Girl Gang Podcast

Episode 23: He Ordered a Well Done Steak and Other Red Flags

Girl Gang Podcast Season 1 Episode 23

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 51:16

Text the Girl Gang!

We bring “the other Sarah” on mic and unpack red flags, icks, and beige flags—from steak orders and tipping to Snapchat-only chats, emotional cheating, and why small habits expose big values. We laugh, roast, and get real about boundaries, pets, and presence.

• food habits as signals of respect and flexibility
• tipping, first‑date payment norms, and restaurant manners
• Snapchat vs dating app intent and emotional cheating online
• lying and mismatch between stated values and actions
• venting vs solutions and how to set expectations
• rings, control, and boundary respect in relationships
• style and lifestyle filters: cars, piercings, tattoos
• non‑negotiables with pets and home life
• reading, gym culture, and compatible routines
• conversation energy, phone etiquette, and curiosity

Please download because we want to pop that bottle of champagne to hit our goal
Share with your friends, download, have your significant other download for it
They don’t even have to listen, just get us a download
Even liking us on Facebook, sharing our posts there, all of that helps us get seen by more people

Support the show

Please Welcome “The Other Sarah”

Rachael

Hi everyone, welcome to Girl Gang Podcast. My name's Rachel.

Brandi

And I'm Brandy, and we are your host for this episode.

Rachael

So remember back in the day when we started this podcast and we talked about how we started the Girl Gang and there was four of us. Well, the fourth is the other Sarah. And the other Sarah is here with us tonight. Hello, Sarah.

SPEAKER_03

Hey guys, how's it going?

Rachael

We finally convinced her to record with us and we're super pumped. And we're talking about the best topic ever, especially with this Sarah, because we're talking about red flags and icks, and we just have all of the juicy stories and feels about the icks and things that we've experienced.

Brandi

Um I know.

Rachael

Um you were talking about this with your physical therapist the other day.

Food Icks and First Date Etiquette

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, my physical therapist, I can't tell you how we got to this conversation. But we were talking about icks or reasons we stopped talking to guys. And I was like, the one that came to hit me uh right away was I was at on date with a guy and he ordered a steak well done.

SPEAKER_04

Oh.

SPEAKER_03

And I I've never tried to run out of a restaurant so fast in my life.

Rachael

Interesting.

SPEAKER_03

Well the worst part was the waitress just goes, Oh, can I butterfly it for you so we can get all the way? And I was like, ma'am, how many times have you been asked this question? Are you okay? I was flown away.

Rachael

So how do they have to order it for it not to be a red flag for you?

SPEAKER_03

Literally anything that's not well done.

Rachael

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Any other way, you can have it however you like it.

Rachael

Medium rare medium?

SPEAKER_03

You're gonna order it, medium well sleep. Medium well. That's like on the cut, like when I when it hurts me to think about you chewing that, you're too far. Okay, why that sounds terrible.

Rachael

Is that an ick for like female friends as well? Or just got you're just like, I just really don't want to sleep with you now because you like it well done.

SPEAKER_03

I can't respect like it's hard, it definitely hard. Like it's definitely easier for female friends, like you do you. Yeah, you eat it however you want it. Yeah, you're gonna take me out and adapted to them. If we're gonna go out and eat omino order buying rare medium, whatever, yeah. And you're absolutely not.

Rachael

Hard best. Interesting. Okay, but I also said I get that thing.

SPEAKER_03

But I also said no to a guy who told me I put too much garlic in my food back in the day. So we don't even talk about that.

Rachael

Oh, yeah, fuck that. I mean just because he was weirded out by garlic or like was worried about the garlic breast.

Brandi

Guys, he was a vampire. That's what that was. Probably. You avoided. Perfect. Then I'm I used the right amount of garlic then.

Rachael

Yeah. Interesting. Food related icks. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

Um I'm a foodie, it's hard not to own.

Brandi

Ooh, I hadn't thought about food ones. I think that kind of just goes back to like going out and how they treat their weight staff. Oh yeah. I feel like that's a big indicator for me. Oh yeah. Um you know, if they're rude, they don't want to tip well.

Rachael

Uh I've lived that life. You always gotta tip them the 20% unless they're really, really, really terrible.

Brandi

Yeah. I also, as independent woman as I am, if he asked me to split the bill on the first date, absolutely. Especially if that like if you asked me out. Yeah, exactly. You're paying with the first date.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

Brandi

After that, we can discuss it. I don't mind. Yeah, we can start sharing after that. But I feel like I'm kind of old school for first dates.

Rachael

I don't know. Life is expensive. Like, I'm cool splitting it. I feel like, okay, if they pay, then they're gonna be like, hmm, now you owe me a little something something.

SPEAKER_03

I mean, that's fine. I was thinking the same thing about them anyway. Yeah. If we're saying yeah. But also, like, I'm not talking expensive. Like, our first date, we're not going all out. Like, we're not doing anything super big. So, like, if you can't afford to go down the street to some favorite restaurant and get some pasta with me, like we ain't dating scrubs.

Brandi

Um also, if they comment negatively about what I ordered.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, that's a me. I will walk out of the restaurant. Yeah. I don't care if it's sometimes you'll make a good compliment and I'll walk out because I'll forget. But like bad compliment? Absolutely not. No, you don't know how to handle that? I'm gonna sit there and I'm gonna eat it, and you're gonna watch me eat it, and I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it, and then I'm gonna walk out.

Brandi

I'm thinking, yeah, yes, but I'm also thinking, like, oh, you ordered a lot for a girl kind of situation.

SPEAKER_03

And I'm gonna eat it all in front of you.

Brandi

Yeah.

Rachael

My ex said that to me.

SPEAKER_03

The waitress at the sushi restaurant that judged us. Yeah, but I would have judged us.

Rachael

Yo, if somebody was like, that's too much food, you shouldn't have ordered that much food, I'm gonna be like, you can go suck a dick. Bye.

Brandi

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Cause I suck in ears tonight.

Rachael

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00

Exactly. Um there.

Rachael

I had a thought. I lost it. Okay, moving on. If I think of more food things, I'll let you know.

Brandi

Okay.

Rachael

Oh, ribs, okay. I I thought of it now. Okay. Went to dinner with my cousin. Him and I were like catching up. He was giving me a pop-up tent um that I had been trying to get forever. We went to dinner, he ordered ribs, and he's like, Hey, you're my cousin, so I don't have to worry about impressing you or anything. This is fucking awesome. He went on a date a few weeks later and he ordered ribs, like not thinking because he was like, Oh, I came here a few weeks ago and I got the ribs and they were delicious. But he ordered them on the date, and he was like, I didn't really think about this, sorry. But the girl kind of appreciated it because she was like, Oh, you just like got what you wanted and like weren't trying to like impress me or anything. But if ribs gross you out, would that be a nick?

Brandi

No, you better I dig it in there with you.

SPEAKER_03

It would be a nick if you pulled out a fork and tried to if you pull out fork and eye for anything like pizza, wings, but get out.

Brandi

Yeah. No, I I I was I was going to say she got the I thought you were gonna say she got the ick because he picked him up with his hands or something. That's where I thought the story was going.

Rachael

I don't like things. You know this about me though.

Brandi

Yeah, that's that's fine. Now if I have embraced it. I like I eat wings sometimes, but just like But bone boneless quote unquote wings, aka just chicken nuggets. I stand I stand on that.

SPEAKER_03

Fancy chicken nuggets, okay.

Brandi

Yeah. So that's if you order boneless, it's a nickname.

Rachael

No, because I order them all.

Brandi

Um I just think it's funny that everyone's like, no, they're boneless wings. I was like, no, they're just chicken nuggets, but it's fine. Um if if you eat those with like a fork, that's acceptable. Yes.

Rachael

Blowing your nose at the table when you're at dinner.

Brandi

Like wiping it or like full-on blowing. Full-on blowing.

Rachael

Like you just finished a meal and you're like absolutely not.

Brandi

Like go to the bathroom. I would do that in the bathroom. Now qu on on the tur subject of eating wing soap, like I eat something spicy, my nose tends to. Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, I will like, yeah, I will wipe it, but I won't like flow line elephant into the into the the napkin. Also, that's especially if you're at a restaurant with the cloth napkins and you do that, that's just gross for the wake staff.

Rachael

Come on. You gotta wash those things.

SPEAKER_03

Yes. So no. Yeah. Someone who's pulled those kind of napcl those washcloths out of or napkins from restaurants even after they've been cleaned. Oh, no. Absolutely disgusting. Yeah. Sure.

Ribs, Wings, And Table Manners

Rachael

Um, what's a big okay, so when I was thinking about this topic, biggest ick, well, not biggest ick, but the first one that I thought of was men who only communicate via Snapchat.

SPEAKER_00

It's gotta be an ick, right? It's gotta be a red flag.

SPEAKER_03

I would agree, I would agree it's both. I would think it's both an ick. Well, it's an ick.

Brandi

If you're certain people if you're wanting a relationship or to date this person, it is a red flag. If you are wanting to just hook up with that person, I'd say it's probably a green flag because you both know what you came there for.

SPEAKER_03

Yes.

Brandi

Oh yeah.

Rachael

But like if I want to use that Snapchat for.

Brandi

If I'm matching with someone on the app and we share a couple of back and forths on the app, and then he's like, S C question mark. No. I don't I'm if we're just saying hi and we talk about like two to three messages back and forth, and he's just immediately wants to move the Snapchat unless I am on uh Tinder. Cause at that point 'cause there's different apps for different things.

Rachael

Yeah, that makes sense. So I've never been on Tinder, so I don't know.

Brandi

So Tinder has morphed into more of a hookup culture.

Rachael

It's always been. It's a lot more now. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Because it used to be the only one. Like it was the original, it was the online dating app. Yeah.

Brandi

But now it's definitely now if you're into wanting more serious things, it's hinge and bumble. Yeah.

Rachael

Interesting.

Brandi

But if you're just yeah, if you're looking for uh friends with benefits, you go to like Tinder.

Rachael

Yeah, sometimes it'll just be like this person recently had it, and I'm like, fuck no. I talked to you like two years ago, bro. Don't even think about it.

Brandi

Oh, I get randoms all the time.

Rachael

I'm like, why?

Brandi

But I think it's because I have a common name. It's like mine's my name and like a number. So don't add me people.

SPEAKER_03

But yeah, I just ignore 'em. Um, I one time had a guy from Scotland, Ireland, England, one of them. Um, add me on Snapchat because I guess my name was he met some Sarah the night before at some concert or event or something and add me on Snapchat. We talked for like a week.

Rachael

Was he just trying to find all of the Sarah's? Like all of the Sarah?

SPEAKER_03

He was like trying to find the Sarah. So I don't know if like granted, my last name's even spelled wrong on Snapchat though. So I don't know how we got there. But yeah, it was like, I'm definitely not the Sarah that you met last night. I've been in the United States for the last couple weeks. Thanks though.

Brandi

Yeah. Uh so yeah, I think it I think that one is more uh uh dependent on what you're currently looking for.

Rachael

I this might just be a me thing, but also if the guy that you're dating has a significant shriek with other women on Snapchat red flag.

unknown

Okay.

Rachael

That might just be me.

SPEAKER_00

How do I look up that on the phone?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

Brandi

Oh no shit, thank you.

SPEAKER_03

No, like if you just open their Snapchat, it'll literally be like right.

Brandi

Oh, on their phone. Yeah. Is there a way? Oh, I'm not sure. Okay, okay. That's what I was asking. Yeah, I understand if I look at their phone I can see it. Because I've seen I see my streaks. You can see your streaks with them, but you can't see their streaks with other people. Okay. That's what I was saying. I thought there was a way that you could like go and snoop even more.

Rachael

That would be cool if you could do that.

SPEAKER_03

I mean, there's probably a way. Someone out there probably knows.

Rachael

Yeah, let us know if there's a way to do that. But yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that's that makes more sense. Yes.

SPEAKER_03

Snapchat hacks. Let us know.

Rachael

Yeah, I just but I if I'm just meeting. You know who's my best friend on Snapchat? Probably my brother. He's the only guy I talk to on Snapchat, and that's because that's the only way I can read know if he reads my shit or not. Like, yo, bro, you haven't called me. Call me. Let's see.

Brandi

I don't have like any family on Snapchat. I think I have like my mom.

Rachael

Oh, I have zero best friends, actually, because I Snapchat that little. Yeah, it's like I kind of forget you have Snapchat sometimes. I don't use it. It's a waste of time.

SPEAKER_03

Well, as someone who spends way too much time on Snapchat, love you all have a lot of best friends over here.

Brandi

I don't know if I have any. Oh, I've got I've got four.

Rachael

Love it. Support it.

SPEAKER_03

Sarah, you're one of them.

Rachael

Oh, that's so adorable.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, you're in mine. I have eight. We're not gonna talk about my top eight. We're not gonna talk about my top eight.

Brandi

My top eight. Is Tom on there?

Rachael

Is who? From MySpace.

SPEAKER_03

Uh oh.

Rachael

Tom's everybody's best friend.

SPEAKER_03

On top of it makes sense, though.

Rachael

Well, that's a really good thing. Let's be fair. Some of them are icks in themselves, probably.

Brandi

I can't wait. But they're definitely walking red flags.

SPEAKER_03

Walking red flags. Very good. I can't wait to repost this podcast later and have one of them listen to this.

Brandi

So they're gonna be like, what are you talking about? They're not gonna list the names, they're not gonna know. They're gonna be like, oh, it's someone else on her roster. Or they're gonna be more like, oh, she has a roster? I thought I was the only one.

SPEAKER_03

Man, just got called out a lot on that last 20 seconds. You're welcome. Thanks, guys.

Brandi

We're here for you. Oh, if they don't know, they're dumb and don't deserve you. So facts. Exactly.

Rachael

You are a prize. You gotta act like it, you know? Know your worth.

Brandi

I do. I think that's kind of the problem.

Rachael

Well, yeah.

Brandi

She made a toy four carat gold. Exactly. And they can't afford her.

Rachael

And she likes that steak, you know, medium rare. So it's like a win-win all the way around.

unknown

What the fuck?

Rachael

Okay. Okay. What other red flags are Ix?

Brandi

Ooh, how for it.

Rachael

Um, next one on my list, people who lie. It's just, it fucking irritates me.

SPEAKER_00

It just seems like maybe not.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

What is it? People who lie. Well, that's just in general.

Rachael

It just makes you a bad person. I'm like, at least the honesty.

Brandi

I don't like that with my friends, family, any of them.

Snapchat, Apps, And Modern Dating Norms

Rachael

That's just you know what I think is hard nowadays when it comes to dating is people who lie about being in relationships and or being on the apps, and then like you find out about it on those Facebook groups. Of like, are we dating the same oh are we dating the same guy? I'm like, are you fucking shitting me? Come on. Just stay in that group. Oh, I'm in them so drama. So much drama.

SPEAKER_03

How how do you have that much time to do all of that and then hide it? And then do like I mean, obviously they don't hide it well because they get caught, but like you have so much brain power you're using to do anything.

Brandi

Obviously they don't. Do they?

SPEAKER_03

They're wasting a lot of their brain power trying to do this.

Brandi

Um, because I'm like, oh, they can't plan a date, but they can plan how to have date the other one and not tell you.

SPEAKER_03

Right.

Rachael

This might have been fake news, but I don't I could see it being true. I saw something yesterday that like 65% of people that are in relationships are still using dating apps.

Brandi

I can believe that. Which I can totally believe. Which is why I think dating apps and social media in general is the reason why divorce rates are so high. 100%. Oh, absolutely.

Rachael

100%. That's how you find out your husband is doing sketchy ass shit and then it goes downhill from there.

Brandi

I also think it's the easy access. So back in the day before social media and the internet, your uh chances of meeting someone were uh in-person contact. That's why you would get hit on at bars and things like that. Uh and that's the people you knew in person were the only people you had access to. So now that there's internet and social media, you can reconnect with that high school fling that moved halfway across the country. You can go on and just look through singles in your area and be like, ooh, I actually think I like that better than what I have. That's true. Especially when you get into, you know, the rocky parts of marriage and stuff. So yes, I think that is one of the biggest factors for uh unsuccessful marriages these days. Or just the look, people have always cheated. That's never going away. That's just human nature. But um but I think it's a lot easier now.

Rachael

Oh yeah, for sure. And it's not even like the sexual cheating, it's more the emotional attachment too. I yeah. Which I think is crossing a line a lot.

Brandi

A lot of men don't see us cheating.

Rachael

Right. So gotta set your boundaries, ladies. Okay. I got another one.

Brandi

Go for it.

Rachael

I I just got a whole list, I'll keep going. Um, people who complain but don't actually do anything about their issues.

SPEAKER_03

Oh my god, that was my biggest pet peeve at work.

Rachael

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

I hate uh oh my god. That's why I always told my team, I was like, you can complain as much as you want. I don't care if you complain.

Rachael

Fucking do something.

SPEAKER_03

But you gotta come to me with an answer.

Brandi

Yeah. Or the solution or I'm gonna fix it. Or if I give you advice, either take it or come up with another solution. Don't come back two weeks later with the same problem. There's no complaining to complain.

Rachael

Are you targeting me right now, Brandy? Because I complain about my 50s and you're like, tell me that. Tell me right.

Brandi

No, because that just fulfills my I told you so, Quota.

Rachael

Next therapist I'm hiring.

Brandi

I would make so much money.

Rachael

Oh yeah.

unknown

Yeah.

Brandi

I'd be like the Ur I'd call myself like the urban dictionary therapist because I would not be like professional about it at all. I'd probably get bored of ethics would probably be like, yeah, you can't be a therapist anymore.

Rachael

I think it's really love you, mom, but my mom is like very big on this. She will be like, My life sucks. There's nothing going well with it. And I'm like, what are you doing to actually make your life better though? Yeah. Because I don't think that your current daily habits are getting you there. But love you and I'm wishing you well. It took me a really long time to figure out that I can't fix somebody. Like I can't fix their problems. Oh, I'm still fixing that about you. You just want to solve everything. Yeah, I like a project. Yeah. Well, now I just kind of step away. I'm like, I'm sorry, my life is complicated enough. I got enough shit going on. I can't deal with yours. But once you feel like you have a way to get through that problem, I'll support you and hope the best.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I I don't I I think a big one for me is I start giving you ideas.

Brandi

I should actually start prefacing conversations with are you just venting or do you want a solution?

Rachael

I was gonna say that too. Because sometimes people just want to fucking rant.

Brandi

Yeah, and that's fine, because then I'm gonna tone you out and just let you live r rant because I'm a fixer. So I'm gonna come up with solutions. And what irritates me to no end is when I give you five or six solutions and you are like, no, that won't work, and you complain about why that won't work. And then I give you another reason, and then you complain about how that one won't work. So I've I've started asking that are you just venting or do you want a solution? Yep. Because I'm gonna handle this two very different ways.

Rachael

Exactly, most definitely.

Brandi

Um, I think one for me, uh I don't tolerate it like at all in my relationships, but I do know other people. When you when I ask you to do something and then you respond with I have to ask my significant other if I can.

Rachael

If you can or like let me chat with them, make sure there's nothing happening that day, and then like I'll just do that.

Brandi

That's fine, because I understand that you have things that the other you you do with the other person.

Rachael

But it's like I have to ask permission.

Brandi

Yes, that irritates the shit out of me. I'm like, why are they telling you what to do? Right. Um, you're a grown ass person. Now, like if it's yeah, if it's all about like Oh, I need to see if like my kids have anything going on, or I need to see if my husband will take the kids to the soccer practice so then I can go or things like that. That's fine. But when you have to go to them and be like, hey, is it okay if I go hang out with my friends?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Because you're controlling then I have a problem with it. Oh yeah. For sure.

Rachael

I used to have to deal with that back in the day.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

Rachael

Um I would have to make sure that it was okay. Or if I was out with my friends, I would get at least two to three phone calls from my ex absolutely checking in. Oh yeah. Could never be me.

SPEAKER_03

You'd be blocked after the first phone call.

Lying, Cheating, And Digital Temptations

Rachael

Yeah. So but I do think that it's healthy to at least check in and be like, hey, did we have anything on the calendar? Cool. I'm gonna go do my thing then. And if you want to come along, cool. Otherwise, I don't something that works really well right now is like I just put it on the calendar and be like, FYI. I'm gonna do a girls night. Girls night. Yeah, like girls' night. Um and then they know about it and then I can go do my thing. Okay, one thing that I don't like is people who say one thing or like they say they care about something, but then they their actions don't match that. So for instance, like if you're like I care about family time or like spending time with my friend, my friends, but then you never actually make an effort to see your family or friends. I'm like, do you actually care about that or you're just saying that you care about that? Yeah. So that's one that kind of irgends me. I'm like, I really just like do what you say.

SPEAKER_00

Like a values thing. Okay, I think that aligns with like values. That specific example, yeah.

Brandi

Um icks. I'm trying to think of like some less heavy topics because we started with how you order your steak, but uh I would say if uh a man what kind of vehicle a man drives will can give me an ick.

Rachael

Oh, like what?

Brandi

Um, well, there's two extremes. If you have this big gaudy awful lifted truck, it means their dick is huge, right? Massive, and I just can't handle it. So therefore, I just can't handle it. It's too much. Um so yeah, so that situation. I don't mind if it's a subtle lift, like if it's done well. It's the ones with the massive, like um, you know, just roll and coal. I myself at 5'8 have to jump in to, you know. There's just there's a a good way to do it.

SPEAKER_03

There is a a demure way to do it. Demure. I feel like that's the perfect word for it, though, right?

Brandi

Uh yes, very demure. Um, or if it is some little like little car, like a Prius. If he's pulling up in a Prius, I'm leaving. I will pay for his dinners just so I can leave.

Rachael

Bye.

SPEAKER_03

I'm be real honest. As long as you're driving, I don't care. Because I'm not driving, so well, we know what your standards are like, Sarah.

Brandi

So if they have a car, that's a fast for you.

Rachael

Hey, they have a car, they were doing pretty good. Basically, we need to find some better men for Sarah and her life. We'll we'll see if we meet anybody. We'll introduce you to some folks. It's a struggle. Something that I was saying was like a red flag when I was on the dating apps was if you if you have an Android and you text me and it's a green bubble.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, that's not a green flag. That's definitely a red flag.

Rachael

It's a red flag. It's a red flag for the bag. We're definitely Apple people over here. And I so I have a friend from high school, and him and I went out for dinner, and I was like, How's the dating world going? And he's like, it's pretty shitty, you know. And then like a few weeks later, he texts me and it's a blue bubble, and I was like, What? You got an iPhone? And he's like, Yeah, the green bubble, like, I just felt like it was a red flag for women, so I got an iPhone.

Brandi

That is some good bully.

SPEAKER_03

I was gonna say, that worked.

Rachael

Our plans work. He, yes, he switched to the iPhone just so that he could do better in the dating category.

SPEAKER_03

If it was working, did it work? Okay.

Rachael

Um, I mean, we've talked little, but I don't know. Well done, ladies. Well done. Yes, make him get that iPhone.

Brandi

We like to uh bully men. Yes.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, we do. I mean, they need it.

Brandi

Uh yeah. Um, also, they don't like dogs.

Rachael

I had that on my list too! If you don't like dogs, you're a fucking communist. Let's be honest.

Brandi

It's a red flag.

SPEAKER_03

It's a hard red flag.

Brandi

Yeah, that's like, you know, on like the Doppler goes red, then purple. It's like a purple flag. It's like right in the opposite way.

SPEAKER_03

No, like I'll still come over, but can you put the dog away? Absolutely. No.

Rachael

No, you can get on the dog. If you're not okay with my dog sleeping in my bed, you can fuck right off.

Brandi

Oh yeah, or on the couch, dog can get on the couch. Their life is this house. Like, right. So they're gonna get every fucking square inch of that house at their disposal.

Rachael

My ex was allergic to dogs, and that was rough.

Brandi

So I first I want to see proof because there's a lot of people that are like, oh, I'm allergic to cats. Yeah. Um, so one, you gotta prove it to me. I want to see that doctor's note. No, I don't not the doctor's note. I want to see you dying. Yes, but you're allergic to dogs.

Rachael

And I'll stab you with that shit.

Brandi

Two, odds are it's probably not gonna work out long term anyway. Because I'm gonna have animals with the same thing. I don't even need to see it.

Rachael

Do I get rid of you or do I get rid of the dog? It's definitely you.

SPEAKER_03

Always you.

Rachael

Yes.

SPEAKER_03

The dog stays forever. Yes.

Brandi

Exactly. Um so as a cat owner, you guys don't have cats, but um when I said specifically they don't like dogs, a lot of men say they don't like cats.

SPEAKER_03

Um, so I don't even I also have the hard no cats.

Brandi

Yeah, but you like my cat.

SPEAKER_03

Your cat does like men.

Brandi

Her cat is real cute. She's real cuddly. Um, so that's just kind of I feel like normal. Like men think they don't like cats until they get around like a good cat. Um but I will say if they are like on their profiles or if they say they like cats or they're a cat parent, to me that's a green flag.

SPEAKER_03

I definitely find that a red flag. I was just about to say that. If it's only you and cat photos on your dating profile, I will swipe left every time.

Brandi

Oh, no, no, it's a green flag for me.

SPEAKER_03

If you have both, cool. If you just have cats, I can't fuck with you.

Brandi

Oh no, that's an even greener flag for me. Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um no.

Brandi

I love a cat dad. I just I don't think I want to go on dating apps anymore.

SPEAKER_00

Seems aggressive.

Rachael

Don't want to.

Venting vs Solutions And Boundaries

Brandi

Well, okay, so here's the thing. Um, I mean, I want to have this topic discussed in an episode so bad about the male loneliness epidemic. But I keep reading articles about how everyone, men and women, are both unhappy and they're getting off the apps, but then both sides are still too hesitant to approach the other in public.

Rachael

Yeah, I could see that. I can see that.

Brandi

It's tricky.

SPEAKER_03

I think we're all scared for the same reasons. Like we all know we're all scared.

Brandi

Yep. Yeah, so ladies, I challenge you. If there is an attractive man and you're out, just go up, s make a compliment him, have a funny joke or something, and then have some grace if you're not his type, or he's taken and be like, cool.

Rachael

Uh, okay, going off of this, hardcore ick and red flag. If one of situations happened, you are married and you are not wearing a ring, or you are not married and you are wearing a ring, so that way women feel more comfortable hanging out with you, and then you're like, just kidding, I'm not married. Okay, but that's like a security thing for me, and I wasn't trying to get with anybody. And I was married for seven years, so naturally a ring feels comfortable to me. Okay, okay, well let me ask you this.

Brandi

Blue collar men if they're out to lunch, they don't wear rings normally on their jobs because it's a safety factor. They can wear a rubber one, typically not.

SPEAKER_00

No, typically you can't even wear those. Well, my dad was a floor layer and he still wore a ring.

Brandi

Well he was at risk of his decloving his finger.

Rachael

Yeah. But even the rubber ones, that's okay.

Brandi

Uh depends on where you're at. So like Sarah and I's jobs, like they say no rings.

Rachael

You can't wear jewellery at all. Gotcha. Okay. Like that's I mean, that that is one thing, but it's more like it's a Friday or Saturday night and you're at the club. Oh, well, yeah, that's that's skeezy. Yeah, that's just that's super skeezy. Yes. No, I I I understood where you were going, but at the same time, like I don't That could be an ick for men though, if like women are wearing rings and they're not actually married because they can't tell.

SPEAKER_03

But yeah, okay, so I wear if you wear an if you wear a ring on either ring finger, men get confused. I know that's why I don't Because I wear one in my right hand all the time and they're like, oh my god, and I'm like have you met me? Have you met me?

Brandi

I I question my ring choice placement every day because I'm like that these motherfuckers don't know the right from the left, they just see it on a ring. But I bought the ring to wear on that finger so it doesn't fit any other finger.

Rachael

Yeah, but very special to me. Honestly, the ring doesn't stop them, like they're still gonna ask you out 300%. Yeah. So I'm like, why not? I might as well wear the rings that I like.

Brandi

To me, that's a red flag.

Rachael

If they ask you out and you have a ring on.

Brandi

If I was wearing a ring on my left hand and it looked like I was married and they still hit on me, that's a red flag. Well yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

Brandi

So because that means they don't respect boundaries.

SPEAKER_00

Correct.

Brandi

So that take but yes, with my because the one ring I have on does look like a wedding band. But it's on my right hand.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

Brandi

But I I I think about it all the time. I'm like, I'm not getting it on because of I blame the ring, but I know there's it's probably my RBS and a bunch of other things.

Rachael

Yeah, I was wearing like silicone ones for a while, and then I was like, I want to upgrade and get like gold ones. So then I have like gold bands, and then one of my gold bands broke. So now I'm like, is it weird if I like move it and I just have one on the ring finger? So now now I'm just like questioning life choices, and I'm like, I need another gold ring, and problems.

Brandi

Yeah, you you focus on that ring problem.

SPEAKER_03

I was gonna say if you just work in a work environment where you can't wear jewelry, you don't have that problem.

Brandi

That's why I waited so long to get my nose pierced and my other like permanent piercings like in my office. Because I couldn't wear them in like the our manufacturing areas.

Rachael

Are piercings or tattoos red flags or icks at all?

Brandi

Oh, that's actually a great point. If a guy has a nose ring, instant no.

Rachael

Really?

Brandi

Yes, I I think they're very feminine. So if Okay, you're not wrong.

SPEAKER_03

But she has a button there. She has a butt. Well, there because there was a butt because there was one college. And I at first I was like, absolutely not, he has a nose ring. And then I was like, it really wasn't that bad. It's a it's an ick for me.

Brandi

It was still a stud or a loop?

SPEAKER_03

It was a little hoop.

Brandi

A little hoop.

SPEAKER_03

It ended up being really hot. I'm not gonna lie to you.

Brandi

No, nope.

SPEAKER_03

Really hard to pull off. I'm not saying it's good for everyone.

Rachael

I could, I could I think I could do the nose piercing, and if you had ears pierced, yes, but if you had gauges, no. Yeah, those sound gauges gross me out. The smell of them, oh I just want to throw up thinking about it.

Brandi

I the exact well, it depends on the gauge size.

Rachael

I don't like it. Like our friend has ones that are like smaller, but still I'm just like, even that, like you can smell it, and oh no, hard pass. Do you like get up in his ears and sniff them?

unknown

Remember.

Rachael

Because I've never smelled it. No, when we were at the concert, he's like, let me try on those ear. Like, put your thing or I was like, but like I'm like close to your ear and like touching your gauge, and like this is grossing me out, bro.

Brandi

Okay. Because I was just imagining you going up and sniffing his ear.

Rachael

What does it smell like?

Brandi

And I was like, I've never been close enough to smell his ear.

Rachael

I I looped my earring into his gauges, and I'm like, I don't like this, I don't like this, I don't like this.

Brandi

Um, okay. That's uh tattoos, you can be covered neck down totally fine. You got a face tattoo?

SPEAKER_00

Done. Yeah.

Brandi

Nope.

Rachael

Nope.

Brandi

Womp womp.

Rachael

Nope.

SPEAKER_03

I don't have that red flag, I'm gonna be real honest.

Rachael

You're like, ooh.

SPEAKER_03

Apparently I'm a red flag because I don't.

Rachael

Let's go. No car, let's go.

SPEAKER_03

I have the car, that's fine.

Brandi

But he has to drive it, so he has to at least have his license. Yeah. Um, oh, what was another one along those lines? Yeah, but yeah, nose ring, instant no for me. Um, also, if they've got a foot thing. I hate feet.

SPEAKER_00

If they like feet, oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

unknown

Yeah.

Rings, Respect, And Control

SPEAKER_00

She's like, meh, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

You my feet, I'm my feet are gonna look how they look. If you like them, that's on you.

Rachael

Are you gonna touch somebody's feet? Like, what if you look at the face?

Brandi

What would you say if a man asked to suck your toes?

Rachael

Oh, fuck no. Get out of here. I would never touch.

Brandi

That's why she's pausing.

Rachael

Somebody clicked your toes. Like, I love you. I'm married. What is wrong with you?

SPEAKER_03

I'm married on the few guys and put vegan.

Rachael

I I feel like I'm gonna like turn my head a little bit. I don't know if I can look at you the same. What is happening? Um, friendship, and then I'm like, I don't want to.

Brandi

I know way too much about her.

Rachael

Oh did it was it nice? Did it feel good?

SPEAKER_03

I mean, I didn't really care, but he really liked it.

Rachael

Oh, that is disgusting. Isn't it? It makes me want to puke. That is so gross.

SPEAKER_04

I knew that's a red flag.

Brandi

Not a red flag, that's an ick for me because I think feet are icky. Yeah, like I don't even like to like paint my own toenails.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

To be honest, I'm more turned off if a guy, because I've had a guy before, like, we'll be sitting on a couch and I'll put my feet up like on his leg, and he's like, no. Like I was like, guys that don't like feet like at all. Abs that's a red flag for me.

Brandi

Oh no, see, I'm like same. Same.

SPEAKER_03

But like I get I get like not wanting to be obsessed with them, but like if you're telling me I can't put my feet like that under you and like just dig my little toes under, absolutely not. You know what I mean when you tuck them under their thighs to keep them warm?

SPEAKER_00

No, yeah, no.

unknown

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00

Do you have socks on or no socks? You tuck them under the person?

SPEAKER_04

Like under their feet? Oh like under your thigh.

Rachael

Yeah, like you can tuck your toes under my thigh. That's okay. Do not fucking touch me. I'm not touching your toes. You're just see Barney's kind of warming up your feet. Yeah, I'm like, oh thank god. It's one thing to like give a foot massage, which like eh, I've done it, don't like it. I immediately wash my hands afterwards because I'm like, that's disgusting. Um, but fuck no, I would never put toes in my mouth ever. I mean, I definitely won't.

SPEAKER_03

Let's let's be clear about that. I do not have a toe. That is not happening in my part, okay? Not me.

Brandi

Also, if they don't have clean feet, like nails need to be trimmed.

Rachael

Oh, like long fingernails and like dirt under them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

See, my my ick for feet was um guys that wear flip-flops all the time. If you wear flip flops as a majority of your footwear, yeah.

Rachael

Please don't talk to me. Yeah. I don't like it.

SPEAKER_03

I cannot see your toes. Like that's why are your toes out all the time?

Rachael

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Like why?

Rachael

Um, my partner wears like Chacos and it's okay. But like hardcore flip-flops don't love.

SPEAKER_03

I can see that. I think if I can see your toes that often, I'm gonna be against it. Well that's a red flag.

SPEAKER_00

That's a that's a red flag for men in general.

Brandi

As their primary shoe? I say it's a it's it's more of an ick for me because I know the type of men that usually wear those, and I'm they're not my type.

SPEAKER_03

They're not my type.

Brandi

So that's usually Oh, that's funny. That's usually an ick for me. Because they're usually drinking IPAs and have all natural deodorant as well.

SPEAKER_04

All natural deodorant?

Rachael

You know. Um, I've never really dated a guy with like a lot of body hair. But I think if I dated somebody with like a big beard, that would kind of take it.

Brandi

Oh, I love facial hair.

Rachael

Oh. How does that feel when they go down on each other? Like, is it enjoyable?

SPEAKER_03

Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yes.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. You can't be bald and have facial hair. I don't like bald guys in general, but like that just we I can't.

Rachael

Sometimes I can't help it. You just you kind of need a little bit of something to grab onto, you know. You're not wrong. I just need a little bit. Okay. So one thing when you were sending like notes of things that we could talk about, um TV show red flags.

SPEAKER_00

Oh. Have you watched Nobody Wants This? Yes.

Rachael

Have you seen the new season?

SPEAKER_00

No.

Rachael

Okay. I feel like I got rid of Netflix. I need to get it back. Got it. Okay. I feel like maybe I can't go down that rabbit hole though. But I'm like, when you are watching something and you're like, there are so many red flags. Why are you fucking dating? And then they break up and you're like, fuck yes, that was the best decision that you ever made. And then they get back together and you're like, why? Why?

Brandi

That's every teen drama show we grew up with.

Rachael

True that. But still, I'm like, break that cycle, people.

SPEAKER_03

Just yeah, but let me ask you right now. Your favorite book tropes? Is it a walking red flag?

unknown

Oh.

SPEAKER_03

Think about it. Your f think about some of your favorite books. Okay. Or your favorite tropes. How many of them are walking red flags? Uh okay, maybe it's just me.

Brandi

Um, I think it depends on my mood.

SPEAKER_03

But you know which ones I'm talking about.

Brandi

Yeah. Um, those I think I enjoy because they are works of fiction.

SPEAKER_03

That's fair.

Brandi

Like if some of those things that I read happened to me, it would be a red flag. But because it's happening to someone else in a book that I know is fictional And it's okay. It's okay.

Tattoos, Piercings, Cars, And Style Icks

Rachael

Yeah. I don't know, like I'm rereading um I listened to the audiobook of Court of the Thorn and Roses series and I'm rereading it and I'm like Reese is kind of a dick. But then like he really grows on you. So I'm like, is it that he's just cocky. Yeah. Is that a red or is that an ick or a red flag if somebody's cocky?

SPEAKER_03

I mean they're kind of a red flag. He's kind of red flag at the beginning. He eventually becomes like red flag.

Rachael

You figure out why, but like it's kind of hard to and I feel like this could be for most relationships. It's like you see something at the beginning of your relationship and you're like, oh, like that might be a red flag, but like maybe it's not a forever thing, or maybe it's just like a one-off, and then it becomes like red flag, red flag. Those are called beige flags.

Brandi

Beige flags. Yep.

Rachael

Yeah.

Brandi

Where they could go either way, but you don't know until you get to know them more. That's true.

Rachael

Then you're too far down that road and you're like, Yeah, we what's going on?

Brandi

We cannot bring books into this conversation, okay? Because what I read and what I allow in my real life are two very different things. Yeah, that's okay. That's true. Am I going to let a man stalk me and chase me through the woods without my permission? No. Are you gonna read about it? Am I gonna read about it? Fuck yeah, I am.

unknown

Okay.

Rachael

One series that I like, I like the um Lori Gilmore's like pumpkin spice and all the things. Yeah, you've talked about that. I don't think either of us have read it. It's like the Dream Harbor series, and I mean they're super they're good and they're spicy, which I appreciate, but it's literally like I moved to town and I met this person and oh I fell in love on day two of meeting them, and I'm like, mm-hmm.

Brandi

They seemed very Hallmark movie-ish to me, which is why I have it read.

Rachael

But it's like Hallmark with sex, and who doesn't love that? You see in the recent Hallmark?

Brandi

I mean, I guess they're closed door romance scenes, but um These at least go into the good Yeah, I'm yeah, I have to be in the right mood for those. You know. I'm a mood reader, that's why I have like six books at any one time.

Rachael

So but is it a ick if somebody does not like reading? I knew you were gonna ask this.

SPEAKER_03

No, as long as they respect it.

Brandi

Yes. Because the whole video game boy book talk girl facts, dream life, right? Yes. Um as long as they don't give me shit for reading or having too many books or wanting to go to the bookstore. Exactly. As long as they respect it. Yes, I don't care. You don't have to read men do not like to read. Like, dating pools are already bad enough. You put that in there, it's gone.

Rachael

Oh, I was also thinking about this. Um, gym bros. I'm like, it's just icky if they're like I I understand guys who like to work out. Yes, like you have to work out so you can like work out and then eat whatever you want. Cool. Support you.

SPEAKER_03

That's your whole personality. Yeah. Yeah.

Brandi

If I'm scrolling through your dating app and it's just mirror selfies at the gym of you flexing with your shirt off, hard pass. Or your or your ideal Sunday is one of the prompts, and it is go to the gym. If you're going to the gym on the Sunday, we don't have the same lifestyle. I'm sorry. But two, our lifestyles, like, we're just not gonna be compatible.

Rachael

Yeah. I can tell you that right now. Like, I want to work out enough to where I can still eat pizza.

SPEAKER_00

I don't even work out that much and I still eat pizza, so yes. Um yeah, I that's that's that's a big one. That is a good one.

SPEAKER_04

But I would agree with that.

Rachael

I this is like kind of an ick for relationships and hanging out with friends, is like if we're having a conversation and then you go on your phone and you're like on your phone, and I'm like, cool, fuck me. I was just talking then. I'm not trying to point you out. Because I know you are a good multitasker, Brandy. I love you so much. But sometimes I'm like, but I I was saying something, like, do you not care about what I'm saying? But that is just solely because I am like, I cannot look at a screen and also function properly.

SPEAKER_03

That fact may or may not have gotten me fired from my previous job.

Rachael

So because you were looking at your phone when talking?

SPEAKER_03

Because during meetings I have to be doing things with my hands to pay attention. Um, yeah, I saw that. Um, i.e. like taking notes or making paper origami or literally typing anything. Because I'll I'll verbatim repeat exactly what the person I'm paying attention. I'm right. And all we're happening. Yeah. But my hands are doing something. Gina laughs the shit out of me for it, okay? Because you need to be doing something.

Brandi

So that mini play-doh I gave everyone at my birthday party and their little goodie bags, I had extras. So I've got some that I'm playing with right now. I keep some in my car so that way when I'm driving I can play with it instead of trying like wanting to reach for my phone and being distracted. I keep some um on my by my couch. Like, yes, this stuff.

SPEAKER_00

This would come in handy for you. Yeah, for sure.

Brandi

Yes, it's uh like a fidget toy for me.

Rachael

Um I have a a fidget toy that I use for work for sure.

Brandi

On the on the mic. Oh yeah, and I also I had a fourth I found a fourth one. It's at my desk at work. Nice. So the I So they're in these cute little containers, right? And it I had this weird c little compartment in my center console in my car that like not quite big enough to fit my Red Bull in. But if it's play-hone it fits the play-doh perfectly, so it was designed for that.

SPEAKER_03

Meant to be.

Brandi

Because I was like, I don't know what else goes in here. Like I put my key fob in there, but that's like the only thing that would fit. And then I found out my play-doh fits in there perfectly, and I was like, perfect.

SPEAKER_03

It's meant to be, meant to be.

Brandi

So um, but yeah, I can see like if you're on a date and you're like trying to get to know them and they're just on their phone the whole time, yeah. That's a like if I'm getting to know you, like and like eye contact I think is important in that situation. Um I usually only get on my phone if I'm in a very uncomfortable situation where I don't want to make eye contact, or I'm comfortable enough with that person that they know that I've still attention.

Rachael

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Brandi

Um but kind of along like first date vibes, if they don't ask you any questions or continue the conversation. Yeah.

Rachael

Like if you don't ask me about my day or what I do, whether it's a first date or just in general, I'm like, Do you care?

Brandi

Well, even on like the dating apps, you'll be like, you'll ask them a question and then they answer it. And then they don't ask you something back. And then that's the conversation. I'm like I'm like, I'm not gonna do 20 questions and you not ask me anything in return. Like, this is a like you gotta keep the conversation going. Yeah, give me something.

SPEAKER_03

Well, and it can't just be a blah blah blah, and you know, what's yours? You know, they like with they just reflect the question, but like, okay, I get that occasionally because like sometimes you want to know that question, but like it can't be every time.

Brandi

Yeah, but that is still better than like you asking a yes or no question, and then they say no. That's their response, no.

SPEAKER_00

And you're like, what the fuck do I do with that? Alrighty.

Brandi

Well, me personally, I think this like I'm not putting that kind of effort into it. Sorry.

SPEAKER_03

Absolutely not.

Brandi

Too much effort. Yeah. Oh man, I could go on about this topic all night.

Rachael

There are so many options.

Pets, Allergies, and Non‑Negotiables

Brandi

There are men are icky. No, I'm just kidding. I'm sure look, us women have the icks, like we give icks too. Yeah, I'd be curious to see what men thinks.

Rachael

I know.

SPEAKER_03

I kind of want to ask all my friends what my icks and red flags are. I don't really want to know. I feel like that's a little too humbling. But it might be kind of fun. I don't know, I don't know if I want that much. Maybe like one friend.

Brandi

Yeah. I think our buddy Brian would give us some real ones. That would be funny. I think so. And I wouldn't care if he thinks they're icks or not.

SPEAKER_03

Well, yeah, yeah, that's fair.

Rachael

You know, that's though. But yeah, so I guess listeners, we're gonna throw it out there, male, female, however you identify, we wanna know what are some mics, what are some red flags? Um, what did we miss? And we would love to hear from you and get some perspective. Um, I'm also gonna shout out that um we're still getting good download rates. But if you want to go and download more episodes and support us, we're getting closer to our thousand download goal. We're like 140 away. So please download because we want to pop that bottle of champagne to hit our goal.

Brandi

Our our big goal is to do it by the the end of the month, by the end of this year.

Rachael

Um I think December already.

Brandi

Oh I yes, I I don't know if we're gonna get there, but we can't do it without you guys. So um share with your friends, download, have your significant other download for it. They don't even have to listen, just get us a download. Exactly. Because the more downloads we get, the more it's gonna go in, it's gonna show up for other people. Um, so even if you don't listen, even a download supports us. Um even liking us on Facebook, sharing our posts there, all of that helps us get seen by more people.

unknown

Exactly.

Rachael

And we appreciate your support. And thank you, Sarah, for coming today. We appreciated your your input.

SPEAKER_03

Anytime, guys.

Rachael

Okay, well, thank you all for listening. So until next time, stay bold. Stay empowered, girl gang out.

Podcasts we love

Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.

Huberman Lab Artwork

Huberman Lab

Scicomm Media
Call Her Daddy Artwork

Call Her Daddy

Alex Cooper
A Really Good Cry Artwork

A Really Good Cry

iHeartPodcasts
Before Breakfast Artwork

Before Breakfast

iHeartPodcasts
We Can Do Hard Things Artwork

We Can Do Hard Things

Treat Media and Glennon Doyle
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown Artwork

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

Vox Media Podcast Network