This week on #TheFriendZone, we discuss the latest AI, Robot and tech developments.
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Welcome to the friend zone.
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Every time I'm in the zone, My name is Dustin. I'm Francesca, also known as K Friend.
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Hey, my name is Asante. This is the friend zone.
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Let's start the show.
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Oh my God. Oh my God.
A
I had to play it twice because that was literally, you know. You know, normally I say, yeah, this week. Nah, hell no. As a matter of fact, I had to say oh my God twice when I saw what I saw. There's no way that I can accurately describe it. So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna send this to Asante and friend right now. Something that I came across on the neighborhood talk. Shout out to the neighborhood talk. We love y' all over here. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. But anyways, I saw this on the neighborhood Talk and I'm telling you I want to have a live reaction to from Fran and say when they see this and you get a pre reaction.
C
Because I'm upset at what the clip is.
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Yeah, Sheree saying yeah, look at friends face for Patreon. That's right.
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Golly.
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Yeah.
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I'm looking at. Yeah, the preview is enough.
A
What? And it was, wasn't it? It was actually too much. Yeah, it was too much. So what Fran and Asante are reacting to right now.
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Have you seen that girl on TikTok that goes yuck?
A
No. But I'm sure she gonna do it.
C
If she see that.
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Okay. I'm sure she gonna do it if she see this.
B
Ew.
A
I was revolted and repulsed earlier when I was scrolling the neighborhood talk, as I always do. But when I was scrolling the neighborhood talk, I came across a post that said, Kodak Black shows off his feet. And before I could turn my head, I was already looking at the post and I saw his motherfucking feet and toe. Are we calling them toenails or what? Cause the motherfucker's dead. His feet are dead. His feet are dead.
B
I don't know how you feel about feet. So this is, like, extra special for you to have been the one to call.
A
That's why I had to get this off my chest, you know? That's why I made it to the show, because I needed to vent now. My God, his feet need a vent. They need air and circulation and ventilation.
C
Now.
A
People are going to have problems not saying there's. There's problems and then there's ways to correct the problems, and then there's. There's things that have passed a point of repair due to negligence, okay? And that's a totally different thing. It's nothing wrong with having a foot issue. It needs correction. And you may not have the resources to connect it, but you have the will to, okay? And that's what counts. And if you could, you would. And when you could, you did. We ain't talking to y'.
C
All.
A
We talking to these filthy foot like Kodak Black, who has already admitted having poor hygiene. Right?
B
Who did?
A
Oh, yeah, he. He's already admitted that he's already difficult to intake. We'll put it like that, Right? He is a person who looks like a Labubu. Let's just call it what it is. And now had the audacity to show a foot with toenail beds that look like granite. They got veins and I'm like, granite. I've never seen anything like this. You know what? He don't feel his feet. There's no way that there can be active nerves and nerve endings in the foot located like that. I know Kodak Black got a song like, Step, step, step, step Walking in the. Stepping on, Walking in It. You know, he has a song like that. Y. I didn't know it was about practice, you know? And I didn't know it was about hot coals and broken glass.
C
You didn't know it was about physical therapy?
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I didn't know.
B
Haven't y' all found, though, that a lot of men do not take care of their feet?
C
Yeah, I've seen men and women. To be honest, you're right.
B
I'm not even mean to put that on men, because I had. I too have seen.
C
Cause I was with you, Fran.
B
They don't moisturize, they don't give a fuck. Wash, they don't get their nails.
C
Society wants you to think that it is a man thing, but it is a people thing. Like, there are some women that are just like, oh, I just use these to walk. I'm gonna put them in heels anyway. And it's like, well, isn't that why you want to take care of them a little bit?
A
Stone feet ass. Women and men and people. Because it's some non binary bad foot motherfuckers. Hell yeah.
B
I just think of the dudes.
A
Oh, they protesting.
B
The dudes that want to keep their socks on. That always makes me mad.
A
You pass that test. Hell no. Plus, a smooth foot rubbing up on your. Rubbing up on your shoulders and neck. That's a. That's part of the fun. You know what I'm saying?
B
Good luck.
A
So I just think that. But back to Kodak Black, which I did not know was a descriptor for the nail beds in his foot. I didn't know that's why his name was Kodak Black. I had no idea his foot is dead. I have never seen a toenail that looks like that. Just so devoid of life. Them toenails look like. What was that book we read where everything was fucked up and they was chopping Earth Sea. Yeah, the parable. Remember all that debris and shit? And everything was blue the fuck up outside and fucked up and rock everywhere. That's what his toenails look like.
B
So you feel his feet were post apocalyptic?
A
Oh, definitely. Definitely. Something has happened. Something happened to his feet. You're not born like that. You're not something.
B
We also know he's been battling substance abuse, so I. I'm sure this is also part of the.
A
What was the substance?
B
That I can't speculate on?
A
Foot degrader. What was. What was the substance? What did you rub on your feet to make that happen? What did your toenails bump up against? How long has it been since that to me, that indicates you don't wash your ass. Because there's no way that foot could have been submerged in water.
B
Yeah.
A
You know what I'm saying?
B
I say that all the time. There's no way that all the time.
A
There's no way. And again, nobody says you got to have the perfect foot. People have whatever issues they have and hope. Hygiene, a lack of giving a fuck.
B
Yeah.
A
That's what we're talking about. Why do your toenails look like Lot's wife? Come on. I would like to know that. Why? So with that being said, we're going to step on over and welcome, everybody, to the Friends on your weekly look into all things mental health, mental wellness, and mentally sound feet. Right. Because he got the. The motherfucker got to feel crazy. He got to be crazy to post that. Why would you share that?
C
You must get me. Why are you sharing those things?
A
I hate my. Everybody else got to hate it, too. Is that what you said to yourself?
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I need some clicks. I'm gonna just put my feet up.
B
Yeah, he knew would get him in the comments.
A
Shoes. That's what you need. You need some shoes. And you actually need some water pills. That's what you need. You need a water pill. You need some. You need to just sleep.
B
Water pills. Why did he has a lot of. What are those called? Corns. Which means his shoes are tight.
A
No wonder he got a bad attitude. His feet hurt.
C
You know what?
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You know what?
C
Wow.
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Here's a phrase you ain't heard in a while. That's gotta hurt.
B
Okay, you know what?
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When I seen that foot, that's all I thought. God damn. I said that's gotta hurt.
B
Okay?
A
Your foot is horrible. And that's why your mouth is horrible. Because Kodak Black be saying some wild shit. He makes incredible rap music.
C
Yeah.
A
Incredible rap music. But he is an incredibly horrible person.
C
Yeah.
A
And I'm not aloof to that fact. So we're gonna make fun of his fucked up foot.
C
Yep.
A
That's what this is. You know what I'm saying? Let's just put it out there. With that being said. Hey, friend. Hey, Asante. How was your weekend?
B
Hey, y'. All. How are your weekends?
A
Y' all look better than his foot.
B
Y' all skin looking pretty.
A
Thank you.
B
Would y' all get into this? Of course. Would y' all get into this week? I like that. We were all in very dark, ominous colors today. So is it the vibe? I see what y' all get into this weekend.
C
I kicked it at the crib. You Know, for the binge, we had watched Blade, and as we were finishing, you know, spooky season, I decided to wrap it up this weekend with all the spooky stuff. So I watch the other two Blades just because I was like, all right, I watched the first one, so let me just go ahead and finish out the series.
A
You a whole Swiss army knife now.
C
Okay. Okay. Katana. No. Yeah, I just stayed in the house to watch tv. Organized my closet a little bit. I had ordered some clothes maybe two or three weeks ago. Half the order was delivered, the other half is stuck in customs.
A
See Terrace Customs supply chain.
C
Yep. Probably more than likely, but. But I don't know if it is because when they first sent the package and I checked on FedEx, FedEx did have that disclaimer saying, you know, you might get a. Receive a text from us. Because, you know, usually when you receive those texts, they're scams. But FedEx was like, you might receive a text from us in case you do have to pay extra charges for your package. And I'm like, what the fuck? But instead of them ever sending me a text, they just held my package. So I'm just like, at this point, y' all could take the package back and I'm going to just get my refund for another half. But I really did want them clothes.
A
So I'm just like, I'm sorry that happened to you because I feel personally attacked when something with my order, I hate it.
B
I legit haven't ordered any clothes or nothing since that last tariff bill I got at the top of the year that I talked about. Was it usps? I don't remember who it was.
A
And like some ridiculous, like, twelve hundred dollars.
B
Yeah. And I had ordered from Essence.
A
You know, I miss Essence and Farfetch.
B
Let me tell you. Let me tell you, in a way, it was good for me, though. Like, in a. Right. Cause it's like I had to stop shopping. Like, let's relax a little. And this definitely cut that shit out.
A
Three addicts talking to each other.
B
Exactly.
C
Yep.
A
Yes, you're right.
C
You know, the worst part of the whole experience has to be their customer service is through Facebook Messenger. So it's like, what?
B
Wait, wait, who's.
C
I don't wanna say who's. Okay.
B
I was like, wait, whose?
C
But their customer service takes you to Facebook. Mess. Some. Some customer service will take you to your text messages. I guess it's like, why not take me to Facebook? But I don't like that. I do not like that.
B
That's interesting. Tell us off the record. I need to know.
C
Yeah, I'll tell you off the record. But it's just like, this is not okay. Outside of that, the weekend was really, really good. Got to recharge. Got to make my house like a fresh spot. It got me reminiscent. I posted, like, a couple pictures of my old apartment in New York. I was like, I miss my New.
B
York crib because, oh, it was so good.
C
That was the one. Look so far in my catalog. That was the one. But it also made me hopeful for the future. Made me, you know, think about, you know, what the. The new spots look like. So true. Yes, true.
B
We're very blessed to be able to get some really beautiful places. I'm thankful.
C
Grateful.
A
We work for that. I remember the days it wasn't like that. So we work for that and very grateful for it.
B
Absolutely.
C
Look. Cause, Dustin, you remember the room. Hello. You remember the mini fridge.
A
You remember the journey. So listen.
C
Right, okay.
B
And speaking of one thing we did not. We totally forgot to celebrate was that last week was the fifth hundredth. Five hundred episodes. Fifth hundred. Five hundred episodes.
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That's what we gonna call it.
C
This is the fifth hundredth episode.
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500 episodes of the Friend Zone last week.
C
That's crazy.
B
The funny part is that we just totally skipped by that.
A
It was like, 501.
C
We not doing this for clout, y'. All.
B
Right.
C
Thank you for listening.
B
I'm proud of that.
C
Also, this is the Levi's episode. Thank you.
A
Fran and his son thank for doing this. Thank y'. All. This is such a blessing in all of our lives, and we're blessed to be able to have something to look back to say we've contributed that to the universe. This is a wonderful thing. I'm so grateful. 500 episodes.
B
Do you know how, like, how many conversations. 500 conversations segments. Black businesses. I mean, like, wow, you wanna talk about putting in work? But we're very proud and we're thankful that you guys have stuck by us. Cause the show continues to grow even through 500 episodes.
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Grateful for y'.
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All. We love y'. All.
C
Thank you, guys. Thank you.
B
Anything else ahsonte from your weekend you wanna share with us?
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Nope. That is it. How are your weekends?
A
Ladies first.
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Oh, okay. My weekend was bittersweet. I was in Walla Walla, Washington.
A
What a name, right?
B
What a name, right? What a name. And you know, when you do road trips through Oregon and Washington, you have to pray because you never know, especially with the climate that we're in. But I was pleasantly surprised of Course, I was Googling like, what's the population? Walla Walla, Washington. And, you know, what's the breakdown of the population? And surprisingly, it said 24% Latino.
C
And I was like, wow, let's clap for that.
B
I was so confused. Very, very confused. It was, like, 7% black. So that was really throwing me off. Cause I don't even think Portland is that much, but.
A
Well, we clapping for that, too.
B
We clapping as we pulled up. It was the most beautiful place that I really friend. Since we literally were like, it's four hours from Portland. It looks like those desktop images of those green fields, you know what I mean, with the sky, where you're like, ooh, is this real? Yeah, we saw it. I'm pretty sure they got it from Walla Walla, Washington.
C
Wow.
B
And we were in what they call the Blue Mountains of Walla Walla, Washington. I mean, I can't even put it into words. We were there because that is where Ms. Diane, who is the matriarch of the lone family, the family that I have told y' all I have, they're like my second family. I started out being in business with them, but we ended up getting really close just because our lives and our thoughts, everything aligned, and we realized we're just very similar people. They're a farming family out from out there. And this is the first time I actually got to see where they're from. And it was so amazing. The home going, obviously devastating. You know, especially when they play the videos of her life as, you know, as a child, and then going through her life and being married and having all the kids, and that was really hard. I did speak, which made me happy. I got to speak to my relationship with her, and everyone was coming up to me afterwards and telling me, like, that was really beautiful, because I didn't write anything down. I'm one of those people that I just have to get up there. Yeah. And I spoke, and it just flowed perfectly, like, exactly how I wanted to say it. Exactly what I wanted the crowd to feel. It was beautiful, too, because my partner got up there and did the prayer to close out the homegoing.
A
Yes.
B
And that made me happy. Isn't it? It made me happy that both of us could provide an offering that could help with their family. And that felt good. As adults, you know, you feel like you're a contribution to something so important. And then what I really appreciated was that shout out to Lark. He's the husband, and he's like my second. Well, I'd say my first dad, because I don't know where my first dad is, Shade. He was like, I don't want to be sad. Let's go dancing. And so the whole family, afterwards, we went to a place and took line dancing classes. They opened the place up just for us because apparently the family, you know, everyone was understanding what they were expecting, experiencing, and we went line dancing after. And it was actually so much fun. We were all laughing, you see. Everyone was, like, sad, but, like, trying and laughing. And it was just such a great idea. And we did lion dancing. We did the electric slide, which was very funny in Walla Walla, Washington. We did salsa. We just danced for hours.
A
I love it.
B
Yeah. With these dance instructors. And it was probably, I don't know, like 50 of us in that class, which just made it even more fun. And we had a blast. Then all of us went out to eat after. Yeah, perfect. Exactly how she would have wanted it. Cause she was a very, like, bubbly, electric. You know, those people that are just always laughing. And to me, this would have felt like something she would have wanted us to be doing and not to be somewhere sad and crying over her. So I think it was, like, really well done. And also would've. Interesting way to grieve. Because culturally I've not experienced that, you know, where our family's like, let's go dance. Like, that would never happen in my family. So I thought it was so interesting, Right. I was like, this is cool.
C
Beautiful.
B
A really different way to celebrate. Yeah. And it felt nice.
A
You know, me and Ahsante both are sending you much love.
B
Thank you.
A
You know what I'm saying right now? And just putting our arms around you, look, albeit virtually, which I love using that word, but I'll be virtually. But yeah, we love you, friend. We so sorry.
B
I appreciate that.
A
And sending much love to their family, too. Yeah, absolutely.
B
And for those of you who are like, what is this? Lone family, friends, always talking about the website in case you want to check it out. I will say, considering the circumstances, I actually don't know what's going on with their operations. I didn't want to ask because that's not the time, you know, but it is, right? It is a family business. And when you do go to the website, they do say due to a family emergency, you know, expect delays. But I just don't know what's going to come of it moving forward. Because I know Lark, who is the founder, the dad, he's just in really bad shape, you know what I mean? And he's actually telling me that he is gonna do some solo traveling.
A
Okay.
B
For a while. Because he said that the pain is too big for him to just be in the house. And he also doesn't wanna feel like he's a burden to the family. And I get that when you're a dad, you're just like, I'm not gonna be leaning on my kids for this. I actually need to figure this shit out myself. Yes.
A
Let me just go do this. Let me go do whatever I gotta do in solitude.
B
So he said he's gonna leave for a while.
A
God bless him.
B
Y. I was like, well, let me know where you're at. Maybe we can pop in on you. Because he told me a couple countries, he's just gonna bounce around and God bless him. Honestly, I can't even imagine. They were together for like, 50 years. Something crazy like, that's hard. I always think of that. Right. How do you wake up one day just not having someone that you have been next to for 50 years? I don't even understand.
A
And may we never. Honestly.
B
My gosh. That's just.
A
And shout out to your partner. You know, in certain times, when you need to show up as. As that. That's an example of leadership in a way. You know what I'm saying? It's literally leadership. You're leading the congregation or the gathering of people in prayer.
B
Yeah, that's leadership.
A
Shout out to him. You know what I'm saying?
B
Yeah, he did a phenomenal job. And he. And it was just nice. I don't know. There's something about a black man praying that kind of is just untouched. You know what I mean? Like, when he got up there, just his presence in that very white room.
A
I would have definitely turned on the longer last syllable of everywhere. And God, I would have been doing all that. You know what I'm saying?
C
Little friends. So now you get that episode of Damascus, huh? No, I'm just kidding.
B
Literally would have felt like. But I just was really proud of the both of us that we, you know, did our thing and provided that and then wallow. It did. They were very, very grateful. Literally, one by one, the entire congregation came up to us, like, every single person. It was really beautiful. And that made me happy. And Walla Walla, Washington is just stunning.
A
Like, would you go back? Or is it connected?
B
Absolutely. And knowing that, you know. Cause some of them still live there. And we made a lot. Yeah, we made a lot of really great connections with people. You know, it was funny when we pulled up initially, we were like, let's grab Some food. Cause, you know, four hour drive, we pull up and we see black people first. So we was like, wait a minute. And it made me laugh because every single black person we saw was like, hey, absolutely. When I tell you it was so different from Portland. Like, they were happy to see us. They were all, yeah, that's what it is. One older lady we were headed, she was coming out of a Mexican spot, and my partner goes, excuse me, me. Is. Is it good in there? She said, yes, it is. You had to go in there and get your plate.
C
Yes.
B
And, you know, it was that. That energy that I feel is not. It doesn't happen here for some reason. Like, we just don't get those types of conversations.
C
Y' all are.
A
That energy there. That's why everybody fuck with y'.
B
All.
A
Y.
B
But it just was so fun, and it made me miss the east coast because I feel like that's how playful we are, even with strangers. And I haven't found that here. And so that made me happy.
C
And.
B
And then all the Latinos out there, I actually asked one of them because I was like, how the hell is it 24 to 25%? And he explained to me that because it's a big farming city, it's a lot. You know, families came to work, and then through the generations, they settled and started their businesses and just like, really got grounded in a beautiful way in that city. And he said, it's a very supportive city. You know, we're dealing with ice and shit. So to hear that and to see all of the beautiful families out there with their farms and their houses and they have. It's a city known for vineyards and onions, which is interesting.
A
And, you know, I love onions. I'm going out there to give me some French onion soup.
C
Go ahead, friend.
B
As you're driving, you just see a lot of vineyards, which are beautiful, and a lot of, like, onion farms, just interesting. And we. And so now we were like, would we live in Walla Walla in our. That might be too far, though. I don't know.
A
There's so many pockets in the country, though. Just pockets of. Of industry and culture and just different ways of living that you don't see a lot of talk about. That's why you got to really be a person who views the world through a lens of let everybody do what they need to do. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely.
B
Because you know what?
A
They're getting different. You never know. And just trying to be good people.
B
Let me tell you, it was a great time like, we loved everyone we met. We had so much fun. We loved how beautiful it was. Yeah. And then the only thing is, it's such a small place that their. Their airport doesn't have any flights out anywhere. It. It only goes to Seattle, so it'll take you to Seattle. Yeah. And then from Seattle, you go on.
C
Wherever you gotta go.
B
And I think as a business traveler, that's a little bit of a headache. But. But, you know, but I also understand it's a trade off. Right. Trying to have this really kind of like. I don't want to call it isolated. It's not like there's some off.
A
No, but just.
B
But it's just very far out.
A
Yeah.
B
I mean, it's in the Blue Mountains. And they call it that because as you're driving, it really looks like the mountains are blue from far out. It's just like, I don't know, y'. All.
A
You know what I'll be doing, people. Imagine all that fresh air.
C
Please.
B
Yo. We were literally, like. As Dustin would say, we were.
A
That's the Patreon you got me wanting to go now.
B
It was. I'm telling you now. We were like, you know, he was like, well, maybe this won't be like home base, but we could have like a farmhouse.
A
Yeah.
B
You know, where they're like, where's Fran? Oh, she's at the farmhouse in Walla Walla. Like, he was like, that feels good to say that. So we're. We're thinking.
A
We're thinking some people buy a boat. You know what I'm saying? You never know. You can get you a place in Walla Walla.
B
That was another thing. Now that you're saying that. We saw a friend group out in the water with all their little boats, and they were drinking and playing music. I was like, are you kidding me? Yes. Imagine you call your friend and say, let's bring our boats out. And these were like, humble boats. I'm not talking about like yachts.
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
Boats out.
A
Which are nice.
B
Sitting out. Nice.
A
Yeah.
B
So chill. It just. To me, I'm like, I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to that life ideal living that. I think this is like a. A jumping board, you know? So that just was great. And I'm. And I'm glad that we were able to celebrate her in such a beautiful way. I love you, Ms. Diane. I love you.
A
God bless you.
B
Lone Deodorant. That's L O N E deodorant dot com. You can check them out. It's funny because if you look at the reviews all the way back to 2016, it just says, the friend zone. Hey, friend, hey. The friend zone, hey, friend, hey. Like, all the way back, all the years that I've.
A
And they still buying it. That's how you know it's a good.
B
Still buying it. Up until 2024, you still see reviews from our listeners.
A
A lot of them people. Not musty. You've done some good work. You have really done something good. Friends, man.
B
If y' all looking for a natural deodorant that works, this is the one that I have been using since, I would say 2014 or 13, I think is when I started using it. I'm trying to remember when my best friend first gave it to me. I believe it was, like, 2013, maybe 2012, actually, because I remember talking about it on YouTube and I've been using it ever since.
A
Like, I ain't never smelled one night. We've been hot together, you and you.
B
And for me to be your earthy friend. Yeah, y' all have never been around me and been like, fran, you swallowed a.
A
In no way, shape, or form.
B
It's just not an experience that I think anyone could say about being around me. So I think you take my word. I do understand that we all have different body chemistry.
A
Some of y' all need a little. I'm six one. I gotta have a little aluminum. This is their. You know what I'm saying?
B
And it's worth trying. And as the reviews will show, a lot of people have had success with it. And they have two lines. They have the bold line, which I would say is if you need a little more clinical, really funky.
A
Yeah.
B
And then they have the regular line. Then they also have it in the bottle. Regular deodorant swipe bottle. Or you can do the squeeze tube, which I actually prefer the squeeze tube. In the past, I'd say maybe five years, I switched to the squeeze tube because I like applying it with my finger. If it were a lotion.
C
Yeah.
A
Oh, yeah, yeah.
B
So it's. It's more of a lotion. It's. You massage it into your armpit. It helps with any discoloration you might have. Yeah. Because a lot of people's armpits might be discolored because of all this that all the other brands have in it.
C
Stress.
B
But with this one, I like applying it that way. It's just really, like, meditative in a weird way. So it's the one that I prefer. I use the unscented now. I used to use the lavender because it's really nice herbal scent. It's beautiful actually. If you like how lavender smells. It's really nice.
A
And lavender is strong but gentle. But as far as like covering a smell, it's perfect.
B
Perfect description. It's nice. But because I tend to layer with other scents, I actually prefer the unscented deodorant now because then it starts clashing. All the stuff I'm wearing, doing things anyway, but I'm clean. But I do have the lavender one for the days that I don't mind. So it's a great brand with options.
A
Please support. Please support y'.
B
All. Please still support them and show them love. Like I said, just expect delays, obviously. But I had to mention them again just because being in their presence this weekend just really reminded me of how absolutely, absolutely lovely they are as a family. And I don't chill with white people normally, so they're literally the only white people that I am this emotionally tied to. And I think that says something. They're just good people. They're just really good people. I love them.
C
So blessings to that family.
B
Prayers. Thank you. I love you guys.
A
E2 partner. Tambien.
B
E2 partner. And shout out to him for being a down ass dude. That was like I'm a drive. We gonna get there, you know, everything.
A
Much respect to him.
B
You gotta really appreciate someone that is just always down for you. Dustin Ross, we love you. Get into.
C
We do.
B
We do. We love you a lot. What did you get into?
A
I was trying to make you laugh, friend.
B
Appreciate it.
A
I had a great weekend. As you know, I've been working. I'm in writing mode. If I was a rapper, I wouldn't be cutting my hair. You know how they do that when they working on an album.
B
So Residents.
A
Yeah. So I've just been in work mode on Sunday. I some things to do. I had to film something on Sunday. But what I did do, number one, I went and voted so for the general elections which are coming up on Tuesday for New York City mayor and a few other proposals on the ballot, you know. So I handled that. You already know I'm which way I'm rolling and we gotta even talk about it. Cause you already know what's up. And shout out to him. Cause he went to Poppy Juice. He was at Poppy Juice.
B
What the heck? Who's the one?
A
I'm like the one time I had comedy and shit. I'm like the one time I ain't.
C
Gonna.
A
But shout out to him anyway because we ain't gonna make this political. But you know, but it is. Anyway, I am a little worried though.
B
Because did y' all see the polls? But you know what? Let's not even put that energy out.
A
No, we ain't even. We gonna look at the strip post. Cause we celebrating after this win.
C
So.
A
But, but. And then another thing I saw though, when I was out on Sunday, you know, traversing the city, the New York City Marathon was Sunday.
B
I did see that.
A
So I was walking past like the runners and shit, and I had to actually cut in front of a few of them. I had to cross that street. But so I just looked for a while. I looked at the cop. I was like, he was like, just when you see a break, just. I was like, thank you. So I went right through. I said, excuse me. My friend was laughing, you know who was laughing?
C
They was cracking up because I was.
B
Telling people, excuse me in the middle of a race.
A
But shout out to everybody that ran. One of my dear friends, who is a three time Emmy award winning producer, has produced Morning News. I'm not gonna say which major show they come on everywhere in the morning that he produced on, but shout out to my friend Eric, his Twitter. Go show him some love on Twitter. His Twitter handle is capital underscore EJ just like it sounds.
B
Oh, capital.
A
Like the word with a O. And the Eric, he ran the marathon. I was so proud of him. I was so proud of him.
B
Hell yeah. That's a lot of work. Shout out to anyone.
A
Shout out to him, man. He's an incredible host, an incredible producer.
B
That's so cool.
A
Just really, really dope. You know what friend? Remember, were you there when Teyana Taylor was being interviewed on the main stage at Culture Con, the year that you and I moderated as well?
B
Yeah, that was.
A
Remember the young man that interviewed her?
B
I do remember him actually. Cause he had a cute outfit.
C
Yep, yep.
A
I knew you would remember that. That's Eric. He ran that. My boy Eric. Eric Jones. He's really, really cool. So shout out to him. But yeah, just working, cooking over here. Dustinrosslive.com Baby, you know what I'm saying? That's where you find everything in the description, y'.
B
All.
A
And we about to announce some new. The month of December is about. Is very busy for me. I just put it like that. So that's it for me, y'.
C
All.
B
And I love the. The marathon because I told you my shout out to my best friend, she's just so great. The one that actually put me on to loan. She has run three marathons back to back.
A
Wow.
B
A mom of three at that. If you need the extra inspo, run.
A
Three back here for each marathon.
B
Literally.
A
She got three kids.
B
Oh, man, I love her. Anyway, super dope. Super dope, right? Do you guys have any announcements, anything you want to let our listeners know that's coming up?
C
No, this is random, but I've been writing and I'm very annoyed with the writing process, but we can talk about.
A
That at another time because it's a.
C
Horrible process because I. Y' all know how my brain is. I have a very vivid imagination. So I guess we could really just do this in the main part, actually. So that's it for this part. Okay.
B
Leading us in. I wanted to thank everyone actually for hanging out with us last week and Alive Stream. We had a good time watching the Tokyo Tony documentary before Dustin introduced us.
C
To his new tick tock fetish.
A
Shout out to Natasha Morgan. Yeah, listen, if we gonna leave it on Patreon, if you were there. Shout out to you.
C
Shout out to Patreon. Shout out to such a beautiful community. Thank all of you for joining. You pay your money to hang out with us, us. And then you still hold us down behind the gated community bars like we.
A
Trust each other over there.
C
You are unmatched Lechette. You are match. So thank you.
B
And if you want to check us out on Patreon, that's patreon.com forward/the friendzone podcast. If you're unfamiliar, we have the video version of every week's episode, which is a treat because Dustin and Asante's reactions really sell it.
C
We also have and Fran be acting up too, our boy.
B
We also had the ad free version of the main episode, which is nice because you can listen straight through. We also have what we call the Binge, which is a show where we recap television, we recap movies, documentaries, and we really just get in our bag. And then we have the Lituation, which is our book club. Very proud of it for those of you watching. Well, I guess if you're already on Patreon, you'd already know. I have the stack of books right here behind me and I'm gonna continue stacking them.
A
That's a very proud stack of awards back there too. I don't know if y' all see all them trophies. Okay, that's our trophy room.
B
Two more on the way. By the way.
A
Hello Kitty. And get that cat, them two that's coming in next.
B
But I do. It makes me so proud to see that stack of books. Books and to look at it. That's why I put it there. Because I'm like, I love that we've done this. We all want to be reading more books. And it makes me happy that we have found a way, work wise, to incorporate it. Yeah, that's so great. And so also the live stream, which we do once a month where we jump on for an hour and some change because we tend to go over because we're usually having a ton of fun with you guys. And there's a chat room and we hang with you guys while we watch funny things or just talk about whatever wants to come up. It's like a shoot the shit live.
A
Where we interact, we engage with the people who are watching us.
B
Yeah.
A
So it's like an added element to the show.
B
Yeah. So I think you get a bang for your buck. We're very consistent. That's three pieces of content a week in addition to the live and plus the live stream. Oh, there's a hummingbird. Hi, Brady. So it's a really good time. Definitely. Check us out if you're able to. Patreon.com TheFriendZone or Kane can check us out too.
A
Just able. Kane continues to. Now I'm just playing if you're able.
C
What about Kane?
