DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• His nickname is now "Jeopardy", because of course it is. (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• Everybody who thought the Rams were going to win Super Bowl LIII were way over thinking this, either that or they weren't thinking at all. Meanwhile, all week long leading up to the NFL's big game the NBA stole the headlines.
• If you're trying to affect change by protesting to raise awareness for a notable and worthy cause, then at this point you might be better off to not have Roger Waters fighting alongside you.
• Why Mike James has grown to love Groundhog's Day, and have you heard the Lottery League is back on for 2019? (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:06:00 mark)
• The NFL airs a very expensive commercial during the Super Bowl solely to celebrate itself and no one else noticed anything truly odd about it?
• So your Tinder profile you created is a photo of you as an 11 year old girl with braces holding a softball bat? Yeah, no way that ended up getting weird. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:52:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story (Best Of Edition!): Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Bologna Summer” (begins at the 2:06:00 mark)
• It's a simple rule, really, no matter how cool, charismatic and talented you once were, if you do a Doritos commercial you are now dead to me. We're talking about you Chance The Rapper.
• Lil Jon definitely wins the sponsorship rap battle.
• Mike is "hangry" and TGI Friday's are finally acknowledging how shitty of a decision it is for someone to decide to eat at one of their restaurants.  (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:37:00 mark)
• Kyrie Irving is never going to understand how he's so often his own worst enemy, because his sense of entitlement simply won't allow for it.
• Applying the cold war Domino Theory to the growing overt nationalism on display before NFL games, and offering the perfect solution.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

Your recommended listening for the week is ¿Que Vola? with their self-titled full length on No Format Records.

The intro and outro to Lachlan’s segment is the song “My Summer In Traction” by the band Ohio Civil War , and it’s used with permission.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• The Haslam owned Browns since Day 1 has been a cautionary tale to all other NFL teams of what not to do, so it's only fair we warn other businesses about the certain pitfalls of not knowing popular slang sex terms when hashtagging online. (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• It's pretty obvious the NFL is letting a bunch of carnies run their Pro Bowl weekend these days.
• Isn't it a bit odd that the local sports media reacted negatively to the Seth Wickersham ESPN article about the Browns? Apparently they're just mad someone else did their job better than them.
• Turns those MAGA hat wearing racist high school kids from Kentucky are still the same MAGA hat wearing racists we thought they were, no matter how much the PR firm they hired to protect them try to spin it otherwise.
• The difference between playing against pros and playing against schmoes... In pinball. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:15:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story (Best Of Edition!): Lachlan MacKinnon’s “TV Party” (begins at the 1:27:00 mark)
• Even when the state lottery has a game you can beat and win millions of dollars playing, the state still wins. A true story.
• Turns out Ford Motor Co. has decided to create its own NFL "Hall Of Fans" and it's apparent they're steering in a different direction away from PFUFA, the original Hall Of Fans. Are we watching the end of era for PFUFA? Oh, and DJ Khalid doesn't make music videos, that dipshit hype man just makes commercials and his fans are too stupid to notice the difference. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:00:00 mark)
• When it's always a bad time to try to sell someone on your side hustles.
• How an 80's Marvel comic book mini-series illustrated everything you'd ever need to know about where the threshold of something being referred to as art ends, and the point where corporate focus grouped, wholly contrived mass consumerism begins.  (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:45:00 mark)
• Thankfully it's clear we don't have to worry as much about the Haslams fucking things up now, but they sure are capable of fucking things up again in the future.
• And another thing, who just sits around in meetings eating hard-boiled eggs and leaves shell fragments all over the place?!
• Are people only calling out Travis Scott and Big Boi for performing at the Super Bowl and not Gladys Knight because Travis Scott and Big Boi aren't as talented as Gladys Knight?
• Art Rules: You cannot call yourself an artist if your album breaks any of these very simple rules.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

Your recommended listening for the week is Jäh Division's "Dub Will Tear Us Apart... Again" available via Earnest Jenning Record Co.

