Podcrushed - Extra Credit: Your Stories (Buchanan Twins)

Episode Date: November 27, 2023

Is there such a thing as twin telepathy? Find out on this week's extra credit YOUR STORY episode, featuring listeners and twins Nahja and Nahjeniq Buchanan. Nahja and Nahjeniq share about their twin hijinks in middle school, establishing their own identity separate from being a twin and tapping into their twin intuition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And I remember, like, looking him in the eyes, and I literally, like, screamed body murder. I was like, you stouted me. And he was like, no. I was like, yeah, it's a step. Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did. It's right here. It's in my leg.

You did it. Welcome to Pod Crushed. If you're here, you know, it's Pod Crush. What you may or may not know at this point is that you're listening to a listener episode, a bonus listener episodes, where people just like you, who, again, are in all likelihood, not you exactly, are talking to us. And we're interviewing them hearing about their stories, whether it's coming of age or otherwise formative. If you're a listener, you might know, we like to dial into the depths.

most of the stories we got this season, our listener submissions, were so intense. So sad. So devastating. We want, yeah, they were, they were, they were, they were, a lot of death. Yeah, it was just a lot of, and I mean, for that reason, we thought, hmm, there's some kind of unifying feature here that we want to name, that we want to touch on. This one was decidedly not that.

It was just sort of warm and light and uplifting and involves a mechanical pencil which evidently animated me more than I've been animated the entirety of podgrushed. We have for you, Naja and Najanique Buchanan. They are twins. So that's pretty interesting. I have a question going into this interview

which is, does twin tuition kick in when your twin get stabbed. And that is a great example of the lightest story you'll hear from hard crush listeners. Let's find out. Stick around. Does anyone else ever get that nagging feeling that their dog might be bored? And do you also feel like super guilty about it?

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slash podcrushed Hey, it's Lena Waithe. Legacy Talk is my love letter to black storytellers, artists who've changed the game and paved the way for so many of us. This season, I'm sitting down with icons like Felicia Rashad, Loretta Vine,

Eva Du Renée, and more. We're talking about their journeys, their creative process, and the legacies they're building every single day. Come be a part of the conversation. Season 2 drops July 29th. Listen to legacy talk wherever you get your podcast or watch us on YouTube my name is nausea Buchanan and my name is Najeeq Buchanan as you could tell we're identical

with sisters we live in New York City specifically in like Washington Heights we're 24 cool yeah and we're best friends been best friends like since the womb yeah we're I mean we're just lucky enough to be one of the twins that are super close we have a lot of the same interest and everything. So I've been very helpful. I'm going to be around a lot as we were kids that would always have an instant best friend. Great. Well, tell us, tell us some stories. Tell us some middle school adventures. This is, like, the story I like to tell everybody when people ask about, like, you know, everyone jokes about, like, twins lepathy. And, like, yes, that's a thing. Like, we've always

been connected since we were kids, like, in our own special language. As children, like, you can see that in our, like, little videos. Like, we're, like, literally talking about nothing, but we're, like, laughing like it doesn't make any sense to anyone but us like our dad's totally us and we're like yeah like making jokes yeah i think i want to say we were in fifth grade maybe six let's go ahead and say six just a little more on brand yeah sorry let's say six right um and yeah so upstate new york in obni that's where we were born okay the capital Aubrey's only claim to fame. No, seriously.

I have the only thing you say. I got that's cool. And they're soon going to be claiming the Buchanan sisters. But yes, Omidy. And basically what happened was there was like a, you know, like those school fairs that always happened where they have, you know, the pencils, the erasers. You had me until you said pencils and eraser. I was like school fair.

Yeah. Great. Yeah. And then you said. Well, like the school like three and like once, like a little. Fairbury lunch that they had. I'm so sorry. So, like, buy, like, cute little pencils. And is that what you're talking about?

Fair sounded, like, way too cool from those. Yeah. Not like the fairest wheel. Like a checkout stand. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, gosh. So, yeah.

And I was, like, obsessed with mechanical pencils. Like, I think I, like, just discovered them at that time. I was like, oh, my God. They were amazing. These are so cool. Right? Yes. I'm totally with you.

