The Catchup

This week, we're talking about the layoff heard around the world. The CEO of Better.com laid off 900 employees in the most savage of ways... on a zoom call. So how is it that someone feels that disassociated with the employees under them that they find find that behavior acceptable? The CEO spoke out saying many of these employees were taking advantage of working from home, and being lazy on the company dime. And while that may be true, it does appear pretty rough and relentless to send that many people home for the holidays in the most impersonal of ways. Is this the new norm in the age of work from home? We discuss.

And then, Amazon Web Services suffers a major outage for roughly an entire workday, showcasing the vast amount of ground covered by AWS. Everything from Amazon deliveries to home security, web hosting platforms and even Netflix and Disney Plus were impacted. Is it safe to trust so much digital infrastructure to just a few seemingly-infallible companies? And what are the repercussions of this outage moving forward? It's something that has the potential to change the industry, and we dive into it.

Next, it's exam season. So, are you ready for the real world? Because it's totally different. We chat about our experience with high school and college exams, whether they prepared us for the real challenges of life, and while the public and higher education systems are deserved of an entire overhaul to get us ready for life's curveballs.

A lot to talk about! Let's go ahead and get into it!

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This week, we asked YOU what's been on your mind and had you talking! We asked on our Facebook page to give us your topic suggestions.  Several of you responded with the topics, life events, and more that's had your attention, and it inspired us to talk about them. It's something we plan to continue to answer and follow-up on in the next several weeks, so you'll want to stay tuned for your chance to respond.

We begin this new format with a topic submitted by Darien Mack. It reads:

"Something that has been weighing heavily on my mind lately is dream interpretations. Recently, I had a dream that my car went missing (as it would normally be parked/backed into my regular spot), but I kept clicking my lock button to see where it was. Instead, a blue hatchback was parked in my spot with the passenger side door being wide open. I heard Aaliyah’s “Back & Forth” playing in the background and it got to the part in the song where R. Kelly says “…be who you want to be.” Panicking, I was about to call my mom and then I woke up.

I interpreted it as a sign - the “blue” car with the door wide open represented the career I escaped from (ex. the police / “boys in blue”), me being lost/confused and ultimately finding myself / choosing to “walk away” from a dangerous / unfulfilling situation (which I ALWAYS said I DIDN’T want to my mom [a former cop] , but I was going to do it to make HER happy), and hearing the “be who YOU want to be” as my sign to start doing/thinking for MYself (not to sound self-centered, but I’m always doing for others, even if/when it’s at my expense).

In summary, I built up the courage to say “no” and am actively taking strides to become my own person and go for MY dreams (like becoming a psychologist and HR professional or CHRS-ER, “Certified Human Resources Specialist who specializes in Employee Relations."

So, we dive into the topic of dream interpretations! Denison has a history of studying what dreams mean, where they come from, and how they can impact our life. Details based in fact and psychological study are provided, showing their can be a connection to random or recurring dreams showing what you're dealing with in life. We also know there's the ability to control your dreams, called "lucid dreaming." We discuss what it takes to achieve that level of oneness with your dreams, and how it could be a gateway into another level of controlling your mind. Plus, why CONQUERING your fears can be accomplished your dreams.

And, it all starts off with a follow-up on our Black Friday fallout. Why supply chain shortages and software malfunctions led to John ordering not one, not two... but THREE of the same couches! And why it's continuing to make this season's Holiday shopping one of the biggest shopping challenges yet.

There's a lot to break down here. Let's go ahead and get into it!

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This week, Black Friday is back with a vengeance… but not in the way most shoppers would want. The fears of supply chain interruptions and chip shortages have come to pass, and it’s impacting our holiday shopping in a big way with huge delays and lack of availability on popular items. 

We share our firsthand experience, with things like laptops and even couches not expected to show up for months. How long can we expect these shortages and delays to let? And even if they were fixed today, how long would it take for the supply chain to be caught up? And, if you still haven’t completed your holiday shopping… what’s your best bet? We discuss it all!

Plus, we as a country waited months (or longer) for society to open back up so we could get back to our normal lives. Yet more and more, we see violence, arguments, disturbing attacks, and much more at public venues meant for fun and relaxation. What’s the reason for the Return to Anarchy taking over the Return to Normal? And how are we managing to enjoy our favorite places while ensuring we’re safe?

Then, how timely and impactful events the week of Thanksgiving made us even more thankful for what we already have. 

It’s an all new Catchup! Join the discussion!

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This week, we’re discussing Apple’s new self-service program that allows you to give new life to your aging iPhone! It’s a major breakthrough in the world of smartphones, but it does come with some limitations.

First, you can only replace your screen, camera, and battery. And while for most people that’s likely enough, this only applies to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. Why is Apple limiting the access to this program? What does this mean for the serviceability of other smartphones? 

And, does this give Apple a higher baseline that will allow them to shoot for the stars with future iterations of the iPhone? With iPhone models that are proven to work, have high-quality components, and years of iOS updates available to them, could this allow the company to push the boundaries of future phones knowing they have something to fall back on? Will there be a greater effort to phase out old phones because of it? We discuss and debate it all!

Plus, it’s Thanksgiving week in America! It’s a time to reflect on what you’re thankful for. And while for many of us this year was just as hard as the last, we’re giving thanks for life’s storms and valleys, and how they’ve prepared us for success in the next steps of life. How you can find something to be thankful for, and how it can change your life (plus a whole lot more) on this week’s episode! Join the discussion!

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Who says you can’t go home? For the first time, a high school reunion is being planned for the class of 2012 at John and Denison’s alma mater. As with many 10-year reunions, there’s a lot of planning and other variables. But what happens when you have over 1,200 former students to account for? And how many of those will actually show up?

There’s a lot of preconceived notions when it comes to high school reunions. People trying to look as good/wealthy/successful as possible to show off for old classmates. But for those who are truthful and humble with what they share, is there growth to be gained from this? We get into how reuniting with old connections can provide a welcome benchmark of growth that inspires continued progress in the future!

In this day and age, technology has had a profound effect on the way we communicate. And with multiple ways to reach people, and stay closely in touch with those we want to most, is a high school reunion truly necessary? And have we gotten complacent with how we keep in touch with others? Social media gives us the ability to keep up with those from past lives, even passively and from afar. What’s the impact of that? We discuss!

Is a high school reunion worth it, what should we expect heading into the event, and how can we use the reunion to build upon a decade of growth? It’s all up for discussion. LETS GET INTO IT! 

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This week, we're talking about the impact of Ford's new concept pickup, the F100. If it looks familiar, that's no coincidence. The truck harkens back to an era over 40 years old, and provides a look back at the past, while also giving a window to the future. While only a concept, we want to know if the truck will change the way electric cars are designed.

With a propulsion system much different than that of gas-powered engines, car designers need not adhere to strict aerodynamic standards, potentially kicking open a door of retro-influenced car design. Will others jump on the trend? Or is this  a fleeting attempt to excite an audience over the possibilities of bringing back days gone by, and winning over those not onboard with the tech of the future? The details on this inspiring concept, our thoughts on the move, and much more on this week's episode.

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This week, we break down the REAL reason Facebook is changing its name to Meta. It's more than just a timely rebrand after a series of scandals. In fact, Meta stands to represent the Metaverse - a hybrid world of online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world. What does that mean? It means a push to augmented reality, a blending of the virtual and real. And a greater push to creating a virtual reality altogether. But after recent scandals, is Facebook to be trusted with an even more invasive technology? And is it enough to cover up the sins from the past? We discuss.

Plus, Delta Airlines partners with the TSA to unveil new facial recognition software in the effort of making your travel experience a smoother one. But, is this an unwelcome invasion of privacy? And if so, have we become complacent as a society on the invasion of our personal information? This is a sign of things to come on a wider scale under the guise of "security" and "smooth travels", but what does it really mean?

And, it's spooky season! We share our Halloween party plans, and much more!

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This week we got the chance to speak with race broadcasting legend Allen Bestwick, the man behind the mic for over decades in NASCAR, Indycar, SRX, and so much more. It's not often the broadcaster gets to share their personal story, but this week we get to learn about Allen's upbringing, what got him interested in sports and broadcasting, and how he got his start in the industry. Plus, why his keys to success are as simple as hard work, being in the right place at the right time, and creating genuine connections.

From MRN, to NBC, to ESPN, we get to hear the inside stories as Allen's career grew and progressed. How years of hard work led to an unsuspected opportunity to join NBC for half of NASCAR's season, why he and racing/broadcasting legend Benny Parsons "had to" become great friends, and how a kind gesture from Tony Stewart years ago impacts their partnership on SRX.

We also discuss the direction of NASCAR, with new tracks continuing to be added, and a new car on the horizon. Allen says the schedules changes are an effort for the sport to break over a decade of complacency, and the new car will offer smaller teams more opportunity to grow. How money and declining viewership are playing a factor in both.

An incredible opportunity and interview. Join the discussion!

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This week, we’re diving into California’s ban of gas-powered lawn equipment by 2024. That forces over 50,000 companies to  begin making those purchases after that deadline. The State has a plan to help, and one can argue this move is for the greater good (see: the environment/climate change). But is this evidence of major government overreach into the free market? Or is this a worthwhile transition and a major step in protecting the planet? We touch on both sides!

Plus, we've all moved on from Facebook’s major outage just a few weeks ago. But the company, and the government, has not. The outage came at an interesting time, during investigations into the security of its platforms, and whistleblower complaints against the company’s integrity. So, how does this outage continue to impact Facebook’s reputation? And how will it continue to do so for years to come? We talk about it all, and much more.

Plus, Denison’s flashy trip to Maui, and John’s tour of the Wichita music scene including attending a concert for vaccinated people only!

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Has Hollywood met its match? This week, we're talking about Squid Games, the new viral show tearing up the charts, and set to become the most successful show in Netflix history! What's the reason for this show's unexpected and sweeping success? What is it that has gripped the nation? And is this a sign of the future - more movies and shows outperforming American-made films in Hollywood? We discuss it all.

Plus, John shares his recent unique finds from shopping local. From weird sauces to candy, records to small-shop coffee, one trip earned him a lot of personal pleasures. And it all came from shopping local, and supporting local businesses. And you should do the same! We discuss it all, and much more on this week's episode. Join the discussion!

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