Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

The week's caller shares a deeply personal journey of undergoing weight loss surgery and the challenges and triumphs that followed. He and Gethard discuss body positivity, the emotional and psychological aspects of weight loss, and what he’s found most helpful along the way. Plus, and maybe most importantly, he weighs in The Great Beautiful/Anonymous Raccoon Debate. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Go to StoryWorth.com/beautiful today and save $10 on your first purchase! Listen to Constant Wonder wherever you get your podcasts. Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.

This week's caller wants to invite more chaos and creativity into their life while debating a new career opportunity. He and Gethard talk family expectations, chasing passions, and the joy of weird little hobbies. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Upgrade your wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. For 25% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, head to BollAndBranch.com/beautiful. Get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. To get 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/Beautiful

In this Election Day special, Gethard gives listeners from every corner of the country two minutes to share where they’re from, who they’re voting for, and why. It’s a chance to hear beyond the headlines, offering a rare moment of connection and empathy in the midst of today’s election chaos. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 To get 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/Beautiful Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.  Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at talkspace.com/beautiful Get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details.

In this bonus episode of Beautiful/Anonymous, Gethard addresses some recent critiques of the show’s political bias by inviting a 2024 Trump voter for an open conversation. It’s a call filled with both tension and humor, and no matter where you land, it highlights the importance of understanding diverse perspectives and the urgency of political involvement, now more than ever. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  We want to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676

This week’s caller recounts her unconventional journey from pickles to placentas as she and Gethard discuss the incredible work of birth doulas. More specifically, she breaks down the nitty gritty process of placenta encapsulation. From packing and transporting, to steaming and dehydrating placentas, it’s all here, and it’s all fascinating. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Listen to Constant Wonder wherever you get your podcasts.  

This week's caller shares his experiences in elder care and running a worker-owned coffee roasting cooperative. He discusses the challenges of financial planning for seniors, systemic issues in long-term care, and his commitment to community-focused and worker-driven initiatives. It's an empowering, encouraging conversation with a charming guy who has a positive but realistic outlook on the world.  Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/BEAUTIFUL To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com/beautiful and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  

It’s spooky season here at Beautiful/Anonymous, and we’re kicking things off with a caller whose house became the Halloween House in his neighborhood. He and Gethard bond over their shared love of all things Halloween, but most especially going way too big on lawn decorations. Then, the call takes a turn for the genuinely scary as the two discuss some of the most unsettling things they’ve encountered in real life. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.

A heavy duty mechanic from Western Canada talks with Gethard about the major injury that totally shifted her career plans, growing up as the youngest member on her dad’s construction crew, and dreaming of moving to the big city, wherein the big city is British Columbia’s 12th largest municipality. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates including tickets to the next Laughing Together Comedy Show, October 10th in Anaheim, CA. Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL Start getting your best night’s sleep this fall with Boll & Branch. For a limited time get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful.  

Fresh from rescuing her backyard ducks from a bald eagle attack, a plant pathologist calls with a bone to pick about Gethard’s feelings on the great state of Oregon. They chat about Portland’s unionized strippers, the often divisive B/A Raccoon Debate, and then the conversation takes a more serious turn as the caller opens up about her journey to sobriety. They talk about seeking support, repairing relationships, and why, no matter what, you can’t ever give up on yourself. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates including tickets to the next Laughing Together Comedy Show, October 10th in Anaheim, CA. Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.

This week, Gethard chats with a brand-new social worker who shares the path that led her to this career change while also defending New Jersey’s honor against its many detractors and bonding with Geth over where to get the best burgers in Queens.  Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates including tickets to the next Laughing Together Comedy Show, October 10th in Anaheim, CA. Go to RO.co/BEAUTIFUL. Memberships start at just $99 for your first month. Medication costs are separate. Go to ro.co/safety for black box warning and full safety information. Compounded medication is not required to and does not receive FDA review or approval. Rx only.Start getting your best night’s sleep this fall with Boll & Branch. For a limited time get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful. Join EveryPlate today and pay only $2.99 per meal, PLUS get 50% off your first box, for all box sizes! Get this amazing deal by going to EveryPlate.com/podcast and entering code beautiful299. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/BEAUTIFUL. Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  

A dietitian with strong opinions on fast food joins Gethard to talk about a little bit of everything. From attending one of Geth’s most notorious stand-up shows, to “perfectly engineered foods,” and a million other topics in between, this episode is perfect if you need a distraction from whatever’s weighing on your mind this week. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates including tickets to the next Laughing Together Comedy Show, October 10th in Anaheim, CA. Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off. Tackle your to-do list today and get 15% off your first task at TASKRABBIT.com or on the Taskrabbit app using promo code beautiful. Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL  

Last month, Gethard talked with a guy whose wife was in labor. Last week, Gethard talked to that wife, now a new mom to a squishy squid. This week, Gethard talks to that squishy squid’s grandmother. It’s a frank and vulnerable conversation about generational trauma, cycles of abuse, and working hard to build a better life for your family. And of course we get to hear about the joy that comes with being a new grandparent. It’s a beautiful call, and kind of a miracle that it happened at all. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates including tickets to the next Laughing Together Comedy Show, October 10th in Anaheim, CA. 20% off all IQBAR products. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000  Start getting your best sleep this fall with Boll & Branch. Enjoy 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful. Listen to Constant Wonder wherever you get your podcasts.

Hear the rest of this episode and many more stories like this by adding “Origins with Cush Jumbo” to your weekly listening, wherever you get your podcasts

Six weeks ago, Gethard talked to a guy who was calling from the hospital while he waited for his wife to give birth to their first child. This week, by some act of fate, she got through herself. Our caller catches Geth up on life as a new mom, and then the two have a real and raw conversation about mental health. She opens up about her experiences with bipolar disorder, the importance of understanding and advocating for mental health, and how she plans to handle conversations about mental health with her own child. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com/beautiful and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.

After a significant life event turned her world upside down, this week’s caller was inspired to start seeking out challenges and diving into new hobbies. She and Gethard chat about finding new passions, exploring identity, and basically being a badass. It’s a refreshing conversation with someone who took a tough situation and used it as motivation to build a life filled with adventure, freedom, and a lot of joy. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/BEAUTIFUL. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com/beautiful and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off of your first month and show your support for the show. Go to RO.co/BEAUTIFUL. Memberships start at just $99 for your first month. Medication costs are separate. Go to ro.co/safety for black box warning and full safety information. Compounded medication is not required to and does not receive FDA review or approval. Rx only. Get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details.

This week’s caller is all about beginnings—moving to a new city, making new friends, and maybe even jumping back into the dating scene. While taking a walk around her new neighborhood, she and Gethard bond over the trials and triumphs of city living, the joys of forming new routines, and the simultaneously scary and exciting freedom of a fresh start. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. Tackle your to-do list today and get 15% off your first task at TASKRABBIT.com or on the Taskrabbit app using promo code beautiful. Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful.  As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to skylightcal.com/STORIES. Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.  Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com/beautiful for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

As longtime listeners of Beautiful/Anonymous know, one of the most beloved members of our community is Heidi, AKA: “Love Is Everywhere”. This call is a little different from our usual follow-ups. In this case, Heidi has a specific story she wants to share, and it just didn’t feel right to hide it behind the paywall. So here’s the deal: all of our listeners have access to this difficult–but so important to share–story from Heidi’s past. It's a tough conversation, but, as Heidi so rightly points out in the call, "the more these kinds of stories are shared . . . that will make it so there are less stories like this to be shared." For our Touch Tone listeners, you’ll still get our standard follow-up, where Heidi takes a turn at our 5 Random Questions generator.  You can also read Heidi’s story on her Substack. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful. Get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to skylightcal.com/STORIES.

This week’s caller is the director of a food pantry. She tells Gethard how she came to this position at a fairly young age and how she works to support her community. She and Geth talk about the stresses of working in non-profit, the personal and social benefits of volunteer work, and what all of us can do to get involved in our own communities. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful. Get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. Text BEAUTIFUL to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to skylightcal.com/STORIES.

A self-described “vegan lesbian horse girl” calls to talk with Gethard about being YouTube famous in a very niche community, going to Catholic school as a closeted queer kid, living with agoraphobia, and a whole lot more.  Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at Talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL Go to joindeleteme.com/BEAUTIFUL and use promo code BEAUTIFUL for 20% off.  Get $40 off a Skylight Calendar at skylightcal.com/STORIES

This week’s caller made the possibly ill-advised choice to call in to the show from his wife’s hospital bedside mere hours after she was induced to deliver their first child. But he promised Gethard she’s cool with it, so while these highschool sweethearts wait to welcome another person into the world, they talk with Geth about impending parenthood, breaking negative generational patterns, making marriage work, and in the process prove they might just be the perfect couple. It’s a beautiful call. If you’re looking for a reason to believe in love, this one might do it for you. Sign up for Beautiful/Anonymous+ to get ad free episodes and access to exclusive content including 5 Random Questions with this week’s caller.  Leave us a voicemail at (973) 306-4676 Head to punchup.live/chrisgethard for info on all of Gethard’s upcoming tour dates. Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/beautiful Go to RO.co/BEAUTIFUL. Memberships start at just $99 for your first month. Medication costs are separate. Go to ro.co/safety for black box warning and full safety information. Compounded medication is not required to and does not receive FDA review or approval. Rx only.