In this episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ Barse and Chris Powell catch up after a summer hiatus. They discuss recent personal experiences, including family vacations and changes in their professional lives. AJ shares his summer adventures, including time spent on San Juan Island and managing life as a working parent. Chris recounts his solo trip to Friday Harbor and his enjoyment of tech-free moments. They also delve into topics like their evolving relationship with personal technology, privacy-focused mobile devices, and the balance between digital and analog experiences. Towards the end, they reflect on the nostalgia of collecting and playing games, particularly focusing on AJ’s experience re-entering the world of Pokémon with his son.

Topics Discussed:

Summer Recap

* AJ’s vacation to San Juan Island and family adventures

* Chris’s solo trip to Friday Harbor and tech-free relaxation

Life Updates

* AJ’s experience balancing work and family life during August

* AJ’s wife landing a job right after graduation

* Chris’s insights into the evolving personal tech landscape and privacy-focused gadgets

Tech Talk

* AJ and Chris discuss personal tech choices like Graphene OS and privacy-focused apps

* Chris’s minimalist approach to tech: ProtonMail, VPN, and offline maps

* The debate on iOS vs. Android and privacy benefits of alternative operating systems

Analog Meets Digital

* AJ’s dive back into the Pokémon trading card game with his son

* Nostalgia around collecting, comics, and trading cards

* Insights on teaching the next generation about gaming, collecting, and community

Looking Ahead

* Upcoming plans for AJ’s 100th scuba dive milestone

* Fall projects, holiday gift ideas, and the continued journey in balancing analog and digital worlds

Listener Reminder:

Tune in on KMRE 88.3 FM for the radio broadcast of the Bellingham Podcast, and stay connected for future episodes!

On this enlightening episode of the Bellingham Podcast, Chris shares his transformative experience from a recent Silence Retreat in Mission, BC. Meanwhile, AJ delves into his deep connections with silence and presence, cultivated through his adventures climbing mountains and diving in the serene waters of the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. Join us as we explore the profound impacts of quietude and mindfulness in our fast-paced lives.

EinsemdIcelandic word for solitude or alone.https://m.dict.cc/icelandic-english/einsemd.html

Westminster Abbey

Benedictine Monks in Mission, B.C. -https://westminsterabbey.ca/

Diving the kelp at Rosario, Anacortes WA.

On this special catch-up episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ and Chris are back from their travels with exciting updates! Chris's daughter and AJ's wife both celebrated graduations, and the hosts have some invaluable travel observations and tips to share. Recorded at Casa de Chris, they dive into their Father's Day weekend experiences and offer essential advice for navigating Washington state ferries during peak season. Plus, this is just part one—stay tuned as they set the stage for the return of the beloved "Word Of Note" series in the next episode!

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Welcome back to the Bellingham Podcast! We're driving the DeLorean right back into the nostalgia-fueled fun with the second part of our Word of Note of Nostalgia. AJ and Chris pick back up from their first part of their DeLorean adventure, ready to continue exploring the curious realm of nostalgia and its ties to marketing, technology, and personal memories.

In this episode, join us for another nostalgic trip down memory lane as we reflect on our past experiences and delve deeper into the trends shaping marketing for our generations (Gen X for Chris, Gen Y for AJ). From timeless retro gadgets to the ongoing wave of film reboots, we'll continue unraveling how nostalgia influences our perceptions and choices; and how we reflect on it as fathers.

If you are tuning in from the past on your VR head set, or tune in to your virtual transistor radio, and let's continue our journey into the timeless allure of nostalgia on this engaging second part of our episode.

Show notes

Webster “ Nostalgia” : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition

also : something that evokes nostalgia

: the state of being homesick : HOMESICKNESS

2024 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

On Sunday the 19th of May 2024, AJ is riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. To sponsor him = https://gfolk.me/barse

References

https://www.bigleaguechew.com/

No matter the weather, at least the mics stay warm

Bellingham Winter Storm 2024- https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/bellingham-residents-brace-storm-several-inches-snow-forecasted/G64T5EJFVRHV3NH4R7P5KFMRYQ/

Washington blizzard 1950 - https://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/Tacoma-snow-storm-1950-video-archive-history-13533250.php

* https://www.historylink.org/File/8079

Health and Wellness

Chris- Whole30 | https://whole30.com/

Whatcom County Mental Health- https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3294/Mental-Health

SAD- Seasonal Affected Disorder https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

SAD and Seattle - https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/seattle-rainy-season-brings-on-seasonal-affective-disorder-heres-the-deal-with-sad/

DGR- Distinguished Gentilmea’s Ride

Supporting a Friend or Family Member with Mental Health Problems - https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/how-to-talk/friends-and-family-members