Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

It’s a great day when a former guest comes out of hiding, and today is that day! Kye Plant is an interdisciplinary artist and former podcaster who talks about why he ended his show and what he’s been doing since. Tangents include gratitude (yuck), needing pain to make art, struggling with extremes, rollerblading, and balancing our past and present selves. Enjoy!

Listen to Kye’s music on Bandcamp!

References:

* Kye’s original 2021 episode: #49 Shame-Based Artist feat. Kye Plant

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Friend of the pod j’naii is out of treatment and back in the guest chair to talk about ways the system is intentionally confusing, the difficulties of receiving a diagnosis, resisting rest due to guilt, and a surprising moment in therapy. Plus, we take you through a breakdown-based guided meditation and Chris issues a MAJOR correction. Enjoy!

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Stuck in a funk? Decision paralysis got you down? Have we got the philosophy for you. Tangents include weird things we imagined as kids, Smooth Move, our 1-year anniversary of living together, things we survived to get here, and what “full send” means to us. Enjoy!

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Hello friends! After 8 years of doing the show, we realized that we’ve never taken a survey of our listeners and their feedback. Since Lauren is taking a few weeks off, we figured now would be the perfect time to take a pulse.

Answers are completely anonymous and are for the sole purpose of helping us make the show better and expand our community. All in all, it should take 2-5 minutes to complete.

Click the link below to be taken to the survey. We appreciate you all!!

Take the 2026 Pickles and Vodka Listener Survey

Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

We catch each other up on life and debate the role of emotional regulation. Side topics include Myspace, who we think would star in a movie based on a certain cursed therapist, which one of us got triple hacked, a memoir update, and Trello. Enjoy!

References:

* Nancy (2018)

* The House of Yes (1997)

* Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia

* I’m Glad My Mom Died

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Joining Chris this week is AP, cohost of queer culture podcast Dovewhether! We talk about the nature of humanity, lesbians, the joys of being Mexican, surgery for mental health, meeting people in their life, and finding tranquility in your body while figuring out your gender. Enjoy!

Follow AP and listen to Dovewhether at www.dovewhether.com!

References:

* Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (Dovewhether episode Chris guested on)

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

The title is self-explanatory. Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere.

References:

* Ducournau’s Raw feat. Pickles and Vodka (catch cohost AP on our show next week!)

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

On this casual episode, we talk about what it means to belong—whether that means in a physical place, a community, or in your skin. Tangents include bingo, Medicaid, remembering dead friends, and how to cultivate assuredness. Plus, we share a listener voicemail! Enjoy!

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Lauren faces a deeply uncomfortable moment, Chris reveals what’s infiltrated their brain this week, and we both delve into our triggers. Tangents include lemon meringue pie, trauma cleaning, pets’ mental health, and two special anniversaries. (Content warning for Ariana Grande…again.) Enjoy!

References:

* Documentary about trauma cleaning: Clean (2022)

* Our original Ariana Grande discussion: #245 The End of an Era

* Our Karen Carpenter episode: #246 Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last

Lauren returns from vacation and we shoot the shit. Topics (and tangents) include temporarily forgetting that you’re mentally ill, unreliable therapists, eating disorder coaches, radical acceptance, goth karaoke, and blue M&Ms. Enjoy!

Thoughts on the episode? Here’s how to join the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/picklesandvodka (first timers get a free sticker!*)

* Subscribe to our Substack and never miss an episode: picklesandvodka.substack.com

* Watch our faces on YouTube: youtube.com/@picklesandvodkapodcast

* Follow our Instagram for poll alerts: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/picklesandvodkapodcast

* Send us an email: [email protected]

* Chris’s links: xcjumperx.carrd.co

* Lauren’s personal Instagram: @lauren___afh

Credits:

* Edited by Chris Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

*while supplies last