Thirsty Topics podcast
A weekly podcast dedicated to trending topics on social media, pop culture and entertainment. Lawrence and Meryl have healthy discussions with multiple perspectives.
Thirsty Topics podcast
Behind Closed Doors for 8/20/25
Have you ever wondered where parental responsibility ends and overreach begins? In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Gloucester Township's controversial new law that can send parents to jail for their children's misbehavior. While designed to encourage parental oversight, we question whether punishing parents with up to three months of incarceration actually solves anything or simply creates new family crises.
The boundaries between personal and professional lives come under scrutiny as we delve into the viral saga of a woman who documented her one-sided love for her psychiatrist in a 25-part TikTok series. Despite maintaining proper professional boundaries, the psychiatrist found himself publicly identified online—raising questions about mental health, ethics, and our responsibility toward one another in the digital age.
From Spirit Airlines' potential shutdown despite its stellar safety record to the nostalgic end of AOL's dial-up service, we examine how institutions that once defined parts of our lives fade away. We also tackle the double standards surrounding domestic disputes when track star Sha'Carri Richardson was arrested for allegedly pushing her boyfriend, sparking conversation about how society views aggression differently based on gender.
The conversation takes uplifting turns with stories of a 29-year-old finally achieving his MLB dream with the Arizona Diamondbacks and a 10-year-old chess prodigy defeating a grandmaster, proving you're never too old or too young to achieve remarkable things. We round out with the growing threat of AI-generated job applicants created by scammers and Taylor Swift's appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast, complete with speculation about potential Super Bowl performances.
Whether you're concerned about parental rights, fascinated by viral internet drama, or just want thoughtful discussion about the week's most compelling stories, this episode delivers fresh perspectives on where personal responsibility meets societal expectations. Join us for an hour of engaging conversation that might just change how you see the boundaries in your own life.
Check out Meryl's horror nerd show at the Yellow Door in San Diego this Friday. Follow her on Instagram @MerylKlemow for upcoming shows.
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Hello, and thank you for listening to Thirsty Topics podcast! I'm Lawrence Elrod, and every week Meryl Klemow and I dive deep into the stories that matter, the conversations that shape our world."
Please help support our show by following us and telling others about our show. New podcasts weekly.
Hello everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. I'm Lawrence Elrod.
Speaker 2:And I'm Meryl Clemo.
Speaker 1:How are you doing today, Meryl?
Speaker 2:I am so good, how about yourself?
Speaker 1:Doing fantastic, had a great weekend, watched Sinners for the first time. I'm very fun, so it was a nice weekend.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what did you think about Sinners?
Speaker 1:You know, I really did not know it was a vampire element to it until I watched the movie, but I felt that it was well-written. I thought the acting was actually really good. I really did yeah. And it's really interesting because you don't see it coming. Now, there was one part that kind of threw me for a loop is when they were doing like when he was playing his guitar and they were going back and forth between the past and the future. Yeah, to me they're tying in anything, but maybe it's just me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like we should do a whole other side podcast on it because I have some thoughts. The short answer is I watched after we got done with it at the theaters. We went home and watched like all these YouTube videos about the making of it and just pretty much what they were trying to say, and it's definitely worth. If anyone's like still interested, it's worth watching those. I think there was one that was almost like half the length of the movie. It was like 45 minutes long but it was really cool because it talks about that scene and just the like the talking about ancestors and you know music and all that stuff. So it's worth it to like watch the youtube videos um about it as well, I think yeah, that's true, that's true, and I agree with you.
Speaker 1:I think this is something that everyone should watch. It's definitely good, a good show. Totally start watching it. It does. It is a little slow for the first couple minutes, but give it a don't go away from it.
Speaker 2:You'll like it looks good oh, I was just about to say a spoiler too, but but I'll all say is that um? At the end I was so excited that they show I don't think a lot of the younger generation people know, but like they show the guitarist buddy guy. You know, that's not, that's not a secret. People know that it's funny guys, it's not too bad. We don't know how they show them, but just know that he's in there and to me, like um, when I used to work in a music venue in san diego, he's a legendary blues guitarist and he would come in and he's like for people that don't know him, he definitely is. Like it was like having a for real, like a legend in the movie. So I know everyone talks about michael b jordan, everything, but I was screaming like that's really Buddy Guy. No one seemed to care but I cared.
Speaker 1:That's true, and you know. The other thing too is Michael B Jordan did an excellent job, because you know it's got to be difficult playing two different parts in a single movie.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I bet he's going to win some awards for that movie. I hope so.
Speaker 1:Because I think he did an excellent job. I bet he's going to win some awards for that movie. I hope so, because I think he did an excellent job. I really do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I forget the name now of the director, but I just love his stuff. He's so interesting and so smart, so yeah, Definitely Cool, Interesting.
Speaker 1:Well, I don't know if anyone ever heard of this township before, but it's, and I hope I don't butcher the name too bad. Goucester Township in New Jersey punishes parents for kids misbehavior. So basically they just came out with a new law where, let's say, if your child is out late, they're causing all kinds of chaos, you know, breaking the law, whatever. Well, they can come and arrest the parents. Now, as a parent, I understand both sides of this coin.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:My fear is this being abused. Because here's the thing If your son or daughter sneaks out and you don't know they're gone and they do something, why should the parent be on the hook? Now, there are parents where their child is out both times a night, every single night. Okay, I could see that situation, but that's the only thing is, I think that it's a little bit too broad and they need to kind of narrow it down a little bit, because I can see that being abusive and maybe I'm wrong, but that's that's, that's what I think.
Speaker 2:I think you're right. I think the general intention of it of like having parents be more responsible for their children in society is like a good thing. You know that's a good idea. But then you're exactly right, I think where it can get out of control. If a kid, like you know I think about all the time that I was running around doing pranks or you know, and if, like my dad, had to go to jail for any of my stupidity, I would have felt so bad, and so I feel like it should be left alone where, like, if kids are doing something stupid, hopefully you're hoping that the parents are punishing them on their own, that they're learning lessons from within their family um, and then having it turn into like actual prison sentences or you know, or just any type of like getting in trouble by the government or whatever that's that takes it to like the next level yeah, I agree, and you know the thing is, if you're, if the parent is convicted of this, um, basically, what they said is they can spend up to three months in jail.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:And get hit with a heavy fine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and how's that going to help a family too? Because I feel like if a kid is already acting out, having a parent gone, like financially isn't going to help, attention wise isn't going to help, and that's kind of terrifying too, you know, because like what if that parent is in jail with some dangerous people? And like they asked them what they're in help, and that's kind of terrifying too. Because what if that parent is in jail with some dangerous people and they ask them what they're in for? And it's like, oh, my kid was acting bratty inside a Target.
Speaker 1:And the crazy thing about a mural is they can spend up to three months in jail.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I agree with you. What do they accomplish at that point?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I think it's just nuts personally, because again I see so many ways this could be abused.
Speaker 2:I know me too. If my parents are watching, they could probably count on their hands like the times that they would have had to do a jail stint for me, whether it was like you know fibbing the truth or looking at some of my classmates answers for tests or you know cheating on that kind of stuff. But but yeah, it's definitely not good. And then it's also, you're right, who's? Then you have to go through like a whole court case which I feel like ties up kind of the legal system. I feel like we already have trouble getting cases like that. Actually need help pushed out and that.
Speaker 2:To me that seems like a kind of waste of time of a judge or a jury.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know the other thing about it too, Meryl, is, when you say crimes, what are we talking about? Are we talking serious crimes, or are we talking about okay, they cut school? Are we talking about you know, doing something silly like you know, stealing a piece of candy? I? Mean you know, what I mean it's a little bit too vague.
Speaker 2:Exactly Because if it's, I mean that's interesting, because if it is something like vandalism or graffiti or something, I still think that if the kid is less than 18 years of age like they can still go to a juvie or I don't know showing them some punishment sometimes is good because they get to learn repercussions and it shouldn't be like the mom sitting in jail because the kid is spray painting like someone's business or something. It should be based on the kids. I don't think that's going to help anything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, I agree, and you know what I do feel for them because unfortunately, for whatever reason, a lot of youngsters are out of control right now. So I guess they have to do something. I don't know if throwing the parents in jail is going to fix anything.
Speaker 2:I know the one thing I do get. I am not a parent so I can't imagine what it's like. But bullies, the kids of bullies. I felt like if I was a parent and I found out my kid was a bully to someone else, I would send them to jail. I'd be so mad at my own child. But it's like how do you know what? If your kid is a disaster at school and you're a good parent and you do everything you can, you don't really know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true. I've experienced it with my own son A lot of times and I don't understand this. But a lot of times the school waits till the problem is out of control before they say anything. And my kid's always been a good kid, you know. I mean the most he's ever had issues with was talking too much in class.
Speaker 2:Aw.
Speaker 1:And you know, I know it was brought up to us when we did a parent-teacher and she was like, oh, it's not a big deal. I said, well, it is a big deal if you're telling us. But my bigger issue is, why did you wait until we met, If there was a problem?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You don't wait until we meet. I mean, thank goodness you know it didn't go out of hand or anything, but you have to. You know you complain that you want the parents involved.
Speaker 2:You have to give them the opportunity to get involved.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, give us a heads up when something's about to happen.
Speaker 2:Exactly, or you start seeing signs. Don't wait until it's hell on wheels at that point, I know, or it's like a shock to you guys, or it's embarrassing that you're learning about this, like in front of other parents or in front of other teachers, or you know.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, especially if they go. Oh, he's been doing this for months, so again, this is the first time that we're hearing about this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and maybe you're like me, but, like growing up I was definitely that person that got in trouble for talking too much and now I'm on a podcast. So, if anything, it's just the beginning of his career blossoming. I know he does music and to me, when kids are young and they just have a lot to say, that's not necessarily a thing that should be punished for, that's a thing that should be shaped, and maybe they can weave that into some other creative things. I think that's just their little spark coming through.
Speaker 1:That's true, that's true. And this kind of brings me to well, steve Harvey made this point and it's kind of funny, but it's true. He used to get in trouble because he was a class clown and you know, they always basically told him you're not going to mount anything, what is the skill going to do with you being a class?
Speaker 2:clown Look at that.
Speaker 2:Just saying Exactly, I think about that a lot, where my teacher, mrs Ware, had truly my desk was up next to her and then my 30 classmates were behind me and so she could have just helped me shape my material back then, but instead I just got in trouble every five minutes. But yeah, I think that's interesting. I think I also think too, when it comes to like alcohol or drugs or anything, that is just a slippery slope to have parents go to jail for that, rather than having kids learn their lessons or like deal with it directly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I'm hoping that they look at this on a case by case basis and doesn't try and make it an all-or-nothing situation.
Speaker 2:I know, yeah, yep, yep, well, someone that has kind of broken the internet lately, now before. Did you know anything about this story? This is about the woman who fell in love with her psychiatrist, or am I going to be telling you? Is this kind of new to you?
Speaker 1:Oh, this is going to be new to me.
Speaker 2:It's new to you. Okay, isn't it so funny how, like, we can all live in different corners of the internet where, all of last week, like this story was my entire life and my entire for you page, and then, like, my boyfriend hasn't heard of it either, because I think this is all like the dodgers and the padres and stuff. So, um, basically the very short cliff notes version. I mean mean it's crazy is that a woman named Kendra Hilty, who's a 36 year old ADHD coach from Arizona, made this like a. At this point, I think it's like a 25 part series on TikTok which is all about how she fell in love with her psychiatrist and at first, like the first video or two we're all listening, thinking, oh okay, maybe your psychiatrist did something wrong or maybe he was like unprofessional or you know, leading you on, and then by like video three, it was kind of a little bit apparent to most of the internet that maybe Kendra might have, you know, either some mental issues like allegedly you know, or or she her version of version of reality, like it might be true to her, but it might not actually be what's true to like reality, or the therapist itself, um, and so in this 25 part series. It's like there's so, so, so much.
Speaker 2:But basically she alleges that she fell in love with her psychiatrist and at one point she even told but he was, he still kept her on and was very professional. And she even says herself he never crossed any boundaries. He never, they never did anything physical, but he did keep her as a client. And I think she was reflecting on it, saying like he should have let me go. And then a bunch of the other, like internet therapists and psychiatrists weighed in and said we can't always let you go as clients because then a lot of people will feel abandonment. Or you know, there's a lot of medical training that goes in to determine whether we should or shouldn't. And then also she was on medication that he wanted to like see it through and see how it goes. Anyway, this got so unbelievably viral and like there's side characters like she she has, she named her ai henry and like she's in, like henry's her other boyfriend, it's just like. And now people, of course, just like the internet, now people are paying ten dollars a month to like do yoga with her. It's just she somehow sputtered into like a membership. So now this brings us to present day, which is now.
Speaker 2:This has made its way from TikTok to People magazine and it's she's saying that she has received violent threats which, like, obviously that's not good.
Speaker 2:Oh, the last piece of this puzzle is she has said his name online, publicly, so she like doxxed him and said his name, so people were able to find out who the psychiatrist was, and of course, that's not good or healthy or safe for him either. Um, and she's very like you know she's not mad at him, she would basically just want to come on and share her things, but it does sound a little delusional and I think I I do feel bad because people were, so were threatening her, saying like you're in a manic episode, or you know you're in a manic episode, or you know you're like crazy or you have schizophrenia, and so I guess like to me like she may be going through these things, but people being mean isn't going to help her. I feel like we need to show compassion. But then, on the flip side, she did this whole big thing about a psychiatrist and if he did nothing wrong, then you're basically like smearing someone's name and your version in quotes of is like you can't just do that and just like ruin someone's career.
Speaker 1:That's true. I mean, I think there's a lot of deep things going on. I mean and again I'm reaching cause, I don't know, obviously, but you know, maybe he reminds her of someone that she, you know she was really affectionate with, or that she adored. It could be a situation where, you know, she sees something in him that she never had for herself in any of the previous relationships. But I agree with you, there's something else going on there that that you know she's not saying.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and she even it was so funny At one point she she said um, I think she confessed her love to him and that he'd said nothing. Like he just kind of nodded and it was like okay, and she called it weaponized neutrality. Like she said that the fact that he had he had she's like he had two good of boundaries and he wouldn't respond to my emails and at one point she asked if she could come in person instead of over Zoom and he said no, and everyone's like it sounds like he's doing exactly what he should be doing as a psychiatrist. And then, but then it leads to the question like why were they even talking about this? Because usually a psychiatrist is just someone that like asks you how your medication is going and there's no talk about anything personal. So like he can't say anything because of HIPAA laws. But it'll be interesting to see if he gets a cease and desist or if he has a lawsuit against her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, the one thing that I'm a little bit surprised at is and I get it there's probably a number of reasons, but I don't know. But I could kind of see, based on our conversation why didn't he say hey, you know I know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, at least tell a colleague Maybe he did, we don't know about it Maybe like two or three of his colleagues, maybe he did discuss it and they said it's actually better if you stick with her, and if it starts to get weird, then maybe it's actually better if you stick with her and if it starts to get weird, then maybe. Oh, the other piece, the last piece, truly last piece of this puzzle is that she was saying that she taught at a yoga studio and then, while all this was happening, the yoga studio fired her. So she like lost her job because I guess she was teaching yoga and during the session she was like making the yoga people feel uncomfortable. So my other thought is she was like, I think she to me she seems like a very otherwise than this.
Speaker 2:She seems like a very sweet person and I do feel like, if this is, if she really is going through some type of manic episode or mental illness, like that's really sad and I hope it does seem like she has good friends and family. So but, like you know, at first I'm like, oh, it's fun to kind of hate on this, like creepy ish person. But then, like, the more I watched her content. I'm like oh, this is like a beautiful youngish woman who, like you know, she she does seem sweet and you never want to be mean if someone is having a mental issue yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1:But you know, the thing is, I I don't know, but it sounds like they've never met in person.
Speaker 2:It's always been over zoom um, they only had, like I think they had a few sessions in person. I think they only had they have four sessions, and on the last one she said, like I'm in love with you or something. And he didn't. He didn't really say anything and even she used examples like she loved. She came in wearing tortoise shell glasses and he can't even say I like your glasses. He just said, like you're wearing tortoiseshell glasses, and then it turns out that he wears tortoiseshell glasses and so she just got them because, like that's what he likes to wear.
Speaker 1:Well, you know the thing is too. You know, unfortunately, you know, America is a very Sue, happy society, so I can understand him not commenting on those glasses, or even if she wore something revealing or whatever, he's not going to comment on it because he's going to protect his business, his, his name and everything like that too.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly, and she has transcripts and everything that she'll read in. And it's like she's almost doing him a favor by saying what happened, because it makes him, it shows that he has professional boundaries, but she's saying that like by having those boundaries he's playing a head game with her. You know, it does sound a little bit like someone that's like obsessed with a celebrity and is like, oh, like Billie Eilish is teasing me with these lyrics and you know, thinking that it's like all for you. It's not, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, I tell you one thing, I guess you made it when you become a star and you have a stalker, I mean, you made it.
Speaker 2:Exactly this poor psychiatrist and his pictures are floating around, and then what doesn't help is that people were making AI-generated videos of them, the two of them like getting married, and then so she was on her TikTok Live watching them, like crying, and just like I had to stop watching it because I feel like I'm watching like a train wreck, basically.
Speaker 1:Well, as long as she doesn't hit the news yet, we're okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, Except for People magazine. But that's it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true. That's true. Well, talking about hitting the news, have you ever flown Spirit Airlines?
Speaker 2:Yes, admittedly, yes. A few times it feels like the Flintstones, where your legs are like running the plane.
Speaker 1:I flew one time and, like I said, I know a lot of people love Spirit.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm not so sure I'm one of them, but when I sat there and you know I'm kind of a tall guy, yeah, sure, I'm one of them, but when I sat there and you know I'm kind of a tall guy and my legs are long, my legs were literally at the back of the seat for the whole flight.
Speaker 2:Really.
Speaker 1:And this is with the seat up.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I could imagine, and it's very like old seats and the seat belt even probably didn't like go all the way.
Speaker 1:And then on top of that, you know they literally charge you for everything on that plane.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was my first and only time on Spirit.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:But for those of us.
Speaker 2:for those of you out there that love Spirit, unfortunately, spirit Airlines has recently said that it may be going out of business next year because of rising costs and not being profitable. Interesting Now, like which is also sad because I think they have a really good safety model. Like I don't think they've. They haven't crashed or anything, since that was the joke where it's like OK, you don't want to fly it, but yet with all these other airlines kind of having disasters left and right, like spirit is going strong.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true. I mean, you know, they can actually make a commercial about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Think about it, and I know this sounds sick, but some people could you know they could easily say hey look, are we the most luxurious plane? No, we're not. Are we the most comfortable? No, and yes, we will charge you for breathing air on our plane.
Speaker 2:But we haven't been in a news. Frightening incidents Come on. Exactly that's cause it's too embarrassing to be on like a fatality on a plane, on a spirit. I'd be so embarrassed. I told my friends, if that ever happens, they're supposed to just change the news so that it says I was on like Delta or something. But yeah, maybe instead of going out of business in general, you would think maybe they would like adapt to what Southwest is doing, which is, you know, doing away with like the A, b and C seats and going more into like kind of just a normal type of plane where you like book a ticket ahead and it's not such like a budget experience.
Speaker 1:That's true. And you know the other thing too, because I thought it was kind of weird that they would say that they may be going out of business next year, a year ahead of time. It's almost like they're trying to put themselves out there for someone to say, hey, yeah that's true.
Speaker 2:That's true, and and why wouldn't they just be like okay, now we're a normal airline with like better, we're going to redo better seats. We're still going to be somewhat cheap, but like, but you're going to get like a normal airline experience instead of feeling like you're riding like a bad bus.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because you know the crazy thing about it is for people who really don't like Spirit. Let's face it Spirit is probably the cheapest airline you can fly out there.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:What that's telling you is that people will pay a little bit more for comfort. So why not go ahead and make it more comfortable? Maybe you take out some seats, maybe you put in normal size seats, not these little toddler seats, little bit more for comfort. So, yeah, why not go ahead and make make it more comfortable? Maybe you take out some seats, maybe you put in normal size seats and I do little toddler seats and you know, maybe not charge for every little single thing that yeah at least let you bring a carry-on bag.
Speaker 2:At least you know yeah, oh my gosh, I I rode one from miami to new york and I really think the total price was like 26 but. But it was like I felt like I was at a Walmart with people getting into fights and it was like people were in like fishnet stockings and I'm like who is this? Like what type of situation am I in? But I mean to get down there for the less of the cost of gas and it was like I mean I got there perfectly safe, like the plane sounded weird the whole time and I was horrified. But to get from Miami to New York for $26 is pretty unheard of.
Speaker 1:That was a hell of a deal, yeah.
