Shannon Ford On Sex, Her Pregnancy, Fertility, Fear-Mongering, & Why She’s In Her Unapologetic Era

Summary

Summary of "Shannon Ford On Sex, Her Pregnancy, Fertility, Fear-Mongering, & Why She’s In Her Unapologetic Era"

The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast episode featuring Shannon Ford Middleton, released on May 22, 2025, delves deep into Shannon's candid experiences with pregnancy, fertility struggles, societal pressures, and her journey toward embracing an unapologetic self. Hosted by Lauryn Evarts Bosstick and Michael Bosstick, the conversation offers listeners insightful takeaways and real-life anecdotes that resonate with many navigating similar paths.

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1. Introduction to Shannon Ford Middleton

Shannon Ford Middleton is introduced as a multifaceted personality—a college dropout turned influential blogger, podcaster, and comedian. With her podcast, Probably a Podcast, amassing over 5 million downloads, Shannon exemplifies success while managing her pregnancy.

Notable Quote:

"She's doing the most, all while pregnant."
– Lauren Evarts [00:20]

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2. Fertility Journey and Desire for Parenthood

Shannon shares her long-standing desire to have children, emphasizing the importance of finding the right partner to embark on this journey together. Unlike some who opt for solo parenthood, Shannon prioritized assurance in her husband's ability to be a supportive and involved father.

Notable Quote:

"I wanted to make sure I found a partner that I really, really felt confident would be an amazing father."
– Shannon Ford [02:17]

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3. Navigating Pregnancy with a Supportive Partner

The conversation highlights Shannon's husband's proactive involvement during her pregnancy. From advising on healthy eating to managing cravings, his British demeanor brings a light-hearted dynamic to their interactions.

Notable Quote:

"Whenever in my first trimester, I couldn't eat anything, and I was just smashing fast food. And he'd be like, is that. Do you think maybe the baby would want something healthy?"
– Shannon Ford [02:48]

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4. Sexual Intimacy During Pregnancy

Shannon discusses the complexities of maintaining a healthy sexual relationship during pregnancy. While she acknowledges and appreciates her husband's desire, she openly shares moments of disconnect and the physical challenges posed by pregnancy.

Notable Quote:

"I think the act of that process after having sex, like, I'm like, can you not come inside of me? Because we're already pregnant."
– Shannon Ford [68:12]

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5. Overcoming Fertility Challenges and Fear of Miscarriage

Shannon recounts the six-month journey of trying to conceive, marked by frequent negative pregnancy tests and a pervasive fear of miscarriage. Her focus on success stories from online communities like Reddit provided the emotional support necessary to continue her efforts.

Notable Quote:

"It took away a lot of the joy on the early like weeks of my pregnancy because I was just like, anytime I discharge or anything, I'd be like, this must be blood."
– Shannon Ford [05:55]

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6. Combating Fear-Mongering with Positive Narratives

Both hosts emphasize the rampant fear-mongering surrounding pregnancy, miscarriages, and infertility. They advocate for sharing positive and successful experiences to balance the often negative discourse prevalent online.

Notable Quote:

"If no one talks about it and no one says all the good stories and no one says all the amazing stories, like how you're talking about you're afraid of miscarriage... then all we're going to get fed is the negativity."
– Lauren Evarts [08:48]

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7. Intuitive Health Choices and Diet During Pregnancy

Shannon emphasizes listening to her body's needs over adhering strictly to conventional prenatal guidelines. From consuming raw milk and sushi to avoiding unnecessary supplements, her approach is grounded in intuition and personalized health practices.

Notable Quote:

"I'm just listening to my body, being very, very intuitive with my body."
– Shannon Ford [20:14]

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8. Placenta Consumption and Natural Birth Practices

The discussion touches upon the controversial practice of placenta consumption. Shannon shares her experiences with both encapsulated forms and incorporating it into meals, highlighting its perceived benefits and mishaps.

Notable Quote:

"I ate my placenta in capsules. Super easy."
– Shannon Ford [35:46]

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9. Managing a Successful Podcast During Pregnancy

Shannon offers insights into balancing her demanding role as a podcaster with her pregnancy. Despite the physical and emotional toll, she leverages her support system and efficient work habits to continue producing content.

Notable Quote:

"Solo podcast is harder than you people think."
– Shannon Ford [15:30]

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10. Building a Supportive Community and Setting Boundaries

Shannon discusses the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences and distancing from negativity. By prioritizing her well-being and curating her social circle, she fosters an environment conducive to personal and professional growth.

Notable Quote:

"Anyone that's like listening and consuming my content, like if they are triggered or like, I can't listen to her, she's insufferable. Then that wasn't a fan I needed in my, like, corner anyway."
– Shannon Ford [10:31]

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11. Practical Pregnancy Tips and Must-Haves

Throughout the conversation, Shannon shares various practical tips to ease the pregnancy journey—from using mouth tape to improve breathing during sleep to dietary recommendations like consuming kiwis and Zen basil seeds to combat constipation.

Notable Quote:

"A huge bowl of kiwi. Like, I'm talking really. I'm talking about, like, actually eight kiwis."
– Lauren Evarts [43:39]

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12. Embracing Vanity and Self-Care

Shannon and Lauryn touch upon the balance between self-care and societal expectations. While acknowledging the physical changes and challenges of pregnancy, they advocate for maintaining one's sense of style and self-esteem.

Notable Quote:

"I want to look the best I've ever looked."
– Shannon Ford [69:07]

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13. Relocating to Nashville and Lifestyle Adjustments

Shannon shares her recent move to the suburbs of Nashville, Franklin, highlighting the blend of city life with natural surroundings. This relocation supports her holistic lifestyle and offers a nurturing environment for her growing family.

Notable Quote:

"It's a beautiful. I mean, we live in like a suburban neighborhood, so, like, you aren't frolicking around, but they're literally like, across the street."
– Shannon Ford [73:09]

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14. Mental Resilience and Handling Criticism

The conversation delves into building mental resilience by ignoring unwarranted criticism and focusing on genuine support. Shannon emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and not succumbing to external negativity.

Notable Quote:

"What do you mean? Like, what a blessing to be able to have your kids still in the home that you're working out of and living out of."
– Shannon Ford [56:28]

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15. Final Thoughts and Encouragement

As the episode concludes, Shannon encourages listeners to embrace their unique journeys, prioritize self-care, and build supportive communities. Her unapologetic stance serves as an inspiration for many to navigate pregnancy and motherhood with confidence and authenticity.

Notable Quote:

"It doesn't matter."
– Shannon Ford [25:11]

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Key Takeaways:

• Authenticity is Crucial: Embracing one's true self leads to genuine connections and personal satisfaction.
• Support Systems Matter: Surrounding oneself with positive influences and reliable partners can significantly ease the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood.
• Intuitive Health Practices: Listening to one's body and making personalized health choices can enhance well-being.
• Combatting Negativity: Actively promoting positive narratives helps balance the often overwhelming negative discourse online.
• Self-Care and Vanity: Maintaining self-esteem and personal style is important, even amidst the physical changes of pregnancy.

This episode of The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast offers a refreshing and honest exploration of pregnancy, blending humor, vulnerability, and practical advice to support listeners through their own journeys.

Transcript

[Michael Bostic]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. She's a lifestyle blogger extraordinaire.

[Lauren Everts]

Fantastic.

[Michael Bostic]

And he's a serial entrepreneur, a very smart cookie. And now Lauren Everts and Michael Bostic are bringing you along for the ride.

[Lauren Everts]

Get ready for some major realness.

[Michael Bostic]

Welcome to the Skinny Confidential.

[Lauren Everts]

Him and her. Shannon Ford Middleton. We're doing a solo episode on pregnancy. This is pretty candid just to let you guys know Shannon, if you don't know her. She's a college dropout turned influencer. She's a podcaster. Her podcast is on Dear Media. It's called Probably a podcast and she's now a comedian. I enjoyed talking to her one on one because it felt like we were having a very real, real life conversation on air, which is super refreshing. She also just knows how to talk on a mic. She has a standup tour called Pray for Me, which I am praying for her because she's doing it while she's pregnant. And you also might recognize her from the show Very Cavalieri. Her podcast crushes it. It's a comedy top charting podcast with over 5 million downloads. She is doing the most, all while pregnant. And on this episode, she is unapologetic. Shannon, welcome to the him and her show.

[Michael Bostic]

This is the Skinny Confidential.

[Shannon Ford]

Him and her.

[Lauren Everts]

Jan and Ford, welcome to the show. We are going to have an open, honest conversation about pregnancy.

[Shannon Ford]

Let's do it.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay, so we're both pregnant at the same time.

[Shannon Ford]

We are. You're a bit further along than me. I wore like a really short Tatiana dress.

[Lauren Everts]

Just show your badge.

[Shannon Ford]

That's my vagina if you guys want to see it.

[Lauren Everts]

You have to go on YouTube to see her full frontal.

[Shannon Ford]

You do.

[Lauren Everts]

So did you always know that you wanted children? Like, looking back, you've always known wanted.

[Shannon Ford]

Children for a long time, but, like, truly just wanted to make sure I found the right partner. I know that's not everyone's jam. Some people are like, I could do this on my own, I could do this whenever. Like, I wanted to make sure I found a partner that I really, really felt confident would be an amazing father, would be able to do this with me. And I see that in my husband. Like, that was such a trait I saw when I met him. Like, oh my God, he'd be such a great father.

[Lauren Everts]

Is he treating you different in pregnancy?

[Shannon Ford]

Well, no, he's being a lot like, nicer to me. Like, he's always nice to me, of course, but he's being a lot more like, I don't know, he's really big into health and fitness. And so sometimes he'll be like, oh, don't eat that. It's got red dye. Oh, don't. He's British, by the way. That's what I'm doing, the accent. And now he's kind of just like, whenever in my first trimester, I couldn't eat anything, and I was just smashing fast food. And he'd be like, is that. Do you think maybe the baby would want something healthy? I'm like, james, it's about what I can chew and swallow right now. Chew and swallow. And I'll.

[Lauren Everts]

I'll give you something to chew and swallow. You better be careful of that.

[Shannon Ford]

You really do. You really do.

[Lauren Everts]

I mean, I just went on a week vacation, and I thought my husband would leave me alone because I'm rolling around, literally. No, he does. No, they don't care. They don't care.

[Shannon Ford]

Give a.

[Lauren Everts]

It was 12 at night when we got home from dinner. I'm fucking tired as shit. I know. Even on vacation, I have two little kids that are constant. They need constant.

[Shannon Ford]

That's not a vacation. That's a trip. Lauren.

[Lauren Everts]

It was a trip.

[Shannon Ford]

They.

[Lauren Everts]

They need constant stimulation all day long. And then. Then he wants me to go to dinner, and then. Then he wants to have a night to stimulate you.

[Shannon Ford]

And you're like, no, I'm not interested in this. But, like, I'm like, you. I've heard you say on a podcast before that, like, I think it's a blessing to have a husband that wants to fuck you. And so it's great. I do. Like, of course, there have been times where I'm like, literally, I'm sorry, I'm just like, no. But for the most part, I try to be like, this is a blessing. My husband wants to fuck me, and I want to fuck my husband, and this is great. But being pregnant is a whole different beast. I'm just like, the first trimester. I don't. I'm not sure if we had sex during the first trimester. Maybe once or twice. Like, I was like, down bad.

[Lauren Everts]

I rally.

[Shannon Ford]

You rally?

[Lauren Everts]

I. I was rally.

[Shannon Ford]

So nauseous. I think it would have been a bit creepy.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, you know what? Just.

[Shannon Ford]

I just close your eyes.

[Lauren Everts]

I've been married a long time.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah. You've been pregnant before, too.

[Lauren Everts]

I've been pregnant before. I just rally. Like, that's really honest. Like, sometimes I'm like, I really. I don't feel like doing this. Yeah, but I do it.

