
bestie approved
Travis Rhoden & Emma Hesser
Show overview
bestie approved launched in 2025 and has put out 37 episodes, alongside 3 trailers or bonus episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 45 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 1h and 1h 32m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 weeks ago, with 8 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 29 episodes published. Published by Travis Rhoden & Emma Hesser.
From the publisher
This is a wild time to be alive and sometimes you just need to hang out with your best friends to remind you that everything is going to be okay. Travis and Emma are two former finance bros and best friends who have a lot of opinions. Kick back and hang out with your new besties each week as they navigate grad school and motherhood, unpack their feelings about the Real Housewives and other Bravolebrities, spiral and scream into the political void, complain about anything and everything, and figure out life one unhinged conversation at a time. Come for the tea, stay for the friendship. From Indy to wherever you listen to podcasts, we love you!
Latest Episodes
View all 37 episodesthis might be the end of #MomTok.
RHOA season 17 premiere: reality roundup with Husbands Watching Housewives.
RHORI series premiere: reality roundup with Husbands Watching Housewives.

PREVIEW: it's giving Atlanta LIVE with Husbands Watching Housewives.
trailerEThe premiere besties are back again for the season 17 premiere of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and we’re livestreaming this one!Hang out with us on YouTube, Instagram Live, Twitch, or Kick. Ask questions. Turn Travis talking about his love of Atlanta into a drinking game.Click here to learn more! We can’t wait to see you Monday, April 6, at 8pm ET/5PM CT!

S1 Ep 31Emma's triumphant return and Travis's kidney stones.
ETHE BESTIES ARE BACK TOGETHER!! 🎉🎙️ Emma’s back for her first episode after her maternity break with baby Auggie, and the chaos picked up right where we left off.This week, Emma shares a little bit about how round two of having newborn is going for her. 👍🏽 good news: Auggie is sleeping through the night. 🥱 bad news: Emma is choosing to do her dishes instead of napping. Travis unpacks living through his worst fears when he found out how kidney stone surgery works, so he gave himself the gift of a 3D printer! He has been hyperfocusing on looking for literally anything he can print, and he’s also looking for love with a 3D Print YouTuber! 😍we also dive into:a quick shoutout to our new podcast friends on First Time in Drag! 🎧🫶🏽the uncomfortable TikTok of the McDonald’s CEO trying a new “product” on the menu.Travis is confused about a mom salting her kids.Casey Rose Wilson from Bitch Sesh convinced Travis that he needs an Alaskan king bed.Ashley Tisdale decided to step away from her famous mom group and told the entire world about it.our grievances with Stevia and social media apps.Lisa Barlow being the reason that 2026 kicked off on a positive note.reality roundup is all about the best season The Traitors has ever had!🎙️ share bestie approved with your messiest friend. 🤩 rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️timestamps00:00:01 we'te back!00:01:23 Emma had a baby.00:06:46 Travis had a kidney stone.00:09:49 Travis bought a 3D printer.00:13:33 First Time in Drag is bestie approved.00:14:26 forcing a CEO to eat his own product.00:18:35 salting your kids?00:25:45 Travis wants an Alaskan king bed.00:28:08 Ashley Tisdale left her mom group.00:38:04 complaining.00:43:39 Lisa Barlow liked our New Years post!!00:47:17 reality roundup: season 4 of The Traitors.connect with Travis & Emmacheck out the bestie approved website: https://bestieapproved.com/all of our social media:bestie approved Linktreeemail us: [email protected]'s triumphant return and Travis's kidney stones. © 2026 by Travis and Emma is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

S1 Ep 30Shaded Reality roundup with Ann & Marie
EThis week, Travis is hanging out with Ann and Marie from Shaded Reality for a reality roundup crossover that covers everything from Bravo obsessions to The Traitors chaos to the messy world of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.The sisters from Shaded Reality share how their podcast came to life, what shows they love covering, and why reality TV continues to pull them in. From there, the conversation turns into a rapid-fire mix of Housewives opinions, dream cast friendships, Swig drink orders, and which iconic Bravo women they’d bring back and banish from their screens forever.The group also gets into Whitney Leavitt’s Ziwe interview, upcoming Bravo premieres they’re excited about, and a deep dive into The Traitors finale. Then they revisit key moments from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, unpacking cast dynamics, relationship red flags, and the kind of reality TV mess that keeps everyone watching.And of course, it wouldn’t be bestie approved without a little complaining.Follow Shaded Reality:@shadedrealitypod everywhere!New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday. linktr.ee/ShadedRealityPodListen if you love:BravoThe Real HousewivesThe TraitorsSecret Lives of Mormon WivesReality TV recapsFun pop culture conversationsPodcast friend collabsConnect with Travis & EmmaCheck out the bestie approved website: bestieapproved.comall of our social media: bestie approved Linktreeemail us: [email protected]

