In this episode, I return to the mic after a break since December with some talk about the current political climate, why people should still vote even when they feel like their opinion does not matter, and how politics has become personal enough to cost people friendships.

From there, the episode shifts into a mix of “utterly random” topics, including the race to become Ohio's next governor, the frustration with Trump/Biden-era politics, Kash Patel, the state of the country, and the way political arguments dominate everyday conversation. The podcast then moves back toward the lighter side of the show: sports and whatever else comes up.

The sports section touches on the NFL dominating offseason headlines, including schedule releases and free agency talk, before shifting toward baseball and how small-market teams are showing they can compete. We also get into some Winter Olympics talk, including nostalgia and controversy around figure skating and Tonya Harding, before wrapping up with my goal of getting back to posting more regularly.

In Episode 3, Evan V. of the Youngstown, Ohio hardcore band Whoregami stops by the basement studio to talk about the state of music. Over a few beers, we dig into the struggles smaller bands face on the road, what really makes a band a “sellout,” and the big question: Is Nickelback actually as bad as everyone says?

During our hour-long conversation, Evan also tells the story of a Youngstown band called Bullrun—and how, after 50 years, they’ve suddenly been discovered and started getting attention.

Tune in for musical chaos, hot takes, and plenty more.

In Episode 2, I break down how fear evolves as we grow—from childhood panic over roller coasters and yellow-fever documentaries, to teenage embarrassment, to adult worries like job insecurity, losing loved ones, political instability, and even irrational fears like cruise ships, woolly mammoths, and running into the mugshot guy I joked about online. Inspired by a conversation with a friend facing layoffs at the battery plant, this episode looks at how fear grows, mutates, and sometimes gets ridiculous — but also how fear should remind us to show empathy, not division.