The Commercial Break – “A Pampered Travel Princess”

Episode Date: June 19, 2024
Hosts: Brian Green & Krissy Hoadley

Episode Overview

In this lively improv-comedy episode, longtime best friends Bryan and Krissy riff on the newly viral “travel princess” trend, swap their usual candid life updates, and hilariously dissect relationship dynamics as they relate to travel, parenting, and entitlement. With trademark chaotic energy and self-deprecating wit, they weave stories about near-disasters, argue about overpacking, and embrace the lighter side of letting your partner handle all the vacation planning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “I’m Not Accepting Criticism at This Time”

[00:00 – 00:40]

• Bryan jokes about his personal slogan for 2024: "I'm sorry, I'm not accepting criticism at this time."
  • “You scratched my car. I’m sorry, I’m not accepting criticism.” – Bryan
• Both hosts acknowledge the tongue-in-cheek toxicity of this mindset but agree it’s too fun to give up.

2. Parenting, “Crazy Hour,” and the Water Dilemma

[01:24 – 08:00]

• Bryan discusses the challenges of parenting young kids, especially the notorious “crazy hour” before bed (paralleled with puppies' “witching hour”).
  • “Everything is an argument, everything is a fight. Every parent will resonate with this.” – Bryan [04:17]
• They joke about using kid melatonin during travel emergencies and the eternal kid-bedtime struggle over water, leading to accidents and parental blame.
  • “It’s just like those damn boo boos. They have a boo boo, but there’s clearly no boo boo there. …You put the boo boo on because you don’t want your kid to grow up and think, ‘I had a bunch of boo boos and my daddy never took care of me.’” – Bryan [06:33]

3. Bryan Gets (Almost) Hit by a Car

[08:02 – 12:45]

• Bryan recounts, with comedic exaggeration, a recent incident where he was nearly hit by a car while walking to Starbucks, describing his “catlike reflexes” and the driver’s distracted apology.
  • “In my mind, I was like in Grand Theft Auto, jumping over the hood of a car. I probably looked like Biden doing the Juneteenth dance.” – Bryan [10:17]
• Krissy expresses concern; Bryan milks the drama for all it’s worth (“I could’ve died!”).
• The importance of sun visors, driving cautions, and not throwing someone’s life into chaos over a minor, non-injurious accident are mused over with typical irreverence.

4. Past Collisions: The McDonald’s Late-Night Incident

[12:49 – 17:04]

• Bryan recalls a long-ago episode where he accidentally hit a pedestrian with his car’s side mirror near a McDonald’s, leading to a run-in with police but no lasting harm.
  • “I should have kept my mouth shut on that one.” – Bryan [16:01]
• The story is told with hindsight embarrassment and self-mockery.

5. The Travel Princess Trend: What Does It Mean?

[21:06 – 36:00]

• Introduction to the concept: A “travel princess” is someone in a relationship who does nothing but “show up” for trips—every detail is planned by the other partner.
  • “If you’re the person who just shows up, maybe occasionally carries some luggage, and then everything else is taken care of… you are the travel princess in that relationship. Enjoy it!” – Bryan [36:01]
• Krissy admits she usually does all the trip planning and even partial packing for her partner, Jeff.
  • “I like it because I want to find cool things and have Jeff be like, ‘This is the best! That’s so fun!’” – Krissy [24:44]
• Bryan totally accepts his “travel princess” role, calls himself “a pampered asshole,” and sees no shame in it as it keeps domestic (and travel) harmony.
  • “Why would I die on that hill? Why in the world would I get in the middle? …I could be a travel princess. That’s okay. I’m a princess in so many other parts of my life.” – Bryan [31:04, 32:30]
• Both dissect their overpacking tendencies and justify packing for every weather and event “just in case.”

6. Packing, Planning, and Relationship Roles

[25:07 – 36:00]

• They candidly review how travel duties have naturally divided:
  • Krissy plans “planes, trains, ferries, hotels, everything.”
  • Jeff is being “tested” to plan their next big trip; Krissy confesses she’s worried about “relinquishing control.”
• Conversation turns to overpacking, suitcase sizes, and the drama of airline baggage fees.

