#1901 Informative, Not Performative

Summary

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1901 – “Informative, Not Performative”
Date: July 13, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Bella (19, Michigan State University student, diagnosed with T1D at 18)

Overview

In this decidedly conversational and wide-ranging episode, Scott interviews Bella, a 19-year-old college student and recent type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis. The episode is notable for its length and deep dive into Bella’s diagnosis, her transition to college life with T1D, her approach to health, body image, anxiety, relationships, and perspectives on technology and social media. The theme, as coined by Bella herself, is making life with diabetes “informative, not performative”—focusing on real, honest strategies for living well rather than superficial, filtered versions.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diagnosis & First Days with T1D

• Unexpected Timing:
  Diagnosed on college move-in day, after a summer full of classic T1D symptoms (vision loss, muscle cramps, weight loss, fatigue, excessive thirst and urination).
  • “I basically had every single symptom of undiagnosed diabetes to a T.” (05:11, Bella)
  • “It was actually the day I moved into college.” (04:28, Bella)
• Shock and Adjustment:
  No family history of T1D. Realization of the lifelong nature of T1D came gradually.
  • “I don’t think I really understood what it meant, actually. I know I didn't understand what it meant…” (07:29, Bella)
• Hospital Experience:
  Spent 24 hours hospitalized, eager to return to college and learn diabetes management basics ASAP.
  • “I was very into it…show me how to give myself insulin…show me all this stuff, I want to know so I can leave.” (11:18, Bella)

2. Transition to College Life

• Support System:
  Immediate and ongoing support from her roommate, boyfriend, friends, and family.
  • “She signed up to live with me, not my diabetes. But I had an amazing support system.” (24:11, Bella)
• Routine & Food:
  College dining hall portions made carb counting easier. Michigan State’s facilities (good food, walkable campus) helped keep glucose stable.
  • “Eating at the dining hall every day helped me so much because I ate pretty much the same portion of food.” (25:52, Bella)
• Physical Activity:
  Prior high school athlete; walking, weightlifting, and running integral to her management. Planning to run her first post-diagnosis half marathon.

3. T1D Management Approach

• Honeymoon Phase:
  Extremely low daily insulin needs, likely honeymooning in year one.
  • “I haven’t changed the amount of insulin I’ve needed since I’m diagnosed.” (31:12, Bella)
  • “Unless you weigh 84 pounds, I’m going to say you’re honeymooning.” (32:27, Scott)
• Bolusing, Snacks, and Exercise:
  Careful with pre-exercise boluses, smart snacking (energy gels for running, Drizzelicious snacks).
  • “Running doesn’t really drop my sugar until I get to, like, mile four or five…” (29:43, Bella)
  • Drizzelicious snack plugs throughout: “Drizzelicious is genuinely one of the best snacks ever.” (101:34, Bella)
• Technology:
  Dexcom CGM, Tandem Moby pump (algorithmic help). Tech made transition easier.

4. Family Background and Body Image

• Family Health:
  Sibling has Hashimoto’s and Graves’, mom with hyperthyroidism; autoimmune tendency obvious.
  • “My sister has Hashimoto’s and Graves. My mom has hyperthyroidism but it was more because of pregnancies.” (22:09, Bella)
• Body Image:
  Discussed physical changes post-diagnosis (weight gain after DKA/fat loss) and impact of T1D, especially as a young woman.
  • “It’s hard to see those changes to your body…like, none of my pants fit me anymore…as a girl, that’s just really hard.” (58:11, Bella)
• Disordered Eating:
  History of body dysmorphia and anxiety heightened by the need to constantly think about food and carbs.
  • “As someone who had previously struggled with, like, disordered eating...it always kind of just sat on, like, the back of my mind.” (61:05, Bella)
• Managing Mental Health:
  Regular therapy, exercise, strong faith, family support.
  • “I did start going to therapy...my faith, obviously, has really helped me…working out, like, really my escape since I’ve been younger.” (63:00, Bella)
  • “When I’m alone with my thoughts...since being diagnosed, I can be sad about, like, 10 other things, but it always comes back to being sad about being diabetic.” (65:02, Bella)

5. Relationships & Social Life

• Boyfriend Dynamic:
  Reconnected with high school boyfriend post-diagnosis, found comfort in history and his understanding (his grandma has T1D).
  • “He was, like, my comfort person and, like, my best friend...it was hard for me to go through my diagnosis and my diabetes without him.” (42:53, Bella)
• Supportive Partner:
  He learned her T1D cues (when she’s low, etc.), proactive in helping.
  • “I don’t ever have to ask him to...give me a juice box…he’s already on it.” (47:34, Bella)
• Roommate and Friends:
  Picked supportive people, values mature, drama-free friendships.
  • “I actually am surrounded by really, really good people.” (18:10, Bella)

6. Generation Z: Social Media, Technology, and Attitude

• Social Media Use:
  SnapChat (primary), Instagram and TikTok (with periods of “detox”), Pinterest (vision boarding, recipes).
  • “Snapchat, honestly, is probably the only [one]…kind of like our version of Facebook Messenger.” (104:54, Bella)
  • “I think it depends on how you use them, and how healthy your relationship is with yourself to use them without constantly comparing.” (105:28, Bella)
• Performative vs Informative:
  Critique of “influencer” culture, dieting/fitness standards, “fake” health on social media.
  • “Social media would have been so much more informative if we made it less performative.” (125:53, Bella)
  • Scott: “Informative, not performative—there’s our title.” (158:28, Scott)
• AI, Technology, and Diabetes:
  Both discuss how AI can provide customized support, especially for those with less access to diabetes education.
  • “No one’s going to write you a song about your diabetes—that’s not actually going to happen. So if you want it, this is how it happens.” (127:16, Scott on AI-generated content and music for T1D)

7. Long-term View: Adulthood, Healthcare, and the Future

• Perspective:
  Scott’s “dad talk” on job, relationships, believing in yourself, pushing back against gendered expectations in the workplace.
  • “A little bit of anxiety keeps you from getting killed by a bear, you know what I mean?” (78:19, Scott)
  • “Don’t doubt yourself. Please. Please.” (87:25, Scott)
• Healthcare Policy & Modern Solutions:
  Discussion of GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) for obesity/insulin resistance: Is it “cheating” or modern medicine? Societal vs. individual responsibility for health.
  • “Would you not rather live in a world where everybody shot something ... and they were healthy, than in a world where you tell people, well, just do the right thing?” (143:13, Scott)
• Access, Advocacy, and Technology:
  Bella learned most of her T1D knowledge from online community, not medical professionals; importance of accessible, honest peer information.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On diagnosis:
  “She’s having me down, she’s like, yeah, you have type 1 diabetes. And I was like, what?!” (06:55, Bella)
• On college adjustment:
  “I did not really understand that it was going to be like a lifelong disease. ... I think part of me ... was like, oh, my God, it’s a couple weeks, it’ll be fine.” (14:35, Bella)
• On gratitude:
  “I think, like, that mindset of gratitude really helped me.” (16:41, Bella)
• On female body image and T1D:
  “It’s like, you know, none of my pants fit me anymore. I had to go buy new pants. ... As a girl, that’s just, like, really hard.” (59:02, Bella)
• On anxiety:
  “I have lived with it long enough to, like, know how to ... work through it, but I don’t want my hormones to be controlled by medication. ... Me, personally, like, not what you’re looking for.” (66:07, Bella)
• On social media:
  “Social media would have been so much more informative if we made it less performative.” (125:53, Bella)
• On technology & AI:
  “No one’s going to write you a song about your diabetes—that’s not actually going to happen. So if you want it, this is how it happens.” (127:16, Scott)
• On living with diabetes long-term:
  “You’re going to have a long life with diabetes. It’s going to go through a lot of changes ... and then one day you’re going to be 82 and it’s going to be a different game.” (49:04, Scott)
• On advice for women:
  “Trust yourself. Don’t second guess yourself. ... Highlight why you’re valuable and push forward.” (85:55, Scott)

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Key Timestamps

• Diagnosis story and immediate aftermath: 04:25 – 14:54
• Returning to college, support system: 24:05 – 27:36
• Exercise, routine, and management tips: 28:11 – 39:13
• Body image & anxiety: 57:09 – 66:50
• Boyfriend/support person experience: 42:04 – 47:34
• Social media and tech talk: 104:54 – 111:34
• Society, GLP-1s, and health policy: 142:11 – 155:37
• Generational reflections and closing advice: 85:44 – 88:04; 153:21 – 158:14

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Tone, Style, and Noteworthy Moments

• Marked by warmth, empathy, and humor. Scott’s style is encouraging, affirming, with a healthy dose of real-talk, “dad advice,” and the occasional laughter at cultural and generational differences.
• Bella is open, self-aware, articulate, and thoughtful—a true Gen Z “informative, not performative” role model.
• Viral-worthy snippets:
  • The Drizzelicious “ad” bit (101:34)
  • Informative vs. performative coinage (125:53, 158:28)
  • Candid chat on women’s body image, college parties, therapy, and what young adults really worry about

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Conclusion

Scott and Bella’s two-and-a-half hour conversation paints a vivid, honest picture of managing type 1 diabetes as a young adult. This episode’s strength lies in its authenticity, humor, and unvarnished practicality—delivering real strategies, heartfelt reflections, and a commitment to honest peer support.

Final takeaway:

“Social media would have been so much more informative if we made it less performative.” (125:53, Bella)

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For Listeners

If you’re a newly diagnosed family, a college student with T1D, or anyone struggling with diabetes, this episode offers community, practical advice, and the reassurance that you are not alone—and that you can live well with diabetes, on your own terms.

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For the full episode, visit: JuiceboxPodcast.com

Transcript

[A]

Hello, friends. Welcome back to another episode of the Juicebox Podcast. Today I'm going to do something that I don't think I've ever done before. I am taking a very long episode and playing it for you all the way through. I think it's really interesting. I'm gonna bet you might too. And we're gonna find out together. Nothing you hear on the Juice Box Podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. Always consult a consult. Always consult a physician before making any changes to your healthcare plan or becoming bold with insulin. Go check out the private Facebook group juice box podcast, type 1 diabetes. Follow me on Instagram at Juicebox Podcast. And please, if you are not subscribed or following in a podcast player like Apple podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, YouTube, TV. No YouTube. What YouTube? Amazon Music. Spotify. I said Spotify. Audacity. Do I think. Do I mean Audacity? I mean, what's the other one? You know what I mean? With Amazon? Amazon Music? No, with the books. Audible. That's the one. Anyway, subscribe or follow. I think you'll enjoy it. And I mean, if you don't enjoy it even it would really help me out. So let's get going, run some ads, start the show, have a really great conversation with 19 year old Bella who has type 1 diabetes. This episode of the Juice Box podcast is sponsored by the Omnipod 5. And at my link omnipod.com juicebox you can get yourself a free free. What'd I just say? A free Omnipod 5 starter kit. Free. Get out of here. Go click on that link omnipod.com juicebox check it out. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions can be found@ omnipod.com juicebox links in the show notes [e-mail] USMED is sponsoring this episode of the Juice Box podcast and we've been getting our diabetes supplies from from U.S. med for years. You can as well usmed.com juicebox or call 888-721-1514. Use the link or the number, get your free benefits check and get started today with US Med thing. Testing. Make sure we're being recorded. I just did it for myself. Can you say testing?

[B]

Testing.

[A]

Awesome. You're good. So what happens now is I shut up and. And then you introduce yourself the way you want to be known. I don't think you need your last name. If you feel compelled to use it, you certainly can. It does look like it was made up so that it could be like an awesome Instagram handle or something like that. So it's up to you if you want to use it or not. I don't think you need it, though.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Whenever you're ready. Introduce yourself.

[B]

Hi, I'm bella. I'm a 19 year old diabetic that is currently a college student.

[A]

College. Oh, what are you going to college for?

[B]

Dietetics.

[A]

Is that like a. Is that like a. A major or.

[B]

Nutrition.

[A]

Nutrition. Okay.

[B]

Yes, it's a. It's like. Yeah, so I'm gonna go to be a dietitian.

[A]

Oh, very nice. Yeah, I just didn't understand the word. I didn't go to college, so I never. Yeah, I never looked at the book that said all the different things you could do.

[B]

Yeah, no, I mean, honestly, everyone that I have, pretty much everyone that I've told about my major, like, they don't know what it is, which I feel like is really surprising. I feel like it's kind of like in the name.

[A]

Maybe it's just. Well, yeah, maybe it's because we're making a podcast about diabetes that I got, like, waylaid by dia. I was like, dietetics? What is that?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, no, that makes sense now.

[A]

But now that you said. I was like. Oh, yeah, now I feel like.

[B]

No, it's okay. It's okay.

[A]

Listen, there's no excuse for me not getting it. The other 19 year olds in your life that we can understand.

[B]

Actually, it's mostly adults who don't know it.

[A]

Yeah, they probably drink a lot. You think something like that.

[B]

No, no, no. Yeah, they just don't know.

[A]

They don't know. How old were you when you were diagnosed?

[B]

I was actually diagnosed last August.

[A]

That's not even a year ago.

[B]

Yeah, no, it was actually the day I moved into college.

[A]

No, it wasn't.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

You're serious. You're humping up like, all that while you're watching your parents carry all that stuff up and down and you're like. And I was stunned at how little Arden helped carry things.

[B]

No, I mean, I did help, but, yeah, I was my. Yeah.

[A]

You just watching everybody carry stuff and you don't feel well or what's going on? Take me through the day a little bit.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. So now that I know diabetes, I think the earliest I had felt my symptoms was Memorial Day that year.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then, like throughout the summer, I basically had every single symptom of undiagnosed diabetes to a T. Like, vision loss, muscle cramps, weight loss, constant fatigue, like, everything.

[A]

Yeah. And

[B]

I just Go to a yearly physical, which, thank God, I do. And it just happened to be on the same day. I moved into college. So I went. I got my physical. And honestly, like, not like, TMI or anything, but I thought I had, like, a UTI because I was peeing so much. So, like, I was just like, okay, whatever. I'm just gonna tell them. So I told the. The nurse my symptoms. Poor girl is probably like, huh?

[A]

Yeah, this is at school. Oh, okay. I was like, God, you didn't go to the. You didn't go to, like, the medical.

[B]

This was, like, my home doctor's office, hour and a half from where I go to college.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So, yeah. And then they drew my blood. I just went to college. I moved in fully, and then it was like 7pm And I just met my roommate. Literally just met her. Me and my roommate, my dad, my mom were all in our room. And my mom stepped out because someone was calling her, and she had come back in, and she's like, okay, Bella, like, you need to sit down. And I was like, oh, my God, here we go.

[A]

I knew my hoo hoo was busted. Here we go.

[B]

Yeah, I'm gonna. I'm gonna get. I'm gonna get talked to. Well, I honestly thought, like, it was gonna be, like, okay, like, don't take drinks from strangers.

[A]

Oh, you thought you were gonna get that? Yeah, make cover.

[B]

Keep your.

[A]

Keep your hand over your drink. Like, that kind of stuff. Oh, my God.

[B]

Yeah. So I was like, oh, my God. Like, all right.

[A]

And she's like, I'll respect myself, Mom. I'm So.

[B]

What you thought was about strangers in the room, Like, I understand. And, yeah, she's having me down. She's like, yeah, you have type 1 diabetes. And I was like, what?

[A]

Wait. Oh, you're gonna tell me not to get roofied? What's happening? Jesus. Wow. Is there any other type 1 in your family that you have context for those words at all?

[B]

No, I had none. I. I knew what diabetes was, like, vaguely. I knew. Actually, prior to being diagnosed, I knew not a soul was type one.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And so I don't think I really understood what it meant, actually. I know I didn't understand what it meant, and I. But I remember, like, knowing, like, it was bad.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So then we had to leave. We left and we went to the hospital the next morning, and I was in the hospital for only, like, 24 hours.

[A]

This is the worst movement story ever. Although.

[B]

Yeah, although.

[A]

Arden could tell you on if you want some maybe. Can I get her to tell that story. One day she got a roommate. And you already love Omnipod 5, the tubeless, waterproof automated insulin delivery system. Now it's even stronger. A stronger algorithm starts here with Omnipod5's latest algorithm enhancements. A new lower 100mg DL target glucose option for more time and range, and fewer interruptions to help you spend even more time in automated Mode. Request a 30 day Omnipod 5 trial today at omnipod.com juicebox and experience the enhancements firsthand. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions can be found@ omnipod.com Juicebox Diabetes comes with a lot of things to remember, so it's nice when someone takes something off of your plate. Usmed has done that for us. When it's time for Arden's supplies to be refreshed, we get an email rolls up and in your inbox says, hi, Arden, this is your friendly reorder email from usmed. You open up the email, there's a big button that says, click here to reorder and you're done. Finally, somebody taking away a responsibility instead of adding one. Usmed has done that for us. An email arrives, we click on a link, and the next thing you know, your products are at the front door. That simple. Usmed.com juicebox or call 888-721-1514. I never have to wonder if Arden has enough supplies. I click on one link, I open up a box, I put this stuff in the drawer, and we're done. US Med carries everything from insulin pumps and diabetes testing supplies to the latest CGMs like the Libre 3 and the Dexcom G7. They accept Medicare nationwide, over 800 private insurers. And all you have to do to get started is call 888-721-1514 or go to my link usmed.com juicebox using that number or my link helps to support the production of the Juice Box podcast. They're there for, like, not even 24 hours. And she walks into the room. The girl's lying on her bed in a skirt with no underwear on, with their knees up. And Arden just walks in the room, like, right into that view. And she's like, I just walked by and thought, okay, and I don't know what to say. And, you know, and so we talked. We were like, oh, it's just, you know, a mistake. You know, maybe she, you know, we, we gave her all the, like, be nice to people things. It's going to be okay. Eight months later, that kid was being moved out by a parent who had to fly halfway around the world to get her because she was such an abject disaster. So, anyway, sometimes. Sometimes it's. You got to give people the. A little grace, and sometimes they're just showing you a little bit about who they are, so. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who? Yeah, right. So did you go to a hospital near school, or did you go home to go to the hospital?

[B]

No, I went home. I went to my home hospital.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they had you in and out in 24 hours. Why did they feel. So was your mom pressing you? Like, you had to get to school?

