Episode 89 - Novid

Finally, after a two month hiatus, Mitch and Dao get together to talk about how little amount of things they've been up to.

Cockroach Genes, Failed Zoom Podcasts, and Frugal Living

Reconnecting after months of lockdown, the hosts reflect on family survival stories, the reality of homeschooling, and living frugally during isolation.

Family Resilience & Health

• 93-Year-Old Heart Attack: The host shares that his 93-year-old grandfather survived a recent heart attack, proving the "cockroach-like" longevity of his family line.

• 103-Year-Old Ancestor: Tracing back his family tree, his great-great-grandmother lived to 103 back in the 1930s—only passing away because she was caught in a house fire.

• Kidney Transplant Gene: Reflecting on his dad's successful kidney transplant a few years ago and his aunt's recent emergency kidney transplant.

Lockdown Routines & Homeschooling

• 1-on-1 Teaching Success: Praising his wife Hayley’s homeschooling efforts, noting that 2 to 3 hours of focused 1-on-1 teaching at home is vastly more efficient for his kids than 10 hours in a crowded classroom.

• Piano & Bike Rides: With school wrapped up by lunchtime, the kids spent isolation learning piano, riding bikes, and playing basketball.

• The Failed Zoom Attempt: Recounting why they couldn't produce the podcast during lockdown—their attempt at a Zoom episode was ruined by terrible phone setups, poor audio, and cringey lag.

Frugal Living & Work

• Zero Power Bills: Mitch shares his extreme solitary routine while having his house to himself—working long hours as a rail mechanic, then walking around his dark home using only his phone flashlight to avoid power bills.

• Isolation Decluttering: Spending weekends systematically cleaning out individual cupboards and throwing out years of accumulated junk.