5 Pet Peeves & 5 Things That Bring Us Joy
After spending months dissecting politics, gun control, and the collapse of American democracy, we desperately needed a break. So today we're talking about the stuff that occupies more of our mental space than we’d care to admit: our pet peeves from everyday life and the tiny moments of joy that remind us life isn’t all bad. Because honestly, sometimes the person who won't get out of the left lane feels more urgent than foreign policy.
Let's start with a bone of contention for a lot of us: driving. Jolene has a very specific level of frustration reserved for left lane campers. You know who you are - cruising along at exactly the speed limit while a parade of twelve cars builds behind you. The left lane is for passing, friends!
And can we talk about people on their phones at red lights? The light turns green, everyone waits, someone finally gives a polite honk, and then the phone zombie looks up like we're the rude ones for expecting them to notice traffic exists. We've all been there, but come on, the group chat can wait thirty seconds.
But driving is just the tip of the annoyance iceberg. Can we discuss the trend of brands deliberately misspelling words? KARS for Kids, businesses with "Kwik" in the name, companies replacing perfectly good Cs with Ks for no reason except to be quirky. It's not cute, it's mildly infuriating, and somewhere an English teacher is crying.
Speaking of language crimes - and yes, we're calling them crimes - let's address "verse" versus "versus." It's versus, people. The abbreviation is vs. When you say "it's the Lakers verse the Celtics," you're creating accidental poetry, not sports commentary. And "welcome in"? What even is that? You can welcome someone, or invite them in, but "welcome in" sounds like a greeting from a very confused robot.
Here's one that might age me, but whatever: I (Nicole) miss when holding doors open was just... a thing people did. Not because of gender roles, but because it's nice to not have doors slam in your face. Good news is, this one has an easy fix. Everyone can hold doors for everyone. Revolutionary concept, we know.
Airplane etiquette is its own special category of modern mysteries. The person who demands you close your window shade because they want darkness at 2pm. The folks who treat the plane like their bedroom, removing shoes and getting way too comfortable in a metal tube with 200 strangers. Remember when people wore actual outfits to fly? Now we're just grateful if everyone's wearing pants.
But enough complaining - let's talk about the good stuff, because life isn't all left lane hogs and misspelled business names. A genuine smile from a stranger can completely change your day. Not the polite customer service smile or the awkward grimace we all do when making eye contact, a real, warm smile that says "hey, we're all doing our best here."
Spontaneous dance parties deserve their own category of joy. Whether it's breaking into moves while cooking dinner or an impromptu boogie session on a boat, there's something magical about dancing with people you love. No planning, no choreography, just pure silly fun that makes you remember why being alive is pretty great.
Jolene and I both get genuine joy from being generous tippers. When someone provides great service with real kindness, rewarding them feels amazing. It's not just about the money, it's getting to be the reason someone smiles at the end of their shift. Plus, karma is real and we're hedging our bets.
We can’t talk about joy without talking about hugs.. A real hug from someone who cares about you is basically magic. They fix bad days, celebrate good news, and communicate things words can't quite capture. In our increasingly digital world, physical affection from people we trust might be more important than ever. Also, they're free, which is nice.
What's funny about making these lists is realizing how much the small stuff actually shapes our days. We worry about big things like careers, politics, life direction, but daily happiness often comes down to whether someone smiled at us or let us merge in traffic. The tiny moments accumulate into the texture of our lives.
Maybe that's why pet peeves feel so important. When you're already juggling everything else, the person blocking the left lane becomes the villain in your personal drama. But it also means small joys have superpowers. A stranger's kindness or a spontaneous dance party can completely shift your mood and remind you that people are mostly pretty great.
The mix of irritation and joy is what makes life entertaining. If everything was perfect, we'd have nothing to laugh about over coffee. If everything was terrible, we'd never get out of bed. The combination of the annoying drivers and the unexpected smiles, the language crimes and the perfect hugs - that's the whole human experience right there.
So here's our very official challenge: notice both. Notice what makes you irrationally annoyed, because those irritations are valid and often hilarious in hindsight. But also notice what brings you joy, because those moments are everywhere if you're paying attention. And maybe try to be someone else's "simple joy" today instead of their "why are people like this" story.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Andy’s Turtle Sundae: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7uE31URy4Q/
News and Media:
Tangle Newsletter: https://www.readtangle.com/
Monikers game: https://share.google/pdJ8kVXV4c4rpWvrT
Good for the Soul:
That’s Kaizen (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/thatskaizen/?hl=en
Heavyweight Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavyweight/id1150800298
Product Reference:
BrassCraft Hair Snake (Home Depot):https://www.homedepot.com/p/BrassCraft-20-in-Plastic-Hair-Snake-BC00112/305468409
LINKS:
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[00:00:00] Nicole: She's 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. And we say, that's exactly what friends should be talking about. Join us as we tackle the conversations you're having in your head, but are too scared to say out loud.
[00:00:18] Nicole: Well, hello Jolene.
[00:00:19] Jolene: Well, hello Nicole. we're doing a lighthearted show today.
[00:00:24] Nicole: it's like a pallet cleanser, right?
[00:00:25] Jolene: and I think it's good that we do things that are non, and I know we've said this before, we need to do things that are nonpolitical so that if I'm the only conservative voice that, that the listener hears this week, or you're the only liberal voice that the listener hears this week, that you try to humanize that voice and that you are able, you, the listener, are able to, um, see that liberals and conservatives are people too.
[00:00:51] Nicole: Yes, they are. Yes, they are. Yes. So this week we decided to [00:01:00] do five pet peeves and five things that bring us joy. Speaking of humanizing, because I think what we bring up, 'cause we don't know what each other's has written down I'm just guessing there's not gonna be much difference between red and blue here.
[00:01:18] Jolene: Okay.
[00:01:19] Nicole: be a lot of universal peeing and joyous occasions maybe.
[00:01:25] Jolene: I agree. No, I think you're right. Okay. Go first. Give me your first one.
[00:01:30] Nicole: people looking at their phones when they're driving,
[00:01:35] Nicole: They do it at stoplights, they do it when they're driving. They do it when they're turning.
[00:01:40] Nicole: what is going on? It used to be like you just drove and maybe you would listen to music, which was distracting enough.
[00:01:48] Jolene: Do you care if people eat while they drive?
[00:01:50] Nicole: mean, that's their business, I think.
[00:01:52] Jolene: Well, but I mean, isn't it the same thing? Is it still distractions? I mean, so does it bother you that somebody is looking at their phone while they're driving [00:02:00] because they're danger? They could be a danger to you and to the other people on the
[00:02:03] Nicole: Yes. It's absolutely then, okay, so then can they eat?
[00:02:07] Nicole: Uh, if their eyes are on the road. I mean, I guess, I don't know. Do you
[00:02:14] Jolene: I know, isn't that, it's weird. Yeah. And there are times where I'm driving literally with my knee 'cause I'm holding
[00:02:20] Nicole: no.
[00:02:20] Jolene: the turtle sundae with this hand, and you've gotta have a spoon in this
[00:02:24] Nicole: Wait, what's a turtle? Sunday?
[00:02:27] Jolene: oh god. Ice cream. So vanilla ice cream, the best are at Andy's ice creams, which is Andy's is out of Springfield and they're Springfield, Missouri.
[00:02:37] Nicole: Missouri.
[00:02:38] Jolene: okay. So a turtle sundae is vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate, warm caramel sauce,
[00:02:45] Nicole: Uhhuh.
[00:02:46] Jolene: Toasted salted pecans.
[00:02:48] Jolene: That's the key. They have to be salty and they have to be toasted pecans. Oh my God, it's so good.
[00:02:56] Nicole: Is it a, just like a, is that an ice cream flavor or do you [00:03:00] go to get this turtle
[00:03:03] Jolene: You have to order a turtle sundae, so you have to, they're gonna put the ice cream in there and then they're gonna put the hot fudge and they're gonna put the hot caramel and then they're
[00:03:11] Nicole: I, I understand. And the toasted salted
[00:03:14] Jolene: Pecans.
[00:03:15] Nicole: pecans. Okay. Okay.
[00:03:17] Jolene: So
[00:03:18] Jolene: what if somebody was driving and eating and on their phone at the same time?
[00:03:23] Jolene: Like that's a real, and peeing as And peeing at the same time that,
[00:03:29] Nicole: that would be amazing. Like when I, when I told the story of peeing in the car, Brianna, our incredible producer tried to reenact it, but she was driving and I was like, honey, I wasn't driving. I was in the passenger. That's too much. It's too much. Too much activity in that car.
[00:03:45] Jolene: Yeah. Yep, that is true.
[00:03:47] Nicole: Yeah. I guess there's just, I guess that at the beginning of the middle of the end of the day, uh, there's too much distraction while driving.
[00:03:53] Nicole: Like, we're forgetting that we're driving a car, I suppose.
[00:03:57] Jolene: Yes, that could kill someone. That is true. [00:04:00] Okay. My first pet peeve is actually, well it's actually my, my second pet peeve, but it is, it has to do with driving as well, and it's people who stay in the left lane. So if you are in a two, at least a two lane road, well essentially two lanes going the same direction. the people that stay in the left lane, no, the left lane is for passing. And once you've passed that car, you get over to the right lane. The people who stay in the left lane just irritates the absolute heck outta me.
[00:04:30] Nicole: And why do you think they do it?
[00:04:32] Jolene: Because they're not paying attention. I don't think people, I think they're doing it.
[00:04:36] Jolene: if Because they're you are going
[00:04:37] Jolene: faster, could be. But if you're going faster than everybody else, like you, I get staying in the left lane. 'cause you're passing all of those people are in the right lane. I got you. But it's so dangerous to stay in the left lane because then if somebody needs to pass you on the right, because you are going slower, you're gonna cause an accident.
[00:04:55] Jolene: So just pay attention.
[00:04:57] Nicole: I think we're saying the same thing. Kind of
[00:04:59] Jolene: [00:05:00] Yeah.
[00:05:00] Nicole: what, okay. What's your first pet peeve? And then we'll go on to Joy.
[00:05:04] Jolene: Okay. My first one is the people who are not using the word verse. Right. So Please explain. versus, versus. People, I and I, I, this is something that's really just come about the last couple years, and I don't know why people are doing this, but if they're, they should be using the word versus, so Utah versus Cal Poly or I like, uh, jazz music versus rock music, but people are saying verse instead
[00:05:44] Jolene: and No. Yes. And I've even, like, I've even heard people on ESPN who are professional, you know, broadcasters that are using the word wrong and I don't understand. And so I cor I, [00:06:00] I've gotten to the point now where I'm correcting people and I'm going, no, you understand. The word verse is like a verse in the Bible or a verse in a poem or a verse in a song.
[00:06:09] Jolene: It is not to mean one person against another. That word is verse.
[00:06:16] Nicole: can understand that because I actually had a hard time with pet peeves, honestly. But now I've got a billion of them because, because I'm like, oh my God, I gotta write that one down and I gotta write that one down. Oh my God, girl, I'm with you. Those things bug me. Like, welcome in is the new phrase when people, for, for brick and mortar stores, people would say, welcome in.
[00:06:41] Nicole: And I wanna say No. Just, just say, welcome, welcome. But it's now welcome in. Everyone says Welcome in. And I'm like, why? When did this start? Just say, welcome and I, I,
[00:06:54] Nicole: don't, or come on in or, hi. But everyone, every time you go into a [00:07:00] store,
[00:07:00] Jolene: in.
[00:07:01] Nicole: it says, welcome in. This was not one of my pet peeves. Okay,
[00:07:04] Jolene: Okay. Okay. Yeah.
[00:07:06] Nicole: give me one.
[00:07:07] Nicole: Uh. Something that brings you joy. You're number one.
[00:07:11] Jolene: My number one is, um, when strangers smile to each other, I was in Columbus, Ohio this week and I was in this outdoor mall thing trying to find a place to eat at night. And it was just, you know, walking outside. And I was amazed by the number of people who would, that I would greet and they would smile and I, and you smile back because you can't help but smile back.
[00:07:35] Jolene: And I'm like, and you don't even have to say hi. You don't have to say good morning. I mean, you don't, you know, wherever. Just people like smiling to each other. It was just like a affirmation of, I see you. Hi. I mean, just, it was, uh, that warms my heart. I don't care if you're in a Walmart or on a sidewalk or whatever.
[00:07:55] Jolene: Just that, um, that friendliness absolutely brings joy to me.
[00:07:59] Nicole: [00:08:00] It's funny 'cause when I take walks almost every day and I make a conscious effort to say hello and to smile or being in the elevator in our building, I always say hello. And I do it sort of at a, as an experiment for me to not shut down. And every time people are, so for the most part, they're thrilled to engage.
[00:08:22] Nicole: It is a great
[00:08:23] Jolene: hmm. Yeah. Yep.
[00:08:24] Nicole: And you can also see like when people are just, they don't know what to do. There's a lot of shutdown people, but it's a really great
[00:08:35] Jolene: They're like, what do you want from me?
[00:08:36] Nicole: Yes. But it's a really great exercise, especially if you're feeling shy or sad or. Quiet that like to make yourself connect is it's, it can't help but make someone feel good.
[00:08:50] Nicole: I agree with
[00:08:51] Jolene: Oh, good. I love that. Okay. What's your first one?
[00:08:53] Nicole: I love a spontaneous dance party when a good song comes on,
[00:08:58] Jolene: Oh,
[00:08:59] Nicole: [00:09:00] whether it's when my nieces were little, we would always have dance parties in the living room. And even when I was visiting you and we were on the boat and we had some, a good song and we started dancing, like I love dancing in the kitchen, uh, on the street.
[00:09:17] Nicole: It doesn't matter. I think it's so fun to like dance with your friends and your loved ones and
[00:09:24] Jolene: okay. I like that one too. Okay, good. All
[00:09:27] Jolene: right.
[00:09:27] Jolene: What's your next pet peeve?
[00:09:29] Nicole: I,
[00:09:33] Nicole: it's funny 'cause I have a bunch now and one that's in my head that I'm just gonna say, 'cause you absolutely somehow, like gr you talked about the verses and the verse. I can't stand it when companies misspell a word on purpose to be ironic. Like there's a company in New York called Cars for Kids and it's spelled KARS and I'm like, oh my God, people don't [00:10:00] spell well anyway anymore and don't make this a thing that now they think that cars is spelled with a K.
