Francesca Mariano: Behind the Mic

Summary

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The Squeeze – “Francesca Mariano: Behind the Mic”

Podcast: The Squeeze
Host: Taylor Lautner
Guest: Francesca Mariano (Chicks in the Office)
Date: December 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this candid and heartfelt episode, Taylor Lautner sits down with Francesca Mariano of "Chicks in the Office" to dive deep into her mental health journey, her unconventional career path, personal growth, building "Chicks in the Office" from the ground up, and the power of vulnerability and female friendship. Francesca offers raw insight into her struggles with college, therapy, and impostor syndrome, while reflecting on what it takes to chart your own course and thrive in media.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Struggles, Mental Health & College Pressure (00:01–15:00, 16:07–29:43)

• Pressure and Shame as the Oldest Child

  • Francesca describes profound internal pressure growing up as the eldest sibling and first grandchild, always feeling that “everyone has always been, ‘Oh, Francesca's got it all together.’” (16:35)
  • “I put so much pressure on myself. That year... I was just fully mentally frozen and could not break out of it until I was physically forced out of the environment.” (24:52)

• College Reality vs. Expectations

  • She entered Georgetown on a business track, reluctant but influenced by her successful mother, despite her true love for journalism.
  • The gap between expectation and reality led to her “first time dealing with depression or anxiety,” marked by sleeping until late, missing classes, and hiding struggles behind socializing. (19:27)
  • “I have learned that there's nothing wrong with bombing at something and growing from that and being OK with closing a chapter.” (28:02)

• Admitting Struggle & Asking for Help

  • Francesca recalls the turning point when academic performance forced her and her parents to reckon with the situation, eventually leading her to therapy—first reluctantly, then as a lifeline.
  • “Talk to somebody. Literally anybody. A friend, parent, somebody.” (52:55)
  • Therapy became a condition of her academic leave, and she credits it for her recovery and new self-awareness. (26:16)

Notable Quote

• “Every little thing that happened at that time felt like the end of the world… I’m never gonna do anything. This is the end of the world.” (53:53)

Breaking Tradition: Building a Career (00:56–01:28, 29:44–40:00, 54:44–56:45)

• Pushing Past Stigma

  • Francesca emphasizes the stigma within her peer group about non-traditional paths: “I just remember thinking... ‘Oh my God, that person's not going to college. What a disaster.’ And now I'm like, that was ridiculous.” (54:52)

• From Intern to On-Air: The Barstool Story

  • She became an intern at Barstool Sports through an unconventional series of events, simply being the only one to show up for an interview!
    • “I had an absolute Mickey Mouse way of getting into this job.” (33:46)
  • Initial office culture had few women; Francesca and Ria formed a team, leaning into the “chicks in the office” label that was originally quasi-mocking from their male coworkers. (36:56)

• Embracing Opportunity

  • When offered a full-time role before finishing school, Francesca took the leap. “This is my dream job right now… I will leave right now.” (55:52)
  • Her parents gradually came to support the decision given the difficulty she had experienced.

Notable Quotes

• “You can do so much with your life without going the traditional route.” (54:59)
• “I’m really proud that I fought to do that at that time and not kind of crumble.” (57:27)

Chicks in the Office: Sisterhood, Growth, and Creative Control (40:00–49:05)

• Origin Story & Evolution

  • Started as one-minute pop culture videos on Instagram—“what’s the biggest story? Here’s one minute.” (38:54)
  • The project grew into a radio show and then a full-on podcast, now three days a week.

• Unique Barstool Culture

  • Francesca credits Barstool with giving them freedom: “It is very much a place where you are brought in and they kick you out of the nest. Or like, see what you can do.” (42:21)

• Sisterly Partnership

  • Francesca and Ria met at Barstool—not childhood friends—yet developed real chemistry and openness. “We flow so well together, and we do have such a sisterly relationship now... We’re always super open with each other.” (46:20)
  • They prioritize the show’s success over ego: “We built it together... it's really like our baby. We always try and put Chicks in the Office first.” (47:54)

Notable Quote

• “The more we individually succeed too, the better it is for the show… There's more opportunities for the show if one of us is doing something amazing.” (49:05)

Self-Care, Boundaries & Advice (50:14–54:45)

• Francesca’s Wellness Routine

  • She values “rot days” for mental reset (ordering in, binge-watching, silence).
  • Leaning into boundaries: “Sometimes...I come home and I'm like, I have not shut up all day… Give me an hour just to sit in silence.” (50:50)
  • Owning a dog has brought unexpected structure and joy: “It's actually been very fantastic for me, I think, mentally.” (51:56)

• Advice to Her Younger Self

  • She stresses the importance of openness and not bottling things up: “I wish I had... talked to my friends because that also... caused a weird barrier.” (52:55)
  • She now recognizes college is not for everyone and is grateful she trusted her instincts, even when it bucked tradition.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “My biggest downfall at the time with my mental health was talking to anybody. I buried, buried, buried. Never had any issues before. I can't admit I have a problem now.” – Francesca (00:12)
• “I froze. Am I the biggest loser ever? That's just, like, what I dealt with constantly in my mind.” – Francesca (22:09)
• “I'm really proud of the relationships I've kept... my family are so special and important to me. I don't think I would be sane if I didn't have... my siblings and my parents and the group of amazing friends that I have who have been with me through so much.” – Francesca (57:27)
• On leaving college for Barstool: “I'm in school for broadcast journalism. This is my dream job right now. And I will leave right now.” – Francesca (55:52)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• [00:01–00:56] Francesca recalls mental health collapse in college and the pressure of being the perfect child.
• [16:07–29:43] Deep dive into her struggle, shame, avoidance, finally seeking therapy, and lessons learned.
• [29:44–40:00] The non-linear journey to Barstool, the accidental internship, and trusting her gut over tradition.
• [40:00–46:00] How “Chicks in the Office” began, the switch to podcasting, and the Barstool environment.
• [46:00–49:05] On Francesca and Ria’s partnership and how communication and mutual respect drive their longevity.
• [50:14–52:48] Self-care: “Rot days,” dog walks, and boundary-setting for wellness.
• [52:55–56:45] Advice to her college self: openness, seeking help, new definitions of success.
• [57:25–58:57] What Francesca is most proud of: professional perseverance, maintaining relationships, and personal growth.

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a refreshingly authentic look at what it means to evolve, struggle, and ultimately succeed on your own terms. Francesca’s journey is a testament to the power of vulnerability, the necessity of support, and redefining traditional paths, making her advice and story deeply relatable and encouraging.

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For anyone wrestling with life’s “sour lemons,” Francesca’s story is a reminder: You’re not alone—and sometimes, the best opportunities come from trusting yourself enough to do what others might not understand.

Transcript

[Francesca]

The following podcast is a Dear Media Production. Every little thing that happened at that time felt like the end of the world. My life is over. What am I gonna do?

[Host]

What was that time like for you?

[Francesca]

My biggest downfall at the time with my mental health was talking to anybody. I buried, buried, buried. Never had any issues before. I can't admit I have a problem now, really not doing well in school. I'm supposed to be good at this. That fear of failure, and I'm like, I'm failing, but I cannot admit that I'm failing. That just is. It just puts so much pressure. I just put so much pressure on myself. I froze. Am I like the biggest loser ever? That's just like, kind of what I dealt with constantly in my mind. I started as an intern at Barstool and that just kind of like flipped everything around. Graduate, you get a job, you know, you go through all the steps. When I was in school still, and I got the job at Barstool, Dave was like, hey, we'll hire you full time. You have to be here every day. You can't do school. And this.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Oh, my God, that person's not going to college.

[Ria]

Like, what?

[Francesca]

What a disaster. And now I'm like, that was ridiculous. You can do so much with your life without going the traditional route. I'm really proud that I fought to do that at that time and not kind of crumble.

[Host]

Friend, welcome to the Squeeze.

[Francesca]

Thank you for having me.

[Host]

This is so fun to get to do it in reverse.

[Francesca]

I know. And I rarely sit in this chair.

[Host]

I was gonna ask, is this, like an often occurrence for you? Do you like it? Do you dislike it?

[Francesca]

I love it.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And I just. We just don't do it that much.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

But I love doing it. It's so fun.

[Host]

I. I know. I recently have been doing a few other people's podcasts and it honestly is so fun because it's mindless in a sense. Like, obviously, like, a lot of. I know a lot of what, like, we're going to talk about. Like, it's not like I'm having to work, but I am having to, like, remember that I'm interviewing someone. But when I'm on a podcast, I'm like, so fun. I don't have to think or. My new weird thing is I've been doing some, like, either like live TV.

[Ria]

Stuff or more short form things.

[Host]

And I'm so used to just like 45 to an hour of talking for when it's five minutes, I'm like, wait, wait, what happened?

[Francesca]

I Said it's. It goes by so fast. When someone tells you like, oh, you actually only have 15, 20 minutes. I'm like, how could I possibly get all my thoughts into that amount of time?

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Host]

How long are your guys's shows normally?

[Francesca]

Oh my. It could range from. Depending on the day. Could range from an hour to like three hours sometimes.

[Host]

Oh my gosh.

[Francesca]

When we have a Friday show or something where maybe we have trivia, a guest, a segment, and then there's a lot going on.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Just in pop culture news. And all of a sudden our producers like, haha, we're at two and a half hours. We're like, oh, whoops. So it really varies.

[Host]

Oh my God.

[Francesca]

Depending on the episode.

[Host]

That's fun. Fun though.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It's always different. So.

[Host]

Yeah. I love, I love that. I love your guys's Instagram. Like the chicks in the office. Instagram, honestly, is my new source.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Host]

Like, legitimately, I will. If something is happening, I will go on to your guys's page.

[Ria]

And look, it's.

[Francesca]

It's ours too, because shout out Maddie, who runs our social. She's amazing. And everyone are still so used to when we first started the account and it was coming from myself and Rhea.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And. And no, our producer, who was very, very involved with posting at that time too. And we're like, guys, like, we. We're not doing all of this now. But it is. It is tough. And she is on her game when something comes out and like, it's a. I click on it myself all the time to be like, even just looking for topics for the podcast, I'm like, what have we posted in the last couple days? That's being out there. And she does a. She does a great job. And I love when people say that because it's like we're keeping everybody informed.

[Host]

Yeah. If there's like either a carpet or something going on, like, I want to see people's outfits, I'm looking on there.

[Ria]

If I need a new show, I'm.

[Host]

Looking at your little reports on there. It's very helpful.

[Francesca]

Yes.

[Ria]

Okay.

[Host]

So we start each episode off with this jar.

[Ria]

A little game called Citrus Got Real.

[Host]

If you want to pull a little piece of paper out of there and.

[Ria]

Read it to our lemon drops.

[Host]

Got the perfect nails for digging in there.

[Francesca]

Yes.

[Ria]

Okay.

[Francesca]

What's your go to Coffee or tea order? So, fun fact. I'm just kind of easing my way into coffee for the best. Because I was never a coffee drinker.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Growing up. Because I was one of those people that Said I. I hate the taste of coffee. It tastes terrible. And at the time, I really did think it tasted terrible. Now I like it, but I keep trying to tell myself that I don't like it.

[Ria]

Okay.

[Francesca]

So that I don't start drinking it all the time. Because I'm like, I made it this far.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Where I'm like, do I need to. If. If I need something, like some sort of caffeine boost.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Just be like, espresso shot just kept me, get me going. But now, like, everything's so yummy. I mean, some ice shaken.

[Ria]

Oh, my gosh.

[Francesca]

Latte. I'm like, this. This is delicious.

[Host]

I just had a carrot cake.

[Ria]

Matcha from blank.

[Host]

Blank street.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. All this.

[Host]

How do they.

[Francesca]

I know they do that too. Where I'm walking by. There's so many blank streets in. In New York now, too. And every time I walk by one, I'm like, they got some tiramisu shaken coffee. I'm like, well, that sounds delicious.

[Host]

I know. And it is.

[Francesca]

And it really. It really is. Right now I think they have some like, banana bread one that I was.

[Ria]

Like, that one you actually really need.

[Host]

To try because I was curious. Yeah. If we have a place out here.

[Ria]

Do you guys have a lot of land? No. In New York. No.

[Host]

It's like yellow and all, like, cute. You see, you've probably seen the branding. It's like out here, but they have banana cream, like cloud foam. And when I first read it, I was like, why would you want banana cream in a matcha? But I. It's like my Saturday treat because there's one right by my farmer's market, so I always get one.

[Ria]

And so I was like, I'm going.

[Host]

To try this matcha. And it is literally life changing. Like, it's so good.

[Francesca]

So good. Normally I'm just an iced, like iced black tea with lemon.

[Ria]

Yeah. With.

[Francesca]

That's my go to.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Really all.

[Host]

When all I can supply you. So.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Well, fun.

[Host]

I'm excited to, like, chat and really.

[Ria]

Get to know you and all of.

[Host]

All the fun stuff. I know. Did you just celebrate a year of.

[Francesca]

I did.

[Host]

I did. One year.

[Francesca]

September. It's crazy. Went by so fast. I'm sure you feel the same way. I know you guys just celebrated as well.

[Host]

It's like, yeah, I know. We just celebrated three.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I'm like, so where does the time go?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Ria]

No, really.

[Host]

How has the first year of marriage been treating you? Has it been hard like everyone says it's gonna be, or I Don't really.

[Francesca]

You know, I don't think so, because we. We didn't do. I think it's hard when you get married and right away you're making big life changes.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Host]

You move.

[Francesca]

You gotta. Like, you. You know, you're. You're. Maybe you're having a baby, like, whatever it is. Like, those that obviously are more challenges. We have been in our routine. You know, we're in our same apartment we've been living in for four years.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Our jobs are the same. Like, we've kind of just had this routine, and now it's just as husband and wife, which has been great. And now we have a dog in the mix as well. So I guess that was the big thing.

[Host]

But, yeah.

[Francesca]

So, no, it really has been. It's been so nice. And I don't find it to be some big, drastic change. Besides, I'm like, that's my husband.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Host]

Looking back at your wedding, was there something that you were, like, obsessed with, like, your favorite detail? You would recommend another bride?

[Francesca]

That's a good question.

[Host]

Remind me where you guys got married.

[Francesca]

Martha's Vineyard.

[Host]

Okay.

[Francesca]

I will say, you know, everything that I had planned kind of went to, because it was a actual hurricane monsoon for, like, the entire weekend that I got married. Not named or anything, but it was like, I'm on an island. The wind was atrocious. Ferries were being canceled. I'm like, is anyone going to be able to get here? It was. And then everything we had planned was outside. We had a tent, but then we had to. The ceremony wasn't supposed to be tented. And then that obviously was because it was pouring rain.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

So, like, a lot of the cute things that I had planned, I didn't. Norm. I didn't actually get to fulfill in the way that I. That I really wanted to. But, you know, it was. It was still absolutely amazing. I would say. I would say, you know, we did get. I got, like, 10 minutes to myself before I went to go do my first look.

[Host]

Okay.

[Francesca]

Because first we weren't going to do it. Then we had to. We also had to change locations. Whole crazy elements of the day. But setting that up, like, on the way. It was just me, and I was kind of sitting in a van by myself.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And they're like, we're gonna go make sure everything's ready, but you stay here. And I just real. Like, I had nothing. No. I was just in the car for 10 minutes, kind of just alone with my thoughts, and I was like, wait, this is actually really nice. As the one time all day that I've actually stopped and had a second alone.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And not had someone talking to me or I'm asking for something or worried about what's happening.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

And that really made me so excited to get out of the car and see him. And I was like, wow, I'm so ready for this. And that was, that was really nice because you, what everyone says is so true, that you're just, the whole day just flies by. You're go, go, go. It's, you're in, you're being pulled from one thing to the next and all of a sudden you're like, ah, we're married. Now what? You know, and the whole day's over. What happened?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

So that like 10 minutes was actually very nice.

[Host]

Oh, I love that.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Ria]

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[Host]

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[Host]

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[Ria]

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[Host]

Box. Okay. Obviously, mental health podcasts and I wanna dive into your background with mental health a little.

[Ria]

Bit. You've opened up about struggling with your mental health during.

[Host]

College. What, what was that time like for you? Was that the first time you actually kind of battled with your mental health.

[Francesca]

Too? Yeah, definitely. And it hit me like a semi truck. I, I was the, I am, I'm Worf. I am the oldest sibling and I'm the oldest grandchild on both sides of my family. So first one, I have, you.

[Ria]

Know.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Nine cousins on 1 8. So like, I, there's a lot of, a lot of family members. So I'm the first one to go to college. I go to all girls Catholic school. I do very well. School's like, not easy, but I'm never like, oh my, I'm not struggling.

[Ria]

Majorly.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I get into Georgetown, which is a school both my parents went to where they met, fell in love, and I always thought like, I loved Georgetown growing up. Is that where I wanted to probably go to school the most? Yes. But for maybe all like the wrong.

[Ria]

Reasons.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I have been obsessed with like sports journalism my entire life. Like, that's what I wanted to do. From the moment I watched Aaron Andrews on the sideline, I was like, this is what I want to do. And I applied to probably a million schools with communications program, journalism program, sports.

[Ria]

Media.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And, and then of course, also Georgetown, because I had to. Now they don't, They're. There's no communications.

[Ria]

Program.

[Francesca]

Yeah. My mom is a bad ass and worked on Wall street for 25 years and was like, well, you'll go to business.

[Host]

School.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I'm like, okay, I don't really want to go to business school, but all right, so I'm at Georgetown, I'm in business school. And as soon as I got there after my first semester, I was like, I, this is a disaster. Like, but at that time I was really young. I started college even before turning 18. I turned 18 my, my end of September, my freshman.

[Ria]

Year.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I just was not, I think, mentally ready for everything that that was going to come with and leaving home and. Yeah, all these things. And my biggest downfall at the time with my mental health was talking to anybody. I buried, buried, buried. I was like, I've never had any issues before. I can't admit I have a problem now. This is supposed to be eat. Like I'm supposed to be good at.

[Host]

This.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I masked a lot of it with like social stuff. You know. I made a lot of great friends who are still my best friends, which is.

[Host]

Amazing.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But I was really not doing well in school and I came home and one of my parents, you know, did not really fill them in on anything that was going on. When we finally get into that time of, oh, grades and showing them all these things and they were like, what the, what the fuck.

[Host]

Happened? We had.

[Francesca]

No. And I'm, I'm a mess. I'm like, I don't know what happened. I'll be so much better. Like I'll go back. Because we were like, is this the right place? And I still at that time could not like admit I didn't think it was the right.

[Host]

Place.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So I go back my second semester and that was probably the first time I think I've ever really dealt with any kind of depression or anxiety. Like on the, on the weekdays, like I would be missing class, I'd be sleeping till 2pm I would stay up late, like, and really just kind of stick to myself during the week and be able to sort of fake it. And on the, on the weekends be like, oh, everybody's going out. Like, I'm so fine. Let's go.

