Army Parades vs. Anti-Government Protests: When Patriotism Gets Complicated
Two massive events dominated the weekend of June 14th: the Army's 250th anniversary parade and the No Kings March. One celebrated military might with millions in taxpayer dollars, the other protested government overreach with signs and chants. Both claimed to represent "real America." So which one actually does? We’re digging into the messy reality of modern patriotism and ask the uncomfortable question: Can you love your country while hating your government?
The $100 Million Question
Let's talk numbers first. The Army's anniversary parade cost somewhere between $45-100 million, depending on where you get your information. That's a lot of money for a three-hour show, especially when we're drowning in national debt. Nicole spent hours dissecting the footage, reading articles and watching corporate sponsors march alongside soldiers like it was the world's most expensive commercial break.
But here's Jolene's counterpoint: Army recruitment goals were met ahead of schedule this year. Maybe that parade wasn't just pageantry - maybe it was the most effective recruiting tool the military's ever deployed. When corporate sponsors help foot the bill, taxpayers win, right?
When Protest Becomes Performance
The No Kings March painted a different picture of American expression. Millions of people exercising their First Amendment rights, demanding accountability from their government. Nicole found it moving - democracy in action, voices rising against perceived tyranny. There's something deeply American about citizens gathering to tell their government they’re not happy.
Jolene's take? Mass protests have become political theater. Are people actually unifying for change, or just shouting into the void for social media content? When peaceful demonstrations turn into nighttime chaos, does the message get lost in the mayhem?
The Patriotism Paradox
Here's where it gets complicated: both events claimed to represent patriotism. The Army parade celebrated America's military strength and global influence. The No Kings March protested America's government overreach and constitutional violations. Same country, completely different visions of what loving America actually means.
Can you be patriotic while protesting your government? Can you support the troops while questioning their missions? These aren't abstract philosophical questions anymore - they're defining the political landscape of 2025.
Nicole sees magic in mass gatherings - community emerging from isolation, hope rising from despair. For her, protests represent democracy's beating heart, proof that ordinary people can still make extraordinary change happen.
Jolene questions the effectiveness beyond the emotion. Do protests actually shift policy, or are they just elaborate ways to make participants feel better about problems they can't solve? When anger overshadows message, does anyone actually listen?
Maybe the real issue isn't whether parades or protests are more patriotic. Maybe it's that we've forgotten how to disagree without demonizing. The Army parade and No Kings March both happened in the same country, on the same weekend, representing the same people's different visions of American greatness.
That's not division - that's democracy. Messy, expensive, sometimes chaotic democracy where military pageantry and anti-government protests can coexist because freedom means having space for both.
resources mentioned:
Chris Cuomo NewsNation: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKx_CVWRJ5_/?igsh=bmhlc2RuZHFtbGZ6
News Nation:
https://www.allsides.com/news-source/newsnation-media-bias
Chirla:
The National News:
https://www.allsides.com/news-source/national-desk-media-bias
NBC News with Tom Llamas:
https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news
LINKS:
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[00:00:00] Nicole: She's a conservative and I'm liberal, and yet we've been friends for almost 40 years. Everyone says you shouldn't discuss politics, religion, or money.
[00:00:08] And we say, that's exactly what French should be talking about. Join us as we tackle the conversations you're having in your head, but are too afraid to say out loud. Hello, Jolene.
[00:00:21] Jolene: Hello my friend.
[00:00:23] Nicole: We thought it would be interesting, last weekend, with the. Army Parade, celebrating the Army's 250th, anniversary, if you will, and coinciding with the No Kings marches across the country. Jolene, did you participate or watch in either the Army Parade or a No. King's March.
[00:00:52] Jolene: No, and no.
[00:00:54] Nicole: Okay.
[00:00:55] I watched it twice, the White House [00:01:00] posts on YouTube. And it was the three hour and 11 minute parade. And I watched it twice, but fast forwarding it, 'cause I was
[00:01:09] Jolene: Oh my
[00:01:09] Nicole: right? But I wanted to see like, what is this thing? And even, trying to prepare for this was honestly really hard.
[00:01:18] I don't know how you felt about it, but I was like, I can't get really good information on either side. I was trying to figure out how much money was actually spent on the parade. 'Cause I'd gotten. Over and over again, a hundred million and I think it was 45 million. Which is still a lot of money and especially in in a time when we are trying to not spend money with our deficit. So that was really, do you agree with that?
[00:01:51] Yeah.
[00:01:51] Jolene: And I think 45 million is the number I I
[00:01:54] Nicole: yeah. And that's interesting. The other thing that I learned was [00:02:00] that, I think Trump wanted to do something like this in his first term,
[00:02:04] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:02:04] Nicole: and then it was pooed basically. 'cause they were like, the logistics and it's be too expensive. No way. And so it didn't happen. And then, I don't know if you heard this, that the army was working on something.
[00:02:19] I guess the Marines, , they are celebratory, which makes sense. Knowing the Marines I've known like that they, they honor their, their anniversaries, but the Army's a little bit more subdued. And the Army's like, no, no, no. This is something we need to work on and celebrate.
[00:02:35] And then Trump and his team were like all of a sudden fast, like it was hard push in April and all of a sudden it was on. And, I found this article that I wanted to share, parts of it because it was from military.com. . So this, this reporter was like, you know, it was [00:03:00] actually a pretty quiet, parade and not meaning like no one attended, people attended. But Trump used his production company that he uses for all of his, that he is always used, so it turned out that the parade, they had like a, they had a center stage. They had like a band shell kind of thing where they were. And then I think, I couldn't really tell, but it looked like it was a cross was like a stage where like the country music guys were playing and stuff.
[00:03:32] And they only had music and speakers right there. They didn't have speakers along the parade line. So this reporter was saying. You know, it was quite quiet. 'cause they didn't have like you couldn't hear the mc, you couldn't 'cause it was basically staged for television, which is what he's good at.
[00:03:55] Jolene: Yeah. But isn't that similar to the Macy's Day parade? I mean,
[00:03:59] Nicole: this [00:04:00] reporter was saying no, that the Macy's Day parade is really well produced and when you're out on the streets, and I haven't done it, but I have friends that have that, that there is there, there are speakers everywhere so that people can hear
[00:04:14] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:04:15] Nicole: going on. Like what balloon is happening or even with a Macy's day parade, you know how there's a lot of bands, like, a lot like that.
[00:04:23] They didn't have a lot of bands, they just had like squeaky tanks going by
[00:04:28] so I'm watching the beginning of it. I'll, I'll wait to read the article, but I'm watching the beginning of it and I was like. Well, this is kind of interesting. It's sort of like a history lesson.
[00:04:37] Jolene: Hmm
[00:04:38] Nicole: And they had some soldiers in, I call 'em costumes, but they're the old uniforms. You know, they started, they were like the Revolutionary War and then this war, the Civil War. And, and that was sort of interesting. and I could appreciate it just as an American, like, and just looking at these ki I mean, they're [00:05:00] kids and they fight for our country.
[00:05:03] And that I found really moving. And then they had a section where they were, they were highlighting the different military schools and they were highlighting West Point, like, and they would interview these soldiers and that was really moving. But then. And every single film, 'cause it was also this sort of very well produced like infomercial for the army.
[00:05:31] Like why you would join and all the things. But then there would be cuts into Trump with his MAGA hat and Trump with his USA and I'm like, ugh. And to me as a liberal, cause I'm thinking, dude, this isn't about you, but I wondered if conservatives were like, that's our president. If,
[00:05:54] Jolene: I haven't talked about it with any of my friends or family or anything like that, no, there hasn't been any [00:06:00] conversation. I think the only, like you said, there was, you know, kind of a left version and a right version, and the left version was, well, it wasn't very well attended, and it was boring.