[B]

I was pressing them.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

I was very upset that. I think, honestly, at the time, that was what I was mostly upset about, because I was like, oh, my God. I literally was so excited. Like, I had all these plans, and now I'm in the hospital and. But I am also very. I would like to say I'm very responsible. And, like, I was very into it. I was like, okay, like, show me how to give myself insulin. Like, show me, like, all this stuff. Like, I want to know so I can leave.

[A]

Hey. I would like to say I'm very responsible. Does that mean you're very responsible, or you would like to say it, but it's not true?

[B]

No, I actually do think that I am very responsible.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. So I think part of that. Yeah, you just.

[A]

You just kicked in. You're like, I am not letting this screw up the beginning of my college career.

[B]

Right. And also, like, you know, like, every. I mean, I feel like every kid who's planning to go to college has this, like, ideal, like, day set up, you know, or an ideal, like, welcome week in their head. And, like, I was just very upset that I was not getting that.

[A]

Give me the high level overview of what you thought that week was going to be for you.

[B]

I thought I was gonna move in and I was gonna be my roommate. I had a friend from high school who lived a floor above me in my dorm, which is shocking because I went to a very small high school. So the coincidence of that is, like, crazy. And I thought we were all gonna, like, hang out, you know, like, maybe go to, like, go to a frat. I don't know.

[A]

I was gonna meet a cute boy that I was gonna marry and stay married to for 10 years. We'd have a huge house and some kids. I. I divorced him right before he got fat. And then, like, like, no, no, you're like, you're working out a whole.

[B]

These people Right, Yeah. Like I'm gna go me, you know, and I mean, and I ended up getting to experience that like my freshman year of college was great.

[A]

Good.

[B]

But it was just like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then I was in the hospital and by myself and I was getting told I was being diagnosed with this chronic disease that I like, you know, and I'm going to have to wear devices for the rest of my life and can like think about what I'm eating and stuff. And I was like, what do you mean?

[A]

So how did you will that into existence if. If, you know, you went, got your 24 hours, came back, you know, what did they give you to start with and how did you make. I mean, how did you make the decision to fight through it and what did you do to traverse that time?

[B]

Yeah. So they basically just gave me an insulin pens and a dream. I mean, I don't know. Like, I left the hospital, my sugar was still pretty high. I would say it's probably. It was probably from like 200 to 400 when I was, when I was admitted. My A1C was 13 and a half and my sugar was over 700.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So for it to come down that much was great. And then I went to my endocrinologist office who by the way is literally amazing. I'm so grateful for him.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

They showed me the Dexcom, showed me how to put it in, use it, whatever. And then I literally went to the pharmacy and got all my stuff and then I went back to college.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

But, yeah, I mean, I think at first and at the beginning and I think still kind of now, I had a very not hard time, but I didn't really understand that it was going to be like a lifelong disease. I don't. I think it's very hard for someone to process that.

[A]

Yeah. It's not that you don't know intellectually, but you mean you. It's not a thing that's kind of settled and baked into your brain at that point.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So I think like, part of me, the reason I was able to handle it so well at the beginning was because I was like, oh my God, like, you know, it's a couple weeks, it'll be fine. You know, But I gotta keep reminding myself, like, no, that's not true. Like, this is something. But also I was so incredibly sick prior to diagnosis. Like, honestly, I. I feel like I tell everyone this, but like, I think if I had gone a month, another month without being diagnosed, I think like I honestly could have died because I was so Sick. And you don't really know how sick you are until, like, you start to regulate your sugars.

[A]

And you think you. You think that this was happening for about four months before this?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Well, I mean, with that A1C obviously had been going on for a while, and then.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I mean, the blood sugar still only being 400 is maybe good news that your body was still fighting with it a little bit. But you're. You're right. You know, it was getting close. So you're telling me that just getting the insulin made you feel so much better that it might have made the rest of it a little easier, right?

[B]

I think so. And I also. I'm a Christian. I believe in God. And I think, like, the part of me that was like, I genuinely could have died and the fact that I wasn't. I was so incredibly grateful to be alive and to be feeling better. Not, like, directly after getting out of the hospital, but, like, as, like, time had gone on and I did start to feel so much better. Yeah, I was very grateful. And I think, like, that. That mindset of, like, gratitude really helped me.

[A]

Good. That's awesome.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Are you the youngest of a bunch of kids?

[B]

I'm the youngest. I have two older siblings. Much, much older siblings. My brother is 14 years older than me. My sister's 18 years older than I am.

[A]

And did you want to know how I knew that? Oh.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

You. You code as the youngest kid. Youngest daughter. Oh, like youngest girl.

[B]

You just.

[A]

You, You. You. You sound like you're 35 when you're talking. I've already been confused while we're talking. Like, you have a way about you that makes you feel older and. And it. It usually comes from a kid who's grown up with older parents who. Who don't have younger siblings to look after and people who. And. And don't have siblings to look after them, but clearly have siblings. You're. You're not an only child.

[B]

Yes, I can tell.

[A]

I can tell you're not an only child. I can tell that you're the youngest. I can tell that your parents are older than normal first year age. Right. What are your parents, like, 63? Something like that.

[B]

Both of them are, like, late 50s.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. And anyway, the whole you. You code that. Which is comforting to me, actually. I think you're. You're a good version of a person. So I like your. I like your vibe. It comes off really well.

[B]

Thank you. Wow, that's very nice.

[A]

Do you know that about yourself?

[B]

What? My vibe?

[A]

Yeah. Do you look at your other. Some of your other friends and go, like, I am clearly the most mature person in this group?

[B]

No, I actually am surrounded by really, really good people.

[A]

Oh, you've even. You've even picked good people to surround yourself with.

[B]

Yes, I know.

[A]

What, are you trying to have a successful life, fella? What's going on?

[B]

No, I.

[A]

There's no way to get a neck tattoo, I'll tell you that much.

[B]

Don't worry, it wasn't in the plan.

[A]

Everyone with a neck tattoo right now is not long going. Yeah, no, he's right. So what. What do you think led you there? Are you going to tell me? It's parenting, religion, Just who you are.

[B]

Led me to finding good friends.

[A]

Yeah. And to being a solid 19 year old. Oh, like, you didn't watch Love island last night, did you?

[B]

No, I didn't.

[A]

Okay. Season premiere.

[B]

Oh, I know. I've been seeing it everywhere. I think part of it is I did grow up. I went to a private school, like, my entire life.

[A]

Did they hate you? Is that what you're saying?

[B]

Private Hit me or hate me?

[A]

Hit you? Did they hit you? Were you struck by the ruler?

[B]

No, no, no, no, no, no. But I think, like, part of that was I was surrounded, like, surrounded by like minded people. But I do think that I was not. No, I know that I was not surrounded by all mature people. Oh, my gosh. My high school, I. There's a ton of people there that

[A]

I love, but out of their minds, you think?

[B]

Yeah, and I just think that people think differently and that's fine.

[A]

But

[B]

I don't know, I think also I've just have had such an anxious personality, like, anxiety.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You know, and then I also. Okay, this is. I was like 12 and 13 when Covid hit. And I think that has, like, a big thing to do with, like, how I'm. I act now.

[A]

Were you anxious prior to Covid?

[B]

Oh, 100%. But, like, I think that, like, elevated it. And I also think that, like, I don't know when you. That was like my. You know, like when I was gonna go through puberty or whatever. Like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm in isolation. Like, I don't know. I feel like that, you know, Listen,

[A]

I don't think it was good. Is your mom. Is your mom uptight?

[B]

Both of them? Oh, God. Both of my parents are educators. They're both principals.

[A]

Oh, so then yes.

[B]

So I would say, like, yes, but not really. Like, I don't know. My whole family is super fun. Like, we all know how to have fun and, like, let loose and stuff.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But, like, I think they both can be perceived as uptight.

[A]

But. But I care about what you think, not about what, Heather.

[B]

I don't think that they are.

[A]

You don't think.

[B]

I mean, I have a. I'm very great relationship with my parents and my siblings. Honestly, my whole family. So, like, I kind of view my parents. Like, obviously, I respect them because they're, like, authority. But, like, I also treat them like my. They're my friends, too.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, I feel like I have a really good friendship with my parents.

[A]

Okay, well, that's awesome. Good. Look at that. Did they mess up your older siblings? Are they a mess?

[B]

No, actually, my. Honestly, both of my siblings are literally the best people ever.

[A]

Like, I've tried to shake you if for 15 minutes and you just keep coming back. We're just gonna let you tell your story. Is there any. I just. I was looking for a chink in your armor here, but there's not one at all. Bella, your Roc, solid. You're a fantastic marriage candidate for somebody. Anybody's listening. Bella's gonna. She's gonna have a job in three years, right?

[B]

And four.

[A]

Four years. She's going to be earnest in the world, trying to help people, and it sounds like she'll raise a good kid for you one day. This is awesome. Okay. No. These other brothers, your mom, your dad, anybody else in your family have other autoimmune issues. I'm looking for celiac. Hashimoto's. Yeah, that kind of thing.

[B]

My. Oh, my gosh. Me and my sister talk about this all the time. She. My sister has Hashimoto's and Graves. And then my mom has hyperthyroidism, but it was more because of pregnancies. Like, she had a late pregnancy and

[A]

then it popped on after you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's common.

[B]

Yeah. That's like. So I don't. I really wouldn't. I consider her as, like, autoimmune, but my sister definitely. She had issues before, and then she. My sister has three kids, so I think it was heightened after her pregnancies.

[A]

So many kids.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

Are they all young?

[B]

Oh, I know.

[A]

Are they, like, in a group?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

They're like eight.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Ten.

[B]

No, the oldest is seven and the youngest is almost two.

[A]

Oh, my God. What is she doing?

[B]

I know.

[A]

She'll be crazy in another day. I know. Yeah. Yeah, crazy. Listen, I don't argue with you about your mom, but Hashimoto's is autoimmune one way or the other, so. It doesn't matter. Yeah. What? Kicked it into gear, but that there. How about your dad? Does he have anything?

[B]

He's like. He was pre type 2, pre diabetic, but now he's not. Okay, but that's like. I don't know. What's the. Is it vertigo?

[A]

Vitilago.

[B]

Vitilago.

[A]

Yeah, he has vitilago.

[B]

The dizziness.

[A]

Oh, wait, no, ver. You vertigo. Okay. Not autoimmune. I thought you were. I thought you were reaching for vitilago and said vertigo, but he has vertigo.

[B]

I don't.

[A]

That's not. What are you guys, like, European? Pasty white?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we are.

[A]

I got you. I know it. Don't worry. I can smell the whole thing right through the microphone. We're fine. Tell me a little bit about getting through that first year of college. How did you manage to keep your. Your head up and take care of your diabetes? Are you about to tell me that you just trudged on, went to parties, and didn't take care of yourself? What, the first.

[B]

No, I did. I really did take care of myself. Thank God. Honestly, No, I. Well, first of all, if my roommate's listening to this, I love you so much. She was literally the best ever. Like, she. She signed up. We knew each other, like, kind of prior to living together. And, you know, she signed up to live with me, not my diabetes. And she, like, I think I had an amazing support system. I had it, like, with her, with my boyfriend, with my friends, obviously family. So that really helped my faith. But prior to being diagnosed, I was a state qualifier. I was a high school varsity athlete. I. So I was very, like. I would say athletic. And, like, I lived a healthy lifestyle. Like, I've never. I don't like fast food that much. Like, I don't really like eating junk all the time. So I think that really helped because I didn't really have to change my lifestyle.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Wasn't the food really big?

[A]

Wasn't the food at the school. Sorry, wasn't. Don't be sorry. I talked over you. Wasn't. This. Wasn't the food at the school really crappy? Like, all hard on your blood sugar? Or do you think maybe you've been honeymooning?

[B]

No, I think I was honeymooning, but the. My. The college that I go to. Wait, am I allowed to disclose that?

[A]

I don't care. It's your life.

[B]

Oh, yeah. So I go to Michigan State.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

University.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Is that Spartans? Is that the one?

[B]

Yes, I know. Yes.

[A]

I've seen tv Go

[B]

and they have a really, really good dining, like, meal plan.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

Like, fantastic. So, like, our. The dining halls are really nice. Like, the one that I like, my. I guess you could say, like, home quote, unquote, dining hall had, like, a whole bar of just, like, you could get rice, chicken, and then, like, a whole salad bar and then. I don't know. I think it was really easy, actually. Eating at the dining hall every day helped me so much because I ate pretty much the same portion of food and they gave me the same portion of food. So, like, carb counting became so much easier because I was like, oh, yeah, like, I'm gonna take 40. You know, I'm gonna. Bullets for 45 grams of carbs every time I go eat, because that's usually what I eat.

[A]

Oh, okay. Yeah. Some people find that the food at schools can be kind of junky and maybe a lot of fat and sugar in it and stuff like that.

[B]

Yeah, no, I mean, I think it obviously depends what you eat, but, like, I did not find that, like, make. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that was really good. I don't know. I also. Oh, sorry.

[A]

No. So it was helpful that the. The food was portioned for you. You were able to figure out how to bolus for it, and then it was repeatable, and you didn't have to worry about the portions. Also, you think maybe you were being helped a little bit by your pancreas?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I also think, like, MSU is a huge walking campus. Like, the trails and everything there are so nice. So, like, going there, I would eat, and then I would go walk to class or, you know, like, stuff like that. So that really helped me, like, regulate my sugars.

[A]

You were hustling all over the place, walking a lot.

[B]

Yes, I was.

[A]

And that kept. Have you noticed, since you've been home, have your blood sugars been more difficult?

[B]

Like, yes and no. I think when I first came home, they were. Oh, my God, they were awful. Not awful. They were awful for me because I'm anxious, and I don't like, when I'm out of range, which is not a good thing. Like, I need to get used to that. But they were pretty bad. I mean, ranging higher than normal. And I think that was just from, like, the heat, the temperature change, the routine change of, like, my sleep and then, like, food. But I'm training for. Oh, gosh. I'm training for a half marathon right now.

[A]

Why are you doing that?

[B]

I'm running it August 9th.

[A]

Oh, my God. Why? Yeah, it. Won't it be hot?

[B]

I Think so? Probably, yeah. But I was a runner in high school.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

I. So it's nothing really new to me.

[A]

Did you miss it in college? Is that why you're doing this?

[B]

I. Running. I got a little bit. I missed in college. I missed.

[A]

And you jumped. You dropped out there for a second. I'm sorry. You missed it a little bit in college. Then what happened?

[B]

I missed my team in college.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But I don't know. I don't think I missed, like, the actual, like, idea of, like, running. But last summer, I really wanted to run a half marathon. Like, I had planned I was gonna run one this summer, and now that I have diabetes, like, I really want to run one because I'm stubborn, and I want to prove to myself that I can do it.

[A]

Oh, okay. Little personal challenge for you then.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. What do you think is going to be the key to. I mean, you've been training, right? So what's been the key to you stretching out your distance?

[B]

Like, I don't know. I've been using, like, energy gels.

[A]

Okay. So, like, are you falling while you're running? And then pumping it back up with. Explain. Explain to me how you're. What you're doing. Like, so you're. You're out there working.

[B]

Yeah. Honestly, my sugar doesn't really drop a lot.

[A]

You're like, I don't have that kind of.

[B]

Scott when I run. No. Like, I mean, I don't know. Like, I know everything affects everyone differently, but, like, running really doesn't drop my sugar until, like, I get to, like, mile. Probably mile four or five.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But I usually eat before. I'll have, like, a yogurt and granola, and I'll only bolus for, like, I usually eat bullets. I mean, for 12 grams, carbs, and then. But I. I don't know. Like, I do, like, half of that, so my sugar gets, like, a little bit higher.

[A]

Yeah. How high do you let it go?

[B]

So, like, one. It gets to, like, 180.

[A]

Oh. And then. And then it falls slowly while you're running.

[B]

Yeah, so it falls, like, it'll go up to, like, 180, probably, like, my first mile that I'm running. And then it goes down to, like, 150, 140. And then if I keep going, it'll go down to, like, 110. And then, you know, continue to go down. But, like, if it gets down to 110, it's usually, like, double arrow down or one arrow down.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And so I'll, like, take half an energy gel or like a full energy gel, and I'll just, like, continue on.

[A]

And that does it for you, huh? That's awesome. I'm glad for you that it's. That it's. It's been that. I mean, I don't want to say easy, but that it's not as challenging as other people have. Have sometimes talked to about it. Do you think that'll change? Like, are you on a very low amount of insulin? Like, is there a world where you're still honeymooning right now?

[B]

I could be still honeymooning. I haven't changed the amount of insulin that I've needed since I'm diagnosed.

[A]

How about. Okay, and you're. Are you still injecting or did you get a pump?

[B]

No, I got a pump.

[A]

Which one did you get?

[B]

Tandemoby.

[A]

Okay. And so you're running the algorithm and it's helping you too?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's awesome.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Do you know what your total. Can I ask you what your total daily insulin is? Do you know? I'm. No. I'm going to test you. Being 19 now. No, I mean the entire amount of insulin you use, on average, every day.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

Mm,

[B]

probably.

[A]

Now who's an adult now? Who's an adult? Bella, trust me, no one ever knows they got.

[B]

No, let me do. Let me do the math. I usually do about one to two units per meal, so probably at most six units for per meal. And I'm not gonna lie. Ice cream. My total weakness. Love ice cream.

[A]

Who doesn't love?

[B]

Right? So let's add that. So probably eight. And then I think my basil is like, maybe like five or six.

[A]

Oh. So listen, unless you weigh 84 pounds, I'm going to say you're honeymooning still. Would you tell me how much you weighed?

[B]

Yeah, I weigh like 1:16.

[A]

Okay. I'm just looking at a little estimator here. So.

[B]

No, now I actually need to, like, look at. Because now I'm curious.

[A]

You're having fun. That's okay. Yeah. We're being weird and geeky about diabetes.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. I have 0.6 an hour. 14 units.

[B]

0.35 an hour.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. You. You have. Your settings are beyond highly sensitive, so I'm going to guess still. Still in a honeymoon situation. And it's been a year. You might have. Has anyone ever said almost a year? Yeah. Has anyone said lotta to you? Said lauded Lada. Lada. Like, you might have latent God. Oh, the adult onset. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, nobody's mentioned that.

