A Burden For The Times
A Burden For The Times
Celebrating 100 Episodes: Lessons from 100 Conversations
As we celebrate our 100th podcast episode, join Aaron, Anton, and me on this nostalgic journey through our favorite memories and hilarious moments that have defined our podcasting adventure. From off-mic antics to the mysterious "Mr. Tiger" debate... ???
As we wrap up Season #3 this year, we contemplate the personal growth and transformations podcasting has brought us over the past three years.
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Hey and welcome to episode number 100. Whether or not I ever thought that we were actually going to be able to go this far in the podcast journey is still a shock to me, but we're so grateful for many of you that have been listening to the podcast during all these times. And so what we're going to do on this Lessons from 100 Conversations episode is take a little bit of a look back, in fact, right before we get started. I know that a lot of times we start with a light question.
Speaker 1:Aaron and Anton are here even though they haven't said anything yet, but what we're going to do, aaron and Anton, is I'm going to play some of the best clips, some of the funny clips that have happened during these times together. Now, if we were doing all of them, obviously it'd be for a very, very long time, but we're going to attribute and give, I guess, shout out to Tavian, who was on the podcast, I think him, and Jasmine and Shilin I think it was two, three episodes ago. They were on the podcast together and so he went through to the podcast and started like bookmarking all of these kind of funny moments that have happened. So, instead of the light conversation, let's go on a little bit of a time warp back and hear some of these clips from the past but actually I would like to say something has nothing to do with this.
Speaker 2:I don't really like the title. I never really noticed it. But shindig I did not know that this was a word, honestly, until I was a senior in high school. So when I met my wife and I was having a birthday party and she said, so you're having a shindig? And I just stared at her I was like it's like that podcast where it's like something that's not racist but it feels like it is.
Speaker 3:I don't know what that means my guy is victor green and my teaser will be what happens when black people go on vacation.
Speaker 1:That's the quote of the day apple jitterbug for adults.
Speaker 3:That'll be the quote for this podcast.
Speaker 4:That's what I want to name it your bug for adults when aaron, of course being the oldest, he was, of course, the first one to go to the christian school and he said she said that I could not use her crayons because I'm black and see, this was the daughter of one of the teachers of the school. And then, of course, as a mother, pretty upset about that, it's like it's okay, baby, you don't have to borrow her friends Because right now, with the last dime I have, you're going to buy him a 64 pack. Exactly, exactly. You don't ever have to borrow her friends. No.
Speaker 4:You just go ahead and take this 96 pack.
Speaker 1:Look, it's just like the black man who's driving a Subaru. I'm sure it's out there, I just have never seen it. I just don't know. Well, don't you understand? Have you ever seen a Blackman ride a Subaru?
Speaker 4:Yes, I have Are you serious I have a friend that has a Subaru.
Speaker 3:I'm not saying I see lots of them.
Speaker 1:For people where we walk to school each day, indian children used to yes and like. At the dinner table he came into a moment of like, that's horrible, like, like. Like little children are talking about yeah, yeah, where, yeah, where target is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Indians used to be there, you know like as soon as they I knew they would bring that up I thought my perspective is a little different. Just because I'm the only person in the family who had to get a real job, I'm actually doing, you know, do the real work.
Speaker 3:Don't think too hard about it.
Speaker 1:I don't even have to think hard. Man, take my life, I'm going.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, I am not even trying to live in prison, it's not even I didn't even have to think like when you were explaining. You don't have to explain anymore, sir.
Speaker 1:God did not make this man to be in prison that's funny oh, some good memories that were there, aaron, aaron, that last one, not taking in context, but go ahead, take my life, oh, wow, all right, guys, any favorite off-mic memories or any one of those high memories that you remember from? We just did that little montage of different ones, aaron, anything that sticks out to you or any off-mic memories that you remember from? Uh, we just did that little montage of different ones, aaron, anything that sticks out to you or any off mic memories that, um that you think of.
Speaker 3:I mean there's the off mic memories. To me are some of the best, because sometimes we shouldn't be rolling the mic way after we stop or before we even start. We're in the middle of like something that's like okay, we need to pause and do a podcast, and it's like wait a second, but we're in the middle of a hardcore conversation right there. But just listen to those memories didn't make me. I can't think of anything specifically, because some of those moments I even forgot until, like, literally, you hadn't uh, let me hear the whole clip. Yet I think taving had walked through and gave me a couple of them, so I remembered a couple of the moments, but there's, there's some funny moments in there anton, how about thoughts?
