Men in Gorilla Suits

It's been a busy week. No funny chat...just this, what we're talking about (Also, during a Skype freeze-up for Gorilla Christopher, Shawn sings most of "Sweet Caroline"...bom bom bom...):

• What is the first myth you remember?
• Why do you think ancient myths endure?
• Let's talk a moment about Medusa, Sirens, Lamia, Banshees, and Harpies. Why do you think so many mythological monsters are female?
• What's the differences between mythological religions and faiths enduring today?
• Do you think mythology can be dangerous?
• Do you know of any myths based on truth?
• Why do you think so many writers are into older myths?
• If you were to create a mythology, what would it be like?
• What is your favorite ancient myth?
• What is your favorite modern or pop culture myth?
• What is your least favorite myth [of any kind]?
• What is the future of mythology?

It is rather funny that, despite having this episode about memories edited and ready to go, Gorilla Christopher forgot to get it online yesterday.

And since he is prepping for a long weekend in East Texas, this is all he's typing. Well, this...and what we talk about this episode:

• What's your first memory?
• Do you have a good memory?
• How reliable is human memory?
• What tricks or methods do you use to assist your memory?
• What's your favorite memory from your life?
• What memories of your own do you doubt?
• What memories are you absolutely sure of?
• What's the last thing you forgot? (If you remember that you forgot it)
• What's the most mundane thing you remember?
• Weirdest random thing lurking in your memory?
• What's the future of memories?

After 319 episodes, we have made the decision to...keep going with the podcast! Okay, so we didn't decide a thing...we do the show almost automatically, now. But since the episode is about quitting things (habits, jobs, and so much more), we of course must make the joke that it's all over. It's not. This is what we talk about this time around:

• What's one of the earliest things you remember quitting?
• Have you ever quit a job suddenly? Why, and what happened?
• Do you think people should quit their job and pursue their passions?
• What is the biggest thing you quit?
• At least in the United States, we seem to love quotes like, "Winners are not people who never fail. Winners are people who never quit!" Why do you think we sell the story that quitting is bad?
• Is there anything you've quit that you regret quitting?
• When is quitting a good idea?
• Is there anything in your life you feel you should quit? If so, what and why?
• Why do you think it's so hard for people to quit certain things?
• Do you think most people give up too easily?
• Is there anything you believe you'll never quit?
• What's the next thing you think you'll quit?

The hands of time creep forward and the pages of calendars turn. Along the way, microbes become creatures that leave the water and eventually walk upright. In time, the Progenies of Time create societies, the Internet, and so many other things.

Progress marches on, so...this time around, that's what the Gorillamen discuss.

Specifically:

• When is the first time you were aware of progress (societal, technological, other).
• How much societal progress would you say you've seen through your lifetime?
• Technological?
• What thing would mid-80s Christopher (or mid-90s) Shawn be most surprised by existing today?
• What would each of those people be most disappointed had not progressed?
• What's your favorite example of societal/technological process from your lifetime?
• What is the worst example of progress from your lifetime?
• What would you like to see progress faster?
• What's the future of progress?

Once upon a time, there were two little gorillas who worked together in the mortgage branch of a very large bank. They liked each other enough that they stayed in touch, even after leaving that job and going their separate ways.

They talked about starting a new thing: a podcast. They jumped into that new thing, and the only thing that ever stopped them in a release week was the recent Texas winterpocalypse that wiped out power and Internet connectivity for most of a week.

The Gorillamen often talk about things they are up to, so...it seemed time to dedicate an entire episode to trying new things.

Here's what Gorilla Shawn and Gorilla Christopher chat about this time:

• What is the first new thing you remember trying?
• How easy is it to try something new?
• How open are you to trying new things?
• What is the coolest new thing you've ever done?
• Has a new thing ever changed your life? What was it, and how did it change things?
• Why do you think some people are apprehensive about trying new things?
• What's a new thing you tried that you quickly stopped doing? (And why?)
• What's the last [vaguely major] new thing you've tried?
• How has the Internet factored into people trying new things?
• What's a new thing you have always wanted to do, but haven't? Why?
• Do you think a person can do too many new things?
• What is the future of trying new things?

