Trust Your Icks!

Happy New Year, mi gente. In this episode we return after a holiday pause to unpack the idea of “the ick” and why it is more than a petty dating moment. What starts as humor evolves into a deeper conversation about intuition, ignored warning signs, relationship red flags, and community accountability.

This episode explores how small feelings of discomfort can escalate when they are dismissed, whether in dating, long term relationships, friendships, or within our own communities.

Topics covered in this episode include

• How attraction flips can be intuition, not overreaction
• When charm, speed, and intensity should be questioned
• Why ignoring early discomfort often leads to bigger consequences
• Community grief, safety, and responsibility
• Don’t Date Brandon
  • A documentary that follows multiple women who experienced similar emotional manipulation patterns with the same man. The episode discusses how Brandon initially presented as charming, attentive, and emotionally validating, and how early discomfort was dismissed before harmful patterns became clear. 
• Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
  • A Netflix documentary that follows a Michigan high school couple who begin receiving escalating anonymous text messages from an unknown number. What starts as confusing and uncomfortable turns into emotional harassment and community disruption. The episode focuses on how early unease was minimized before the situation became severe.
• The Danish Deception story
  • A widely discussed relationship story that circulated on TikTok involving rapid emotional attachment, grand gestures, inconsistent stories, and financial deception. The episode examines how love bombing and emotional intensity can feel flattering at first but often signal deeper manipulation when intuition is ignored.
• Community reflection
  • This episode includes a respectful reflection on the loss of Travelle Martin, a young man from the Reading and Berks County area. 
  • Confirmed details referenced
    • Travelle Martin was reported missing in early January 2025
    • Human remains were found on December 28, 2025
    • The remains were discovered near a golf cart path in the Flying Hills area of Cumru Township, Berks County
    • Authorities continue to investigate and work toward providing closure for family and loved ones
    • The episode emphasizes that this discussion is not about speculation or blame, but about community care, awareness, and learning to take concerns seriously before tragedy occurs.

Streaming references

• Don’t Date Brandon is available on Paramount+
• Unknown Number The High School Catfish is available on Netflix
• Danish Deception on TikTok 

Local reporting reference

• WFMZ 69 News

Listener note

This episode contains discussion of emotional manipulation, harassment, and community loss. Listener discretion is advised.

Thank you for listening to Call Your Sister. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you trust, and remember to listen to your intuition.