Hangout Summary: Life Direction, Roommate Discussion & Bible Study

Overview

Extended hangout with Dawson Carroll and new acquaintance Brian Cruz (videographer, met through Dawson's church) spanning multiple locations. Key topics included Gary potentially moving in with Dawson, discussions on purpose and calling, AI's impact on workforce, faith journeys, and a mini Bible study. Gary worked on Daily Spirit video content throughout.

Key Topics Discussed

Potential Roommate Arrangement

• Dawson offered Gary a room at his apartment after learning Gary needs to move (current housemate has cocaine addiction)
• Rent: ~$1,100-$1,250/month (splitting ~$2,500 total)
• Space: Separate bedrooms with own bathrooms, shared kitchen, potential to convert living room into dual office space
• Timeline: Dawson's lease up in July 2025; could transition to larger house with multiple Christian roommates
• Vision: "Get a nice-ass house... on the lake... five guys... make it the freaking spot" for hosting events and Bible studies
• Gary: "What I would basically want is people that are down to host stuff"

Dawson's Family Story & Faith Journey

Dawson shared significant family history:

• Father was a pastor (youth pastor, community pastor, small groups ministry) at Baptist church
• Pivotal moment: Father left all church positions freshman year with no backup plan
• Aftermath: "Chaos for a decade" - brother had mental breakdown, exorcism in living room, family stopped attending church regularly
• This experience led to Dawson's departure from faith: "I saw that and I saw like the whole idea of church hurt... that is not a path to success"
• Current state: "Unwinding those things" and returning to faith with more boldness
• Goal for new year: "More boldness... more outspoken" about faith

Purpose, Calling & Choice

Deep discussion on St. Augustine's quote: "Love God and do what you please"

• Dawson: "Your purpose is to serve Christ. And then that purpose takes on a variety of physical world manifestations"
• Key insight from aunt's funeral: Pastor said "everybody's looking for their purpose... she found her purpose early on, which was just to serve Christ"
• Discussion of East of Eden's exploration of choice in the Cain and Abel story
• Dawson on music: "Is it my purpose to play music? I don't know, but I'm choosing to continue to do it"

Brian Cruz's Journey

Brian (videographer, ~26-27, Mexican heritage) shared his story:

• Runs a video production business with one main retainer client (3 years)
• Recently took a software job due to financial pressures (depleted savings, credit card debt from covering business overhead)
• Identity struggle: "This identity crisis of like, oh, are you giving up?"
• Processing the tension between "searching" (knowing what you're looking for) vs. "exploring" (no clear destination)
• On faith and goals: "I have zero goals for the New Year's because it's like, it's not about what I want... God has just changed directions for me multiple times"

AI, Future of Work & Middle Class Decline

Extended discussion on workforce transformation:

• Dawson: "The middle class is shrinking, and soon will be nonexistent"
• Gary: "If you know how to use AI agents, you can basically be one-man companies"
• Debate on which jobs survive automation - Gary challenged the "go into trades" advice
• Discussion of authenticity and human connection as differentiators from AI content
• Brian: "Our DNA is slowly changing in how we trust people in a world where AI is... manipulation at its highest"

Faith as the Ultimate Answer

Gary articulated his core thesis:

• "Where it's going is Christ... people are going to keep putting their faith in institutions that are not holy"
• On Elon Musk: "Pretty up there for a candidate for antichrist... He has all the solutions... that's so ridiculous"
• Prediction of "serious underclass" with "very shaky civilization" ahead
• "But that also brings people to Christ. But then we need really good leaders that can steward it"

Alpha Schools / Joe Liemandt Critique

Gary shared insights on his former employer:

• Joe is "in a terrible place" - potentially major scandal about affair with co-founder, articles about product not working
• "One giant cosmic joke because he never developed the ability to hire people that could challenge him"
• Lesson: "At whatever level you're at, be very well hydrated and oxygenated... just figure out whatever level God is ready to put you at"

Daily Spirit Production

Gary worked on video format throughout:

• Using Midjourney + Kling for animated backgrounds
• Creating karaoke-style text overlay videos
• Opening for Dec 30 episode: "You probably just spend time with family over the holidays. Maybe it was beautiful. Maybe it was complicated. Maybe it was both. But now you're back, close to getting back to the grind."

Dawson's Grandfather's Woodworking

• Grandfather "Dawn Little" (mid-70s, Arkansas) makes custom furniture
• Made coffee table, mirror, dresser, guitar refinishing for Dawson
• Brian and Gary encouraged Dawson to help grandfather start Etsy business ("Little Woodwork")
• Discussed potential YouTube content: long-form ASMR woodworking videos

Key Quotes

• Dawson on purpose: "Your purpose is to serve Christ. And then that purpose takes on a variety of physical world, big manifestations"
• Gary on AI future: "Truly creative ideas die in committee all the time. So if you can allow people to be more creatively sovereign, self-sufficient, almost, we're gonna see more interesting things in the world"
• Brian on God's direction: "I'd be, just my word, idiot to believe that I'm gonna take back control of this. It's like, no. I'm leaning into it"
• Dawson on faith practice: "Faith is like meditation... whenever you wander and you come back, that is the practice of believing"
• Gary on Joe Liemandt: "At whatever level you're at, be very well hydrated and oxygenated... not take on more and just be grateful for the level that you're at"

Action Items / Takeaways

• Gary to consider Dawson's roommate offer; will talk to current housemate about transition
• Potential move-in could happen January; lease ends July for possible house upgrade
• Brian and Dawson planning music video shoot Thursday for "I Want You" song
• Gary attending Encounter Church New Year's Eve service (4 hours away) and bringing his housemate
• Group considering Run Club Wednesday morning at 6:30am (Gary hesitant due to distance)