In what may be the most raw and honest conversation yet on the show, Philip sits down with Miles Marszalek for an episode that ventures far beyond their usual tech talk into deeply personal territory. This isn’t the lighthearted Miles from previous episodes—this time, he opens up about recent struggles that have fundamentally shifted his perspective on life, relationships, and mental health.
Miles candidly discusses his recent manic episode and subsequent breakdown, sharing insights into how these experiences have changed his relationship with technology, virtual communities, and the real world around him. The conversation flows naturally into his relationship with Helene, offering listeners a glimpse into the complexities of maintaining connections during difficult times.
The discussion takes unexpected turns as Miles reflects on backcountry experiences and how they’ve provided both escape and clarity during turbulent periods. Without going into unnecessary detail, he also touches on the painful reality of dealing with infidelity and broken trust, exploring how these personal betrayals intersect with broader questions about authenticity in both digital and physical relationships.
Philip provides a supportive listening ear while occasionally sharing his own perspectives on navigating life’s more challenging moments. Their conversation demonstrates the kind of genuine friendship that can handle difficult truths without judgment, creating space for vulnerability that’s rarely heard in the podcasting world.
This episode serves as a reminder that behind every Discord username and VR avatar are real people dealing with real struggles. It’s an honest exploration of mental health, relationships, and resilience that will resonate with anyone who’s faced their own dark moments.

Just when listeners thought the podcast couldn't get more unpredictable, Philip's chaotic childhood friend Cody Burrier makes an unplanned return to the show—arriving at the studio uninvited, unscheduled, and unmistakably under the influence. What follows is sixty minutes of pure, unfiltered Floyd County mayhem that makes their previous episode together look positively structured by comparison.

In this gleefully derailed conversation, Cody somehow manages to hijack Philip's carefully planned episode about VR headset comparisons, transforming it instead into an impromptu deep dive into his bewildering conspiracy theories about why Apple products are "secretly powered by alien technology." Between increasingly elaborate tangents and nostalgia-fueled interruptions, Cody delivers surprisingly insightful commentary on the disconnect between the tech world's vision and the realities of rural Virginia life.

The highlight comes mid-episode when Cody discovers Discord for the very first time and proceeds to join Philip's server live on air, immediately confounding the entire online community with voice messages that can only be described as authentically Appalachian stream-of-consciousness. What was meant to be a five-minute demonstration becomes twenty minutes of unintentional comedy gold as Cody attempts to comprehend why "people would rather talk in typing than with their God-given mouths."

Through it all, Philip's attempts to steer the conversation back on track only serve to inspire new detours, including Cody's unexpected emotional tribute to the '91 Pathfinder ("the last honest vehicle ever made") and his detailed plans to convert his own truck to run on "either moonshine or spite—whichever's cheaper that week."

This delightfully chaotic reunion proves once again that sometimes the best podcast moments happen when the original plan falls completely apart, leaving only authentic friendship, unfiltered country wisdom, and whatever Cody brought in that mason jar.

This week, Philip welcomes back fan-favorite guest Miles Marszalek for an episode that trades virtual reality for physical reality as the pair recount their recent first gym expedition together. What was intended as a casual introduction to fitness quickly evolved into an unforgettable comedy of errors that listeners won't want to miss.

Miles delivers a play-by-play account of his gym initiation with the trademark self-deprecating humor that endeared him to listeners in his previous appearance. From his initial confusion about locker room etiquette to his valiant struggle with what he describes as "the least user-friendly rowing machine ever designed by humans," Miles transforms what could have been an embarrassing experience into a hilariously relatable tale of fitness culture shock.

The conversation weaves between detailed descriptions of workout mishaps—including Philip's ill-advised attempt to demonstrate proper form that nearly ended in disaster—and thoughtful reflections on how digital spaces like VRChat have impacted their perceptions of physical interaction and body image. Miles makes surprising connections between navigating new VR interfaces and deciphering gym equipment, suggesting that perhaps his hours in virtual environments haven't prepared him for real-world physical challenges as much as he'd hoped.

Between fits of laughter, the duo discuss how their shared experience has strengthened their friendship beyond their usual tech and Discord interactions, proving that sometimes the most meaningful connections happen when we step away from our screens and into uncomfortable new territories together—even if it means becoming intimately familiar with muscle groups they didn't know existed.

Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or someone who considers walking to the fridge a sufficient workout, this episode offers both entertainment and unexpected insight into how we approach new challenges, physical spaces, and the surprising parallels between virtual and physical community building.

*Note: No actual gym equipment was permanently damaged during the making of this episode, though Miles' pride may require additional recovery time.*