Katie visited her cousin, who attended UofO, and rode bikes around in traffic for the first time ever and also snuck into at least two classes and still feels guilty about it.

Jordan’s first foray into Eugene came during his junior year of high school after he was selected to join the All-State band and right before the performance, a random actual adult man asked the 16-year-old Jordan if he knew where to find some weed. Jordan was scared.

Katie finally experiences Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts and the two gush about how much they love the theater.

Jordan reveals Eugene’s nickname of Track Town, U.S.A. and Katie reminisces about her time on the high school track and field team.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie is joined by a boy who is 58 percent German. And that boy is her husband Jordan, who falls in love with 58 percent of his ancestral homeland the second they get off the train — and also curses Disney movies for making him very confused on what the German esthetic is. 

Years earlier, Katie travels to Tübingen from Oregon to crash the wedding of a former foreign exchange student, and brings their mutual friend from Belgium along. They also crash at the bride and groom’s house and during the reception, Katie loses a vital piece of her wardrobe. 

While roaming around Tübingen at night, Jordan concerns their German friend with his complete lack of German literature knowledge while being shown a sign commemorating the writer Goethe puking from a third-story window. The night takes an unexpected turn when Katie invites herself into a hilltop castle-mansion-thing and they all meet The Count. 

You’re probably going to need two Colaweizens for this wild ride!

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie and Jordan live a couple miles away from a peninsula that was once home to a cutting edge resort town literally and perilously built on sand and is now buried beneath ten feet of it. 

Bayocean was built on a spit of land that separated Tillamook Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It existed from 1906 and was battered by the elements for decades before the final structure collapsed in 1972. It was promoted as “The Atlantic City of the West” and this tiny four-mile long peninsula has an incredible history that is being remembered and revisited. 

Katie has memories of jogging the wild trails that used to be paved roads with electric lights and Jordan admits to really enjoying foraging for magic mushrooms with his friend that will only be known as “Super Mario” over the ruins of the town.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

Reference: Oregon Field Guide: Lost City of Bayocean

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The oldest and highest elevation North American metropolis dives straight into the hearts of the Exploregonians as they venture to Mexico City.

Katie and Jordan make a friend on the plane and after landing, has her parents give them all a tour of the historical heart of the city and then a pitstop to a secret doughnut experience.

Katie gushes about Mexico City’s art scene and Jordan loves the wild murals and graffiti. 

Jordan forces himself to wear jeans in the heat of Mexico because he read, in order to blend in, wear pants; Thankfully,  it doesn’t prevent him from enjoying all the trees in the city.

Katie is obsessed with Chapultepec, the enormous urban park twice the size of Manhattan’s Central Park. The two tour the National Anthropology Museum and Katie discovers the charming ball game in “The Road to El Dorado” is real and often ended in decapitation, but before they entered the museum, were ambush-interviewed by a group of 12-year-old boys on a field trip.

The city will always hold a special place in Katie and Jordan’s hearts.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Tricks and treats abound as Katie and Jordan talk about some of their favorite memories of Halloween in Oregon, a famous movie that shot in the town of St. Helens, and Katie talks about a Care Bear costume that was just too snug in the hands as a kid and a handmade Tinkerbell costume that Katie enthusiastically cut way too short in the back. 

And Katie remembers one of her favorite Halloweens ever featuring a Bollywood-enhanced version of Thriller. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Find out if Portland, Maine is the actual, true Original Recipe Portland and how a flip of a coin changed the destiny of both big-city American Portlands.

Katie loves the brick and ivy in the Old Port area, but really wishes she saw more people in yellow rain slickers and matching hats. Jordan is confused by New England Boat Culture and shares which state has more coastline: Oregon or Maine. 

Also, hear about lobster rolls and a woman with aggressively strong boundaries.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie and Jordan scratch the surface of a dozen years of adventures in Portland, Oregon and reminisce about the dance injury that led to Jordan giving Katie a piggyback ride to urgent care. 

Jordan’s earliest Portland memories are wrapped around nearly being abducted by the circus and going to his first concert to see the dream performer every 90s kid was dying to see: Neil Diamond.

Katie claims Portland is kinda goth and Jordan claims it’s just introverted. 

The duo discuss Portlandia, the United States’ second-largest copper statue that is under some intense copyright by its creator. 

Jordan learns all about the legendary Portland figure Bill Naito and how he  shaped much of the modern identity of downtown Portland for the better.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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The duo attend the popular Oogie Boogie Bash and wear unexpected costumes (that Jordan was 80 percent sure would be allowed in) that ultimately led to very fun interactions with everyone in the park. Katie goes on a deep dive in a rabbit hole exploring the convoluted backstory of the event.

Jordan shares his wisdom-nuggets about the first Disneyland Halloween event in 1959 and the most important one (with wild results) on Oct. 31, 1994 — on a Monday, of all things! He also reveals that the Southern California theme parks are largely responsible for how Halloween has taken hold of the American imagination over the past fifty years.

Also, Jordan will die on the hill that "Ghost Galaxy" is the worst seasonal overlay in any Disney park worldwide. Ew.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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The Oregon Vortex has confused, frustrated, and mystified people for nearly a century. People appear way shorter or taller than they usually do! Things roll uphill! A broom can stand by itself! By. Itself. This mysterious sphere of a vortex has even inspired a Disney animated series.

Katie and Jordan discuss what it was like to visit the legendary place in Oregon that is equal parts science experiment and roadside attraction.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Jordan throws out the trivia nugget for the old definition of “galápago” then proceeds to make two excellent puns on the word that impresses nobody. 

Katie’s first time snorkeling was off the islands and when she wasn’t in the water, she was obsessed with the marine iguanas and has dozens of photos to prove it.

While in South America (which someone once debated Katie that she wasn’t “really” in South America because it really doesn’t start until Peru), Katie describes her Spanish ability as “mal” which translates to bad as in “evil” and not bad as in “bad”.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie takes Jordan whitewater rafting on a “ship of a raft” for his birthday and she is still unsure if he could do a full day on the water. Jordan is moved as they navigate downriver along an area important to the Umpqua people, which is a tribe he is allegedly descended from.

They soak their aching bodies in the Umpqua Hot Springs after and feel like the hot springs can have more of a party vibe than they’re into. To get into the birthday spirit, however, Jordan decides to get into his birthday suit.

Katie and Jordan end their Umpqua River journey at a historic inn that boasts a 14-page, 7,000-word history, featuring about 17 main characters on its “About” page.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie and Jordan discuss how they never expected to romp around Mississippi and visit the homeland of the popular HGTV show “Home Town” and realize our best friend is a Ben Napier doppelgänger. 

Jordan wonders if Laurel overemphasizes fun, eye-catching design in its downtown over quality businesses and Katie reminds everyone the city is home to one Lance Bass. 

Katie’s art-spirit is reawakened at the (free and spectacular and enormous) Lauren Rogers Art Museum, which is home to some excellent collections and some very tiny baskets.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie saw Little John smoking a cigarette outside the local community theater and Jordan tells the tale of two Haystack Rocks and John Quincy Adams erasure in downtown Cannon Beach. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Why is Missoula called ZooTown? Katie instantly figured it out and Jordan is probably still struggling with it. 

The duo have never been to Missoula in the daytime and once rolled into town right when a major concert was starting in the university’s football stadium that neither knew about, but ran to listen to against a chain-link fence like a pair of street urchins.

Jordan attempts to dunk on Lewis and Clark with mixed results and all of the enormous hillside monograms in Montana remind him of Sesame Street.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie’s grandfather was born in Pendleton, and the duo discuss wandering around one of her ancestral homelands with her grandparents in their 90s. Jordan is disturbed by a broken weather widget on Travel Pendleton’s website and Katie is excited about a museum that chronicles western expansionism from the perspective of the Native people of the area. 

Katie and Jordan spent their very last night on their two-month road trip across the continent in Pendleton and think the Old Town was way better than they remember it being and Jordan drops a surprising Pendleton Woolen Mills connection-bomb on Katie at the end of the show. 

Shear your sheep and give this week’s episode a listen!

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Before they could even step foot on the island, they were trapped on the plane waiting for a "VIP" to fly out -- and they have some guesses as to who it was. 

Katie reads verbatim from the travel journal they kept on their three-month honeymoon around East and Southeast Asia and Jordan reminisces about hitching a ride from the wrong hotel to the correct one in the back of Some Dude's truck. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie talks about how the city's modern multi-cultural identity helped introduce her to different cultures and cuisines at a young age and talks about the now-shuttered Beaverton Bakery and Jordan wonders if it was a "Ratatouille" situation.

The city is home to one of New York Times top pizzerias in the U.S. and the duo talk about the pies they've enjoyed there and Jordan throws shade at a completely different pizzeria which gave him a spiritual awakening.

Jordan and Katie discuss the wonky shape of Beaverton's city boundaries and how you can drive on the same street for miles and seemingly hit seven or eight different "Welcome to Beaverton" signs.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Katie and Jordan discuss this year's upcoming 100th anniversary of the fair's marquee event the Pig-N-Ford races, three-lap races around a horse racing track with stripped down Model T cars, squealing piglets, and a whole lotta history. And Katie may have been the first woman ever to take the victory lap in the event.

The duo talks about the fair food that will probably make you sick and the fact Katie seems to be craving any combination of hot dog wrapped in carbohydrate.

Jordan wants to know if there is an event for "Best Duck" and Katie talks about her long history with the fair ranging from everything from entering baked goods, sewing projects, and showing cows. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Both Katie and Jordan bring the same facts about the geologic formations to this podcast, which means they must be true, right? 

Arches National Park contains 2,000 natural stone arches and the park has the highest concentration of them in the world. Katie wants to do an arch audit to see how accurate that number is.

Jordan tells Katie the alternative names for the beloved, iconic "Delicate Arch" and also the names of other formations throughout the park, like "Dark Angel", "Three Penguins", and most unfortunately, "The Phallus". 

Jordan shares his stupidest travel mishap and Katie says he is "horn happy". 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Once Jordan finally visits the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he watches the the worst musical of his life, "The Three Musketeers", which takes some interesting creative liberties. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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Jessica was on the worst boat ride ever on her way to the paradise that is Zanzibar and bought spices that are probably stale by now. Jordan attempts to impress everyone with his Zanzibar knowledge but is immediately countered by a way better fun fact. 

While in Tanzania, Jessica went to school to improve her skills in Swahili and had to teach a lesson on Swahili in Swahili to native Swahili elementary school students. The Swahili teacher was unimpressed.

Jordan reveals Mount Kilimanjaro’s Google score and Jessica brings the gift of guacamole to her host family in Tanzania.

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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When Jordan was, like, three, a stray bottle rocket attacked him, but he was protected by his San Francisco 49ers sweater and the spirit of Joe Montana.

Katie's first time watching fireworks on the beach resulted in a sulfurous fog that obscured the rest of the show. 

After nearly twenty years, the duo finally watched the quirky and surprisingly well-emceed Firecracker Wiener Nationals in Rockaway Beach, a series of races amongst dachshunds and a huge Fourth of July event in the beachside village!

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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This week, Katie and Jordan visit the City of Lights and discuss what saved the seemingly doomed Eiffel Tower in 1909, escargot tongs, and melt their brains attempting to pronounce "Louvre". 

Katie goes down memory lane when she had to literally crawl up and over a Parisian barrier wall for a flight she didn't actually have and Jordan picks a fight with Paris's coffee game. 

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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McMenamins is an iconic Oregon and Washington staple famous for some of the state's first modern brewpubs, historic buildings that have been renovated into funky hotels, and a wild scavenger hunt that awards you while visiting every one of the 50+ locations! 

Katie and Jordan have been to every single McMenamins location twice in pursuit of serendipity and the wondrous glamor that comes from becoming a "Cosmic Tripster"! 

