Emergency Intercom Podcast Summary

Episode: Reflecting On Our Years - Happy New Year!
Host/Authors: Enya Umanzor and Drew Phillips
Release Date: December 30, 2022

1. Introduction and Vaping Ban

Timestamp: [00:19 - 02:24]
Drew kicks off the New Year's episode by addressing the imminent ban on flavored vapes in California effective January 1st. He expresses his surprise and concern about the regulation, indicating a potential move to Texas or transitioning to Zoom episodes.
Notable Quote:
Drew [00:50]: "For real this time, I'm literally like your addict friend... the flavored vapes are banned in California starting January 1st."

2. Age and Growing Up

Timestamp: [02:00 - 03:18]
The conversation shifts to the challenges of aging, where Josiah reflects on transitioning into being a young adult and the emotional complexities it brings. Drew shares his own age-related experiences, highlighting mutual feelings of still feeling lost despite growing older.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [02:22]: "I realize now college students are start like, especially freshmen, I'm like, that's a child."

3. Driving and DUI

Timestamp: [03:26 - 04:37]
Drew reveals personal struggles with driving, mentioning the revocation of his license due to a DUI. The discussion touches on the implications of losing driving privileges and the misconceptions surrounding license revocations.
Notable Quote:
Drew [03:34]: "I did. I got. I did, yeah, I got a DUI."

4. Queues and Waiting Lines

Timestamp: [04:37 - 07:01]
Josiah and Drew humorously critique the obsession with waiting in lines for popular items, like Supreme merchandise. They debate the absurdity of spending hours in front of a store without tangible benefits.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [05:11]: "I was thinking about the other day... waiting in lines to spend an absurd amount of money on something that will, like, not really benefit them."

5. COVID-19 Experiences and Effects

Timestamp: [07:01 - 12:00]
The hosts delve into their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, recalling the emotional and societal impact of lockdowns and testing lines. They discuss the trauma and lasting effects the pandemic has had on their mental health and societal behaviors.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [08:12]: "Covid became the thing to like make them really... it literally was like the last straw for like so many people."

6. Hoarding Face Masks and Toilet Paper

Timestamp: [10:05 - 12:35]
Drew and Josiah reminisce about the early days of the pandemic when hoarding items like face masks and toilet paper became widespread. They critique the irrationality of panic buying and the societal obsession with certain items.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [10:05]: "Big brands... put their stupid ass fucking logos on face masks. And now they're like $3 a fucking face mask because you're dumb."

7. Hygiene and Bidets

Timestamp: [12:35 - 14:22]
The discussion humorously shifts to personal hygiene practices, specifically the use of bidets. Both hosts express frustration with traditional wiping methods and advocate for modern alternatives like bidets.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [13:29]: "Humans should have progressed into, like, bidet and reusable, like, wiping technology."

8. Scams and Brand Deals

Timestamp: [14:22 - 17:32]
Josiah shares a personal story about being scammed by a supposed bidet company, highlighting the pitfalls of online brand deals. The conversation underscores the challenges of navigating monetization and sponsorships as content creators.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [15:09]: "I got scammed when I was like, 15, 16... the first time I got scammed..."

9. Internet and Social Media Journey

Timestamp: [17:32 - 19:04]
Drew and Josiah reflect on their early experiences with social media platforms like Vine and Twitter. They discuss building an online presence from a young age and the impact it had on their personal and professional lives.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [19:04]: "I started really posting my face when I was 14... Vine really started around 2013."

10. Education, Gifted Programs, and Mental Health

Timestamp: [19:00 - 21:28]
The hosts explore the pressures of being in gifted and talented programs during their school years. They discuss how high expectations can lead to mental health struggles and substance abuse among gifted students.
Notable Quote:
Drew [20:43]: "Gifted and talented is... people, literal geniuses have to self medicate or they'll go insane."

11. Reading and Writing Challenges

Timestamp: [21:28 - 27:38]
Drew opens up about his difficulties with reading and writing, mentioning a possible diagnosis of apraxia. Josiah relates by sharing his own academic struggles, emphasizing the varied challenges individuals face in educational settings.
Notable Quote:
Drew [26:16]: "I have apraxia... where you can't speak, but you can think in your brain."

12. Early Online Friendships and Vines

Timestamp: [32:31 - 40:07]
The conversation transitions to their formative years creating content on Vine and building friendships online. They reminisce about their first viral Vines and the camaraderie formed through shared online interests.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [37:01]: "I was in geometry, I remember my first Vine went viral... throwing a cheese sandwich at the refrigerator."

13. Financial Struggles and Travel

Timestamp: [40:07 - 43:42]
Drew discusses the financial hardships of moving to Los Angeles, including the high costs of traveling home. Josiah empathizes, sharing his own experiences with expensive flights and the emotional toll of being away from family during holidays.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [41:28]: "Going back is a huge commitment... a round trip from LA to Miami was twelve hundred dollars."

14. Reflections on Past Relationships

Timestamp: [43:42 - 59:16]
Josiah recounts past relationship struggles and the emotional baggage carried from teenage years. Both hosts reflect on how their relationships have shaped their current selves and the importance of supportive friendships.
Notable Quote:
Josiah [35:06]: "I remember crying over it... I was just really angry."

15. Mandela Effect and SpongeBob

Timestamp: [60:33 - 65:52]
In the closing segment, Drew and Josiah delve into the Mandela Effect phenomenon, using the example of SpongeBob's guitar to illustrate discrepancies between memory and reality. They theorize about quantum mechanics and alternate realities as explanations.
Notable Quote:
Drew [63:52]: "I have this theory that Mandela Effect is, like, quantum hackers, like, hacking the code and..."

Conclusion

In this reflective New Year's episode, Drew and Josiah traverse a range of personal and societal topics, from battling addiction and navigating age-related challenges to reminiscing about their early internet days and grappling with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their candid discussions offer listeners a blend of humor, introspection, and shared experiences, providing a heartfelt look back at their journeys over the past years.

Note: The transcript provided ended abruptly at [65:52], and the summary captures content up to that point.