Hey! It’s a new episode of BIRD PROTOCOL… and guess what? It’s our 30th episode! Unreal! Welcome to part two of our unofficial “Western Trilogy”! This week we are visiting the home of the Curly Bill, Johnny Ringo, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday and a whole slew of other scoundrels and lawmen. That’s right, we’re covering the insanely fun and badass film “Tombstone”. Directed by George P. Cosmatos (but maybe really Kurt Russell) and written by Kevin Jarre, this semi-biographic Western has stood the test of time and continues to be one hell of a watch. Filled with one-liners, tight writing, thrilling action and solid performances… it’s a favourite of ours.

“You die first, get it? Your friends might get me in a rush, but not before I make your head into a canoe, you understand me?” Wyatt Earp shouts, gun in hand, facing down the evil Cowboys. We’re here to tell you that “Tombstone” is STILL such a fun watch. The amazing writing and performances keep you glued to the screen as a killer ensemble cast plays out a story of hope and revenge in the last days of the Wild West. This movie has everything anyone might need… shoot-outs, opium, insane facial hair, a guy getting slapped for hurting a horse, good vs. evil, friendship, and even true love (after an oddly horny horse ride through the hills). Plus, the cast is top-notch! All your favourites from the ‘90s are here including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Stephen Lang, Billy Bob Thornton, Thomas Haden Church, Billy Zane… the list goes on!

Check-in with the bird boys as they talk about the film, Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell’s performances, the rumours surrounding the production, the real Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, the amazing dialogue, and more. Plus, we talk about Val Kilmer looking like a sweating vampire and still being the most badass dude around. Why didn’t he get nominated for an Oscar? We don’t know, but we think it’s a criminal offence. We ask questions like is this the pinnacle of Kurt Russell being badass? What would it be like to visit the real frontier? Why can’t we grow moustaches like that? Plus, Sam Elliott! We love a good Sam Elliott performance. And shout out to Bill Paxton for being the only actor to be killed by an Alien, a Predator and the Terminator.

If you’re looking for a great podcast about a great Western, this is the one for you. So go ahead, press play… you’re a daisy if you do!

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This week the bird boys hit the streets of post-WW1 Birmingham and indulge in the seedy criminal underworld of the great BBC TV show “Peaky Blinders”. In this episode, we cover the whole series thus far and all the shenanigans of the Shelby family, lead by Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby. You already know that we chop it up about all the amazing characters, storylines, double-crosses, crimes, the real history of the show, the heavy cocaine use, the various criminal organizations, Tom Hardy’s voice. All of it. You know the vibes.

Plus, we cover what makes this show awesome - the incredible soundtrack, the amazing cast, the stylized cinematography, the consistency, the various gang-related action sequences. This show is stacked and one hell of a fun watch. All of the Shelby family are vicious, crazy, whip-smart, and performed to a tee by the main cast. We also talk about the amazing recurring cast and characters including Tom Hardy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Adrian Brody, Aidan Gillen, Sam Neil… the list goes on! Plus, this show has communists, fascists, Italians, Russians, Winston Churchill, Secret Societies, the Billy Boys, Aberama Gold’s wild haircut and Season 5 glow-up, the Irish Romani, and more.

We also riff on the Shelby’s insane “drip” and wonder about the Shelby’s barber because their fades are CRISP. We talk about Cillian Murphy’s on-set cigarette habit, laugh about stupid racehorse names, talk about Arthur being an absolute psycho, wonder about what’s in store for season 6, unpack Tom Hardy and Adrian Brody’s characters, and a bunch more fun stuff.

Let’s get criminal with it… by order of the Peaky f**king Blinders!

We'd also like to say rest in peace to Aunt Polly (Helen McCrory). Pour something out for a real one.

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The bird boys are back and doing something new this week! That’s right… It’s our first documentary episode! A Werner Herzog documentary at that! We’re talking about the incredible 2005 film “Grizzly Man”. So, lock in and bear with us (pun intended) because this one is an insane real-life story that will blow your mind.

