engagement ring drama)—let people live unless they’re in harm’s way.
- Jon and Alex’s ultimate advice: Protect your sanity, communicate directly, and don’t take life (or exes) too seriously.
For more, listen to Give It To Me Straight Episode 85 wherever you get your podcasts.