40ish - Thumbs-up. The Pesto Revelation & Nicole’s Replacement

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

Today on 40ish, Nicole is facing every podcaster’s worst nightmare: being replaced. (Temporarily, while she recovers from her op - but still.) Enter James - Brave. Unprepared. About to be exposed to levels of menopause and nunny chat that no man could ever train for. Will he survive? Will he make eye contact again? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, Lauren has had a life-altering revelation about pesto that has raised serious questions about her past, her judgement, and possibly her entire personality. Plus, a listener asks whether the “thumbs- up” emoji  is a perfectly normal response or a pass agg move? Whilst another woman writes in from the trenches of sick children, relentless rain, and the kind of exhaustion that turns you into a barely functioning medieval peasant. Prepare for replacement anxiety and emoji politics. Get in touch! Email [e-mail] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's never too early to plan your summer story in Europe with WestJet, from rolling countryside to cobblestone streets. Begin your next chapter. Book your seat at westjet.com or call your travel agent. WestJet, where your story takes off. You know, when we write in for segment one, what is our most faultish thing, yours is absolutely thrilling. And also leave such an air of mystery about it.

I cannot wait to dive in. into this meaty, meaty dovet. I can't tell you what it is. I can't. Listen, listeners, settle in. I feel like should we be taking advice from 13-year-old boys? Probably. Well, they do have their finger on the pulse of what is cool.

What is cool for them? Into 40-ish, I'm Nicole Goodman. And I'm Lauren Mishkan. This is the podcast where we tackle 40-something joy and life. And wonderfulness. And the juicy, juicy stuff. Sometimes it is juicy, juicy, juicy stuff. You can get ad free listening across both this show and self-care club, bonus content, early access.

And you can watch the video on Spotify. I heard on someone else's podcast when they were talking about Spotify video that apparently there's a bell button and you press it and that's how you subscribe to watch it on Spotify. So that means people can do that for us. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I haven't seen the bell button myself because I can't access Spotify. But if I could access Spotify, I'd press the bell. Just saying.

Spotify's just how that you access. You know, you're just like, go on it. How can you not? I find Spotify quite confusing. You know it isn't. It just isn't. How can you find it confusing? How?

There's nothing confusing. I think I just don't use it. I am confused about how confused you are about Spotify. I don't use Spotify, really. I think that's why. It's just kind of an unknown for me. You know what you should? Should I?

Yeah, because you should. I tell you exactly what for, because I have spent hours and hours and hours learning how to video edit. Yeah. Right? And now I video edit and you've never even seen them. I've got to watch you and me.

I know what we both look like. I know what we sound like. And I know what our show's about. You got new glasses on. Let me tell you something about these glasses. No. No. No.

No. I haven't. They're not new. Where are your nice, very expensive glasses? They're broken. They're at your opticians. No, they're being fixed. It's totally fine. But these are my old extras. Yeah.

And I am not joking, everywhere I have gone. Yeah. Everyone's like, you've got new glasses. They're quite jazzy. They're not jazzy at all. They're like my old, you know, whatever's. And everyone's like, I love your glasses. Yeah, they're giving sexy secretary.

Well, okay, but my outfit is. No, the outfit isn't. Just from the neck up. Sexy secretary. Put a business suit on and you're there. I don't want to be a sexy secretary. I don't want to be a secretary. I don't even think I can be bothered to be sexy.

Either one is not working for me right now. Okay. Okay, that's fine. That is fine. If you've got something to share about being a sexy secretary or not, please let us know, email us. Hello at 40ish.com.com. Or you can DM us on the old Instagram that I can use.

Right, tell me, I can see on the script. Yeah. You know, when we write in for segment one, what is our most fortage thing? Yours is absolutely thrilling. And also leave such an air of mystery about it. I cannot wait to dive into this meaty, meaty, meaty dovet. I can tell you what it is. I can't wait.