Speaker 2:I just had my backpack. I don't even think I drank water. I just sat there. I had no extra needs. Besides just sitting there, the clientele was also very like. It was not a luxurious experience. Remember too, a few months ago we did a story on like spirit had to tell their customers to just like wear clothes in general that covered your body.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I remember that, yes so I'm like that's, that's what they're dealing with. So I hope. I hope they're able to, like, merge with a different airline or get creative, because I just think it would be such a travesty to have an airline like that with such a good safety record, and just close it down or not have it anymore.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, the other thing too, meryl, is that there is a market for that airlines, so it would be a shame for them to go out of business and frankly, I'm pretty shocked that they're, that they may be going out of business. You know again, if they really are maybe going out of business or maybe just pitching it to where they have some, some other airlines come up and say, hey, we'd like to buy you out, or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can see JetBlue being like the expensive brother that swoops it up and is like come with me.
Speaker 1:That's true, that's true, but we'll see, though, since they put it out there so early.
Speaker 2:I know, I really hope. I hope that someone buys it Maybe not Tesla, though Not Elon, please. I don't want like a Cybertruck plane. I don't want that Like a self-driving plane or something. I don't want that Like a self driving plane or something. I don't need that.
Speaker 2:Um, oh well, something else shutting down that I'm very, very emotional about, as someone in their early 40s, is AOL, which is, like you know some of the younger people may not remember, but I know we do so AOL is shutting down the dial up service that introduced homes across the US to the internet On the firm's dialS to the internet.
Speaker 2:The firm's dial-up offering connects to the internet via phone line and currently only exists in the US and Canada. Launched more than 30 years ago, aol dial-up was known for its little chirpy sound, but it's long since been replaced, obviously, by just the internet in general and just you know, all the technology that we have today. Now, this was so sad to me because I feel like most of us, if we could, we would go back to that and like have to sit and wait right, like those were really the good old days of the internet, um, and I just remember signing on and having putting up my away messages and like having the all my friends on instant messenger and like I just felt like the internet peaked in that moment oh yeah, I, I remember the sound too.
Speaker 1:Once you heard that sound, you know you're about to get on the internet and you're like, hey, this is cool. You know this is, this is nice, and you know it's it's, it's better, better said. I'm actually shocked that that you know the dial-up service is still around. I didn't even know it was still out there. I thought they got rid of it a long time ago.
Speaker 2:I know, me too. I wish I could go back and just that feeling, when you're logging on, of seeing if you've gotten messages or not from people. I just remember putting up an away message and then seeing if my crush had written to me. I could see his little window and I'm like, oh my god, he's there.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, that iconic. You got mail.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I feel like I really, really feel like most people would be happiest if going back to it because what we have now is just like everyone that I know like Instagram and just social media makes so many people just feel anxious and kind of unsettled. And I feel like there was something just so nice and we were able to access the internet, but you had to work a little bit or have like some shred of patience, so, and I'm just so bummed that we can't log on Like I can't log on to my old AOL, like get my old messages or anything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true, that's true, I miss it.
Speaker 2:I would also also. I used to like write passive aggressive like I'm like going to college if anyone cares, or like like I feel like I would. I would say like my whole life in my away messages, and then people would write like I care, you know, oh yeah those are definitely good days, though I know, I know, and if I like someone I would have their like.
Speaker 2:if the boy that I like sign on, I would have it like a cash register sound when he came online, or like a mooing cow sound and stuff and so. But yeah, so I didn't know this too, that AOL and Yahoo are owned by the same group and I always forgot that it was also for like 30 years. It seems pretty crazy too that it's been going. I mean, time really does fly, but yeah.
Speaker 1:That's true. You don't really hear much about AOL anymore. Period, I know.
Speaker 2:I know, but I really feel like that was the peak. I don't know why, but I feel so emotional and nostalgic towards it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's amazing how things change over the years.
Speaker 2:I know Well talk about changes.
Speaker 1:This is an interesting situation Now, do you know who Shakira Richardson is?
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm sorry. Shakiri Richardson, she's a world speed runner. Sha'carri Richardson, she's a world speed runner. She was in the Olympics One of the fastest people on Earth. To be honest with you, oh, cool, Very intelligent, smart. Well, she was going through an airport and I want to say it was in Washington, and I guess her and her boyfriend was having a little bit of an argument or whatever. But when they were walking through he was pulling a little cart that had the bags on it or whatever, and she kept pushing him and just like constantly hitting and pushing on him. Well, the police came out and they told her you're under arrest for domestic abuse. So she goes ballistic. She's like Washington said ballistic. She gets really angry, saying what are you talking about? We just got done having an argument and she was constantly telling her boyfriends would you tell them? And then, before he can even say anything, the cop goes ma'am, you're in washington state, it doesn't matter what he says what on tape. And there's a lot of jurisdictions like that where if they yeah, and some of it.
Speaker 1:They don't need the other person to file a complaint or press charges, they can do it themselves. So she was telling her that because we have it on tape, we, he, he has no say so in this.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:So they placed her under arrest and she's like oh my God, I can't believe you arrested me or whatever. And you know she did get online and do an apology. But a lot of people were a little angry, feeling that you know she didn't really take it seriously because she was smiling, you know, kind of like you know whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It didn't seem sincere to a lot of people, and I guess my thoughts is. There's a few things within the situation that I want to talk about. Like the first thing I'm going to get through is there was a few people that made a great point. There was a few people that made a great point. Yes, even though she was arrested. But now the gentleman, her boyfriend, he's also a famous track star as well but a lot of people made the point of if he had done that, it would have been an outrage. Oh my God, you should kick him out. He should never play the sport again. We should. Yeah, you know, you know. Somebody made a good point is like why are there double standards when it comes to when a woman puts their hands on a man?
Speaker 2:versus when a man puts their hands on a woman, and I want to get your take on that, meryl, what you think, yeah, I mean to me like if, if in a relationship, of course, if you're like joking with each other, like playfully doing it, that's the only time that I think it's okay to like you know, jokingly, play, fight with your partner. But I feel like if you're arguing and actually like hands either way are on each other, that's already just such like a doomed, toxic relationship. I just feel like, for everyone's sake, to me like that's a sign that the relationship just like needs a break in general. I just can't imagine that I've never, luckily, like knock on everything. I've never been in a situation like that, I never would be. It's just to me like, if that's happening, that's just such a sign that like the relationship is either over or it needs like major therapy and for people not to talk to each other for like a while.
Speaker 2:So I think it's never okay if it's like a man or a woman or two men or two women or whatever, just to like hurt your partner or trying to push them um. But yeah, I mean I I think it's like either way, especially in public. I mean, I guess if you're going to do something in private, you should be able to do it in public too, but I just think that's that's bad and I could understand why they're like. We have this on tape. We at least need to separate you guys and have get everyone's story straight, just to make sure that like no one's being harmed, um, because also they're probably gonna. It's kind of where one where there's smoke, there's fire kind of thing, you know where it's like. Okay, if that's happening out in public, then we don't know what's happening in private and you know you make a good point, meryl.
