Ashley's...Gamer Era? | Chosen Family Podcast

[@luciadrago949]

Honestly the way Ashley looks at Jen while she talks about birds owners is so cute

[@matthijsclaessen8152]

Yeah. The love and admiration just fills the screen!

[@someonesomehow379]

birds of a feather 😭❤️

[@euryalewho]

yall cant tell me it's weird that I WANT to sit down for an hour to WATCH a podcast when the gestures, facial expressions and overall visuals add up to the comedy!! you will never beat the KZbin podcast allegations its just not the same when audio only :p

[@SpaceyD]

How many of us do both? 🙋‍♀️

[@TheVorobeichik]

Lets gooo! Ashley should definitely set up Chosen Family Minecraft server :))

[@Jaynayh]

That would be so funnnn

[@AlaynaJoyOfficial]

Stop I’d never get anything done

[@milliescient]

Pleaaaaase

[@caitlinlawrence1867]

Minecraft! Minecraft!

[@Krisxmacx3]

P L E A S E E E 😢😢

[@genz_adventures]

Today Bulgarian politics voted against “LGBTI+ propaganda” in schools. It is a sad day in my country. I am happy I can be comforted by my “chosen family”.

[@SpaceyD]

I am sad for your country. It's happening everywhere 😢

[@kellythompson1318]

I'm sorry to hear this! Some battles have to be fought more than once it seems but it's not over. Stay strong❤

[@itsnotniccage]

I was typing that I was a bird as Ashley said “listener don’t write in” 😂

[@matteot2810]

And you do own yourself I hope, but that would be another level of inappropriateness fro Asheley...

[@Over.thewillow]

THERE ARE WILD PIGEONS. Mak is right, they are (probably) the oldest domesticated animals but there are many wild pigeon species such as crested pigeons that you would only see in suburbs or the wild. (They do have a hunting instinct) I'm pretty sure the only pigeons you see in cities are common domesticated pigeons and homing pigeons. There are also many pet and ornamental varieties such as fantails that would not survive on the streets. Fun fact: pigeons can recognise themselves in mirrors Idk I like pigeons

[@Salouuh]

You're cool

[@fannydoucet6750]

Thank you for the infodump

[@kapowjam3462]

"The backbone of this country is babies and gays get a whole month" from Mak was 💯

[@hannabeth151]

Ashley going so hard for babies was not on my ticket today

[@Julie.Apricot]

What an unfortunate choice of words 😅

[@Louis--]

Mak is right. Stardew Valley is wildly relaxing. And in ways that accommodate a range of personalities.

[@Louis--]

I have passed level 100 in the Skull Cavern. Without staircases. With luck!

[@RowanWolf22]

As someone with over 1k hours in stardew valley.. Yup! I love stardew valley. It’s great! And also the romance plant is lovely 🥰 I also play Minecraft but for building most of the time.

[@kalpic11]

@@Louis--without staircases?!

[@geebee3148]

But why is fishing so hard

[@kalpic11]

“Mac! Tell them about the mines!!” I screamed.

[@caitlinp8599]

As a new homeowner I recently had to research how to upgrade & repair my sprinklers, and literally all of the Google search results were for Stardew Valley 😅

[@mizzmatrix]

As a huge gamer, I enjoy playing a lot of different games, but the games I will not touch are Souls-likes 😂 At the end of my workday I don't wanna be crushed even more, so chill games are usually the ones I start with. Also, I found this quote on a forum about comparing Stardew Valley and Minecraft which sums it up in a good way: "Stardew Valley and Minecraft might share the 'do whatever you feel like' spirit, but Stardew is more focused on farming and community, whereas Minecraft is your go-to for endless building and adventuring. They're cousins, not twins."

[@Julie.Apricot]

Love the quote & I agree Also idk what they are on abt stardew being too chill. I stress so much over the day ending so fast 😣 & sprinting to the bed to not pass out is not my fav sport 😂 & I get the souls-like tho for me it’s hollow knight that I decided to stay away, too stressful Elden Ring made me feel accomplished on the other hand 🙃

[@geebee3148]

My mum has pigeons now, she noticed the man down the road was keeping them then just abandoned them, they all flock to her house now bc she keeps them fed ❤❤😂

[@bellahawthorn4575]

Ashley: *engages in a wildly popular video game* Ashley: I’m so weird. This is not normal. Take a deep breath it’ll be alright 😂

[@gwenquigley7624]

For the patron's question: A lot of young adults give up on a field after only working at one job in that field. Don't give up on something you studied and/or trained for just because the first job you got in that field wasn't a good fit! Try at least one other place. You have enough time to do that without just giving up on the whole enterprise. I agree and disagree with Ashley's advice. It's true that a lot of people hate what they do, but, as someone who loves my job, I am better and happier for it. I think the advice should simultaneously be to realize that your happiness and fulfillment might not come from your job and your job might just be a day job that funds the rest of your life. But there IS an outcome where your job--where you will spend many hours of your life!--can also be a source of deep happiness and fulfillment. Both things are true sometimes, and figuring it out for yourself can be really hard for a lot of us.