[00:06:11] And they weren't marching in line. They weren't like very polished and, and
[00:06:16] Nicole: I kept looking at that
[00:06:18] Jolene: but somebody said, this isn't what they do. Like, this isn't, this wasn't supposed to be like the North Koreans who were, you know, marching and like, this isn't that, they don't train like that.
[00:06:28] Nicole: Well, I got mixed things with that 'cause I, there were some soldiers. Interview that were like, everyone knows how to march, blah, blah, blah. And I kept like, well, were they protesting or were they tired? Or, and then some were marching in unison, like, so it was really confusing that that's what they focused on
[00:06:49] versus, 'cause one article I read, they had interviewed an ex-military person and she was like, everybody knows how to march.
[00:06:57] And, I don't think that they were [00:07:00] protesting against the administration per se, but they were protesting against how they were treated. It was really hot. They were exhausted, blah, blah, blah.
[00:07:08] here's a question. Did you feel as a conservative. What was your reaction to the No Kings rally? Did you have any reactions?
[00:07:19] Jolene: Well, I have reactions to. Like all the protests that are going on, just the, really, the condition of our country
[00:07:28] Nicole: mm mm.
[00:07:28] Jolene: And I feel like whether it's the protests on campus or the No Kings or, the pro Hamas anti semi, you know, whatever it is right now, I think there's an ulterior motive and I just seem to see more and more and more publicity around let's not get distracted by the shiny objects here, because there is a bigger issue at hand and we need to [00:08:00] like, not get sucked into the little rallies at, at Columbia because the deeper meaning of who's funding this and why is really the story.
[00:08:11] Nicole: Was that the thing that you sent me, the Chris Cuomo thing that you sent
[00:08:14] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:08:15] Nicole: Because one thing that I thought was interesting, Jolene, was that, um, at least in the liberal media, uh, the No Kings, um, March or protests or movement was a triumph in
[00:08:33] Jolene: Yeah, I, and I would agree.
[00:08:34] Nicole: would you.
[00:08:36] Jolene: and I think, you know, I got most of this from the tangle, but, um, you know, it was organized and here was the purpose, and here's where we're gonna meet and this is what we're gonna do. And everything was smooth and organized and, and well executed until it became nighttime and the agitators came out [00:09:00] and that's when things, you know, went awry.
[00:09:02] But nothing major.
[00:09:05] Nicole: yeah, and I thought the, in terms of the no kings, like it's the indivisible group that organized it and it seemed remarkably except for the tragedy in Salt Lake City of all places, peaceful, uh, considering I read that there were 800, 820 locations over all 50 states, and they estimate that it was between four and 6 million.
[00:09:36] The organized part of No Kings was done, I think by around four o'clock, four or five o'clock. Like you are right. When it comes to there is a turn, something happens. Like in LA it happened in Portland, it happened,
[00:09:54] So you sent this news, you sent this clip from. [00:10:00] News Nation and Chris Cuomo was on and he was suggesting that something more nefarious was happening kind of, once it starts to go dark. I mean once the sun starts to set that,
[00:10:14] Jolene: he spoke yes, and he spoke specifically about Chila. That, um, Chila is the Coalition for Human Immigrants Rights, so. It's basically, it's a California group. but what he was saying is that there is evidence now that it is primarily being funded through other organizations, not directly, but through other directions, by China, that it is China trying to fund these protests and upheaval and, trying to disrupt the Amer, the typical American way of life.
[00:10:53] And by doing that, then it's creating more issues between us and dividing [00:11:00] us as a nation and blah, blah, blah.
[00:11:01] Nicole: how did you feel about the celebration of the, the Army and the money that was being sent spent and that kind of thing?
[00:11:10] What were your, I'd love to hear your thoughts about that
[00:11:13] Jolene: Okay. So first of all, I did think it was a waste of money. I think, um, just, as you said at this time, if we just spent all this, you know, all of this time on Doge, you know, trying to find the waste of fraud and abuse, was that really a good spend for us? Now I will say that, um. When it was first introduced, it was, oh, Trump's having a parade for his, a military parade for his birthday.
