Two Smokes Podcast

Wrapping up the season of comedy with a focus on how jokes on the Internet can trigger repercussions. You have head of “Ripped from the Headlines”? Well consider this ‘Ripped from The Rat’s Twitterstream”! Despite a small chance of some bonus content, this is the last episode of Season 7. Considering the state of the … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 20 – Internet Comedy and Censorship

This week we talk (like the neckbeard the Rat is) about the sad state of video games, and how no one takes risks anymore – they just pop out this years version of the decade old games. If you are a gamer of any type, we will more than likely piss ya off. But we … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 19 – Video Games Suck Now

This week we delve back into GOT-land with a review of House of the Dragon, and as expected, The Rat has a few bones to pick. If you are a fan of the show, or just not a fan of paladin-esque virtue signaling – this may not be for you. But hey, listen anyway – … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 18 – Tits on TV Redux

We called it last episode, so despite the week off, we got into the comedy gold of Pro Wrestling. We get old school AND new school, and tell ya why todays wresting is exactly the same, yet so much worse…

Is this true? Can’t be true, can it? We look at the rise (and fall) of the genre and proffer some reasons on why we think it happened. A small derail for some wrestling talk, but for the most part we made it into the normal length for once!

I love it, once again we get to dive into what is right and wrong with music today. We talk about genres and how we consume music, the resurrection of vinyl in an era when no one listens to albums anymore, and generally geek out. For the Rat fans, the shame comes around the point … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 15 – The Annual Music Show

If you are the type who digs the “Bueller? … Bueller?” thing – then this is for you my dudes! We explore the genre and some of the greats.

We discuss the folks that assume a new identity – either as a hedge or simply for the joy of it. With a few moments of Prop Comics, cause really – screw those guys!

After a lengthy unplanned hiatus – we are back and ready to get things going again. Not so ready that we prepped a show that is on-topic, but hey – baby steps. We flail wildly at excuses for our absences and talk a bit about celebrity opinions and woke culture, Samantha Bee, and the Choco … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 12 – We’re Back!

And you know what that means? It’s a riff show! If you are the type that likes hearing dudes just make shit up on the fly – then have I got good news for you today. For Real. I tell some NYC stories and we generally blather like we are two over the hill dudes … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 11 – Yeah, we got nothing…

From Ancient Greeks to Weird Al in one fell swoop – like we do… And fear not, we did not write songs!

The dad joke episode, but so much more!

We run a little long in our discussion of quality sketch groups but our chat about improv being hard to write jokes for, we think it’s worth the time.

We discuss similarities and such and, despite not having written jokes, we manage to work in some examples – to the delight of us both.

Sorry, no stand-up at the Rathole this week, someone (I won’t say who) had no time for jokes. We focus this week on the inside jokes and stories we all have within all the groups we are a part of.

Hard week for the Rat, he is just such a nice guy that this style is hard for him. TSnow, however, was just fine and dandy. We talk about some of the greats, and why this style is probably not as bad a thing as many think.

We explore our nasty sides with a take on what it means to work blue in the modern era, some examples of who we think really did/do it well, and of course a couple of our own. Why? Cause we can, and it is fun. Aside from a cat trying to derail (sorry, it was … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 4 – Blue Comedy

Now for something you’ll really enjoy – the Rat gets dark and Tsnow, well he pretty much just does his normal bit really. We talk about these genres, who is who and we take a stab at our own little sets. Special shoutout to listener Schkadee for pointing out I was, again, late with this … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 3 – Dark & Cringe Comedy

We talk about what makes observational comedy, review some of the greats in the genre and at the end, we both take the stage at Rat Manor Bed and Breakfast / Comedy Club

After a much needed hiatus, we are back! This season we will be focusing on the importance of comedy, as well as the history and inner workings. We explain it all in this intro episode, in which you might hear a few awkward cuts and an unexpected beep or two – just go ahead and … Continue reading Season 7 Episode 1 – Welcome to the Season of Comedy

And that’s a wrap – we take a bit of time to reflect on the season, deliver a few last ideas, and generally celebrate another season in the books. Typical hiatus – figure 3 months or so, but we SHALL return.

Alright, I got back in time to record this week and I managed to finally get the Rat to do this show. You’re Welcome! We talk about the importance of staying attuned to your sexual self, especially when it comes to changes in one’s life. Buckle up!

So yeah, things are winding down on Season 6 and we had a board full of tiny ideas that would not fill a show. So that means a riff session, and this one is just peachy. Highlights include: A dude named Weiner King, A stripper with a monkey, some good old emacs bashing and a … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 22 – Riff Show Part Deux

After an unplanned down week, we are back to discuss all things DIY – what it is, what it means, and why it is important. We also appear to have started Two Smokes Merit Badges – so listen up for how to play!

This week we did a bit of riffing, which was so fun I am posting the show late this week. Cheers!

Today, we are talking about the imminent death of most of the rockers we all still love to run out and see. Not only is this an issue for those who haven’t even tried other genres or current acts – but for the actual process of developing the next generation.

Pardon the choppy nonsensical intro – The Rat was trying to get us cancelled… This week we cap off our longer conversation regarding stress with a look at procrastination – what is is, who does it, and why is it just sooooo easy?

We talk about the importance of developing and maintaining resilience in the face of adversity;

The Rat watched a thing, then made TSnow watch that thing – then they babbled about it. Should we consider the potential for cheap access to gene manipulation as Self-Improvement? What are the implications of doing so? How many times can I say Cream Pie in one episode? Only one way to find out!

So we continue on with the absolute confused mess that is the Laws of Power – not gonna sell you a bill of goods here, we will NOT be continuing on with these after today – it makes the Rat all sketchy.

Just in case there are some of you wondering why there hadn’t been any multi-part episodes this season – Good News! Having covered all the dimensions in our arsenal, it is time to start diving into the actual work of putting them together. It just so happens that the Rat was introduced to a book … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 14 – The Laws of Power (Pt.1)

How you impact your environment, and how it returns the favor is a large part of taking care of yourself. So this week we take on exactly what it means and why it is important. Please forgive me for the late delivery – The Rat had me up waaaay to late the night I was … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 13 – Environmental Self-Care

With the games in full swing, we have to pause and ask – Why? Do the modern Olympics really matter, is there something we are missing about this supposedly beloved institution? We ponder this, and more, along with our new entries for alternative events – and have a blast doing so.

Our favorite theologist is on hand for this discussion on the concept of spiritual self-care and how/if/why it is applicable, regardless of your current level of religious practice. Never fear, despite the subject matter – we remain heathens of the highest order!

We take a break from the season of self-care to address a glaring hole in last season’s theme – inspired by Netflix’s take on the founding fathers. How much wiggle room do you get before you’re changing someone’s impression of history? What if Benedict Arnold really WAS a werewolf? This question, and others, await your … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 10 – Historical History

We have our minds on your money etc. Start the recording with a phone ringing, throw in a doorbell at about the 20 minute mark and mix liberally for yet another dreamy concoction – live from the Rat’s new McMansion! We talk about our relationships with money, and why they matter a lot.

Professional Self Care is more than work life balance – but let’s face it, that’s where everyone goes with it. We try to drill into it a bit more than that, come see how we did!

Since this is so directly tied to the Psychological aspects of the last episode – we wanted to address this one quickly. We talk about how we relate to our emotions, the struggle to be honest with ourselves, and how we recognize our positive efforts to practice this dimension of self-care.

We chat about the status of mental and intellectual self-care and the multitude of effects on other dimensions. Chock full of good advice, and more than a few psychotic breaks – you know, just for fun!

We deep dive on the first of our dimensions of self-care -what does it mean to attend to your physical self? Bo, our emotional crash dummy for this season, has a bit of what you might call a motivation problem – can getting off his ass help? How might he go about it, and what … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 5 – Physical Self-Care

This week we are introducing the topic of self-actualization, as well as introducing the last four of our Two Smokes Dimensions of Self-Care.

We chat about the differences between habits and routines, and introduce the concept of self-awareness before introducing the first four of our dimensions of self-care.

We introduce and try to lock down some definitions of the self – including the long history of attempts to define and then improve it. We then explore how these attempts have blossomed into a full-blown industry, and how that might look as it progresses over time.

That’s right, we came back for another season of asshattery! This episode resets the bit for out returning listeners and serves as a warning for any noobs that may wander by. This season we are focusing on the idea of self-help, toxic altruism, and aspects of self care that, just might have, gotten a bit … Continue reading Season 6 Episode 1 – Welcome Back!

We look at happiness, what is it, how do we know we are feeling it? In the search for our own happiness, we made the executive decision to end Season 5 a few episodes early. there is just a lot going on and if your hobby starts to feel like work – maybe it’s time … Continue reading Season 5 Episode 21 – How do you feel? Are you sure?

We look at charitable contributions in the US. Who, how much, and what for are all up for grabs.

End of the year-itis had set in by the time we sat down to record, so we basically do a game of “hey remember when this happened?” The number of things that we’d forgotten about due to the OMGScaryPandemic. Happy New Year!

This week we are talking about how all that newfound free time got spent during the lockdown. Will we see new master works of art, the next great American novel, or did we all just not wear pants for a year?

The Rat was triggered by a post on Twitter. This Episode brought to you by Tuesday Cheesebites…

We chat about why Democracy isn’t always the way to go, and perhaps that’s why folks get so twisted about it.

Well, this was an episode on Logical Fallacies, and technically it still it – but given all the madness going on lately, it was also a chance for us to let off some steam. If you are a fan of us riffing and cutting up, you may learn a thing or two, but if you … Continue reading Season 5 Episode 15 – Moon Cheese Kingdom