Can I walk with you, Mike?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Can I Walk With You, Mike?" Season 1, Episode: Can I Walk With You, Mike?
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Thoraya

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode of “Can I Walk With You?”, host Thoraya ventures into the bustling streets of New York City to engage in spontaneous conversations with strangers. This episode features a candid interaction with Mike, a local from Queens, offering listeners an authentic glimpse into the life and sentiments of a New Yorker.

Meeting Mike

Thoraya initiates the conversation with Mike in a friendly and approachable manner.

• [00:00] Thoraya: "I do this series called Can I Walk With You, where I walk with strangers and have a conversation."
• [00:36] Mike: "Park."

Mike reveals his immediate plans, indicating his love for basketball and the outdoors.

Discussing New York City

The conversation delves into Mike’s experiences and feelings about living in New York City.

• [01:15] Mike: "I guess it's the action on a Friday night. The diversity of people. Food, entertainment. Yeah, yeah. The high prices, the lack of good housing. All of the wonderful things."

Mike highlights both the vibrancy and challenges of NYC, emphasizing its dynamic nature.

Changes Over Time

Thoraya and Mike discuss how the city has evolved over the decades.

• [01:46] Mike: "Nah. Like in the 70s, it wasn't 80s. It started when you voted for Reagan. It was a problem. It started. People got a little less kinder and a little less gentler around the early."
• [02:03] Mike: "Trump, I gotta say, takes it to a whole new level."

Mike reflects on the socio-political shifts, attributing changes in the city's atmosphere to broader political leadership and figures like Reagan and Trump.

Professional Lives

The dialogue shifts to their careers, revealing personal insights and aspirations.

• [02:44] Mike: "I work. I'm a working man."
• [03:20] Mike: "Oh, I got a ton, but they're boring."
• [03:35] Thoraya: "I'm a filmmaker."

Mike initially downplays his profession as a lawyer but later shares more about his career frustrations.

• [02:54] Mike: "It's so soul stealing, mind numbing, the whole thing."
• [03:09] Thoraya: "How long have you been a lawyer for?"
• [03:11] Mike: "I guess about 20 years."

Thoraya discusses her work as a filmmaker, showcasing her passion for storytelling through various YouTube series.

• [03:48] Thoraya: "Strangers Share a Secret Anonymously... a project at the park where I put like a wall between two strangers."

Basketball: Bridging Connections

The conversation naturally transitions into playing basketball, symbolizing the connection between Thoraya and Mike.

• [04:35] Mike: "Yeah. And Queensland, you know, and I refrain from using the word diversity as a description. It's more like variety."
• [04:57] Mike: "I like to shoot around. I play with these two guys. They don't have hands and it's an issue."

Mike shares his passion for basketball, highlighting the inclusive and spirited nature of the sport.

The Game Begins

Thoraya and Mike engage in a friendly game of basketball, filled with playful banter and competitive spirit.

• [06:33] Thoraya: "How did you hurt it? Is that what the scar is from?"
• [07:03] Mike: "You are pretty good. Hold on a second. Look at you. Hey, whoa. You are."

The game showcases their camaraderie and mutual respect.

• [09:36] Mike: "You're taking advantage."
• [12:28] Thoraya: "Oh, no."
• [13:48] Thoraya: "Yeah. You got to motivate me."

Personal Insights and Messages

Beyond basketball, Mike shares his personal interests and offers messages to the audience.

• [05:28] Mike: "Lately I have been rehabbing houses, which is rewarding. And I work on cars, too."
• [14:26] Mike: "Hey, keep hope alive and don't let this guy run all over us and kill our democracy and kill our standard of living. Be bullies around the world to other people and to each other. Independent journalism... voices that are honest and come from a good place to keep our country the way it should be, alive and the way it should be."

Mike emphasizes the importance of hope, resilience, and independent voices in maintaining societal integrity.

• [15:23] Mike: "You know, I do, actually. I really do. I think at the end of the day, the majority of people come around and they do the right thing, hopefully."

His optimistic outlook underscores a belief in the fundamental goodness of people.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with mutual appreciation and warm goodbyes, reflecting the genuine connection formed through their walk and game.

• [14:21] Thoraya: "That was so much fun."
• [15:45] Thoraya: "I will. Are they playing today?"
• [15:52] Thoraya: "Okay. I'll root for them. Just for you."

