Brooke Averick: Naming Your Emotions

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Squeeze

Episode: Brooke Averick: Naming Your Emotions

Host: Taylor Lautner (aka “Tay”), co-hosted by Paige Lautner

Guest: Brooke Averick (Comedian, Podcaster, Author)

Date: May 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Squeeze features content creator, podcaster, and debut novelist Brooke Averick. Known for her honest and comedic takes on mental health and her experience with OCD, anxiety, and depression, Brooke joins host Paige (Tay Lautner) to discuss the importance of naming emotions, her early struggles with mental health, the realities of OCD, the role of therapy, and her new book Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It. The conversation balances light, playful banter with candid, relatable explorations of serious topics like mental illness, therapy, and self-acceptance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introductions and Icebreakers

[03:18–05:16]

• Paige introduces Brooke, outlining her comedy and mental health advocacy.
• The duo kicks off with a lighter segment (“Citrus Got Real”) sharing small things that brighten their day:
  • Brooke: “Clean sheets... I don’t think it’s something I can make happen today, or maybe even tomorrow, but hopefully soon.” (04:14)
  • Paige: “A midday pick-me-up, like a matcha or an iced peach green tea lemonade.” (05:22)
• Lighthearted discussion about “spicy” sodas, drinks, and everyday pleasures.

Brooke’s Path to Viral Success

[07:00–13:06]

• Discuss Brooke’s rise on TikTok during the 2020 pandemic, her transition from preschool teaching to content creation, and eventually co-hosting Brooke & Connor Make a Podcast.
• Brooke recounts being mistaken for another viral podcaster and shares her dislike of listening to full podcasts (prefers consuming clips, as does Paige).
• On their podcast format: “We've exhausted every topic, but we always devolve into something funny. Like, did you know the internet is just like a cable that runs under the whole ocean?” (11:01)

Humor & Honesty About Mental Health

[20:09–23:19]

• Addressing mental health on her platforms:
  • “I am very open about it. People know it’s something I struggle with. But I don’t know that we've really gotten into the weeds on the podcast.” (20:30)
  • “Naming an emotion is really helpful. If I’m nervous, I have to say it... Just as long as we all know, if God forbid something happens where I have a panic attack, you knew it was a possibility.” (21:17)
• Paige recounts her first panic attack, emphasizing the importance of speaking openly: “Just speaking it if you are struggling makes it less scary.” (21:41)
• The two agree that naming and normalizing emotions can be grounding during distress.

Early OCD Experiences & Diagnosis

[24:01–26:00]

• Brooke’s earliest mental health struggle started at age five, during 9/11 coverage:
  • “I was so convinced that because I could picture it, it was my fault... I was confessing to anyone that would listen.” (24:13)
• She details misdiagnoses and eventual understanding of OCD:
  • “Looking back, both the obsessive guilt and severe emetophobia were OCD, but back then it was just labeled anxiety... OCD was seen as so behavioral—checking, washing, order. Mine was all in my head.” (25:10)
  • She didn’t get an OCD diagnosis until college.

OCD Stereotypes & Stigma

[37:57–40:14]

• Paige asks, “What do people get wrong about OCD?”
  • Brooke: “People still think of it as physical compulsions... or that you have to be really clean. I’m a slob! I’m very type B. My OCD is I just get stuck in my brain.” (38:12)
  • On representation: “We don’t see a lot of success stories. A lot of the time, stories focus on people who aren’t functioning. I wanted to show someone who’s on it in every way, except just really struggles with one aspect.” (39:30)

Therapy’s Role & Coping Strategies

[27:44–29:19], [41:51–44:49]

• Lifelong therapy journey: In and out, often only during “acute” struggles. “Looking back, I should have stayed in even when I was doing well.” (28:05)
• Currently, Brooke values therapy on a maintenance basis: “Now I’m in therapy even when I’m not in a crisis, which is great.” (28:12)
• On self-care:
  • “I love my bed and I’m a big napper... but sometimes self-care is less about what I want. Like, I need to go on a walk even when I hate it because it helps in the long run.” (43:18)
  • “My walking self-care is my self-care when I don’t want to take care of myself.” (43:45)

Emetophobia & Community

[29:42–33:22]

• Both hosts share experiences with emetophobia (fear of vomiting), which affected daily life and socializing.
• Brooke: “I thought I had some rare disease... but so many people messaged me when I talked about it online.” (31:09)
• They agree that talking about these “weird” mental health quirks helps break stigma and brings connection.

Social Media & Mental Health Boundaries

[40:22–42:49]

• Brooke describes an early, unhealthy phase: “Obsessed with checking notifications, tying my worth to likes, obsessively refreshing... It definitely became a mental health thing.”
• Her therapist helps her “wean” off compulsive checking, especially pre-publication book reviews: “We’re tapering off. Right now it’s every four hours, tomorrow it’s every five.” (42:16)

Writing Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It

[44:44–50:09]

• Brooke’s debut novel is about Phoebe, a 30-year-old virgin confronting her deepest fear (intimacy) while longing for connection.
  • “It’s the 30 days before her 30th birthday. She’s like, ‘We are losing my virginity by then.’ I’m also turning 30.”
• Writing the book was “the best therapy I’ve ever had... it took the pressure off of 30, was so cathartic and healing.” (46:22)
• “Everyone has their virginity. It’s whatever you feel you’re behind on. Relationships, work, whatever—it’s about being gentle on yourself for not being where you think you ought to be.” (47:11)
• On imposter syndrome: “I thought I’d need a master’s to write a book. But enough people said, ‘Just do it.’ Agents reached out and said, ‘If you have the idea, write it.’” (47:40)

What Brooke Hopes Readers Take Away

[49:35–50:09]

• “Everyone has their virginity. And there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not broken, you just have this thing, and it’s not a big deal.” (49:41)

Lightning Round: Lemon Seven

[52:08–61:22]

• Song of the day / mental health: “I’ve been listening to ‘Perfect Day’ by Hoku. It puts me in main character, movie romanticizing mode. It’s like Prozac for me.” (52:31)
• On openness: “Very. Because I have to say it or else I’m uncomfortable.” (54:29)
• Three must-follow social accounts: Tom Daley’s knitting, Jake Shane, Sarah J. Maas.
• Favorite self-care: “Napping when appropriate. Baths with candles. Walking—but only if I’m walking toward a treat or a destination!” (56:45)
• Most misunderstood thing: “I get defensive—not because I don’t care, but because I care too much. I’m really, really sensitive.” (57:23)
• Most positive influence: “John Green [author]. His book about a girl with OCD helped me realize what I was going through. I wrote him a letter about it.” (57:59)
• If you could go back: “The first time I nervously puked about a boy, I’d tell myself: ‘You’re fine, it happens. There’s nothing wrong with you.’ If I’d just said I had a panic attack—not lied—it would’ve taken the pressure off.” (60:04)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the value of naming emotions:
  “Something about naming an emotion is really helpful. If I’m nervous, I have to be like, I’m really nervous... Just as long as we all know, if God forbid something happens where I have a panic attack, you knew it was a possibility.”
  —Brooke Averick (21:17)

• On OCD stereotypes:
  “People still think you have to be really clean... but I’m a slob! My OCD is I just get stuck in my brain.”
  —Brooke Averick (38:12)

• On writing her book:
  “It was the best therapy I’ve ever had... so cathartic and healing.”
  —Brooke Averick (46:23)

• On universal baggage:
  “Everyone has their virginity. It's just whatever you feel behind on.”
  —Brooke Averick (47:11)

• On openness:
  “I have to say it or else I’m uncomfortable.”
  —Brooke Averick (54:29)

• On main character energy:
  “If you pretend you’re the main character, it’s so helpful. Like, I’m not Brooke on a date—I’m Brooke playing a girl going on a date, and she’s so confident. She’s not throwing up at all, until after.”
  —Brooke Averick (54:09)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:41 – Welcome & icebreaker
• 03:18 – Brooke’s introduction, rise to prominence
• 11:01 – Podcasting style, humorous tangents
• 20:09 – Mental health and openness
• 24:01 – Childhood OCD and early therapy
• 37:57 – OCD stereotypes and representation
• 41:51 – Compulsive checking, coping mechanisms
• 44:44 – Book inspiration, process, and themes
• 47:01 – “Everyone has their virginity” philosophy
• 52:08 – Lemon Seven: lightning round Q&A

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

This conversation is open, gently irreverent, and deeply reassuring. It offers comfort and solidarity for listeners who may struggle with mental health, self-criticism, or feeling “behind” in life milestones. Brooke’s blend of humor, vulnerability, and insight makes mental health and personal quirks feel less stigmatized and more universally human.

