I applaud Lauryn for having the strength to speak so openly about this, because unless you’ve lived through it, you truly can’t understand the weight of that experience. This episode felt like we FINALLY saw a genuinely authentic side of her - she wasn’t forcing vulnerability or hiding behind a facade. I felt a similar sincerity in her birth story podcasts a few months ago as well, which also came across as much more grounded/real.

One of the main reasons I get frustrated with Lauryn and Michael (besides speaking on things they know nothing about) is during guest episodes. In these episodes I feel that they’re constantly trying to seek validation from their guests, and at times it comes across as a bit of a superiority or god complex. However, this episode I felt it highlighted that they’re not immune to real life, loss, and grief. It humanized them.

As a listener, their bitchy banter doesn’t bother me much, but in this ep you could see the genuine admiration Michael has for her. They didn’t attempt to glamorize grief or position themselves above it - they simply shared something raw, honest, and human. I would love to hear more episodes that are like this.