Figuring It Out: Recent Episodes
Josh Barclay
This week, Josh and Lauren talk about social work events and how students went to college in the 1090's.
Ozark. Rewatching The Walking Dead. And Slab City. This week, Josh and Lauren talk about a small city in the middle of nowhere (where citizens live in harmony). How is this place real??
January is too long. The Circle on Netflix is addictive. And you should avoid these toxic thoughts en route to happiness.
Why is Elmo different now? Do you watch Bluey? And how much is too much sour cream? This week, Josh, Lauren, and Holly discuss their guilty pleasures.
Josh talks about kayaking in a cave. Lauren talks about crying in public. And this week, they discuss the things that they miss the most from childhood.
This week, Josh and Lauren talk about brushing their teeth at night. Also, they discuss the new movie, “Don’t Look Up”. How did it make them feel, what did they take away, and why should you watch it?
This week, Josh talks about the undiscussed aspects of the holidays. Processing changes, grieving lost ones, and dealing with the holidays during the pandemic. Suggestions are made to make this holiday a memorable and happy one, no matter the circumstances!
This week, Josh and Lauren talk about favorite authors, freaky mannequins, and lucid dreaming.
This week, Josh and Lauren talk about asparagus and the Metaverse. How does it play out? What are the downsides? And what will be the biggest benefit?
This week, Josh and Lauren wrap up the complex idea of forgiveness. How do we practice this? And what is the end game in the world of "cancel culture"?
This week, Josh and Lauren try to tackle the complex idea of forgiveness. How do we practice this? And what is the end game in the world of "cancel culture"?
Large Marge. Necco Wafers. Nightmare Before Christmas. This week, Josh and Lauren run through overrated treats, the best Halloween movies, and getting x-rays of candy.
Pedal wagons gone wrong. Old-timey creepy masks. And size 20 shoes. This week, Josh and Lauren run through the costume trends of the past 10 decades. They also discuss/rate/roast their own Halloween costumes from over the years.
Sleeping in cars. Being afraid of belly buttons. And getting your a** kicked by the powerhouse of the cell. This week, Josh and Lauren talk about phobias.
Escape rooms, watering the grass on your own side, and settling into adulthood. This week, Josh and Lauren go back to the topic of the quarter-life crisis. Are they important to have? Are you really having a crisis? And how can you truly live in the present?
Happy Fall, y'all! This week, Josh and Lauren sit around a campfire and ask the important campfire questions.
Josh and Lauren set out to finish what they started. It gets even weirder than last week.
Is the potato the most versatile vegetable? What is Salty Dog? And why is there a tree in your living room?
This week, Lauren and Josh deconstruct the weird (and sometimes annoying) societal norms that we have.
Welcome back to FIO! Fresh from a little hiatus, Josh and Lauren catch up on life. Topics include trips, getting a dog, and summer coming to a close. Then Josh and Lauren have a discussion on life outlooks and the future. Are we doomed? How should we navigate the overwhelming nature of every day negativity? And how can we be the best lil' cog?
This week, Josh and Lauren finish discussing the Netflix special "Inside" by Bo Burnham. They talk about their favorite songs, what they took from it, and why everyone should watch it.
This week, Josh and Lauren discuss the Netflix special "Inside" by Bo Burnham. They talk about their favorite songs, what they took from it, and why everyone should watch it.
Burnout. Apathy. Overwhelmed Scrolling.
Social media can be a force of good. But like with anything, too much of scrolling can put you in an anxious or depressed state. This week, Josh and Holly talk about their recent decision to step away from social media, as well as discuss research on the effect of social media.
One day leads to another. Time marches on. The days are slow, but the years are fast.
Sounds familiar? This week, Josh talks about the simple action of hitting the pause button; why it can be difficult to do so, and why it is absolutely necessary.
This week, Josh and Holly list out the definitive top 10 road trip list, top 12 weekend getaway spots in the Midwest, and ways to start building your dream road trip today.
Fat wallets, oil changes, and leaving legacies.
This week, Josh chats with his dad about parenting, aging, and Fathers' Day traditions around the world. Josh cries again for the 2nd week in a row.
Also don't forget to get your oil changed.
Cicadas are taking over.
Also, Josh and Holly talk about loss - their life experiences, lack of closure, and important lessons to remember during loss.
What does cheese, a calculator, and calamine lotion have in common?
This week, Josh and Pat discuss gratitude - the science behind it, the rippling and holistic benefits that it can spark, and quick/easy exercises to get started (that take only minutes). Plus, Josh runs through 10 things that he is grateful for.
Madlibs, resort valet, and getting tattoos while on a trip.
This week, Josh and Holly talk about road trips and Memorial Day. Where are the top 5 most-visited cities during the holiday weekend? What are the most over, under, and properly-rated aspects of road trips? Plus, never have I ever - ROAD TRIP EDITION.
What is the undisputed best breakfast food? Would Patrick eat different breakfast dishes from around the world? And what is a dippy egg?
This week, it is a battle of the breakfasts! Josh and Pat are cooking up while podcasting. Who made the better meal?
Josh without a phone in Boston. Shredding Chicken. And talking about what makes us irrationally angry.
This week, it's time to finish what we started. What minor inconvenience drives you crazy? You might be surprised who is crowned.
Bad haircuts. Buffering videos. Waking up before your alarm goes off.
This week, Josh and Lauren tackle majorly annoying minor conveniences. Which is the best at being the worst?
We are getting old (based off of our conversations). Patrick is picking up a new skill. Plus, we have a guest on the show!
This week, Josh, Pat, and Holly talk about the power of music. Holly discusses the field of music therapy: folks who can benefit from it, how it is implemented, and how it can connect us with loved ones in emotional ways.
We're switching it up! On this week's episode, Josh and Pat are field reporting from places that make them happy. How do they reset? Why should we respect deer? And did the goose attack Patrick?
We've heard all of the buzzwords. Roth, 401k, IRA. But what do they mean? How should we start saving for retirement, and what is the best way? Plus, why is Josh traumatized with Accounting?
This week, Josh and Pat talk to an expert in the Accounting/Financial field.
What was it like to be on the front lines of Covid in the midst of the pandemic? What do gatherings looks like in a post-pandemic world? And what are the take-aways?
This week, Josh and Pat talk to someone who worked along the frontlines of the Covid Pandemic and gain insight on what it actually looked like.
In part 2 of this week's episode, listen to a real live Boomer as he tries to guess Gen Z Slang. And then Josh gets humbled as he tries to guess Boomer lingo.
Tik-Tokin, middle-parting, and no skinny jeans. Gen-Z is calling the shots, now. But do Josh and Pat know the lingo?
In this week's part 1 episode, Josh and Pat face their own mortality by guessing slang and discussing when they realized that they were getting old.
In this week's Episode, Josh and Pat talk about the NCAA - the good, the bad, and the ugly. How much does the NCAA generate in revenue? Of the 50 states, how many of them have college coaches as the highest paid employee? And who do Josh and Pat have in the final four?
Interesting study performed on happiness levels in 2 groups of people. Looking for the glimmers of gratitude. Plus the Tufted Titmouse.
In this week's episode, Josh and Lauren talk about hapiness. Why is it ever-elusive? Why aren't we the happiest generation? And why can't Josh pronounce the word "color".
After the 2-part series on the history of Pat and Josh, it is time to figure out how well they actually know each other.
What is their favorite holiday? Did you know Patrick is named after someone on Star Trek? And have either of them failed a course in college? This week, they run through trivia to determine who is the better friend.
You've heard about the early days - what about college and beyond? In this week's episode, Josh and Pat talk about their friendship through college and up to the present. They also talk about how their friendship has evolved and what they expect it to look like when they are 70.
We've referenced this countless times. How did Josh and Pat meet each other? What did we think of each other before we met? Why did Josh wear shirts 3 sizes too big?
This week, Josh and Pat talk about the Elementary, Middle, and High School years of their friendship.
It's Love month, y'all!
This week, Josh and Pat determine if Valentine's Day is overrated, play some Valentine Trivia, and share their advice for a loving holiday.
Life is quite the ride. Think of all your thoughts, accomplishments, fears, perspectives, love, and days accrued. Now imagine all of that being squeezed into 2 dates with a dash in-between.
What are you doing with that dash?
This week, Josh and Pat talk through life (and death). What are the top 5 regrets that people share in their final days? What do we hope we can accomplish?
Also, Josh and Pat weirdly eulogize themselves.
24% of Americans haven't read a book in the last year. Is that you? It's easy to stay distracted nowadays, so reading a book can feel like a lot. BUT - reading can make you feel accomplished...and even change your life. This week, Josh and Pat run through some of their favorite reads!
WARNING You may not want to listen to this episode with headphones**
What is that sound that you hear? Are you a skilled listener? You may know the bark of a dog, but do you know the sound of a crosswalk? This week, Josh has to guess what he is hearing while listening to 20 sounds. This may be more difficult than you think!
Also, is it terrible to hear styrofoam against styrofoam?
What is the best fast food combo ever? Pick and choose your burger, drink, dessert, sauce, etc. Plus, who hates Arby's fries? Is Cane's sauce overrated? And what are the best restaurants out there?
Warning: Don't listen to this episode if you're hungry.
Another year, another resolution. Will you stick to it this year?
An even tougher question - why do you choose the resolutions that you have? Are they for someone else? Or for yourself?
In this week's episode, Josh and Pat talk through New Year's Resolutions - failed ones in the past, their new goals, and how they plan to achieve them through tangible steps.
So you say you love Christmas, huh? Prove it! This week, Josh and Pat speed through 50 Christmas Trivia questions to see who has the most Christmas Spirit.
Time to finish what we started. What is the best Christmas movie ever? You won't be disappointed!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The weather outside may be frightful, but the classic Christmas movies are so delightful.
But as you cozy up on your couch and reach for your hot chocolate, which movie should you watch? There are too many to choose from. Luckily, in this episode, Josh and Pat cut through the clutter and start their journey in choosing the best Christmas movie EVER - bracket style.
Daylight savings in 2020 hits different. The big SAD is real.
Have you heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder? Do you feel it as the winter approaches? How can you not only combat the short days, long nights, and cold winter, but come out on the other side feeling accomplished and happy?
This week, Josh is joined by Lauren and Holly as they try to tackle SAD.
2020 has been quite the roller coaster – we all are a little stressed and high strung at the moment. But…what if there was a way that one person could do just ONE small act that would cause a ripple effect of positivity?
This week, Josh and Pat talk about kindness – how it can bring us together in a time of division and soothe the soul. They also share small, easy, and actionable ways to start ripples of positivity in your community.
Are you looking for a partner and feel like you can't find the right person? Or maybe you're in a relationship and feel like it has flattened out? In this episode, the newlyweds (Josh and Holly) get real and talk through relationships - what they believe makes them healthy and strong, as well as what they would tell their single self if they went back in time.
When is the last time that you jumped into a puddle? Woke up early for a sunset? Laughed so hard that it hurt?
This week, Josh and Pat talk about the top things that make you feel alive.
It's Figuring It Out...Patrick style! With Josh on his Honeymoon, Patrick tackles a topic that every single person needs to hear - Self-care. His 5 quick and easy suggestions give you the tools to take control of your stressors, focus inward, and recalibrate.
Have you ever seen something you can’t explain? Heard a bump in the night? Been in the presence of a paranormal experience? This week, Josh and Pat cap of the month of October with some REAL ghost stories from the listeners of Figuring it Out. In their own voices!
Thank you to the special guests this week who shared their stories!
Life after death? Multiple lives after death? In this episode, Josh and Pat talk about Reincarnation - how 25% of Christians believe in some form of this concept, examples of alleged claims, and how they imagined their past life may have been. Also, Halloween traditions! Is there a reason the colors of Halloween are orange and black? Why are black cats the scariest? Would the show "bobbing for love" be a thing on Netflix? Find out in this week's chat!
Do you like being scared? Learning the eerie history of a haunted location? Maybe even experiencing paranormal activity during paranormal tours? If you live in Ohio, you have plenty of opportunities - there are 131 haunted houses (2nd most in the country!). In this episode, Josh and Pat sift through the options and share the top 10 most haunted spots in the state of Ohio.
We've made it to October! Josh and Pat are spending the month of October talking everything spooky. This week, they run through the best Halloween movies/shows to watch, the best parts of Halloween season, and the most overrated parts of Halloween. WARNING - we may make you angry.
Imagine taking a short questionnaire and the results describe you - PERFECTLY. Your traits, how you interact with others, your strengths and weaknesses, fears and desires, etc. Sounds crazy, right?
The Enneagram Test does exactly that. This week, Josh and Pat talk to Lauren - an Enneagram aficionado. They learn about the power of this test, and how it can unlock potential and improve relationships with partners, coworkers, strangers, and yourself.
Where are the best roads in America to take a trip? What time of the year should you visit these places? And how is Glacier National Park like a McRib?
