The Return of Ashley, Strange Addictions and New Year Actions
- Johnette Cruz
- Jan 29
- 3 min read
Behind The Filter: After Dark Edition
We are finally back! After a holiday whirlwind of sickness and travel, the duo is reunited, but if Ashley sounds a little like she’s been moonlighting as a jazz singer, there’s a reason. Ashley opened the show by detailing her sudden battle with laryngitis.
The twist? It isn’t viral. After a "mute" weekend in Denver where she could barely squeeze out a whisper, her doctor gave her the diagnosis: it’s either bacterial or stress-related. The only cure? Vocal rest—which, for a podcaster, is basically a death sentence.
Skin Deep: The Melasma Journey
While the voice was struggling, the skin was glowing. Ashley showed up fresh from a Lumeca IPL laser treatment at Prana. For those of us with darker skin tones—Latinas, Greeks, and Native Americans—finding the right laser can be a nightmare.
We had a serious "skin-to-skin" chat about the Fitzpatrick Scale. If you have melasma-prone skin, the wrong treatment can actually make pigmentation worse.
Skin Tip: Always ensure your aesthetician properly diagnoses your Fitzpatrick level and takes your ethnicity into account before firing up the laser!
Viral Madness: Strange Addictions & "Vabbing"
The "After Dark" edition wouldn't be complete without a deep dive into the weirdest corners of the internet. We revisited My Strange Addiction and found some things we truly wish we could un-see:
The Semen Facial: A woman named Brandy went viral for using her husband’s "supply" as a twice-daily anti-aging hack. Dermatologists warn this can lead to topical dermatitis or—even worse—STDs in the eyes that can cause permanent blindness.
"Vabbing" is Back: We discussed the 2022 trend that’s making a comeback: vaginal dabbing. Using pheromones as perfume is one thing, but dabbing your own "juices" on your pulse points before a date? We’re still trying to process that one.
Corporate Email Nightmares
To lighten the mood, we shared some of the most hilariously tragic corporate email typos. We’ve all been there, but these take the cake:
"Please be advised, I'm taking a dick day today" (instead of sick day).
"Opening a new whorehouse would increase efficiency" (instead of warehouse).
"I'm okay with anything as long as there's intercourse" (instead of discourse).
Love or Leverage?
We took a hard look at the viral story of the 22-year-old Italian influencer who married her 60-year-old former teacher.
The Flex: She posted a comparison of them from 2010—when she was 5 and he was 45.
The Debate: Is it a "gold digger" situation, or is he truly the "Professor of her Heart"? We discussed our own experiences with age gaps and why the 22-vs-60 dynamic feels a little different than a 5-year gap.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Minimalism vs. Action
We wrapped up the episode with a transparent look at our New Year's goals.
The Season of Less: I discussed the potential of downsizing to a one-bedroom apartment to prioritize life experiences over "apartment-poor" living.
The Year of Action: Ashley is focusing on "Action" for 2026—overcoming the entrepreneur’s fear of being "salesy" and finally asking for those sponsorships and consulting clients.
**Sponsorship Inquiries: We are officially open for 2026 partnerships! Reach out at johnette@johnettecruz.com
Sources: TLC, The New York Post, TikTok
with them very soon.
Watch or listen to the full episode below:
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~J
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