It's Giving, Choose What You Pay Attention To

It's Giving, Choose What You Pay Attention To

We're back after a brief hiatus, and apparently the news didn't get any less weird while we were gone. This week on Premeditated Opinions, we're catching up on life, talking through some of the headlines that made us laugh (because crying seemed less productive), and asking a question we've been wrestling with for a while: Can we stop making everything a culture war and start celebrating the things that actually bring us together? We get into: *  The $16 million saga of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (yes... that reflecting pool)  *  Why accountability feels harder than ever  *  Political campaigns built on ideas instead of insults (imagine that)  *  The World Cup, the Obama Presidential Center, and the kinds of stories that still make us proud to be Americans  *  Why Clarkson's Farm might be one of the best shows on television  *  Jeremy Clarkson's prostate cancer diagnosis, remission, and the reminder we all needed to stop putting off preventative healthcare  Some episodes are about solving problems. This one is more about recognizing what's worth paying attention to. Because maybe the loudest stories aren't always the most important ones. Maybe the better stories are the ones that remind us who we are when we're at our best. 💙 A quick PSA: If you're due for a mammogram, colonoscopy, prostate screening, annual physical, or any other preventative care... schedule it. Future you (and the people who love you) will be glad you did. 🎙️ Coming Next: We're sitting down with Guinness World Record holder and memory expert Ron White for one of our favorite interviews we've recorded so far. Trust us—you won't want to miss it. Follow Premeditated Opinions on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Instagram for new episodes where we tackle the conversations that matter—with a little sarcasm, a little curiosity, and just enough optimism to keep coming back. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532171/support] Stay Connected with us on these platforms: Website: https://www.premeditatedopinions.com [https://www.premeditatedopinions.com] Youtube: https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast [https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast] Substack: https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions [https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/ [https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions [https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions] And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share us with your friends and family!

Quick Announcement from Josh - June 12th, 2026

Hey everyone! Quick announcement from Josh, take a listen for some scheduling updates. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532171/support] Stay Connected with us on these platforms: Website: https://www.premeditatedopinions.com [https://www.premeditatedopinions.com] Youtube: https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast [https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast] Substack: https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions [https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/ [https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions [https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions] And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share us with your friends and family!

It’s Giving Dating in 2026

This week on Premeditated Opinions, we gathered a couple of our favorite people around the microphones to talk about one of the most confusing modern experiences imaginable: ✨ being single in your 40s ✨ And listen… this episode went from hilarious dating stories to purity culture trauma to AI matchmaking theories faster than anyone expected.  Joining us this week are Chrissie Rivers and Ariel Talitha, two smart, funny, brutally honest women sharing what it’s actually like navigating dating, relationships, divorce, healing, and companionship in 2026. And let’s just say: the apps are bleak, the vibes are confusing, and everybody needs therapy. In this episode, we talk about: *  Dating apps in your 40s and why the vibes feel… off  *  Purity culture, marriage expectations, and growing up in high-control religious environments  *  Why so many women were taught that marriage = survival  *  Learning to exist outside the “wife as life goal” narrative  *  Dating after divorce, trauma, weight loss, and personal reinvention  *  The uniquely cursed experience of trying to date in Texas as a non-MAGA woman  *  Whether AI should screen potential partners before humans waste their time  Because apparently the future of dating might just be: your chatbot talking to someone else’s chatbot while you sit there emotionally exhausted.  Also in this episode: *  A man aggressively ignoring social cues at a karaoke bar  *  Josh accidentally volunteering to become a dating coach for men  *  Pamela trying to turn modern dating into a project management workflow  *  The phrase: “A man is not a retirement plan.”  *  A genuinely fascinating conversation about vulnerability, race, gender expectations, and modern companionship  This episode is funny. It’s uncomfortable. It’s deeply honest. And honestly? It’s probably going to make at least one person text their therapist. If you’ve ever: *  deleted and re-downloaded Hinge 14 times  *  wondered if healthy relationships are actually real  *  survived purity culture  *  or questioned whether modern dating is broken for everybody  …this one’s for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532171/support] Stay Connected with us on these platforms: Website: https://www.premeditatedopinions.com [https://www.premeditatedopinions.com] Youtube: https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast [https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast] Substack: https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions [https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/ [https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions [https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions] And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share us with your friends and family!

