The Perm Confession, Ren Fair Tickets & Who Really Does the Chores

Relationship Advice Thursday kicks off with a giveaway and a curveball. We hand out tickets to the 38th Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival and put Will from Taylor in the expert chair for today’s first dilemma: a 22-year-old who’s been hiding a “small” secret from his girlfriend — his naturally curly hair is actually a perm. We talk through why little lies can feel big in relationships, how to own the truth without making it worse, and what honesty really costs and gives back.

Between cases, we roll into a Country News Minute, spotlighting Dolly Parton’s milestone release supporting pediatric cancer research, Brad Paisley’s unforgettable dad moment with Mick Jagger, and Midland’s road-worn new song “Marlboro Man.”

Then we tackle a second, very real household debate: when one partner works long shifts and the other stays home with three kids, how should chores and childcare really be divided? We break down expectations, teamwork, and simple ways couples can reset from “helping” to actually sharing the load.

Laughs, giveaways, and real talk — it’s a morning built on honesty, balance, and better conversations at home.

Transcript

Caller Wins And Setup

SPEAKER_02 0:00

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Good morning. It's the Morning Brew with Chris. You are first caller. Who's this? Will. Will! All right, Will, congratulations. You have a chance to win four tickets to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. You just have to be my relationship advice expert today. Do you think you make a good relationship advice expert? Uh yeah. Yeah, what make uh what are your qualifications?

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Um, I've been in a couple relationships, but both have lasted for quite a while, many years.

The Perm Secret Confession

Will’s Take: Honesty First

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Oh, there we go. All right. So he's consistent, he knows longevity. Well, perfect. I'm gonna read the story, and when we come back, we'll get your advice for this young man. You ready? Yeah. All right. I'm a 22-year-old man, and I've been lying to my girlfriend, 24, for our whole relationship, and I don't know how to tell her. Oh my gosh. Here's a little context. My hair is super straight, like no product will ever make it hold any style. And about five years ago, I saw a video of someone getting a perm and I decided to try it. And I loved it. Wavy hair fit my style, boosted my confidence, and honestly, I started to get more attention. I met my girlfriend in college after I'd already been getting perms, but I never told her my hair isn't natural. Now she's noticing little changes, and I can tell she's suspicious. I want to be honest, but I'm scared. She'll see me differently or even leave. I feel like I've been lying with an altered ego instead of just being myself. I know it sounds silly, but it's serious to me, and I really love her, and I don't know how to tell her the truth without losing her. Will, you got a juicy one this morning. What's your advice for this young 22-year-old man?

SPEAKER_01 1:56

I would say that he just needs to be up front and tell her, you know, because lying in a relationship doesn't work out ever. Right. And when she finds out that he's lying, then you know, of course she's gonna be more upset than if he's just up front about it.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Yeah, and I mean, and if she does leave him just because he doesn't have like naturally curly hair, I don't think you want to be with her. That's kind of a red flag.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

It wasn't meant to be anyway at that point.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

Yeah. Have you ever uh kept a secret from someone you were dating? Um, absolutely, yes. Yes, anything juicy you want to share with us?

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Um, just you know, I was doing stuff that I definitely shouldn't have been doing, and you know, it ended up turning around and biting me in the butt in the end, and so I know firsthand, you know, you shouldn't lie in a relationship, just always be up front.

Country News Minute Highlights

Janine Joins: Year Of Whimsy

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Be up front. Have you ever had a perm? No. No, I have, and uh, it's kind of cool, but then you can't really rub your uh fingers through your hair, so that part stinks, but oh yeah, that's not even fun. Well, awesome. Will's advice is to be honest, just get it out in the air, and if she doesn't like you because you don't have naturally curly hair, then kick her to the curb. Will, congratulations. You just won four tickets to the 38th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival. What station hooked you up? New Country 92.5. You know it. It is now time for Chris's country news minute, and we're gonna start with country legend Dolly Parton, who a few days ago on the 19th of this month, celebrated her 80th birthday, and she celebrated by giving new life to one of her most powerful songs, Light of a Clear Blue Morning. And this time she was joined by an all-star lineup, including Lainey Wilson, her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, and Reba McIntyre. Here's a little taste. And this new version isn't just about celebration. All the proceeds from the song and video are going towards pediatric cancer re cancer research at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Leave it to Dolly to turn her birthday into a blessing for others. Happy birthday, Dolly. Uh, and here's a story that proves that music really can connect across generations. Uh, Brad Paisley recently shared a moment with Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger. They were sitting at Brad's house in his uh farm in Nashville with his young son. And while the adults were having their drinks, Brad's son casually asked Mick Jagger, hey, what's Muddy Waters like? Uh, a proud dad moment for Brad Paisley indeed, because a blues history lesson from a lock rock legend proceeded. And Brad did say it was one of the proudest dad moments ever. And now, uh, Midland uh is now officially back in the saddle. The Grammy nominated trio just dropped a brand new song called called Marlboro Man. Let's try that again. Called Marlboro Man. It's a dusty, road-worn anthem about freedom, regret, and the pull of the highway. And uh the video was even shot in Arizona, uh, in the Arizona desert country, and the band said it reflects uh their own years of chasing shows, songs, and sunsets. I'm Chris Bennett, and that was my country news minute. Janine, you there?

SPEAKER_00 5:33

Yes, I am. How are you?

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Heck yeah, I'm doing great on this thirsty Thursday. Uh, anything juicy happening over there on Magic 1017 or on uh Voice of the Mountain on iTalk 1067?

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Well, I'm gonna have tonight uh my guest is Alexis with uh the pit count. Point in time count, everybody. Very, very important for the White Mountains. So listen in on 106.7 tonight. But I like this trend. There's a new trend, Google says that it is um a huge first trend of 2026. It concerns whimsy.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

Ooh, whimsy.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

And the year of whimsy. That's okay now, behavior that is unusual, playful, and unpredictable. You, that's you, Chris. Yes, rather than having any serious reason or purpose. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. I don't love I add that second lane. Purpose behind it, behind the whimsy, though. But whimsy is just happiness and frolicking. That's whimsy.

SPEAKER_02 6:31

Heck yeah. So 2026 is the year of whimsy.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

The year of horses and whimsy. There you go. Yeah, there's videos uh being more whimsical on social media. Huffington Post says that whimsy is already a clear frontrunner for the word of the year. For the word of the year, whimsy. Whimsical. I like it. I like whimsy. I love it. It feels good. It does.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

I feel like it's gonna be my year, too.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

That's you, yes. You're very whimsical.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

There we go. Sweet. Well, Janine, it is Thursday, so you know what that means.

SPEAKER_00 7:06

Relationship advice.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

That's right. Ready for the story?

SPEAKER_00 7:09

I am ready.

Second Dilemma: Work, Kids, House

SPEAKER_02 7:10

All right, here we go. Hi, I'm looking for some relationship advice. I'm 23 and my partner is 26. We've been together almost six years and we have three kids. I'm a stay at home. I used to work, but with daycare costs, it just made more sense for me to stay home while he works 40 to 50 hours a week at a factory. Here's where we're stuck. I feel like I should handle most of the housework and caring for the kids during the day. But when he gets home, I'd really appreciate help with the kids and maybe a few small chores or pickups. He disagrees. He feels like since he works all day, his main responsibility at home is just helping with the kids, not the house, except for taking out the trash. The problem is when he quote watches the kids, he often just sits in the same room and lets them get into things, which makes more work for me later. I'm honestly torn. Should both partners be helping with the house and kids, or should it all fall on me because I stay home? I'd love some perspective. What's your thoughts?

Action Plan And Kid Involvement

SPEAKER_00 8:12

You know what? I this is something that you really need to communicate and plan together. It it's hard because he is working 40 to 50 hours a week, right? And a lot of it has to be, has to talk about, you know, having an action plan so that if he is doing something clearly, you know, um specific with the kids, ta taking them out of the house, playing some catch or something in the backyard, and she is, you know, he's helping with a little bit here and there. But sometimes, you know, if you're staying at home full time, it's about organization. And if she's, you know, it can be as simple as uh uh doing meal prepping and uh you know taking over the cooking, different, different kinds of things where um she's making sure that she's you know not sitting for a long time during the I know this sounds bad. It sounds bad like I'm saying this, but you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 9:03

He said it, I think.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

He is yeah, he is working 40 to 50 hours a week. So when he gets home and if he's tired and he's working in a factory, I think you said, um that is a that's a hard, that's a hard toe for him, you know what I mean? Right. And so if if they can kind of come together, communicate, make a plan, an action plan, he can maybe take over a few things or maybe get all the kids out of the house, and then also start to involve the children. They are several of them are of an age where they need to be picking up after themselves. Do you see what I mean? And that's a big thing to help keep uh everything tidy, those kids need to be involved. You know?

SPEAKER_02 9:39

So they have three kids under the age of six, they're old enough to start cleaning up after themselves, you think?

SPEAKER_00 9:44

Oh, this uh under if there's a six-year-old and a five-year-old, absolutely, yes. Yes, they can pick up their toys and put their toys back in the toy box. That's the whole deal, you know. I mean, my boys were totally doing that and not throwing things and having really good because if they have, if they are, if the kids have good manners, they know about self-quieting, they know how to play quietly by themselves and pick up all their toys, it's gonna make her life a lot easier.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

Nice. Janine, you nailed the relationship advice today.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Yeah, just well, they can both help out, but they need to sit down and communicate and have a plan and not, you know, because she needs to know, and also her too, getting more organized, not letting if the kids are swinging from the chandeliers, I doubt they have chandeliers, but you know what I mean. If they're you know, you have to, she she's there full time, and if she can just kind of start to because resentment will start to build with both sides, and they'll just yeah, it's not good.

Wrap-Up And Parting Notes

SPEAKER_02 10:39

All right. You heard it. Janine says you need to communicate, create an action plan, and uh another great relationship advice, best friend. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Yeah, and you know, from him, a lot little can go a long way if he's taking out the trash and you know clear the table and they're doing all that stuff, and it sends good messages to the kids too, right?

SPEAKER_02 11:01

That's right. I'm trying to help out around the house more too. Are you? Yes, good for you.

SPEAKER_00 11:06

Good job, Mr. Whimsy.

unknown 11:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:08

Okay. Awesome. Janine, you're the best. We love you, best friend. Love you too.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Have a great day. You too, bye.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Bye bye.