Session 99: Megan Moroney

(upbeat music) - Hi, Plussies. Welcome back to Therapus. I know we are doing a third first of all. I need to dress up more for this. (laughs) Ooh. I know we are doing a Thursday release, which we don't normally do, but we are doing that because it is Megan Moroni's birthday and she is also the guest tonight. So I thought it would be really fun to drop the episode on her birthday with it being so close. Happy birthday to you, Megan. Love you. (laughs) So in Megan's honor, I'm gonna sing happy birthday to her. Happy birthday to. Wait, I'm gonna try to sound good. Hold on. Just 'cause she's a singer, you know? Okay, shh. Happy, oh no, that was off to her. ♪ Happy birthday to you, happy birthday ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ Wait, no, I know that isn't good. ♪ Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to your Megan ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ Thank you. Megan Moroni is a dear friend and a super star when it comes to country music and just music in general. She's literally incredible. Her sophomore album, "Am I Okay," came out last year. She is currently on the "Am I Okay" tour, which I was so lucky to be able to see last week. It was life-changing. I love when I go to a concert and their audience is just so engaged. They're like hanging on her every word and like Megan just had the crowd in the palm of her hands. It was so amazing. I just kept looking up there being like she is such a star and like all of her music slaps. But if you are not able to see her live, do not worry. Her live album, "Meghan Moroni," "Am I Okay" tour is out now. There's just something, sometimes like I.E. Cornelius Street live. Like it just like it makes you really feel like you're in the room with the artist and I think it's so cool. So Megan, congratulations and happy birthday and I'm so excited for you guys to hear this episode. To submit, tell me what's wrong. Go to pastthatpost.com and click tell me what's wrong. Leave a name and number if you're feeling fancy. Okay, enjoy the episode. Love you, Pussies. Hi, Pussies. Today we have on "A Dear Friends" and a country superstar, Megan Moroni. - Oh, hey. - Hey. I miss you. How are you? - I'm great. I love that we're matching. - I know we are matching. - And you know, I never wear sweats that are like, what would you call this? - Bootleg, perhaps. - This is bootleg? - Straightleg, straightleg. - Straightleg. I never wear it. And I did it for you. - No. - Not that it's like really like upended my diet or anything, but like. - Thank you so much. - How's tour? - Great. I mean, we've got what eight shows left out of, I've done, there's going to be 50 total. So math is hard, 42 shows down. So it's been amazing. I feel like it's been like the best time of my life on tour. It's just, it's insane. I'm so glad you get to come because you'll get to like see it. I feel like I say all the time. Like, oh, it's so special and it's crazy. It's amazing. I've never had this happen before, but until you like see it, then you're like, oh, that is the same. - I cannot wait. What's your favorite song to perform in the show? - I think break it right back. Straight into bless your heart. Really does something for me. Like I end break it right back on the floor. Like the drama. - The drama of it. - And then I stand up and we sing bless your heart together and it's just like. - I love bless your heart. - Thanks. - Did you write, 'cause I remember being like, what's your writing process? And you're like, you write it all at home at first and then you bring it to a studio. - Yeah, so like, I wrote bless your heart on a writer's trip. So that was just like, we went out to the East Tennessee Mountains and we just like rock guitars and sat around and talked about stuff. And that was a part of my deluxe album. So I wanted, that was like a topic I didn't touch on. On am I, okay? It was like, you know, anti-bullying. And that's what that song is written for. So we were talking about just how like, my co-writer Jesse Alexander had like a middle schooler. And I was like, what can we say that's not like, fuck you? Like, put a middle schooler can sing and feel better when they're being bullied. And I was like, oh, bless your heart. - Bless your heart is great. But I was also listening to, I'm not pretty today. And then that's also touches on the bullying. - Yep, that is, wait, did you say the bullying of it all? - Yes, right. Like, that's not, isn't that what it's the bullying of it all? - Like, isn't that what it's about? It's like-- - Yeah, no, it is. That actually happened though. If you go to my Instagram, I say, did you mean to double tap that spring break throwback from 2016 and PC-- - PCB, what is PCB? - Panama City Beach. - Got it. - Also to sidetrack, you didn't know what a chicken mini is. - Okay. It's the backbone of my happiness. What is a chicken mini? What is that? - It's Chick-fil-A's best breakfast item. - Is that when I facetimeed you after we went out in Nashville and you were eating that miniature breakfast sandwich? - It's yes. It's like a little chicken biscuit. - Okay. - Soaked in butter. - Have you had a chicken mini, Louise? - He didn't even know what it was. I just ate some chicken minis and he's like, oh, what? And I was-- - She was appalled. - I was offended to my car. - She was appalled to bring it all back. - You started singing when you were injured in cheerleading, right? And then your dad got to do a guitar? - Yeah, so my dad gifted me a guitar after my first break up 'cause I wouldn't stop crying. So he took me to a guitar center. My mom was pulling out of the stop. She's like, the first time I was allowed to dye my hair blonde was because of a break up. I wouldn't stop crying. - You're not naturally blonde? - No. - What are you doing? - You're a hair stylist, naturally blonde. - You're so sweet for singing. - You don't have roots. - Yes, I do. - They're tasteful roots. - Oh, okay. - But they're definitely there. And I would say my hair's like not-- I'm not naturally like a brunette. It's like more dirty blonde, but yeah. Definitely not a natural, very blonde girl. But yeah, my mom let me dye my hair and my dad bought me a guitar. So. - And then how long until when you taught yourself how to play a guitar? - It was about that time. Yeah, like you said, I hurt my knee when I was like 17. And I had to get surgery. And that made me have to be in a wheelchair for like two and a half months. And so when I was just sitting around doing nothing, I was like, okay, I'll finally try to learn guitar. 'Cause my dad would try to teach, like he tried to teach me how to play guitar since I was like 12. But I would never like stick to it, 'cause my fingers would hurt or like, I would just get easily distracted by something else. But when I got hurt, I was like, well, I got nothing else to do. - What is the first song you taught yourself how to play? - Strawberry one. Do you know that one? Really? - Oh, it's my go-to-carry-okey song, so-- - I'll do it by. - Deena Carter. - Strawberry one. 17. - Sometimes I forget when I have a finger on the show and they start singing. I'm like, oh, I forgot. - Surely you've heard the song. - Surely. - No, surely. Like, if you heard that. - I really, the issue with me and country music, is I, it's all great. I only listen to women in country. So I listen to you. I listen to Casey. - Okay. - I listen to you, and I listen to Casey, and I listen to, like, I listen to old dolly part, and sometimes I listen to like Miranda Lambert, like who were your summer, who were some of your country icons? - Miranda and Casey. I think Taylor too, obviously, like I grew up on her music. But Casey was the first artist that made me want to like write my own music. - Do you remember the first song you wrote? - Yeah, it was called "Stay a Memory." It was a fucking song. Imagine that. - Yeah. - "Stay a Memory" and "Don't Come Back" was like the hook. But, yeah, I listened to the same trailer different park for the first time, and I was like, she is so clever, and so, like, how does she put those feelings into words, and then it rhymes, and it's so clever and funny. And that's when I was like, I'm gonna try to write a song. - It's actually funny, you say that, because I was listening to Mary go around the other day, and then I was listening to your stuff, and they reminded me of each other with the wittiness. - Thank you, that's a compliment. Yeah, it was really cool because I grew up loving Casey Musgrave so much, and I even waited outside of her bus at a show in Alabama, and I got to meet her, and then we shared a dressing room at the CMA Awards last year. - Do you tell her, I literally waited outside your bus? - Oh, she knows, like, when I met her too, I wasn't expecting, because she was performing, and award shows are just stressful. I wasn't even expecting her to take the time to take a picture with me or anything, 'cause the CMAs put us together. She could have been girl. - Yeah. - Remember when you stalked me outside of my bus? - Yeah. - Not to share a dressing room with this girl, but she was so kind and sweet, and was like, thanks for all the nice things you always say about me, and took the time to get pictures, and was just really sweet, and I just love her, yeah. - She's everything, do you listen to deeper well? - Yes. - I love deeper. - Architect. - So good. - So good. (laughs) - What a song, yeah. It's one of those things where it's like, she has so many songs, or I'm like, oh, I wish I wrote that. - Do you, what song are you most proud of in your discography with your wordplay? - Wordplay. I really love the bridge where I'll say, I'll see you next Tuesday at the bar. I love that. because it's just funny to me. I had explained to my parents what that was and why that was clever. - You're like, it's con. (laughing) - I'm calling them a con. So that, but then also my song "Sleep On My Side." - I listen to that today. - I sleep on my side and you sleep with everyone. I'm like, I did that. Yeah, I did. (laughing) - Have you started writing your new album? - Oh yeah, it's done being written and I'm listening to mixes now. So that's all I listen to right now is myself. And then I go and I play a show and it's more of myself. I'm like yay. - October 9th, right? That's when your live album comes out. - The live album comes out, October 9th. - All right, my birthday. - Oh my gosh, when do you birthday? - 27th, the other night, right? - Okay, I love that for us. So maybe our little trip is our birthday trip. - I invited myself on vacation. By the way, just so everybody knows. - And I was gonna invite you anyways. But yeah, it's perfect that you were like, I'm coming. 