The Catchup

This week, we're talking about Elon Musk's takeover of social media giant, Twitter. A lot has been said about Elon and his political views since the acquisition. Many people say that his desire to create a platform geared toward free speech is tailored to Donald Trump, inviting accusations of conservative ideologies. Our question is, when it comes to Elon Musk, should we care how he votes? Many people certainly do.

Plus, what's next for Musk? He's strongly hinted at other acquisitions, including Coca-Cola! What started off as seemingly a joke to buy the world's most iconic soda company is now a full-on discussion being fueled more by pundits than Musk himself. Does he have a need to branch outside of the technology space? We discuss the idea, the possibility of a Coca Cola takeover, and what could be next on Musk's list to purchase.

Plus, Texas Governor Greg Abbott makes a push for Musk to move Twitter to Texas. But the reason is more than another draw of business in the Lone Star State. Why there are certainly a number of reasons to try and bring such a company to Texas, we're looking at the political games possibly being played in this offer. There's a lot to discuss, so let's go ahead and get into it!

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This week, John and Denison discuss the future of electric vehicles. With hydrogen power growing in popularity and usage, is battery power already a thing of the past? More and more, auto industry and oil industry giants are investing research and development into hydrogen power. The reason why? It could be even more cost-effective, consumer friendly, and environment friendly than its current electric counterparts?

If that's the case, then what is the reason for our investment into electric vehicles? Are they a stop gap for strict rules brought on by the EPA? The government is mandating high fuel economy standards for car companies in the US, all in an effort to combat global warming, and doing so sooner than expected. Is the switch to electric just a temporary fix until hydrogen infrastructure is more prominent?

Hydrogen offers quicker fill-up times, and emits only water and water vapor. So what's the drawback? The initial harvesting of usable Hydrogen is much less eco friendly than the creation of batteries. So, is there a solution? Is Hydrogen really the wave of the future? Or are electric cars here to stay?

Plus, how you can get involved and control the direction of each episode of The Catchup! There's a lot to discuss. Let's get into it!

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This week, we want to know... where are all of the heroes? Christina Smith submitted this week's topic, asking what our generation views as a hero, and who are our heroes? It's an interesting topic the raises another question... are there any heroes left? And is our society willing to let someone become a hero?

We begin by naming the heroes that inspire us, and how that compares to those in our generation. We start off by naming a lot of who you'd expect - First responders, community leaders, and those who give back to make the world a better place. But we also discuss how those who inspire us through the arts, TV, film, and more, are just as worthy of being labeled a hero. Why? Because they influence people like us to be the best versions of ourselves.

How that compares to what society views as a hero is discretionary, but it certainly seems that social media, once again, plays a big influence, with "influencers" being put on a pedestal. The irony: the very thing that builds them up is what tears them down. Which brings us to our final question... will we allow society to build up another hero? Regardless of your feelings toward it, cancel culture plays a big role in our society, meaning new heroes certainly seem unlikely. So who is out there to lead the next generation? We discuss, and a whole lot more. Let's get into it!

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A recent survey shows 81% of Americans are concerned we're nearing a major recession. One that, in the midst of an inflation crisis, high fuel prices, and other economic woes, could cripple our society. What is the root of this fear? Those exact issues, coupled with the Russian invasion in the Ukraine.

Many of these things are leading people to pull their investments, spend less, and give less to the economic machine. The problem? While these are the tips to prepare for a recession, they can also be the things that causes one.

There's a lot to break down here and we discuss it all. What other factors are causing fears of a recession on both sides of the aisle? What are economists saying about the risks of an economic drop? And what do we need to do to prepare? We discuss it all, and a whole lot more. Let's go ahead and get into it!

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This week, Christina Roach submitted the topic of White Passing, a technique started in the slavery era in an effort by black people to escape the hardships of a white-led society. Many times, black people with a lighter complexion would assimilate into white society in an effort to gain freedom from the slave trade.

Years later, that technique continued in an effort to gain equal rights, taxation, and escape segregation. But after the Civil Rights movement, the need for White Passing slowly dissipated. However, years later Racial Passing by people of all backgrounds continues, albeit for much different reasons.

Today, black people may try to "act white" to try and fit in with society. But that move has fallen out of favor with many. So why does it continue? Do people of other backgrounds and ethnicities take part? And how is it impacting people of color? Let's get into it! 
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This week, Daniel Garrett provides us with another solid topic: As tensions continue to rise over what Russia & Vladmir Putin could or couldn't do in the Ukraine Invasion, is the world able to handle another disaster? After the trauma and stress brought on by the pandemic, mental health is taking the forefront in a way never seen before. Are we prepared for what could be in Eastern Europe?

