Podcast Summary: Smosh Mouth S2: #83 - The Pressure of Being Perfect

Release Date: October 7, 2020

Hosts: Shayne Topp (Ian), Amanda Lehan-Canto (Kimmy), and a rotating Smosh friend.

Introduction

In this episode of Smosh Mouth, hosts Shayne Topp (referred to as Ian) and Amanda Lehan-Canto (Kimmy) delve deep into the theme "The Pressure of Being Perfect." They explore personal experiences related to identity, mental health, and the societal expectations that drive the pursuit of perfection. The conversation is enriched with candid anecdotes, humorous interludes, and insightful reflections, providing listeners with an engaging and relatable discussion.

1. The Persona and Perfection Pressure

Kimmy’s Audition Persona: Kimmy opens up about her "audition persona," a bubbly and positive facade she adopted during her auditions for Smosh that eventually became her enduring public persona.

Kimmy [00:04]: "a lot of people put on this, like, audition Persona... just an audition Persona that never went away."

This persona masks underlying anxiety and the relentless pursuit of perfection, which Kimmy acknowledges affects various aspects of her life.

Kimmy [00:28]: "The way that I would start to handle that anxiety and stress, too, would just be with eating."

Striving for Perfection: Ian and Kimmy discuss how the pressure to excel academically and in extracurricular activities during their upbringing contributed to their stress and need for perfection.

Kimmy [49:55]: "I just had way too many activities going on as a kid. Like, I was president of two different clubs... And I feel like I'm even missing... I kind of wish I did because it was such a life takeover and it would stress me out so much."

2. Identity and Racial Perspectives

Cultural Identity Struggles: Kimmy shares her experiences growing up as a Filipino who is often mistaken for Latinx, highlighting the complexities of mixed-race identities.

Kimmy [38:30]: "people would just assume that I spoke fluent Spanish... but I'm Filipino."

Navigating Mixed Identities: The conversation touches on the challenges of fitting into cultural boxes and the internal struggle to identify with multiple heritages.

Kimmy [40:45]: "sometimes people... ask you to, to get into a box of sorts. And they're like, which one do you feel like you're more a part of?"

Integration and Acceptance: Kimmy emphasizes the importance of understanding one's cultural history and embracing all facets of her identity.

Kimmy [42:30]: "everyone kind of figures out their identity more as they grow up... learning more about each side of my culture."

3. Communication Styles and Relationships

Being Upbeat vs. Internal Struggles: Kimmy discusses her natural upbeat demeanor, influenced by her mother's positivity, and how she manages moments of internal struggle.

Kimmy [07:24]: "I like to look at the good side of things... if I'm experiencing something, can it just maybe hold off for a little bit longer..."

Bluntness vs. Passive-Aggressiveness: The hosts explore the benefits and pitfalls of being blunt in communication versus the often detrimental nature of passive-aggressive behavior.

Kimmy [22:12]: "there is a level to being truthful, but also... being able to not go beyond what you need to."

Protective Instincts: Kimmy explains how she defends her friends and herself from those who might take advantage of her kindness, drawing strength from her father's side of the family.

Kimmy [25:50]: "if someone is trying to take advantage of me... I'll tell them how it is."

4. Mental Health and Eating Disorders

Anxiety and Coping Mechanisms: Both hosts open up about their struggles with anxiety and how it influenced their behaviors, such as Kimmy's reliance on food to manage stress.

Kimmy [55:01]: "I had to learn to just listen to my body more... what am I experiencing?"

Unhealthy Relationships with Food: Kimmy candidly discusses her past with binge eating and participating in unhealthy diet fads as a means to cope with stress and achieve a sense of control.

Kimmy [60:42]: "This is how I'm gonna like, you know, get myself to like love me again is to like try and make something happen with my weight."

Path to Self-Love and Healthy Habits: The conversation shifts to the journey toward self-acceptance, emphasizing the importance of internal validation and building a healthier relationship with food and self-worth.

Kimmy [62:32]: "therapy and being more communicative about how I'm feeling... affirm your other good qualities about yourself."

5. "Shoot, Dude" Segment

In this humorous segment, Ian shares a truncated version of Chris's story about a violinist mishap at a wedding reception, illustrating an embarrassingly funny incident.

Kimmy [71:24]: "Shoot, dude, shoot, dude... How did we get to this part of the conversation?"

The story revolves around Ian's character stepping into a puddle of melted dry ice, causing a humorous yet chaotic situation without any serious consequences.

Ian [72:54]: "I saw my life flash through my eyes that very moment... I quickly packed up my violin and just wanted to bolt out of the reception hall."

6. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with reflections on the discussions, emphasizing the importance of open communication, self-love, and the continuous journey of personal growth. Kimmy and Ian express gratitude for sharing their stories and encourage listeners to engage with future episodes.

Kimmy [77:15]: "This all, this is great. It's a good way... giving a little therapized."

Final Thoughts: The hosts underscore the significance of balancing external expectations with internal well-being, advocating for authenticity and supportive relationships as key components of overcoming the pressure to be perfect.

Notable Quotes

1. Kimmy on Handling Anxiety:

   "The way that I would start to handle that anxiety and stress, too, would just be with eating." [00:28]

2. Kimmy on Cultural Identity:

   "I feel like I've had so many conversations with people about my apartment and stuff like this, where I'm like, oh, you think that you're gonna do that? No. Legally, no." [25:27]

3. Ian on Communication:

   "The answer to your question, Kimmy, is that that is a myth. That is not true." [11:02]

4. Kimmy on Self-Love:

   "I need to make sure that I'm making these decisions about like, food and about health... based on just wanting to like internally feel good and feel more active and like more energetic and happier." [62:22]

5. Kimmy on Relationships:

   "every relationship in your life should serve a purpose in some way. Like, you should be like, that person should make you feel good or support you." [69:01]

Listen to the full episode here to gain deeper insights into the challenges and triumphs of striving for perfection and finding one's true identity.