 I'm Fiona McManus. I'm Gwen Matthews. Both M last names were Ariana, a good start. And today we're just going to be introducing ourselves to each other and having a little conversation. We are both interns at CCTV Center for Media and Democracy. Today is my first day. I've been here for an hour and 16 minutes. And Gwen, this is her fourth. This is my fourth day. Yeah, this is my first time moving off of another project. So I'm excited. Yes. Cool. How did you get this internship? Or where did this come from for you? Yeah, so I was in a CDAE class with a bunch of PCOM majors. And my professor is doing a documentary about this place. He's a filmmaker. So I don't know. He was explaining it. And we came in and we saw the studio. And we got to play around with some of the equipment. Was it Miles? Yeah. Oh, I did the same thing. So I actually was in his class twice. So we did that twice. And I don't know. It just seems so fun. Everyone that we talked to was really passionate about what was happening here. And it just seemed like a really safe environment. So when I found out I needed an internship for my minor, I was like, yeah, why not? What about you? Well, similarly, well, kind of not similarly. But I did, I took film production or production foundations with Miles. So we came and visited last semester. And that was really cool. We got to do a little show and play with the cameras. My team loved the fade-ins. You could fade halfway. So you'd see two of you. I don't know. It was really cool. But so that was my introduction to this place. But I actually already had an internship for RDS. I did audio journalism with the community news service. But I was looking at this other program to like, another program didn't work out. And so I found the class nonprofits and social change. And you get paired with a nonprofit and get to intern with them with Barbara Rachelson, who's a state legislator. And yeah, this was the first one on the list. And I was like, wait, I know this place. And it seemed really interesting. It was my first choice. And I got it. That's great. Yeah, I feel like coming into and talking to Travis was really just nice. Like it was just like, OK, let's help each other out and have fun and produce media. So intriguing. Yeah, it's definitely something I'm less, I guess I'm experienced with it in academic setting. Like I've had to do a lot of media things. But it's still so like, feels new to me. Yeah, it feels like a really important experience to be able to say that you've done too, like knowing, like telling an employee or that like you're confident in like editing something or holding a camera or like even talking to people. And I feel like they're just skills that I should really have, especially if I'm going to like go into the career of like making films and stuff, it's all about connections. Yeah, definitely. I think the skills are really transferable. I'm kind of excited. Although it is, it's a little daunting, but it's fun. It's exciting. The creative nature of it's a little hard, but super fun in the same way. So yeah, it balances out. The creative liberties scare me a bit. Me too. But I think it'll be OK. It's a lifetime of like rigid schooling, I feel like. That's what I was talking to someone about that. I was like, I'm so used to structured academics. So coming in here when someone's like, oh, we're not going to hold your hand really. What do you want to do? I was like, well, I would like finish the video. And I'd be like, OK, Travis, is this good? And he was like, well, do you like it? And I'm like, no, I guess I don't know. I don't like it. Yeah, that's funny. It's like breaking a habitual cycle, though, of having that structure. And I was talking to someone who was like, you know, when you get in the real workspace, like they're not going to hold your hand. Like you're going to have to be independent. And I was like, what are you talking about? Yeah, I think in some fields, in anything in this field, it's kind of going to be that way. I feel like maybe if you're in like a corporate job, you might have like this, this, this, but on a day-to-day basis, you're going to kind of have to be proactive. Yeah, and you've got to be confident, which is something I need to work on. Me too. Well, here we are. We are, yeah. This is the time to do it. So what are your goals that you talked about? Well, I came in kind of not knowing too much. Like I had a very like preliminary description of it. And obviously it like spoke to me, but I wasn't sure like specifically, like, I don't know. I didn't know what my roles would be. Like, and then Travis was like, well, what would you want to do? And I was like, I thought you were going to tell me what I was going to do. So I definitely have to think more about like specific content things like to make and go out there. But I think skills I'm hoping to like hone in on is definitely editing more. And I think camera work is really cool. Yeah. Yeah, what about you? Yeah, camera work really excites me, especially as a film major, like these cameras are just so cool and I love holding big camcorders. And I have experience using the editing software, Premiere Pro, but I feel like just in the past few days I've learned a lot, especially about how to use like Photoshop and stuff for title cards. So I'm really trying to grow my technical skills, but at the same time, I am also relying on this to just grow my confidence with talking to people. I feel like I don't talk to community members much and I don't know how to develop a story well. So I feel like this is all just gonna combine tech stuff and confidence and talking. And I don't know, I just feel like it's a really well rounded thing. And I just have a lot of goals, but working on a story is like my main one. I need to like brainstorm, come up with a list and maybe for the rest of my internship, I just like try to pick one each week or something. Yeah, I think that's a good idea because I think content creation or like finding a story is like one of the hardest parts. And I struggled with that in my other, in my journalism internship. And it was like, it was kind of hard. And then the aspect of having to go and like ask people, like, can I sit and record you and interview you and then use it? And it's a little bit, and a lot of people were so nice too. Like we're lucky to be in like kind of a more community oriented in some ways. Kind of creative space too. Yeah, creative space, yeah. But yeah, I think getting more comfortable, just I think it is exposure therapy, like going on the street and just being like, once you do it a few times, like you'll get into it, but once it's just been a while and it's a little scary. I was doing a project for Miles about the sort of shop junk teaks down the street. And I went there during a party they were having and I just tried to like approach people and tell them what I was doing. And I got rejected so many times and it was kind of a blow to like the persona I was putting forth. But I feel like this time I'm like, I gotta do what I gotta do. You're gonna get rejected. People are not gonna wanna talk to you. That's so real. But also, hopefully I'm not alone doing it. I would love to like collab too. So I feel like it'll be a good experience. Yeah, that was one of the things I said like I love working in a team. And also like if you're out doing something, well, it kind of requires a team. Like if someone's gonna be doing that, which makes me a lot more comfortable, I think. But I just like working with the team and collabing and I think it might be easier to like come up with things or like I feel like bouncing stuff off is like someone says one thing and you're like, wait, and then suddenly you have like this whole idea. So I'm hoping maybe that. I love storyboarding. I love taking out a little notebook and a fun pen and like just going to work. Yeah, you're a filmmaker. I'm sure you, I don't know, I don't know. I'm really bad at storyboarding though. My drawings are always horrible. Drawing it out. They do, yeah, we do that. And you can also do it just like written, but the drawing, you don't wanna see. We will not be doing that. As long as you can see it in your head. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, I definitely need to like sit and think about specific content things. And I think it'll help me just be more aware too. Like, I don't know just with everything going on like on day to day like homework, school work, like everything like, I don't know. Sometimes I don't prioritize like things that I am interested in like being connected with the community and knowing what's going on. Especially since this isn't like our hometowns really. I feel really detached sometimes. Actually for Christmas, my dad got me like an Alexa so I can like FaceTime him on it and like hear the news and stuff. Yeah, it was like an Echo show or something. He was like, you know, your condo detached up there. And it made me, I mean, it was kind of stupid and big grateful but it made me realize I was like, yeah, I'm kind of at a touch with the community and I don't know what's going on around me. And even listening to conversations in here, they're all so aware and so passionate about what's going on. And I'm like, I need to like get a grip on my surroundings. I need to step up my game. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's just being conscious about it, I guess. Like, I don't know, putting the effort in. Yeah. Also this, despite it's like creative aspects like it is a sense of structure that like gives me the motivation to do it because I have a purpose for it. Exactly. I don't know. The structure helps. Yeah, if I'm not being like pushed to do something, I'm not gonna do it. I'm not gonna even think about it. Nope. Or I'm gonna worry about it in the back of my head but am I gonna do anything about it? No, like I'm not gonna do it. Even like my roommate will send me the like electric bill and she's like, just pay me by this date. I'm not gonna think about that until the like day before that date. I just, things just go to the back of my head so easily and I'm constantly coming up with like ideas for things. I don't know. This will just be good to like time management and just get stuffed on. It's gonna test me, I think. Time management. I'm really bad. I bought a planner this year. Usually I get like a honkin one. I got a small one so I could bring it around everywhere. What's a honkin one? Like a just like a big one. I don't know why I said honkin, but. Oh, like that was just an adjective you were using. I thought it was a brand. You like squeeze it in it honk. Yeah, I think I just gave up on a planner last year and I was just like, I was literally like living on the lamest edge, but like living on the edge like just like day to day I'd be like, oh, that's due. Like I guess I have to do that. Like that's really bad. So I did also get a planner but now I have to get back into using it. I think I need like a literal written down. I need a like gentle parent myself into getting my life together too. Actually, I was having a therapist and she was like, you need an appointment book. Like she has an appointment book that like schedules out her day. And I was like, I need that because. I know a lot of people do that with like Google calendar and stuff, but that that. I can't do it online. I need it in front of me. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, my memory is really bad. So. Me too. So what are you most excited for? I don't know. I guess like, well, right now I'm like a little overwhelmed. I think everything. I think seeing what I come up with because right now I'm like, what am I gonna do? So I think once I figure that out, I think like seeing something that you've made or like seeing actual progress in something is so validating. Yeah. Well, exciting. Even making like a title card on Photoshop after not knowing how to use Photoshop at all, I was like, oh my God, Gwen, that's slay. Like, who am I? You know, it was so easy and like. But it's new. Yeah. It's exciting. And I'm really excited to get to know people more too, like in here. Like I feel like it's a really close knit thing. So. Yeah, I feel like people are the best part of like any place even when I'm starting. Always. Yeah, I don't know. I like, I don't know. I feel like sometimes I'm, I spend, I don't know. Like, sometimes I forget and then I'm like around a bunch of people and I'm like, oh my God, I love being around people. Yeah. I didn't. So my job here at UVM, I work for university event services. Oh, my roommate does that. Oh, who are, who are she? Hailey. Hailey. Stephens. Stephens. Name-dropping, doxing on the podcast. Psst, psst, psst. Yeah, I don't know her. But. Maybe, is she new? No. Oh. I don't know. Okay. Just forget I said that. Okay, never mind everyone. Back to the show. Even being gone for a month and then coming back, I was like so excited to see my coworkers and I was like, my God, what is happening to me? Cause usually I've worked so many retail jobs and I just am not close to them. And it's like people from all different stages of life too. That's the best part about working a job, to be honest. It's making it true. But I do like being surrounded by students that I can relate to. That's true. You know, but it, yeah, it like, it has its benefits working with people like older than you and stuff. Yeah. I feel like classes are supposed to do that, but I feel like maybe it's COVID or something, but like I go into class and everyone's just like, well, sometimes people talk to each other, but if I don't know anybody, like, I feel like there's not much, like we go in there and we sit and we listen and we do what we have to do and then we leave. Like I feel like, I don't know, did it, is it always that way? I feel like sometimes it used to be like, I don't know, there was at least something like- I feel like- Or you could have like, I don't know. I feel like my freshman year, like people wanted to talk. In person. I was. I was a year earlier, so it was like online. Wow. That probably stifled people a lot. I think anxiety