Unplugged and Hating It | #122

Summary

---

Secondhand Therapy – "Unplugged and Hating It" | Episode #122

Air Date: March 23, 2026
Hosts: Louie Paoletti & Michael Malone

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Louie and Michael dig into Louie’s digital detox—his journey abandoning his iPhone, Bluetooth, and branded goods—and how this approach is shaking up his daily life, mental health, and sense of presence. The duo riff with their usual blend of humor and honesty on the discomfort, benefits, and existential angst that comes with unplugging. The episode also explores Michael’s family visit, feelings around being judged, and strategies to slow down and embrace life’s details. Themes of intentionality, vulnerability, and discomfort in growth run throughout, all delivered in the show’s trademark banter.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Louie’s Digital Detox & Lifestyle Overhaul

• Giving up the Gold Chain, Branded Clothes, and Digital Conveniences

  • Louie questions his motivations behind habits like wearing a gold chain or specific clothes.
  • He’s shifted to only wearing plain, quality (often rebranded by removing visible logos) clothing and unbranded possessions—even debadging his car.
  • “I get a little...my little headlamp and my X-Acto knife, and I unbrand my shirts...” (09:29)

• Ditching the iPhone for a Light Phone

  • Louie trades his smartphone for a minimalist Light Phone, using the iPhone only for essential work and keeping it on DND, with a separate number for close contacts.
  • The immediate result: “Oh, the day is so fucking long.” (12:37)
  • Old habits like Googling every stray thought or filling idle time with online shopping become glaringly obvious in their absence.
  • Louie compares the adjustment to a “detox”: “It feels like a detox. The amount of times I pull out my light phone to do something and I’m like, oh, there’s nothing here.” (11:17)

• Going Off Bluetooth and Convenience Tech

  • No more AirPods, Bluetooth speakers, or CarPlay for Louie; he’s back to wired buds and CDs.
  • The rationale? To ensure every action—listening to music, communicating—is intentional, not mindless.
  • “Anything I do in any of these things now has to be very intentional.” (18:42)
  • “So, like, if I want to listen to music, I have to do it on my ipod. I have to plug in the earbuds. I then have to keep the iPod on me because the cord is 44 inches.” (18:42)
  • Michael laughs off the Bluetooth ban as extreme: “Are you starting to move me? You gotta get off...that’s like a stretch...” (17:09)

• The Struggle & The Purpose

  • Louie’s not enjoying it yet and finds unplugging “really uncomfortable and I don’t like it yet. Life is just so much easier with distractions.” (24:12)
  • Ultimately, he wants to “be more present,” acknowledging: “I don’t think I want an easy life. I think I want a worthwhile life. And sometimes that’s going to be easy. And sometimes it’s going to be hard.” (24:45)

Notable Quote

"Without filling my day with those, like googling a thought or shopping or scrolling...one day feels like three, I'll tell you that much."
— Louie (14:13)

---

2. Underlying Motivation: Anxiety, Comparison, and Searching

• Louie reflects on how technology, and “the access and convenience” of modern life, exacerbates feelings of restlessness and self-comparison.
• “Without realizing it, I’m constantly comparing myself to other people. I’m constantly searching—and what for? I don’t even know.” (23:31)
• He acknowledges: “I have engaged with so much of the access and convenience that is available to me that I have done this to myself.” (22:26)
• This section contains Louie’s most raw self-reflection, centering discomfort and disappointment with modern connectivity.

Notable Quote

“Putting yourself into a search and you don’t know what you’re searching for is...I’m consistently setting myself up for failure and disappointment.”
— Louie (23:31)

---

3. The Rolly—Louie’s Old Car as a Metaphor

• Louie has bought a 2005 Toyota Corolla (“The Rolly”), another act of purposeful inconvenience.
  • “Yeah, both my cars are old enough to have sex with. Isn’t that weird?” (28:13)
• Michael teases him, but Louie frames the move as learning to be comfortable with discomfort and eschewing flashy, convenient upgrades.

---

4. Michael’s Family Visit: Judgement, Shame, and Letting Go

• Reconciling with Family Who Disagree Politically

  • Michael discusses visiting his Florida family, despite recent drama (politically charged, including references to Charlie Kirk and Trump loyalty).
  • The hosts joke about the tension but Michael emphasizes choosing engagement over conflict: “Be light. Be fun. Be engaging. Be curious.” (33:21)
  • Michael describes feeling anxious beforehand, expecting judgment or confrontation, but the visit went smoothly when he set his intention to be present and open.

• Feelings of Shame and Fear of Being Judged

  • Post-visit, Michael admits to spiraling into self-doubt: worrying that his family was gossiping about his appearance and life choices.
  • “Whatever they think is none of my business. And we’ve talked about that a little bit before, but that reminder of, like, what other people think about you is none of your business.” (42:41)
  • Louie presses him: “Why do you assume that’s what they’re saying?”
    Michael: “I have put on weight. I am shaving my head now, and I look like my dad. I do have a new tattoo that I know they don’t like tattoos, so why wouldn’t that be what they’re talking about?” (43:14)
  • Louie reframes: the real issue is shame, not actual judgment; Michael agrees, “Shame. Oh, shame. Shame.” (46:23)

Notable Quotes

"You can't just let them love you." — Louie (43:41)
"Why do you think everyone is such a judgmental piece of shit?" — Louie (45:21)
"Hey, you don’t fucking know how it’s going to go or what they’re going to say or what they think. Give them some credit. You had a great visit. Wow. Maybe they don’t hate me." — Louie (46:00)

---

5. Being Present: Gratitude and Not Rushing

• Michael shares a personal mantra: “Slow down, you’re missing it,” using it as a reminder to savor moments rather than rushing.

  • "I was riding towards a beautiful sunset, and I had to tell myself: slow down, you're missing it...it's a reminder, like, this is what it's about." (49:38)

• They discuss the difference between intentional time (“nowhere to be, nothing to do”) and gratitude-driven presence (“slow down, you’re missing it”).

• Michael’s story of his friend in D.C. stopping to admire museum steps highlights the art of noticing details and appreciating the present.

