269: Rare Breed Pt 2!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Two Hot Takes – Ep. 269: Rare Breed Pt 2!

Host: Morgan Absher
Co-host: Lauren
Release Date: May 21, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, Morgan and Lauren dig into Reddit threads and listener submissions, focusing on "rare breeds"—people whose behaviors fall well outside the norm, for better or worse. Centered around relationship dramas, shocking family dynamics, bizarre personal quirks, and heartwarming moments, the episode oscillates between lighthearted laughs and heavy, reflective conversations. The duo brings their quick wit and emotional insight to stories about everything from cheetah-themed rooms and gross pranks to manipulative partners and touching family traditions.

---

Key Discussion Points and Stories

1. Health, Anxiety, and Gut-Brain Connection

[02:08–05:52]

• Morgan shares an update on her week, dealing with lingering anxiety after stopping the medication Cipro, highlighting the profound effects of health issues.
• Lauren and Morgan muse about the body, gut-brain science, and the overwhelming (and sometimes silly) health warnings prevalent on social media.

Notable Quote:

“Our bodies are insane…every week it’s like, oh, and that’s actually because of your gut.” – Lauren [03:10]

---

2. Candy and Environmental Paranoia

[03:55–05:42]

• Shock over an article about popular candies (Nerds, gummy bears) containing unsafe levels of arsenic.
• Contemplation on dangers in everyday treats, and musings about international differences in food safety.

---

3. Podcasting as a Learning Tool

[05:22–05:58]

• Morgan considers reviving the podcast segment "Down the Rabbit Hole" to learn about niche historical events after listener feedback.
• Appreciation for podcasts as sources of unexpected knowledge.

---

4. Reddit Story 1: The Cheetah Room

[08:59–14:10]

• Reddit /r/MaleLivingSpace: User posts about a spare room containing only a cheetah painting and a chair, inventing elaborate “cheetah room rules.”
• Morgan and Lauren celebrate the whimsy, discuss personal approaches to space, and brainstorm creative traditions for such a unique room.

Quote:

“This is whimsical. I will say, I think it’s beautiful that they’re able to do that…It’s shocking to me because if an extra room opened up in my home, that would immediately be put to work.” – Lauren [11:15]

Key Segment: Rules brainstorm, [12:57]:

• No talking or phones, no flash photography, “thank the cheetahs when you’re done,” and Polaroids-only ideas proposed.

---

5. Reddit Story 2: Am I the Asshole for Sucking on My Partner’s Ziploc?

[14:20–18:13]

• OP habitually sucks the air out of their partner’s sandwich bags to keep them “vacuum-sealed”—partner reacts with disgust.
• Morgan and Lauren debate germ concerns, act-of-love vs. boundary setting, and laugh about the different lines people draw over sharing food and germs.
• Both ultimately agree respecting odd boundaries is key, even if they don’t get it.

Quote:

“This is such an act of service. That's one of my love languages…” – Morgan [15:18]

---

6. Reddit Story 3: The Hidden Engagement Ring Manipulation

[19:01–27:52]

• OP’s brother hides fiancée’s ring as a “lesson” and allows family suspicion to fall on OP. OP uncovers the truth via security camera and exposes him to the fiancée.
• Deep dive into manipulative motives, gaslighting, and how such “teaching a lesson” behavior is a major red flag.

Quote:

“You just saved his fiancée from years of manipulation, gaslighting, and grief.” – Reddit comment, paraphrased by Morgan [23:37]

Memorable Segment: Discussion of psychological tactics and why such behaviors—creating a problem to later solve it—are deeply harmful.

---

7. Reddit Story 4: The Fake Marathon Runner

[28:24–44:00]

• OP suspects boyfriend lied about running a full marathon; he only ran a relay leg but doubled down on the lie, even after being tracked via Find My iPhone.
• The hosts parse the strangeness of lying about something so verifiable, the implications for trust, and why little white lies signal bigger issues.

Quote:

“This is a quality that would be very difficult to have in a long term partner. If you lie about something like this, why would I have any reason to believe you’re not lying about big things?” – Lauren [38:18]

---

8. Reddit Story 5: The Unwelcome Painting

[45:30–56:12]

• A mother-in-law is accused of being rude after declining to hang up a daughter-in-law’s oversized, stylized painting; debates ensue about gifting art, boundaries, and communication.
• Both recognize giving art as a tricky gift and stress that home decor is extremely personal.

Quote:

“I really, really don't think you should gift people art…you really have to love something to put it up on your wall.” – Morgan [47:55]

---

9. Reddit Story 6: Husband Wants to Quit Business, Become a Doctor

[57:13–78:55]

• OP’s husband, after a family medical crisis, wants to abandon his successful real estate business (supported mostly by OP) to pursue medical school.
• The challenges of midlife/career change with family responsibilities are examined: practicality, financial burden, communication, and self-sacrifice.
• Suggestions include considering other healthcare careers and starting with night courses.

Quote:

“There is a point in a partnership, especially with children, where you can’t just keep chasing new dreams.” – Lauren [62:26]

Notable Moment:
Discussion of how supporting a partner’s ambitions must come with compromise and planning, not impulsive decisions.

---

10. Reddit Story 7: Lice as Abuse and Parental Control

[79:32–92:36]

• From /r/raisedbynarcissists: OP reveals their mother refused to treat their lice for years, arguably as a way to control and isolate them; multiple commenters share similar stories.
• Morgan and Lauren decry the shocking child abuse, discuss the long-term psychological toll, and encourage listeners in similar situations to seek help.

Quote:

“If you live in an unsafe home, it’s not okay. You are a kid, you deserve to be taken care of and have basic access to medical stuff.” – Morgan [87:42]

---

11. Reddit Story 8: The Litter Box Prank

[94:50–105:03]

• A young woman’s boyfriend pranks her by saving his own feces in the cat’s litter box.
• The hosts are appalled and dissect why gross-out pranks reveal deeper issues—immaturity, disrespect, lack of empathy.
• Applause for OP for sticking to a boundary and leaving.

Quote:

“This is a child and it’s a disgusting baby child that I have to literally clean the shit up of. No, thank you.” – Lauren [101:35]

---

12. Reddit Story 9 (Palette Cleanser): The Meaning of a Dolphin Scarf

[107:15–112:17]

• OP gifts her brother’s girlfriend a blue scarf with a hand-embroidered dolphin, moving her to tears. The scarf echoes a late father’s endearment, bringing joy and comfort.
• The hosts highlight the beauty of thoughtful gestures and how the smallest coincidences can be profound signs of connection.

Quote:

“Everything is connected. There’s like little threads that tie us all together in this world. It’s a really beautiful thing.” – Lauren [111:13]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Germs and Boundaries:
  “I literally always struggle to, like, smush things as I try to, like, get the last bit of air out… I'm gonna do this.” – Morgan [16:57]
• On Manipulation:
  “Trying to teach her a lesson where it’s like, you’re being so deceptive and then trying to make someone think you’re the hero.” – Morgan [25:15]
• On Art as a Gift:
  “If someone asks you for your art, that’s a different story… but a ginormous painting… that’s a tough one.” – Morgan [49:43]
• On Family Obligations:
  “You can’t just keep chasing new dreams… Sometimes, work isn’t a dream. Sometimes work is just a thing that you have to do.” – Lauren [62:26]
• On Finding Joy and Meaning:
  “Be a rare breed in a good way, not a freakish way.” – Morgan [111:20]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:08 – Morgan's health/anxiety update
• 05:58 – “Rare breed” episode theme explained
• 08:59 – The cheetah room story
• 14:20 – Sucking the air out of Ziplocs
• 19:01 – Ring-hiding, manipulative brother
• 28:24 – Boyfriend's marathon fake-out
• 45:30 – DIL’s unwanted painting
• 57:13 – Husband wants to become a doctor
• 79:32 – Lice as parental abuse
• 94:50 – The litter box prank
• 107:15 – The dolphin scarf (palette cleanser)
• 111:20 – Wrap-up, announcements, and connecting threads

---

Tone and Style Highlights

• Humorous, candid, and empathetic—the hosts blend dark humor with thoughtful insight, often sharing personal experience or referencing past stories.
• Relatable, conversational, and supportive—advice centers on empathy, boundaries, and practical solutions.

---

Closing Thoughts

Episode 269 of Two Hot Takes exemplifies the podcast’s signature blend of drama, emotional depth, and sharp banter. The concept of “rare breeds” yields stories ranging from the endearing to the absurd to the disturbing, reminding listeners of the full spectrum of human behavior. Morgan and Lauren keep things grounded with humor and nuanced discussion—a true rollercoaster ride that leaves you reflecting, laughing, and sometimes, a little stunned.

---

For bonus stories, video versions, and more, check out Two Hot Takes on Patreon and YouTube. Follow Morgan on IG: @morgsyabsher.

Transcript

[Morgan]

This episode is brought to you by Viori. You know what's tough? Finding clothes that can keep up with you all day. Viori gets it. That's why everything they make sits in that sweet spot of comfort and style. It's not overly gymmy. It's more like pieces that move with you, but you could still wear anywhere and feel really good in them. The clothes from Viori have actually inspired me to start working out again. They make me feel so comfortable and empowered. Get 20% off your first purchase at viori.com hot takes and discover the versatility of Vuori clothing. That's V U-O-R-I.com hot takes exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. This episode is brought to you by Barilla. Great nights are in the details. The hot take that has the group chat blowing up, the Internet drama that has you immediately picking a side, and the pasta that has you chasing that last bite. That's Albranzo by Barilla. It's crafted with textured ridges that grip and hold onto sauce so you get rich flavor in every bite. That moment, you go back to swipe the clean plate. It's called scarpetta. The art of savoring that sauce. All abranzo by Barilla. The pasta that does scarpetta, look for the red bag. I like your Lisa Gilroy impersonation.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God. I forgot about that.

[Morgan]

Was that on an episode or was that Patreon?

[Lauren]

I was with you in this chair

[Morgan]

when I did it. I can't remember what it was for, though.

[Lauren]

I don't think I could replicate it.

[Morgan]

It was so good. It's actually one of the better impersonations I think I've heard.

[Lauren]

Thank you for saying that. Thank you.

[Morgan]

You don't want to try?

[Lauren]

No, not right now. But, like, okay, guys, you know, stay tuned, because it'll happen one day.

[Morgan]

Maybe it'll come back to you. Oh, here we go, everyone. It's gonna be a good episode.

[Lauren]

I'm excited.

[Morgan]

I know. I was like, where have you been, Bella? Where have you been, loca?

[Lauren]

It's so funny because it's been, what, like a month and a half? But that feels like a long time.

[Morgan]

That's actually. That's insane.

[Lauren]

I know.

[Morgan]

That's insane. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I'm like, I've just been. I don't even know what I've been doing. Hospital.

[Lauren]

You've been having an awful week.

[Morgan]

Like, awful.

[Lauren]

Not to speak for you, but.

[Morgan]

No, it's like, I'm still not right And I appreciate everyone's comments so much, because I felt like I was going absolutely nuts, like, not understanding what was happening. And, like, the doctor not really being, like, worried about it. But so many people were like, no, Cipro is, like, a pretty serious med. And, like, it's probably this and this. And so I did have to stop taking it. Cause it was just so, so bad. But I'm still dealing with, like, such lasting anxiety from it.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And it's insane. Cause it's, like, usually, like, I have anxiety at a baseline, but usually I can, like, distract myself or work around it. And it's like, no, this is just, like, a feeling of impending doom.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And I'm like, what the hell? And I'm so. I'm like, now I'm taking probiotics and prebiotics and whatever else I can, like, try to get my gut back on track. Because it's probably the gut, brain, whatever, is working. I'm just like.

[Lauren]

I feel like every week I hear a new thing that's affected by the gut.

[Morgan]

I know.

[Lauren]

Like, every week it's like, oh, and that's actually because of your gut. Just.

[Morgan]

Our bodies are insane. I literally just saw a clip from the basement yard, and they were doing something with, like, Dr. Mike eating hot food. And Dr. Mike was like, eating hot food can actually increase your risk of esophageal cancer.

[Lauren]

What? Okay, but, like, I can't. I can't be keeping track of that kind of thing.

[Morgan]

I'm already, like, I'll just mess up.

[Lauren]

Like, maybe this is bad. I'll take the big ones. You know, if you give me, like, a big warning, like, ooh, you really shouldn't be eating these kinds of eggs. I don't know. Don't know what that means, but I'll listen. You know what I mean? But if you're saying hot food might increase. Increase one of the cancers, I can't be taking that into account. I know.

[Morgan]

I saw something about nerds, too. Nerds Candy. If you eat more than, like, 2,000 pieces a year, you're at an unsafe arsenic level.

[Lauren]

Arsenic.

[Morgan]

Something crazy.

[Lauren]

How do nerds have arsenic?

[Morgan]

I'm gonna fast.

[Lauren]

I believe you. I believe you. But.

[Morgan]

No, but I'm glad you are. Just in case. So there's an article that just came out. More than 20 popular candies tested positive for toxic levels of arsenic.

[Lauren]

I thought that this was something we left in the 90s.

[Morgan]

Dude, it's insane. Like, black forest gummy bears. Laffy Taffy. Nerds.

[Lauren]

They're just getting away with this, I'm

[Morgan]

just like, it's everything good. I love candy. It's like, it's literally everything good.

[Lauren]

But if I were to get nerds in another country, perhaps ones that put less things into them, would it be different?

[Morgan]

We should do some research.