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Notable Quotes

• Mike on NYC's Vibrancy and Challenges

  • “The diversity of people. Food, entertainment. Yeah, yeah. The high prices, the lack of good housing. All of the wonderful things.” [01:15]

• Mike Reflecting on Social Changes

  • “Trump... takes it to a whole new level.” [02:15]

• Mike on His Legal Career

  • “It's so soul stealing, mind numbing, the whole thing.” [02:54]

• Thoraya on Filmmaking Projects

  • “Strangers Share a Secret Anonymously... a project at the park where I put like a wall between two strangers.” [03:48]

• Mike on Hope and Society

  • “Keep hope alive and don't let this guy run all over us and kill our democracy... voices that are honest and come from a good place...” [14:26]

• Mike’s Optimism

  • “I think at the end of the day, the majority of people come around and they do the right thing, hopefully.” [15:23]

Insights and Takeaways

• Authentic Interactions: The episode exemplifies authentic human connections, showcasing how spontaneous conversations can reveal deep insights about individuals and the environment they inhabit.
• New York City as a Microcosm: Through Mike’s experiences, listeners gain an understanding of NYC’s diversity, challenges, and the enduring spirit of its residents.
• Balancing Work and Passion: Mike’s discussion about his legal career juxtaposed with his hobbies highlights the common struggle of balancing demanding professions with personal passions.
• Hope and Resilience: Despite acknowledging societal issues, both Thoraya and Mike convey a message of hope and the belief in collective goodness.

Conclusion

Thoraya’s first episode, “Can I Walk With You, Mike?”, successfully sets the tone for the series by blending casual conversation with meaningful discussions. Through engaging dialogue and heartfelt exchanges, the podcast invites listeners to explore the multifaceted lives of New Yorkers, capturing the essence of the city’s vibrant yet complex character.

Transcript

[A]

I want to walk with the guy with the basketball. Excuse me. Do you have a moment by any chance? Hi, buddy. Oh, my God. I do this series called Can I Walk with youh? Where I walk with strangers and have a conversation. Sure. Is that okay? All right, cool. You okay with ever being recorded too?

[B]

Yeah, why not?

[A]

Okay. That's my cousin, he's the cameraman. Do you mind if I cook this on for you?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Let me see. Put it on here. Can I have you say Mike check one, too?

[B]

Mic check.

[A]

Good. All right, cool. Where are you headed?

[B]

Park.

[A]

To play basketball.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What's your name?

[B]

Mike.

[A]

Mike, I'm Thorayah Thariah. Yeah.

[B]

That's an interesting name.

[A]

Are you from New York?

[B]

Yeah, I'm from Queens, born and raised. Born and raised.

[A]

Can you tell me a little bit about you? Who are you? What do you do?

[B]

I'm a bad mother. Part of my language.

[A]

There you go. Anything else?

[B]

That's about it.

[A]

Whenever someone asks me that, I'm gonna start saying that too.

[B]

Why not? I dare you. Oh, I'm sorry. Little.

[A]

What's your favorite thing about living in New York?

[B]

I guess it's the action on a Friday night. The diversity of people. Food, entertainment. Yeah, yeah. The high prices, the lack of good housing. All of the wonderful things. Yeah, of course. Who doesn't?

[A]

Has it always been like that?

[B]

Nah. Like in the 70s, it wasn't 80s. It started when you voted for Reagan. It was a problem. It started. People got a little less kinder and a little less gentler around the early.

[A]

80S, once he became president.

[B]

Yeah. Trump, I gotta say, takes it to a whole new level. Trump is on some different stuff. He takes it to a whole new level.

[A]

Have you seen the city change a lot since he became president?

[B]

Well, the city hasn't really changed a lot, but I think everyone's attitude has changed a little bit. Everyone's a little sadder and a little more jaded. Certainly. We've known Trump. He's a New Yorker. We've known Trump.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

I always forget for a long time. He. He's actually from Queens.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. He's a Queens guy.

[A]

What do you do?

[B]

I work. I'm a working man. Yeah. We're gonna go this way, bro.

[A]

Okay. What kind of work do you do, if you don't mind? Huh?

[B]

I'm a lawyer.

[A]

You're a lawyer?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How is that? What's life like as a lawyer in New York?

[B]

It's so soul stealing, mind numbing, the whole thing.

[A]

Yeah, but you're still doing it.

[B]

I got no choice. I make a living.

[A]

How long have you been a lawyer for?

[B]

I guess about 20 years.

