One of us has a breakdown on air and the other is forced into the role of both interviewer and therapist. Somehow, we push through. Did you know the podcast turns 5 years old in a few weeks? If we've meant anything to you in whatever capacity, let us know by December 1st to be featured in a special anniversary episode. See below for ways to contact us: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive Outro Jingle by Oleg Kirilkov from Pixabay

Lauren brings the topic this week and we soon find ourselves up to our elbows in discomfort. Along the way, we ask ourselves...why DO we chase rock bottom? And what happens when we find out it doesn't exist? TRIGGER WARNING: while we avoid numbers and most details, we tell some personal stories involving weight, substance abuse, and self-harm on this episode. As always, stay safe. (And don't drink so much caffeine that you end up like us.) If you have thoughts about this episode, see below for ways to share with us and spark the next conversation: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive Outro Jingle by Oleg Kirilkov from Pixabay

How do you responsibly find the balance between caring too much and too little about a cause? Is it possible (or healthy?) to pick and choose what to care about? How do you take care of yourself now so you can show up to care about other things later? We answer these questions and more on another vulnerable episode. Enjoy! Thanks Orion for today's listener voicemail! See below for ways to contact us with your own thoughts: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Self care post by Ahmad Deeb, M.A. (@imamdeeb) Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive

This week we talk about showing up when the world is on fire and nothing we do feels like it makes a difference. Plus, Christina spirals on two hours of sleep and Lauren reveals a hidden talent. Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive Outro Jingle by Oleg Kirilkov from Pixabay

Our attempt at a loosey-goosey episode gets heavy faster than you can say "fear of death". We talk about struggling to love yourself when you hate humanity, speculate about our breakup patterns, and call each other out on our respective growth. Pico disagrees with us on multiple occasions. Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive

This week our friend and longtime listener Orion joins us to talk about growing up in a cult, coming to terms with his trans identity, why he developed an eating disorder, and how to be in recovery when everything is chaos and you want to die. Plus, Lauren makes an accusation and Christina loses the script entirely. Enjoy! This episode contains content that may be sensitive for those dealing with eating disorders, food, weight, and suicidal ideation. As always, please take care of yourself when listening. Our guest this week was Orion! You can find him on Instagram @robotakiss. Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive

This week we pop off about the unfortunate state of—well, everything. Topics include struggling in eating disorder recovery, getting blindsided at work, censoring yourself in therapy, and what we wish we could tell people about our toxic coping mechanisms. Enjoy? Christina's essay: I Went on a Trip Last Week. So Did My Eating Disorder. Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Edited by Christina Jumper Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive

It's a big day because we're interviewing our first guest as cohosts! Vikki is here to talk about the events preceding—and following—meeting Lauren on the internet 20 years ago. From religious baggage and bulimia buddies to landing in eating disorder treatment after undergoing gastric bypass surgery, Vikki shares what has helped her arrive on the other side of "normal". (Spoiler alert: it doesn't exist.) For this episode, we have left a few numbers uncensored since all parties involved felt it would bring representation to an underrepresented minority. Content may be sensitive to those struggling with eating disorders, body image, and weight. Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @picosauve Send us spoons AKA buy us a coffee! Credits: Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive Edited by Christina Jumper

This week we revisit the idea of normalizing mental health and whether our experiences have helped us accomplish this. Tangents include our quest for guests, comfort shows, Portia de Rossi’s anorexia memoir, medical hot takes, capitalism, and a massive breakthrough in the case of the mystery farm animals. Enjoy! Books we mentioned in this episode: Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia De Rossi Weird in a World That's Not: A Career Guide for Misfits, F*ckups, and Failures by Jennifer Romolini Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Buy us a coffee Credits: Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive

On this episode, we give some personal updates after last week's reveals, share some listener feedback, and beg for guests. We DEFINITELY don't have an entire segment about vaping. Enjoy! Follow Pickles and Vodka for announcements, behind the scenes content, or just to say hi: Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast Facebook: Pickles and Vodka Podcast Email: [email protected] Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve) Buy us a coffee Credits: Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines via Free Music Archive