Happy Old Year

New Year's Eve is without a doubt the first "rookie night" of the year. That is when the idiots and the careless come out in force to celebrate. Just what are we celebrating? But, there are those who still manage to get into some sort of trouble by celebrating at home, away from the prying eyes of law enforcement. That is, until someone breaks out the fireworks.

Fun times are ahead and I wanted to a moment to not only look at how we celebrate this time of the year, but I wanted to take a look at what we can realistically expect in the new year and what we can take from the previous year.

This episode, by the way, is the last episode of this podcast from 2014.

My personal wish for all of you who read these words and listen to this episode is that 2015 is a fine year for you and yours.



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NEXT WEEK: Dianna Fryer sits down with me for a little talk about Los Angeles, CA since she is planning on being at NAMM. (National Association of Music Merchants). Plus we talk about the previous year at Radio Memphis and who I would love to interview on this podcast.

Happy New Year!

Stay tuned...

Happy Holidays, Damnit

Yes, it is that time of the year yet again when a good chunk of the world is celebrating Christmas is whatever iteration it may be. Some of us could give two shits for this holiday. But there are those who really go all out. I wanted to share with you a little of what it was like for me as a child and now what it is like as an adult. Especially since I have no children.

But there are these things called office parties. Which can be fun. If you are somewhat sober. Which begs the question, should you even get bombed around the boss? Or should you wait and do that in front of your spouse's boss? Oh how much fun it would be...



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NEXT WEEK: Rookie Night is coming. You would know it better as New Year's Eve.

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Selfish Media

We really haven't had social media for that long of a time. With that in mind, it appears we are still, as a society in general, trying to come to grips with this form of communication. In this episode, I do say things that many people agree with however, those who agree with what I do say about social media could not, for one moment, imagine their lives without it.

In the world of selfies, pictures of meals, cat videos and other forms of "stuff" that is out there, what is the real value of any of it? Not in the monetary sense, but the value social media adds to society at large. It's a valid question and I present this discussion for your listening enjoyment.



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NEXT WEEK: Merry Christmas From Radioland... Be very careful at the office party. Bad things always happen when you are drinking in the presence of your boss.

Stay Tuned...

You Can't (Always) Get What You Want

But sometimes you get what you need. We've all heard the song. Some of us have heard it more than others. However, being a consumer in this day and age has changed dramatically. The days of the instant gratification from a purchase are disappearing. Yes, there are some things you can go and get right now that would solve the particular issue you are dealing with where said purchase would be necessary.

It came to me over the search for a small inexpensive part I needed for a computer I was building. I couldn't get the thing anywhere in Memphis. No big deal, right? Just hop online and get what you want. Here's the thing, I needed it that day.



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NEXT WEEK: Social media and how some people just don't get it.

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When A Comedian Ceases to Be Funny

I have given a lot of thought to the whole situation regarding Bill Cosby. Bill is a guy a good number of us spent time with through the TV. From children's programming to Must See TV on NBC. Now, these allegations have come forth and has, to a certain extent, given his illustrious career a bad mark.

There is no such thing as a good rape joke. When a man who made millions laugh is accused of something dastardly, it does give us pause to look at this scenario from all the angles. I tried to do that in this episode.

Maybe there is something to all of the allegations. Maybe there are other things going on. Take a listen while you are enjoying your leftovers.



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NEXT WEEK: You can't always get what you want in the land of consumerism.

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Keep Your Hands Off My Internet

There has been a lot of talk lately about the federal government wanting to get involved in the regulation (of some sort) of the internet. Net neutrality is a discussion you may have heard about. I wanted to sit down and take a look at what net neutrality is about and what it could mean if congress found a way to put the internet under the control of the FCC.

What does this mean for you? Probably not good at all. The fact of the matter is simply that where there is substantial money involved, government regulation is never far behind. It is funny that the only ones in favor of government regulation of the internet are the big corporations. What good what it do you the average consumer? I'll tell you.

I'll also tell you just what the FCC was all about and how it could tie in to what the internet is or what some members of congress want it to be.



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NEXT WEEK: Used clothes and the rape culture. Is Bill Cosby a rapist?

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What A Kick In The Balls

Here of late, there is a thing happening to me on a daily basis (nearly). My daily kick in the balls. Not physically (of course) but on a situational level. We have all been there where there seems like a stretch of time you are caught up in is filled with a never ending string of getting kicked in the balls.

Not a cool thing to go through. That is exactly what I am going through right now and this is exactly what I am talking about in this, the season four premiere of the podcast. If you are going through it yourself right now, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. If you have already gone through it, you know exactly what I am talking about here. Those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, you are somehow blessed to have avoided this thing that happens to everyone else... you lucky bastard.



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A little note here. I mentioned that on the day of the recording of the episode, my daily kick in the balls had not occurred and it looked like I was actually going to have a day where it did not happen. Nope. Shortly after recording this episode, I was in fact, kicked in the balls.