Key Takeaway: Naming your emotions, being honest about struggles, and connecting with others—even through humor—can transform the way we understand and care for ourselves. Brooke encourages listeners to accept their “thing,” whether it’s OCD, emetophobia, or feeling behind, and know that no one is as alone as they might think.

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Transcript

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[Brooke Averick]

the following podcast is a dear media production did you know, like, the whole Internet is just like a cable that runs under the whole ocean?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Brooke, welcome to the Squeeze.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you so much for having me. I don't really like bubbles and like, that is like something that I'm insecure about.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Can you burp or do you have the thing where you can't?

[Brooke Averick]

No, I love burping.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay. The duvet cover.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Me and my husband have a really

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

good cycle of me like going into the thing and I like wiggle my hands up and he like puts it and then he like pulls it over my head.

[Brooke Averick]

That is reason enough to get married.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Honestly. Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

Something about naming an emotion is really helpful. Like if I'm nervous about something, I have to be like, I'm really nervous if God forbid, something happens where I like have a panic attack. Like you knew it was a possibility.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Are you under educational? Because I feel like your podcast could be very educational.

[Brooke Averick]

I think we'd get sued if we were under educational because everything we say is somehow always just like a little bit exactly wrong. I'm not Brooke on a date because if I was Brooke on a date, I'd be like throwing up on the table. But I'm Brooke playing a girl going on a date and she's so confident and she's not throwing up at all until after.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No, until she's cancelled and no one is around.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah, exactly. Lemon Drops, let me introduce to you today's guest, Brooke Averick. She's a content creator, podcaster and author who rose to prominence during the early TikTok era in 2020. Originally working as a preschool teacher, she gained viral attention for her comedic, highly relatable videos, especially one centered around reading her childhood diaries. Interest of thoughts and anxiety driven humor. Since then, she's best known for co hosting Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast with Connor Wood. Brooke shares her unfiltered honesty around mental health, including ocd, anxiety and depression. And this month she is Coming out with her debut novel, Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It. This episode is so fun because Brooke and I truly just sit and yap, and we will go from, like, dying, laughing, saying the most random things, to having such serious conversation about mental health. We dive deep into Brooke's OCD journey about how she was diagnosed with it as a child, how it's manifested in her life, and what it looks like for her. We talk about what self care looks like to her and how she prioritizes her mental health. I'm also so excited about her book. Like, genuinely, this is probably going to be the first book that I actually fully read. The concept is so great. I'm so excited for you guys to hear her share about it because it is kind of parallel to what she has going on in life, but it has a fun spin on it. So without further ado, here's Brooke.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Brooke, welcome to the Squeeze.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you so much for having me. I. I'm so excited to.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm excited. I love having podcasters on the podcast because I feel like there's just, like. There's, like, a level of comfort because, like, you're used to, like, this, like, going on.

[Brooke Averick]

No, there is. And it's always nice, like, and I'm sorry, because you're hosting, but it's always nice to, like, not host.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, for once, I completely agree.

[Brooke Averick]

So I'm really. I feel very safe and comfortable in your hands.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No, it's. I completely agree with that. Because you don't have to, like, you just, like, show up and you're just, like, don't have to think about.

[Brooke Averick]

It's nice.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It's nice. So we start each episode off with this jar.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

It's a little game called Citrus Got Real. If you want to pull a little

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

piece of paper

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

and you can read it to our lemon drops. Okay, great. Our listeners. Hello.

[Brooke Averick]

My lemon drops. Okay. Oh, I love this. What's something small that can instantly make your day?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, cutie.

[Brooke Averick]

That's good.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Normally they're like, if you were a tree, what tree would you. This one's cute.

[Brooke Averick]

This is cute. And I think my answer right now is clean sheets.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Ooh.

[Brooke Averick]

Because that sounds so nice. I don't think it's something that I can make happen for myself today or maybe even tomorrow, but hopefully soon I can get around to doing that.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Hopefully within the week.

[Brooke Averick]

Hopefully within the week. That's something I'm excited to maybe happen soon.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, I love, like. I love, like, a good crisp, like, like, getting into bed.

[Brooke Averick]

I do, too, but it Is really hard for me to even start to think about washing my sheets. Like, that's my big.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I know the duvet cover is something that I've really. Me and my husband have a really good, like, cycle of me, like, going into the thing, and I, like, wiggle my hands up, and he, like, puts it, and then he, like, pulls it over my head, and we've got a good leg.

[Brooke Averick]

That is reason enough to get married, honestly.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

It cuts the time in half.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It really does.

[Brooke Averick]

It takes me, like, 45 minutes.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I don't know how you would do that by yourself.

[Brooke Averick]

No, it's pretty.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It's pretty. Sorry you have to go through that.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you. Thank you. But clean sheets, I think.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I'm trying to think of.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Wait, what was it again? I'm trying to think if I would.

[Brooke Averick]

What's something small that can instantly make your day?

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I was gonna say, like, a yummy drink.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like, I love like, a. Like a midday. Like, pick me up like a matcha or like, a. Any type of, like, little, like, yummy. I've been on a tea cake from

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Starbucks randomly, like a cold one.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like. Yeah, like a. Like a. What's the one? I get the. The iced green tea, peach, peach, green tea, lemonade. I don't know what order good goes where, but one of those just, like, really? And I just sip on it through throughout the day. That's like.

[Brooke Averick]

That sounds good.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Are you a soda girl?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm like, a healthy soda girl. Or actually, out of all the sodas, I'm a Sprite girl.

[Brooke Averick]

Interesting.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Okay. I feel like that's not typically people's go to.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I know. I. That has just, like, always, like, if my stomach's, like, at all hurting me, I'm like, I need a Sprite. If I'm out and I'm like, I just, like, always get a Sprite.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I don't.

[Brooke Averick]

I love that.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I don't know.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Are you.

[Brooke Averick]

I don't really like bubbles. And, like, that is, like, something that I'm insecure about. But so. And I try, like, I'll, like, casually try and sip, like, a poppy or something. But, like, I feel like I'm three years old. I'm like, I hurt. It's, like, spicy.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Can you. Can you burp? Or do you have the thing where you can't burp?

[Brooke Averick]

Oh, I love. No, I love burping.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay, never mind. Because I was gonna say I know people that can't burp, and then that

[Brooke Averick]

would be really uncomfortable.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But no, it tastes, like, really Spicy or something to me. And I'm not like a spicy girl.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Spicy Sprite.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, that's like.

[Brooke Averick]

No, I'm very jealous because it just feels. It seems just like a good activity.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

To drink.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Then you can do.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Do you like matcha?

[Brooke Averick]

Yes, I love Matcha.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay, then that could be like.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, that would be my treat.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. That's so funny. Yeah. I'm not a big. I'm not a big soda girly, but if it's. If it's sprite or ginger ale recently, because ginger ale has been nauseous all the time.

[Brooke Averick]

Cinderella is good for ginger ale is for me for the tummy.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I want to talk about the podcast because I. When I was telling, um, like, my friends. My friends are always like, who are you having on?

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I'm like, oh, I'm having Brooke on. And then they're like, where would I know her from?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm like, you know the clip. Luckily I've purse.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

And they're like, oh, my gosh.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes. I'm like, that is her and her co host.

[Brooke Averick]

So the great thing about that one is that it's definitely like the most like, viral Brooke and Connor clip. And it's actually not me in it.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Oh, it's not you?

[Brooke Averick]

No. I was the one episode I missed.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's so funny.

[Brooke Averick]

It's like the most viral episode of all time. It's our friend Kelsey. Like, we kind of look alike and have similar mannerisms.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So everyone is always coming up to me and is like, I have purse. And it's like, yeah, I wish I did too, but it's Kelsey.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You actually saying that now. I actually don't think I've seen the clip.

[Brooke Averick]

It's very.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It's. Or I've literally just seen like the one thing of Connor and I've just like, I mean, I.

[Brooke Averick]

The audience. The audience what really popped off and it's fun fact. It's not me. And I always feel bad. Like, I'm like, I hope. Like, I don't want Kelsey to think I'm like, stealing her, like, her moment because it's such a good one. So.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I feel like you guys have good audio clips though. Where. How did.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

How did you guys meet?

[Brooke Averick]

We both started posting on Tick Tock in like Peak Covet 2020. Okay. And I think, like, not a lot of people yet were like, using it for, like, just talking to the camera.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And so we would get tagged in each other's videos a lot. Like, oh, you remind me of Brooke. And oh, you remind me Of Connor.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Oh, my gosh.

[Brooke Averick]

And so we started DMing and we were like, yeah, you're so funny. You're so funny. And then we eventually met.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And then we really hit it off. And then I moved to LA.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

In 2021. But I can't do anything alone. So I was like, what if, like, we lived together and we had another friend who lived with us too. And I was like, what if we, like, made videos together and live together? And that worked out for a few months. We lived together.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, my gosh.

[Brooke Averick]

So that kind of transitioned me to la. And then eventually we made a podcast that is.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So were you listening to podcasts? I always. I always want to ask podcasters this because I never listen to podcasts.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm glad you said that, cuz. No, I'm not.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay, great. No, I. Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, I need.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I still don't.

[Brooke Averick]

No, I still don't. Because if I'm driving, like, I need music.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And music.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Or I'm like calling my mom.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, I agree. And I think just like part of also having one, it's like. Yeah, maybe that's like podcast fatigue almost.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But I definitely love the art and the craft.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I can appreciate the art. I totally appreciate it. But yeah, I'm not a podcast.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay. That makes me feel better because everyone's

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

like, what podcast are you listening to?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like, you probably know the best ones because you have one. And I'm like, I love clips. Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I will consume everyone's podcast clips. Yeah. But the whole thing there. Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. If I ever have said I've. I've maybe watched like two or three, like full podcasts in my life. And that's normally when, like Alex Cooper has someone on that. I'm.

[Brooke Averick]

Right.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'll like, I need to see my

[Brooke Averick]

celebrity crush is on someone's. But like, otherwise it's.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It's the clips.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

It's a clip for me.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Me.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm so glad that you feel that way.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

When did you guys start the podcast? How long have you been doing it?

[Brooke Averick]

2022, I think we just had our three year anniversary.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Kitty.

[Brooke Averick]

So a long time.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You like it? What do you guys just, like, chat?

[Brooke Averick]

We really do. Yeah. I love is like coming on three years. It's like, what. What did. What else do we talk about?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I always wonder that because do you guys have guests or.

[Brooke Averick]

We used to have a ton of guests. Okay. And then we've kind of. It's a. It's a. It's definitely like a very different dynamic when there's a guest. And sometimes it really works and then sometimes it doesn't. So I think we've kind of just like leaned towards having a guess when it really like makes sense.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, for sure.

[Brooke Averick]

So we have them rarely now.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But we'll still like have one every once in a while. But usually it's just us like kind of talking about like, just like really random stuff. Like, did you know there's an. Like the whole Internet is just like a cable that runs under the whole ocean. Like, that's my one talking point for this week that I'm going to bring up tomorrow. Because it's like, what else do we talk about besides that?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Well, isn't it like also like satellites and things?

[Brooke Averick]

Probably, but like, I didn't know that like the Internet cable. It's called like the Atlantic Internet cable that runs across the whole Atlantic. Anyway, this is what I'm just. This is how we start every episode where it's like we're like grasping like that this is what we have. But like it always turns into.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You've exhausted every topic.

[Brooke Averick]

Like moments that we've shared together that are like, funny to bring up. And so we really are just like starting with something is like that. And then luckily we both kind of devolve into whatever happens. But like, that's kind of what we're working with right now is like Internet cables and stuff like that. Like last week it was like Connor was like, I was reading up on Wikipedia about the potato famine and like that's how we started. And then luck. Like, I don't know how we get 60 minutes.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Are you under educational? Because I feel like your podcast could be very educational.

[Brooke Averick]

I think we'd get sued if we were under educational because everything we say is somehow always just like a little bit exactly wrong.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. But no, I think we're actually under like, lifestyle, which doesn't necessarily make sense either. We started out as under relationships, which made less sense.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And then I think we're. Or maybe we're under like society. Yeah, whatever that means.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So I actually have no clue what that is.

[Brooke Averick]

I don't know either. But we're definitely not under educational.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Wow. I'm like really excited to look up this like, Internet.

[Brooke Averick]

But the thing is, I'm probably wrong and like, that's what. Why we can't be under educational. Because I saw one TikTok about it. So I'm like, that must be true.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Uh huh. Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

That is fact.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That is always when I'm like, I was reading this article the other day. It was a TikTok. I absolutely watched. I did no reading. I did, I read the subtitles and that was it.

[Brooke Averick]

No further research. And I'm like, that cable is so amazing. It might not exist.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But like, let me tell you all about the transatlantic cable.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. No, so anyway, yeah, I do that same thing. I gotta. My husband, I'm like, babe, I was reading this article the other day. I'm like outing myself because he has no clue that I don't read articles. I'm like, just watching TikToks.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

And I'm like, did you hear about this?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

He's like, I don't know if that's true. And I'm like, yeah, I didn't think it was true either.

[Brooke Averick]

No, my goal for like just as I age and just the future is to like double check.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm not a double checker.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

If you take anything away from this episode to. Is to double check.

[Brooke Averick]

Or at least like double check before I say it into a microphone, I think is maybe a goal of mine.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You like start adding a disclaimer at the bottom of your.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, this could be a. A lie.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But there's a cable.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So it's fine.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's great. Yeah, it's good. It's good tapping points. It really. It gets the brain moving.

[Brooke Averick]

I think it gets the brain moving and I think that's. Yeah, that's what the podcast is really basically getting that brain moving.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I love that.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Maybe I'll take a listen. No, no, watch the clips.

[Brooke Averick]

Hey, listen. Just watch a clip or two.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Love it. I love it.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I feel like when we talk about going through something really difficult, we often focus on the big moments, the diagnosis, the hospital stays, the things that feel overwhelming in a very obvious way. But I think we don't always think about all the little in between moments, the day to day things that suddenly become really hard when everything else is going on, like where you're going to sleep, how you're going to eat, how you're going to take care of yourself while you're trying to show up for someone you love. And that's what really stood out to me. When learning about Ronald McDonald House, the level of support they provide goes far beyond what you might expect. After a car accident led to multiple hospital stays, surgeries and the premature birth of their daughter Juliana, the McBrides stayed at Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City, which provided them with essential resources, a community of support, meals and accommodations near the hospital at no cost to them. And when you hear that, it really starts to paint a picture of what that kind of support actually looks like. Because it's not just about having a place to stay. It's about everything that surrounds that. Ronald McDonald House programs are thoughtfully designed for families with serious chronic conditions, including mental health support, stocked kitchens, accessible bathrooms, space for physical therapy, medical freezers for breast milk, art therapy, music programs, sibling support, and so much more. Ronald McDonald House provides far more than

