Give It To Me Straight – Episode 89: "Giving you friendship breakups, snippy moms, and infidelity"
Hosts: Alex & Jon
Date: February 3, 2026
Episode Overview
In this candid, humor-filled episode, husband-and-wife duo Alex and Jon dig deep into relationship dilemmas submitted by listeners—ranging from friendship breakups to infidelity and managing “snippy” mom energy. They offer their trademark unfiltered advice, peppered with playful banter, personal anecdotes, and engaging debates. This episode touches on maintaining long-term friendships, handling family drama, trust after betrayal, and navigating parenthood and partnership.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Banter: Life Lately, Shows, Knees, and Brown Fashion
[00:00–14:00]
- The episode kicks off with Alex and Jon’s natural, comedic banter about dog breeds (“dash hounds” vs. “dachshund”) and the high cost of pet ownership.
- Knee surgeries are compared across family members, leading into joint health talk. Jon’s advice: “Don’t be overweight for sure. That’s huge. Added weight to your joints causes tension, causes pressure.” [03:00]
- Runners beware: both question if running is overrated for fitness and discuss muscle loss with high-impact cardio.
- Alex: “The worst shape that I was in was when I ran a marathon.” [03:45]
- Style moment: Jon claims brown is "in" now for fashion, to Alex’s amusement (“I think you’re just now having an eye for fashion.” [04:51])
- TV rec: Both rave about the HBO show “I Love LA” and the comedic talents of Rachel Sennott and Jordan Firstman.
2. Parenting Talk & Visiting Tamron Hall
[15:17–21:27]
- The couple recounts their recent appearance on the Tamron Hall show to discuss grief, parenting, and transitioning from loss (of their son, Leo) to parenthood with their daughter, Lucy.
- Alex shares her emotional struggle being interviewed after seeing a montage: “...every time we talk about Leo...when something public like this, it’s just like reopening a wound.” [18:12]
- Both reflect on the unique and nerve-wracking feel of a live studio, differences from podcasting, and the support from the Tamron Hall team.
- Humorous anecdote about odd public bathroom layouts and “full vulnerability” moments. [19:39]
3. Family & Everyday Chaos: Noise, Clumsiness, and Surviving New Parenthood
[21:27–25:55]
- Alex details Jon’s comical inability to be quiet while Lucy naps (“...it’s truly…you can’t write this. You can’t make it up.” [22:54])
- Jon’s clumsiness is on full display after dropping his phone on his foot—leading to melodramatics about aging bodies:
- Jon: “I thought I had to go to the hospital. I’m dragging my foot like I got shot in the leg.” [24:42]
- Shared laughter on the realities of old injuries and being accident-prone in parenthood.
4. Habits, Food, and Fads
[25:56–29:51]
- Dry January gets a skeptical review: Jon suggests it’s only needed if someone’s drinking too much.
- “If you had to do Dry January, I’m like, you’re drinking too much.” [26:10]
- Alex preaches making lifestyle changes sustainable: “If it’s not something that you could commit to…for your life, why…find a healthy balance in general.” [26:39]
- Jon’s creative breakfast choices (chicken marsala, four eggs, avocado) spark debate about portion control, food waste, and pre-travel fridge-clearing routines.
5. Listener Questions & Relationship Dilemmas
[29:52–58:01]
a. Reluctant Relocation: Texas vs. California [29:52]
- Couple struggles after a cross-country move, resentful and conflicted about where to raise their kids.
- Jon: “One of you just give in. One of you give in because that’s not worth risking your relationship.” [30:23]
- Alex: “Happiness comes from within…what is it about your surroundings in Texas?” [31:08]
b. Family Fight at the Holidays [32:35]
- After a dispute with her sisters-in-law and “exaggerating the truth,” a listener’s marriage and family relationships are strained.
- Jon, blunt as ever: “Sounds like it’s your fucking fault. This whole thing started because of you.” [32:50]
- Both seek more context but stand by accountability and honest apologies.
c. Sister-in-law Befriending the Ex [36:14]
- A listener feels uncomfortable that her husband's sister is now besties (and even makes maid of honor!) with his ex.
