Don’t Ask Me To Talk

After missing a week due to sickness, Stacy and Eric are together again! Stacy is knee-deep in prepping her house for sale, which is making her way less enthused to decorate her house, while per tradition, Eric’s place is decorated, save for the tree which will go up eventually. Naturally this leads to a rabbit hole about real versus fake trees and holiday smells. Speaking of smells, Stacy had a sensory shopping experience that was doggone awful! Eric has some recent wins with both his deck and solar panels finally being done, just in time for the rain. As for Cultural Blindspots, Stacy has been WAY too busy watching bad holidating movies to check anything off the list whereas Eric checked off every James Bond movie featuring Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton. His take was the movies weren’t terribly smart, but they were very funny, a theme that ties perfectly into this episode’s topic of Smart vs. Funny. In the end Stacy and Eric agree that a smart person picks a funny one. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected] Next Time: Is Water Wet?

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This episode seems to mark the beginning of a busy season. Stacy went down a rabbit hole making decisions about what to get rid of (does it have value? Do the kids want it? Do I care?), she went to a show at The Showbox with Sir Mix-A-Lot and Macklemore along with a bunch of talented kids, saw “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” and had all four kids come home for Thanksgiving! Eric shared a Gertie update, a story about the dermatologist and the latest on his various home projects. He also got a free turkey which reminds Stacy of the infamous WKRP Thanksgiving episode (worth looking up on YouTube). Eric replays part of the Cameo that Sir Mix-A-Lot did for Stacy before they start talking about their Cultural Blindspots of the week. For Eric, he continued with the Bond franchise watching the first one with Roger Moore, “Live and Let Die,” which may also be the best Bond song ever (sung by Paul McCartney and Wings. Eric goes into some of the ridiculous details (remember the guy from the 7Up ads and Jane Seymour?) but also admits it was a fun watch! Stacy doesn’t check off any blindspots this week but does talk about the infamous niche that is Hallmark-type Holiday rom coms. This naturally somehow leads to “Die Hard”, “A Christmas Story” and the leg lamp and “The Night Strangler” movie based in Seattle with the father from “A Christmas Story” playing Kolchak. Unsurprisingly there’s a tangent about the merch from some of these movies that have become iconic – who doesn’t want a leg lamp or moose eggnog glasses!?! As for the Weekly Topic, Stacy picks a classic Billy Joel song that tells a story, switches tempo and last over seven minutes long while Eric goes for his usual esoteric vibes and chooses a song called “Sea of Tranquility” from the Wild Swans albus, Spaceflower. He likes the repetitive bass line and hypnotic groove along with the over ten-minute length! Eric noted one big difference in the choices was the choice to engage versus disengage. Stacy suggests a John Mulhaney bit called, “The Salt & Pepper Diner” about the hilarious consequences of playing a song on repeat. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected] Next Week: Smart vs. Funny

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Eric had a great birthday with lots of cake. Meanwhile Stacy has been rowing to build strength a la Hanz & Franz from SNL in the late 80’s. Supposedly there was going to be a movie with Arnold Schwartzenager, but he was too busy to make it happen – Eric said they did a read-through on Conan O’Brian and it was funny! Birthday goodness. Gertie is also dealing with lame healthcare processes and isn’t even cheering up for green beans! Eric dislodges a core childhood memory for Stacy when he says the phrase, “Chicken & Rice,” while he recalls the Saturday morning jingle about beans and rice. Somehow this leads to fond memories of port wine spread (Eric found a Merlot cheese spread) and an offer to share a recipe for a pinecone cheese “ball.” In other news, Eric’s band Battersea had a gig with a small but enthusiastic crowd. Follow them for future show details. As for Cultural Blindspots, we’re kind of contrarians, we didn’t watch what we supposed WHEN we were supposed to so now, we’re making up for lost time. Stacy watched “The Princess Bride,” which is considered a comedy classic while Eric watched “Starship Troopers,” which might be a considered a cult classic/satire. He also recommends some other shows and movies he’s been watching that are (surprisingly) good. Their weekly topic about straws leads to a brilliant idea involving Starbucks, old bank tubes and saving the world. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected] Next week: Pick one song to play on repeat

