This week's episode drops right after the Fourth of July, and the fireworks are going off in the studio! (Watch your fingers!)

Our hosts' smiles are filled with love. Jasmine gushes about her new job, and Michael gushes about Cree Summer for way too long. The news brings us stories of HIV drug developments, a silly bear trapped in plastic (NOT Michael for once), and support for families affected by ICE. Michael reviews both “M3GAN 2.0” and “Ironheart”.

The Wheel of Topics brings up bad advice our hosts have received in education. Ashes and Embers include lost debit cards, fun trips with good friends, sleep, and employment.

We end with good advice from our affirmation cards, and an explosive “I’m Pleasant, Damn It”.

Don your American flag apparel, channel your inner Little Edie, and join us for another pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Check out A Kids Co.: https://www.akidsco.com

Good News Links:

HIV prevention drug hailed as a 'breakthrough' gets FDA approval: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/06/18/g-s1-73130/hiv-prevention-drug-lenacapavir-fda-breakthrough

Tens of thousands defy Hungary’s ban on Pride in protest against Orbán: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/28/tens-of-thousands-defy-hungarys-ban-on-pride-in-protest-against-orban

A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.: https://apnews.com/article/michigan-bear-neck-lid-31cfc1e0e19186f2ac666bbac8034cc4

Boyle Heights student-led group delivers groceries to families avoiding ICE: https://boyleheightsbeat.com/boyle-heights-immigrant-grocery-delivery/

Move over, Sylvia Browne! This week, we end Pride month by casting magic missile and are joined by our spiritual advisor, Lucas!

We reminisce about how we met and when we all had an adventure together a few years back. Then we get into some mystical s*** right off the bat, which sends us on a tangent about animals (shocker).

The news brings us stories of Utah Pride, a Midwest town’s first-ever drag show, Italian LGBTQ+ family rights, and Hungarian Pride in the face of conservatism.

The Wheel of Topics brings us our very first mini game: Keep It or Cut it—Queer Tropes. Will it get us canceled by the queer community? Only the Fates know for sure. But there are definitely some hot takes.

Lucas shares a beautifully spiritual Ashes & Embers, whilst Michael and Jasmine get petty. We then get a great bonus card for our weekly affirmation.

Hopefully, you won’t have to smudge your space after listening to the episode. Set your intentions, blend your margaritas, turn on some Harry Nilsson, and join us for our pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

LGBTQ+ advocates sell 'petty' Pride merch to protest Utah's flag ban and help community members: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/utah-pride-flag-ban-protest

Grafton to host its first-ever drag show at 3rd Chute Bar & Grill: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/grafton-first-drag-show-illinois-pride-month-20382396.php

Lesbian mothers win legal status in Italy IVF ruling: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/europe/lesbian-mothers-win-legal-status-italy-ivf-ruling-intl

Budapest mayor says city will organise Budapest Pride, circumventing Orban's legislation: https://www.reuters.com/world/budapest-mayor-says-city-will-organise-budapest-pride-circumventing-orbans-2025-06-16/

It’s the third episode in our Pride celebration! We welcome our friend Zachary (aka Gorgeous) to the pod this week, and Michael has met his match when it comes to podcast Chatty Kathy’s. Our hosts and guest catch up and quickly fall down the Disney rabbit hole (as they are wont to do).

Gorgeous becomes our new arts correspondent and gives us his thoughts on the Tony Awards. Apologies to non-theater people, but this takes over our news segment. Have a listen and get some culture! Speaking of culture, our Wheel of Topics will give you some fun Pride month media recs.

The episode is chock-full of laughs, corny jokes, and celebrating community. Don your best awards show attire, tell Patti Lupone to shut her brassy, magnificent trap, and join us for another pleasant conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Costume Designer Paul Tazewell on Winning a Tony and Oscar Within Months: ‘This Black, Queer Little Boy in Akron, Ohio Had No Idea He Would Have the Year That He Had’: https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/costume-designer-paul-tazewell-wins-tony-award-death-becomes-her-1236422860/

Cole Escola makes Tony history with acting win, thanks Grindr connection: https://www.out.com/theater/cole-escola-historic-tony-award

Nicole Scherzinger Wins the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/theater/nicole-scherzinger-tony-best-actress-musical.html

Darren Criss Is the First Asian Actor to Win Leading Actor in a Musical: https://playbill.com/article/darren-criss-wins-leading-actor-in-a-musical-at-the-2025-tony-awards

Cynthia Erivo Gets Support From Oprah, Belts Out “Sometimes All You Need Is a Song” in Tony Awards Opening: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/cynthia-erivo-2025-tony-awards-host-best-moments-1236259217/

Welcome back listeners, as we are joined by our first guest! The wonderful Cass joins us from the future in Sydney, Australia for a pleasant conversation full of laughs, deep talks, and so much profanity.

