Transcript

Jared Freed (0:00)

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Jared Freed (0:33)

Let's start the episode Friday feels episode. This is the day before my birthday, the worst day of the year. A holiday here on the J Train podcast. Okay, ready? Hello and welcome. Oh, this isn't the J Train Podcast. The you up podcast. I almost got switched up. This is. I never. Shut the fuck up, Maddie.

Maddie Mahoney (0:52)

Okay, I know you just talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

Jared Freed (0:57)

Hello and welcome to the you up podcast. I am Jared Freedom. I'm Maddie Mahoney and we are here on a Friday feels episode, joined by my special guest host, Maddie Mahoney. Thank you for coming on. Thank you for being a part of the UW podcast.

Maddie Mahoney (1:13)

I'm so happy to be here.

Jared Freed (1:14)

It is great to have you. Everyone, if you don't know Maddie, you know her from the. The, the, the videos here on the B. You do all the, you know, you're in every clip, you're in all the jokes, you're in all the, the memes, and you're killing it.

Maddie Mahoney (1:28)

Thank you. Yeah, yeah.

Jared Freed (1:29)

This is a dating and relationship show. Tell us the deets. What's going on with you in my dating life?

Jared Freed (1:34)

Yeah.

Jared Freed (1:34)

What's your situation? You're married.

Maddie Mahoney (1:35)

I'm married.

Jared Freed (1:36)

Recently.

Maddie Mahoney (1:36)

Yeah, I got married at the end of September. Thank you.

Jared Freed (1:39)

Summary

U Up? – "He Cheated for Almost a Year — How She Finally Found Out"

Date: February 20, 2026
Hosts: Jared Freid (comedian), Maddie Mahoney (special guest host; actor and Betches video personality)
Main Theme: Dealing with betrayal and deceit in modern relationships, how to process shocking relationship revelations, and supporting a partner through personal and career challenges.

Episode Overview

This “Friday Feels” episode features comedian Jared Freid with guest host Maddie Mahoney, filling in for Jordana Abraham. The discussion ranges from hilarious personal anecdotes about weddings and gift-giving to hard-hitting listener stories involving infidelity, shock breakups, and the challenge of supporting a partner caught in a multi-level marketing scheme (MLM). The episode navigates how to respond when you find out you were cheated on for almost a year, honesty in post-breakup communication, and strategies for lovingly steering a spouse away from questionable business ventures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Relationship Updates and Gift-Giving Hacks

Maddie’s Wedding-Anniversary Combo
- Maddie got married on her birthday ("bundled it" for her husband’s benefit so he’ll never forget their anniversary – [02:26]).
- Humor about needing a bigger gift because of the double-event.
Gift-Giving Strategy
- Maddie creates an annual “Gifts for Brad” list on her phone whenever her husband mentions something he wants ([02:59]).
- “A lot of people are scared to get the wrong thing, so they end up getting a generic gift that feels impersonal... I just keep a note in my phone for gift ideas.” — Maddie, 02:59
- Jared relates this to keeping a joke list for standup.

2. Maddie’s Relationship Journey & Change through Trauma

Maddie resumed dating Brad, someone she’d known for years, after her previous breakup.
- Brad was in a serious off-roading accident, losing his arm, which profoundly changed his outlook ([13:26]).
- “He had a near death experience and really took a step back and looked at his life... but the core that I’d connected with was still there.” — Maddie, 13:59
- Jared reflects on real versus superficial personal change.

3. Petty or Prudent: Almost a Year of Infidelity Exposed

Listener’s Story:
- Dated a man for three years (2022–2025), planned to move in, relationship ended after stagnation.
- Discovered ex had a second girlfriend for almost a year during their relationship ([19:03]).
- Listener told a mutual friend, leading to ex’s removal from a wedding invite list and social fallout.
Was It Petty or Prudent to Tell?
- Both hosts agree: telling friends about the deceit is prudent, not petty.
  - “Oh, I’d be telling everyone. Are you kidding me? That’s crazy.” — Maddie, 22:51
- The ex is facing natural social consequences of his actions; the listener is not stirring “drama,” just sharing her experience.
- Jared is skeptical of “my life is a sitcom”–type self-narration, suggesting it can sometimes reflect self-centric drama perception ([24:48]).

