Ben and Ed return with a festive, tech-tinged episode that swings from nativity-play chaos to AI confusion, with plenty of music, franchising, and existential pondering along the way.

They kick things off with holiday greetings and a rant about battling modern AI tools, before diving into weather woes, school performances, and the universal parenting experience of having no idea what role your child is supposed to be playing.

Their Spotify Wrapped reveals surprising listening habits, forgotten tracks, and the slow death of the full-album experience.

From genre rabbit holes to shared musical memories, the duo explore why music still shapes how we connect: online, offline, and in business.

The conversation shifts into the world of franchising and content, including how podcasts help build trust, why people crave authenticity, and the idea of creating a very real, very awkward “Franchise Unwrapped”.

They also touch on culture, community, and how shared experiences even in virtual reality can strengthen relationships.

It’s a warm, funny, wandering conversation about tech, creativity, connection, and the strange things that make us human. And yes: everyone does need a podcast.

TRACK OF THE WEEK:

Ed - In my mind by The Amazons

https://open.spotify.com/track/0Exl4jdJFmiztWnvXr5nHZ?si=d44eeb416af54abf

Ben - 2step3fun4llowing by ISCREAM NEVER GROUND

https://open.spotify.com/track/0yUUObUT5XJSAsVtLLol6A?si=7d489b821dbb4a1b

Ben's Links:

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787634558/ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apan_dp_KK6DCDFMTK87C8HK5SEG