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

a place to stay.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

And for families like the McBrides, it's the support system they need to heal. For the McBrides, every detail mattered. Because when you're going through something like that, it's not just one thing that makes it easier. It's all of the small, thoughtful things that come together to support you as a whole person, not just the situation you're in. It's making sure families feel cared for, seen and supported in ways that go beyond just the immediate need. And that's exactly why the McBrides are sharing their story today. As the first ever global spokes family for Ronald McDonald House, the McBrides are sharing their story to help others understand the essential support the organization provides for families in need around the world. I think it's hard to fully understand the impact of something like this until you hear or what it actually looks like in someone's life. And when you hear it, you realize how much it matters. Families who walk through the doors of Ronald McDonald House programs are forced to navigate one of, if not the most challenging times in their lives. Ronald McDonald House exists to ease the burdens and tolls they face so families can focus on what matters most, the health of their child. And that's really what it comes down to, giving families the ability to focus on their child without having to carry everything else on their own. Support families like the McBrides by donating at ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org donate mcbridefamily I feel like there are certain things that have just quietly become a part of my routine, and I don't always talk about them, but one of them is what I'm actually drinking throughout the day. And Spindrift has genuinely become my go to. I keep a stash of them in the fridge, truly at all times, which, if you know me, means I am serious about something. Spindrift is the only sparkling water in America made with real squeezed fruit. Yes, you heard that correctly. I know that that's actually crazy to hear, but you can honestly taste the difference the second you crack one open. It's not that vague hint of fruit you get from other sparkling waters. It's actual flavor because there's actual fruit in it and it's unsweetened with no added sugar. So it's one of those feel good drinks that doesn't ask you to compromise on taste at all. I honestly have been absolutely loving my Spin Drift little afternoon break. I mean, I had one dinner last night, I had one midday yesterday, but really, I just love a little midday. Pick me up. You guys know if you've been listening to this podcast, you know how much I talk about needing something in the afternoon. What's different with Spin Drift is I can actually read and I know all of the ingredients on the label. I just posted about it on my story because I'm just baffled that something can taste this good and and have such good ingredients. Every Spindrift is proudly made the hard way from farm to can our listeners get 15% off their next order of Spindrift? Visit drinkspindrift.com and use code TAY at checkout for 15% off your site wide purchase. One use per customer valid through 123126 not valid on subscription orders. That's D R I n K S P I n d r I ft.com and use code TAY for 15% off your order. Crocs have had such a moment and I honestly think it's because they figured out something most shoe brands haven't yet. That comfort and personality can actually live

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

in the same shoe.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

You guys know how obsessed with my Crocs I am. I actually don't even know how many pairs I have. Like there's too many, probably 12. There's so many different occasions for my Crocs and I am truly obsessed with them because the comfort is genuinely next level. Crocs shoes are so comfortable you can wear them all day and forget that you're even wearing shoes. You can just slip them on and go. You can grab them on your way out the door and never have to sacrifice convenience for style. I also love that there's genuinely a style for everyone. Crocs shoes come in so many fun silhouettes. Some are more elevated like classic crafted clogs which are made with 100% soft wash canvas upper. And if you like to keep it simple but enjoy little embellishments, the classic buckle clog is a great option. It comes with a cute buckle on the heel strap that adds a touch of elegance to a classic shoe. And then of course we have to

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

talk about the Jibbitz because there's a

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Jibit charm for anyone whether you're heading back to school, making memories with friends, or going about your everyday life. Crocs. Just fit into it all. Visit crocs.com or a store near you to find your perfect pair of classic clogs.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Do you talk about your mental health on the podcast? I. Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

I don't think we've ever gotten into, like, a really, like, in depth.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, this is when I started exhibiting, like, my first signs of, like, OCD type of conversation. But, like, I'll always be like, my mental is, like, so bad today. Sorry if I can't get a sentence out.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So, like, I am, like, very open about it. And people, I would say everyone, like, knows that it's something that I struggle with.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But I don't know that we've really gotten into the weeds. I used to have a podcast that I did solo.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

And I would have guests on that. And so I think there was an episode I did with Jake Shane.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Where we were really, like, what meds are you on? Like, when did you start? So that, like, I've definitely, like, said a lot of stuff on the Internet.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

About it, but I don't think, like, on Brooke and Connor that we've really.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Have you. Has that always, like, come naturally to you to, like, be open. Open about it?

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. I think it's just, like, such a big.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Part of my life. And I also, like, it puts me at ease to, like, say how I'm feeling first.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Before anything. Because it, like, something about naming an emotion is really helpful. Like, if I'm nervous about something, I have to be like, I'm really nervous, and somehow that makes me less nervous. Just like, as long as we all know that, like, if, God forbid, something happens where I, like, have a panic attack. Like, you knew it was a possibility.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

You know, so always, like, I'm. It makes me more comfortable to be, like, I am experiencing something today.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I think that's. I mean, that makes complete sense because I feel like I'm always, like, my biggest, like, mental health thing is I'm always, like, just speaking it if you are struggling makes it so much less scary. And I really feel like that's, like, what you're saying. If you are, like, struggling or if you're feeling an emotion, like, naming it and, like, hearing it, it's like, oh, okay. Like, I'm just nervous not to take away from what you're feeling, but it's like, I've been nervous before. I know this feeling. Like, I've been anxious before. I Know this feeling than, like, actually, like, giving it a name and just, like, totally getting it out of your head.

[Brooke Averick]

Because sometimes when you're anxious, like, you truly think, like, you. You could be dying.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So it's like when you just say, like, I'm nervous. It's like, you're totally right. It's like, okay, that's what it is.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Done.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No, I was actually thinking about this. My first ever panic attack I had.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I, like, fully went to the ER

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

and I was like, granted, I was, like, studying for my nclex, which is like the nursing exam, like the state board exam. And I, like, fully. I just ended up being.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Having a panic attack.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And I, like, had no clue, but, like, I literally, like, felt like I was dying. And, yeah, that's how I didn't, like, realize then that that was, like, what was going on. They were like, like, you're fine, basically. And I went home and they didn't really, like. I feel like they didn't do a really good job at, like, being like, hey, like, you're having a panic attack. Like, you know, it's like, okay, you're not dying. But after I was like, oh, like, that's actually what that was because I was like, maybe it was like, sometimes,

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

like, acid reflux can, like, give you,

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

like, a pain, like, up here for having, like, bad acid reflux. So I was like, okay, maybe it was just like that because I have.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I'm a tummy issue girl.

[Brooke Averick]

Oh, me too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

But no, it was definitely. It was definitely a panic attack.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, no, it's so scary when you don't know what that is. And so, like, knowing the signs of a panic attack is, like, I feel, like, the best, like, treatment for it. So you can just like, get in the mindset.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I mean, speaking of the pit, one of the doctors has a panic attack in one of the episodes while he's,

[Brooke Averick]

like, on the case.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, she actually. And they, like. She, like, gets. They literally think she's, like, having a heart attack, and they get her all hooked up to everything, and she ends up, like, being fine.

[Brooke Averick]

Wow.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And that's like, she was having a panic attack. So I was like, even doctors?

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Even doctors.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, even the best of us. How old were you when you were first diagnosed with ocd?

[Brooke Averick]

Well, I was five when I first, like, needed to go to therapy and was, like, put on meds. But I wasn't diagnosed with OCD until much later.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Basically, when I was 5, it was 9, 11, and I was, like, seeing, like, news coverage about it. And hearing all about it, and I was like, oh, my God, I. That I did that. Like, that was my fault. And I don't know, like, how my brain did that, but I was so convinced that because I could, like, picture it, that it was my fault. So then that's kind of what launched me into therapy. Cause it was really consuming. I was, like, confessing to anyone that would listen. Like, I couldn't, like, sit with myself because I was just, like. Had these, like, terrible feelings of guilt. And then that, like, quickly morphed into, like, very severe emetophobia.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So I was just, like, really struggling when I was young.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And looking back to me now, like, both of those are so clearly ocd.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But I think, like, at the time it wasn't. OCD was more understood as, like, very behavioral.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And just, like, physical compulsions. So I didn't get diagnosed with OCD until college.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

But I think it would have helped me knowing what it was then.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Because it was always, like, labeled as anxiety, which I do also have. But, like, in those moments when I would get so stuck on a thought that always, like, felt different than anxiety and, like, harder to explain to people. And so having that diagnosis, like, later in life helped, but also, like, I definitely wish. Yeah, I had it earlier, too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I feel like. Well, because I know, like, ADHD is. Doesn't get diagnosed a woman until we're, like, 40.