NEXT WEEK: Censorship. F@%k That. Net neutrality and censorship in the age of the internet and social media and why the Parents Television Council is a useless organization.

Stay tuned...

The Music Industry

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson

Never a more true statement has been made about the industry. It has been attributed by others to talk about the business they are in however, it was written specifically about the music business. In this episode, which is the season three finale, I talk about the business of music from the very bottom level, the local scene.

Those of you who are musicians who are not familiar with business of music should find this as an eye opener of sorts. Those of you who are not musicians will also find this enlightening and maybe force you to think about what is happening on stage while you are sitting there enjoying the show.



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NEXT WEEK: Back in the studio, finally. Studio A is alive and well and is the capital of Radioland.

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A Major Move for Radio Memphis

Yep, that is our new shingle. At the new home of Radio Memphis. It has been a long road to get to this point and we have gone through an impressive amount of things just to get here. In this episode of the podcast, which was recorded in this spot just before the move, I will tell you just how it all happened and what the future holds for Radio Memphis and the industry of internet radio.



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NEXT WEEK: The Season Three Finale. What the fuck is wrong with the music industry?

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It's A Conspiracy

I wanted to get into this subject for a while now. Conspiracy theorists are a breed all on their own. They believe in some really far out things. The moon landing was faked, 9/11 was an "inside job" or did not happen at all. These people are usually lumped into the category of "harmless". They usually are, however, they like to take every little thing that happens in the news and turn it into some sort of "false flag" event.

It is a fascinating look into human nature. What is really interesting about these people, they believe Alex Jones is the only one in the world who has all this so called "secret" knowledge.

This was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy.



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Here's more on Alex. Let the craziness just wash over you. You would think he's doing this for laughs. Nope. He seems to really believe in this crap. What a whackjob.

NEXT WEEK: I will elaborate on all the cool new things happening at Radio Memphis.

Stay tuned...

I'm Watching You

Yes, you are being watched. Not just by me, but my many others. Those that are paying particular attention to your every move are recording everything you do. Right or wrong, it's happening. Now, before you get your panties in a twist of this subject and are thinking, "Gee Ric, you are falling into the whole conspiracy thing." Nope. That topic is next week.

You can think of this episode is part one of the subject. Part two goes off the chart and gets into people who goes into the whole conspiracy thing. But that is then. In this episode, I wanted to take a closer look into the lunacy of police forces who like to buy surplus military equipment, spraying random people with pepper spray and how the whole world seems to hate the police.



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NEXT WEEK: It's all a conspiracy. I'm going to get into all the big conspiracy theories out there. From chemtrails to 9/11 to ebola and the now famous clipboard guy.

Stay tuned...

Eat Me

Some of the things we perceive in this world vary greatly when we actually confront our perceptions. Often, we have an idea of what something is like until we see it first hand. I wanted to take some time to delve into this topic. It started with me on the bank of the Mississippi river where it was incredibly windy. You'll hear that.

But I decided it would be better to just hop in the car and do the rest of this episode while I was driving, with the windows down. Actually, it sounds pretty good considering just how far removed I was from a proper studio. But the conversation does change in a direction I had no idea I would take. It just happened. I began to talk about cannibalism. Why? Perception. I think I got to play with your preconceived notions in this episode.



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NEXT WEEK: You are being watched, recorded, read and categorized. The man is watching you and a few other pet peeves.

Stay tuned...

Welcome to "The Beach"

The beach is a great place. As we wind up summer and find ourselves in the early days of fall, dreams of the beach can be nice. However, the beach I speak of here is not always a great place. This beach is where broadcasters wind up when their services are no longer required.

In this particular scenario, a Memphis station flipped its format and blew out its talent. Thereby putting pretty much all of their on air staff out on the beach. It happens.

This episode talks about the theories behind format changes and how it affects the people who work at the station and how it really affects the fans of the station who just flipped their format.

There is also a closer look at the AM/FM situation as it stands right now here in Memphis. This episode should be of interest especially to all of you who are still employed in the terrestrial world and to those who are on the outside looking in... either as a former radio person or someone who has a little more than passing interest in this industry.



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NEXT WEEK: Preconceived notions, perceptions and cannibalism. Yeah, that discussion occurred.

Stay tuned...

I'm Not Supposed To Be Here

Seriously, I am not supposed to be here. Okay, maybe not so much. However, it is a great line to use in your office. But, that is not the whole content of this episode.

People often complain about their lives. I am certainly guilty of that. At least as much as the next guy. Having said that, you are the only one who can fix your problems and I wanted to vent a bit about how difficult little things can be, at least for me. I have found a fix, this podcast. Does it solve all my problems? Nope. But it does make those little annoyances a little easier to bear for me.

Do I have the cure for all your ills? Nope. But, this is a distraction for you and if this episode helps you with that, perfect.



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NEXT WEEK: Understanding the fine art of flipping a radio station format and how it affects the listener. HINT: It rarely goes well.

Thanks for time and thanks for listening.

Stay tuned...

This is Memphis

Memphis is not without its problems. But here is the thing, it is my home. Running away from my home to some other place is something I used to do when the going got tough. It never really worked for me, at least. This episode, I speak of just this very thing along with a bunch of other topics in a free flowing rant about terrorism, gun control and some good things in life.

If you think your surroundings are scary, there is one thing you can do about it. Don't worry about how scary something might appear. It's scary everywhere. Learn to live with it and learn to make the changes you can to affect your own world.

There are a couple of topics in this episode that can be considered a little controversial. So what? That's what makes stuff like this fun. Feel free to make your comments below if you feel so compelled.

Enjoy!



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NEXT WEEK: Another one of my favorite phrases comes to light and I'll teach you how to use it correctly.

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Right People In The Wrong Generation with Jaeci King

If you have ever spent any amount of time listening to Radio Memphis, you have heard the voice between songs that says "Radio Memphis" (among other things). In the business, he would be referred to as the "imaging guy". He is our station announcer and his name is Jaeci King.

Jaeci and I have a lot in common. We both think we were born into the wrong generation. He's also been in the radio business most of his life and has some great stories to tell about his days in the terrestrial radio world. He's very funny and his take on what it was like in other generations and how things should be are refreshing and highly entertaining.

Get to know another member of the staff of Radio Memphis as I sit down with the one and only, Jaeci King.



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NEXT WEEK: Taking on a list of things that need to be addressed. I need to play catch up on a couple of things including why the city of Memphis is so special to me and what it means to have some security in the simple pleasures in life.

Stay tuned...

The Business of Show Business

On the heels of the last three weeks, it made perfect sense to me to lighten up the mood by sitting down with Dianna Fryer. Dianna is the General Manager of Radio Memphis. She is a funny lady and has a good grip on the subject at hand. We do talk about some interesting concepts when it comes to running an internet radio station.

There are hundreds of thousands of these stations out there, but there is a stark difference in what Radio Memphis does versus the others. Including AM/FM. It is a simple difference but it is rather important. The fact that what we do is live instead of pre-recorded is important, to me at least. It is that difference that sets Radio Memphis a part from the others.

Our conversation wanders all over the place, but it was great fun. The underlying tone of this episode is that both Dianna and I flow between our on air characters versus who we are away from the on air stuff. At one point, I had Dianna so worked up she actually... well, you'll just have to listen and find out.



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You can catch Dianna on the air every Monday night at 9PM CDT for the Memphis Metal Monday Show. You can also hear her at 1PM CDT for the Radio Memphis Around The World show.

NEXT WEEK: The voice of Radio Memphis joins the show. Jaeci King sits down with me and we get nostalgic about certain eras and why having a cocktail in the middle of the day should be a requirement.

Stay tuned...

Exiled to Radioland: Part III, Into The Fire, Out Of The Ashes

This is the final part of the whole story I have been telling over the past three weeks. I would say it would be a thrilling conclusion, but not so much.

Part of this might be difficult for some to listen to as the subject matter here is quite heavy. Especially to those who lived it or witnessed it all from the sidelines. To record this, I had to relive some of those moments of anger and bitterness. Yes, I was reduced to name calling. But, as you might be able to understand, this was an emotionally charged time. It was not only the death of a dear friend, but it was the death of a great radio station and the death of a once enjoyable career in terrestrial radio.

For the record, if any one mentioned in this or the previous episodes have any issue with what is said here, they are more than welcome to contact me directly and give their side of this story. I'll be more than happy to share their side with the public.

But it is not all sadness. From these events came forth a beautiful idea of that what I am doing now. This episode and the previous two is where I finally lay it all to rest. Once and for all. This is the final word I have on the subject.



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Epilogue: All of those who are mentioned in this show are no longer with Clear Channel. Eventually, after my career ended there, the corporate heads came in to Memphis and fired the middle and upper management. Even some of them lost their jobs as well. Tim is now on the air in Chicago and Michael... last I heard, is still out of the radio business. The wreckage they left behind in the wake of "corporate decisions" crippled Rock 103.

Shortly after these events, I was approached by their new management to come back and resume my position. Three times they came to me and all three times I said, "no".

Next week: I sit down with Dianna Fryer to talk about the business of show business and the popularity of internet radio.

Stay tuned...

Exiled to Radioland, Part II: Rise of The Evil Empire

So many of you have been incredibly kind and patient over the last three years regarding this story. I thank you all. Here is the second part of the story. The so called "salad days" are here. This is also the beginning of the end of the tale.

