Lumpia and Latkes
Jay (a Filipino American) and Mitch (a Jewish American) have extended conversations on anything that intrigues them. We won’t always get it right, but we’ll do what we can. (Not a cooking show.)
Episodes
'Tis the season for...blackface and spiders? Christmas traditions vary the world over and we try to wrap our minds around some of the most unusual and some downright controversial. Mitch and Jay tell the story of Hanukkah in all new ways with the help of ChatGPT: "The Hilarious Eight" and "Willy Wonka-bee and the Eight Crazy Nights" at "The Coffee Table". "This, Ya Call News?" also goes Christmas as Mitch finds the legality of vehi...
"You remember that thing from that place with the stuff and the people from back in the day? Good times. Good times." Time marches forward with or without us...as well as places and things. We have a discussion of things we believe to be on the path of the dinosaur (extinct) in our "Topic of the Week". Mitch reads about schoolin' from "Mind Over Matters" and Jay has a classic Christmas tale with a twist at "The Coffee Table". In "T...
"As with every Thanksgiving dinner, let's start by each stating what we are most thankful for. Jimmy?" "I'm most thankful for the great deals we can all get only at Walmart tomorrow with guaranteed doorbusters and savings galore!" "Me too, son. Me too." This conversation never happened in real life, but it's what corporate America wants. Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Cyber Week/Prime Day is our "Topic of the Week". 2 new books take the...
*Movie Spoilers In This Episode*
"Two Thumbs Up?"...maybe...maybe not. Mitch and Jay trade off movies to review ala Ebert and Roeper: Jay reviews "Highlander" (1:57) , Mitch reviews "Knives Out" (23:25), and both of us review "Tremors" (32:25). At "The Coffee Table", we tackle a case of suspected fakes in archaeology for "Further Five Minute Mysteries" and we talk about doing "To Do" lists. We wrap up this episode with Mitch read...
Why does Hollywood do when they run out of fresh ideas or need easy money? Time to make a reboot or remake! For our "Topic of the Week", we discuss the (generally) unsound idea to redo a beloved intellectual property and many examples of Hollywood's failures. At "The Coffee Table", we deal with dead bodies in a parking lot and the taboo of the "Easy" button. We wrap up this week with a story on a car sale gone wrong read by Mitch a...
"We're out of job." *Cue Jeff Goldblum* "Uh, don't you mean EXTINCT?" Special guest Brian joins us for the second part of our discussion on AI: job security or the (possible) lack thereof as well as Hollywood's take on "progress". At "The Coffee Table", can we get 2 right in a row for "5 Minute Mysteries" as we crack open "Further Five -Minute Mysteries" by Ken Weber. We also dare to ask "How are you?". In "This, Ya Call News?", Mi...
After a short hiatus, we are BACK! In this episode, we welcome another of our coworkers: Brian to the show as our guest. The topic for this week is a doozy that you just cannot avoid: Artificial Intelligence. There is so much to say, we broke it down into 2 episodes and this is part 1. With Brian's help, will this be the first "5 Minute Mystery" we actually solve? Also, Mitch reads about self-worth/self-doubt at "The Coffee Table"....
Happy Halloween! 'Tis the season for ghosts aplenty! Mitch and Jay tackle All Hallows' Eve by recounting scary movies and their trick-or-treating days. At "The Coffee Table", Jay reads another "5 Minute Mystery" and Mitch speaks on the concept of earning. So far, we are 0.5 out of 3--will this new mystery put us at 1.5? To wrap up the week, Mitch has a new take on school fundraising and Jay reads a report of a gas leak in "This, Ya...
Yes, you read that title right. This "Topic of the Week", we wanted to try to play a game that was on clearance at "Kroger" and (an iteration) was used in the South Korean variety show "Running Man": "Slip It In". Mitch and Jay use random phrases/words/sentences in ad-libbed stories and attempt to guess each other's slips. At "The Coffee Table", Jay reads another "5 Minute Mystery" and Mitch has an excerpt on warranties. Closing ou...
Is bending the rules to get ahead in life wrong or is it just playing the game in a system rigged against us? Mitch and Jay have a list of "Unethical Life Hacks" that we mostly do not recommend. At "The Coffee Table", Mitch has a lesson on lessons and Jay has another "5 Minute Mystery". Wrapping up this episode, Jay has more inexplicable emojis and Mitch talks Vegas for "This, Ya Call News?".
Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 where we are starting things off with part 2 of our conversation on "Retail Work Revelations". This latter half goes over Self Checkout, scams/criminal activity, public restrooms, and more. Our new middle segment broadens our discussion to include more coffee table books in "The Coffee Table". This episode brings up Carpe Diem and a play-along mystery. In "This, Ya Call News?", Mitch has a b...
"Cleanup in aisle 5, Bob. Cleanup in aisle 5." As 2 people who have their fair share of retail work experience, Mitch and Jay both agree that there are some things you just don't know about retail until you've become part of that system. Hear our Part 1 of our "Retail Work Revelations". "Would You Rather?" has us discussing fourth versus shorts, "Donkey Kong" versus "Halo", belly button versus mime, and more. In "This, Ya Call News...
Facebook, TikTok, X, BlueSky, RedNote, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Threads, and so many other choices to consume all the Social Media. Something so ingrained in the pop culture zeitgeist must be discussed and so we did. Hear what Mitch and Jay have to say: the good and the bad. Nail versus razor blades, the battle of bodily wastes, 1980's tech, and more are up for debate in "Would You Rather?". As always, we wrap up with "This, Y...
Mind your manners! A unique and solemn situation brings about discussion of proper decorum and manners. Mitch and Jay weigh in on these concepts that many take for granted as "common sense is not common". Sarcasm versus complaints, hopping versus walking backwards, confetti versus glitter, and more are up for consideration in "Would You Rather?". We close out on "This, Ya Call News?" where Jay has a too-coincidental passing and Mit...
Without a doubt, one of the first things that comes up when you picture yourself winning the lottery is: where am I going to live? If Mitch and Jay had access to unlimited capital: what, where, and with whom would they live? We discuss existing dream homes as well. Future versus past, ancestors versus descendants, edit versus record, and more come up in "Would You Rather?". In "This, Ya Call News?", Jay has "Pizzagate" and Mitch ha...
10, 15, 20 percent? Maybe more? In the service industry: tipping is the proper thing to do, but when it is added automatically to a transaction does it lose meaning? Jay and Mitch weigh in on the always hot button issue "Tipping" for "Topic Of The Week". In "Would You Rather?", it's soap versus butter, bone versus nails, famous people etiquette, and more. To wrap it up in "This, Ya Call News?", Mitch goes to the dentist and Jay goe...
*Explicit Content Warning for "This Ya Call News?"*
Ms. Scarlet...in the hall...with the rope. Ever wanted to be "in" the game of "Clue"? Opportunity (and motives) await at a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre near you. Mitch shares his experience with one he recently completed. Bird versus dog, expectorant versus wind, work problem versus home problem, and more are discussed in "Would You Rather?". Wrapping up this episode, Mitch needs...
So, you've heard our last episode about work motivation and now you want to see what job opportunities are out there. You've got an interview, but how to make it a successful one? Mitch and Jay talk about "Nailing The Interview" for this week's "Topic Of The Week". Aliens, toilet versus tantrum, itch versus number 1, and more come up in "Would You Rather?". For "This, Ya Call News?", Mitch has an unorthodox competition and Jay has ...
Unless you have won the lottery (or are taken care of), you probably have a job. Because you have a job, you have all the stressors that come along with it. When is enough truly enough? This week, Mitch and Jay welcome their former coworker Gerald to discuss "Work And Work Ethic". In "Would You Rather?", it's dinner choices, fame versus power, handwriting versus typing, and more. Gerald speaks about a unique relationship, Mitch tal...
We wrap up the convo on MBTI from the prior week. After, we switch gears to this week's topic: "Awesome" Google Reviews. You probably use Google Reviews to make decisions where to shop or eat, but have you ever deep dove into them to see the sh*tshow? We did and it's quite something. Mashed potatoes vs. maple syrup, pickle juice vs. mustard, gastrointestinal conflict, and more are discussed in "Would You Rather?". Mitch has a toile...
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