'Cause I was like, I was gonna invite you. - I'm really excited for that vacation. - We are gonna have the best time. - We're gonna swim with sharks. - Ooh, okay. - We're gonna down some tequila sodas. - Yes. - Health and wellness. - Just get drunk for five days straight. - Literally, yeah. I don't know, these next songs. I like, usually I'm going to like tease the crap out of them. Like I'm like, there's this one and this one and this one. And I'm just like, oh, I can't give away too much yet because I'm like the most proud of this next album of all my stuff. From what I've heard, from what you've played me, so good. I mean, you know, when you played me blank, I can't. But like, she played me this one song and I listened to it every single, it's amazing. - Thanks. - Yeah, I'm obsessed with that one. I feel like that one really is like bar for bar. I didn't, I told no lies. I feel like writing for me is so therapeutic. 'Cause like, I can write that song and now it's like done. Like, I have nothing else to feel in that situation. 'Cause I wrote it and now that's a song that was like, you know, lived inside me and now it's like, hey, that's for everyone else to enjoy now. - Do you usually write your songs in like one session or do you, like, did that song take, like what are you, like your. - Oh yeah, that song was like 30 minutes. - Why? - Because it was like, we're gonna say exactly what happened. I mean, it takes you through exactly. - It does. - And it like, I love that it touches on all the points because it's like, oh, she should have known. And it's like, yeah, well, if he did this, then you wouldn't own either. - Right, of course. - So it's all the, I feel like it just checks all of the boxes and I love that one and I'm glad I sent it to you because now you can crash out whenever you want. - I do all the time. Also, like, do you feel like writing music helps you not live in the past 'cause you can let it go? - 100%. - Yeah, it's like, I feel so grateful to even have the gift of songwriting because I'm like, if I didn't have somewhere to put those feelings, they would just be like. - That's right. - Yes, and it truly is. I felt like, after I wrote, I almost said the title. After I wrote that song that we're talking about, like, I never wrote another song about that situation again 'cause it's like, I said one need to say. - Right. - And now, some people are gonna relate to it and that can be something that we all share together now, but I don't like feel it anymore, like, in me, you know? - Do you believe that when you perform a song? - That was black. - I know why I said it like that, but I was like, that's so straight. - Well, literally. Do you believe, though, that like, when you release a song, it's not yours anymore, it's everybody else's. So, like, you would just, you don't attach me into it. Like, you would attach, 'cause I, I forget what show I was at the other day. Who was it? Was it Gaga? I think it was Lady Gaga. Was it Lady Gaga? - I don't know what you're about to say. - Well, somebody, I was not a show and somebody was like, I wrote this song and now it's like, so not about me. It's like, I don't even feel what this, when I wrote this, like, I don't even feel what I was feeling when I wrote it, it's about like, everybody else. Like, the song is for everybody now. - 100%, I have a song called Girl in the Mirror that's like that for me. I literally, the hook is like, I love the boy more than I love the girl in the mirror. And when I wrote that, it was like something that I needed to be, like, I needed to remind myself, because I knew it was true. But it's like, once you write it down and you have to sing it, you're like, oh shit, like, the first time I performed it, I cried. And I was like, what, like, I tried to get myself to stop crying and I couldn't and I was like, holy shit. And it's just 'cause like, you're admitting to people that like, at one point, you cared about them and their happiness way more than yourself. And that's like really like damn. Like, how did I let myself get that way when I'm, you know, I grew up so confident and bubbly and stuff. And so that song now though, because now I would rather like die than shrink myself from a man. It's more so like, there's so much strength in it because these girls that I see subbing to it, like, I'm up there singing it with confidence and it's empowering because I'm like, I don't feel this way anymore. And I know you feel this way right now, but like, one day, if you choose yourself, like, you're not gonna be in that situation. What, at what age did you think you're like, okay, like, I choose myself. - Like, six months ago. (laughing) - Are you serious? - No, but like, there's like, I would say like, this year's the first year I've really stood on business. - You always stand on business. - That's not true. That's not true. - Yes, it is true. - I wrote a song called, I know you, have you heard that on, am I, okay? - Yes. - That is like the longest-since-situationship. Like, him and I just couldn't get away from each other and like, I was not standing on business. But like, no, I'm like, at like a hint of disrespect, I'm like, I'm out. - What is like a hint of disrespect for you? - Just like the second I feel that I'm not being treated the way I deserve, whether it's like, I find out there's like, you're lying a little bit or just like, not showing up for me in the way that I'm showing up for them or whatever it is. Just like, any sort of like, things that feel off, we're in my past relationships. I've like stuck around and forgave them and heard them out. I'm like, no, fuck you. - Wait, but I did, I did want to talk about, 'cause when we got dinner in Nashville, we talked about, you're like, you went to Georgia and you started by like posting covers online with your family, right? And girls in your sorority were not nice about it. - Yeah, not very supportive, no. I mean, there was, there was a few for sure, but for the most part, it was like, oh, this girl, like, think she's gonna be a country singer. She's like, 'cause I, to be fair, I was playing for tips, like, at a restaurant. So, like, I get it. - No, I think that's how a lot of people start out. - Yeah, I get people doubting, though. You know, I'm like, okay, that's fair. - Right. - But yeah, it was, they weren't very nice. - I met it. - And now they like, text me and they're like, "Oh, my God, we always believed in you." And I'm like, yeah, okay. - No, you did it. - Thanks. - And do you, or so, but you started, though, because you had to, you performed, was it a sorority event? - Yeah, it was a flame thing. - And Chase Rice was in the audience. - Mm-hmm. - What was that like? And what did you sing? - So, at the time, I wasn't writing my own songs. So, I sang "Merry Go Around," "Mom Was Broken Heart," and probably, like, wide open spaces or something. And I opened for John Langston, 'cause we didn't have money to pay an opener, 'cause we spent all of our money on him. So, I did it for free, and then Chase was there, and he was like, I really like your voice, why don't you come open for me at the George Theater next month? Like, first of three, I'm not gonna pay you, but it's still a cool opportunity, which I was like, "Don't, I'll pay you." - Yeah, yeah. - And, he was like, the only thing is, it's like, you only played covers today, and I want you to play an original song. Like, I don't want you to just do covers. So, if you play an original, like, you can open for me. And so, I wrote my first song to-- - Which was-- - Stay in memory. - Stay in memory. - Mm-hmm. - Have you ever seen "Star Is Born"? - Yes. - So, that's you. (laughing) - A little bit. - Yes. - I love that movie. - And then, after you wrote "Stay in memory," did you just keep writing, keep writing, keep writing? - Yeah, so after that show, I really wanted to move to Nashville, 'cause Chase was like, just drop out of school, you don't need your degree. Like, musicians, like, if you're gonna make it, you need to be in Nashville. So, I told my parents, I was like, Chase said, I should just move to Nashville, and I don't need to get my degree and my parents were like, sweetheart. - Yeah. - That's not gonna happen. - And you stayed in school. - So, I stayed in school. But once I, like, once I performed for the first time, and I actually heard the audience sing "Shawberry Wine Back To Me," which, like, wasn't even a song that I wrote, but it was just, like, so rewarding to hear, like, a room full of people all come together and, like, scream words to a song we all love. That's when I, like, got the bug for it. And I was like, I gotta figure out how I'm gonna move to Nashville. So, I kind of just prepared myself to move to Nashville. So, I was an accounting major, and I switched from accounting to, like, marketing and digital marketing, and then I, you know, got in the music business program at Georgia to try to, like, learn everything I could. And then I graduated in 2020. Over Zoom. - No. - Yeah. - In Nashville at the time? - Yeah, I had already moved. I was like, as soon as I found out, like, we weren't going right to school, I was like, okay, well, I'm going to Nashville. - And then what song do you feel as though you were like, okay, this is my full-time job. And I can, like, this is going to be my full-time job. - I think it was here so long. Like, because I was having, like, writers that I really look up to, like, Luke Laird is one of them who I worked on this last album with, or the next one with a lot. And he, like, reached out and complimented the song, and I was like, (laughs) So, I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. think like that was the song where like writers that I really looked up to a Nashville started to like be like oh she's like actually can write a song of course there were some people that was like oh she got lucky do it again you know and you did yeah do you is hair salon based on a true story like were you in a chair at Bernadette's hair salon and did you hear three seats down somebody talking about your ex-boyfriend yeah the weirdest thing about hair salon like I so believe that like my career is just like such a god thing because even like chase rice randomly being there being like open write a song and I was like okay like that's like just feels very like such a god thing I feel like hair salon I had a dream that that happened like I had a dream that an ex that I was not over at the time got engaged and three chairs down they're like all show like they're like oh my god they got engaged like look at these pictures they look so good together and I can see my hometown hair salon and I'm looking out the window like the other way try not to cry and that's like all I remembered from the dream and then I had the idea and I brought it in to like some songwriters that I love riding with and we like wrote it and it was like that is so you know yeah it's so fake I don't I would have never because I didn't actually happen to me and I write about things that happened to me like I had to dream it for that to like even be a thing you know crazy did you call Bernadette were you like oh Bernadette is like she's got a picture a frame picture of me in her salon I have it like signed out to Bernadette yeah she came to she comes to my shows whenever I'm in Georgia because she lives there but is Georgia your favorite city to play yeah I mean I know I have a few favorites honestly Georgia's definitely like being home is always fun and I feel like they take ownership of me which I really love and I feel like Tennessee because I wrote Tennessee Orange they also take ownership of me so like anywhere in Georgia Tennessee always a good time to like cities that I have no personal connection to but I really love or Boston Chicago they're crazy I like every single time they're like bonkers and I'm like am I from here did you write so did you write Tennessee Orange on your kitchen floor let me think Tennessee Orange was an idea that I brought in and then I ended up rewriting the like the bridge and some verses and stuff like that but yeah I just like brought the idea and then I finished it I guess in my kitchen yeah how did Tennessee Orange start like what was the initial idea for it like how like what was like the first round of lyrics you were like and like how do you start do you start a song from the chorus or the verse who doesn't just switch up well that song in particular I thought of the hook which is like in Georgia they call it a sin I'm or in Tennessee Orange for him because I was literally in a Tennessee shirt and I looked in the mirror and I was like my mom's like a die or die hard Georgia fan and I was like if my mom saw me in this shirt like she would kill me because my mom like I've never like worn another like team shirt like as a Georgia girl like you don't do that and so I thought of the hook and then we were kind of writing it I wanted it to be like I'm calling my mom and letting her know like something bad has happened like that's why I say like it ain't what you think like I'm not pregnant I'm still writing songs I'm not quitting music you know like I think like that's in my brain how we were gonna structure the song was like mom I'm calling you're gonna freak out yeah and then it kind of just it just came naturally I mean I wanted to like make some Tennessee references so like Athens and Neelander in the second verse and then Rocky tops in the bridge and then the day before I recorded the song we added I still want the dogs to win because I was like so good because I was like how my Georgia people are gonna be so pissed off and that that one saved me a lot but there's still some George people that are like she needs her diploma revoked no way like like that and I say it seriously yeah when you release that were people that you knew from college like how could you I think a few of them but I like the most if you understand like SEC rivalry it's like oh damn she really likes and if she's gonna like switch like teams to like Tennessee versus Georgia big rivalry yeah understood and when you perform that song in Tennessee is it like somebody is getting like possessed yeah 100% 100% except for when I say I still want the dogs to win I get booed there but then in Athens that's like the loudest line of the songs right yeah I'm so excited to see that song live I know it's gonna be so fun what's the capacity at the Greek the Greek is 5,900 so you're doing 10,000 people wow are you excited yeah it's gonna be so fun are you kidding I cannot wait I can't wait to like see you at the show like where are you gonna stand we need to like plan it out because I need like Jake's reaction I know like she can come up for am I okay what what would I do just jump up and down yes there's confetti and stuff yes I am oh my god I'm so excited to see it all live like I you know we need to talk about you all we need to get that out of the way first I know I hate sonships I think that's crazy you like the I think we have much different palettes I fear I don't know if I'm like traumatized from them because I like they were given specifically harvest cheddar which is I think I work to have sonships it would be like the plain flavor oh god see I'm offended by that as well and I I would post a hard post it's disgusting on the point flavor I will say that in the hierarchy of sonships I think harvest cheddar ranks second garden salsa is the obvious choice I mean that is my 13th reason that's garden salsa like I think is so despicable oh my gosh what about like what do you what ships do you have the turkey sandwich I love a turkey sandwich like potato chips like us potato chips okay I don't think I know that brand okay so don't you worry I have it all in bulk at my house okay perfect so before you leave I'm going to give you an UTS barbecue chip and an UTS plane chip okay they will change your life you're gonna say hey these kind of tastes like lays they don't okay I got it I appreciate a good chip I'm a chip girl I actually have the sonship son chip like the harvest cheddar ones on my writer what's your writer sonships veggie tray oh yeah beef sticks she loves beef sex hmm a champ's beef stick boy boy if you know my Alonnie knew the watermelon wave flavor cold brew essential water the big one it's really like not that interesting like oh the peanut butter pretzels I love peanut butter pretzels love you know what's the funny about peanut butter and this is so random but do you ever feel like there's something that you're palette like your taste palette like got accustomed to as you grew older like I used to hate tomatoes love tomatoes now let me think yeah I've always loved tomatoes oh like Brussels sprouts I fuck with the Brussels I knew you said not I used to not especially if they're like crispy I've kind of realized though that like all vegetables I eat need to be like on fire and then taken out of the oven I agree with you yeah like they're soggy and steamed I'm like oh I like steamed broccoli you don't like steamed broccoli like it needs to be like black like the edges and then I eat the edges first oh okay do you cook no okay right right now flaw right now that's not a flaw it's one of my cons what do you think your cons are inability to cook never being home or like is this just in general as a human being yeah just in general um I would say so I'm not dirty but I'm messy so like like I'm not gonna leave food or anything out but like when I get dressed I it's my mom called it hurricane Megan growing up it's just like the the the thought of putting things back where they belong doesn't even cross my mind because you're just like and it becomes a tomorrow problem because it's like it's left yeah it's left to tell you're on the ground now and you're next to the shoes and I know exactly where you are but you're not getting attention today I mean there's been sometimes like if I'm like dating a guy and he comes over without like warning and then like whoa don't go in my room right because it's a hot yes yeah you have performed now with Tate like adore twice now and like tell me how that friendship started and everything I just love her so much she's so much fun and like the sweetest and she's so talented like I could go on and on but yeah so last year she I guess we've been like following each other on Instagram for a while um I've obviously been in fan of her for a while I didn't know if she knew who I was for their first second but um we were Instagram friends and then she was like I'm playing a Nashville um do you want to like do Tennessee Orange or just like I can't remember how it went but we did Tennessee Orange at that like amphitheater and then this year again she was playing bridge stone and I happened to be home that day which is like really rare because it was a Thursday and usually I have shows Thursday to Saturday but I didn't so I was like this is perfect and we did like at the emo version of six months later she like she like kills any song she does also her tour were you not like so gagged beyond belief my jaw from the intro up until I had to leave to go backstage I was just like I was like I don't know if I want to be her I don't know if I'm in love with her like and and she's my friend and I think she's like a super for human because not only is she talented. She's like so normal and kind. I'm like wait like the intro where it's like the silhouette. I was like and then she go and then she this light just like beams down on her. It's like the actual it's I don't understand how she doesn't get tired. I know I was literally we went out after and she's like she's the one that was like do you want to go to a bar after? I'm like share where we go and um and we went to Broadway but just like her energy and even like all the dancers I'm like y'all just played like the longest show of like it's a full workout. They're like a two hour workout. Right and you'll have energy to then go out and have just as much energy. It's it's insane. It was so much fun though. They're like also talented and kind. I just love her. She's the greatest. You actually clap on a song one day. I wish. I think we I think if we like got time to write like it would be it would be fire. We would have to do our new song the paper top. Oh my gosh. Sickening. I know. Sickening. We've had it on repeat in my green room. Like that's the only thing we listen to. People like my open airs are probably like oh my god. Does she know any other songs? No. I listened to it for the first time in the car the other day. She ate. She ate. I love her. Okay. I think I do need you guys to write a song to other actually. I would love that. I also like told her to because she's so young like I'm 27. Is it she like 22? Yeah. Yeah. I was just like telling her. I'm like you do like such a good job of handling everything. Like you're such a superstar. Right. And I feel like I'm at the perfect age right now to be dealing with all of this. But if I was your age, I don't know if I'd be handling it as well. So I was like good job. You're killing a sister. She should be proud of herself. Do you so are you about to enter your Saturn return? Or do you feel like you've already entered it? What does that mean? A Saturn return. I'm okay. She says it. But I just sing along my Saturn. Let's think what a Saturn return is. Saturn comes around every like 27 to 30 years. And apparently look like I might not get the facts completely right. But basically when you're 27 to 30 you have this like a major life reckoning where you like if you're not on the path that you're meant to be on, the universe will shift it. We'll shift it. Oh, I actually don't want to talk about this anymore. No, no, but it's like in a good way. It's like you just like really come into yourself as like the non-scary way of saying. Okay. Yeah. I think I'm there. I think I'm like in the past year, I would say. I've gotten just like so much more confident myself and like I know exactly who I am and I know exactly who I want to be surrounded by. And it's just like like I said standing on business. I don't allow people to treat me like shit. It's like before I let a lot of things slide because I would look for the best in people. And I think that's a good thing to look for the best in people. But not so much that it like you know tears apart your mental health. Right. Trying to hope that they do good. Because you know they're capable of it. Right. And how is your mental health with like like when you signed up to be a singer like were you like okay like did you ever anticipate like such heavy discourse online about your art? What you do. God no. It was like so rough at first. I feel like once again this year is like the first year I've actually been able to be like stable about it. And I think I've had so much shut about me now that I'm pretty numb to it, which I think is just something that happens when there's like that many people saying negative things about you. I think now too that it's like I feel I put more weight into the people that love me and love my music than I do the people who are just like commenting hateful things on everything they see. And yeah it was a struggle though. I mean like I feel like this year is the first year of like live TV performances that I haven't like absolutely hated because before I would be so anxious because I would be like I know this is about to go on TV and everyone's gonna rip me apart for it. This is like going through my head before I even start singing you know what I mean. So it's like that was a horrible place to be mentally and now I feel like I this is like what I put on earth to do for now at least. So I need to like not let the opinions of people who don't matter to me affect anything that I do. And I'm like this is the first year that I've I feel like I've always known that but like this is the first year that I've actually been able to be like yeah like fuck the haters fuck you guys like do you have any like coping mechanisms you use if you see something or hear something. It's kind of crazy. I'm like totally numb to it now. It doesn't affect me at all. I kind of like laugh now which I don't know but I'm like I just like when you have everyone saying everything like oh she's ugly she can't sing who who let her wear that like it's just like right okay do you remember the moment where you realized it wasn't hurting you as it as much as it used to. I think no I don't remember the specific moment I just remember like after like performances I wouldn't like cry myself to sleep anymore because I would literally go do that and then cry because I knew people would be so mean to me and it's like I think for myself it's also been having more compassion for myself like this is my first time doing this shit you know so if I'm like performing somewhere like even the VMAs that was my first time at the VMAs so I allowed myself to be like you're going to be nervous because you've never done this there's Sabrina Carpenter right there you've never met her before holy shit you love her though. There's Lady Gaga there's Ariana Grande and you're gonna be nervous but that's okay because you've never done this before rather than like I think before I was like you have to be perfect because everyone's already gonna rip you apart and you already know what they're gonna say about you so you need to really bring it and now it's like right I'm doing my best. Right and there are so many people that love you. Yeah I think it's just important to focus on like my fans and because I know that even like the fans that I meet just out in the wild right like they're so kind and like those are the kind of that's like that's real you know like people that just come up to you and they're so sweet and kind and like random anonymous profiles saying shit about you and like me doesn't really do it for me anymore. Do you have any friends in the industry that you can be like okay you got it. Kenny Jesy. Okay tell me more. Yeah he's been so I got to open for him last year on a stadium tour and he's become like such a close friend and mentor and there was a time where I was like really crashing out over like this article that got posted and a lot of it wasn't true. Kenny came to my house because he was like you need to like chill out. He was like you are you are building something so special the connection you have with your fans and like you are letting these like people eat your lunch like that's what he said and I was like oh shit you ain't eat my damn lunch today. So he just like came over and like hyped me up my parents were in town and so my parents like thanked him a million times for coming and doing that because he really just like talked some sense into me when I was crashing out but it's like so nice to have a friend like Kenny that can he's been through it all like he knows what it's like to have people talk about about him and even like anything really because he's been doing it for so long. So he always has the best advice and he talks some sense into me. None of that matters. What matters is my songwriting, my fans and my path. Right. It's like crazy what like how public perception can be like shifted based on untrue things. It's really crazy. It's just like I feel like in the age of like TikTok TikTok can be so beneficial but it can also be so harmful because you'll get a video to have 500,000 likes. Yeah. And a bunch of comments. So of course you're going to be like well it's caught a lot of traction. So why wouldn't it be true. Right. Dude the amount of nuggets. This is embarrassing. I get stomped by the AI videos. Like you know the little golden retriever that was like swimming around the living room or something like that. I was like oh my god how did that happen. And then like 20 minutes later I'm like oh what about the kangaroo with the plane ticket. Do you get stumped by that one. I've seen that one. Okay you would get stumped by that one I think maybe if you're getting stumped by golden retriever swimming in a living room because I was almost stumped by the kangaroo. Okay. What is your favorite place that you've been able to travel to because of this job? Like outside of the US. I love saying parts. I took my family there last year like after oh my gosh really. Yeah. We have to go there too. Yeah. We do. We totally noted. Take shake and take two same parts. Got it. I love saying parts. I took my family there. So beautiful. And then I also just love the Bahamas. I recorded a lot of my vocals off my new album there. There's a studio down there. And you okay so when so is does it feel like work for you because if you're doing that even when you're on vacation or you're like I need to do this. Like this isn't work to me. Like what feels like work to you? It felt like work when like they all went on a boat trip and I had to go in the studio and sing. But yeah. But like other than that it's just I feel like I don't know maybe my Saturn has returned because I'm like I just feel so content and like everything is just like enjoyable. Like I'm feel so grateful that I've been doing this for what when I saw my record deal like three years now maybe and I just like only been three years. I think so right. Wow. But I just like and I know I'm only three years and yeah it talks me in 40 years. But like I just enjoy it so much still like even going in the studio. I get so excited. And the shows like usually there's like an aspect. I feel like I've talked to other artists. There's an aspect they they don't like whether it's like social media or touring or whatever it is and writing and I'm like, I love all of it. And so it's just like really rewarding and to be able to record vocals for my new album and then like go to dinner on the beach and like. - This is the life. - Is this real? - Yeah. I was gonna ask, well 'cause you've had the friends that you've been friends with, you've been friends forever, especially Natalie, right? And did you and Natalie meet freshman year? - Yeah, we met the first day on bid day in our sorority. So I remember like, her and I were terrified. We didn't drink in high school. So when we got to college, we thought like bid day was gonna be like we're watching movies and like wearing matching pajamas that are monogram. - Right. - That is not the case and I'm not gonna elaborate 'cause I'm pretty sure they could get in trouble. - Right. - But we did not watch movies. And there was no matching pajamas. But so her and I were kind of just a little scared. Like we both went into college with boyfriends too. So like, you know, going around to all the frats and stuff, I was like, I'm being a loyal girlfriend. - Right, right. - And