[Shannon Ford]

No, I. I think it was with Amanda. Her. She did a podcast you're like, I'll always give him head. Like, I just like, I'm happy anytime.

[Lauren Everts]

He wants it, anytime he wants to. Blow job. That is on my knees.

[Shannon Ford]

That is really inspiring. It's a marriage that'll last a lifetime.

[Lauren Everts]

This life and the next, for 10 months. On my knees.

[Shannon Ford]

No, I can't relate. Like, that. Fucking kill me. That's. That's crazy.

[Lauren Everts]

You got to, like, set it up. You need, like, knee pads. Like, not actual knee pads, but you need something that's like. Like, oh, yeah. I'm like, nice on your knees, 100%.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm like, this doesn't have to be sexy. You'll get to the end. But, like, I'm going to put a pillow down. I'm going to do what I need to do to complete this task as well.

[Lauren Everts]

It's. It's. You want to be as efficient and as effective as possible. You want to, like, get some tricks up your sleeve so you can use them like magician 100%. So first off, so you and your husband, when you find out you're pregnant.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Very happy.

[Lauren Everts]

He's freaking out.

[Shannon Ford]

We were trying. So I had spoken about this in my podcast as well, probably podcast always plug. And basically we tried for six months before we got pregnant. Now, I've never tried to be pregnant before, so it was a lot of just, like, understanding my cycle and ovulating. Like, I've never really. I've never been a tracker of my cycle and of, like, things of that elk. And so I think it just took a while for me to understand my body and that nature. And then, you know, it was disappointing. The first, like, you get. I know people are going to say a trigger warning. We tried way longer. That's not long at all. But like, no, no, hold on, hold on. We got different.

[Lauren Everts]

This is the show to.

[Shannon Ford]

You don't have to.

[Lauren Everts]

We don't need to worry about trigger warnings.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

If we trigger someone, we got to find out why we're triggered.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

This. Please speak freely to your experience.

[Shannon Ford]

No, no, I will. This is my experience. I was really disappointed every time we got a negative test. I was like, oh, my God, why is it taking me so fudgeing long? Like, it felt like forever. Because right after we got married, I was just like, I want a baby now. Like, I was trying before we got married. I was like, I'll just be pregnant at the wedding. I don't care. And so was really disappointed. And then when we finally got the test, I was really hyper fixated on miscarriage And I don't know why. I think maybe because I'm 31 and I've seen a lot of my friends and you know, people on the Internet are talking about it a lot more. I think I just thought it was this thing that must just happen to everyone every time no matter what. And so I really hyper fixated on that during the. I kind of, I, I wish I hadn't because it took away a lot of the joy on the early like weeks of my pregnancy because I was just like, anytime I discharge or anything, I'd be like, this must be blood. And so we were really excited. But I was also just like scared the whole time, which was sad.

[Lauren Everts]

I think that this is such an important subject to talk about and I have such a strong opinion and I've gotten so much hate on the Internet about this. Is there is a fixation on miscarriages and infertility.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

And what I would like to do on my own platform is to talk about fertility and to talk about how having a healthy baby, of course, because there are a lot of girls between the ages of 20 and let's say like even 35, that have been fed so much content on miscarriages and in. And infertility that there's a, a lack of people who are motivating and inspiring on actual amazing stories.

[Shannon Ford]

The only thing that got me through was finding this like Reddit hole of people that were like, I. Because I had a lot of cramping early on and I was just like, oh my God, this must be in a miscarriage. This must be in a miscarriage. Which is really common symptom of your first trimester. Like a lot of shit is happening within your body.

[Lauren Everts]

Your uterus is stretching, of course.

[Shannon Ford]

And so anyways, it was just this Reddit that of people being like, I had all these symptoms. I have a healthy 10 month old baby right now. I had all these symptoms. I now have a two month old. I just had like, it really took the success stories and the positive speaking on it that helped me like not be so scared.

[Lauren Everts]

So I am of the belief that when you want something in your life, no matter what it is, you need to surround yourself with abundance.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

And I came out and said I got pregnant with all three of my kids on my first try. And the reason I said that is not to rub it in people's face at all. It's to tell you that these stories exist.

[Shannon Ford]

Of course no one wants to talk.

[Lauren Everts]

About it because everyone's fucking scared to say that because they're scared they're going to trigger someone.

[Shannon Ford]

Right?

[Lauren Everts]

But here's the problem. If no one talks about it and no one says all the good stories and no one says all the amazing stories, like how you're talking about you're afraid of miscarriage and now you're, now you're far along. If no one talks about that because everyone's so scared of offending someone or hurting someone's feelings, then all we're going to get fed is, is the negativity. And I don't. It's not negativity. I don't even know if that's the word.

[Shannon Ford]

It's fear mongering.

[Lauren Everts]

It's fearful experience.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

So the reason I decided to come out and say that is because I want a 22 year old who's listening, who doesn't want to get pregnant until she's 34 to hear me talk about that and be like, okay, I don't need to worry. I don't need to think about a miscarriage the second I get pregnant. Yeah.

[Shannon Ford]

And a lot of talk. There's so, so, so much talk. People ask me all the time, you guys. I was literally 30, like, and engaged. And they were like, are you thinking about freezing your eggs? And I was like, no, I just, I wasn't down that rabbit hole. I wasn't, I wasn't constantly consuming content that was like, better freeze your eggs, better freeze your eggs. I wasn't consuming that. So in my mind I was like, I'm 30. Why do I need to freeze my eggs? And listen, everyone, do whatever you want to do. Of course. But for, for me, I think I wasn't consuming that. So it didn't infiltrate my brain and make me think, like, I better freeze my eggs. Like, you're 30, you can have a baby.

[Lauren Everts]

I also think that if you every single month had been like, oh my God, I can't get pregnant, I can't get pregnant, I can't. That tape is rolling through your head and your narrative all day long, all night. Of course, any, any time I've told myself I can't do something. Yeah, it doesn't happen.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. And there was like a moment where I was like, googling, like, what point do you go to an infertility doctor? And I was like, I'm not going to one. Because I know if I step foot into that office, it'll be in my mind. Like, I cannot do this on my own.

[Lauren Everts]

It's a business.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, yeah, a business, of course.

[Lauren Everts]

So, like, I got so much hate like thousands of comments being like, oh my God, we have to see the pendulum on the other side too. A lot of people have had a lot of successful stories. People have gotten pregnant. And I, I know there's the housewife boss. I think, yeah, she's talking about getting pregnant at 48 right now.

[Shannon Ford]

There's just also nothing wrong with like sharing your truth and your experience and how it happened to you. Like, I just don't. I think we've gotten to, as a society, this point where it's like we can only speak on our truth if we validate someone else's 87 truths first. And it's just like exhausting.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm not subscribed to it anymore. Yeah, like, listen, I, I hope that there is a 25 year old that feels stressed right now about freezing her eggs and she hears this conversation, she's like, you know what? I'm going switch my mindset and I'm gonna come from a really nice place of abundance and just say I can get pregnant. Everything's happening for me. There's other things that go into getting pregnant. Sure. I'm not gonna take that away, of.

[Shannon Ford]

Course, you know, but that's not what this conversation is about. And I also think, like, yeah, we don't have to.

[Lauren Everts]

It's not impossible though, because that's how the Internet's making it seem like it's impossible to get pregnant past a certain age and you have to freeze your eggs.

[Shannon Ford]

Right. And it's just not the case. Yeah, I just think I also, like, weed out. I used to be like, I hope I don't offend anyone. And I'm like, anyone that's like listening and consuming my content, like if they are triggered or like, I can't listen to her, she's insufferable. Then that wasn't a fan I needed in my, like, corner anyway. So, like, it's kind of nice to get to the place that you're at. The place that we're at where we're not prescribed to that anymore. And we kind of just have the people in our corner that want to fudge with us, you know?

[Lauren Everts]

Exactly. You can't placate to every single person. It's. It's like, I know I'm not for everyone.

[Shannon Ford]

Totally.

[Lauren Everts]

I just want to inspire people at any age to open their mind and have expansive thoughts towards anything they're doing, whether it's.

[Shannon Ford]

It's a beautiful thing.

[Lauren Everts]

I had, I had this friend the other day tell me that one of her friends told her she will Never be able to do something in her business. And I was like, not a friend. It's just like, I don't want to be around someone who's telling me I can never do that or I can. I'm sorry, I don't. I'm being again, honest. Yeah, I just don't want to.

[Shannon Ford]

I also think the people that give, like, you can do that. You could do this if you do this. But just know you probably won't ever. It's like, well, just to shut the fuck up. Like, I really don't need that kind of like, energy. And I think I probably why I have such a small circle, because I don't need a yes man either. I don't mean I don't need someone that kisses my ass and it's like, no, you want. I just think like a realistic friend that believes in you is not that hard to fucking ask for. And that's who I surround myself with. I don't have anyone in my life that'd be like, you're probably never going to be able to do that. Like, that's. I just don't know why you would. If you, if you're listening to this and you have people like that in your life, like, find a way to cut them off or get them at least to a point where it's not constantly in your, like, everyday ear. Because that's really damaging.

[Lauren Everts]

Totally. It's like almost. I think there's a way sometimes to like, not cut people off, but just arm's length, 100% energy. And like, for me, if I have an idea, there's certain friends that I'll tell the idea to. And there's certain.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, it's like being pregnant and having a baby or like picking a name. I'm like, if I haven't told you the name, there's probably a reason for it. Like, I like, don't ask. I haven't told you. Yeah, so don't ask her.

[Lauren Everts]

Don't ask. You can get like. I feel like you're gonna come up with a good name.

[Shannon Ford]

It's not that crazy. Like, it's just a. Nate, I really, you know what I fixated on? My friend is so fun and so original and she like has created these names that she kind of like took different words and like put them together. Obsessed, right? Like, she has a daughter named Novi and she just basically like saw a word, put a word together. And I love that. And I am like, I hate myself for this, but I'm just like, I always want to be Original. Like, literally, you're on Pinterest find outfits. Like, you're not that original. But I. I wanted my baby to have this original name. I didn't want to have a daughter that ended up being like, a Katie or an Ashley or, you know, whatever. Like, no shade to Katie's and Ashley's, but it's just really common names. So I was always on, like, the bump.com being like, what does this rank in baby names? And then my best friend Taylor was like, you. And she has three girls. She's like, you gotta stop. Go with a name that you like. Do you like this name? Because then you think about the moms in the world that have a Katie or an Ashley. Do you think one time in their life they've ever been like, oh, it's a fucking shame. That's my daughter's name? No, like, they're like, that's my Ashley. Like, who cares?

[Lauren Everts]

They love it.

[Shannon Ford]

If you love the name, go with the name. So that's what we've done, and it's been really nice. I really fixated on wanting a family name, a part of it in some way, shape or form. I don't know if I got more sentimental. Being pregnant, that was, like, really important to me.

[Lauren Everts]

So you do get sentimentals, don't you? Yeah, sometimes I'm like, oh, my God. It's like a feminine.

[Shannon Ford]

It's a feminine energy that, like, invokes you. And I'm like, what's all of this for if not for legacy? And, like, you just become this, like, version of yourself. That's very maternal.

[Lauren Everts]

That's what it is. Kind of like, it's a. It's a softness. I like it.

[Shannon Ford]

Me too.

[Lauren Everts]

I think when you're also, like, such masculine energy.

[Shannon Ford]

Totally. And I'm kind of, like, foul. Like, I can be really, like, brazen and just like, I'm always like, you know, like, yeah, let's fuck. Like what? Like that kind of stuff. Like that. And I like the feminine energy that's kind of like, encompassed me.

[Lauren Everts]

That's. It does make you feel very, like one with the earth.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah, it's very. Yeah, it's very Snow White.

[Lauren Everts]

So how have you brought your audience? Because your podcast crushes it. You guys got to go. Listen, guys, along on the journey, because I know you're doing a tour right now. How has that been, being pregnant and managing all this, these different things?