The intro and outro to Lachlan’s segment is the song “My Summer In Traction” by the band Ohio Civil War , and it’s used with permission.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• The best way to end a restrictive diet are also the same things you're eating when you realize you need to go on diet, and Biga Wood Fired Pizzeria puts Kirtland on the map.  (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• We just witnessed the single greatest NFL Conference Championship weekend in history, and it can also teach us a good lesson in empathy.
• You know what's worse than living with "The Fumble" as a Cleveland Browns fan? Living with "The No-Call" the rest of your life as a Saints fan.
• Nowhere in the rich and diverse history of New Orleans music is there ever a mention of "Caribbean Drunk".
• Outer-rim hijinks and planning a trip to "Cappy's". (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:11:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story (Best Of Edition!): Lachlan MacKinnon’s “The Science Project” (begins at the 1:23:00 mark)
• Even notice how "morning" and "mourning" sound exactly the same? Something has to be done about this.
• This Belichick-Brady-Patriots Dynasty is in its 17th year now... That shouldn't be possible!
• Dario Argento's "Suspiria" from 1977 is absolutely fantastic, way ahead of its time, and well worth seeing today for anyone who's interested in the 2018 remake. And some people think his daughter drove a celebrated chef to kill himself. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:55:00 mark)
• Spoiler Alert: Every bit of dramatic tension in the film "Bohemian Rhapsody" are all the parts of the script that aren't true.
• Dan Snyder's outright refusal to change his team's name is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to racism and the Washington "Redskins" NFL franchise: The story of how our nation's capital is home to the only pro-sports team ever who was legally forced to desegregate its all white roster by the Federal government (and how Dan Snyder also sucks).
• Explaining the real story of why it's so difficult and expensive for fans to get Super Bowl tickets, and then listing all the "best" tailgating options available to you if you end up not getting into the game. (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:33:00 mark)
• Explaining how "Nugent" and "Trump" are no longer just surnames and proper nouns, they've turned into very gross and definitive descriptive terms.
• In Memoriam of those who are still alive and we didn’t know it: Part 3 – Linda Perry, aka the singer/songwriter from that band 4 Non Blondes who wrote that one song of theirs we all know. And how to properly get rid of "earworms".
• What is a Maroon 5 and why are they playing the Super Bowl.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

Your recommended listening for the week is Steve Gunn's 2019' full length release "The Unseen In Between" available via Matador Records.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Learning new things is very important as you get older, which is something Mike learned from playing pinball. True story. (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• Especially in the wake of all the NFL head coaching hires the past week, you have to feel pretty good about the Cleveland Browns naming Freddie Kitchens as their guy.
• The need for more equality in coaching hires as well as in the front offices of the NFL is a given, but the root of this problem in football goes way deeper than the NFL.
• Tom Brady might be great at football but he's also an entitled dick who sucks as a human being. That has to count for something, right?
• In-memoriam of those who are still with us and we didn’t know it: Part 2 – Ricky Shroder (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:11:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “The Three Hard No's” (begins at the 1:28:00 mark)
• Nick Foles' finally lost and it's a comforting feeling for all us heathens.
• Apparently way more people watch the Lifetime network now than watched The Boondocks cartoon back in 2005. 
• All the weird shit that's out there for people to buy that has their favorite team's logo on it. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:55:00 mark)
• What does a truck commercial, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and a deep cut from an early 70's underground German rock band that shares lyrics with an old English nursery rhyme, all have in common besides absolutely nothing? (A segment of Can's song "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" from their 1971 album Monster Movie was used without permission)
• After seeing a really scary and great horror movie Mike is relieved to find out he didn't pee himself. (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:37:00 mark)
• Owning up to a mistake and being honest with oneself can be hard for anyone to do, especially when your a pro athlete and you're too busy smelling yourself.
• Holding the NFL accountable for its lack of diversity hires even though it's obvious to all that we should be paying far more attention to NCAA football and its problems.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

Your recommended listening for the week is Dave Van Ronk's 1959 debut, "Ballads, Blues, & A Spiritual", which is being reissued by Smithsonian Folkways.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• New Year's diet fad resolutions, and the fast food items that no respectable human being should frequently, if ever, consume.  (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• One plus one is one more, isn't it?
• Expressing legitimized hope for the Cleveland Browns by adding up who wasn't invited to interview for the head coach position.
• Is dating someone with multiple personalities an end-around monogamy? How Mollie spent New Year's Eve partying as Janice. 
• Amanda Nunes, is the most decorated, greatest female fighter in MMA history, and she's also a powerful positive role model that the UFC seems reluctant to promote because they prefer to regularly promote vile monsters and frauds as part of their promotion instead.
• NBA All-Star voting... Further proof that base human nature and making a smart vote are often at odds with one another. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:13:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Family Heirloom” (begins at the 1:28:00 mark)
• In-memoriam to those who are still with us and we didn't know it: Part 1 - Kenny Loggins 
• Seriously, some of the UFC's promotional decisions are the stuff of pure evil, while others are just really dumb and/or shortsighted. 
• Does ESPN know who won the Civil War and which side was the traitorous South? (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:59:00 mark)
• That song is about Gandolf from the Lord Of Rings and Ozzy Osbourne's drug dealer, two things that have nothing to do with selling trucks!
• Cleveland's 2019 Most Interesting People list has Larry Nance Jr. on the cover... Yeah, that can't be accurate. (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:37:00 mark)
• Having your great idea to compete in the next Olympics stolen by some NFL players.
• How 6 million Spectrum Cable subscribers are probably better off right now as long as they know how to stream the NFL online.
• Does the Golden Globe's Foreign Press voters even know the difference between dramas and musicals?