Notable Quote

"It was a reminder of, like, this is what it’s about, this moment...and so I did. I literally slowed down and embraced the motorcycle ride instead of continuing on my path.”
— Michael (51:14)

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Digital Detox
  • “It’s a long day without a smartphone, bud.” (14:18)
• On Shame & Family Judgment
  • “Why do you assume that’s what they’re saying?” (42:56)
  • “Their entire lives aren’t about you.” (43:14)
• On Growth & Discomfort
  • “I don’t think I want an easy life. I think I want a worthwhile life.” (24:45)
• On Presence
  • “Slow down, you’re missing it.” (49:38)

---

Key Timestamps

• Louie questions material routines: 05:24 – 07:00
• Discussion on quality over quantity in clothing/personal items: 08:03 – 10:24
• Louie’s switch from iPhone to Light Phone: 11:24 – 13:14
• The effect of ditching the smartphone (“day is so fucking long”): 12:37
• Louie on the discomfort and purpose of unplugging: 24:12 – 24:45
• Michael on family visit anxiety and learning to be present: 33:21 – 35:00 and 42:41 – 46:08
• Michael’s “slow down, you’re missing it” insight: 49:38 – 53:59

---

Final Thoughts

This episode captures the comedy and vulnerability of Secondhand Therapy’s approach to mental health. Louie’s digital detox is as much an experiment in discomfort as it is an attempt to reclaim control, and Michael’s family story underscores the tension (and necessity) of staying present with loved ones despite all inner noise. The takeaways: Presence requires intention and discomfort is often a prerequisite for growth—but, as both hosts show, humor makes it a little more bearable.

---

Transcript

[Michael]

Secondhand Therapy is presented by Pony Bear Studios. For ad free episodes, head on over to patreon.com secondhand therapypod if you're interested

[Louie]

in having the best time of your life, you should go ahead and check out our new sponsor, Psychic Source.

[Michael]

Oh, buddy, I cannot wait. Dude, I'm trying to talk to dead people. Do they do that?

[Louie]

They do mediums. They got mediums.

[Michael]

All right, I'll take a large medium.

[Louie]

All right, so here's the thing. That he already did it. Okay? Now here. Here's the thing. If you want to talk to a psychic, and trust me, here's what you do. You go to trypsychic source.com/sht10, okay? You're going to get 40 minutes. 44. Zero minutes for $19.80. Now, you don't have to use all 40 minutes with one person. I didn't. I did 20 with. And look, mind your business. Talk about my love life.

[Michael]

Okay. All right.

[Louie]

Talk about my love life.

[Michael]

Trying to see some. Some.

[Louie]

Maybe some road bumps, just seeing if it's gonna be clear skies, and it's not. Now, I did the other 20 on just, like, a spiritual thing. See where I'm at? Let me guess. You're gonna do a medium.

[Michael]

Oh, my God. I can't wait.

[Louie]

All right, well, if you want to talk to a psychic, you can do that again. Trypsychicsource.com sht10. You get 40 minutes for under $20. Do it and then DM us, because I want to hear how it went.

[Michael]

Oh, I can't. I. Please, please. DM us.

[Louie]

Oh, God, it's so much fun.

[Michael]

I want the tea. Welcome back to Second Hand Therapy. We remind you that we are not therapists.

[Louie]

Therapists.

[Michael]

We are not experts. This is not a substitute for therapy, and this is not a substitute for

[Louie]

professional advice in any way. That's right. That is right.

[Michael]

Oh, it's been a minute. Welcome back.

[Louie]

We're here.

[Michael]

We're here. We're here. You're gonna hear some ads, and it's not going to be pretty. And there's a way to avoid that. You can head on over to Patreon,

[Louie]

but also get a psychic reading. Dude, trust me.

[Michael]

Oh, my God.

[Louie]

Fucking trust me, buddy.

[Michael]

I. I talked to the girl that your girl talked to.

[Louie]

Yeah, you can talk about it today.

[Michael]

No, but I will eventually. Okay, Me. Yeah, me.

[Louie]

Add free episodes. If you want to support the podcast, you can do so on Patreon. Patreon.com Secondhand Therapy Podcast.

[Michael]

That's right.

[Louie]

A lot of good Stuff over there. When you sign up, we send you some free stuff. Maybe a sticker, maybe a signed print, maybe a T shirt. Depending on the tier you sign up for, it's a good way to support the podcast. Check it out, please.

[Michael]

Yes. Ad free episodes, early access, all that fun stuff. You can also send us some mail. We have a P.O. box. You can send us physical mail or you can send us some digital mail that includes text messages, voice memos, the whole deal. And sometimes we talk about it or read them on air.

[Louie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Daddy got an ipod, so send me some. If you got C CDs laying around, mix CDs, not mixed CDs, please mail them in. Yeah, I'm trying to load up my ipod.

[Michael]

I have a. I have a book that I have spent the last two days pre sign signing and sending out pre orders with stickers and bookmarks and all that fun stuff. If you would like one of those, you can head on over to velvettigerbooks.com and you can get a signed copy of my new book, Modern Love and Other Natural Disasters.

[Louie]

You can. It's a book. If you want me to sign it, I'll sign it. You want me to draw a picture, I'll draw a picture.

[Michael]

What was the one today that was really fun?

[Louie]

Somebody said they wanted you riding a motorcycle, but you were confused and you thought it was a horse. So you were wearing a cowboy hat and boots. Yeah, it didn't come out well. So if you requested that drawing, just know I tried. I did my best.

[Michael]

It's great. You can head on over to velvettigerbooks.com and get a copy like that. I think that's it. Go over the Patreon support the pod and help us out.

[Louie]

We have merch available secondhand therapypod.com vasectomyfarms.com for all the vasectomy farm stuff. We're really trying to, like, get into philanthropy. So all that. A portion of that is still donated, but it has its own website now. Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

So check it out.

[Louie]

Thanks for being here, you being here, supporting. So thank you.

[Michael]

Bye.

[Louie]

Hello, my little bear cubs.

[Michael]

And welcome back secondhand therapy.

[Louie]

And we know that as I go through and I'm doing these new things and making these changes, I can't tell if I'm just making progress on intentions that I've set out for myself or if I'm just going through something right now. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. You ever be growing and you're like, what am I doing? You're like, am I. Is this an episode?

[Michael]

Yeah. Am I changing or am I manic? Yeah. Yeah.

[Louie]

Let me tell you what I've been doing. You ready? Stop wearing a gold chain. You want to know why?

[Michael]

I sure do.

[Louie]

I don't have a good reason.

[Michael]

You just woke up one day and you're like, that's it.

[Louie]

Well, I woke up one day and then I picked up the chain.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Because it's part like. Let me tell you what I do when I wake up.

[Michael]

Okay. I know. You got a little routine.

[Louie]

I'm up.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Right. I'm out of bed. I'm taking a pee pee. I'm taking my Zoloft. I'm taking my probiotics. I'm putting on my watch and I'm putting on my chain, and then I go do the rest of my bathroom things and I'm out. Picked up this chain and I was like, the.

[Michael]

Why?

[Louie]

Yeah, I had it. I put on. I was like. And I. And I had a moment. I was like, why am I wearing. Why do I wear this? And I don't have a good reason if the obvious answer is I'm trying to look cool or I'm trying to exude wealth or I'm like, what's the point?

[Michael]

What about just liking it?

[Louie]

All right.

[Michael]

Because we've gotten into that a few times with stuff where it's like, yeah, can't you just like this thing? Or can't you just enjoy this? And it seems hard for you to just like something, to like it. It has to have some kind of purpose.

[Louie]

Well, my girl melted my brain a little bit.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Louie]

And she goes, okay, so what's with the earrings? I was like, 1. Zip it to mind your business. Yeah. 3. Let me think about it. Yeah. Don't have a good answer.

[Michael]

I mean, you could go all the way down, though, right? It's like, why do you. The sneakers? Like, why aren't you just wearing some Toms or something? You know what I mean? Like.

[Louie]

Oh, well, first of all. But I really am not a sneaker guy anymore. I still enjoy sneakers and I like them.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

But most of the time I'm in Hokas or.

[Michael]

Yeah. I'm just saying, to what end? You know what I mean?

[Louie]

Like, where. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.

[Michael]

You going full Buddhist or Amish?

[Louie]

I don't. Well, very different.

[Michael]

I see you taking the labels off

[Louie]

your clothes, and things go either way, I'm telling you. And I'm also trying to just, like, gold chain aside, I am trying to do clothing and things differently in that I still wear I mean, I don't like to wear branded things.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

If it's not for our business, it's not the podcast. I'm in an unbranded plain T shirt. I don't wear graphic tees and none of that. But even before we had clothing, I would still only wear plain black T shirts. But I would, you know, I found one that I liked how it fit the price, and I would buy them in bulk. And they're not great T shirts. Like, they get little holes around them and things like that.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

So I have decided that I'm going to buy quality clothing and take care of it. Like, I, for a long time, didn't separate my clothes into colors. They went in the hamper, they went in the washer. Like, I'm separating in colors. I'm. I'm trying to just have better quality things that will last a long time instead of buying more cheap shit. Yeah. And for clothes, higher quality stuff is usually branded.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

But there is a brand that their branding is a little stitched on tag. And I get a little. My little headlamp and my X acto knife.

[Michael]

No, I've seen it. It's so great.

[Louie]

And I unbrand my shirts. I've unbranded my backpack. I bought a pair of shorts at Goodwill the other day. I took the branding, like, yeah, yeah. Even my cars. I take the badges off my cars. Like, I don't even.

[Michael]

My car. You took the badges off my car.

[Louie]

It looks better, doesn't it? But also, the only point of that is to advertise for the company.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

That's all it is there. It serves no purpose other than to its free advertisement. I don't do that. I'll advertise my podcast. It's called Second Hand Therapy. But, yeah, I don't. I don't need to. I don't do that.

[Michael]

Yeah, it sounds like. Well, the good news is it sounds like all of this stuff, all these changes are rooted in intention and purpose and not a manic episode or whatever. It sounds like it all has intention and purpose behind it.

[Louie]

Well, I did rent out my closet.

[Michael]

I'm sorry,

[Louie]

what if I did? I was like, hey, this is Carl. He's gonna pay me 60amonth. He's gonna sleep in my closet.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Just to help out with the bills. But, yeah. That. I am off my iPhone. And I gotta tell you. Yeah, that's a rough one. It feels like a. Now, I'm gonna say this lightly and I know it's not the same. It feels like a detox Here. Yeah, I. The amount of times I pull out my light phone to do something and I'm like, oh, there's nothing here.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Countless times throughout the day.

[Michael]

I mean, you can be addicted to your phone or addicted to scrolling and things. So. Yeah, it can be. It can be categorized as a detox for sure.

[Louie]

Yeah. And it's. I don't know if the word is humbling or upsetting, but now that I don't. Well, I do still have my iPhone for work stuff because the light phone, it. The only Internet it has is navigation. So I do need to have access to emails and social media for engagement and things like that. But my iPhone is on me if I'm away from the house in case I'm gonna be away and I need to.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Do work. But if I'm here, it's on a charger on my desk and it's all. It's constantly on do not disturb.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

And my light phone has a separate phone number. I think 10 people I gave that phone number to. And everybody else I will get to you when I check my phone.

[Michael]

But you weren't into a lot of the apps and things anyway. So what is the changes that you are noticing since the switch?

[Louie]

Oh, the day is so fucking long.

[Michael]

Yeah, but what were you doing on the phone that was taking up your day?

[Louie]

Hey, what wasn't I doing? You know, I mean, you weren't on the phone. You ever have a thought and Google it? Yeah, I mean, yeah, you know, many times a day I go, how should you Google that? No, you're just gonna wonder. And then you forget about it and then it's over. And the amount of times I would take out my phone to do a work email or do engagement or post a clip, buddy, I'm on that thing for 45 minutes.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Either scrolling reels or the amount of time I spend spent. Past tense. That a online shopping.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

When I wasn't even pursuing a certain thing, I would just be on websites looking at clothes, looking at shoes, looking at cars, looking at. Yeah, buddy, I was looking at wheels for my truck. It's got wheels.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Just because I was like, oh, man, I should get one of those like heavy duty steel bumpers. Hey. What? Just because. And yet without filling my day with those, like googling a thought or shopping or scrolling. Yeah. Tell you, one day feels like three, I'll tell you that much. It's a long day without a smartphone, bud.

[Michael]

So are you seeing any other changes though, like a better sleep, better rest or anything like that? No, nothing like that. Okay. What about time management?

[Louie]

I'm only. I'm only like a weekend.

[Michael]

Yeah, but there should be something where you're like, I've noticed a little bit better of now. I'm not doom scrolling. I'm finding myself. No, I am.

[Louie]

Well, instead of doom scrolling, I'm coming up with things to past time and. Okay, but that was like the. When I got the mocha pot for coffee.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

It's like finding things that I enjoy that are complicated and take a little bit more time.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

I just have to find more of those things I enjoy that I can get into the process of and understand that, like. Okay, I'm gonna. It's gonna take me 15 minutes to make coffee, but also. I have 15 minutes.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

What's the hurry? Yeah, it doesn't feel like that yet. It feels like I need to get this done because there are golf swing tips waiting for me on Instagram. Yeah.

[Michael]

Yeah. My swing could be better. I need tires. I need this and that. Yeah. I heard a lyric that is similar to what we're talking about that rocked. My brain is just spot on repeat, which is. I have. I have everything I want, but nothing that I need.

[Louie]

That's nice. That's nice.

[Michael]

I have everything I want.

[Louie]

You don't need to repeat it.

[Michael]

We heard you.

[Louie]

Unless you're gonna sing it. Nope. Yeah, that's good.

[Michael]

It's called reflecting.

[Louie]

Repeating yourself, huh? What happens when you look at your reflection? Do you.

[Michael]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Louie]

I don't. I'll try it. I will try it.

[Michael]

Sure.

[Louie]

You know what else I did? I'm off Bluetooth.

[Michael]

I'm sorry.

[Louie]

What do you know about that, bro?

[Michael]

What do you mean off Bluetooth?

[Louie]

Like Bluetooth.

[Michael]

What does that even mean? How. What is on what is on blue.

[Louie]

Whatever it is. I'm plugged the into it.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I. I don't.

[Louie]

AirPods.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Gone. Wired buds, wired earphones.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Louie]

In the house. Pop in a cd. Okay. What do you think about that?

[Michael]

I. I mean, that's not even. I mean, that now, that in particular is not even on my radar. The other changes. Sure.

[Louie]

Improvement.

[Michael]

Well, not Bluetooth improvement.

[Louie]

Yeah. You got Bluetooth, bro? Yeah, you gotta get on Bluetooth.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Michael]

Are you starting to move me? You gotta get off.

[Louie]

You gotta get off. We gotta get people off Bluetooth. That's like a stretch.

[Michael]

The other stuff, Sure. I can see the impact. I can see the change. I can see the. The intention and like all these things. Then you hit me with.

[Louie]

You gotta get off Bluetooth I'm off Bluetooth. Hey.

[Michael]

What?

[Louie]

You want to tell you one more thing? Big pain in the ass, right? As of now, it's a big pain in the ass.

[Michael]

What? What? I can't even. I know. I couldn't even tell you five items that are on my Bluetooth in my life.

[Louie]

What?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Well, how. Do you have AirPods?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Those headphones on your head, do you ever use those wirelessly?

[Michael]

Yeah, but I don't have to.

[Louie]

Well, that's not what I'm asking you. I'm asking you, do you.

[Michael]

Sure.

[Louie]

Any Bluetooth speakers around?

[Michael]

Just one. That's it.

[Louie]

Your car have Bluetooth?

[Michael]

No, I plug in.

[Louie]

I didn't ask you if you plugged it. I said, does it have Bluetooth?

[Michael]

It does, but I don't use it.

[Louie]

Yeah, because you have Apple CarPlay, right? Get off it.

[Michael]

No, that's not how that works.

[Louie]

I'm off CarPlay.

[Michael]

You're not CarPlay doesn't count.

[Louie]

I'm off CarPlay.

[Michael]

It's a cord.

[Louie]

Well, my car is a 2008. I'm off car. I did put in an aux cable.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

For my ipod.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Louie]

And also ipod. Kind of a pain in the ass.

[Michael]

Okay. What. Okay, what is the goal and what. What is the goal and purpose behind doing all this?

[Louie]

Because anything I do in any of these things now has to be very intentional. If I want to listen to music, I have to do it on my ipod. I have to plug in the earbuds. I then have to keep the ipod on me because the cord is 44 inches long or whatever.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Gotta be intentional about that.

[Michael]

So you're working on intention. Yes.

[Louie]

Not mindlessly scrolling or mindlessly putting on music in the background. Because I can't sit in silence. I really. I have to be intentional about all of this stuff now.

[Michael]

So what is the goal then?

[Louie]

Be more present.

[Michael]

Okay. Do you think this is the only way you could do that?

[Louie]

I've never thought about it.

[Michael]

I know we talk about better help a lot on this show, but now they're a sponsor.

[Louie]

They are a sponsor, dude.

[Michael]

I'm using better help. I'm loving it so far. It's so easy to find a therapist, find out what I'm looking for, and if it's not working out because that has happened, I've been able to switch therapy therapist with no problem at all.

[Louie]

Yeah, yeah, you had that one. That was not a good fit.

[Michael]

Not a good fit. Hey. And that happens. Finding good therapist is like a lot like finding, you know, being out there in the Dating world and finding the right partner for you.

[Louie]

And you're married now.

[Michael]

Oh, no. Never. Never.

[Louie]

You're in love now.

[Michael]

I have to talk about this with my therapist.

[Louie]

Dude, you're there. Can I meet this person? I don't even know their gender. Can I meet this person?

[Michael]

Absolutely not.

[Louie]

Let's do one together.

[Michael]

Well, we should sign up for couples therapy on BetterHelp.

[Louie]

I'll do it. You think I won't do it? You think I won't win couples therapy with you? Dude, you think I'm not gonna walk out with the trophy?

[Michael]

I know you will.

[Louie]

All right, here's the good news. They really are a sponsor. And if you have wanted to get in therapy and maybe you don't know where to start, maybe you don't have insurance like us, you can go to BetterHelp. They were nice enough to give us a discount. So if you hear this, you can go to betterhelp.com secondhand therapy and you will get 10% off your first month. There's a link below the episode. Starting therapy. It helps. It really helps. No matter what you want to work on, give it a shot. Betterhelp.com secondhandhand therapy. We love you guys. Is that the only way to become more present? I'm sure it's not.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

But I think with how I'm really. I'm realizing how reliant and comfortable I've become with the instant access and the convenience and all that, I don't it in this moment, I don't have a better way.

