Podcasts about john you

Finally! A new sneaker.  I talk about this shoe and also how it feels to get the "one" shoe for the month after weaning off some bad spending habits.  Also, ironically, possible new pairs to splurge on! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I go over recent sneaker news about Steph Curry of Golden State Warriors fame signing with Chinese basketball sneaker brand Li Ning.  Then, of course, some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I'm looking at the brand that charges more and wondering if raising prices in an on-the-ground recession is the smartest move?  Also, upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I got a ramble on why always looking for deals will both build out your collection with unique sleepers and also low key destroy your wallet.   And how I'm reclaiming pairs I had up for sale, since I'm not copping that much these days.  Plus, some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode we look at the recent tale of two Threes, and what made one sell out while the other sat?  Also, some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I go into what can trigger a "buy less" phase for the collection, what are the steps to get out of it, the trap of "deals" and whether or not you can come back from not buying pairs constantly after doing so for so long.  Plus, a review of the AJ1 low banned and then as usual some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Here's a ramble coming from a guy with a degree in business management wondering if a companies financial status affects how "cool" the company is, and if there's anything dorkier than talking about whether something is "cool" or not.  Then, as usual, some upcoming pairs to discuss. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode the latest pickups to discuss include the Songkran SBs, Heat Map AF1s and the AF1 x SB collab model.  And then as always, some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

John Tothill is one of the most exciting stand-ups to come out of the UK in recent years. Debuting in 2023, he's now on his third show with This Must Be Heaven - the story of his near death experience and an underwhelming cruise. In this episode we discuss:the brutal truth about moving from open mics to pro gigswhy early WIPs are often funnier than complete showsthe loneliness of being trapped on a cruise ship after bombing every nightwhy crowd work makes him uncomfortablescaling material up for bigger rooms while supporting Alan Daviesand we find out if John Tothill is happy…Join the Insiders Club at Patreon.com/ComComPod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to 15 minutes of exclusive extras including:the realisation that not everyone will get your material, but the right people really willwhat trait is most likely to obstruct successwhy “doing the work” often looks like not doing the work at alland the fear about where the world goes next…

In this episode I address a question I haven't talked about in a while, but which I still get asked to this day, what pants I'm wearing with my kicks!  Then of course, the upcoming pairs as usual! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Can you guess what models I picked up recently?  Learn the details here, and then we'll get into some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

I just have the one pickup this week so I will get into some details about the Nike SB Dunk Low x NOTE Manchester "Brew & Biscuits".  And then get into some upcoming pairs as usual! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Austin St. John is an iconic actor and martial artist celebrated for his role as the original Red Power Ranger, Jason Lee Scott, in the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series.. The episode delves into Austin's transformation from a young martial artist to an international superhero icon. The candid conversation reveals behind-the-scenes stories from the Power Rangers era, Austin's unique experiences with global fame, and his transition into a versatile entrepreneur. Rudy and Austin discuss overcoming the paralysis of analysis and perfectionism, reminding listeners that starting is crucial to success.The episode provides a rich narrative about Austin's life lessons, particularly how he leveraged the Power Rangers' success to fuel his entrepreneurial spirit. They discuss the critical aspects of business like timing, perseverance, and learning from failure. Austin emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to victim mentality, consistently surrounding oneself with positive influences, and championing patience and time as heroes in achieving one's goals. From recounting the crazy story of securing his role as Jason to highlighting the impact of the Power Rangers franchise, the discussion offers valuable insights into mindset and resilience.Key Takeaways:The path to success often requires embracing imperfection and starting with what you have.Perfectionism and over-analysis can stall progress; taking action is vital.Recognizing and learning from missteps can unlock immense opportunities.Patience and time are two crucial elements that contribute to lasting success.Surrounding yourself with positive, like-minded individuals is key to driving personal and professional growth.Notable Quotes:"You're never supposed to wear red on camera." – Austin St. John"How do you defeat a man who never stops getting up?" – Austin St. John"Luck is preparation meeting opportunity." – Austin St. John"The two greatest heroes in existence…are time and patience." – Austin St. John"You have not failed until you choose not to get back up." – Austin St. JohnConnect with Austin St. John:WebsiteInstagramFacebookConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

In this episode I go over some pickups including my first official Nike Easter colorway (that I can think of).  Then of course we get to some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Easter Series 2026: Eyewitnesses of Jesus Part 3: Peter Peter's story is not just about failure…it's about what Jesus does after the failure. Peter didn't drift away slowly, he denied Jesus directly. Face to face with pressure, he said: “I do not know that man.” Three times. And when it was over, Scripture says he went out and wept bitterly. This is the weight of sin, not just what he did, but the realization of it. And that's where grace came looking for him. After the resurrection, the angel says: “Go tell His disciples and Peter…” Why mention Peter? Because Jesus knew something...Shame would try to keep Peter from coming back. So before Peter could even make a move toward Jesus…Jesus made a move toward him. That's where the restoration of what shame tried to steal comes in. When they meet again, Jesus doesn't say: “Explain yourself.” He says: “Do you love Me?” Three times. Each question wasn't reopening the wound, it was healing it. And then Jesus speaks purpose again: “Feed My sheep.” The Depth Behind "Feed My Sheep": Your failure didn't cancel your calling. Your mistake didn't erase your identity. Your story isn't over. What Forgiveness Does: Your sins have been sent away, not partially, but completely. You are pardoned and your debt is cancelled with nothing left to repay. You are FREE...It breaks your chains, where you are no longer bound. Peter's lowest moment didn't define him, Jesus' forgiveness did. He went from weeping in shame…to walking in purpose. The full series message concludes: John → You are loved Thomas → You can believe Peter → You are forgiven Key Takeaway - You don't have to stay where you fell, because Jesus is still calling your name.

Here I go again, in my thoughts about listening to the master teachers in my life, the children. As we continue to experience rapid changes in technology, I realize every day it is my grandchildren who will be teaching me the changes in this computer world we now live in. And so I listened to the comments collected from computer children, ages 10 to 15. These are students who spend an average of 10 hours a week working in their computer labs at school and home.Why do you like learning from a computer?John: Computers are patient. They never yell at you.Josh: You can work at your own pace. don't have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up.Joy: If you get sick of it, you can turn it off.How does working on the computer make you feel?Jared: I feel like I'm in charge of everything. Matthew: I feel like I'm the boss. I can control it.What do you like most about computers?John: You can use your imagination to program games.Stephen: I like the technology. I've always been interested in electronics and I like to be on the cutting edge of what's new.Do you think computers will ever replace school?John: No, teachers have feelings. You can't have a conversation with a computer.Aaron: If you worked with a computer all day, you wouldn't know how to get along with people.Do you like being able to learn things without anyone helping you?Michelle: It builds your confidence to be able to learn something by yourself.Joy: I feel smart when I configure things out myself.How do you feel about knowing more things about a computer than your parents?Alan: It's nice to have your parents ask you questions instead of you always asking them. Joy: We get to teach them for a change.How can a computer help your parents? Jamie: It can help them with business and taxes.Kara: Maybe make them less cranky because they would have more free time.Josh: They could do things quicker and have more time for other things.Joey told his father that he needed a computer for his homework. His father said, “You don't need a computer. When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he studied by candlelight in a log cabin.” “Yes, I know, dad.” And he thought for a moment…”And when he was your age, he was the president of the United States.” We parents and grandparents learn each day from the children.Warm thought: Our computer broke down and we had to think. Have many warm thoughts on these warm spring days!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, April 16, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Another Twitter hot topic regarding when the subject of Brad Hall came up...  You guys remember him?  And of course reviews and previews of kicks! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Another Twitter topic gone wild!  Discussion on what is considered "professional attire" these days when it comes to certain professions.  Plus a couple pickups including the Nike Air Max 90 Neon, and of course the upcoming pairs. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Saw this on Twitter, if you don't own any GR's and just have collabs or limited pairs, are you just a hypebeast?  I'll give my thoughs.  Also, of course, some upcoming pairs to discuss! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I give an update on the ol' finances and how that affects my collecting for 2026, as well as discuss pickups from a couple different brands.  Then of course we get into some upcoming and recently released pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

I'm going to talk about my latest pickup and ramble on a bit about doing stuff "different" on shoes like the upper on the Lenticular AF1 Protros.  Then of course we get into some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I discuss my latest 3 pickups, all AF1s!  Then of course we get into some cool upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I go through my latest pickup - the Nike SB Dunk Low x BXGS.  Then of course we get into some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Last November Nick and John introduced Dimitra Fimi, the magnificent maven of Tolkien Studies and Professor of Fantasy and Children's Literature at the University of Glasgow, to students of J. K. Rowling's work. In that discussion, ‘Reading Rowling as Myth Maker and Myth Re-Writer: A Conversation with Dr Dimitra Fimi,' she shared her thoughts about Rowling's creative use of mythology in Harry Potter but especially in the Cormoran Strike series.The Hogwarts Professor team asked her to join us again because of Rowling's yuletide charm bracelet gift to Strike fandom and the recent announcement of the Strike 9 title, Sleep Tight, Evangeline. Her insights about the Longfellow poem as a possible even likely source of the next book's epigraphs are engaging, but it is her expertise in the arcane area of miniature books as well as mythology and the light each shines on the two items attached to the last link of the charm bracelet that open up exciting possibilities.Her idea is that the Psalter on the ninth link of the charm bracelet may actually be, unlike the other tokens on the bracelet's nine links, an object that will play a part in the story, a miniature book. It turns out that one inch high books were something of an industry as curios in the 19th and early 20th century, a means of demonstrating technological mastery.Dr Fimi discussed several projects she has been a part of in conjunctions with nano-technologists and the librarians at the University of Glasgow's special collections division. The one that has the most obvious link to English literature is the ‘Tiny Alice project,' a contemporary effort to minituarize Lewis Carroll's Alice stories to unfathomable minuteness:The Tiny Alice Project has produced one of the world's smallest books: a tiny reproduction of Lewis Carroll's children's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). All 78 pages and 26,764 words of the story have been transposed on to a tiny silicon chip, with each page just the width of a human hair (60 microns). Each individual letter is just two microns high, and made from pure gold!Click on the icons below to find out more about the project, the technology behind it, and Lewis Carroll and his interest in the minuscule. Via the tabs above you can also discover the long tradition of miniature books, and teaching resources.Clip: Twixter link to tweet aboveYou can read Dr Fimi's write-up of ‘Tiny Alice' and the Miniature Book exhibition she curated at the University of Glasgow to highlight their special collection of these treasures at her 2019 blog post about them. Pictures that include annotated miniature books — copies in which their owners made notes in the miniscule margins of the printed pages — can be seen here.Later this week, Nick will be sharing his thoughts on Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book as the Ironbridge Murder story's template within Hallmarked Man, John, Nick, Sandy Hope, and Ed Shardlow will be parsing the ring within Strike8's Part Seven, and more about Longfellow's Evangeline — stay tuned!The Ten Questions Guiding Today's Conversation with Dr Fimi with the Necessary Links for Fun Follow-Up:(Intro) So everything Serious Strikers are thinking and talking about this month made me think of you, Dimitra, and to write you hat-in-hand with an invitation for your return to HogwartsProfessor to share your perspective, knowledge, and first impressions. Thank you for making time to join us!1. (John) Jumping right in, then, two of the charms on the Strike9 or ‘Evangeline' bracelet are Fimi areas of unique expertise: the Psalter and the Head of Persephone. I had urged readers to read your Miniature Books in Children's Fantasy at A Kind of Elvish Craft: The Dimitra Fimi Substack Site in the links after our conversation here last November but I confess to being surprised still when you asked for the dimensions of the Psalter charm after Nick and I posted our thoughts on the subject. For those who haven't read your ‘Miniature Books' post, please share how one of the world authorities on the writing of J. R. R. Tolkien became interested in the smallest of texts, the ‘Little Books' of 19th century printing.2. (Nick) So you asked for the dimensions of the Psalter, you weren't thinking as we were that the Psalter charms would be a box holding a folded up paper with a psalm, maybe two, inside it. You're thinking it might actually be a complete Coverdale Psalter? Is that possible?3. (John) What Nick and I hope to contribute to the nascent field of Rowling Studies, as you know, is a refocusing of the scholarship and the serious reader attention about her work on to her Lake Springs -- the biographical part of story inspiration -- her Shed Tools or intentional artistry, and the Golden Threads, the plot points and themes that run throughout her work, i.e., to bring Rowling Studies more in line with all literary scholarship about notable authors, living and dead.One of the Golden Threads we talked about in our Kanreki series last summer was the ‘Embedded Text,' the books inside a book topos that is in almost every book Rowling writes (Kanreki Golden Thread posts one and two). Detective fiction is always about an embedded text, the narrative ‘written' by the criminal to prevent the detective from reading the real story of what happened and Rowling-Galbraith often makes this narrative an actual book (Dumbledore Chocolate Frog Card, Tales of Beedle the Bard, Bombyx Mori, Talbot's ‘True Book,' The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus, etc.). How do you think a Psalter miniaturized book would appear in a Strike novel?4. (Nick) Has an author used a miniaturized book before in this way? Were there 19th Century Psalters that people wore as talismans or carried as the original Pocket Books?5. (John) And what about the Head of Persephone charm on that bracelet? It's on the ninth and last link, paired with that Psalter. You shared your first thought about the Persephone charm, a hopeful note, on the comment thread here. As our go-to authority on Greek mythology, I'm dying to know more of your thinking about (a) the specific charm and its relation to the Cupid and Psyche myth-template to the Strike series, (b) its pairing with the Psalter, and (c) its position as the last charm on the bracelet. Do you still think it's a sign that Robin will survive Sleep Tight, Evangeline?6. (Nick) As someone immersed in mythological studies and more than familiar with Rowling's use of myth, do you think the Jungian interpretation of that myth as the ‘actualization of feminine identity' is a better lens through which to read that embedded text or is the Spenserian lens of Eros/Anteros, False Cupid and Cupid more helpful? Or is this not a case of Either/Or but Both/And? Valentines Day Special7. (John) Rowling is a close reader and admirer of J. R. R. Tolkien, though that is more evident in the clear pointers to his work in her own work than from her interviews. How does her use of myth contrast with that of Tolkien and Lewis? (See John's 2008 post about Rowling's debts to Tolkien and the two part podcast with Tolkien scholars and Rowling Readers Dr Amy H Sturgis and Dr Sara Brown here and here for more on that influence.)8. (Nick) In an in-person meeting with UK Serious Strikers last week, Rowling shared with them and later via X with everyone the title of the ninth Strike novel, Sleep Tight, Evangeline. We're pretty sure that title refers to a song by an American Blues group called ‘The Whiskey Shambles' (story of the hunt, why Whiskey Shambles is a good bet). There is a famous poem, though, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called ‘Evangeline,' one perhaps not as famous as ‘Aurora Leigh' or ‘The Ring and the Book,' other texts Rowling may have used as back-drops to her novels, but still another poem very famous in its own time akin to those epics. Is its subject matter as good a match-up with the possible direction of Sleep Tight as the Victorian poetry back-drop is with other Rowling models?9. (John) You're a native Greek speaker; what does ‘Evangeline' mean in Greek? Is it a common name in Greece or is it a ‘Virtue Name' in the Puritan tradition of grace-filled names (cf., Credence Barebone is probably a reference to an Englishman named “Praise-God Barebone, whose son Nicholas may have been given the name If-Jesus-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned[3]“).10. (Nick) Don't leave before trying to tie together the pieces of this conversation! Is there a thread joining the Psalter, the Head of Persephone, miniaturized books, and the title Sleep Tight, Evangeline?Dimitra Fimi is Professor of Fantasy and Children's Literature at the University of Glasgow and Co-Director of the Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic. Her Tolkien, Race and Cultural History won the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award for Inklings Studies and she co-edited the critical edition of A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages which won the Tolkien Society Award for Best Book. Her Celtic Myth in Contemporary Children's Fantasy won the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Myth and Fantasy Studies. Other work includes co-editing Sub-creating Arda: World-building in J.R.R. Tolkien's Work, its Precursors and its Legacies and Imagining the Celtic Past in Modern Fantasy. She has contributed articles for the TLS and The Conversation, and has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs.When the rightly famous and beloved ‘The Great Courses' series decided to offer a Lord of the Rings entry for their catalog of the very best in scholarship for adult-learners, they asked Dimitra Fimi to create ‘The World of J. R. R. Tolkien,' one of their most popular courses and one you can enjoy in an Audible edition.Links Promised in Conversation:A Kind of Elvish Craft: The Dimitra Fimi Substack Site* Miniature Books in Children's Fantasy* Parabasis: A Tribute to Dionysis Stavvopoulos* On Tolkien's Letter 131 (4): “Romance” vs. ScienceDimitra Fimi articles at ‘The Conversation'* After 150 years, we still haven't solved the puzzle of Alice in Wonderland (2015) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I get into all the Dunks (plus another pair) that I recently picked up thanks to sales.  Then as usual I get into a few upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I talk about how my plan from the previous episode had flaw(s).  Then I get into a bunch of upcoming kicks! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I discuss what happens when I still like a pair, but don't really want to wear them that much anymore.  Do we sell or keep these?  Plus of course some upcoming pairs. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

I'm excited to bring you the first installment of "Talking At The Diner" for 2026.. the year of our lord. My guest on Ep. 54 is is none other than my bandmate from the John Faye Power Trip and IKE..... Drumroll please...... that's right, it's Cliff Hillis!  
Now, even though Cliffy and I officially stopped playing together in 2006, we have never stopped supporting each other and getting back together when the stars aligned. Last year, in fact, we played a fun acoustic show together for Record Store Day at Forever Changes in Phoenixville, and we also got loud for the first time in a long time at the sold out IKE reunion show at MilkBoy in Philadelphia in May.The roots of our 3+ decade friendship go way back to our younger days in Delaware, where I first encountered Cliff playing around Newark in on of his first bands - The Name - while I was writing on filthy bar floors and wearing toilet seats around my neck as the front man of the Beat Clinic, the band that would later morph into the Caulfields.We continued to cross paths as his musical journey progressed in bands like Mystery Machine, Tisra Til, and Starbelly. The opportunity to play the first International Pop Overthrow festival in Los Angeles in 1998 put Cliff and me onstage together for the first time and we kept on rockin' until the end of 2006, which  was a tumultuous year for Cliff on a personal level. He lost both his parents that year and made the decision to part ways with IKE to pursue his own path. And the result of that decision has yielded a stupendous catalog of music, which scratches any power pop itch you may have.We met up in early January for a weekday hang at The Local in his longtime adopted hometown of Phoenixville, PA and had the kind of relaxed, familiar conversation that only two people who traveled the country in a van can have.I hope you enjoy our conversation!!
~ John ❤️You can follow the various antics of Cliff Hillis here:
https://cliffhillis.com
https://patreon.com/cliffhillis 

In this video I talk about some of the pickups I've recently gotten that are, for me, branching out from my usual comfort zones with the swoosh.  Then of course we get into some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I go over all the other pairs I got in before the end of the year, it's a lot!  Also of course we get into the upcoming pairs I want to discuss. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I go over some pickups and why all the Pumas all of a sudden?  Then as usual we get into the upcoming pairs that I wanted to bring to your attention! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Ohhhh yeah!  Got like 6 pickups to round out the year, hear all about them here!  Also of course some new pairs coming out will be discussed. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I get into the recent avalanche of NB's I've picked up thanks to some smooth discounts this time of year.  And then of course, some info on some upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode we go a little more quality with my latest pickups of the Made In USA 992 and 993.  A while back I had said I didn't really wanna wear these types of kicks anymore... but what the heck was I thinking? Also of course, the new pairs coming out will be discussed as usual. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I get into another set of about four Asics pickups and one New Balance pickup.  Then of course, it's on to the upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

John Granger in September 2022, weeks after the publication of Ink Black Heart, tackled the tangle of 108 poetic epigraphs in Strike 6 from twenty-two Anglo-American Victorian women poets in search of a common theme, of a prevalent meaning, or, the Holy Grail, a work among the many works that acted to Heart as Rosmersholm did to Lethal White and Faerie Queene did to Troubled Blood. This effort involved listing the poets, the epigraphs (citing poems by each woman), and, without reading each poem, noting simply what each brief excerpt included. You can read the results of those surveys at ‘Ink Black Heart: Intro to Epigraphs 101.'The anticipated result of those tabulations was that the poetic epigraphs in Heart, in tandem with the cardiac Part headings from Grey's Anatomy, were consistently about the heart as spiritual faculty rather than bodily pump. The surprise finding was that 13% of the epigraphs were from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Aurora Leigh. John speculated in conclusion that it was the heart of Rowling's sixth Strike-Ellacott novel:Again, this is not the place to write at any length about the relevance of ‘Aurora Leigh' as a mirroring text within Ink Black Heart. Like you, I look forward to Beatrice Groves' exegesis to complement her Cuckoo's Calling work with Rossetti's ‘Dirge' and Tennyson's ‘Ulysses.' The two important things to note here are only that ‘Aurora Leigh' is the poem most deployed in Strike6 epigraphs and that it is a melange of “Biblical and classical history and mythology, as well as modern novels.” That it would work as something of a template or touchstone for Ink Black Heart, a novel with mythological and hermetic backdrops and archetypal symbols used to reinvent the depth and range of the most modern of genres, the murder mystery, as psychomachian allegory, seems almost a no-brainer. If you can only read one book or poem to buttress your understanding of Strike6, it has to be Durkheim's Suicide, Evola's Ride the Tiger, or Browning's ‘Aurora Leigh,' and I think the epic poem is your best bet.When Rowling agreed to a live interview with Serious Strikers on Twitter the month after Ink Black Heart's publication, one hosted by the Barmy Army, John listed the first question he would ask her to be about the importance if any of Aurora Leigh for understanding Strike 6: “Is Barret Browning's Aurora Leigh the backdrop story to Ink Black Heart the way Rosmersholm and Faerie Queen were to the fourth and fifth Strike mysteries?”Nick Jeffery included this question in a veritable barrage of questions he launched during the Barmy Army interview, and, incredibly, Rowling responded:John concluded in his write up of the Barmy Army interview:If I get “all credit” for the spotting, I must take the blame as well for misspelling Browning's name and for Nick's saying there were thirteen rather than fourteen Leigh epigraphs. All credit to @gbjeffen for succeeding in getting Rowling to answer a question, something I have not succeeding in doing in more than two decades of reading her work and writing about its artistry and meaning. Look for the seven point Ink Black Heart: Aurora Leigh post in the coming week.John, however, never wrote up that '“seven point Ink Black Heart Aurora Leigh post” and his expectation of a Beatrice Groves exegesis also never materialized. That project was delayed until Nick Jeffery, in his years long effort to read everything Rowling has admitted to reading and liking (see this list of those books, a list that predates the 2022 revelations in re Aurora Leigh), arrived at the 1856 epic novel in blank verse. Last week Nick wrote up his findings here as ‘A Rowling Reading of Aurora Leigh: The Influence of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Aurora Leigh on J.K. Rowling.'John and Nick put Hallmarked Man aside, consequently, in this week's conversation to talk about this poem, Nick's essay, and the place of this work in Fourth Generation Rowling Studies. Enjoy!Next week they'll chart Part Three of Hallmarked Man, discuss the astrological symbols and meaning embedded in Strike 8's names and plot points, and review with a Generation Hex special guest the long anticipated full-cast audio book of Harry Potter. and the Philosopher's Stone. Stay tuned — and please join the Paid Subscribers club to keep the HogPro lights on and restore heat and power to John's home! Many thanks to all subscribers around the world with a special shout-out this week to the six listeners in Norway: Tussen Takk!The Ten Questions and Promised Links:Little Women and Harry Potter: Jo Rowling is Jo March The Seven Points of CorrespondenceYou see, I was a plain — and that is relevant! you know that is relevant, that isn't a trivial thing, especially when you're a kid — I was a very plain, bookish, freckly, bright, little girl. I was a massive book worm and I spent a significant part of my reading looking for people like me.Now I didn't come up with nothing. Y'know, I remember Jo March who had a temper and wanted to be a writer so that was a lifeline. There's a heroine in a book called Little White Horse that I've spoken about publicly who was plain and that was fabulous. “Wow! You get to be a heroine and get not to be a raving beauty..”But y'know these were pretty slim pickings. J. K. Rowling: Deathly Hallows, Part 2, DVD extras, ‘The Women of Harry Potter‘ Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for AmericaA fascinating look at the cultural roots, political impact, and enduring legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe's revolutionary bestseller.Uncle Tom's Cabin is likely the most influential novel ever written by an American. In a fitting tribute to the two hundredth anniversary of Harriet Beecher Stowe's birth, Bancroft Prize-winning historian David S. Reynolds reveals her book's impact not only on the abolitionist movement and the American Civil War but also on worldwide events, including the end of serfdom in Russia, down to its influence in the twentieth century. He explores how both Stowe's background as the daughter in a famously intellectual family of preachers and her religious visions were fundamental to the novel. And he demonstrates why the book was beloved by millions―and won over even some southerners―while fueling lasting conflicts over the meaning of America. Although vilified over the years as often as praised, it has remained a cultural landmark, proliferating in the form of plays, songs, films, and merchandise―a rich legacy that has both fed and contested American racial stereotypes. Interview Questions1. [Nick] I wrote the essay, John, but the reason I read Aurora Leigh late 2025 dates back to September 2022 and a discovery you made while sorting through the 108 poetic epigraphs of Rowling's Ink Black Heart. Before we jump into the Elizabeth Barrett Browning epic poem, can you run us through that effort and finding?2. [John] 13% of course is nothing like the 100% epigraphical backdrops of Lethal White and Troubled Blood but, just reading the Wikipedia summary of Aurora Leigh, I thought it a very strong possibility that it might have served a similar function for Ink Black Heart. Which is where you enter the picture, Nick. I've never managed to get Rowling to answer even one of my questions in a quarter century of asking; you pried three answers out of her in one go! And on your first effort? Please tell us that story and what Rowling revealed about Aurora Leigh.3. [Nick] And so we had almost immediate confirmation of your highly speculative conclusion from the epigraphs, John. And you promised a seven point essay of compare and contrast criticism vis a vis Aurora Leigh and Ink Black Heart. What happened to that post?4. [John] So my notes for that were put aside, literally folded and stuffed in my Norton Critical edition of Aurora Leigh, waiting for the leisure time post dissertation to read the verse-novel and write up the seven points. But you revived that long forgotten project with your essay, Nick, so let's skip to that work. I'm confident few of our listeners are familiar with Elizabeth Barrett Browning or her most important and final poem; can you introduce us to both subjects?5. [John] How easy or hard was it to enter into the story, visualize the surroundings, and empathize with the characters?6. [John] And you charted the ring of Aurora Leigh's nine parts in your post! How hard was that? You didn't discuss it at any length in your post; how important do you think that is for understanding the work? Was it largely a hat-tip to the great epic poets?7. [John] If I had one complaint about your exegesis it's that you only spent two sentences on what I thought were profound findings, namely the ‘meaning in the middle' and the turtle-back correspondences between parts two and eight. Those are the giant take-aways, I think, of Leigh's influence on Rowling the Re-Reader and Magpie Borrower-Writer, no? Say some more about that, please.8. [John] You wrote that Rowling's selections from Aurora Leigh for epigraphs “are not arbitrary; they serve as interpretive keys, inviting readers to draw connections between the 19th-century verse and Rowling's modern tale of online toxicity, anonymity, and justice.” Can you give us some examples of what you mean?9. [John] Rowling specifies a parallel between Heart's Zoe and Leigh's Marian. Can you explain that link and its importance and any other character parallels and inspirations?10. [John] You close with ‘Thematic Resonances and Broader Literary Influence,' which are probably the most important connections between EBB and JKR beyond the plot point parallels and character echoes in Ink Black Heart. Can you summarize those in a way to push Serious Strikers and Rowling Readers to make the effort to find a copy of Aurora Leigh and read it?*Optional [Nick] So how close did I come to your ‘seven points,' John? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we get into six new pickups!  Somebody stop me!!!!  My wallet cries in pain.  Then of course we talk about upcoming pairs to spend some cash on! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I talked about how I've been binging on pairs outside the Nike realm for the past couple weeks and really getting into runners.  I'll go over some pairs I recently got in as well as some pairs I have on the way before moving on to upcoming pairs. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

As the title indicates, I'll be discussing the Nike Dunk Low Frankenstein as well as an additional inbound pickup.  Then we get into the rest of the upcoming sneakers as usual! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I discuss recopping kicks (in my defense, a newer year release).  Then we get into the upcoming pairs as usual! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

You guessed it, a review on the Nike Dunk Low Panda-Monium in Viotech, as well as some discussion of some upcoming kicks, as always! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I bring up the Coolkicks legal news and also bust out a review for the Nike SB Dunk Low Verdugo Mountain, my latest pickup! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I review my October pickup - the Nike SB Dunk Low Persian Violet.  Also, I get into the new and upcoming kicks! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode I explain my absence for the most part from social media, and then get into the upcoming kicks as always! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

In this episode we go over the upcoming kicks but with a focus on all the 11s dropping 2026.  Also, trying something a little different with the vocals on this one as far as EQ, so if it sounds a little different, that is why. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Yes! Finally some actual pickups, which I will go over in this episode... Then it's on to the upcoming kicks.... too bad I am now out of funds.   Thanks, Jordan Brand! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

There's been some online discourse crowning 2025 as a possible best year for sneakers.  I give my thoughts on this, and then its onto the upcoming pairs! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

This episode is a follow up to a previous episode which had implied how much money you could have for other things if you cut back on buying kicks.  However, don't let this approach kill your enjoyment of sneakers!  Also I dip into my reachbacks a bit to see if anything hit sales. Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Patrick challenges listeners with raw questions about faith, public grief, and how Christian teachings intersect with justice and cultural controversies. He fields calls from individuals wrestling with anger, searching for hope, and scrutinizes common misconceptions about Kirk’s beliefs, using direct audio and candid reflection. John - You are 100% right. Bringing up Charlie Kirk is not the time or the place. How can we support the death penalty? (00:34) Audio: Charlie Kirk praises black people – A Black commentator provides Proves That Charlie Kirk Was Not Racist (06:34) Audio: Charlie Kirk debates anti-gay man who doesn’t want gays in the conservative moment (11:20) Doug - Do you actually believe that there is no reason to give the death penalty? What about cold-blooded murderers? Bible does allow death penalty. (22:07) Victor - I wish that someone could have mentioned Charlie Kirk in the intentions, which didn't happen. (30:07) Audio: Man buys his first suit and is going to wear it at Church and he thanks his wife and Charlie Kirk (38:58) Paul - I think there is too much focus on Charlie Kirk and not enough focus on the Catholic faith? (43:46)

In this episode we get straight to the upcoming kicks (almost).  Brief mention to a past task-oriented drop (Tom Sachs) and then it's on to the new stuff! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers