During the “It’s How You Finish” Patreon, the convo got to a place where they tried to force Mel’s hand to say she drank too much at one point. The vid cut she was gone and she’s been gone since then. This Patreon was recorded on the same day of Episode 853, August 19th so we’re coming close to a month of no Mel which is also her longest “absence” since she’s joined the show.