[Lauren]

We should.

[Morgan]

We should do some research.

[Lauren]

We should have a separate podcast.

[Morgan]

I've wanted to start down the rabbit hole back up.

[Lauren]

I love that idea.

[Morgan]

I miss that show so much. And it was so fun, like, getting into the weird stuff and, like, learning on the fly with listeners and then having, like, listeners that were experts literally chime in. And, like, I saw the comments about Henry Ford and how the 9 to 5 work week was actually good because prior to that, the Industrial Revolution and people were working way more hours per week. And I'm like. I'm like, I'm just trying to normalize my weird sleep schedule and get back to what humans were doing before.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But now I'm like, okay, I want to dive into the Industrial Revolution, and then I want to get into, like, suffrage and, like, women voting.

[Lauren]

And I feel like the Industrial Revolution fucked a lot of things.

[Morgan]

It's so. I don't know. I'm like, I don't know enough about it. And our education system, not very good.

[Lauren]

So that's, like, one of my favorite things to listen to podcasts for, though.

[Morgan]

Learn niche little things.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Yeah. And I think you can just keep a running list anytime there's something that you're like, I kind of want to know more about that. And then if you want to go back in the rabbit hole, maybe we.

[Morgan]

Maybe we do this. Yes, maybe we should. Maybe we start back up.

[Lauren]

Got nothing but time. Morgan, let's go.

[Morgan]

Okay. Let's get back into these weird rare breed stories. People just kind of being rare breeds in good ways, like, special kind, nice people, which is a rare breed. But also there's some little freaks out there. Yeah, there's some little freaks.

[Lauren]

And you always. I think it's so special to find that still in this day and age to still be surprised. Oh, you know what I mean?

[Morgan]

Because every.

[Lauren]

Every week, I'm like, surely we've seen it all at this point. There's no way nothing can shock me anymore.

[Morgan]

I mean, you sent me the title of the story you found. Yeah, you guys, just wait. Just wait. I literally. My jaw dropped. I put my ACOTAR book down. Spoiler alert. If you haven't read acotar, skip a minute. I'm on number three, baby. We made it. Fuck, Tamlin, I'm Just like, I don't. She just got back from the spring court.

[Lauren]

Spoiler. Spoiler.

[Morgan]

I know. Okay. Wait, that's like a huge. I know. Okay. And had to stop to record the spoiler, but I'm just like, oh, my God, it's so good. Now I'm worrying. I'm worrying with, like, where my heart lies, though.

[Lauren]

Well, you don't know if you like fourth winger Acotar better.

[Morgan]

I know. I don't know.

[Lauren]

Wow. Yeah, it's definitely fourth wing for me. But I feel like most people I talk to like Acotar more.

[Morgan]

It's really. It is really, really good. And then people are like, you'll love Throne of Glass even more. So I'm excited to keep reading. I actually downloaded Goodreads, and when I get a little. When I get a little time this weekend, I'm gonna make my account.

[Lauren]

I'm so excited to be friends with you and Goodreads.

[Morgan]

I don't read very, like, regularly, though. I go through binges.

[Lauren]

You might be back in it now, though. Okay. This. This feels like a. A current era for you.

[Morgan]

Okay, cool. Without further ado.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Let's dive. This episode is presented by State Farm. After five years of this podcast, we can say one thing for certain. A smart move can change everything. Going from cheesy TV roles to brooding blockbuster main characters. Smart move. Another smart move getting help from one of State Farm's 19,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on ratings plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. Okay. This first one, it's coming from r Male living space.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Morgan]

It is a place dedicated to the places where men live

[Lauren]

just in, like, in. In, like, a visual sense. Yeah, like the types of spaces they like to live in. Yeah.

[Morgan]

Like, this top post is really cool. 27 male, sucks at taking photos, living alone with dog. And then they share, like, a picture of their living room just to be like, oh, that's nice. This is my space. And I'm like, this is very nice. For a boy.

[Lauren]

This is a nice. This is a nice sub, in my opinion.

[Morgan]

Well, you'll see when you. When you see the post that I found living spaces.

[Lauren]

Can I do that? Sorry.

[Morgan]

Yeah, that was a great jingle. They should hire you. So this is titled this is my Cheetah Room. I recently had an annoying roommate situation. End. So I now live alone and have an empty room. I've decided to keep the room empty with a single cheetah painting and refer to it as as my cheetah room. I really enjoy hosting and I plan to make weird rules around this room. Like, only one person allowed in at a time. No talking in the cheetah room. No cell phones in the cheetah room, et cetera. I would love suggestions for rules or other fun bits to do with an extra room once this stops being funny to me. Also, yes, I'm planning to get a carpet cleaner in there this weekend that is from the aforementioned roommate situation. And then they share a picture of their cheetah room.

[Lauren]

Wait, I love this. I love this. I really, I find this beautiful.

[Morgan]

I laughed so hard when I saw this.

[Lauren]

I think it's hilarious. I think it's inspired.

[Morgan]

Describe the room for people.

[Lauren]

So it's really just four walls, one sort of grandmotherly single person chair in the middle and then a single photo of a cheetah on the wall. And the chair is, you know, directly facing it as if it's a tv

[Morgan]

in the center of the room too.

[Lauren]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Morgan]

Like no other furniture. Just like a wing back chair.

[Lauren]

And I can't stress enough. Like, this is a very small room.

[Morgan]

Yeah. It's giving like, I don't know how

[Lauren]

a bed ever fit in there.

[Morgan]

It's giving like 8 by 10.

[Lauren]

This is sort of what it was always meant to be.

[Morgan]

A cheetah room.

[Lauren]

A cheetah room.

[Morgan]

This is whimsical.

[Lauren]

I will say. Like, I think it's beautiful that they're able to do that. It's shocking to me because if an extra room opened up in my home, that would immediately be put to work.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

You know what I mean?

[Morgan]

Be my next closet.

[Lauren]

I couldn't really afford. We do have a room in my house called Scary Room.

[Morgan]

I'm sorry.

[Lauren]

It's sort of like just the place we put stuff.

[Morgan]

Okay.

[Lauren]

And we don't really worry about it. And it's like, ah, we'll get to

[Morgan]

it when we do that.

[Lauren]

I gotta clean. Let's put all this stuff in Scary room. Yeah.

[Morgan]

I wish I had one of those. So you do have an extra room. Yes. You just put it to work in a different way.

[Lauren]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's. I mean, it's full to the brim, so that's wild.

[Morgan]

I would love a scary room.

[Lauren]

Good luck wading through that room.

[Morgan]

Mm. Mm. It's almost like you're reminding me of the in the Weavers room in Acotar with all your little treasures.

[Lauren]

Whoa.

[Morgan]

Everything. I'm like, she's so Acotar pilled. I've read the first two now in like four days. So I'm like, I'm deep in it. And then I stayed up till 5am last night reading.

[Lauren]

Oh, that's why you stayed up so late.

[Morgan]

Well, I was also waiting for the episode to upload, but I was like, I might as well wait.

[Lauren]

I was worried. I was like, oh my God, she can't sleep until 5am oh no, you're having the time of your life. Don't worry about her. She's exactly where she wants to be.

[Morgan]

I literally started going cross eyed. I'm like, I gotta go to bed. Didn't shower. It was like, I gotta go to bed. So are people happy about this? Yeah, I'm like trying to understand the

[Lauren]

vibe of this sub Reddit page. Has it made an appearance on before?

[Morgan]

I found it on my homepage and then I saw it, I just started giggling. So the top comment, say thank you to the Cheetahs when you're done in the Cheetah Room.

[Lauren]

Right? Oh, the rules.

[Morgan]

Rule ideas. Rule.

[Lauren]

Rules.

[Morgan]

Yeah, so people are contributing a lot of rules. A really tiny museum style roped off area right in front of it.

[Lauren]

Oh, that, yeah, that'd be amazing.

[Morgan]

With a framed copy of the rules on the wall outside the room.

[Lauren]

Maybe a red carpet.

[Morgan]

Ooh, that goes well with Cheetah.

[Lauren]

That's true.

[Morgan]

Someone says no flash photography out of respect for all of the visitors.

[Lauren]

Well, obviously no phones. That's already a rule, so thank you.

[Morgan]

Flash photography feels like more, I don't know, litigious. Like it feels more formal.

[Lauren]

Polaroids only.

[Morgan]

Yeah, yeah. Like this is basically the Louvre. Like no flash photography, can't disturb the art. But okay. I just loved it. I love the little picture.

[Lauren]

I'd also like it if they could add some kind of maybe like activity or ritual that only can happen in the Cheetah Room. Like, I don't know, when they do their fantasy football draft, it has to happen in the Cheetah Room.

[Morgan]

In the Cheetah Room.

[Lauren]

Or like, you know, I feel like it could become a part of more than just being there with rules. Like they could incorporate it into tradition.

[Morgan]

I like this a lot.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Morgan]

Cheetah Room could. This could become a big hit. He could sell tickets to the Cheetah Room.

[Lauren]

Yes, yes.

[Morgan]

Sell those tickets.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Morgan]

Okay, moving on to this next one. This is coming from Aitah. It Is titled Am I the asshole for sucking on my partner's Ziploc?

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Morgan]

I know I work from home, and I make my partner sandwiches to take for lunch. Now, when making turkey sandwiches or whatever, and if there is air in the bag, any jostling can separate the ingredients so your sandwich comes apart in the bag. I've learned a great technique to fix this when I was young, and I've been doing it forever. Now, when sealing the Ziploc sandwich bag, I leave a little gap and I suck the air out before sealing it closed. It's basically vacuum sealing it, and it makes it much sturdier. Today I. My partner walked in on me doing it and freaked out, saying, it's gross that I'm getting my germs all over, but I'm literally sucking all the air out, not exhaling. No germs are being transferred. Am I the asshole for trying to make their lunch safer and less volatile?

[Lauren]

I kind of feel that this has been a great act of love.

[Morgan]

This such an act of service. That's one of my love languages.

[Lauren]

Labor of love that they're doing. Wait, what's op? Do we know?

[Morgan]

No mention of any gender.

[Lauren]

No mention of any gender. Whatever OP is doing, it's coming from their heart. I will say I'm on OP's side, but I have slight contamination OCD myself. And, like, I can't share, like, drinks with people. Spoons, like, food. I get just, like, spit in general. Yeah, I'm Lauren's.

[Morgan]

Like, that was spit too. Yeah, she's like ice cream cones. She can't share with people, like, cereal or spoons.

[Lauren]

So I'm kind of getting. Maybe this person has that. Cause I don't know how else.

[Morgan]

But aren't they making out?

[Lauren]

Yeah, but it's different. The thing is, like, I could make out with somebody, and then if they were like, do you want a sip of my water? I'd be like, ugh. You know what I mean? It's like the fact that the cold. The spit has been put into the air, and then now I have to.

[Morgan]

It freaks me out hearing the rationalization. Like, I'm trying to rationalize my way to get where you are. It's so fascinating, interesting.

[Lauren]

It's not striking a chord with you. Okay, so someone like. Well, someone takes a.

[Morgan]

Well, I think it's like when you visibly see a loogie, like, if you could see it in the water, Then I'm like,

[Lauren]

someone takes, like, a spoonful of ice cream, and then they offer you that.

[Morgan]

You see the Residual on the spoon.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And then they offer you that spoon.

[Morgan]

You and Lauren are like two peas in a pod.

[Lauren]

It feels like that, you know?

[Morgan]

Wow.

[Lauren]

So. But I don't know. I don't know if their partner feels that way or is this just.

[Morgan]

Is this just.

[Lauren]

Maybe they just don't like them very much.

[Morgan]

Maybe. Cause I would have. I would have seen this as a great life hack. I've never thought of this. I've never heard about this.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

I literally always struggle to, like, smush things as I try to, like, get the last bit of air out. So I'm like, this is. I'm gonna try this. I'm gonna do this.

[Lauren]

I'd laugh about it. I'd be like, this is so silly and funny that you've been doing this all this time. But I don't know. I'm curious if anyone else is like, yeah, that's disgusting.

[Morgan]

Well, the top comment says, I wouldn't find it gross if my partner did it, but I think yours is perfectly entitled to not want you to do it to their lunch as well. Also, do you truly believe there are no germs involved just because you aren't exhaling and I was gonna say, like, you're still putting your lips on it. Yeah. No, there's some transfer.

[Lauren]

So fair. Obviously, if this person doesn't want them to do it anymore, it's very fair to say that, and, you know, have that be respected. But it's. It's surprising to me.

[Morgan]

I mean, I feel like people can have these, like, irrational little things, like boundaries. Like, this would probably be like, hey, please don't suck the air out of my Ziploc. That would be, like, a boundary that this person could have. And it's like, there's, like, these little unserious things in life where it's like, I'm going to respect your boundary, even if I don't understand it. But it's like, that's what you do.

[Lauren]

Their relationship will survive this.

[Morgan]

You would hope.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

I mean, a lot of people start to go a little goofy, though. They're like, fewer germs involved than sex.

[Lauren]

Totally. That was my first thought as well. It's like, okay, you are. But then that makes me a little hypocritical.

[Morgan]

So someone else says, fewer germs involved than the actual making of the sandwich.

[Lauren]

True, true. Their hands are all over that sandwich when they're making it.

[Morgan]

It's been manhandled, man. Yeah, manhandled or woman handled.

[Lauren]

I don't know. It's hard to Say it's all mysterious with this story.

[Morgan]

Oh, man. Okay, let's get in to the thick of it. That was a nice little light hearted warm up for us here. This one is coming from Am I the Asshole? It is only an hour old right now.

[Lauren]

Oh, wow.

[Morgan]

I was like, really? I'm like, I'm giving people fresh today.

[Lauren]

Fresh sandwiches, vacuum sealed.

[Morgan]

Mm, yeah, that one. That one's only six hours old. Oh yeah, yeah. Cheetah room. Seven hours old. Look at me go. This is titled Am I the Asshole? For sending my brother's fiance a video of him hiding her ring. As my brother's wedding was in two months last week, my parents hosted a small engagement dinner. Just family, a couple of friends, and nothing too fancy. While there, his fiance took off her ring in the kitchen because she was helping our mom wash dishes. She put it on a small plate near the sink and 20 minutes later, the ring was gone. Panic set in. Everyone looked under the table, in the trash, in the pipe. She was crying. Then my brother said that I was the last one to touch the counter near the sink. That was almost true. I'd been helping my mom clear away the glasses and had moved a couple of plates, but I hadn't seen the ring. I told him so. My brother replied that he wasn't accusing me, but if anyone had accidentally knocked it into the sink or trash, it would be better to say so now. After that, everyone started asking if I was sure that I hadn't seen a small plate. My mom asked if I might have accidentally thrown a napkin next to the ring. No one called me a thief, but they made me the convenient scapegoat while my brother stood by playing the concerned fiance. We checked everywhere, but no sign of the ring was found. Later I remembered that my parents have a camera by the back door and I asked my dad to send me the footage. Video I got showed my brother walking into the kitchen, taking the ring from the plate, looking at it, putting it in his pocket, and then a couple of minutes later coming out and saying, the ring is gone.

[Lauren]

Oh my God.

[Morgan]

I called him. He said that he wanted to teach his fiance a lesson so that she would be more careful.

[Lauren]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Morgan]

I told him he had until morning to confess on his own and say sorry to me for accusing me. He refused, asked me to delete the video, and didn't even say that he regretted doing so. In the morning, I sent the recording to his fiance.

[Lauren]

Nice.

[Morgan]

I don't know what argument they did have, but now he Says I ruined his relationship because of a stupid check. Mom thinks I should have given him another chance. But from my perspective, he not only tricked his fiance and hid the ring, but also tried to make me feel guilty for his own game. Am I the asshole?

[Lauren]

I'm on OP's side 100%. I. I was open minded. I was like, oh, maybe he was. He took it because he wanted to get it resized, customized or something, and was, like, blaming it on his brother, but then was gonna go to him later and be like, sorry, I had to make a real.

[Morgan]

I don't know.

[Lauren]

But then when it was just to teach her a lesson about being more careful, she actually hasn't lost the ring, so clearly it's been fine.

[Morgan]

It's fine. Like, why are you acting so weird and manipulative to very manipulative her? A lesson. Why not just, like, say, hey, babe, like, I. I see your ring is kind of exposed on this dish. What if it fell into the sink? Like, I. I'd appreciate it, you know, if you were a little bit more careful with it so we don't have to replace it and worry about it.

[Lauren]

That sounds really easy.

[Morgan]

Bam.

[Lauren]

Sounds like a really easy way to handle it.

[Morgan]

Yeah. Healthy. This is. It's scary. So weird.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And then to, like, bring OP into it for no reason to be like, well, if anyone did it, it would have been you, I guess.

[Morgan]

But not accusing or anything, right? Just saying it'd be better if, if, you know, we. We recognized it now.

[Lauren]

I guess that's something that a guilty person would do though, right?

[Morgan]

Like, throw people off their side.

[Lauren]

Try to give a different suspect because no one would have thought it was him anyway. But he's feeling guilty, so he's like, I have to put it on someone else.

[Morgan]

Such weird behavior.

[Lauren]

I hope they did break up.

[Morgan]

I know. I hope so.

[Lauren]

I'm gonna teach you a lesson about lying. I don't know.

[Morgan]

I want the fiance to find this. And, like, I want their side. Top comment at this point, not the asshole. You just saved his fiance from years of manipulation, gaslighting, and grief.

[Lauren]

Yeah, because it's, you know, it sounds like a fairly normal feeling to be like, hey, it bothers me that you're not super careful with your ring. I've spent a lot of money on that. I'd really appreciate if you did this. And there's just so many more ways to go about saying that. Especially, like, if you're engaged to this person and planning a life with them. Like, that's the communication. You can Expect on all of the rest of your life decisions.

[Morgan]

I know.

[Lauren]

No, thank you.

[Morgan]

I mean, a lot of people just go off in the comments, he was trying to gaslight her. If this ends his relationship, he only has himself to blame. Screw your brother. What an awful person. Definitely not on you. Very obvious. Not the asshole. And anyone that takes his side, remind them he literally stole from her and then tried to blame it on you. Your brother's a complete jerk and incapable of self reflection.

[Lauren]

Was he plan. Like, is he giving it back? Like, was he planning on giving the ring back and being like, we found it in the pipes? Like, what. Yeah.

[Morgan]

What was the. The end game here?

[Lauren]

Yeah. Yeah. Cause he. He put it in his pocket.

[Morgan]

That's a really good point. When was this gonna come about? Because it didn't even sound like there was a moment that the ring did appear. Yeah, no, it sounds like OP asked dad for the video. OP figured out, oh, yeah, my brother took it. Said to brother, hey, I found this out. But, like, there's no mention of like, oh, he gave the ring back.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

I wonder if there's any comments from OP yet. It is, like, still very fresh. So I'm not sure, but him like,

[Lauren]

pretending that he went under the sink and went into the pipe and being like, babe, I found it, but don't ever do that again. Playing the hero about it.

[Morgan]

And I think that's almost like just as scary as how manipulative he is. Trying to teach her a lesson where it's like, you're being so deceptive and then trying to make someone think you're the hero.

[Lauren]

You make her feel with a problem that you caused. Yeah. Yeah.

[Morgan]

What is that?

[Lauren]

That almost sounds like Munchausen's.

[Morgan]

What?

[Lauren]

But no, am I onto something? This is.

[Morgan]

I'm like, what is that? You literally create a problem in someone's life or you, like, tear. Tear attention down, but then come in and try to make them feel better.

[Lauren]

There has to be, like a therapy psychological term for that. There's something that is such a thing.

[Morgan]

There's something here. I'm not seen.

[Lauren]

Colton from the Bachelor did that to Cassie. He was, like, pretending to be her stalker. And then, like, in person to be like, oh, my God, like, I'll keep you safe.

[Morgan]

It's insane. I. I still can't believe he was on Traders.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Goofy. Someone says to op, your brother needs a reality check. I suppose I should have said, he needs to hear, she did nothing wrong by removing her ring before cleaning. Op responds, I hope he gets it. And at least Apologizes to both of us.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Also, like, if she didn't remove her ring during cleaning, that could also be dangerous. It could get knocked down the sink during cleaning just as easily. Or it could get tarnished. Is that a thing?

[Morgan]

I mean, I've had a ring. I put hand sanitizer on and it fell off my finger.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And I just. You just don't. It didn't. I didn't feel it.

[Lauren]

Now imagine soap.

[Morgan]

Soap. And then it goes down the drain. Like it was. It was safer in a dish, like, on the counter.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

OP says that the fiance is still shocked with the video.

[Lauren]

That's so conniving, too. And it's also, like, you will live in a constant state of questioning things because the only time you actually got the truth was when there was a secret camera. Yeah.

[Morgan]

He probably would have lied until then.

[Lauren]

I've experienced that in relationships where, like, I had to catch that, like, find the proof myself to have the truth about something. And then it's like, I have no way of ever believing I'll know the truth about things unless I go out of my way to, like, find it. Like, I could never get that from you. And it's like, there's no way you can build on that.

[Morgan]

I have a story we're going to go to next because it's kind of that vibe. But. Last comment I kind of see here from op they just say, it's really sad to see your relative become such a person. Which is more sad. People at such an age rarely change much. Basically being like, yeah, he's going to teach someone a lesson. Like, he's not really a good person and probably not going to change now.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I wonder if he's learning a lesson from this. It just feels like the kind of person who doesn't. But I don't know.

[Morgan]

I don't know either.

[Lauren]

Losing your fiance and having your family be like, wait, you're kind of insane. Has to be a moment in your life where you do some inner reflection, and if you don't, you are fully incapable of it. So.

[Morgan]

Sounds like a good plan. I hope they figure it out. We're gonna move on to this one from relationship advice because it kind of reminds me about that, what you're bringing up about, like, having to do digging to find out if someone's lying or not.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And I. I feel like I've been faced with that, where it's like, you might have someone in your life and you, like, start to catch on. You're like, I think they're but you

[Lauren]

feel so crazy until the day you're finally vindicated. Like, oh, I haven't been crazy this whole time.

[Morgan]

No. And it's like, it also is such a bad feeling when you start to realize your friend is lying to you and you're like, are they a pathological liar or am I just being weird? Like, am I being a bitch? Am I like, overthinking this? And you're just like, I've had that too. This is. This is like, this is crazy. This is too much. It can't be such a coincidence after coincidence that people and me are catching them in lies.

[Lauren]

And you never pick up on it right away because people aren't assuming that someone's lying to them. It does take a while to catch on to that type of person.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

Because you're just like, oh, they have a lot of cool stories.

[Morgan]

It started to get really bad when I would have lived those experiences with her.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And then we'd be around other people and the way that the story got retold and like, everyone is embellishes, embellishes. Or like, forgets minor details or whatever. But like, it would be like so drastically of like, we were in the same room with this person and then it would, like, the story would change to be like, no, we were talking, hanging out with this person and playing beer pong with them. And I'm like, we didn't even talk to her. What?

[Lauren]

That's scary.

[Morgan]

I'm like, okay. This episode is brought to you by Skims. I used to really struggle with finding good underwear before I started wearing skims. They would bunch up, they'd get pilly, they wouldn't stretch enough to cover all of me. Skims is different. The fabric of skims, cotton jersey, full brief is pretty life changing. They're never going to lose their shape. So you can wear and wash them hundreds of times and they're still going to be your favorite underwear. I also love the lightweight cotton ruched back hipster. They're made from that same lightweight, breathable cotton and they've got such cute little details. My staple is the thongs. And whether you're looking for new underwear or maybe a bodysuit that just makes you feel confident and hugged in all the right places, Skims is going to have you covered. And I've never felt more empowered in my undergarments can make or break your whole vibe. So shop bras and [e-mail] after you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show in the direction drop down menu that follows. Thank you. So this one is coming from Relationship Advice. It's a couple days old now titled my boyfriend 24 male lied to me, 23 female about running a marathon. I'm not entirely sure if I'm overreacting about this, but a few weeks ago my boyfriend allegedly completed a full marathon in a very impressive time sub 4 since we met 6 months ago, we have discussed this regularly. I've watched him train, helped him fundraise and supported him emotionally up until the big day. On the day of, I was unable to watch him in person due to reasons out of my control, so instead I asked him for his bib number so I would be able to track him online and my parents went there to support him in person on the day I logged on to track him to see how he was getting on about an hour into the race only to discover that his name had not been registered. Initially I thought that this was because he was potentially registered under the name of the charity he was running for and instead I decided to track him via his Find My iPhone. As he went through, I continued to send screenshots to my parents of his location so they would know roughly when to expect him. I continued to check every half an hour and eventually noticed that about 2/3 of the way into the route and he had stopped at the headquarters of the charity that he was running for, his location remained there for 45 minutes. He then sent me a photo of him with a medal claiming that he had just completed the marathon. I called my parents to say that he had finished and asked them if they had seen him cross the finish line where they were standing and they said no. At the same time I messaged my boyfriend to ask if he had seen them and he claimed that it had been so busy that he hadn't noticed and to just tell my mom and dad to go home. At this stage I started to wonder if potentially he had pulled out of the marathon halfway through and didn't want to talk about it just yet. After some further investigation, I now know that he did not run the full marathon. Instead he ran with a five person relay group who each did a a fifth of the route. I have not confronted him about this yet, but I have been really distressed by how bland of a lie this is. He continues to claim that he completed the full 26.2 miles and I keep thinking back to how he lied to my parents and friends faces, most of whom donated towards him running A marathon. This isn't the first time he has lied to me. Typically, they have been small, white lies about insignificant things, but this feels huge. It's been weeks, and I still haven't yet brought up the fact that I know he lied, mainly because I know he will likely just double down. I can't help but wonder, if he is lying about this, what else could be going on? I feel utterly betrayed, and I don't know how to deal with this situation. Is it worth continuing a relationship with someone who can clearly lie so easily?

[Lauren]

This is such a weird thing to lie about. When you were initially saying this, I was like, oh, okay. So was he lying about, you know, doing a marathon and training and running? Because he's having an affair, and that's like, an excuse of where he's been all this time, all the training. Yeah, but she has his location, and he actually did do a part of the marathon. He's just lying about doing the whole thing. Like, for what reason? It's so ego, I guess.

[Morgan]

But, like, that's kind of weird.

[Lauren]

And also, he knows she has his location. He knows that she asked for his bib number to track him. I think knew that her parents were going to be there, too. So, like, with all of those factors, he still lied. Like, that's another situation where, if you are willing to lie under these circumstances, then I cannot imagine the things that you would do if you could get away with more. Because there were so many reasons to be worried about getting caught.

