Friendsmas with Rachel Lindsay

I can't with you. You don't dream about a Hickory Dick. No, I do not, Actually I do not. Speaking of Christmas, I feel like things are already starting to get so messy around the house because it's just like already wrapping paper and presents and hiding stuff and and the cooking every we're already starting, right. Thank goodness, we've got all that Chlorox stuff to help clean up. Because that's been a game changer. Oh yeah, it has. And I love it just because the kids like all the the new

germs coming home from you know, preschool and stuff. So I gotta love the Clorox. You guys, get it before it's out. Yeah, and this is a bonus episode. Um it's kind of like a girl's night Christmas party and me so I'm just kind of fourth wheeling it. Um, you're so good at fourth wheeling it with the girls. Like even tonight, I'm having a girl's night and it's

like what go ahead? No, no, go ahead all the time and after no. It's funny sometimes too because Jane is like, Hey, I'm gonna have a girl's card night, card's night or whatever, and so in my mind, I'm like, all right, cool, like all be night to myself. I get to play video games, play video games. Takes a couple of buddies, see what they're doing, and she's like yeah, but um yeah a few things. She's like, we don't have a fourth and we want to play youker, so

we need you to play with us. Or it's like, hey, we want to play the other other card game. Can you teach everyone so we can play tonight. It's like yeah, and I love it. I love it. I love I mean, I am one of the girls like hanging out because all your girls are are like the guys, they're bros, brodettes. Um, so I have a fun time with them. But so Yeah, you're right, I'm not used to I'm not you're not a stranger to girls Nights. No, I'm not like you'll you'll whip on a mask. And I think that's so.

We have two really awesome guests today. We have Rachel Lindsay who was a former bachelorette, and then we also have daniellemne Um so to really fun girls. But it's funny because I I I've never been I've never watched every single episode of like the Bachelor Bacherette, and I've just like either watched you know, we'll watch at the very beginning just to see the schmucks coming on and then which smucks she picks. Yeah, place, There's were some

seasons there where we're kind of we're pretty invested. Yeah, but I still feel like we might have missed like an episode or two and then like now it's just like I watched the first and I watched the men tell all or the women tell all, and then like the last one. But I really was sorry, I'm going down a rabbit hole here, But with Claire, I was like, yes, like finally like an older bachelorette, Like I'm so excited. Obviously she found love within the first week and her

and Dale went off and got engaged. And now Tasha has taken her place, and I for some reason, like I I got invested with some of the dudes on there, and I was like, I want to see more. And then now that Tassia's on her like, she's one of

my favorite bachelorttes ever. She's so I mean, Rachel was amazing too, and I'm super excited to talk to her, but I have so many like bachelorette questions I want to ask her because as I was running today on the treadmill, you know, just watching Tasha, Um, it was kind of to the point of like the guys because there's so many things on there that I'm like, for example, like hey, let's put a face mask on, and you're being like okay, and like I feel like you learned

so much about the dudes, and just like certain situations around your girls, do you know what I mean, Like when they're around your girlfriends like that you're just you're you're okay with like your manlihood, but also like you'll be fun and you'll put masks on if you want. And I don't know, I just think the whole thing is it's fun too, like no that, like you have those different sides. And I think if I was on the Bachelorette and a guy was just like, I'm not

doing that, I'd be like, h you're lame. I think too for for guys when once they're in a relationship, like we'd be honest, like if we're found put in face mask on, we'll put it on. If we're not, it doesn't matter who's around and be like no, I'm good, but like even if your girlfriends are around, everyone was doing it. God big now I'm all right, Oh yes,

I am. I make up that if the rules are reversed, when it's just like the guys hanging out, that the female will do something almost no matter what because she wants to be one of the guys or look cool or look fun. And the guys, you know in her man's friend's eyes, when really you hate it and you're just gonna like hold it against your spouse later on,

you know what I think would bother me. And I know some times I know like certain people that do this is but you will say the same joke that they've told their spouse, but then say in a group situation, in a group setting, and you're like, you kind of look at your sposter like this, I'm so like, I just imagine like the Christmas even though there's not many Christmas parties, but just like Christmas gatherings, And then like you've heard the same joke, but yet your husband or

spouse still says it, and you're just like, I'm so annoyed with you. You know, I think I do a pretty good job at not repeating things, even if I say it to you in the stage of somebody else. Yeah, no, you do a great job at it. But you know the people I'm talking, oh, absolutely, And there's actually a joke that you say that I kind of cringe every time you say it. Why for that exact reason, the tornado wants it's so good though it's my only one joke.

It's I mean more like so like if you got a joke, it's a joke, a story story, a story that's funny. I know I get you, but yes, I think that you have the one go to joke, and I just every time you, like I have want to hear a joke, I'm just like, here we go, interesting, Well, he still wants to know the joke. I'm going to cringe over here? Why Jana says it? Do you need to like take your headphones off while I say it? Wait, let me do it? How I was it? Guys, I

have a funny joke. I love how like I was basically complimenting you and saying, then you say to me, well you do it? You don't. This is the only thing that you do it. If some if everyone's telling jokes, like if we're having like, you don't come out of nowhere. Hey, guys, I have a funny joke. But I'll do it right now. Hey, wind down, listeners. Here's a joke for you. Why are women and tornadoes alike? Because they scream when they come

and take your house when they leave? Oh yeah, because they scream when they come and take your house when they leave. That's right. So, now at your Christmas gathering, got you guys a joke? You're welcome. Would you like to tell when Michael I'm a situational guy, you know me. Here's Michael at a situation. Though this is going to

be such an exaggeration, it's not a gadderation. So we went to a Christmas party at Wesley's house last last Christmas, which by the way, it's so weird that, you know, her Christmas party has been canceled, obviously for valid reasons. It's just sad. But Michael is the guy and bless his heart, like he you know, I feel like we both mold very well into situations. Yeah, like we can talk to a wall and be fine, granted my conversation. Like the last episodes, I hate small talks. I'm gonna

be like, why are you divorced? Like like I want to go straight to it. But with Michael, he's just like, You're like, you're not the mayor, but you're like you want to be the mayor, Like you want to be in the Mayor's club. So we go to Wesley's Christmas party and like, first of all, did you have the fedora on? Of course? Okay, So he wears his fedora, which, by the way, if anyone knows my husband's head, it's way too large for a fedora to begin with. But

he rocks it. So yeah, he rocks it. You know, I love him for it. So it's been like the second we get there, I go see the girls. He goes down to the guys and you know, he's got his little sports jacket on and you know he's he's looking he's looking fancy, he's stealing himself in his fedora, and you know, I think it's been like two hours now. I'm like, okay, I haven't seen my husband. Um, I'm tired of the small talk. You know, I've had the like like I'm done, I'm ready to go home, right,

So I'm gonna go find Michael. So I go outside because I see a cloud of just like cigar smoke. I'm like, there must be my husband, just man. So I go out there and I just see my husband and I'm like, oh god, here's mayor Mike. Like, I'm just gonna and I sit down and he was just like like just like laughing with what was the guy's

name again? Okay, great? Even better. So you know, I sit down and these guys are just like I gotta I gotta a bourbon in one hand a cigar and the other leaning back with my door and sport code on my legs crossed all fancy like yeah. And so I'm like sitting out there. I'm like, okay, I'm just gonna sit out here with him for a second, and you know, just being the moment with him and you know, he seems like he's having a really great time. These guys are laughing and you know, and then he's like

Lane the Mayor. We'll just call Lane the Mayor. He says something really funny and Mike goes Lane and I was like, it's time to go. We need to go immediately. I was like Lane, and I was like, Lane, is he so funny? You did? That's how he sounded and no exaggeration. You pretty much got up stone faced, were like it's time to go. Mom has done Like it was just like you, who is this one taking up puff of my cigar? Who is this guy? We need

to immediately leave. I'm the guy that can go into a room and all the guys in the room I've known each other for years and I'm brand new to the group. I'll walk out of that room with nicknames for everybody. We're all telling jokes like yeah, yeah, I'll see you on the squash court, like you like transform into this tennis like I don't even know where. It's

like Lane, let's see you at the club, Darlin. And then it's like this other and then it's like you know, it's it's hello areous because you you you genuinely morph into this um different humans. It's still me, but it's just a more um. Hey man, I just like to have a good time at these Uh. No, I love

it sometimes, No, I genuinely love it. I think it was just after the hours of small talk and then having you come out to be then seeing that I was just like, okay, yeah, but because we don't have a we're not doing Christmas party, I feel like we should do something with the kids. Like what do you mean, I don't like throw a throw a Christmas party like just us. Yeah, we were sweaters. I would love that, like an ugly Christmas party sweater. I love it. And

we can watch like Frosty the Snowman. That sounds like a great idea. Are we gonna do something for New Year's a big deal for you? I love New Year's But right now, let's just focus on Christmas, um and making sure that we have our clorox during Christmas time, because with you know, everything that's going to get a little messy with like our gingerbread houses and the dogs

and the kids. Were happy to have our clerks in hand with us is Zara if you say, I was like adamant about a Christmas tradition, like what like maybe I was and it was like I want to go back to Virginia every year. M I would that would be a would you have told me that before we got married or after? I don't know, I just you know, I feel like holiday traditions like there's it's one of those things where you don't talk about early stages in