[00:10:06] Nicole: Like I can't, it's such a pet peeve of mine. I
[00:10:09] Jolene: Okay. Alright. But I, so from a marketing perspective, I will tell you, I know their song, cars for Kids,
[00:10:17] Nicole: Of course you do.
[00:10:18] Jolene: cars for Kids because that's, and like now you know, it. It's effective. Right.
[00:10:25] Nicole: Mm-hmm.
[00:10:26] Jolene: Interesting.
[00:10:27] Jolene: Okay. but don't misspell to be cute. That's, I just, that's not my thing.
[00:10:32] Jolene: Okay. You're, you're, you're not helping the education of That's, that's what I'm thinking. That is what I'm thinking. What about you? Another pet peeve?
[00:10:41] Jolene: this might be my top one. People who are rude to service people, and whether it be a, your, your waiter, your waitress, if you're the, your salesperson, when you're checking out anybody. I have, uh, I've said to my girls, if you are on a date with a guy and [00:11:00] they're rude to your waiter, don't go on a second date.
[00:11:04] Jolene: Like that just says so much about a person that you are better than anyone else, or that you have no respect for anyone else, or if you like that right there, I think tells so much about a person.
[00:11:16] Nicole: I totally agree. I totally agree. I mean, having been in the, in the service industry, I think makes it sometimes highlights it even more, or you are really clear when you're with someone that hasn't ever been in the way they treat them. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That's a really, that's really good advice for your
[00:11:36] Nicole: daughters, I, think for
[00:11:37] Jolene: I even, right, I, I always noticed it, so I had to take a shuttle, to the rental car. So once I landed and you take a shuttle, then, you know, to go to the rental car place. people who don't say thank you when they get off to like a bus driver like that, I'm like, mm-hmm.
[00:11:54] Jolene: Mm-hmm. Shame on you. Yeah,
[00:11:58] Nicole: There's that shame.
[00:11:59] Jolene: shame on [00:12:00] you. And so I'll say thank you for me, and I'm gonna say thank you for the person that got off in front of me and didn't even acknowledge that right. That's did a favor to them
[00:12:09] Nicole: sometimes I think, you know, to, to, to give people a little bit of grace, sometimes you don't know what's going on in their brain and it could be a, they could be thinking so much. But I agree with you. I think you gotta say thank you to everybody. another joy,
[00:12:24] Jolene: young men who hold doors open for other people. It makes me have faith in the next generation when I see a young man, and whether that is a young man who's like 10, like his mama has taught him, you hold doors open for people. Or if he's, uh, you know, 20, I don't care. I just, I think that that makes me have faith in the next generation.
[00:12:50] Nicole: I absolutely agree, but I also. Wanna make it not so much about the man part, even though I understand [00:13:00] the inclination like this, these young men are being raised right. I open doors a lot for people and people are shocked.
[00:13:09] Jolene: Yes.
[00:13:10] Nicole: it's just for, it's just a way, it's like you're saying about, uh, smiling to someone down the street.
[00:13:17] Nicole: It's like basically saying, I see you
[00:13:20] Nicole: and you matter too. And it, that feels really contagious. I have found that when that happens, then, then they do it.
[00:13:26] Nicole: And it's really cool. And I
[00:13:29] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:13:30] Nicole: I think I like it. I'm
[00:13:32] Jolene: you're right. I sh I shouldn't have just, I shouldn't
[00:13:35] Nicole: but I know why you did. I
[00:13:36] Jolene: it should be for any Yes. But I also think you're right, it really should extend to like all people walking in and out of convenience stores.
[00:13:44] Nicole: Yeah.
[00:13:45] Jolene: Like you just hold the door open for the person coming in or leaving behind you.
[00:13:49] Jolene: Like
[00:13:49] Nicole: It just, it, it's a, it's such a tiny gesture. That's such a big gesture to say like, we are in this thing together. Even if it's we're going to the [00:14:00] CVS together, or I'm coming out and I see you and you're coming in and you matter too. It's such a tiny thing. That is such a huge thing that could,
[00:14:09] Jolene: yeah,
[00:14:10] Nicole: Yeah,
[00:14:11] Jolene: What's yours?
[00:14:11] Nicole: a really, really good hug. My top ones are from Josh, but I love hugging my friends and my family, and I think hugs are the best medicine.
[00:14:24] Nicole: And there are times, I've told you this before, that sometimes if Josh and I are fighting and I'll take responsibility that it's, I'm like, you know.
[00:14:34] Nicole: Angry about something or fiery about something. And the last thing he wants to do is hug me. And it's the, and he, and he's like, oh my God, get over here and he'll hug me. And whew, my nervous system calms down. supposedly there's some, there's some statistic, and of course this is coming out of left field, [00:15:00] but it's something like, human beings need like 12 good hugs a day
[00:15:05] Jolene: do you hug people that you've never met before? Like I, I mean, like if you've talked to 'em on the phone or you've emailed them, or you know, you've had a business relationship and then you meet 'em for the first time, would you hug them?
[00:15:16] Nicole: I think it totally depends on, uh, sussing the situation out. That first meeting. I mean, a hug is quite intimate, so if I can read that, someone might not be, I'll shake their hand and by the end of that first visit, I'll give 'em a hug.
[00:15:35] Jolene: So you are, so after the visit, then you're a
[00:15:39] Nicole: if I don't know them, if, if we've had this incredible connection, on the phone, let's say, or, and you can feel that, it's like this person is like, yeah, I,
[00:15:51] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:15:52] Nicole: I am getting you, I'm liking you. Then, then, yeah, but I don't, I don't force a hug on people that, like, I [00:16:00] wanna respect people's space, but then there are times that, um. Like, I might have a friend who has gone through something and they're clearly in so much pain and they're almost like, like there's so much armor up. And I just go in and hold them,
[00:16:24] Nicole: and they might not know they need that hug, and then they're really glad that they got that hug.
[00:16:35] Jolene: Yeah. because I just saw something recently about huggers versus non huggers, and I'm a hugger. Well, it was just, it was a, it was a guy talking about, you know, I'm a hugger. I'm gonna hug you, I'm gonna hug you when I meet you. If I've, if I, if I've known anything about you, or if my friend has told me about you and I meet you, I'm gonna hug you.
[00:16:54] Jolene: Um, and when we leave, and so I just, I wonder like in a business, [00:17:00] like, or your neighbor or your, you know, I'm, I am because I'm a hugger. And then I'm like, wait, what if I'm interacting with someone who's not a hugger? And they're like, he, he, I mean,
[00:17:13] Nicole: Well, I have a
[00:17:14] Jolene: have I just made it
[00:17:14] Jolene: awkward?
[00:17:15] Nicole: right, I know I have a girlfriend that has said to me, I'm not a hugger, but every time we get together she hugs me and I'm like, how are you not a hug? And she's like, no, I don't mind it. But I've been hugging her for years, having no idea that she wasn't a hugger. I have a neighbor that, we haven't hugged, but there, there was a moment of like real sweetness that I'm like, maybe at some point I can hug you.
[00:17:40] Jolene: Okay. Okay.
[00:17:42] Nicole: I just sort of feel out the. Feel that out a little bit, you know? But yeah, you give great hugs.
[00:17:48] Jolene: Yeah. Okay. Oh, you're saying I do. Oh. 'cause I'm a hugger. See, I think people who are huggers
[00:17:54] Jolene: are, are huggers. I mean, they, they know that. Power
[00:17:58] Nicole: I mean, it was one of the
[00:17:58] Jolene: a hug.
[00:17:59] Nicole: when [00:18:00] my mom, uh, was alive if I would ask her like about when my mom and dad were together, and one of the things that attracted my mom to my dad was that he was very affectionate and he was a great hugger. And, um, she, her fam, she didn't come from a family of huggers.
[00:18:19] Nicole: And so that was just a really, I thought that was really, um, a cool window into her
[00:18:26] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:18:27] Nicole: world that she craved it and she, and then married someone and then we're all huggers in this family,
[00:18:33] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:18:34] Nicole: like big old huggers
[00:18:35] Nicole: your next joy.
[00:18:36] Jolene: cars that let other cars in, in a construction zone or merging traffic or something like that, I think is a really nice, again, it's just a nice gesture. I mean, I, I don't
[00:18:52] Nicole: There seems to be a common theme here,
[00:18:54] Jolene: I have road, I have road rage. Like I could really, oh my gosh. [00:19:00] Like I could really, I get so, because you can conjure up like this whole scenario in your head.
[00:19:05] Jolene: I mean, that car is, they're mean and they're racist and they're, I, you know what I mean? You could, you can like have this whole conversation in your head and it could just be, you know, a grandma who you know, doesn't know where she is. I mean, it could be, you know, completely not even close to what the scenario in my head is.
[00:19:26] Jolene: So when people do nice things, then I think, oh my gosh, what a nice person that they let they've slowed, slowed down so that I could get in. We all see it's a construction zone. We're all gonna have to get over. Let's not, you know, power, put ourselves in a power situation here. We're all just trying to get through.
[00:19:46] Jolene: So.
[00:19:46] Nicole: The, the common theme truly is us seeing each other. Acknowledging each other and seeing that we all matter and that we are all important and which is what we've [00:20:00] got to talk is about.
[00:20:01] Jolene: Yes. Yes. I it's fascinating that we, that our pet peeves and our joys are completely in line with each other.
[00:20:12] Nicole: Isn't that cool?
[00:20:13] Jolene: it is so cool.
[00:20:15] Nicole: Alright. I have another pet peeve
[00:20:18] Nicole: and I don't know how this is gonna come off. It's probably gonna sound snobby. Which I have been accused of being, and that's fine,
[00:20:30] Nicole: you know how much I travel on the airplanes,
[00:20:34] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:20:35] Nicole: and you can be comfy, but please shower before you get on the airplane.
[00:20:45] Nicole: And please don't wear pajamas and please wear closed toed shoes.
[00:20:54] Jolene: Oh really?
[00:20:56] Nicole: there is this sense, and I'm gonna sound like I'm 103 years old, [00:21:00] but when air travel used to be this real, like, exciting adventure.
[00:21:07] Jolene: Respectable.
[00:21:08] Nicole: Yeah. And like it was a big deal.
[00:21:10] Nicole: We have totally forgotten that, like how we treat our, our flight attendants and, and it's all part of the same like stress and everyone's just like dirty and eating and they just want that shade closed and they just wanna watch their movie and they have their headphones on. They don't want to talk. And it's that same thing, like I'm a considering how much I fly. every time I get on an airplane, I'm like, thank you for flying me and please keep me safe. I am a little scared of being in the air. And so for me, I like to sit by the window and I like to have the shade open because. There's a feeling of like, okay, if I can see outside, I'm understanding what's happening.
[00:21:58] Nicole: And [00:22:00] it's not like there's any more control, but it just calms me down. And I can't tell you how many times people have yelled at me to close the shade
[00:22:07] Jolene: Oh, seriously.
[00:22:08] Nicole: Oh yeah. And I'm like, and I've said, no, I'm sorry. I get nervous when I'm flying and they still get mad. Um, but it's like, it's gotten too casual in my opinion, that we have forgotten that this is kind of a magical thing that happens every day, all day long that we fly all over the world. and it might sound corny, but I'm like, every time we land we should all be clapping like we got here safe. And this is, this is
[00:22:37] Jolene: did it.
[00:22:38] Nicole: And, you know, and you don't have to dress up, but like respect that you are sitting right here next to strangers. And that's, that's, that's my pet peeve.
[00:22:50] Jolene: Okay, but the close, but the close toed shoes.
[00:22:53] Nicole: Yes. And I know that I'm gonna get some pushback on that because when summertime happens, everybody wants to like, wear their flip flops, but I'm like, your feet [00:23:00] smell and they're dirty,
[00:23:01] Jolene: What if I've just gotten a pedicure?
[00:23:03] Jolene: I need one really badly, so I like, I
[00:23:06] Nicole: about how, I can't even talk about my feet. They are like dinosaur.
[00:23:11] Nicole: Pow, pow. So they're like, blah.
[00:23:13] Nicole: Um, no, I get, I get that. There, there could be some pushback on that. I get that. And it's also really good for you to take your shoes off when you fly.
[00:23:21] Nicole: do that
[00:23:22] Jolene: Okay. Wait, you don't want somebody to wear an open toed shoe, but when you get on a flight, you are gonna take your shoes off.
[00:23:29] Nicole: with my socks on. My socks are clean. Okay. Why is that upsetting to you? I don't get it.
[00:23:36] Jolene: anybody who takes their shoes off, like, you might as well just take your shirt off. I mean, like.
[00:23:42] Nicole: All right. I'll do that too. no, I think taking your shoes off. sometimes, here's the thing, I'm little and, and those seats, even though they're ti
[00:23:54] Nicole: getting tinier every would. I would want you sitting next to me.
[00:23:58] Nicole: Right. But those, those [00:24:00] seats are really uncomfortable for me. 'cause I'm so small. It's not proportioned. here's the deal. I will take my shoes off and sometimes like sit cross-legged in the chair because I'm so uncomfortable.
[00:24:11] Nicole: My feet can't touch the ground.
[00:24:13] Jolene: So do your knees extend beyond the parameters of your seat?
[00:24:19] Nicole: No, I'm five one.
[00:24:22] Jolene: You can
[00:24:23] Jolene: cross your legs and still be within the,
[00:24:25] Jolene: the, the width of the My knees, my knees go over. I don't do that if someone I don't know is sitting next to me.
[00:24:34] Jolene: Okay. So if it's Josh, then, I mean that's
[00:24:36] Jolene: okay. 'cause you can spill over into
[00:24:38] Nicole: I can spell. Yeah, no, I'm very respectful about that
[00:24:41] Jolene: Okay. All right. Okay.
[00:24:43] Nicole: and a lot of times when I'm sitting with Josh, I'm sitting in the middle, which is super fun.
[00:24:47] Jolene: so you can encroach upon his territory, but not a stranger's. your socked feet is, is like this far from the stranger next to you though.
