Zane and Heath: Unfiltered – Episode 315

“Mariah is BACK and Better Than Ever!”

Release Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Zane, Heath, Matt
Special Guest: Mariah

Episode Overview

This special, heartfelt episode celebrates Mariah’s return to the podcast after giving birth to her and Heath’s first child, Tony. The core of the episode is a candid, funny, and emotional conversation about Mariah’s pregnancy and birth story, early parenthood, and all the unexpected moments along the way. The gang also shares stories about recent travels, including Zane’s misadventures in Sweden, and reflect on the parallels of their adventures with the unpredictability of new family life. The tone is casual, irreverent, supportive, and warm—a classic Unfiltered hangout with a major life update at its core.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Zane’s Travel Tales: Sweden, the Philippines & More

[02:54-29:20]

• Spam Call Chaos: Zane recounts receiving persistent, suspicious calls, unsure if it’s a scam or genuine Apple customer service ([02:54]).
• Getting Sick Abroad: After Australia, Zane detours to the Philippines, only to be bedridden for almost his entire stay due to illness ([04:59]).
• Language Barriers: Struggles to get medication in the Philippines due to language issues—everyone laughs about forgetting to use Google Translate.
• Sweden Dart Trip: Zane explains the group’s viral “throw a dart at the globe and go there” travel adventure, which led the gang to Sweden during winter ([09:05-14:50]):
  • "People gave me the job. That’s a lot of power...but I also know I’m pretty bad at throwing darts." (Zane, [10:02])
  • The group explores both the city (Stockholm) and snowy north, goes snowmobiling, and tries (then vetoes) dog sledding based on its ‘janky’ appearance.
• Impressions of Sweden:
  • Stockholm’s vibe is described as “very colorful, like London,” with expensive nightlife and all the locals being “tall, blonde, blue-eyed.”
  • The group unexpectedly runs into DJ Alesso in a nightclub after meeting a fan who jokingly called himself “Alaso” ([21:16]).
  • Food is underwhelming, even the famed IKEA meatballs ([22:25]).
  • “If you go to IKEA, that shit’s real. I could not tell the difference if this was Burbank.” (Zane, [23:04])
  • Reflections on connections to Sweden from David’s YouTube lore (the white table) and the Swedish music scene (Abba, Swedish House Mafia).
• Christmas Atmosphere: Christmas in Sweden was not as festive as NYC—more understated, with lights blending into the winter landscape.
• Swedes vs. Aussies: Healthy/fit comparison (“Australia, you would feel like shit, bro. Everybody is Matt shredded.” – Zane, [27:06])

2. Mariah Returns: Pregnancy & Birth Stories

Mariah joins: [29:40]

A. Welcome Back Mariah

• The guys celebrate Mariah’s return, compliment her post-baby glow and welcome her to the “future” with new podcast tech ([29:53]).
• Mariah: “I can’t get used—I'm talking to two robots. Isn’t it weird?" ([30:00])

B. Life With a Newborn

• Tony (the baby) is three weeks old. The first few weeks are “challenging... we have to learn about him and he has to learn about us.” ([31:10])
• The parents are self-described “type B” (laid-back), letting Tony hang out on the kitchen island while they eat dinner ([31:26]).
• Parallels to caring for their dog Dean: “We had to wind up this kid’s legs, let something out, burp him...” (Mariah, [32:09]).

C. Honest Pregnancy Reflections

• Mariah didn’t enjoy being pregnant: “I wouldn’t say I loved it... There’s people that are like, ‘I loved being pregnant.’ I didn't feel like that. I barely looked in the mirror. I was just in denial.” ([33:14])
• She stayed active, which she believes helped her have an easier pregnancy, but missed her usual energy.
• “My stomach was, like, the best part of me… I feel good about it, and it’s taken from me.” ([35:10])

D. The Birth Story: From TV Show to Delivery Room

[Starting at 36:48]

• Pre-labor anxiety: “Every day, I'm making sure my nails are done... After two weeks of doing that, I'm freaking exhausted. Like, nothing's happening.” (Mariah)
• When labor started, it wasn't a dramatic water breaking—“Not like the movie Surf’s Up, it was such a tiny amount… I called the doctor and she goes, ‘It was definitely urine.’ I said, ‘It definitely wasn’t because I examined it.’” ([41:08])
• Multiple calls to the doctor, confusion over whether labor had started.
• Labor at home for as long as possible. When contractions sped up, Heath and Mariah casually get ready, clean the house, do podcast ad reads (!), all while she’s going into labor ([45:36]).
  • Heath: “I was just like, run down, finish the paperwork, just come back up.” (Heath, [52:21])
• At the hospital, Mariah is 7 centimeters dilated upon arrival, and there’s a comedic, slightly chaotic handoff (“I arrived there 7 centimeters...they go, oh, you did most the work at home.” ([49:52])).
• She requests an epidural but there’s no time—the baby is coming fast.
  • "Are you planning on having the epidural? …Just give it to me. I’m throwing in the towel. Just give it to me.” (Mariah, [51:08])
• The experience is deeply vulnerable and awkward—Mariah says she didn't want all the lights, to be “spread eagle,” or to be looked at by strangers, but there was no time or privacy ([54:05, 60:08]).
• Mariah gives birth naturally within about 30 seconds of pushing—no epidural, minimal yelling.
  • “Giving birth is impossible…This is impossible.” (Mariah, [59:11])
  • “My eyes were closed the whole time...if I opened and saw how many people—just look at Heath.” (Mariah, [61:29])
• Hilariously mundane/humbling details: paperwork in active labor, hospital staff insisting on taking photos, a snarky nurse pestering her to take painkillers (“Just so you know, you don’t get an award for not taking any painkillers.” – Nurse, [71:44])
• Mariah finds the “lactation specialist” experience aggressive and overwhelming ([73:19]).

