Podcasts about chat pack

We do some questions from the Chat Pack. Get your own set of Chat Pack questions on their website. Also, why is 1954 important? And we'll throw in our favorite Christmas songs.Please note: the StayAwakeWhileDriving website address I refer to in some episodes is no longer in use. Thank you.Music: pixabay music LesfmNote: This podcast is not meant for you if you have a medical condition which makes it unsafe for you to drive. This podcast will NOT, NOT, NOT make you a safe driver!Also, obey all local driving laws and regulations, and never do anything associated with this podcast which would create a driving hazard to you or others. Stay safe!

What's the most beautiful drive you have ever taken? Also, I went to see the eclipse, and I learned a new trick to stay awake. This and trivia, and the five word challenge. And a Chat Pack question.Please note: the StayAwakeWhileDriving website address I refer to in some episodes is no longer in use. Thank you.Music: pixabay music LesfmNote: This podcast is not meant for you if you have a medical condition which makes it unsafe for you to drive. This podcast will NOT, NOT, NOT make you a safe driver!Also, obey all local driving laws and regulations, and never do anything associated with this podcast which would create a driving hazard to you or others. Stay safe!

Chat Pack members Mallory Jane and ListenerLiz join Keith to discuss The Roast of Tom Brady as well as to help share the white perspective of Kendrick vs. Drake. The trio also covers Kevin Spacey endorsing RFK Jr. for the presidency, RFK's worm-eaten brain, and Bummer News.

MeMeCherry! Viola! Snikki! Chris! The Chat Pack! Yes, sometimes the universe tests our patience, but we push through and have a ROCKIN' good time! In this episode we discuss Drag, alcoholism, boundaries, the Pope, internet cats, reality TV, impressions, acid, L.A., relationships, and pronouns! Episodes discussed: 36: Keepin' It Real 713: Quitter w/ Michael Mattera 1168: The Key of Awesome w/ Mark Douglas 1373: Triple Rush w/ JessNYC and Dillon Roberts 1766: Full of Gass w/ Craig Gass 2615: Acid Attack w/ Grant Lindahl 2851: MURDER w/ Paul Gilmartin 3064: Chemdawg w/ Max Cohen 3260: It Started As a Joke w/ Eugene Mirman 3658: Humans Being w/ MJ Knefel

Todays Question: If you could float in a hot-air balloon over any city or place in the world, what would you choose to float over? Summary In this episode of Chat Time, the hosts discuss their recent guest stars and introduce a new conversation starter called the Chat Pack. They share their fascination with North Korea and express their desire to float over the country in a hot air balloon. The hosts also discuss their college plans and the importance of wearing Chat Time merchandise to support the podcast. They end the episode with a discussion about the spread the word to end the word campaign and the Minecraft sound effect that has become a running joke in their conversations. In this conversation, the hosts discuss various topics including the episode number, peer pressure, merchandise, and conclude the episode. Takeaways Guest stars add variety and excitement to podcast episodes. Conversation starters can help guide discussions and keep them on track. Wearing merchandise can help support and promote a podcast. The spread the word to end the word campaign had unintended consequences. Inside jokes and sound effects can add humor and entertainment to conversations. Peer pressure can influence decision-making. Merchandise can be easily purchased online. The hosts sign off and conclude the episode. Follow us on our Socials: Instagram: @chattimeofficial2022 @mr_thust @momsearlobe Follow Our TikTok: @chattime2022 Follow our Twitch: @Chat_Time Subscribe to the Youtube: @ChatTime Email us at: chattimeofficial2022@gmail.com for any questions or suggestions to help us do better! Get the merch here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/chat-time/

A couple more Chat Pack questions in this episode. Plus the usual fun.Please note: the StayAwakeWhileDriving website address I refer to in some episodes is no longer in use. Thank you.Music: pixabay music LesfmNote: This podcast is not meant for you if you have a medical condition which makes it unsafe for you to drive. This podcast will NOT, NOT, NOT make you a safe driver!Also, obey all local driving laws and regulations, and never do anything associated with this podcast which would create a driving hazard to you or others. Stay safe!

Scatter-gories podcast style, trivia and more with Chat Pack questions!Please note: the StayAwakeWhileDriving website address I refer to in some episodes is no longer in use. Thank you.Music: pixabay music LesfmNote: This podcast is not meant for you if you have a medical condition which makes it unsafe for you to drive. This podcast will NOT, NOT, NOT make you a safe driver!Also, obey all local driving laws and regulations, and never do anything associated with this podcast which would create a driving hazard to you or others. Stay safe!

The girls answer questions from the Chat Pack!

Julia and Lily answer The Chat Pack!

This week on the podcast it's the baseball guys, Greg Larnerd hosts along with former soft hitting, part-time college baseball playing buddies Klifford Hawkins and Chad McDaniel. This week the guys talked all baseball which started with the review of the HUGE Braves-Mets series that just took place last weekend as well as the one coming up next week. In addition, they got into their favorite ballparks, swapped a couple of unique ballpark experience stories, and ended things with a thought provoking Chat Pack question that'll be sure to make you think...

The gameshow that sparks controversy and conversation returns to The Morning Madhouse.

Gunner Miller is a local guy who played tons of sports and grew up in East Ridge. During this episode of the podcast he joined G, Chase, and Garrett Tolley to talk about his story. He got into his podcast that he's grown over the last couple of years, growing up here in the Chattanooga area, getting an opportunity to play football at UTC, adversity he dealt with, wrestling, where he's at now, and much more. Plus, don't forget the signature Chat Pack segment where Gunner picks us a couple of interesting topics to get into.

Greg Larnerd, Chase Green, and Garrett Tolley team up on this episode of the podcast and the boys kept it short and sweet this week... Seg. 1: With GT being the big Mavs fan that he is, he and G had to get after it digging into the New York Knicks signing Jalen Brunson to some stupid money. Seg. 2: The boys break out the Chatt It Up Chat Pack for the first time and each ask a thought provoking question of each other... What hour of the day would you give up, which TV/movie house would you want to live in, and what's your favorite simple pleasure?

The ultimate game show! How quick witted is the Morning Show?

Chat Pack's Paul Holden got to sit down with voiceover artist Janet Varney for a piece on KIRO Radio on the power of animated characters and the return of Emerald City Comic Con. Varney is the voice behind Avatar Korra, among many other voices, she also is a co-founder of the SF Sketch Fest and so much more! The story Paul did on the Con can be found here

Chat Pack's Paul Holden got to sit down with voiceover artist Steve Blum for a piece on KIRO Radio on the power of animated characters and the return of Emerald City Comic Con. Blum is the Guiness World Record Holder for voices in video games and is the voice behind Spike Spiegel, among many other voices. The story Paul did on the Con can be found here

nickfromcwe and snoopAloop_3 chat about the Cool Cats challenge, the possible legendary pack drop and wrap it up by busting open a pack!Follow us on Twitter - http://bit.ly/massivemomentstwitterSubscribe to us on YouTube - http://bit.ly/massivemomentsyoutubeSubscribe to us on Twitch - http://bit.ly/massivemomentstwitch

Episode 25: This week we giving up and play Chat Pack. Total random conversations, funny stories and GREAT RUM, Diplimatico Reserva. We also talk a bit about the upcoming rebrand / relaunch.

This week,Tearzuh and Tori tackle a bunch of random questions..... Topics discussed: Tori's a nice person Twilight Laughing... lots of laughing This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

A "Chat Pack" editions of Buck's weekend "Would You Rather?"; ESPN's Kyle Bonagura exposes Pac-12 financial failings; Are you ready for college football without the Pac-12?; The Big Ten might play in November

This week the Chat Pack crew discusses all of the fantastic movies and TV shows they have been watching while they continue to stay home and stay safe. Enjoy! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On this week’s episode Paul, Caleb, and Trevor recount a classic tale in Chat Pack history and discuss potential plans in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Enjoy! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

And the Saga continues... PART TWO of our Star Wars Extravaganza! We're joined by special guests Kal and the Chat Pack crew and discuss Rogue One and Star Wars Episodes IV - VI... No Solo though. Special Shout out to Trevor, Paul, and Ben from the Chat Pack Podcast (https://chatpacklive.weebly.com/), check out their weekly podcast on your preferred podcatcher.    IG: viewsfromthebackoftheclass_pod Twitter: @theothernword Email: viewspod@gmail.com Phone: 312-521-0527

It's our tenth (episode) anniversary! To celebrate, Basil and Nicole invite you over for dinner and a few rounds of a beloved Roccas ritual: Chat Pack. This short and sweet episode is just for fun and has nothing to do with doubt . . . or does it?

We are back with a new season! Old was the Chat Pack and new is our “3000 Things About Me” series. In this episode, we explore what our perfect idea of happiness is, versus our greatest fears. Kinda deep for the first episode right? We know....lol Follow us! | Instagram @renandknowhere | Twitter @KnowhereRen Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

In the final chat pack episode Knowhere got to ask the first question finally and we discussed which holiday we wouldn't mind seeing twice on our calendar. Follow us! | Instagram @renandknowhere | Twitter @KnowhereRen | Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

In this episode Ren loses the ability to speak the correct vernacular and we discuss what we would have to see if we were in an African safari trip. Follow us! Instagram @renandknowhere Twitter @KnowhereRen Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

We envision a perfect view from our future dream home and talk about what may be the headline on your local newspaper in the year 2100! Follow us! Instagram @renandknowhere Twitter @KnowhereRen Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Today we spoke on an event that happens in the future whose outcome we'd like to know about now, advice we'd give and knowhere not knowing what to come up with on the fly! Follow us! Instagram @renandknowhere Twitter @KnowhereRen Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

If you have any questions for us be sure to hit us up and join in on some good conversation. Follow our social media accounts! Instagram @renandknowhere Twitter @RenKnowhere Facebook @ Ren & Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

We are continuing the grind with the chat pack. Slowly coming towards the end of the series, remember if you want to get in the conversation be sure to DM us we need more friends. Follow our social media accounts! Instagram @renandknowhere Facebook @Ren & Knowhere Twitter @KnowhereRen --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

The comic book creators from Endtense J.E.T. stopped by to help us tackle this Chat Pack episode! Super grateful they took time out of their day to hang out - thanks so much again, guys! During this episode, we imagined which celebrity houses we'd live in for a month (livin' the imaginary good life), chose which artists we'd sing a duet with, and gave our personal definitions of what success means. You can find their work on Instagram: Jerome Smith @bboymayh3m_ Travis Smith @bboypyro_art Elijah Simon @elijahsimonart_ Stalk us: Instagram @renandknowhere Twitter @KnowhereRen Facebook @ Ren&Knowhere --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

On this episode, we talked about our childhood imaginations, what cultural problems America stands a chance with in the next 20 years, and which movie characters we strongly relate to. Follow us on social media! Facebook: @ Ren & Knowhere Twitter: @KnowhereRen Instagram: @renandknowhere Thank you so much for listening! -R&K  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Hey, whats up, y'all? Hope all is well! Today, we discussed our pet-peeves (Knowhere kept teasing me -_-), we recalled the most impactful events to happen within the last 1,000 years, and gave details on how we’d budget our finances if we had $1 million dollars. Follow us! Facebook: @ Ren & Knowhere Twitter: @KnowhereRen Instagram: @renandknowhere Thanks again for tuning in! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Listen to us ramble about our dream living situations (the stateside dream), the super-volcano in the mid-west, and adding an extra month to the year just ‘cause we can! Follow us if ya wanna sit at the cool kids’ table... Facebook: @RenandKnowhere Twitter: @KnowhereRen Instagram: @renandknowhere Thanks so much for listening! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Knowhere speaks slowly when he doesn't know what he's talking about lol. We discussed what we wish we could change about the presidential election process, the best $100 we ever spent, and more! Stalk us on social media! Facebook: @RenandKnowhere Twitter: @KnowhereRen Instagram: @renandknowhere Thanks again for keeping up with us! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

This week Zay talks to some good friends and go through some thought provoking questions. Be sure to check out their podcast by Ren &Knowhere. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1aOCpBhJ8AhhjXjPpx42d3?si=2fncxY5kTVmZNXkR9hNHaw

Gahhhhh - the computer keeps making noises!!!! So, today we talked about mastering tasks, a new movie idea starring an eager nurse aid with a scientific prowess (don’t ask, just listen), and potential song titles corresponding with our lives at this moment. Thank you so much for tuning in as well! Be sure to follow us on social media! Twitter: @KnowhereRen Instagram: @renandknowhere Once again, thanks so much for listening - it really means the world to us and we hope to hear from y'all! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

So, with a couple hours of sleep, Ren and I decide to hit the Chat Pack once again. We talked about skydiving, the most interesting class(es) we've ever taken, and superstitions. It's truly amazing that we get to do this on a daily basis and thank you all for tuning in. We have so much more exciting stuff planned for the future!!! Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts! Twitter: @KnowhereRen Facebook: @RenandKnowhere Instagram: @renandknowhere Once again, we couldn't and wouldn't be here without you all. Thanks so much for tuning in! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

We're continuing on to the second part of our Chat Pack segment featuring our guest, Elijah. Recap: Elijah is the artist and mastermind behind The Cardboard Diaries. He creates various 3D artwork out of scrap materials and specializes in video game-inspired weapon replicas that can be put on display or used for cosplay. He'll be back on an episode in the near future for an interview so we can learn more about his craft and experience as an artist. *Elijah's work can be found on Instagram @limited_edition_pipes* You can also follow us on Instagram @renandknowhere and Twitter @KnowhereRen Stay positive, stay safe, and thank you for tuning in! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

We had a great time hanging out with our first guest on the podcast, Elijah, from The Cardboard Diaries. He creates various 3D artwork out of scrap materials and specializes in video game-inspired weapon replicas that can be put on display or used for cosplay. He'll be back on the podcast soon for an interview so we can learn more about his craft and experience as an artist. || On this episode, Elijah joins us with answering questions from the Chat Pack - we discuss modern conveniences, the last time we laughed until we cried, missed photo opportunities, and more. * Elijah's work can be found on Instagram @limited_edition_pipes * You can also follow us on Instagram @renandknowhere and Twitter @KnowhereRen Stay positive, stay safe, and thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Happy Sunday funday guys, hope this gets you ready to go into next week. Today we talked about diversity in the corporate world (or the lack thereof), opinion polls for the American people, foreign policy and last but not least the healthcare system. If you have any comments make sure you give us a follow on Instagram @rendandknowhere Thank you so much for tuning in!!!! Stay safe, stay positive.- R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Hey, what's up y'all? The chat pack took us to the movies this time, in which I (Knowhere) completely bomb my favorite movie title name (Warrior).  If you have any comments or just want to stay in touch, hit us up on Instagram @renandknowhere Thank you so much, you could've been anywhere in the world but you're here with us. -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

My fellow listeners of the r&k nation, in this episode we talked about things we wish we saved from our childhood among other things. Feel free to follow us on Instagram @renandknowhere We really appreciate the support!!!! -r&k --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Hey, guys! Back again for another daily dose of good. Thanks for tuning in with us. The Chat Pack series continues... we talk about how we want to be remembered after we die, what matters most to us in life... and most importantly, how insanely hot it's been lately lol Feel free to follow us on Instagram @renandknowhere. Stay safe, stay positive, and remember you are loved. More episodes to come! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

Hey, it's Knowhere and Ren! This is our first podcast episode where we talk about random things, from fortune cookies to reflecting on the best advice we've ever been given. We're kinda winging it on this one but ya gotta start somewhere, right? Feel free to follow us on Instagram @renandknowhere - we'll be posting updates and collabs with friends. Stay tuned, stay positive, and be safe! -R&K --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randk/support

In this episode of the podcast that has definitely always been called Rick Grimes and His Funky Fresh Appointment Television, Jay and Austin talk about The Walking Dead and its weird decisions, the death of appointment television, what shared culture and traditions might be worth, a world where subcultures rule, youth pastor conversation starters, Cixin Liu, science fiction, and more. There are equal parts goofs and serious discussions in this go-around.

Co-hosts Andrew James (@OneWhoSeesDimly) and Eric D. (@HopSnobbery) once again welcome The Voice of God, Mel Allen (@TheRealVoiceMel) and launch Episode 010 of Riff On, planning to talk solely about podcasts and podcasting...our new on demand lifestyle. Eric D., after going to school and having a radio background, wishes there was more music-based podcasts. However, due to music licensing and copyrighting, it's not as common as talk-based podcasts. Andrew immediately brings up Mike Luoma, who posts year end best of music lists and he had hoped that Mike would play them on his podcast, (Glow In the Dark Radio). Mike is a Vermont radio staple, who recently was let go at The Point FM 104.7, and was once at WIZN 106.7, where Mel now hosts his own show on weeknights called, Highway to Mel. Mike writes books (the Vatican Assassin series) and is now on noontime on Burlington's web-based radio station, WBKM.org. Eric D. put in time at WEZF 92.9 and WWPV after interning for Corm and the Coach at WIZN, a show which Mel produced for over two years. Corm and the Coach were legendary Vermont broadcasters led by Steve Cormier and Tom "The Coach" Brennan, former head coach of the University of Vermont Catamounts men’s basketball team. Eric D. and Mel both worked with Earl "The Duke" Handy (now owner of Handy's Lunch), Ian Kelly, and Bill "The Rocker" Corbiel (RIP). Mel goes into his radio background, which started originally in 1987, on WJSC at Johnson State College. His one taught lesson was "No Dead Air" and despite having some speech difficulties earlier in his life, he went on-air with a friend and when that friend froze on an open microphone, he slid in front of the microphone and jumped right in. 30+ years later, Mel has worked for an oldies station, classic rock radio, top 40, chart hit radio, Album Oriented Rock, Adult Contemporary, and country radio. Every Riff On podcast seems to have a backdrop of great Vermont beer. Burlington Beer Company's Chunky & Jelly gets a shoutout. The boys started with Farnham Ale's Mr. Fox red ale and Foley Brothers Prawpah Ruby was also consumed early on. Andy calls out Eric's radio jargon when he questions what a skimmer tape was after Eric recollects his college radio show 'Sight for Sore Ears', which he co-hosted with his college radio roommate Dennis from Calais, ME. Eric's other college radio experience was four years on WWPV, St. Michael's College Radio, called "Let it Roll", from 1998 to 2002, where he played live, improvisational, groove jam, years ahead of Sirius/XM and their Jam On station. Seemingly, no radio DJ likes to hear his voice, no matter how much or little they talk when they turn on the mic. And ironically, podcasts are all about talking, and Mel and Eric D. and Andy all host or co-host multiple podcasts at times. Mel's history in podcasting goes back before it was even labeled podcasting. He was recording audio and sending them through AOL instant message and other platforms to troops during Desert Storm, which was Aug 2, 1990 – Feb 28, 1991. He then progressed into sports radio accidentally and co-hosted 'Sports Talk with the Chat Pack' in Burlington. His experience there led him to being head-hunted to host a podcast for the Lingerie Football League with his Chat Pack co-host. The Lingerie Football League website had 3 million hits a day during the offseason and 12 million hits a day during the season and when Mel told his co-host that if they even got 5% of those numbers, they could quit their day jobs, the co-host called the Owner of the Lingerie Football League and asked for more money. Three times. The Owner fired his Co-host and offered the podcast to Mel on his own and uncomfortable in hosting three days before the launch, Mel had to pull out and he eventually sold his half of the company to this co-host. Talk then turns to music and podcast delivery and how technology has changed how we get what we listen to - from reel to reel to digital tape to digital recording and now instant delivery. Andy is a big Bill Simmons and The Ringer podcast fan and discusses how Bill wanted to bring podcasting to ESPN when he was still there. He eventually did, but spoke not too nicely about Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, and was shown the door. Andy states that it’s not just the technology, but its having the network in the palm of your hand. Andy's favorite podcasts are 'The Last Podcast on the Left', 'Underwater Sunhine', which is the Counting Crows podcast. All of the guys are Counting Crows fan and Eric D. recollects how he got his promotional copy of 'August and Everything After' in Fall of 1993 and seeing them on David Letterman's Tonight Show for the first time, an episode that Madonna was on very stoned. Podcasts have really raised in popularity since the introduction of iPhones and our constant data connection. NPR has really helped bring podcasting to the mainstream with their recording and posting of their standard shows and making them available as podcasts. NPR's Serial is one podcast that really comes to mind as to what really launched podcasts to the mainstream public, which launched in the Fall of 2014. Eric D. talks about some of the podcasts that he's listened to since he got into listening to them, including the first season of 'Startup', which was about the founding of Gimlet Media. 'Reply All' is a Gimlet Media podcast, and Alex Blumberg, co-host of 'Reply All', trended on Twitter this week with his Podcast Bingo. The squares are a must read if you are a podcast fan. (SHOW NOTES EDIT OF THE PODCAST! @AlexLaughs is actually NOT Alex Blumberg, but is Alex Sujong Laughlin, producer of @transmitterpods) Before Eric D. did launch a podcast, he guested on the Off the Table podcast with Pauly V. where they discussed how to setup and launch a podcast. You can find that on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/AaqREbNw-ds So, Eric D. finally started a podcast a year ago, as he launched the Let's Fix Construction podcast with Cherise Lakeside, his co-founder of LetsFixConstruction.com You can find it at www.LFCpodcast.com Mel had previously launched The GR802 Podcast, but just pivoted to videos on YouTube. He's visiting locations and will be recording video and you can visit it at Andrew James co-hosts The Local Haunt with Carrie Henry, where they host local singers and songwriters on Facebook and Soundcloud. The last beer that the boys enjoyed was Bent Hill Brewery's Gracious Thoughts, a juniper berry chaga imperial black IPA. The podcast was quickly wrapped up because the boys had to pee! Thank you for tuning in and be sure to give us a follow on Twitter or Instagram at @RiffOnPodcast and a like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RiffOnPodcast/

We welcome to the Booth this week the very talented and vibrant Jerre Dye. Recommended by a recent genius guest, Cecelia Wingate, Jerre is a Southerner by birth, having grown up in a small town in Mississippi. He is a playwright, actor, director and opera librettist, now living in Chicago. Fellow Mississippi playwright Beth Henley, whose play Crimes of the Heart earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1981, praises his lyrical voice and distinctly Southern sensibilities, proclaiming him "a vibrant force in the American theater." Jerre's plays Cicada and Distance were both nominated for Joseph Jefferson awards. First off, Frank tells us about seeing our friend Christine McHugh's one-woman play Parents Must Be Dead at the Greenhouse Theatre. By all accounts, the evening was a smashing success, with a full house and great audience response. Congratulations, Christine! We learn that the somewhat odd title refers to a friend of Christine's preference listing on a dating website. A bit maudlin, but at least he's honest. Gary reminds our listeners that they can hear the Booth One crew interviewed on the Rick Kogan After Hours radio program on the WGN website. To listen to Rick's jaw-droppingly generous words about our show, click here. Jerre takes us through his upbringing, his school days in Memphis, and his foray into acting in Hollywood. Big brother John Dye was his mentor, inspiration and role model. Highlights from his LA days include teaching Lily Tomlin how to clog(!?) and appearing as a dancer in the 1993 film of The Beverly Hillbillies with Jim Varney. His mentor at University of Memphis was Gloria Baxter, who was a classmate and friend of Frank Galati's at Northwestern. As film fans, we love a well-written movie review, even if it's a pan. A couple of snippets from the the recent Keanu Reeves/Winona Ryder film reviewed in the NY Times: "'Destination Wedding' is torture."; "Nothing is as ailing as the screenplay." Almost worth going to see it just for the train wreck! Jerre talks about becoming an opera librettist and how that writing style and process differs from, and is similar to, his playwrighting. He first got involved with opera six years ago doing a project in Memphis creating several different stories about the people who worked at a now-shuttered Sears distribution complex. His opera career has advanced from there to the point where he's now at work on a project called Taking Up Serpents with composer Kamala Sankaram to be presented by Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center. The piece runs January 11-13 in Washington. Jerre has many other projects in the works and we're excited to see them come to life. As Jerre says, "Everybody's born with a story. It's like a spell." In our Good Times and Bum Times segment, you'll hear about the first raw-meat vending machine now operational in upstate New York (a dream invention for carnivore Gary), and you'll meet Jessie, the foul-mouthed Macaw who shocked rescuers on a London roof top with a barrage of F-bombs. Jerre and the boys play a little Chat Pack and we learn about Olympic dream events, books they would write, and least-favorite education courses they've taken. As always, this segment reveals some fascinating insight into our guest and hosts. Kiss Of Death: Nabi Tajima, recognized as the World's Oldest Person Born in 1900 in Araki, Japan, Ms. Tajima was the last known person born in the 19th century, and one of the few people who could recall a time before World War I. She had nine children and 160 descendents, including great-great-great grandchildren. Nabi Tajima was 117. Read the full Washington Post article here.    