[Michael]

What is the problem with being comfortable with those things? Like, how did you decide? Like, okay, this is what I want to be doing with intention.

[Louie]

What was the problem?

[Michael]

Or I guess another way to word it would be what was the motivation to make these changes?

[Louie]

I feel bad a lot of the time. And when I think about when I was younger

[Michael]

and

[Louie]

these things weren't as prevalent in the world, Feeling bad. Was because of things that were happening to me. And now it really seems like I feel bad because. I exist. And I don't believe. I don't believe that's who I am. I think I've done that to myself, and I think the world has. I have engaged with so much of the access and convenience that is available to me that I have done this to myself.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Without realizing it, I'm constantly comparing myself to other people. I'm constantly looking, constantly. Like, what it comes down to is I'm constantly searching. And what for? I don't even know. I'm. Every day I Am on my phone, doom scrolling or shopping. I'm searching for something that I don't know what it is. And putting yourself into a search and you don't know what you're searching for is a simple way to put it. Is I'm consistently setting myself up for failure and disappointment.

[Michael]

Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense.

[Louie]

So I'm trying something different and it's hard so far and it's really. It's really uncomfortable and I don't like it yet. I really don't. It's a lot easier. It's life, buddy. Life is just so much easier with distractions. Yeah.

[Michael]

But.

[Louie]

I don't know, man. I don't think I. I don't think I want an easy life. I think I want a worthwhile life. And sometimes that's going to be easy and sometimes it's going to be hard. And that's life, you know?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

So this is what I'm doing.

[Michael]

Good for you, man.

[Louie]

Thanks, man. I bought a car today. I'm not joking.

[Michael]

No. It's a 1978 Toyota Corolla.

[Louie]

It's not a 78.

[Michael]

It smells like grandma's house.

[Louie]

You didn't even go inside of it.

[Michael]

I smell it from the outside.

[Louie]

You were disgusted by this car.

[Michael]

I'm not disgusted by it.

[Louie]

I was.

[Michael]

I would not drive it.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I would not buy it. I don't know if I would. I would probably drive it and all that but I. I would not, I would not go see that car and go. That's coming over me. Yeah.

[Louie]

Doing differently, baby. Yeah. I mean, let me make one thing clear. I'm not getting rid of my truck.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

I. My truck will be with me until it dies. Yeah. But gas prices are really going up and I'm doing more driving than I used to for other circumstances outside of what I'm going to talk about because it doesn't matter.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

So, yeah. I wanted to get a commuter car so my truck could be what it was, was like something to drive because I enjoy for the weekends or if I want to go for a drive, I enjoy. Or moving furniture, whatever. Yeah. Yeah. So I needed a little get around car and I got a real piece of shit. And I gotta tell you.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

A lot like not having an iPhone. My guy. It feels weird.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Yeah. It really does. 2005 Corolla, which I'm gonna tell you right goddamn now.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

In this house will be referred to only as the rolly.

[Michael]

Okay. The rolly.

[Louie]

That's the Rolly, baby.

[Michael]

Because it doesn't start and you got to push it everywhere

[Louie]

because it says it's as. It serves as much of a purpose as a Rolex. So it's the rolly.

[Michael]

Interesting.

[Louie]

I just thought of that right now. I was gonna go. I was gonna go Rolla. But I like the rolly better. You want to take the rolly? Oh, you don't ever want to take the rolly.

[Michael]

I hate that. I like calling it the roll. You want to take the rolly? Dude, let's take the rolly.

[Louie]

You want to take the rolly? Are you ever gonna ride with me in the rollie?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Okay. I didn't think you would.

[Michael]

Listen.

[Louie]

I thought you would be like, I'll drive every time.

[Michael]

No, I don't mind being. Here's the thing. I don't mind it. I don't think I could own it. However, I will say this. I have been looking for a little beater truck to throw my motorcycle in the back of so I can take it to, you know, go on little weekend trips or whatever.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

So, like, could you drive a beater truck?

[Michael]

I could, but that couldn't be my only thing.

[Louie]

It's not my only thing.

[Michael]

I know. I'm just saying.

[Louie]

I have a phenomenal.

[Michael]

I know.

[Louie]

2008.

[Michael]

We know.

[Louie]

Toyota Tacoma.

[Michael]

I'm just saying. Yeah, I could. I could drive a little beater around, but it couldn't be. Yeah. My primary.

[Louie]

Yeah. Both my cars are old enough to have sex with. Isn't that weird? Wait, 26 minus 5 is 19.

[Michael]

Hey, close.

[Louie]

26 minus 8. Wait, 26 minus 5 is 21.

[Michael]

I don't. I. Hey, I couldn't tell you.

[Louie]

It is 21. 21, and 18.

[Michael]

Just barely.

[Louie]

I'm banging one. I'm taking the other one for a drink and then banging that one.

[Michael]

No, gross.

[Louie]

So, yeah, that's what I'm doing, bro. I got a piece of car, no iPhone, and it's not working yet. Yeah. But let me know when you get a pager.

[Michael]

Then we'll talk about intention and things like that. Okay.

[Louie]

If there were more payphones around, I would. That's just not realistic. Yeah, they took them all down.

[Michael]

I can't imagine. I can't imagine you with a pager.

[Louie]

Oh, buddy.

[Michael]

But you would love that. You would love.

[Louie]

I would love it.

[Michael]

The option to engage or not.

[Louie]

Out of here. I paged you. I got to change the batteries, I guess. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So far it sucks, and it's really hard, and I just. I have to keep constantly reminding myself that if I quit everything as soon as it didn't yield the results quickly, I would still weigh 400 pounds and I would still be working at a bank. So, yeah, here we are. What's up with you?

[Michael]

Oh, buddy, a lot going on. I. I was on tour and I saw some family when I was on

[Louie]

tour, and you've been telling us for, like 200 episodes you don't have any, that you're just a little orphan alone in the world.

[Michael]

I am a little orphan boy.

[Louie]

Okay. Obviously, I have no one. I belong nowhere. So you saw some family. So you've been lying. You've been lying to me, you've been lying to the bear cubs. And not, most importantly, people know the deal.

[Michael]

No, people know the deal.

[Louie]

Okay. Tell me about your family.

[Michael]

I was down in Florida. I had a few days off.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And usually, usually I will stay with my family down there, which includes my aunt, my uncle, my cousin, his wife and his two kids. That is the family that I have left. Yeah. And however, we do not agree politically, and it has caused some, you know, I'm having. Okay, well. Okay. It's caused some drama. And the entire reason I wasn't going to stay with them or plan on seeing them was because there was some recent drama via Charlie Kirk. My family very loyal to Charlie Kirk. To Mr. Kirk and Mr. Trump and everyone on that side still.

[Louie]

Still, still loyal to Trump. Epstein files and all.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

That's upsetting. Yeah. That's crazy. Hey, you know those two kids over there, he'll. I'm gonna eat them. You know, your little grandbabies. He go them.

[Michael]

Don't let him meet the president.

[Louie]

Wow, that's rough.

[Michael]

Yeah. So onward.

[Louie]

I.

[Michael]

Things have been dicey. Things have been dicey and a little distant since then. So I. I had a couple days off in Florida and I was planning on seeing them and meeting up with them and. And I didn't know how it was gonna go. I'm gonna be honest with you. I was a little worried. I was a little worried.

[Louie]

The king of control. I didn't know I was gonna go. I got a big spoiler. You never know how it's gonna go. Yeah, you just think you do.

[Michael]

Yeah. All these scenarios in my head, I interrupted playing out. I, you know, and I was talking to my buddy Colin about things and

[Louie]

we should get him on the pod.

[Michael]

I know we, him and I go deep. So we're talking about things, and I'm talking about how, you know, my reservations about seeing them and all this stuff. And I'm literally about to pull up to their House. And he was like. He's like, hey, man, just be light. When I was like, what do you mean? He's like, be light. Be fun. Be engaging. Be curious. Find out what's going on in their lives. Like, be light.

[Louie]

That doesn't sound light. Like a lot of work.

[Michael]

And I was like, okay, because again, I had all these scenarios. I had all these conversations planned in my head about, like, what if they say this? Or what if they bring this up?

[Louie]

Or what if.

[Michael]

And I'm. And I'm like, trying to cover all my bases. And then I wiped it all clean, and I was like, nope, gonna be light. And I went in there and I was. And I was engaging and I was curious, and I was asking them about their lives, and I was. We. Politics didn't come up. And it was fun. And I was chasing the kids around and, you know, I'm visiting and all these things, and. And there was even a moment. I don't know if I'm gonna. I don't know if I'm gonna share this or not. So this might make it in.

[Louie]

Or not.

[Michael]

If you're hearing this. I made it in.

[Louie]

The President showed up. Fuck those kids.

[Michael]

Those kids. Can you imagine? I'm sure you can. He's in a lot of files. There was a moment after the Charlie Kirk drama that had happened. It had happened because.

[Louie]

My curly. Charlie Kirk drama. You're referring to the world event of his murder.

[Michael]

No, I'm talking about my personal family drama with the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

[Louie]

I'm. The timeline.

[Michael]

Yes.

[Louie]

Is after he was murdered or.

[Michael]

Yes.

[Louie]

Okay, got it.

[Michael]

Yeah. Yeah. What had happened was I had posted. I had re. I had shared something.

[Louie]

In hindsight, shouldn't have shared it.

[Michael]

Oh, no, it was fine. Okie dokie, I'll share it right now. It just. It was the thought of directly quoting somebody after they die is not bashing them. That's what I shared.

[Louie]

I see no problem.

[Michael]

I also. It wasn't like picking us. It wasn't, you know. Yeah. Doing whatever. Yeah. I felt like it was pretty neutral. I'm trying to decide how much drama

[Louie]

I want to air. Just do it.

[Michael]

So somebody had seen it.

[Louie]

One of those people.

[Michael]

One of the people involved had seen it and had told the others, and then it was a problem. And then it was like a big. Big conversations were had for a couple weeks after that.

[Louie]

Yeah. Meanwhile, the President's, the kids.

[Michael]

I can't stress this enough, so I decided on a morning walk one day. I thought, I'm. I'm just Gonna block that person. This person and I have had friction here and there throughout the time that I've known them. And this was like, one of those moments where I was like,

[Louie]

what?

[Michael]

Why. Why am I. Why do I continue to engage with. You know what I mean?

[Louie]

Like, yeah, which kid was.

[Michael]

It wasn't the kids.

[Louie]

Oh, so they were getting.

[Michael]

They were too busy getting. Allegedly. By the president. Have to say, allegedly.

[Louie]

A lot of people wrote about it.

[Michael]

This is a public forum. I'm covering my ass. Allegedly.

[Louie]

I he. Them.

[Michael]

Anyways, this person was there on my visit, and they were not present for most of my visit. They. And I didn't. I struggle with it at first. About, like, is this on purpose? Is this trying to avoid me? Are they upset with me or. And then I had about two hours into that. I was like, not even that long. Maybe about an hour into that, I was like, hey, that doesn't matter. That does not matter. That has nothing to do with me. That doesn't belong to me. If they're upset with me and we can talk about it, but they don't want to talk about it.

[Louie]

Great.

[Michael]

You don't want to engage with me or engage with the family while I'm here. Whatever. You got it. That has nothing to do with me. That does not belong to me. And had a great day. And as I was leaving, I was a little overwhelmed with. I had all these feelings come up. I had really enjoyed seeing them, and I really missed them, and we had these great moments together. And. It was just a week after you and I had had the conversation about, like, you know, nobody needs me and nobody would care if I was here or not. You know, those kind of feelings are rising up again and things like that and leaving their house. I started crying because I'm a crier and I'm overwhelmed with all these emotions and. Yeah, just the feeling of, like. Yeah, we might not always agree with each other or they might think of me in certain ways or whatever, but, like, there's love there, and these people would care if I wasn't here.

[Louie]

Do they need you?

[Michael]

I don't know if need is in there. Yeah.

