brb crying

This week, Nins dives into "Higher" by Tems, the haunting Afrobeats ballad about toxic relationships, self-worth, healing, and finally choosing yourself. From the song's powerful lyrics to the surprising story behind Future's Grammy-winning sample in "Wait for U," this conversation explores what it means to stop waiting for people who refuse to change. Then, Arns shar...

This Halloween, we're taking a break from traditional scares and talking about the movie moments that truly haunt us. Arns dives into the 1990 classic Ghost , starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg, exploring grief, love, and what we'd give for one more moment with the people we've lost. Nins revisits Wicked , the beloved Broadway-musical-turned-blockbuster-film st...

What do Klay Thompson leaving the Golden State Warriors and a viral TikTok about a grandfather visiting his wife's grave have in common? Apparently everything. :') This week, Nins explores why Klay Thompson's departure from the Golden State Warriors became a surprisingly emotional lesson about endings, identity, and honoring the past.  Arns follows with a viral TikTok about a grandf...

This week, we explore two surprisingly connected stories: a powerful moment from Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series and the real-life story of Shanidar 1, a Neanderthal whose survival became one of the earliest known examples of human compassion. Arns reflects on a difficult season of anxiety, self-doubt, and healing through the lens of ACOTAR's unforgettable Mir...

This episode dives into two unexpected tearjerkers: Richard Curtis's beloved time-travel romance About Time (2013) and Netflix's food and travel series Somebody Feed Phil . Nins revisits About Time and reflects on its powerful message about grief, parent-child relationships, time, mortality, and learning to appreciate ordinary moments before they're gone. From Bill Nighy and Domhnal...

Nins shares the heartwarming story of Jerry & Tally Leonard, the viral figure skating couple whose decades-long love story has moved millions online. From public skating performances to 58 years on the ice together, their partnership is a beautiful reminder of lasting love, shared passions, and growing old side by side. Meanwhile, Arns dives into The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks...

This week, Arns dives into one of the most devastating hours of television ever made: The Last of Us Episode 3, "Long, Long Time." We revisit Bill and Frank's unforgettable love story, explore why the episode resonated so deeply with audiences, and reflect on how love gives life meaning even in the darkest circumstances. Then we shift from post-apocalyptic heartbreak to the soaring...

This week, we dive into Greta Gerwig's acclaimed adaptation of Little Women (2019) and the timeless themes that have made Louisa May Alcott's novel resonate for over 150 years. Nins explores the emotional power of Little Women , from Jo March's fierce independence and rejection of societal expectations to the unforgettable monologue about womanhood, ambition, love, and loneliness. W...

This week, Nins & Arns explore two powerful stories about growing up, being misunderstood, and the transformative power of love. Arns revisits Dìdi (弟弟), Sean Wang's award-winning coming-of-age film set in Fremont, California during the early days of MySpace, AIM, and YouTube. Through the eyes of a Taiwanese American teenager desperately trying to fit in, Dìdi captures the awkwardness o...

This week, Nins and Arns explore two powerful works that ask what it means to remain human in a world obsessed with labels, expectations, and letting go. Nins dives deep into Ariana Grande's "we can't be friends (wait for your love)," unpacking the heartbreaking music video inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the song's deeper meaning. What begins as a st...

This week, Nins & Arns explore two moving stories about identity, family, belonging, and the people who shape us. Arns revisits Disney's Moana (2016) and discovers an entirely new meaning hidden beneath the beloved animated film. What once felt like a story about adventure becomes a powerful reflection on self-worth, healing, ancestral wisdom, intergenerational trauma, and the courage it...

This week, Nins and Arns explore two stories that unexpectedly arrive at the same question: how do we keep hoping when the world feels impossible? Nins dives into A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, the cult-favorite existential novella about a man trapped in an infinite library searching for the book of his life. What begins as a story about hell, eternity, and impossible odds becomes a medit...

In this Valentine's Day special of brb crying, Arns and Nins explore two very different stories that arrive at the same question: what does it mean to love deeply? Arns reflects on "Seed of a Seed" by Haley Heynderickx, the indie folk song about slowing down, resisting consumer culture, and finding happiness in life's simplest gifts. Through Heynderickx's music and philoso...

