The Left Hook

Jonathan May returns to the Q after a long absence. And a perfect time for the return since Gary Weed, our friend, decides to trot out the White Privilege discussion now that we have a multi-cultural panel to discuss the topic in depth. Mark starts out by asking Jonathan to explain the definition of white privilege so that he can set a baseline to see how things fall in line with the definition. But alas, Jonathan doesn't have a definition he has the common argument of "It just is that way and because you are the one doing it, you don't realize what it looks like". At this point Mark starts to discuss how there are equally as egregious things that happen to other cultures including white people. Mark then decides to hone down on privilege in general. Can a white person who sees a rich person (no matter their race or religion) hold that wealth against them and use it as an argument to complain about the privilege of others. This doesn't go over well with Jonathan....find out why and see the fall out. Finally the guys do talk about our friend Don Trump and his need to keep the government shut down while stomping his feet like a child. Well the shutdown lead to an amazing White House Dinner for the Clemson Football team, served with "Hamberders" and fast food. Plus the guys touch on R. Kelly and the latest from Soulja Boy! All this and much more on the newest Q!

On this episode of the Q, Mark Bland decides to let the cat out of the bag on a new resolution he has for 2019. He invites Gary Weed to air a grievance with him from facebook...BUT He will invite anyone with legitimate grievances against him on any show to have the floor and discuss what their issue. Whether personal, private, or public...the doors of the Q are open for 2019 and all grievances. This all comes on the back of another week and Trump whining again and making hardworking government employees go without a paycheck again. So he punishes the citizens because he doesn't get his way. What kind of Presidential quality is that. It seems very petty and deplorable....but we already knew that in 2016. The TSA workers who protect us from allowing in bad people on the airlines and planes, are not getting paid because of the shut down. The TSA exists because of 9/11. So now all the people paid to protect us are leaving and that will make it worse in security for airports. If one plane is taking down on his watch, Trump has to resign. At that point, his whining becomes treasonous and allows people to get hurt. Mark and Gary Weed discuss this. Finally Mark reads a letter from a listener describing the elderly as bad people who are always coming down on young people. Mark and Gary discuss if this is an actual problem or if this individual just has a gripe because something happened to him directly. Find out what is said and more on this new episode of the Q!

It's a tale of two Jason's on this episode of the Q. First up Jason Kull jumps back in, as well as Jason Patton returns to discuss the 2019 Government Shutdown that is continuing from last year. First up the guys discuss the government shutdown and whether it necessary or not. Of course this is stemming from the President's need to fund a border wall on the southern US border and it requires 5 billion dollars according to Trump. Mark shoots back with the fact that its never the Northern Border, which also is Wall-less, that needs to be secured. And the reason for that being that Trump is tunnel visioned people from Mexico and attacking them as much as possible. All which he himself has done online through social media for years. Then Jason Patton brings up whiskey and beer as a option to drink. But the convo turns towards bad beer and especially one that Jason tried that is supposed to taste of PINE CONE. A Pine cone flavored beer sounds disgusting and Jason explains whether it is or not. And finally, the story of the young man that was a wrestler and had to cut his dreads because the ref asked him to during an match in front of the entire crowd. Was the ref in the right or wrong? Mark and Jason Patton are both Pro-wrestlers with experience in competitive wrestling. And Mark knows the Missouri State Wrestling Guidelines say nothing about any rule about hair on the body of anyone. So the world has been chiming in and so do the two Jay's and Marky B. But where do the guys stand...is this okay or a travesty! All this and much more on the new Q! Happy New Years! #winning #governmentshutdown #theq