E. Deciding the Baby’s Name

• The couple did not have a name picked until two days after birth ([67:23]).
• Short list included Italian family names (Antonio, Nico, Valentino).
• Emotional breakthrough: When they say “Antonio Carlo Hussar” out loud, both parents start crying—validation that it’s the right name ([81:11]).
• Tony’s nicknames abound: “Tony Walnut,” “Tony Baloney,” “Tony the Tiger” (linking to a serendipitous tiger-pattern rug Mariah insisted on for the nursery long before he was named, [84:09]).
  • “That’s your answer. Like, you crying, is that validation—that’s the thing.” (Mariah’s mom, [81:19])

F. Early Parenthood

• Discuss sleep deprivation, nurses constantly checking on them, feeling like “babysitting.”
• Heath details obsessively picking up diaper and swaddle techniques from each nurse ([75:59]).
• Joys of having Mariah’s mom nearby for support (“She has a magic touch with babies”).
• The couple’s first Christmas at home (with Tony!), decorating stockings, and finally feeling like a real family.
• Humorous accidents: Tony’s “skin to skin” with Heath results in a fistful of chest hair ([91:04]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being unprepared:
  “I pack for Florida, and that’s how I pack everywhere. Whatever I’m bringing to Florida, I just pack double Florida.” (Zane, [20:22])
• On labor at home:
  “I had to do the ad reads really quick. I’m like, Go, go, go! I’ll Swiffer the floors.” (Mariah, [45:52])
• On vulnerability during delivery:
  “Imagine, Zane, imagine the lights—spread eagle. Can you imagine people film this?” (Mariah, [60:14])
• On naming the baby:
  “We were like, Antonio, Carlo…and the three of us were frozen for a second…and then me and him lost it. My mom was like, ‘Well, there you go.’” (Mariah, [81:11])
• On the snarky nurse:
  “Just so you know, you don’t get an award for not taking any painkillers.” (Nurse, [71:44])
• On seeing their son:
  “Some days I’m like, whoa, that’s he.” (Heath, [90:50])
• On Mariah’s return:
  “I know you’re real busy with Tony.” (Zane, [93:10])
  “Yummy, yummy. Say I’m Mariah.” (Mariah, [93:21])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:54] – Zane’s Apple “scam” calls
• [04:59] – Zane falls ill in the Philippines
• [09:05] – Zane’s dart adventure (Sweden)
• [13:46] – Zane’s date in Sweden
• [21:16] – DJ Alesso nightclub encounter
• [29:40] – Mariah joins the podcast
• [31:10] – Adjusting to life with a newborn
• [33:14] – Mariah on disliking pregnancy
• [36:48] – Start of the birth story
• [49:52] – Arriving at the hospital, 7 cm dilated
• [60:08] – Delivery room (lights, staff, privacy)
• [61:05] – Tony is born
• [71:44] – Nurse’s “no award” for no painkillers comment
• [75:59] – Heath learns swaddle techniques
• [81:11] – Emotional baby naming moment
• [84:09] – Tony the Tiger nursery story
• [91:04] – Tony rips out Heath’s chest hair during skin-to-skin
• [93:10] – Closing thanks and classic group sign-off

Episode Tone

• Laid-back, irreverent, and often hilarious, even in vulnerable moments.
• Emotionally honest and warm—especially in the retelling of Mariah & Heath’s family journey.
• Supportive and self-deprecating, with playful group dynamics throughout (“classic Unfiltered vibe”).

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode is a must-listen for fans of Zane and Heath—both for the wild travel shenanigans (who knew Scandinavia and the Philippines could provide such content?) and, far more, for the raw, funny, and honest account of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood from Mariah and Heath. From the little details (hospital paperwork in active labor, rogue nurses, and labor contractions timed between ad reads) to the big emotions (that moment they named Tony), you’ll finish this episode with your heart warmed and your stomach sore from laughing.