Mini-Ep 327: Scrunchie Monsters
Breaking news: Forever35 merch is in! Plus, Kate and Doree hear from listeners about the power of the placebo effect, music of the moment, and how to store hair ties.
Mentioned in this Episode
Help us reach $20,000 by donating to the Forever35 Giving Circle!
To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach them at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.
Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show or shopmyshelf.us/forever35.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@Forever35Pod) and Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and join the Forever35 Facebook Group (Password: Serums).
Sign up for the newsletter! At forever35podcast.com/newsletter.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Transcript
Kate: Hello, and welcome to forever 35, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. I'm Kate Spencer,
Doree: And I am Doree Shafrir,
Kate: And we are not experts.
Doree: No, we're not, but we are two friends who like to talk a lot about serums.
Kate: And this is a mini episode, which is where we hear from you. The listeners of this show, we share your comments and your thoughts, and we answer your questions to the best of our ability
Doree: Indeed. But please do remember we are podcast hosts. We're not experts. We always encourage you to seek support first and foremost, from a medical and or mental health professional as needed.
Kate: So look hit us up on the voice. Voice me. I was trying to come up with a voice memes, hit us up on the voice memes, where you can also text us 7 8 1 5 9 1 0 3 9 0. Or you can hit us up on the, the gmail.com for 35 podcast, gmail.com.
Doree: And just a reminder, you can visit our website forever 35 podcast.com for links to everything we mentioned on the show. Follow us on Twitter at forever 35 pod on Instagram at forever 35 podcast. Join the forever 35 Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/forever 35 podcast. The password is serums. We also have a newsletter forever 35 podcast.com/newsletter. And you can shop all the products that we talk about on the show. Shop arranged little more intuitively if you will.
Kate: We have a couple other things to talk about today though. Don't we Doree?
Doree: We do. We have some announcements,
Kate: Announcements, announcements, announcements. Did you ever sing that at camp?
Doree: No, I did not.
Kate: Well, you missed out. I'm glad I saved it for the podcast podcast.
Doree: Okay. Why take it away? Oh, you want me to take it away?
Kate: You take it away. Yeah. You, you make the first announcement here.
Doree: Okay. Okay. Well, as, as we have discussed on a previous episode, we now have merch. Woo. And
Kate: It's live. We have merch and it's gorgeous.
Doree: The merch is gorgeous. I'm obsessed with it. My personal, my personal favorite is the Doree's hotel. Welcome kit.
Kate: I mean, how could you not, how could you not love a notepad, a key chain. Oh, and a little box of matches all branded from the fictional Dorees hotel. A play story created in her mind that is run by hotel general manager, Kate H Spencer. I mean, we gotta tell you the, the chuckles that we had over, like the chuckles slash like going and ING over the beauty of this pro this product was really something else. Mm-hmm
Doree: <affirmative> mm-hmm <affirmative>
Kate: Mm-hmm <affirmative> um, we I'm,
Doree: So I'm pretty obsessed.
Kate: Yeah. I mean, it's
Doree: Adorable personally. Pretty obsessed. Yeah. Um, what's your favorite Cape?
Kate: Well, I actually really love the journal. It's really beautiful. Um, it's like a great, it's a, you know how sometimes you get a journal and it's like, it's pretty, but it's not like actually a solid journal. Do you know what I mean? Yes. Like it's not like the papers flimsy, the lines are too small. Like it doesn't, it's not actually like created for journaling. It's just created to look nice. This is a, this is a journals journal, but I love like every time I look at the cover, it makes me feel happy. And I chuckle at the tagline on it, which is there's a lot to unpack here because truly
Doree: I know it's so funny. Like
Kate: Journals are where we go to unpack. Um, we, we worked with balance bound and they did an amazing job, creating all these products for us. They, they listen to the show, they clearly get our sense of humor and they have a beautiful aesthetic. And it's just, um, I just, didn't like, I'm just in love with it all. I'm in love with it all. I can't wait to put the stickers all over my little computer case. I just feel proud of it.
Doree: I also really love the pencil set, but you know, I love a pencil set.
Kate: That's very on brand for you. I feel like you're a crossword. You're a pencil person. Yes.
Doree: I'm a pencil person.
Kate: All of these things can be found at balance bound.co/shop/ 35. Yep. So if you are hanking for any sort of delightful paper products, stickers, sticky notes, set a notepad, that's really very two very useful notes, notepads and intentions, an inten notepad for your day. And just like a to-do list that, that we are excited. I think also that these things are also useful. Yes. Wouldn't you say Doree or would you
Doree: Yes. Yes. Not, they're not just decorative.
Kate: Yeah. You'll actually use these and enjoy using them. And I think that is what really brings me a lot of joy.