[00:11:40] I mean, you know, it wasn't that initially how this was, was wrapped, and
[00:11:46] Nicole: And did you know it's all, it was also JD Vance's anniversary.
[00:11:50] Jolene: oh, I did not know
[00:11:51] Nicole: Yeah. 'cause I watched his speech and he mentioned it.
[00:11:55] Jolene: Okay. Well, but it was also a flag day.
[00:11:58] Nicole: It was flag day.
[00:11:59] Jolene: is [00:12:00] Flag Day as well, and it was my original due date with Bobby, and then she was actually born on June 23rd. So there's that. so when you look at it from that context, that it was actually an event that was, I think, started in, in the Biden administration, that it's the 250th anniversary of the Army.
[00:12:20] We should celebrate it, blah, blah, blah. And then you're like, okay, well he just kind of piggybacked on that. Great. Okay. So now we're having this parade. But, you know, then he did it in the Trump fashion of, you know, well let's, if you're gonna do something, let's do it big. And so the one thing that I really liked about it was, my friend Ellie brought this up to us.
[00:12:42] She was here last weekend. Um, she was celebrating her 21st birthday.
[00:12:46] And, um, and she said, do you wonder, do you know? And her dad is, um, is ex-military. And she goes, do you, did you know that all of the recruitment in each of the branches of [00:13:00] government are up this year and, and are continuing to rise?
[00:13:05] Like the army itself has already reached its 2025 goal for recruitment.
[00:13:11] Nicole: really?
[00:13:12] Jolene: Yes. And so she goes, if you look at this parade from a, from the lens of, let's put together the story, let's make it cool to be in the armed services again, you know, as a, as a tactic for, um, you know, branding and, and all that.
[00:13:29] She goes, this was a really cool, like, okay, we look at this parade, we're honoring our army. We have so much to be proud of. And you too could be a part of the army. And, and the fact that Trump then, you know, um, gave the, the oath of office and, and all that, and you're like, okay, then that's cool. So that's my take on it.
[00:13:50] Nicole: because I listened to Isaac Entangle and he, he thought that, that Trump didn't make it about him. And I had to kind of disagree [00:14:00] with that. Only with the, yes, it was there, it was, it really did highlight the soldiers.
[00:14:06] but there were too many, like completely unnecessary, shots in the, in the promotional films where he didn't need to be there. He didn't need to do the voiceover. I mean, I'm looking at it from a production value too, and thinking just let it be about them. And then when it came to the production, the thing that was a little bit disturbing that I wanted to share with you, so I'm watching it and I'm sort of fast forwarding, and then I go, oh. And then I stop because I see on the screen brought to you by, Coinbase, his cryptocurrency. I'm like, oh my God. And then there was this, this one kind of killed me. Palantir is some, okay. So it says, one of Palantir's top executives forgive the pronunciation, [00:15:00] Shyam Sankar was directly commissioned into the Army as a lieutenant colonel last week. He is a tech guy. The move has sparked quiet unease on Capitol Hill, where some see it as a symbol of big tech's growing foothold inside the Pentagon, particularly with the Army.
[00:15:22] And then they said at the event attendees were being handed form energy drinks a beverage that launched last week and is in collaboration between Anheuser-Busch and wait for it. And U-F-C-C-E-O, Dana White Trump frequently attends UFC fights. and then it says so the producers of this event at the helm is the executive producer, Ari, again, forgive the mispronunciation of your name.
[00:15:58] Agel [00:16:00] aga, I help me out. I don't know, a former spokesperson for Melania Trump and former producer of Fox and Friends, the flagship morning show on Fox News. So everything was like, sort of
[00:16:15] Jolene: Brought to you
[00:16:16] Nicole: brought to you by fico. Um, and that, and that bummed me out and made me laugh and made me wanna text you because I just thought, wait, can't this be about the Army?