[B]

I know, I know. What you're talking about. No. No one's ever told me that. No. Okay.

[A]

So I'm saying, it seems like. It seems to me like you might be. I don't want to say it like this, but you might have. Your training wheels might be on still.

[B]

Oh, good. I hope so.

[A]

Do you ever get low for reasons you cannot understand, or find yourself in situations where the Moby is like, crazy trying to stop below and you can't figure out why it happened?

[B]

No.

[A]

No. Huh. Maybe this is just your sensitivity. Are you incredibly clean eater besides the ice cream?

[B]

Honestly, yes.

[A]

Oh. Maybe that's it then. Good for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Look at you, eating like a chipmunk over there. I got you a little granola, couple of nuts when you're hungry, stuff like that.

[B]

I eat like. Okay, like, drizzle licious. Like, I eat, like, the healthier quote, unquote snacks.

[A]

The hell is drizzle licious? What, are you trying to make me feel old? Bella, it's working.

[B]

So listen, Drizzalicious is literally the best thing ever invented, especially for diabetics. They're like rice cakes, cinnamon swirls, but they're like mini. Wait, are you looking it up?

[A]

I'm looking. Yeah, of course. I got it already.

[B]

Okay, good.

[A]

You like the cookies and cream, the salted caramel, the birthday cake. What do you like?

[B]

My favorite is the s'. Mores. The birthday cake is pretty good. And then they get, like, seasonal flavors, too. Oh, my God. Okay, literally, the. Oh, my gosh.

[A]

Are they low carb? What are they?

[B]

Yes. Well, they're not. Like, it's like, 24 grams for, like. I don't know. I think it's like, I'm trying. It's like, enough.

[A]

The website's a lot of pictures, guys. It would do with a little Drizzalicious dot com, maybe a little more information, a couple few pictures. Oh, here we go. I got it. Hold on.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Allergen free. Okay. Gluten free, non gmo, vegan, kosher. I mean, that's all nice, but how many carbs? Maybe I'll click on one. Let's do lemon cake bites. Guys, you got to put your nutritional information on your website. Make it easier for people. I am not seeing it here. Hold on a second. And in fairness to me, Bella, I am fighting off a voice in my head who is singing Fergalicious right now, so.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, wait, I looked it up. It says it's 16 to 21 grams per, which is actually true. Like, the little ones that I have, like, you know, like the snack bags.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

You get. You can get like a pack from Costco is like 16 grams per bag.

[A]

Costco. I hate going to Costco.

[B]

Same.

[A]

I like what happens when I leave, but I don't like being there. Recipes, man, they are not making it easy for me to find the.

[B]

Wait, I think I just found the picture. Okay, let's see here for the cinnamon swirl bites.

[A]

Go ahead.

[B]

It's. Oh, shoot. Okay. Of course it's blurry.

[A]

Yeah. I'm telling you that they're not. They're not trying hard here. Trust me. I make these episodes called Bolus 4, where we, like, pick a food and bolus for it.

[B]

Oh, I know. I listen to those.

[A]

Oh, thank you. And I said thank you before you told me if you like them or not, but thank you and no.

[B]

I do.

[A]

They're really hard to like. Some websites make it incredibly difficult to find their nutritional information and drizzle list. By the way, if you guys sell a bunch of drizzle licious today, I expect you to buy ads and give me a call, but. Huh. All right, I'm gonna look somewhere else.

[B]

Okay, I got it.

[A]

You got it?

[B]

21 pieces. So the big bag, it's five servings per container for about 21 pieces. It's 16 grams carbs, 5 grams of sugar, 1 gram protein, and then 0 grams of fiber.

[A]

You just use Google.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, I did too, just now. I should have done that. Yes. That's less than a carb for a bite.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And you don't find it hard on you? It doesn't hit you hard or spike you or stuff like that?

[B]

No.

[A]

All right, well, I mean, if the world was a different place and you could just use music wherever you want, I'd play the Fergalicious song right now. But you're not allowed to do that, so we'll move on. Awesome. What else have you found that's been valuable?

[B]

I. Throughout the year at college, I was weightlifting.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That helped me a lot.

[A]

Did you have the bolus for weightlifting?

[B]

No. No, I didn't.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I would eat like a banana or something before, so I would like bolus for that, and then I would go lift. So, like, I already had insulin in me. So, like, I would get up probably to like 180 lifting, and then it would like. I. You know, I'd walk back to my dorm, get ready and stuff, and then I would go eat. And by the time I was going to get ready to go eat, I would be like, my sugar Was like on the verge of being low. So, okay, I had it. I had it down to a science.

[A]

Were you lifting and doing some cardio at the same time?

[B]

No, because I had. It was like a 10 minute walk from my dorm.

[A]

It's the wall. It's that dorm boy. Look at you. You figured out like, just spread your ass out, make you walk around and you're o.

[B]

Okay, right, Exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Look at you. Well, thank you, Michigan State.

[B]

I know if you went to a

[A]

small private college, you would need more insight.

[B]

Oh, gosh, Honestly, I don't even that yet. It really helped, like, the amount of like I was walking. I think like my first, like two months at college, you know, when it's still nice how you want to walk everywhere. I think I was like averaging like over 10k steps a day.

[A]

Wow. What's gonna happen though, in the wintertime when Canada rolls over top of Michigan? What do you do then?

[B]

Take the bus?

[A]

Does not freeze to your face. Does that ever happen? Have you read snot freeze to your face?

[B]

No. I mean, I. It does, but I refuse to like go outside when it's that goal. I just take the bus. This year was awful. The winner was terrible.

[A]

No, I know. Yeah. Yeah. I have to go to Louisiana a couple of days to New Orleans and somebody's like, I heard it's going to be really hot. And I was like, I won't know. I'm not going outside. It's going to be hot. You will not find me outside. I will be inside with air conditioning. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know how you guys live up there. It's. It's too cold for me. What are you from? Like, are you from Wisconsin or are you from Michigan or where you're from?

[B]

I'm from Michigan.

[A]

You are? Okay. You went oh, in state prices.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Your parents must love you. That's awesome. Get that. Did they make you stay in state or did you want to?

[B]

I originally really wanted to go to Florida for college.

[A]

Where it's warm.

[B]

Where it's warm. I hate winter, of course, but the tuition is just actually insane. And once I like got a grasp on money and like, you were like, how much, like, I would have to be like, yeah. I was like, okay, yeah. No, Michigan State seems fine.

[A]

I look good. I look good in that drab green. It'll be great. Don't worry about it.

[B]

I mean, who picks that color, you know, my whole. Both of my siblings went there, my mom went there, so.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, it's like, in my blood, I guess.

[A]

Yeah. Listen, it's 10,000 for your education in Florida, and the other 60,000 is because it's warm, so.

[B]

Right, Exactly. Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah.

[A]

She, like, I'll freeze and pay. 12 grand. Thanks. This will be fine.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Are you meeting boys? Is it your intention to meet boys?

[B]

I have a boyfriend.

[A]

Did you have him before you left?

[B]

We dated in high school, and then we took a break, and then we started dating again in college real quickly.

[A]

You dated in high school, then you told him to go away, and then you let him come back? No.

[B]

So he didn't go. He does not go to college. He works in the trades, and he. We dated, like, all of our senior year of high school. And then, like, in the springtime, we. I don't know, like, we both kind of just decided. Mainly him, but also me. Like, it was kind of.

[A]

Bella.

[B]

I don't know. I, like, saw it coming.

[A]

Bella, you are such a nice girl. You let that boy get rid of you and come back and get you again. Why did you allow him to do that?

[B]

Okay, no, let me explain.

[A]

I want to hear.

[B]

Don't worry. So, yeah, we, like. Because whatever.

[A]

No, not whatever. Whatever's where the story is, Bella. What happened?

[B]

All right. So we. I'm trying to think of, like, how to do it in a sense of where it's not, like, publicly airing our business, but.

[A]

He did something shitty.

[B]

No, no, no.

[A]

Honestly, it was you. Did you do something shitty?

[B]

Neither of us.

[A]

Well, then I don't need to know. It's personal. Don't worry about it.

[B]

Yeah, we. Yeah, we just, like, broke up on good terms.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Which I think was why it was very easy to, like, start hanging out again.

[A]

Did you miss him?

[B]

Like, honestly, I did not. I thought that ship had sailed. Yeah. I did not think that, like, me and him would be getting back together at all.

[A]

Did he have a glow up? What happened? Was there a glow up? No.

[B]

No, I. He was, like, my comfort person and, like, my best friend all of. And listen, I'm independent. I don't need a. I. I believe that. Needs, like, a boyfriend or whatever, but it was hard for me to go through my diagnosis and my diabetes without him.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I reached out to him. Not in, like, with the intentions of, like, you know, getting back together or whatever, but, like, I did reach out, and I was like, hey, just so you know, like, this happened to me, and, like, I don't know what to do.

[A]

Dodged a bullet, buddy. You almost were dating a girl with diabetes, but you got out of it. And. And you. But no, yeah, I'm being stupid. But you. You needed. You needed somebody who you knew. Knew you. Who you could find some comfort and. And some support with. And you went to him.

[B]

Yes, and he.

[A]

And.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

That's very. I know. Don't worry. I'm like, listen, I'm making fun in between, but I follow what's happening.

[B]

No, no, I know.

[A]

All right.

[B]

No, but like, he knew me before. Yeah, he knew me pre, you know, like, pre diagnosis. So I think I found a lot of comfort in that. And then we hung out for, like, a little bit. Like, I went home the next weekend and we, like, had hung out as, you know, like, with friend. Like, as friends, and we both kind of realized, like, wait, it's like the same, like, there. It wasn't like, we had gone, you know, six. Oh, my gosh, six or seven months without, like, you know, I like that

[A]

you're mature enough that when you're telling your silly teenager story, you're embarrassed by it a little bit. That's fantastic. Yeah, you shouldn't be embarrassed. That's nice. Listen here, I'll tell you something embarrassing. My social media is what you might call apoplectic. So I see all kinds of things that a person my age probably doesn't normally see because of how I use social media for the podcast. And one of the things that I find really endearing besides soldiers coming home and surprising people, which I think makes me cry every freaking time I see it. I love when young people sit down and put a camera on themselves and. And they're only friends, and one of them kisses the other one to see what'll happen. Do you know those videos?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah, I know I should know them because I'm not 19, but I do know them and I find them incredibly interesting and often very endearing. And sometimes. And sometimes the person who gets kissed is really like, what is happening? But sometimes you see this, like, disarming of, like, oh, God, I didn't think this was ever going to happen feeling. Do you know what I mean? And I'm wondering if you guys didn't have a moment like that where you got back together and realized, oh, we are really good together.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I. For sure. I. I guess I really haven't talked to him about, like, it. In that sense.

[A]

You don't need to talk to people when you're having a relationship. Don't worry about that.

[B]

I mean, I for sure, for sure had that.

[A]

You felt that, like.

[B]

Yeah, I was like, wait, he's like my person.

[A]

Oh, thank you for not making fun of me about knowing about those videos.

[B]

No, I mean, listen, social media is crazy.

[A]

I find them sweet.

[B]

They are sweet.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know. Anyway, and sometimes they're sad because sometimes somebody's like. You can tell they're doing it. They're like, oh, like, she or he is going to like, this is it. I know we're not just friends. And then it doesn't go that way. And they look dejected, and that's.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I think, how did that video get off your phone? You know what I mean? Like, why not the leader, right?

[B]

Like, why would you post that?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That part I don't understand either. But anyway. Okay, so you guys are back together, and school is, would you say, about an hour and a half from home? Okay. So is he coming to see you a lot

[B]

to his credit? Yes. He. He did come to MSU quite a lot. Yeah. On the weekends.

[A]

Yeah. You drive to where the pretty girls are. Bella. It's not a big surprise how boys work. Okay. I used to have to drive to Delaware every weekend to see mine, and I did it.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was from. From another state. Although Delaware is not very big. You wouldn't know that, but. No. No. So he comes to see you guys are building a little bit of a relationship, and this is helping you get through things. Is he learning about the diabetes? Are you wanting to tell him about it, or is just being together enough for support?

[B]

Yeah, I mean, he's learning. He has learned that, like, by the way I react when I look at my sugars, that I'm low. And so, like, I don't ever have to ask him to, like, get up and give me a juice box or give me a fruit snack. Like, he's already on it.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

Which is great. And, I mean, he also knows. He's, like, learned, like, my mannerisms, too, like, through being diabetic, and, like, knows that, like, oh, okay, like, we're gonna go get ice cream. Or, for example, like, I have to take my insulin and wait a little bit before we go in and actually get it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But he. His Grandma has type 1 diabetes, which I did not know.

[A]

Maybe you got it from her. Maybe she gave it to you.

[B]

It's contagious.

[A]

You never know. You never know. I'm sorry. Oh, so he has some background on it.

[B]

Yeah, he does, but I don't know. I get very confused with it because I talked to her post diagnosis, and I was like, Asking her, you know, all the questions like, oh, do you take insulin? She doesn't take insulin when she eats.

[A]

How old is she? She, like in her 80s?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. She probably doesn't eat very much. Those old people eat like birds.

[B]

So I was just like. I'm like, oh, my God, if I did that, I would, like, die.

[A]

Do you see her eat? Does she hork it down or is she having, like. My buddy's grandmom lived the last 10 years of her life on cigarettes and pound cake. No lie. And so sometimes older people just don't eat very much. Maybe the basil she's. They've got her on is doing the job.

[B]

Yeah, I don't think she does eat very much, now that I think of it. I didn't actually even think of it that way.

[A]

Yeah, maybe that would make a lot of sense. Maybe she's not eating much or.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you know how long she's had it?

[B]

Oh, no, no, no.

[A]

Because maybe she. Because, listen, you're going to have a long life with diabetes. It's going to be interesting because it's going to go through a lot of changes. You're going to do this college thing, then you're gonna do the young adult thing, then you're gonna do the married thing. Then you're. I mean, I'm listening to your life. You're gonna have three kids. Apparently, that's a prerequisite.

[B]

Oh, gosh. Not three kids. Nope.

[A]

Well, your parents have three kids and your sister has three kids.

[B]

Oh, God, I can't.

[A]

Well, that's too many. It's hard to think about it when you're 19, but when your hormones. Your hormones are gonna hit you the right way one day, and you're gonna be like, I'm gonna make a thousand babies. And, like, it's just. You get tired after the first one, but you'll tough it out for maybe two if you. You can. But. But you're gonna have. There's gonna be a part of your life with being pregnant with diabetes and then trying to raise those kids with diabetes, and then you're gonna start getting older, and then one day you're gonna be 82, and it's gonna be. It's a different game. I hear older people talking about their diabetes. They're worried about, you know, going on Medicare or not being able to see the buttons on their stuff or not understanding the new technology. And sometimes you hear stories of people who are in assisted facilities and they don't get as good a care as you're giving yourself right now with Type one. And so I think there is a thing that happens if you talk to a doctor, they'd probably tell you a little idea of diminishing returns. And when you have a person who's in the last handful of years of their life, you'd much rather them have a slightly higher blood sugar than get low, pass out and die. And so I think that management might turn into that as they get older sometimes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, which is.

[B]

Yeah, that is.

[A]

It's hard to think about for people with Type one because it's not your goal. Like, your goal right now is, what's your A1, C, like, four and a half or something? Tell me.

[B]

Oh, my God. Four and a half.

[A]

No, I'm just kidding. But what is yours?

[B]

It is. What was it last? 5.8.

[A]

Yeah, that was my point. That you're a person who's trying really hard. You're probably being motivated by crippling anxiety, but still, you're. You're getting it done. You're getting it done. And it would be hard for you at 19 to imagine a life where you didn't try that, but it could happen, you know, long time in the future for you. Don't worry. By the time I'm guessing with GLP medications and other peptides. Oh, I just said peptides. People are going to be like, but, sorry, I'm not a. I'm not a bro podcaster, but there's going to be other. You're going to see, people are going to use other peptides. Testosterone, things like this people use. You're gonna, you're gonna stay healthier longer, for longer. You probably live into your hundreds.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Not crazy to think about. Yeah, you're probably. You probably. You probably easily live in your 90s with. With Modern technology.

[B]

I would love that. I know. That was, like, one thing I, I feel like a lot. There obviously is so much anxiety surrounding, like, an unknown surrounding, like Type one, but, like, a lot of them is like, you know, like, how am I going to. Like, I don't. I really don't want to go through pregnancy with Type one. Like, I really don't want to, but I really want to have kids. And then, like, I don't want to give it to my kids or, I don't know, like, I don't want to, you know, grow old and then I don't want to get another autoimmune and like, all this stuff. And I feel like, especially because I'm a baby diabetic, I guess you could say yeah. And being diagnosed, like, at such a. I mean, like a later. Like such a weird time in my life.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, going into college is. Listen, right. I can tell you something. In 12 years, I've talked to probably a person who's been diagnosed at every age. Okay. And I'm. I might mean up to, like, 99. And there's no good time to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

[B]

Oh, no, no, no.

[A]

Yeah. So it's just going to be what it's going to be. And you're gonna. I mean, you're that five something, a one C. You can keep that while you're pregnant. It won't be hard. I mean, if you know how to do it now, I'm sure you'll be able to do it then. It's about, you know, matching insulin with food and being, you know, flexible with your settings and realizing when you need more, you need more, when you need less, you need less. And taking care of yourself. You know, it's. I'll tell you the hardest part, from what I hear from women with type 1, is after the baby comes and your needs go back to normal, sometimes all that effort you put in during the pregnancy, you shift the effort over to handling taking care of the baby, and you don't take care of yourself as well.

[B]

Yeah, that can happen. That. I've heard that, too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But. But the point is, is that none of that has to happen to you. Like, you get to decide. I mean, look at you. You went to college on day. Listen, let me. Let me. Let me pump you up here, Bella, for a second. Heading into college, I imagine you were 18 years old. You're there with your mom and your dad. You're about to meet your roommate. Tell them, like, you're about to kick your parents out, and tell your roommate, do you like vodka or gin? What do you prefer? And like, instead, you're at the hospital. Okay. And. And then you come back, power through. You get through your first year. Your GPA is probably three. Nine, I'm guessing. And what is it? Yeah, yeah, I got it exactly right.

[B]

Three, eight.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So you kept your GPA up.

[B]

You.

[A]

Are you embarrassed that I know you this much after 50 minutes? Is that what you.

[B]

I mean, yeah. Like, this is. Yeah, keep going.

[A]

Generalizing is. Is. Is my forte. And so you did that. You pushed through all of this. It's not easy. And you seem like you still have. You don't sound depressed, you don't sound sad. You don't sound like you're beaten down. You're looking forward, your heads up. I mean, you think. You think you're not gonna be able to do pregnancy? Please. You'll be fine with that. Let me tell you something that I tell my kids all the time. I said it the first time when my son got graduated from college and he was heading out into the world for his first job. He's nervous, you know? And I said, I know you feel like you're trying to beat the whole world, but 90% of them aren't even trying. So just get out there, keep being yourself. You'll see, it'll work. And I would give you the same advice. You're well suited for this world. You'll be okay. You know what I mean?

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Yeah, it's obvious. Don't let that boy drag you down, and you'll be fine. Don't let him get you pregnant. You understand?

[B]

Oh, God. Oh, my gosh.

[A]

Married and a place to live. Listen to me, everyone. Married and a place to live. Why married? Because then legally he's got to take care of it. And why a place to live? Because I don't want your rent in your whole life, okay? It's a lot of wasted money. I just. My son's friend, three grand a month renting an apartment with his girlfriend. You know what three grand times 12 is? You go to college, $36,000 a year rent, gone, Boom, poof, goodbye, gone. Do that times 10. $360,000 to run an apartment for 10 years. Buy the shittiest house you can. Bella, I don't care. Just own it and then sell it. Make a little money and get a better one. The American dream is not dead. We've just given up on it. And it shit's really expensive, so you have to start with a really shitty house. But that's not the point.

[B]

It's going to take long. So grateful that my boyfriend's working right now because we talk about all the time, like, I don't. I'm not going to be afford. Be able to afford anything when I got to go.

[A]

And it sounds like he's going to know how to replace a toilet, so. That's awesome.

[B]

Yeah, he's handy for sure.

[A]

Oh, don't say it like that. That'll make your mom uncomfortable.

[B]

Sorry.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Not like that.

[A]

Sure, whatever. What am I not asking you about that I should. Why did you come on this podcast?

[B]

I came on because I honestly thought my story was really unique, like, I think it is. I got diagnosed and then I went straight to college. But also, like, I feel like as a young woman or a teenage girl or a young girl, like, being diabetic, arguably. Arguably can be harder because of the social media standards for, like, body types.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I think, like, that was probably, and is probably the hardest thing that I have gone through, like, being type one.

[A]

Tell me.

[B]

Is that it's, like, drastically changed my body and, like, the best way possible, like. But it's just hard to see those changes to your body, if that makes sense.

[A]

Well, yeah. Tell me what happened to you, though. What do you mean? How. How did you change?

[B]

Right. Like, I. Well, okay. Before pre diabetes, before I was even, you know, sick, I probably weighed like 109 still, which is like, so very light. And I'm not saying that I'm like, fat or anything, but, like, I was more. I was more muscle and I was more toned and stuff, partially because I was like a high school athlete, but. And then, you know, pre diagnosis when I was sick, I was like, sub £100.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Which is like, not great.

[A]

Off of you. That's a lot of weight, right? How tall are you?

[B]

Right. Five? Three.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. It's probably.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Noticeable, right?

[B]

It was. Yeah. Not great. And then, you know, you go to college, I gained all my weight back and more obviously, as one does usually when they're diagnosed. And I don't know, I think it's just very hard because it's like, to see and, like, look in the mirror and see someone that I like or see a body that I don't really recognize. But also, I feel eternally grateful for. For keeping me alive and for allowing me to train for a half marathon and weightlift and still live my life, even though I am chronically ill. But it is hard because it's like, you know, none of my pants fit me anymore. I had to go buy new pants, like, stuff like that. And I think, like, I don't know, as a girl, that's just, like, really hard.

[A]

Do you feel.

[B]

And I'm not saying guys don't struggle with it too.

[A]

No, listen, I. I did something the other day I don't normally do. I was. I went out and I was meeting a friend at a public event, and as I was walking from my car into the building, I had. I was overwhelmed with this feeling that I should not have worn the shirt I was wearing, which is not really a thing I think about often. It felt it was grabbing me oddly, and I was like, oh, I probably look fat in this. And, like, why did I do that?

[B]

And.

[A]

And then I Went into the bathroom to look. Like, I was so concerned. I thought, like, maybe I can, like, pull the shirt around a little bit and fix it. And I went in the bathroom and looked, and my first thought was, up, see? You're a mess. And then I looked harder, and I thought, that's ridiculous. I look fine. Like, what is happening?

[B]

Right?

[A]

Like, so I stood there, talked myself. I took a picture of myself so I could look at it to, like, maybe, I don't know, disconnect me from the mirror for a second to try to figure out, like, am I seeing what I think I'm seeing? I realized I looked fine. And then I shared it online on my Instagram, and it got a lot of, like, people who were like, I feel like that all the time. Like, thanks for talking about this. So I think guys can feel that way, too. I, you know.

[B]

Oh, yeah. 100.

[A]

Admittedly, I'm older, and so I. I probably have more estrogen now than I did before, but, like, that's fine. Like, I still feel my feelings and. But what I want to know from you is, is that, like, when your weight goes down and you feel weak, and then it goes back up and you feel like, oh, I don't belong at this weight, and you say you don't recognize yourself, does that make something click inside of you? Is it difficult in a way that you can describe?

[B]

Like, I think I. Well, as someone who had previously struggled with, like, disordered eating.

[A]

You had that prior to diabetes, You.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Bulimia. Or would you. What was going on?

[B]

Like, I honestly, I think it's just really bad body dysphormia.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And it was right around the time of COVID so I was, like, a lot younger. But, like, still, it always kind of just sat on, like, the back of my mind. Like, I've always been, like, extra particular about my body image.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I don't know. And I think, like, just. I know that I'm healthy, and I know that my. I'm at a healthy weight, but, like, it's, you know, obviously, it's just hard to, like, not compare yourself. And, like, yeah, when you walk by, like, windows or mirrors and stuff, and, like, you're like, oh, my gosh, why do I, you know, look like this? But I think with diabetes, it adds, like, a whole extra, I guess, like, feeling to it because it's, like, for diabetics, it's harder to lose fat. And, like, I could be doing everything that I was doing pre diabetes, but still look the exact same and not get the same Kind of results.

[A]

You know, not many illnesses come with their own branded eating disorder either.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And especially because you're, like, constantly having to, you know, like, count your carbs. And like, that has put into perspective for me, like, how much carbs I'm eating. And oh, my gosh, if I didn't, like, I'm glad I have the self control that I do, because if I didn't, I would be, like, obsessing over.

[A]

Over how much am I eating? How much am I supposed to be eating? I'm doing the right thing. I'm doing the wrong thing. Like all those weird feelings. Yeah. I mean, nothing's going to give you a stranger relationship with food than type 1 diabetes, that's for sure.

[B]

Right. And it's just like, you know, already previously having, like, a faltered relationship with food and then being diagnosed with something that you constantly have to think about. Food.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, you know, what do you do?

[A]

What do you. What does a person your age do for their mental health? Like, how do you manage all that?

[B]

I did start going to therapy because once, you know, I was diagnosed and I went to college, I was like, wait, I'm actually, like, not okay and I should be seeing somebody. So that has helped me a lot. My faith, obviously, has really helped me, like, with my mental health and then working out, like, really, like, my escape since I've been younger has always been, like, running or lifting. So that is, like, really helpful.

[A]

You know what they say about running? You're either running away from something or towards something. Right.

[B]

I'm usually running away from, like, anxiety, but.

[A]

Yeah, I hear you. It's hard, but you're doing all the right things for yourself.

[B]

Your parents, supportive of.

[A]

Your parents are supportive of that. The therapy.

[B]

Oh, yeah, my mom. My mom. I think this is, like, a couple months after I was diagnosed, I was, like, crying to her because, like, I saw all, like, the statistics of, like, diabetics. Like, you're, like, more times likely to get depression, anxiety, and eating disorder, you know? And I was, like, crying to my mom and she's like. She looked me and she's like, bella, I think you need therapy.

[A]

Bella, I gotta tell you, I'm too old for this and I don't care. I'm gonna put somebody else in charge of it, okay? I already raised your other brother and sister, and I'm done.

[B]

And she was like. She's like. I was like, no, I don't. I'm fine. I'm fine. Like, I. And then, you know, I was at college and I Had, like, a breakdown, and I was like, oh, I'm actually not fine.

[A]

Like, did you do that? Did you do the college breakdown?

[B]

Oh, many times. I mean, when I. When my roommate, like, left and, like, left me alone, like, in our dorm, like, for a weekend or something, and, like, my boyfriend wasn't there.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Oh, it was a bad time.

[A]

I thought you were gonna die in that dorm room by yourself.

[B]

I literally thought I was gonna die. Like, I don't know. I just. When I'm alone with my thoughts, and I continuously, like, you know, I see a TikTok, and it just starts a spiral of me, and I just start crying, and I'm, like, sad, and then I'm sad about something, and then, honestly, since being diagnosed, I can be Sad about, like, 10 other things, but it always comes back to being sad about being diabetic.

[A]

Yeah. Can I. Can I give you a piece of. Of wisdom that you probably won't be able to apply?

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Worry is a waste of imagination.

[B]

Oh, don't worry.

[A]

You know that already.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You are only imagining things that you think may happen. You have absolutely no idea if they actually will happen. Like, save. Save. Save that energy for when something actually goes wrong.

[B]

Yeah. Like the overthinking and everything.

[A]

Yeah. Any medicine for this?

[B]

No. I. My anxiety, as much as it can. Debilitate.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

I think that's the right word.

[A]

Be debilitated.

[B]

I. Yeah, be debilitating. I think that I've lived with it long enough to, like, know how to. Especially now that I've. I'm going to therapy to, like, work through it, but I don't want to be. I don't want my hormones to be controlled by medication. And I'm not to say that I'm judging anyone who does, but me, personally,

[A]

like, not what you're looking for, but you love that doji. You love that dochi song when it came out, though, didn't you? The anxiety song?

[B]

My dochi song?

[A]

Well, you said you're on.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

You love the anxiety. You know that one? You know that song?

[B]

I know what you're talking about. I actually never listened to it outside of T. Tik Tok, though.

[A]

May I say, I didn't think I'd find myself being an advocate for doi, but she got ripped off with that. She became so famous on Tik Tok. You should go check out that album. It's pretty good. Do you guys listen to albums anymore? Does that not even happen? No.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do.

[A]

You do?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Go Check out the Dochi album. It's awesome. Anxiety, Nissan, Ultima. There's some good songs on there. I'm a fan. I just want to say, huh?

[B]

Okay, I will check it out.

[A]

Huh? You're like, why am I taking music advice from a guy in his 50s about. Yeah, I'm not doing that. You should, though. I'm right about this. Trust me.

[B]

No, I believe you. I'll take your word for it.

[A]

That's a good stage show, too. I've seen a couple of clips. I mean, I wouldn't go, but it's only because people would look at me and go, oh, dude, the feds are here. That's what they would think if they saw.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Be like, narcissist. But I'd be like, no, I just like Dochi.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, everybody likes what they like.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you for affirming me. You have been in therapy. You're like, Scott. You're like, your feelings are valid, Scott. I'm like, thank you. Oh, my God. I am worried about the anxiety piece, so I'm going to guess a little farther. You guys are. What's your background? Your family? English? Irish?

[B]

Just white. We're like, everything.

[A]

Just. You don't know your background?

[B]

Well, I mean, we're okay.

[A]

So, like, where'd the boat come from? Huh? That's the dad. That's the dad, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Then the moment were German, Dutch, English, I don't even know. Probably like everything else.

[A]

Let me just guess. Also, your vitamin D is probably low. Please have that checked. I'd like. I'd like to see. On top of that, there's no way your vitamin D is okay. I'd actually.

[B]

No, it's gotta be because I'm in the sun all the time.

[A]

That's Michigan sun. I don't know if it counts. Please have a check at your next appointment. Tell them you'd like your vitamin B. Done. You want an iron? Are you ever tired?

[B]

Okay, you know what?

[A]

Go ahead.

[B]

This is so funny.

[A]

Don't be funny.

[B]

When I last. Okay, so I was running. I started taking iron supplements. And right around the time I started taking my iron supplements was when I was getting, like, chronically thirsty. And I looked it up because I was like, oh, my God, why am I going through, like, a gallon of water a day? And I guess iron supplements make you thirsty. So I stopped taking my iron supplements, but then I was still chronically thirsty.

[A]

That's because you're about to get diabetes. But what I'm saying is that I want you looking out for anemia, vitamin B12 and D and D when you're getting your testing done. Also, don't forget to get your thyroid tested once a year. Okay?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All right. And if you have. If you have hypothyroid or Hashimoto's symptoms, you want to press the doctor to medicate them. If your TSH is over, like, 2.1, and you're going to tell them, it's because my mom has it, my sister has it, and just because you say I'm in range doesn't mean I'm not going through these things. I'm just getting you ready because you are a coin flip for Hashimoto's Bella. Okay, so don't wanna. Yeah, yeah. And. And then you're gonna want to be looking out for anemia, too, and those things. How are you? May I ask a question? I have no business. You know, I started this episode we were talking about, like, you thought you had a uti, and then I somehow told that story about my daughter's first roommate in college. So you've been hanging. So I think you're okay here, but how are the periods? Are they. Are they too long, too heavy, or are they pretty good?

[B]

No, they're the same that they were before.

[A]

Good, good, good. Keep an eye out on that, too, okay?

[B]

Oh, yeah, no, I will. I went through a phase in, like, middle school that I was like, shoot pescatarian.

[A]

Just. Just fish, Bella.

[B]

Yes. So I actually did develop anemia when I was doing that, because I was not eating. I was not getting enough iron. But I have not had that issue since.

[A]

You're just eating goldfish?

[B]

No, I just, like. I was just. I don't know. And then I would. You know, it would come around to be, like, that time of month, and I was getting, like, sick, like a fever and, like, super fatigued because, you

[A]

know, the lady stuff's not fair, I'll tell you that much.

[B]

No, it's not.

[A]

A friend of my daughter's, vegetarian, eating goldfish. The crackers, one day, and she. Popping them in her mouth. And I looked at her, I said, what are you, a pescatarian now? It was so funny. I mean, at the moment, it was just very, very funny. Anyway, that's not. Neither here nor there. I. I'm glad you're paying attention to everything, and it sounds like you're doing well. The anxiety piece. You know, the longer you listen to the podcast, the longer you're going to hear people who have Type one in their life talk about I. I hear about anxiety a lot, and I do personally, personally think it has something to do with, like, inflammation, autoimmune stuff. I know it's not. I know anxiety is not autoimmune, but what I'm saying is it all seems to run hand in hand a lot with people. So, like, if I asked you, ready, ballpark guests, anybody in your family, mentally ill, bipolar, extended family, aunt, uncle, cousin?

[B]

I would say probably not.

[A]

Probably not. Okay. That's fine. Not always. I just. I hear it a lot from people, so.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

Yeah. So anyway, the anxiety piece. Pay attention, that's all. You don't want it to get away from you. It could get crippling, and you don't want that. Like, right now, it's like, oh, yeah, it's use. It sounds like it's useful for you now.

[B]

Yeah. Honestly, like, I don't know. Me and my roommate talk about this a lot because we both, like, have anxiety. And, you know, like, I think without my anxiety, I would get nothing done because it's like what keeps me motivated to, like, actually get up and, like, go do stuff.

[A]

I worry sometimes that your whole generation just calls everything anxiety.

[B]

Maybe.

[A]

Yeah. Maybe that's just you trying not to die. You know what I mean? Like, like, let's go. Let's move forward, get something done. You gonna work this summer? What do you do in the off time?

[B]

I am a nanny, and I'm also working as a waitress at a golf course.

[A]

Oh, like, are you one of those roving waitresses or in the restaurant?

[B]

No, I'm in the restaurant.

[A]

Those guys probably tip well, right? They're all full of themselves.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

100.

[B]

Because either they play very sweet to me, though.

[A]

Well, of course, you're young and they're old, so. So you know what's happening, right?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. All right. I don't have to explain life to you, do I, Bell?

[B]

No, no, no.

[A]

Okay. So they're either in there high off their great golf game they're going to spend, or they feel terrible about themselves because they played poorly, and the one thing they have left is over tipping to make themselves feel better. You're in a. It's a golden situation. It is.

[B]

Honestly. I make great money working there.

[A]

Oh, 100. I would like to do that. If I was pretty enough, I'd be a waitress at a golf course. It's a perfect idea. And then the nannying. Boy, you did say a lot of white things. And the nannying, like, for a. Like a local family or somebody, you know, how Old are their kids?

[B]

I nanny for three. Wait, one, two, three? Yeah. Three families.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

I'm more of like. I don't know.

[A]

I.

[B]

The kids are. They range from 4 to 12.

[A]

Okay. You like that out of the three?

[B]

Yes, I do. I really, really like it.

[A]

Hey, are you just.

[B]

Kids are great.

[A]

Are you super comfortable right now or has your blood sugar gotten low?

[B]

No, I'm good.

[A]

You're good? You just get. You're more. You're just comfortable now that we're talking for a while.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. You slowed down. You slowed down a little bit.

[B]

Oh, my. My talking?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

Do you feel more like. You feel like we're friends now? Is that what's going on?

[B]

I mean. Yeah, I guess.

[A]

Yeah. Or do you know what I mean? Like, do you feel more comfortable than you did when we started?

[B]

I. I feel more comfortable. I think when we first started, I was trying very hard to not say the wrong. Not say the wrong things, but, like, to be respectful of people that I might be mentioning.

[A]

Yeah, screw them, you know, they'll be fine.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no.

[A]

I'm just teasing. Bellow. You were very respectful. Stop it. All right, listen, I feel like we're done. Do you feel like we're done?

[B]

Yeah, I mean, you did it.

[A]

Back to school next year. Keep studying. What's the. What's the class you're worried about next year?

[B]

Oh, wait. Biochemical. Wait, biochemical.

[A]

Wait.

[B]

Biochemistry.