[@LCSharp]

I think you hit the nail on the head about how you really shouldn’t hate your job because you spend so much time doing it but it doesn’t have to be your be all, end all. I worked for years in a very niche field that I went to school for and loved. The entry jobs weren’t great but I was able to work my way up to a job that I truly adored. After some time though, my life focus changed and I realized I wanted a job I could turn off from at the end of the day. I switched fields and have much better work life balance now. It’s not the most interesting but it’s still fulfilling and I appreciate that it CAN be just a job and not a life passion. Plus, I keep a toe in the old field through volunteer work now

[@albertqhumperdinck]

People shit on birds, it`s true, but have you considered; birds shit on people too!

[@JanneBernards]

I don't think Stardew Valley is relaxing at all. You're constantly racing against he clock to get all the things done that need doing. There's a daily clock, and then a seasonal clock, gotta keep track of which crop are read when, and be ready to plant new ones that can still be ready within the season. Then there's all the exploring you can do and you gotta plan the expeditions to the caves and dungeons so you make it home in time while still making progress and carrying loot home, and on top of all that you need to keep track of everyone's birthdays and try to find them perfect gifts! There is so much to do, I haven't even mentioned half of it. It's pretty stressful game when you're someone who likes to do things "well" in video games lol.

[@Louis--]

Mak is killing it adding my contribution to the conversation so far.

[@Over.thewillow]

Birds are fine, Minecraft is embarrassing. (I like both)

[@blakemtg47]

Ashley I’m with mak and Alayna bird owners are fine, you’re the weird one.

[@ashgavs]

you're also commenting. i rest my case.

[@B2Roland]

Bird owners are definitely weird in the eyes of us non-bird people (ie 99.9% of the population) if it ain't a mammal it's weird when people bond with them. I recognize that's sorta dumb, mammals aren't the only intelligent animals but... Cmon.

[@_asantesana_squashbanana_]

​@@B2RolandI've had my parrot almost a decade and it's the best decision I ever made. Happy to answer any bird owning questions. Lol

[@smilingkelly5251]

I felt very called out that as I was listening to this podcast I was playing Minecraft instead of any of the productive things that are on my list today..

[@sunnydays9144]

Bonus points if there is a pet pigeon on your shoulder as you play Minecraft

[@Jaynayh]

I really wasn't expecting this crossover episode of my interests lol, but this episode was so much fun. If the three of you ever wanted to do some gaming content, even if just one time, i'd be here to watch it. That would be so much fun

[@bilong92]

What Ashley is describing is the exact plot of Babysitters Club 45: Kristy and the Baby Parade and honestly Ashley is definitely a Kristy

[@bellahawthorn4575]

Underrated comment

[@bilong92]

@@bellahawthorn4575 thank you haha my extensive knowledge of the BSC rarely comes in handy

[@zazajf]

I was also thinking of the bsc!! And you're so right - I don't know how I haven't realised before that Ashley is Kristy (baseball cap and everything)

[@thebestofme121]

The causal LDShadowlady name drop kills me. I freaking love her and smallishbeans

[@Marnaynay24]

The babble ad came in so perfectly I thought Mak was about to say one in five Americans haven’t made it to level 100 of the skull caverns 😂

[@caitlinlawrence1867]

The skull cavern is insane! Stardew Valley is so complex 😂

[@maguiulli]

Positive vote for the Minecraft server idea!

[@liammorgan7986]

Being embarrassed about liking birds and Minecraft is such an elder millennial take 💀 no one gives a shit anymore

[@deaththreatsandrainbows4337]

team mak for stardew valley tho it’s rlly good but team ashley on babies they’re so cute and i do agree ashley is “more representative of the world at large”

[@tambob82]

My best friend runs a songbird and pidgeon rehab sanctuary out of her house. It's damn near 24hr work between May and September. 30+ grey pidgeons, 15+ sparrows, bunch of others too! A majestic green woodpecker hangs out in the living room. Zuzu, her first rescue, is a cuddly li'l sparrow that she found in 2018. Looked like a chickenwing when she found her.❤ Maybe if we still called town pidgeons rock doves, we'd have more sympathy for them. Humans are gross dude. MINECRAFT BEDROCK EDITION FOREVER!!!

