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Episode 23: This Was Never Paradise

Episode 23 starts with a little summer nostalgia as we talk about the songs that instantly remind us of summertime. We also make a small plea to our listeners: help us get to 1,000 Instagram followers so we can finally go live and record with y’all in real time. In This Can’t Be Real Life, we unpack a series of headlines that highlight just how upside down things can feel — from a fraudulent billion-dollar truck company scandal to congressional stock-trading debates and the American Bar Association voting to eliminate DEI standards for law schools. In The Pulse, we do a full deep dive into Season 1 of Paradise — breaking down the major moments, character decisions, hidden themes, and the bigger questions the show raises throughout the season. In You Like It / We Love It, we react to Unjected, the world’s first dating app for unvaccinated people… and respectfully, we want absolutely no parts of it. For We Said What We Said, we discuss the workplace reality that sometimes being too good at your job can actually hold you back from promotion because leadership doesn’t want to lose the productivity you bring. Citizen’s Arrest goes to an Oregon ER doctor sentenced to prison after fatally hitting a pedestrian and fleeing the scene to report to work at the hospital. And for The Choice Is Yours, we ask:If you were living in Paradise, which character would you want to be — and why?

Episode 22: Under-babied & Under-vacationed

Episode 22 kicks off with reactions to last week’s The Choice Is Yours poll and whether y’all would trust yourselves on that seven-minute flight to JFK. In This Can’t Be Real Life, we unpack a string of headlines that sound completely made up but unfortunately are not — including a college student exposing his ChatGPT usage during graduation, a 28-year-old woman allegedly posing as a Bronx high school student, a former U.S. attorney in Florida receiving minimal consequences after attacking a man having a medical emergency, and growing concerns around hantavirus preparedness. In The Pulse, we get into Dr. Oz’s comments about Americans being “underbabied” and the broader conversation around declining birth rates, pressure around having children, and why people are making different choices about family and lifestyle. In You Like It / We Love It, we discuss a supposed doctor who suddenly can’t access transcripts or degree records because the school she attended no longer exists… and yes, we absolutely had questions. For We Said What We Said, we co-sign the experts saying regular vacations are essential for reducing stress and burnout — and come to the realization that we are severely under-vacationed. Citizen’s Arrest goes to a Virginia GOP representative for agreeing with racist commentary directed at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Completely unacceptable. And for The Choice Is Yours, we’re getting ready for summer: What’s your favorite song of the summer — past or present?

Episode 21: The 25 Hour Work Week

Episode 21 kicks off with listener poll results In This Can’t Be Real Life, we react to Chanel’s latest questionable fashion creation, discuss plans for commemorative passports tied to America’s 250th anniversary that conversation somehow turns into us unpacking Shalina potentially missing out on her own international love story. In The Pulse, we talk about a study suggesting that people over 40 reach peak cognitive performance working around 25 hours a week — and how anything beyond that may offer little additional benefit. Naturally, we had thoughts. In You Like It / We Love It, we settle the debate: Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time, and despite what some of y’all think, Chris Brown is not close. For We Said What We Said, we discuss dating shows like Pop the Balloon and the increasingly chaotic ways people are trying to find love publicly. Citizen’s Arrest goes to Todd Blanche and the ongoing ballroom-related mess surrounding funding requests to the proposed White House ballroom project. And for The Choice Is Yours, we ask: Would you get on the Joby aircraft for a 7-minute flight from downtown Manhattan to JFK… or absolutely not?

Episode 20: From First Class to DC Chaos

Episode 20 starts with a birthday recap as Shalina shares highlights from her trip, which leads into a conversation about flying — sparked by listener poll results on what people like to do on flights. From there, we get into airline experiences, first-class dreams, and the realities of travel. In This Can’t Be Real Life, we react to rising gas prices and the outrageous cost of getting around during major events — including World Cup-related travel, where prices are doing the absolute most. In The Pulse, we break down the chaos surrounding the White House Correspondence Dinner — from messy moments caught on video to the conspiracy theories already making their rounds. In You Like It / We Love It, we get into Kandi vs. Kehlani and the conversation around Folded, with opinions that needed to be shared. In We Said What We Said, we talk about work-life balance — or the lack of it — and how other countries prioritize time off, shorter work weeks, and actually living life outside of work. Citizen’s Arrest goes to celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith for trying to rename the afro. Absolutely not. And for The Choice Is Yours, we ask: What’s the first thing you do in the morning — check your phone, hit snooze, make coffee/tea, or exercise?

Episode 19: NOTED

Episode 19 kicks off with listener responses to The Choice Is Yours, and one thing is clear — the hardest thing for most people to say is: “I need help.” We unpack that a bit and why it’s so difficult. In This Can’t Be Real Life, we run through a week of headlines that felt both chaotic and revealing — from AI-generated political imagery to protests around weapons for Israel, and ongoing tensions involving Cuba and U.S. foreign policy. In The Pulse, we get into the millennial work ethic — why it’s unmatched, what we expect from ourselves and others, and our biggest workplace pet peeves, especially when people want credit for doing the bare minimum. In You Like It / We Love It, we talk about small talk — or rather, the lack of love for it. Not everything needs a conversation, and not everyone has the energy. In We Said What We Said, we discuss age limits in Congress and the Senate, and why there should be boundaries, including cognitive testing, for long-term leadership roles. Citizen’s Arrest goes to people who complain they don’t have time to socialize at work — because… you’re there to work. Make it make sense. And for The Choice Is Yours, we ask: What are you most likely to do on a flight — read, watch a movie, play games, or sleep?