[Brooke Averick]

Right.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

But I do wonder sometimes if that also translates with things like ocd.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I mean, I definitely think we have

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

more knowledge of, like, all of the different aspects of OCD now than we did back then. Um, but I do always wonder, like, if that also, like, bleeds into it, because we do have emotions and we do, like, you know, feel things or we, like, think deep. Like, I feel like women are, like,

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

just tend to be deep thinkers more often of stuff, so I always, like,

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

wonder if that, like, bleeds into it.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. And I also think, like, if you have ocd, like, I feel like it's pretty impossible, like, not to have, like, anxiety or, like, get depressed because of, like, the way that it affects your life or.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

You know, So I feel like they're all so closely related to that. If you have one, like, you probably have something else, like, two. It's, like, very.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

All encompassing.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I was just at the doctor, and he was, like, going through, like, all of the things, and he's like, reads over the. Like, it's all the psych stuff. I'm like, yes. Ptsd, depression, anxiety. Like, it's just like always is like click, click. And I'm sure there's like, you know, he was a very sweet old man, like very old. But I'm sure like they probably giggle at us. What? Like all of us are coming with like, depression. Anxiety. Depression, anxiety.

[Brooke Averick]

Like I always think that too. And it's like, I feel bad, but like also you would too if you know.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But no, I was thinking that like my author bio was like, Brooke is like very open about her struggles with it. It's like 15 like things and I'm like, what if we just did mental health? Like instead of like ocd, anxiety, depression. And it's like. Okay, that's like, it's just a very extensive list.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah, I know. How, how long did you do therapy? Did you stop? Did you start back up again? Where are you at?

[Brooke Averick]

I have been in therapy all my life. Okay. But on and off. Okay. I think what I was usually like when I was younger, it was when I was really like struggling like acutely.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And then when I would have these like moments of like, peace because it usually like comes in phases for me. I was not in therapy.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Which looking back, I'm like, I should have been in it when I was doing well too. It's not just for like when you're like really in pain.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But now I, I, I'm in it. And I'm not like in an like acute struggle right now, but I'm still like in therapy, which is great. So we can kind of like talk through things when I'm not like in an active mental health crisis, which is nice to be able to do.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No, I, that's, I'd say that to everyone. Obviously therapy is very helpful when you are in a crisis. But I think it's so important to like, you don't need to go every week.

[Brooke Averick]

Right.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

If life's fine. But like, you know, I had one last month and now I'm going like,

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I go like once a month or

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

twice a month when things are like still like fine just to like, you know, have the check ins.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Because I also feel like too sometimes

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

when I don't see my therapist and I have like so many things to fill them in on. It's like I haven't even told them what I'm going through because I had to film in on all this other like, stuff that was going on. Then the session's over.

[Brooke Averick]

Exactly. Yeah, I know. Yeah. It's nice to just have someone that knows you too. And it's just like, even if it's not, like, mental health related, just, like, knows, like, who your friends are and, like, what your life looks like.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Who was the first person that noticed

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

that you were struggling as a kid?

[Brooke Averick]

I think it was my dad, because I. When I told him, I. I did 911.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

And he was like, okay, we've. We've got something happening here. So I think it was him. And then I think my parents didn't know what to do with that specifically. And they were like, that this was weird and will probably pass. Yeah. And then it very quickly morphed into emetophobia.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And that is when I started therapy because I was having trouble, like, leaving the house and going to school and, like, I couldn't go on play dates or anything. And I just thought, like, every. Everything I did that, like, veered from my normal routine. I was like, this will make me throw up for whatever reason.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So that was when I, like, really started therapy.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. It's so funny because, like, having. Since having this podcast, I've actually really learned that I have emetophobia. Like, I was, like, really bad as a kid, and, like, it's gotten, I think, a little better since I've been actually. No, that's good. That's a complete lie. I was gonna say. It's come out. It kind of went away. And then I feel like since pregnancy, it's honestly come out again because, like, I have not. I didn't throw up once my first trimester, and I was like. I think that's because my brain was like, you're not an option. Yeah. No, it was like. But I was like, eating, like, because you're nauseous when you are hungry.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So I literally was up, like, multiple times a night eating, so that when

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I would wake up in the morning,

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I wouldn't be nauseous.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Hungry.

[Brooke Averick]

Really.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like, I just, like, was eating so much food, like, crying because I didn't want to eat food because I was nauseous, but I didn't throw up. So it's. I'm seeing it again. But I'm have, like, I bought, like, the blue bags from Amazon because, like, I'm like, I could throw up. And I, like, literally put them in every person, every car. I have, like, all the smelly things. And I'm like, okay, we need to just. Like, I need to calm this down again.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, it's so common. Like, I didn't know that until I started talking about it. And I got so many DMs that were like, I have this and I think, like, when I was little, like, I thought I had this, like, rare disease.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like emetophobia. Like, I didn't know anyone else experienced anything like it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And if I had known that, I think I would have felt so much better.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Just to know that, like, I'm not, like, some, like, freak of nature.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like, this is exactly. I know. And I think I always just thought mine was tied because I have, like, a bad lactose allergy. And when I was a kid and I'd, like, go hang out at my friend's house, I would drink milk because I was like. Like, I want to drink. Like, I didn't. Like, now I know if I have, like, ice cream, I'm, like, not gonna feel great.

[Brooke Averick]

Right.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So I don't have it. But as a kid, I was like,

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

no, I'm gonna have a glass of

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

milk with whatever, and then I would be sick.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And so I just always thought that it was, like. I thought it was something that formed that was, like, related to that, but it actually was, like, it's totally its own thing.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

And my parents, too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

They were like, you would cry when you would, like, get a stomach bug. You would just, like, cry and be like, pray it away. Make it stop. Like, I was like, I would, like, ball as a kid when I did throw up, and then I was, like, so anxious that I would, like, I always have to know where an exit is.

[Brooke Averick]

Sucks how related anxiety and throwing up are, especially when, like, throwing up makes people so anxious and, like, it's a horrible cycle.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And when I'm anxious, it's in my

[Brooke Averick]

gut, and I'm like, yeah, I'm in.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

How do I not.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm a very nervous puker, and I'm nervous about puking, so it's, like, the worst.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. It's like, how do we get out of here?

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, exactly.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's. That's not fun for us. But it is funny to. It's honestly. It's just nice to talk about. Like, again, just. It really is. Like, I feel like I will. I've learned so much about myself just from talking with people. And, like, it's crazy how. How relatable. Even, like, something that's honestly, like, kind of so specific as this. Like, it's so relatable in so many different aspects. Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And I think that's, like, one of the great things about, like, being open.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

About your mental health is like, one. Other people can feel like they're not alone because they're like, oh, my God. I've experienced that too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And for me, like, I get so many messages. That's like, me too. And I feel less alone. So it's just like. So it really has been like a great.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Place.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I feel like working out is one of those things where the mental load of it can sometimes feel just as exhausting as the actual workout. Like figuring out what to do, whether you're doing it right, whether it's even making a difference. It's a lot. And honestly, that's usually what gets in the way more than anything else. That's why I love tonal. Tonal provides the convenience of a full gym and the guidance of a personal trainer at home with one sleek system. It's right there whenever you have a window to work out, which is not always when the gym is the most convenient. And the thing that really sets it apart is how much it takes off your plate. It's designed to reduce your mental load. Tonal is the ultimate strength training system, which helps you focus less on workout planning and more on getting results. You don't have to think, you just show up and it takes care of the rest. Plus, there's no more second guessing your form. Tonal gives you real time coaching cues to dial in your form and help you lift safely and effectively. And it adjusts with you as you get stronger. After a quick assessment, Tonal sets the optimal weight for every move and adjusts in 1 pound increments as you get stronger. So you're always challenged. I also love that there's so much variety built in. Tonal lets you choose from a variety of expert LED workouts from strength to arrow hit to yoga mobility to keep you coming back for more. So whether you're in the mood for something intense or something more restorative, there's always something that actually fits where you're at that day. Right now, Tonal is offering our listeners 200 off your tonal purchase with promo code Squeeze. That's Tonal. Com and use promo code Squeeze for 200 off your purchase. That's Tonal. Com promo code Squeeze for $200 off. Have you ever put on a full face in the morning and by the end of the day it somehow looks worse, like heavier, cakeier, Almost like it's working against your skin. And I feel like that was me for such a long time. That's exactly how I discovered OG a certified organic beauty brand that truly performs like luxury makeup. What makes it different is the crystal contour collection. Most makeup is 80 to 90% pigment and filler, but OG flips that it's nearly 90% skincare ingredients. It has ingredients I'd spend real money on in serious skincare. And now it's also in my makeup too. It's also NSF certified organic, which is one of the most rigorous standards in the beauty industry. No synthetic fragrance, no artificial fillers, nothing unnecessary. There's three sticks, copper for warmth, rose quartz for flush and opal for glow. You can do your whole face in five minutes and look like you're just having a really good skin day. It makes your skin look like your skin just better. If you're ready to raise your beauty standards, OG's got you covered. Go to OG.comTAY and use code TAY for 20 off. That's O G-E-E.comTAY and enter Cotay to get 20% off. I think sunglasses are one of those things where you either find a pair you're completely obsessed with or you're constantly dealing with one of those. Slide down your nose the second you

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

start sweating or bounce all over the

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

place when you're actually trying to move in them. Or just look so boring you don't

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

even want to wear them.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

And for a long time I feel like that was just kind of the deal, like you had to pick between cute and functional. And then I found Goodr and I genuinely cannot stop talking about them. Goodr makes active eyewear for anyone and the whole brand was built around solving a really specific problem. Sunglasses that were expensive and totally over engineered, so they created something fashionable, affordable and all performance without any extra stuff you don't need. The performance side is seriously impressive. They're constructed with special grip coated frame that eliminates slippage when you're sweating, which alone is a game changer. And the fit is snug and lightweight, so there's zero bouncing while you move. No fidgeting, no adjusting mid workout, no distractions. You just put them on and forget about them in the best way. And the lenses are polarized with UV 400 protection and block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. So your eyes are actually taken care of when you're running, hiking, sitting at brunch or watching a game. And the fun part? The styles, bold colors and wild themes. They instantly pull an outfit together without trying. And there's genuinely something for every single look. From timeless tortoiseshell to the most fun on trend colors you've ever seen. Once you know about Goodr, you'll start noticing them everywhere. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun and affordable? Head to goodr.com squeeze claim $10 off your first order. That's G-O-O-R.com squeeze off.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm curious if you have an answer for this, but what's something that you think people maybe get wrong about ocd?

[Brooke Averick]

I think, like, what we were saying, I think a lot of people still think about it as, like, physical.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Compulsions. And also that you have to be, like, really clean and like, I am a slob. Like, truly, Like, I. Like, I'm very type B. And I think people think of OCD is, like, a very, like, type A quality.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And that it, like, couldn't be further from. From me. So my OCD is very much, like, I just get so stuck in my brain.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, I feel that.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's good. Yeah. I definitely think we're finally breaking that

[Brooke Averick]

I think so stigma. Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Around it.

[Brooke Averick]

I think so, too, which is great.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

That's probably because people are talking about it.

[Brooke Averick]

People are talking about it. And a lot more people are getting diagnosed now, too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Which is great.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And I think people that are. Have platforms that, like, people. People like you and Jake Shane, and people that are like, oh, these people are cool. Like, they, like, look, you know, like, look up to you guys in a way. I feel like it makes. It makes it more approachable and not, like, some, like, I don't know, creepy person as, like. We think of it as, like, this, like, scary thing, but it's not. Like, this person's, like, really cool. And, like, they have this platform and they're doing this, like. And they have OCD and they're talking about it, like, it makes it more.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Maybe more digestible.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Is the word.

[Brooke Averick]

No. That's so true. And I think I.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

The.

[Brooke Averick]

I wrote a book about, you know, a girl with OCD and anxiety. And the goal that I had when writing it is because I've read a lot of, like, great books about people, like, struggling with their mental health, but they're usually, like, they, like, struggle a lot, like, in life in every aspect.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And they're not, like, super, like, functioning. So I think my goal with this book was to, like, show somebody who is, like, so on it in every way and, like, so successful, except for just, like, she really struggles with, like, a certain aspect.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Of her mental health, but, like, other than that, life is good.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Because, like, I think that you're right. Like, we don't see a lot of, like, success stories.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. How do you feel like sharing on social media are now, like, being a public Figure and having a pop a

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

platform, do you have to set any

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

boundaries like with your time on social media, media or anything with like making sure like it doesn't like trigger your OCD or something? Like has, has it had any correlation for you?

[Brooke Averick]

I. At the beginning I was really, really struggling because I had like never. I did not like expect this for myself.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And like didn't really ever post on the Internet before. Like I downloaded Tick Tock and I was like obsessed with checking notifications. Refreshing every five seconds. Like really like tying my worth to whatever I was seeing about myself online and just how many likes I would get. And just I definitely think that was like a part of like some sort of mental health thing was tied in there for sure.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But I don't know what happened. Luckily one day I just kind of like snapped out of it and I think that's happened to me with like a lot of phases I've gone through with like with my metaphobia. Like one day I just like snap out of it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

For better or for worse. Like it just.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Is like this. You shall pass. I guess kind of thing. Like I don't know. Luckily it just kind of like stopped. But it was really tough there for.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like a year.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I bet. What are some like signs that you need to slow down? Like what, what is like, oh, like I need to do a little like self care check in.

[Brooke Averick]

I think I'll. I'll still get back into some like compulsive checking. Like I. With my book especially, like I am not supposed to be checking reviews, but I do.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And like this is, we're recording this like long before like the book comes out. So like it's not out yet. And I, I think hopefully I'll be good about not checking them once it comes out.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But like those like pre publication reviews, I'm like constantly refreshing. But me and my therapist have made a schedule. We're weaning. So right now it's every four hours. I can check tomorrow it will be every five.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Oh.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And then.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. So we're kind of like how you like taper off a medication.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely.

[Brooke Averick]

We're in the process of tapering off. Checking Goodreads right now. I love that. Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And this will be your accountability when this comes out.

[Brooke Averick]

Exactly.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You're gonna be.

[Brooke Averick]

No. When this episode comes out, my book comes out. Like I'm not checking any anymore.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So accountability.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I got you.

[Brooke Averick]

But definitely like I, I am a compulsive like checker.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I mean it makes sense too.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Like, it's your baby, you know, my baby. Like, see how people are.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Liking your. Liking your work.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Before we get into book stuff, I want to know what does, like, self care look like for you? What is, like, your go to? Do you have any go to things?

[Brooke Averick]

I have two.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

And it depends on, like, what. Where my head is.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm a big.

[Brooke Averick]

I love my bed and I'm a big napper.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And so that is my self care when it feels healthy.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

Because sometimes it's not. Like, sometimes it's like napping is like, as much as I want to rest.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, that is not what I need. Like, I need to go on a walk and like, that is a form of self care that I don't like, but it is still self care because, like, that's what's good for me in the long run is like getting out of the house.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So my walking self care is my self care when I don't want to take care of myself.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And my nap is kind of like more of a reward. That's when I'm like, kind of feeling good.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I love that. That's so real.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Because, yeah, I'm like, I'm the same.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I love bed.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I could eat, obviously, sleep, watch tv. Like, I'm like, I could do.

