Matchett and the Other Guy

DIY: three little letters that instill feelings of  hope, excitement, and inspiration in some - an overwhelming sense of fear and trepidation in others. In either case, people tackling their own do-it-yourself projects have never been more popular. Ranging from a simple turn of the flat-blade screwdriver, to full scale, multi-step jobs, many folks are finding their initial inspiration on home improvement television shows; these thrilling ideas followed up with how-to instructional videos via YouTube. Well, be it a good idea or a bad idea, it's time to tighten our tool belts, don our safety glasses, and give this week's rather unstable topic a solid swing of the mighty sledgehammer. After all, with our two hosts Kevin and Steve in control of the work area, what could possibly go wrong?

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Museums... Reflections of society; the repositories of our collective culture - be them the vastness of the Smithsonian’s endless archives, or but a tiny collection housed within a single room, they all represent carefully curated centers of our varied interests and passions. No matter the chosen subject - somewhere on this tiny spinning blue marble of ours - there is housed a museum dedicated to it. As visitors to these intriguing halls of learning, we can always count on leaving with more knowledgeable than when we entered. And, with this as our loose subject of exploration, it's now time to open the front doors and venture [with more than a little trepidation - Ed] into the rather dusty halls and galleries that serve as our two hosts' museum of unreliable memory recall.

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The coming together of nations in the spirit of competition. What started in Olympia, Greece later became the organized modern games we know today 125 years ago. Many of sporting’s greatest moments have come from these gatherings throughout the world. What are your favorites? Which have awed and inspired? Lets ignite the cauldron on this topic as Steve and Kevin look back on the games, athletes, and experiences that have stayed with us over the decades.

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Marco Polo… Sharks & Minnows… Kick the Can… all games evoking summer memories of local pools, backyard lawns and fresh cut grass, all while keeping ourselves hydrated from the nearest garden hose. It was summer activities like these (whether traditional games or simple invented fun) that kept us entertained - and we needed to be entertained for endless hours because Mom had no intention of allowing us back inside until dinnertime arrived. This summer sun bonding with the kids in our “hood” cemented many of our friendships of youth - and talking of friendships, let’s get this week's discussion with Steve and Kevin underway, before the street lights begin to flicker alive, and we need to be heading back home, if we know what’s good for us!

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Clack!… clack!… clack!... that telltale mechanical sound beneath our feet that stirs the butterflies of excitement deep inside. Not that we're given long to dwell on things; already the front of the coaster is over the peak and we're whipping down this next terrifying descent at warp speed! Amusement parks: those fabricated fantasy lands where we willingly exchange our hard earned cash to be spun, twirled, flipped, and thrown about like rag dolls. And that's the fun part, often achieved only after shuffling through endless switchback lines, seemingly waiting for hours on end, with everyone in our group quite certain that folks must be cutting in ahead of us, just around the next bend. Well, amused by them or not, these ever growing theme parks remain a top destination for young and old alike. And so, as we near the start of this week's thrilling ride of podcast excellence, it's time to gulp down the last of our giant pretzels and frozen lemonade, as we prepare ourselves to brave this soaring [though extremely rickety - Ed] ride all the way to the top!

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Quite possibly the two most glorious words of the entire school year: Field trip! Really, was there anything better than rolling off campus knowing we were going to be away from the classroom... all day? Staple destinations of these thrilling ventures were often local zoos, museums, and planetariums but, once in a blue moon, there were other truly special outings, events leaving warm memories to last a lifetime. And with these reflections in mind, it's time to pack a brown bag lunch (complete with your name scribbled in black marker), load up the busses, and join Kevin and Steve, as together the class of 'Matchett and the Other Guy' head out into the wild blue yonder.

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The lights go down... the curtain rises... the show is about to begin. There is something simply magical in attending a live performance, a revered play or a modern musical. From ghostly hauntings on remote moorland islands; to the song-filled prisons of the roaring twenties; from renowned ballet troupes, whose dancers float with unequalled grace across the stage; to powerful opera arias, where strong voices carry passion and emotion to every corner of the theater - any of these stage performances promises to carry us away, to different times and faraway lands. These talented professionals have given their all to their chosen art, have ceaselessly honed their craft... and are gracious enough to share their talent with us; a bond with their awed audience. So, before the lights come back up, returning us to the starkness of reality, let's take a few minutes to enjoy our hosts' [clearly less than - Ed.] Shakespearian storytelling abilities in this week's discussion on the grand majesty of the live stage.

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Flora and Fauna... well fauna anyway. Whether home is urban or rural, a rough hewn cabin or a well-appointed apartment, our friends from the animal kingdom are always popping by to visit. Some of these uninvited guests are genuinely endearing, and we warmly welcome their scampering antics as they search for food and water; others not so much… and many generations have strived to perfect methods of keeping these various garden nibblers and hole diggers at bay. Be them cute or conniving, however, we have no option but to share our world with these near innumerable “critters” (as the Clampetts might say). And so, as we once again find ourselves sitting on the porch, pondering life, lets join Steve and Kevin - and more than a few grumpy geese - as our hosts discuss some of our furry/feathered friends.

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When perusing the pages of the family photo album - looking back at our emerging youth - the often heard plaintive cry is: "What on earth was I wearing!" For better or worse these funny, cringe-worthy moments are forever frozen in time for our future generations to enjoy… Grown-ups dressed our very early days, then, fortunately, we gained identity, personality and opinions; even given limited freedom to influence our own wardrobe choices. A brave new world. Inevitably there were some coveted must-have items: expensive brands, outfits and accessories which our parents had absolutely no intention of indulging. That said, even given these inevitable budget limitations, the reality of living in the real world, we still found a way to forge our individual styles. Sure, with the benefit of hindsight, some of our early style choices left much to be desired - but at the time we remained thoroughly convinced that we were staying sharp, looking good. Time now to join our podcast's very own aspiring fashion gurus, Steve and Kevin, as our two [definitely not so well-dressed - Ed.] hosts venture to the deepest depths of their own closets, where they might just unearth things infinitely more terrifying than mere undressed skeletons.

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It's often suggested that laughter is the best medicine... well, if that’s the case, then comedians must be our go-to healers. With their first stand-up routines limited to dingy small clubs, a select few talented performers have perfected their craft, swiftly ascending the career ladder with endless acclaimed tours in sold-out arenas. An even smaller number have managed the move from stage to screen: central figures in their own television shows or Hollywood films. At any level of personal success, their aim is to make us chuckle, to create laughter even in the most dire of times. And so, in this week's episode, let’s leave our troubles at the comedy club door and join Kevin and Steve as we explore something of these curious entertainers - those misfit troupers set on turning our slight smiles into full-on belly laughs.

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