This is not the government writing this intro to tell you that Gorilla Shawn, recently receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine dose, is now under the control of Bill Gates. And Gorilla Christopher recently didn't eat fake Texas snow, and is not now a HAARP zombie! Nope...nothing to see, here...move on...

This time around, while still rebounding from the big Texas winter storm, the Gorillamen are taking on modern conspiracy theories. (Yes, they talked about conspiracy theories way back in Episode 3, but this time, it's more recent things...and the damage they're doing to the U.S. and beyond...)

What is discussed? How 'bout this:

• What's the first time in the last few years you noticed an upturn in conspiracy thought?
• What's the first modern conspiracy you saw?
• Why do you think conspiracy theories have come back into the mainstream lately?
• What kind of people are most susceptible to believing in conspiracies?
• What's the dumbest conspiracy theory you've heard lately?
• What's the most believable?
• How do conspiracies start, and why?
• Who benefits from the latest rash of conspiracy thought?
• Who is damaged by it?
• What's the immediate future of conspiracy theories?

A quick update...

For the first time in over 315 episodes (eight years), it looks like we won't get an episode out during its scheduled week.

Because of the unprecedented storm that hit Texas this week, Gorilla Shawn has been without power, and Gorilla Christopher spent much of the week without Internet.

Not sure if we will release the new episode next week, or wait for the next scheduled week.

Just wanted to let everyone know what's up!

Hope you're well...we're starting to crawl out of things down here in the Lone Star State...

It's time to change that avocado-colored kitchen you've looked at daily since buying that 60s ranch house in the 'burbs. But how? Do you hire contractors, do it yourself, or find the right combination of both options?

More people than ever are giving it their own go. If you live in the suburbs, you are likely just a few miles from a large home improvement store. Many cities offer grants to improve where we live. Access to industry knowledge and materials is commonplace, and the result is more homes being updated than ever.

That's what the Gorillamen are talking about this time around...specifically:

• When did you first become aware of home improvement?
• Growing up, what home improvements did you see done? (Could be your family, or others.)
• Functionality used to be enough, but now we love luxury and design. Why do you think home improvement is such a big thing?
• Why do you think Do It Yourself home tasks have become more popular than ever?
• What is your favorite home improvement show?
• Have you ever worked in a job centered around home improvement? (Or, if not…do you ever have the urge?)
• How has the Internet changed home improvement?
• What's the most involved home improvement task you've done?
• How do you learn how to update things around your home?
• What's one home improvement task you need to do or have done?
• What is THE home improvement task you want to do or have done?
• What is the future of home improvement?

You will listen to Men in Gorilla Suits... You will spread the good news about Men in Gorilla Suits... You will listen to Men in Gorilla Suits... You will spread the good news about Men in Gorilla Suits... You will listen to Men in Gorilla Suits... You will spread the good news about Men in Gorilla Suits...

This time around, we're talking about brainwashing...specifically, these points:

• When was the first time you heard of the concept of brainwashing?
• Who's the first person you ever saw brainwashed or radicalized in any way?
• What is brainwashing, in your opinion?
• How long has brainwashing been a part of the American experience?
• Have you ever been brainwashed?
• What's the most benign example of brainwashing you've seen?
• What's the scariest?
• Does the internet make it easier to brainwash people?
• Why are some people more suggestible to brainwashing?
• Can brainwashing ever be used for good?
• How do we combat brainwashing, or try to help those who have been radicalized?
• What's the future of brainwashing in America?

So...uhm...how 'bout that attempted United States coup attempt, eh?

It's been a bit of a nutty week (to say the least), but we have yet to miss posting an episode by Friday of the scheduled week for 313 episodes and counting...

This time, we talk about hypochondria; specifically:

• When did you first hear about hypochondria?
• Who was the first hypochondriac you knew?
• Are you a hypochondriac…or do you have any tendencies toward illness anxiety disorder?
• How does one become a hypochondriac?
• Do you feel hypochondria is a valid phobia?
• How does illness anxiety disorder affect one's life?
• Have you ever lived with a hypochondriac? What's that like?
• Do you think doctors are quick to dispel valid medical concerns as being all in one's head?
• Has a doctor ever told you there was nothing wrong with you and then…it turned out there was?
• What role do you think the Internet plays in those with illness anxiety disorder?
• Can someone overcome hypochondria?
• What advice would you give someone with illness anxiety disorder?