- Alex: “Why am I continuing to keep this person around? ...Like, I understand maybe not like completely exing them out…” [36:24]
- Jon agrees that the sister-in-law is not reading the room and the dynamic is “kind of toxic.” [37:29]
d. Infidelity Patterns (Workplace Romance) [39:09]
- Listener shares a relationship born out of questionable circumstances—then plagued by recurring infidelity.
- Alex: “How you get them is how you lose them.” [39:55]; Jon: “She’s like, this question's screaming, please tell me that I should give him another chance... It’s going to happen again.” [40:06]
- Both ultimately advise: cut ties.
e. Porn Addiction & Trust [43:27]
- Listener’s husband repeatedly breaks a mutual “no porn” agreement—she struggles with trust and obsession over surveillance.
- Jon: “Don’t you have other shit to worry about?...How else is it affecting you?” [43:27]
- Alex: “At the end of the day, you can’t control other people… you can’t drive yourself crazy over mommying him and being a helicopter wife 24/7.” [47:24]
f. Friendship Breakups [47:49]
- Ending two 10+ year friendships leaves a listener doubting her ability to choose good friends.
- Jon: “I think people put a lot of stuff [on] but I spent 10 years with this person…who cares?” [51:16]
- Alex validates the pain but affirms it’s normal for friendships to fade if values or life stages no longer align.
g. Snippy Moms, Personality, and Marital Resentment [52:03]
- A new mom, full-time provider, admits to irritability and wonders if she can (or should) change her “sharp” tone at her unemployed husband’s request.
- Jon: “The core is she’s stressed…added, just more stuff’s added to your plate.” [55:43]
- Alex: “Have a conversation with your husband and say, listen, I’m under a lot of stress right now…what can we do to work on making the circumstances better?” [56:36]
- Balance and communication = keys to improvement.
6. Season Announcement & Lighthearted Secrets
[57:36–59:53]
- Announcement: The hosts will take a break after the next episode and return for season five; they encourage listeners to send in more questions.
- Listener-secret: One confesses to allowing field mice on her stove to avoid her husband setting “murder traps.”
- Jon: “It’s going to get worse. It’s going to get worse.” [58:57]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Fitness Myths:
- Alex: “The worst shape that I was in was when I ran a marathon.” [03:45]
On Parenting & Grief:
- Jon: “Every time we talk about Leo…it just is like reopening a wound.” [18:12]
On Relationship Patterns:
- Alex: “How you get them is how you lose them.” [39:55]
- Jon: “It’s going to happen again. Oh, again and again.” [40:20]
On Friendship “Expiration Dates”:
- Alex: “Some friends are for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.” [50:05]
- Jon: “People put a lot of stuff [on it] but I spent 10 years with this person…who cares?” [51:16]
On Difficult Conversations:
- Alex: “Have a conversation with your husband…what can we do to work on the situation at hand so that you aren’t irritable?” [56:36]
Timestamps for Major Segments
| Segment | Time | |------------------------------------------|-------------| | Opening Banter – Pets, Knees, TV shows | 00:00-06:00 | | Parenting & Tamron Hall Experience | 15:17-21:27 | | Everyday Chaos, Clumsy Parenting | 21:27-25:55 | | Habits, Fad Diets, Food Waste | 25:56-29:51 | | Relocation & Family Strain (Q1) | 29:52-32:34 | | Family Fights & Apology (Q2) | 32:35-36:13 | | Sister-in-law Befriends Ex (Q3) | 36:14-39:08 | | Infidelity Patterns (Q4) | 39:09-43:26 | | Porn, Trust & Relationship Rules (Q5) | 43:27-47:48 | | Friendship Breakups/Longevity (Q6) | 47:49-52:02 | | Snippy Moms & Marital Growth (Q7) | 52:03-57:36 | | Season News & Listener Secret | 57:36-59:53 |
Episode Tone & Style
Alex and Jon maintain a humorous, frank, slightly sassy tone—never shying away from blunt honesty or playful jabs at one another. Their advice is direct, empathetic when due, and often includes real-life examples and self-awareness about their own quirks, missteps, and relationship dynamics.
Summary for New Listeners:
Expect real talk, no sugarcoating, and plenty of laughs as Alex and Jon tackle modern marriage, parenting, and friendship dramas with their unique blend of wit and sincerity.