Doree: Totally. Um, okay. So we have another announcement. <laugh>
Kate: We're like, it's like assembly. I love it. Like the first day of school.
Doree: Yes. Now I will say, if you subscribe to our newsletter, you have already gotten this announcement, but if you don't, then you haven't. So <laugh>, so I want to make sure that everyone is aware of this, but we are starting to explore the possibility of, of some kind of forever 35 travel retreat trip. We are partnering with this very cool company called Truva trip that works with podcasters and authors and influencers and helps them plan trips. Um, and we are developing what the trip is going to be. So we would love your input on that. And also it helps us just kind of get a sense of like, is there interest in this or are we just, you know, are we taking a triple line, a trip that, yeah. Are we planning a trip that no one will wanna go on? Um, and Doree, to be
Kate: Clear, this would be a trip that you and I are on with a group of listeners.
Doree: Yes. Yes. So we have this survey, it has bunch of different options of like, where would you wanna go? What kinds of activities would you wanna do? Cetera, et cetera. So please fill this out. If you're very interested in a trip, if you're on the fence about a trip, if you're kind of contemplating the idea of a trip, um, we will link to it in the show notes. It's a kind of a long URL. So we'll link to it in the show notes, uh, and you'll be able to access that. And then we'll kind of go from there. We'll let you know what, what, you know, what's what I know that Kate and I have some ideas about a potential trip. <laugh>
Kate: We are, we're already fantasizing about this trip,
Doree: But I will say I don't wanna like, you know, lead people in a certain direction. So I just wanna have people tell us where they wanna go without us, like influencing them. All right. Well, those are all the announcements. Now, Kate
Kate: Mm-hmm <affirmative>
Doree: You had a topic you wanted to bring up.
Kate: I just wanted to kind of throw something out into the ether of the forever 35 universe and just like, maybe have a conversation, maybe just get people's thoughts or hear from people on how they have navigated this. Here's what it is. Story. Since I started kind of working on, on dealing with some of these long COVID symptoms that I've been having for the last few months, one thing that I have been doing is I have been engaging in for lack of a better phrase, an elimination diet, which basically means I have stopped eating certain things. And I find even just the words, elimination diet to like trigger a lot of diet culture feelings. And so I understand if that does that for you, this may not be a conversation that is you even wanna listen to. And I, I totally understand that, but, um, in order to deal with some of the issues I've been having, I have more or less without, uh, overly restricting or overly getting too into it.
Been limiting things like gluten dairy, alcohol sugar. And I think I've talked about this before, whereas like, where is there? Where is there space and how do we approach talking about food, eating the way it makes us feel outside of diet culture? It's been interesting because I have noticed that I actually do feel better. My cough is gone, certain symptoms, other symptoms are gone and it aligns with making this, you know, choice to kind of limit some of these things and eat more of other things. You know, that I think that also should be mentioned is that I'm not limiting when I'm eating in other ways, but I would love to know how people have navigated this. You know, I think a lot of people with autoimmune issues, um, and obviously food allergies, sensitivities end up on this path. And I think it's really like, it's very empowering to feel that my body feels better, but I also feel like there isn't really a world in which we talk about what we're eating and food that doesn't somehow get co-opted by diet culture. And part of that is our own is my own brains, innate desire to, to immediately go there because it's been so conditioned for the last 40 something years. So this is just something that's weighing on me because a big part of my self care has been taking care of this long COVID stuff. And also just noticing that like how much better I'm actually feeling.
Doree: So Kate, I think these are really important issues to talk about. Um, do you subscribe to burnt toast?
Kate: You know, I do. I love burnt toast.
Doree: I think it is possible. Um, I, I will send you this newsletter because I do think it will be really helpful because she talks to this anti dietician.
Kate: I opened it on my computer already do.
Doree: Okay. Um, and what I really like is just how this person, um, suggests kind of considering any new diet that a medical professional might put you on for medical reasons. And one of the things she says is does any part of you want to remove this food for weight loss reasons rather than for the management of a condition or diagnosis. And I feel like that's such a good question because it's like, yes, is there. And when I say you, I'm not referring to you, you Kate, I'm saying I'm like you the broader world, but like when your doctor puts you on the side, is there a part of you? That's like, oh, well I'll probably lose a few pounds. You know, because that is like, I feel like that starts to get into very dangerous territory.
Kate: You know, what is so validating is that I had this conversation with my doctor. She was like, we don't, I don't, we don't want you to be making these choices in, in, in connection to weight loss. Like maybe that maybe I found a
Doree: Really good, she sounds great doctor. Yeah. Yeah. She sounds amazing.
