Welcome back to the trenches! On this episode of Poets at War, the Brood gathers to discuss the chaotic life of the modern bard, the intersection of fast food and illicit activities, and how the absurdities of reality fuel our fiction.

We kick things off with life updates, including Joshua’s foray into "vibe coding" to build his own project management suite and Daniel’s busy schedule working in a group home. The conversation takes a hilarious turn as the group swaps stories about accidental encounters with drug dealers—including a sandwich shop called "Fat Sam's" and a very confusing offer involving a Wendy's bag in a Publix parking lot.

Later, we dive into the craft of writing. How do banana peels, urban sprawl, and fever dreams about sneezing elephants make their way into our stories? We wrap up the hour with tactical mechanics, brainstorming rule changes for Daniel’s card game (involving celebrity impressions), and nerding out over Stream Decks, A/V automation, and the struggle between digital tools and physical notebooks.

In This Episode:

00:00 – Intro & The Life of a Modern Bard: Job updates, eBay flipping, and "Vibe Coding."

21:25 – "Is that a sandwich or...?" Funny stories about drug deals, Fat Sam, and the Wendy's bag incident.

34:27 – From Reality to Fiction: How banana peel physics and construction sites inspire narrative.

49:20 – The Fever Dream: A terrified principal, a choir, and a sneezing elephant.

57:11 – Tactical Mechanics: Developing Daniel's card game & brainstorming rule changes.

1:16:00 – Gear & Gadgets: Obsessing over Stream Decks, A/V automation, and the notebook debate.

Join the Brood:

Visit https://joshuadavidling.com for links to our Discord, Substack, and Patreon.

Be your family's bard. Do not turn to the right or to the left, And The Lord will be with you wherever you go. Over and out!