[Brooke Averick]

That's my office.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I could. Yeah. I have, like, if I have.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

If I've had a busy week and

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

then I have like, Friday, I'm at home and I just, like, have calls. I'll literally just like, hop into bed and I'll like, just work from bed all day, which, like, in that scenario, I think it's earned because I've been out of the house all week. But no. And my husband is so not bed. That's probably the biggest, like, problem in our marriage is that I would like to watch shows at night in bed. And he is like, no, we have

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

to be on the couch.

[Brooke Averick]

That would be hard for me too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I watch it on the couch. He always wins. But I get to go to bed. I go to bed before him. So I technically like it like, some, like, nice, quiet time in bed. Okay, let's dive into your book. I actually want to talk about, like, writing in general for you.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

How long?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So the book you were talking about earlier.

[Brooke Averick]

Not this book, you're talking this one.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's what you're talking about. Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Firstborn.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. My only. Yeah. My one and only baby.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh, my gosh.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Where did.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Where did the idea come from? Because I feel like we always hear like. Cuz it's a fictional book.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Okay, Where'd that come from?

[Brooke Averick]

I had been sitting on the idea of a 30 year old virgin who. Basically the book is about Phoebe.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Who is turning 30 and she is like deeply obsessed with romance. Such a hopeless romantic. But it's also like the thing that she is the most scared of.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like she has a severe like fear and like phobia of intimacy, but it's also like what she wants the most. So she's like approaching 30 and she's still a virgin and she's like, what am I gonna do?

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So this book is the 30 days before her 30th birthday and she kind of makes a list and she's like, all right, we are losing. We as in Phoebe, are losing my virginity by the time I turn 30. So that is the book. And that is something I was just sitting on for a while because I'm also turning 30.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like when this book comes out and I am very much like a virgin in my heart. Like I have never been in love, I've never been in a relationship. And that's something that I really want. And I think the like 30 deadline, for whatever reason is really scary for a lot of women.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And so that is something that I wanted to do with Phoebe and truly was like the best therapy I've ever.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh.

[Brooke Averick]

Writing this was so cathartic. And like, it just really took the pressure off of that 30 for whatever reason. It was just very, very healing. And I hope that people will feel that when. When they read it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Oh my gosh. Wait, that's. I loved learning like what the book was about because when I read the title, I was like, I thought like, lose it. Like, she was like gonna like go crazy and like be upset. But then when I read the description of the book, I was like, wait, this is actually like the cutest thing.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah, it's like a double.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Entendre.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

And also like relatable. Like even if you still like, even if you're not a virgin, like, I feel like it's still like it's so relatable.

[Brooke Averick]

Something that I learned while writing it is that like, everyone has their virginity. It's just like whatever it is, like everyone has something where they feel behind.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. That's so true.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Wow.

[Brooke Averick]

So I think that this book will like call to that aspect of everyone, whether it's relationships, work, whatever.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I love that. So you were just like, I have this idea.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm going to write a book.

[Brooke Averick]

Well, I've always wanted to write a book, but I really was, like, thought that I needed to, like, go back to school and, like, master. Get a master's in, like, creative writing or do something, like, take a class.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I was just like, I'm not qualified.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And then I just kept seeing people be like, you just have to do it. You just have to do it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Because I was, like, looking up all these, like, classes at usc and I. So I kept getting fed, like, a lot of, like, writing stuff and, like, just do it. I was like, I don't know if I can.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And then I started talking about it a lot.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, wanting to do it. And then agents reached out and they were like, you know what? Like, if you have this idea and you want to write this book, there is nothing stopping you. And I think I just kind of, like, needed to hear that and then hung up from that phone call and, like, just started writing.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And that was. That was it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I love that. So what's been the biggest reward or something you've learned about yourself throughout this whole, like, writing process?

[Brooke Averick]

I think I always. There was always a part of me that, like, felt like I was special in a bad way. Kind of like, why am I. Why me? In, like, why do I have this anxiety that, like, it doesn't seem like it's happening as badly to everyone else. And I think this book was, like, the kick that I needed to be like, no, it is like, you're not special. Like, it is. Everyone has their own, like, virginity. Everyone has their thing.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Everyone is anxious. Like, everyone has something that they're hung up on. And I think I really kind of needed to get out of that, like, victim mentality almost.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

That's so interesting.

[Brooke Averick]

And I think that this book really helped with that.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I love that you. I think you need to, like, use that line more of everyone has, like, their own virginity.

[Brooke Averick]

I, like, I. I.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Have you, like, been saying that?

[Brooke Averick]

I think that just slipped out.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I think. I really think. I really hope by the time this airs that you've been saying it.

[Brooke Averick]

Okay. I really like that too.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I feel like it's like. It's like cat. Like, when you said it, I was

[Brooke Averick]

like, oh, everyone has a hang up.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So, yeah, that's what I think I've. I've learned the most.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

What do you hope people take away from it?

[Brooke Averick]

I hope that people take that away. That, like, everyone has their virginity.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And also that, like, they're, I think, a big thought that Phoebe has in the book. Like all the time is like, there's just something so wrong with me. And like it's incurable and like this just like a recurring thought. And I think that I hope by the end of that book, if people are relating to that, they learn that there is just nothing. There's nothing wrong with you. You know, you're not broken. You just have this thing and it's not a big deal.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I love it. Well, I'm excited for you. I feel like everything about this is like. I'm normally like not like a big book person. I'm starting to get into it. I got a Kindle. But I feel like everything about your book, like, I'm actually not just saying this because you're sitting here. The title is so catchy. The COVID art, I'm actually like obsessed with like, it's like perfect amount of like girly pop, but like the 20s, 30s like vibe. Like I feel like everything and the description of it. I feel like you've really done a really good job with it.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you so much. The COVID designer, her name is Sarah. She was so incredible. I was like. I'm thinking like early 2000s nostalgia. Like just like. And she just. Yeah, she just nailed it.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So I love that. Thank you. I'm. I'm excited and I hope you can get on your Kindle.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, me too.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm really excited about your Kindle. I think that'll change the game for you.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I've been really.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I've been. I was really good with it and then I got pregnant and then I did nothing. That'll do it for about three months and now I'm starting to do things again.

[Brooke Averick]

Okay.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

So that's. But I. I feel like this, I need like a good like fun yet relatable fiction book because I'm. I'm definitely the type that is like the memoir reading, like self help book.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Learning. Like I love to learn and it like my brain needs to not learn all the time. Like it needs. That's a.

[Brooke Averick]

That is a great quality.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

But it needs, it needs like a chill.

[Brooke Averick]

This could be that you. Not that like you won't learn anything but like it definitely is like, it's like passive learning. Right. It's a beach read with.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I need to find a term that's like beach read but like a little more like heart. There's a lot of heart to it which I think you'll like be treat with a twist. Beach read on the rocks. Like something cute. Something like. I don't know.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I Mean, if anyone's gonna think of it, it's you.

[Brooke Averick]

I'll get back to you on that as well.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Yeah. Okay, great. I love that.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Great.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I have one last little segment to do with you.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

It's called Lemon seven. Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Seven questions.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

You can rapid fire them or if

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

you have a story you want to share.

[Brooke Averick]

Okay.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It's your time.

[Brooke Averick]

Perfect.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

You're the guest, and I'm just here.

[Brooke Averick]

I love fire.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay, first question is, what movie or

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

song title best describes your mental health today?

[Brooke Averick]

That's such a good question. I think I've been trying to romanticize my own life a lot recently.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

Which is very fun and very good for your mental health, I think. And so I've been listening to Perfect Day by Hoku. That song that's at the beginning of Legally Blonde.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

In a son's. Yeah, that one. Just to kind of get in that, like, main character. Like, my life is a Romula for you.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

Spirit. So, like, that's the first song I listen to in my car every morning, and that is doing wonders. It's like, a little bit of, like, Prozac for me. It's.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's amazing. I. I've been hooked on, like, Rihanna radio right now.

