What is up, daddy gang? It is your founding father, Alex Cooper, with Call Her Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.

Daddy gang, welcome back to another episode of Call Her Daddy. I am joined today by my lovely best friend, a fan favorite, Lauren McMullen, or as I call her, Laren. Hello, daddy dang. We were just laughing because we rarely do this when we podcast together. We've never podcasted with, like,

notes or a laptop.

But something came over us, and maybe it's because it's, like, the holiday season. We, like, really wanted to come prepared and give the gift of a little bit of an organized episode. It's still gonna be a little unhinged, but Lauren and I wanted to talk about Thanksgiving this year together because what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than you guys popping on an episode of caller ID and hanging out with Lauren and I. I'm so aware that some of you could be alone today. Maybe you fucking hate your family.

Maybe you love your family and you're listening to this with your family. Regardless, we are here for you. So let's just get into it. We haven't even talked about this. What are you gonna be doing for Thanksgiving this year?

So I'm doing 2 Thanksgivings this year. I'm doing 1 in Louisiana in the middle of November, and then I'm doing 1 in Pennsylvania on actual Thanksgiving. Oh, wow. Wasn't entirely planned to do 2 Thanksgivings. I've never done 2 Thanksgivings before.

But, I guess we'll just rip the Band Aid off in the first minute of the episode. I recently went through a breakup, and the plan was to spend Thanksgiving with my ex boyfriend's family. So I was gonna do with my own family in the middle of November and then go celebrate with his family

On actual Thanksgiving.

On actual Thanksgiving.

Okay. So

now I'm just celebrating Thanksgiving twice with both sides of my family.

Okay. Well, I'm gonna be honest. I don't think there is a better holiday to have 2 of than Thanksgiving because it's just meaning that you're getting to eat really good food. So I feel like that's kind of a blessing.

I'm not, like, really complaining. What are you doing? Wait. You're hosting and

Okay. First of all

wasn't supposed to be the plan.

Thank you. Thank you. I was not supposed to be hosting this year. I was very, very adamant about not hosting. I think I talked about this on an episode before, but I'm I'm a good host, but I really have to be in the mood.

And I think

There's no escape for you.

Oh, there is no escape.

And like an escape artist at, like, a party.

Yes. Like, I like to relax, and I like to get out when I wanna get out. And I feel like Matt and I have been so busy that holidays are so important to me. Like, I really, really wanna spend time with him, and I want to be present. And I know that when you're hosting, you can't really be present with each other.

Like, I'm not gonna be sitting on Matt's lap, like, making out with him and, like, shoving cornbread in my face. Like, I'm gonna be making sure everyone is, like, situated and their plates are filled and, like, we're eating last and, like so the plan was

did you get, like, cornered into

this situation? The fuck am I hosting? Yeah. So I think we were first initially saying don't host because we thought, like, my family was coming too, and we thought it was gonna be, like, a couple years ago. It was literally, like, 40 something people.

It was fucking insane.

Oh, damn.

And we had people inside and outside, and it was just overwhelming. Now this year, Matt's mom called us and was like, you guys, it's literally just our internal side of the family on Matt's side. Like, my family's staying on the East Coast this year. So it's gonna be smaller. So first, she was gonna be hosting, and then all of a sudden, Matt and I were like, should we just offer?

Like, I felt bad because our house is a very good hosting house.

Your house is very conducive to hosting. Yes. You got the inside. You got the outside.

You got the outdoor heaters. You got the outdoor bar. Oh. Yeah. We definitely set ourselves up to host.

So I think we just had a moment where we're like, why are we making your mom do this? Like, let's just fucking take it.

Once you get over the mental hump of hosting, not that I host many things Yeah. I feel like once you get over the mental hump, then you can kinda start to get cozy and be like, well, now I get to pick exactly the foods I want. I get to pick exactly the vibe and the people, and, like, now you can just, like, own it and make it exactly what you want.

No. You're right. And there was also something about, like, mentally for a minute thinking that Matt's mom was doing it. Now that it's like, I don't know why, but it's something like knowing someone else was gonna do it and now it's back on me, I'm less stressed than the whole time it had been. Like, Matt and Alex are hosting this entire year.

Now it's kinda like, who gives a fuck where it is? Let's just, like,

be last

for Low sis.

Taking 1 for the team. I'm doing this for you, so, like, no judgment. Okay. So what's your menu?

Oh, what's my menu? Yeah.

I'm not thought that far ahead.

Oh, no. Matt's mom is gonna be cooking everything. Matt's mom and Matt's sister will be doing all the cooking, and Matt and I always to every single family event, we bring the alcohol. We are not the chefs in the family, but I have the menu in terms of, like, what I wanna eat. Yeah.

What do you wanna eat?

Are we going over, like, our favorite Thanksgiving foods right now? It hit me.

It hit me.

We've never talked about this as friends, and I feel like we I feel like we kind of have different food palettes when like, things we like.

If we go to a restaurant, we're good because True. We'll do a group order, and we're always aligned. But for some reason, I feel like we're not about to be aligned on this.

Okay. So my favorite like, should I just do, like, top favorite Thanksgiving foods?

