Episodes

  • Motherhood is Never Simple

    Motherhood is Never Simple
    Aug 29 2025
    What happens when a book about sex work, patriarchy, and motherhood collides with our own messy stories of choice, pregnancy, and parenting? Pure Real Talk and the reality: Motherhood is never simple. In this episode, Stacy and Daynah dive into *spoiler alert* Margo’s Got Money Trouble and end up everywhere from pottery-as-therapy and day drinking confessions to abortion stigma, single mom survival, and postpartum euphoria (yes, it’s real). They unpack the way beauty is currency, the patriarchy still shapes every decision, and how women just keep holding it all together. And because it’s us, we also detour through tramp stamps, 90s nostalgia, and the pop culture comfort food of Netflix binges. It’s sharp, heartfelt, occasionally irreverent, and exactly the kind of conversation your group text wishes it was having. Content Warning: This episode discusses topics related to pregnancy, including personal decisions around abortion. If these subjects feel overwhelming, please take care of yourself. Your well-being matters most. 0:09 | Pottery, Creativity, and Stress Relief 1:57 | Day Drunk vs Night Drunk 5:15 | Fiction Is Back on the Nightstand 6:07 | Sex Work, Stigma, and Owning It 13:20 | Beauty, Patriarchy, and Messy Choices 20:00 | Abortion in Books vs Abortion in Real Life 23:35 | Pregnancy Stories We Don’t Usually Tell 34:11 | Single Mom Energy (and the Support It Takes) 40:00 | Postpartum Euphoria Is a Thing 46:58 | Gen Z, Abortion, and Canceling the Subscription 50:00 | Policy, Protesters, and the Foster Care Reality Check 55:00 | Men Freak Out Too 58:33 | Raising Kids in a Changing World 1:13:08 | Identity, Nostalgia, and 90s Throwbacks 1:13:32 | Streaming, Escapism, and Pop Culture Bingeing Find Stacy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠missionmakersart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Cleaning House: the Politics of Clean Living w/ Lindsay Dahl

    Cleaning House: the Politics of Clean Living w/ Lindsay Dahl
    Aug 5 2025
    Lindsay Dahl returns to talk about her newly released book, Cleaning House—a witty, grounded, and practical guide to detoxing your home and your mindset. We dive into the often-messy intersection of clean living, personal values, and public policy. From bipartisan wins to grassroots grit, Lindsay shares how everyday people can take action, stay hopeful, and find community in the chaos. This is your invitation to let go of perfection, lean into pragmatism, and maybe… still snack on Cheez-Its. 0:10 – Welcome and Lindsay’s book release! 1:30 – The deeper meaning behind clean living and navigating complexity and division 4:00 – Finding common ground, shared values across different communities 7:00 – Accountability in systems and leadership 8:30 – The power of individual advocacy 10:00 – Challenges and roadblocks in progress 10:45 – Small actions with big impact and what it takes to stay engaged 12:20 – What the book offers readers 13:30 – Letting go of perfection 15:00 – The importance of community 15:45 – Making this work more accessible 17:20 – Reading and reflecting together and the role of storytelling 19:50 – Encouragement from leaders in the field 21:00 – A hopeful path forward 19:50 – Recognition and support from leading environmental voices 21:00 – Ending with hope, encouragement, and gratitude Find Lindsay: lindsaydahl.com instagram.com/lindsay_dahl linkedin.com/in/lindsay-dahl-3617076 Get Lindsay's new book Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals almost anywhere books are sold! Find Stacy: ⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠missionmakersart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Introducing our Monthly Book Report, Atmosphere by TJR