There are those out there who will find what they hear in this episode to border on the incredible. There are those (named in this episode) who may feel this content is not to their liking. Understandable. A lot of people were affected by the events that occurred. Once again, this was through my eyes and my experiences. These people may call me "bitter" and "delusional". These people who will say things are no longer part of the Memphis radio scene, either.

A little note about the production of this episode. This was recorded in the same session as part 3 (coming next week) and allowed me to walk through some great memories. Conversely, I had to go back through some dark hallways and re-open some old wounds. I wanted to make sure I put all of that down here.

It wasn't easy to do but, it was worth doing.

Language is an issue here as some rather pointed things are said here. I allowed some of emotion to participate in this episode (and next week's episode) to the extent as was necessary. I call it like I saw it and hopefully, you will understand the situation in that manner as well.



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Next week: The conclusion. Exiled to Radioland, Part III: Out of The Ashes

Exiled to Radioland, Part I: Where It All Began

And so it begins. The season three premiere of From Radioland starts with a 3 part series. This is the one people have been asking for. Well, maybe not this one, but this sets the stage. Since 2011, I have been asked to tell the story of my career in Memphis at Clear Channel. It was a blast. It was tough. It was more fun than the law should allow. It also ended in great tragedy.

One of the biggest highlights of my career was working with John "Baddog" McCormack. It was a time I will forever cherish and it will take me a bit to get to all the things that happened in those days. This episode is the first of that. It begins with my first days in the world of broadcasting. How I walked away from radio in the early days for the weirdness that is TV news. From there, I will tell you about my return to radio and my landing in Memphis beginning what would become a 14 year career in Memphis with one of the most iconic stations on the air and working with and sharing the spotlight with one of the most iconic broadcasters in the business.

Please, keep in mind over the next 3 episodes I will be relaying the stories and experiences I have been a part of over the past 30 years. I do name names and call out those who did, in my mind, despicable things in the name of corporate greed and ego. Am I bitter? Not anymore. Not after recording these episodes.

Bear with me, this is a long story. It is by no means the complete story. It is the story through my eyes and my ears. Those who I have named have earned, in my opinion, their rightful tongue lashing I will mete out over the next three weeks. If the shoe fits... right? What follows is from my recollections of those events and my experience directly from those same events.



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A reminder here, after this series of episodes, I will no longer speak of these things in public. All future inquiries regarding the events depicted through these episodes will be referred to these shows. This was a difficult series to record. In fact, after taping this first episode, I lost my voice for a day. It was worth it.

Next week: Exiled to Radioland, Part II: Rise of the Evil Empire

Stay tuned...

Get Your Privates, Private

This episode was recorded under "duress" with faulty equipment. However, it is about your privacy online and the main culprit is Facebook. Social media, aside from the fun of connecting with new and old friends, has it's downside. Namely, you. Bitch all you want about privacy. You withhold the information you feel needs to be withheld. That is good. But it gets worse.

What happens when the information you want withheld is compromised without your consent?



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Source Article for the current episode is right HERE.

NEXT WEEK: Season Three starts with a bang. Part One of the story that leads to the story of Bad Dog. Don't know what I am talking about? I'll cover it all in three parts.

Stay tuned...

Abigail Noel

If it is one thing I like to do, it is to shake the foundations of old thoughts and beliefs. Not to be offensive, mind you. I do it just to make people think. Now, keep in mind before you listen to this episode that this is not about anti-religion or any other such nonsense. What this episode does explore is certain theological concepts.

Simply put, don't get pissed off listening to this episode. Come into this with about as much of an open mind as you can muster. When you do that, you will be highly entertained and enlightened to a different point of view.

Having said all of that, let me introduce you to Abigail Noel. You can find her website HERE. She often has gatherings open to the public and all the details can be found on her website and on her Facebook page. She also has a regular Thursday radio show at Blogtalk Radio (just search Intuitive Heart Radio). Abigail is a very engaging and funny lady not to mention rather easy on the eyes.

Abigail Noel

 A little note about the production of this episode. While taping this show, the battery died off in my mini recorder about half way through our taping. Calm down, it has nothing to do with divine intervention. My dumb ass never checked the battery level until it was too late. However, as I told her, "I have something in my pants that will remedy this situation." I recorded the last part of this show on my phone which will explain the difference in audio quality.



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We had such a great time together that I invited her to be a regular guest on Radio Memphis. Every Tuesday from 2PM to 6PM you can listen in as she hangs out live on the air. PLUS, you can call in and she'll give you a reading on the air. Call 901-922-5407 when she is on the air with us and join in on the fun.

NEXT WEEK: Season 2 finale. We are going to talk about your privacy and how Facebook is about to ruin your whole online experience.

Stay tuned...

The Golden Age of The Internet

We are living in a fine time of the internet. It is truly the last great final frontier. As a result, it is lawless, free (to a point), full of boobies, idiots and good stuff, too. It is the perfect setting for the fight of a lifetime. Now the FCC wants to come in and regulate it on the behalf of some wealthy internet provider corporations. If that were to happen, we would all suffer. But since the US government has decided to be the police force for every other nation in the world plus the internet, this would cause some big problems.