[A]

Okay, any interesting stories you could share with us as a lawyer?

[B]

Oh, I got a ton, but they're boring.

[A]

Nothing interesting.

[B]

Man. What's your deal? What do you do for a living?

[A]

I'm a filmmaker.

[B]

Alright, what films have you made? Anything that I've seen?

[A]

Well, I'm like, I guess a modern day filmmaker where I post everything on YouTube. So maybe you've seen some on YouTube? I have a couple series that are pretty popular.

[B]

Like what?

[A]

There's this one called Strangers Share a Secret Anonymously where I filmed the back of their head and. And they share a secret. So it's like sort of anonymous. Yeah, I do this other one. It's like a project at the park where I put like a wall between two strangers. Yeah, they don't see each other for an hour and they just have a conversation.

[B]

Oh, that's nice.

[A]

And then I remove the barrier and they meet face to face. I just do. I've been doing things. That's cool. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. The Walking series, I just started, so you'll be like one of the first episodes on that series.

[B]

Really? Okay.

[A]

It's so interesting. New York. There's like nowhere like it. I don't know. You're the first lawyer I've met here, but the person before you was an ESL teacher. And it's like so diverse, just within one little spot, you know?

[B]

That's why you asked me why I like New York. That's why I like New York.

[A]

Yeah, the diversity.

[B]

Yeah. And Queensland, you know, and I refrain from using the word diversity as a description. It's more like variety.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

You a ballplayer at all?

[A]

I play basketball growing up, but not on the team. Just like with my friends. All right, so do you just go to the park and like play with your friends there or with anyone or do you just shoot around by yourself?

[B]

I like to shoot around. I play with these two guys. They don't have hands and it's an issue. Their dribbling skills are less than.

[A]

They're trying their best.

[B]

They are.

[A]

How far is the. Are we. Are we still okay? Oh, it's right there. We're there.

[B]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, I got time, you know.

[A]

Okay, cool.

[B]

No rush.

[A]

Usually I get to know people pretty fast. I feel like I still haven't gotten to know you. Really.

[B]

It's not a whole lot to know.

[A]

What do you like to do for fun. Aside from basketball.

[B]

Lately I have been rehabbing houses, which is rewarding. And I work on cars, too. If you repair it or you bring it back from. To its former glory, it's rewarding again. And cars that I couldn't afford back, you know, when they were in their heyday, 20 years ago.

[A]

Now you get to get them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you mind if I shoot around with you?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Sweet. Let me put that in my bag. I haven't played basketball in so long.

[B]

That's all right. The sport is like rock and roll. It never forgets. Come on, Oliver. Wes. What are you objecting to, Ollie?

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

Come on, Boogie. Let's go. You're acting weird. Aw.

[A]

What's wrong?

[B]

I'm gonna tie these guys up because. Come here, little. Come here, little girl. Come here, little girl. All right, so I hurt my knee a while ago, and I'm really just recovering from it. I had an operation.

[A]

How did you hurt it? Is that what the scar is from?

[B]

Yeah. Cuz my kneecap was, like, up here.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

They took.

[A]

Oh. Oh, my God.

[B]

You all have the curse on camera. So then they took my. Yeah, my kneecap. And that's my.

[A]

Can I see it? I got to see it.

[B]

So that's my hamstring.

[A]

What? Shoot.

[B]

You playing go one on one? I'm not taking it easy on you, young lady.

[A]

All right, I'm gonna take off my jacket then.

[B]

Ah. All right.

[A]

How do you play? You shoot for a takeout.

[B]

That's your ball.

[A]

My ball.

[B]

Your ball.

[A]

Okay, where is clearance?

[B]

Foul line.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Oh, wait a minute. You are pretty good. Hold on a second. Look at you. Hey, whoa. You are. I see you, young lady. You got game. She's got game.

[A]

Don't underestimate her. She.

[B]

Please. Yeah, I'm saying I never played pool with you or poker.

[A]

I said don't underestimate her. That's why I said sometimes I get lucky. All right, so are we doing twos and ones?

[B]

Let's go by one. Unless you hit a three, that's two.

[A]

Okay, so I got two.

[B]

What are we going up to go to 11.

[A]

All right, Chuck, I'm gonna go for a three.

[B]

You played more than a little bit as a young person or still today?

[A]

I've never played on a team, though. Like, I've always just played, like, pickup basketball.

[B]

That's fine.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You live in Brooklyn?

