April 27, 2022 • 35 mins
Agenda:
- Stand up - some exciting and some disturbing news
Takeaways:
- Eric to add one more egg to the digital easter egg hunt
- Set up a Rube Goldberg machine / human mouse trap in the office
- Kate and Thea to have a discussion, NOT as a part of SYT, about Kate’s choices
- Kate to do her daily exercises to remind herself that SYT is not her real family
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ben (00:07):
welcome to this startup is being recorded.
This recording is improvisedfiction.
Similarities between it and thereal world are entirely
intentional.
Now enjoy the recording.
Kate (00:22):
All right.
Hey everybody.
Um, can't believe what spring ishere.
It's almost may, uh, justanother standup.
It's going to be a good day.
Uh, I guess we should do intros,um, band.
Sorry, just it's such a goodseason for set.
I mean, all the couch sales, thetraffic come in in, I just, I
(00:44):
feel so bullish about this year.
Uh, I I'm Kate Blanchet, um, foranyone listening who doesn't
know me yet, I'm the chief ofstaff.
I work under John and really,you know, it's just my job to
make set a better place.
Make the world a better.
a little emotional.
Calathea (01:04):
Yeah.
you seem full of late.
Kate (01:10):
Anyone else
Calathea (01:11):
Wow.
Sorry.
I almost like choked on yourhappiness.
It's just, it's so much,
Matt (01:16):
Um, well, I, I feel like I'm going to bring down the
mood, so somebody else got.
Calathea (01:24):
uh, Califia melanova chief creatives are here at CIT.
I don't have some pontificationabout my value in the world.
It's intrinsic.
Eric (01:34):
Eric Troy Carter, uh, despite my emoji I'm middle
name, I'm just feeling all righttoday.
Um, but have some exciting new,so excited for standing and I'm
chief product officer, but I'dsay that already.
Matt (01:47):
Right.
Um, hi, I'm Matt, Matt dyads.
That's also my website and I'mthe CTO here at CIT.
And, um, I think, uh, I'm, I'mthe, the frowning face emoji,
but not the like slight frown,but like the big one.
Um, the
Calathea (02:04):
Oh, no.
Matt (02:06):
uh, I've got, I've got big news for the standard.
As well.
Uh, so I guess in a good news,bad news DLT, I want the bad
news first get out of the way,rip the band-aid off.
Calathea (02:17):
Yeah.
Let's yeah, definitely.
Matt (02:19):
Okay.
Um, there's been a pretty bigsecurity breach in the server
room.
Um, still haven't figured outwho got in, uh, we're checking
everybody's key cards, um,physical access, physical keys.
Uh, so, you know, I would loveactually, any information that
(02:44):
anyone in this room might have,um, because we have been turning
up painted eggs inside of thecabinets, uh, behind the
keyboards, uh, in the patchcable walls, um, mini fridge,
all kinds of things that are inwhat is supposed to be a
(03:06):
physically secure.
Very carefully access controlledroom and, uh, you know, like,
uh, love celebrating holidaysaround the office.
It's very fun.
Scavenger hunt.
Ha the that's a no, that's a nofor me on the server room and
somebody did it up in there.
Kate (03:27):
W what kind of eggs?
Matt (03:28):
You know, what kind of eggs, Kate, please.
Kate (03:32):
I just want to know if it's the same kind of hollowed
out painted eggs that I've beenfinding in the fridge.
Matt (03:39):
Yeah, I assume so there they're just regular eggs that
have been blown out andpainstakingly decorated in
paints, sparkles, glitter, uh,some nice ink to drawings.
Uh, the occasional.
Eric (03:54):
Nah, I don't know a lot.
I keep saying this, but as I'vesaid every, every day for the
last week, The Easter egg huntthat Iran was digital entirely
that it was only on the websiteand my good news for today.
It was going to be that somebodyfinally found the last egg.
And so we've distributed all theprizes and
Matt (04:16):
that's great.
That's
Eric (04:18):
feels like, it feels like you don't believe me, that all
of them are digital
Matt (04:20):
No, I didn't.
I know your team put a lot ofwork into that.
And, um,
Eric (04:26):
the doers.
Matt (04:27):
yeah, I mean, it was, uh, they had a lot of fun with it.
Believe me, there was just a lotof like giggling and glee as
those things were going in.
And so it's super nice.
Uh, also that, you know, uh, wecan give out those prices.
We can pull, pull those from theapp and can go back to the last
build.
Um, no, and I, I, they don't,they don't look anything like
(04:50):
yours.
Kate (04:51):
I know a way to resolve this, Eric.
I know you've been dealing withthis disbelief, but could you
define digital?
think maybe Matt isn'tunderstanding what you mean by
digital.
That's probably the case.
Eric (05:08):
I think, I think of, I think we all do, but I think
especially Matt understandswhat, what I mean by digital
there that are images on the
Matt (05:17):
Yeah, they exist only in a virtual space as rendered by our
website and our applicationthat, that in, I assumed that
you meant that in no way werethese physical eggs that had
been hollowed out and die, died,uh, painstakingly decorated, and
then hidden in locations aroundthis building, including what is
(05:38):
supposed to be a securelylocked.
Kate (05:40):
Okay.
And,
Calathea (05:41):
solve this.
Could have we broken, open oneof the eggs
Matt (05:46):
no, I mean, they're, they're very light.
They seem hollow to me.
Calathea (05:51):
okay.
Can, um, can one of you provideme with an egg to open?
Matt (05:57):
Yeah.
Eric (05:58):
I've got
Kate (05:59):
They're kind of
Matt (06:00):
Oh, you've been finding them too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Here you go.
Okay.
Calathea (06:04):
Okay.
I know I I'm.
I honestly curious, cause wehaven't found them around the
creative team.
Um, they don't match any of theartistic signatures of any of
the creative folks.
You know, I know their artworkreally well.
I look at it, I know their styleand if I crack it.
Yeah.
Yep.
You get a little V for vendettatrading card.
(06:26):
This is definitely the work ofVictor.
Matt (06:31):
Victor.
Victor's on yours.
Calathea (06:34):
Now Victor's on.
Matt (06:35):
Wait that Victor
Eric (06:38):
Victor, Victor.
Calathea (06:38):
of on all teams.
I mean, he started, you know, inthe very
Kate (06:42):
before teams.
Calathea (06:43):
uh, when we really were kind of all in on this.
Matt (06:46):
but nobody's seen Victor.
I mean, since before I got.
Calathea (06:51):
I agree.
It's, um, it's very alarming,but I mean, he, he was a big
holiday guy fixture and I mean,he, as you know, his first
initial, his fee and he wasreally interviewed for vendetta.
I mean, this, this sounds likean old Victor screw around, you
know,
Kate (07:12):
I should have seen it leaving the creative team alone,
especially targeting the areasthat would make us think
security, breach, something badhas happened, you know?
So.
Calathea (07:24):
Yeah.
And, um, it would also justexplain the single happy meal I
found on my desk a couple ofdays ago.
Matt (07:33):
so like kind of a calling card.
Was there, is there anythingabout the happy meal that kind
of tipped you off?
That it was.
Calathea (07:42):
No honestly, uh, was, was very, was very interested.
I mean, it was like a happy mealwith a like Mick fish filet in
it, which I didn't even knowthey put in happy meals.
So I just thought that.
it was like some, I just thoughtoriginally it was like an F you
to our new fish policy.
And somebody was just doing thatin a horrific way.
(08:03):
Um, you know, some members of myteam had been taking it hard.
It's.
I mean, they are vegan.
They just don't like to havelimitations placed on their body
or life.
Um, so I thought originally itwas just, you know, something
like that.
It's a big corporation, it's afish, that kind of stuff.
But now it makes sense.
I mean, you know, as you allknow, we met fixture in a
(08:27):
McDonald's parking lot and thiscould, this could be a side
assignment he's back.
Eric (08:34):
I just, uh, looked up the email address of all of the
people who found the digitalEaster eggs.
