Lexi Hensler: Navigating New Seasons

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Squeeze

Episode: Lexi Hensler: Navigating New Seasons
Date: June 24, 2026
Host: Taylor Lautner (with Lexi Hensler)

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Overview

This heartfelt episode of The Squeeze features digital creator and mental health advocate Lexi Hensler returning to the show for her third time. The conversation centers on navigating new life seasons—wedding planning, chronic illness, evolving identities, mental health advocacy, and business leadership. Lexi opens up about her journey with depression, anxiety, and autoimmune illness, shares vulnerable lessons about boundaries and self-worth, and details the creation of her mental health brand, Hugs. The episode is a candid, supportive exploration of healing, personal growth, and moving authentically through major life changes.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Challenging the Highlight Reel Culture & The Power of Vulnerability

• Lexi frequently receives negative comments when discussing her health or struggles online, but believes those critical voices “are the person that needs to hear it the most.” (00:33)
• “I've found there is so much more strength in showing your weaknesses than there is in showing your highlight reel.” (00:33 – Lexi)
• Lexi rejects the idea of a “before and after” version of herself post-illness: “I think there’s gonna be a Lexi that got sick and learned how to live with it and inspire others to live with it… that doesn’t mean I can’t do things.” (00:33)

2. Friendship, Community, and Life Milestones

• Taylor and Lexi reflect on their friendship built through the podcast and how their lives are evolving with marriage, babies, and business. (02:45–03:52)
• Lexi shares her engagement story: her fiancé designed a custom ring with secret features honoring their first date, describing the joy—and anxiety—of wedding planning. (06:13–09:51)
• Both hosts discuss the pressure to enjoy big moments (“It’s going to go by so fast!”) and how to stay present amid looming milestones:
  • “That’s been like, the nightmare fuel is everyone telling me, ‘it’s just one day and then it’s over’... but you’re going to be present, it’s going to be great.” (11:58 – Lexi)
  • “We need to check in with our friends in the same season—no, it will go by, but you’ll be present and it’s going to be great.” (12:57 – Taylor)

3. Mental Health Journeys & Coping Skills

• Lexi’s struggles began as early as age 3, covering anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm—at times she calls it a “charcuterie board of mental struggles.” (14:33)
• She observes her growth: “Bad stuff has been happening in the last year, but I’ve handled it in a way I never imagined I could have... I’m learning how to ask for help.” (14:33)
• Both discuss the value of preparation and emotional tools, even in seasons when things are “fine.” (15:52–17:04)
• Lexi’s advice for managing anxiety:
  • “When I feel anxiety coming up now, I don’t feel like the world is going to end… I can recognize it and be more curious about it.” (17:32)
  • She likens anxiety to a “scared puppy,” encouraging self-compassion and curiosity: “If you were curious about your anxiety instead of angry, maybe you could just sit with that puppy, hold space for it.” (18:29)
• Taylor notes, “We need to treat ourselves how we treat our friends… give ourselves more grace.” (19:03)
• They discuss the fallout from repressing feelings and the necessity of processing and expressing emotion for true healing. (19:40)

4. Becoming Honest & Confronting Difficult Conversations

• Both hosts open up about their challenges with voicing hard feelings or engaging in conflict, tracing it back to family patterns. (21:28–23:25)
• Lexi notes: “The times I’ve been able to practice it [hard conversations]… it’s never been as scary as I thought, and I end up being closer to the person afterwards.” (23:20)
• Recognizing physical signs—often via autoimmune symptoms—forces Lexi to check in with herself more frequently: “The gift of autoimmune is you can’t go as long without checking in.” (23:43)

5. Navigating Social Media & Personal Boundaries

• Lexi discusses the pressure (internal and external) to show up positively online, and how she’s learned the negative voices often come from those struggling themselves. (34:06)
• She is intentional about her platforms, limiting TikTok and prioritizing Instagram and YouTube based on their impact on her mental health. (37:06)
• "People follow you because they think you’re the girl they actually could be… the girl that went through depression, suicidal ideation, and came out happy.” (36:48 – Lexi)
• Both highlight the importance of logging off: “I did not open my laptop a single time this weekend and I actually cannot tell you the last time I did that.” (39:11 – Taylor)
• Shared love for reading fiction as escape and healing tool—Lexi credits it with better sleep and less screen time. (40:03–40:49)

6. Evolving Identities & Letting Go of Old Versions

• Taylor asks how Lexi processes fans and followers clinging to past versions of her:
  • “It’s crazy the way the human brain wants to assume things about people, stick them in a little box forever. It’s so much more beautiful to watch an evolution.” (42:06)
  • They call for more curiosity and kindness—imagining what might be going on in others’ lives, choosing empathy over judgment. (42:57)

7. Living for Yourself & Taking Ownership of Your Path

• Lexi’s realization: “I don’t want to live my life for other people, I’ve gotta live it for me. You got one shot… If I’m like, ‘this person doesn’t like that I’m talking about this,’ I’m ripping my soul apart to make others happy. They gotta find their happiness in themselves.” (44:55)

8. Founding a Mental Health Brand: Hugs

• The inspiration for Hugs (weighted plush animals) was Lexi’s search for portable, comforting anxiety relief based on the benefits of deep pressure stimulation. (52:03)
  • “Some of the best things come out of something you need that you don’t realize how many others need too.” (53:21)
  • Lexi discusses the science behind attachment to comfort objects and the surprising audience of adult users. (55:00)
• Most rewarding: in-person events, stories from users, growing the Hugs “family.” (55:50)
• Imposter syndrome as a business founder: “I might not have a business degree, might be a college dropout, but maybe that’s what makes me special.” (57:36)
  • Urges listeners: “You are enough. You can do it. Take a leap off the cliff. You can build a parachute on the way down.” (57:36–58:07)
• Hardest part: responsibility for customers’ experiences and learning to let go of total control as business grows (58:26–59:51)
• Lexi’s current favorites: manta ray for sleep, mini dino for travel, “fuzzy green guy” for work. (60:14)
  • “It’s like I’m healing my inner child designing stuffed animals in my bedroom.” (56:41)

9. Pride & Impact

• Lexi is proudest not of her business, but of “the fact that people have come up to me and said my videos and my vulnerability have helped them learn to love themselves.” (61:48)
• Taylor reciprocates, reflecting on Lexi’s steady presence and generosity: “You are so gracious. It’s really cool to see someone like you who is so giving genuinely thrive.” (62:17)

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Notable Quotes

• “There’s so much more strength in showing your weaknesses than there is in showing your highlight reel.” (00:33, Lexi)
• “I don’t think there’s gonna be a Lexi before she got sick. I think there’s gonna be a Lexi that got sick and learned how to live with it and how to inspire other people to live with it.” (00:33, Lexi)
• “When I feel anxiety coming up now, I don’t feel like the world is going to end. I think I can recognize it and be more, like, curious about it.” (17:32, Lexi)
• “We need to treat ourselves how we treat our friends… give ourselves more grace.” (19:03, Taylor)
• “The times I’ve been able to practice [hard conversations]… I end up being closer to the person afterwards.” (23:20, Lexi)
• “You can build the parachute on the way down.” (57:36, Lexi)
• “You are enough. You can do it.” (58:07, Lexi)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Vulnerability & Online Criticism: 00:33–02:16
• Engagement Story & Wedding Planning: 06:13–11:58
• Mental Health Journey: 14:33–17:18
• Managing Anxiety through Curiosity: 17:32–18:53
• On Repressing Emotions & Healing: 19:40–21:28
• Confronting Hard Conversations: 21:28–23:43
• Navigating Autoimmune & Self-Care: 23:43–24:49, 31:41–33:51
• Discussing Social Media Boundaries: 34:06–38:21
• Personal Growth & Evolving Identity: 42:06–44:55
• Living Authentically: 44:55–45:53
• Inspiration & Growth of Hugs Brand: 52:03–56:41
• Business Ownership: Rewards & Challenges: 56:41–59:51
• Lexi’s Pride in Vulnerability & Impact: 61:48–62:17

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Memorable, Light Moments

• Fun banter about celebrity crushes and inside jokes about Justin Bieber and Danny Phantom. (04:08–05:55)
• Shared obsessions with Crocs, reading fiction, and plush weighted animals—offering relatable and light-hearted self-care tips. (28:30–41:20)
• Heartwarming stories about familial weddings, partner support, and working with friends. (06:13–09:51; 53:21–56:24)
• Reflections on healing their “inner child” through playful business creativity. (56:41)

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Tone

The episode is warm, open, and supportive, with frequent vulnerability balanced by laughter, gentle encouragement, and genuine friendship. Lexi and Taylor create a safe space to explore hard emotions and big life transitions—reminding listeners that even the “lime-ist of lights” can be weighed down by sour lemons, but joy, healing, and evolution are always possible.

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking practical insight and heartfelt wisdom on self-advocacy, vulnerability, and navigating new chapters.

Transcript

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[Lexi]

The following podcast is a Dear Media Production. I definitely get comments every single time I talk about autoimmune or depression or anxiety. Every single time there's going to be that one person, oh my God, we get it. Shut up already. Or like, oh, you're so negative. But really, it's the first video I've posted about it in months. But you know what I realized? I think that person's the person that needs to hear it the most. I think that person is the person that's actually in so much pain that they are not willing to ever think about sharing or connecting or being open and vulnerable about things. And I think that person actually might be who needs to see that there's another way and that it's okay to be vulnerable. And honestly, I really have found, and I'm still trying to, like, practice what I preach, but I do believe there is so much more strength in showing your weaknesses than there is in. In showing your highlight reel. I don't think there's gonna be like a Lexi before she got sick. I think there's gonna be a Lexi that got sick and learned how to live with it and how to inspire other people to live with it. And maybe I have to do things differently, but that doesn't mean I can't do them. Learning to live with it and learning to be able to still have, like a full fullness in life has really been, like the biggest journey for me. But when I list my order of priorities, me and my health coming in like third, fourth, fifth place, place, it needs to change. And I think everything else is going to more positively change when I do focus more on myself. You know, it's like you put your airplane mask on first. How are you going to help anyone else if you can't breathe?

[Taylor]

Lexi, welcome back.

[Lexi]

Thanks.

[Taylor]

How many times have you. Twice. Three times.

[Lexi]

Technically three. Because the Christmas party.

[Taylor]

Oh, yes, yes, yes. Oh, my gosh.

[Podcast Host]

Well, welcome back.

[Taylor]

We have our little. Our little friends in our laps, our little hugs that we love so dearly that we'll. We'll get into. I need to probably just like, I think I need to have these in here from like, and they're just like, it's really comfy. It also, like, kind of feels nice on my belly.

[Lexi]

Really. Oh, I bet honestly, we could do some like, custom little squeeze ones.

[Podcast Host]

Oh my gosh.

[Taylor]

I know. We need to do a lemon one of these days. I love it. Well, I'm excited to have you back. I just, like, I love you and I. Taylor and I talk often about, like, friends that we've made on the

[Podcast Host]

podcast and I always say, like, my

[Taylor]

friendship with you and is like one of my favorite things that's ever come from this podcast. And I think it was like season one. Like, Jen, like, it's just so cool that we met and I remember you

[Podcast Host]

leaving and Taylor and I were like,

[Taylor]

we really liked her and like, it's just like, so cool that we've become friends and like, we do so much, like, work together, but also like fun together too. So I love it.

[Lexi]

I love you so much. I love just like watching you continue to evolve into just the most incredible human and now mother, which is crazy. And. Wait, are we talking about that? Yes, we posted about that. Okay.

[Taylor]

We posted about that. Yeah, no, we're. We're good. We're good.

[Lexi]

But the incredible things you do with the squeeze with lemons, getting to like, encompass and be there for all of it is. Yeah. The most beautiful thing that could have come out of coming onto a podcast one day.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Well, it's. It's so fun. I love it. Well, we start each episode off with this jar. Citrus Got real is the game.

[Podcast Host]

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

[Taylor]

you can read it to our lemon drops. Sorry I got you all comfy cross legged in the chair and then made you move.

[Lexi]

Okay. Who was your first celebrity crush? Oh, I don't know if I remember this.

[Taylor]

Oh, I mean, probably Justin Bieber. I don't know.

[Lexi]

I wasn't a Justin fan growing up. I feel like that's okay.

[Taylor]

It's for the best.

[Lexi]

I'm a fan now. I'm a fan now. But I think growing up, I wasn't as into like the super mainstream guys. Yeah, I was more like listening to screamo music on my skateboard with my red highlights and just. Yeah, so probably not maybe like a cartoon character like Danny Phantom or someone.

[Taylor]

That's actually a really good one. That's a really good one. That was fun fact. That Was one of Taylor's like first jobs. Was he had a voiceover in that?

[Lexi]

No.

[Taylor]

As like a, like a bully or something like at school. I don't remember what it was but he has crazy. He has a voiceover credit for something.

[Lexi]

Was your celebrity crush your first one?

[Podcast Host]

I know I can't.

[Lexi]

Edward. Just kidding.

[Taylor]

I. Well, yeah, I'm trying to think timeline wise. No, Justin Bieber had to have been before that, right?

[Lexi]

Yeah, yeah, we were pretty young.

[Podcast Host]

One of the two.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Honestly probably one of the. One of those two. But I did have like a Justin Bieber cutout one of my friends got me, so. Which is like hysterical. And that thing lived at my parents house for like way too long. Like we honestly just kept it because it became a joke and it was just like we would put it out and it would scare me half the time too because it was just like you like walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It's just there and it's like you just see this dark cutout of this figure. Yeah, we. We got. I actually gave it to my girlfriend so I don't know what she did with it. I should ask her if she threw it away.

[Lexi]

Hopefully it just gets. Keeps passed along.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Like the pair of traveling jeans. The pair of Justin.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lexi]

Wait, he's not a pair. Traveling Justin.

[Taylor]

Yeah, Cardboard. Cardboard Justin. He travels great. Well, I'm excited to get into all things like life updates and everything because you have some new like jewelry on your fingers since the last time like we sat down one on one do.

[Lexi]

Season one was a while ago apparently.

[Taylor]

It's literally. Yeah, no, it's been. This is.

[Podcast Host]

We're in year four right now.

[Lexi]

Are you sure? Yeah, I guess, I guess we've been dating for four. Our timeline. That's crazy.

[Taylor]

Oh, I love that. I'm obsessed with your ring. What, what the story behind that. Did he make it or did. Was it just.

[Lexi]

It's actually a really cool story. I realized the other day I've never even made a video on this and I, I want to because he put so much love into this ring. Like he did things to this ring I didn't know you could do.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So I told him I wanted like a very 1920s art deco style ring and he kind of ran with that. But then he put little diamonds on the inside face of the ring.

[Podcast Host]

Oh wow.

[Lexi]

As kind of like a little secret because it's like obviously no one knows but us. Well, and now all of you. But you're our close and dear personal Friends. That's okay. And. But he did it because it's supposed to resemble, like, stargazing on our first date. And then he sand blasted the band of the ring with sand from the beach where we had our first date, so. That's right. Those men need to step it up in your life, ladies, because that is possible.

[Taylor]

Stop.

[Lexi]

I know.

[Taylor]

I love him so much.

[Lexi]

Me too.

[Taylor]

He is just like. He's just. He's just. I love him. He's just so happy and is so. Just like. He's so nice.

[Lexi]

He really is.

[Taylor]

He's just, like, nice. And whenever. Whenever we have events, we're always just like. I mean, you are like this as well. But we're always like, yeah, we could throw them in. They'll like, fit in with any group of friends. Like, if we're setting tables, like, for the Christmas party, we do, like, the little seating thing and we're like, we can literally, like, put you guys anywhere. Oh, but wait. That's so sweet.

[Lexi]

I know. He. He's one of those people that. I just didn't think men like, that existed because growing up, you know, you're just like, they didn't. Or you're just, like, taught as a girl. Like, you just have to put up with certain things.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You don't like this. The man ran a marathon the other or half marathon the other day. His first. And then I was having a really bad autoimmune flare up, and I was, like, literally trying to get off the couch for, like, 20 minutes to go make dinner. But I, like, I was in so much pain. And he made me dinner. This. Just limping around, just, like, making me dinner. I'm like, he's unreal. But I'm really excited because the wedding is getting really close. So exciting. And panicking.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Because of all the details, but can't wait to just, like, officially be married.

[Taylor]

Have you enjoyed wedding planning?

[Lexi]

Honestly?

[Taylor]

You're also allowed to say no if yes and no.

[Lexi]

Mostly yes. Like, I had a couple friends get married last year. And the horror stories. Luckily, we were able to learn from some of it. But I think, like, the most stressful thing is just both of us are the type of people where we care so much about other people having a good time.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Than us. But this is the one time in our entire lives that we are supposed to care more about how we feel. So we're really trying to let that go. Which is why I'm like, okay, we're going to hire a wedding planner that's going to be their Day of, she's going to be me that cares about how everyone else feels, that I can let go a little bit, hopefully.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Trying to carve out intentional time in the day, too. But, I mean, so far it's been good. I think now that we're like, what, four months out, it's just going to ramp up and ramp up. Yeah. So check in on me in a couple months. But now I've been loving it.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I think it'll ramp up, but then it'll also, like, feel better, you know, Like.

[Lexi]

Yeah, more like.

[Taylor]

Because more things are getting done. And it's annoying because I feel like some things you also. You do have to wait until it does get closer to do. But no, I think it'll. That's. That's good that you have someone. And also, like, I went into the day, like, knowing that if there could be, like, 15 things that go wrong, and it's literally, like, it's fine. Like, things will happen. So it's just like, I feel like you'll. I feel like you'll just live in the moment and it'll be your day.

[Lexi]

Yeah, I know. I'm trying to figure out how, because I feel like everyone says, like, it goes by like that. Like, it's so. You blink in the day is over. So I think, like, in the morning, we want to get breakfast together, just the two of us on the balcony. Like, when we were choosing the venue, literally, I was like, I want to get breakfast there with you in the morning. Have, like, our little. Little coffee, because Italian coffee hits. And then just, like, what are, like, intentional moments throughout the day that I can just pause and be present and try to soak it all up.

[Taylor]

Yeah, no, I mean, don't think about that too much, because I had a bit of a panic attack the night before. Like, our wedding day. We had a. We basically had. We invited everyone to, like, the. What's the. What is the night before called? Like, the.

[Lexi]

Like, the rehearsal dinner.

[Taylor]

We did, like, a rehearsal. This is my pregnancy brain. We did a rehearsal dinner with the actual, like, bridal parties and stuff and our parents. And then we invited everyone to come. It was more like a linear. We did with them. And then everyone got together just because it was like, a destination. So we just invited everyone to go to this thing, and they, like. I feel like there were so many people that were coming up to me, and they were like, it's gonna go by so fast.

[Podcast Host]

You're gonna blink.

[Taylor]

It's gonna be over. Soak it all in. And there Was like four or five people. And I was like really like starting to like, I literally like started having like, I started crying after and I

[Lexi]

was like, same girl, a bunch of people telling you like, yeah, it's gonna suck.

[Taylor]

Basically after, literally I was like, I don't want it to go. Like, I want to be able to enjoy it. Like, what if I'm not living in the moment enough? And I freaked out. But then like, but then I like had to calm down and our friend and pastor who married us like comped me down, but. And Taylor was like, you're fine. And my girlfriends are like, everything's okay. And I was like, I know, it just freaked me out. But I mean it does go by quick because you're just doing stuff during the day. But also that doesn't mean you're not like present and living in it. So I would just like take it with like a grain of salt. And I think it sounds like you're incorporating those moments of like the little like intentional times together. Like, I feel like those are what, like those are like the standouts of like making you kind of feel present and stuff.

[Lexi]

Thank you so much. Because honestly, that has been like the nightmare fuel is everyone telling me like, it's just, it's one day and then it's over and then all that stuff, like I feel like gets in your head. But I, I didn't realize how much I needed someone to just tell me like, no, like you're gonna be present, it's gonna be great and it's gonna be okay. And not to listen to that.

[Taylor]

Yeah, no, don't. And yeah, I think because I'm, I'm kind of like re experiencing that with pregnancy. Everyone's like, like it's. It's also like I feel like it's older. Like older people who have lived life and who like, you know, I've been married for 20 years or their kids

[Podcast Host]

are graduating high school and they're like, you're gonna blink and it's gonna go by so fast.

[Taylor]

I'm like, yes, I know, but like, don't tell me that. So I'm like re experiencing that now and day I was like, I like, don't. I think I'm over people telling me it's going to go by quick. Like I know it is. Like, don't tell me it is. Cuz I know, like, I don't want to blink. And my baby's going to be like, you know, we're going to be 20 years down the line, you know, so

[Lexi]

I'M like, you're not going to, you're not going to blink. It's not going to go that fast.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Okay, good.

[Lexi]

I promise.

[Taylor]

Okay, good. Great. I love that. For us anyways, now that we've just talked about all of our traumas with all of that. No, I mean, it's important too. And I think, I think we need to like, talk about it because a lot of our friends are like, this is. This time of our lives is just. It's all of the changes and you know, the fact that like we're over halfway through like the year is crazy to me. So it's just like there's. There's so many things that are constantly moving in this time frame of our lives. So I think it's important to like recheck in with our friends that are in the same season and be like, no, that's okay. Like you. It will, it will go by, but we're going to be present and it's going to be great and fine and you're going to have fun. I'm so excited. I can't wait to see the photos.

[Lexi]

Especially with weddings and babies tend to bring out the world's most unwanted opinions.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And so I feel like. Yeah. Checking with your friends and being like,

[Taylor]

no, literally the most unwanted opinions. My girlfriends and I, I have two girlfriends that are pregnant and I'm so thankful that we're all pregnant at the same time because we all can like talk about it and it's great. And we were, we were just talking about all of the unsolicited advice, but it's great.

[Lexi]

Should make a video on that.

[Taylor]

Yeah, no, I really should. I love that. Okay, let's talk about mental health. Obviously that is a big part of your daily life. One with work, but also just who you are as a human and your mission. For our lemon drops that don't know your story, I'd love for you to kind of share maybe like where your mental health journey began. Like when. How old were you when you first started struggling with your mental health?

[Lexi]

Honestly, it's kind of sad to say, but like three. I remember being so young and having such dark thoughts and being really scared by them. And I think maybe there is also a large genetic component at play. But I've struggled my whole life with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, self harm. One time like my friend literally, and I joked about it, it was like a charcuterie board of mental struggles. Like it was just, you know, in different season of life would bring out new things as well. And different traumas would trigger new things. So it's definitely been a journey. But it is really cool as I enter my late 20s, looking back and having that perspective of like, wow, really bad stuff has been happening in the last year. But I've handled it in a way that I never imagined I could have. And I'm learning how to ask for help in a way I never thought I could have. And just the skill set and the way that I've been able to, I mean, frankly, rewire my brain and grow and evolve really encourages me. And that's also why I've wanted to create a tool. I've wanted to spread awareness. I've wanted to share my journey and my vulnerability in all of my experiences. To hopefully help people get there a lot sooner than their late 20s or 30s or 40s.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I know, it's, that's why I'm like, it's so important to learn those like tools and self care things and go see a therapist, all of that stuff before things happen or even when you know when thing, when stuff is going on, but also when it's not. Because you get to this point, which I have also experienced. And it's so cool. Like obviously the mental health struggles are never gonna go away. Like, especially like we're adults now, life is happening, things are always gonna come up. And it's really cool to walk through life obstacles now, equipped and like knowing like, oh, I've been through this before, I know I can handle this and I know I'm gonna get through the other side or like knowing those tools if I maybe don't know if it's a new experience and like, what, what can I do to kind of sort through what I'm walking through? It's really cool to like reach that moment and it's cool to see friends of mine that I've finally like reached that too. Like it's not just like the end of the world when something happens. Like obviously we walk through like the emotions together, but they have those tools now that they can like feel better and walk through stuff.

[Lexi]

And I think getting older too, it's just like you kind of, your brain starts to realize, you're like, oh, I have technically survived everything. I never thought I was going to. You're like, it's like the repetition where it starts to be like, I've got this. And you like build a little bit more confidence in it.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I love that. How, how is your like relationship with anxiety changed as you've gotten older? Like how maybe, how have you learned to kind of, like, approach it differently.

[Lexi]

Man. I feel like it ebbs and flows so much. Like, there's. I'm sure a lot of people with anxiety could relate to this, but I feel like there's seasons where it's so bad. I, like, I don't want to be on a plane. I just want to be in a bubble at home. And then there's seasons where I'm like, oh, wow, I haven't been anxious in months, you know?

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So I think my relationship with it has changed in the way that when I feel anxiety coming up now, I don't feel like the world is going to end. I think I can recognize it and be more, like, curious about it. I think one of the best things I've learned, because what's helped me is research and knowledge.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

That's what makes me feel, like, a little bit safer is, like, understanding it. And I've learned. I was listening to a doctor on a podcast about one of the best things you can do when you're anxious is curiosity. I think that also ebbs and flows into so many different areas of life. So we'll stick on anxiety. She was saying, you know, if you think of your anxieties as, like, scary little puppy you find on the street.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You know, are you going to be like, why are you scared? And, like, angry with it and, like, shaking it?

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You're just going to make it ten times more scared. But what if you were curious about it and you were like, really? You know, you calm yourself down and you're like, what's going on? Like, why are you scared? Like, you know, is. Is there, like, something, like, I can do to help you? And then maybe you can just sit with that puppy, sit with your anxiety, hold space for it, and know that you're going to get through it together.

[Podcast Host]

I love that.

[Taylor]

That's so good. And it just makes it.

[Podcast Host]

We always.

[Taylor]

I've been talking a lot recently about how we need to treat ourselves, how we treat our friends.

[Lexi]

Oh.

[Taylor]

Like, when we're having the mental health struggles and the anxiety, like, I would. I could never imagine, like, telling Taylor, like, baby, you need to get over this. Like, you're fine, you know?

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Like, we need to really treat ourselves how we would treat other people and really flip that and give ourselves more grace. Because I think we're just in this space, especially as I feel like, as a woman, but also, like, just in this season of life and also being, like, a founder and having a business, and there's so many Things going on, it's very easy to just push that down and be like, no, no, no. Like, we're like, we're fine. We're moving on, instead of actually addressing it honestly.

[Lexi]

All the shove it down. Your fines, I feel like, are probably just what boiled up and, like, broken my health at some point, too, where it's just like, eventually you're gonna have to address it. Your body's gonna force you to address it. You're. You look around. Your relationships are gonna force you to address it. Like, you're gonna hit a point in life where not letting yourself heal and grieve and experience things, it's. It's gonna. It's gonna come to you. It's gonna hit you. You know, it's like, maybe you find it in your relationship and the cracks that were caused by, like, the pain you never healed from. But I've definitely been on my healing journey, and it's been. It's been wild and it's been difficult, but it has been so worth it. And now, you know, I see myself start to fall into old patterns where I don't want to let myself cry or I just want to shove it down, and I'm like, nope. Like, we're gonna. We're gonna fight through this because I know it's gonna be worth it in the end. Yeah. You know, and especially now, as we're getting to that age, we're like, we're getting pregnant. We're thinking about, well, I'm not, but people are getting pregnant around you, and you're getting excited and ready to have kids. It's like, if anything, I'm, like, finding the motivation and maybe wanting to do it for them first. But I'm also trying to work on thinking I want to do it for me, too.

[Taylor]

Yeah, no, that's been, like. I think the coolest thing that's come with this pregnancy is I'm not one that's very, like, confrontational, and I don't really bring up my feelings, but I've been, like, so honest with Taylor about everything of, like, how I'm feeling or just literally any thought that comes into my head, I'd, like, have voice to him. And it's been really cool because I don't normally do that. I need some, like. I really need to, like, a little, like, yes. To get it out. But I told my therapist at the

[Podcast Host]

end of last year, I was like,

[Taylor]

I really, like, want to get over whatever this mental block I have of not being able to, like, speak how I feel. Like, I'LL if it's weird because I feel like I can be like, I'm anxious, but if something, like, I can say that, and I feel safe to do that. But it's just like, in relationships or any form of, like, conflict, I'm like, no. Like, I'm not gonna. I just, like, get scared and then don't say anything because I never. I didn't grow up in, like, a family that talked about conflict, really. So it's very foreign to me. And I was telling him, I was like, I don't. Him, as in my therapist. I was like, I don't. I want to get over whatever this is. He's like, it's a muscle. Like, we'll work through that. Like, you can. It's not. You're not, like, broken. You can't fix this. It's literally just a muscle that you're going to learn, and you're gonna do it a couple times, and then you're going to feel more confident to voice whatever, and you're going to see that whatever. You know, Taylor's not gonna yell at you and tell you whatever you're feeling is dumb. Like, he's actually gonna do the opposite, which he has done. And so it's been really cool that I feel like this pregnancy has just, like, put, like, kind of fire under my web. But also I just, like, have pregnancy hormones and just. I'm more willing to say things, but I think it's kind of like the push I needed to, like, say things,

[Lexi]

which I love that so much. No, I've been going through the exact same thing. And it's crazy because I feel like the conversations I've been scared to have and the times I've been scared to, like, talk to a friend about something hard or vulnerable or confrontational, which is, you know, it's like I. I feel like I used to have to get basically pushed off a cliff to confront something. Like, I had to get so pushed past my limit to where then I was confronting out of anger, not from a good place anymore. And, like, I want to be able to address it sooner. But the times where, like, I've been able to do that and practice that in the last year. A, it's never been as scary as I thought it was going to be. Like, the situation never goes as bad as, like, your worst fear. And then, B, I end up being closer to the person afterwards.

[Taylor]

Yeah, it's funny how that happens.

[Lexi]

It is.

[Taylor]

Why couldn't we just do it in the first place?

[Lexi]

That little devil on your shoulder. Is so wrong. You just need to muzzle it.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Some duct tape over it.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Flick them off. I love that we can't touch on like you being in this busy season. What do you have, like, what are signs that your body gives you when it's like, hey, like, you gotta, you gotta slow down and chill out a little bit?

[Lexi]

Well, with autoimmune, definitely, it's, it's pretty apparent. And I think that is, dare I say, because I'm trying, I'm trying to come to some peace with it. Dare I say the gift of autoimmune is you can't go as long without checking in with yourself as, you know, as I normally could. You know, it's not like months could go by until I really notice something. It's pretty immediate. It's, you know, rashes, pain, extreme fatigue, like blurred vision. It's the flare ups that like just come out of nowhere. And it's crazy because it could be something as simple as like me eating something or me not getting enough sleep or me being even too stressed.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Like just a recent trip we had, it was a 48 hour trip. Next morning I'm going to urgent care, you know, so autoimmune, like the gift of it has been, it has forced me to check in with myself more, to be more intentional and aware about every choice I'm making, Including with like suppressing my emotions.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Okay. I have to talk about packing for a second because I feel like it is genuinely one of the most stressful parts about a trip and nobody talks about it enough. Like you spent all this time being excited about where you're going and then you open your suitcase and sudden you're in this spiral of do I have the right shoes? Do I have enough shoes? Did I pack shoes that are going to work for every single thing that I want to do? And the answer is almost always no. And I feel like for the longest time I was packing the same way, Trying to fit in a pair of sneakers, a pair of sandals, something a

[Taylor]

little nicer if we go out.

[Podcast Host]

And by the time I've done, I've used up half my suitcase on shoes alone. So a while back I started just defaulting to croc shoes as my travel shoe. And honestly, it has changed everything for me. If you have been following me, you know how obsessed I am with my crocs. I have been talking about them for years. They are my favorite shoe. Because crocs are just so comfortable. You can wear them all day and forget you're even wearing shoes. I've done full days of walking around cities in them, hours of sightseeing, dragging luggage through cobblestone streets, you name it, and I have been there. And by the end of the day, my feet don't hurt. And one of my favorite parts about crocs is the convenience piece is huge too. If you're going somewhere, just slip them on and go. You can grab them on your way out the door. And you never have to sacrifice convenience for style. I feel like the whole debate used to be that you could either have a comfortable shoe or a cute shoe,

[Taylor]

but it wasn't both of them.

[Podcast Host]

You had to pick one. And croc shoes have kind of just dissolved that whole argument because for me,

[Taylor]

I don't have to choose anymore.

[Podcast Host]

I feel like people sometimes have this outdated idea of what croc shoes look

[Taylor]

like, and I get it, but the

[Podcast Host]

new options are genuinely so good. Speaking of style, croc shoes come in so many fun silhouettes. Some are more elevated, like the classic crafted clogs, which are made with 100% soft washed canvas upper. I have a pair of those and they look so much more polished than you'd expect. And then for the dressier moments, 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 shape shoe. Plus you can wear on the back or the front of the shoe with the pivoting heel strap. And then there's a gibbet situation, which is genuinely one of the most fun things about croc shoes. I love it so much. There's even a gibbit charm for anyone and everyone. Make your pair uniquely yours with endless combinations of charms. I've been putting charms on my shoes for years and years and years and it's so fun to customize and really personalize shoes. Shoes mine here I just did like cute little flowers for summer. Just little colorful, something simple just to throw on to add a little color, a little sparkle. But you can really make it whatever you want. I remember for my best friend, when we graduated nursing school, I got us matching crocs and I put all of these cute little like nurse and healthcare gibbit on there and put our names

[Taylor]

and like little stethoscopes.

[Podcast Host]

So there's just really fun things you can do for crocs. Whether you're traveling or you're gifting them for someone, you can really just make them personalized. They're the perfect lightweight shoe to throw in your bag regardless of where you go and you can easily bring them along. As for the airport, everyone knows croc shoes are the best shoes for the airport. Easy on and off for quick security check. Plus having a shoe that's comfortable and cute is the best to travel in. I've watched so many people struggle to untie their shoes, get shoes on and off and the hassle and the struggle. And I travel in micro all of the time and it's so easy to

[Taylor]

just kick them off and I just

[Podcast Host]

slide them back on again once I'm through security. It makes traveling truly so so so much easier. You can visit crocs.com or a store near you to find your perfect pair of croc shoes. Okay, so I have a question for you. How are my Shady Rays? Basically the same quality as the 200 sunglasses I used to buy and I'm genuinely not exaggerating. They feel every bit as premium as the expensive brands I've owned before. But the difference is I'm just not so stressing about them anymore. I wear these to the lake, on the boat, at games, basically anywhere. And honestly my mindset has become whatever happens happens. If I drop them in the water, knock them off the dock, sit on them on day one, it doesn't even stress me out because they've got this whole lost and broken protection thing where they'll just send you a new pair. And it's not like there's some cheap throwaway pair either. Polarized lenses that cut glare, super clear optics, durable frames with solid hinges. And the styles are clean. Clean and classic. Like they look sharp without trying too hard. I feel like that's exactly the vibe I want in my sunglasses. Something that looks put together but I'm not babying the entire time I'm wearing them. Honestly. What's also nice is that you don't have to choose between style and function with these. I have a couple of different pairs now. One that's a more classic everyday frame and one that's a little sportier for when I know I'll be active. And both of them get worn into the ground because I actually trust them. It's such a different feeling than constantly worrying about scratching a lens or bending a frame I spent way too much money on. We've teamed up with Shady Rays to bring you an exclusive offer. Head to shadyrays.com and use code squeeze for 40 off two or more polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated five

[Taylor]

stars by over 300000 people.

[Podcast Host]

Crocs have had such a moment, and I honestly think it's because they figured out something most shoe brands haven't even yet. That comfort and personality can actually live

[Taylor]

in the same shoe.

[Podcast 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. Croc 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.

[Taylor]

And then of course, we have to

[Podcast Host]

talk about the Jibbitz because there's a 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

[Taylor]

clocks you've touched on autoimmune. Where. Where are you at with that? Like, what's kind of happened and how have you found answers or healing? Like, where, where are you at with that? Because you've been open about it on social.

[Lexi]

So yeah, it's, it's definitely been a pretty. Feels like the journey that's never ending. It feels like the gold posts, the goal post that keeps getting moved. And it's definitely been, it's been really defeating. And I think I've had a lot of moments of like, this is my forever and I just want to sit in the suck. But I've also had moments where I'm like, I think I can do this. I think I can learn to live with this. I think I can. You know, it's like, I don't think there's gonna be like Alexi before she got sick. I think there's gonna be Alexi that got sick and learned how to live with it and how to inspire other people to live with it. And maybe I have to do things differently. But that doesn't mean I can't do them.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And I think my fiance has been my biggest rock and partner in that is he's like, hey, it's not a big deal. Like, we're just gonna, we're gonna make it fun. Like, we're gonna stay in an Airbnb instead of a hotel and. And like, we're going to meal prep your meals and we're going to figure it out, but, like, we're still going to show up. Like, maybe we can't go to the concert as long as everyone else, but, like, we could go for some of your favorite songs. And so learning to live with it and learning to be able to still have, like a full fullness in life has really been, like, the biggest journey for me. But in terms of, like, actual health wise, like, still. Still very much in the thick of it. I think a lot of people have seen, and I think that's my struggle too, is I'm like, still only really showing the positive side of things because it is so hard to show the negatives. But I think a lot of people probably think I'm doing better than I am because I show up and I smile and I don't love to always show my weakness, but I think right now I'm just. I'm focusing on the healing journey more than ever. And it's becoming more apparent than ever to me that I need to fight for it and that it's. It shouldn't come in, like, when I list my order of priorities and me and my health coming in like, third, fourth, fifth place, like, that it needs to change. And I think everything else is going to more positively change when I do focus more on myself. You know, it's like you put your airplane mask on first. How are you going to help anyone else if you can't breathe?

[Taylor]

Well, I wanted to ask you, like, about only sharing the positives and feeling pressured to do that, to only share the positives and be positive about it. Is that a pressure you put on yourself or do you feel external pressure to do that?

[Lexi]

Both. I definitely get comments every single time I talk about autoimmune or depression or anxiety. Every single time there's going to be that one person that's like, oh, my God, we get it. Shut up already. Or like, oh, you're so negative. But really, it's the first video I've posted about it in months.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

But you know, what I realized is I think, and my therapist made me realize this is I think that person's the person that needs to hear it the most. I think that person is the person that's actually in so much pain that they are not willing to ever think about sharing or connecting or being open and vulnerable about things. And I think that person actually might be. Who needs to see that there's another way.

[Taylor]

Wow.

[Lexi]

And that it's okay to be vulnerable. And honestly, I really have found. And I'm still trying to, like, practice what I preach, but I do believe that there is so much more strength in showing your weaknesses than there is in showing your, like, highlight reel. Yeah. Your best moments.

[Taylor]

That's so good. Yeah. I was gonna ask you what. Because obviously, so much of your, like, early career and life was on social media. That was, like, really, like, your main focus on what you were doing.

[Podcast Host]

How.

[Taylor]

Where are you at with social media right now? Like, do you enjoy it? Is it life giving? Do you have strict boundaries with it? Like, what does it look like for you right now?

