Everyone's Work Bestie, Gnarlyoodles!!

What if having a work bestie could truly transform your work life?

In this episode, Jess and Claude welcome Char, aka Gnarlyoodles, the viral creator whose hilarious work bestie-themed content has resonated with people across industries. Char opens up about her journey from retail customer service to internet fame, creating memes that offer a refreshing perspective on work relationships and mental health. Through humor and authenticity, her content creates a community for anyone navigating work’s ups and downs.

Char shares how work besties can elevate the professional experience, providing trust, laughter, and camaraderie—even if managers sometimes try to keep the fun at bay. She reflects on her popular 90s-inspired t-shirts (designed by her cousin) that capture the positive vibe work friends bring to the workplace. Together, they explore prioritizing mental health, setting boundaries, and promoting workers' rights, highlighting how support from work friends makes a difference. With a mix of humor and practical advice, this episode celebrates the power of work friendships to boost both productivity and well-being. Tune in for insights that could brighten your workday!

Please like and rate this episode AND follow Char, aka Gnarlyoodles on IG and TT

Interested in her nostalgia t-shirts, click here.  (Perfect gift for your Work Bestie!!!)

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Chapters

• 0:00 Work Besties
• 13:28 Trust and T-Shirt Designs
• 18:40 Bonding Through Work Besties
• 32:57 Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace

Transcript

Claude: 0:00

Hi, I'm Claude and I'm Jess. We are corporate employees by day, entrepreneurs by night and work besties for life.

Jess: 0:08

Join us as we explore how work besties lift each other up, laugh through the chaos and thrive together in every industry. Work besties Terrell's favorite episode ever. I did something daring. Over the past couple of months I have been anxiously DMing somebody nonstop to try and get her to come on our podcast and she wrote back and I'm so excited because she probably doesn't even realize how much joy she brings to not just me but everyone that I flip her work memes to, which is at least once a day, if not more. So I'm super excited to have Char on our podcast, but you might know her as Gnarlyoodles, so welcome.

Char: 0:57

Thank you so much for having me. This is my first podcast and I'm super happy and excited that I'm given this opportunity, especially from you guys, because, like, my content revolves around work besties and you guys are the work bestie podcast, so I feel it's so fitting to have this as my first podcast. So thanks for having me. We're so honored.

Jess: 1:19

Yes, we're so honored A real Star Trek.

Claude: 1:23

I have to say, you know, we have a celebrity.

Jess: 1:28

As you know from my numerous DMs and emails, because of the fact that our focus is work life and work besties, I have fell in love with your content right away because of the focus of that, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing how you got started, what your inspiration, why did you decide to focus on work relationships and work memes?

Char: 1:51

That's that's a very good question. Working in retail customer service for 15 years, a lot of it adds up to it. I don't know. I just was sat here and I was like, hey, let me just make some videos. I'll start off with TikTok. And I did TikTok.

Char: 2:09

I was kind of like roaming around to see like, am I going to make, like mom content, am I going to do this? But then I did a meme with two dancing bears and it was like um, me and my work bestie hyping each other while work falls apart, and that literally just went crazy. That went viral. So I thought, okay, well, you know people like work besties. I don't remember seeing much work besties out there. So I was like, let me try it, let me just continue this path and ride this wave is what I always say. So let me just ride this wave and we'll go from there.

Char: 2:39

So I rode this wave and then I started just making me poking fun on like a lot of the work stress. A lot of that has happened my from my own personal experience, and it's just it's mind blowing how relatable that was, because when you're going through that, you feel like you're by yourself or like sometimes you talk to someone and they'll say it's okay, you'll get over it. Oh, that's part of the job. It's part of work. But we shouldn't sacrifice our mental health for work. There has to be some sort of balance.

Jess: 3:09

For sure, and I think to your point, what's really amazing about your content is it took me a while to figure out what industry you even worked in, and it didn't even matter, to be fair, because your content is so relatable, no matter where you work and what kind of experiences you've been through. I think it's impressive to your point that there hadn't been something like this before, because there's so much that we could be sharing with each other and talking about and in many cases, your little bit of poking fun of it causes us all to feel a little bit better and have that moment of relief, right, like, yeah, there was one was a quote from Cougar Town and it was like my anger is a puddle and she goes five, four, three, two, one. That's true, I do that at work and I was like I saw that come up and I'm like I've been seen.

Char: 3:59

Yes, that is so true. I mean, that applies everywhere, especially when you're customer facing. You know it's just like you just need that time to breathe, or sometimes, like work pushes you to the edge, but you have to maintain that professionalism, so you can't just like be yourself and just pop off or whatever. You have to maintain that professionalism so you just need to breathe and just relax. So yeah, that's actually a true story.

Jess: 4:23

It happened one in many times, because we deal with people and personalities are very different. Even if it's um retail or if you're in a corporate environment, you don't know what they're coming at you with, what the kind of day they've had, and so sometimes they take it out on you and you've got an option to roar back or to take the positive approach exactly, exactly.

Jess: 4:48

You don't you don't think it's relatable to everyone until, like, you see stuff like this and you spread it around and I, I mean I emailed it to pretty much everybody and they all were like, yeah, this is so relatable exactly because, you see, it's not just me, right?

Claude: 5:01

So it becomes this little community where we are all together and that's it's like a release also for us to say, okay, it's not just for me. And at the end it makes you laugh also that like, oh, my God, that was me, okay, I'm not the only one, and that is something that is incredible. It's also a lot of being inspirational and, I have to say, it's also giving advice. You've been giving advice also to the audience. You see, this authenticity that you're bringing to this environment, that is incredible.

Char: 5:39

Thank you, thank you, and I don't know if people know this, but I actually try my hardest to read the comments Always. And yeah, you're absolutely right. You know, when I post that stuff, like 95% of the comments that I get is this is so me, this is so me, the accuracy, so it's just that relatability, Like you said. It's just I'm able to relate to people when it comes to that and my message is that you know you're not alone, you, you know you're definitely not alone. We're all going through it like it's tough, but then just, you know, sometimes laughing is the best coping mechanism definitely the best medicine how long ago was it?

Claude: 6:14

when did you start that journey?

Char: 6:16

so I left the end of 2022, so my rage quitting. That was me, yeah, which I actually like. If I were to go back, I would recommend for people to have a plan and not just leave. I was just I. The thing with me is that I'm a people pleaser, so I always put, like, my work in front of everything, including my family. Eventually, I started putting it ahead of my family. So I think that, with me just trying to please everyone at work, you know my priorities shifted to like now I'm pleasing the job. Now, you know, fast forward, I'm pleasing a job that will easily just replace me tomorrow. You know which. You know there were a few incidents where it was close to it. You know there were a few incidents where it was close to it because the store had closed, so I had to reapply for my position rather than transferring, so starting the beginning of 2023,.

Jess: 7:18

I did this until now. What gave you the inspiration for your handle? Gnarly Oodles, because it's very unique. I have never seen or heard of anything out there and sometimes I just say it because it's fun and I never know if I'm even saying it right, because I always want to put an end in it um, because I love the word gnarly.

Char: 7:37

Gnarly is very like unique, I like saying it. My husband likes to say gnarly also um, and I love noodles. So I was like, okay, play words, we'll put them together. But when I went to create it it said it was taken. Okay, well, let me just drop the end. Do gnarly noodles? And luckily no one has it. So I was I'm able to keep that name consistent all across the board.

Claude: 7:58

So another question, because it's all about work bestie, right is it? Do you have a work bestie? So is it really you know from coming from experience that you have a work bestie, and what does it represent for you?

Char: 8:25

we met at my previous job and it's funny too, because I never had a work bestie. I never did like I worked at, you know, retail stores. I worked at a restaurant and I never did Like I worked at you know, retail stores. I worked at a restaurant and I never really had to work bestie. I was more like you know, I'm here to do a job, I'll work, you know. If you know you want to hang out, let's hang out, just just keeping it cordial.

Char: 8:47

Then then he came along and you know, it's just, I don't know. There was just something about him where we just clicked. I don't know what it was, but we just clicked and eventually he ended up the transition from, like you know, co workers to friends to work best me thinking about it, I just I can't remember how exactly he transitioned, but all I can say is that there was just something with us where we just click. There was like a bond there or something. I feel hard for me, it's very hard for me to explain, like I try to explain it to people, but I just can't. I feel like I can't find the right words for it except that we just clicked yeah, you're not the first one on this podcast to say that.

