The Essays with Dumb Old Bob
Bob Hocking
Show overview
The Essays with Dumb Old Bob launched in 2024 and has put out 58 episodes, alongside 5 trailers or bonus episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 15 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 14 min and 18 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 9 months ago. Published by Bob Hocking.
From the publisher
Spend some time with Dumb Old Bob, using The Essays as your gateway to insightful nonfiction brought to you by the one and only storyteller, Bob Hocking. Join Bob as he unveils his unique observations of the world, setting off on inspiring and thoughtful journeys within every episode. Brought to you by Parkside - Backpack Productions and Backpackville, the vibrant online community for Bob’s writing, stories, podcasts and more. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes, projects and announcements, where Bob might just surprise us with special treats from his archives, writing workshops, tales of travel adventures, or any other delightful musings a tangent or two may create.Welcome to Backpackville – where friendship knows no bounds. Indulge in the stories, savor the camaraderie, and return for the comforting aroma of freshly baked cookies. Tune in to the Dumb Old Bob podcasts and don’t forget to drop by the In My Backpack site... because Backpackville is more than just Bob Hocking’s literary community. It’s where you belong. www.inmybackpack.com
Latest Episodes
View all 58 episodes
S3 Ep 3It’s yours and The Wave - Season Three Episode Two
Featuring the essays "It’s yours" and "The wave"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
National Buy Bob's Book Day, 99-cents for a snowball and A walk in the rain - Bonus Episode Number Five
bonusThe fifth bonus episode, featuring the 2025 National Buy Bob's Book Day and the essays "99-cents for a snowball" and "A walk in the rain".For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S3 Ep 2Because there’s an answer and When whiskey just won’t do - Season Three Episode Two
Featuring the essays "Because there’s an answer" and "When whiskey just won’t do"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S3 Ep 1Get the plus out of here and Why I don’t try new things - Season Three Episode One
Featuring the essays "Get the plus out of here" and "Why I don’t try new things"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 25Two brush turkeys walk onto a beach… and I can’t imagine the need - Season Two Episode Twenty-Five
Featuring the essays "Two brush turkeys walk onto a beach…" and "I can’t imagine the need", this episode draws from the works of the A Parkside View newsletterFor more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 24Wrong answers only and A million miles behind me - Season Two Episode Twenty-Four
Featuring the essays "Wrong answers only" and "A million miles behind me"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 23The Mount Rushmore of Mount Rushmores and From where you are to where you need to be - Season Two Episode Twenty-Three
Featuring the essays "The Mount Rushmore of Mount Rushmores" and "From where you are to where you need to be"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 22The problems begin when you have to prove the chicken salad is made with chicken and The butter doesn’t melt - Season Two Episode Twenty-Two
Featuring the essays "The problems begin when you have to prove the chicken salad is made with chicken" and "The butter doesn’t melt"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 21Return of the toys and Every so often, we all need a little fruit punch soda - Season Two Episode Twenty-One
Featuring the essays "Return of the toys" and "Every so often, we all need a little fruit punch soda"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 20The cookie crumbled (finally) and Buttcrack of Dan - Season Two Episode Twenty
Featuring the essays "The cookie crumbled (finally)" and "Buttcrack of Dan", this episode draws from the works of the A Parkside View newsletterFor more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 19That neighbor and When a small town has it made - Season Two Episode Nineteen
Featuring the essays "That neighbor" and "That neighbor"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 18The incredible shrinking expectation and What I really need is a camera in the front - Season Two Episode Eighteen
Featuring the essays "The incredible shrinking expectation" and "What I really need is a camera in the front"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 17Convenience store inconveniences and Blistex around the world - Season Two Episode Seventeen
Featuring the essays "Convenience store inconveniences" and "Blistex around the world"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 16Welcome to the neighborhood, mister bunny and Pizza Hut for the dinosaurs - Season Two Episode Sixteen
Featuring the essays "Welcome to the neighborhood, mister bunny" and "Pizza Hut for the dinosaurs"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 15How secure is security when we can bypass it for convenience? and Is a flip-flop injury a sign of old age? - Season Two Episode Fifteen
Featuring the essays "How secure is security when we can bypass it for convenience?" and "Is a flip-flop injury a sign of old age?", this episode draws from the works of the A Parkside View newsletterFor more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
Information and Look up in the sky - Bonus Episode Number Four
bonusThe fourth bonus episode, featuring information about upcoming events, and the essay "Look up in the sky".For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 14All the safety in the world (doesn't help stupid) and Keepers of time - Season Two Episode Fourteen
Featuring the essays "All the safety in the world (doesn't help stupid)" and "Keepers of time"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 13The uprising and Not a Peep - Season Two Episode Thirteen
Featuring the essays "The uprising" and "Not a Peep"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 12Rocks have no memory and Has this person lost it - Season Two Episode Twelve
Featuring the essays "Rocks have no memory" and "Has this person lost it"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com
S2 Ep 11A parkside view and Sunset - Season Two Episode Eleven
Featuring the essays "A parkside view" and "Sunset"For more, visit the In My Backpack website at www.inmybackpack.com