RANDOM QUESTIONS.  The 3Q3D team takes a field trip to their local “Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area”, aka DORA, and scavenges a variety of drinks to share under the town clocktower while debating the best 80s movies, the worst states, and the best day on the calendar.  Stick around for the grand finale as Chris regales Matt and Amanda with a heartwarming story from his youth involving a Highlights for Kids magazine.  Drinks in this episode: >> Negroni cocktail from Hudson’s Restaurant:  Tito’s gin, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, garnished with orange peel >> Old Thyme Sour cocktail from Downtown 140:  Jameson, Thyme, Cinnamon infusion, ginger beer, garnished with a sprig of Thyme >> Lavender Muse cocktail from Downtown 140: Empress gin, Lavender honey infusion, Lemon, Prosecco float >> No Effen Way cocktail from One Red Door:  Effen cucumber vodka, Giffard elderflower, Basil, Prosecco float

RISK.  Risk is ever present in our lives; some of us embrace it, some of us do our best to avoid it, and many of us routinely take potentially life changing risks every single day without realizing it (witness anyone texting and driving).  Between sips of local IPA’s and fueled by kobe beef corn dogs on a stick, Chris, Amanda and Matt debate their respective risk tolerance, whether it’s okay to let your 10 year old ride his bike around town alone, and why “safety” is a myth.  Drinks in this episode: >> Bookhouse Brewery “Patio Season” New England IPA, 5.2% ABV >> Threes “The Things We All Do”, IPA, 6.4% ABV >> Rhinegeist “Truth”, IPA, 7.2% ABV >> R. Shea Brewing “709er”, IPA, 8.0% ABV

LAUGHTER.  Proving they’re no one-hit wonder, Colt and Doug are back in the 3Q3D studio for another entertaining conversation.   Only this time they’re doing shots of crappy rum while pondering where funny comes from in this “Laughter” themed episode.        Drinks in this episode: >> Salty Dog cocktail – 1 ½ oz Tito’s vodka, 3 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.  Pour vodka and grapefruit juice in a glass, mix and garnish with a salted rim.  >> Captain Morgan “Cannon Blast” shot >> UFO Big Squeeze Grapefruit Shandy

THE ART OF CONVERSATION.  Small talk is lame.  But how does one push past the superficial and have better conversations?  Chris and Amanda are joined by podcasting guru and “Master Provocateur” Brian Howie (host of the #1 dating and relationship podcast The Great Love Debate), for a fascinating conversation about…conversation.  If a good conversation is like a ping pong warmup, then this is one spirited volley.    Drinks in this episode: >> Lemon Lavender Shandy, Burnt Marshmallow Brewery >> High Noon pineapple vodka and soda >> French 75 Cocktail – 1 oz gin, ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, 3 oz Champagne (or other sparkling wine); combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, shake and strain into Champagne flute.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

BECOMING THE BEST DRESSED MAN IN THE ROOM.  JB Dunn, Jack Madda and Joe Paster believe personal style is more important than having no style at all, and for the past decade they’ve been helping men become the most confident version of themselves through their namesake J3 Clothing Company, one of the nicest men’s clothing stores in the nation.  Over good tequila and great bourbon, Chris and his fashion icon Mike Silvestro, CEO of FlexJet, ask Jack and JB why men should care how they dress, how a man can determine his own personal style, and whether pleated pants are indeed making a comeback.  Drinks in this episode: >> CasaMigos Añejo tequila, served neat >> Eagle Rare bourbon whiskey, Buffalo Trace distillery, served neat

TEACH ME SOMETHING. Believing everyone is in the Top 1% in the world at something, Chris challenges his frequent 3Q3D co-hosts, Amanda Adams and Matt Jordan, to teach him something from their respective areas of expertise.  At worst, you’ll learn why a yeasty 3 Philosopher’s Ale is a terrible chaser to a Sloe Gin Fizz, and at best, you’ll learn how to win your next argument, why not everything is relative, and what Julie Roberts and Richard Gere knew about negotiating. Drinks in this episode: >> Sloe Gin Fizz – 2 oz sloe gin, 1 ½ oz fresh lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup; shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker and strain into a highball glass; top with splash of club soda and garnish with a Maraschino cherry   >> Gin & Tonic – 2 parts Burnett’s gin, 2 parts tonic; pour gin and tonic over ice and garnish with lime wedge >> Ommegang “Three Philosophers” ale

FRIENDSHIP!  In this episode exploring all things “friends”, 3Q3D newcomers Susie Schmitt and Belynda Thomas bond over the “Vacation in a Cup” cocktail and end up questioning their friendship with Chris.  Between sips of Sangria and bites of a Belynda’s Vegemite sandwich (from her native Australia), the group ponders how friendships evolve, whether men and women can truly be “just friends” and what kind of sinister deal Belynda has made with one of her best friends (aka Chris’s wife).    Drinks in this episode: >> “Vacation in a cup” – 2 parts Malibu rum, 1 part pineapple juice; pour over ice and top with a splash of club soda >> Mija Sangria >> The Long Drink (Sugar Free version)

FOOD FIGHT!  For the first time ever, the 3Q3D podcast hits the road, settles into a booth at a local gastropub and – between bites of great calamari and awful bruschetta – orders up a culinarily curious conversation.  Matt, apparently moonlighting as the New York Times food critic, determines he’s too good for Golden Corral and wonders whether it’s okay to be a picky eater.  Meanwhile, Amanda and Chris nearly come to blows over who is truly responsible for Chris being at least 10 pounds overweight.  All drinks in this episode courtesy of Tom the bartender at Lager & Vine: >> Aviation Martini – Hendrick’s gin, Crème de Violette, cherry juice, lemon juice   >> Lemon Martini – Limoncello, Absolut, lemon juice, simple syrup, garnished with a lemon >> “Hudson on Main” cocktail – Hendrick’s gin, St. Germain, mint, simple syrup, splash of fresh lime juice and tonic

TRAVEL!  3Q3D listeners, please put your seatbacks and tray tables in their upright and locked position and let your 3Q3D captains take you on an exotic adventure (or at least pour you an exotic drink).  Amanda hikes across England with an old school Cosmo in her canteen, Chris defends the “proper women” of Singapore and stirs up their local punch, and Matt heads to the Bayou, serves up a classic Vieux Carré and poses the show’s first “Would You Rather”.    Drinks in this Episode: >> Cosmopolitan cocktail (made the old fashioned way): 1 ½ oz Citron Vodka, 1 ½ oz Cointreau, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 1-2 dashes cranberry juice; pour ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously and serve in a martini glass.  >> Singapore Sling cocktail: ¾ oz Tangueray gin, ¼ oz Bénédictine, ¼ oz Grenadine, ¼ oz Cheery Heering, 1 oz pineapple juice, ½ oz fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 dash angostura bitters; pour ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously, serve in a chilled glass and garnish with orange slice and Maraschino cherry >> Vieux Carré cocktail: ¾ oz rye whiskey, ¾ oz cognac, ½ oz sweet vermouth, 2 teaspoons Bénédictine liqueur, a few dashes of aromatic bitters; pour into a cocktail glass over a large ice cube, stir and garnish with a Maraschino cherry

GIRL POWER!  How do you raise a strong daughter in the age of social media?  Each raising sets of teen and tween girls, Sally Kuss and Thad Meese share their perspective on navigating today’s often dangerous and uncharted parenting waters.  If you’re raising a child, and in particular a daughter, don’t miss this important and insightful conversation. Drinks in this Episode: >> Domaine des Cotes Blanches Sancerre >> Sho Chiku Bai, Junmai Saké >> Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA, Athletic Brewing Co.