[Morgan]

I'm like, maybe it's an ego thing. Maybe OP misunderstood. But I'm like, I don't think they misunderstood. When he's still then claiming to be like, no, I ran the full 26 miles.

[Lauren]

No, it's the doubling down.

[Morgan]

It's the doubling down.

[Lauren]

I ran the whole way.

[Morgan]

The whole thing.

[Lauren]

It's like, you didn't. And that's okay.

[Morgan]

It's fine. It's.

[Lauren]

It also would have been fine if you just got tired halfway through. It still would have been impressive.

[Morgan]

You could have ran a mile, and I'd be impressed. Yeah, absolutely. Running in me, I'm like, I wish I could run, but I'm just.

[Lauren]

I don't run at all.

[Morgan]

It's not in the cards for me.

[Lauren]

I could do a lot of things. Running I don't think is one of them.

[Morgan]

I'm gonna try to, like. I want to have a goal to, like, just run down my street without stopping. Like, as of right now, I can only get one block, and then I have to walk. So I'M like, let's do this together. This would be a great little activity. I just want to just, like. I know it's like 0.4 down my street. It's 0.4. And I'm like, I think that for the safety, if I ever encounter a bear, would be a good thing to have under my belt.

[Lauren]

For me, it's just more the action of running. It just feels too jostling to me.

[Morgan]

Oh, my boobs. I need double, double sports bras.

[Lauren]

I don't need that.

[Morgan]

It's. They're strapped. They are strapped down.

[Lauren]

Oh, yeah. This is crazy. I.

[Morgan]

The jostling. Yes.

[Lauren]

My whole body. Like, I don't know. Yeah. I. I don't understand it. I understand also why this would be a weird situation to be in as a partner. Because it's like, technically, he's not lying about something that's so consequential to your relationship or, like, it's not hiding this terrible, awful thing he did. It's just this weird. I almost feel like he just needs to go to therapy for.

[Morgan]

For lying insecurity.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

That's the thing. It's like,

[Lauren]

why?

[Morgan]

Like, again, if we get down to the why, to what end? Exactly. And I think op even saying, like, I'm just kind of sketched out because I've noticed a lot of other white lies about insignificant things. And I. I do think it's interesting when people will lie so much about insignificant things. And it's like, why.

[Lauren]

I feel like I.

[Morgan]

It just psychs me out.

[Lauren]

I used to struggle with arguing about inconsequential things and. And feeling the need to be right and, like, prove that I was right. And this feels kind of similar in a way where I had to eventually realize the other person doesn't care that I proved myself right. No one is impressed by this. Like, I'm not, but. But seriously, like. And it feels like the lying too, where you have to get to a point in life where you realize, like, I don't know what I'm doing this for, because it is some kind of ego thing, but it's not real. Like, this isn't actually making people think better of you.

[Morgan]

Do you feel like, though? Cause I really relate to that. But I think for me, I do it because it's like, almost like a. It depends on what it is, but it's almost like this defensiveness of, like, I don't know. I'm just like, I'm trying and, like, almost like the people pleaser side of it where you just, like, Want people to, like, understand your rationale behind things.

[Lauren]

I think that can sometimes be it. But I think what I was doing previously was a little bit more ego driven.

[Morgan]

Okay.

[Lauren]

To be honest.

[Morgan]

See, for me, I'm just like. I'm just, I'm not. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm like, I'm just.

[Lauren]

Oh, just like over explaining yourself.

[Morgan]

Over explaining.

[Lauren]

Yeah, that too. That too for sure.

[Morgan]

I'm just like, ugh.

[Lauren]

But I don't know. I think that this is a quality that would be very difficult to have in a long term partner. I do think if he could work out why he does this, there's the potential for things to be okay. But if this is a pattern. Yeah. If you lie about something like this, why would I have any reason to believe you're not lying about the big things?

[Morgan]

Exactly. And that's kind of what the top comment starts picking up on.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Top comment. With almost 3k up votes. This is an extremely bizarre thing to lie about, in my opinion. And if by your own admission you've caught him in other white lies before, this makes me wonder what lies you haven't caught.

[Lauren]

Yeah, exactly.

[Morgan]

I'm really concerned about the fact that you mentioned people donated money towards his marathon for him. He's way too comfortable lying and taking from people in his life. Confront him and leave him before he lies about something significantly worse.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And it's just so important to have trust and to feel like, oh, if I go to my partner about a thing, I can believe what they tell me. And if you can't feel that way, that's terrible.

[Morgan]

I know. OP does comment back to someone who was also concerned about the money and was like, you need to get the money back from people for a charity though. And so OP does confirm. Yeah, I can confirm that the money raised definitely did go to the charity. And it seems like a lot of his family who donated the majority did understand that he was only running a relay. My main guess is that he lied to make himself seem better. I'm not sure if that at some stage he was meant to run the full marathon and then dropped down to the relay closer to the time and then lied out of insecurity.

[Lauren]

No. And you know, I can't run at all. So this is coming. Or did I say lie or run?

[Morgan]

I don't know.

[Lauren]

I can't run at all. So this is coming from like, not a fair place. Yeah, but going from one person to fully five people is so funny to me. Like, you couldn't have even Done like a two person, like a halfsies.

[Morgan]

Yeah, because what is that? It's 5.3 miles.

[Lauren]

And he's doing other, other marathons. Right, like he was doing. He did it under four minute mile or something like that. No.

[Morgan]

So sub four is like you run the whole marathon under four hours. Like a lot of people have crazy goals of like a sub 3. So you literally like your pace. Like to do a sub three, it's like, I don't know, what is that? Like seven minute miles.

[Lauren]

And see, I actually can in my mind picture the type of person who would do a relay and then be like, yep. And that was a sub 4 that I did. And it's like, of course, because you only did a fifth of it.

[Morgan]

I know. And I'm like, that is cool. But like also you had five people, so you're all kind of fresh and only running five, not the full. Yeah, and yeah, so like a sub 3 marathon, which is like a big goal for a lot of people, you have to run basically 6 minutes and 52 seconds per mile. Like, do you remember running the mile in high school?

[Lauren]

So the issue is that I have no concept of how long a mile should take.

[Morgan]

I, I mean, people walk a mile, I think in like 18 minutes.

[Lauren]

Oh, okay. I could run a mile.

[Morgan]

On average, it takes 15 to 22 minutes to walk a mile.

[Lauren]

I could run a mile. I just wouldn't enjoy it. I wouldn't enjoy the experience.

[Morgan]

Do you think you could run nonstop for a mile? I don't think I could run non stop.

[Lauren]

You know what? Let me, let me visit with a treadmill.

[Morgan]

Do you wanna try?

[Lauren]

Let me visit with a treadmill.

[Morgan]

Maybe you should just go to a track, four laps, give it a go.

[Lauren]

Oh, I remember that. That was miserable. I have no interest in doing that. No, that's literally what like.

[Morgan]

I remember running the mile in high school, running the circles and at my fucking physical peak. That shit took me so long.

[Lauren]

I was always a walker.

[Morgan]

It's a burn in your lungs.

[Lauren]

I'm good at sprints. I actually, I was good at sprints at the time.

[Morgan]

I used to, I used to be too. And then I tried racing my like 7 year old nephew in the Mall of America the other day.

[Lauren]

No fudgeing. Beat me. Oh no.

[Morgan]

I'm like, what the fuck? And I'm like, I didn't, I wasn't properly packed down, you know, so it's a little hard.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But I'm like, still, I'm like, I'm.

[Lauren]

How to.

[Morgan]

I got it.

[Lauren]

Well, Only seven years. He's got a lot to run for. He's got a lot to live for.

[Morgan]

I know.

[Lauren]

So he's got. That's. No, I can't.

[Morgan]

Got dreams ahead.

[Lauren]

He's chasing him. I just can't. I. Once you put it in the perspective of doing the laps in high school, I was like, never mind.

[Morgan]

Take that back. But I do want to just run down my street. But weird thing to lie about again, a lot of people very concerned about the money. OP is like, no, like, it did go to charity. That's the only thing he didn't lie about. Apparently, it's not uncommon where OP is from that marathons will allow for relay teams to run to raise money for charities. This involves official stops where you pass a baton onto the next member for the relay. You run amongst the other runners, but just take a different turn at the end of your leg. I wasn't paying attention to his location for the first hour, as I knew it would likely take him a few hours to finish. When I checked for the first time, he was only beginning his run. Plus, I didn't know the official route.

[Lauren]

And again, all of that is fine. It's just weird to double down and be like, no, I did the entire full thing.

[Morgan]

I think people are kind of confused, like, why haven't you talked with him about this? And so OP does reply to that person that asked that. I guess fear that I'm wrong. As far as I'm aware, I'm the only person who has picked up on the fact that he didn't do the full marathon. I do believe that he did not do the full marathon that day, but he is unbelievably convincing, and I'm concerned about how he will react. I've also been abroad since a week before the run, so we haven't spoken in person.

[Lauren]

I thought OP said that his family knows that he didn't, that he did the relay.

[Morgan]

I know, but, like, maybe on her side or like, friends.

[Lauren]

It does. I could understand this being a situation where when she does bring it up, she's just met with such severe gaslighting about it that it doesn't feel worth it.

[Morgan]

But then you're six months in. Don't. Don't be with this girl.

[Lauren]

Oh, she's only six months in.

[Morgan]

Six months in.

[Lauren]

Oh, easy out.

[Morgan]

Six months.

[Lauren]

Really easy out here.

[Morgan]

Since we met six months ago.

[Lauren]

Met six months ago. Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

Girl, girl. Run.

[Lauren]

Talk about running.

[Morgan]

Run. Get those little New Balance shoes on and run.

[Lauren]

I would run the high school mile for that, I'll tell you, that's the one time I would to get away from this guy. That's so funny because earlier I was like, you know what? They can maybe get past this. No, there's no need.

[Morgan]

I don't think there is.

[Lauren]

There's no need to.

[Morgan]

No. Pack it up. Pack it up and go. Okay, on to our next one here. This next story is brought to you guys by State Farm. How does that saying go? By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. That's one saying I'm not going to botch. And something we should all take very seriously. Because when you take the time to prepare for moments that matter, like talking to a State Farm agent, you set yourself up for success. This next story, Rop definitely could have prepared a little bit more for what happened. Buckle up guys. It is seven days old.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Morgan]

It is titled, Am I the asshole not putting up my daughter in law's painting in our new home and telling her that I am not a fan of her art.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Morgan]

My daughter in law has been married to my son for a few years and she has a side gig of making art. She has a habit of giving paintings to friends and family as gifts. I think most people like them, but for me, I'm not a huge fan of her art style. I am much more of a nature person than someone that wants scenes with people. Also, when she paints people, they are stylized. My husband and I bought a house and we have fully moved in. My daughter in law gave me a painting of someone sitting at the beach because she knows we like the beach. I don't like it. The woman in the painting looks off. Her legs are too long. She's too curvy. I know it is her style of painting, but I just don't like it. At the time I got the gift, I thanked her for it and I thought that would be the end of it. I put the painting in the garage and kind of forgot about it. I bought an ocean painting for the living room. My daughter in law visited the other day because she wanted to pick up some of our old fourth of July decorations. Our house is smaller so we are purging decorations. We were in the garage and she saw the painting there. She was surprised and asked why it wasn't in the house. I told her I didn't have a spot to put it. She kept pressing and mentioned that I got a new painting for the living room. I told her again that I don't have a spot for it. She then picked up the painting and said that she could help find a spot. I told her no. She asked why not? And I decided to be honest. I told her I'm not a fan of her artwork. She got quiet after that, and I gave her the decorations. I got a call from my son that he was mad. He told me I need to apologize and hang up her painting that his wife has been crying and it took her hours to make. I told him I'm not hanging it up. And that resulted in an argument. I need some opinions. I feel like it's my house. I can decorate it how I want. Am I the asshole?

[Lauren]

Wow. I. I'm very torn on this. I kind of feel like they're both assholes a little bit. Is that crazy?

[Morgan]

I have a really hot take. Maybe it's not a hot take.

[Lauren]

We don't want to hear it.

[Morgan]

So I really, really don't. Don't think you should gift people art.

[Lauren]

I don't think that's a hot take.

[Morgan]

I feel like art.

[Lauren]

I do think it's a hot take, but I don't think it's crazy. Yeah, I agree.

[Morgan]

I just feel like art is so personal and subjective, and you really have to love something to put it up on your wall. So when someone gifts you ginormous pieces of art, it is, like, appreciated. Like, you don't. You don't want to feel disingenuous and, like, you don't appreciate it because you do. Because it's nice that someone's thinking of you.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But then to be, like, forced to put something on your wall or find a place for it or store it, because you can't donate or give away art that someone gave you, like, yeah. You're kind of stuck with it.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And then you have the potential for issues like this.

[Lauren]

Yeah, I, I. If I were the artist and I saw it in the garage, my feelings would be hurt for sure. And I think there's maybe a way that it could have be. Could have been said that would have been better. But also, she was really pushing about it and kind of wouldn't just let it go. And I think in that kind of moment, you have to take the L a little bit and sort of realize what they're saying without forcing them to say it. Like, okay, I get the hint. This is in the garage. Like, you don't like it, but that's okay. It was a gift. And the meaning of a gift. Is it something that I did for you? And whether you like it or not, like, that's not your responsibility. Like, a gift shouldn't be like a burden to somebody.

