Ride Along Podcast

mark.jacobi
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Ride Along Podcast is the philosophical road trip you've been looking for. It's kind of like taking a road trip with someone. I'm not a psychology major, a philosophy professor, or any kind of expert. This show is dedicated to using personal stories and real-world observations to unpack the complex, counter-intuitive things I find interesting. If you enjoy honest, unpretentious, and long-form thoughts that feel exactly like a late-night conversation with a friend, roll down the window and join the ride.

Episodes

  1. 12/24/2025

    Happy Holidays

    Happy Holidays y'all

  2. 12/13/2025

    When Your Hobby Becomes Your Job

    I’ve got a problem: it's a clear night, the stars are out, and I can't pull over to take pictures. This is a topic I think we can all relate to. Well.. kinda. I mean, having a hobby we love that conflicts with the job we need to do. In this video, I ramble about the relationship between hobbies and work, and the reasons behind why I’ve decided to make these videos and record audiobooks. It's not just for money; it's a lot more personal than that. Let me know what you think in the comments below. And if you're enjoying the new editing style, I'd appreciate a like and a subscribe! Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/73Vjt1gi850 Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  3. 12/06/2025

    New Mic, New Edits, Old Habits (My Story)

    I'm making some big changes to the channel! In this video, I share the new microphone I'm using (a DJI Mic Mini) and my new, easier editing method that will make future episodes shorter and more to the point. I also go back to my childhood to share a personal story about my stutter and being in special education that has a lot to do with my conversational style today.I'm starting a new chapter for the channel, and I’d love for you to join me. Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/0pKx4iDxZMY Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  4. 11/29/2025

    The Taboo of Grief: Why We Suffer Alone in America

    Death is the one universal human experience, yet in America, it’s one of the biggest taboos. We don't talk about it, and that silence can make the inevitable experience of loss unbearably traumatic. In this episode, I share the intensely personal story of losing my cat, my father, and my grandmother all in one year. More importantly, I talk about the pressure to be the "tough guy" and suppress emotion, and how that silence makes the grief unbearable. I share the unexpected, impactful support from a co-worker that broke through that silence and talk through the thought experiment: You die three times. The first time is physical, the second is when you're buried, but the third is when your name is spoken aloud for the very last time. This is a reminder that you are not alone in your emptiness or loneliness. If you are struggling, please reach out to someone. Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/qstq7E5ullU Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  5. 11/22/2025

    Why I Said "Absolutely Not": The Downfall of a Great Company

    I used to genuinely love my job. I mean, I was happy to go to work, which is a huge deal for a lot of people. But over the last year, watching a good thing fall apart due to corporate decisions—specifically a disastrous merger—has been heartbreaking. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the entire chaotic ordeal, starting with the two company acquisitions that turned everything upside down. I talk about the three things that broke my loyalty: The Seniority Betrayal: Being promised a high rank only to be dropped to the bottom, leading to the layoff of incredibly hard-working people. The Mileage Struggle: Getting stuck with the short, low-mileage runs and struggling to make a living after being promised stability. The Disrespect: Being constantly overlooked for responsibilities I was trained for, leading to the feeling that I simply wasn't trusted. It all came to a head when they announced the terminal was closing and moving 45 minutes further away. My "absolutely not" moment was unprofessional, but deeply honest. This is the story of losing a job I loved, dealing with corporate nonsense, and deciding that some things just aren't worth the commute. Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/J4a_iHpETa8 Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  6. 11/16/2025

    I Record 5 Days a Week... Why Don't I Publish?

    I realized there was a huge gap between how often I record new episodes and how often they actually make it onto the show. I'm recording 5 out of 7 days a week, trying to build that backlog for security, but the actual episodes just aren't coming out! In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the real struggle of creating a podcast. It comes down to a few things: The Process Problem: Dealing with two-source audio (my mic + the truck's ambient sound) and the tedious process of syncing everything up perfectly, which requires transferring files, loading them into software like DaVinci Resolve, and cutting out all the stumbles and repetitions. The Consistency Problem: Honestly, it often boils down to a lack of time and energy—which can feel like laziness, and that's a hard thing to admit. When you balance a full-time job, family, and life, finding the mental bandwidth to tackle a complex editing pipeline is a constant battle. If you’ve ever felt the burnout of having a creative hobby while juggling a demanding life, this one's for you. It's a reminder that even when you love what you're doing, the process can be slow. It’s a hobby I love doing for fun, and if you want to reach out, great! Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/RZw00h2scNY Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  7. 11/13/2025

    The Brain in the Void: My Greatest Fear and the Boltzmann Thought Experiment

    My biggest fear isn't spiders or failure—it's losing the memory of who I am. This leads us down a rabbit hole into one of physics' strangest thought experiments: The Boltzmann Brain. We explore the unsettling idea that, given infinite time, it's mathematically more probable for a random collection of molecules to spontaneously coalesce into a brain with a full set of fake memories (you, right now) than for the entire universe to exist as we perceive it. Is your life real, or just a fleeting instant of conscious space junk? [The video version of this episode features a unique head-mounted view and visual explanations for the concepts discussed. Check the link below!]Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/oW6J71TB9CI Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  8. 11/08/2025

    Mood vs. Personality: Understanding Climate and Systemic Change

    When the daily weather seems confusing, how do we grasp the reality of climate change? We break down the crucial difference between weather (your mood) and climate (your personality), using analogies that finally make the long-term data click. More importantly, we shift the focus away from the exhaustion of individual guilt (recycling that single bottle) and onto the monumental, necessary changes required from corporations and governments—to secure a future where the magic of fireflies and coral reefs still exists. Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/eUYumuHKeKI Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  9. 11/02/2025

    Life in the Cab: The Unspoken Realities of Trucking

    This episode is for anyone curious about life on the road, considering a career change, or just wondering what the view from the cab is really like. I'm pulling back the curtain on the things I learned the hard way—the unspoken realities of being a truck driver. We dive into the surprises, the challenges, and the essential truths about the industry that no recruiter, friend, or YouTube video ever tells you upfront. If you’ve ever considered becoming a trucker, this is the checklist you need. Watch the Video Version: If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/bSa4otZfFIs (Note: I'll likely need to reupload this video, I didn't realize how bad of quality the audio was until I was preparing this for the podcast.) Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  10. 10/31/2025

    The Perception Gap: Who Do You Think I Am?

    We all live in the space between what we expect and what we actually get. In this episode, we dive into the messy reality of the perception gap: how we see ourselves, the ‘masks’ we choose to wear for the world, and the difference between those layers and how other people see us. Join me in the cab of the semi as we explore why our own assumptions are often our biggest challenge, and how understanding this gap can lead to a more authentic—and less disappointing—life. Watch the Video Version:If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/M0qS0cfK5Io Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  11. 10/28/2025

    The Masks We Wear (The Fear of Being Yourself)

    Every October we put on costumes, but what about the masks we wear the rest of the year? We dive into the philosophy of everyday masking: it’s not about lying, it's a social survival tool driven by our primal fear of rejection. We explore the high-stakes moment when your different "masks" (the professional you, the family you, the friend you) collide, and what happens when you realize you've been wearing one mask for so long that you’ve forgotten the person underneath it. This is a crucial conversation about authenticity, social dynamics, and the constant balancing act of being seen versus fitting in. Watch the Video Version:If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/isBwSFGj76c Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  12. 10/24/2025

    The Egil's Saga Disaster: Losing Work, Tech Failure, & The Future of My Channel

    In this critical early update, I dive into why my long-planned Egil's Saga project became a total failure. I explain the chaotic events—starting with my computer dying (twice!)—that led to losing a massive amount of finished work and left me restarting with almost nothing. This episode is a transparent look at the state of my youtube channel, my commitment to making this project work, and the new direction I'm taking to ensure I can consistently deliver new episodes. Watch the Video Version:If you prefer to see the view from the cab, you can watch the video version of this discussion right here: https://youtu.be/QJKAO_DZJuU Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions and anecdotal experiences of the host, and may not reflect the opinions or policies of any current or former employer. It should not be taken as professional advice (financial, psychological, medical, or otherwise). Always consult with a qualified professional for specific issues or concerns.

  • 12 Episodes

About

Ride Along Podcast is the philosophical road trip you've been looking for. It's kind of like taking a road trip with someone. I'm not a psychology major, a philosophy professor, or any kind of expert. This show is dedicated to using personal stories and real-world observations to unpack the complex, counter-intuitive things I find interesting. If you enjoy honest, unpretentious, and long-form thoughts that feel exactly like a late-night conversation with a friend, roll down the window and join the ride.

Information

  • Creator
    mark.jacobi
  • Years Active
    2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © mark.jacobi
  • Show Website
    Ride Along Podcast