B
Let's jump into this week's black business highlight. So I was looking through the prompt that we had put into Patreon. A lot of our listeners gave us a ton of black businesses that they. Yeah, thank you guys. Always. That they suggest we check out or businesses that they run themselves. This one stood out to me. It was by a listener under the name Loan Star Shells. Shell said, hello, family. This isn't a black business, but it is a social justice oriented college access program that serves black and Latino students from LA Unified and Pasadena Unified School districts.
A
We're listening.
B
Right. It's called the UCLA VIP Scholars Program and it's in immediate need of donations, especially after attacks on DEI programs and higher education. And that's resulted in their funding. Unfortunately, VIP's was started by black UCLA students and has helped hundreds more get into and graduate from selective universities, especially UCLA, for the past 20 years.
C
Wow.
B
So to see the program end would be totally unreal. I taught in the summer academic year program while I was in graduate school and continued to serve thereafter. Some of my former students even have PhDs now.
A
That's crazy. What a legacy.
B
And many continue, right? Many continue to do the work in our communities. Again, this isn't a black business. So it is a black business. But this is Business.
A
Yeah, exactly. I love her. What's her name?
B
She goes by Lone Star Shelves. Or at least that's.
A
Hey, Lone Star Shelves. Yeah, you ain't lone no more.
B
We with you on this, she says. So I felt compelled to share since it's time sensitive. So the link is giving UCLA Edu campaign donate and then it has a bunch of numbers. So what I'm going to do is post it in the description box under the black business section. Obviously you guys can access it there very quickly, very easily if you would like to donate. Thank you Lone Star Shells for letting us know the UCLA VIP Scholars Program. Hopefully everyone can come together and donate in time for that program not to end. Because if they've been helping for 20 years that would be devastating. That would be a huge loss, 100%.
A
And what a slap in the face. Those 20 years of hard work. I'm not going to get on my soapbox. Thank her. Thank you so much to her for writing and bringing this to our awareness.
B
Absolutely. And I'm hoping you know, because she, I noticed that she did write it it a couple of months ago so I'm hoping we didn't, you know, we're not too far out but we don't.
A
Call y', all, we finna call the office.
B
Right. So just wanted to put that into people's awareness in case they are interested in sharing and donating or volunteering their time. Let's jump into the recap segment. Last week's episode titled A Briefcase of Spaghetti. Thank you Dustin. Rob. It was the end of our 2025 spooky season. Even though the way the world feels we're in spooky season every day. It was an intersection of Bible study and crime zone. Thank you Dustin Ross. And those of you listening as always had a lot to say. Who stood out to you?
C
Asante, a few comments here over in the Spotify streets. Well, a lot more than a few, but I'll just share a few of them. First one is from Kelsey. This one actually goes back a couple weeks. It says about Ellen, the apartment was probably in Sam's name or his parents name. I doubt her name was ever even on the lease. Oh Kelsey, please don't bring me back down this rabbit hole. I think we got into a whole piece about it last week again. So then when I seen that again I got mad about that all over again. Anyway, also moving on Tricky because this was funny about the title, maybe I enjoyed Tricky's the name of the person that left the comment. Maybe I enjoyed too much of the sidewalk. But when I got to why this episode is titled what it is, I was in te. That was funny. The last one that I wanted to share is from Revolutionary. Now I'm really going to just be transparent. I'm sharing this comment Revolutionary because their name is in that text. Well, you know how you can just change Revolutionary? It's on the Spotify app. And it just always freaks me out when people have like changed their text on other apps and things. I just want to point that out. Revolutionary's comment says the King Saw story can be one or two things. Things. Either they're talking about necromancy, which is actually raising the dead, or mediumship, which is talking about. Talking about slash two spirits. As a medium, we believe spirits. Spirits aren't dead because we wouldn't be able to talk to spirits if they were. Spirits can hold on to their beliefs after they die. So the story. So the story isn't far fetched. It's funny because I always wondered why Christians believe mediums were evil.
A
Well child, if you're a medium and.
B
You listen to us holler, I'm a large.
A
Look, I want, I want, I got questions though.
C
You know what Revolutionary? Is it because you're a medium you're able to change your text like that? No, I'm just kidding.
B
Did it okay.
C
She was okay.
A
That's what I would do if I. I'm the wrong to get some powers. I'm telling you right now.
B
No, you.
A
Because if I got some powers I. Oh yeah.
B
Oh yeah.
C
Actually I'm gonna share this one last comment then I'm gonna hand it over to you, friend. This is from Candace. Friends. Oh, after Asante mentioned Rashida took me out. I only mentioned it because I remembered it. That's the only reason. Because that was a funny ass moment. That's it for me out in these streets, friend. What did you find out there?
B
So Janet Griffin in on Patreon said, fran, which walking pad did you purchase? I bought one recently and it was a piece of junk. That's the tricky part.
A
It ain't funny. That happened the way you said it was funny.
C
You know what I mean?
B
So Janet, the one that I ordered. So I saw the walking pads on TikTok and at the time I did not trust ordering from TikTok. Now I have been ordering little shit. But back then I was not trusting of it. So what I would do is I would go on Amazon and look up whatever it was that I was seeing on TikTok. I just kind of trusted Amazon More so I got one called the HCC Sport 3 in 1. It is a little on the pricey side. I will say that it's like 300, but that's why it hasn't broken down, I'm gonna assume. You know what I mean. I've had it for, I believe, over a year now. Haven't had any issues. The motor is still running. It's the. The tracking is still tracking on that pad. Literally nothing wrong with it. It. If you want to check it out, I have my Amazon shop that I've mentioned before. Anytime you hear me mentioning something like those steps, the walking pad, my weight belt, anything fitness related, beauty related, I tend to update my Amazon shop because it's just easier for you guys to just know, like, oh, she talked about. It's probably on her Amazon shop. That's Amazon.com hey, friend. Hey. So you can actually see the walking pad on there directly and purchase it if you're interested.
A
I feel like you would never do it right, but I think it would be so dope if you did an Amazon Live for your Amazon store.
B
I had a meeting. I had a meeting with them, but I wasn't. They called me. Yeah, they called me maybe two years ago wanting me to do a partnership. And I'm gonna be honest with you, it's a very interesting partnership. It's very lucrat. I was honored that they hit me, but they expected like multiple lives a week. And I was trying to tell the lady, I don't buy that much stuff.
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
And I'm not someone that's like, I'm not a product pusher. No, you gotta be a bit of a product pusher. I literally just share what I like, genuinely am trying. And that's not a lot of.
A
I see one live. I see you just going live, opening yourself.
B
Well, I asked that, I said, can I do like, like one a month? Yeah, maybe one every two weeks. And. And she was like, no, okay.
A
Yeah, that would be so cool.
B
I thought it was great. I was actually excited when she, when they hit me, we had the meeting, but it's just that that volume of product, I was like, what? I don't.
A
That doesn't. Make sense. You doing one makes sense, but not doing it like that.
B
Yeah. And I almost wish that they were a little more flexible with the, with how people do sell. You know what I'm saying? Because I'm just not that person. But I am that person. Yeah. I could, I could genuinely have a great time on there. But yeah, so that's What I'm saying.
A
People, you would be so.
B
I would be so much fun. I'd be like that lady on Potomac. You see the dangle.
A
Talk about link. Talk about comfort. I love those clips.
C
They are amazing.
A
They bring me so much joy. Shout out to so cute.
B
That would literally be me. But yeah, so that's why it's. That didn't pan out. Blue on Patreon said Fran, when it comes to the Bible, consider Psalms, Proverbs, Songs of Solomon for some light reading. And then the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have really good stories in them. The book I find scary is Revelations, and the tedious ones are the Old Testament books that list out people's names and how they're all related to them. Next person. And I appreciated Blue breaking that down for me because I did ask last week during Dustin's Bible study that sometimes the stories seem really dark and overwhelming. And so during dark times, what part of the Bible exactly are you leaning on to feel better? As I hear a lot of people say they tend to do, but I just wasn't seeing what parts that was. But thank you, Blue, for letting me know which parts to check out because I definitely will do that. I actually saw one in the SoundCloud street. Hold on.
A
That I shout out to SoundCloud.
B
Shout out to SoundCloud. Y' all be out there. We have a ton of comments.
A
That's the suburbs. Soundcloud.
C
Suburbs.
B
Shiseid said, Fran, you are correct. Disney sanitizes a lot of stories in the Hans Christian Anderson version of Little Mermaid. Every step she takes on her new legs is excruciating. She also doesn't get the guy at the end and turns into seafoam.
C
Oh, my God.
B
I was like, what?
C
I didn't even know about this version.
B
I audibly gasped when he said she turns into seafoam.
C
That's crazy. Oh, my God.
B
That's so fucked up.
C
Not even sushi, just seafoam.
B
Seafoam. Like, why? That's fucked. Thank you, Shisei. I just have to read that one. What about you, Dustin Ross? What'd you find in those Twitter streets?
A
So much stuff. But I'm not even gonna touch the biblical stuff because a few people tried to check me.
B
Oh, I wanna know what they said.
A
Send it off the record.
C
Off the record.
A
Shout out to Sherry Shepherd. Variety just posted a picture and video, pictures and video of Sher Shepard posing with her newly unveiled star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
B
O.
A
Go ahead, go ahead.
B
Congratulations.
A
Right? After so much hard work, after years of Hard work. Years of. Of her doing different things, Acting, doing comedy, standup comedy. Now she's an incredible talk show host. You know, she's got an award winning podcast with Kim Whitley called Two Funny Mamas. Sherry's just done a lot of stuff, and I'm actually really inspired by her career and her track, you know what I'm saying? Her journey, the things she's done and accomplished. Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of my, like, long term, that would be like a dream come true. Putting on my suit and leaning to the side like that on one arm. You know what I'm saying?
B
Like, I was standing at the podium, I could totally.
A
You know, I would give a speed. I'd be. I turn into Shirley Ref speech. I'd be doing that from that podium because I'd be so excited, of course. And seeing her, oh, my God. But seeing her. Except that just. And she looks so beautiful. She had a really cute purple dress on. Her hair was in a flip. She looked so good. And it just is such a moment. And she had Tyler Perry there with her. And she had Niecy Nash, who, you know, they've been best friends for like 30 something years.
B
Oh, that's even cooler.
A
Yeah. They were talking about. Niecy was talking about old stories of them trying to make it, like, in Hollywood, sleeping on each other couch type shit. And now, you know, Niecy, she's won an Emmy for acting. She has a star on the Hollywood Wal Walk of Fame. Sherry won an Emmy for the View. She's got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
C
Now.
A
I know that's gotta feel incredibly good for both of those black women.
B
So absolutely.
A
Shout out to Sherry Shepherd. We're gonna keep it positive.
B
I love it.
A
Shout out to Sherry Shepherd. Good news. Only this week. That's the only tweet for me. And it came from Variety. It was from the Variety Twitter account.
B
Nice.
A
But click every link. Anything you see about Sherri shepherd winning, getting that star. Like it. Click the link so that they get the. So that people know black talent being heralded and honored in that way is something that we're interested in. So share the articles, Click the links. Like the posts and pictures. Anything you see pertaining positive pertaining to Sherry shepherd receiving that. And anybody else black and of color and of importance and of good nature, who, whoever you are, if you're a good person, support them getting honors like that.
C
Absolutely.
B
And that means that's it for our intro.
C
And I'm timing it.
A
I'm dead Ass.
C
Serious?
A
No, I'm just playing.
B
Let's jump into this week's episode. You are welcome to the Friends.
A
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C
In this economy me.
A
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C
Next time you get chicken at McDonald's, you won't have to choose between the.
A
Creamy flavors of ranch and the tangy.
C
Kick of buffalo any longer. This time, enjoy all the flavors you.
A
Love all at once. Try new creamy and tangy buffalo ranch sauce.
C
I participate in McDonald's for a limited.
B
Time, so I have been in my reading bag. Honestly, it's thanks to the situation too. They it really just got me back in that space of always having a book, always reading something, always at the bookstore, looking for something, looking through the aisles. And so I've decided that I want to get like a small love seat or just some type of cushy setup like a reading nook here in my office. So I jumped on Wayfair and started looking to see because honestly they have so many pages. I'm still trying to decide probably weeks later from when I had the initial thought. Thought. Because if y' all don't know, Wayfair is the place to shop for all things home. Everything from sofas to spatulas. You name it, they have it. And you can get up to 70% off during Wayfair's Black Friday sale. Wayfair also has styles that you can't find anywhere else. No generic pieces that you've seen a hundred times online. So you can make your home way more you. And starting October 30, you can shop Wayfair's camp may miss Black Friday deals all month long. Plus, you can sit back and relax with Wayfair's fast and easy shipping just in time for the holidays. Like I said, I am still looking to see what I'm gonna get, but the timing is kind of perfect because I can tap into these holiday deals right alongside you guys. Let me know if you do look for anything. Send me some pictures. Y' all know how I feel about home decor. But don't miss out on the early Black Friday deal deals. Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals for up to 70 off. Y' all hear me? 7 0. And that's at Wayfair.com that's W-A-Y-F A I R dot com. And the sale ends December 7th. This week's episode is an Asante production. We're going in cold, too. We're no longer in spooky season. So where are you taking us today? Ahsante.
C
That's right. We are no longer in spooky season, and there's a lot going on in the world. I did not want to do a heavy episode. And with a lot of the episodes that I do, there's a reason that I do them, right? It's, you know, I mean, we all. We do. We do this show for our people, right? So every time I do what I do, I make sure I do it for the people. And I also have to consider, as annoyed as we are with the way that the world is right now, that I don't want to agitate that. But I'm still gonna piss y' all off today because we're going to talk about technology. That's right. Yes. We're talking tech now. We're gonna. We're gonna go in real soft. You know, Y' all know I like to get nostalgic because one of the things that has been sending me on the Internet right now is. Y' all know how they do those street interviews, the real ones?
B
I was gonna say, like, look, Cause.
C
Okay, not AI. Actually, actually, let me put that right there too. Right. We have talked about cryptocurrency, which was courtesy of you friend. We talked about drones. Okay. Shout out to Bitcoin.
B
I'm gonna say it the way Dustin says Patreon. Hey, Bitcoin, we love you, Bitcoin. No, we really do.
A
Okay.
C
No, we really do.
B
No, we really do.
C
We really do. We've talked about. About. We've talked about drones, electric cars. We talked about AI as it's been happening. We're going to talk a little bit about all those things today. That's why I want to kind of go in as like, a review of things that have come. But the reason that I talk about technology specifically for this show is because we need more in tech. We need as many black people in as many sectors of the world possible. Right?
A
So, yeah, it's almost like quality control. You know what I'm saying?
C
Saying 100. 100, Dustin. One of the earlier things. Yeah.
A
If you try to get some past our black ass.
C
Now check that.
A
Yeah, now check that. Phaedra.
C
Was that the one? Okay, good. So one of the things that I remember talking about with technology was sensors. Right. I remember this story about how the soap dispenser, it wouldn't give someone soap because it couldn't sense the color of his skin. Like, that was an issue.
A
It's racist.
