Struggle to Connect

Brian and Amy get together and talk about who's had sex inside Vivace, the reason people move to Brooklyn, the reason people move away from Brooklyn, working at VICE, alienating customers, why servers tend to drink heavily, whether you're Tinder or Scruff, how humans are a commodity to be swiped, and the years it takes to go from not knowing where you are to having a vision.

Amy talks to Teal Allan in his rose garden, Gus Lanza at Cal Anderson Park, Leo Segovia also at Cal Anderson, and Erie on his porch on Thomas Street. I talk to all of them about class issues, how they are climbing the ladder, IF they are climbing a ladder, if there IS a ladder, and if they CARE if there's a ladder. Are we happy where we are at or will we always want something else? Is serving a respected profession in modern America? We totally answer all of these questions. All of them. Also, apologies that I was not prepared for the wind in the park during my conversation with Leo (the third chat.) There's some distortion I am deeply ashamed of. I do my best not to harm your sensibilities.

Amy and Heidi meet in Volunteer Park at 10pm and have a conversation overlooking the Space Needle. They talk about coffee, little bit more about coffee, and top it off with some coffee. Also how hipster baristas get a bad rap, and that we love them. Both started in the biz over 30 ago but Heidi has been in it the whole time and knows EVERYTHING. No, seriously, she does. Listen to this woman, she's whip smart.

Black Lives Matter protest Seattle, 10-01-2016 - raw audio, not a Struggle to Connect episode by Amy Vanderbeck

Part 2 of my conversation with my great friend Mitch Hale where we have a massive bitch session about Yelp, online dating, and customer service. We met at Vivace (Where else?) and solve all the world's problems, or rather - point out the world's problems. While the first conversation was about recovery and becoming mentally healthy, in this conversation we are as churlish and immature as two grown adults get. Two steps forward, one step back. Ah, fuck it.

Mitch Hale, playwright and owner of Cafecito Organico visits from Los Angeles and takes the time to talk with Amy about depression, suicide, alcoholism, recovery, owning a business, questionable customer service, Tinder, and goddamn fucking Yelpers. Sure, there's some wisdom, but there is also some venting. We can't help ourselves. Below are links to Mitch's business, and his NAACP Award winning play Buffalo Soldier https://cafecitoorganico.cratejoy.com/ http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/writing-the-wrongs-buffalo-soldiers-by-mitch-hale/

Amy meets Finn Menzies and they walk around Seward Park and discuss just about everything. Our conversation starts off with class and moves on to Finn's (formerly Kate's) transition. We move on to feminism, fear of abondonding women, and the shame and vulnerability of coming out with a secret you've been hiding your whole life. Please donate to Finn's Go Fund Me if you have any available resources, https://www.gofundme.com/finnmenzies

Distraught with the assassinations of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile then faced with the murder of 5 police officers in Dallas, Amy is at odds as to how to be most effective so she talks to her go-to - Brian McDonald. Among the discussion is Brian's comic "Harry the Cop" https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Cop-1-Brian-McDonald/dp/B0017QASIU

Amy tries to have a fully positive Pride Weekend for maybe the first time. In order of appearance - Darren Johnson, Keeley Trygstad, Rebecca O'Connor, Louise Hansen, Tina Hendrickson, Laura Becker, Peri Tighe, Teal Allan, Darcy Eakins, A Crazy Christian with an Obnoxious Sign, A Naked Cyclist Named Daniel, and Becky Selengut. Links of interest: http://www.fantasticz.org/ and http://www.beckyselengut.com/

Amy visits Sera, they play chess and discuss soft rock, being friends with someone you have to calm down a lot, dyslexia, and how to be gay and a musician without being a gay musician.

It's Pride Day and Amy goes to the route early to find her friend Carolyn Dougherty to have a chat before the parade begins. They touch on their unusual history, addiction, Pride anxiety, and what it's like to be sober on the drunkest day of the year.

Amy explains why she is adding even more content to a content filled world.

Amy visits her longtime friend Brian McDonald for a chat in his office on a hot day in Seattle. They discuss dyslexia, story structure, gentrification, colonization, race, homophobia, sexism, and pretty much everything else. That may sound depressing but they also laughed a lot. Do yourself a favor and check out Brian's books - http://www.amazon.com/Brian-McDonald/e/B0040ZENUO

Amy and Jodi Jaecks ride their bikes to Gasworks Park to discuss breast cancer and how Jodi became spokesperson for the trans community despite not being trans herself. Oh, how complicated! Here is the Stranger article we reference: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/cover-up/Content?oid=13970858

Director Kris Kristensen visits Amy in her tiny, cramped, semi-filthy apartment and they discuss their choice to drop out and be broke in order to be mentally healthy and make art. They take a break to spoon. Check out Kris's stuff at http://scotopiapictures.com/

Amy asks the age-old question: Why do men stand with their hands down their pants in public? Amy's friends provide their insights. We hear wisdom from Bella Biaggio, Lisa Vanderbeck Weir, Lisa Parsons, and sister Katy. Peri, Larissa, and Betsy also pipe in from the street.