This week, Josh and a special guest discuss road trips and the best drives to take (through their individual and shared experiences).
We're trained from a young age to hate Mondays - remember the Sunday Scaries before school started the following day? It turns out that we really, REALLY hate Mondays - so much that it even affects our health. The majority of heart attacks and strokes occur on Mondays.
So...how do we turn reframe our distaste for the first day of the week? If done correctly, it can catapult us into a productive and rewarding week. Josh and Pat run through 5 quick and easy practices to turn your mediocre Monday into a magical one.
The leaves are changing. The mornings are getting a tad more crispy.
And football is BACK (hopefully).
This week, Josh and Pat talk through the NFL season - what it will look like in a COVID world, super bowl match ups, teams to watch out for that are under the radar, etc.
And their fantasy draft orders come out at the end of the episode.
Would you rather wear underwear that is a size too small or shoes that are 2 sizes too big?
Would you rather sneeze whenever you say a word that contains the letter “E” or vomit whenever you say a word the contains the letter “Z”?
Would you rather have no one show up to your wedding, or to your funeral?
This week, Josh and Pat answer some either/or scenarios, ranging from thought-provoking to downright hilarious.
AND...Pat invites his wife Molly and Josh invites his Fiance Holly to answer some questions. It gets funny.
We hear about the mid life crisis, but why don't we discuss the quarter life crisis? Half your friends are at the bar, and the other half are raising a family in a house that they own. Where do you fall on the spectrum? Where do you think you should be? Where are you told you should be?
This week, Josh and Pat talk about navigating careers, relationships, and your living situation in your mid-to-late twenties - and remind you to run your own race.
"Toughen up"
"I'm not crying, my eyes are sweating"
"Be a man"
Either you are/have been this person, or you know someone who lives by this mindset. A lot of guys limit their human experience by harboring emotions and how they feel. 2 guys who broke through that toxic lifestyle share how they now experience life, and how grateful they are to be on the other side of it.
Sports are a constant. Until they weren't. How did you process sports leaving? Should they return at this time? What good can come from the absence of sports? How do you see sporting events in 5 years? In this week's episode, Josh and Pat run through the evolution of sports in a COVID world.
"Same stuff, different day."
Burnt out? Tired of the daily grind? Same. This week, Josh talks about why we can feel stuck in the day-to-day, and offers 8 quick and easy ways to break through the monotony and make value of everyday life.
Would you rather take a time machine to 100 years in the past or 100 years into the future? Which band/musical artist will be remembered 500 years from now? What is something that will be commonplace in 2050 that we don't have now? Josh and Pat travel through time in this week's episode.
Don't eat lukewarm hot dogs. Drink plenty of water. Plan for possible wildlife.
In this week's episode, Josh and Pat talk about a disastrous camping trip they took, and what lessons they learned from it.
Anxiety sucks. We all deal with it to some degree - some more than others. But what is causing it, and how do you tackle it? Josh and Pat try to normalize the anxious feelings you may be experiencing, and talk through some of their ways of coping with it.
We started it. Now it's time to finish it. Between toys/games, places, entertainment, and food/candy, who or what is the best thing from the 90's? With heated debates, coin flips, and special call-in guests, the ultimate 90's champ is crowned - and you may be surprised!
It's about to get real. In this episode, Josh and Pat bring back the 90's - March Madness style. With 4 regions (Toys/Games, Places, Entertainment, and Food/Candy, they run through the first round in the quest to crown the ultimate 90's champion.
There are going to be days when your motivation is lacking. But how do you accomplish tasks, stay creative, and keep moving forward in a positive direction when you don't have the motivation to do so?
Patrick runs through 5 simple steps that can get the ball rolling and allow for sustained motivation.
Ever want to just turn off Social Media? Josh and Pat talk through their experiences with social media - taking a break from it, what they have learned from it, etc.
In this episode, Josh and Pat each talk through their top 5 destinations they recommend to visit.
As a follow up to last week, Josh and Patrick talk about mental models (how they process the world through lived experiences). Josh and Patrick each share one life experience that changed their outlook on life.
In the first inaugural episode of "Figuring It Out", Josh and Pat talk about the COVID-19 pandemic - how they have processed it, remained sane, and looked for the positives in an uncertain time.
Through conversations on personal challenges, celebratory achievements, and preparing for whatever life may throw at them, Josh and Pat spend some time on "Figuring it Out" sharing life with those who follow along.