We’re made it to a new year! We’re continuing with a fun mix of cultural critism with bestie, Daynah, as well as conversation with some wellness and health-focused topics from doctors and other experts.
Stacy and Daynah dive into everything from Medusa & Clash of the Titans to the movie Sinners, the tv show Pluribus and so much in between.
We hear from our first medical doctor of the year is Dr. Amir Vokshoor, a board-certified neurosurgeon, who helps us reframe burnout as a biological signal, not a personal failure. Jamie Pastranao and Brittany Moser, co-founders of the app synchrony, talk about loneliness, rejection sensitivity, and why community, not dating, is the missing piece for neurodivergent adults. Then Jeffrey Marsh returns to talk with Stacy about mental health, community care, and staying human in a time of fear, burnout, and cultural upheaval.
The Ugly Truths of 1981’s Clash of the Titans: Medusa, Greek Mythology and the “Boys Will Be Boys” Problem
Besties Stacy and Daynah kick off the new year with a modern look at the 1981 Clash of the Titans, not as a nostalgic fantasy, but as a cultural artifact. From Medusa’s origin story and the victim-blaming baked into myth, to the unchecked entitlement of male heroes, to how disability, race, and beauty are coded as punishment, we interrogate what this film normalizes—and why it still matters.
So what begins as a conversation about practical effects and childhood memories quickly turns into a deeper reckoning with Greek mythology itself: who gets punished, who gets excused, and how stories like Medusa’s have been distorted to justify violence against women. From Perseus’s unearned hero’s journey to the way difference is framed as monstrosity, we unpack how “boys will be boys” has been mythologized for centuries.
If you’ve ever loved a movie and later realized it aged… poorly, this one’s for you.
- 00:00 | Welcome & framing the rewatch
- 06:00 | Nostalgia vs. reality
- 12:00 | Medusa and victim-blaming myths
- 19:00 | Perseus, privilege, and hero entitlement
- 26:00 | Monstrosity, beauty, and punishment
- 33:00 | 1980s ratings, nudity, and blind spots
- 38:00 | Greek mythology as soap opera
- 42:00 | Why revisiting old stories matters
Resources:
- Clash of the Titans (Movie, 1981)
- Movie Rating Discussion:
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- Gremlins
- Red Dawn
- Splash
- Sheena
- Logan’s Run
- The Andromeda Strain
- Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (Movie)
- Boogie Nights (Movie)
- Point Break (Movie)
- Stone Blind (Book)
BONUS:
This episode goes places. We start with body horror and the particular joy of being deeply uncomfortable, using Yorgos Lanthimos films like Poor Things as a jumping-off point. Then we dive into Pluribus and why it quietly messes with your ideas about AI, morality, and what it even means to be human.
From there, things get personal. We talk frozen faces, Botox, aging on screen, and why actresses are either punished for looking “too old” or suspiciously ageless—contrasting Nicole Kidman discourse with Linda Hamilton’s refreshingly unfiltered presence in Stranger Things. We also unpack luxury porn aesthetics, power fantasies, and backlash culture through All’s Fair, plus why hate-watching might actually be the business model now.
It’s messy, curious, occasionally unhinged—and exactly the kind of media conversation we need right now.
Resources:
Movies
- Poor Things
- The Favourite
- The Lobster
- Twister
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Interview with the Vampire
TV Shows
- Pluribus
- All’s Fair
- Stranger Things
- Minx
Books
-
The Blood of Hercules
Is Burnout a Nervous System Problem?
Despite what you may think (or what you’ve been told), burnout isn’t a mindset issue—it’s a nervous system response.
Stacy talks with Dr. Amir Vokshoor, a board-certified neurosurgeon about how chronic stress reshapes the brain and body, why so many people are stuck in fight-or-flight, and how burnout, chronic pain, and trauma are biologically connected. We explore what modern life does to the nervous system and why healing requires more than willpower.
If your body feels exhausted, overwhelmed, or unable to recover, this episode reframes burnout as a biological signal, not a personal failure.
- 00:00 | Is burnout a nervous system problem?
- 07:20 | Chronic stress and nervous system overload
- 14:50 | Pain, trauma, and energy depletion
- 22:30 | Recovery, regulation, and breath
- 30:40 | Prevention and brain-spine health
About Dr. Vokshoor:
Dr. Amir Vokshoor, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of adult cranial and spinal disorders.
With over 20 years of dedicated experience, he is recognized for his expertise in spinal disc replacement, motion-preserving technologies, and his pioneering integrative holistic approach to brain and spine health. Currently serving as the Chief of Surgery at Providence St. John’s Health Center, he has earned an international reputation for his surgical skills and commitment to a comprehensive perspective on brain and spine wellness.
Find Dr. Vokshoor:
Use code STACY for a discount on neurosurgical consultation with Dr. Vokshoor!
Why Sinners Isn’t Just a Vampire Movie: Race, Art, and the Future of Horror
Besties Stacy and Daynah sat down to talk about Sinners and, unsurprisingly, talked about a lot more than that. Not only do you get a bonus show on the feed, but you even get a rare personal update from Daynah.
