EP 7: Holiday Drama, Traditions, and Boundaries: Surviving Toxicity During the Holidays
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Release Date: 12/09/2024
Episode 25: Dex Is a Liar & Carla’s in Denial — 25 Questions for 25 Episodes!
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
We made it to 25 episodes, y’all! Our little podcast baby is all grown up, and to celebrate, Carla and I decided to do something fun (and slightly chaotic): 25 questions to help you get to know us on a whole new level. No rules, barely any filters—just vibes, hot takes, and some lowkey oversharing. Carla went in on cancel culture, mental health, and the whole open relationship thing 👀. I opened up about monogamy, childhood stuff, and a few things I’ve been too scared to try (yet). It’s been a wild ride getting here, and whether you’ve been with us from day one or just hopped...
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EP 24: The Parenting Debate "Do Kids Need Their Own Room?" + Friendship Breakups? We Went There!
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Hey Friend! Quick update: Carla’s allergies are finally under control, and I’m feeling better too—my back’s on the mend, so no more grandpa groans when I bend over. Small wins, y’all. Now, onto the episode. We dive into a topic that’s real for any of us with kids who split time between two homes—should children have their own bedroom at the non-custodial parent’s house? Carla, with her money grows on trees mentality, thinks it’s a must. Like, we all have the luxury of giving each kid their own room, right? But I’m out here saying, a kid can still feel welcome...
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EP 23: Ozempic Regrets, Disney Trips Without Kids, and Why Moms Can’t Win
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Hey Friend! First of all, let me just say Ozempic had me in a chokehold, and for what? We kicked off this episode talking about the shortcuts we’ve tried on the road to health and how most of them left us worse off than when we started. And yes, I fully admit I was out here thinking a shot would do what discipline and patience are supposed to. 😩 Meanwhile, Ruthie’s out here running half marathons like a champ, and our pastor had the nerve to call us out mid-sermon about our lifestyle choices. Rude but also accurate. Then we slid right into mom territory because whew, the judgment...
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EP22: She Had the Baby Anyway—Was That a Mistake? Plus Too Old for Nudes, Too Grown for Bad Baby Daddies?
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
First of all, we are old. Like, what is happening?! My allergies are out here fighting for their life, and Dex’s back is giving up on her. If y’all have any remedies for allergies that don’t involve me living in a bubble, let me know because I am struggling. But let’s get into it—this week, we had a very heated debate over Ayesha Howard and Anthony Howard. Listen, I just have questions—like, is it okay to still be making major mistakes at 38 when choosing who to have a baby with? Because at some point, shouldn’t we be making better decisions? Meanwhile, Dex is over here...
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EP21: Casey Anthony the Advocate?! Girl, Be Serious
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Alright y’all, this week’s episode is a rollercoaster. First up, Carla has big feelings about Casey Anthony’s latest rebrand as a legal advocate. Yea, you read that right. And let’s just say, she has some thoughts. Then, we get into Gayle King going to space with Jeff Bezos’ wife. Carla thinks it’s cool. Me? Absolutely not. Why are rich people so obsessed with space? It’s not like you can actually get out and explore. Somebody make it make sense. And speaking of nonsense, Omarion is out here saying he doesn’t take women on dates—he takes them on gatherings. You know I’m...
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EP20: Why You’re Always Tired, Craving Chocolate, Gaining Weight, and Coach Netra on PCOS
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Ooooh, friend, buckle up ‘cause this episode is packed with Aha! moments and truths that'll hit you straight in the chest. We had our second-ever guest, the fabulous Coach Netra, a lifestyle and nutrition coach who’s all about women’s health. And you KNOW we had a ton of questions for her. Now, who remembers when we could hit the gym for just a week in our 20s and come out snatched? Yeah, baby… those days are long gone. I’m over here tryna figure out why I crave chocolate around my cycle, and Carla’s out here wondering if it’s okay to keep breaking her water fast with a 7-Eleven...
