Petty Bastard

You might think we as a society have become more petty about everything. Truth is, we are just as petty now as we have always been. So, what makes it seem like we are more nuanced about life's little ridiculous situations? Social media. The one thing Facebook does extraordinarily well is magnify every little thing and feeling people get from time to time.

The rest of us may merely roll our eyes at these posts but for the one making that post, they are deadly serious. It's kind of like when people ask for unspoken prayers. What they are actually asking for is a little bit of attention.

In this episode, Ric gets petty himself as he looks into the hypocrisy of the human condition through the eyes of social media.



NEXT WEEK: Death to the disc.

Talking Tech with Dianna Fryer

For several years now, companies have found new and inventive ways of removing people from various industries, even in the world of broadcast. Which is sad. It's as if technology was sucking the fun right out of the business.

But what happens when you put people back into the mix? In the new format of From Radioland, I sat down with Dianna Fryer, General Manager of Pirate Radio Studios, Inc. to discuss this very thing.

Also, a new element has been added to the show, Playing Favorites.



NEXT WEEK: Talking about the weather with Austen Onek.

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The Customer Service Blues

Everyone has a tale to tell about their customer service nightmares. Major corporations who treat you more as a number than a human. It is inevitable and there is no way out. But man, when that bell rings and I am getting screwed, that fight is on, Jack.

I'll tell you about a little trick I learned in this episode. Also a great time with Gypsy Heartz with some stories and songs are right here.



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NEXT WEEK: Howard Grimes and The Wiggins Brothers

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Tough Room

It's a common complaint among musicians. Where are the crowds? Why are they bitching about a five dollar cover? Why is Memphis so difficult?

Not that I have the answers, but in this case I can shed a bit of light on the subject. Maybe.

Fact of the matter is that makes for a tough room just about every place you go to see a show.

Plus music from Jupiter Stone.



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NEXT WEEK: The irrelevance of the FCC plus music from The Candy Company.

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Dividing By Zero

We sure have become a divided nation. Over everything. It started with the guy in the White House, maybe sooner and now us Americans seem to love to get into a debate over anything and everything. Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip? Sardines on a sandwich or no?

There is this school of thought that being divisive is a bad thing. But is it, really?

Plus music from Pengea.



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NEXT WEEK: Five dollars will make you holler. Plus music from Jupiter Stone.

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That Damned Lemon Tree

I know I am not hallucinating. I can't be the only one who has thought about this. I am talking about this weird hobby with some middle aged men. Growing a lemon tree. At first, this seemed like some strange dystopian past-time.

Dig deep enough, though and there appears to be something a little odd about this and what this activity is doing to the guys who are participating.

Plus music from The Rough Hearts.



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NEXT WEEK: Producing From Radioland from the producer's chair. Plus music from Hardaway.

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A Sense of Worth

Don't misunderstand me, this has nothing to do with ego. Okay, maybe a little. But not mine. Yours. It seems to me, at least, as soon as we think we have everything figured out, everything changes.

The best part about that? It's a good thing. For me, at least.

Your mileage may vary.

Plus music from J.D. Reager



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NEXT WEEK: Ancient history, around the time of planking. Plus music from Mark Edgar Stewart.

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Judgemental Bastard

Here's fun little game to play. What is your price? What would make you cross a line you have drawn in the sand? Is it money? How much?

That's part of the gist behind this episode.

Another part is exploring just how judgemental we all are and the consequences of such actions.

Plus music from Fresh Flesh.



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NEXT WEEK: A sense of worth. Plus music from J.D. Reager.

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That Guy Has Become a Problem

Borrowing from the Radio Memphis in The Morning bit, How Not To Be That Guy, I seem to have a problem with what some people are actually doing our here in the real world. What started out as a simple observation of some of the silly and harmless, yet stupid things people do ever once in a while has become what seems to be standard unapologetic behavior.

Which begs the question, has there always been the same percentage of people in our society that are That Guy or is it we just see more of them?

Plus music from Every Mother's Nightmare.



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NEXT WEEK: Judge, Jury & Executioner. Plus music from Fresh Flesh.

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Going Where I Shouldn't Have Been

There is something pretty cool about being in a space you don't really belong. This happened to me the other day. There is this grocery store I frequent right next to the studio. I am in there like, all the time.

On this one particular day, I was looking for a specific thing they seemed to be out of. Next thing you know, I am in the back storeroom with the store manager. kinda cool.

But don't let that story deflect you from what the real subject of this episode is all about.

Plus music from The Carlos Ecos Band.

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NEXT WEEK: The internet famous are having meltdowns. Plus music from Low Society.

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Do Something

What is it that you do? I'm not talking about your occupation or your daily routine. We all (for the most part) have something kind of similar. Nothing unusual there.

People "do" different things. If they don't, then they seem to be missing something.

In the past, I have made mention of the audience working as my therapist. That sort of happens here. The difference here is the things we talk about here seem to be shared by just about all of you.

