The Left Hook

Last year, the Academy Awards turned heads when they seemed to nominate no people of minority background for their Academy Awards. Immediately the world took notice and Mark's guest April Reign was the first to social media with the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite . Well it happend in 2016 too. And the hashtag re-emerged too bring attention to the travesty at hand. Mark discusses the situation and hashtag with April, including: Why the creation of the hastag? The affects of Ferguson on the decision to have the hashtag and controiversy now as opposed to 2007 or 2001 or 1994. Also the two discuss and have a very heated debate on whether things should be based on merit or not.This is the deepest discussion in the nation on the topic. Sit back and enjoy as Mark and April discuss this controversy.

Well it wsa a rough week for the St. Louis area as they lost their NFL franchise, but fret not....Mark decided it was time to bring an old friend of the show back from obscurity. Vitaly jumped on a plane in mother Russia and cruised over here to the US of A to sit down with Mark and Producer Bobby to discuss the Stan Kroenke NFL decision. Mark discusses how this type of decision making applies to the Donald Trump lovers of the world and how he doesn't think it should be so painful for the STL fans. Producer Bobby has a differing opinion and the two discuss.Then the Bundy guys in Oregon are just unravelling and the people around the situation ain't helping. They are allowing them too much freedom to do what they want. Mark discusses this mentality and Vitaly chimes in with what he thinks Putin would do in the same situation.Finally the guys take some letters from the listeners in Overtime and some questions live on the air. And Sean Penn got a chance to interview El Chapo and it lead to his capture by the Mexican Government. Now Chapo is not happy with the Penn and the guys discuss the value of his threats.

Well for the second Q-view interviews, Mark decides to sit down with Moe Rock, a producer and music artist. But Moe goes deeper than that. Moe is also founder of one of the most influential hip hop websites of the past few years called NowHiphop.com. Moe discusses his early years in the Twin Cities before jumping out to the west coast to pursue his music career. Mark finds out about his fanbase in other countries which leads to a discussion about how you can be a superstar in other parts of the world and they wouldn't look at you twice in other places. This also leads to a talk about the current state of Hip hop and who Mark and Moe feel are the best in the game at this moment. A really in depth look at someone many people don't realize is a huge mover and shaker in the business. Enjoy!

Well the lunatics have taken over the asylum again and this time around Sam Richardson a noted Pro-Wrestler and Trainer from the St. Louis area joins in to discuss all the fun.Sam and Mark go back a few years and Sam explains his love of comics and all things geeky, as well as his involvement in prowrestling and beginnings to his career. Sam is also a comic book author and he discusses his background in selling and distributing a comic book in 2016. But things then switch to the STANDOFF....Oh yes.... Ladies and gentlemen we have a group of Trump loving hypocrites that will claim Darren Wilson was sent through the judicial system and what they decided was exactly as it should be. BUT, BUT, BUT..... The Bundy family is up in Oregon and they have taken Wildlife Refuge hostage from the federal government with 150 "armed" men. They did this because they are declaring war on the US government and their friends, who commited arson and were JUDGED in a court of law, are now in jail....and they don't like it! So their answer was to do this. Mark and Sam are going to explain where the situation stands, whether they have merit to their argument, or if they are just setting up a new Waco/Ruby Ridge situation that will end the same way.All this and Mark breaks down a special Hotseat with Sam where he goes above and beyond for an extra 6th question that has never been done before. Witness this epic first epsiode of 2016...PS....they talk about Force Awakens too and may hint on spoilers, so be prepared.

St. Louis film maker and documentarian Jim Dreyer joins the show to discuss some of his recent documentaries. Jim produced an award winning film on the rise and fall of Ozark Airlines, a midwestern airline that was eventually purchased by TWA 20+ years ago. Jim is currently producing and directing a new film regarding the sport of Disc Golf called "Game of Throws". The documentary focuses on the rise of the sport in the Midwest and some of the history and current state. Jim also discusses his upbringing in the St. Louis area and how he got involved in TV and film making .Mark also makes sure that the Christmas show doesn't disappoint. Mark and Jim discuss 10 of the gifts you only give to people that you absolutely dislike....but they find themselves also disagreeing with some of the gifts cause of personal preference. Finally we got a letter from a listener and Jim, being new to the show, has to figure out how we help the young man in question with potentially breaking up with his girlfriend before christmas or after.

Josh Gilbert, a producer and radio guy from 550 KTRS, joins Mark on this weeks show. Mark discusses the amazing time he had at the Missouri Botannical Gardens glow chirstmas walk and how many others need check it out and make it their yearly go to from here on out. Plus Mark talks about the Richard Grenell show and how well it turned out.Josh and Mark start talking about their early days in radio and what made them get into the business that they are in. Mark talks about Johnny Carson being a huge inspiration to him and a little about Carsons early days. Also discussing NPR and Diane Rehm.From there, Mark discusses the main reason for the show. Mark goes into a gas station and a kid wants some smokes for his father out in the truck. The lady behind the counter denies the request due to current laws, but this gets Mark thinking about his own childhood and how he bought smokes for his Dad multiple times...never smoking them and it never being a problem. Josh brings his own story of how he was denied cigs as an adult. Finally Mark and Josh discuss the antagonizing ways of conservative that think they are getting one over on people. As if adults can't for the most part read between the lines and figure out the crux of whatever is the focus at the time. All this and much more on this episode of the Q!

An action packed show is what is in store for you. First and foremost, we are joined this week by friend and talking head Matt Thomas who brings his unique personality and focus to the current events of the day. Right off the bat, Mark sits down with Videogame professional and legend TriForce Johnson to discuss his career in gaming. Mark caught wind of TriForce from a well known documentary called the King of Chinatown which tackles TriForce and friend Justin as they ascend to the top of the Streetfighter tournament world. Triforce discusses his early days in the industry and his multiple Guiness World Records. Plus Mark goes for it all by really delving into why videogame players really don't have a crossover mainstream rockstar to put them on the map. They delve into stereotypes and discuss some of the games Triforce loves and hates.Then Mark and Mr. Thomas break into discussion about the topic on everyones mind, mass shootings. Fresh off the San Bernadino shooting and all the mystery surrounding it, the two guys dsicuss the value of guns in America. Plus why violence runs so deep throughout our culture.Finally Mark goes on a rant discussing bathroom ettiquette once more. Have you ever been using the restroom and someone oversteps the common understood unspoken rules of public restrooms? Well Mark went to see Michael McDonald at the Fox and encountered one such issue. It was definitely ILL COMMUNICATION!

The Q is taking a week off for the holiday break, but that doesn;t mean the world of radio does. Mark welcomes noted FOX NEWS contributor and outspoken conservative Richard Grenell to the show. Mr. Grenell was a memeber of the Mitt Romney campaign in 2012 and has had an illustrious career in politics. Mark and Richard started this whole thing off with a wars of words on Twitter when Mark called Mr. Grenell out for his views on the Paris attacks. Quickly this interview/discussion came together and the two men discuss Obama, Muslims, Paris and everything in between. Always Real and Always Honest...this is the Q!

Paris was attacked. It was horrible and horrible people need to be punished for it. But there is more to it than that. Andy Echele joins again to discuss the Paris attacks, it's implications and everything surrounding it. Should we fear ISIS? This is a major question brought up in the show and discussed at length. Is Obama to blame for any of it? This is discussed in detail to.This all leads to a focus on the Syrian refugees that seem to be a focal point of the hate at this point. Mark and Andy discuss if there is a need for the refugees in the USA. Also, should the US citizens view them in a worried way. Should this wave of terrorism be thrown on the souls of people fleeing Syria just looking for another place to live and not die.Finally, Mark and Andy get down and dirty cause Mark has been seeing some memes regarding the country's lack of Veteran care in the way of their 50-60,000 homeless former military people. Mark has a serious problem with this cause these stats are being used to promote anti-Refugee vibes and nothing more. Mark finds his muse by reading a piece by Jim Wright (@stonekettle on twitter) regarding his views on this homeless veteran situation. Jim is a former military man himself and veteran.All this and much more on this episode of the Q!

The University of Missouri is up in arms currently cause the students feel that they're complaints about racial issues are not being taken seriously. This has thrust the University into the national spotlight regarding racial issues and the state and country are split. But there seems to not be a lot of examples to hang our hats on and Mark welcomes Adny Echele on the show to illuminate these relatively non-existent issues that seem to have no pictures or video/audio proof. Then the two take on a story that Andy brings to the table about Oklahoma law enforcement and how they have a new rule. Now, officers of the law, whether on duty or not, are absolved from being involved in certain situations when they announce they are a police officer. Andy feels this is a slippery slope and Mark tee's off on Andy after a little more research.Also Mark and Andy decide to play a game. Andy is a former member of the military and with Veterans Day fresh in the minds of US citizens, Mark breaks out a game of "Were they a Veteran?" Mark poses multiple famous people to Andy and it's his job to figure out if they were indeed in the military at any time in their life! Finally Mark and Andy tackle a letter from a listener, something special for everyone!