Speaker 2:Yeah, those are most my favorite. The only one I do remember that was both one mic and off mic is when you were talking about whatever this, I don't know, whatever stuff they have, what you claim that I have. Oh, mr Tiger, that you were so serious about and I remember you, even being off mic, being like. You know, you remember, anton, I'm like I have no clue what you're talking about. I respect the fact that it means a lot to you. I have no clue what you're currently referring to.
Speaker 1:You know what? I did look for that specifically, but there's really no way to search the SRT files for a specific word, so the transcripts. I couldn't find it, but anyway. But yes, I could not find that, but yes, I do remember that conversation because I think I even showed you the picture. I was like this is Mr Tiger. This is in that room that Aaron had painted that obscure color. There is Mr Tiger proving to you because you're wearing this little baseball uniform. Like I don't know, we don't even play baseball, but you have this blue and white baseball uniform. Anyway, this is kidding, but anyway.
Speaker 2:That's what the off-mic conversation was like.
Speaker 1:Very detailed.
Speaker 3:That's something you've never heard. You just got a piece of that one.
Speaker 1:That's fair, anyway. Well, throughout this time We've had about 100 Intentional conversations Surrounding race and culture.
Speaker 3:I have to ask you real quick though, sorry.
Speaker 1:Did you have?
Speaker 3:one.
Speaker 1:Do I have one?
Speaker 3:Yeah, do you have any moment? That was like you didn't answer it. Oh, you didn't answer it.
Speaker 1:Oh, I didn't answer it, but oh, for me, clearly, even though I never thought it was that funny, I just was trying just to make a point. But like, when I go around and I was traveling and going different places, people would send me a text message or tell me hey, I think I saw a black man in the super room, does a black woman count? Does a black woman count? And I didn't realize that that would become synonymous with myself and um and that. But I, yeah that, that, that quote, I guess. I guess it was not intended to follow me, but apparently it has um, the off mic discussions, though, those, those are different, because, because you know, I think, like you said, a lot of the things were you know, let's hit the record button now. And so for me, I one time we were having a conversation and then I hit the record button.
Speaker 1:But the way our program works, that what we record, what it does is it refreshes everything. And so then everybody knew they're being recorded. So it's like the kid who you're taking a picture of, like when they're not, when you're not taking a picture of them and you don't, they don't see the camera, they're giving all these genuine smiles, but then when they bring out the camera then it's like they get this fake weird smiles or whatever it is. So then when we were recording it wasn't as real. So anyway, we've tried to do the. I try to record the off my conversation sometimes because they do get pretty pretty fun and animated all of us all in one. But yeah, it's kind of hard to put it down to one because it's kind of an idea of what thing is my favorite about all of those things. So but yeah, a lot of conversations have been had and so what we're going to do during this podcast is we're going to review and some of the special insights.
Speaker 1:Now I just want to get some podcast facts here real quick, some that you guys I'm going to ask some trivia for you guys. I don't know if y'all know this in podcast world, but usually 50 percent of podcasts stop producing new episodes by episode seven and usually only about 20% of podcasts make it past episode 20. So, whether or not it's a hit podcast, we've kind of broke those records by going to podcast number 100 here in this regard. So here's what we're going to do. What, aaron, we'll go with you first. There's only one continent in the world that we only have the fewest amount of downloads from the podcast, actually, whether it's missionaries across the world or whatever it is, but usually there's only one continent where we have the least amount of downloads. Guess which continent it is? Aaron, you go first in Antartica.
Speaker 3:If it's Africa, we're in trouble. Let's go Antarctica.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I was going to say are we excluding Antarctica?
Speaker 1:I was like, do I have to say not Antarctica?
Speaker 3:I thought maybe you were going to bring a twist in or something and you'd be like oh, you never thought we had it.
Speaker 1:Antarctica are not listening to a burden for the time being.
Speaker 3:It'll break your heart. Don't worry about it. There's no black people here. It'd be like agents coming to the Subaru.
Speaker 1:Do we have any other guests besides Antarctica?
Speaker 2:My guess would be Australia.
Speaker 1:Australia. Aaron, what was yours outside of antarctica?
Speaker 3:I would probably say asia asia.
Speaker 1:Actually, y'all are both wrong. Aaron, you were right in the beginning, but for the wrong reason. Africa. That's hilarious it's great. It's not even close the percentages between europe right now and africa. I think it dwarfs it by nearly 300 400 it's not.
Speaker 1:It's not even close and the second place would be asia. But europe is first in the podcast and we do a very small representation, but we do have a representation in Australia as well. So anyway, I don't you know, who knows, whatever it is, who those listeners are. We appreciate those out there. And so now we move to, obviously, the United States is the top. And so then we go to the top city, the most downloads in a city in North America. What is our top city? Anton, you want to go first and air this will be our last quiz question.
Speaker 2:I'm going to say Charlotte, but it could have changed.
Speaker 1:Charlotte, north Carolina, aaron, what about you?
Speaker 3:Well, I remember one time it was Pensacola, so I'm going to go Pensacola.
Speaker 1:That's my second choice. Second choice is Pensacola, first Charlotte. North Carolina still reigns with the most percentages of downloads of the burden for the time.
Speaker 3:So that's wherever Anton's at, huh, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's where the peeps are, apparently, but anyway, hey, so it's pretty cool. Who would have thought, you know, um, having those different downloads and um, in those areas, and for I don't know, I guys can speak to themselves, but for me personally, I just say, man, it's pretty cool. You know, wasn't sending out to be like, oh man, we just want downloads from all over the country and all over the world. It wasn't necessarily a thing, but hey, the fact that it is, man, we're so grateful for those who listen and hope that the conversations have been truly what we have said in the intro. Conversations have been truly what we have said in the intro, that they have been clarifying conversation about race and culture.
Speaker 1:So here's what we're going to do. Number one we're going to start with an episode or a series that was your favorite, that focused on culture, and then we're going to go around the room and we're going to do favorite episodes or series that focus on race. All right, so let's do those two, those two ideas, first. So, aaron, you're the oldest, let's start with you man Favorite. Let's start with culture, your favorite episode or series about culture.
Speaker 3:With that, if it's, I enjoy the conversations about books so nerd out here.
Speaker 3:So I'm going to say those are my favorite ones that are just culture related in them. But then let me add on this, if I had to add one and just be specific, the Apple versus Android whether it may not have helped anybody else in this world. It was a fun conversation to have for me and so even when Tegan was going through and putting out his clips, he was letting me listen to different clips. That one at least, it did make me laugh.
Speaker 1:And just a conversation.
Speaker 3:Apple. Butt, I did like that um, I did like that conversation because I think we were trying to be um. What do you call?
Speaker 1:it as objective as possible and it was a good conversation. Yeah, and I thought it was a good. You know, I mean it was an mkbhd level of technical technicalities, but it was just a good conversation of people that are in that consumer range just being curious about you know, so kind of like entering the GOAT conversation about for basketball of Jordan and LeBron and sometimes get so in the weeds, but I thought it was a pretty, pretty high level good conversation. So that's cool, anton. What about you On culture?
Speaker 2:I think education is cultural. I'm going to say that that was my favorite conversation. I thought we broke it down in enough episodes that we were able to give Again. You can do a million episodes on education, obviously. I'm going to combine that with. I still loved when Diane came on. I thought that was great. That was one of my favorite episodes. I learned a lot there. The education space has been my favorite so far.
Speaker 1:Nice and according to the audience, as far as feedback and stuff, the education series is still one of the top series the public versus private, then college, because all of that was kind of added in. So because that goes into, one of my favorite was the education series. Then the detail end of the education series, we started contrasting college and artificial intelligence and then it led into an entirely new topic of discussion about AI and what exactly is that going to look like? And actually when you start going back and listening, you just see how quickly things get dated now because AI and then now Apple intelligence is now on the scene in a little bit different form of a personalized AI secretary meets artificial intelligence kind of thing. So it really was an interesting conversation.
Speaker 1:But the bias part of the dad inside of me is going to say that my favorite about culture me is going to say that my favorite about culture just because obviously it's my kids. But my kids did an episode where they were in Honduras and they were discussing the nuances they had had and seen in different cultures. And for me specifically it was special because when I go back and listen, number one when you hear your kids' voices just only two years ago and how much they have changed. You know, you see that for number one, but then number two. Sometimes things have happened so fast and it's like, man, that was a lifetime ago that we were living in Honduras and it really wasn't. It was only a couple of years ago that we were living in Honduras during the months of January through March doing some mission work. And as we were doing that mission work, you know, to hear their perspective then and even as a good reminder for them to go back and listen to that themselves, for them to be able to see those nuanced things, because a lot of times if you don't write it down, if you don't record it, then you probably don't often remember it. So that's probably one of my favorite from culture.
Speaker 1:So if you haven't heard those podcasts, we recommend going back and listening to some of those. I don't know the numbers off the top of my head, but the titles are pretty detailed. So let's come with you. Aaron, obviously this podcast. And Aaron, how about put you on the spot? How, in your words, how do you see that we began this podcast? How do you? And then, ant, I want you to answer the same question, because when we talk about the race one. I want us to then add your race one too as well. But in your words, aaron, how do you see this concept? This the genesis of a burden for the times?
Speaker 3:I think, from my perspective, it was just there was a lot of things going on in 2020 that we were all having conversations about how we were feeling about things, how we're navigating things. I remember a lot of frustrations about all the things that were being communicated and it was like, if we can have a conversation, I remember you were saying and you guys can correct us, but I tend to remember you saying like hey, what if we just did at least like 10 episodes and then we people would know where we stand, or we can help people with this If we just do these couple episodes and then we'll just leave them out there and then we can just point people to them.
Speaker 3:And then it turned into something bigger than that.
Speaker 1:That pretty much was it, anton. Before Aaron talks about his favorite race episode what's the genesis in your mind of the podcast?
Speaker 2:Similar to Aaron. The only thing I think I would uh add is I think there was this, but again, I guess george floyd, like everyone says, the george floyd moment I think there was this um change in uh I'm trying to find another way to say that because I don't like certain terms but in the white christianasis, as people would say, there was a cultural shift from kind of an old way of thinking to a new way of thinking that I think, just realistically again, non-white people wanted to speak into and at least be a part of the shift and have a voice in the conversation. Because I do think, as Aaron said, that was just a tremendous year with everything was happening all at once and if you were going to have the conversation it needed to be public, as the conversation from the other side seemed to be very loud and very public. So I think, to counteract that I think that was kind of the genesis of the idea.
Speaker 1:That's cool, yeah, and I think mine is just exactly a blend of what y'all were saying. Kind of get some of these thoughts down on paper. So, anton, since you're talking, favorite episode on race issues or series on race issues or series. I'm trying not to pick two, because I know you're gonna say you can't pick two, but pick two, anton. Okay, this is the hundredth episode.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it um the first one is going to be more of the lighter. I enjoy the february black history month yes, yeah, I think it's both informative, light-hearted, interesting.
Speaker 2:I think think it's both informative, lighthearted, interesting. I think, again, it's one of my favorite things to do to hear the people everybody picked and discussed, you know, because Black History doesn't get highlighted as often as I believe that it should. As far as a more, I guess, different tone, I would say police brutality I think that's actually again one of the things that started the podcast, because I do think that people really make police brutality political and that you can't. It's hard to find a balanced conversation where people both admire law enforcement officers but acknowledge the problems that occur. And to me, that is the dialogue that I would like to have, and I think we tried to have is being respectful and understanding of both sides of this issue, and one side of the issue is wrong to call that out.
Speaker 1:Indeed. Well, aaron, I'm going to come to you, but might as well go ahead and jump on the bandwagon because Anton, pretty much my answer is literally almost as mirrored as it gets with Anton's, obviously, the matter of February. Enjoy very much learning. I feel it's very educational and some people have even mentioned that in their feedback of just like you know what. I just never heard these people the green book and all these other things. A lot of this stuff has been added to my normal vocabulary. And even Henry Box Brown I think Aaron brought up that one time, you know and then even Anton when he first did Malcolm X and then it sent me on this thing of listening to the speeches of Malcolm X. So it's like it's just, it's just super educational and I think that's been great.
Speaker 1:But on top of that, even though it was a very controversial, it was the first time that I would say that we face blowback, except for episode two.
Speaker 1:Episode two of Culture, christianity, which is still the top episode downloaded, is Cultural Christianity episodes. Those were really the ones that I would say, at least in my spaces, and people that I talked with that kind of have the most pushback. You know, whether you know whether good or bad, I don't mind pushback um in those realms, and I would say that that's still concerning race. That would be my um, my pick, because when you just able to delineate, like you know, like the good people, that I don't want to try to give the whole premise of the episode, but this was like all anyway, and now it's trying to do, it got a listed episode, I think, the series, I think it was a two-parter, that it was, but I think when it concerns race and then even personal stories and things like that, I think it was a good blend and I believe it's a good representation of where I believe I am to be able then to see that topic. So, uh, aaron, what about you um favorite episode or series, as it goes, as it pertains to race?
Speaker 3:I have to go ahead and say that I was gonna say I wish you had come to me first, then I could have said black history month episodes first, so then it could be in mind. But uh, the black history Month episodes are my favorite because and it's probably also just because I do now, which wasn't a habit before, but read through, preparing, so, like even this year. I know we're not at February yet, but I've been reading through so that I can have my books ready and have some ideas of people that I want to explore for Black History Month. So it's kind of added another level to my reading and to my thinking through. So I do enjoy those. But I'm trying to think of other ones.
Speaker 3:Um, and I would say the representation podcast was a good one. So if I was going to just not do the um, not do black history month, I could say the representation was one that really made me think. There's a lot of them. But I'll just stop there and go for the representation, because I think that one was like a pretty following to make me think through some things, because even still, me and my kids still talk about it, because Tavian still listens to episodes, even though after they're already done, and it is still just thinking through what represent representation means and how important it is, and so that's one of them. I guess, if I was going to throw another one out, that would be one for me.
Speaker 1:That's yeah, and I had a good conversation with Jonathan. He's a listener in New Jersey and me and him were talking about it and him being Latino, it was just kind of like he appreciated the balance that was added to that episode too as well, and underrepresented, overrepresented, like what's this perfect balance? So, yeah, that's cool. And sometimes I go back and sometimes when I'm recording I'm like, oh, I get it. But then going back and listening to the thoughts, I've actually recorded a podcast then came back like a year or a year later or so and I listened. I'm like what did I say about CRT, my take, you know? Like actually what was my opinion? And I'd go listen to the podcast, even see what my opinion actually even was about some of those things. So I think that's pretty neat, can?
Speaker 2:I put a plug in. Plug yeah, my, the first episode of next year. That's my intent. That is what I would like to do. The where we have changed podcast. Oh, new january. What is the position you took and now you wish you would have said differently or you disagree with interesting, interesting.
Speaker 3:Well, I'm sure you already have one in mind, so we'll have to let it be a teaser, even though I just brought up CRT and now you're saying that thing, but anyway, well, I was even thinking your thing on AI, like I feel like AI is changing the way that I. I wouldn't I still probably would hold some of the same things, but there are some other things that I wouldn't hold as tightly as I held before and so there's, it's a.
Speaker 3:it's interesting. Even as I walk through I just keep flipping through, looking through episodes in the shows and just keep flipping through it on my phone as we talk and I'm like, yeah, there's a lot of ones that do it again, hey, hey, and some of these just be nuanced more.
Speaker 1:And I would say that, as we would go forward, I mean it might not be a bad idea to timestamp where we are and I think, as the old song goes, which is one of my favorite songs as a kid song, and that's he's Still Working on Me and if the Lord's still working on you, then that means you're going to be a different person in two years, three years, if he truly is working.
Speaker 1:Obviously, the core of who God has created you to be, in the sense of like, there's a principles and fundamentals that you're going to continue to work on every day, but there are some opinions and some of the subsidiary things that you are going to have different opinions on. So I do think it's, I think it's great, I think that's a fair conversation to have in the opening of season number four. Anyway, I thought for me, before we do our last question, which is going to go behind the scenes and just ask y'all personally what has it been like for podcasting over these three years now and how has it been rewarding to you? I thought I would play my favorite clip coming to you from the one brother named Anton, so one of my favorite clips of the entire podcast series'm doing 100 episodes is this one, and I believe it was the education series. So let me play this clip for you real quick.
Speaker 2:You cannot outsource God-given responsibilities. That is all I'm trying to articulate, although I know what I say about education will annoy some people. But the reason that education is so close to me is I really feel that as a Christian community, we have outsourced a God given responsibility and we are seeing the results. And I think, unless we take back our own responsibilities that again in this country we have the privilege of doing that, we're going to have bigger problems coming down the pipeline down the pipeline.
Speaker 1:So that goes as one of my favorite clips from the series, because I've quoted that many a day, even in speaking and doing different things like that, and I didn't say I'd build a whole sermon around that thought, but it did aid in a lot of sermon preparation when I was really just thinking about that, because that root issue is a fruit that shows itself a lot in so many different areas and how we do family, how we do our entertainment and so many other areas. So for me in a personal growth journey of listening to the podcast and doing the podcast, that has been a huge thing for me. So how has it been podcasting for over three years, anton? What's it been like? Has it been rewarding? Hopefully it's been somewhat rewarding, but how about you speak to that as we get ready to close up?
