Advertise on podcast: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

You ever lie awake thinking of a time when you could have made a certain decision but instead decided not to do anything and now it’s getting hard to live with yourself? Us, neither. Tangents in this episode include dumb phones, a parental apology, and…wrestling? Enjoy! References: * #96 Life Is a Bad Sandwich feat. REGRET Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

When someone dies by suicide, the overwhelming response is to tell people to check in on their friends. On this episode, we explore why that phrase rubs us the wrong way and whether alternatives exist. Tangents include the pain of finding a therapist, depression catching you off guard, Kurt Cobain, childbirth, and tattoos. Since this is a particularly heavy episode, we conclude with a palate cleanser fit for spooky season. Enjoy! References: * #128 A Good Death feat. Anonymous * Build Your Dream October Drink Menu And I’ll Reveal Your Oddly Specific Personality Type Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Lauren shares what’s been going on since she’s been away, and Chris tries not to crash out. Tangents include lost pets, vulnerable conversations, and…George W. Bush?? Enjoy! Content warning for suicidal ideation. Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a great day when a former guest comes out of hiding, and today is that day! Kye Plant is an interdisciplinary artist and former podcaster who talks about why he ended his show and what he’s been doing since. Tangents include gratitude (yuck), needing pain to make art, struggling with extremes, rollerblading, and balancing our past and present selves. Enjoy! Listen to Kye’s music on Bandcamp! References: * Kye’s original 2021 episode: #49 Shame-Based Artist feat. Kye Plant Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Friend of the pod j’naii is out of treatment and back in the guest chair to talk about ways the system is intentionally confusing, the difficulties of receiving a diagnosis, resisting rest due to guilt, and a surprising moment in therapy. Plus, we take you through a breakdown-based guided meditation and Chris issues a MAJOR correction. Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Stuck in a funk? Decision paralysis got you down? Have we got the philosophy for you. Tangents include weird things we imagined as kids, Smooth Move, our 1-year anniversary of living together, things we survived to get here, and what “full send” means to us. Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends! After 8 years of doing the show, we realized that we’ve never taken a survey of our listeners and their feedback. Since Lauren is taking a few weeks off, we figured now would be the perfect time to take a pulse. Answers are completely anonymous and are for the sole purpose of helping us make the show better and expand our community. All in all, it should take 2-5 minutes to complete. Click the link below to be taken to the survey. We appreciate you all!! Take the 2026 Pickles and Vodka Listener Survey Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

We catch each other up on life and debate the role of emotional regulation. Side topics include Myspace, who we think would star in a movie based on a certain cursed therapist, which one of us got triple hacked, a memoir update, and Trello. Enjoy! References: * Nancy (2018) * The House of Yes (1997) * Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia * I’m Glad My Mom Died Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Joining Chris this week is AP, cohost of queer culture podcast Dovewhether! We talk about the nature of humanity, lesbians, the joys of being Mexican, surgery for mental health, meeting people in their life, and finding tranquility in your body while figuring out your gender. Enjoy! Follow AP and listen to Dovewhether at www.dovewhether.com! References: * Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (Dovewhether episode Chris guested on) Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

The title is self-explanatory. Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere. References: * Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (catch cohost AP on our show next week!) Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

On this casual episode, we talk about what it means to belong—whether that means in a physical place, a community, or in your skin. Tangents include bingo, Medicaid, remembering dead friends, and how to cultivate assuredness. Plus, we share a listener voicemail! Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Lauren faces a deeply uncomfortable moment, Chris reveals what’s infiltrated their brain this week, and we both delve into our triggers. Tangents include lemon meringue pie, trauma cleaning, pets’ mental health, and two special anniversaries. (Content warning for Ariana Grande…again.) Enjoy! References: * Documentary about trauma cleaning: Clean (2022) * Our original Ariana Grande discussion: #245 The End of an Era * Our Karen Carpenter episode: #246 Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Lauren returns from vacation and we shoot the shit. Topics (and tangents) include temporarily forgetting that you’re mentally ill, unreliable therapists, eating disorder coaches, radical acceptance, goth karaoke, and blue M&Ms. Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

While Lauren is on vacation, friend and former guest j’naii is here to spill hot tea all over their soapbox. Topics include: * Feeling like a cog in the capitalist machine and having to take medical leave from work due to mental health * What it’s like to be in a crisis when over half of your support system is dead and gone * Lesbian bars and our ideas of flirting (including our first on-air game of Truth or Dare!) * Medical negligence, systemic failure, and how we take care of each other * Fighting bald dudes on the street Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

We get a lot off our chests on this week’s episode. Some topics include: * Lauren’s first time spending the night at her boyfriend’s house in over a year * Guns (sorry) * How different we were in 2022 when we met in person and which of our projected 5-year plans were most laughable * The line between keeping everything to yourself and trauma dumping, especially at work * Doing slightly better and feeling like your identity is gone * ADHD and how it impacts our ability to start things (or lack thereof) Enjoy! Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation: * Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*) * Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com * Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast * Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast * Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast * Send us an email: [email protected] * Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co * Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh Credits: * Edited by Chris Jumper * Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive *while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe