I've Got Nothing To Say (but it's okay)

Episode 42 should be special, shouldn't it? I mean, 42 has been, and continues to be, my family's favorite number. Long before Douglas Adams wrote about it in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 42 was ingrained into my psyche. Shouldn't I be commemorating it somehow? Well, I guess this summary is doing that. But in the episode itself, I don't mention it. That's okay. It's still a special (albeit short) episode. How much more special can it be? It's me talking about the feeling that I'm living in heaven. I think that counts as "special". [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This 40th episode (without fanfare) was initially intended for my ears only. It was a journal entry. I was thinking about how The Comedy Store seemed so much bigger to me back in the 1980's, and wanted to capture my thoughts verbally instead of writing about it. After I finished recording, I decided to condense it a bit and push it out as a short podcast episode. (I might actually do more than one podcast episode this year. No promises.) By the way... no offense to current comedy club(s). This is about me and my malleable memories. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Another annual episode. Why? Because I want to. With this episode, I get back to the original spirit/mission of my podcast. Namely, I just turned on the recorder and talked for an hour... with minimal editing involved (specifically, I added intro/outro music, paused once, and inserted a coupla song samples for context). Although I'm not happy with some of my annoying mouth noises (e.g., swallowing and lip-smacking), I'm posting it anyway... warts and all. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

The running gag continues. Another annual episode. How long will I keep doing this? I have no idea. This year's broadcast is a clip show, recorded in bits and pieces over 2020 and 2021. It closes with me doing stand-up at The Comedy Store to celebrate my 60th birthday, one month before we started the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Will that be my last time doing stand-up? I have no idea. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This podcast is now a running gag. A long con. What started in 2014 as an earnest attempt to do a weekly podcast has become the equally earnest joke of doing an annual podcast. Enjoy! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Last January, when I recorded my first episode of 2018, I asked the prophetic question, “Will it also be my last episode of 2018?”. The answer turned out to be “yes”. Hence my use of the word “prophetic”. Now, after recording my first episode of 2019, I will not ask that same question. Instead, I will just say... enjoy my annual podcast episode! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

After doing 23 episodes in 2016, I only did one episode in 2017. My excuse? I don’t want to talk about it. What I do want to talk about is envy being stupid. So I do talk about it in this episode. I also talk about a bunch of other stuff. Interested? Intrigued? Incarcerated? Then please listen to my first episode of 2018. Will it also be my last episode of 2018? Or will I actually maintain a semi-regular schedule this year? There’s no earthly way of knowing... which direction we are going... there's no knowing where we're rowing... or which way the river's flowing... [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

In a parallel universe, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe, I sat on the toilet and talked to myself for 30 minutes. For what it's worth, I'd like to note that when I recorded this, I didn't intend on sharing it. I thought it was only going to be heard by a future self. Then I decided to share it. Why the change of heart? How would I know? You're asking me why I do things? Have you been listening to anything I've said? [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I had my best set since returning to stand-up. If it were any other night, that would have dominated this episode. But this wasn't any other night. It was election night. And, if I stick to my plan, it was the last night I give a shit about anything going on in the world outside of my personal experience. Sour grapes? Yup. Sore loser? Indeed. And you know what? I don't care. The person who's apparently going to be our President is a vile creature who spews endless venom. I quit drinking earlier this year. Now it's time to rid myself of political poison. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Unlike last week, there was no grappling this week with the decision of whether or not to call in for a spot at The Comedy Store's open mic. Why? I have no idea. I called. I got a spot. I performed. This episode was recorded before and after performing. It's a podcast within a podcast. Eat my dust, Shakespeare! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Grappling (once again) with the decision of whether or not to call in for a spot at The Comedy Store's open mic (tonight). This time, the urge was triggered by going to see Ritch Shydner perform (last night). I'm leaning towards not calling, based on the simple 'HELL YEAH! or no' philosophy (from a blog post by Derek Sivers). I enjoy performing in front of a live audience, but not as much as I enjoy sitting on my couch. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Acting, training (and not training), mini-staycation, politics (and avoiding it), withdrawing from the big world, internal goals (bigger on the inside), crappy YouTube videos, and happiness (while looking over my shoulder for a lightning bolt). [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I started the day -- with nothing to say -- and then I "came out" -- as an atheist -- (yay?) [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Today's Agenda: Zen, Weird, Pokemon (Go), Door-to-Door, Clicking Noises (i.e., Misophonia). [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Went to two comedy shows last weekend -- one planned (Louis C.K.) and one spontaneous (Lamont Ferguson). Aside from talking about that, I (once again) talk a whole lot about very little. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Broadcasting from a dark garage, capturing a thought I had while taking a walk to watch the sunset. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

In a parallel universe, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe, I sat on the toilet and talked to myself for 3 minutes. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

The most interesting thing (to me) this week was having my best set at The Comedy Store since returning "home". I just hope this doesn't cause me to repeat my old pattern of trying to turn this into something more than it is. What is it? It is what it is. I'm not trying to build on "this". I just want to continue doing "this" for the sake of doing "this"... whatever "this" is. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Oprah's got nothing on me. In this week's episode of my podcast, I make MYSELF cry. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Another episode with The Comedy Store's open mic at the (minuscule) core, and a bunch of tangential philosophizing around the (massive) edges. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Don't listen to this episode if you're in a good mood. I was sick recently, and it got me to thinking a lot more about my ultimate demise. Some recent celebrity deaths didn't help matters any. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I'm here. It's now. I'm Joe. That's pretty much all I know. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

