Before You Cut Bangs
by Laura Quick and Claire Fierman
Hosted by Laura Quick and Claire Fierman, “Before You Cut Bangs” is full of hilarious conversations about real life, common and uncommon crises, and possible cosmetic errors that come along with it. Through storytelling and therapeutic wisdom, Claire and Laura share how to NOT fuck up your hair (and life) while walking through similar situations, Produced by Will Lochamy
Episodes
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3.27 Doing Chores Naked & Other Things We Don't Admit
What do you do when nobody’s watching? And we’re not talking about your skincare routine. This week on Before You Cut Bangs, we’re confessing the weird, embarrassing, and occasionally unhinged things we do behind closed doors. From naked household chores and questionable pet voices to Claire’s...
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3.26 Are You Accidentally Ruining Your Life? When good habits, healthy routines, and self-improvement go too far.
Optimization is having a moment, though not always in a good way. What starts as a simple Botox touch-up or a timed calendar can quickly devolve into a life that feels like a spreadsheet with a pulse. In this episode, we get honest about the immense pressure to improve everything, exploring how...
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3.25 Apparently, We Have To Rescue Ourselves
A possum walks into a house at 2 a.m., and somehow it turns into one of the clearest lessons we’ve had about mental health, self-reliance, and what it actually means to grow up emotionally. We start with Claire’s very real wildlife situation and use it as a springboard into a bigger truth…
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3.24 Is Addiction Really A Disease??? w/ Keith Fierman (Claire’s Dad) Part 2
Waiting on someone you love to “finally be ready” for addiction help can quietly take over your whole life. Today we sit down with someone who’s lived both sides of it: Keith Fierman, Claire’s dad, who got sober and then built a life around helping families in crisis find the right next step. We...
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3.23 Is Addiction Really A Disease??? w/ Keith Fierman (Claire’s Dad) Part 1
Waiting on someone you love to “finally be ready” for addiction help can quietly take over your whole life. Today we sit down with someone who’s lived both sides of it: Keith Fierman, Claire’s dad, who got sober and then built a life around helping families in crisis find the right next step. We...
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3.22 TRAUMA, HURRY & HIDING: three things keeping us from REST. Here’s why.
Life moves fast, but sometimes the real problem isn’t the pace—it’s what we’re trying to outrun. This week, we unpack the hidden cost of constant urgency, why our culture rewards nonstop motion, and how anxiety, comparison, and discomfort keep us reaching for the next distraction instead of…
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3.21 Why Do We Freak Out?
Ever get a text that says, "I'm not okay," and suddenly your heart is racing, you're planning a rescue mission, and your brain has already imagined the worst? This week, we unpack why the people we love can send our nervous systems into overdrive. From a surprisingly relatable story about bee...
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3.20 Porch Talk w/ Alycia Levels Moore
We owe you a quick apology—the audio on this episode is a little rough in spots, but stick with us because the conversation is absolutely worth it. This week we're joined by Alycia Levels Moore, a powerhouse in economic and community development, for a conversation about building stronger...
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3.19 Strong Women - Porch Talk w/ Lindsey Miller Neal
Lindsay Miller Neal thought she had life mapped out—until one unexpected night changed everything. On this episode of Porch Talks, the fractional CFO, entrepreneur, and boxing fitness co-founder shares how grit, resilience, and embracing the unexpected shaped both her personal life and career.…
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3.18 That one time Claire saw a Psychic…
Sometimes life throws something really big or hard at us and we believe we need help ASAP. So obviously, you text your therapist or find a psychic, right?!? Jk. But Claire did hire a psychic once and we haze her accordingly. Something else is happening though when we don’t give ourselves a bit of...
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3.17 YOU ARE CREATIVE- Porch Talk is back w/ Morgan Jones Johnston
We’re back on the porch with Morgan Jones Johnston of Rugged and Fancy, and this episode might completely change the way you think about creativity. She believes creativity is not reserved for artists. It’s in how you solve problems, process emotions, decorate a room, notice color, parent your...
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3.16 Why are you so mean to yourself!?
What you say to yourself — even as a joke, even about your younger self — shapes the internal environment you actually live in. This week, Laura is deep in writing her first book, which means facing childhood trauma, her chaotic twenties, and all the sharp judgment that comes with it. Claire,...
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3.15 Porch Talk, Episode One: Olivia Stuart, founder of The Optimist Pilates, Birmingham AL
We’re kicking off Porch Talk with Olivia, founder of The Optimist Pilates. SPOILER: Claire invited Laura and she didn’t go. But Claire is a Pilates Believer. Before building one of Birmingham’s most loved boutique Pilates studios, Olivia was a professional ballet dancer with the Nashville…
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3.14 Dating in your 40’s (Laura is dating a therapist😬)
One unexpected moment can rewrite everything: a hike, an honest call to a best friend, and a crush you didn’t plan on. This episode dives into dating after divorce without sugarcoating it or letting shame take the wheel. Laura Quick is pulling back the curtain on all of that. Laura shares how a...
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3.13 Trying Something New (Without Becoming a Vision Board Influencer)
The fastest way to kill a dream is to keep it private. How about trying something new as an adult? Laura shares what it’s like to finally write the book she’s talked about for years, and Claire breaks down the psychology of fear, embarrassment, and that sneaky belief that you should already be…
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3.12 The Irish Goodbye To Bad Friends
The fastest way to rethink your friendships is to stop measuring them by how close you are and start measuring them by how safe they are. In this episode, we go deeper into how to spot the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships—especially as you grow, heal, or enter a new season. We...
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3.11 Are Manners Dead? Claire thinks Southern Etiquette Might Save Us…
What if “being real” has become an excuse for being rude? In this episode, we explore the line between honesty and etiquette—and why manners are less about politeness and more about keeping relationships intact. Through stories about raising respectful kids, dressing for the role you want, and...
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3.10 Is the News Ruining Our Lives? (Or Are We Consuming The Wrong Things?!)
Join Laura and Claire as they navigate the weight of the modern 24-hour news cycle without falling into the "doomscroll" trap. By blending mental health boundaries with sharp media literacy, we explore how to verify what’s real, avoid AI-generated outrage, and protect your nervous system from the...
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3.9 Mid-Life Glow Up: Why the 22 Year Old Version of Us Was Wrong AF
February honesty hits different. The motivation buzz fades, real life crowds in, and the question sharpens: are we building lives that actually fit? We ditch quick fixes for sturdy rules—starting with Laura’s favorite: never miss twice. Miss a day, reset the next. It’s the cure for all-or-nothing...
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3.8 Claire opens up: her High School BFF was Natalee Holloway & Online Creeps
A polite “thank you” isn’t consent—but online, it’s often treated that way. This episode unpacks how social media blurs boundaries, why parasocial intimacy feels real, and when curiosity turns into entitlement. Laura shares what happened after going publicly single, including the moment a…
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3.7 Control Freaks and their Timelines
Are the timelines you live by protecting you, or just keeping you stuck? This episode explores the hidden comfort of "arbitrary clocks"—like the 30-day no-contact rule—and how they often function as temporary pain relief rather than true healing. What We Cover: The "Control vs. Surrender" Test…
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3.6 Adult Fears and Phobias Unpacked
From the absurd (snakes through sunroofs) to the profound (the fear of being unlovable), we’re diving into the vivid world of adult anxiety. This episode categorizes our fears into three distinct lanes: practical risks that need a plan, anxiety loops that need a nervous-system reset, and tender...
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3.5 Receiving 101: A Holiday Survival Guide for Overfunctioners.
This episode on Before You Cut Bangs, we’re talking about something that should be simple… but somehow feels like advanced emotional calculus: Receiving gifts, compliments, help, and kindness. Maybe a casserole you didn’t ask for. Perhaps a gorgeous candle from a friend when you... you guessed...
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3.4 Is ChatGPT Your Therapist, Best Friend, and Situationship — JK (But Also…?)
This week on Before You Cut Bangs, we’re talking about what happens when ChatGPT stops being a helpful tool… and starts becoming your entire emotional ecosystem. We kick it off by letting our own ChatGPTs ROAST THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS out of us — Laura, Claire, and Will each asked their ChatGPT…
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3.3 Crisis, Chaos, and Country Songs
In this week’s episode of Before You Cut Bangs, Laura and Claire get brutally honest about what happens when life hits you with more plot twists than a sad country music song. Laura opens up about walking through a season where everything changed at once — a move, personal upheaval, emotional...
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3.2 Digging Out of Overwhelm: When Capacity Feels Like a Myth
In this week’s episode, Laura and Claire get real about what it looks like when life tips from busy to buried. Laura confesses to nearly ending up in Southwest Airlines jail after a full-blown airport meltdown, while Claire shares her own spiral into chaos courtesy of a nightmare insurance claim....
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3.1 Are We Over-Therapized? When Healing Becomes a Hobby
You’ve got boundaries, triggers, and toxic traits—but do you have a therapist? 👀 In this episode, Laura and Claire unpack the rise of therapy-speak and how we’ve turned healing into a hobby and trauma into a TikTok trend. From calling your ex a narcissist (because a girl on Instagram said so) to...
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2.22 Season 2 Finale: What's in Your Emotional Fanny Pack?
This season finale takes us on a journey through the hosts' "emotional fanny packs" – what essentials would we all carry if we could magically bring anything to help us navigate life's challenges? Looking back at Season 2's most memorable moments, the hosts celebrate their guest superlatives and...
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2.21 Childhood Friends, Adult Battles: When Cancer Changes Life Overnight (pt. 2)
Part two of what happens when persistent pain leads to an unexpected, life-threatening diagnosis? In this riveting conversation, Claire welcomes her childhood friend, Beau, to share the first part of his extraordinary health journey—from mysterious jaw pain to a rare cancer diagnosis that turned...
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2.20 Childhood Friends, Adult Battles: When Cancer Changes Life Overnight (pt.1)
What happens when persistent pain leads to an unexpected, life-threatening diagnosis? In this riveting conversation, Claire welcomes her childhood friend, Beau, to share the first part of his extraordinary health journey—from mysterious jaw pain to a rare cancer diagnosis that turned his world...
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2.19 Midlife Crisis: Myth or Meltdown?
What if your so-called midlife crisis is actually a breakthrough in disguise? In this refreshingly honest and often funny episode, Claire reveals that she rarely sees classic midlife meltdowns in her practice—no impulsive sports cars or dramatic divorces. Instead, she sees people wrestling with…
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2.18 Laura’s Sister the Disney Princess PhD: When Your Sibling Is Too Perfect
What happens when the sibling you've been talking about on your podcast shows up to defend herself? She doubles down on her baddassery. Laura's sister Dee joins the show to set the record straight about being labeled a "Disney princess" and reveals the truth behind the infamous turtle hiking...
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2.17 We Asked America’s Top Aging Expert How to Stay Young. His Answer? tune in!
Botox, supplements, cold plunges, IV drips… The internet is screaming a million ways to stay young, but what actually works? We sat down with Dr. Steven Austad—America’s leading aging expert—to separate fact from fantasy. His answer? Unbelievably simple… and honestly refreshing. If you’ve ever...
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2.16 Our Family's Vindication: Part 1 (Bob Lochamy, Will's Dad)
In this inaugural "vindication episode," Laura and Claire are joined by Will's father, veteran radio host Bob Lochamy, to set the record straight on some of the show’s most memorable family stories. With wit and warmth, Bob revisits tales involving a Michael Jackson joke gone wrong, a softball...
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2.15 Tier Troubles: When Friendship Rankings Go Wrong
Laura got a frantic call to grab someone’s kids... and couldn’t remember their name. Yep. That actually happened. In this episode, we’re talking about those awkward friendship moments when you realize you’re not on the same page about how close you really are. We’ll refresh you on our now-famous...
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2.14 The Passive Aggressive Dance (We're all doing it?)
It's Will this time! He's the one with the issue! Well, it's also Laura and Claire... and probably you. It turns out passive aggressiveness isn't just about your one snarky friend. That disconnect between what we express and what we communicate lies at the heart of passive-aggressive behavior.
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2.13 The Art of Co-Parenting
"Co-parenting has nothing to do with your failed marriage," becomes our central theme as we explore the strategies that help children thrive despite family restructuring. We discuss the surprising value of rigid schedules, the importance of speaking positively about your ex-partner (or saying...
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2.12 Chaos: Is It Me or Is It Them?
