Welcome to episode 12...a whole dozen of these things exist! Jana opens with a monologue referencing MUNA's new cover of "King of Wishful Thinking" and waxes poetic about how change is inevitable but it's not always good or kind in the moment. The king of wishful thinking is just getting through something by sheer will. Sometimes this is enough.

Since we definitely need a drink after that monologue, Alex walks us through our first milk punch recipe! It's a reference to a Sidecar, with a new twist.

Follow along with this week's playlist!

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This week's drink:

DRIVE AROUND THE BEND

Makes two servings as written, scales VERY well

Ingredients:

• 3oz cognac
• 3oz rum
• 3oz curaçao
• 2oz lemon juice (reserve the zest for garnish)
• 4oz milk, infused with Raisin Bran
• Lemon demerara sugar (for rimming the glass)

Steps:

1. Infuse milk by packing in Raisin Bran (we used about a cup) and letting steep for an hour. Alternatively, heat mug in the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Let cool.

2. To make the lemon demerara sugar, mix lemon zest into a cup of demerara. Let sit.

3. Mix all ingredients except for milk in a large measuring glass.

4. Stream milk into measuring glass, and stir.

5. Let the mixture sit for an hour. It will form curds. The curds will look gross.

6. Using a mesh strainer and some cheesecloth, filter the drink into a clean container.

7. Without disturbing the curds, filter the liquid again. Do this until it’s transparent.

8. Refrigerate until chilled.

9. Coat one side of the glass with lemon demerara sugar. Serve up.

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The first song up is Tinashe's "Too Easy." A filthy club song that's less than 2 minutes long. We both agree that it's too short because we wanna dance. Best lyric, "If you're mad then go to therapy." It's got great forward motion with the kick and bass, but the vocal arrangements shine with some modal harmony that is just hinted at, along with maybe even some K-Pop influences with the "la la" refrain. Inspirations hearken to Janet Jackson and Britney Spears. We agree maybe most good things reference Janet (which sends us down a reminiscence of the Janet and J*st*n incident). Also, Alex reveals he has a very secret "Sexy Getting Ready Playlist." One day, we will share it.

deBasement brings us "STAY IN UR LANE," to which we ask, "Is you even gay?" This track has a giant sound and we love finding up-and-coming artists that we think should have way more listeners than they do. Alex hears Cobrah references, and overall, we just encourage you all to "stay in ur lane, bitch."

On to Jana's favorite kind of moment, a new Taylor Swift song. "I Knew It, I Knew You" is featured on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. A collab between Taylor and Jack Antonoff, we are taken to a breezy 70s folk rock + almost bluesy vibe, with some R&B Braxton-melody lines thrown in. It all works, and it's a fun departure from the Showgirl era Taylor has been in for a while. We even hear some Faith Hill "Love the Way You Love Me." We talk Taylor's odds of getting an EGOT (high), and go on a little diversion about the Cats remake. Overall, this is a simple and solid Taylor Swift song and we love it for the Toy Story nostalgia. The lyrics are vague enough to apply to anyone. Well-written, well produced, goes down like the smooth soundtrack song it is. (Just like a smooth cocktail called Drive Around the Bend).

Then we go off on great soundtracks from our younger years. Jana brings up something that's not even in print anymore, Mr. Wrong. Alex talks about Magnolia with the fabulous Aimee Mann. Taylor makes us want to reminisce, apparently.

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Alex's links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerboying

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flowerboying

Alex's Substack: https://alexanderdaoust.substack.com

Jana's links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janapochop

Website: http://www.janapochop.com

Jana's Substack: https://janapochop.substack.com