The return episode is out of the way. Now it's time to get back to work.

This week, I'm settling back into a regular routine after vacation and talking about everything from work and social awkwardness to stand-up comedy, movies, television, creativity, and AI.

I get into attending a community event for work and doing what I do best — sitting awkwardly by myself until someone finally came over and started a conversation. I also went to the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival to see Matt Rife and Bill Burr, which gave me two very different experiences with event security... along with the experience of sitting next to a fuck boy and a drunk woman who absolutely would not stop talking.

There's also Will King and his hilarious rendition of the 2003 classic "Stacy's Mom," because the song really does hit different in your 30's compared to when you were a teenager.

On the movie and TV side, I talk about The Last House on Netflix, The End of Oak Street in theaters, Anne Hathaway somehow having five films this year, my thoughts on Marshals and Dutton Ranch feeling like Taylor Sheridan sold the Yellowstone universe to Dick Wolf, and my ongoing binge through Oz on HBO Max.

Finally, I get into something I've been thinking about a lot lately: using AI as a creative tool while navigating the criticism and shame surrounding it within parts of the artistic community. That leads into the story behind how the cover of Hometown Hero actually came together — and the role different creative tools and people played in bringing it to life.

Work. Comedy. Movies. TV. Creativity. AI. And plenty of random shit in between.

We're officially back to work.