PopFury

TIM DE LA MOTTE & ANDY DIERKER fire up their dial up when we talk social media, the early days of the internet, our teen years, selfies, Tinder, The Wire and, if Tim can handle Sammy’s transition, Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

“I ONLY PARTIALLY LISTEN TO ANDY MOST TIME HE TALKS.” -TIM

1:00 A billion people used Facebook in a single day. Andy has quit and returned to Facebook. We deconstruct the generational differences in social media use and, simultaneously, destruct each other’s egos.

9:15 Andy was a reporter for two years. Then he realized it was bullshit.

13:10 Sammy asks if Andy & Tim ever considered joining the military. In high school, Andy was an angry teen, Sammy ran for homecoming queen and Tim was a ska/swing kid.

“I LOVED WEARING A BLAZER AS A KID. I LOVED WEARING A BOW TIE AS A KID. I LOVED WEARING SHORT PANTS AND SADDLE SHOES. THAT’S WHAT I REALLY ENJOYED WEARING.” -TIM

20:30 We ponder how our kids would rebel against us and what pop culture we would share with them. Tim’s dad had a record of race car sounds.

25:25 Andy ([email protected]) and Tim ([email protected]) recall their early internet experiences.

“I REMEMBER HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN CHATROOMS WITH 50-YEAR-OLD MEN AND HAVING IT NOT BE WEIRD.” -ANDY

30:00 Teens may be sharing lice when touching their heads together for selfies. Andy & Tim are anti-selfie. They theorize what people think of them from their online personas.

39:00 Both of them are now single and they spend a lot time drinking together in a parking lot. They share their thoughts on Tinder.

“THEY CAN TELL THOUGH—YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE INTO SKA. YOU STILL HAVE THE STINK OF IT.” -ANDY TO TIM

44:30 Tim just isn’t into the Wire. Andy dislikes it entirely.

47:20 Andy has learned about history from playing the game Civilization; Tim is amused by Nuclear Psycho Ghandi. Andy figures out what it would take to make him snap.

53:00 Tim has no patience for Sammy’s suave transition into a Benedict Cumberbatch story. Andy has no patience for Tim’s old man talking. Neither have any patience for old plays or movies.

“TIM AND I, FOR WHATEVER WEIRD REASON, LIKE TO SEE THINGS DESTRUCTED.” -ANDY

1:00:30 Outro

Second City's CHELSEA DEVANTEZ (@chelseadevantez) talks about the fire that damage the Second City offices, zumba, being bullied, and loving garbage TV like The Bachelor.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Chelsea talks about the fire that affected Second City, the theater community rallying together and what she's doing with her unexpected time off.

12:00 Holy shit! Chelsea is a certified Zumba instructor!

"I was thinking if I was sixteen or seventeen years old, came and saw a comedy show, and read that bio...I would have felt at that time in my life really inspired and like things were going to be ok."

17:15 Sammy asks about line from her bio and Chelsea shares the bullying she endured in high school.

22:15 Chelsea used to read business books instead of self-help books. She didn't discover comedy until she went to NYC.

"...because in high school 'performing' means just ripping off something else and changing it not at all."

28:35 Sammy is amazed she grew up without television. We talk about being poor and going to the very expensive NYU.

34:25 Chelsea likes to unwind with 'garbage TV' like the Bachelor and Housewives shows. She got to perform with Whitney from the Bachelor at the Second City. Her favorite celebrity guests were Trevor Noah (Daily Show) and Jim O'Heir (Parks & Rec).

39:30 She's reading a book that features actors in a post-apocalyptic world. Sammy is shocked that Chelsea has been in barfights. She once broke her friend's nose in high school.

"Who is that guy? Why are we hitting him?

46:45 Amazon Prime is offering 1-hour delivery of alcohol in select cities. We talk about drinking in comedy, using improv classes as therapy and meeting her best friend in her Level 1 iO class.

58:30 Outro

 

PopFury presents its first-ever PopFury Spotlight episode!

While we have many fantastic guests, terrific stories & hilarious moments each and every week on the podcast, we realize that our listeners may not have heard them all. The PopFury Spotlight will feature an excerpt from a past episode that we feel truly deserves a moment in the spotlight.

