🎧 SHOW NOTES

This episode is a little messy, a little tired, and very real.

Melissa and David open the show doing what they always do — shooting the breeze — but it quickly becomes clear they’re worn down. Between an exhausting church Christmas musical, emotional counseling sessions, menopause, sick parents, and the general weight of life, this one almost didn’t get recorded.

But Melissa couldn’t let the episode pass — because they’re in the middle of sharing the top five things older generations want younger generations to know, and today’s lesson mattered too much to skip.

The fourth lesson is simple, heavy, and honest: choose carefully who you marry.

What follows is not marriage advice from a pedestal, but a real conversation about why long-term marriages survive storms, what “opposites attract” gets wrong, and why core beliefs matter more than personality differences. Melissa and David talk about faith, family, vows, counseling, menopause, caregiving, and the kind of love that shows up quietly when it counts.

They end the episode with a story that says everything they mean — not with words, but with a small basket, an Uber ride, and a kind of love that extends to family.

⭐ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

* Melissa showing up on camera exactly as she is — flat hair, confidence intact

* Why the Radkes almost skipped recording this episode

* The exhaustion of church Christmas productions and long service days

* Seeing a counselor together and why they openly recommend it

* A reminder that not every podcast episode comes from a “good day”

* The fourth life lesson from older generations: choose carefully who you marry

* Why “opposites attract” is misunderstood in long-term marriages

* The difference between personality differences and core beliefs

* Faith, family, and shared values as the real foundation of marriage

* A story about caregiving, aging parents, and love in action

* Why loving someone’s family matters more than grand gestures

* Ending the episode with laughter, Christmas songs, and tired joy

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS

00:00 – Opening and shooting the breeze01:20 – Feeling like they’ve been hit by a truck02:10 – Remi and Rocco home for Christmas02:50 – Melissa’s hair, confidence, and showing up as-is04:00 – Public access TV jokes and visual chaos06:40 – Church Christmas musical exhaustion09:35 – Counseling together and why it matters11:30 – Why this episode almost didn’t happen13:40 – Holiday break announcement15:10 – Introducing the fourth life lesson16:00 – Beautiful You supplement break17:05 – Life lesson #4: Choose carefully who you marry18:15 – Why “opposites attract” doesn’t hold up long-term20:45 – Personality differences vs. core beliefs22:30 – Faith, family, and values as anchors25:05 – A story about a marriage that didn’t last28:00 – Why vows are often treated as transactional31:15 – Being honest about marriage seasons35:00 – Menopause, caregiving, and emotional strain37:00 – David taking Melissa’s parents to a doctor appointment39:15 – The Uber basket story41:00 – Loving someone who loves your family42:10 – Substack mention42:30 – Christmas song game48:00 – Closing and final encouragement

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

Mel Robbins Podcast (Dr. Karl Pillemer – 30 Lessons for Living)https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-344/

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

🎧 LISTEN EVERYWHERE

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook

📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 ARE YOU READY TO BECOME AN INSIDER?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages from Melissa

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts

* Real community conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎯 SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Melissa and David unpack the third life lesson from gerontologist Dr. Karl Pillemer’s research — “Travel More” — and what older adults most regret when looking back on their lives. But first: Walgreens will not stop calling Melissa, both Radkes have had their debit cards stolen (again), and Fashion Nova makes an unexpected cameo.

From card fraud to cross-country memories, from East Texas bubbles to big-world perspective shifts, Melissa and David dive into why experiences matter more than things… and why you should probably jiggle the gas-pump credit-card reader.

This one is warm, funny, thoughtful, and a little chaotic — classic Radkes.

✨ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

* Walgreens is harassing Melissa like an ex who wants closure

* Both Radke debit cards get stolen — again

* Fashion Nova + Jiffy Lube + prison commissary = fraud cocktail

* Why older adults say “travel more” is their biggest life regret

* Melissa: “I don’t have a deep desire to see other cultures… is that bad?”

* Why travel doesn’t have to be international to expand your world

* The Alaska road-trip memory that shaped David

* Conversations about money, privilege, perspective, and core memories

* Melissa reveals the one thing strangers don’t know about her (and maybe don’t want to)

⏱ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS

00:00 – Walgreens won’t stop calling01:24 – Debit card theft… again02:56 – Fashion Nova, Jiffy Lube & prison commissary charges04:00 – Why servers shouldn’t steal our credit cards05:48 – PayPal & Venmo: the real identity-theft risk07:20 – Christmas gifts & stolen cards09:12 – The car-buying plot twist that changed everything11:37 – The “5 Life Lessons” series continues12:56 – Life Lesson #3: Travel More14:09 – Why older adults regret not traveling17:04 – Melissa confesses her shocking lack of wanderlust18:28 – Travel expands empathy — even inside the U.S.19:43 – Getting out of your bubble21:39 – David’s Alaska road-trip upbringing23:55 – Exploring America vs. the world27:11 – Cruise-excursion flashbacks29:12 – Affordable travel: the Radkes’ road-trip years31:31 – Travel as connection, community & core memories32:10 – Stretch Marks promo33:00 – Lightning-round questions for each other35:49 – Melissa’s secret (and horrifying) superpower37:03 – David’s secret skills & history40:20 – Dream travel destinations42:36 – Closing encouragement for listeners

🔗 Links Mentioned

Mel Robbins Podcast (Dr. Karl Pillemer – 30 Lessons for Living) → https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-344/📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen

🎧 Listen Everywhere

Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowAppleSpotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotifyYouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagramFacebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebookSubscribe to Stretch Marks → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Paid subscribers get:

* Weekday POV audio messages

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts

* Community conversation access

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 SHOW NOTES

Melissa and David unpack the life lessons you don’t fully understand until you’re older — marriage lessons, regrets that shaped them, and the habits they wish they’d started earlier. From social norms that need to die to the things you only learn after 20+ years with the same person, this is classic Radke honesty with a side of humor, humility, and “oh dang, that hit a nerve.”

Also in this episode:the advice research of Dr. Karl Pillemer, the art of saying fewer dumb things in marriage, and why Melissa thinks some life regrets are actually a sign you grew up.

⭐ Episode Highlights

* Why regrets aren’t failures — they’re receipts of growth

* The marriage habits they wish they’d started in their 20s

* Why most people give bad advice (and how Pillemer’s research fixes it)

* What Melissa’s learning in her “don’t be a martyr” era

* How to apologize without adding a sermon, footnote, or side quest

* The single hardest marriage skill nobody teaches

* What older adults know that younger adults never believe

⏱️ Timestamps & Topics

00:00 – Life lessons we wish we learned earlier06:10 – What older people know about regret12:40 – How marriage actually matures you19:55 – The “hard truths” phase of life25:45 – Dr. Karl Pillemer’s research28:30 – Melissa’s take on giving and receiving advice

🔗 Links Mentioned

Mel Robbins Podcast (Dr. Karl Pillemer – 30 Lessons for Living) → https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-344/

🔗 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify

📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

📚 Follow & Subscribe

📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages — mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly “We’re Here for You Wednesday” advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — deeper stories, behind the scenes

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

📘 SHOW NOTES

Melissa and David dive into the first of five life lessons from Cornell research on aging — and this week’s lesson is simple but brutal: Be honest.From birthdays that go off the rails, to hotel-room picnics, to teenagers creating Amazon wish lists, the Radkes talk about what it looks like to live “fair and square” (and where we don’t).

Plus: why the Little White Lie Fast might wreck your week, how one Facebook lady got real bold, Melissa’s “poverty mindset” sermon, unexpected birthday surprises, and the Amazon Wishlist that’s blessing local high schoolers.

And yes — Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss, LSU, and whether or not you can be a “man of your word” when the SEC is calling.

⭐ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

* Melissa’s birthday: emotional rollercoaster → hotel → Tap & Pantry feast → hotel picnic → King of Queens

* The High School Amazon Wishlist: how listeners blew past expectations

* The Facebook lady with the “Carhartt Hat Attitude”

* Poverty mindset vs. generosity mindset

* Honesty as the #1 life lesson from elders

* What “fair and square” really means

* Affairs, business regrets & end-of-life confessions

* Being a person of your word even when it’s inconvenient

* SEC football, Lane Kiffin, loyalty, and big money

* The Little White Lie Fast — 120 hours of radical honesty

* White-lie examples: sour cream, watching the game, “I just left the house”

* Melissa teaches boundaries (again)

* Why broken promises hurt more than honest boundaries

* “Reciprocity” — and why you get blessed when you bless others

* A call to generosity for the teens who need it most

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS

00:00 – Shep the dog vs. David: Round 4301:00 – Melissa’s “Nice/Naughty” mug + birthday getaway recap02:00 – Business meeting on her birthday (1.4/10 rating)03:30 – Room-service-style Tap & Pantry picnic05:00 – Hotel blankets > hotel sheets06:00 – The bedroom surprise: new TV installation08:30 – Birthday wishes, Amazon wish list & the big give10:00 – High school girls, boys & their Amazon dreams12:00 – iPads, earbuds & perfume — generosity multiplies13:00 – The Facebook lady who “didn’t approve”14:00 – Poverty mindset vs. generosity mindset15:45 – God’s reciprocity: blessings given → blessings returned17:00 – Why praying for someone else changes everything18:30 – The Cornell study: 30 Lessons for Living19:30 – Lesson #1: Be Honest22:00 – Fair & square: character + integrity24:00 – Confessions at the end of life26:00 – Money, shortcuts & rebuilding your name29:00 – SEC football example (Lane Kiffin)32:00 – Being honest when it’s inconvenient34:00 – What actually brings peace in life35:00 – Broken promises vs. honest boundaries36:00 – The Little White Lie Fast38:00 – Can YOU do 120 hours without a white lie?41:00 – Closing encouragement & reminders42:00 – Where the real Amazon wish list link is (and why Melissa had to clarify)

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

🔹 Mel Robbins Podcast (Dr. Karl Pillemer – 30 Lessons for Living) → https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-344/🔹 High School Kids Amazon Wishlist → bit.ly/hswishlist25🔹 Beautiful Yu Health Supplements → bit.ly/beautifulyu🔹 Beautiful Yu Affiliate Info → bit.ly/beautifulyuaffiliate

🎧 LISTEN EVERYWHERE

Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowAppleSpotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify

🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE

Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagramFacebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook

📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 ARE YOU READY TO BECOME AN INSIDER?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages from Melissa

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice episodes

* Monthly paid-only posts (the things Melissa won’t put everywhere)

* Commenting access + real community discussions

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

✨ SHOW NOTES

This week, Melissa and David record the podcast from a hotel room that looks just enough like a prison cell to make Melissa whisper the truth. Between Thanksgiving drama, burst water pipes, and half the house flooding, it’s a miracle these two made it to the microphone at all.

You’ll hear the full breakdown of:• The Great Post-Thanksgiving Flood of 2025• Remi and Rocco’s ongoing life hashtag DRAMA• Melissa taking over her mother’s Thanksgiving traditions as Gene battles exhaustion• A dressing recipe that nearly caused a family split• David’s stovetop stuffing betrayal• Stranger Things Season 5 pajama-only viewing• And Melissa’s birthday wish — involving Amazon, high school kids, and the exact kind of generosity that makes David panic

Then… the water-in-your-mouth guessing game.Yes. Someone nearly drowned. Yes. Melissa spit. Yes. David complained.And yes — you’re absolutely going to laugh.

🔥 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

* Recording the episode in a hotel cubby that “looks like prison”

* The entire house flooding the morning after Thanksgiving

* Remi coming home from college exhausted and emotional

* Melissa taking over Thanksgiving prayer and dressing duties

* The saga of stovetop stuffing vs. “proper” dressing

* Stranger Things watch-party that only required pajamas

* Melissa’s birthday wish: helping overlooked high school students

* The Amazon Wish List project explained step-by-step

* Giving Tuesday and why Melissa wants THIS instead of gifts

* The chaotic ChatGPT “water-in-your-mouth” word game

* David nearly waterboarding himself

* Final goodbyes… and Melissa picking Woodfired Pizza for her birthday lunch

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS

00:00 – Recording from a hotel “prison cell”02:00 – Why Melissa avoided filming before they left03:40 – The Thanksgiving flood disaster05:15 – Remi & Rocco’s teenage drama06:10 – A different kind of Thanksgiving with Melissa’s mom not well08:00 – Who gets to pray at holidays (and why the UPS man almost did)09:50 – The dressing vs. stovetop stuffing controversy13:00 – Nap traditions & dominoes14:00 – College kids coming home exhausted15:45 – Stranger Things Season 5 viewing17:30 – Melissa’s birthday announcement18:00 – Beautiful Yu ad read (per transcript)21:25 – The Lavender Fields latte disaster23:00 – Melissa’s birthday wish: the high school Christmas project24:00 – How the Amazon Wish List works26:00 – Giving Tuesday explained27:30 – Why Melissa cares so deeply about these teens29:00 – Substack promo29:40 – The chaotic water-word game33:50 – David nearly drowning35:25 – Final wrap-up & Woodfired Pizza lunch

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

🎒 High School Students’ Amazon Wish List → https://bit.ly/hswishlist25

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

📢 LISTEN EVERYWHERE

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook

📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER ON SUBSTACK

Get access to:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages

* Twice-monthly We’re Here For You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts

* Community discussions & comments

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎙️ Show Notes

Melissa and David are back—and this one’s got everything: Snapchat filters gone wrong, college panic attacks, and how Melissa accidentally looked like a hot truck driver. They also share Melissa’s recent guest appearance on Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon, why she cried through the entire interview, and how it inspired a brand-new holiday giving project with the help of ChatGPT (yes, really).

Plus: Christmas decorations gone rogue, Beautiful YU’s brand-new BP-157 peptide, and Melissa’s annual “toughen up, buttercup” parenting reminder to Remi.

💬 Episode Highlights

* Melissa’s Snapchat filter moment that backfired hilariously

* Her emotional interview on Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon

* A heartfelt talk about loneliness, vulnerability, and faith

* Why she’s starting a holiday giving campaign for high schoolers

* ChatGPT’s advice that changed her approach to generosity

* Ashley’s surprise Christmas decorating mission for Melissa

* Melissa’s favorite holiday chaos and why she can’t quit David

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Melissa loses her voice (again)04:00 – The Snapchat filter fiasco05:00 – Melissa on Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon08:00 – The freshman flu strikes Remi11:00 – Melissa’s college panic attack story14:00 – Calling The Arsenio Hall Show (and getting billed for it)15:00 – Listener with 43 cruises writes in17:00 – What is Substack (and why you should join Stretch Marks)20:00 – Rocco’s insane Christmas wish list21:00 – Melissa’s Beautiful YU wellness favorites22:00 – Introducing Beautiful YU’s new BP-157 peptide25:00 – The Christmas surprise from Melissa’s friend Ashley29:00 – ChatGPT helps Melissa plan her holiday giving project33:00 – Teachers funding high schoolers’ Christmas bags35:00 – “Perfection is the enemy of momentum”37:00 – Melissa’s Substack stretch marks reminder39:00 – The Radkes’ Holiday Lip Reading Game

🔗 Links Mentioned

🎙️ Listen to Melissa on Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon → bit.ly/PluckingUpTable🩵 Beautiful YU – Health Supplements → bit.ly/beautifulyu💊 Beautiful YU – BP-157 Regenerative Peptide → bit.ly/YUBPC157📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

🎧 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook📖 Melissa’s New Best Selling Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages – mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — the stuff Melissa doesn’t share everywhere

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎙️ Show Notes

Melissa and David are finally back on dry land — and they’ve got some things to say about cruise life. From surprise storms and buffet aversions to excursions gone wrong, this episode is the full post-cruise confessional you didn’t know you needed.

Melissa opens up about earning the trip through Beautiful YU, how she ended up speaking on the final night, and why community means more to her now than ever. Plus: juggler entertainment, buffet trauma, and one extremely honest conversation about purpose.

💬 Episode Highlights

* Melissa’s cruise recap: what went right (and wrong)

* How she earned a free cruise through Beautiful YU

* Excursions, seasickness & marriage moments at sea

* Why Melissa can’t handle buffets anymore

* The “purpose” talk that made women cry (in a good way)

* Inside the Beautiful YU community & affiliate program

* Family updates: Nonie’s fight, Remi coming home, and gratitude in chaos

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Cruise recap: chaos at sea05:00 – Weather reroutes & Dominican detours09:00 – Excursions, naps & marriage negotiations13:00 – Why Melissa refuses to read history markers18:00 – Cruise shows, comedians & Peabo Bryson24:00 – The buffet rant heard around the world30:00 – Specialty dining & David’s Black Friday trick33:00 – What makes Beautiful YU different38:00 – Melissa’s closing speech: finding purpose44:00 – Roses, Thorns & Buds (Remi’s coming home!)

🔗 Links Mentioned

🩵 Beautiful YU – Health Supplements → bit.ly/beautifulyu💼 Beautiful YU – Affiliate Information → bit.ly/beautifulyuaffiliate

🎧 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages – mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — the stuff Melissa doesn’t share everywhere

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎙️ Show Notes

Melissa and David may be sailing through the Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean the laughs take a break! In this special cruisin’ episode, Melissa dusts off a vintage “Rise & Radke” broadcast from 2022—back when The Radke Show was a scrappy little Facebook Live with barking dogs, mismatched mugs, and a whole lot of chaos.

From Walmart denim shorts to Broadway drama, massive pythons in Florida, and nudist pickleball (yep, you read that right), this flashback episode proves that while the hairstyles have changed, the humor hasn’t. Melissa also shares a heartfelt reminder about the one thing that’s stayed constant all these years: the power of community.

💬 Episode Highlights

* Melissa reveals how she won a cruise (and how that’s going)

* Revisiting their early “Rise & Radke” episodes from Facebook Live

* Denim short disasters and Walmart redemption stories

* Broadway gossip: Beanie Feldstein, Lea Michele & Patti LuPone

* Florida’s 18-foot python and Poland’s deadly “croissant monster”

* School dress codes gone wild: Back to the Future or just Backward?

* Nudist pickleball — the story no one asked for but everyone needed

* Why community still matters more than ever

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Melissa wins a cruise & why she’s recording from paradise03:30 – Revisiting the early days of “Rise & Radke”10:00 – Coffee talk, brittle hair, and gut health revelations18:00 – Walmart shorts vs. boutique shorts showdown21:00 – Broadway gossip: Beanie, Lea & the curse of Funny Girl31:00 – Florida’s giant python & the croissant creature of Poland39:30 – Dress code drama: The Back to the Future school district46:00 – Nudist pickleball, Slurpees, and free Subway sandwiches53:00 – Why community and connection still matter most

🔗 Links Mentioned

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

Beautiful YU – Wellness & Beauty Supplements💡 Shop link: https://bit.ly/beautifulyu

Check out Beautiful YU for next-level wellness and beauty supplements that keep Melissa beautiful. Available at https://bit.ly/beautifulyu.

🎧 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages – mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly We’re Here for You Wednesday advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — the stuff Melissa doesn’t share everywhere

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🎙️ Show Notes

Melissa and David are not getting divorced — but they are arguing about cups, YETIs, and why cleaning out a cabinet can nearly end a marriage. This week, they dive into the hilarious and all-too-real world of decision fatigue — how the smallest daily choices (like what’s for dinner) can drive even the happiest couples a little crazy.

From parenting burnout to dinner-time meltdowns, Melissa opens up about feeling stretched thin and how “the 5-4-3-2-1 Process” just might save your next restaurant argument. (Spoiler: it’s genius.)

💬 Episode Highlights

* Cup chaos, coffee mugs, and the great “YETI war” of 2025

* Decision fatigue and why it’s ruining marriages everywhere

* Parenting overload: how kids drain your decision battery

* The hand signal that saved their marriage

* Dinner fights & the “5-4-3-2-1 Process” for picking a restaurant

* Comfort food, emotional eating, and what our cravings really mean

* Freestyle rap: Melissa vs. David — who wins the MC battle?

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – The Cup Drawer Meltdown05:20 – What Is Decision Fatigue?09:00 – Marriages, Mental Load & Communication13:45 – Parenting Burnout (and Kid Fatigue)18:00 – The “Stop Sign” Rule That Saved Their Marriage23:00 – Dinner Drama & The 5-4-3-2-1 Process29:00 – Comfort Food, Southern Style35:00 – “One Thing About Me” Freestyle Challenge42:20 – Wrapping Up & Listener Shout-Outs

🔗 Links Mentioned

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

🎧 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages – mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly “We’re Here for You Wednesday” advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — the stuff Melissa doesn’t share everywhere

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe

🧩 Show Notes

If your marriage can survive technology, you’re probably doing better than most couples. Melissa and David take on IT, “smart” homes that aren’t so smart, tech arguments that could end relationships, and the everyday annoyances that come with living in a world that constantly wants to “update.”

They also talk about the invisible labor of managing family tech chaos and why sometimes you just need to unplug before you lose your ever-loving mind.

💬 Episode Highlights

* Melissa’s tech meltdown

* Why “dumb” homes may be a smart decisions

* The emotional labor of managing devices for the whole family

* How Wi-Fi arguments reveal deeper communication problems

* Why turning everything off might be the smartest move of all

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Melissa vs. IT07:50 – Dumb Homes, Smart Marriages16:20 – Tech Overload and Family Burnout28:45 – When Wi-Fi Fights Become Relationship Fights38:10 – The Great Unplugging

🔗 Links Mentioned

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen🎥 The Radke Show Playlist → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

🎧 Listen Everywhere

🎧 Apple Podcasts → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple🎧 Spotify → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowSpotify📺 YouTube → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📱 Instagram – @TheRadkeShow → bit.ly/TheRadkeShowInstagram📘 Facebook – The Radkes → bit.ly/TheRadkesFacebook

📖 Melissa’s New Book – Chicken-Fried Women → bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

👋 Are You Ready to Become an Insider?

Become a paid subscriber to Stretch Marks and get:

* Weekday POV Audio Messages – mini pep talks from Melissa

* Twice-monthly “We’re Here for You Wednesday” advice podcasts

* Monthly paid-only posts — the stuff Melissa doesn’t share everywhere

* Community access for real conversation

👉 Subscribe for $9/month or $90/year → bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melissaradke.substack.com/subscribe