[A]

I guess if you don't know what it is, you are going to be worried about it. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So I'm just not good at chem.

[A]

That's the one you think is going to give you trouble?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where do you. Where do you fly? What. What comes easy?

[B]

Math, writing, and then obviously nutrition. Any kind of nutrition class.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Very cool. Well, what do you expect to do with this degree then? You need to go find a bunch of people who don't take care of themselves. Teach them how to take care of themselves.

[B]

No, I. Well, okay. I originally went into it because it was my degree. Before I was diagnosed. I went into it because I wanted to do sports nutrition.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But now you know that I'm. I have diabetes. I really would like to work as at it. Like an endocrinologist office. I think that'd be very interesting. Or with, like, pediatrics. I don't know. There's so many different things I can do and so many different things I can, like, specialize in.

[A]

Yeah. It's early. You're not gonna know for a while.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Are you Gonna need an advanced degree or is the undergrad going to be enough?

[B]

Yeah, for dietetics, you have to get your master's.

[A]

Okay, so you're gonna be. Are you paying for this or your parents helping you?

[B]

I have, like, a savings money that

[A]

a grandmother put away for you or something.

[B]

Yeah, I think. I think. Well, I grew up. My mom's mom and dad had a farm. Produce only. And literally, for the first, like, decade of my life, we would. Every single weekend, every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, we'd go to the farm, we would pick the produce, wash the produce. Saturday we. We would sell it. And then Sunday we would go back and, like, put everything away.

[A]

Child labor, you say?

[B]

Yes. And all the money that we made at the farmer's market went towards my college fund.

[A]

Oh, that's lovely.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, so they were packing money away for you?

[B]

They were. And obviously, you know, I'm five. I'm like, college fund, what is that?

[A]

You woke up one day and you're like, hey, there's 30 grand in here. Is that what happened?

[B]

Right?

[A]

Yeah. Good for you.

[B]

Pretty much.

[A]

Well, that's. That's it. I don't know if how many people listening are actual adults, but there's an amount of money you can give to your children every year that doesn't impact your taxes or theirs. So that is probably what was happening. Yes. Like, your grandparents might have been what they call on the ball. Maybe they were anxious, too.

[B]

It runs in the family.

[A]

A little bit of anxiety keeps you. Keeps you from getting killed by a bear. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah. Actually, no, now that I think about it, though, like, me and my sister are both anxious people, and we're both the ones who probably struggle the most with the autoimmune.

[A]

Yeah, no, I. I imagine. Listen, if it really starts to impact your life poorly, there's stuff you can do to help it and you shouldn't.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Let me say this. Don't struggle, okay? Like, I'm not a person who yells, go take a pill. People are like, you're on a gop. But I. I'm. I'm sorry, but I'm. I don't think everything needs a pillow. But I also don't think you have to struggle in a modern society. You know what I mean? So if. Yeah, if it's holding you back or stopping you from enjoying your life or doing things or making you crazy and some doctor says to you, hey, this might help. I mean, way better than drinking, you know what I mean? Because that's what most of you Pasty. White people do when you get anxious. So.

[B]

All right, listen, I am not pasty.

[A]

You said.

[B]

I just want to put that out there.

[A]

Did I say pasty or did you. Did I forget?

[B]

You said pasty. My heritage is very white, but trust me, I can get a good tan.

[A]

You can get a good.

[B]

I'm not pasty.

[A]

I. Oh, I. Oh, I can say this now. Oh. I went out to San Diego and made a guest appearance in an Omnipod ad for their new 100 target for the algorithm, which, when you get off of here, you're going to see all over your social media today. Because they just dropped it today and it was outdoors and I caught an awesome tan and I still have it. I'm super happy about it.

[B]

There we go. Look at us.

[A]

You all think that that's a story about me being in a commercial. It's a story about how happy I was with my tan. I argued with them, in fairness to the people at Omnipod that have to deal with me. They called me up, invited me to. To be an Easter egg in an ad. I can say this now because by the time this comes out, it'll. It'll be out in the world, but I am like the surprise last five frames in an ad. And. And so that's not the point. The point is I said no immediately. I was like, I'm not flying to San Diego to record like, for five seconds for your thing. Like, I, like, I. Can you do it closer to my house, please? I don't want to get on a plane. But I. Eventually. Because they are really. Let me say this. Sorry. I hope this doesn't bore you for a second. Paul, if this podcast has helped you, and I think it sounds like it has. Right?

[B]

Right.

[A]

When I first started it, it was just a guy making a podcast that nobody listened to, and I couldn't afford to do it. But Omnipod bought ads from me back when nobody was listening. Like, Omnipod bought an ad. Omnipod bought a weekly ad on this podcast in 2015, when it did as many downloads in a year as it now does in, like two days. And so they were very supportive. Excuse me. I'm very grateful for it because it let me really build it up and get it going. And so they've been long time good partners. And so I finally said, fine, like, I'll take a red eye home. And like, I didn't. I couldn't miss too much work. Right? So. And it sounds weird to people, but I. This is work. And so I drugged my ass to Newark, I got on a plane, I flew whatever, six hours out of California. I got in some car, drove for another hour while this 60 year old guy told me about his roommates. And then they dropped me off at this little place. I was exhausted. I had dinner with people. I smiled, I made nice, I went to sleep. And then I got up in the morning. I spent eight. Hold on, let me count. 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4. Nine hours standing on that set before it was my turn to film. I filmed for 10 minutes. They took me out of the wardrobe, stuck me in a car, drove me right back to the airport. And two hours later I was on a plane and I flew home. I was exhausted and the entire time out there I was complaining to anybody who would listen. And then the whole way home, I just thought, I did a terrible job. I think I looked fat. This was stupid. I shouldn't have done this. They're going to hate it. I'm going to get cut out of it. Like a child, I was okay. Then three days later, the lovely person at Omnipod who handles me was like, oh, we saw the dailies. You look terrific. We're really excited about this. And I was like, okay, thanks. And then that was it. I never thought about it again until just now when you reminded me about how tan I am from that, so.

[B]

Well, at least I reminded like a positive, you know?

[A]

Why is your generation so positive? I don't understand. Don't, don't you make fun of people behind their backs or anything. You people, you do, right?

[B]

I'm not disclosing this on the Internet.

[A]

Okay, you have, you have a private chat with three of your closest girlfriends where you talk other people, right?

[B]

Actually, no, you don't. I do have a. I do have a chat that I talk with my three closest girlfriends, but we do not. The main purpose of it is to not crap talk people.

[A]

You're being positive in there.

[B]

We just like, we talk about like, well, they're my college friends, so one lives in Maryland, one lives in Illinois. And like, we always like, oh my gosh, I miss you guys. I just listened to this song and I thought of you.

[A]

They're not sending like, like screenshots of like some others Instagram are going, oh my God, do you remember Patty from high school? She's pregnant. Are you looking at this? You don't do any of that.

[B]

I do that with my high school, like my high school best friend. I said, okay, but like, we don't do it in a way of, like.

[A]

No, of course not.

[B]

It's just more of, like, shock. Like, oh, my gosh, they're. This person's up to this? Or do you know how they're doing? Or, like, stuff like that.

[A]

Yeah, no, I hear you. Okay.

[B]

All right.

[A]

You're a decent person. I. I co. Sign you. Whoever wants to date this girl, I think you're making a good decision and you're gonna hold on to the boy for a while. You've decided?

[B]

Yeah, I guess he's kind of cool, I guess.

[A]

At least through the summer, right? I mean, why? I mean. I'm kidding.

[B]

I plan to. Yeah, I plan to hold on to him for.

[A]

Okay. All right. I, I. Yeah, you. This is really good. I. You've given me hope for humanity.

[B]

Oh, wow. Thank you. Seriously, so sweet. Well, that's a great compliment.

[A]

No, you are really upbeat. Listen, if you're not high right now or on mood altering drugs, you're a really nice person, so I'm. I'm excited for what you might do in the world. You're not high right now, are you, Bella?

[B]

No, I'm not.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That's, like, the best compliment ever that I've ever received. Thank you.

[A]

You're very welcome. If you're not. If. Yeah, we should turn that into a T shirt. If you're not high or on mood altering or other mood altering drugs. You're the nicest person I've ever met. That's. You really are. You're. You're a sweet kid and you're smart and thoughtful, and you didn't trip up one time. I've talked to people your age before who sound like they have a head injury, so, like, you're. You're really doing great. Get out in the world and kill it, Bella. Go for it. May I? One last thing? Trust yourself. Trust yourself.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Do that. Okay. Don't. Don't second guess yourself. You are a smart, thoughtful person. Go with your gut.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All right. And when you're in the working world, believe in yourself. Believe that you deserve more. Work hard, do a good job, but when it's time to move up, don't find reasons why other people are more valuable than you. Highlight why you're valuable and push forward. Okay. I could give you other good dad girl dad information if you want, but you have a dad. He'll probably tell you this stuff.

[B]

Yeah, no, that was great, though.

[A]

Oh, no worries.

[B]

I think it's more meaningful coming from someone that, you know, you has a podcast.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

No, for sure. Someone that's been in, like, an Omnipod commercial, has a good tan.

[A]

My dad's older. He's not tan at all. Why would I listen to him? Plus, you've seen your dad in his underwear, and it's not impressive, and so you don't take him as seriously. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah. No.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

No, but. But seriously, I am. I am married to a smart girl, and I know what you can do, and I know what happens sometimes. And boys can also. There's this thing where boys can overvalue themselves and girls can undervalue themselves. Themselves. So I think it's pretty well documented that a. A girl who is qualified may not step up in the same situation where an unqualified boy will still feel comfortable stepping up. And sometimes they fill. They fill the space, and then the. And then there's. There's a vacuum, and you can't get in. So you have to. You have to keep pushing forward.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

And. And seriously, don't doubt yourself. Please. Please. All right. I believe you're gonna listen to me, finally. No, my own kids don't listen to me, but I feel like you're going to.

[B]

Oh, I will.

[A]

If you have a very successful life and anything I've said is valuable, will you consider naming a baby after me one day?

[B]

Oh, I don't know. Sky.

[A]

That's a shitty name. I know. It's all right.

[B]

It's too white for me. I'm sorry.

[A]

I don't know. It doesn't sound like it sounds like you're as.

[B]

My name is Bella.

[A]

Bella.

[B]

Like, right?

[A]

Is it not. Is it Isabella?

[B]

Yeah, it is.

[A]

It is, right? Do you not like Isabella, which.

[B]

No, I love my name.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I think it's just very white. Like, if you looked at me and then was like, to guess my name, you would be like, yeah, yeah, no, I know.

[A]

I said to some lady the other day, let me find this email. I said it on the recording. I said, I want you to know that you said more Caucasian things than I've ever heard in my life in one hour. I think she was worried afterwards, but I got an email from her because I asked her to see if her kid wanted to come on. And she emails me and says, hi, blah, blah. This is blah, blah, blah, the very white lady that you interviewed from the other day. And I was like, yeah, I remember you.

[B]

Wait, so are you not like. What's your background?

[A]

I'm adopted, so I'm whatever I want to be. Hold on a second. Hey, Scott. We spoke recently. Remember me? The Anxious mom who only does white person sports. Haha. Anyway, I think she played pickleball or something. I was like, what is happening?

[B]

Oh, yeah, I love pickleball. I'm not beating the stereotype.

[A]

You're not getting out of it with that stereotype statement. I am adopted, Bella. I don't know what my background is, but I did do the 23andMe thing. And if you can believe that I am mostly Italian.

[B]

You know what? That tracks.

[A]

Does it? Why tell me?

[B]

Well, just based on the picture that I've been looking at for the past hour and a half.

[A]

I look Italian.

[B]

I think you could. I listen, I live in an area with all Italians.

[A]

Are you staring at that picture? The whole. You're staring at my headshot. Don't do that. Put some. I'm not.

[B]

I've been like, open a website.

[A]

Open a website or something. I don't know.

[B]

It's right there.

[A]

Look at me. I don't know. It's ridiculous. You know, it's funny. When I was my whole life, I didn't know about this till this 23andMe thing, and mostly people thought I was Greek and.

[B]

Yeah, I could see that too.

[A]

Yeah, there was sort of that, and then that didn't end up being right. Most of my Jewish friends were very disappointed that I didn't have a background similar to theirs, because they thought for sure, with all the talking and opinions, I think that I was definitely going to come from their part of the world. But I didn't. And then it turns out I'm just mostly Italian. So if you saw my son, I think attracts more. My son's got like a lot of dark hair, like, you know, grows like a nice thick beard, like that kind of stuff. I can't grow a beard to save my life.

[B]

No, I see. I think for you it's the nose. You have the Italian nose.

[A]

Really? That's great. So I have no context for that because I didn't grow up in a world where I was on a team. Do you know what I mean?

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Because I'm adopted. So I don't. I've always known I'm adopted, and I don't have a lot of that. You know how people like. Like you even did it today? You're like, well, I have a religious background that I lean on. Like that's a thing your family cultivated probably over generations. Like.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And people do that with their ethnic background too, a lot. And I just don't have any of that. So I kind of got to write Myself from a blank page. Interesting, huh? Is one of the things I like most about. Yeah, it's one of the things I like most about being adopted, actually.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, you kind of get. Yeah, you get to decide who you are instead of somebody telling you, this is what we do, or this is how we feel, or this is why we do the thing. This. Because this is what we do. You know what I mean? Can I just tell you what I decided in the last 10 minutes?

[B]

What?

[A]

I need to interview more younger people. You guys are way better on podcasts than old people are, so definitely more young people. Reach out.

[B]

I hope I am entertaining you.

[A]

Are you kidding me? I had a great time. You can't tell that I'm still 19 in my heart. While we're talking, you know what?

[B]

My parents. My mom always tells me that she's, like, mentally, I feel like I'm 23, still, like, pack it in.

[A]

Yeah. You say mom, Your ass says 60, so just shut up, okay? No, I know it's hard. It's. You'll see. One day you'll get there. But I don't feel. I agree with your mom. I don't feel any different than I ever have as a younger person.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Sitting here right now and talking to you. I'm happy. I feel upbeat. I feel like we had a great conversation. I feel like you and I related to each other. And then I'm going to walk out of here, look in a mirror, and realize I'm old. And it's going to be. It'll strike me for a second because I'm going to suddenly look different than I feel. So it's not easy. So. But you know what the alternative is? Dying. Dying's the alternative to getting old. So you got. You gotta get old. Yeah. You want to get old. You know what I mean? Like, it's. It's. Of the two choices, the better choice.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. All right.

[B]

Oh, yeah, you're right.

[A]

Oh, of course I am. I'm a podcaster. I'm right about everything. That's how I got the job. Bella, Bella, that's how you get the job.

[B]

No, you just have to be confident. Just think that you're right about the secret.

[A]

Okay? Keep it to yourself, all right? Or then they're all going to be confident. Then I'm not gonna have a podcast anymore.

[B]

Yeah, everybody's gonna be starting their own podcast after this.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, honestly, you partly think you're gonna become a trainer and get, like, an Instagram, right?

[B]

No, I think I'm gonna Work for, like. I think I'm gonna work for, like, a professional sports team, and I'm gonna be, like, super successful.

[A]

Are there even professional sports teams in Michigan? What do you guys have? The Detroit Lions don't really count, do they?

[B]

Who said I'm staying in Michigan?

[A]

Oh. Oh, yeah. You're going to Florida. I don't know what you look like. Are you, like, a little, like. Like a little blonde girl?

[B]

Yeah, I am. Okay, Wait, do I act like I'm a little blonde girl or.

[A]

Well, you want to be in sports stuff.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I am.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, we're generalizing. Like. I mean, I've done an awesome job of generalizing so far today.

[B]

It really is one of my Kind of scary.

[A]

It's one of my superpowers. Bella, I'm going to tell you right now. Oh, I shouldn't have cursed this late in the episode, do I? Can I. You're not my Facebook group. What kind of bullshit is this, Bella. All right, well, then how am I going to figure out what you look like?

[B]

Sorry, I'm. I'm young. You followed me on Instagram.

[A]

You. Okay, I'm young. Listen, I agree with you, but. And I would tell you absolutely, stay off Facebook. There's nothing valuable there except my Facebook group for people who have diabetes. If you have diabetes. That Facebook group is awesome. And probably the only reason that I actually have Facebook, because now I realize some of the old people I'm attached to are still posting stuff on Facebook, and they're, like, mad at me for not seeing it. I'm like, I'm not on Facebook. And then they're like, you're on Facebook all the time. I'm like, not as me. I'm like, as the podcast. Like, I like me, personally, I don't. I don't go on Facebook for anything. You know what I mean? So you're saying I followed you on Instagram?

[B]

Yeah. Wait, I thought you did. Maybe you.

[A]

Actually, I think I did, because you messaged me, and I'm old, so I don't know how it works, so I assumed I had to follow you back to, like, respond to you. Okay, hold on a second.

[B]

You gotta tell me if I look like what you were thinking.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, pretty much, that's you. No, I got you. Okay. Are you the one. See you, girls. Are you the one in the trees? Walking through the trees at the orchard in Maine? Jesus, you are. So. Are you the one on the right in your group of four friends in the orchard picture?

[B]

Yeah, I'm on the very right.

[A]

How tall is that girl Emily?

[B]

Oh, the blonde?

[A]

Yeah. She's like 6ft tall, right?

[B]

No, I think she's wearing heels in that.

[A]

Oh, thank you.

[B]

She is pretty tall, though.

[A]

Okay. All right. Well, yeah, I mean, you look like what I'm expecting. It's good. Don't worry about it. I mean, not that you give a what I think, but, like, it's. You know, I see you with your sensor on. Okay, cool. Look at you. Yeah, you're gonna be fine. You're making that boy pay, right, for breaking up with you. Every once in a while, you just hit him when he's not looking.

[B]

Oh, no, no, no. I, like. I'll, like, subtly bring it up because people will be like, oh, how did you guys meet? I'm like, oh, yeah, how did. How did we meet? You know, you want to tell them the story.

[A]

I know. You just took him back so you could torture him, right? Be honest.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so that he can grab me my juice boxes.

[A]

Hey, boy, grab me that juice. I'm gonna wait three years, then break your heart. Just so you know, I've got it all written out.

