Mentally Oddcast Transcript: Guest Singer and international traveler Mimi U

Find an audio version of this Podcast here.  

00:00.12

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay you are listening to the mentally odd cast my name is wednesday lee friday do find us on ko-fi that's ko-fi and show us a little support uh this week we have miss mimi you who is uh an overseas j-pop style idol getting ready to debut an original song She is a Midwesterner who also lives with autism, OCD and chronic anxiety.

00:29.67

Wednesday Lee Friday

Mimi has been my friend for about 10 years and I can already hear my dog barking in the background. Can you hear that?

00:38.39

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, maybe not, but I can definitely hear her. Welcome Mimi.

00:45.85

Wednesday Lee Friday

It is great to have you here.

00:48.55

MimiU

Thanks for having here.

00:49.12

Wednesday Lee Friday

We, uh, Well, it is my pleasure. um We always start by asking guests to tell us about the first horror movie that they ever remember seeing. And I have no idea what yours is.

01:02.87

MimiU

Well, if we're talking straight horror, I think that would have to be a little shop of horrors recording I saw when I was, i think about...

01:17.06

MimiU

I'm gonna say 11. yeah it scared me to pieces.

01:24.06

Wednesday Lee Friday

Was it the original movie or the musical?

01:27.07

MimiU

The musical.

01:30.58

Wednesday Lee Friday

Because the original is black and white. Doesn't have any songs. Okay, so the Rick Moranis one. Yeah, I could see it being pretty scary if you're young. Absolutely.

01:42.20

Wednesday Lee Friday

But i'm aware i'm aware that you are not really a horror fan per se.

01:42.33

MimiU

Yeah.

01:47.85

Wednesday Lee Friday

So what is your favorite genre for films and books and TV and such?

01:53.43

MimiU

I understand.

01:58.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

So what would be your favorite genre?

02:00.63

MimiU

My favorite genre, well, do you mean movies or like in general? Because my, well, my favorite genre of movies is usually fantasy movies.

02:06.36

Wednesday Lee Friday

ah Well, we can do both.

02:12.66

MimiU

I love the way they can picture those magical worlds and make them look realistic.

02:20.89

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. Like which ones are your favorites?

02:23.86

MimiU

Which ones are my favorites? Well, I can't really pick a favorite right now. And I'm worried that the ones I do pick will be a bit too controversial. For example, I really like The Nutcracker and The Four Realms, but everybody says that's a really bad movie, so...

02:35.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, well.

02:42.93

Wednesday Lee Friday

Huh. Well, that's interesting. Yeah, I just saw Supergirl. And that's another one that I don't know if I'd call it controversial, but the MAGA boy dude bros are losing their minds over it. So I guess it's controversial in that strict sense. I thought it was great. Have you seen it yet?

03:00.31

MimiU

and No, I haven't

03:01.91

Wednesday Lee Friday

You should come over and watch it. I bought it. um So now I am aware that you are on the autism spectrum, which is something that presents a little bit differently for everyone.

03:12.92

Wednesday Lee Friday

So I would like to hear what it's like for you.

03:13.56

MimiU

Sorry you cut out

03:17.02

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, did I? Oh, no that's terrible. um Well, I'm asking about being on the autism spectrum and how that is different for everyone. So we'd like to hear your experiences with that. What has that been like for you?

03:29.55

MimiU

Well, honestly, autism hasn't as much, excuse me, hindered me as helped me because it means I'm a bit more creative than a neurotypical person would be But there are downsides such as I have find it hard to control my emotions sometimes.

03:57.91

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

03:58.81

MimiU

Yeah, yeah, but I do have a unique way of looking at the world, and I really do like that. So if there is a cure for autism, I wouldn't take it.

04:10.30

Wednesday Lee Friday

Interesting. Interesting. That's, that's, um, I'm curious to know how old were you when you were initially diagnosed?

04:18.49

MimiU

I think I was about five or six I had been having these outbursts at school and mom and dad were really worried.

04:31.51

MimiU

So they got me checked out and I and they found out I was autistic.

04:40.57

Wednesday Lee Friday

So you were pretty young. So that would have been like kindergarten, first grade, right?

04:45.05

MimiU

Mm hmm.

04:46.23

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. So, wow. So that's, that's amazing. So it seems like you got help before your educational career was, was truly underway. um And then you had what's called an IEP, which is, is that an individual education plan? Is that what that stands for?

05:05.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

Individual or individualized?

05:07.45

MimiU

I think so, or individual environment plan. I don't necessarily remember, but it was a while ago, so i might not remember everything in detail.

05:11.64

Wednesday Lee Friday

I see.

05:19.06

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sure, sure. um Now, my understanding is that Project 2025 and the new Secretary of Education have eliminated IEPs. um

05:30.73

MimiU

I did not know that.

05:30.81

Wednesday Lee Friday

How do you think...

05:32.41

MimiU

i am I am honestly disturbed by thus this news.

05:32.66

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, that... that

05:37.85

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, I was, I'm curious to know how you think that's going to impact students coming up.

05:44.73

MimiU

Well, for one thing, i think there's going to be a lot more unstable behavior that isn't mitigated because, or treated because there's no aid there to support them.

06:01.14

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

06:04.06

MimiU

And that actually makes me pretty sad.

06:04.76

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, that's.

06:11.64

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, I would, i I find it sad as well. um It seems like, kind of like policing, it's a situation where we don't necessarily give students what they need to thrive, and then we turn around and punish them for not thriving, you know what I mean?

06:31.03

Wednesday Lee Friday

Like, it's ah it's a it's kind of punitive.

