Friends Among Strangers

We've come to the end of the San Francisco season, dear listeners! It's Season 3, Episode 20: Last Call, and the roommates are trying to make the most of the time they have left on Lombard St. Cory tries to organize a group outing to Monterey and Carmel to check out tide pools and the aquarium, but only Pedro, Pam, and Judd go with her. Mohammed explains the reason he's been largely absent from the house was so he could work on putting out a single and a music video with his band, Midnight Voices. Puck can't help but insert himself by calling the house frequently, leaving offensive jokes about the roommates, or trying to pull his manipulation tactics on Rachel once again (thankfully, she's not afraid to push back anymore.) Other topics discussed include place name shibboleths, classic cars, ‘90s trends that should not come back, and health and fitness woes. Many sources consistently rank Season 3 as one of the top seasons of The Real World. Let us know your thoughts on this via social media or email!Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter. Also, feel free to email us at friendsamongstrangerspod@gmail.com

Love is in the air, and it's all around San Francisco! It's Season 3, Episode 19: Love Rules, where we find Sean and Pedro's wedding guest list snowballing before their very eyes. Pedro's friend and roommate from Miami, Alex, comes to town, where Pedro delights in doing all the touristy things with him–though not without plenty of Alex's attempts to convince him not to stay in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Puck's invited the roommates to his soapbox derby, which no one decides to attend (though Cory almost caves.) His relationship with Toni appears to be progressing as quickly as his derby car goes down the hill, as well. Other topics include Halloween costumes, RuPaul's Drag Race, “snot rocket” vs. “farmer blow”, and Like Water for Chocolate. Will Pedro and Sean's wedding go off without a hitch? Listen and find out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're exploring different friendships in Season 3, Episode 18: Just Friends. Cory feels excluded as Rachel and Jo grow closer, while Jo has to contend with Steve getting a little too attached to her. Meanwhile, Rachel invites the roommates to attend an Empower America conference with her, which leads to an argument with Judd over welfare reform. Other topics include vacation fun, the nonsense that is “friendzoning”, appropriate friendship flowers, tattooing in different cultures, and Laura Ashley. Will Judd's stereotyping of conservatives apply? Listen and find out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Aloha, dear listeners! It's Season 3, Episode 17: Hawaii, and the roommates are off to Maui! The girls and Pedro all have a blast, but Judd is a bit sour grapes-ish and Mohammed isn't a fan of nature. Despite the frustration the “high maintenance twins” cause in their lack of urgency getting ready, the pig roast upsetting Jo the vegan, the rain during camping, and their eccentric bike tour leader, the trip helps show how close they've all become. Other topics discussed include frat boys, Swedish baking, breakfast beer, Lego sets, and cliff diving. Mahalo in advance for listening! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

In this week's episode, we get more insight into Pedro's health issues and the relationship between Mohammed and Stephanie in Season 3, Episode 16: Love and Death. The roommates all express concern over Pedro, who has been working himself really hard in order to not think about his health, which eventually culminates in a trip to the ER. Meanwhile, Mohammed's packed schedule is impacting his relationship with his girlfriend, Stephanie, which leads to their breakup. Other topics discussed include weird plurals, outdated reference materials, road trips, antibiotics, dangerous body temperatures, and performance schedule woes. We're not a fan of the episode title–let us know what you think of it! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're taking a look at relationships with Season 3, Episode 15: Why Is Love Like an Elevator. Jo is settling into the house nicely, but a phone call she receives from her friend Steve about a rapidly-approaching court date unsettles her. Cory goes with her to Lake Tahoe to be supportive during this difficult time, which Jo appreciates. Meanwhile, Judd is still trying to find love by any means necessary, whether that means taking a long-standing friendship to a new level, hooking up with a woman who has questionable judgment, connecting with the sole other liberal at a Republican BBQ party, or throwing in the towel for the time being (spoiler alert: the towel is not thrown in for very long.) Other topics discussed include terrible tie-dye fashion, anxiety-driven TV watching patterns, strep throat diagnoses, toxic marriages, and housewarming parties. Why is love like an elevator? Who knows!? Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

There are some pretty on the nose fish metaphors in this episode, starting with the title! It's Season 3, episode 14: Old Fish, New Fish, in which the roommates compare their environment to that of the fish in the house tank. The remaining six roomies interview 3 potential replacements for Puck: cool Londoner Jo, preppy Mark, and perfect teeth Kris, though they ultimately choose Jo. Meanwhile, Cory and Rachel reassess their mutual relationships with Puck after talking with Mohammed's girlfriend, Stephanie, which ultimately leads Rachel to be done with him once and for all. In addition to Jo, the roomies meet her friend/roommate from Lake Tahoe, Steve, and his fluffy dog. Other topics discussed include unconventional spellings of common names, centers of gravity differences between men and women, rock climbing, the color hunter green, interfering cats, and the pickup artist trend of the mid-'00s. Grab yourself a chalk bag and climb on up with us! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

We're ping-ponging between San Francisco and Miami this week in Season 3, Episode 13: Homecoming. Pedro enjoys a trip home to Miami, though it's not without pre-trip arguments with Sean about their relationship or a health crisis that worries his sister. Back in California, Cory is stuck in a very lopsided friendship with Puck, much to everyone else's puzzlement. Other topics include Hamburger Mary's locations, airports, forest schools, and song naming trends of the ‘90s and ‘00s. Grab another giant bowl of cereal like Mohammed and join us! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

It's noticeably calmer now that it's a Puck-free house in Season 3, Episode 12: Rebel, Rebel. Without the distraction of Puck, Rachel gets to know Pedro more, especially as she invites him to go with her to visit her family in Arizona. Pedro has some (valid) hesitations on going to an ultra-Catholic, conservative home, while Rachel is determined to rebel against her parents with a navel ring. Judd shows how big his heart is for his friends by surprising Pam for her birthday with a “This Is Your Life” presentation and an appearance by her boyfriend, Christopher, who then invites the gang to Lake Tahoe for skiing and merriment. Other topics discussed include body piercing experiences, funeral “high”-jinks, Gwen Shamblin's hair, middle child blues, and laminated ID cards of yore. Grab yourself an enormous bowl of cereal and dig in! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Let's have a 3 hour and 5 minute house meeting where everyone talks in circles! It's Season 3, Episode 11: Getting Dropped, AKA the episode where all of Puck's Puck-ness comes to a head. Some roommates are ready to give Puck the boot, others waffle and hedge, all while Puck steadfastly refuses to change who he is (& repeatedly states this.) What will it finally take to get a unanimous vote to eject Puck from the premises? And why does it take some members until the very end to finally realize kicking him out is the only way things will change around the house? Other topics include harboring a grudge towards dachshunds, Rebecca's Vegas pool tournament results, Krystie's move to Washington (with a stop in Florida along the way), and school bus schedule shenanigans. Spoiler alert: for the first time in a loooong time, we actually have a decent IMDb synopsis for an episode! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we are hurtling towards the end of Puck's tenure in the house with Season 3, Episode 10: Kiss and Tell. Rachel reveals that she and Puck have kissed on three separate occasions, although at this point they are rapidly finding themselves on the outs. This is exacerbated when Rachel and Puck meet Toni, who quickly becomes not just his girlfriend, but his fiancee. Puck continues to be the dominant topic of all household conversations, including during Mohammed's birthday dinner, when the roommates start questioning whether it's worth keeping Puck in the house after all. Will Puck really marry Toni on Mother's Day? Will Cory finally start seeing the same abrasive Puck everyone else does? Will Krystie keep her sanity in her upcoming move to Seattle? Listen and find out the answers to these questions and more! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Today, due to half your hosts being in the process of moving across the country, and the other half just being her plain-ole hot-mess self... we don't have today's episode ready. So instead, as we approach the defining moment of the season, and the moment that shaped reality TV so irrecoverably that EVEN BECCA HEARD OF IT... please join us as we revisit the premier fight... you know it, you love it, you listened to us bitch about it... Julie and Kevin!

We are beginning to see the tides turning against Puck in this week's episode. It's Season 3, Episode 9: Collision Course, and Pedro has had enough of Puck's shenanigans. The rest of the household is seeing the line drawn in the sand, as well, leading to an emotional Pedro declaring he will continue to separate himself from everyone else for as long as Puck is in the house. Rachel feels caught between Puck and Pedro, but is finally starting to see how things really are without Puck's influence. And on a happier note, Sean proposes to Pedro, and he accepts! Other topics include what constitutes a typical Swedish breakfast, major life changes for both hosts, Walter Matthau, and not-so-clever stand-ins for songs. Both hosts wonder: When will Real World-ers learn that answering questions from a hat never goes as well as expected?! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Pedro's health comes to the forefront this week in Season 3, Episode 8: Together and Apart. He finds out his T-cell count has dropped to 32, which seriously worries Pam and Judd. He also discusses his life with HIV/AIDS in both a whirlwind trip to Los Angeles for a TV interview and a presentation to Stanford students…the latter of which Cory and Rachel miss out on due to their day of frolicking with Puck. The tension stemming from Puck and his Puck-ness begins to grow in the house, with Pedro clearly becoming more exasperated by the day–just how that plays out will be revealed in future episodes. Other topics include eating abalone (or not); Krystie's former coworker appearing in a documentary; our artwork contributor, Eli, moving out to seek adventure as a full-fledged adult; and Rebecca's uncle, Nat, and the affordable housing organization for people living with HIV/AIDS he helped found, Affordable Community Residence Association (ACRA) of Durham, NC. To learn more, please visit ACRA's website at https://www.acradurham.org/. Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Let's pour ourselves a cup o' joe and jump into this week's episode! It's Season 3, Episode 7: Coffee and Sympathy, where we see Cory struggle with finding a job, especially one of the hip barista jobs she's seeking. Puck finds a dog and brings it back to the house, which prompts Mohammed to keep reminding him that someone must be missing their pet and he needs to find the owners (which Puck drags his feet doing.) Rachel faces grad school application woes, and Pam rebounds from disappointing med school rotation news. Other topics include bad job advice; the passage of time; how expensive it is to live in California, both then and now; and sleep (or lack thereof.) Pro tip: don't date people who try to harm birds! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

For this week's episode, we're exploring relationship dynamics in Season 3, Episode 6: Trouble in Paradise. We get a closer look at the weird connection between Rachel and Puck, which leads to some tension when Rachel goes on a date with Harlow, a guy she met at a cafe, and when Rachel's friends come to visit and Puck gets flirty with her friend, Heather. Judd is immediately smitten with Rachel's pretty friend, Francis, though both hosts still think of his quest for romance as very Ted Mosby-ish. Pedro and Sean experience some bumps in their relationship, as Pedro deals with his inner tension between staying in San Francisco with Sean and Pedro moving back to Miami when filming wraps. Other topics include the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, weird friendships, Krystie's real estate updates, Rebecca's trying not to melt in the Nashville heat, and reminiscing about pre-9/11 air travel. Pro tip: Don't be a Rachel–make sure you triple-check flight information when picking people up from the airport! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we see Judd pounding the pavement, trying to find work, in Season 3, Episode 5: You Gotta Have Art. He pitches his comic as an animated series (as he describes it, “The Simpsons” for Gen X) in Los Angeles, and the hosts wonder if some of the L.A. stock footage was recycled from Season 2. We meet Pam's boyfriend, Christopher, even though we also see her getting a little flirty with Judd. Mohammed gets into an argument with Puck over the merits of rap music, invites the roomies to the Bay Area Music Awards, and tries to get his band, Midnight Voices, connected with music label reps. Will Judd finally find work as a cartoonist? Will Pam continue her long-distance relationship with Christopher much longer? Is that really Bon Jovi at the BAMmys? Get yourself a fancy coffee like Pam and Judd and find out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

We're seeing a whole lot of Puck in this week's discussion of Season 3, Episode 4: From a Six to a Nine and Back Again. We speculate on the meaning of that episode title while also growing increasingly frustrated with Puck's shenanigans, just as the rest of the roommates do. Puck goes to court to get his order for DUI school moved from Alameda County to San Francisco, gets incredibly butthurt over no one (except Rachel) going to a soapbox derby video event, opens up about his upbringing, and does his damndest to offend anyone and everyone in the house with his utter lack of care for anyone but himself. We also see Judd try to find romance with Mohammed's friend, while also lamenting his perceived plight as a straight male in the dating scene of 1994, and Pedro celebrates his birthday with his roommates (minus Puck). Other topics include kids getting vaccinated, elderly pets, DUI laws in California, Rebecca's upcoming national pool tournament, recent encounters with COVID, and the behaviors of budding conspiracy theorists and incels. Make yourself some French toast, fry up some plantains, and dig in with us! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're covering Season 3, Episode 3: White Like Me, while also going on a bunch of rants about the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade (we recorded on the day it happened, and boy are we ANGRY about it). Cory feels lost in her life, Rachel goes to an Empower America conference and meets Jack Kemp, and Mohammed brings the roommates to an open mic night at his dad's club. Also, Cory upsets Mohammed's girlfriend, Stephanie, with a question about her possibly being half-white, but thankfully learns the error of her ways after a conversation with Mohammed. Other topics include Krystie's house-selling/house-buying news, Rebecca's rude awakening by a cop (literally), Krystie's recent trip to Ireland, the legacy of Jack Kemp, and, of course, the aforementioned overturning of Roe v. Wade. We cannot stress enough how important it is to do something in the wake of all of this happening–protest, donate, volunteer, vote, run for office…whatever you are capable of doing right now, do it as if your life depends on it (which, let's be real, it does at this point.) Because we're so furious about this decision, there is a LOT of swearing– moreso than usual, anyway–so maybe consider listening to this episode when sensitive ears are not present.  Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Valentine's Day 1994 has arrived in this week's episode, Season 3, Episode 2: Love Stinks. Puck juggles two dates for one Valentine's Day, Judd puts together a Lonely Hearts dinner group for all the dateless roommates (to a place called The Stinking Rose, no less), and Pedro and Rachel have a heart-to-heart after her skedaddling during last episode's scrapbook share. Rachel and Puck engage in a little wig-trying-on flirtation; she clearly has a thing for bad boys, but can she handle all that is Puck? Speaking of Puck, we get a lot of insight into just how disgusting his personal hygiene is, which prompts Rachel to give him a manicure “so he knows what it's like to have clean hands.” This is also the episode of the infamous Peanut Butter Incident between Pedro and Puck, so grab yourself your own jar and dig in! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

It's time for a new season, a new city, and a new crop of roommates! We're leaving Los Angeles and heading north to San Francisco for Season 3, Episode 1: Planes, Trains, and Paddywagons. We meet Cory the California girl, Pedro the HIV/AIDS educator, Judd the cartoonist, Rachel the conservative, Mohammed the musician, Pam the med student…and, of course, the infamous Puck, who arrives at the house last, concussed, and freshly sprung out of jail. Everyone seems to get along okay–only time will tell how long that lasts, though! Other topics include Rebecca's crafting prowess, Krystie's mega-stress level from preparing to move, Jamaican toasting, and the definition of a paddywagon. Hop on a trolley and join us! Side Note from Becca: Since we missed the opportunity to do an inflation calculator in real time, $3,000 for Puck's bench warrant = about $6k today! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Here we are, folks–we've reached the end of Homecoming Season 2! It's Episode 8, “Fight or Flight, PT. 2”, and we are picking up where we left off last week with hurtling towards the resolution of David vs. everyone else. In the meantime, Beth A.'s son, Morty, and Irene's nephew, Gibby, come to the house to meet and talk about their respective journeys of being trans; this prompts Krystie's reflections on being the mom of a trans kid and how it's similar to what Beth A.'s gone through. David's decision following the blowup with Tami contains echoes of what happened in 1993, the roommates brunch it up, and it's time to say goodbye to (most of) the season 2 roommates once again.  We'll take next week off, as we typically do in between seasons…make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss when we return for Season 3: San Francisco! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

It's the beginning of the end, folks–it's Homecoming Season 2, Episode 7: Fight or Flight PT 1. Tami reflects on the previous night's fishbowl game fracas and tries to talk to David about his response…which goes over like a lead balloon, leading to David loudly disparaging Tami and her wigs, Tami's husband–the (much younger than we realized) Reggie Youngblood–gets called into the situation, and the rest of the roomies are left stunned. Beth A. reflects on her role in representing the LGBTQ community on TV, while both she and Irene talk about trans kids in their families. How will the tension in the house be resolved? Which outfits get a “phat” vote? Would Glen's Rice Krispy Treat defense have worked? Which roommate was on Beavis and Butthead? Just how much younger than Tami is Reggie? Listen to find out the answers to these questions and more! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

We're back in the house with the roommates in Homecoming Season 2, Episode 6: Ain't Done Singin' Yet, and once again, we're treated to not one, but TWO Incoming Messages. In the first, we see Jon addressing some of the questionable race-related comments, which leads to a startling confession from David regarding the confederate flag comment in 1993. Tami leads the group on a volunteering excursion to help Project Angel Food, we learn more about Jon's country music career path after the second Incoming Message, and we also get treated to a Jon Brennan music performance (with his pal Shooter Jennings' backing band, to boot). Things get heated when a fishbowl game leads to a discussion about race, and we're left wondering how it will all play out in the final two episodes of the season. Other topics include the hosts trying to figure out how tall David is, Rebecca's baking and crafting projects, and Krystie's plans to find the Real World: Los Angeles house. Go wish Rebecca a happy belated birthday, folks! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

The roommates are back on dry land in Homecoming Season 2, Episode 5: Moving Forward with a New Story, where we are treated to not one, but TWO Incoming Messages in one day. We revisit Tami's abortion in 1993, which leads to the other women of the house revealing their own abortion stories. We also see most of the roomies going on a desert retreat to Joshua Tree (Tami nopes out of that after being traumatized by the first trip there in 1993), where we are also treated to a sight for sore eyes: the one and only Eric Nies, who leads most of the roomies on a spiritual journey (David nopes out of that for various reasons). Glen begins to feel a sense of healing around the loss of his girlfriend, Kimberly, with Beth A.'s support. Other topics include the difference between a desert mouse and a kangaroo rat, yurt distinctions, the songs that Rebecca never skips, and Krystie's big moving announcement. A cup of cacao sounds lovely right about now! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

They're on a boat! The roomies get treated to a luxury yacht trip on Homecoming Season 2, Episode 4: Something Borrowed, Something Blew. Conversations about marriage abound, as Irene prepares to renew her vows to her husband, Phil, and Jon agrees to officiate the ceremony (much to Beth S.'s consternation, as he had refused to officiate her wedding in 2008). David gets upset when Beth S. asks him not to vape at the dinner table, causing Tami to feel the need to play mediator. And Glen reveals a huge personal loss of his to the roommates, triggered by all the wedding discussions and the renewal ceremony. Will the vow renewal go smoothly? Will Beth S. stop being salty over Jon officiating Irene's ceremony and not hers? Why does Beth S. trigger David so much? Will there ever be a set of Bible verses that overtake I Corinthians as the go-to wedding vows? Stay tuned! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

It's a new day in the Venice Beach house in Real World Homecoming: Season 2, Episode 3: We Gonna Be Real or We Not. Beth S. is still upset over Tami's pushing everyone away, Jon fills the viewer in on what he's been up to since 1993, Tami gets frustrated when Jon wants to pivot from an uncomfortable conversation about his sex life (or lack thereof), and we start seeing evidence of David's relationship to alcohol. Other topics include Rebecca wanting Irene's lounge pants, crazy weather, the true story behind the birth of reality TV, 5 AM flights, and Krystie finally downloading the JustWatch app that Rebecca recommended weeks ago. Let's go bowling, everyone! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.  And if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners!

We pick up where we left off last episode (quite literally) this week with Homecoming Season 2, Episode 2: Raw Footage. Tami disclosed something personal, but gets really upset when people don't react the way she expects them to. David continues to make excuses for his role in the blanket incident, Irene offers a big apology, Beth S. also offers apologies (not all of which are warmly received), Jon tries to play the peacemaker role, and Beth A. and Glen get a better understanding of the dynamics of the house they entered into back in 1993. Other topics include false eyelash trends, Krystie's firstborn son turning 18, daycare expenses, and our new Ko-Fi account (which we couldn't figure out the pronunciation of the site at first).  Speaking of which, if you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you'd consider throwing some pocket change our way to show your appreciation by going to http://www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod (www.ko-fi.com/friendsamongstrangerspod); no pressure, but anything donated helps us with putting together this podcast for everyone. Thanks, dear listeners! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Due to technical difficulties, we're re-releasing the episode about the infamous BLANKET INCIDENT. Since it is one of the overarching subjects of the Homecoming season, we're using our misfortune to take a pause and revisit this pivotal moment. We promise to be back next week with Episode 2 of Homecoming.

Let's surf back over to Venice Beach as we reunite with (most of) the cast of Season 2 in Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles, Episode 1: It's Still Not Funny! Tami, Jon, Beth S., Irene, and David enter on day 1, with Beth A. and Glen joining everyone the next day. The show wastes no time bringing on the drama by reminding us all of the infamous blanket incident, simultaneously showing us who has–and hasn't–learned from it all these years later. We comment on how much we like Irene's hair, our desire to give Jon a hug, how much we'd love to have seen Dom appear, and express our disappointment in certain roomies. Other topics include making ventilated wigs, manicures, camping in Death Valley, Ice Cube's “It Was a Good Day”, and Krystie's experiences at the Podcast Movement: Evolutions conference. Hold onto your butts, listeners–we're in for a bumpy ride, right off the bat! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

It's time to bid adieu to the Los Angeles cast with Season 2, Episode 21: Goodbye Roomies! Everyone reflects on their time in the house, the cast makes predictions about their fellow roommates, Aaron graduates from college, and goodbyes are exchanged. Krystie has a slew of music catches in this episode, the hosts disagree on certain aspects of the episode timeline (hey, it's kinda all over the place, forgive us), and we speculate on what might happen when we come back for Homecoming: Season 2. We'll take our customary 1-week between-seasons break before then, so be sure you're subscribed so you don't miss out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Join us this week as we explore the range of musical stylings found within the house in "The Musical Showcase." The roommates decide to put on a musical showcase with Jon, Tami's band "Reality," and Glen's band "Perch." Along with the band Dom is managing "The Stik Kitties." Rebecca's pro tip of the day: do NOT, I repeat, do NOT make the mistake of thinking they're called the STIFF Kitties and go Googling that. Anyway... the roommates demonstrate their, ahem, range this week. With Jon puling his biggest accent out from way down deep in his boots. Tami pulls off some flawless dance moves... but that's about all. And Glen just, well, pulls something. This is also the penultimate episode of this season y'all! So make sure to come check it out so you're prepared for the finale! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, it's all about Beth S. in Season 2, Episode 19: Beth Puts the Smackdown in  Paintball! We see her having a difficult phone conversation with a clearly manipulative man, who she labels as her abusive ex, and we get a lot of insight into who she is as a person when her mom, The Polish Voice of ClevelandⒸ, comes to visit. Jon wins the Episode MVP Award from us, Glen does NOT endear himself to us (or anyone in the house, really), and we finally see the aforementioned paintball at the 19 minute mark of the episode. Other topics discussed include white people with dreads, depressing books about how Nordic countries are so much better than the U.S., the Drew Carey Show, and Krystie's Smashing Pumpkins t-shirt collection. Cleaning tip: covering up dog crap with a rug =/= actually cleaning it up! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Season 2 - Episode 18: Dom and His Drinking Join us this week as we follow our roommates to Mexico for a little forced bonding. We realize how little Becca knows about Mexican geography, and how good Krystie is at naming really obscure 90's alt-rock (she was able to pick out a song called “Detachable Penis”). The roommates however, get to experience lots and lots and lots of new things, including a beauty contest (for the boys), horseback riding, and snorkeling/SCUBA diving. As the episode title suggests, Dom's drinking becomes a problem for some of the roommates as he spends most of his time in Mexico at least two and a half sheets to the wind and face-down in a pile of sand.  Glenn's temper also comes into focus as he is exposed as a really sore loser (in the beauty contest) and starts slinging the name-calling when the group splits back up into cliques at the end of the episode. Will we ever be able to heal from this?!?!? Listen and find out!  Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're discussing Season 2, Episode 17: Let the Dating Games Begin! If you loved the previous episodes that ping-ponged between roommates, you've hit the jackpot with this one because it is allllllll over the place. (On the plus side, we do get to see everyone represented.) We see a slice of the roomies' love lives this episode: Beth S. has two guys visit her, Tami got a boyfriend named Tootie at some point, Aaron contradicts himself on what he wants, Jon does his best to resist temptation, Dom has a seemingly-endless cavalcade of women, Beth A. is single again, and Glen makes a potential connection at the house BBQ party. Was Beth S. actually joking when she told Tami someone hooked up in the closet? How many girls can Dom juggle at a party without getting busted? Is anyone in the house ready to settle down? Will another song by the Soup Dragons be featured? Listen and find out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Wanna play a game that's not really a game? Join us as we discuss Season 2, Episode 16: Truth or Dare?, where we try to figure out why that's the title for an episode that has a truth-only discussion and, furthermore, isn't framed as a game in the slightest. At any rate, we see most of the roommates getting fed up with all the Perch Pals occupying space in the house, all the roomies start finding common ground, and Beth A. gets everyone on board with feeding the homeless. Will Jon take home the prize at the Borderline singing contest? What is the best version of Monopoly? What is the difference between a possum and an opossum? Where do the hosts do their grocery shopping? Does Wikipedia offer better synopses than IMDb? Find out the answers to these burning questions and more in this episode! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Oh look, we're ping-ponging between locations/stories AGAIN, with one location featuring Jon AGAIN, with Season 2, Episode 15: Home Away from Home. In Los Angeles, Jon gets called in to meet with a movie producer for a movie that Jon is *definitely* not suited for, while Aaron takes Dom and Glen with him to UCLA's campus. Jon goes back home to Owensboro, Kentucky (which, by the way, Rebecca takes issue with their claim as the BBQ Capital of the World–more on that in this episode!), which causes him to reflect on how his time in SoCal has changed him thus far. Other topics include movies that are so bad, they're…well, maybe good isn't quite the word, but definitely funny; how to actually style clothes with a black leather jacket; better casting for the part of Wolverine; sharing celebrity birthdays; and Krystie shares her amazing discovery of what became of the movie Jon was called for. It's better to be a small fish in a big pond than a dead fish in a fish tank! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

We're doing some ping-ponging again this week in Season 2, Episode 14: Troubling Careers; this time, we're staying in Los Angeles, but we go back and forth between Tami and Beth S. and their issues with careers and body image. Beth S. fails to impress her agent with her headshots, while Tami seriously contemplates quitting her job at the AIDS/HIV clinic…and baffles everyone (your hosts included) with her extreme weight loss method. Other topics discussed include gratitude for technology in HIV treatment, changes in work-related etiquette over the years, potentially inappropriate songs to sing to babies, and ways to use tarot cards. Here's your reminder to practice safe sex, dear listeners! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