[Shannon Ford]

You know, the podcast is fine. If I can bank episodes. That's, you know, And I have a great producer who helps me and Manages stuff. I'm. I'm great. Solo. Solo podcast is harder than you people think. Like, it's. You're just talking to yourself and. And I talk at such a rapid speed. I'm giving like two times energy and amount of words at once. So, like doing an hour solo is hard, but I can knock those out on the road.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm taking my fans along the pregnancy journey pretty openly. Like, you are. Like, I'm just like not afraid to say the things I'm saying. Like, I'm eating sushi. Like, I'm eating deli sandwiches. Like, Jimmy John's was like my literal life, no free advertising. But like shouts out to Jimmy. Like, he was fantastic during my first trimester. And they say, like, don't eat Nelly. Don't we drink raw milk at my house. Like, we. I've been very open with my followers about that and like take it with a grain of salt. You do. You. You talk to your doctor. I don't care. I didn't even ask my doctor, by the way, like, because I know what she would say with all doctors say, like, well, it's recommended. Like, I'm just listening to my body, being very, very intuitive with my body. Now. A part where I fucked up was thinking that I could be on tour and do this pregnant. Like, I've just never been pregnant before and I would just girl bossed too close to the sun and was like, I could be on tour for a full month and it's not going to be a big deal. And it's been really hard fulfilling because of course, you know, cliche. Everything that's hard, like, makes you feel better that you completed it, whatever. But it's been brutal. Like going from city to city back to back to back to back and performing and meeting people and being the version that I know they want to see of me, which is fun and excited and happy and like, hey, Queen. When really I'm like, hey, motherfuckers. Like, I'm miserable. Like, it's hard.

[Lauren Everts]

You can't have a glass of wine.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. I told Lauren for this. I'm like doing these shows sober. Wish I was a little buzzed. Like, I wish I was. That would be fantastic.

[Lauren Everts]

It. It's interesting. I think what it is because I have, like, you. You don't have the capacity for as much because you are, you, You're. You're building something, right? And it's you. You only have so much capacity every day to give.

[Shannon Ford]

And you know what? I. I'm the kind of person that is like, built like an energizer bunny. People are always like, God, what are you on? And I'm like, no, I only do drugs when I'm on vacation. Like, I'm actually, like, really energetic. I don't need a bunch of espresso or coffees. I don't drink Celsius. Like, I. I am just this way naturally, which is a gift and a disease for anyone that's around me. And it's like, shut the fuck up. But, you know, that's why people like us have podcasts and long form content.

[Lauren Everts]

It's an outlet.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. And that was taken away from me in pregnancy. And I did not see that coming. I just did not understand the lack of energy that you experience, because I've never experienced that before. And then, you know, fuck a coffee. Fucking that. I didn't. I had aversions to all of it. Like, I had adversions to anything that would give me caffeine energy. So it was. It was brutal to experience that complete drain of energy. I'm also not a napper. So we'd be like, take a nap. I'm like, I can't. My brain doesn't stop fudgeing going, even though I'm tired. So that was like, really hard for me to process. And then of course, everyone says, you just said you're building something. I'm like, on the app, it's like, your baby's getting its eyelids today. I'm like, no fucking shit. No. That's why I'm so tired.

[Lauren Everts]

Exactly. And let me tell you something. By your third pregnancy, the husband, at least mine is like, you got this.

[Shannon Ford]

It.

[Lauren Everts]

It's like my first one, he was like, doting and like, that's James, right?

[Shannon Ford]

Everybody move out of the way.

[Lauren Everts]

When I would, like, walk through a restaurant, and now he's like, she's got it.

[Shannon Ford]

You're like, no, I got it. And two other kids to take care of. The fuck?

[Lauren Everts]

So annoying. I'm like, do you think you could open the door for me?

[Shannon Ford]

That's funny.

[Lauren Everts]

Can you slow down? It's like I'm following like a waddling duck, like a mother. He's. I'm like. They start to like, just be like, it's.

[Shannon Ford]

She's got this in the bag. No. It's like, we appreciate the confidence, but knock it the off.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, oh, my God, let's go back. Can you put some elbow grease like it is. You'll see if, like, when you have three.

[Shannon Ford]

James is doting on me now. I mean, I could see him Very much. Being like Michael and being like, babe, you've done this before. You got this girl. And I'm like, no, off. Like, I want the third one.

[Lauren Everts]

They just are kind of like, yeah.

[Shannon Ford]

You go girl queen energy. You got this like, I'm like, I.

[Lauren Everts]

Need you to like, get like, get excited, get involved right there. They need to like, do they get.

[Shannon Ford]

Too used to it?

[Lauren Everts]

A PowerPoint on how to act? Because I want the same energy that I had for the first.

[Shannon Ford]

Right, right, right.

[Lauren Everts]

On the third.

[Shannon Ford]

I agree with that.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah. So just enjoy how he's acting all day long. Okay, well, you mentioned your intuition. I think that is something too. That is. We've sort of like lost the art of. It's like someone tell us what to do.

[Shannon Ford]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

The intuition to me is with everything I do so important in with pregnancy, the same. What are some like, hot takes that you have that you followed your intuition and it's worked out for you. Yeah.

[Shannon Ford]

I mean, I think Google is taking away everyone's like, will to intuition. Like, we forget we have it sometimes. And I've been really good about it. I feel like in the space that we're in and in the world that we find ourselves in with friends and with business opportunities, like, I've always been really big on following my gut. I also just like have a friend that legitimately is a witch and she's like, your gut is so powerful. Like always follow it. So I'm always trying to like listen to her and like listen to myself.

[Lauren Everts]

But I want to see the witch.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, I want to see the witch. Her name's Anna Grace. She's amazing. She just like can access the Akashic records and like a lot of cool stuff and she's like, woo woo. In like a way that you would.

[Lauren Everts]

Never think she'd see me on an email.

[Shannon Ford]

She literally looks like a little like, like cheerleader that's blonde. She just had like a near death experience and woke up and was like, oops, I'm a witch now. What? That's crazy.

[Lauren Everts]

Oh my God.

[Shannon Ford]

No, it's iconic. But she's always reminded me like that gut feeling you have. And a lot of women, if you're listening to this, it's not a. When you have this feeling inside of you, think about if you've ever caught your boyfriend doing something or maybe you just had a feeling they were doing something. That is a visceral reaction your body is giving you. It's a gift. Like, follow it, listen to it. Listen to your gut. Like, it's not Just a gut feeling for a reason. It is in your guts, making you feel a certain way. Follow that feeling and listen to it. So I just try to do that with my everyday life, but also with pregnancy. I've tried to not feel any guilt around stuff because it's really easy to. Of course, all the stuff we consume, right? Like, I didn't take a prenatal at all in the first trimester. And I like, did even say to my doctor, like, I'm feeling guilty. She was like, it's okay. Like, if you can't stomach it, you can't stomach it. But then I got into my second trimester, I thought I could probably start taking a prenatal. And I don't think I've ever said this publicly. I'm still not taking a prenatal. And that's because I eat a diet that has everything in now that I can eat again and eat like I used to, which is very healthy. I eat things that have fish oil in them. I eat. I love fish. Like, I'm eating lots of fish. I'm having lots of food that are high in folic acid. Like, I'm maintaining this diet that is rich and nutritious for my baby. So, like, I just don't need to take like a prenatal that doesn't suit me or doesn't serve me right now. And maybe I'll change. Maybe my third trimester, I'll be like, something's missing. I need to take a supplement for something.

[Lauren Everts]

You'll. You'll feel.

[Shannon Ford]

Feel it out. Yeah, you'll feel it out and that's fine. But right now I'm not. And I'm not like, making myself feel guilty about that.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm still, like I said, I'm still drinking raw milk. We have a farm nearby our house that's very trustworthy, very hygienic and amazing. And we drink raw milk. My husband's obsessed with it. Like, he only wants to drink raw milk. And he is so. He's so obsessed with research. Like, he's so, so research based. It's like innately inside of him. I couldn't be fucked to do any of that. Like, I don't care to research stuff. And he is, like, obsessed with finding out. I think you're kind of like that. Like you're obsessed with like, the knowledge on things. And so it's great. I have like a little like, you know, Book for Dummies living in my house with me. Like, he just tells me everything. And I know it's well researched and great. And so I follow that lead. So I'm still drinking raw milk and I know you are too. And I eat sushi when I want to eat sushi. And I just think one day, if I'm like, wait, I need to stop doing this, then I'll follow that gut feeling.

[Lauren Everts]

You. It's. You can feel your internal compass. Yeah, we've lost the art of listening to that.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. And people used to wonder, like, how did cavemen do it? They fucking had nothing but their intuition and internal compass. Like, that's all they had. You know, it's like little kids having tantrums. All they have is their feelings right now. That's all they have. Right. So they follow wherever it takes them. So if they're sad, they erupt into sadness because it's literally all they have. Like, we need to go back to feeling the feelings that we're having and the intuitions and guts. I mean, I love modern medicine. Don't get me wrong. I'm so thankful that I go to an ob. People are like, are you going to have a home birth? I'm like, fuck, no. Give me the epidural. Like, absolutely not. But I intuitively am listening to myself with other things regarding the pregnancy.

[Lauren Everts]

It's funny, though, because you will be able to use your intuition, too in your birth plan. So, like, a lot of people will be like, did you get this vaccine when the baby was born? Or did you. Did you put the iu or all the. All this different stuff. First of all, I'm scared to put out what I do because there's so many goddamn opinions.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, of course. And I'm not anti vax. I don't know what I'll give my kid at this point, if you want to know. I don't know. I'll have to feel it out.

[Lauren Everts]

You know what? No matter what you do, people are going to have an opinion 100%. If I give my entire full birth plan, like, the Internet will have a laundry list of, like, what's wrong with it?

[Shannon Ford]

I also don't feel the need in this pregnancy to share every little iota. And that's hard for my audience and for me because I'm such an oversharer.

[Lauren Everts]

That will happen even gnarlier when you have kids.

[Shannon Ford]

Yes.

[Lauren Everts]

You become. Well, at least I did. I became. I'm very thoughtful with how my children shop.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

Very thoughtful. It's not something I just fly by the seat of my pants and you're going to see my daughter walking her first Step. And you know them on the toilet. Potty training.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

No my vibe at all.

[Shannon Ford]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

And that's. That's again, intuitively for my children.

[Shannon Ford]

Sure.

[Lauren Everts]

It doesn't feel correct for you. Right.

[Shannon Ford]

So that's fine.

[Lauren Everts]

And very thoughtful.

[Shannon Ford]

I think with that, like, I've just found things that I want to share and don't share. I always forget this about myself. I'm trying to be better about it. I'm like, you have the power, bitch. It's literally you. Your brand is you. You don't work for another company. You don't like. Your brand is Shannon. So Shannon gets to share what Shannon wants. And I don't owe anyone anything, which is such an easier said than done phrase. But, like, I get to share what I want to share and anyone that has a problem with it, like, take it up with the CEO who's me. So, like, it doesn't matter.

[Lauren Everts]

You're also the CEO of your baby.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

I will share, like three little tips that I love that I tell my friends. And I haven't shared this on the podcast a lot, but this is what I would tell you. Don't use the blanket in the hospital, okay. It causes eczema.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, okay.

[Lauren Everts]

Everyone who.

[Shannon Ford]

The little ducky blanket.

[Lauren Everts]

Go Google it. Go down a rabbit hole.

[Shannon Ford]

Go look and James on it.

[Lauren Everts]

The blanket that everyone uses.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

Do you know what I'm talking about?

[Shannon Ford]

The, the, the little duckies on it or something?

[Lauren Everts]

The duckies are in Nashville. But there's also like, it's like white and then there's blue and red stripes.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, I know what you're talking about. That must be right after birth blanket.

[Lauren Everts]

They think about it. Your baby comes out, and then they wrap it in something synthetic right away that's been washed and who knows what with the beanie.