a relationship until the holidays. There maybe if you're dating and it's around a holiday, you mentioned like holiday traditions, but you still might not know the severity of what of of it for that person, like yeah, I typically go home and then you get married, Like no, I go home every year. I feel like that one's a big ask as well as like a tradition in my mind is like a big cookies with Jolie every year. Or you know, we now have our new tradition when

we watch a Christmas movie every week until Christmas. But your question is if that was your tradition of I'm not saying me specifically. I just think the topic of you know, new relationships and having these traditions around holidays

and how people navigate those. I think it's just about like adapting in and also compromising too, like because I think if just say, like I have to be home every year for Christmas, that's a really big gass when you start to have kids and you know, you're get you're married, and you've got young ones, Like that's that to me is a kind of a tall order if

you're far away from home. Um. But I think other traditions, I think it's just one of those things where you know, you say it's really important to you, and then you kind of meet in the middle. And I mean, shoot, most Christmas traditions I'm off or I love Christmas time. I mean, once you have kids, it's it's that's when everything changes, you know. And if you're if your family

isn't local, you've got to have your own traditions at home. Yeah, Which you know, if you were to say like that was something like you have to have every year, I'd have been like, how could you even you don't? It's just such a hard one, Like how do you even like? You know, I would be like no, because I've got family I want to see too, or you know, I want to stay home like I want to I want to create my own traditions, like with the kid the kids,

and that's those are the traditions. Like we're just finding out our traditions and I think that's yeah, Like right now we're creating our own traditions, and I think that's cooler than anything in my in my mind. But when Jason Jolie start to have families, are you gonna want them to come to our house? Are you gonna be open at traveling to them? Oh, wherever they could have me?

Like I I'm I don't care at all, Like I just want to be And that's the thing, Like, you know, we had our traditions growing up, and like in my mind, you have your traditions when you grow up. Then you have your traditions when you start a family and you have kids of your own, and then when your kids go and have kids of their own, then you have to recreate your whole new tradition, you know, and and

seeing what that looks like. Um, so yeah, of course, I mean I want to, you know, hopefully be invited to their house. Um would love for them to come home, and you know, maybe we can figure out something that works for everyone. But obviously I understand that their wives and husbands are going to have a say and they have family they have to visit to, and that's when we have to create our own new traditions. And maybe we're like, you know what, we're in Florida, we're not

vacation kids. See you later. You're on your own. I'm excited to talk about talk to our guests Rachel, Lindsay and Danielle mone just to see what they're you know, traditions are I mean Rachel and her hasband only been married just over a year. You know, they're a long distance so we'll dive into that with them. So let's take a break and let's get going with that. What's up. Let's say, Rachel, how are you doing good? How are y'all? Do you needed to put on headphones or no, you're great.

That sounds awesome. Okay, so we've already introred you. Um, we're super excited Rachel to have you on Wine Down. First of all, I want to say, as an extra correspondent with you, I love that we kind of do you know the same thing in a way we do we do. I'm happy to be you've been in the family. I'm happy to be a part of the family now. No, no, you're so sweet and you're so beautiful too. I just I don't know. I like you, that's all. I mean.

How many different things are you doing right now? Right now? Rachel to stay busy because I feel like getting your rundown. You're just a woman of many, many hats right now. Hi. I do a few things, but it all somehow, it all works it self out. So extra I do to podcast one Bachelor Happy Hour and the other one is Higher Learning with Van Lathan, two totally different types of podcasts.

One Bachelor Bachelor Bachelor, the other one is about politics, current affairs, sports, entertainment and all how it affects the black culture. And then I have a show on MTV. But it's not we're not feeling right now, So that's good. I think that's it. So well know that that's amazing. It's not. That's it. That's a lot like it's fine. Um, so I'm I'm obviously I'm watching this season of The Bachelorette. I just have to ask you, if you who who

do you like the most? Right now? Okay, I have to think where we are in the season, So i'll because I'll slip up and say something I'm not supposed to. Well, where Okay, So I I just caught up on the treadmill this morning and they just had so Bennett is that his name? Bennett? He went away and then he then he just came back. Um, but I like Ben and Zach I think his name is. I like those too, because they're like they've been through stuff, but they're they're

open enough to like vulnerable share. But I don't know. Do you think Zach kind of reminds you of Nick a little bit? No? Oh my gosh. I never even thought about that until you just said it. Watch some of his watch some of his manner mannerisms. I just feel like he has that kind of like coy, you know, cool but also like you like, intriguing kind of thing. Yeah. Maybe because I'm not into that, you don't say. To

be honest, I think he is good. I think they I don't see the chemistry, but I can tell she really likes him and he really likes her, so like that's what they say. I just like don't feel the chemistry between them, not the way that she is with like a Bin or a Brendan. There just seems to be a different level of attraction. Maybe that once infatuation, maybe it's love. I don't know. Bennett is my absolute favorite. I know I'm on the minority, in the minority of

