Trucks. Karaoke. Shania Twain. Houston native Mark Beam shares his passion and reluctance for singing during a very interesting night at his favorite bar. He explores his romantic relationship, his string of vehicular mishaps and the bold decision that might change it all in the Anthem of Mark.

OUR GUEST: Nnamdi Ngwe

Nnamdi is an Actor, Writer, and Comedian. He has written and performed on shows like The Amber Ruffin Show, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and the Emmy-nominated show Tab Time. He can be seen performing live globally with his award-winning sketch/improv group 3Peat and you can find him on TikTok @nnamdingwe and Insta @nngwe17

THE SONG:

"Before He Cheats" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood from her debut studio album, Some Hearts (2005).  Written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, it was released as the fourth single from the album. The song tells the story of a woman taking revenge on her unfaithful partner.  "Before He Cheats" became the first-ever country song to sell over two million digitally and was once the best-selling country song of all time.  It was a huge crossover hit for Underwood, dominating both the country and mainstream charts. At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the song's writers won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. In the movie Pitch Perfect 2, Before He Cheats is performed during the Riff-off by The Baren Bellas. At the 2017 CMA Awards, Brad Paisley and Underwood performed "Before He Tweets” which made fun of President Donald Trump. Carrie Underwood won the 4th season of American Idol. Link to OfficialVideo Before He Cheats Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tigers. Bungy. Magic Mushrooms. Mailman and subversive entrepreneur Nickolas chats about his passion for hallucinogens, water and Swedish Vallhunds. He walks Douglas through the meaning behind all of his hair ribbons and reveals a powerful mantra that guides his work and play.

OUR GUEST: JOSH DuBOSE

Josh DuBose is a Los Angeles-based journalist/writer and digital producer at KTLA 5. A long-time performer, he studied improv in Chicago before moving to L.A. where he played with the Improv Olympic improv team King Ten for 12 years. You can follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) @JoshDuBose. If you like police pursuits, download KTLA 5's app where he will blow your phone up with alerts about scofflaws running from the man. 

THE SONG:

Just What I Needed is a 1978 song by American rock band The Cars. Ric Ocasek, the frontman of the Cars, composed the song in 1977 and the track was released as a single from their self-titled debut album with bass player Benjamin Orr providing the lead vocals.  The catchy distinctive guitar riff that opens “Just What I Needed” was borrowed from the song “Yummy Yummy Yummy” by the Ohio Express. Just What I Needed first appeared on Boston radio stations (WBCN and WCOZ) in 1977 strictly as a demo tape. DJ Maxanne Sartori, the on-air DJ, recounted that after Ocasek gave her the tapes of the song and another single, “My Best Friend’s Girl,” she began playing the demos during her weekday program slot. Before she knew it, calls with tons of positive comments came in for the songs, and they became one of the most requested songs on these Boston stations. In 2021, Rolling Stone added Just What I needed to their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Link to OfficialVideo, Just What I Needed Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jail. Mirrors. Special Thanks. Expert gavotte dancer Winifred breaks down the benefits of incarceration, being difficult and therapy gerbils. She talks into a microphone with Douglas about her fascinating life as a muse and the ways in which she manages her incredible levels of self-love and self-care in the Anthem of Winifred. Enjoy

OUR GUEST: Rachael Drummond

Rachael Drummond is an actor, improviser, teacher & career coach. She’s based in L.A. and can be found on TikTok @RachaelLdrummond and on instagram @Rachael.Drummond.

THE SONG:

"You're So Vain" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Carly Simon and released in November 1972. In early 1973, the song reached No. 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You’re So Vain was nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974. The title subject's identity has long been a matter of speculation, with Simon stating that the song refers to three men, only one of whom she has named publicly: Warren Beatty. Simon had said in 1983 that Beatty "certainly thought it was about him—he called me and said thanks for the song..."

