Lunch Box Podcast

John has suffered a Skunk Incident and Ed is trying to remember how to be a writer. They talk about pop stars' DIY reality shows, eyebrows, how much time it takes to ranch, the joy of unmarked pastries, beets that are actually pig blood, and a five-minute poetry anthology. Follow links to Hall & Oates, Jack Ryan's Wildlife Removal, Catherine LaSota on Burning Man, Glendale Farm grape juice, Vanilla Ice goes Amish, Patisserie Claude, Teo Bun Bo Hue, My Brother's Crawfish, Good Taste Noodle House, Black Wings Has My Angel, Flings, Mislaid, The Undiscovered Room, All Of It Singing, and "Skunk Hour."

Another new year, another new patriotic action on so-called "government" land. Ed and John discuss their efforts to liberate America from America, and also revision again, goose jerky, podcasting on horseback, The Force Awakens, novelizing and poemizing, and the origins of ketchup. Follow links to podcasts for writers, John Linnell's "Oregon," the Montana Freemen, machete order, the E.T. novelization by William Kotzwinkle, other good novelizations, La Moule, and Stammtisch.

John's depressed, Ed realizes he is trashy, and the two discuss what Flavor Flav owes Johnny Cash, getting stabbed to death, lit fun in Miami, winter dining habits, and meeting Paul Giamatti at three in the morning. Follow links to Heavenly Creatures, The Onion on Biden, indie rockers The Laughing Hyenas, the Bali Cafe, The Corner, and books by Michael Clune, Kevin Brockmeier (sorry if we've already talked about this one), the other Adam Phillips, Angela Flournoy, and Frenchy Brouillette.

Ed and John talk about literary readings again, but also the political campaign, pro wrestling and funerals, puppetry, beards, and potty training. Follow links to Dilfield, Silent Reading Party, The Brockport Writers' Forum, twopoems by Frank Lima, Bad Lip Reading's Democratic Debate, Axelrod interviews Romney, and the weird presidencies of Grover Cleveland.

Ed and John take a post-Halloween breather to discuss Billy Joel, Portland's penchant for naming businesses after other kinds of businesses, the foods of West Philly, potty training, writer parties, and getting rid of books. Follow links to Joel's All for Leyna, Matter of Trust, interview with Alec Baldwin, and Moscow freak-out; also Philadelphia's Ramen Bar and Federal Donuts.

What's this? Ed and John are back? In this rather truncated episode, they discuss guns, the scoundrel Cal Ripken, the arrival of the lunchman, pop singers, and eating at a golf course. Follow links to the University of Iowa Shooting, Jo Ann Beard's essays, Alice Bolin on Britney Spears, Miley's tongue slide, Ohana Hawaiian Cafe, Sayler's Old Country Kitchen, Killer Burger, and the Rose City Golf Course.

This episode is boring, but luckily, it is also long. After endlessly droning on about mailboxes and childcare, Ed and John mercilessly pivot into panic attacks, how Johnny Cash almost died, and the awfulness of Bill Cosby; then they finish strong with patty melts, grilled scallions, and other grillable delights. Follow links to Nicole Cliffe's burger recpie (it's all about the cumin), the Pilot Rock charcoal grill, The Sweethome's charcoal roundup, cebollitas, and grilling brussels sprouts.

John has quit his book group over dirty teacups, and Ed is spending most of his time at the zoo. Nevertheless they manage to find things to say about the most respected profession, a very special subgenre of metal, the pleasures of Queens, and whether they or their friends are narcissists. Follow links to the narcissist quiz, the big quake, Mac Sabbath, the Noguchi Museum, Louis Armstrong House, the LIC Reading Series, and Luis J. Rodriguez's Always Running.

It's Father's Day, and Ed is wondering when he'll go to the movies again. He and John discuss how the ninteen-seventies have influenced them, whether it is possible to like both Ferrante and Knausgaard, the similarities between a list of poems and a list of snacks, and the unhinged horribleness of the present-day Lucky Charms elf, who is no longer played by Cormac McCarthy. Follow links to Ed's list, Elissa's list, Novel Gothic, Grizzly BT Regular, "The Cowboy Outlaw", The Gift of Stones, and Truckstop Honeymoon.

Ed's bored in the suburbs but is preparing to enjoy parades on the land, sea, and air. John has had a traumatic experience at the post office. Nevertheless, they manage to talk about the rappers of upstate New York, propose a reality show in which Arnold Schwartzenegger visits fruit festivals, sample kava, and debate the laws governing pool-noodle ownership. Follow links to the internet troll who shall not be named, Videodrome, Scanners, PickYourOwn.org, Whoop-Up Trail Days in Conrad, MT, "Sick" by Crying, and Sammus.