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It’s Eric’s birthday along with the Earl of Sandwich and Steve Zayn. Stacy fetes the big day with Nothing Bundt Cakes and kind words; after all, it is World Kindness Day! The latest for Eric is his almost complete deck, the newly installed solar panels, and his (and Gertie’s) medical checkup. Ironically both father and (dog) daughter have high cholesterol for which one of them takes a pill the size of a grain of rice. Eric is healthy otherwise, but Gertie might need a little extra help. Although Eric does need periodontal surgery and in sharing his pre-appointment, he tells the story of how the assistant unceremoniously told him about a booger. He about died from embarrassment. Meanwhile Stacy may have given some rando guy her fries today assuming he is unhoused cringe or kind? For their Cultural Blindspots, both Stacy and Eric watched movies set in November which is rare. Stacy watched “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” while Eric revisited the “Back to The Future” trilogy the first of which is celebrating its’ 40th Anniversary! Eric also recommended the “Death by Lightening” series about James Garfield; arguably a period in history that is also a blind spot. The episode ends with the common theoretical question, “What 3 things would we take on a deserted island?” Clearly Eric is more hopeful with his choices, Stacy’s eating chicken. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected]

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In this episode of "Don't Ask Me to Talk," Stacy and Eric pull the thread on a variety of stories and musings, from the embarrassing (for Stacy) moment of pulling a hair off her male friend’s sweater only to realize it was still attached to his chest, to the should have been awkward moment of a waiter spilling Coke on Eric’s girlfriend’s sweater (he was deft so it was fine). This leads to a rabbit hole about how Europeans drink soda without ice (Stacy is NOT a fan), Eric's ice-chewing habit, the common practice of offering women in labor ice chips to chew on, and Eric training to be his mother’s Lamaze coach (he got out of it when literal push came to shove)! They share life updates, including Eric’s Halloween adventures (or lack thereof), in a medical mask and the sad closing of his go-to pharmacy Bartell (with no S).

Tune in as they explore Cultural Blindspots and the shame associated with having them (sorry, not everyone has seen Rambo). In honor of spooky season Eric watches "Drag Me to Hell" and "American Psycho" while Stacy reflected on the tactile, but short joy of listening to full albums on a record player. For their topic of the week they discuss video games - the social aspect of gaming, and nostalgic memories of arcades and early video game consoles and Beatles Rock Band. It's a lively mix of stories, humor, and insights—perfect for those who love a good tease of everyday life. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected] Next time: 3 Things to take on an island

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Stacy's back from Italy and Eric's still back from Iceland, The UK and France. together they talk about their adventures in site seeing, lingering illnesses, best impulse buys and more. Next week: video games.

DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskmetotalk Email [email protected]

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The gang is back together again, although not in studio so the sound may be different in this episode. Eric is just back from his European vacation and Stacy is on the eve of leaving for her trip to Italy. For the first half of the show, Stacy peppers Eric with questions about his trip – “the roses” or highlights and “the thorns” or struggles. Unsurprisingly the biggest thorn was the stress of wondering whether the apartment Eric booked in Paris would let him in as he had no communication prior to his arrival. While it all worked out in the end (thanks to the ‘Frenchies,” the process was a thorn in Eric’s side. However, the roses were in full bloom as he and the girlfriend got to visit some new and old favorite places. Eric also got to see some of his all-time favorite bands/musicians while traveling – from the Woodentops and Noel Burke to Edwyn Collins (on his farewell tour) and The Divine Comedy. For the second half of the show, Eric and Stacy shared that they both checked off another Cultural Blindspot; for Eric, The Fugitive and for Stacy, Citizen Kane. They agreed the former was enjoyable if farfetched while the latter was “meh” making its’ reputation as one of the greatest films made all that much more perplexing. In the end they barely touch on the topic of the week, so next week’s episode topic is TBD. Tune in for relatable laughs and pop culture tangents. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskmetotalk Email [email protected]

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DAMTT: Rats & Cats, Mahjong and Holiday Décor Debates

In this episode of "Don’t Ask Me to Talk," Stacy shares while visiting “Joan” (her mother), she’s been painting ladybug rocks for her mother and friends, sparking memories of “A Bug’s Life” and Denis Leary’s hilarious ladybug character, Francis. Things take a turn as Stacy reveals an unfortunate update about a now-infected cat scratch from her grandcat Wilson—cue the Dr. Pimple Popper reference—which leads Eric to recall a classic Seinfeld moment questioning how dermatologists save lives. The duo debates the credibility of certain medical professions, with Eric voicing skepticism about chiropractors. Stacy also recounts joining her mother-in-law and her friends for a lively game of mahjong, while Eric muses about games popular among the older demographic, like golf, poker, and cribbage. Meanwhile, Eric discovers another dead rat in his crawl space and once again tackles the smell with his trusty (and minty) odor killer. As he continues to finalize his travel plans in France, he jokes he might end up sleeping on the streets. The Cultural Blindspots segment features Eric’s passionate correction that “records” is the right term (not “vinyls”) and his review of “Rosemary’s Baby” starring a young Mia Farrow, as well as the prequel “Apartment 7A” with Julia Garner. They talk about the darker side of some of these classic movies and their infamous directors. Wrapping up, the hosts dive into the week’s hot topic: when is the right time to decorate for major holidays? Eric introduces the term “Summerween” to describe the ever-earlier arrival of Halloween décor in stores, sparking a lively debate about trends, retail pressure, and personal preferences. Tune in for laughs, pop culture tangents, and quirky household stories! DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected]

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Stacy and Eric kick things off trying to figure out a smoother transition into the show besides “How you doin?” like Joey from Friends. Somehow that leads to conversation about Seinfeld episodes that touch on the infamous J. Peterman catalog and the evolution from collecting CDs to streaming favorite shows on demand now. Eric reports in from his European travels, sharing highlights from his multi-city trip—sightseeing, catching shows, and wondering if he’ll spot the Northern Lights in Iceland. Stacy questions Eric about his radio career beginning in Alaska, he goes on to describe the unique seasons and travel quirks of living in Juneau/Ketchikan. Cultural Blindspots return as Eric admits he’s never seen Forrest Gump, while Stacy suggests a movie night like their previous Godfather viewing. Eric reviews "The Paper" (an Office spin-off), shares his fascination with "Top of the Pops," and muses about quirky UK TV culture. Meanwhile, Stacy recounts her first trip to Applebee’s, a different kind of Cultural Blindspot, and their “studly” pretzels. The hosts then dive into “The Right Way” to tackle everyday household routines from dishwasher loading, toilet paper orientation, sandwich cutting, to folding socks. Eric and Stacy compare their habits, debating both sides of each topic. Tune in for travel tales, pop culture deep-dives, and playful domestic debates! DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected]

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In this episode of "Don't Ask Me to Talk," co-hosts Eric Reidar and Stacy Heller kick things off with their signature upbeat banter and a shout-out to their intro music creator, Dave Nelson. Eric discusses the ups and downs of planning his trip to the UK, debating hotel choices and the reliability of online reviews, while Stacy shares updates about her ankle injury and her cats. They also touch on navigating small talk, with Eric recounting an awkward interaction with an acquaintance, and Stacy (in Dear Crabby mode) offering advice on how to handle conversations about pregnancy with sensitivity. For their segment Cultural Blindspots, Stacy reviews the classic film "Annie Hall" and reflects on its significance, style, notorious director, and iconic clothing (Diane Keaton) and performances. Eric talks about watching Hitchcock’s "Dial M for Murder," commenting on its plot, music, and the contained setting, as well as his quest for 3D movie experiences (perhaps a dedicated channel???). The hosts then dive into the main topic of the week, exploring which TV worlds they’d like to inhabit, from nostalgic sitcoms like "Mr. Belvedere" and "Family Ties" to modern series such as "Severance." The discussion is lighthearted, touching on the appeal and pitfalls of different fictional universes, and wraps up with a preview of next week’s topic about household debates, like pre-rinsing dishes before the dishwasher. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the show on social media and share their thoughts. DAMTT is on Facebook and Instagram as @dontaskme to talk or email [email protected]

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