grew. Yeah. Oh, me too. Bro, it killed me. It took me out. The other day though, I was showing someone how to do something on their phone for a project. And I was like, is it okay if I hold your phone? And she was like, yeah. And then suddenly she just gripped the phone out of my hand. She was done with me. In class? Yeah, I was like, okay. Like you could have just said like, oh, I don't need your help anymore. I feel like people don't know what we're doing anymore. I was just showing her how to transfer a file. Oh. It's just weird. I think people struggle. I feel like I don't have good conversations with a lot of people. Well, we can practice that here too. Exactly, that's what I'm trying to do. Because there are a lot of people, like obviously we're gonna get rejected probably sometimes, but I feel like a lot of people here kind of open to at least talk. Or like also maybe in the same boat we're like wanting to talk to people and not having. A lot of times people, when you give them the chance they will talk, they want to speak to you. They want to tell you, yeah. Especially if they're just passing by, they feel special, you know? That too. Good to see them feel like that too. It's like, yeah, you are a part of a community and I want to hear what you have to say. That's so validating. And I feel like something, because I did it kind of in high school a lot. It would be like around, like the job I had was like we'd have to go and like ask people to assign. Like, do you know what this is? Do you want to sign this petition? Scary. Super scary. But what was my point? I don't know. I don't know what my point was. That's okay. Like, man. You know it's gone. That's okay. It'll come back maybe. I'll find it. Hopefully. Yeah, anyway. But. Petitions scare me. Yeah. Oh, I know what I was gonna say. Having to do that made me appreciate the people that do that. So I feel like I'm more, I feel like younger people, it's the same like we don't answer the front door. We don't answer phone calls. And we're not gonna talk to people on the street. Like that's just kind of the nature or maybe that's just New England too. Probably like a facet of it. But like, I don't know. Having the experience of having to do that makes me be like, if someone talks to me on the street I'm like, I'll give it to you. Like I'm gonna stop. Except those people on church street that keep asking for donations too. Oh, yeah. It's like this one. Oh, what's it called? What's it called? They don't celebrate their birthdays. It's like a religion. Jehovah's Witness? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, I haven't seen them around. They're always there. Did they dress up? Yes. Yeah. No, I don't know. Really? They always have like a little. Maybe they're avoiding me. They know I'm like not. Yeah, I don't really get approached by them. It's usually like the younger people that are with them approach me. I think the older people like assume that they see a college student. Yeah, yeah. Interesting. Yeah, so wait, are you from New England? Where are you from? I'm from Boston, actually. Oh, cool. Nice. I'm from Connecticut. Cool. Yeah? We're not that far. Right? Outside of New Haven. So I get the New Haven style pizza. Very good. I don't know what that is. Really? It's like a brick oven pizza. I think people in Connecticut really overestimate how important Connecticut is because I don't know. Okay. I don't care about it. I didn't know that people hated Connecticut until coming here. I found out that people don't even consider it a part of New England. Really? People hate it. And it's like, girl, I'm sorry. Connecticut. Well, if I say it too many times, I'm gonna like not register it as a word, but it's just unimproved. Yeah. It's just like less significant. I wouldn't say I actively despise it. It's boring. And it's, I think it's smaller, right? Probably. And I think one joke I think that's been made is a few people from Connecticut, like super unaware, like socially, culturally. Like I just had an old roommate and then like a couple people were in the same room and it was like they didn't know what this like really popular thing was. And it was like culturally relevant. And I can't remember what it was. And they were like all from Connecticut, all the people that did it though. It's so interesting. Yeah, I'm very like, I think like the biggest thing people think about is like Yale. Like Yale's in New Haven. And I live like on the border of New Haven. And I don't know. I think I had a different experience in Connecticut because I was kind of going to, it was technically like an inner city high school. So like, I don't know, it was people from a bunch of different backgrounds which was really interesting. But then like my roommate lives in Newtown, Connecticut which is a really like rural area. And like her entire school, I think it was like 95% or something was white. And I don't know, it was just so interesting. Like I would tell her things. I'd be like, yeah, didn't this used to happen to you in public school? And she's like, no, like, I don't know. Just very sheltered, I think in Connecticut which I'm really grateful that I met a lot of different people and learned so much, you know? Yeah, cause if you're in a different town maybe it wouldn't have happened. I guess you could say that about a lot of states but I guess you heard it here. Connecticut has that it's deeply layered and fasted. And New Haven style pizza is so good. It's kind of like, there's no good pizza place around here in my opinion. Okay, sorry, we're kind of going off that. Yeah, I know, all right. I don't think it matters. Okay, okay. I don't know, we're supposed to stop that. I kind of like flatbreads. Have you ever had like a brick oven pizza? Like it's really thin. It's kind of charred on the bottom. Yeah. I like thick. You like thick? Well, not like deep. I was gonna say. Like, I love. Like Sicilian pizza? Like flatbread is like restaurant pizza. Like that's where you're getting when you're going to like a restaurant. Yeah, you know, like I mean like takeout pizza. Like I love like classic. You know, like Domino's isn't takeout pizza. Like that's its own thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you like like Leonardo's? Okay, that's like school function. That's school function pizza. Okay, what pizza place do you like? I don't know. What's the place behind city market? I really like their pizza. Oh, Folinos. Really like their pizza. I think you would, because that is giving New Haven like it's thin. That's not my favorite. Like that's like a flatbread. I guess flatbread, like that's separate than like pizza to me. Yeah. You know, I totally see the variations. Like I put New Haven style pizza in its own category. And I love other pizza, but there's something about it. So good. So good. So hometown. Yeah. And it's right next to this Italian pastry shop called Libby's. Oh, so good. So good. Yeah. Okay. What's your favorite place in Boston? Pizza? Or just anything. I don't even know. I literally don't know. I don't even have like