Take The Cannoli w/Nick & Karilyn

We explore: the recognition of women in professional sports; the struggle for creativity and diversity; the scourge of racism and how food might be the key to bridging divides; finishing creative projects; surprised at how happy we are.

Today our conversation revolves around concluding chapters in film franchises. The Return of the King, Deathly Hallows, The Dark Knight Rises, Endgame, Toy Story 3 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, X-Men: The Last Stand, Revenge of the Sith, Return of the Jedi, and how they manage to wrap up the saga.

Karilyn talks about a harrowing documentary called A Plastic Ocean; Nick talks about Kevin Durant's tragic injury and the wild and callous media/fan circus that surrounds NBA players. Also: Frozen 2 trailer, Karilyn ruins the Tony's, and lives a social nightmare Plus more. Always more.

A reflection on the recent Australian Federal Election; Karilyn mistaking Constantine with John Wick; Nick's irrational fear of orchestral pits; the worst natural and military disasters in human history because that's where they're at; Karilyn spoils the Game of Thrones finale for herself; Asgardian meatballs and the Midwest's obsession with tuna casserole.

Nick & Karilyn talk about many things like: reflections on Detective Pikachu which Karilyn saw BEFORE Nick (endtimes); a new game where Karilyn has no idea what the Met Gala is; Nick weighs in on the final season of GoT to Karilyn who hasn't watched past season 3; Karilyn hiked 40km; all the ideas they still haven't done yet; only talking once or twice about Endgame the general existential insignificance of their lives, etc.

[SPOILERS AHEAD] In a super deluxe extended episode, Nick and Karilyn go through everything that happened in the monumental Avengers: Endgame, and come out the other side absolutely emotionally and spiritually exhausted yet satisfied. Suffice it to say that there are spoilers everywhere in this episode. SPOILERS PEOPLE!

Nick and Karilyn have their first ever guest on the show! Rohan Williams joins them to breakdown the mind melting first trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Karilyn said she was going to see Captain Marvel but apparently English ivy killing was more important. Endgame is getting closer which means the plan to acquire popcorn goes up a notch. And other things happen.

We're together! Before they head out to check out Ed Night at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival they discuss their latest awkward social interactions, dealing with small talk, why moths are attracted to lights, exuberant laughing, fearing needles, etc.

Minutiae we talk about: bread pillows, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the new Avengers: Endgame trailer (we are so ready for this). whistling languages (the world is amazing), left alone cupcakes, unnecessary plots in porn, anxiety over parents judging your home cleaning skills, winery tours, etc.

We may be nihilist-go-lucky but sometimes, in fact, a lot of times, it is best to be compassionate, empathetic and understanding amid tragic, shocking circumstances - like the horrifying events in Christchurch that have rocked a country and people to their core, and yet the community, determination, love, courage, poise and grace that have been exhibited by the New Zealand people, led by their amazing prime minister, Jacinda Arden gives one hope that things can change for the better.

The minutiae we explore this week: dealing with bushfires, all the obvious things in life that we never quite grasped until way later in life, quantum superpositions, social catastrophes being averted, flamingo shirts, how long a nickname can last, Egyptian pharaohs and the nature of our reality. Follow us: https://medium.com/swish Instagram: @swishaus Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwishCulture

What grand minutiae of life do they come across this week? A few days to decompress over the Academy Awards. The bafflement and shock and incandescent hopeless rage of Green Book winning. Chris Evans being the internet's boyfriend once more. Seriously how did Green Book win? Nick is still processing it, and Karilyn has some calming, insightful words to sooth the madness.

What grand minutiae of life will we talk about this week? Well: crochet viruses, other weird crochet things, what is a virus, where does the word laconic come from, nice-guy Jesus and the anxiety of MidWestern politeness, going to New Zealand, all the Marvel movies in chronological release order, Karilyn promising Nick to watch Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp before Avengers: Endgame is released, forgetting to talk about the Oscars etc, etc. It was a beautiful.

