Girls Next Door

The girls are back from Bali and straight into their first ever NFL game, and they have a LOT of thoughts about the way Americans do things. Steph and Holly unpack Melbourne's NFL takeover, from the entertainment that makes our sport look like a school assembly, to the moment one person threw a paper plane from the top tier and 100,000 people immediately followed. It turns into a bigger conversation about tall poppy syndrome, why Aussies physically cannot hype themselves up, and whether we've been getting Americans completely wrong this whole time. Then Steph shares what might be the most confronting aftercare story ever told on this podcast, involving a guy, a guitar, a Jack Johnson song, and her still being fully naked. Then it's back to business with your Letters, Confessions, Sealed Sections and Horror Stories, including a girl who faked an allergy three years ago and is now in too deep, a bridesmaid who went rogue at the altar, a woman still getting her hair done by her ex's mum, a period cup incident at work that we need to talk about, and a hotel safe in Thailand that opened itself at 3am. Another completely chaotic week in the neighbourhood. KEY TALKING POINTS Americans Do It DifferentlyThe girls break down the NFL experience in Melbourne, the entertainment, the crowd, the merch, and why it made everything we do feel a bit flat. Tall Poppy Syndrome, ExplainedA conversation with a friend who played college basketball in the States completely reframes the Aussie habit of playing everything down. The Paper Plane SituationOne person launched a cardboard cutout from the top of the stadium and within minutes the whole game had stopped mattering. He Pulled Out a Guitar While I Was Still NakedHolly's story about the guy who serenaded her post-hookup with a song he had never sung in front of anyone before. The Aftercare MisreadA Neighbour wants to know how to leave after casual sex without making someone feel disposable, and whether aftercare is even expected when it's not serious. The Godparent Demotion A Neighbour was promised godmother status by her sister years ago, then found out very casually that the sister-in-law got it instead. The Fake Birthday AllergyThree years ago she panicked and said she was allergic rather than admit she hated her boyfriend's mum's dessert. The woman now rings her from Woolies to check labels. The Wedding Speech CutA bride edited every funny story out of her best friend's speech. The best friend read the original version anyway. The Ex's Mum Is My Hairdresser Five years with the best hairdresser she's ever had, eight months since a very messy breakup with the woman's son. Is a good blonde worth it? The Period Cup at WorkA bathroom disaster, a dropped cup, and a genuinely useful conversation about how these things are actually meant to work. The Hotel SafeFour nights in Thailand, a safe that kept opening on its own, and the one tiny thing that went missing that made it so much worse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The girls are back from Bali, running on two hours sleep and with A LOT to unpack. Steph and Holly have just returned from their first international campaign, but while they can’t tell you everything about why they were there just yet, they can absolutely spill the tea on everything else that happened. And apparently… Holly’s portal was OPEN. After getting more attention than Steph knew what to do with, Holly ended up meeting an Aussie in Bali, leading to her first date since the infamous situationship. One date quickly turned into a second and third, and now there might even be another catch-up back in Australia. Could there be a Season 2 looming? The girls also unpack one of the strangest men they encountered on the trip, Steph somehow ends up involved in another ocean rescue, and Holly’s new Bali romance gets thrown straight into the deep end during a surf. Then it’s back to business with your Letters, Confessions and Horror Stories, including relationship location sharing, dealing with your partner’s ex, one Neighbour admitting she repeatedly peed outside at her situationship’s house, two terrifying follow-ups from our trafficking episode, and a delivery driver horror story that will make you rethink ever leaving your balcony unlocked again. Another completely chaotic week in the neighbourhood. KEY TALKING POINTS Holly’s Hot Bali Date Holly spills on her first date since the situationship, how one night turned into multiple dates, and whether she might see “Aussie” again back home. Holly’s Portal Was Wide Open The girls recap just how much attention Holly was getting in Bali, including men trying to pick her up everywhere they went. The Creepy Guy Who Wouldn’t Leave Holly Alone A bizarre encounter at a party escalates across multiple nights as one man keeps approaching Holly, following her and pushing her boundaries. Steph’s Bali Ocean Rescue Steph spots a man being swept out in a rip at Padang and ends up getting involved in yet another unexpected rescue. A Surf Date Goes Sideways Holly takes Aussie surfing, only for the new swell and strong rip to make the date a little more eventful than planned. Should Your Partner Share Their Location? A Neighbour asks whether wanting her boyfriend’s live location is reasonable or whether she is crossing into controlling territory. Being Friendly With Your Ex The girls weigh in on whether jealousy is justified when your boyfriend keeps crossing paths and making small talk with his ex. “I’m Basically a Dog” One Neighbour confesses that her situationship’s living arrangement meant she regularly had to pee outside, until one morning she came up with an even worse solution. Attempted Abduction in Turkey A listener shares a terrifying story from Kaş where her male friend appeared to be drugged as part of what she believes was an attempt to isolate her and another woman. Attempted Snatch in Paris Another Neighbour shares the moment a stranger followed her back to her hotel and tried to convince her to get into a car with him. The Delivery Man A late-night takeaway order turns terrifying when a warning appears on the receipt, followed hours later by a knock coming from somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back with Part 2 of our chat with David The Medium and this one gets a lot more personal. We start with the uncomfortable side of the other side, asking David the questions that don’t have simple answers. Can spirits communicate in any language? What happens when someone reincarnates? Do children grow up in the afterlife? And if someone dies with dementia or an illness, which version of them comes through? David also opens up about fake mediums, whether the industry should be regulated and the psychic he says he could “end the career” of with one recording. Then the tables turn. David gives Steph and Holly a reading and connects with their late cousin James, bringing up his passing, his struggles, memories of the Surf Coast and the guilt the family carried after losing him. He also weighs in on the Davies family home and why, despite all the footsteps and strange energy, he doesn’t think they have anything to be afraid of. And because we couldn’t let him leave without asking… David looks ahead at what could be coming for the girls, Hawaii, TV, modelling, relationships, babies and what the future might hold for Girls Next Door. We finish with a message for anyone who worries that someone they’ve lost is simply gone. Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide, substance use, grief and mental health. KEY TALKING POINTS Can Spirits Speak Any Language? David explains why he believes souls communicate through energy rather than human language. What Happens When We Reincarnate? David shares his view on when a soul returns and why, in some cases, he believes someone can be born back into the same family. Do Children Grow Up in the Afterlife? What happens to someone’s age, identity and physical illnesses once they cross over? Can Spirits Help Find Missing Money? David reveals the times readings have apparently led people to money and valuables hidden in some very unexpected places. Fake Mediums & The Psychic David Says He Could Expose David gets candid about fraudulent psychics, people preying on vulnerability and one Australian psychic he says he has a recording that could expose. David Connects With Steph & Holly’s Cousin James The reading turns deeply personal as David brings through a younger male energy and the girls begin connecting his messages to their late cousin James. Surfing, Anglesea & Signs From James David references the Surf Coast, family memories and dragonflies as the girls unpack some surprisingly specific connections. The Guilt James Wants the Family to Let Go Of A powerful conversation about grief, responsibility and the guilt that can remain after losing someone in difficult circumstances. Is The Davies Family Home Haunted? David gives his take on the footsteps, strange energy and generations of family history connected to their Port Melbourne home. What’s Next for Steph & Holly? Hawaii, modelling, TV, the future of the podcast, relationships, motherhood and the possibilities David sees ahead for the girls. A Final Message for Anyone Missing Someone David shares what he wants people to know if they’re scared that someone they’ve lost has completely disappeared. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbours, this week we’re heading to the other side… or at least asking absolutely everything we’ve ever wanted to know about it. In Part 1 of our chat with David the Medium, we waste approximately zero time before getting to the important questions: can your dead grandparents see you having sex? Do partners in spirit get jealous when you move on? And could they actually be helping send your next partner your way? From there, things get surprisingly deep. David talks soul contracts, reincarnation, soul families, what he believes actually survives after we die, and why apparently our “lucky girl energy” might not be luck at all. Steph also tells the bizarre story of the stranger who walked up to her at breakfast and told her to leave her boyfriend, David explains why his boundaries with the spirit world are rock solid, and shares some of the readings and messages that have stayed with him over the years — including one particularly confronting moment during a live show in London. And somehow… this is only Part 1. In Part 2, David turns the tables and does readings for both Steph and Holly — and some of what came through genuinely caught everyone off guard. Good Neighbours know the drill, rate, subscribe, share with a mate and make sure you’re back for Part 2. 👻 Key Moments: Can the Dead See Everything? David answers whether loved ones in spirit are watching during our more private moments. Dating After Loss Do partners who have passed get jealous when you move on, or could they actually help send someone new your way? Messages From the Other Side David reveals some of the cheekier and more unexpected messages he’s had to pass on during readings. Soul Contracts & Reincarnation David explains his belief that life is a classroom for the soul and why we may return to learn different lessons. Finding the Same Souls Again Could the people closest to us have been part of our lives before? David dives into soul families and past lives. Lucky Girl Energy David challenges Steph and Holly’s “lucky girl syndrome” and explains why he believes it’s actually about being aligned. Switching the Spirit World Off Why David says he’s David 99% of the time and “David the Medium” only 1%, and the boundaries that keep him sane. Steph’s Psychic Stranger Steph shares the bizarre story of a stranger who interrupted breakfast and told her it was time to leave her boyfriend. The Spirit David Never Forgot David shares the unusual reading that stayed with him for days and continued into his dreams. The 27 Club & Saturn Returns The conversation turns to astrology, the 27 Club and whether major spiritual shifts could be connected. When Readings Make Sense Later David explains why people sometimes leave convinced he was wrong, only to contact him later when his reading suddenly makes sense. The Secret He Couldn’t Tell 1,800 People David recalls a confronting live reading at London’s O2 where he had to carefully navigate an unexpected message in front of the crowd. Coming Up in Part 2 David turns his abilities towards Steph and Holly, with some surprisingly specific things coming through. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Girls Next Door, Steph and Holly are having a conversation that every girl travelling overseas needs to hear. After seeing more and more women share frightening encounters while travelling, the girls revisit their own experience in Naples, where a man posing as a taxi driver tried to lead five of them away from the airport and towards an unmarked black van. Looking back now, there were red flags everywhere. They’re also joined by Olivia, an Australian woman whose night out in San Francisco ended in a high-speed crash, gunshots and the terrifying discovery that the man driving the car was on parole for human trafficking. Olivia shares what she remembers, what police told her afterwards and how something as horrific as the crash may have ultimately saved her life. Plus, the Neighbours share their own stories from Milan, South Africa, Bali and Marseille, including being followed through airports, chased by cars and moments where listening to their gut may have made all the difference. This episode isn’t about being scared to travel. It’s about recognising the little warning signs, trusting your instincts and looking out for each other. Key moments Steph & Holly’s Naples Story: The girls revisit the terrifying moment a man posing as a taxi driver tried to lead five of them towards an underground carpark and an unmarked black van, before real taxi drivers intervened and police began chasing him. The Paris Story That Changed Everything: After hearing a viral story about a woman being followed through Paris, Steph and Holly start recognising disturbing similarities between her experience and things they had previously brushed off during their own travels. Olivia’s Call: Olivia shares the extraordinary story of waking up to gunshots after a high-speed crash in San Francisco, only to later discover that the man driving the car was on parole for human trafficking. She explains why police kept telling her she was lucky, why she now considers the crash the best thing that could have happened, and the PTSD that followed. The Neighbours’ Close Calls: Listeners share frightening encounters from Milan, South Africa, Bali and Marseille, including being chased by a car, surrounded inside a shop and followed by the same stranger across multiple locations. The Warning Signs: Across all of the stories, the girls notice recurring patterns including strangers asking seemingly innocent questions, people working in groups, women being used to create trust, fake taxis and Ubers, and people trying to find out whether someone is travelling alone. Travel Without Living in Fear: Steph and Holly finish on why the episode isn’t about telling women not to travel, but about staying aware, protecting personal information, sticking together where possible and trusting your gut when something feels wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.