In this episode, we tackle what we plan to make a recurring theme for season two--money. In our first chat on the subject, we ask each other, "When did you first realize we were poor?" The question dredges up childhood memories of being the kid who smelled like smoke and being the family that gets gift baskets at Christmas. We also come to realize that childhood poverty affected both of us in terms of our relationship to material possessions--but in completely opposite ways. 

Doug's drink tonight was Twisted Cedar's Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi, 2016 from the Cedar Band of Paiute (pronounced Pie-Yoot; nice try, Doug) Indians.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: poverty, single parenting, bullying, religion, losing possessions, rape, and the sexualization of children]

This episode was recorded on July 17, 2021.

Okay, so, fair warning--we don't get around to actually talking about death until 20-30 minutes in. And, even after we start, we go off on a myriad of tangents. For our season two opener, we talk about our goals for season two, Doug's recent experience with his dad almost dying, the connection between eroticism and death, sleep apnea, predictive statistics, The Parent Trap, imposter syndrome, suicide as an existential question, managing the logistics of loved ones' pending deaths, our changing relationship with our parents, Albert Camus' The Stranger, and Vanessa's new experiences as a parent.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: acephobia, suicide, depression, bullying, ableism, ageism, single parenting, and dealing with the deaths of loved ones (especially parents)]

This episode was recorded on July 8, 2021.

In this episode, Doug and Vanessa get back together to chat after taking a break for a few months. Using this conversation a segue into season two, we talk about a smattering of subjects ranging from cooking to voter ID laws to therapy to Breaking Bad to "drinking the corporate Kool-Aid."

Tune in next week as we begin Season 2 with a conversation on death and dying.

Fun, huh?

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: divorce, mental healthcare, and voter disenfranchisement]

This episode was recorded on July 1, 2021.

In this episode, Vanessa talks about her newfound experience being a mom and how its helped her better understand our childhood. Doug, having nothing of comparable substance to offer, talks about what he's been watching: the movie Belle about the Zong massacre and a few different shows on AppleTV.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: childhood traumas, slavery, mental health struggles, and sexual assault]

This episode was recorded on February 22, 2021.

In this episode, we catch up with each other after taking a break for a few weeks. Doug struggles to think of the word "pretentious," Vanessa places a moratorium on "Wes Anderson," we wonder about how "foreign exchange students" work and if they're still a thing, we make fun of the 90s, we trade ADHD stories, and we talk about the difficulty of managing relationships when depressed.

Vanessa decided she's going to try to start listening to more podcasts, so Doug provided the following recommendations: Queery with Cameron Esposito, Sounds Fake But Okay, Parenting Forward with Cindy Wang Brandt, The Good Ancestor Podcast, and Narrative Therapy: An Animated Conversation.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: cultural appropriation, seasonal depression, misogyny, and grooming]

This episode was recorded on February 10, 2021.

This episode continues our series about our work histories. In this second part, Vanessa talks about her journey from ESL tutor to college theatre assistant to pet sitter to call center rep to insurance claims processor, and more. Tangents include unrealistic expectations given to high school students about work, reflections on the purpose of college, and general angst about work in a capitalist society.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: homophobia, fatphobia, and capitalism]

This episode was recorded on January 3, 2021.

This episode begins our series about our work histories and ever-growing contempt for capitalism. In this first part, Doug talks about his journey from sandwich artist to car salesperson to social media consultant to data analyst--discussing everything from getting fired (twice) to freelancing (unsuccessfully) to stumbling into a new career on accident. Tangents include the "gig economy," white papers, Happiest Season, asexual representation, and R Programming.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: Toxic workplaces, getting fired, financial struggles, and PTSD]

This episode was recorded on December 26, 2020.

In this episode, we play a game of 'Would You Rather?' Not surprisingly, the conversation swings wildly from aliens to fashion to smartphone apps to human cloning to dream jobs to Elliot Page.

Spoiler alert: Vanessa and Doug's first guests as Late Night Talk Show hosts will be Megan Crabbe and Ruha Benjamin, respectively. And when movies are made about Vanessa's and Doug's lives, Vanessa will be played by Drew Barrymore and Doug by Mark Ruffalo.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: prison, alcohol, eating disorders, and transphobia]

This episode was recorded on December 5, 2020.

In this episode, we have another completely unstructured conversation. Tangents (can we really call them tangents if there is no actual path to stray from?) include: voice changers, mega phones, The Office, olives, pickles, human anatomy, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, and the smartphone app JustWatch.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexism, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Sex]

This episode was recorded on November 29, 2020.

In this episode, we catch up with each other after a brief hiatus for a mental health break. No cohesive theme in this one. So, if you're brave enough, feel free to follow our ADHD brains as we discuss topics such as Twisted Cedar Wines, the Islamic Golden Age, Salt-N-Pepa, Captain Marvel, Rush Hour 2, and a 7.5 Foot Demogorgon that Doug would love for you to buy for him.

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: Depression, Drugs and alcohol, Divorce, Discussion of Cultural Appropriation, Relationship Issues, and LGBTQ+ Discrimination]

This episode was recorded on November 22, 2020.