[Lexi]

Oh, I'm still trying to figure it out. Like, and I'll always own that. I think I look back at social media and I realize that I have been so messy with my career. Like, no one would look at my career and be like, that's a great example of what you should do. But you know what? I love that, like, I'd so much rather be the girl that, like, messed up and changed and switched things around than the girl that just, like, was too afraid to, like, share anything real and made other people feel even more isolated because they're setting a gold standard of something that no one feels they can live up to. I had someone tell me recently, they're like, you're not the girl that people follow if they want to be like, oh, that's the gorgeous, perfect aesthetic girl that, like, I like. The cool girl I want to be friends with in high school. No, no. People follow you because they think you're the girl that they actually could be. I was like, damn, that hit. They're like, you're the. You're the girl that went through the depression, the suicidal ideation, and came out the other end and is happy and created something out of it and fell in love and got married. And I think that's so much more. So much more powerful and healing than me being some unattainable standard of something that I just am not.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I love that. I'm sure that's definitely taken some time

[Lexi]

to absolutely work through that online.

[Taylor]

But how do you. How do you protect your mental health still, like, while trying to show up online and on social media.

[Lexi]

I don't go on social media very much anymore, which, like, I'll own it. I know that's not good for business. That's fine. I, I've noticed each platform I kind of have like a time limit with, so like TikTok, I can maybe handle it once a week. TikTok's been the absolute worst for my mental health.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, wow.

[Lexi]

I think the like roller coaster of emotion that you go on with the scrolling has just really messed with my head. And so I just know I'm like, okay, tick tock will be fun sometimes, but I'm going to spend the least amount of time on that platform. YouTube has been one of the better for my mental health because you're picking like one video that you're sit down and watch and you feel like you're hanging out with a friend. You feel more connected. And then Instagram, I feel like I can go on pretty much every day and feel. Still feel pretty good and just kind of check in on my friends and stuff like that. But I think it's different for everyone. And I've just kind of learned how much time I can spend on things without me starting to feel really icky or really stressed or all this weird pressure to change myself and be better. And. And then I think just disconnecting and finding things in my everyday life where I'm not craving my phone, I'm not thinking about my phone. I'm like, so good riding a wild animal. I can't possibly be thinking about, like, if Becky liked my post or not.

[Taylor]

Yeah, no, I. As of literally a couple weeks ago, I've become obsessed with reading same. Like, I'm really mad at myself that I didn't pick this up earlier, but basically I watched off campus and then on prime and then my. All my girlfriends were like, you have to read the books now. So I've read the books. I literally read both. The first I've read. I've read two books of the series so far and I've read each of them. It took me like a day and a half to finish up. Like, I'm like so locked in and it was really the first these past couple weekends. It's so funny because I. We were talking before just like the separation of work and personal life. There is none of that, especially being someone that you know is a founder and you, like, you're very similar to me and I feel like, like we have visions for these things and like, it's just you want to always be involved because it's also like a passion project, but it is also work. And you need that separation. And that's something I really struggle with. But these past couple weekends, I've been wanting to read, like, because I won't have anything and I haven't. This past weekend, I did not open my laptop. And I actually cannot tell you the last time I did that. Like, I actually don't think I have ever done that. Like, it was actually crazy. No, actually saying it out loud and me fully processing that is wild. Like, no, Literally Monday morning I was like, oh, wow, thank you. Thank you. No, it's crazy, but I'm so happy that I've now, like, found this thing. And when you were saying, like, it's, you need, like, that break, I even needed it from, like, social media. Like, I've just. My mental capacity is not there. And also just because I'm pregnant and I don't really have much of a mental capacity anymore. But it was so nice.

[Lexi]

No, I never thought of myself as a reader. I was always like a TV movie girl.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And I always had to have it on. Like, I had an iPad. I'd walk around the house with it when I was cleaning. I just needed background noise. And then I picked up a Frida McFadden book, like, eight months ago, and I didn't set it down. I sat there for five hours, finished the book, and then I was like, I need more. I. I loved it so much. And I also credit reading to me actually sleeping now at night.

[Taylor]

Yes.

[Lexi]

We, like, we're moving the TV out of our room. We haven't turned it on in months and we have, like, we can only read in bed. But there's. I don't understand what it is about reading a book. I could be even reading a thriller and I'll just peacefully drift off to sleep in a few minutes. But if I'm watching just a comedy show, nothing even crazy, I'm just like, wired and I can't fall asleep.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I love that.

[Lexi]

Reading is so healing.

[Taylor]

You take one thing away from this episode.

[Lexi]

Go get a book.

[Taylor]

Yeah, get a Kindle. Get a book. I bought. I bought myself a Kindle for Black Friday last year. And I was like, I'm gonna start reading. Like, I want to read. But my thing is I never really read fiction. Like, I always was just like, you know, I've just. The first book I read on my Kindle was like the Matthew McConaughey's book, which is all just like, autobiographies and like self help books is what I normally read, and everyone's like, no, you need. You need to read a fiction book. Like, that's why you can't, like, get into reading. And now I'm like, I understand.

[Lexi]

Yeah, you dive into, like, a whole new world.

[Podcast Host]

I.

[Taylor]

It's so good. I love it. I want to actually get your opinion on this, because I know that this is something that we've talked about and you've shared about online, but I feel like I want to know how. How you navigate people holding on to older versions of you, because I feel like that's something you've gotten, like, trapped in. Yeah. For some reason, I don't really know why. And you've, like, really evolved into such a lovely human, but I feel like people still call out to a version of you. That was, like, truly so long ago. How have you learned to, like, navigate that and kind of ignore it or. What is. What are your feelings towards that?

[Lexi]

It's funny because I think about this a lot recently. Like, how there's actors that are known for a role, and then people won't let them out of that box. There's singers that have a hit song, and that's all people want to know them for and hear. It's crazy to me the way the human brain just wants to assume things about people, stick them in a little box forever, and it's okay for you to evolve as a person. You want to evolve, but you're, like, not letting someone else do it.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And I don't know if it's maybe, like, a shortcut in the brain just trying to, like, make things quicker and easier for you to understand and process, but it really is sad to me that we do this to people because it's so much more beautiful to watch an evolution. It's so much more fun to be curious. I think if we could all just get a lot more curious about things, we'd have a lot more joy in our lives.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You know, if someone cuts me off on the freeway, I could be angry about it, or I could be like, I wonder if he's rushing to a hospital. Like, I wonder if he's rushing to, like, get a really exciting gig. Maybe he's going somewhere cool. I think maybe one of the secrets to marriage is never stop being curious about your partner. But I think if we could just get a lot more curious about people, it would make us feel a whole lot better, and we would feel a bigger part of this incredible journey and evolution that people are able to go on.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

I love that. That's such a good answer. And I. That I feel like wedding planning taught me that the most. Like, I've always been someone that doesn't really. Like, I don't get annoyed easily. Like, I'm just like. If people do something, I'm like, whatever. Like, I just brush things off so easily. But wedding planning really showed me how much. And this sounds so dumb, but everyone is living their own lives. Like, everyone truly has something going on, like, all at once. And when you're trying to plan all these people coming together, I just remember so many people were like, oh, I have this. I'm gonna try to do this. And, like, people were just telling me, like, what they have going on. And I was like, this is. Like, I never really processed that fully before. Like, I knew that, obviously. But now, after walking through that and having, like, now just going through life, I'm like, oh, like, everyone actually has something going on. And that same thing, like, if someone cuts you off or if, you know, someone's grumpy in the grocery store, like, whatever it is, like, I'm like, oh. Like, they actually could be having a really bad day. Like, how. You know, how. How do I act when I'm having a bad day, when I'm out? So that's. That's something that I feel like the whole wedding thing taught me was that. And I think it's. It's really important to carry that throughout life. But also it helps you not hold on to, like, the anger or annoyances or being upset, because there's just, like, there's. I feel like there truly is so much. It does so much to our bodies that we don't realize when we hold on to anger and when we hold on to those. Those little things. So.

[Lexi]

I know I even started thinking of it recently. I had this, like, epiphany. I was getting ready one morning, brushing my teeth. I was like, I don't want to live my life for other people. I'm. I gotta live it for me. I got one shot.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You know, and whatever you believe happens afterwards. But on this planet, in this body, in this moment, this life, you got one.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And, like, we're so grateful to have it, we don't know when it can end. Crazy things happen. Accidents happen every day. You never think it's going to happen to you until it does. But if I'm like, oh, well, this person doesn't like that I'm talking about this now, or this person thinks I'm talking too much about this, I'm like, ripping. I really genuinely feel like I'm ripping my soul apart to try to make other people happy. And I'm never gonna make them happy because they gotta find their happiness in themselves. But I need to have. I need to stay true to myself, authentic to myself, figure out what makes me feel good and feel fulfilled, and that is the only way forward.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I love that. It's so good.

[Podcast Host]

I feel like one of the things that's kept me from sticking with a workout routine in the past is just boredom. Like I'll do the same thing for a couple weeks, get kind of good at it, and then completely lose interest because it stops feeling fun. Something that has been a game changer is Peloton, because it helps you unlock all the expansive, joyful feelings you get through movement with Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus Powered by Peloton IQ what I love about this is that you're not stuck doing one thing the entire time. You can spin the swivel screen and go straight from running on the Tread plus to strength training off of it all with one smooth motion, never breaking your flow. And then Peloton IQ kind of takes it from there. It sees every rep, reads every movement, and coaches you in real time. So the only thing you actually have to think about is how good it feels to just let go and be in it. Peloton IQ provides intelligent strength coaching so you can stay in the moment. It learns what moves you and builds these weekly recommended classes with instructors that match your mood, your vibe, your personality so it never starts to feel repetitive or like a chore. Let yourself run, lift, fail, try and go explore. Peloton cross training tread [e-mail] you know how clean beauty has basically become a meaningless label? Like any brand can slap that on a box and it doesn't actually mean anything. That's part of why I got so into og, a certified organic beauty brand that actually performs like luxury makeup. Their Crystal Contour collection is honestly wild

[Taylor]

to me because most makeup is like

[Podcast Host]

80 to 90 pigment and filler, and this flips that completely. It's nearly 90 skincare ingredients, the kind of stuff I'd happily spend my money on in a serious skincare routine. And it just happens to also be makeup. It's not just marketing either. OG is NSF Certified Organic. Everything is made without synthetic fragrance or unnecessary fillers. So so you can genuinely feel good about what you're putting on your skin every day. There are three sticks, copper for warmth, rose quartz for flush, and opal for glow. And you can do your entire face in about five minutes and look like you're just having a really good skin day. If you're ready to raise your beauty standards, OG has got you covered. Go to og.comtay use code Tay for 20% off. That's o g e.comtay and enter code Taylor to get 20% off. So I had kind of a realization the other day standing in the drink aisle just staring at all these different sparkling waters that they all basically look the same and promise the same thing, but they really aren't the same at all.

[Taylor]

And honestly, that's when I remembered why

[Podcast Host]

I keep coming back to Spin Drift. Spin Drift is the only sparkling water in America made with real squeezed fruit. And once you know that, you can't unknow it when you taste the others. I have been loving their nojito lately, which is their lime and mint flavor. And it tastes so much like an

[Taylor]

actual mojito minus the alcohol that it's

[Podcast Host]

truly become my whole personality during the week. It's not just some fruit name printed on the can with nothing behind it. You can actually taste real lime and mint in there. It's also become my go to for a no alcohol drink lately. I'm pregnant right now, as most of you know, so if I'm hosting or if I just want something to feel

[Taylor]

a little festive, I'll pour a nojito

[Podcast Host]

over ice and it genuinely feels like I made myself a real drink. My friends always ask what it is because it tastes way more put together than just sparkling water. And honestly, the ingredients list is part of why I trust it so much. It's not some long paragraph of stuff I can't pronounce. It's just a few ingredients I actually recognized. And it's unsweetened, so you're getting the real fruit flavor without it tasting like soda. 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 1231 26. Not valid on subscription orders. That's D R I N K S P I n d r-I f t.com use code TAY for 15% off your next order. Okay, I have to tell you guys about this Lululemon Flow Y crop tank I got because I'm actually wearing it as I speak and it might be one of my favorite things in my closet right now. The Y Racer back design is honestly the standout feature. It gives you this wider range of motion through your shoulders, which I didn't think I noticed until I was doing this overhead movement. And I just realized that nothing's pulling or restricting me at all. It also has this clean and minimal look, like I could have walked straight from a Pilates studio to run errands afterwards and felt totally put together, not just like I rolled out of a workout class. The fabric is the only other thing. It's made with Nulu, which is Lululemon's buttery, soft performance fabric. And it really does feel, like, barely there. Like the second half of class when things were getting more intense, I genuinely forgot I was wearing anything that wasn't

[Taylor]

just my own skin.

[Podcast Host]

It moves with you instead of fighting against you. And it's cropped. So for Pilates specifically, where there's a lot of core work, you're moving around through different positions on the mat. It never bunched up or felt weird. It just stayed put. What stood out to me though, was just how supported I feel without feeling tight or restrictive. There's a built in shelf bra, so I didn't have to think about layering anything else underneath. I could just throw it on and go straight into my day. It becomes one of those pieces I keep reaching for because it just makes getting dressed for the day so easy. I wear Lululemon and you should too. Go to lululemon.com right now. Styles drop all the time and the colors go fast, so don't wait. And if something doesn't work for you, free returns always. That's lululemon.com lululemon.com okay, I want to

[Taylor]

talk about these little fuzzy friends that we have, the fuzzy friends in our lap. I love them so much. I have. So I actually think I have six of these and it's not enough. Like every time you release one, I'm like, taylor, you don't need another one. Like truly. But I do need them all. Like, they're just. They're so cute, but also they're like so effective. Like, it's. It's actually one of my favorite things to tell people about, like when they're like looking for something, like a little self care mental health tool. I love them. They're so cute. But I want to get into kind of like where, where the inspiration came from to start.

[Podcast Host]

Hugs.

[Taylor]

I know we've obviously like touched on your mental health and I know that you walked through something a little over 10 years ago that kind of reshaped your brain and how you think about things. If you want to share.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

In the midst of panic attacks being sometimes three, four times a day. I was looking for something to hold on to, and a friend had gotten me a weighted blanket. And I was, you know, at the time, I was in so much pain. I was so skeptical. I was like, how the heck is a blanket supposed to help me? But it actually worked and it actually did really calm me down. So I was like, okay, why does this work? And why isn't there something like more cute, portable best friend version of it? I dove into the research and how it's actually scientific. It's not placebo effect. That deep pressure does stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, can promote serotonin and dopamine production, melatonin production. There's so many incredible benefits of something as cute and fuzzy as a little friend. So I texted a couple of my good friends about it that had experience in business and I was like, is this a crazy idea? Am I the only one that wants something like this? And they were like, you know, and, and they're five year older than me, men. They're like, no, I want something like that.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So I think some of the best things always, you know, whether it be business ideas, music ideas, video ideas, I think some of the best things come out of something that you need that oftentimes you don't realize how many other people need it too. So, yeah, now we have these little. They're. We found like, tried to find like a Goldilocks weight. So they're four pounds. They're much heavier than most weighted stuffed animals. They're filled with a non toxic glass bead so that you can heat them, you can cool them. Just trying to get as many therapeutic benefits from them as possible. But yeah, and then we're really lucky that we've been able to support a lot of charities. I was at the charity that we partner with their campus all day yesterday in Las Vegas and learning all the incredible tools they're teaching kids that took me to my 30s and tens of thousands of dollars in therapy to learn.

[Taylor]

I love that. That's so special. It's. It's so cool to like watch because I think, I think when you came on, had you just, you just started it?

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Okay. It's. It's literally so crazy. And I feel like obviously just kind of like seeing everything online and following the hugs account. I feel like there is just a new little friend all the time. And I get so excited when there's a new one because it's just like, like it's so cool. To see something that I know you love so deeply and something that I enjoy so deeply, like, just grow and thrive. And I think it's making a lot of people check in with their mental health. Like, you know, it's just like, it's something that's cute and people, like, want to buy it because it's cute and it's a weighted animal, but it actually, like, ends up helping them more than they realize, I think.

[Lexi]

So. I mean, I was looking into the research behind this too, because I was like, what is it about this little guy that I feel such an emotional attachment to? Like, am I going crazy? You know? But no, there is. There really is science behind, like, the emotional attachment you do form with things, and it's a safety thing. And just having. I love hearing stories of people that are like, oh, I have, you know, my Rex that I take with me every time I travel. And it's just. It's like a little sidekick you have with you, A little tool in your toolkit. But I love watching, like, grown men walk around with their hugs and, like, pat their butt like a little baby. And I love watching, like, kids love on them. And just every single person tell me stories. When we do in person events, those are always my favorite. And they tell me stories about ways that it's helped them or use cases I never would have thought of. Yeah, it's been. It's been really incredible journey.

[Taylor]

Yeah, it's been fun getting to, like, partner and do things together. And at our lemon summit last year, I had. I actually couldn't tell you how many people came up to me and they were like, I. I got four hugs. Like, so many people were leaving with multiple of them, and they were like, I'm so excited. I've never seen this before. And, like, it was just so cool. It was so cool to see, like, the in person thing. I think there's so much truth to that. I love doing, like, in person stuff, but it was really cool to, like, get to see people's reactions and how, like, excited they were. I know.

[Lexi]

It's my favorite part. Yeah, I bet, like, we're, like, growing the family so much now too. And, like, you know, they all have, like, little names and backstories and there's like, these little. These little characters. And it's just so fun too. I feel like I'm, like, healing my inner child. Just like designing stuffed animals in my bedroom.

[Taylor]

Truly? No, truly. I was gonna ask, have you. Since being a founder and being someone that doesn't come from, like, a Business background. Have you struggled with imposter syndrome at all throughout this?

[Lexi]

Of course I've. I mean, I struggle with it in so many aspects of life. And I think the best thing I've done for myself is partner with people that care about the mission of Hugs and care about me as a person.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And, you know, there's mixed reviews on whether or not you should go into business with your friends, but I think with the right people, it can be magical and have a family support system. And, you know, when I'm feeling down or not feeling smart enough or good enough or whatever, the little devil on my shoulder is telling me that day, I lean on people that remind me that I am enough. And I might not have a business degree. It might be a college dropout, but maybe that's also what makes me so special.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You know, maybe some of my ideas are coming from just a really authentic inner child place instead of a book. So I think everyone has so much value to add in their own way, and I really wish people were less afraid of adding their value, and we stop letting people tell us what our limitations are, and we really just step into our own. Take a leap off the cliff. You can build the parachute on the way down. The famous entrepreneurial saying. Yeah. And, yeah, if you ever need someone to remind you, you know, lean on someone or I'll tell you.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Listen to this podcast. You are enough. You can do it.

[Taylor]

That's so good. I want to know what. Just because I'm curious, like, what's being a business founder, what's been, like, the hardest part behind the scenes, and what's been the most rewarding thing for you?

[Lexi]

I think the hardest part is just the responsibility that I care so much about this, and I care so much about people's experience. And so, you know, if, like, one out of a thousand orders has something wrong with their order, like, I take that personally, and it sucks and it hurts. And, you know, if someone didn't have a good experience, how can I improve? How can I make sure that never happens again? And having to learn, which is also shadows into life, but having to learn that I don't have control over everything.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

You know, as it. As it grows, like, Hugs was started out as just this, like, passion project that we were all just really excited about, and we're like, oh, we'll just, like, do a few hours a week. Like, it's so fun. We love it, and there's such a demand for it that now it's like, oh, all of us are Actually like me and my co founders are stepping away from our other full time jobs to put more love and energy and time into hugs now. So, you know, as this demand has grown, as hugs has grown, we've grown more into the business. And so I think we just take such a huge responsibility with what we're doing. But also that's the most rewarding part is that you are impacting people and love those in person events. I love the pop ups we get to do. We're trying to do more of them. Meeting people, hugging people in person, hearing their story, connecting with them, seeing them. I love like seeing what animal each person connects with. It's like my favorite part.

[Taylor]

Oh my gosh.

[Lexi]

Just the one they're like drawn to and yeah, just like learning how we can continue to improve for other people and be there in some of their worst moments and some of their best moments. The fact that we get to be a part of journey, their journey is such a huge honor to me.

[Taylor]

I love that. Do you have a favorite one right now?

[Lexi]

I have like favorite ones for favorite things.

[Taylor]

Okay.

[Lexi]

So like when I'm sleeping at night, the manta ray, I lay it on like my lower abdomen and then I pull out my Kindle and I have my cup of tea and every single night. Foolproof plan. I've never slept better. And then to travel, the mini dino is coming out any, any week now. But the mini Dino, there's something about his little face. He's like my best travel companion and very bonded to him. And then when I'm working, I love, I love this fuzzy little green guy.

[Taylor]

Yeah, it's so fun. I need to get the manta ray. I have it. I technically have it, but I got it in New York and needs to, it needs to be shipped to me. That's why I like this turtle, because I think it was like kind of the same thing and he's just like a little smaller. I always like, we'll just like lay him on my chest or like on my belly. I love him. You're in. You're kind of hard to maneuver around this mic and my laptop though. But you're, you're comfy right there. No, I love that. And I'm just, I'm so excited for you and it's so fun to watch you. You and hugs just grow. And I think I love to like when just someone genuinely loves like what they're doing and loves their brand and is so passionate about it. It's really, it's really special and I think that Resonates with a lot of people, too. It's so. It's. It's so great. I love it. I'm so excited for you. Okay, last question I have for you is in this season of Life. I wonder. I actually wonder if I asked you this when you were here, but I'd love to know what you're most proud of yourself for.

[Lexi]

Ooh, I love this question because it's something I'm trying to think about more. Be as I be kinder to myself and, like, go on this journey of learning self love. But I think it'd be easy to say that I'm most proud of hugs, but I think I'm also most proud of the fact that people have come up to me and said that my videos and my vulnerability have helped them learn to love themselves.

[Taylor]

Yeah, that's true. I. I love it and I adore you, and it's. It's really cool to. I mean, I said it when we started this, but it's been cool. I feel like you're. I feel like you're. You are one of the most consistent people that I've had in my life at my events, and us just obviously having the same passions and having, like, similar jobs, like, it's just really cool. Like, I just had, like, a little, like, flashback moment to our first gala for the foundation. And like, I. Taylor and I remember driving home and we were like, Lexi and Justice donated way too much money. Like, you guys are just, like, raising your paddles the whole time. Like, you're just. You are so. And anytime we do something with hugs, like, you're always, like, so giving, and you're so, like, you just are so gracious. And it's really cool to see someone like you who is so giving genuinely thrive. And I'm just a Greg. But no, I just. I. It's just really cool. And I love that people are getting to, like, just fight. Like, really see, like, you. It's so cool to see the brand. Like, you know, it takes a couple of years to, like, get things going, but, like, I just feel like it's really taking off and I'm so excited for people to, like, get their hugs. You should order one and then watch this episode back. I'm gonna leave a down below so you guys can cycle with them. But thanks for. Thanks for coming and chatting. I adore you.

[Lexi]

Thank you.

[Taylor]

So fun for having me. Can't wait for you to be a little wifey.

[Lexi]

I'm so proud of you. Can't wait for you to be a Mommy. We're gonna go cry now, actually.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

Okay.

[Taylor]

Goodbye, everyone.

[Lexi]

Good.

[Taylor]

I love that.

[Lexi]

Please note that this episode may contain 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.