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We were so ready to get started that we skipped the intro.  As Ascertainers episodes go, this one is pretty close to the original recipe--50% of people won't like it.  The other half will hate it.  Enjoy!

• Big Shots
• Newts Shoutout--Welcome to MN Ken and Renee!
• Is it hot out there or is it just us?
• The two Parris's
• Think twice about lending Mark your Jaguar
• Mental spotter
• It's all in good fun, Mr Browner.  Also. we'd love to have you as a guest
• Neal Peart's sandwich
• Concrete Blonde reference
• Radio Game
• Heavy Metal Parking Lot
• Kenny Rogers is legit
• Live Albums / Concerts
• Album Art
• No overweight people at Woodstock
• Shout out Pat K and Charlie

#Newt's
#SpecialGuestJoeyBrowner
#ThunderclapNewman

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After teasing 1973 as a topic last episode, we decided to actually tackle it this week and stuck with the plan.  1973--come for the easy listening, stay for the easier listening.  This one was challenging to spice up.

• Knee Job
• Newt's you say?
• Symbiosis
• Who bites gum?
• Paging our German listener
• 1973--The rise of Heavy Music?  Kind of.
• Mark's guy Eric/Tommy Bolin
• Mick Jagger helped record WHICH Carly Simon hit?
• Mark transitioned in 1973
• Shout out sister Karen
• Mark's shitty portable radio

# Newts

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Well, we finally did it--we went the whole episode without talking about our topic-- which does get mentioned in the episode, but since we didn't cover it at all, we don't want to further mislead by using it in the episode title.  One way to look at this is that it's like a choose your own adventure.  Another way is to question the (lack of) motivation by these hosts.  COME ON GUYS (man, that seems like it could use a comma or something)

• Digital World
• Phlegmrod Johnson
• 1973 music was a tad mellow
• Jeremy and Mandy from Newt's
• Nacho aspirations
• Is Dream Theater the 4th Horseman of the Prog-opalypse?
• Chuck spin regret
• Radio Game
• Errors & Omissions
• Stay Positive
• Red beer and advice
• Fred Smoot
• Aaaaand, we're out of time--goodnight!

#Newt's
#WeTriedKinda

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• Seasoned professionals
• Newt's.  Apple Valley MN.  Squirrel!
• Mark's laptop panic
• Back to Newt's
• Bird Island Lake Lillian (IYKYK)
• Coversation forensics
• Radio Game
• Bowie, Iman and Joey Browner
• Dr Michael Hfuhruhurr
• Andrew McCarthy--just how?
• 1977 Music continued

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Just Mark and Jim on this one.  Feeling guilty about not giving his guest/brother much of a chance to speak on Episode 43, Jim vows to do better on this one--and pretty much succeeds.  The bar is set pretty low for him.

• Smiley face emoji
• Mark's visit to Como Park Zoo Conservatory
• No gibbons for you today
• Chuck Foreman
• When to execute a Chuck-spin
• Doing donuts
• Newt's was HOPPING!
• Jim's celebrity look alike
• Which episode do you recommend  someone start with?
• Delayed introduction
• The Chucker
• Errors and Omissions
• Radio Game (Mark throws Jim a bone that he should have accepted)
• 1977:  When all music was good
• Desert or Dessert
• Single digits
• Caddyshack

We had a big boost in listeners this past week.  Our guest, Steve must have brought us some new ears.  We don't do this for the stats, but we're coming up on one year of doing this and could hit 2,000 listens/downloads around that time--which we find funny/humbling.  If you feel like going to Facebook and giving us a like, share or follow--we'd really appreciate it!

#Newts
#EmbassySuites
#RickandJulie

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Unusual night in that in addition to our typical pre-game visit to Newt's (in Apple Valley--ever heard of it?), we then went into St Paul to catch a live set from the band Feegee (@feegeeband)--who is the technically the artist that recorded the Ascertainers theme. 

