Photo by Chester Beltowski/The Dakota Student

For starters, I have never really been ‘starstruck’, just slow and weirder than usual.

I got the chance of a lifetime (I am exaggerating-  if I died tonight this phrase would totally work) to interview Ahmed Ahmed and Owen Benjamin. Even they admitted they aren’t household names, but I’m going to treat them like they are.

This encounter will probably be the story I share with my kids for years. I’ll probably change it up some, but I’ll always tell them, “Yeah, I sat on a couch with two celebrities talking about everything from history majors, to Kimye, to culinary arts. I did that.”

When I interview people, I ask questions outside of the range of the article’s purpose, because 1) I’m having a conversation, 2) I don’t want to bore them and 3) people always have something good to say if you ask the right questions.

Sometimes you get more information than you need or is relevant, and you just hold onto it. Stories, ideas and wisdom – unused. So I thought, it be great to share the rest (of its namesake) and allow you to know more.

Sitting with Ahmed and Owen, I felt so unfunny (never let your friends build your ego by telling you how funny you are…you’re probably not), but hopefully whatever comedic dust trail the leave behind coats my lungs.

For context and continuity’s sake, most of the conversations will in chronological order (the order in which they were asked and answered) unless otherwise stated. I want to keep true to the nature of the interview. Structure with free flow – the way life should be!

I’m going to treat this like a Rolling Stones article…you’ve made it to the big papers boys!