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Audio for sleep by Hatch.
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You know how you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately? Hatch made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will not be quiet about it. Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia.
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Foreign. Hey there. I'm Wills.
C
And I'm Josh. Welcome to the nightly from Hatch where your late night thoughts go to rest.
A
Josh, you know what?
C
Tell me.
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I have actually two things I want to talk about tonight.
C
I would love this.
A
First of all, I think we were recently talking about some trends with the kids.
C
Yep. We're going to do the youth correspondence of the show.
A
It's kind of the scariest thing you can say. Like, do. I mean saying that is like, wow, I feel out of touch. Actually, you know what, I'm going to say this before in terms of feeling out of touch. I went to a show last Thursday in Bushwick and I felt the oldest I've ever felt in my entire life.
C
Was it a comedy show or music?
A
No, it was a music show. So I have these friends who are very, very talented musicians. They have an amazing band called Ideas for Conversations. I literally can't recommend them enough. I love their music. It's like, it's like I literally. It's quite literally electronic dance music. But I wouldn't call it like edm, obviously. It's more like analog, kind of like a little bit like LCD sound system vibes I would say, but a little bit more like dancey even. But they had this show where they were opening for. It was like three acts opening for. Do you know who Cray Sean is? Is that meaningful to you?
C
Yeah.
A
Okay.
C
Of course. So I didn't know she was still out there doing it.
A
And neither did I. Of course. Neither did anyone.
C
She. She had the Versace, right? That was the big song.
A
Yeah, she had Gucci. Gucci. A kind of Gucci.
C
Excuse me, Gucci.
A
I mean. No. Well, she says Versace in it too. I'm pretty sure. I mean that song, triple platinum, like on my like ipod, Nano or whatever. I can't. The impact that song had on my life. But they were opening for her. This could be wrong. Because it feels a bit insane. But I asked my friends, I was like, does she have a new album? And they were like, no, I think she's just, like, performing. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I was told.
C
What was the venue?
A
Have you heard of Xanadu and Bushwick? It's a roller rink.
C
I have, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I've never been, but I've heard of it.
A
Yeah. So it was on a roller rink, which is awesome. And everyone there was very cool. I just felt like it was a 16 plus event.
C
Whoa.
A
Yeah.
C
I didn't know Creation had teen fans,
A
so neither did I. And, like, I will say, like, the. It was like three acts opening for her. A lot of people were there for the opening acts. I. And I actually ended up due to feeling a bit disconnected from the. Some of. Some of the music that was being played before Crayon came on. And after my friends played, I did end up leaving early, so. So I don't know if, like, a bunch more people showed up late and came for Cray Shawn, but I think a lot of the people who were there were there for the other acts as well.
C
Oh, that's fun. Yeah.
A
But all that being said, I basically felt like the oldest I felt in a really long time, like people were wearing things that I didn't even know you could wear as clothing.
C
What are we talking about? Like, what are they looking like?
A
You know, like, scene kids. Like, sure. That vibe, I literally was like, it's coming back. And it's, like, seen aesthetic is alive and well in Bushwick. And there was a lot of that. It was just a lot of like,
C
are the pants still big or is that gone?
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The pants are still big. Okay.
C
Okay. I'm still plugged into general pants size and shape.
A
There were some people with face paint on that we realized that was an homage to one of the people playing.
C
Wow.
A
Luckily, I was wearing, like, jeans and a T shirt. But I did have the feeling of being like, if I had gone to this on a Friday and worn the kind of clothes that I normally wear to, like, go out on a Friday, I literally would have looked like. Like, they would have been like, you look like you came from work. Like, I was like, I would have felt crazy.
C
Here you. This. So you're saying you didn't wear your classic shirt with giant hole in the middle?
A
No, I. Thankfully, I was wearing one of my shirts with my giant holes. I was like, I'm doing the best I could possibly do in this crowd. Like, I'm not joking. I was like, God forbid I had a button down on. That would have been absolutely humiliating.
C
I always just kind of dress the same. And, like, if I'm in a show that's with young people, I look like I am there to, like, chaperone.
A
Completely. Completely. You're like, so the minivan is outside.
C
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
A
Anyway, that was just, like, an experience I had that really made me laugh. And I. I hope that none of that sounds, like, disparaging. I really am, like, happy for everyone. And it's, like, cool to see. It was just, like, a scene of people that I am completely, obviously not plugged into. And it was awesome. And I'm. And I. I heard that Cray Sean was amazing also. But anyway, that is all backdrop for what I'm about to say, which is I hear that there is maybe a new. This was framed as a new loo boo boo, which I feel, like, a little bit scared to even say, because I think the value seems to be much lower. But there's, like, people. Kids are into dumplings. What? It's like, I say the sentence and I'm like, I don't even know how to.
C
Kids are all about dumplings now.
A
I don't even know how to introduce this grammatically, but basically, a couple weeks ago, I was with my friends out. We were walking to Prospect park and went to this store, just like a grocery store. We were getting toys because we wanted to get, like, bubbles and stuff for the park. It was a really nice day. And, like, a Frisbee. And then we see that there's these, like, commemorative dumplings. Basically, like, soft, kind of like a. Like, literally, though, the ones that we were taken by were commemorative. They're kind of like a soft, like, almost like a stress ball type thing. Yeah. That kind of, like, foamy material. And in, like, a. The. The container is, like a plastic steamer basket.
C
And they're very cute.
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They're very cute pictures.
C
I haven't seen them in the wild yet.
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The one that we saw, let me pull it up to see if I can, like, see what it said on it. It was a USA one, and it said 1776 on it.
C
Wow.
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And then there's another one that we saw that was a bald eagle. So I don't know if that was just like, the ones that we saw, but I've now learned a little bit more, which is that I guess people are doing, I. I guess kind of similar to the Labubu, the blind unboxing.
C
I saw that they were like mystery boxes. Right.
A
And some of them are, I think, more valuable than others. So maybe the ones that I saw just weren't that valuable. But what I'm trying to say is that the kids are loving these little dumplings. But they do seem much dinkier than Labubus. Obviously.
C
But also there's more charm. I think the Labubus are like. I mean, maybe not more charm, but they're like sweeter in nature. The labubus seem a little menacing.
A
Well, the Labubu is a little monster.
C
They got those teeth.
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They've got those teeth and they're kind of. The labubu is like, is like cute and scary. The dumpling is kind of simply. But the ones that I saw weren't even anthropomorphic. Like, it was just a dumpling. It didn't have a face on it. So it kind of.
C
Oh, the ones I saw have faces.
A
Okay, okay, okay. So I think I. I think I really saw like knockoff. Knockoff ones.
C
Interesting.
A
Oh, and I'm even seeing that there are. There are dumplings that have Labubu faces on them.
C
Oh, interesting. Yeah, the bumplings.
A
There's even the bumpling that needs to be our, our invention. And I think it would make us rich. Le bumpling.
C
I think we're gonna get so rich off of the bumplings. This is fun though.
A
Yeah. I mean, it's just the thing about like those kind of objects in particular, the ones that are made are meant to be like held and squeezed. They get so dirty so fast.
C
They're so dirty. Well, that's when last week we were talking about Hacky Sack. Yes, that's the thing about a Hacky Sack because you kick it up in the air and then it just falls on the ground. So you just have like a thick, filthy beanbag essentially that you carry around with you.
A
Yeah, exactly. You have a filthy pocket sized beanbag, which is amazing. Disgusting. Yeah. I do feel like the Labubus have in terms of like their.
C
The.
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The physical object has a little bit more staying power than the dumpling simply because of the how much you're touching it and how they get so kind of nasty.
C
It's less tactile.
A
Look, I would take a little Boo Boo. Maybe I'll get. One day I'll have one. But I. One day I'll have a house and I'll have a little Boo Boo and a Labubu.
C
Yeah, there's a lot of dreams.
A
I have big dreams, you guys. But that's kind of, I guess my trend. Reporting on Toys.
C
Okay, that's pretty good. Did you buy any of the dumplings?
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It felt like it would have been a waste. And we were already getting our things. Like, we are getting. We are getting more kind of classic toys, as I said. We got a Frisbee and we got some bubbles. And the bubbles. I'll say this, like, if you're going to a picnic or a hang in the park, bring bubbles. It's going to be a hit. People are going to love them. Like, they really are.
C
I bet. And if there's any kids, like, if there's like, oh, this friend brought their toddler or whatever.
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Oh, my God.
C
It's going to. That's classic.
A
Entertained for hours. Completely. Some people I know for their birthday parties, what they've been doing, which is so fun. And I actually have yet to experience this, but I'm hoping to soon, which is like, did you ever, when you were a kid, do the thing where you have the big colorful canopy and everyone goes under it?
C
Oh, yeah.
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So I know some adults who have been bringing those out and playing with them in the park.
C
I never knew anybody that owned one.
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The thing about it is I'm like, where do you buy that? It's like. So that's probably $10.
C
Do you ever have that? Because I would. As you said it, I was. I wonder how much that cost. I was like, it could be anywhere from like 30 to $200. And I would not be surprised.
A
I bet it's closer to 30 because it's like.
C
Yeah.
A
I think I'm being taken by the sheer size of it. But what it really comes down to is that it's basically a piece of a. It's like a piece of plastic. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
C
It's plastic with, like, plastic handles and, like a little mesh center to it. Yeah, yeah, totally. We called it parachute.
A
Yes. I think we called it the same thing.
C
Yeah. I loved those days in, like, gym class as a kid.
A
Yeah. So I've been dying to get back inside one of. Back inside one of those parachutes.
C
Gotta get under one of those big tarps. Those big fun tarps.
A
I just gotta get under that tarp. It would be so comforting.
C
It's kind of like the. The womb of outdoor activities.
A
Well, it's so beautiful inside. All the colors. Like, it really is stunning. Yeah, I gotta get. I gotta get inside one of those.
C
Yeah. Wow. Where did your friends. Yeah. Do you don't know where they got it even.
A
I'm sure the answer is literally, like, Amazon. It just has to be. But totally or, like, party city, I guess.
C
Yeah. But it feels like one of those things where it's like, that's forbidden. Gym teacher wisdom.
A
There are all those things that. It's like, I. It really is. Like, how could I possibly buy one of those? Like, it's locked up in the teacher's lounge, but it's like, it's.
C
Right.
A
That's where you get plastic.
C
I'm not even allowed to touch it without an adult present.
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It's.
C
Yeah.
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You need, like, registration.
C
I'm trying to think of what other stuff is like, that. Like, do you ever have something where you're like, oh, I don't know. I don't know if I can afford that. And someone's like, it's actually $12, and you're like, oh, I could have two. Yeah.
A
Oh, my God. If it's $12, I could. I could maybe swing, too.
C
I could maybe swing, too.
A
I think a lot of things, like, the teacher stuff really fits into that category because it's, like, even. Like, the first thing that comes to mind is, like, a sheet of, like, gold star stickers.
C
Yep.
A
So once again, I'm like, I need, like, a teaching license to own that. And it's like, no, no.
C
You probably just need $2.
A
You need $2. You need about 8/4 to rub together.
C
That's right. It costs about as much as laundry.
A
Yes, exactly. Even less.
C
Yeah. Probably less than laundry.
A
Oh, well, you know what? This is actually quite moving. My friend, for their significant other's birthday, bought a viewfinder. Did you ever have those?
C
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
And then made 20 rolls or little, like, circular. Circular things of photos from their life to put in the viewfinder.
C
That's so cute.
A
And I was like, oh, my God. This is, like, the most romantic thing in the world. Like, I was like, that's crazy. I was, like, looking at it at their apartment, and I was. And I was, like, moved. I'm like, these aren't even my memories. I. I was like, they're gonna cry. They're gonna sob when they see this. It's the most beau thing in the world.
C
I didn't. Again, didn't know you were allowed to do that.
A
Yeah. I will say that was a little bit pricier. Of course, getting them made.
C
But then one of the vinyl parachutes. Yes.
A
A little bit more to get some, like, custom slides made. But they. But it's. I mean, it's so cute. It's like, the coolest thing in the world. And I used to love those when I was little. The Little viewfinder things.
C
Do you remember what images you liked? Because it's, like, you would click through and it'd be whatever, 12 or 20 images and kind of a slideshow in a circle. Right.
A
Yeah. I feel like the ones that I'm remembering are more mostly like, naturescapes.
C
Oh, yeah.
A
Because I feel like it was just whatever you could find at, like, the antique store, basically. But that's. The ones that I'm seeing in my mind are, like, fields of flowers and, like, mountains.
C
I'm also picturing, like, the Eiffel Tower for some reason.
A
Oh, yeah. I'm sure.
C
I feel like I had one that was, like, landmarks.
A
That is basically. Not only is it like a projector just for your eyes, but it's kind of like the good version of, like, virtual reality.
C
Right, right, right, right. And it doesn't. It doesn't seem like it's gonna come alive and take over.
A
No, it's not. They're static images, but it is like,
C
whoa, the Grand Canyon.
A
Yes. But you have been basically completely transported.
C
Yep, that's right. Because it is really consuming. Your eyes are right up against binoculars.
A
It's like you're in a little theater. Do you have any gifts that you've given that you're like, the way that I knocked that out of the park.
C
Ooh. So I still have to kind of get on this for this year. Cause I bought. My anniversary is next week.
A
And what number are we celebrating?
C
Nine years married.
A
Amazing.
C
Yeah.
A
Awesome. Congratulations.
C
Thank you. But I haven't. At the time of this recording, we usually do. We usually do, like, a nice gift that is, like, oh, I just think you'll like this. And. Or the, like, traditional gift for that year of anniversary.
A
Yes. Right, right, right.
C
So nine years is ceramics. And I don't have anything ceramic yet at the time of this recording. But I do have a very cute gift that I think my wife will like a lot.
A
Okay.
C
I got her this. I was like, I wonder if this exists in the world. And this is like, a year or two ago. My wife was a little under the weather, and it was, like, early. You know, not quite bedtime. Even if you're sick, it was too early to go to bed. And I was like, well, let's. Instead of, like, watching, like, a movie, let's, like, rewatch something comforting that's, like, short. And if you phase in and out and doze off, that's okay. And I was like, let's watch an old Seinfeld episode. And she was like, yeah, that sounds great. And I Was like, which one do you want to see? And she said, show me fusilli Jerry. Which is. I don't know if you're a Seinfeld watcher, but there's an episode where Kramer was making pasta sculptures of all his friends, and he made Jerry. Jerry Seinfeld's character out of fusilli. And he said, because you're silly. And I went on Etsy and there's someone that sells a fusilli Jerry.
A
Oh, my God.
C
So I bought her a fusilli Jerry. And then also to go with it, a necklace that is like a little gold plated fusilli.
A
That's so cute. That's really good.
C
I think she'll really like it.
A
I think so too.
C
But I'm also gonna look for, like, a little ceramic thing to give her, like, I don't know. I don't know what that would be, but I've got some, some leads.
A
I know some ceramicists. If you're in looking for them. If you're in looking for them.
C
My friend Eliza Skinner, I would. Gosh, I wish this timeline lined up. She's a really great ceramicist and she sent us, when we got our. Our dog who's lived with us for a little over a year, she made like, a water bowl for her, a ceramic water bowl, which is so cute.
A
Yeah, that's really sweet. I. Yeah. First of all, I love the, like, that whole, like, material thing.
C
I think it's fun.
A
I really like it because it is like, I don't know, I'm so charmed by it.
C
When our first anniversary, first wedding anniversary was paper, I think, and I got her a first edition of one of her favorite books. And then last year, two years ago. Two years ago, I think was. I think seven years is copper. And I was on the road a lot leading up to our anniversary. And so, like, a bunch of different places I went, I went to, like, a little craft, you know, like a little store or like an outdoor fair, and bought, like, not cheap, but not like super expensive copper earrings in different designs and brought them all home from their own. So I think it's really nice to read.
A
That's so nice. And I think I like, I feel like it's something that I've just started learning about maybe because my parents were divorced my whole life. And now I'm finally becoming the age where it's kind of, like, relevant to, like, people I know. Yeah. And I'm just like, oh, it's just. I just really like it. I just think it's the cutest thing in the world.
C
I'm. I'm very charmed by it. And it also is like a nice, like, I think a difficult thing or not a difficult thing that's like, Sounds too negative, but like a fun challenge, like buying gifts for someone that you've known a long time and, like, been with a long time, is that you want to get something that is meaningful, but you don't always want to accumulate a lot of, like, stuff completely, you know? And so it's like, for an anniversary, it kind of to find something cute and thoughtful that fits the memoir as, like, the token of, like, eight years together or 15 years together. What a beautiful occasion to mark. And then you can also be like, and I'm taking you out to a nice dinner. You know what I mean? Whereas, like, we were gonna have dinner anyway, and just like, paying for it doesn't always feel.
A
Yes.
C
Like, you don't have to have forethought to pay for dinner. Yeah.
A
Yeah. And you're like, well, we kind of do this all the time.
C
Yeah. Most nights we have dinner. Not to brag.
A
I just am like, I want someone to buy me a beautiful piece of wood and something.
C
It's cool, it's fun. And my wife got me, like she did one year. It was fruit, maybe five years, four years. And she got me custom sneakers with a fruit pattern on them. It's really fun.
A
Oh, that's awesome.
C
So I'm excited, but I hope she doesn't end up coincidentally listening. Or if you're a listener, don't tell my wife what I'm giving her for our anniversary. Don't ruin it.
A
We're having a cone of silence.
C
Thank you. About this and about the viewfinder and about the viewfinder.
A
So just, guys, let's keep it. We'll share our secrets, but you have to. You have to treat them with the most respect.
C
Maybe I'll get her a little dumpling.
A
Yes, you could get her a little dumpling. A ceramic dumpling.
C
Oh, that would be really cute.
A
That would be really cute. A paperweight.
C
Oh, paperweight is good. I'm gonna start thinking outside the box. Well, thank you for this idea, and I'm so glad to have heard your trend report about. About the dumplings I like. Again, we gotta know what the youth are up to.
A
Our youth reporting.
C
With all that said, I think it's. I think it's time to say good night. So I'm going to say, wells, I'm going to say good night to you. And I'm also going to say good night to Cran, wherever she is.
A
That's a good one. Okay.
C
Yeah.
A
Good night, Josh. Good night, Cron. And I guess I'll say good night to the dumplings. I hope they're cozy in their little. In their little steaming basket and that they rest. And good night to you guys. Good night, Sa. Sa.
C
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Date: May 22, 2026
Hosts: Matt Bragg, KP Parker, Wils Pelton, and Josh Gondelman (This episode: Wils & Josh)
Podcast Description: Playful, cozy late-night conversation designed to wind you down. This episode features two hosts (Wils and Josh) wandering through trends, nostalgia, and quirky gift ideas.
Tonight’s episode is all about nostalgia, new trends among “the youth,” and the simple joys of small gifts and classic toys. Hosts Wils and Josh swap stories: from feeling out of touch at a young music crowd, to discovering collectible dumpling toys, reminiscing on the magic of play parachutes, and sharing their favorite thoughtful gifts. It’s a warm, gently funny pillow-talk–style chat that digresses into comforting memories and goofy dreams.
[01:14–05:31]
[05:31–09:42]
[10:12–12:21]
[13:04–20:54]
On “youth trends”
On Adult Nostalgia
On Thoughtful Gifts
The episode maintains a gently funny, self-deprecating, and cozy atmosphere—equal parts playful trend report, affectionate nostalgia, and dreamy late-night chatter. The hosts riff on their own out-of-touchness, delight in childhood favorites, and share genuine admiration for creative, low-tech gifts. It’s like a warm bedtime story for grown-ups.
End note: If you want to keep up with these cozy chats, follow The Nightly or reach out with questions for future episodes at thenightly@hatch.co.