Plus music from Davy Ray & The Janks.



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NEXT WEEK: Hiding in plain sight. Unintentionally. Plus music from Booker Brown.

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Back In The Saddle

It has been interesting few weeks here in Studio A. I took the time to take care of some upgrades in here. Nothing you listeners should notice. Most of what we have been doing is more along the lines of streamlining the work flow. I know, that sounded corporate.

Along the way, I did mange to witness one of life's rare moments when one human being has had enough. His bullshit meter has pegged and he is on the verge of snapping. When that snap happens, it can be interesting.

I witnessed this guy snap. It was fun.



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NEXT WEEK: Cooking up something new in the studio as we expand programming. Plus, we getting closer to the Facebook live taping of an episode so you can actually be a part of that episode. Details are coming.

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You Ain't Got It, Kid

In the circles I run in, there are those I encounter (thankfully rarely) people who think they are God's greatest gift to show business. These are people who claim some sort of fame for nothing. Trust me, you don't know them. Yet, if you met one of these people you know it immediately. People who claim to be in "the biz" without paying their dues.

It's sad, actually. But there is one thing about these people, they are absolutely insufferable.

Plus music from Oliveria.



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NEXT WEEK: The reason this episode was delivered late? A weather delay, of all things. Plus music from Donnell London.

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All Hail The Morons

What is it with us? Why do we continually place certain people in positions of authority when clearly, they have no reason to be anywhere near there? The President not withstanding, mind you. But we do have some crazy notion that we, as a society must fill the need to be led, governed, scolded by, directed by morons.

They are everywhere and I do not suffer these fools lightly. In fact, I have lost sleep over this very thing.

Plus music from Bluff City Backsliders.



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NEXT WEEK: Fake show business people and music from Oliveria.

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O Mother, Where Art Thou?

You read that right and it all become crystal clear very soon. There was a convention here in Memphis a couple of weeks ago. It was kind of disturbing. But wait, put down your pitchforks and torches. I get it, there are conventions for every thing in the world you might have an interest in. Remember, if there is something in the collective of enough people, there is a magazine and a convention about that thing.

No, I did not attend this thing. Nor would I have ANY inclination to attend such a thing.

Plus music from Heather Bond.



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NEXT WEEK: There is a large company in the midst of its death throes and very few are talking about what is happening. But I will. Plus music from Her Majesty's Buzz.

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An Existential Crisis

It happens. Most of us choose not face these things, but when you do, somehow certain things take on a bit of clarity. This is kind of what I have gone through this week. Along the way, I did learn about a fascinating place here on Earth I never existed.

It was for me at least, a bit of an eye opener. Hence the crisis.

Mind you, it wasn't a full on breakdown or mind blowing experience. But in the proper perspective, it something I can take with me through the remainder of my days knowing these things are very real.

Plus music from Tiger High.


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NEXT WEEK: The lost art of proper advertisement. Plus music from Trash The Brand.

NOTE: In reference to the little island I talked about in this episode, there is the video. Watch after you listen to the show.


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Hair Trigger Universe

I went to Lowe's and got more than I bargained for and not in a good way. Those of you who have been fans of this show understand how I feel about society. People are funny for sure, but they are also kind of scary to be around in large groups.

It seems to get worse around the holiday season as these people tend to get worse than normal.

Plus music from Surviving Allison.



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NEXT WEEK: Something hot and fresh from the studio and music from Loveland Duren.

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I See Where You Are Coming From

This show seems to be taking on some sort of strange and organic growth. It is a joy to do and it is fun to keep an open mind about which direction it tends to go. Along with that, we tend to check on the numbers of the show. Those analytics can tell us a bunch about who you are (collectively), where you are going and where you came from to get here. The results are amusing.

Also, we get to see what the truth is about people and how that distorts our perceptions of these folks. Perceptions are a funny thing. Because not everything is as it appears. I'll prove it during this episode.

Plus, music from Deering & Down.



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NEXT WEEK: Public Nuisance and music from Surviving Allison.

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Talking AT Me

See what I did there? People are doing this a lot. Not to me especially, but to each other. There is subtle difference between talking "to" someone and talking "at" someone. Think about that for a moment. It happens all the time and it is rather sad.

I blame social media.

And the fact that people tend to suck at life anyway.

Plus music from The Clay Markley Crisis.



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NEXT WEEK: Getting caught in "the system". Plus music from Glorious Abhor.

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Keyboard Cowboys

You do realize you are living a complete lie. You are doing things wrong and you are always wrong with your thoughts, actions, beliefs, etc.

At least that is what a certain sect of people think. You are wrong.

These people are the ones who comment on every article on the web that doesn't agree with their points of view. These are the assholes who want to ram their ideas right down your throat whether you like it for not.

Plus music from Dan Cunningham.



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NEXT WEEK: People talking at each other and music from The Clay Markley Crisis.

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