Take Back the Day

Sam overviews her recent problem solving endeavours including poop spatulas and pods for your ears. While deliberating on friction in our lives and how to remove it, we mention... The incredible Shōgun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun_(2024_miniseries)) miniseries. Temu. They really don't need us to link to them. Various Apple products. They, too, seem to be doing fine without our links. The Station Eleven (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_Eleven_(miniseries)) miniseries. • Red Dead Redemption 2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption_2) • The Untitled Goose Game (https://goose.game/)

Our intrepid explorers consider the world's many overlooked and dissapearing organisms, and how to think about changing environments while making more of what is already around us. Along the way, Sam and Simon mention: The Cape Silverside, or "Sukkelvis" fish. Else Bostelmann (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Else_Bostelmann) The Schmidt Ocean Institute (https://schmidtocean.org/) Godzilla x Kong (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14539740/) Last Chance to See (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8696.Last_Chance_to_See) by Douglas Adams Cave of Forgotten Dreams (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1664894/) Survive the Century (https://survivethecentury.net/) The How to Save a Planet (https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet) podcast. All We Can Save (https://www.allwecansave.earth/) Palworld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palworld) Love on the Spectrum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_on_the_Spectrum_(American_TV_series)) Saunas and their associated cold-water shenanigans. You don't need a link. The Boy and the Heron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_and_the_Heron) Vengeance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vengeance_(2022_film)) The Book with No Pictures (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821299-the-book-with-no-pictures)

Games are fun. Work... not so much. Sam and Simon reconnect after many aeons spent not speaking on the internet to talk about games, and why they're fun and important in a way that work isn't and is. Along with other stuff. Things mentioned in this episode: Hearthstone (https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/) (don't you dare click that link). Rabble (https://joinrabble.com/) - for tricking adults in the UK into exercising. The Oatmeal (https://theoatmeal.com/) and Matthew's awesome games, including: Poetry for Neanderthals (https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/poetry-for-neanderthals). Honey Heist (https://gshowitt.itch.io/honey-heist) - be a goddamn bear. FU (https://www.perilplanet.com/freeform-universal/) - The Freeform Universal RPG system. Bouldering (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouldering). Go (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(game)) - games don't get much gamesier than that. Smallworld (https://www.daysofwonder.com/small-world-universe/small-world/) - especially the digital versions on Steam and elsewhere. The story of Monopoly and American capitalism (https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151367036/story-monopoly-american-capitalism) The amazing Dr Nechama Brodie (https://nechamabrodie.com/) Microsoft Excel World Championship (https://fmworldcup.com/excel-esports/microsoft-excel-world-championship/) The Future (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/123163147) by Naomi Alderman Girls of Little Hope (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62825562-girls-of-little-hope?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_20) by Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen Radiolab's mind-blowing podcast on The Interstitium (https://radiolab.org/podcast/interstitium) Acquired, Cautionary Tales, Search Engine, S-town, and other favourite podcasts of Simon's.

Sam and Simon are together in a room, for a change, and discuss the impact of artificial intelligence, existential crises, and a range of other topics. Along the way they mention: The Cope Zine (https://simon.co.za/COPE.pdf) (instructions on how to fold it below) ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/chat?__cf_chl_tk=B07daYor4vLq8_6t4W8A9OJEqUNGVa2ZYBN1RpViGxI-1674117777-0-gaNycGzNFn0) again. Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files on ChatGPT (https://www.theredhandfiles.com/chat-gpt-what-do-you-think/) Francis Fukuyama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Fukuyama) and his theories on the progress of civilisation. Irresistible (https://www.netflix.com/title/81249604) the movie (one of the many things Simon could not remember). Also Triangle of Sadness (https://www.triangleofsadness.film/). The incredible art of Fanie Buys (https://www.faniebuys.com/). Many games. Including World of Warcraft, Don't Starve Together, Mario Kart, Stardew Valley, League of Legends, and other candidates for Sam and Simon to play together. Wingspan (https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/). How to fold a zine: https://annabrones.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/make-a-one-page-zine.jpg?w=700&h=467

From trippy breath work to commanding a robot army, Sam and Simon are getting ready for a super weird future with its various perils. While discussing their battle strategy they mention: The Wim Hof breathing method (https://www.wimhofmethod.com/) ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/), of course. Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less by James Hamblin (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52260482-clean) Building A Virtual Machine inside ChatGPT by Jonas Degrave (https://www.engraved.blog/building-a-virtual-machine-inside/) Midjourney (https://midjourney.com/) Botto (https://www.botto.com/) the autonomous artist. (Thanks for the album art, DALL·E 2 (https://openai.com/dall-e-2/))

Simon reads Sam a poem and our intrepid duo considers the best ways in which to treat our future selves, the tensions that keep life balanced, pros and cons of social media, and myriad other thingies. Along the way they mention: Swan by Mary Oliver (https://www.poetseers.org/contemporary-poets/mary-oliver/mary-oliver-poems/the-swan/) Twitter's impending doom (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595207476936413187) No One Is Talking About This (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53733106-no-one-is-talking-about-this) by Patricia Lockwood Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow) by Gabrielle Zevin Replay (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/341735.Replay?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=4B4rDz35fO&rank=1) by Ken Grimwood Stutz (https://www.netflix.com/za/title/81387962) Breath:The New Science of a Lost Art (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48890486-breath?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=vuoOEaNc2p&rank=5) by James Nestor

Sam and Simon explore identity, how we change ourselves for each other, and what it means to push for making things better while appreciating the way things are. It's complicated. Along the way they mention: Adventure Time! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Time) Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (https://www.netflix.com/watch/80209608) Morning Pages (https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/) Ann Patchett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Patchett) Clarkson's Farm (https://www.amazon.com/Clarksons-Farm-Season-1/dp/B095RHJ52R) Wilding (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38891828-wilding) by Isabella Tree The Jamison Valley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamison_Valley) How Wolves Change Rivers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q&t=1s)

Sam's robotic brain and Simon's tin heart contemplate practices such as writing, running, meditating - or antyhing else that curiously calls you to do it for its own sake - and what these commitments mean and ask from us as they curiously make their way into the other parts of our lives. Along the way they mention: Return to Oz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Oz) Google Keep (https://keep.google.com/) Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) Notion (https://www.notion.so/) Shoe Dog (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27220736-shoe-dog) by Phil Knight Jim Rogers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rogers) Born to Run (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6289283-born-to-run) by Christopher McDougall Eat and Run (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13202092-eat-and-run) by Scott Jurek, Steve Friedman The Hardrock 100 (https://hardrock100.com/) The Dreamachine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine) DeepDream (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepDream) Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_%26_Andy:_The_Great_Beyond) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow) by Gabrielle Zevin

What gives things value, and how much should we be worried about that? Sam and Simon discover that everything is rubbish, and along the way mention: Veblen goods (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good) A lot of garbage things that don't deserve extra attention here Cryptotrunks (https://cryptotrunks.co/) Cryptokitties (https://www.cryptokitties.co/) Sir Digby (https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1uZAJh47f/) Vaccines: A Measured Response (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc) Google Keep (https://keep.google.com/) Semiphemeral (https://semiphemeral.com/) 📼 Bo Burnam

Prolific heat-thieves Sam and Simon talk about keeping shit together on this sixtieth episode of Take Back the Day. Things mentioned in this episode: Radiolab's Kleptotherms podcast. (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/kleptotherms) The Overstory by Richard Powers. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40180098-the-overstory) Sam's crazy productivity system (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/productivity-isnt-doing-all-the-things/) (subscribe to her newsletter too). Simon's silly ZARP website (https://www.zarp.cash/). Survive the Century (https://survivethecentury.net/) climate-change game. The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53968436-the-secret-to-superhuman-strength). Moss (https://moss.earth/en/home/) and their crypto carbon credits.

When do we self-sabotage? How do we break out of cycles? Can we form new habits? Why did Sam choose to move to a frigid, muddy island off the coast of Europe? We ponder all these questions and more in this episode of Take Back the Day, and along the way we mention: Steven Pressfield and the War of Art (https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/). Mr. Ferriss (https://tim.blog). BF Skinner and his superstitious pigeons (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bf-skinner-the-man-who-taught-pigeons-to-play-ping-pong-and-rats-to-pull-levers-5363946/). Atomic Habits by James Clear (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits). Ira Glass (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Glass). How to With John Wilson (https://www.hbo.com/how-to-with-john-wilson). Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake (https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life).

Yo yo yo. It's another episode of Sam and Simon Speak on the Internet™, bitches! In this episode they touch on: The stupid US elections. Simon's stupid book (https://www.amazon.com/Math-We-Trust-Bitcoin-Cryptocurrency-ebook/dp/B07C7TPXMD). Sam's amazing book (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/books/). M O N E Y . Behavioural.... economics (https://xkcd.com/1894/)? Vanguard (https://investor.vanguard.com/corporate-portal/). Sam's newsletter (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/) (sign up!). Satrix MSCI World ETF (https://satrix.co.za/products/product-details?id=33) (it's a thing you can invest in). Sam's thing she loves: Geocaching (https://www.geocaching.com/play). Simon's thing he thinks is pretty cool: Wave Accounting (https://www.waveapps.com/).