Listen, listeners, settle in, get a cup of tea. And I tell you something, just put your life on pause for the next 10 minutes because you will not be the same person after this second. For the next six minutes, you will not be the same person after. I'm going to be 48 in two weeks time. And yesterday when I got home, Ollie said, oh, I went to M&S for lunch and I got some of the bits. You know, like they do those mixed pots of various antipasti. And he always comes home. So just Adam.

And you know what? They never get eaten. And also he doesn't choose like the best ones. He's like, oh, I bought this whole pot of the calamari. I'm like, I don't like the calamari. Maybe he chooses the ones he likes. Yeah, but he doesn't eat them. So then he's like, here, you can have them all.

And I look at them and like, oh, we should. Anyway, he bought these little mozzarella balls covered in pesto, the calamari and then some other salami cheese thing. That was great. Love that. See, I'm not down with any of those. I know you're not. But I sort of started snacking on it because, you know, it was there. And I realized, I am nearly 48 years old.

And all this time. Randy, everyone. You ready, it is coming. Don't like Pesto. I know why it's taken me nearly 48 years to admit this to myself and the world, but I think I don't really like Pesto. So when I... I feel like I've been gaslit into Pesto being this great thing.

Oh, chicken with Pesto, oh, pasta with Pesto. I think I don't really like it. So why am I still eating it? And I was eating these little mozzarella balls covered in green Pesto. And I was eating them thinking, I don't really like this. And no one's even here like watching me eat it or making me eat it or encouraging me to eat it. I'm not getting paid to eat it. Why am I eating it?

I don't want to eat pasta anymore. That's it. That's my most 40-ish thing. Because I don't have to. No. So why am I? That's not a 40-ish thing. I just feel like.

I think the 40-ish thing, let's break it down a little bit more. Yeah. The 40-eat, I'm not sure it's worth the analysis. Let's try and make a segment out of this. Yeah. Do you like Pesto? You know, I really do like Pesto. Do you? I'm following up, every time I eat Pesto, I'm the opposite. I think, I honestly think, I don't eat it as more, do you?

That's so weird. I actually love Pesto. Do you like red pasta? And when I'm on holiday, yeah, is the weirdest thing. I only do this on holiday, I order a Pesto pasta with like sun dried tomatoes. It is like my favorite thing to eat. in the sun, like of an evening. I know what you mean. Like at an Italian restaurant and you're outside. But I can have that in London. You really can't get in your kitchen.

I could also make it. Very easy. It's like a really easy thing to make. Do you like red pesto? I like all pesto. Okay. I like all pesto. I especially don't like red pesto.

Okay. I just, you know what? I'm just not eating it anymore. I think this is good for you. So if we can turn this into a 40-a-stice. thing. Yeah. Because that's the show.

Yeah. Yeah. Actually, what I like about this for you is the realization that I don't have to do things that I don't want to do anymore. But also, it's not like anyone's making my meals for me and I sit there eating them under duress or like because someone's made them for me. I'm making the meals myself. Yeah.

I'm in charge. But how often do you really make pesto? Well, for the kids maybe once a week. Kids. But I wouldn't eat it. Max is 22. I don't make it for him. He's out and doing his own thing. You know, like if Josh is on half-time lunch.

And he's got kids and he's got friends over. Yeah, and I'll be like, what do you want for lunch? Pasta Pesto. And I'll make pasta Pesto. But I didn't make it like for us for dinner. Because that is because no. Why? Because you don't like it.

Yeah. Yeah, but a chicken and Pesto pasta. Anyway. Anyway, that's it. Okay. What's yours? I mean, I know what yours is. Oh, God.

I found it quite interesting. We had a Zoom call this morning. And the woman that we were on the Zoom call with, she looked at you and she said, I was a bit taken aback by that. She said every time I see you. Every time I meet you and every time I see you, because we've had quite a few meetings with her and lunch.