[B]

I've gotten to a point where it's like, he'll bring me a juice box, and I'll be like, I don't want that flavor.

[A]

I'm sorry. I saw my daughter say something really nice about her boyfriend helping her when she's low recently, and it was. I. I was really touched by it. Like, it made me feel good that he helps her with that.

[B]

Yeah, no, he. He is great, and he is very understanding. Like, there have been times where it's happened when we were out, like, with a group of his. His friends, and, like, he has totally been like, okay, we can leave. You know, like, even if he's having a great time, he's like, okay, just let me know if you want to go. Like, all this stuff, like, putting me before.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And, like, I think that's, like, really cool.

[A]

Well, I hope you guys are together forever. You're very happy. You make a bunch of babies, and you're super happy. But if you are to break up with him, could you please say the following thing to him? Payback's a bitch. And so are you. Get out of my car. That's what I would like you to

[B]

say,

[A]

because seriously, he needs to be taught a lesson for what he did to you in high school.

[B]

Oh, he was. Don't worry.

[A]

Oh, you already got his lesson.

[B]

He got his lesson of not talking to me for.

[A]

Oh, oh, yeah. See, you have confidence. You know that. That was a. That was a loss to him, right?

[B]

Oh. And he told me it was.

[A]

Oh. Oh, He. He did say he was wrong.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So he's lucky you got diabetes, because that softened you up to come back and talk to him. It's one way to think about it, right?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.

[A]

Yeah. Because otherwise, you were. You said, ship sailed. You weren't going back.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, I don't know, though, because I think, like, a part of me, like, did want to just reach out, but, like, the diabetes was, like, a good excuse to do that.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But me and him had talked about. I was like, you know, if I never reached out, do you think we would ever start talking again? And he was like, yeah, totally. Like, I would have reached out. I was like, no, we wouldn't have, because it wasn't going to be on my terms.

[A]

Oh, yeah. If he reached out to you, you would have been, like, this asshole. Do you believe this?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right? Yeah.

[B]

Like. Like, what's going on?

[A]

Bell is not. Bella's not down with this. I'm too cute. I'm too cute for this. I'm not being treated this way. I know how you would think. Yeah.

[B]

Like, I. Yep.

[A]

I like this about. I like this about you. This is good. Yeah. Yeah. No, I think, also, I would have made a great girl. Like, I really feel like I would have handled it well.

[B]

It's so funny.

[A]

Seriously, I really feel like I would have handled it well. And. And growing up an ugly guy really does teach you what you would do if you weren't. You're like, you know, if I had a little bit of power in this situation, I think I would do it like this. Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

No, I agree. Okay. You're doing everything right. Go live your life. You'll be fine. Just don't get hit by a car, and everything will be okay. All right?

[B]

Oh, God. That's not something you say to someone with anxiety.

[A]

That anxiety is probably what's stopping you from getting hit by a car, don't you think?

[B]

No, no, you're right.

[A]

I know. I am.

[B]

You're so right.

[A]

Yeah, you're one of those, like, Wait, wait, wait. And you look one more time.

[B]

I'm, like, the one, like, I'm the friend that, like, grabs the back of other people's T shirts.

[A]

Yeah. No, Bella. I'm Bella. I've been married to you for 30 years. Don't worry. I know what's going on. Okay? I got my own girl. So I know what's happening. Yep, yep. She's still torturing me, by the way. She hasn't given up yet. One day I said to her, what is going on? All I've done is devote my entire life to you and love you. Why am I being treated this way? And I think the answer is she likes it. I mean, I don't know. I can't really tell

[B]

anyway, like, to like the torture, I think.

[A]

I think she's teaching me a lesson for something I did wrong to her 30 years ago. I don't know exactly. I can't tell what's happening. She's pretty, so what am I gonna do? She's smart. I like her. And at this point, I don't want to move all this stuff out of this house. There's a lot of shit in here, so, you know, I mean, like, just. It seems like the right play. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Your mom and dad are doing the same thing. Don't worry.

[B]

Oh, yep, I bet.

[A]

All right. I could talk to you forever, which I'm not sure what that says about me or you. So let's just say goodbye and tell you congratulations, you have a two part episode. We've talked so long.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yay.

[A]

Yeah. I don't know what we're gonna call it, though.

[B]

Oh. Oh.

[A]

There's no. Nothing came up in this that was like. Wait, hold on.

[B]

Do you have any.

[A]

What is it? Oh, drizzle licious. Yeah. 100% great. And I'm gonna make them. And I swear to God, if they. If there's any uptick from this podcast for Drizzle Ish, I would like to hear from somebody. I'd like to see at least a nice 12 week ad. Buy from them. Okay. And I. And really. And if this works out, I'll cut you in. Okay.

[B]

Bella, no, listen, I need any diabetic. Jizzalicious is genuinely one of the best snacks ever.

[A]

Your generation, you can eat a high.

[B]

You can. You can eat a high quantity without like having to take a ton of like, you know, like, you're only bullishing for like 16 grams. Carbs for like 30 pieces. Like, come on. Same with goldfish, actually.

[A]

Bella, your generation is awesome. You are so ready to get a brand deal. It's unreal. You're like, no. Oh, yeah. Where's the microphone? Drizzalicious is fantastic.

[B]

I. I'll be up in their DMs, like, after this. I'll be. Hey, so I just made this podcast with. Please Give us a brand deal because I love your food.

[A]

Listen, I'm. I'm old, but I know I know how to do it. Watch this. The Dexcom G7 last 10 days. Go to Dexcom.com/juicebox to learn more. I can do it all day. Okay, so it's not that I don't believe in Dexcom. I actually do. But I know how the world works. You know what I mean?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

You guys are all going to have, like, patches sewn to your shirts. Oh. Like, you're gonna be like, sports people when you're older. Or. I guess social media's falling apart though, right? Oh, can I ask you one more thing?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Since you clearly have nowhere to go, can.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I'm getting my hair cut in a couple of hours, so I'm still good for a while.

[B]

Yeah, me too.

[A]

Are you really?

[B]

Yeah. I actually, like, what do I have? I think the next thing I have is at, like, 2:30.

[A]

Me too. Are you getting your hair cut?

[B]

No.

[A]

No.

[B]

Chiropractor.

[A]

Oh, my God. You are the whitest person I've met in a while. You're going to the chiropractor.

[B]

I have scoliosis. Okay. I can't do anything.

[A]

I could just. I have scoliosis. I could just walk on your back. That's what I do for my daughter.

[B]

No, listen, it doesn't work. Trust Bella.

[A]

Are we best. Are we best girlfriends now? I feel like we might be.

[B]

Yeah, no, we are. This is ridiculous.

[A]

So I want to get your feeling. Try to shift for a second. Be serious for a second.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I want to. I want to understand. No, you've been great the whole time. I want to understand your feeling about social media. Like, how do you use it? What apps are valuable to you? What apps are. I have to do them, but I don't like them.

[B]

Okay. Snapchat, honestly, is probably the only Snapchat I don't know. Do you categorize Pinterest as social media?

[A]

I mean, for white ladies who knit? Sure.

[B]

Okay. Because, like, well, my generation, I feel like many girls that are my age use Pinterest as well.

[A]

For. To put it, like a vision board together, right?

[B]

Yeah, like, stuff like that. Or I use it a lot for, like, recipes.

[A]

Do you cook?

[B]

I don't know. Like. Or, like. Wait, can I cook?

[A]

Do you cook? Or are you just hopeful one day that you'll make something? So you're saving a bunch of recipes?

[B]

No, no, no. I cook.

[A]

Okay. Because Arden bakes. She's always online, like, finding, like, she doesn't come off this way. But Arden's the one who, like, shows up at a house party with, like, 19 trays of baked goods that she made for, like, two days. Oh, yeah, she loves.

[B]

That's the sweet.

[A]

Yeah, she loves them.

[B]

Yeah. No, I like baking, too. I like both.

[A]

And drunk people are very grateful for baked goods.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

You understand. So, okay, so Pinterest, you use what else?

[B]

Okay, so Pinterest and Snapchat. I feel like Snapchat is good because, like, it's kind of like our version of Facebook messenger because, like, you know, you meet someone, but you're not comfortable with giving them your number because that seems, like, too personal. So you give them Snapchat and you can, like, still talk. So I think Snapchat's really good for, like, communication. But Instagram and TikTok, I have, because everybody else has, and there's been times where I've gone, like, I've deleted both of them for, like, a couple weeks or, like, a month and just done, like, a quote unquote detox.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I don't know. I think it depends on how you use them, obviously, and how, like, healthy your relationship is with yourself if you're able to, like, use them without constantly comparing, oh, I don't have this. I wish my life was like this. I wish I looked like her. I wish I did this. I wish I was, you know, X, Y, and Z.

[A]

Do you feel pressure to be attractive in your photos? Like, you wouldn't put up a bad picture of yourself, right?

[B]

No, no, no.

[A]

Okay. Right, Right. And. And you know how to. If you and I were taking a photo together right now, you'd put your leg in a certain way. You turn your hip, you'd put your hand somewhere. It would all happen automatically. Right?

[B]

Right. Like, subconsciously.

[A]

Yeah. You know how to turn your head and where to hold your eyes and, like, the whole thing. Yeah, I see that constantly with people your age. It's. It's like I'm fascinated by, like, how you just, like, boom, hit a pose,

[B]

and I'm, like, effortless. Yeah.

[A]

Oh. It's not even being thought about. It's like, bang, look at me. This is exactly the best way. You're seeing the best part of my hip, my bust, my face, my chin. This is exactly how I look. Right. And I don't know how to do that because I've seen myself look like. I. I listen, I. I end up in pictures and videos for companies a lot and stuff like that. I've seen myself gone, like, oh my God, I look amazing. Then I see the next picture. I'm like, what in the hell happened? And it's the same person on the same day. And I'm like, this is horrifying. No one should see this.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And so. But you're aware of it. But I don't know how to do it. You know how to do it. And, and so the next thing I'll tell you is that as an older person and I have a daughter, I'm happy to say that it shocks me for her as much as you. You guys are shockingly comfortable with not wearing much clothing, like, compared to my generation of like when I was 20 years old. And, and I. Again, I hope this doesn't sound weird because we have a 40 year age difference, but, like, your generation's ability to go out without a bra on fascinates me. Oh. It's happening everywhere. Like, like. And I'm not saying you should, by the way. If you're a feminist, I don't think you need a bra. Whatever. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that there's times where I'm like, oh my God, like, what's ha. Like, no one. There's no. I. I think this is maybe a good thing, but I can't tell. No one's self conscious anymore, it seems like to me in like your age group. Is that. Am I wrong about that?

[B]

Yeah, very wrong.

[A]

So they're self conscious. They're just doing the. They're just mimicking the pictures on Instagram. Is that what they're doing?

[B]

I. I think it's subconsciousness that is disguised as confidence.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I also think that there are the people that you are describing to me that are like, going out with like bras on and stuff, like, are truly the people that don't care. You just think, you know, like, don't seem to care.

[A]

Right. They're just like.

[B]

Because I think like many people, like, I mean, at least for me, like, yeah, I follow the trends. I dress because this is how everybody else is dressing, whatever. But there are people who dress uniquely and, you know, like, don't necessarily follow like the clean girl trend or like all like the outfits and aren't buying, like, doing consumerism basically.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I think those are the people who seem to be the most confident in themselves because they're not.

[A]

They don't care what the trend is.

[B]

They're not. Yeah. They're not like, characterizing themselves by what's the newest thing in store.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You know, it's like, buy what they like. And I'm not saying that people who follow trends, you know, like, obviously me, like, I don't buy things just because it's a trend. Like, I buy it because I'm like, oh, wait, this actually does seem like something I would use or something I like.

[A]

Right, but. And I also, I don't mean this in like a. I hope people don't take it that way. I'm really trying to be thoughtful about the world, but I don't mean this in like a creepy old guy way. Like, I mean, even, like, bathing suits are incredibly small now for girls. And they. You guys are all like, I, like, my daughter's friends are all like, this age. Do you know what I mean? And like, a lot of times they'll say, like, you know, you used to follow me. I'm like, I can't. I'm not following you. And I was like, I'm not opening up my Instagram to see you on a beach. Like, you're like, like, I know we knew each other when you were 10, but like, it. It's weird and I don't want to see it. And like, and like, but you guys are not. You're not covered up at all. And I don't know that you should be or you shouldn't be. Like, I'm not making a judgment. I'm trying to understand because based on how I grew up, the girls would wear one piece bathing suits at my age. They were one piece. It looked like you were swimming in the Olympics. You know what I mean? Everyone went to the beach that way. And now it's like. And then it boils over to, like, people are at concerts, they're in clubs, they're out to dinner. I mean, the graduation photos this year looked like an only fan shooter. Some of them, like, I'm not even kidding. Like, they're girls wearing, like, low plunging, like, necklines and like, drop backs and pumps. And I'm like, is this your college graduation? It looks like a photo shoot. And, and my kids out there doing a photo shoot for. She disappeared one day. I'm like, where are you going? She had her cap and gown. She's like, we're doing our pictures. And I was like, who's. What are you talking about? She's like, I got a friend. There's a photo shoot. I'm meeting my boyfriend. I'm like, oh, okay. Like, anyway, like. But is that for social media?

[B]

I think it is, yeah. Like, you. Yeah, I think it is for social media. And I think a Lot of people wouldn't be dressing a specific way if they didn't know that they weren't getting their pictures done and that it would possibly end up for, like, everyone to see.

[A]

You do you take a picture and you tune it before you put it up?

[B]

Me?

[A]

Yeah, you change, like, the. No, you don't do that. Okay.

[B]

I mean, I don't change. I never change the way that I look in a picture. Like, I'll never, like, face tune or whatever, but, like, I'll add, like a. Maybe like a filter or something.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But that's more of just to like, make the colors in the photo look better.

[A]

Mm. Okay.

[B]

But not like. Yeah.

[A]

And so TikTok is a thing you do because it seems to be people do it, but you've done a cleanse from it. My son stopped using it years ago, and he said it was made a big difference for him to. To delete the app. Actually, he was pretty happy about it.

[B]

Yeah, it helped. I mean, when I get rid of it, it helps me, like, with my attention. Yeah, more like because it's like, I don't want to lay around and scroll. Like, I. If I'm on my phone, like, I'll be on TikTok or Instagram. So, like, when I'm not on them or I don't have them on my phone, like, I'm on my phone less because I'm like. I get bored.

[A]

Right.

[B]

TikTok. I like. I think TikTok's very entertaining, but I think it is very dangerous because it's very, very easy to get addicted to.

[A]

What's entertaining? The video or the comments?

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

It's the comments. Right? You're there for the comments.

[B]

Yeah, probably the comments. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because you see a video and you're like, oh, my gosh, what are other people saying?

[A]

Yeah, no, it's the comments. It's some sort of weird socialization without actually being around people. What I'll tell you, as a person who makes a podcast, is that I am forced to be in a world where I also make social media for the podcast. I don't know that it's helpful or not helpful. There's part of me that thinks that if I shut down all my social media accounts, it wouldn't matter. And there's part of me that thinks that, you know, if I catch five, 10 new people a day, that's good for me. So, you know, it doesn't have to be like, there is no more viral. Like, that doesn't. You're not Even old enough to really remember what viral used to mean. But I used to be able to write.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, I used to write a blog post that could hit 50,000 people in a couple hours. And, like, that just doesn't happen anymore. Stuff doesn't work that way anymore. But when. But when I look at reels, for example, an Instagram post, I don't tick tock. I actually think it's all noise. Like, I believe that if I sat you down right now and said, hey, you were on TikTok yesterday, right? That's great. Here's a piece of paper. Write down all the things you saw on TikTok yester. I don't know, I don't think you'd remember three of them.

[B]

Yeah, there's always, like, things on there that are like, do you remember what, like, was last? Like, your three scrolls up?

[A]

And I was like, no, I have no idea. Yeah, yeah, right. There's. I tell this story all the time, but I opened up tick tock one time, there's this girl, like, she's dancing, but she's got really curly, bouncy hair. And I got like, transfixed by her hair bouncing for a half a second. And I must have looked at it. I'm not lying to you. For 10 or 20 seconds. And she just had really curly hair and it was like a bouncy song. And I guess the song caught me for a second, but her hair was bouncing and I thought, oh, my God, her hair is really bouncy. And then I scrolled on that goddamn app, showed me a picture of that girl dancing. Every time I opened it for six months, it wouldn't. And I was only there to put stuff up on my diabetes page. I still don't know how I ever saw it. I promise you, I don't know how I ever saw it. But once I looked at it for 20 seconds, it was like, here she is. And here she is again and again and again. But here's my point about that. I've seen that girl hair bounce I don't know how many times. I could not possibly tell you her name. I have no idea what her name is. So my point is, is that if your insulin pump company, or the CGM that you use or the cookies that you eat, or my stupid podcast or anything else is putting all that content out into that ocean of noise, what do they really expect? What do I really expect? That anybody's getting out of it? Because I don't think they're getting anything out of it. If I can't remember Bouncy girls, Bouncy hair girl's name. Then how are you remembering my podcast? If you scroll past something very quickly,

[B]

I think I would beg to disagree.

[A]

You think? Tell me why that there's.

[B]

I think that there's certain things, at least for me, that do peak my, like, interest. And I will stay and watch and it'll be like, informational things or like, honestly, I have learned more about diabetes on social media than I have through doctors, nutritionists, endocrinologists, anything.

[A]

Oh, for sure. Yeah.

[B]

Like, and I think that, like, certain brands putting stuff out there, it's all strategic, right? Like, it's all by. Do you want to do brand deals? Do you want to do it through people that people actually do watch and, like, take their opinions from and stuff? Or do you want to do it where you're targeting the specific audience? And, you know, because, like, I think that, like, I get ads for, like, Omnipod and Tandem and a bunch of like, diabetic stuff, like, type one style, right? And like, that actually does pique my interest because it's like, you know, I'm like, oh, wait, yes, like, I am gonna remember this, but what about the same with your.

[A]

Even with mine. But mine's. My stuff's really long form, though. It still translates.

