Trash Tuesday w/ Esther Povitsky & Khalyla Kuhn
Episode: Bears, Babies, Brooke Schofield ft. OutdoorAnthony
Date: March 24, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Trash Tuesday brings together hosts Khalyla Kuhn and Esther Povitsky with guest Brooke Schofield and special survivalist OutdoorAnthony. The conversation is quintessential Trash Tuesday: an energetic, deeply candid mix of personal updates, wild hypotheticals, and facts both bizarre and surprisingly practical. Topics range from pregnancy timelines and online posting anxieties to wildlife encounters, survival tactics, and the art of wiping in the woods—all delivered with the show’s trademark blend of self-deprecation, humor, and genuine curiosity.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Catching Up with the Hosts & Guest
- Brooke's Life Updates: Brooke shares she's been off the air for over three months, recently got engaged, moved into a new home, and is planning to elope with just her fiancé. (03:05)
- Baby Fever: Brooke discusses wanting to have a baby soon, shifting from "maybe in five years" to actively planning for one this year, influenced by friends having kids. (05:43)
- "As soon as I decided, like, I could do this, I was like, well, we have to go. Right." – Brooke (05:56)
- Motherhood Reflections: Esther and Khalyla share their experiences with marriage, pregnancy, and the pressure/expectation of forming a "proper family." (03:14 - 06:14)
- Naming Babies: Naming a boy is "the hardest thing ever." Both the challenge and the emotional resonance are discussed. (08:05)
2. Marriage & Ring Talk
- Engagement Rings: Honest takes on being direct with partners about ring preferences.
- "I told him 100% exactly what I wanted and he copied it exactly." – Brooke (11:42)
- ‘Awkward Proposals’: Khalyla hilariously recounts Bobby Lee’s less-than-romantic pseudo-proposal and the strange gift of a “regal” jade ring bought during a relapse. (12:24 - 14:24)
- Jewelry & Meaning: Sentimental value is key; negative associations kill the vibe for wearable pieces. (14:24)
3. Wellness Tech & Metrics
- Oura Ring Rants: The crew swap stories about sleep trackers and how the metrics can psych them out.
- “Every morning I wake up and I check my sleep score and I'm like, this is how I know if my day will be good or bad.” – Khalyla (16:15)
- Calorie-Burn Comparison Gripe: Frustration with male burn rates vs. female stats (“Men, their calorie burn is on a different level. I hate it.” – Esther, 15:35)
- Is Tracking a Net Positive?: Debating whether all this self-measurement makes people happier or more anxious.
4. Health & The Anxiety Spiral
- Mold Mania: Viral stories about mold-sniffing dogs spark paranoia about home air quality and health. (19:30)
- “I could still have mold. And at the time, I'm having, like, stuffy nose. I'm like, oh, my God. Like, I have a little bit of a leak in the ceiling. I'm like, I have to throw the whole house away, so I cut my whole ceiling open.” – Brooke (20:35)
- Skin Checks: Stress about cancer leads to candid talk about regular dermatologist visits, tanning-beds, and family cancer scares. (21:46 - 23:40)
5. Family, Siblings, and Childhood
- Mixed Families: Brooke shares her unique blended-family background and how it affects her desire for family. Khalyla and Esther also discuss siblings with different parents. (25:38)
- Cute Kidspeak: Sweet moments discussing Esther’s daughter and the words she invents for her parents. (24:09 - 24:46)
6. Old Roles and Career Throwbacks
- Esther’s TV Cameos: Mention of ‘New Girl’, ‘Parks and Rec’, and being the go-to "over-18 to play teen" actress. (26:13)
Survival Segment with OutdoorAnthony
1. Survival Basics & Go-Bags (starting ~34:47)
- What’s In Your Car Kit?: Practical items for an emergency in the woods: running shoes, whistle, radio, electrolytes, canned food, warmth layers, and an emergency blanket.
- Candy and Survival: Sour Patch Watermelon for blood sugar—potentially life-saving for diabetics. (38:23)
2. Wildlife Encounters
- Coyotes: No real threat to people, but pick up your small dog and be loud. Coyotes are "wimps." (41:02)
- Bears: Most bears in the US are black bears; be big, yell, and the bear will likely back off.