Yeah. Yes. Exactly. We got to. I was, like, begging to my mom to, like, give me cash. She spoke goodbye. I like, one of mechanical pensions, and she finally gave in. And I was, like, walking out of the lunchroom.

And I was, like, so happy. I was like, I can't wait to, like, write some notes with these things. And I was going to walk to get out of the lunchroom. Like, this kid, like, runs around the corner and, like, slams into me. And he, like, falls down on the ground, like, but I'm, like, I'm, like, taken aback. Like, it's definitely wind knocked out of me. Like, he was running at full speed, but I didn't fall down. But, like, I was in shock.

And I was like, whoa, what's going on? I'm assessing my surroundings. And then I looked down. A mechanical pencil went through my leg. Oh, I knew this was going to happen. Because I always feared, they're so sharp. They're so sharp. And I remember, like, looking him in the eyes, and I literally, like, screamed body murder.

I was like, you stoutgy. And he was like, no. I was like, yeah, he was just. Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did it's right here. It's in my leg. You did it. I was in so much shock and I literally just pulled it out.

I didn't feel anything, but then like I was like, oh, that was bad. So just kept that in there. Because blood was going everywhere? Yes. It was like everywhere. Okay, the first layer of skin is actually quite deep. Again. Oh, my God.

It's quite deep. Where is there like a little crowd forming? Like how, what is happening in your surroundings as you're like pulling a pencil out of your leg and like gushing blood? Yeah, so after I I love this story After I screamed to bloody murder Then like all these teachers were coming out of their classrooms

I like to describe it as like a SWAT team coming down Wow And like monster's egg With like Yes Yes And everyone was like circling me And I was like

It was him This show for He did this I didn't do this On my other end of the world I'm at recess you know hanging out not just always with me at recess so I was like

okay she hasn't come out I was like then after a while like she didn't come up and I was like freaking out for some reason I don't know why I was freaking out but I think I just like felt that something was wrong so like during a whole recess I was just outside like probably like just sad walking around all my was your leg tingling

it was not my thigh was not tingling but I just I really do remember feeling like really weird like I was like oh my gosh like I don't know something's off like I just feels like something's wrong. I remember I was like telling my friends that. And then as soon as I got back in for recess, like a teacher pulled me aside. And they're like, so yeah, like your sister's been like stabs in the leg. Oh my God. Yeah. Then the boy was the guy I had a super big crush on that you had a crush on.

Yeah. That I had a huge crush on. Yes. And then everyone knew that. So like for like at least two weeks, they were like, you're a crush, like, sister. And also, like, he always was, I was like super shy. I've always been like super shy. So he was like, giving me attention that week because he was like, I'm so sorry. I was like, yeah, you are. You're like, this is the best thing that's happened to me. For those who can't see, Nogynik actually just

like sort of folded her hair behind her ears. She's like, yeah, yeah, no. Yeah, yeah, you are. Natjinnik stuck a pen in her sister's other side. She's like, well, this is now I was going to go. Sorry, sis. Take one for the team. And I was like, I had to, like, fully walk around and, like, crutches.

Like, wow. Oh, it was really bad. Yeah. I went to the doctor that day, and they had to, like, numb my leg because, sorry, this might be a little bit, like, gruesome. But, like, the skin was coming in my leg. Like, it wasn't out. So they had to, like, take it out.

I was like, oh, wow, this is, like, terrible. But I remember, like, walking around in crutches in gym class, and then your crush was in my gym class. And so all of her friends that were my mom. friends were like giving him like the stained guy and they were like you did this look at what you did she's walking out of your crutches listen i have i have a similar story i once had a mechanical mechanical pencil in my pocket but the penny end up and i stuck my hand in there and it jammed underneath my thumb not enough there's no blood it just really hurt oh similar similar

similar stories yeah yeah i think we're all in the we're all in the wheelhouse like ballpark-ish Yeah, and I remember, here, this is how it went. I stuck it in. I was like, ow! Thank you. Acting. Yeah, acting. Just like that.

Wow, we just got a private performance from pen back. And then I stuck my thumb. And then a whole bunch of people crowded around you. That's you're okay. Yeah, but there was just to ask for pictures. It had nothing to do with the mechanical pencil. Okay, so that was an example of Najanik, having intuition about Najan. Is that accurate?

Naja, have you ever had intuition about Najanik? See it? In middle school, it was just very emotional. Yeah. And I was not. I was like the cool girl, I would like to say. Wait, I love that. And it stuck.

Because when you first introduced yourself, you're like, I'm Naja. This is a Najc. And we're cool. Pretty cool. Yep. I was really, I was really, yeah. I was just into the gossip. She was just very quiet.

Yeah. Got good grades. Kept her head down. I'm like the opposite. But I feel like I would just always know. I would always don't. if she was having a bad day, I'd be like, oh, where is she? And then, like, oh, she went to the guidance council to talk about her from.

Like, no friends. Talk about her. It was. Honestly, I think I literally had to. In middle school, I don't know why I was just so shy and afraid all the time that, like, they were like, you need friends. Like, I remember we had, like, we had her fort guards and her report guard came back and it was like, not just a social butterfly.

Like, she's, she's doing well with that. But, like, she used to, like, focus on her schoolwork. And then, like, my report card. And they're like, she's doing well, like, straight A's. They're like, she used to, like, talk to people. I mean, so were you in different social circles then? Or, like, it sounds like maybe. We were, I think, I think we just.

We didn't have a circle at all. He wasn't going to say it. She had a line. She had, like, just one for me to my sister. Yeah. It was A to B. That was it. We had the same social circles, but it was also like, I just talked more. Yeah.

Like, you were there. Yeah. Like, like, she always had a log and thing. Also known as listening. That's right. Hey, you know what? Thank you. Thank you.

Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back. All right. So let's just real talk, as they say, for a second. That's a little bit of an aged thing to say now. That dates me, doesn't it? But no, real talk. How important is your health to you?

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Oh, absolutely. Yeah, I hated that idea. There are people would be like, oh, if I'm talking to you, like, your sister doesn't need to hear it because, like, she could hear it. And I was like, huh? What is this? We're not literally telepathic. And I was like, right? Or they're just like, no, you're the same person, so I don't like need to sell it to her.

And I was like, yeah. We like love comedy. Like, we love joking around. But like, I cannot stand a twin joke. I'm like that is below the belt. Do you guys, did you guys ever do twin hijinks, like taking each other's spots, drinking people? Navi, you're one of the few people who would actually say hi jinks. I just want to say.

I like it. Hyjinks is cool. Yes, we did. we never did it like for like school in the sense of like taking test or anything like that we had an honor code again we drew the line at testing test through over also i know i just could never take her test because she would always do better than me anyway so it's like not like i'd be benefiting her in any way yeah but yeah we've switched like during like lunch periods like in middle school there was like you had to sit with your class and so we did our parents dressed us very

similarly back then still like maybe not exactly same outfit but it's like oh same type of coat or same type of shirt but different color like that kind of thing. So we were like oh yeah let's just like switch tops and then I'm gonna sit with your class you use with mine and like we got like through the whole lunch period we're like ah like no one noticed

like that's cool and then like we noticed like our group of teachers like in the corner like staring at us like hmm things off here they're like come here for a second sensing some hygiene such quick

and they're like are you Like asking me, like with you, like, are you, Dachanita? I was like, yeah. Then they're like, that was pretty cool. That was pretty cool. Like that's kind of finding you. You got us, you got it. Stop it again, though.

But you got it. She got it. That's cool. That's really cute. I would love for that to have, for some reason, needing to happen when you were like in the hospital. And then, and then, Dachanik, you're just like, all right, I'm going to do it. You take one of those extra mechanical pencils. Okay, on three.

No, I got this. I got this. I got you, sis. I got you. Okay, no, just do it, just do it. Anyway, I'm glad that you didn't have to do that. Naginique, when you took your sisters, when you swapped, did you push yourself to talk more? Was it easier to, like, be outgoing, pretending to be your sister?

That's a good question. Probably was. It was fun doing that anytime we did that. Even, like, we did it in classes one time, just like a normal, like normal, not without a test or anything like that. We just switched classes and I was like, this fun. Like, I do remember, like, being in her desk, like, okay, yeah, I'm pretending. But I was, like, doing that stuff.

I think that's like why I like acting if it's so wait um is because of that so you switched classes for an entire day like as a like as part of your hygiene uh no we switched like I switched like maybe like like two periods two periods too period that is that is that is good to feel people for that long in middle school I remember we had totally different teachers so some of them didn't know that I had a twin or that we were twin so they thought we were like changing clothes about the day anyway they were like just like my outfit change like that's always happened. And we've moved around so much. And that always happened where teachers like, hey, weren't you doing this? Weren't wearing this before? Or right, I think someone told me that you're a twin. And it's been like four months at the school or something. They're like, I don't even like change and clothes throughout the day. I always says that like, oh, I thought you just switched your outfit.

I'm like, that makes more sense to you that I like having outfit changes throughout the day rather than I have a twin sister. Okay. It was interesting. But that's what a thing like forever. Like still to this day, people are like, oh my gosh, I saw you wearing something else. I'm like, yes, that was my twin. Yeah. What's the social situation like now? Do you feel like you still do everything together or do you have your own circles? Again, I think we have our own circles. It's just that we're

close to. They're going to meet each other and then we're all friends usually. I don't know. But yeah, we have our own experiences and everything, totally separate jobs. We live together. But it's just like our day of days are completely different. So but yeah, just like super close. I mean, we went to the city together and everything. So like instant best friend always. So that's always been helpful in family we eat. Armand, let's to say, you have a built-in best friend. Yeah.

Yeah. That's so nice. Can we go back to this, can we just go back to this idea of intuition just a little bit? It's like this, as we're calling it, twin tuition. Oh, gosh, twin tuition. Copyright podcast. You've gotten this before, now.

People calling it twin tuition. No, actually. I think you guys are the first people to say twid tuition. Oh, my gosh. Tithelopathy. Pinned this. Gotta do it.

Just share a little bit about like what it's been like growing up and having this sense of, because we here at Pod Crush, we very much appreciate the faculty of intuition. We're, you know, we're also spiritual people. And we, you know, this, this idea that all human beings can be very finely tuned to one another. It's, it's even becoming a proven scientific reality anyway. You know, just whatever that connection is that you're describing at this invisible connection. Like, for me personally, like, I, like, even now, like, and as adults like I could be having a great day like a really good day and then I can just tell um

like she might be like just having like I don't know like something might have happened I don't know yet but my energy will be completely off like once I like get back to the apartment or something and I'll be like oh okay like something's off like I don't know I'm feeling me right now and then I'll go to her and be like hey did you have like what happened today like are you okay like I feel like and then you know usually it's like oh yeah da da da da da da this happened and I'm like yeah because I was feeling pretty good a moment ago, but now, like, kind of feel low. And, like, honestly, it's a benefit because having someone that, like, knows everything about you is, like, one of the best things ever, you know, sometimes you can't find that

in a friend. And so it's been great my whole life to have someone who just, like, knows me inside now all the time. Yeah, even if I try to, like, not tell her something, I'm like, it's like, I maybe can go a day without telling her something. Like, if I try to be like, you know what, I'm going to keep a secret. This was embarrassing. And then I'm like, and then the next day, I'm like, I have to tell you something.

I'm like, I knew it. I was feeling so embarrassed all day, and I didn't do anything wrong. But the energy is off. The energy is off. The ones you're describing have been a little bit, you're like, why do I feel different? Like, have you ever, as you've gotten older, have you been able to think in the moment, like, maybe this is not so much my own feeling. Maybe this is a feeling of my sisters.

Yes. Oh, yeah. That happened recently. I forgot what was going on with me. I was having like a really normal day. And then I was just like, it's starting to get suckier. I was like, I feel like, I don't know, my energy was going down. I was like, I was just like, I don't care.