[00:16:27] Because I can even miss Liberal over here can appreciate, hey, these human beings make enormous sacrifices for our country and yeah, let's celebrate them. Let's celebrate them. 'cause I know that, and I was curious, Jolene, because I. I kept hearing also in the media that some conservatives were really pissed that no kinks happened, like it took away from the Army parade.
[00:16:58] And I looked at, but I'm a [00:17:00] liberal, I looked at it as like, isn't this kind of cool that our country has freedom of speech and that we can do all of it? And, and it was on purpose. It was in reaction to, um, and I was sort of surprised that you were like, yeah, it was a success. The no kings until nighttime
[00:17:18] Jolene: okay. Let's go back though to the sponsorship, because I know that seems like such a weird thing. But then you can also say, well, they were help deferring costs.
[00:17:31] I mean, so, so Fi CO was, you know, had to give a million dollars to be able to be the sponsor, and so it helped defray the costs of this event. So from a business perspective, that was probably a good spend. I don't know.
[00:17:47]
[00:17:47] Jolene: okay, so let's go back then to the No Kings.
[00:17:50] the intent was to do it against Trump, but what you're really, what in essence you were doing was, was doing it against the Army, [00:18:00] which is unfortunate because the Army is still gonna fight for, to defend you. Um, you
[00:18:06] Nicole: the irony, Jolene, is that, is that the uh, the no Kings marches were during the day and the Army parade was at night. So they people could actually watch it.
[00:18:17] Jolene: Could do both
[00:18:18] Nicole: You could do both.
[00:18:19] I mean, here's the thing.
[00:18:21] What I will say as a liberal, is that I just am just with every fiber of my being indivisible, and all the 5 million of you that went out to, to speak your mind and raise your voice good on you. Now what? Like, just now what? Because I am all for protesting, but like demand change, call your congress, people call your senators, run for office.
[00:18:57] Like it's, it's all well and [00:19:00] good and I'm glad that some of the Democrats are finally waking up. But you gotta do more than protest.
[00:19:08] Jolene: I don't understand protesting, like that's one of those things that I think liberals do it more than conservatives. I mean, I'm sure conservatives protest something and I just don't understand the purpose of it. And, and you have told me before, it's, it gives, people a sense of community and that you agree with me and, and all that.
[00:19:29] I don't get though why, how it's effective other than to fuel a fire maybe. And maybe that is the intent. I don't know. It just seems like it, you're,
[00:19:42] Nicole: of based on protesting, like I think it was born from protest, right? So I think
[00:19:47] Jolene: Boston Tea Party and,
[00:19:49] Nicole: yeah. I mean, so, and part of me thinks it's incredible that, and I actually recommend people, if you've never been to a protest, there's something [00:20:00] that you believe in.
[00:20:01] it kind of gets a bad rap because there's been so much violence, but it's not, it's, it can be really, life affirming, honestly. You're just sort of with your fellow neighbor and your, and you're, and you're connecting. And, but you know, there's been, obviously January 6th was a protest and that got violent.
[00:20:20] The ice, anti-ice stuff that I think is what you're talking about, where you're thinking, Hey, something nefarious is happening here that's getting violent. Like I would almost say I don't. Are those protests, are those something else?
[00:20:35] Jolene: That, that's a great question, but okay. But just answer this, why if you woke up on Saturday morning and the world was the way that the world is, and then you participated in the No Kings March and you woke up Sunday morning, what changed? Like what resulted from [00:21:00] that that you, like what moved to the needle for you?
[00:21:03] Nicole: honestly, the exciting part is we don't know because maybe it has inspired people to do something. Maybe it's inspired a kid. Like if you're, those are those kind of movements and those, that was a huge one. It, it could be something that we don't know yet.
[00:21:24] It could have changed a person's heart, it could have changed a person's mind. It could have, but again, we don't know the actual act of it. I think it makes people feel, not only part of something, but connected to a larger purpose, that they don't feel so alone, that they feel that maybe someone's watching in power,
[00:21:48] Jolene: It comes off, God, and maybe I'm wrong on this, and I would love to hear from the viewer, I really wanna know, it comes off as just being angry. I feel like,
[00:21:59] Nicole: [00:22:00] oh really?
[00:22:00] Jolene: every time, yeah, that there are protests, it's just like, who can scream the loudest? And is that really effective? You Right.
[00:22:08] I mean, if you're having an argument, if I'm having an argument with my husband, it's, you know, screaming at each other doesn't do any good. Okay, let's talk about it. Let's, you know, have a conversation and a dialogue and blah, blah, blah. But if you're just going to continue to rant and rave and stomp your feet and get pissed off it, it is not productive.
[00:22:27] And that's what I feel like protests are.
[00:22:29] Nicole: That's so interesting, Jolene, because 'cause you've, you've not been in one or lately.
[00:22:35] Jolene: I have marched. Um, when we lived in Texas, our church, um, marched one day, um, on the roads for protect life, the sanctity of life. Um, but we were praying while we were walking on a sidewalk, and it wasn't even in front of an abortion clinic or anything, it was just on a busy street. So like that in my mind, we were praying while we were walking and people had, [00:23:00] and some people had signs.
[00:23:01] Nicole: Okay. But that's, that's it.
[00:23:03] Jolene: I've done,
[00:23:04] Nicole: because what I find wild is that I've been in a lot of protests, and even when we were in Austin, we came upon, um, a protest at the Capitol. And for the most part, protests are actually super fun and they're filled with joy and they, like, people have funny signs or they're clever and people are smiling and seeing each other.
[00:23:33] Sometimes there's dancing. And what I think is also happening, Jolene, is that the news is showing clips of people that are pissed.
[00:23:43] Jolene: Oh, I bet that's true.
[00:23:44] Nicole: So that, yeah, sometimes you'll see altercations, uh, but that's not most of a protest. Most of the protests is like, of course, because, you know, seeing people like. [00:24:00] You know, coming together and, and being happy doesn't really make the news.
[00:24:06] Jolene: No one cares,
[00:24:07] Nicole: No, it's not very interesting, I guess, which I would love to see. cause obviously I'm thinking about what you're seeing and those Columbia protests are dangerous, like, like shit's going down in a way that didn't before. and even I think maybe that's thinking about the No Kings March though, and thinking like how thrilling that it went so well, there's 5 million people that want, want to rise up, but they're doing it peacefully.
[00:24:42] And that unfortunately, it's like anything, the bad actors in any movement are the ones that ruin it for everyone.
[00:24:51] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:24:52] Nicole: Right. And that's, that's a shame. But I see, I see where you could see that, where you'd be like, I don't understand the point. [00:25:00] Like, 'cause we've talked about this before where when you, well, I took myself as an example.
[00:25:07] Like I always used to, I would scream, I'd get angry and I'd scream, and no one listens to you when you scream. They listen to you when you talk.
[00:25:16] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:25:17] Nicole: when you are thoughtful and considered and
[00:25:22] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:25:24] Nicole: then someone can hear you possibly.
[00:25:28] Jolene: do you think there's any truth to, um, outside agitators that could be funding some of these protests?
[00:25:37] Nicole: Like, when you sent that to me, I was like, huh. cause it's, it's tricky with you, Jolene, because I know you love a conspiracy. And so I was like, what's she sending me? But I also was like, it's Chris Cuomo who I kind of trust. I'll take a look. And then I immediately, because we do this show, [00:26:00] was like, what's shela?
[00:26:02] How do I find this out? Um, instead of just immediately believing it and I couldn't find much information, I found Shela. I found the website. It was like, believe, you know, do you believe in immigrants rights and donate? And I'm like, where's the, you know? And of course if it is true, if China is, funding these anti, basically just anti,
[00:26:34] anti anything, let's stir up the pro.
[00:26:37] Like let's create danger and, and violence That seems, I don't know. I mean, yes. Yeah. Because what do we do be, and we've talked about this, I know I feel like I'm a broken record here, but the more we do the show together, Jolene, what I can't believe [00:27:00] is The jig is up, y'all.
