This week, Nins and Arns explore two powerful works that ask what it means to remain human in a world obsessed with labels, expectations, and letting go.

Nins dives deep into Ariana Grande's "we can't be friends (wait for your love)," unpacking the heartbreaking music video inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the song's deeper meaning. What begins as a story about heartbreak becomes a meditation on fame, public perception, self-worth, and the painful desire to be understood.

Then Arns reflects on Biology, the acclaimed comedy special by Alok Vaid-Menon. Through poetry, comedy, grief, and radical compassion, Alok explores identity, mortality, gender, loss, and the absurdity of spending our limited time on earth doing anything except loving one another.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about memory, grief, self-acceptance, fame, humanity, love, identity, and the courage it takes to keep choosing connection in a world that often asks us to forget.

Content warning: grief, death, loss of a loved one, bullying, transphobia, harassment, mental health struggles, discussions of identity and discrimination.

0:00 - Intro
5:13 - Nins: "we can't be friends" by Ariana Grande
28:13 - Arns: ALOK's Biology! Comedy Special
45:13 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• "we can’t be friends (wait for your love)" by Ariana Grande music video & Spotify 
• “'We Can’t Be Friends Anymore (Wait For Your Love)” by Ariana Grande Lyrics Are Written For ‘Every Kind Of Relationship’" by Lea Veloso for StyleCaster
• "Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends” Video Is A Rom-Com With Evan Peters" by Jake Viswanath for Bustle
• "Ariana Grande: 'eternal sunshine', Wicked & Tour" interview with Zane Low for Apple Music
• maaari linglingo hoopies
• “ALOK on courage, comedy and exploring beyond the gender binary” by Mohin Zaidi for ROADBOOK
• "Talking Gender Fluidity, Travel, and a Texas Childhood with Alok Vaid-Menon" by Sarika Bansal for AFAR
• "ALOK Talks Trans Joy, Social Media Safety and the Absurdity of Societal Hatred in New Comedy Special, Documentary" by Dino-Ray Ramos, Tony Morrison for GLAAD
• ALOK: Biology! Full Comedy Special
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

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Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

This week, Nins & Arns explore two moving stories about identity, family, belonging, and the people who shape us.

Arns revisits Disney's Moana (2016) and discovers an entirely new meaning hidden beneath the beloved animated film. What once felt like a story about adventure becomes a powerful reflection on self-worth, healing, ancestral wisdom, intergenerational trauma, and the courage it takes to choose yourself.

Then Nins shares "Marigolds" by Andrea Bejar, a hauntingly beautiful indie folk song about sisterhood, growing up, and grieving the versions of our relationships that can never exist quite the same way again. Through memories of childhood and her relationship with her older sister, she reflects on love, change, nostalgia, and what it means to carry someone with you through every stage of life.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about family, sisterhood, identity, memory, ancestry, personal growth, and the people who help us become who we are.

Content warning: grief, death of a grandparent, discussions of loss, nostalgia, family relationships, and emotional themes surrounding growing up.

0:00 - Intro
5:04 - Giveaway reminder
6:31 - Arns: Moana
29:21 - Nins: "Marigolds" by Andrea Bejar
55:18 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• Disney's Moana (Disney+)
• "I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)"
• "Marigolds" by Andrea Bejar: Spotify and Official Music Video 
• "Tigre GEM: Global Emerging Musician, Andrea Bejar" by Camille Austin for Tigre Sounds
• "Cancion dedicada a mi hermana y recuerdos especiales": Andrea Bejar's TikTok on dedicating "Marigolds" to her sister
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

This week, Nins and Arns explore two stories that unexpectedly arrive at the same question: how do we keep hoping when the world feels impossible?

Nins dives into A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, the cult-favorite existential novella about a man trapped in an infinite library searching for the book of his life. What begins as a story about hell, eternity, and impossible odds becomes a meditation on hope, love, grief, and the human refusal to give up.

Then Arns reflects on entrepreneur, writer, and Golde co-founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford, whose thoughtful writing on motherhood, community, creativity, and everyday beauty offers a different kind of answer. Through stories of family, home, partnership, and small miracles, Trinity reminds us that a meaningful life is often built one intentional choice at a time.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about hope as resistance, finding purpose during uncertain times, creating joy in a capitalist world, love that changes us forever, and the courage to keep believing in something better.

Content warning: death, terminal illness, existential themes, infertility, pregnancy loss discussions, grief, maternal mortality, and mental health struggles.

0:00 - Intro
6:16 - Nins: A Short Stay in Hell
27:53 - Arns: Trinity Mouzon from Golde
51:27 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
• Superfood wellness brand Golde
• Mother Magazine feature on Trinity Mouzon Wofford of Golde 
• 'This Is A Very Strange Time To Be A Black-Owned Business' on HuffPost, as told by Trinity Mouzon Wofford to Janna Mandell
• The Bride Wore a $200 Vintage Lace Dress and No Makeup for Her Upstate Farm Wedding: Vogue feature on Trinity Mouzon Wofford's wedding by Elise Taylor
• Birth story post on Trinity Mouzon Wofford's Instagram
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

In this Valentine's Day special of brb crying, Arns and Nins explore two very different stories that arrive at the same question: what does it mean to love deeply?

Arns reflects on "Seed of a Seed" by Haley Heynderickx, the indie folk song about slowing down, resisting consumer culture, and finding happiness in life's simplest gifts. Through Heynderickx's music and philosophy, she explores love, contentment, free time, human connection, and the quiet beauty of an ordinary life.

Then Nins dives into Draco Malfoy & the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by isthisselfcare (Brigitte Knightley), the beloved Dramione fanfiction that has become legendary among romance readers. Through sharp banter, impossible yearning, enemies-to-lovers tension, and one unforgettable slow burn romance, the story captures the pleasure and misery of falling in love.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about desire, vulnerability, soulmates, choosing a slower life, finding joy in ordinary moments, and why love often arrives exactly where logic tells us it shouldn't.

Content warning: discussion of anxiety, violence, romantic obsession, emotional distress, and references to war-related trauma.

0:00 - Intro
3:56 - Arns: Seed of a Seed
23:22 - Nins: Dramione fanfic
52:27 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• "Seed of a Seed" by Haley Heynderickx
• About page on Haley Heynderickx's website
• eTown podcast episode ft. Haley Heynderickx
• NPR Music Live Sessions bio on Haley Heynderickx
• The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
• Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by isthisselfcare (Archive of Our Own)
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

This week, Nins reflects on a simple phone call from her dad that unexpectedly unraveled everything she thought she understood about growing up, immigrant parents, adulthood, and the quiet ways love is expressed.

Arns dives into one of the most emotional storylines from the hit anime Dan Da Dan, exploring a heartbreaking mother-daughter relationship, self-worth, inadequacy, and the universal desire to know that our lives mattered to someone.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about Filipino families, parent-child relationships, generational differences, being witnessed, feeling needed, unconditional love, and learning that we are enough.

Whether you're navigating adulthood, processing your relationship with your parents, or questioning your own worth, this episode is a reminder that love is often much simpler—and much deeper—than we realize.

Content warning: grief, death, parental loss, childhood trauma, emotional neglect, family conflict, violence.

0:00 - Intro
7:56 - Nins: call from Dad
25:03 - Arns: Dan Da Dan
46:20 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• Dan Da Dan season 1, episode 7: "To A Kinder World" (Netflix)
• The Gentle Tarot deck by Mari in the Sky (clarification: she is Indigenous from Mexico based in Alaska, not an Alaska Native!)
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

Arns reflects on a transformative trip to Bali that unexpectedly changed her perspective on pleasure, healing, self-discovery, and what it means to intentionally create a life you actually enjoy living.

Then Nins dives into the comforting world of The Great British Bake Off, sharing why contestant Nelly Ghaffar’s kindness, resilience, and wisdom left such a lasting impression. Through stories of friendship, community, creativity, and loss, she explores why the beloved baking competition has become a source of comfort for millions around the world.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about personal growth, finding yourself through travel, embracing joy, building community, self-worth, creativity, and learning how to enjoy the life you're living instead of constantly chasing the next achievement.

Content warning: pregnancy loss, grief, infertility, discussion of miscarriage, emotional themes.

0:00 - Pre-season thoughts: the state of our world
1:29 - Intro
5:56 - Announcement: giveaway!
8:22 - Arns: Bali
27:10 - Nins: Great British Bake Off
54:03 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• Desa Potato Head in Seminyak, Bali
• The Great British Baking Show on Netflix
• Nelly from Season 15 of The Great British Bake Off
• "British vs. American Versions Of The Great British Baking Show" on Here's The Dish
• Nelly being an icon for 100 seconds straight (@henriettashaw on TikTok)
• Noah Fielding Emotional Goodbye (@deciderdotcom on TikTok)
• [CW: pregnancy loss, miscarriage] Navigating Through Darkness (@britishbakeoff on TikTok)
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

In this special bonus episode of brb crying, Nins and Arns step away from their usual format to share some of the most unforgettable listener sob stories from season two.

From The Lord of the Rings' iconic "You Bow to No One" scene to mysterious spirit encounters inspired by Journey of Souls, emotional park bench memorial plaques, beloved pets, PMDD, Hamilton, family friendships, and even Manny Pacquiao bringing Filipino pride to the world stage, this episode celebrates the stories that moved our crybaby community to tears.

Along the way, listeners share stories about grief, friendship, identity, mortality, belonging, family, community, nostalgia, mental health, cultural pride, and the people and moments that shape our lives.

This episode is also a celebration of the incredible vulnerability our crybabies have shared throughout season two and a reminder that crying, feeling deeply, and connecting with one another are never things to be ashamed of.

Content warning: pet loss, euthanasia, cancer, death, grief, PMDD, mental health struggles, mortality, illness, and discussions of loss.

0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Announcements (Apple Podcasts feature, s2 ending)
5:00 - Sob stories
31:08 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• "My Friends, You Bow to No One": scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Mayweather vs. Pacquiao (2015): Philippine National Anthem performance
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

Nins explores the transcendent beauty of Tems’ song and music video “Me & U,” uncovering a powerful meditation on spirituality, self-discovery, faith, and the deeply personal relationship we each have with a higher power.

Then Arns dives into Daughter of a Lost Bird, the moving documentary that follows a Native woman reconnecting with her biological family, tribal community, and cultural identity after being separated from her roots through adoption. Along the way, the episode examines Native American history, belonging, family, ancestry, cultural erasure, and what it means to find your way home.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about identity, spirituality, heritage, self-acceptance, Indigenous history, community, and the lifelong search for meaning and belonging.

Content warning: colonialism, cultural genocide, adoption, family separation, substance abuse, grief, identity loss, and discussions of Indigenous oppression.

0:00 - Intro
7:37 - Nins: "Me & U" by Tems
31:50 - Arns: Daughter of a Lost Bird
54:30 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:

• "Me & U" by Tems (Spotify)
• Tems - Me & U (Official Video)
• "Interview: Tems Is Ready to Help You Find Healing" on OkayAfrica by Nelson C.J.
• "Even Fame & Stardom Can't Take Away Tems' Peace of Mind" interview on Billboard by Carl Lamarre
• "I met Tems, she used to be a loner" YouTube interview by korty eo
• Documentary Daughter of a Lost Bird (available for purchase on Documentary Channel)
• This Land podcast, Season 2
• All My Relations podcast, episode "Native Children Belong in Native Homes"
  
  

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

Nins and Arns take a break from their usual stories to process the emotions surrounding the recent presidential election.

Together, they reflect on post-election grief, anxiety, fear, disappointment, hope, and what it means to keep moving forward when the future feels uncertain. From conversations about women's rights, motherhood, and political division to community care, mutual aid, and collective healing, this episode explores how we navigate despair without losing ourselves in it.

Nins shares the poem "Daughter" by Katarine Hancock and reflects on the fears many women are carrying about the future, while Arns examines how moments of crisis can push us toward deeper community, connection, and action.

This is a vulnerable conversation about heartbreak, uncertainty, resilience, and finding ways to care for one another when the world feels overwhelming.

Content warning: political discussion, election results, anxiety, grief, reproductive rights, discrimination, violence, discussions of systemic injustice.

0:00 - intro
0:48 - not our usual episode
3:35 - nins' reaction: despair & hope
17:43 - arns' reaction: how we move forward
25:20 - outro

Referenced in this episode: 

• poem "daughter" by catarine hancock (@catarinehancock)

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.

This week, Nins and Arns explore two unforgettable stories about grief, love, mortality, and what it means to leave something behind.

Arns reflects on Julie: The Unwinding of the Miracle, the moving podcast and memoir chronicling the life of Julie Yip-Williams, a lawyer, mother, refugee, and writer who spent her final years preparing her loved ones for life after her death.

Nins dives into Shark Heart by Emily Habeck, the bestselling magical realism novel about a husband slowly transforming into a great white shark—a devastating metaphor for terminal illness, caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the impossible task of saying goodbye to someone you love.

Together, these stories spark a conversation about legacy, friendship, marriage, girlhood, mortality, caregiving, grief, and the courage it takes to love deeply despite knowing loss is inevitable.

Content warning: terminal illness, cancer, death, grief, loss of a parent, end-of-life discussions.

Referenced in this episode:

• Julie: The Unwinding of the Miracle Podcast Series on Spotify & Apple
• The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams
• Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
• Writers' Block podcast: "WB_S3E30: Shark Heart with Emily Habeck" on Spotify & Apple
• Interview with Emily Habeck by Nils Shukla for The Fantasy Hive

0:00 - Intro
3:04 - Announcements: merch, sob stories
7:29 - Arns: The Unwinding of the Miracle
25:13 - Nins: Shark Heart
49:45 - Outro

Join the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.

Follow us:
» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast
» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast
» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcast

Want episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.

Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

brb crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.