[Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions of medical examiner photos our students had to view during lectures, and which some listeners will find disturbing.] Friendships, food, and failing forward gets med students through the first year. No one tells you how much of med school is powered by free pizza and shared panic. As M1s Alexis Baker, Samantha Gardner, Raegen Abbey, and Zach Grissom wrap up their first year at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, we talk about what actually got them through M1: strategic free food hunting, skipping lectures for sanity, and learning to live with the sound of your own stomach during exams. This raw and ridiculous reflection features stories of biochem-induced breakdowns, unexpected weight loss, and vacation cruises gone very wrong. We also play “Vibey,” a game that perfectly captures med student emotional trauma. Bonus topics: marriage math, spring break disasters, moldy mugs, and the shock of learning how people die for credit.