[Shannon Ford]

Well, 100% and the skins open at a hospital. I'm sure they take the precautions of hygiene and they wash it in bleach related products.

[Lauren Everts]

Exactly.

[Shannon Ford]

What do you do?

[Lauren Everts]

And this is what I tell all my friends. Just don't use that blanket. Bring your own fresh blanket. That's.

[Shannon Ford]

That's wrapped like cotton or wool or something. Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

There's like a brand that it. I think it's called Au and it's completely organic.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

And it's, it's made from like, I, I don't want to flub it, but like, no polyester, blah, blah. You could get one of those. And then I think for me, I want, I want my own beanie now. Because they put A beanie on it.

[Shannon Ford]

Why do they put the beanie on it?

[Lauren Everts]

I think because they were cold. Okay, I might be wrong. No, no, I'm sure that's not blanket. This is my PSA to everyone. And then I also. I ate my placenta, which is not crazy. A lot of people do that.

[Shannon Ford]

Did you eat it encapsulated or did you put it in a smoothie?

[Lauren Everts]

To be honest, I would have fudgeing cut that up as a steak and had some A1 sauce with it.

[Shannon Ford]

You like? You know, I'm eating a lot of steak tartare right now, but you freaked me the fuck out on your podcast when you're like, I can't stop craving pate. Liver pate, pate. I'm like, I can't relate to that craving specifically, but I am out craving steak tartare.

[Lauren Everts]

Are you craving salty? Yes, pate is salty.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay, now I could eat it now.

[Lauren Everts]

Take a sourdough cracker.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay. Get some tangerine slices, like a good tangerine.

[Shannon Ford]

All right.

[Lauren Everts]

Maybe some Cornish ends, the mini pickles.

[Shannon Ford]

Listen, this is starting to be a very elaborate couch snack, but I'm here for it.

[Lauren Everts]

It's a ploughman's lunch. Some chopped raw cheddar cheese.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

Put it on a board. Get a little pate.

[Shannon Ford]

Where do you get your liver pate from, bitch? Like, where is this?

[Lauren Everts]

Just at Local Pastures.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

It's in Austin. It's like, duck heart.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

And dip that cracker in your pate with a little bit of cheese. With your.

[Shannon Ford]

I. No, no, this sounds delicious, by the way.

[Lauren Everts]

A little hummus.

[Shannon Ford]

I think I listened to your pregnancy podcast when I was in my first trimester, and I was like, disgusting. She's a sick. Like, she's disgusting. Now you're into it now I'm like, I just. I eat all kinds of food. Like, I've always been like. My mom was like, you ate. Like, now, we didn't grow up with a lot of money, so, like, she would go to the pantry section, Piggly Wiggly, because my mom has always wanted to, like, be fancy. And she'd get caviar from, like, which I'm sure was just, like, salt beads. But she was like, you would eat that when you were three. Like, you loved it. Like, I would find an old photo, and I'm like, look at all the chocolate on my face. And she's like, that's caviar.

[Lauren Everts]

That's amazing. You have to post that picture when this episode.

[Shannon Ford]

I need to. Yeah, it's just like, you need to.

[Lauren Everts]

Send me that, sweetie.

[Shannon Ford]

I will. And my mom has it as my contact photo. She's like, that was caviar. We're like in the back of a trivia.

[Lauren Everts]

You would like it.

[Shannon Ford]

I would love it.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm telling you. And. Or you could take a piece of sourdough toast, put raw butter on it, and then put a little bit of. A little bit of pate on top.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay. I've got to find the pate. That's what the search is going to be for. I need to find it now.

[Lauren Everts]

Amazing pate.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay, it's.

[Lauren Everts]

And here's my thing. It's. It's organs, which is so good for the baby because think about.

[Shannon Ford]

Yes, the baby.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, it's so good.

[Shannon Ford]

I did lie when I could stomach them. James takes this. I can't remember the brand. Vital something. A beef organ, a beef liver.

[Lauren Everts]

Amazing.

[Shannon Ford]

And I would take those, but you take six of them. And that was like sometimes a little much for me. And so I would take, like try to take four of them when I could. I could see myself getting back on that. But I also just maybe I'll just go for the pate and just get some organs in that way.

[Michael Bostic]

Let's talk about Element. Element has been a longtime partner of the show and that is because staying hydrated is so important not only for energy and focus and getting rid of headaches, but also so that you can sleep better, operate better and get better workouts. So many people are running around drinking a bunch of water, but they're actually not properly hydrating. What I love about Element is Element is a zero sugar electrolyte drink mix and sparkling electrolyte drink. Born from the growing body of research revealing that optimal health outcomes occur at sodium levels two to three times. Government recommendations. No surprise there. Each serving delivers a meaningful dose of electrolytes. An element is formulated for anyone on a mission to restore health through hydration. It's perfectly suited for athletes, folks who are fasting, or those following keto, low carb, whole food or paleo diets. We have been taking element for years now. The way that we take it every single time we go to a workout when we know we're going to sweat a little bit more and lose some of that electrolyte ratio. We dump it in our water, maybe add a little aminos, maybe add some creatine and drink it throughout the workout. I used to get that midday slump and I suffered from headaches for a long time as soon as I figured out that I was hydrating. But I wasn't properly hydrating with the proper electrolyte ratio. Adding Element has been a game changer. I don't get those headaches as often. I don't have that midday slump. I feel energized and most importantly, I feel hydrated. Which is going to make everything in your life better. So check them out. Right now, Element is offering a free sample pack with any purchase. That's eight single serving packets, free with any element order. This is a great way to try all eight flavors or share Element with a friend. Get [e-mail] Skinny this deal is only available through our link. You must go tO-R-I-N K L M-N-T.com skinny check them out.

[Lauren Everts]

Can I get a Spritz Society in the delivery room, please? I would like an ice bucket full of the pink lemonade flavor. I I cannot wait to have a cocktail post. Baby Spritz Society has one of my favorite flavors. It's the pink lemonade. And I actually had the opportunity to help them create it because we did a Skinny Confidential co brand with them. So Spritz Society is one of my favorite canned cocktails. And it's because it's not like a nasty hard seltzer. It's. It's just like really, really refreshing. Like it's pure. There's no artificial flavors. It's fresh. There's no fake sugars. It's clean, it's simple, it's delicious. There's six ingredients or less. It's made with real cane sugar and it's a real white wine. Also, I'm friends with the owners who you guys may know the toast. Jackie and Claudia and Ben. They're amazing and they developed this product all by talking to their audience closely. So when I got to make a signature flavor with them, I was very, very excited. There's hints. Strawberry, rose and lemon. It comes in a pink can. 120 calories only too. And it's just so refreshing. It's a bestseller. You guys gotta try it. Have one for me. Head to spritz society.com to find a store near you. And don't forget to follow Spritz on Instagram. They're always dropping exciting new flavors and throwing fun events. Spritz Society Summer starts here. Jenny Kane if you have not gone on and shopped their cashmere sweaters, you are missing out. How I have been wearing them in summer is I'll wear all black because I'm very pregnant and then I'll do one of their cashmere Sweaters like my favorites, the Flynn cashmere sweater. And I'll do it around my neck. Like, I'll tie it, and it's so cute. It's versatile, it's high quality, but it's also affordable cashmere. It's absolutely, absolutely beautiful. I was actually introduced to this brand by Dorit from housewives of Beverly Hills. She was, like, raving about the brand. I bought a blanket from them that was cashmere. I love it for my bed. And then I was like, I need to try their sweaters because Dorit just talks about them all the time. So I tried the Flynn cashmere sweater. Fell in love with it. It's so cute for grabbing coffee. I even wear it to the gym and then take it off before my workout. I'll head to the office in it. You can go out to dinner in it. It's just really a true closet staple. Post baby, I am all about the classic staples that I can reuse. And I think this is a great way to just elevate any outfit. Their colors are spot on too. They have, like, a seasonal selection. I like the denim. It's a navy sweater. I also, though, really, really like the camel. And then, of course, I think the black is great too. It's the Flynn cashmere sweater. It's a V neck, and it's also fun to wear over a white T shirt. Find your new spring uniform at Jenny Kane, and our listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code skinny15 at checkout. That's 15 off your first order at J-E-N-N-I K-A-Y-N-E.com promo code skinny15. Let getting dressed be one less thing to worry about. If I wanted to get pregnant, like, right away, the first thing I would do is implement organs into my diet every single day. Organs represent fertility.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

They're so good for you. Okay. Or. And organs. Anyone who's listening has grown my hair like no other.

[Shannon Ford]

I love organs also, you guys. There's ways to take them if you're not, like, in. Deliver pate and cornish and pickles, and then you can just take the. You can take the pills like they have.

[Lauren Everts]

There is a little pickle.

[Shannon Ford]

I like, I literally. I have been very cliche pregnant bitch and, like, really want pickles all the time.

[Lauren Everts]

Get some cornish do.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm here for it.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm telling you, the pate.

[Shannon Ford]

You don't have to convince me now, okay?

[Lauren Everts]

It's not just, like, I'm spoon eating pate.

[Shannon Ford]

Maybe that's what I pictured that was you didn't break it down with the cheddar cheese. And I was like, she's a sick fuck, that Lauren. She's.

[Lauren Everts]

I spoon feed it into my mouth, but. But I make it like, I romanticize it.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, no, I love romanticizing couch snacks. 100%. I love that.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay. I think you'll like the pate, so you got to try that.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay, deal.

[Lauren Everts]

So no blanket.

[Shannon Ford]

Got it.

[Lauren Everts]

No beanie.

[Shannon Ford]

Yes.

[Lauren Everts]

I ate my placenta in capsules. Super easy. They just take it out and put in a cooler.

[Shannon Ford]

My best friend had a home birth and she. I was there. And after she birthed her placenta, her midwife, like, maybe like, wiped it off or like, it was the craziest fucking thing. Cause, you know, there's so much more. Like, you know, one with the earth. Like, at the hospital, they just take that shit away, put it in a bucket and throw it away, Right?

[Lauren Everts]

I wish they wouldn't do that, though. I wish they would just let it sit. Sit in you for a minute for.

[Shannon Ford]

Well, doesn't it, like, come out on its own or they make you birth it?

[Lauren Everts]

I wish that they would let it sit for like an hour after you gave birth. Because it's good. It's good to be.

[Shannon Ford]

You know, they're trying to cycle you out of those rooms, so they're like, come on, the clock's ticking. We got someone else.

[Lauren Everts]

Thank you. Wham, bam, thank you. Bam. Checklist.

[Shannon Ford]

Let's go. Business of being born. Give it a watch. But Taylor had her placenta, and I will never forget, we were like, she was sitting in the bed, she had her baby doing skin to skin. And the midwife came over and she's like, exactly what you would picture. This is, like such a hippie vibe. She walks over and she has this placenta that's literally, like, they say, the size of a dinner plate. And she goes, look at this. What a beautiful placenta. And she's getting her hands and she's like, showing that it's crazy. It looks like the. In, like the back of a turtle. Like, if you flipped a turtle over and saw all the lines and stuff.

[Lauren Everts]

Carson, are you. Have you fainted yet? Is this a lot for you?

[Shannon Ford]

Is it. Is it a bit much? The liver pate will get him before this does, I promise. But she was, like, touching it, and I was like, holy. And I'm actually a pretty squeamish person. Carson, I can relate. But for some reason, things like that are such a magical, like, awe stricken, like, whoa, and she was, like, showing it. She was like, oh, this is a good one. And she was just, like, showing her all the different, like, parts of the placenta. And it was just crazy to see it. I was like, that is literally what one just came off of you. So now that is the size of the wound that's inside of you. And then also that was what was attached to your baby. Like, women are fudgeing. So cool, dude. Like, it was just so, so cool to see.

[Lauren Everts]

Are you going to let James be up your vagina hole or is he going to be hind your shoulder?