This week, Nins reflects on a simple phone call from her dad that unexpectedly unraveled everything she thought she understood about growing up, immigrant parents, adulthood, and the quiet ways love is expressed. Arns dives into one of the most emotional storylines from the hit anime Dan Da Dan , exploring a heartbreaking mother-daughter relationship, self-worth, inadequacy, and the universal desi...

Arns reflects on a transformative trip to Bali that unexpectedly changed her perspective on pleasure, healing, self-discovery, and what it means to intentionally create a life you actually enjoy living. Then Nins dives into the comforting world of The Great British Bake Off, sharing why contestant Nelly Ghaffar’s kindness, resilience, and wisdom left such a lasting impression. Through stories of f...

In this special bonus episode of brb crying, Nins and Arns step away from their usual format to share some of the most unforgettable listener sob stories from season two. From The Lord of the Rings ' iconic "You Bow to No One" scene to mysterious spirit encounters inspired by Journey of Souls , emotional park bench memorial plaques, beloved pets, PMDD, Hamilton, family friendships,...

Nins explores the transcendent beauty of Tems’ song and music video “Me & U,” uncovering a powerful meditation on spirituality, self-discovery, faith, and the deeply personal relationship we each have with a higher power. Then Arns dives into Daughter of a Lost Bird , the moving documentary that follows a Native woman reconnecting with her biological family, tribal community, and cultural iden...

Nins and Arns take a break from their usual stories to process the emotions surrounding the recent presidential election. Together, they reflect on post-election grief, anxiety, fear, disappointment, hope, and what it means to keep moving forward when the future feels uncertain. From conversations about women's rights, motherhood, and political division to community care, mutual aid, and coll...

This week, Nins and Arns explore two unforgettable stories about grief, love, mortality, and what it means to leave something behind. Arns reflects on J ulie: The Unwinding of the Miracle , the moving podcast and memoir chronicling the life of Julie Yip-Williams, a lawyer, mother, refugee, and writer who spent her final years preparing her loved ones for life after her death. Nins dives into Shark...

We're getting spoOoOky! In this week's brb crying Halloween special, Nins explores grief, death, and childlike wonder through Kate Braestrup's unforgettable story "The House of Mourning," performed on The Moth. Through the eyes of a five-year-old girl saying goodbye to her cousin, the story challenges our fears around death and reminds us that love is often stronger than g...

This week, Arns and Nins explore two stories about love, connection, and the people who stay with us long after we think we've moved on. Arns revisits "Beyond" by Leon Bridges, the soulful love song that captures the exhilarating terror of falling in love and wondering if you've finally met "the one." Through lyrics about vulnerability, commitment, and choosing love d...

This week, Nins concludes our Hamilton tour of tears with Act 2 of Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical. From Alexander Hamilton's public downfall and the heartbreaking loss of Philip Hamilton to Eliza Hamilton's extraordinary act of forgiveness and her determination to preserve a legacy, Nins explores the moments that transformed Hamilton from a historical drama into one of...

This week, we dive into two stories that explore family, sacrifice, identity, and the complicated ways we love each other. Arns discusses A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, the acclaimed novel about an Indian-American Muslim family struggling with faith, belonging, estrangement, and the impossible question of what we owe ourselves versus what we owe our families. Through the story of Amar, Ha...

This week, Nins and Arns explore two stories that challenge the way we see ourselves—and our place in the world. Nins dives into Journey of Souls by Dr. Michael Newton, the bestselling spiritual classic that explores reincarnation, soulmates, spirit guides, the afterlife, and the possibility that every human life is part of a much larger journey of growth and purpose. Then Arns revisits Dove'...

This week, Arns and Nins explore the ache of loving people who live far away. Arns reflects on a trip to New York to visit her cousin, who feels more like a sister, and the quiet grief that comes with saying goodbye to long-distance loved ones. From childhood memories to adult friendships, she examines what it means to miss people deeply while knowing you'll only share a limited number of mom...