This week, our hosts start off strong with talk of weather woes, adorable kids, Disney, and a Milwaukee legend. Then, Michael does a deep dive into Jasmine’s first time…at Universal Orlando (apologies to non-theme-park persons, but we go for an average Disney ride wait time).

Jasmine and Michael then move on to The Wheel of Topics, where they discuss surviving without tech and end the show with ashes and embers, a celebrity affirmation, and, of course, pleasantries.

Grab plenty of water, your sunblock, and your patience for the long lines ahead. Luckily, while we wait, we can have some pleasant conversations.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

This week, Jasmine has returned from her adventures at sea, fighting off pirates and luring sailors to their doom. After some catching up, Michael gives two spoiler-filled reviews for “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” If you want to avoid them, skip to 26:30.

After he talks for a while, Michael hands the reins over to Jasmine to do a co-host interview about her cruise. You don’t want to miss out on all the hits and misses. Then, we close out the show as we always do with ashes, embers, affirmations, and pleasantries.

Make sure you turn on your powers of invisibility to avoid any strangers in a rain slicker and catch a wave to join us for our pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com

Jasmine is about to go on her much-needed vacation, so what better conversations are there for our hosts to have than about politics and animals! Don’t worry, the animals always outweigh the politics.

After some political griping, our hosts delight in some banter about 90s TV shows, good news in both the animal and environmental worlds, an educationally fun topic, Ashes & Embers, the weekly affirmation, and some pleasantries about being a responsible adult.

Now put down that fourth shrimp cocktail and go meet your activities director down on the poop deck, but watch your step, as they welcome you to join our pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Sea turtle nests hit a new high on the Texas coast: https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/sea-turtles-nests-texas-20379265.php

World's oldest climate fund targets wildlife bonds for every country in Africa: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/worlds-oldest-climate-fund-targets-wildlife-bonds-every-country-africa-2025-07-17/

A new Trump policy asked national park visitors to report 'negative' content. They're writing compliments to rangers instead: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/national-park-trump-feedback-forms

Conservation Jobs Corps gives Midland teens hands-on STEM experience at I-20 Wildlife Preserve: https://www.mrt.com/news/education/article/conservation-jobs-corps-midland-stem-20775607.php

5,000 people express interest in running for office following NYC mayoral primary: 'Change is coming': https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/new-york-city-primary-zohran-mamdani-run-for-something

Gorillas return to San Antonio Zoo for first time in 30 years, featuring largest gorilla tower in the world: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/07/17/gorillas-return-to-san-antonio-zoo-for-first-time-in-30-years-featuring-largest-gorilla-tower-in-the-world/

Michael complains about the heat (again), but the mood in the studio is a hell of a lot lighter than last week. Jasmine is going on vacation, and our hosts talk roller coasters and rides that are duds.

BREAKING NEWS: Michael didn’t update his script. After this delightful fumble, we get into Good News and a Muckles at the Movies. We end the episode with our spin around The Wheel, an affirmation, and pleasantries!

Pull down your lap bars and shoulder restraints as we prepare to launch in 3…2…1…and join us for our pleasant conversations.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Kids across Texas raise thousands for flood relief with lemonade stands: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/texas-floods-camp-mystic-lemonade-stand

Parisians take a historic plunge into the River Seine after more than a century: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/07/05/parisians-take-a-historic-plunge-into-the-seine-after-more-than-a-century

This state is now home to one of the biggest populations of bald eagles in the US after years of recovery: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/bald-eagles-endangered-status-recovery

First malaria treatment for babies approved for use: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89e872jdjxo

This week, Michael is in a funk, and you can tell (be prepared for an ASMR voice). It’s Bastille Day, so he tries to lighten the mood with some terrible French *insert stereotypical Chef Louis laugh here*.

Jasmine shares smiles caused by the niece and Michael talks naughty BINGO, “Sinners” joining his list of comfort movies to watch at home, and “Jurassic World: Rebirth”. He then goes into a more in-depth, spoilery review of “Ironheart”. If you don’t want to be spoiled, skip to around 21:05.

The Wheel of Topics has our hosts talking about an invention of their wildest dreams, though Michael’s is way more complicated than Jasmine's. Side note: all apologies to the people of Memphis, as Michael rambled and did not mean to call your city dirty and trashy.

We finish out with our ashes and embers, affirmation card (where Michael starts speaking as if in a fever dream), and our pleasantries.

What a bizarre episode that still manages to find some joy. So, break out your baguettes, cheese, and a bottle of wine abs join us for our revolutionary, pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Thread Accounts to follow for great Ironheart (and more) discourse:

@krystinaarielle

@blackgirlnerds

@blerdwithoutfear

@dr.mercedessamudio

@moon_the_storyteller

@noelcamille

@blackgaycomicgeek

@quintessaknight

This week's episode drops right after the Fourth of July, and the fireworks are going off in the studio! (Watch your fingers!)

Our hosts' smiles are filled with love. Jasmine gushes about her new job, and Michael gushes about Cree Summer for way too long. The news brings us stories of HIV drug developments, a silly bear trapped in plastic (NOT Michael for once), and support for families affected by ICE. Michael reviews both “M3GAN 2.0” and “Ironheart”.

The Wheel of Topics brings up bad advice our hosts have received in education. Ashes and Embers include lost debit cards, fun trips with good friends, sleep, and employment.

We end with good advice from our affirmation cards, and an explosive “I’m Pleasant, Damn It”.

Don your American flag apparel, channel your inner Little Edie, and join us for another pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Check out A Kids Co.: https://www.akidsco.com

Good News Links:

HIV prevention drug hailed as a 'breakthrough' gets FDA approval: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/06/18/g-s1-73130/hiv-prevention-drug-lenacapavir-fda-breakthrough

Tens of thousands defy Hungary’s ban on Pride in protest against Orbán: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/28/tens-of-thousands-defy-hungarys-ban-on-pride-in-protest-against-orban

A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.: https://apnews.com/article/michigan-bear-neck-lid-31cfc1e0e19186f2ac666bbac8034cc4

Boyle Heights student-led group delivers groceries to families avoiding ICE: https://boyleheightsbeat.com/boyle-heights-immigrant-grocery-delivery/

Move over, Sylvia Browne! This week, we end Pride month by casting magic missile and are joined by our spiritual advisor, Lucas!

We reminisce about how we met and when we all had an adventure together a few years back. Then we get into some mystical s*** right off the bat, which sends us on a tangent about animals (shocker).

The news brings us stories of Utah Pride, a Midwest town’s first-ever drag show, Italian LGBTQ+ family rights, and Hungarian Pride in the face of conservatism.

The Wheel of Topics brings us our very first mini game: Keep It or Cut it—Queer Tropes. Will it get us canceled by the queer community? Only the Fates know for sure. But there are definitely some hot takes.

Lucas shares a beautifully spiritual Ashes & Embers, whilst Michael and Jasmine get petty. We then get a great bonus card for our weekly affirmation.

Hopefully, you won’t have to smudge your space after listening to the episode. Set your intentions, blend your margaritas, turn on some Harry Nilsson, and join us for our pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

LGBTQ+ advocates sell 'petty' Pride merch to protest Utah's flag ban and help community members: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/utah-pride-flag-ban-protest

Grafton to host its first-ever drag show at 3rd Chute Bar & Grill: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/grafton-first-drag-show-illinois-pride-month-20382396.php

Lesbian mothers win legal status in Italy IVF ruling: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/europe/lesbian-mothers-win-legal-status-italy-ivf-ruling-intl

Budapest mayor says city will organise Budapest Pride, circumventing Orban's legislation: https://www.reuters.com/world/budapest-mayor-says-city-will-organise-budapest-pride-circumventing-orbans-2025-06-16/

It’s the third episode in our Pride celebration! We welcome our friend Zachary (aka Gorgeous) to the pod this week, and Michael has met his match when it comes to podcast Chatty Kathy’s. Our hosts and guest catch up and quickly fall down the Disney rabbit hole (as they are wont to do).

Gorgeous becomes our new arts correspondent and gives us his thoughts on the Tony Awards. Apologies to non-theater people, but this takes over our news segment. Have a listen and get some culture! Speaking of culture, our Wheel of Topics will give you some fun Pride month media recs.

The episode is chock-full of laughs, corny jokes, and celebrating community. Don your best awards show attire, tell Patti Lupone to shut her brassy, magnificent trap, and join us for another pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Costume Designer Paul Tazewell on Winning a Tony and Oscar Within Months: ‘This Black, Queer Little Boy in Akron, Ohio Had No Idea He Would Have the Year That He Had’: https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/costume-designer-paul-tazewell-wins-tony-award-death-becomes-her-1236422860/

Cole Escola makes Tony history with acting win, thanks Grindr connection: https://www.out.com/theater/cole-escola-historic-tony-award

Nicole Scherzinger Wins the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/theater/nicole-scherzinger-tony-best-actress-musical.html

Darren Criss Is the First Asian Actor to Win Leading Actor in a Musical: https://playbill.com/article/darren-criss-wins-leading-actor-in-a-musical-at-the-2025-tony-awards

Cynthia Erivo Gets Support From Oprah, Belts Out “Sometimes All You Need Is a Song” in Tony Awards Opening: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/cynthia-erivo-2025-tony-awards-host-best-moments-1236259217/