Paradise in Smoke

Mike shares his thoughts on the declining state of American society, emphasizing the loss of humility and genuine understanding in online and real-life conversations.

Mike also expresses his deep concern for the political shift in his home state of Ohio, attributing it partly to demographic changes linked to the shale gas boom and an exodus of college-bound graduates away to coastal cities.

Mike hosts from Crimson House PDX, sharing personal reflections and music, as well as a map-based crowd-sourcing platform that collects and documents LGBTQ+ experiences and memories tied to specific geographic locations.

The moon is red in the sky, shrouded by the thick smoke from the wildfires surrounding Portland, Oregon.

Mike enjoys a beer and some tomfoolery on the patio of Eagle PDX, chatting with nearby patrons and soliciting the audience to help “choose his adventure” by suggesting who he should vie to swoon.

Mike shares career updates as he starts work at Portland General Electric as a transmission operations engineer overseeing the Pacific Northwest power grid. He touches on the social disparities in Portland, his long-term plans to help his mother relocate, and even reflects on the game "King Elephant" he used to play fervently in college. Reflecting on his personal growth and newfound sense of well-being, Mike aspires to take advantage of this period of stability in his life to lay the foundations to nurture something positive in the world.

Mike spends a lovely morning in Portland, enjoying breakfast with his friend Leah.

Mike catches up with friends and viewers while broadcasting from his vehicle.