That is what I talk about in this episode. Heady stuff, no doubt. But, it is important to take heed of the warning signs out there that would affect you, the casual user of the internet. A bit of a rant but there are things that need to be said.

By the way, if what I say here upsets you, the beauty of the internet allows you to say so in the comments below. Or not. That is your call. Imagine the freedom of speech for everyone in the world. That is what the internet is about and is the subject of this episode.



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Next week: My friend Abigail Noel joins me in a walk through Elmwood Cemetery. She is a psychic channel and evidentiary medium. We talk about dealing with dead people (and the living) and her involvement in the Lorenzen Wright and Holly Bobo cases. A really fascinating walk and talk with a fascinating and very funny lady. For more on her check out her website here.

Until then,

Stay tuned...

Board To Tears & The Value Of A Higher Education

Yes, it is a play on words. Before you grammar Nazis jump on my ass, pay attention. Jeff stopped by the studio in this episode and we finally got the new mixer up and running. We covered a lot of topics in this show and we had a good time breaking all the rules. A couple of guys running our mouths all the process of making sure the new equipment works.

Also, in this episode, the story about how the cats came to reside here and what happens when a rat enters the picture.



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Next week: Another chapter in my life in the broadcasting business and how the FCC just won't go away. What it really means to me to be from Radioland.

Stay tuned...

Thomas D. Byrd

There is a fascinating story I have come upon. At least, it is fascinating to me. For me to properly tell this story, I have taken the recorder to a really cool and wonderful place. This place is so special that tours are available to all those who are interested in historic Memphis.

Not only is this the end of the road, so to speak, it is quite literally AT the end of the road.

Now here's the thing, this story involves a man who is buried here. He was not necessarily any remarkable man aside from any other man nor did he necessarily live a remarkable life. The thing about Mr. Byrd's story is what has happened since his unremarkable death.

Thomas D. Byrd 1854 - 1926

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By the way, there was no EVP evidence in this episode. Unless you hear something I didn't. If you would like to know more about this wonderful place, you can visit their website here.

Just for the point of having a bit of fun, I found this.

More like, gone.

Next week, Jeff is back in the studio and some very funny stories about cats, rats and porn. Thanks again for tuning is and please share this with all of those who might be entertained and as always...

Stay tuned...

Greedy Bastards

In the 1980s, we were taught, thanks to Gordon Gecko, that greed was good. When the 21st century came around, it took corporate America a few years to realize that concept was an actual working model and it put a lot of careers to an abrupt end. Mine too. At the time.

Of course I managed to find a way to carry on as have many others. For too many though, they have had to take on several jobs at once just to make the ends meet. Lives have been disrupted and a good number have had to find a way to make do with what little they have just because someone felt it necessary to have a new car from a bonus paid when the bottom line had to be met at the hands of workers who were making the money for someone else.

A sad and vicious cycle indeed. All at the hands of a generation of people who believed what they were told in the 1980s. It it gets worse. There is a generation amongst us that honestly believe the world owes them something just because they showed up. This group of entitlement people are the ones who are about to be in charge. But will they be?

Take a listen to what I have to say on the subject and see if there is any hope for our society.



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Thanks again for being a part of this show. Coming up next week, I'll be standing among some 90,000 people and doing a podcast about one of them.

Until then,

Stay tuned...

Dean Zachary Just Might Be Batman

That is, of course, if Bruce Wayne isn't. This episode was a blast to do and I have been looking forward to getting this one out for a while now. Dean is a Memphian who illustrates comic books for DC and other companies. Jeff and I sat down with Dean and we talked about all sorts of geeky things.

From the influence of comic books on the movies, the future of the genre to our respective thoughts on Star Wars and Star Trek. Oh yeah, it's a geek fest and you are invited along for the ride.

Grab your Boba Fett blanket and curl up with some great stories and big fun with Dean Zachary.


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If you would like to learn more about Dean, you can find his website HERE. His site includes samples of his art and more.

Coming up next week, thanks to a bad technical issue, I was forced to go mobile again and record the episode in the woods. Literally. Because of the failure of a rather important piece of equipment, we are making some adjustments to get ourselves back up to full speed.

Thanks to the benevolence of others, that will happen.

If you feel benevolent and would like to help us out, you can. Click on the link in the upper right of this page. The one that says "Patreon" and you can be a part of our fun little world. Thanks and as always...

Stay tuned...

A Walk In The Park

Sometimes it is nice to go to the park, find a nice quiet spot and run your mouth about all sorts of things. However, in this episode I discovered, the moment I turned on the recorder, the batteries were almost dead. Nevertheless, the show must go on and it did.

Among the kids playing in the field, a man painting a picture and some other dude actually flying a quad copter drone around the park. As cool as that was, it was a bit unnerving.

