This week, we dive into video games—what we play, what we love, what we bounce off of, and what being a “gamer” even means anymore. We talk through our very different gaming habits, from hundreds of hours in Stardew Valley and Minecraft to deep, story-driven single-player epics like Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed. Along the way, we explore why some games feel comforting, why others feel like work, how difficulty and time shape our choices, and how gaming has changed with age, technology, and expectations. It’s a laid-back, honest conversation about play, frustration, storytelling, and why it’s okay to like what you like.

Show Notes

• We open with a quick check-in about extreme winter weather, frozen windows, and how different winters feel depending on where you live
• We introduce the episode’s theme: video games we love, games we don’t, and what we’re currently playing
• We question what it even means to be a “gamer” in 2026, especially in a world where mobile games dominate total playtime
• We talk about how gaming habits change with age, time constraints, and life responsibilities
• Aubrey walks through her most-played games:
  • Stardew Valley as her all-time favorite, including multiple worlds, co-op play, and reaching “perfection”
  • Minecraft as both a comfort game and a way to stay connected during long-distance relationships
• How co-op gaming became a form of long-distance date night
• We discuss different types of games and why they appeal differently:
  • Sandbox and simulation games
  • Roguelikes and progression-based loops
  • Loot-driven games like Diablo and Borderlands
  • Story-first, single-player games
• Peter explains why story and characters are the biggest draw for him, especially in:
  • The Mass Effect trilogy as his all-time favorite gaming experience
  • Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, and why Valhalla eventually felt too grindy
• We talk about difficulty settings, “story mode,” and why difficulty shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying games
• We discuss games we want to like but don’t:
  • Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
  • Super Mario platformers
  • Why exploration-heavy games don’t always click
• Aubrey shares her experience with Cult of the Lamb, including finishing it on normal difficulty and attempting the harder survival mode
• We explore It Takes Two as a co-op experience that’s fun but emotionally and mechanically demanding
• Aubrey talks about discovering a newer, more systems-focused space game and why optimization and calm progression really work for her
• Peter brings up Cyberpunk 2077 as one of the best—but emotionally heavy—games he’s ever played
• We touch on party and group games:
  • Mario Kart
  • Boomerang Fu
  • Super Smash Bros (and character loyalty)
• We talk about competitive vs. solo gaming and why online multiplayer just doesn’t appeal to us
• Peter reflects on strategy games like Civilization—always buying them, rarely playing them
• We close by agreeing that gaming doesn’t need justification: comfort games count, single-player counts, and enjoying one game deeply is enough

This week, we take a lighter turn and talk about what we’re genuinely looking forward to in 2026. From major movies and long-awaited books to video games, music releases, space missions, and even what not to get excited about, we reflect on anticipation itself—how hype changes with age, how expectations can be complicated, and how sometimes the biggest thing we’re excited for is simply a slower, steadier year. It’s a wide-ranging, honest conversation about culture, creativity, and where we’re putting our energy as we look ahead.