We're doing a talk in June for them. So we're hosting this stage for them at the Every Woman Festival, which is going to be in Islington in London. Yeah. But we've had lunch with her and we've had meetings with her at various times, haven't we? I've met her many, many times. And I said, oh, what are we going to wear? And she said, well, I know what you're going to wear, Nicole.

And I said, what am I going to wear? She goes, you're going to wear leopard print because I've never seen you not wear leopard print. Yeah. Hello, I'm in leopard print. Yeah. And you were like, what? That's mortifying. And I came to your defence.

And I was like, well, excuse me, but we all know leopard print is a neutral. By the way. Yeah. Thank you for jumping to my defence. You're welcome. I like, A, I didn't need it. I didn't feel attacked or anything. You were being print-changed.

Just before we dive into your dilemma, we're not doctors or healthcare professionals. If there's an issue, you're seriously struggling with. Please contact a qualified expert. Hi, ladies. As you are both a similar age to me, I wanted your opinion on the thumbs up emoji. I actually have a lot, a lot to say about this.

I've just been told my 16-year-old, I've just been told by my 16-year-old that is the sort of passive, aggressive way of fobbing people off or dismissing them. I don't know why I'm listening to someone who can't manage to bring a plate or mug down from their bedroom as they are hardly the high priestess of manners. But I use the thumbs-up emoji at the time. I use it to acknowledge that I've seen and understood the message. Example.

I'll be there in 10 minutes. Thumbs up. I've booked the table at 8pm. Thumbs up. This is normal, right? I know I could do what the hell I want. You can. and give thumbs up all over the place.

But I'm just curious if it's a generational thing, thanks Megan. Okay. You use the thumbs up emoji a lot. Yeah. It's an absolute standard. I have read your message and I am acknowledging your message and that is okay with me. Thumbs up. And also I was taught by somebody that the yellow thumbs up is the most politically correct.

thumb. Don't do a white, even though I am a Caucasian person, don't do the white person thumb because that could be like white supremacist. And obviously I can't do a black person thumb because I am not a black person. But if you do the yellow thumb, that is the most politically correct thumb colour. So I used to do a white thumb, but I learnt. Now I do a yellow thumbs up. And I think absolutely normal standard. It's really normal. No? No. No. No. No. No. Or the face says no. You have a bit of a habit that if you do it, apparently it's normal.

What do you mean? That is like totally your default mode of everything. I do it. It's normal. Isn't it normal? I think it would be better if we're really getting into the grassroots of it. I think it would be better if I send you a message saying, I'll meet you there. Yeah.

Rather than you. Thumbs up. Thumbs up on a separate message. I think it would be better. to reply to that message with a thumbs up. Oh, so not like... So it's not a message, but it's a response to the message.

So I can't thumbs up on the same message, like as an emoji response. You can't thumbs up on a separate message. Do I? Yeah. You don't respond to the message with a thumbs up. Oh, I give a separate thumbs up as a separate message. I can see how that's a bit middle-aged.

I can see that. It's immensely middle-aged. Okay, but you know why I do that? Because often people will respond to a message I've sent with an emoji on the message and I completely miss it. I never see it. So I just don't know if they've seen it, not seen it. You know, that's why.

I had a go at my friend Sarah the other day because she only responds with emojis to the previous message. Right. Right. She's a very busy woman. She runs to schools. She's got a lot going on. So I get it. She doesn't got time to write a novel.

She hasn't got time to like reply back. Yeah, yeah, can't wait to see you, kiss, kiss and all that. She just doesn't have time. So she responds with that. I said to her, you know what would be nice, seeing as you are one of my best friends. It would be nice if occasionally you could actually send a response. So she did a thumbs up. No, she didn't.

She didn't. And now we laugh and joke about it. So I was only ever getting emojis on the message. Okay. You, I never get that. And I feel like there's a middle ground somewhere. It's weird how people text, isn't it? Everyone has a certain style.

