Cleanup on Aisle Fun!

Hey, I'm PODCASTIN' here! This episode is like NYC itself. Frantic. Poetic. And honestly? It gets a little bit nasty ;) In a Cleanup not for the faint of heart, comedian, lifelong New Yorker, and pal Nick Guastella (@notnotcrying on IG) joins Rod for a freewheeling conversation about the Knicks, leaning into pandemic-induced insanity, and arts and crafts. Nick describes a thrilling trip to Rite Aid. Rod interrupts too much and screams about trying to figure out just where the hell cranberries come from. The deterioration of the human body with age is discussed. All this leads into a Constitutional Convention-esque discussion of NYC delis, bodegas, and corner stores culminating in assembling a basketball team of deli items in the 2021 Deli Draft. The Draft gets extremely heated with controversial takes, but out of that combustion comes some profound, philosophical observations about life. Enjoy!

Comedian, writer, and Rod's former theater camp counselor Erin Lann calls in for our first discussion of West Coast grocery stores. Topics, sidebars, and tangents in this episode include the Most and Least Valuable Players on a charcuterie board, snacks, Orlando Bloom's famous full frontal nudity paddle board photo, and that shitty Giant Eagle by Great Lakes Mall.

Actor, comedian, and co-host of the podcast Sexy Spooky Teenz David Bluvband joins Rod to discuss the Russian and Jewish grocery stores of his youth, the culinary options of a particular stretch of Washington Heights toward which they both have a connection, getting high and wandering around the grocery store aimlessly, and the relaxing, meditative nature of grocery shopping. Follow David on Twitter: @Bluvband Listen to Sexy Spooky Teenz: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sexy-spooky-teenz/id1455658334?mt=2=

THE DEAD SPEAK! Your favorite grocery store based podcast awakens from a long slumber to dust of the mic and discuss everyone's favorite errand. Rod is joined by Patrick Cotnoir, producer of The George Lucas Talk Show, to discuss the live streamed talk show hosted by retired filmmaker George Lucas, his pastrami loving Toyderian sidekick Watto, and Patrick himself! Topics include butter vs. margarine, the merits of chili and chicken salad, and Patrick's time working at a vegetable stand. FOLLOW on Twitter: Patrick - @patrickcotnoir The George Lucas Talk Show - @GLucasTalkShow Watto - @WattoTho WATCH THE GEORGE LUCAS TALK SHOW: Sundays at 8 on https://www.planetscum.live/ Full episode archive at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH1XwfxXB--rl_Nqxvun8zQ Follow Rod on Instagram @roderickotoole

Rod heads solo to the Foodtown in Bushwick for some unexpected surprises! Topics include moralizing about how you should buy and peel your own garlic, soup (again), and a hot take on Cap'n Crunch's Oops All Berries that will stop you in your tracks.

Rod goes directly from therapy to the Food Emporium in Midtown Manhattan to discover one of the worst floor layouts Cleanup on Aisle Fun! has ever seen.  This week we learn something about barbecue sauce, gaping holes in Rod's understanding of certain facets of pop culture, and dissect an overtly sexual brand of ice cream.

Cleanup on Aisle Fun! returns with a vengeance for Season Two!  Rod and guest Cait Bladt (Politics Editor at The Tylt/Rod's roommate) head to Billy's in Ridgewood for a review.  This episode tackles beer elitism, edible cookie dough, and a story about Rod eating a famous person's leftover cheeseburger.  Rod and Cait get aggressively midwestern, scream over each other, and (due to lack of food and overcaffienation) truly descend into madness, culminating in a horrible discussion about pissing in public, so enjoy that ya freaks.  Please consume Kerrygold Butter and RX bars and tell them to pay attention to this podcast.

Rod is joined by comedian and improvisor Jake Cornell (@jakewcornell) to discuss the Fairway in Harlem.  Rod and Jake discuss shopping strategy, Vermont, grocery stores in the U.K, what exactly is going on at the bottom of the ocean, and classism.  There are also people singing opera in the background, which classes up the joint a little bit. Follow along on Instagram: @cleanuponaislefun

Rod take a late evening trip to neon paradise Morton Williams, a Manhattan staple.  The #RodforKerrygold campaign continues, and the Cleanup on Aisle Fun! Courtship Challenge is introduced!

New York "landmark" Gristede's gets the Cleanup on Aisle Fun! treatment this week as Rod records an episode in the wee hours of the morning.  Visual aesthetics are criticized, among many other things.  This episode contains the official declaration that Cleanup on Aisle Fun! wants to be the first podcast to be sponsored by a butter company.

This is a review of Dean and Deluca in Soho and also somehow a David Bowie tribute episode?  Rod examines some unique citrus, agonizes over how much a pre-made quiche should cost, talks about marzipan animals for way too long, and once again gets horny for some cured meat.  This podcast still is not brought to you by RX Bar, Talenti, Ample Hills, or Kerrygold Irish Butter but it would LOVE to be ;)

Rod needed to go grocery shopping again so the Whole Foods in Williamsburg gets the Cleanup on Aisle Fun! treatment.  This episode includes another diatribe on soup, a description of baby clothing, and a near derailment during an ice cream taste test of Ample Hills Creamery.

Buckle up, folks this week Rod heads to a Westside Market near Union Square to get some personal grocery shopping done and DOES NOT HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE.  This episode features a lengthy anecdote about a medical scare, reflections on life, strange smells, and some firemen.  Rod continues to be thirsty for an RX Bar sponsorship, and once again extolls the virtues of Talenti gelato.

This week Rod and Sara Masterson (Law & Order: SVU, Theater) discuss the Super Foodtown in Washington Heights and how they both independently sought comfort in its aisles in the wake of their breakup!  Talking points include shopping strategy as a couple, children puking, the importance of family, and honestly just listen to this one because where else will you find a conversation between two people who used to date settle an old argument about eggs?

Rod reviews the Food Bazaar in Bushwick, baby!  Points of interest include the Peanut M&M, the loss of innocence, what exactly sweetbreads are, and a thorough description of a coffee mug.

Rod and guest Katie Johantgen (The Office: a Musical Parody) review the Whole Foods in Harlem.  Talking points for this episode include: cheap plastic toys, interruptions by man and beast, weird childhood foods, Greta Gerwig, and cereal.  Rod and Katie also totally drag an entrepreneur.

Welcome to Cleanup on Aisle Fun!  Host Roderick O'Toole takes you on a deep dive into the world of grocery shopping by reviewing a different grocery store every week.  Epsidoe one features Rod recounting his recent trip to the Trader Joe's on 14th street in excruciating detail.  Subscribe, rate and review!