Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

This caller gives listeners a PSA: go to the doctor! She's managed to maintain an inspiringly positive disposition even after what she thought was just bloating turned out to be something much more serious. This episode is brought to you by Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Fruit of the Loom (www.fruit.com code: STORIES), White Castle, Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/beautiful), and Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

Some addictions don't get discussed that often. A caller talks about sex and love addicts anonymous and discusses the need to save oneself before trying to save the world. This episode is brought to you by Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet Podcast, White Castle (www.whitecastle.com/stories), and Joybird (www.joybird.com/beautiful25 code: BEAUTIFUL25).

Celebrating her first birthday with friends, family & her girlfriend after 3 years in a mental health treatment center, a caller talks to Geth about falling in love inside the facility. This episode is brought to you by Untitled Dad Project Podcast, ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL), Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and White Castle (www.whitecastle.com/STORIES).

Having lived all over the world, a member of the Choctaw Tribe talks to Geth about finding a sense of belonging when visiting home from abroad. This episode is brought to you by Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Circle (www.meetcircle.com/beautiful code: beautiful), and Bombas (www.bombas.com/stories).

Finding empowerment over past trauma through martial arts. This caller is a true badass. This episode is brought to you by Life is Good Ping Podcast, Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

Hearing other people talk about themselves makes this caller uncomfortable. "It makes me cringe," he says, "being on the show is a terrible idea." Will this be Chris' second-ever hang up, or will the caller stay on the line to reveal what about human interaction freaks him out. This episode is brought to you by Magoosh (www.magoosh.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/BEAUTIFUL code: BEAUTIFUL), and Circle (www.meetcircle.com/beautiful code: beautiful).

A caller opens up about a stigmatized condition and tells Geth about finding closure to a chapter of her life after hearing an old friend on Beautiful Anonymous. This episode is brought to you by Milkwaukee Tourism (www.visitmilwaukee.org/plan), Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL code: BEAUTIFUL), Hamama (www.hamama.com code: STORIES), and Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: STORIES).

A bartender tells wild stories (murder!), how to get free stuff (drinks and rides home). Also, the found family & new home she's established with the regulars. Plus, Caleb Gethard makes his podcast debut. This episode is brought to you by Sword of Trust (www.swordoftrust.com), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Hamama (www.hamama.com code: STORIES), and Bombas (www.bombas.com/stories).

A college student home for the summer, sitting on a living room floor with dog on lap, talks to Geth about an eating disorder that started in high school. This episode is brought to you by Life is Good Ping Podcast, ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruier.com/BEAUTIFUL), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

Planning a posh goth Halloween wedding, taking care of a 3 legged cat and processing grief after the death of a family member who had been hiding big secrets, this British caller prompts Geth to try bring the words crikey & blimey across the pond.

An online slang dictionary editor and vicious rabid animal attack survivor who had too much cold brew and ritalin talks to Geth about dealing with ferocious and heinous things. This episode is brought to you by Honey (www.honey.com/stories).

A psychologist talks about the emotional toll of tough conversations, selflessness vs. selfishness & Geth asks: have you ever had to step out mid session because you had to pee or poo? This episode is brought to you by Milwaukee Tourism (www.visitmilwaukee.org/plan), Life is Good Ping Podcast, Honey (www.honey.com/stories), and Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Geth gets a peek into the chaotic life of a stay at home dad with 3 kids, a 4th on the way, and a daughter in the hospital. This episode is brought to you by The Life is Good Ping Podcast, Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Recently declared PTSD free, a caller is interrupted by a cute little mouse while telling Geth about being emotionally and psychologically manipulated by someone very close to her. This episode is brought to you by Family Ghosts Podcast, Bombas (www.bombas.com/STORIES), and Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

A caller tells Geth what it's like to be a young, single, punk rock mom. This episode is brought to you by Airbnb Experiences (www.airbnb.com/experiences), The Skimm (www.theskimm.com/STORIES), and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Suffering from a physical injury from working too much & too hard, this week's caller takes a break from building sets to get Geth excited about theme restaurants (Mars 2112, Jekyll & Hyde...Medieval Times!). This episode is brought to you by Oh My Gut (www.ohmygut.info/podcast), The Skimm (www.theskimm.com/STORIES), Aura Frames (www.auraframes.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL).

You don't want to mess with a punk rock mom! Geth talks to a proud mother about how lucky she is to have a very unique daughter. This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Aura Frames (www.auraframes.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), The Skimm (www.theskimm.com/STORIES), and Stop Doing That Shit.

You don't really know someone's complex, warped brain until they've been your Dungeon Master. For this bonus episode, a caller with lots of D.M. experience guides Glandon Oakfoot, Jomar Salveston and Tyrone The Terrible on a vital quest.

