Millennials vs. Gen X: Comparing Notes on Midlife with Francia Raisa & Jessica Marie Garcia

Diana Maria Riva (0:00)

To successfully get through the test of life, one should always compare notes, right? Well, that's what I'm doing today with my two guests. I've got two of my girlfriends from my millennial squad and we're going to do exactly that. We'll discuss everything from midlife facts versus fiction, finding Zen until somebody pisses you off, and from where you are in this moment in life, what message do you have for your future self? Really, how hard can it be?

Welcome to another episode of How Hard Can It Be? A podcast for GenX women navigating midlife's most fantastic bullshit.

I cannot wait for you to dive into this episode with me because I got my millennial babes on here. Some of the hottest, fiercest, most authentically talented women I've come across in this town, and I'm very proud to call them my girlfriends. First, let me introduce you to someone you all know and have seen for a long time. She made her mark on the Disney hit Liv and Maddie, but then grabbed our attention most fiercely on the critically acclaimed On My Block. And my other guests, you have seen her in many things, but most notably on How I Met Your Father and also the critically acclaimed Grown-ish. Please help me welcome Francia Raisa and Jessica Marie Garcia.

SPEAKER_2 (1:19)

Oh, wait, yeah.

Diana Maria Riva (1:21)

And I asked them, Salud.

Francia Raisa (1:23)

Salud. Drinking is hard, especially when you're older.

Diana Maria Riva (1:29)

Listen, every time these bitches say older, I'm going to be like, who are you talking to? Who are you talking to? And this is exactly why I wanted to have them on, because I want to compare notes. And I reached out to them and said, listen, my millennial hotties, let's talk to this. And I will come in as head of council for the Sexy Gen Xs. Fran coming to you soon.

And I just want to discuss this. First of all, also, more notably than their work as actors, they are the beloved mamas of doggie Lola and baby girl Selena. Their most important roles to date. Am I wrong?

Francia Raisa (2:05)

Oh, yeah. I'm a single old dog mom and I love it. It's a lot of work.

Diana Maria Riva (2:08)

It is a lot of work. Dogs are a lot of work.

Francia Raisa (2:11)

She was a puppy when I got her and I didn't know that.

Diana Maria Riva (2:13)

You didn't know that?

Francia Raisa (2:14)

She's a rescue.

Diana Maria Riva (2:15)

Oh, best kind.

Francia Raisa (2:17)

Amazing.

Diana Maria Riva (2:17)

I wanted to just discuss where your thoughts are, what you have taken notice of, of this journey of midlife that you are not at. You still have some time, but it's coming.

Francia Raisa (2:30)

Oh, it's coming.

Diana Maria Riva (2:31)

And I want to know if you recognize anything because I think that there are things that are occurring now that we have muscled through that we didn't know and we still may not recognize as, oh, that actually started for me when I was in my late 30s, knocking on 40, whatever, and I still have it because there are so many of us, GenX women who are muscling through these experiences, symptoms, physical or emotional or mental or spiritual, and we don't attribute it to this time. And I thought, well, let's have a conversation and compare notes. So my first thing I want to do as an icebreaker is ask you ladies, what's the worst thing that you've happened, either rumored or scientific, that happens to women in midlife?

Francia Raisa (3:15)

Night sweats. Night sweats? They're the worst.

Diana Maria Riva (3:18)

Do you have them yet, or are you just saying you've heard about the rumor?

Francia Raisa (3:21)

Well, no, I've had them. I've had them.

Diana Maria Riva (3:22)

You've had them already?

Francia Raisa (3:23)

Yeah.

Diana Maria Riva (3:23)

And you are not 40?

Francia Raisa (3:25)

I am not 40 Yeah. I don't know. I mean, perimenopause exists, so.

Diana Maria Riva (3:29)

That's the conversation here.

Francia Raisa (3:30)

Yeah. Yeah, the night sweats. Girl, you know how cold it is on set, right?

Diana Maria Riva (3:34)

Yes.

Francia Raisa (3:35)

I was walking around with ice packs sweating.

Jessica Marie Garcia (3:37)

Oh, yeah. No, that's not normal.

Francia Raisa (3:39)

Yeah. No, so I've experienced it and like, I don't want to go through that again.

Diana Maria Riva (3:43)

Oh, but you will.

Francia Raisa (3:44)

I know. Yeah.

Diana Maria Riva (3:45)

And by the way, I don't mean to be the Debbie Downer. I'm like, it's coming.