What inspires an individual to put pen to paper and begin building out an entire comic book universe? What contributes to an author's art style selection, storyboarding, and character creation? In this interview episode, Arizona-based comic book artist Nick Cagnetti illustrates his journey from a kid who frequently drew inspiration from Spider-Man to a professional with his own critically acclaimed works. He is the man behind the stylish and retro Pink Lemonade comic with a colorful horror themed Spirit of the Shadows coming to a comic book store near you!Spirit of the Shadows releases on January 28th, 2026. Pre-order at your local comic book store by January 5th, 2026!Where to Find Nick Cagnetti (@fudgy1nick)Radical Realm ComicsTikTokInstagramFacebook

Welcome to Off the Kettle, a spin-off series of A Cup of Tea focused on shorter and more reactive content! In this "inaugural" episode, Jared is joined by Tal to discuss the potential implications of new policies in the United States post-Inauguration Day. They express some optimism amidst a barrage of challenges and the need to embrace the values of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) to create a more equitable society.

Cognitive dissonance is a normal psychological phenomenon that every human being struggles with in distinct ways. These are the moments in life where cognition comes into direct conflict with reality in unique ways. In this episode, co-hosts Antasia, Tal, and Jared explore the psychology and science underpinning cognitive dissonance as well as the theory which attempts to explain it. Ultimately, it is up to the individual on how to best address this state of dissonance. Photo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bhautik Patel⁠ on ⁠⁠Unsplash ⁠Tal's "The Descent Into Illumination" on Spotify⁠ References 18:18 - A Review of Cognitive Dissonance Theory and Its Relevance to Current Social Issues

How do you go from picking up a pair of drumsticks for the first time to becoming the drummer of a local band on the rise? Hear from Chris, drummer of the band 3iDragon, on how his childhood curiosity paved the way for him to perform in front of countless live audiences. As part of the interview, Chris and Jared discuss the challenges and perks of being a live musician. With new singles soon on the way, Chris and his band are making airwaves! Where to Find 3iDragon (@see3id) TikTok Instagram Facebook Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music References 35:57 - For A Lie (Sample) 1:02:37 - Marmalade (Sample) 1:05:02 - Invasion (Sample)

Finding the truth in a sea of uncertainty is not a simple task. However, there is a philosophical tool trusted by many (including scientists) which can help guide your thinking—Occam's Razor. What is it about this concept that makes it so appealing to truth seekers? Jared uncovers the value of this abstract razor by applying some research and thought experiments on the topic. Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠ References 3:15 - Occam's Razor 10:11 - Principle of Parsimony 15:51 - Razor sharp: The role of Occam's razor in science

Employee-employer relations commonly revolve around the negotiation of wages whether centralized or decentralized. In this episode, host Jared closely examines the benefits, and potential drawbacks, that collective bargaining or unions can offer a workforce. How important and relevant are the tangible or intangible benefits they provide? And how much has society suffered possibly as a result of unionization decline over the years? Photo by ⁠Kelly Sikkema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠ References 8:45 - Facts and Fantasies about Wage Setting and Collective Bargaining 31:31 - Collective bargaining and power: Wage premium of collective agreements in Europe 2002–2018 38:19 - The Enormous Impact of Eroded Collective Bargaining on Wages

The Pacific Coast Highway, otherwise known as the PCH, has a reputation for being a beautiful, yet lengthy, scenic route along the shore of the Pacific Ocean in the United States. Listen as co-hosts Antasia and Jared recount their week-long journey from sunny Monterey, California all the way up to rainy Seattle, Washington. They comment on both the bright spots and bumps in the road along the way! How were they able to plan this endeavor and what moments paid off? 1,000 miles of driving later, they can tell. Photo by Ethan Dow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠

To celebrate Pride month, co-hosts Antasia and Jared evaluate the state of inclusion with respect to gender identity in the United States as of late. They examine survey data collected by the Pew Research Center which unveils some encouraging statistics along with other deeply concerning trends. While there is still a long way to go in terms of solving the challenges that come with long-term societal acceptance and LGBTQIA+ resources, the hope is to uncover the human biases along the way which continue to hold us back from respecting each other. Photo by ⁠⁠Aiden Craver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠ References 6:54 - Americans’ Complex Views on Gender Identity and Transgender Issues 53:23 - About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth

The relationship between the military, government, and society is complex at best. While each body can function independently in a nation, the three can often achieve great heights when working collaboratively together. Co-hosts Avery and Jared review the statistics and scientific literature examining the phenomenon known as the Military-Industrial Complex. Is it a good thing for society to build off of the nation's military forces or is it eventually too great of a burden for society to carry in the long run? Photo by ⁠Michael Afonso⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠ References 8:03 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address (1961) 18:15 - U.S. Defense Spending Compared to Other Countries 29:39 - Emerging Military Technologies: Background and Issues for Congress 40:59 - The Impact of Military Spending on Economic Growth: Evidence from the US Economy 54:41 - Effect of military expenditure on economic growth: evidences from India Pakistan and China using cointegration and causality analysis 1:01:56 - Technology transfer of the military-industrial complex as a factor in increasing the science intensity of the civilian industry

Why does it seem like history continues to rewrite itself right before our eyes? Something that we remember from our past is not how we observe it today. This is a more recent phenomena coined "The Mandela Effect". Co-hosts Antasia and Jared dive into this mysterious effect highlighting some of the most prominent and widely-shared examples of it today. Is this effect a mere illusion caused by a variety of psychological factors? Or is there another unexplained phenomena driving these changes? Photo by Fredy Jacob⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠ References 47:13 - Mandela Effect Examples, Origins, and Explanations