The Tea

The Tea returns with digital picture frame warfare, musical theater arguments, therapy talk, jury duty panic, and a major life update from Lauri and Star.

Joe announces a possible release schedule shakeup for the network before the conversation immediately derails into stories about Aura Frames, family photo sabotage, and relatives secretly re-uploading pictures to each other’s digital displays. Joe also tells the story of his mom accidentally setting a screenshot of her phone as her lock screen and becoming convinced her phone had stopped turning off.

Later, Joe shares how he used AI to edit a family baseball photo by adding a giant beer in front of his mom — who famously doesn’t drink — and then convinced her to send the picture to friends anyway.

The group also spirals into a full conversation about RENT, Chicago, movie musicals, “singing-through” theater productions, and which celebrities somehow became lifelong obsessions after one good performance.

Jay opens up about starting therapy again following a recent death in the family, leading to a surprisingly sincere conversation about anxiety, coping mechanisms, mental health, and the strange ways people process trauma.

Meanwhile, Lauri gives an update on her ongoing jury duty saga and reveals that she and Star are officially beginning the adoption process, including attending orientation and discussing what kind of child they may eventually adopt.

The episode also includes:


Joe panicking over a handicap placard investigation at Angel Stadium


A fake cop car causing freeway paranoia


Stories about old coworkers and former Redline regulars


A deeply cursed discussion involving sperm donation


A possible ghost encounter involving a little girl sneezing in an empty house

Plus: Russian orphan jokes, AI trolling, baseball stories, and the usual chaos.
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Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Wherever you are, we’re glad you’re here.

This week on The Tea, the conversation goes everywhere. Joe, Jay, and Laurian catch up on Vegas trips, weddings, commercial shoots, and the ongoing challenge of making friends as adults. Along the way, stories spiral into high school memories, family moments, and a few situations that are almost too ridiculous to believe.

Jay shares highlights from a bachelor party in Vegas, working on a commercial with a very well-trained beagle, and unexpectedly making a new friend on set. The group reflects on how hard it is to build new friendships outside of work and what that looked like back in high school.

Joe recounts a memorable (and slightly traumatic) experience volunteering as a “patient” for medical students, where he had to lie still while being evaluated in ways he definitely did not expect.

A simple Starbucks order turns into a full breakdown when “venti” becomes confused for the name of a drink, leading to one of the episode’s most absurd and relatable moments.

Laurian gives an update on writing a TV pilot with her dad, including a creative process that raises some serious questions about how scripts are actually supposed to be written. The conversation turns to how long it really takes to write something good and what it means to just start creating.

The episode also includes a tattoo dilemma involving a baby portrait and whether to update it to better reflect reality, sparking a surprisingly thoughtful discussion.

Jay is now on the hunt for a new car after learning his current one may not be worth repairing, while Laurian enjoys a low-key spring break focused on rest and recovery.

From awkward memories to completely chaotic misunderstandings, this episode is classic The Tea: loose, funny, and full of moments that somehow feel both ridiculous and familiar.
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This week on The Tea, Joe, Lauri, and Jay cover everything from questionable hotel hygiene to Dairy Queen disasters, with plenty of detours into pop culture, fast food, and DMV chaos along the way. What starts as a simple catch-up quickly spirals into stories about bachelor parties, emotional support furniture, and a truly unhinged Blizzard experience.


Jay’s Vegas Bachelor Party Recap
Jay shares highlights from a surprisingly low-key bachelor weekend in Las Vegas, including a glowing recommendation for Cirque du Soleil’s O—and a not-so-glowing review of the El Cortez hotel, complete with toenails and mystery grime.


The Great Chair Debate
Jay attempts to offload a luxurious leather chair, sparking a surprisingly intense discussion about furniture, comfort, and whether a chair needs to “go to a good home.”


DMV Meltdown Story
Jay recounts a wild encounter at the DMV involving a customer disputing her listed weight on her license, leaving the employee visibly shaken—and raising the question: when is honesty worth the drama?


Justin Timberlake & Celebrity Downfall
The hosts react to newly released body cam footage from Justin Timberlake’s DUI, focusing less on the scandal and more on how unexpectedly uncool it all feels.


Dairy Queen Deep Dive
A full conversation unfolds about Blizzards, dipped cones, and the iconic upside-down test—culminating in Lauri’s chaotic drive-thru story where she grabs the ice cream instead of the cup.


Fast Food & Regional Favorites
The group debates Farmer Boys, Dutch Bros, Jack in the Box, and the strange cultural crossover between Morrissey fandom and Mexican communities in LA.


TV Talk: Will & Grace, Reboots & Sitcom Logic
Lauri leads a passionate discussion about Will & Grace, including the reboot, character dynamics, and sitcoms that bend reality for comedic effect.


Life Updates & Feeling Stuck
Joe opens up about feeling isolated and stuck in a routine, leading to a conversation about getting out of the house, reconnecting, and breaking out of a funk.

This episode is classic The Tea: loose, conversational, and full of unexpected tangents that somehow all connect. Whether it’s DMV drama, fast food nostalgia, or sitcom deep dives, the chaos feels right at home—and proves that sometimes the best stories come from the most random places.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Tea wherever you listen to podcasts.

For bonus content, extended conversations, and exclusive episodes, check out our Patreon.

Stay connected and keep sipping ☕

Episode HighlightsFinal ThoughtsFollow & Support
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In this episode, the hosts cover everything from questionable therapy sessions to a genuinely terrifying AI scam, along with Laurie’s week of food poisoning, workplace chaos, and an upcoming sketch show.

Joe and Jay revisit Laurie’s experience with “Scribbles,” a therapy setup that raises more questions than answers. Between the lack of accreditation and surprise meditation tactics, they try to figure out what’s actually going on—and whether it’s helping at all.

Joe then shares a disturbing real-life story involving his parents, who received a phone call from someone using his voice, claiming he had been arrested after a fatal car accident. The scam nearly convinced them to send bail money, leading to a larger discussion about AI voice cloning, privacy, and how easily these schemes can fool people.

Laurie walks through her own ordeal this week, which included getting sick at work, throwing up, being wheeled through school in front of students, and a frustrating urgent care visit. After getting food poisoning twice, she realizes the likely culprit was oatmeal she had saved and reheated over multiple days.

The group also gets into doctor pet peeves, workplace absurdities, and how easily things spiral when communication breaks down.

Jay teases a future story about a recent Vegas trip, while Laurie plugs her upcoming sketch show with the team “Moxie” at the Pack Theater in Los Angeles.

As always, the episode balances real-world anxiety with chaotic humor, moving quickly from unsettling to ridiculous in classic Tea fashion.

Be sure to subscribe, follow, and share the show, and check out our Patreon for bonus content.
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Joe and Lauri are back behind the microphones for another lively installment of The Tea, serving up sharp observations, personal anecdotes, and plenty of side-quests along the way. As always, the conversation flows freely—moving from pop culture commentary to personal stories and the kind of candid back-and-forth that makes The Tea feel like eavesdropping on two friends catching up over coffee.

From unexpected detours in the conversation to moments of laugh-out-loud honesty, this episode captures the signature rhythm of the show: quick wit, storytelling, and the occasional tangent that somehow becomes the best part of the discussion.


Joe and Lauri dive into the week’s happenings and what’s been on their minds since the last episode.


The conversation veers into classic Tea territory with personal stories, commentary, and plenty of playful shade.


A few hilarious conversational detours remind listeners that sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t plan.


Joe and Lauri reflect on everyday frustrations and observations with their usual blend of humor and blunt honesty.


The episode closes with the kind of off-the-cuff banter that longtime listeners know and love.

Episode 4 delivers exactly what listeners expect from The Tea: unscripted conversation, candid opinions, and a steady stream of laughs. Whether they’re dissecting the absurdities of everyday life or simply riffing off each other’s stories, Joe and Lauri keep things entertaining from start to finish.

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Tea wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.
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