[@portafisco]

I am a mincraft person and I'm proud of it

[@clairezwolinski8829]

Mak you need to have them try and go in the skull cavern in Stardew and THEN try and say there’s no obstacles.

[@fluterem8866]

THANK YOU that's what I was thinking

[@kerryknox5199]

Ashley what you said about being an artist is something you don't just logically sit down and decide resonated deeply with me. that's been something I've been contemplating lately and that just solidified so much of what I want to do so ty

[@EmilyElementsASMR]

People that say that Stardew Valley is a chill game either haven't played it or have a very intense life...

[@rosiedurrant4365]

Mak needs to tell us her romance option… my guess is Abigail

[@eHeersin]

I was part of a baby parade as an infant. The church my parents went to was trying to raise money to make improvements to the nursery area, so they put on a baby parade/fashion show

[@janieisbored]

Took the career quiz, it said I should be doing something artistic. Which is something I've felt and knew for a while but haven't pursued outside of doing things as a hobby. This episode makes me reflect on my career happiness and what I would realistically enjoy doing. The path of the artist is hard though.

[@hannabeth151]

The problem with stardew valley is it's an amazing game, but people take it so far and then it becomes not fun because you're there with your cows on your farm, but then people have factories and crazy mechanisms. Comparison is the thief of joy but why CANT I DO THAT

[@jaxonstars1018]

Omg Alayna mentioning ldshadowlady is the moment when my two worlds collide, I’m a huge fan of Minecraft KZbinrs haha. Also if yall started a server for the community I would love to play actually

[@morganne2006]

Pigeon domestication then subsequent abandonment is my Roman Empire 😢

[@jonnegabrielle]

i've literally been in a career crisis for the past few weeks and you guys managed to articulate exactly what i've been feeling, this episode came at perfect timing for me thank you ❤

[@sierrafancher9958]

Not the LDShadowlady ref omgggggg

[@שניחדשי-מ2ז]

This has been one of the worst days I've had in years and you guys made me smile so much. Thank you so much for this podcast ❤ from the bottom of my sad lil heart

[@shishly]

Ashley. You should come to Oslo, Norway on may 17( our national day) . There is not a baby parade, but kids parade with schools and school bands it is adorable and lasts for 2-3 hours. I do not want kids, but I would love a toddler parade, they are so cute when they just start walking, and they miscalculate a bit and do the running walking thing.

[@marinamihajlovic2807]

My father used to say to me when I was a teenager: a job is a way to pay your bills and finance your hobbies. As an adult, now I understand that most people will not have their dream job/you may tolerate your job but it's not your passion - at some point in life that's completely okay. And not wanting to climb the ladder is also okay.

[@ignorance_is_not_bliss]

okay the youre more on track when you have someone else to keep on track is so real, it's like worrying about them forces you to be healthy yourself

[@keelyatlover739]

Ashley is correct that these things are odd. Minecraft being the exception DEPENDING on generation. I played in high school when it was very new, and it was lame. I didn’t tell people, and I was okay with being odd. Minecraft was a step too far for even me. Younger people like Mak, only saw a world where everyone was cool with it and would play it. It’s viewed differently. Also, Ashley should go volunteer to hold babies at the hospital. You can also volunteer at a church with kids, just to hang out with babies.

[@EmiTheGreat]

I didnt think i could come to respect ashley and alayna any more than I do..but their stances on the OBVIOUSLY superior game- no- lifestyle that is Minecraft.. truly inspirational ✊

[@hipsterpapi]

the gays we yearn for the mines

[@ashleycottone]

The fact that Alayna mentioned LDShadowLady made me feel less bad about being a 33 year old lady who also watches her and other Minecraft videos.

[@kylecat98]

Minecraft isn't weird post-pandemic. It's the most played game in the world! Alayna, you really ought to get on Ashley's server to help keep her accountable about her time. :p

[@bethanygreenwood8259]

My housemate is afraid of birds - I wish she was listening to this beginning section - 🤣🤣🤣 My advice for careers is very similar to Ashley's - Find something that will give you to capacity to live a life outside of work!

