Relating to Z

November 11, 2024Careeremotions, gen-x, generationx, genx, in the workplacegreggbb

Is there a place for the display of emotions in the workplace? We talk about the difference between the generations and how we all handle (and don’t handle) ourselves in public.

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Step On A Crack….

November 1, 2024Deep Thoughtsgen-x, generationx, genx, halloween, superstitionsgreggbb

This week for Halloween we look back at the superstitions of our youth. Some of them have a basis in logic and reason, and then there others that make no sense, but all of them bring back memories and stories.

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Moons Over Madison

October 16, 2024Aging, Socializationaging, butt cheeks, gen-x, generationx, genx, kids these daysgreggbb

Season 4 begins! When selective memory crosses with yelling at clouds you end up questioning the moons over Madison.

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Crisis of Infinite Mid-Life Crises

August 12, 2024Agingaging, gen-x, generationx, genx, mid-life crisisgreggbb

What is a Mid Life Crisis, really? Is it actually a “crisis” or just another inflection point on our respective journeys?

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Risky Business

August 5, 2024Aging, Socializationgen-x, generationx, genx, helicopter parenting, kids, latch key kid, taking risksgreggbb

We remember being more risky as kids than they are today. Where is the line between early responsibility and neglect? Helicopter parenting and failing safely? Also discussed, the proper amount of salt on a pretzel.

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Call Me Daddy

July 23, 2024Agingaging, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

It’s one thing to feel old, but what about the realization that you’re viewed as old by others? James shares a recent experience that changed his self-perception.

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Zero Sh*ts Given

July 16, 2024Deep Thoughts, Socializationgreggbb

When you’re done caring about the consequences because you care too much about doing it right.

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Giving Back (whether they want it or not)

July 10, 2024Hobbies, Socializationaltruism, gen-x, generationx, genx, giving back, hobbiesgreggbb

What is altruism? Is it truly for others, or really just for ourselves? Can’t it be both?

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My TV Says I’m Crazy

July 2, 2024Mental Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, media, mental healthgreggbb

In media there’s always a clamoring for better representation. What happens when that representation, specifically around mental health, is destructive?

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What’s That Smell?

June 25, 2024Agingaging, gen-x, generationx, genx, memoriesgreggbb

Dodge balls. Freshly cut grass. Chlorine bleach. Those plastic tubes with psychedelic goo you blow into balloons. These are our GenX aroma triggers that pull us back in time. What are yours?

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Nutrition Over 50

June 19, 2024Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, health, nutritiongreggbb

Join us on the path to a healthier Gregg as we discuss eating habits and our very different relationships with food.

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My Eyes Are Up Here

June 10, 2024Career, Socializationbeing seen, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

This week we talk about being seen. How important is it to receive recognition and validation? Do we even really want to be seen?

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Glorious Multitudes

May 29, 2024Socializationgen-x, generationx, genx, pronounsgreggbb

What’s the big deal with pronouns? Why are some people so offended by the fact that others are so insistent on them being used in just the right way?

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Strategic Downsizing

May 21, 2024Aging, Family, Socializationaging, gen-x, generationx, genx, money, real estategreggbb

Done mowing the lawn and fixing the roof? Your only other option is communal living. What do you want out of your next phase?

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Diabeetus

May 15, 2024Agingaging, diabeetus, diabetes, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

Season 3 is going to be subtitled “What else can Gregg use to hit his deductible”.

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Released on our Own Recognizances

May 6, 2024Aging, Familyaging, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

The boys are back! Are we better than ever? That’s debatable given the number of doctors and insurance claims we’ve both seen since the last episode.

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We Were On A Break!

February 27, 2024Deep Thoughts, It's Just About Usgen-x, generationx, genx, season finalegreggbb

A short update as we wrap up Season 2 and plan ahead for Season 3.

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I Hate it When A Plan Doesn’t Come Together

February 20, 2024Deep Thoughts, Rantsgen-x, generationx, genx, habits, mental health, planninggreggbb

Are you a planner? What if you’re an obsessive planner surrounded by people who don’t take the plan seriously? Ask Gregg, he’ll tell you all about it.

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Collective Negativity

February 13, 2024Deep Thoughts, Socializationcollective negativity, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

We are at a fascinating cultural point of collective negativity. We no longer look for shared interests, instead we look for shared outrage as a bonding mechanism. What does any of this have to do with zoos and salves?

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Communal Living

February 6, 2024Aging, Socializationaging, communal living, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

Retirement means finally being able to relax and do whatever you want, right? Sure, as long as your neighbors are okay with it.

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Attempts at Self Improvement

January 30, 2024Uncategorizedgen-x, generationx, genx, self improvementgreggbb

Some things just aren’t you, while others come naturally. Then there are those that you strive to improve upon. This week we talk about why we make those choices. Plus, coffee pots.

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Staying Relevant

January 22, 2024Uncategorizedcareer, gen-x, generationx, genx, relevancegreggbb

Are you relevant? At what point are new technologies just “magic” and you know what you know?

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I Hurt Myself Reading

January 16, 2024Aging, Deep Thoughtsaging, gen-x, generationx, genx, ithurtsgreggbb

Everything is broken. Parts of us make sounds that we don’t understand. What the #$*& happened?

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Holidays

January 8, 2024Family, Socializationgen-x, generationx, genx, habits, holidaysgreggbb

Lights on the house and caroling! New Year’s Eve in Times Square! Bar hopping for St Paddy’s Day! Or, like us, you can just sit on the couch.

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Juvenile Delinquency

January 2, 2024Family, Rantsgen-x, generationx, genx, kids, kidsthesedaysgreggbb

Kids these days. Are they really any worse than we were, or has parenting changed?

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Afterlife

December 27, 2023Deep Thoughts, Socializationafterlife, gen-x, generationx, genxgreggbb

What’s next? There are so many theories out there, both religious and scientific, but in the end it all comes down to what you are comfortable believing in. Deep stuff this week with a healthy dose of the usual James & Gregg tomfoolery.

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Millennial Accountability

December 18, 2023Family, Socializationbaby boomers, gen-x, generationx, genx, kids, millennialsgreggbb

Millennials are complaining that they aren’t getting the support they need. Is this about money, family, or something else?

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Are you SAD?

December 11, 2023Mental Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, mental health, sad, seasonal affective disordergreggbb

Welcome Wintertime! We talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as the holiday blues, winter funk and general blahs. It’s a real thing and starts with the science of light.

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Habits

December 6, 2023Mental Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, habitsgreggbb

What are habits? We fundamentally disagree on how to define them, and it’s clear that one size doesn’t fit all.

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Getting Old is Awesome

November 22, 2023Socializationaging, gen-x, generationx, genx, getting oldergreggbb

Would you want to be young(er) again? Is getting old so bad and was being young so good? Is age, in fact, just a number?

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It Didn’t Age Well

November 14, 2023Rants, Socialization80s, gen-x, generationx, genx, genxchildhoodgreggbb

A stroll down memory lane and all the things you just don’t see anymore, many for good reason. Cigarette machines, metal playground equipment, toll booth operators, and All In The Family.

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Adulting

November 6, 2023Socializationadulting, gen-x, generationx, genx, grown-up, habitsgreggbb

Are you a grown-up? If not, what will it take for you to get there?

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Child Labor

October 31, 2023Family, Moneychild labor, gen-x, generationx, genx, jobs, kids, moneygreggbb

Welcome to Season 2! We have a fresh intro, new topics and the same old crabby hosts.

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The Social Price of Failure

October 9, 2023Family, Rantsgen-x, generationx, genx, kids, leaving the nest, soiling the nestgreggbb

This week we discuss the younger generations, failure and freedom on our Season 1 Finale. Wait, what? No one said there would be seasons….

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Try Harder

October 2, 2023It's Just About Us, Rantsbad behavior, gen-x, generationx, genx, habits, people, try harder, yelling at cloudsgreggbb

Rant! We revisit the “boats and horses” conversation from a few weeks ago and then get into it, yelling at clouds and trying to understand why people can’t just try harder.

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Bitten by the Travel Bug

September 26, 2023Hobbiesgen-x, generationx, genx, habits, money, travelgreggbb

What is “vacation”, really? This week we talk about our very different perspectives on travel, relaxation and new experiences.

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Who Needs Sleep?

September 18, 2023Mental Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, insomnia, mental health, sleepgreggbb

Whether it’s falling asleep, staying asleep, or staying awake, we all seem to have our share of sleeping issues as we grow older. What can you do at 3am to fix the problem? Listening to us likely isn’t the answer.

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You spend money on that?

September 11, 2023Money, Rantsboats, cars, gen-x, generationx, genx, golf, habits, horses, moneygreggbb

Part rant, part legitimate question. There are lots of ways to spend your time and money. Why are you burning it? We’re talking about horses, boats, fancy cars, camping, gaming, Disney, and golf.

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OCD, OCPD or just Anal Retentive?

September 6, 2023Mental Healthanal retentive, gen-x, generationx, genx, habits, mental health, number-form synesthesia, ocd, ocpdgreggbb

Will aliens invade if you don’t check to make sure the garage door is closed? This week we get into why having things out of place can drive you crazy (if you’re not already there). Also, number-form synesthesia.

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Leaving the Nest #1

August 29, 2023Familycollege, empty nesters, gen-x, generationx, genx, kids, leaving the nest, soiling the nestgreggbb

Gregg’s oldest is heading to college this week. We explore his mindset on the first to leave the nest.

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Who Does Your Family Think You Are?

August 22, 2023Family, Socializationfamily, gen-x, generationx, genx, in-laws, kidsgreggbb

We recently had a full-on family reunion and noticed the ways everyone shifts their behavior when we see each other after a long absence. Do you put on a mask when your family is present?

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The Pet Conundrum

August 14, 2023Family, Rantscats, dogs, emotional support animals, fish, gen-x, generationx, genx, habits, petsgreggbb

This week we discuss the cost of pets, whether emotional, physical, or cash.

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Mini-Me

August 7, 2023Family, Socializationgen-x, generationx, genx, kids, moneygreggbb

Gregg has kids; James does not. This week we get into how we each got here, what else we could have done with that time & money, and what’s next.

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Stuff and more Stuff

July 31, 2023Familygen-x, generationx, genx, moving, old age, parents, stuffgreggbb

Following up on the “When It’s Time to Move Your Parents” episode, we talk about stuff: the perceived value of stuff, the actual monetary value of stuff, and the time and cost of removing the stuff.

Note the proper use of “it’s” and the Oxford comma above. We take this stuff seriously, folks.

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Entitlement

July 24, 2023It's Just About Us, Rantsdogs, entitlement, gen-x, generationx, genx, kidsgreggbb

Gregg is annoyed. He’s just trying to enjoy life in his little bubble and other people insist on encroaching on his space.

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My Secret Life with ADHD

July 17, 2023Mental Healthadhd, adult adhd, gen-x, generationx, genx, habits, mental health, mind palacegreggbb

ADHD can be a curse but also a superpower. James shares his experience with a late-life diagnosis, finally understanding what is happening in his head and how he’s learned to use his powers for good.

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They’re, there, their.

July 10, 2023Rantsgen-x, generationx, genx, habitsgreggbb

Here come the grammar police!

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What is Accountability?

July 3, 2023Rants, Socializationgreggbb

It’s not my problem, someone else needs to worry about this. But if no one is worried about it, how will anything get done? Accountability vs Responsibility.

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Grumpy Money

June 26, 2023Moneygen-x, generationx, genx, habits, money, Vemnogreggbb

Does the way you pay for things make you feel old?

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Happiness Is…

June 19, 2023Mental Health, Socializationgen-x, generationx, genx, happiness, mental healthgreggbb

Well? What is it? If you could just be 5% happier everything would be perfect. So how is happiness defined?

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Willful Ignorance

June 12, 2023Socializationwillful ignorancegreggbb

A 4-year old with their fingers in their ears saying “na-na-na I can’t hear you” has an excuse for thinking they can hide from the truth. It’s because they’re 4. What about when adults do it?

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Mortality, or Make Sure Your Tool Drawers are Labeled

June 5, 2023Family, Mental Healthgen-x, generationx, genx, mortalitygreggbb

The number one unavoidable fact of life is death. For those left behind it prompts anger, fear, regret and so much more. How do we react to the evidence of our own mortality all around us?

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The Way of the Coffee

May 29, 2023Hobbiescoffee, habitsgreggbb

What are your morning habits? For many of us it’s coffee. Is it addiction? Routine? Medicinal? Societal pressure? Perhaps a little bit of everything.

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The Stigma of Mental Health

May 22, 2023Mental Healthmental healthgreggbb

It’s the Lusty Month of May! It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month. This week we get deep and personal about mental health challenges and the mainstreaming of neurodivergence.

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Wrapping Paper & Greeting Cards

May 15, 2023Family, Rantsgreeting cards, Hallmark, wrapping papergreggbb

Much ado about the waste of wrapping paper, greeting cards and empire of the Hall brothers.

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When It’s Time To Move Your Parents

May 8, 2023Family, Moneygreggbb

Last year James and Gregg had to assist in moving our in-laws across the country once it became clear that they couldn’t be on their own anymore. It’s a situation filled with frustration, emotion and lots of cash.

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The Dunning Kruger Effect

May 8, 2023Rantsgreggbb

That situation where someone knows nothing about a topic but believes they know everything and won’t listen to reason? Yeah, that. It’s annoying.

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Where Are My Friends?

May 3, 2023Socializationgreggbb

It’s well established that depression and anxiety are key problems for aging Gen-Xers, and one of the most common complaints is loneliness. What happens as we get older that we have trouble making and retaining friends? Just as important, what is it that we need in friendship at this stage in our lives?

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Welcome to It Only Hurts When I Talk

May 3, 2023It's Just About Usgreggbb

Welcome to our first episode! James and Gregg are no strangers to podcasting and now we are turning our sights to sharing the Gen-X experience as we age toward retirement, empty-nesting and figuring out what comes next.

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