yeah, so her and I bonded pretty quickly. We became like immediately best friends. We actually, our first social, we were going to. We were really going outside the box by attending a social with the fraternity. And on the way home from party city, I remember it was like America themed or something. We got re-rended by someone. Like we were in the same car together and we got re-rended and it pushed us into another car. So it was like a three car accident. - Oh my god. - Like the first time that we've spent like a lot of time together. You know? So waiting on the cop and stuff, we had to like go to steak and shake and we were at steak and shake like four hours together. And then my brother came and like got her bumper off of her car so then she met my brother. Like it was very much like after that day specifically too. We were like besties. Like no one, if they couldn't find Natalie, they were like, they asked me and if they couldn't find me, they were like, well, Natalie. - And do you guys live together for the rest of college? And then you guys started doing pursuing social media though together, right? - Yeah, that was in college. That was like right when the influencer thing was starting and I just remember like we're broke college kids and like these brands wanted to send us clothes for free. And I'm like, I'll post about it because I don't, like I don't want to spend money on a game day out for every week. - So it just started like that. And then yeah, it was just like, we were the sorority influencer girls. - And it was way 'cause it is so common to do that today but back then it was not common. - Yeah, people like I said, I don't think everyone thought it was the greatest thing ever. They're kind of mean sometimes. But yeah, Natalie and I, we just stuck it out and then she's literally getting married next year and we're gonna be friends for 10 years next year. It's crazy. - I know. - You wrote Wonder about her. - I know, I know, it makes me so email. Like I literally wrote her that song about saying like you're gonna find a guy that's gonna show up for you and you're not gonna wonder if he cares about you or loves you and she found Alex and he's like perfect for her and I'm just like, (laughs) - Do you, what was it like when you played her that song for the first time? - She was there. I mean, we were literally down at the beach and she was arguing with the guy that she was talking to. Like you know when everyone's vibing and then your friends aggressively texting like totally not in the conversation and you're like someone's pissing her off on the other line. - Yes. - Who do I need to kill? - Right. - And so it was like that thing and then she was explaining how he was just stressing her out. And I was like, if you really loved you and cared about you, like you would not be wondering if he did. And then immediately my brain was like, wait, Wonder would be a really cool title. So I'm like drunk on the beach. I have a Margarita and a pineapple lilies cup and then, do you know what that is? Pineapple lilies? - Of course not. - Okay. - Is that a Southern thing? - Yeah, it's a Panama City delicacy. So. - PCB. - PCB. - We have to take you to PCB. That would be so much fun. Megan, Jake, and PCB. - What is PCB? - It used to be the spring break hotspot. - Would I survive? - There was a lot of debauchery. - Okay. - Back in the day. Now I think they're trying to brand it more as like family-friendly back in the day. Not the case. - Was this PCB trip the same one that somebody liked your Instagram photo? - Okay, so not the Natalie one, no. That was a few years later. But yeah, I drunkenly wrote Wonder, like I wrote the first verse in the chorus without a guitar in the water, just the words. - Were you standing alone? - Yeah, I was like, I gotta go real quick. I need some alone time. So I walk away from them, I come back, and then I got my guitar and finished it that night. And I remember, it was actually like so whole. So I'm sure like somebody has a video of it, but it was like a, we took like a group trip, so there's maybe like 15 friends all down there. And after I finished the song, like I was sitting on the porch swing, and I played the song for everyone, they were like sitting on the porch. And I remember everyone, I think like when I wrote that song, was when I realized that like not everyone can write songs, 'cause they were so impressed. And I was like, really? - Yeah. - I was like, what do you mean? Yeah, I just like Natalie said she was going through this. I just like wrote it down and made it rhyme. And yeah, so now I heard it right away, but it's really awesome. No, I think she was just like, 'cause she didn't know Alex at the time, so she was like going through it. She's like, you're right. I do need someone that does to make me wonder. So yeah, it's just crazy. She's getting married now. I'm the maid of honor. I've got maid of honor duties. - I don't know how to sing Wonder at the wedding. - Yeah, I've been, I told them I would sing if they wanted me to. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna sing, but maybe Wonder, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. - Even though most of the song is like, it's like, is it weird to sing a song about her accent? They're wedding. - No, because it's about finding someone that doesn't make it feel that way she found out. - And maybe I'll change up the words a little bit to make it more personal to them, yeah. But I love Alex so much. He's like the best. - He's great, he's great. - We call him community boyfriend, yeah. Like when I haven't had boyfriends on Valentine's Day, he'll like for me and Kelly, he like shows up with like balloons and like chocolate and stuff, just 'cause he knows we don't have boyfriends. I'm like, that's so sweet. - That's really nice. - Like he's just like very thoughtful. And like anytime, like I remember when I first saw my record deal, he like took all of us out to dinner. Like just, he's like the best. - When you signed your record deal, what was the song that got you signed? - Tennessee Orange. - And you drop that on streaming services or like YouTuber? - Yeah, it was streaming services, but I released it as an independent artist. So I literally like made the cover on my phone. - And then when and how did it take off via TikTok or like how did it work? - Yeah, I posted an acoustic video of me first, like back in March, and that kind of blew up. And people were like, oh my gosh, we need this song, but it wasn't a studio version. And then I decided to release it like right around football season. With like I did like this campaign was Spotify. So it was like I just put it out. And then as soon as like the official sound was on TikTok, people started making like just relationship videos. It was like really wholesome. And they were completely ignoring. I didn't realize how much of a universal song it would be I guess because I thought it would be very like, you know, only Georgian Tennessee people or people that know about, you know, college football rival at Reeze. Like only they would know about it. But they were using the part of the song that was like, I met somebody like he ain't from where we're from but he feels like home. Like that's the part of the song that they cared about more than Tennessee Orange, which I thought was interesting. And I get asked a lot like, how do you like replicate something like that? And I'm like, I don't think you can. I think it's like, it's so random. I'm like, I don't know why they love that so much. - You weren't expecting it to do it yet at all. - No. - Right. Do you feel like people have like demoitis? Like when you perform a song, when you play it like a song like on, well, you know, obviously like an acoustic of whatever. And then people wanted to sound exactly like that or when you debut a song live. - I will say I'm very careful of not doing that to my fans. I, if I'm gonna tease it, then I make it very similar to what is recorded. 'Cause it's like, I don't want them to get attached to something that's like not done. - Right. - I think maybe in the past I would have posted like true demos, but nowadays, I mean, I don't really tease music like I used to anymore. Like especially like I said with this new album, like I'm so precious about all of it. I'm like, I need it. I kind of need everyone to listen to it like all at the same time. And I don't want there to be too many surprises. But my fans do know there's a song called What In Just coming Out. The chorus goes on to say like, I'm gonna miss him in a wedding dress. Like don't let me miss him in a wedding dress. - Just let me get over him. - Like by the time I get married someone else. - By the time I get married, yeah. - 'Cause you know you're not gonna be married to him. (upbeat music) - Are you able to talk about like a timeline of the new album or no? - No, but the live album. - The live album's out October 9th. - October 9th, and nobody knows that yet. But the live album was literally not planned. It wasn't in my deal. I got like halfway through the tour and I was like, oh my god, it's ending soon. Like this era is ending soon and I need to remember it. So I fortunately have the best team ever and they just like, we're like, okay. I guess we'll like get everything mixed in together and so it was like very last minute. But I'm like very attached to this era. So I needed it to be like a whole live thing and you'll, once you come to the show, you'll understand why it's necessary. But I was listening to mixes like late last night and it really puts you like back in the show. And it's like, I don't know. I guess maybe like break it right back. I think you, and honestly maybe even third time's a charm. I think you feel more of the emotions when I sing it live than in a studio. Just 'cause like in a studio it's just way different. But I'm excited. I think too, which is like, I call the AMOKE to a group therapy because there's just so many, there's so many different kinds of songs, like you're crying over no-call already. Don't you get tired of hurting me? And then you're like, you sing lucky, and you're like, oh, we're getting drunk tonight, woo! And then, bless your heart, you're like screaming at the people who bullied you. And then the girls, you're singing it with your friends, and it's just like, it's