[Morgan]

I know. And that's the hard part about art.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

I think if someone asks you for your art, that's a different story. If they're overly expressive, like, I love that. That's such a beautiful piece. Then it's probably gonna be more received.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But a ginormous painting.

[Lauren]

Yeah, it's a.

[Morgan]

That's a tough one because OP does have an edit. It is 26 by 36, so 2ft

[Lauren]

by 3ft, which probably took a lot of effort too. But it's just. Yeah. It's one thing if someone, you know their favorite artist and you. It matches other things in their collection and whatever. And then it can be, like, such a personal, special gift to give someone.

[Morgan]

Or if it's a small print.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

If it's a 12, which.

[Lauren]

I've done that before. Yes.

[Morgan]

That's my. That's manageable. That's, you know, whatever.

[Lauren]

Could she have maybe put it up in, like, a guest room? If they have a guest room, probably.

[Morgan]

So. OP does add in the edit. We downgraded our house. There is no place to put it that I won't see it every day.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

We have one bathroom, two bedrooms, one that is my office, the living room, and a kitchen. The basement is my husband's workshop. He doesn't like it either. I seriously dislike how she does portions. I don't like that the waists are tiny and the butts and boobs are huge. Not my type of artwork. I don't like it. I don't wish to decorate my home with art I don't like, and I have to see it every day. If I gave her artwork, I wouldn't expect her to hang it up in her house if she didn't like it. Even if I spent months on it, because it is not my house.

[Lauren]

Yeah. What would you do in this situation?

[Morgan]

I'm in this situation. Really? Oh, yeah.

[Lauren]

So what are you doing? Are you keeping it a secret?

[Morgan]

I don't know what to do.

[Lauren]

Switch it out whenever they visit.

[Morgan]

Like, that is in the guest room up against a wall. Currently, I'm in this, and this is a delicate thing.

[Lauren]

I don't know.

[Morgan]

Would I ever tell that person that I don't like their artwork? No.

[Lauren]

No.

[Morgan]

Especially if I don't have that goal.

[Lauren]

If they are the ones who painted it, especially.

[Morgan]

Yeah. I don't think you're the asshole for not putting it up.

[Lauren]

No.

[Morgan]

I definitely think you could have maybe placated her a bit more nicely. Like, we just moved in. I'll find a spot eventually. Let time pass. Let it sit in your garage. If it continues to be an issue, talk to your son, pull him aside.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I think if I were in this situation, I don't know, it's hard because I would probably have a little bit more just innate fondness for art that my daughter in law created for me. Like it would maybe surpass the, oh, I don't know if this goes in this room for me, but I don't. I also don't think that that's a necessary way to feel about it. And I, I think that the daughter in law was very forceful about how she responded.

[Morgan]

Weird. That behavior is weird. And I get quit pushing again.

[Lauren]

I do get seeing it in the garage and being like disappointed and sad

[Morgan]

and a little hurt by that. Of course.

[Lauren]

I think that that's a very normal reaction to have to it. I just think that you have to kind of have an awareness if you make something for someone, like I'm taking a risk here, I hope that they like it. I'm doing this because I want them to be happy. And if having this isn't going to make them happy, then then they shouldn't use it because then why am I getting them something? Then it's for me and not for them.

[Morgan]

Yeah. Top comment. Not the asshole. When you give someone a gift of artwork that you made yourself and you don't see your artwork hanging up, that should be enough of a clue. There isn't really a polite way to tell someone, thank you for giving this to me, but I'd really rather you keep it because there's no way I'm ever going to hang it up in my house. She found it in the garage. You told her you did not have a place for it and that should have been sufficient for her to get the hint. Continuing to insist that she herself was going to help find a place to hang it was rude and invasive. Why are we not okay with mother in laws telling daughter in laws how to decorate, but suddenly we're okay with daughter in law deciding how the mother in law should decorate? If this person is old enough to be married, she is old enough to have the maturity to recognize that not everyone on the planet is going to enjoy her work. Mother in law wasn't rude in the least, but as soon as daughter in law tried overruling her and insisted on finding a place to hang it, daughter in law absolutely crossed a line.

[Lauren]

Yeah, 12k upvotes. It's also very understandable for someone to just not like your art. Style. I feel like that's something that artists understand and know. Like, you could have a. A family member who's like, you know what? I'm not interested in podcasts. And you'd be like, all right, cool. You know what I mean? Like, you have to.

[Morgan]

Hearing my own voice is annoying, too. Sometimes. I don't love editing.

[Lauren]

I think a lot of people who create something know, like, oh, this isn't for everyone. But that doesn't mean that it's completely devalued to them that I do it, especially with art.

[Morgan]

Like, it's in the eye of the beholder.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Yeah. We don't have any other updates yet from Op. Op even says, like, it doesn't matter if my son painted like this. I wouldn't put it up. Actually, I would have a conversation about why he is drawing women like this. Why are you painting women like Jessica Rabbit? And I get. It's a style. Whatever. Like, you don't have to be hyper realist, you know? But Op does keep saying that Jessica Rabbit is the perfect example of how she paints people.

[Lauren]

So she makes them curvy. Yeah. I think Op could reach out and apologize for the fact that she had to, like, see it in the garage and just be like, but again, there really isn't a place we just downsized. It's not the style of what we have in the house. It doesn't blend with what we have. It doesn't mean that I don't think you're very talented.

[Morgan]

It's that I appreciate your talents as an artist. Yeah. I just, you know, it's not my style.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

It's not that I hate your art. It's just not my style. But I think you have talent.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Amazing job.

[Lauren]

I love seeing it in your home.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

It's just not our vibe.

[Morgan]

Can't wait to support you at a gallery opening.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Morgan]

Um, op does add that she's 29. She doesn't need baby gloves. I wasn't even mean. I literally just said, quote, I am not a fan of the artwork.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But I think it's the umbrella statement of it all that, like, kind of is like. But are your feelings valid? If you want to say that? Are you entitled and. Yeah. But again, like, I am in the boat of more flies with honey than vinegar.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And, like, I think people just overall, like, kind of realize how you're talking to people. People need to do that a little bit more.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I don't like your art. Style is a little harsh.

[Morgan]

Very clearly the moment that mattered most Is OP getting into this new house of theirs and picking art that mattered to them. But if they would have prepared a little bit more about how to have a conversation with their daughter in law about the art or maybe just hit it better, all of this could have potentially been avoided. I don't know. What do you guys think? Obviously, big life moments can come with a lot of change. But when you take the time to prepare, like talking with a State Farm agent, you can set yourself up for whatever may come next. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. Thanks State Farm. This is coming from Amethea. It is titled Am I the asshole for not supporting my husband quitting his business to become a doctor?

[Lauren]

Oh God, that's a long journey.

[Morgan]

As someone with a brother who is a doctor, you're a great guest for this.

[Lauren]

Thank you. Yes, I have a relative who's here.

[Morgan]

My husband, 28 male, and I, 27 female, have two young children, 2 and 1. Recently his father was diagnosed with cancer and it's been incredibly hard on him. Not long after, his mom had to have stents placed in her heart. In the past three weeks alone, he's taken them to the ER at least five times. It's been a lot and I truly do understand how overwhelming and emotional that is. I've tried to be as supportive as I can, stepping up with the kids and continuing to work full time to keep things stable at home. About two weeks ago, everything kind of blew up. He told me he wants to dissolve his real estate business and go back to school to become a doctor. His reasoning is that he wouldn't be able to run the business while also committing to school full time. The part that's really hard for me is that I've supported him building this business for the past four years. I worked full time, raised our newborns and toddler, and held everything together at home while he was able to focus fully on growing the business. It wasn't easy, but now it's finally at a point where it's successful and can comfortably support our family and now he wants to walk away from all of that. I completely understand where this is coming from emotionally. Watching your parents go through serious health issues can change your perspective on everything. But at the same time, this decision doesn't just affect him, it affects me and our kids too. Going back to school to become a doctor is a long, demanding and expensive path and his plan is to fully step away from the business while I continue working full time, taking care of the house and raising our children. When I pushed back Things escalated. I told him I felt like he was being selfish and not thinking about how this would impact our family. Since then, he's basically shut down. He hasn't been speaking to me for the past two weeks. He stopped by this weekend to spend some time with the kids, but he's been staying at his parents house in the meantime. I feel really torn. I want to support him, especially given everything he's going through with his family. But I also feel overwhelmed, hurt, and honestly a little abandoned. It feels like I'm being asked to carry everything again just when things were finally becoming stable. Am I the asshole for not supporting my husband's goals?

[Lauren]

Yeah, this is a tough one because you always want to support people's dreams and you know, believe in them and not be the one who's saying you can't do that. But it is, it is a selfish thing to want to do. Like it'll take 10 years before you can even start making money with this. And not only that, but you'll be pouring crazy amounts of money into it. And you can't make any money in that time because it is so demanding. And like, it also just feels like there hasn't been that much time and thought put into this decision. This does feel a little bit quick. Like they've been going through this. They're still in the midst of these health issues and it's, it's very soon to say, okay, we're gonna drop everything now, completely upend our family's stability. I've made this decision and it's final. That's, it just feels very fast.

[Morgan]

Like no conversation. Yeah, no, like what do you think of this? I'm very like obviously in an emotionally intense situation with my parents. I'm kind of feeling like things are really out of control and I'm seeing what they're going through in the healthcare system and it's like, it's really upsetting. I wanna make a difference. Like, yeah, no conversation. It's just I want to quit to become a doctor.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And it's like, and it all sounds

[Lauren]

very lovely, but that's just not reality.

[Morgan]

No. And there's some comments from OP that we're going to get into that like also makes it even more confusing to where I'm like, I get where he's coming from, but like, like even up until this point he hasn't even been a good partner.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

You have a two year old and a one year old and your wife has been supporting you for the past four years basically for a different dream. For a different dream. Basically letting you off the hook in terms of child care, home care.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Like, she's been the breadwinner.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Where are you contributing to this partnership? And now after take, take, take, take, take, you're saying, oh, I'm gonna just, like, totally upend our lives, quit this business that you've sacrificed so much for, throw it away and chase this potentially other dream that's seemingly kind of developed overnight. Yeah. Where's the give? Where's the balance?

[Lauren]

Which might not even work out? He could even, like, go through, I don't know, undergrad again, if he has to, and then not get accepted into medical school. He could then go into medical school and not get accepted into, like, a fellowship.

[Morgan]

But there are so many people are, like, not matching. They could. Yeah, they could. It's a risk.

[Lauren]

So much money and time into this. Not to mention, like, also a business that's doing well. And it's sad because I even hate saying this because I feel like it could be taken the wrong way. But there is a point in a partnership, especially with children, where you can't just keep chasing new dreams. You do eventually have to. And sometimes, by the way, like, work isn't a dream. Sometimes work is just a thing that you have to do. And I think it's beautiful to be like, yeah, work should be the thing that you love the most. But that doesn't always happen.

[Morgan]

And that's okay. That's totally fine.

[Lauren]

It doesn't happen that way.

[Morgan]

I think, like, a majority of people, like, I think there's, like, maybe a split. I'd be curious. Maybe that would be a good poll for this episode of, like, do you love your job or do you just. Yeah, like, work to live? And you're just kind of like, I. I like going to work and punching out. Like, I'm good.

[Lauren]

And I feel like that's why a lot of people sometimes feel like they've failed, because they think that they should love their job and, like, be doing something that's just always been their dream come true and is so incredible when that's just, you know, it's okay if work is just a thing that you have to do for money.

[Morgan]

I completely agree.

[Lauren]

It shouldn't suck your soul away if you can help it. But I don't know. I think this is tough. And also, he doesn't even know if being a doctor would be his dream. He hasn't spent enough time even thinking about it to know that he's certainly no time living in the actual reality of It, So it just, it's just too much.

[Morgan]

Yeah, it sounds like, you know, it's been maybe a couple of months.

[Lauren]

If they had like a million dollars stored away and you know, trust fund

[Morgan]

to live off of. Go chase your dreams, do whatever.

[Lauren]

Yeah, that's fine.

[Morgan]

I know it's really intense. But I do agree with your point too. Like when you made the choice to have kids, you now also have another responsibility. And your life when you have kids isn't just your own anymore. As weird as that is.

[Lauren]

You're not just gambling your own life when you make that decision.

[Morgan]

There's a lot on the line here and I understand where he's coming from, but it's.

[Lauren]

I know it sounds very noble. Like I understand that his reasons aren't, you know, coming from this horrible, selfish

[Morgan]

place, but it's a tough one. I'm like, he's only 27 and like people go back to school at all ages, but this is a big one. And so let's get into the comments. Yeah, so the top comment, he can take MCATs and any prerequisite science classes before applying for medical school. It isn't even easy to be accepted to medical school. Tell him he can continue to work in real estate while studying for and taking MCATs and see where that gets him.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And someone else is like, this is a very practical answer. That may also give him time to identify a solution for the business. Could he hire a manager to take care of it day to day? Could he sell the business?

[Lauren]

I wonder if he even gets into the reality of studying for the mcat, if that alone will be enough to be like, oh, maybe, never mind. I also wonder if there's a different compromise of working towards something in the healthcare system that isn't a 10 year becoming a doctor type thing.

[Morgan]

Yeah, I think that would probably be like a really great compromise for your family. Like if this continues to be a dream for him, start a non profit. I mean, yeah, there's so many options.

[Lauren]

I.

[Morgan]

When I was a medical scribe, I had this one doctor, Dr. Dyer, and he talked to me and he was just like, what do you want to do with this? Because like, as you are a medical scribe, you're doing it for hours to apply for med school, Penn school, some sort of other program. You're not just a scribe. And so I was like, you know, I'm not really sure, I don't know, maybe med school, maybe PA school. And he goes, PA school. He's like, the golden age of being an MD is a little behind Us, pa, school, less debt, less time. You're in a great position. It's a great work, life balance. And the doctor was telling me this.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Now granted, this could have changed since back in, God, 2014 when I was doing this 12 years ago, you know.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But I know, you know, even financial aid programs have changed in this country a lot recently. And now college debt impacts your credit score, which can impact you from buying a home or getting a loan. It's just like. Yeah, it's so messed up. Like, I literally was posting on my story the other day of like, how do you consolidate student loans? Which also isn't necessarily a good idea because if you then go private with them, then if there is any program that comes up down the road, you're not eligible.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

So it's just like we're all in this rock and a hard place because of this. And so with education becoming even more expensive, he's looking at 500K.

[Lauren]

Yeah. They're looking at now taking out loans when they finally got to a place where they were getting money in and supporting their family.

[Morgan]

Yeah. It's just, it's a lot. So I agree. I think like an associate's program, like, I think nursing is an amazing, amazing career and you can also grow so much within it. You can become like a injector and work at a plastic surgery clinic. You can go further and become a nurse practitioner. Like the best provider that I encountered during my emergency ER was hospitalization. Stay was literally the nurse practitioner. Yeah.

[Lauren]

So intelligent people on the day to day, if that's really huge, you know, inspiration. Yeah, absolutely.

[Morgan]

And that's like an easier route. And also, I don't know, I feel like you're just more hands on in that route too.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

So people start commenting. Is his undergraduate degree in one of the health sciences? Has he ever shown an inclination towards med school in the past? Does he have a pattern of jumping impulsively from one thing to another? How does he plan to pay for med school? Op responds. He doesn't have a degree. He said he was enrolled in college for a few semesters, but it sounds like it was mostly gen EDS and he didn't get very far. He's also mentioned he failed quite a few classes, so I don't think he ended up with many credits either.

[Lauren]

Oh, this. I don't know if this stream is even possible.

[Morgan]

He would be going back to undergraduate.

[Lauren]

And again, I know I already said this, but even if he graduates and does well in the mcat, it's still very, very Hard just to get into medical school. So it. It just. It feels. It feels like something a child would be saying. Not someone with children. Yeah. Sorry. That might be mean.

[Morgan]

Hot take for the day. I like it. Hot take for the day.

[Lauren]

I like it.

[Morgan]

I mean, someone I worked with as a medical scribe, he actually did go to school in Ireland or, like, Scotland or somewhere abroad because he couldn't get in here in the States.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And the acceptance rate is under half. 44.5.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Which, by the way, like, I'm not trying to say that you can't start any new career at 27 or 28. Like, that is not at all the point I'm trying to make. I'm saying is, like, this being a decision for an entire family that's relying on you, it's unrealistic.

[Morgan]

It's just unfair.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Like, yeah, you could probably do it

[Morgan]

if he was single.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Morgan]

Ever floats your boat, buddy. You want to, like, live with your parents.

[Lauren]

They work, dating, go to school, girlfriend, boyfriend, dating. Sure.

[Morgan]

It's like, Justin woke up tomorrow and was like, I want to start over and become a doctor. I'd be like, what?

[Lauren]

Also then you're gonna have to move multiple times for where he does undergrad, and then where he does medical school and then residency and then fellowship. Like, every. You're gonna have to move every time.

[Morgan]

Yeah. Someone else says, if he went through with it, I'd ask for a legal divorce. Not because you don't love him, but because of the student loans and debt that he slash you would have tied to as his spouse. If he dropped out or changed his mind about being a doctor in a couple years, he'd be screwed financially. And OP says this is honestly another huge fear of mine. I worked really hard to dig us out of debt between our credit cards, auto loan, and I just finally paid off my own student loans. I worry that if he goes through with this and it doesn't work out, everything ends up falling back on me to fix again.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I mean, if he wants to, in his free time, start studying for the MCAT and maybe take an online class or two and see if he's still feeling that way, like, a year from now. I don't know, but this just feels so.

[Morgan]

I mean, that could be a good compromise of, like, hey, I'm not saying no, but you have four years of an undergrad ahead of you, so why don't you start with entry level classes that you can do at night?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Like, you keep working. Cause that's what's fair. For our family.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And if this is a dream, then you're going to do what it takes to get that dream, which is sacrifice and night classes and maybe working a little harder. But the burden of everything in our life cannot fall on just me.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Otherwise, guess what?

[Lauren]

That's what would happen.

[Morgan]

Yeah. And otherwise, like, I'm better off being single and co parenting.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

A lot of people are like, get your real estate license and take over the business. OP says, I've actually put a lot of thought into this. I work full time as a loan officer, so I do have background in real estate and understanding that side side of things. What he does is more focused on property management and renovations, so there would definitely be a learning curve. But I do have a little bit of a grasp on it since I've helped out when I've had time. At the same time, I genuinely love the career I've built and would hate to give that up, but I'd also hate to see a business we both sacrificed so much for just fall apart. So I'm really conflicted.

[Lauren]

Yeah. She's supported him before in this, like, swinging big, starting this really daunting thing, starting a business from scratch. Like, it sounds like they both sacrificed a lot just to make this happen and like, to finally see that pay off and then be like, actually, nevermind, it's too much.

[Morgan]

I would feel like, like the whiplash of it.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Where we're like, whoa. Like. And maybe with that comes resentment because then you're like, what? Did I just put myself through all this work?

[Lauren]

Yeah. And you're asking me to do it

[Morgan]

again in a bigger, worse way.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Someone comments to op, what are your goals? What has he done to support them? What sacrifices has he made, if any? It seems a bit exploitative on his part, using you to achieve his life's personal endeavors and fulfillment. If you want to stay with him, ask him for a solid plan as to who will pay for his school, how he intends to support his family, and how he will be an equal contributor to the partnership.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And OP goes, wow, this is definitely eye opening. I've been so focused on making things work that I don't think I've ever really stepped back and looked at the bigger picture like this.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Because again, that's such a good thing to add to this conversation. I don't know if he's had any consideration of, like, is it fair to put all of this on her? He's just thinking, is she supporting my dreams? And it's like, what about her?

[Morgan]

Dreams.

[Lauren]

Like, what about what your family's dreams are? What about what they need? Is there. Can you picture a way of this looking where we can both be getting what we want out of this? Or is it just your way or nothing?

[Morgan]

It's feeling very me, me, me, me, me.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Not us. Us, Us. Including kids.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And I've seen how much you value your dreams before. Like, I don't. Sorry, I don't need to put that much into it.

[Morgan]

You threw. I'm just confused. And I get, like. I don't know, some people wake up and quit their jobs and start sailing

[Lauren]

around the world, and I'm actually, like, a huge proponent of that. Like, I think that that's a beautiful, amazing thing. I think I want to start a new career when I'm 40, probably. Like, I. There's tons of understandable things in this world. Something about this specifically to me, though, that is very, like, no, this. This isn't right.

[Morgan]

I will literally. Give me another story, and I will probably have a very different opinion.

[Lauren]

Opinion. Yeah.

[Morgan]

I'm like, I'm literally speaking to just this story, right?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

So, like, don't ever apply what I'm saying to anything else. Like, no, no. I'm, like, literally responding to just this story, this moment, how I feel in

[Lauren]

the way that each person's situation comes across. I think for sure, if someone's out there listening right now and they're like, oh, fuck, I was thinking about starting a new career, but I'm hearing the way they're talking right now, and I. Apparently, that's a crazy thing to do.

[Morgan]

Like, no, listen to us. That is not what we're saying. It's also not what we're saying. No, I know. Take everything with a grain of salt. And it's like, I think these conversations are. And why even OP is here on Reddit is just, like, trying to gleam other opinions and just see things from a different side. But again, it's like, it's so context specific. Someone does ask, are his parents aware of his plans? If so, what are their thoughts? And OP says, yes, they're aware and they support it. Which has really put me in an even tougher spot.

[Lauren]

Well, I feel like that's almost. There's like, an emotional manipulation aspect to this, where, of course, his parents support it because they're all, like, going through this health crisis together, and they're probably, like, all experiencing the hardships together and crying together, and it's like, guys, I'm gonna do this very noble thing and make a difference in the world. It's like, easier for his parents to be on board with that than like the person who's going to take the brunt of it and all of the housework and all of the financial burden.

[Morgan]

Someone else comments, not the asshole. Is anyone else reminded of Betty Broderick on this one? She supported her husband through first a medical degree and then a law degree while raising six kids or something. And at the end of it all, he left her for his secretary and screwed her out of the money she was entitled to.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God. Yeah, that doesn't sound that crazy.

[Morgan]

That's horrible. OP responds. New fear unlocked. I think, like, a lot of people too do start saying, what about other careers? And OP does say, I actually suggested something similar. I told him maybe starting with something like a CNA license or eventually pursuing nursing could be more realistic and a way to get into healthcare and also give him hands on experience caring for his parents. Unfortunately, he was pretty set on becoming a doctor.

[Lauren]

It's just, it's so much work. It's gonna take a lot more than like a month of deciding you want to be a doctor to actually feel motivated enough to get through all of that. You know, it's very crazy to me that this is like, I don't know, therapy.

[Morgan]

I think he needs to start some therapy asap. Like something I've, like, really struggled with is like, dealing with just mortality and like my parents getting older and like being so far away from home and

[Lauren]

like, yeah, kind of sounds like a midlife crisis almost.

[Morgan]

And that's where I think he's at. And I do. I.

[Lauren]

Even though it's not midlife. But.

[Morgan]

No, but it's like when you're faced with like, your parents, like, or a big life shock or whatever. And it's just like, I understand where he's coming from and this inspiration and motivation behind it. But again, at the end of the day, we have to kind of be on planet Earth. So I really think some therapy could help him even honestly, if he just

[Lauren]

like, wanted to get his undergrad degree and spend his free time doing that, even though that would be time consuming and cost money, I would support that. Like, I, I think it's just there needs to be more proof that this is something he's dedicated to and not just gonna throw away the second it gets a little bit difficult. And there needs to be a plan of action where the stuff at home is still evenly distributed and the finances can be evenly distributed. But like, yeah, if he wants to get a degree because he's feeling some type of way about that. Like, that's a great first step. And if they can find the money in time for that, sure.

[Morgan]

That is one big thing to consider in this time.

[Lauren]

It's time away from your family and

[Morgan]

your children, that your parents and you're worried about your parents and the motivation is because of them, you will lose out on so much time with them, with your kids. I mean, just, there's a lot to think about here. So I really do think, especially if Op is like, wants to stand by him and kind of try to work through this right now. Therapy. Yeah, therapy. But. Okay, I'm ready for your story.

[Lauren]

Oh, I have a story.

[Morgan]

I'm ready for your story.

[Lauren]

I have a story. It's on my phone. I'm not being rude, guys. It's a story.

[Morgan]

I feel like we've been going like, hi lo. Hi lo. Hi lo. Because I'm like, I feel like this one, I'm nervous, but I'm ready.

[Lauren]

I'm just excited. It's actually. It's a tough one, but it's just very unique. And the subject matter, I feel like, has come up multiple times throughout my life at pivotal stages. So.

[Morgan]

I know. No, no, no. I'm really excited to get into this.

[Lauren]

Okay. This is an R raised by narcissists, which I've never seen before. It's a crazy sub and it's one day old. So I'm continuing your theme.

[Morgan]

Let's go fresh.

[Lauren]

The title is, my mom used lice to control my social life.

[Morgan]

Dude, I'm already feeling itchy.

[Lauren]

From the ages of around 8 to 15, I had lice off and on, but I think likely on the entire time, it was just never completely taken care of. My mom would never buy the shampoo, saying it was too expensive and never worked. She insisted on combing through my hair with a comb and individually picking out each louse with her hands. She wanted to keep my hair very long, so she refused to cut it and used that as an excuse for manually picking out the lice. Eventually, she graduated to using shower caps full of conditioner that I had to wear for at least two hour intervals. Obviously, I couldn't leave the living area during my lice quarantines. The conditioner worked to suffocate them sometimes, but I don't think it got all of them, as after a month or so, they'd be back. I was even instructed to sit at the table hunched over a white piece of paper and to scratch my scalp to let the bugs fall down as well as nits, and to circle them on the paper, question mark, question mark, question mark. My mom also sprayed Pam cooking spray all over my scalp after finding out that Pam kills lice. My scalp burned so bad, like all the bites from the lice were on fire. One time we were going out to a drive in theater, and my mom made me go out with the shower cap. She put a beanie on my head, but I still cried and cried in shame. She showed me my head with a big beanie covering the shower cap. I assumed to show me it wasn't that bad, but what girl doesn't want to look cute when they go out? I felt so ugly and I looked silly. You couldn't tell if I was bald or not under the cap. And it was huge. It made me cry even more, which both my parents laughed at.

[Morgan]

Fuck them.

[Lauren]

I had lice for years, and at times I remember them crawling in my eyebrows and all over my head. They were as big as fingernails and so painful. I had marks around my hairline that showed how bad it had been getting. My mom didn't fix it at its worst when I was 15 because she was ashamed of her boyfriend finding out I had lice. My dad ended up coming to the house, even though they separated, to finally fix my hair. He hadn't done it before because he was scared of her, and she always said it was her job. I think she kept not finishing removing them because that way I couldn't stay at other people's houses. It was so bad.

[Morgan]

Child abuse, child abuse, child abuse, child abuse, child abuse. I'm, like, so sad for op from

[Lauren]

the ages of, I think, 8 to 15.

[Morgan]

I know. I was like, what's the seven years?

[Lauren]

Seven years.

[Morgan]

Seven years to deal with an itchy scalp with animals, little gremlin lice biting your head. Yeah.

[Lauren]

There's, like, the physical pain. And then also, I think, always being insecure about it, always going to school,

[Morgan]

probably being known as the lice kid.

[Lauren]

Going to school, not being allowed to have sleepovers. Like, obviously they weren't ever allowed to go sleep at other people's houses. And I think now they're trying to work through that and be like, was it really about the shampoo? Or did my mom, like, having an excuse that I could control places?

[Morgan]

It's 100% control. And again, like, I feel like Munchausens.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I think that's why that was on my mind earlier.

[Morgan]

I know. And it keeps coming up in, like, episodes for me, and I'm like, this feels like it where she's purposefully keeping her sick because, I'm sorry, just use the shampoo. Afford Lace shampoo. Lace shampoo. $15, $17, 26.

[Lauren]

The shower caps, all of the conditioner

[Morgan]

you're using, you're spending way more money.

[Lauren]

Seven years worth.

[Morgan]

No, it's abuse. Yeah, it's literally. What a freak.

[Lauren]

I know, I know. And also, that's, like, a very. It's a very unique method of control. Like, no one. I feel like people would struggle to even take that seriously right off the bat. Like, oh, I think my mom is purposefully letting my lice stay.

[Morgan]

No, it's kind of one of those, like, things where it's almost that plausible deniability where it's like, oh, oops, I just didn't get them all. Oops, I couldn't afford the shampoo. And the dad, he's not off the hook either. Also, abuse. He's not stepping in. Oh, I'm scared of her.

[Lauren]

No, just that one sentence to be like, well, my dad didn't do anything because she said it was her job. Like, okay, you guys, both of you, Both.

[Morgan]

Both of you, step on a Lego.

[Lauren]

It's crazy. It's. It's very sad. And I also, like, really related to the little thing about being a teenage girl and going to the movies and having to be in the shower cap and, like, just feeling embarrassed to be out.

[Morgan]

I mean, 15, you're, like, insecure about everything. Sophomore in high school. Like, yeah, boys are starting to look at you. You might be interested in getting a boyfriend. You might have your first kiss, and you're being forced to go out with a mask.

[Lauren]

Also, the mom conditioner said, not only is it too expensive, but it doesn't work as the excuse. Like, what you're doing is. Why not try it?

[Morgan]

Let's try it.

[Lauren]

Let's just try it.

[Morgan]

We spent seven years in this.

[Lauren]

It doesn't work. Let's just try it once. Like, how do you know?

[Morgan]

Does OP say how old they are now?

[Lauren]

I actually was just wondering that. I wonder if they come back to it in the comments. They do have, like, responses on this thread.

[Morgan]

God, I'm so angry.

[Lauren]

The top comment is kind of shocking. It's someone saying, dude, I thought I was the only one. What? I had lice between the ages of 11 to 16.

[Morgan]

You got.

[Lauren]

No. My mom expected me to take care of it myself, but I didn't know how and was never taught. But I didn't know it was abnormal or child neglect to be treated like this. So I Internalized everything as if it was my fault and that I was disgusting. The constant paranoia of others finding out drove me crazy because the only person I had as a friend eventually, when I was 12, did find out, and I couldn't see her again until it was taken care of. It didn't go away until eventually I was hospitalized in the mental hospital after threatening to kill my family after breaking down. And only then did the hospital staff finally take care of it. I wish I told them I had it for years and that my mom refused to take care of it. Like had told. Wish they told the hospital staff.

[Morgan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren]

I was also stuck living in my own filth. Yet my mom knew to clean up my room upon CPS coming over, and I was too scared to say anything. Having lice that long, it's a unique experience. Even now, if I feel my head is itchy, I get paranoid. I still remember the sensation of crawling in my hair. I remember scratching it raw. I remember how the lice looked when pulling them out. And then OP replied, I still get paranoid too. And the evil thing is we were expected to magically rid ourselves of literal parasites without access to medicine or help on the back of our head. What? There's a reason other kids would have it for a couple days and be rid of it. Yeah. Other kids in my class even went to the doctor and had it taken care of there. I just had to scratch my head

[Morgan]

over a paper and circle them.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

For what? Yeah, that's like such psychological torture. Scratch your head and then when they fall out, circle them.

[Lauren]

It's crazy because there's actually a lot of comments of people kind of relating to this.

[Morgan]

Tam, if you are out there. If you are out there listening, I'm like, I know we have an audience under 18, which, hi, you're kind of crazy for listening. But, like, this is not okay.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

If you live in an unsafe home, it's not okay. You are a kid. Like, you deserve to be taken care of and have basic access to. To medical stuff. And there's insurance programs in this country from when I was working at least. Again, this country. And everything's changing rapidly.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

But there used to be child health insurance protection, and it was like chip. And anyone under 18, even if your parents couldn't afford it, you would have health care.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And it's like you could go in and get access to that. Like, it's just like. But it's like, like these schools. These schools are also supposed to be mandated reporters. And it's like, how do we even.

[Lauren]

There was a comment about that too

[Morgan]

educate on such a niche little issue. Like, do we need to go. I know we have so many teachers out there, and I know so many teachers are going to be like, I've dealt with this. Please chime in. In the comments. I'm like, if anyone needs it, I will buy you lice shampoo. Like, please, anyone out there listening, like, do not go through this.

[Lauren]

Well, I can't imagine having this trauma for seven years and then being like, this is something that everyone else that I know was able to solve in two days.

[Morgan]

I've. Yeah. So this just came up on Patreon. We talked about lice on Patreon. Really? Yeah. That's why I was like, when you. Oh, I'm just so.

[Lauren]

I know some of the cheating. I know some of those comments were like. And I can't imagine actually being traumatized by that and then reading that, because

[Morgan]

I was like, ugh, yeah, no, I. I got lice in kindergarten. I think it was, like, a really common thing in northern Minnesota to get lice during the winter with kids mixing up hats and sharing hats, sharing brushes, whatever. So I got licensed, like, kindergarten. And my mom. I mean, everything. All of our stuffed animals went into a plastic bag for months. Everything got washed. We had lice shampoo. She picked it out with the comb. She made me sleep in mayo overnight. Like a shower mask with mayo.

[Lauren]

She wasn't taking any chances.

[Morgan]

She did everything. And, like, I spent hours with my head down on the kitchen table, oh, my God. Picking out the lice. And so, like, I have that experience of, like, truly, like, that is the level of care a parent should give their child. And to hear this, I'm like, I'm physically disturbed.

[Lauren]

It also. Another reason it feels purposeful and like, a method of control is that for any other parent, you'd think they wouldn't even want the headache of dealing with this for seven years.

[Morgan]

Life spreads.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And, like, not having a. A home where you can have people over and not be worried about lice and, like, be picking them out of your child's head every night. Like, this isn't a desirable situation. So, like, it's beyond just neglect and not caring because there was an involvement.

[Morgan]

You're watching your kid basically every day for seven years, scratch their head. Yeah. Cry.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Be an emotional, physical turmoil.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Sick.

[Lauren]

It's awful. It's awful. And that's.

[Morgan]

I think that shouldn't be in jail.

[Lauren]

An interesting thing about this sub, like, raised by narcissists because crazy sub. Yeah. OP has 43 contributions, a month old account. But they've made some other posts as well. They had one in like R vent like a month ago, like 37 days ago. Some other stuff. They replied to a lot of comments. I don't know how old they are now, but they have 1 comment:20 days ago about when they first went to college.

[Morgan]

So they are out of the house.

[Lauren]

Out of the house. A little bit older, I would assume, like 20s or something. They have a comment like, when I was in college, I would vent or share my experience growing up. So they've got.

[Morgan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lauren]

A little bit separation from there, which I can't imagine, like the mental process you'd have to go through to come to terms with this situation and like, how you were living in that situation. But that's why, I guess subs like that are so great to have.

[Morgan]

Important. So important for people to be able to like, share and bond over this trauma they've gone through. I'm like, the fact people were in the comments being like, I thought I was alone. I went through this. It's like, I'm. I'm shocked. I'm genuinely like, yeah, shocked. But like, to have that camaraderie. Because it sounds like both of them are also dealing with like PTSD from this.

[Lauren]

Yeah, absolutely. They're both, like, living with paranoia about any itchiness they experience. But it's also like, well, now you could get the shampoo. At least it happened again.

[Morgan]

If anyone is out there, create an Amazon wish list for your lice shampoo and I will literally get it for you.

[Lauren]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm sure for other situations it is just neglect, but this one does sound like a method of control and like a purposeful choice.

[Morgan]

I'm shell shocked.

[Lauren]

I know that's scary. We were either gonna do for this episode, like a, like, rare situation or like, worst person situation. I was like, this works for both.

[Morgan]

It could be literally both. No, it could be both. Like, another theme I'm working on is worst of the worst. And these are just stories that are. These people are such despicable creatures.

[Lauren]

Well, parents stuff hits so hard too. Like, that's just because it's so out

[Morgan]

of your control as a kid.

[Lauren]

Yeah. They're so vulnerable.

[Morgan]

You're vulnerable. You're at their mercy. Oh, man. Okay, well, let's get into a goofy one.

[Lauren]

Shit.

[Morgan]

This episode is brought to you by Billie. I don't know about you guys, but I get a little lazy in the winter. I'm in hibernation mode and I grow up my leg hair a little bit, but it's getting warmer and now I'm excited for that first shave of the season. And if you are, then you got to get the Billy razor in your life. It's designed for how women actually shave. Legs, pits, toes, happy trail wherever prickles decide to show up. It has five sharp blades and a pivoting head so you can actually get everywhere without doing shower gymnastics. And it comes with a magnetic holder so your razor stays dry on the wall. Instead of sitting in a shower puddle, grab a Billy razor in your favorite color in store [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Panera. You know those rare, genuinely refreshing moments? Panera's new drink lineup is made for them with bold flavors and real fruit. They've got energy refreshers. If you're looking for a caffeine, pick me up with delicious tropical flavors like Dragon Fruit Sunset and Passion Fruit Paradise. And hey, if caffeine isn't your thing, they also have fruity and refreshing cherry, lime and strawberry Basil Lemonade Frescas. So whether you're powering through the afternoon or treating yourself for surviving the day, this is your sign to make the small moment the moment. Sip into Panera's new energy refreshers and Frescas. This is titled my 20 female boyfriend 30 male pranked me by saving up his turds in the litter box.

[Lauren]

Oh gosh no.

[Morgan]

This morning my boyfriend did this fucked up prank on me and I don't even want to come home. I moved in with him a few months ago because his roommate of a few years moved out. I've been wanting to move out of my parents house since I graduated and work a job where I can afford to pay the roommate's rent. So yeah, my boyfriend is a total sweetheart but sends me kind of mean prank tiktoks sometimes stuff I'm not really a fan of, but whatever. I warned him if he ever did anything really mean spirited to me as a joke I would just leave because why would you treat someone you love like that? He has two cats and usually cleans the litter box every day but he's been sick lately so I've done it the last couple of days. I hate cleaning the litter box and I'm not a fan of his cats but I love him so of course I'm going to do that for him even if it makes me gag or whatever. He reminded me to clean it today as I was putting my scrubs on and I told him I would after work, as I have been. But he said one of his cats had a really gnarly one and he could smell it through his vapor rub on his chest when he passed the kitchen and to pretty please bring him a bowl of cereal. Lol. So yeah, title I went downstairs and I smell nothing, but I check inside the litter box. It's in a cubby with a hole cut out and God, all caps. There's multiple huge turds in there. No, it's funny saying that now, but it was fucking nasty.

[Lauren]

Is it funny saying that now?

[Morgan]

One poking right out, barely covered by the sand, and I can see more like kind of buried in there a little and I start gagging like crazy and get up. I really, really already knew this did not come from a cat, but wanted to be wrong. And no, he asked me where his cereal was and started laughing. I was still gagging and kind of tearing up and I asked him, quote, what the fuck was that? Because I still wanted to believe it just came from our neighbor's dog or something. But he told me, laughing through tears, that he has been collecting his own turds for like a week now just to prank me.

[Lauren]

Using what method?

[Morgan]

He really is sick though. And he was trying to find an excuse for me to clean the litter box because he read about someone doing this prank before and thought I'd find it funny. But I thought he knew me better. Guess not. Anyways, I'm at work now, on break, and I told him I'm moving back in with my parents. Thank God I don't really have many problems with him besides the fact that I feel like I'm doing most of the housework sometimes, but this was just too much. And I don't want to be bluffing by saying I would leave him if he did something mean spirited. So that's what happened today, by the way. No, I did not clean it. He can clean up his own shit, he said, because I already work in an elderly care home, I should be used to it already. Now he's apologizing.

[Lauren]

No, thank God she left that house. Absolutely not. Also, like, how could she ever be attracted to him again? I don't understand this. This is so disgusting. What is? The humor. There's no joke here. There's no originality. There's no like, ooh, that was so clever what you did. He needs to marry, like, he needs to find another guy maybe. I think, like, I think that's the only person who would maybe find this funny. Find another guy. And that does prank videos and they could be roommates and, like, have a lovely time together. Maybe. I don't think any woman is going to like this.

[Morgan]

I understand. Everyone poops. I find some poop stories funny. Poop knife, Reddit hall of Fame.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Morgan]

Crazy. But if I saw that that much of Justin's shit, and also you knew

[Lauren]

he collected it and put it there

[Morgan]

and where was he keeping it? How was he collecting this shit? Where was he storing this shit?

[Lauren]

It crossed my mind, but I was scared to pose the question.

[Morgan]

If I saw that, I would be so repulsed by him.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Morgan]

It would be hard to come back from that. Yes. I don't want to touch him. Like, and I get, hey, sometimes the toilet doesn't flush perfectly. Okay. I'm gonna whoop, flush, whatever. Accent, very different.

[Lauren]

Different thing.

[Morgan]

But the fact you went through this effort in these lengths, nobody. No, sir. No, no, thank you. No, thank you. Devil be gone.

[Lauren]

That's just. I. You just wouldn't be able to look at them the same. And also, it's just weird to do to somebody. And I don't like the prank thing in general, but this has to be one of the grossest.

[Morgan]

This is crazy. Yeah, this is crazy. And the age gap to 20?

[Lauren]

30. He's 30. Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

I will say I'm so, so, so impressed with the fact that she just stuck to her guns.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Thank God. Especially as a 20 year old.

[Morgan]

As a 20 year old. Oh, my God, how many excuses I made for people younger dating them. Oh, my God, I'm so impressed.

[Lauren]

Even living with him long before he pulled this shit, I can't imagine. I know.

[Morgan]

A few months and then he started. No self control.

[Lauren]

Get out. Get out quick. Get out quick.

[Morgan]

So top comment. Not only was he cruel to you, he was cruel to his pets. Yeah, that's true.

[Lauren]

I didn't even think about that.

[Morgan]

The cats. So I just went on Miles's podcast. Yes.

[Lauren]

It was so perfect person.

[Morgan]

It literally such a fun podcast. And we had a caller on it that said that their roommates were peeing in the cat's litter box.

[Lauren]

Oh, I saw, I saw that this was a thing.

[Morgan]

And now their apartment smells because the cats aren't going in the litter box.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And a bunch of people on the perfect person, like YouTube, like in the comments were like, cats will not use litter boxes if they're dirty or if, like, it doesn't even smell like them.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

And I was like, oh, my God. And this.

[Lauren]

And then here it is. And then this. Yeah. Like, and now he has to go in There. Now he has to deal with that because she's gone. So good luck with that.

[Morgan]

Op responded, not even a fan of Cats, but that is very sad. I think he placed them there yesterday or this morning after I scooped it yesterday. I didn't even think of that.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

Someone else placed them there. If you don't leave, then you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of cruel pranks.

[Lauren]

I've talked about this with people before, how women can get into this, like, mommy role in their relationship and how even just like that can sometimes negatively affect the sexual chemistry and, like, the romantic chemistry. This kind of takes that to, like, the 10th degree. It's like this is a child and it's a disgusting baby child that I have to literally clean the shit up of. No, thank you. That. That is not appealing to anybody.

[Morgan]

No. So we do get an update.

[Lauren]

Ooh.

[Morgan]

I realized I'm still logged into this account instead of my main, so I thought I'd give an update before logging out forever. I've officially moved back out back to my parents house, and they're very, very glad I'm back. Yeah, I haven't told them why we broke up, but they think he cheated. And that's fine by me because the truth, less embarrassing is honestly more embarrassing. He kept texting me all day while I was at work, and I ignored him the whole time until I went home. When he was texting me, that's when I learned he kept them in the mini fridge in his room because he said, quote, that's why I told you so angrily not to take my Red Bull from there. He usually doesn't care. When I got home, I saw that it was stored in a Tupperware container because it was in the sink, along with an assortment of other dishes he left for me with, like, assorted brown streaks inside it.

[Lauren]

Oh, no. St. Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

I didn't clean it. And I think that's when he realized I was actually so pissed, I slept in my own room instead of his. And when I woke up, all the dishes were done and he bought me flowers. I packed up for a couple of days and he knew I was leaving. He was really sad and helped me pack one day and broke down crying. He said that he made his old roommate leave too, with his antics, and I didn't push further. Though now I really do have to wonder. I understand why some would find it funny, because this is something I'd laugh at in a sitcom or something, but not in real life. It just felt disrespectful. And disgusting. And while at work I just kept thinking about how, honestly, how often he made me feel that way. We had been trying for a baby for a month. What? In parentheses. Dumb. At my age. I know.

[Lauren]

Oh my God.

[Morgan]

And I was thinking about him talking to our future son or daughter. Like he'd talk to me sometimes and just felt this full body cringe slash chill. To everyone that thought this was a prank from me to Reddit, what would I gain from that? I have more karma on my main just for sharing pics of my Tamagotchi collection. I know it doesn't matter overall. And that someone calls every story fake. I do that too. It's good to suspend your belief when reading things on Reddit, etc. But it still kind of hurt my feelings. Like I felt like I had to defend myself when I got home. By the way, it was already cleaned up by him, otherwise I would have gotten a picture. I wish I did when I first saw it and I regret not doing it so much, but I wasn't thinking in that moment.

[Lauren]

I'm glad she didn't. Personally, you would have shown me that shit and I would have been unhappy.

[Morgan]

Anyways, yeah, we broke up.

[Lauren]

Wow, I'm so glad they broke up. Also, girl, you were in danger. He was trying to. They were trying for a baby.

[Morgan]

He's trying to trap her.

[Lauren]

Also.

[Morgan]

No baby trap. That's a baby trap if I've ever seen one.

[Lauren]

Learning more about him, it's like no wonder he is dating 20 year olds olds. And he can't even get like a 20 year old to put up his behavior with. His behavior. Insane.

[Morgan]

The fact he took that shitty Tupperware and left it in the sink for her to see and clean.

[Lauren]

Yeah, hell isn't hot enough.

[Morgan]

If he actually would have like learned and been like, oh no, she's mad. Throw it away.

[Lauren]

Oh I. Yes, that is one that you just throw away. You don't need to save that Tupperware. You. You really don't.

[Morgan]

I know a lot of people were commenting and like he probably threw it away after. And one of the comments in the Best of Redditor post on this. I love how optimistic that last commenter is about this guy throwing out the Tupperware. I guarantee you that. Being left to his own devices, this man put the Tupperware back in the

[Lauren]

cupboard and then what did he do with the sponge that he used to. Sorry.

[Morgan]

Nope. Sorry nope. Also, back to cats. We've had a story where someone was using their dish brush to clean out the cat's litter box to scrub the cat's litter box.

[Lauren]

And it was. And then it was back in the. And then back to the sink. And then back to the litter. And then back to the sink.

[Morgan]

Okay, guys, people are so silly.

[Lauren]

This has to stop. I know not a single one of you out there listening right now would ever do something like that. Because you're all good, lovely people, but we as a collective have to do something about this.

[Morgan]

How do we create a list of like, don't clean cat shit with your dish sponges. Like, how do we create an all encompassing list of like, psa? Here's some public life advice.

[Lauren]

Love it. Carousel on Instagram.

[Morgan]

Maybe we make a Google form. Like, maybe we can put that together and everyone can submit their life advice and we just keep it rolling.

[Lauren]

Things we shouldn't have to tell you, but maybe we do.

[Morgan]

Dude, that's. Yes, yes.

[Lauren]

Terrible. It's really awful, Morgan.

[Morgan]

Well, we're not ending on that note.

[Lauren]

Thank you.

[Morgan]

Certainly not. This is coming from true. Off my chest. It is titled I made my brother's girlfriend cry at dinner and he thanked me for it. My younger brother Ethan, who's 23, got a girlfriend, Maya, who's 22. In January, he met her at their university in the biology department. She's majoring in marine biology and he's doing general biology. They'd been talking for a while before she asked him out and they began dating. I've met Maya once or twice, briefly since I sometimes get asked by Ethan to get him lunch since my work's close. She's a very shy, sweet girl. Last week, on Saturday, we had an end of the week dinner where Ithan invited Maya for the first time. Our family has a tradition where we invite our partners to dinner only if we're serious, and whenever we do, the whole family has to bring a reasonably decent welcome gift for the new person.

[Lauren]

Aww.

[Morgan]

We did it with my husband and my oldest brother's wife. Apparently it started on my father's side. Anyways, after we had dinner and sat on the couch, it was time for gifts. Everyone gave their gifts and I could tell that she was getting a bit emotional and I summed it up to her just not being used to it. My turn came and I gave her a royal ish blue scarf I had made with a hand embroidered dolphin on the end of it.

[Lauren]

What the hell?

[Morgan]

Maya stared at it for a solid five minutes and then started crying. Like completely sobbing. I began apologizing and asking if I did something wrong while my mom got her water, and my brother comforted her. After a bit, she calmed down and said she was okay and that I did nothing wrong. But she left a bit early from dinner with Ethan. I was truly, like, so confused on what I did that yesterday. I called Ethan and asked what was wrong. He told me that her father died three years ago from cancer and that he, who was also a marine biologist, the reason she wanted to be a marine biologist, used to call her dolly dolphin because it was her favorite animal growing up and still is, and that his favorite color was also, coincidentally, blue.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

Maya has been depressed ever since his death, and she was so emotional that she ended up crying really bad that night because she loved the scarf. Maya wanted Ethan to tell me that she didn't dislike me or anything of the sort. And Ethan also thanked me because the morning after, she was grinning all day with the scarf, which hadn't happened in the year that he's known her.

[Lauren]

That's so, like, beautiful.

[Morgan]

It's so. It's so cute. Like, the thoughtfulness and just, like, the coincidence of it all, which, like, probably the universe.

[Lauren]

It's just, like, signs. Like, everything. I don't know.

[Morgan]

I felt like such a sign.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Like, I'm. I'm still here.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Ah, it's just so special. I don't know if I've. I've talked about it on here yet. I talked about it over on Clues, but after the episode I did with Kaelin, someone reached out because she talked about losing her Aunt Susan. And the person reached out and was like, you know, as I was listening, I just kept getting glimpses of these yellow flowers, and they sent me this message on Patreon, and I sent her a screenshot of it, and she goes like, shut up. I got the chills. Like, yellow flowers were Susan's favorite flowers.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God.

[Morgan]

And so our listener who's over on Patreon, who. You know who I'm talking about, I, like, sent back, and I was like, oh, my God. Like, it was just, like. It was such. That's an amazing thing. I'm like, some people are just so gifted. So this is really special.

[Lauren]

Everything is connected. There's, like, little threads that tie us all together in this world. It's a really beautiful thing.

[Morgan]

It really is. So be a rare breed in a good way, not a freakish way, not a bad way.

[Lauren]

We need to tie that up. Morgan, this is why you're a pro.

[Morgan]

I don't know what I'm doing. I feel like I crash out every Week new. New episode drops, comments drop. And I'm like, I'm a failure. But I'm just, like, not feeling like myself. So this. This felt good. This was a nice distraction. And just. I feel like we had a good. A good mix, a good balance of stories, and.

[Lauren]

Well, that's such a great tradition too. Oh, my gosh. Even just that, without the beautiful coincidence that it turned into, like, that was such a kind thing. And I think even without that, like, if you've recently lost a parent to then, like, experience such a warm, welcoming family when that's something you've been missing, like, that's already so overwhelming and incredible.

[Morgan]

It's so incredible.

[Lauren]

So that's really nice. Yeah, absolutely.

[Morgan]

Oh, yeah, that's good. Not tendon. I like it.

[Lauren]

Thanks for ending us on that note.

[Morgan]

We needed to story. No. God.

[Lauren]

Not to remind everyone that that happened, but.

[Morgan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't do that. No. It was a good balance. Good balance. And I like the palette cleanser. I've found a few really good palette cleansers lately.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

So excited to keep bringing them up. But if anyone has any new theme ideas you want to see, drop them in the comments. There's gonna be some amazing bonus content on Patreon this month with this theme, the worst of the worst theme. And I'm really trying to find the right person to come sit with me for the Work episode. I have so many amazing work stories now, but I want to find.

[Lauren]

You've mentioned this.

[Morgan]

Someone who's like, maybe a creator, but also still works and. Or, like, is in hr. Creator. Yeah. So if you have any ideas about creators you'd like to see on upcoming episodes, let me know.

[Lauren]

I feel like there are creators who. That's kind of their niche a little bit.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

Like, job tips and I know work stories. I know stuff like that.

[Morgan]

I know. I need. I need. There's a perfect suggestion. Yeah. Well, it'd be nice if, like, you guys let me know and then there was, like, kind of a common majority. I think that'd be great. I'm also already thinking about a Pride episode, and I've got a few stories that I'm, like, starting to tee up. So if you see any stories that would be good for Pride or any. Again, people that you'd like to see, come sit with me and respond to the stories, let me know. But other than that, thank you for being here another week. And until next time, bye.

[Lauren]

Bye.

[Morgan]

Did you know if your windows are bare, indoor temperatures can go up 20 degrees. Turn the temperature down with blinds.com and get up to 50% off custom window treatments like solar roller shades and more during the Memorial Day Mega Sale. Whether you want to DIY it or have a pro handle everything, we've got you free samples, real design experts and zero pressure. Just help when you need it. Shop up to 50% off site wide and huge savings on door busters. Right now during the Memorial Day mega [e-mail] rules and restrictions apply.