    Introducing our Monthly Book Report, Atmosphere by TJR
    Jul 28 2025
    We're kicking off our first-ever book report episode—and yes, we’re calling it that on purpose. Because books have always been part of our whole life. I’m joined by my favorite reading partner: my husband, Matt. Together, we dive into stories that make us laugh, think, and ugly-cry in public. We talk about what we’re reading (Margot's Got Money Troubles and Atmosphere, spoiler-free, promise). We also chat about how books shape our worldview, challenge our biases, and sometimes leave us sobbing on a treadmill—or doing laundry while quietly falling apart. Whether you read with your partner or solo, whether you love audiobooks or prefer paperbacks, this episode is an invitation to think differently about fiction—and how the right story at the right time can shift everything. 0:00 | Why We’re Talking About Books 1:15 | Fiction That Surprises and Stretches Us 4:30 | Letting Go of Judgment (Even the Quiet Kind) 6:45 | Systems, Safety, and How We Care for Others 8:30 | How and Why We Read (Audiobooks, Shared Credits & Book Clubs) 11:30 | An Author We Love (and Why She’s More Than “Chick Lit”) 13:00 | Space, Sexism, and Historical Power 17:00 | What Draws Us Into a Story (Even When It’s Not Our Thing) 19:15 | Identity, Safety, and Belonging 21:45 | Choosing Between Love and Purpose 23:30 | Emotional Payoff (Without Spoilers) 25:00 | When a Book Wrecks You—in the Best Way 27:00 | Crafting Characters That Actually Matter 30:00 | Layers of Family, Friendship, and Social Pressure 33:00 | Villains, Compassion, and Personal Growth 35:00 | What We’re Reading Now 41:00 | Our Love Story, Told in Audiobooks 43:00 | What’s Next on Our Reading List Find Stacy: ⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠missionmakersart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Camp Shame: Tiger King, But Make It Fat Camp

    Camp Shame: Tiger King, But Make It Fat Camp
    Jul 28 2025
    The tenacious Kelsey Snelling is back to give us the inside scoop on the viral Camp Shame podcast. What started as a documentary project over a decade ago has become a genre-blending podcast that unpacks the rise and fall of Camp Shane, the infamous weight loss camp for kids, many epsiodes in which I'm featured! Stacy and Kelsey go deep on what it means to tell the truth when shame is baked into the story. We talk about the creative shift from film to podcasting, the surprising reach of Camp Shame, and the vulnerability that surfaces when you share your story without being on camera. Expect everything from behind-the-scenes chaos to family feuds, diet culture takedowns, and the emotional aftershocks that follow you well into adulthood. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s necessary. If you’ve ever felt unseen in your experience with body image, shame, or being the “before” in someone else’s narrative—this one’s for you. And if you think this conversation doesn’t apply to you… you might be the exact person who needs to listen. 0:00 | Origin Story: From Documentary to Podcast 3:00 | Safety in Audio: Vulnerability Without the Visuals 6:00 | Unexpected Reach: Who’s Really Listening? 9:00 | Audience Response: Validation, Gaslighting, and Shared Truths 12:00 | Genre-Bending: True Crime Meets Diet Culture Meets Cult 15:00 | Behind the Gates: Camp Shane's Real Impact 18:00 | The Ripple Effect: Trauma Beyond Camp Walls 21:00 | Sneaky Education: How Storytelling Sparks Awareness 24:00 | Trolls, Trolls Everywhere: Real-World Fatphobia 29:00 | You Don’t Know What Someone’s Going Through 34:00 | Call to Action + Listener Stories Find the Camp Shame podcast on any of your favorite platforms! Find Stacy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠missionmakersart.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Snake Oil or Science: The Truth About Wellness Trends with Dr. Joshua Levitt

    Snake Oil or Science: The Truth About Wellness Trends with Dr. Joshua Levitt
    Jul 28 2025
    We’re back with science-based naturopathic doctor, Dr. Josh Levitt. No, it doesn’t have to be an oxymoron - he’s a myth-buster extraordinaire and this conversation is all about finding the truth in the mess of modern wellness. From essential oils and detoxes to gallbladder flushes and ear candles, we get into what’s actually helpful, what’s hype, and why so many people get caught in the middle. Dr. Josh and I talk about the nuance that often gets lost in clickbait culture — how real healing usually lives in the gray space between conventional and natural medicine. He shares how his own journey (which involves a blister, a Swiss pharmacy, and a serious wake-up call) shaped his approach to integrative care. And we dig into why people fall for bad health advice, how to spot the red flags, and what you can do instead. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting health info or frustrated by medical systems that leave out the whole picture, this episode is for you. 00:00 | Meet Dr. Josh Levitt (Again) 02:30 | Medicine as a Bridge, Not a Binary 05:50 | The Problem with Extremes in Wellness 08:50 | Snake Oil: The Origin Story 12:05 | Essential Oils: Helpful or Hype? 17:15 | Buyer Beware: Scams, Grifters & the Gray Area 21:15 | Ear Candles: A Hot Mess (Literally) 26:00 | Gallbladder Flushes & Detox Culture 33:30 | Life After Gallbladder Surgery: What No One Tells You 39:15 | Why We’re Still So Sick Find Dr. Josh: upwellness.com instagram.com/drjoshlevitt tiktok.com/@drjoshlevitt Find Stacy: ⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠missionmakersart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Burned Out, Gassed Up (Lit?), and Still Going Strong