[00:24:57] Nicole: Okay. Now you're making me feel [00:25:00] like I am actually, the pet peeve that I have is actually a pet peeve for someone else
[00:25:10] Jolene: Oh my God,
[00:25:10] Nicole: you might be changing my mind, and that shit happens, right? They're gonna be like, that girl always takes her shoes off I'm losing track. Are we, is this a pet peeve or is this a
[00:25:23] Jolene: Um, the, the joy for me was just getting that out of a u and then realizing that there was a whole nother pet peeve in there that
[00:25:33] Nicole: I know, it's amazing. I know. It's true. It's true. It's funny.
[00:25:37] Jolene: okay. Well, here is a pet peeve of mine that kind of is built off of what you just said. I don't like loud talkers. as soon as that plane plane has landed, that they're either on their speaker phone or they're FaceTiming someone or they're just talking very loudly on the phone.
[00:25:54] Jolene: Again, if you were this close to someone, why do you have to have this super loud conversation so [00:26:00] that everyone else can hear so annoying? Um, I don't like people who FaceTime, so just regardless if you're not in a plane, just being in public, anybody who FaceTimes someone in public as they're just walking drives me absolutely crazy.
[00:26:16] Jolene: But here's the big one. I don't like it when I hear a parent speaking very loudly to their child with the intent of whatever they're saying to their child is really for everyone else to hear so that you can hear what a good parent that they are. Let me give you an example. Oh, Johnny, you are right. I, I really like the choice that you just made because you are thinking about someone else.
[00:26:48] Jolene: I am so proud of you. And you're like, no,
[00:26:53] Nicole: A-K-A-K-A. Aren't I a good mother?
[00:26:56] Jolene: Yes, yes, yes. Like,
[00:26:59] Jolene: Stop, [00:27:00] talking. So perform, there's
[00:27:02] Jolene: your performative word right
[00:27:03] Jolene: there.
[00:27:05] Nicole: I, I, I could not agree with you more on all of it. Now, to give, again, some people, a little bit of grace is not the FaceTime thing, but some of the talk that the loud talking these days, I feel, because everybody has earphones on all the time, that a lot of people are going deaf.
[00:27:23] Nicole: A lot of younger people are going, are losing their hearing in a way that you're just like, why are you talking so loud? Like, how is this even possible?
[00:27:32] Nicole: But, oh my God, the performing parents, they drive me bananas. And I know that like a lot of old people will do speaker and they don't really get it. There's been times with my dad, I'm like, please,
[00:27:46] Nicole: we're in a public space, you know? and he's better about it. and, and again, I think Joe, it's like, it's a feeling of. Hey, do you understand that you, that I'm here too? I'm that [00:28:00] unimportant that you need
[00:28:02] Jolene: It's a great
[00:28:02] Nicole: your right. And so it feels personal, even though a lot of times I'm sure people have no fucking clue they're doing it. They're just in their own little world,
[00:28:13] Jolene: Yeah, right,
[00:28:14] Nicole: you know? But it's so personal, like, whoa.
[00:28:18] Jolene: Yep.
[00:28:18] Nicole: I will do a joy.
[00:28:20] Jolene: Yes.
[00:28:21] Nicole: This podcast with you,
[00:28:23] Jolene: Oh, that's so sweet.
[00:28:28] Nicole: it. I am so like, the more I do this and I just feel so grateful,
[00:28:37] Nicole: listener and viewer, after we record every time I then go back and I watch, uh, the recording and I take notes for Brianna, um, on what to cut, what to keep. And then she of course is the pro and she does what she needs to do. so I see Jolene, I get to see you nowadays, usually twice a week and.
[00:28:59] Nicole: [00:29:00] Now I see you way more. 'cause I review and I just get so excited to be with my
[00:29:05] Jolene: Oh, I love that.
[00:29:07] Nicole: it's such an incredible way to have a friendship. it's really special to be able to, um, talk about these things that you don't talk about with your friends a lot, and so I'm getting to know you after 38 years in a way that I didn't know it was possible.
[00:29:27] Nicole: And I just really brings me joy and I'm very grateful to do this with you.
[00:29:32] Jolene: Oh, me too. I completely agree. Completely agree.
[00:29:36] Nicole: really nice. It's
[00:29:37] Nicole: really nice. Like, as I, and I said to you, I guess it was you and Josh, we had a text thread and I was like, like Josh, and I really feel like you are part of our chosen family and it's just, it's made our life really rich.
[00:29:50] Nicole: So thank you.
[00:29:51] Jolene: oh, that is so sweet. Wow. Okay. All right.
[00:29:56] Nicole: know, I'm the, I'm the sativa sentimental and[00:30:00]
[00:30:00] Jolene: Yes you are. Yes, you are. You are. Very sentimental or I'm not
[00:30:05] Nicole: yes you are.
[00:30:06] Jolene: because, because not, because my next one.
[00:30:09] Nicole: pet peeve or joy?
[00:30:11] Jolene: Uh, joy,
[00:30:12] Nicole: Okay.
[00:30:12] Jolene: when people who have a full shopping cart. Let someone who just has three items in their hand go in front of them and go, no, you go ahead. I've, this is gonna take me a long time.
[00:30:25] Jolene: You go ahead again. You're right. It goes back to just being like, okay, I'm not as important as I think that I am. It looks like that you've just got a few things. Go ahead.
[00:30:35] Nicole: Yes, it's right. I love it. It's about being considerate to the, to your fellow person.
[00:30:43] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:30:44] Nicole: Right.
[00:30:45] Jolene: Yes.
[00:30:46] Nicole: love that. Are these things that has have happened in the last couple days,
[00:30:50] Jolene: no,
[00:30:50] Nicole: like driving in the construction site and or just thinking about your daily life? 'cause they feel very daily life, which we all relate to.
[00:30:59] Jolene: Well, [00:31:00] that's probably true. Uh, but I can't think that, no, the, the smiling to strangers thing that, I mean, that just happened to me when I was in Columbus and that, so yes, that was, but it, and so maybe I was thinking about us doing this podcast at that point, but I think all these other things, no. Like some of these pet peeves, man, they've been grinding on me for a long
[00:31:19] Nicole: Yes. Me too. Me too. I have a pet peeve that I'm hesitant to put bring up because it is political, but I think it might be important. a little topical. Um. Which I'm not sure where this is gonna fall, when this actually airs this episode. but it's something that I think I'd like all of us to, uh, think about, as we continue on in this life, um, with how we're dealing with the news. and I'm gonna shout out to Tangle once again. Tangle
[00:31:58] Nicole: News, uh, [00:32:00] has highlighted this and I think it's so important and it's regarding the mass shootings in this country. And one thing that they have made clear in the way they report, and it seems to be the only place that does this, and I think it's really important for us to just be aware of this, is that when there is a mass shooting in this country, they never say the name.
[00:32:28] Nicole: Or anything about the shooter, they only talk about the victims. but I think it's an incredible way to look at things that we should all start to be aware of that the shooting that happened in Minnesota, uh, there's a lot of hate around the killer.
[00:32:51] Nicole: Uh, some people say, you know, it's 'cause you, the person was trans. Some people say it's because they were Jewish. Some people say they shouldn't have a gun. Like [00:33:00] all of the, anger groups, the, the blaming has been all sort of on point, but what. Has been clear from the beginning was that this person that committed, uh, murder in Minneapolis from their, note, uh, their mission statement, they idolized mass murderers.
[00:33:23] Nicole: That was their deal. It had nothing to do with the fact that they were trans or Jewish or liked guns or didn't like guns. They idolized mass murderers. And every time something a tragedy happens like this, we as a culture, we as media, we know that person's name. We know what they look like. We think are they sexy, are they not?
[00:33:46] Nicole: Like it becomes this whole, like with that, um, you know, the guy that, uh, Luigi Mangione, people were like, oh, he is hot. Like
[00:33:55] Nicole: what? So that is a thing. I, is it a pet peeve? It's [00:34:00] bigger than a pet peeve for me, where it's like, I want everybody. You believe what you need to believe. I'm not, Jolene and I are here, sharing our experiences and trying to highlight a new way to talk to each other.
[00:34:15] Nicole: Um, and one thing that she, that Jolene and I have learned, and I think I can speak for you here, is that, what the media covers, how they cover it? What we're hearing is first of all so different from each other, and I think it's really important to, to, to pay attention. if we demand of our media companies, please stop glamorizing and idolizing these people that commit mass murder.
[00:34:39] Jolene: Yeah. Start there and then we can talk about guns and all the other hot buttons, but let's stop. Creating this movie star quality around these people that we need to just stop it. Does that [00:35:00] Yeah. Yeah, totally. No, I agree. And I, I, yes, I love that tangle doesn't give them,
[00:35:06] Jolene: doesn't give the shooter the murderers, the, the, um, recognition because that's completely contrary to what, you know, what we need to hear. So I, I think that's,
[00:35:17] Nicole: And they highlight the people that are lost. They honor those people. Right. So that's, that's my, my politically deep pet pet peeve. I'll move on to lighter things now. Do you want me to go again?
[00:35:30] Jolene: Yes. 'cause I need you to go to something lighter. 'cause my last one is lighter.
[00:35:35] Jolene: I can't follow that.
[00:35:36] Nicole: we, doing, game night with friends. I love me a game night. you know, as adults, um, sometimes it's difficult to like, make dates with your friends kind of thing, or it becomes, it's certainly in New York especially, it's like you go out to dinner and you go out to dinner and you go out to dinner and it can be, it can cost a lot of money.[00:36:00]
[00:36:00] Nicole: It can be a lot of, um, a lot of prep time for an hour and a half. Like it's a lot of like juggling schedules and whatever. And I love a game night. Whether it's like a girl's game night or co-ed game night, it doesn't matter. 'cause all of a sudden you're seeing your friends on the playground. I love it.
[00:36:20] Nicole: You see if they're like competitive, if they're not, if they're silly, if they're not, like, it's really fun to me.
[00:36:25] Jolene: you don't belong to a pinochle group or a Mahjong group or a Bunco group or anything.
[00:36:32] Nicole: I don't even know how to play any of those things. No. I just host game nights and maybe maybe you need to start a weekly poker game or something.
[00:36:41] Nicole: well, there's this game called Monikers that's super fun, but I like charades and celebrity where you literally have to, and it could be the actor in me, but to like, you're like jumping around and, and, and making fools outta yourself. I like Yeah. of a game
[00:36:56] Jolene: when I lived in, um, Missouri [00:37:00] the first time we played, um, there was a neighborhood group of women and we played Bunco,
[00:37:07] Jolene: it's a dice game. And, um, it's super easy. Like you just have to count to six, and if you can do that, then you can play Bunco. And I, in fact, I can't even, I actually don't even remember how to play it now, but it was like, you roll for ones and then you roll for twos, and then you, I mean, it's super simple But it really just got to be where we were getting together on once a month, on a Tuesday night. And so we would just, you know, you would have some wine and you would eat and you would talk, and then you'd be like, oh, that's right.
[00:37:37] Jolene: We gotta play this game. But our kids were little, so it was that night out and like they, you're right. So that, that is, that game night is,
[00:37:45] Jolene: is important. Yeah. okay, my last pet peeve, this is my last one. People that don't return their shopping carts to either the cart corral or back into the building.
[00:37:59] Jolene: Like if [00:38:00] you were taking that cart out to your car and putting your things in it and then you just leave it right there. That's so rude. Like, is your time that important that you can't go put it in the corral out in the parking lot or you can't take a few extra steps to go? That bugs me. Oh, that bugs me.
[00:38:17] Nicole: Um, Sorry. of it.
[00:38:21] Jolene: Oh God, seriously.
[00:38:23] Nicole: not always. No. It depends. Okay. There's one place. In New York, it's a non-event, but when I'm not in New York, there's one particular store where normally I absolutely put it in the thing, but there is one parking lot that has like extra space and I leave it there and I'm not gonna do that anymore.
[00:38:48] Nicole: And I think about it all the time, like this is kind of rude. I'm okay, you've changed my mind. I will never do it again. And I'm even going to, uh, [00:39:00] take a picture of me doing it the next time to make sure that you understand that
[00:39:04] Jolene: and that will make me so happy.
[00:39:05] Nicole: 'cause you're right, it is rude. 'cause it's like really your time.
[00:39:09] Nicole: Is that important that you can't push the cart, the 20 feet or whatever?
[00:39:14] Jolene: And you're physically able, like, you know, that's the other thing. I mean, I get it if my mom can't do it, because that's extra walking for her and she's in the handicap spot already and blah, blah, blah. I get that.
[00:39:25] Nicole: Listen, I have to admit, like it's important on this podcast that we admit when we're guilty of things.
[00:39:31] Jolene: know. I'm proud of you. I'm, I'm proud of you for, for acknowledging that and That and it's socks. Geez. What are you gonna work on?
[00:39:44] Jolene: I don't know. I guess I'm already perfect, Nicole. My gosh, there is nothing
[00:39:50] Nicole: Oh my God. Okay. I have one more pet peeve.
[00:39:53] Nicole: a slow shower drain. Uh,
[00:39:57] Jolene: No. 'cause that's, that's my superpower [00:40:00] is unclogging the hair from drains. I love doing that.
[00:40:04] Jolene: Like, seriously,
[00:40:05] Jolene: I get joy from that, that, that would be one of my joy things. Wait, I could come do that for you at your house. Oh,
[00:40:14] Nicole: I did use some draino and it worked and you know, Josh and I have a lot of hair. So this is pretty on the regular for us. we're definitely keeping draino in business, which is unfortunate for my
[00:40:27] Jolene: Do you know you're not supposed to u Yeah,
[00:40:29] Jolene: you can't u You're not supposed to use Durino. Yeah.
[00:40:32] Nicole: I know. So what do you
[00:40:34] Nicole: use,
[00:40:35] Nicole: do you
[00:40:35] Nicole: use
[00:40:35] Nicole: like, vinegar In my shower.
[00:40:38] Nicole: So, so when you But I gotta finish my pet peeve, like standing in the water.
[00:40:43] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:40:44] Nicole: Like just grosses me out. It just grosses me out. Okay. Help, help a girl out, help our listener and viewer. How do you unplug? Unclog? A
[00:40:53] Jolene: Okay, so tell me, tell me what your drain is. Is, is, is your drain like in the middle of the shower and it's [00:41:00] like a
[00:41:00] Jolene: perforated.
[00:41:01] Nicole: it's in the middle of the shower. Yes. It's a square with holes in it.
[00:41:05] Nicole: particular shower, it's stuck. I can't, I guess I'd have to unscrew it.
[00:41:10] Jolene: Yeah, you may have to unscrew it. That is true. So you're gonna have to unscrew that and take that metal. I'm assuming it's metal. Take that metal Yeah. Oh my God. There's gotta be like cousin it in the drain and you
[00:41:23] Jolene: Oh.
[00:41:23] Nicole: love it.
[00:41:24] Jolene: Oh my gosh. I, it, it, oh, it's so fantastic. Now, I wouldn't wanna do it in a hotel room. I mean, obviously, 'cause I don't know whose hair that is, but if it's my own, I completely, and all of our girls have a ton of hair, so I've had course. Okay, wait a minute. So do you just not, do you just use your hand or you put anything
[00:41:42] Jolene: oh God. No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm going in. You've got, you just have to solve the problem.
[00:41:47] Jolene: The problem is there's hair and so there is, okay, so number one, if, if you can see it, you could get like needle nose pliers and you could just pull it out
[00:41:58] Jolene: and it's fantastic. It is the [00:42:00] best feeling in the whole world. I mean, just to pull this glob out is
[00:42:03] Nicole: Okay. Okay.
[00:42:05] Jolene: and depending on how long it's been in there, it might smell, I'm just gonna tell you
[00:42:08] Nicole: oh, oh,
[00:42:10] Jolene: okay.
[00:42:11] Jolene: Okay. But there's also a tool that you can get that is a, like a pipe cleaner, and it's a plastic. It's a really long, it's like three or four feet long it's like a plastic zip tie, but it's got these, um, prongs on it that you put down into your drain. And when
[00:42:31] Jolene: you
[00:42:31] Jolene: pull it up,
[00:42:32] Nicole: Do you know what it's called?
[00:42:33] Jolene: I don't know, it's a plastic, uh, just Google plastic drain cleaner.
[00:42:38] Nicole: Okay. 'cause maybe I'll just put it in the show notes so that other people can clean their
[00:42:42] Jolene: Oh, there you go. And it's going to, it's going to yank up then. All of this
[00:42:49] Nicole: would it be like plastic drain snake?
[00:42:52] Jolene: Oh, there she is. That's her. Yep.
[00:42:54] Nicole: All right everybody, I will put
[00:42:57] Jolene: and 97 cents.
[00:42:58] Nicole: Damn. I'll put this in the show [00:43:00] notes
[00:43:00] Nicole: Who knew that this pet peeve and joy episode would be really about drain cleaning? You're an amazing lady. You're an amazing
[00:43:11] Jolene: Ah, i, I just that there, because then that next you get all that stuff out and the next time you take a shower and that just water just goes Right. You're like, I've
[00:43:20] Nicole: That's satisfying.
[00:43:21] Jolene: It's like, it's satisfying, right? It's like mowing your yard or ironing something,
[00:43:27] Nicole: this is bringing you some serious joy is what's
[00:43:30] Jolene: It does freak me joy. It really does.
[00:43:36] Nicole: Oh my God. Okay. What is your last joy, my darling?
[00:43:40] Jolene: My last joy are big tippers. Which is funny because you and I talked about that we should do, like, we could do a whole episode on tipping because it just, it drives us crazy, this tipping culture that we're in right the tipping slash the rate rating culture, like I think they're
[00:43:55] Nicole: hand in hand,
[00:43:56] Jolene: yes, yes. Yep, yep. Drives me absolutely crazy. If [00:44:00] I'm doing all the work, if I'm walking up to the counter and I'm getting a coffee and your own, what you are doing is giving me a cup and I'm gonna go fill the coffee from the, the, the dispenser over here.
[00:44:13] Jolene: Why should I tip you that just, it drives me crazy.
[00:44:16] Nicole: Yes,
[00:44:17] Jolene: So anyway, but, but one of the things that gives me great joy, our big tippers, like when someone is again in the service industry and you've had super good I, but I like to reward good service and I know how important tipping is to, um, waiters and waitresses
[00:44:35] Jolene: and. Uber drivers, um, you know, when they go above and beyond what the normal expectation of service is, I think they need to be rewarded for it. And so I love, I love big tippers. I love it when people give a big tip. I love it when people get a big tip.
[00:44:54] Nicole: I love it too.
[00:44:55] Jolene: Okay. Gimme your last ones.
[00:44:57] Nicole: uh, my last joy, I [00:45:00] like hanging with Josh. He brings me a lot of joy. It's so corny, but it's true. I was like, am I gonna share this? But it's true. I really like him. Like I met him, I met him later. You know, I met him when I was 43 and I dated a lot of frogs or tools as my brother would call them. And, um, and I'm just really cognizant of how lucky I am and how grateful I am that I met him.
[00:45:30] Nicole: And he just makes me
[00:45:31] Nicole: laugh. And so, shout out, babe. I love you.
[00:45:35] Jolene: I love hanging out with you and Josh, so I would agree. Yeah, that that's a good one. Wait, and so then I would get in trouble. I, I like, oh look, my last one. I like hanging out with Jeff
[00:45:49] Jolene: 'cause he's my best
[00:45:52] Jolene: friend.
[00:45:52] Nicole: is, fun. He is a fun
[00:45:55] Jolene: He is a fun one. He is a good one.
[00:45:57] Jolene: Yeah, He is.
[00:45:58] Jolene: you and I have [00:46:00] a good outlook on life because we have good partners and I think that is super important. And what a lesson for my girls and for Jackson and your nieces. I mean like, like choosing that life partner is such a huge deal. Don't, do
[00:46:17] Jolene: not sacrifice and don't do it too young and don't do it just because you think you've been with somebody for a long time, and that's the next step.
[00:46:27] Jolene: Choose
[00:46:28] Nicole: or or in, in a New York, in a New York way that, sorry to interrupt you. Um, in the New York way about saving rent,
[00:46:38] Nicole: couples stay together, get together so they can save rent. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's so important to, to find the right person and, and you're, you know, there's always gonna be stuff, but like being able to communicate and laugh and every day wake up and say, I choose you.
[00:46:59] Nicole: Like, that's a [00:47:00] big deal. And also, but be full. Like you and I had very, even though you were much younger than me, like we have full lives ourselves, it wasn't bringing that person in to make our life
[00:47:13] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:47:14] Nicole: better. I mean, it wasn't to bringing that person to make our life. It was to bring that person in to make our life better.
[00:47:21] Nicole: Like we already had a rich Oh, that's nice. Yeah. That is good.
[00:47:26] Nicole: Do you have any, um, good for the souls before? yes.
[00:47:31]
[00:47:34] Jolene: His first name is Kazen, K-A-I-Z-E-N.
[00:47:39] Jolene: his last name is A-S-I-E-D-U.
[00:47:43] Jolene: His handle on Instagram is, that's Kazen And,
[00:47:47] Jolene: he, uh, just has a really good perspective on things. he talks about a lot of political things, but he, he really dismisses both ends of the spectrum, like the [00:48:00] crazies and the fringe people on both sides.
