The SmorgShow Podcast (Smorgasbord Radio)

Phillip Donald has completed his first new recording in 6 years. The song 'Break Loose' was written during Phillip's 6-month stay in a federal penitentiary. Phillip was convicted of lewd public behavior in April 2018 and was sentenced to one year in prison. Phillip was released on parole 6 months early and came out to perform his song for the SmorgShow gang on their 100th episode.

Lyrics:

I’m not the kind of guy you think I am

Sophisticated all around I even roast yams

So don’t you say I don’t have class

I’m not the roaming creep that they say I am

Don’t make your accusations just because I drive a van

They took my every pound of dignity

How many times do I have to say

It’s not me that you should be taking away

I’ve got three bags of candy still left inside

But officers are clear about taking bribes

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

***

I never even got the chance to explain

Now there’s local news alerts and orders of restrain

How will I ever tell my mom?

I’m sleeping on a bed with no lumbar support

Breakfast lunch and dinner here are really a bore

Tallies on the wall and lyrics to this song

Hoping that I won’t be here for long

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

© 2018 SmorgShow Productions, Music and Lyrics by Phillip Donald

Phillip Donald has completed his first new recording in 6 years. The song 'Break Loose' was written during Phillip's 6-month stay in a federal penitentiary. Phillip was convicted of lewd public behavior in April 2018 and was sentenced to one year in prison. Phillip was released on parole 6 months early and came out to perform his song for the SmorgShow gang on their 100th episode.

Lyrics:

I’m not the kind of guy you think I am

Sophisticated all around I even roast yams

So don’t you say I don’t have class

I’m not the roaming creep that they say I am

Don’t make your accusations just because I drive a van

They took my every pound of dignity

How many times do I have to say

It’s not me that you should be taking away

I’ve got three bags of candy still left inside

But officers are clear about taking bribes

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

***

I never even got the chance to explain

Now there’s local news alerts and orders of restrain

How will I ever tell my mom?

I’m sleeping on a bed with no lumbar support

Breakfast lunch and dinner here are really a bore

Tallies on the wall and lyrics to this song

Hoping that I won’t be here for long

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

© 2018 SmorgShow Productions, Music and Lyrics by Phillip Donald

One Saturday morning in early January 1979, I launched my own faux-radio station from my bedroom with the call letters WKID-FM. This 12-year old's humble configuration consisted of just a turntable and a Panasonic cassette recorder. My early influences were Chicago radio station disk jockeys John Landecker, Larry Lujack, Bob Sirott and eventually Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Each Saturday morning, I would record myself spinning the Top 40 hits and announcing over the intros. I did this religiously on a weekly basis to the point where I felt I was actually broadcasting to a real audience. For the next two years, I partnered with my best friend at the time, Peet McCain, and we just recorded ourselves doing radio shows together. It was a hobby that kept me off the streets and away from drugs. I was convinced that this was going to be my path in life.

By the time I got to high school a short two years later, I had become rather seasoned from doing these bedroom and basement recording sessions that I was able to land a pretty decent time slot for a freshman on my high school's radio station WDGC-FM in Downers Grove, IL. It was then and there that I met Dave Jackson. After discussing my vision for the show, we launched the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord program in the fall of 1982. Our free-form talk show format pushed the limits for what was acceptable for a high school radio program. The show was successful in terms of building a loyal following that by the time I got to college, I had intended to major in Communications and make a career out of radio. Then reality hit me when I got assigned the 6-8am Sunday time slot on NIU's campus radio station WKDI (coincidentally close to 'WKID' now that I think about it). I was prohibited from doing anything creative. I was told all I needed to do was read the weather, tell the time and announce the songs. After only two shows, I quit radio for good and changed my major.

25 years later, in early 2010, after a successful career in market research, I got the creative itch again and launched the SmorgShow Podcast with my 11-year old daughter Ally. Through the new medium of podcasting, I was able to relive my old passion for radio while at the same time share a very special activity with my daughter. The SmorgShow Podcast was an attempt at taking the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord show to a new level. We were pretty consistent with pushing out regular content for the next three years, learning the new technology and investing heavily in a state-of-the art recording studio along the way. We then took a break in 2013 and published a few shows here and there over the next few years as Ally started to become busy with high school social events as any normal teenage girl would. She eventually went to college, and had even less time to do shows with me. In 2018, I decided to push forward with the show myself. Starting with Episode 91, Dave Jackson as well as Jerry Malauskas (also from our old WDGC Smorgasbord days) began appearing as co-hosts on the show, carrying me to the finish line of having 100 episodes in the can at the end of 2018.

Episode 100 is very monumental to me. It marks a significant milestone on this journey. On this special occasion, Ally returns as my co-host along with Dave and Jerry and we take a look back on our favorite moments on this 9-year journey together. Baba Gonesh has traveled all the way back to the U.S. from Chennai, India to be on the show, so you know it has to be good. Phillip Donald also makes a rare appearance after spending 6 months in prison and performs his new song live. We have some other surprises in store as well.