    Burned Out, Gassed Up (Lit?), and Still Going Strong
    Jul 28 2025
    Author, entrepreneur, mom, previous guest, and good friend Jennifer Robins built a wellness brand while her health was quietly wrecking her life. And no, just trying harder didn’t fix it. In this episode, Jen gets real about what it’s like to share publicly while barely holding it together behind the scenes. We talk about chronic illness, medical gaslighting, the pressure to “stay on brand” when your body is screaming for help, and the full-body burnout that finally made her say: “I’m done.” And how she’s doing now, after it all. It’s about deciding you’re not going to pretend anymore—online or off. If you’re tired of wellness content that feels like performance art, this one’s for you. 0:00 | When Tech Trouble Mirrors Life Transitions 4:30 | Scams, Social Loss, and the Quiet Grief of Losing a Digital Self 9:00 | Leaving the Internet Behind to Find Yourself 14:30 | The Problem with Platforms That Reward Pain 22:00 | Relearning Food, Health, and Forgiveness 34:30 | Childhood Trauma, Emotional Wiring & Reclaiming Peace 44:30 | Joy as Resistance: Madison’s Bracelets and the Gift of Delight Find Jen: instagram.com/jenniferlaurenbaileyrobins legitbreadcompany.com Find Stacy: ⁠⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠missionmakersart.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • ADHD, Feminism, Kinship Adoption, and Your Netflix Queue

    ADHD, Feminism, Kinship Adoption, and Your Netflix Queue
    Jul 28 2025
    What happens when you start off talking about bad TV and end up unpacking the moment you left your PhD program to raise your sisters after your mom died? In this episode, Stacy and Daynah take the scenic route—from media criticism to the motherhood nobody plans for, plus body politics, feminist memes, and why gratitude (ugh, fine) actually works. There’s a dog named Manly, a shoutout to a very meaningful pile of office poop, and a whole lot of “this should be a book” energy. It’s cozy chaos meets big clarity—just the way we like it. 0:00 | Homework, Hustle & What Sirens Didn’t Deliver 8:30 | The Scene That Hit Too Hard 10:00 | Losing the Life You Had for the Life That Needed You 18:00 | The Dog That Changed Everything 24:30 | What 'Hacks' Gets Right (and What It Misses) 35:00 | Cultural Criticism as Feminist Practice 50:00 | On Seasons, Survival, and Letting Things Be Simple 54:00 | Gratitude as Grounding: A Morning Practice That Stuck 58:00 | The Magic (Yes, That One) Find Stacy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠realeverything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠missionmakersart.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Why This, Why Now?

    Why This, Why Now?
    Jun 27 2025
    What happens when your best friend of 22 years is a feminist pop culture critic who left social media—and you decide to give her a microphone? Pure magic. In this episode, Stacy sits down with her longtime bestie Daynah Burnett to get real about everything from TikTok slang confusion and “Love is Blind” hot takes to why reality TV might be secretly good for your emotional intelligence. They unpack the state of media, generational drama (yes, your mom did mess up your bangs and your boundaries), emotional intelligence on screen, and why Pedro Pascal is everyone’s daddy. It’s sharp, hilarious, occasionally spicy, and exactly the kind of late-night-deep-dive-energy your group text wishes it had. Spoiler alert: there are actual spoilers. For “The Last of Us,” “Hacks,” “Love on the Spectrum,” and probably whatever you’re watching next. 00:00 | Introducing Daynah + Friendship Origins 02:00 | English Majors, Feminism, and Cultural Criticism 06:00 | Career in Tech, Leaving Social Media, and Ethical Work 11:00 | Social Media, Teen Slang, and Digital Overload 16:00 | Pop Culture Consumption Without Social Media 21:00 | The Last of Us, Grief, and Emotional Intelligence in TV 27:00 | Generational Trauma in Media: Hacks + Representation 32:00 | Reality TV as Emotional Modeling: Love on the Spectrum 38:00 | Neurodivergent Representation + Viewer Bias Awareness 44:00 | Recommendations: The Rehearsal, Sirens, The Goat, Studio 50:00 | Book Recs, Celebrity Bios, and Pandemic Storytelling 55:00 | Celebrity Encounters + Shared Memories 58:00 | Closing Thoughts + Listener Invitation Find Stacy: ⁠realeverything.com⁠ ⁠instagram.com/realstacytoth⁠ ⁠missionmakersart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins