Girls Gone Gritty

#117 - The Love of Pet Influencers: Why Animals Own the Internet

What if the thing making you smile online is also the thing keeping you scrolling? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer talk about the unexpected power of pets on social media, from viral dog videos to the way algorithms use feel-good content to keep people engaged. Farley shares how Moose’s Instagram account quickly gained huge views, likes, and shares, proving that people connect deeply with simple, joyful animal moments. But the episode also looks at the other side of online attention. The hosts talk about short-form video, privacy settings, location sharing, AI content permissions, and why people need to be more careful about what they post. Along the way, they celebrate the love pets bring, highlight Croatia’s dog lifeguards, and reflect on how music and animals can help people feel comforted when life feels heavy. It’s funny, honest, and a little eye-opening. Episode Highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:17) Recapping Last Week’s Conversation (3:02) Top Three Headlines Begin (8:37) Why Pet Content Feels So Good (9:21) Moose Goes Viral Online (10:46) Algorithms, Dopamine, and Doom Scrolling (12:29) The Reel That Took Off (15:12) Pet Influencers and Product Offers (17:32) TikTok, AI, and Content Permissions (18:42) Privacy Risks and Location Settings (21:32) Croatia’s Dog Lifeguards Get Gritty (24:36) Creating a Family Pet Instagram (25:24) Music, Comfort, and “Fix You” (27:34) Outro Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/support] Follow us: Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/ [https://girlsgonegritty.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/ [https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/] More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty [https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty]

#116 - Porn, Toys & Truth: What Is Cheating?

What counts as cheating when no one else is technically in the room? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer get honest about boundaries, secrecy, sex, technology, and the conversations many couples avoid. They start with lighter updates, from graduation season and family milestones to NCAA eligibility changes and Elizabeth Smart’s powerful reinvention through bodybuilding. Then the episode shifts into a bold and uncomfortable question: where is the line between personal privacy and betrayal? The hosts talk through emotional affairs, porn, sex toys, masturbation, and how technology has changed intimacy, trust, and access. They question whether secrecy is the real issue, why emotional connection outside a relationship can feel more painful than physical cheating, and how couples need clearer conversations around what feels respectful or hurtful. The episode also honors Lulu Gribbin with the Got Grit Award for turning trauma into a safety initiative, then closes with a reminder to trust your gut, speak up, and keep communication honest. Episode Highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:06) Celebrating graduations and family milestones (2:40) Top three stories of the week (5:08) NCAA changes athlete eligibility rules (8:14) Elizabeth Smart’s bodybuilding comeback (10:07) Setting up the cheating conversation (11:49) Statistics around men, women, and infidelity (13:26) Why emotional affairs can hurt deeply (15:16) Do sex toys and porn cross a line? (18:50) Technology, porn, and blurred boundaries (22:17) The 80-20 rule of infidelity (23:13) Sex toys, privacy, and personal choice (28:11) Protecting innocence in a digital world (30:16) Got Grit Award: Lulu Gribbin (32:47) Song of the week: “Madeline” Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/support] Follow us: Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/ [https://girlsgonegritty.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/ [https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/] More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty [https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty]

#115 - Why Communication Feels So Broken Today

What if the biggest problem in your family is not the issue itself, but the way nobody talks about it? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer talk about motherhood, respect, communication, and why real connection feels harder today. They start with a Mother’s Day reminder to honor the moms we still have and remember the ones we miss. Then they move into stories about service, safety, kindness, and grit. The heart of the episode is about how texting, slang, social media, news, and fast replies have changed the way people speak to each other. Farley and Jennifer share why listening, patience, eye contact, and respect still matter, especially in families and between parents and kids. They also remind listeners that kids learn communication by watching adults. The episode closes with a powerful Got Grit spotlight on Christina Applegate and her honesty about MS, pain, trauma, and strength. Episode Highlights: (0:00) Outro (1:08) Celebrating Mother’s Day and motherhood (2:29) Naval Academy athlete joins the Steelers (4:01) Stolen crop dusting drones recovered (5:58) Boston Marathon runners show kindness (7:40) Why communication feels more disrespectful (9:22) How slang changes connection (12:03) Texting, tone, and misunderstood messages (14:41) Listening as a lost skill (18:29) Why kind communication is harder now (22:53) Taking a pause before responding (24:47) Respecting elders and setting boundaries (27:27) Communication as a gift (29:04) Christina Applegate receives the Got Grit award (34:02) Inspirational lyric and closing thoughts (35:40) Outro Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/support] Follow us: Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/ [https://girlsgonegritty.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/ [https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/] More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty [https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty]

