Hi! Here we are. This is our first episode. In terms of what you can expect - we'd say general first-episode-of-a-podcast kind of stuff, We tell you who we are, why we're fascinated by the concept of "culture shock" (in all of its forms), and how it's affected both of our lives. Other topics? The ~romantic~ tales of why we wound up in Paris (spoiler alert: one involves kidney stones & the other, a dead body), why we love stranger energy, how the only compliment we've ever received from a French person was while dressed as Princess Diana, and how the impossibility of getting the bill in Paris is actually a blessing.

In this ep, we explore why making friends in your 30s isn't easy- and why that might actually be OK. Also- do French people hate being asked questions?? (Gab has thoughts), and why you should 100% slide into more strangers' DMs. Plus- Paris' best Venezuelan food & why onion soup mix has unexpected international appeal.

Content referenced:

How Solitude Is Rewiring American Identity, The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/01/americas-crisis-of-aloneness/681251/

Magical Overthinking About Adult Friendships: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overthinking-about-adult-friendships/id1745220403?i=1000678377740

Harvard Study of Adult Development: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/

Mistakingly Seeking Solitude: https://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/jschroeder/Publications/Epley&Schroeder2014.pdf

We are BACK with an ep alllll about how weird French jobs are. But also great. There is greatness there too. Dani schools Gabby on the oddities of French corporate employment and (spoiler alert) unemployment. Gabby sits mouth agape at the concept of severance and worker's rights. Latter half includes spirals about tactless favor-asking and demanding group chats, and a much-needed ode to BIG salads.