This week we are joined by Ray Bullock from the legendary 9:55 Comedy Club, and Fools Day Comedy Troupe. Having a comedian around this time of year can really help you to find the funny in what can often be an increasingly stressful time of year. What doesn't help is when a negative story about about Santa shows up under our tree wrapped in the guise of a heartfelt story...I guess they can't all be John Cena. We are reminded of the frustrations encountered at Starbucks, and learn of the simple joy of Tim Horton's. To top it off we learn that Klingons and Dogs can get along, and if those two corners of the universe can join in harmony then I think it should be easy for all of us to focus on the good this holiday season.
When one is left alone you never know what is going to come of it. Ely was left alone and he almost managed to destroy a boat, but a lesson was learned in how tools can help next time. We witness many a mustache left alone to grow, and the surprising amount of good they can do when they pool their strengths. Kids are often left alone, and many of them turn to games that appear to not really have a point or end. When a house is left alone these days it can still be vacuumed, and we learn some finer points of how this can be done. Other times hands left alone are simply the devils plaything.
Trees are falling at a tremendous rate this week. Some trees spend their whole life marching towards the inevitable fate of ending up in a bucket of water in a house for a few weeks. Other trees grow to tremendous heights only to drop one ill timed branch and trigger the destruction of many. We have stories of both kinds this week, but with no help from our soundboard. We realize that Budweiser pulled a fast one on Chicago fans, and a bottle of Mallort has finally arrived with similarly disappointing results. At least two people are going to be happy as we reveal our November contest winners.
This week we are joined by Carter from Carbon Leaf to help us start the holiday season off right, and catch up before their annual Homecoming Holiday show on Dec 17th. Travel this time of year can be rough, and oftentimes it seems if it can go wrong, it does go wrong. Hopefully your tow truck driver is able to still get you to the show on time. As you gather with family and friends this year you may have to stop and thank a pile of soggy wheat for bringing us all together many years ago. It may sound gross, but it has to be better than the oysters at I-Hop. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Welcome to the other side of the 2016 election my friends; if you aren't sure who won then it is possible that your social media feeds have just been sending you the news they want you to hear. Rest assured that very soon your feeds will be filled with Holiday greetings from near and far, and of course pictures of all of the great food they are eating (we are starting with fried chicken skins, fried turkeys, and battered Monte Cristo sandwiches). Those loved ones that are even further away may feel closer than ever with the advent of facetime and some new "toys" we learned about. If that doesn't work then you can always retreat to your neighborhood float tank to clear your mind...or not.
Change is a constant in all of our lives; sometimes for better and other times for worse. Changes to our health are easy to notice, but often times it can be more difficult to see these changes in our pets. Speaking of pets why do movies about dogs always end so poorly (not Air Bud of course, he is an athlete). Interesting changes in the capabilities of robots are going to force some of us to change our definition of what is and is not crossing the line. Changes to pyramid schemes are typically only to the name of the company, because from what we can tell the top is always better. We also get an outside view on our Chicago 7 theory, but did it change our minds...
A pilgrimage to baseball sacred ground is completed, and like most road trips it is met with its fair share of bumps. What started out as an amazing deal quickly took a turn for the worse, and that is before the price gouging began. If you look hard enough though you can usually find some loopholes to save some money and still be part of the scene; just be sure to remember what you can and cannot do as your bags are checked. We are reminded that people from the Midwest are pretty nice, even when they are mad. Enjoy the ride!
Communication can be a tricky thing. This week we learn about an Uber driver who may or may not have thought he was doing the right thing, but his efforts have certainly left us with an uneasy feeling. The good news is that they have ponied up with a financial windfall befitting of the error…or not. We are reminded that not all margaritas are created equal, and even when signs are available a language barrier can prove too difficult to overcome. A phrase that hasn’t been uttered in 71 years has suddenly begun to ring true yet again…The Cubs are in the World Series! It might be time for a road trip, or another donut, we will have to see.