Sometimes, it takes time for things to pass before you can come back around and reconnect. Sometimes it's as if no time has passed at all. Well we get the best of both worlds on this weeks episode of the Q. Bj "The No Limit Honkey" Lange joins Mark, Gary and Jason as he travels back to the STL where he called home for many years. Mark and BJ were co-hosts on a weekly music video show called "Mega Music" back in 2001. Since those days, they have kept in contact and decided to re-connect for an episode. Which is great since it's the final episode of 2018! First up, BJ discusses where he has been the past 15 solid years. From moving to LA, to acting, to improv and even into his cancer diagnosis which he has fought TWICE now and succeeded. But don't think we stepped away from our core for another episode. No way. Donald Trump kept up his ridiculousness all the way through the holidays and up to the last days of the 2018. From asking a 7 yr old girl if Santa is real, all the way to throwing a temper tantrum and refusing to leave the white house for Christmas break when everyone else did. Finally he did something nice that no one on the Q can fault him for....he visited the troops in Iraq for Christmas...but only because he was shamed into it again. 1 Step forward, 2 steps back is his M.O. From there, the show hits a lot of notes from the year 2018. A list of things you might have forgot happened in 2018 (weak list). As well as discussion on Oscar worthy performances and if Heath Ledger would have won for the Dark Knight had he not passed away. This leads to the Final HOTSEAT of the Year with BJ and a discussion on what song gets you all emotional. Which one is the one that catches you off guard every time and you start to get the feels deep in your gut. And Finally the guys discuss BJ's cancer diagnosis and how he fought it and some of the stories and people he works with to this day trying to help and better during their fight against prostate cancer. All this and much more on this episode of The Q!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are at the final shows of 2018 and upon the first of 2019. This week Mark is joined by Andy Echele and Pro-Wrestling friend Jason Patton to discuss all that is merry and bright. But....(record scratch)...That's not what happens! Mark Bland met Jason Patton in the late 1990's and they have maintained a relationship ever since. Jason started training at the legendary South Broadway athletic club in 1999 and that's when him and Mark struck up the friendship....BUT HOLD THE PHONE....Jason explains this on the back of a 6 year stint in PRISON! WHAT??? Mark gets it revealed to him for the first time live on this show that his friend Jason not only robbed a bank and went to prison for 6 years, but he was put into the Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth...the oldest in the country. And one of the most notorious in the country to this day. When you think of Shawshank, you are thinking of Leavenworth. Jason proceeds to explain his gang background and what it is like sitting and waiting in a Federal Pen. What to watch out for and who to watch out for. If you were wanting a background in the prison system of the US, this episode of the Q opens up a world little seen by many. The guys discuss the difference between state and federal level prisons and Jason talks about the most evil human being he's ever encountered in his entire life. A riveting discussion that surely will open your eyes. Jason opens up about his past and all of it in the hopes that someone listening will change their ways and not want to be in the same spot he was in. All this on the new episode of The Q!

Comedian Brian McDowell comes on the Q to discuss a "verbal tussle" him and host Mark Bland had regarding the position of success and how it should be viewed from his point of view. Brian disagree's with Mark, so Mark invited him on to discuss which comics are truly FAMOUS and which ones are D and C list celebs at best. Along for this wonderful ride is Jason Kull and Gary Weed who also join in on this foray. Mark and Gary have been going back and forth about Harold Baines making it into the Baseball Hall of Fame and it lines up perfectly because this show is about VALUE and MERIT. Either you have both and are viewed at the proper level...OR you have one or the other and are viewed on a lesser scale. But it seems people within their own professions view success of others at a heightened level and sometimes you gotta step outside of your business to see it the way others do. But is Mark right or is Brian right. Most comics are gonna agree with Brian because of his position as a stand up comic....but it's never those within your industry that give you the value you require. It's the CROWD and FANS. They are what give you merit. Also on the show the guys discuss Michael Cohen, the lawyer for Donald Trump that admitted guilt and is now going to prison for 3 years. You would think that would be the eye opening everyone needed to figure out Trump is dirty, but NOPE! Some people are still holding tight and coming up with every excuse they can so they don't get egg on their face. Conservatives are dollar sure and too deep now to allow anything to make their choice look bad. But there is more coming down the pipe line and everyone chimes in about what makes Cohen that big of a deal. Finally Mark, Gary, Jason do the hotseat with Brian. What will he be asked...Also what does he quietly judge people on? It could be anything and it could gain you a fan in Brian or get you thrown away quickly. Find out on this new Q!

On this show, Producer Bobby returns and with him he brings a cavalcade of guests to the table. First up is his Co-Host, Jared, for a new sports show he is promoting called Sports Central! The two stop in to discuss some sports and chime in on news of the day. But today's show is brimming with talent because Ali Jones of the St. Lunatics, legendary hip hop group, joins for a second week in a row to discuss the news of the day. First up, George HW Bush, former President of the United States passed away this week at 94 years of age. The former military veteran and head of the FBI became Ronald Reagans running mate in 1980 when they were able to bring the republican party back to prominence. From 1980 to 1992, Bush Sr. worked on capitol hill as both Vice President and then becoming President himself in 1988. The funeral was a litany of guests from all decades and political backgrounds. But that wasn't what was weird. It got weird when the current President of the US, Mr. Trump, showed up with the First Lady to pay their respects, but it was a cold reception they got from the remaining living former Presidents...and definitely no love lost between himself and the Clinton's. Next, Mark is curious as to some of the coolest places Ali has been to as an artist. Ali then breaks down a few of his favorite places and lands on Dubai. This brings up the question of "Why can't the United States build infra-structure similar to Dubai and other locations that advance culture and living?" Which brings Bobby to producing the picture of him eating the 24k Gold wings in New York. Find out what everyone thinks of this. Finally, Ali was not put into the Hot Seat the last time he was on, so Mark decides to put him, and Jared (sorta), into the Hot Seat and ask some pointed questions....Like...... Whose your favorite St. Louis Rap artist of all time outside of the Lunatics and your crew? What group surprised you the most in the music industry? Whose your favorite national artist/group from the last 10 years? And much much more than that. Check out this amazing episode of The Q! Brought to you by JOHNBEALROOFING.COM, our amazing web sponsor that makes this show possible every week!