Okay. First, are you a sides person, or are you a main course person? I'm a sides person. I think that's the obvious answer. If, like, you're a main course person, like,

what the fuck are you doing? Yeah. It's like you're, like, you're looking forward to the appetizers when you're at a dinner, but then you're looking to the main event. Okay. So I would say I'm the sides person.

I would say I couldn't number 1 on my list, and I know this is controversial maybe, is stuffing. I am a stuffing girl through and through. Are you a stuffing girl?

It's low. That's pretty low on my list. I feel like stuffings can go wrong really quick, and they can be dried.

No. I am I was like, I don't wanna be come off as high maintenance, but my mother-in-law loves to cook for me. Like, you were here and Yeah.

She was she was like she brought us a pumpkin pie. It was like, girls, texting you later, like, house of pie. House of pie. Did you try the pie?

She loves to cook for me, and I remember it was, like, the first Thanksgiving I was doing with Matt, and I'm such a fucking freak about stuffing. And I remember I was, like, whispering to Matt before we went to his mom's. I'm like, I just, like, feel like you've been kinda telling me your family doesn't, like, emphasize carbs as much and, like, stuffing, and I'm really getting anxious because, like, I'm a carb family. Like, I love my mashed potatoes. They're

and Matt's family's healthy. So I would be anxious going in and be like, are you gonna be doing, like, a gluten free stuffing? I was like Just to cut the carbs?

Lauren, I was absolutely on the edge of my seat being like, I don't wanna fucking miss out on a good Thanksgiving. If you guys are doing healthy, like, let me know. And I'll go to Boston Market, pick up a couple little snack. Exactly. And so his mom, for my first Thanksgiving, made 2 different stuffings, 2 complete That's when you know.

That's when you know. She was so nice. And I remember trying both of them.

Difference between the 2?

1 was way more like fat fat kid, and it was just, like, doused in everything.

Butter and, like, all the things.

And then the 1 that was, like, somewhat healthier that other people were eating was actually pretty phenomenal, but she's a great cook. But overall, stuffing number 1, I would say creamed corn, the sweet potatoes with the marshmallows on top are

those 2. I have to have

the good cornbread. The thing is with Thanksgiving food, you guys, I'm someone that dips it all together. Like, I'm gonna get my turkey or my ham. Oh, you hate that.

And they can't touch. I'm not the weird person who's like, oh my god. My food can't touch. But, like, I do not mix it all around. I'll go back 3 times because I'll do, like, little ventures so that they stay in their sections.

You're not gonna get a little turkey with gravy and put a little, like, mashed potatoes on it.

Gravy and turkey, that's normal.

Then, like, a little stuffing on like, with it?

No. No. No. No. No.

No. Please fucking comment down below. Are you an Alex or a Lauren? I need a, like, I need a sandwich, essentially, of my food altogether in my mouth.

Ideally, I have 1 of those child's plates that has, like, the dividers, and they keep them in their sections so nothing's bleeding over and touching.

Okay. Wait. What is your top, like, go to?

So my family is from, like, Louisiana and, like, the deep south. So, like, our Thanksgiving foods are, like, so, like, southern and rich, and, like, I love them.

Yeah.

Number 1 is definitely the sweet potato casserole

with the, brown sugar and the mushrooms on top. Number 2 would be green bean.

Mushrooms. Top. Number 2 would be green bean. Mushrooms, marshmallows. Oh my god.

Because I'm already thinking ahead to the green bean casserole with the mushrooms and that. But god forbid those touch, that would be disgusting.

Green bean casserole.

Green bean casserole. It's like literally canned green beans with canned cream of mushroom soup and the canned or the little French onion things that you put on top and you bake them.

Oh, wait. That sounds amazing. So good. Wait. I don't think I've ever had that.

You know something I saw on social media What?

About Thanksgiving foods? Someone was like, do you think it's, like, telling why we only eat Thanksgiving foods once a year because they're not good?

I'm the other creep on social media that, like, posted being, like, why can't we eat stuffing for every meal?

Oh, when you and Matt were, like, legit, like, getting in a fight the other night, you're like, yeah. So the other Thanksgiving, I woke up and, like, Matt threw away all the leftovers.

This was a literal point of contention in my home, and it was what okay. So it was the first time we hosted. And when you are not hosting, you're not taking fucking leftovers from people's house. So this was the first in our relationship I remember. Oh, so

you if you're a guest, do you leave all the leftovers for the host?

Usually. Unless they offer it to you. Okay. I also wanna hear comments on that. Like, if you're the host, don't you agree you get to keep the leftovers?

And unless you offer it.

Yeah. Unless you're offloading.

So fast forward, we host for the first time, and I remember I had, like, I I promise I I really I love how I say I promise. In my brain, I really thought I told Matt to keep the leftovers. Now in hindsight, I don't think I told him. I think it was in my brain, like, a fucking no brainer, Matt. Like, what are you fucking doing if you give all the leftovers away?

So I remember I came down the next morning and, like, something I used to do is a tradition in my family. We we would make, like, Thanksgiving sandwiches the next day for lunch. Yeah. Like, with bread and some cranberry sauce and the turkey and the gravy and the whole thing. I, like, saunter downstairs ready to eat a pumpkin pie slice, and I open my refrigerator, and it's spotless.

And I was like

Knowing Matt, he probably, like, wiped it down too. It was, like, freshly cleaned. Like, not even the smell of Thanksgiving was left behind.