a favorite anything. Really? But there's like a lot. Like it's just, there's so many. Like even in my neighborhood, there's like 10 pizza spots. It's like, where do we want to go? Yeah. I'm not like in this, well like I'm in Boston, but I'm not like downtown or anything. Yeah. Okay. Like in a separate neighborhood. Is there a reason you didn't want to go to school in Boston? You just like wanted to leave? Cause I think if I wasn't from Boston, I would love to go to school there. But like I was already there. So I was like, oh, maybe we should go out. But like I didn't have a specific reason to come to UVM. It was like COVID and I was like, basically like dawn on a map. Like where am I going? Hey, me too. Me too. Yeah. I like toured UVM in person and it was a self-guided tour cause this COVID was still going on. So self-guided tour. And it was- What, they give you a map? Is that why so many people were lost around that time? Yes. My dad and I got into this big fight, but it was, he was like, no, we're going here. I'm like, no, we're not. But anyways, that is so irrelevant. It was a beautiful day in April. And I was like, oh my God. So all the hammocks were out. It looks like Harvard. I mean, it looks like Hogwarts, like that one street that they only take pictures of. The university place. That's what got me. That's what got me. And then you go over to like athletic campus and like, oh, I didn't realize we were living in prisons. I didn't know athletic campus was a thing. Right. Yeah. I didn't tour. So I didn't like- Did you like a virtual tour? I know they had those. I like literally like- So you just- I just came here. I don't even know. Wow. That's great though. Four years later. Okay, that's scary. I don't even want to talk about that, but- Yeah, let's- We have this whole semester here too. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I've never done something. I think it was good to get like an internship too, because like I haven't got them like in the summers. I haven't done like a real internship. I've done like- I've never done an internship. Yeah. But this is an internship. It's not even like, I don't know. The way it reads is like one that you do like over the summer, like a really official one. Yeah. So even if it's like a chorus. Do you go home over the summer? Yeah, I go back to Boston. I kind of wish I spent one summer here, but it was kind of like, oh, I want to go home and see like my friends. I'm like, exactly. My family gets so upset when I leave. I just feel so bad. Yeah, it's actually a problem. They kind of guilt me sometimes. I'm like, I'm in college guys, I have to go. Yeah. But I don't know. I feel like summers are like kind of forget about the academic space. So that's why I like it. Yeah, but apparently like Burlington, will not make you like miss out. No, but apparently like, it's just like a whole different vibe in the summer. It's like, there's so much parking. Okay, I was thinking that. Think about it. Yeah. Think about it. Heaven, like never having to, you can just go wherever. That's insane. It's insane. Like I have to think about if I really want to leave the house after too because like, am I going to have to walk a mile? You literally, I got in this whole parking fiasco with my roommate. And now we're going to be alternating who gets our free spot and who gets the street every week. Every week? Every week. That's hard because I feel like it's more app to do like when you need it, but it's too difficult to negotiate that. Exactly. So it's like, it's really hard, but it's been a whole saga. And I probably shouldn't talk about that on this, but. Well, you know what? I was literally talking, I was like, the question was like, what do I want to do content of? And I couldn't, I don't know. I'd have to think about it. But one thing I was like, parking. Parking? I mean, people get mad on the camera. I think people would have a lot to say. You should have like a, I can't write on that. I have like my phone. Yeah. Let's make a little, oh my God, I love your phone case. Thank you, I just got it for Christmas. It's so cute. Description, a multitude of colorful ghosts. One is a tomato, case defy. I have a ghost tattoo. It's called after party. I have a ghost tattoo and he has a cowboy hat on. I know it's kind of basic. It was a Friday the 13th sale tattoo. Okay, both flashes are so like worth it. I know I have one right here and one right here for Friday the 13th. That's so cool. Right? Was it the same day? Two separate, Friday the 13th? Two separate ones. Two separate ones, yeah. And one was in New Hampshire and one was in Burlington. Yeah. It's a big thing. And usually like. Ooh, do you think you're haunted or? I don't know. I just thought he was cute. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes. I do too. Have you ever seen a ghost? I think my childhood house is haunted. Oh really? I think. It feels like and some stuff has happened. Like some really stuff has happened. Oh my gosh. Have you ever watched ghost adventures with like Zach Bagan's and stuff? No. Is that the one where they're like, is that like one of the really dramatic ones where they're like, talk if you can hear me? Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my God. And it just, you hear like. It's like, oh my God, he said his name is Dave. Like girl, please. Yes. It's exactly like that. And that's why I like it. I also watched a lot of middle schools. I watched them. So now I find it comforting. Did you watch like BuzzFeed Unsolved? Of course. Yeah. That was good. Yeah. It was good. Shane Dawson had a series. I mean, we don't stand him anymore, but like a lot of the ghost ones. We don't stand him anymore. I don't think I ever stand him. I just liked his video. Guilty. That's on record now. You are literally canceled. Oh my God. Fiona pointed at me. Yeah. Okay. Wait, where did we start this room? Oh, parking. How did we get there? Oh, phone case guys. Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry, sorry. Parking is really good. I feel like it'll also bring up a lot of stories too. I think it's funny. The amount of, oh my gosh, yeah. Okay. I have my own. Yeah, me too. Oh yeah, about the... So we should do parking maybe first. I feel like that'd be a really fun video. I mean, yeah, we have the idea. Yeah, yeah. And then we could maybe, I don't know, I feel like the leather thing could really be interesting. I feel like we get a bunch of different opinions too. And also people who just like don't know where they stand. Me, I don't know really. Yeah, I'd love to help you with that. I'm a vegetarian, so I'm like, I don't, but I own Doc Martins. It's like, isn't that leather? Yeah, so it's like... Yeah, because they have fake leather ones. There's like a vegan lifestyle and then there's like vegan eating. And I always, I don't think I knew that. I think, I feel like I would assume, I feel like I just didn't think about it, like you think food, but then it comes and it just like makes sense. Yeah. There's like the honey debate. What's the honey debate? Is honey vegan? I don't know, I've heard that, it's like a very... I feel like no, because it's, I don't know what do you think. I'd be, but it's like... But also it's not coming, I don't know. Oh yeah, wait. They're not killing the vegans. Yeah, but they don't kill to make milk and vegans don't do that. Oh my air is so right. I don't know, I don't know what the debate is. I've just heard it actually. That's really interesting. But I think yeah, the vegan leather, because one facet is like, it's a small business. I'm sure it's locally sourced and it's like a nice old couple. And then on the other hand, it's like, what, you know, it has to end anyway. Or like, if you don't believe in it, then you can't like make those exceptions because it's... I would love to like go a little, like down another angle too with the couple and be like, hey, what do you think about vegans? Like I want a little controversy, you know? Yeah, what is your response to people who are against leather and your entire livelihood? And I want to like predict their answer, but at the same time, they seem very like liberal Vermont. So it's like, I don't know, maybe they'll be open. I don't know, now I'm interested, but I'm also kind of nervous, I don't know. I think they'll take the spotlight on hopefully. Yeah, I hope. It's a really small store too, so we have to... I totally know, yeah, I totally, I don't even know. I think, cause one day I'm like, what the heck is it? It's next to like Vivid, I think, on that side street. Yeah, and it's also next to like a wine store that sells really expensive wine. Yeah, interesting. I've realized in my like last semester, like I don't go anywhere. Like I go to like the same three places, like I really need to like explore and maybe that's something we could do too. And totally find out places that maybe spotlight. I don't know. I would love to go to the ice caves. Have you been there? No. It's like, I don't know. People come and talk it up. It's in Burlington. It's by the like elementary school, not on college. Yeah, I was about to say right there. I don't know. I'll get back to you on that. But there's like ice caves and I've gone there once and it's just like the way the ice and everything is. Like it's like really colorful and it's like frozen really cool. I'll show you a picture. We should do that. We should just do like a cute edit of it. I don't even need, that's not even talked to anybody. It's just like artsy. There was like a lot of little kids there and like parents. And I feel like that'd be fun. Like, what are you doing today? Yeah. What are you guys? That's so cool. Unless we go and there's no one there. And also you do have to walk over a frozen pond. So that's a bit scary. That's even cooler. But pretty cool. Got a couple falling shots. Exactly. They do shovel a path if there's snow on the pond too. I guess if it's a pond, it's not like the lake. Apparently, okay, side note. Okay. I was talking to somebody. I don't know what his role is. He's definitely somebody at UVM, but he was talking about how like in the 70s and 80s or maybe not even that long ago, but like 30 years ago, I'll say like, that's a 90s. That's crazy is like they would, or whenever. I don't know. I don't know. But they could, you could drive over the Lake Champlain. Like everyone just drove over it because it was that frozen, but now like it's too warm. That's really interesting. They were just in a climate change class. Actually, I'm in a climate change and writing class. And it's all about how like, you don't see climate change in fictional pieces. And it's like, what does this country love more? Like than anything, fictional stuff. So it's like- You do though. I mean, like what? I don't know, I'm thinking, I don't know, in the writing classes I take like, there's a lot of like all the like sci-fi and stuff is like coded with climate change. So that's interesting. We haven't touched on sci-fi yet. So just like, just in general. Just like not addressed in fiction. And like, we're gonna be writing screenplays about- Who's the teacher? Sarah Nielsen. Oh, I had her for screenwriting. I did too, I took screenwriting. Yeah, she's insane. She's literally- She's a mess. But she's- This is on it. Sorry, Sarah Nielsen, I love you. She's just really highly intelligent. And I just like, I feel like I learned little bits of pieces because she's so passionate. It's a bit scary, you know? Especially about climate change because she's an animal activist. And we recently watched- Now I feel like I don't know anything about her. Exactly, I took a Miyazaki class with her. It was Miyazaki in the environment. Sorry, I caught you off so hard. No, no, no, my old roommate took that. Oh really? When? She took it, we were roommates off more a year. Maybe junior year, actually. So maybe last year, I think she took the Miyazaki class. Oh, okay, then I wouldn't know. Donchi, she was a- Oh, I know Gwen McCartle. Yeah, I work with Gwen. Oh, wow. Oh, at Event Services. I think I knew she worked there. Yeah, Donchi was my sophomore year of roommate. I've talked to Donchi before. And she's like abroad now, right? She's like living large, like all over. She's making a film with Miles or something. Really? Yeah. I didn't even know that. She was like, hey, Gwen McCartle gave me your number. I was hoping you could give me access to the virtual Vermont Film Festival films. And I was like, they're not doing them virtual this year. But this is so, I just felt the need to tell you that. Wow, I didn't know she was making a movie with Miles. That's crazy. Yeah, I don't know if like- Or how that even works. They made it or something. I just heard- Oh, and she actually texted me yesterday. I need to get back to her. Oh, really? Yeah. That's funny. One time she didn't respond to Gwen for like three days and Gwen was like, oh, I think she's dead. She's in Italy somewhere and I don't know. She wasn't dead, but- Thank God. Yeah. Well, clearly she wasn't dead. Yeah. What, wait, what were we talking about? Oh, Mizaki in the environment. And like Sarah Nielsen is just so educated and she literally is, I guess, she knows a lot about Disney. She's like- A Disney Scholar? A Disney Scholar? I know. No, no. Different feathers, Disney Scholar. She actually did. She was interviewed by someone from Good Morning America recently about Disney adults. So she does all these crazy interviews. They fly her out to New York last semester so she could talk about a Disney documentary because she's the only Disney Scholar close to New York, I guess. It's not hard to believe, almost. Isn't that crazy? So- I think there'd be like a field of them. I know. With the amount of people that are obsessed with it, but I guess that's just- I know. Yeah. Crazy. So she just has all these really good connections and I feel like she's been really focused on job building and resume building recently. In your class? Yeah. She'll bring it in and be like, listen guys, if you wanna go into this field, this is really important, you should attend this. She's brought someone in to talk about her marketing career in the film industry and stuff. I don't know. I understand. We did not get any of that in my class. Screenwriting sucked. Screenwriting sucked. I was gonna say, I was like, I did not get this experience. Not fun. Not fun. Wait, when did you take screenwriting? Last fall. Oh, wait. Who was in your class? I don't think you were. No. I took screenwriting last, I don't remember when. Was there a girl named Ally with curly blonde hair? Was there that really annoying kid who was actually terrible and was really disruptive? There was a lot, I don't know. I don't know, I don't know. Well, what was your, no, what was your final sitcom? I'd remember that. Okay, it was about a woman, you know, a man who came to a small Vermont town and taught at a really weird school. No? That's cool though. Lors was, it was like these four college students like didn't get housing, like couldn't get housing. So they were like trapped and then they found like this one house and they all weren't friends and then it's haunted. So there was like a ghost living with them and he was like the ghost of a frat dude that had died there in like the 90s. That's good. Mine? It wasn't well written. She tore us apart. Really? Wow. She tore everybody apart. She tore ours apart, but like we knew it was bad, so we kind of just laughed. It was just our jokes that were bad. Apparently like we were like, they were just horrible. Mine was not funny. I thought I was funny because I'd write something and be like, this is good. And I read it and be like, oh my God, it's horrible. That's embarrassing too a little bit because it's like you're very embarrassing. Yeah. Yeah, but she had, well also it was interesting because I felt like she had a very dated view of sitcoms, like she was talking about one thing that just stood out to me. She's talking about Parks and Rec and she's like, you guys aren't getting like the characters. Like the way we were writing them, like you can't build them up for change. Like would let you, have you watched Parks and Rec? Yeah. Like she's like, would Leslie Nope ever get married? Like no, she would never. And she literally does in the show and has kids and finds her true love. Like she was saying like that character would never like have a love interest because that's the way sitcoms work. But I feel like they've developed so much. They have. They have to like have characters. Slightly detached because she doesn't even have a phone. Yeah. Okay, now I'm starting to like love her and idolize her just from what I'm hearing. Like, I don't know. She's like really awesome, but like you can't sign up for her classes. Like I learned after screenwriting. I was like, I can't sign up and expect something. Like I have to expect her lecturing on something completely different. And then I'll learn about that opposed to what I signed up for. If that makes sense. I don't know. But yeah, I'm shocked about like the climate change class. Yeah. It's really interesting. We watched. Have you been writing? Is it a film class? It's like, yeah. It's technically a film class, but we're going to do a lot of writing, she said. We're also reading a lot about like documentary making about animal activism and stuff. And like climate change. I do remember like, I think last year there was or whenever I was taking the class, there was a pig movie for the Vermont Film Festival. And I think it just like followed the life of a pig or a cow. From birth to murder. That's so interesting. Is she a vegan? Maybe. She is a vegetarian. Okay, Queen. Sorry that I'd buffered. Yeah, vegetarian. Cause she's talked about it so many times. And now we're circling back to our leather conversation. Exactly. So I feel like it'd be even cool to get her opinion. That'd be cool. Don't be sick. And like get me back in contact with her. Like apparently she's really important. She's got a lot of contacts. I actually saw her in the hall the other day and I was like, but she doesn't know who I am. You know that face you're making me pass on? I'm like, like, hey. Well, I saw her walking to class the other day and she was like, oh hey, Queen. She started walking with me. And we were talking and talking. We're actually talking about this internship. So you've had three class with her. That's good. I like don't, I have enough like repeat teachers. I know, I know. Like I need like an office hour or something. I'm kind of glad the film department's small too. Cause it's just like a nice community. And I can ask them and reach out to them. But we were walking and I usually take the elevator and innovation. And I was like, oh, she's not gonna take the elevator. So she had me open it up the stairs. And I was like talking to her. And she's fine. And then I was like, I'm gonna start doing those. She goes, do you work out? I was like, I don't want to talk about this, Sarah. But yeah. So I can definitely, I have access to her. That's what I'm trying to say. That sounds like a plan to me. It'd be really good. Yeah. That's cool. Well, if we got anything from this conversation, we have two virtual projects. We do. How many hours do you have here, like a week? So I'm gonna try to get three credits. So I have to do 10 hours a week. Okay, me too. Oh, perfect. I like working in a team if you do. 100%, 100%, 100%. Even especially like Fridays, Travis said that he won't be here starting like February or something. But also I feel like if we're doing a story, the two of us, like we could both come in on Friday. And I have Fridays, like I don't have class. Me too, I don't have class either, so. Okay. This is good. This is good. What other days do you come in? I'm trying to figure out my schedule, I don't really. I'm trying to, I'm gonna reflect this weekend and see what worked and what didn't. Okay. I'll get back to you. I think I worked Monday and Wednesday. Yeah, yeah. But I don't know if we wanna like align our so we can edit together or something. Yeah, somewhat, that would be cool. I mean, no, we should get each other's numbers, yeah. Does this need to be on air? I don't know. Probably not. Well, it's in the whole process. I don't know how to edit. Exactly. I guess we have to keep going until we get Travis's attention. Sounds good. Well, I can't do Mondays, but obviously you can, we don't have to be here all the same time. Shut it down. What the heck? Yeah, I was thinking maybe Tuesdays, Thursdays. I don't know, I have like a weird schedule. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, I only have one class, but it's like one to two-thirty, so it's just like awkward. Sucks, yeah. And I thought it was good, I don't know. And I'm starting a new job like for nights. What job? A server. Ooh, make those tips. Make those tips. Have you been a server before? Yes, I have, I did. Well, last year I worked, have you ever heard of the Venetian Soda Lounge? I'm going there tomorrow. Why? I'm going there tomorrow because they're having like a cocktail and mocktail night. Cool. I saw it on UVM board and it's like 18 plus and it's free and there's like live music, I think. Are you not 21? No. I'm 20. I'll be 21 on Easter this year. Hallelujah. I know. Praise Jesus. Really? Did you like it or no? Working there? No, not at all as hell. But it's a cool, cool spot. And I got to listen to jazz like every night, which only got annoying like very occasionally. It was pretty cool most of the time. Nice. So yeah, working there sucked. But so I bartended there or like I went bar back and made my way up. I'm not a good at it. And then I went home for the summer and I got like a serving job and I bartended sometimes there. So I really needed it. And then this semester, like last semester I didn't like have a job. I was like, I'll get one. And then like I got like, yeah, over on the school and stuff happened. And I was like, I just kept putting it on the back burner and then I was like, beyond broke. So I really had to get on it this semester. And it's really hard, especially having like a non-UVM affiliated job because like they don't care about your schedule and like when you have to change things. Yeah. It's just a little more awkward. Yeah. So where are you working now? Applebee's. I got it out. Oh my God, that's so funny. I'm like embarrassed but I shouldn't be but I kind of am. Oh my God, that's something. I love Applebee's dessert. I was looking at it because I got a free meal on my first training day. But there's literally only like two things for me to eat. There's one entree for me to eat but like there's a bunch of sides and apps. I can live off mozzarella sticks. Like dude at the Venetian Soda Lounge there was only, I'm outing these food. There was only, I don't care because he didn't. Nevermind. There was only an air fryer with like pretzel sticks and mozzarella sticks. Like that's all there was. I was eating that like every night anyway. Oh my God. Because it's only like bar food. Yeah. It's only like a restaurant. That's interesting. Sometimes bar food slaps and sometimes it's just. Well, it's just after a while. Yeah. But I, you know, so I'm fine with sides and apps. I was just talking to someone actually today about the desserts. The fetus? Yes, oh my God. But also just like, I love frozen desserts like Applebee's, Chili's, places like that. Chili's is superior. I love garden dessert. I've never been to Olive Garden. That's like my number one, never have I ever prompt before it gets weird. I'm like, never have I ever been to Olive Garden. Do you like like crappy pasta? I feel like, you know what? I will say, well, I just never went there growing up. So I feel like that. We were chill, like we didn't go that much. We were McDonald's and Chili's. I feel like we're like outing meals. But I feel like when I go out to eat for pasta, like I would never get pasta. Like I could do pasta. Exactly. And I feel like I did have pasta like four times a week as a kid. Thanks mom. So like, I was like, I'm not getting pasta. So I grew up like that. So I feel like I don't usually have like soup and even their salad was pretty good. Bread sticks. Are you going to go just for that? Yeah. They're soft, right? They're not hard. Oh, they're soft. Okay. Oh, I need to go. But then I can't say I've never been to Olive Garden anymore. And then I see something I'm like holding on. You're so right. I think you should do that. I should wear me down eventually. Because it was something else that you've never been to. I've never been to Arby's. Oh, perfect. Have you? No. Wait, no, yes I have. Yes I have, yes I have. Because then it shut down. Did you know that Applebee's is owned by a company that it's like the Flynn group and they own Applebee's, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Panera, Arby's. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. And like one other thing. All of them owned. And then they're not called Flynn restaurant group anymore because they just bought Planet Fitness. So now they're just like Flynn group. What? All of those owned by the same people. Okay, you know what that's giving? Separate issue. It's giving the TJX family. I worked for Marshall's for a bit. RIP. I know. It was like that destroys it for you. It was actually the worst job I've had. Really? I still like wandering around Marshall's though. But. That's different. Sierra, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and something else is all owned by TJX. I know about the triplets like Marshall's, Home Goods, TJ Maxx. Old Navy Gap, Banana Republic. I didn't know Banana Republic was related to. I didn't know that's still existing so. It's on George Street. Banana Republic? Yeah. Girl. You need to. I'm just kidding. Open my eyes like I really do. I walk by, no because now I have like the senior like Rose Goggles on like I've had some terrible experiences here but like I'm like oh my God like I'm leaving like oh my gosh look at this soup store. I've never been here like I need to. Zabiel soup? Yeah. I've never been. It's like okay. It's all about the vibes. Exactly. The desserts are good. Back to Applebee's desserts though when I was looking at my meal like I just looked at the back and I was like oh I better get these for free. Okay. One of my favorite things in life. I feel like I'm on one of those stupid like podcast shows now. Now we're becoming what we hate, we've long enough. One of my favorite things in life is frozen chocolate lava cake and they take it out, they warm it up and it's just. I knew you were gonna say lava cake before you said anything. I just ate my nose and that scared me. I knew you were gonna say lava cake. You knew it. It was, it's just so good. Do you, are you familiar with the establishment old country buffet? No. It was basically you pay to get in and then it's like a buffet style restaurant. I love that, yeah. And they had like this lava cake just tray by tray. Oh that's so good. It'll be right out of the freezer. That is, I love it, I love it so much. Like when you make it at home I've made lava cake before. How do you do it? What's the inside made of? I don't remember, I'm so sorry. It was a King Arthur flour mix and then we added something else and, but. I feel like that's one of those things that like isn't made, it just like happens, it just exists. Yeah. Because it seems so pretty, like so artificial. So there's just nothing like being served it on a plate and with like a scoop of like vanilla ice cream. I don't like vanilla ice cream but when it's with chocolate cake. That's my favorite. Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't like chocolate ice cream. Okay, well then. I worked at an ice cream shop once. Ben and Jerry's? No, it was, it's my hometown. It's called Wentworths and like they made their own ice cream in the back. It was so good. Sometimes the owner would be like, Gwen, come back here, like come back here. She'd be like, you gotta taste this ice cream because right out of the machine she's like, there's nothing like this and I would just take some spoonfuls. So good. So good, so good. That's a very individual experience, that's cool. It was incredible and she got all like the cream stuff from a farm in like Maine. Like, I don't know. It was a very like ethically sourced thing which was interesting because I think Connecticut is not like that at all. It was a great experience. It was my first job ever too. Yeah. The ice cream is so good. That sounds good, how old were you? I was 16 and now my little sister, I was actually hired at 15 then Wayne told me I was 16 to go. Now my little sister is working at an ice cream shop too. Yeah, a different one. Oh, and is it her first job? Yes, it's her first job. She's taking after her sister. Oh, she's 16? Yeah. My sister's 16. I have a 16 year old sister. And she wears her little ice cream earrings. I'm like, oh, you're following the dynasty. That's cute. Yeah. Where else have you worked? Go through a journey. I feel like I babysat a lot when I was younger and my mom used to run a daycare out of our house. Oh, wow, that's bad. A crazy experience but got a lot of connection so I've been babysat for a long time and then I think my first real job was at a preschool and I was like 15, I think I was too young to be taking care of other people's children. Like under the table? Under the table, like 10 an hour. Wow. Literally cleaning up other people's kids and I mean, I love kids. I do too. But I feel like it was a lot. Why is the weight of the world on my shoulders right now is children's lives. That's a lot. I was in like almost like a student government but for like all of Boston high schools was kind of cool as like a Boston student advisory council. That's really cool. So I got a lot of political experience. Got paid. Got paid to do things almost similarly to this, not that it's paid, but like the experience. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it structured me to be able to like learn about legislation and go to like lobby and talk to things about like things we cared about too. It was like student rights, environmental justice. That's great. And like, that's cool. And so that was sick and I got paid. And yeah, like the sad thing was that I wouldn't have done it if I didn't got paid. Like I should have like, you know, but I think people should be paid for their, yeah, I don't know. Totally. So I worked there and then came here. Wow. And I work like, yeah, just different things. Yeah, few more. Server is great. I think I'm too nervous to be a server. Yeah. But like, okay, can you buckle up for a second? Here's my job journey. So I was an ice cream server. And then I also throughout all this, I was a stage manager in my high school theater department. No, but it was like working around that because the director was crazy and had like crazy after hours and I'd have to, anyway, so ice cream shop, then I went to Marshall's, then I went to Goodwill, I've heard her terrible things. I loved working at Goodwill. It was actually really fun. I heard you couldn't buy anything. No, you can't, but I just have people come in and- Someone got fired for that on TikTok. Really? Oh my God. Most of the clothing I own is from Goodwill because I'm like, I live near it. So I'd be like, okay, like to my sister, like come in and get this, I hid it somewhere. I should not be saying this. You can't get fired. That's true. That's true. And then I got a job at this coffee shop for like two weeks. And then I had kind of a mental breakdown. So I had to quit that. And then I got a job up here. I didn't even start before I got a different job at university event services. So I was working at Thorne & Roots, technically employed, it's on Church Street. What is it? It's like really healthy like bowls. It's almost like poke works. Oh, okay. But- I literally don't know it. I need to open my eyes. I mean, it's cool in there. I just, I'd have to walk down to Church Street and I was like, event services is just good. So then I worked there. And then during the summer, I worked at an old people's home. And I was a barista. Listen, when I was really packing on the heat on Indeed, what kept coming up was like server, server. And I'm like, oh, cool. Like, why is no one, like why? And I look and it's an assisted living facility. And I'm like, I'm a server that like, I didn't get really how that would. Yeah. Is it like to give a sense of normalcy or did they like pay really? So like a server at where I was, I didn't want to be a server. I just, I worked at the cafe. Yeah, the cafe, like did they pay real money or was it like- They, no, no. So they couldn't tip me or anything because it's almost like they have points. Yeah. They pay for like a dining plan. So no, they'd like, I'd look them up and some people would actually pay if they didn't buy that plan or something. Right. This guy- Oh, so it's like working at Henderson's, like literally. Okay, exactly. This one guy, John, he always paid with his card and he, sometimes he'd try to give me money and he would take him so long and be like, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. He'd be like, what? What? I'm like, don't worry about it. Just go sit down and bring your food. What? What? Like, so adorable. It was, that's probably my favorite job. Really? I have it if I, when I go back, like they said like you can still have it. Oh. Yeah. And I would always work like eight hour shifts. So I would like, the time would go by and then I would just make a lot of money at the end of the week and be like, wow, I've made a lot of money. What hours would it be? That they need it for eight hours? Like early? Seven a.m. to eight hours from there. Eight hours a person? Cause you said you worked at seven this morning. What do they need you for at event services at seven in the morning? There's just events all day. So like you just got to set up things. I set it up, set up things in near given in HSRF. Do you feel like drive the truck and stuff? I am not driver certified because I'm too nervous. You know, I have a license, don't worry everyone. But I just don't want to do that. I don't care about moving up at the ranks in that job. Like I just want to move some tables, do some tech and get out, you know? I should have done that, to be honest. I should have got a job there. That's awesome. But here I am, Applebee's coming your way. You can make tips. Yeah, that'll be good. That's great. And the stakes are low cause it's Applebee's, you know? Kind of, yeah. I mean, honestly cause normal jobs, like they really hype up like the rules to start. And he was like, everything he said, he was like, we don't really enforce that here. Like we would lose half our staff. And I was like, pet, like literally pet. But I love when I walked in and see like people of all ages. Like there are a group of young people, but people of all ages, I'm like, I am about to have the time of my life. I could do a story on Applebee's. Yeah. Yeah, sorry, we're gonna wrap up. Okay, we're gonna wrap this up. Well, thank you for talking to me. We got some ideas. We did get some ideas. And we're a team now. Yeah, okay. And this is gonna be great. And Gwen is signing out on... GF, like ABCD. Yeah, yeah, yeah. GFG. CCTV podcast. Goodbye. Bye.