[Shannon Ford]

I asked him because. Because I watched all of Taylor's births. It was really beautiful. And I said to him, like, it's not as gory and gross as you think. You're not looking at this, like, beautiful vagina that you love to, like, you know, treat well and fuck nicely.

[Lauren Everts]

You're not porn, James.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, you're not looking at it. And also my husband is like, so. He's so, like, anti porn anyway. So, like, I. He. He's all about, like, the imagination and, like, like, finding your sexual being, like, inside yourself. Anyways. He. He's like, I'm going to stay behind your shoulders. I don't want to. I don't want to see, like, her like that. And I'm like, no. I kind of, like, want him to because Taylor's husband ended up doing it. And he said the same thing. He was like, it's not what you think. Like, it's. You're literally watching your child be born into the world. And he's like, there's something so beautiful about it. You don't see it as her vagina. You don't. Like, you see it as this, like, portal to the world. He's like, I was able to, like, separate the two. Maybe James knows himself. And he's like, I can't separate the two, babe. Like, I have to stay behind your shoulders. But I would not be like, get back there. Stop. I would be like, yeah, you could look if you want. Just don't describe it to me. I don't want a mirror. I don't want a mirror.

[Lauren Everts]

No, I didn't do a mirror. Do people do me? Oh, people.

[Shannon Ford]

People do mirrors. I don't want that because I think I'll be too squeamish for that. Like, I can sometimes if I have a really full tampon. It really grosses me out to pull it out. Like, I'm kind of squeamish like that.

[Lauren Everts]

I just.

[Shannon Ford]

Sorry, Carson. This is really.

[Lauren Everts]

I Feel like that's a lot of multitasking to add a mirror. But that's amazing. I can do that.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm great with instructions. Some people want to know. They want to see, they want to know, they want to be like, okay, now I do this. I will listen to what you tell me. So like, you tell me when it's time to push. You tell me when I need to do this. Like, I, I just know myself. I'll. I'll over complicate it if I can see something that I've never seen before.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, what are your pregnancy must haves? This pregnancy?

[Shannon Ford]

Pregnancy must haves. I really, really love, love my mouth tape that I sleep with at night.

[Lauren Everts]

I can't. No.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm a mouth breather and so, like, it's. I, I used to have all these issues with my tongue. Like, my tongue was always white and people like get a tongue scraper. So I did. And then I'd scrape my tongue and I'd wake up in the morning, I'd be like, why is my tongue nasty as fuck like this? Oh, I don't know. Because you're sleeping like this and you either are or you aren't. My husband is so fucking annoying. He sleeps like a little baby cherub angel. He's like, honestly has a little smile on his face, like, and he just breathes to his nose. And that's great if you're that person. But I am like, I don't know if it's hereditary. I am a mouth breather and so I need that tape. I need that, like, for me. And I don't use the whole, like. You don't. I like, put it on my lip.

[Lauren Everts]

You like do a facelift? Yeah, yeah, I do a little face.

[Shannon Ford]

100 and it's really helpful because I think I would even breathe through that hole if I could because my body just wants to breathe through my mouth.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, I like, I like it like, I like the hole on the upper lip.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, I just.

[Lauren Everts]

Some people want optionality.

[Shannon Ford]

Well, they like it for water in the middle of the night. I don't drink water when I wake up in the middle of the night. So I don't need the hole for a straw for water. But I see the functionality of it. But it's, it's one of those things that like, I have found is so beyond helpful with pregnancy. I also think just like breathing through your nose in general during like flu season and like all of these things, like our nose are a filter. Like, if you guys are doing those things I keep seeing Instagrams and Tiktoks of those things where they're like date night activity and it's them like putting the wax in their husband's nose and in their nose and then ripping the hair out. Like get a little trimmer and trim his hairs if they're hanging out of it nose. Because that's fucking gross. Stop ripping out your filter that's in your nose.

[Lauren Everts]

I do that.

[Shannon Ford]

Protect.

[Lauren Everts]

I know, I know that I'm not supposed to.

[Shannon Ford]

You put a whole wax thing in there, rip it out.

[Lauren Everts]

Stacy Christie. My facialist does it. It's so satisfying. I know. I agree with.

[Shannon Ford]

If you're not sick all the time, then don't worry about it. But I agree with people that get really sick. Forget that like our noses really do help stop a lot of that.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't want like nose hair.

[Shannon Ford]

Do what you want to do. Live your truth. But like, for me personally, I feel like I started getting less sick from breathing through my nose. Like when I'm on a plane, I just try to just breathe through my nose.

[Lauren Everts]

Oh, it's like six central there.

[Shannon Ford]

Gross me the fuck out.

[Lauren Everts]

What else are your pregnancy must haves? It could be clothes, it could be something non dresses.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm liking dresses for this like weird in between phase of like she is pregnant, she's not pregnant. Like I can't picture. And I guess it's a weather thing. Like if you're pregnant in the middle of January, like you have to wear like pants. But like I'm really not liking pants during pregnancy.

[Lauren Everts]

Maybe what's uncomfortable? Bras.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, sorry. I've never had tits in my life and now I have tits.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, the boobs are huge.

[Shannon Ford]

It's crazy. Like, and I thought I wasn't gonna get that till I started breastfeeding. Or like the milk came. Oh no, they came instantly for me from all the hormones. And I never realized like how, how much bras were like, like I understand now. I would always say to my big boo friends, like, I wish I had big boobs. They're like, no, they're horrible. Like they are pretty cumbersome. Like they are.

[Lauren Everts]

They are in the way.

[Shannon Ford]

In the way. And like, I will say like, I have a lot of respect for my like, like itty bitty titty committee now because I'm like, I'd actually like to go back there. Like these are really just in the way. And all the clothes that I had before because I just only had like this like chest area. I could wear all these low cut Things now I look like a fudgeing prostitute.

[Lauren Everts]

It's. It's wild how much your boobs grow. Yeah, I feel like. I feel like I'm an E or.

[Shannon Ford]

That's crazy. Yeah, I'm just like a huge, huge C. And I've always been an A, my whole life, so it's just like nuts.

[Lauren Everts]

Everything just. Just like expand.

[Shannon Ford]

Everything expands. I'm. I have to have, like, literally in this gorgeous Chanel purse, I have stool softeners right now. Like, I have. I was so unbelievably constipated, which I just did not. I know. It's such an old tired phrase. Like, things they don't talk about when you're pregnant. Like, everyone talks about everything. What are you talking about?

[Lauren Everts]

But everyone talks about everything. I can't. You're so right.

[Shannon Ford]

I cannot stand that intro. Like, things people don't talk about. I want to be someone that talks about these things. Like, go on the Internet. Everyone's talking about everything. You could literally find a video where someone's like, I grew a tail during pregnancy. And I loved it. Like, everything. No, I mean, I'm making that up.

[Lauren Everts]

But I'm like, wow.

[Shannon Ford]

Everything that happens, I'm like, I have a sty. They're like, those are more common during pregnancy. I'm like, oh, off. Like, everything is more common.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, everyone. Everyone does talk about everything.

[Shannon Ford]

Everyone talks about everything. And I must not have been consuming enough content. I heard that you could be constipated. I didn't understand the. The seriousness of it. I have, like a whole bit about it in my stand up. Because it's just like, really so crazy that you can't.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, here's the tip for constipation during pregnancy. A huge bowl of kiwi. Like, I'm talking really. I'm talking about, like actually eight kiwis.

[Shannon Ford]

Well, yeah, you don't get much bang for your buck on those.

[Lauren Everts]

No, you don't get a bang for your buck. It's. It's like a micro dick.

[Shannon Ford]

Literally.

[Lauren Everts]

It's. You gotta do eight. You gotta peel them.

[Shannon Ford]

I didn't know that. Those help you go to the bathroom.

[Lauren Everts]

But then you have to put Zen basil seeds on top.

[Shannon Ford]

Where do you find this stuff?

[Lauren Everts]

Zen basil seeds have 15 grams of fiber. What you in 1 tablespoon. I think it might just taste like basil. It tastes great with, like, it's delicious.

[Shannon Ford]

You know something?

[Lauren Everts]

This morning I had eight kiwis peeled with two, like, probably three scoops of Zen basil seeds.

[Shannon Ford]

The way I'm literally Going to do this the second I get home. One thing, if you're a first trimester girly that you can stomach. I could eat as much fruit as my heart desired. That was very attainable.

[Lauren Everts]

That's weird. I know what you're saying.

[Shannon Ford]

You must need it because your body wants it and it's okay. And I ate. It was. It was what I honestly survived on. So if I would had that hack to help with constipation and getting fiber in, that would have been a game changer. You guys listen the up like that. If you're struggling in your first trimester, do that.

[Lauren Everts]

Not chia seeds.

[Shannon Ford]

Seeds. No, you said Zen basil.

[Lauren Everts]

Zen basil seeds. Different.

[Shannon Ford]

100 totally different.

[Lauren Everts]

And there's so much potassium and calcium and it's like what you said about the prenatal. You. You're getting all these nutrients that you need. Yeah, yeah. The Zen basil seeds, you can put them in a smoothie. There's so much fiber in them.

[Shannon Ford]

I needed that. I mean. Yeah. And that was the one thing, because I'm. I try to be as holistic as possible, like very 8020 life. And I literally. I'm like, whatever the is in these stool softeners, I don't care. Put it in my body because I just needed it so bad. And I don't even. I'm not even constipated anymore, but I just keep them with me because I'm so afraid to get back that place where I was like, emailing the portal of my OB and she was like, get a pair of latex gloves and try to, you know, remove any hardened stool inside your rectum. I'm like, what the does this look like? Like, I'm not a French bulldog getting my anal glands expressed at the vet. Like, I can't do that. Like, I give me a pill. I cannot reach into my rectum and dislodge stool. Well, I can't do that.

[Lauren Everts]

You. The main times you typically have to be careful of constipation are after surgery because the anesthesia.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

And after you have a baby.

[Shannon Ford]

Right. So kiwis and basil.

[Lauren Everts]

10 basil. But honestly, if you got to take.

[Shannon Ford]

A stool softener, you gotta take a stool sometimes.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, you got to do what you got to do. Because my thing is, like, if you do do the epidural or you do get surgery and have anesthesia, you want it out of your body as quickly as soon as possible.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, it's true.

[Lauren Everts]

Are you doing belly binding?

[Shannon Ford]

Belly binding? No, not. I don't have that big of a Belly yet. What's belly binding? Is that where it holds your belly? Oh, oh, oh, oh, no. I haven't heard of this.

[Lauren Everts]

There's this girl that owns this company called Belly Bind.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay. Love.

[Lauren Everts]

And she comes to your house. You can fly her out, or you could get someone in Nashville. And she wraps your stomach.

[Shannon Ford]

Wow.

[Lauren Everts]

And it really helps the uterus go back.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, because your uterus doesn't need to shrink back, Correct?

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, it helps it. Like, they've been doing it in cultures for.

[Shannon Ford]

Is it more for the uterus, less for the aesthetics of your stomach?

[Lauren Everts]

I think it's for both.

[Shannon Ford]

For both. Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm. I'm gonna do whatever I need to do to get back in my pre pregnancy shape.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

That offends someone.

[Shannon Ford]

Again.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, I, Like, I want to look. Be my best version of you, but, like, the belly binding's nice, though.

[Shannon Ford]

I just don't know a single person, if they really. If they were connected to a lie detector test, who wouldn't say, like, I'd love to look like I looked before I gave birth. Like, I. I can't imagine. Like, I don't think that's a. A crazy statement. Like, yeah, I'd love to get back there. To say, you want to be back there in two weeks? That's a crazy statement. But to say, like, yeah, eventually I'd love to heal and be back to my pre baby self. What the fuck is wrong with saying that? There's nothing wrong with saying that.

[Lauren Everts]

I want to. I want to look the best I've ever looked. When I'm done having kids, I want.

