Ep. 8: Connection, Community, Conversation

Episode Summary• Audiobooks, Reading Habits, and the Psychology of Quitting: A deep dive into what we’re reading, how we consume media (podcasts, audiobooks, etc) and why quitting isn’t a dirty word.• Threads Lore, Bro Cruise, and the Return of Early-Internet Joy: We celebrate the chaotic brilliance and power of Threads storytelling and how it’s reviving the best parts of early social media.• Connection, Community, and Conversation: We realize the point we had throughout the episode goes back to these three words!If there’s one thing you can count on with We Swear We Had a Point, it’s that the point will sometimes…just reveal itself. On this week’s episode, it’s after a scenic detour through audiobooks we’re reading and whatever the internet is collectively ‘binge threading’ over the weekend. (Is this a new segment? We might have a new segment!)Recording This Podcast Like It’s a ShowWe kick off with a realization: We don’t record this podcast like podcasters — we record it like two best friends who assume there’s a camera crew milling about akin to episodes of Parks and Rec and The Office. Seems pretty on brand, if you ask us.“I realized last week that we record it almost like you’re supposed to watch it… I don’t really record it with just listening in mind.” Should we? Probably. Will we? Hard to say. The visual bits, the expressions, the little on-screen add-ins — they’re part of the DNA now. And honestly? It works. Especially for listeners who, like us, tend to have their minds wander when it’s audio-only.And, really. Would Parks and Rec even BE the same without Ben Wyatt’s side eye?No. No, it would not be.Listening in Double SpeedThe conversation then shifts into reading habits — or more accurately, listening habits — and how the lack of a commute has changed everything for us when it comes to ‘the rules’ of podcasts and audiobooks.What are the rules? Glad you asked:• Casie got back into podcasts when she found some of her favorites on YouTube with video elements helping to keep her attention on what was being said as often “just talking” can be background/white noise to her.• Audiobooks almost always have to be listened to in the car.• Noise-canceling headphones are a must for audiobooks if not in a car.• We provide “book reports” to each other — either inspiring each other to read said book, or condensing the need to fully read a certain book.• Listening in double time helps us with everything from our Polo’s to each other to Kamala Harris’ recent book — and helped us power through longer reads like Michelle and Barack’s Obama’s respective books (both amazing, but much longer reads!)What genres are we into? Amber leans toward psychology, self-help, and human behavior. While Casie is into those she also looks mostly for ‘anything real’ like memoirs and history, although — plot twist — she also has a deep love for Lord of the Rings? 🤷🏼‍♀️ You can’t make this stuff up. Perhaps this hobbit-sized host of ours is re-entering her Tolkien era. (We can, for sure, say Stephen Colbert is.)Recent Reads: Flow and QuitAmber’s current read is Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi which teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness, learn to control consciousness, unlock our potential, and greatly improve the quality of our lives.Meanwhile, Casie is taking on Quit by Annie Duke a book about reframing the idea of giving up — not as failure, but as a healthy, strategic choice.We also discuss:• How society conditions us to see quitting as negative• Why “pivoting” is often just quitting with a sugar coating• The freedom in saying “this no longer serves me”For a couple of elder millennials who have reinvented themselves more times than they can count? Seems like we’re exploring those world’s even further with our reads, too.Threads Lore: The Internet at Its BestAre you on Threads, yet? Where the heck have you been?! We’re proclaiming Threads storytelling culture, “Social at its best!” Like, HOW did y’all get THIS funny?This week on Threads had a little bit of everything…but the main feature was BRO CRUISE! There were SO MANY great posts and side threads that came from this adventure which had a group of bros sailing off on a bachelor weekend with minimal planning and the self-given nickname of GentleMinions. (Yes, you read that right. No judgement, bros. We actually dug the hats and lanyards!)In Case You Missed It:• Bro Cruise is faithfully set forward by RaleighCheesy and 🐀👑 Thissa.Thambugala • Recap by BurbnBougie• The perfect casting fan post had us in tears — would IMMEDIATELY see this movie!• The accidental small-business success stories - a great recap and then some from GoldenPoppyDigital• An entire social platform wondering where the heck @RoyalCaribbean was — don’t worry. They showed up. On Wednesday. (Good news is…if you ARE the ship, you’re never truly missing the ship. 🤣)What we loved most about Bro Cruise though was the friends we made along the way…and the solid nostalgic dose of early Twitter energy that these tales give us.Networking, Nepo Babies, and Generational MisunderstandingsThe episode wraps with a semi-surprising turn into a thing we both really value: relationship building and networking — sparked by a recent revelation that Gen Z sometimes views referrals for jobs as “nepo baby behavior.”We both strongly disagree with that Gen Z assessment and will also throw out (as ‘word sensitive’ people) nepotism by definition is favoritism shown to relatives. So, in our eyes:• Networking is relationship-building, not nepotism• Referrals can possibly help get you an interview — but you still have to have the required skills, do well in the interviews, and land the job yourself.• We only vouch for people we genuinely “IRL” know, and• Maintaining long-term professional relationships is meaningful workIt’s thoughtful, grounded, and a reminder that community is a strength, not a shortcut.Final ThoughtsThis episode is peak We Swear We Had a Point: warm, wandering, deeply human, and full of the kind of conversations that (we hope) feel like sitting on the couch with your best friend — y’know, the ones who know your audiobook habits, the latest Threads lore, and your entire career arc. Until next week, friends! 👋🏼🌲 Connect with Amber on Threads, Substack, or LinkedIn — you can also check out her pup @JoJotheKeeshond.🌴 Catch Casie on Threads, Substack, or LinkedIn — you can also check out her pups @PawsitivePointers. This is a public episode. 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