bestie approved: pop culture, reality TV, and deep dives with Travis and Emma.

Leave us a voicemail!

We got to hang out with our premiere besties to unpack the series premiere of the Real Housewives of Rhode Island!

Connect with us

• check out the bestie approved website: bestieapproved.com
• all of our social media: bestie approved Linktree
• email us: [email protected]

Check out Husbands Watching Housewives (friends of the pod)

• website: Husbands Watching Housewives
• Apple Podcasts: Husbands Watching Housewives
• TikTok: @husbandswatchin
• YouTube: @HusbandsWatchingHousewives
• Linktree: Husbands Watching Housewives

Leave us a voicemail!

The premiere besties are back again for the season 17 premiere of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and we’re livestreaming this one!

Hang out with us on YouTube, Instagram Live, Twitch, or Kick. Ask questions. Turn Travis talking about his love of Atlanta into a drinking game.

Click here to learn more! We can’t wait to see you Monday, April 6, at 8pm ET/5PM CT!

Leave us a voicemail!

THE BESTIES ARE BACK TOGETHER!! 🎉🎙️ Emma’s back for her first episode after her maternity break with baby Auggie, and the chaos picked up right where we left off.

This week, Emma shares a little bit about how round two of having newborn is going for her. 👍🏽 good news: Auggie is sleeping through the night. 🥱 bad news: Emma is choosing to do her dishes instead of napping.

Travis unpacks living through his worst fears when he found out how kidney stone surgery works, so he gave himself the gift of a 3D printer! He has been hyperfocusing on looking for literally anything he can print, and he’s also looking for love with a 3D Print YouTuber! 😍

we also dive into:

• a quick shoutout to our new podcast friends on First Time in Drag! 🎧🫶🏽
• the uncomfortable TikTok of the McDonald’s CEO trying a new “product” on the menu.
• Travis is confused about a mom salting her kids.
• Casey Rose Wilson from Bitch Sesh convinced Travis that he needs an Alaskan king bed.
• Ashley Tisdale decided to step away from her famous mom group and told the entire world about it.
• our grievances with Stevia and social media apps.
• Lisa Barlow being the reason that 2026 kicked off on a positive note.
• reality roundup is all about the best season The Traitors has ever had!
• 🎙️ share bestie approved with your messiest friend. 🤩 rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

timestamps

00:00:01 we'te back!

00:01:23 Emma had a baby.

00:06:46 Travis had a kidney stone.

00:09:49 Travis bought a 3D printer.

00:13:33 First Time in Drag is bestie approved.

00:14:26 forcing a CEO to eat his own product.

00:18:35 salting your kids?

00:25:45 Travis wants an Alaskan king bed.

00:28:08 Ashley Tisdale left her mom group.

00:38:04 complaining.

00:43:39 Lisa Barlow liked our New Years post!!

00:47:17 reality roundup: season 4 of The Traitors.

connect with Travis & Emma

check out the bestie approved website: https://bestieapproved.com/

all of our social media:bestie approved Linktree

email us: [email protected]

Emma's triumphant return and Travis's kidney stones. © 2026 by Travis and Emma is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Leave us a voicemail!

This week, Travis is hanging out with Ann and Marie from Shaded Reality for a reality roundup crossover that covers everything from Bravo obsessions to The Traitors chaos to the messy world of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

The sisters from Shaded Reality share how their podcast came to life, what shows they love covering, and why reality TV continues to pull them in. From there, the conversation turns into a rapid-fire mix of Housewives opinions, dream cast friendships, Swig drink orders, and which iconic Bravo women they’d bring back and banish from their screens forever.

The group also gets into Whitney Leavitt’s Ziwe interview, upcoming Bravo premieres they’re excited about, and a deep dive into The Traitors finale. Then they revisit key moments from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, unpacking cast dynamics, relationship red flags, and the kind of reality TV mess that keeps everyone watching.

And of course, it wouldn’t be bestie approved without a little complaining.

Follow Shaded Reality:

• @shadedrealitypod everywhere!
• New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
• linktr.ee/ShadedRealityPod

Listen if you love:

• Bravo
• The Real Housewives
• The Traitors
• Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
• Reality TV recaps
• Fun pop culture conversations
• Podcast friend collabs

Connect with Travis & Emma

• Check out the bestie approved website: bestieapproved.com
• all of our social media: bestie approved Linktree
• email us: [email protected]

Leave us a voicemail!

We love a chaotic catch-up and a Bravo deep dive. This week, we get into our 2025 Apple Music Replays and YouTube recaps, spiral about ads, consumerism, and the absolute chokehold TikTok Shop has on us before we unpack some uncouth Facebook Marketplace behavior. Then we close it out with a full reality roundup about Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 1, Episode 10: “In Hot Water.”

in this episode:

• YouTube Recap stats and Travis being in the top 1% of viewers for Sexy Unique Podcast (hey dolls!).
• Apple Music Replay 2025.
• complaining: Facebook Marketplace is the third circle of hell and the TikTok ads that feel predatory
• consumerism, nonstop ads, fast fashion, and trying to prioritize quality.
• travel daydreams & Taylors upcoming plans to be very mindful and very demure.
• reality roundup: RHOSLC S1E10 “In Hot Water”

sponsors & links

🛌 Cozy Earth: Luxurious bamboo sheets, pajamas, & more. Get 41% OFF with promo code: BESTIE

👕 HyperNatural: The Best Men’s Polo Shirts-Men’s Journal. Get 20% off with promo code: BESTIE.