Show Notes

• We open with some life updates, including travel fatigue, family weddings, and easing back into work after the holidays
• We intentionally choose a lighter topic after last week’s more reflective episode: things we’re excited about in 2026
• Movies we’re looking forward to
  • Strong excitement for Project Hail Mary, especially given how meaningful the book was
  • Curiosity and respect for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, even with mixed feelings about his past films
  • Anticipation (and dread) around Sunrise on the Reaping and the emotional weight of the Hunger Games universe
  • Cautious optimism about The Devil Wears Prada 2—beloved cast, but big questions about timing and necessity
  • A deep dive into Dune Messiah vs. Avengers: Doomsday, including Marvel fatigue and uncertainty around Doctor Doom
  • Thoughts on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and why it inspires more confidence than the next Avengers film
  • Clear disinterest in The Mandalorian and Grogu, despite its significance for Star Wars theatrical releases
• Books and reading
  • Huge enthusiasm for the next Dungeon Crawler Carl book and praise for its narration and humor
  • Discussion of finally getting into the series and why it works as a palate cleanser
  • Hope for Twelve Months, the long-awaited next entry in The Dresden Files
  • Honest conversation about the series’ flaws, growth over time, and why it’s still worth reading
• TV shows (mostly hypotheticals)
  • Acknowledging how many shows we intend to watch but haven’t yet
  • Mentions of Silo, Rings of Power, House of the Dragon, and Marvel TV fatigue
  • Why some shows feel easier to watch with others rather than alone
• Video games
  • Excitement for the Cult of the Lamb expansion and how it surprised us
  • Curiosity around GTA VI, despite never finishing previous entries
  • Interest in Marvel’s Wolverine and a potential Fable reboot
• Music
  • Anticipation for several metal releases, mixed with realism about aging bands
  • Reflections on how live music has changed—and why smaller shows feel more meaningful now
  • Sticker shock and frustration with modern concert ticket prices
  • A shift toward supporting artists directly through digital purchases
• Space and science
  • Excitement about the Artemis II mission looping around the far side of the moon
  • Anticipation for a total lunar eclipse visible across North America
  • Gentle skepticism about “quantum breakthroughs” announced by tech companies
• We close by acknowledging that after several intense life years, a quieter, slower 2026 might be the thing we’re most excited about

In this episode, we push back hard against New Year’s resolutions and unpack why they so often leave us feeling guilty, frustrated, and stuck. Instead, we talk through the idea of yearly themes—a gentler, more flexible way to guide growth without the pressure of pass/fail goals. We reflect on our past themes, share what worked (and what didn’t), and introduce our themes for 2026: a year of peace and the year of gentle refinement. Along the way, we dig into anxiety, sleep, routines, and why progress is never linear—and that’s actually the point.

Show Notes

• We open by talking about being together in person over the holidays, unseasonably warm winter weather, and how strange it feels to see green grass in December.
• We reflect on how climate shifts, lack of snowpack, and wildfire smoke have become an unsettling “new normal.”
• As the year wraps up, we explain why we are firmly opposed to traditional New Year’s resolutions.
  • They tend to be overly ambitious.
  • They focus on failure and guilt rather than growth.
  • They encourage all-or-nothing thinking.
• We talk about how resolutions often repeat year after year, reinforcing a cycle of disappointment instead of progress.
• We introduce the idea of yearly themes, inspired by the Cortex podcast’s approach.
  • Themes guide decisions instead of dictating outcomes.
  • You can’t “fail” a theme.
  • Themes allow for flexibility, reassessment, and course-altering without shame.
• We discuss how progress actually works:
  • Growth isn’t linear.
  • Life looks more like a sine wave than a straight upward line.
  • The goal is to slowly shift the baseline over time.
• Aubrey reflects on last year’s theme—essentially survival—and why graduating, moving, and starting a new life counts as success.
• Peter shares past themes:
  • The Year of Growth (too broad)
  • The Year of Conscious Action (more effective and grounded)
• Aubrey introduces her 2026 theme: A Year of Peace
  • Focused on managing anxiety rather than “fixing” it.
  • Centered on inner calm, not external control.
  • Anchored in sleep, movement, mindfulness, and basic needs.
• We talk about anxiety as something often self-generated through imagined scenarios—and how peace is about changing our response.
• Peter introduces his 2026 theme: The Year of Gentle Refinement
  • A rejection of “optimization” as a harsh, weaponized concept.
  • Focused on small, monthly refinements rather than big overhauls.
  • Closely aligned with learning, workflows, and creative projects.
• We discuss embracing failure as information, not judgment.
• Sleep becomes a major focus:
  • Refining nighttime routines.
  • Consistent wake times.
  • Circadian rhythm basics.
• Aubrey shares practical strategies for anxiety management:
  • Walking meditations.
  • Getting sunlight early in the day.
  • Her “first aid kit for anxiety” (drink water, eat, go to the bathroom).
• We close by emphasizing that themes only need to work for you—there’s no universal right answer.