Happy New Year, dear listeners! AJ and Chris are back for the first episode of 2026, kicking off the year not with resolutions, but with something far more honest: use it or lose it.

From digital overwhelm and doomscrolling, to the resurgence of analog life, retro tech, journaling, and intentional living, this episode is a wide-ranging, reflective conversation about what’s worth carrying forward…and what might be better left behind.

🌐 Use It or Lose It (instead of a Resolution)

Instead of New Year’s resolutions, AJ frames 2026 around sustainability: what habits, tools, and practices help us maintain in an era of information overload—and which ones quietly drain us.

📱 Losing Doomscrolling

A candid discussion about social media algorithms, attention capture, and how easy it is to feel trapped by always-on digital life. The antidote? More intentional, analog-adjacent experiences that slow things down.

📼 The Return of Analog (and 90s Tech)

From cassette players and iPods to dedicated single-task devices, the guys explore why 90s-era tech feels like a “vaccination” against hyper-connectivity. Less friction, fewer notifications, more presence.

🎮 Retro Gaming & Intentional Play

AJ dives into handheld emulators, retro consoles, and the rise of the “90s Nook,” including why replaying those classic retro games can be comforting, affordable, and surprisingly fresh thanks to modern communities like RetroAchievements.

* Retro Achievements - https://retroachievements.org/

* Retroid handhelds - https://www.goretroid.com

✍️ Journaling, Simplified

Chris shares a major shift: stepping away from premium pens and notebooks in favor of simpler tools that remove pressure and invite use. Cost doesn’t equal meaning, and sometimes less really is more.

* Muji - https://www.muji.us/collections/paper-goods?srsltid=AfmBOoqisSkxF5sZ96uEtQQNMhG9pTUx7j8KUaF73Z0pA1qvMevqHyIg

📓 Gamifying Life with the Hero’s Journal

AJ talks about transitioning to a Hero’s Journal, a guided, quest-based journaling system that blends reflection, goal-setting, and storytelling, plus how journaling has become a shared, normalized practice with his son.

* The Hero’s Journal - https://theherosjournal.co

📻🎧 KMRE Love

A heartfelt thank-you to KMRE 88.3 FM, proudly broadcasting The Bellingham Podcast on the terrestrial dial and online.

🌲 Quality Assurance

🔥 Fire & Story (Waypoint Park)

Fire & Story, a January event featuring music, storytelling, and community warmth down at Waypoint Park. Sauna groves, live performances, and family-friendly vibes—one to keep an eye on next winter.

* Fire and Story - https://www.fireandstory.com/

* Energy Pyramid band - https://energypyramid.earth/

📚 Silent Book Club

Chris’s talks about Silent Book Club — a relaxed, introvert-friendly gathering for anyone who loves to read in good company (but without the pressure of discussion). Bring your own book, grab a drink if you like, and enjoy focused reading time alongside others. It’s all about presence, calm, and intentional community — a perfect fit for our use it or lose it theme.

* Learn more at https://silentbook.club

* In Bellingham at Ponderosa Books https://www.ponderosabeerandbooks.com

Thanks for starting 2026 with us. Whether you’re using it, losing it, or figuring it out one analog step at a time: we’re glad you’re here. Take care of yourself!

AJ & Chris

After more than a year off-air, AJ Barse and Chris Powell dust off the mics, on sticks (more on that next episode) and return to the Bellingham Podcast from their favorite city by the Salish Sea for a catch-up that’s part reflection, part revival.

AJ and Chris share what pulled them away from the mic; from AJ’s medical detours and higher-ed budget storms to Chris’s growing fatigue with all things digital, as always they open up and ultimately brought them back. They trade updates on analog tech experiments, air-gapped AIs (snarkly brought to by the fictitious SmackGPT), and the joys of going offline. The conversation also highlights what’s new around Bellingham:

* El Sueñito Brewing (tamales & trivia)

* Event page: Noches de Trivia

* Frelard Tamales

* Training Grounds (gym) —Training Grounds

* Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro (closure) — Announcement: Boundary Bay closing at end of 2025

* Hey Dumplin’ (dumplings) — Hey Dumplin

* Cosmic Games (game store) — Cosmic Games

* Waypoint Park (waterfront park) — Info page: Waypoint Park – City of Bellingham

* Pen y Fan - Mountain

* Boundary Bay closes after 30 years - Cascadia Daily News

* KMRE 88.3

It’s a relaxed, real, and refreshingly and quasi-analog homecoming for the long-running Bellingham Podcast - complete with shout-outs to listeners old and new, the regular plug to KMRE 88.3 FM, and the reminder that even in a tech-tired world, community still connects.

In this episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ Barse and Chris Powell dive into October with a discussion on the increasing role of AI, the revival of analog, and reflections on masculinity. AJ shares his experiments with Google’s Notebook LM and expresses concerns over AI’s growing influence, especially in voice replication. The duo then shifts to their love for analog, highlighted by AJ’s visit to Roldorf & Co., a Vancouver-based watchmaker, and a documentary on the Polaroid revival. Chris also reflects on societal views of masculinity, inspired by a Vice TV documentary, and they explore the appeal of authenticity in an AI-driven world.

AI and Digital Identity

AJ shares his recent tests with Google’s Notebook LM, emphasizing AI’s potential to influence media through synthetic voice replication.

https://wp.wwu.edu/ajbarse/2024/10/02/what-if-your-notes-could-think-for-you/

AI Amplifies False Memories https://www.perplexity.ai/page/ai-amplifies-false-memories-Oi2YlbzuSyqDnm4m.RoxHw

Chris and AJ discuss their concerns about AI-generated content, pondering the implications for personal data and podcasting.

Vancouver BC

AJ talks about his visit to Roldorf & Co. and recounts Jason Gallop’s journey to rebuild his watch business after a devastating fire.

Roldorf Cafe

Exploring Analog

A discussion on The Revenge of Analog documentary, with a focus on the revival of Polaroid film and the allure of analog experiences in a digital age.

Reflections on Masculinity

Chris shares insights from the Vice TV documentary series, Searching for Masculinity, sparking a conversation about evolving societal views on masculinity.

They examine the importance of authenticity and personal identity, especially in an age where AI and digital media can shape perceptions.

Documentary Recommendations for Doctober

Chris highlights the annual documentary showcase at Bellingham’s Pickford Cinema and suggests thought-provoking documentaries on themes like masculinity and analog nostalgia.

Quality Assurance Picks

Chris’s Pick: RI Music app, a free, ad-free option for Android users to stream music from YouTube without tracking.

Mr. McMahon on Netflix

Diggnation

A revival of the early tech show by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht, celebrating internet oddities

https://www.diggnation.show/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@diggnation

Listener Reminders:

Tune in to KMRE 88.3 FM or stream online at kmre.org to catch the Bellingham Podcast.

Look out for the November episode with AJ and Chris’s holiday gift guide and travel stories.

In this episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ Barse and Chris Powell catch up after a summer hiatus. They discuss recent personal experiences, including family vacations and changes in their professional lives. AJ shares his summer adventures, including time spent on San Juan Island and managing life as a working parent. Chris recounts his solo trip to Friday Harbor and his enjoyment of tech-free moments. They also delve into topics like their evolving relationship with personal technology, privacy-focused mobile devices, and the balance between digital and analog experiences. Towards the end, they reflect on the nostalgia of collecting and playing games, particularly focusing on AJ’s experience re-entering the world of Pokémon with his son.

Topics Discussed:

Summer Recap

* AJ’s vacation to San Juan Island and family adventures

* Chris’s solo trip to Friday Harbor and tech-free relaxation

Life Updates

* AJ’s experience balancing work and family life during August

* AJ’s wife landing a job right after graduation

* Chris’s insights into the evolving personal tech landscape and privacy-focused gadgets

Tech Talk

* AJ and Chris discuss personal tech choices like Graphene OS and privacy-focused apps

* Chris’s minimalist approach to tech: ProtonMail, VPN, and offline maps

* The debate on iOS vs. Android and privacy benefits of alternative operating systems

Analog Meets Digital

* AJ’s dive back into the Pokémon trading card game with his son

* Nostalgia around collecting, comics, and trading cards

* Insights on teaching the next generation about gaming, collecting, and community

Looking Ahead

* Upcoming plans for AJ’s 100th scuba dive milestone

* Fall projects, holiday gift ideas, and the continued journey in balancing analog and digital worlds

Listener Reminder:

Tune in on KMRE 88.3 FM for the radio broadcast of the Bellingham Podcast, and stay connected for future episodes!

On this enlightening episode of the Bellingham Podcast, Chris shares his transformative experience from a recent Silence Retreat in Mission, BC. Meanwhile, AJ delves into his deep connections with silence and presence, cultivated through his adventures climbing mountains and diving in the serene waters of the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. Join us as we explore the profound impacts of quietude and mindfulness in our fast-paced lives.

EinsemdIcelandic word for solitude or alone.https://m.dict.cc/icelandic-english/einsemd.html

Westminster Abbey

Benedictine Monks in Mission, B.C. -https://westminsterabbey.ca/

Diving the kelp at Rosario, Anacortes WA.

On this special catch-up episode of the Bellingham Podcast, AJ and Chris are back from their travels with exciting updates! Chris's daughter and AJ's wife both celebrated graduations, and the hosts have some invaluable travel observations and tips to share. Recorded at Casa de Chris, they dive into their Father's Day weekend experiences and offer essential advice for navigating Washington state ferries during peak season. Plus, this is just part one—stay tuned as they set the stage for the return of the beloved "Word Of Note" series in the next episode!

Thanks for reading The Bellingham Podcast ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Welcome back to the Bellingham Podcast! We're driving the DeLorean right back into the nostalgia-fueled fun with the second part of our Word of Note of Nostalgia. AJ and Chris pick back up from their first part of their DeLorean adventure, ready to continue exploring the curious realm of nostalgia and its ties to marketing, technology, and personal memories.

In this episode, join us for another nostalgic trip down memory lane as we reflect on our past experiences and delve deeper into the trends shaping marketing for our generations (Gen X for Chris, Gen Y for AJ). From timeless retro gadgets to the ongoing wave of film reboots, we'll continue unraveling how nostalgia influences our perceptions and choices; and how we reflect on it as fathers.

If you are tuning in from the past on your VR head set, or tune in to your virtual transistor radio, and let's continue our journey into the timeless allure of nostalgia on this engaging second part of our episode.

Show notes

Webster “ Nostalgia” : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition

also : something that evokes nostalgia

: the state of being homesick : HOMESICKNESS

2024 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

On Sunday the 19th of May 2024, AJ is riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. To sponsor him = https://gfolk.me/barse

References

https://www.bigleaguechew.com/