Leave us a voicemail!

This week, Travis is hanging out with his new podcast friend, Wade, for a chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt journey that covers reckless walkers from New York to Indy, rapid-fire hypotheticals, and Wade’s real story about coming out while navigating a closeted relationship and what he learned about love, boundaries, and healing.

🚨 content note: This episode includes discussion of coming out, closeted relationships, toxic relationship dynamics, and references to narcissistic abuse. 🚨

New podcast friend: Wade Belair (NYC-based startup investor, planning a master’s in psychology and mental health counseling).

“Slow walkers… reckless, inconsiderate walkers… I am going to die in 20 seconds if you don’t move.”

in this episode:

• Meet Wade: New York City life, startups, and his journey into mental health counseling
• Rapid-fire this-or-that with absurd hypotheticals before the mess begins
• Complaining: slow walkers and uncouth main character public behavior
• Gym culture & gym etiquette
• Wade’s story: coming out, self-worth, and the complexity of loving someone who isn’t out
• Biggest lesson learned: what he would have done differently and why love can feel addictive
• Dating & healing advice: no timelines, focus on friendships, stay open, and don’t spiral diva!

If you enjoyed this one, share bestie approved with your messiest friend and please rate and review bestie approved wherever you get podcasts!

From Indy to New York, we love you! ❤️

Connect with Wade

• Wade's Instagram: @georgewbelair

Connect with Travis & Emma

• WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.com
• All of our social media: bestie approved
• Email: [email protected]

Wade Belair’s villain origin story. © 2026 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Leave us a voicemail!

Mama, let’s research wind and find out where it comes from! bestie approved became a science podcast this week and we healed from the trauma of wind being one of the things we simply don’t understand. Travis is hanging out with his podcast friend and science bestie, Dr. Jeff Zurek, to help us finally get to the bottom of this mystery.

Then we said mama, let’s research some more and unpacked how wind is related to climate change and how important it is for us to do something about that!

🎙️ share bestie approved with your messiest friend. 🤩 rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

Connect with Jeff

• learn more about Jeff
• listen to Whimsical Wavelengths anywhere podcasts are available
• @whimsicallambda.bsky.social on Bluesky
• whimsical.wavelengths on Instagram
• Whimsical Wavelengths on Facebook

Connect with Travis & Emma

• Check out the bestie approved website: bestieapproved.com
• all of our social media: bestie approved Linktree
• email us: [email protected]

Travis FINALLY learns about wind with a literal scientist. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

References

• “Bill Nye The Science Guy on Wind.” 2009. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uBqohRu2RRk?si=wz0hRU4Ihv486kvw.
• Oxford University Press. 1926. “wind, n.¹ meanings, etymology and more.” Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/wind_n1.

Leave us a voicemail!

Travis is hanging out with his cousin, Taylor, again this week for more tales from the hell that is being a teacher in 2025 and a full reality roundup where we unpack Taylor’s first experience with the Real Housewives ever!

this week, we get into:

• Taylor looking for deeper meaning literally anywhere and everywhere
• Taylor’s leadership experience in the most unlikely organization
• updates from this week in teaching
• Travis’s week from hell
• a very special reality roundup where Taylor shares her thoughts from her first Real Housewives experience, followed by a deep dive into Season 1, Episode 9 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC): “Hip Hop & Heartbreak”

Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

Connect with Travis & Emma (and Taylor)

• WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.com
• all of our social media: bestie approved
• email us: [email protected]

finding meaning and purpose with the president of the Corbin Bleu fan club. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

Leave us a voicemail!

This week, Travis is hanging out with Amy Dickens to talk about why adults desperately need more play, more aliveness, and more FUN. We dig into burnout, healing, nervous system regulation, and the tiny habits that can change everything. Grab your copy of Amy’s book, 101 Ways to Spread Joy, and let’s get to work and spread some joy!

connect with Amy

• Click here to order your copy of 101 Ways to Spread Joy!
• Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @theamydickens
• Amy’s website: livejoyfullyou.com
• Listen to Joyfully You wherever you get podcasts!
• find out more about Amy here

connect with Travs & Emma

• WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.com
• all of our social media: bestie approved
• email: [email protected]

Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

let your inner child go for a hot girl walk with Amy Dickens. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Leave us a voicemail!

Emma is officially on baby-watch, so Travis’ cousin Taylor jumps in for a collab episode that turns into a chaotic-but-wholesome catch-up: current hyperfixations, teacher life in 2025, AI in the classroom, and a group rant about men…in public spaces.

Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

Connect with us

• WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.com
• All of our social media: bestie approved
• Email: [email protected]