Two Hot Takes: "Friendship Failures.."

Released September 18, 2025
Host: Morgan Absher
Guest Co-host: Sarah Nelson

Episode Overview

In this lively, drama-filled episode, Morgan Absher—joined by long-time friend and first-time co-host Sarah Nelson—dives into a series of Reddit, listener, and internet write-in stories about friendship failures. The stories are packed with betrayal, toxic friendships, partner problems, meddling family members, and relationship drama. Each situation sparks spirited, honest hot takes from Morgan and Sarah, who blend tough love, empathy, and humor, often referencing their own friendship history and romantic mishaps.

The episode’s recurring themes include:

• Recognizing and dealing with toxic friends and partners
• Standing up for yourself and others when wronged, even if it’s uncomfortable
• The importance of trusting your instincts and maintaining boundaries
• The messiness and gray areas of loyalty within families and friend groups

Hosts’ Chemistry & Tone

Morgan and Sarah’s chemistry is evident from the start, with playful banter, nostalgia about past adventures, and frankness about their own romantic disasters. Their candid, sometimes irreverent tone fuels the episode’s relatability and entertainment value.

“We dated a set of twins. We each dated one of the twins. That’s, like, what really bonded us.”
—Morgan (02:05)

Key Discussion Points & Stories

1. OP Finds Out Her Best Friend Spread Cheating Rumors

[05:31–25:01]

Story Summary

• A woman learns her former best friend, Ellen, has told their friend group that OP’s boyfriend tried to cheat with her. None of it is true.
• Ellen had been distant, then sabotaging, both personally and at work.
• Eventually, OP distances herself, confronts the situation, and gets support to finish the internship remotely.
• OP later learns that Ellen fabricated more lies involving other friends, stayed connected to the group, and continued to manipulate narratives.

Discussion Highlights

• Morgan and Sarah dissect Ellen's motives: jealousy, attention-seeking, and outright toxicity.
• They stress how healthy relationships (romantic and platonic) involve open communication, and how Ellen’s actions are "classic mean-girl sabotage."
• Both agree OP was right to trust her instincts and minimize contact, highlighting that standing up for yourself is crucial.

“You need to listen to yourself sometimes when people are making you feel that way.”
—Sarah (13:12)

• The hosts discuss drifting apart from toxic friends being natural and even necessary. They draw parallels to their own experiences with manipulative friendships.

“You kind of sow what you reap in that sense. If you’re not going to be a good friend, a nice person, you’re gonna end up very closed off at the end of the day.”
—Morgan (24:56)

Notable Quotes

• “If this were me and you and your boyfriend reached out to me... I would go to you first... Like, look at the messages. Look at him blowing me up.”
  —Morgan & Sarah (11:28–11:57)
• “It’s almost like she’s trying to make herself look more appealing. Like, ‘he wants me.’”
  —Morgan (14:58)
• “OP is being a good, reliable narrator. It doesn’t seem like she was that type of girl.”
  —Morgan (21:27)

Takeaways

• It's not just about the friend who betrays you, but about keeping truly supportive people close.
• Sometimes, losing a toxic friend is a blessing in disguise.

2. Husband Texts Female Friend During Wife’s Labor

[29:12–35:14]

Story Summary

• A wife discovers her husband was texting a female friend (whom she's never met and with whom he briefly dated) throughout her labor and after their child was born—despite prior infidelity and secrecy.
• He refuses to introduce his wife to this friend, and keeps his phone locked.

Discussion Highlights

• Morgan and Sarah are unanimous: the husband’s behavior is a massive red flag, especially with the backdrop of past cheating.
• They underline how emotional labor should be prioritized during childbirth and how secrecy erodes trust.
• Boundaries in opposite-gender friendships are discussed; secrecy is seen as unacceptable.

“If you are going to do that, I need to meet this girl... You want to see them with each other, how they interact.”
—Sarah (30:19)

Notable Quotes

• “If Justin had a friend that he wouldn’t let me meet, I’d be so weirded out by that.”
  —Morgan (30:38)
• “The second you’re starting to go through your phone bill and look at who your husband’s texting when you’re going to deliver your baby ... you’re in a spot where you’re not very secure.”
  —Sarah (32:53)

Takeaways

• Transparency is non-negotiable after betrayal; refusing to introduce partners to friends is highly suspicious.
• Listeners are advised to trust their gut, demand boundaries, and if necessary, prepare for worst-case scenarios.

3. “High Value Man” Demands Girlfriend Change Herself

[39:55–48:35]

Story Summary

• A woman’s boyfriend begins showing controlling behaviors after she moves in: telling her how to dress, what to eat, and to cut off friends, justifying it by claiming he's a "high value man."
• He invited her to live rent-free, but she maintains financial independence.

Discussion Highlights

• Both hosts laugh and cringe at the phrase “high value man,” linking it to manipulative, insecure men.
• They highlight abusive tactics: isolating partners and leveraging financial offers to gain control.
• The danger of these behaviors escalating is stressed.

“That’s a huge ick. I usually have a red flag. I should have brought it from LA.”
—Morgan (44:52)

• They remind listeners: actual high-value partners demonstrate their worth through actions, not declarations.

“You just are. You just do it ... The proof is in the pudding.”
—Sarah & Morgan (44:18–44:31)

Notable Quotes

• “Feeling entitled to control what you eat and how you dress and who you see is an extremely bad sign.”
  —Morgan, quoting a Reddit comment (45:56)
• “He was love bombing you before. Now that you’ve moved in, he feels he can start to be a bit more demanding.”
  —Morgan (46:00)

Takeaways

• Early control and isolation tactics are warning signs of abuse.
• Financial independence helps ensure safety—OP is in a strong position to leave.

4. Telling the Pregnant Sister-in-Law Her Husband is Cheating

[49:07–69:18]

Story Summary

• A man learns (and witnesses) his brother-in-law cheating on his pregnant sister-in-law. His wife wants to “stay out of it” to not “ruin” the marriage.
• He tells the sister-in-law anyway and supports her as she leaves her husband. His own marriage then falls apart as his wife is furious about his “betrayal.”

Discussion Highlights

• The hosts debate the morality of breaking bad news: loyalty to the suffering party trumps misplaced “family unity.”
• They speculate about the wife’s motives and wonder if she is involved with her sister’s husband or has her own secrets.
• Explicit discussion of “cheating culture” in certain families, generational/conservative approaches to marriage, and the long-term chaos of sweeping betrayal under the rug.

“Your family’s supposed to have your back ... It’s so interesting to me that the wife kind of has the brother in law's back more.”
—Morgan (54:03)

• Justice is a central theme, with both firmly on the side of truth—even at the cost of family stability.

“I have a really big, like, justice thing ... I get so upset with a lot of these stories where I’m just like, the injustice of it all.”
—Morgan (55:12)

Notable Quotes

• “Who says that? Yeah, I would lie to you.”
  —Sarah (60:54)
• “So I get it. I mean, we've had plenty of friends [cheated on]. Our boyfriends have cheated on us. And not Justin—Justin’s a good one. But we always told each other.”
  —Sarah (55:56)

Takeaways

• Betrayal must be brought to light, even if it leads to upheaval.
• Sometimes family ties protect abusers more than victims; stick to your moral compass.

5. Mother-in-Law Sends Rogue Wedding Invites

[74:30–82:40]

Story Summary

• A bride discovers her future MIL has sent out alternative wedding invitations to her side of the family, with a different dress code (“black tie” instead of “semi-formal”) and an earlier start time, undermining the couple’s choices.

Discussion Highlights

• Morgan and Sarah stress the importance of boundaries with in-laws, especially when it comes to milestone events.
• The right move is for the fiancé to directly communicate with his family, clarifying the real details and gently correcting the MIL’s overstep.
• Password-protecting vendor accounts and holding firm on event decisions is suggested to prevent more tampering.

“If you have anyone that’s a little [controlling] ... have a password system.”
—Morgan (83:02)

Notable Quotes

• “You have to control it because it’s so embarrassing if you show up overdressed somewhere or underdressed.”
  —Sarah (78:52)
• “Meddling. She’s going to keep meddling ... you’ve got to set the standard right away.”
  —Sarah (79:24)

Takeaways

• Nip overbearing in-law behavior in the bud; teamwork and clear roles between partners are essential.

Notable & Memorable Moments

• Morgan & Sarah’s Friendship Flashbacks:
  From “partying in cornfields” to dating twins and supporting each other through romantic disasters, their history comes up repeatedly and colors their empathetic advice.
• Red Flags Running List:
  The “high value man,” secrecy about friends, cutting off social circles, and boundary-stomping relatives are repeatedly called out for listeners’ benefit (44:52, 45:56, 78:22).
• Candid Relationship Talk:
  They share personal stories about betrayal and the healing (and humor) that eventually follows—“We've all been there” becomes an informal group mantra (36:16).
• Listener Community Shoutouts & Interactivity:
  The hosts ask for feedback: “Do we like lots of updates or more stories?” and invite further discussion on social channels (65:43).
• Wedding Drama Strategy Session:
  The mother-in-law drama inspires specific logistical advice about wedding communication, vendor passwords, and having bridesmaids “armed” with red wine for dress emergencies (82:40).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meet Sarah, Friendship Banter: 01:02–04:01
• Cheating Rumor Story – Ellen: 05:31–25:01
• Texting Female Friend During Labor: 29:12–35:14
• High Value Man Controlling Behavior: 39:55–48:35
• Cheater Brother-in-Law, Family Fallout: 49:07–69:18
• Mother-In-Law Sends Rogue Wedding Invites: 74:30–82:40

Overall Tone, Lessons & Takeaways

This episode is a blend of tough love, laughter, and real-life experience, as Morgan and Sarah turn even the most painful betrayals into learning opportunities. Their key lessons:

• Trust yourself when friendships or relationships feel off—boundaries (and sometimes distance) protect your well-being.
• Don’t be afraid to call out (or walk away from) toxic behavior, be it from friends, partners, or family.
• Loyalty means supporting people through hard truths, not covering up wrongdoing.
• Sometimes “losing” a friend or family member is really gaining freedom and growth.

For listeners who haven’t tuned in, this episode is a crash course in dealing with relationship and friendship drama—with a side of wit, wisdom, and much-needed validation.