Fingers Crossed

BTS is officially back after nearly four years, and we're breaking down their new album Arirang and the new Swim music video starring Lili Reinhart. Erica’s a longtime fan and Meg might be a new convert (potentially).Then we shift gears into something much more personal as Meg opens up about her recent therapy session where she unpacked how she constantly compares herself to others, her thoughts on changing career paths and life direction, and a realisation that's been sitting with her for years: she's always felt bad for trying. We get into internalised tall poppy syndrome, the fear of standing out or aiming too high, and what it actually takes to push past that.We also touch on enneagram types, marketing thoughts, a potential back scratch business idea, and why being ambitious feels so uncomfortable sometimes.A mix of pop culture excitement and deeply vulnerable self reflection.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro00:49 BTS new album08:20 meg always comparing herself to others22:03 enneagram chat24:04 marketing thoughts26:15 meg always felt bad for trying33:13 meg’s life direction36:57 back scratch business43:25 xerf in australia44:31 outro

Erica's been really emotional lately. She went to Linkin Park and we talk about some of the best concerts we've ever been to, the ones that stay with you. Then things get heavier: Erica's missing her ex and seriously considering reaching out.Meg cried, which almost never happens, and opens up about the impact men have had on her and why emotions feel so hard to access sometimes. We also touch on jealousy between friends and what that actually reveals about us.Erica had a big fight with her mum. Her mum was abusive when she was young, and while they've worked hard to stabilize their relationship, sometimes things still go off the rails. It's an honest conversation about what it's like to navigate trauma with someone who is traumatized themselves and yet traumatized you. How do you repair something that broken? And is it even possible?A vulnerable, messy, real episode about emotions, relationships, and the complicated people we can't quite let go of.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro01:20 linkin park and concerts discussion11:53 jealousy between friends24:54 erica misses pentacles34:34 meg cried!42:52 erica had a fight with her mum49:39 outro

We're talking about the state of the world as tensions escalate and the possibility of World War 3 feels less abstract than it used to. We put on our tin foil hats to discuss some conspiracy theories around what's actually happening, then pivot to Erica finally watching Interstellar and what it made her feel about time, space, and existence.The conversation gets heavier as we talk openly about mortality. Meg reflects on not feeling particularly attached to life, while Erica realizes how much she wants to stay. It's an honest, vulnerable discussion about what it means to want to live or not, and why those feelings exist.We also get into the practicalities of our futures: Erica's indoor job will likely be automated, Meg's outdoor job is destroying her hands with carpal tunnel and tendonitis, so what do we actually do next? We explore alternative career paths, capitalism's role in all of this, and what happens when the work we do stops being sustainable.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro 03:21 the state of the world16:07 tin foil hat time21:00 thoughts on interstellar24:08 back to the state of the world28:28 meg brief tangent29:01 processing trauma31:28 meg remission thoughts33:44 meg capitalism rant34:58 thoughts on mortality42:49 thoughts on changing careers54:15 outro

Erica wraps up her recent gig before diving into how she spent her birthday: four back to back healing appointments. She saw a shaman to work on her MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), visited a myofascial specialist for nervous system healing that also impacts mast cells, got a skin tightening treatment and had honest conversations about cosmetic surgery options. We get into what she's genuinely wishing for in the year ahead.Megan has been doing some serious self reflection lately and opens up about the underlying negative beliefs she's been carrying, where they came from, and what it actually looks like to try to heal them. It's vulnerable, honest and the kind of conversation that makes you question what stories you've been telling yourself.We also touch on technofeudalism, some positive feedback from a friend/fan and why alternative healing methods keep pulling us in.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro (erica’s gig review)04:33 good feedback09:31 erica visits shaman 20:48 skin chat including plastic surgery28:34 myofascial specialist37:05 erica birthday wishes42:26 technofeudalism chat45:00 meg underlying negative beliefs57:33 meg healing thoughts01:05:09 outro

It's Erica's birthday so we're doing something a little different: a full episode dedicated to birthdays, memories and what actually matters as we get older.We start with our happiest birthday memories before Erica opens up about being bullied at school and how her mum intervened when the school refused to help. We talk about our favourite presents over the years, our relationship with celebrations and recap our 30th birthdays.There's a detour into teenage birthdays, why birthday songs are universally awkward and our very strong opinions on massages. Megan reflects on her birthday in 2020 during lockdown, and we both share what we're genuinely wishing for this year, not just materially but for ourselves and our lives.A nostalgic, honest conversation about growing up and what birthdays mean when you're not a kid anymore.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro05:13 happiest birthday memories09:16 bea interlude10:01 erica bullied at school11:46 favourite presents16:31 on celebrating birthdays20:21 our 30th birthdays24:27 teenage birthdays26:12 birthday songs29:37 thoughts on massages33:11 meg’s birthday in 202035:48 wishes for this year43:23 outro

