Let's Talk Soon
Tricia Lott Williford & Rob A. Lott
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Tricia & Rob discuss what they're reading about, writing about, thinking about, and speaking up about.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
4 days ago
142: Mr. C. Finitude, Dog Walker
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6 days ago
141: Staying Power
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Oct 6, 2021
140: Love The Clay & BHAGs
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Oct 4, 2021
139: Shadow Work
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Sep 29, 2021
138: Collaboration & Early Morning Flights
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Sep 22, 2021
137: Overwhelm And What To Do With It
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Sep 20, 2021
136: Live Show - Q&A
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Sep 6, 2021
135: The First LIVE Show!
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Aug 25, 2021
134: Forty-Six Years!
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Aug 23, 2021
133: Healthy Teeth & Boring Talks
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Aug 11, 2021
132: What's Your Story?
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Aug 9, 2021
131: What's Your Name? Where' You From?
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Aug 4, 2021
130: Not Just A Truck Driver
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Aug 2, 2021
129: Excuse Me, No.
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Jul 28, 2021
128: She Said Yes!
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Jul 26, 2021
127: And We're Back!
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Jun 21, 2021
126: Margarita Blossoms & Morning Champagne
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Jun 9, 2021
125: Last Thing Underlined, And...Go!
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Jun 7, 2021
124: Correct, And...Also Correct
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Jun 2, 2021
123: S'Bux Love
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May 31, 2021
122: (Not So) Quick & (Quite) Dirty
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May 26, 2021
121: I'm Here If You Need Me, But...
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May 24, 2021
120: Order of Operations
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May 19, 2021
119: Quick & Dirty
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May 17, 2021
118: Rob Buried The Lead!
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May 12, 2021
117: Give It Away
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May 10, 2021
116: D'mandy & D'light, Together Again
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May 5, 2021
115: A Conversation With The Tupperware Ladies
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May 3, 2021
114: Smile First
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Apr 28, 2021
113: An Experience To Give Away
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Apr 26, 2021
112: Bring The Audience Into Your Reality
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Apr 21, 2021
111: Renting, Leasing, Or Owning
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Apr 19, 2021
110: Begin With Believing
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Apr 14, 2021
109: She Used The Word!
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Apr 12, 2021
108: Surprises & Signatures
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Apr 7, 2021
107: Rob's Seven Questions
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Apr 5, 2021
106: If You're Not Having Fun & Everything Feels The Same
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Mar 31, 2021
105: April Fool's Day Prep
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Mar 29, 2021
104: The Practice Of Practice
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Mar 24, 2021
103: It's The Muppet Show!
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Mar 22, 2021
102: It Never Goes Away
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Mar 17, 2021
101: Balancing Grace And Accountability
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Mar 15, 2021
100: Episode 100!
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Mar 5, 2021
99: Strange And Interesting Facts
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Mar 3, 2021
98: Not All Time Is Equal
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Mar 1, 2021
97: Top 10 Turn Ons
Episode 97 Top Ten Turn Ons
Show Notes
In a recent episode, Tricia had referred to a question that she wasn’t sure about asking her brother: “what turns you on?” But recently she found an article entitled “Top Ten Every-day Objects that People Get Turned On By!”
Together they decided to perhaps “generalize” that topic a bit by asking instead, “What gets you going?” Or in Rob’s words, “What gets your toe a-tappin?”
Thus, this episode became a Top Ten list, starting as top ten lists do, with #10 and working ‘up’ to #1! (Listen to the podcast to hear all ten!)
Quotes
“Rob! You’ve turned into our Dad!” – Tricia
“Your streets in heaven might be paved with gold; mine are going to be paved with cheesecake!” – Lynne Rumsey, family friend
“I have never left a bookstore because I was done. I just leave because…it’s time.” – Tricia
“Technically, I do have to say that I would pause… … …for Jimmy Fallon.” – Tricia
“Some p…
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Feb 26, 2021
96: Bohyped Stories
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Feb 24, 2021
95: Top 10 Words To Leave In 2020
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Feb 22, 2021
94: Tricia's Theory of Miracles
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Feb 19, 2021
93: Wrong Numbers, Wrong Names, And What Turns You On
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Feb 17, 2021
92: Core Values
Show Notes
Upon realizing that they’ve never really talked about core values, it was definitely time for that topic in today’s episode. Rob’s definition of core values: (1) something that is so innate in you, you don’t have a choice but to do any other thing; and (2) you are willing to be punished for it. These are different from aspirational values—the things you want and hope to do, but you may not get it 100% right.