We welcome the remarkably talented actress and stage director Cecelia Wingate to Booth One this week. Hailing from Memphis, TN, Cecelia is a driving force in the vibrant theater scene there. Gary recalls seeing her breathtaking performance in Chicago in the marvelous new play by Evan Linder Byhalia, Mississippi directed by Tyrone Phillips a couple of seasons ago, a performance for which Cecelia won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Supporting Actress. Here is a photo from the triumphant opening night at Steppenwolf, which we were so lucky to get to be part of. Cecelia recounts her upbringing in the South, from Georgia to Mississippi to Tennessee. Frank and Gary comment on her smooth and sexy southern drawl, an accent that Americans find the most appealing, according to a YouGov Poll. In aquatic news this week, a trio of thieves pulled off a "shark-napping" at a Texas aquarium by disguising the stolen horn shark as a baby and wheeling it out in a stroller. Known as Miss Helen, the relatively harmless 1.5 foot creature was eventually found in a mock-up aquarium in a local garage and returned unharmed to her home tank. The two men and one woman heist-ers are being held on charges of theft in a San Antonio jail. Before her tremendously successful career as a director took off, Cecelia was the founder and one of four lead singers in a band called The Bouffants for 21 years. The "Premier Party Band of the South", the group has played throughout the United States, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Minneapolis. The troupe started out as a girl-group cover band but has since added R&B, Motown and classic Rock & Roll to their repertoire. There's no current plan for a reunion of the original members, but Cecelia won't rule out a comeback should the circumstances arise. We give a shout out to our friend Christine McHugh, who will perform her one-woman show Parents Must Be Dead at the Greenhouse Theater Center, Chicago, on Thursday, August 30. When her parents died within three years of each other she thought she had weathered this milestone life passage as an adult with some measure of ease and grace. Little did she know that the death of parents comes in many forms and with many reverberations. Some of them seismic. In her solo show, Christine explores this landscape that all of us will eventually navigate with raw humor and tender vulnerability. Click here for tickets and information. Cecelia's Porch is a Memphis institution, where creative types and artists gather for informal dialogue, exchange of ideas and just plain fun. Open 365 days a year, it's a come-as-you-are drop-in destination. BYOB and food but be prepared for anything to happen, including singalongs with the neighbors. Gary, Frank, and Betsy are considering a field trip to Memphis to check out this Bloomsbury Group of the South. The boys and Cecelia play a few rounds of Chat Pack, where we learn about the things that make them happiest, and what they'd like to have delivered to their homes each morning. Listeners are reminded that for a donation of $100 or more to the Booth One non-profit in support of fascinating guests and scintillating conversation, legendary journalist and radio host Rick Kogan (Episode 82 guest) will provide an autographed copy of his true-crime book Everybody Pays. Just click the "Donate" button on our website for a quick and easy contribution. Thank you to those of you who have already donated. Your book is on the way!And it's a thriller. Kiss of Death Kathy Kriger - 'Madame Rick' at her Casablanca Cafe During her stint with the American Diplomatic Service, Ms. Kriger found that Rick's Cafe, the cinematic gin joint from the 1942 movie Casablanca, did not actually exist. So she opened her own Rick's Cafe in a converted house in Casablanca's old city, creating "a sanctuary of tolerance," which she felt the cinematic night club represented. Ms. Kriger said that Rick's had been good for her.

The endlessly fascinating Jennifer Engstrom graces us in the Booth today. Jen is a long-time ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theatre (as is our last guest, playwright Brett Neveu). She has appeared in over a dozen productions there and at many other great Chicago theaters (as well as in productions in London and New York). She grew up on a farm outside of Huxley, Iowa and made her way to the big city via the College of DuPage theatre program, where she soon became active in the speech department. And who coached and encouraged her in a career in the performing arts? None other than our own Frank Tourangeau! Frank was a professor and head of the speech department during Jennifer's time there and served as her mentor and teacher. Frank relates how he cast her in the play Whose Life is it Anyway? as the lead made famous on Broadway and the West End by Tom Conti, and revived some years later with Mary Tyler Moore in the starring role. By all accounts, Jen was luminous in the part. BTW, when Gary was working in Emanuel Azenberg's office, he was a stand-in for Tom Conti for several rehearsals on the Broadway production. In addition to her numerous acting roles, Jennifer has had an interesting career as an understudy around Chicago. We discuss her going on as Blanche DuBois at the last minute in a Writers Theatre production of A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by David Cromer. Though she knew the blocking and the lines well, her costumes had not been finished and there was a mad scramble to devise a proper wardrobe track for that performance (which Gary and producer Betsy were privileged to see!). She also stepped in for Amy Morton in the Steppenwolf Theatre production of Taylor Mac's HIR when Ms. Morton turned her ankle on stage prior to the first preview. Jennifer had learned all the lines and after a rushed blocking rehearsal, kept the curtain up for the first preview audience in stellar fashion. To quote the wonderful stage manager, Laura Glenn, "She was a total professional and I was so grateful she was there." Among Jennifer's favorite playwrights are Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee and newcomer Jen Silverman, whose play Witch will get a world premiere production at Writers Theatre in the fall. Two items of show biz interest - The Play That Goes Wrong is closing on Broadway in August. One of the most hilarious shows that Gary and Frank have ever seen, a national tour is scheduled so don't miss this gem of a show if it comes to your town. And the five-and-a-half hour adaptation of Roberto Bolano's mammoth novel 2066 can be seen on streaming video soon. In an unusual arrangement, a filmed version of the Goodman Theatre's production will be available free, unlimited streaming for at least two years. Frank was a big fan of this production. You may have to watch in installments given it's extraordinary length, but you're unlikely to see another production of it anywhere any time soon. Jennifer has created and performs a one-woman show called Excuse My Dust, A Dorothy Parker Portfolio, in which she embodies the writer and humorist in an evening of theatrical monologues from Parker's writings. Dorothy Parker was an original member of the Algonquin Round Table and a unique coiner of the cutting remark. Gary and Betsy are going to the Red Orchid spring fundraiser at which Jennifer is performing selections from Excuse My Dust. More to report on our next episode. We play a little Chat Pack with Jennifer and find that she would like to be a rock star for a month, a la Beyonce. And people often ask her how she learns all those lines! Kiss of Death: Anne V. Coates, Admired Editor of Acclaimed Movies One of the most celebrated film editors of her era, Ms. Coates won an Oscar for her work on Lawrence of Arabia directed by David Lean and starring Peter O'Toole. The film editor's craft is often called "the invisible art," but is one of the most vital ingredients in the alchemy of filmmaking.

Aerialist, circus performer and actor Javen Ulambayar visits Booth One this week with Gary and Frank, as we celebrate our 3rd Anniversary on the air! Javen is a native of Mongolia and emigrated to the United States when he was 17 with his parents. His mother is world-famous contortionist Oyunchimeg "Oyuna" Yadamjav, one of Mongolia's most decorated contortionists, winner of the Silver Clown Award at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo. Javen became interested in the circus arts only after moving to the US, where he first studied at the famous Circus Juventas school in St. Paul, MN. After receiving a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, Javen continued his training and has been hooked on circus performance ever since. Now a resident of Skokie, IL and a faculty member at the famed Actors Gymnasium in Evanston, Javen's specialties are the Straps and the Chinese Pole. He put both these skills to remarkable use while performing in the Lookingglass Theatre's production of Moby Dick. Javen was integral to incorporating circus arts into the production, working with Moby Dick's choreographer Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi and Lookingglass director, David Catlin. Sylvia and David have both been featured guests on Booth One. Gary and Frank discuss the new Antoinette Nwandu play Breach, which they just saw at Victory Gardens Theatre. Nwandu describes the play as "a love letter to black women." From the author of the recent Steppenwolf play Pass Over, Nwandu's Breach is a funny, moving and revealing look at the life of a young black woman as she navigates the ups and downs of relationships and life. With marvelous and memorable characters, she takes us along as Margaret "recovers from self-hate" (from the sub-title). Beautifully staged by director Lisa Portes, Breach cements Nwandu's reputation as one of America's best emerging playwrights. She recently won the 2017-2018 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. This production runs through March 11 and is highly recommended. Listen to a great interview with Antoinette and Pass Over Director Danya Taymor on episode 59 of Booth One. Honorable mention goes to the August Wilson Monologue Competition, held at The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. The regional competition is open to all students from Chicago Area High Schools. Producer Betsy Ingram reports that all 21 competitors were stellar! The number one and two finishers will be competing in the National Finals held at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway on May 7 and are open to the public. Best of luck to these two wonderful performers who will represent Chicago. Friend of the show and previous guest Robert Cornelius coached Chisom Chima, who finished second and he is ecstatic for her. We break out the Chat Pack for a couple of rounds of probing questions. Kiss of Death: Rick McKay, Who Documented Memories of Broadway. Mr. McKay recorded hundreds of hours of interviews with dozens of actors about their recollections of New York theater, turning them into the 2004 documentary "Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There". Click here to see the remarkable list of people he interviewed. McKay was a convivial, sympathetic interviewer, getting stars like Bea Arthur, Shirley MacLaine, Carol Burnett and Angela Lansbury to open up about their lives, always making it about them and their stories. Rick McKay was 62.    

It was thrilling to welcome to the Booth two of the stars and the Assistant Director of Writers Theatre's world premiere production of Trevor the Musical. Eli Tokash, who plays Trevor, is magnificent on stage and off. He just lights up the room. He has met his match with co-star, Tori Whaples, who is terrific as Cathy in the show. And what can we say about Tyrone Phillips, who is doing amazing and exciting work in every aspect of his career. Trevor began as a monologue written and performed by James Lecesne for his Drama Desk award-winning one man show Word of Mouth, directed by Eve Ensler and produced by Mike Nichols and Elaine May. He then adapted it into a screenplay for a short film directed by Peggy Rajski that won an an Oscar! Watch the film on YouTube here. This story, set in 1981, is about Trevor, an exuberant middle school kid who is wild for Diana Ross. He has a great "cool" friend, Pinky Faraday (Declan Desmond), who likes him a lot. When one of Pinky's friends insinuates Trevor may be gay, he tries to prove he's not by making out with Cathy, who has a huge crush on him. However, when Trevor's adoration for Pinky (documented in a notebook) is revealed to classmates by his best friend, Trevor gets bullied and shamed at school. Trevor's emerging sexuality is confusing for him and he is getting no support. This kid who is so full of light winds up attempting suicide. When James and the film's producers realized that a resource for kids dealing with the issues Trevor raises didn't exist, they started the Trevor Project, a life saving non-profit organization. The goals of the project are "to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13–24, as well as to offer guidance and resources to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting and inclusive environments for all youth, at home and at school." Since it's inception in 1998, The Trevor Project has helped hundreds of thousands of kids. This world premiere musical is produced by Writers Theatre by special arrangement with U Rock Theatricals, a group of young producers making new shows aimed for Broadway. Director Marc Bruni has done a wonderful job of leading this tremendous ensemble and creating a vibrant and important piece that is full of so much heart. We are so lucky to have seen it here first and to have had a chance to talk with these three superstars. They give us an inside look at the process of creating a new musical. The immensely talented writing team of Julianne Wick Davis and Dan Collins were in the room for rehearsals. New pages every day, all different colors. Eli says their notebooks became a rainbow, "Pride scripts!" The Major Production Sponsor for this show is Booth One's friend and Creative Consultant, Mary Pat Studdert. Here's to Mary Pat for doing so much to make it happen. Eli, Tori and Tyrone tell us about director Marc Bruni's exciting and collaborative style. Tyrone talks about how professional this cast of young performers has been, calling them "the best in the business!"He says there was so much play in the room and it was all about them finding their voices. He goes on to say that this piece is about "anyone who has felt awkward, embarrassed or excluded. It's about being different, an outsider." We can all relate to that. Finally, learn some sort of random and fun things about our guests by listening to them answer a few Chat Pack questions.

U mad? Yeah, u mad. Look, get a hold of yourself, and consider these conundrums. If a driverless car has a driver, but the driver is dressed as a car seat, is Tom Cruise a passenger? If your DNA gets hacked by teens, which memes will you use to plug the holes? And what passive-aggressive slogan should you print on the jigsaw puzzle you give to your pharmacist? Get hype for this episode of "You May Be Retired, But You'll Always Be a Dentist." Discussed: man dressed as car seat, dressing for the job you want to have, staying incognito in a world of driverless cars, The Raid 2 car chase behind the scenes, injecting DNA with malware, precious meme blood cyberpunk future, hoisting via internet service convenience, procedurally generated Zazzle phrase clothing, waging a passive aggressive campaign using procedurally generated Zazzle phrase clothing, your dream app, gross millennial cuspers, coffee cupping, cupping, cuppers, consolidating your confusing online media library, boiling like a frog in a pot of apps, Silicon Valley billionaire teen blood drinkers, Thiel-hacking teens, heaven, living forever online, turning into dirt, get hype Send us your questions at questions@importantiftrue.com. If you enjoyed this and would like to subscribe to an ad-free feed, please consider supporting Idle Thumbs by backing our Patreon. Nick's Endorsement: Chat Pack conversation starter cards Chris' Endorsement: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Amazon, iTunes, Hulu) Jake's Endorsement: Funemployed party card game Sponsored By: Quip electric toothbrushes, Warby Parker eyeglasses home try-on

Booth One welcomes back co-host Paul Stroili, and special guest Kevin Theis, actor, writer, director and audio book narrator, for some wild and wacky conversation. Kevin recently directed The My Way Residential, a world premiere play by Geraldine Aaron for the Irish Theatre of Chicago, running though June 25, 2017 at the Den Theatre. Can't wait to see it! In our ongoing fascination with shark stories, we discovered this: When porn star Molly Cavalli dropped down under water into a shark cage wearing a "white hot swimsuit," her presence apparently enticed a 10-foot lemon shark. The next thing you know she's screaming as she clutches her bloody foot. Check out the video. Further evidence to never get out of the boat! Kevin describes his audio narrating career reading some of the world's great books, like Jack London's Call of the Wild, the Autobiography of Charles Darwin, Sun Tzu's The Art of War, and of course the classic, Bigfoot and Frankenstein! Kevin records for Audible, and has newly formed his own audio book company, Fort Raphael Publishing Company. Booth One gets health conscious by reporting on gluteal amnesia, commonly known as Sleeping Butt Syndrome. Sitting all day can lead to a flat butt because muscles are disengaged for so long they forget how to wake up. The cures? Walk around for 30 seconds every half hour. Get a standing desk like most Scandinavians have (of course). Use a foam roller. Vary your workouts to include donkey kicks, squats and planks. Testing for sleeping butt syndrome is easy - squeeze each butt cheek to see if it engages. Keep moving and stay healthy! The world's oldest person has died....again! Emma Morano, 117, the last person known to have been born in the 1800s. Born in Piedmont, Italy in 1899, Morano credited her longevity to ending her abusive marriage in 1938 and a diet of raw eggs and cookies. She held the Guinness World Record titles for oldest living person and oldest living woman. Stay tuned for more updates on the world's oldest living humans. Paul Stroili's first feature film begins shooting in Long Beach in June. We are excited for him and will keep you posted! Gary, Paul and Kevin take a crack at 36 Questions Designed to Help You Fall in Love with Anyone. Asking thirty-six specific questions plus four minutes of sustained eye contact is purportedly a recipe for falling in love, or at least creating intimacy among complete strangers. After sampling select questions, the guys feel increased familiarity and trust, though 4 minutes of silent eye contact is bad for the podcast medium. Try this technique the next time you're out on a date or to create sparks between you and your companion. Or just as a parlor game! It's a marvelous alternative to Chat Pack. Kiss of Death: Lawrence Anthony, who grew up in the bush and was known as the "Elephant Whisperer." Following his death on March 2, directed by no one, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made a 12-hour journey to the home of Mr. Anthony in a stirring procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man's home. Known for his unique ability to calm traumatized elephants, Anthony had become a legend for rescuing and rehabilitating "rogue" elephants. You can buy The Elephant Whisperer book through Amazon.            

Gary and Roscoe are pleased and excited to welcome cabaret artist Beckie Menzie to Booth One this week. Beckie is an award-winning performer, teacher, song writer, musical director and vocal coach, a staple of the Windy City music scene, and nationally recognized as one of the country's finest cabaret entertainers. Along with her musical partner Tom Michael, they have been called, "Sizzling...immensely appealing...one of the most compelling duos in cabaret today!" Beckie is from Pierceton, IN, but a Chicago girl through and through. She learned piano at an early age and fell in love with music and the performing arts while hanging around the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, IN. She has performed at some of the nation's top clubs, theaters, concert halls, outdoor venues, and cabaret rooms. She most recently appeared at Carnegie Hall and the Auditorium Theatre. We play a few song excerpts throughout the podcast to give you a taste of her talent, style and singular musical gifts. Beckie and the boys chat about cabaret performers Michael Feinstein, Barbara Cook, Karen Mason, Sally Mayes, Julie Wilson, Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, Marilyn Maye and Barbra Streisand. (Just to drop a few names!) We discuss Laura Benanti's latest show at the Cafe Carlyle in New York and the stellar reviews she received. Gary gives a shout out to the Therapy Players, Chicago's premier all-psychotherapist comedy improvisation troupe! Seems they're holding auditions looking for a few new recruits. If you or someone you love is mental health professional, check them out at www.therapyplayers.com. In addition to performing steadily with Tom, Beckie is also a vocal coach and teacher, has recently become engaged, and sings with Laura Freeman & Marianne Murphy Orland in a group called Girls Like Us. They'll be performing their new show Barbra, Bette and Bernadette at Chicago's famed Davenport's nightclub on November 19 & 20. Go here for more info and tickets. Beckie's various musical ventures are part of her BeMe Music empire. If you like The Golden Girls like we do, you'll LOVE the new action figures from Funko. Retirees Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia are posable vinyl figures 3.75 inches tall and ready for action! The four-figure set costs $25 and is only available from participating Target stores and New York Comic Con. Run, don't walk, to your nearest Target for holiday shopping magic. There's nothing like a country and western song title to bring a smile - and an occasional grimace - to your face. Gary cycles through the Best of the Worst Country-Western Song Titles of all time. Here's one - She Got the Gold Mine and I Got the Shaft. Beckie tells us about the country song she once wrote and one that she intends to. Roscoe inquires whether anyone can be taught how to sing, in an apparent attempt to jump start a cabaret career of his own. Beckie responds as only a true vocal/performance coach can. Don't worry, folks. Roscoe and I are probably not leaving the Booth One podcast for vocalist fame and fortune anytime soon! Chat Pack, anyone? We play a few rounds of our favorite conversational party game with Beckie. Kiss of Death: Jean Shepard, Female Country Voice with Muscle and Ambition. A mainstay of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 60 years, Ms. Shepard blazed the Country Music trail for other female singers like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette. She brought a freewheeling, cheeky style to the eternal themes of heartache, cheating and marital discord, planting the flag for independent women. In the early 1950's, Ms. Shepard had hits with "The Root of All Evil (Is a Man)", "Many Happy Hangovers to You" and "Twice the Lovin' (in Half the Time)". She was small but her voice was powerful, pure and penetrating. She was also an expert yodeler. Ms. Shepard was an ardent champion of traditional country music throughout her lifetime. She was 82. Read Obit.            

Gary and Roscoe greet Autumn in Chicago with anticipation and merriment. While discussing pie fights and pet peeves, Roscoe admits to being officially notified by the Library of Congress about misrepresenting the number of screenings of the newly restored and fully assembled 1927 Laurel and Hardy film The Battle of the Century. Seems he saw the third American screening at Cinecon, not the first. A minor quibble, but worthy of correction. Gary's latest Sourpuss Smithers peeve concerns the use of the helper word "like". As in "Like he heard this woman on like the train using the word 'like' like as every third or fourth like word and couldn't like believe that a seemingly well-educated and like professional person would be caught like dead in a loud conversation in like public with such a debilitating like speech pattern. Like." We know this is not a new problem, but seriously? The sharks are back in town in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with three attacks on surfers in one day! NSB is apparently known as the "shark attack capital of the world." Read more here to learn why. And keep your hands and feet inside the boat at all times. We preview the new season on Broadway with a nod toward those shows closing (Something Rotten, The Humans, An American in Paris, Matilda, Fiddler on the Roof), and a look ahead to upcoming openings. Of particular interest is the revival (again!) of The Glass Menagerie, this time featuring Sally Field. Roscoe is flush with excitement over this and predicts a Tony Award for the former Flying Nun. We like her! We really like her!! Even more exciting is the opening of Hello, Dolly! starring the great one herself, Bette Midler. And featuring David Hyde Pierce as Horace Vandergelder. The first revival in 22 years, this show broke the first day Broadway record for ticket sales, ringing in at $9,082,497! Word on the street has it that Carol Channing, 95, will be in attendance on Opening Night. Oh, to be in the audience that night... Roscoe gives us his thumbnail review of Wonderful Town, now playing at the Goodman Theatre, directed by the great Mary Zimmerman. "It's bright, colorful...with one show stopper after another after another", says Roscoe. 4 Stars out of 4.  Bri Sudia gives what Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune calls a brilliant, career-making performance. High praise indeed. You heard it here first on Booth One, folks - The People vs OJ Simpson was going to be BIG! A huge winner at this year's Emmy Awards., including Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark and Courtney B. Vance as Johnny Cochran. Also, close friend Jay Martel appeared on stage as Executive Producer when Key and Peele won for Outstanding Variety Sketch Show. Nice photo in the NYTimes the next day, Jay! Way to go. Can't wait to have you on the program. See all the Emmy noms and winners here. Something that we hope will become a recurring segment is Roscoe reading entries from his grandfather Roscoe's scrapbook of letters and reminiscences. Touching, human and revealing, we think you'll find this will become a popular Booth One entry. Gary and Roscoe pay tribute to one of the great influential voices of the American theater, Edward Albee, who passed away this September. The Zoo Story, A Delicate Balance and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf rank among his many masterpieces. Did you know that he came up with the title for Woolf after seeing it randomly scrawled in soap on a mirror in a downstairs bar in Greenwich Village? The film version starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remains as one of the most indelible cinema experiences of our lifetimes. Read Bruce Weber's full obituary. At our listener's request, Gary & Roscoe play a little Chat Pack. Learn what our hosts think about Stevie Nicks, Barbra Streisand, Dreamgirls, Ramon Novarro and Leni Riefenstahl! Kiss of Death: Charmian Carr, Played Liesl in The Sound of Music. Only 21 at the time, Ms. Carr is perhaps best remembered for singing "Sixteen Going on Sev...

In this episode, we play a couple games! We do a Chat Pack question, a Family Dinner question, and a couple questions from the book 4,000 Questions for Getting To Know Anyone and Everyone by Barbara Kipfer. We are extremely loopy and tired and delirious which makes this episode a kinda special!

This is Booth One's second Easter holiday for Gary and Roscoe, having just passed the first anniversary of our podcast. Ross reprises his hilarious story of appearing as a young child in a photo in the Niles Daily Sun  (Michigan) searching for an Easter Egg in the bushes with his "hind-end" in focus. We appeal to our Booth One podcast nation for a copy of this priceless photo. Happy hunting! And when in Chicago, don't forget to visit The Fudge Pot chocolate store in Old Town to satisfy your sweet tooth! visit their site Gary talks about his beloved mother Dolores's favorite Polish Easter traditions, gathering around pierogi, kielbasa and lamb cake -- the art of lively conversation flourishing. Our Waspy producer had to get used to the volume. For Poles, Easter is the holiest day of the year. Read more about the food here. Update on the presidential race: As the GOP may soon meet it's death in the general election, Gary suggests the GOP symbol elephant might go to the amazing Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. This 2700 acre retirement home is filled with features of their natural habitats and is closed to the public. How cool is that? For educational and observational purposes, there are 14 solar-powered "elecams". We love everything about this. Check out the details here!Speaking of lame elephants, Donald Trump. Here's something: One of Trump's first business ventures out of college was backing a Broadway show called Paris is Out by Richard Seff in 1970. The show ran for 96 performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Would that his campaign closes as quickly. Details in this great NYT story. LEARN MORE about Gary Z and Roscoe when they play Chat Pack, our favorite game. We aspire to write our own Chat Pack for the show. If you have ideas for questions, please send them in. This week the Broadway chat boards were alive with controversy and invective as actress Patti Murin rebutted some snarky comments that cropped up on BroadwayWorld.com. web site Not only did they vilify the musical Nerds! she was working on that just got shut down in rehearsals for lack of funding, but some comments go right after the talent of the actors. Her responses are witty and priceless and should lead to more oversight of these chat boards in the future. read more Find out how Roscoe learned his lesson in writing on the chat boards in his story about actress Irene Dailey. read bio Looking for that perfectly "little" cute place in the Village or Little Italy? Well, look no further than Mr. Donahue's, a 9-seat restaurant serving hearty meals in a tiny space. go to website No reservations, first come only. Better bring a book. And an umbrella. And find out more about Columbia University student Jonah Reider who opened a restaurant in his dorm room to raise a little extra cash. He's gotten more than he bargained for! read more here Gary and Roscoe recount their Booth One experience attending Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's new production of Othello. As new press list members, we received the royal treatment. Gary recalls seeing the play on Broadway with James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer.  Talk about star power! Kiss of Death Martha Wright, Broadway Actress, who took over for Mary Martin in two iconic roles of the American Musical Theatre - Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music. Though never a star like Martin, Ms. Wright by all accounts acquitted herself brilliantly in her portrayals. She performed Forbush more than 1,000 times on Broadway, closing the show in January 1954. Ms. Wright was 92. read full obit        

Listeners, your faithful hosts are basically mindless zombies at the moment. Between the still present heartbreak from 'The 100' being fresh in our minds to Shannon's slow decline into madness from binge watching over 70 episodes of Big Brother Canada, we are A COLLECTIVE MESS. Without any brain power this week, we did what we do best - chat aimlessly and ask each other conversation starter questions. You'll hear Becca take a surprisingly militant stance on multitasking and Shannon harp on about how technology inevitably dates every TV show. And, to further prove we were not in our right minds, we even forgot recommendations this week. Yeesh!

Gary and Roscoe have Spring Fever, and it isn't even Spring! Full Lyrics They're frisky and spinning daydreams as we begin our second year of Booth One podcasts with two special guests this week. Firstly, on a sad note, erstwhile BFF of Gary's, Carly Fiorina (formerly Carlton S.), has laid her primary campaign to rest. After getting around 4 votes in New Hampshire, it was time to give up the ghost. Fortunately, someone found the perfect burial vault for her campaign .....an old HP copier!Now on to the heart of our episode - we welcome David Catlin Full profile, co-founder of the Lookingglass Theatre Info and Tickets in Chicago; and welcome back Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi read bio, whose interview on Episode 12 is a listener favorite! Sylvia is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Actors Gymnasium get more info here in Evanston, IL, a marvelous training center for circus and theatrical arts, and has had an amazing career as a world-class circus performer. David and Sylvia are appearing together in a new show at the Actors Gymnasium called Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Story Info and Tickets, written and directed by Chris Mathews of The House Theatre of Chicago read more. Marnie & Phil tells the story of a young aerialist and an aspiring clown as they seek to make their mark in the big time circus world. Their love-lorn tale unfolds through thrilling circus acts, clown routines, acrobatics, gorgeous music and moving dialogue. With a deft touch, writer/director Mathews reveals all the splendor, humor, pathos and sacrifice that being a successful circus performer entails, while subtly illuminating important aspects of the human condition. This show has Heart with a capital H! David and Sylvia tell how they met in 1993 and the various projects they have collaborated on through the years. We learn about their inspirations, the sources of their passion for performing, and how Marnie & Phil reflects their individual lives. Roscoe talks about his fascination with the Silks routines and wonders if one is ever too old to learn... We discuss a sequence in the show where 20 young performers encircle the stage on Unicycles and why the audience finds the sequence so emotionally moving. Sylvia and David tell us about how they have borrowed from the great performers, teachers and instructors over the years to create their own unique aesthetic and techniques. Roscoe proposes that one can't learn to be funny by watching Shecky Greene on TV! See Shecky on YouTube Huge congratulations are in order for Lookingglass Theatre, who this week received a monetary award of $1,000,000 from the MacArthur Foundation, one of 14 Chicago area theatres to be so honored by the "2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions". Full story David and Sylvia have contributed so much to Lookingglass and MacArthur's gift will enable this remarkable ensemble theatre to keep taking great theatrical risks! Sylvia discusses her family history getting into the world of  circus performance, and reminisces about her life in the Ringling Brothers traveling circus. Go here if you'd like to see Sylvia and the Hernandez Troupe in action from the nineties!   We talk about superstitions that circus performers have - no peacock feathers ever!; Never wear yellow on stage; A bird in the tent is bad luck; Never cut a loose thread with scissors - always tear it off. David and Sylvia reveal their pre-show ritual of wishing for a "Good, Fast, Safe Show - Rock the House" with each member of the cast. Too bad we can't show you the hand slapping routine that goes with it. It's quite the dazzling feat. As we do with most guests, Gary breaks out the Chat Pack get more info here and David and Sylvia are game to play along. Find out who their favorite teacher/best boss was, hear them describe encounters with wild animals+, and what was the most dangerous thing they've ever done. Roscoe relates anecdotes about Marina Oswald Porter and f...

Gary and Roscoe welcome Chicago Shakepeare Theatre's Creative Producer Rick Boynton to the show! First a recap of those Republican candidates who have dropped from the race in the wake of the Iowa caucuses - Huckabee, Santorum and Paul. Gary's "girlfriend" Carly Fiorina has nary a pulse and the smart money is on her taking a dive after New Hampshire. We'll know by the time this episode airs. Rick Boynton read full bio is currently Creative Producer at the world-famous Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier in Chicago Learn More. Which means he oversees all the amazing art that appears on stage there. Rick began his career as a performer after graduating from Northwestern University. He has also worked as an agent, a casting director (at Jane Alderman  & Chicago Shakes) and as the Artistic Director at Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre. Rick talks about his years as an actor in such shows as 1776 and Shear Madness. And about his time at Marriott Lincolnshire and the incredible creative minds and spirits he encountered during those years, including a vivid and thrilling description of their production of Miss Saigon on a budget. As well as their staging of new musicals, including Honk! We discuss at length the original musical Sense and Sensibility by Paul Gordon read about the show, which CST mounted on their main stage, and how that project first got started and then came to fruition in a gorgeously produced production. It's a unique inside look at how a theatrical idea is born, nurtured and finally blossoms into a full blown work of art. Another CST project is the recently lauded production of Ride the Cyclone read more, an off-beat, quirky and altogether insightful musical about a group of young choir singers who meet an untimely demise when a roller coaster jumps the track. The kids are left in a kind of purgatory, where a mysterious mechanical wizard promises one of them the opportunity to return to life by telling their story - but they all get to vote. This musical should see plenty of afterlife in New York and regionally. Rick gives us a glimpse into what's in store in terms of new works at CST for the coming season.  Gravedigger's Hamlet read about the show by Michael Mahler, Alan Schmuckler and Laura Schellhardt is scheduled for the fall of 2016 in conjunction with the Shakespeare 400 Chicago Festival about the festival. Shakespeare 400 Chicago is a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare. It involves theatres, museums, music, dance, opera, exhibits, lectures, film, and radio. They'll even be restaurant chefs, creating menus reflective of the themes of a Shakespeare play or sonnet, curated by Rick working with friend of Booth One Alpana Singh read bio. Don't miss some of these amazing events happening around the city all year long! Roscoe and Rick discuss the brilliant production of Follies which played at CST in 2011, and Rick relates a moving anecdote of Stephen Sondheim's visit to see the show. Truly a Booth One Experience! Gary asks Rick about his favorite places in all the world as he travels the globe in search of new and exciting theatrical works. His answers may surprise you. Rick gamely plays a little Chat Pack with Gary and Roscoe, and the conversation quickly leads to their mutual excitement over the news that Bette Midler will star in a 2017 production of Hello, Dolly! on Broadway see more at Playbill.com. Gary's never seen Roscoe so excited! Kiss of Death Lois Weisberg was an influential and energetic champion of the Chicago arts/cultural/entertainment scene. As head of the Department of Cultural Affairs, for the City, Lois was responsible for creating some of the most well-known and long-lasting events in Chicago. A few of her accomplishments: championing the World Music Festival and SummerDance programs; starting Chicago Blues Festival, the largest blues festival in the world; pushing forward C...

Booth One comes to you Live! from Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.  Read all about this Tony Award-winning Chicago theatre company and its wonderful ensemble and staff here. We invited actress Melanie Neilan, currently appearing in the hit Bruce Norris play Domesticated, to join us for the podcast. See a montage of images from the show or click here to read more about Domesticated's great cast and crew. Melanie has immense talent and gifts - fluent in seven languages, a purple belt in karate, an accomplished ballerina, singer, pianist, stage and film performer - all at the tender age of 19! And she is a lot of fun! Check out her bio here: Melanie Neilan Melanie shares stories of her stage and film acting career, and Gary and Roscoe engage her in some Booth One highjinx. Is it possible to "catch" another person's phobia? That's Melanie's challenge as Gary recounts the discovery of a new shark species that glows in the dark!  read more. Great, now the sharks have learned to be stealthier!         We ask Melanie about her favorite scenes, her favorite actors and who she gets inspired by. Co-stars Mary Beth Fisher and Tom Irwin occupy top places in that hierarchy. Click on these photos to read their bios.   Looking to add new apps to your phone for 2016? The New Yorker magazine has some hilarious suggestions. Read full article. Gary, Roscoe and Melanie are anxious to download a few - if they can find them. Melanie is currently starring in two movies making the festival circuit - Henry Gamble's Birthday Party, written and directed by Stephen Cone go to website and the short film My First Love, written and directed by Mylissa Fitzsimmons go to imbd. Here's hoping that these are just the first of many film projects that come her way! Gary gives a profile of the famous Fairy Castle and the restoration and reconstruction recently completed by the Museum of Science and Industry see video in nearby Hyde Park. Silent film star Colleen Moore spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on it's construction and it remains a permanent public fixture at the MSI read about Colleen Moore. Melanie tells us that her great grandmother bore a striking resemblance to the iconic star with the bobbed haircut. Gary, Melanie and Roscoe send a heart-felt get well soon to often-mentioned Chita Rivera, who sustained an injury over the holidays, resulting in the rescheduling of shows at the Cafe Carlyle in New York from January to April. Take delight in Melanie's spontaneous rendition of the Kander & Ebb song, Why Don't They Mention The Pain, written for Chita especially. Watch Chita perform it here. Gary tells our listeners to remember to watch the Mike Nichols profile special on PBS on Friday, January 29, 2016, directed by Elaine May . Gary worked with Mr. Nichols on several occasions, and this should be an excellent premiere of the American Masters series. Check your local listings for time and channel. As in the past, we play a little Chat Pack with our guest Melanie Neilan and discuss hats, food and running barefoot through the park. Kiss of Death: Alden Amos, Whose Spinning Wheels Gave the Craft a Brighter Fate, Dies at 77.  Margalit Fox pens a beautiful and touching eulogy to the man who kept the art of hand-made spinning wheels alive in America. Frequent listeners of Booth One know that Margalit is herself a spinner of yarn, so this story has a wonderfully personal quality to it read Margalit Fox's full obituary here.    Hear Margalit Fox's marvelous interview in Episode 18.