In this episode of Fingers Crossed, Erica shares her decision to step back from traditional talk therapy and explore alternative healing methods, including somatic techniques, Qigong and meditating with the Gateway Tapes, the CIA-declassified audio program that's taken over the internet. We get into what that experience has actually been like and whether it's worth the hype. Also touch on using it for manifestation purposes.Megan opens up about who she was as a child and reflects on the pivotal decisions, both made for her and by her, that shaped the person she is today. It's a conversation about identity, self-awareness, and how much of who we are was always already written.We also dive into education systems: Steiner vs public vs private schooling, what Australia does differently, and how systems around the world compare. Plus, Too Good To Go, the app that's changing how we think about food waste, and a chat about Clavicular and some of his very interesting life and health choices.A wide-ranging, honest episode about healing, growing up, and the paths we didn't know we were on.🎙️ Fingers Crossed is a mental health and life podcast hosted by Erica and Megan.📩 email us your thoughts: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro01:06 too good to go10:40 erica quitting therapy14:40 gateway tapes 23:30 qigong 25:08 meg childhood reflections28:44 meg’s pivotal life choices and education systems44:43 meg now49:50 clavicular discussion59:33 outro

in this episode, we take a moment to do some honest stocktaking of our lives and our plans for 2026. we also touch on human design and talk about when the wrong people have kids.to balance out the seriousness, we also revisit some of our funniest and most embarrassing childhood stories, because self-reflection can only go so far before it needs to be interrupted by chaos.this one is part intention-setting, part emotional reset, and part laughing at the people we used to be.if you’re thinking about what you want more (or less) of this year, or you just need a lighter episode with a bit of perspective, this one’s for you.📩 email us your own childhood embarrassments or intentions for the year:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro00:34 reflecting on where we’re at for 202620:05 human design26:13 when the wrong people have kids36:00 embarrassing childhood stories 01:03:23 outro

this episode covers heavy and confronting themes.content warning: this episode discusses sexual assault, grooming, coercion and abuse of power.in this episode, erica shares two deeply personal experiences involving older men abusing their power, and the lasting impact those experiences have had. meg also opens up about an experience of coercion involving a close female friend, and what it taught her about trust, boundaries and safety.this is not a societal analysis or a theoretical discussion. it is a personal conversation about lived experience, the confusion that often follows, and the ways harm can be minimised or misunderstood when it comes from people we know.we talk honestly about how these experiences stay with you, how they change the way you move through the world, and what it means to name harm without dressing it up or explaining it away.viewer/listener discretion is advised.📩 if this episode resonates with you and you feel safe to share, our inbox is open:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro00:38 cw03:54 erica story 120:58 erica story 241:06 meg story48:50 outro

episode 28 is a love letter to soft masculinity and male vulnerability, especially when it’s shown well in media.we start by talking about the tv show heated rivalry and why its portrayal of emotionally open, complex men feels so refreshing. from there, we unpack what soft masculinity actually looks like in practice, why it’s still treated as unusual, and how seeing it represented can genuinely shift our expectations in relationships.we also took a values test with some genuinely surprising results.it’s a thoughtful, affirming episode about emotional openness, cultural change, and why vulnerability isn’t weakness - it’s the whole point.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comOUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro00:33 meg’s week02:41 update from erica09:49 heated rivalry34:33 values test48:00 outro

OUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offepisode 27 starts with meg saying one thing slightly wrong and somehow spirals into a deep, hour-long conversation about individualism in australia and how it quietly shapes (and strains) friendships.we unpack how australian culture approaches friendship, flakiness, planning, and emotional distance, and contrast that with growing up in more collectivist cultures, particularly hungary. we talk about unspoken social rules, why being “low maintenance” is often praised, and how that can leave people feeling isolated, unsupported, or disposable.the conversation also touches on capitalism, neglect of community, neurodivergence, and why being different can feel especially hard in australia. erica shares personal friendship breakdowns, what she’s changed for other people in the past, and where she’s no longer willing to bend.it’s a raw, thoughtful episode about belonging, cultural mismatch, and what real friendship actually requires.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro01:39 friendship in australia17:16 how individualism started18:49 growing up in a collectivist culture20:46 unspoken social rules in collectivism28:09 flaky vs planning chart32:01 country being neglected35:20 mild rant on capitalism38:17 being different in australia39:11 the rat study 45:03 neurodivergence and individualism51:37 comparison between australia and hungary55:05 erica’s friendship breakdown01:00:38 another traumatic friendship breakdown01:09:56 changing for other people01:18:44 final thoughts01:24:49 outro