06:31.51

MimiU

ah

06:34.11

Wednesday Lee Friday

I don't know if you're familiar with when they talk about uh, the to the prison pipeline and how some like I don't know if you know this there are certain states where the budgets for schools are determined by the property taxes so rich kids get better schools and poor kids get less supplies and fewer teachers and fewer counselors and and generally worse schools and so they're the ones that have lower graduation rates A lot more kids go to the military rather than college because they can't afford school yet, you know, that sort of thing. And it really just sets kids up for a bad time. Now, between that and not giving kids the individual attention that they need,

07:21.18

Wednesday Lee Friday

That seems like a recipe for disaster for me, but you know I'm not a teacher and I don't have any kids so I'm very much on the outside looking in on this issue, but you are not because you've been through it.

07:33.21

Wednesday Lee Friday

So what what do we do, what do we do about that.

07:37.65

MimiU

I not what one might call a big political change maker. try to stay on, i try to be politically correct when possible, but i try not to delve too deep into politics.

08:04.63

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. All right. Yeah, we we do have that on the show. Sometimes people, especially people that are trying to make a name for themselves, they don't necessarily want to adhere to one particular socio political philosophy.

08:18.49

Wednesday Lee Friday

So you know, that's an individualized things. I wonder, a lot of our listeners are not going to know you, would you like to tell people how old you are?

08:27.85

MimiU

I'm 22, just recently turned 22. ah And I am an overseas idol, which basically means I'm a J-pop style idol who doesn't live in Japan or isn't Japanese ethnically.

08:44.66

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay so if folks are not familiar what exactly is j-pop idol

08:52.92

MimiU

Well, if you're familiar with Korean idols, it's similar to that. It's basically a young...

08:58.23

Wednesday Lee Friday

let's let's pretend i'm not

09:00.76

MimiU

Okay, okay, okay. So, if you're not familiar with any kind of idol, it's basically a young performer who is trained to perform at at usually a young age, but is, but what I really like about it is that the themes they tackle are often more cutesier, more innocent sounding themes.

09:28.79

MimiU

And I really like that because a lot of music these days just seems to really lean into the hardcore or themes, you know? Don't get me wrong, I like music like that, but Sometimes you just want to smile, you know?

09:46.39

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. All right. um And are you fluent in Japanese?

09:52.17

MimiU

am not fluent. However, I am trying my best to learn.

09:59.19

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. And what about writing Japanese? Is that... Because that's its own skill set.

10:04.12

MimiU

I can write basic hiragana and a few kanji.

10:05.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

Writing versus writing.

10:09.21

Wednesday Lee Friday

Wow. That's really impressive. So you're working on some...

10:13.14

MimiU

I can also write katakana, but that's sort of like being able to write the alphabet.

10:15.61

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh wow

10:19.56

MimiU

It's not a big deal, really.

10:22.97

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well it would be a big deal for me I certainly couldn't do it um Well do you have like pen pals in Japan? do you have people that you practice with?

10:33.41

MimiU

No, not at the moment. I do have a few friends of my mom's that live in Japan.

10:36.88

Wednesday Lee Friday

I see

10:43.41

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, yeah, because you talked to us. Well, i probably shouldn't say, but our friend from the company that your mom and I worked at together. We won't say it's very mysterious.

10:51.21

MimiU

Yes, that's correct.

10:53.38

Wednesday Lee Friday

But yes, I know the person to whom you refer. Okay. So now you're working on a new project. Tell us about it.

11:03.42

MimiU

Yes, well, I am working on an original song and I'm doing it in collaboration with my uncle is is a music producer and overall musical artist.

11:24.09

MimiU

So, so,

11:24.63

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. Wait, is this is this a person I know?

11:29.66

MimiU

yes, I think so.

11:30.78

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. So we can actually say the name Tom Smith because he's famous and has a Wikipedia entry.

11:35.86

MimiU

okay. Yes, my,

11:37.11

Wednesday Lee Friday

So we're allowed to say his name.

11:38.94

MimiU

yeah

11:41.05

Wednesday Lee Friday

for For listeners...

11:41.05

MimiU

yes, my uncle is Tom Smith the Filker.

11:42.01

Wednesday Lee Friday

for like Well, for people that don't know...

11:46.71

MimiU

I'm not going to ride on his coattails or anything like that.

11:50.23

Wednesday Lee Friday

yeah No, of course not. But we do have a rule on the show that we don't call out ah people who are not famous, who are not public figures and don't have a name for themselves.

12:01.74

Wednesday Lee Friday

But yeah, Tom Smith seems like an average average everyday guy because we know him. But in real life, he's he's pretty famous and well-known in his field. so So yeah, so you're working on a project with Tom.

12:11.82

MimiU

Yeah.

12:15.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah.

12:15.77

MimiU

Yes, we are collaborating. it i think the overall melody might be finished by now, but we're still going to have to record the we're still going to have to record the vocals and get some overall kinks out of the recording. So yeah, it's going to be difficult, but pretty fun, I think.

12:45.82

Wednesday Lee Friday

Cool, cool. And when can we when can we hear it?

12:51.05

MimiU

Um, I don't really adhere to a strict schedule, but I would like it to be ready by, let's say, October, maybe?

13:06.78

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, cool. Cool. Well, that's good to know. Now, I would like to get back to your diagnosis a bit if we can. um I guess my first, I guess, um well, what I'm wondering is what there is about your diagnosis that you think people are ignorant about.

13:17.39

MimiU

course.

13:28.35

Wednesday Lee Friday

Like if someone has never met a person with autism or they don't know that they have, what's something that you would like them to know that they probably don't know?

13:37.16

MimiU

Well, the first thing I'd like them to know is that autism does not always hurt someone. It can hurt someone, but it doesn't have to for someone to be autistic.

13:55.96

MimiU

Sometimes autism just means seeing things in a different way. And to me, it's not necessarily a disability. That might be different for other people. I know it's different for everyone, but that's personally how I see it.

14:12.06

MimiU

Now, I don't know you've ever heard of Greta Thunberg, but she once said something like, autism is not a gift, but it can be a superpower.

14:12.79

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

14:21.56

MimiU

And can I say something a little strong?

14:25.40

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yes.

14:26.88

MimiU

honestly think that's garbage.

14:30.47

Wednesday Lee Friday

Huh. Explain that.

14:32.41

MimiU

kind Because... Because... is autism can be a gift for some people. It can be a whole new lens on life, if you want to put it that way.

14:48.12

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

14:49.51

MimiU

I've never really hated my autism, so maybe I'm just a weird exception, I don't know.

14:58.49

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, it sounds like what you're saying is that we can't assume anything about anybody just because we know that they have autism. Do I have that right?

15:08.18

MimiU

Yes, that's correct.

15:10.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. Well, that makes a lot of sense to me. i found out very late in life that I have autism. That's something that I think would have made my life very different if I had known about it as at a younger age, if people hadn't thought that I was just undisciplined or dumb or whatever.

15:28.73

Wednesday Lee Friday

I think things probably could have gone pretty differently for me. Because I just didn't know. You know, there was... um People guessed what might be my issue, but they kept guessing wrong. And so if you get the wrong treatment for something, sometimes that can do more damage. It's it's all a rich tapestry, but...

15:49.82

Wednesday Lee Friday

One thing I think you and I have in common is intrusive thoughts. And some of those can can get pretty disturbing.

15:55.60

MimiU

Oh, yeah.

15:58.15

Wednesday Lee Friday

um What are some coping skills that you found helpful?

16:02.68

MimiU

Well, with my intrusive thoughts, they don't necessarily come from the autism, but from the OCD. And most of them m go along a pattern of if blank, then blank. For example, if i say this word out loud, there'll be a tornado tomorrow or something crazy like that. And what I usually do is remember that it's a disorder and it's trying to mess me up.

16:33.72

MimiU

So what I do is just think to myself,

16:34.52

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

16:38.55

MimiU

ah myself, okay, that's the disorder talking.

16:46.07

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, so just recognizing that logically what is happening is part of a disorder and not part of objective reality.

16:55.71

MimiU

Yes.

16:57.08

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. And does that typically work or mostly sometimes?

17:02.14

MimiU

It mostly works.

17:04.47

Wednesday Lee Friday

cool

17:04.50

MimiU

I mean, there are some days when I'm super stressed, so i can't really argue with my brain all that much.

17:15.16

MimiU

So i just don't have the energy.

17:18.36

Wednesday Lee Friday

yeah i know sure okay all right um is there anything else that you want to tell us about autism or ocd that you think we probably don't know

17:19.18

MimiU

so

17:34.34

MimiU

Well, I'm sure a million different people have said this, but OCD is not about cleanliness or over-organization. It is about cause and effect, or rather seeing cause and effect where there isn't any or shouldn't be any.

17:51.80

Wednesday Lee Friday

Huh.

17:54.90

Wednesday Lee Friday

Interesting. So it's it's something that prevents you from seeing situations objectively.

18:05.18

MimiU

Yes, exactly.

18:08.83

Wednesday Lee Friday

Huh. That's really interesting. i had I'm not really that familiar with that. um So what advice would you give to someone who's having difficulty with intrusive thoughts?

18:20.25

Wednesday Lee Friday

How would you advise them?

18:23.38

MimiU

Well, the first thing I'd say was your intrusive thoughts are not real. They are nonsense. And if somebody was actually saying that to you, of course you'd ignore it.

18:37.59

MimiU

But if it's really hard, i just say that these thoughts are not your own.

18:48.95

MimiU

If they disturb you or if they or if they impediment you, they are from, the chances are they're from the disorder and not from you or your personality.

19:07.86

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

19:08.47

MimiU

And I think I really would have liked to hear that back when I was first diagnosed with OCD.

19:15.70

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, well, that makes a lot of sense. Now, one thing that I notice you doing is personifying these conditions, saying things like they want to mess you up or, you know, they're they're trying to to stop you. um And that is a philosophy that finds its way into a lot of different kinds of mental health treatment and also addiction treatment.

19:40.61

Wednesday Lee Friday

Personifying addiction is a very common way of of dealing with it. And I find that when I'm depressed and I'm having negative self-thoughts, if I put the name of someone I don't like on those thoughts, because if I'm sitting in a room by myself and I think, oh my God, I'm such a failure,

19:58.52

Wednesday Lee Friday

You know, my books come out and nobody cares and I feel so sad. What am I doing this for? If I envision someone that I hate, like my abuser or Donald Trump, and I envision them saying that to me, it's much, much easier for my brain to be like, hey, F you, man. You can't talk to me like that. You're a piece of crap. and just And just really not have to pay attention to that.

20:26.17

Wednesday Lee Friday

because I pretend like it's coming from someone that I don't care about instead of my own brain giving me crap. So I don't know if...

20:34.14

MimiU

Well, honestly, I don't necessarily call think of it as personification. I used to personify it. I gave it...

20:45.62

MimiU

the name that was similar to mine, but different.

20:51.32

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

20:52.47

MimiU

But that ended up giving it too much power. So what no one tells you about personifying your disorders is that

20:58.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

I see.

21:08.73

MimiU

it it can actually give it more power over you if you and it view view it as a being instead of an impediment. So I'd say what I do is more like othering the disorder.

