HQAF Radio: Recent Episodes
Francis and Alana
Francis and Alana are on a mission to live their one lives the best way they know how. Follow us on #HQAFradio! #TheBestShipToSailOnIsFriendship
The first HQAF Radio episode of 2022 has finally arrived! 🎉 Everyone has been asking where Francis and Alana have been but they really haven't gone anywhere. Francis and Alana discuss what they've been up to since they've been on hiatus which involves many cat updates, new hobbies, and hilarious stories. 🐈 Today's episode also features an exciting announcement... a new direction of the podcast and a new posting schedule. New year, new podcast! This is an episode you won't want to miss so be sure to take a listen and share with all of your friends. 🗣
The title says it all on this week's HQAF Radio episode! Listen to Alana recount how she became the owner of a brand new Toyota Camry this past summer. Between her failed attempts at haggling and giving her car a name that Francis won't acknowledge, this episode is one you won't want to miss! 🚗
HQAF Radio took a 2.5 month break but we are officially BACK! We're kicking off the end of our hiatus by telling some recent and old personal stories in which Francis and Alana experienced the most cringe. These stories range from face blindness to reading fanfiction at a open mic night to plant vendor mishaps. WARNING: if you experience secondhand embarrassment from other people's cringey moments, this may not be the episode for you. Just kidding! Every episode of HQAF Radio is for you and everyone you know. ;) We hope you enjoy and laugh at our most cringey moments!
In this episode of HQAF Radio, Francis and Alana interview James Higgins of Your Coach James. He describes what the Functional Movement Screen is and helps Francis decipher Alana's results from her first screen in January and her second one in July. Visit James' website at: https://yourcoachjames.com. If you enjoyed this episode and want to try out personal training with James, use code HQAF Radio to get 10% off your first package of sessions! Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/08/11/interview-with-james/ (00:00) Interview with James (03:19) James' Background (06:54) Clients (10:02) Alana's First FMS Screen (27:49) Mental Blocks (47:01) Alana's Progress (53:07) Advice (55:26) Promo (56:38) Debrief
Francis and Alana are on a break this week. Stay tuned in a couple of a weeks for a brand new episode. In the meantime, please enjoy a remaster of one of their favorite episodes. Rerun: Francis and Alana talk about their siblings. It's hard being a firstborn. 😩
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/rerun-sibling-stories/
(00:00) Rerun: Sibling Stories
(05:01) Kitchen with a View
(09:48) Didn't Deny but Didn't Admit
(13:19) Fuck You Danica
(17:55) Outro
Alana has a big announcement to tell Francis! It's literally a life-changing moment for her so you don't want to miss this!
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/07/14/alanas-big-announcement/
00:00 Alana's Big Announcement
00:24 Alana Has Big News
24:26 Transition
35:49 Lydia's Perspectives
43:50 Next Steps
51:50 Outro
Alana and Francis are on a break this week. Tune into a new episode on July 14th! In the meantime, enjoy a remaster of one of our favorite episodes!
Francis took a trip to Europe which some crazy turns. Literal and metaphorical. Find out how Francis almost died, photographed nude people and bashes an entire airline company all in one episode!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/l8O1nzQPSq4
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/rerun-viva-espana/
Francis and Alana talk about their relationship with exercise pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and coming into this post-pandemic world. Francis sets a new fitness goal for Alana where she'll be able to carry a package across the threshold of her own house. Trigger warning: weight and weight loss are discussed.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/KSK0MVM0FYM
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/a-package-across-the-threshold/
Francis and Alana dig deep into Alana's fanfiction career. What draws her to the Yu-Gi-Oh fandom? They explore her motivations and influences and read through her followers' reviews. NEVER any incest!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/x_E64-fzubI
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/fanfiction-she-wrote
In one of HQAF Radio's first in-person podcast since the pandemic started, Katharine and Danica finally meet for the first time. They join Francis and Chris to talk about Danica's career trajectory, her time in the Netherlands, and their experiences with social media. And of course, they talk about her skipping.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qWu3texatPk
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/05/19/more-than-just-a-skipping-machine/
Francis and Alana continue to think through how to improve upon HQAF Radio and build an audience. Is it by making a blog? Is it by figuring out their demographic and reshaping their content? Finally? Also, Francis reveals a big surprise to Alana and it changes her perception of reality. Tune in to the hilarity!