7. Travel Misadventures: Paris with Astrid

[39:32 – 51:24]

• Bryan tells the story of his first “big” trip with Astrid to Paris—letting her plan every detail.
  • The much-hyped hotel with a "view of the Eiffel Tower" proves disappointing: tiny, outdated, stains on carpet, beds pushed together.
  • Bryan diplomatically wrangled an upgrade but ended up in a makeshift “suite” (two rooms joined), eventually switching hotels for their engagement.
  • They laugh about the unpredictabilities of international travel and the perils of trusting online hotel photos.
  • “Anything can look good with a little touch up on the photo, right?” – Bryan [49:46]

8. The Art of Giving Up Control

[31:04 – 33:47, 36:21 – 36:39]

• Both agree: every long-term relationship has “lanes”—some things you cede control over for peace and efficiency.
  • “You learn there are lanes that you stay in and there are hills that you die on. And some you just don’t die on, there’s no reason to argue.” – Bryan [31:04]
• Krissy tries to learn to “let Jeff take the reins” for their next trip, resisting the urge to micromanage.
• “If you’re going to give him the reins, let him take the reins.” – Bryan [33:29]

9. Special Announcements & Podcast News

[52:29 – 54:21]

• TCB Live dates announced: Tampa & Orlando, September 25 and 26.
• Merch drop coming soon. Listeners encouraged to check the website and reach out if they plan to attend live shows.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• Bryan’s 2024 Motto:
  “I’m sorry, I’m not accepting criticism at this time.” [00:00]
• On Surviving the Car “Accident”:
  “In my mind, it was the coolest thing that ever happened. In everyone else’s mind, that old man just got hit.” – Bryan [10:17]
• On Travel Roles:
  “I’m a travel princess. As I will repeat as I am in much of my life. I am an entitled human being, and I’m entitled to have my trips planned for me.” – Bryan [36:02]
• On Packing:
  “I pack three underwears per day…We went to Spain for a month last year…I had to bring my Volkswagen sized pocket pussy just in case.” – Bryan [26:44, 27:08]
• On Relationship Wisdom:
  “There are lanes that you stay in and there are hills that you die on. Some you just don’t die on.” – Bryan [31:04]
• On Letting Go:
  “If you’re going to give him the reins, let him take the reins.” – Bryan [33:29]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 00:40: Bryan’s “not accepting criticism” monologue; intro to “travel princess.”
• 01:24 – 08:00: Parenting woes, crazy hour, water at bedtime.
• 08:02 – 12:45: The Starbucks walk “near-miss” car incident.
• 12:49 – 17:04: Bryan’s late-night McDonald’s run and accidental collision.
• 21:06 – 36:00: Deep-dive into “travel princess” roles, travel planning, and packing.
• 39:32 – 51:24: Paris trip misadventure; the pitfalls of trusting online hotel booking.
• 52:29 – 54:21: Show announcements, live dates, merch drop.

Tone and Atmosphere

• Irreverent, self-aware, teasing.
• Bryan leans into self-deprecation, Krissy is game for bit-driven storytelling and gently pokes fun at relational dynamics.
• The hosts’ banter is fast, friendly, and occasionally wanders to absurd tangents (swingers resorts, packing pocket pussies, hotel stains…).

Summary Takeaway

If your idea of vacation is showing up at the gate while your partner juggles the passport, plans, and perfectly packed bags, congrats—you, too, may be a “travel princess.” Bryan and Krissy give you full permission to embrace it with pride, as they spin tales of the comic perils (and privileges) that come with letting someone else run the travel show…and why arguing about it may not be worth the trouble.

For more from Bryan and Krissy, follow @thecommercialbreak on Instagram or visit tcbpodcast.com. And if you’re a travel princess or a travel planner, let them know—just don’t expect either of them to accept any criticism (at this time).