Past Times with Nice Guy Ty

From simple simulations, to coin-operated arcade games, to consoles, this episode covers the evolution of video games.  From the video game crash of 1983, to console wars, we had a great time uncovering the art of video games and game design. We also reminisce on some of the video games that shaped our childhood and, today, scream nostalgia. 

You've heard of the Hearst Castle, but how did this estate come to be? In this episode, Chad and I cover the Hearst family, their humble beginnings, and how they built their wealth, starting with George Hearst and his son, William Randolph Hearst. We also cover the kidnapping of Patty Hearst performed by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Lot's to unpack! Have a listen and enjoy!

Don't step on a crack. It's bad luck to open an umbrella indoors. Don't spill the salt. Sound familiar? We've grown up with these guidelines or ideas that have shaped our behavior since we were children. But where did these ideas comes from? In this episode, we discuss the origins of common superstitious beliefs! Have a listen and enjoy discovering where you land on the superstition chart! 

The Gangs of New York (yes the movie) was inspired by a book written by Herbert Asbury called, The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld. This book documented the rise and fall of 19th century gangs in Lower Manhattan, in a slum known as the Five Points. This was also home to some notorious gangs, such as the Bowery Boys, led by Bill the Butcher, and their rivals, the Dead Rabbits. These were wild and brutal times, and in all honesty, depicts parts of human nature that have not changed all that much! Listen and enjoy! 

If you are a fan of Hip Hop, you are likely a fan of sampling. Listen to this episode to understand why sampling is so prevalent in Hip Hop... and most pop music for that matter! We had a good time talking about some of the earliest methods of sampling, including the concept of sound art within Musique Concrete - which dates back to the 1940s by the way! We also cover some of the controversies and infringement that may have occurred as a result of early samples. We had fun with this one, so please enjoy! 

With television shows like Breaking Bad and Ozark, we are all somewhat familiar with Money Laundering and what it entails. But when did it start? Why are strip clubs a perfect business for laundering money? In this episode we discuss some of the key figures and events that created the need for laundering in organized crime, such as Al Capone and Pablo Escobar, and everyone in between! We also highlight events such as the War on Drugs and September 11th that resulted in strict anti-money laundering legislation. Enjoy!

This is the first episode that Ty did not conduct the research for... and we had a blast! For this episode, Bernard put together a great outline on some interesting subject matter, Sumo Wrestling! We cover topics ranging from the origins of Sumo, Shintoism, and even some potential match fixing due to the influence of the Yakuza! Enjoy! 

As a kid I convinced myself that I couldn't play guitar, but somehow, I knew I could play bass! In this episode I lay out the humble beginnings of the bass guitar and how this powerful instrument helped change music! We cover the history starting from the double bass, to Rickenbacher, to the Fender Precision Bass, and we cover the musicians and innovators that acted as a catalyst for the popularity of the instrument. Enjoy! 

The American West, the American Frontier, the Old West, or the Wild West, was a time of lawlessness and disorder that has resulted in amazing Western folklore. But how did it earn its reputation. We discuss how the aftermath of the Civil War directly impacts the behavior and actions of outlaws like Jesse James.  We have all heard of the Bowie knife, but what infamous duel made it an iconic symbol for America? Listen and find out! 

In this episode we discuss the history of freeways in America. It can be argued that most people use freeways on a regular basis, but it can also be argued that most people are ignorant when it comes to the negative impact that freeway construction and "progress" has had on minority communities. However, this episode was not a complete bummer, we also cover the iconic Route 66 and America's first federally funded highway, the National Highway, and we debunk some myths commonly associated with the Interstate System. Have a listen and, as always, enjoy! 

"A miracle in the desert" is how people referred to the Salton Sea in the 1950s and 1960s when this man-made lake was a popular tourist attraction. In its prime, the Salton Sea attracted more tourists than Yosemite. In this episode we discuss the rise and demise of the Salton Sea and the unintended consequences of tampering with nature. 

Our. First. Part. Two. Ever. We continue our dissecting of the history of rock and roll! In this episode, we briefly highlight some of the key figures  and innovators of rock and roll: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and last but certainly not least... Les Paul. We highlight the significance of Doo-Wop and how this genre influenced so many of the bands we love to this day. Lastly, you don't have rock and roll without distortion! Listen to this episode to discover the intricacies of rock and roll and how it embodies the cleanliness of harmonies and the dirtiness of distortion! 

Memes! We all know what they are, or at least we know which ones we like! In this episode we discuss the understudied history of memes. Not only do we cover some of our favorite memes, but we discuss other phrases and sayings throughout history that fit the mold. That's right. Memes date back further that you think! What exactly is a meme? Memetics? Listen to this episode to find out!

Mankind has always been fascinated by the abnormal. In this episode we talk about giants... or just really tall people. Giants are mentioned in mythology from all around the world, which means that mankind has always sought to explain this phenomena for about as long as we've been around. We cover a number of giants throughout history: from the "ugliest woman in the world," to "the man who inspired Shrek," and one giant that holds a title that no one else on Earth can claim. Listen to find out! 

In this bonus episode, Steven and I talk about why it is we do what we do and our approach to podcasting. We also discuss how Steven is possibly one of the unluckiest guys in the world! Enjoy this little break from our regularly scheduled programming to get to know Steven and  me. 

In this episode we talk about the CIA and how it came to be. One major focal point of this episode is Project MKUltra, which was an illegal human experimentation program. What was the objective of this program? Mind control. Listen to find out what extreme measures were taken while on this quest to harness the power of mind control. In this episode we also discuss the conspiracy theory behind the Hippie Subculture and how it may have all been orchestrated by the CIA to distract the youth from other important events occurring in America. Enjoy! 

In honor of Betty White, Chad and Nice Guy Ty talk to their friend, Bernard, about many female bad asses throughout history. This episode dates as far back as the 12th century and travels through time as recent as Vietnam.  The women that we cover in this episode are as follows:Betty WhiteTamar the Great of GeorgiaGrace O'MalleyLaura Bullion aka "the rose of the wild bunch"Belle Siddons aka Madame VestalThe Night WitchesCatherine Leroy If you would like to follow this show on Instagram, click on this the link. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode Ty and his brother-in-law, Tim (oh and Chad too) discuss the origins of rock and roll. Not only do we dive into the key events that led to rock's birth, but we also cover a few of the top contenders for the birthplace of rock and roll. This is the first of a series of episodes that we plan on releasing for this topic and we have barely made a scratch in the surface! What does industrialization, the Great Migration, and urbanization have to do with the genre? Find out in this episode! 

In this episode, Ty, Chad, and Steven discuss the history of universities and the exponential growth of tuition over the years. We really tie in the present to this episode with our take on society and how education is a massive for-profit industry and how it can also be viewed as a status symbol for college students a parents alike. Oh, and we also define the education industrial complex that has transformed from what once was considered a human right. 

I have always taken an interest in the art of comedy and the ability to amuse the masses. In this episode we discuss the origins of comedy in ancient Greece and how political satire was at the center of this art form. We identify the correlation between the origins of comedy and the media today. Here are a few of the other things that we cover in this episode:The many types of comedyJesters Shakespearean ComedyRoland the FarterLots of fun to be had in this episode with Nice Guy Ty and his producer Chad! If you like what you hear, follow this podcast by following this link!

This episode was constructed in the wake of the events that took place in Houston, Texas at a music festival put on by Travis Scott. We highlight some other instances in which concerts went awry. In this episode, we cover events that date as far back as 1969 and travel through time to 1999. Some of the events that we cover are as follows:The Rolling Stones concert at Altamont SpeedwayThe Who's Concert disaster in Cincinnati, OhioWoodstock 1999Other popular music festivalsIf you like what you hear, follow this podcast on Instagram! 

Listen to the trailer for Past Times with Nice Guy! Dive into what to expect from this show and the plans that Ty has as a host!