I did however, reveal some small details of a project I am working on.



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Next week, Jeff and I completely geek out with a Dean Zachary. Dean is a comic book illustrator who has done stories for DC comics. An absolutely fascinating look at the world of comic books and the movies they inspire.

Until then,

Stay tuned...

Beer Run

Come along with me on a beer & liquor run. I was forced out of the studio during an internet outage. Needing to record a show, I try and navigate the streets of Memphis without getting a case of road rage. What was amusing about doing this episode is that although it is rather short in length, it seemingly took forever to record it. You'll hear why in this show.



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On another note, although I make mention of this during this show, please take a moment to click on the link on the upper right of this page. I would really appreciate it if you would take a look at where the link goes.

Thanks again for all your support and all the subscribers. Tell a friend and as always...

Stay tuned...

Sammy Marten Is Funny

Sammy Marten

Jeff and I invaded the famous P&H Cafe in Midtown Memphis where they have an open mic comedy show every Thursday night at 9:30. It's a free show and a large time. We got there long before the crowd showed up and we took the opportunity to sit down with Sammy Marten to talk about the craft of comedy, what his first time on stage was like and where the comedy business has taken him over the years.

We also got into his work on the big screen with his appearances in a couple of National Lampoon's projects.



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To see Sammy's last act at Comedy, TN. Take a look at THIS.

On another note, if you would like to see the banner ads on this page to go away and you would like to see more of these shows, please take a moment to click on the square on the upper right of this page. The one that says "Patreon" and take a look at the video and the stuff written there.

Hope you enjoy the show and as always,

Stay tuned...

Quit Stealing My Shit

I should be flattered. In fact, I sort of am. But there does come a time when enough is enough. What I am talking about here is when my creativity shows up in other places without my knowledge or consent. That is called plagiarism. In this episode, I talk (at length) about this phenomenon in show business.

Make no mistake, I'm not as angry as one would seem to be over this issue. As amusing as it can be at times, it is rather frustrating. In this episode, I came real close to naming names, but I do come close. Those that know me well enough should be able to figure what I am talking about here. Those who don't know me at all should find this show pretty amusing nevertheless. As a matter of fact, you might like it so much, you'll want to steal it for yourself.



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A little note about this page, I am slowly making this the official home of the show for all the real notes and stuff that go with each episode. So, don't be too surprised if you should see some changes around here.

As a matter of fact, there is one major change right now. If you'll look at the square on the upper right of this page, the one that has the word "Patreon" in it. Do me a favor and click that. Don't worry, your computer won't explode... BUT, there is a video there featuring yours truly. When you do, please share this to everyone you know. If everything goes well, I'll dump these ads I have on this page.

Thanks again for all your support and keep the subscriptions coming in.

Stay tuned...

Doc Studard is the Morning Man at Radio Memphis

Trust me, I thought about it... The Doc Is In or What's Up, Doc? Hackneyed lines indeed and since this episode is not worthy of such tripe, it would be best to call it exactly as it is. I have been wanting to sit down with Doc to make this episode a reality for a while now. Trust me when I tell you this, there will be more with Doc. One hour barely contains a conversation that went from being a Native American to where he learned his extensive cuss word vocabulary (you'll be surprised to hear where).

The thing is you can think of this episode as a first part to a conversation with Doc. There is much more to his story than this one episode could hope to contain.

Colorful, uncensored and unapologetic. THAT is what this is all about.



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A note about this podcast series: Ric Chetter - From Radioland is growing by leaps and bounds and we appreciate everyone who has subscribed to this show. If I may ask of one thing, please tell your friends about it. Share this on your Facebook and Twitter. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks and as always,

Stay Tuned...

Hangin' with Blues Musicians

The 35th Blues Music Awards happened. Jeff and I managed to weasel ourselves into this thing and quickly found out the best place to hang out was outside the event where all the musicians were (when they weren't playing). Once we figured that out, we wound up talking to a good number of these folks. One of my favorite artists is Super Chikan. Guess what? We talked to him. More accurately, he talked to us and gave us a great education on southern culture. A truly fascinating interview.

We also spent some time with Matt Isbell and his lovely wife Lisa, Preston McEwen, J.L. Fulks and John D'Amato and they are all on this episode.



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This show was so much fun to do and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much fun as we had being there and doing this show.

Our thanks to Lucy Hammond for getting us into the venue.

Stay tuned...

The Beale Street Blues

Jeff and I went down to Beale Street a couple of weeks ago and got into some real blues from Eric Hughes and John D'Amato. Along the way we encountered some real drunks. Yep, I recorded that, too. This is the first of our remote produced shows. This was so much fun. At one point in the night I thought I was recording a conversation with Eric Hughes... not so much. I blame Wet Willie's for that. Nevertheless, we had a blast and I did manage to record Eric playing a Robert Johnson song and there is a tune from John D'Amato and his band.