A slew of people including Taylor Swift, Howard Stern and Dick Ebersol claim that Simon personally told them who the song was written about. They aren’t talking. That’s Mick Jagger you’re hearing on the backing vocals. The line "Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun" refers to the total solar eclipse of July 10th, 1972, visible only in Nova Scotia, Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. Simon said the line "clouds in my coffee" came "from an airplane flight that I took with Billy Mernit, who was my friend and piano player at the time. As I got my coffee, there were clouds outside the window of the airplane and you could see the reflection in the cup of coffee. Billy said to me, 'Look at the clouds in your coffee'. Link to OfficialVideo, You’re So Vain Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spiders. Blowfish. House Keys. Ray is having another tough day in his already tough life, but that doesn’t stop him from sharing his profound philosophies that keep him going. As he and Douglas make their way through Chicago they talk about love, family, Mark McGwire and McDonalds in the Anthem of Ray. Enjoy.

OUR GUEST: Seamus McCarthy

Seamus McCarthy is a Chicago-style actor/writer/improviser who is often seen hanging around with similar people and occasionally seen performing with them at local Los Angeles theaters such as the Lyric Hyperion. He continues to be mistaken for being the brother of actress Jean Villepique, which has been going on since the late 1990s. Seamus is a lifelong friend of The Annoyance theater in Chicago.

THE SONG:

It’s A Shame About Ray is the title track of the Lemonheads 5th studio album, released in June of 1992.  At the time of principal recording, the band consisted of Evan Dando (lead vocals, guitar), Juliana Hatfield (bass, backing vocals) and David Ryan (drums). The Lemonheads were formed in Boston in 1986 and Evan Dando has been the only constant band member out of more than 25 members in total. The tune was inspired by a quote that Evan Dando had seen in a Sydney Australia newspaper in reference to a kid called Ray who kept getting kicked out of every school he went to. The music video for It’s A Shame About Ray features Johnny Depp. Link to OfficialVideo, It’s A Shame About Ray Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Partying. Good Times. Coal Mines. Ambitious and successful party planner Jenny gives us a peak behind the colorful curtain of her fantastical and strategically managed party place. She talks with Douglas about her interesting themed rooms, her complex relationship with her daughter and son-in-law and what a party for Ms. Jenny would look like. It’s the Anthem of Jenny. Enjoy!

OUR GUEST: Molly Erdman

Molly Erdman is an improviser based in Los Angeles, currently pursuing her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She began her improv career in Chicago and was a member of the Mainstage cast of The Second City from 2007 to 2009. In addition to pursuing her degree and providing school counseling to 6th-12th graders, Molly continues to perform and is a core instructor with Business Improv, traveling across the country bringing improv concepts to the corporate world.  You can find her on Instagram @mollyerdmantherapy

THE SONG: 867-5309/Jenny 

867-5309/Jenny is a 1981 song written by Alex Call and Jim Keller (Co-founder and lead guitarist of Tommy Tutone) and performed by Tommy Tutone. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1982. Despite Tommy Tutone’s lead singer, Tommy Heath and guitarist Jim Keller both saying at various times that Jenny was a real girl that they knew, co-writer Alex Call explained that the real origins of the song were all in his imagination…”I was just trying to write a 4 chord Rock song and it just kind of came out,” he told reporters, "There was no Jenny.  The number? It came to me out of the ether." The song led to a fad of people dialing 867-5309 and made life very difficult for people who had that number. Many of them had to change it because they were flooded with prank calls, usually, kids asking for "Jenny." Link to Official Video 867-5309/Jenny Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trivia. Plaques. San Francisco. A titan of random facts and esoteric knowledge, Myster Jones explores a life of knowing stuff juxtaposed with the truth of knowing oneself. Douglas and Myster Jones talk about the wonders of sleeping outdoors, the awkwardness of dating apps and whether throwing people out of buildings is good children’s television in the Anthem of Myster Jones. Enjoy.

OUR GUEST: Stephen C. James

Stephen C. James is an improvisor, podcaster, actor, and teacher who has run a middle school theater program for two decades. He can be found performing onstage in any part of Los Angeles that he feels is worth driving to and can be heard on Wednesdays weekly on the Super Legit Podcast.   Stephen is not very active on social media, but if he pops up in your local buy-nothing group a mention of this podcast will certainly guarantee you get whatever he’s trying to offload that day. 

THE SONG: Mr. Jones by The Counting Crows

Mr. Jones is the debut single from the American band Counting Crows.  The song was written by Adam Duritz and Counting Crows and was their first radio hit.  It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped the band gain a wide fanbase as well as a Grammy nomination. The song was inspired by Adam Duritz’s experiences while living in San Francisco.  The lyrics reflect his feeling of alienation and a desire for fame and recognition (and girls) as a struggling musician. “Mr. Jones” refers to a real person, Marty Jones, who was a friend of Adam Duritz and a fellow musician. In live performances, Adam Duritz often changes the lyrics of the song, adding improvised verses or referencing current events.  This has become a trademark of the band’s live shows. Link to OfficialVideo, Mr. Jones Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watched. Grey Mush. Poetry. Recent coma waker-upper Gordon explores revelation and reminiscences stemming from his long-term captivity and subsequent coma. He offers Douglas a truly unique perspective on what it means to be seen and the joy of a good bucket in the Anthem of Gordon. [TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses kidnapping]

OUR GUEST: Brett Pearsons

Brett Pearsons is an actor, musician and writer based in Los Angeles. Brett has appeared on The Mentalist, This Is Us and the upcoming The Sterling Affairs. Along with performing in bands Tiny Goliath and The Four Postmen, Brett is currently in production on a narrative horror radio play that he wrote and is producing.  Follow Brett on Instagram at @brettpearsons for news on upcoming projects and band pages @tinygoliathmusic and @thefourpostmen

THE SONG: Every Breath You Take

Written by Sting, the Every Breath You Take single was the biggest US and Canadian hit of 1983, topping the singles chart for eight weeks. It won the Grammy in 1983 for Best Song of the Year. In May 2019, it was recognized by BMI as being the most-played song in radio history. To escape the public eye in the wake of his controversial split from Frances Tomelty and the beginning of his relationship with Trudie Styler, Sting retreated to the Caribbean. He started writing Every Breath You Take at Ian Fleming’s writing desk on the Goldeneye estate in Oracabessa, Jamaica. Sting performed Every Breath You Take on a 2001 episode of Ally McBeal. In the show, he was sued by a couple who broke up after one of his sexually suggestive concerts. In the 2021 "The Sting" episode of Only Murders In The Building, Sting plays a nefarious version of himself that Selena Gomez' character suspects is a murderer. "'Every Breath You Take' is no love song," she puts forth as evidence. "It's about a jealous stalker and surveillance, and it actually seems like it was written by a killer." Link to OfficialVideo, Link to Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High Stakes. Smooth Talk. William Shakespeare. The loquacious and gentile gambler Reginald Coulton DeLaBar guides Douglas through the ups and downs of his life and afterlife. They explore the risky bets made on love, life and luxury that ultimately led to… well, I suppose you’ll just have to listen to the Anthem of Reginald.

OUR GUEST: Paul Vaillancourt

Paul is an actor, director, writer but most of all improviser who has been teaching and performing for over 30 years. He is the creator and host of “Improv Tips” on youtube and the author of “The Triangle of the Scene: A simple, practical, powerful method for approaching improvisation”. He’s always up to talk about improv or action movies. You can find Paul on Instagram: @whatsupwithpv and on Youtube: @PVImprov 

THE SONG: The Gambler

"The Gambler" was written by Don Schlitz, who was the first to record it. It was covered by several artists, but it was Kenny Rogers' adaptation that went on to top the country charts and win a 1978 Grammy for Best Country Song. The Gambler went on to become  Rogers' signature song. Kenny Rogers made 'The Gambler' a huge hit song, but the late country star originally wanted his friend Willie Nelson to sing and release the song. The iconic tune was offered to Willie by Kenny, but was turned down. According to songwriter Schlitz, The Gambler is a loose adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1866 novella by the same name, which reflects on Dostoevsky's roulette compulsion. “The Gambler” inspired five highly-rated made-for-TV movies starring Rogers, the first airing in 1980 and the last in 1994. Official Video - Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Butter Animals. Beard Barrettes. Hand Holding. Nomadic crafter Caroline chats with Douglas about everything that goes into making her life so good. Can you be willingly abducted? Can you give away your father’s vehicle? What are tornadoes really up to? None of those questions are really answered in the Anthem of Sweet Caroline.

OUR GUEST: Dana Powell

Known best for her role as Cam’s sister, Pameron Tucker, on ABC’s Modern Family, Dana Powell is a Los Angeles-based actress, writer, improvisor, and producer. You may have seen her in other things such as Bridesmaids, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Good Place, 911, and more. She is also co-host of The Rants And Raves Podcast. You can find Dana on Instagram @iamdanapowell and @therantsandravespodcast

THE SONG: Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

"Sweet Caroline" is a song written and performed by American singer Neil Diamond and released in May 1969 as a single with the title "Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)". Over the past 50-plus years, “Sweet Caroline” has been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to Jennifer Lopez, but it was Frank Sinatra’s version that Diamond loved the most. “He did it his way,” said Diamond of Frank Sinatra’s rendition. Since 2002, “Sweet Caroline” has been the official chant of the Boston Red Sox, who have played the song in the middle of the eighth inning at every home game. Diamond has said Sweet Caroline was inspired by a young Caroline Kennedy and also by his wife in 1969, Marsha. On March 22nd, 2020, Diamond posted a video of him singing Sweet Caroline in front of his fireplace at home with the lyrics changed to reflect coronavirus safety measures: “Hands…washing hands, reaching out…don’t touch me, I won’t touch you…” 2012 Live From the Greek, Link to Sweet Caroline Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot Air Balloons. Hang Gliders. Memoirs. Passionate New York balloonist Arthur takes Douglas for ride to explore life at 3,000 feet. New perspectives are gained about love, family and H.A.B. statistics. Join us high in the sky for the Anthem of Arthur.

OUR GUEST: Brendan Dowling

Brendan Dowling is an actor and writer living in Los Angeles. He most recently wrote on season two of Work in Progress, and he performs with the Improvised Shakespeare Company at their monthly shows at the Largo. He's on Instagram and X @berndandooling

The Song: Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)

Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) is a song performed and co-written by American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen. When Bacharach got the gig scoring music for the movie Arthur, starring Dudley Moore, he worked on the music for the theme song with Christopher Cross, and asked Bayer Sager to compose the lyrics. She recalled the line Allen came up with years earlier, and secured his permission to use it. - How do you get “caught between the moon and New York City”? - According to Peter Allen, he came up with the line when his plane got stuck in a holding pattern waiting to land at JFK Airport in New York. The song won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1981. It was the main theme song for the 1981 Dudley Moore film Authur. Dudley Moore, who starred in Arthur, was also an accomplished pianist,  He and Cross became good friends and performed the song together a few times with Moore on piano and Cross singing. OfficialVideo - Lyrics

THE SHOW:

Our show is completely improvised and produced by Douglas Sarine, Marypat Farrell and  Sarah Atwood Sarine.

Our theme song was produced by the wonderful Ben Wise. benwise.bandcamp.com

Additional music provided by Icarus

Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered.

Follow us on Instagram @AnthemOfLifePodcast 

You can contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy our eclectic AOL Playlist on Spotify.

Special thanks to Spark! Digital Media Lab at the Burbank Public Library

© 2023 Nerdtainment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.