Jess: 9:26

There are so many that say that it's like, it's almost like when you find your significant other. Yes, exactly. Oh, it's a little different types of sparks, but it sparks the same.

Char: 9:38

Exactly exactly Because it's tough, because I get a lot of comments where you know that they did have a work bestie, but they that work bestie. I guess either they moved up or something like that. But long story short is that they turned on them. So it's, you know, luckily he didn't, but it's just something clicked, you know, between the two of us. So it's, you know, luckily he didn't, but it's just something clicked, you know, between the two of us. I just I don't know how else to describe it. But yeah, all my work bestie stuff is inspired by our relationship, every little thing, from sneaking off to go chit chat in the break room to making sure our manager isn't watching us so that we can go chit chat, or you know, know it's slow or we're bored. We'll go over to each other's desk and we'll just chit chat and all that stuff. So it's somehow, some way.

Jess: 10:23

He's like they went on vacation and missing each other, like all the stuff that they bring you up to speed on, but then eventually that, you know, that was nice and fun.

Char: 10:33

But eventually our friendship progressed because there was a lot of significant changes that happened, constant significant changes that happened with the company we were working at. So eventually it started taking a toll on us with our mental health, how we were feeling we would wake up all of a sudden. I'll share with him. Hey, you know what? I woke up at 2 am because I forgot to do something, something. Now I've been up since like 2 am and now we're at work. You know, just thinking about I can't go back to sleep. And then that's when he would open up and say the same thing. You know, it's so funny.

Char: 11:05

I was up since 4 am and then just that constant like bonding, if our manager said something or a change of protocol, we would just talk to each other about how we felt, or didn't they do just a change yesterday and it's just. We understood each other. It's like thinking about it. You know, work bestie, your work bestie is your therapist, you know, because no one will understand work. No, no one will ever understand the stuff that happens at your work, unlike your work bestie because they're going through it with you.

Char: 11:31

You can tell your spouse, you can tell your, you know your significant other, your family, like you know but it's just not the same. It's not the same, because they understand it yeah.

Jess: 11:42

They know the other players, they know the other things and, like they were there at times to witness some of it.

Jess: 11:47

Yeah, I think you're hitting on like the second topic that we get brought up a lot, too, is how you became friends tends to be from a traumatic experience, too is how you became friends tends to be from a traumatic experience, which is the part that's sad, but at least there's a positive outcome from it and, to your point, having you find that other person in your work environment. It's so critical, and one of the reasons why we started this podcast was to encourage this newer generation, especially because there is still a lot that are working from home or kind of insist resisting on going back into the office. But we're like you need to do it because you need to meet these people who also will become such an important lifeline for you, not just from a work aspect, but also well balanced, like. Your mental wellness really needs it.

Char: 12:31

Exactly, exactly, especially with how hard things are nowadays.

Claude: 12:34

Yeah, that's just it yeah, and and I like the the way also, you say that your work best. You really understand what you're going through, because our significant others or best friend, or whatever they, they don't get it because they are not there and sometimes or they will downplay or try to give solutions that are not relatable, because it's not possible, exactly so, having that, even this safe environment, it's so important to support.

Char: 13:04

Exactly, exactly. I absolutely agree with you. And then sometimes, like it's hard to open up with you can't open up with everyone at work because unfortunately not everyone is your friend at work. You know, I've learned that, I've definitely learned that. So it's unfortunate that you know you can't really open up like that. But once you find that work bestie, you have that ability to open up with that person. It's just, it's great, it's great to have that person with you.

Jess: 13:28

Say it was the number one thing about a work bestie, it's the trust.

Char: 13:35

Yes, it is the trust, it is the trust and it's the trust it is. It is, yes, it is the trust, it is the trust. And it's funny that you say that, because we actually have something where it's like you know, if he were to break my trust or if I were to break his trust, we have so much dirt on each other we can easily expose each other we can easily cancel each other. We can easily cancel each other.

Jess: 14:00

We can only do more damage, exactly, exactly so it's like a contract that he can't break you know Not going down, you're going down, Exactly exactly. But that's also something you can say to a work bestie and you're feeling about it, but you also mean it.

Char: 14:16

Exactly, exactly. You can laugh about it, but there's also some truth behind it.

Jess: 14:20

I can't wait to meet your work bestie and have him oh you'll love him. I just feel like the four of us would be like dying of laughter over all these things.

Char: 14:27

How do I describe him? So I'm a little bit timid, so a little calm, mid, so a little calm. He's very um extroverted, I guess. So he brings out another side of me. You know how best we are, yeah, so there's always the calmer one well, that's going to be more reserved exactly doing my clode 101, which is sure.

Claude: 14:53

Shirts support yin and yang yes, exactly, exactly.

Jess: 14:57

Completely random question, which I hope you don't mind me asking. Yes, of course. So in addition to the fact that I just love your content, I've noticed that you have some really cool t-shirt designs and sometimes I feel like they're kind of recognizable but kind of not Is that purposeful.

Char: 15:18

So it's a family kind of thing that we do. So I have the idea. Unfortunately, I can't draw stick figures, even if my life depended on it, so I'm so blessed to have a cousin that's very artistic. So I just tell him, yeah, so he draws them all from scratch. Like I just shoot him an idea, hey, can you do this and this? And then he'll draw it, and then if there's any tweaks or changes, then he'll do it and he literally puts my vision to life. Like I don't know how he does it, even though he lives in another country, he still does it. Our theme for it is kind of just to bring out a little bit of nostalgia, because me, being a 90s kid, I feel like that's a really, really fun era, because that's I feel like that's the last time kids ever really got a chance to play outside. So it's like it's I'm just trying to relive that, bringing that nostalgia back. So just mashing things up, so just giving him ideas.

Claude: 16:17

He draws them and he's the one that puts them to life some of those shirts are just so freaking cute changing subject is you said before that your work bestie was your first work bestie, that prior to him you didn't have a work bestie. So do you see a big difference right Between when in your career, in your previous job without work bestie, and then this job with? Can you elaborate a bit Like do you see a big difference?

Char: 16:54

So yeah, there's a huge difference because in my previous jobs it's just if there were like stress or if I had an issue maybe I don't know if issue would be a nice word, but like if I had an issue with maybe a coworker or maybe like someone said something or the manager, I couldn't really tell anyone like my co workers in full detail how I really felt, because like the trust wasn't there there was no trust.

Char: 17:20

So, like I always had my guard up where it's like, um, you know, I'll tell you. Like, if I'm, like, you know, feeling a certain way, but it's not to the full, like extent, you know where it's. Just, you know, just like I'm just laying it out there, like, like you know, I'm laying in the couch, you know, talking to my therapist, I'll just say enough, you know, just be like, yeah, that was I, was, I was very upset, but with having that work, that's where you're able to just let it all out. There is a huge difference because, kind of like, you're able to just let out your frustrations on someone or to someone that understands it, that understands it because you built that trust. And, like we mentioned earlier, trust is the biggest thing, because if there's no trust, then you can't really have those kind of conversations with them. And then the other, before, you know, like there was no trust, I didn't have that, I didn't click with anyone or I didn't feel that bond, that instant bond that I felt with him until I met him, you know.

Claude: 18:18

So it's definitely the trust it's really, it's really shows how important you know a work bestie is, and we can see it in in your content. There's really something about work bestie that is so important, very important to to do your frustration, but also to relate and even to laugh.

Char: 18:40

Yeah no, you're absolutely right, you brought up laughing. So it's just like you have the one that you're able to vent with, etc. Talk to, etc. But you also, it's always those inside jokes.

Char: 18:55

It's always like I've never had inside jokes. We mean, there were inside jokes, but not to this extent where our inside jokes were like uh, you know, oh, big bird, big birds here. So it's like we instantly already knew. And the thing is that we were always laughing and everyone were always wondering why are you guys laughing? And but the only thing is that we were always laughing and everyone were always wondering why are you guys laughing? And but the only thing is that because either he said something, I said something, we have an inside joke or anything like that, and it just it also makes work fun. There you go.

