Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman join Bridger to discuss attending multiple weddings in one night, House Hunters International, and Disney DJs. Listen as they play Gift or a Curse, and be entertained by their hilarious banter.
Bridger receives a surprise gift of art by Steve Keene, showcasing his knowledge and appreciation for the artist's work.
Discussion on pet parenting strategies and home decor preferences, with Bridger favoring simplicity and Andy enjoying more artwork.
Suggestions for an international civil servant struggling with work-related travel and gift-giving, including shipping gifts and finding a balance in life.
Deep dives
A Thoughtful Gift from Andy & Naomi
Andy and Naomi surprise Bridger with a piece of art by Steve Keene, known for painting covers for bands like Pavement and Silver Jews. The artwork depicts a TV schedule from a previous year, featuring shows like Evening News, Happy Days, MASH, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, and PBS NewsHour. Bridger expresses his appreciation for the gift and mentions his knowledge of Steve Keene's work.
Pets and Home Alone Setups
The conversation transitions to discussing the setup at home for their pets. Bridger shares his experience of having to remove cushions and use stools and chairs to prevent his dog, Edie, from destroying furniture. Naomi talks about setting boundaries for Mabel, their dog, and preventing her from accessing the litter box area. They jokingly compare their pet parenting strategies.
Art and Personal Preferences
Bridger and Andy talk about their preferences for home decor, with Bridger leaning towards neutral colors and simple designs, while Andy enjoys having more artwork around the house. They discuss the idea of having a picture of their pet as a default art piece for a touch of personalization.
Therapy and Naming Conventions
The conversation shifts to therapy, with Bridger mentioning the need to find a new therapist. They also discuss Bridger's unconventional naming convention in his phone, using names of celebrities for his contacts. Naomi shares her surprise about the naming convention and Andy defends the creativeness.
Striking a Balance Between Work and Personal Travel
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced by an international civil servant who used to love finding personalized gifts for loved ones during their travels. However, since their travel has become more work-related, they find it difficult to dedicate time and luggage space to buying gifts. The person expresses disappointment in themselves for not trying harder during their recent visit home. They seek advice on how to strike a balance in their life and maintain their title as the cool aunt.
Suggested Tips for Balancing Travel and Gift-Giving
The podcast hosts suggest a couple of tips to help the international civil servant strike a balance between work-related travel and gift-giving to loved ones. One tip is to consider shipping gifts back home from the countries they visit, which allows them to avoid the burden of carrying gifts in their luggage. Another suggestion humorously implies smuggling drugs from other countries as a way to become the cool aunt. The hosts acknowledge the person's efforts but emphasize that being the cool aunt is not solely contingent on the gifts they bring.
Bridger stays centered and composed even when Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman (Couples Therapy) distastefully show up with an unwanted gift. The three discuss House Hunters International, attending multiple weddings in one night, and Disney DJs.
Don't forget to review the podcast, it's the least you can do.
