Show Notes

Concert Experience:

- Attended Spiritbox's sold-out show at Rockwell (The Complex, SLC).

- Observations on the diverse crowd and high female representation compared to typical metal shows.

- Praise for the band's dynamic live performance, visuals, and tight set design.

- Standout songs: “Holy Roller”, “Soft Spine”, “No Loss, No Loss”, and “Crystal Roses”.

- Courtney LaPlante described as a "spooky angel fairy princess demon" for her mesmerizing stage presence.

Setlist & Discography Thoughts:

- Breakdown of Spiritbox's unique release strategy: multiple EPs and singles instead of traditional albums.

- Discussion of their rapid rise following "Holy Roller" and how they've kept momentum by staying in the public eye with frequent releases.

- Comparison to Weird Al's release philosophy in the digital age.

Opening Acts:

- Thoughts on Dying Wish (humorously misread as "Dingwish") and Loathe.

- Energy and effort were appreciated, but the music didn't quite land with either host.

Group Outing:

- The joy of going with a group: Hayden, Liv, Jess, and Jon joined for dinner and the show.

- Reflections on the generational experience of concerts and aging at shows ("these kids don't stand anymore").

Resistance Training = Fountain of Youth:

- Peter shares evidence-based insights on how strength training can improve longevity, skin quality, recovery, and overall health.

- Emphasizes the role of muscle in balance, injury prevention, and post-surgical recovery.

- "Pick something up, put it down, repeat until you're nearly out of gas -- that's the magic."

What We Discuss:

- Sibling energy and setup quirks: Peter and Aubrey kick off the episode sharing laughs about their podcast gear, Easter weekend catch-up, and family updates.

- The grind of finals season: Aubrey gives a peek into the academic chaos of her final weeks in undergrad, complete with quantum mechanics and end-of-semester overload.

Generational reflections on journaling:

- Peter recounts how journaling went from a teenage afterthought to a vital part of his daily introspection and habit-tracking system.

- Aubrey reflects on her childhood love for writing and how journaling helped her emotionally process in middle and high school—and why she’s trying to return to it now.

Mental health, anxiety, and the myth of productivity through panic:

- Aubrey opens up about how journaling helps untangle the learned behavior of equating anxiety with success.

- Peter shares how journaling, therapy, and emotional vulnerability still feel hard to access—especially for men in high-pressure roles.

Finding your own system:

- The pair critique “one-size-fits-all” journaling advice and emphasize that the right journaling method is the one that actually works for you.

- From structured prompts to chaotic brain dumps, they stress the importance of experimentation, personalization, and consistency.

Identity vs. profession:

- Peter reflects on what it means to be more than your job, and how journaling has helped him rediscover his identity as Peter—not just "Dr. Jones."

Cosmic curiosity:

- Aubrey brings the astro-fact of the week: could dimethyl sulfide in a distant exoplanet's atmosphere be a biosignature? The science says… maybe. But don’t bet your space dollars on it yet.

A gentle call to action:

- Try journaling. Start wherever you are. Make it your own. And don’t believe the internet when it tells you there’s only one “right” way.

Episode Notes:

Life Update Catch-Up

- Aubrey's semester is peaking with finals, work, and wedding planning.

- Peter recounts a restful spring break, surgical wins, and a gentle rant about university fundraising.

The Topic: Unexpected Life Lessons

- Prompted by a podcast title she saw, Aubrey kicks off a conversation on the surprising places we learn from.

Aubrey's Lessons

- Working at a children's hospital taught her she didn't want a life in medicine--despite starting as a pre-med.

- Instead, she discovered a love for space and the importance of aligning her career with her values and emotional capacity.

- A failed organic chemistry class was a blessing in disguise, pointing her to a new path.

- A failed AR test in 4th grade (thanks to speeding through The Hobbit) taught her quality over quantity.

- A stranger's kindness during a botched Frontier flight connection became a lasting reminder: People don't always suck.

Peter's Lessons

- Working low-level jobs in a hospital and waiting tables gave him the humility and teamwork skills that make him a better surgeon today.

- Reading voraciously as a kid shaped his communication skills, creative thinking, and confidence in writing--skills that help him every day as a physician and author.

- Being able to smile through chaos (and scumbag customers) was a survival skill learned while serving tables on $2.13/hour.

- Embracing failure as a path to growth--backed up by wise words from Brandon Sanderson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Final Thoughts

- Journaling gets a shoutout as a key tool for reflection and catching those life lessons.

- No medical news this time--just good vibes, honesty, and anticipation for the upcoming Spiritbox concert.

Got your own unexpected life lesson? Drop the hosts a line at feedback@generations.fm

Stay tuned for the next episode in two weeks!

Catching Up:

• Peter is in the final stretch of a 10-day call and looking forward to time off.

• Aubrey shares updates on her graduation timeline, wedding planning stress, and how her classes feel like a slog in the final semester.

Main Topic: Social Media Across Generations

Peter and Aubrey compare their experiences and attitudes toward various social platforms:

Facebook:

• Aubrey: Rarely uses it, mostly to check in on family posts; associates it with an older generation.

• Peter: Actively dislikes it, especially post-2020; only keeps it for limited practical reasons.

• Shared sentiment: Feels like a platform overwhelmed by misinformation and outdated content.

Instagram:

• Aubrey: Treats it like a personal photo scrapbook; now uses it sparingly and mindfully.

• Peter: Mostly follows memes, bands, and comics; minimal time spent but appreciates the humor.

Twitter/X, BlueSky, Mastodon:

• Aubrey: Never liked Twitter and hasn't touched it in years.

• Peter: Deleted his Twitter account after Elon Musk's acquisition; briefly explored alternatives like BlueSky and Mastodon but found them underwhelming.

TikTok:

• Aubrey: Used to spend a lot of time on it for humor and recipes but now imposes strict limits to avoid doomscrolling.

• Peter: Visits occasionally but hasn't engaged enough for the algorithm to work well; finds it underwhelming.

LinkedIn:

• Aubrey: Only uses it to play the games (!) and occasionally updates for academic reasons.

• Peter: Actively dislikes the culture of self-congratulatory posting; logs in solely to clear out spammy messages.

Reddit:

• Peter: His most-used platform, especially for niche interests and news. Recommends curating the homepage to filter out toxicity.

• Aubrey: Dislikes the general vibe; finds it to be full of complaints and arguments. Feels more like a "cesspool" than a community.

Mini Segments:

• Peter's Medical Fact:

Sleeping more than 9 hours regularly can be worse for you than getting too little sleep, increasing the risk of early-onset dementia and other health issues.

• Aubrey's Physics Update:

Aubrey revisits a previous topic about Microsoft's quantum chip and shares skepticism from a condensed matter physicist. Claims about stabilizing Majorana zero modes are likely overblown or misleading, casting doubt on Microsoft's announcement.

Episode Notes:

• Personal Updates & Music Discussion

• Aubrey shares plans for a spring break camping trip.

• Peter reflects on a hectic work schedule and the challenge of balancing clinic and surgery days.

• Discussion on Spiritbox's new album Tsunami Sea, its evolution from Eternal Blue, and its potential impact on the metal scene.

AI in Everyday Life

• Both hosts discuss their regular use of AI tools.

• Aubrey uses AI for tasks like rewording sentences, generating email drafts, and even creating AI images for fun.

• Peter extensively uses AI for running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, generating content, summarizing documents, and simplifying technical tasks.

• The usefulness of AI in coding, including debugging and optimizing scripts.

Where AI Excels and Fails

• AI shines in summarizing information, brainstorming, and streamlining repetitive tasks.

• Math and creative writing remain weak points for AI, as it often generates incorrect solutions and generic prose.

• The dangers of relying on AI too much, particularly in academic settings.

• Apple's AI offerings, including Image Playgrounds and auto-summarization, fall short in comparison to more established AI tools.

Final Thoughts

• The importance of using AI as a supplement rather than a substitute for human effort.

• Excitement about the future of AI, particularly in creative and technical fields.

• A preview of upcoming topics and a reminder to like, share, and subscribe.

Join us for a fun and insightful discussion on the intersection of AI and daily life--whether for work, creativity, or just making life a little easier.

Aubrey's Boxing Experience:

- Attended her coach's professional boxing match, her first-ever pro fight.

- Describes the intensity of 3-minute rounds and the brutal nature of the sport.

- Insight into weight cuts and the physical toll on fighters.

Book Talk -- Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere:

- Peter finishes The Lost Metal and prepares for Wind and Truth by watching a 3-hour recap video.

- Aubrey finishes Wind and Truth and dives into The Sunlit Man, discussing the interconnectedness of the Cosmere.

- Both discuss Tress of the Emerald Sea and how it serves as a great entry point to Sanderson's universe.

Epic Systems Campus Tour:

- Aubrey shares her visit to Epic Systems' whimsical and surreal campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

- Descriptions of themed buildings (Wizarding, Alice in Wonderland, Chocolate Factory) and over-the-top decor.

- The quirky layout includes tunnels, galaxy carpets, and immersive themed environments.

- Peter recalls his experience at Epic, humorously comparing it to a parody of Silicon Valley excess.

Rants on Electronic Medical Records:

- Peter explains his love-hate relationship with Epic as an EMR, likening it to choosing the least bad STD.

- Critiques on how EMRs prioritize billing and coding over patient care.

- Insight into the history of Epic, which started as billing software.

Tech and Science Corner:

- Discussion on Ozempic and Wegovy's impact on elective surgeries due to delayed gastric emptying.

- Aubrey explains a breakthrough in quantum computing with Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip, potentially revolutionizing simulations.

- Peter passionately explains why encryption backdoors are inherently flawed.

- Criticism of UK's request to Apple to implement a global backdoor.

In this episode of Generations, we dive into a mix of topics, from life updates to fandom deep dives. We kick things off with some behind-the-scenes podcast improvements and a shout-out to Audio Hijack before discussing the latest in our personal lives. Aubrey shares her packed schedule balancing work and classes, while Peter reflects on workplace stress and his latest reading adventures, including The Lost Metal and Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy.

The discussion then shifts to Dungeons & Dragons, as Peter recounts the challenges of running a heist-based campaign and the group's struggle with strategic thinking. The episode's main event, however, is the two of us taking the Knights Radiant quiz to determine which order they belong to, leading to some fun surprises and in-depth analysis of our results.

On the music front, we geek out over Spiritbox, sharing excitement for an upcoming concert and reacting to the band's latest single, with a live first-time listen from Aubrey. We discuss the band's Grammy nomination, past Patreon exclusives, and the horror-inspired themes in their music.

The show wraps up with a discussion on the Little Red Dots discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope, which could either be ancient dwarf galaxies or remnants of supermassive black holes. We also touch on the state of the medical field and the broader societal climate, emphasizing the need for kindness and community in challenging times.

Key Takeaways

Audio Hijack is an essential tool for podcasters using Macs.

The Knights Radiant quiz led to fascinating discussions about identity and personality traits.

Spiritbox continues to push boundaries in the metal scene, and their upcoming album looks to be heavier than ever.

The James Webb Space Telescope is revealing strange and unexplained cosmic phenomena.

The medical field faces serious challenges, and we all need to support each other in tough times.

🎵 GENERATIONS: The Concert Chronicles 🎵

Ever had a concert experience that gave you chills? This week, Aubrey and Peter dive deep into the electrifying world of live music, sharing stories that'll have you reliving your own favorite shows!

From earth-shaking metal performances to hip-hop spectacles, our hosts bare their souls about the concerts that changed their lives – and a few that didn't quite hit the mark.

Peter takes us on a journey through:

• The mind-bending intensity of Neurosis that left an indelible mark on his soul

• His passionate pilgrimage following Rush across venues and through the years

• A poetic pandemic story, bracketed by the cosmic sounds of Cult of Luna and Yob

Aubrey lights up remembering:

• An unforgettable night with Tyler, the Creator, Vince Staples, and Kali Uchis bringing St. Louis to life

• Her gateway into concert culture with Twenty-One Pilots

• The anticipation building for an upcoming dream lineup featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA

But it's not all standing ovations! Our hosts keep it real with some memorable letdowns:

• Iron Maiden battling against venue acoustics (and losing)

• Megadeth showing their age in all the wrong ways

• Keith Urban's performance that felt more like a rehearsal than a show

Join us for an episode that celebrates the raw, unfiltered magic of live music – from the transcendent highs to the occasional lows. Because whether you're a metalhead, hip-hop enthusiast, or country fan, nothing beats the thrill of seeing your favorite artists in the flesh!

🎧 Press play and relive the magic with us! 🎧