Char: 19:25

So thank you for bringing up the funny because, like, aside all of the venting and the therapy, the trauma bonding, they make work fun. You know, like work is not. Before work was never fun, you know, but they make work fun. You know, like work is not, but before work was never fun, you know, but they make work fun because it's like little jokes, the inside jokes, the nicknames and everything. If they say a word like I will never let it die is because in the meeting he had mentioned, like we were in a meeting, he meant to say observe observance, and he said, it's very important to be absorbed do you have 15 sponges at every given time?

Char: 20:05

so I, of course, like you know, I couldn't hold that. I I died right there and my manager is just looking at me and I'm trying to keep myself together, but it's so hard because, you know, he said something. So now, forever, like, instead of saying, observant we're, I'm always like, yeah, because you're very absorbent, aren't you so? So it's just that laughing, that fun funniness. You know, hey, I told them about your absorbent story.

Char: 20:36

He's like you did not justice at the right now I'm scared, because you know what that means. That's payback. Now I think I set myself up for something.

Claude: 20:56

Yes, jess, totally. Let's do a, you know part two with Char, bestie, work Bestie.

Char: 21:07

Totally, yes, definitely, definitely. He would love to do that. Like I already talked to him, he's like, yes, I'd love to do that. So, yeah, yeah, there will be a part two. Yes, yes, he'll elaborate more and, if any, there's anything else I forgot, like he'll probably remember. So, yeah, and then, just, just just just to prepare you guys, there might be two sides of every story, because he has his own side and I have my side as like to say there's the right side and then there's cloud side.

Char: 21:38

I'm stealing that from you. I'm going to tell him that I love that. I do, I love it.

Claude: 21:46

I agree also with the fun part. Right, like well, jess is not in the same department as me anymore and I know that I was more eager. I was eager to go to the office, you know, when Jess was next to me then we sit right next to each other. And now, we're like multiple floors apart so you know it. It made me want to come to the office a lot more, because I knew I would be laughing you know, exactly, exactly and it's just.

Char: 22:16

It's just though it's just like that's. Another part of having a work bestie is that you know nobody looks forward to going to work. But when you have that work bestie, you know it's going to be a good time. And luckily you guys were able to sit next to each other. Our manager always separated us because we were always either laughing or nudging each other or pinching each other, you know. So we were always separated, like our desks, like she would put my desk in one side of the office and then his desk would be on the other side. So he's a chatterbox. I love him, but he's a chatterbox. He talks so much that he ended up next to the manager. What is it like school that you put to the teacher?

Char: 22:59

It's funny too because, like thinking about it, when I was like you know, making these like memes and skits about work besties, I'm just like, wow, I feel like we're like little children and our manager was babysitting us, you know, I felt like we're in kindergarten because she always had to watch us, like we couldn't do things together. Like you know, if she told him, hey, can you take the trash out, he'll be like oh, can Charissa come with. Can Charissa come with me and it's like, and she's like, he's like no, you don't need that, she's like, but it's too heavy, you know. Just some sort of excuse so that we can both be together. You know, she, she's like no, no, you can do it yourself, she has other stuff to do. I felt like we were, like we were children, we were like in a little daycare and our manager was our like, you know, like the adult in the room, exactly, and she was always just having to watch us. So it's just fun, it's really fun.

Claude: 23:52

A lot of managers or the organization actually embrace this work-based relationship with you, know their employees and it's like for us, jess right, like people actually like that. They embraced it, they knew it. But it seems like for you and your work-based it wasn't the same. It feels like for you and your work-based where bestie, it wasn't the same. It feels like for you and your work bestie where you were, it wasn't the same. It wasn't as because they were separating you.

Char: 24:23

Yeah, but I mean so for her. She was actually one of the best managers I've ever worked with. She was great, she was amazing. So I was very blessed to be able to work with a very good manager, because she's the type of manager where if you, you know, did your work and you did what you were supposed to, she recognized it, and there's not a lot of managers out there that do that. So when you actually work with a manager that you know you work hard and they recognize it and then they move you up for it, it's very rewarding to work with someone who does that.

Char: 24:58

Luckily for us, she was our manager, but then eventually we ended up separating because we ended up moving up within the company. So I ended up working somewhere, he ended up working somewhere. So we would just text each other, but we ended up in the same position. So we would still text and talk and vent and laugh and everything, but it would be different, like we would even time our lunches at the same time so that we could both go to lunch at the same time, and that would be our venting session. We would literally spend the whole hour just talking to each other. So it's just we still. It still carried on. Whether we were in the office working together or we were in different cities doing whatever it was we were doing, we still connected and since we were still with the same company, we were still able to talk, laugh, stress about the same thing.

Jess: 25:50

Still have that same yeah, the same knowledge about stuff that you can share and talk to. Just to correct the question. So it doesn't sound like your boss was against you being best friends or the workplace besties. It just sounds like she was trying to find ways to motivate you guys to be a little bit, maybe more efficient in your roles. Yes, yes, and the reason why Claude was asking that I'm going to Claude-splain everyone.

Claude: 26:14

Yeah, claude-splaining, thank you.

Jess: 26:16

This is the morning of the episode where Jessica Claude-splains the reason she asked is because one of the things that we are so pro is having managers that support the encouragement of work besties. 10, 15, 30 minutes of your lunch like the amount of energy you get back from having that quick connection or quick conversation gets you instantly much more motivated, much more productive and just an all around better mental state when you get back into your work.

Claude: 26:51

There is a Gallup survey actually that shows that, you know, employees are more predictive when they have a work bestie.

Char: 27:00

So I totally. I'm not surprised, like I would say yes, I absolutely, 100% agree, even though maybe we gave our manager headaches because of our little sons. But yeah, we were productive, we, we were too. I would like to hope we were.

Jess: 27:17

What about your co-workers around you? How did they handle or appreciate or not appreciate you two as work besties?

Char: 27:26

It was more so that we were so close that if I wasn't with them they'd be like oh, where's your other co-workers? So it was kind of like we were instantly like always paired together. You know it was, it was the I was I mean like that was pretty much it, like maybe I would be lying if I said that we weren't annoying. So I'm pretty sure we probably annoyed them, probably because of our all our giggles or laughs or inside jokes, but it was just honestly what I would have to say.

Char: 27:54

Being able to work with my work bestie, I still say, was definitely the highlight of my career. It really was Like being able to work with them is definitely the highlight. Like, if I can, like, there was a point where, because we both had gotten promoted, so that's how we both ended up working in different stores. So we were talking about it. We were saying that, you know, even though we got promoted which is great, because which was that was our goal If we can turn back time and just go back to when we were working together, we would definitely do that in a heartbeat.

Char: 28:32

We definitely go back, turn back time with the same manager, that turn back time with the same manager, that we were working with the same co-workers, it was just. It was just. It was fun, it was very fun, it was fun, it was good times this is kind of diverting topics again.

Jess: 28:46

Out of all of your um content, which one went viral that you were most surprised about?

Char: 28:54

I would have to say it was those dancing bears, the dancing bear ones.

Char: 28:57

It was the dancing bear ones because I saw it. So it was a Capca template. And then I think when I first saw it, it was something about me and my husband when we go to Target or something they related to Target. But then when I saw it, it's like something clicked in my head and I was like, okay, well, you know, this is something like this, looks like something like me and my work best be hyping each other. And then I found like the SpongeBob falling apart, you know, with the fire and stuff Did this really will play very well with work, you know. So I just put two and two together and I just remember signing on to tick, tock.

Char: 29:32

A sudden I had like my notifications were blowing up. I was like whoa, what is what is going on, you know? And I looked and yeah, my dancing bears, people were tagging their besties and I was like this is so awesome, you know. And they were like this is us, us, you and me, us on Monday. And I was like, wow, this is this, is great, that. And I was just like, wow, this is this is great and, honestly, that, definitely that. Those dancing bears. I love my dancing bears because they really set the tone for my content. They really yeah totally makes sense.

Char: 30:04

I didn't think they were gonna go, but I did not think. So I did not think my dancing bears that was your very first one. Wow that was my very first one. You really knocked it out of my head from the beginning. Wow, that was like, I think, february of March of last year. Wow, yeah, so I was just like I will always.

Jess: 30:20

That's amazing.

Char: 30:22

Yeah, I always love my dancing bears.

