In this episode, Elian Carlos returns from 4 months of study abroad in South Korea to share his experiences. He reflects on his feelings before leaving, the journey there, and his first impressions upon arrival. Elian dives into South Korea’s beauty standards, the emphasis on clear skin and natural beauty, the education system, and how he adjusted to the culture. He highlights visits to iconic spots like a shopping district, an amusement park, Chinatown, and even a tour along the North Korean border, sharing insights on the Korean War and its impact on the divided governments. Elian also recounts an unsettling near-abduction, his biggest culture shocks, and the differences between socializing in the U.S. and abroad. The conversation shifts to his trip to Japan, where he wraps up with travel tips and must-visit recommendations for both countries.

In this episode, we welcome back two returning guests, Kevin and Jackie, for a packed and thought provoking discussion. We kick things off with Kevin’s grind to unlock Dark Matter camo in the newly released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Shifting gears, we dive into the shocking news of the United Health Care CEO being shot, dissecting the incident and its implications while exploring how the U.S. healthcare system prioritizes profit over people. Jackie sheds light on the 2025 updates to Medicare, offering valuable insights. The conversation takes a global turn as we unpack South Korea’s martial law and dive into the wild world of fast-food conspiracies. Kevin and Jackie also share some exciting personal news they’re expecting a baby! From there, we get their take on the elections, followed by a debate as Oscar confronts Justen about the movie We Live In Time. We also share our favorite actors and actresses, discuss the legacy of the Harry Potterseries, and wrap up with Kendrick Lamar’s recent diss toward Andrew Schultz. This sparks a conversation on whether jokes should be for everyone or if certain topics should remain off-limits.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our listeners! Thank you for supporting us through our first year of podcasting! In this special holiday episode, the regular crew Oscar, Justen, and Alonso are joined by special guest Kevin. We kick things off with a festive white elephant gift exchange and a Secret Santa reveal. Next, we dive into some entertainment highlights, including our reactions to the newly released Superman trailer. Oscar shares his thoughts on watching Interstellar for the first time as we review and rate this timeless film, which recently returned to theaters. We also reflect on our music habits by sharing our Apple Replay stats, looking back at the songs and artists that defined our year. In our “Ask a Thinker” segment, we tackle a meaningful question: What was the biggest/hardest lesson we learned this year? And what was our greatest achievement of 2024? Finally, we wrap up by reflecting on our first year of podcasting the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned while setting new goals for the year ahead. Thank you for being part of our journey, and here’s to even more great conversations in 2025!