The Pod Generation

Good morning, Rachel. Did you sleep well?

Mm, great! Thanks, Elena.

I have the results from your gut test.

Congratulations! Your gut is getting smarter.

Your microbiome is showing good diversity.

Friendly bacteria are thriving.

Your serotonin seems a bit low today.

I'd like to add a Nature Pod session in your schedule.

It's been three weeks now.

Yeah, I know, but this week is really tight, Elena. Sorry.

When did I wear Blizzard Pearl last, Elena?

Last Thursday.

I suggest Silver Fossil for today.

Yeah.

There it is.

No, no, no!

I gotta go to work.

- Ten minutes? - No.

- Five minutes? - Mm-mm.

- Bye. - Bye.

I guess today is...

t-shirt, Alvy.

Today, our national Bliss index is up by three...

Thanks, Elena, not now.

Since last week, your Bliss index has been neutral.

There you go.

How can we make you more blissful, Alvy?

Your coffee is ready. Alvy.

Ah, no.

I did not hear the magic word, Alvy.

Magic word. Elena.

Enjoy your toast, well done.

Breakfast is served.

Our Lenas have completed their training

so it's time to let them go. A big congrats to everyone.

Now I'd like to introduce you

to our next generation of cognitive assistants,

our Mashas.

Through their Deep Learning training with you,

our Mashas will become Cognitive Executives.

In two months, they should take over your client portfolios,

as you will be in charge of an exclusive new set

of Tastemaker and Influencer accounts.

So are we at risk of becoming... redundant?

Progress has never made anyone redundant. It's here to help.

Thank you, Rachel.

We're so excited.

I can feel our Mashas are eager to jump in and get started.

So, big round of applause, everyone.

And now let's get back to work because now is our future.

Rachel, sorry, do you have a second?

- Yeah, of course. - Please, thank you.

I just wanted to let you know

we're really pleased with your work. We're thinking maybe

it's time for a promotion.

- Oh, wow. - Um...

Any family changes we should be made aware of?

Not that I can think of.

Your husband, his profession is not listed.

Oh, right.

Yeah, so he's a botanist.

So he studies plants

and plant like things.

He also teaches hologram plant design.

So you're the primary source of income?

Well, at the moment, yeah.

And any plans on extending the family?

Well, I'm sure we will at one point.

Not in the near-near future,

Er... but soon.

But not, you know...

not immediately, like right now.

Rachel, you're having a great year.

It'd be a pity to lose that momentum.

The Womb Center company

has just been added under our corporate umbrella.

If you ever consider going down that route.

We could even help with the down payment.

Wow!

It is our hottest perk.

We just want to make sure we retain

the best and brightest women.

Absolutely. That's...

Elena suggested we should schedule a Nature Pod session.

This week is really insane.

Only 20 minutes...

Maybe at lunchtime?

Thank you, Rachel. I'll work on it.

Your Happy Light is on, Rachel.

Yep, I can see that.

I can feel some irritation in your voice.

Next time, would you rather have me not mention the Happy Light is on?

That would be great.

Thank you, Rachel, for helping me

with my Deep Learning.

Do we have an update on the Zach Meyer profile?

He's at only 22 430 likes.

His combo rating has dropped by 2.5%.

Well, do we have any idea why?

He sold part of his NFT collection.

You have an incoming call, Rachel. 1-800-WOMB.

Hi, this is a message for Rachel Novy.

Hi, Rachel. This is Rebecca at the Womb Center.

We're happy to tell you our waitlist has had some movement.

A spot has just opened up.

Please call us back as soon as possible

to secure a spot and arrange a tour.

Again, this is Rebecca at the Womb Center. 1-800-WOMB.

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

Hi, Rachel! Thank you for calling us back.

We're delighted a spot has opened up for you.

We've had a really tight waitlist for the past two years.

No movement whatsoever.

Oh, I-I guess we're lucky.

Now we just need to schedule your tour.

Um, let me check our availabilities.

Can you make it on Thursday, 10 AM?

Huh, y-yeah, Thursday should work.

Perfect! We'll see you on Thursday.

This wasp is now extinct.

So in order to get these figs,

we've had to artificially inseminate the pollen

into the flower.

- Anyone? - No-no-no.

No?

No one's going to eat it?

It's from the tree, professor.

Well, yes. Exactly, Leo.

That's... that's the point.

Texture is completely different when it's fresh

from the tree.

I'll try it.

- No way. - Thank you, Josh.

So?

Can you share with us the taste of a ripe fig

from the tree?

- Hi. - Hey.

We got a spot at the Womb Center.

Oh we got? Oh my God!

That is so wonderful! I'’m so happy for you!

Thank you.

Let'’s celebrate with Alvy and Ben. Why not come over Saturday?

Well, I haven't told Alvy yet.

Oh, what are you waiting for? Call him now!

Oh my gosh, you guys are having a baby!

No, I know, I know,

but I never told him that we were wait-listed.

Um... Wh-why, Rachel?

Why did you not tell Alvy you were on the waitlist, Rachel?

Because I know him. There's always so much resistance.

Why would he resist?

Because he wants a natural child.

When you say "natural" child,

what do you mean exactly, Rachel?

As in a natural pregnancy,

as in I-I would get pregnant and then I would give birth.

I understand, but why is that "natural"?

Oh, um... as...

intended by nature, I guess, as opposed to...

artificial... like an artificial uterus.

When you come to our sessions,

what do you tell Alvy?

I tell him I'm going to go see my shrink.

I mean, my therapist.

So you wouldn't say,

"Honey, I'm on my way to see my artificial therapist"?

No. No, I wouldn't.

Then Alvy and you are not having

an artificially born child.

You are having a child.

A very fine child.

Uh... OK.

Thanks.

That's one E-gold.

Thank you.

You don't want him to feel, like, cornered or something.

I just couldn't tell him.

There's never the right moment.

I don't want to hurt him.

You need to be pragmatic.

You need to tell him before the tour.

Oh, yeah. I know.

I'm not gonna go on the tour without him.

That's nonsense...

It's just intentional breathing.

At whatever pace.

Whatever depth you desire.

My hands...

I'm going to pull them like this...

What, honey?

I was just looking at you.

How was your day?

I... I had one of my students taste a fig from the tree.

I took them... I took them to the greenhouse.

They'd never been, you know?

And at first they were acting strange,

like they were embarrassed, but then...

something beautiful happened.

They just...

They opened up. I mean it's...