No. Not literally Cloroxed to the fucking brim. And I remember I look in the refrigerator. I'm, like, looking our other I'm, like, looking all over, and I looked to Matt. I'm, like, where's the food?

And he's, like, oh, like, everyone took leftovers. Like, there's nothing left.

So probably so proud. Like, honey, I got it all over the house for us. Don't worry.

And I'm mortified. And I remember being, like, Matt, like, I'm genuinely upset to the point where I made him go to the grocery store with me that day and buy the stuffing mix so that I could remake stuffing for myself so I could have it with dinner. And, yes, I brought that up to Matt because I was like, if we're hosting this year, you better believe, motherfucker, we are not giving away our fucking food. And he was like, okay, babe. Like, it makes you wonder how am I married to this man.

What is the vibe of your Thanksgiving? So, like, is it, like, stuffy, formal? Are you getting dressed up? Or, like, are you wearing like this?

So here's a problem that I feel like I deal with, not even just in Thanksgiving, but, like, my every single day life is, like, I wanna be the girl that dresses up. I want to put together a cute outfit that, like, someone puts on their Pinterest board. Like, I wanna be that. But I love being comfortable more than anything in my life. Like, I don't know

I don't pop a button at dinner. Oh. Like, I, like, don't like having at my birthday dinner a few weeks ago, I literally got up to go to the bathroom. I was oh, fuck. My pants are unzipped.

Let me sit back down and put them back together.

It was Matt and I were at a business dinner the other night. He's gonna kill me for saying this, but my family, like, the Coopers, like, we unbutton at the table. Okay?

I'm an unbutton.

Right? Like, it is a sad thing. And Matt you know Matt. Like, he just, like, would never do that. Matt's proper.

He's Matt's more proper. And so Matt would just, like, never do that. And he ever since he's, like, known me, he started to slowly do it. And so he would find himself in the moment. I know.

So he starts unbuttoning that dinners. Even if he's having a fucking straight vodka martini, he's like, boom, open it up. We are at a fucking work dinner, and he gets up. And I look at his pants, full 3 buttons down. Maddie.

Maddie. And he didn't catch it. I don't think anyone saw it, but I was laughing because it's like we unbutton in our home. So back to your question.

Yeah. What are you wearing?

I wanna dress up in some capacity, especially if I'm a host. Like, in my heart, I want to lean into that Nancy Meyers, like, be a host, be cozy. But the reality is I at least am going to have to wear some form of elasticity, but this is what I'm realizing with being a host. This is gonna be my situation. People are gonna show up, and I'm probably gonna do a sweater and, like, jeans and, like, a boot situation or, like, a little skirt and, like, tights and a boot.

Like, I'll show up and look cute. And halfway through the night, I'm gonna come back down the stairs, and I will be in a full sweat suit.

Benefit of hosting. You can do an outfit change.

Every single time I host a party or anything at my house, that is the 1 thing, and everyone mentions it. And

everyone also, like, whenever you host, everyone ends up in your clothes.

Yes. Because yes.

You end up dressing everyone. Like, the end of the night, every girl at the party that you're hosting

Yes.

Is fully in 1 of your sweatsuits.

Because I'm like the peer pressure, I hope, in a good way, where I'm like, it's

getting late. Let's change the vibe. Let's change the vibe.

Come on, guys. Like, you don't wanna actually be in those fucking I'll look at Kristen, like, you don't wanna be in those jeans. And she'll be she's like, I'm completely fine. I'm, like, no. Come on.

You don't wanna be in those jeans. And I, like, bully everyone to go upstairs and change into my pants. Wait. What is your vibe gonna be? Are you formal or you're not formal?

No. Not formal at all with my dad's side of the family. I'm the oldest cousin, and I'm the only girl cousin. So, like, it's not like I have, like, other cousins who I'm like, let's go get ready. They're like, what are you wearing?

Let's do our makeup. I'm with just, like, my brother and all my guy cousins.

Okay.

I, like, take a nap and I wake up. I'm like, oh, it's, like, time to eat and, like, haven't showered today. Haven't done my hair. I'm putting on my makeup. And, like, in theory, I agree.

Like, I wanna look back at the family photos and be like, oh, like, that was a good year for me. But, like, I look back

I always look like shit. Oh my god. Like, I look

like I haven't, like, showered in days at family Thanksgiving.

That's what I will say that my sister is good at doing. Like, Katherine is always down to dress up. And, like, I know for Christmas this year, like, she's always gonna go out loud, and I'm like, it makes me wanna dress up with her.

Had a little someone putting a little peer pressure on me.

And and I feel like Matt's family is no 1 is gonna show up in sweats, but they're very, like, casual. Like, they'll do, like, jeans and sweaters.

They're like elevated basics. Yeah. Quiet luxury.

Matt's mom is watching this being like, keep going hard. What else? No. But you're right. It's like it's chill, but it's still elevated.

Okay. Next question.

Oh, okay. Something I wrote down was, are your holidays the type where you have to navigate difficult conversations?

Oh, that's such a good question. Well, I think the first, like, obvious answer is every single year of my life has changed. Right? Like, when I was Starting to

call her daddy.

Calling starting to call her daddy and all of my, like, extended family was like, you fucking whore. And I was like, oh my god. Now with, my internal family and, like, Matt's internal family, no. I think if I'm gonna have to I wouldn't even say navigate difficult conversations, but if I had to be if someone had to be, like, what are you not as looking forward to? I think it's now where we're at the point where maybe it's more about, like, people socially, and I so understand where they're coming from, but, like, just socially asking, like, when are you guys gonna have kids?

I think people don't realize, like, how personal of a question that is.

Yes. Because I have had so many different people in LA that I'm close with. I've had people that it took them a year to get pregnant. I've had people that got pregnant after literally the first time they tried. I have people that have fertility issues.

I have people that are freezing their eggs. Like, I know so many different women and, literally, I would say, I don't know any woman that's had at, like, a similar, almost, experience in my life right now. And so, of course, Matt and I want kids, but I feel like I'm I don't know. Whenever I'm in those positions, I'm kind of like, this isn't really the time to talk about it. And I know that if anyone asks us, it's genuinely coming from a place of, like, they love us and they're just like

Good intentions, excitement.

Yeah. And, like, it's really coming from, like, oh my gosh. We're so excited for you too, and, like, we want that next chapter and that next generation. But I do think that, if anyone is listening to this at Thanksgiving this year and your sibling or your cousin

or your saying. If anyone in my family is listening to this right now and you're planning to ask me when I'm having kids, knock it off.

No. But I also well, you know what it also is? And and I think this is a part of it too that Matt and I have discussed is, like, not knowing what my personal experience will be with 1 trying to get pregnant when it comes time that I wanna do that. It's like, I could literally say to someone, like, yeah. Like, we're gonna try, this next month.

And then what if I can't get pre you know what I mean? It's like, I don't wanna talk about things of timelines because I am so aware that there is no fucking timeline. There is no right time to get pregnant. There is no exact like, there none of it. So I I think I'm more just, like, adverse to the entire conversation.

But I'm not like, please don't ask me about that. I'm more just I always just kind of avoid it. I'm like, oh, I don't know. Like, we're still, like, think we're taught.

We'll talk. Layers to it and things you need to figure out yourself before, like, you share it with other people.

You, miss McMullen.

Oh, I know I'm gonna be asked, like, oh my gosh. So, like, What happened? Well, 1, what what happened? And then 2, like, I think just like, oh, like, you're you're we're 30 now, and we're single. Oh.

And, like, not that I've had much I don't know how much I can speak on this because I haven't been single that long, and I haven't been 30 that long, and I haven't really had to navigate many of these conversations yet. And maybe I'm just feeling, like, empowered because I'm not, like, feeling, like, beaten down. Like, fucking stop asking me.

Right.

So I'm, like, in my empowered stage. And I feel like I don't know. At least the approach I'm gonna take is I'm gonna lead the conversation where I want it to be and, like, be excited about it and be happy about it and be empowered by it and be like, yeah. I'm 30, and, like, I have a whole decade, and it's so exciting. Like, who knows who I'll end up with?

Who knows where I'll be? Who knows what I'll be doing? Who knows what my

life will be like? Like, how exciting of, like, all the opportunities ahead. That's such a good point. Like, steering the conversation in a direction that, like, most of the time when someone asks you, like, wow. Like, how do you feel about that?

Like, you understandably like, we know it is them

Checking in and carrying.

Checking in and carrying, and understandably, like, also on the other side, it is just, like, based a little bit in, like, you wouldn't be saying that to a man. You wouldn't be saying to a 30 year old man who's single, like, oh, god. And I get it. It's usually not coming from a bad place. But instead of allowing it to be this, like, sad, sap thing, you're you can just be like, I am so happy.

I know. How incredible. Even if you, like, you wanna do that

to, like, shut the conversation down. Like, even if I'm being, like, ignorantly happy, like, oh my god. I'm so fucking happy. Like, they're gonna be like they're gonna be like, Okay. Okay.

You're like, what drugs is Lauren? No. That's a good thing. That's why I approached you. You're like, uncle Jerry, I'm so fucking happy.

I wanna be single for the rest of my fucking life. Like, it's true though. It's funny. The over liar. Like, Lauren has lost her funny.

But I could see you. I also feel like you're so not that type of person. So for you to, like, be sarcastic, I feel like people would be like, oh my god. Oh, okay. I'm gonna walk away.

But I do I I love that approach. How do you feel, obviously, like you mentioned early, obviously, in this episode, like, you just went through a breakup. And regardless of the fact that, like, I think you're in such an incredible place right now, like, breakups are hard, and holidays, I feel like, specifically, are really, really tough because even when you're feeling good, there's this odd thing that real like, holidays do that really just shed light on, like, love and family and the perfect holiday notebook esque environment and family and relationship. Like, are you at all anxious that you're just gonna feel that, like, dark cloud in a moment?

I think I'm prepared to feel it, and, like, I think I'm, like, I know I'm gonna feel it. Yeah. It's so new that we were supposed to be doing this Thanksgiving together, and we were supposed to be doing Christmas together. So I'm still, like, going through phases of life where, like, I had tangible plans with my ex to be doing this together. So, like, no doubt I'm gonna be sitting there being like, well, I'm supposed to be doing this right now, and now I'm doing this instead.