Cass brings us news and personal stories from Down Undah, including a very important story about housing for trans individuals in New South Wales. Jasmine and Michael bring trans, queer comic book, and LGBTQIA+ senior news from the States.

The Wheel of Topics gets a bit deep again with discussions on times someone has trusted our gang with their truth.

Michael makes a terrible Australian joke as we begin Ashes & Embers, which are a mix of petty and profound and include an international rant against our current, dangerous political climate. We cool things down with the most adorable affirmation card image ever.

Grab your Vegemite Sammies, an oil can of Foster’s, and throw another shrimp on the barbie while joining us for another enjoyable Pleasant Conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Australia’s first-ever housing co-op for trans women receives ‘life-saving’ government funding: https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/13/trans-housing-sydney-co-op-funding/

Dylan Mulvaney was once a sales associate at Lush. Now, her bath bomb has raised $30K for trans advocacy: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/dylan-mulvaney-lush-bath-bomb

DC celebrates LGBTQIA+ heroes with new anthology: https://dailyplanetdc.com/2025/03/13/dc-celebrates-lgbtqia-heroes-with-new-anthology/

Activists Hang Massive Transgender-Pride Flag at Yosemite National Park: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/activists-hang-massive-transgender-pride-flag-at-yosemite-national-park/

Pride Place: https://www.prideplaceseattle.org/

It’s Pride Month and Lucky Number 13! This week, Jasmine and Michael kick off their four-part Pride celebration with recaps of their week and upcoming June plans. (And, yes, you heard Michael say he worked at a Renaissance Festival once.)

The news brings us a last gift from Pope Francis and what will be a theme the entire month: positive LGBTQIA+ news from around the world! We also get a Muckles at the Movies where Michael talks about “Lilo & Stitch”.

The Wheel of Topics will also be Pride-themed for these four episodes. This week, our hosts talk about how their views on gender, family, and love have evolved over the years.

Petty Jasmine returns for Ashes & Embers and Michael misspeaks about the Stonewall Monument (they took down references to transgender and queer, not the whole monument description). Our affirmation of the week is “wonder”.

Break out your rainbow accoutrement, blast the music of any diva of your choice, throw a brick for Marsha, and join us for some pleasant conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

The Popemobile of Peace: Pope Francis’ final gift to Gaza: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/the-popemobile-of-peace-pope-francis-final-gift-to-gaza.html

A trans teacher in Southeast LA was fired. Then 2,000 people fought to save their job — and won: https://lapublicpress.org/2025/05/trans-teacher-southeast-la/

'We see you': In Trump-era Washington, World Pride 2025 organizers aim to bring 'hope' to LGBTQ+ community: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-era-washington-world-pride-2025-organizers-aim/story?id=122320771

Poland Ends ‘LGBT Free’ Zones: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/16/poland-ends-lgbt-free-zones

11 best Pride Month collections that give back — without rainbow washing: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/give-back-pride-collections-2025

This week, Jasmine and Michael go off the rails and forget that when the episode drops, it will be Pride month (except we all know who actually forgot).

Jasmine finally shares her plans for June, and, shocker, they are Disney-related. So, yet again, the podcast visits the Haus of Mouse for a bit. Then, Michael talks Ren Faires.

The news dives into environmental activism, the return of Sesame Street, marine refreshment, the World Masters Games, LGBTQIA+ allyship, and even more environmental news.

Jasmine teases us with magical penguin poop, but moves on to the Wheel of Topics, which has our hosts talking about superpower desires.

Join us for another rousing, pleasant conversation. Hope you didn’t cheat Death because this episode is one derailed train away from the next Final Destination storyline!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Walt Disney Archives Celebrates 55 Years of Preserving the Magic: https://d23.com/walt-disney-archives-celebrates-55-years-of-preserving-the-magic/

As Brilliant As Ever: The Restoration of Cinderella: https://d23.com/as-brilliant-as-ever-the-restoration-of-cinderella/

WTF Just Happened Today: https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com

Amelia Otter's Mischief in the Water by Luke McLelan: https://santacruzotter.com/

Good News Links:

Environmentalist turns trash into postcards for unique Congressional letter-writing campaign: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/postcards-from-trash-hack-recycling-politicians