[Ria]

Out.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And it was just like a really, really bad cycle. And I was so in my head about admitting that I couldn't do.

[Ria]

Something.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It was just like that fear of failure. And I'm like, I'm failing But I cannot admit that I'm failing because everyone has always been, oh, Francesca's got all together. This.

[Ria]

Is. She's going.

[Francesca]

To. She's got everything figured out. And I was like, I do not have everything figured.

[Host]

Out.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And even through, like, I started trying to do some counseling when I was in school, and it just wasn't really fitting well. And I'm in these classes and I'm like, why am I. I do not. I'm taking these intro business classes that I'm really struggling at. I mean, this is not what I want to be doing at all. And it all just came to a head after, after that year. And I did go back my sophomore year and like, mid semester, it was just like, all right, this is my parents. Like, you're coming home. Like, this is just. Yeah, this is not working. Which was probably the hardest thing that I've had to deal with in my mental health was then leaving, going home, having to kind of deal with. I guess I don't, you know, shame was probably what I felt at the.

[Host]

Time.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Now looking back, I'm not ashamed of what happened, but I was at the time because I thought. And I went to a really small high.

[Host]

School.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And every, you know, all my high school friends, everybody's doing. I couldn't admit to anybody that I was having any.

[Host]

Issues. Yeah. I'm sure there was, like, so much pressure that you put on yourself.

[Francesca]

Exactly. You make up scenarios in your.

[Host]

Head.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I'm like, they're all talking about me. They're all probably like, she couldn't do it. Like, how embarrassing, all these.

[Host]

Things.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So I go home and I'm from New Jersey, so I'm, I'm back in my, in my family's house. And I, my, my mom at the time was running a small deli that she decided, like, after she retired from Wall street, she was going to do this. And it was like, right down the street from.

[Host]

Us.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I just started working in there kind of during the week and figuring out, like, what I wanted to do school.

[Ria]

Wise.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And that was, that's by far probably the toughest time because now I'm home, all my friends are in school. I'm like, am I, like, the biggest loser ever? I, I, that's just like, kind of what I dealt with constantly in my mind. And I started seeing a really great therapist that I loved at home. And she was awesome and helped me a lot. And then it just tumbled into, you know, do I want to go back to school? Where do I want to go to.

[Ria]

School.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Is this right for me? I took classes at, like, four different colleges, all in New Jersey, just to, like, test things out and see how I felt about.

[Host]

Things. Oh.

[Francesca]

Wow. And then when I decided once it got to the point where most of my friends were getting closer to graduating, I was like, well, they'll all be in New York City. Do I want to be closer to the city? And I was like, well, I'll take some classes at a school in the city, which I did. And while I was there is when I started as an intern at Barstool. And that just kind of, like, flipped everything around for me. But that time, being at home, being like, was this whole college thing a massive failure for.

[Host]

Me.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Was definitely the toughest battle, mentally I've. I've had to deal.

[Ria]

With.

[Host]

Yeah. I feel like that's so relatable, because I think whether you're in college or it's. You're starting a new job or it's like a career that you've been in or you're changing your career, like, that the fear of failure or feeling, like the shame around it is majority of the time actually not even there. It's just something that we have, like, built up in our heads. I know I've literally done the same thing, and it's just crazy how. How relatable that is through life and really finding. You know, I think it's great.

[Ria]

That you were able to pull yourself.

[Host]

Out of it and didn't say in it, because that probably would not.

[Francesca]

Have.

[Ria]

No. Been good.

[Francesca]

No. No. And it's just. It's like the. I think it's a major oldest child problem, which I have two younger siblings. I think is a major oldest. Oldest child problem, where you put this perfection label on yourself, even when you think it's coming from everybody else. I'm like, everybody expects me to be perfect. And now I'm looking back, I'm like, did they or did I just think I needed to be perfect? Because, yeah, I was the oldest, and everybody was like, oh, look at Francesca. She's doing this. That I'm like, okay. Well, that just. It just puts so much pressure. I just put so much pressure on.

[Ria]

Myself.

[Francesca]

Yeah. That I froze. Like, I really, truly. That year, my freshman year. Like, I think I was just fully mentally frozen and could not break out of it until I was physically forced out of the.

[Host]

Environment.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I was in. To kind of shake me out of.

[Host]

It. Yeah. Who prompted you to go to therapy? Was that something you sought out on Your own or did your.

[Francesca]

Parents? It was. It was definitely a. A group thing. I also think it was, you.

[Host]

Know. So were you open with your parents that you were like, mentally.

[Francesca]

Like. No, that was. I mean, I did not until like it was time for. They were like, you. We gotta. School is not working for you. I'm like, well, yeah, I think there's a lot of things that are not working for me right.

[Host]

Now.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And what was the biggest thing with that was. And it's. My memory is a little hazy now. I'm one of those people. That trauma block. I put that into a part of my brain and I'm like, oh, my God. I forget all.

[Host]

Like.

[Francesca]

Yeah. What my day to day was like at that time. Because I blocked it all.

[Host]

Out.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But Georgetown at the time was really great where they saw that there was a struggle. They said, you know, you can. Let's. Let's leave. Take the semester.

[Ria]

Off.

[Francesca]

Yeah. One of the contingencies with that was seeing somebody, talking to a.

[Ria]

Therapist.

[Francesca]

Wow. Yeah. It was kind of.

[Host]

A. That's.

[Francesca]

Cool. Yeah. And like working on that and if I was gonna be homed, have that be a big factor. And they definitely, you know, they really encouraged that too. Cause it was like, hey, if you feel like you could do this and then if you could do that and also take classes somewhere else and sort of prove that you can make it through a college semester, maybe it's something you can revisit. And just as time went on, I was like, it's just not something I wanna go back.

[Host]

To.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But yeah, it was definitely a parental. And parental thing, I would say too, was like, we have to. You definitely need to go talk to somebody to help you figure this out. Because I was struggling so hard to even communicate with.

[Host]

Them.

[Francesca]

Yeah. On how I was feeling. And they had. They had trouble too. I think my. You know, it's the first time my parents also were going with me and they were going on their own. It was like we were all kind of trying to.

[Ria]

Navigate.

[Francesca]

Yeah. This relationship. Because they were like, we don't really even know how to help you in this scenario. So kind of everybody took their own paths of.

[Host]

Helping. Yeah. Looking back on that time period now, what do you think you learned most about.

[Ria]

Yourself? I.

[Francesca]

Think. I think I. I think I did learn that I put a lot of the pressure on.

[Ria]

Myself.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I think I have learned that there's nothing wrong with bombing at.

[Host]

Something.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And growing from that and being okay with closing a.

[Ria]

Chapter.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And like not holding on to Something for too long. Because I kept being like, I can't let go of this picture perfect idea of what my college life was supposed to look.

[Host]

Like.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I. And I held on to it for. For way too long. And I'm just. I just started to get more comfortable with expressing my feelings in.

[Host]

General.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Because I just didn't. Didn't do that a lot. I would catch myself. Words coming out of my mouth and in my head being like, I don't think this at all. Like.

[Ria]

I'm.

[Francesca]

I'm. You know, I'm. My gut is telling me something totally different, but I am just putting up this whole facade and trying to, like, sell this pretty picture and be like, no, everything's.

[Host]

Fine.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And like, inside I'm like, nope, everything is not fine. And I've certainly learned that it is okay to be like, guys, I am not okay. Which I definitely didn't do until I was probably in my mid to late.

[Host]

20S. Do you still struggle with putting pressure on yourself now with.

[Francesca]

Things? Yeah, I think so. But definitely not as much. I think that now it's like a diff. It's such a different.

[Ria]

Pressure.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Because now you're in your career and. And it's a whole different type of pressure of, oh, well, I mean, am I doing enough work? Am I getting this? Am I putting myself out there enough? And I. All those kinds of things. It's such a different kind.

[Ria]

Of.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It's not as much in the family life of being an older sister or a great daughter and all these things, it's like, shifted to, yeah, well, mine now my own.

[Host]

Family.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And what I want.

[Host]

So. Yeah. Where. So where did the idea of interning at barstool come.

[Ria]

From? What made you want to do.

[Francesca]

That? I had followed them for a while, and I'm a huge Philadelphia sports fan. And they had won. Guy who was working in there. They had just moved to New York from Boston. They. David just opened the New York office. It was a whole big move. And Smitty was there. Philly.

[Host]

Blogger.

[Francesca]

Okay. And he posted on Twitter that he was looking for an intern that could be in New York. And I had seen it. And my parents, I'm actually pretty sure my mom sent me the tweet and was like, you should try and do this. And I was like, okay. I was. Well, first I was way more hesitant. I definitely wasn't like, okay. I was like, I don't.

[Host]

Know.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I thought about it. I thought, oh, you know, why not? So I kind of just sent him an email and was like, hey, saw. Saw your post. I'm a student at Marymount Manhattan, and I'm majoring in broadcast journalism right now, and this feels like something I would love to do. I'm such a big fan of. Of what you guys are doing, and I love the Eagles, and right in with what you. What you guys are doing. And he got back to me, was like, you want to come in for an interview? I said, sure. And this is how crazy the time was, because so many people ask me, oh, my God, how'd you get your door, like, your foot in the door there? And, yeah, I'm like, I'm so sorry. I can't even give you good advice right now because it was such a objective joke of how. Of how it went down for me that it just wouldn't happen that way. These days, it's just such a different process, and the company's grown so much, and it's so different. But I literally walked into the office, got off the elevator, it opened up right into the office, and I'm meeting him, and he's, like, joking that I was one of the only people that sent him, like, a real email and. And a real resume. And he said, oh, there's like, two or three other guys that are supposed to be coming in. None of them showed up. It was just me. So none of them showed up. I sit down with him, we talked for, like, 10 minutes, and he's like, cool. I. You know, I think you got it. Okay, great. And they just kind of threw me in the mix right then that day. It was like, oh, this is. This is the. This is the new intern. And Rio was the only other girl there before me. She was there about, like, six months before me, and that was how we met. It was just like, oh, this is the only other girl we have. And Erica was our CEO. Erica Nardini at the time was our.

[Host]

CEO.

[Francesca]

And. But there's no. No girls doing any kind of content, really, besides Ria, who had just started that last, like, September. And I was just like, hey, I'm Fred. Nice to meet you. And they were like. They wanted us, like, hate each other. And we're like, no.

[Ria]

I.

[Francesca]

She. I was. She seems nice. And she was. She was 19. Not that I was some wise woman at the.

[Host]

Time.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But I was.

[Host]

22.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So it's, like, a little bit different, but, yeah, it was.

[Host]

Crazy. Oh, my.

[Francesca]

God. And that was. It, like, that was like, all right, you're in. And then I was like, okay, cool. I'll see you today. I'll see you.

[Host]

Tomorrow. That's so funny. No, literally, it's not.

[Francesca]

Happening. No, it does not. That's why when I feel so bad because I've meet so many amazing people and so many young kids that want to either be involved with barstool or want to work in media in some way and I'm like, guys, I, I had an absolute like Mickey Mouse way of getting into.

[Ria]

This.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Into this.

[Host]

Job. So.

[Francesca]

Wow. I'm like, I guess you just try anything really, because you never know what's going to stick. And me just showing up at the office and being like, hey, I'm here for my interview. And then like, you're the only one here. I was cool. Does that mean I get the.

[Ria]

Job?

[Host]

Yeah. Imagine you didn't get the.

[Francesca]

Job. Yeah, right? They're like.

[Host]

Now.

[Ria]

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[Host]

Apply. So how long had you been there? How did chicks in the office become a.

[Francesca]

Thing? So we had like, truly, it was just Ray and myself and we had a joke in the office with the guys that if anybody if, if a girl came off the elevator, they'd be like, oh, chicks in the office. And we just took that for ourselves. We were like, oh, that's funny. And we're gonna take it for our name. And we actually had our a lot of really great support from a lot of the guys in the office. And they would hear, they would hear us talking and they were like, you guys should try and do something together. And a very funny enough. Ria sent me like the funniest message ever. And she hates when I bring this.

[Ria]

Up. Well, she's not here, so you.

[Francesca]

Can. Yeah, exactly. She maybe like a few days after I started, she sent me a DM on Twitter because I don't think we like had each other's phone numbers yet. And she sent me a DM that was like, hey, you know, I really think we should try and do something together. Kind of like the brunette and blonde with an inseparable. And like which is now we laugh about it was that at the time was hilarious. And at the time she was like a platinum blonde. She was really, really.

[Host]

Blonde. Oh my.