Mark Bland and Gary Weed return with a hot episode of the Q, cooked up just the way you like it. This week's episode welcomes friend of the show Ali Jones of the legendary hip hop group the St. Lunatics. Ali has been to the top of the music business with is crew since 1999. Winning multiple Grammy Awards and music awards for their contributions, Ali along with his childhood friends have racked up quite the reputation. Whether it's Country Grammar, Free City, Heavy Starch or the multitude of other albums and features, Ali has set himself along with Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud and Slo Down as the dominate midwest hip hop group of the early 2000's thru today. First up, Mark being in the music business, he has worked with the group on different projects in the past. From these interactions and personal dealings, Mark realized early that Ali is a force to reckoned with verbally when discussing touchy and somewhat controversial topics...not unlike himself. Ali explains the beginnings of the St. Lunatics as they celebrate their 25th year as a group. Mark wonders if there is any plans for a full line up reunion and Ali expounds on why that is always a potential but not at this moment. Next there are many stories of the hip hop group Mark has heard through the grapevine for years. He decides to serve the stories up and put the questions to rest. Did this happen? Did that happen? Some very juicy and interesting background on the group and how they gained notoriety is spawned from these questions. Maybe you knew, but maybe you didn't. Find out the real scoop on the groups ascent to fame and popularity. The guys on the Q have discussed gangs and 1%'ers in the past. But also 5%'ers were brought up on the show before and there is a lot of lore and background to that belief in the world. Ali being a 5%'er shines light on whats true and not about his beliefs. He also explains what being a 5%'er means and how others can attain the same beliefs in their life. But Ali goes a step further and discusses the ways to apply that lifestyle and belief structure to your everyday life. Finally, Ali wanted to discuss something he's heard Mark talk about before regarding slavery in the USA. Ali goes on to discuss how slavery should be viewed and begins to discuss the reparations he believes are important setting things back in the right order. Do you agree or disagree? Find out about this and a bunch more on this riveting interview on The Q!

Midterms are over. So where do Mark Bland, Jason Kull and Gary Weed sit on the important races and changes happening? Well we will break it down on this episode of the show. First up, did the BLUE WAVE happen the way it was touted. Not quite. Mark and the guys break down the important races and where the country goes from here. This leads to a unique convo about the next election in 2020. Who will be the front runners on both sides of the business walking into that election. Hear who the team thinks will make the cut and decide if you agree or don't. Mark also brings up a unique factor that he wants thought about. What if an unknown, but real person, was written in to be the President of the United States. Do we just say "the rules say he wins if he get's the electoral college"...or would they say "we don't know this person, bring it to litigation!" Find out how everyone feels of about that scenario in the US. Finally a rant about parking and making mistakes leads to a discussion about the Rock Hall of Fame and our picks from a few weeks ago. Whose in the running so far and how close were we on the fan poll...find out on this episode of The Q!

Mark Bland is joined by Producer Bobby and Gary Weed to discuss the upcoming 2018 midterms and voting in general! First up, Gary and Mark made a bet for the World Series and Mark ended up winning the bet. Discussion of the World series takes us down a sports path once again discussing the value of players within in their respective sports. Who was the best Baseball Pitcher of all time? Is it Greg Maddux or Rollie Fingers? Also who stands out in other sports. Hockey, Football and all of them. The guys discuss this at length. Then the gears get switched and it's on the to newest and dumbest thing that Trump could have ever proposed. He wants to use and executive order to remove and override the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This definitely caught him some hell for even throwing it out there as a potential. All this comes on the backs of the Migrant Caravan making it's way up from Central America with estimates of 10,000+ people looking for asylum. The guys discuss aspects of this decision and the long term reprecussions that could form from this Trump decision. The discussion turns to video games on the release of the new Playstation Classic, but does it have the games people want or deserve? Everyone plays referee discussing what is on the machine and what is not. This leads to a convo about playing video games in 2018 on mobile devices and if you ever spend money on the games for yourself. Mark defends his spending money on a couple mobile games with the most basic of arguments..."I would have done it anyway." Listen as Mark explains and you see if he makes sense or not.