S1 Ep 29fast fashion, endless ads, and a bathtub splash.
EWe love a chaotic catch-up and a Bravo deep dive. This week, we get into our 2025 Apple Music Replays and YouTube recaps, spiral about ads, consumerism, and the absolute chokehold TikTok Shop has on us before we unpack some uncouth Facebook Marketplace behavior. Then we close it out with a full reality roundup about Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 1, Episode 10: “In Hot Water.”in this episode:YouTube Recap stats and Travis being in the top 1% of viewers for Sexy Unique Podcast (hey dolls!).Apple Music Replay 2025. complaining: Facebook Marketplace is the third circle of hell and the TikTok ads that feel predatoryconsumerism, nonstop ads, fast fashion, and trying to prioritize quality.travel daydreams & Taylors upcoming plans to be very mindful and very demure.reality roundup: RHOSLC S1E10 “In Hot Water”sponsors & links🛌 Cozy Earth: Luxurious bamboo sheets, pajamas, & more. Get 41% OFF with promo code: BESTIE 👕 HyperNatural: The Best Men’s Polo Shirts-Men’s Journal. Get 20% off with promo code: BESTIE.

S1 Ep 28Wade Belair’s villain origin story.
EThis week, Travis is hanging out with his new podcast friend, Wade, for a chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt journey that covers reckless walkers from New York to Indy, rapid-fire hypotheticals, and Wade’s real story about coming out while navigating a closeted relationship and what he learned about love, boundaries, and healing.🚨 content note: This episode includes discussion of coming out, closeted relationships, toxic relationship dynamics, and references to narcissistic abuse. 🚨New podcast friend: Wade Belair (NYC-based startup investor, planning a master’s in psychology and mental health counseling).“Slow walkers… reckless, inconsiderate walkers… I am going to die in 20 seconds if you don’t move.”in this episode:Meet Wade: New York City life, startups, and his journey into mental health counselingRapid-fire this-or-that with absurd hypotheticals before the mess beginsComplaining: slow walkers and uncouth main character public behaviorGym culture & gym etiquetteWade’s story: coming out, self-worth, and the complexity of loving someone who isn’t outBiggest lesson learned: what he would have done differently and why love can feel addictiveDating & healing advice: no timelines, focus on friendships, stay open, and don’t spiral diva!If you enjoyed this one, share bestie approved with your messiest friend and please rate and review bestie approved wherever you get podcasts!From Indy to New York, we love you! ❤️Connect with WadeWade's Instagram: @georgewbelairConnect with Travis & EmmaWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.comAll of our social media: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected] Belair’s villain origin story. © 2026 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

S1 Ep 27Travis FINALLY learns about wind with a literal scientist.
EMama, let’s research wind and find out where it comes from! bestie approved became a science podcast this week and we healed from the trauma of wind being one of the things we simply don’t understand. Travis is hanging out with his podcast friend and science bestie, Dr. Jeff Zurek, to help us finally get to the bottom of this mystery.Then we said mama, let’s research some more and unpacked how wind is related to climate change and how important it is for us to do something about that! 🎙️ share bestie approved with your messiest friend. 🤩 rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️Connect with Jefflearn more about Jefflisten to Whimsical Wavelengths anywhere podcasts are [email protected] on Bluesky whimsical.wavelengths on InstagramWhimsical Wavelengths on FacebookConnect with Travis & EmmaCheck out the bestie approved website: bestieapproved.comall of our social media: bestie approved Linktreeemail us: [email protected] FINALLY learns about wind with a literal scientist. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY 4.0.References“Bill Nye The Science Guy on Wind.” 2009. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uBqohRu2RRk?si=wz0hRU4Ihv486kvw.Oxford University Press. 1926. “wind, n.¹ meanings, etymology and more.” Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/wind_n1.