Youtube: https://youtu.be/fvPkXrP6GeU
Transcript: https://hqafradio.wordpress.com/2021/05/05/whos-that-bitch-i-dont-know/
In this next episode of the Gratitude series, Francis and Alana interview their friend and sometimes third cohost, Katharine. They examine her ability to rock braces, learn more about the Olsen twins' extensive filmography and its influence on Katharine's life, and breakdown her very strong text game.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/DQ900ZjV-Ig
In this week's episode, Katharine hosts the Newly Wed Game with not-so-newly-married couples: Alana & Harley and Francis & Chris. Tune in to hear these two couples test their knowledge of each other.
Alana and Patrick head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to buy Patrick's dream car, the Toyota 86. Along the way, Alana interviews Marty, the sales rep, and even Scott, the owner of the car dealership! Tune in to find out how their adventure unfolds!
In this next segment of HiKari Bruder’s Banker Box Fanfiction, Alana reads us a fan fiction that she wrote when she was twelve years old, Sonic: The Return of Hyper-Metal Sonic. She and Francis then compare notes and wonder how things got so dark.
Francis and Alana discuss the potential future of the HQAF podcast and brand. They also talk about a lot of miscellaneous topics like haggling over cars, superpowers, and paying therapists on Venmo.
Francis and Chris share a bottle of wine and talk about Chris's history. They talk about Chris's childhood and growing up, their marriage, and Chris's time in the Massachusetts student government.
Francis and Alana bring you a whole new segment, Nobody Cares About Your Dreams! In this episode, they discuss why people don't like listening to content about other people's dreams, they talk about their dreams during pandemic, and they explore Francis’s connection to the spirit world.
In our very first segment of HiKari Bruder’s Banker Box Fanfiction, Alana reads us her first fanfiction: Alanbi's Greatest Adventure. She and Francis then analyze it and compare it against Alana's life at the time.
Timestamps:
- Intro: (3:17)
- Premise: (11:36)
- Synopsis: (25:52)
- Chapters 1-5: (27:40)
- Chapters 6 - End: (39:50)
- Analysis: (55:07)
- Outro: (1:25:27)
In this episode, Alana and Patrick test their smarts against that of fifth graders! Are they smarter than this hypothetical fifth grader?
Patrick and Alana discuss how the 2020 election went, why Trump is a big loser, and where the U.S. goes from here.
Francis and Alana take a walk down memory lane and review some of their first HQAF episodes.
Special guest Katharine (aka HQAF's recurring cohost) talks with Alana and Francis about cycles (not just the menstrual ones) and intergenerational trauma. Bonus: Francis also reveals why his voice got so sensual in the last episode. For mental health resources and more information, go to: https://www.mentalhealth.gov. For a great tool for locating a therapist, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/.
With the election just a few days way, in this special episode, Alana sits down with her brother Patrick to talk about the potential outcomes and his predictions.
In the next installation on the Mental Health Series, Francis and Alana discuss the power of the journal, their history with journaling, and the benefits they've had with journaling. And maybe also a little bit about Alana's fanfiction career. Just a little.
For mental health resources and more information, go to: https://www.mentalhealth.gov
Alana, Francis, and special guest, Ally, talk about 2020, mental health, and their experiences with therapy.
For mental health resources and more information, go to: https://www.mentalhealth.gov
This episode kicks off our Mental Health series. Francis and Alana talk about their experience with mental health. Francis also finds out that Alana writes more than just Yu-Gi-Oh fan fiction and is shook.
For mental health resources and more information, go to: https://www.mentalhealth.gov
Francis and Alana are at it again on their Nintendo Switches! Special guest, Danica, joins them as they explore each other’s islands and discuss the preparations for Alana’s upcoming in-game wedding. Want to tune in for the live stream of the Animal Crossing event? Subscribe to our YouTube channel, HQAF.Productions, to watch at 4:30pm EST!
I’m not going to lie to you—I recorded this episode with my brother, Patrick, almost a month ago and then totally forgot about it. I don’t even remember what we talked about in this episode but all I know is that it was about politics. 🧐 I’m sure a lot more stuff has happened since this was recorded but the important message here is that the 2020 election is under 100 days away now so make sure to get registered and vote!
In an episode that would’ve made more sense as a livestream rather than a podcast, Francis and Alana explore each other’s islands in Animal Crossing. We apologize in advance for the audio quality but this is what our audience has come to expect from us. 😂 Enjoy!
In this remotely recorded episode, Francis and Alana discuss their cars. They discuss their first cars, their feelings about cars, and that one time Francis blew out a tire because Alana is a quiet backseat driver. Check it out!
Alana and her brother, Patrick, speak frankly about coronavirus, the U.S. democratic primaries, and their predictions for the U.S. general election in November 2020. It’s both a terrifying and thrilling time!
Francis takes Alana on a tour of his new home. Alana is impressed and excited to move in, but Francis tells her the unfortunate news that the second bedroom at his place is going to be a guest room. Can Alana convince him otherwise?
Enjoy a leisurely drive along the Pacific Coast Highway with Francis, Chris, and Danica! They see seals, zebras, the ocean, and share their thoughts about traveling in general. Join them on their 7 hour drive to Monterey and have a laugh!
We took a little bit of a break for the holidays, but HQAF Radio is back with our last episode of 2019! In our longest episode to date, Francis and Alana play Truth or Drink with special guests, Katharine and Chris. Truths are revealed, laughter is shared, and the year of 2019 is reviewed. Enjoy!
Francis and his sister Danica talk about personal finance and about that one time Danica almost joined a cult.
In this episode, Francis and Alana talk about other podcasts. Alana chooses to just listen to HQAF and in this episode, she listens to other podcasts to get a feel for what’s out there.
Francis and Alana talk about money and budgeting. Alana learns a surprising amount about personal finances.
Francis and Alana talk about their music tastes, how it’s evolved, and how it influences their lives now. 💃🏻🕺🏻
In today’s episode, Francis and Alana take a deeper look at Alana’s relationship with social media, specifically LinkedIn. She’s currently in a competition with HQAF’s number one fan to 500 connections and she’s got a method that doesn’t quite fall in line with her goals. However, she is taking steps towards being more professional on social media! Tune in and let us know what you think.
Francis and Alana decided to take a little break from the goals series to interview Alana’s friend and former zookeeper, Rachael! Rachael shares about the dangers, misconceptions, and experience of being a zookeeper. She also answers burning questions such as: Are zoo animals exactly as they’re portrayed in the movie Madagascar? Also, can zoo animals be raised as pets? Learn all about it, and more, on this week’s episode!
Welcome back to episode three of the goals series! Today Alana achieved a goal she never thought she would... she found a dentist for adults. Tune in as Francis investigates Alana’s long history with her pediatric dentist, the embarrassing moments she’s experienced over the course of her life, and what led her to finally get a dentist that regularly sees adults. It’s adulting at full capacity that you won’t want to miss!
HQAF Radio welcomes back special guest, Katharine, for episode 2 of the Goals series! In this episode, Alana faces the reality that there is no reason to wear gym shoes in the work place and Katharine evaluates Alana’s shoe collection. Afterwards, they go shoe shopping and share their haul on the show!
In this episode, Francis and Alana the "Improving Alana's Life Day-by-Day" series. They Google search life lessons that Alana's mom has told her throughout her life to figure out if they're real or not.
In today’s episode, Francis and Alana discuss Alana’s secret persona that she maintains online. Before they can really get to the bottom of her strange social media habits, they have to visit the past and discover the real reasons Alana prefers some social media platforms to others in addition to her lack of boundaries. Tune in to find out more about Alana’s life as an adult robot!
Francis and Alana sit down and discuss their love for cats. They dive into how the Ming Ming dynasty first started as well as funny cat origin stories. Additionally, why won’t Chris let Francis get a cat? Leave a review letting us know that you’re praying for Francis to get a cat. We hope you enjoy this special episode about our furry friends!
Francis and Alana welcome special guest, Amanda, to discuss childhood misunderstandings and misconceptions. One of which is about how Amanda discovered that the Tooth Fairy isn’t real. Sprinkled with other silly tales from childhood, this episode is one for the books!
Get excited because this week’s episode features a surprise guest that is near and dear to Alana’s heart, Katharine! Not only is Katharine a published author, but she’s also a huge HQAF Radio fan and Alana’s colleague. She comes to the show sharing stories of how she and Alana first met as well as goals she prepared for Alana to help her adult at full capacity. You won’t want to miss this episode!
