Hey Dude, a trip to Palm Springs takes me back to the summer of 1999 when I learned I had cancer on the same day The Phantom Menace was released. Also a cool online interaction with John Lurie ties the call together. CHARACTERS: Doctor Dolittle, Garry Paskwietz, Lance Armstrong, John Lurie LOCATIONS: Palm Springs, La Quinta, Blaze Pizza, Vista Theater, Los Feliz FILM/TV/MUSIC: The Road Runner, Risky Business, Star Wars, The Phantom Menace, Lounge Lizards, Down by Law, Stranger Than Paradise, Fishing with John STUFF: roadrunner, locust, Ray-Bans, Sanuk film-flops, Dodgers, Vanity Fair, St. Christopher charm, Tour de France SOUNDS: birds, dogs, woodpecker GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Secret Patio" shot on Marisol's iPhone5s RECORDED: June 25, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, a bootleg photoshoot for a "podcast thing" leads me to wear my "Original Westerley" Pendleton sweater and tap intoThe Dude's mystical energy. CHARACTERS: Sweet Leaf, Dracula, Dr. David Viscott, Frasier, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Quentin Tarantino, Rock Star LOCATIONS: Descanso Gardens, Park Bench Deli, Macy's STUFF: head shot, selfie, robe, cape, comic book crowd, vampire, People Magazine, L.A. Times, pop culture, FILMS: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Cannes Film Festival, The Big Lebowski SOUNDS: motorcycle, cars, echo, beard GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "The Dude's Magic Sweater" shot on Marisol's iPhone5s RECORDED: June 7, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, I finally listened to S-Town as inspiration for my epic L.A. noir-style family history podcast. I also compare and contrast my rejection letters from American Public Media and This American Life. CHARACTERS: "Tricky Dick" Nixon, "Wild Bill" Clinton, Red Tie Dude, Bertolt Brecht, Mickey Cohen, Howard Hughes, D.J. Bonebrake, Lenny Bruce, Ira Glass, Julie Snyder, Dan Klass PODCASTS: Slow Burn, Serial, To Live and Die in L.A., Dirty John LOCATIONS: Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, West Coast, Altadena Library FILMS: Godfather II, L.A. Confidential, Citizen Kane SONGS: Tangled Up in Blue, United States of Whatever STUFF: fireworks, audio novel, Joan Anderson Letter, FBI, Red Scare, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, Beat Generation, analog, it SOUNDS: birds, cars, fly, dogs, chickens, airplane, wind, palm trees GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Zane's Spring Palms and Birdbath" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: May 27, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, the end of my relationship with the Tomboy sends me into dark tunnel of despair and ultimately to the edge of the cliff...literally. LOCATIONS: Reseda, Laurel Canyon, Burbank, Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows, Camp Curry, Happy Isles, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall,Half Dome, Mist Trail, Glendale, San Fernando Road, Millard Canyon Fall STUFF: Garden of Eden, arm wrestle, bootie call, payphone, VW Bug, Jaguar, rebirth, podcasting, Podcasting Hall of Fame SOUNDS: birds, cars, fly, dogs, chickens, airplane, wind, palm trees GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Millard Canyon Mining Tunnel" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: May 24, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Anyways Dude, I riff on how I met the off the charts "Bombshell" at my church and the magic of the cabin up in Laurel Canyon, as the story chugs its way towards the final meltdown. CHARACTERS: Joseph Campbell, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Debbie Harry, Michelle Pfeiffer, Marilyn Monroe, Jakob Dylan, Jackson Browne, John Hughes LOCATIONS: Burbank, Van Nuys, Reseda, Ventura Blvd., West Valley, New York City STUFF: booty call, UU Church, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Echo in the Canyon, hypnosis SONGS: Blowin' in the Wind, Free Fallin', Tangled Up in Blue, Heart of Glass SOUNDS: wind, palm trees, cars, birds, crows GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Debbie and Michelle" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: May 16, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, on a moody day I remember my "Tomboy" girlfriend, who I worked with at a creepy cluster of used bookstores on the edge of Glendale. I also allude to the "Bombshell" and the crooked road to the impending meltdown. CHARACTERS: Christopher Reeve LOCATIONS: Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando Road, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, West Valley, Laurel Canyon, STUFF: Arroyo Seco, Ford F-150, 134 Freeway, Superman (1978), booty call, UU Church, LAX SOUNDS: Birds GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "After a Spring Rain at Zane's" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: May 7, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, I get back on track by tripping on the story's main locations including the little rundown house, the cavernous used bookstore, the UU Church and the magical cabin in Laurel Canyon. LOCATIONS: Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando Road, West Valley, Laurel Canyon, Sunset Strip SOUNDS: wind, palm trees, planes, birds, muscle car GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Zane's Palms and More Yellow Flowers" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: May 2, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, I sing the praises of the Days of My Life podcast which takes me back to my old LA Podcasters days with my fellow solo storytelling podcasters. PODCASTERS: Aidan Wheller, Dan Klass, Tim Coyne, Cush PLACES: Los Angeles, England, University of Cambridge, Liverpool SOUNDS: wind, palm trees, planes, birds GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Zane's Palms and Yellow Flowers" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: April 23, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, I recall my VW Bug's leaky roof and my disastrous relationship with a fancy redhead who's previous boyfriend drove a Jaguar. PEOPLE: Tim Coyne PLACES: The Valley, Los Feliz, Oakwood Apartments, Cahuenga Pass, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, South Bay THINGS: monk, celibacy, 1992, Taoism, Chi, sunroof, Unitarian Universalism, popcorn ceiling, Thanksgiving, "Detachable Penis" (song) SOUNDS: wind, palm trees, planes, birds GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "Zane's Spring Palms and Ice Plants" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: April 14, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.

Hey Dude, I riff on my "Little Red VW Bug" and the time I drove it up into the mountains for a singles weekend at my church's camp with it's infamous hot tub. PEOPLE: Jane Alexander PLACES: Eagle Rock, Burbank, Hollywood, Santa Monica THINGS: VW Rabbit, Chevy Chevette, VW Bug, The Recycler, Unitarian Universalism, 1960s, 1970s, L.A. Riots SOUNDS: wind, palm trees, car horns, birds GENRE: storytelling, personal narrative, personal journal PHOTO: "1972 Red VW Bug" shot on my iPhone5 RECORDED: April 4, 2019 on the observation deck at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, California DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised.