Hopelessly Unedited

What happens when you start with hot water appreciation and end up designing humans with extra arms? This week on Hopelessly Unedited, we explore the things we don't want to live without, and somehow end up discussing toilet paper shortages, space garbage, silk worms, bidets, hibernation pods, time travel, dream worlds, and whether having an extra arm growing out of your head is actually pract...

What happens when your hot water disappears for two weeks? Or when you lose heat during Christmas? Or when you grow up without things that everyone now considers essential? This week on Hopelessly Unedited , Ronit and Cate talk about the everyday conveniences we rarely think about until they're gone. From cold showers and hand-washed clothes to public bathrooms, refrigerators, rapid shipping,...

In this episode of Hopelessly Unedited, Ronit shares two paranormal experiences that have stayed with her for decades. The first happened when she was a teenager visiting Malaysia. Looking out a car window one night, she witnessed a scene that appeared to involve Japanese soldiers and a bound prisoner. The next day, she returned to the location and found only an abandoned hut. The second experienc...

When most people hear the word "Vodou," they think of Hollywood movies, zombies, curses, and dolls. In this episode, Ronit sits down with PhD researcher Steveen Ulysses to talk about the reality of Haitian Vodou. They discuss its roots in West Africa, the influence of Catholicism, the role Vodou plays in everyday life, and how centuries of misunderstanding have shaped public perception....

In Part 2 of our UK grad school series, Dannah shares the cultural side of studying at the University of Manchester. We talk about British slang, student life, traveling across Europe, orientation in the UK, and the surprising ways living abroad can change how you see the world. Along the way, we compare American and British English, discuss party culture, museums, travel mishaps, and whether stud...

After choosing Hawaii for undergrad, our daughter somehow decided that wasn't far enough and moved to England for graduate school. In Part 1, Dee talks about why she chose the University of Manchester over USC and University College London, what it was like arriving alone in the UK, navigating housing, banking, roommates, and the surprises of living abroad for the first time. We also talk abou...

What happens when you stop caring about the things that once felt so important ? In this episode, we talk about getting older, getting tired… and surprisingly, getting freer. From canceling plans without guilt to choosing comfort over “looking cool,” we explore the quiet (and sometimes hilarious) ways our priorities have shifted over time. We even play a game: Would Younger You Approve? — and the...

Ronit and WizCate take on one of life’s biggest experiments: raising kids. From cultural expectations to real-life chaos, they talk about what they thought parenting would be like… and what actually happened. They get into: Raising kids across cultures (Hong Kong, U.S., France) The gap between expectations and reality Why siblings can be completely different humans Teenagers, hormones, and surviva...

Menopause is something everyone has heard of… but very few people actually understand until they go through it. In this episode, we talk about the real experience — from physical changes to the emotional side that can catch you completely off guard. We share what surprised us, what was harder than expected, and what actually helped. It’s not a guide. It’s not advice. It’s just a real conversation.

What happens when you try to guess the news based only on headlines? Chaos. In this episode, we react to bizarre real-world stories, from sheeptaking over supermarkets to deep-sea creatures and stolen KitKats. Somewherealong the way, we question morality, survival, and… how toilets work in space. It’s weird. It’s unfiltered. It’s very us. Press play if you want something light, ridiculous, and une...

What is expat life actually like, beyond the Instagram version? In this episode, we’re joined by Ronit’s daughter, who has been living in Korea for over four years. From teaching kids to navigating cultural expectations, she shares what surprised her most about living abroad. We get into the reality of expat communities, cultural misunderstandings, food differences, and the small everyday things t...

Travel sounds exciting… until you’re actually doing it. In this episode, we get into the real side of traveling—from airport stress and plane etiquette to weird food, packing struggles, and everything in between. We also try a rapid fire round of travel questions, which goes exactly how you’d expect. It’s messy, honest, and very unfiltered—just how we like it.

This week, we tried something new… and immediately proved we are not game designers. From chaotic storytelling games that made zero sense, to ridiculous movie title mashups, to a surprisingly competitive Mahjong confession, this episode is what happens when two friends attempt “structured fun” and end up laughing their way through the mess. We also revisit: – The fish eye vs. Rocky Mountain oyster...

Spring feels like it should be the best season… but is it? In this episode, we go back to our childhood memories of spring in Hong Kong and France, from chocolate Easter traditions to extreme humidity you can actually feel on furniture . Then we fast forward to life in the US, where spring means fake warm days, endless rain, mud season, and yes… ticks. Lots of ticks. Somehow we also end up talking...

Kids are weird. And if we’re honest… we were too. In this episode, we share the strange, gross, and hilarious things we did growing up, from snot walls and smell tests to fart jokes and food experiments that probably shouldn’t have happened. Somewhere along the way, we all learned what’s “acceptable.” But did we really change… or just get better at hiding it? A chaotic, funny, and slightly uncomfo...

In this episode, we talk about one book that truly changed my life. After reading Dancing with Life by Phillip Moffitt , I started to see things differently—how I react to situations, how I hold onto emotions, and how much of my own suffering I was actually creating without realizing it. We get into the idea of letting go, attachment, and what it really means to “dance with life” instead of trying...

In this episode, WizCate and I talk about the French books that shaped who she is today. From childhood classics to stories she discovered later in life, these books reveal not only great storytelling but also a glimpse into French culture, history, and how people’s values evolve over time. Books have an incredible power to influence our lives. They introduce us to different worlds, challenge our...

Join Ronit and WizCate as they casually explore Chinese astrology through the Fire Horse and Fire Goat signs. From personality traits and elemental influence to cultural superstitions in the Chinese zodiac, this episode is less textbook and more honest conversation — with plenty of personal insights and “wait… that’s so me” moments. No experts. Just opinion Keywords: Chinese astrology Chinese zodi...

WizCate and Ronit dive into Chinese New Year traditions — from old wives’ tales to family rituals that may sound strange… but somehow still work. Through Ronit’s personal stories and cultural context, we explore the superstitions that shape the Lunar New Year. No sweeping. No shoe shopping. No crying. But plenty of laughter. How much of it is tradition? How much is belief? And how much is just hum...

In last week’s episode, we made an unedited decision on the fly — just as Rich was about to respond to Cate’s scientific skepticism about UFOs… we hit stop. This episode picks up exactly where we left off. Rich explains why he believes there’s more going on than people realize. Cate pushes back with logic, data, and hard science. So what actually counts as evidence? What counts as belief? Is there...

Summary We are discussing UFO with Rich Cranor. Rich lives an extraordinary life. He goes from the tech industry to filmmaking and music, while delving into the intriguing world of UFOs and government disclosures. We discussed the societal shifts post-2001, the acknowledgment of UFOs by the government, and perhaps even deep state involvement in UFO technology. Rich also touches on ancient alien th...

n this episode, Ronit and WizCate admit something controversial: not every wildly popular book or movie deserves universal praise. From Avatar to The Pillars of the Earth and the ever-polarizing Outlander, they talk through what worked, what didn’t, and why “everyone loves it” isn’t a good enough reason to force yourself through a story. Honest opinions, no literary guilt, and a gentle reminder th...

Martial arts—aka Kung Fu—films are a cornerstone of Asian cinema and wildly different from Western action movies. From absurd humor and gravity-defying fantasy to poetic storytelling and deep emotional themes, the genre does it all. In this episode, WizCate and Ronit explore two very different classics: the fun, silly, action-packed Shaolin Soccer and the award-winning masterpiece Crouching Tiger,...

WizCate and I decided to chitchat about U.S. box hits that were remakes of French films. With our resident Frenchwoman, we talk about the French cult classic La Cage aux Folles and its American remake, The Birdcage . Did you know Three Men and a Baby was a remake of the French film Trois hommes et un couffin ? How different are the remakes? Listen or watch to find out.

In this episode, WizCate and I talk about the things that still give us culture shock after decades of working in corporate America. Some of it gets a little heavy and annoying, and some of it is funny but all real. If you have a corporate moment that makes you laugh (or cringe), send it to hopelesslyunedited@gmail.com. We’d love to share it and laugh with you.