Bellingham Podcast

In this episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ Barse and Chris Powell dive into October with a discussion on the increasing role of AI, the revival of analog, and reflections on masculinity. AJ shares his experiments with Google’s Notebook LM and expresses concerns over AI’s growing influence, especially in voice replication. The duo then shifts to their love for analog, highlighted by AJ’s visit to Roldorf & Co., a Vancouver-based watchmaker, and a documentary on the Polaroid revival. Chris also reflects on societal views of masculinity, inspired by a Vice TV documentary, and they explore the appeal of authenticity in an AI-driven world.

AI and Digital Identity

AJ shares his recent tests with Google’s Notebook LM, emphasizing AI’s potential to influence media through synthetic voice replication.

https://wp.wwu.edu/ajbarse/2024/10/02/what-if-your-notes-could-think-for-you/

AI Amplifies False Memories  https://www.perplexity.ai/page/ai-amplifies-false-memories-Oi2YlbzuSyqDnm4m.RoxHw

Chris and AJ discuss their concerns about AI-generated content, pondering the implications for personal data and podcasting.

Vancouver BC

AJ talks about his visit to Roldorf & Co. and recounts Jason Gallop’s journey to rebuild his watch business after a devastating fire.

Roldorf Cafe

Exploring Analog

A discussion on The Revenge of Analog documentary, with a focus on the revival of Polaroid film and the allure of analog experiences in a digital age.

Reflections on Masculinity

Chris shares insights from the Vice TV documentary series, Searching for Masculinity, sparking a conversation about evolving societal views on masculinity.

They examine the importance of authenticity and personal identity, especially in an age where AI and digital media can shape perceptions.

Documentary Recommendations for Doctober

Chris highlights the annual documentary showcase at Bellingham’s Pickford Cinema and suggests thought-provoking documentaries on themes like masculinity and analog nostalgia.

Quality Assurance Picks

Chris’s Pick: RI Music app, a free, ad-free option for Android users to stream music from YouTube without tracking.

Mr. McMahon on Netflix

Diggnation

A revival of the early tech show by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht, celebrating internet oddities

https://www.diggnation.show/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@diggnation

Listener Reminders:

Tune in to KMRE 88.3 FM or stream online at kmre.org to catch the Bellingham Podcast.

Look out for the November episode with AJ and Chris’s holiday gift guide and travel stories.

In this episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ Barse and Chris Powell catch up after a summer hiatus. They discuss recent personal experiences, including family vacations and changes in their professional lives. AJ shares his summer adventures, including time spent on San Juan Island and managing life as a working parent. Chris recounts his solo trip to Friday Harbor and his enjoyment of tech-free moments. They also delve into topics like their evolving relationship with personal technology, privacy-focused mobile devices, and the balance between digital and analog experiences. Towards the end, they reflect on the nostalgia of collecting and playing games, particularly focusing on AJ’s experience re-entering the world of Pokémon with his son.

Topics Discussed:

Summer Recap

* AJ’s vacation to San Juan Island and family adventures

* Chris’s solo trip to Friday Harbor and tech-free relaxation

Life Updates

* AJ’s experience balancing work and family life during August

* AJ’s wife landing a job right after graduation

* Chris’s insights into the evolving personal tech landscape and privacy-focused gadgets

Tech Talk

* AJ and Chris discuss personal tech choices like Graphene OS and privacy-focused apps

* Chris’s minimalist approach to tech: ProtonMail, VPN, and offline maps

* The debate on iOS vs. Android and privacy benefits of alternative operating systems

Analog Meets Digital

* AJ’s dive back into the Pokémon trading card game with his son

* Nostalgia around collecting, comics, and trading cards

* Insights on teaching the next generation about gaming, collecting, and community

Looking Ahead

* Upcoming plans for AJ’s 100th scuba dive milestone

* Fall projects, holiday gift ideas, and the continued journey in balancing analog and digital worlds

Listener Reminder:

Tune in on KMRE 88.3 FM for the radio broadcast of the Bellingham Podcast, and stay connected for future episodes!

On this enlightening episode of the Bellingham Podcast, Chris shares his transformative experience from a recent Silence Retreat in Mission, BC. Meanwhile, AJ delves into his deep connections with silence and presence, cultivated through his adventures climbing mountains and diving in the serene waters of the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. Join us as we explore the profound impacts of quietude and mindfulness in our fast-paced lives.

EinsemdIcelandic word for solitude or alone.https://m.dict.cc/icelandic-english/einsemd.html

Westminster Abbey

Benedictine Monks in Mission, B.C. -https://westminsterabbey.ca/

Diving the kelp at Rosario, Anacortes WA.

On this special catch-up episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ and Chris are back from their travels with exciting updates! Chris's daughter and AJ's wife both celebrated graduations, and the hosts have some invaluable travel observations and tips to share. Recorded at Casa de Chris, they dive into their Father's Day weekend experiences and offer essential advice for navigating Washington state ferries during peak season. Plus, this is just part one—stay tuned as they set the stage for the return of the beloved "Word Of Note" series in the next episode!

Thanks for reading The Bellingham Podcast ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Welcome back to the Bellingham Podcast! We're driving the DeLorean right back into the nostalgia-fueled fun with the second part of our Word of Note of Nostalgia. AJ and Chris pick back up from their first part of their DeLorean adventure, ready to continue exploring the curious realm of nostalgia and its ties to marketing, technology, and personal memories.

In this episode, join us for another nostalgic trip down memory lane as we reflect on our past experiences and delve deeper into the trends shaping marketing for our generations (Gen X for Chris, Gen Y for AJ). From timeless retro gadgets to the ongoing wave of film reboots, we'll continue unraveling how nostalgia influences our perceptions and choices; and how we reflect on it as fathers.

If you are tuning in from the past on your VR head set, or tune in to your virtual transistor radio, and let's continue our journey into the timeless allure of nostalgia on this engaging second part of our episode.

Show notes

Webster “ Nostalgia” : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition

also : something that evokes nostalgia

: the state of being homesick : HOMESICKNESS

2024 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

On Sunday the 19th of May 2024, AJ is riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. To sponsor him = https://gfolk.me/barse

References

https://www.bigleaguechew.com/

Welcome back to another episode of the Bellingham Podcast! We were late in this episode as AJ and Chris had to fire up the DeLorean on the ol’ Word of Note series to delve into the realm of nostalgia, exploring its intricate ties to marketing, technology, and personal memories.

Join us as we take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reflecting on our own past experiences, and the trends we have started to see in marketing to our generations (Gen X for Chris, Gen Y for AJ). From retro gadgets to the reboots of films, we'll uncover how nostalgia shapes our perceptions and influences our choices in a rapidly evolving world. So grab your headphones, tune in on your transistor radio, and join us in this two part episode on the timeless allure of nostalgia.

Show notes

Webster “ Nostalgia” : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition

also : something that evokes nostalgia

: the state of being homesick : HOMESICKNESS

Nostalgia augments comfort and security, and maintains psychological well-being when confronted with limited time horizons," according to a report from Frontiers in Psychology. NIH National Center for BioTechnology Information 

Still Listen To The Same Music That You Enjoyed As A Teen? We Have Good News For Your Brain

* https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/still-listen-to-the-same-music-that-you-enjoyed-as-a-teen-we-have-good-news-for-your-brain_uk_660c1442e4b059f710630121#:~:text=According%20to%20Nikki%20Roy%2C%20a,'

* According to Nikki Roy, a therapist based in California, researchers are actually finding that the music we listen to as teenagers binds to our brains differently to anything we’re going to hear as adults in a phenomena known as ‘neural nostalgia.’ (NIH National Library of Medicine) 

* 2016 article -Neural responses to nostalgia-evoking music modeled by elements of dynamic musical structure and individual differences in affective traits

Frederick S Barrett 1, Petr Janata 2

“ These findings illustrate one way in which the reward and emotion regulation networks of the brain are recruited during the experiencing of complex emotional experiences triggered by music. These findings also highlight the importance of considering individual differences” 

Mentions and Projects

2024 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

On Sunday the 19th of May 2024, AJ is riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. To sponsor him = https://gfolk.me/barse

Zulu Time Podcast -

Analog Explorer X Made Under Pressure Podcast -

Bausele Langstone Field Watch -

https://www.bausele.com/products/bausele-langstone-field-watch-d-day-80th-anniversary-tribute-australian-dive-watches

No matter the weather, at least the mics stay warm

Bellingham Winter Storm 2024- https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/bellingham-residents-brace-storm-several-inches-snow-forecasted/G64T5EJFVRHV3NH4R7P5KFMRYQ/

Washington blizzard 1950 - https://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/Tacoma-snow-storm-1950-video-archive-history-13533250.php

* https://www.historylink.org/File/8079

Health and Wellness

Chris- Whole30 | https://whole30.com/

Whatcom County Mental Health- https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3294/Mental-Health

SAD- Seasonal Affected Disorder https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

SAD and Seattle - https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/seattle-rainy-season-brings-on-seasonal-affective-disorder-heres-the-deal-with-sad/

DGR- Distinguished Gentilmea’s Ride

Supporting a Friend or Family Member with Mental Health Problems - https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/how-to-talk/friends-and-family-members

Thank you all so much again for another year of supporting the podcast! After a few weeks of sickness, Chris’ sweet baritone voice is back in action just in time to punch out on 2023. From Chris and AJ of your Bellingham Podcast, we hope you have a happy holiday season, a fun and safe new year, and stay warm here in the City by the Salish Sea.

Local Updates:

Bellingham old Terminal Building fire

* Cascadia Daily | https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2023/dec/18/community-rallies-around-those-impacted-by-terminal-building-fire/

* City of Bellingahm | https://cob.org/news/2023/update-on-fairhaven-terminal-building-fire-2

* KING 5 news | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/bellingham/historic-bellingham-building-damaged-unstable-overnight-fire/281-bcd2be6d-b1f9-48aa-9d7a-47a77a4a67da

Gone Diving, our last remaining dive shop to be sold/ to close in 2024

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Exciting-News.html?soid=1101457878512&aid=YLnw95jf7cI

Chris:

A Charlie Brown Canvas Christmas

AJ:

Analog Explorer (Season 4)

Made Under Pressure Podcast