Kate: I mean, what the hell anyway, I feel joyful because I haven't had some of these problems that have been plaguing me for the last few months. And I, my body feels so much better. Like it makes me almost emotional. That's all I just wanted to say. I'm really glad you brought this, uh, newsletter up because I'm gonna, I, I opened it, but I'm gonna take time to read it once we get, um, done recording. Yeah.
Doree: I think it will be. I think I actually think based on everything you've just said, I think it will be like affirming.
Kate: I think so too. Well, Doree, thank you for just kind of giving me the space to Yammer on about this stuff.
Doree: You are welcome anytime. Right?
Kate: We've gotta take a break. We've gotta take a break.
Doree: Yes, let's do it. All right. All right. We are a back and we have a couple of important follow up questions that a listener was wondering about. Kate, are you still using the iPhone bed that your daughter made for you and Doree? Are you still making collar bread? <laugh> well, Kate, are you still using the iPhone bed?
Kate: No, I saved it. I put it on a shelf. I actually have since gotten a new iPhone because my old one broke and I got the, the one that you can charge on this little like magnetic pad. So that's where my iPhone sleeps right now.
Doree: That's fine.
Kate: It's very fancy. Yeah. It's very cool. But yeah, I, I guess I could, I could maybe combine the two, but no, right now the little bed lives on a shelf.
Doree: Okay. But that was such a sweet, I know sweet gift from your daughter.
Kate: It was really sweet
Doree: For you
Kate: Slash like, uh, oh, they see my phone addiction. <laugh> you know,
Doree: They get me a little too. Well, <laugh>
Kate: Exactly. Now speaking of, I wanna wanna know about hoed because you were like, you were on a roll, I would say like 20, 20, even before COVID you were Hore
Doree: Was I,
Kate: I think a little
Doree: Bit, but I don't remember. I felt like if I thought it started during COVID, but maybe, maybe it didn't. I don't, I don't recall. Um, I have not made hollah in a long time, you know, know, I think part of the challenge is that it really, it it's like it's a long process. Like you're not watching it constantly, but it's, it's like a, you know, there's a few different RA rises and like, there's just, it's just like involved. Um, and I often, I feel like I don't like think about it early enough in the day. A lot of times, like, I need to, I need to plan to do it. I think is the, is the crux of the matter here. And I just haven't done that.
Kate: Are you missing it? Do you want to be making HBR?
Doree: Not really. <laugh>. I mean, it, like, I don't, I haven't like thought about making it in a long time, so that's probably, you know, a sign. I don't know. I enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed making it. Um, but I didn't, I haven't really thought about it in a while.
Kate: So one thing I would be curious about, and I don't know if you feel this way or anyone else does, but the things that we did early pandemic are a bit, I don't, they're not triggering, but it's a little bit like, oh, I don't think I have the energy to revisit that right now. Like it brings up some memories. <laugh>
Doree: That's such an interesting point.
Kate: Just a thought. All right. Doree, we received a couple, um, little tidbits of feedback on my new obsession with infrared saunas. And I just thought I would play them both if that's okay with you.
Doree: Yes. I would love to play some infrared sauna content.
Voicemail: Hi cat. I'm just listening to episode three, mini 3 22, and your discussion of how Kate might be dealing with long and, uh, how infrared saunas have been feeling really good to her. And I'm calling you as a PhD research methodologist and statistician and Kate. If, if infrared saunas feel good to you, and there's not a lot of evidence supporting necessarily that they are better than placebo effect, placebo effect is still effect. So my take is, if those are making you feel good, that's self-care and you don't have to justify doing, doing something that's making your body feel better. So go for it. Um, again, you don't have to justify doing something that makes you feel good. Your body's, you know, sending you signals that you should look into they're valid. And I hope that, um, that you start to feel better. And if the Inca are doing it for you, just go for it. All right. Love the pod. Love you guys.
Doree: Bye. I love this.
Kate: This was very validating for me because when this person, when I listen and they're like, like, and I'm a PhD statistician, I was like, uhoh, they're gonna tell me it's not working. And I, and then when they said that, I felt very validated. So thank you. Listen. Oh, but we got another message about infrared saunas from someone who also found them useful. So just, just gonna play that as well.
Voicemail: Hey and Doree, this is Piper calling from Los Angeles. I was just listening to the episode where Kate was talking about the infrared sauna. And I just had a little bit of anecdotal evidence, um, supporting that. They actually do do some things for your skin. Especially I used to go to one in New York. It was part of my gym. And then you could go afterwards and it wasn't private, like was, could, it was minutes couldn't in my phone. It time I went in and I had one of those really big growth sits on my face, like where you would probably pop it. Cause it was like annoying you. Cause it was so gross. And I went in and I did a session just regular. Like I wasn't, I was just going in for, for a normal session. And I came out and the was flat. It had gone away all the had disappeared. So whether or not doing anything for your stuff, I have no idea, but that was a true thing that happened to me. And I just wanted to share if anyone else was thinking of maybe going for some wellness, I did find that it actually helped my skin. So thanks for everything you do. I love the podcast. Talk to you later. Bye.
Kate: Wow. I mean, now there's no way I, I can't not go <laugh> well, especially if you have a big Z. Well, which I do, I have one of those big zits that are like the side of your nose hurting Zs. Oh God. Yeah. You know those Zs, right? The side of the noses. I am real familiar with those. <laugh> I'll be apparently Doree. Shall we share this email? Let's share it. Okay. Hi, Kate Doree. First time reaching out, but love you. So this may start off as a bit out there, but hear me out. So I'm reading and listening to music, Bowie, the cure in access, et cetera, playlist, and thinking of how interesting it was that stranger things introduced to new generation to Metallica and Kate Bush. What other artists would we like to see have a comeback. And then I got thinking has forever 35 ever had a music focused pod music can be both an escape and a way of connection, both so powerful for self-care I myself work a high stress job and love a concert or music festival escape. Can we, I know you part of the fam Kate, but I'd love to hear more about what Doree digs music wise and our fellow 30 fives keep on rock
Doree: All. Let's uh, put a music episode on the books.
Kate: That would be really fun. Actually. Let's
Doree: Do it. Yeah. All right. Let's do it.
Kate: Does this. This is where we get to have like Beyonce on.
Doree: Yes. Let me just call Beyonce and get her on the pod. That should be easy.
Kate: We'll Ringle Dingle, Beyonce people. Yeah. Just get her on. Yeah.
Doree: I love this question. We're gonna mul it over and come back with a, a little bit more music stuff, I guess.
Kate: Yeah. We can put together a playlist. Uh, you know, I also don't listen to enough music, so maybe I'll I'll, you know, put my headphones on first for a little bit before we dig in, but great question. And I'm loving that the fact that my children are now Kate Bush fans,
Doree: That's pretty,
Kate: Let's take a, and we be back with a question.
Doree: All right, we have returned and we have a voicemail. Here we
Voicemail: Go. Hey ladies, um, what are we doing with our hair products? Um, I don't mean like shampoo or styling products. I mean, quite literally like hair ties, scrunchies clips, headband, that kind of minutia. I don't have a ton of space. And so I'm not interested in doing like a full home edit moment where I buy a thousand product and it takes out my entire bathroom. Um, however I have right now, I'm just hanging like off of my like towel hooks and both juvenile and unorganized
Kate: From the, the container store that all my hair Accra mall is organized in. I have very, I have a, like a cabinet closet in our bathroom and has very deep. It's very deep. So I have a thing that goes very far back with dividers and I have like elastics and clips and then I have scrunchies and then I have like headbands and smaller hair things I have in a drawer alongside my brushes. Like Bobby pins, tiny elastics. That's in a drawer next to the sink. That is how I do it. But I, I do understand the dilemma and I just find there tend to be scrunchies and hair elastics just everywhere. And that's possibly because we have three people with longer hair in my house, but even just in my own space, they're just, they're just everywhere. I just collect them and dump them all over the place. Like a little scrunchy fairy,
Doree: Kate. I was gonna say, my scrunchies are everywhere. They're on my desk. They're on my bathroom counter. They're on my nightstand. They're on the floor. They're in the kitchen.
Kate: They're just,
Doree: They're in the car. They're like literally all over and I don't have a system and this voicemail is really just highlighting my personal deficiencies. So thank you.
Kate: Wow. No, it's, they're, they're, they're a weird thing to store.
Doree: Yeah. Yeah. I like the idea of a bin.
Kate: I'm going to include a link to the one that I have. It's stack S T a K bin, and it has little wheels on it. So if it's in a shelf, you can pull it kind of back and forth very easily and they make all sorts of different sizes. Um, and I have found those to be helpful because they are divided because when everything's mixed together as one, it just becomes, it's almost like a monster, like a hair monster,
Doree: A hair monster,
Kate: You know, it's like just like a, it's like the rock monster and never ending story where he is just the guy's just made of a bunch of rocks and he has a face that's. I feel like all my scrunchies and headbands become a, like a big monster.
Doree: Interesting. Interesting. Okay.
Kate: You're not on board with the rock monster analogy.
Doree: <laugh> I, I mean, I love the rock monster. Haven't thought about the rock monster in quite some time. Um, thank you for bringing him back into my life. That's all.
Kate: It's my pleasure. That's my pleasure. Well, Doree, uh, let's uh, let's wrap here. Let's say goodbye here. And look, we've talked about a lot of things. So if people wanna weigh in, you know where to find us
Doree: Indeed. All right. Bye. Everyone.