an experience. And so that's what I was like, before this era ends, I have to get the whole thing recorded and just put out. And so I'm literally announcing it the night before that it's coming out, and then it'll come out on my birthday just 'cause I'm like, I'm obsessed with you guys. - Oh, that's gonna be awesome. - I'm emotionally attached to the color blue and the AMOKE era, so. - Okay, so I was about to say. So the lucky era was green, right? - Green and gold. This era was just hues of blue. What can you say, what color is your thinking of for your next era? - No, I can't, I don't wanna give any hints. My fans have already picked up on stuff. - Picked up on stuff, but I will say like, I don't wanna toot my own horn. It's my best work, yeah. - Yeah, let me see. - Let me see. - Like, I hate to toot my own horn, but to motherfucking toot. - Yeah, toot it. Literally toot it. - Okay, are you ready for the front and back? - Is it the color? - Yeah, the right is the front, obviously. - Shots up. (laughs) - Iconic. - This is your best album cover. This is amazing. - Oh, thank you. - I'm so obviously going to the track list. Sorry, I'm looking at the track list. Sorry. - Okay. - What is your out of the list? Say your favorite title. We can just bleep it out. - Wait, I'm sorry. - Yeah, I was not expecting that. - Oh, are you sorry? - I wasn't expecting that. My jaw just dropped. - Yeah. - Please, thank me. - I will. - For your new album. What do you feel like is the most different from the M.I. okay era in terms of like the themes? - I think the biggest difference with this album is that just like my feet are so planted and I know exactly who I am. I feel like I've always known who I am, but I know who I am and I'm willing to take risks now. It's like before it was like this is who I am, the first two albums, but this is like, yep, this is me. - Sonically, is there anything different? - It's definitely, it's actually interesting because some of the songs could definitely get played on pop radio. - Really? - It's straight up Country Pop, which is exciting. We used sounds I've never used in albums before, and I told my production, my production. - My producer. (laughing) - I told my production. I told my producer to go crazy, but I will say that like even though some of them lean a little bit more like Country Pop, all of it is still real instruments and stuff, so it's still very organic in me. But then again, there's like the most country song I've ever, you know, I'm never gonna really-- - What makes the song like the most country? Like what elements of a song to you are like, this is traditional country? I think it's just like their traditional melodies. And when you hear it, you'll understand. But like in that song I'm talking about, the super traditional, the chorus starts lower than the verses. - Okay. - It's like, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. You know what I mean? - Right. - It's like just structured way different than like, country pop song on the album, you know what I mean? So I do think there's like a little bit of everything. - Do you see yourself like ever genre shifting? Or do you think country forever? - I love country music a lot. I mean, that's, I don't listen to a lot of music, but when I do, it's like 2000's country that I grew up on. So I just like, just love country music. So I don't know. I mean, I don't even know what I'm eating for dinners. So my plans change all the time. But I do think like, yeah, for the foreseeable future, it'll be country, but you'll notice like all this next album, there's definitely some stuff that's like, that never would have been on Lucky or am I okay, you know? So I think that's exciting and it's just very like me. Like I don't think it even is a genre. - Right, when you were talking about like, traditional country melodies, was melodies something that came to like creating a melody for a song is that something that came to you very naturally or was that something you had to learn? - Very naturally. I don't even, I was telling my dad recently, like I don't even remember learning how to sing harmonies, but I just know them, you know what I mean? I could just in my head make sense. And I think it's because he had me listen to a lot of Eagles growing up. - Do you have any like North Star bucket list moments that you really want to get done in the next few years? - Ooh, bucket list moments. I wanna play Bridgestone Arena. - That's Nashville. - Mm-hmm, like two nights probably. And what else do I wanna do? I wanna meet Taylor Swift. - Oh, like as a songwriter though, like what do you see that Taylor Swift does that the general public would never catch? Like that you're like, oh that is so cool that she's able to do that. - Everything, I just think like she, she's so thoughtful and that means a lot as an artist, even like I'm learning, you know what I mean? If you really like put the fans first and put your work first, like torture poets, that album got me through some shit. - But Daddy I love him is one of my favorite songs of all time by her. - Smallsman who ever lived is one of my favorite all times. Like it's up there with all two all 10 minute version. Is all two all 10 minute version your favorite? - 'Cause it's the longest. - Yeah. - I'm like, I need as much healing as I can get Taylor. - That came out when I was in college and I just remember like literally driving around campus with Brett blasting it. - I was impressed with how quickly I memorized the whole song. - Me too, it's 'cause you wanna know what it is and I feel the same way about your music is you're telling a story. So when you're telling a story, you can remember the beginning, the middle and the end and you know how to get there. So then it kind of just comes naturally to you. - She's a legend, I just, I really wanna meet her. So okay, that was the bucket list. We went on our Taylor Swift tangent. - Okay are you ready for the tell me what's wrongs? - I'm so ready. - Okay, I was so honored when you told me you actually listened to this show. - Da, it gets me through cardio, I hate cardio so much. So it like allows me to dissociate and not just stare at the timer. - Do you like, are there any other podcasts you listen to? - No, I mean like not really. I feel like because we're friends too. I'm like, you make me laugh so much. I was literally telling Jada like on the way here. Like there have been days where I've been having about day and I literally go in just like at your reenactment videos. - I need to do that more. - They're so fucking funny. - I need to do them more. - And that's why I'm like, you're such like a light to people because it's so funny and like you're not even trying that hard to be funny. And it really is like allows you to just like dissociate for a second and be happy. - I love you. - I love you. - I, that made my day. - Yeah. - And my boyfriend constantly forgets important things going on in my life such as anniversaries, friends, birthdays and even job interviews. I've told him it makes me feel invalidated and he doesn't seem to fix it. And don't just say breakup. He's great besides this. - When I say dump, you say his ass, dump. - His ass, dump. - His ass. - Yeah, because I do think that those kind of things are coachable too. You know, like if you're just refusing to acknowledge anniversaries and shit, it's just like that's a you problem. Like sure, maybe you forgot once, but like if you say that it bothers you and it hurts your feelings, it's not that hard to like make a note. - Do you feel like it's deeper than that? Like if a guy's forgetting things like that, like do you think it like those deepers and just like the surface level forgetting of it all? Like he's not listening to you. - Yeah, I think that just comes off as he doesn't care that much about your feelings. - What song of yours would you tell her to listen to? What would you prescribe her? - Mm, mm, mm, wait, what was, what could you read it? What was, what was she saying he's doing again? - She's saying that he forgets anniversaries, job interviews, friends, birthdays and she doesn't want to break up with him 'cause she says he's amazing besides this. - Oh, mm, mm, man on the moon. I don't know, just dump him. (laughing) I don't know, if you, if you've talked to him and he refuses, that's like a problem, you know? 'Cause like there's gonna be larger problems in life where like you have to talk to someone and say like, hey, this hurts my feelings. And if he doesn't even like try to be better at it, then it's like me, maybe that's not your first thing 'cause he doesn't care, which is like, it bothered them enough to write into a podcast. - Write it. (laughing) - But like, yeah, they just seem to be making excuses maybe. - Yeah. - Sorry. - Sorry, man on the moon. - Hey, it's not me but another man on the moon. My brother-in-law consistently flirts with me. My whole side of the family, really, but mostly me. My husband doesn't ever seem to mind. And I didn't really either, but now it's getting on my nerves. I know he's joking, but I also think he's kind of not. Ideas on how to approach this without being overshadowed. (laughing) - Skip Thanksgiving. (laughing) - That's really odd. I've not ever had an experience. (laughing) - Does the sister know, do we think? Does it, if it doesn't bother the sister, then maybe you're overthinking it? - But maybe the brother-in-law is single. - Wait, brother-in-law? - Her husband's brother is flirting with her. - Her? Oh, I thought, I'm not sure what I thought. (laughing) Okay, her husband's brother. - Yeah. - Easy single. Well, that's sometimes we miss context here. - Yeah, okay. Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. It's kind of like, okay. (laughing) - Stopping weird, I don't know. - So back in January, I was at a party and my friends were literally planning a holiday to Bali in front of me. After the party, I said something and was like, "I'd love to go to Bali." Fast track to a week ago, I saw my friends' private snap story that they're all on a plane to Bali without me. So they're not your friends. - Yeah, they're not your friends and like to leave you on the private snap story, fake. - Right, like that's crazy. Have you ever been, have you ever had news broken to you via social media like that before where you've been like. - Yeah, but I don't take things that personally. And I guess it's not happened to a close friend, I would say. Like my real solid group of friends wouldn't do that to me. So. - Right. - I guess like when I was younger, in middle school and so I didn't get invited to parties and stuff like that. - Right, you would find out via that. - Yeah, find out that everyone had fun without me. And I was like, "Oh, perfect." - So would you even, my thing is like, I used to like go through similar things and it's like you don't even wanna be there if you have to beg to be invited. - Yeah, and I always say, yeah, you need better friends. Like my friends, if I wasn't invited to something, there would be like a reasoning behind it or something. Like it would never be intentional. And that's why I appreciate that about my friend group. Like, you know if Kelly can come on the road one weekend and like the bus is full, my other friends don't like get mad and they're like, "Oh, well you picked Kelly over me." Like it's not like that. 'Cause like you'll just come next time and it's not nothing's personal, you know? - Did you ever go through a period where it was like that and you all learned to be like? - No, I think it's just like what's crazy is an art 10 years of friendship almost, Natalie and I have never been in a fight. - What? - Never. - Never not one. - We've been annoyed with each other. Like, you know, just like we've spent too much time together and we just give each other space. But as far as like we've never, like we talk about it a lot too and I think it's because like we respect each other so much. Like the communications always there. We never, like if anyone feels weird about something, we just talk about it. Like it's not, and we've never been competitive. So I think that helps too. Like it's a very special thing I think. - And you haven't always had that though, right? - No, like in high school. And I had a good friend, Caitlin, in high school. But like other than her, it was like, yeah. Natalie is like my best friend forever. - You know what I would prescribe actually? Is wonder, 'cause I think wonder can be applied to all relationships, not just romantic. - Yes. - So like real friends would make you wonder. - Yes, and the girls because you need some good girlfriends. - Yes. - Bring home the line. - Exactly. - When you need a friend, they don't think twice. - I've only ever slept with one person before my long-term boyfriend. We've been together for four years, and I love him more than anything in the world. But I wonder if I should have been more sexually adventurous before getting into this. But I didn't plan this. I just fell in love and we never want anything to change between us, help. - I think that's like a lot of curiosity. I think that if you're like happy and in love, you should probably stick with that, right? - But like she's saying like, what if? Like what, like should I have explored more before this relationship? 'Cause I never-- - Well let me tell you these streets out here. (laughing) The grass is not greener. - Right. - No, I'm just kidding. I guess that's like a personal thing. You don't want to like get married and then wonder to wonder once again. - And once again. - So I guess if your God is telling you you need to go explore, then go explore, but also if you're really in love though. - Right. - Like, hmm, are you really in love then? - Well, if you're in love is based in like, I'm so lucky and I don't want to let this go. Like is that-- - Well, I don't think you can think like that because there's always someone out there that I think, you know, like guys that I thought that I've been in love with. - Right. - It's like happened again, you know. - Right. Have you ever been in a relationship and you're like, I'm never ever going to find something like this and then you finally get out of it and you're like, what could I, I wish I could have told myself in that moment that I didn't know that. - Everything in one of my breakups, I like crash out. Have you seen, did you see the TikTok I posted where like my eyes are swollen? - No. - Like, it was like, what do you mean he drained the life out of you and then you swipe? And it's like, you know, my eyes are swollen, my like, nose is red. And everyone's like, oh my god, like, oh my god, like five years ago, that was so crazy. I'm like, uh, girl, this was like three months ago. - Yeah. (laughing) So yeah, like every single time I get my heart so broken, but you move on, you know? Like that's, I think I'm an emotional person that like, I'm attached to the color blue. So like, I could get my heart broken by a dude too, you know? - What, what is it about blue that you love so much? Like what? - Am I okay, like the era, you know what I mean? Like, I'm emotional about the color blue. - Got it. - So it's like, I'm just an emotional human being in general. - Right. - So like, I feel things deeply. So even if it wasn't that serious, I'm like. - Right. - I hurt. - What's your, do you know anything about star signs? - No. - Okay, 'cause I'd love to know you're rising in your moon, 'cause I know you're a Libra, which means you're unproblematic and you're very, that's why I'm like, you don't fight with your friends that does check out. Like you're just very like, all's good. - Yeah. - You know what I would prescribe this person is the movie How to Be Single. 'Cause she's like, so happy. I think it's Dakota Johnson. She's so happy in her relationship. And she's like, I want to explore. And then she breaks up with her boyfriend and it's like, goes explores. - Yeah, and I do think if you have the gut feeling, then if it's meant to, if you're meant to be together, you'll get better together. So maybe you try. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? - 100%. - Yeah. I feel like we have to tell ourselves that or else we'd go insane. - Right, and there's just been too many things that have happened where I'm like. - Okay, I was gonna say, was there something that happened? And it was so horrible at the time. And then you're like, you look at it now and you're like, oh my God, thank God. Everything happens for a reason or else I wouldn't be here. - Yeah, I mean, I got my heart broken really bad, my junior year. And I like, that was, so I started writing songs with my freshman year, but by my junior year, heart broken horribly. And then I wrote, I had the dream about hair salon and then I wrote that and I was like pretty heartbroken throughout that whole process. And I know that if I didn't get my heart broken that bad and I wasn't like, you know, if I wasn't, I don't know. That was like the first time in my life. I like laid in bed for 24 hours. Like I could not get out of bed. Like I was like, thought the world was over. And I think like if that didn't happen, then I wouldn't know to go to songwriting as like a therapy like for me, you know. - Did you immediately go to songwriting or were you like watching it? - Yeah, I did. Like I started like needing to pick up my guitar and like get my emotions out. And that's when I was like, oh, 'cause of the other guys I dated, like I had dated guys like in high school and like, you know, the beginning of college and I didn't write songs about them. They like really meant anything. And then like once I really had my heart shattered, I was like, oh God. Have you ever had somebody that you've written a song about reach out to you and be like, hey. - Yeah. - Really? - Are you like, sorry? Or are you just like? - I'm just like, yeah, that was my side of the story. - Right, right. I think my husband is caught in a pyramid scheme. He's always been a hustler, which I love about him, but it seems like this newest side venture sounds like an awful lot like a scam. He's not gullible, so I'm not fully convinced, but he keeps on telling our friends about this quote product, I guess. And I wanna make sure he doesn't embarrass himself. - Well, if it looks like a pyramid scheme and acts like a pyramid scheme, it's most likely a pyramid scheme. Do you have any one you know from college that you're like, there in an MLL scam? - Yeah, I can't remember the names of any of them, but I do remember that they would, they would all sell them as like groups, you know? - Yeah. - Yeah, I do remember that. I don't know what to tell this girl. Why does she just talk to him? Maybe like, hey, I think you're in a pyramid scheme. - Right, maybe honesty is the best policy, but like come with receipts, 'cause he's obviously like if you're in a pyramid scheme, like you are sold a dream and a lie. I'm like, he is going to defend that pyramid scheme until the day he dies. So you need to come. - A pyramid scheme is harmful though. - Okay, so actually it's so funny you say that. I think the issue with a pyramid scheme, so I think it's called a pyramid scheme 'cause it's like you'll never be able to get to the top. - Okay. - So like you will start here. - You're selling selling stuff. - You like sell and recruit and sell and recruit and sell and recruit until you're like the only pyramid. And it's all only helping the main person in charge of the scheme. - Okay. - Can I write? - Well, yeah. I would say, I mean, if he makes decent money doing it and he's happy, like what are you gonna say to it? (laughing) - Live his pyramid scheme dreams, you know? - Maybe scare him and be like, you could go to jail. - Ooh, yeah. - Right? - Like the police called earlier. - Right, and they're asking around about this pyramid scheme. I caught my boyfriend of almost one year taking pictures of me and my sleep. He's literally great and never does anything wrong. Jake, what do I even do? This isn't normal, right? - Was it because you looked cute, do you think? - That's what I'm wondering now, too. Like do you think he's like, oh my God, you look horrible. - Or was he like, right? I feel like I'm gonna be an optimist here and go with the fact that he thinks you're really adorable when you sleep and maybe for your birthday is making a collage of you sleeping. That's really optimistic. A bit delusional, but maybe it's possible, yeah. - Right. - My first God was like, oh maybe he thinks she's cute, but obviously if she feels weird about it. - Well, I feel woman's God is never wrong. - Yeah. - So obviously maybe something is a mess. - Maybe he has like a fetish of some sort. - First sleeping. - First sleeping. - I'm still living with my, I'm still living in my college town, two years after. graduating. Tons of people are moving out and I'm struggling with feeling stuck and deeply lonely in tips. If you can, try to leave, I would say, just anywhere, even like what's the closest city that's like sort of near there, I guess. I do think that feeling is very valid. Even by the time I was a senior in Athens, like, what are you? Are you like 22 at that age? There was like 17 year olds with fake IDs making out in the corner. I was like, I gotta go. I gotta go. I feel like if you could bottle it up and give it to someone is torture. Yeah. Like when you are a senior in college and you look at all the freshmen coming in and being like, and they're so like bright eyed and you're just like, it's time. Yeah, it's time to go. Time has expired. Yeah, so I would say if you can try to plan to make moves. Yeah. What was your favorite part about Athens? Um, honestly, I just loved going to the University of Georgia. It's very like, it's very like family like, like there's American whiskey in New York. I try to get you to come that day. Didn't you go on a date? Teeing. Yeah, I did. I didn't go on a date. I had something that day and I was like, I am so I was so. It rained. So it like was alive anyway. But I really wanted to watch the game with you. Yeah. But anyways, like American whiskey is in New York, but like a lot of those people went to Georgia and it's just like, everyone's so kind and it's like if you're a bulldog, they like claim you and it's like very, I don't know, the camaraderie I think is really cool. And I just, I just loved Athens. I mean, it's like a music city and there's also, um, like 87 bars downtown or something like that. I went to Athens. We have to get you to Athens. Wait, I went there and I sat my ass on the bull. On the bulldog. Yes. Wait, I think I saw it. When was that? Oh, it was you playing Athens? Yes, I played in Athens. And that they were so polite and lovely there. And we got great smoothies there. Oh, yeah. We went to the smooth. Just like the perfect college campus. No, that was Indiana. No, I was about to say, I think I got what did we get to eat there? It was like Louise's whole, she was just like showing me around because she's from Georgia. Oh, yeah, I got merged. I dressed up like a fracas. Oh, cute, like a little colored shirt. Yeah, the uniform. Yes, I should have worn new balances. Um, I think I'm dating. I think some man I'm dating might be a criminal, like on some secret breaking bad stuff. He sneaks out, have you seen Breaking Bad? No, you have to. It's amazing. He sneaks away constantly, is always on the phone with someone and it does not sound like he may be having an affair. Like the talk is all serious. I still don't know exactly what he does for work as well. What do I do? Run. Yeah, that's given like the biggest red flag of them all. Yeah, I think some sketches going on. And like, if you feel like you can't even ask him, then like that's not good either. And yeah, if it's sketchy, I once had a friend sketchy, it's probably sketchy. I once had a friend. I hope she let me tell the story. And she woke up in the middle of the night with her ex boyfriend. And he was like getting up and like going through the room, pulled out a gun in the drawer and ran outside. And she was like, and then she woke up and he was there. And she was like, Hey, so what happened last night? And he said, what are you talking about? Oh, man, April satanic. I just found out through my parents that for the first eight years of my life, I was raised in a cult. They waited until my 24th birthday to tell me this. I feel like I'm being told I was adopted. I can't go into much detail about anything, but I'm struggling with this recontextualization of my childhood help. And you know what? I'm just going to stop you right there. I am not qualified to help you really like really come to terms with the fact that you lived in a cult. I am so sorry. And I think that is caused for like actual therapy. Yeah. Real therapy and are you out of it? Like are you safe? No, she's for sure out of the cult. Okay. She's for sure out of the cold. I'm fascinated by cults. Sorry. Yeah. I'm sorry, but I am I really am. I really, really, really am like I like you say you watch documentaries like have you ever watched a cult documentary? I'm so sorry. But the dancing one, the dancing one, the dancing one was crazy, especially the religious ones. They get people that aren't don't know that much about, you know, religion. And then they just like right. Gotcha. Well, because the, are we going to get taken for talking about? No, I talk about cults all the time. I just feel bad personally this time because this girl was like, Hey, I was in one, please help. And I'm like, I find them fascinating. But I will tell you. Yeah, get a good therapist. Sometimes you just need to like, that was his thing. And I am, I moved on in no longer a part of that. For clarity, I am so sorry you were in a cult. Please seek therapy. Real therapy. Real therapy, not therapist. But if you need to laugh, you're always welcome here. I pissed the bad blackout drunk and left my best friend to sleep in it. Then I found out, Oh, Jesus, you know what, what? This was insane. So you're a bad friend. Then I found out I had gone area. It's transmittable through P. And now she has it too. She won't talk to me. What do I do? I think you got to take the L on that one. I think that's crazy. Oh my god. Like low key new fear unlocked. Uh, I would, yeah, pay for her gonorrhea meds. Apologize for flowers. Maybe ask like, what do you want like material wise? Like do you want new clothes? Like I need to, you just need to like do things like to make her happy because you gave her gonorrhea. And she didn't even have to have sex because of it. Maybe the friend needs a little bit of distance though. Uh, yeah. So to the other friends point, maybe just some some time away from each other for a little bit. And then maybe you could reconvene once everyone's all cleared up. If my friend gave me gonorrhea just by peeing the bad drunk and also why are you leaving to begin? Why are you leaving your friend to sleep in the pee? Yeah. That's an immediate wake up. Get out of shit. I would talk. If somebody did that to me, I'd be an emergency, emergency episode. I'd literally go to everyone in my life. How are you? I'm okay. My friend just left me to sleep in her pee and she gave me gonorrhea. So I'm not doing too well. How are you? How are you? Are you ever in like an Uber and you like tell the same story like four times and you just feel so bad for the Uber driver who's heard the same story four times? What do you mean? Okay. So that might just be a me thing. Like the other day, I wasn't in. Okay. So the other day. Usually I like in Uber's. I'm like oversharing, laughing, talking my shit and the Uber driver just like he's being polite and then he just like, "Ha ha." And that's it. Oh, I talked too loud on that one. Like the other day. Somebody came up to me on my flight that I was a really big fan of and was. No, it was actually outrageous. That was so polite of you to like not say that at first. No, because I was like, I'm obsessed with her and like she was like, I like your videos and I was like, so obviously I got on the Uber and made about four or five calls. And at the fifth call I was saying the story again and I looked at the Uber driver and he was just like, "Make it in." He was literally about to drop me off on the highway. Well, that was the last time he was wrong. Did you have fun today? Yeah, this is so fun. This was so fun. We have to do it again. Don't play with me. I am not playing with you. We have a show coming up. A vacation. A vacation. Yeah. What, well, Megan, what did we learn today? We learned that you don't have much trickful in knowledge. We learned that you might be in your sat in return and it's actually quite likely. Oh, I learned what a sadder return is. Yeah, I think it's return. If it hasn't returned, it's on its way. I learned about strawberry wine. We also learned, you know, sometimes I think that my life is a bit of a mess and then I hear that someone gave their friend go on a rea and I'm like, yeah, okay. You just never know what people are doing in their free time. We learned that your new album is just going to be so insane for a multitude of reasons. I'm excited. We also learned that your live album of the MI, okay, tour comes out October 9th. We learned that you look great in Maroon. Thank you so much. And that you're glowing. You're glowing. We're glowing. We are glowing. And I'm so excited to see you live Thursday. Slay. Brett is going to die. Do you do it? Do you do it in different on the set list? Second, that is her favorite song of all time. It's so lit. It's going to bring your earplugs. They scream. I am so, oh, my God. I'm so excited. I may need you. We have to deck him out in March, too. Oh, you got to get the camera. She decked out. So when are you going to come? Brother, there's news going. Oh, I'm about your car. I don't know. Wait, speaking of cults. That's our culture. I always say to my fans. We look like a cult and then one of your fans. See, I don't really have a name because like, I call him email cowgirls, email cowboys. So like, there's that, but it's like a mouthful. Email cow people, email cowpersons, email cowbings. There's email cow moms, email cow dads, ECs, ECs. Oh, yeah. Well, Megan, I love you so much. I love you. This is so much. This was so fun. I'm excited for your live album, your new album. And Vacation and your show Thursday. Yeehaw. We have so much. Yeehaw. I need you to wear the cowboy hat I'm gonna wait I was about to say I have a cowboy hat for this concert Like I'm going to wear it for it. So people don't usually dress like that on my concerts But you could definitely still wear it. Oh, Brad is about to be decked out in boots like we are so excited I love it. Well, Megan. I love you so much. Love you. This is so much fun. Thanks for having me on. Also, we are dinner Wednesday dinner Wednesday Yeah, the whole Megan team. Wait, you're gonna get to be my parents. Oh, I'm so excited. It's not really gonna be there. Yes Alex. I can't wait I cannot wait. Well, do you want to give a little? Bye, PCs. Bye, PCs