These Things Matter Podcast

Welp... that's a wrap. We didn't quite make it to 250 episodes, and we didn't quite make it to five years, but that's how life goes sometimes. Who would have guessed when we started the show that Kevin would be heading off to New York City and Taylor would be heading to Los Angeles? ...I mean, I suppose you probably could have made an educated guess. Nevertheless! We hope you have enjoyed the show whether you listened to one ep or every ep (god save your poor soul). Please know we telepathically heard every time you yelled at your listening device when we got something wrong. You guys yell a LOT! To absolutely everyone involved in making this show - producers, guests, designers, photographers, bandmates and listeners - THANK YOU. And now we present The End. Love! -Taylor & Kevin

For our penultimate episode we have one of our bestest pals, comedian Nathan Lund, talking about one of his favorite-est authors; Kurt Vonnegut. It should be noted that this was part of a marathon podcast recording session so Kevin may be a bit tipsy, Nathan may be a bit high, and Taylor may be a bit tired, but we couldn't call ourselves a true podcast, even after doing the show for almost a full five years unless we had at least a couple eps where people were not quite coherent. Join us as we discuss Mr. Vonnegut's work, the tattoos he's inspired, and the mental breakdowns that lead to getting those tattoos.

We only have three more eps left (including this one) and we could not finish up our run without talking to Ron Doyle. Ron was one of the hosts of Denver's original pop culturey podcast, The Denver Diatribe. He now co-hosts and co-produces The Narrators show and podcast. He has also been involved in several other shows around town, he volunteers at the High Plains Comedy Fest, and he makes time for his family after working as a free lancer. How does he do it!? We don't know, but we do know that he sure loves magazines. Listen in as we discuss National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Spin, Cosmo, Field & Stream, The Source, Vanity Fair and of course Highlights magazine.

On today's ep we have one of our favorite guests and the winner of our Most Times On The Podcast Award, Mr. Sam Tallent. Sam Stops by to talk about one of his favorite authors, Cormac McCarthy. Author of The Road, All The Pretty Horses, No Country For Old Me, and Sam's absolute fave, Blood Meridian. Join in as we talk about death and violence. Man's inhumanity to man! How 'bout it?!

"That's it, baby, when you've got it, flaunt it, flaunt it!" Hey! It's our fave radio DJ Jessi Whitten talk about her fave director/writer/actor/producer Mel Brooks!

"I used to be Irish Catholic; Now I'm an American. You know, you grow." We had a blast talking to comedian Matt Braunger about George Carlin and his 1972 album CLASS CLOWN. Join us as we delve into the mind of the man known for his wordplay and his political prowess. Be sure to catch Matt on stage when he comes to your town!

On today's episode we talk to writer (and Taylor's old college pal) Rob Walker about the one and only John Hughes, director of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, UNCLE BUCK, PRETTY IN PINK, SIXTEEN CANDLES, ETC!

Join us as we talk to musicians Harmony Rose and Michelle Rocqet of The Milk Blossoms as they talk about their love of board games. Popular and obscure, new or used, strategy or skill-based, they love 'em all!

On today's ep we talk to musician Mike King of the band The Outfit about his obsession with The Legend of Zelda and all its sequels for NES, Super Nintendo, N64, etc, etc, etc. Join us as we grab our sword and shield and hit the road looking for rupees and dungeons!

Our new friend comedian Will Miles stopped by to talk about what it's like to be inspired by your peers, to be away from your family when there's a terrorist attack, and how Childish Gambino came to be legitimately amazing. We're talking Donald Glover! Community, Atlanta, LANDO?! Get into it, mystery team!

Diaz: Mellow out man. We can't talk business with you waving guns in people's faces. Your daughter is safe, Colonel. Now whether she stays that way is up to you. My people, they got some business with you. And if you want your kid back, then you gotta cooperate, right? John Matrix: Wrong. [shoots Diaz between the eyes] And that about sums up the wonder of 1985's COMMANDO starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, playing John Matrix. He's a loving father, outdoorsman, deer feeder, fishing enthusiast, and he can kill you any number of a thousand ways. Listen as we chat to comedian Karl Hess about his love of this action movie classic.

Rounding out the O'Brien parental units, on this week's episode, Kevin talks to his dad Dennis O'Brien about his pop cultural past!

Kevin sat down and chatted with his mom on this ep. Subjects include: Footloose, Prince, Van Halen, Journey, and of course Nebraska. .

Join us this holiday season as we talk about DJing, hecklers, egg nog, growing up... everything but the holidays!

On this week's episode we talk to comedian/musician Mishka Shubaly about the one and only Charles Bukowski. Are you a drunk and poor 18 yr-old male with aspirations of becoming a great writer? This is the ep for you!

Join us as we chat with musician and competitive beardsmen Joe Mills about the prince of darkness, Nick Cave!

DJ Erin Stereo has finally fulfilled her 2016 goal of appearing on our show! We're happy to oblige when the topic is Buffy The Vampire Slayer! Join us as we talk about Joss Whedon's metaphorically brimming high school saga. It's Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Cordelia, Angel, Spike, Oz and all the rest of the gang!

Join us as we get political talking to comedian Nate Craig about the PBS NewsHour!

We were so thrilled to do a live show once again from the Denver Film Festival! This time around we talked about movie musicals with producer/director Patrick Hackett, actor Hayden Szeto and actor/Gerry/Jerry/Terry/Larry... Jim O'Heir!  

Join us for our last New York episode as we talk to comedian Sharon Spell of The Sharon Spell Show about her favorite TV show, The Golden Girls. From Midwestern housewives to New Jersey drag queens, all of America loves Blanche, Rose, Sophia and Dorothy. And how could you not?! Great writing, great timing, cheesecake, and incredible shoulder pads! Thank you for being a friend and listening.

Still in New York, by way of New Jersey, Kevin and Taylor talk to WFMU's Pat Byrne about The Boss. It's Bruce Springsteen time (and a little talk of The E Street Band)! Listen in as we discuss fathers and sons, grabbing that girl and getting out of town, plus Ben Stiller's amazing Bruce impression. Be sure to listen to Pat Saturday nights on PROVE IT ALL NIGHT at wfmu.org!

Kevin and Taylor flew all the way to New York City to talk to comedian Scott Sharp about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and they hadn't even seen the Michael Bay movies! Yeah, they've got their priorities well in order. Listen in! AND GRAB A PIZZA, MAN! BUT NO ANCHOVIES!

Kev and Tay are sans guest for this minisode. They talk about the Fall (a bit) and school (as usual) and the election (for like a second) and The Simpson's Tree House of Horror.

On today's ep we talk to Alamo Drafthouse Denver's Steve Bessette about the one and only Paul F. Tompkins. Steve showed up in a lovely ensemble and bow tie to discuss the man, the myth, the Ice-T impersonator! (Not to mention Cake Boss, Gary Marshall, Werner Herzog and many many more!) 

On today's episode we talk to Ancient Elk's Cody Coffey about Japanese author Haruki Murakami!

Our new pal comedian Joe Kwaczala has one of the more interesting obsessions we've run across. No, he's not an architectural nerd obsessed with a certain building in Cleveland, Joe is obsessed with the list of people in, possibly in, and about to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Who's eligible? Who's deserving? Who's snubbed? Who gets to perform? Who gets left out? Who's wearing the most leather at 60-something years-old? These are the questions Joe wants to know! Join us as we talk all things RnR legendary!

"Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers - can you see how incredible this is going to be? - hang gliding, come on!" "I saved Latin. What did you ever do?" "You heard me, Coltrane." "I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet, maybe dynamite." "Maybe we could express ourselves more fully when we say it without words." "Are you cussing with me?" "I love you, but you don't know what you're talking about." "You see, there are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity. Indeed that's what we provide in our own modest, humble, insignificant... oh, fuck it." Need we say more? Except to say our guest, Adam Maid, is a sketch comedian and stand-up of the highest order and you should go see him whenever he is in your general vicinity.

Another member of the Gonda clan has been added to the These Things Matter roster! Join Larry Gonda, aka: Taylor's dad, as he talks about The Who. Well, The Who, high school in the 70s, canned hams, being a dad in the 80s, and *gasp* marijuana!

Undateable's Ron Funches joins us to talk about the weird and wild world of NAKED AND AFRAID. That's right. The reality show that pits two to twelve humans against the forces of nature and the unending desire to give up and get that sandwich from that Craft Services table instead of that rat or that eel or that roach. Listen in like the TV film crew you are!

Holy moly, guys! What a show! We talked to comedians Chris Garcia, Kenny DeForest, Eliza Skinner and Caitlin Gill about their favorite TV show characters and BOY did they have some answers! Jump in for some incredible diatribes about the merits of some fantastic and often overlooked characters! Thanks to High Plains Comedy Fest for having us back 4 yeas in a row, and thanks to our pals at Hi Dive for always showing us a good time!

We were so excited to welcome Kentucky's own comedian James Fritz to the show to talk Alt Country. Even now that he lives in L.A., Fritz has a place in his heart for Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, Wilco, Drive-By Truckers, Son Volt, Neko Case, Gillian Welch and The Jayhawks. Not to mention the godfather of them all, Graham Parsons. Join us as we chat and reminisce and slag off Ryan Adams.

We were busted flat in Baton Rouge when we came upon poet Brian Foley. After many drinks, we had a chat about one of his favorite people, Kris Kristofferson. Join us as we discuss this poet, picker, prophet, pusher, pilgrim and preacher. The walking contradiction himself.

We dare you to try to get "Wannabe" and "Say You'll Be There" out of your head after this episode. Join us as we chat with GUYS WE'VE F**KED podcast's Corinne Fisher about her life-long obsession with the Spice Girls. Did we get our lives spiced up a little bit by Scary, Ginger, Baby, Sporty and Posh? Of course we did. Girl Power, y'all!

We're back! Together! Kevin and Taylor! Taking on the pop cultural world one subject at a time! Today we have radio legend Bret Saunders of the KBCO Morning Show! Anybody who has lived in Colorado over the past 20-odd years knows Bret's voice, but did you know he also writes a jazz column for the Denver Post. How about that!? We talk to him about his love of comedy auteur Albert Brooks. We focus on Mr. Brook's first three "punk rock" movies, REAL LIFE, MODERN LOVE and LOST IN AMERICA, but really, we span the gamut. Join us! And then watch all these movies on Netflix!

We're super sorry for the delay on this one - a series of mishaps and errors prevented us from getting this out to you on time. But here it is! Taylor took a trip to Portland to visit her cool aunt and to record a cool episode of the show! We talk about The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, Beatle trading cards, and, of course, Beatles Rock Band. 

Taylor's sick so we just wanted to say hi.

Our pal Ben Jones, filmmaker and owner of Image Brew production house, loves extreme sports movies. Specifically, he loves the 1986 classic RAD and 1993's AIRBORNE. We talk BMX, skateboarding, surfing, roller derby, snowboarding and most importantly blading, dudes! You ever strap on your blades and fly down a hill? No?! You're missing out, man! Grab your knee pads and your helmet and let's fly!

Join us as we talk to Portland/New York comic Danny Felts about all things bicycles and cycling!

Holy cow! What a show! We (mostly Kevin) talked to a bunch of folks at the 2016 Westword Music Showcase about summer gigs, summer festivals, SUMMAH!

We were running down a dream on today's episode, talking to Westword music editor Katie Moulton about her absolute obsession, Tom Petty. Alone, with the Heartbreakers, with Mudcrutch, she loves every version. Join us as we talk about why Tom Petty is one the the most underrated American musicians, and why he probably likes it that way.

Nate Valdez and Eric Riley of IN THE WHALE didn't realize when they asked to talk about Nu Metal that they contained vast oceans of knowledge about Korn, Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down, Orgy, Slipknot, Puddle Of Mudd, P.O.D., Linkin Park, Incubus, Godsmack, Kid Rock etc, etc, etc. In the late 90s/early 2000s, you could not escape the juggernaut of mostly white dudes combining rock and rap. A genre that should have been created by a corporate cigar chewing guy, but is as of The People as backwards caps and Jnco jeans. Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy, indeed.

We're back at it again, brother! Nathan Lund started the Wrestling train running in episode 31, but we added rocket fuel via Brett Davis of The Special Without Brett Davis, Wednesdays at 11pm EST on New York public access and at http://brettdavis.tumblr.com/. Brett stopped by with Steve Whalen to talk Ultimate Warrior, The Vaudvillans, and lots and lots of other fantastic wrestling characters, past, present and future. Join us in the squared circle, won't you?

We sat down with the legendary authority on Denver music, Tom Murphy, to talk about his obsession - Denver music. Bands that were, bands that are, bands that are yet to come? DIY for your nerve!

"That John Denver's full of shit, man." Ain't it the truth, Lloyd Christmas. We hear yah. And so does our guest, comedian Whitmer Thomas. Join us as we discuss all things Carrey. A figure of renown amongst children in 1994. Did you quote Ace Ventura, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber constantly? Did you cry your eyes out at Eternal Sunshine? Of course you did! Follow us, and LEMMIESHOWYAHSOMETHIN on today's episode.

Sometimes we do episodes where we cannot stop talking about the subject due to the absolute obsession of our guest. And then sometimes we do episodes where we talk about all sorts of things including the subject. This is one of those. Drum machines, the 80s in general, dream pop, synthesizers, Joy Division, even U2! When you get Oko Tygra drummer Neil Robertson talking, you go all over the place. Listen in, won't you?

This may be our least on-topic episode yet, which is saying a lot. Join us as we ostensibly talk to Seth and Spencer Stone of The Dirty Few about Britney Spears, but then they don't really care and would rather talk about Mountain Dew, but then they have 6 beers each, but then... oh, just listen.

We've done it! We've made (a little over) 200 episodes! How'boutthat?! Listen in as we reminisce with a fabulous clip show!Featuring:Ep 146 - The Breeders w/ Hutch HarrisEp 109 - They Might Be Giants w/ Allen Strickland WilliamsEp 107 - Grateful Dead w/ Andy KindlerEp 131 - Led Zeppelin w/ Tom ScharplingEp 142 - Dolly Parton w/ Amy MillerEp 180 - Blacksploitation Films w/ David GborieEp 101 - Limp Bizkit from the Live Second Anniversary Show w/JulesPosnerEp 117 - Live from the High Plains Comedy Festival w/ IanKarmel& Sam TallentEp 167 - Live from the High Plains Comedy Festival w/KarenKilgariffEp 147 - Alexander Payne w/ Zach PetersonEp 122 - Blink-182 w/ Aaron BrooksEp 169 - The White Stripes w/ Eric DadourianEp 192 - Lou Reed w/ Kritty UranowskiEp 155 - Mad Men w/ William DeweyEp 113 - Peter Pan w/ Katharine Gonda (aka: Taylor's Sister)Ep 184 - Monty Python w/ Devon Torrey BryantEp 195 - Sandwiches w/ Alex and Graham EschenEp 182 - TTM Supergroup Holiday Spectacular!Thanks to all our listeners, thanks to all our guests, thankstoeveryone who's ever spared a thought for our little show. Loveyouguys.

Holy cow, you guys. Thanks to our pals Oliver Howard and Devon Torrey Bryant we are able to bring to you a live recording of our Fourth Anniversary show!! We reunited the Supergroup, which features Chella Negro (Chella & The Charm), Leighton Peterson (Safe Boating is No Accident), Justin Couch (Quantum Creep), Fez Garcia (Tjutjuna), Nathan D Brazil (Salads and Sunbeams), and Nathan Wright (The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact) PLUS bonus musicians Mike Ditto on keys, and Abi McGaha Miller on sax! Each band member chose a Bowie song to cover and we chatted about it and played it! Thanks to Syntax Physic Opera for having us and thanks to everyone who came out to watch! This ep is a little larger than most - we wanted to give you a great sounding concert, so we hope you don't mind if it takes a little while longer than usual to download. Four years. That's pretty freaky Bowie.

These Things Matter was delighted when our pals at Buntport Theater asked us to chat with them about Greek Mythology - the through-line of their current theatrical season. We talked to Hannah Duggan, Brian Colonna, Erin Rollman, Erik Edborg, and Samantha Schmitz about myths, mortals and monsters, and perhaps a little Bill and Ted's Exellent adventure thrown in for good measure. Be sure to check out their new season at www.buntport.com!

Quack, quack, quack!! Right? Right? On today's show we talk to Buntport Theater's Sam Schmitz about that pillar of 90s kids entertainment and subsequent professional hokey team, The Mighty Ducks. Emilio Estevez at his most likeable, with his most flopable hair, plus all the fun-loving, Bash brothering, Mall Of America rollerblading action you could want!

Kids these days! Always lookin' at the YouTubes! Well... yeah! They are! We oldies have no idea about how much the vast video content has changed the media landscape. YouTube is the new television, and all we can do is hope to know PewDiePie's name, let alone what the hell he's talking about. Join us as we talk to Youtuber Adrienne Stortz (XOXO Cooks) about all things tubular!