Let’s keep it real. On the surface, “Grizzly Man” is a movie about a strange guy named Timothy Treadwell who lived with a collection of wild bears over thirteen summers and was inevitably killed by the animal he loved. Oh yeah… and the audio of the attack was recorded on film. That alone is insane. But “Grizzly Man” is so much more. It’s a documentary about filmmaking, a character study, a collection of Werner-isms, an exploration of paranoia and delusion, harmony vs. chaos, and of course… it’s filled with amazing footage of bears and other Alaskan wildlife. It is a WILD ride and an immaculate documentary. It sucks you in and stays with you for a long time after viewing. 

In this episode, we look closely at Timothy Treadwell, the bears, and Werner Herzog and how they act as foils to one another and make this documentary so interesting. We marvel at the humanity and insanity of the documentary and chat about documentary filmmaking. We talk about our time at the cottage and share our own bear experiences. Both of us try our hand at Werner Herzog impressions and discuss what kind of man would choose to be living in the wild with no weapons. We ask if what he was doing was ultimately a good or bad thing, discuss environmentalism, break down his horrific death, and marvel at how it is framed in the documentary. We also talk about Herzog’s genius, his filmmaking technique, and his body of work. We break down the amazing coroner scene and why it is so incredibly effective. As Roger Ebert said, “Timothy Treadwell deserved Werner Herzog.” And he was right.

I don’t normally do trigger warnings but we do talk in-depth about a man and woman getting ripped apart by a bear. It’s not pretty. Talking about severed limbs and skulls being crushed. Heads up.

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James Cameron is a mad genius who possibly is in cahoots with an underwater alien race. What? Don’t believe us? Listen to this episode of BIRD PROTOCOL and we might just change your mind.

This week the bird boys chat about Cameron’s 1989 film “The Abyss”. A technical marvel, this movie is equal parts sci-fi, thriller, military film, and adventure film… it’s a wild ride from start to finish. We talk about the difference between the theatrical version and what we consider the definitive special edition director’s cut. We talk about how crazy it was to make, what makes Cameron an amazing director, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, water aliens, the UAP phenomenon, and a bunch more.

In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of each version of this film and talk about our favourite scenes and characters. We talk about the various endings and which we prefer. We discuss which aspects of this movie really work and which are a little lackluster and leave us wanting more. We talk about Cameron’s insane attention to detail, how he is always pushing the envelope, and his amazing world-building. We chat about auteurist American pop film. We revisit some of his other works and discuss our favourites. We do a deep dive on USOs, UAPs, and an incident at Baikal Lake where some Russians supposedly met some aliens while diving. We ponder if Cameron knew some things that may have been classified while working with the military and industrial complex in making this movie. We marvel at the technicality of the production and cinematography. We do it all.

So, get your wet suit on, fill your mask up with that pink breathing fluid, and come down to the deep with us. We've got glowing aquatic aliens and stuff.

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Ayo! It’s the Return of the Lazy Birds and of BIRD PROTOCOL! Sorry that we missed a week but all will be explained when you tune in. This week we’re keeping it relaxed and giving you the sequel to the critically acclaimed Lazy Bird episode. So, grab a seat and enjoy the bird boys at their finest… telling stories and sharing their ramblings about movies, video games, and all that good stuff.

This week we talk about why we missed last week’s show, learn about special vaccine glass, express excitement over our upcoming cottage trip, reminisce on a loud, self-proclaimed “fat woman” that we met who got stuck in a river that’s about two feet deep, talk about our love of being in nature and being one with the water, complain about how we don’t know anyone with a pool anymore, share our experiences from that summer in 2007 where everyone was straight-edge and talk about straight-edge in general, ramble about the insane price of Apple products and PALMREADER’s very lucky experience with the Apple Store last week. We also express our displeasure with toxic fandoms and people who make one thing the cornerstone of their personality... So, yes, we talk about the MCU, Star Wars, and all that good stuff. Plus, we ask what the hell is wrong with “Stans”, explore the rage behind the BTS meal at McDonald’s, and discuss odd cable TV channels and bizarre shows.

We also get into what we’ve recently watched and what we’ve been playing including "Biomutant", "Chivalry 2", and Otis’ frustration with and love of "Dark Souls" (including the bosses he has yet to beat and how he had his mind blown by a guy on Youtube who beat them using REAL a guitar as a controller). PALMREADER talks about what makes games like "Chivalry" sick and why having complicated controls and a steeper learning curve makes the gameplay so much more satisfying. We hype up the new Battlefield game and decide that we’re pretty well done with the Call Of Duty franchise. Hurray!! Plus, we discuss what kind of special content we could make while we are up north and do a whole lotta jaw jackin’. Get with it.

Oh, and heads up... there are some big-time swears in this one. The swear jar is full. You’ve been warned.

Back to another regular episode next Friday. As always, remember to…

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Alright! This is from our hearts! Sincerity over simple chords! We’ve made some mistakes, we’ve made some mistakes, but it’s a long time coming when you’re giving it everything!

That’s right folks, this week the bird boys break down the importance, influence, and overall greatness of St. Catherine’s own, a staple of Ontario and Canada’s heavy music scene, Alexisonfire. Named after the world's only lactating contortionist stripper, the post-hardcore outfit kicked open the doors and helped the heavy music scene in Ontario coalesce in the aughts and eventually spread their gospel across the world, playing countless festivals and tours both abroad and at home.

Truthfully, we have both been influenced by this band in our own personal and musical lives in so many ways, both big and small, so this turned out to be a real nostalgia trip. Without them, many of our musical endeavours would have been so different. It’s kind of crazy to think about, to be honest.

In this episode we talk about their formation, career, break down our favourite albums, talk about their influence on us from a young age, share stories about the music scene, dig into the 6 degrees of Alexisonfire and so much more. We explore the member’s side projects… the hits, the misses, the album Dallas did with Pink… all of it. Plus we chart the band’s growth, marvel at their musicality and skill, reminisce about their crazy live shows, talk about their break up and return to the stage, and chat about everything that makes them rip so freakin’ hard.

This band is hugely important to Canadian music and we had a blast recording this. Tap in. It’s a good one.

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Howdy partner! It’s time to put on your cowboy hat, load up on ammo, craft some hunting supplies, ask Dutch about the next job, and head out into the wild west folks. Yessir, it’s high noon and we’re about to hit one of our favourite games EVER. This week the bird boys are talking about the perfect example of "video-games-as-art", the amazing “Red Dead Redemption 2” from Rockstar. Yeehaw!

Forewarning… This is a gush episode because we friggin’ LOVE this game. We talk about the immaculate sound design, the open world, the cinematic story, the outstanding graphics, the memorable characters, the gorgeous locations, the improvements to Rockstar’s online gameplay, our great Red Dead memories, what we’d like to see added and SO MUCH MORE.

Plus, we marvel at the animal ecosystems and NPC AI, the insane in-game weather system, the amazing and vast opportunities in Red Dead Online, and more. Look... it’s a story so well done we called it a movie again and again. It’s just that epic of a tale.

With more than eight years of development and with a GOTY win under its belt, we can safely say that “Red Dead Redemption 2” is a definitive game and a masterwork on so many levels. We peel back all of those layers and go deep into our experiences with the game. Which moments stayed with us, the staggering beauty of the wilderness, the endless opportunities to explore, the endless number of easter eggs, and the peppering of spooky and paranormal side stories, the movie references… you can tell this game was meticulously planned and executed perfectly.

We also reminisce about the amazing Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare (not Red Dead Revolver though)l, other Rockstar games and why they are just killing it, what we think the next Red Dead game might be like, and more.

If you love westerns, appreciate an amazing story, and enjoy open-world video games… this one is for you.

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A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” Unfortunately, we’re pretty attached to this podcast so I don’t know about leaving it behind but we’ll happily talk about the “Heat” that’s around the corner… Especially if it’s coming from a strung-out, screaming Al Pacino.

That’s right, this week the bird boys are tackling Michael Mann’s epic heist and crime drama flick from 1995, “Heat”. Considered a masterwork of modern cinema, this movie has everything…. And everyone. No for real. This film’s cast is a who’s who of 90s stars and it has some of the most electrifying and influential action scenes, a myriad of storylines and some of the craziest Al Pacino moments caught on film. Plus… De Niro and Pacino together. And Kilmer. And Trejo. And Sizemore. And Voight. And Henry Rollins?! And the All-State guy?! Are you kidding me?!!

Odd facial hair and ponytails aside, this is a classic film. If you haven’t seen it, what are ya doing?!

In this pod, we cover the film’s impact, the cast, the way the film uses L.A. as a part of the story and not as a selling point, the editing… we dive deep into “Heat” and get down to business. We gush about what we love about the film and gripe about what we don’t (sound editor, we’re looking at you). We explore the storied production history, dig into the many storylines, muse on the things that were cut from the film that could have made it better, explore how this film connects to Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” and other crime films, and a whole lot more. Plus, we talk about how absolutely disgustingly evil Waingro is and try to understand why Mann decided to include a young Natalie Portman trying to kill herself and not the mythical Vincent Hanna does a bunch of cocaine storyline.

Also, we love the part where De Niro says “There is a flip side to that coin. What if you do get me boxed in and I gotta put you down? ‘Cause no matter what, you will not get in my way. We've been face to face, yeah, but I will not hesitate to initiate BIRD PROTOCOL. Not for a second.”

Much to think about.

Next week? Red Dead Redemption 2. Giddy up.

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Yo! The bird boys are back in the hot seat! This week we are talking about one of the most consistent, important, and hugely influential emo/alternative bands of the 90s, 00s, and even today. This is the “Jimmy Eat World” episode! You probably remember their hits like “Pain”, “Sweetness” and “The Middle”, but there is so much more to them.

We cover the band's nearly 30-year career and discuss their sound, influence, style, and more. We talk about our history with the band, how Jimmy Eat World has influenced us personally and musically, the nostalgia that comes with hearing their music again, their evolution, and their place in the history of alternative rock, pop-punk, and emo.

Jimmy Eat World is a great band with a solid discography that spans nearly three decades and they have influenced and intersected with so many other great musicians and groups, especially in the aughts, so this one was a no-brainer. We also chop it up and talk about our favourite albums and tracks, including cuts from “Clarity”, “Bleed American” and “Futures”. PALMREADER also touches on their newest record “Surviving”, which is a really great album and a return to form for the band, and we talk about pop-punk, 90s emo and the music we remember from high school.

We also talk about how easy and different it is making music today compared to other decades, why "genre" is becoming an unnecessary and limiting idea, touch on other emo/pop-punk bands like Taking Back Sunday and Motion City Soundtrack, discuss the cyclical nature of music trends, musical nostalgia in culture, muse on what is now defined as “classic rock” and why that makes us feel old, and a bunch more silly stuff.

Thanks for tuning in. We’ll see you next Friday!

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“What the hell are you?” We’re a podcast, what the hell are you?! Oh wait, I know. You’re an alien hunter from another planet here to hunt and kill a bunch of oiled up, heavily armed men. That’s right… we’re talking about the wildly popular, hugely influential, and fun-as-hell action sci-fi horror flick “Predator”.

We talk about how much we love the film, the many myths surrounding the film’s production, the insane cast, Arnie’s amazing run in the 80s and 90s, how many politicians came from this cast, the creation of the Predator, one-liners, the film’s genre-bending style, the unintentional and intentional comedy and more. We touch on the lore of the Yautja and the sequels, the comics, the video games, and everything else “Predator”. There are a lot of primal screams, Arnie impersonations, discussions about 80s manliness, biceps, baby oil, and more nonsense and laughs in this pod. We also talk about what has aged well and what has aged poorly, the wild action scenes, the great special effects that still kind of hold up today, and what they used to make the Predator’s glowing blood. Lots of good stuff.

This is a great movie and was a real treat to record.

So lather yourself in mud, chomp down on a cigar, load up Ol’ Painless and head out into the unspecified Central/South American jungle and let the hunt begin. And if not… What's the matter? The CIA got you pushing too many pencils? Huh?

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