Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

You ever lie awake thinking of a time when you could have made a certain decision but instead decided not to do anything and now it’s getting hard to live with yourself? Us, neither. Tangents in this episode include dumb phones, a parental apology, and…wrestling? Enjoy!References: * #96 Life Is a Bad Sandwich feat. REGRETThoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

When someone dies by suicide, the overwhelming response is to tell people to check in on their friends. On this episode, we explore why that phrase rubs us the wrong way and whether alternatives exist. Tangents include the pain of finding a therapist, depression catching you off guard, Kurt Cobain, childbirth, and tattoos.Since this is a particularly heavy episode, we conclude with a palate cleanser fit for spooky season. Enjoy!References:* #128 A Good Death feat. Anonymous* Build Your Dream October Drink Menu And I’ll Reveal Your Oddly Specific Personality TypeThoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Lauren shares what’s been going on since she’s been away, and Chris tries not to crash out. Tangents include lost pets, vulnerable conversations, and…George W. Bush?? Enjoy!Content warning for suicidal ideation.Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a great day when a former guest comes out of hiding, and today is that day! Kye Plant is an interdisciplinary artist and former podcaster who talks about why he ended his show and what he’s been doing since. Tangents include gratitude (yuck), needing pain to make art, struggling with extremes, rollerblading, and balancing our past and present selves. Enjoy!Listen to Kye’s music on Bandcamp!References:* Kye’s original 2021 episode: #49 Shame-Based Artist feat. Kye PlantThoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Friend of the pod j’naii is out of treatment and back in the guest chair to talk about ways the system is intentionally confusing, the difficulties of receiving a diagnosis, resisting rest due to guilt, and a surprising moment in therapy. Plus, we take you through a breakdown-based guided meditation and Chris issues a MAJOR correction. Enjoy!Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Stuck in a funk? Decision paralysis got you down? Have we got the philosophy for you. Tangents include weird things we imagined as kids, Smooth Move, our 1-year anniversary of living together, things we survived to get here, and what “full send” means to us. Enjoy!Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends! After 8 years of doing the show, we realized that we’ve never taken a survey of our listeners and their feedback. Since Lauren is taking a few weeks off, we figured now would be the perfect time to take a pulse.Answers are completely anonymous and are for the sole purpose of helping us make the show better and expand our community. All in all, it should take 2-5 minutes to complete.Click the link below to be taken to the survey. We appreciate you all!!Take the 2026 Pickles and Vodka Listener SurveyHere’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

We catch each other up on life and debate the role of emotional regulation. Side topics include Myspace, who we think would star in a movie based on a certain cursed therapist, which one of us got triple hacked, a memoir update, and Trello. Enjoy!References:* Nancy (2018)* The House of Yes (1997)* Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia* I’m Glad My Mom DiedThoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

Joining Chris this week is AP, cohost of queer culture podcast Dovewhether! We talk about the nature of humanity, lesbians, the joys of being Mexican, surgery for mental health, meeting people in their life, and finding tranquility in your body while figuring out your gender. Enjoy!Follow AP and listen to Dovewhether at www.dovewhether.com!References:* Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (Dovewhether episode Chris guested on)Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe

The title is self-explanatory. Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere.References:* Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (catch cohost AP on our show next week!)Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast* Send us an email: [email protected]* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afhCredits:* Edited by Chris Jumper* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive*while supplies last Get full access to Pickles and Vodka at picklesandvodka.substack.com/subscribe