Sesame Street Is Coming to Netflix: https://sesameworkshop.org/about-us/press-room/sesame-street-is-coming-to-netflix/

A new Miami Beach underwater art installation aims to help coral thrive: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/reefline-miami-beach

105-Year-Old Thai Athlete Wins 4 Gold Medals at World Masters Games: https://people.com/105-year-old-thai-athlete-wins-medals-world-masters-games-11740837

A straight ally started the most wholesome Pride tradition & is leaving people with tears of joy: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/05/a-straight-ally-started-the-most-wholesome-pride-tradition-is-leaving-people-with-tears-of-joy/

New Coral Gardens and Hydrothermal Vents Found in the Icy Depths of the Remote South Sandwich Islands: https://schmidtocean.org/new-coral-gardens-hydrothermal-vents-found-south-sandwich-islands/

In India, Indigenous women and their ‘dream maps’ seek to protect lands from climate change: https://apnews.com/article/india-women-farmers-climate-change-indigenous-fe099e6b33589330f7aa1bb27da75005

'Lost' gecko species thought to be extinct rediscovered in South Africa after more than 30 years: https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/05/15/scientists-thought-this-gecko-was-extinct-or-didnt-exist-now-its-been-rediscovered-after-3

**Please forgive this week's sound issues. Michael tried a different audio setup, which led to some unexpected problems during recording.**

This week, our hosts become unhinged pretty early on. Jasmine regales us with stories from her trip to the Grammy Museum, which rivals Michael’s recap of his vacation last week!

We’ve got good news on women’s health, post-Brexit reconciliation, sweaters for penguins, youths saving our world’s water, and farmers getting their climate data back. Michael shares some “blazing” trending news, going off on the glorification of plantations, and some quotes from our Internet Daddy, Pedro Pascal.

The Wheel of Topics explores the evolution of friendships, in which we get a little deep. The Curbside Cool-Down brings some good ashes and embers and Jasmine pulls a bonus card for the weekly affirmation.

This episode is HOT in more ways than one, so grab some hot dogs to roast and join us for some Pleasant Conversations!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

The FDA approves first U.S. at-home tool as a Pap-smear alternative: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/nx-s1-5394446/fda-cervical-cancer-screening-at-home-tool-pap-smear

Youth mobility, defence and £25bn in trade: Everything we know about the UK-EU ‘Brexit reset’ talks: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-eu-brexit-reset-deal-youth-mobility-defence-trade-b2753366.html

Nannas knit jumpers for oil-spill penguins: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnv5vg6dpzpo

Teen Duo from Slovakia and Czechia win The Earth Prize 2025 with Groundbreaking Clean Water Solution: https://happyeconews.com/earthprize2025/

Farmers Sued Over Deleted Climate Data. So the Government Will Put It Back.: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/climate/trump-deleted-climate-website-farmers-lawsuit.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HE8.DMtq.dlsw28h--i2F&smid=url-share

Buckle in, kiddos, we have another marathon episode. This week, Michael is back from vacation, and our hosts have A LOT to say (yes, even Jasmine) because there is some catching up to do! Jasmine fills us in on the L.A. Times Book Festival, and Michael gushes about his Orlando adventure.

Seriously, the smiles segment takes up about half of the episode—but they are worth it!

Michael talks Marvel (reminder, “Ironheart” premieres on Disney+ on June 24th), grandma activities, and Epic Universe. Jasmine talks about axolotls, Taco Bell, and seals.

The Wheel of Topics makes Michael utilize that explicit label on the podcast (mouth like a sailor, that one). Jasmine brings us back down to a more calm tone, as she is wont to do.

Grab your complimentary waters and Tate’s cookies because this episode is almost as long as Michael’s wait on the tarmac!

Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @PleasantConvosPod

Email us: ⁠pleasantconversationspodcast@gmail.com⁠

Good News Links:

Captive-Bred Axolotls Can Survive in the Wild, Offering Hope for the Critically Endangered Amphibians: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/captive-bred-axolotls-can-survive-in-the-wild-offering-hope-for-the-critically-endangered-amphibians-180986543/

Why "Grandma Hobbies" Could Be the Secret to Better Mental Health: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a64174154/grandma-hobbies/

​Celebrating “10 years of impact,” Taco Bell has provided over $64 million in scholarships for college students: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/taco-bell-scholarship

Eight entangled seals rescued off Block Island thanks to new camera: https://www.wtnh.com/new-england-news/eight-entangled-seals-rescued-off-block-island-thanks-to-new-camera/