Hyphen Nation

Let me tell you: there's nothing like booking a guest for THE BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST and picking out a time and a date... and then letting yourself forget all about it. Despite my best efforts, I was able to call in the host of HPG's Catch The Show and The Underground Monster, EG (that's @catcherofshows on the social meedz) to talk about the big night in professional wrestling this past Wednesday. And wouldn't you know it... EG caught the fricking show! So we spend a lot of time on All Elite Wrestling's debut show Dynamite and then do a quick recap on a pretty eventful episode of NXT. This episode is brought to by The Good Place and whatever energy I have left in my body.

So you know what else Jay-Z does besides make conspicuous deals with Roger Goodell and the NFL? He makes music! Well... he used to pretty regularly. So this time out on THE BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST, I have the first person who asked to be on the pod finally on as a guest and all by his lonesome! Michael Lamerique (fresh off his appearances on It's Like A Podcast Or Whatever and InGoodCompany)! It's been 10 years since Hov released The Blueprint 3 and almost 20 years since Vol. 3... The Life & Times of S. Carter came out. So Lam and I talk about both albums and a whole lot of Shawn Carter in between. This episode was brought to you by AEW Dynamite and Cardi B eating crab legs on Instagram Live.

On this edition of THE BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST, strange things are afoot! I had a close encounter of the bird kind while waking up over IG videos. After I recovered from that, I find out that Mario Kart Tour isn't just for iOS but it's available for #TeamAndroid people like myself! This leads to my Mario Kart origin story and why I never hesitate to call myself a Mario Kart KIng. To finish everything off, I tell the sad story of how I lost the Sega Genesis I was supposed to get for Christmas in 1994. This episode is brought to you by a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Sonic Cranberry Limeade, and Black Cat #4.

On this episode of the BARACK OBAMA WORLD’S GREATEST PODCAST, I’m announcing the Emmy winners… days late. Shut up, this was recorded on Monday. From there, I transition into a lengthy discussion about HΘMΣCΘMING losing out on all 6 of its nominations at the Creative Arts Emmys. And while all that Emmy talk is happening, I detail a strange series of events that was taking place inside of the parking lot I was located at. No one seems to care I'm recording the BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST. I live in WV though, maybe I should called it Donald approved? This episode was brought to you by Stumptown and a Vulture Fiona Apple interview.

Okay! So in this episode of THE BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST, I talk about what may be the heaviest topic in Hyphen Nation history: religion. I discuss my whole journey with faith and spirituality and I somehow get sidetracked into talking about my mom's own journey with religion and how that tied into her hypnotherapy work.  I share a lot more than what I thought I was capable of... and then the girls were headed home so I stopped recording. And didn't realize I had been talking for 50+ minutes. This episode was brought to you by my afternoon nap, Back To The Future Part II, and Heroes S01E05.

Almost two days late but we here. In this episode of THE BARACK OBAMA APPROVED WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST, I spent a little time touching on the Browns first win, the greatness of Spider-Man PS4 once again, and the Big Breakfast from McDonald's? Then, I come back with the third part of my ongoing Jessica Jones/ Deadpool story as the unlikely pairing end up in Canada together. Part 1 was on Episode #12 and Part 2 was on Episode #40. This episode was brought to you by Back To The Future.

In this episode of THE WORLD'S GREATEST PODCAST, I come to you live from the back patio for the first time since Episode #97. Within these audio walls, I discuss Antonio Brown for the final time (see Browns In Our Blood S3E3 for part two of my thoughts on him) and whether his departure from the Raiders is his fault or Oakland's, I segue into some NFL talk and how much I enjoyed my first non-fantasy football Sunday in years, I recap my visit to the 2019 West Virginia Pop Culture and Comic Book Convention with Gary (WV PopCon), then I tell the tale of the time I met Wiz Khalifa and how he ultimately influenced my fashion decisions for years to come. And how I have to now give up those fashion decisions. This episode was brought to you by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Northern Illinois @ Nebraska.

In this episode of the Barack Obama Approved World's Greatest Podcast (regular case so you know I'm serious), for the first time, I discuss the September 11th attacks on the 18th anniversary of this terrible tragedy that has shaped the United States into the paranoid republic that it's known as today. Following that, I try to lighten things up by picking winners for this Sunday's Clash Of Champions PPV. I don't know if it worked. I'm glad I did this though. This episode was brought to you by Heroes and my current YouTube deep dive into all things 9/11. Rest in peace to all those lost and all those who gave their lives in order to protect the people of this country that day. And the CBS Early Show host who made the "it's too quiet" remark was Mark McEwen.

EDIT: Since this episode was recorded, Jon Gruden said that Antonio Brown wouldn't face suspension, the Raiders fined him over $200K for conduct detrimental to the team and voided his guaranteed money, AB asked for his release; Oakland granted his request. Brown then promptly signed a one year deal with the Patriots. You can't make this stuff up.

So things have started happening with this Roc Nation/Jay-Z/NFL deal. So much in fact, that my semi-regular co-host was driven to write about how letdown he was by Hov. Two days after he released his piece on Marc Rob, I gathered Marcus and the newest 4x Club Member Michael Lamerique (Eps. 48, 81, 83) to share their POVs. Marcus expounded on his thoughts against these deals, while Lam got to be the angel on S Dot's shoulder. Only time will tell who will ultimately be right but I do have to say that as Jay-Z Stan #1, I'm deeply disappointed so far. Diamonds are forever though. This episode was brought to you by YouTube Kids and Beachfront Bargain Hunt: Renovation.

Related: When Rappers Aren't Heroes, Part III