I was like, but I was like, I started out today fine. But I was like, now I just feel like so blazé. I don't feel like great. And I was like, I'm going to go home and ask. Because I think it's, I was like, I'm pretty sure it's whatever happened to you. I was like, let me see, like, however day went. Because I think that's why I'm feeling like weird. And it was accurate.

Yeah, usually. I mean I would say it essentially always is That's amazing You have to be Perfection is what I think No no no

I mean it's just the connection is there Yeah yeah Have you ever spoken to other twins about this? Yeah It's not like a twin tuition conference I was going to say yes We all get together One every year

And nobody speaks You all just nod at each other Yeah We're really all staring at each other Mere reflections And you just came there It's very midsummer person yeah uh yeah we've talked about with wins and like i would say like a lot of them like

feel the same way i mean if if they're close if you're not close i mean not that it's not like like not that it's not a thing for people who are the twins who aren't close but it's just not as strong i would say yeah they're not fostered that i suppose yeah i feel like intuition is something obviously that anyone can tap into and that you can like practice or you can hone you know you can become more in tune. You can become more observant of the people around you and like the little cues. So that makes sense that twins who aren't that close aren't like developing that. Yeah. Yeah. Because you could develop an intuition with a very, very close friend, obviously. But it's just that, you know, we've really every up and down and let we've been through it

together. So that's why I think it's just like so right there all the time. Yeah. Okay. We're going to ask you guys a final question. Najja, Najanique. If you could go talk. to your 12-year-old selves, what would you say? You can each take your own turn. I would say, I would say, it sounds like so far as people that are like to stop every once in a while. You'll miss something. But like honestly, like that, like I would just say like slow down a little bit. I think I was always trying to be like in the know on trend on top of everything that maybe I could have, I might have missed out a little bit. I might have missed out a little bit. bit on like just like doing things that were what I liked rather than like you know pleasing people definitely people pleaser I definitely could have like taken a step back I just yeah slow things down figure out what you like because though like those years are very important so yeah slow down a little bit see what else is around do explore a little more love it um and for me I

would tell my little self to not take things too seriously um just because you can again, really shy, and I had that, like, perfectionist agenda, like, just in me. Like, I don't know. I just always had that. So I think, like, getting three days, like, making sure, like, I was, like, doing the best at everything all the time was, like, that was, like, weighing me down for a long time. And I still have that in me, the perfectionist stuff sometimes, but it's definitely eased up a lot, which has been great. But at that time, it was, like, all-time high, always worried about it. If I got, like, a 95 on the test, I cried about it. Like, that was, like, how bad it was.

So I definitely, you know, you know, just been like, relax. Like, you still have the A. It's fine. You're going to, you're going to level up to the next grade. You're not being held back. You're okay. I was like, and I think I was worried about, you know, college too. I was like, this is going to be on my record.

Like, what's happening? I was so worried about that for, like, no reason. So, yeah, just, you know, not take it too seriously. And you're going to find your friends. You need to be good. Would you say something different to each other as 12-year-olds? You know what I mean? Like, like, Najee, if you could say something to 12-year-old Najanique and vice versa,

which we've never been able to ask you to guess this. It's the one and only time we got, so we can cut it up. Oh my gosh. We're the inaugural. I think if I talked to you as the 12-year-old, I'd probably be like, hold some stuff close to your chest. Because I know what you're thinking and it's gross. Okay?

Just like, I think, um, something I do. did like myself as myself said. I was very observant and quiet. I did like, I did kind of like that about myself at times because I don't know. I had like, I don't know. I just had like things to myself, but I really liked that I think you, because you like, you were a social butterfly, you like talking a lot and like interacting people in general, which is great. But I definitely think, um, could have kept some secrets. Could it have some secrets. There have been more mysterious, just, you know. How about you, Najah? Um, I think I would tell you, you.

probably mind your business I'll say what I want I think I would say take more chances take more chances nothing too crazy you know not trying to look at what you do yet we're just like oh yeah take me I agree with that part of this so

that's really sweet I was out there taking all the chances and then I was taking the hit for it and then telling everyone all that This was so nice. Thank you both so much for taking time to talk to us. So great to meet you. Bye. Have a good rest of your day. Thank you.