It's our last podcast of 2025! Sam shares an update on being back with her boyfriend (it's a rollercoaster, we know), and Amanda discusses why lotto scratchers are a terrible holiday gift to receive from her ex... which somehow evolves into a conversation about how her dad and ex made her feel like she has too many emotions and is too much to handle.

But the episode turns around when Sam and Amanda discuss their favorite Stranger Things characters because after ten years of talking about how much she loves Stranger Things and rewatches it more than Marvel Avengers, Sam finally convinced Amanda to binge watch and catch up on the show. Their answers surprisingly reveal a lot about their personalities!

Lastly Sam and Amanda share three words each that sum up their years, and share their hopes for one another in 2026. We'll preview those words here: empowering, infuriating, fun, calm, unsteady, crossroads, boundaries, vulnerability. Go listen to the episode to hear what's behind those words! Thanks for listening to us in 2025, and see you in 2026!

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After a crazypants October, your girls Sam and Amanda are burnt out and back to randomly crying at work. Amanda's fighting with her co-parent about books and softball through her daughters' therapists, Sam moved in with her boyfriend and broke up a day later. Plus, the state of the world is so bleak and depressing, it only makes them feel even more weary and heavy. But this is one of those conversations where you might not fix anything or come to any revelations, but just talking about it with your best friend makes you feel a bit better.

*Trigger Warning / Disclaimer: This episode does contain comments that may sound like suicide ideation, so please listen with extreme care or skip this episode if you are triggered and take care of yourself. The comments and this episode are not meant to promote it or make light of it--rather Sam and Amanda talk about how those types of comments have been Sam's way of coping since college, and instead of turning away from them because they made her uncomfortable, Amanda's learned to lean in and recognize them as a signal that Sam needs an extra check-in and support. Sam and Amanda have previously talked at length about what those comments mean when Sam brings them up, and how to keep one another safe and supported.

Disclaimer: We are NOT mental or physical health specialists. If you believe you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation, or any other mental health challenges we encourage you to contact your doctor or a medical professional. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, call 911, or go to your local emergency room. For resources on eating disorders, visit https://edrcsv.org/get-help/.

For a great resource to help with understanding depression and anxiety, and advice on how to help and what to say, check out one of our favorites, @realdepressionproject on Instagram.

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Amanda debriefs a first date with Sam in real time, and while they still have no idea how to date without overthinking it, this is honestly when they're at their best. And by that, we mean at their best being dumb with each other. Debriefing is the fun part of dating, so dive on in with us besties!

Green flags: he likes Taylor (but said she's not as popular with middle schoolers anymore!!!) (it doesn't matter, no one can ever convince us that loving Taylor is cringe); he is as good looking as his pictures; he's a girl dad; he's in therapy.

Red flags: he claims his ex-fiancee broke up with him out of nowhere (what woman breaks up with a man without an inciting incident?); he gave a boring interview answer to one of Amanda's tough shouldn't-be-a-first-date question; and... well, the third red flag might be an Amanda issue.

Other things the BABS still struggle with: getting Sam to ingest nutrients, adhering to proper first date protocol of not asking spicy questions, and being vulnerable enough to name our biggest insecurities.

** In full disclosure, this date happened in September, and while it seemed promising with some back and forth attempts to schedule a second date, nothing materialized. Still, it was fun to hope for a little bit!

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