episode 26 is our first episode back for the year, and we’re easing in by unpacking the highlights and lowlights of our holiday trips.meg talks about travelling to coffs harbour with her mum, while erica reflects on a brisbane trip with her dad. we cover the good parts: beautiful towns, road trips, spending time together, and the not-so-good parts including bugs in tropical regions, bed bugs in hotels, awkward family dynamics and the strange things people say when you least expect it.we also talk about how grounding it can be to see each other after time apart, the joy (and stress) of long drives, and the confronting reality of roadkill on australian roads.it’s a gentle, honest catch-up episode about travel, family, and returning to yourself after time away.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneyOUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offchapters:00:00 intro02:57 we went away04:07 meg no. 5 highlight 07:18 erica no. 5 highlight 10:11 meg no. 4 highlight 11:39 erica no. 4 highlight 12:49 meg no. 3 highlight 13:50 erica no. 3 highlight 18:53 meg no. 2 highlight 20:23 erica no. 2 highlight 22:52 meg no. 1 highlight 25:02 erica no. 1 highlight 31:37 meg no. 5 lowlight 33:00 erica no. 5 lowlight 40:45 meg no. 4 lowlight  42:49 erica no. 4 lowlight  44:30 meg no. 3 lowlight  48:55 erica no. 3 lowlight  50:55 meg no. 2 lowlight  54:07 erica bonus lowlight  58:47 meg bonus lowlight 01:01:19 erica no. 2 lowlight 01:05:02 meg no. 1 lowlight 01:08:03 erica no. 1 lowlight 01:24:49 outro

episode 25 is our first episode of 2026, and it’s a reflective, grounding way to start the year.the bulk of this episode centres on erica’s recent reading with author, astrologer and intuitive kate forster, and the themes that came up around values-based living, identity, and long-term growth. from there, we unpack how astrology can be used as a reflective tool rather than a rulebook, and what it means to consciously move through the world with intention.we also talk about the four pillars of re-parenting, how past versions of ourselves would feel about our current selves and what happens when you find readers and practitioners you genuinely mesh with.it’s an episode about integration - taking insight and turning it into something lived, not just understood.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneyOUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offchapters:00:00 intro01:25 erica’s reading with kate forster24:32 values based living29:58 reflecting on parents32:29 astrology chat45:32 four pillars of re-parenting55:07 meshing with readers01:00:30 reflecting on past selves01:04:17 outro

please note: sorry there is a section with camera issues.episode 24 is a reflective one. we look back on our best and worst new year’s eves, unpack what 2025 brought up for us, and talk about how much has shifted through our saturn returns: in our priorities, our boundaries, and our sense of self.we also touch on demisexuality, emotional connection, and what intimacy has come to mean for us as we move through our 30s. it’s an episode about endings, integration, and noticing how quietly but profoundly you can change over time.if you’re feeling reflective about the year ahead, your relationships, or the version of yourself you’re growing into, this one will resonate.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneyOUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offchapters:00:00 intro 03:53 reflecting on nye 12:25 reflecting on 202526:15 saturn returns34:43 being demi38:01 reflecting on 30s  53:19 outro

episode 23 is our christmas special, recorded over two days thanks to some classic tech chaos.we start by getting festive - talking about christmas as kids, our favourite holiday movies and songs, and the things that still make the season feel comforting (and chaotic). then erica shares her dating wrapped after making a pact with a friend to download a dating app and commit to one date a month for the year - twelve dates total, no pressure on who or how.what started as an experiment didn’t go to plan at all. somewhere along the way, erica fell in love with one of the men she met (dear old pentacles) and shares that story.it’s a reflective, warm episode about timing, intention, and how sometimes the thing you’re doing “for the plot” quietly changes you as a person.📩 email us your thoughts or dating experiments:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneyOUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchFC20 for 20% offchapters:00:00 intro05:50 fave christmas movies18:40 fave christmas songs25:35 erica’s dating wrapped 2025 intro28:59 date 1 actor/model36:04 date 2 runescape39:35 date 3 PENTACLES :)57:50 meg’s funny crush story01:02:33 date 4 PENTACLES :)01:22:28 date 5 meditation guy01:24:55 date 6 poor man’s pentacles01:26:41 date 7 poor man’s jenny01:28:00 date 8 guitarist01:30:11 date 9 jazz guy01:32:10 date 10 pt01:35:17 outro

we kick off talking about meg’s continued chat about body confidence with her therapist. while erica talks about body self-actualisation, time management, and what an “ideal life” even looks like when mental health is part of the picture.we also catch up on christmas plans, erica gives an update on her dad, and shares where things are at with her tarot business and recent open mics.📩 email us your thoughts or experiences:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro00:41 meg therapy body chat20:24 erica dad chat32:48 body self-actualisation tier list39:17 ideal life and time management46:46 erica tarot business54:07 open mic wrap up 01:07:07 outro

