Not For Nothing...

In the last of the many episodes recorded over the Christmas season, 2021, Kyle and friend-of-the-show Sarah Cooper take a moment to discuss the anticipated, and possibly dreaded, upcoming movies and television shows. Of course, every moment is dripping with over-analytical snark when these two besties begin to talk about pop culture.

In what might be the most irreverent episode of the podcast, Kyle is joined by fellow hometown homo, Brandtley Cruce! These two boys from towns like Bug Tussle and Brushy Pond commiserate about living out loud in a small Alabama town and what it took to make their way out. As it always happens when these two get together, Brandtley and Kyle start pouring the hot T on the people they grew up with, around, and in spite of. Grab yourself an iced coffee and lets get started with the two unicorns of Cold Springs.

First time guest on the show, Eden, who happens to be Kyle's 14-year-old niece, comes to talk all about make-up. Kyle has been make-up adjacent since his days managing Sephora Times Square, so when he discovered that his niece has a great talent for doing make-up, he had to sit her down and discuss. But being the uncle that he is, he had to get involved in the social complexities that come with being 14, including friend drama, what she really feels about her friend's make-up, and her very first boyfriend. All that, and more, on this episode of the podcast.

For the very first time, Kyle sits down with his brother-in-law for a conversation on the podcast. Chad is joined by his son Coy, who just so happens to be Kyle's favorite nephew, to discuss a passion project of theirs: Allis-Chalmers. Kyle has always been fascinated by the history of American companies, and Allis-Chalmers has a very storied and illustrious history to tell. Chad and Coy tell of the history of the company, the significance of the contributions that Allis-Chalmers has made to the farm industry, and ultimately why this great American institution went under when its competitors prevailed.

Happy New Year! In this first episode of 2022, we hit the ground running. Our beloved Betty White has joined her beloved Allen Ludden on the other side. To join Kyle in the celebration of Betty's life, Ethan Hamm and Joseph Titizian stop by. Joseph shares stories of his betty run-ins and the time he saw her break the “magic toaster” on Password. Our host and guests also breakdown the new shows they are watching. “Being the Ricardos” is the anticipated movie by Aaron Sorkin. Joseph has seen it, but surprisingly, Kyle and Ethan have not! And our hosts end on a light grazing of “And Just Like That…” the new chapter in “Sex and the City.”

In another episode from home, Kyle is joined again by Ethan to talk about the shows and movies that they are enjoying at home nowadays. Maybe the last ones to watch, Kyle and Ethan have started the journey into the Marvel Cinematic Universe just in the nick of time to see “Eternals,” the new Marvel movie. Along with friends of the show, Flo and Michelle, they have started watching Avengers movies. They are also watching four distinct television shows, new and returning. “The Morning Show,” “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” “Hacks,” and “Ted Lasso” have all captured their attention and they can't wait to break it down with all the listeners.

A great lover of books, Kyle has often thought about exploring books, bookclub-style, on the podcast and the time has finally arrived. Kyle and Ethan read “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer recently, and they absolutely fell in love with it. So, this was the perfect time to bring the book club to fruition. Andrew Sean Greer won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for fiction with his “Trip Around the World” novel about Arthur Less, an author of a certain age who, on the eve of his fiftieth birthday, finds himself at a crossroads, romantically, professionally, and inspirationally. This is the story of how he ran from one problem, to find so many others that remain unresolved in his own mind. Join us for the discussion and then join us in celebrating this wonderful book!

Disney expert Joseph Titizian is back! And this time he is bringing new expertise. Kyle and Joseph give to all the listeners their shared passion: Classic Television. These two TV nerds discuss everything from I Love Lucy to the shows they are watching today, and everything in between. If you love those moments when you get to geek out with an old friend over the stuff that brought you together, then you will definitely love this episode. So, grab a pen and paper, or open up a new document in your notes app, and jot down all of the shows discussed today so you can join in on the fun!

Halloween is upon us! The holiday season is upon us and Kyle and Ethan are discussing their energy levels for holidays this year. With friends around them all around who are terribly excited about Halloween, our two fellas are struggling to meet that energy. They discuss their plans for the holidays to come and how they will start right now in this moment to live more in the moment.

In yet another double date, Kyle and Ethan sit down with Michelle and Flo to discuss Rituals. In a conversation about the rituals we have in our own lives and how those rituals shape the days we have and the lives we lead. Flo and Michelle are Kyle and Ethan's best friends and most conversations on this show start with this foursome and take on a life of their own from there. So, grab a cup of coffee and join us for the discussion. Take a little time to reflect on the rituals of your own life and how they shape the way you move through the world.

In a “Not For Nothing…” first, Kyle and Ethan go on a double date with two people that Kyle feels you should know. Nick and Jené are a married couple that Kyle has known since early summer 2021. Instantly, it was clear that they were going to be fast friends. And in this first double date between friends, we discuss what it means to cultivate new and existing adult friendships. So, grab some wine and join us on this evening with friends and wine.

After a brief summer hiatus, “Not For Nothing…” is back with a brand new episode! What are we talking about? What else? Our summer vacation. Along with friends of the show, Michelle Cassel and Florent Cornillac, Kyle and Ethan traveled to the East Coast to visit Michelle's hometown of Baltimore. While there, they made pit stops in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and in Washington, D.C. Kyle is, once again, joined by Ethan Hamm to discuss all that and more in the first episode of Autumn!

Kyle is joined by filmmaker Florent Corniallc to discuss his philosophies of filmmaking, his journey to becoming an artist, and his experience of enjoying other people's art as an artist. When Flo and Kyle get together, they usually wind up back in the conversation about movies they have seen, or movies they want to see. Kyle also bestowed upon Flo the joy that is “I Love Lucy.” Flo had never heard of the show, but now he is a true convert. And just as Kyle has made Flo a convert to classic television, Flo has brought Kyle to many movies he has never experienced before. In this episode, enjoy a little shop talk between two artists .

Welcome back to the conversation. Today, Kyle and Sarah Cooper talk all about the ways we turn art into more art. Starting with taking straight plays or movies and turning them into musicals, and continuing through the things no one asked for and continue to do. Who sang it better? Lucille Ball or Angela Lansbury? Whose idea was it for Carrie Underwood to play Maria Von Trapp? Was Sweeney Todd a true story? All this and more in today's episode of “Not For Nothing…”

Kyle and bestie, Sarah Cooper, continue their discussion of Sarah's favorite rock songs that she has wanted to share with her best friend. Kyle wanted to shine a spot light on the types of conversations that he and Sarah have very regularly in which they unpack the art, moments in pop culture and politics, and even the goings-on of their favorite news-makers. They look at things from different angles, they discuss its position in the bigger picture of the story of us, and they discuss how it can affect people in different ways. This could very well be one of the most quintessentially Kyle conversations this show has ever seen.

Kyle is exploring the nature of the things we choose to share with our friends. In this episode, he is joined by best friend of the show, Sarah Cooper to discuss the ways they share content with one another. To give a prime example of the nature of their sharing, Sarah has given Kyle a list of eight rock and roll songs to listen to, and then they are going to discuss them right here on the show. In a very first attempt at a more interactive experience for the listeners, the list is provided right here in the show notes. That way, you can follow along and be an active part of the conversation. The first half of the eight-song list will be discussed this week and next week, Kyle and Sarah will pick up with the second half. Happy listening! 1. Black Sabbath - “War Pigs”2. Alice Cooper - “Only Women Bleed”3. Ozzy Osbourne - “Mama, I'm Coming Home”4. Alice Cooper - “Stolen Prayer”Below is the link to the Spotify playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3kXN83SyG5M5ZfKnrRGo8y?si=xCIJ2NkfRZu9iDoghBpyDw&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

Kyle is talking to his friend Joseph Titizian about all things Disneyland. Summer is in full swing and Disneyland is fully open. So, people are flocking to it in droves. So, what better way for Kyle to prepare for his long-awaited return to his happy place than to talk to an expert who also happens to be a close friend. Kyle and Joseph talk about aesthetic choices, history, missteps, and triumphs. These two self-proclaimed Disney nerds will get you in the mood for a summer sojourn to the place where magic happens. Joseph also runs a delightful Instagram blog that is a wonderful love letter to Disney fans of all ages. You can follow along or join in the fun by following @exploringthedisneyworld on Instagram.

At the midway point of 2021, Kyle takes a pause to check in with Ethan. The two discuss how they have done so far in the follow-up to 2020. The verdict? It has been a year that has progressed at break-neck speeds, but everyone is succeeding. After every great disaster in history, there is always a renaissance. And the 20s of the 21st century are no exception. The time has come to lay it all out on the table and place your bets on the future, because the future looks bright!

Mandy Shunnarah is a writer, book blogger, and vintage seller. She is originally from Alabama, but now Columbus, Ohio is her home. She is also a bisexual woman who is married to a man. Not surprisingly this, among other things, gives her a complex relationship with Pride Month festivities. Mandy also tells the story of the Black Pride 4, four queer people who showed up at Columbus Pride holding Black Lives Matter signs and ultimately wound up in jail. She delves into the divisions and problematic behavior of the organization Stonewall Columbus, and how, through their misguided behavior, a more inclusive group began to organize and is bringing a brighter future for the Pride festivities of Columbus.Later in the episode, Mandy gives us a first taste of her upcoming book, “Midwest Shreds: Skaters and Skate Parks in Middle America.” Her recent research tour of skate parks across middle America is chronicled on her social media.@offthebeatenshelf@midwestshreds@fixedbaroque

As Pride month progresses, Kyle continues the conversation about what Pride means to others. This week, librarian, Alyx Kim-Yohn comes to the show. Alyx and Kyle have been friends from a distance for years. They share a best friend in common, Friend-of-the-Show Sarah Cooper. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing quarantine have given them a chance to deepen their friendship, and so Kyle did the only natural thing to do, bring them on the show! Alyx is a librarian who identifies as non-binary and their pronouns are They/Them/Theirs. In this episode, we explore the nuances of being non-binary from Alyx's perspective, the importance of representation, and the importance of respect. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Alyx has now lived in Columbus, OH, and Nashville, TN before settling back down in Huntsville. They have a unique perspective on Pride in three distinct cities and the differences are stark.

In continuing the conversation about pride month, Kyle sits down with another Kyle. Kyle Griswold. Kyle Griswold is a former college athlete, a former researcher of LGBTQ+ issues, a humanitarian, one of Kyle Leon Henderson's newest friends, and he happens to be transgender. In a friendship forged through a love of whiskey, Kyle and Kyle have grown to be fast friends who deeply respect one another's perspectives. We continue the discussion about people's relationship to Pride celebrations with Kyle Griswold's perspective on the celebration and education of the world.

Happy Pride Y'all! In one of the most real episode of “Not For Nothing…” Kyle has ever recorded, he talks about LGBT Pride with Ethan. Being raised in the south and feeling like they never found their truest space within Pride celebrations, Ethan and Kyle have very complicated relationships with the month-long embrace of being exactly who one is. For this episode, the two find themselves in the midst of uncomfortable topics, a bit emotional, and very… Real.