And, like so I think

I'm just expecting to feel that. You're understandably going to lightly play out, like, what it would have been, like, had they been there versus now there's, like, this empty chair that would have had their name on it. And it's, like, a weird fucking feeling. It's sad, but it's not said, but it's just, like I don't even know

how to describe it. It's literally what grieving is. Like, that's I went through something, like, very similar when I, for those of you who don't know, my dad passed away when I was in college.

Yes. Like, it's almost like the missing person. Yes. Like, the unsaid thing.

Yeah. It's something I had felt before with in regards to holidays, like, that missing presence, like, the empty chair.

Yeah. That's a good point. Like, I feel like we've talked about a lot before, kind of like when you do now this is, like, kind of getting over, like, your ex boyfriend. Now it's more like you talking about your dad. I feel like there's probably, like, a lot of daddy gang that have lost a family member.

And the traditions that you kind of have to start to, like, create with your family without someone is, like, a really challenging thing because you wanna honor them and remember them, but you also don't wanna, like, move on from them. Like, Oh,

I have a lot to say about this.

Give it to us. Give it to us.

So I think the weird feeling of feeling like you're, like, moving on and, like, forgetting them, something that really made me think of that was my mom, is now engaged, and we love him.

Shout out Cara.

Yeah. Shout out Cara baby. Live your life.

She's like, she's gonna clip this and send it to us. Be like, Lair, you guys gave me a shout out on the pod. Yeah. We did. Yeah.

We did, Cara.

She was her and her fiance were indescribably thoughtful about the way they introduced him into me and my brother's lives. And they were very, very seriously dating for a while, for years, before he came to 1 of my family holidays. And I was talking about it in therapy, and I was like, I love this person. I love him as an individual. I love him for my mom.

I love them together. I feel more at peace knowing they have each other, but why does him coming to a holiday feel so unsettling to me? And she was like, I think that there's this unspoken thing that when he sits down at the 4th table setting, it means your dad's replaced. It means your dad's forgotten, and, like, that's not the case. That's not true.

Right. Because it was so confusing to me. I'm like, I love this person. I love their relationship. I love the whole thing, but, like, it's just making me not anxious.

It's just I couldn't put a finger on this unsettling feeling of like and it was the feeling that I thought that meant that my dad was being replaced, and that wasn't the case at all.

Yeah. No. That is, like, so beautiful. I remember that time in your life, and you handled it so gracefully. And I think, like, again, you were so fortunate to have your mom handled that way, and I know that there's so I'm

so appreciative

of that. There are so many people that probably have horror stories of step parents and all of that, but I do think it's such a true statement. And I think we've talked about this a lot about how, like, there are so many ways to, like, continue to remember someone, and a new addition doesn't mean that someone else now, like, can't be a part of things. And I feel like it's hard when the person isn't there, but there's so many ways that you can celebrate that person without feeling like you're just, like, overriding them when we're done with you.

Sitting at a table, the 4 of us, I couldn't get over the fact. It just felt like delete and, like, insert. So we just, like, said fuck it. And now for Christmas, we don't sit in Pennsylvania. Every year for Christmas now, we go to a different national park, and we hike.

And we just do something entirely different and, like, start over fresh. And it just feels so nice and new, and we hike, and we, like, reminisce, and we talk about them. But for some reason, just, like, sitting in Pennsylvania, sitting the 4 of us around the table just felt like and it's so illogical, but it just felt like we were trying to, like, write my dad out of, like, the story. Yeah. And it just feels so much better and more exciting and fun to just completely start over with a new tradition.

I love that you said that, though, that you're like, it feels completely illogical. And, like, I'm pretty sure and so many people that experience that type of grief, it's like, it should be illogical. Yeah. It it's it's this, like, you can't explain it, and you don't have to explain it. Like, you felt the way you felt, and now I love that.

Like, daddy gang, like, you can make your own new traditions. And especially when things are wrapped in, like, trauma and loss, like, you can shake shit up. And when you step out of line or when you change shit up, it can feel a little disorienting.

Even thinking about, like, breaking the tradition, like, you're like, oh, I feel like I'm, like, fucking up. I'm, like, being, like, a bad family member.

And it's like, I bet all of you sitting at that fucking table, like, I bet your mom's fiance was, like, probably would have been the first 1 to be, like, guys, I'm so down to do something different.

He probably was ecstatic that now he's getting to hang out with a version of me that's, like, relaxed and, like, open and not me sitting around the table being, like

Oh my god. Talk.

Right. Say words. Say words.

Right. I think that's, like, a great way to, like, wrap that conversation up in terms of tradition is a motherfucker and it's beautiful, but it can be really, really intoxicating where you just feel like you have to follow it. And sometimes I do think, like, anything in this world, maybe sometimes we need to check ourselves of, like, is it tradition because it's fun, or is it tradition because you actually kinda don't know why it's tradition and, like, maybe it's time to shake shit up?

Yeah.

Okay. You're going back to Pennsylvania. I am. And you told me that when you go back to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, you will be attending your high school reunion. Now I am fascinated, and I need every fucking detail when you go because I haven't gone to a high school reunion.

Let's just talk, first of all, high school reunions. So let's discuss. How do you feel about it? I'm excited.

What are

you gonna wear?

I was literally thinking of that.

