I've Got Nothing To Say (but it's okay)

Episode 42 should be special, shouldn't it? I mean, 42 has been, and continues to be, my family's favorite number. Long before Douglas Adams wrote about it in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 42 was ingrained into my psyche. Shouldn't I be commemorating it somehow? Well, I guess this summary is doing that. But in the episode itself, I don't mention it. That's okay. It's still a special (albeit short) episode. How much more special can it be? It's me talking about the feeling that I'm living in heaven. I think that counts as "special". [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

It's a stretch to call this a podcast episode, but that's okay. It's also a stretch to call (all of) this a podcast. Then again, what is a podcast? Webster's Dictionary defines podcast as... {TIRES SCREECHING}. Let's not go there, shall we (not)? The thing that qualifies this as a podcast episode is me calling it a podcast episode. It's my party, and I'll podcast if I want to. This "episode" (what's with the scare quotes?!) is, at least, in the spirit of the podcast's "mission" (again with the scare quotes?!). That mission? Spontaneity. I turned on the mic, and started recording. What's different then? It's not me talking about whatever's on my mind. Instead, it's me singing (and playing piano) about whatever's on my mind. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This 40th episode (without fanfare) was initially intended for my ears only. It was a journal entry. I was thinking about how The Comedy Store seemed so much bigger to me back in the 1980's, and wanted to capture my thoughts verbally instead of writing about it. After I finished recording, I decided to condense it a bit and push it out as a short podcast episode. (I might actually do more than one podcast episode this year. No promises.) By the way... no offense to current comedy club(s). This is about me and my malleable memories. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Another annual episode. Why? Because I want to. With this episode, I get back to the original spirit/mission of my podcast. Namely, I just turned on the recorder and talked for an hour... with minimal editing involved (specifically, I added intro/outro music, paused once, and inserted a coupla song samples for context). Although I'm not happy with some of my annoying mouth noises (e.g., swallowing and lip-smacking), I'm posting it anyway... warts and all. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

The running gag continues. Another annual episode. How long will I keep doing this? I have no idea. This year's broadcast is a clip show, recorded in bits and pieces over 2020 and 2021. It closes with me doing stand-up at The Comedy Store to celebrate my 60th birthday, one month before we started the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Will that be my last time doing stand-up? I have no idea. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This podcast is now a running gag. A long con. What started in 2014 as an earnest attempt to do a weekly podcast has become the equally earnest joke of doing an annual podcast. Enjoy! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Last January, when I recorded my first episode of 2018, I asked the prophetic question, “Will it also be my last episode of 2018?”. The answer turned out to be “yes”. Hence my use of the word “prophetic”. Now, after recording my first episode of 2019, I will not ask that same question. Instead, I will just say... enjoy my annual podcast episode! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

After doing 23 episodes in 2016, I only did one episode in 2017. My excuse? I don’t want to talk about it. What I do want to talk about is envy being stupid. So I do talk about it in this episode. I also talk about a bunch of other stuff. Interested? Intrigued? Incarcerated? Then please listen to my first episode of 2018. Will it also be my last episode of 2018? Or will I actually maintain a semi-regular schedule this year? There’s no earthly way of knowing... which direction we are going... there's no knowing where we're rowing... or which way the river's flowing... [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

In a parallel universe, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe, I sat on the toilet and talked to myself for 30 minutes. For what it's worth, I'd like to note that when I recorded this, I didn't intend on sharing it. I thought it was only going to be heard by a future self. Then I decided to share it. Why the change of heart? How would I know? You're asking me why I do things? Have you been listening to anything I've said? [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I had my best set since returning to stand-up. If it were any other night, that would have dominated this episode. But this wasn't any other night. It was election night. And, if I stick to my plan, it was the last night I give a shit about anything going on in the world outside of my personal experience. Sour grapes? Yup. Sore loser? Indeed. And you know what? I don't care. The person who's apparently going to be our President is a vile creature who spews endless venom. I quit drinking earlier this year. Now it's time to rid myself of political poison. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]