Peter and Aubrey dig into the Project Hail Mary film adaptation — both are big fans of the book and came in with high hopes and specific anxieties about how it would translate to screen. They start spoiler-free with their history with Andy Weir's work and their first impressions of the casting, then move into a full spoiler breakdown of the story, the Grace/Rocky relationship, the practical effects choice for Rocky, and what the filmmakers got right (and wrong) about adapting the book. Peter notes no medical fact this week, and Aubrey closes with a brief Astro Fact about the Artemis II moon launch.

Project Hail Mary — Book Backgrounds

• Aubrey came to the book recently via a recommendation from Hayden, listened on Audible, and loved it — specifically calling out the audiobook's interpretation of Rocky's voice as a standout experience. Peter claims Andy Weir hipster status, having bought The Martian on Kindle before it was picked up by a publisher.

Andy Weir's Body of Work

• Peter gives a quick rundown: The Martian (great), Artemis (a letdown), Project Hail Mary (a major return to form). Both agree the book is worth reading even after seeing the movie — it goes much deeper into the science and the characters' inner lives.

Spoiler-Free Premise

• Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up alone in a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he's there. The story unfolds through present-day mystery and flashbacks, piecing together how humanity ended up in crisis — and how he ended up being the one sent to solve it.

Ryan Gosling as Dr. Grace

• Aubrey was skeptical going in, having mostly seen Gosling in pretty-boy leading man roles. First trailer changed her mind; the performance won her over completely. Peter agrees he's a better actor than his typecast reputation suggests.

Directors: Lord and Miller

• Peter felt reassured once he knew Phil Lord and Chris Miller were at the helm. Credits discussed: The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, and their screenwriting work on the Spider-Verse films.

Rocky and the Practical Effects Decision

• Aubrey was relieved that Rocky — the film's alien character — was built as a practical puppet rather than pure CGI. Both agree it's the right call: the physical presence makes the central relationship feel genuinely earned.

Book vs. Film — Adaptation Discussion

• Both appreciate that the filmmakers understood that books and movies are different mediums. The movie streamlines and adds warmth; the book rewards readers with more depth. Neither feels like a substitute for the other.

No Medical Note This Week — Peter didn't have anything to share.

Astro Fact — Artemis II

• Aubrey notes the Artemis II moon launch, which had just taken off. Artemis III is planned to actually land on the moon — Aubrey's verdict: nothing ever goes to plan, so we'll see.

Peter and Aubrey do a mid-year check-in on their yearly themes — but first, Peter has to process something: Neurosis, his favorite band and a formative musical experience, just surprise-dropped their first album in nearly a decade on the spring equinox, and he has many feelings about it. The episode covers how both of their themes are going (fitness and peace for Aubrey; a flexible experimental framework for Peter), detours into the relative merits of Notion vs. dedicated apps, and closes with some genuinely good news: Aubrey is officially a published astrophysics author.

SHOW NOTES

• Neurosis surprise album drop — Peter opens the episode buzzing about An Undying Love for a Burning World, an unannounced album from his all-time favorite band Neurosis, released without warning on the spring equinox. He describes it as a life-dividing event: there's before Neurosis and after Neurosis.
• Neurosis backstory — A brief catch-up on the band: their last album was in 2016, then the Scott Kelly situation in 2022, then... silence. The new album adds Aaron Turner (of post-metal band Isis) and was recorded in three weeks in the Pacific Northwest.
• Fire in the Mountains festival — Neurosis was also revealed as the surprise headliner for this festival in Montana, held on First Nations land and raising funds for mental health and suicide prevention in First Nations youth.
• Yearly theme check-in — The main episode topic. Peter's theme is intentionally malleable — structured experimentation — and he's found mixed results: exercise started well, evening routine still shaky, creative output planning is a work in progress.
• Aubrey's theme: peace — Her theme centers on finding peace, and fitness has been the main vehicle. She's been locked in on a cut with her Apple Watch and the Athletic app since their last tracking-apps episode, and reports it's going well.
• Notion deep-dive tangent — Aubrey wants to use Notion to build a meal planning/recipe tracker as a creative project. Peter shares his own Notion journey, including his verdict: "I'd rather use five apps that full-ass what they do than one app that half-asses everything." He demos Mela, a dedicated recipe and meal-planning app, as an alternative.
• Learning sprints update — Peter's Q4 learning sprint spilled over (book prep took longer than expected, photography project hasn't started yet). He's also been doing some vibe coding. Aubrey's sprint got derailed by trying to finish her research paper.
• Aubrey's published astrophysics paper — Big news buried near the end: Aubrey is officially published as first author in an astrophysics journal. The timing just missed her grad school application window, but she's planning to reapply next year.
• Grad school rejection — Aubrey got rejected from the program she applied to and, understandably, went through a "no I hate you guys, I'm not doing math" phase before finding her footing again.
• Health note — Peter shares a study finding that a single dedicated chunk of exercise (e.g., one 5,000-step walk) produces measurably better outcomes than the same total steps spread throughout the day in small bursts.
• No Astro Fact this week — Aubrey flags it's coming next episode after she does a deep dive. Stay tuned.

Peter and Aubrey dig into the role music plays in their daily lives — not what they're listening to, but how and when they listen. The conversation covers workout playlists, surgery soundtracks, sleep conditioning, studying to isochronic tones on YouTube, and the art of playlist curation. A highlight: Peter reveals an elaborate system of thematic, pun-named playlists (Egyptian death metal, Lovecraft, Poe references) that genuinely impresses Aubrey, who mostly just has "My Pookies" and a birthday party banger playlist she still uses.

SHOW NOTES

• The topic: Peter proposes talking about the role music plays in their lives — not recommendations, but how and when they actually use it throughout the day.
• Aubrey's origin story: She shares a memory from childhood of seeing a hospital bio that described Peter as loving music — and being completely confused, because her only concept of "music" at the time was what her mom played on the piano.
• Vibes-based listening: Both Peter and Aubrey describe a shared but hard-to-explain phenomenon — channel-surfing through albums and playlists until something clicks, with no rational explanation for why one thing works and another doesn't.
• Albums vs. playlists: Peter listens almost exclusively to full albums, but creates playlists to queue multiple albums in a row. Aubrey curates mood-specific playlists of individual songs — and Hayden's entire music library is basically just her playlists.
• Peter's playlist names: An extended segment where Peter reveals his elaborate, pun-based playlist naming system — highlights include "A State of Denial" (Egyptian death metal / the band Nile), "Quoth the Raven" (bands with members of Nevermore), "An Elder List" (Lovecraft/Cthulhu-themed metal), and "Let My People Go" (all things Exodus).
• Blocked artists: Aubrey has Taylor Swift, Drake, and Kanye permanently blocked on Spotify. On Drake specifically: she always hated his voice, then the Kendrick beef gave her a "valid reason" she'd been waiting for.
• Surgery playlists: Peter reveals most of his surgeries finish in under one album's length, so he usually just starts an album. Longer cases (robotic surgery) get a full playlist.
• Study music deep dive: Aubrey credits a YouTube channel called Jason Lewis Mind Amend — isochronic tones over repetitive electronic beats, with thumbnails of animals wearing headphones — for getting her through her degree. She's convinced that if she heard the lizard video again, she'd involuntarily snap into astrophysics homework mode.
• Sleep conditioning: Aubrey listened to Five Easy Hotdogs by Mac DeMarco every night during her hospital shifts until her top 12 Spotify Wrapped songs were just the album, in order. Now it works on planes too.
• No Astro Fact or Health Note this week — both Peter and Aubrey come up empty, but Aubrey teases a spring break deep dive on an astrophysics concept.

This week on Generations, we dive into health tracking—why we use it, where it falls short, and how it can actually help instead of hurt. We talk Apple Watches, calorie deficits, anxiety, sleep data, menstrual cycle tracking, and why trends matter more than daily numbers. We share what we’ve learned from years of experimenting with fitness wearables, why privacy matters in tech, and how being “in tune with our bodies” isn’t about obsession—it’s about awareness. And we wrap with some surprising research on how just a little resistance training can dramatically lower your risk of death and even cancer.

Show Notes

• We kick off with winter fatigue, weird sleep weeks, and how small disruptions affect how we feel.
• Why this episode started with a text about starting a calorie deficit — and why we decided tracking was worth discussing.
• Peter’s long experiment with wearables (Fitbit, Garmin, Pebble, Microsoft Band) — and why most of them ultimately fell short.
• Why we landed on the Apple Watch:
  • Best overall smartwatch experience
  • Solid fitness tracking for normal humans
  • Actually useful smart features
  • Better privacy model than Google-owned ecosystems
• The real value of tracking:
  • Not the daily numbers
  • The trends over time
  • Using data for awareness, not obsession
• Heart rate alerts and anxiety:
  • Using elevated heart rate notifications as a cue to regulate
  • Tracking medication side effects responsibly
• Calorie tracking on a cut:
  • We don’t rely on watch calorie burn to determine deficits
  • Apps like Chronometer and MacroFactor help — but ease of use matters
• Sleep tracking:
  • Sleep latency, HRV, resting heart rate
  • Seeing physiological effects of behaviors (like late eating)
  • Why tracking can be helpful if it doesn’t increase anxiety
• Cycle tracking & women’s health:
  • Logging symptoms daily reveals powerful patterns
  • Hormones affect sleep, hunger, mood, and performance
  • Being in an “in tune with my body” era
• Apple Health collects a lot of data — but doesn’t present it well.
  • Third-party apps like Athlytic make it more usable.
• Medical Fact:
  • Resistance + cardio training linked to 40% lower all-cause mortality
  • Nearly 30% lower cancer-specific mortality
  • Strength training plays a particularly protective role

This week, we dig into the news that Brandon Sanderson has sold the rights to the entire Cosmere to Apple TV. We talk through our initial reactions—excitement mixed with very real nervousness—about what it means when beloved books make the jump to live-action. Along the way, we explore why Apple TV might actually be the best possible home for something this ambitious, how creative control (and unfinished stories) matter more than ever, and what makes Sanderson’s worlds both uniquely difficult and incredibly promising to adapt. We wrap up with thoughts on casting, representation, unfinished series trauma, and why this could be one of the rare cases where hope feels justified.

Show Notes

• We open with a quick life check-in, including wildly different winter weather and a discussion of apartment life, visitors, and an ever-expanding collection of houseplants.
• We shift into the main topic: the announcement that Apple TV has acquired the rights to the entire Cosmere.
• Initial reactions focus on adaptation anxiety—why turning beloved books into movies or shows so often goes wrong, and why live-action adaptations feel especially risky.
• We talk about how Sanderson’s reported level of creative control is unusual, especially compared to other high-profile adaptations.
• Peter reflects on growing up with The Lord of the Rings and how that experience shapes his optimism about adaptations done well.
• We discuss why animation might have been safer—and why live action still has enormous potential if handled carefully.
• A big point of optimism: Apple TV’s reputation among creators for funding projects well, giving creative freedom, and actually letting stories finish.
• Comparisons to Netflix and Amazon highlight the frustration of canceled shows and unfinished narratives.
• We talk about how Apple’s long-term planning (and willingness to greenlight full arcs) could be critical for something as massive as Stormlight and Mistborn.
• Casting comes up, with strong agreement that unknown actors would be ideal to avoid baggage and preserve immersion.
• We joke about nightmare casting scenarios and the dangers of star-driven decisions.
• Representation matters: we discuss how Stormlight’s cultures are intentionally written and why accurate casting is important.
• We explore the challenge of Cosmere “cross-pollination” and how later books rely heavily on wider lore.
• Peter raises an interesting upside: some of Sanderson’s weaker prose moments may translate better on screen, where dialogue and visuals carry more weight.
• We touch on structural questions—movies vs. series, pacing, and how to handle extremely long books.

This week, we dive into video games—what we play, what we love, what we bounce off of, and what being a “gamer” even means anymore. We talk through our very different gaming habits, from hundreds of hours in Stardew Valley and Minecraft to deep, story-driven single-player epics like Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed. Along the way, we explore why some games feel comforting, why others feel like work, how difficulty and time shape our choices, and how gaming has changed with age, technology, and expectations. It’s a laid-back, honest conversation about play, frustration, storytelling, and why it’s okay to like what you like.

Show Notes

• We open with a quick check-in about extreme winter weather, frozen windows, and how different winters feel depending on where you live
• We introduce the episode’s theme: video games we love, games we don’t, and what we’re currently playing
• We question what it even means to be a “gamer” in 2026, especially in a world where mobile games dominate total playtime
• We talk about how gaming habits change with age, time constraints, and life responsibilities
• Aubrey walks through her most-played games:
  • Stardew Valley as her all-time favorite, including multiple worlds, co-op play, and reaching “perfection”
  • Minecraft as both a comfort game and a way to stay connected during long-distance relationships
• How co-op gaming became a form of long-distance date night
• We discuss different types of games and why they appeal differently:
  • Sandbox and simulation games
  • Roguelikes and progression-based loops
  • Loot-driven games like Diablo and Borderlands
  • Story-first, single-player games
• Peter explains why story and characters are the biggest draw for him, especially in:
  • The Mass Effect trilogy as his all-time favorite gaming experience
  • Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, and why Valhalla eventually felt too grindy
• We talk about difficulty settings, “story mode,” and why difficulty shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying games
• We discuss games we want to like but don’t:
  • Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
  • Super Mario platformers
  • Why exploration-heavy games don’t always click
• Aubrey shares her experience with Cult of the Lamb, including finishing it on normal difficulty and attempting the harder survival mode
• We explore It Takes Two as a co-op experience that’s fun but emotionally and mechanically demanding
• Aubrey talks about discovering a newer, more systems-focused space game and why optimization and calm progression really work for her
• Peter brings up Cyberpunk 2077 as one of the best—but emotionally heavy—games he’s ever played
• We touch on party and group games:
  • Mario Kart
  • Boomerang Fu
  • Super Smash Bros (and character loyalty)
• We talk about competitive vs. solo gaming and why online multiplayer just doesn’t appeal to us
• Peter reflects on strategy games like Civilization—always buying them, rarely playing them
• We close by agreeing that gaming doesn’t need justification: comfort games count, single-player counts, and enjoying one game deeply is enough

This week, we take a lighter turn and talk about what we’re genuinely looking forward to in 2026. From major movies and long-awaited books to video games, music releases, space missions, and even what not to get excited about, we reflect on anticipation itself—how hype changes with age, how expectations can be complicated, and how sometimes the biggest thing we’re excited for is simply a slower, steadier year. It’s a wide-ranging, honest conversation about culture, creativity, and where we’re putting our energy as we look ahead.

Show Notes

• We open with some life updates, including travel fatigue, family weddings, and easing back into work after the holidays
• We intentionally choose a lighter topic after last week’s more reflective episode: things we’re excited about in 2026
• Movies we’re looking forward to
  • Strong excitement for Project Hail Mary, especially given how meaningful the book was
  • Curiosity and respect for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, even with mixed feelings about his past films
  • Anticipation (and dread) around Sunrise on the Reaping and the emotional weight of the Hunger Games universe
  • Cautious optimism about The Devil Wears Prada 2—beloved cast, but big questions about timing and necessity
  • A deep dive into Dune Messiah vs. Avengers: Doomsday, including Marvel fatigue and uncertainty around Doctor Doom
  • Thoughts on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and why it inspires more confidence than the next Avengers film
  • Clear disinterest in The Mandalorian and Grogu, despite its significance for Star Wars theatrical releases
• Books and reading
  • Huge enthusiasm for the next Dungeon Crawler Carl book and praise for its narration and humor
  • Discussion of finally getting into the series and why it works as a palate cleanser
  • Hope for Twelve Months, the long-awaited next entry in The Dresden Files
  • Honest conversation about the series’ flaws, growth over time, and why it’s still worth reading
• TV shows (mostly hypotheticals)
  • Acknowledging how many shows we intend to watch but haven’t yet
  • Mentions of Silo, Rings of Power, House of the Dragon, and Marvel TV fatigue
  • Why some shows feel easier to watch with others rather than alone
• Video games
  • Excitement for the Cult of the Lamb expansion and how it surprised us
  • Curiosity around GTA VI, despite never finishing previous entries
  • Interest in Marvel’s Wolverine and a potential Fable reboot
• Music
  • Anticipation for several metal releases, mixed with realism about aging bands
  • Reflections on how live music has changed—and why smaller shows feel more meaningful now
  • Sticker shock and frustration with modern concert ticket prices
  • A shift toward supporting artists directly through digital purchases
• Space and science
  • Excitement about the Artemis II mission looping around the far side of the moon
  • Anticipation for a total lunar eclipse visible across North America
  • Gentle skepticism about “quantum breakthroughs” announced by tech companies
• We close by acknowledging that after several intense life years, a quieter, slower 2026 might be the thing we’re most excited about

In this episode, we push back hard against New Year’s resolutions and unpack why they so often leave us feeling guilty, frustrated, and stuck. Instead, we talk through the idea of yearly themes—a gentler, more flexible way to guide growth without the pressure of pass/fail goals. We reflect on our past themes, share what worked (and what didn’t), and introduce our themes for 2026: a year of peace and the year of gentle refinement. Along the way, we dig into anxiety, sleep, routines, and why progress is never linear—and that’s actually the point.

Show Notes

• We open by talking about being together in person over the holidays, unseasonably warm winter weather, and how strange it feels to see green grass in December.
• We reflect on how climate shifts, lack of snowpack, and wildfire smoke have become an unsettling “new normal.”
• As the year wraps up, we explain why we are firmly opposed to traditional New Year’s resolutions.
  • They tend to be overly ambitious.
  • They focus on failure and guilt rather than growth.
  • They encourage all-or-nothing thinking.
• We talk about how resolutions often repeat year after year, reinforcing a cycle of disappointment instead of progress.
• We introduce the idea of yearly themes, inspired by the Cortex podcast’s approach.
  • Themes guide decisions instead of dictating outcomes.
  • You can’t “fail” a theme.
  • Themes allow for flexibility, reassessment, and course-altering without shame.
• We discuss how progress actually works:
  • Growth isn’t linear.
  • Life looks more like a sine wave than a straight upward line.
  • The goal is to slowly shift the baseline over time.
• Aubrey reflects on last year’s theme—essentially survival—and why graduating, moving, and starting a new life counts as success.
• Peter shares past themes:
  • The Year of Growth (too broad)
  • The Year of Conscious Action (more effective and grounded)
• Aubrey introduces her 2026 theme: A Year of Peace
  • Focused on managing anxiety rather than “fixing” it.
  • Centered on inner calm, not external control.
  • Anchored in sleep, movement, mindfulness, and basic needs.
• We talk about anxiety as something often self-generated through imagined scenarios—and how peace is about changing our response.
• Peter introduces his 2026 theme: The Year of Gentle Refinement
  • A rejection of “optimization” as a harsh, weaponized concept.
  • Focused on small, monthly refinements rather than big overhauls.
  • Closely aligned with learning, workflows, and creative projects.
• We discuss embracing failure as information, not judgment.
• Sleep becomes a major focus:
  • Refining nighttime routines.
  • Consistent wake times.
  • Circadian rhythm basics.
• Aubrey shares practical strategies for anxiety management:
  • Walking meditations.
  • Getting sunlight early in the day.
  • Her “first aid kit for anxiety” (drink water, eat, go to the bathroom).
• We close by emphasizing that themes only need to work for you—there’s no universal right answer.