4. Voicemail: Should I Escape on Tour Post-Breakup?

Caller Situation:
- Sudden breakup with coworker, little closure, friends distant at work, lease ending.
- Offered a spot on a friend’s music tour for six weeks and contemplates going.
- Wants to know if she’s running away or embracing a healthy break.
Jared’s Advice ([36:14]):
- Separate mourning the breakup from professional logistics.
- Insist on an “exit interview” with the ex: “You need questions answered. Write them down. You need to hear his thought process and work out a plan for your professional dynamic.”
- On the road trip: Go for it if you can sort out work and housing, so the time away feels freeing, not like avoidance or chaos.
- “Life on the road is a lot of time on your phone in different weathers... Lots of lonely moments, but also lots of new people. You’ll be okay.” — Jared, 38:45

5. Marriage Question: When Your Spouse Joins an MLM (Arbonne)

Listener’s Dilemma:
- Wife, recently unemployed and feeling lost, bought into Arbonne (a classic MLM).
- Listener tries to warn her; she accuses him of “not supporting my success mindset.”
How to Help a Partner See the Truth?
- Recognize underlying needs: “She wants to be useful... wants to contribute while she’s in transition.” — Maddie, 47:28
- Don’t attack the MLM directly; address their shared goals and financial realities.
  - “What are our goals? What do we need each month to get there? Let’s make the numbers real and simple.” — Jared, 50:19
- Suggest sharing unbiased resources:
  - FTC guidance, Arbonne average earnings reports (usually pennies on the dollar), and the podcast “Life After MLM.”
  - “Say: I get scared about this path... Here are some articles I read. Let’s talk about our financial road to a house.” — Jared, 52:17
- Don’t make it about her intelligence or ambition, but about honest partnership and shared planning.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On gift-giving:
- “You don’t get bonus points for thinking of the gift the week before. What matters is you thought of them.” — Maddie, 04:14
On relationship transformation after trauma:
- “We’re cruise ships, not speedboats. We can only really move so much.” — Jared, 14:40
On post-breakup disclosures:
- “Telling everyone is in no way petty. I don’t know if it’s prudent—it’s just like, I needed to tell you a crazy thing.” — Maddie, 22:51
On drama-prone self-narration:
- “When I hear ‘my life is a sitcom,’ I’m red flag, deal breaker.” — Jared, 24:57
On supporting a spouse caught up in an MLM:
- “She wants to feel useful...she’s not feeling confident... You’ve got to approach from empathy.” — Maddie, 47:45, 49:07
- “It’s a Band-Aid on a flesh wound. She’s wounded, feels less than. How do you get through to her?” — Jared, 48:53
- “Stick to the math on our finances and how we move forward. Now to your MLM, let’s look at these resources...” — Jared, 53:34

Timestamps for Important Segments

Gift-giving life hack: 02:59 – 04:14
Brad’s life-changing accident & reflection on change: 13:26 – 14:51
Petty or Prudent—Cheating for almost a year: 17:46 – 22:59
Listener’s “life as a sitcom” discussion: 24:48 – 29:02
Voicemail: Post-breakup, coworker ex, should I go on tour? 32:23 – 39:47
MLM marriage question & solutions: 44:12 – 53:50

Episode Tone

Candid, irreverent, and supportive.
Blending practical advice with humor and personal stories—very much “tough love with a hug.”

For Further Reference

Resources for MLM issues:
- FTC’s MLM & pyramid scheme page
- Company’s own earnings disclosures (search “[Company Name] average earning report”)
- Podcast: Life After MLM (hosted by a former MLM rep)
Where to find Maddie:
- @madeline_mahoney on social, featured in Betches videos

For anyone dealing with deceit, tough breakups, or a partner’s misguided job ventures, this episode delivers both empathy and a clear-eyed, constructive lens on what to do next. The advice: get honest, get practical, and get support—from friends, therapy, or just a podcast that gets what modern dating is really like.