So yes, Sinners is a vampire movie. Yes, it’s technically horror. But it is also a sharp cultural critique about race, identity, ancestry, and the stories America keeps telling itself. We dig into why this film feels different, how modern horror has evolved into a space for serious storytelling, and what makes Sinners resonate beyond the genre.
- 00:00 | Why Sinners isn’t just a horror movie
- 08:10 | When genre becomes cultural commentary
- 16:05 | Race, identity, and who stories are for
- 24:30 | Daynah’s dating update (feminism as a litmus test)
- 29:50 | Art, ritual, and why this film lingers
- 38:15 | Why modern horror feels different now
Resources:
- Sinners (movie)
BONUS:
Is Pluribus a vision of collective bliss or a deeply unsettling loss of humanity?
In this bonus conversation, besties Stacy and Daynah dive into their curiously different interpretations of Pluribus, a provocative sci-fi series that asks what happens when individuality disappears and happiness becomes mandatory.
Through a feminist and cultural lens, they explore hive minds, consent, toxic positivity, female rage, AI parallels, and whether connection without choice can ever be ethical.
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t watched Pluribus yet and want to go in unspoiled, come back after you’ve seen it.
- 00:00 | Spoiler warning & premise
- 07:45 | Utopia vs nightmare
- 18:30 | Toxic positivity & happiness as control
- 29:10 | Female rage and societal backlash
- 41:00 | AI, art, and individuality
- 52:20 | Final takeaways
Resources:
- Pluribus (TV show)
Synchrony: Can an App Help Neurodivergent Adults Find a Social Connection?
What happens when autistic and neurodivergent adults lose built-in social supports but still need connection?
In this episode, Stacy talks with Jamie Pastranao and Brittany Moser, co-founders of the app synchrony, about loneliness, rejection sensitivity, and why community, not dating, is the missing piece for neurodivergent adults. Inspired by Love on the Spectrum, they explore how repeated rejection reshapes confidence, what research shows about neurodivergent connection, and whether technology can help rebuild trust and belonging.
A thoughtful conversation about adulthood, identity, and why everyone deserves a place to belong.
- 00:09 | Why community matters for neurodivergent adults
- 02:28 | Aging out of supports and the adult autism gap
- 04:54 | From parenting questions to building Synchrony
- 06:54 | Love on the Spectrum and visible belonging
- 10:00 | Rejection sensitivity and fear of social risk
- 16:52 | “The risk isn’t worth the reward”
- 20:00 | Friendship-first design, common interests, and safety
- 29:20 | Community, health, and redefining success
About Brittany & Jamie:
Brittany is a co-founder and the chief clinical product officer. She holds a master’s degree holder in Autism Studies and Director of Learning and has spent her career designing programs that foster positive social experiences for ND individuals.
Jamie is a co-founder and the chief sales & business development officer. Inspired by her son with autism, Jamie combines personal experience with over 20 years in crisis intervention and executive sales. She is passionate about helping ND adults build friendships and social confidence.
Find Synchrony:
Finding Light in Dark Times with Jeffrey Marsh
Community Care, Kindness, and Mental Health in a Time of Crisis
Jeffrey Marsh returns to talk with Stacy about mental health, community care, and staying human in a time of fear, burnout, and cultural upheaval.
They explore why wellness can’t be separated from human rights, how kindness functions as real-world activism, and what it takes to stay engaged without burning out. From boundaries and vulnerability to relationships, repair, and everyday acts of care, this episode offers grounding perspective without toxic positivity.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed but still want to show up, we’re glad you’re here!
- 00:10 | Welcome & pouring into your own cup
- 04:45 | “Look for the helpers”
- 07:52 | Can wellness exist without human rights?
- 10:30 | The Harvard Happiness Study & community care
- 18:36 | Why Jeffrey believes Gen Z will be okay
- 26:08 | Kindness as everyday activism
About Jeffrey:
Jeffrey (they/them) is a bestselling author, nonbinary activist, and LGBTQ keynote speaker with a massive following on TikTok and Instagram. One of the first nonbinary public figures to appear on national television, Jeffrey has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. Their #1 bestselling books How to Be You and Take Your Own Advice blend lived experience, Zen wisdom, and radical compassion, drawing on over 25 years of Zen Buddhist study.
Find Jeffrey:
- Website
- TikTok
- Podcast
- Books – Take Your Own Advice and How to Be You
Resources:
- How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley
- Harvard Study of Adult Development (Harvard Happiness Study)
- The Jeffrey Marsh Podcast: Trading Negative Self-talk for Belonging
- Is giving back the secret to longevity? with Stacy Toth
- The Whole View, Season 3:
Want more info on our Real Life? Healthy recipes, parenting tips, and general lifestyle stuff goes out in our Real Everything newsletter, join here.
Never want to miss a post, sale, or deal? So join my Healthy Inside & Out e-mail list for more info on non-toxic living and safer skincare!
Note: Stacy and her guests are not medical professionals. This podcast is for general educational purposes and NOT intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any physical or mental illness. We always recommend you consult a licensed service provider.