- "I had people's kindergartners or preschoolers... say 'I love you bear!' at the top of their lungs. And the bear goes like, 'oh, boy.'" – OutdoorAnthony (45:01)
- Mountain Lions: Never turn your back; maintain eye contact, walk backwards, and be loud. (60:19)
- Rattlesnakes: Stamp your feet to warn them, be aware of where you put your hands and feet. Most bites occur by accident, not aggression. (62:04)
- Rabies: Once symptoms start, mortality is almost certain; get shots ASAP after any potential exposure. (63:12)
- Hantavirus & Cleaning Rodent Droppings: Wet surfaces before cleaning to avoid airborne virus particles. (65:14)
3. Outdoor Hygiene
- Wiping in the Woods: Best options are soft, fuzzy leaves (like mullein), river stones, or if desperate, carefully whittled sticks. The "third world squat" is the most natural position. (50:04 - 53:31)
- Practical Demo: OutdoorAnthony shows possible “wiping stones” and DIY techniques.
4. How to Make Fire
- Methods: Flint/magnesium rods, dry kindling (collected through the day), and even high-magnification reading glasses. Practical skills demonstrated. (54:32 - 57:39)
5. Dangerous Creatures & Miscellaneous Facts
- Apes/Chimps: Never own as pets—aggression manifests after puberty. (48:53)
- Tarantulas & Spiders: Trapdoor tarantulas create wild little lairs—fascinating, mostly harmless.
- Sharks Older Than the North Star: “A species of shark is older than the North Star.” (70:04)
- Diet: Chipotle burrito is the ultimate day-hike snack; always pack chapstick or “nipple butter” for multi-day trips (“Best chapstick on Earth.” – Esther, 71:22)
- Women as Evolutionary Superiors: Taste, smell, vision, color discernment, and multi-tasking are all strongly in women’s favor, per evolutionary science. (71:55 - 73:41)
- Hot Showers Debate: Female need for scalding water is due to hormone differences; male lower heat tolerance is tied to protecting sperm. (74:38 - 75:49)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “No one's been mean to me in so long...every single time I open my phone, it's just like...silence.” – Brooke (00:44)
- “I want brands to like me. I don't care about you [the followers].” – Brooke (01:42)
- “If you see a coyote walking around, it's a great opportunity to see a coyote. Really, there's not really any danger with them.” – OutdoorAnthony (41:02)
- “I finished my book and then I was like, I'm not gonna happen here tonight.” – OutdoorAnthony describing how he reacted to a mountain lion encounter (61:03)
- "You can get that thing soaking wet. It's not like a lighter where it has a limited number...I've had that ferro rod for years.” – OutdoorAnthony on fire-starting tools (57:23)
- "Women are second to none. Like, we are just meat patties that get thrown into the world but you guys have an incredible, like, receptive natures..." – OutdoorAnthony, on female senses (72:35)
- “Why do women want to scald their skin in the shower?" —"Mother of dragon style!” – Esther & Khalyla (74:38)
- "I think that [cockroaches] are gods at this point. That's why I'm afraid of them. I'm afraid of pigeons and I'm afraid of God too." – Khalyla (67:15)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Brooke's update & baby talk: 00:19 - 07:28
- Ring/engagement stories: 11:06 - 14:24
- Sleep trackers & wellness tech: 15:05 - 16:21
- Mold paranoia & skin checks: 19:30 - 23:40
- Family & siblings: 25:38 - 26:32
- Survival Q&A with OutdoorAnthony: 34:47 - 79:19
- Go bag/car kit: 37:34
- Wildlife safety (coyotes, bears, mountain lions): 41:02 – 61:30
- Fire making demonstration: 54:32 – 57:39
- Rabies, Hantavirus, rodent-borne diseases: 63:12 – 65:46
- Women as superior survivors: 71:55 – 73:41
Tone & Takeaways
This episode is classic Trash Tuesday: brash, honest, full of TMI, but always underpinned by a sense of camaraderie and curiosity. The audience gets both laughs and genuinely usable survival info (plus urban legends debunked and confirmed). The dynamic between the hosts, their guest Brooke, and survivalist OutdoorAnthony keeps things playful and authentic, with plenty of interruptions, asides, and funny throwaways to keep sluggies entertained.
Follow Links
For listeners new and old, this episode is a must for both Trash Tuesday energy and surprisingly practical survival hacks you never knew you needed (and maybe still kind of don’t).