We believe that the emotional, mental, and physical trauma is nothing compared to what the pandemic caused in its first year+. Plus, are we privileged to  concern ourselves with the emotional trauma of a war we're not directly impacted by (as of yet)? There are several layers to this Russian threat, with new concerns growing all the time. And the threat of a nuclear attack, EMP, and WWIII are all looming. What do we think of the latest developments, how are we handling the repercussions of what could come, and much more. Let's get into it!

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This week, we tackle Matt Butscheck's topic suggestion: Is it possible for volunteer/donate with no ulterior motives? There are so many ways to give back/give of your time in this world. Many people do, many times on a regular basis. But, do they do it with pure intentions? Many donations can be written off on yearly taxes, and corporate volunteer initiatives are often used for publicity. On a smaller scale, many people give their time to causes that mean something to them based on past experience. While that is not a negative motivation, it still highlights how giving to others often times comes from a selfish place.

We discuss if it's possible to truly give without any self-serving mentality. By the metrics given, we hypothesize that those who volunteer their time with different causes in different capacities are more likely to do so from a genuine standpoint than those who consistently serve the same organization. Do you agree? Hot takes on our part. Leave your thoughts in the comment/review.

Then, a major outage for Google Maps forces people to turn to old school methods of navigation. Does this showcase how reliant we are on technology? Just 15 years ago, GPS navigation was looked at as a luxury. Now it's viewed as a necessity. We look into the reason for the mental shift, and how relying on technology for every facet of our life could hurt us as a society in the long run.

There's a lot to talk about, let's get into it!

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This week, Catherine Wilson submitted this topic: “Here’s a topic I’d like to hear the younger generation’s take on. With the over 65 generation soon to outnumber the younger generations and so many of us old farts dealing with cancer (me), heart disease, dementia, and just plain old age, how does you generation deal with the emotional, physical and time demands a loved ones illness might impose on you? How does it affect your generation seeing the frailty of the folks who raised you?”

With reproduction rates less than what caused the baby boomer movement, younger people are being outnumbered by older aging generations. We discuss our personal experience with losing those close to us, and how it shaped us as we age. Plus, how we manage our focus and thoughts to cherish the moments we’re having with our aging loved ones, rather than mourning their physical decline. Also, how our faith empowers us to take on the struggle of losing those close to us, through a trust that more will follow our life on Earth. 

Then, conspiracy theories abound as gas prices spike in America - many people believing this all has to do with a push to go electric. While John does believe there could be a push from a financial standpoint, many people think the move is for the government to control your movements. But spoiler alert: they already can. We explain why, and a whole lot more! Join the discussion!

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This week’s topic is courtesy of one is Denison’s students, wanting to learn more about the growing issue that’s affecting all of us - inflation.

Inflation is something that never stops, and can’t be undone. But what the US has experienced in the past few months is worse than normal. Accounting for roughly 1/3rd of that inflation - the auto industry. But the higher cost of cars and trucks, and oil and gas (largely brought on by Russia's invasion of the Ukraine), are feeding into higher prices everywhere - including what you feed on.

So, how does inflation work and what causes it? And how do you weather the storm? One thing is for sure, there’s no going back from these higher overall prices. So, we discuss how to protect your pocketbook among this new normal of higher prices.

Now, speaking of cars, Denison gives us a review after a long-term test drive of an all-electric Tesla Model 3. He discuses the unique drive, the difference in maintaining the car, the cost to charge it (vs fill a gas engine), and much more. There’s a lot to get into, let’s go ahead and jump into it!

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Daniel Garrett submitted the topic that's on everyone's mind. Just what is going on in the Ukraine? Many of us can agree that what's going on in the country is tragic and hard to watch. But exactly who is in the wrong? A growing number of Republicans are supporting the moves Putin has made. Donald Trump calls the Russian invasion of the Ukraine "smart", along with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But is Putin deserved of any support?

Others argue this is a time we all need to come together and support Ukraine in the attack on their government, and their people. So where do we stand? There's a lot to break down here.

First, how have we become so divided over what - on the surface - appears to be a cut-and-dry attack on Democracy? Second, what factors are different in this geopolitical debate, versus those who have come before it? We believe the debate over who's at fault for this invasion is already impacting the way the U.S. is responding to the invasion. And there's no time to waste when it comes to stopping Russia, and China - who is hungry to stake a claim on some nearby islands - is watching closely.

So much to talk about. Let's go ahead and get into it!

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