this one. I love bin It. You do not for Tastia for me as it's like as I mean, he is pure entertainment. He's really funny. What's the show gonna be without bin It? It's selfish reasons. He is not for Tastia by any meaning. But he's my favorite. And I like Riley. Which one's Riley? Right? At least the attorney has the probably gotten that much screen time. He's black, he's an attorney. He's the one who had the name. His name, wasn't. I like him a lot? So in

the beginning, I wasn't sure like I didn't. I was just like him and Claire, I don't, I just like I could just there was no chemistry. But I see the chemistry with Tatia, and I'm really glad that he's like opening up. That was the one where his mom left him, right, Yes, he changed name and all that. Yeah, No, I'm curious to see if she takes him on the

home dates. But I'm really invested in with I know, sorry, did you have Let me just say this because I have the kind of personality where if I was to be the bachelor, I like you and have these extraordinary dates that when I pick you know the man and it's normal, I feel like my expectations would just be like like I would be like this is it? Like it's not this like big dreamy moment, and I don't know, I feel like everything would be kind of like a

letdown afterwards. Did you experience any of that or no? No, because maybe I wanted something different. So I think that's no one's ever talked to me about it in this way, And I think it's really interesting because I was so big on not getting caught up in how grandy ghosts everything is, like in real life, we're not flying in hot air balloons and jet setting across the country, And so my thought process was who makes sense in real life?

Who can I do absolutely nothing with and have a fantastic time when you take away all the glips and glamor, Like I would constantly say, you know, I don't look like this right faceol makeup, I never wear ballgowns. I'm in sweats, Like I need you to understand how I am in everyday life. So that was I had tunnel vision when it came to that, Yeah, that makes sense. I don't know. I just for me, it's like, yeah,

I'm the sweat wearing girl too. But I think sometimes I have these greater expectations that I think that, like, my husband's going to do this, and then I'm like, and then I have to almost fight with my own expectations. What do we read in a book the other day? What was like it's like the death of expectations, Like you almost have to kill expectations because it can just

affect everything. But now that you're newly married, how has the quarantine change jaralls relationship for the good and the bad? So oh, I want to say something that you said about I want now I want to read this book the depth of expect I have. I don't set expectations maybe goals, so I and because I have learned that I don't do well with being let down, like almost like a child throwing a temper tantrum, So I purposely don't really set high expectations and then I'm always beautifully

surprised instead of being let down. If that makes sense. That's that's how I like trick myself. Um, I canna read that so quarantine. So for us, quarantine has been you know, like not taking away from what's going on in the world and just focusing on me and Brian. It was the silver lining and all of this for

us because I'm always gone. So it was like we were living this long distance relationship and for the first time in our relationship marriage, I was still and I was present, and so for six months I was in Miami. We were together every single day. We got into this routine and it can be a scary place because as we see, a lot of couples didn't survive quarantine because you're kind you can't escape your relationship kind of face with the reality of it, the good, the bad, ugly,

and it's definitely all those things. But for us, we just kind of got back to the basics. We have a lot of the same things in comments, so it's like we would He went to work every day, so maybe that helped to we had the separation um because he was considered an essential worker, so he did his thing, I did my thing. At the end of the day, we would come together, whether it was binge, watching a show, watching sports, or playing board games or things like that.

Having zoom calls with our family members. Um, yeah, so it was. It's been really good to get back to the basics for us. But then it became really hard when I moved to l A for extra because now we're by postal and it's we've gotten so used to each other, almost dependent in a way. We've never had dependency in our relationship until quarantine, and we kind of liked it. I did. If you had told me, I would have said, no. Experiencing it. Yeah, you know, that's

the thing. It's there can be some good dependency on one another. And I feel like Jan and I we we never had like codependency or dependency on our past relationships, at least from you know what I mean, Like never really cared that much what the other person thinks in a not an unhealthy way, but in a healthy way because you love them so much and you want them to be happy. I must feel like we had like bad codependency though we did. Yeah, we had to work

our way. We got so intertwined. It was code like true codependency, and we've had to work our way back out and be side by side going the same direction, which I think we are now. Um, but no, that's great, that you Rachel that you guys were able to have that time and really benefit from it and kind of take a step back from all that noise around the publicity that you guys get and having to travel into

appearances and do all this. It was like you could be normal, you know, like everybody else quarantine and he would have to go to work and do your thing. But what a gift that you guys were able to do. And like you said, this overlying at the beginning of all this. So that being said, going into the holidays and you guys being by coastal, like, what's the plan coming up this month? Right on time with the question,