For this Spotlight, PopFury revisits a conversation from Episode 2 with Ashley Nicole Black. While we talk about many things, Ashley was specifically on to talk about her Second City Network article, "Discussing Race and Racism with your Black Friends: DOs & DONTs." 

At the time this was originally, we were still embroiled in the events and fallout of Ferguson. Sadly, in the intervening year since then, national events have only made this conversation all the more relevant. Whether or not you agree with all the points raised, this should hopefully give you some things to consider.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

2:30 Ashley explains the DOs and DON'Ts of Discussing Race and Racism with your Black Friends:

• DO listen more than you speak.
• DON’T make the conversation about you.
• DO treat your Black friends like experts on the subjects of race and racism.
• DON’T assume that because you’ve never experienced something, it doesn’t exist.
• DON’T suggest that the person you are talking to might be blowing it out of proportion.
• DO empathize with Black people about their feelings.
• DON’T sympathize by saying you feel the same way.
• DO acknowledge other people’s truths, even when they make you uncomfortable.
• DON’T derail the conversation.
• DO create space for Black people’s expressions of emotion by avoiding statements like “calm down” or “don’t be so angry” or “don’t attack me for asking a question.”

18:00 Ashley clarifies exactly what “privilege” is.

21:10 We return to the DOs and DON'Ts:

• DON’T cry.
• DO amplify the signal.
• DON’T change the subject.

25:00 Outro

Tim Ryder and Rebecca Hanson sail into PopFury Harbor bearing conversational cargo. We talk about concert experiences, Masters of Sex, sex ed, Ashley Madison, the Berenstain Bears and Star Wars. 

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

1:30 Spoiler: they just celebrated their 6th anniversary. Rebecca is unsure exactly when it was.

4:45 Tim got Rebecca a ticket to see the Grateful Dead, but didn't go with her. She describes the allure of Grateful Dead and Phish concerts.

“...any song I could either play on actual guitar or Guitar Hero, I would enjoy.”

11:30 They share their best and worst concert-going experiences.

18:10 Rebecca is older than Tim. Sammy shares the sweet wedding anniversary tradition of a long-married couple.

“You recoiled from that as if a snake had leapt from the screen!”

24:10 Tim and Rebecca enjoy Masters of Sex. Sammy asks about their sex ed experiences.

32:10 The executive director of the Louisiana GOP claims his Ashley Madison account was for “opposition research.”

35:45 Sammy asks if Tim or Rebecca had an archnemesis.

“I don't want to get too political on this but I think the Second Amendment should only apply to swords.”

39:00 Two teens tried robbing a store with knives—but the store owner drew a sword.

42:15 Tim used to be a lifeguard at a water park. Rebecca was a telemarketer.

“It's basically like your right in a toilet. It's like you're a turd.”

48:00 Rebecca talks about her time as a Berenstain Bears at a "museum park."

54:45 A NY State Senator wants to ban both male and female toplessness.

57:50 Rebecca and Tim are beyond hyped for the new Star Wars. Rebecca reveals her childhood Star Wars fantasy.

“It's time for us as a country to be able to be proud of Star Wars again.”

1:06:50 Outro

Comedians BRYAN DUFF and TYLER SAMPLES entered a morass of misogyny when they went to a Steve Harvey show taping. This is their hilarious, and horrifying, story.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

0:50 Bryan and Tyler endured a 10-hour taping of the Steve Harvey Show.

2:15 An audience member brought his own popcorn for Steve Harvey to try. This may be the only sweet moment from the taping.

"This is gonna be a fun dumb way to spend 4 or 5 hours on a Sunday."

4:35 They explain exactly why they went to the men-only show

7:00 They were e-mailed a 53-question survey. Tyler shares the skewed survey questions & answers. The idea of not going never crossed their minds. Their group began to realize they didn't fit in.

“There were a lot of warnings...honestly, there is no one to blame but ourselves.”

18:45 The men-only show started and the curtains raised to reveal women onstage. There was catcalling and verbal harassing of the women.

24:45 Sammy gives a little background on Steve Harvey. Bryan and Tyler share Steve Harvey's hunter analogy.

“It was like being in war...you don't remember every detail...”

27:10 Bryan, or his misogynist character rather, got a job offer. Bryan and Tyler detail the audience's hostile reactions to the female guests and one of the male guests.

“Anyone who didn't give the most misogynistic answer or perspective, on either side, would just be like shut down completely.”

37:00 They analyze Steve Harvey's logic on infidelity and sexual mores.

“When you have 2000 men who think it's a show about and for them and then 150 women who know what's actually going on...it does not go well.”

44:00 Sammy wonders if there were any “good guys” in the crowd and wonders about Bryan's character, Mr. Rape Culture. They didn't know it was going to be a ten-hour taping.

51:00 They share their highlights and lowlights of the taping.

59:00 Despite his experience, Tyler still has hope.

1:03:00 Outro, during which Bryan plugs his fucking High School reunion...again.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode of the PopFury Podcast, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Lockpicker Andy Junk & gymnast Diane Teng team up and break into the PopFury Podcast to talk overly dramatic athletes, dating a clown, stabbing each other, financial advice, Seinfeld, and Andy's frivolous purchases.  (Special appearances by the Blue Angels from the Chicago Air & Water Show)

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

1:05 Sammy marvels at the fitness of his guests. Diane is training for a triathlon; Andy biked 500 miles.

"You know what? Athletes are sooooo weird. They're kinda babies." -Diane

4:10 Andy thinks Diane is a dreamer. Diane thinks athletes are overly dramatic.

13:00 We make Diane talk about doing gymnastics as a kid. We then make her talk about the clown she met online.

23:30 A Russian body builder declared his abs stab-proof and made his party guest stab him. Diane would totally stab Andy.

"I like to talk out loud...WAIT! Think out loud!" -Diane

27:10 Andy is Diane's financial advisor. We learn that Diane eats A LOT.

"I have no problem with the amount that she's eating. I have a problem with the amount she's spending." -Andy

33:35 A man dressed as a bear and then harassed bears eating fish at a river. Andy has punched a bird off his head; Diane has been bitten by every animal ever.

39:00 Diane has never seen any of the Star Wars movies. Both Andy and Diane have exercise tricks and mantras to get them through the worst of it.

"I get sweet sweet satisfaction when I pass someone on a nicer bike than me." -Diane

46:30 Diane just binge watched Seinfeld and we discuss our favorite characters and episodes.

52:50 Sammy asks the duo how much money it would take to be happy. Andy discloses his frivolous purchases.

"Actually, the detachable bidet I did buy in a fervor---I actually got next day shipping. I needed it. I needed it!" -Andy

59:40 Andy talks about marriage. Sammy forces Diane to talk about marriage.

1:03:40 Outro, during which Andy savages my intro voice over.

Comedian, monologist & podcaster MARY BETH SMITH keeps her cool cool cool when we chat Animorphs, street harrassment, Roller Derby justice & how she met her beau.  

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

0:40 MBS has had a crappy day but is staying positive.

"It's just been a haberdashery of coolness in the past two-four hours for MBS"

6:00 A South Carolinian woman claims she saw a Lizard Man. 

10:20 MBS explains why it is important to be a well-rounded person and how she brought her dad around on certain topics. She talks about her own transformation in high school.

"These books are so absurd...and I could not love them more."

24:00 She is re-reading the Animorphs books, which she breaks down in excruciating detail. Sammy doesn't understand the following words: Yeerks, Andalites, Hork-Bajir, Taxxons, Visser Three, Smorkblaks, nothlit.

"This was another time where I almost said something and I fucking should have...and I'm mad that I didn't!"

36:30 A Roller Derby girl, Ida B. ChoAzz, thwarted a mugging attempt. Sammy seizes his opportunity to work MBS up about street harassers.

47:00 An 80-year old man smoked a pipe while waiting for a rescue from his sinking car.

"That second date was just like, 'Oh, yeah, this is gonna be a thing.'"

49:45 MBS recounts how she met and started dating her boyfriend Eric.

1:02:45 Outro

KATHARINE CIKANEK and CAROLYN SINON return to PopFury to discuss being hit on by guys, getting Old Yeller'd, asking someone on a date, Kermit The Frog's break up, human poop fertilizer & Osama bin Laden's Whitney Houston fixation.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

0:40 Carolyn was half an hour late. Katharine just had her last day of work. Carolyn ridiculed Sammy's impromptu marriage proposal.

"When you major in musical theater you don't ever imagine that things like this will be a part of your life." -Katharine

6:45 Carolyn went to Cancun to swim with whale sharks. Sammy is more interested in the British guys who hit on her.

17:00 Sammy avoids Carolyn's whale shark story with a news item about a 110-year old woman who drank 3 Miller High Lifes a day. Katharine and Carolyn ponder the oldest they'd want to be.

"The second my mind starts going or I can't walk anymore...someone Old Yeller me. Please." -Carolyn

27:45 Carolyn begins to tell her whale shark story--Sammy thinks her story is bullshit and talks about dating instead.

"Well I want to make sure that all the men who asked me out on Facebook THIS month know I'm not talking about them." -Carolyn

41:00 Carolyn finally talks about her stupid whale shark experience.

46:00 Kermit the Frog announce his and Miss Piggy's break up. Sammy asks if Katharine or Carolyn could date Kermit.

"People aren't taking shits in the middle of the park and claiming land for Britain. This isn't what's happening!" -Katharine

52:30 Chicago Parks are using human waste biosolids for fertilizer. Katharine suffers from poop-blindness.

58:30 Osama Bin Laden was a huge Whitney Houston fan.

1:02:55 Outro

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode of the PopFury Podcast, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Uncool kids LISA BURTON & TIM DUNN nerd it up when we talk accents, haunted houses, Cecil the Lion, an activist turkey, high school bus rides and Tim's new girlfriend, Ronda Rousey.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro

1:20 Sammy is concerned about Lisa taking advantage of Tim.

"...no beating around the bush here, like why don't you come and make out with me?" -Lisa

5:30 A UK man called the police when his girlfriend allowed her cat to eat his bacon.

10:15 We delve into the accents we love and hate the most.

"I'm probably going to choke to death on a beignet when I go to New Orleans." -Tim

17:00 Lisa loves ghost stories. We discuss what makes a good haunted house (and Hell House). Lisa tells the story of the Woman in White.

25:30 Michelle Obama would like to be Beyonce. Tim and Lisa share what celebrities they'd like to be.

32:18 Sammy asks what one thing Lisa and Tim would change about their careers.

36:02 We dig into the online furor surrounding the death of Cecil the Lion.

"Sammy, are you siding with the dentist here? Is that what you're saying?" -Lisa

41:45 A turkey is terrozing the University of Michigan campus.

45:00 Lisa amuses and horrifies us with her school bus stories.

"Oh, that has a happy ending...kind of." -Tim

53:10 Neither Tim or Lisa were cool kids in high school. Lisa ran with the FIYA HAZARDS and plugs the shit out of Whistle Binkies.

"We should move on before I sound un-feminist." -Lisa

59:00 Ronda Rousey destroyed yet another MMA opponent!

1:04:45 Outro

CHIRP Radio DJ Bobby Evers is full of heart stuff! He talks about his cabinet of friend consultants, first dates & worst dates, selfie tips and why women have to flirt.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 Intro, with an extended & detailed description of the OTHER Chirp website

3:24 Bobby explains why people like him and breaks down his coterie of friends that he consults with and why, with

“Sometimes you want someone to validate your neuroses a little bit.”

12:00 A man was caught having sex with shrubbery.

“The thing where people say you do things for the social media validation? That is so true for me.”

15:15 French kissing with HPV makes head and neck cancer more likely. We end up talking the etiquette of first date kissing and going out on dates.

23:45 Bobby shares the best and worst first dates he's been on.

28:30 A woman flirted too much and was caught trying to smuggle drugs. Bobby explains her motivations via a hypothetical science-fiction narrative construct.

32:15 A Taco Bell that serves liquor will have a bouncer. Bobby reveals he was a picky eater and doesn't drink alcohol.

“There's nothing you can do to make someone like you more...there's only things you can do make them like you less.”

37:10 Bobby has done online dating.

42:45 A man took a selfie with a rattlesnake...and got bit. Bobbie shares a bathroom selfie tip. He shares his friend's nicknames.

“That would be selfie revisionism and I'm not going to do that!”

49:25 A doctor declared a woman dead. She wasn't dead. We discuss the formality of calling someone “Doctor”

54:25 Outro, where Bobby jumps the gun on plugging his shit.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode of the PopFury Podcast, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Stitcher!