S1 Ep 26finding meaning and purpose with the president of the Corbin Bleu fan club.
ETravis is hanging out with his cousin, Taylor, again this week for more tales from the hell that is being a teacher in 2025 and a full reality roundup where we unpack Taylor’s first experience with the Real Housewives ever!this week, we get into:Taylor looking for deeper meaning literally anywhere and everywhereTaylor’s leadership experience in the most unlikely organizationupdates from this week in teachingTravis’s week from hella very special reality roundup where Taylor shares her thoughts from her first Real Housewives experience, followed by a deep dive into Season 1, Episode 9 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC): “Hip Hop & Heartbreak”Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️Connect with Travis & Emma (and Taylor)WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.comall of our social media: bestie approvedemail us: [email protected] meaning and purpose with the president of the Corbin Bleu fan club. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

S1 Ep 25let your inner child go for a hot girl walk with Amy Dickens.
EThis week, Travis is hanging out with Amy Dickens to talk about why adults desperately need more play, more aliveness, and more FUN. We dig into burnout, healing, nervous system regulation, and the tiny habits that can change everything. Grab your copy of Amy’s book, 101 Ways to Spread Joy, and let’s get to work and spread some joy!connect with AmyClick here to order your copy of 101 Ways to Spread Joy!Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @theamydickensAmy’s website: livejoyfullyou.comListen to Joyfully You wherever you get podcasts!find out more about Amy hereconnect with Travs & EmmaWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.comall of our social media: bestie approvedemail: [email protected] bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️let your inner child go for a hot girl walk with Amy Dickens. © 2025 by Travis & Emma is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

S1 Ep 24I find myself to be a lover of whimsy.
EEmma is officially on baby-watch, so Travis’ cousin Taylor jumps in for a collab episode that turns into a chaotic-but-wholesome catch-up: current hyperfixations, teacher life in 2025, AI in the classroom, and a group rant about men…in public spaces.Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️Connect with usWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.com All of our social media: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected]

S1 Ep 23seed oils and MLM takedowns.
EThis week, Emma shares a pregnancy update, Travis tries to take down a pyramid scheme on TikTok Live, and they both spiral over seed oils. For reality roundup, we get into a full breakdown of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 1, Episode 8 (Hot Tub Confessions).Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the pod wherever you listen to podcasts. From Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️Connect with usWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.comAll of our social media: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected]

S1 Ep 22going back to where it all started with Jolenta Greenberg
EHappy Jen Shah Prison Release Day to all those who celebrate! Emma’s having an amazing time with her perfect baby. This week, Travis is hanging out with comedian, podcast host, and pop culture connoisseur, Jolenta Greenberg. In honor of Jen Shah’s prison sentence ending early, Travis and Jolenta are taking it back to where this journey started and unpacking one of the most iconic two-part episodes of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City- I Was Driving Carpool! (Season 2 Episode 9) and Highway to Veil (Season 2 Episode 10).Follow Jolenta because she’s so cool and deserves your attention ❤️Check out Hot Mess-terpiece Theatre wherever you listen to podcasts Jolenta’s websiteFollow Jolenta on InstagramCheck out Jolenta’s standup on YouTubeGrab your copy of How to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help BooksMore about JolentaConnect with Travis & EmmaWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE!! bestieapproved.comFollow us everywhere: linktr.ee/travisandemmaEmail us: [email protected]🎧🎙️ Listen to bestie approved wherever you get podcasts. If you like the show, leave us a 5-star review and we will share it with the world (we love attention). 🤩 Share the pod with your messiest friend and always remember- from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

S1 Ep 21pretty rich women doing pretty rich things
EREALITY ROUNDUP WITH OUR PODCAST FRIENDS!Travis is hanging out with the bestie approved returning champions, Scott and Geoff from Husbands Watching Housewives, to unpack the season 15 premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. We love you! ❤️This is also our first attempt at a video episode! Check it out on YouTube!Connect with usWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE! bestieapproved.comAll of our social media: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected] out Husbands Watching Housewives (friends of the pod)website: Husbands Watching HousewivesApple Podcasts: Husbands Watching HousewivesTikTok: @husbandswatchinYouTube: @HusbandsWatchingHousewivesLinktree: Husbands Watching Housewives