Speaker 2:It has been very rewarding because I know I'm not that talkative and I don't have a I don't know what word to say.
Speaker 2:I'm not an entertainer I guess, so having people communicate, because I do, um, have a lot of people who talk to me, both here in charlotte and through my personal email. It's. It's very interesting to have ideas, because I like to have ideas challenge, but it's also very interesting to see where other people stand on some very key issues, because I said I would have never known the vast array of opinions, because I can go all the way back to the beginning, because I remember that's when everything uh, you want to say my podcasting idea changed is when I made the statement america is not a christian nation, and I remember the fireworks that apparently that set off and, yes, it did like suddenly people I considered dear friends were like blasphemy and it was very confusing to me and I think being able to have that dialogue and again, everyone's not going to be convinced of my position, I'm not going to be convinced of theirs but being able to have that open dialogue has been both interesting and, I would say, helpful in me developing my own ideas.
Speaker 1:Nice. Well, I think for me, aaron, we'll finish off with you Podcasting for over three years now. One thing that was very important to me in getting started is that we wouldn't just, whether it be a series or whatever it is, we'll just keep our word and honor the commitment that we have made to do the podcast. So I can hey say, thankfully, that over the last three years that we have done the podcast, it was our intention to release two episodes every single month and every other week, and then we take off the week of Thanksgiving and do week the November and December. We don't do a podcast then, but other than that to a month, and that's exactly what's been happening for the past three years. So I'm very grateful for that position. But on other than that to a month, and that's exactly what's been happening for the past three years. So I'm very grateful for that position. But on top of that, the reason that I would say at least my viewpoint now is I was having some of the same conversations over and over and over again, meaning I'd go to a place I was traveling at the time and I still do travel somewhat speaking different places and I would keep having the same conversation, and so the purpose for me was at least to get it recorded, almost like the quote-unquote reading of a book Write the book. So therefore, when you're asked about it, you can at least point to some type of resource, and really it did that. It was fantastic. Now, that meant that people talked to me less, which was not a bad thing, I guess. Good thing, bad thing, whatever you want to say and for some people it kind of like they then had their like hmm, I wonder where Adrian is. And at least I had an opportunity and a platform to fully articulate, because sometimes people ask you a super big question while you're walking on your way to the car from Applebee's and you can't concise how you feel about police brutality in the three and a half minutes you have standing in the parking lot while people are getting ready to leave. It doesn't work, and so, therefore, this was finally a way to be able to be like okay, we've taken the thought, we've studied it out. As brothers, we come, bring our opinions, we talk about the things we agree on, talk about things we disagree upon, and then we talk about what's biblical fist bump and we move on and we can have those conversations that have been recorded, have been thought through, et cetera. So, with that being said, it really was just super encouraging to finally get it's like almost like.
Speaker 1:For me the project has been at a hundred episodes has been like a big stamp on it. Now we hope it to go into season number four coming up in this following year, and it lasted longer than I thought it was going to last, but with it it's just like the enjoying of community, of getting to talk with my brothers and all these different things. These are definitely great byproducts. But the fact of having these things nailed down, aaron, the fact that your kids, my kids, listen to this right, they like what does dad say about that, and not that dad is right, not that we got it all together, but that you can at least know some questions that they probably we wouldn't have studied as much to be able to answer. Now they have answers to just by listening to it, and I'm glad that other people are helped by listening to it as well. So that's how it's been rewarding for me, aaron, anything for you I think there's a couple fronts.
Speaker 3:Number one front would be listeners themselves. So I don't travel as much as adrian does, but I do, every now and then, come to a space where people talk about how the podcast has helped them see something or grasp something different. I think the one of the episodes that sticks out in my mind is the live transition episode, and I think like we're talking about episodes where we got a lot of pushback, but I remember myself personally. A lot of people reached out and were like man, thanks, because right now I'm going through this, right now this is happening in my life and I know we're probably well.
Speaker 3:Even if we were, to be honest, talk about things that we need to rethink, we probably could do the live transition episode all over again and be in a totally different space and so but even just walking through it and hearing the people that encouraged people who were in my youth group are people that are still walking through things and so just being able to be a help to listeners. Someone told me recently I was in Michigan for a wedding and they were like I listen to the podcast all the time, like I feel like you haven't, you're still right here and we see you all the time, but I know that's not the way it is, and so it's just that part's cool.
Speaker 3:But I'd say, even from the aspect of being on the podcast and doing it every week, um, I think most people see us as the brothers that we are, but I would just say this um, if you're a listener, ad Adrian is probably the engine behind this thing, and if Adrian, I'm always challenged by Adrian because Adrian shows up and gets things done and does them well, like that, like he said when he said we make a commitment to do this, adrian, you show up and do that, and so for me, that's a challenge and encouragement to me, and I would say, anton is smart enough that every time I think, no matter how much I read, I think I come prepared, anton will just bring up a question. It's like, like on a test.
Speaker 2:You're like I didn't study that part. Wow.
Speaker 3:No Like how in the world, and then I have to think through.
Speaker 3:So even like coming into the the voting conversation we had last time, anton really challenged me to think through some things. Anton really challenged me to think through some things and it did actually factor into the way that I voted and thought through voting this year and how I will, in our more local situations, vote. But those things for me are challenging. So it helps develop me. So whether I'm glad it helps develop listeners and the people that encourage and help, but I would say, as I sit in the conversation with you guys, guys, it does encourage me and it's like iron sharpening iron. Sometimes I'm like I honestly don't even know why I'm on this other than just like throw my goofy joke in every now and then and listen to you guys uh, hash out like real articulate arguments, and so I enjoy it and I have been. It has been super rewarding to me for the conversations off mic, for the conversations on mic, but just to be challenged by both you guys and to help iron sharpen iron.
Speaker 1:as I said before, Well, I appreciate the kind words and I somebody was asking me, like, how does your brother's dynamic work? And I think I gave them this illustration and I think this is pretty much how the podcast works and even how we even just do life. Many times we get around and sit around and chat, and we'll give the analogy of crossing the street, and if you're trying to cross the street, adrian is going to make sure that we cross the street Okay, cause that's what we said we're going to do. Aaron is going to make sure that we do not hurt ourselves or anybody else as we cross the street, and Anton is going to tell us how we can effectively cross the street, with all the academic ins and outs to make sure we do it properly. And I think it's a cool mix as you mix it all together.
Speaker 1:And so, therefore, sometimes you wonder how does this? You know, how do y'all guys? You get along but don't get along. And sometimes, when you're disagreeing, but you get, agree, you fist bump, it's all good. I think that's the best way that I've seen. Is that picture there?
Speaker 1:And so it gets done, and you know a hundred episodes. We were like are you getting paid? No, we're not getting paid for this or anything like that. We enjoy doing it and so, therefore, it is a challenge to us. It's a great outlet. Lord has blessed opportunities to be able to speak and do some different things because of the platform, but this is just really just us trying to, you know, give some content that we do believe is worthwhile, and still not in a way that I feel is a good, digestible way, not too scholastic but at the same time not just too white and fluffy where you just kind of get done and be like, why did I take time to listen to that? That didn't really do anything for me. So yeah, so yeah, that's been. It's been an exciting journey as well. I guess we're getting ready to end season number three, so I guess, as usually it ends, but not this time just for words, but as far as an episode, are all hearts and minds clear? For episode, I mean episode episode 100, ending, closing season number 3.
Speaker 2:I have nothing really to add, but I'm just going to say that is the most. That's a great analogy. I can't argue with that. That is the most succinct, honest, objective way of delineating the three of us. That is completely fair. I would make a plan on how to cross the road and I would never do anything. But I'd have a great plan written down in my little notebook Without Adrian, we would never cross the road.
Speaker 2:I would just sit there with my wife, Adrian we would never cross the road, I would just sit there, adrian, are you sure?
Speaker 3:Are you sure?
Speaker 2:That's so true. What is this?
Speaker 4:going to do to Anton.
Speaker 3:If we cross now, Well okay, Anton's good. But if Adrian, one day, if Tavian crosses the road, what would happen?
Speaker 1:Not wrong. Anybody had any doubts. That's just kind of how it works. So, which is a good sum, it's a good threesome. So any anything for you, aaron? No, I'm all right, hey, well, we're gonna wish you a happy thanksgiving, lord willing. We're gonna wish you a merry christmas as well, and we going to wish you a happy new year. And if, hey, lord comes back between then and there, then praise the Lord, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, but, lord willing, we plan to see you the beginning of next year for season number four, episode number 101. Thank you so much for joining us and we look forward to you joining us next time.
