Can I Call You?

It’s the very last episode of Can I Call You? Season 1, and it’s Simone’s turn to interview her ex, who we’ve previously referred to in episodes 1-3 as “Phoebus”. The two start off detailing how they met and their journey towards becoming a couple. As they go back and forth, it becomes clear that on the outside their relationship was one for the storybooks: boy meets girl, they fall in love, and share memories among their shared friend group. But the reality was a bit bleaker. Simone and Max walk through the lowlights and highlights of their relationship, everything from jealousies to respecting boundaries to a shared love of food. The breakup was definitely a tear-jerker, and one that helped them both grow as individuals. And we get into some piping hot tea about what happened after the breakup because, well, it involves Valentine’s Day, Snapchat, and late-night texts (yikes).

Special thanks to Max for being a guest on this podcast!

Artist of the Week: Adriel Rivera (Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

We promised that this podcast would be filled with our messy adventures, and what’s messier than talking to your ex? This week Aja interviews her ex-boyfriend, Trey. With Simone mediating, Aja and Trey detail the rise and fall of their relationship, how a shaky foundation rarely leads to love, the pain of the pendulum, and what they learned from the whole experience. The tea is piping and ready to be spilled! Hope you learn just as much as Aja and Trey did.

Special thank you to Trey for being the first guest on the podcast!

Artist of the Week: Adriel Rivera (Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

It’s been a whole year since Aja and I bought last-minute tickets to Lollapalooza. This trip was truly a cultural reset for the two of us, and we take you through the hectic time leading up to this experience. Simone booked last minute tickets to go visit Aja a few weeks before the festival, where they went on a shopping spree. Then, each of them had to finish school and work within two weeks to make it to Lollapalooza last minute. From booking the hotel to flights to train tickets, it was a hectic time three days pulling together what most people take months to plan. But our time there made it all worth it. From artist reviews, almost dying during Childish Gambino’s set, and meeting the Irish loves of our lives (Darren and Peter, we love you), Lollapalooza was truly a formative experience we will never forget.

Artists mentioned: Childish Gambino, twenty one pilots, Masego, Ariana Grande, Denzel Curry, Janelle Monae, 21 Savage, and Kacey Musgraves, and Lil Wayne

Artist of the Week: @DJMorriscode (Instagram, SoundCloud)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

No, we're not gonna tell you how to do your hair. Aja and Simone have a whole collection of **mostly cringey** stories just about their hair. Aja remembers getting her hair botched in a JCPenny and learning to balance embracing her 4C hair with wanting to switch it up. Simone talks about coloring her hair in a Walmart (yes, a freaking Walmart) and details the time a random man grabbed her head. Not only do we talk about hair woes, but Simone talks about what it was like dating a guy who was "afraid" of her hair, while Aja recalls dating a guy who celebrated her hair. And we've got a wholesome Can I Call You Moment where we tell you about Aja's alter-ego, Waja.

Artist of the week: @theresemiantsoko (Instagram)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

This episode is about Colorism: the prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color. Our CICYM sparks a discussion about cheating, and we dive into light-skin privilege. Simone sets the record straight on how to acknowledge and use light-skin privilege to remove divisions in BIPOC communities. Aja talks about her frustrating experiences with racial preferences in dating, and explains how colorism is based on comparing and tearing down others in the black community. Between being fetishized by men, constant double standards, and how our society conditions people into thinking light-skin is superior to dark skin, colorism is a huge problem in BIPOC communities that we don't hear a lot about. Here are some resources to learn more:

Instagram: @darkest.hue

“Skin Color and the Perception of Attractiveness among African Americans: Does Gender Make a Difference?” by Mark E. Hill

“African American College Students and Colorism: Examining the Influence of Media Consumption and Internalization on Perceived Skin Color, Self-Esteem, and Dating Preferences” by Danaysha Cosbert (Dissertation)

Artist of the week: @liketheibismusic (Instagram, TikTok, Spotify)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Well, that happens a lot for us. This episode is all about going out gone wrong! We also have a Can I Call You Moment, where one listener tells us how to secure a man simply through a scary movie. Speaking of scary, Aja and Simone tell the story of how they almost drowned in an icy uber ride, and the time the wind tore off their eyelashes on their way to a party. Aja also details the time she accidentally walked into an old man’s apartment, got stalked by a creepy dude, and accidentally walked in on people snorting some ~baking soda~. Simone details what it was like being lifted by her wrists when getting into a club, being asked to leave that club while playing whack-a-mole with thirsty guys, and accidentally making a freshman boy cry. So yeah, these nights didn’t exactly go as planned, but they made for some pretty fun memories.

Artist of the week: @jonahkaylor (Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

A little rejection never hurt anybody right? Okay, maybe a bit, but that rejection only makes you stronger! Simone and Aja go into depth from being rejected to doing the rejecting. Simone details a short-lived romance, the pitfalls of lacking game, and a shocking revelation causing the end of a relationship. Aja discusses a tale of two side-pieces, the art of trusting your gut, and the most confusing heartbreak. Despite getting knocked down, your girls are always ready to get back up again and take those Ls, you know, for learning.

Artist of the week: @9USER (Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

Not having sex in college? You’re not alone. Aja and Simone talk about their experiences being “relationship girls” in hookup culture (spoiler alert: it’s tragic). They give their opinions on sexting thanks to the Can I Call You Moment, and define what terms like “hooking up” and “dating” mean to them. Simone lays out why she’s waiting for marriage, Aja explains why she’s waiting for a real connection. We also read out Simone’s “Cycle of the College Boy”, and Aja talks about her brief attempt at engaging in hookup culture.

Artist of the week: @robxapollo (Instagram, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music)

@girlcanicallyou (Twitter)

@simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter)

@ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

In the wake of Adele’s weight loss controversy, Simone and Aja discuss their own perceptions of body image. They recall growing up in the early 2000s, a time before Instagram where big butts and curvy girls weren’t celebrated. Aja explains how she learned to love her body, while Simone discusses her continuous struggle towards self-love. Oh, and they pop off on Tik Tok diets and BBL-infested Instagram, which are only making things more difficult on young women. No worries though, they provide science-backed resources to help all of us on our journey towards a positive body image and healthy life. Special thank you to Lydia Straka for consulting on this topic. Resources mentioned in the episode: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline (eating disorder hotline) https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/body-image-self-esteem-and-mental-health (HereToHelp) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0104552 (Jackson et. al) https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-10-9 (Linda Bacon) Artist of the Week: @thatkidnamedrah (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok) @girlcanicallyou (Twitter) @simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter) @ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)

It’s a Friday night. You’ve been invited to a house party and a frat party. Which do you choose? Aja’s team house party, Simone is team frat party. They discuss who has the better music, which makes more financial sense, and the pros and cons of each party. Who will win? Oh, and we feature our very FIRST Can I Call You Moment! Artist of the Week: @DJMorriscode (Instagram, SoundCloud) @girlcanicallyou (Twitter) @simonehanna0 (Instagram, Twitter) @ajasymone0 (Instagram, Twitter)