[B]

I think it still translates because it has to do with what I'm dealing with.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, if that makes sense. Like, I think it's different for you because yours is like, diabetes. And I feel like a lot of people who are diabetic, like, if they see something that has to do with diabetes, they're like, wait, okay, let me read on this. I would say most people, you know, who care about managing their diabetes, like,

[A]

should I be trying to make 30 second content about stuff? Would that drag you back to a 30 minute podcast episode about how to bolus for oatmeal, for example? Or should I not be worried about that? Where you find it on if you want it?

[B]

I think the way that you're doing it is good. I'm okay, because I think the. What makes yours stand out is that it isn't like all that every other.

[A]

Because I see, I see. Can I tell you a secret, Bell? I see other people doing that and I think no one's looking at this. And then I could. That's my vibe when I see it. Like, I look at it and I go, no one's looking at this. And then I scroll a little more to be sneak. To be nosy, and I look at the view count and I go, oh, no one's looking at this. And it's well produced in a lit room with backdrops. And I'm like, you did all that for 45 views? Like, why not just open your window and scream out the window, like you might reach the same amount of people? Also, I have access to creator information here. I'll give you an example here. One second. Okay, Here, I'll.

[B]

While you're doing that, I'm going to open the door for my dogs to come in our room.

[A]

Yeah, let them inside. Why not? All right, guys, I am going to share with you something that's probably something people don't talk about. So I have an Instagram reel here that I made. It has been shared 320 times. Re. Shared 49 times. It has a thousand hearts and 24 comments. The view insights that I get to see say that it was viewed 229,000 times. Okay. Wow, that sounds pretty good, right? Of that 229,000 views, it only reached 17,500 actual accounts. Hold on. It got me 95 new follows, but the average watch time was eight seconds.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And so. And this is a really good piece of social media for me. Not just for me, for anybody. Anybody out there listening. You can say what you want. You'd kill to have a reel that does this well. Okay. And I'm talking about people in the diabetes space. You would kill for a reel to do this well. But what they're going to tell you is, oh, my God, my reel got 228,000 views. What I'm going to tell you is that's not really what happened. What I'm going to tell you is that that means that when your reel gets 6,000 or 5,000 or 3,000, basically no one saw it. And. And it. The amount of effort that goes into this stuff is. It's. It's. It's insane. Like, the amount of effort I put. I mean, this is a really. Honestly, I'm sorry. It's got music on it. And realize it says not all carbs are created equal. 10 grams of carbs. It doesn't always eat. Well, 10 grams of carbs, here's why. Gives you a little breakdown. Broccoli, mashed potatoes, white bread, basmati, rice, lollipop, all with 10 carbs. But then it shows you one has a small rise, one has a delayed rise, one has a faster rise, a moderate rise. Like this kind of thing. What changes the impact? Fat, protein, fiber. It's a great. Listen, obviously, it resonated with people. They Shared it hundreds and hundreds of times. Right. And Instagram decided to show it to more people. That's how it got up into the hundreds of thousands. Thousands of views. But I don't know. Like, it took a long time to do this. Like, so my point is, is, like, I. I don't know if that's valuable or not. Like, I mean, should I.

[B]

Is it worth it?

[A]

Yeah. Is it worth my time? I could have just made another episode, like a lot of people in the podcast. I could have just made another conversation and put it up. I would have reached a lot of people, too. So it's. It's. It's. And then I make something that I really like, that I think, oh, my God, this would be great for somebody. But then none of the platforms. The platforms don't. Don't support my idea. So this is gonna sound. If this sounds, I'm gonna run this past you because you're the exact right person to ask. Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I am old, but I grew up with computers.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I know that's a weird thing for somebody who's 19 to hear, but, like, I bought my first computer when I was 12. It worked so poorly that I returned it because it wasn't a valuable thing in the world yet. A couple of years later, a company named Commodore made a computer. I bought that computer. That's where gaming started. But an actual PC that you could do something with. I had to go to a. When I was 19, 20. I was, like, 20, 21 years old because Kelly was in college, and I had to go to a computer fair to buy pieces to put a PC together. Okay. My first computer cost, like, $3,500. It didn't do anything. The Internet was not really a thing yet. It was just email. So I've had computers for a long time, and I've seen the promise of them, and the craziest thing has happened. They now work exactly the way I hoped they would when I was younger, and everybody thinks it's shitty now. And what do I mean by that? The computers, technology, they go, oh, that's. That's slop. Or that's like, what? I can sit down at a prompt and type into a prompt. You know, I mean, that thing I just read you, that's. That's a small sips episode. I took a small sips episode from this. From this podcast. I fed it into. Into a large language model, and I said, you know, there's a lot of good information in here. I want to encapsulate it in one image. And it gave me a long prompt that I fed into another model that turned it into that picture. And then there are people who look at it and go, oh, you used AI. And I'm like, no, I used a computer to do an amazing thing, like computers have been promising us they were going to do for 40 years, and now they finally do it, and now you're mad at it. And so, anyway, this is my next thought. And this is either going to sound hokey to you or it's not. And I'm really looking for your honest feedback. You know the bolas four episodes I talked about earlier?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I took the transcripts from a few bolas four episodes, turned them into song lyrics, and then had something turn it into a song that's catchy so that you'll remember how to bolas for something. But it's hokey now, but 20 years ago, it would have been amazing. And so now the technology finally caught up. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's still gonna work. I think there's a certain moment version of this that people are going to like. I think kids might like it, but an adult your age is not. And I'm going to play it for you so you can hear it. All right?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I'm going to stick this right up to the microphone. I know it's like, but listen,

[B]

There's

[A]

a packet in the pantry with the

[B]

maple little grin saying tear me at the top now let the warm day begin but the label's got a secret that the spoon may not show Sugar riding with the oats there ready, set, go. 33 in the packet 12 are quick

[A]

and sweet that's a sleepy little breakfast with running shoes on its feet so

[B]

don't let the steam make the whole plan fuzzy Morning moves fast when the.

[A]

I'm not going to make you listen to the whole thing, but think about that. I took a conversation that Jenny and I had about bolusing for oatmeal. It turned it into song lyrics, and then sang it and put music behind it. And if you got it in your ears for a couple of minutes, you might be like, oh, yeah, Bolas. Okay, I probably should do that. Blah, blah, blah. But nothing about the way the Internet works now will serve that to anybody. And I don't know, we're all busy trying to figure out how to use social media the way we use it right now. You characterized as not very valuable and a waste of your time. The way that I think it might be helpful to people, they find hokey now because everyone's so jaded about how things work. And so my point, my point is, is that I don't know what any of it's for at this point. Like, it all seems useless to me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do I seem like. Please, now talk. Go ahead. Whatever you think.

[B]

No, no, that is very. It's a very interesting take because obviously as someone who didn't grow up without technology, like, I wouldn't know, right? But like, from what you have said. Yeah, no, that makes sense. Like, social media would have been so much more informative if we made it less performative. Wait, that's a great one.

[A]

Oh my God, two T shirts from this episode keep going. Right?

[B]

So, like, because like a lot of people, you know, they do brand deals with certain brands that like look the best or, you know, like a lot of people are like, you know, if. If this influencer does this brand deal with this brand that everybody else is doing it with, like, they have to be cool, right? Like that kind of thing, you know, and. Yeah, no, because I think those songs would be great. I think those songs would be great for this 10 year old or this, you know, younger kid who has, like, needs help with that. I think that's perfect. Right? So do I. Yeah, like you said, like, it won't get it. It probably wouldn't be.

[A]

No, it's gonna be for a niche of people who really like it. I'm gonna end up. I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm genuinely probably going to build a jukebox on my website where people can go and click on them and list them if they want to, and people will. By the way, my website gets crazy traffic. But like, that's not the point. The point is, is that out in the world where it actually might reach a bunch of people and have an opportunity to help them. It won't do that because what I would need is to reach 228,000 people just for 17,000 of them to actually listen to it, just for a hundred of them to actually be motivated enough to follow along. Because that's how this all works.

[B]

I think that mindset makes sense because you do put a lot of effort into the things that you create for social media, as many, you know, people on social media do. But I wouldn't undermine those 100 people that are taking valuable things from it.

[A]

Oh, I don't, you know. Oh, no, I. Please don't take me wrong. Like, I, I'm gonna say the hokiest thing right now. If it reaches one person. I find it incredibly valuable. I also, I would also tell you that I spent the entirety of my Saturday and Sunday on that stuff. Like it's a, it's a weekend of my life to do a thing that when I got done, I was like, this is really fantastic. Like, not only, by the way, not only did it do that for those bolus four episodes, but I took some of the, I'm not kidding you, I took some of the mental health episodes of the podcast conversations with Erica and I about like shame and blah, blah, blah. And I, I swear I'm not crazy. It made some really good country songs about taking better care of yourself. I was like, this is ridiculous. And I think there's a group of people who are going to listen to a song that is literally about type 1 diabetes but still feels like a song, and they're going to be like, oh my God, this is awesome. But there's also people who are going to hear it and go, oh, that's AI. That's not real. But here's the thing. No one's going to write you a song about your diabetes. That's not actually going to happen. So if you want it, this is how it happens. And I think the part that makes me disappointed is that if this technology existed 30 years ago, people would have been bowled over by it and it would have been incredibly valuable. So by the time the technology can do the thing we needed to do again, I'm going to say we become so jaded that we laugh at it. It. Because I don't care what you say. That's amazing. Yeah, that song is amazing. The way that, that just happened and for no money, for a $20, you know, a month thing for one thing, and a hundred dollar a year thing for another thing. It turned out that which I believe would be helpful to somebody. Now listen. Is it great music? It's not, I'm not trying to say it is right. But like, you know, you turn on a YouTube cartoon for a nine year old, it's better than that, than what you hear there. And so, and so like, but it's. I don't know, it's just, it's very disappointing to put. I don't know, I don't really know how to explain to you. Like you guys are getting the really the coolest stuff in the world and you're either using it wrong or disregarding it. And it's upsetting. I think it lived through it.

[B]

It's the latter because like, we grew up with technology and we don't understand what life is without it. And I think that's like a thing for diabetes too, is like, I always catch myself like, oh, stupid Dexcom. Why is it not connecting? Why is it telling me I'm 40 and low when I'm not, You know? And it's like, wait, I'm so lucky to even have this Dexcom. I'm so lucky to even have this pump and have this insulin and stuff that I can just. Just, you know, pretty much be like, I guess you could say, like, hands off, you know, I'm not injecting myself, you know.

[A]

Yeah. But it's hard to remember that.

[B]

Constantly pricking my finger.

[A]

Yeah. I'd also like to give you some grace back because it's also hard to remember that in the moment. But I. You could still. There's episodes of this podcast you could listen to people who used to have to boil their needles to clean them or pee on a test strip to see what their blood sugar was three hours ago, which wasn't helpful to them or are using or. By the way, I interviewed a woman yesterday, yesterday from Zimbabwe whose son just got diagnosed two years ago and they put him on NPH insulin. So, yeah, you're lucky. You know what I mean? Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you're lucky. But how do you. How do you know you're lucky when you're born in the middle of it? Like, like you're 19 at a time where we're catching rockets with giant metal scissors. Is that even a. Is that. I don't even know if that's a reference that gets to you, but like SpaceX is shooting rockets into the sky, bringing them back to the ground and catching them with giant metal, like scissors. I don't know another way to say there's these two metal arms that come out while the rocket comes back down and lands back to where it started and is now reusable. That's insane. You have to have a friend with a Tesla, right? Have you been. Have you been in a self driving. Have you been in a self driving car yet? No. Oh, try it. It's amazing. Okay, like.

[B]

Like I'm scared.

[A]

Oh, no, don't be scared. It's amazing. I'm telling you. Okay, but when you grow up in a world where you can get in a car in a parking lot and. And literally hold down a button and go, here's what you can do at this point now, because I was just in one and saw it the other day. So now they have AI built into them. You push a button, this little Bot pops up, call it whatever you want. Couldn't possibly care less. And you say, hey, I think there's a Burger King a few miles from here. I've been to it before, I can't really remember. And it comes back and it goes, oh yeah, there's a Burger King at blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And you go, cool, can we go to that? I'd like to go to that. And it goes, sure. And then it's in your nav. And then he pushed. We didn't go to Burger King, but this is the point I'm making. Then he reached out, pushed a button on, on, on, on an iPad in his car, basically. And then without touching the pedals or the steering wheel, it drove us there and parked the car at the, at

[B]

the place that was crazy.

[A]

That was it. Stop lights, left turns, right turns. Everything you think that it doesn't do, it does. And when you say it out loud, people go, eh, I don't want my car to drive itself. Are you out of your mind? Like, this is. Look. What? Look what? Look what we have done. And then, and everybody acts like it's stupid. And listen, I, I know AI uses a bunch of electricity and it shouldn't. And we got to fix all that. And I'm not saying anything about all that. I hear you. I'm with you. It's going to put people out of work. I'm there. But I'm a, I'm a single. I'm a creator. I make a thing completely by myself. I don't have a huge budget. I can sit down at a prompt, write something out and get something back that looks like a goddamn photograph in 30 seconds. And, and that wasn't true a year and a half ago. Ago.

[B]

That is true. AI is so new. It's crazy to think about.

[A]

Yeah. How fast it's moving or how you're going to. How about the lady yesterday from Zimbabwe again? Lovely woman, by the way. Hope you check the episode out when it comes out. Talking about, let me find this for you. You now have the longest two part episode ever. And we're getting to the point now where the editor is like, you got to stop Scott. But, but Rob, I'm having a good time. We're just going to do it on this one. Okay, buddy? I don't know the first thing about Zimbabwe. I just want to be pretty clear about that. Okay? And she's talking about that they gave her kid MPH and a fast acting insulin and nothing else. They didn't even tell her what to do. With it. Like she had to figure the whole thing out by herself. That's how a lady from Zimbabwe finds the juice box podcast Made in New Jersey. Okay, so she's talking about how some of the meals are difficult because nothing's packaged. So there's not a lot of, like, you know, not. Not a lot of carb counts to go off of and stuff like that. So while she's talking, I go to one of my I, at this point, I have Gemini, Chat, GPT and Claude. I like Claude for one thing. I like ChatGPT for another. I'm starting to not like Gemini much, if I'm being honest. And I. I said. All I said was list five common meals in Zimbabwe. It gave me five. I picked number one while she was talking and said, do it. Can you give me a nutritional breakdown for Sadza? I need fat, protein, and carbs. So anyway, it's off to the side and she and I are chatting and eventually we get back to it and I say, hey, do you eat Sadza? She goes, oh, I love Sadza. We eat it all the time. I'm like, oh, cool. By the way, thick maize meal porridge, usually eaten with meat, vegetables, beans, gravy, or sour milk. Who knew? Okay? And then she started talking about, oh, how difficult it is the bolus for. And I said, well, how many carbs do you think's in it? She's like, I don't really know. And I said, oh, well, the Internet says that 100 grams cooked with 20 to 45 carbs has 2 to 5 grams of fat or protein in it and less than a gram of fat. So a medium serving would be about this many carbs. Then she thought about how. How much insulin she was giving her son for. But her son also has an A1C in like, the eights or the nines. So she's probably not using enough insulin, but she doesn't know yet. She's still figuring it out, right? So then I said, well, what's your son's insulin to carb ratio? She doesn't know that. So then I opened up my website and I went to a settings page that I made with AI, by the way, and helped her figure out what her kids settings should be. And then as we're talking, she goes, I use ChatGPT for everything. Why did I not think to use it for this? And I was like, I don't know, but you can. And she's. And by the time we got done, she was like, lift it up. She was like, oh, my God. This is amazing. I guarantee. Because the lady's putting a ton of effort in. I guarantee that kid gets an A1C in the sixes next time she checks. Like, because she just wasn't. She just didn't know enough about the food to impact it. That was it.

[B]

I think that's like a huge thing though, like with chronic illnesses is that there's so much, like, people are so misinformed.

[A]

No, of course.

[B]

And even people who have it, you know, like me example, like, I left the hospital and I did not know how to carb count at all. They gave me like a pamphlet. I didn't know. I didn't know about fat or protein or fiber. I don't know about any of that. I learned that through your podcast.

[A]

Right? No, I know. Like, it's. I put up a review the other day, which, by the way, no one will read, but that's fine. Where the reviewer says, like, I mean, honestly, we're talking for. So really, I do feel like we're girlfriends now. I just want to say that I'm going to tell my daughter about this later and she's going to be like, you are so embarrassing. Invaluable. I don't care how corny it sounds. Juice Box Podcast literally saved my sanity and my son's health. Our medical team provided no additional information besides basic brochures about Type one. I had to take the initiative to join a Facebook group and started listening to this podcast. I have never listened to any podcast before, but thankfully learned about Juice Box Podcast pretty early on. I can't say enough good things about all the information I have learned here. The Bold Beginning series was the perfect starting point. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then I'm going to put out content to try to get reach people with that. And the first comment underneath of it's going to be like, stop using AI and I want to want to come to your house and murder you because the lady in Zimbabwe needs help. So shut up because that's. I want to. I'm not upset. Bella, there is a little fat 12 year old who bought a computer that didn't work who is looking at all this and wants to tell you all, you do not realize how lucky you are. This all works this well. And he's so disappointed in you for saying things like, oh, the picture had six fingers. Yeah, that was a week ago. They fixed that. Wait till you see what happens next. You know what I mean? Wait till you, like, listen, I don't have the expertise or the know how, but I Guarantee you that one day someone will mind my podcast and turn it into a diabetes doctor. And there are people who hear that and go, oh, my God, it's so scary. Shut up. The cars drive themselves. Give yourself up to it. It works. Okay. Like. Like, it's. It's. By the time a couple more generations of this thing roll around, I'm going to guess 20, 27 is my guess. You're literally going to be able to go to a prompt, ask the prompt anything about your diabetes, and it's going to give you the right answer.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So it's up to you. You can be a Luddite or be scared or cry about the electricity or whatever it is you're going to do, or you can live healthy. It's the same thing with not the same, but very similar. GLP medications, I think, are a great example. I was talking to somebody the other day who clearly needs it, and in the end they said, well, I don't know. I. I feels like cheating. And I. I stopped and I was like, hey, Arden's body doesn't make insulin. And Arden was right there. And I said, she was right. And I said, arden takes insulin constantly, all day long. Her pump's giving it to her all the time. She goes, yeah. I said, is Arden cheating? And she goes, I see what you're asking me. And I went, okay, is she. Because her body doesn't do something, and so she's taking a liquid that was made by a pharmaceutical company. Is she cheating? Should she just die? And the person goes, no, of course not. I said, then why is it you need to be 40 pounds overweight and have PCOS and all these other problems you're having? Why not just take a little liquid and have that all go away? And there's a long pause, and I was like, cheating? What? Cheating? What? What are you cheating? And she couldn't answer it. And I was like, right. I said, so I don't understand what you're saying to me right now. What is it you feel like you're cheating? And she goes, I don't know. And I went, good, good answer. Stop worrying about it. And I feel the same way about this technology and this stuff like this. Like, you know, it's. Things are moving forward really fast. There's things out there that can help you. You should let them help you. Somebody. As crazy as it sounds, I've been doing this a long time. Someone's going to go online six months from now and tell me they can't stop singing the oatmeal song and their kids bolusing for oatmeal now. And there'll be a lot of people out there that'll shit on me for it. And I'm going to sit here very quietly, happy, knowing that that kid went to school with 110 blood sugar and didn't spike up before lunch. And I don't care what you think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know what I mean? So when I. The thing that helped you, when I started doing it, people yelled at me about that, too. Don't tell people how you manage your daughter's diabetes. It's dangerous. How do you think of what I said, Bella? You happy about it?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it doesn't. Yeah.