C
So the. For and for these racist, Very, very racist reasons. That's why I encourage black people to go into these sectors. Now I understand even for some of the comments for the show and some of the past tech tech episodes I've done, I have not. It has not fallen on deaf ears. Technology definitely does affect the climate. There are issues that, you know, make it wrong. Right. But unfortunately, this is one of those things that is being. And I'm saying unfortunately because I'm one of those people that, like, I, you know, love technology, but I hate how certain things happen. We've discussed how there should be certain policies around even social media and, you know, how classes should be taken that should be implemented. But because these things are happening in mass, if you will, I feel like we still have to, you know, there's. We still have to be there to learn about these things. So when people are saying, have, hey, this is affecting climate change, there's niggas in there that are like, hey, this is affecting climate change. Here are the things that you can do. And also, I got to keep working on this end in case, you know, we do resolve that. So we are showing up and things are for us as we move on in the future. Right. Because there is more technology rolling out. But we'll get to that very, very shortly. Back to the original reason I did the whole disclaimer. One of the videos that I've been seeing is street interviews, right. And real ones, not AI now that I'm back to that original point, this young people, and they're asking each other, or it's like this guy showing people these pictures of items, and they have to identify what they are. And the responses are so crazy. Right. One of the pictures he showed them was of a projector, like the old school projector that they would wheel into the classroom. None of the children knew what it was. And I was just like, of course not.
B
When do they see projectors?
C
Literally, that friend. Like, of course not. Because if you remember at the time, the projector, they had that special, weird, like, clear film.
B
Yeah.
C
Like, I guess when teachers were sold, like, these, you know, lesson plans or whatever, they would come with these projector. Projectors.
A
Yeah, yeah.
C
Like the. The actual slides for the projector. I don't actually wrote on that.
A
The little clear. The clear thing.
B
That's so the memories.
C
That's crazy, because it was on our way out. So that's like. I wasn't really familiar with the projector, but, like, that was a thing. That is not a thing anymore. Like, it's, like, crazy how much technology has come and died.
A
Answering machines.
C
I was actually gonna say if. Give me. We're gonna play a game.
A
Caller id.
C
Caller id, Answering machines. Okay.
A
A box that you had to pay an extra fee to your phone company to have.
B
You remember how hyped you were when that box came and people were calling. You would run.
C
You could see who it was.
B
Like, oh, my God. God, it's my grandmother.
C
Name. Okay, so we're gonna. I'm gonna piggyback off of this in a moment, but I want you to think of pieces of technology that have died or become obsolete that kids today might not even realize. Answering machine is perfect because even though, yes, there is voicemail, how we had just the caller id, because that was just a perfect little part how we only had caller id. The fact that now they have caller ID and visual voicemail is insane.
B
I don't get the visual voicemail part, to be honest.
C
You can.
A
You can see what they said literally.
C
When they're leaving the voicemail. Right.
B
That's what makes it different. Because I'm like, what's the difference between me just sending you a video?
C
Well, no, so it's not. It's not. It's not actually video at all. Right, though, friend. So, like, you know how when back in the day, they would leave a message on your answering machine and you might could listen in? Like, not all the time. Like, remember, you had to have a special one to do it. Otherwise it's like you had to wait and call back or listen. Now with the iPhone, when they're leaving the voicemail, you can. It'll transcribe it in real time on your screen so you can decide to answer the phone.
B
Okay, got you. I wasn't understanding.
A
I'm like, what you want? You know what I'm saying before I answer.
B
Literally, call screening. Like, yeah, screening. Okay, okay, I get that now.
C
But to your point, friend, all of this stuff all rolls out so fast, right? And then they kind of just expect you, like, oh, oh. Because we're this big company and we have this keynote, you're gonna watch that and you're gonna, you know, know everything about your phone. But it's like, I feel like there are still things that I do know. I don't know about my phone at all.
B
Yeah.
C
Like when it comes to notifications, I don't even know how to silence certain notifications. Like, when it does it in my ear or the phone will. It'll like, say, you got an email. Blah, blah, blah. I can't read it. So it's in my mind. I'm like, all right, well, since you can't read the damn email, turn this shit off. But I don't even be knowing where to go in my settings. So I tried to talk back to it, and I was like. I was like, stop reading notifications. Stop reading emails. And it says, I can't do that. I said, stop reading notifications. Like, I'm sorry, I can't do that. And I'm like, well, what is the point? So now I feel like, don't talk back to me. And don't talk.
A
I literally brought you in this world.
B
No, you didn't.
C
I didn't even want to.
B
One thing I do think is cool, though, that I've seen is if someone's calling you and it sent them to voicemail, you can still pick it up. Up.
C
That's what he's talking about.
B
Like, it's saying waiting. Like, the waiting part. I don't mean the visual part, though.
A
I mean, the hand thing is up there.
B
It says waiting. Like, the person is, like, about to leave a voicemail. And you normally would just click over and then you miss the call, but now, like, you can actually answer. I think that's cool that they added that little grace period for some reason.
A
Okay, you need that sometimes.
C
You do? Yeah, because I was washing my hands.
B
I don't. I don't walk around my house with my phone in my hand. I'm not one of those people. I usually have it set somewhere and like, on the kitchen counter or on the mantle, whatever, and then I'll go and check it, you know, here and there. So I tend to miss a lot of things happening in real time. But that's a cool adjustment because now I'll be looking at the screen and be like, oh. And then I'll catch it. I'm like, oh, that's so cool.
A
You got a few more seconds to get it.
B
Gives it a few more seconds. I really like that. That.
C
See, I'm glad that we're talking about this too, because consumerism is a big issue. I feel like we always feel like we need things. I feel like I be.
B
I don't feel that way at all. I'm still on the 12.
A
My phone text.
C
Well, I was going to say you may not feel that consumerism in all categories. And it's not even just tech. Cuz if you want, like, look, I'm not putting nobody's business out there by anything. I'm just naming categories. Look, like, you know, when you think about.
B
I know. I'm like, what were you gonna say?
C
There was just a natural look there. Just a natural person. There was a natural next. And I didn't want you to think I was trying to be crazy. And I'm not.
B
What is it?
A
Look, cars.
C
You know, cars. Oh, we all got advice, but that's really the point. It's not even. It's not even to, like, say everybody.
A
Feel like they need that new iPhone.
C
That look, I. As I sit here with the newest one, like, you know what I'm saying?
A
You got an orange phone.
C
Look, look. That's what I'm saying. Like, I feel you. I'm not trying to look.
A
This ain't about shame.
C
We just say I'm part of the problem, too.
A
I am part of the problem.
C
And I'm not. I'm not wearing that proudly because when I ordered the phone and then I found out, I was like, oh, damn.
A
I ain't even gonna hold you. Tay and Fran. And in the world, my world, anything that I want, I Want it and I don't give a fuck. I seen some two days ago that I don't need, but I've. Now that I've seen it, I literally have got to have it. I feel like me seeing that it exists. Yeah. Well, it's an item. It's some glasses. But I feel like me seeing these glasses right now. Glasses, I will be brave.
B
Huge weakness for me.
A
Me seeing these glasses to me identified a gap in my wardrobe.
B
Okay. That happens.
A
Like, I didn't even think about see.
B
But you. When you consider cost per wear, like, you. You say it's a gap, which means that it's going to be used because it's filling well. So you say, right, you buy it.
A
I see the gap.
B
Yeah.
A
I got to have it cut.
B
Cut to Dustin's closet tags hanging.
A
I had to have all that shit. But I feel like that. And so in anything, like, I remember.
B
You know, he don't need it, he said. But I feel like that when I.
A
Was looking at apartments, y' all remember I was looking at apartments, and I told y', all, like, this has got to go, right? You know what I'm saying? Because I couldn't imagine life without, you know, and it's so. I don't know if that's the things.
C
That you want to feel part of me.
A
I try to balance it in so many other ways. I feel like I'm beyond, like. I don't know. I just try to balance it in every way I can. But when it comes to things that I want, like and need, per se, and that line is, you know, subjective, gray even.
B
I only think it's. I only think it's a problem if you are prioritizing these wants over things, right, that are important, like your bills.
A
If you're accruing.
B
If you're accruing an astronomical amount of debt to do that and putting yourself in a really shitty financial position, if you are, your credit is tanking, then I think now, yeah. Because if you're, like, working backwards, then I think. But if you're doing okay and you're saving your money, you have some money invested, your credit is healthy, you know, like things that need to be prioritized.
A
Yeah.
B
If that's good, then, I mean, you deserve to have some fun. That's why I don't get them tonight. That's. I never put. I'm not too hard on myself because I have phenomenal money management judgment. But, you know, I do like to play a little too much, and I know when to reel it back. Like this year, I reeled it back completely.
A
You gotta know you have to, because.
C
You ain't even like country this year.
A
I don't want to reel it back. I like fishing.
C
Okay.
B
You didn't leave the country this year. That's surprising.
C
I'm putting away today. I'm putting away for that car fund. I'm putting away for that car.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
Did you make a decision yet?
C
No, I have not. Look, I just want to have. I just want to have it stacked up so when I do decide, I can just have it.
A
So can we talk before you do?
C
Yes, we can talk before I do. We absolutely can.
A
That's all I ask is I just. Now, I ain't trying to tell you what to do. No, no, no, no.
C
Your input.
A
Input.
C
Your input would very much be welcome.
B
Yeah.
C
Especially. Cause I decided where I'm going to. So it's just like.
B
I like the one you showed.
C
I might as well.
B
You know that option you showed him. I've been driving a loner for the past three days. My same vehicle. Yeah. Something in the. The. I mean, the loan is great. I think it's just great that, like, I have a loan, you know, like, what a blessing. I'm not just out here with no car, but the. Something in the window. I went to put it down and something was like, yeah, Yeah. I was like, what? I thought a rock was in there or like debris or maybe all the leaves. You know, we get a lot of pine needles that fall. I don't know what went in there, but the window was hectic, and so I had to take it in. And then they gave me a loaner, but I'm like, ooh.
C
Oh, wow.
A
Yeah.
B
Test out some different cars as loaners, which is good.
C
Yeah. Child. Well, that's gonna be a whole thing in itself when I.
A
How long you plan on keeping that one?
B
We've been talking about that.
A
Okay.
B
Cuz we. We think we're gonna. I think that's gonna be like the family car.
A
And then get a second.
B
Cause you. You know how you need that really, like, reliable family car. And then he's about to get. It's beautiful. The interior just is so stunning. He is about to get one for himself, for work. Like a zip around car. And then I'm actually gonna get something that I want.
A
Something sporty.
B
Not a zip around car. I'll send y' all a picture.
C
Not a zip around car.
A
I hope it's. I hope it's convertible.
B
He was like, you are so particular.
A
A convertible Airport and I want Tay to get a convertible too, anyway.
B
Especially the city you're headed to. But anyway.
C
Yeah, the convertible, guys.
B
Anyway.
A
Yeah. Technology, technology. Technology of the tops is now. Is crazy, you know, Look.
C
Well, look, let's stick the technology in the car. Frank, can you speak to me about any of the techniques? Technology in your car? Like, can you. Yeah, actually, let's start.
B
Let's start with the technology I know how to use.
A
Right.
C
Let's start with the real basics. Right.
A
I think that. But let's stay there with it for one second.
C
Yeah. Come on.
A
I think that's an important take. Right? These are the functions. Of course. It has a myriad of, like, incredible capabilities. Right. But the shit you actually use, the techniques.
B
The camera.
A
Yeah.
B
Which I appreciate. I do appreciate it. Even though I think it's a bit aggressive. I've mentioned. Mentioned it before because my other car had it too, where if someone is walking past or something, stop the car. Yeah. That shit's overwhelming, though. But it did save me, though, because the other day, this dude came out of nowhere on his bike. And you have to be mindful. A lot of people play a lot of insurance games.
A
Hell, yeah.
B
To try to get you and I.
C
Really, wholeheartedly, In a crosswalk, kind of.
B
Not in a crosswalk, Wholeheartedly. Feel.
C
Feel.
B
He was trying to. With me because the way he came and darted out on the bike, it just didn't make sense. I didn't understand why he would dart out like that. If you see cars coming, you didn't even have the light. But my car stopped, and so he even looked, like, hot. You can't play these games with these new cars.
A
Did you snap your finger as you was pulling off?
B
No, because my car is tinted.
A
Honey, I thought you rolled down the window. I hit that and snap.
B
I was like this behind the scenes, though. And then the only thing that's scary is while it saved me from hitting him. But the people behind me, you know, if they don't have enough space, like, it's just a lot. I'm like, this technology is a little overstimulating. I do appreciate the camera, though, especially as someone that is not, like, 100% amazing at parallel parking. The camera helps me a lot. I don't know. You know, the vanity things too. Like, my chairs have massagers in them. They warm, they heat up. The steering wheel heats up.
A
They probably cool down too, don't they? You probably got heated and cooled seats, I'm sure.
B
Yeah, it's just. Yeah, those little, like, playful things that are cool. But that's all I really know accoutrements. So I don't know anything else that it does.
C
I don't know about your car, and maybe not. Right. But some cars, some systems. Cause we've talked about. About the Waymo and how. I don't want to get into it. Right. They use AI for some of those braking systems that you. You were talking about.
B
Sure. Which is like.
C
Like you were talking about the camera in the car, which is super useful, especially for someone like me. One of the. Well, I'll throw that arm and. And. And look back and whip it. I'm old. I'm old.
B
You should though. I don't. I never want to be too reliant on technology. Like, honestly, I. We've been talking a lot about getting a car that's like, you know, our old school. We've talked about getting an old school.
C
No tech. Just in case.
B
Just no tech. And if something happens, you just need the parts. You know what I'm saying? You got to worry about all this electrical shit. Like all this software.
A
There's a part of the catalytic converter.
C
Right.
B
I don't know what I'm going through. I think this AI shit is overwhelming me. And me. It has me looking at the ways that I contribute to everything. Needing to be smart. Quote, unquote.
C
Yeah.
B
And I have found myself rebelling in really small ways. But I'm wondering if it's going to snowball because, like, I stopped using the electric toothbrush because I just was like one day. I don't know what I went through. I was brushing my teeth.
C
Brush my damn teeth.
B
Not even that. All the lights in my mouth. Something made me be like, what the fuck am I doing? And then it has a subscription. Like, I'm like, why the fuck. And I have to charge it. You know, I brush my teeth twice a day. So I'm constantly charging this. It's so stupid to me. And I just got really irritated last week and just bought a regular ass toothbrush. And I went and got that and have been using it and I'm actually like, happy.
C
Yeah.
B
And then I have been.
C
You're just brushing your teeth. It's not a whole. Like, just let me boot up the computer.
B
Yeah. And then when we go to travel. When we go to travel, I don't have to be like, oh, let me get my charger for my toothbrush.
A
Like I used to hear and hear your toothbrush make what noise again in Sante. But you feel me?
B
Like, why the does my toothbrush have a Charger that I have to wear. Like, it's just. It's just getting.
A
My teeth ain't electric.
B
My teeth ain't electric. I really.
C
Got cheap.
B
And even my headphones, like, when I'm going on my walks. Why do I have 40 people wired ones? I've been using my old ass white wired. Like, I'm telling you, I'm going through something. I think I'm starting to feel frustrated at how much. How reliant people are getting on.
C
I'm glad you said the word again. I want to come right back to it.
