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PODCAST

Treeforts and Mixtapes

Bret Nelson and Josh Brence

A fun and lively conversation between two guys that grew up across 4 decades through the analog phase of walk-talkie technology, climbing trees, playing outside, collecting trading cards and really cool action figure toys to today where they like to hang 10 on the wave of technology; now both are parents who now get to see the world through the eyes of our kids and love to reminisce about glory days of the world we grew up in… Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

00:41:25

#68-The Movies that Raised Us: Rewinding the Some of...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/07/11

In this new segment episode called Mixtape Rewind, we dive into the life lessons we picked up from the movies that raised us. From The Karate Kid’s reminder that the boring reps matter, to Dead Poets Society’s call to stand up even when your voice shakes, these films delivered more than entertainment — they gave us a code. We unpack timeless truths from The Sandlot, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Forrest Gump, and The NeverEnding Story, all backed by a soundtrack that hits hard with “You’re the Best” by

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00:40:45

#67-Freedom Requires Friction

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/07/04

We used to be the remote. Now, if something takes effort, we skip it. In this episode, Bret and Josh unpack how technology—while making life more convenient—might be robbing us of something essential: our edge.Physically, we move less. Mentally, we outsource thinking. Socially, we avoid discomfort. But the truth is: we need friction. Struggle builds strength. Challenge sharpens focus. Discomfort deepens connection.So this Fourth of July, as we celebrate independence, we’re flipping the question:Is

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00:36:53

#66-Are you a fun Dad?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/07/02

This week, Bret and Josh wrestle with a key dad identity crisis: Are we fun dads… or just walking rulebooks with snacks? From letting your kids skip chores to realizing you sound exactly like your own father, they break down the tension between structure and spontaneity—and what “fun” even looks like in 2025 dad life.Spoiler: letting your kid stay up late while doing bedtime math in your head still counts.

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00:41:39

#65-Just chill, it will all work out: Troy Ita joins...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/06/19

Troy Ita joins Bret and Josh in the Treefort to talk Florida roots, raising kids with patience, and embracing the Gen X art of chilling out. From sounding like his own dad when laying down life lessons, to helping his kids learn real social skills in a tech-heavy world, Troy brings laughs and laid-back wisdom. Plus, a Princess Bride moment reminds us all: parenting is mostly just trying not to lose your mind while staying mostly dead inside. Sort of.For more wisdom, laughs and awesomeness from Troy,

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00:44:51

#64 Is It Worth It… Or Are We Just Tired?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/06/11

At what point did concerts, group dinners, and staying out past 9pm become a hard no? Bret and Josh explore the great midlife trade-off: doing less, and loving it.From avoiding plans that sound exhausting to skipping things we once lived for, this episode asks—are we actually getting wiser… or just chronically tired?If it doesn’t involve stretch pants, easy parking, or the ability to bail last-minute, we’re probably not interested. And honestly? That feels like growth.

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00:40:41

#63-Why Is Everyone in Their 20s a Life Coach?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/06/04

Why is every 20-something with a ring light suddenly a life coach? Bret asks the question, and Josh—bitter, skeptical, and fully Gen X—has thoughts.This episode dives into the rise of young “experts,” the influencer-to-guru pipeline, and whether social media clout has replaced actual experience. Does experience really matter? YES!!!!But here’s the twist: did we help create this? By shielding kids from failure, did we accidentally build a generation convinced they’re ready to teach life… before

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00:40:20

#62 I’m Not Mad, I Just Have a Face Like This

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/05/29

Josh and Bret tackle the misunderstood art of Resting Dad Face—why Gen X always looks mildly annoyed, even when we’re just thinking about what to make for dinner.In a world where kids are encouraged to name every emotion, color-code their feelings, and express themselves constantly, we’re over here trying to teach emotional intelligence without turning every car ride into a therapy session.We talk about how we were raised to suppress, eye-roll, and “walk it off,” why we still flinch at the phrase

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00:51:09

#61 What does it even mean to be cool anymore?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/05/23

Josh and Bret dig into a big question: What does it even mean to be cool anymore? Is it still a leather jacket and cool-dude attitude… or is it now a curated Instagram aesthetic and hipster energy?We’re talking about how Gen X defined cool--think Starter Jackets, Grunge Dr Marten, Track Suits (were they ever cool), and not trying too hard, and how the definition has totally shifted. Is “cool” now just algorithm-approved relatability? Do dads get to be cool—or are we just here to embarrass our kids

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00:50:58

#60 Dad Mode and the Politics We Didn’t Ask For

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/05/17

Being a dad in today’s world means navigating way more than just bedtime routines and forgotten science projects—it means explaining headlines, answering impossible questions, and trying not to scream during PTA meetings or political ads.In this episode, Josh, Sean and Bret dig into the wild intersection of fatherhood and politics—from the dinner table debates we never planned for to the tightrope walk of teaching values without raising little extremists. What do you say when your kid asks, “Are we

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00:48:00

#59-Episode Title: Vinette Ice Cream and Moon Shoe...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/05/02

Josh, Sean, and Bret go full nostalgia mode, diving into the stuff we thought was high-end luxury growing up—only to realize later it was total garbage. Remember thinking Sizzler and Olive Garden were fine dining? That a fridge with an ice and water dispenser was peak sophistication? And don’t get us started on Vinette ice cream (the plastic tray presentation was elite).We also break down the most overhyped toys of our childhood—from Moon Shoes that destroyed ankles, to the Talkboy that was 90%

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00:46:20

#58 Beignets, Ghost Tours, and Gen X Codes No One...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/04/25

Josh is back from New Orleans, and let’s just say—between the beignets, ghost tours, alligator sightings, and next-level food, NOLA still knows how to blow your mind. While recapping the trip, Josh and Bret dive into a conversation about the unwritten Gen X rules that leave younger generations scratching their heads.If you have the chance to stay at one company for your whole career, would you? Why do we call instead of text, and why does face-to-face just feel better than digital everything? Oh—and

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00:52:34

#57 Home Sick, Runners High, and the Playlist That...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/04/18

Josh, Bret, and Sean kick things off with a throwback to home sick days—you know, back when staying home meant watching The Price Is Right and sipping flat 7UP. We swap stories about faking sick, the tricks that worked, the ones that totally didn’t, and how our parents basically had a built-in B.S. detector.Then Sean takes us into beast mode with the story of his first 50km ultra run—what it took to train, the wild reality of a runner’s high, and the mental game of doing something ridiculously hard

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00:41:01

#56 Episode Title: Pills, Powders, and Pretending...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/04/11

Remember when we could function on pizza rolls, Mountain Dew, and zero sleep? Yeah, those days are over. Now it’s all about supplements, protein powders, joint support, and forcing ourselves to “enjoy” skipping just to keep the wheels from falling off.In this episode, Josh and Bret dive into the reality of getting older—the rituals, the routines, and the weird aches that show up uninvited. From daily vitamin packs the size of a multivitamin brick to cold plunges and collagen smoothies, we ask: Are

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00:46:25

#55 Episode Title: Jet Lag, German Food, and Gen X...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/04/11

Bret’s back from Germany, full of schnitzel, pretzels, and stories—and fighting off jet lag like a champ. But after recapping the food and culture, the conversation takes a turn down memory lane as Josh and Bret revisit their Gen X glory days of getting into trouble: sneaking out, pulling pranks, and somehow never getting caught.From backyard fireworks to creative excuses that somehow worked, we reflect on the wild freedom we had growing up—and how our kids today? Yeah, they’d never get away with

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00:39:58

#54 Gen X Wins Beast Games: What Happens Next?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/27

You get laid off… then win a million bucks. What do you do? If you’re Gen X, you quietly pay off your mortgage, maybe upgrade your grill, and go back to work like nothing happened. In this episode, Josh and Bret unpack the story of the guy that won the money on Beast Games and what he is doing with the money now—they dive into how Gen X handles sudden wealth vs. how Millennials and Gen Z might throw a TikTok party about it.Would we splurge? Disappear? Tell no one? We both agreed, we'd keep it

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00:48:03

#53 No GPS, No iPhone, No Problem?

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/22

Bret’s back from the Netherlands and ready to confess: without Google Maps, he would’ve been 100% lost in the land of bikes and canals. Meanwhile, Josh spent the week living like it was 1994 after completely shattering his iPhone—no texts, no maps, no mindless scrolling. And somehow… he survived.So it got us thinking—what did we even do before smartphones? Could we go back? Would we even want to? In this episode, we question everything, from our total dependence on tech to whether being reachable

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00:40:08

#52 Feeling Old, Falling Apart, and the Virtual Work...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/15

The knees crack, the back aches, and suddenly, we’re stretching before playing ball like we’re in the NBA Finals. Is this what aging feels like? Today, we tackle the brutal reality of feeling old before we’re ready—debating the odds of inevitable back surgery and the struggle of staying active without falling apart. But here’s the real question: Has virtual work actually replaced face-to-face business interactions, or are we just pretending Zoom calls get the job done? Can you really build

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00:43:41

#51 MovieFone, Phone Books, and Life Before WiFi—How...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/15

Josh just got an actual phone book in the mail… which means they still exist?! That got us thinking—how did we function before everything was on demand? From calling MovieFone to check movie times (without seeing trailers), flipping through giant yellow books just to find a pizza place, and actually figuring out how to build or fix stuff without YouTube, we survived an era where patience wasn’t optional. Plus, the lost art of developing pictures (and praying they turned out), building dangerous bike

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00:35:11

#50 Night Owls, Morning Gym Bros, and Gen X Love...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/15

Are you a morning lark who loves hitting the gym at 5 AM, or a night owl who thrives in the dark and resents society’s obsession with early risers? Today, we debate the war between morning people and night people, the guilt of not being a morning gym person, and whether anyone actually enjoys waking up before the sun.And since it’s Valentine’s Day, let’s talk love languages—not the ones from the book, but the real Gen X/Millennial love languages: Sarcasm, sharing passwords, and making fun of you in

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00:44:00

#49 Short Shorts, Suspenders, and Gen X Memes That...

Treeforts and Mixtapes ·

2025/03/15

Josh is broadcasting live from Texas, and we’re diving into some serious fashion nostalgia—specifically, short shorts. Back in the day, we rocked Magnum P.I.-level thigh exposure, and somehow, they’re making a comeback. Are we ready to embrace the return of dad quads, or should these stay in 1983 where they belong? We also break down the resurgence of suspenders, react to Gen X memes that hit way too hard, and relive the days of day-time TV when you were home sick and…do you remember the smell of a

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88 results

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