[A]

Been pretty good for you, hasn't it? Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, I don't know what I'm saying anymore. We're just really talking for a long time, so I'm going to stop now. Go ahead. Anything you want to say?

[B]

Finish up to say. No. Anything. The one thing that I do have to say, and this is just my two cents, I'm not. As a dietetic student, as someone who is learning about this and stuff, I think the only. The one thing that weight loss medication can do or doesn't do for a person, which I don't know much about them, honestly, I have not done my research.

[A]

Well, that shouldn't stop you from talking about it. Go ahead.

[B]

But I think that a lot of people who are extremely, like, you know, like, really need it, they take it, and then they don't learn the healthy habits to, like, actually help your body. You know, like, they'll do it, but, like, don't change their lifestyle. Like, I think it is very dangerous in a way, because it, like, you're relying on the medication, which is like, I understand, obviously, because I'm a type 1 diabetic. But, like, there are other ways to, like, I don't know, you know, like.

[A]

I hear what you're saying. Can I. Can I answer back?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

There's two options here. Either you're right and it would work, or you're right and they're not going to do it. Or they're right and they'll do it and it doesn't work right. What does it matter?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Let's say that you're right and I believe you are. That there is a food system in place that is feeding all of us a lot of food that is not very good for force, that our bodies are shifting in scary ways. There's way more autoimmune issues, way more weight Gain a lot more type 2 diabetes, a lot more fatty liver disease, a lot more heart attacks. All this stuff is happening. The answer is go for a walk, go for a run, and don't eat like that 100%. Right. But for reasons that we don't even have to talk about right now, obviously a large part of the population suffers with something in their life that stops them from doing that. Whether it's lack of willpower, lack of money, lack of time, lack of something, it's not getting done. Yeah, right. Would you not rather live in a world where everybody shot something into their ass once a year or once a day, or once a week, or once a however long, but they were healthy and didn't have to worry about that? Or do you want to live in a world where you tell people, well, if you just did the right thing, this might work out for you. Which sounds better. I know, trust me, I'm full of good points. But, but this is the, this is, that's my. You haven't been alive long enough. Like, you're, you're not wrong. Okay? But when some bro podcaster says to you, just do the work, just remember that they make $5 million a year and they work out all day long.

[B]

Okay, that is one thing. That is a topic that I'm very, very passionate about.

[A]

Tell me about it.

[B]

These like, influencers, these like. Which is great. Good for them. If I was getting paid all this money to just. Their job is to work out. It is so unrealistic for people who are moms who work nine to five who all this. And not to say that there aren't influencers out there who are.

[A]

I'm sure there are all of this.

[B]

And still, you know, but like when you compare yourself to an influencer whose only job is to train for this marathon and train for this high rocks and do all this and you're like, dang, like, why don't I look like that? Or why aren't I as motivated as them? Because that's their job. They're not going to a 9 and 5. Like you were coming home to three kids or, you know, like going to the hospital to see their mom.

[A]

You know, like expand that out. Imagine a 35 year old woman with two kids who heard you just say what you said. You know what she thought? Well, sure, she's 19, her ass looks fantastic and she doesn't have to do anything. She knows. She doesn't know what the she's talking about. Like, so, like it's, it's different perspectives, right? And you're. And I agree with you 100%. Like, I, I don't think it's wrong to say that if people ate better and took supplements and exercise correctly and blah. I'm saying that's not happening. So we can either stand around and talk about how it should be, or we can do something about how it actually is. Maybe here I'll expand it out longer. What if I said this a couple of years ago on the podcast, I stand by it. I said, I think they might maybe should spray this GLP out of a plane onto all of us. Because imagine if a generation of young parents were thinner, in better shape, ate better, ate less, taught their children to eat that way, and then another generation of people learned to do that. Isn't it not possible that by the time that those people's kids had kids that all of this would be fixed? Because right now that's the thing, though,

[B]

would they want to fix it because it's such a.

[A]

Well, they probably popular industry. Well, I don't.

[B]

It's money making, right?

[A]

If people didn't sell that food for two generations and most of this money wouldn't get made through food anymore. So the way we got here, which is slow. So you know what? You don't know. Here, I'll give it to you in one simple idea. In 1976, when I was 5 years old, in my refrigerator was always a 1 gallon Tupperware container. And it was always full of juice or lemonade. And that juicer, lemonade was made by these powder that my mom would put eight scoops of into the thing, mix up with a little bit of hot water till it dissolved and filled it up with some cold water through some ice in it. And that's what we drank. And we drank gallons and gallons and gallons of that every week of sugar water. My mom had no idea it wasn't good for us because on the front of it it said made with real fruit juice, right? And when I was hungry, my mom would take two pieces of Wonder Bread, slop two tablespoons of butter on it, throw in six pieces of Velveeta cheese, melt it in a pan and give it to me and tell me, here, it's lunch, mom, can I have something with it? Sure. Here's some potato chips. My mom didn't think anything of that. She didn't think she was making me fat. She was. She didn't think she was teaching my body to crave carbs and sugar. She was like, like. So she didn't know what was Happening because she came out of a generation where all food was good food, and then their lives got faster. So then all food got easier and more processed. But they didn't think of it as easy. They didn't think of it as processed. They thought of it as easier.

[B]

Here.

[A]

Oh, our lives are. My life is quicker than my mom's was. I work. My mom didn't work. I don't have time to cook. I'll use this Hungry man meal to feed everybody tonight. Right. It's got Salisbury steak in it. You ever had Salisbury steak? You should have one one time. It's not very good. And it has whipped potatoes in it. Does it? You ever see a frozen dinner? You should look hard at it. We used to get them once a week. We also used to get macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese and all this crappy food, and we would wash it down with sugar water. And that's a whole generation of my mom, who, if you look back at her pictures when she was younger, was thin and in shape until she got older and the 70s came and the processed food came, and then she gained weight and then she made us fat. And then I had kids and I was on my way to making them fat before I stopped myself and said, oh, oh, my God. I don't know the first thing about food I've talked about on the podcast before. I eventually, as a young person, as a young father, would just follow fit people around the grocery store to see what they were buying because I didn't even know how to buy food that wasn't going to make me fat. Right.

[B]

And so do you think that the. The main issue is the lack of education?

[A]

Yeah, of course. But it's not that easy to educate. Educating people doesn't make them change. Time makes them change.

[B]

Right? Yeah, right.

[A]

Time. And. But like, you learn the same way you get parented by. It's modeling. You do what you see happen. You think you have free will. You are just doing the thing that your parents did in front of you. That's all. I'm gonna guess your parents are decent people, and that's why you're a decent person. And you're just modeling what you see with them. And so, like, yeah, you model the way they eat, you model the way they are, the way they act, blah, blah, blah. You will probably do it slightly different than them because the world around you will change and you will model that and you will have kids and they will copy you. And that's how eating works, too. And so you can't So I. So listen, here's a great example using you. If I walked up to you right now, let's say I had a. I got a. I got. I got a card in the mail from the. The. The leader of the universe. Turns out there's no God, Bella. Okay? And I can prove it. And I can prove it. I come to you and I go, bella, hey, I need to educate you. You said you're religious, but there's no God. Why don't you just stop thinking what you think right now? You won't do that, okay? And it's the same with the eating or with technology or whatever else. We are not as autonomous as you think we are. We are running. We are programmed to do something and we are doing it. And so I think that a problem this big, like food insecurity, processed food, lack of money to buy good food, food, lack of knowledge about how to cook it, lack of time of how to cook it, lack of desire to cook it in a world where somebody will bring you boba tea in their car if you pick up an app on your phone, right? And I know, I know you laugh because you've had some poor man bring you boba tea at your house, okay? And like, and so, like, I know when that's the world you live in, just telling somebody to go for a run isn't going to fix it. So maybe we've made it so bad now that these medications, these peptides are the only thing that's going to fix it. And my point is, is that if you spread it on everybody, not that you can force it on people, but if you made it available to the general public at cost, I think you would lower healthcare costs, I think you would lower companies abilities to make profits off of processed food. And I think in a couple of generations, it would be a different place. And I think that's what's going to happen. It's going to happen because of capitalism, because the pharma companies are going to want to make their money off of this, and they're going to. I heard a guy the other day, I don't know if he's an economist or not, and he said, you're all excited about AI. You should be excited about GLP1s. He's like, that's what's going to change the economy in the world. And then he said, I think that the government should make them free to households that make under $60,000 a year who need it, and that'll fix the health care system. And I When he said that, I thought I said that shit three years ago on my podcast. I was like, damn it. I wonder if anybody heard it when I said it. And so. And I feel like I was ahead of the curve on that. I also think this is a pretty reasonable, well thought out person. I don't. And it's not going to happen for good reasons. You don't understand because you're young about how the world works. It's going to happen for money, you know, because people know I did that part, you know? Yeah. So it'll happen. You eventually will know fewer people who aren't on a GLP and medication than who are. And I think that'll happen in the next five years. And then we're gonna see. We're gonna see if your kid grows up with a better idea of food or not. I'm not telling you. I'm. It's all right. I'm not saying this is how it all should have worked out. I'm just telling you I think this is how it's going.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You know what I mean? Like, I'm not making a value judgment about it. I'm just saying this is it. Very often, nothing goes the way supposed to.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

Something starts.

[B]

And I. Earlier. I did not come across as. Or I did not mean to come across as. Like.

[A]

You didn't. Don't worry.

[B]

The fact that. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

You didn't bel.

[B]

I. I do understand, like, the. I think it is very unfair that the lower or the cheaper food is. The food. That is what is making you.

[A]

That's what it is.

[B]

Hospital bills.

[A]

Right, Right. It's. It's exact. Listen, it's not because every. Everybody would love a steak from 1950. I don't think one exists anymore. And you know what I mean? And. And. But Jesus. And people with type 1 diabetes are even more disadvantaged because you don't have that thing anymore that tells you you're not hungry to the same degree, by the way.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

Your pancreas does other stuff besides make insulin. So.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so, like, you know, so there you are. And then you get low, eat some crappy sugar because that's what you need to save yourself. Then your body's like, ooh, sugar. Then you have a sugar crash. You want more. Your blood sugar's going up and down. You're eating when you don't want to eat. Like, that's. That's also happening to people who don't have type 1 diabetes now, right there. And that's why you see so many people wearing CGMs who don't have diabetes to track their blood sugar because their blood sugars are spiking. And when your blood sugar spikes, your insulin dumps, and then you're hungry again. And insulin helps, you know, is part of the reason that. That's why I, who don't have type 1 diabetes, lose weight on a GOP medication because it's slowing down my digestion, it's slowing down my need for insulin, and I lose weight. That's it, really. I eat less, my digestion's slower, I use less insulin. Because of that, my body is able to process itself better and lose weight. I also think I have some sort of an issue with inflammation that it's helping with, too, but not the point. Point being it's. I think it's magic, and I think we're just in the beginning of it, and some people get it who have used it. The people who haven't used it say, you're cheating. And five years from now, I think everybody will be on board, and I'll be the one running around saying, I was fucking telling you that, and you weren't listening to me, and you made fun of me because I.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Yeah. Three years ago, I started talking about JLPs on here. I got a lot of crap online for you for it. But I was like. I saw what I saw. And I was like, this is. Trust me, this is going to be something, like, for real. It's going to help people in ways you don't even understand yet. And now it's happening. Fatty liver disease, heart attacks going down. They're starting to use it for people with, like, obsessive issues and gambling addiction, binge eating, all kinds of stuff. Yeah. And again, cheating. Who do you care? You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right, Bella, I want to thank you because.

[B]

You're welcome.

[A]

This is how I usually. I've never made a podcast this long before, but this is how I would do it if editing wasn't expensive. I like having really long conversations like this. I think the really interesting stuff comes in the second hour. You know, we've been talking for two and a half hours.

[B]

Yeah, I. It's actually looking at the time, like, that's crazy.

[A]

Yeah. And it was easy because you're 19 and you're out of school right now, so you don't have anywhere to be. So I. Which is also another reason I couldn't usually do it, but if I had my way, the podcast would be long like this a lot more often. So what I'm going to end up doing is I'm going to say goodbye to you and thank you, and I'm going to leave a little voice note for the editor and I'm going to say to him, look, man, sorry I said the word a bunch of times. I'm actually going to run it through AI, find all the times I said it, give it to him so he doesn't have to listen through three hours to. To edit it correctly. And I'm going to tell him not to edit it for pacing. Let this conversation play just as it was recorded. Just go ahead and edit out those f bombs, throw in the ads, and we're all done. And I bet you this will be popular. It's just not a thing. Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. So.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All right. I would love to make three hour podcasts.

[B]

Yeah, just. It was fun. I'm. I'm a big chatter, too, so.

[A]

You're awesome.

[B]

You got the right person.

[A]

No, no, you're fantastic. I had such a good time. I. And I also think if I can step back for a second. You just listened to a conversation between a guy who's about to be 55 and a girl who's 19, and I think we related to each other just fine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. Because we have something in common. And it's. I think. I just think that there's an opportunity to talk to people all different ages, you know, all different backgrounds, and some pretty interesting stuff can come out of it. You learned something. I learned something. I complained a little. You complained a little. I think it's a good thing. So we'll see what happens. See if I'm right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

See what people say to me, Bella, you are fantastic. I'm going to use your title. What did you.

[B]

Delicious.

[A]

No, now I'm going to use the other thing you saw. I'm going to use that. What did you say? What was.

[B]

Your teacher would be. Social media would be more informative if it became less performative.

[A]

Informative, not performative. That's what this episode's called. And by the way, it's going out in one solid episode. Two and a half hours long. Informative, not performative. Foreign. US Med sponsored this episode of the Juice Box podcast. Check them [e-mail] juicebox or by calling 888-721-1514, get your your free benefits check and get started today with U.S. med. This episode of the Juice Box podcast is sponsored by Omnipod5. Omnipod5 is a tube free automated insulin delivery system that's been shown to significantly improve A1C and time and range for people with type 1 diabetes when they've switched from daily injections. Learn more and get started today@ omnipod omnipod.com juicebox at my link you can get a free starter kit right now. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions can be found@ omnipod.com juicebox okay, so if you've made it this far, I'm gonna think you enjoyed yourself. I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions. If you're in the private Facebook group, can you go make a post and answer them for me? If not, I understand. Unless you would send out an email. Did you enjoy it being this long? Would you like to hear more content of this length of a more free flowing conversational nature? Do you hate it like you listened but you hated it? I'd want to know that too, Scott. Never do that again. Hated it. Do you think we should have on more modern, hip people, like the younger people, the generation of now, if you understand what I'm saying. And anything else you'd like to let me know about? Actually, it doesn't even have to be about this. You could hop onto the private Facebook group, put up a post, say, hey, I would love to talk to you. Anyway, thank you so much for listening. I'll be back soon with another episode of the Juice Box podcast. I'd maybe take a second here to thank you since we're here and I mean, you clearly have nothing else to do anyway. That's not a judgment. I just really appreciate listening to this. We just did some numbers, and by we, I mean me recently about the podcast. And I was wondering if you'd be interested. The podcast has at one time or another been number one in 58 countries. It's been progress. It's been in production. I'm not editing that out, in case you're wondering. It's been in production for 12 years. This is the 12th season. We've never taken a season off. There has been an episode every week since January 2015. You are listening, I think, to episode 19. Let me take a look. Yeah, 1901. That's pretty crazy.

[B]

And

[A]

the private community and the public community on Facebook has over 100,000 active participants. Podcast has been downloaded well over 21, almost 22 million times. It has, let's see, been number six in the United States. That was its highest ranking in the United States. Highest ever in Canada, four United Kingdom six Ireland. Two France. Five Germany. Seven Italy. Four Netherlands. Four Spain. Six Sweden. Six Australia. Three New Zealand. Three India. Five Japan. Seven. Singapore. Number one. Hong Kong. Number two, China. Number 13. And it, of course, has charted in 58 other countries along the way. That's just going back into 2019. I actually can't track the data back past them. If you have had anything to do with the success of this podcast, I owe you a personal thank you. I don't know how to find you, but if I could find you, I'd shake your hand. I'd probably give you a hug if you were okay with it. And I would say thank you. 12 years, no time off. Here's a couple things you don't know about podcasts. Something fell in the room. Don't even care. Most shows are a handful of episodes, and they go out into a feed and the feed goes quiet. This one's been published without a break now for 12 years. 90% of podcasts never reach a fourth episode. One in ten podcasts is even active right now. This one has been, of course, every day for 12 years. That means for every 10 podcasts that have been created, only one of them persists and persists past its fourth episode. Having 1900 episodes is roughly 60 times the output that a show that is already in the top 1% for staying power. And podcasting has 60 times as prolific as other incredibly popular podcasts. You guys listen every day. It means the world to me. Again, thank you so much. If you listen this long and you're not subscribed, I mean, please hit the subscribe button. But moreover, if you've been listening this long, please share the podcast with somebody else, because we'd like to go for 12 more years if we could. And when I say we, I mean me and my assistant, Claude. He and I are having a good time.