Brian and Amy get together and talk about who's had sex inside Vivace, the reason people move to Brooklyn, the reason people move away from Brooklyn, working at VICE, alienating customers, why servers tend to drink heavily, whether you're Tinder or Scruff, how humans are a commodity to be swiped, and the years it takes to go from not knowing where you are to having a vision.

Amy talks to Teal Allan in his rose garden, Gus Lanza at Cal Anderson Park, Leo Segovia also at Cal Anderson, and Erie on his porch on Thomas Street. I talk to all of them about class issues, how they are climbing the ladder, IF they are climbing a ladder, if there IS a ladder, and if they CARE if there's a ladder. Are we happy where we are at or will we always want something else? Is serving a respected profession in modern America? We totally answer all of these questions. All of them.

Also, apologies that I was not prepared for the wind in the park during my conversation with Leo (the third chat.) There's some distortion I am deeply ashamed of. I do my best not to harm your sensibilities.

Amy talks to Teal Allan in his rose garden, Gus Lanza at Cal Anderson Park, Leo Segovia also at Cal Anderson, and Erie on his porch on Thomas Street. I talk to all of them about class issues, how they are climbing the ladder, IF they are climbing a ladder, if there IS a ladder, and if they CARE if there's a ladder. Are we happy where we are at or will we always want something else? Is serving a respected profession in modern America? We totally answer all of these questions. All of them.

Also, apologies that I was not prepared for the wind in the park during my conversation with Leo (the third chat.) There's some distortion I am deeply ashamed of. I do my best not to harm your sensibilities.

Amy and Heidi meet in Volunteer Park at 10pm and have a conversation overlooking the Space Needle. They talk about coffee, little bit more about coffee, and top it off with some coffee. Also how hipster baristas get a bad rap, and that we love them. Both started in the biz over 30 ago but Heidi has been in it the whole time and knows EVERYTHING. No, seriously, she does. Listen to this woman, she's whip smart.

Amy and Heidi meet in Volunteer Park at 10pm and have a conversation overlooking the Space Needle. They talk about coffee, little bit more about coffee, and top it off with some coffee. Also how hipster baristas get a bad rap, and that we love them. Both started in the biz over 30 ago but Heidi has been in it the whole time and knows EVERYTHING. No, seriously, she does. Listen to this woman, she's whip smart.

Black Lives Matter protest Seattle, 10-01-2016 - raw audio, not a Struggle to Connect episode by Amy Vanderbeck

Part 2 of my conversation with my great friend Mitch Hale where we have a massive bitch session about Yelp, online dating, and customer service. We met at Vivace (Where else?) and solve all the world's problems, or rather - point out the world's problems. While the first conversation was about recovery and becoming mentally healthy, in this conversation we are as churlish and immature as two grown adults get. Two steps forward, one step back. Ah, fuck it.

Part 2 of my conversation with my great friend Mitch Hale where we have a massive bitch session about Yelp, online dating, and customer service. We met at Vivace (Where else?) and solve all the world's problems, or rather - point out the world's problems. While the first conversation was about recovery and becoming mentally healthy, in this conversation we are as churlish and immature as two grown adults get. Two steps forward, one step back. Ah, fuck it.

Mitch Hale, playwright and owner of Cafecito Organico visits from Los Angeles and takes the time to talk with Amy about depression, suicide, alcoholism, recovery, owning a business, questionable customer service, Tinder, and goddamn fucking Yelpers. Sure, there's some wisdom, but there is also some venting. We can't help ourselves.

Below are links to Mitch's business, and his NAACP Award winning play Buffalo Soldier

https://cafecitoorganico.cratejoy.com/

http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/writing-the-wrongs-buffalo-soldiers-by-mitch-hale/

Mitch Hale, playwright and owner of Cafecito Organico visits from Los Angeles and takes the time to talk with Amy about depression, suicide, alcoholism, recovery, owning a business, questionable customer service, Tinder, and goddamn fucking Yelpers. Sure, there's some wisdom, but there is also some venting. We can't help ourselves.

Below are links to Mitch's business, and his NAACP Award winning play Buffalo Soldier

https://cafecitoorganico.cratejoy.com/

http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/writing-the-wrongs-buffalo-soldiers-by-mitch-hale/