 We had a designated driver, our guest for the evening, Jim's brother Steve.  As you might expect, The Ascertainers hit it kinda hard prior to recording and the result is too much Jim and not enough guest.  We'll get 'em next time, Steve.

Also--just a terrific example of gratuitously excessive swearing by Jim.  Hide the kids.  Jim will get better.

• NOT on Air America?
• Franken and Davis
• Errors and Omissions
• Listening to Rush 2112 in Grandparent's basement
• Steve's secret rock band
• Shoutout Steve's buddies Pat and Mitch
• Have you looked up what gratuitously excessive means yet?
• Feegee shoutout from stage
• Newt's promo--new special is amazeballs
• How to eat a burger
• Radio Game (Steve wins--kind of)
• Pat's manifesto email
• Heavy Bands (finally)
• Second swing at Radio Game and MARK WINS*

#Newts
#SwissTruffleSmashBurger
#feegeeband

*on second try

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At this point, I feel a little bad putting a topic in the title, because we end up getting to the topic in the waning minutes (spoiler alert).  Today, we fry some bigger fish with Broadcast Legend and across the street neighbor--Roy!

• Jim's anatomy
• Get to know Roy
• Deep dive into sportscasting, play be play and color commentary 
• Doc Emrick
• Mark's Discount Airport Shuttle
• Yet another roundabout issue
• Look sharp if you're donating your body
• Go
• Radio Game
• Beatles Fight!
• Heart not so underrated
• Educational options
• How to get into Radio
• Newt's!
• 80's Music Videos

Thanks for listening.  Whatever you do, do not send us an email with topic ideas or other feedback to [email protected] (trying reverse psychology).

#Newt's
#GoalieFight
#CallYourMom

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Special/recurring guest Jason from the 'hood joins us to kick off 2024.  After the usual chit chat, we get around to discussing Ballads.  Yes, we can see the bottom of the topic bucket--please send in your suggestions to [email protected]

Also, to help you with the visual, the conversation before the theme music kicks in was about......new microphone stands.  Sorry to disappoint (again....)

• Our plea for topic suggestions
• Our first WASP reference
• Chewing gum etiquette
• 40th anniversary is Ruby (Jim left that one out)
• Jim literally steals Radio Game intro from Mark
• Should YES be one of the 4 Horsemen of prog rock?
• Roundabout reboot
• Errors and Omissions
• Ballads

#NewtsAppleValley
#HappyNewYear

Seriously, email us at [email protected] with feedback or topic ideas.  If you want to remain anonymous, that's totally cool--just let us know if you want to be referred to by your first name only or Audie.  

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This is technically our 40th episode (our Special Holiday Episode was not numbered).  Jim had to be up early the next morning, so we only recorded one episode.  However, we still hit our normal hydration quota, so I don't think we gained much.  Also, we decided to try without a topic.  

• Sorry Ma--Forgot to Plug in Your Headphones
• Radio Game
• Shoutout FeeGeeBand
• The Pink Floyd / Rush fan paradox
• Pat talk, including Pat Morita
• Gary Gulman shoutout
• Love IS a Battlefield
• No Anchovies
• Errors & Omissions
• Topic Ideas
• Christmas Cards
• Basic check writing tips
• Apologies to Chrispher Reeves
• The Ball Drop

#ForgotTheNewt'sPromo
#GoThereAnyway
#SeriouslyPLEASEGoThere

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It's the most wonderful time of the year--and I don't mean Honda Days.  It's Christmas and we are here to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Freaky Festivus--whatever you celebrate.  Hope you get what you wanted.

• Will Santa get us a new mixing board?
• We tease an upcoming special episode release
• Mark's a Christmas guy--who knew?
• Pajama party highlights
• Robe talk volume 4(?)
• Listener Pat provides valuable feedback (and then gets savaged)
• Shout out former guest Charlie
• We've exceeded 1300 downloads to date
• Radio game with ironic winner
• Joe Superior
• Newt's Promo
• Reach out and touch someone
• Jim's sappy holiday message

#BrownChristmas
#Newts
#SorryPat