Loneliness is something that has affected a lot of people this past year. We are no longer able to go out to dinner with friends, hang out at each other’s houses or go see movies. The disconnect from life as we knew it has been nothing short of challenging. The lack of contact from our friends and families has left many of us with a longing to connect with another person once again. We miss the inside jokes and the serious conversations that would occur over a dinner out. Luckily for us, that is exactly what Sweet Boys can offer.
Sweet Boys is a podcast created by YouTube personality Garrett Watts and YouTube cameraman Andrew Siwicki. The two of them have been friends for years and, during the lockdown in Los Angeles, they decided to begin a podcast together. Since they are both active members of the YouTube community, they record the podcast audio and film themselves doing so, later uploading the content to YouTube. This allows viewers the option of watching the podcast instead of just listening to it in a traditional manner.
Every Wednesday, a new podcast is released, and the topics they cover vary greatly. You never know what to expect from Sweet Boys, in the same way that you can never know what to expect from a conversation with your best friend. The podcast allows Siwicki and Watts to go on fun tangents in heavily caffeinated states, often bringing up fun anecdotes of their lives to correspond to what they are talking about.
If you have been missing serious conversations with your best friend, then the episodes where Watts and Siwicki talk about dating and plans for the new year are just what you need. Their dynamic is reminiscent of late-night chats that make you feel like anything is possible.
Sometimes Siwicki brings up his own insecurities, and Watts is right there next to him, always understanding and encouraging. The two hosts give each other permission to do things that have scared them in the past, like going skiing on their own or opening the blank canvas that has been sitting in their living room for months.
Hearing the hosts’ stories about struggling throughout the pandemic is also so refreshing. You can sit in your apartment alone, but still hear the stories of two friends going through the same things you have been going through and suddenly forget to feel lonely. They hear you and understand you, and it feels wonderful.
Not all Sweet Boys’ podcasts are centered around serious conversations, though. Many of the episodes are chaotic without much of a center point, offering an energy which those of us who have occasionally had one too many iced coffees can relate to. Hearing the hosts laugh back and forth about silly things can be such a mood booster, and before you know it, you are laughing along with them.
In a world where negativity has prevailed on social media, the Sweet Boys podcast has been a breath of fresh air. Even when the podcast talks about heavy topics, the hosts never leave their stories on a negative note. Watts and Siwicki constantly lift each other up, whether they are talking about OCD or haircuts, and they always take the time to acknowledge and appreciate their listeners.
Between the friendly atmosphere, the feeling of inclusivity and the general positivity, Sweet Boys is a podcast worth listening to. It is hard to feel lonely when you hear two best friends laugh about something together that you can relate to as well. Sweet Boys is the simulated company that all of us need in these pandemic times.