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

Your recommended listening for the week is Foxwarren's self-titled release available via Anti-

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Nipple-gasms, being jealous of the female orgasm in general, and making doable New Year's resolutions (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• Day 365 out of 365 and happy wrinkles.
• What to make of the John Dorsey press conference and the future hiring of the Browns next head coach, who will almost assuredly not be Greg Williams.
• Fucking in the New Year's, and looking for explanations for some of the more ridiculous traditions of the celebration. Of New Year's, that is. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:04:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Snow Day” (begins at the 1:31:00 mark)
• When you're already in tomorrow you can't go back to today, and Michael diagnosis himself with a potentially serious Baker Mayfield bro-infection.
• Why being an employee of Chevy right now really seems like it would suck, some coal rollers set up a blockade in front of a Tesla charging station because what else would a coal roller do for fun, and why isn't there a national manhunt for the "man driving a black Ford F-150 in Montana" who's going around shooting at people he thinks look like bigfoot? (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:07:00 mark)
• 2018's best shows and films of the year, and a whole lot of overrated and bad shit, too. It's a whole thing and then some, and sure to be one of the only end of year lists that's actually fun to listen to. Oh, and Tom Waits is still the coolest person on the planet.
• Mollie’s Final PuhFooFuh Spotlight, Part 16 of 16: "Real Fan Dan", and asking what we've learned from all these PFUFA spotlights. (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 3:12:00 mark)
• Michael's story about the 2009 film Dogtooth he finally got around to watching, and all with no spoilers. 
• Listing the best new music of 2018, including a few albums you have to absolutely listen to before you die. (see the full lists below)
• Wrapping up the year that was Cleveland Browns, Cavs and Indians, and acknowledging the insane reality that the Browns are our best hope for a championship in 2019. #Seriously

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Learning how spoiled you are by all the cool shit in CLE from when you visit other places that clearly don't have it so good. (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• The very good and the very bad extremes of the exposed nerve that is the Holiday season experience.
• Some sound, rational, well reasoned facts you need to hear if you're already convinced the Browns need to name Greg Williams and Freddie Kitchens as their head coach and offensive coordinator for next season. 
• Lessons on how to have better sex and to have a good sex life where a monogamous commitment isn't involved. Spoiler, it's called having good, open and honest communication. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:00:00 mark)
• Michael Brantley... We don't want to talk about it.
• Taking a moment to recognize all the people who have it worse off than you during the holidays, i.e., 10 things Mike most feels sorry for.
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Xmas List For All Our Fans” (begins at the 2:05:00 mark)
• Mollie reveals a special talent, and Mike is jealous. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:21:00 mark)
• Things get even worse for Ohio State fans, not only is Urban Meyer no longer going to be their coach, he's also not going away. 
• Mollie’s PuhFooFuh Spotlight Part 15: Scraping the bottle of the barrel that is the Cincinnati Bengals fanbase (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:58:00 mark)
• The dumbest simulation game of all.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Getting away during the holidays for peace of mind and rest, by going to Savannah, Georgia... (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• No one eats plain yogurt, right? 
• Browns win again, but Kobe Bryant offering words of wisdom and asking pro athletes to "channel (their) inner Black Mamba" at a Denver hotel, was probably not the best place for that dude to be giving a motivational speech.
• Tribe deals big and save even bigger to conclude baseball's Winter Meetings, and though you have to wonder who's going to be hitting in the middle of that lineup now, we're currently more interested in newly acquired Jake Bauer's whole "see ball, hit ball" approach to hitting.
• Alan Madej's X-Mas Single #7 "All Is Calm, All Is Bright (Tonight)", and how to just relent and enjoy all the holiday season spirit. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:09:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Christmas Day" (begins at the 1:22:00 mark)
• "The early bird gets the worm" as a cautionary tale.
• How come some entertainers and athletes get a pass for their transgressions, no matter how awful and/or evil, while others do not? And knowing that all we can work towards is to end up on the right side of history, even if everything appears totally backwards and fucked up today.
• Cardi B. is not an artist and all her recent Grammy nominations feel like make-up awards seemingly only extended in an attempt to compensate for some of the Grammy's prior mistakes and embarrassments. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:02:00 mark)
• How come all period piece films and shows now seem like they should have dragons and snow zombies in them?
• Mollie’s PuhFooFuh Spotlight Part 14: “Hat Man and Barrel Man” (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:39:00 mark)
• Sure, Steph Curry is clearly willing to entertain insane conspiracy theories that are an affront to science, research and understanding, not to mention one of the greatest accomplishments of our species, but how come no one is calling him out on the really legit, unprovable crazy shit we all know he firmly believes in?
• Michael's 2018 Christmas miracle story.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

This show is dedicated to the memory of fellow WRUW programmer and beloved radio personality, Roger Weist.

Alan Madej's "All Is Calm, All Is Bright (Tonight)" song was used with permission on today's show. Be sure to listen to Alan performing all 7 of his X-Mas singles live for the first time ever this Thursday, December 20th from 10-11pm ET on WRUW's Live From Cleveland show. Can't miss stuff!

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Would you have sex with a sex doll endowed with Artificial Intelligence? (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• Baker Mayfield is legit, it's just too bad it means fans are donning chef hats and bringing baking supplies to the games now because dude's name is "Baker". But what are going to do, they're fan hobos.
• The story of "Beard Guy".
• Since when did going to an NFL game and dealing with security at the stadium become so much worse than going through TSA at the airport?
• What happened when one guy from Cleveland disrupted another guy from Cleveland from watching a live band from Beijing? (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:07:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Cleveland's Angriest Door Guy” (begins at the 1:21:00 mark)
• According to Fansided Cleveland Browns fans are the #1 fans in the country... Sounds much better than it does after you look at the other top 10 entries on the list.
• The biggest problems with partying at the Muni-Lot before games.
• If ever in Middlefield stay away from the toothless guy driving an Econoline van, he might think you're a deer and open fire. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:51:00 mark)
• "Compression Pants", aka Men's Leggings, aka Gotchies?
• First Energy stadium only features music geared for people who clearly have nor real interest in music, sort of like the Grammy's.
• Mollie’s PuhFooFuh Spotlight Part 13: “Catman” (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:36:00 mark)
• The Grammy's have a history of getting it wrong, and with the 2018 nominees announced it's sure to be just as embarrassing as ever.
• Explaining what a two way player technically stands for in the NBA, and then telling you what the designation really means. #Blossomgame
• Bottom line, Greg Williams and Freddie Kitchens should be seriously considered as permanent replacements for Hue Jackson and Todd Haley, just like any other top candidates for the positions should be considered the same. And try not to overthink this.

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.

For more details about the Thursday, December 13th "All Players Welcome" pinball tournament sponsored by Kidforce Pinball at Melt Bar & Grilled in Independence, Ohio, click on this event page, and/or register to be a participant on the EventBrite by clicking here.

DC’s Mike James and Mollie Ames discuss:

• Yellow mustard or stadium mustard? One is named after a primary subtractive color and the other is the only thing that should be served in Cleveland. (Part 1 of the Podcast only content)
• Embracing the power (and common, practical sense) of sequential calendars.
• Browns are reminded of who they are in a beatdown against the Texans, the Cavs after trading away Korver are even more utterly hopeless, and the Tribe aren't just going to get better through free agency, they're apparently dump some of their best players just to lessen payroll. #NoFun
• What's worse, classic rock radio or sports talk?
• Embracing your narrative and doubling down on how strange it may seem to others, and finding out that a lot of guys were circumcised because of Snap, Crackle and Pop. (Part 2 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:07:00 mark)
• Let Me Tell You A Story: Lachlan MacKinnon’s “Go Long” (begins at the 1:17:00 mark)
• All the George H.W. Bush remembrances has effectively portrayed a fascinating and complex individual, one far more interesting than you might have otherwise assumed or knew of before. Makes you wonder if there honestly could ever possibly be any such generous afforded posterity for our current president.
• The fine line between being a hoarder and someone who just collects interesting things. (Part 3 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 1:51:00 mark)
• Every heard of a newsstand with periodicals? Well, good luck finding one around here.
• Mummified flatten dead cat, and other possible logo ideas that are still better than Chief Wahoo.
• Mollie’s PuhFooFuh Spotlight Part 12: “The Ultimate Fan” (Part 4 of the Podcast only content, begins at the 2:32:00 mark)
• The main reason why Baker Mayfield doesn't need to apologize for his Hue Jackson comments that no one is talking about.
• Trevor Bauer maybe right, but sometimes being right isn't the right thing to say. Oh, and Bauer citing his "surplus value"? Yeah, for the record, that's Marxism.
• If a serious actor endorses a perfume line, can that person still be considered a serious actor?

All this and so much more on this episode of the Defend Cleveland Podcast. Enjoy~

Check out Lachlan MacKinnon’s best selling book, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories Of A Large Family’!

Thank you to KidForce Pinball for sponsoring the podcast, 91.1-FM WRUW Cleveland for being home to the show, engineer extraordinaire Mollie Ames, and to the city that inspires us, Cleveland, Ohio.