So almost 40 years to the day since I fired up my Panasonic tape recorder in my bedroom studio of WKID, I bring you the latest installment of my life's journey.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the SmorgShow Podcast, recorded live from Granny Rose's barn.

On the heels of the WDGC-FM 50th Anniversary Alumni Reunion (featured on Episode 98), Chris and Dave reflect on the special day. Jerry Malauskas also joins us in the studio this week to keep things interesting.

Most of this week's program is devoted to our SpookFest tradition as heard back on earlier episodes 37 and 61 (from 2010 and 2011, respectively). SpookFest is where we discuss all things spooky as we approach Halloween. Ally is back in recorded form and contributes to this episode with a couple of dramatic readings of her own that are guaranteed to give you thrills and chills. Baba Gonesh delivers 'Baba News' and makes a very special announcement.

Sandy Rizzo, WDGC-FM Alum Class of 1978

The second half of the show features our very special interview with Sandy Rizzo, WDGC-FM alum, class of 1978. We exchange stories with Sandy about the old days of being on the radio on WDGC during the 1970's.

Chris in Studio

Ally in Studio for Dramatic Readings

Dave and Jerry In Studio

Chris and Dave attended the WDGC-FM 50-Year Anniversary and Alumni Reunion on Saturday September 29, 2018 and were given a one-hour on-air time slot where they took the opportunity to reflect on their memories of their old high-school radio station. We bring you the entire broadcast here in Episode 98 of the SmorgShow Podcast.

For the first time in 34 years since they walked out of the WDGC studios at Downers Grove North High School in 1984, Chris and Dave step on ground zero where all the magic happened so many years ago. The Smorgasbord duo discuss their favorite memories of the radio station, their early days of working together, and of the general manager Fred Moore. Chris and Dave come full circle with their radio journey by broadcasting from the very same microphones they used on the original show.

This episode was also recorded on HD video, so check it out on our YouTube channel.

Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again for a very unusual installment of the SmorgShow. For an episode where there was absolutely no show preparation, we managed to squeak out another 90-minute show. An open conversation of two middle aged men that goes on a variety of paths. Just some of the subjects discussed:

• Jerry introduces Chris to K-Pop music – is this the new male?
• Chris discusses all of the house projects that have been on hold that he is looking forward to completing once Ally graduates from college next year.
• How politics is infecting everything we do and used to enjoy.
• Politicizing the college classroom
• Ally attributes her interest in music to Chris playing ELO when she was younger.
• Remember the days when you bought a crummy album for one song and got stuck with it even if the rest of it sucked?
• Classic 80's Smorgasbord Show Rewind: Mr. Brown Can Moo.

The Smorgasbord Woods Project: Dudes in the Woods. Former Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas join Chris on this episode. As a closeout to summer '18 and a kickoff to fall, the guys head to the hiking trails.

The guys hit the trails at two relatively secluded forest preserves, Saw Wee Kee Park, and Waa Kee Sha, located in Oswego, IL.

Our original intent was to record both audio and video for this adventure. However, it didn't take very long for us to realize how difficult it is to balance the content so that it worked equally as well on both platforms. Therefore, we created an entirely separate video of the event which can be found on our YouTube channel as well as at SmorgShow.com.

Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again as we celebrate the end of summer and the start of Oktoberfest. This episodes's features include:

• An Oktoberfest quiz.
• Social media policing free speech: Chris banned from Amazon and Jerry is given the second of three strikes for posting offensive content on YouTube.
• How Chris got on the internet for the first time.
• Roy Orbison has been dead for 30 years, yet he is kicking off his 2018 U.S. tour …in hologram form.
• Baba Gonesh brings back his ancient Indian folk tales.
• Resident tech nerd Geoffrey Gleason discusses the strange phenomenon of ads that follow you around the internet in another installment of Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk.
• Classic 80's Smorgasbord Radio Show Rewind: Opening Jerry's sexy birthday mail that was sent to the WDGC studio and a segment of a very risque 'Date Line'.

The second of two installments with special in-studio guests Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas. This episode breaks from our traditional format where we delve into some of the latest social topics, including:

• The latest social media news including various Facebook scandals, the new Amazon Key launch, and dangerous apps for kids.
• Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk – Lesson #2. Check out Geoffrey's YouTube channel for his library of helpful tech tips!
• A conversation with Alexa.
• Baba Gonesh answers your calls for an explanation on the India Caste system.
• Starbucks racial sensitivity training day.
• Classic Smorgasbord Radio Bit "Get a Life" – the one that could have permanently suspended Chris and Dave from their high school radio program.
• Baggy pants at the laundromat
• Ally's award-winning podcast submission for her college music appreciation class.
• And many other surprises!