This week, we press record, start over (again), and let the conversation find its own rhythm. Over coffee and Queen’s Greatest Hits, Brad and Monnica reflect on why some songs become shared cultural moments, how counterculture shows up in unexpected places (yes, even Bicycle Race), and what it means to choose your own lane instead of riding with the flow.From laughing about pub crawls in Scotland and greatest-hits debates, the conversation gradually deepens, into grief, aging parents, carried shame, acceptance, and the quiet signals our bodies send when we don’t slow down enough to listen. They talk honestly about therapy, communication, emotional awareness, and the tension between living like we have forever and knowing that we don’t.This episode holds both lightness and weight, the two sides of the same coin. A reminder that noticing matters, that joy and sorrow coexist, and that presence isn’t something you arrive at later. It’s something you practice right now.One record. One conversation. Still figuring it out.

Transmission: The SheldonIn this episode, we stumble (briefly) into Nebraska, wrestle with why some art feels heavy while still being honest, and end up naming one of our most familiar patterns: The Sheldon.You know the one, hyper-literal, head-down, problem-solving mode that forgets there are humans in the room.From there, the conversation widens. We talk about how we each relate to music differently, how attention quietly shapes our experience of work and rest, and why noticing our patterns matters more than trying to eliminate them. We reflect on vacation re-entry, stress data that surprised us, and the difference between being focused and being available.Along the way, we explore:Why Nebraska didn’t make Monnica’s Top 25 (and why that’s okay)Naming patterns as a way to soften them, not judge themAttention as a superpower, and what hijacks itPerfectionism, self-compassion, and recovering when your mind wanders at the worst possible momentSmall practices that help us come back to where our feet areNo fixes. No five-step plans. Just a curious look at how our minds work, and a gentle invitation to notice where yours goes this week.As always:May your coffee be strong, and your conversations stronger ☕️

Learning Their NamesThis transmission is about awareness turning into understanding.Last week, Brad and Monnica set a simple intention: notice more. This week, they take the next step—recognizing patterns as they show up in real time, in conversations, relationships, work, and internal reactions we usually run on autopilot.They explore how patterns form as protective strategies, why they once served us, and what happens when they quietly start running the show. Through reflections on listening, editing, family dynamics, leadership habits, and emotional self-regulation, they unpack the difference between what actually happens and the meaning we assign to it.This episode weaves together:how slowing down changes conversationswhy assumptions create unnecessary inner conflictthe power of separating fact from interpretationand what it looks like to stay curious instead of defensiveThey also connect these ideas to music, attention, and the brain’s default mode, drawing inspiration from How to Be a Human Being by Glass Animals and setting up a deeper dive into focus and awareness in the weeks ahead.This isn’t about fixing patterns or stopping them. It’s about naming them.Because when you learn their names, you gain just enough space to choose differently.And sometimes, that space changes everything.

Recorded on the final night of a family vacation in Ko Olina, Hawaii, this transmission is a little different.No studio. No vinyl. Just a walk along the water and an honest conversation about pacing, recovery, and how we actually sustain a full life.Brad and Monnica reflect on the idea of aid stations - those intentional pauses that make endurance possible. In racing, in work, in marriage, and in life. They talk about rest that actually restores, why meaningful work can lower stress more than disengagement, and how seasons of intensity require equally intentional recovery.There’s laughter, a few detours, a hi/lo from the week, and a quiet realization: you don’t accidentally get renewed - you plan for it.If you’re heading into a demanding season, or coming out of one, this episode is a reminder that stopping isn’t quitting. Sometimes it’s the strategy.Mahalo for listening.

🎙 Season Two · Transmission One | The Reset YearWhat if this year isn’t about fixing everything?What if it’s about slowing down long enough to notice what’s actually here?In this Season Two opener of The Manuel Transmission, Brad and Monnica Manuel begin a new chapter — one rooted in awareness, not optimization. After a season of becoming, this conversation invites listeners into something quieter and more foundational: the pause before the push.We talk about why so many resets fail, how urgency sneaks into even our best intentions, and why awareness is often the most countercultural move a leader, partner, or human can make.This isn’t a goal-setting episode. It’s a reset of how we relate to goals, change, and ourselves.In this transmission, we explore: • Why “fixing” is often a reflex, not a strategy • What awareness creates that willpower never can • The difference between starting over and starting present • How leadership, marriage, and growth all begin the same way — with noticing • Why this season is about patterns before performanceSeason Two Theme: Awareness Before identity. Before repair. Before change.If you’re entering a new year, a new season, or a moment of transition — this conversation is an invitation to slow down and begin again differently.🎧 The Manuel Transmission Real conversations at the intersection of marriage, leadership, and culture. Recorded weekly. Pressed like vinyl. No fixing required.👉 Subscribe for weekly transmissions 👉 Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 👉 Share this episode with someone who might need a reset that doesn’t rush