Managing Expectations is a podcast for interesting people by interesting people, wading into all the things that make them interesting - music, art, books, movies, and generally, the passing scene.
Howdy! We are very excited to be back for this special episode! This time we welcome Marios Hedary the owner/operator of Byblos Mediterranean Restaurant. Marios shares his story with us and how he and his restaurant contribute to the art scene in the DFW area. Jeff will have several pieces of new work on display at the Byblos restaurant during the festival that runs from April 10-13 2025. More info below!! Come for the art, stay for the eggplant! https://wengerabstracts.com/ https://www.byblostx.com/
Episode 111: Wenger reads his essay on the passing of Jimmy Buffett.
Wenger is joined by Al Viquez to discuss the novels of Stephen Hunter and his literary world of American warriors. Bob Lee Swagger is the main figure of Point Blank, Time to Hunt, and others. Swagger's father Earl is the protagonist in several books including Hot Springs and most recently, The Bullet Garden. It's been said that nobody does guys and guns better than Hunter.
A discussion of capitalism that runs from the bazaars of ancient Mesopotamia to self-satisfied burghers and VIP cards. How best to allocate limited resources? You know that it's true . . .
A discussion of capitalism that runs from the bazaars of ancient Mesopotamia to self-contented burghers with VIP cards. How best to allocate limited resources? You know that it's true . . .
With little explanation for their absence, and little rationale for their return, the boys are back to talk about fishing. Fishing is a sort of self-sufficiency, an aspiration, a nature idyll, a vital part of the whole ecosystem, an aesthetic, and fun. Stay until the end!
By Special Request — Chris Levine! Wenger and Brian are joined by friend of the show, Chris Levine, host of the Refresher Pop Culture Therapy Podcast. They talk about Chris's show, being nice, and being sad, mad, and glad!
Wenger, Brian, and Paulie Fingers are back! The hiatus explained! (We're looking at you, Jimmy Smits!) Wenger's near-death experience! How much is too much stuff? A few observations about Twitter, and much, much more!
Art Show! Join Wenger and Brian for a recap of Wenger's Art Show! It was a combination of chutzpah and fanciness brought to light by Mrs Wenger's appetizers. Paul is away, probably explaining soccer to some poor soul who dared ask about relegation. This is Episode 104 and not Episode 102 for a third straight time.
Jeff, Brian, and Paul (mostly Paul) talk about the subtleties, intricacies, and nuance of The Beautiful Game. We learn a lot and hope you do too! MrsWenger.com ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com AllInADream.us
Downton Abbey, George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman, the National Trust, and Paul are English. Mary Tyler Moore, Wenger and Brian are American. Advantage:US. "Steady on, sir! The women have had enough of a shock for the day." MrsWenger.com ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com AllInADream.us
Episode 101: Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It -- Wenger, Brian, and Paul discuss the last three Mission: Impossible movies. Meh - the Kremlin gets blown up, but how can Alec Baldwin ever not be seen as Jack Donaghy?
A very special episode indeed. The Managing Expectations Podcast is very pleased (read surprised) that we have been at this thing for 100 episodes. We thank you for your support and for following along. We are joined by Paul Southern and one of our favorite people, Chris Levine of the Refresher Pop Culture Therapy podcast. For this milestone of a podcast, we discuss what is the most important decade for music. Each guest gives his opinion, and just wait until you hear what Jeff has to say at the end! Thank you once again for all you do. Procure your own merch at https://www.managingexpectationspodcast.com/ Or buy cool cool stuff at https://www.mrswenger.com/ Scratch your nerd itch at https://allinadream.us/ And check out Chris Levine's really great Refresher: Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere. Check out his website: https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com/
Ep 99(a) After a very brief hiatus, Jeff and Brian discuss the Red Bull space jump event, how high is the stratosphere and the amazing professional benefits of a performance review. Procure your own merch at https://www.managingexpectationspodcast.com/ Or buy cool cool stuff at https://www.mrswenger.com/ Scratch your nerd itch at https://allinadream.us/ And check out Chris Levine's really great Refresher: Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere. Check out his website: https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com/
Jeff is solo and reading his own poetry. The men don't know but the little girls understand . . . Check out: ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com MrsWenger.com AllInADream.us WengerAbstracts.com
Wenger is solo and talks about covering the handover of Hong Kong from the British to China in June 1997 and the state of play in the current moment. What people want of good government, what people will do when they're free to do as they please, and threats and rumors of wars. www.ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com www.MrsWenger.com www.AllinaDream.com https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com
Jeff and Brian are joined once again by the smoothed voiced pitchman, Paul. Jeff is in a bad mood, so Brian and Paul do their very best to try to cheer him up by discussing some relevant topics. Things like Madonna, Phil Collins, Steely Dan, and the Cantina Scene from THE FIRST EPISODE OF STAR WARS. Procure your own merch at https://www.managingexpectationspodcast.com/ Or buy cool cool stuff at https://www.mrswenger.com/ Scratch your nerd itch at https://allinadream.us/ And check out Chris Levine's really great Refresher: Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere. Check out his website: https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com/
Jeff and Brian are joined once again by the silver tongued Prince of England, Paul. They discuss whether or not highly trained teddy bears can defeat an army of Storm Troopers. They also discuss how the podcast is connecting people from around the country and the benefits (?) of attending your high school reunion. Procure your own merch at https://www.managingexpectationspodcast.com/ Or buy cool cool stuff at https://www.mrswenger.com/ Scratch your nerd itch at https://allinadream.us/ And check out Chris Levine's really great Refresher: Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere. Check out his website: https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com/
Stories of the Denver trip, including Brian's swanky accommodations and a gross story from Wenger. Paul, radiating civility, doesn't utilize his sonorous voice enough. Plus: Podcast merch has been procured! Procure your own merch at https://www.managingexpectationspodcast.com/ Or buy cool cool stuff at https://www.mrswenger.com/ Scratch your nerd itch at https://allinadream.us/ And check out Chris Levine's really great Refresher: Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere. Check out his website: https://refresherpodcast.yolasite.com/
Brian is revealed to be Jimmy Smit's biggest fan! Paul is revealed to have the lush vocal tones the people crave! And Wenger is revealed to serve no purpose here at all! Also: Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, comments on Johnny Depp/Amber Heard from guys who neither know nor care, and Brian DiPalma!
Jeff and Brian are joined by 2 special guests, Tirzah and Paul. They discuss inflation, housing prices, and a story about German economic policy.
Wenger surveys Stevie Van Zandt's memoir, "Unrequited Infatuations" and looks at being the guy that the guy counts on. Van Zandt is Bruce Springsteen's once-and-future sideman, consigliere, wingman and his insight is interesting! managingexpectationspodcast.com mrswenger.com allinadream.us
In this episode Jeff and Brian are joined, once again, by Jeff's sister to take a trip down Wenger memory lane. They also discuss whether or not people like the smartest kids in class, the possibility of the Wenger family and Brian's relatives go way back, and more. Special thanks to our sponsors- All In a Dream Comics Allinadream.us mrswenger.com
Wenger and Brian are joined by special guest, Paul Southern (a Brit!) for a discussion about American dynamism, European provincial homogeneity, and the one kind of guy, the whole world over, who drives a Dodge Ram. Sponsors: MrsWenger.com ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com Allinadream.us
Wenger is solo and reviews Taylor Downing's history of a crucial year in the Cold War. MrsWenger.com Allinadream.us ManagingExpectationsPodcast.com
As awkward as Wenger's ultrasound was, it pales beside Brian cracking his colleague's back. MrsWenger.com Managingexpectationspodcast.com Allinadream.us
Wenger returns from Florida (a state with which Brian has some familiarity) and is able to tell the tale. Also: The delay explained! What's with the eyepatch! Tales from the theater! And more! Check out microwave bowl coozies at mrswenger.com Check out Managing Expectations Merch (with Big Big Face) at managing http://Managingexpectationspodcast.com Check out Silver Age comics and graphic novels at allinadream.us
Wenger & Brian remember noted humorist P.J. O'Rourke who died recently. They share some of his writings and review his career. And they still have time to talk about Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando in Andrew Bergman's The Freshman! Check out merch at managingexpectationspodcast.com
Joe Rogan, Twitter Mobs, Cancel Culture, conscience, and the right from which all others are derived.
The return of Justified, John Grisham movies, all about NOLA, and Wenger sells a painting! managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com allinadream.us
The Best Game(s) Ever — Wenger & Brian talk about the NFL playoffs, wild finishes, Bills/Chiefs, great quarterbacks, what to do when there's a tie, and the Colts/Giants 1958 Championship game. AND OVERTIME! Expanded and updated to cover the two league Championships. http://allinadream.us http://managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com
Wenger is joined by Tirzah to talk about the movie Dune, Foundation on Apple TV+, they argue about Book of Boba Fett generally and Star Wars specifically, and the Hawkeye miniseries which harkens the return of the Florence Pugh Appreciation Society.
Wenger & Brian discuss three movies—No Time To Die, the absolutely, positively, completely final Daniel Craig James Bond; Penelope Cruz in The Queen of Spain; Six Minutes to Midnight with Eddie Izzard and little, pudgy Judi Dench. (SPOILERS for No(w) Time To Die.)
Wenger is joined by his little sister, Missy deG! They talk about food and fitness, Missy's ambition to be an Official Ambassador for Pro Compression Socks, how they both grew up in the same dysfunctional household but the dysfunction manifested itself differently for each of them. They talk about cringe-inducing episodes of their swinging' parents, and family friend Dale Slaughter. This one is insightful, psychologically relevant, and kind of funny. www.mrswenger.com www.allinadream.us managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Help make @mkdeg95 a Brand Ambassador for @procompression by checking them out on Instagram
Wenger is joined by Rob Squires, bass player for Big Head Todd and the Monsters to talk about Bruce Springsteen and the 1979 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. Later Wenger joins friends of the podcast and Managing Expectations Podcast Musical Brainstrust, Chris Galli, Chris Levine, and Devin McBride to further the conversation. Then Wenger and Squires put the chairs up on the tables. This is a combination of two knowledgeable, thought-provoking conversations about the seminal rock & roll record. But where's Brian? Join us at managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Check out allinadream.us Support Chris Levine's Refresher, Pop Culture Therapy podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2DMGZOGHcywWHRBLK8FEYU?si=gqrybrWqT422wHTE6QC-Rw Check out Springsteen's Keynote address at SXSW 2012 at https://www.npr.org/2012/03/16/148778665/bruce-springsteens-sxsw-2012-keynote-speech
Wenger and Brian discuss learning a trade, education, counting coup, and hang gliding, AND announce the next book club selection! (When something works, you stick with it!) Check out Denver's All In A Dream Comics & Books allinadream.us Join us at managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Listen to the only podcast better than ours: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cRHcnJRS0WNY8MbxN7dac?si=iZ6pcUXzQGK7RyEcpxRk1A
Wenger and Brian talk about singer-songwriter Warren Zevon and uncover a nugget from Wenger's pubescent past! (It's embarrassing!) Check out allinadream.us and managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Playlist https://embed.music.apple.com/us/playlist/to-understand-wenger-you-have-to-get-warren-zevon/pl.u-066r6FW0pxJd
Wenger and Brian begin the long, cold, dark gauntlet of the last month of the year by talking Fat Jeffy in a puffy coat, Daylight Saving Time, red corduroy, buses, Paddy Chayefsky, the House of Gucci's reaction to the House of Gucci movie, the Beatles, and music is math and math is hard. Check us out on managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Support All In A Dream Comics & Books allinadream.us
Wenger and Brian talk facial hair and jowl flexes, the difference between billionaires and teenagers, and the Shang-Chi movie and it's antecedents. Like, subscribe, and share. Check us out at managingexpectationspodcast.locals.com Support All In A Dream Comics and Books allinadream.us
Much like nature, sobriety is stupid - and preferable to the alternative. Do I get a chip or a medal or something or do I just get to say, well, that was 15 years.
Jared's trip to Spain was good but Wenger's was great! And Brian has had tapas.
New episode! Grasshoppers at the Tin Whistle! When Brian is harder to find than Waldo, Jared joins Wenger to talk Dana Carvey, Johnny Carson and more!
Black Widow? You mean Scarlett Johansson was in that too? Wenger and Brian inveigh.
Wenger and Brian talk “The Mountain Between Us” with Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, Jessica Lange, Slaughterhouse 5, Fajitas in London, and construction sites and manly showers.
Wenger and Brian talk management theory, business practices, and why it's always the other guy's fault that you can't buy extra toilet paper. Also the tyranny of the Apple Watch and Wenger doesn't believe that energy drinks will kill him.
Wenger and Brian talk Lincoln books, including Richard Slotkin's “Abe.” Brian discovers a stable of today's big actors in the 1980s “Miami Vice.” And Wenger burned an hour and forty-five minutes on Antoine Fuqua's “Infinite” and strongly urges you not to.
Brian relates the family vacation to, well, not exactly Branson, MO. Wenger mumbles and gripes about today's NFL and remembers Bill Clinton who is still very much alive and Norm MacDonald who sadly is not. But the boys remain united in their regard for character actor Margo Martindale.
William Styron's book Darkness Visible is the best book on depression; Robert Timberg's The Nightingale's Song shows us Robert “Bud” McFarland's own struggle with it after the Iran-Contra scandal in the 1980s. Now take your best shot.
Places you don't want to visit, foods you don't want to eat!
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