[Francesca]

Gosh. And she's like, here's my number. And yeah, and whatever. We started texting and Talking about things that, that we could do. And we started just making these one minute videos. What's funny now is like, Tik Tok is so.

[Host]

Huge.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And what we were doing was very Tik Tok esque, but on.

[Host]

Instagram.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So we hadn't really seen it on Instagram. So we were making short one minute pop culture videos of the day every single day. It was like, what's the biggest story? Here's one.

[Ria]

Minute.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And we filmed it in the merch closet in the office. And we had, you know, some of the guys were like, you guys should do like some short form videos or something. Or jump. And we're like, yeah, we'll try it. And we just, we started the Instagram, we started posting them ourselves. They were doing really well. And once we got maybe like 10,000 ish followers or so, we brought it to Dave and we were like, hey, this is what we've been working.

[Ria]

On.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Would you want it to go up on any of the main pages or the blog or whatever? He was like, yeah, totally. So that pushed it further of sharing it on the website and then also on the main feeds, like handles and stuff. They would post, repost the videos and tag us. And then that all kind of grew. But that's really like we were doing a very tick tock esque, like one minute quick rapid stories, one a day for like that first probably year or.

[Ria]

So.

[Francesca]

That's.

[Host]

Yeah. Cool. So how long has it been a.

[Francesca]

Podcast? We transformed from the Instagram Barcelona SiriusXM channel for a.

[Ria]

While.

[Francesca]

Okay. First we had just like an app. It was Barcelona Radio. We did for. It was like a couple hours a day. Then Barcelona got a full channel. And when, when that happened, that was January 2018. And when that happened, like truly, three weeks before the channel comes out, Dave texted Ria and me and was like, would you guys want an hour on radio? Like, sure, sure. Never done radio, live radio, but yeah, no Chicks in the Office.

[Ria]

Hour.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So we started the year doing an hour radio every.

[Ria]

Day.

[Francesca]

Wow. From the, from the office. And we felt like that was doing well and a lot of the other shows were turning their radio clips and stuff into podcasts. And we thought, okay, maybe that's a good idea for us to try and do. So we were doing basically like a mashup of like best of stuff from the week into a podcast episode. And people love that. It really took off in a way that we didn't think it was. And from there as like the radio show and the channel kind of kind of came to an end. Then we really transitioned fully into doing the podcast. And it was one episode, and then we started doing two episodes a week. And then it. During COVID we were like, well, we got nothing else to do. Might as well do three episodes a week. And now. Now we're in that full three. Three episodes a week. But we used to, like, record. That's where our Friday energy on a Monday came from. Because we would record all of our episodes on Fridays and put them out on.

[Ria]

Monday.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So we would always laugh because people going to work on Monday in, like, a full Monday mood would be listening to us. But we're like, Friday afternoon. Like, yes, it's.

[Ria]

Friday.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Ready to go. And then it just transformed into, you know, these. These three days a week. And what we. What we've been doing consistently for the last few years.

[Ria]

Yeah. Wow, that's so.

[Host]

Cool. It seems like you guys had. And this may be the case with, like, a lot of other people at Barcelona Tool Barstool, too, but it seems like you kind of just had, like, creative freedom. Like, I feel like they really just like, baby, like, not babied you, but, like, like, held your hand and were like, here, go fly. Like, let you really just, like, run with.

[Francesca]

It.

[Host]

100. So.

[Francesca]

Cool. It is very much a place where you are brought in and then they're like, kick you out of the nest. Or like, see. See what you can.

[Host]

Do.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And that's really, really cool because not a lot of people in our space have.

[Ria]

Full.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Creative control of what they're doing. And Ri and I have loved that from the beginning, where we really manage our show on our own with our.

[Ria]

Team.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Of five that are very close. We've had Noah with us, our producer, who's on the podcast as.

[Host]

Well.

[Francesca]

Yeah. For. Since the.

[Host]

Beginning. He.

[Francesca]

Was. He was editing those one minute videos on.

[Host]

Instagram. Oh.

[Francesca]

Wow. So he's been with us from the beginning and, you know, we've added another producer, Sarah, and we added Maddie, who's been doing our social. So it's grown a lot in that way, but still.

[Host]

Under.

[Francesca]

Yeah. The big umbrella. But we've been able to really do a lot of what we want to do creatively, which is cool because even people that I've talked to that maybe work in a little bit more of a traditional.

[Host]

Media.

[Francesca]

Yeah. World are like, wow, you guys. You guys get to just like, say whatever you want. And nobody's being like, you can't say that. And we're like, yeah. Kind.

[Host]

Of.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Granted, no one's going off the rails that.

[Host]

Much.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Where. Or one of us would stop each other, but, like, never have we had to worry about, like, Dave calling us and being like, I didn't like what you guys said, or you shouldn't be talking about.

[Host]

That.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It's like.

[Host]

We'Re.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Really, It's. Hey, if you guys are doing. If you guys are doing well. Dave's always joked is like, if you're not hearing from me, you're doing.

[Host]

Well.

[Francesca]

Yeah. If I'm not talking about you, if you're not hearing from me, you're doing a good job. So we've always been like, hey, we're. We're just. We're flying through this, which is. Which is good. And it's fun because it's like, when we wanted to add an episode, we were just like, hey, we want to add an episode. They're like, okay.

[Host]

Cool.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And we record on our own schedule. We do what we want to do, and it's. It's. It's very.

[Host]

Nice. Oh, my gosh. I love that. Yeah. I'm also, like, obsessed with Dave. I'm, like, secretly really obsessed with.

[Francesca]

Him. That's so.

[Host]

Funny. He's like a dream guest for me. I'm just like. I just think he's.

[Francesca]

Like. He's a fascinating.

[Host]

Guy. I think he's so fascinating. I could listen to him talk, like, just. I just am obsessed with him.

[Ria]

And, like, him with the.

[Host]

Dogs. Like. Oh, it has just him being, like, a swift. It's just. It's all. It's all just sent.

[Francesca]

Me. The dogs are. The dogs are.

[Ria]

Amazing.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Like, when I met Miss Peaches, I freaked.

[Host]

Out.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Like, truly freaked out. It's like, this is the best thing ever. As I mentioned Ms. Peaches, I hear by.

[Ria]

My. I.

[Francesca]

Know. The dogs paw the door. I know.

[Host]

Yeah. Like, who is.

[Francesca]

That? Yeah. No, they're. It's. It's amazing. And it is so funny because he even jokes that, like, he's not a human person as much as he is, like, a dog person, an animal.

[Ria]

Person.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So it's like, you see him interact with these dogs. I'm like, it's so funny because he talks, you know, has his dog.

[Host]

Voice.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It's a totally different version of.

[Host]

Him. It's so good how we. I feel like we see all the time two females running something, and then there's something happen. I mean, it even doesn't need to be.

[Francesca]

Females.

[Host]

Yeah. Hosts in.

[Francesca]

General.

[Host]

Yeah. They feud, and then they break up. How Are there, like, boundaries that you guys have had to set, or did you just get lucky that you both kind of just get each other.

[Francesca]

And. No, I think we really just got lucky. I. A lot of people really do assume that we knew each other.

[Host]

Before. I think I fully thought that before I met you.

[Francesca]

Guys. Yeah. And no, we really met. We were just the two chicks in the office before no one else was around. And. Yeah, it is true. And I think it's sounds kind of silly, but doing, like, even just podcasting with one other person, like, it can be. It can be.

[Host]

Challenging.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And it is something that Ri and I have grown into doing together, and we flow so well together, and we do have such a sisterly relationship.

[Host]

Now.

[Francesca]

Yeah. That there's no, like, sneaking.

[Host]

Around.

[Francesca]

Yeah. You know, sometimes you get you. You see stories or this. You know, whatever happens with. With co hosts where this person was maybe doing something the other person didn't know, and then that causes a problem and all these things. It's like, we are always super open with each.

[Host]

Other.

[Francesca]

Yeah. That I feel like has been the biggest formula for us is just like, hey, yeah, talk it out. What's happening? And of course, like, we're with each other all day, every day. We talk all the time, and we really are like sisters. So I think. Yeah, we just know we can really read each other's minds. Like, we know how each other's brains work. We know, like, one step ahead of how someone's gonna react to.

[Host]

Something.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And we're just very conscious of each other's feelings, and I think that that has helped us stay as such a strong pair and keep our friendship so.

[Host]

Strong.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. No, I definitely feel that from.

[Ria]

Your. From you.

[Host]

Both. Like, you really are team players in the sense of, like, obviously you want to grow your own careers as well, but, like, your. Your love and, like, focus is the show and you guys at, like.

[Francesca]

Together. Yeah. I think it's because, you know, we.

[Ria]

Grew.

[Francesca]

We. We built it together, and it's something that we started together, and it's really like our baby in a way that we'll both love it so much. And of course we want to do and grow and do so many things, but at the end of the day, like, we always try and put chicks in the office first, I think, and, like, what is best for that and how we want to develop and be better. And I feel like that has always been an easy conversation for us of, like, what. What's going to make the show better? Or just keep us on the Same page. And yeah. Do that very, like, with each other's feelings in.

[Host]

Mind. Yeah. Well, even what you were saying earlier how you were like, ria has, you know, this brand deal and you were like, go do that. Like, just. It's very evident how you guys, like, support each other. And it honestly, I think has. Is a big part of why chicks in the office is so successful is because you guys authentically, like, really do enjoy each other and get along and have the same, you.

[Francesca]

Know.

[Host]

Yeah. Goals or interests, whatever it may be. I think that's really, like, evident in.

[Ria]

Shows.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Because you want to, like, the more we individually succeed too, the better it is for the show. There's more opportunities for the show if one of us is doing something amazing like Ria did. Ria one Surviving Barcelona, which was a massive reality show that. That barstool does. And it was so cool for her and it was such a fun ex. I mean, it was fun to watch. It was a crazy experience in general for a lot of people within. Within Barcelona for a lot of reasons, but it was something where it's like, well, now it's fun because we, you know, we can talk about her experience on our show and how that went for her and individually just like getting to lift each other up and be excited for each other when we're getting to do these really cool things and we get these, like, awesome opportunities now. And that really is a lot of the source of what I think. Sometimes it's like. And you be. People want to like, step on toes and be better. It's just like, it just doesn't need to be that.

[Host]

Way. Yeah. So I agree.

[Francesca]

Completely.

[Host]

Yeah. What. What does self care look like for you now? What, like mental health.

[Francesca]

Tools? Do.

[Host]

You. Because you are a busy.

[Francesca]

Girl. Yeah. I mean, I am one for a good rot day that brings me back to.

[Host]

Life.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Really like order delivery breakfast, lunch.

[Host]

Dinner.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And sit in my apartment and binge some show and just like, have that time. Even I feel bad because sometimes with my husband, I come home and I'm like, I have not shut up all day and I know you want to, like, catch up. Give me an hour just to sit in.

[Host]

Silence.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And like scrolling my phone. I'm like, my face hurts because I have not stopped talking for hours. Like, I have nothing else to say, so please just give me this time. And that's like, truly, I just sometimes and I know people, it is. It's a battle where it's like, oh, yes. Also putting my phone and going for a Walk and all those things is great. But sometimes I'm like, I just need.

[Sponsor Voice]

To.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Scroll for an hour and just say nothing. And I'm like, okay, yeah, I'm.

[Host]

Back.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But no, those days are, those days are great. And I will say honestly that bringing this little pup into, into our family has been amazing too. Because it's like, you know, everyone says, oh, getting up in the morning, walking outside, feeling, feeling the sun in your face before your day starts. All these things that are supposed to be so good for you to like start your.

[Host]

Day.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I'm not a morning person, but now I'm like, I, I have to get up and I gotta walk the dog and I'm in New York City, so it's not just like opening the back door and letting the dog out. I gotta take her out and, and do all these things. And it's actually been very fantastic for me, I think.

[Host]

Mentally. Oh my.

[Francesca]

Gosh.

[Host]

Yeah. That's so.

[Francesca]

Good.

[Host]

Yeah. Dogs, man, they really, they are the best. They really do it. I love, I love a good, A good rot day even. What you were saying, like, sometimes if like I've been going all day and then I like need a minute, I'll literally just set a timer on my phone. I'm also a big napper, so that is what I do. But I'll like set a 20 minute timer on my phone so that I don't go for too long if. Yeah, I.

[Francesca]

Know.

[Host]

Yep. The reason why I'm doing it isn't like a full rest day. If I need like 20 minutes, I'll set a timer and I'll just scroll. I'll put my phone on disturb and I'll just like.

[Francesca]

Scroll.

[Host]

Yep. Which I don't know if that's good or bad, but it.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I mean it gives a little reset, but it is, it's like I.

[Host]

Just need like, I'm putting a boundary with it. There's a.

[Francesca]

Timer.

[Host]

Exactly. I'm not exactly going with.

[Ria]

It.

[Francesca]

Right. You're not on it for hours and you're in bed and you're like up in the middle of the night, you know, so it's just like, just a couple.

[Host]

Minutes. Yeah. It's a sophisticated.

[Francesca]

Scroll. Yeah. Just a small amount of time in the.

[Host]

Day. I love that. I'm curious, what advice would you give your college self, knowing what you know.

[Francesca]

Now? Yeah. Talk to somebody. Literally anybody. A friend, parent, somebody. I just like, I couldn't even talk to my friends. I was so nervous to tell my friends what was going on. I wish I.

[Host]

Had.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Any. Anything to even talk to my friends because. Because that also. That was really hard because I think that a lot of them felt like, well, was she lying to all of us? You know, it was weird. And you're still so young. And it created like a weird friction because I was afraid to kind of open up to them. And then it was just like caused a weird barrier from some of them and not all of them, which was amazing because I. My college friends are all my best.

[Host]

Friends.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Still. Which is so nice. But that was really. I mean, it's really the biggest and also like everything. And I know this is probably a very typical answer, but every. Every little thing that happened at that time felt like the end of the.

[Ria]

World.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Like, truly felt like I was like, my life is.

[Host]

Over.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I'm never gonna do anything. This is the end of the world. Like, if I don't graduate from Georgetown, like, my. What am I gonna.

[Host]

Do?

[Francesca]

Yeah. Everything will be a failure. I'll never live up to.

[Host]

Anything.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I just like. So not the case. I think we're also very much.

[Ria]

Shifting.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Everyone's just thoughts on what, you know, a four year degree and all those things. And kind of like the very typical college journey and what was pushed on, I think our parents generation a lot.

[Host]

More.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And then it kind of moved into people more our.

[Host]

Age.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And now this younger generation is. It's. It's a little more open to, you know, hey, if college isn't the right path for you, that's okay. You're like, like, there are so many things you can.

[Host]

Do.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And it's not like, oh my God. Like I just remember thinking. And it was just, maybe even just where I grew up and the people I was surrounded.

[Ria]

By.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And the like, where was like, oh my God, that person's not going to college.

[Host]

Like.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

What. What a.

[Host]

Disaster.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And now I'm like, that was.

[Ria]

Ridiculous.

[Francesca]

Yeah. That was ridiculous. And now people are like, it's so expensive. There's so many things. It's just like all these different elements now where it's like, you can do so much with your.

[Host]

Life.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Without going the traditional.

[Host]

Route.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Which I think also I would have told myself too was like, hey, there's. It's okay. There's a few bumps and if you don't.

[Host]

Finish.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I think like, everyone has a different relationship with their parents and different types of parents and Yeah. I love my mom to death, but she was very like, go. You know, you're you got to go to. You graduate, you get a job. You do. You know, you go through all the steps. So even. Even having that conversation where. When I was in school still. And I got the job at Barstool, the internship, after a few months, Dave was like, hey, we'll hire you full time, but you have to be here all. You have to be here every day. You can't do school and.

[Host]

This.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I was like, I will. I will leave right.

[Host]

Now.

[Francesca]

Yeah. I'm say less, you know? And I'm like, oh, God. I'm like, great. Now I got to tell my parents. I'm like, I'm out of this again. I'm like, hey, so. But I was like, guys, I am in.

[Host]

School.

[Francesca]

Yeah. For broadcast journalism. This is my dream job right.

[Ria]

Now.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And. And I only had a little bit of time left to.

[Host]

Finish.

[Francesca]

Yeah. And I was like, but I don't know if. If I leave, like, this may not be here for me in six.

[Host]

Months.

[Francesca]

Yeah. So do I want to risk that? And I really did it. My parents were like, go for it. You know, at this point where they were like, we've been through so much. If this is really how you feel, let's just. Let's just do.

[Host]

It.

[Francesca]

Yeah. Which is great, because that was the case for Rhea and I. Maria was younger than me, so she was in an earlier part of her college journey, but we were both, like, out of.

[Host]

Here.

[Francesca]

Yeah. More school for.

[Host]

Us. Peace.

[Francesca]

Out. Yeah. And my mom was always like, well, maybe you'll go back and finish. And I'm like, maybe I will. I don't.

[Host]

Know. I have, like, two, because I have my associates in nursing, which you can have a bachelor's or associates, and it's still the same license I have. I'm two classes away from having my bachelor's, and I've been like.

[Ria]

Do. I just.

[Host]

Do. I'm like.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But I really do think that it's like, if it's something you really want, there. There will be a time where you'd be like, you know what? I'm gonna do.

[Host]

It.

[Francesca]

Yeah. But when you're. When you're kind of like, like, is it gonna really drag me down to deal with.

[Ria]

This?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

Yeah. It's not gonna change that.

[Host]

Much. Yeah.

[Francesca]

Exactly. Having the diploma that no one knows where it is.

[Host]

Anyway. Yeah, exactly. Last question I have for you.

[Ria]

Is, what are you most proud of yourself for?

[Francesca]

Ooh. I think. I mean, it has to be going through this process of building this show to. And growing chicks in the office. I think that pulling, you know, getting out of my comfort zone and doing something that I was really nervous to do and was afraid of what people were gonna think, like, especially leaving school again and doing all these things and, like, is this the right decision? I'm really proud that I fought to do that at that time and not kind of crumble. And I'm really proud of. I'm really proud of the relationships I've kept. And my. You know, my friends and my family are really so special and important to me, and I don't think I would be sane if I didn't have, like, my siblings and my parents in the group of amazing friends that I have who have been with me for. Through so much and have always supported me. And I'm. And I'm. I'm very proud of, like, maintaining all of those relationships and working through all of that and. Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, my husband Joe has been huge for me and all that as well, so that's been really.

[Host]

Nice. Well, thanks for coming and chatting so much. It's so fun. I love getting to see you. And me too. It's so.

[Francesca]

Fun. I know. It's my favorite. I love when we get to all get together and hang.

[Ria]

Out. I.

[Francesca]

Know. The absolute.

[Host]

Best. Oh, I feel the.

[Francesca]

Same. Please note that this episode may.

[Ria]

Contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and.

[Francesca]

Services. Individuals on the show may have.

[Ria]

A direct or indirect financial interest in.

[Francesca]

Products or services referred to in this.