Call Summary: Wisconsin Christmas & Life Direction Reflections

Overview

Casual catchup call with Isaiah visiting family in Wisconsin for Christmas. Discussion covered Isaiah's evolving philosophy on relationships and conferences, Gary's new AI community opportunity in Austin, Christian schools vision, and both friends' spiritual and career trajectories heading into 2026.

Key Topics Discussed

Isaiah's Wisconsin Christmas Visit

• Currently in Wisconsin visiting family, experiencing "tundra" conditions and staying active with running and gym work
• Found Wisconsin better than expected compared to "beat" South Dakota drive: "some good people, some good Christians"
• Family hoping for his return, but Isaiah acknowledges chances are slim: "we kind of know deep down, like, the chances that are kind of slim"
• Reflecting on mortality and uncertainty: "you never know when you'll get to see people, no matter who it is, ever again"

Philosophy Shift on Networking & Conferences

• Isaiah articulating significant mindset change on "floating around crazy people" at conferences
• Moving away from chasing highs through tech/crypto conferences: "I do think we don't even maybe need that. Per se. And it's kind of just our own selves that kind of have already that potential"
• Keeping smaller circle of known good friends rather than seeking new eccentric connections
• CES will be one of few conferences he attends: "This might be the only one that I go to"
• Recognizes past pattern of "chasing a high" and wants to focus on personal life more in 2026

Gary's AI Community Opportunity

• Gary shared mentor figure offered him opportunity to build AI community in Austin
• Not "dying about it" but sees it as "a way for me to stay in the game"
• Questioned his own "high requirement to be inspired"
• Isaiah affirmed Gary is himself "a mover and a shaker" who doesn't need external validation

Christian Schools Vision

• Gary revealed: "God put on my heart. Christian schools."
• Isaiah very receptive: "I love that idea, man"
• Connected to Jordan Peterson Academy (Ralston Academy) which Isaiah is reconsidering with more mature perspective
• Discussed Gen Z trending more Catholic than Protestant

Gary's Positive Influence on Isaiah

• Isaiah credited Gary for helping maintain positivity amid conspiracy content overload
• Referenced Gary's advice during Israel news cycle: "I'm just trying to keep a positive space around me"
• Isaiah blocked friend who kept "spamming me Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories"
• Shared sister feels same way about avoiding "schizophrenia mode" conspiracy content

Catholic vs Protestant Observations

• Isaiah attending both Catholic and Protestant masses with his father (chaplain)
• Noted Catholic mass efficiency: "boom. Get everybody in, they're praying, we're doing the Thou Fathers, and we're just kind of moving along"
• Feels "more of a sense of authority in the Catholic mass"
• Protestant mass "has been kind of winging it a little bit"

Isaiah's Professional Updates

• Going to CES on Saturday for International Business Times (freelance)
• Company keeps giving promotions despite his ambivalence: "I was like, I don't want this to work out. But they just kept giving me promotions"
• Lebanon video in final stages, paying video editor next week to finish
• Video intended as "springboard" to regular weekly video content
• Disappointed with 2025: "I got to travel a lot, do work for other people, but I didn't really get to much work for myself"

Japan Return & Relationship

• Returning to Japan "for at least the near term" for girlfriend
• First time "things have been so good that I've been trying to basically work against it for the entire year, and things are still working out"
• Admitted fear of companionship: "Not scared of it, but I'd rather just have my freedom, a single freedom"
• Girlfriend receptive to faith, going to church: "already a huge leap"

Family Priorities

• Might visit grandmother in New Jersey (in her 90s) before leaving States
• Emphasizing family over other travel: "I kind of want to see her before"

Key Quotes

• "I think I kind of been thinking of the same thing myself, too, actually... I think it really what it comes down to. I mean, it's kind of trite, but I think it's like you yourself, a mover and a shaker"
• "You never know when it's the last time. So I just try to treat it, especially when it's in a weird part of the country like this"
• "I'm going to try to stop doing it a little bit. Just because floating around crazy people, I realize, hasn't really gotten me where I want it to be"
• "I'm very inspired by people like Hunter S. Thompson... But I don't think it needs to always be chasing a high"
• "I am definitely really scared of companionship... Not scared of it, but I'd rather just have my freedom, a single freedom"
• "I think there's just tons uncovered there" (re: Christianity in Japan)
• "God put on my heart. Christian schools."

Action Items / Takeaways

• Isaiah to finish paying Lebanon video editor next week
• Isaiah attending CES Saturday for International Business Times
• Isaiah may visit grandmother in New Jersey before leaving US
• Isaiah returning to Japan in near term
• Both hoping to meet up and collaborate in 2026
• Gary exploring Christian schools vision
• Gary pursuing AI community opportunity in Austin