Do you, like right. Do you, like, pop the fuck off

a little? Like, a little bit.

Right. Like because, also, I don't have social media. So, like,

no 1 knows what I look like or, like, what I Right. Do or what I'm up

to wearing. Pop up.

A little bit.

Like, we need you to look hot, but I like, try hard. That's like no. No. No. While we're talking about high school though, we have been friends for so long.

But I don't know if people know this. We did not go to the same high school. Mm-mm. We went to the same elementary school for 1 year, you guys.

My parents fucked me up. I moved to Pennsylvania from Texas in 1st grade. I went to public school, and they were like, you need to find God. They sent me to Catholic school in 2nd grade and they were like, you're not Catholic and this is expensive. Back to public school.

So literally, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, I switched schools every year. Like, imagine what that would do to a child.

But thank god, right in between there, that second grade where you were supposed to find god, you found me. Yep. And we became best friends in 2nd grade. I remember Lauren with, like, her giant bows because, like, your mom had every color bow ready to go for you at school. I was so fucking jealous.

I remember in 1st grade, and even in 2nd grade still, when we'd have dress down days

Yeah.

I would cry because I'm like, mom, the kids in the North don't wear this.

No. I thought you were epic. Uh-huh. Anyway, so Lauren and I went to school for 1 year wait. 1 year.

1 year together. Yeah. I'm like, that's it. Yeah. So all of middle school, all of elementary school, we didn't go.

And then high school, we went to different schools.

But we stayed connected, like, really connected all through elementary school and middle school because we were on the same soccer team. Yes. Like, soccer teams. So we were on, like, 3 teams. Teams together.

And then we went to high school. And naturally in high school, like, we literally stayed close, but it wasn't as close because you're like, you have your own friend group.

Yeah. You went to private school. I went to public school.

Yes. So let's talk about how we were different in high school. What do you think? I'm like, the first day.

You were, like, head down grinding. Soccer was, like, your mission and, like, your career. Like, you only hung out with, like, the soccer girls, like, every weekend. Like, you were going all around the country, like, doing, like, your college showcases.

Yeah.

And I said goodbye to soccer. That's cool. And I was parting it up and living my life.

I think that I slowly, slowly ramped into my more social mode, but my for sure, my freshman year, I was, like, head down, like, soccer, soccer, soccer because I had gotten, like, a scholarship. I couldn't afford to go to

college football. You were going to that high school.

I forgot. I got a I got a scholarship that they, like, faked was, like, academic. Meanwhile, like, no 1 was giving me academic scholarship. It's like, that would have gone to you. No 1 in their right mind was giving me an academic scholarship.

It was just disguised so that I could play on the soccer team. Okay. It's obviously the Thanksgiving episodes, so we're partying. Maybe you're drinking. Maybe you're fucked up.

Maybe you're laying in bed and you're alone. Do we have any overlapping high school stories of us, like, because we Lauren and I did not party together, unless we really explain why. Our friendship was so wholesome. And growing up, it was based in, like, we would make movies together, and we would, like, film, and we would make

Like, I, like, viewed your parents as, like, family. Yeah. So the idea of going to your home and, like, cracking open a mics hard, like, I couldn't disrespect Laurie like that.

I was disrespecting a lot of other situations,

but not Laurie Cooper. No. It didn't. I was getting after it everywhere across Newtown, Pennsylvania, but not in

Not at my house. I'm fucking obsessed. I am I'm gonna bleep that, you guys, because she just said my street name, but I'm obsessed. You're right. I think we had this weird thing where, like, our relationships to our families were so Pure.

Pure and youthful, and we'd been through so fucking much that it was just, like

I would come over and we'd catch up and order dumplings.

Dumplings. Yep. Yep. We'd get duck sauce. We'd order dumplings, and we would just chill and we wouldn't drink.

So but do we have any, like, high school?

Oh, you came to I

Your New Year's. I

was gonna say I threw a New Year's party No. My senior year.

Let me just say this. Lauren threw this banger of a New Year's party.

Banger.

And when you just referenced, like, not wanting to disrespect my mother like that, I remember I showed up late to your party, and we had a lot of memories in that house. Uh-huh.

It was my childhood home.

Yeah. And I think it was also a hard time for us because not to get too deep. So much had been going on with your dad that, like, understandably, I I think in your life in high school, like, no 1 kinda knew about fully

Yeah. Most people did not.

Didn't know. And you and I, like, we knew every detail, and I think I hadn't been back to that physical house in so long.

So many years.

And I learned I don't think I did I ever tell you this?

Yeah. You did.

Okay. I was so emotional at that party because I show up to this house that had, like, incredible pure memories and then, like, pretty, like, really fucking traumatic memories for us. And I remember walking in late, and I'm with Moonen

Yeah.

Our friend Nicole. And I walk in, and it is like people are swinging from the fucking chandeliers. And I'm thinking, like, oh, Lauren's having

a You're thinking probably, like, 20 kids hanging out in my basement.

Her entire school plus another school was in this fucking house jam packed. I'm like, Lauren, I will never forget. What happened on the ceiling?

Oh my gosh. Someone sprayed a champagne bottle, like, all over this.

And the cork went up through the ceiling.