Speaker 1:It's like and again, we don't know what happens behind the scenes. But yeah, if you, being that, you're a well-known figure. So if you're into running and stuff, you know who she is. You know who he is because he's a runner as well. And the thing is, if you do this out in public, what's going on behind the scenes that you don't see, yeah, because a lot of times in public you are restrained a lot more than you would be in your private home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I definitely think, too, that's interesting with the states, because I've heard of that too, where, if you like, if there's a domestic altercation and someone even just calls and says, you know, come to the house, they'll take someone right away, without even hearing the story, you know. They just are basically like, okay, well, a call happened right away, without even hearing the story. They just are basically like okay, well, a call happened. So the person that it was accused of has to go with them and talk to the police, which I don't think is a bad thing, because if someone is being abused, sometimes they don't have the courage to speak up or they feel intimidated if their partner's right there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, I tell you I'm not mad at this law, because a lot of times when a person is being abused, a lot of times say and in shakari, richard's case, richardson's case is that we have a video of you hitting him yeah, seeing him. So you know the video will say more than anything he can ever say, because what all boils down to it?
Speaker 2:there's no reason for anybody put their hands on each other no, no, and if no, and even in that moment, if she found out that he was cheating on her or something, then that's when you leave, or you take your stuff and go, and I don't think hitting or pushing someone is going to be, even if they did you really wrong. I don't know, though, except I do feel like I can see why people would ruin someone's Xbox. I'm not for hurting the person, but I feel like if you, if they did find out that you did something like really, really bad, I could see someone just be like I'm destroying this painting that you love so much in the heat of the moment, but I think it's always a best thing just to move on and, like not physically hurt anyone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, and you know, the other thing too that's disappointing is, you know she is a world known track star, so when you're in the limelight you have to be extra careful what you do and say on public. Yeah, exactly, exactly Because I'm surprised, even with them not catching it on tape, like just thinking that they have fans watching them and you know it'll be interesting. I said, uh, I mean, what's your take on on a lot of people that are kind of angry about her giving the apology and kind of, you know, smiling through it, you know yeah, I mean mine's not taking it seriously right.
Speaker 2:That almost shows me that maybe their relationship is more toxic than we think and like that's not as big of a deal, where she's kind of like this is just a normal Friday for us or like who cares? You know I was pushing him, but this is maybe just like regular life for us.
Speaker 1:And I think she should definitely take it seriously and feel bad and reflect on it yeah, and you know the other thing too, meryl is there's some women out there that have this warped idea that it's okay that I hit my husband and my boyfriend.
Speaker 2:That's so weird, that's so weird.
Speaker 1:And I want to sit back and ask these women well, how would you feel if he put his hands on you the same way? Yeah, his butt rested, his ass would be locked up, and it's like what's wrong with that picture?
Speaker 2:Exactly wrong with that picture. Exactly, and to me, if, if it's at the point where I'm hitting someone which would probably be like if they're cheating on me or if they did something really bad then I shouldn't be with them. Like in that minute I should end the relationship, like there's no sense in being with someone if they're doing something like that warrants me wanting to hit them yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1:Um, I mean, like I said, I know most likely my opinion. She's probably going to take some type of plea just to kill the story or whatever, but whoever her PR person is, she needs to fire them.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:When she did that apology, she didn't do no favors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do pretend to fight my boyfriend because he's like 6'3" and I'm always like yeah, yeah, and he's like you can know I can end you in like four seconds. I'm like no, but that's always pretend. But yeah, if I, if I ever was so mad at someone for like wanting to physically hurt them, then that would just be a sign that like we need a total break from each other. You know, all together.
Speaker 1:I agree.
Speaker 2:I'm not gonna lie, there's been times I've wanted to, but, um, yeah, any, any long relationship, not to hurt them forever. But just to you know, I don't know, put them in a stun gun or something, but yeah anyway. Well, if I, if I was mad at someone, I would, um, take their labubu collection for sure and this ties into the next article, where $30,000 worth of stolen Labubus were just recovered by police in California. Now I really had a goal this summer to not ever know what a Labubu looked like and sadly that only lasted about three minutes and then now I'm covered in Labubus.
Speaker 2:So 14 boxes of the highly sought after collectible dolls were found in a home in upland california which is like san bernardino. Uh, they took boxes of the furries. Chino police said that they didn't clarify like who it, why it was there or, you know, like they were investigating it, which is so ridiculous if you're a police officer and your job for the week is investigating stolen Labubus. But obviously this is bad because it's stolen property and it was taken from the owners, whoever owned it. So, yeah, it's 14 boxes. And now they're seeing, because of how popular Labubus are, people are trying to steal them and break into stores in the middle of the night.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true, and you know the crazy thing about it is, it reminds me back in the day, the Cabbage Patch dolls, where everybody was these ugly dolls. Yes, exactly so you know the thing is. The sad thing is that when you have collectibles something real hot there's always going to be someone that's going to try and take advantage of the situation by stealing them, reselling them and stuff like that. But I would love to know who snitched. I mean how they find out.
Speaker 2:Exactly Like where are the Labubu tellers? That's true, that's very true, because they don't give off an odor or there's nothing that would show someone that there's boxes of labubus there. That's funny. I feel like people should start putting air tags in their labubus.
Speaker 1:That's true, that's true. But then again, what probably happened? Like in most cases? See, everyone is like real tough. I'm not a snitch, I ain't saying nothing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Until they get in trouble.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And it's like he did it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm not going to if I had a friend that stole the boo-boos. I'm not going to jail for that, like I'm a snitch, so you're looking at about 30 years.
Speaker 2:Hey, hold on, let me holler at you for a minute, you know, yeah, yeah. And also they said that labubus are like a recession indicator because the same thing as the cabbage patch things, where it's like people are going crazy for these, kind of like no offense, so sorry to hurt anyone's feeling, but like kind of like a garbagey looking type thing. You know, we're just like a very sorry for the labubu Boo community and I think packs of six it says six Loo Boo Boos can sometimes go for up to over $150. Wow, do you own any?
Speaker 1:I need to invent something that people want.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:Caroline's built up the Pet Rock. Remember that years ago.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah. And it's so funny how some things catch on and some don't. But I mean, could you imagine going to jail and then, when they ask what you're in for, it's like oh, I stole a boo-boo and someone else is in for murder.
Speaker 1:If you're smart, you would make up a different reason. Yeah, the guy would be like, see, so I kill five people. Are you here for what?
Speaker 2:exactly. But yeah, I think to me like it's one of those things that it definitely is like sheeple mentality where it's like you're just stealing these things. I mean to them they're probably obviously. I don't think it's about the labubus themselves. I have a feeling these people just want the money for them and you know they're basically just like property, they're not really it's about the labubus themselves. I have a feeling these people just want the money for them and you know they're basically just like property. They're not really. It's not about the labubu.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree. I agree, but a good feel-good story that I wanted to go over.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And this gentleman is a Barrington Illinois native. His name is Daniel Kubiak. He reaches the MLB and, for those of you who are not into sports, it's Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2:How did you know that, yep?
Speaker 1:And at age 29.
Speaker 2:Aw.
Speaker 1:And he's with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The reason this is a huge big deal at 29, for any type of professional sports, it's pretty much out of the question. So for him to come up, never give up on his dreams and finally make it. I think this is a testament to say hey, if you have something in your heart you want to do, you feel good about it, cause you know, sometimes people tell you, well, you too old for that. My philosophy is if you still have breath in your body, you have time period.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep. That's so interesting to me that, like the careers are, I could see with football just because you take so many knocks and everything, but I feel like with baseball to me it seems like you should be able to play like into your mid to late 30s. Pretty okay, like that's really surprising to me.
Speaker 2:I mean late 30s, pretty far, pretty okay, like that's really surprising to me. I mean, I know like your muscles or your ligaments or whatever, but it seems like 35 should be like almost when people hit their peak oh, I would imagine so too, and you know, again, like you said, it's not like football.
Speaker 1:Football is a very, very contact sport. I mean, it's a violent sport, no matter what you do. So with baseball, I was a little surprised too, at 29, being unheard of for someone to make it in the league that late. I would think, like you said, they're in their prime at that point, around 30 years old, you know.
Speaker 2:Yep, I think that's so cute, though I think that's wonderful, but I wonder if he's just going to get to be like. These are the best two years of my life.
Speaker 1:Like is his contract for like four months or something, but that's true. Well, you know, the thing is, is that, hey, he did something that most people would yeah so I think that's so good.
Speaker 2:I always, like I'm definitely a believer that especially I mean maybe not for actual sports, but for, like, most things that it really is never too late. Like I see so many women, um, like in their late 60s, starting to do stand-up comedy, and like I'm definitely surrounded by people that like get started with a lot of things late at life and in fact I feel like it's almost better sometimes if you have a career and kids and then you're able to, like in your 50s or 60s, kind of like do what you want to do and like I don't think you're too late at all.
Speaker 1:That's true. I mean, if you think about it, at that age you no longer have the normal distractions of trying to build a family, of trying to do this, trying to do that, it's like, hey, it's my time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I think that's cool, but yeah, but baseball, definitely that's so cool. I think that's great and he's playing for the Diamondbacks. You said.
Speaker 1:Yes, he is.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I'll have to keep an eye out for him. He'll be the one with like a gray beard or like a gray. They're gonna act like he's like so old, well, actually, well, that's so funny. This is, this is the exact opposite of this, where it's also never you're never too young to do a really good job, because my story is about a never. You're never too young to do a really good job, because my story is about a 10 year old chess prodigy who just became the youngest female player to defeat the grandmaster. Um a 10 year old british girl I'm gonna definitely butcher the name, but bodohana sivanandan from north northwest london defeated 60 year old grandmaster pete wells in the final round of the 2025 British Championships this past weekend. So I think that's so cool. So she's 10 years old. Imagine like she just must be a savant completely.
Speaker 1:That is awesome. I mean very, very awesome. Like you said, you're never too young.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:Especially to be someone that's been doing this for I don't know how many years he's been doing it. I know Especially to be someone that's been doing this For I don't know how many years he's been doing it.
Speaker 2:So I know and I love this. Her dad told the BBC In 2024 that nobody at all In their family had previously excelled at chess and, like I love stuff like this when I used to really love MasterChef Junior and I love watching the kids that the parents Are like we don't know how to cook. We don't Understand how we have this like Savant chef in the family.
Speaker 1:Yes, that is definitely great, definitely great. Kudos to her.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but she said she picked up chess during the pandemic when she was five. I still don't understand chess, so good for her.
Speaker 1:You know, I've never learned how to play chess and probably never had desire to.
Speaker 2:No, I almost feel like when you're an adult it almost gets harder because you're like, it's just harder to learn.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I just picture them just sitting there thinking about I'm quite sure there's conversations going on or whatever, and you know, just figuring out this move, that move, because from what I see, they go up, they go down, they go side. It's like well, how the hell do you figure this out? Yeah, yeah, I see they go up, they go down they go side.
Speaker 2:It's like, well, how the hell do you figure this out? Yeah, yeah, and I can't remember. I've learned a few times, but I can't remember the bishop and the rook and all these things. I'm like, yeah, I forget it so quickly.
Speaker 1:I like chess better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah me too.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's right Checkers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Checkers is way easier, Except I can barely win like tic-tac-toe so it's okay.
Speaker 1:Well, don't mean to be a downer, but there's a new issue that employers are dealing with now. Well, the threat of AI generated job applicants For a lot of people who weren't aware of this, and I wasn't aware of this either until it came across me, across my desk here, that they are people that are creating AI-generated applicants that you know apply for jobs and all this and I guess, even do interviews, because most people do interviews over Zoom and all this guests even do interviews, because most people do interviews over zoom, and all this.
Speaker 1:And it's like when I first read I'm like why the hell would anybody put this kind of time and effort into doing this? Yeah, here is that there's a lot of scammers and organized crime that does this. So basically they're trying to get into the systems of businesses to steal data, information, maybe even steal money, embezzlement, or do the the high-tech thing where it's like, okay, give us a million dollars and we'll release all your computers that we have for ransom. Now you know.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, but couldn't they do that without having to like apply for a job and like, so the interview would even be a fake person.
Speaker 1:It would be a fake person. Yeah, that's so weird.
Speaker 2:It just seems like if you're gonna go through all that and try to hack the system, you could just do that, like by pretending that you're fixing something in the building, or by being like the it person or something yeah, and what's interesting in the article they were saying that companies are now to combat this.
Speaker 1:They're they're having the person in the interview do something weird, like you know, touch your nose or touch your head. You're a real person and it's like you know if you really got to do all that, just meet in person.
Speaker 2:Exactly, yeah, and I think like there's a lot of AI, people or things now that would be able to just be like okay, I'm a robot touching my nose, like you know, they're going to be able to figure that out.
Speaker 1:Because if you haven't heard this story and you're in the middle of the interview, you know everything's everyone. So, laurence, um sure, no problem, can you take your finger?
Speaker 2:touch your nose, what yeah?
Speaker 1:because once you ask, me that and I don't know about this story. I'm thinking. I don't think I want to work for you guys anymore right.
Speaker 2:And then the fact that if you're interviewing someone, you can't tell they're AI or not, that I feel like we all have different problems right now. You know, like I'm just asking them a question or anything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, I would think that because in an interview, especially if you're interviewing with a hiring manager, those questions can be scripted, because if you're experienced like, for example, I got a lot of sales experience in transportation there are going to be very industry-specific questions that I ask and the way they answer it is going to dictate you know how I react to it and what I ask. And I would think that I don't think no, ai is that smart and I could be wrong. I could be totally wrong.
Speaker 1:But I don't think AI is that smart. What do you think?
Speaker 2:I think so too. I think I totally get what you're saying about being specific. I almost feel like on the other end of things. One time when I was interviewing, they asked me about a mistake in the past that I'd made and what I'd learned from it, and I feel like my AI robot would not know I had to dig from one of my past mistakes. They wouldn't know that without me feeding it to them.
Speaker 1:That is an excellent question. I mean excellent response. There You're right. Ai would not know that.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah. So it's like, yeah, how would we know? And then also, okay, then you get the job, but then you're onboarding with, like a human resource. Like I just can't understand how you're making. Now you're signing up, like you're having AI sign up for taxes, and aren't you going to need like a social security number? Like I feel like for any job I've ever started, you have to sign a W-2 or W-9 or whatever.
