"The One Where... Grant's Mom Finally Visits" - Season Finale
After countless mentions, one infamous phone call attempt to shame Jay, and years of anticipation, we finally welcome Grant's Mom into the studio for our season finale. But first, a word of caution: while we're known for finding humor in the darkest corners of mental health, this episode tackles some heavy subjects including depression, anxiety, loneliness, suicide, and molestation. Don't worry though – our dynamic duo still manages to navigate these waters with their trademark blend of sensitivity and wit.
In what can only be described as a masterclass in elderly interviewing (yes, you read that right), Jason shocks everyone by trading his Angry Ginger persona for that of a surprisingly skilled interviewer. Who knew he could be professional? Certainly not Grant!
The episode peels back the layers of Grant's childhood, revealing the complexities of growing up in a home where Dad's presence was measured in weeks away rather than time present. We learn how the family eventually needed therapy just to reintegrate him back into their daily lives – both as a father and husband. Grant's Mom opens up about the challenges of essentially solo-parenting two boys while instilling the values that would shape Grant into the ice-cream-binging, anxiety-managing, deeply empathetic human we know today.
In an unexpected turn, a discussion about a recently deceased family friend evolves into a powerful moment when Grant confronts the disconnect between his parents' memories and his own traumatic experiences with this person. It's a stark reminder that sometimes, even our own parents, can forget about our most touching moments.
The conversation shifts to parenting tactics, exploring what we inherit from our parents and – in true grandparent fashion – how all those carefully crafted rules go straight out the window once grandkids enter the picture. Because apparently, "What happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's" is now a legally binding contract.
We wrap up with Mom sharing her favorite memories of Grant, proving that even our most sensitive moments can lead Jay to an unexpected tugging on the wrong kind of heart strings of conversation – though Jay's contribution to this touching maternal moment certainly had Grant wishing his mom had packed some extra absorption for the emotional overflow.
This season finale serves as a powerful reminder that understanding our mental health often means looking back at where we came from, even if that journey requires a few laughs to get through the years and years of tears. Thank you for joining us on this wild ride through the landscape of mental health, family dynamics, and the occasional inappropriate joke that somehow made it past the editing room.
See you next season, where we'll continue our mission to make mental health discussions a little less heavy and a lot more human – one questionably appropriate conversation at a time.
Feel like you've found your people? We'd love to hear from you! Shoot us an email at OnHiatus@MonkeyPooStudios.com – your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear (and might temporarily distract Grant from his ongoing love affair with Ben & Jerry's).
Join our digital circus over on Twitter/X @Podcast_Hiatus, where Season 4 promises the shocking debut of... While you're there, give our resident sass master, The Angry Ginger, a follow @S7evendaysageek. He promises to only bite on days ending in 'y'.
