Ye Olde Magic

On October 24th, 2025, my father passed away. My sister Rachel gave the eulogy at his funeral. 

Where dad and I discuss his career, early life, and the red sox. 

It's been just over a year since my dad and I began having these conversations. Recently, he decided to refuse certain medications, a choice we know will significantly affect his life expectancy. In this conversation, we talk more about what that means, what we've learned from recording these chats, and what we hope to get out of the few we have left.

Jason Poppleton spoke with us today as Dad described what it was like to be brothers with Max. Also, there's something about a paintball to the neck, a jeep crashing into the Mahn's house, and an especially cruel barber. 

My childhood friend, Wayne Clements, joined us to discuss life at the Poppletons. We cover Moorpark training, the old watering hole, religious life, and almost getting killed by the cops. Also, there's a part about cultural appropriation I may delete one day. I can't promise I know what version you're listening to. 

There was no way to get to all of the songs we played in the front room in just one hour, so Rachel and Dad take us back this week Simon and Garfunkle, Burl Ives, and the Everly Brothers.

The Brower house was always filled with music, whether from the giant turn table, someone playing piano, or Dad playing guitar for the kids. In this conversation we play some of that music and talk about why Dad chose the songs he did and what those songs mean to him now. 

Jacob Hixon joins us tonight for a conversation about classic movies and choosing a theme for your stories. We talk about Dad's early days going to the movies with his brother Max and the times they were thrown out of the theater. We also discuss the difference between high and low fantasy and the right way to tell a mystery. 

The Legend of the Green Monkey

Stephen Hixon joins us to discuss what it was like coming over to the Poppletons. We spend most of the time in the old Brower backyard, but detour a bit to argue ice skating scores and east coast basketball feeds.