Podcasts about Green Hornet

You are in for a real treat on this episode. My guest this time is Greg Schwem. Greg is a corporate comedian. What is a corporate comedian? You probably can imagine that his work has to do with corporations, and you would be right. Greg will explain much better than I can. Mr. Schwem began his career as a TV journalist but eventually decided to take up what he really wanted to do, be a comedian. The story of how he evolved is quite fascinating by any standard. Greg has done comedy professionally since 1989. He speaks today mostly to corporate audiences. He will tell us how he does his work. It is quite interesting to hear how he has learned to relate to his audiences. As you will discover as Greg and I talk, we often work in the same way to learn about our audiences and thus how we get to relate to them. Greg has written three books. His latest one is entitled “Turning Gut Punches into Punch Lines: A Comedian's Journey Through Cancer, Divorce and Other Hilarious Stuff”. As Greg says, “Don't worry, it's not one of those whiny, ‘woe is me,' self- serving books. Instead, it's a hilarious account of me living the words I've been preaching to my audiences: You can always find humor in every situation, even the tough ones. Greg offers many interesting observations as he discusses his career and how he works. I think we all can find significant lessons we can use from his remarks. About the Guest: Hi! I'm Greg Schwem. a Chicago-based business humor speaker and MC who HuffPost calls “Your boss's favorite comedian.” I've traveled the world providing clean, customized laughs to clients such as Microsoft, IBM, McDonald's and even the CIA. I also write the bi-weekly Humor Hotel column for the Chicago Tribune syndicate. I believe every corporate event needs humor. As I often tell clients, “When times are good, people want to laugh. When times are bad, people need to laugh.” One Fortune 500 client summed things up perfectly, saying “You were fantastic and just what everybody needed during these times.” In September 2024 I released my third and most personal book, Turning Gut Punches into Punch Lines: A Comedian's Journey Through Cancer, Divorce and Other Hilarious Stuff. Don't worry, it's not one of those whiny, “woe is me,” self-serving books. Instead, it's a hilarious account of me living the words I've been preaching to my audiences: You can always find humor in every situation, even the tough ones. You can pick up a copy at Amazon or select book stores. Ways to connect with Greg: Website: www.gregschwem.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/gregschwem LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/gregschwem Instagram: www.instagram.com/gregschwem X: www.x.com/gregschwem About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:16 Hi everyone, and welcome to unstoppable mindset. Today we are going to definitely have some fun. I'll tell you about our guests in a moment, but first, I want to tell you about me. That'll take an hour or so. I am Michael Hingson, your host, and you're listening to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. And I don't know, we may get inclusion or diversity into this, but our guest is Greg Schwem. Greg used to be a TV reporter, now he's a comedian, not sure which is funnier, but given some of the reporters I've seen on TV, they really should go into tonight club business. But anyway, Greg, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. I really appreciate you being here and taking the time   Greg Schwem ** 02:04 Well, Michael, it is an honor to be included on your show. I'm really looking forward to the next hour of conversation. I   Speaker 1 ** 02:10 told Greg a little while ago, one of my major life ambitions that I never got to do was to go to a Don Rickles concert and sit in the front row so that hopefully he would pick on me, so that I could say, Yeah, I saw you once on TV, and I haven't been able to see since. What do you think of that? You hockey puck, but I never got to do it. So very disappointed. But everybody has bucket list moments, everybody has, but they don't get around to I'm sorry. Yeah, I know. Well, the other one is, I love to pick on Mike Wallace. I did a radio show for six years opposite him in 60 minutes, and I always love to say that Wallace really had criminal tendencies, because he started out being an announcer in radio and he announced things like The Green Hornet and the Sky King and other shows where they had a lot of criminals. So I just figured he had to be associated with criminals somewhere in his life. Of course, everybody picked on him, and he had broad shoulders. And I again, I regret I never got to to meet him, which is sort of disappointing. But I did get to meet Peter Falk. That was kind of fun.   Greg Schwem ** 03:15 Mike Wallace to Peter Falk. Nice transition there. I know.   Michael Hingson ** 03:21 Well I am really glad you're with us. So why don't we start? We'll start with the serious part. Why don't you tell us, kind of about the early Greg schwim and growing up and all that sort of stuff, just to set the stage, as it were,   Greg Schwem ** 03:34 how far back you want to go? You want to go back to Little League, or you want to   Speaker 1 ** 03:37 just, oh, start at the beginning, a long time ago, right? I was a   Greg Schwem ** 03:41 very strange child. No, I you. You obviously introduced me as a as a comedian, and that is my full time job. And you also said that I was a former journalist, and that is my professional career. Yes, I went from, as I always like to say, I went from depressing people all day long, to making them laugh. And that's, that's kind of what I did. I always did want to be I majored in Journalism at Northwestern University, good journalism school. Originally, I always wanted to be a television reporter. That was as a professional career I was, I dabbled in comedy. Started when I was 16. That is the first time I ever got on stage at my school, my high school, and then at a comedy club. I was there one of the first comedy clubs in Chicago, a place called the comedy cottage. It was in the suburb of beautiful, beautiful suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, and they were one of the very, very first full time comedy clubs in the nation. And as a 16 year old kid, I actually got on stage and did five minutes here and five minutes there. And thought I was, I was hot stuff, but I never, ever thought I would do it for a living. I thought comedy would always be just a hobby. And I. Especially when I went to college, and I thought, okay, Northwestern is pretty good school, pretty expensive school. I should actually use my degree. And I did. I moved down to Florida, wrote for a newspaper called The Palm Beach post, which, don't let that title fool you. It's Palm Beach was a very small segment of of the area that it was, that it served, but I did comedy on the side, and just because I moved down there, I didn't know anybody, so I hung out at comedy clubs just to have something to do. And little by little, comedy in the late 80s, it exploded. Exploded. There were suddenly clubs popping up everywhere, and you were starting to get to know guys that were doing these clubs and were starting to get recognition for just being comedians. And one of them opened up a very, very good Club opened up about 10 minutes from my apartment in West Palm Beach, and I hung out there and started to get more stage time, and eventually started to realize at the same time that I was getting better as a comedian, I was becoming more disillusioned as a journalist in terms of what my bosses wanted me to report on and the tone they wanted me to use. And I just decided that I would I would just never be able to live with myself if I didn't try it, if I didn't take the the plunge into comedy, and that's what I did in 1989 and I've been doing it ever since. And my career has gone in multiple directions, as I think it needs to. If you're going to be in show business and sustain a career in show business, you have to wear a lot of different hats, which I feel like I've done.   Michael Hingson ** 06:40 So tell me more about that. What does that mean exactly?   Greg Schwem ** 06:43 Well, I mean, I started out as a what you would pretty much if somebody said, If you heard somebody say, I'm a comedian, they would envision some guy that just went to comedy clubs all the time, and that's what I did. I was just a guy that traveled by car all over the Midwest and the Southeast primarily, and did comedy clubs, but I quickly realized that was kind of a going nowhere way to attack it, to do comedy unless you were incredibly lucky, because there were so many guys doing it and so many clubs, and I just didn't see a future in it, and I felt like I had to separate myself from the pack a little bit. And I was living in Chicago, which is where I'm from, and still, still exist. Still reside in Chicago, and I started to get involved with a company that did live trade show presentations. So if you've ever been on a trade show floor and you see people, they're mostly actors and actresses that wear a headset and deliver a spiel, a pitch, like every, every twice an hour, about some company, some new product, and so forth. And I did that, and I started to write material about what I was seeing on trade show floors and putting it into my stand up act, stuff about business, stuff about technology, because I was Hawking a lot of new computers and things like that. This was the mid 90s when technology was exploding, and I started to put this into my stand up act. And then I'd have people come up to me afterwards and say, hey, you know those jokes you did about computers and tech support, if you could come down to our office, you know, we're having a golf tournament, we're having a Christmas party, we would love to hear that material. And little by little, I started transitioning my act into doing shows for the corporate market. I hooked up with a corporate agent, or the corporate agent heard about me, and started to open a lot of doors for me in terms of working for very large corporations, and that's pretty much what I've been doing. I stopped working clubs, and I transitioned, instead of being a comedian, I became a corporate humor speaker. And that's what I do, primarily to this day, is to speak at business conferences. Just kind of get people to loosen up, get them to laugh about what they do all day without without making it sound like I'm belittling what they do. And also when I'm not doing that, I work about eight to 10 weeks a year on cruise ships, performing for cruise audiences. So that's a nice getaway.   Speaker 1 ** 09:18 It's interesting since I mentioned Don Rickles earlier, years ago, I saw an interview that he did with Donahue, and one of the things that Don Rickles said, and after he said it, I thought about it. He said, I really don't want to pick on anyone who's going to be offended by me picking on them. He said, I try to watch really carefully, so that if it looks like somebody's getting offended, I'll leave them alone, because that's not what this is all about. It isn't about abusing people. It's about trying to get people to have fun, and if somebody's offended, I don't want to to pick on them, and I've heard a number of albums and other things with him and just. Noticed that that was really true. He wouldn't pick on someone unless they could take it and had a lot of fun with it. And I thought that was absolutely interesting, because that certainly wasn't, of course, the rep that he had and no, but it was   Greg Schwem ** 10:16 true. It is, and it doesn't take long to see as a as a comedian, when you're looking at an audience member and you're talking to them, it, you can tell very quickly, Are they enjoying this? Are they enjoying being the center of attention? A lot of people are, or are they uncomfortable with it? Now, I don't know that going in. I mean, I you know, of course. And again, that's a very small portion of my show is to talk to the audience, but it is something particularly today. I think audiences want to be more involved. I think they enjoy you talk you. Some of these, the new comedians in their 20s and 30s and so forth. Them, some of them are doing nothing, but what they call crowd work. So they're just doing 45 minutes of talking to the audience, which can be good and can be rough too, because you're working without a net. But I'm happy to give an audience a little bit of that. But I also have a lot of stuff that I want to say too. I mean, I work very hard coming up with material and and refining it, and I want to talk about what's going on in my life, too. So I don't want the audience to be the entire show, right?   Speaker 1 ** 11:26 And and they shouldn't be, because it isn't about that. But at the same time, it is nice to involve them. I find that as a keynote and public speaker, I find that true as well, though, is that audiences do like to be involved. And I do some things right at the outset of most talks to involve people, and also in involving them. I want to get them to last so that I start to draw them in, because later, when I tell the September 11 story, which isn't really a humorous thing. Directly,   Greg Schwem ** 12:04 i know i Good luck. I'm spinning 911 to make it I don't think I've ever heard anybody say, by the way, I was trapped in a building. Stick with me. It's kind of cute. It's got a funny ending. And   Speaker 1 ** 12:20 that's right, and it is hard I can, I can say humorous things along the way in telling the story, but, sure, right, but, but clearly it's not a story that, in of itself, is humorous. But what I realized over the years, and it's really dawned on me in the last four or five years is we now have a whole generation of people who have absolutely no memory of September 11 because they were children or they weren't even born yet. And I believe that my job is to not only talk about it, but literally to draw them into the building and have them walk down the stairs with me, and I have to be descriptive in a very positive way, so that they really are part of what's going on. And the reality is that I do hear people or people come up and say, we were with you when you were going down the stairs. And I think that's my job, because the reality is that we've got to get people to understand there are lessons to be learned from September 11, right? And the only real way to do that is to attract the audience and bring them in. And I think probably mostly, I'm in a better position to do that than most people, because I'm kind of a curious soul, being blind and all that, but it allows me to to draw them in and and it's fun to do that, actually. And I, and   Greg Schwem ** 13:52 I gotta believe, I mean, obviously I wasn't there, Michael, but I gotta believe there were moments of humor in people, a bunch of people going down the stairs. Sure, me, you put people get it's like, it's like when a bunch of people are in an elevator together, you know, I mean, there's I, when I look around and I try to find something humorous in a crowded and it's probably the same thing now, obviously it, you know, you got out in time. But I and, you know, don't that's the hotel phone, which I just hung up so but I think that I can totally see where you're going from, where, if you're if you're talking to people who have no recollection of this, have no memory where you're basically educating them on the whole event. I think you then you have the opportunity to tell the story in whatever way you see fit. And I think that however you choose to do it is there's no wrong way to do it, I guess is what I'm trying to get at.   Speaker 1 ** 14:55 Well, yeah, I think the wrong way is to be two. Graphic and morbid and morbid, but one of the things that I talk about, for example, is that a colleague of mine who was with me, David Frank, at about the 50th floor, suddenly said, Mike, we're going to die. We're not going to make it out of here. And as as I tell the audience, typically, I as as you heard my introduction at the beginning, I have a secondary teaching credential. And one of the things that you probably don't know about teachers is that there's a secret course that every teacher takes called Voice 101, how to yell at students and and so what I tell people is that when David said that, I just said in my best teacher voice, stop it, David, if Roselle and I can go down these stairs, so can you. And he told me later that that brought him out of his funk, and he ended up walking a floor below me and shouting up to me everything he saw. And it was just mainly, everything is clear, like I'm on floor 48 he's on 47/47 floor. Everything is good here, and what I have done for the past several years in telling that part of the story is to say David, in reality, probably did more to keep people calm and focused as we went down the stairs than anyone else, because anyone within the sound of his voice heard someone who was focused and sounded okay. You know, hey, I'm on the 44th floor. This is where the Port Authority cafeteria is not stopping. And it it helps people understand that we all had to do what we could to keep everyone from not panicking. And it almost happened a few times that people did, but we worked at it. But the i The idea is that it helps draw people in, and I think that's so important to do for my particular story is to draw them in and have them walk down the stairs with me, which is what I do, absolutely, yeah, yeah. Now I'm curious about something that keeps coming up. I hear it every so often, public speaker, Speaker experts and people who are supposedly the great gurus of public speaking say you shouldn't really start out with a joke. And I've heard that so often, and I'm going give me a break. Well, I think, I think it depends, yeah, I think   Greg Schwem ** 17:33 there's two schools of thought to that. I think if you're going to start out with a joke, it better be a really good one, or something that you either has been battle tested, because if it doesn't work now, you, you know, if you're hoping for a big laugh, now you're saying, Well, you're a comedian, what do you do? You know, I mean, I, I even, I just sort of work my way into it a little bit. Yeah, and I'm a comedian, so, and, you know, it's funny, Michael, I will get, I will get. I've had CEOs before say to me, Hey, you know, I've got to give this presentation next week. Give me a joke I can tell to everybody. And I always decline. I always it's like, I don't need that kind of pressure. And it's like, I can, I can, I can tell you a funny joke, but,   Michael Hingson ** 18:22 but you telling the   Greg Schwem ** 18:23 work? Yeah, deliver it. You know, I can't deliver it for you. Yeah? And I think that's what I also, you know, on that note, I've never been a big fan of Stand Up Comedy classes, and you see them all popping up all over the place. Now, a lot of comedy clubs will have them, and usually the you take the class, and the carrot at the end is you get to do five minutes at a comedy club right now, if that is your goal, if you're somebody who always like, Gosh, I wonder what it would like be like to stand up on stage and and be a comedian for five minutes. That's something I really like to try. By all means, take the class, all right. But if you think that you're going to take this class and you're going to emerge a much funnier person, like all of a sudden you you weren't funny, but now you are, don't take the class, yeah? And I think, sadly, I think that a lot of people sign up for these classes thinking the latter, thinking that they will all of a sudden become, you know, a comedian. And it doesn't work that way. I'm sorry you cannot teach unfunny people to be funny. Yeah, some of us have the gift of it, and some of us don't. Some of us are really good with our hands, and just know how to build stuff and how to look at things and say, I can do that. And some of us, myself included, definitely do not. You know, I think you can teach people to be more comfortable, more comfortable in front of an audience and. Correct. I think that is definitely a teachable thing, but I don't think that you can teach people to be funnier   Speaker 1 ** 20:10 and funnier, and I agree with that. I tend to be amazed when I keep hearing that one of the top fears in our world is getting up in front of an audience and talking with them, because people really don't understand that audiences, whatever you're doing, want you to succeed, and they're not against you, but we have just conditioned ourselves collectively that speaking is something to be afraid of?   Greg Schwem ** 20:41 Yes, I think, though it's, I'm sure, that fear, though, of getting up in front of people has only probably been exacerbated and been made more intense because now everybody in the audience has a cell phone and to and to be looking out at people and to see them on their phones. Yeah, you're and yet, you prepped all day long. You've been nervous. You've been you probably didn't sleep the night before. If you're one of these people who are afraid of speaking in public, yeah, and then to see people on their phones. You know, it used to bother me. It doesn't anymore, because it's just the society we live in. I just, I wish, I wish people could put their phones down and just enjoy laughing for 45 minutes. But unfortunately, our society can't do that anymore, so I just hope that I can get most of them to stop looking at it.   Speaker 1 ** 21:32 I don't make any comments about it at the beginning, but I have, on a number of occasions, been delivering a speech, and I hear a cell phone ring, and I'll stop and go, Hello. And I don't know for sure what the person with the cell phone does, but by the same token, you know they really shouldn't be on their phone and and it works out, okay, nobody's ever complained about it. And when I just say hello, or I'll go Hello, you don't say, you know, and things like that, but, but I don't, I don't prolong it. I'll just go back to what I was talking about. But I remember, when I lived in New Jersey, Sandy Duncan was Peter Pan in New York. One night she was flying over the audience, and there was somebody on his cell phone, and she happened to be going near him, and she just kicked the phone out of his hand. And I think that's one of the things that started Broadway in saying, if you have a cell phone, turn it off. And those are the announcements that you hear at the beginning of any Broadway performance today.   Greg Schwem ** 22:39 Unfortunately, people don't abide by that. I know you're still hearing cell phones go off, yeah, you know, in Broadway productions at the opera or wherever, so people just can't and there you go. There that just shows you're fighting a losing battle.   Speaker 1 ** 22:53 Yeah, it's just one of those things, and you got to cope with it.   Greg Schwem ** 22:58 What on that note, though, there was, I will say, if I can interrupt real quick, there was one show I did where nobody had their phone. It was a few years ago. I spoke at the CIA. I spoke for some employees of the CIA. And this might, this might freak people out, because you think, how is it that America's covert intelligence agency, you think they would be on their phones all the time. No, if you work there, you cannot have your phone on you. And so I had an audience of about 300 people who I had their total attention because there was no other way to they had no choice but to listen to me, and it was wonderful. It was just a great show, and I it was just so refreshing. Yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 23:52 and mostly I don't hear cell phones, but they do come up from time to time. And if they do, then you know it happens. Now my one of my favorite stories is I once spoke in Maryland at the Department of Defense, which anybody who knows anything knows that's the National Security Agency, but they call it the Department of Defense, as if we don't know. And my favorite story is that I had, at the time, a micro cassette recorder, and it died that morning before I traveled to Fort Meade, and I forgot to just throw it away, and it was in my briefcase. So I got to the fort, they searched, apparently, didn't find it, but on the way out, someone found it. They had to get a bird Colonel to come to decide what to do with it. I said, throw it away. And they said, No, we can't do that. It's yours. And they they decided it didn't work, and they let me take it and I threw it away. But it was so, so funny to to be at the fort and see everybody running around crazy. See, what do we do with this micro cassette recorder? This guy's been here for an hour. Yeah. So it's it. You know, all sorts of things happen. What do you think about you know, there's a lot of discussion about comedians who use a lot of foul language in their shows, and then there are those who don't, and people seem to like the shock value of that.   Greg Schwem ** 25:25 Yeah, I'm very old school in that. I guess my short answer is, No, I've never, ever been one of those comedians. Ever I do a clean show, I actually learned my lesson very early on. I think I think that I think comedians tend to swear because when they first start out, out of nerves, because I will tell you that profanity does get laughter. And I've always said, if you want to, if you want to experiment on that, have a comedian write a joke, and let's say he's got two shows that night. Let's say he's got an eight o'clock show and a 10 o'clock show. So let's say he does the joke in the eight o'clock and it's, you know, the cadence is bumper, bump up, bump up, bump up, punch line. Okay, now let's and let's see how that plays. Now let's now he does the 10 o'clock show and it's bumper, bump up, bump up F and Okay, yeah, I pretty much guarantee you the 10 o'clock show will get a bigger laugh. Okay? Because he's sort of, it's like the audience is programmed like, oh, okay, we're supposed to laugh at that now. And I think a lot of comedians think, Aha, I have just discovered how to be successful as a comedian. I will just insert the F word in front of every punch line, and you can kind of tell what comedians do that and what comedians I mean. I am fine with foul language, but have some jokes in there too. Don't make them. Don't make the foul word, the joke, the joke, right? And I can say another thing nobody has ever said to me, I cannot hire you because you're too clean. I've never gotten that. And all the years I've been doing this, and I know there's lots of comedians who who do work blue, who have said, you know, who have been turned down for that very reason. So I believe, if you're a comedian, the only way to get better is to work any place that will have you. Yeah, and you can't, so you might as well work clean so you can work any place that will have you, as opposed to being turned away.   Speaker 1 ** 27:30 Well, and I, and I know what, what happened to him and all that, but at the same time, I grew up listening to Bill Cosby and the fact that he was always clean. And, yeah, I understand everything that happened, but you can't deny and you can't forget so many years of humor and all the things that that he brought to the world, and the joy he brought to the world in so many ways.   Greg Schwem ** 27:57 Oh, yeah, no, I agree. I agree. And he Yeah, he worked everywhere. Jay Leno is another one. I mean, Jay Leno is kind of on the same wavelength as me, as far as don't let the profanity become the joke. You know, Eddie Murphy was, you know, was very foul. Richard Pryor, extremely foul. I but they also, prior, especially, had very intelligent material. I mean, you can tell and then if you want to insert your F bombs and so forth, that's fine, but at least show me that you're trying. At least show me that you came in with material in addition to the   Speaker 1 ** 28:36 foul language. The only thing I really have to say about all that is it? Jay Leno should just stay away from cars, but that's another story.   Greg Schwem ** 28:43 Oh, yeah, it's starting to   Greg Schwem ** 28:47 look that way. Yeah, it   Michael Hingson ** 28:49 was. It was fun for a while, Jay, but yeah, there's just two. It's like, Harrison Ford and plains. Yeah, same concept. At some point you're like, this isn't working out. Now I submit that living here in Victorville and just being out on the streets and being driven around and all that, I am firmly convinced, given the way most people drive here, that the bigoted DMV should let me have a license, because I am sure I can drive as well as most of the clowns around here. Yeah, so when they drive, I have no doubt. Oh, gosh. Well, you know, you switched from being a TV journalist and so on to to comedy. Was it a hard choice? Was it really difficult to do, or did it just seem like this is the time and this is the right thing to do. I was   Greg Schwem ** 29:41 both, you know, it was hard, because I really did enjoy my job and I liked, I liked being a TV news reporter. I liked, I liked a job that was different every day once you got in there, because you didn't know what they were going to send you out to do. Yes, you had. To get up and go to work every day and so forth. So there's a little bit of, you know, there's a little bit of the mundane, just like there is in any job, but once you were there, I liked, just never known what the day would bring, right? And and I, I think if I'd stayed with it, I think I think I could have gone pretty far, particularly now, because the now it's more people on TV are becoming more entertainers news people are becoming, yeah, they are. A lot of would be, want to be comedians and so forth. And I don't particularly think that's appropriate, but I agree. But so it was hard to leave, but it gets back to what I said earlier. At some point, you got to say, I was seeing comedians making money, and I was thinking, gosh, you know, if they're making money at this I I'm not hilarious, but I know I'm funnier than that guy. Yeah, I'm funnier than her, so why not? And I was young, and I was single, and I thought, if I if I don't try it now, I never will. And, and I'll bet there's just some hilarious people out there, yeah, who who didn't ever, who just were afraid   Michael Hingson ** 31:14 to take that chance, and they wouldn't take the leap, yeah,   Greg Schwem ** 31:16 right. And now they're probably kicking themselves, and I'm sure maybe they're very successful at what they do, but they're always going to say, what if, if I only done this? I don't ever, I don't, ever, I never, ever wanted to say that. Yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 31:31 well, and there's, there's something to be said for being brave and stepping out and doing something that you don't expect, or that you didn't expect, or that you weren't sure how it was going to go, but if you don't try, then you're never going to know just how, how much you could really accomplish and how much you can really do. And I think that the creative people, whatever they're being creative about, are the people who do step out and are willing to take a chance.   Greg Schwem ** 31:59 Yeah, yeah. And I told my kids that too. You know, it's just like, if it's something that you're passionate about, do it. Just try it. If it doesn't work out, then at least you can say I tried   Speaker 1 ** 32:09 it and and if it doesn't work out, then you can decide, what do I need to do to figure out why it didn't work out, or is it just not me? I want   Greg Schwem ** 32:18 to keep going? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.   Speaker 1 ** 32:21 So what is the difference between being a nightclub comedian and a corporate comedian? Because they are somewhat different. I think I know the answer. But what would you say that the differences between them? I think   Greg Schwem ** 32:33 the biggest thing is the audiences. I think when you when you are a nightclub comedian, you are working in front of people who are there to be entertained. Yeah, they, they paid money for that. That's what they're expecting. They, they, at some point during the day, they said, Hey, let's, let's go laugh tonight. That's what we really want to do when you're working in front of a corporate audiences. That's not necessarily the case. They are there. I primarily do business conferences and, you know, association meetings and so forth. And I'm just one cog in the wheel of a whole day's worth of meetings are, for the most part, very dry and boring, maybe certainly necessary educational. They're learning how to do their job better or something. And then you have a guy like me come in, and people aren't always ready to laugh, yeah, despite the fact that they probably need to, but they just they're not always in that mindset. And also the time of day. I mean, I do a lot of shows at nine in the morning. I do shows after lunch, right before lunch. I actually do very few shows in the evening, believe it or not. And so then you you have to, you kind of have to, in the while you're doing your act or your presentation or your speech, as I call it, you kind of have to let them know that it is okay. What you're doing is okay, and they should be okay with laughing. They shouldn't be looking around the whole time wondering if other people are laughing. You know, can I, can I? Can I tell you a quick story about how I drive that point home. Why not? Yeah, it's, I'll condense it into like five minutes. I mentioned that I worked on that I work on cruise ships occasionally, and I one night I was performing, and it was the first night of the cruise. And if anybody's ever been on a cruise, note, the first night, first night entertainers don't like the first night because people are tired. You know, they're they're a little edgy because they've been traveling all day. They're they're confused because they're not really sure where they're going on a ship. And the ones that have got it figured out usually over serve themselves because they're on vacation. So you put all that, so I'm doing my show on the first. Night, and it's going very well. And about five, six minutes in, I do a joke. Everybody laughs. Everybody shuts up. And from the back of the room in total darkness, I hear hat just like that. And I'm like, All right, you know, probably over served. So the rule of comedy is that everybody gets like. I was like, I'll let it go once, yeah. So I just kind of looked off in that direction, didn't say anything. Kept going with my active going with my act. About 10 minutes later, same thing happens. I tell a joke. Everybody laughs. Everybody shuts up. Hat now I'm like, Okay, I have got to, I've got to address the elephant in the room. So I think I just made some comment, like, you know, I didn't know Roseanne Barr was on this cruise, you know, because that was like the sound of the Yeah. Okay, everybody laugh. Nothing happened about five minutes later. It happens a third time. And now I'm just like, this is gonna stop. I'm going to put a stop to this. And I just fired off. I can't remember, like, three just like, hey man, you know you're you're just a little behind everybody else in this show and probably in life too, that, you know, things like that, and it never happened again. So I'm like, okay, mission accomplished on my part. Comedians love it when we can shut up somebody like that. Anyway. Show's over, I am out doing a meet and greet. Some guy comes up to me and he goes, hey, hey, you know that kid you were making fun of is mentally handicapped. And now, of course, I don't know this, but out of the corner of my eye, I see from the other exit a man pushing a son, his son in a wheelchair out of the showroom. And I'm just like, Oh, what have I done? And yeah. And of course, when you're on a cruise, you're you're on a cruise. When you're a cruise ship entertainer, you have to live with your audience. So I couldn't hide. I spent like the next three days, and it seemed like wherever I was, the man and his son in the wheelchair were nearby. And finally, on the fourth day, I think was, I was waiting for an elevator. Again, 3500 people on this ship, okay, I'm waiting for an elevator. The elevator door opens. Guess who are the only two people the elevator, the man and his son. And I can't really say I'll wait for the next one. So I get on, and I said to this the father, I said, I just want you to know I had no idea. You know, I'm so sorry. I can't see back there, this kind of thing. And the dad looks at me. He puts his hand up to stop me, and he points to me, and he goes, I thought you were hysterical. And it was, not only was it relief, but it kind of, it's sort of a lesson that if you think something is funny, you should laugh at it. Yeah. And I think sometimes in corporate America, my point in this. I think sometimes when you do these corporate shows, I think that audience members forget that. I think very busy looking around to see if their immediate boss thinks it's funny, and eventually everybody's looking at the CEO to see if they're like, you know, I think if you're doing it that way, if that's the way you're you're approaching humor. You're doing yourself a disservice, if right, stopping yourself from laughing at something that you think is funny.   Speaker 1 ** 38:09 I do think that that all too often the problem with meetings is that we as a as a country, we in corporations, don't do meetings, right anyway, for example, early on, I heard someone at a convention of the National Federation of the Blind say he was the new executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind, and he said, I have instituted a policy, no Braille, no meetings. And what that was all about was to say, if you're going to have a meeting, you need to make sure that all the documentation is accessible to those who aren't going to read the print. I take it further and say you shouldn't be giving out documentation during the meeting. And you can use the excuse, well, I got to get the latest numbers and all that. And my point is, you shouldn't be giving out documentation at a meeting, because the meeting is for people to communicate and interact with each other. And if you're giving out papers and so on, what are people going to do? They're going to read that, and they're not going to listen to the speakers. They're not going to listen to the other people. And we do so many things like that, we've gotten into a habit of doing things that become so predictable, but also make meetings very boring, because who wants to look at the papers where you can be listening to people who have a lot more constructive and interesting things to say anyway?   Greg Schwem ** 39:36 Yeah, yeah. I think, I think COVID definitely changed, some for the some for the better and some for the worse. I think that a lot of things that were done at meetings COVID and made us realize a lot of that stuff could be done virtually, that you didn't have to just have everybody sit and listen to people over and over and over again.   Speaker 1 ** 39:58 But unless you're Donald Trump. Up. Yeah, that's another story.   Greg Schwem ** 40:02 Yes, exactly another podcast episode. But, yeah, I do think also that. I think COVID changed audiences. I think, you know, we talked a little bit earlier about crowd work, right, and audiences wanting to be more involved. I think COVID precipitated that, because, if you think about it, Michael, for two and a half years during COVID, our sole source of entertainment was our phone, right? Which meant that we were in charge of the entertainment experience. You don't like something, swipe left, scroll down, scroll, scroll, scroll, find something else. You know, that kind of thing. I'm not I'm not entertained in the next four or five seconds. So I'm going to do this. And I think when live entertainment returned, audiences kind of had to be retrained a little bit, where they had to learn to sit and listen and wait for the entertainment to come to them. And granted, it might not happen immediately. It might not happen in the first five seconds, but you have to just give give people like me a chance. It will come to you. It will happen, but it might not be on your timetable,   Speaker 1 ** 41:13 right? Well, and I think that is all too true for me. I didn't find didn't find COVID to be a great inconvenience, because I don't look at the screen anyway, right? So in a sense, for me, COVID wasn't that much of a change, other than not being in an office or not being physically at a meeting, and so I was listening to the meeting on the computer, and that has its nuances. Like you don't necessarily get the same information about how everyone around you is reacting, but, but it didn't bother me, I think, nearly as much as it did everyone else who has to look at everyone. Of course, I have no problems picking on all those people as well, because what I point out is that that disabilities has to be redefined, because every one of you guys has your own disability. You're light dependent, and you don't do well when there's dark, when, when the dark shows up and and we now have an environment where Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, and we've spent the last 147 years doing everything we can to make sure that light is pretty ubiquitous, but it doesn't change a thing when suddenly the power goes out and you don't have immediate access to light. So that's as much a disability as us light, independent people who don't   Greg Schwem ** 42:36 care about that, right? Right? I hear, I agree, but it is but   Speaker 1 ** 42:41 it is interesting and and it is also important that we all understand each other and are willing to tolerate the fact that there are differences in people, and we need to recognize that with whatever we're doing.   42:53 Yeah, I agree.   Speaker 1 ** 42:57 What do you think about so today, we have obviously a really fractured environment and fractured country, and everyone's got their own opinions, and nobody wants to talk about anything, especially politics wise. How do you think that's all affecting comedy and what you get to do and what other people are doing?   Greg Schwem ** 43:18 Well, I think Pete, I think there's, there's multiple answers to that question too. I think, I think it makes people nervous, wondering what the minute a comedian on stage brings up politics, the minute he starts talking about a politician, whether it's our president, whether it's somebody else, you can sense a tension in the room a little bit, and it's, it's, I mean, it's funny. I, one of my best friends in comedy, got to open for another comedian at Carnegie Hall a couple of years ago, and I went to see him, and I'm sitting way up in the top, and he is just crushing it. And then at one point he he brought up, he decided to do an impression of Mitch McConnell, which he does very well. However, the minute he said, Mitch McConnell, I you could just sense this is Carnegie freaking Hall, and after the show, you know, he and I always like to dissect each other's shows. That's what comedians do. And I just said to him, I go. Why did you decide to insert Mitch McConnell in there? And I, and I didn't say it like, you moron, that was stupid, yeah, but I was genuinely curious. And he just goes, well, I just really like doing that bit, and I like doing that voice and so forth, but, and it's not like the show crashed and burned afterwards. No, he did the joke, and then he got out of it, and he went on to other stuff, and it was fine, but I think that people are just so on their guard now, yeah, and, and that's why, you know, you know Jay Leno always said he was an equal opportunity offender. I think you will do better with politics if you really want. Insert politics into your act. I think he would be better making fun of both sides. Yeah, it's true. Yeah. And I think too often comedians now use the the stage as kind of a Bully, bully pulpit, like I have microphone and you don't. I am now going to give you my take on Donald Trump or the Democrats or whatever, and I've always said, talk about anything you want on stage, but just remember, you're at a comedy club. People came to laugh. So is there a joke in here? Yeah, or are you just ranting because you gotta be careful. You have to get this off your chest, and your way is right. It's, it's, you know, I hate to say it, but that's, that's why podcast, no offense, Michael, yours, is not like this. But I think one of the reasons podcasters have gotten so popular is a lot of people, just a lot of podcast hosts see a podcast is a chance to just rant about whatever's on their mind. And it's amazing to me how many podcast hosts that are hosted by comedians have a second guy have a sidekick to basically laugh and agree with whatever that person says. I think Joe Rogan is a classic example, and he's one of the most popular ones. But, and I don't quite understand that, because you know, if you're a comedian, you you made the choice to work solo, right? So why do you need somebody else with you?   Speaker 1 ** 46:33 I'm I'm fairly close to Leno. My remark is a little bit different. I'm not so much an equal opportunity offender as I am an equal opportunity abuser. I'll pick on both sides if politics comes into it at all, and it's and it's fun, and I remember when George W Bush was leaving the White House, Letterman said, Now we're not going to have anybody to joke about anymore. And everyone loved it. But still, I recognize that in the world today, people don't want to hear anything else. Don't confuse me with the facts or any of that, and it's so unfortunate, but it is the way it is, and so it's wiser to stay away from a lot of that, unless you can really break through the barrier,   Greg Schwem ** 47:21 I think so. And I also think that people, one thing you have to remember, I think, is when people come to a comedy show, they are coming to be entertained. Yeah, they are coming to kind of escape from the gloom and doom that unfortunately permeates our world right now. You know? I mean, I've always said that if you, if you walked up to a comedy club on a Saturday night, and let's say there were 50 people waiting outside, waiting to get in, and you asked all 50 of them, what do you hope happens tonight? Or or, Why are you here? All right, I think from all 50 you would get I would just like to laugh, yeah, I don't think one of them is going to say, you know, I really hope that my opinions on what's happening in the Middle East get challenged right now, but he's a comedian. No one is going to say that. No, no. It's like, I hope I get into it with the comedian on stage, because he thinks this way about a woman's right to choose, and I think the other way. And I really, really hope that he and I will get into an argument about to the middle of the   Speaker 1 ** 48:37 show. Yeah, yeah. That's not why people come?   Greg Schwem ** 48:40 No, it's not. And I, unfortunately, I think again, I think that there's a lot of comedians that don't understand that. Yeah, again, talk about whatever you want on stage, but just remember that your your surroundings, you if you build yourself as a comedian,   48:56 make it funny. Yeah, be funny.   Speaker 1 ** 49:00 Well, and nowadays, especially for for you, for me and so on, we're we're growing older and and I think you point out audiences are getting younger. How do you deal with that?   Greg Schwem ** 49:12 Well, what I try to do is I a couple of things. I try to talk as much as I can about topics that are relevant to a younger generation. Ai being one, I, one of the things I do in my my show is I say, oh, you know, I I really wasn't sure how to start off. And when you're confused these days, you you turn to answer your questions. You turn to chat GPT, and I've actually written, you know, said to chat GPT, you know, I'm doing a show tonight for a group of construction workers who work in the Midwest. It's a $350 million company, and it says, try to be very specific. Give me a funny opening line. And of course, chat GPT always comes up with some. Something kind of stupid, which I then relate to the audience, and they love that, you know, they love that concept. So I think there's, obviously, there's a lot of material that you can do on generational differences, but I, I will say I am very, very aware that my audience is, for the most part, younger than me now, unless I want to spend the rest of my career doing you know, over 55 communities, not that they're not great laughers, but I also think there's a real challenge in being older than your audience and still being able to make them laugh. But I think you have to remember, like you said, there's there's people now that don't remember 911 that have no concept of it, yeah, so don't be doing references from, say, the 1980s or the early 1990s and then come off stage and go, Man, nobody that didn't hit at all. No one, no one. They're stupid. They don't get it. Well, no, they, they, it sounds they don't get it. It's just that they weren't around. They weren't around, right? So that's on you.   Speaker 1 ** 51:01 One of the things that you know people ask me is if I will do virtual events, and I'll do virtual events, but I also tell people, the reason I prefer to do in person events is that I can sense what the audience is doing, how they're reacting and what they feel. If I'm in a room speaking to people, and I don't have that same sense if I'm doing something virtually, agreed same way. Now for me, at the same time, I've been doing this now for 23 years, so I have a pretty good idea in general, how to interact with an audience, to draw them in, even in a virtual environment, but I still tend to be a little bit more careful about it, and it's just kind of the way it is, you know, and you and you learn to deal with it well for you, have you ever had writer's block, and how did you deal with it?   Greg Schwem ** 51:57 Yes, I have had writer's block. I don't I can't think of a single comedian who's never had writer's block, and if they say they haven't, I think they're lying when I have writer's block, the best way for me to deal with this and just so you know, I'm not the kind of comedian that can go that can sit down and write jokes. I can write stories. I've written three books, but I can't sit down and just be funny for an hour all by myself. I need interaction. I need communication. And I think when I have writer's block, I tend to go out and try and meet strangers and can engage them in conversation and find out what's going on with them. I mean, you mentioned about dealing with the younger audience. I am a big believer right now in talking to people who are half my age. I like doing that in social settings, because I just, I'm curious. I'm curious as to how they think. I'm curious as to, you know, how they spend money, how they save money, how what their hopes and dreams are for the future, what that kind of thing, and that's the kind of stuff that then I'll take back and try and write material about. And I think that, I think it's fun for me, and it's really fun to meet somebody who I'll give you a great example just last night. Last night, I was I there's a there's a bar that I have that's about 10 a stone's throw from my condo, and I love to stop in there and and every now and then, sometimes I'll sit there and I won't meet anybody, and sometimes different. So there was a guy, I'd say he's probably in his early 30s, sitting too over, and he was reading, which I find intriguing, that people come to a bar and read, yeah, people do it, I mean. And I just said to him, I go, and he was getting ready to pay his bill, and I just said, if you don't mind me asking, What are you reading? And he's like, Oh, it's by Ezra Klein. And I go, you know, I've listened to Ezra Klein before. And he goes, Yeah, you know? He says, I'm a big fan. And debt to debt to dad. Next thing, you know, we're just, we're just riffing back and forth. And I ended up staying. He put it this way, Michael, it took him a very long time to pay his bill because we had a conversation, and it was just such a pleasure to to people like that, and I think that, and it's a hard thing. It's a hard thing for me to do, because I think people are on their guard, a little bit like, why is this guy who's twice my age talking to me at a bar? That's that seems a little weird. And I would get that. I can see that. But as I mentioned in my latest book, I don't mean because I don't a whole chapter to this, and I I say in the book, I don't mean you any harm. I'm not trying to hit on you, or I'm not creepy old guy at the bar. I am genuinely interested in your story. And. In your life, and and I just, I want to be the least interesting guy in the room, and that's kind of how I go about my writing, too. Is just you, you drive the story. And even though I'm the comedian, I'll just fill in the gaps and make them funny.   Speaker 1 ** 55:15 Well, I know that I have often been invited to speak at places, and I wondered, What am I going to say to this particular audience? How am I going to deal with them? They're they're different than what I'm used to. What I found, I guess you could call that writer's block, but what I found is, if I can go early and interact with them, even if I'm the very first speaker, if I can interact with them beforehand, or if there are other people speaking before me, invariably, I will hear things that will allow me to be able to move on and give a relevant presentation specifically to that group, which is what it's really all about. And so I'm with you, and I appreciate it, and it's good to get to the point where you don't worry about the block, but rather you look at ways to move forward and interact with people and make it fun, right,   Greg Schwem ** 56:13 right? And I do think people, I think COVID, took that away from us a little bit, yeah, obviously, but I but, and I do think people missed that. I think that people, once you get them talking, are more inclined to not think that you're you have ulterior motives. I think people do enjoy putting their phones down a little bit, but it's, it's kind of a two way street when I, when I do meet people, if it's if it's only me asking the questions, eventually I'm going to get tired of that. Yeah, I think there's a, there has to be a reciprocity thing a little bit. And one thing I find is, is with the Gen Z's and maybe millennials. They're not, they're not as good at that as I think they could be. They're more they're they're happy to talk about themselves, but they're not really good at saying so what do you do for a living? Or what you know, tell me about you. And I mean, that's how you learn about other people. Yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 57:19 tell me about your your latest book, Turning gut punches into punchlines. That's a interesting title, yeah, well, the more   Greg Schwem ** 57:26 interesting is the subtitle. So it's turning gut punches into punch punch lines, A Comedian's journey through cancer, divorce and other hilarious stuff.   Speaker 1 ** 57:35 No, like you haven't done anything in the world. Okay, right? So   Greg Schwem ** 57:38 other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln. Yeah, exactly. See, now you get that reference. I don't know if I could use that on stage, but anyway, depend on your audience. But yeah, they're like, What's he talking   Speaker 1 ** 57:50 who's Lincoln? And I've been to Ford theater too, so that's okay, yes, as have I. So it was much later than, than, well, than Lincoln, but that's okay.   Greg Schwem ** 57:58 You're not that old, right? No. Well, okay, so as the title, as the title implies, I did have sort of a double, double gut punch, it just in the last two years. So I, I got divorced late in life, after 29 years of marriage. And while that was going on, I got a colon cancer diagnosis and and at this end, I was dealing with all this while also continuing work as a humor speaker, okay, as a comedian. And I just decided I got it. First of all, I got a very clean bill of health. I'm cancer free. I am finally divorced so and I, I started to think, I wonder if there's some humor in this. I I would, I would, you know, Michael, I've been on stage for like, 25 years telling people that, you know, you can find something funny to laugh at. You can find humor in any situation. It's kind of like what you're talking about all the people going down the stairs in the building in the world trade center. All right, if you look around enough, you know, maybe there's something funny, and I've been preaching that, but I never really had to live that until now. And I thought, you know, maybe there's something here. Maybe I can this is my chance now to embrace new experiences. It was kind of when I got divorced, when you've been married half your life and all of a sudden you get divorced, everything's new to you, yeah, you're, you're, you're living alone, you you're doing things that your spouse did, oh, so many years. And you're having to do those, and you're having to make new friends, yeah, and all of that, I think, is very humorous. So the more I saw a book in there that I started writing before the cancer diagnosis, and I thought was there enough here? Just like, okay, a guy at 60 years old gets divorced now what's going to happen to him? The diagnosis? Kind. Made it just added another wrinkle to the book, because now I have to deal with this, and I have to find another subject to to make light of a little bit. So the book is not a memoir, you know, I don't start it off. And, you know, when I was seven, you know, I played, you know, I was, I went to this school night. It's not that. It's more just about reinvention and just seeing that you can be happy later in life, even though you have to kind of rewrite your your story a little   Speaker 1 ** 1:00:33 bit. And I would assume, and I would assume, you bring some of that into your ACT every so   Greg Schwem ** 1:00:38 very much. So yeah, I created a whole new speech called Turning gut punches into punchlines. And I some of the stuff that I, that I did, but, you know, there's a chapter in the book about, I about gig work, actually three chapters I, you know, I went to work for Amazon during the Christmas holiday rush, just scanning packages. I wanted to see what that was like. I drove for Uber I which I did for a while. And to tell you the truth, I miss it. I ended up selling my car, but I miss it because of the what we just talked about. It was a great way to communicate with people. It was a great way to talk to people, find out about them, be the least interesting person in the car, anyway. And there's a chapter about dating and online dating, which I had not had to do in 30 years. There's a lot of humor in that. I went to therapy. I'd never gone to therapy before. I wrote a chapter about that. So I think people really respond to this book, because they I think they see a lot of themselves in it. You know, lots of people have been divorced. There's lots of cancer survivors out there, and there's lots of people who just suddenly have hit a speed bump in their life, and they're not really sure how to deal with it, right? And my way, this book is just about deal with it through laughter. And I'm the perfect example.   Speaker 1 ** 1:01:56 I hear you, Oh, I I know, and I've been through the same sort of thing as you not a divorce, but my wife and I were married for 40 years, and she passed away in November of 2022 after 40 years of marriage. And as I tell people, as I tell people, I got to be really careful, because she's monitoring me from somewhere, and if I misbehave, I'm going to hear about it, so I got to be a good kid, and I don't even chase the women so. But I also point out that none of them have been chasing me either, so I guess I just do what we got to do. But the reality is, I think there are always ways to find some sort of a connection with other people, and then, of course, that's what what you do. It's all about creating a connection, creating a relationship, even if it's only for a couple of hours or an hour or 45 minutes, but, but you do it, which is what it's all about?   Greg Schwem ** 1:02:49 Yeah, exactly. And I think the funniest stuff is real life experience. Oh, absolutely, you know. And if people can see themselves in in what I've written, then I've done my job as a writer.   Speaker 1 ** 1:03:03 So do you have any plans to retire?   Greg Schwem ** 1:03:06 Never. I mean, good for you retire from what   1:03:09 I know right, making fun of people   Greg Schwem ** 1:03:12 and making them laugh. I mean, I don't know what I would do with myself, and even if I there's always going to be I don't care how technology, technologically advanced our society gets. People will always want and need to laugh. Yeah, they're always going to want to do that. And if they're want, if they're wanting to do that, then I will find, I will find a way to get to them. And that's why I, as I said, That's why, like working on cruise ships has become, like a new, sort of a new avenue for me to make people laugh. And so, yeah, I don't I there's, there's no way. I don't know what else I would do with   Speaker 1 ** 1:03:53 myself, well and from my perspective, as long as I can inspire people, yes, I can make people think a little bit and feel better about themselves. I'm going to do it right. And, and, and I do. And I wrote a book during COVID that was published last August called Live like a guide dog. And it's all about helping people learn to control fear. And I use lessons I learned from eight guide dogs and my wife service dog to do that. My wife was in a wheelchair her whole life. Great marriage. She read, I pushed worked out well, but, but the but the but the bottom line is that dogs can teach us so many lessons, and there's so much that we can learn from them. So I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to create this book and and get it out there. And I think that again, as long as I can continue to inspire people, I'm going to do it. Because   Greg Schwem ** 1:04:47 why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't I exactly right? Yeah, yeah. So,   Speaker 1 ** 1:04:51 I mean, I think if I, if I stopped, I think my wife would beat up on me, so I gotta be nice exactly. She's monitoring from somewhere

In this thrilling episode, the Green Hornet embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover a sabotage plot involving a convoy of ships. As he navigates through a dark and mysterious city, he encounters various characters, including a distressed mother searching for her son and a sailor caught in a web of deceit. The tension escalates as the Hornet races against time to prevent disaster, leading to a climactic confrontation with the saboteurs.TakeawaysThe atmosphere of the city is tense and mysterious.Characters are introduced with distinct personalities and motivations.The theme of secrecy and danger is prevalent throughout the conversation.The Green Hornet's mission is driven by a sense of justice.The importance of communication and information in solving mysteries is highlighted.The narrative builds suspense through dialogue and character interactions.The use of sound effects enhances the storytelling experience.The characters' relationships add depth to the plot.The episode showcases classic elements of detective and adventure genres.The resolution emphasizes the role of the media in crime-solving.Green Hornet, sabotage, mystery, crime, adventure, detective, thriller, suspense, action, radio drama

A dead inventor leaves behind a mysterious scarlet satchel — and when it opens, death comes calling for those who betrayed him. Listen to Dark Fantasy with “The Man With The Scarlet Satchel! | #RetroRadio EP0461Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Blood Red Roses” (July 12, 1976)00:45:24.243 = Murder By Experts, “It's Luck That Counts” (August 29, 1949) ***WD01:14:53.901 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Stranger With Roses” (June 11, 1958) ***WD01:33:02.835 = Faces In The Window, “Black Cat” (November 22, 1952) ***WD01:56:42.856 = Dark Fantasy, “The Man With The Scarlet Satchel” (March 06, 1942) ***WD02:21:21.323 = Diary of Fate, “Victor Wakeman” (June 29, 1948) ***WD02:48:08.069 = BBC's Fear on 4, “The Journey Home” (February 23, 2008)03:16:31.596 = Five After The Hour, “Amid The Blaze of Noon” (June 20, 1945)03:40:48.080 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Broken Wheel” (1947-1950)03:45:44.256 = Tales From The Tomb, “The Raven” (1960s)03:55:10.518 = Future Tense, “The Seventh Victim” (May 06, 1974) ***WD04:16:12.606 = Gang Busters, “Broadway Bandit” (March 20, 1948) ***WD04:44:04.027 = Ava Maria Hour, “Benedict Patron St. Against Poison Witchcraft” (1939)05:07:46.682 = The Green Hornet, “The Parking Lot Racket” (October 31, 1939)05:37:28.102 = The Hall of Fantasy, “The Judge's House” (April 03, 1947) ***WD06:03:45.303 = Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “Legal Rites” (February 17, 1982)06:31:43.493 = The Haunting Hour, “Cat Man” (October 13, 1945)06:56:42.058 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Young Gun” (July 12, 1959)07:20:22.680 = The Hermit's Cave, “The Blackness of Terror” (April 06, 1947)07:44:50.794 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Voice of Doom” (1947) ***WD08:07:56.355 = Sherlock Holmes, “Camberwell Poisoners” (February 18, 1946)08:36:56.449 = Incredible But True, “The One That Got Away” (1950-1951)08:40:18.062 = Inner Sanctum, “Undead” (December 18, 1945) ***WD09:07:12.135 = The Key, “Lost In The Amazon” (1956) ***WD09:32:25.325 = Lights Out (Everyman's Theater), “Baby” (March 28, 1941) ***WD09:56:52.777 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0461

This episode follows the thrilling adventures of Britt Reid, also known as the Green Hornet, as he embarks on a dangerous mission involving a murder investigation and the theft of crucial aerial photographs. The narrative unfolds with suspenseful twists, showcasing Reid's resourcefulness and the challenges he faces in his quest for justice.TakeawaysBritt Reid's adventure begins with a mysterious phone call.The importance of the Green Hornet's equipment is highlighted.Jack Mercer is a key figure in the unfolding mystery.The investigation reveals deeper connections to crime.The Green Hornet must navigate dangerous situations to uncover the truth.The enemy's plans are thwarted by the Green Hornet's actions.Britt Reid's dual identity complicates his mission.The narrative emphasizes themes of justice and morality.The story showcases the tension between law enforcement and vigilante justice.The Green Hornet's legacy is intertwined with the fate of many.

A mysterious flying saucer imparts a secret to a lonely woman — and the message is so profound the government interrogates her to get it… but she risks everything to protect the secret. | #RetroRadio EP0454Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Unthinkable” (June 14, 1976)00:47:01.620 = Eleventh Hour, “Only Too Safe” (1963-1964)01:11:11.253 = Escape, “The Time Machine” (May 09, 1948)01:40:49.586 = Everyman's Theater, “The Women Stayed at Home” (December 20, 1940)02:05:47.803 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Diamond Mountain of Venus” (June 04, 1958) ***WD02:26:00.287 = Dark Fantasy, “Delicate Case of Murder” (February 20, 1942) ***WD02:50:25.036 = Diary of Fate, “Nelson Walker” (June 15, 1948) ***WD03:18:23.120 = BBC's Fear on 4, “The Horn” (February 19, 1989)03:46:57.486 = Five After The Hour, “Man Around the House” (June 13, 1945)04:11:23.057 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Collectors Item” (late 1940s)04:16:30.831 = Tales From The Tomb, “The Lick”04:19:57.902 = Future Tense, “Saucer of Loneliness” (May 30, 1974) ***WD04:49:18.005 = Gang Busters, “Mound City Safecrackers” (March 13, 1948) ***WD05:12:08.191 = Arch Oboler's Plays, “History of a Mug” (August 09, 1945) (LQ)05:41:41.947 = Green Hornet, “A Racket In Restaurants” (September 07, 1939)06:09:02.510 = The Hall of Fantasy, “Markheim” (April 24, 1947)06:35:16.611 = BBC's Haunted – Tales of the Supernatural, “The Emissary” (May 08, 1982)07:02:24.426 = The Haunting Hour, “Murder Is My Business” (October 06, 1945)07:27:26.441 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Comanche” (July 05, 1959)07:50:52.690 = Hermit's Cave, “Reflected Image” (1940) ***WD08:16:16.785 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Fishing Trip ends In Murder” (late 1940s)08:40:05.462 = Sherlock Holmes, “Guileless Gypsy” (February 11, 1946) ***WD09:08:28.012 = Incredible But True, “The Skull of Bettiscomb” (October 29, 1950) ***WD09:12:13.489 = Inner Sanctum, “Undead” (December 18, 1945)09:41:55.003 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0454

Corey & Fred return to highlight BLACK MASK, which is easily the most underrated Hong Kong Superhero saga.   TOPICS INCLUDE: *How this concept is essentially X-Men type mutants facing off against each other with Jet Li playing a Green Hornet costumed Batman utilizing stealthy martial arts and you have yourself an ambitious yet far from fully-developed genre outing *A fun overview on Li's '90s output, how he evolves as an Action star & his awesome child-like grin in all his films *How the Hospital takeover is a fun homage to John Woo's movie Hard Boiled *And explaining the cast of the zany sequel.       SONG USED: "Black Mask (1996 Main Theme) " by Teddy Robin.

The conversation revolves around a charity fund that is suspected of being mismanaged, leading to the disappearance of its treasurer, Bennett. As suspicions arise, the Green Hornet takes on the role of an investigator to uncover the truth behind the charity racket, revealing corruption and deceit within the welfare board.TakeawaysThe charity fund is a source of temptation for corruption.Bennett's role as treasurer raises questions about trust.The investigation reveals a deeper charity racket.The Green Hornet's involvement is crucial in uncovering the truth.Suspicion can lead to dangerous consequences for those involved.The welfare board's operations are shrouded in secrecy.Bennett's disappearance complicates the investigation.The role of journalism is highlighted in exposing corruption.Trust is a fragile element in public service.The story emphasizes the impact of charity on the community.charity, investigation, corruption, Green Hornet, welfare board, mystery, crime, journalism, trust, deception

An ex-German living well in the United States is forced to his brother, a Nazi spy.

A pregnant woman begins to hear ghostly whispers from within her own body — terrifying cries that seem to come from the unborn child growing inside her. It's the story, “Dreaming of Thee” from BBC's Fear on 4!| #RetroRadio EP0450Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Ghost Town” (May 31, 1976) ***WD00:47:40.428 = Escape, “John Jock Todd” (May 02, 1948)01:17:20.652 = Everyman's Theater, “Cat Wife” (October 18, 1940)01:47:17.212 = Murder By Experts, “The Big Money” (July 25, 1949)02:16:53.460 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Trouble With Robots” (May 28, 1958) ***WD02:36:33.722 = Faces In The Window, “Pit And The Pendulum” (January 24, 1953) ***WD03:07:45.297 = Dark Fantasy, “W Is For Werewolf” (February 13, 1942)03:32:12.439 = Diary of Fate, “Marvin Thomas Entry” (June 08, 1948) ***WD04:01:30.405 = BBC's Fear on 4, “Dreaming of Thee” (February 12, 1989)04:28:28.923 = Five After the Hour, “Song of the River” (June 06, 1945)04:52:45.245 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Return of Mr. Lawrence” (Late 1940s)04:57:54.566 = Tales From The Tomb, “The Girl of His Dreams” (1960s)05:01:39.610 = Future Tense, “Protection” (May 29, 1974) ***WD05:25:07.993 = Gang Busters, “John Frederick Benson – Dakota Badman” (February 28, 1948)05:47:55.900 = The Green Hornet, “Ripe For The Taking” (September 05, 1939)06:17:19.475 = Hall of Fantasy, “Death In The Bayous” (March 06, 1947)06:47:27.170 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Night In Harem” (June 06, 1952) ***WD07:12:46.047 = BBC's Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Judge's House” (May 01, 1982)07:40:14.559 = The Haunting Hour, “Southern Star” (September 29, 1945)08:05:27.416 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Homecoming” (June 28, 1959)08:25:51.261 = Hermit's Cave, “The Story Without End” (January 11, 1942) ***WD08:49:01.280 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Thief And The Paintings” (1949-1951) ***WD09:12:03.089 = Sherlock Holmes, “The Indiscretion of Mr. Edwards” (February 04, 1946)09:40:25.396 = Incredible But True, “The Whereabouts of Mr. Wadham” (1950-1951)09:44:23.228 = Inner Sanctum, “Dark Chamber” (December 11, 1945)10:08:37.02 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0450

Watcher Dev chats with New York Times Best-selling author, Nancy Holder, who has written and co-written the most Buffy and Angel books of any writer! A seven-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, she received a Scribe Award from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers for Best Novel, and was subsequently named a Grand Master by that organization in 2019. She also received a Young Adult Literature Pioneer Award from RT Booksellers.Nancy has also scribed fiction related to Smallville, Hellboy, the Green Hornet, Zorro, Sherlock Holmes and much more. Send us a textYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@revampedpod Twitter/X - @julietlandauInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/juliet_landau Facebook - Juliet Landau Official (Page) https://www.facebook.com/julietlandauofficialFacebook - Fans of Juliet Landau (Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/julietlandau/Email: revampedpod@gmail.com Juliet Landau's directorial feature debut, A Place Among The Dead Trailer: https://vimeo.com/791299045/5b5d98726a A Place Among The Dead Blu-Ray with nearly 5 hours of bonus extras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJJY4MB9/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

In this thrilling episode, the Green Hornet embarks on a new adventure involving a dangerous reservoir incident. As Britt Reid investigates the collapse of a construction site, he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the safety of the entire valley. With political pressure mounting and evidence disappearing, Reid and his team race against time to prevent a disaster while navigating the murky waters of accountability and corruption.TakeawaysThe Green Hornet is back with a new adventure.The collapse of the reservoir raises serious concerns.Investigative journalism plays a crucial role in uncovering the truth.Political pressure can complicate accountability in crises.The character of Bender adds a layer of mystery to the plot.The importance of vigilance in construction safety is highlighted.The story emphasizes the impact of public opinion on political decisions.The Green Hornet's methods showcase a blend of action and intelligence.The narrative builds tension as the characters race against time.The episode concludes with a moral reflection on crime and responsibility.Green Hornet, adventure, reservoir, investigation, crime, thriller, mystery, political pressure, accountability, disaster prevention

An inmate escapes from the Mead Sanitarium and leads the Hornet to a plan to ship supplies to the Nazis by submarine!

Green Hornet 39-07-04 (0355) Put It on Ice

Tonight on Dark Fantasy… the moon rises ,and a child of man becomes a creature of the NIGHT! Don't miss… ‘W Is For Werewolf: A Tale of Lycanthropic Terror!' | #RetroRadio EP0442Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Cornstarch Killer” (May 03, 1976) ***WD00:47:34.419 = Dark Fantasy, “W Is For Werewolf” (February 13, 1942)01:12:01.538 = Diary of Fate, “Marvin Thomas Entry” (June 08, 1948) ***WD01:41:18.398 = BBC Fear on 4, “Dreaming of Thee” (February 12, 1989)02:08:16.851 = Five After the Hour, “Song of the River” (June 06, 1945)02:32:33.280 = Five Minute Mysteries, “Return of Mr. Lawrence” (late 1940s)02:37:42.689 = Tales From The Tomb, “The Girl of His Dreams” (1960s)02:41:27.288 = Future Tense, “Protection” (May 29, 1974) ***WD (LQ)03:04:53.662 = Gang Busters, “John Frederick Benson” (February 28, 1948)03:27:43.884 = The Green Hornet, “Ripe For The Taking” (September 05, 1939)03:57:06.653 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Pearls of Bohemia” (May 30, 1952) ***WD04:22:09.631 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “Which One” (January 14, 1980)04:48:52.458 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0442

The story revolves around a thrilling narrative involving a truck incident that leads to the discovery of a gun racket. The Green Hornet, a vigilante, investigates the situation, uncovering police corruption and a larger conspiracy. The story unfolds with action, suspense, and a final confrontation that reveals the truth behind the gun trafficking operation.TakeawaysThe story begins with a mysterious truck incident involving a load of guns.The protagonists uncover a gun racket linked to police corruption.The Green Hornet takes matters into his own hands to investigate.A confrontation at a garage reveals the extent of the gun trafficking operation.The narrative highlights themes of justice and corruption.The characters navigate through danger and deception.The investigation leads to unexpected alliances and betrayals.The story culminates in a thrilling showdown with the criminals.The Green Hornet's actions challenge the status quo of law enforcement.The aftermath reveals the consequences of the characters' actions.Green Hornet, gun racket, investigation, crime, police corruption, mystery, action, thriller

When a druggist is accused of selling narcotics, he pleads guilty so he won't have to reveal the others in the drug ring.

When a desperate lawyer vanishes without a trace, his wife begins receiving mysterious checks—signed by her supposedly dead husband. | #RetroRadio EP0433Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Strange Passenger” (April 15, 1976)00:46:37.019 = Green Hornet, “Numbers Make a Racket” (August 29, 1939)01:16:01.959 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Elusive Vermeer” (May 16, 1952) ***WD01:41:24.879 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “Keeping His Promise” (January 13, 1980)02:09:36.769 = The Haunting Hour, “Nocturne” (September 15, 1945)02:34:47.629 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Bitter Wine” (June 14, 1959)02:59:08.669 = Murder Is My Hobby, Murder at the Arnold House” (1945-1950)03:22:57.989 = Sherlock Holmes, “Telltale Pigeon Feathers” (January 21, 1946)03:51:05.249 = Incredible But True, “Two Men In The Moon” (1950-1951)03:54:40.570 = Inner Sanctum, “Boomerang” (November 20, 1945)04:24:46.389 = The Key, “Dear John Letter” (1956) ***WD04:49:46.146 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0433

On this When It Was Cool Patreon special I review a movie condensed from the 1940 Green Hornet film serial.  Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger exist inside the same fictional universe, in fact, later cannon has Green Hornet as the great nephew of the Lone Ranger. Keye Luke who later played BIind Master Po in Kung Fu is Kato in this series.  Karl Stern talks you through this often-overlooked corner of the superhero universe.

This episode revolves around the Green Hornet's investigation into a gambling racket led by Chief Ritter. The dialogue explores themes of corruption within the police force, the challenges of uncovering the truth, and the dynamic between law enforcement and vigilante justice. Key characters engage in a cat-and-mouse game, revealing the complexities of crime and morality in their pursuit of justice.TakeawaysRitter is not the ideal chief of police.The gambling racket is a persistent issue.Frenchy's gambling joint is suspected to be reopening.The police are under scrutiny for their actions.Moran is a key informant in the investigation.The Green Hornet operates in secrecy.Ritter's integrity is questioned throughout the investigation.The raid on Frenchy's joint reveals deeper corruption.The Green Hornet's identity remains a closely guarded secret.The tension between law enforcement and vigilante justice is palpable.The Green Hornet Radio Show: "The Green Hornet," a thrilling radio adventure series, first buzzed onto the airwaves in January 1936, captivating audiences with its tales of a masked vigilante battling crime. The initial portrayal of Britt Reid/The Green Hornet was voiced by Al Hodge, who was later succeeded by several other actors, most notably Brace Beemer, who became synonymous with the role for many listeners. Kato, Reid's loyal valet and skilled martial arts expert, was famously voiced by Tokutaro Hayashi and later Rollon Parker. The show's central premise revolved around Britt Reid, a wealthy newspaper publisher who secretly operated as The Green Hornet by night. Using his resources, along with Kato's fighting prowess and their signature gas gun, they fought criminals while maintaining Reid's public facade as a playboy. The target audience for "The Green Hornet" was broad, appealing to both younger listeners with its action and adventure and older audiences with its suspenseful storylines and charismatic lead. The original radio run spanned over fifteen years, concluding in December 1952, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. Throughout its run, the show featured contributions from various talented actors and writers who helped shape its enduring appeal, including Fran Striker, the creator of both "The Green Hornet" and "The Lone Ranger."Green Hornet, police, gambling, investigation, crime, vigilante, drama, action, mystery, law enforcement

A unethical dealer in gasoline has been underselling the legitimate competition by a large amount. The gas in question is of very low quality. Or is it?

In this thrilling episode, the Green Hornet investigates a corrupt parole racket led by Boss Kendall. As the story unfolds, Reed and his team uncover the truth behind the illegal activities, leading to a high-stakes chase for the key witness, Harris. The tension escalates as they confront Kendall, revealing the depths of his corruption and the lengths he will go to protect himself. The episode culminates in a dramatic showdown, exposing the truth and ensuring justice is served.TakeawaysThe Green Hornet uncovers a major corruption scandal.Kendall's chauffeur is implicated in selling paroles.Harris becomes a key witness in the investigation.The Green Hornet uses clever tactics to track down Harris.Kendall's manipulation of the parole system is revealed.The importance of evidence in exposing corruption is highlighted.The tension between the Green Hornet and Kendall escalates.Harris's fear of the Green Hornet adds suspense to the story.The police play a crucial role in the resolution of the case.Justice prevails as the truth about Kendall is revealed.

A scientist has invented a new poison gas. Britt Reid, with the help of his father, tries to keep spies from getting to the scientist. Three suicides complicate the case.

Soldier and His Dog

A woman who, upon returning to her cherished home, finds it inhabited by a family of strangers who seem oblivious to her presence. | #RetroRadio EP0424Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Intruders” (March 30, 1976)00:46:59.839 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Speak No More, aka Telepathic” (May 07, 1958) ***WD01:06:41.359 = Dark Fantasy, “Death Is a Savage Deity” (January 30, 1942)01:30:49.649 = The Diary of Fate, “Walter Vincent” (May 25, 1948) ***WD01:59:58.959 = Fear on 4, “Dispossessed Daughter” (January 29, 1989)02:28:47.509 = Five After the Hour, “Life And Times of a Happy Man” (May 16, 1945) ***WD02:52:59.739 = Five Minute Mysteries, “Announcer's Delight” (late 1940s)02:58:02.073 = Future Tense, “The Parade” (May 27, 1974) ***WD03:24:15.329 = Gang Busters, “Oliver Brothers” (January 31, 1948)03:47:18.769 = The Green Hornet, “The House That Jack Built” (August 24, 1939)04:16:45.589 = The Hall of Fantasy, “The Shadow People” (September 21, 1953) ***WD04:41:15.339 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Suzie's Cue” (May 02, 1952) ***WD05:06:40.080 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0424

The show revolves around the thrilling escapades of a reporter aspiring to uncover the truth behind a violent incident involving her husband. As she navigates the dangerous underworld and the unscrupulous business practices of a rival, the Green Hornet emerges as a pivotal figure in the unfolding drama. The narrative explores themes of ambition, deception, and the quest for justice, culminating in a tense confrontation and unexpected twists.TakeawaysThe aspiration to be a reporter drives the protagonist.The investigation reveals deep connections to the underworld.The Green Hornet plays a crucial role in the narrative.Business rivalries can lead to dangerous consequences.The importance of courage in the face of adversity.Unexpected alliances can form in the pursuit of truth.The impact of violence on personal relationships is profound.Strategic thinking is essential in high-stakes situations.The narrative showcases the complexity of moral choices.The story emphasizes the power of the press in uncovering corruption."The Green Hornet" radio series, originating in 1936, featured Britt Reid, a masked vigilante, and his partner Kato fighting crime. Britt Reid, related to the Lone Ranger as his grandnephew, used a secret passage in his apartment to access the "Black Beauty" car for their night missions. The series showcased a dynamic partnership between Britt Reid and Kato, with Reid exuding charisma as a businessman and Kato as a skilled martial artist. Together, they embarked on thrilling missions, utilizing their resourcefulness and the iconic "Black Beauty" to outwit adversaries. The series also featured a rich cast of supporting characters and villains, including Lenore "Casey" Case, Black Mask, and Miss X. "The Green Hornet" captivated audiences with its adventures, compelling characters, and timeless themes of justice and heroism, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture.The Green Hornet Radio Show: "The Green Hornet," a thrilling radio adventure series, first buzzed onto the airwaves in January 1936, captivating audiences with its tales of a masked vigilante battling crime. The initial portrayal of Britt Reid/The Green Hornet was voiced by Al Hodge, who was later succeeded by several other actors, most notably Brace Beemer, who became synonymous with the role for many listeners. Kato, Reid's loyal valet and skilled martial arts expert, was famously voiced by Tokutaro Hayashi and later Rollon Parker. The show's central premise revolved around Britt Reid, a wealthy newspaper publisher who secretly operated as The Green Hornet by night. Using his resources, along with Kato's fighting prowess and their signature gas gun, they fought criminals while maintaining Reid's public facade as a playboy. The target audience for "The Green Hornet" was broad, appealing to both younger listeners with its action and adventure and older audiences with its suspenseful storylines and charismatic lead. The original radio run spanned over fifteen years, concluding in December 1952, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. Throughout its run, the show featured contributions from various talented actors and writers who helped shape its enduring appeal, including Fran Striker, the creator of both "The Green Hornet" and "The Lone Ranger."

Photographer Clicker Binney returns to the Sentinel and catches a traffic "accident" involving two enemy agents out to sabotage a power plant.

This week on the RTC Weekly Download: Bob Hope and "The Green Hornet"   

A skeptical tourist at the Tower of London plays an ancient organ — only to awaken haunted by headless phantoms demanding his return. Hear the tale from Dark Fantasy! | #RetroRadio EP0416Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Other Side of the Coin” (March 18, 1976)00:47:22.209 = Murder By Experts, “It's Luck That Counts” (August 29, 1949) ***WD01:17:04.639 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Cold Equations, aka The Stowaway” (April 30, 1958) ***WD01:34:56.399 = Dark Fantasy, “Headless Dead” (January 23, 1942)01:59:34.029 = Diary of Fate, “David Dexter” (May 04, 1948) ***WD02:29:11.019 = Fear on 4, “The Dead Drummer” (1988-1992)02:57:36.539 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Squealing Gearshift” (late 1940s)03:02:43.369 = Future Tense, “Zero Hour” (May 23, 1974) ***WD03:21:32.909 = Gang Busters, “Joe Fletcher” (January 24, 1948)03:45:03.119 = Green Hornet, “A Rake” (August 22, 1939)04:14:26.439 = The Hall of Fantasy, “The Judge's House” (April 03, 1947) ***WD04:41:20.629 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Harry Lime Joins the Circus” (April 25, 1952) ***WD05:06:56.277 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0416

Can Falk and his friends stop a careless rocket launch in the heart of Parabellum City that could damage buildings and injure citizens? Which heroes or villains will guest star on this season finale? Does the Moon have air? Listen to find out!Shoot the Moon, episode 130 of This Gun in My Hand, was launched by Rob Northrup. This episode and all others are available on Youtube with automatically-generated closed captions of dialog. Visit http://ThisGuninMyHand.blogspot.com for credits, show notes, archives, and to buy my books, such as Sisyphus, Eat Your Heart Out, available in paperback and ebook from Amazon, which is not owned by the world's RICHEST Nazi. But he's kiiiiiinda… With what do I shoot the moon? This Gun in My Hand!Show Notes:1. There are too many special guests in this episode to list all their previous appearances. If you're fanatical, you can look them up in the subject index linked below, which lists character appearances, characters mentioned, locations, music, ads and fake radio shows in the previous 129 episodes.https://thisguninmyhand.blogspot.com/2022/02/subject-index.html 2. I usually try to restrain myself from pointing out all the pop culture references in episodes of This Gun in My Hand, because if you don't recognize the reference in the first place, it's not going to become funny when it's pointed out. But just to give a sense of the volume, here are all the allusions or subjects of parody in this episode: Buck Rogers, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Moonraker, Batman, Godfather II, Agatha Christie, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Hill Street Blues, Twin Peaks, Barney Miller, Green Hornet, Buckaroo Banzai, Defenders of the Earth, GI Joe, the Secretary of “Health and Human Services” (sic), and that guy who capitalized on his inherited generational wealth and suckered people into believing he's a genius (sorry, that doesn't narrow it down, does it?).Credits:The opening music clip was from The Sun Sets at Dawn (1950). The “Spoilers” commercial music was from The Scar (aka Hollow Triumph, 1948). Closing music was from Killer Bait (1949). All three films are in the public domain. Most of the music and sound effects used in the episode are modified or incomplete versions of the originals.Sound Effect Title: PopPerformed by Rob pulling the stopper out of a 60mL enteral syringeSound Effect Title: S16-06 Light wooden door open & close.wavLicense: Public Domainhttps://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/675878/Sound Effect Title: Djembe Hit 13 Hi Rim.wav by carlmartinLicense: Public Domainhttps://freesound.org/s/158957/ Sound Effect Title: Punch.wavBy ztrees1License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0https://freesound.org/people/ztrees1/sounds/134934/Sound Effect Title: EARTHQUAKE OR DISTANT SPACE SHUTTLE RUMBLE.WAV by metrostock99 License: Public Domainhttps://freesound.org/s/203281/ Sound Effect Title: Rumble 1.wav by Zeraora License: Public Domainhttps://freesound.org/s/524489/ Sound Effect Title: Landmass / Earth Rumble by el-beeLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0https://freesound.org/s/363122/ Sound Effect Title: Rockfall (7lrs,grnlzr,Eq) 2.wav by newlocknew License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0https://freesound.org/s/497206/ Sound Effect Title: footsteps cellar.wavLicense: Public Domainhttps://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/545030/The image accompanying this episode is a modified detail of the novel cover “And Then The Town Took Off,” art by Edmund Emshwiller.Image Alt text: Painting shows close-up of a rocket or jet pilot through the clear canopy of the vehicle, high in the sky. Through the side of his windshield we see a massive hunk of earth with houses and buildings on top of it moving through the air, as if it had been removed with a giant ice cream scoop and hurled into orbit.

The Green Hornet Radio Show: "The Green Hornet," a thrilling radio adventure series, first buzzed onto the airwaves in January 1936, captivating audiences with its tales of a masked vigilante battling crime. The initial portrayal of Britt Reid/The Green Hornet was voiced by Al Hodge, who was later succeeded by several other actors, most notably Brace Beemer, who became synonymous with the role for many listeners. Kato, Reid's loyal valet and skilled martial arts expert, was famously voiced by Tokutaro Hayashi and later Rollon Parker. The show's central premise revolved around Britt Reid, a wealthy newspaper publisher who secretly operated as The Green Hornet by night. Using his resources, along with Kato's fighting prowess and their signature gas gun, they fought criminals while maintaining Reid's public facade as a playboy. The target audience for "The Green Hornet" was broad, appealing to both younger listeners with its action and adventure and older audiences with its suspenseful storylines and charismatic lead. The original radio run spanned over fifteen years, concluding in December 1952, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. Throughout its run, the show featured contributions from various talented actors and writers who helped shape its enduring appeal, including Fran Striker, the creator of both "The Green Hornet" and "The Lone Ranger."TakeawaysThe Green Hornet is a vigilante who intervenes in crime.Firefly is a racehorse at the center of a murder mystery.A character named Jerry is murdered, raising suspicions.The race is suspected to be fixed by professional gamblers.The investigation reveals connections to a gambling syndicate.The Green Hornet aims to restore integrity to the race.Characters express doubt about the true identity of Firefly.Tension builds as the race day approaches.The story highlights themes of justice and corruption.The narrative combines elements of suspense and action.Green Hornet, horse racing, murder mystery, race fixing, Firefly, gambling syndicate, crime, investigation, suspense, thriller

Sam Mercer is a test pilot who's kidnapped before trying out as experimental aircraft. A false news story planted in The Daily Sentinel leads to the capture of two Nazi spies.

What do Dark Shadows and Masters of the Universe have in common? Perhaps, more than one might think! Penny Dreadful is joined by her friends Ted Biaselli, Director of Original Series at Netflix and Executive Producer on Masters of the Universe Revelation and Revolution, and Jon Kallis, host of Masters Cast - the longest-running He-Man and She-Ra podcast in the universe - to discuss some interesting parallels! In addition to DS, He-Man, and She-Ra, many other pop culture topics and IPs are explored and addressed. These include: fandom, revivals, The Charmings, The Green Hornet, Iron Man, Archie, Riverdale, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Jem, Lost in Space, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and much more! Bonus: Ted shares a fun story about meeting John Karlen in Los Angeles!Download or listen to the AUDIO version below. Watch the VIDEO version on YouTube. Subscribe to Terror at Collinwood FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,IHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe, like, and comment on the video version of the podcast at the official Terror at Collinwood YouTube channel.Rondo Awards Announcement: Terror at Collinwood won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Podcast! Thank you to everyone who voted! Congratulations to all of the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions. See the full results of the twenty-third Annual Rondo Awards HEREMasters Cast WebsiteMasters Cast on FacebookPenny Dreadful's review of the 2012 WB DS film on LiveJournalTerror at Collinwood and Shilling Shockers shirts and merch at the Penny Dreadful XIII TeePublic shopHelp support the podcast by donating at Buy Me a CoffeeSurfing the Shadows surf rock cover of Robert Cobert's Dark Shadows theme by Johnny D & The MoonlightersTaC logos by Eric Marshall

A woman trying to sell her house is plagued by eerie phone calls from a mysterious number — calls that seem to know her deepest fears. Hear the story from Fear On 4, “Snipe 3909!” | #RetroRadio EP0408Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Monk and Hangman's Daughter” (March 04, 1976)00:47:02.759 = Dark Fantasy, “Debt From The Past” (January 16, 1942) ***WD01:11:29.009 = Diary of Fate, “Craig Norton” (April 20, 1948) ***WD01:40:13.899 = Fear on 4, “Snipe 3909” (January 15, 1989)02:10:00.999 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Methodical to a Fault” (Late 1940s)02:15:16.766 = Future Tense, “Tunnel Under the World” (May 22, 1974) ***WD02:42:09.709 = Gang Busters, “Triple Threat Bandit” (December 27, 1947)03:06:42.819 = The Green Hornet, “A Racket Robs the Cradle” (August 17, 1939)03:36:09.589 = The Hall of Fantasy, He Who Follows Me” (March 11, 1950)04:00:47.899 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “The Painted Smile” (April 18, 1952) ***WD04:26:06.029 = BBC's Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Late Departure” (August 23, 1980)04:53:01.529 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0408

OMG you guys, there are too many spoilers for this one! Let's just say: Madison, Kato, a corpse that disappears, enemy spies, knock-out gas, treason and a little bit of gender swapping. It's the Adventures of the Green Hornet as only Madison could do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I vår tid med sociala medier, videosamtal, surfhistorik, drönare, ansiktsigenkänning, smarta lås, air-tags och hitta-appar är vi som medborgare (potentiellt) alltid övervakade – eller kan i alla fall inte vara helt säkra på att det vi säger och gör stannar i den privata sfären. Vad gör den här osäkerheten med oss? Rätt mycket, enligt ny psykologisk forskning. Björn berättar om ett misstag som ledde till fruktansvärd oversharing på nätet och Lina har fått en uppenbarelse med sina sociala medier.Klipp:10:15 Dirty Harry16:15 The Green Hornet (1966)22:48 Curb Your Enthusiasm - Anonymous Donor30:33 Lilo&StitchRedigering: Peter Malmqvist. Vill du slippa reklamen? Prenumerera på Dumma Människor för 19 kr/månaden (ink moms). https://plus.acast.com/s/dummamanniskor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thrilling episode, the Green Hornet investigates the mysterious Mr. X, who has been sending warning letters to the Sentinel newspaper. As the story unfolds, the Hornet and his partner Kato delve into the criminal underworld, uncovering a numbers racket run by Slicker Kane and Bragg. The tension escalates as they navigate danger, deception, and the elusive figure of Mr. X, ultimately leading to a confrontation that reveals the truth behind the racket and the identity of Mr. X.TakeawaysThe Green Hornet is a vigilante who fights crime.Mr. X is a mysterious figure behind local rackets.The Sentinel newspaper plays a crucial role in the investigation.Slicker Kane is involved in illegal activities.The characters exhibit a mix of humor and tension.The story highlights the challenges of journalism.Kato is a loyal partner to the Green Hornet.The investigation leads to unexpected twists.The theme of deception runs throughout the narrative.The resolution reveals the consequences of crime."The Green Hornet" radio series, originating in 1936, featured Britt Reid, a masked vigilante, and his partner Kato fighting crime. Britt Reid, related to the Lone Ranger as his grandnephew, used a secret passage in his apartment to access the "Black Beauty" car for their night missions. The series showcased a dynamic partnership between Britt Reid and Kato, with Reid exuding charisma as a businessman and Kato as a skilled martial artist. Together, they embarked on thrilling missions, utilizing their resourcefulness and the iconic "Black Beauty" to outwit adversaries. The series also featured a rich cast of supporting characters and villains, including Lenore "Casey" Case, Black Mask, and Miss X. "The Green Hornet" captivated audiences with its adventures, compelling characters, and timeless themes of justice and heroism, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture.Green Hornet, Mr. X, crime, investigation, mystery, rackets, journalism, suspense

Jim Slade claims to be an FBI agant and asks Britt Reid to help him catch the Green Hornet. Jim is a part-time jewel thief and full-time Nazi spy.

An old woman who has always lived in poverty suddenly dies and leaves behind a huge fortune — but unsettling clues suggesting the wealth might not be from this world! Hear the tale from Future Tense! | #RetroRadio EP0400Get the Darkness Syndicate version of this episode at https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and for Commercial Version Only)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Angel of Death” (February 16, 1976) ***WD00:48:19.869 = Fear on 4, “The Specialty of the House” (March 01, 1988)01:18:17.149 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Radium Murder Case” (Late 1940s)01:23:36.429 = Future Tense, “The Old Die Rich” (May 21, 1974) ***WD01:52:42.679 = Gang Busters, “Tennessee Valley Killer” (December 20, 1947)02:16:44.859 = The Green Hornet, “Money In The Meter” (August 15, 1939)02:46:09.669 = Hall of Fantasy, “The Tell-Tale Heart” (June 01, 1953) ***WD03:10:03.129 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Fool's Gold” (April 04, 1952) ***WD03:35:21.189 = Haunted, Tales of the Supernatural, “Christina” (August 16, 1980)04:02:06.099 = The Haunting Hour, “People In The House” (August 17, 1945) ***WD04:27:07.079 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Lady Kane, The Silver Queen” (May 17, 1959)04:51:06.698 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0400TAGS: true crime, paranormal, science fiction, old time radio, otr, otr horror, classic radio shows, horror radio shows, vintage radio dramas, suspense radio classics, 1940s radio horror, old radio mystery shows, creepy old radio shows, true crime radio, supernatural radio plays, golden age radio, eerie radio mysteries, macabre old time radio, nostalgic thrillers, classic crime podcast, retro horror podcast, weird darkness, weird darkness podcast, retro radio, classic radio

The conversation revolves around the adventures of the Green Hornet, focusing on the character Britt Reid and his sidekick Kato as they navigate through crime investigations, rivalries, and union issues. The narrative introduces Mr. X, a mysterious antagonist, and explores the dynamics of crime and justice in their world.TakeawaysThe Green Hornet is a vigilante fighting against public enemies.Britt Reid and Kato work together to solve crimes.Mr. X poses a significant threat to the Green Hornet.The investigation reveals deeper issues within the union.The characters face moral dilemmas regarding their actions.The narrative highlights the importance of teamwork in crime-fighting.The story showcases the tension between law enforcement and criminals.The Green Hornet's methods often blur the lines of legality.The union meeting serves as a pivotal point in the plot.The characters' motivations are driven by personal and societal stakes.Sound Bites"Hot green hornet!""The Green Hornet strikes again.""I want to protect her.""I'll be right out, Bryce."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Green Hornet03:52 The Investigation Begins10:09 Unraveling the Mystery of Mr. X18:05 The Union Meeting and Its Implications"The Green Hornet" radio series, originating in 1936, featured Britt Reid, a masked vigilante, and his partner Kato fighting crime. Britt Reid, related to the Lone Ranger as his grandnephew, used a secret passage in his apartment to access the "Black Beauty" car for their night missions. The series showcased a dynamic partnership between Britt Reid and Kato, with Reid exuding charisma as a businessman and Kato as a skilled martial artist. Together, they embarked on thrilling missions, utilizing their resourcefulness and the iconic "Black Beauty" to outwit adversaries. The series also featured a rich cast of supporting characters and villains, including Lenore "Casey" Case, Black Mask, and Miss X. "The Green Hornet" captivated audiences with its adventures, compelling characters, and timeless themes of justice and heroism, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture.Green Hornet, Mr. X, Britt Reid, Kato, crime, investigation, union, strike, mystery, adventure

An honest judge suspect Axis spies are infiltrating the city's labor unions. The judge's son is fooled into thinking he's a murder, forcing the judge to resign.

In this episode of The Conspiracy Podcast, the boys dive deep into the life, mysterious death, and legacy of Bruce Lee, a martial arts icon who left an mark on Hollywood and global culture. Sean, Jorge, and Eric explore the shocking events of July 20, 1973, when Bruce Lee passed away at just 32 years old, right as he was on the verge of worldwide stardom. The official cause of death—a fatal allergic reaction to a painkiller—was ruled an accident, but many believe the circumstances surrounding his demise are far from ordinary.The boys take listeners on a journey through Bruce's extraordinary life. From his early days as a child star in Hong Kong to his rise as a groundbreaking martial artist and film star, Bruce Lee's impact was immense. His roles as Kato in The Green Hornet and his starring performances in The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and Enter the Dragon broke barriers and showcased his unmatched talent. Bruce's innovative philosophy of martial arts and his vision for a more inclusive and practical fighting style led to the creation of Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts system that challenged traditional boundaries.However, on the night of his death, questions began to emerge. What truly happened during the final hours of Bruce Lee's life? Was it really an allergic reaction, or was there a darker force at play? The episode breaks down the official findings, including the autopsy that confirmed cerebral edema—brain swelling—as the cause of death, but left the trigger for the swelling uncertain. Theories have flourished ever since, ranging from heatstroke caused by his past surgery to remove sweat glands, to suspicions about the involvement of the Triads, the Chinese mafia, or even the American mafia seeking to control his rising Hollywood career.The boys also delve into alternative theories, including a possible family curse or mysterious martial arts rivals seeking revenge. The conspiracy surrounding Bruce Lee's death remains one of the most discussed and controversial topics in pop culture history. Was it a tragic accident, or was Bruce Lee's sudden death part of a larger, hidden story?Join the boys as they revisit the incredible life and mysterious death of Bruce Lee, unraveling the facts, speculations, and wild theories that continue to capture the imagination of fans around the world. Was Bruce Lee's death really an accident, or was it something far more complex? Tune in for an in-depth exploration of a legend whose influence is still felt to this day.https://www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcast

During a violent thunderstorm, a reclusive man is visited by a strange salesman peddling lightning rods—but what begins as a sales pitch quickly spirals into a chilling confrontation about fear, faith, and control. Is the visitor a protector… or something far more sinister? Hear Herman Melville's “The Lightning-Rod Man” from Faces In The Window! | #RetroRadio EP0391Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and Only Accurate For the Commercial Version)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Mirror, Mirror” (January 28, 1976) ***WD00:47:05.019 = Faces In The Window, “Lightning Rod Man” (January 17, 1953) ***WD (LQ)01:11:57.309 = Dark Fantasy, “Resolution” (January 02, 1942) ***WD01:37:07.609 = Diary of Fate, “Paul Reese” (March 23, 1948) ***WD (LQ)02:06:34.239 = BBC Fear on 4, “Day At The Dentist's” (March 13, 1988)02:36:16.259 = Five Minute Mysteries, “Case of Oversight” (July 28, 1948)02:42:49.939 = Future Tense, “A Pail Of Air” (May 20, 1974) ***WD03:11:16.829 = Gang Busters, “New Jersey Counterfeiters” (December 13, 1947)03:42:22.089 = Green Hornet, “Lightning Strikes a Shakedown” (August 10, 1939)04:12:12.759 = Hall of Fantasy, “Man-Size In Marble” (April 10, 1947)04:39:34.989 = The Lives of Harry Live, “Pleasure Before Business” (March 28, 1952) ***WD05:04:06.428 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0391TAGS: old time radio, otr horror, classic radio shows, horror radio shows, vintage radio dramas, suspense radio classics, 1940s radio horror, old radio mystery shows, creepy old radio shows, true crime radio, supernatural radio plays, golden age radio, eerie radio mysteries, macabre old time radio, nostalgic thrillers, classic crime podcast, retro horror podcast, weird darkness, weird darkness podcast, weird darkness retro radio, retro radio, classic radio

A mysterious child is chained in a basement by its parents. As the story unfolds, subtle hints suggest that the child is not entirely human – its body secretes green fluid, and it moves in unsettling ways. Hear the story “Born of Man And Woman” on Future Tense! | #RetroRadio EP0383Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” (January 09, 1976) ***WD00:48:04.969 = Five After The Hour, “Light Wife” (October 17, 1945) ***WD01:12:21.859 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Book Case” (Late 1940s)01:19:43.839 = Future Tense, “Born of Man And Woman” (May 16, 1974) ***WD01:48:31.689 = Gang Busters, “Supersonic Safecrackers” (December 06, 1947)02:15:07.119 = The Green Hornet, “The Lawyer Beats the Law” (August 08, 1939)02:45:17.919 = The Hall of Fantasy, “The Judge's House” (April 03, 1947) ***WD03:12:59.309 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Faith, Lime and Charity” (March 21, 1952) ***WD03:39:15.899 = (BBC) Haunted, Tales of the Supernatural, “Listen To The Silence” (August 02, 1980) ***WD04:08:24.529 = The Haunting Hour, “Second Chance” (August 03, 1945)04:34:21.479 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Gun Shy” (May 03, 1959)04:58:38.119 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0383

Based on Richard Matheson's short story, “Third From The Sun” follows a scientist and his friend who, upon discovering that their planet is on the brink of nuclear war, plan to escape with their families by stealing an experimental spacecraft. Their destination is a distant planet called… Earth. Hear the story in Future Tense!Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “You Can Change Your Life” (December 11, 1975) ***WD00:47:02.579 = Five After The Hour, “Forty Writers” (September 12, 1945) ***WD01:11:24.529 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Death In a Turkish Bath” (Late 1940s)01:16:35.559 = Future Tense, “Really Heavy” and “Third From The Sun” (May 15, 1974) ***WD01:44:07.669 = Gang Busters, “Jersey Butcher Bandits” (November 08, 1947)02:09:19.049 = Green Hornet, “A Racket In The Ring” (August 03, 1939)02:38:43.919 = Hall of Fantasy, “Markheim” (April 24, 1947)03:04:59.339 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Dead Candidate” (February 15, 1952) ***WD (LQ)03:30:52.189 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Decoy” (July 26, 1980)03:59:33.579 = The Haunting Hour, “Unidentified Body” (July 28, 1945) ***WD04:24:34.529 = Have Gun Will Travel, “The Gunsmith” (April 26, 1959)04:48:37.219 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0370

A scientist lives in a world where a new type of robot has been developed to take over every aspect of human life – but is that a life worth living? Hear the story, “With Folded Hands” from Future Tense!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Serpent's Tooth” (November 24, 1975) ***WD00:47:12.569 = Five After The Hour, “Primer For Prejudice” (August 29, 1945)01:11:25.579 = Future Tense, “With Folded Hands” (May 14, 1974) ***WD01:39:59.839 = Gang Busters, “Notorious Gang Leader, Part 1” (October 18, 1947) ***WD02:03:17.049 = Gang Busters, “Notorious Gang Leader, Part 2” (October 18, 1947) ***WD02:26:41.069 = The Green Hornet, “Bait For a Burglar” (August 01, 1939)02:55:54.959 = The Hall of Fantasy, “Death In The Bayous” (March 06, 1947)03:26:02.009 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Earlon Troubled Waters” (February 08, 1952) ***WD03:51:11.209 = BBC Haunted, Tales of the Supernatural, “The Dream Woman” (July 19, 1980) ***WD04:18:40.049 = The Haunting Hour, “Uptown Express” (June 17, 1945)04:43:41.829 = Have Gun Will Travel, “Birds of a Feather” (April 19, 1959)05:03:36.530 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0360