Before cheat codes and save points, there was only one rule: don’t die. This week, Bret and Josh fire up the nostalgia with a trip back to the 8-bit era — when games like Contra, Zelda, TMNT, and even Pitfall taught us the art of patience, strategy, and persistence.

Josh and Bret talk about blowing on cartridges, memorizing enemy patterns, stuffing towels in the door cracks so you could play at night, teaming up on the couch with friends, and celebrating those rare victories that came after dozens of failed attempts. Along the way, we explore whether today’s instant-gratification gaming culture still delivers the same grit-building experiences… or if something valuable was left back in those pixelated worlds.

Once upon a time, if you had a problem with someone, you handled it. Face-to-face. No texts. No ghosting. Just words — awkward, angry, clumsy, honest words.

This week, Bret and Josh get into the gritty life school of confrontation — what it taught us growing up Gen X, and what seems to be missing in today’s conflict-avoidant, GenZ Staring, emoji-coded culture. From hallway showdowns and forced apologies to the wild rise of “ghostlighting” and dry texting, this episode explores how avoiding tension might be killing our ability to grow, forgive, and move on.

We also dive into how this shift is affecting kids, relationships, and even workplaces — and challenge the idea that avoiding conflict is somehow healthier than working through it.

#69 This week in the Treefort, Bret and Josh pull back the foil wrapper on the food we thought was fine — and somehow lived to talk about. From Pop-Tarts and bagel bites to ramen dinners and roller dogs that looked like wizard fingers, this is a love letter to the food crimes and the never-would-I-ever-eat-that food of our youth.

The rant gets real as they tear into the scam that was the food pyramid, how nobody understood nutrition labels until their 30s, and Josh’s go-to ramen creation before a night out in college. It’s greasy, it’s nostalgic, it’s hilarious — and it pairs perfectly with a Capri Sun and low expectations.

Songs on the mixtape this week: Eat It by Weird Al and Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard.

In this new segment episode called Mixtape Rewind, we dive into the life lessons we picked up from the movies that raised us. From The Karate Kid’s reminder that the boring reps matter, to Dead Poets Society’s call to stand up even when your voice shakes, these films delivered more than entertainment — they gave us a code.

We unpack timeless truths from The Sandlot, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Forrest Gump, and The NeverEnding Story, all backed by a soundtrack that hits hard with “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito and Cyndi Lauper’s “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough.” Plus, our “You Gotta Be Kidding Me” segment makes its debut. It’s all heart, grit, and Gen X wisdom — one rewind at a time.

We used to be the remote. Now, if something takes effort, we skip it. In this episode, Bret and Josh unpack how technology—while making life more convenient—might be robbing us of something essential: our edge.

Physically, we move less. Mentally, we outsource thinking. Socially, we avoid discomfort. But the truth is: we need friction. Struggle builds strength. Challenge sharpens focus. Discomfort deepens connection.

So this Fourth of July, as we celebrate independence, we’re flipping the question:

Is convenience making helping us stay free and meet our full potential?

This week, Bret and Josh wrestle with a key dad identity crisis: Are we fun dads… or just walking rulebooks with snacks? From letting your kids skip chores to realizing you sound exactly like your own father, they break down the tension between structure and spontaneity—and what “fun” even looks like in 2025 dad life.

Spoiler: letting your kid stay up late while doing bedtime math in your head still counts.

Troy Ita joins Bret and Josh in the Treefort to talk Florida roots, raising kids with patience, and embracing the Gen X art of chilling out. From sounding like his own dad when laying down life lessons, to helping his kids learn real social skills in a tech-heavy world, Troy brings laughs and laid-back wisdom.

Plus, a Princess Bride moment reminds us all: parenting is mostly just trying not to lose your mind while staying mostly dead inside. Sort of.

For more wisdom, laughs and awesomeness from Troy, check out his viral posts on IG under "thedogfathertx"

At what point did concerts, group dinners, and staying out past 9pm become a hard no? Bret and Josh explore the great midlife trade-off: doing less, and loving it.

From avoiding plans that sound exhausting to skipping things we once lived for, this episode asks—are we actually getting wiser… or just chronically tired?

If it doesn’t involve stretch pants, easy parking, or the ability to bail last-minute, we’re probably not interested. And honestly? That feels like growth.