[Shannon Ford]

To look the best I've ever looked at all times. And that's on narcissism. And I don't think there's anything wrong with vanity. Like, I literally want to look hot at all times. Like, and in pregnancy, I'm literally, like, how can I still try? I don't know. Like, some people are like, I don't care. I care. I Sue me.

[Lauren Everts]

I also think that that pregnancy can be.

[Shannon Ford]

It's.

[Lauren Everts]

It's beautiful and blah, blah, blah. You also can feel really attractive.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, I. I let myself be a slob kebab whenever I was in my first trimester. It's all I could do. I really understood how people feel when they say, like, makeup, like, how the. I see. My friend would be like, she loves to say this, like, because she's had three girls now, and she would be like, what are you. What are you getting ready for? And I'd be like, just the day. And she'd be like, you're just getting ready for the day. I'm like, yeah, just getting ready for the day. I understood in my first trimester, like, literally fudge off. Like, I'm not getting ready for the day. Like, what a luxury. Bitch. You feel good enough to get ready for the day for nothing. Just the day. Like, that was crazy. But now that I feel better, I do. I'm someone that likes to get ready for the day. So, like, I let myself lean into the feelings of, like, wanting to be in a sweatset with no makeup in my hair, on top of my head. Like, that was fine for me then, but now I have energy back, so I want to look nice.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't like to wear makeup unless I'm doing something.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, like, for the day that you had something to do with makeup. I don't wear makeup all the time on my stories and stuff. I'm not gonna, like, put makeup on and do an ad for my Instagram.

[Lauren Everts]

But, like, no, no.

[Shannon Ford]

If we were going to dinner or we were going to lunch and I, like, wanted to look cute, I'm happy to get ready for the day.

[Lauren Everts]

I. I will, like, bank my makeup days. Like, if I have to wear makeup, I will try to get as much out of the day as humanly possible.

[Shannon Ford]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

And I think what I've realized is it's because I just want my skin to breathe. Breathe. I don't want makeup on my skin all the time.

[Shannon Ford]

Do you know what I'm really bad about? I don't have, like, a five minute face. Like, I have, like a. This face. Like, I just.

[Lauren Everts]

It looks really good, though.

[Shannon Ford]

Thank you.

[Lauren Everts]

You do your own makeup?

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

There's, like, beautiful, like, strategically placed, like, freckles.

[Shannon Ford]

Listen, guys, you look great. Thank you so much. Little individual lashes. Listen, I'm on the him and her podcast, guys. I had to pop my pussy for this.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, you know what? It's. You look beautiful.

[Shannon Ford]

Thank you so much.

[Lauren Everts]

You're glowy.

[Shannon Ford]

I need to, like, find a way to, like, like, do, like, you know, concealer and mascara and like, a gym lip. But, like, I. For me, I'm like, if I'm putting makeup on, I'm putting this makeup on. So that is why I don't always wear makeup. Because it's like a full beat, dude.

[Lauren Everts]

You commit to it.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, I commit to the bit.

[Lauren Everts]

So how long does it go for? How long does, like, how long does this take?

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, no, I can. I'm actually really. I hate to be a pick me with this, but I'M a light packer, and I can get ready really fast.

[Lauren Everts]

So how fast is it? 5 minutes or is it.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, God. No, but it's like, this is a full beat with fake. Like, individual fake lashes.

[Lauren Everts]

Oh, yeah. You said it's not. It doesn't take five minutes. So what's. No, it's 20.

[Shannon Ford]

35 minutes. 30. 30 tops.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay. That's not, like, crazy.

[Shannon Ford]

No. I mean, who knows if I'll continue doing this, like, when I have, like, children and all that kind of. But, like, right now, like, to have, like, this glam in 30 minutes, it's a real gift.

[Lauren Everts]

What annoys you about pregnancy?

[Shannon Ford]

Not being able to drink alcohol. I don't care if you judge me for that. I really thought in my first trimester, I was like, this is how people are sober. I don't even want alcohol at the thought of alcohol disgust me. It was like, the same second I hit six or 13 weeks. Like, into my second trimester, I was like, sauvignon blanc. Sauvignon blanc. Sauvignon blanc. Like, I was like, margarita, tequila, Tequila. Like, I was like, I want that. That sounds refreshing, Delicious. And, like, I miss the vibes, dude. Like, I'm such a vibe person. And to go to lunch with your girlfriends and have an apparel spritz. I'm not going and getting blitzed and hammered. That's, like, not really my vibe anymore.

[Lauren Everts]

Part of the experience.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Like, I went on vacation. We're in Miami. I want a fudgeing, spicy margarita with my friends on the beach. Like, I want a paloma. And it's just, like, the vibes. And I just, like, don't fudge with a mocktail. Really. Like, I've tried them, and I just feel like it's a waste of $14. And I'm just like, I would just rather be pregnant and have sparkling water with lime. Like, I miss that. What else annoys me about pregnancy? Just, like, the early stages where you have nothing to show for it. That, like, now I'm like, I have a bump. And, like, people will be like, oh, can I get that for you? Like, I hated that. In between stage, I understood how people are like, like, I have a silent illness. I have a. I have a hidden illness or whatever. I'm like, that's me. I'm pregnant. You can't tell yet. I'm. It's a hidden illness.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, I got pregnant and my stomach pops out.

[Shannon Ford]

That's great. Mine. You know what? I'm showing more than most people do, but I have a Long torso. Maybe that's why. I don't know.

[Lauren Everts]

It's. It's a slippery slope comparing yourself to other people on the Internet when you're pregnant.

[Shannon Ford]

100. Yeah, it's.

[Lauren Everts]

It's really tricky to navigate.

[Shannon Ford]

I also know there'll be a time where I'll want my stomach to like, stop. Like, whoa, whoa, we're getting out of control here. So I try to remind myself now and I'm like, I wish I had more of a bump. I'm like, be patient.

[Lauren Everts]

Just enjoy.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

Enjoy the process of it all.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to remind myself of that.

[Lauren Everts]

Do you have plans after you have the baby? Like, like, meaning, are you gonna get a night nurse? Are you. Do you have a nanny? Like, on ice? Like, no.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, my God. I wish, like, one just like freezing, like, didn't freeze my eggs. Froze my nanny. But, like, I. I don't have that. I currently, the only thing I've paid for, put a deposit down for is this post nutrient. This woman that comes and she's like super, super, like old age. Like, like caveman style. Like the nutrients and the teas and the food.

[Lauren Everts]

Where do I get that? In Austin?

[Shannon Ford]

It's. I'm sure they have it. It's this woman that she. I had to book her, like, last two months ago and I'm not due till the fall. And she. Because she can only take one person per pregnancy, because she comes to your house. It's a luxury. I let myself lean into the luxury and like this called. I need to look it up. It's.

[Lauren Everts]

It's like, will you text it to me?

[Shannon Ford]

I will text it to you. But basically it's a woman that comes and makes sure that you are fed nutrient based things. Also, like, I don't trust James. He's a fine cook. But like, I need him for other. During that time. I don't need him to be in the kitchen cooking some that I'm gonna look at and be like, I don't want that. Like, no, I agree. Want her to. She cooks things that are like, it's motherly. It's very nutrient dense. For a woman healing from like birth.

[Lauren Everts]

I think it's great.

[Shannon Ford]

It's all these teas, it's all these broths, it's all these things. And then like in your second week, the second week is all about healing this part of your body. So it's this food and this food. And it's like, I treated myself to that because it was not cheap. But she, like comes to your Home. And then she, like, she has a key to your house. She comes in, she cooks it, she leaves. She, like, leaves it for you. And it's like, that was something that I want to make sure I'm. I'm a real. I love food. Like, food is really something that I'm just obsessed with, and I love good food, and. And I've always just enjoyed. When I started making money, I spent the most money on food. Like, that was, like, my thing.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, are you cooking the food, or is this, like, you're spending it on, like, postmates food?

[Shannon Ford]

No, like, I would, like, cook nice food or go to nice restaurants and have nice food. Like, I just love food, so I let myself splurge on that. I haven't hired a night nurse. I. I want to feel motherhood as it is. And if I'm like, get me out of fucking here. I do know some night nurses that I could call and I could probably hire. There's, like, a community of people in Nashville that I could reach out to, but I do kind of want to see what I can do on my own at first. But I'm not afraid. I'm not going to drown. Like, if I'm drowning, then I will just call for help. Also, my mom's going to come stay with us for, like, I'm sure, two or three weeks.

[Lauren Everts]

That's amazing.

[Shannon Ford]

That is something that I feel very blessed about. And my mom is, like, the pinnacle. Like, I cannot think of one person that's more suited to be a grandmother. Like, she's just going to be ready everything and more. Like, that woman literally, like, would lay my life on a fudgeing train track for her. So that is why I also haven't hired a night nurse. Not that I'm putting my mom in charge of nights, but I'm just, like, I know if I need help, she'll be there, and if I need help past that, that I'm not, like, afraid to hire someone.

[Lauren Everts]

I also think you have to, like, gauge your partner. There's some partners that won't change a diaper. There are some partners that won't wake up.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, there's worry about James waking up there.

[Lauren Everts]

It's. There's some part they don't want to do it, and which, by the way, like, that's fine for me.

[Shannon Ford]

For you, not fine.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, Michael's better. Better do 50.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

That's how I honestly, maybe, actually, Michael better do 60 because I just carried the baby. I'm healing.

[Shannon Ford]

Like, that's how I feel.

[Lauren Everts]

Come on, put some elbow grease, listen to it.

[Shannon Ford]

And I think James kind of like, fell into the, like, little, like, I know he's like, he's kidding, but he's not like the trope of like, oh, well, I'll sleep in the guest room. And like, I got really serious and we. I would not call it a fight at all, but we had some serious conversations where I was like, you will wake up. You will be miserable for three or four weeks the same way I'm sure I will. We will be dog ass tired. And that is what happens when you bring a baby into this world. Yeah, I will be doing so much more than you anyways because I gave birth, I have the baby. I have all this stuff when I need you in the middle of the night. And my friend Taylor was like, sometimes you need them to just wake up with you, not do anything but be awake with you so you don't go clinically insane. So you're like, someone else is awake with me at the same time. And I have that, like, comfortability of knowing he's awake too. And he was like, so you would just wake me up just to, like, be awake? And I was like, if I fucking need to, then yeah. And he's like, okay, okay. So now he's in the understanding that, like, he's gonna fucking do it.

[Lauren Everts]

I think that this conversation is very helpful for a lot of people because I notice a lot of influencers and celebrities, they don' I don't talk about help at all. And. And I'm not just talking about, like, hiring a nanny. I'm talking about bringing your mom in.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

Having a husband who's helpful, having, you know, someone help with the house. Like, I think it's an important conversation to have so people can see sort of like the behind the scenes, right?

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

I mean, I would not be able to do what I do without help.

[Shannon Ford]

You have a very different job than a lot of people, though. I don't think people understand that. Like, it's a big conversation. My girlfriend, who does the same thing as I do, she is a nanny, but, like, she doesn't go to an office every day. So people are your home. Why do you, like, have a nanny? And that's like a hater saying something like that. And it's like, what do you mean? Like, what a blessing to be able to have your kids still in the home that you're working out of and living out of. But, like, you cannot do what we do without help. Like, you're, you're. I mean, You're a CEO, founder, you're a million trillion things. But like everyone's working right and like everyone needs help. Even stay at home moms, I bet if they had the opportunity to have help would be like yeah please. Like, like this is fucking hard. I'd love some help.