Jess: 30:24

I owe it to my dancing bears you said, all of your content is from experiences, your personal experiences, and this is now your full-time job. How are you getting new inspiration? Is it still only from yours? Are you seeking from others? Do you want me and claude to give you some ideas?

Char: 30:40

so yeah, so I would love, okay, so no, I need it too. So I would love ideas that would be great, but someone who speaks? French and doesn't.

Claude: 30:57

It's hard to understand. Can you explain what?

Char: 31:04

she's saying yeah, honestly, I it just, it just comes up.

Jess: 31:19

You know, there are just moments, like you know, my husband will say something and I'll be like, oh OK, because's you know, he'll tell me about work and he'll say something, and I'll be like, oh okay, I can make something off of this or my work.

Char: 31:26

Best, we do need to bring him on. It's just all of that and stuff. And then, just trying to just remember, it's like 15 plus years working in retail in a customer service job. I feel like it's endless.

Jess: 31:36

There's always something and it's always something, always something about it before, like sometimes your memory's not the best and something else will just like jar out one of those memories.

Char: 31:49

You've got a lot still to come.

Jess: 31:51

I I foresee this being many, many years of great content.

Char: 31:54

Thank you. I can post about cashiers. I worked at a toy store, you know restaurant, you know I even managed also. So it's just like, yes, thank you, thank you, and then that's all that matters. Anyways, you know, it's like I, just as long as you know they enjoy it, you know my, my audience, my community, they enjoy it. You know my, my audience, my community, they enjoy it, they find it relatable. You know, that's, that's, that's all that matters. You know they, they're able to laugh about, like work, stress, you know, just like like kind of think of it put in a different sense, you know, so that's all that matters.

Jess: 32:28

Yeah, um, a virtual work, bestie, if you will yeah, actually I buy them, like your work besties oh, because it's true, because you know as much as you want to have the person to vent to, it's just as important to have that little bit of moment where you just laugh, you just exactly and that's what your um, all of your content kind of does, and it's so relatable so it's amazing thank you thank you. So where do you feel this is gonna evolve?

Char: 33:01

um, as of right now, no, um, like I have goals set for myself, I do, um, I have goals set for myself, but I would love to, just I want to. So, pretty much, I'm in the point where I just want to see where this goes. Okay, I would like you know, of course hope for the best. I guess, you know, we'll see, we'll see how things go, but, as of right now, I am enjoying it and I'm just happy to hear that other people are enjoying it too and that that right there is my motivator, my drive to continue creating the content that I'm creating you already are hitting your goals in one way.

Char: 33:36

Oh, I never even thought like I. It still blows my mind. It's still absolutely, even when I hit like like 5000 or 10,000.

Jess: 33:48

I was like, Wait what you know, like me, A million. Now Imagine you're talking to that many people and passing along that little bit of like positivity out in the world. That's amazing.

Char: 33:59

Yeah, you know, with everything that's going on these days, I feel like there's so much negativity going on and sometimes you know it's just we just need more positivity, we need more laughing. Yes, laughing is definitely the best. It really is.

Jess: 34:13

And more appreciation too.

Char: 34:15

Right, exactly exactly, exactly, and then it's just also. Well, there is one, now that you brought it up, I would like to, you know, really share, you know, really want to promote mental health, like you know that you have to prioritize your mental health and don't put your job in front of it, because your mental health is so precious it really is, and you can't tear yourself down, uh, for a job that like like I always say, it's like for a job that will replace you tomorrow. Yeah, so it's just so. I would like to, um, you know, kind of, I really want to really focus and emphasize on that, on mental health, especially in the workplace. I also want to continue to emphasize workers' rights. You know there's a lot of stuff that a lot of employees don't know, that. They have lot of employees that know they have that right, you know. So it's. It's also, you know. I also want to try to let it out there.

Jess: 35:21

Educate.

Char: 35:22

Yeah, exactly To educate also, and then just so that people know that. Yeah, so don't sacrifice your mental health for a job. Really, don't you know?

