This week, we’re catching up on everything that’s happened while we’ve been apart. From TikTok suddenly exploding to nearly 60 million views, rage bait, internet comments and figuring out what actually works on social media, to new products, summer launches and the growing Black Friday madness. Plus, we unpack a family trip to Bali, incredible food, questionable taxis, people-watching, travelling with kids and whether Bali still lives up to the hype. A proper catch-up episode with plenty of tangents along the way.

This week around the table, things go everywhere.

We’re talking reheated long blacks, Japanese knife makers, the return of Secret Weapon, what’s coming in the Pepper & Me summer range, and whether AI is making life easier or slowly taking over the world.

There’s also bacon buddies, the surprising versatility of a good sausage, dangerously buttery salt bread, steak-ordering regrets, Bali plans, and a sneak peek at the upcoming New Zealand Favourite Flavours Tour.

After a massive month celebrating 10 years of Pepper & Me, we’re back around the dinner table and feeling the birthday hangover.

We debrief the chaos of book launches, awards, photoshoots and taking on far too much, before getting into this year’s slightly controversial Advent Calendar plan, upcoming travel, winter hibernation and the usual completely unnecessary rabbit holes.

There’s Founder of the Year, Advent drama, AI conspiracies and an alarming amount of RatTok.

Just another normal catch-up around the dinner table.