Episode 62: Corruption in the Senate | TikTok Ban | Book Review: Catch The Sun By Jennifer Hartman | Will Drake Sue NFL? | Rednote | Diddy Documentary | AITA

Hosts: Stefanie Navarro & Meredith Hill
Run Time: ~60 min
Theme: TikTok bans, conspiracy theories, impulsive shopping logic, Super Bowl lawsuits, cultural revelations, and a book club read that wrecked us in the best way.

🎧 In This Episode:

It’s chaos as usual under the big top. Stefanie and Meredith dive into the brief TikTok blackout, share what they’ve learned exploring RedNote (China’s version of TikTok), and unpack how Congress’s shady stock connections are fueling the app wars. Then it’s a classic Girl Math vs. Logic bro-down that leaves one AITA guy sounding real bitter about his wife’s sales strategy. They close things out with a raw, emotional breakdown of Catch the Sun—a rollercoaster of trauma, healing, and the power of complicated love.

💬 Topics Covered:

📵 TikTok Ban? Not So Fast…
– How Congress may be profiting off the ban, and what shady connections Meta, Google, and Amazon have to the vote.
– RedNote (aka “China’s TikTok”) has become an unexpected cultural exchange and chaotic rabbit hole.

💸 Girl Math vs. Husband Logic – AITA Edition
– If you saved $100 on a $200 dress… did you just spend $100 or SAVE $100?
– One husband’s outrage sparked a hilarious (and totally valid) defense of Girl Math. Spoiler: We’re Team Wife.

🌏 Cultural Misconceptions, Language Learning & Food Revelations
– What Americans are discovering about China, RedNote etiquette, and real Chinese food (hint: it’s not General Tso’s).
– Also, is it a requirement to post pet pics on command? Cat tax is real.

🎤 Super Bowl + Music Industry Drama
– Drake files a lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and its artwork.
– Could the NFL and Universal Music Group get dragged into a major legal mess?

📺 What We’re Watching:
– Upcoming Diddy documentaries
– 50 Cent’s rumored tell-all
– Reactions to James English’s podcast and the Beckham affair episode (plus bonus Scottish accent confusion)

📚 Book Club – Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann
– A YA-leaning novel that felt anything but young.
– Heartbreak, trauma, childhood friendship, survival, and a twin brother betrayal that rocked us.
– Deep themes: wrongful conviction, grief, and what healing really looks like.
– Final rating: 8–9/10 — we felt this one.

📖 Next Week’s Read:
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding – A woman tries to end her life… and what follows is a tangled mess of abuse, manipulation, and a chilling escape plot.

🧠 Quote of the Week:

“If you spend $150 on a dress that was $400, you didn’t spend money—you SAVED money. That’s just Girl Math.”
 — Stefanie (and every woman with a Marshalls receipt)

📢 Announcements:

• Our VIP Circus Crew is coming soon with full video episodes, bonus content & more
• Watch for our upcoming guest episode featuring the hilarious Tracy Chisholm

💥 Don’t Forget:

• Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen
• Leave a review (your thumbs work, we checked!)
• Follow us on TikTok & Instagram @thisismycircuspod
• Share this episode with your petty bestie or book-loving soul sister

🎪 Until next time, keep the face plump, the receipts justified, and the kids only mildly feral.