[00:27:02] It's not about you and me, Jolene. It's not about conservative and liberal. Like there is something so much bigger happening that why? Don't be mad at your fellow conservative or fellow liberal. Be mad at the system. This is big. And the fact that we are not actually going, oh my God, it makes sense.
[00:27:26] Jolene: like, that. We're pawns
[00:27:27] Nicole: Yeah.
[00:27:28] I have a good for the soul. I've talked about her to you before. Nicole Wallace, she was George w Bush's, communications director. But she's a conservative and she's a Republican and I think you'd really dig her. And she has a new podcast and her new podcast is called The Best People with Nicole, two Ls, And this was from June 9th and she was interviewing Kara Swisher, who we've talked about before. she is a tech reporter. [00:28:00] She knows all the tech bros quite well. And this particular episode is called, uh, Musk and the Megalomaniacs in Charge. And I think you'll really find it fascinating, Jolene and listener and viewer, I think you will too.
[00:28:13] she just is sort of no BS and she tells it like it is, and Nicole is a great interviewer. I think Jolene, you're gonna love Nicole, period because she has a lot of similar, um, ideologies, I think as you do. and she's very smart and very clear minded. And now she has this cool new podcast where she interviews people she likes.
[00:28:36] So that's my good for very cool. I love it. one of the things that I like is, um, and I don't, I know you don't watch, uh, local news or you don't watch network news, but now Tom Yamas is, has taken over for NBC. The NBC Nightly News took over for, Lester Holt, and anyway, and so he just started, and I, and so I, I've wanted to [00:29:00] watch him for the last couple of nights, but it's interesting because one of the, the last things that he does, one of his last segments is, and now for the good news and so he does something good every night, and I love that, like, you know, of all the crap that you have to get through.
[00:29:14] Jolene: Um, it's kind of a neat, it's a neat
[00:29:17] Nicole: Yeah. We need more good news.
[00:29:19] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:29:20] Nicole: Do you have a, would you rather,
[00:29:21] Jolene: Yes, because Patsy, my middle daughter, I. She goes, can I give you some? And I go, sh. Yeah. And so she gave me some really good ones.
[00:29:32] Nicole: okay. I'm surprised. Listener and viewer. We are always open to, would you rathers? You can write us at, uh, on our website at, we've got to talk.com. You can, um, you can DM us on the Instagram at, we've got to talk if you have any fun. Uh, would you rather. We're down.
[00:29:54] Jolene: Okay, here it is. Are you ready?
[00:29:55] Nicole: I'm ready.
[00:29:57] Jolene: Would you rather [00:30:00] know when you are going to die or how you are going to die? Isn't that a good one?
[00:30:08] Nicole: Patsy. I thought I liked you.
[00:30:11] Jolene: I know, I know.
[00:30:13] Nicole: Oh,
[00:30:15] Jolene: Isn't that a good one?
[00:30:16] Nicole: it's a great one. And I don't wanna pick, because I think I have an, I have an over obsession with my mortality. I really do. Not just my mortality, but everyone's mortality.
[00:30:32] Jolene: All right.
[00:30:33] Nicole: Um, and very aware. And we've talked, I think we've mentioned it on other episodes that like I'm. I, I know that I'm incredibly sentimental and it is also because I really don't know how long I have or you have or, and it really means something to me.
[00:30:53] so the question was when or how?
[00:30:58] Jolene: Yes. [00:31:00]
[00:31:01] Nicole: How?
[00:31:03] Jolene: Really?
[00:31:04] Nicole: Yeah. Because how, in my little brain, I would think, well, maybe there's a way I can prevent it or be mindful or, but when? When it's a when, oh, I think I would be obsessed with that.
[00:31:26] Jolene: but doesn't that give you time? I mean, then you're like, okay, well if it's next week, I better get some crap done. Or if you know it's 99, you're like, okay, well I'm just gonna keep doing what I do. I mean, like that. Whereas if you know how like if, if, if you're gonna die because you're going to choke on a piece of steak, like you're not gonna eat steak for the rest of your life literally. Right.