[Brooke Averick]

Oh, that's so good. I just like, anything, like, early 2000s is really resonating with me right now.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No, I need a little something. I love romanticizing life, like, so much. It's actually, like. I think that's why I like doing little, like, staycations or travels like that, because it gets me. When I'm in the house, I'm so, like, my brain doesn't sleep. Like, I'm like, there's always something that could be done. There's always something that could be organized

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

or I could be working on this or there's this.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

But when I'm, like, out of the house, like, staying, like, at a hotel or even just, like, driving in the car, I'm like, okay. Like, it could, like, be quiet. So I think that's why I love, like, if I'm, like, staying somewhere, like, at an Airbnb, like, I'll, like, take, like, my quiet time.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I try to do it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I still do it here in the morning. Like, I'll light a candle. I, like, put my little, like, jazz

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

music on the tv.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Just, like, have it, like, Zen and quiet.

[Brooke Averick]

If you pretend you're, like, the main character of a movie, like, it really, like, it's helped me with dating, too. Like, I am, like, playing the role of girl on a date and so like you, there's this, like, confidence that comes with that, too. That has. It's. It's helpful.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm playing this role of girl.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm not broke on a date because I was broke on a date, I'd be, like, throwing up on the table.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

But I'm girl playing Brooke.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely.

[Brooke Averick]

Brooke playing a girl going on a date. And she's so confident. She's not throwing up at all after.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

No. Until she's getting. No one is around.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Exactly.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's funny. Okay. Number two is how open are you with people in life when you're struggling?

[Brooke Averick]

Very. Okay. Yeah. Because I have to say it or else I'm uncomfortable.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Number three is if you could follow

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

only three social media. Three social media accounts, what would they be?

[Brooke Averick]

That's such a good question, too. I think that I would follow. I used to knit a lot, and so Tom Daly, this Olympic diver, knits, and his knitting account is the greatest thing that I've ever seen. He's so talented, and every time he comes out with, like, a new piece of clothing, it's like the. And like, watching him create is incredible and therapeutic and just. They're so cute.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I think it's made with love by Tom Daly. And that is my fate. Like, I think my favorite account, I think he's like. It's just like, the sweetest thing to me. So I'd follow him. I also think Jake Shane, I really adore.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, as a friend. And just, like, the way that he complains.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Calms me.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I don't know what that says about, like, me, but it's just, like, I find him complaining to be so soothing.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I see that in the.

[Brooke Averick]

Because it's like. Yeah. It's just, like, relatable. And also, like, you could. Things could always be worse. Like, you could be Jake Shane, like, in a hour five of his delay on the plane. And, like, you're where you're at right now.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So I love him. And then I think also the only person I have post notifications turned on for is Sarah J. Mass, who is the author of the Acotar Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Series.

[Brooke Averick]

And whenever she posts, I think that's, like, how people feel when, like, a new Taylor Swift song comes out. Like, to me, I'm just like, she is my Taylor Swift.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So I think her as well.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Did you watch her?

[Brooke Averick]

That is the. That's a podcast episode that I watched multiple times.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I think the only one.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I love that.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I have not, as you can probably Guess have not read them.

[Brooke Averick]

I wouldn't dive into those first.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, maybe ease up with, let's say, I don't know, Phoebe, for example, and then we can talk about kind of the harder.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Great. Yeah. That was a very good organic.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm very proud of you. Very proud. Number four, what is your favorite form of self care?

[Brooke Averick]

I mean, I do. You know napping when it's appropriate.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I also, I think taking a bath and making it a bubble bath.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Brooke Averick]

And lighting a candle. That's another, like, main character.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Romanticize.

[Brooke Averick]

Romanticize your own life. Yeah. Thing. And then walking to. I can't walk. Like, I have to walk with a end goal, like, which is a treat. So either, like, walking to get ice cream or, like, a sweet drink or Barnes and Noble.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Something like that. Walking. Yeah. With intention.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Of getting a treat.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

It makes it more fun.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Number five is, what is the most misunderstood thing about you?

[Brooke Averick]

I don't know how much people think this, but I think I'm really, really sensitive. And so sometimes I think that can come across. Like, I get defensive. Like, if someone says something about me that, like, hurts my feelings, I'll be really quick to, like, be like, no, it's not. Like, that's not what happened. Like, just very defensive. And that's. I think people can take that as, like, I don't care where the. I just care too much.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So I just think I'm. That I'm really, really, really sensitive.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Number six is who's had the most positive impact on your mental health?

[Brooke Averick]

I think maybe John Green. Who? He wrote the Fault in Our Stars. You know, he also wrote a book called Turtles all the Way down, which is about a girl with ocd. And that was a part of me realizing, like, oh, this is what I have.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Because he wrote about it in a way that, like, it's very much happening in her mind.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And that character kind of helped me realize what I was going through. And so I think he. I would say John Green. And he's very. He's also very open about his mental health. And just, like, having that arc of, like, author with, like, the mental health.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Lens. Like, is that on your podcast? I would love that. I don't know that that's something that he would be down for. But, like, I would always. Like, he is. I wrote him, like, a letter, and, like, Paige, maybe we have to cut this, because he never answered it, which is totally fine. He's very busy. But, like, I did write him this letter about like, asking him if, like, he would read Phoebe with, like, saying, like, hey, I thought I did 9, 11. And because of that, like, you've really helped me. And better in, like, a lot of different words.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Did you physically send this in the mail?

[Brooke Averick]

No, I, like, my agent, like, sent it to his. But, like, with, like, hey, here's this book.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That was it. It was an. It was physical mail.

[Brooke Averick]

No, it was an email.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Brooke Averick]

Like, it's just hard. Like, it's. He's busy and, like, it's hard when you get all.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

There's also.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

There's so many emails.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Exactly.

[Brooke Averick]

There's so many emails. I'm zero in zero way. But that is someone that I was like, please read this.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm sure he will hear you talking about this now. And we'll probably hear from him.

[Brooke Averick]

Any. John, whether I hear from you or not, who cares? I love you. You are the best. Thanks.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

She's, like, sweating now.

[Brooke Averick]

Anyway, that's my answer.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I love that. Okay, last question is, if you can go back to one moment in your life, what moment would that be and what would you say to yourself?

[Brooke Averick]

Another great question. I think the first time that I, like, nervously puked, I was like, it was around this boy that I really liked. And this is a lot of what inspired this book as well. Because of Phoebe's, like, anxiety with dating. Because I just, like, liked him so much and was so nervous. I was like, oh, great, I'm throwing up now.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And I was like, this is the end of the world as I know it.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Truly.

[Brooke Averick]

Because it was so embarrassing. And after that moment, like, I would not even, like, look at a boy for years, because I didn't, like. I was like, I'm gonna throw up.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

So if I could go back, I would go back to that moment and be like, like, you're fine. Like, this is actually, like, this does happen. And, like, you're not. I thought I was, like, truly, like, the biggest, like, freak. I was like, this is not normal. So I would say, like, this is. You're fine. Like, it happens. And, like.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And I also would say, like, I, like, lied about it a lot. I would be like, I have food poisoning. Or, like, so if I just could be like, sorry, I had a panic attack, I think that would have taken so much pressure off of the situation.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

I would have just handled a lot of that differently, I think.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

And just. I just wish I could have relaxed.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Brooke Averick]

Yeah. And gone easy on myself.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

That's sweet.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

Well, thank you for coming.

[Brooke Averick]

Thank you so much. For having me.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

This has been so fun. Equal parts fun and like heartfelt.

[Brooke Averick]

I feel the same way. This is very therapeutic and just lovely.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

I'll leave a link for your book.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I'm excited.

[Brooke Averick]

I'm gonna.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

I actually do one.

[Brooke Averick]

Well, I'll of course send it to you. And no pressure.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

But also no pressure to me. And no pressure.

[Brooke Averick]

No pressure to anyone. To John Tay. To anyone listening. Read it if you want. Don't. Who cares? Paige is like, no. Yeah, if you want. It's totally whatever. So doubt on May 26th. Do whatever you want.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Somewhere around there. Yeah, we can just end this one.

[Lemon Drops (Podcast Segment Host)]

We said great.

[Paige (Podcast Host)]

Thanks. Please note that this episode may contain

[Brooke Averick]

paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.