What are the values of Let’s Talk Soon? Both agree that their core values intentionally relate to what we are “thinking about, reading about, writing about, and speaking up about.”
Together they talk about how their lifelong relationship as brother and sister—who set out to also be friends—has been a long journey of choosing, knowing, and living by core values.
(And even in a serious conversation about core values, laughter shows up.)
Quotes
“Of course, ‘fun’ is one of the values of my company, Blue Trumpet Creative, because…well, it…
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Feb 15, 2021
91: Everyone Deserves Kindness
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Feb 10, 2021
90: Intellectual Amplitude
Episode 90 Intellectual Amplitude
Show Notes
For reasons unknown, Tricia’s name on Rob’s screen shows up as “Intellectual Amplitude!” He does not know why, and yet—there it is. They decide to look up the definition, and Tricia is not very impressed to learn that the definition is “the state or quality of being…ample!” Rob tries his best to ease the situation by reminding her that perhaps her “intellect” is the only part of her that is…well, ample!
This episode is being recorded the day after the SuperBowl, when many on social media are giving their opinions on the quality of the halftime show entertainment. Rob has some thoughts to share about the challenges of creating art, knowing that it may be widely acclaimed—or perhaps sharply criticized. Tricia is equally prepared to talk about the food at SuperBowl parties!
The topic eventually changes to the topic of manipulation. Perfect example? The song, The Christmas Shoes!
Also, this episode ends with…
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Feb 8, 2021
89: Why Everyone Should Have A Podcast
Episode 89 Why Everyone Should Have a Podcast
Show Notes
Tricia is eager to begin this conversation by telling Rob about her recent dream in which Rob told her that she is talking too much on the podcast! He was quick to clarify that this was a dream on her part, and he is not guilty of any remarks he has made “in conversations that did not happen!” But while they were in ‘clarifying’ mode, Rob also needs to correct Tricia in this episode about a comment she made in the last episode in which she said that “Dad may have brought a bat or a golf club to conquer the squirrel.” Rob’s correction: “Did a bat or a golf club EVER cross the threshold of our house?”
In this podcast, Tricia and Rob talk about the benefits of having a podcast—and why everyone should have a podcast—or write a book or have a Youtube channel or write a blog, simply because it is an incredible way to catalog and save memories and insights, to document our own lives. They suggest that…
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Feb 3, 2021
88: A Special Visitor In The House
Episode 88 A Special Visitor in the House
Show Notes
In this episode, Tricia and Rob relate a growing-up memory that happened when they were about 14 and 12, respectively: The Time A Squirrel Got into the House at 4am and We All Got Involved in Getting it OUT!
Together they talk about the night in the early 1990’s when our mom heard ‘something’ downstairs and, as moms will generally do, woke up our dad to go find out what that noise was. Sure enough, there was definitely “something” in the house—and it was alive and moving!”
And Tricia jumped onto the dining room table, and Rob grabbed the colander….and the rest, as they say, is…Lott family history.
Quotes
“Polly? Get up—you need to see this. And we need to wake the kids…” – Doyle, at 4am
“If I’m going to help you with homework, we will have to make it FUN.” – Doyle, anytime
“There is nothing more optimistic than setting things on the stairs and hoping someone will carry t…
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Feb 1, 2021
87: That Time Tricia Saved Rob's Life
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Jan 29, 2021
86: Radical Self-Care
Radical Self-care
Show Notes
In this “serious” episode, Tricia tells about having recently “hit a wall” emotionally. She talks frankly about her decade of weekly visits with her therapist, and how essential that is for her emotional and mental well-being. In the most recent visit, Tricia was near burn-out: unable to sleep, nauseous, physically depleted from the weight of her various responsibilities and commitments. Her wise therapist required that she “go home, cancel everything for a minimum of the next 48 to 72 hours, and go straight to bed.” She talks frankly about the sense of failure that goes with an assignment like this one, though she had to agree that her therapist was right. In this episode, Tricia talks of the lessons and truths she discovered through this “required time-out.” A healthy discussion ensues about all that we take on, even in the midst of COVID, using all our technology and time-saving devices to actually fill up our time with more “stuf…
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Jan 27, 2021
85: Tricia's Been Invited On A Cross-Country Road Trip
Episode 85 Tricia’s Been Invited on a Cross-Country Road Trip
Show Notes
“If you were about to go on a cross-country road trip with a new friend whom you know little about and they know little about you, and if we wanted to learn a little about each other in advance, what would be ‘required’ reading, viewing, or listening in advance of our road trip?” Rob stumped Tricia with this question for just a couple of minutes, but she quickly recovered…well, reasonably quickly! Together they share quotes from many sources—books, TV series, podcasts, friends—in answer to this question.
Quotes
How to enjoy the West Wing TV series (Rob’s very favorite) if you missed it in its prime? “First, pay attention to the rate and pace of the dialogue…a lot of people try to emulate that style! And pay attention to the’ clean line’ delivery. There is no stutter or stammer unless it is scripted.” – Rob
“For us non-governmental people, we don’t don’t work in government…
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Jan 25, 2021
84: Redefining The Goal
Episode 84 Redefining the Goal
Show Notes
In this episode, Tricia returns to the book they discussed last time, Burnout: the Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. Authors Emily and Amelia Nagoski talk in their book about the value of redefining “winning.” Apparently, our brains are constantly reassessing the task we are attempting, whether it is possible—and/or worth it. Sometimes, our brains realize that it’s going to be necessary to redefine the win to make the goal attainable, or to match the new direction we’ve chosen to go instead. Rob has had plenty of experience with this principle in his acting and recording roles, in which recording can be a tedious process.
Sometimes, to be successful and “win” at a difficult process, the authors suggest that you “redefine winning.” Tricia and Rob engage in a lively discussion of experiences from their own lives that further illustrate what it means to ‘redefine the win,” particularly as it is demonstrated in the per…
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Jan 20, 2021
83: Human Being Vs. Human Giver
Episode 83 Human Being vs. Human Giver
Show Notes
Tricia and Rob’s discussion on this podcast was prompted by a recent interview Tricia heard on Brene’ Brown’s podcast series, Unlocking Us, that featured a discussion on the book, Burnout, the Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily Nagoski. In her book, Nagoski specifically focuses on burnout and what it looks like, especially among women. One of the emotions Nagoski describes is called Human Giver Syndrome (initially described in Down Girl: the Logic of Misogyny): when one class of people, the human givers, are expected to offer their time, attention, affection and bodies, willingly and placidly to the other class of people, the human beings. Generally speaking, in our society, women are the Givers. In this episode, Tricia discusses the stressors that Givers can feel and how to release the stress that will get your body breathing deeply again. Rob and Tricia discuss several practical ways to relieve stress, based on ad…
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Jan 18, 2021
82: Calling Out Vs. Calling In
Episode 82 Calling Out vs Calling In
Show Notes
In this episode, Tricia and Rob begin with a lively discussion about Jerry Seinfeld’s latest book, Is This Anything?
Rob brings this question to today’s discussion: When do you think it is important to be public in your calling out of poor behavior, versus when it is important to be private about it? Is it best to always be private about calling someone out, or should the size of the audience who witnessed or heard the offense match the calling-out response?
Quotes
”Peter knows coffee and bacon like other people know brain surgery!” –Tricia
“If we knew there were just thousand of appetites just lined up, one right behind the other, why would we be so careful to not spoil this one? There are millions of appetites lined up right behind this one, just waiting for me to use them!” – Tricia and Rob, loosely quoting Jerry Seinfeld
“I don’t want to make anyone feel bad about who they are, least of all my kids…
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Jan 15, 2021
81: Abolish "Little" (And What Is Blue Trumpet Creative?)
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Jan 13, 2021
80: The Core Four
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Jan 11, 2021
79: LM#@O
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Jan 8, 2021
78: Another Instacart Miracle!
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Jan 6, 2021
77: Whats The Cost & Who's Going To Pay?
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Jan 4, 2021
76: One Word
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Dec 21, 2020
75: Red Bows
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Dec 14, 2020
74: Struggle-ey
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Dec 9, 2020
73: Last Thing Underlined
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Dec 7, 2020
72: Envy Or Admiration?
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Dec 4, 2020
71: Writer's Block & Mr. Belding
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Dec 2, 2020
70: For Attention Or With Intention Part II
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Nov 30, 2020
69: For Attention Or With Intention
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Nov 25, 2020
68: Unfiltered & Unedited III
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Nov 23, 2020
67: Unfiltered & Unedited II
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Nov 9, 2020
66: Unfiltered & Unedited
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Nov 6, 2020
65: Theatre Code Part II
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Nov 4, 2020
64: The Theatre Code
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Nov 2, 2020
63: Off The Rails
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Oct 30, 2020
Outtakes Vol. III
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Oct 28, 2020
We'll Be Back!
