Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!

This week’s episode, we dive into an animated classic telling of the “Meanie of Chanukah” and are joined by an extra-special, first-time guest, Melissa! As this is the first time Michael is joined in his “studio” with a guest, the sound is different, but the laughs are still the same.

Join Jasmine, Michael, and Melissa as they discuss an episode of the Nickelodeon animated series “Rugrats”, which tells the story of Hanukkah through the eyes of the precocious, titular toddlers.

Grab your dreidel and gelt for some unregulated gambling in bubbe’s basement while the adults fry up latkes and toast with Manischewitz, and we all have some pleasant conversations!

Jasmine and Michael are plugging along with their holiday movie reviews with a modern classic musical adventure. Take a journey with our hosts as they travel to a Dickensian English village of a different timeline, filled with whimsical inventors, plucky kids, magical toys, randy postwomen, and the legendary Phylicia Rashad. Spoiler alert: they loved this movie!

So dust off your magic robots and twirl your evil mustaches as we solve the “Square Root of Possible” and have some pleasant conversations.

Happy December 1st, dear listeners! Mariah Carey has emerged from her slumber, and it’s time for peppermint mochas, sugary treats, sleigh bells, and some of the best AND worst holiday movies and specials.

First up, our foul-mouthed bestie from Down Undah, Cass, joins us to discuss a holiday murder mystery brought to us courtesy of Lifetime. This movie has everything: snowy scenes in an old mansion, a distractingly handsome spirit with witty comebacks, a plucky female lead who questions her purpose, and a pocket watch that has NOTHING to do with the plot, even though it would have been the perfect device for the entire story.

So make yourself an Old Fashioned or five, get those chestnuts roaring in the dumpster fire, and join us for some spooky (?), holiday pleasant conversations!

Happy Turkey Day! We hope you are all enjoying time with your loved ones and “gobbling up” all the good food being offered. We also hope your gravy isn’t tainted with bigotry.

In this special episode, our hosts are discussing the 1995 chaotic classic, “Home for the Holidays”. Spoiler alert: Jasmine is not a fan. If you have a messy family, you’ll feel right at home. If not, come see how the other half live (and love, in their own f’ed up kind of way). So grab a bottle of wine, help yourself to a heaping pile of mashed potatoes, watch out for flying turkeys, and join us for this extra helping of our Thanksgiving pleasant conversations!

The holiday season is nigh, so Jasmine and Michael have decided to take a break from the normal programming structure to bring you some special episodes to keep you in the spirit while the world continues to burn around us.

On today’s episode, our hosts travel back to 1987 for a John Hughes Thanksgiving classic comedy. Buckle up because we are taking the longest three-day journey from Manhattan to Chicago! So pack your obnoxiously large trunk, request extra bath towels from room service, and don’t piss off the lady at the rental car stand on your way to join us for our special, holiday pleasant conversations!

This week is the last traditional episode for the year, as we move into our special holiday episodes.

Our hosts talk health and body woes as they age, Michael talks cars and Fortnite and Jasmine talks babies when it comes to smiles for the week. Michael takes over the news desk this week and shares stories of nature and art becoming one for sustainability, Australia’s Women of the Year awards, and daycare centers from around the world ditching playgrounds for outdoor space for children to explore nature and its wonders.

The Wheel of Topics has our hosts talking about going on nostalgia trips, which causes Michael to have a TED talk about the 90s (many apologies to Jasmine for that). We end as we always do, sharing joy, getting a weekly affirmation (which has a picture that makes Michael slightly uncomfortable), and pleasantries.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, join the rest of us for a few nips around the dumpster fire as we continue to procrastinate by having some pleasant conversations.

This week, our hosts recover from candy hangovers as they welcome us into November. This week’s smiles include co-workers and mental restarts. Jasmine shares how this Halloween was more enjoyable for her at her school, and Michael talks about the new Frankenstein film.

Jasmine brings us good news of churches standing up for queer rights and helping those in need during this furlough and the possible removal of SNAP benefits. She also shares a story about Halloween decorations helping kids with cancer. Michael shares fun facts about the month of November.

The Wheel of Topics has our hosts discussing bizarre traditions from around the world. We end with joys, an affirmation bonus card, and pleasantries.

Pop a Xanny, don your favorite sweater and scarf, buckle in for cold weather, and join us for some pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Dallas church paints rainbow steps in protest of Abbott's crosswalk order: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-church-paints-rainbow-steps-abbott-crosswalk-order/3935094/

Pastor turns down $1M in church donations, urges congregation to give to SNAP recipients instead: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/pastor-jamal-h-bryant-atlanta-snap-donations

Nearly 600 homes across the country are competing to put on the best Halloween displays. The money goes to cancer research: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/halloween-decorations-yard-display-st-jude

Our hosts are basking in their post-Halloween glow and marching forward into autumn. Jasmine and Michael have big news for the upcoming holiday season and want YOU to join them for an episode!

The news brings good stories about Alaskan pet rescue, climate talks with indigenous South Americans, Bon Jovi helps feed federal workers, eyesight being brought back to the blind through scientific advances, allergy prevention in infants, and Ireland ensuring art still thrives by actually helping artists afford to live while creating.

The Wheel of Topics has our hosts having a spontaneous wild card discussion about snacking. They wrap everything up with joys, an affirmation, and pleasantries (and lots of laughter about Michael’s run-in with an AI bot).

Get those big scarves out, enjoy all the pumpkin flavors before they turn to mint whilst walking through the falling leaves, and join us for a pleasant conversation.

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

The other Alaska airlift: Volunteers save dogs from a flooded Alaska village, 1 tiny plane at a time: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-dog-rescue-typhoon-2025-kipnuk-82692b1d80db519b5eca33a1f41a7e36

Furloughed federal workers eat for free at Bon Jovi's 'pay it forward' restaurant: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/bon-jovi-soul-kitchen-government-shutdown

Tiny AI-powered eye implant helps the blind see again: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251020092818.htm

Advice to feed babies peanuts early and often helped thousands of kids avoid allergies: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/advice-to-feed-babies-peanuts-early-and-often-helped-thousands-of-kids-avoid-allergies

Ireland Makes a Program Offering Basic Income for Artists Permanent: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ireland-makes-a-program-offering-basic-income-for-artists-permanent-180987523/