[00:48:03] Jolene: And he really tries to concentrate on, you know, the, the middle ground for, on both sides. And he calls people out if, if he thinks that they're, you know, um, being wacky. he has started a platform called Clear Thinker Academy, which you do have to pay. Um, and so, you know, I don't pay for subscriptions and all that. And so I did get on there and looked at it, um, and, and I looked up to the point where you had to pay and then I opted out. but his stuff is just so good and it, and it really, he talks about really breaking down how the media on the left and the right is screwing us up so badly and how to, how to get past it and, you know, what are the watch outs to, to look for, and, you know, when you're being baited and all that. It's, it's, he's really, he's really great.
[00:48:55] Nicole: That's awesome. That's awesome. I can't wait to check 'em out. I can't wait.
[00:48:59] Nicole: [00:49:00] I. my Good for the Soul is a podcast, um, called Heavyweight, and it is truly Jolene. I know you're not a big podcaster, but,
[00:49:13] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:49:14] Nicole: uh, not a big podcast listener, just a podcaster is what
[00:49:18] Jolene: Printer. Yeah.
[00:49:20] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:49:20] Jolene: Okay.
[00:49:21] Nicole: but Heavyweight is truly my favorite podcast, and it has been, they had eight seasons and then they lost their home.
[00:49:33] Nicole: And so for a year they didn't know where they were gonna go, and then they found a new producer and they just, they're about to, uh, start their season nine. And it's this guy, Jonathan Goldstein, and he has these, um, these producers on the call with him. It is, every episode is one person. these are not famous people, they're just people that are either [00:50:00] in his life or have reached out to them. And I'll just read, uh, he helps people resolve moments from their past that they wish they could change. It's funny, sometimes they do detective work, they have like reunions and difficult conversations. It is, yeah. It is. So up both of our alley and I think our listener and viewers alley, it is just incredibly heartwarming and touching and difficult and you just, they're incredible storytellers. and you also, I think it makes you realize that You might think that that person just cut you off and they're a dick, but maybe something else is going on in their life. I can't suggest it enough. do you have a, would you rather,
[00:50:49] Jolene: I do. You go first.
[00:50:51] Nicole: okay,
[00:50:57] Nicole: would you rather be 11 feet [00:51:00] tall or nine inches tall?
[00:51:04] Jolene: Oh my God.
[00:51:13] Jolene: God, I don't know. That's a
[00:51:16] Jolene: hard one.
[00:51:17] Nicole: It's hard.
[00:51:19] Jolene: Like I feel like I'm gonna get squished, squished if I'm nine inches tall. But I feel like, man, if I'm 11 feet tall, there's some things I can't do. Where are you gonna sleep?
[00:51:30] Nicole: I don't know.
[00:51:31] Jolene: Like you're gonna have to put two beds together.
[00:51:33] Nicole: or they, everything would have to be made for you and your heart. I think it would be hard on your heart.
[00:51:40] Nicole: Like tall people have a hard time. I think they don't live as long.
[00:51:44] Jolene: Hm. But how are you gonna find clothes? Well, I how are you gonna find clothes at nine inches? Either? I guess you
[00:51:51] Nicole: put a sock on your as a, that's a dress.
[00:51:53] Jolene: oh no, I'm gonna go get Barbie's Oh, smart. gonna look super cute, but [00:52:00] nobody's gonna be able to see me 'cause I'm only nine inches tall. So I guess I'm gonna have to go with 11 feet.
[00:52:07] Nicole: Wait a minute. Hold on, hold on. You've decided that because people can't see you, even though you're super cute, that you need to be 11 feet tall.
[00:52:15] Jolene: No, because I feel like I'm gonna get squished. I feel like somebody's gonna kill me really easily. I, how am I gonna get anywhere
[00:52:23] Nicole: As a nine inch
[00:52:23] Jolene: if I'm nine inches? Yeah. No, it was a niner. I
[00:52:28] Nicole: Maybe
[00:52:29] Jolene: Jeff will just have to put me in his pocket
[00:52:31] Nicole: Exactly. Which would be funny. I'd be exhausted walking through the the grocery store.
[00:52:38] Nicole: I'm thinking they
[00:52:39] Jolene: walking through the grocery store, like you'd be, it would take you like six hours and you would be so exhausted. Forget Walmart. Oh my
[00:52:46] Nicole: Well, what about the, like the Barbie theme? You could get like a little Barbie, um,
[00:52:52] Jolene: a little Barbie car.
[00:52:53] Nicole: car. A Barbie car or like a baby gator, like you have an or [00:53:00] a Oh, like a Barbie dune buggy. It would be super cute,
[00:53:03] Jolene: All right. Here's yours.
[00:53:05] Nicole: Okay.
[00:53:06] Jolene: Would you rather sit next to someone in the movie theater who was smacking their gum loudly the entire show, or chewing their food loudly?
[00:53:21] Nicole: Chewing their food loudly. And I only hesitated for a second 'cause I know how much you hate when Jeff smacks his gum.
[00:53:28] Nicole: You hate it. You hate it. But when you chew food, like there's even more mouthy, yucky.
[00:53:37] Jolene: moisture.
[00:53:38] Nicole: Do you know how many times you ask me, would you rather about where I'm sitting next to someone? It's always about for me. You're like, I know I'm gonna get her. 'cause she doesn't like the smell. She doesn't like the sound. She doesn't like the dog barking. She doesn't like so many times I've been sitting next to someone unpleasant. You get me with that [00:54:00] and with the sleeping. But yeah, I would say The chewing.
[00:54:03] Nicole: The chewing, yeah.
[00:54:06] Jolene: You would rather sit next to somebody chewing food loudly instead of gum loudly
[00:54:11] Jolene: or the
[00:54:11] Nicole: rather someone chew, chew gum loudly. 'cause the chewing of the food seems even more gross to me.
[00:54:19] Jolene: Okay.
[00:54:20] Nicole: It's all gross. It's all gross. But here's the thing, Jolene, again, this entire episode has been about being considerate to one another, being mindful of each other's space, acknowledging that someone else is in the room or opening the door or trying, you know, that we are all on this little planet together. Red and
[00:54:45] Jolene: Yes.
[00:54:47] Nicole: lips, explainers and conservative bullies, all, everyone together, like we all matter. And we all. Are trying to see each other and you [00:55:00] don't know what's going on really with, you know, in everyone's
[00:55:04] Jolene: And sometimes a simple gesture to someone else, whether that's a smile or a hold holding the door or letting them into the laying in front of you in your car, um, makes a difference. And maybe that difference is for 30 seconds, but at least it is better than the alternative of never getting to experience that 30 seconds of joy.
[00:55:29] Nicole: And it's also contagious. It's something that passes on. Right.
[00:55:34] Jolene: Yep. Yeah,
[00:55:36] Nicole: this is a good one. Um, thank you guys for, uh, sticking around and having a listen and a laugh. And, uh, please like, subscribe and follow on YouTube and Spotify and Apple and tell people about our podcast share. Um. We are really appreciative that you are going on this ride with us.
[00:55:56] Nicole: Do you have any other thoughts,
[00:55:57] Jolene: true. Keep your shoes on in an [00:56:00] airplane.
[00:56:00] Nicole: Yeah, I guess I'm gonna do that and I'm gonna return my cart and,
[00:56:05] Nicole: and thank you. Bye.