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Oct 26, 2020
62: What If You're The Butterfly?
Recently a list was posted by Buzzfeed, on “adults sharing things they think every teen should know.” Tricia brings this list to today’s chat, with plans to talk about some of those items and see if they agree—and maybe add a few of their own. In this difficult COVID19 season, Rob talks of how difficult it is for artists and others who can no longer get to do what they love. They agree that doing what you love is a wonderful privilege, but also doing what just needs to be done can be a worthwhile accomplishment as well—and also that not getting paid to do what you love doesn’t mean that your talent or skill is not real and valued.
Quotes
“Microphones and Spandex tell the truth!” - Tricia
“When you challenge someone’s priorities, is it because they don’t match your passion?” – Rob
“Everybody told you how hard it would be to be an artist, but nobody ever told us how hard it would be to not be an artist.” – Rob
“What a privilege it is to have work th…
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Oct 23, 2020
61: The Curtain Call Is Not For You
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Oct 16, 2020
60: An Acquired Taste
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Oct 14, 2020
59: Let Go Of Your Balloon
How can we decide where to use the limited amount of energy we have in a day? The demand is greater than the supply…how does one decide?
Rob and Tricia share the ideas they have heard (or thought up) for managing energy, time, and creativity—all three of which compete for the highest priority on any given day.
A question for conversation: “What do you have in your home, office or car, that is something you’ll never use again, and yet you cannot part with it?” –Tricia
Quotes
“May I be in charge of the non-essentials? The things that don’t matter? You know—the things that, if they don’t get done, no one will notice?” —Tricia, on the occasional responsibility that goes with having children who do lots of things: the expectation that parents will serve on committees!
“What is the one thing, such that by doing it, makes everything else easier or unnecessary?” –Rob
“The ‘fun’ thinking creates problems—vision casting, looking forward into the futu…
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Oct 12, 2020
58: Coconut, Onions, and Mentors
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Oct 9, 2020
57: Alligator Hunt Part 2 w/ Jack Heyer
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Oct 7, 2020
56: Alligator Hunt w/ Jack Heyer
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Oct 5, 2020
55: Can't Choose What You Love
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Sep 30, 2020
Outtakes Vol. II
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Sep 23, 2020
54: Pepper In The Polish
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Sep 21, 2020
53: Talkin' Tendencies
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Sep 18, 2020
52: Scar Stories
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Sep 14, 2020
51: Tricia's Super Power
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Sep 11, 2020
50: Make It Easier
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Sep 9, 2020
49: Bird Talk with Rob & Tricia
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Sep 7, 2020
48: Like Putting a Hat on a Head of Lettuce
Episode 48 Like Putting a Hat on a Head of Lettuce
If you enjoy funny real-life anecdotes, this episode might be just for you!
Rob and Tricia begin with a brief conversation on the benefits of “soft starts” that allow the option of easing into any conversation rather than an abrupt beginning and end. Tricia’s soft-start-question for her brother today: “What is your favorite color, and how did you land on that choice?” After a brief discussion of Rob’s love of shades of blue, Tricia shares an anecdote about her fifth-grade teacher’s revelation regarding her favorite shade of red—which had some rather shocking connotations—and the journey to come to terms with her emotional attachment to red—and plenty of it.
Rob shifts the conversation to a funny story that happened that very morning, when a friend of his posted some pictures from his recent photo shoot, and the others on his team decided to use those pictures as the background for their Zoom meeting. There was la…
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Sep 2, 2020
47: Odds 'n' Ends
Episode 47 Odds ‘n’ Ends
In this episode, Tricia and Rob set out to cover several topics, each not being quite enough for a full episode, yet still worth discussion! Rob begins with a “public service announcement:” The episodes of Let’s Talk Soon can be enjoyed in any order; if you miss one or a few, you can jump back in anywhere. Tricia shares a word coined by her son Tyler as a preschooler: “Lasterday.” There are valid reasons why that really should be a ‘real’ word!
Rob shares the reasons why he has chosen to organize the books in his home library by copyright dates, rather than by author, title, or any other traditional ways that books are often organized. They also delve into the pros and cons of being planners vs. adventurers, and each has married someone who is the opposite of their own temperaments!
If you love the musical Hamilton! based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, you’ll enjoy their discussion of the musical and the thoughts and differing theorie…
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Aug 31, 2020
Outtakes Vol. I
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