And over 60% of them are from aV Norse fire.
Aol.com that's that's gotta behim.
Calathea (08:53):
It's gotta be him.
Kate (08:54):
so he found the eggs and the digital hunt and placed the
eggs and the physical.
Calathea (09:01):
That's actually very true.
I mean, Matt, didn't you say oneof the reasons why you suspected
Eric was because all of the eggsmatch, the like designed eggs at
the art department had put up.
Matt (09:15):
Yeah, well, I mean, you know, the, the art is like cute
eight bit digital picture pixelart.
And so yeah, if someone withlike incredible artistic skill
had taken those as inspirationand done them in.
Baroque styles, a impressionist.
I mean, these are,
Eric (09:35):
Masterpieces.
Matt (09:36):
yeah.
And I guess, I guess, yeah, theylook like, well, wait, how many,
remind me, Eric, how manystickers were in the app to
find?
Okay, well, my team has.
Two dozen out of the server roomin the last few days, uh, Kate,
you said you've been findingthem in the break room and other
(09:58):
places.
How, how many have you found sofar?
Eric (10:02):
Yeah.
Our teams come up with like, Ithink 18 or 19.
So I don't know about 52.
Matt (10:10):
have a lot of eggs too.
Calathea (10:11):
Yeah, that seems like a lot of eggs to find, but it
does make sense.
I mean, with the artistic, Imean, we all know that Victor
was a, uh, into art forgerybefore he found us that's like,
and actually came really intohandy because he was able to
connect us, you know, with a lotof his former clients became
some of our first investors andsaid, okay,
Matt (10:36):
What do you think he wants?
Calathea (10:38):
I don't know.
I mean, you know, I usually ampretty good at speaking Victor,
so to speak, but, um, you know,he, he likes to play games and
things like that, but, you know,usually comes out of the shadows
a lot sooner than this.
I've always left notes and thatMcDonald's parking lot, making
(11:01):
it very clear if you wanted tocome back.
Like we would, I mean, we have alot of questions for him, but
like we would welcome him back.
So
Matt (11:09):
I mean, I have questions, like how did he get into the
room?
Like we've, we've revamped theentire access control system.
None of those locks should bethe same.
Uh, and if he badged in withsomebody's badge, those logs
have been erased.
Kate (11:25):
we have to find the
Matt (11:26):
is he's he's good.
Yeah.
Calathea (11:28):
Yeah.
I mean, as, as, I well know, Ithought I was great, but even I
activated the bees.
Eric (11:35):
Right.
None of the bees were out.
Matt (11:39):
No, none of the mechanisms in there were tripped.
Also, just to be clear, we didnot reload the bees after they
went off on UK.
Califia no, we went, we wentwith a different system.
Uh, so it won't be it.
If you decide to come in again,it won't be business.
Calathea (11:55):
That's good to know.
I mean, I'm tempted to try, youknow, just to try to figure out
how Victor could have gotten in,but I must admit his skills were
always more impressive than minein that field.
And this is another example ofthat.
Eric (12:12):
we could put another egg up on the site.
See if he comes back.
Matt (12:17):
Oh,
Kate (12:17):
then wouldn't that create one more egg in our office?
We have two.
And
Eric (12:21):
exactly You'd have to, he'd have to, he'd have to
deliver it.
Kate (12:25):
so we w we could try to catch.
Matt (12:28):
Hmm.
All right, hang on.
Let let's pull up the app.
Uh, Eric, I'm trying toremember, um, I want to say 24,
the two dozen that were found inthe server room that matches the
same number and type is thatright of the ones that we had in
(12:48):
the settings pages of the.
Yeah.
Oh, this is,
Kate (12:56):
He considers your tech team.
The settings of our company
Matt (13:01):
Yeah.
Eric (13:02):
Hmm.
Matt (13:03):
Okay.
And then, oh, uh, I don't know.
Would it be, I mean, kind ofoperate behind the scenes
Eric (13:14):
Important, but not.
Kate (13:17):
how many eggs were on the home?
Eric (13:21):
Uh, let's see 16.
Kate (13:26):
That's the number I found in John's office.
Matt (13:30):
okay.
Eric (13:31):
Okay.
Matt (13:33):
let's see.
I remember we had a bunch behindthe temporary word, old game.
Uh, Yeah.
Wait, Kate, remind me how manyyou found in the break room?
Kate (13:44):
18, no 14, 14,
Matt (13:49):
Well, yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
I'm having to solve the, uh,
Kate (13:54):
That is where I do work.
Matt (13:56):
Uh, yeah.
14.
Okay.
So, so we just need to put a newEaster egg in the.
Somewhere that corresponds to aplace.
We want Victor to put an egghere.
Calathea (14:13):
What's the easiest place to stake out.
Matt (14:15):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Set up a watch, set up some livecameras.
Kate (14:21):
yeah.
And one of those, um, one ofthose sorts of.
Metal baskets that falls whensomeone stands under it and
catches them.
Eric (14:30):
the mousetrap.
Kate (14:32):
Yeah, but for humans,
Matt (14:35):
Yeah, man trap.
Eric (14:36):
Yeah,
Matt (14:38):
Yeah.
We looked at a
Calathea (14:39):
Rube Goldberg.
Kate (14:42):
we do a Google Burke set up at, throughout the office so
that
Matt (14:46):
you know, they, they sell simple ones.
Kate (14:49):
well, but those are
Calathea (14:51):
It just seems, it just seems very strange that Victor
shows up just as we got all ofour, we watched the severe
surveillance equipment out ofhere.
Matt (15:00):
Yeah.
I mean, I hate, I hate to sayit, but like, I, I kind of wish
we had access to that.
Like we could just roll back thetape and,
Calathea (15:08):
Right.
Matt (15:08):
and see what he was doing.
Calathea (15:11):
yeah.
Kate (15:12):
Well,
Calathea (15:12):
strange.
Matt (15:13):
Well, maybe.
Kate (15:15):
this will be.
Matt (15:16):
You know, I, I, I feel like, um, I'm responding from
emotion here.
I felt like, you know, it's myjob to keep things secure.
That security had been violated.
I was feeling like a failure.
Uh, and so I wanted to knowlike, is Victor doing this on
purpose as he is?
Is this an attack?
But maybe I'm thinking aboutthis too emotionally.
(15:37):
Maybe Victor doesn't wantanything.
So before we go trapping him, isthere anything we really want
from.
Calathea (15:46):
I mean, I think there's some information that I
don't know you originally wantedfrom fixture.
We've been able to overcome someof his,
Matt (15:57):
yeah, I mean, we're working well now I feel like,
you know, it's, it was Richardthat I was more interested in
because he had his ownbookkeeping and it turns out we
painted over all of that.
And,
Kate (16:09):
Great.
Matt (16:10):
uh, I, you know, I don't know.
I feel like things are working.
Okay.
Maybe this is me coming from aplace of emotion, thinking about
somebody who came before me and
Kate (16:24):
Um,
Matt (16:24):
their, their work better than I could.
And the thought of them comingback is now something I'm
pushing against.
Calathea (16:32):
No.
I mean, it, it, it reminds me ofthis time I was in Tibet and we
were hiking and we're going togo hunt a snow leopard, but then
we saw one and just the majestyof it.
And we realized that it wasbetter just to let it go.
And I just feel like maybe forso long, I've been waiting for
Victor to come back, but maybewe just have to let him pass
(16:52):
through.
Matt (16:53):
I don't know, Eric, it seems like this was, this was
tipped off by, by your Easteregg scheme.
Are you a Z says feelingpersonal you in any way or
Eric (17:04):
I mean, it feels like a response, so I kind of feel
obligated to continue to engage.
Um,
Matt (17:13):
like a conversation.
Eric (17:14):
yeah.
And maybe that's the, maybethat's the answer.
We've put a one last egg on thecontact us page.
Calathea (17:22):
Oh, I left that.
And maybe he'll reach out.
Kate (17:28):
Yeah,
Eric (17:28):
It's worth a try.