Through the

ceiling. And I remember

I'm I was like I'm coming up. I'm gonna have to fix that in

the morning. Your poor mother comes home, and everyone's, like, trying to, like, be like, no. No. It's not what it looks like. And Cara is literally looking up his ceiling crying.

So I talked about that in therapy. I was like, I feel a little guilty for that 1. It was

a but it was like a sending away your house party. But I do remember, like, that extent of our friendship was, like, us feeling, like, so nostalgia childhood that it was, like, we never really drank together in high school.

We didn't need to drink to have fun.

High school arch nemesis. We're like, how did we get here? How did this just slide in? Because we wanna talk about it. So Lauren and I were laughing about her going to this reunion.

And I was talking to her about, like, who are you most looking forward to seeing? Like, who are you nervous to see? Like, who do you wanna impress? Who do you wanna avoid? And Lauren

Impress no 1, avoid no 1 nervous no 1 but my arch nemesis. I also have to be careful because this is gonna air 3 days before the reunion. So I'm about to, like, blow up how much I have an arch nemesis and then walk into the room and be like, oh, that's the girl who, like, can't get over high school.

Do you think that your nemesis would know that they are your enemy?

I don't think she thinks I, like, think about her 1 bit.

You're, like, a

pain in your head.

Would listen to this and be like, oh my god. Okay. Let's talk about why is she your nemesis.

Okay. So I don't wanna accidentally paint myself as a saint here. The issue is I truly cannot remember who cheated first, me or my high school boyfriend, but junior year, we hit rocky territory.

So you were saying we hit rock bottom?

We hit rock bottom. We did hit rock bottom. And it kind of became this open situation. Oh.

But, like, we still were in love. We were still talking all the time. But, like, I ventured off

a little bit to this older guy, and he ventured off to my arch nemesis. Okay. But then we had a reconciliation, and we came back together. Mhmm. And I kicked the older guy to the curb, or did he just graduate?

I don't know.

Yeah. Yeah. Details. Yeah.

Yeah. But my arch nemesis could not get ticked to the curb. She literally was like the bug that would not die. And

No. We're getting riled up.

I just have such vivid memories being in my childhood bedroom after school, 4:30 PM prime time. Everyone's on AIM. Everyone's on Formspring. Everyone's on Snapchat, and I'm snapping him. And I'm watching my snap streak with him go up and up and up and up and up.

But I'm watching his snap streak with her go up and up and up and up. And they were just, ugh, that's just like a core memory.

Wait. Hold on. So did he cheat on you with her? Oh, all the time. Wait.

Did you con did you how did you find out other than

Okay. Well, there's 2 incidences where where he was caught red handed.

Okay.

Okay. Incident number 1. K. Senior prom.

Wait. I don't even know this story.

So it was the morning of senior prom, and we met up in a parking lot and had sex in a car. Classic. And we go to pictures. We do pictures together. So, like, that's kind of official.

Like Oh. I, like, checked Facebook this morning. We had pictures. We took prom pictures together.

Not her making sure the receipts are dotted and the oh my god, Lauren. I'm obsessed with you. Okay?

And so we're at prom. We're grinding. I'm slapping the ground. I'm turning around. I'm making out.

Get low.

Get low. Oh my god. The grind

chains. I

can't. I can't.

And I go get a beverage, and I come back into the auditorium. And I'm like, oh, where's my boyfriend? Grind chaining with my arch nemesis. What? Making out with my arch nemesis.

In front of you? In front of the whole auditorium. Wait. So what the fuck did you do?

So I had known that, like, they were consistently talking. I would talk to him about it and be like, you have to stop. Like, I'm not doing anything else. Like, I'm not helping anyone else. Like, I wanna be together.

Right. And, like, he was like, but, like, they were still always operating. So I did the craziest thing I've ever done in my entire life.

Oh my god.

I've I have I've never had let me just give context to my character. I've never had a falling out with another girlfriend before. I've never gotten to a physical confrontation. I really never gotten to, like, a heated exchange words to this day k. Except this 1 moment.

Oh my

god. I walk up to them.

K.

And I say No. I pull them apart, and I say, we had sex this morning. I hope you're enjoying the taste of me right now. She starts hysterically crying.

In high school.

In high school. I don't know savage. I don't know how I feel about it, but I just, like, snapped.

This is high school. Like, people are cheating and people are being whatever. It's not actually nefarious. Like, it's actually just, like but it's so funny to think about, like, the drama in fucking high school.

What's the most bold thing you ever did to confront someone?

Oh, well You

have, like, a law on your list. I'm like, this is the 1 time I've ever said something to anyone ever.

Well, the thing is too, for, like, me, I would say, which I'm gonna have to tell the story 1 day, is

Oh, your arch nemesis story?

Yeah. This is fucked. Because it was me really standing up for my other best friend. And I

Then she tried to ruin your life.

Yes. I am someone that will always stand up for myself. Like, my mother taught me that, like, use your fucking words. And so I would always say it to people's faces that they were upsetting me. And when someone though fucks with 1 of my friends who who I know has a harder time speaking up for themselves, I go to, like, a different level, and I stood up for my 1 friend to another 1 of our friends.

And 1 day, I'm gonna tell this story that I It's a

good story.

It is the most insane thing because it followed me into my adult life, and it still is going it's just crazy. Whatever. But drama. Let's talk about drama because I can't talk about my arch nemesis because that deserves, like, a solo fucking episode. I need to, like, literally call my mom for, like, notes, and I need to, like, literally call my headmaster and get the notes also from them.

Deeds. Okay. So drama though. The 1 of the most dramatic things and and when I say dramatic, like, this is so fucking stupid, but I remember for me with boys, my high school year boyfriend, I was so obsessed with him. And I remember he was a boarding student, and I was a day student.

And so he would always just, like it it was really fun in high school because you were able to try to sneak into the dorm rooms. And, like, what high school kids are afforded, like, a bed that you can just access at the dining hall? It was hard to sneak, but we figured it out. Anyways, so I was, like, falling in love, and I was having the time of my my life my freshman year. And I remember he was definitely a partier, and he had transferred from another school and he had to redo his freshman year.

So Oh, yeah. That's my first red flag. Anyways, I remember it is a Tuesday, and Tuesdays were always chapel days where we had to, like, walk to this chapel in New Jersey. And it was, like, a Presbyterian school, and we would sit and we'd do chapel, whatever. And we always would walk together, and we would always hold hands together, and he was nowhere to be found.

And I'm texting him, and it's all going to green. And I'm like, where is he? And the boarding students come up to me, and they look like they saw a fucking ghost. And his friends come up to me, and they're like, Alex, you didn't hear? And I'm like, no.

Like, what happened? And they're like, he drank so much last night with everyone, but, like, people were drinking, but he drank to the point of absolute blackout to the point where it got so, so bad that we had to blow our cover and call for help. And they took him out on a stretcher in an ambulance, and they had to bring him to the hospital, and he had to get his stomach pumped. And I'm sitting in chapel as, like, Deandre is, like, sitting next to me, whispering this to me, and I'm like, what the fuck? And finally, his phone turns on, and he's like, I'm fine.

Like, I'm okay, and I'm freaking out. I'm, like, crying, whatever. He gets kicked out of school. Not from that, which is crazy. He did so many more things, and, eventually, they were like, you have to get the fuck off this campus.

Like, you are literally ruining comp like, our our culture here. And when he got kicked out, I shit you not, Lauren. For 3 straight months and think about, like, 3 months of high school. That's long. That's long.

For 3 straight months, I wore black every single fucking day to school because I was so mad at the headmaster and the student. I would I was literally protesting. I was pro Were you mourning him? I was both. I was mourning, but I was more protesting because I was so livid that they kicked him out.

They let me just be clear. They should have kicked him out. But I was just so dramatic because I was, like, I just lost the love of my life. He got kicked out. Your future husband got away.

Exactly. And I'm, like, walking around campus, and every fucking week, the dean of students would pull me in being, like, Alex. Like, people are getting concerned. Like and and meanwhile, I'm, like, not a like, I'm not a sad fucking person usually, so I'm they can tell I'm fucking fine. They're like, bitch, you're fucking fine.

Meanwhile, I'm like, I don't know if I'll ever recover. Like, I can't believe you got rid of him. And, eventually, I got over it. But it's like, why do we do those things when we're younger? The drama within us.

Oh, high school, I have, like, memories just, like, laying on the floor, like, sobbing.

Right? Just, like, heartbreak and, like, oh my god. My chest hurts if the boy broke. Like, just so fucking stupid. But, honestly, like, kind of amazing.

It's fun to reminisce. And we'll try to post pictures to you guys if we can find any of these, like, hidden gems. I think there's some crazy

Oh, yeah. I'll post my prom pics. I look good. Yeah.

You no alarm coming out of the woodwork this episode. I kinda love it. I love the confidence. I think the fun thing also about, like, being friends for your whole life is it's really beautiful. Like like, we have seen every single, almost, like, decade of each other so far in our lives.

Like, we have been together, and we have seen it all. And I think it's also humbling to know, like, where we both came from because we can both keep it real with each other. We've had some of our darkest moments together. Mhmm. We have had some of our best moments together.

Mhmm. We have had both moments where I think we've been to look at each other and say, you need to get your shit together, or you need to get your shit together, and I'm here for you, but let's let's pick let's pick it up. And I feel like we've, in a good way, like, both done that for each other. Like, it's a very, very equal sided relationship. But I was talking about that in an episode the other month about how we're always on the opposite pages.

I know.

It and but I but I feel like it's kinda like the beauty of our relationship. Like, we always know.

More interesting.

It does. It does. Listen. I think Thanksgiving is so fun, and I hope, daddy gang, that you are surrounded by your loved ones. And I hope you enjoyed this little, like, throwback reminiscent episode.

We have had we have so many random stories together, and it's always fun to sit down and just, like, chat and talk. And, Yeah.

I think I would like to end this episode by saying Oh. Everyone who was in my grade, I just I think they're all probably doing amazing things. I probably I think they're probably so successful. I can't wait to see how good they all look. I can't wait to see how they're all thriving in their own lives, and they were just, like, such amazing people that I was blessed to go to school with.

And I just I cannot wait to see you all.

Bye, daddy gang. We love you. Happy Thanksgiving, and have the best fucking time, and go eat some food and drink good drinks. We love you.

Button. I have 3.

Many. I will see you fuckers next Wednesday. Goodbye.