[Louie]

Because it doesn't fucking matter if somebody needs you. I'm so sorry. Please continue. I interrupted you because of my own problems.

[Michael]

Hey, you know what?

[Louie]

You're right.

[Michael]

Nobody needs me. I'll be leaving now. Yeah, It was overwhelming.

[Louie]

You know how I keep telling you I'm doing a psychology class? Doing it.

[Michael]

I. Okay. Are you really.

[Louie]

I'm really doing it, dude. Our new sponsor, Southern New Hampshire University.

[Michael]

Some classes, bro. Oh, you fancy now, bruh.

[Louie]

I'm out here.

[Michael]

He. He's a schoolboy.

[Louie]

Hey, and here's the thing. If you're like me and you're just like, dude, I like learning stuff sometimes. Snhu, go learn some stuff. If you were like me in the past, maybe you feel a little stuck in your career, you want to start a new thing. Snhu, what about you?

[Michael]

I mean, I love to learn.

[Louie]

Ah, God, he's never learned.

[Michael]

I need to do it more officially.

[Louie]

You never learned a thing. Anyway, if you want to check out Snhu and you want to see what kind of programs they have, you can go to Snhu. Edu Sht. And you can request more information. It costs nothing to request more information. It's a great way to support the podcast. Learn some stuff, Start a new career. Do whatever you need. Go back to school. Snhu. Edu, Sht. There's also a link in the episode description. Get some info. Start some learning. You're welcome.

[Michael]

And then I was also thinking, like, the next day, I'm replaying the day, you know, and, like, all this stuff, and I. I've put on a little weight and this and that, and I was thinking like, oh, I wonder if they are talking about that. If they're like, oh, man, Michael got fat. Or, you know, your deal here. I'm getting somewhere. Yeah, like, all these things go through your head about, like, yeah, he got big. Or like, what's he doing? Or look at the. Because they. One of them brought up my tattoo, my new tattoo on my hand, you know, and then. So what's. He's covered in tattoo and, like, all these things. And I had to stop myself. And this is new. I stopped myself and I really. I like, reminded myself, like, whatever they think is none of my business. And we've talked about that a little bit before, but that reminder of, like, what other people think about you is none of your business. And I have to remind myself that all the time. And that came in so handy in that moment because I was spiraling about, like, oh, I know.

[Louie]

They.

[Michael]

They're talking about. Yeah, look at. He's bald now. It's like his dad. And my God. Hey, whatever they're saying, let them yap, dude. That's none of my business.

[Louie]

Why do you assume that's what they're saying?

[Michael]

Why wouldn't that be what they're saying? I have put on weight. I am shaving my head now, and I look like my dad. I do have A new tattoo that I know they don't like tattoos, so why wouldn't that be what they're talking about?

[Louie]

Because their entire lives aren't about you.

[Michael]

Yes, but I came to visit. It's a new thing in their world that's happening other than pickleball and whatever their lunchables that they're doing on the daily. So of course it's an event. So of course they're gonna be like,

[Louie]

God, you're so close. Oh, you're so close.

[Michael]

What?

[Louie]

You got emotional because. Oh, they. They would care.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

You know, as soon as I left, they were talking me. I know. Why can't you just let them love you? I. I am.

[Michael]

That's the whole point of this.

[Louie]

Hey, that. No, I don't believe. So why do you have to ruin it?

[Michael]

I'm trying not to ruin it. I'm trying to remind myself that, like, what you're reminding yourself don't have those thoughts at all.

[Louie]

I can't.

[Michael]

I can't operate like that.

[Louie]

Okay.

[Michael]

I'm always going to have those thoughts. Whether I let them continue or not is the change. I'm always going to have those thoughts. You don't ever have those thoughts.

[Louie]

Yeah, but only with people that I know. That's how they are. I just don't want to.

[Michael]

Like, okay, you're somebody who. Whose weight fluctuates. Right. Let's say you see an old friend.

[Louie]

What the fuck does that mean? I'm just kidding you.

[Michael]

And I.

[Louie]

Did you think I was mad?

[Michael]

No. I looked so deflated and I was like, come on.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

So you see an old friend that you haven't seen, and let's say this is one of those times where the weight is up.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And the last time the weight was down when you saw them, you don't ever have a thought. Like, now I bet they think, like, Louie's back up there.

[Louie]

It would depend. If I know they're a person that is, like, into appearance or into judge or things like that, I'd be like, I know that's what they think.

[Michael]

See, for me, you can stop there. I know that they're a person.

[Louie]

Right. Why do you think everyone's such a piece of judgmental piece of shit?

[Michael]

I don't know, because I've been judged a lot, so I don't know. Well, I think.

[Louie]

Hey, hey, real quick. Have you. Or do you just assume you have?

[Michael]

I have and I assume.

[Louie]

Stop assuming. Hey. You don't fucking know how it's going to go or what they're going to say or what they think. Give them some credit. You had a great visit. Wow. Maybe they don't hate me.

[Michael]

They cannot hate me and also be like, oh, you got fat.

[Louie]

They can.

[Michael]

They can. Multiple.

[Louie]

Okay, well. Okay, Multiple truths. You have gained weight.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

And if they notice you've gained weight, what's the problem?

[Michael]

Okay, now see, that's logical. And I'm emotional.

[Louie]

I know, but I'm asking, what's the emotional problem?

[Michael]

The emotional problem?

[Louie]

You being seen.

[Michael]

Shame. Oh, shame. Shame.

[Louie]

Yeah, shame. So your shame is just projecting on other people. So rather than you being like, I gained some weight, you can be like, ah, they think I gained some weight.

[Michael]

Hey, I said, yeah, that I stopped the thoughts.

[Louie]

Huh? It sounds like you did a good job. You

[Michael]

can fuck off.

[Louie]

What? I just said you did a good job.

[Michael]

This is improvement for me.

[Louie]

I'm going to keep these rolling after you leave and I'm going to tell them what I really think. And you can guess. You can guess. You can see if you can guess what I'm going to say.

[Michael]

Why are you like this?

[Louie]

Why? Like what? Why honest with you? Because that's what you need. And you know what? Because I'm a good friend, you piece of.

[Michael]

Okay, what if.

[Louie]

Why wouldn't they be saying that?

[Michael]

What if I do know that they're a gossip?

[Louie]

That's not gossip. No one cares how much you weigh. Nobody gives a.

[Michael]

My family. They do.

[Louie]

Just your mom. It's.

[Michael]

No, that's not true.

[Louie]

Yeah, that's not true. Not everyone is reporting on everybody else because looking inward is so scary. Yeah, bro, It's such a great time. I was. Oh, these people would care. You know what they were saying, don't you?

[Michael]

These people care about my fat ass.

[Louie]

Jesus Christ. You can't just let yourself enjoy your family.

[Michael]

I did. I said I stopped the thoughts.

[Louie]

Good job. Thank you. Perfect.

[Michael]

Thank you.

[Louie]

You're so good at it.

[Michael]

Well, not perfect.

[Louie]

Why wouldn't they be thinking it?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

Damn.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Louie]

And then what? Oh, God.

[Michael]

I've been trying this new thing I was implementing on the tour. It is. Well, there's two things and I don't know. I don't know if I'm gonna talk about both, but the one that's been really helping me is this phrase I've been saying over and over, which is, slow down. You're missing it. Because I. Like you mentioned earlier about, like, just rushing to the next thing or getting through something. Like. Yeah, I'm missing a lot of life and a lot of moments because I'm Just jumping to the next thing or I'm just in such a rush and I have to sometimes out loud tell myself, slow down, you're missing it.

[Louie]

How do you find that to be different from nowhere to be nothing to do, nothing together?

[Michael]

Time versus gratitude.

[Louie]

I don't understand.

[Michael]

So nothing to do, nowhere to be nothing or nowhere to be? Nowhere to be, nothing to gather.

[Louie]

It doesn't matter.

[Michael]

Whatever. Yeah, that's about time. That's about. Okay. Spending time, like on hikes or this or that. Slow down, you're missing it. Is about gratitude. Slow down, you're missing it is. I was. This just happened last night. I took my motorcycle out. It just happened to be near sunset. I didn't realize the timing. And on my way home, I was like rushing to get back. And on my way home, I'm witnessing this beautiful sunset come down behind the mountains.

[Louie]

I'm.

[Michael]

I'm just happen to be driving towards it and I'm flying and I'm trying to look at the sunset and I'm trying to do both things. And I had thought to myself, hey, slow down, you're missing it. And so, yeah, it was a reminder of, like, this is what it's about, this moment, this riding in the sunset and seeing this beautiful view and everything. And so I did. I. I literally slowed down and like, embraced the motorcycle ride instead of continuing on my path.

[Louie]

What was the rush?

[Michael]

Just I'd been out for a minute and was trying to get home for no reason.

[Louie]

Yeah, okay. Just.

[Michael]

You know what I mean? Like, you're like, I'm going home now. So you're just like a great example of. This is like years and years ago,

[Louie]

my buddy and I just say, example.

[Michael]

Ah, I want to be a cunt.

[Louie]

Here's a. Here's a phenomenal analysis. I'm gonna present. Oh, my God.

[Michael]

Raise your hand if you're a cunt. Raise it. That's you.

[Louie]

I'll raise two of them, bro. I think I give a bro. I got my toes up. All right, give me this great example.

[Michael]

Years and years ago, I was in Washington, D.C. with my buddy. We both had never been before.

[Louie]

You were at that Charlie Kirk event.

[Michael]

No, no, this is years and years and years ago. Oh, this was.

[Louie]

Yeah. Who was?

[Michael]

President Obama.

[Louie]

Okay.

[Michael]

The second time.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Also I saw a bumper sticker in Florida that said, Trump 2024, the revenge tour.

[Louie]

Oh, yeah. Jesus Christ.

[Michael]

I never wanted to piss on a car somewhere. So I'm in dc, I'm with my buddy. We both have never been before, and we're going to a museum from a different museum. And we're walking down the street and I'm booking it because that's the way I move through the city. I'm just booking it. And he is behind me like 20ft and I keep losing him and he keeps stopping. And at one point I look back and he's just staring at these steps. And I was like, what the. And I'm like, so he catches up. And I was like, buddy, what are you doing? And he's like, those steps back there, because I was looking at him. They. They're all. They were all like hand handmade. Like each tile was different and each tile had been placed there from a different artist. And like each step was this. I was like, really? He's like, yeah. He's like, you didn't notice that? I was like, no. There were multiple times on that trip where I would just catch him staring at something or looking at the details and stuff. And I'm in such a rush to get from A to B and he's getting lost in these details.

[Louie]

He. Well, he's being present.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Louie]

Well, yeah.

[Michael]

I mean, this dude's looking at, you know, what's it called? The stuff around the door. And I'm like, what are you doing? He's like, oh, this is handcrafted. This is like over 100 years old.

[Louie]

I'm like. And you're like, I have nowhere to be. Can we please hurry?

[Michael]

Exactly. But yeah, slow down. You're missing it.

[Louie]

Yeah.

[Michael]

You know, the gratitude of the via being present, experiencing those things.

[Louie]

Not a great example. And we know that. Jesus, that's a bear. It's not.

[Michael]

The Global Gaming League is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my how we do it gaming team take on Gilly the King and Wallow $267 million GAM in an epic Global Gaming league video game showdown. Plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artist Travy McCoy.

[Louie]

Watch all the action and see who

[Michael]

wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

[Louie]

Hi, I'm Ryan Eggle, and as a former TV doctor, I have a deep appreciation for the fact that a healthy meal isn't just nourishment. It's the start of something stronger. Access to good nutrition is critical for neighbors facing hunger to thrive. But that access can be limited by external factors. That's why I support Feeding America. Your gift helps the nationwide network of food banks provide fresh, nourishing food. Give now and your gift can double in impact. Every $1 can help provide 20 meals. Visit feedingamerica.org health to join the movement.

[Michael]

WSECU isn't just one of Washington's best credit unions. We're a Forbes best in state five years running. Why? Because we put you first. Lower fees, early paydays, financial guidance and service second to none. As a member owned cooperative, we love Washington as much as you do, from the Olympic Mountains to the rolling Palouse. Join us and discover how much we care about your financial well being. Because what we really do best is invest in you. Visit wsecu.org today to learn more. WASHINGTON let's Credit Union.