21:26.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

21:28.54

MimiU

Like, it's not you, it's just a misguided part

21:36.18

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. So it's not necessarily something that you are battling against, but that you want to kind of compartmentalize so that you can...

21:46.16

MimiU

Yes, exactly.

21:47.70

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. That makes sense. I get it. i understand. yea me. um All right. yeah So let me ask you this. Now, you and i our viewing habits are pretty different from each other.

22:04.28

Wednesday Lee Friday

And I wonder... If there is something, if you've watched a portrayal of autism or OCD, like either one, actually, if you've seen a portrayal in a movie or on TV that you find to be particularly accurate or helpful.

22:21.14

MimiU

Well, I don't watch it nowadays because it's kind of sad, but I used to watch a show called Everything's Gonna Okay or something like Everything's Going to Be Alright.

22:35.54

MimiU

And there was an autistic character who I really saw myself in, even though she was a little less affectionate than I used to be when I was little.

22:36.02

Wednesday Lee Friday

and I'm not familiar with it.

22:48.15

MimiU

i used to want to hug people all the time.

22:51.29

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, I remember.

22:54.58

MimiU

And I understand that some people aren't exactly comfortable with that. Some autistic people, I mean.

23:03.90

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sure, sure. Well, and there's a whole thing with kids being forced to hug people they don't like.

23:10.52

MimiU

Sorry?

23:12.92

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, there's, there's a societal thing about kids being forced to hug people that they don't like. And when that happens, you know, like your weird aunt that you see twice a year or some crazy old grandparent in the nursing home or whatever, like as a kid, people like that seem scary and intimidating. And, you know, there's a lot of talk now about making kids hug and why that's bad, takes away their body autonomy, and it can put them off hugging forever. Like if you're forced to hug somebody that you don't like, you might think about that every time you try to hug for the whole rest of your life, you know, and then you just don't want to hug anybody.

23:53.19

MimiU

I'm not really sure if that really applies to me because I was an extremely affectionate kid

23:57.62

Wednesday Lee Friday

I wouldn't think you. ah Yeah, I wouldn't think you, but I think that that is, that's a factor, I think, when you meet somebody who who doesn't want to be hugged.

24:09.03

Wednesday Lee Friday

It's like, well, I had a bad hugging experience in the past. You know, that sort of thing.

24:13.30

MimiU

Okay, okay.

24:14.81

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah.

24:16.09

MimiU

So well maybe it didn't have anything to do with the autism or maybe it was just a stereotypical trait that was assigned to this otherwise good autistic character.

24:29.34

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay all right any other ones

24:35.19

MimiU

Any others? Well, I do like autistic coded characters, like characters that people oh think could be autistic.

24:50.07

MimiU

not necessarily because as they have stereotypical traits, but because they they sort of identify with the character.

24:59.91

Wednesday Lee Friday

Uh-oh, your mic's cutting out, hon.

25:04.40

MimiU

What'd you say?

25:07.42

Wednesday Lee Friday

ah your Your mic is cutting in and out. I think maybe there's a short in your wire.

25:12.02

MimiU

a short in my wire?

25:14.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

So the way to deal with that is to just make sure...

25:14.65

MimiU

Just give me a sec.

25:17.69

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, you yeah you just... Okay.

25:20.57

MimiU

Okay, how's this?

25:23.49

Wednesday Lee Friday

That's good. That seems okay.

25:24.96

MimiU

Alright.

25:25.70

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

25:26.81

MimiU

So, what I was going to say was that

25:35.26

MimiU

among the autistic coded characters I like, Mabel from Gravity Falls Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph have always been...

25:49.46

MimiU

Well, not always in Mabel's case, but in Vanellope's case, they've definitely been my muses.

25:56.89

Wednesday Lee Friday

ah Nice.

26:00.60

MimiU

At least Vanellope from the first movie, we don't talk about the sequel.

26:05.72

Wednesday Lee Friday

I didn't even know there was a sequel. Oh my goodness.

26:11.45

MimiU

It's okay.

26:11.77

Wednesday Lee Friday

Cause I think, didn't didn't we watch Wreck-It Ralph together?

26:16.19

MimiU

Yeah, we did.

26:16.82

Wednesday Lee Friday

i've i think we did because man, I think I was supposed to be babysitting you. And you know, i think part of being a good babysitter is not to burst into tears while you're watching a movie. But I failed.

26:29.75

Wednesday Lee Friday

I definitely failed when I watched Wreck-It Ralph. I think Big Hero 6 is another one that we watched together that I'm just like, okay don't be sad this movie isn't that sad but i was you know because i'm well i am kind of a lightweight when it comes to crying during movies not so much horror movies but you know like the first 20 minutes of up it's not possible for me to watch that and not cry

26:52.85

MimiU

Oh, it is impossible not to cry at this first 20 minutes of up.

26:55.32

Wednesday Lee Friday

yeah

26:59.51

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, I agree. i concur. And I think, yeah, I think Mabel from Gravity Falls actually is a great example because she is such a wonderful, lovable character. But then sometimes you watch and just think, wait, stop, stop doing that. Do you not see that you should not be doing that?

27:18.14

Wednesday Lee Friday

But.

27:18.55

MimiU

Yes, I think she really it portrays how emotions can get the better of us.

27:25.50

Wednesday Lee Friday

Mm hmm.

27:27.51

MimiU

And honestly, I really like the Pines twins dynamic because one let sometimes lets reason get the better of them and the other lets emotion get the better of them sometimes.

27:27.88

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yep.

27:43.19

MimiU

Did I cut out?

27:44.63

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yep. Yep. A little bit.

27:46.52

MimiU

Okay, what I said was Dipper lets reason get ahead of himself sometimes, and Mabel lets emotion get ahead of herself.

27:59.83

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sure.

27:59.83

MimiU

And I really like that dynamic, honestly.

28:00.47

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yep.

28:05.78

MimiU

Did I cut out again?

28:06.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, it's... A little bit, yeah. Yeah. But it's funny because that dynamic is the same dynamic that exists on an older show called The X-Files, which I don't know if you're familiar with or not, but it's about David Duchovny, who's this super hot FBI guy. And he, I guess the hotness isn't relevant, but he is, though. And... um And he very much believes in aliens and magic.

28:32.25

Wednesday Lee Friday

He is the big believer. And then his partner, Scully, who is Gillian Anderson, who's also insanely attractive, is this the skeptic.

28:42.35

MimiU

Sounds to me like you really like the X-Files.

28:43.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

So she comes in.

28:46.26

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, i was I was a great fan of X-Files back in the day. And then when they brought it back, I got paid to review it. So that was fun. I love when I get paid to watch TV that I was already going to watch.

28:58.68

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, it's very handy.

29:00.47

MimiU

Okay.

29:01.05

Wednesday Lee Friday

Very handy. um Okay, so...

29:04.43

MimiU

But anyway, you were saying?

29:04.58

Wednesday Lee Friday

um you Well, I mean, that that was kind of the guts of it. But like Vanellope, I think is interesting because I didn't really consider her being autistic just because it wasn't on my radar at the time.

29:18.90

Wednesday Lee Friday

I wasn't thinking about it. But that makes so much sense um because she's so focused, like so focused on what she does.

29:27.06

MimiU

Yeah.

29:30.78

Wednesday Lee Friday

But then when something happens, and I mean, I think what happened, like when her car got wrecked, spoiler alert, when her car got wrecked, that's something like, you don't have to be autistic for that to break your heart.

29:41.90

MimiU

Hello?

29:45.18

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, did you lose me?

29:46.87

MimiU

Yeah, I lost you for a sec.

29:47.35

Wednesday Lee Friday

Looks like. Okay, it looks like we were still recording. So, um yeah, I was just saying that you would not have to be autistic to be devastated by what happened to Vanellope.

30:01.62

Wednesday Lee Friday

And her car that but but I but I think that I mean her reaction seems extreme, I suppose, but I don't know.

30:01.69

MimiU

Yeah.

30:09.50

Wednesday Lee Friday

i didn't I didn't really feel that way. I think because my own upbringing is such that I very much identified with working really hard on something and then having it taken from you for reasons that seem mean or make no sense.

30:27.86

MimiU

Yeah, I totally get that. To be fair, Ralph was being slightly manipulated, but yeah, he shouldn't have done that.

30:33.27

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, and I don't know if you know this, but Vanellope vanelope actually became a popular girl's name. Not like wildly popular, but there were, according to the name list, I think like two dozen girls that ended up with it the first name Vanellope.

30:54.35

MimiU

That's so ridiculous, but cute, too.

30:58.94

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah... Yeah, I mean, I actually, obviously, i have strong feelings about...

31:01.46

MimiU

Oh, I'm sorry. was that... You have strong feelings about people being named after characters. I know, I know.

31:10.58

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, and just weird names in general, referential names. Like some things were real names and then they became referential because of a specific character, you know, a name like Kermit or or Popeye, you know, that were legitimate names, but then they became so associated with a particular character that now they seem silly. People don't name their kid Kermit anymore because there's really just the one, ah or even Linus.

31:40.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

There's an actor on Law & Order and his name is Linus, but for the most part, people don't use the name Linus anymore.

31:44.31

MimiU

You cut out.

31:47.20

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, did I? I'm still recording, so it's actually your headphones cutting out because I can see line.

31:52.95

MimiU

My headphones are cutting out. huh Hold on. Let me get just those really quick.

31:58.07

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

31:59.16

MimiU

This better?

32:01.40

Wednesday Lee Friday

ah You're a little louder.

32:03.26

MimiU

Okay. How about this?

32:05.62

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sounds good to me.

32:07.21

MimiU

All right.

32:08.59

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. So getting onto a new topic, actually, you have done something recently that I have never done, which is travel to a foreign country by yourself.

32:13.45

MimiU

Mm-hmm.

32:20.34

Wednesday Lee Friday

um So what inspired you to take a trip like this?

32:25.30

MimiU

Well, it's honestly always been a dream of mine. Ever since I was... i first discovered that one of my favorite shows was actually anime, i sort of became obsessed with it.

32:45.40

MimiU

And through anime, I also learned about other aspects of Japanese culture, such as such as idols.

32:53.37

Wednesday Lee Friday

up you're cutting out okay

32:59.16

MimiU

Give me a sec. Okay, I'm ready now.

33:03.67

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay

33:04.76

MimiU

All right, so I found out about different aspects of Japanese culture and I said to myself, hey, i would really like to go there someday.

33:19.10

MimiU

And

33:19.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay

33:19.99

MimiU

was a pipe dream of mine for a while, by

33:27.70

MimiU

Then i was suggested, it was my dad who suggested it, that i save up for a trip to Japan.

33:38.73

MimiU

got job I worked really hard yeah.

33:51.00

Wednesday Lee Friday

And how long did that take to save up?

33:54.26

MimiU

Less than I thought it would. I thought it would take three years, but it actually took like two and a half.

34:03.03

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. And how long were you there?

34:07.58

MimiU

I was there for four days. Still, that was, it was an amazing trip. I loved it.

34:17.21

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, what's the scoop? Like, I've never traveled internationally.

34:19.86

MimiU

The thing about

34:20.09

Wednesday Lee Friday

I mean, I've been to Canada, but, you know, I'm from Michigan.

34:24.66

MimiU

What'd you say? Sorry you cut out.

34:27.93

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, um, I mean, I've only traveled to Canada, so I don't know anything about real international travel. You need a passport for that, right?

34:37.59

MimiU

Yeah, you do, but I made sure to get my passport early.

34:42.30

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. and Okay.

34:44.76

MimiU

yeah

34:45.19

Wednesday Lee Friday

So...

34:45.94

MimiU

I think I got it a year in advance, maybe?

34:46.58

Wednesday Lee Friday

so

34:49.62

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, wow. Okay. So where did you stay while you were there?

34:55.04

MimiU

I stayed in a capsule hotel. It's sort of like, it's sort of like a, this might not sound attractive, but I promise it is, a beehive for people.

35:09.17

Wednesday Lee Friday

yeah Okay. Yeah, I mean, I've seen like, you know, little documentaries about those and how they work. Did you have roommates or was it just you?

35:19.90

MimiU

Not in my room, however, I did have cellmates. like other cells on either side of me.

35:27.13

Wednesday Lee Friday

That sounds nefarious.

35:29.82

MimiU

There was one below me too since I got a oops!

35:32.87

Wednesday Lee Friday

OK.

35:34.46

MimiU

Sorry, just my equipment malfunctioned.

35:39.93

MimiU

no big deal, just loose pop filter.

35:40.84

Wednesday Lee Friday

OK.

35:46.10

MimiU

Just fix this real quick.

35:53.75

MimiU

We're nuts! Sorry.

36:02.26

MimiU

Hang in there. Okay.

36:12.38

MimiU

And there we go.

36:18.10

MimiU

So, any other questions?

36:18.87

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, we good?

36:22.32

MimiU

Hello?

36:24.54

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, yeah. So, um, so you were telling me about your cellmates in your capsule hotel.

36:30.60

MimiU

Yeah, they were people who had the room, or I guess cell, on the other side of me, and also below me since I had a top cell and not a bottom cell.

36:47.86

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

36:52.18

Wednesday Lee Friday

I see. i see. And then what did you do when you got there? I imagine restaurants.

37:00.14

MimiU

Um, mostly shopping, actually.

37:04.82

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

37:04.76

MimiU

there was so much cute stuff that... Actually, I didn't go to many different restaurants.

37:15.26

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, I have a friend who lives in Japan and he's always telling me about amazing little restaurants that he finds that give these enormous meals for like three and four dollars American. It's crazy.

37:27.86

MimiU

Well, um, let me tell you a little something about those hidden gem restaurants. They do not like foreigners at all, at least not the one i went to.

37:40.50

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, no.

37:40.47

MimiU

i went to this little ramen place, and i guess I did something kind of silly.

37:40.66

Wednesday Lee Friday

no

37:48.34

MimiU

i let's just say i put my money pouch in the wrong spot, and... When I got it out to pay, i looked really embarrassing.

38:04.23

Wednesday Lee Friday

Huh.

38:05.11

MimiU

So I guess it was partially my fault, but yeah, they did not like me.

38:11.16

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, no.

38:12.02

MimiU

They served me, but they didn't like me.

38:15.26

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, that's uncomfortable.

38:17.66

MimiU

yeah

38:17.85

Wednesday Lee Friday

I guess that is one of the risks of going to another country is that some of the social mores are going to be a little different. And you may not know that until you get there and find out the hard way.

38:27.26

MimiU

Yeah. Yeah.

38:31.20

Wednesday Lee Friday

So that's that's unfortunate that they made you feel unwelcome. That's just not good hospitality.

38:35.70

MimiU

yeah

38:38.26

Wednesday Lee Friday

um Oh, oh gosh, I forgot. it's a we we have to We're doing a ah thing on the show that we didn't used to do because we used to print our donor names.

38:48.79

Wednesday Lee Friday

um People that donate at the 10 and up level for us, we used to put them in the magazine, but we don't do the magazine anymore. We closed it out because it was bankrupting me and I was selling too many collectibles to keep it running.

39:03.42

Wednesday Lee Friday

So now we are announcing donor names and, oh, there's just a few this month. There is Alison Huff, Nemu, Ravenfall, Loki, and Brianna Simmons. So all of those folks are donating at, uh, one of our premier levels. And, if you want to support us, which you totally should, um,

39:25.43

Wednesday Lee Friday

you can do that on coffee that is ko-fi.com i think we're still listed there as sometimes hilarious horror but if you search for the mentally oddcast we totally come up if you can spare us a dollar or two every month that really helps us pay our bills and keep the lights on around here sometimes we have to send a microphone to a guest so that they can participate and just having a little bit of extra scratch lets us do that so do show us some support if you can if uh money is not something you can spare right now we totally get it maybe tell a friend about us get us a new listener because we love what we're doing around here and it is our hope that more people

40:11.16

Wednesday Lee Friday

will give us a listen and get to these perspectives. And because, I mean, I think we have a lot of valuable perspectives on the show, and it's a great opportunity to learn and understand things that you might not have before.

40:24.31

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, so there, sorry, interruption, but now we're back. um Let's see.

40:29.14

MimiU

yeah Okay, okay.

40:30.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, so Studio Ghibli, you like it, right?

40:33.91

MimiU

Yes, i do

40:35.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, what's your favorite?

40:37.43

MimiU

My favorite would have to be Spirited Away, though that's my current favorite. I had a period where it was Howl's Moving Castle for a while, but once I saw Spirited Away, i was like, nope, this is my favorite.