This is our circus—and these are definitely our monkeys. 🐒

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Transcript

0:00

I'm Stephanie. I'm Meredith. And welcome to this is my circus. This is, hey, hey, this is, this is turning into quite a fun day for us, isn't it? I have some new ideas. So, I'm just going to start saying fun. Like, when I don't really know how to categorize something, like, oh, that was fun. I'm going to start saying that. Okay. And my other thing is, I'm gonna start referring to Jackson's blocks at school as games. Like how was your first game today? How was second game, third game? Because I accidentally asked him the other day. How was your, how was your test in your second game? And he was like, what? I was like, oh, I kind of liked that. that. So let's just start calling them all games. Was he down for that? He was. like, would you prefer like innings or anything? He was like, no, games is fine, mom. I was like, okay, don't go too deep. It's like games is fun. Who just tolerates the crazy, just laughs and shakes his head. Well, you know, they do start. Yeah, they do. And, you know, we're just preparing them for life for all the weird that's out there. So, you know, and have you ever heard that thing too? Like, I talk trash to my kids, so they're prepared when they go out and other people talk trash to them. Yeah, there was something on, one of the social media things saying don't come to my house if you're soft because my kids We're gonna roast you ruin you. Yeah Absolutely. We are not for gentle parenting. although dylan like is not like too big of a trash talker to me Jason neither. Really to anybody. Jackson will talk a little bit of trash to his friends, but they all kind of do that But in sports, he's not really like on the court or field. He's not going to talk a lot of trash. Yeah You And he doesn't really get riled up by that. He does. He gets heated. I think because he stays calm for so long. Yeah. The person just continues. And yeah. And not that he really says anything back, but. It fuels his. It does. Yeah. even like when he played football, he had to get hit one good time for him to like get into power drive. And he was over it. Yeah. And he was going to take it out on them. But he wouldn't out the gate. Yeah. Like go hard. Yeah. But he got hit one time and. Yeah. And that was it. Yeah. I can always tell, and because Jackson, you're right, he kind of gets to, lets it build, and then he, and it could build over several games. And then all of a sudden, this person thinks they can do something to him, and it's not gonna, and it's honestly, it's usually not. Talking, it's like you said, it's a physical, they think they can take his ball and it's not going to happen. Like, you are not taking that ball. he's in what we, what we call balkan season. Like, this is the time of year where he's, they're lifting weight so much and they're really building and his undershirt. He wears under his basketball uniform. It's very, very tight and he's very, very big. And I was like, Jackson, do kids talk trash to you? And Brian's like, who's going to talk trash like his, his arms are busting out of his shirt. Would you talk trash? And I was like, yeah, I would. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, he's going to take so long and then he's going to be more physical. It's really not going to say anything bad. Yeah. Yeah. I am, was always the trash talker. I believe it. I believe it. and I thought I could back it up. I mean, I could handle myself, but like I really thought like, you know, I'm what, five something pocket person? Five two. Are you five two now? I'm two and a quarter. No, but um, shoes. Yeah, I mean, you would think back in the day that I thought I was like six five and you were one of the ladies of wrestling. You were part of glow. The gorgeous ladies of wrestling. No, I definitely thought that I could. Yeah, I talked a lot of a lot of stuff. I probably couldn't have backed up some of Jackson's friends that aren't quite as big as him have said, if you got my back, I'm gonna keep talking trash and Jackson's like, go ahead. I mean, most of the time, ref separate stuff before it escalates. I had 2 sisters if we were out somewhere, I always had somebody, you know, like, and and. If anybody messed with, oh yeah, my sisters, it was like the crazy little sister that was like jumping over people trying to, yeah. Yeah. Tell them they had to hold you back. Take their head off. Right. Right. But I get it. It is what it is. I have very much mellowed out in my older age. And the drugs have helped. It does. There's only like two squirrels. There's like 20 squirrels. Some of my other squirrels have just moved on to other people's heads. Um, Well, I told you when we were just talking to Tracy, which that was so much fun. It was that, Brian and I were listening together to our episode from one of our episodes. And he was like, quit skipping ahead. What are you doing? And I was like, babe, I'm not skipping. That's just how we think. Like we're kind of all over the place. Sometimes he was like, How do you even keep up? I was like, no idea. We just do. Yeah. We just go, we just go, we roll with it. We do. Well, we do. We do. I'm thankful that I have somebody that is just as scattered as 100%, but for two scattered people, we have a lot together. so let's talk about some stuff. So Tiktok's back. Well, Jackson just said it's not. Oh, so it was banned for maybe 12 hours and we both checked and it's back for us, but he said it's not back for him. So maybe it's taken some time to come for people. Yeah. Well, let's talk about the band, because I feel like this is super shady Congress. Voted on this a while ago. They tried to pass the bill to extend it. Mm and the horrible evil, Mr. Cotton butthead Senator from Arkansas Tom Cotton blocked it. He stood on business. He meant every word he said. Ten tones down. Oh my goodness Yeah, and he said no. Yeah, so we all know she took one down on Saturday night and Tell me why there is at least 27 congressmen or women, whomever, that own MetaStock, Google Stock, and Amazon Stock, which is all what has been affected by TikTok. And they are voting on the laws that regulate these, and they own all this stock. So is that not insider trading? It should be, yes. That should be. That should count as that and was federal crimes. Thank you. How is that not illegal? Well, the rules are meant to be bent, I guess. I don't know. So now of course, Americans being, the petty nation that we are, and I love you all for it. I am here for the petty, you know, that, have gone to red note. And then there's other versions of Tik TOK in like Russia and India. And. People have flocked to all these other versions and are experiencing all these other cultures, which I think is amazing. I do too. You know, I'm all about cultures and accents and languages and stuff. So, but my question is, and I have done zero digging on this, so can you give me like the third grade level on why aren't we banning TikTok? they said it's a security risk because there is the potential for Data repairs and stuff for to get, um, our data, but there has been no proof that has happened. the owner of tick tock is not even Chinese. He's from Singapore. So, but is there not that risk on pretty much every single thing and the like sheen don't take my sheen on red book or whatever they're calling it now. Little red book or whatever. they said that they don't know what sheen is. In China. Where is she then? Like, how is that not a thing there? Okay, next time I send something back to Shane, which they never want stuff back. I know. I was gonna say I won't put a little air tag in it and track it. I doubt it goes back to China though. Probably doesn't. I would cost more to send it back. Yeah, it probably cost. Than the two dollars it takes to make my formal gown. Yeah, a hundred percent. So yeah, I'm learning so much though. Yeah. On this, this app besides being asked to be a sugar baby. Which I do not know why you declined. It was a hard pass. Once they see me in like real life, they'd be like, Oh, Oh, nothing to up your pay, baby. But, yeah. So the cost of living is so much cheaper than I thought it would be there. Like their grocery store prices are so low. How much are their eggs? I don't know, but their bananas were like seven cents. Oh my gosh. And you know, all that stuff is so much fresher and less preservatives, which side note, because squirrels, they did ban. Red, right? Red, red dot. And, us, the FDA did ban that by Twizzlers. Which are like wax anyway. Who actually likes Twizzlers? My sister. I don't know why. How are Twizzlers still a thing? I don't know. What's your go to gas station? Like, I know that like, like food issues or whatever, but like if you could go in and pick a candy or chip, what's your go to gas station? okay for chips, it would be salt and vinegar. Oh yeah, those are good. for candy, I would go with, Either Sour Patch Kids or Nerd, Ropes or like. And Clusters. Yeah. Okay. I would go for just regular old fashioned red bag Doritos. Okay. And I wish there was a way to get extra cheese. Doritos, we need extreme. We need, we need Doritos, nachos, cheese, extreme, please. And then just old fashioned Reese Cups, I think. Okay. Or Reese Pieces. Depends, depends on if I'm feeling like dealing with a rapper. I am not. I am not a peanut butter fan. Yeah. So that would not work for me. Not for you. Yeah. But give me some like, like sour stuff. I love salt and vinegar and sour. All of that. All of it. Yeah. Okay. I think Sour Patch Kids embodies me. I can see that. If I was a candy, that would be what I would be. Yeah. Well, I would be a sugar baby. I would not because again, once we got into it, but I didn't realize there's so many Chinese people that speak English and they said that they learn languages super, super young, which I totally think should be something in the U. S. Yeah, they should start learning a language because once you get to middle school, right. You don't care. Well, and the retention is impossible. They, so there used to be, Spanish taught in elementary schools. I want to say around here, but our kids miss that. I, I would love to learn another language right now, but my brain retention is, I can't. No, I've tried. Yeah, I did too. so yeah, they, and English, like everybody knows English. Mm-hmm And they speak it really well on the red, whatever. Yeah. Well a lot of people do. Yeah. Yeah. and they're so welcoming and they'll ask questions and Yeah. They love pets. They're, if they say cat tax, you have to. post a picture of your cat or your dog or like whatever pet you have. It's because they want to eat them. No, they're eating the dogs. They said they don't do that. see all the misinformation we've been given. Oh, yeah. So when, somebody posts cat tacks to get in the comments. Oh, well, I haven't downloaded it yet. I don't know what I'm waiting on. Oh, and then the food, like they're teaching you how to cook real Chinese food. I probably wouldn't like real Chinese. It looks so does it like the chickens and stuff? Yeah, they're like, your Chinese food is not like, no, I'm sure it's not. So, I saw in 1 of the, I think it was mama drama. Somebody said somebody not in the US. What's tick tock? Like, without us and they're like, quiet. Somebody said that. They're like. Making tons of jokes about us. Yeah, that too. And then somebody said, it's just a bunch of Canadians. Now, it's funny to see all that stuff. Yeah. So, they are teaching Chinese. Like people have been asking, how do you say this in Chinese? So they're actually making videos of how to say different phrases and stuff and swear words. That's the one that I'm on. I'm on the sweary one. Are you on swear talk? Red note? Whatever. Yeah. I couldn't even figure out what I was supposed to say. She was in my, for you feed or whatever. It's Explorer feed, whatever that's called over there. And, she said, this is how you say F U. I'm like, stop. Right. Follow. Tag that one or whatever you do on that one to Save that to your page. Yeah. so you can reference that whenever you need to. So we, as Americans are trying to make it into TikTok, but I think it's more of an Instagram like thing, which I'm sure is frustrating people that have been on this app forever. Yeah but it is what it is, I'm just I think I'm fascinated with all the things that are on there. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and it's just like any new platform. You have to kind of figure it out. Right? And see where it goes. I forgot that tick tock had been around as long as I had. So I vividly remember, like, 2020 was when it blew up, right? Because we were in the, yeah, was it around before? So it was musically at one point. Okay. And then musically, I think got bought out by Tik TOK because when Dylan, when it was musically and it saved the videos like transferred over, it became Tik TOK, but Dylan had asked me to do a musically with him. And I was in like, I looked like a freaking hot mess. I had, I don't know, I had an old t shirt on. I'm just looked awful. And I was like, no. And he's like, mom, I have like two followers. He was in like fourth. Right. Right. And I was like, uh, fine. So we did it. It got like 12, 000 views overnight. It's like Dylan, you told me it was going to have two views. He's like, well, yeah. Here it is. It amazes me that some of my videos that I think are amazing are like, okay, you got 500 and then some that I'm, it's just like Jackson throwing a disc at track. It's like 15, 000 views and I'm like, that makes no sense. I know. But anyway, yeah. So I'll let you guys know if I download red note. Oh, and the other thing that they are sharing is our embassy's announcements over there so the one that I had caught was that they're sharing that and it seems like grossly like Inaccurate is that the average US household net worth is 1. 2 million. That's what they told the Chinese people I'm just, trying to think, okay. If our bajillionaires are that rich, Does it really offset us by that much though? Right. That's what I was trying to think. No, there's no way. I don't think so. It seems, Well, and, and 1. 4 million is different in LA than it is here. Yeah. I don't know. I just, to me, it just seems like it's very, I don't know. Inaccurate. Yeah, right. I don't understand that at all, but I don't know. Well, I saw on Peacock while I was going to go watch some mindless TV that there is a new Diddy documentary on there. Oh, I have not watched it. I will watch it the next time we talk. Okay. But, there is a new documentary on there. There's one on Netflix. I think it's Netflix or Hulu too. have you watched either of those? I'll try to watch those and then we can compare notes. Yeah. Okay. I don't think 50 cents has come out yet. I was really trying to hold out for his because I think his is going to be amazing. Probably. I just tried to type some notes. So, you know, I remember to watch that and I autocorrect to diddy to sissy. Well, it's two bits. I mean, I think sometimes AI knows what we need when we don't even know what AI needs. This is true. This is very, very true. So the Super Bowl is going to be in a couple weeks. Yep. And we had talked about Kendrick being the halftime show. Yes. And Drake has already filed a lawsuit against all of the people. Drake gills to everybody. It's pretty much it. So he files a blockbuster lawsuit against Universal Music Group. And then laid the foundation for adding the NFL if they air Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us during the Super Bowl. So he has left it open to be able to add the NFL. That's, yeah, that's, he will sue the NFL and he will sue whatever network the Super Bowl is going to be aired. But J. C. okayed it. That's interesting that they are able to do that with the legal paperwork. Is, um, Lil Wayne going to get the phone call? Yeah. Oh my goodness. So in the lawsuit filed in federal court, Drake sued Universal Music Group and the record company behind both of the rappers for defamation and harassment, calling its release and promotion of Not Like Us an example of valuing corporate greed over the safety and well being of its artists because, the artwork for Not Like Us showed Drake's Toronto home with like a little, a dotted rocker. Yeah. And indicating a registered sex offender. So right after that Artwork dropped. Somebody had come to his house and there was a shooting and his bodyguard got injured or one of the security team got injured. Plus there was two other attempts of trespassers after that. Artwork dropped. Oh my goodness. So, yeah, there, there could be lots of legal action coming. Yeah, from that sounds like there will be. Yeah, I didn't realize I his house with that information on either. And, but now it makes more sense of why everything is going on that is going on. So I listened to, Several of the podcasts that we had talked about a few weeks ago with James English. Anything goes. I listened to the one with, oh my gosh, what's the lady's name that, was intertwined with the Beckham's. Did you listen to that one? I forgot her name, but. He was a great interviewer and he would just let them go. but she talks a little bit about Victoria Beckham and this lady's was, I think she was David Beckham's assistant. Okay. And then. Things progress might have allegedly. And, yeah, every time something would circle back to Victoria Beckham, she would say, I don't really want to talk about that. I don't want to disclose that. So I thought it was pretty nice that she was a little bit. Private about that. but she's still a hoe, but it was still, it was still like cart before the horse kind of thing. Like you, you already let that horse out. Yeah. Like that horse is out of the barn and gone. Why are you going to do that now? But anyway, he was a great podcast dude. He is. He's a great interviewer. But like you said, the Scottish accent. It was tough. Yeah, it was tough. You cannot listen to him talk on a higher speed. Yes. No, and even just listening to him. Sometimes if I was kind of multitasking, zoning out, I'll be like, what did he just ask? Especially with the bodyguard of, Diddy, it was just like, he was talking in circles and the Scottish guy was talking so fast and his bro. Oh, and there was one when he was interviewing the lady with the Beckham's, he said, is it better and she was like, better and he said, she was like, better. Oh, better better. Like, there was a little bit of a breakdown there. that was. Entertaining to listen to. Yeah, I'm surprised he doesn't have more followers. He will now because we've recommended him You're welcome. James English, you know, and if you ever want to interview us We're here and I would just interesting. I would swoon with that accent Just just I would not even I would just let you do all the talking I don't I love the accents and this is not a surprise to anybody What's what you've been doing? We hadn't, yeah. We hadn't even really talked about like what we've been doing. Okay. Fair enough. I just been working on our website. I love it. Yeah, it looks so good. Yes. That will be coming soon. It will be coming soon. You've done a lot of good work in there. I really appreciate it. That's what I've been working on. Yeah. That's very time consuming. It's a lot of, once you figure it out, it might not be that bad. Yeah. It's just, it just takes time. Like the uploading of the videos and all that stuff. So that's just, but I love it. And I love the tiers that you have set up for people to get, to get access to videos and then bonus apps when we start releasing those. Yes. Or after dark after dark circus. so we're recording a little bit early cause just schedules and stuff. So tomorrow is actually. Monday the 20th. Uh huh. And it's also the national Well, that too, but I was going to talk about what was more important was the national championship for college football. So, for those of you that like that, go cheer for Notre Dame. Well, it's already done by the time this airs, but Snoop is going to be at the inauguration. Is he? Yes. and that's also tomorrow. Looking forward to that. watching all that and seeing who's there and who's not there. Is he performing? I think so. If he seawalks in his blue bandana outfit. Trump seawalk. Not just his, his little shovel. Right, but, but, but the whole, can you do that? I'm sure I can. I, I feel like I could, but I probably can't. I feel like I could if I drank. It doesn't look that complicated. No. But my brain into my feet. There's so disconnect somewhere. Yeah. It's, it's about right here. my shin and picks it all the way to my shin and then it stops. yeah. I'll try it in a minute. I'll show you what I got. I will, can you twerk, like really, like pop your booty twerk? Like, like good twerking. I, I could, used to, my butt kind of shrunk a lot and I don't have as much to throw back anymore. Got you. Got you. Got you. I I mean, I can do it a little bit, but I can't do it like some of the girls that are just, no, I like, I'm so envious. When the girls on mama drama, their posts, like, Oh yeah, your twerk and those girls are popping it. Uh huh. You know that, um, he used to be on Tik Tok, rest in peace. Um, The video where it was like don't don't don't don't and they'd walk and they'd shake and I'm like, I can do that. And then I'd watch myself in the mirror. I'm like, it just doesn't translate. Oh yeah. I look real good in my head, but no, but you know, I said, TikTok rest in peace. It's halfway back now. So it's coming off life support. Again, I think Meta has something to do with it because Meta now has the same little thoughts bubble on your profile pic. I mean, make that a little bit like if you're trying to hide it. I don't know. Whatever. Make the announcement at the inauguration tomorrow. Maybe. Because they're all gonna be there. That's true. the CEO of TikTok is gonna be there. Zuckerberg's gonna be there. Elon will be there. I hope nobody bombs it. Don't put that out there. It's not gonna get bombed. It's gonna be amazing. It will be. Snoop's gonna be there. Nobody can bomb nothing. All right. Are you ready for? Am I the a hole? Always. Okay. Do you want to read it Or do you want me to read it? You go ahead. Okay. This is by Cricket Mad. Am I the a hole for telling my wife that sometimes her girl math is stupid? My wife has this thing called GirlMath, which didn't bother me too much for a while. That was until we got a home and had kids. What I mean by GirlMath is, if I order something using the Starbucks app, then I get X bucks back. When you think you saved 100 by getting a 200 dress for 100. Well, you did save 100. You did. I mean that's like legit math. That's real math. That's not just girl math. Yeah Okay, you just don't get it, buddy. Right. When you When you get an expensive handbag, but it's on sale and the new price is only 300 It's still pricey, but girl math says I just saved 250 on this bag because it was 550 That makes sense to me. Same. Why doesn't that make sense? I don't understand why this guy's stupid. She said I was being a bit dismissive, but honestly, that's how I feel. Like, if you spend a hundred and fifty bucks on a dress because it's on discount, you're not actually saving money. You still spent money. Also spending, what, a hundred bucks to only get two bucks back doesn't make any sense at all. Your post doesn't make any sense at all. Like, I don't understand what the problem is. Like, where is the miscommunication? So, is that it? Does he have anything else? That's it? Well, he's a poor writer, first of all. so he's obviously not good at math, nor English. So he's mad that his wife is shopping deals. Yeah, sounds like it. She should be happy. They should. Because if she only bought stuff when she needed it, that 150 dress could actually cost 400 if she bought it at the time she needed it. Well, and sometimes, It is. Okay. So if you're at the store and you're already spending a hundred dollars and you get 10 back, great, do it. But if you're spending 80 and you're like, Oh, if I spend a hundred, I get 10 back. And you're really, you know, you're not, but if you still need something and it's only bucks, saving 10 bucks, right. If you're not just buying like 20 worth of ice, I don't know. And then you might need that. I don't know. But I'm just like, sometimes it doesn't make sense, but most of the time it does. I totally think you're the a hole. Yeah. Girl, math is a real thing. It is. I never got on you about that stuff. Girl, math. No, no, and not about spending to save because usually it's, it does make sense to buy stuff on sale or buy stuff and get, I'm big on like getting points and coupons and that kind of stuff. Now, the only time Brian has trouble with my math is when I make a slate because I, it's a real condition. It's a real condition. I'm going to tell you this the other day. I am 1 of these people that think I have more time than I really do and I'll, try to get ready or whatever and then I start doing laundry and then again I just got a lot of squirrels in my head and I will forget what i'm supposed to be doing or i'll get tied up in something else, but there is a Condition and i'm going to tell you what it's called. It is called Bless you. That was the daintiest sneeze I've ever heard in my life. I sound like a grandpa in church when I sneeze. That was the cutest thing ever. I sound like I have got a hanky in my pocket and a big old schnoz when I sneeze. That was adorable. I love you even more now. I have pocket sneezes. You have pocket sneezes. That was tiny. Did that even feel good? Did that relieve the need to sneeze? Next time I need to sneeze and I'm here, I'm going to let her rip. Tater chip. And you're going to just be like, What just came out of your face? What noise was that? Okay, I have Tidot. Tide so optimist. A person who is constantly late because they believe they have more time than reality affords. So I have Tado tied. So optimism. So so you're delusional. only about time. but yes. Fair. Okay. That's I'm d Lulu I don't know how I got on this page, but I'm loving it. On Facebook, I am seeing all the reels for, it's. Optimus Prime, the other bad guy, the Decepticon guy, Megatron, where it's like the robot at the Universal, and he just talks trash to everybody. Oh, have you been there and heard that? We've talked about, you know, in the universe before he does. It's great. It's not recently. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. Um, Dylan was like, no, I don't want to go to the amusement park and I'm like, Oh, we'll add that to our podcast trip. Yes list. Just like a united states tour. Uh huh. That sounds great Uh, oh we could rent an rv Oh, I don't know how to drive an rv We'll have a driver maybe your sugar daddy I am now I'm picturing a tiny Asian man driving this big old RV. It was a white dune. According to the screenshot in the language above it. Well, that's because they put everything in Chinese because it's a Chinese app. And then they translate it to English for it. Yeah, well, so it's good. But anyway, yeah No, I shut that down. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but yeah, so Megatron just talking trash And so there was this girl that came up and she had like a big butt and big boobs and tiny waist and She's like, all hail, Megatron. He's like, we will take on the world together. It's great. He scares kids. Oh my god, one kid dropped, it's like ice cream or something, and he was like, I didn't do that. To have such a snarky personality is like, what is the interview for that job like? Be a smartass. Yeah, yeah. Good point. Yeah. You're just answering all my questions. I'm on point today. You are, you are. I like it. I like it. Yeah. I keep seeing all those videos because I haven't been on TikTok for the last 12 hours. Are you shaking yet? No, me neither. I'm just kidding. I'm really like I can have orders like pending on TikTok shop. If it really goes down for like an extended period of time, which thank god it didn't yeah But like what happens to all of our orders? That's what I was wondering because last night jackson was like mom We can order these there's five dollars and I was like, dude, I don't know what's gonna happen So let's just pause on that see if you can find it on amazon. Yeah, which amazon is like triple prices depending on what it is. And that's why they want to shut tiktok down. They better not mess with our tiktok prices I better not. Jesus. I got a new product on the TikTok shop a couple weeks ago that I've been trying and I, I feel like it's working. What is it? So have you seen, though you might not, your algorithm is probably different because I'm old, but it's like your face face is just thirsty. Yeah. And it was that I said, yes, it's working. I think so. Cause I don't think that the French pharmacy stuff is like really doing much. Okay. Yeah. Mine. It's like, some kind of acid. Yeah. And I like acid. Yes. Thank you. I really think that I feel, I feel moisturized and plump, so I use it and then put a moisturizer on top. And I think it seems to be. Yeah. No, I like, I don't feel like this French pharmacy stuff that everybody had all mm-hmm Everywhere. Yeah. How about the Korean beauty stuff? So one of the girls that I went to Florida with or was at the retreat in Florida. Yeah. Got the whole Mecu Uhhuh, kit or whatever. So she told me, she'll let me know it. Okay. She thinks of it. Okay. I also got something that I want try and it's the big old forehead patches. Like we've tried the frownie, we've tried the, almost the tape. but I got the forehead patches that cover the whole thing. Also, cause I've got such like bags under my eyes, dark circles. I want to try that. I think it's like by the fix or something like that. but it's like a, like a super concentrated caffeine cream that is supposed to really the Kardashians, makeup artist was using it on her clients. Okay. Let me know about that one too. I think this is why I should stay off of, I am like they're like super target market because I buy. All the things well, then maybe it's a good thing that you get a little 12 hour break There was like a company out of Florida that does like all like body butters and said I love oh, yeah I butter yeah, I am a sucker. Yeah a good sugar scrub. Oh, yeah a body butter My favorite part in the pedicure is when they do like a sugar scrub thing on your legs Yeah, I've had one on my whole body before a sugar scrub It was on a cruise ship and they did it. And then you got to go take a shower and they washed you off. No, I'm just kidding. But you did get to take a shower and they left the room and you get on the fluffy robe and stuff. But I saw something on like the Clover, one of the Clover groups. And there was a massage place. Yes. You saw that too? Yes. The inappropriate massage. I'm going to go check it out. I'm going undercover. Somebody had commented that like, where, where was the location? And they showed a picture of the door, and it said SPA, and it was like in letters that you just buy individually to spell something out, and they were like wonky, like not trying to be crooked to make it like quirky looking, but just were, were not straight. I'll report back. I'm not gonna go to somewhere like that because if there's a bust when I'm there, I'm not going to jail. Oh, we can mic me up though. Okay, I might take one for the team. They were not asking if you wanted the happy ending though. No, where would I put the mic? Leave it up to my, yeah. I was thinking under a boom. Well, not if you're touching everywhere. That's true. I'm not touchy here. Yeah. So I got, two bundles, of like body butters. Yes. And it hasn't come yet. Okay. They, I think oversold and everything's backed up now. Hopefully it's not like the thing you have to order for. So I got a shipping notice for that stupid thing. Did you really? Right. So I emailed and I'm like, I don't want your stupid product. If you're shipping from China. From a Chinese warehouse or whatever, it wasn't like it was a U. S. warehouse. Uh huh. One to three day shipping. It didn't get to, like, the shipping Brooklyn or whatever? No, like to a shipping facility in China. Oh. Like, from the time it was picked up to the time it went to the shipping facility. It was like, three days. And, I guess, because I had sent like four. More emails. Mm hmm. They did like a return to sender on it. Okay, automatically because I got a notice that It was a return to sender, but they still haven't like canceled the order You're gonna get like seven of them. No, they've like blocked me on the shop app. I Didn't even know you could do that. Learn something every day. We can still get on the website on the computer though. Yeah Booyow. And they had to take off their Trust Pilot score because they were lying about the score. And I turned it in. I like it. I like it. I am, I am for the consumers. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. My superpower. Oh, hey, I like it. I like people looking out for us. All right, let's do our book review. Okay. So if you are, did not read the book or you are not into our review, book reviews, we will see you next week, unless you want to just hear about it. We're happy to have you stay. And you might end up learning something and want to be a, want to be a Oh, good. A bookie. A book worthy. It's better than a bookie. Totally different job description. Okay. so this week we read Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartman. and if you like books that punch you right in the feels. Yeah. This is a book for you. It was a rollercoaster. It was, it was,, it was a long one. Yeah. you had every motion, I feel like. Yeah. You had heartbreak, you had like lot you had. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it took you through everything. Uhhuh, agreed. Yeah. so I just asked chat, GPT to gimme like a two sentence synopsis. Okay. Perfect. Since we already read it last week, but just in case, it says Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartman. If you like books that punch you in the feels and then apologize by making you fall in love with the characters, Catch the Sun is a story of heartbreak, second chances, power of love and delusion. And I think that was perfect. That is perfect because if it would have stopped right after power of love, I would have been like, but adding that delusion in there. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. so the book starts off with a bang. Right from the get, you are with Ella when she finds out her brother committed, or is being accused of committing murder. Two murders. so right from the get, I was like, Oh, here we are. And, it starts out though. It also talks about her childhood. And it's not a thriller. Let's preface that. It's not a thriller. And it is YA. But, but I don't think so, because I don't think so either, but that's the category it's in. It is spicy. Yeah, it should not be a YA. No, um, but it starts out at one point in the beginning. I don't remember very beginning or just like when they do a little flashback. Very sweet. With her childhood and her childhood best friend and just their sweet little friendship. And, you know, she's leaving to go with her dad and he gives her a flower, like, just precious. Yes. Just precious. And then, like you said, it at some point in there, it talks about her brother who's being accused of this double homicide and. I think he's already been accused of it. Serving time. Yeah, he was serving time. He's, oh no, we got, death penalty, didn't he? Yes. He was death row. He was on death row. Yeah. so yeah, it gets you right from the beginning on this rollercoaster. Right. I think that the character development was so insane and this she writes agreed phenomenally like agreed. And I love that there wasn't too many characters that you had to keep track of right. In this book. but the characters that were in it were amazing. There was maybe six characters. Between the, the, the couple, their siblings, their parents, and then like a friend or two, yeah, I agree with you, the, the growth in these, in these characters, not only because they started them as little kids and then, you know, they get even to graduate high school. but just the depth that they all have and the emotions that have come out in them during all the situations and how they, they're very mature. Well, they had to grow up very quickly. Yes. Both of them, Max and Ella, which are our main characters, both had very rough couple of years. Yeah. So Ella had to deal with her brother, being. Prosecuted trial and then convicted, Max, his mother left them. His father has an illness and he had to become the head of the household pretty much. He had to take care of his twin brother and his dad. He gave up his childhood. Yep. And Ella's dad left. Yes. And so she was left with her mom and her mom was wrapped up in helping her brother, get off death row. Um, spent all their money. They went broke. so you're right. Yeah. They, they had to grow up really fast. At first when I started listening to like when they're teenagers and they, they're hanging out, but they're not dating, you know, that part, I'm like, you know, I, I remember those days. I remember the, like, I feel like it brought so many emotions out in me where I could almost feel like that. Does he like me like that? And kind of thing. And then they went to the, concert. And then it escalated with the relationship. And I was like, Whoa, that, that, not, not quite, not quite like me, but, but you're right. She's an amazing author who evoked, feel like I felt like a 15 year old girl at that moment. It was crazy. Yeah. I was, So impressed and I don't think I've read any other book. I haven't. I'm not this author, but I would totally read another one. I mean, it took you through every. It did. It did. She's very descriptive. Yes. so this was a very long book, 15, 16 hours, I think to listen to, because she gives so much detail about so much. And I mean, you can skip through some of the detail if you want to, but. And some of the spicy scenes, because they were very descriptive. And there was a lot of them. That was like the second half of the book. It was, it was, it was, I think I got to that point and I had texted you and I was like, uh, spicy. Yeah. And it, it did. And, but I mean, she's so descriptive with the sunsets and, and the things that I think that's what makes her. so good, like, you can really see and feel what she's trying to get you to see and feel. Yes. and that just makes her a very powerful writer. Yeah. As the 2nd, half of the book is playing out right towards the end, Ella's brother gets released. Yes. But right before that. There was, New Year's Eve. Yes. Um, where Max had to stay with his dad. Another thing he had miss out on because his dad was having an episode. Yeah. He had to stay home and make sure his dad was okay. So, Ella goes to the party and his twin brother Him and his girlfriend just broke up. He was in a bad place and Ella being the kind person that she truly is, that many people don't get to see was trying to help him because he was in a really bad place. And this is where it could be very triggering for people. But he did try to sexually assault her and then watched her fall down a cliff, and left her there to die. Yes. So there's so many like, Oh my God, moments in The second half of the book, the first half of the book, I didn't move slow. Right. But the second half of the book was much more like omg. Yeah. Agreed. the first part of the book was very, it was building and it, like you said, wasn't slow, but there was just momentum with getting to know everybody and, and them trying to figure out their friendship if they, she didn't even wanna be friends, you know, and then going from there and building and growing. And then the second half second. Last third of the book, whatever numbers are stupid. Was very between the dad's episodes and then the brother getting released and the essay, you know, attempt and the murder attempt. Um, yeah, yeah. That too. Like it, it didn't stop. Yeah. And I almost wasn't prepared for all of that. Cause I'd just been coasting and all of a sudden it's like, yeah. It was intense. Like the last. Bit of the book was pretty intense. and then having the twin brother doing this against Ella, my first thought was, that's what she's going to see every time she looks at max. Yeah. Is his face because they have the same face. Yeah. So then, you know, Dealing with that and then Ella's brother gets released, which is like, oh, my God, this like, complete, like, relief joy. And he didn't do it. But did he? Yeah, because he got released out of technicality and she was like, oh, my gosh, she's home. And I was so wrong from ever believing this, um, only for him to turn around over here that this happened to her with the, with the brother and him locking her in her room and going to kill him, which then she witnesses. Yes. So, I was like, on the floor, not on the floor, but I was like, my jaw was on the floor. Well, so she tells Max, he didn't do it. And he was like, well, is he just, she was like, no, they let him out. He didn't do it. And he's like, trying to make her think through it. And, in that moment I was like, well, maybe he really didn't. And I was with you on that. I was like, I think if I was in that situation, I would have had the same react. Again, I mean, provoking all these, these thoughts in your head and breathing or listening or however you're consuming your words. Yeah. I really, I was with her, well, he didn't do it the way it was explained to her. Right. I was like, okay. Yeah. I didn't do it. Yep. Yeah, but then it got like super weird. well, where did the gun come from? And the mom, like mom's gun got stolen. Yeah. the brother to me was creepy. The whole book. Same. Yeah. There was something off. Like why? I mean, I don't know. I don't have a brother. I don't know. But the protectiveness was like, A thousand times. Here's the other part like that I thought was weird. Why did she go with the dad for a year? Yeah. Why were the kids separated? That was weird to me. And then what happened to the dad? Like he just disappeared. Like he left with the teacher. Right. But You don't ever. Like where was he for the trial? Where was he when Ella was. In the hospital for a month. Yeah. Like where did he go? Right. And he just disappeared. Yeah. He's gone. He's, he's gone. Who knows? And then I was like, well, did I miss something? Did like, I miss him? No, he's just gone. I questioned that too, but the mom just left too, for Max's mom. Yeah. So there was, I mean, I know she probably didn't want to spend too much time saying that because she wanted to talk about, you know, other things, but I just felt like he was, the brother was very off of things that he would say and do, and so he turns her doorknob around. Yeah. And locks her in the room. That was like, thought out, before, Weird. He gave me weird vibes. so now you've got her dealing with her brother killing Max's brother. You've got Max dealing with his brother being dead. Also with the knowledge that he tried to sexually assault Ella and left her there and left her for dead. and me sitting there I was, I would never be able to come back from that. Like, I don't think that's a lot. Even though they had let all this time pass like and then they've reconnected at the end I I don't know. I don't I don't think I could come back from that. I know I don't think I don't think that I would have had the I Think I would have said what had happened when I woke up. Yeah, I don't know if I would have Almost covered up for for the brother for what he did. Mm hmm. Yeah, I don't know why I mean I guess she did that to not hurt Max But He hurt me. Yeah, I think I would have done what she did. Right. And I don't know because I'm not in that situation. Right. But, I don't think I would have one covered it up. Right. and if she didn't cover it up, then dude would still be alive. Right. I was really proud of her though. So right before he gets killed. He confronts her and he tells her like, I was in a bad place. I'm sorry. I was proud of her for standing up for herself and being like, no, yeah, that's not an excuse. You did this to me. you're not sorry. You're worried that you're going to get caught. You're not sad. You're not upset about what you did. Yeah. She's like, you. Pushed my legs apart. You did. And she listed the things that he did where there was no denying what his intentions were punching her in the face. Right? Right. Right. So I was proud of her in that moment, though, for even though she hadn't. Confess to anybody else at that time. What really happened? it was killing her to lie, basically lie. Like it was ruining her with max. And I think if she wasn't going to go to the police, I think my response would have been, you need to tell your brother what happened. Yeah. Whether the cops find out or not, you need to tell him because this is affecting, you know, My relationship with him now. Yeah. I think I would have told From the jump. I think as soon as I woke up. Yeah, and I realized what had happened But if I was gonna go her route and not tell the police because I didn't want the family destroyed anymore Mm hmm, then I would have made him tell his brother. Mm hmm this goes kind of back to me saying that that they're very mature, like them being able to move past that. Yeah. Even as a 40 year old woman, like, I don't see how I could forgive somebody for killing my sister, even if she did something terrible, to be honest, or. Well, he didn't, he didn't forgive the brother. Yeah, right. But I, he had so much guilt for what his brother did to her. Yeah. So I understand, I just don't know if, if the way that, my brain is built. Yeah, it was an amazing., back togetherness at the end I think it was like four years, something like that. Yeah. went by and, he, fulfilled her end game goal. Right. and they got back together and blah, blah, blah. And she did go to the prison and tell her brother she wanted nothing to do with him ever again. When you get out and do not find me. I don't right want anything to do with your your last act of protecting me because that was what he was all about was protecting her your act last act of protecting me is to leave me alone. Right? Yeah. So one of my notes that I had was This brother, we never get any closure with if he did it or not. He did it the first murder. I think so. And that was bugging me the whole time. cause that was such a big part of why she didn't want love is because of how it made her brother act and commit these murders. So, yeah, it was, it was definitely a, Oh, he, he did it. Yeah. 100%. Yeah. No doubt in my mind. I would read more about her. I would read more about her. I enjoyed, I enjoyed the book a lot. What would you rate it? I think I'd give it like an 8. Okay, I'd go like 9. Yeah, it was just a little too long for me. And, a little too wordy. I was so impressed with how much and. I was enwrapped in the story. Yeah, it was. It was unpredictable. But predictable at the same time, if that makes sense, like, you know, something's going to happen somewhere because it's a book and that's what happens, but it's kind of unpredictable with, okay, like I thought he was going to essay her. Yeah. And then that was going to be it. I didn't think she was going to get thrown off the cliff pretty much. So, I mean, anyway, blah, blah, blah. I give it an eight. I there was one part of the that Max's dad had was And he had told Ella to live every day like it's your first. I liked that. And so every day like it's your last. I liked that. And that stuck with me throughout the whole book. Mm hmm. I, Absolutely love that. I like that mentality too, because if it's your last day, you don't give an F and you're just, you know, going balls to the wall. But if it's your 1st, and you're experiencing everything for the 1st time, I liked that, that almost purity of that I know that was it was a good it was a good book It was definitely a good book. Yeah, so I loved it. Definitely would read more by her. it wasn't our, thriller, but the drama in it. Yeah, it's a lot of drama, a lot of different aspects. Um, not really a feel good book, but it doesn't leave you feeling like crap either. No, it took you on a roller coaster. It really did. Yeah. Really did. Full circle though. Yep. So that was our C book. Yes. so our D book, which I did change because, the one that I had initially put on there, Was more drama and I was like, we need like a murder book. We need a murder to palate cleanse the drama. Or like a thrillery book or some kind of something different. Yeah. so I switched it to The Drowning Woman by Robin Harding. Yes, okay. so the blurb for next week is, Lee Gulliver never thought she'd find herself living on the streets. No one ever does. But when her restaurant fails and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move. Until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself in the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, and she's trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, and that she's a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life. Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage and Lee thinks she's seen her for the last time until her unexpected return the next morning bonded by desperate but difficult circumstances. The women soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship and then one day Hazel makes a shocking request. She wants Lee to help her disappear. It'll be easy, Hazel assures her, but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems and Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was. Ooh, sounds good. Sounds really good. So I am like halfway through. Okay. It's pretty good. It's pretty good. I can't wait to, to dig into that one. Yeah. So, I think that's about it for this week. It is. If you guys would be so kind to tell your friends to tune in, listen, please. we are working on big things in the background, so we will be announcing those just as soon as they're ready. Yep. And we are also going to have a Episode coming up with our interview with Tracy. It won't be our normal format. It'll just be our whole interview with her. Yeah, so I'm excited about that. Me too. She is a hoot. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. so we will talk to you guys next week. We love you. Please follow like share do all the things Thank you. We love you. What'd you say? Leave a review. Is that what I always say? Leave a review. I don't know why you haven't done it yet. I don't know what's holding you up. And I mean, your thumbs work. So you can type it. So, cause you're listening to us now. So just do it. Thank you. We love you. Bye. Bye.