Calathea (17:29):
Yeah.
Kate (17:30):
let's do it.
Eric (17:31):
I'll uh,
Calathea (17:32):
do it.
Kate (17:34):
What was that also?
Your stand-up update, Eric, ordid you have something.
Eric (17:38):
uh, yeah, I guess, I guess it, it turned out to be, um,
they found the eggs and, um, Iguess a lot of prices are going
to Victor somehow.
Um, although there was no, therewas no physical address
associated with that email.
Kate (17:49):
Yeah.
I don't know how we're going tosend him those Easter couches,
but
Eric (17:53):
We'll see.
Kate (17:54):
yep.
Calathea (17:55):
I mean, we could also, you know, do want to send him
one of our golden ticket tocouches or, you know,
Eric (18:01):
I
Calathea (18:02):
hide our message in the couch and an egg.
Kate (18:06):
That's true.
Yeah.
And I suppose if we, uh, wecould drop a couch off at one of
those like FedEx centers andthen put a notice about the
couch in the PO box that, um,was on at least a few of those
email addresses so that he wouldgo pick it up.
Eric (18:23):
I'll work with someone of your team.
Okay.
Kate (18:26):
Okay, great.
should I go, should I do my own.
Calathea (18:31):
Yeah, of course.
I mean, yeah.
Kate (18:34):
So as everyone knows, um, you know, Lars and David are
full on wedding planning.
Um, but they are actuallyplanning a little beyond that.
Um, and well, I guess this hasbeen in the works for a little
while, but I am going to betheir surrogate.
(18:57):
Um, I am pregnant and then I amactually having twins, but they
only want one.
So we get to choose and actuallyas sort of an a
Calathea (19:10):
wait, whoa.
A lot was happening.
Matt (19:14):
There is a lot going on.
Kate (19:15):
yeah.
Um, so basically there there's ababy up for grabs and so no, no
grabs.
You should never grab babies.
Um, but we.
have multiple options of what wecan do with them, with the baby,
the second twin.
Calathea (19:32):
don't you want to keep one of the children that you
were growing and pushing out ofyour
Kate (19:39):
Well,
Calathea (19:40):
well.
Kate (19:40):
I've always known, you know, that they were going to go
to someone else who, who reallyhad longed for a child.
Um, you know, Lars Larson, Daveand I have talked about this.
A good bet.
So, I guess there's part of methat would be okay with, with
someone else having it.
But, you know, certainly I wouldnever reject a child that chose
(20:02):
me as his mother also.
Um, the, the thing is a few ofour investors have asked me this
before.
Um, but I have a bit of awaiting list, uh, for surrogacy
and florists.
And David had asked first.
So I guess I'm trying to figureout if we should work this into
the series, a, um, paperwork.
Calathea (20:23):
no, no.
Matt (20:25):
we
Calathea (20:26):
what do you suggest?
I know that we.
Listen, it's been a hard growthtime and we've engaged in, you
know, uh, cutting down ofspecial forests and, uh,
violating the endangered speciesact.
But this would be adding prettymuch human trafficking.
(20:46):
Yeah, Um,
Eric (20:48):
It counts even if it's well, yeah, it counts.
Calathea (20:52):
I mean, you seem very
Matt (20:53):
think it counts twice.
I think it counts.
Even if you volunteer, I thinkit counts for you and for the
baby,
Calathea (21:00):
Yeah.
Matt (21:02):
logistically, uh, series.
They should be close before.
Uh, yeah.
So.
Kate (21:08):
true.
Matt (21:09):
Th that let's just defer for purely planning reasons.
Let's just move past that.
Kate (21:17):
I mean, it doesn't have to be.
It doesn't have to be apaperwork.
It could be a handshake deal,you know, like you get to adopt
this baby.
Calathea (21:26):
absolutely.
That I've gone to, I am always,always willing to do whatever it
takes.
And Kate, you take that to itvery next level, but I'm going
to have to care about.
Uh, putting a human life as acontingent of absolutely
anything, either over the tableor it's actually worse for it to
be under the table.
Okay.
Eric (21:46):
Yeah.
Kate (21:47):
Okay.
Okay,
Matt (21:49):
I want to, I want to pause it and I'm sorry for, cause I
brought some really low, uh,kind of dark energy into this
meeting and maybe that's, that'sclinging a little bit.
a breath.
And I just want to say Kate, uh,congratulations.
Like that's huge.
That's huge news all around.
That's big for you.
Calathea (22:11):
about the maternal energy.
I've been sensing it for weeks,and I am just so excited for you
to bring that light into theoffice every day.
And for you.
Kate (22:22):
Thank you.
And I hope you don't, I'm notgoing to be taking maternity
leave.
I don't want you all to worryabout anything like that.
Um, I mean, I'm not really themother, so it wouldn't be
appropriate.
Um,
Calathea (22:33):
But you are, your body is changing in, in amazing ways.
And birth is a strenuous processon the female body.
So I feel like you need to takesome time to heal.
Eric (22:48):
Yes.
Matt (22:49):
to like, literally literally let your body heal.
Calathea (22:52):
Yeah.
I mean, I can refer you to avery wonderful doula that I do
yoga with, who can really helpyou.
And she actually recommends thatmothers physically lock
themselves in a room for 30 daysafterwards to have that mental
and spirit and body replenishingperiod.
Kate (23:14):
Okay.
Um, maybe I can, I can work fromthat room, you know, as long as
we have internet, there's stilla lot I can do.
Um, but yeah, maybe you'reright.
I can't do as much couch movingor packing or warehousing.
Eric (23:27):
Um,
Matt (23:28):
yeah, Kate, you're not supposed to be doing that stuff
anyway.
That's that's all warehouse teamstuff that you've delegated.
Calathea (23:35):
right.
Eric (23:37):
right.
Kate (23:39):
Delegation.
That is a goal that I'm workingon.
Yeah.
There are other people on thatteam some days a week, but
Eric (23:50):
a, there's a waiting list.
Kate (23:53):
uh, for my womb.
Eric (23:57):
Yeah, I guess.
Yes.
And.
Kate (24:01):
So it's, it's an interesting program actually,
where you can get some testingdone when you're in your, I
guess, really anywhere between18 to 25, um, it'll assess how
fertile you are and how good ofa carrier you would be for human
life.
Um, and I was in the top 5%, uh,so like I just excellent
(24:22):
genetics for our creating humanlife.
And so, I mean, imagine.
If you had like a dozen kidneysin your body, would you not want
to donate those to people whoneed a kidneys?
Like that's that's.
I think the gift that my bodyhas given me,
Matt (24:42):
I mean, I guess if you put it that, but hang on.
What program was this likethrough your university or a
church or.
Kate (24:54):
um, No.
Yeah, no, it's through the, uh,the holistic medical center of,
um, the Northeast.
Matt (25:02):
I've never, yeah, just, I'm sorry.
I've never, I've
Kate (25:04):
I mean, they're not accredited by any specific
institution, but they have, havebuilt up a lot of their own
institutional knowledge over thecouple of years they've been
around.
Um, but anyway, yeah, it wasjust, I got on their wires and
David were talking to me.
Yeah.
There hope for having childrenone day during lunch, I
mentioned it, you know, theywent on there, got on the wait
(25:27):
list.
And like, it's kind of one ofthese things where like, once
someone gets on your wait list,other people start like eyeing
you and your, uh, all that DNAand genetic information on
there.
And then they sign up.
Matt (25:43):
wow.
Calathea (25:45):
Kate.
I have to say that's, um, a plusmarketing.
I CRE I have a lot of questionsabout this, but it is your body
and your choice.
Um, choose better for the baby.
Matt (26:01):
yeah, I don't think just in, certainly not in this
meeting, but I think in thiscohort, um, we should not be
deciding the disposition of.
Eric (26:12):
Yes.
Matt (26:14):
Extra child, um, bonus baby.
Kate (26:18):
I guess I, yeah, I'm just,
Matt (26:20):
Yeah.
Kate (26:21):
mine?
That's the real question.
David and contributed to thischild.
They just don't want a second.
Um,
Matt (26:30):
I mean, the law is pretty clear that you are the
biological mother.
Kate (26:37):
Hmm.
Matt (26:37):
it pretty much every Jersey.
Eric (26:39):
yeah.
Calathea (26:40):
this is a big choice.
Was this not a discussion thatyou had before pregnancy?
Kate (26:48):
I mean, we expected there to be one and they would take
it, you know, when you're asurrogate.
You're kind of a vessel.
You're not so much a I justthought of myself as a, as a
human vessel, you know, like atrain or plane,
Calathea (27:06):
Kate.
I just want to wrap you up in aCuban papoose and just hold you
for a second.
Um,
Kate (27:13):
sad that you're cross the table.
Yeah.
Calathea (27:17):
yeah.
Kate (27:20):
uh, we can talk about this more.
I understand this is a bigdecision for all of us and we
Matt (27:24):
it's not actually.
Calathea (27:26):
our decision.
Eric (27:28):
not involved.
Calathea (27:29):
Yeah.
Um,
Kate (27:31):
just off your own.
Leave me.
Matt (27:32):
I, I, I hate to close the door like this.
Uh, Kate, I, I care about youvery much.
I want good things for you.
I think I want better things foryou than you do.
Um, but I have to recuse myselffrom this.
This is not something that inthe context of this company,
that we can really talk.
Calathea (27:53):
Yeah, I
Matt (27:56):
no,
Calathea (27:57):
know.
We've, we've covered this Kateand we've also talked about
boundaries.
Um, so Kathy, on this side ofthe wall is going to say, we
don't want anything to do withthat baby and Kathy, on this
side of the wall as your, youknow, not friend friendly.
Persona in your life.
(28:18):
A maternal figure is going tosay, we should have a serious
talk about this baby and figureout a good place that everybody
feels comfortable with, but thatis your decision and should not
be anything we talk about here.
Kate (28:37):
okay.
Um, what was the, what was yourstandup
Calathea (28:42):
Yeah, of course.
Yeah.
I can, uh, wrap it up.
Wow.
It's been a really emotionalday.
Uh, just, just amazing.
So I guess it, it, you know, um,we have a storefront in the
metaverse,
Eric (28:58):
Oh,
Kate (28:59):
So we sell couches
Calathea (29:02):
uh, virtual couches.
Yes.
So, um,
Kate (29:05):
buy virtual.
You mean?
Eric (29:08):
digital.
Matt (29:09):
digital.
Calathea (29:10):
digital.
Matt (29:11):
They have no
Kate (29:12):
same definition.
Matt (29:13):
In the physical world?
No, no physical representation.
Calathea (29:16):
We have no physical representation though.
We have the option to add thatif we would like it.
Matt (29:23):
yeah, it's pretty cool.
I'm really glad to see the southby Southwest assets not go to
waste.
Calathea (29:28):
Yeah.
Matt (29:29):
cause yeah, there were, there was a lot of work doing
all of that couch, justsituation, um, is who is
renting.
These couches buying thecouches.
What is, what did we settle onfor these virtual couches in the
metaverse?
Calathea (29:47):
Yeah.
So actually we are selling itfor more than couches are in the
real life because, uh, metaversereal estate is at a premium.
We had to pay a lot for our landin the metaverse and it seems
like people really want premiumcouches.
So, you know, we're reallyfocusing on with our couch
building.
(30:08):
Couches that don't exist in, canexist in the world.
So we just sold our first couchyacht, uh, for a hundred
thousand dollars.
And, um,
Kate (30:17):
Oh, real dollars.
Calathea (30:19):
yeah, I been Crip
Matt (30:21):
I, yeah, it's virtual currency.
That, that we then have to doseveral trades and, uh, find a
lot of paperwork to turn into.
Calathea (30:30):
Exactly.
So, I mean, between the severaltrays that we have to make
between various crypto and realcurrencies, it actually turns
out to be about 50,000 in like US currency, which is still a
pretty good for a couch, youknow?
Um, I would say we probably canonly do one of those.
(30:51):
We made a pretty big PR campaignabout'em.
Um, and honestly that's the onlycouch we've sold.
So, um,
Matt (31:01):
It's I, you know, don't, don't feel bad about that.
Califia, um, metaverse stuffit's really, it's really tough
market.
And you know, we're basically,we're competing against huge
artists, right?
With like millions of followers,people who are like super well
known, who've worked to auctiontheir art at Sotheby's.
(31:24):
Uh, so the fact that we sold onelike that, That's great.
Yeah.
Calathea (31:29):
Yeah.
I mean, I do think like you'reright, it is a space in which
artists could Excel at this.
So given that our team is apretty creative team, we look
forward to trying to, you know,pitch what we can in there and
then maybe make some money, youknow, um, At least pay for our
rent on our land.
I mean, metaverse real estate isjust getting crazy these days.
Eric (31:52):
Yeah.
Kate (31:54):
is it also illegal to sell babies in the middle?
Calathea (32:00):
Oh, almost a hundred percent.
Yeah.
I think that that's just Kate,probably the rule of the
universe.
Matt (32:10):
Ultimately selling, selling things in the metaverse,
uh, follows the same laws asselling them anywhere else.
It's just a question of how wellthey're being enforced.
Kate (32:22):
That's important, but.
Matt (32:25):
it be okay?
Kate (32:27):
Couch yacht.
Yay.
Matt (32:29):
Yeah.
Calathea (32:30):
Yeah.
Matt (32:30):
Thanks.
Calathea (32:31):
And congratulations, Kate really?
I mean, I feel like we wentthrough a lot today, you know,
and, um, we should just reallycelebrate, celebrate you and
becoming a mother.
Kate (32:45):
It's not about me.
I mean, it's not about all ofme.
It's about, it's about a fewspecific organs, you know, so.
But thank you.
I do like cupcakes.
Calathea (32:59):
We can get you some cupcakes.
Kate (33:01):
Great.
Now actually, I can't eatcupcakes right now because, um,
if I have anything that tasteslike sugar, right.
I get nauseous and vomit.
Eric (33:10):
a couple months.
Kate (33:11):
Yeah.
Calathea (33:12):
Yeah.
Kate (33:14):
Um, great.
Any final things or should wejust wrap up?
Matt (33:19):
um, I'm going to set a basket up in the break room.
Uh, if folks could just startdropping off the eggs that they
find.
I would like to figure out ifthere's some other message here.
Uh, and I'm really hoping weturn up all 255, I guess, 256
with the new one coming
Kate (33:38):
True.
Calathea (33:40):
Yeah.
Um, and let me know if you meetup with Victor, I mean, I'm also
always happy to,
Matt (33:46):
I mean, let all of us know if you, yeah.
If you meet up with Victor.
Yeah.
Calathea (33:51):
yeah.
I mean, if we need to do aNightwatch, you know, I'm happy
to sign up for a couple ofshifts.
Our team are all big Victorfans, so I'm sure I can get some
people if we need surveillance.
Kate (34:03):
Hmm.
Okay.
Well, great then I guess that'sour business.
Ben (34:12):
This meeting has ended.
To subscribe to this startup isbeing recorded.
Go to the podcast player of yourchoice and tap a button that
likely says subscribe.
More content is on Twitter atstartup recorded, or shoot us an
email with ideas, feedback, oryour personal startup horror
story.
At hello@startuprecorded.com.
Kate is played by ValerieGarrison.
(34:32):
Valerie is a product manager andregularly plays with the improv
troupe letters to chickenonline.
You can find her on Twitter atthevalgarris eric has played by
Barry wright Barry is a productmanager at Spotify and a
co-founder of Highwire Improv.
Find him by his name onLinkedIn, where he holds regular
office hours or athighwireimprov.com.
Matt is played by Marty Mcguire.
(34:53):
Marty is a senior web engineerand improviser in New York city.
You can find Marty's comedy codeand cats on his website at M M G
dot R E.
Calathea is played by RobynStegman.
Robyn is a digital campaignmanager for ocean Conservancy
and is a comedian mostly foundat Highwire improv.
You can find her on all thesocial medias.
And she does mean all at rsteggythank you for listening.
welcome to this startup is being recorded.
This recording is improvisedfiction.
Similarities between it and thereal world are entirely
intentional.
Now enjoy the recording.
Kate (00:22):
All right.
Hey everybody.
Um, can't believe what spring ishere.
It's almost may, uh, justanother standup.
It's going to be a good day.
Uh, I guess we should do intros,um, band.
Sorry, just it's such a goodseason for set.
I mean, all the couch sales, thetraffic come in in, I just, I
(00:44):
feel so bullish about this year.
Uh, I I'm Kate Blanchet, um, foranyone listening who doesn't
know me yet, I'm the chief ofstaff.
I work under John and really,you know, it's just my job to
make set a better place.
Make the world a better.
a little emotional.
Calathea (01:04):
Yeah.
you seem full of late.
Kate (01:10):
Anyone else
Calathea (01:11):
Wow.
Sorry.
I almost like choked on yourhappiness.
It's just, it's so much,
Matt (01:16):
Um, well, I, I feel like I'm going to bring down the
mood, so somebody else got.
Calathea (01:24):
uh, Califia melanova chief creatives are here at CIT.
I don't have some pontificationabout my value in the world.
It's intrinsic.
Eric (01:34):
Eric Troy Carter, uh, despite my emoji I'm middle
name, I'm just feeling all righttoday.
Um, but have some exciting new,so excited for standing and I'm
chief product officer, but I'dsay that already.
Matt (01:47):
Right.
Um, hi, I'm Matt, Matt dyads.
That's also my website and I'mthe CTO here at CIT.
And, um, I think, uh, I'm, I'mthe, the frowning face emoji,
but not the like slight frown,but like the big one.
Um, the
Calathea (02:04):
Oh, no.
Matt (02:06):
uh, I've got, I've got big news for the standard.
As well.
Uh, so I guess in a good news,bad news DLT, I want the bad
news first get out of the way,rip the band-aid off.
Calathea (02:17):
Yeah.
Let's yeah, definitely.
Matt (02:19):
Okay.
Um, there's been a pretty bigsecurity breach in the server
room.
Um, still haven't figured outwho got in, uh, we're checking
everybody's key cards, um,physical access, physical keys.
Uh, so, you know, I would loveactually, any information that
(02:44):
anyone in this room might have,um, because we have been turning
up painted eggs inside of thecabinets, uh, behind the
keyboards, uh, in the patchcable walls, um, mini fridge,
all kinds of things that are inwhat is supposed to be a
(03:06):
physically secure.
Very carefully access controlledroom and, uh, you know, like,
uh, love celebrating holidaysaround the office.
It's very fun.
Scavenger hunt.
Ha the that's a no, that's a nofor me on the server room and
somebody did it up in there.
Kate (03:27):
W what kind of eggs?
Matt (03:28):
You know, what kind of eggs, Kate, please.
Kate (03:32):
I just want to know if it's the same kind of hollowed
out painted eggs that I've beenfinding in the fridge.
Matt (03:39):
Yeah, I assume so there they're just regular eggs that
have been blown out andpainstakingly decorated in
paints, sparkles, glitter, uh,some nice ink to drawings.
Uh, the occasional.
Eric (03:54):
Nah, I don't know a lot.
I keep saying this, but as I'vesaid every, every day for the
last week, The Easter egg huntthat Iran was digital entirely
that it was only on the websiteand my good news for today.
It was going to be that somebodyfinally found the last egg.
And so we've distributed all theprizes and
Matt (04:16):
that's great.
That's
Eric (04:18):
feels like, it feels like you don't believe me, that all
of them are digital
Matt (04:20):
No, I didn't.
I know your team put a lot ofwork into that.
And, um,
Eric (04:26):
the doers.
Matt (04:27):
yeah, I mean, it was, uh, they had a lot of fun with it.
Believe me, there was just a lotof like giggling and glee as
those things were going in.
And so it's super nice.
Uh, also that, you know, uh, wecan give out those prices.
We can pull, pull those from theapp and can go back to the last
build.
Um, no, and I, I, they don't,they don't look anything like
(04:50):
yours.
Kate (04:51):
I know a way to resolve this, Eric.
I know you've been dealing withthis disbelief, but could you
define digital?
think maybe Matt isn'tunderstanding what you mean by
digital.
That's probably the case.
Eric (05:08):
I think, I think of, I think we all do, but I think
especially Matt understandswhat, what I mean by digital
there that are images on the
Matt (05:17):
Yeah, they exist only in a virtual space as rendered by our
website and our applicationthat, that in, I assumed that
you meant that in no way werethese physical eggs that had
been hollowed out and die, died,uh, painstakingly decorated, and
then hidden in locations aroundthis building, including what is
(05:38):
supposed to be a securelylocked.
Kate (05:40):
Okay.
And,
Calathea (05:41):
solve this.
Could have we broken, open oneof the eggs
Matt (05:46):
no, I mean, they're, they're very light.
They seem hollow to me.
Calathea (05:51):
okay.
Can, um, can one of you provideme with an egg to open?
Matt (05:57):
Yeah.
Eric (05:58):
I've got
Kate (05:59):
They're kind of
Matt (06:00):
Oh, you've been finding them too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Here you go.
Okay.
Calathea (06:04):
Okay.
I know I I'm.
I honestly curious, cause wehaven't found them around the
creative team.
Um, they don't match any of theartistic signatures of any of
the creative folks.
You know, I know their artworkreally well.
I look at it, I know their styleand if I crack it.
Yeah.
Yep.
You get a little V for vendettatrading card.
(06:26):
This is definitely the work ofVictor.
Matt (06:31):
Victor.
Victor's on yours.
Calathea (06:34):
Now Victor's on.
Matt (06:35):
Wait that Victor
Eric (06:38):
Victor, Victor.
Calathea (06:38):
of on all teams.
I mean, he started, you know, inthe very
Kate (06:42):
before teams.
Calathea (06:43):
uh, when we really were kind of all in on this.
Matt (06:46):
but nobody's seen Victor.
I mean, since before I got.
Calathea (06:51):
I agree.
It's, um, it's very alarming,but I mean, he, he was a big
holiday guy fixture and I mean,he, as you know, his first
initial, his fee and he wasreally interviewed for vendetta.
I mean, this, this sounds likean old Victor screw around, you
know,
Kate (07:12):
I should have seen it leaving the creative team alone,
especially targeting the areasthat would make us think
security, breach, something badhas happened, you know?
So.
Calathea (07:24):
Yeah.
And, um, it would also justexplain the single happy meal I
found on my desk a couple ofdays ago.
Matt (07:33):
so like kind of a calling card.
Was there, is there anythingabout the happy meal that kind
of tipped you off?
That it was.
Calathea (07:42):
No honestly, uh, was, was very, was very interested.
I mean, it was like a happy mealwith a like Mick fish filet in
it, which I didn't even knowthey put in happy meals.
So I just thought that.
it was like some, I just thoughtoriginally it was like an F you
to our new fish policy.
And somebody was just doing thatin a horrific way.
(08:03):
Um, you know, some members of myteam had been taking it hard.
It's.
I mean, they are vegan.
They just don't like to havelimitations placed on their body
or life.
Um, so I thought originally itwas just, you know, something
like that.
It's a big corporation, it's afish, that kind of stuff.
But now it makes sense.
I mean, you know, as you allknow, we met fixture in a
(08:27):
McDonald's parking lot and thiscould, this could be a side
assignment he's back.
Eric (08:34):
I just, uh, looked up the email address of all of the
people who found the digitalEaster eggs.
And over 60% of them are from aV Norse fire.
Aol.com that's that's gotta behim.
Calathea (08:53):
It's gotta be him.
Kate (08:54):
so he found the eggs and the digital hunt and placed the
eggs and the physical.
Calathea (09:01):
That's actually very true.
I mean, Matt, didn't you say oneof the reasons why you suspected
Eric was because all of the eggsmatch, the like designed eggs at
the art department had put up.
Matt (09:15):
Yeah, well, I mean, you know, the, the art is like cute
eight bit digital picture pixelart.
And so yeah, if someone withlike incredible artistic skill
had taken those as inspirationand done them in.
Baroque styles, a impressionist.
I mean, these are,
Eric (09:35):
Masterpieces.
Matt (09:36):
yeah.
And I guess, I guess, yeah, theylook like, well, wait, how many,
remind me, Eric, how manystickers were in the app to
find?
Okay, well, my team has.
Two dozen out of the server roomin the last few days, uh, Kate,
you said you've been findingthem in the break room and other
(09:58):
places.
How, how many have you found sofar?
Eric (10:02):
Yeah.
Our teams come up with like, Ithink 18 or 19.
So I don't know about 52.
Matt (10:10):
have a lot of eggs too.
Calathea (10:11):
Yeah, that seems like a lot of eggs to find, but it
does make sense.
I mean, with the artistic, Imean, we all know that Victor
was a, uh, into art forgerybefore he found us that's like,
and actually came really intohandy because he was able to
connect us, you know, with a lotof his former clients became
some of our first investors andsaid, okay,
Matt (10:36):
What do you think he wants?
Calathea (10:38):
I don't know.
I mean, you know, I usually ampretty good at speaking Victor,
so to speak, but, um, you know,he, he likes to play games and
things like that, but, you know,usually comes out of the shadows
a lot sooner than this.
I've always left notes and thatMcDonald's parking lot, making
(11:01):
it very clear if you wanted tocome back.
Like we would, I mean, we have alot of questions for him, but
like we would welcome him back.
So
Matt (11:09):
I mean, I have questions, like how did he get into the
room?
Like we've, we've revamped theentire access control system.
None of those locks should bethe same.
Uh, and if he badged in withsomebody's badge, those logs
have been erased.
Kate (11:25):
we have to find the
Matt (11:26):
is he's he's good.
Yeah.
Calathea (11:28):
Yeah.
I mean, as, as, I well know, Ithought I was great, but even I
activated the bees.
Eric (11:35):
Right.
None of the bees were out.
Matt (11:39):
No, none of the mechanisms in there were tripped.
Also, just to be clear, we didnot reload the bees after they
went off on UK.
Califia no, we went, we wentwith a different system.
Uh, so it won't be it.
If you decide to come in again,it won't be business.
Calathea (11:55):
That's good to know.
I mean, I'm tempted to try, youknow, just to try to figure out
how Victor could have gotten in,but I must admit his skills were
always more impressive than minein that field.
And this is another example ofthat.
Eric (12:12):
we could put another egg up on the site.
See if he comes back.
Matt (12:17):
Oh,
Kate (12:17):
then wouldn't that create one more egg in our office?
We have two.
And
Eric (12:21):
exactly You'd have to, he'd have to, he'd have to
deliver it.
Kate (12:25):
so we w we could try to catch.
Matt (12:28):
Hmm.
All right, hang on.
Let let's pull up the app.
Uh, Eric, I'm trying toremember, um, I want to say 24,
the two dozen that were found inthe server room that matches the
same number and type is thatright of the ones that we had in
(12:48):
the settings pages of the.
Yeah.
Oh, this is,
Kate (12:56):
He considers your tech team.
The settings of our company
Matt (13:01):
Yeah.
Eric (13:02):
Hmm.
Matt (13:03):
Okay.
And then, oh, uh, I don't know.
Would it be, I mean, kind ofoperate behind the scenes
Eric (13:14):
Important, but not.
Kate (13:17):
how many eggs were on the home?
Eric (13:21):
Uh, let's see 16.
Kate (13:26):
That's the number I found in John's office.
Matt (13:30):
okay.
Eric (13:31):
Okay.
Matt (13:33):
let's see.
I remember we had a bunch behindthe temporary word, old game.
Uh, Yeah.
Wait, Kate, remind me how manyyou found in the break room?
Kate (13:44):
18, no 14, 14,
Matt (13:49):
Well, yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
I'm having to solve the, uh,
Kate (13:54):
That is where I do work.
Matt (13:56):
Uh, yeah.
14.
Okay.
So, so we just need to put a newEaster egg in the.
Somewhere that corresponds to aplace.
We want Victor to put an egghere.
Calathea (14:13):
What's the easiest place to stake out.
Matt (14:15):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Set up a watch, set up some livecameras.
Kate (14:21):
yeah.
And one of those, um, one ofthose sorts of.
Metal baskets that falls whensomeone stands under it and
catches them.
Eric (14:30):
the mousetrap.
Kate (14:32):
Yeah, but for humans,
Matt (14:35):
Yeah, man trap.
Eric (14:36):
Yeah,
Matt (14:38):
Yeah.
We looked at a
Calathea (14:39):
Rube Goldberg.
Kate (14:42):
we do a Google Burke set up at, throughout the office so
that
Matt (14:46):
you know, they, they sell simple ones.
Kate (14:49):
well, but those are
Calathea (14:51):
It just seems, it just seems very strange that Victor
shows up just as we got all ofour, we watched the severe
surveillance equipment out ofhere.
Matt (15:00):
Yeah.
I mean, I hate, I hate to sayit, but like, I, I kind of wish
we had access to that.
Like we could just roll back thetape and,
Calathea (15:08):
Right.
Matt (15:08):
and see what he was doing.
Calathea (15:11):
yeah.
Kate (15:12):
Well,
Calathea (15:12):
strange.
Matt (15:13):
Well, maybe.
Kate (15:15):
this will be.
Matt (15:16):
You know, I, I, I feel like, um, I'm responding from
emotion here.
I felt like, you know, it's myjob to keep things secure.
That security had been violated.
I was feeling like a failure.
Uh, and so I wanted to knowlike, is Victor doing this on
purpose as he is?
Is this an attack?
But maybe I'm thinking aboutthis too emotionally.
(15:37):
Maybe Victor doesn't wantanything.
So before we go trapping him, isthere anything we really want
from.
Calathea (15:46):
I mean, I think there's some information that I
don't know you originally wantedfrom fixture.
We've been able to overcome someof his,
Matt (15:57):
yeah, I mean, we're working well now I feel like,
you know, it's, it was Richardthat I was more interested in
because he had his ownbookkeeping and it turns out we
painted over all of that.
And,
Kate (16:09):
Great.
Matt (16:10):
uh, I, you know, I don't know.
I feel like things are working.
Okay.
Maybe this is me coming from aplace of emotion, thinking about
somebody who came before me and
Kate (16:24):
Um,
Matt (16:24):
their, their work better than I could.
And the thought of them comingback is now something I'm
pushing against.
Calathea (16:32):
No.
I mean, it, it, it reminds me ofthis time I was in Tibet and we
were hiking and we're going togo hunt a snow leopard, but then
we saw one and just the majestyof it.
And we realized that it wasbetter just to let it go.
And I just feel like maybe forso long, I've been waiting for
Victor to come back, but maybewe just have to let him pass
(16:52):
through.
Matt (16:53):
I don't know, Eric, it seems like this was, this was
tipped off by, by your Easteregg scheme.
Are you a Z says feelingpersonal you in any way or
Eric (17:04):
I mean, it feels like a response, so I kind of feel
obligated to continue to engage.
Um,
Matt (17:13):
like a conversation.
Eric (17:14):
yeah.
And maybe that's the, maybethat's the answer.
We've put a one last egg on thecontact us page.
Calathea (17:22):
Oh, I left that.
And maybe he'll reach out.
Kate (17:28):
Yeah,
Eric (17:28):
It's worth a try.
Calathea (17:29):
Yeah.
Kate (17:30):
let's do it.
Eric (17:31):
I'll uh,
Calathea (17:32):
do it.
Kate (17:34):
What was that also?
Your stand-up update, Eric, ordid you have something.
Eric (17:38):
uh, yeah, I guess, I guess it, it turned out to be, um,
they found the eggs and, um, Iguess a lot of prices are going
to Victor somehow.
Um, although there was no, therewas no physical address
associated with that email.
Kate (17:49):
Yeah.
I don't know how we're going tosend him those Easter couches,
but
Eric (17:53):
We'll see.
Kate (17:54):
yep.
Calathea (17:55):
I mean, we could also, you know, do want to send him
one of our golden ticket tocouches or, you know,
Eric (18:01):
I
Calathea (18:02):
hide our message in the couch and an egg.
Kate (18:06):
That's true.
Yeah.
And I suppose if we, uh, wecould drop a couch off at one of
those like FedEx centers andthen put a notice about the
couch in the PO box that, um,was on at least a few of those
email addresses so that he wouldgo pick it up.
Eric (18:23):
I'll work with someone of your team.
Okay.
Kate (18:26):
Okay, great.
should I go, should I do my own.
Calathea (18:31):
Yeah, of course.
I mean, yeah.
Kate (18:34):
So as everyone knows, um, you know, Lars and David are
full on wedding planning.
Um, but they are actuallyplanning a little beyond that.
Um, and well, I guess this hasbeen in the works for a little
while, but I am going to betheir surrogate.
(18:57):
Um, I am pregnant and then I amactually having twins, but they
only want one.
So we get to choose and actuallyas sort of an a
Calathea (19:10):
wait, whoa.
A lot was happening.
Matt (19:14):
There is a lot going on.
Kate (19:15):
yeah.
Um, so basically there there's ababy up for grabs and so no, no
grabs.
You should never grab babies.
Um, but we.
have multiple options of what wecan do with them, with the baby,
the second twin.
Calathea (19:32):
don't you want to keep one of the children that you
were growing and pushing out ofyour
Kate (19:39):
Well,
Calathea (19:40):
well.
Kate (19:40):
I've always known, you know, that they were going to go
to someone else who, who reallyhad longed for a child.
Um, you know, Lars Larson, Daveand I have talked about this.
A good bet.
So, I guess there's part of methat would be okay with, with
someone else having it.
But, you know, certainly I wouldnever reject a child that chose
(20:02):
me as his mother also.
Um, the, the thing is a few ofour investors have asked me this
before.
Um, but I have a bit of awaiting list, uh, for surrogacy
and florists.
And David had asked first.
So I guess I'm trying to figureout if we should work this into
the series, a, um, paperwork.
Calathea (20:23):
no, no.
Matt (20:25):
we
Calathea (20:26):
what do you suggest?
I know that we.
Listen, it's been a hard growthtime and we've engaged in, you
know, uh, cutting down ofspecial forests and, uh,
violating the endangered speciesact.
But this would be adding prettymuch human trafficking.
(20:46):
Yeah, Um,
Eric (20:48):
It counts even if it's well, yeah, it counts.
Calathea (20:52):
I mean, you seem very
Matt (20:53):
think it counts twice.
I think it counts.
Even if you volunteer, I thinkit counts for you and for the
baby,
Calathea (21:00):
Yeah.
Matt (21:02):
logistically, uh, series.
They should be close before.
Uh, yeah.
So.
Kate (21:08):
true.
Matt (21:09):
Th that let's just defer for purely planning reasons.
Let's just move past that.
Kate (21:17):
I mean, it doesn't have to be.
It doesn't have to be apaperwork.
It could be a handshake deal,you know, like you get to adopt
this baby.
Calathea (21:26):
absolutely.
That I've gone to, I am always,always willing to do whatever it
takes.
And Kate, you take that to itvery next level, but I'm going
to have to care about.
Uh, putting a human life as acontingent of absolutely
anything, either over the tableor it's actually worse for it to
be under the table.
Okay.
Eric (21:46):
Yeah.
Kate (21:47):
Okay.
Okay,
Matt (21:49):
I want to, I want to pause it and I'm sorry for, cause I
brought some really low, uh,kind of dark energy into this
meeting and maybe that's, that'sclinging a little bit.
a breath.
And I just want to say Kate, uh,congratulations.
Like that's huge.
That's huge news all around.
That's big for you.
Calathea (22:11):
about the maternal energy.
I've been sensing it for weeks,and I am just so excited for you
to bring that light into theoffice every day.
And for you.
Kate (22:22):
Thank you.
And I hope you don't, I'm notgoing to be taking maternity
leave.
I don't want you all to worryabout anything like that.
Um, I mean, I'm not really themother, so it wouldn't be
appropriate.
Um,
Calathea (22:33):
But you are, your body is changing in, in amazing ways.
And birth is a strenuous processon the female body.
So I feel like you need to takesome time to heal.
Eric (22:48):
Yes.
Matt (22:49):
to like, literally literally let your body heal.
Calathea (22:52):
Yeah.
I mean, I can refer you to avery wonderful doula that I do
yoga with, who can really helpyou.
And she actually recommends thatmothers physically lock
themselves in a room for 30 daysafterwards to have that mental
and spirit and body replenishingperiod.
Kate (23:14):
Okay.
Um, maybe I can, I can work fromthat room, you know, as long as
we have internet, there's stilla lot I can do.
Um, but yeah, maybe you'reright.
I can't do as much couch movingor packing or warehousing.
Eric (23:27):
Um,
Matt (23:28):
yeah, Kate, you're not supposed to be doing that stuff
anyway.
That's that's all warehouse teamstuff that you've delegated.
Calathea (23:35):
right.
Eric (23:37):
right.
Kate (23:39):
Delegation.
That is a goal that I'm workingon.
Yeah.
There are other people on thatteam some days a week, but
Eric (23:50):
a, there's a waiting list.
Kate (23:53):
uh, for my womb.
Eric (23:57):
Yeah, I guess.
Yes.
And.
Kate (24:01):
So it's, it's an interesting program actually,
where you can get some testingdone when you're in your, I
guess, really anywhere between18 to 25, um, it'll assess how
fertile you are and how good ofa carrier you would be for human
life.
Um, and I was in the top 5%, uh,so like I just excellent
(24:22):
genetics for our creating humanlife.
And so, I mean, imagine.
If you had like a dozen kidneysin your body, would you not want
to donate those to people whoneed a kidneys?
Like that's that's.
I think the gift that my bodyhas given me,
Matt (24:42):
I mean, I guess if you put it that, but hang on.
What program was this likethrough your university or a
church or.
Kate (24:54):
um, No.
Yeah, no, it's through the, uh,the holistic medical center of,
um, the Northeast.
Matt (25:02):
I've never, yeah, just, I'm sorry.
I've never, I've
Kate (25:04):
I mean, they're not accredited by any specific
institution, but they have, havebuilt up a lot of their own
institutional knowledge over thecouple of years they've been
around.
Um, but anyway, yeah, it wasjust, I got on their wires and
David were talking to me.
Yeah.
There hope for having childrenone day during lunch, I
mentioned it, you know, theywent on there, got on the wait
(25:27):
list.
And like, it's kind of one ofthese things where like, once
someone gets on your wait list,other people start like eyeing
you and your, uh, all that DNAand genetic information on
there.
And then they sign up.
Matt (25:43):
wow.
Calathea (25:45):
Kate.
I have to say that's, um, a plusmarketing.
I CRE I have a lot of questionsabout this, but it is your body
and your choice.
Um, choose better for the baby.
Matt (26:01):
yeah, I don't think just in, certainly not in this
meeting, but I think in thiscohort, um, we should not be
deciding the disposition of.
Eric (26:12):
Yes.
Matt (26:14):
Extra child, um, bonus baby.
Kate (26:18):
I guess I, yeah, I'm just,
Matt (26:20):
Yeah.
Kate (26:21):
mine?
That's the real question.
David and contributed to thischild.
They just don't want a second.
Um,
Matt (26:30):
I mean, the law is pretty clear that you are the
biological mother.
Kate (26:37):
Hmm.
