This week’s episode is for the ladies and my question to you is Have you done a boudoir photo shoot?  Would you do one?  Why or why not? 
I posed that question to three friends and all of them had different responses.  As for myself, I decided that after 59 years of criticizing my body, it was time to celebrate it.   

First, join me and my girls, Amy, Rhonda, and Anne as we discuss the conditions under which we would pose for “sexy photos” or not.  Next, I speak with Raquel Pryor, Hollister native, entrepreneur, and badass boudoir photographer who guided me way outside of my comfort zone and captured this aging body in the best possible light. 

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis. This week’s episode is, once again, brought to you with the help of Kirk Ward.  

Thanks to his introduction, I was honored to talk with actor, producer, writer and fellow avid reader Sean San Jose.  His unbreakable ties to the San Francisco Bay Area gave him a unique perspective on the collaborative art scene, familial anchors, and most importantly, the AIDS epidemic.  

My interview with Sean imprinted on me the beauty of recognizing our chosen roles in a family and the lasting effects we can have on others when we walk them through trauma and loss.  
Please check out Sean San Jose’s amazing performance in the 2024 movie, Sing Sing and his interviews on Youtube.

Thanks so much for listening: I hope you enjoy.  

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis.   On this week’s mini episode, Chico girl Amy and I chat about investing and retirement plans.  Well, in all honesty we intended to talk about those topics but actually veered off into unplanned territory that included virginity, fax machines, and Danielle Steele.  Eventually, we found the runway and landed the plane.  I’m not sure that metaphor makes sense, but few of our conversations do.  

Join us for some silly stories about preparing for retirement life.

Searching through Facebook for an old college friend got me thinking about how different it was trying to track our love interests during the 70's and 80's.    No internet, no cell phones, just "coincidental" meetings and spying friends. We start with my young friend Sophia, whose “research” skills take current stalking methods to a whole new level for me.  Next, my bestie Anne and her memories of our pre-teen and teenage shenanigans involving prank phone calls, drive by undercover work, and enlisting family and friends to probe for information.  Finally, I talk with Chico girl Amy about our best stalking years under the best possible stalking conditions:  small college town with plenty of bars, and abundance of free time and energy, and best of all, a group of trusted advisors to assist in the stalking process and let you know when you’ve gone a bit too far.  

Get ready for some now inappropriate but perfectly acceptable at the time memories of searching for that boy you couldn’t live without.  

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis. I begin this episode with yet another shout out to my friend, Kirk Ward.  He has introduced me to some of the most incredible people in show business and this week’s interview is no exception.  Albert Hughes is a movie director who found fame early in life with movies such as Menace to Society, Dead Presidents, and From Hell.  However, he found that life outside of Hollywood was more beneficial for his creativity and quality of life.   My conversation with Albert covers his childhood and early career with his twin brother, his decision to move out of the US, a  recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and so much more. 

 I have to confess that I didn’t do any research on Albert before our conversation.  I knew he was a director, he had made Menace to Society, and  he was calling in from the city of Prague in the Czech Republic, his adopted home.  After the interview when I googled Albert Hughes and read of his accomplishments, I realized I was  way over my head.  Too late to sound informed about his career.  Nevertheless, I loved talking to him about real issues of life rather than show business. 

I will give a warning before this episode:  If my laugh drives you crazy, I apologize.  I laugh a lot in this episode and couldn’t edit much of it out.  

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis.  Today’s episode is all about Artificial Intelligence.  Whether you love it, hate it, or have been ignoring its existence, AI is here to stay and is already affecting most areas of our lives.

In our first segment, Chico girl Amy and I share our AI searches with each other, hers being much more appropriate and useful than mine.  

Next a discussion with Liam, a San Francisco-based AI company employee who helps me grasp the basic concept of AI and its uses for Gen Xers.  If you have resisted using AI for any reason, like I have, this is the episode for you.  

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis.  Today’s episode answers some 21st century problems that didn’t exist when Gen Xers were young.  First, what is in your Amazon cart and which child/family member/friend put it there?  Which address will it be shipped to and whose credit card is whose? Chico girl Rhonda and I discuss the positives and negatives of having almost immediate access to dog poop bags, clothing, and party decorations. 

Next, how would you react if you discovered that you have a half sibling out in the world?  Thanks to DNA kits like 23 & Me and Ancestry.com, how many of us will eventually find out that we have 4 brothers instead of 3?  Or that we actually do have a sister, and she better not be cuter than me! My interview with Rachelle, who discovered an older sister about 10 years ago, had me asking myself how I would feel in her situation and whether I would react with as much class and grace as she did.  

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis.  In today's episode,  we begin with a funny but possibly offensive conversation about finding a new sibling.  Amy and I describe our dream sisters and brothers (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michelle Obama, Jon Stewart, David & Amy Sedaris) that might be discovered with the magic of commercial DNA kits and during the discussion,  we create a new type of dinner party.  

Next, in an amazing interview, I talk with Hollywood actor and producer, Ricardo Salinas. As a founding member of the comedy troupe Culture Clash, Ric describes his career path in media, Teatro Campesino, and eventually, Hollywood. However, a horrific event in the middle of this journey almost put an end to Ric’s life.  In telling his story of survival, positivity, and optimism, Ric has gained this podcaster’s undying admiration for life.     

PS: If you are easily offended, it’s okay to skip to the 15 minute mark. 

Welcome to Gen X TrustFall; the podcast dedicated to planned and unplanned midlife changes and the ability to trust in the unknown.  

I’m Carla Loomis.  In today's episode,  Chico girl Amy and I discuss the pieces of clothing we don’t want to wear anymore and the activities we are no longer interested in as Gen Xers, aka mature women.      

 Next, a fun conversation with  Tyler Measom, Hollywood documentary film maker, podcaster, and all around great guy. We chat about aging, changes in movie making, and his latest documentary project, If These Walls Could Rock.    

Thanks so much for listening—I hope you enjoy. 

This week’s episode features Mario Guerra;  activist, healing circle leader, college student,  recovering addict, and formerly incarcerated gang member.    Mario grew up only 40 miles away from where I did, but the reality of our situations was worlds away.  His honesty, sense of humor, and most importantly,  his ability to adapt to changing  situations makes him one of my most memorable interviews to date.  

This episode contains descriptions of  drug and alcohol abuse, physical abuse, and violence.    Please take care while listening.