Justin: 0:00

I love Starbucks, but sometimes you got to hold just a bit of a protest and I'm not protesting them forever. I'll be back, I'll go. You know we have a small group there.

Rhett: 0:08

I'm kind of like a what now? What happened? What did you read? What did you see? What?

Justin: 0:13

am I unaware of it? Really, just might be my own little tantrum. I just need to get it out of the way and I'm good and I'll tell you what the tantrum is. Okay, so everybody can hear it out there. Starbucks has gone to this new policy, so if you're in the in their dining area to sit down, make it your third place where you just chill.

Rhett: 0:33

Yeah, they want to go more to porcelain mugs, so are they forcing the porcelain mug on you, or did they give you the option to continue to have?

Justin: 0:38

the cup you forfeited, your refill, basically, unless you do a porcelain cup. So my boycott for a day. Yeah, I want to see how long this goes and I'm not going to dare you on this, because I've learned. I've learned, guys if you dare, Justin, let's see, I bet you, I bet you won't last a day.

Rhett: 0:53

Like no seven years later.

Justin: 0:55

No, I don't want to give up Starbucks.

Rhett: 1:12

Well, welcome back to another conversation with your friends Red and Justin, right here at Armchair. Authentic a podcast designed to steward our stories, our conversations, our relationships, even our laughter, in a way that serves you Now. Today, Justin and I could not be more excited about our conversation. We can't wait to get into it. So we're doing something new today. We're just jumping right into it. You guys ready, here we go. Okay, Justin, so I have a little bone to pick with you, and it's okay. I don't judge you for this at all, but I couldn't help but notice the moment you walked in the studio today.

Rhett: 1:49

you sent your coffee down and it's in a seven brew drive-thru cup. You want to talk to me about that, especially after I've kind of thrown them under the bus several times with the way that they've treated me consistently in a very flirtatious way, and I'm a 47 year old man now and married 19 years happily and uh, I I don't need teenagers flirting with me, that's just weird. And so that wasn't just a one-off. That's happened a couple of times, about a year ago or whenever they launched. So you knowing that, coming through my town whenever they launch, so you knowing that coming through my town, there's a, there's a beautiful Starbucks that's brand new and you know, and I know you like Starbucks and you like coffee, you like your gas station coffees, but then you've chosen to get this devil's brew seven.

Rhett: 2:38

I'm kidding, I'm messing with you, but at the same time it makes good conversation. So why have we chosen? All right, did you do an experiment? What kind of? What was going on?

Justin: 2:48

yeah, see, I thought about you this morning when I was going there I felt a little bit like I was cheating on you it's okay but yeah, I was. It's partially not seven brew, they just happen to be there on the exit that I got off on my way coming to your house okay, but so. But so two parts. So let's talk about first why I went there instead of Starbucks.

Rhett: 3:08

Yeah.

Justin: 3:08

I love Starbucks, but sometimes you got to hold just a bit of a protest and there's a reason why, and I'll tell you Okay. Oh great, but I've kind of and I'm not protesting them forever. I'll be back, I'll go. You know we have a small group there.

Rhett: 3:22

I'm kind of like a what now? What happened? What did you read? What did you see? What am I unaware of at this moment? It's nothing that they've done.

Justin: 3:30

that would go against any beliefs that I have. Okay, Nothing like that. I'm just. Maybe I'm having a little tantrum. Okay, it really just might be my own little tantrum and I just need to get it out of the way and I'm good and I'll probably be back tomorrow, but we can't, we can't just bypass that.

Rhett: 3:45

Yeah, Well, I'm going to tell you.

Justin: 3:46

I'll tell you what the tantrum is. Okay, so the normal Starbucks I go to in an area town that we live in, uh, mountain Brook, yep, it's just one of my spots. I'll go work out of there certain days on my off day. I'll actually go there, just write.

Rhett: 4:04

What time?

Justin: 4:04

do they open 5am Like five, five, 30. Okay, yeah, and that's my off day and I'll pop up just early and then I get home and spend time with the boys and they homeschool on those days anyway, and so, and then me and Summer will get to hang out. But for some reason that Starbucks has has gone to the all of this so everybody can hear it out there. Starbucks has gone to this new policy where, if you get a drink and you plan on getting a refill, first of all they're offering you the porcelain cup and by the way.

Rhett: 4:36

I had no idea they did refills until like a year or two ago, Whenever you mentioned this yeah. When you're doing regular coffee and you're inside.

Justin: 4:43

Yes, and by the way that's a standard I've learned at a lot of coffee chains because they're trying to keep up with each other. But when you go get a drip coffee, which means that's the brew, that's not like a milk-based espresso drink, it's like you're pouring coffee in your cup. If you get that especially if you drink it black that's free refills.

Rhett: 5:05

It's the standard.

Justin: 5:06

Okay, so Starbucks has always done that if you've had their card or their app, which I've had, that for 18 years. But right now what I do, just my method. I can spend hours in a Starbucks. I'll get there early and I'll get my coffee and just take my time drinking it, but I know, in about two to three hours I'm going back to get my refill.

Rhett: 5:26

Yeah.

Justin: 5:27

Now full disclosure. At Starbucks I don't drink it black. I put my drink of choice is I put vanilla. It's like four pumps of vanilla syrup and then I put whipped cream on top and let it melt and be the cream which which, by the way, they do not charge for at this moment of this recording. Oh yeah, they do not charge for at this moment of this recording.

Rhett: 5:44

Oh yeah, they do, do they? Oh see, I always thought that you got that kind of like as a freebie, like, oh hey, we need to put some four pumps in that for me. You know, like, really used to be like that, okay.

Justin: 5:57

So they started charging for all. That, started charging for it and it makes a $3 coffee jump up to like 420. So you're paying for it, but you're not espresso prices, because that's going to be a five, six $7 drink. Now mine comes out to like four, 40. Okay, and it depends, because no Starbucks is the same. Some people charge and some people don't, so I don't really know the fact it's not consistent but even for refills you go up to get your refill.

Justin: 6:24

Some people just hit refill and it costs nothing, or sometimes I know I'm going to pay like an extra dollar 40, okay so the vanilla and the whipped cream, so the inconsistency.

Rhett: 6:34

Somewhere something's changed. That's got you actually not that.

Justin: 6:37

That's not my boycott, that's just me trying to let our listening audience understand some of the perks that you can get at Starbucks. Okay, but it's going to be inconsistent. So the porcelain cup we've talked about that. When we I think we had Mark on our episode a few back, we were hanging with our friend and we're talking about how they're going back to writing on paper cups. Yeah, but if you're in their dining area to sit down, make it your third place where you just chill.

Rhett: 7:01

Yeah, they want to go more to porcelain mugs. So are they forcing the porcelain mug on you or do they give you the option to continue to have the cup?

Justin: 7:09

they'll ask you if you want porcelain, and they're not even thinking refill, they're, they're offering the porcelain to you. If you take paper, they won't give you a refill because they won't refill that cup. They haven't done that since covid and they're trying to save, so they don't want to get a second cup. And so you forfeited your refill, basically, unless you stay in the restaurant and do a porcelain cup.

Rhett: 7:33

Okay, so inside the restaurant you want to stay there porcelain cup, but they're not thinking about anybody asking for a refill. No, but if you needed a refill, they would pour back into the not the same porcelain cup, but maybe give you a new porcelain cup, I guess, I don't know. I've never had a refill with a porcelain which to me would mean that you're using a lot of water to wash dishes now yeah, yeah, I'm sure it doesn't make sense, but you want the refill so you can leave, and you want to leave with your paper cup.

Justin: 7:59

I like to leave because I'll drink about half of it. But but I also like to take walks. I will get up. I'll get up from my Starbucks and I'll go walk in a neighborhood or the shopping space to free my mind up, and then I go back and sit down.

Rhett: 8:14

Well, I can't walk out with their porcelain cup. Well, no, that was about to say absolutely, you can.

Justin: 8:19

It goes everywhere, hey.

Rhett: 8:19

Starbucks. Guess what? I want to be truly sustainable here, and here's what I want to do I, I'm going to take the washing, the dishes away from you. I'm going to take my, I'm going to take my cup and guess what? I'll be back here tomorrow and I'm going to bring it right back. It's going to be clean and I you know, here's the deal.

Justin: 8:33

I don't, I don't, I don't want the porcelain, I am not justifying people walking out of starbucks with their porcelain.

Rhett: 8:38

I want a lid. I want a lid. I guess that makes sense.

Justin: 8:41

I want to walk around with my lid.

Rhett: 8:42

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because it's a little messy. You're trying to drink out of a porcelain cup walking, oh man especially at Small Group.

Justin: 8:48

You remember, the other day at Small Group I got in and it was like the tower of whipped cream on top of my coffee. And you know what, though I appreciated that for some reason.

Rhett: 9:05

But so my boycott for a day. Yeah, I want to see how long this goes and I'm not gonna dare you on this, because I've learned.

Justin: 9:08

I've learned guys, if you dare justin on this, let's see, I bet you, I bet you won't last a day, I bet you won't last a week, I bet you won't last a year. Like no, seven years later. No, I don't want to give up starbucks, I'm coming back to him.

Rhett: 9:19

Okay, it's a day boy, it's just a one day boy gotta be the mountain brook location, be the Mountain Brook location, but I went there.

Justin: 9:25

I went there and honestly and I'm not trying to call you guys out, but I guess I am for this one day but I went to get my coffee the other day and they put it in the porcelain cup and it was like they just kind of there just wasn't a lot of love.

Rhett: 9:39

I mean, as you do, the visual size. It's like a little bit of vanilla.

Justin: 9:43

They just sprayed a little bit of whipped cream. It was done with so little care.

Rhett: 9:47

Sloppy.

Justin: 9:48

That I guess. Maybe the lid covers up their non-care sometimes, I guess. And now it's exposing like well, that was a crappy cup of coffee they made me. So I'm sitting down drinking this and it's like warm.

Rhett: 10:00

Yeah, because the porcelains do not keep it cold.

Justin: 10:04

Yeah, because the porcelains do not keep it cold.

Rhett: 10:05

Yeah.

Justin: 10:06

No it was awful.

Rhett: 10:06

It just loses its temperature the moment it's poured in this cold porcelain cup.

Justin: 10:10

It's true, and I drank up real fast and then I went and said I'll take my refill and I got my paper cup.

Rhett: 10:15

Okay.

Justin: 10:16

So then I got, so I'm still getting my paper cup, but they'll only give it on the refill.

Justin: 10:20

Okay. So now it's just become a thing, okay, where, to my understanding, most of these places that still give refills they're probably not putting you through the hassle of that. We're going to find out because most starbucks don't but but it's like the word slowly getting out. Yeah, where they're, they're letting me know this is to be better with our environment. They're going through the environmental spill. Great, if you love that, love that, I get it. Great, save a cup, save a tree.

Rhett: 10:45

Well, what's the difference? I mean, like, if we're truly recycling these paper cups and plastic lids which we are at the Starbucks trash can or whatever you know it's like, are we really killing more trees? Are we creating more products of recycle? I don't know, maybe that's. I don't know, I'm not smart to have that conversation or to even have that argument, but all I can think of, if we're recycling this, it's going to good use. But maybe people are like well, you've got to kill more trees and well, maybe you just plant more trees.

Justin: 11:11

Have you flown over the country?

Rhett: 11:12

lately. There are a lot of freaking trees.

Justin: 11:14

We've got a lot of trees, there are a ton of trees and in fact, Alabama is a logging state.

Rhett: 11:22

What is logging? Logging for those who don't know we cut trees down a lot of them.

Justin: 11:26

I can't believe you cut trees down I know.

Rhett: 11:29

But guess what? Once they clear that land of trees you know what they do they plant a whole bunch of new trees. They grow back, and it's amazing how they do one simple thing they grow back. You just said it and I've never seen the trees not grow back and it's almost like interesting. As long as I've lived in this state of 47 years, we've not run out of trees.

Justin: 11:48

I'm looking at them right now there's woods. I mean I get it.

Rhett: 11:51

Anyway, sorry, I'm not trying to get on some political stance, I'm just trying to have a common sense conversation.

Justin: 11:58

Well, all I know is I got off of your exit and I am programmed to go to Starbucks. It's even more inconvenient you have to go to the left instead of just pulling into the right. I got to cross the street, so it's more inconvenient than convenient, but I've never given it a thought when you come off the interstate that way, it's on your right, starbucks is on my left.

Rhett: 12:21

Oh, starbucks, that's what I've always done. Okay, gotcha.

Justin: 12:24

Today. I just thought I'm going to try Seven Brew. Okay, and I thought I feel like I'm going against Rhett a little bit, but I'm going to see if this thing is a thing and man, I had a great experience Okay.

Rhett: 12:39

I pulled right in.

Justin: 12:40

He's like hey, what can I get?

Rhett: 12:41

you All right. Was it a guy or a?

Justin: 12:43

girl, it was a guy, Okay, and he said what can I get you? And I said and I wasn't trying to make a joke I was like so how many brews do you have?

Rhett: 12:51

Yeah.

Justin: 12:51

And I mean like how many drips? And he looks at me like is this a dad joke?

Rhett: 13:00

Like because we'rews.

Justin: 13:01

And then I looked at him and I said nevermind, Do you have dark roast?

Rhett: 13:05

He's like I don't know Do you have dark roast?

Justin: 13:07

He said yes, and I gave him my drink and it was under $4. Okay so about 50 to 70 cents cheaper. Okay.

Rhett: 13:15

Is it as good? It was really good. Are you just talking yourself into that? No, I enjoyed my coffee. Okay, and you just got a black coffee.

Justin: 13:23

I got a black coffee with my four pumps of vanilla and whipped cream on top.

Rhett: 13:27

Okay.

Justin: 13:28

It was. They did a really good job. Okay, they didn't over talk me. He did. Once he got my order he was like hey man.

Rhett: 13:39

So what you got going today. I was like well, I laugh.

Justin: 13:41

I laugh because this is the intro of like the what is it?

Rhett: 13:46

Dutch Bros. Yeah, it's this idea of I want to ask you a question to see how far I can invade your personal space. It's the question that I'm like. I'm not saying I disagree with that question, but there's a way to go about that question, and I think that's the art that I haven't seen done well at places like Dutch Bros in Seven Brews. So, yeah, I'm interested.

Justin: 14:10

So he asked the question. He asked hey, what you got going today. I said, well, I'll work. And actually I mean, what are you supposed?

Rhett: 14:19

to say I mean, I'm in a car, I'm in a drive-thru, I'm getting my coffee man.

Justin: 14:24

I went for it and I said actually me and my buddy we're going to record a podcast episode today.

Rhett: 14:29

Yeah.

Justin: 14:30

And now I'm setting him up to see if he'll ask oh, that's cool, what's your podcast called Diddy?

Rhett: 14:35

Oh, yeah, okay.

Justin: 14:37

Said it's called Armchair Authentic. Yeah, he said you know, it's just friends of almost 40 years and we're talking and I let him know. I said we're both ministry minded guys, so it's going to be in that vein a lot, dude. I'll have to check that out. So, if he's listening, seven Brew Guy what's up?

Rhett: 14:56

What's up? Seven Brew Guy. That sounds like an episode title Seven Brew Guy Seven.

Justin: 15:00

Brew Guy.

Rhett: 15:06

Well, shout out to the Seven Brew Guy who did exactly man, if you're listening to this podcast, bro, like I appreciate what you do, I really do.

Justin: 15:09

You handled it in a great way he did great, just know there's an overpressing line that you don't want to cross here's my sounds like to me he did a good job. My feel of it is that they have maybe heard the same feedback and they've backed off because even the young lady who brought me my coffee yeah, it was kind she was like, hey, is this your coffee? I was like, yeah, it's got vanilla, uh, all that. She was like yeah, I said thank you. She's like oh, have a great day. See, that's boom.

Rhett: 15:33

Yeah, that's the way it should be. I'll come back to that place, okay? Well, you know you're. I'm not saying I'm going to drive through there tomorrow, I know, but I might just just to create a conversation for an episode later.

Justin: 15:45

We're investing in our podcast.

Rhett: 15:50

You'll have to listen to next episode to see did Rhett go by? Seven Brew based on.

Justin: 15:54

Justin's experience and did Justin ever go back to Starbucks, based on his conversation with Rhett?

Rhett: 15:59

So do you think it's a mind thing that you really think the coffee's better, just because you're kind of like, eh, over in the Mountain Brook thing? No.

Justin: 16:06

I think because I'm open. As we've talked before, I'm open to any coffee. Okay, gas station coffee bougie coffee.

Rhett: 16:12

You really are, so I have an open mind. But you're not going to get an espresso in a gas station though.

Justin: 16:17

No my less the places that I like the least for just my normal drip coffee, or actually.

Rhett: 16:23

Hey, friends, Red here Want to take a moment and interrupt our conversation to simply say thank you to every single one of you who are our first time guests today. Man, it means so much that you would take some time out of your day, download the episode and listen and join in on some of the laughter. It really does mean so much to us. In fact, if you haven't already done so, could we encourage you to find us on Facebook or even on Instagram? You can find us there at Armchair Authentic. That's at Armchair Authentic. We're also over on X. You can find us there at Armchair Off Pod. That's Armchair Off A-U-T-H-P-O-D. All right, guys. Now back to the conversation.

Justin: 17:05

The places that I like the least for just my normal drip coffee are actually bougie places, because they will give you vanilla, but if you ask for whipped cream, most places almost put their nose up towards you.

Rhett: 17:18

Yeah.

Justin: 17:18

Cause you don't put whipped cream in coffee, and that really is true. You don't.

Rhett: 17:22

Well, I don't understand why people don't I mean you just don't it's like, even if you think it's not socially acceptable.

Justin: 17:31

It's more like around the world is the key word italian, french culture yeah, like there are, there's kind of faux pas that you don't do. Like coffee after lunch is the name of our small group. That meaning you lead and like they're like coffee after lunch really has like a um, what is it? It has a name, a term. If you were to look it up like what would coffee after lunch be?

Justin: 17:56

and it's like like a siesta in in, yeah, but it's got like a name, it's like a cafe noir okay, like n-o-i-r okay, which is when you would enjoy just a black coffee, all right, and so you're taking me to a whole.

Rhett: 18:12

You're taking me to like, if you go, if you were to go to italy, if I'm in rome and you go and it's after breakfast time, because you know I do that a whole bunch, exactly. Yeah, I know right we won't see.

Justin: 18:23

But if you go order like a cappuccino, okay you'll, you'll probably be judged well, they don't like putting anything in their espresso.

Rhett: 18:30

Well, they love it.

Justin: 18:31

But their culture is the morning time is more time for the cream, so you put more like a cappuccino is going to be the foam, the milk with the espresso. They see drinks like that need to be more early morning time it's the, so the faux pas is after lunch. It needs to be like a like espresso.

Rhett: 18:52

So here's my thought to that. It goes back to why do we do what we do? Like if you were to sit there and go back generations and generations, I think what it was is we only had so much of the really, really good stuff to make it good that we could only put it in in the morning. So we went ahead and started that way, and then we ran out of it the rest of the day. So then we just drank it straight black Like.

Justin: 19:12

I think that's probably what it was.

Rhett: 19:13

It might be, and so you know they only had a limited amount. And so they're like, oh well, this is just how you drink it. And like the people that were like no, we just didn't have enough. Like we would have put all the good stuff in it all day, we just didn't have enoughest thing. Like y'all should be drinking it with all the good stuff in it all the time. You've got that. Now. This is the society you live in and your culture.

Justin: 19:35

And I think they look at us like we're overindulgent in America, yeah Well. Like they look at digestion oh okay, Whereas milk in the morning, the cream digests better and it doesn't fill you up as much. Is that what it is? If you have it later, you're actually filling yourself up more, You're not preparing yourself for the evening meal and you're putting something heavier on you.

Rhett: 20:00

I can't drink coffee later in the day. Our coffee after lunch is usually my only coffee of the day. I drink one a day and it's espresso. It's a vanilla latte with oat milk there you have it.

Justin: 20:10

Yeah, they would shun that.

Rhett: 20:11

That espresso. It's a vanilla latte with oat milk there you have it.

Justin: 20:13

Yeah, they would shun that, that's it.

Rhett: 20:14

They would chunk it, they would shun they would shun that I said it would chunk it, but no, they would chuck it, yeah, they would they would. They would snub their nose up at me. Yeah, now, of course, if I'm in their culture, I'm not gonna act like I'm gonna be respectful for the culture and I'm gonna be like, hey, give me an, give me an americano. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna ask for in it.

Justin: 20:28

What do they call that? An Italiano? What do they call an Americano? They will call it like an American something it's made for. They know when there's tourists coming and they try to have a drink ready for the American mindset.

Rhett: 20:41

Do they not have Starbucks in Italy and if so, do they not sell American?

Justin: 20:45

I can't speak for sure but I do know that I went to Australia back in I mean, it was 2011. And it was a culture shock to me. In many ways, it's probably like a McDonald's there, oh no, like Starbucks does not succeed there.

Rhett: 21:00

I can imagine yeah.

Justin: 21:01

Because they have so many great spots. Like coffee is something you go sit in and you enjoy a space. Is it a?

Rhett: 21:07

conversational space in those places, or is it more like businessmen and women?

Justin: 21:17

coming in just drinking their coffee by themselves and they leave, or is it truly probably a bit of both you? Know family and friends, it's a lot of it. It's not like franchises, okay, it's local, but but the starbucks like right in sydney harbor kind of area there was a starbucks, but it didn't.

Rhett: 21:28

It wasn't like crazy crowded, yeah, because we would walk up to go there and I thought, god, do I get starbucks, yeah, in sydney and then they come to america and they're like there's starbucks, which is like the trash coffee we drink, and then they try to go to different places. They're like seven brew what is this exactly like what? Where can I sit down and get some good stuff? Now I know, if you're in a major city, you know there are a lot more little bougie places and little mom and pop. You know type scenario coffee shops that are a lot better.

Justin: 21:59

There's just so many coffee places. It's our culture now and us being from the South, some of our listening audience who are from your Pacific Northwest. I mean it's been more of a standard for you. But it was probably 1997, 98 before we really ever had the beginnings of a coffee culture. It wasn't normal to go sit in a coffee place. You usually got it to go. One of our friends, jess, his dad owned like the Barney's.

Rhett: 22:27

Coffee and Tea at the malls Century Plaza. I don't know, did he do the one at Galleria?

Justin: 22:32

too.

Rhett: 22:33

Century Brookwood Galleria all three of them, I didn't know that, oh, he owned them all.

Justin: 22:36

Okay, but there was no sitting inside of them. You would just get your coffee and walk around the mall.

Rhett: 22:41

Oh bro, I remember the moment walking by that store. You could just smell it.

Justin: 22:52

It's the best kid I had no idea what coffee was. I didn't have the money to buy any of that. Let's be honest. But like, yeah, it always smells so good.

Rhett: 22:56

They're like roasting the beans right there, or not roasting, but they're like uh, what do you call it?

Justin: 22:59

grinding, grinding, oh, that makes the smell just oh, it's so good I've always loved the smell and see they would also have. It was like a almost like an old school candy shop. Yeah, they would have jelly bellies in these glass jars against the wall. I mean it was such a. It was just such a classy looking. It was like the care they put in their store. I mean I miss it. Actually I'm getting nostalgic talking about it. And my friend, that's the first time I had a jelly belly. I've never seen a jelly belly. So the only thing I knew to equate jelly bellies was Barneys. Matter of fact, when I'm taking economics, it may have been my senior year or junior year, I can't remember now In high school or college.

Justin: 23:40

In high school, okay, we have to pick a company that we're going to do a project on. Oh, wow, do you pick Barneys? I did and it was Miss—.

Rhett: 23:49

Barneys Barney's. I did, and it was Miss Barney's Barney's. I don't know why. I said that it was our history teacher, miss Clark.

Justin: 23:54

Oh, yeah, awesome. She was the teacher that everybody was scared of until you got her. Yeah, and she treated her class like she was a lot of fun. Oh, she was the best, miss Clark. I would I would not, this is just a shout out passed away a couple years ago.

Rhett: 24:08

Yeah, I've got a shout out to Miss Clark. And you know, God rest soul. But I would not have graduated high school had she not just pulled me a solid.

Justin: 24:17

She's pretty awesome.

Rhett: 24:20

I'm like, how did Ray graduate high school? Well, Ms Clark had grace and mercy upon me.

Justin: 24:24

She had so much grace.

Rhett: 24:25

And you know, somehow, someway, I got that 59 up to a 60. She got it. I don't know if it was just because I showed up and I was kind today and I got a bonus point for you being kind today.

Justin: 24:37

I don't know. She just probably thought that was your day. So you look like John Lennon. I literally thought she probably had a crush on John Lennon.

Rhett: 24:42

I graduated high school through whatever that history class was. I hated history and I tried my best, and and I tried my best, and I don't know she was that kind of teacher man I could have swore I had an F in that class.

Justin: 24:54

I could have swore I did. And you looked at it and was like I passed. How did I pass?

Rhett: 24:57

No, summer school. I literally was thinking well, I won't walk and I'll go to summer school for this dumb class.

Justin: 25:03

And here we are. She was gracious, I don't know.

Rhett: 25:06

Maybe she didn do what I don't know.

Justin: 25:09

I'm sure she found a way to create a bonus for you that that it justified it.

Rhett: 25:14

I just remember the talk right, you got to get that great. You got to get that great up. Right, you got to get that great. Yeah, yeah, I don't figure out a plan.

Justin: 25:20

I don't think she did things, but she could find a way to not get legalistic yeah, I think you know because of the things that you did, that you didn't know you were doing extracurricular.

Rhett: 25:29

She was like, like we're going to call that. Maybe it was the community service. Brett was studying his Bible. I'm going to call that some historical findings. Hey, I will take it. Give it to me.

Justin: 25:38

Because she knew you were fired up for the Lord, she could have found a way.

Rhett: 25:42

He might not go on to make much of himself, but he's going to go love Jesus and love his family well. So we're going to see, we'll see him get that 60 in his class.

Justin: 25:54

And that is much of yourself, by the way, that's very much of yourself. But see, ms Clark was the teacher that you were nervous until you got it, True, true, and so that was just. But I was doing my economics project and I picked Barney's and I'm writing my paper and it's time to go present, and this was me, like serious Rhett thinking.

Rhett: 26:12

I just this is all I knew. There wasn't like the internet. You couldn't research. I had to go find what I could. You actually had to go to the library and find books called encyclopedias and different things to do research and write it all by hand and put it all together.

Justin: 26:21

And I would call the dad and say, hey, so how did you, when did you get this started? You know, he told me about the franchise. I always thought he created it, Gotcha, the franchise. And then I wrote, I took what I perceived in the store and so I began writing my project. And so we're talking, I'm giving about the coffee, yada, yada, yada. Finally, at the end, and I say God, what was it? Oh yeah, I said, but what they are most known for is the Jelly Belly.

Rhett: 26:50

I knew you were going to say that, oh bro.

Justin: 26:52

And I said it was so much confidence and the class is listening and I'm like they are delicious. And Ms Clark wanted to ask questions as you're doing your presentation and she said so, justin. She was like can you tell us what it was that made the, the jelly belly, so popular?

Rhett: 27:09

And I said the kids, they love them because the kids, they love them and I'm just coming by coffee because the kids love the candy. I'm trying to sound so confident because when she asked me that question. I'm thinking like barney's I don't know coffee and tea and jelly bellies, you know, of course it's right there, I mean barney's made jelly bell.

Justin: 27:31

I thought they created those, that they made them and they just poured them in those little candy jars. Yeah, because I'd never seen it. Yeah, and I'll just still remember because the kids they love them. And she was like no, justin, the reason is because ronald reagan, yeah, every night before bed used to have a little bag of jelly bellies and if she's talking to me my eyes are wide open like I'm busted.

Rhett: 27:54

That's so funny and so I was like yeah, that too.

Justin: 27:58

So I'm sure I got my b on that grave but but the coffee in those days just being able to walk the malls. Getting back to what we were saying, we didn't live in a coffee, yeah culture like you may have out in the Pacific Northwest. So see, you had Pike's Place, you had Starbucks out in Portland. I mean the Seattle area really beginning to grow, that's where all that came from, and now we're getting the franchise side.

Rhett: 28:27

It's finally making its way down here to the backwoods. You know, we just back here in the backwoods of Alabama. What's a coffee shop man? I don't know what that is.

Justin: 28:34

It's finally making its way down here, to the backwoods.

Rhett: 28:35

You know, we just back here in the backwoods of Alabama. What's a coffee shop man? I don't know what that is. That's right, it's true. Oh wow, this Starbucks thing. Let me try this Woo-wee man well, I'm missing out on this. This is redneck booze right here, that's right.

Justin: 28:46

I'm just kidding us, because it was combined with Barnes and Noble and they brewed proudly.

Rhett: 28:51

Yeah, starbucks coffee Just so people understand like Birmingham is a city. It's one of the thriving cities and it is a foodie city. It is a coffee city, but we lived somewhat in the suburban areas, if you will, of like whatever, I don't know. I don't even know what you would call it, but we were just teenagers. We grew up in an apartment complex.

Justin: 29:12

Man, Right, you know what I'm saying.

Rhett: 29:13

We didn't have money.

Justin: 29:16

We weren't going to any of these places. I had powdered coffee I was making in my apartment. We had no idea, I just knew I liked it.

Rhett: 29:21

Yeah, no.

Justin: 29:22

I tried my first McDonald's coffee. I had no clue what was out there.

Rhett: 29:25

No idea, I'm like coffee. You got it at McDonald's. Burger King you know wherever.

Justin: 29:31

I just heard my dad saying three sugars and a cream. He'd say that every Sunday morning I'll take a coffee, three sugars and a cream.

Rhett: 29:37

My dad. The only time I ever saw my dad drink coffee was when we were at a gas station. Yeah oh really. Literally like it was like every time we'd get gas he's trying to get a coffee, you know, and when we're driving somewhere always got like I did. Never saw that there wasn't. I don't know.

Justin: 29:52

Is this different? Next time we take a road trip, we're going to do the coffee gas station. Well, we'll see. It's so good.

Rhett: 29:57

Well, I might do if it's clean and it doesn't look like the, the, the pouring. What do you call that thing, the, what's this thing? That the coffee actually goes? Into what is a kettle, it's not a kettle. You no, you don't even know the name of it, do you?

Justin: 30:10

If you wouldn't have asked me, I could have told you the pitcher, the coffee pitcher. Okay, maybe I don't know what the crap. Broom, broom, broom I don't know the word Whatever, that thing is called it's glass, I mean you can see whether or not the thing's been washed or not. I know, and if it's like sticky and nasty, We'll find good gas. Mapco Loves. Pilot any of those.

Rhett: 30:32

If the restroom is clean, then I might drink the coffee out of the gas station.

Justin: 30:36

We would only stop at one of those.

Rhett: 30:37

Because they've got creamers. Some of them have whipped cream dispensers. Well see, that's not what I think of when I think of gas station coffee.

Justin: 30:43

Oh no, we're talking like we are talking bougie gas station coffee and we will leave with a $2 cup of coffee that would have cost us $4.40 at Starbucks Like QT.

Rhett: 30:52

We've got one down the street. Some of those are good, and it's like wow, I don't know if it's based out of Texas or the Midwest, but there were a ton of them in Texas. They were the best gas station ever Super clean, like everything, the bathrooms, everything was always nice and in order. They had a bunch of coffee, like a little cappuccinos, and espresso, whatever it is.

Justin: 31:11

Yeah, I would drink that. But you know, and we talked with Mark a few weeks ago, that we would go downtown Birmingham it was more like the vibey spots, I mean the celestial realm, the coffee house and go get our drinks there, but it was more like mochas.

Rhett: 31:29

Yeah.

Justin: 31:30

And it was so good.

Rhett: 31:32

I want to know why they named what they named, like why mocha? Like I'm looking at this and I'm gonna go mocha because it's does that mean chocolate chocolate?

Justin: 31:41

okay, maybe, okay, it's got a chocolate syrup in there.

Rhett: 31:44

Oh well, there you go yeah, maybe a dark chocolate uh, but yeah, I'm showing my wisdom here on the air.

Justin: 31:49

That's about coffee, yeah well, these are words we don't use every day.

Rhett: 31:53

I use chocolate. Just call it chocolate drink. Why can't you just say that it's not as extravagant. That's what I'm saying hey, we'll put some chocolate in it, Call it chocolate drink. Well, with us when we were talking about other countries.

Justin: 32:05

it's like a latte Well, like a hot chocolate drink.

Rhett: 32:08

Well, what's the difference between hot chocolate and a mocha? Is it the type of chocolate? It's a type of chocolate.

Justin: 32:13

It is a little bit.

Rhett: 32:16

Therein lies the intricacy of calling it a mocha.

Justin: 32:19

But I couldn't tell you what those differences are. People you're listening, feel free to let us know and we just won't look it up. We'll let your answer tell us what it is Maybe address it later.

Rhett: 32:30

But yeah.

Justin: 32:31

But no, with mocha I mean. But if you order a latte like overseas, they're not going to give you vanilla latte.

Rhett: 32:38

No.

Justin: 32:39

Because we are the ones who do vanilla lattes in America, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Rhett: 32:42

Thank God for America.

Justin: 32:43

There's nothing wrong with it at all.

Rhett: 32:44

I'm so grateful for the United States of America and the way we drink our coffee.

Justin: 32:47

man, I make no excuses for it, we. I make no excuses for it, we jump into the it's almost like, if you're going to drink a little shot, we're like we want a 16 to 20 ounce drink of that little shot I mean. I have yeah, but you know what? In all seriousness, there's nothing like a good espresso in a little cup, man, it's so good.

Rhett: 33:07

I have tried a lot in Jeff Roberts. I love you, bro. Yellowhammer Coffee, shout out. I mean, at the end of the day he's like dude, this is the best espresso right here, and here's why, and I'll try to drink it. I'm like, oh my god, like that is so bitter, really so bitter. And I'm like I I know it's an acquired taste and it takes time, because you know, I'm like why, if I have to acquire a taste for that, I don't know, man, it's like I don't know yeah I, I, I try, and that's when I was like.

Rhett: 33:32

Americano is almost like it's half water, half straight espresso.

Justin: 33:38

Yeah, it is, and I like that.

Rhett: 33:39

And I think that's my.

Justin: 33:41

That's what they'll make you. By the way, overseas they won't have like a poured coffee. It won't be that.

Rhett: 33:46

So I like that.

Justin: 33:47

I enjoy that. Americanos are really good.

Rhett: 33:49

I like that better than coffee. Like if I'm getting a black coffee or an Americano, I'm getting an Americano and just drinking it black. Yeah, yeah Drinking it black not putting anything in it. Yeah, I love this good old good old espresso. All right, so I have a question here and I've got a lot of different things I've written down, but one of the questions I had and I think it's interesting because we are a podcast that is conversation, that is yeah sure, because we're 30 minutes talking about coffee, yeah exactly so what?

Justin: 34:15

the one about coffee?

Rhett: 34:16

this my the one about coffee. Well, I, here's the question. I that I wrote down what makes a great conversation like what makes a great conversation. So, if you think about that question, what is it that that you, that are I, us, like I'm not talking about the podcast, I mean like, just like, if you're leaving a conversation, what makes it great Like for you to go? Man, that was a great conversation. Is there anything about that question? That's like huh.

Justin: 34:46

I've never thought about that.

Rhett: 34:48

What are the ingredients to a great conversation? I?

Justin: 34:51

would think it's something that, when you leave it, you are either. Inspired.

Rhett: 34:56

Okay.

Justin: 34:57

You are encouraged because maybe you're going through a really tough time, or maybe you at least, if you're going through a really, really dark time, you're stepping away thinking I at least see hope, yeah, where I didn't before. Okay, or you're just stimulated with. That was just wow. That just got my brain going. I did not ever see it. Perspective, and it's two parties who are willing to have that back and forth. Gotcha, that's good.

Rhett: 35:24

No, I'm not trying to take it deep with this question. I was literally thinking through the lens of. I've never asked myself that question. Why do I leave this conversation feeling, oh man, I feel good, let me go crush the day. You know, what was it about? That? It, it. I think there's so many variables to that, but I think to me, all of the things you said, yes, absolutely Laughter, 100%. But you can have a great conversation and there not be laughter, right? So I think it's the, it's the ability to connect in a way to where you're adding value and value is received.

Rhett: 35:59

I don't know. I don't you know? I'm processing this right now out loud. So if I'm sitting here talking to you, if I'm thinking, man, that was a good conversation, that was a great conversation. It's not always what I, what I give to it, or maybe it is what I give and then what I receive in return. Not that that person really even said something, but just the fact that I feel like there was this transaction that sounds too businessy. Maybe interaction, I don't know, help me with the words here but this ability to connect in a way to where you're actually making a connection, to where you're adding value to somebody, but it could also be cultivating.

Justin: 36:34

There's a seed being planted in one of the individuals too, because it could be the scripture wounds from a friend.

Justin: 36:41

I can leave a conversation and not feel anything. I just told you I could almost be annoyed that you just challenged me and so does that mean it wasn't a good conversation? Well, maybe not right now, but if I go through a process and recognize my pride was keeping me from receiving Okay, and then when my pride subsides and turns into humility, I get to look back and realize, okay, that was wow, that was a game changer conversation and I didn't realize it then. That was hurtful to me. I blamed the person, but over time I realized that was the greatest thing they could have said yeah, it didn't tickle my ears.

Rhett: 37:21

There was accountability, and that caused you to grow.

Justin: 37:24

And I had to. I had it, there had to be the seed planted. But the season finally hit where my pride was lowered enough to realize oh, that was great advice. Yeah, so that would have been a good conversation, but there was no immediate gratification. I got from it. Okay, but it was two hearts connecting, yeah, but it would have been trust that was built between the two parties, though, so it wasn't someone coming out of left field who doesn't know me.

Rhett: 37:58

Yeah, no, no, no, because it's the key word wounds from a friend, from a friend. It wasn't one from a stranger right. It's somebody that you built trust and relational equity with, to give you the opportunity to have that kind of honest conversation, to lead to a healthy place and, yeah, and to know that the intent of the conversation is always coming from the angle that this person has my best interest at heart.

Justin: 38:15

And then even reversing that. What if I leave a conversation encouraged because I'm in a prideful state and it was really just the person telling me what I wanted to hear?

Rhett: 38:24

Yeah, okay, so let me.

Justin: 38:27

Was that a good conversation?

Rhett: 38:28

Let me reframe the question what type of conversation would you like if you were to choose? Like man? If I could just have this, one type of conversation like this would be I like live for this type of conversation. Like for me, if I'm thinking about it, it's this podcast, crazy stories and ability just to be, you know, not for not intentionally stupid Cause I don't think we're at all but like to have fun in a way to where it's like man. I just there's laughter, there's joy, but then there's like man. But what can we learn from this too? You know, like we're always having fun, but we're always learning, but we're always having fun and we're always kind of challenging each other too to get better at what we do, and so yeah, that's the investment we make.

Justin: 39:18

It's the back and forth.

Rhett: 39:19

Yeah, it's the give and take, you know, and a lot of conversations that I can't stand to have, if I think of the opposite, are the conversations that are all about man. That just sucked the life out of me, right, yeah, yeah, and I'm not saying that you can't have those, because there are those moments to where you do just need to sit there and listen, to help a friend or somebody, but man, when they're all that way with a certain individual, it's like God, it's exhausting.

Justin: 39:47

Well, and even think about how conversations can get lost in translation. Let's talk about text for a minute.

Rhett: 39:54

Hey, friends, if you're enjoying today's conversation, could you do us a huge favor. Would you take a moment to copy the link from your favorite podcast platform and text that to a friend? I mean email it to a friend. Hey, if you're in the office right now, hey, airdrop that over to your buddy. Come on, let's do this Armchair Authentic. It's so much fun. All right, guys? No, seriously, though, it means so much to us. Thank you. Now let's get back to the conversation.

Justin: 40:20

Well, and even think about how conversations can get lost in translation. Let's talk about text for a minute. Oh yeah, there's a whole different mindset that people have with text and there's not a right or wrong way. No, because I know different people, different cultures, different mindsets, do things different ways and once again I could have been coming from a pride state, but something I used to couldn't stand. Now I just kind of I'm like fine, yup, yes, yes, that was it?

Rhett: 40:52

I don't know how I knew that that was going to be the response. Yup, yes, yes, that was it. I don't know how I knew that that was going to be the response.

Justin: 40:54

Yeah.

Rhett: 40:55

Y-U-P capital.

Justin: 40:57

Y-U-P. Oh, mine was.

Rhett: 40:59

Y-E-P. Oh Y-E-P, yup, yup, yup, yup, yup, yup, Yup.

Justin: 41:02

So I would I would send a question to someone. I'm working with so annoying and I would just say, hey, make you know, can this get taken care of? When I get like the yep and you know they probably meant it well, but the tone that we weren't connecting in that.

Rhett: 41:18

No connection, no or we.

Justin: 41:19

We've been talking about this cause. We've both received texts like this, and, and, and I would love feedback if people me and Red are going to talk it out for a minute. But if you want to send us in your thoughts, we'll maybe hit it up on another episode, but I'll have people who will reach out to me. Yeah, and I know you do too, and it's like a hey. I just like that one the other day, and it's just and it's just hey, man, I'm like I haven't talked to you in seven, eight months.

Rhett: 41:48

And like, all I get is uh, uh yeah, you know. I want to say it, but I don't want to say it but it's just this idea.

Justin: 41:56

How could I?

Rhett: 41:57

what other words could I choose? But it's just this like almost as if we've been carrying on a conversation for a year and I don't even know who you are. And it's just so short and to the point and it's not even to the point. It's like what is the point of this cover? What are we trying to start here?

Justin: 42:10

Yeah, it's like are you, are you and I'm? I'm honest when I'm asking this when I get a um yo, I'll get a yo, or hey what is?

Rhett: 42:26

we walk up to somebody, what's my response? Yeah, like if I haven't seen you in a year, and I sit down and I'm right in front of you face to face. I'm not going, yep. Or I'm not going hey, hey, like, and just sitting there, like, I mean literally, it's like there's so much more to it, but yet we find ourselves in the texting environment thinking like this is this is how we communicate. Yeah, yeah, and, and I've, I've come to learn now, if I got that from you.

Justin: 42:51

One thing we talk all the time I've earned the equity right, but to at least give you a response, to be like, hey, what's up?

Rhett: 42:57

I mean, how about? How about this? Hey man, how you doing. I know it's been a while, just wanted to connect see how you're doing. I'd love the chance to connect in the future that creates a response. Oh, man like how, I don't know, man, and I'm not talking kids sending these kind of texts, I'm talking grown adults, yeah, yeah like hey, just want to follow up what yeah, I hadn't heard from you in a year. Like what are we?

Justin: 43:21

and so I'm more anybody else get these kind of texts. I think I'm more the type who won't be graceful.

Rhett: 43:27

Yeah, gracious, I'm not I'm not um, I try my best. I sometimes those are the ones I don't.

Justin: 43:32

I'm probably going to respond and say, yeah, hey, what's up to give them, almost help them, because I don't know why somebody's just texting me.

Rhett: 43:40

So simply, either they're thinking I'm going to respond with hey exclamation point. That's it that's great.

Justin: 43:45

At least you're giving something back to give them a chance, or some people would just never respond. And it's not right or wrong either way. There's not. But I usually look at it from the standpoint of either. For some reason you've done that and it's all you know. Yeah, and I'm not. There might be a connection we could have, and if I don't give a response, yeah, I might miss out on that. Yeah, but it will still trigger me a little bit with I've not heard from you and I'm just getting a simple hey, hey, yeah, it's like hey back, yeah but if we're just on a hey back it's almost like texting is a little intrusive.

Rhett: 44:24

Yeah, and it's like it's been so long since you've heard from this individual and you didn't even really have a close enough relationship with him. Anyway, it's almost to the point of like is this, is this spam?

Justin: 44:35

Is this right? Like is this one of those? Yeah.

Rhett: 44:38

Like a phishing spam, like this phone number has been changed and somebody with this number and they're just trying to get a conversation started and you think there's somebody but there might be another.

Justin: 44:48

Yeah.

Rhett: 44:48

Like how about? Hey, I know it's been a year, this is so-and-so Right. Like I don't want to assume.

Justin: 44:55

Right, I'm so with you and I really want to. It would be so. I would love to know if there's a mindset behind that, Maybe Because with me, I don't have to respond.

Justin: 45:11

I do more for the credit of. If I recognize a name, if it's like a number or I don't know that I'm expecting a text from somebody. If I don't recognize it, I don't even respond Because they need to give me a little bit more. But if it's someone that I know but I'm just getting a random deal, I'll at least give a response, because what I'm looking for is connection. Like there's a point that you feel like I'm not available, so you're being gentle I don't think that I do that, but I could and not be aware of it. Or do they just not have an awareness in this situation? Or do they think we're very close in their mind and they think a hey is very appropriate, or just following up with you like I need to be followed?

Rhett: 46:05

up with context, self-awareness, like I think we've gotten into a society where we've just kind of thrown some of this out the window. I call it common sense, man. It's like if I'm going to communicate with somebody, I am trying to think through the lens of how much relational equity do I have with this person? Yeah, and if I'm building a relationship and I've only had maybe one or two encounters in person and then I'm sending a text, brother, it's going to be more than what's up. Like it's literally going to be, hey, this is man. I hope you're having a great day. I'm recognizing that I'm wanting to be kind, but I want to be self-aware enough to know that I do not want to assume that we have a really deep relationship. So I'm trying to be respectful and build that bridge. But I'm going to give more than just what's up. Yeah, life, the ceiling, the sky, the clouds, the rain that drops on our head, like I don't know, like what's up. I'm like who is this, you know?

Rhett: 47:01

like I don't know, I don't know man Does anybody else get these kind of texts, or is this just Justin and I? Well, and I think I might go to the other side of it, and I don't want to sound snobby with this either, as if, oh man, you just won't respond to your text. No, like I did.

Justin: 47:16

Well, that's why we're talking open. Yeah, it's a conversation, you an open conversation and our listening audience is getting to just hear some of this. Yeah, but I do that with you just because our, our brains are still wired to receive information. And I don't think I do this because I want it, but sometimes I do things because of that. But, like even this morning, you know I'm coming. It's like you know, hey, I'll be there at eight. But I don't just say that it was like I'm five minutes away but.

Justin: 47:46

but also I wrote good morning yeah.

Rhett: 47:48

I'll be there at 8. You did yeah.

Justin: 47:51

It's like I don't. We've built so much stinking equity. I don't have to, but there's still times that yes.

Rhett: 47:59

I don't always have to do that, but if I can think about that.

Justin: 48:02

I still want to kind of brighten the moment, like I can send a request for something you know with my job that I need to get taken care of. Maybe I'm ordering a book with my role and I'll send an email to one of my friends who that one of the roles that she does. She'll make sure that things are ordered for us. Yeah, she does a great job and I could just email and say, hey, would you order this for me? But there's, I have such a respect. My response is yeah, I say the name and then I'll say hope, whatever it is happy monday.

Rhett: 48:35

I hope you're having a great day. Having a great day. Hey, I hope today's been awesome. Man, I was, you know. Would you mind ordering this book? Yeah, for I mean yeah.

Justin: 48:44

So I probably don't, unless I'm really praying for them.

Rhett: 48:46

That's what I'm saying.

Justin: 48:47

I'm probably not over saying it.

Rhett: 48:49

No man when I say I'm praying for somebody.

Justin: 48:50

I'm meaning it Because I'm like Father.

Rhett: 48:52

I thank you for this person right now, for what they do, and I ask that you bless them and then I'll be like man praying for you, absolutely Like. That's honest. But with this person I'm usually just even for work. I'm just saying like hope you're having a great day. Yeah, it's something simple, yeah.

Justin: 49:07

Would you mind ordering me this? Yeah, and then. For this reason, thank you.

Rhett: 49:12

And I get the other side of going. Why do I have to always qualify things with people that know I love them?

Justin: 49:22

I should just be able to text them and go hey, order this book for me.

Rhett: 49:25

Thanks, oh, you know and I, so I'm sure you could. You could totally do that and I and I see that side of it too but I would always, I would encourage you, if that's you, to lean to the other side, to take three more seconds and give yourself a hand cramp with just a three more letters, or five more letters to say, or however many letters create a sentence of man. I really appreciate you. I hope you have a great day.

Rhett: 49:46

Thank you for all that you do, there's a value you just added Just that little bit of affirmation that little bit of you're actually human and I actually do hope that you're having a good day. I trust you're doing well. I'll send that to people that I haven't talked to in a while, and it's been a minute. I trust that you're doing well.

Rhett: 50:04

I'll send that to people that I haven't talked to in a while and it's been a minute. I trust that you're doing well. You know, that's just a nice way to say hey man, I don't want to just jump into the business, Cause I really do like I appreciate you and I do hope things are going well. There are some things we need to connect about but, like I do, it isn't just a nicety, it is truly coming from a place of intent, intentionality, of caring. It's this pastoral, and I don't call it pastoral, it's just being a kind human.

Justin: 50:28

Yeah, it's the fruit of the Spirit. It's a connection. There was still a connection in that message and they're reading your words. What kind of connection do you want to make in that moment?

Rhett: 50:46

I've literally sent the text to a team and be like hey, can you do this for me really quick, and then I will respond after going crap. I like I am so sorry. Like lit, I won't put the word crap in there, but I'll be like, please forgive me, I hope. Good morning, I hope you're having a great day.

Rhett: 50:58

I appreciate what you do you know, and I'm like they're not asking for it, but I'm just, it's my way of going. Wow, I came out the gate just so, so task oriented, you know and it's so true, yeah, and I can't, and I can't, I can't hide behind the fact of oh well, you're just a task person and so that's who you are, and so people ought to just understand you're a task person and you no. No, we have grace to grow in every area. Just because I've leaned toward task first doesn't mean I don't need to work towards being relational yeah.

Justin: 51:31

Even if it's a small little relational, and that's where it can go both ways, because I also agree that for people who get their feelings hurt so easy, don't get your feelings like work. I don't want that's a such a statement. Don't work towards not having your feelings hurt. Yeah, so easy. Yeah, and let people off the hook, those of you who just give so direct orders. Try to consider the person you're communicating with, because there is the as we heard in our podcast episode two weeks ago like tough skinned.

Rhett: 51:58

Yeah.

Justin: 51:58

You have developed the tough skin, but I think we should also have tender heart, tough skin. Tender heart, tough skin. You need to strengthen it up. Tender heart hey, consider what you're saying. Thank God for the edit button, now that you can edit text, I know Because I've given the orders before hey, I need this done If you don't mind taking care of it.

Rhett: 52:19

And then I'll be like, oh, and I'll go back, edit, and I'll go back and edit and I'll say good morning, hope you're having a great day. Hey, would you get this done? And the other side of it is too, though don't, if you don't mean it, don't send it. I mean, if you could really care less that somebody is having a good morning or they're doing well, then don't send it. I mean, if that's not your heart, I mean you should work towards that, I think in self-awareness of who you're talking to, because who in the world wants to work for somebody that just feels like they're just getting like bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam bam, and no appreciation or care. You're just, they won't stay in your organization long.

Justin: 52:54

You probably want to err on the side of grace versus the other side. In both parties there's there's a way we can grow. You never know what someone's been through when they get your message or when they have your presence, walk through the room. What have they already been through Exactly? How can I be consistent today to at least I've got something to take care of? But can I at least take about two minutes and say hey guys, good morning, how you doing how?

Rhett: 53:21

long yeah. What's going on Exactly?

Justin: 53:22

Good to see you and then go in there. Can you take that extra moment, like you said a while ago in your text, and just say, hey, I hope you're well and then put whatever you want to request? You at least gave that initial connection.

Rhett: 53:37

Yeah or hey, man. I know this may seem like it's coming out of left field, because we haven't talked in a few months.

Justin: 53:42

Take knowledge.

Rhett: 53:43

I hope you're doing well and I hope we can stay connected better moving forward. But I've got a question and here it is and just get to it. That's right that is a very I don't know. Just self-awareness seems to be lacking in. Maybe I don't know, or I have no idea.

Justin: 54:01

I just think that we're at a place to where I would encourage people to think before they text just like they should think before they respond the way, meaning you know that we're wired, though we're going to think more on this side, and that's why we say it. We're not saying it's the right way? No, but it's something to consider, and I'll go back to what I said. You don't have to be so thin skinned that everything hurts your feelings either. So, that side strengthen up, this side be considerate.

Rhett: 54:31

Strengthen up. Consider so when it comes to getting your coffee from Starbucks and it's not in a paper cup, you just need to be a little bit more thick skinned. And just be a little bit more tenderhearted and realizing okay, I'll be a little bit more sustainable.

Justin: 54:50

I need wounds from a friend.

Rhett: 54:52

Wounds from a friend. Yeah, no, and, and, and, and. Hey, I flip it back on me.

Justin: 54:56

Starbucks. Let me apologize to you. Listen, you hurt my feelings the other day when you gave me a porcelain cup.

Rhett: 55:03

Hold on, let me cue, cue the B-roll music here to set this. All right, go ahead.

Justin: 55:08

Starbucks, you hurt my feelings the other day when you gave me the porcelain cup and you really didn't put a lot of care into the way you put the vanilla syrup and whipped cream. Matter of fact, I told you I wanted vanilla syrup and whipped cream and you handed me my porcelain cup with nothing in it and when I didn't retrieve it because I didn't want to touch it, because now you can't take it back to add the stuff you looked at me and said your coffee's ready. And then I kindly said but does it have vanilla syrup or whipped cream in it? Which it clearly didn't. And they said I'm so sorry. So instead of putting the great care, you just douse some vanilla syrup and you spray like you didn't like whipped cream just all over the cup, and now I have coffee and cream and vanilla all over my hands.

Justin: 56:00

When I took that porcelain cup it frustrated me a little bit, starbucks, but you know you've been so good to me all these years and I would like to think that I've invested a lot of money into you and I should at least have the equity, and you should have the equity for me to give you another chance. I do hope that you'll make my coffee better next time. But I'm sorry that I was a little thin-skinned on that. It hurt my feeling. I need to kind of strengthen myself. But, starbucks, I'll be back on Thursday because I appreciate all that you do and I'll work on myself a little bit. So I'm sorry for being thin-skinned in that incident. Thank you, starbucks. I'm proud of you, justin. Thank you, rhett.

Rhett: 56:46

It goes the opposite way too, you know. Okay, my seven brew.

Justin: 56:50

Okay.

Rhett: 56:50

Oh wow, seven brew, seven brew. Oh wow, I used to hate you. Today is a new day. My friend has encouraged me to give you another shot, even though I think I should not. I'm gonna trust the wounds of a friend and come through your drive-thru again, but this time I would appreciate you not flirting with me and allow me to be the man that I am, with my coffee in hand, as I drive through again. Sincerely, I'm proud of you. Are you proud of me? I'm proud of you. Rhett, are you proud of me? I'm proud of you.

Justin: 57:46

And just you know what I'm impressed is, you just made that up.

Rhett: 57:49

I can't believe it. Good rhymes. I was trying to rhyme, but you did. I thought that was a fine job.

Justin: 57:54

No, I think people would think that you were actually reading that. It was that good job. We've come, we've made some strides. Today Rhett yeah we really have. I'm um. I'm proud of us. I am proud of us. What a great conversation.

Rhett: 58:06

I'm proud of us. There was a connection. There was a connection, there was value added.

Justin: 58:10

Yeah, it was value received. You, you kind of you, hurt me a little bit by calling me out, but I'm sure I did the same thing with you with with the coffee comment and it wasn't a jab at you with the coffee comment. It wasn't a jab at you with the prayer comment but it probably insulted a little bit. You had to qualify, which you probably deserved to in that moment.

Rhett: 58:29

Yeah, appreciate it. And the guy that texted me that short little phrase. That's right, I will pray for you today and always. We all have room to grow. Have you or will you respond? I have not, but I shall. Okay, respond. I don't know what rhymes with respond. I'm proud of you for that, thank you. We'll see. I'll let you know.

Justin: 58:55

We'll see.

Rhett: 58:55

We'll see is like the epitome of eh.

Justin: 59:04

Oh man, but that's what you get on another episode of uh, this is your authentic about authentic conversations.

Rhett: 59:09

You're getting the reality here. We might have the grace to have to go back and go. Yeah, we got better since that episode.

Justin: 59:15

I don't know I thought that was just. You know, I felt, man, I didn't want to say like this honest conversation.

Rhett: 59:21

It's important to have conversations like this, but also with the grace to know that we're going to grow, like we're going to get better and I don't mean that as far as content creation on this, on this podcast, I mean it as individuals. My hope is that this time next year I'm I'm a little bit better than where I was now with my conversations, with my texting, with my self-awareness, with my you grace that I offer and the olive branch that I offer people who you know might not, you know that might need some growth.

Justin: 59:53

And I think with our moments you reminded me of another apology, but I don't know if it is an apology, but let's just see where it goes, dear Abercrombie and Fitz. But let's just see where it goes, dear Abercrombie, infant.

Rhett: 1:00:07

On the next episode of Armchair Authentic.

Justin: 1:00:12

Like people were wearing this stuff. We don't ever talk anymore, we don't ever talk anymore. You love me like you loved me before.

Rhett: 1:00:22

I'm sorry, it's the fourth hour. Will you take me back?

Justin: 1:00:24

I wanted dreadlocks. So bad we find this. It's like a shotgun style. I mean barbershop Full bars on the window. We knocked on the door. You heard all the latches coming off the door opened up.

Rhett: 1:00:36

We're not exaggerating, I promise you. There were at least six locks.

Justin: 1:00:45

Oh, my gosh and me and Rhett walked on in. The lady opened it up for us, yeah, and she said what do y'all want?

Rhett: 1:00:52

And I tried to use more of my tough voice so I'm like I want some dreads and I'm yelling across the store to her. Yeah, so, coming to America, the best barbershop scene where they're all laughing and have a good time and making fun of people and stuff Just imagine a beauty shop.

Justin: 1:01:09

Just it's women now Laughter, like you cannot believe.

Rhett: 1:01:10

And me and Red are just standing there in our overalls and our Dikembe Mutombo shoes. We cannot wait for that conversation, but until then, we hope you have a great day. Stay safe, everyone. Thank you for sharing this conversation with a friend and we look forward to seeing you next Monday for a new conversation with your friends, red and Justin, right here at Armchair. Authentic God bless.