in episode 21, we cover a lot - starting with the absolute chaos of trying to find a therapist who actually gets you, followed by a quick astrology tangent (naturally), and a mini merch update.from there, we dive into pretty privilege, fatphobia in australia, and meg’s ongoing body journey. we also talk about the way boomers and their negativity as well as the many negative aspects of parenting in australia. it’s part cultural critique, part personal unpacking, and very on-brand for us.go listen to the fully evolved version of the new 5sos album "everyone's a star" and here's a link to the bonus track "cool dad" (it's a must listen): https://youtu.be/4qg03A3Y81o?si=uVdhsBxMsdYJucuk📩 email us your thoughts or experiences:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro02:45 trouble finding the right therapist08:21 brief chat about astrology15:43 merch chat17:11 5sos album chat18:02 pretty privilege24:35 meg body chat28:27 fatphobia in australia 33:23 meg’s male relative40:00 boomer’s negative attitude46:12 parenting and socialising58:20 outro

OUR MERCH IS LIVE: https://www.midnightprincesscollection.com/shop/fingers-crossed-merchthis week’s episode centres on meg’s latest therapy session, specifically her long-standing body image struggles and how they shape the way she shows up in dating and relationships. we talk about the beliefs we absorb when we’re young, the way they quietly follow us into adulthood, and the fear of being truly seen when you don’t feel fully safe in your own skin.we also unpack how body confidence (or the lack of it) impacts emotional intimacy, attraction, and the kinds of people we choose. if you’ve ever felt “too in your head” about how you look, hesitated to date because of self-doubt, or struggled to believe someone could genuinely want you, you’ll feel understood in this one.as always, expect tangents, honesty, and the occasional existential spiral.Follow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro01:14 meg’s week02:52 erica’s surprise05:23 meg’s week cont.05:49 MERCH!! 07:30 meg’s therapy 08:55 meg’s body issues in dating51:32 healing while dating01:02:05 lack of compassion in society01:15:35 outro

this week, meg recaps her woodworking era (power tools are involved), erica talks about playing open mics for the first time and it leads into a deeper chat about women’s empathy being exploited by manipulative men.following last week’s ENM conversation, we get into a discussion about cheating, why people push boundaries they never actually agreed on. we also reference a video analysing cheating behaviour, linked below.there’s also a quick cameo from bea, a rant about western individualism and a bigger conversation about why empathy becomes a vulnerability when you lack boundaries.📺 video mentioned (cheating breakdown):https://youtu.be/6YLqW3Z8ldg?si=QoRZ3EiR-7a4Izr9📩 email us your thoughts or experiences:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro01:26 meg’s woodworking update05:03 erica’s playing open mics18:30 empathy being exploited25:07 bea interlude26:18 back to empathy33:10 western individualism issues28:52 video on cheating01:07:42 outro

this week’s episode is chaotic in the best way. we talk about lily allen’s new album west end girl and then spiral straight into modern dating trends, specifically ethical non-monogamy. spoiler: we don’t buy it, we’ve never bought it, and we explain exactly why it doesn’t work for us.we also talk about that viral tiktok social experiment where a woman calls multiple churches asking for baby formula and gets rejected.if you like pop culture, unfiltered opinions, and two neurodivergent women trying to make sense of modern life, this one’s for you.🎧 topics include:lily allen’s west end girl — first impressionsthe truth about ENM & why it doesn’t suit everyonemonogamy, attachment, and modern dating fatiguethe baby-formula church experimentcommunity, care, and double standardsthe usual tangents, laughter, and existential spirals📩 email us your thoughts or experiences:fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro04:28 TikTok church experiment12:28 jools interlude13:32 ENM and relationship thoughts52:58 outro

this week’s episode is pure chaos energy with a side of reflection.erica’s cat went missing (spoiler: found but dramatic), she missed the pitbull concert and had a huge pain flare-up, and then had a dream about jack nicholson that sent her spiralling.oh and she had a medium reading that got a little too real 🔮meanwhile, meg’s week included witnessing a car accident, dealing with anxiety, and questioning why people online are so relentlessly negative. somehow, it all ends in an unexpected chat about mortality and how we process life’s weird moments.expect laughter, over-sharing, and a bit of existential wisdom in between the chaos.📩 email us: fingerscrossedthepodcast@gmail.comFollow us:@fingerscrossedthepodcast@fakewitcherica@megstierneychapters:00:00 intro04:40 erica’s missing cat10:28 we missed pitbull :(16:09 erica’s week off work17:28 erica’s dream and the ace spectrum22:55 erica’s car wash fail24:28 xmas decorations in november25:19 back to the dream29:15 erica had a medium reading38:39 meg witnessed an accident52:29 negative commentary chat01:05:14 mortality chat01:09:07 outro