Asphalt, known for being pavement.

Famous for being hard.

Nobody thinks much about it, so let's have some fun.

Let's find out why asphalt is secretly incredibly fascinating. Hey there.

Hey there folks.

Welcome to a whole new podcast episode, a podcast all about why being alive is more interesting than people think it is.

My name is Alec Schmidt and I'm not alone. I'm joined by my co-host Katie Golden. Katie, what is your relationship to or opinion of asphalt?

Every time I smell fresh asphalt, I think of elementary school.

And I think it is because the playground, like for the new school year, they would always put some fresh asphalt down.

I don't know why, I guess, just sort of regular maintenance. So smelling asphalt makes me think of the new school year as an elementary school student, and I've never lost that association.

You guys had a nice blacktop. I guess I don't have a specific one association with smelling the new stuff because in a temperate place like Illinois, they were just constantly replacing asphalt everywhere all the time.

It would just be ravaged every winter. And they were like, we're rebuilding all summer. That's how we do it.

Yeah, I don't know. It's just a very strong connection. I smell. Now when I smell fresh asphalt,

I'm like, well, better get out my math textbook because it's time for school. Remember, pencil

toppers. Got to get those for school supplies Remember pencil toppers.

Gotta get those for school supplies.

Oddly, I have a much stronger sense memory of pencil toppers, including maybe the taste.

I think I was a weird kid.

Yeah.

I remember eating erasers and pencil toppers and pencils and pretty much anything that could be put in the mouth.

Paper, sure.

T-shirts, whatever.

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