#114 - Eye For An Eye, Tooth For A Tooth? When Justice Gets Personal

What happens when justice feels too slow, too soft, or too broken? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer take on a heavy but very real conversation about revenge, punishment, fear, forgiveness, and the line between justice and vengeance. They start with their weekly top three stories, including wild insurance fraud, a Picasso raffle for Alzheimer’s research, and the Sackler family’s legal fallout from the opioid crisis. From there, the conversation turns deeper. The hosts explore why violent crimes can make people crave “an eye for an eye,” especially when children, loved ones, or innocent victims are involved. They also talk about social media fear, subway safety, the justice system, mental health, personal accountability, and why forgiveness can feel almost impossible after tragedy. This episode is useful for listeners who wrestle with anger, fear, justice, or how to respond when the world feels unsafe. It is raw, honest, and gritty, but it also points back to compassion, responsibility, and choosing not to let pain define who you become. Episode Highlights: (0:00) Intro (0:55) Missing Earth Day and 4/20 (2:09) Wild insurance fraud in a bear suit (3:03) Picasso raffle supports Alzheimer’s research (4:07) Sackler family and opioid accountability (5:49) Revenge, justice, and human reaction (7:14) Social media, anger, and violent crime stories (10:03) The Marianne Bachmeier case (12:37) Where “eye for an eye” began (15:44) Mental health, punishment, and the death penalty (19:16) Safety, fear, and public spaces (24:17) Forgiveness after unimaginable loss (25:36) Accountability and changing how we communicate (27:12) Got Grit Award winner of the week (28:26) Song of the week: “Jealous” by Labrinth (29:55) Outro Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/support] Follow us: Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/ [https://girlsgonegritty.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/ [https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/] More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty [https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty]

#113 - Decade by Decade: Why Nostalgia Still Hits So Hard

What have we lost as life has gotten faster, louder, and more connected? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer take a heartfelt walk through the decades, reflecting on what made the 70s, 80s, and 90s feel so memorable. What starts as a fun conversation about nostalgia turns into something deeper: a look at how presence, shared experiences, and simpler routines shaped the way people connected. They talk about the cultural feel of each era, from the grit of the 70s to the ambition of the 80s and the raw energy of the 90s, while also comparing that to today’s world of nonstop technology, fragmented attention, and algorithm-driven living. One of the biggest takeaways is that life used to require more intention. People made plans ahead of time, watched shows together, listened more closely, and lived with clearer boundaries between work, home, and play. The episode also reminds listeners that looking back is not about romanticizing the past. It is about learning from it. The conversation closes with a strong message about giving kids more freedom, protecting real connection, and being more thoughtful about how we live now. Episode Highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:45) Farley’s California trip and life update (3:19) Three current culture stories (6:45) Artemis, space, and the power of crew (10:14) Why looking back helps us move forward (11:23) What made past decades feel different (12:00) A walk through the decades (14:09) The spirit of the 70s (19:10) The ambition and excess of the 80s (29:17) The raw energy of the 90s (33:32) Y2K and the shift into modern life (35:14) Why today feels more fragmented (36:52) A challenge to revisit old eras (38:50) What kids still need from us today (40:12) Tim Tebow as the Got Grit award winner (42:53) Song of the week and final takeaway (44:45) Outro Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2317373/support] Follow us: Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/ [https://girlsgonegritty.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/ [https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/] More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty [https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty]