Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday chat with singer/songwriter Talia Schlanger...after landing the coveted Host spot for Npr's World Cafe, Talia left it all to pursue her dreams of music...her new record "Grace for the Going" comes out in February 2024...we talk to her about how exciting it was landing the World Cafe Host spot (replacing the retiring David Dye who did it for decades) - and then making that big decision to leap without a net and leave that job (and the states) to head back home to Canada to work on her music.

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday check in on the past couple of weeks…they have huge news: they joined a gym, watch out 2024!! How buying a gym membership can feel like buying a car (thanks LA Fitness manager)…how J&J are headed to Roatán on a cruise and how the heck do you pronounce that anyway…former guest Congo Lindais back in the Congo for 3 months…saying yes to something even when you’re scared…Julie’s “candle emergency”…they talk about a recipe on the internets: a candle made out of butter that’s placed inside of a huge loaf of bread…Christmas shopping…all the facebook groups for Virgin Voyages…all the events that happen

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday chat with City of San Diego Fire Captain Nate (aka Nate Dawg) about what it's like to risk your life and sacrifice your schedule for 18 years (and going) to save others for a living CUZ YOU HAVE TO...when he first knew he wanted to be a firefighter - how making a difference mattered to him...his comparison of a sports team philosophy and doing a job like being a cop or fireman...the endurance and strength of his job...the grueling on/off schedule of firefighting...the mental health issues firefighters face and the help that is there for them...how his wife and family support what he does...on the flip side - how firefighting also gives him a lot of time with his family (on his time off)...juggling life...risk vs. reward when going into dangerous situations...

IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE...find out Nate's answer to: besides people or pets - what three items he would grab from his house to save from a fire...what's his "walk-up"/theme song...Nate spends time in Montana as well, his favorite food there....One thing Nate can't do that he wishes he could...and the biggest thing he's learned about himself being a firefighter.

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news. We'd love to hear from you - email us at: [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday bring back return guest Congo Linda (aka Linda James) (her first appearance on the pod here - Episode 045 from 08/31/21) after her first return trip to the Congo for work - after having to leave the Congo in a rush due to the pandemic...she now has her Masters in Public Health and a full-time gig that has her living in the states, but doing some stints in the Congo, which may be the perfect schedule for her...we review her timeline of leaving Los Angeles for the Congo 2014, heading to London for some classes in Jan. 2020 and then not being able to return to the Congo due to the pandemic, wrapping up her Master's in 2021...how if you can make it in the Congo, you can pretty much make it anywhere...a little history of the Congolese languages...the pains of freelance work vs. full-time work with benefits (and the ease of that)...how it felt when she landed in Congo again after being gone for those years...the mindset it takes to live in the Congo...side note, people who text asking if they can call you (btw, just CALL!!)...Linda's work with Malaria and Hepatitis B research as well as others...the dangers of living in the Congo - with diseases and violence...how foreigners can be targeted there and being smart of how and where you travel...P.S. the word we were searching for was MISSIONARY doctor.

IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE...find out what’s been the best Congo meal Linda has had...when returning to LA, is there one food spot or place she have to hit??...Linda is well-educated and street smart - is there one thing she feels ridiculously uneducated about?...what she's most grateful for...and, finally, what is her big picture goal for the work she does...

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news. We'd love to hear from you - email us at: [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday chat with each other about the past week - Jason had a Rival Tides show at Boomtown Brewery downtown...holiday candle making...a free cruise to the Caribbean...we chat about the RT show - sound issues, a sexual predator...also should we keep the podcast going???!!!?asking listeners to reach out about the pod and what you think about it...the new Blink 182 album (Jason digs it)...and other musings.

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday chat with Guido (who didn't want to use his last name) - who was Julie and Jason's food tour guide while they were in Florence, Italy in September 2023...Born in Florence, here he explains why he left the computer world of I.T. (the stresses of that kind of work) to become a guide for people to discover some favorite food and wine gems in Florence...how he got a license to become a food tour guide - learning the history and art of the city...the importance of a great quality extra virgin olive oil...Guido also gives a recommendation for one of his favorite spots in Florence to eat one of his fav meals Ribollita: (https://www.trattoriadatito.com/)...how he works as much as possible during the high season and then takes a bunch of time off...how he loves to share the culture of Florence...

IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE: find out Guido's favorite city (outside of Florence) to visit in Italy...what part of the the U.S. he would choose to live if he had to (although he's prolly never leaving Florence)...what instrument he plays and what kind of music he listens to...his favorite dish to make...spoiler alerts, he eats a lot of pasta...

Laura and Bill join the AFTERPOD where we talk about our guest after they leave the cobblestone street in Florence...

Here is a link for the food tour we went on in Florence, Italy with Guido through Viator. Highly recommend!

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news.  We'd love to hear from you - email us at: [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday introduce you to Season FOUR of CUZ I HAVE TO PODCAST...when living your dreams is the only option. Each week we talk to guests (and each other) about living your dreams - from death doulas to chefs to hpynotists to rock stars. Tune in to get inspired to LIVE YOUR DREAMS.

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news.  We'd love to hear from you - email us at: [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday let you explore their trip to Italy with Julie's sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Bill...they recorded themselves along the way from Milan to Venice to Florence to Positano (Capri, too) to Rome...hear their take on their Italian meals, Airbnbs, and the people they met along the way.

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news.  We'd love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday celebrate the three year anniversary of the pod...Episode 1 aired technically on 10/24/2020...they listen back to the very beginning of the pod...share thoughts on the 75+ guests that come through the CUZ I HAVE TO pod doors...and how you JUST HAVE TO DO IT in life and live your dreams CUZ YOU HAVE TO!!

Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news.  We'd love to hear from you - email us at [email protected].  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday bring back Travis York from Strange Gent Candles (he was previously on Episode #043 on 8/17/2021)...he returns to talk about his candle brand re-launch - happening in person THIS THURSDAY 10/19 at Candle Delirium in West Hollywood, CA...the latest on his candles, scent making magic, and how a fragrance can bring you back to a very specific time in your life...also we chat about the writer's strike (now over) and the on-going actor's strike...pod listeners can get a 15% off discount for candles by entering code CUZIHAVETO at www.strangegentcandles.com....

IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE...find out what scents Travis would you use for "Radiohead on a damp Sunday morning in October"...his favorite line from a song that often helps him through life...who Travis thinks would play him in the movie of his life and what’s the title of the film...he's lived in Brooklyn/San Antonio/and Hollywood, he gets to PICK ONE: a slice from New York, Texas bbq, or the best tacos you’ve ever had...and the biggest thing he is letting go of to move towards what’s next...