Speaker 1:And so it's like yeah, and you know, I think a lot of companies are starting to get a little bit lazy when it comes to the hiring process.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Because you know a lot of them has this. I think it's called a stylist test or whatever. You know has this I think it's called a stylist test or whatever. Basically, it's like okay, if you saw someone stealing, what would you do If this happened? What would you do To me again? I apologize to all people in HR that's going to be seeing this. I think it's a stupid fucking questionnaire because unless you're some kind of moron, you're going to know how to answer those questions.
Speaker 2:Exactly what is someone going to say? I'm going to join them. I'm going to cheat on my test too. Everyone is lying to make a good impression anyway.
Speaker 1:Exactly. I've said it before in a previous episode and I'll say it again I tip my hat off to the. What are they called Gen Zers? Are they Gen Zers or Gen Y? I get them all mixed up. To the, to the, to the. Uh, what do they call it gen z? No, that gen zers. Are they gen z is a gen y I. I get them all mixed up they get people younger yeah yeah, yeah, the gen z years.
Speaker 1:The one thing I really appreciate is that back when I started working years ago and you know, you did, you know when you started working it normally takes three to six months to find out whether it's really what you thought or if they just lied through their teeth to get you on board yeah we lied through their teeth. You know like okay, I'm gonna work this out, I'm gonna try and make this work, whatever. Well, the younger generation ain't doing that no more.
Speaker 2:Once they figured out you lied to them, they're gone that's true, you're right, yep, and I even think it's with like I'll see jobs and it's like over a hundred applicants and I just don't even feel like HR people are even looking at. I mean, they just start looking at like all of it and I think people are just like making up stuff on their resume and then, yeah, it's a whole big thing.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah and you know, I know it was one big push a while ago that you know when you you interview, the company should pay you, because you know there's a lot of fake jobs out there yeah, work at at a company that literally would put fake jobs out there, knowing they're hiring somebody within the company but because of hr rules or whatever they have to look like they're getting people to apply oh my gosh so you're lying and everybody's in on the big lie. So why? Why are you doing in the first place?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And especially jobs. I feel like we should all just take a stand against, also, jobs that like require us to do the jobs where it's like write an article of how you would do this, or like, for example, for like podcasting. I've had some people, some friends, say that they're like okay, well, can you edit this episode and show us how you'd edit it? It's like I'm not hired for the job yet, and I think that's why freelancers it's like we have a portfolio of examples of what we can do we're not about to do the job, and I just think these people that have six interviews and expect so much it's just people just need to be like okay, I'll do that, but for $100.
Speaker 1:I agree with you, and you know. The other thing too, meryl is you know I've seen situations where the interview process was you interview with HR, which to me is a joke.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, exactly, they don't know yeah.
Speaker 1:And then after that, then you finally get to the hiring manager. The hiring manager, even if they like you, they'll have their boss say, well, this person is a good fit, you can't hire. It's like it's stupid. You know it's a.
Speaker 2:It's a big game is what it is yes, I had to do one where we had to circle, like like my friends would describe me as, and we had to like circle things and it's like I would describe me and of course, no one's gonna be like I would describe me as. And we had to circle things and I'd be like I would describe me and of course, no one's going to be like I would describe me as anxious, disorganized, mistrustful. Everyone's just going to pick good things about each other.
Speaker 1:The only thing you're really doing is ironing out someone who's pretty kind of stupid, yeah yeah, yeah. You know you're not going to put put down if you're a person that is unorganized, as late knowledge, you're not if you're smart, you're not gonna put that down exactly that's when companies are like we're looking for a rock star for whatever it takes.
Speaker 1:That's not me at all now, you know, years ago, when I was a manager and I was hiring to bring on some sales people, I actually interviewed a man, and this is this was something I'll never forget. You know, we went through the process. Everything was going good, and I asked him and said so tell me, why should I hire you? His answer was well, I don't know why would you hire me. Thank you, oh my God.
Speaker 1:Now, of course, I can't say this, but in my mind you've got to be the stupidest effing idiot ever and it's like you've taken it this far.
Speaker 2:Why not just finish the answer and, like, say anything about yourself or how you could benefit the company?
Speaker 1:when he said that, merrill, I literally did not know how to respond.
Speaker 2:Wow wow, I'm like I literally had nothing to say did not know how to respond. Wow, okay, wow.
Speaker 1:I'm like I mean, I was just. I literally had nothing to say. I was like, wow. So if you don't believe in yourself, then I don't think I'm going to believe you yeah, then I'm not going to do it Exactly.
Speaker 2:See, an AI person would never say that.
Speaker 1:That is true, that is true.
Speaker 2:And same thing. I know people use a lot of AI for their interviews and stuff. I just wouldn't do that. I don't want to just completely offload everything to my brain, where it's still fun to interview with an actual person and I think AI is good if you wanted to have it, help you practice for questions or summarize your job and stuff, but I wouldn't use it if I'm like having a real conversation with someone yeah, to me ai is a tool, nothing more.
Speaker 1:To me it cannot replace a person. It can help you, it can get to answers faster. But you know we talked about before how, like if you have ai do something you don't know, kind of look at what they're doing, you know it could make up stuff.
Speaker 2:One of my clients went bye-bye because I did that. So, yeah, totally, wow, that's interesting, and that was that your last one.
Speaker 1:That was my last one.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, okay, my last one. I'm so excited for this one. I'm not a Swifty, but I think more and more I'm beginning to, like you know, become I'm slowly morphing into like a mini Swifty light, as they say, because I realize, I know, I know, yeah, I'm dipping my toe into the Swifty waters Just because, like I was talking to someone, I'm like I'm not a Swifty at all, but I do like about 30 of Taylor's songs. I love watching videos of her and they're like I hate to break it to you, but you're kind of becoming a Swifty.
Speaker 2:So recently she broke the internet, you know, again when she appeared on her boyfriend Travis Kelsey's podcast, new Heights on August 13.
Speaker 2:And people were, just like you know, going crazy for her and for Travis and this was definitely the long form that we got to see of them as a couple and just like how they interacted together. Um, they talked a lot about how they met and just how they fell in love and like their story was kind of cute, about how Travis really hunted her down and just wanted to date her and made it clear, um, and then, of course, like Taylor is known for giving a lot of easter eggs in her music videos. So a lot of people think that she was hinting, that maybe she's either going to do a halftime show. She announced her latest album, the Life of a Showgirl, so that was pretty much why she was on there in the first place, and so they thought she was hinting about a Super Bowl performance or maybe like a Vegas residency, or maybe, you know, everyone is just reading too much into it, but did you see it?
Speaker 1:you know what I did? See clips of it.
Speaker 2:Yes yeah, it's a long interview. I didn't see all of it, but I think it's so cute. What do you? What do you think?
Speaker 1:well, I'm not okay if you don't think they're cute because obviously she's gonna support a boyfriend, so that's that's not a surprise yeah um, not a surprise about her dropping the new, the new song again. Taylor swift does that all the time exactly, exactly but um, the little bit I did saw she kind of let her hair down a little bit.