So I took a straw poll of a group of 13 year old boys last night about the thumbs up emoji. I said, let me ask you all a question, boys. What do you think of the thumbs up emoji? They were like, what do you mean? I said, do you think it's passive aggressive and middle aged? Or do you think it's just a normal way of responding? And they said, it's completely standard. And I said, okay, I feel really good about it.

this because I was waiting for them to say, oh my God, like only old people do thumbs of midges. But they didn't say that. And they all understood what passive aggressive meant, which I also was impressed with. That's good. I feel like should we be taking advice from 13 year old boys?

Probably not. Well, they do have their finger on the pulse of what is cool. Well, what is cool for them? Not cool for you. As you have pointed out, you're about to turn 48. Yeah. I feel like you should maybe up your market research.

I want to be down with the kids. No, you don't want to be down with the kids. I do want to be down with the kids. You don't. You can't even get on Spotify. I don't tell them that. They think I'm cool. I think it's quite controversial this issue. And it depends who you're asking. By the way, it does notify you. Like if you're on a group Yeah. And someone responds to your message with a thumbs up. See, I really appreciate that because it's not another message. So if someone's responded to my message, I will get notified.

Yeah. Oh, okay. So if you and I are on the same group, right, and I write, hi everyone, lets me at eight. Yeah. And then someone responds to it with a thumbs up. Yeah. You won't see that.

I'll see that. So it doesn't notify everyone. It notifies me, which I think is good. I didn't know that. Because it reduces notifications. What emojis do you not like and won't use? Someone did a shot in Paddle the other day. It was the most annoying shot.

It was good, but it was annoying. And I said, if that was an emoji, it would be an eye roll. And everyone burst out laughing. You laughing. You weren't there. Because that's not why you're laughing, is it? You're not laughing at the joke, are you? You're taking the utterance.

in your head. I don't even need to hear it. I don't even need to hear it. Don't be me. She's being mean without even being me. Go on. Go on. I just was enjoying that.

You were very pleased with your stuff, weren't you? Even though they won't the point. I'll tell you which one I don't like. This one. Because I always think it's sarcastic. I don't think anyone ever does the round of applause emoji in a serious way. But this one, the praising with the hands up in the air with the left.

lines up. I like that one. You've never used that in your entire life. I have. No, you have. To who? I don't, I mean, I would have to scroll through. To who? Sometimes I use it. Not to me. No, I will sometimes use it on Instagram. If I see something I like as a response to the post, I'll do that. Like, yeah. But I would never do that because that is sarcastic as fuck. You are not a big emoji. You've got a bit better over the years, but you're not. I think I'm okay in it. You're not, you don't use it. You don't. You don't. You don't. You use your words like an adult. I do use my words.

I use emojis a lot. Okay. Don't you think? I sometimes will use the to the side laughing, crying one. Sometimes. I mean, it's rare. It has to be really funny. It is, it is.

Well, we were both wetting ourselves laughing on text the other night. We were, but I did actually say to you in words, I am crying and then I think I said, you please stop, I'm going to wet my band. Yes, you did. You see you use your words. I used my, because there isn't a wet my pants image. Would it? There should be.

There should be. Maybe there is. I don't think there is. But you could have just used the laughing. I think I did. I think I did. Or sometimes you probably never do this. But sometimes you do a laughing emoji.

And you're like, you've done a laughing emoji and you're not even smiling. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. What's that about? I don't know. I think everyone does that. They're texting and they're like laughing, laughing emoji, crying, laughing emoji. But actually their face is completely strange. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what I'm going to...

I quite like the wink emoji. I tell you what one I seem to be using a lot is the face with the tears down both eyes. That's very sad, like crying my eyes out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why are you using that? Why is so sad? Because I'm in fucking perimenopause. What do you want from my life? Like, things are hard. You've never seen that image.

I'm having surgery next week. You are. I'm having surgery this week. You are. That's not what my meltdown is. It should be. My meltdown, well it isn't. So wait.