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EP19: Dex is Messy, Carla is Cutting People Off, & the Internet is Wild
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
Hey Friend! Its me, ! Whew, this episode was a ride! is officially a Cowboy Carter ticket holder (Beyhive, stand up!), and I’ve been auditing my top five closest people—we’ll see who makes it and who’s getting cut real quick. Our Woman of the Week is the one and only Joy Reid—because duh, she’s amazing and I really want her to win. And shameless plug, I’d LOVE to work with her!!! Meanwhile, Dex, who was supposed to be focused on creating this episodes outline, went down a whole Neyo rabbit hole (thank you, Shaderoom), and now we’re deep-diving into polyamory, parenting, and...
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EP 18: Is Gentle Parenting Making Our Kids Soft? and Would You End a 20-Year Friendship Over a Man?
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
In this episode of So What Now, hosts and dive into a thought-provoking discussion on parenting. They explore whether "gentle parenting" methods are truly benefiting children or inadvertently preventing them from learning valuable life lessons. Reflecting on their own upbringings, they share how their experiences with discipline and independence shaped their views. The conversation shifts gears as they unpack the evolution of "girl code." Carla and Dex examine whether the rules of girl code change as we get older. Would you end a 20 year friendship over a man? The fun escalates as they play...
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EP 17: Red Flags & Maternal Regret: Are We the Problem?
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
In this episode and dive into the controversial topic of maternal regret. Some women openly admit to regretting having children—are they just being brutally honest, or is this a sign of deeper societal pressure? Carla and Dex unpack the complex feelings surrounding motherhood and why it’s such a triggering subject. Shifting gears, Carla and Dex tackle the question: Are women actually the problem in relationships? The conversation takes a hilarious turn when they play a green and red flag game to figure out if they’re toxic. Spoiler alert: Dex discovers she might just be a walking red...
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EP 16: Ex-posed: When Outing Your Ex Goes Too Far & Unpacking Love Themes in Classic Black Cinema
So What Now? with Carla and Dex
In this week’s episode of So What Now, and dive into the tricky topic of whether it’s ever okay to air intimate details of past relationships, discussing the drama surrounding Royce Reed and Dwight Howard’s public feud. The love theme continues with a deep dive into iconic black love stories from classic films. Carla and Dex go head-to-head over Love and Basketball. While Carla believes it’s one of the greatest love stories, Dex argues that Monica might’ve “settled” for her man. The conversation also touches on other beloved films like Poetic Justice and Boomerang, exploring...
info_outlineThis week Carla and Dex dive into the chaos and comedy of navigating toxic family traditions during the holidays. From Carla’s journey of estrangement and her search for new holiday magic with friends to Dex’s big family and the pressure to make everything “perfect,” they share hilarious and heartfelt insights on surviving family dysfunction. Carla reflects on the bittersweet loss of old traditions while creating new ones, and Dex opens up about her childhood trauma (cue the villain origin story—spoiler: it’s all about that Barbie Dream House). The duo also tackles how to deal with negative family members and offers tips on carving out your own healthy, joyful holiday traditions. Tune in for humor, honesty, and some solid advice that might just help you survive this holiday season with your sanity—and maybe a little magic—intact.
SO WHAT NOW? TAKEAWAYS
Create Your Own Traditions: Whether you're estranged from family or just tired of the same old drama, it's okay to let go of toxic traditions and create new ones that bring you joy—whether that’s with friends, chosen family, or just on your own. You deserve a holiday that feels good to you.
Set Boundaries with Toxic Family Members: The holidays don't have to mean enduring negativity from relatives. Learn how to politely (but firmly) set boundaries with family members who bring drama, and how to protect your mental health without feeling guilty.
Make Holiday Magic for You: It's easy to get caught up in the pressure to create the "perfect" holiday for others, especially when you have a big family. Take a page from Dex’s playbook and find small, healthy traditions that keep the holiday spirit alive for you—and leave the stress behind.
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