Speaker 2:You know. I know this was the most like human I feel like I've ever seen her. But the the other side of it is that, like I, she is very calculated, like you know. So I just think with with her, especially like nothing's as it seems, and I think, like you know, she's like one of the most famous people, she's a billionaire, so like, even in her kind of fake humble moments there's still something like a different layer, like she is calculated and she is kind of scheming. So love her or hate her, you know she definitely has a lot of stuff going on in her mind.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, that's definitely true. The one thing that really kind of had me kind of chuckling was Swifties are really diehard.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I wouldn't be that kind of Swiftie.
Speaker 1:And you got. You know this one woman. She was in a bad cry. Oh my God.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. And it she was in a bed crying, oh my god, oh my gosh. And it's like, wow, yeah, they. It's like taylor is just a normal human. She's not like a messiah or something in like some people are like. She said this on like the ninth day and she said it four times. So there's, 13 is her favorite number and it's just like I. I don't want to go into a whole numerology thing, I just want to like, like her songs, you know. But um, and I know there's been a lot of speculation too about this relationship being just for PR or not true, but I have to imagine, even though Travis Kelsey does seem pretty genuine in the brothers that would be a lot to go through this whole made-up relationship. That just seems kind of unnecessary. But I don't know.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree, I mean, I think the relationship is real relationship. You know that just seems like kind of unnecessary, but I don't know. I agree, I agree, I mean, I think the relationship is real. Um, but you know the one thing that I that I do like about taylor swift she does have a really good heart. She has, um, you know the things she's done for people over the years, uh, for her fans, stuff like that. And you know, the thing is is that, whether you like it or not, when you're that big of a star, you have to put on that smiley face, because I'm quite sure she's had bad days too, but when you're that big of a star, you have to put on that smile, no matter what.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely, definitely. And like and I love her music, but like I can't even tell if she has a really good heart or if it's just all for show, but either way, she's still donating to food banks and giving people big tips and so it's like, whether or not that comes completely from being sincere, she's still doing like the right things oh, I agree, I agree.
Speaker 1:So what do you think?
Speaker 2:you think that, uh, that chelsea's gonna be popping the question soon I hope, yeah, I definitely think so, I definitely don so and I do. I think she was giving weird hints about like sourdough and the 60th stuff that's going to lead to the Super Bowl. So, like, I think she's going to be doing the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1:You think so?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think she was giving enough. I saw a TikTok that did make me think, where I feel like she's going to be doing the Super Bowl. And then there's, I think she might bring out Christina Aguilera, Cause there was some hints about that. And there was some hints about like she said something about like orange marmalade and then it was like kind of like the lady marmalade Christina Aguilera thing. So I feel like that was one conspiracy theory that I believed.
Speaker 1:But if her and Travis, like if that is really real, like I just think that is so cute, and they really are. I think that they're a very, very cute couple Like I.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:I just hope it's real, but I also have learned to like not trust anything, unfortunately, that is true Right Especially when it comes to Hollywood romances, I know.
Speaker 2:But I mean, I think she looks beautiful and I think I do also think too, like, even though just the way she dresses and carries herself and everything, I do think she is a good goodish role model for like all types of girls, because she does seem to respect herself and she's really smart, I just think it's cool.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, I know a lot of people were talking about the outfit she's been wearing to promote. You know the new album or song that came out and you know the semi-revealing outfit yeah, yep. But what people got to understand too is yes, a lot of young kids love her and stuff like this, but don't forget, she is a 37-year-old woman too.
Speaker 2:I know, yeah, exactly like this. But don't forget she is a 30 some year old woman too. I know, yeah, exactly which. Sometimes they do people do treat taylor swift like a baby. You know like they definitely infantilize her. I'm like she is like, yeah, she's like 38 or 39. I always forget that right.
Speaker 1:So it's like don't forget, she's an adult doing this, she's not exactly, but at the end of the day I really do.
Speaker 2:I think she has so many good songs and she is a good songwriter and stuff. So I feel like because of that I'm interested in her at least, and I feel like the her and Travis thing. It seems very unlikely, but then the fact that they match up seems very cute.
Speaker 1:Uh-oh, meryl, you're turning to a Swiftie, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know it's really funny.
Speaker 2:I'm like, okay, I kind of want to go to a concert. I love her music, but I'm not like a crying. I wouldn't be falling to my knees crying if I saw it. I'm like a Swiftie, adjacent maybe, so you wouldn't cry and boo-hoo and you know. No, and I'm not about to do this weird heart thing that everyone does. I feel like I'm from the bleachers type of Swifty Little closet, swifty, exactly, yeah, and I think she's beyond in the Illuminati, so I'm not going to let her harvest my energy. There you go.
Speaker 1:Talk about energy, Meryl. What do you have coming up?
Speaker 2:Yay, talk about energy, meryl. What do you have coming up? Yay, um, well, I have the. The last week, the horror nerd show that I did went so fun. It was so good that now I'm taking it down to san diego. So I'll be um at a really awesome club called the yellow door this friday in san diego. Um, last week at the improv, I talked about this scare. Sleepaway camp was the Improv I talked about. This. Sleepaway Camp was the movie from 1983 I talked about. It was just a really weird slasher film. So who knows what I'll be doing on Friday, because I literally don't know, but we'll see.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice. Now where is that again?
Speaker 2:It's in San Diego, in downtown San Diego, in the Gaslamp Quarter, and it's at a venue called the Yellow Door.
Speaker 1:Cool. Well, if you're in the area, please go out and support Meryl.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I have so many shows that I now finally got myself organized and I listed some of my upcoming shows on my Instagram.
Speaker 1:Cool, you know what I know? We don't do it a lot, but tell people how to follow you on your socials.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, thank you. My tell people how to follow you on your social. Oh yeah, thank you. My Instagram is just my name, so it's at Meryl Clemo M-E-R-Y-L, k-l-e-m-o-w nice, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:I gotta get down to one of your shows too yeah, I would love that you're also.
Speaker 2:I feel like you're a very good Instagram friend where, like people I feel like a lot of people don't comment and like on people's stuff anymore. I feel like you're very supportive and hopefully I'm that way for you too thank you.
Speaker 1:I appreciate that I believe in supporting people who support me, so I know it's so cool yes, definitely, definitely. Wow. It's hard to believe it's been an hour already I know that flew by yes when you're a swifty yes, it does, and you know the crazy thing it there was so much going on. I literally had another five to eight other topics.
Speaker 2:Really.
Speaker 1:So it's been so much stuff and you know the crazy thing, especially going on right now, is there's always something to talk about.
Speaker 2:I know, and look at this we didn't even mention the president once too.
Speaker 1:That's a good one. We may have to mention that next week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, next week Exactly. Who knows, it's always like there's always a new episode waiting for us.
Speaker 1:That's true. That's true. Well, everyone, thank you for supporting us. We really appreciate you guys watching us or listening to us. If you listen to the podcast again, Thirsty Topics is on all the major podcast stations and we're also on a streaming channel called LRotTVNetworkcom, which I heard is a pretty good channel.
Speaker 2:I love it. It's pretty good.
Speaker 1:Well, everyone, thank you for watching us. Please continue to support us and bring as many people as you can over to watch us and listen to us. I'm Lawrence L Rott.
Speaker 2:And I'm Meryl Clemo.
Speaker 1:Have a great day everyone.
