Break from The Grind

Latest Episodes:

Lazy Days Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Jason and Mindy podcast, the hosts discuss various topics including the need for lazy days, the benefits of carrots for the skin, and unusual foods from around the world. They also play a water cooler quiz and share their favorite weekend time wasters. The episode ends with an inspirational quote about being your better self.

https://www.lowtreestudios.com

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

Jason’s Segment - LAZY DAYS:

According to a survey, the average person feels they need 60 “lazy days” per year in order to feel properly rested. The poll of 2,000 Americans found that adults seem to take their “do nothing” days very seriously, with about one in 5 planning these days in advance, and 11% even marking them on the calendar a few weeks ahead of time. On a typical lazy day, the average person spends 2 hours lying in bed, an hour eating, 3 hours binge-watching movies and TV, an hour reading, and 2 hours scrolling. Three hours are spent doing literally absolutely nothing, 2 hours are spent napping, and a full hour is generally devoted to “dreading the next day”.

FRUITS AND VEGGIE TALES:

⇒ New research says that carrots aren’t just good for your eyes, they also do wonders for the skin. A new study found that snacking on baby carrots 3 times a week increased the levels of skin carotenoids in young adults. High skin carotenoid levels have a link to increased antioxidant protection and a lower risk for chronic diseases — including cancer and heart disease — and also gives the immune system a boost.

INEDIBLES:

Some “local delicacies” to sample next time you’re in these countries…

⇒ Jellied eels: A fav street food in London. Eel is boiled, then gelatin is added to the water, and after hardening, it is served with meat pies, potatoes and beer. (LOTS of beer…)

⇒ Duck feet: In China, the webbed duck feet are braised, and eaten as a snack with soy sauce. (LOTS of soy sauce…)

⇒ Helmet: You can get this from street vendors in the Philippines. What is it? Barbecued chicken heads. (Beaks removed, if that makes it any better…)

⇒ Fried pig blood: Common in rural Hungary, it is made by collecting slaughtered pig’s blood, and frying it with scrambled eggs.

⇒ Surströmming: In Sweden, this dish is made by soaking Baltic herring in a brine solution, then packing it in a wooden barrel and leaving it in the sun for 24 hours to induce fermentation. Next, it is placed in a cool room for several months. Then it is canned, where it continues to ferment. The smell is compared to extremely rotten fish, or horribly rotten eggs…or to garbage that’s been left out in the sun. And just imagine how it tastes! (And imagine what kind of a mind came up with this idea!)

Comments of the Week Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Jason and Mindy podcast, the hosts discuss various topics and engage with comments from their YouTube viewers. They talk about beautiful sunsets, naan bread pizzas, the length of their podcast episodes, ice cream preferences, the difference between dogs and cats, sharks on cocaine, the safety of kids playing outside, and the controversy of killing green horn worms. The hosts share their own perspectives and engage in a lively conversation with their audience.

https://www.lowtreestudios.com

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

Electric Suitecase Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

1:30 - The value of human interaction

4:20 - Fun Facts

9:08 - Wacky News: A Chinese woman charged for riding a suitcase, A British woman trying to sell her collection of 163 bedpans, and a woman who complained to the government that her ice cream was too cold

14:17 - The best careers according to experts

24:29 - Question of the Podcast

In this episode, Jason and Mindy discuss various topics including the importance of human interaction, wacky news stories, the best careers according to experts, and the most important qualities in a marriage. They also share listener responses to the question of the podcast and end the show with a positive quote.

Fun Facts

✓ Blue-eyed people have higher alcohol tolerance.

✓ Sitting for more than 3 hours a day can cut 2 years off a person’s life expectancy.

In WWII British soldiers had to make do with only three sheets of toilet paper per day. While Americans got 22.

Fact: Armadillo shells are bulletproof. In fact, one Texas man was hospitalized when a bullet he shot at an armadillo ricocheted off the animal and hit him in the jaw. That’s a totally true animal tidbit.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD:

➢ A Chinese woman has become became the first person charged for riding a 3-wheeled electric suitcase on a sidewalk in Japan. An electric suitcase has a built-in battery and an electric motor and can travel at around 10kph (6mph), and sells for about $640. Under Japanese law, the suitcases are categorized as “motorized bicycles,” and as such, they need to be registered and equipped with a rear-view mirror and turn signals.

➢ A British woman is trying to find a new home for her collection of 163 bedpans after they (if you can believe it…) failed to sell at auction. Mary Jacobs, the owner of what might be Europe’s largest collection of bedpans, started her unusual hobby while helping out with rummage sales at the Salvation Army in 1984. She now has 163 different bedpans and has run out of room to store them. Her attempt to unload them at auction last month failed to attract a single bidder. She says they are clean, but… LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3zskjnw2

- WACKY-BUT-TRUE: ICE CREAM WAS TOO COLD _ A woman in Romania made an official complaint to the government consumer protection authority because her ice cream was too cold. Officials there said they’d consider her complaint, but there wasn’t much they could do about it.

THE BEST CAREERS, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS:

These are the best career paths these days, when it comes to achieving one’s professional and personal goals – according to a consultation with 10 different expert lists…

Nurse Practitioner: A great job for those who want plenty of opportunity. There will be a massive demand for these registered nurses with extra education over the next 10 years.

Software Engineer: As technology continues to gain importance, demand for engineers who can design and innovate the software behind it will continue to skyrocket.

Information Systems Manager: These people usually are in charge of the technology function at a business or company. You’ll need several years’ experience in a related field first, though.

Health Specialties Teachers: If you’re interested in health, the human body, and teaching, think about this. Health specialties include pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, veterinarians, and dentists. Demand for health specialty teachers in colleges and universities will only grow, along with the healthcare field.

Home Health and Personal Care Aide: It’s a flexible job that even sometimes involves travel. If you want meaningful work helping others, this one could be for you.

Information Security Analyst: They do things like develop internet security plans, thwart hackers, and create company awareness. They are also charged with handling things if a company’s protections are breached.

Pathologist: This is a type of doc who diagnoses diseases and conducts lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. They are highly sought after – and demand is growing rapidly.

Big Green Worms Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

In this conversation, Jason and Mindy discuss various topics including a resilient plant that could grow on Mars, the smell of space, childhood nicknames, and the importance of obstacles in life's journey.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbVKw1dbdm9iJ_qIQ3jPAAg

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

PLANTING EVIDENCE:

⇒ Scientists say they have discovered an amazingly resilient plant that may someday help astronauts colonize Mars. Chinese botanists put the desert-dwelling moss “Syntrichia caninervis” through a series of tests simulating the harsh Martian environment, and found that it is not only radiation-tolerant, it can also survive extreme conditions that would kill most other plants. The plant is “a promising candidate pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments, laying the foundation for building biologically sustainable human habitats beyond Earth.”

SPACE HAS A SMELL _ according to Former NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, who once spent 166 days aboard the International Space Station. In a tell-all, “ask-me-anything” Reddit interview a few years back, Hopkins said, “Space has a smell. And I don’t mean inside the space station. When a visiting vehicle docks with the space station, there is ‘space’ between the two vehicles. Once the pressure is equalized and the hatch is opened, you have this metallic ionization-type smell. It’s quite unique and very distinct.

WHAT’S WORDS WORTH:

Ick. “The ick” is now officially a thing. And by ‘a thing’ I mean it has made it into the dictionary. The ick is among the 3,200 new additions in the newest version of the Cambridge Dictionary, which definitely includes some Gen Z slang words that are going to make some of us feel old. In addition to the ick, which is “the sudden feeling that you dislike someone or something or are no longer attracted to someone because of something they do”, here are some of the other new additions to the Cambridge Dictionary…

Boop: Popularized in “Schitt’s Creek”, it refers to a gentle hit or touch on a person’s or animal’s nose or head, showing that you like them, or as a joke.”

Face Journey: A series of expressions that appear on someone’s face showing different emotions that they are experiencing as a reaction to something.

Chef’s kiss: When you put your fingers and thumb together, kiss them, then pull your hand away as a way of showing that you think of something or someone as excellent.

Speedrun: This gaming term means “to complete a computer game as quickly as possible”, but offline, it means “to complete something much faster than it is usually done.”

• Side Quest: This gaming term means “a part of a computer game that has its own aim and story but is not part of the main game”, but IRL it means “an activity that is done in addition to another activity and is less important than it.”

Ozempic & The Shrinking Grocery Cart Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Summary

In this conversation, Jason and Mindy discuss various topics including trouble sleeping, weight loss drugs, online trolling, different types of naps, and what their friends and family would assume they had done if they were arrested. They also share an inspirational quote and mention their upcoming merchandise on their website.

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

Weight-loss drugs are taking a big bite out of the food business. People taking meds such as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy — originally developed to treat diabetes — spend less on groceries and have healthier choices in their basket, according to a new study on shopping behaviors. Analytics firm Grocery Doppio found that semaglutide-takers purchase 47% fewer baked goods; 28% less soda and sugary beverages; 17% less booze; and 13% less processed foods. On the other hand, they are buying more healthy foods, thanks reduced appetites and changes to their taste buds.

A new study published in Behavioral Sciences determined that those with dark humor are more likely to engage in online trolling. And what’s more, they don’t appreciate it when their antagonism turned back on them. In other words, trolls don’t like being trolled. Online trolling is a social behavior characterized by deception and disruption. A troll tries to incite controversy simply to watch people turn against each other. And now, the doozy: The researchers’ findings also indicate that people who possess a dark sense of humor are more likely to demonstrate sadism and Machiavellianism (being cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous).

NAP RAPPIN’:

It’s Tuesday. Maybe you were up late watching Olympics or your favorite show. Sounds like a good excuse for a nice nap, right after work. Here are 4 types of naps, and how to choose which one is perfect for you…

“Power Nap.” For most, a classic “power nap” of 10-20 minutes in the early afternoon will help them shake off that post-lunch blahs, and feel OK for the rest of the day. This is great if you often feel lethargic for a few hours in the afternoon.

“Coffee Nap”: If a short nap isn’t much help, try this. Drink a cup of coffee quickly, then lie down. It takes caffeine about 10 minutes to affect you, and about 45 minutes to reach peak concentration in your blood. That means you can get a power nap in, then wake up just as the caffeine hits, giving you an amplified sense of sharpness and clarity.

“Convenient Nap”: Scheduling a nap is great, but what if your schedule is all over the place? An imperfect nap is better than no nap at all. Nap when the baby is sleeping, while on public transit, or during your lunch hour.

“Performance Nap”: If you have a stressful or physically demanding task coming up, such as a presentation or a marathon, a short nap a few hours ahead of time can definitely boost your performance.

Message Board Monday Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Jason and Mindy podcast, the hosts review and respond to comments from their listeners. Topics discussed include encountering a black snake in the backyard, making homemade hot sauce, the history of Nintendo, the benefits of biking, and more. The hosts also address negative comments and the importance of not engaging with internet trolls.

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

Cocaine Sharks Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Jason and Mindy discuss various topics, including wacky news stories, behaviors from the past that seem strange today, and things that have changed over time. They also ask listeners about the name they would choose for their boat and the most important quality in a marriage.

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

Sharks off Brazil coast test positive for cocaine. The scientists dissected 13 wild Brazilian sharpnose sharks that were bought from small fishing vessels. All 13 sharks were positive for the drug, with a concentration as much as 100 times higher than previously reported for other aquatic creatures, the scientists found. It marks the first study to find the presence of cocaine in free-range sharks, and found the substance was more prevalent in muscle tissue than in the shark's livers.

However, the study said the field of research was "very limited" and the impact of cocaine on aquatic life is not fully known

One of Oscar Mayer’s famed hot dog-shaped Wienermobiles ended up flipped onto its side after crashing on a suburban Chicago highway. Cops say the Wienermobile hit a car Monday morning along Interstate 294 and its driver lost control, causing it to roll onto its side. No injuries were reported after the crash. Oscar Mayer has several Wienermobiles, which it uses at promotional events. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5f7a3k2n

A foul-mouthed parrot has found a home, after hundreds applied to adopt it. Pepper, the bird with an attitude, starting attracting the attention of hopeful adopters from across the US when the SPCA in Niagara Falls NY began sharing updates about him. The agency’s initial post read that bringing the “potty-mouthed” parrot home “might seem like a fun idea until Pepper offends grandma’s Tuesday night knitting group. On the bright side, if you want to keep unannounced company from dropping in, adopt Pepper.” In 5 days, there were more than 400 applicants to adopt Pepper, and he has now been taken in by a household “with an African Grey named Shelby, who makes Pepper look like ‘a saint’,” officials wrote.

BEHAVIORS FROM BACK IN THE DAY THAT WOULD SEEM STRANGE TODAY:

A Reddit user asked the “AskOldPeople” community: “What’s one thing normal (from) your time, but is now bizarre to even think about?” And you don’t have to be very old to remember some of the responses…

☞ “Calling the movie theater to see what was playing and what the showtimes were.”

☞ “Anytime you answered a phone, you had no idea who was calling you.”

☞ “Always carrying dimes, later quarters, when on a date, in case things went sideways.”

☞ “Smoking in hospitals and on airplanes.” (I know! Now, you can’t even smoke in church anymore!)

☞ “Arriving at the airport shortly before takeoff, checking your luggage with minimal to no hassle, and boarding your flight.” (…and smoking!)

☞ “Paper maps. You had to figure out your own route…and road trips seemed more of an adventure back then.” (You want to talk about distracted driving? Try following a map while driving through a city!)

☞ “How utterly unsupervised we were as tiny children. I remember taking care of my brother by myself for the full summer while my parents worked starting at 8. He was 4.”

☞ “My parents would leave us 4 kids in the car while they stopped for groceries.”

☞ “The Yellow Pages” (Also: The phone book!)

☞ “The sounds younger people will never know of: listening to your modem connect to the internet.”

☞ “The milkman. Milk, eggs, cheese, and other dairy-adjacent items are delivered to the house weekly.

Emotional Contagion Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Jason and Mindy podcast, the hosts discuss various topics including dogs smelling stress in humans, the comeback of CDs, and the perfect summer day. They also share a random question and end with a quote about courage.

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

- Dogs can smell stress in humans – and it alters their own behavior. University of Briston researchers say they found that our pet canines experience “emotional contagion” from the smell of human stress — leading them to make more “pessimistic” choices, and affecting their ability to learn. Previous research in humans suggests that the smell of a stressed person subconsciously affects the emotions and choices made by others near them, which led the researchers to wonder if the same is true with dogs.

- Are CDs on their way back? Well, they’re definitely on their way back into a new Subaru, as a “throwback” option. The latest generation WRX has a number of ‘finishing touches’ available, allowing buyers to add all manner of extras, such as mud flaps, an engine underguard, and a first aid kit. But the most interesting – at least for 90s kids – is the optional CD player, neatly fitted under the center console’s armrest. Of course, with the shift to downloads and streaming services, not many manufacturers even offer a CD option anymore, but if you still have some discs kicking around, Subaru’s $375 CD Player Kit might be worth splashing out on. On the other hand, you could instead select the “automatic transmission” option for just $300…

FUNNER SUMMER:

What does the “perfect summer” look like to you? Lots of road trips? Camping? Back yard barbecues? Golf? According to a new survey, the absolutely ideal summer must include the following: 14 days with loved ones, 8 sunrises watched, and 11 dips in the water. That’s from a poll of 2,000 adults in the US, which found that some of the most enjoyable things about summer include: spending time with family and friends (44%), enjoying BBQs (43%), longer days (42%), warmer weather (37%), and swimming (31%). On the down side, people were also asked about things that can ruin a beautiful summer. The top answer was too much heat, followed by being sick, or injured. And the average person expects to have to deal with one sunburn, and go through 2 bottles of sunscreen.

A Single Drop of Blood Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

In this conversation, Jason and Mindy discuss various topics including the future of healthcare, the annual flu shot, and unusual Olympic events. They also share their best days ever and answer a random question. The conversation is light-hearted and entertaining.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbVKw1dbdm9iJ_qIQ3jPAAg

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

MEDICAL REPORT:

❑ The future of healthcare could be as simple as going to your doctor for a checkup and giving a single drop of blood. German researchers have developed a new method that can detect multiple health conditions from a single drop of blood plasma. Their study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, demonstrates how this technique, called infrared molecular fingerprinting, works by shining infrared light through a blood plasma sample and measuring how different molecules absorb the light. By applying advanced machine learning algorithms, the researchers were able to detect various health conditions with impressive accuracy. Experts say this could revolutionize healthcare, making early detection and diagnosis of multiple health conditions more accessible, efficient, and less invasive, with the potential to save countless lives and reduce healthcare costs. (Test-tube makers have already stated their opposition!)

❑ The annual flu shot could soon be a thing of the past. Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University are working on a revolutionary formula that might mean we’d only need one flu shot – ever. That’s right: No annual vaccinations – OR worrying about whether this year’s shot will match the flu strains circulating around the world. Unlike traditional flu shots that target the virus’s outer surface – which constantly changes – this approach focuses on the virus’s internal structure. They compare it to targeting the engine of a car instead of its paint job.

STRANGE SPORTS THAT WERE ONCE PART OF THE SUMMER OLYMPICS:

The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony started on Friday. If you think the new-to-the Olympics sport of breakdancing is odd, check out these events, which were once a part of the proceedings…

☞ Tug of War: It was an event at 5 games between 1900-20. If neither team succeeded to pull the other over the line after 5 minutes, a winner was declared based on who performed the best.

☞ Club Swinging: An event twice, in 1904 and 1932. Participants would perform a routine by swinging clubs that looked like bowling balls.

☞ Running Deer: In the early 1900s, competitors shot at a deer-shaped target which would move, or “run,” a distance of 75 feet.

☞ Dueling Pistols: In 1906, this bizarre event saw competitors shoot wax bullets at human-shaped targets dressed in long coats from a 20 or 30-meter distance.

☞ Fencing With Sticks: A one-time event in 1904, “Singlestick” was similar to fencing, but the weapon was a rounded wooden stick, about 34 inches long. (So – hockey?)

☞ Plunge for Distance: In 1904, this event saw competitors dive into a pool, then try not to move at all until one minute was up, or until they naturally floated to the surface. (It made for an incredible spectator experience…)

☞ Solo Synchronized Swimming: Between 1984-92, the intent was for the swimmer to synchronize their movements to music. The solo Olympic sport has since evolved into a team effort now known as Artistic Swimming. (But the very idea of “solo” synchronized swimming must have raised some eyebrows at the time!)

Message Board Monday Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Jason and Mindy podcast, the hosts share and discuss the top comments from their YouTube videos. They cover a range of topics, including seashell companies, Lamborghini's history, a fisherman surviving a whale collision, cat urine, and pillow hygiene. The hosts engage with the comments and provide additional insights and anecdotes related to each topic.

https://www.youtube.com/@lowtreestudios

https://www.lowtreestudios.com/

Comments:

Short #1

How a Seashell Company Became a Gas Giant.

@1959Aeroflyte

Interesting story but what she might want to do is put a copy board up to hold the copy while she reads from it. This way she will eliminate the downcast eyes issue and look into the camera instead. Minor point but that was the first thing I noticed.

@californiahikingadventures2249

Sammy sold seashells by the seashore , now he sells gas

@sylviaklassen2138

When we driving across Canada in the mid 60s. My dad would stop at shell stations because they would give us wax pan flutes, wax lips, wax shells and so on. We could eat them when done playing but we’re not allowed to swallow the wax. We loved it

Does anyone else remember this ?

@ruperthone4485

A partnership between Royal Dutch producing kerosene for lamps and cooking in Dutch East indies (Indonesia today) and Shell Transport and Trading Co that had the logistics in terms of Ships for transporting sea shells. A union that also continued win its UK amd Dutch holding companies until quite recently when the corporate structure was modernised. Shell used to name all its oil tankers after the latin names of sea shells

@CatyBee

So much better info in the comments than the video

_______________________________________________________

Short #2

Lamborghini: From Tractors to Supercars #lamborghini #shorts #podcast

@kvosul

they should make a movie about it

@kvosul they should!!!

@梅奥

I think the joke is that they did

Edit: Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend

@梅奥 hahaha! Oh! Had no idea!!! lol! Not in the market for Lamborghini's so, never knew that.

@yamamoto7675

He told Enzo that his transmission suck !!

@tommyjaxx7698

The story is...Mr lamborghini bought a ferrari in his early success, he knew Enzo personally and went to him to converse about improving the cars. Enzo was highly insulted and literally threw him off his property....this led to lamborghini designing cars

@norwegianroads2152

Who didn't have a beef with Enzo back in the 1960s? Ford's beef resulted in the GT40. Ferrari demanded up front payment for 100 cars from Swiss importer Monteverdi. 4 years later Monteverdi started making his own cars, the first being the Monteverdi High Speed 375 S

@DingersTV

if only there was an entertaining way you could learn the story, like a film

nosatanjawi168

Lamborghini is an overrated supercar brand. Lamborghinis are not track ready cars like Ferraris are. The only thing you can do is drag races

_______________________________________________________

Short #3 - Fishermen Survived Whale Collision #whale #fishing #shorts #podcast

@katherinecarpenter4677

I often wondered why that didn't happen more often with the whale watcher boats. Glad their okay but dang, shame about the boat!

_______________________________________________________

Short #4 - Gross Discovery: Cat Urine Glows Under Black Light

@btgs0127

We are animals ourselves, and we are just as disgusting. Work at a hospital, you will find out just how disgusting we are. Trust me they are cleaner than we are.

_______________________________________________________

Short #5 - JoJo Siwa's Wildest Dream: Triplets Through Surrogacy

@lozdogsimo1782

Just adopt so many kids wothout families uet yall are growning test tube babies essential

_______________________________________________________

EP#553 - Bad Driving Habits

@clarenceswope6706 • 2 days ago

Junior Johnson was arrested for bootleg before he started racing

_______________________________________________________

EP#555 - Pillow Talk

@carolchapple912

Gross, first topic...I have pillow protectors covers, then put on top a pillow case to match the duvet cover. New pillows are bought about every 3 years.

Listening on Spotify to the longer version of the podcast. Mindy you are looking mighty fine today. Hope my message this am, didn't disturb you.

A regular sleep routine and put your phone on silent, a good idea.

Do you think my pillow hygiene is to much?

But I am married to a sweaty Peter.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected