Give It To Me Straight – Episode 90

Season Finales, Second Chances, and Finding the One
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Hosts: Alex & John (Dear Media)

Episode Overview

In their season finale, husband-wife duo Alex and John deliver characteristically unfiltered advice and share candid stories about parenting, marriage, travel horror stories, etiquette, and relationship struggles. The episode is a tapestry of real-life anecdotes (often centering on their daughter Lucy and their chaotic travel adventures), ethical debates (from child-rearing to friendships and infidelity), and listener Q&A. Both hosts toggle between humor and true empathy, championing honest communication, personal accountability, and, above all, self-love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Season Finale Reflections & Life Lately

• Parenting Realities: Opening with sleep deprivation, Lucy's unpredictable sleep schedule, and the unglamorous side of parenting.
• Household Upgrades: Chat about the quest for effective chapstick and considering built-in humidifiers as part of adulting.
  • “My nose holes are so dry. My mouth. Maybe we need to, like, tape our mouths…” – John, 02:06
• COVID & Health Experiences: Playful banter turns to COVID swab stories and comparing male vs female medical experiences.
  • “Everything in women’s care is aggressive.” – Alex, 03:52

2. Travel Woes with a Baby

(LaGuardia, Delayed Flights, and Lounge Etiquette)

• The Ordeal: A short 58-minute flight turns into an 8-hour airport saga, revealing the unpredictability of traveling with infants.
  • Lucy’s temperament exceeds expectations despite the chaos.
  • Strategies and mishaps in the airport lounge, culminating in a rant about disrespectful parents leaving behind messes.
    • “People just have no respect for other...establishments or people’s like, it’s not yours. Not even learning how to clean up after yourself.” – John, 08:32
• Delayed Flight Excuses: Frustration with airlines—each delay brought a different (and likely false) excuse.
  • “They lied on four. There’s no way. It had all four things happened.” – John, 16:32
  • “That’s corporate America for you, baby.” – Alex, 17:12

3. Parenthood Insights

• Navigating Parental Guilt: Alex shares her feelings about leaving Lucy for a work trip for the first time, and the anxiety associated with it.
  • “For me, I’m more so thinking, like, she’s so young to leave her...Is it too soon?” – Alex, 22:36
• Respect for Single Parents: Both reflect on newfound respect and empathy for single parents post-baby.
  • “Having a baby though has given me so much more respect for single parents. I actually don’t know.” – Alex, 24:18
• Emotional Growth: John talks about using positive affirmations to improve his patience and perspective in parenting.
  • “I really do think those positive affirmations about, like, just loving you so much and like, being so grateful to have her…” – John, 21:04

4. Listener Q&A and Relationship Dilemmas

Notable Questions & Advice:

• Cheating Siblings / In-Law Dilemmas

  • Confronting infidelity in the family: “Even if you’re doing the right thing, he’s probably going to feel a type of way that his own family went against him… Him being anti-therapy means he doesn’t give a shit about this relationship.” – John, 46:02

• Sexless Marriage and Separation

  • Is it time to move on? “There’s so many things this guy could do… This question happens all the time. Sex drive dies. You got to put the effort in.” – John, 49:19
  • Alex: “If you’re separating over this, there’s obviously more issues. Because if you were…If you brought it up to me…then I would be like, oh my God, why? ... If you both are okay with the separation, then there were clearly other underlying things…”

• Dating Red Flags & Trust Issues

  • On serial cheaters: “When a person shows you who they are, believe them.” – Alex, 80:12

• Infidelity Among Friends

  • Dilemma: Should you tell a friend her husband is cheating when your husband is in on the secret?
  • “You and your husband need to be on the same page.” – John, 74:02
  • “This is what I would do. I would talk to my husband and…say, listen, you brought me into this. Now I see this infidelity is going on…Have you told her?…Otherwise, I’ll tell her.” – Alex, 75:34

• Weak Friendships and Adult Drifting

  • “Are you willing to give them a shot? Because if you address the situation…are you willing to give them a shot? Or have you already made the decision…” – John, 63:04
  • Emphasis on communication, self-worth, and outgrowing negative energy.

• Getting an STD Test Conversation

  • “I get it. I mean, your health is number one and that’s a responsible thing to do…to be sexually active, you need to be an adult.” – John, 66:25
  • “If someone is offended, that says more about them…” – Alex, 67:24

• Is It Cold Feet or Something More?

  • “Do you want to regret the next 10 years?” – John, 69:06
  • Alex recommends listening to gut feelings, not being afraid to end an engagement if it doesn't feel right.

5. Game Time: Mind Your Manners (Etiquette Mini-Game)

(31:05–42:12)

• Alex & John debate etiquette card scenarios:
  • Including/un-inviting kids to events, airplane armrest etiquette, tipping on takeout, Zoom dress codes, and bill-splitting at restaurant with over-indulgent friends.
  • Memorable Bit: On restaurant bills: “The ones who are being gluttonous are the last ones to realize that…not everyone is consuming like you are.” – John, 40:53

6. Advice Highlights & Memorable Quotes

• On Self-Love & Avoiding Relationship Pitfalls:

  • “Maybe if I move in with him first. Maybe if I share a dog with him, it'll... None of these things are going to fix your stupid relationship.” – Alex, 00:00 & 81:47
  • John's repeated rallying cry: “2026. Let’s do better people.” (00:11, 82:01)
  • "It's about loving yourself. Love yourself enough so that you self respect so you want so that you see what you deserve in another relationship..." – Alex, 82:03

• On Outgrowing Friends:

  • "If you are not doing the work on yourself...you’re not gonna make the cut." – Alex, 63:59

• On Boundaries and Trust:

  • "Imagine having the thought of like digging through your partner’s phone..." – Alex, 81:16

Useful Timestamps for Major Segments

• Travel Story/Parenting Opening: 00:00–10:15
• Flight Delays & Lounge Etiquette: 10:15–19:00
• Leaving Baby Overnight & Parental Anxiety: 21:56–26:30
• Parent Friendships & Navigating Adult Relationships: 26:32–29:46
• Etiquette Game Segment: 31:05–42:12
• Listener Question Segment Begins: 45:50
• Infidelity & Trust Issues: 46:02–50:56, 74:02–78:16
• Navigating Friendships & Red Flags: 61:18–66:25
• Relationship Red Flags / Cold Feet: 68:35–72:00
• Season Wrap-up / Final Advice: 81:08–84:40

Final Takeaways & Tone

Alex and John maintain a playful, honest, and irreverent style, moving effortlessly from sarcasm to deep empathy. The main theme is the value of loving yourself enough to demand respect—in marriage, friendships, and family relationships. They encourage communication, setting boundaries, and not settling for less than what you deserve.

Closing Riff:
Alex: "Love yourself so much that you don’t have to be the shithole friend that people talk about because your life is a dumpster fire. And that is how we’re gonna end." – (82:49)

Notable Recommendations

• John’s “Travel Hack”: Use FaceTime and your phone as a makeshift baby monitor while traveling. (83:15)
• Alex’s Baby Gear Rec: Nuna bassinet for travel and keeping baby entertained safely. (83:39)

Listener Experience

This episode is packed with relatable humor, sharp-tongued rants about society’s ills, and heartfelt advice that foregrounds self-awareness and kindness—but not at the expense of dignity. It’s perfect for anyone seeking tough love with a side of laughter, especially new parents, couples navigating tough conversations, or adults confronting the messiness of adult friendships and family ties.

Season finale mood: Messy, honest, cathartic, warm—and, as promised, always straight.