I say, the decision this morning. So I've really been Friday and I knew we were going to spend it together no matter what. We didn't spend Thanksgiving together, which and I wasn't with my family and my sister was here, so that was really tough. So we're like Christmas, we're definitely gonna be together. I've really been struggling with do I travel to Dallas, which is where I'm from, and you know, we we trade off on where we're spending Christmas. I was like, should I go? Am I being selfish,

am I putting them in jeopardy? And my sister has been very open about like, come here, you know, we can take all the precautions that we need. And I just woke up this morning and I said, you know what, I need this. I haven't seen my family since last Christmas. I can't afford to do things in a way where I can take precautions and not put them at in jeopardy as much. And so I just like my sister's comfortable with it. Brian and I are going to come

to Dallas and we're going to spend it there. And I'm really excited because I have two nephews six and three. I think they're those. My niece and nephew are like thirteen and I don't even know, but I'm always like there five and seven, and I'm like, they're actually thirteen and ten, I think, or like yeah, some something like that. But I haven't had a Christmas with kids in a while, so I am so excited to like see the joy that kids bring to Christmas. And that's what I kind

of woke up with. Two. I was like, you know what, I don't have a tree, no decorations, nothing, I know, I know, I'm not a scrooge here. I'm not. I'm not in the Christmas spirit other than the music. So I was like, you know what, I'm going to take control of this. I'm gonna give myself a Christmas and so I'm really excited I'm going to that. I'm so glad you're doing that for yourself because you're gonna be so much happier. And as Brian gonna fine meet you there. Yes,

he'll meet me there. So we're spending it there and we're like super excited. How long will you guys do the long distance for? Just on the spring? Just to the spring? Okay, what which I haven't said because everyone thinks we're getting a divorce, so but of course that's the next thing. What's been the most challenging though, for y'all's relationship having that long distance? I would say, just we're east east coast, west coast, so the time difference

is tough. Um, just we were so together in quarantine that I mean, it's just if we didn't have quarantine and we were doing this, I would have been fine. But just I missed him so much, Just the little things like waking up next to each other, being able to like cook dinner, don't even like to cook. But I didn't quarantine cooking for him, you know, having a meal for him when he came home playing board games like just that time. That intimacy is what I missed

so much. And you know sometimes I fall asleep or I'm awake if he's not, just with the time difference. So it's it's but have you all played Monopoly together? That's the question? Wait in quarantine? Yes, I bought happily. Did you happily play monopoly? Because we just because he wants to make really bad deals and I'm like, no, I'm not trade. That's ridiculous. Why would I give you about mutual benefits? And you are not you're a dictator. No,

I'm not a dictator. I'm just like, I'm smarter at monopoly, which is why I've won three times. Okay, do you buy everything? You land on me most of the time. But here's the deal. I will trade if it's a good opportunity. Having said that, you trade if it benefits you and only you. That's not true at all. But um, I'm just saying I'm smart about what I landed. Like he passed up the purple every time he landed on it. Well, guess what, I bought all the purple then put houses

and in the hotel on there. By the time, he was still trying to Really, we can't play Monopoly, and this annoys us about each other. So when you guys were spending this much time in quarantine together, were there any little things that kind of started You're like, Okay, I don't like this about you. It annoys me, you know,

cute things or whatever. Yeah, well Monopoly, it's funny. I don't buy everything, and Brian buys everything to the point where he's like, has no money, is mortgaging things off, and I'm just like, bad practice. This isn't how you play the game. You're holding onto these It just frustrates me beyond. And then somehow, though he wins exactly, it doesn't make logical sense. Their house poor for the first half of the game, and then all of a sudden

they're just taking everything we have. Well, you know what, that's how everyone's house poor until they're not, you know, until they work their butts in real life. I try to navigate the game how I would in real life. This will not work. Next time, when you see him over Christmas, I want you to buy every single property that you land on it and tell me how that

works for you. We'll probably be playing taboo. That's like a game we love to play in a group, So I know we'll be playing taboo, which we get really competitive over at the same time, especially if we're on the same team and he can't figure out what it is I'm describing. We can't be on the same team. We've decided we're just not. We can't. We gotta be. We have to go against each other for that exact reason. Um, Rachel,

You're amazing. Where can our listeners find you? Even though I know where we can, but you know, yes, you can find me on at th g V Rachel Lindsay, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook. Um. You can also catch up what I'm doing on my website www. Rachel Lindsay Official dot com. You can check out Bachelor Happy Hour. It comes out the day after whenever the show airs,

which is about to change. It's about to go back to Monday's so the day after the morning after and then higher Learning is every Tuesday morning and Friday morning. Awesome well, Rachel, okay, and extra yes and watch Extra Rachel, thank you so much. You're joy and um have fun in Dallas with your family. You guys, Rachel, she was so sweet. Yeah. I really enjoyed her too. I like her, she says a good energy about her. She really does.

I like I went into it not really knowing and then you know, because you just like read things and she's so she really liked her. Um. So we have another amazing lady coming on, Daniello Mone. She's um. She has a podcast called Adulting Like a Mother Father Um. And then she also has new diapers, um sprouted diapers. Um. So let's get Danny Yellow on the podcast. Hi guys, Hi, Hi again. Hold friend, Oh my gosh, let me see your belly first and foremost rebelly, so cute. How many

weeks are you now? I'm prety change? Are you so excited? Right around the corner, very excited? Um, it's flown by. I don't Did you feel that way with Jason? Yeah, because you're so preoccupied with the first that it's just like, oh wow, this Yeah, it goes I think it goes by a lot faster. It's I feel like I just found out I was pregnant, and now I'm like where are we putting her? Where are we putting her? Like, oh crap, I need everything? How old is how? How

old is? He's only fourteen months? They're clothed almost two. That's excitingly interesting. So two is has anyone told you about like adding another one on? I mean not, I don't see enough people for anyone to tell me. Please share. I don't know if you want the answer. Look, so I know you and your let's fiancee. Um, when are you guys getting married? By the way, I just had a curiosity soon or not? Like when you don't have any plans. We haven't had plans this whole time. You

need to get on it, uma. But it's like it's it's it's challenging the first few months just because you're just you don't have a second because if you're not dealing with the one, you're dealing with the other, and then you don't want to burden like I felt like I didn't want to put both of them on him, So then it was just like then I wasn't taking

care of myself and vice versa. Same with him. You still have that struggle, which and I will always tell him like I don't care, you know, and Jenna be like, can I hang out with the girls and play cards tonight and you have the kids. I'm like, totally cool. But I appreciate it because it is two years a lot, especially at the ages that g will be and your baby girl will be. It's it's a lot. But I mean, now, it's just what a great time to have a freaking

baby though. I mean, well, yes and no, because you can't really have visitors at the hospital, but I mean you are able to just like be so present and not have to work as much. Right, No, totally. I think the timing is really nice um for that reason. But yeah, it is weird because there hasn't been I think that's one of the reasons why it's flown by, because there's been no stopping along the way to acknowledge

the pregnancy. You know. I'm not like seeing enough people be like, oh, well, my gosh, I don't get to dress my bumped and go out on the towel, like there's none of it. That's so true. But now, so you have the sprouted diapers, um and they're the only vegan diapers correct. Yeah, they're the first certified in the US. UM. So I I created sprouted. When I was pregnant with Geo, I was trying to find diapers that were just really transparent.

I wanted to know that I was going to like find a clean, vegan, cruelty free diaper made with eco friendly materials that was going to work. And that was my one thing is that everyone who I talked to was like, oh, yeah, there they exist, but they're they're not like comfy, you know, they feel gross, they don't you know, they don't really work that well. And I just was annoyed by that. And to be frank, like, I didn't feel like I was ready to do the

cloth diapering thing. So I just was like, if I need convenience, I need to know that I can rely on something that's gonna work but it's not going to be like harmful to him and harmful to the environment. And so I started working on it and it took a while, but here we are. So this might make me sound like a bad mom, but I guess what is the I haven't done the research of why a

vegan diaper is better than a paper like we use pampers. Um. I tried to use the Honest diapers, but they just smelt like I smelled the pea and I'm just like, oh man, And so then we went back to Pampers. But I'm like, I guess, like tell me, like what, like why are they? Why is it bad? What's the benefits? What's the benefit of having a vegan in versus like a Pampers or a Huggies or anything. Sure, functionality wise,

probably not a huge difference. The reason why I wanted to make a vegan diaper was purely based on my own ethical stance. So every company I've invested or co founded is vegan UM and that's like our mission, right, So just trying to make certain everyday products that are accessible to the masses not have to harm animals along the way, Like you don't have to, why should we? So the reason why our diapers are vegan is because

we don't use um animal drived glues. We don't use manufacturing um like UM what factory stuff that that uses lubricants that are coming from animals. Um. Tiny little things you would never think about. And something that I learned along the way. And it was not the easiest process,

but um, but we did. It's being as passionate as you're around that you know, I watched that Netflix documentary Game Changers a while earlier in this pandemic, right, and I drink the cool aid like everybody, I was like, I gotta be vegan now, and so I talked about it with Danna for a little bit. But where I struggled, and I even got a cookbook that's vegan, But where

I struggled was like, where where do you start? Right, so, for for someone who wants to maybe not go fully vegan, but but dip my toe and see what it's like and kind of the benefit, Um, like, where would you start or suggest for someone like me or anybody else to kind of get started on that train. I used to do this really cool program in school called meatless Mondays, and some school systems called it lean and Green program, but really what it meant was the schools would go

completely meatless on Mondays alone. And so I took that approach and like, if the kid can do it, you know, and they're the piggiest of us, all right, Um, then I kind of like I I instill that, like I guess coin er when I'm talking to people that asked the same questions, just why not just art with one day a week? Because that impact on the environment obviously,

the lives of animals is huge. Just one way, one day a week, and see how you feel, like, don't put pressure on yourself if you slip up, no big deal, Like, I just think that people try, Like you said, right, you saw game changes like you just want to go cold turkey or all in you drink a cool aid. But is that like sustainable long term for some people? Yeah, totally, that's the only way to do it for for some.