To show that we really do post part 2 episodes, here’s this one! Alana secretly interviews special guests during Francis and Chris’ wedding. Warning: this episode is filled with fluff and will make you believe in true love. 😘👨❤️💋👨
Francis and Alana reflect on the wedding of the century—the wedding of Francis and Chris! Alana and Francis recall their favorite moments and highlights from the wedding. Alana also regards herself a social media influencer, which isn’t accurate, but we’ll let her believe that. Be sure to check out this episode and the surprise episode!
2019 is already shaping up to be a good year for video games! Special guest and Alana’s husband, Harley, gives reviews of the big video game names that came out this year. Alana also talks about Fortnite but that’s just what she does on a regular basis. Whether you’re into video games or not, give this episode a listen and let us know what you think of the ratings we gave these games. 🎮
In today’s episode, Alana interviews her youngest brother, Kerry. Kerry has many talents, one of which is his budding rapper career under the name K.T. Hackissimo. Take a listen as these siblings discuss the past, the present, and the future. We hope you enjoy! #kerlana Check our Kerry’s song via this link: https://m.soundcloud.com/user-686755025/gomo-with-kt-hackissimo
Alana went to Nuremberg, Germany to attend a trade show for work. Little did she know that the stories she brought back from Germany would have little to do with the trade show and more to do with her hotel contact, Claudia. This fascinating (and sometimes confusing) tale takes us on the emotional roller coaster that is Alana’s relationship with a girl named Claudia. Also, there’s some Lydia stories part 3 mixed in. Enjoy!
Francis and his sisters, Danica and Alex, talk about their family and things get a bit too real for Francis’s comfort
Alana interviews her dad, Peter Hackes, who talks about his history in radio and how he broke into the broadcast news business. Peter also shares stories about Alana when she was a kid and also gives his thoughts on what it’s like to have a big family.
In this episode of HQAF, Francis and Alana venture outside and explore Georgetown GLOW, a series of light-based art exhibits in the DC neighborhood of Georgetown. #georgetownglow
Francis and Alana talk about one of their favorite people: Alana’s mom! Tune in for some great stories.
Francis is joined by his sister Alex and they talk about genetics, married life, and Francis's bachelor party plans.
Francis and Alana decide to go a different route today and record freeform in a new segment called Casual Conversations. Today, they talk about being chased by the world, dream interpretations, Seto and Kaiba, and how Francis doesn't like being called Frank.
Alana and her brother, Patrick, deep dive into the hot topic of higher education. They discuss the reasons why people go to college and whether they think it's worth it to go to college. You'll also learn a bit about economics too. Check it out!
Francis and Alana talk about his week about Chris and reminisce about the time before Chris.
Francis and Chris talk about their respective hometowns and what it means to have a hometown.
Francis and Alana talk about the merits of having chill and of not having chill. They also debate about interviewing the voice of Bulbasaur on the show.
Alana's is ready to move out of her dad's house — but it's been a seven month saga complete with lies, drama, and absurd agendas.
The episode you've all been waiting for! Francis and Alana debrief on Alana's wedding and discuss the Highlights and takeaways.
Francis and Alana try out Anchor's new co-host feature. They take a seat with their first guest, Kirk Brown, who gives them tips on personal branding.
Francis took a trip to Europe which some crazy turns. Literal and metaphorical. Find out how Francis almost died, photographed nude people and bashes an entire airline company all in one episode!
What starts out as an episode about Alana’s strange eating habits quickly takes a different turn as Alana and Francis finish an entire bottle of champagne while recording. Note: this episode is not sponsored by champagne but would happily accept any sponsorship that came to HQAF Radio. Does that make us sound really desperate? Find out by tuning in to this episode!
One day, Daryl introduces Alana to his friend Zack. Little did Francis and Alana realize that Zack's favorite character was Thief Bakura. Immediate block. 🙅🏻♀️
One time Francis made flan but Alana didn't eat it. Also, Francis and Chris got engaged! Tune in to find out about their proposal and also how dare Alana for not eating Francis's flan.
Happy Valentine’s Day from HQAF Radio! Francis and Alana discuss the complex and hilarious relationship Alana has with her three younger brothers. The cohosts take a closer look at Alana’s relationship with her youngest brother, Kerry.
Alana and Francis talk about everything but there's one thing Alana hasn't told him yet...
Francis and Alana were big fans of Dragonball Z growing but both of them have different takes on the theme song.
Francis and Alana weren't always organized and productive contributors to society, but that changed the day they discovered calendars...