[Michael Bostic]

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[Lauren Everts]

The Skinny Confidentials Memorial Day sale is here. And what I would recommend that you get is so obvious. It's the caffeinated sunscreen. This is the sunscreen that I use under my makeup. It does not pile, which is amazing. But most importantly, the caffeine does something to the texture of the skin. Like it tightens your skin. I've been using caffeinated sunscreen for like 12 years, and the reason I use it is because it tightens the pores and then you also get the sun protection. How I use this is I use a damp beauty blender. So I take the damp beauty blender and then I'll do a bunch of squeezes of the caffeinated sunscreen on the damp beauty blender and then I'll put it over my skin care and I am ready to go. I use this caffeinated sun sunscreen is like a tint during the day. I'm not a big makeup wearer unless I am working. I don't like to wear makeup. And this caffeinated sunscreen just gives me like a nice, even skin tone. So that's what I would get on the sale. It's 20% off. You can also go on there and grab the facial massager if you want to contour your face. You can get the butter brush if you want to do what I'm doing and really activate the lymphatic system. I use my dry brush for cellulite. Like I use it during pregnancy, specifically on the backs of my legs to activate, like the lymph and really get blood flow going. And then you can get the mouth Tape and the beauty salt. Those are some of my favorites. You can go to shopskinnyconfidential.com it's the memorial Day sale and it's now through Monday, May 26th. So you can shop 20% off your favorite TSC products. We don't do a lot of sales, so go shop and get all your goodies. Stock up shopskinnyconfidential.com Back in the day, they used to have, like, the community, the village, all the help.

[Shannon Ford]

Of course.

[Lauren Everts]

I think it. I also think, like, it's good for the child to be around different personalities and energies. We just went on vacation and my sister and her boyfriend came and, like, they were helpful and the kids loved playing in the pool with that. I'm, you know, catatonic.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

And like, can't, like, do jumping jacks and splits in the pool.

[Shannon Ford]

Do you know what you said that I keep quoting from your pregnancy podcast? And I say it all the time. I literally say it in my stand up. So I'm like, the show's over. Oh, yeah. I say, show's over.

[Lauren Everts]

That's what I say right before I put the mouth tape on.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, because over.

[Lauren Everts]

Listen, he married me for the show.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

He's always gonna get a show. He was. I wasn't gonna go to dinner when we were on the vacation, and he's dragging me to dinner because he wants the show. And I will put the show on and there'll be lights. Lights, camera, action.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm fucking ushering to the chair. Like, you'll get the popcorn, everything. But when the show is over, get.

[Shannon Ford]

The out of the menu. Get the out of the menu.

[Lauren Everts]

That's why I love mouth tape. It's. It's over.

[Shannon Ford]

It's a nice sign.

[Lauren Everts]

What's it called when they do the.

[Shannon Ford]

The final curtain?

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah. What?

[Shannon Ford]

The cut. The cut.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, it's over.

[Shannon Ford]

Done.

[Lauren Everts]

And you. But he. That's good. They don't get access to the show all the time because it makes them want the show more.

[Shannon Ford]

It's so true.

[Lauren Everts]

It's my.

[Shannon Ford]

It's so true.

[Lauren Everts]

A little absence is great for marriage. Agreed to break it to everyone.

[Shannon Ford]

But this is also coming from the girl that said she'll get on her knees at 10 months pregnant. So maybe we should give a little absence from blowjobs.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't know, though. I don't know that that's where I would put the absence.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay, I see.

[Lauren Everts]

I think I would lean into the. This is my. This is my opinion.

[Shannon Ford]

Yes.

[Lauren Everts]

I would put the Energy into. That's a show to me. The blowjob's the show.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

And then, like, I pull back, and there's a little mystery. And, like, the other day, I went to the foot spa for eight hours, and, like, I didn't pick up my phone.

[Shannon Ford]

The way I love a football. The way I will try to. I will try to find the dirtiest, nastiest. Like, those are gonna be better. Like, I will literally be like, they have two stars on Google. Perfect. Like, I am not kidding. I do not want a nice bougie. Have a star. I do not want a bougie football triangle. I want allegations against the foot spa. Like, I want there to be.

[Lauren Everts]

I may have been.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. I want there to be articles where they're, like, really wondering what's going on there. I want to go there. Like, I love.

[Lauren Everts]

Honestly, if there's a happy ending. I'm so relaxed, so I probably wouldn't.

[Shannon Ford]

Even know what was happening. I would just be like, you're still rubbing my feet, right? Like, I love a foot.

[Lauren Everts]

I ask every time I go. I have, like, my friend. I have, like, friends at the foot spa. I'm like, yeah. I like to know their names. I'm like, can I have one on each foot, please?

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

A forehand massage, one person on each foot, please.

[Shannon Ford]

And no, I'm getting turned on. I literally love a foot massage.

[Lauren Everts]

You have to, because your ankles get so swollen.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. I was on the beat. We were at the beach, and we were staying at the Fiana, and they had this lady walking around giving massages.

[Lauren Everts]

Yes.

[Shannon Ford]

And she was like. She could see I was pregnant, and she was like, oh, I won't do the feet. And I was like, no, no, no, no, I'm not. You cannot induce labor to me right now with reflexology. Hit it. Like, come on, get in there.

[Lauren Everts]

Three babies, and I've gotten my. My feet rubbed all the. All the time.

[Shannon Ford]

I was like, I love where your head's at, but I promise you, like, go in on the feet.

[Lauren Everts]

If you really want to be strategic, you can stretch your feet while you give a blow job. You can stretch the fascia in the feet.

[Shannon Ford]

You're out of control.

[Lauren Everts]

I will. I need to get as much out of this moment, this two minutes.

[Shannon Ford]

You like. Nothing if not effective, efficient.

[Lauren Everts]

Like you. If you position your feet right, you can stretch the fascia and the feet while you're on a nice, comfortable knee pad. I'm telling you one thing about Laura.

[Shannon Ford]

She is going to multitask. Like, that is the Craziest statement.

[Lauren Everts]

Passive multitask.

[Shannon Ford]

Right? Right. Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

It's not a lot of effort. It feels nice when I get up, my feet are stretched. It's kind of like doing a yoga pose and a stretch while you're getting something else done.

[Shannon Ford]

I see. Yeah, no, it's. It's a beautiful two birds, one stone kind of situation.

[Lauren Everts]

And then the show's over and I'm like a guy. I am like a guy. After that, I'm like, don't talk to me. Don't look at me.

[Shannon Ford]

You got yours. I'm going.

[Lauren Everts]

Get away from me. Let's. I want to take a shower, brush my teeth. That I'm. I'm putting my mouth.

[Shannon Ford]

Table 100.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm like a brutal guy.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm like getting an Uber.

[Shannon Ford]

You're like, I'm turn. Turning around, over, like, talk to my back sometimes.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm like, you know, this is how it would be to date a guy. How I am. And after sex, when you're a hundred.

[Shannon Ford]

Months pregnant, I can't imagine.

[Lauren Everts]

Oh, get ready.

[Shannon Ford]

I can't imagine.

[Lauren Everts]

They don't care.

[Shannon Ford]

Do you know? Can I say something really graphic?

[Lauren Everts]

Please? Go for it.

[Shannon Ford]

Do you know, while I'm pregnant, I really wish. I know this is just like, not the way husbands and wives are supposed to have sex. Like, of course you should finish inside of me. But like the act of that process after having sex, like, I'm like, can you not come inside of me? Because we. I'm already pregnant. I don't need you to do that. And then it comes out of me for the next, like, day, and I'm like, oh, my God, I hate that.

[Lauren Everts]

I think I pull out. I. But. But he can't.

[Shannon Ford]

I know.

[Lauren Everts]

In months and 10 months of not pulling out. So they get excited.

[Shannon Ford]

They can do true.

[Lauren Everts]

Do you know what I mean?

[Shannon Ford]

It's true. Because our method of birth control is the pull out method. So I get it. It's like his time to shine.

[Lauren Everts]

Natural and amazing. I love it. You don't do any hormones. It's great.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, is that good for hormones?

[Lauren Everts]

No, I'm saying like an IUD and all these different things.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, right, right.

[Lauren Everts]

Hormones. Like, you don't do that.

[Shannon Ford]

When I met James, he's like, I'd really like for you to get off birth control. I'm like, we've known each other for three months. Like, are you trying to impregnate me? And he's like, I just don't think you should be on all those hormones. And I Gotta go off birth control.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, we had someone come on the podcast that says a lot of those hormones in the birth control are contributing to infertility.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, that. I mean, there's a lot of things that can be contributing to, like, the rise in cancer and very young women at this day and age. Like, you just. We don't know. Like, and I was on a very high hormone. Like, I. I got put on birth control whenever I was 15.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, I just think I'm going to say something to James.

[Shannon Ford]

Just.

[Lauren Everts]

Just let him do his thing and finish.

[Shannon Ford]

And by the way, I do. If I looked at him when he was about to come and said, can you pull out? He'd be like, no. Like, he'd be like, why? Like, I. I just think, like, as a woman, I'm just like, oh, one more thing.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, geez, wait until you have the baby after you've done all the work. And then they're like, okay, put him on the breast. And you're like, it never ends.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm like, my body is just a constant.

[Lauren Everts]

You're like, I feel like a sow.

[Shannon Ford]

No.

[Lauren Everts]

So, like, it's like, I'm on my side with, like, the utter. Like, it's. It's crazy, like, how much we do. And then they're like, okay. Like, yeah, yeah. It's just like, put them.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

What's the thing that spins around at the airport?

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, my God. The carousel, the luggage. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

That's how it is. Mark my words. Right after you have the baby, you're gonna think that I said that because it's like this.

[Shannon Ford]

You. It's like all my holes are just being filled or sucked from at all times, and it's just gonna be one of those things. Things.

[Lauren Everts]

Have your mom spend the night at your house the first five days after you have the baby. I know you said she's staying two, three days, but have her be there, like, the night you come home, because that's the night that you're so tired and you need to sleep.

[Shannon Ford]

Okay.

[Lauren Everts]

That's my. Okay.

[Shannon Ford]

No, that's good. That's great information.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't feel like I, even after my third baby, have so many tips on pregnancy.

[Shannon Ford]

You have really good ones.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't. Like, I don't think I should write a book on what to expect from your.

[Shannon Ford]

It could be a short story. You could do that.

[Lauren Everts]

An Instagram paragraph. But you gotta sleep after you go through all that trauma.

[Shannon Ford]

I'm really, really well. Sleep's the easiest way to heal. Or like, the most powerful way for your body to heal is when it's sleeping, right? So, like, yeah, I'm hoping that I'm able to find sleep at times. I hope I'm not like, really, like on, like on edge. Like, is she awake? Is she breathing? Is she like those kind of vibes?

[Lauren Everts]

It's, it's.

[Shannon Ford]

But that's maternal, you know, it's.

[Lauren Everts]

And wait till even when they get older. Like, like, even with my 2 year old and my 5 year old. You're like a hundred things go through your head all the time, right? Everything is like, well, I asked Taylor.

[Shannon Ford]

Because she was like, I, like spend my life worrying about my girls. Like, it's all I do. It's all I think about. Like, I just, I'm always wondering and thinking about them. She's like, I called my mom and I said, when do you stop? Like, at what age do they get where you stop constantly thinking about their well being every two seconds. And Taylor's mom was like, I think about you every second of every day. And you are married and 31 with three children. It never goes away. It is inside of us. We are always concerned and worried about our children. And that's a really beautiful thing to be able to have a mother that still says that about you. Of course, like, that's a blessing, but like, as someone that's gonna most likely have those feelings, I'm like, wow, this is my life now. Just worried about my children forever.

[Lauren Everts]

You, you do. What's it like moving to Nashville? Or I guess you live there. What's it like living in Nashville? Like, do you. Something about it feels very grounding to me.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, it's beautiful. Did you guys ever think about moving there instead of Austin? Because I feel like people go back and forth between Austin and Nashville.

[Lauren Everts]

As a thought, we were already like moving away from la, San Diego. That like, Nashville was just too far. Yeah, like I think it was. We were wanting to be a little bit closer to family. But I love Nashville. I think it's amazing. I've only been once.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, you guys are having that Dear Media. I don't. Am I allowed to say that yet?

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah.

[Shannon Ford]

You guys are having a Dear Media in person event in Nashville in September or, sorry, November, which will be really fun. So you'll get to come then.

[Lauren Everts]

I would love to come then. And there's something about it that feels Mother Earth. It feels, it feels nice.

[Shannon Ford]

We just moved actually 20 minutes outside of Nashville to the suburbs called Franklin.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. It's like, it's A really, really. A gorgeous experience. Because Nashville, you still get that city life.

[Lauren Everts]

That's where we went when we went.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, Franklin.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay.

[Shannon Ford]

It's amazing and it's wonderful. And it is. It's like you wake up every day, you hear the birds chirping, and there is something very grounding. My husband is like, he wakes up in the morning, he's like, so you coded. Like, he wakes up in the morning, he comes, gets natural sunlight in his retinas. He puts his feet on the ground and like, I'm like, oh, how many emails could I check from my bed? He's like, come on, get up. Like, let's go put sunlight in our eyes. I'm like, okay. So it's nice to have a place you can do that and, and feel like you're really getting the benefits from the earth that surrounds us. Which is really lame to say, but it's true. Like, it's a beautiful place to live here.

[Lauren Everts]

And you're like, is that true?

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, it's a beautiful. I mean, we live in like a suburban neighborhood, so, like, you aren't frolicking around, but they're literally like, across the street. Yeah, it's like, like, you're. Like, I said, the farm we go to, it's just. We just passed a farm and we're like, I wonder if they sell raw milk. Walked up, met the farmer, he was like, we do. We do a, you know, a grocery share. We do this. Like, we have the eggs. Like, it's such a beautiful place to be able to find things around you that just exist the way that they used to always exist.

[Lauren Everts]

Are you anal with your schedule? It doesn't sound like you are. It sounds like you're go with the flow.

[Shannon Ford]

No, I'm going with the flow. My husband's not. And so it's, It's. That's a really hard thing for us to navigate. We have to just understand that we're two different people. But no, I'm really, I'm really go with the flow.

[Lauren Everts]

Like, are you waking up when you want and not doing anything? Wellness, health, fitness. Like, are you, Are you. Do you have, like, pillars of tools that you use in your toolbox?

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, I do. I will wake up and I do try to, like, eat. I try to eat right when I wake up. Like a healthy, protein filled, like, yogurt and fruit and whatever. Like, I do like to nourish my body. I'm big on, like, nourishment. Like, like, okay, I. I was never someone that could just like, oops I haven't eaten and it's 2pm Like I. I like to wake up and make sure I'm nourished. And I know some people do intermittent fasting and that's different. I just mean people that are like, I got so busy I forgot. Like, I always try to like really eat, but I just also love food. And then I really prioritize my sleep. Like if I don't have to be up at a certain time for something, I will let my body wake up. Now I'm an early riser, so I wake up at seven naturally.

[Lauren Everts]

That's like me. I. I don't. An alarm.

[Shannon Ford]

I don't need one because I really do just wake up.

[Lauren Everts]

Who wants to wake up to screaming sounds?

[Shannon Ford]

No, it's crazy. Like the hatch alarm was like a really great thing that we got because it like wakes you up with like little flutes and birds and stuff. Like I cannot like. And even people that play like their favorite music, like, that's a way to kill my favorite song. Like make that be my alarm when it wakes me up. Like, it's not, it's not healthy for me. I don't like that. But I really don't find myself setting alarms unless I have like a flight to catch early.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, it's Michael's like, Michael wakes up, you guys, sometimes to the sound of the theme song of succession.

[Shannon Ford]

And for that reason, like, he does need less blow jobs. Out.

[Lauren Everts]

I can't either.

[Shannon Ford]

Out.

[Lauren Everts]

I've gotten him off that. But I want to be woken up like, this is my dream. Remember how Cinderella wakes up to the church bells and there's the birds chirping and she fluffs the pillow and then the birds.

[Shannon Ford]

Yes.

[Lauren Everts]

Fix the end of the pillow.

[Shannon Ford]

Correct.

[Lauren Everts]

That is how I want to wake up every morning.

[Shannon Ford]

Do that for her. What's the big deal?

[Lauren Everts]

The hatch kind of does that.

[Shannon Ford]

It does. It is nice like that. We also, we don't sleep with blackout curtains. Now I will like, I needed sleep this morning. We've been on the road non stop, non stop. And I put the blackout curtains. I slept till 9:30. I like James text me like, are you okay? Like, are you okay? And I was like, I slept till 9:30.

[Lauren Everts]

It feels good.

[Shannon Ford]

I was so proud of myself. I was like, wow, my body must have really needed that because my internal clock clock wakes me up at 7:30.7. Like so I was like, whoa, what a treat. But at home we don't sleep with any blackout curtains because it's really nice and it's great for your circadian rhythm to have light wake you up, you know?

[Lauren Everts]

Why do you think that your podcast has become so successful? What are. What are the things that you think that you've put in that make the difference?

[Shannon Ford]

I don't think I've ever tried to, like, find a niche or find, like, a. A thing that I'm known for or, like, I've just, like, truly been myself, which is, like, such a literal, cliche thing. But I get it. It's really hard to maintain who you are in the day and age. And then the. The digital world we live in, people are always like, well, you know, then you need to be doing this. And now you need to be doing this. I sometimes found myself being like, oh, should I do this? Because those people do, like, they have, like, segments, like, every. At the end of every show we do, blah, blah. Like, I don't have any of that stuff. If you come to see me, you're gonna listen to me for an hour. And then, like, a lot of people love that. And if that's not your jam, then like. Like, it's not your podcast. But I think I've just never tried to be a version of something that I have to strive for. Like, I just truly exist the way I exist.

[Lauren Everts]

And the Toast has done that well, too. And it's no surprise you guys are such good friends. They've been able to.

[Shannon Ford]

Oh, my God.

[Lauren Everts]

I feel like whenever I listen to them, they're themselves.

[Shannon Ford]

They helped me so, so much. Like, Claudia and Jackie are such pillars of not. And you're like this too. Not giving a. Like, they are. They are not innately offensive people. They don't want to offend. They don't strive.

[Lauren Everts]

No, they're intention. Right?

[Shannon Ford]

Yes. So, like, if someone is misunderstanding them, then that is someone just, like, choosing to misunderstand them.

[Lauren Everts]

Stop looking.

[Shannon Ford]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm gonna name this person. It's the looker. Yeah, the looker's on the lookout with the binoculars.

[Shannon Ford]

You're looking for someone to be offended.

[Lauren Everts]

Anything that they can say where you can start a Reddit thread or send an email or complain if you're a looker, get a hobby.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, and I've done so much better about not. Because I used to, you know, say all the time I produce. Or was that offensive? Should we cut that out? And I don't do that anymore. Like, because I know I'm not an offensive person. Like, the only thing I cut out is if I, like, mispronounce someone's name or something. Like, I truly know that what I am and my intentions in my heart are good. And so you listen to that. And I do feel like you feel that. Like, you listen to my podcast and you feel like you're on FaceTime with me, because that's how I talk to my friends, and that's how I talk to my audience. And it is. It's helped me find success because I've stopped giving, really a. About all the lookers of the world. Like, look somewhere else. Like, you're not gonna affect me anymore. If you look to find something, like, you found it, good for you. That's something you're offended by. And, like, 20,000 other people, 40,000 other people weren't. So, like, I'm gonna side with them on this one. Like, I don't care.

[Lauren Everts]

It's also stuff that, like, is not offensive becomes offensive. And that's when it's like, well, and.

[Shannon Ford]

You'Ll put yourself in a really bad position if you're always apologizing for stuff you're not sorry for. I don't apologize for. For anything I'm not sorry for. Like, I'm. I'm serious. Like, I do not get on my Instagram and put a black screen up in a text. I'm not apologizing for something I'm not sorry for. If I had to contact someone and be like, what's the best way to apologize for this? You're not sorry. You're not. If you can't think of an apology that comes to you because you actually feel bad, then you're not sorry. So stop apologizing for. You're not sorry for. Because you're trying to, like, negate a PR situation. Like, like, stand on business. Say it with your chest, dude. Like.

[Lauren Everts]

Like.

[Shannon Ford]

Like say how you feel. It's not going to appease everyone. It is what it is. But I've always been, like, not everyone's cup of tea. So I learned that from an early age. My mom had to tell me very early on, like, people are not going to always like you. Like, you've got to get over it. Because I used to just be so affected by it when I was little. Like, when I was in, like, high school and middle school, I'd be like, I just don't get it. They don't like me for no reason. She's like, they do have a reason, but it's their own. It's nothing to do with you. Like, that. They do have a reason inside of them. Them, but it's not about you, so get over it.

[Lauren Everts]

The way to get over that. Is exposure therapy like we talked about?

[Shannon Ford]

Yes.

[Lauren Everts]

The way to, the way to get over of people thinking about you or talking about you is exposure therapy. You continue to put yourself out there day after day. Some people have stuff to say. You just keep doing it. It becomes like a muscle. You start to get to a point where I'm not, I'm not mad or angry. I'm indifferent. Yeah, I'm, I'm not anything. Like I don't have a feeling towards it.

[Shannon Ford]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

If you don't like me, like you said, go, go somewhere else. Like unsubscribe.

[Shannon Ford]

This is how people exist in real life. Like people that have friends and have conversations with their friends and their family, like they don't filter themselves. Have you ever been at a dinner table if you're listening to this and you're not in the public space or public like front facing position online. Have you ever been at the dinner table and said to the people sitting around you, by the way, trigger warning. And I don't mean to offend anyone before I say this. You don't say that in your real life. So like we need to just exist as we exist in real life and stop like, like focusing so much on like how everyone's affected by it. Like I care, I have empathy. I'm like habitually empathetic. Like I, I, it's, it's too much. Like I can't stand sometimes how much I think of other people's feelings. So like I'm good. I sleep well at night knowing that I care about others and how they feel and I do right by others. So I don't need to like give a bunch of disclaimers.

[Lauren Everts]

In real life you're going to hear things you don't like 100 on the Internet. You're going to see things you don't like. Like you're not going to agree with everything.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah, it's a Ricky Gervase quote.

[Lauren Everts]

That is, that's, that's the way the cookie.

[Shannon Ford]

To walk around in life thinking you'll never hear a differing opinion is the most ignorant way to live your life. Like it, it's literally, it's truly a sign of stupidity. Like to think that you'll never hear anything that doesn't like appease you or is in the same like realm of your thoughts. No, it's just like, that's just crazy. That's exhausting. Yeah, it's exhausting.

[Lauren Everts]

You're fabulous.

[Shannon Ford]

Love you Lauren.

[Lauren Everts]

You can come back anytime you want. We really niche down on pregnancy.

[Shannon Ford]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

But you can come back anytime to talk about anything. Maybe when you have the baby you can. I, I can't wait to hear like post Shannon. Post baby.

[Shannon Ford]

Me too. Honestly.

[Lauren Everts]

You're welcome anytime. Maybe you come to Nashville. Maybe we'll podcast in November. Where can everyone find you, follow you, support your podcast? I'm a big fan. I love what you're doing. I think it's very savvy and I, I feel like you are a breath of fresh air.

[Shannon Ford]

Thanks.

[Lauren Everts]

With content.

[Shannon Ford]

Thank you.

[Lauren Everts]

Refreshing.

[Shannon Ford]

Thank you. You can find me on Instagram at probably Shannon. You can find me on TikTok probably Shannon. And you can listen to my prop. My podcast. Probably a podcast. And I am think not on tour for much longer. So if you want to check me out, I have shows coming up in Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. My tickets are available at my website. Probably Shannon.com more shows in a month. So I have a month break. I do. I do. I really. We're filming the special. We're putting the special up. If you can't make it to any of those shows, the special will be be filmed. I do an hour long set and it will be available for consumption.

[Lauren Everts]

Good for you. Thanks Sam.

[Shannon Ford]

She's out here. Girl, bossing too much.

[Lauren Everts]

Love you Shannon Ford. Love you. Thank you so much for coming on.