But I think also like it's a lifestyle choice, so it's a long haul and I think, you know, be gentle on yourself. Give it a few meals, see what you like, what you don't like. It takes some somewhere, like learning, I guess along the way with having you know, geo and then a new baby on the way. I've always been curious of someone who is vegan how you raise your children, you know, do you just give them the same happens that you have right now and then maybe later on they can decide if they want to

try something like how are you guys planning on doing that? Yeah, that's my approach exactly. I think. Um, you know, in our home, we eat the way we eat and it's easy because we're here and even when we're out, like there's a lot of resources around here. And I've been doing this for over twenty years, so I've like kind of figured it out and how to make it work wherever I am. UM, in terms of the future, like, I don't put pressure on any of it. I'm like,

he's a human being. He's going to make decisions, he's going to figure things out along the way. UM, I want him. The one thing I will say is I just want him to have some awareness around where his food comes from, because I think that that's something that I wasn't taught. And that's why I became vegan, because I felt like someone just took the blindfold off and I felt duped and I was like wait what. I was five years old, So I was like traumatized. UM

to learn like the truth. And I think just having that gentle conversation like you know, this is a cow and like you know, at some point down the line, and hope that that resonates with him and if it doesn't, my job is to love him wholeheartedly and that's all that matters, you know. I think that's been part of my hesitating and too, because I mean, as you know, as a mother, you know, what you do with your

kids like impacts everything you do daily. So you know, I'm the primary cook in the family and so you know, I cook for Jinna and the kids and everything. And I feel like if I went vegan or wanted to do more, you know, the kids are used to what they're used to now they're five and two, and it's like they kind of have their habits and things they like and don't like, and so I would I feel like I would have to change, Like I'll be cooking two meals almost, you know. So it's like I'm just

find excuses, really is what I'm doing. So there's vegan cheese, but no, so dairy is anything that basically comes from an animal the creation of an animal um is not necessarily vegan. But there's so many good cheeses on the market. Now, this is where I just go down a rabbit hole, I mean, because it's like, well, what if we have the chickens and they lay the eggs. Can't aren't those eggs then fine because they're not being shot with stuff.

So there's like a few different thoughts. No, for sure, there's like a few different thought processes when it comes to eggs specifically, I think, like the biggest thing that um I am aware of and I think the world should be is our factory farming. And like the animal agriculture industry, it's so corrupt, it's so not what we think. It doesn't matter if you see cage tree or whatever, like it's just the biggest misconception we're being sold to

left and right. And so for me particularly like listen, if you have a chicken and you consume their eggs, like that's a different story. Um, if the chicken lives a beautiful life and you know, it's it's a different dynamic. These chickens are piled up on top of each other in these tiny, tiny little coops with no son, no nothing, because if they get any exposure to the outside world, they could potentially burn calories. And the whole thing is

about like keeping them plump and tight. It's a business, and I'm really being someone who's in the business space. I own a lot of businesses. I am so anti um money driven like mentalities where it's just about the bottle bottom line, and unfortunately, like in the animal agriculture business alone, like that to me is like the worst of them all. They just feel like they don't consider our health and they don't consider obviously the animals, but

that's secondary. They just don't consider our health or the environment, none of it. So I've just been like, man, this is where I just start to feel like overwhelmed, because like I would love to try it, and I did like a pin or test, and I'm not technically supposed to have dairy, so but when I have tried, I need can you d m me the vegan cheeses that you eat? Yeah, because I'm a big cheese like cheese and wine girl. So it's like you know, you're you're

you're taking out one of my main food groups. Yeah. And then then I'm like the high and iron, Like I I get really I've really bad you know monthly things, and my doctor's like, you need to eat a lot of iron, and I feel like the only way that I have energy is what I have a steak, you know. But interesting, so well there's tons of ways of getting iron. In fact, you know, the analogy I like to use as our animals are basically just a carrier of where

the actual iron is coming from. Right, So it's like they all eat the grass, they eat the hey, they eat the things that. Like, if we could just cut out the middleman and we were just more mindful of like getting enough plants in our diet, Um, iron really wouldn't be an issue. Um. And if it were, then I think you probably would be a candidate for a supplement anyways, right, like because it would probably be harder for sure. So then speaking of Christmas, what do you

eat at Christmas? Then? Because I'm like cheese casserole, Like, like, what what do you have? Like, what's a vegan Christmas dinner? Look like? Good question? Um? You know I'm Italian, so it's like I always bring it back to the roots. I'm like, you know what if we could have pizza lasagna? You know, I love making a good hearty soup. I'm also a big side dish girl because for the majority of my life before people caught onto what veganism was,

I only eat the side dishes. Um. So like I just I always like have like the green beans and the potatoes and everything roasted. And I've just found a way to make it work and it really doesn't feel any different to me. Um. There are tons of fake meats too obviously. Um, but because I was vegan before they got here, like, I haven't really doped too far into those, um, but I do eat them. I'm just like i'd rather have like the whole plant foods. So

before we let you go, what's the families? What's y'alls planning for Christmas? How are you guys going to spend it? Where are you going to spend it? We're spending it with family, Um, spending it with family. I'm lucky enough to have grown up in l A, so a lot of our immediate families here. Um, I'm hoping nothing really changes, and that's just what it is. That's how where my heart is. Well. Um, Danielle, you're the best. I love

following on Instagram. Um, and I'm so happy about your diapers. Um, so everyone needs to get they're vegan diapers at sprouted dot com and follow Daniella because she's You're just I just I love everything about you and you know just everything you do. So um and please dm me some awesome recipes so I can change my ways. Are little, just a little, just like baby baby steps, And then I think we should try one month of just like full on bring it and taking the Beyonce approach. I

like it. Yeah, let's do it um and then good luck on the pregnancy tube. I only got a few more weeks. You got this. She was gonna be great. It changes, it changes in a beautiful way. Just give yourself. I'll just one thing, even though I always say, like, don't ever give advice to pregnant people, but I am going to ask for what you need in those moments. Be like, I need to take a shower, because our husband's partners are not going to read our mind. They're

just not. They don't know that we need a shower. They don't know that we need to eat, you know, they don't know that we need five minutes. So just ask for what you need. I appreciate that. I'm not I'm not good at that. So it's good reminder. Super women want to do everything yourselves. We're here to help you. Okay, We're here. I'll be honest. Andrew left today with Geo

for the first time in months. I think he's been away from me once before, just once, okay, and he went to his mom's house for a couple of hours. I'm like, I have a few zooms, Like you know, you can, you can check out and go for a little drive whatever. I have mad anxiety, like the amount of snacks and lunch and two hours he's away. I packed everything under the sun. I said, you call me when you get there. It's a like I couldn't even deal with like someone else being in control for two hours.

I have a long way to go. You're not Look you're not alone, because Janna would be the same way. And I have to reminder, I'm like, you realize there with that, like literally there with the the next best should make it possibly be with in this entire world. I was like, they're gonna be okay, and she's like, no, but I'm not there. Yeah. I just always had to be like I know, but I just we have to say it. We have to. We just have to be like, do you have this? Do you have that? Do you

have you know? We just's we'll figure it out. We're dad, We got this, dude, he said. He goes, I'm going to drive home around Um, I'll drive out on his nap and I'll drive home. I said, well, he's got a nap on the way home and we have a bedtime at like sixty seven. So are you not like I lost my mind. I was like, no, no, no, you drive out before the nap and you drive home on the map a day drove you right here. This is exactly what because we've been there, done that several times.

It's too good, Danielle, thanks again for your time, sweetheart. We love talking with you and giving Andrew our best in congratulations on everything. Thank you, thank you. Bye. She's such a sweetheart. I love her. She's so sweet. Hey, Mark, Yes, Jannah, do you eat meat? I do eat meat, but I don't eat red meat. It ain't a lot less meat than I used to eat. I was, I was all in. I was one of those guys steak and everything back

burgers constantly. I was one of those guys. But I have evolved as I have grown older in many ways and one of those not eating meat all the time. And the fake meat that's out right now is really good stuff. Really, we actually had some that jew and Cues and them. What was that? It was like a we had a burger, but it was like an impossible burger. Actually, yeah, it was actually pretty good. We need to start getting some at Costco, then Gasco. Let's go to Costco. When

you go to Castco. Make sure to get your clorox because they're selling out fast again. Ladies and gentlemen. I gotta keep it clean, they said, like low stock Clorox. Make sure you get your clean it up. It's going to be a messy holiday season, but I'm pumped. I can't wait. We're ready. Elf on the Shelf is back at it again, except the elf forgot to do something the other night, and I was like, oh, he was a good boy last night. Great dad safe. So yeah,

that's all you, daddy, al Right. I love you guys. Merry Christmas.