A screaming cat with a rubber band around it's head, Dungeons & Dragons, and an emergency suicide intervention road trip. This caller hasn't slept in days because she recently leapt in her car to go help someone she'd never even met in person. This episode is brought to you by The Skimm (www.theskimm.com/STORIES), ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com code: STORIES), and Oh My Gut (www.ohmygut.info/PODCAST).

A past caller who's made strides in living with grief, learning to tell her story and finding a path of acceptance catches up with Gethard in studio (no phones!). They ask: Are we living in a simulation? What's dark matter? What type of scientist parties the hardest? This episode is brought to yo by ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com code: STORIES), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/beautiful), Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Calling from a country described as filled with cognitive dissonance and very passionate people, this caller provides Geth a powerful portrait of her country, talking about LGBTQ rights & the most dangerous karaoke song ever. Plus, a very important request for whenever you talk to someone at a call center. This episode is brought to you by Vrbo, Aura Frames (www.auraframes.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL).

A guy who has never even listened to this podcast talks to Gethard about a bunch of stuff for an hour. This episode is brought to you by Vrbo, Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL), Aura Frames, Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

Living in New Jersey and hating it, the gig economy and trying to get by being broke in the USA are on this caller's mind. This episode is brought to you by Vrbo and Bombas.

Kidnapping, murder, sex, cocaine, ketamine and porn. This caller's family is at the center of a true crime story. She tells Geth about how she's suffered on her journey to learn how to be loving. This episode is brought to you by Vrbo app and Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com code: PEOPLE).

New host Harry Nelson takes his first of many successful calls. He gets a caller from Australia on the line and talks about America, but also the writing process, the history of First Nations' people, and why he's already a better host than Chris Gethard ever was.

Gethard heard he has a cult following in Brazil, so this week the line was open to Brazilian numbers only. Immigration issues, education and social work are on the caller's mind. She also opens up about sexual assault and abuse. This episode is brought to yo by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: BEAUTIFUL), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL), Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Drop (https://b.ewd.io/Beautiful).

While smoking a bowl in his garage, a stay at home dad talks to Gethard about parenting. They share stories about protective dad instincts and recognizing mistakes. This episode is brought to you by Neou Fitness (www.fitness.com code: STORIES), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL).

A few years ago, this caller took a job working at her dad's strip club. There were duffel bags full of cash and other shady stuff. She thought showing tolerance for her father's demons might help him understand her own, but things didn't turn out as expected. This episode is brought to you by Drop (https://b.ewd.io/Beautiful).

Years later, this caller still hears the sounds of the tragic car accident he survived. He tells Geth how he won't let the trauma of the crash revive the anxiety he overcame in his younger days. They also talk about an internet dating experience that turned into something like a Black Mirror episode. This episode is brought to you by OkCupid, eero (www.eero.com/BEAUTIFUL code: BEAUTIFUL), and Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You podcast.

A blind caller tells Geth his touching internet-era love story & explains why he considers himself a visual learner. This episode is brought to you by ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You podcast.

A stress-free 34 year old who loves what he does for a living has to decide what to eat for lunch. This episode is brought to you by Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL).

A social media manager slash graphic designer pitches her podcast & gives Gethard instagram advice. This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon, Calm (www.calm.com/beautiful), OkCupid, and Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast.

Raised by liberals, after becoming a mom as a teenager, this caller's politics shifted. Some would now call her a "Republican in name only" or a "compromising conservative," but she disagrees. Her compelling life story is a jumping off point to search for a little common ground with Geth. This episode is brought to you by OKCupid and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL).

This episode includes: a double-headed red dildo, binders full of sperm, epilepsy, addiction & rehab. But most importantly, it's about an inspiring mom who's been through a whole heck of a lot to support and protect her family. This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL) and eero (www.eero.com/BEAUTIFUL code: BEAUTIFUL).

Too many edibles. A missing sister. Paranoia. Depersonalization & derealization. This week's caller had a tough 2018, but with therapy and treatment, she's conquering one thing at a time. This episode is brought to you by Joybird (www.joybird.com/BEAUTIFUL), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Calm (www.calm.com/BEAUTIFUL).

A caller in Berlin connects Geth with someone in Finland who happens to be from Oklahoma. Should Geth move to Finland? An American ex-pat helps Geth decide. This episode is brought to you by Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: STORIES), Simple Contacts (www.simplecontacts.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL).

In 90 minutes, a graphic design student will have her first-ever job interview. Luckily, Gethard is on the phone to help her get calmed down and psyched up.

In June 2017, a mother of 5 spent an hour talking to Chris while in a waiting room, about to hear life or death test results from her daughter's oncologist. A year later, she tells Chris that all her daughter wants is for her and her family to keep living life, to know it's okay to be happy and to fight to keep her message, Love Is Everywhere, alive. Find more Beautiful Follow-Ups plus all of the Beautiful Anonymous archives, completely ad-free, only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/stories and use promo code 'STORIES'.