It starts with how weird Welsh words and Karilyn's name are, nation specific ents and christmas trees remaining stubbornly upright; the struggle of uncertainty that beset Karilyn as she prepared for adventure (anxiety yeah!). They also stumble upon an idea for a new podcast series (did someone say spinoff?) exploring books and their adaptations, and how Game of Thrones might end (spoilers?). It's all an effort for the two of them to be more productive!

Things we talk about: Nick losing all the money on the Super Bowl; Endgame Super Bowl trailer/theories; Karilyn and a baby possum rescue; existential ecological responsibilities; Nick begins watching a Star Trek; Friedlieb is the caffeine man and much, much, much more.

This is a big one - Hold up!! How did Black Panther not get nominated for Makeup and Hair-Styling?! Yes, Nick and Karilyn parse through the oscar nominations after all the hoopla has died down to take a more in depth view on how it might shake out on Oscar night. Also, Karilyn wasn't feeling too well and then she saw How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Kingdom and now she's all better (dragon science), polite storms, and the insane weather in the American Midwest. They discuss if they would be up for going to Mars, and if humanity is capable of having a future past the next two hundred years. You know, the usual stuff. But mostly Oscar Noms. Be warned, Nick goes for a full 15 minutes without pause, breaking down the Best Picture nominees.

Eventually we get around to talking about some of our most anticipated TV shows of this year. The ones we'll see for the first time, the ones returning, the ones we continue to say that we're totally getting around to seeing and are quite happy for the people who do follow said show. Karilyn cracks even more under the weight of pressure to get Netflix. Also, they're in a good mood again, what's up with that? The shows they're into: Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot, Handmaid's Tale, True Detective, Supernatural, Watchmen, The Good Place, Brooklyn 99, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Broad City, Carmen Sandiego, Veep, Stranger Things, etc.

We go from hang gliding to sky diving to the great clown shortage that is currently befalling the globe. Oh and all the amazing new movies coming out this year that we could barely fit all of the ones that we're excited for in it. Karilyn confesses proudly that she's a Basic Film Bitch (we're going to make it a thing), and didn't realise Frozen 2 is very much happening (just hear her reaction when she is told). Nick is almost out of patience with Karilyn and her lack of Netflix. Our most anticipated films (in sort of no particular order): Knives Out, Star Wars: Episode 9, Toy Story 4, Little Women, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Frozen 2, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Godzilla: King of Monsters, Jojo Rabbit, Captain Marvel, Gemini Man, Ad Astra, Us, Missing Link, High Life, The Day Shall Come, The Rhythm Section, The Irishman, Joker, The Personal History of David Copperfield, The Lion King

It's 2020 - wait, 2019. Nick and Karilyn are both sick, really living their best lives. The time vortex that consumes the days between Christmas and New Year's Day. Both have existential crises on a plane. Nick rants about the existence of three quarter pants and they discuss the heavily skewed expectations of appearance between men and women; also that common sense prevails and there's no tampon tax anymore because yeah, every woman loves having the luxury of a period every month (sarcasm). Other things they talk about: summer and cricket, rowdy cockatoos, make up issue (not at a funeral) and body image, antiquated political systems in superhero movies (Aquaman and Black Panther we're looking at you) and so forth. We want to be kind and do nice things for people this year.

Eavesdrop on Nick and Karilyn at The Sherlock Holmes bar in the second part of the year end show. Pour a cold one and settle in on a warm evening as they discuss, pop culture consuming, the escalation of bespoke beer culture, the issues facing rational and pragmatic progress so that the world doesn't burn up. Nick once more gushes over Roma, why are Nazis still a thing, acting is not something you can just start doing, Greg. We're a friend pair apparently. Note: Things got a little noisy here (it may have been because it was in a bar) and so the sound of our voices is more like a conversation that is totally engrossing that one overhears when they're relaxing with friends in a wonderful, quaint bar on a warm Saturday night. You'll think you're actually there. So it's more of a transporting experience. Which we try to do every now and again for you wonderful people.