My meltdown is this. Yeah. My meltdown is that you just turned around to me just before we started recording and say, oh, I think I'm going to record a 40-ish with James next week and you'll find it really funny. And I'm just like, I actually don't think I will find that very funny.

I will have total fomo. And it's not like you were asking me if I'm okay with it. You're just telling me that I have to be okay with it. I'm like, who's going to fucking edit it? it then? I'm not editing it. James said he'll edit it. He did. He did. James was very keen on this. James was he coming in. James was very keen on this idea. He was very keen. Because the thing is, you are going to be understandably out of action for a couple of weeks. So we sort of planned to, well, not record or put out some old shows. And then this morning, I was getting ready to come in

the studio and you were like, oh, I feel so unwell. And I've got a terrible cold. And I thought, my God, I'm going to have to interview this doctor all on my own. And then I can't do a 40-ish on my own, because how weird would that be? And then I was thinking about Mel Robbins, when she does her shows alone and how they're a little bit boring. And I thought, imagine if I had to do 40-ish on my own. How weird. You wouldn't do a 40-ish on your own, would you?

And then I thought, hang on, James is here. I thought, I wonder how that would be doing a 40-ish with James. I think it would be, the fun for you would be like, it would be like actually listening to a podcast. Do you know what I mean? No, what it would be is listening to my own podcast. podcast and I've been replaced and that is what it would be and I would have FOMO and what if everyone, all the audience suddenly, all our listeners prefer James. They won't. Well, what if

they do? But they won't. But what if they do? You know they won't. What is. James can do a good meltdown. I mean, I've never heard anyone ran like James can rant and on and on and on and on and on. Listen, we have to see how I don't know. It might not work at all. How much as my meltdown is, you were very, very, very quick to replace me. I'm not even. and haven't even had the fucking anaesthetic yet and I'm out the fucking door. I have already made you soup. I'm already fully prepared.

I've already bought a track suit the same as you to convales with you. I am so ready for your operation and convalescence. I'm all over that shit. And I'm trying to keep our business going. Listen, it might be an utter failure. We don't know. I'm a little nervous.

James. It's going to be weird. The listeners might not like it. I'll get him out for a segment right now. Shall we try? James? I don't think he's here. That's interesting.

He might not even turn up next week. So, you know. Anyway, wouldn't you feel upset? No, I actually would love to listen to an episode of Fortage with you and James. I would dog walk and listen to it and I would chuckle along and then I would send you both a laughing emoji. What's your meltdown? The price of birthday cards. Oh, they are a fucking hell.

To the point. Right, I refuse to buy them now. What? You better buy me one. What are you going to make your own? If you made your own, I would love that. No, I just think, am I... Four pounds. I know. Four pounds. I know.

What the hellie? And also, like, you open it, you read it and then you put it to the side and then what do you do with it? And then you leave it up for like three days and you chuck it away. What the hellie? And also, every... It's bad for the trees. Every single person I know is born. between February the 9th and March the 5th.

Like everybody, I have 11 birthdays including my own. That's not true because Ollie's, your kids are in January. Ollis is in December. Yeah, but all my friends I have to buy cards for. You don't have to buy a card for me. But I already bought you a card. I know. I ordered your card on Moon Pig.

It was a John Hamm card. You were already included in the birthday card. I'm just saying February, I feel like I spend all my money all. on birthday cards and gifts. It's all I do. And there are a lot. And also, while we're on the subject

of spending too much money, my stinking dog. She still stink. She fucking stinks. She's still stings. I've decided I'm going to, one last attempt, taking her to the groomers.

I said that weeks ago. I've never, weeks ago. She's never been to the groomers before. I said it weeks ago. She's going to have what's called, and I can't believe this is a thing. A puppy groom.

