Off Topic with Leo and Al

Leo and Al discuss how their experiences learning English as a second language has shaped their understanding and usage of their native Portuguese.

Isolation can take many forms, some of which can take on what appears as sociable disguises. Often our lives coexist in parallel. We observe each other's course but still fail to connect in meaningful ways. In this episode, Leo and Al examine the interplay of togetherness and isolation in our relationships. The duo also explores the inner world of an introvert in what seems to be an extrovert-centric world.

In this episode, Leo and Al attempt to explore the ideas found in the book Hillbilly Elegy before going off topic on issues regarding family planning, generational poverty, and their own food (mis)adventures.Al tells of a time when he traveled to New York and purchased more chocolate than he could eat. Leo admits his indifference towards chocolate as well as his ignore about coffee shop drinks. Somewhere, the duo still finds an opening to discuss the stigma around monosodium glutamate aka MSG.

Al takes Leo's impromptu Poverty Test to find out if he indeed grew up poor. The duo also discusses Al's current experience in graduate school as Al seeks to close another chapter in his academic career.

In this episode of the Off Topic podcast, Leo and Al talk about their upbringing in Luanda, Angola. They compare their experiences and challenges and the lessons they've learned that have made them who they are today. Al uses his machine learning training to compare the way we were raised to how computers learn new skills. All before the duo somehow finds a way to talk about analog and satellite television. Buckle up!

Leo and Al have decided to start a podcast. With no specific topic in mind, and a general desire to talk about whatever came to mind, this episode sets the stage for how you can expect the rest of the series to go. Welcome aboard! The intro + outro music for this podcast is titled "Coffee Shop" and it is produced by PYC.