In a parallel universe, I performed at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe (thanks to a special show replacing the open mic), I recorded a podcast episode (in my car) instead. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Last night, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store's open mic. In today's podcast episode, I spend an hour talking about it. Actually, I spend most of the hour talking about tangential things that have occurred over the past 35 years... then I (eventually) talk about last night's 3-minute set. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This episode is my antidote to the poisonous April Fools Day. Rather than spread stupid (and unfunny) "jokes" (i.e., lies), I take a deep-dive into some of my personal truth(s). Most notably, I pull no punches when it comes to my feelings about the two other surviving members of my family who moved from Wisconsin to California 50 years ago today. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I didn't feel like doing anything, which (ironically) led me to doing this. One "serious" topic I talk about is my (relatively) new-found sobriety. Aside from that, I talk a whole lot about very little. And that, my friend(s), was the goal. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Welcome back, stream-of-consciousness. Long time, no see. Actually, that's not totally true. Every episode has a dose of stream-of-consciousness. But this one is all about the stream. Which means it's back to being true to the title of this podcast [i.e., I've Got Nothing To Say (but it's okay)]. I did have one topic in mind before hitting "record", and that topic is "fuck the news". But this episode isn't all about that. In fact, I don't even mention that until I'm way into the stream. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

It's probably safe to assume that I'm not going to be the new voice of Jack (in the Box). So, I talk about that... and some other stuff (e.g., using my good microphone [to be professional and shit], the iTunes explicit tag, roaster coasters, pink/purple elephants, green cats, _not_ politics, and reality). Are there any "lessons learned" from the experience of being so close to becoming the spokesperson of a major fast-food chain? Probably not. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Am I still thinking (and talking) about that "voice of Jack (in the Box)" thing? Yes, I am. But (hopefully) not for much longer. Like everything in life, this (too) shall pass. In the meantime, in this episode I'm focusing (somewhat) on the thought that hit me regarding how odd it is (to me) that this "voice of Jack (in the Box)" thing wasn't even a thing two weeks ago. But since it has become a thing, it has been a thing that's been occupying way too much of my brain/life. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I'm living the old movie trope of the struggling actor waiting impatiently by the phone hanging on the wall in the hallway of his rat-infested tenement building. Every waking hour is spent thinking about receiving the "life-changing news" that I'm the one. The chosen one. The new voice of Jack (in the Box). Luckily for me, I'm not that movie-trope-struggling-actor. Not getting this gig won't mean I'll go hungry, or go back to Kansas. But I still want the gig. Problem is, a person can only sustain excited anticipation for so long. So, after screwing conventional wisdom for the past couple of days, I'm exhausted. And I'm thinking maybe it's time for a return to the conventional wisdom of "letting it go". [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Screw conventional wisdom. I'm excited. I had an audition today (a call-back, actually) to be the new voice of Jack (in the Box). Afterwards, I did the usual thing of keeping a cap on my emotions (because that's what you're "supposed to do"). But fuck that. I'm now allowing myself to be excited. This is a unique moment in my life. Whether or not I get this gig, tonight is the closest I've come to something like this. Anticipation is a cool thing to feel. I don't give a crap about the advice that says I should "let it go". I am EXCITED!! [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Yet another combination of music and talking. Mostly talking. Though the climax and/or focus is on songwriting. But before the climax, there's some foreplay involving stuff about alcohol (see "As Usual"). [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Another combination of singing and talking. Mostly singing. And unlike the previous talking/singing installments, this one is purely cover tunes. No improvised songwriting. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Does twice in a row make a habit? Probably not. It's like asking when a hill becomes a mountain. Habitual or not, this episode is much like last week's episode. That is, it contains more singing than talking. Part of the music is my own stuff off the top of my head, and part is covering other people's stuff. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This episode is a bit different. Even more different than the others. Aside from being the shortest episode, it's also more about singing than talking. I set out to record a very short song fragment (so I wouldn't forget it), and ended up keeping the recorder turned-on for a musical stream of consciousness. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Topic, anyone? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this episode actually has a topic. No more of that stream-of-consciousness crap. Well, actually, there's plenty of off-the-cuff stuff in between the planned words. But at least this episode has some structure. Whether or not that makes it more interesting is up to you to decide. As for me, it was a lot less pressure talking about something in particular versus nothing in general. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This was an accidental episode. I was just going to record a note to myself about the fact that I didn't want to do an episode, and that I'm at a point in my life where I generally don't do things that I don't want to do... and (ironically) I ended up recording an episode. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

I'm not happy with this episode. I was not in the mood to do it, and it shows. I still feel it's important to share this because... something about artistic integrity, I suppose. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

Forget about the first two episodes. This is the true first episode. I call BS on myself about the zero expectations thing. Of course I have expectations! And to prove it, the episode closes with me setting the lofty goal of pursuing Chris Hardwick (aka The Nerdist) as a guest -- IF (and ONLY IF) I podcast consistently for a year. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

It's now officially a weekly podcast. Episode #2. Who knew? [Contact me via email at [email protected]]

This week I get things started by turning on the voice recorder and challenging myself to talk for an hour. Next week, I'm challenging my beard to refrain from making any (annoying) scratching noises against the microphone. [Contact me via email at [email protected]]