No, much worse than that. It's called. An intimate hygiene groom Back to the nunis They trim around the nun Basically they're trimming They're not trimming No no with scissors

With scissors No I know But they're not like You know Fragrancing No They're gonna bath her And trim her

Do you know what it costs You but she's not You but she's a big dog So I would imagine Right Miley Cost 55 pounds She is six and a half kilos I could literally do her in my sink

Miley Yeah No you could not I can bath her You could bath her You couldn't cut her. She has a very intricate haircut if you don't mind. Dream of putting scissors towards that dog.

She always looks perfect. Does she not? Always looks perfect. She's the immaculate bob lady in dog form. She is. Short legs. Yeah. Shorter, fluffy legs.

Shorter around the body. It's bobbed. Exactly like you. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Well, anyway, Bieber's probably about 100 quid because she's enormous. She's 75 quid.

I thought that was extortionate. Barkerone used to cost me 55. Yeah, but they used to shave him. Yeah, but that's very easy. You get a razor and you zip him all over. That's what I mean. Yeah, exactly. Oh, so now I've got this princess.

Yes. I've got to have this whole scissoring business. Yes. My God. I mean, the poos, like the cavapoos, the cocapoos, they have to have a proper haircut. They don't have to have a proper haircuts. My friend's got an English sheep dog. Yeah.

He's 110 pounds. What? A month. He's enormous. I mean, he looks divine. Like a dream. I'm sure he does. 110 pounds.

But I was thinking it's 75 pounds to sleep with a dog that doesn't stink. And then this morning, Ollie said to me, I actually now think Bieber's doing it on purpose. He said last night while you were asleep, she was asleep next to you upside down, legs spayed. He's like, she basically just had her whole ninnie in your face while you were asleep. He's like, it's no wonder. You can't bear the smell. I can't bear it. So let's hope it's, if it does the trick, it's 75 pounds worth spending.

Let's see. I mean, I did say that weeks ago. I still think it's a hormone thing. But anyway, I'm annoyed at the cost of cards and the cost of grooming. That's my meltdown. The cost of living. That cosy lives. Yeah.

What's the listeners meltdown? There's two this week. I'll do the short one first. After Nicole mentioned the Maltese are bunnies. I wanted to say that I am shocked at the price of mini eggs. Sorry, but £5 for a mediocre sized bag is a total liberty. And you get about 12 in there. 23.

You get 23 eggs. How do you know that? Because someone was writing about it online the other day. 23 eggs. Have you counted them? No, I haven't counted them because as I've said last week, it is February. I'm not buying Easter eggs. But that is, can I just tell you, you cut your nose off to spite your face.

Firstly, you've done this twice now in this conversation. What if I got to look forward to in April if I'm buying them in February? Why have you got to look forward to it now and enjoy it in April and enjoy it? and enjoy it in March. What are you stopping yourself from having joy for? It's like you no one's allowed to have a bit of tinsel in November. No, no, no. Like, God forbid it.

No. Any tinsel reaches Lauren before December the 1st and it's apparently a cardinal. Ooh! A mic, a microphone. A cardinal sin. Yeah, I can't bear. Christmas before. But get over it.

Just get over it. Everyone wants Easter now. Everyone wants spring now. Just get over it. Just let people enjoy themselves. You're so impatient. So what? You're so impatient.

For the Easter to come along. No, I just like a mini egg. But not a five pounds a bag. Well, I mean, I still like a mini egg. I still like a mini egg. I'm sorry, the speckled eggs and M&S are not the same. They're not the same. They're not the same because the shell doesn't taste the same.

It's too crunchy. And it's too thick. Agreed. It doesn't melt on your mouth. There's something about that cabri, matte-colored egg that is just... They're not speckled. They are slightly.

Or they're just pastel. They're just pastel. And then you put it just pastel. and then you put it in your mouth and you suck and it like just they're very thin shell dissipates yeah beautiful i agree how much you're on now i mean i do love them yeah come on i do love i do love we could go we could go halvesies that's two pound fifty a bag you but then we only get how many's ten and a half ten and a half each eleven and a half eleven and a half thank you it's my math brilliant your mass is terrible oh my mass is shocking i didn't believe you

shocking you do our accounts i know it's all right i do triple check everything because it's so shocking. Josh's math has been better than mine since he was about 10. Okay, let's have another one. You read it. I need a rant, please. I have three children and a dog. Oh, it's you.