It’s Giving Right to Repair… Now What? (Part 2)

We’re back with Part 2 of our Right to Repair conversation, and if you were hoping for a clean answer… Yeah. No. In this follow-up, we go beyond the basics and get into the part of this conversation that actually makes people uncomfortable: 👉 There is no clear “right” answer here. We’re joined again by: * Scott Blair — career technician, 20+ years in the field, friend of the pod  * Josh Thomas — Pamela’s husband (yes, still two Joshes, still thriving)  And this time, we’re digging into the gray areas: 🔍 In Part 2, we unpack: *  Why software—not hardware—is the real battleground *  Intellectual property, security risks, and “keys to the kingdom” access  *  What happens when the wrong person has the right tools *  The reality of modern vehicles: over-the-air updates, remote access, and full system integration  *  Why diagnosing problems is becoming “replace this part… then this part…” instead of actual expertise  *  How cost, trust, and risk all collide when choosing where to repair  Because here’s the tension: We want people to fix their own stuff. We want independent shops to compete. …but we also don’t want: *  hacked vehicles  *  unsafe repairs  *  or entire systems getting compromised  Small ask. 🤝 Also in this episode: *  Why farmers are some of the most impacted by Right to Repair  *  A surprisingly passionate recommendation for Clarkson’s Farm *  Why “doing the right thing” depends on who you ask (and how much money they have)  *  The uncomfortable reality that we may just have to live in the tension  This episode doesn’t wrap things up neatly. It does something better: It shows you why it’s messy. And maybe that’s the point. If you’ve ever: *  assumed this was a simple “consumer vs corporation” issue  *  wondered why repairs feel harder (and more expensive) than they should  *  or realized that “ownership” doesn’t mean what it used to  …this one’s for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532171/support] Stay Connected with us on these platforms: Website: https://www.premeditatedopinions.com [https://www.premeditatedopinions.com] Youtube: https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast [https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast] Substack: https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions [https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/ [https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions [https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions] And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share us with your friends and family!

It’s Giving Right to Repair... Kind Of (Part 1)

This week on Premeditated Opinions, we’re kicking off a two-part conversation on something that sounds niche… until you realize it affects literally everything you own: Right to Repair. From cars to phones to tractors, the question is simple:  👉 If you bought it… do you actually own it? To help us unpack it, we brought in people who actually live this world: * Scott Blair — longtime friend of Josh and Pamela Thomas, career technician with 20+ years of experience  * Josh Thomas — Pamela’s husband (yes, there are two Joshes in her daily life, and no, it’s not confusing at all… we’re doing great)  Together, we get into what this looks like in the real world, not just headlines and hot takes. 🔧 In Part 1, we break down: *  What “Right to Repair” actually means (and why it’s trending)  *  How modern vehicles are built to require manufacturer access to function  *  The growing role of software, programming, and proprietary systems  *  Why a “simple fix” can turn into a dealership-only situation  *  The tension between consumer rights, safety, and corporate control  Because here’s where it gets frustrating: You can replace the part. You can install it perfectly. …and your car still won’t work without access to the right software.  🔍 Also in this episode: *  A casual story about someone being on fire (as one does)  *  The difference between knowing how to fix something and being allowed to  *  The Dunning-Kruger effect, but make it mechanical  *  Why EVs and high-voltage systems raise the stakes significantly  *  The reality of dealerships vs independent shops vs DIY  This isn’t a rant. It’s not a takedown. It’s a real conversation about a system that’s evolving fast—and the trade-offs most people don’t see until they’re stuck in it. Part 2 drops in two weeks. If you’ve ever: *  tried to fix something and hit a wall  *  questioned why everything requires special access  *  or just want to understand how ownership actually works in 2026  …this one’s for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532171/support] Stay Connected with us on these platforms: Website: https://www.premeditatedopinions.com [https://www.premeditatedopinions.com] Youtube: https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast [https://youtube.com/@premeditatedopinionspodcast] Substack: https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions [https://substack.com/@premeditatedopinions] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/ [https://www.instagram.com/premeditated_opinions/] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions [https://www.threads.com/@premeditated_opinions] And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share us with your friends and family!