This is the episode where Hearts and Handlebars gets real in ways we didn't plan.

Zena wakes up angry. She tells me straight: "I don't want to talk to you today." And she means it. What follows is a raw, unfiltered argument about rudeness, hypocrisy, and why she refuses to pretend everything's fine just because we're recording.

The conversation gets uncomfortable:

When a parent is rude and doesn't realize it

How perfectionism can kill authenticity (even on a "real" podcast)

The moment a nine-year-old calls out her mum for asking her to soften the edges

Why "just be yourself" can sound like code for "be yourself, but only the happy parts"

Forgiveness, journaling club, and the decision to try again

But here's the thing – this is exactly why Hearts and Handlebars exists. Because Zena was right: if we only shared the good moments, we'd just be another perfectly curated podcast. And she refused to let that happen.

By the end of the ride, we're okay. But we earned it.

🎧 Tap follow, share with a friend who gets that mornings are messy, and come say hi on Instagram @heartsandhandlebars.