[@kylah__h]

Hearing you all talk about minecraft and stardew valley has made me so happy

[@alisontippett2618]

24:25 “I actually hate this” I’m obsessed with this wild divide in gaming

[@irl.nephilim]

ashley, with love, thinking bird people are weird is a WAAY more chronically online take than not knowing

[@hailey0917]

RE: it’s okay if your job doesn’t bring you the most fulfillment I am good at my job. My specific job duties within banking come easy to me. It’s not a career I’m passionate about. It’s not something that I felt drawn to. It’s not something that I gain a bigger purpose in life because of. But what it does afford me is freedom, time, and clarity of mind. I’m not expending all of my brainpower within that 40 hours a week. I have a set schedule. I’m off evenings and weekends. I have decent health insurance. I can easily plan my life outside of work and make *that* the fulfilling portion of my life.

[@emjoy36]

When I was growing up we had a duck that we named Chicken

[@amylouise7289]

Ashley I just want to say I came to your show in Des Moines with my sister in law and some friends a few weeks ago and we had a BLAST! Definitely hope you continue to come back to the Midwest 😊 Also totally loved and appreciated the career convo today!

[@thedepthandbreadthofseth]

Straight man here! I'm 1000% here for the baby parade! 😅❤

[@notmyrealname550]

Ashley being aggressively into babies is amazing

[@ttarotkidd]

I really appreciated the career discussion and especially Ashley's wisdom right out the gate, I really needed to hear that so thank you

[@drt673]

Ashley can live her parrot-owner-dreams IN Minecraft you just need seeds and a jungle Best of both weirdo worlds 😌

[@saratucker9387]

Y’all should play assassin’s creed. I’m obsessed with it and I especially think Alayna would LOVE it. Plus, who doesn’t want to be like a spy or ninja doing parcore. AND it’s all about strategy 😂

[@eileahsims8092]

I just gotta say thank you for answering that question. I basically came to the same conclusion but after spending about $50,000 on college and graduate school. I went into something that I was interested in thinking that it would be fulfilling for my life. I then realized that the actual environment was soul-sucking and have gone back to the reason I was interested to begin with and also come to terms with my love of art. Be the person who works to live, not live to work.

[@emilyinfl]

This is my hometown animal was underrated.

[@finnregan5524]

I dare you guys to have peach prc (amazing beautiful fantastic lesbian pop star) on to talk about pigeons ! Y'all would love her

[@annachen5688]

me listening to this podcast in the background of playing minecraft and learning that i am simply deeply uncool

[@ellenmoth3593]

honey please pick up my facetime call it's been 10 years and i miss you

[@annachen5688]

@@ellenmoth3593 I picked up her facetime and talked about how I got called out by the podcast and she called me an even bigger loser.

[@melaniek.7257]

What you said about jobs: that is so important to hear. I was raised with this illusion that a job where you are successful makes you happy. This is such bullshit. Rationally I understand, but it's good to hear from somebody else.

[@badkidclub]

One vote for Ashely's side of the bird social observation.

[@leoanne06]

Today I needed to hear some of the things you said about not connecting identity with a job. Thank you ❤

[@twentyonethirteen]

I remember I cried when I first learned about pigeons. Sometimes I still get emotional when I see them hanging around.

[@kapowjam3462]

I had downstairs neighbors with birds and dogs. They were the worst neighbors I've ever had. Mostly didn't have to do with the birds but it contributed to the overall result. Also owning a bird that is very much only an inside bird has always felt uncomfortable to me.

[@AurelieJoie]

Pigeons usually mate for life, and same- sex pairings do occur, especially two girls. Pairs can even be seen doing mating dances for their mate during mating season each year, even for a mate they already have (just in case she needs a reminder of why she picked me 3 years ago... Here's a lil dance number for ya babe) ALSO there's a pigeon pair under a slab of plywood at the bench where I eat lunch. Both parents have been collecting twigs for the nest and I have peaked in to see 2 eggs. Yay family

[@geebee3148]

Never been this early, in labour so eating and distracting myself 🤗🤗

[@geebee3148]

Still in labour and still in alot of pain

[@WAMilyFamily]

The baby parade sounds like a cuteness overload!

[@OddAudrea]

Playing stardew valley while listening to the pod

[@xoyouaremysunshinexo]

Therapist turned lawyer here: BE A WEIRDO, OWN A BIRD 😂. I say as someone watching another creator paint their duck for a nice duck painting competition lmao

[@louis0320]

Alayna I want to listen to about your thesis 😔

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

So fun love you guys so much ❤ thank you

[@tracey6811]

I am so sorry!! You are wonderful and you are creating and influencing gorgeous lives for an incredible number of birds and their people. Please do not be hard on yourself. It can be some freak malfunction of her system that you could not have known or prevented. Please, be loving with yourself. Any one can have an anomaly that cannot be explained. You are doing such magnificent good on this earth. Bless you for all you do!!! Love for Blueberry always!!❤❤❤

[@Cassyak]

Love the Runescape representation, haha 😁 as an on and off Runescape player for many years now, who falls into that addiction spiral every now and then ❤

[@itsnotniccage]

Second comment on this episode because I feel so much better knowing that Alayna goes through what I go through when my partner is away! I get nothing done!