A
Reliant.
B
Yeah. And I. You know, and obviously we're hypocritical, right? Because I'm speaking on a laptop and I have an iPhone.
A
Well, we make our choices where we can. There's nothing to feel bad. Not too much.
B
Yeah. And I think I'm in. In whatever ways I can. I'm rebelling. I just. I'm exhausted of the smart. I was even thinking of getting rid of my watch.
C
Yeah.
B
To be honest, because even then, I'm like, over here. Like, how many steps did I do? Oh, I didn't do 10,000. I'm like, Girl, what the are you talking about? Just walk.
C
But that's the thing, right? Like, you didn't. Reliant is the word I want to keep coming back to. So if I. If I miss my point at some point, which happens.
A
Reliant.
C
Okay. We come back to reliant. Think about calculators, right? We knew how to write the math out and do it ourselves. We knew how we learned how to do all that math, and then we still had. Still had calculators help us. We don't. I mean, well, every now and then, you might open your phone up to calculate the tip and make sure they're not lying at the bottom of receipt. But, like.
A
But we're not reliant.
C
Thank you. Thank you. So when we are met with these certain issues where we're like, okay, okay, do I need to have all these extra features? You don't need all the extra features. So, friend, you're at a point to where you don't need to watch anymore. You know, when you're in the city and, you know, you were really about your health and you need to calculate it. Sure. But now you're in a place where your health is coming natural, and you really are about your health already. You don't need the watch to tell you to walk because you've already walked to. From you've done your gym three, five times a week. Like, you know what I'm saying? You. You've hit your marks already. You don't need this to remind yourself you of that. So then, like, for me, I don't need to the camera, per se, to show me the back because I'm gonna whip my arm back. But, you know, in case I got an arm injury, it will be nice to have a car where I got my camera. So it's like, all right, well, I do know that, you know, my arm be about here. So, yeah, I can stop right now.
A
You're gonna get the one with the camera. That's why I said you need to talk to me before.
C
Well, see, I don't know. I don't know what I'm gonna get.
A
Okay, we're gonna talk about it, but we're gonna discuss it.
C
That are gonna taco about it. Yeah, we are gonna talk about it.
A
We can do it on a Tuesday. We do it. We took.
C
We.
A
We meet here anyway. You know what I mean?
C
There will be no Moesha music. Okay.
A
Won't be no Moesha Kai, either. You getting the Saturn shout out to Saturn. So.
C
I just love the fact that even though we are resistant to some things, I feel like that's healthy. Like, I feel like when there are people that are like, no, even if I'm a yes or I'm still wondering, like, well, okay, well, why are you saying no? Like. Like, what do I need to know? And so, you know, sometimes people ain't making no sense. I was like, all right, well, I'm good over here with the yes. But sometimes, like, all right, I hear you.
A
I hear you.
C
Let's see. Let's. Let's put money on it. Like, you know, I'm ready to gamble sometimes, but when it comes to technology, I feel like, you know, earlier we were talking about our vices, you know, cars, clothes. For some people, it's technology. And I feel like there was an earlier era, right? And maybe it's just because I was younger. I feel like people were. There was, like, a household era, and actually it still happens today. There are household items that you just see that you just feel like you have to have or you want to get. Dustin, hold it. Just hold it. Because I already know that. You see, like, for the time, people thought it was like the Visa VCR and the DVD player and now.
A
Or the VCI DVD player combo.
C
Combo.
B
Oh, my God, so bad.
C
But look, now you ain't even got the. Now the TV got apps on it. You ain't even got the damn box. You Know, like, some apartments don't even come with cable if you want to get regular ass cable. So you have to stream, you have to have WI fi. Shocking.
A
It is shocking.
C
But they still be having a landline in the wall. I'm like, y' all ain't got no cable, but y' all got landline. How come y' all ain't got both? This is weird, but I don't know.
B
But that's crazy with that. I remember one day my WI fi went out and I couldn't watch tv. And I thought that was so silly, right? I was like, why the fuck is my TV connected to WI fi? Like, the fact that it's all apps. And so it literally just shut down my ability to watch tv. And I thought that's part of this rebellion, I'm starting to feel, because it's just like, my God, we're dumb. We've just allowed them to control everything thing. Like, golly, I just. What happened to just turning on the box and you can go to any channel? You know what I mean? Regardless of what's happening with no WI.
A
Fi, you cut that box on.
B
Just plug it in.
A
If you know what you do.
C
You know, it's crazy because it's crazy because the box is gone. And even, like, something as simple as the remote to go with said box boxes, right? The remotes have gotten smaller. The button's too damn small.
A
I will say the buttons on these remotes are too goddamn small.
B
And it'll only be like four buttons.
A
What am I supposed to put on the arrows?
C
I remember being a child and looking at remotes and being like, damn, why are remotes so big? What are all letters and numbers on it? There used to be a lot of keyboard, but that's because there used to be different boxes for different things. It was like you had your cable box, your vcr, and then DVD when they came along. Or then you got the combo, as Dustin mentioned, Like, there were just so many different boxes for different things. But now that there's, like, one box to no box, they're like, all right, well, the remotes can get smaller, but I still have to navigate whatever is on the screen. Well, for now, right? The remote doing the gestures flat out.
A
The buttons rub off too fast. There's no reason why I had my tv or. So you have some. Three months. And the third button, the letters rubbed off. I'm sick of that. Okay. I missed that silver Comcast remote that we all had. That was sh. It was like two ovals kind of, you know, What I'm saying, it was shaped like this. I love that remote. I could do it with my eyes closed. This remote, I got to turn my light on my phone and hold it to it to make sure I'm pushing the right buttons.
C
The remote's got microphones in them now.
A
Yeah, I hate that crazy.
B
Remember you used to go to someone's house and it would just be the line of remotes on there on the.
A
Arm of the couch.
C
That's where you put them on the.
A
Arm of the codes.
B
Just mad remotes.
C
Because you had your TV remote just to turn the TV on and change it to, you know, which box. Do you got a remote for each box?
A
Whatever it was, we had the cable box remote. Yep, yep. Stereo remote.
C
Yep. Garage door opener.
A
All of that.
C
And it's crazy because even when technology changes, it also affects music. Now, I didn't. I don't have a whole segment for this. There's just one song that I always think about and how. Well, a couple of songs, but more on the other one later. I always think about Missy ellie, you know, beat me 911 and how, you know, ain't even got beepers or pagers. And then like. But there are lots of songs like that that are like, dated, but they.
A
Still good ass Escape my little secret When I got your message in my beeper.
C
Yep.
A
That you want to do everything I like. All right.
C
Because one day someone's gonna like, sing this good ass song. They're like, what's a beeper?
A
And we're gonna do like this. And now you go through the story.
C
But if you think about it, if you look at technology today, I guess you would wonder like, what a beeper, like, what the purpose of it would be. So, like, it has literally become obsolete, which is crazy to think. Like, I think people, doctors maybe still use pagers. I don't know. I'm not one. But, you know, I had one before.
B
I had a phone call phone. I had a beeper, a little yellow beeper. So funny.
C
Was it like that? See through yellow?
B
No, it was like leathery. No, it was like that suede leathery kind of like where it almost feels like suede. I can't really explain it, but it was like little yellow one. And I begged my mom for it. And then I bamboozled her. I was like, it's this how you could get. You could reach me no matter where I am. And she was like, like, okay, that's the cell, you know. And then she'd beat me out and never called Her. I. I was on the train and that's what I would tell her.
A
But you had that beeper right on your waist, looking so cute.
B
You know it.
A
Mine slid out jeans. Mine was the one. It was see through, but it was brown. Damon got it for me. It was brown, see through and it, it slid. Cleared out. So, like you slid it out of the clip.
B
That one was flies. I had like the old, old school one. I think I was what, 10th grade?
A
Where you look at the numbers on the top.
B
Yep.
A
Yeah.
B
And then you, your friends would have different codes or you, you write different things.
A
I don't tell nobody business. So never mind. I. I saved that for Patreon, but I got a funny ass beeper story for y'.
C
All.
A
I'm telling you. Oh, memories, memories.
C
Anyway, beepers became obsolete, but I feel like when those items came out. Tell him see how to cut the phone pole. Sorry, I just had another. It just happened when beepers came out before, I was trying to make the point that I feel like people wanted home items, but then I realized that that's still a thing today. It's just that sometimes people feel like they need technology. They feel like they have to have the next smoking thing. But we don't want to become reliant on technology. Technology. And there is a new product that is coming to market for 2026 that.
B
I want to say.
C
You know what I'm about to say. I just wanted to make sure that I introduced the people to it because we are one of those podcasts where we talk about these things. We've talked about Elon Musk and the chip. You know, we've talked about robots in the past. But because this one is going to be. It's been unveiled that it should be coming to market next year. There's selling it for pre order right now. I felt like we should talk about it here on the Friend Zone, which is why earlier on I was. Okay, I'm probably gonna piss y' all off today because we talking about technology. So it was beautiful to have great moments with you guys before we got here because I know that downhill from here. Okay, this is Neo. I would like to introduce you all to friend. I feel like you've already met him.
B
He's actually cute.
A
This is a strong no for me at this point.
C
All right.
B
I don't know how they're selling this, honestly, because it doesn't work yet.
C
Okay.
B
So did you see the. The demo with the lady that interviewed.
C
Them from Wall Street Journal?
B
Well, I don't remember if she was from Wall Street Journal, I haven't.
C
I haven't seen it. But, yeah, tell me about it, because I saw a clip of one that I need to watch.
B
So basically, the thought behind this Neo robot is that it's supposed to be like your personal assistant at the home. It's supposed to, like, do your dishes, wash, clean your house, do your laundry, and whatever it is that you need, like a secondhand, you know. The issue, however, is that they haven't developed the technology for the robot to actually be able to do this on its own.
C
Yep.
B
There is someone in the company that is sitting there remotely doing all of these things. So basically, there's a random person, person in your house watching you through this robot that is, quote, unquote, doing the hand movements to wash the dishes, doing the hand movements to do the laundry. I did see people saying, early adopters, like, people that are really excited about being a part of, like, innovations, they'll be okay with this because they want to be part of the group that helps this technology develop. Right, Right. So there are a lot of people that will say, fuck it, I don't care if someone's looking at me through this robot. And because they want to be a part of it, in hopes that this does become. What's the word I'm looking for, where they won't need that remote help.
A
Oh, when you're dead, when it kills.
C
You, when the robot becomes fully autonomous.
B
That's the word. You said it. When the robot becomes fully autonomous. I believe that these early adopters has faith that their help in being early adopters will allow it to get there at some point. I'm not understanding exactly. What I'm not understanding, though, is how is this already being sold for $20,000 or $500 a month is also the layaway if it doesn't have that technology developed yet. That's the part that I'm fascinated by. It almost reminds me of of all the documentaries we've watched of people who have lied about the blood. Yeah, I literally was about to go there. We did a whole episode on how she made this shit up, got all this funding. This reminds me of that.
C
Well, let's introduce the audience to Neo. But, friend, you're on the right track with a lot of everything you had to say and where I thought you was about to go.
A
So he need to sue them.
B
No, but let me tell you how. The lady was interviewing and she was like, can you show us what the robot does? And he dropped down to open the dishwasher. And he couldn't get back up his hand couldn't grab the the door to close it.
A
That that thing won't swat the out of you upside the side of your head. Ain't no way in hell. Why would I get a electric in my house. That don't even make no sense.
B
And the fact that someone is remotely controlling it. What if he likes you?
A
You should just be a trick for all that and get you somebody that is down to have an arrangement. You know what I'm saying? At least then you got a human, right?
B
I pay you to wash my dishes.
A
And then you them sick ass people in the world don't be trying to these robots and y' all are nasty.
B
Honey.
A
Oh my God. God. No. Thank you.
C
Well, here.
A
Gracias.
C
If you are a member of Patreon. I am showing a clip of said robot that Dustin Saga people will be in the future.
A
Because why is it ashy?
C
This is. This is one colorway of said robot that is coming to market. I recorded with Mandy. Shout out to Mandy B of hor we love Horrible.
B
Hey Mandy.
C
She we discussed a little bit about this robot and she mentioned that she would be purchasing one she would be interested in purchasing. So the robot is said to be able to help you with household chores, you know, such as laundry. The dishes that Fran mentioned. I think you know, down the road they're supposed to be able to update it. It's a. And it's run on AI the technology they called it is Redwood AI. It's their own little in house thing. We don't have to get that technical because why. But it's supposed to work. Roll out updates for the robots to be able to do other features. But as Fran was discussing, this robot is not fully autonomous as of yet. There are people that are I guess going to be trained, if not some trained already to, you know, deploy the task that the robot is doing.
A
They know your whole entire house look like there's some random person somewhere. Right Asante now. Yeah, it's the mayor Land. Second of all, I'm just gonna say it. Asante is showing us this video of some people. People that look like they in a cult. They all got on light colored sweatsuits in a forest.
C
Yeah, this is the original video that I seen. But this video was a little.
A
Nobody looks healthy. Everybody is. Is is.
B
Everyone looks cold.
C
Yeah.
A
Nobody got a tan. No way. Jose. Look at this. He look like he lying to us. And he the only one had on dark colors.
B
My thing is when the journalist was asking Them to show them how this works. Even through the. The remote workers. Right.
C
It wasn't pushed out.
B
It couldn't do it. Even with the remote workers. So that's the part where I'm like, so how is this already out for pre orders?
A
Why would I buy something that don't work? Why would I do that?
B
It's. And I get it. It's the excitement. And yes, obviously this has. I mean, look at it. It's a beautiful robot. I think it's a beautiful robot. I think conceptually it's. I think it's really. I think it's interesting, the concept of it. And I can see how someone would want that. I wouldn't. I would wash my own dishes. Thank you. But I also think I can see the people that are very technological that would love to have a robot in their house, but this thing isn't ready.
A
It's not ready.
B
It's not ready. And that's the part that was killing me because I'm like, yo, white people can really do anything out here. $20,000. Imagine how many orders have already been, like, not fulfilled. Wrong word. How many orders have been sent out already?
A
Go ahead. Now when y'.
C
All.
A
When that gets on its Rihanna and starts breaking dishes everywhere in your house. Okay, just, just, just, just wait. When it starts locking your ass in rooms and breaking the fucking doorknob off and you. Ain't nothing choking you because this is.
B
Still a person that's remotely. What if they're psychotic? Like, I don't know. I watched True Crime. Now you act adding a robot in my house that a man is controlling or a person, I should say.
A
You in there trying to take a bath and you hear that shower curtain slide.
C
And they say you. Oh, my God.
A
Next thing you know, you electrocuted that ro. That robot tried to get in the shower with you. Hell no. Hell, all you hear is that what you see Alfred Hitchcock in the shower. Dead.
C
You gotta write that one down. I'm sorry. I know you don't with technology, but you got to write that one down. That needs to be developed.
B
That was so good.
C
I would die if I'm watching Black Mirror some. And a robot. What you hear?
A
What's the sounds you hear? That's what you're here.
C
No.
A
You know what I'm saying?
C
Yep.
A
And then what you have today, because you did.
C
You didn't Got electrocuted. Oh, my God.
A
You seen what happened that. God bless that man that. You seen that man that boiled in that shit shower.
C
Oh, no.
A
Yeah. That was Terrible in that hotel. Off record, like. But how does that happen?
B
No idea.
A
I know some people like really hot showers.
C
I was going to say in some of those hotels. I'll never forget there have been a couple of hotels I've stayed at where that hot water got real hot.
A
Cuz you know why? They had a robot running the damn water thing. You turn that knob on a high water heater.
C
So. All right, well the Neo home robot as we've been discussing it is available for pre order and I'm not mentioning that because this is a promo because fuck that. Like full transparency. I don't want a robot in my home. Not because I'm scared or anything. I just. It's just not attractive to me. I'm a single man, I like shit to look the way that it looks. I don't feel like a robot can really clean for real or do what? Like I just. There's not a purpose for me to have a robot. Like I just.
B
I'm surprised.
C
I don't understand why I don't need a robot to play video games with me.
A
I'm happy you're on this side of it.
C
We'll be. Well, I feel like technology how I feel about the Internet. I feel about like technology, right? Like, I just don't. There's literally not a necessity for me to have a robot. Like not even. And there's not even like an attraction of like. Well, it would be nice to have a robot to fold clothes and I got to go refold the clothes because the robot didn't fold like there. I just don't see like even I think about the robot vacuum. I had a couple. I've had roommates where they had robot vacuum and it just felt pointless. I don't own a robot vacuum.
A
I'm scared of those.
C
I'm not even scared of it.
B
Robot like the roombas, you mean?
C
Yeah, like, yeah.
B
Oh.
C
Because even, even those use like infrared technology to be able to like read the room and do all that.
B
But suction, it creates a grid of your home.
A
Get a vacuum.
C
But that's what I'm saying. Like the suction power ain't even that great on it. It's not going to get certain corners and stuff. It's not going to even touch certain things because it feels obstructed at certain ang. Like it's just not like. Like those things are waste of money to me. Now people with money and space and they have light use areas. Sure. Robot vacuum, clean it. Because you know, we only use this spot every Once in a while or you know, light traveling in it. Cool. But like y' all need to get a real vacuum up in this piece every night. Like real mob. We need to get this piece together. So I don't see Neo the robot doing that for me. However, certain people saw this thing go up and they said, I'll, I'll take two. I don't know why, I don't know why, but it's a deposit you could pay today. They have two different ways you can purchase it. You could buy it outright and I guess it gives you, well, it gives you ownership with a three year warranty, premium support and priority delivery. Right. I guess that's when they unbox it for you and I guess probably set it up. I don't know, I just only mentioned these. Stand it up, the standard. I know you said stand it up, right? Literally just gonna stand this up and leave. Like what are y' all gonna do for the standard? It's $4.99.
A
Natasha Morgan, Asante.
B
Okay, bye.
C
The standard is 4.99amonth and it gets, you get a monthly subscription to whatever this Neo service is.
A
Wait a minute, the robot is $20,000 and then you have to pay a 500 monthly fee?
C
No, no. So there are two ways you could pay for the robot. You can either buy it outright for 20k or you could pay, pay. You could, I guess lease it for 500amonth. Right, okay. And so, but, but I'm glad you asked that because when I saw monthly description, monthly subscription, so 4.99amonth is a base in my mind, I'm like. So like there are probably different price tiers to this. There's like a whole structure here happening. But the reason I even mentioned these things is because people are going to look at this and think, wow, that's affordable. Which to some degree for some people. Well, sure, but I don't see, I mean, hey, that's not affordable for me. And again, like I don't have enough for this.
A
$500 on a damn toy a month.
C
That's what I'm saying. It's a toy. Like it's being marketed as a home robot. And to friends, like earlier frustrations, these things cannot do shit. Like you're literally gonna have somebody.
B
If it was developed, if it was developed, if it was fully developed, fully autonomous, where yes, that thing is washing your dishes, cleaning your house, doing your laundry. I could see why want to pay for sure dollars a month because you're buying time at that point, right? You're Buying the time that you would be doing these chores. A lot of people don't have that time. Especially I would imagine like a businessman or someone that's constantly traveling.
C
A family with one or two kids that might be doing a little.
B
All right, you know, family with some.
C
Doing and they want to buy a new robot. I want them to. So. Yes, right.
B
If it's fleshed out, it could give them mom some space to not have so much to do on her plate. You know what I mean? So I can see the people that could benefit. But it, like I said, it doesn't work. So what are we paying for right.
A
Now but a walking self checkout, right? Something that's gonna take jobs. There are people who. Domestic services like that, housekeeping, things like that.
C
Yeah, that's why I mentioned these prices.
A
That's a whole industry. And that 500 you spending on that a month to hire someone, employ someone, someone. There are people who. Those schedules accommodate whatever else they have going on in their lives. You can have a person doing that shit, you know what I'm saying? The only thing, only the. I won't just be completely negative, right? One way that I could see this benefiting someone is from a privacy aspect. So say you were a person of some sort of status who had to protect your location or protect whatever and you would have something like this as opposed to a live person in your home. I could see the other appeal in that scenario. See, I'm not all just downing on the thing now, I tell you. That's good, that's the thing. Because about my part.
C
Good, I'm glad because I mean, you brought up something very great, right? Like the original concern for Fran and I. I think it's a general concern and a good one is the privacy aspect. So like how you mentioned privacy is a great reason to have one of these. It's also kind of like a double edged sword right now because you just have some sort of customer service agent agent or I don't even know what they're gonna call some operator working the damn joy cons trying to maneuver in your house and not break your dishes while, you know, you're upstairs trying to.
A
You know, and what if they fall asleep?
B
And is it. And is it like a call center where you get a different person every time you log in?
A
Right.
C
So that's the thing. This is.
B
Are you gonna have the same person that's constantly monitoring your specific robot? You know, like that's a. That's. That's vulnerable.
C
So this is the thing, right? This Is because it's available for pre order and this is newer technology that's going to be released. That's why I wanted us to have these conversations, because these are things that need to be taken into account as these technologies are released, as they're unraveled. Now, I'm not saying need to go work for Neo and you know, get that. I mean, if you want to, if it is attractive to. To you, by all means do it. But really my point is I want to be able to kind of discuss concerns around certain things like this because they are great things. Like, that's why, like, y' all would expect that I would have something like this. I love showcasing stuff like this. I just love when stuff like this makes sense. And I feel like someone's gonna be like. Like, we're giving good cases of where, you know, it could work out in a home. But I feel like someone's gonna be like, oh, 500 bucks a month. I'm gonna give me one of them bad boys and we're gonna go to the grocery store together and that's gonna be my companion and blah, blah, blah. And it's gonna be like, girl, they.
A
Can'T roll a blunt. How it's gonna wet, can't.
C
Well, it might be able to look cones. It might be able to stuff a.
B
Cone, not the cone. And what if they get like 10,000 orders placed, right? So now 10,000 people need a remote person. Like, have they considered this? Or maybe there's going to be a cap to how many they can actually.
C
Depending on how many they can produce and how they can produce.
B
And then are they going to have. And then my thing too is, is this going to be like a headquarters where these people are going to be working at for safety reasons, you know, like, are they going to be in their house doing. You know what I mean? Like, is the person remotely going to be in their living room monitoring your living room?
C
I think because this is new studio.
A
With a bunch of sensors on.
C
I think because this is new, they definitely have to have this like headquarters or like, you know, some spaces dedicated studio.
B
Because I would think for these are unique types of calls for legal purposes, purposes and safety. They would have to be able to monitor, you know, like they would. These workers would need to be under some kind of surveillance themselves, I would think.
C
Well, yeah, all systems should be surveilled to some point, you know, in businesses. Right. But I feel like homes with these types of devices too. It has to be a specialized type of, you know, customer service. Like it has to be someone. Like, I don't know if they're hiring programming teams. Teams. Or they're hiring people with no experience in training them off the street. But you have to be specialized to some degree. Because if the robot is malfunctioning, like in the Waymo. Because. Because you're bringing up great points, friend. Like, I was watching this video of this girl in the Waymo losing. It's not funny.
A
Freaking out.
C
Well, a man, this had his luggage on top of the damn car. And it was hitting the car, and she. You can hear it connected to Waymo customer service. And she was like, hi. Someone's attack in the car. He's like, yeah, I did see somebody walk by in the camera. And he was like, are you okay? She was like, yeah, we driving. But no, I'm not okay.
B
Wait, what? Like, someone attacked the car with their luggage. What do you mean?
C
Like, a. A person. An unhoused person was walking by and basically was having an episode in front of the damn wayo. So this girl just in the back of the car connecting to.
A
If someone was having some issues, right? And they see a car moving with no driver, I can see how that would be triggering, I'm gonna say. Cause I could see how that would make somebody be like. It was. You know what I'm saying?
C
It was the. Well, into that point, I could.
B
Oh, my God.
A
I can understand how things got to.
C
That point if, you know, I'm just like, the Neo. I feel like if it is fleshed out, because for me, I'm not even so much as concerned about how the customer service of it all could happen. I feel like that's just something like, these are things they got to take into account when you're releasing a product like this. Y' all better have all of that, you know, to whatever degree, I think, because, like, you're saying the privacy of the people being in your home, this is still newer stuff. This is like a beta. When y' all get these first Neos, y' all are going to have, like, the pioneers that y' all want to be. Y' all are going to be the ones teaching it the information so it can correctly and efficiently do these things. By the time we own 3.0 or 5.0, whichever one where the Neo, I'm finally back it. I need to have. Have one now, because 1.0, I don't want it. But I'm sure at some point zero down the road, I might want to get one, you know, like, so I'm not saying this is a stupid ass idea.
A
I'm saying that was me, that wasn't him.
C
That's look, so from on a scale of this is not a good idea to, you know, this is an amazing idea. I really sit like right in the middle. Like, this is an amazing idea. I just don't feel like this is an amazing idea that people need to go out and be part of the 1.0s. I respect. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I don't feel like. Because I feel like I can see it. I can see this as a, an assistant. I don't even want to say it because I feel like people are going to hear and they're going to be like, oh, so you want this to replace xyz? No, these things can assist. You know, I do see an irobot future, unfortunately, now that this is going to be unveiled in 2026. So if we are going that direction. If we are. Because I'm not saying that we have to or that we should because some people are listening like you always saying. No, I am not. I'm just saying these are the trends. Said what he said, these are the trends. When I'm looking under CNET's Instagram and I'm seeing people say that they want it, when I'm hearing it from Mandy, say that she wants it, I'm like, well, damn. Like, you know, it look cool or whatever. But do I need that? No, I don't need that. So I, I just think that you need it. I don't need that. I. I don't need that. Look, not today. I. Last night I. I needed it, but I don't need it anymore. Okay.
B
Or someone that has like, disabilities.
A
Oh, yeah, like mobility.
B
Yeah, that would be fire. But you know, this isn't going to be.
A
I didn't even think about that.
B
Yeah. Someone that lives alone and might need that level of assistance. This would be so incredible. But I know this isn't going to be something that's accessible to the masses. And so. You know what I mean? It's still tricky. I don't know. I can see how it's how and who it would be useful for. But. But we already know this isn't an accessibility product.
A
We need Magic Johnson, Shaq, Marc Anthony. Who else? What other communities can we hit? We need them niggas with a lot of money, people of color with a lot of money to buy these and donate them to older people of color. They live alone. And older people with disabilities and people.
C
Other people that are differently able information 2.0, 3.0.
A
They need to buy some for them.
C
Once they start working.
B
Working that out.
A
Second batch.
C
Right.
B
That's what.
A
Need them to buy these for people that need them. Because that's brilliant. I didn't even think about that. I actually feel bad not even considering that, because that would be an elderly person.
B
And this thing goes and gets their groceries.
C
That's what I'm saying. There. There are. There definitely is a place for the robot. Right. So for me, I think maybe, hell, maybe they're not charging enough. Maybe this should go to the super rich to train the shit first so they can, you know, have the accidents. And then once we finish figured it out, you know what I'm saying?
B
Like, yeah.
C
And then once we've kind of fleshed out, like, all right, the robot do a little bit too much. So, like, let's tone it down. And then we can be able to sell it for the household. And then we can, you know, go into schools to help, you know, as an additional thing. And then going to hospitals or homes for home care as an additional thing. Not the end all or not the only thing. Right, Right. Always an assistance. Not.
A
I love the way it's worked out for us. Something positive.
C
Yeah, I love that, too.
A
Give it up for y'.
C
All.
A
We find a positive technology thing. We even got friend to clap.
B
There we go.
C
Look, she have a half clap. But she. Yeah, So I just wanted to. Because, Fran, you gave the key word that I really wanted to touch on today, which was reliant. I don't want us to become reliant on these technologies. And that's why when I. When I first saw this robot and it said, you know, marketed to be your home product, I could think about all the times we saw, like, back in the day, just those. It's not the home shopping QVC type sh. As a Stacy. But just like the shopping commercials of, like, you know, the George Foreman commercial and all.
A
Yeah.
C
The infomercials. And now to the Ninja Slushy. Like, they're just these home things that we feel like we need sometimes kitchen related, sometimes they're, you know, TV related. And then sometimes we just want them to do all the tasks of our household. This robot is marketed to do that as. As we have mentioned. It does not do that yet.
B
Right.
C
And so I feel like you all should hold your wallets closer to you, you know, use your money for things. Things that are necessary. And I know that this is not a. Because, look, we're going into the holidays, and this Is a gift not to give idea. Because somebody is going to get this receipt for Christmas that says, I put down a deposit on one of these robots so you can have it next year. And they're gonna be, oh, my God. And actually love that for whatever reason, there are people that are going to be like that. We don't have to be that way. And that is okay. I hope that you all enjoyed this nostalgic rundown. Technology, technology. The twists and turns. That robot got room for this future.
A
Robot friend robot gonna be out in the farm. Okay.
B
That's why. But that's why when I. You know, it's ironic that you had this episode because I was just having this convo while we were out there. I was like, I feel like while the world and I had this convo with Haas, shout out to Haas, we love you. Haas literally had this combo maybe like, back in 2017 or 16 when we were out in the. I think we were in Joshua Tree, and we were talking about, as she called it, the bifurcation of society. Right? Where there's going to be a split. And she's like, there's going to be people that are going super far into technology as we see, and then the other people that are going to feel inspired by that and go the opposite way, which is wanting to be the people that are working with the land and kind of wanting to create the communities that don't lose the recipes, as the kids say. You know what I mean? And I remember us having that combo and me being like, I feel I'm part of that. I just don't want us to lose the recipes. And even being where we were this past weekend, how that makes me feel, as opposed to when I wake up in the morning and I'm just doom scrolling through my phone and I feel like I want to throw up. It's like my body has very clear, clear reactions to both sides. Yeah, Very clear reactions. And one of those sides does not make me feel good. And I think that's what's letting me know which side I'm on. Regardless of, like, which side I want to be on. My body has its own, you know, you have your own wisdom. It's like, no, no, no. This is not for us.
C
You're talking about something very, very real, friend. Because part of me, like, that's why I mentioned, like, when I talk about these 10 tech episodes, it's not to say you all need to get with it. It's more so like something is happening. For those that feel called, like, we Need y' all up in there. So for the ones that aren't called, when we call y', all, y' all can give us the information so like we can like marry these things. Because this technology is moving so fast. That's why climate change is affecting it, right? Like it's, it's up. But the technology can help with the climate change, right? Unfortunately, sometimes the information is like, all right, this technology gathered this information. Information. But we don't even have a solution to fix whatever this particular issue is and whatever this area is because it might, you know, be in a different country where the resources aren't the same. And of course the world isn't going to come together and do. Because they're making money, doing the wars and destroying other. So why save the whole world? Like, you know, it's just this weird little cycle of.
A
So we need, so we need. This is where everybody has to put their hand in the pot, so to speak. If we're going to talk about not losing recipes, right. What we need to do then our generation of adults who are more, most often, right, Parents. I know none of us are parents, but it's a lot of motherfuckers our age with kids. We need to raise our children with a view toward training them in these fields. If this technology is the wave of the future, let's learn how to do it. Let's learn how to operate it, let's learn how to in essence control it. And then we have to get off of our asses and stop being lazy when it comes to funneling down the real information, the real recipes and shit, right? I feel this same way about being a black, black gay men. I feel like the commercialization of black gay life, you know what I'm saying? Even down to the language. Gay people, black gay people. Specific black and brown gay people, you know what I'm saying? Used to have, be able to have a conversation in front of people and you would think they were speaking a different language. Now people have co opted at some of those words, all that other shit. We still need to understand that those words, those words were created to protect us so that we could talk about safety, safe places to be, places to go, ways to find community when those sort of rights were not available to us. As it appears we're on our way back to that shit. So that's where the no losing of the recipes part comes into play. So I think we gotta be like Beyonce, meet in the middle and dance all night. You have to have people who, yeah, for sure, fully understanding.
B
That, yeah, yeah, definitely.
A
We need all three of us, we need Asante in the tech, we need friend in her beautiful farmhouse with that gorgeous kitchen. And then, then we need me being able to go to both. You know what I'm saying? If this works, we need people. We need boots on the ground.
B
Yeah, yeah. Oof. What a world.
C
Yes, A crazy world. And now Neo is coming to it. I hope you all have enjoyed, enjoyed this fifth hundredth and one episode. Sorry, I. It was. It was the only thing I could think of.
B
What was I trying to say?
C
500.
B
But why did fifth come out? That was so. You know what?
C
Because it made perfect sense. Because, yeah, it was the. You know what? This makes more. But friend, this made more sense than. There was an argument on Twitter about how come 10 doesn't end in. In st or something like that.
B
Oh, I saw that. Where some guy wrote 30th or something like that. The girl, she was like, are you trying to say 30th?
A
I will never forget on the Celebrity Apprentice when Nene Leakes and Latoya Jackson were arguing. And it cut to Latoya Jackson's interview slash confessional scene. And she said, he needs nothing but a big, big bully. She's nothing but mouth and height. She's nothing but mouth. And she had her hand up and then she's like, mouth and height. And she was dead ass serious talking about Nene because she's tall. You know, Nene's 5 10. So she's like. She's nothing but mouth. And it was a beat. She's like. And height. She said it just like that. And I will never in my life forget that. In my days on this earth. I'll never forget that.
B
But it's like, did she think that's how you said it? Or, you know, sometimes you say she.
C
Thought she was on a roll, so she just.
B
And you'll say it wrong and then you'll be like, why the did I say it like that?
C
She didn't have that long Legion. That didn't happen.
A
You saw a fire in her eyes. She was so goddamn mad at Nene. Nene had been pulling her cat cuz, you know, Latoya Jackson is pale, right? So Nene had been calling her cast for the Ghost in the height of arguments, in a hive of arguments. She had been calling her Casper and talking about you're nothing but your last name and like that. Yeah. And so that's why she was mad because. So she started cracking physical jokes. Nothing but mouth and height. Talk about she Did I remember that?
B
Should we name this episode Nothing? Mouse and height.
A
You'll be up to a. Yeah, that.
C
Robot ain't to going be nothing but mouth and height cuz it ain't going to be able to do in your home. That was perfect.
A
Mouth and height. I'm going try to find a clip.
B
She has a big mouth. That's all she is is mouth and height. And she uses that for her advantage. How should we spell height?
C
Phonetically, just like it sounds. Hythe.
A
H E I G H T H. Height.
B
Oh, lordy lord.
C
Well, that's it for this week's main. I was going to say main issue. The high button.
B
Yeah, main issue is correct.
C
Y.
A
We definitely got issues.
B
Let's jump into this week's segments. Thank you. Asante.
A
Yeah, thank you.
C
That was good. Thank you. Thank you.
B
Skipping cold and flu season is plan A. But if you do get sick, be prepared for plan B with Kleenex lotion tissues. Kleenex lotion tissues moisturize skin, helping prevent the added discomfort of red irritated skin on top of your cold and fluffy flu symptoms. So this cold and flu season, grab Kleenex lotion tissues. Visit kleenex.com to learn more and buy now for whatever happens next. Grab Kleenex just in thousands of winter arrivals at your Nordstrom rack store. Save up to 70% on coats, slippers and cashmere from Kate Spade New York, Vince Ugg, Levi's and more.
A
Check out these boots.
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They've got the best gifts. My holiday shopping hack Join the Nordic. Get an extra 5% off every rack purchase with your Nordstrom credit card. Plus buy it online and pick it up in store the same day for free. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you Rack mint is still.
C
$15 a month for premium wireless. And if you haven't made the switch yet, here are 15 reasons why you should. One, it's $15 a month.
A
Two, seriously, it's $15 a month. Three, no big contracts.
C
Four, I use it. Five, my mom used to say, are you. Are you playing me off?
A
That's what's happening, right?
C
Okay, give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only.
B
Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.
C
See Mint mobile.com.
B
This Week in wellness. It actually does tie into to the hot button in terms of the environmental impact that a lot of this AI and their data centers will have on the world and how unfortunately it's more of the rural areas, the inner cities, the poorer countries that will suffer the ramifications of these wealthy people playing with robots and fucking chatgpt. So that's the sad part. I think that's a part that is not being discussed enough. And as we're seeing how these natural disasters are just ramping up to unheard of levels. Right. Category 5 storms as we just witnessed Jamaica and certain parts of the Caribbean just experienced last week. I did mention during last week's wellness segment that I wanted to compile some relief efforts. I know that we tend to lean on bigger names for those relief efforts, but as we've learned, they tend to steal from different countries. We don't hear how they have helped. Like look at Haiti and the Red Cross, how much they've stolen from Haiti. Haiti continues to be destroyed by natural disasters and somehow with all the relief efforts, they have not been helped in all these years. And it's just mind blowing to me. So I wanted to do my due diligence and I do want to thank our listeners because we had a lot of listeners on the ground ground in the Caribbean telling me about the local orgs that they know, that they see and that really to me felt much better because I'm like, this is who I'm going to highlight because if y' all are seeing them help your community firsthand, I would rather trust that 100%. Yeah. And a lot of us mean well, right, when we repost and we, you know, retweet and we're just like trying to help. But a lot of times we don't actually know the these orgs.
C
Right.
A
We just know we have access to.
B
We know what we have access to. And so I'm grateful to be able to compile something that's more on the ground. I do want to start though with one of the orgs that I did see and I do trust because I've heard a lot of good things about Wat Good y' all have heard.
A
Yes. Charlie Ralph's son.
B
Absolutely. Walk Good, founded by Etienne. I love his name. Etienne Maurice, who is, as Dustin said, the son of.
A
Shirley Ralphson.
B
I mean, hey, he created the Walk Good organization which is a family led wellness non profit org providing equitable healing spaces for underrepresented, underrepresented communities and individuals. This is as stated on their website. He has been because his mom, Sheryl.
A
Lee Ralph is from the Caribbean, Jamaica specifically.
B
Right. And so of course this was something very near and dear to their heart. They created her hurricane relief funds that is helping Jamaica, but it's also helping Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. Although Melissa, the hurricane didn't have any landfall in those areas. But they have been affected by the aftermath for sure. Lots of flooding and strong winds. A lot of people actually have died in those respective islands as well. So if you want to work through Walk Good, you can can text walkgood jamaica to 53555 or you can go to givebutter.com that's g I v e b u t t e r dot com watgood jamaica. And if you go on their Instagram, which is wagood, you will actually see a link that will show you all of the different communities that they're serving. So I did want to mention that. I also wanted to mention one organization that our listener of ours named Cato, which I mentioned last week. Thank you so much, Cato. You've been phenomenal. She actually sent me mental health resources as well that are down in the ground in Jamaica.
A
Thank you.
B
Yeah, That I will list in the description box as well. She put me on to the Food for the Poor organization and they are a larger organization based out of Florida. But right now they are doing a hurricane relief fund. You can go to their website@foodforthepour.org it's actually the largest charity organization in Jamaica. When I went on their site, it's an interdenominational Christian org that assists the poor in 17 countries within the Caribbean and Latin America. Okay, so they're doing phenomenal job. A phenomenal job. I actually saw this. Sean Paul is partnering with them.
A
Okay.
B
Paul has the Sean Paul foundation and he is matching money. So up to $50,000. He's matching every dollar that is donated. That's amazing. Obviously, Sean Paul, if you're unfamiliar, is a very successful. Right. Prominent Jamaican artist. And so him and Shaggy as well. I did see a role in was him. Right. I did see a Rolling Stone article. It's titled Dance Hall Icon Shaggy Mobilizes Private Flights of Aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Lisa. He. He's been flying in food. He's been flying in water and supplies. So you can definitely. And they've been partnering up with Sean Paul and this food for the poor.org as well. So you can go to food for the poor.org or if you wanted to go to their specific Jamaica tab, you can go to Food for the poor. J a.org so cool. Also go to Jamaica's official government site. That's another one that a lot of you are sending my way saying the official government site has put up a relief portal and in this portal you can see their national needs checklist. You can report incidents, you can volunteer your time and you can donate your funds as well. And you can find that@supportjamaica.gov j that's the official Jamaica's official government site. Another one that's important. World Central Kitchen. Have y' all heard of this by Chef Andres?
C
No.
B
His name is Chef Jose Andres. He's like a really famous Latin chef and he has been working, he's been using his culinary skills for charity, which I've always found really beautiful. Like he has been in Haiti for the past 15 years. He's one of the main chefs that was helping out in Gaza. You know, like right now they're working, they have relief teams even supporting the federal, federal workers during the government shutdown. His team is out in Alaska for the typhoon. Remember we mentioned that no one was talking about this typhoon. They're still, like I said, having relief teams supporting with what's happening in Gaza and as well as in the Caribbean with Jamaica and Haiti. Haiti. If you go on their site, which is WCK.org that's World Central Kitchen. They are on the ground everywhere.
A
Okay, good.
B
I mean there's no world incident that they are not a part of which is like mind blowing. That's crazy, right? That their team is that has that much reach and is that large that they can do that. I've heard a lot of really amazing things. I was actually listening to an interview that he had on npr just trying to understand like where did this come from in him? You know, to, to, you know, a chef is most likely going to just want his high end restaurant.
C
Right.
B
And meanwhile he's going in these really dangerous political climates and using his culinary skills in that way.
A
It's just blessed. He's blessed, right?
B
He really is really interesting, man. Don't forget, like I said, Southern Haiti has been hit by the severe flooding and landslides. Apparently more than 30 people alone have died in Haiti. I did see that Hope for Haiti is another organization that I definitely want people to check out. Hopeforhati.com they have been working with Haiti obviously for a very long time as Haiti has been continuously destabilized. But obviously with this happening now, if you would like to donate as well to their current, current efforts. What I did see is Sudan. I don't see enough information of how to help the Sudan conflict right now. Have you been hearing a lot about Sudan? I want to also do more research on how we can Help. I'm seeing a lot of people discussing the conflict online. I even reposted one young lady the other day who was kind of breaking it down for us, for those of us who are unaware of what the conflict is even. Even about. But I'm not seeing a lot of information on what we can do on the ground to help. So I guess the same way that I put out this call for action, if anyone from Sudan or, you know.
A
Has relatives or friends that are there.
B
Yeah. And the reason I ask is because, like I said, with the way the Internet is now, a lot of us just repost what we see, but we unaware of if those orgs are actually down on the ground helping. And I'd rather get firsthand information from those who are familiar 100%. Yeah. Just like with these. And the listener named Cato who I mentioned, she sent me literally, a list of like, 10 different orgs, as well as mental health services down in Jamaica. So I am going to list everything that she sent me in the description box under the wellness segment, all the links to these sites that I've mentioned, all of these relief funds, as well as the ones that she has sent my way just to make sure that you guys have some options, right. If you want to volunteer. There's also a lot of banks, food banks, clothing banks in New York City. I'll post the addresses for those as well that people have sent my way. So thank you again to the listeners for mobilizing alongside myself and you guys to get that word out. I do next week, I want to focus on the SNAP benefits conversation because that's something that I'm trying to figure out. What's the best way that we on the friend zone can help with that? And obviously there's a lot of local things that we could do for our communities. Right. Like, I know I'm already volunteering and shout out to Portland because they have not been playing. I don't know if y' all have seen any things. I've seen is a lot of things going viral of literally, it feels like every restaurant out here is offering free meals.
A
That's beautiful to see.
B
Yeah. Like, you can just go in for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner. I mean, it's. It's amazing how people are mobilizing. So it's really inspiring. And I just want to make sure to. To be able to contribute. I've already signed up for a lot of volunteer work out here, but I know a lot of our lives listeners will be challenged this month, and I want to make sure that we can help in any way that we can. We just figure out what that looks like. But yes, like I said, every, every link will be in the description box for those who are interested in kind of going down that, that road. So I love you guys. Thank you for helping.
A
Thank you.
B
Absolutely. And that's it for this week in wellness.
C
Thank you very much, Fran, for all that you do.
B
Absolutely.
C
In this week in music. I just have one other woman I would like to thank and then we can get right on into the listens lately songs to play. The one woman I'd like to thank that I have already mentioned previously is none other than Megan the stallion. Yes. Megan the stallion. Billboard Hot 100 has reported that there were no rap song, that no rap songs appeared in the top 40, marking it the first time since February 3, 1990. There were. There were no rap songs.
B
Wow.
C
There were like from October, October 25, October 25 and November 1, no rap songs appeared in the top 40.
A
And Taylor Swift, because her album dominated. That's how.
C
Oh yeah, Taylor Swift, which, her album just came out. Not surprised. But just like she sold like 4.
A
Million, 3 or 4 million records her first week. Right.
C
I. I haven't seen the numbers.
A
Just, it was like astronomical.
C
Right? You know, do you think, girl.
A
So who cut through all that though?
C
You said what?
A
Who cut through all of that though?
B
Who?
A
Megan with the sales. That's what she was about to say. Right.
C
Okay. Yeah. Because sorry, I. Yes, she ended the. Sorry.
B
Yes.
C
You were really throwing me with Taylor Swift. That's why I'm just like, look, the two week drought, it came to an end this week thanks to Megan thee stallion with the track lover girl. We previously discussed lover girl. She came in at number 38 on the highway Hot 100. It was the first rap song deemed eligible defined by billboard as a song deemed eligible for ranking in their hot rap songs listing to reach their ch. Their charts top 40. Since Kendrick and S. Luther spent its 44th and today final week on the listing dated October 18th. So Kendrick was the last one in there. And then Megan brought hip hop back to the game for Billboard. So I just want to shout out my homegirl, you know, my OG hottie. We just ended hottie wing real strong with this news. So I just have to shout that out for the people. That's it. That's. I just want to talk about positive things in music. And there's nothing more positive than seeing an artist that you love in love, having fun, looking good, and the bitches in the booth. So Checked all my boxes. I'm happy, I'm satisfied. Now we can move on to the most important part of the segment, which is the artist dimension. Listens lately. Songs to play. I think that, friend, you've been listening to some good music because you are always are. So let us know what you been over there listening to.
B
Right? I'm like, let me see. So this is very random, but do y' all know that I love Makonin, lives in Portland?
C
No, no.
B
Yeah, I remember Makonin.
A
Right?
C
Yeah.
A
Going up on a Tuesday, right?
B
So Makonnen, I saw that he has been popping up. He went viral recently because someone saw him, like, working at a restaurant. They were making fun of him. And I think that that's. Yeah, I think that's something that happens where, you know, people's careers just don't pan out as planned for whatever reason. And they have to do what they have to do. I mean, we have bills, you know, I mean, why is that so shocking or surprising? And I hated seeing that, that they were making fun of him. He seems to be. I didn't know much about him, but from his TikTok, because obviously it popped. Popped up for me. He seemed so, like, chill and sweet, and I just kind of was like, damn, that sucks. And it made me want to play a Makonnen song.
C
Okay, cool.
B
Episode of Makona song that I actually used to like back in the day. And it's called I Don't Sell Molly no More. Yeah, I love Makonin. And this is how it goes.
C
Oh.
B
Sunny Digital. I got the gas and the coke.
C
I don't sell molly no more I keep the white and the green and.
B
It gotta be a pint if you looking for the lean I got the gas and the coke I don't sell my lid no money I keep the wine and the grain and it gotta be a pint if you're looking for.
A
The lean OG pimping trench coat mobbing.
C
Money keep flowing from the bitty to.
B
Bumping west coast Makonin the best thing.
A
Going they really like my movies.
C
It's the best thing Showing Boss hog playing competition slaying Sell the whole pack.
A
Then relax your for the day Making hella moolah Give a damn about your.
C
Jeweler Shout out West Baltimore and Free.
A
Young moolah I got the gas and the coke I don't sell my no.
B
More I keep the white and the green and it got to be a pint if you're looking for the lean I got the gas that song even Though saying some crazy, but it still goes hard. While I was in the. The blue mountains of Walla Walla, I jokingly was like, I feel like we need to play some Bob Dylan or some shit. And then I started. Yeah. And then I started thinking, what's a Bob Dylan song that I would play? And it just. It hit. Perfect. It was just such a scene. Bob Dylan knocking on head Heaven's door.
A
Mama, take this badge off of me.
C
I can't use it anymore it's getting dark, too dark to see.
A
I feel.
C
I'm knocking on heaven's door.
B
Knock, knock.
C
Knocking on heaven's door.
B
Knock, knock, knocking.
A
On heaven's door.
B
Knock, knock, knocking on.
C
Heaven'S door.
B
Especially considering the reason we were there Just all felt, oh, yes.
A
Friend, I can see it.
B
I can see something about that song coming to my mind. I don't know if she sent that to my mind or what, but I was like, this was. This was beautiful. And then the last song. I'm such a fan of Leon Thomas, and he's put out a lot of new music as of late. He has a record with four bats. Remember four bats?
A
Okay. Hell yeah.
B
Who people thought was AI. So it's crazy. They have a song together called Lone Wolf that I've really been enjoying. This is how it goes. You got everything not an island in this world that your toes ain't been.
C
On Hotel bells with the rose petals.
A
On one way fly We've been texting for too long. Too long.
C
I like that. That's real nice.
B
Those are my three for this week.
A
Beautiful.
C
Yes. All right. Dustin Ross, what you been over there jamming to?
A
So there's a reason I'm playing this song, but I'm gonna play it first. And I'm gonna play you the reason. This song is called Gang Gang by Che featuring Rosecrans. Hop out ys448 and hit it j3.
C
Can I be yelling now? Gang, gang do you gang bang I be outside with my gang gang chunk your gang signs if you gang bang I be outside with my gang up from the deuce do the photo the big the niner from the deuce do the folks the big the niner from the deuce the big the niner from the deuce with my close friends I ain't no kid, I'm a grown man.
A
Okay, So I love that song. Right? Here's why. I saw this. This tick tock of this guy singing it, but this is how he sang it. I want y' all to listen to this.
B
Oh, God. Gang do you gang bang Choke y' all gang signs if you gang bang I'll be outside with my gang Gang.
C
Yeah, Look at it.
B
I'm from the deuce, the four, the eight and nine I'm from the deuce.
C
The four, the 8 and 9 I'm from the.
B
Yeah, yeah.
C
Like, what the hell?
B
And I'll be signing on Rose Crunch.
C
What? My.
B
Yeah. And I'll be signing non Rosecrans. It's the bang. It's the bang I had.
A
So. So that. That's just a bonus Music man segment for y' all this week. Okay, next song. I want to play this. My shit is by. Listen Jacques and Saint Jamaris called Work It Outs. Sweet thing.
B
Can we work it out, Baby, My sweet, my sweet, you mean so much.
A
To me.
C
Feels like forever since you've been next to me I'm miss you, baby I came back I need your loving, baby My sweet thing, we can work out our problems.
A
Damn. Okay, that's a little something for you on the slow roll, too. And the last song I'mma play. Damn. The last song I'mma play is by the Partridge Family. Hold on.
C
What?
B
I'm sleeping and right in the middle of a good dream like all at once I wake up from something that keeps knocking at my brain Before I go insane I hold my pillow to my head and spring up in my bed screaming out the words I dread I think I love you this morning I woke up with this feeling I didn't know how to deal with and so I just decided to myself I'd hide it to myself and never talk about it and did not go and shout it when you walked into the room. I think I love you I think I, I love you so what am I so afraid of? I'm afraid that I'm not sure of all of There is no cure for.
A
Stop playing with the Partridge Family. That's the White Jacksons. Stop playing with the Partridge Family.
B
Oh, shit.
A
That's it for me.
C
Yes. Great selections from you both.
A
Thank you.
C
All right, first artist I'm gonna play is. Her name is Stunna Sandy. And this song is called BBC. Here's how it goes.
B
I just walked in doing damage, damn it. Body too sweet like it's candy candy Imma have his heart to get vanished Then I'm running off like a bandit. You know the face called valid Valid porn up Thrown by the gallant Gallant Stunner Slim thick too rich as a talent Imma start a bagless Talent.
C
All right, that's done a Sandy. That's One of Ice Spice's daughters. I don't know. I like this song, but that was the. That was the context she was brought to me. And that was very funny.
B
Oh, I remember her where she had like the little orange bang that kind of looked like, like Ice Spice's hair. Do you remember that?
C
I don't remember that.
B
See, and it was so weird, cuz it's like, why are you doing this if this is the same girl?
C
Well, they got the same. Well, she got the same flow, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same girl. But there were a couple bars in there, I just didn't get to them. But I was like, all right, this is kind of cute little song. Outside of that, don't really know girl. Next artist that I'm going to be playing is. Oh, damn.
B
Yeah, See, look at her hair. The first part of it.
C
Mm.
B
The front part. Why would she do that? Well, listen, yo, people are.
C
You know what? I'm all for the girls all doing their thing and just seeing who's gonna do it the best.
A
Just make sure it's your thing. The Azzy brothers said it's your thing. Do what you wanna do. So just make sure it's your thing.
C
If that's how she wants to try to pop out on the block and she thinks she's gonna carry her to infinity and beyond, then, you know, so be it. Let her try. It didn't really work out well for Erica Banks. No shade, you know, So I don't know how this will pan out for her. But, you know, she still has her audience, so maybe she'll cut through, maybe she'll be different. Who knows? Just thought that song was kind of cute and wanted to share it. Next song that I want to share is See, I'm torn. But I'm just going to share. Okay, so because Halloween just ended, Tame Impala had dropped some new music. Fran had put us on the same Impala. This song, Dracula was the. Here's how it goes.
B
The morning light is turning blue the.
A
Feeling is bizarre the night is almost.
B
Over I still don't know where you are the shadows, they keep me pretty.
A
Like a movie star Daylight makes me feel Feel like Dru Love.
B
In the end I hope it's you and me.
C
In the darkness I would never leave.
B
You Never see me in the light of day it's fun to let the time has come I'm on the verge of K and I run back to the dark Now I miss the charisma. Aar my friends Are so.
C
Yeah. Last song that I'm gonna play is by an artist named Girlfriend. This song is called Sticky Sit.
B
And I know where this could go. So I won't fall. Maybe I won't. Cuz I think your favorite letters in this P, that's when you need it. Oh, how convenient. First you just got me say you me here repeated. But I still tell you slide through. Make me feel good. Do me like you should.
C
So that's Girlfriend. I just like that song title and her artist name. And that is it for the Music man segment. Now we can go on to TV Land. Dustin Ross, what have you been watching?
A
I feel like the best thing for me to do is tell everybody what to watch, right? We don't have time for a full dive. Full deep dive reviews here. That's what we go over to patreon.com friends on podcast. For now, what we can do is tell you what's on the calendar right now. So Friday nights, you need to be watching Bell Collective on own. Friday nights. Okay. Watch Bell Collective on own. Sunday nights you need to be watching the Real Housewives of Potomac as well as you need to take it into the digital space and watch all of the shows. So you have all the ZEUS programming, right, that releases on Sundays. The now there's TV programming that releases on Sunday. Sundays. Then are the corresponding web content that lives as well that is generated on Sundays as well. So you need to be deep into all of that. Over on Netflix, there's a show called Boots about this military boot marine boot camp that is really, really good and surprisingly was produced by the late Norman Great. I should say Norman Lear. So watch Boots. There's some gay shit in there too. Then you know then as well on Hulu, Reasonable doubt. Castile is throwing down over there. It's good to see.
B
So good.
A
So are you completely caught up?
B
I think so.
A
You on episode eight? Maybe eight or eight, I think.
B
Yeah, I think I am. I'm not.
A
You saw Cordell from Love Island.
B
Oh, so then I'm not.
C
Okay.
A
Yep, yep. He was on there. He was one of either Ozzy's friends. But it's good though, if you pay.
B
Attention when they came into the house. Yeah.
A
Remember for the party?
B
So then I am caught up. I guess I didn't. I didn't remember seeing him.
A
I'm gonna tell you this. We'll get off of it. But what made me bust out laughing was when Ozzy's mom had went to see Jax and about the tape and so. And so he was like, oh, My poor baby. And Jax was like, girl, please. You gave him that tape to use at the. Mama was like, the way she.
C
Fred.
B
It's crazy, because I didn't know if this show was gonna be good. And then.
A
It's so good, right?
B
Yeah, it's really good. I really, really enjoy it.
A
So just watch all that. And then for those who partake, I'm not saying this is for everybody, but for those who partake, go on YouTube and search for Houston Street Boxing and thank me later.
B
Oh, hey.
A
And that's it.
B
Wait, tell people. Tell folks what we're watching that you're facilitating on Patreon.
A
Oh. So it's time for a shift change over at the Binge on our Patreon, and I'm about to cover this shift. And so the show that we're going to be regrouping, regrooing.
B
We having issues today.
C
We almost there.
A
That's a song, by the way, by Michael Jackson, which I love. We're almost there. Anyway.
B
What did I say?
A
Fifth and regrewing, regrooing, so. Which I guess if something is congruent twice, you've regrouped it anyway. Oh, God damn it. We're watching the show called Unlocked Family Secrets that airs on own and it's also available to be watched on Philo. I know. As well as a couple other spaces. I'm going to tell you guys right now. You can. So the show again is called Unlocked Family Secrets. It's one season, six episodes. Episodes. They're hour long each. You can watch it along with us on YouTube TV, on Philo, on Hulu Discovery plus, and watch on Go on the watch on Go app as well. So lots of places to put eyes on it. Put eyes on it. Join us over there@patreon.com friends on podcast so we can discuss it in depth.
B
Episode was a doozy.
A
It was juicy, wasn't it? Don't worry. Look, we'll get there. We're not there yet, but we'll get there. And that's it for me for the TV Land section. Oh, one last thing. One last thing, because I do have to bring this over here for those that watch Zeus. Dolly got an ass whooped. Coke. Pretty P whooped Dolly's ass. And it's so good to watch. Shout out to my brother, Michael Arsenault, who also watches Baddies, who has a podcast, Undomesticated, that I put y' all on last week. That's right, Bassett. We discussed Baddies, and he was very proud of Pretty P as well. So.
C
Yes.
A
There you go. Thank you.
B
That means that's it for us this week. We hope you enjoyed the show. We love you so much. Thanks for hanging out with us. And we will catch you guys next week.
C
Stay black and protect your magic.
A
That's right, the Hornets. This is the Friend Zone.
B
Score holiday gifts. Everyone wants for way less at your Nordstrom Wall Rack Store. Save on Ugg, Nike, Rag and Bone, Vince Frame, Kurt Geiger, London and more.
C
Because there's always something new.
B
I'm giving all the gifts this year with that extra 5% off when I use my Nordstrom credit card. Santa who Join the Nordy Club at Nordstrom Rack to unlock our best deals. It's easy. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you rack. Are you ready to get spicy?
C
These Doritos Golden Sriracha aren't that spicy.
B
Maybe it's time to turn up the heat. Or.
C
Or turn it down. It's time for something that's not too spicy. Try Doritos Golden Sriracha. Spicy but not too spicy.
Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Dustin Ross, Hey Fran Hey, Asante
Network: Loud Speakers Network
In the 501st episode, the crew—Dustin, Fran, and Asante—reflect on mental health, “mentally sound feet,” and the importance of not losing recipes (aka, cultural knowledge and tradition). The show features hilarious and thoughtful conversations on foot hygiene (prompted by a viral Kodak Black post), technology dependency, the debut of a home robot, community, grieving rituals, natural deodorant, and giving back. The tone, as always, balances wholesome, irreverent, and deeply real.
(Starts ~02:25)
(~09:06 - 38:08)
Asante’s Weekend:
Fran’s Weekend:
Dustin’s Weekend:
(~38:08 - 41:16)
(~41:13 - 51:52)
(Segment begins ~56:54)
Asante leads an exploration into how quickly technology evolves, nostalgia for “old school” objects, and the mass shift toward automation.
Hosts reminisce about answering machines, caller ID boxes, beepers, and early cell phones.
Talk shifts to consumerism, tech dependence, and boundary setting:
The dangers of tech overreach are discussed, including feelings of being overwhelmed or “rebelling” against smart watches, electric toothbrushes, and “always-on” gadgets.
(Begins ~86:08)
(~132:01 on)
(~119:43 - 131:57)
(~149:50 on)
For full episode archives and Patreon video editions, visit patreon.com/thefriendzonepodcast.