Jess: 35:31

That is so smart. I think one of the things, um, that wasn't really explained to me earlier in life where I think a little older than you, but is the importance of mental health and even just to having like someone to talk to a therapist just to let it out there, and a lot more companies. It's a part of your healthcare and sometimes you don't even know it and it's, I feel like that's almost just as important, if not more important, than your. Your annual checkup right, like keeping your mind at ease is so important. Um, some people can do it just with work memes, but not all of us can. Some do need that other person to talk to and I think it's so important to remind people it's okay. It's actually a really good thing.

Char: 36:15

Yeah, it is, you know, especially cause, like I remember, one time, like you know, I worked like two straight weeks, like I think, from like 8am to like 8pm, no days off, nothing for for a that this job, I was actually part time, so you're working two full straight weeks. It was kind of like now knowing better, it was like that wasn't right, you know. So there's a lot of people that don't know that. I was very young at that time, so there's not a lot of people that know that. And it's good to kind of just share that for people so that they don't feel like you know, they're being taken advantage of a job. If they are, you know that they. It's pretty much. What value do you bring to your job? That's what. That's what should matter. It shouldn't matter if you're working through your breaks or working through your lunch or coming in on your days off. It's what value are you bringing to the job. You know what work ethic.

Jess: 37:09

I think the way you positioned it is the balance of what's the wellness in your life, right, so it's okay to be, to really appreciate and want to excel in your work environment, but it's almost more important at least equally if not more that your home life, whether that means you're young and social and going out and doing stuff, or you've got another side hustle career or you have, you know, kids and significant others, whatever that is. All of that is so important and you really do need to balance that and be reminded that those are just as important, if not more.

Char: 37:45

Exactly Cause I went through a time where I thought about work so much that, um, I would, my husband would be talking to me. This is where I knew I was like, okay, yeah, something has to change. Where my husband would be talking to me, but my mind was elsewhere, wandering. My mind was like focused on well, I need to do this. It's the end of the month.

Jess: 38:03

I haven't done this oh my gosh, I forgot to send that one last email before I left the office, or?

Char: 38:08

something. Yes, would just I all of a sudden, like he'll be looking at me and I'm just be like like realize, oh, you're not talking anymore. You know so when I spoke to it there. So it's like. It's like when you go through that stuff, you develop your own coping mechanisms. Yeah, but when I started talking to a therapist which you know should be like you know a lot of people when they say, oh, I saw a therapist, it's kind of like. It feels like it's kind of taboo. It's still a little taboo.

Jess: 38:41

I think it's just as important, yeah, very important. I think that, thankfully, is not as taboo as it was correct. Oh yeah, I like that people talk about it, openly admit and it shouldn't be a bad thing exactly.

Char: 38:50

And it shouldn't be a bad thing. It shouldn't be something you're embarrassed with because, like you know, because they helped me, they helped me realize that all my coping mechanisms, that I was trying to do was actually unhealthy yes, you know. So it was just like. So they're able to help you reflect. So, you know, seeing a therapist sometimes, yeah, it's very important.

Jess: 39:08

Because your mind, as amazing as it is, will always go to the simplest things to get to relieve you. That's not usually the best thing Like.

Char: 39:18

once you get into the practice of those correct coping mechanisms, it is easy, but the hurdle in the beginning yeah it's important someone to help you through it and especially, like you said, it's always like don't lose sight of your family, don't lose sight of your significant other, don't lose sight of your kids. You know just that because, like kids, still you know, like my, my toddler will only be a toddler for so long and then that's it, it's gone, won't happen again oh well, thank you so much for doing this.

Jess: 39:45

This was such an honor to have you um yeah, thank you for having me.

Char: 39:50

Thank you, thank you so much for having me.

Jess: 39:52

You guys were great you're all about putting the positivity out in the world and making sure people find those connections, whether it's a work bestie, whether it's just a moment to laugh, and we so appreciate what you're doing and we shamelessly tap onto it and repost your stuff too.

Claude: 40:11

Your content's amazing, thank you Our life and we can relate and it makes us feel better. We really love it. So thank you really for coming.

Jess: 40:20

Remember whether you're swapping snacks in the break room, rescuing each other from endless meetings or just sending that perfectly timed meme. Having a work bestie is like having your own personal hype squad.

Claude: 40:33

So keep lifting each other, laughing through the chaos and, of course, thriving. Until next time, stay positive, stay productive and don't forget to keep supporting each other. Work besties.