This week, our hosts start off discussing upcoming travel plans. Then Michael dives into positive trends of pitties, podcasts, viral singers, and the rebellion in a galaxy far, far away.

In the news, J & M celebrate the environment with the return of sea turtles, ocean-saving efforts, 3-D printing as an eco warrior, an environmental journey that would make Julie Taymor jealous, and a firefly lottery (not the concert) in the Smokies. They wrap things up with some events happening around the world in May.

The Wheel of Topics sets off a nerd alert, and our hosts talk time travel (and discover they are obsessed with Paul Walker and Rachel McAdams)! We find out Michael wants to go to Victorian England to see…the gas lamps? (NERD) Then J & M just go hog wild about time travel movies and shows.

Jasmine needs a name for her “Curbside Cooldown” alter ego! The “Ashes & Embers” this week are short and to the point, and the affirmation for the week is sweet.

It must be a day ending in “y” because Michael sends us off with yet another “Grease 2” reference.

Remember to rate us and leave us a comment on whichever platform you use and send in your pleasant news, personal stories, and whatever is helping you have joy in these uncertain times.

Until next time, stay pleasant!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Biologists celebrate recovery mission as 31 critically endangered sea turtles return to the Atlantic Ocean: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-rescue-north-carolina

'Revive Our Ocean' initiative launched to protect coastal waters: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/revive-our-ocean-initiative-launched-protect-coastal-waters-2025-04-24/

Researchers create 3D-printed seawall to protect marine life from coastal erosion: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/miami-researchers-textured-seawall-coastal-erosion

Lifesize herd of puppet animals begins climate action journey from Africa to Arctic Circle: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/apr/25/puppet-herd-animals-climate-crisis-africa-arctic-circle-little-amal

National park's annual 'firefly lottery' opens for lucky winners to see an 'otherworldly' light show: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/synchronous-fireflies-lottery-national-park

Festival de Cannes: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/

RHS Chelsea Flower Show: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

Vivid Sydney: https://www.vividsydney.com/

Cheese Rolling Gloucester: https://nationaltoday.com/event/cheese-rolling-gloucester/

Monaco Grand Prix 2025: https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025/monaco

This week, we give some holiday wishes to our listeners (and Michael stumbles through some basic Hebrew). Fish doorbells and more “A Goofy Movie” content are keeping a huge smile on Jasmine’s face. Michael confuses Ricky Martin and Chris Pine (as one does) and talks about his love for “Waitress” (the movie and the musical).

In the news: gun control, political drag queens, women athletes representing hard at the 2028 Summer Olympics, sea turtles are making a big return (cue Michael ranting about paper straws), New Mexico’s free child care, and microbes giving life on other planets (and Michael biffs a “Saved by the Bell” reference — the song is “A 12” not “K 12”).

Muckles at the Movies is all about the love Michael has for Ryan Coogler’s hit film “Sinners”! Listen for his spoiler-free review and overall thoughts on the film and its amazing cast. The Wheel of Topics takes our hosts to a deserted island. They finish the episode with their Ashes & Embers, the weekly affirmation, a plea for more listener submissions, and Michael’s “I’m pleasant damn it” leaves Jasmine speechless.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com

Check out the Fish Doorbell: https://visdeurbel.nl/en/

Good News Links:

Colorado now has one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/semi-automatic-firearms-colorado-restrictive-gun-law-signed-governor-jared-polis/

An Austin drag queen is teaching people about the Texas Legislature — in the club: https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-04-15/austin-tx-brigitte-bandit-drag-politics-events

Tara Hoot: @tarahoot

Female athletes to be in the majority at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after big win for women’s soccer: https://apnews.com/article/ioc-fifa-2028-olympics-womens-soccer-8a881f452c544d204662e237a55a7a3f

Endangered sea turtle populations show signs of recovery in more than half the world, survey finds: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/endangered-sea-turtle-populations-show-signs-recovery-half-world-surve-rcna201788

New Mexico made childcare free. It lifted 120,000 people above the poverty line: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/childcare-new-mexico-poverty

Scientists detect signature of life on a distant planet, study suggests: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/science/k218b-potential-biosignature-webb/index.html

Extra, extra! Michael’s a bully who talked so long during a segment that he started the next one without asking Jasmine to contribute. To be fair, he was discussing the Hulu miniseries “Dying for Sex” and got caught up in the moment.

This week, Jasmine and Michael talk about the 30th Anniversary of “A Goofy Movie”, good news from around the world (including sports—what??), and Michael makes a very crass joke (sorry, Mom).

The Wheel of Topics gets our hosts talking about things they used to believe as kids, but don’t anymore. And then Michael does a mini discussion/review of “Dying for Sex”, the Hulu miniseries and the podcast it was inspired by.

Don’t do your “Michael’s Filler Words” drinking game this episode because you will end up in the ER.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com

Good News Links:

Volunteers in the Bay Area are building DIY benches for bus stops that don’t have anywhere for people to sit (Guerrilla activists are remaking Bay Area transit stops on their own): https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/guerrilla-transit-activists-bus-benches-bay-area-20234113.php

Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record with 895th of his career: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-ovechkin-breaks-wayne-gretzkys-nhl-goals-record-895-career/

Technology developed by MIT engineers makes pesticides stick to plant leaves: https://news.mit.edu/2025/mit-engineers-develop-pesticides-stick-on-plant-leaves-0325

Clean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024, report finds: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/08/clean-energy-powered-40-of-global-electricity-in-2024-report-finds

Volunteers plant record number of trees in woodland: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz03d18erp0o

Stir stick to detect if your drink is spiked developed by UBC researchers: https://globalnews.ca/news/11101145/stir-stick-drink-spiked-ubc-researchers/

Eastern monarch butterfly population nearly doubles in 2025: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/eastern-monarch-butterfly-population-nearly-doubles-in-2025

You can buy a pebble from the 'tariffed' Heard Island penguins to support wildlife conservation: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/trump-tariffs-heard-island-penguins-pebble-export

Beavers back in river for first time in 400 years: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78jd6dqjzyo