Pleasant Conversations

This week, Jasmine and Michael take a break from the normal programming to have another co-host interview.

Of course Jasmine’s questions are a little more professional than Michael’s off-the-wall ones (there is a question about which color food would you eat for the rest of your life if you could only pick one). Our co-hosts really enjoy the fun banter and hope this episode will take your mind off of everything else going on in the world.

So fix yourself a plate and a drink (but both can only be one color) and join us for our very special and pleasant conversation.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

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This week, Jasmine isn’t really feeling the joy, so Michael tries to help out by bringing some extra smiles and positivity. He recaps his birthday weekend, his return to the paranormal, and his love for Spooky Season!

The news brings us stories about first responder mental health, LGBTQ+ pilgrims in the Vatican, content creators for clean water, PBS’s celebration of food by state, and This Day in History. The Wheel of Topics has our hosts talk about their favorite fictional universe to live in.

As always, we end the show with Ashes & Embers, our weekly affirmation, and pleasantries.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Good News Links:

Portland Street Response grows, thanks to city funding: https://katu.com/news/local/portland-street-response-grows-thanks-to-city-funding

LGBTQ+ Catholics make Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome and celebrate a new feeling of welcome: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-lgbtq-197507e47890e2e5115a7f784d0bef04

MrBeast, YouTubers surpass $40M goal in global clean water fundraiser: 'We're just getting started': https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/mrbeast-team-water-fundraiser

This week, our hosts are heading into the holiday weekend, talking plans and Michael’s birthday. In world news, will beer save our watersheds? Also, Princess Week brings the magic, listener Anna (Gold Star Submitter) shares hopeful trans support news from Michigan, and global environmental activists get their flowers!

The Wheel of Topics has our hosts dive deep into the world of Overrated vs Underrated (where Michael brings his best “Get off my lawn” energy). We fly through Ashes & Embers right into the weekly affirmation and pleasantries.

Pull out your favorite cassingles, grab some deliciousness from your local tacqueria, and join us for some pleasant conversations.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Good News Links:

World Water Week: How Heineken is Improving Watershed Health: https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/how-heineken-is-improving-watershed-health

World Princess Week 2025 is Here: How to Join the Royal Celebration: https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/world-princess-week-2025-how-to-join-the-royal-celebration/

As Trump admin axes LGBTQ+ crisis support, ally parents are offering support for trans youth: https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/01/as-trump-admin-axes-lgbtq-crisis-support-ally-parents-are-offering-support-for-trans-youth/

Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Seven Outstanding Defenders of the Earth: https://www.goldmanprize.org/press_releases/2025-press-release/

This week, Jasmine and Michael start off strong with talk of textbook cover designs and allergies. After a fun two-parter full of games, it’s back to business with smiles and positive news stories from around the world.

The Wheel of Topics dives into weird purchases. Michael uses his Ashes & Embers to share his thoughts on the finale of “And Just Like That”, while Jasmine keeps hers short and sweet and then gives us our weekly affirmation.

Grab a drink (but not the Cognac, just in case), pull up a comfy seat, and join us for this week’s pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Good News Links:

A science museum is using its 100-acre forest to support mental health: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-08-12/montshire-museum-norwich-healing-forest-to-support-mental-health

Reef regeneration trial underway on the Great Barrier Reef: https://www.australiantimes.co.uk/news/reef-regeneration-trial-underway-on-the-great-barrier-reef/#

Solar panels that fit on your balcony or deck are gaining traction in the US: https://apnews.com/article/balcony-plug-solar-climate-energy-renewable-trump-c162abf520da0fa155dc971270b8684a

African SCENe: bringing clean energy to low-income communities in Nairobi: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vision/vision-african-scene-project-brings-clean-energy

At this Vermont summer camp, kids with incarcerated parents ‘don’t have to hide’: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-08-19/at-this-vermont-summer-camp-kids-with-incarcerated-parents-dont-have-to-hide

Neb. inmates train dogs with help of partner program: https://www.corrections1.com/treatment/articles/neb-inmates-train-dogs-with-help-of-partner-program-IAa4d4REOBNuxODm/

The finale of Pleasant Conversations: the Game Show! Join us for the second half of our special game night celebration for Jasmine’s birthday. It all comes down to fate! As we enter the early morning hours of recording, the snark gets strong with our contestants. Who will make it to the end intact? Will someone claim the ultimate prize trip to Planet Spaceball? You’ll have to tune in to find out…

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]

That’s right, we have a two-parter! In these next two episodes, we celebrate the birth of one of our hosts in such a way, we had to split the event. Join Jasmine, Michael, and some guests as they transform the studio into a flashy Hollywood soundstage to play some games!

Grab your buzzers and hope for no whammies, as we proudly present, live from Burbank (not really), Pleasant Conversations: The Game Show!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week, our hosts start off strong with talk of weather woes, adorable kids, Disney, and a Milwaukee legend. Then, Michael does a deep dive into Jasmine’s first time…at Universal Orlando (apologies to non-theme-park persons, but we go for an average Disney ride wait time).

Jasmine and Michael then move on to The Wheel of Topics, where they discuss surviving without tech and end the show with ashes and embers, a celebrity affirmation, and, of course, pleasantries.

Grab plenty of water, your sunblock, and your patience for the long lines ahead. Luckily, while we wait, we can have some pleasant conversations.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week, Jasmine has returned from her adventures at sea, fighting off pirates and luring sailors to their doom. After some catching up, Michael gives two spoiler-filled reviews for “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” If you want to avoid them, skip to 26:30.

After he talks for a while, Michael hands the reins over to Jasmine to do a co-host interview about her cruise. You don’t want to miss out on all the hits and misses. Then, we close out the show as we always do with ashes, embers, affirmations, and pleasantries.

Make sure you turn on your powers of invisibility to avoid any strangers in a rain slicker and catch a wave to join us for our pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]

Jasmine is about to go on her much-needed vacation, so what better conversations are there for our hosts to have than about politics and animals! Don’t worry, the animals always outweigh the politics.

After some political griping, our hosts delight in some banter about 90s TV shows, good news in both the animal and environmental worlds, an educationally fun topic, Ashes & Embers, the weekly affirmation, and some pleasantries about being a responsible adult.

Now put down that fourth shrimp cocktail and go meet your activities director down on the poop deck, but watch your step, as they welcome you to join our pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Good News Links:

Sea turtle nests hit a new high on the Texas coast: https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/sea-turtles-nests-texas-20379265.php

World's oldest climate fund targets wildlife bonds for every country in Africa: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/worlds-oldest-climate-fund-targets-wildlife-bonds-every-country-africa-2025-07-17/

A new Trump policy asked national park visitors to report 'negative' content. They're writing compliments to rangers instead: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/national-park-trump-feedback-forms

Conservation Jobs Corps gives Midland teens hands-on STEM experience at I-20 Wildlife Preserve: https://www.mrt.com/news/education/article/conservation-jobs-corps-midland-stem-20775607.php

5,000 people express interest in running for office following NYC mayoral primary: 'Change is coming': https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/new-york-city-primary-zohran-mamdani-run-for-something

Gorillas return to San Antonio Zoo for first time in 30 years, featuring largest gorilla tower in the world: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/07/17/gorillas-return-to-san-antonio-zoo-for-first-time-in-30-years-featuring-largest-gorilla-tower-in-the-world/

Michael complains about the heat (again), but the mood in the studio is a hell of a lot lighter than last week. Jasmine is going on vacation, and our hosts talk roller coasters and rides that are duds.

BREAKING NEWS: Michael didn’t update his script. After this delightful fumble, we get into Good News and a Muckles at the Movies. We end the episode with our spin around The Wheel, an affirmation, and pleasantries!

Pull down your lap bars and shoulder restraints as we prepare to launch in 3…2…1…and join us for our pleasant conversations.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Good News Links:

Kids across Texas raise thousands for flood relief with lemonade stands: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/texas-floods-camp-mystic-lemonade-stand

Parisians take a historic plunge into the River Seine after more than a century: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/07/05/parisians-take-a-historic-plunge-into-the-seine-after-more-than-a-century

This state is now home to one of the biggest populations of bald eagles in the US after years of recovery: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/bald-eagles-endangered-status-recovery

First malaria treatment for babies approved for use: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89e872jdjxo