S1 Ep 20toxic news and twitter fights with Dave & Lisa
E🚨 A quick heads up: This week’s episode is way more political than usual. 🚨Emma literally just had her baby and she’s home hanging out with that perfect little baby angel. 🥹👶🏼 Travis is trying to navigate the world without Emma while she’s on her maternity break, so he’s hanging out with two of his new podcast friends, David and Lisa Beckemeyer, from This Week in Outrage. We dive into why everything feels so loud, angry, and broken right now, and why there’s actually way more middle ground (and exhausted, reasonable humans) than the internet wants you to believe.We get into:How David went from getting into Twitter fights and doom-scrolling cable news to starting a research-driven podcast about toxic polarization and building bridges.The concept of the “exhausted majority”- the huge group of people who don’t love either party, hate the constant outrage, and don’t realize they’re actually part of the majority.Why our brains love feeling morally superior and how partisan media (on both sides) profits from keeping us angry and addicted.The wild case study of The Necessary Conversation podcas (it’s actually not satire).Trump as a “charismatic hero” for some people, and what happens psychologically when your entire identity is wrapped up in one politician.DEI, Target, culture wars, and why some folks feel like they’re “losing the culture” regardless of facts and reality.A revelation about trad wives, the manosphere, Project 2025, and the strange obsession with deciding how other people should live.RFK Jr., beef tallow, anti-vax conspiracies, and the Noah’s Ark experience in Kentucky. If you’re exhausted by the 24-hour news cycle or just confused about how we got here… this one’s for you. 💖Connect with David & LisaOutrage Overload: interviews with scientists, researchers, and practitioners on toxic polarization and bridge-building.This Week in Outrage: David & Lisa’s weekly show breaking down the latest political chaos with humor and nuance.Sponsors from this episode🛏️ Cozy Earth Ridiculously soft bamboo sheets that keep you cool all night. Get 41% off anything on the site with code BESTIE at checkout at cozyearth.com.👕 HyperNatural Jade-stone fiber polos and tees named Best Men’s Polo Shirts of 2024 by Men’s Journal. Get 20% off with code BESTIE at hypernaturalstyle.com.Connect with Travis & EmmaWE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.comFollow us everywhere: linktr.ee/travisandemma.comEmail us: [email protected]🎧🎙️ Listen to bestie approved wherever you get podcasts. If you like the show, leave us a 5-star review and we will share it with the world (we love attention). 🤩 Share the pod with your messiest friend and always remember- from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️

S1 Ep 19Travis and Emma want to have Lisa Barlow's resilience.
ESorry it’s been a chaotic couple weeks for us and we took an accidental break from the show! This week we get into a Mandela Effect from Travis’s middle school years (the Beyonce remix of In Da Club), we also lean into being an AI-first podcast (spiraling over AI psychosis and AI in general), and Travis makes a pitch for the besties to be bartenders on Watch What Happens Live. For reality roundup, Travis and Emma unpack season 1 episode 7 of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. We love you! ❤️Connect with usLinktree: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected]

S1 Ep 18remember when Lady Gaga investigated January 6th?
EThis week, we dive into Gavin Newsom dragging his political opponents to hell on Twitter, Lady Gaga investigating January 6th, people believing Helen Keller wasn't a real person, and a chaotic reality roundup with season 1 episode 6 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. We love you! ❤️Connect with usLinktree: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected]

S1 Ep 17reality roundup: RHOP season premier with Husbands Watching Housewives.
E🎙️ MORE PODCAST FRIENDS! 🎧Don't call it a comeback...call it a takeover! Scott and Geoff from Husbands Watching Housewives are back for another collab with Travis and Emma to unpack the season premier of The Real Housewives of Potomac!Share bestie approved with your messiest friend. Rate and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. We love you! ❤️Connect with usLinktree: bestie approvedEmail: [email protected] out Husbands Watching Housewives (friends of the pod)website: Husbands Watching HousewivesApple Podcasts: Husbands Watching HousewivesTikTok: @husbandswatchinYouTube: @HusbandsWatchingHousewivesLinktree: Husbands Watching Housewives

podcast friends: The Girls Room is bestie approved!
bonusE🎙️ BONUS EPISODE WITH OUR NEW PODCAST FRIEND! 🎧hey besties! Travis and Emma got to hang out in with their new podcast friend, Brittany in The Girls Room, and they had an absolute time! From raging Gaylors to actually gay cookie company CEOs, this was a really fun show.Brittany is so much fun, and it was so cool of her to have us on. Do us a favor and tell your messiest friend about The Girls Room because it’s definitely bestie approved! We can’t wait to do this again! ❤️🎧 check out this very special bonus episode where we get into it all:Taylor Swift theories 🧐Crumbl’s CEO and the silly joke that turned into a coming out announcement 🍪🌈The parallels between Lil Nas X and Amanda Bynes 😥❤️🩹Why Charlie XCX is that girl and Travis just really needs her to be okay 🫶🏽The guilty pleasure that is the Kardashians (but not for Travis) 😤from Indy to The Girls Room to wherever you’re listening, WE LOVE YOU! 🫶🏽meet Brittany in The Girls Room! (I like eggs.🥚)show website: The Girls Roomconnect with the bestiesLinktree: bestie approvedemail us: [email protected]