Kyle is delighted to sit down with his dear friend, and mentor, actress, writer, improv maven, Samantha Jones. Kyle and Samantha met in 2014 in New York City when he began studying improv under her guidance. In the years since, their paths have crossed time and again. Today, they continue to perform improv together. In addition, they are now writing parters and great admirers of each other's work. When Sam and Kyle get together, the deepest parts of their silliness and twisted way of looking at the world come out for full display. HudsonValleyImprov.comtheRealSamJones.com

Beth Zysberg is back!! And she is on the move! She has to decide what she is going to do now that the world is thawing out and coming back to life again. Kyle and Beth discuss their mutual anxiety about trusting the CDC science after spending a year begging people to trust the CDC science. In the end, Beth decided that her next step is deciding what her next step is, and that's okay!Insta: @kylelhendersonTwitter: @KyleLHendersonhttps://hudsonvalleyimprov.com/https://kyleleonhenderson.com/

After several weeks of a partial hiatus, Kyle is back with a brand new episode. so much has happened in the last couple of weeks. His job has changed, he moved apartments, and he had a birthday. Kyle and Ethan do a relationship check-in to see if they are still standing after the most strenuous move they have ever made. Kyle freely admits he is exhausted and road-weary after the year of productivity that 2021 has been. But like everyone else, he is pushing forward with new ideas and excitement.

In this last look back at Kyle's first podcast, “Kyle's Friends Are Funny,” Kyle is joined by his friend of almost 20 years, Josh VanZant. The episode was recorded in Washington Heights, New York City in April of 2016. Josh and Kyle met freshman year in college. They had a ten year hiatus from their friendship, which they talk about in the episode, but now they get together at least once a year, usually around Christmas time, to laugh and reminisce and talk about the crazy town they grew up in. During the hiatus of their friendship, Josh moved to South Korea, Kyle moved to New York City and this episode was the first time they saw one another since college. It was as if no time had passed.

Kyle is pausing again for a break from the show, but he is bringing you take number two of last week's episode. Kyle, as a podcaster, has evolved over the years. Sometimes the evolution in our art can come quickly. Last week he brought you an interview with his sister. This week he is bringing you the exact same episode, but with a more clear vision, and a dinner with his family. Enjoy the first episode of Kyle's Friends Are Funny.

This week, Kyle is taking it easy by not recording a new podcast episode, but rather going back to the very first episode of a podcast that he ever recorded back in 2015 with his sister, Magan. He is getting ready to move to his new house, and, in retrospect, he wished he could have recorded a podcast this week because looking back at the first thing you have ever done can be the cringiest cringe moment of your week. So, sit back and enjoy, or muddle through, the very first episode that Kyle ever recorded.

Ethan is back and he is talking about moving. Kyle and Ethan are… Wait for it, moving again! These two fellas have had extensive experience at changing homes, changing neighborhoods, changing cities, changing states! They have moved a lot. And the story of all their moves is one worth telling. Ethan and Kyle go back to the very beginning and talk about how far they come and where they are going. If there is one thing that is more of a hassle than anything else one does in real life, it's moving. Kyle and Ethan hope this is the last move for a very long time.

Bonjour! Ça va? This week, Kyle is talking with French filmmaker Florent “Flo” Cornillac. Kyle and Flo have known one another for about a year and over the course of that time they have really grown to become great friends. In this episode, Kyle is learning new things about his friend, while also exploring the more nuanced differences, and similarities, in French and American culture. So cut off a slice of fromage, pour yourself un verre de vin, and enjoy the simple ease of a friendship in bloom.

Fresh off the heels of his latest therapy session, Kyle talks with bestie, and avid therapy advocate, Sarah Cooper about some news he received from his therapist. She told him after the ten months he spent in therapy, he was ready to graduate from weekly or bi-weekly sessions to a space of “as-needed” therapy sessions for maintenance. Together the two mental health advocates discuss more of their own journeys in therapy and reiterate the role that therapy has played in their lives.

Kyle is joined again by writer and music lover, Sarah Cooper. The Grammys were this past weekend and the two are discussing the merits of the awards show, the direction music has taken and where it will go from here, and how Kyle is lost as a goose through it all.

Kyle is joined by Ethan to talk about the interview that the entire world is buzzing about. Oprah Winfrey has done it again. She has snagged the interview that everyone was waiting for. Prince Harry and Meghan Markel sit down with the talk show maven and give their truths. Meghan Markel just might be the woman to take down the Royal Family. And let’s be honest, if the Royal Family was going to collapse, we all know it would be at the hands of a woman. Later, they discuss the fabricated outrage that people tend to develop over the streaming services popping up almost daily now, and the disappointment of original content on these streaming services.

After almost two years, Michelle Cassel comes back to the podcast to talk about her experiences of life during the pandemic. Also, Kyle and Michelle have found themselves apartment hunting… During COVID… AGAIN! The two besties discuss the merits of apartment hunting; the must-haves and the can-live-withouts.

Kyle is joined, once again, by Beth Zysberg. In this episode, we hear an in-depth conversation about the struggles of finding one’s identity as an adult. Kyle and Beth get very candid about their own struggles to maintain and express their identity as they move swiftly into their 30s. These two 30-something millennials started their association with one another as members of the same improv troupe. Now, they are giving the listeners of “Not For Nothing…” a front-row seat to the development of a true friendship.

Kyle and the Bestie are together again. And she has a story that is such a nightmare for all of us. She was robbed. She recounts a story of how it felt to have her house broken into, have her valuables stolen, and her cat escape. Later, the conversation turns to the death of Rush Limbaugh. Sarah cites some of his most vile quotes to really paint the picture of who this man was. Kyle and Sarah discuss how we should feel about a man so bent on denigrating others dying. WARNING: This episode contains words used in quotes that are considered extremely offensive to members of the LGBTQ+ community and toward African Americans. They are used in quoting Mr. Limbaugh and do not reflect the views of Kyle or Sarah whatsoever. Please take care when you listen.

Ethan is back again. And in this more casual than usual episode, Kyle and Ethan are simply using prompts of their favorite things to inspire a conversation, just to understand a little more about one other. It is very interesting how favorite ice cream flavors can prompt a discussion about the idiosyncrasies of texture, taste, and habits of life. Travel from Alabama to New York to Los Angeles with these two, as they walk down memory lane on a lazy Thursday afternoon.

Kyle is joined by first-time guest, Beth Zysberg, to talk about the art form that is at the center of everything for both of them. Both Kyle and Beth have been doing improv for about 8 years and it has totally transformed their lives. Together, they make up 2/7 of the Por-Q-Pines improv team. They have been doing improv for six months together digitally, and they have never met in person. Just like any good cult… I mean fraternity… Improv brings people together.

All over the world, people have been baking bread, learning a craft, reading new books, binging new shows, all in the name of expanding their lives and hobbies in the time of the stay-at-home orders. We are coming up on a year that the world has been mostly shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethan has found himself a little left out. Now that we are almost a year in, Ethan is joining the crowd and looking for a new hobby to fill his days. Luckily, Kyle is the king of new hobbies. In this episode, this odd couple explores the ways COVID-19 has affected them both and how they responded to it.

There is a new administration in the White House and they’ve gotten to work on day one. Kyle and Ethan talk all about the celebration at the nation’s Capitol to usher in a new era of unity, togetherness, and diversity. President Biden has the most diverse cabinet in the history of the federal government, with the most progressive agenda. So, of course, it’s the perfect time to talk about Michelle Obama’s epic wardrobe, Jennifer Lopez’s diamonds, and Bernie Sanders’ mittens.

Kyle and Ethan are talking about all the goings-on that have happened in the short, short period of time that is 2021. They get exceptionally real with the work they are doing for themselves within their relationship. In the very last episode of the Trump Presidency, of course, they have to talk a little about Trump and his gooney minions. But mostly Kyle is excited to announce that he has developed a new and budding friendship with someone really neat. This prompts Ethan and Kyle to discuss the nature of making friends as adults.

In a follow-up to Episode 47, Kyle and Sarah talk about the insurrection at the Capitol and the second impeachment of President Donald Trump to follow a week later. Two southern liberals share two unique perspectives on what happened on the day that changed the course of history in this country. It was a day in which Donald Trump and his supporters took things way too far, leaving the country wondering, will they really be held accountable for the heinous things they have done. Either way, it is less than a week until he is no longer the President.

In an episode recorded in late 2020, Kyle is joined by Bestie Sarah again to talk about the last days of the Trump Presidency. As with anything about Donald Trump, if you wait too long, the narrative will change. So, with this episode being posted three weeks after recording, questions have been answered, events have unfolded that go unaddressed in this episode, and important topics have faded into the periphery. That is why we have a bonus episode coming right on the heels of this one. Stay tuned!

Kyle and Ethan drove from Los Angeles to Alabama for the Holidays. While there, they decided to stay longer. A lot of life happened to them while they were there and they talk about it all. A road trip is good for the soul, and a journey always thrills Kyle. So, join Kyle and Ethan for a podcast recorded while insurrectionists stormed the Capitol and Joe Biden was certified as the next president of the United States. 2021 is off to a very loud start y’all!

Kyle and Ethan are in the car! They have opted to drive to Alabama for the Christmas season this year rather than fly. As Kyle has been saying this whole month, “Guys, COVID is still a thing!” So, no road trip between Kyle and Ethan would be complete without a podcast episode to commemorate it! From Meteor Crater to Taylor Swift, from blizzards to bickering over holiday plans. They talk about it all.

In this fifth and final part in the exploration for grief, we come to the end and find that it is only the beginning. A death, especially one of someone as close as a parent, can break you wide open. It can send a ripple of energy throughout one’s entire life, so that when the dust settles nothing looks the way it did before. That is exactly what happened to Kyle. Loss of his father, friends, and a job left him feeling broken, but he is determined to find peace amongst the pieces of his broken heart.

In the fourth episode exploring grief, Kyle sits down with his cousin, Carrie Davis Kilgo. Carrie played a crucial part in Kyle’s grief space from the time that his father died all the way through the funeral. Carrie and Kyle have had a close bond since the day that Kyle was born and this episode touches on how that bond manifested itself pastorally in the grieving process. You will also hear Kyle and Carrie discuss how they are maintaining that love and commitment to keeping the bond alive in such a volatile political world when they belong to opposing political parties.

In this deeply personal third installment of Kyle’s exploration of grief, and specifically the grief of losing his father, he sits down with two people who know a whole lot about losing loved ones, his mother Wanda, and her sister, Sandra. Wanda and Sandra, along with their brother, Danny, lost their mother to cancer when they were in their late teens and early twenties. Sandra lost her firstborn son in a car crash when he was 18. They also lost a sister as children. In this episode, they talk about the importance of having a grief partner, someone who can be there with you to be your support person to lean on during the darkest days. They also find themselves speaking freely about things that they haven’t quite worked through that occurred at the last family funeral almost ten years ago.

In part two of Kyle’s discussion on grief, he is joined by his sister, Magan Henderson Trammell. Kyle and Magan were side by side as they said their final goodbyes to their father, Coy Leon Henderson. In this episode, they sit down at Magan’s kitchen table with a pot of coffee and discuss their perspective on grief two weeks after losing their father.

After a very long hiatus, Kyle is back on the air with a series of episodes exploring the latest development in his life: Grief. Since the last episode of “Not For Nothing…” Kyle’s father passed away. Grief is a tricky thing in that it manifests differently for everyone in different ways. The next several episodes will be an exploration of that grief. This first episode was recorded on the night before his father died. Kyle’s best friend, and favorite guest of the show, joins Kyle on the patio of his childhood home on a balmy September night to catch up and discuss the care of a dying father.

Kyle is sitting down again with his local bestie, Billy Alexander. When these two silly boys get together, their conversations go on a rapid and meandering journey from diet and exercise, politics, sex, mental health, television, and so many other places. So, grab your favorite beverage and sit back and join Billy and Kyle at the mic for one of the happiest experiences Kyle ever gets to have, communion with Billy.