What if the chaos that keeps finding you isn't random at all? Laura and Claire tackle the uncomfortable question many of us face when drama seems to follow us everywhere: "Is it me or is it them?"
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2.11 Navigating Small Talk: The Good, the Bad, and the Awkward
Small talk—love it or hate it, it’s everywhere. We explore why it exists, how it shapes our daily lives, and why some thrive on it while others (Will) cringe. Through engaging stories and psychological insights, we unpack its cultural nuances and hidden impact on relationships. Join us as we...
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2.10 Who To Travel With and Who To Leave Home
Should you only travel with tier-one friends? How are you going to decide on who plays the music in the car? Most importantly, who will be there to talk Claire out of going to live with the monks? Those questions are answered this week on Before You Cut Bangs.
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2.9 Proceed with Caution (and Confidence)
Ever look at someone and think, Wow, they really have it all figured out? Yeah… us neither. But a listener wrote in and asked about confidence—where it comes from, how to get it, and whether we just wake up feeling like we run the world (spoiler: we don’t). In this episode, we’re peeling back the...
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2.8 Why Church Hurt Keeps People Out of Therapy
We dig into the crucial differences between Licensed Professional Counselors (LCPs) and pastoral counselors, addressing how negative church experiences can deter people from seeking effective therapy. Inspired by a listener's traumatic encounter with an unlicensed "counselor" who imposed...
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2.7 The Art of Listening: Beyond Fixing and Finding Connection
Are you listening!? Will probably isn't. Laura and Claire explore the complexities of being a good listener, discussing different approaches to friends versus acquaintances, and the role personal boundaries play in these interactions.
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2.6 Your Elf is a Pretentious a**hole
We are knocking on the doors of Christmas and trying to capture the magic, but not get sucked into the world of comparisons and feeling like we didn’t do enough for our family, friends, and especially our kids. The holiday season ushers in lots of good stuff, like joy and memory making— but if we...
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2.5 Wait, they aren’t gonna change? Now what?
The hardest thing in life is to be in a relationship with people that we hoped would change and then we wake up one day and realize maybe they won’t… or can’t. On this episode, we are diving into how to navigate those relationships and come to terms with the reality of what IS TRUE.
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2.4 True Crime and Why We Love It, with Documentarian Matthew Galkin
We're all fascinated with true crime and documentaries in general, but why? Filmmaker Matthew Galkin joins us for a fascinating conversation about the incredible influence of documentaries, highlighting how they transform perspectives and ignite important discussions. Matthew opens up about his...
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2.3 Avoiding the Holiday Drama, Y’all
Now that Halloween is over the real spooky season begins for some of us as we step into the holiday gathering season with our families. We are rolling out three ways to approach conversations you don’t want to have (again) and talking through the ones you want to avoid altogether. This episode is...
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2.2 What are The Different Types of Therapy (and are Ghosts Real)?
Taking therapy beyond the traditional couch, Laura and Claire explore unconventional methods like somatic and movement-based therapies that might just unlock those traumas your body refuses to let go of. Most importantly, how many times can Laura be scared by a fake spider, and what are our three...
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2.1 Perfectionism: Social Media Realities, Perfectionist Pitfalls, and Embracing Imperfection
This week on "Before You Cut Bangs," we’re kicking off with our new segment, "Show and Tell." Claire shares the most scandalous gifts she received with Laura and Will, including "Clone a Willie" and "Clone a Lady Part" kits. Guess which one has batteries... We dive headfirst into the pressures of...
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27. How To Deal with Emotions: Consequences, Childhood Conditioning, and Practical Strategies
Have you ever felt like your emotions are a tightly sealed bottle, ready to burst? Laura and Claire kick off this episode by examining the surprising consequences of suppressing your feelings, from irritability to serious issues like addiction. They offer insights into the delicate balance…
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About this show
Hosted by Laura Quick and Claire Fierman, “Before You Cut Bangs” is full of hilarious conversations about real life, common and uncommon crises, and possible cosmetic errors that come along with it. Through storytelling and therapeutic wisdom, Claire and Laura share how to NOT fuck up your hair (and life) while walking through similar situations,
Produced by Will Lochamy
Hosted by
Laura Quick and Claire Fierman
Categories