It's time for the annual Beautiful Anonymous New Year's resolutions episode. Listeners (and a couple special guests) called in for a series of brief one minute calls to tell Geth their goals, hopes and plans for 2019.

Coming out of the closet to her family was this caller's New Year's resolution for 2018. As the year comes to close, she tells Geth whether she achieved the goal. One thing she definitely accomplished: getting her Trump-supporting neighbor to help her hang a pride flag. This episode is brought to you by Palm (www.palm.com), Sun Basket (www.sunbasket.com), and Calm (www.calm.com/beautiful).

A real-life Frank The Tank living with hard-partying 18-21 year old college kids is studying geosciences with the goal of one day improving global water supplies. He's struggled with some mental health issues, which has helped him provide guidance to his younger peers but he's also learned a lot from them. The phone signal is a little crunchy at times but the phone itself has an origin story that makes it all worth it. This episode is brought to you by Welcome to Marwen, Palm (www.palm.com), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/STORIES), Kopari's Coconut Deodorant (www.koparibeauty.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Raised in Japan, this week's guest moved to Canada because of the freedom and culture of openness. Hardly able to speak the language, she now works a job where she literally helps people speak for themselves in difficult situations. Gethard met up with her and recorded this just outside of an acoustically perfect concert hall in a noisy Toronto park. This episode is brought to you by Welcome to Marwen, Fruit of the Loom (www.fruit.com code: STORIES), Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Stamps.com, and Caffe Monster.

Imagine if your mom found out you were getting married because she saw your wedding on the TV news. He called in to point out an issue with episode 14 (that's 127 episodes ago!) but also tells Geth about growing up Mormon and being a stepdad. This episode is brought to you by One Drop (www.getonedrop.com code: STORIES), Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/stories), Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Sun Basket (www.sunbasket.com/BEAUTIFUL), Caffe Monster, and Poshmark.

What is it like to transform from very large to marathon runner very quickly? A polite but engaged audience in Toronto helps Geth out with some questions, like how her experience feels in the context of the body positivity movement (and they tweet some insults aimed at Buffalo). Then the audience really gets excited when they discuss tandem nursing! This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/stories), Fruit of the Loom (www.fruit.com code: STORIES), Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), and Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL).

A cheating husband, drugs, stalkers, liars and flipping houses. This week's caller is at a critical juncture in her life and is a little unclear on where the truth lies. This episode is brought to you by This Is Love podcast, One Drop (www.getonedrop.com code: STORIES), Kopari (www.koparibeauty.com/BEAUTIFUL), Bombas (www.bombas.com/STORIES code: STORIES), and Ulta Beauty (www.ulta.com).

Her home is engulfed in flames. She brings the geckos, kittens & dogs to safety and checks on the donkeys, mules, chickens and horses to make sure they are safe as well. Three days later, lying under an electric blanket with her cat, this week's caller tells Gethard and the live audience in Los Angeles how she can't sit around and cry all day, so she laughs through it. This episode is brought to you by Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/beautiful code: BEAUTIFUL), and Caffe Monster.

Days after the 2016 election, a mother of three was nervous about how the outcome of the election would impact her children and left an emotional voicemail for Beautiful Anonymous. Two years later, she talked to Geth about the challenges she and her kids face today and all the love and beauty that inspire them. This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: BEAUTIFUL), One Drop (www.getonedrop.com code: STORIES), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/BEAUTIFUL), Kopari's Coconut Deodorant (www.koparibeauty.com/BEAUTIFUL), and Caffe Monster.

On an eight hour solo road trip, a wilderness therapy guide takes a break from dreaming of the woods and insects to chat with Gethard. He's a wanderer, a man of nature and a modern day philosopher and Gethard gets him to unleash some wisdom gleaned from his experiences outdoors: "You squat over a hole in the ground and everything just slides out" This episode is brought to you by Brooklinen (www.brooklinen.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/BEAUTIFUL), Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/STORIES), and Ulta Beauty (www.ulta.com).

What is beauty? Maybe the answer is unknowable. For this week's caller, searching for the answer to that question has been the source of a lot of emotions: anger, depression, anxiety, jealousy and sometimes happiness. This episode is brought to you by Ulta Beauty (www.ulta.com).

Sitting on a bench in a quintessentially British location, near Queen Mary's Rose Garden in London, a young Brit opens up with Gethard in a way he never would with anyone in his normal life. From his parents divorce while living on a rural Scottish goat farm to a recent web design related break-up drama, it's a very authentic conversation that might make you want to go exchange secrets with a stranger in a park for an hour. This episode is brought to you by Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/STORIES), Dream Corp LLC on Adult Swim, Bombas (www.bombas.com/stories code: STORIES), Caffe Monster, and The Hilarious World of Depression podcast.