Jordan fell for Katie during an 80s Night dance event at their Crystal Ballroom, they were marooned in the Old St. Francis School hotel in Bend during a snowstorm, and drank too much in an active construction site for a special event in their newest location. 

Have your own story about your experience with McMenamins you'd like to share and be possibly be featured in a future episode of Exploregonians? Voice record or write it out and send it to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com please and thank you!

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Beaches with red cliffs, a free toll bridge that charges when you leave, and a sky-high lobster roll awaited us on this beautiful island, that is the smallest Canadian province and is only larger than one U.S. state: the mighty Rhode Island.

Jordan gives Katie way too many "fun facts" about Prince Edward Island and Katie talks about how much she enjoyed visiting the actual home and property that inspired the "Green Gables". 

Have a travel anecdote you'd like to share? Write or record yourself telling a short couple minute story and send them to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com to be featured on the show!

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Listen this week as Jordan talks about his first crush, a neighbor-girl that may or may not also be Katie's childhood best friend! 

Katie reveals Bay City was the first place she ever saw those intense "Neighborhood Watch" signs and never trusted the place again.

Jordan tells Katie their lives would have taken very different paths had he not gone to a pivotal Halloween party (in his greatest costume ever) to see her.   

This episode has everything except an obligatory reference to Journey's 1978 banger of a song "Lights". 

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This season, our plucky hosts would love to feature your travel misadventures, so please record yourself sharing a couple minute anecdote or write one up for us to read and send them to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com or send a sweet, sweet message to our Instagram @exploregonians.podcast 

We have a great season planned for y'all!

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They were close to Kyoto, but toured around Osaka for a couple days, eating fried octopus balls, touring the iconic castle, and enjoying the Glico Running Man. 

When they returned a week later to Osaka, Katie accidentally booked a love hotel right next to the wrong airport and the duo had the best time in their extravagant, rent-by-the-hour room.

Also, Jordan was fooled again by ordering what he thought was an iced latte and receiving a tall glass of milk with coffee ice cubes. Oh, Japan! 

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Katie is weirded out Newport’s Ocean to Bay Trail doesn’t end at Yaquina Bay, but seemingly someone’s yard in town and once received the shirt of a barista’s back at the local Dutch Bros. 

Jordan tells Katie about how Newport is the western terminus for Highway 20, the longest road in the United States, and also how he was probably unaware of highway signage as a child because he was busy creating and choreographing a jukebox musical about the cast of Super Mario Bros. to the discography of Shania Twain.

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When they weren’t being dazzled by theatre, they were experiencing some of the most classic buildings in Manhattan like Grand Central Terminal and the flagship building of the New York Public Library, where Katie and Jordan met the real Winnie-the-Pooh (and friends) that inspired A.A. Milne’s classic books.

Katie declares her love of outdoor NYC dining and Jordan regrets not asking Seth Meyers for a writing job. 

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Katie and Jordan are whisked away to help at “English Camp” which isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. To get there, they load up the buses, which are truck beds piled high with fifteen children each and Jordan is threatened during the ride by a village boy who looks suspiciously similar to Jaden Smith.

Katie talks about her favorite nugget of wisdom from English Camp: Florio can get some drinks.

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On the first day, Katie and Jordan are welcomed to a house blessing as guests of honor where they eat the spiciest food of their life and pound rice whiskey for the ceremony. 

Jordan has a mental breakdown attempting to use a poorly installed squat toilet and Katie realizes she’s technically been to the Himalayas.

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In 1940, Katie's grandfather drove a team of horses to net salmon out of the Columbia River and Jordan is concerned Tillamook schools are obsessed with Salmon Curriculum and teach about zero other fish. Are there other fish?

Have a travel story to share? Send a voice memo or write a cute lil' mini-memoir to exploregonianspodcast@gmail.com and remember to follow us on Instagram and-and and if you'd like to show us some love or send a "thank you" if you enjoyed the episode, you can treat us to a coffee! Thanks for listening!

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