Gary and Roscoe are joined once again by old friend George from Midlothian as we discuss a wide range of topics on this, our 20th Episode! Thank you loyal listeners and fans for getting us this far. We plan to be around for many more. Gary gets Roscoe's and George's take on the three-ring circus clown car that is the GOP Presidential Debate scene. Get a Republican POV Gary's Keys to the Carly this week is that she looked more "human" than in the last debate. Not saying much considering her dismal 7% poll rating among GOP debate viewers.  Read a fascinating account of Presidential debates throughout history written by dear friend of the show, Newt Minow here. The boys talk about the shocking and unbelievable developments in the case of Fox Lake police officer Joe Gliniewicz... ...and this week's revelations that has the entire community stunned and feeling betrayed. Full story Need some help with your turkey? The friendly folks at Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line will give you advice and assistance with your poultry predicaments. We'll read you a few of the choicer calls they've received over the years. Contact Butterball Are you a big tipper? Do you believe in rewarding good service in a restaurant? We'll discuss the movement afoot in the restaurant industry to abolish tipping and increase the price of a meal in order to more equitably compensate staff other than servers. Are you for or against? Read more. And check this out. Gary issues a warning to new-dog owner George about a disturbing statistic - at least 10 Americans have been shot by dogs since 2004. Read about Trigger shooting her companion in the foot! What? What? Don't Tell Me! We examine the increasing prevalence of earpieces on Broadway feeding lines to aging stars - from Cicely Tyson to Al Pacino to Bruce Willis. NY Post Story It's become part of the illusion of theatre that actors now look like the know their lines! More Misery The musical The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle - will receive a world-premiere production at Chicago's Mercury Theatre in January 2016. From the creators of The Christmas Schooner. Not to be missed!  Info and Tickets Long-time Artistic Director of The Goodman Theatre Mr. Robert Falls is inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame! A much deserved honor.Falls is joined by luminous 2015 inductees Tony Kushner, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flarerty, Julie Taymor, Stacy Keach and the late Roger Rees. The induction ceremony was held on Nov. 16 at the Gershwin Theatre in NYC.  Congratulations to one of the giants of Chicago theatre!  read more Speaking of The Goodman, just announced new show War Paint starring Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole, from the team that brought us Grey Gardens. Set in the 1930's, War Paint tells the story of the cosmetics industry rivals Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, who famously despised each other, and their attempts to rise in the male-dominated business of female beautification. Can't wait to see the sparks fly with these two on stage!  Go to Goodman Site How about the acclaim for recently-opened Arthur Miller play A View from the Bridge on Broadway?  Roscoe was there and describes the audience reaction.  He calls it one of the best things he's ever seen. Ever. And Roscoe has seen a lot!  Ben Brantley agrees. Gary, George and Roscoe play a little Chat Pack and discuss their favorite films, including Now, Voyager, North by Northwest, and Lawrence of Arabia.  Lo and behold, Gary and George share a love of The Great Race.  George opines on the timeless appeal of Natalie Wood. read more     Kiss of Death Richard Horowitz, Timpanist and Craftsman of Conductors' Batons - For nearly 50 years, Mr. Horowitz was a baton maker to the stars - Levin, Bohm, Bernstein - "he provided them all with the lightest, most perfectly balanced batons possible. From 10 inches (Julius Rudel) to a massive 17 inches (Leonard Bernstein),

Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling  sits down with Gary to discuss a broad range of topics.  With Roscoe at Cinecon, Gary flies solo in this one-on-one interview session. Learn more about Kurt in this bio from a recent concert and at KurtElling.com Gary gives a little background on his friendship with Kurt. One highlight was when Kurt sang the first dance at Gary and Betsy's wedding reception almost 10 years ago. Gary requested the classic 1952 song, That's All,  written  by Allen Brandt & Bob Haymes. First sung by Nat King Cole in 1957, it has been covered by an amazing group of artists such as Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Judy Garland. See list. Here is Kurt singing with his then 3-week old daughter Luiza, accompanied by the magnificent Becky Menzie. (Beckie and Tom Michael also sang many favorites at our very musical reception.) Thanks to our friend and audio engineer extraordinaire, John, we are lucky enough to have a recording from that day. Gary asked Kurt if we could share it on the show and he generously agreed. So look for his gorgeous rendition of That's All at the end of the episode! Not to be missed. Kurt talks about his newest CD release Passion World, the inspirations behind the creation of the album and the sources of his song selections. Kurt's aim is to share some of the world's greatest sounds and greatest songs. He also wanted to involve musician friends who inspire him from all over the world, such as French accordionist, Richard Galliano. He talks about the unusual way this CD was recorded in various venues. Gary says this is his all-time favorite Kurt Elling CD.  Learn More about Passion World Kurt talks about his most favorite world destinations. He says that one of them, Holland "is a jazz country." He says he's considered to be very amusing by the Dutch. We think he's pretty funny too.  Check out the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland Kurt discusses his early training in theology and the role spirituality plays in his work. He gives us some fascinating background on the nature and history of Jazz, explaining how it is actually composition in real time. Read more about jazz here. He talks about scatting and the way improvisation works in Jazz.  Ella Fitgerald & Mel Torme scatting at the Grammy Awards. We ask Kurt about his most memorable theatrical experiences, including a recent encounter with Broadway's Something Rotten, starring friend of the show, Brian D'Arcy James read more.  Kurt reveals that he is at work on a theatre piece based on the life of legendary crooner - and later comedian - Joe E. Lewis read more, who was a fixture at Kurt's long-time home club, the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge Wiki Link. This is a project we can't wait to see come to fruition! We will keep you posted on its progress. We play a little Chat Pack and learn more about the man behind the music. Gary invites Kurt to move back home to Chicago soon. They talk about his magnificent concert with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra on August 12. He played to a capacity crowd in Millennium Park on a a perfect Chicago summer night. Gary tells us about another of his favorite restaurants, The Gage, and our upcoming drawing for a $100 Gift Card. Sign up for our AList@booth-one.com for your chance to win. The drawing will be held on October 15 with the winner announced on our website. Kiss of Death: Frances Kroll Ring - Secretary to F. Scott Fitzgerald during his final years while writing The Last Tycoon.  Read the full obit from the L.A. Times    

Roscoe talks about his impending annual trip to the Cinecon Film Festival. Very exciting. We introduce a new segment called Keys to the Car-ly highlighting the "questionably brilliant" things Carly Fiorina, GOP Prez candidate, has to say about leadership, women and world affairs.  Warning:  this could be frightening to young children and rational adults! The winner of the Gift Card to restaurant Acanto is friend of the show.................................Dan Michel!  Congratulations, Dan, and enjoy your meal!  Acanto Home Roscoe and Gary recount their experience at the recent Kurt Elling concert with the Grant Park Orchestra and Gary announces that Kurt will be our special guest on the next podcast!  It should be a cool one!  Kurt Elling's website Roscoe expounds on his upcoming trip to L.A. for the annual Cinecon Film Festival. Highlights include restored silent pictures, recently found footage, stars Lee Tracy filmography, Jack Mulhall Full profile, Oscar-winner Jane Darwell Full profile, Jack Dempsey Official site, wife Estelle Taylor Wiki Link, and more. Another new segment called CHAT PACK is introduced, where Gary and Roscoe take turns answering probing and personal questions.  Learn more about G & R than you may ever have wanted to know!  Chat Pack Kiss of Death: Yvonne Craig - Batgirl with a "Ski Party" connection Full filmography  Samuel "Biff" Liff - Legendary New York stage manager and theatrical agent  Read full article       Roscoe concludes with some Rex Harrison tidbits that neatly tie together his Cinecon experiences with Biff Liff's career. read more