[A]

No, San Diego.

[B]

Get out of here. Are you just visiting?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For how long?

[A]

Just a month.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you figure you drop a documentary. Drop a YouTube video?

[A]

Yeah, a couple, hopefully.

[B]

And. Okay. And then go home.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right. Well, I hope you are successful.

[A]

Do summertime songs on the radio, dance. Oh.

[B]

Oh, good. So what do you like better, New York or San Diego?

[A]

New York.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, but I'm saying. Then why don't you move to New York?

[A]

I might.

[B]

Ah, okay.

[A]

Yeah, I think you'll definitely be running in a couple months.

[B]

Yeah, that'd be nice.

[A]

Yeah. You're almost there.

[B]

I dream about running. Most people dream about flying, I think, but I just dream about running.

[A]

Did you just play basketball growing up or other sports?

[B]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, I guess I'm a one tour guy.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, okay. I'm gonna have to start actually trying to mark these. All right.

[B]

You're taking advantage.

[A]

I can't let you get too far ahead.

[B]

With the step back. Bang. My ball. What's the score, young lady?

[A]

Four, three.

[B]

Four, three. Gotta score quick before you start catching up. Uh. Oh, There it is.

[A]

4, 4, 5.

[B]

4, 6. 4, 6, 4. Oh, 6, 5. That was a tough one. You're a little shifty. Gotta watch out for you. You're shifty.

[A]

I'm gonna go to my spot for the three.

[B]

Oh, seven, six.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

That is not looking good for the good guys. Oh. Eight, six. All right, all right. I'm ding up. Here we go. Let's do this. Let's do this. No. Yes, yes, yes. Let me take you down low like Dirk. I've learned to shoot like Dirk Nowitzki. Off one leg.

[A]

Oh, is that what he meant?

[B]

It's my idol now. I think he did it because he liked it. I do it out of necessity. 8, 7, 8, 7. Ah. 8, 7. The good guys are coming back. Don't get nervous getting up on you. Don't get. Oh, she's shifty. She's shifting. Oh, yes. Watch out, girl load. Watch out. Oh. Oh.

[A]

The commentary.

[B]

She's shifty.

[A]

You're throwing me off on purpose.

[B]

That's right. I gotta use what I got. Believe me, I don't have a whole lot. Watch out. I'm up on you. I'm up on you. How's that handle? Watch it, watch it. Oh.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

All right, good guys are coming back a 7. Ew. 8. No ate. All the good guys are in it. The fans are going crazy. It's kind of like the Knicks against the Celtics. The Celtics are more talented, but the Knicks have heart, like Dirk. Oh, all right. I'm up on you now, is it. It's money time. It's money time. It's Money time. That's a two. It's time to bring out all of the old, old sayings. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

[A]

Let's go. That's motivating me, too, you know. Nope.

[B]

Obviously not motivating me. I think the sunlight is on my side.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

Oh. Oh.

[A]

Got to put on my hair for this.

[B]

All right. You got to bring out all the old sayings. It's time to dig in.

[A]

Yeah. You got to motivate me.

[B]

Time to dig in. Time to get serious. No fooling around.

[A]

Let's go. Thank you. Gotta catch my breath.

[B]

Oh. Oh. Cheese.

[A]

Good game.

[B]

I'm gonna let you get on a secret. She's very good. It's all right. I'll see you out here all week till you go back.

[A]

That was so much fun.

[B]

Oh, it was great. And you're good. You didn't let on that you were good.

[A]

Do you have any ending messages for my audience?

[B]

Hey, keep hope alive and don't let this guy run all over us and kill our democracy and kill our standard of living. Be bullies around the world to other people and to each other. Independent journalism. I'm going to call you a journalist. Like, you should be able to use YouTube or whatever platform is available to talk about things that are important that need to be spoken about. It can't be silenced. These days when who can tell what's real and what's not real? It's important to have voices that are honest and come from a good place to keep our country the way it should be, alive and the way it should be.

[A]

Do you have hope?

[B]

You know, I do, actually.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I really do. I think at the end of the day, the majority of people come around and they do the right.

[A]

Right thing, hopefully. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. And go Knicks.

[A]

You know what?

[B]

And you know what? I'm never playing poker with you.

[A]

I'm.

[B]

You know. You're a hustler. Get out of here. You're a hustler. Hey, it's a good game. Come back and play.

[A]

I will. Are they playing today?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. I'll root for them. Just for you.