It's not me, but... They're all driving me mad. The weather's been truly awful. I think we're on something like day 42 of consecutive rain. Do you know, I heard on the news that it has been the wettest winter ever recorded or something like that? Has it? Something like that.

And there has not been one day where rain has not been... present since the beginning of the year at somewhere in the country. It has been very wet. It's vile. The park is just a mud pit. The rain is horizontal. Horizontal? Oh, and my garden has been ruined.

My youngest is refusing to potty train despite months of teaching him. I'm still cleaning up poo pants multiple times a day. He's going through the terrible twos and refuses to do almost anything. The high-pitched screaming and constant tantrums are just wearing me out. The dog now has some kind of gastric thing and is shitting all over. Oh, my God. All over the place. the whole house has been ill on and off since beginning of December.

D&V. What's D&V? Diary and vomiting. Colds. Hand foot and mouth. Temperature bugs. It's relentless. Every morning.

I'm woken in the dark at 6am to get more rain. I know. The dark. Howling wind and a lunatic toddler. I'm bloody exhausted. I just want some good weather for everyone to be well. This has felt like a very long time, a very miserable winter. You're like some kind of medieval peasant.

Give me something hopeful. and positive, please, thank you, Annie. Oh, Annie. Well, you know what, Annie? I tell you what's hopeful and positive. A fucking mini-egg. I know what she should do. You be quiet.

According to you, she's not even allowed that little pleasure. Right, listeners, I'm not around for the next couple of weeks. So bear with, apparently I've been replaced. So let's see how that goes. He'll be good at the meltdowns that I can tell you. And he does like to lecture. So I'm worried it's going to be like I'm going to get a lot of lectures lectures yeah about how I can't feel that way about things like he'll tell me that I'm

wrong for not liking Pesto and then he'll give me 26 reasons why I should like Pestoy. And it will all be on the tip of his tongue. And also what does he know about the perimenopause? His wife is so young. Yeah, she's much too young. She doesn't have to deal with this stuff yet. It's true.

None of that's hit him yet. But he is 44. But he's not in menopause. No. I'm sorry to tell you. He is middle-aged. I can't talk to him about chin hair. I can't talk to him about periods.

I can't talk to him about nunis, especially. I'm going to have to keep it very PG. So it's not going to be easy. You can't talk to him about Jacob Lordy or John Hamm. I can't. See? I think it's going to be quite restrictive. Listen, I don't think it is because he does not shut up.

He doesn't shut up. And then he came in before and said, what should we do a podcast about? So if you're listening to this and you want to let us know, do you think me, Lauren and James should start a podcast about? Yeah. What would you like to hear about? What more would you like to hear about? Or less.

Or less, yeah. Yeah. I would like to say good luck for your operation. Thank you. I should be thinking of you. You're going to be with me, aren't you? Not in the operating theatre, no. But once you're out there.

You will be, you will come over, won't you? I will come over in my track suit with my soup and my laptop. You will come over in your tracksuit. I know you will. And I'll put mine on and then we'll take a photo. Oh, it's going to be such fun. Oh, the post-operative laughs we're going to have. Oh, it's okay.

I'm going to feel a lot better once it's done. Yes, you are. Listen, listeners, normal service will resume. Bear with in the meantime, who knows what's going to happen? What I do. I'm going to come back. I'm going to come back with a lot less reproductive organs than I'm currently sitting with. That's what I, that's what's going to happen.

happen. And apparently I'm going to be better off for it. You are. Yes, you are. Well, I'll be back in a few weeks. Lauren apparently has got replacements lined up all over the place. So you enjoy 40-ish without me and please make sure you miss me. Thank you.