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I know... Willie Hall... I know...

A note about next week: There is reference in here about the Blues Music Awards. We went there and took the recorder and had a great conversation with some other artists. You won't want to miss that one.

Stay tuned...

Taboo Talk

I can hear it now, "How dare you discuss such taboo things." That. And, "You are going to hell." And then there might be this, "I always figured you were like that." Those comments and more showing up in the comment section below would not surprise me. With that being said, just take a listen for yourself.



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On another note, this podcast has just been listed as a featured podcast on our new network. Blubrry. You can find it at http://www.blubrry.com/ricchetter/ and here is the cool thing about being with these fine folks, you can listen to the podcast through your Roku by adding the free Blubrry channel. We're thrilled around here. Also, as of this writing, the podcast now has over 11,000 subscribers!

Thanks to all of you for enjoying the show. As long as you are all listening, we'll keep producing them.

Stay tuned!

Lipstick on My Codpiece & Other Confessions of a Stormtrooper

Well, to be fair here, not MY codpiece. Jeff brought his old friend Andy Galloway by for a great podcast about cosplay, making props and costumes and all the appearances he makes through the 501st. Jeff and I completely geek out in this episode and cover a lot of ground with some great fun and some rather revealing stories about what it is like to strap on Star Wars Stormtrooper armor and mix with fans.




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For further information about the groups Andy is a member of, check out the following links:

midsouthgarrison.com
501st.com
http://boards.theforce.net/forums/columbia-tn.10892/
bestinefanforce.com (requires registration to use)

Maybe you just found your new hobby. At the very least, these folks do some great things with their skills in the amusement of children and the public at large. My personal thanks to Andy for stopping in and sharing the great stories.

Stay tuned...

Death From Exposure

Local musicians have it rough in Memphis. There is an old saying that goes something like this: "So, you are a Memphis musician, welcome to oblivion." In this episode, Jeff and I talk about the guys in the trenches fighting their way into some sort of paying existence all the way up to the top.

Plus, why Cleveland, why?

You'll have to take a listen to learn more.




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Hope you enjoy and as always, stay tuned...

School of Broadcasting

There are those amongst us who think they have certain entitlements in the broadcasting business. They are almost always wrong about that. These are people who have gone to some sort of "broadcasting school" and have been told by their dear old Aunt they have a voice for radio. You know, real experts.

Then there are those who actually work in a related field of broadcasting who like to tell those of us who do work in the business how to do our jobs. These evil people are known as consultants. They are clueless, witless and a scourge to the business. Yet, they get enormous amounts of money from broadcasting broadcasting corporations to tell them what they want to hear to justify their expense.

The bottom line is this, everyone is an expert. Yet no one really is. Only the audience knows the real answer.

This is what I get into in this episode of From Radioland.

I hope you enjoy this show.



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Stay Tuned...

Dirty D Is Dirty

Dianna Fryer is not only the Promotions Director of Radio Memphis, she is also the co-host of the wildly popular Memphis Metal Monday show (Mondays 9PM CDT). She fought me when I wanted to put her on the air and she fought me on a lot of other things. But, I won and frankly so did the listeners.

In this episode, Dianna and I explore those decisions and what it is like to be in this business. This was an extremely fun podcast to do mainly because I had no idea what direction our conversation would take at any given moment.

Take a listen and be prepared to have a large time.



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If you like what you are hearing on these podcasts, please be sure to leave us a comment either here or at iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, TuneIn or Player.fm. We appreciate all those who have found this podcast and we hope you enjoy the weekly content we create just for you. Also, if you would, please share this page to all those who might enjoy this as well.

On a related note, Ric Chetter - From Radioland (as of this posting) now has 7,000 subscribers. Many thanks to all of you.

Stay tuned...

Rodger, I Am Your Father

Actually, Brian McMurry is... In this episode, my former next door neighbor and graphic artist and fellow chess player sat down with me to discuss where the concept of Rodger came from. He's the guy responsible for the Radio Memphis logo.

Meet Rodger.

Obviously, the Radio Memphis logo is a little more than the above, with the addition of some groovy font and some additional artistic splash. However, this guy here is the basis behind the face for the radio station. Take a listen to this podcast to learn more. In it, there are references to a couple of other pieces, they are below the player.




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This hangs on a wall in my living room, much to the surprise of my wife and all those who feast their eyes on this.

The Abduction of Ganymede - Rembrandt

And this is the Hieronymus Bosch, that Brian makes reference to.

The Garden of Earthly Delights

 For more on Brian's stage work with Freak Engine, take a look at their Facebook here. Give them a like and go to a show... or several.

Hope you enjoy and as always, stay tuned.

Radio History - Selected Cuts

Please allow me to get a little educational here. The science of radio broadcast has always fascinated me. In the span of 100 years, it has come a long way. From the dots and dashes of Morse code to the incredible ability to broadcast a high quality signal around the world, I have watched in a state of wonder of how this business has changed on a technical level. If you think about it, a century is a short amount of time considering the things we take for granted, like FM radio is already an outdated form of broadcast. Even its commercial use is around 50 years old. 

If I am asked what it was that really attracted me to this business, it would be captured in this podcast. There is a certain magic associated with the science of radio broadcast. In this episode, I tracked down some recordings of broadcast history and assembled here for your listening pleasure. I'll attempt to explain their relevance to history and how the medium has truly changed the world.

It pains me to think there are those out there who will never know what it is like to manually tune a radio from one signal to another and to hear all the distant signals a hair's breadth out of reach to get to a stronger signal. In our push button society, that bit of magic is lost. To imagine for a moment what it must have been like to hear the world's breaking news through that little now outdated box still holds a fair bit of fascination to me and I hope we did a fair job of capturing that for your consideration here.




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Thanks for listening and always remember... stay tuned.

Ric & Jeff Chew The Fat

We have all referred to ourselves as whores in the radio business. But actual whores working out of an actual radio station is a sight to behold and an amusing story I tell in this episode From Radioland. Jeff Janovetz and I sat down to pick up where we left off from the first episode (sort of) and we get into corporate America, the Peter Principle, the ever changing world of technology, advertising and the aforementioned tale of actually running whores from a radio station.

So, grab a beverage, a sandwich and buckle up, this one get's a little wild.



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Exciting news! Although we don't really make too much of a mention in this show, From Radioland has now surpassed 3,000 subscribers! This podcast is now available on iTunes, Stitcher and Tunein. Or, you can just keep it here on this blog and enjoy each new episode as they are updated every Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for all your support and as always, stay tuned...

Late Night Rambling

Funny things happen when you are up late at night, a few beers in and a handy mobile recorder is sitting on your desk begging to be used for good... or ill. Seriously, the folks at Zoom should send me a check for this endorsement. They are not. BUT, after hearing this, maybe they would like to sponsor the podcast. Because this episode was recorded as an unrefined test of the Zoom H2, I didn't really use any post production filtering. Personally, I think it sounds great just the way it is. Although, I probably should have left the wind screen off as it is pictured here.

Here is what it looks like, topless.

Yes, that is holy water in the background. Don't ask.

For those of you interested in such matters, this is a way groovy little device. To hear what it sounds like, take a listen to Episode 4 of From Radioland. I plan on using this thing more and more as we get out of the studio. Depending of course, on the circumstances. Anyway, hope you enjoy this episode called "Testing... Testing... Amazeballs".

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And as always,

Stay Tuned...

Ric Gets A Little Dark

A little adjustment to the podcast schedule. I am moving the upload dates to Sundays. The reason being is after I upload an episode to Podbean, it takes some 24 hours for it to go live on iTunes. There are bunch of ways to subscribe to this thing but it seems that most of the subscribers to the podcast do so through iTunes. Anyway, here it is, a little early present for your listening pleasure 24 hours before the iTunes subscribers get to listen. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoy producing the thing.



Stay tuned...

Episode 2: Brother Doug!

You want to get a peek into the madness that is Brother Doug? Sure you do. Gird your loins and prepare yourselves for a podcast experience like no other. I hope you enjoy it.



Thanks for listening and remember, you can subscribe to this podcast through iTunes and have fresh episodes delivered to your device every time it gets uploaded. Speaking of which, it looks like the upload day is going to be each Monday.

Stay tuned...

From The Written to The Spoken

You might want to read my last post here if you haven't before reading further.

Here's the thing. I now have a podcast which will now take the place (in a weird sort of way) of the written word. This page will continue to be updated as the podcasts get into the schedule. The good thing here is that there are a scheduled series of podcasts that will be posted approximately once a week.

You see, speaking is much more natural to me than sitting in front of a keyboard bashing out word after word that I merely hear in my head. So the decision was made to utilize the tools I have to make something a little more amusing for you to listen to and/or waste your time.

The podcast has been accepted at iTunes and is now available to download by clicking HERE. You should already have an account with iTunes. If not, go ahead and get one, it's free and easy. While you there, please subscribe to the thing and you can expect a new episode about once a week.

For the uninitiated, get your free podcast app from your app store and you will be able to subscribe to the thing and as they are updated, you will get the episode downloaded to your device for you to consume at your leisure. On your mobile device (phone or tablet), open a browser and go to http://ricchetter.podbean.com/mobile/ tap the quick launch icon and the above picture will show up as a bookmark that will rest right on your screen amongst your other apps. For you desktop and laptop users, just head on over to ricchetter.podbean.com 

You can follow the feed from that site.

For those who are still paying attention to this blog site, guess what? I'll be posting the episodes right here.

In fact, here is the first one.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

I hope you enjoy it!

Stay Tuned...