40:42.84

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

40:54.14

Wednesday Lee Friday

I would have to pick Howl's Moving Castle.

40:58.65

MimiU

Yeah, it's a pretty amazing movie.

41:01.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah. Yeah, I think so too. I think I saw, i think I've seen Spirited Away the most times because we had it at a movie theater that I used to work at.

41:12.47

Wednesday Lee Friday

So I'd come in early and watch it like a lot. Yeah. Well, and that's such a great one to see on the big screen because it's so visually appealing. um Now I'm looking over. So what was your favorite thing you bought while you were in Japan? Yeah.

41:30.17

MimiU

My favorite thing I bought. That's kind of toughie because I bought so much cute stuff. But I think the my favorite thing that I bought was an outfit from Shibuya 109, which is like this girls department store in the Shibuya district of Tokyo.

41:52.09

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

41:56.86

MimiU

Yeah, it is just filled with cute stuff and I got an adorable outfit from there.

42:02.78

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sweet, sweet. And in general, what's the purchase power of a dollar? Did you feel like things were crazy expensive or were pretty affordable?

42:08.76

MimiU

Excuse me?

42:12.34

Wednesday Lee Friday

um the The purchase power, like, yeah I mean, obviously you go there with American money and then you have to exchange it. But like, did you feel like things were pretty expensive compared to what you would pay in America?

42:24.94

MimiU

I honestly not find it that expensive. i I was sometimes surprised that what I had could buy more than what then i expected it to.

42:44.54

MimiU

Though maybe it was just because I saved up a lot.

42:44.73

Wednesday Lee Friday

Cool.

42:48.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, that's true.

42:48.94

MimiU

I'm not going to be someone one who says, oh, Japan was so cheap, because I know that people living in Japan might find it the same as here. so

43:05.75

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. All right. Well, we are getting to the end of our question list. Um, i was there anything that you wanted to talk about that we did not talk about?

43:18.31

MimiU

Well, we didn't talk about, well, last time i was at your place, you, ask you, we watched some anime and you had some interesting takes on idols.

43:35.03

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, yep, that's true. um i i find um the idol culture, and and now let's let me preface this by saying I'm on the internet a lot, so I hear about and from a lot of adult men who are very into Japanese idol culture, and to me, a lot of it comes across as fetishistic,

44:00.80

MimiU

And.

44:01.89

Wednesday Lee Friday

and And honestly, dangerous for for young women and and girls to be involved in. That it' it's kind of ah a pervert magnet. And that is not the fault of the media. But that, I think, is where my discomfort comes from when I see it. I think, oh, my gosh, look at all those gross men with their bed pillows of of girls on them. And just, you know, ew, ew, ew.

44:28.78

Wednesday Lee Friday

But...

44:29.10

MimiU

I agree that that some fans can get gross.

44:29.66

Wednesday Lee Friday

right

44:33.53

MimiU

However, i don't think the culture itself is a bad thing. Like I said in the beginning of this podcast episode, i i really do think that

44:38.87

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

44:51.61

MimiU

that cute visuals and occasionally frivolous lyrics are actually kind of refreshing in today's music climate.

45:03.38

Wednesday Lee Friday

okay

45:04.73

MimiU

And maybe that's what it draws people to J-pop and K-pop. It's certainly what drew me there.

45:12.76

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay. Yeah, and I think that because you and I sort of disagree on on the overarching part of that, I think we also talked about horror.

45:24.92

Wednesday Lee Friday

Because you are not a horror fan, and I am very much a horror fan because i think horror is extremely socially relevant, that it helps us tackle a lot of like personal and societal issues. and It's one of the only genres that does both ah so thoroughly.

45:44.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

um But at the same time, there are bad people who do bad things because they're imitating horror movies.

45:45.33

MimiU

If yeah

45:51.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

There are people that, um you know, it it makes them depressed and they watch anyway. So, like, a lot of genres that people feel strongly about are going to have people that are, like, very good and some people that are are poor representations of the genre.

46:08.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

So I think that's that's certainly a fair statement, that if... if the overall climate of of J-pop culture is positive and good, then...

46:16.86

MimiU

Sorry you cut out.

46:20.12

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh! No, I didn't. I'm still recording. But, um yeah, if if the overall culture is positive and good, and the ah people that are like pervy and gross about it are the minority, then, yeah, that's a net good.

46:34.38

Wednesday Lee Friday

I would say it's certainly true of horror, that the overarching majority of people that are involved in horror...

46:38.30

MimiU

Yeah, and I guess it's true, it must be true of idols as well.

46:40.53

Wednesday Lee Friday

are great people.

46:46.52

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, I mean, you would know better than I would.

46:49.83

MimiU

That's true.

46:51.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

Indeed, indeed. um Toward the end of the show, we also want to give guests an opportunity to ask me a question if they have one. So if you have one, now is the time.

47:07.76

MimiU

Oh, you meant guess as in me. Okay.

47:11.13

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yeah, you.

47:11.58

MimiU

All right.

47:11.93

Wednesday Lee Friday

You're the guest.

47:12.22

MimiU

I will ask you a question.

47:15.32

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

47:16.89

MimiU

All right.

47:19.83

MimiU

What are your overall feelings on anime? I don't know.

47:24.82

Wednesday Lee Friday

Um... I think that the anime that I have seen, i have enjoyed. I liked a Death Note. I liked Attack on Titan.

47:37.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

Um... But I think that it one of the things, and this isn't just anime, but Japanese films as well, they don't...

47:48.92

Wednesday Lee Friday

have a soundtrack that sort of holds your hand and guides you through. um And that makes it less impactful for me. I think that the way that that the content is presented is not as to my taste as a lot of other genres. Like I'd rather watch, ah you know, like a Pixar movie.

48:15.35

Wednesday Lee Friday

Than an anime. um and And certainly. i think that part of that is that. I am not deeply immersed. In Japanese culture.

48:26.33

Wednesday Lee Friday

So there are a lot of references. I'm not getting. you know the the translations. I won't fully understand. So my knowledge base is such deep. that and and now that i know that i'm autistic as well that makes a little more sense i feel like i yep i'm still here and uh i feel like i don't know enough to enjoy it fully you know

48:38.04

MimiU

Hello?

48:50.15

MimiU

Okay.

48:52.75

MimiU

I understand.

48:52.89

Wednesday Lee Friday

but yeah i mean i could certainly see the the artistry there i mean again like studio ghibli like all of those movies are breathtakingly beautiful You know, so I certainly have an appreciation for that.

49:08.18

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right, cool. Well, it is actually time for the Mad Lib. So I hope you're ready for this. um

49:14.90

MimiU

Oh yeah, the Mad Lib.

49:17.69

Wednesday Lee Friday

Yes, so we're going to start with some plural nouns. I need one, two, three plural nouns.

49:27.86

MimiU

i feel a bit like a one-track mind, so if i Okay, plural nouns.

49:38.77

MimiU

Here we go.

49:39.66

Wednesday Lee Friday

Uh-huh.

49:39.61

MimiU

ah Mice,

49:45.81

Wednesday Lee Friday

Mm-hmm.

49:47.62

MimiU

idols, and kittens.

49:59.13

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. And we're going to need some singular nouns. Looks like one, two, three, four, five, six. Wow. Lots of them. Okay. Okay.

50:09.46

MimiU

All right, caterpillar, doctor,

50:14.71

Wednesday Lee Friday

Sorry.

50:17.53

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right.

50:19.38

MimiU

ah bear, let's see, ah dice.

50:23.83

Wednesday Lee Friday

Uh-huh.

50:29.82

MimiU

No, wait, that's a plural now.

50:30.17

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay.

50:31.42

MimiU

And

50:32.23

Wednesday Lee Friday

Oh, too late. i already wrote it down. Three more.

50:36.58

MimiU

let's say pillow.

50:39.10

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. Two more.

50:41.18

MimiU

Oh yeah, two more. ah Book and pen.

50:48.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. I need some adjectives. I think two adjectives.

50:55.45

MimiU

Pretty and sparkly.

50:56.06

Wednesday Lee Friday

Nope. Three.

50:57.85

MimiU

Pretty, sparkly, and disgusting.

50:58.03

Wednesday Lee Friday

Pretty.

51:05.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

And disgusting. And a verb.

51:13.53

MimiU

Uh, danced.

51:20.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

A number.

51:23.26

MimiU

Seven.

51:24.92

Wednesday Lee Friday

A place.

51:27.73

MimiU

Tokyo.

51:31.22

Wednesday Lee Friday

A part of the body, plural.

51:37.98

Wednesday Lee Friday

Okay, a celebrity. celebrity.

51:42.29

MimiU

Oh, geez. Celebrity.

51:51.20

MimiU

Katy Perry.

51:57.50

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. And finally, a person in room is always the guest. So that's you.

52:04.25

MimiU

That's me, then.

52:06.26

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. So this is called Traffic Report. Folks, I hate to be the bearer of bad mice, but it's a slow go on today's pretty roadways.

52:22.42

Wednesday Lee Friday

Everyone seems to have forgotten how to dance behind the wheel. There is a seven-doctor pile-up on Route 86 that's got traffic backed up all the way to Tokyo.

52:36.25

Wednesday Lee Friday

Damn. Police and emergency idols are on the scene, but those sparkly drivers

52:42.23

MimiU

What'd you say?

52:45.46

Wednesday Lee Friday

those sparkly drivers craning their feet to see what's going on aren't helping matters. A car with a flat bear is causing a slowdown on Katy Perry Highway.

52:56.04

MimiU

Thank you.

52:59.35

Wednesday Lee Friday

a disgusting semi-truck headed downtown has jackknifed, spilling its load of frozen kittens. And here's something you don't see every day. 200-pound dice by the name of Mimi escaped from the zoo and wandered into the path of an oncoming pillow, which then swerved and crashed into a book.

53:25.37

Wednesday Lee Friday

Let's face it, folks. Today is a day where you need patience, a sense of humor, or a flying pen. And there you have it.

53:37.50

Wednesday Lee Friday

The maddest of libs.

53:44.12

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right.

53:44.86

MimiU

Oh man, that is one awful traffic report.

53:45.00

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well...

53:49.02

Wednesday Lee Friday

It really is. i hope that never happens to me. Although I could crash into a pillow. That wouldn't be so bad. um

53:54.74

MimiU

Yeah, and who named pair, a wild pair of dice after me?

54:02.04

Wednesday Lee Friday

Well, ah that's just the joy of the Mad Lib. You just never know what you're going to get.

54:09.11

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right.

54:09.11

MimiU

um but seriously, Katy Perry Highway sounds awesome.

54:13.56

Wednesday Lee Friday

You think so? Yeah.

54:15.48

MimiU

yeah

54:17.11

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. Well, um that is pretty much our conclusion. So thank you so much for being here. I think we covered a lot of good ground.

54:29.02

Wednesday Lee Friday

All right. And we want to remind everybody to see us on coffee where you can find out, Oh, you can actually um get information on past episodes, um links to transcripts. Cause we always have transcripts for our episodes and all that there. So yeah, that is all for now. And we will see everybody next week.

54:53.95

MimiU

Hello?