It is listener appreciation night as two long time listeners join us on the show. This week we find out that there is a yet another way to ingest nicotine coming down down the pike, and it is still early enough to tell us it is safe. Synthetic versions of natural substances have been getting a lot of press lately and it is rarely good; while some of the most natural of delivery methods have been experiencing some public backlash as well...you can't say we aren't fans though. We are reminded that pastries are a powerful treat, and if leveraged properly can sway a negotiation in your favor. A conspiracy theory that we have been trying to get to the bottom of is given a little more credence, but nobody is coming completely clean just yet.
This week we have found where disgraced athletes can still reign supreme despite the fact that the Hall of Fame will never call. An old sports conspiracy theory is revisited, and the more we hear it the more it is starting to just make sense. The phrase locker-room talk has found its way back into lexicon of many American's; while the term pigs in a blanket is being reinvented to sound a lot more expensive than it should be. We are reminded that traveling hundreds of miles just for bad food isn't the brightest plan, but if you can find another excuse to make the journey than we say go for it. If you plan on using your car for these journeys then we lay out a few helpful tips from our younger days to keep your car in perfect shape. See you at the reunion.
Technology continues to change the world we live in for better or worse. Laser technology while not entirely new is being used in places that would seem off limits, but with really youthful results. Finger guns are probably the lowest form of weaponry tech, but can still cause quite a bit of trouble in some settings. Medical advances have come a long way, but we learn about a serious affliction that might actually have some great perks if left untreated. Beer koozie technology is advancing, but like how much personal space one desires, there are a lot of conflicting views on what is needed. The one technology we can all agree on is the "subscribe" button on all of the various podcast apps out there, try it, subscribe to the show, it feels great.
We travel to Myrtle Beach for a few days of golf and drinking, and for the first time in a while we don't have any retail injuries that we have to nurse. Aggressive driving and road rage are nothing new, but the variety of items thrown from the window of a moving car can vary wildly. Liquids are never a safe a bet to reach their intended target, but it turns out chicken is pretty accurate. We learn the real story behind the famous Philadelphia Eagles Santa incident, and I am not sure it has changed anybody's perceptions. We know that Pinterest has invaded many a man's home for better or worse, but we also learn that Pinterest has a few other uses that most don't know about.
An early Sunday morning provides the backdrop for this week's show. Farm Aid has come and gone, but it has done its part to raise money for farmers while giving real and fake farmers alike a chance to hear some great bands. While in the company of real farmers one must be careful not to use the "R" word, even if directed at the fake ones. The pronunciation of words can also cause frustration in those who hear them; while the choice of words can result in revocation of one's man card. A missed connection is delivered to Troy, and it hopefully it was done so in time. We also learn a helpful life pro-tip: Animals with fur are never green...now you know.
This week we are joined by Nick and Joe from Instant Replay Live, and we all learn a little more about world's we don't usually live in. It seems that low brow humor transcends all, but until computers figure this out they will never be self aware. Virtual reality is getting closer to the mainstream, and with it the promise of never having to leave your house to experience the world. Not going out in public may not be a bad idea though, especially in Italy who has managed to pass yet another law that will continue to inch them ever closer to becoming the Florida of the EU. Even burritos have joined the fight to keep you in your home by working hand in hand with Google's drones to come to you. Game over.
After a week of traveling North, South, and West for vacations, we are glad to be back. We talk about how much sugar has invaded the ingredient list of just about everything we eat, and we also learn about the dreaded Mountain Dew Mouth that can strike those that chose to drink nothing but sugar. The #YetiButts trend is upon us, but some of the guys still don't think this makes for a better cooler. A mission long in the works is thwarted during a test run, and the consequences are permanent. Much like Elon Musk though we will probably just reinvest and try again...at least the new Nectars are in to help ease the pain.
We are heading into Labor Day weekend, and as upstanding American's do, we took the week off. We aren't just going to leave you hanging though so here is the collaboration episode that Brendan sat in on with the Cut the Cord Radio DIY guys, and Mike (Hobbit) from Geeks Under the Influence podcast. Enjoy!
