Brian and Amy get together and talk about who's had sex inside Vivace, the reason people move to Brooklyn, the reason people move away from Brooklyn, working at VICE, alienating customers, why servers tend to drink heavily, whether you're Tinder or Scruff, how humans are a commodity to be swiped, and the years it takes to go from not knowing where you are to having a vision.

Amy talks to Teal Allan in his rose garden, Gus Lanza at Cal Anderson Park, Leo Segovia also at Cal Anderson, and Erie on his porch on Thomas Street. I talk to all of them about class issues, how they are climbing the ladder, IF they are climbing a ladder, if there IS a ladder, and if they CARE if there's a ladder. Are we happy where we are at or will we always want something else? Is serving a respected profession in modern America? We totally answer all of these questions. All of them. Also, apologies that I was not prepared for the wind in the park during my conversation with Leo (the third chat.) There's some distortion I am deeply ashamed of. I do my best not to harm your sensibilities.

Amy and Heidi meet in Volunteer Park at 10pm and have a conversation overlooking the Space Needle. They talk about coffee, little bit more about coffee, and top it off with some coffee. Also how hipster baristas get a bad rap, and that we love them. Both started in the biz over 30 ago but Heidi has been in it the whole time and knows EVERYTHING. No, seriously, she does. Listen to this woman, she's whip smart.

Black Lives Matter protest Seattle, 10-01-2016 - raw audio, not a Struggle to Connect episode by Amy Vanderbeck

Part 2 of my conversation with my great friend Mitch Hale where we have a massive bitch session about Yelp, online dating, and customer service. We met at Vivace (Where else?) and solve all the world's problems, or rather - point out the world's problems. While the first conversation was about recovery and becoming mentally healthy, in this conversation we are as churlish and immature as two grown adults get. Two steps forward, one step back. Ah, fuck it.

Mitch Hale, playwright and owner of Cafecito Organico visits from Los Angeles and takes the time to talk with Amy about depression, suicide, alcoholism, recovery, owning a business, questionable customer service, Tinder, and goddamn fucking Yelpers. Sure, there's some wisdom, but there is also some venting. We can't help ourselves. Below are links to Mitch's business, and his NAACP Award winning play Buffalo Soldier https://cafecitoorganico.cratejoy.com/ http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/writing-the-wrongs-buffalo-soldiers-by-mitch-hale/

Amy meets Finn Menzies and they walk around Seward Park and discuss just about everything. Our conversation starts off with class and moves on to Finn's (formerly Kate's) transition. We move on to feminism, fear of abondonding women, and the shame and vulnerability of coming out with a secret you've been hiding your whole life. Please donate to Finn's Go Fund Me if you have any available resources, https://www.gofundme.com/finnmenzies

Distraught with the assassinations of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile then faced with the murder of 5 police officers in Dallas, Amy is at odds as to how to be most effective so she talks to her go-to - Brian McDonald. Among the discussion is Brian's comic "Harry the Cop" https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Cop-1-Brian-McDonald/dp/B0017QASIU

Amy tries to have a fully positive Pride Weekend for maybe the first time. In order of appearance - Darren Johnson, Keeley Trygstad, Rebecca O'Connor, Louise Hansen, Tina Hendrickson, Laura Becker, Peri Tighe, Teal Allan, Darcy Eakins, A Crazy Christian with an Obnoxious Sign, A Naked Cyclist Named Daniel, and Becky Selengut. Links of interest: http://www.fantasticz.org/ and http://www.beckyselengut.com/

Amy visits Sera, they play chess and discuss soft rock, being friends with someone you have to calm down a lot, dyslexia, and how to be gay and a musician without being a gay musician.