[00:31:52] Nicole: Okay.
[00:31:54] Jolene: And how sad would that be to not eat another piece of steak?
[00:31:58] Nicole: Again, my [00:32:00] darling, it's always with food with you.
[00:32:02] Jolene: God. That's so true. That is so, that is so true.
[00:32:07] Nicole: That is so true. Um, yeah, because I feel, and again, yeah, there's some days I'm like, man, I kind of wasted that day. But for the most part, I really try every day like, okay, what's my day like today? You know, I'm on a, I wanna live it. And so I already do that. Um, so yeah, I think how, I think
[00:32:29] Jolene: Okay. All right. Okay. All right.
[00:32:31] Nicole: Would you rather spend a year at war or a year in prison?
[00:32:42] Jolene: Wait, am I fighting in the war or is just the world in A
[00:32:46] war I.
[00:32:46] Nicole: I took it as that you're in the war
[00:32:49] Jolene: Oh, that I'm fighting the war.
[00:32:53] Nicole: or a year in
[00:32:53] prison.
[00:32:56] Jolene: I think the patriotic part of me says I would [00:33:00] probably wanna fight in the war because then I feel like I could, I've got some control, like I'm doing something, I'm helping my country. But there have been times that I've really considered like how much I could get done if I was in prison.
[00:33:16] Like I could read, I could get in shape, I would, I wouldn't snack. I mean like there
[00:33:24] Nicole: Oh my God, you are so bananas. I love you, but wow. I wouldn't snack. I wouldn't snack again.
[00:33:38] Jolene: 'cause you can't have any snacks, I don't think.
[00:33:40] Nicole: You can have snacks.
[00:33:41] Jolene: Yeah. Actually, yes You
[00:33:43] Nicole: You can have snacks, and
[00:33:44] Jolene: to get dibble
[00:33:45] dough
[00:33:45] Nicole: and there's lot, there's lots of work around and in, in jail.
[00:33:48] Jolene: okay, I'm gonna go to the war, and I mean, let's be honest, they're not gonna put me on the front line. I've got too good a
[00:33:56] Nicole: Ju well, just as distraction. You're gonna be like with my dibble dough, like, Hey, [00:34:00] y'all, what
[00:34:01] Jolene: stop it.
[00:34:02] Nicole: Here?
[00:34:03] Jolene: talk about it
[00:34:04] Nicole: I got, here's some, here's some cookie dough.
[00:34:09] Jolene: Now come over here. Let's talk about this.
[00:34:11] Nicole: yes, yes.
[00:34:13] Jolene: We've got to talk.
[00:34:15] Nicole: got to talk. We do have to talk. the prison thing, I was like, for me it was a no brainer. It was going to war and not out of patriotism, but out of I wanna be outside. Oh,
[00:34:27] Jolene: See,
[00:34:28] Nicole: right. Because I've, I've, you know, I've,
[00:34:30] Jolene: I'm warped.
[00:34:31] Nicole: right. I've, I've, um, worked with my friend's, um, organization, drama club, NYC, and, and working in the jails, like there's no very little sunlight and it's, it's rough.
[00:34:44] And those were kids. Yeah. I was like, no, I'll be outside. Thank you. I
[00:34:49] Jolene: let us know what your thoughts are. We would love to hear your thoughts.
[00:34:54] Nicole: You can comment on YouTube. You can, um, write to us on our [00:35:00] website. You can write to us on Instagram.
[00:35:03] Jolene: or you can send a carrier pigeon and we'll get it.
[00:35:06] Nicole: That's true. please press the thumbs up button on YouTube. we would appreciate that very much.
[00:35:14] Jolene: Thank you. for watching and
[00:35:15] Nicole: Thank you. Alright, I'll talk to you soon, babe.
[00:35:18] Jolene: Bye-bye.
[00:35:39]