For this week's episode, we are ping-ponging between Ireland and Los Angeles in Season 2, Episode 13: For My Roomies… (ellipsis theirs, not ours.) Dominic's father is in poor health, so he goes home to Ireland in order to spend some time with him. Meanwhile, Jon enters a country music contest at the Borderline Bar & Grill (yes, THAT Borderline.) Finally, we get to hear Jon sing something that is NOT “Boot Scootin' Boogie”! Other topics include Krystie's upcoming graduation gift to her son Eli, causes of cirrhosis, identifying ‘90s country music, and trying to remember the lyrics to the chorus of Toad the Wet Sprocket's “Walk on the Ocean”. Listeners, feel free to weigh in on this: does Jon actually not know who Jim Morrison is, or is he just pulling Beth A.'s leg? Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we are talking all about Season 2, Episode 12: No More Practical Jokes. Dom gets his vehicle towed away in a prank by Aaron, Glen, and Jon (April Fool's!), Glen's band comes to L.A., and we meet Irene's replacement…it's another Beth! Beth A. tries to get along with everyone, but doesn't quite succeed with Tami, who goes from being annoyed by her daring to leave toiletries out in the bathroom to very uncomfortable with her being a lesbian. Will other roommates join her in the discomfort? WillFind out! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we are reciting vows, dancing the conga, and…exacting revenge?! Let's all RSVP “yes” to Irene's wedding in Season 2, Episode 11: Wedding Bells Ring! Join us as we send Irene riding off into the proverbial sunset with Tim (and discuss the bridal fashion trends of the early ‘90s…not much phat fashion there, we're afraid) and say goodbye to who Tami calls “the most stable person in the house”. For extra fun, we see Beth play a prank on Aaron with the help of Jon and Glen–rather unsurprisingly, Aaron's not appreciative. Other topics include bridesmaids dresses, how stressful it is to plan a wedding, the short supply of COVID tests across the country, Krystie's new day job, and SoCal highway connections. Holy hot pink, Batman! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week's episode focuses on Season 2, Episode 10: Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? With a title like that, you know it's going to be a pretty heavy episode, and we feel it is our duty to place a disclaimer: this particular episode focuses on one of the roommates having an abortion, so be advised if this is a particularly sensitive topic for you. We examine each of the viewpoints/arguments regarding abortion from everyone in the house (minus Irene, who is completely absent from this episode) and make our own viewpoints known about both the roommates' expressed opinions and the topic itself. Jon's arguments in particular get pushback from pretty much everyone else, including Aaron's visiting friend, Erin. Other topics include trying to remember who was in the movie “Indecent Proposal”, the Key & Peele “Substitute Teacher” sketch, and our thoughts on Jon's hilarious beach get-up. It's gonna get VERY real, dear listeners–be forewarned! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

In this episode, we see the roommates go camping in the desert in Season 2, Episode 9: Is This Group Bonding? What happens when people stop being polite and start getting real in Joshua Tree National Monument (not yet a Park!)? You get frustrated roommates, a freaked-out Beth, a grumpy Tami, and a wet Dominic and Aaron, among other things. We also discuss the difference between a national park and a national monument, the history of Joshua Tree, fun college courses, superheroes, and how to do hardcore camping. Make sure you watch this Real World episode on Paramount+ so you can check out some of the roommates doing impressions of each other…and Tami's bombshell news! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we see the roommates interview three prospective replacements for David in Season 2, Episode 8: The New Roommate. We, like the others, grow frustrated with Aaron's attempts to micromanage the selection process. Each of the potential new roommates have their strengths and weaknesses, so the roomies have their work cut out for them, even without Aaron trying to call the shots. Who will they choose: the nice track star from NYC, the no-nonsense social worker from Queens, or the self-professed “bum” from Philly?  Other topics discussed include bonkers documentaries, a rant on religion (with an appreciation for Catholic architecture), proud mom moments, the difference between extensions and weaves, and how we'd answer the off-the-wall question the Queens native proposed to the roommates. We also give a shout-out to our friends at First Question Podcast and (belatedly) thank them for their kind review of our show. Pro tip: don't bark back at strange dogs you can't see! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

It's time to find out how last week's episode resolves with Season 2, Episode 7: No Apologies Necessary. (Spoiler alert: we take issue with the titling of this episode.) We recount the ways in which David has screwed up and witness the aftermath of his antics, as well as finally see the other guys of the house realize the extent of David's behavior (and start coming around to seeing things from the women's point of view.) We also discuss the pronunciation of Dominic vs. Dominique, we agree on the same person for Wack fashion (though for different outfits), and give a shout-out to one of our listeners for correcting something that was said on a previous episode. Heather B. is The Real World's oracle! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This episode, we are focusing on the main incident that occurs in Season 2, Episode 6: Is David Going Home? Yes, it's all about the Tami vs. David incident, folks! David takes (what he thinks is) a joke way too far, causing shouting, revenge, and the famous “It wasn't not funny!” quote. Did Beth instigate further drama? How do the women of the house feel about David? Do any of the other roommates regret their role in the incident? Is David capable of understanding his role in the incident fully? Hold onto your wack hats and find out along with us! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're discussing Season 2, Episode 5: Different Strokes for Different Folks. Tami attempts to rig “Studs” for the cash prize, Aaron and Dominic's bromance blossoms, Beth shows her true drama queen colors with a Headache to End All Headaches (in a brightly lit room amongst a bunch of people…), and Irene takes Jon for a weekend in her hometown. Krystie speculates on why Aaron has the worldview he does based on where he's from, Rebecca checks off one of her predictions on her prediction tracker, and both hosts start to wonder if Jon knows any other country songs besides “Boot Scootin' Boogie”. Let's play Beverage CSI with Dom and Aaron! Our music guy (AKA Krystie's husband, Andrew) is having a Not Exactly Black Friday sale on his handcrafted guitar pedals from 11/29/21-12/6/21, while supplies last; go to his Reverb shop (https://reverb.com/shop/drtlabs (https://reverb.com/shop/drtlabs)) and save 15% off your purchase with the discount code NOTMYFRIDAY. Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're talking about Season 2, Episode 4: David, David, David. Like the roommates, we grow increasingly frustrated with David's antics this episode. We also see Tami go on a dating show, an excursion to Melrose, embarrassing stories being shared at a Cheesecake Factory, and a friendly game of bowling erupt into a shouting match. Other topics include questionable college mascots, Rebecca's butt-breaking story, Krystie's OkCupid horror story, crazy weather we're having, and Krystie details her utterly Californian morning. Skirts with cowboy boots is where Rebecca draws the line, yo! We have two listener challenges this week! They are... Challenge 1: Can you write a better episode synopsis than IMDB? Once again, we have a lackluster IMDB synopsis (which seems to be the thing this season) and we'd definitely read better ones on the air if they were provided.  Challenge 2: What should we call our listeners? My Favorite Murder has Murderinos, Gilmore Guys had Gillies...what fun nickname can we call y'all? If you want to participate in these challenges, comment on our social media or email us at friendsamongstrangerspod@gmail.com! We're still not in the pockets of Big Podcast and therefore cannot give a financial incentive, but we'll definitely give you credit on air and on social media for your contributions if/when we use them. Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

In this week's episode, we discuss Season 2, Episode 3: Too Many Cat Fights in this House. Hooray, we finally get a full episode in the house! We think this should be subtitled “Why Everyone is Annoyed with Jon and Beth”, though, and you'll find out why as you listen. We learn more about Irene, Tami's trouble with the law, and why David irons all of his clothes, as well. Other topics include homelessness in Venice Beach, Garth Brooks' controversy at the Super Bowl, and the intersection between rap and country. Rebecca adds more to her prediction tracker, and Krystie ponders making a road trip to find the Real World: Los Angeles house. Say it with us, as we repeat it throughout the episode: READ THE ROOM, JON. Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

This week, we're wrapping up a road trip and finally making it to California! It's Season 2, Episode 2: To a New Beginning… (ellipses theirs, not ours). We see Dominic's attempts at adding stops to the trip get foiled, Jon calls Tami something pretty mean, and we get to meet the rest of the roommates! Will they all get along? Stay tuned! Other topics include Krystie's views on Vegas, legality of prostitution in Nevada, witch windows, what “oysters” really means in Southern restaurants, and Rebecca adds to her predictions tracker. Time to explore a new house (whose decor is EXTREMELY 1993) and see what Venice Beach has to offer! Pro tip: don't try to eat dinner at a real estate office! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.

Let's head (mostly) west this episode as we begin Season 2! We discuss Episode 1: Boot Scootin' Boogie, where we get advice and predictions from the Season 1 roommates about the new set of roommates we'll grow to know. (This inspires the hosts to make a Rebecca's Predictions Tracker, as she makes at least half a dozen season predictions in this episode alone.) We only meet half of the roommates who will be occupying a home in Los Angeles for 6 months and only get halfway across the country with them, so we'll have to wait until later to really, fully dive into this season. We learn to differentiate between hillbillies and rednecks, revisit the days of smoking vs. nonsmoking sections, and criticize the terrible IMBD synopsis for this episode. There's a lot of early ‘90s catchy tunes mentioned this week, so if you end up singing the titular song, “Achy Breaky Heart” or “Motownphilly” every day until our next episode, don't say we didn't warn you! Follow us on social media! We're @friendsamongstrangerspod on both Facebook and Instagram, and @FAS_pod on Twitter.