Welcome to the First Ever episode of Rooney's Lodgecast! Here, we dive into a special archival treat from the very beginning. It's 2012, and I'm joined by music producer Michael Starita. Michael and I have a rich history of collaboration, having mixed around 50+ of my songs during an intense series of sessions at Faultline Studios in downtown San Francisco. We met in a bar and often drank together. Consistent with my overbearing nature and current solo pod vibes, I'll be doing most of the talking and reminiscing about those marathon sessions and the magic that happened surrounding the experience. Some excellent information, fun times, and a detailed exploration of the recording arts caught on tape in a historic apartment in a crazy neighborhood during a decent cultural era of that region. This pod set the tone for all the storytelling, history, and personal insights that would follow. 

"Homer My Odyssey," is an unplanned spoken word journey recorded in my van while camping in the woods. Not typically a performer in this manner, but armed with a notebook, I read randomly selected lyrics that, as fate would have it, came together to sound as though they were meant to be. This collection, named in homage to Homer's epic poem, stands as a fun and eclectic addition to the Sekdek Podcast. Echoing the spoken word styles of Charles Bukowski and William Burroughs and influenced by the music and works of Leonard Cohen, this episode reminds me of the rich tapestry of voices that inspire my own.

The "Endless Battle" brings our explorative series to a mighty close. Today, I actually got to some of the darker themes that have recently touched my life, intertwining some unsettling AI experiences with the broader discussions. Typical with my current pod stylings, I'm loose and riff-heavy during this final one. Some sharper focuses as well as broader reflections. Maybe this whole thing will end up being a bag of dicks. I would not be surprised. I get excited about things anyway and enjoy that about myself. A fair and rigorous thought experiment both ways usually does the trick in the long run. Join me as I come all the closer to understanding the mystery of life and non-life as we know it in 2024. This is a historic moment, just like all the other moments. 

In this second installment of our lil' trilogy, I navigate another gloom commute and revisit ambitious topics. Attempting to further dissect the dualities of telepathy and privacy in a future where we might become one with everything and everyone, the conversation again meanders through a landscape of novel and familiar ideas while adventurously multitasking. A historic document of a creative workflow in action, with side notes and tangents that add layers of insight and entertainment; despite my intentions to balance the discussion, a fascination with the possibilities of full integration often overshadows underlying concerns...again. There are comic moments and act-outs. I do some voices. And eerie coincidences are revealed and studied. Am I who I think I am? Are these really my thoughts? Or am I lines in a deep code? Well, answer me!

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "AI Telepathy 1.0: The Rambo Trilogy," where we embark on the first part of a mind bending/mind numbing trilogy exploring the intersections of telepathy, AI, and the singularity. As I journey to work at the crack of dawn, amidst the backdrop of rainy mornings, I delve into the cosmic and devastating world of robotic to non-robotic sentience. This episode sets the stage for a series of ruminations that paint an impressionistic picture of my mind's inner workings during my freshly coffeed humps toward the grind. Interesting podcasting coincidences occur and add surprising fodder to my topic as this episode proves a fun foreshadowing for the next installment. See the scaffolding constructed for the next floors and walls to come. Am I a thought leader or a thought follower? Or both? You decide. Yes, the Plan is to rigorously explore and debate the concepts of telepathy and privacy in our impending future of total interconnectedness, and as a thought experiment, I challenge my usual stance of AI positivity, teasing out more of the fears and concerns associated with a fully integrated existence. (the often desired juice as of late) However, as you'll see, my awe for this potential future often takes center stage, leading to some entertaining detours along the way. All accomplished with zero auto accidents! 

On an early, rain-soaked morning commute, I recorded a podcast episode that dives into the murky waters of authenticity, exploring the erosion of genuine 'authenticity' provoked by the increasingly inauthentic reality shaped by technology. As I navigated the slick roads, the episode became a meditation on the unsettling thought that perhaps we humans aren't as authentic as we believe ourselves to be. I discussed my artistic endeavors aimed at preserving a raw, intimate style, a stark contrast to the perfection and hyperrealism that technology continues to advance, complicating our ability to discern what is real and what human potential truly looks like. This capability challenges our perceptions of reality and ourselves, making it increasingly difficult to understand what is even real or possible as human beings. The conversation also touches on the essence of podcasting as an art form and the intriguing reality we navigate in 2024, highlighting the ironic use of my commuting time as I drive towards the drudgery of a 9-5 job rather than earning a living by indulging in my passions for podcasting, making music, and creating art, offering a deep dive into the complexities of maintaining authenticity in an age where technology reshapes our world views.

This is me sitting around a fire telling the tales of the inner universe. This episode gets intimate and contemplates human relationships, different styles of thinking, inner perspective, sports vs art, and culminates in a beautiful meditation on the beauty and grandeur of 90s mosh pits. Somehow connecting all that into a special nod to the glorious Club De Wash live music venue and dive bar in Madison, WI which tragically burned down around 1994. RIP. I snuck in enough times in a row that I became a regular and drank illegally while watching shows for free for 2 years before turning 21. A fully appreciated gift from the Gods of Valhalla. Shout out to Clip the Daisies, Pachinco, Buttress, Zerobot, Shorty, Mt. Shasta, Godbullies, Killdozer, etc. 

Today on the Sekdek Podcast Gary Oldman and Joe Exotic join me for an exploration into very very early stages of my general creative and songwriting process. Quiet moments spent exploring riff and vocal structures, styles, lyrics, and general ideas. Sprinkled with a few funny rants I didn't have the heart to delete. Being editly challenged and all. Get used to it. I promise some of these will become legit recorded songs one day soon. I really liked a few of these riffs and wanted to show them in their infancy stages in case they become something later on. Rolling the dice a bit and betting on myself. As well as following my instincts and assuming certain things will come true in the end. 

In this throwback episode of Rooney's Lodgecast, I take you inside a candid, playful recording session featuring just me and my piano riffing on the Rooney's Lodge Bar theme song. Recorded in my apartment back in 2011, this episode captures the essence of a typical Tuesday night around 10 PM, moments before I'd head out, only to return to Rooney's after curating a selection of intriguing guests to keep me entertained with conversation and drinks until dawn. This recording is a rare, intimate glimpse into those days—humorous because of the occasional slip-ups and restarts, an authentic behind-the-scenes look at the 19th and Mission experience. This lifestyle was my norm for far too many years. Live with it, or die because of it—either outcome seems fitting at this point.