“A” kicks off the episode 16 with a second-trimester update and how she’s prepping for baby life—Little A is destined to be a bookworm, whether they like it or not.

Then we rewind and get into breakups… the messy, formative, occasionally unhinged kind.

“A” shares the story of her ex-boyfriend—an addict she met under chaotic circumstances (he literally couldn’t find his car). What followed was a whirlwind relationship that ended in absolute flames… including a dramatic almost-takeoff on a plane where he very much was not in the seat next to her.

Leaning into her belief in signs from the universe, “A” channeled that breakup energy into self-discovery—finding witchcraft, writing her own (very unofficial) thesis on it, and ultimately focusing on herself… which is exactly what led her to the right partner.

“J” brings us into her time at Brigham Young University, where the unofficial curriculum felt less about education and more about finding a husband and becoming the “perfect” Mormon wife.

And through all the heartbreak, there was one universal coping mechanism: rewatching the volleyball scene from Top Gun. Because somehow, despite being one of the sweatiest, most intense beach scenes ever filmed… they’re out there playing in jeans. And belts. Fully committed to the game and questionable wardrobe choices—and honestly, that level of confidence became its own kind of therapy.

AJ and AJ compare the wildly different ways they were raised.

“J” talks about growing up extremely sheltered—so sheltered that when she had to choose a song for a rally in high school, she picked one without realizing what the phrase “midnight toker” meant. Her innocent mistake unexpectedly gave her a kind of credibility at school she’d never had before.

“A”, on the other hand, had the opposite experience. Raised by hippie parents who believed in never shielding their child from the truth, she was exposed to things far earlier than most kids—including watching A Clockwork Orange at just five years old. She shares how overwhelming that experience was, and how she escaped into Roald Dahl books to cope with the fear it left behind.

Two AJs, two completely different childhood philosophies—one episode about how those early experiences shaped who they became.

In this episode, AJ and AJ dive into the magical, chaotic world of high school theater—the place where many self-proclaimed theater nerds first found their people.

"A" kicks things off by sharing how performing in Bye Bye Birdie helped her discover two important things: her love for acting and the kind of friendships that stick around long after the final curtain call (and yes, she’s still close with one of those friends today).

"J" reminisces about her time in Mother Hicks, where cast bonding, backstage chaos, and extremely memorable inside jokes were the norm—including a running joke about a friend’s crush that somehow refuses to die to this day.

Together, they reflect on how trying something new—like theater—can lead to discovering passions, confidence, and a whole community of wonderfully weird people. Their advice to listeners? Go try that random class, club, or hobby you’ve been curious about. Worst case scenario: you get a funny story. Best case: you find your people.