We have all told lies over the years, but more often than not it is the cover-up that causes the most resentment. The US Olympic swim team is learning this lesson now, and we talk about times in our lives that we were forced to continue to double down on our lies. We take a look back at the Olympics, and then realize the moments we remember are not the same ones that seemed to get the most coverage. Italy has proposed a few new laws under the guise of protecting children, and it reminds us how far we will all go to win a dispute. In some disputes you simply need to strip down to make a point; it won't help you win the argument but at least you will know you were heard. An unexpected beer ultimately manages to unify the team, and hopefully provide some needed stress relief for a weary bunch.
The spirit of unity is all around us this week, and nowhere is this more apparent then in the symbol of the Olympic rings. Some of us get more excited than others while watching the events, and others can't help but wonder why we are still using outdated tech on the high tech outfits. We recap a collaborative effort by three local podcasts that reminds us how different and alike we all are. A well executed fall from the wagon is facilitated with a little help from our friends in Chicago and FedEx. A pool party is thrown that Troy helps take to the next level, and we share some helpful crack hacks with our friends.
Few things are more precious in a crowded bar then the little bit of real estate you have staked your claim to. The battles for these little corners of the world are often won and lost with subtle shifts on the bar stool, and with tactical elbow placements, even when fought between world class athletes. Ely continues to make time to hang with local law enforcement anytime he gets near water. An early morning mission that would make Harold and Kumar proud unfolds in NJ, and we learn about what may be the world's worst shot. Sláinte
Sometimes you have to take a look back to understand what is happening in front of you. From the opening note of this episode it seemed that a look back was inevitable. An Easter massacre is revisited two years later, and with similar results. A financial windfall leads to some bad decisions, and we are reminded of another who parlayed his hard earned money into hard time. Yet another scam is derailed by greed, and we can't help but think that this one might have just worked if they had learned to play it cool.
Things can look very different depending on your perspective. For instance sitting on a couch in your yard provides a great view, but it looks pretty trashy to your neighbors. Fondue is loved by those who have 5 hours to kill, and despised by a person who is hungry now. Amazon is the perfect way to buy a gift, and their notifications are the easiest way to ruin the surprise. A missing tooth on a child can be adorable, but a missing tooth because you were having a good time is not. Tara Reid...well you get the idea.
The boat season window is a small one, but if you know where to go that small window can yield some amazing results. We hit the PPP festival to see what this party is all about, and I am not sure if the police were crashing our party, or if we crashed theirs. A first date is ruined, and a first tubing trip is as well, but for very different reasons. The face of sports continues to change, and ESPN is trying to find their way in this new world. Let the "fighting" begin...or whatever it is.
In this episode we start 155 years in the past, and somehow end up in the future. From the beginning we are reminded of what is really important, and along the way we are introduced to class of person who simply steals their valor. A Richmond rapper has officially arrived, and it isn't just his wit that people are talking about. This summer has had its fair share of snakes, and they have managed to show their faces yet again this week. One of the greatest players of all time (we aren't talking about his baseball career) has finally stopped playing the game, while another game's characters have pulled out of their retirement and stormed back with digital vengeance. Let the augmented reality begin.
Great news everybody we have done some in depth research, and Brexit has had no negative effect on the economy. We meet a guy who is so fired up about his own independence that he puts together some choice words for the only people in a position to take his. Like magic freedom can be removed, and in other instances magic (when performed poorly) can cause you to have to have something removed. Speaking of illusions do you ever feel your phone ringing even when it is not...what about now? One last word to the wise, when you are trying to impress your boss be really careful about who you take to lunch with them.
The Richmond skyline has made quite an appearance this week, and in the process it has saved an arm from awkward stares. The days are getting longer as we head into summer, which is good because this means Troy can take three road trips in a day and still make it to the lake before the sun goes down. There is another little creature that is enjoying lakes this year as well, and the only way to avoid it is to stay in the boat. Without meaning to we learn more than we ever wanted to about purple drank, and we try another drink that is full of lies conjured up by a marketing team. We also get a visit from a new/old friend that we hope to hear more from in the upcoming weeks. Enjoy your Fourth of July and keep the difficult decisions to whether you should get your ride from Lyft or Uber.