[@pdutilly9829]

Mak talking about the duck NO TRANSITION talking about meal plan and I was like, "THEY ATE THE DUCK WHATTTTTTTT????!!"

[@foxintrash9636]

My parents have a good friend who is literally a bird lady ( like stereotypical cat lady level obsession) she at one point had two of those big and colourful parrots and would always make fresh ravioli for the ducks at the pond in winter. I don’t think loving birds is inherently weird but like everything you can make it weird if you want. The most extreme thing she did was at my parents wedding, the had a meal including chicken and she went trough all the cards and crossed that one out and wrote “bird killer” on the menu. I don’t think it was big drama for my parents but that was definitely crossing a social boundary from understandable love of birds to weird obsession with other peoples actions. Like with vegans and vegetarians it’s completely understandable if you don’t want to eat meat or animal products and if you feel uncomfortable with other people doing so, but usually that means you a, discuss that with the person hosting or b, don’t attend the event.

[@matthijsclaessen8152]

I couldn’t study when I was young. I got my bachelors when I had young kids with my wife. (I had an active role in their raising, and a job, before you ask.) I needed that foundation of a regular life to have the focus to study. I am absolutely sure that I could never do that study if I were single in that period. So… I totally understand Alayna needing her partner near to work on her thesis.

[@DDD2323-z5i]

I 100% agree with Ashley on the bird = weirdo debate. Maybe it's a New York thing lol

[@bobbistgelais6404]

Two things; first, the way Ashley was looking at Jen was totally love and adoration. Second, totally into Fortnite after ignoring it for the longest time. I can’t believe me being one of those people. I was gaga for Crash Bandicoot and Rachet and Clank, now Fortnite. Help! Lol

[@rivwilson9330]

Just watching the intro cold open and I just got into stardew valley this week. So excited to listen to this episode hahaha let's gooooo

[@kitarodos]

Ashley you were definitely the voice of reason during this episode, yes bird owners tend to have a reputation about being weird, and yes all babies are wonderful, even the ugly ones lol

[@RachelSknow]

Hi this comment is for the babbel folks - I didn’t realize the comforting script of “learn to order food, ask for directions, etc.” was about doing those things in another language and now I’m a frustrated potential customer. Can babbel teach me how to coherently order food and ask for directions in my own language? I need a script every time basic human services are needed. Thank you.

[@fluterem8866]

Not a baby parade per se, but there's a West Village children's Halloween parade every year and it's really adorable. And an NYC queer marching band performs for the kids

[@Vanesa-rq1qh]

i played minecraft totally differently; my brother and i built castles with underground pools and secret passageways, a cool treehouse and an underground trainstation that connected all our houses

[@werebrokenpeoplesm766]

My hometown actually does have a Baby Parade!!! All the parents make special floats and put them in costumes and stuff

[@lynnewright6553]

My dad had pigeons. They lived in an old shed we had in the back yard. He loved them, we thought he was weird.

[@KatieElesh]

Definitely check out Bailey at the Dark History podcast. Her episode on the Dark History of Pigeons shows exactly what the poor Pigeons went through. 😌

[@kalpic11]

It’s true about the career quizzes. I took some in 2 classes in college (and went to a career counselor) that helped me a lot. Meyers Briggs (shut up don’t knock it till you try it for a career context you nerd), Strength Quest, and what Alayna said, the Strong Interest Inventory. I realized new things about myself and highly recommend taking these to get good ideas.

[@Krisxmacx3]

Her and Brianna once had a convo about birdwatching that I swear went the same way, but opposite roles 😂😂😂 I think she got traumatised into this opinion about birds lol

[@bermeg4337]

I rescued a pigeon recently who had gotten injured while "racing" He healed up and is now living with someone who rescues pigeons 😂

[@blancaalberti9119]

istg the way Ash looks at Jen.... It just made mu heart ache with how beautiful it is. My goal in live is looking at someone that way and having someone do the same

[@JosephsCloud]

Please can we have a Minecraft episode of the podcast where you three play together on a server?