Matt (26:37):
it pretty much every Jersey.
Eric (26:39):
yeah.
Calathea (26:40):
this is a big choice.
Was this not a discussion thatyou had before pregnancy?
Kate (26:48):
I mean, we expected there to be one and they would take
it, you know, when you're asurrogate.
You're kind of a vessel.
You're not so much a I justthought of myself as a, as a
human vessel, you know, like atrain or plane,
Calathea (27:06):
Kate.
I just want to wrap you up in aCuban papoose and just hold you
for a second.
Um,
Kate (27:13):
sad that you're cross the table.
Yeah.
Calathea (27:17):
yeah.
Kate (27:20):
uh, we can talk about this more.
I understand this is a bigdecision for all of us and we
Matt (27:24):
it's not actually.
Calathea (27:26):
our decision.
Eric (27:28):
not involved.
Calathea (27:29):
Yeah.
Um,
Kate (27:31):
just off your own.
Leave me.
Matt (27:32):
I, I, I hate to close the door like this.
Uh, Kate, I, I care about youvery much.
I want good things for you.
I think I want better things foryou than you do.
Um, but I have to recuse myselffrom this.
This is not something that inthe context of this company,
that we can really talk.
Calathea (27:53):
Yeah, I
Matt (27:56):
no,
Calathea (27:57):
know.
We've, we've covered this Kateand we've also talked about
boundaries.
Um, so Kathy, on this side ofthe wall is going to say, we
don't want anything to do withthat baby and Kathy, on this
side of the wall as your, youknow, not friend friendly.
Persona in your life.
(28:18):
A maternal figure is going tosay, we should have a serious
talk about this baby and figureout a good place that everybody
feels comfortable with, but thatis your decision and should not
be anything we talk about here.
Kate (28:37):
okay.
Um, what was the, what was yourstandup
Calathea (28:42):
Yeah, of course.
Yeah.
I can, uh, wrap it up.
Wow.
It's been a really emotionalday.
Uh, just, just amazing.
So I guess it, it, you know, um,we have a storefront in the
metaverse,
Eric (28:58):
Oh,
Kate (28:59):
So we sell couches
Calathea (29:02):
uh, virtual couches.
Yes.
So, um,
Kate (29:05):
buy virtual.
You mean?
Eric (29:08):
digital.
Matt (29:09):
digital.
Calathea (29:10):
digital.
Matt (29:11):
They have no
Kate (29:12):
same definition.
Matt (29:13):
In the physical world?
No, no physical representation.
Calathea (29:16):
We have no physical representation though.
We have the option to add thatif we would like it.
Matt (29:23):
yeah, it's pretty cool.
I'm really glad to see the southby Southwest assets not go to
waste.
Calathea (29:28):
Yeah.
Matt (29:29):
cause yeah, there were, there was a lot of work doing
all of that couch, justsituation, um, is who is
renting.
These couches buying thecouches.
What is, what did we settle onfor these virtual couches in the
metaverse?
Calathea (29:47):
Yeah.
So actually we are selling itfor more than couches are in the
real life because, uh, metaversereal estate is at a premium.
We had to pay a lot for our landin the metaverse and it seems
like people really want premiumcouches.
So, you know, we're reallyfocusing on with our couch
building.
(30:08):
Couches that don't exist in, canexist in the world.
So we just sold our first couchyacht, uh, for a hundred
thousand dollars.
And, um,
Kate (30:17):
Oh, real dollars.
Calathea (30:19):
yeah, I been Crip
Matt (30:21):
I, yeah, it's virtual currency.
That, that we then have to doseveral trades and, uh, find a
lot of paperwork to turn into.
Calathea (30:30):
Exactly.
So, I mean, between the severaltrays that we have to make
between various crypto and realcurrencies, it actually turns
out to be about 50,000 in like US currency, which is still a
pretty good for a couch, youknow?
Um, I would say we probably canonly do one of those.
(30:51):
We made a pretty big PR campaignabout'em.
Um, and honestly that's the onlycouch we've sold.
So, um,
Matt (31:01):
It's I, you know, don't, don't feel bad about that.
Califia, um, metaverse stuffit's really, it's really tough
market.
And you know, we're basically,we're competing against huge
artists, right?
With like millions of followers,people who are like super well
known, who've worked to auctiontheir art at Sotheby's.
(31:24):
Uh, so the fact that we sold onelike that, That's great.
Yeah.
Calathea (31:29):
Yeah.
I mean, I do think like you'reright, it is a space in which
artists could Excel at this.
So given that our team is apretty creative team, we look
forward to trying to, you know,pitch what we can in there and
then maybe make some money, youknow, um, At least pay for our
rent on our land.
I mean, metaverse real estate isjust getting crazy these days.
Eric (31:52):
Yeah.
Kate (31:54):
is it also illegal to sell babies in the middle?
Calathea (32:00):
Oh, almost a hundred percent.
Yeah.
I think that that's just Kate,probably the rule of the
universe.
Matt (32:10):
Ultimately selling, selling things in the metaverse,
uh, follows the same laws asselling them anywhere else.
It's just a question of how wellthey're being enforced.
Kate (32:22):
That's important, but.
Matt (32:25):
it be okay?
Kate (32:27):
Couch yacht.
Yay.
Matt (32:29):
Yeah.
Calathea (32:30):
Yeah.
Matt (32:30):
Thanks.
Calathea (32:31):
And congratulations, Kate really?
I mean, I feel like we wentthrough a lot today, you know,
and, um, we should just reallycelebrate, celebrate you and
becoming a mother.
Kate (32:45):
It's not about me.
I mean, it's not about all ofme.
It's about, it's about a fewspecific organs, you know, so.
But thank you.
I do like cupcakes.
Calathea (32:59):
We can get you some cupcakes.
Kate (33:01):
Great.
Now actually, I can't eatcupcakes right now because, um,
if I have anything that tasteslike sugar, right.
I get nauseous and vomit.
Eric (33:10):
a couple months.
Kate (33:11):
Yeah.
Calathea (33:12):
Yeah.
Kate (33:14):
Um, great.
Any final things or should wejust wrap up?
Matt (33:19):
um, I'm going to set a basket up in the break room.
Uh, if folks could just startdropping off the eggs that they
find.
I would like to figure out ifthere's some other message here.
Uh, and I'm really hoping weturn up all 255, I guess, 256
with the new one coming
Kate (33:38):
True.
Calathea (33:40):
Yeah.
Um, and let me know if you meetup with Victor, I mean, I'm also
always happy to,
Matt (33:46):
I mean, let all of us know if you, yeah.
If you meet up with Victor.
Yeah.
Calathea (33:51):
yeah.
I mean, if we need to do aNightwatch, you know, I'm happy
to sign up for a couple ofshifts.
Our team are all big Victorfans, so I'm sure I can get some
people if we need surveillance.
Kate (34:03):
Hmm.
Okay.
Well, great then I guess that'sour business.
Ben (34:12):
This meeting has ended.
To subscribe to this startup isbeing recorded.
Go to the podcast player of yourchoice and tap a button that
likely says subscribe.
More content is on Twitter atstartup recorded, or shoot us an
email with ideas, feedback, oryour personal startup horror
story.
At hello@startuprecorded.com.
Kate is played by ValerieGarrison.
(34:32):
Valerie is a product manager andregularly plays with the improv
troupe letters to chickenonline.
You can find her on Twitter atthevalgarris eric has played by
Barry wright Barry is a productmanager at Spotify and a
co-founder of Highwire Improv.
Find him by his name onLinkedIn, where he holds regular
office hours or athighwireimprov.com.
Matt is played by Marty Mcguire.
(34:53):
Marty is a senior web engineerand improviser in New York city.
You can find Marty's comedy codeand cats on his website at M M G
dot R E.
Calathea is played by RobynStegman.
Robyn is a digital campaignmanager for ocean Conservancy
and is a comedian mostly foundat Highwire improv.
You can find her on all thesocial medias.
And she does mean all at rsteggythank you for listening.
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