Meet My Good Friend

Conner is a swing dancer and a swing dance instructor. In this interview we learn about the syncopated rhythms of swing music and what differentiates swing dance from other forms of dancing. Learn how The Charleston evolved into The Lindy Hop on the east coast and The Balboa on the west coast. Conner describes how some of the complicated aerial moves of swing are similar to wrestling moves. We go on a brief tangent about carbon to carbon bonds and organic electronics, as well as how Conner’s future as a scientist balances with his love of dancing. When the interview is over you will find yourself Googling Frankie Manning, Maxie Dorf, and “playing in the pocket”. Jitterbug into this great talk with my good friend Conner.

I met my good friend Ziad at the swanky rooftop bar above The 9 in downtown Cleveland. He is visiting from New York where he is a manager of guest relations at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. We talk about what it’s like growing up in Brooklyn with immigrant parents, fun shows he gets to see at The Garden/Radio City, commuting by subway, and a little bit about the Knicks and Rangers. Also learn about how Ziad’s father was kicked out of Palestine as a youth, but now owns a house there. We discuss relations between Israel and Palestine without trying to get overly political. Major shoutout to Ziad’s family member (sister or niece?) who was celebrating a birthday at Azure Sun Lounge. She let me take Ziad away from the party (in a roped-off VIP section) to be interviewed, and I am super grateful for that. Happy birthday!

Katie (KTCV) is a bartender at a “geek bar” that caters to nerdy beer lovers. Side Quest offers fun theme nights such as Mario Mondays (where the entire bar is converted into an arcade) and Beginners D&D sessions. We find out how much Katie knows about Settlers of Catan/Dominion/Agricola (not much) and what she knows about Mallrats/Tank Girl/Empire Records (LOTS).Katie explains how she self-diagnosed a broken foot after falling down the stairs (sober?) and how she earned a $98 tip from a patron. We discuss her band Lady Face that is sadly breaking up and we play a few rounds of Trivial Pursuit Baby Boomers Edition. I can’t wait for you to meet my good friend KTCV!

I met my good friend Lisa on Free Comic Book Day at the local comic book store. She was cosplaying Agent Carter from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the Agent Carter TV series. We talk comic book and cosplay culture even though I have no idea what I’m talking about. Learn about Lisa’s five different Princess Leia costumes and the time she was complimented by Carrie Fisher. Other nerdy and geeky stuff we talk about:•The 501st Star Wars bad guy costuming group•The Green Lantern comics are the best, but the movie was the worst•Collecting She-Ra action figures “on the card”•Wizard Con, Steel City Con, and Motor City Con•Free Comic Book Day•World War Z•My Little Pony•The Ghostbusters rebootAlso you will find out that Lisa drives around town in a Scion xB that has been modified to look like the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters! You can see pics of the Ecto xB, Lisa as Agent Carter, and Lisa’s husband as The Winter Soldier on Instagram or FacebookLet’s get to it! Meet my good friend Lisa!

Jenna is the producer of Dan Savage’s Hump! dirty film festival.Hump! is billed as “The Pacific Northwest’s biggest and best amateur-produced porn festival,”  but Hump! also travels the country with a collection of 18 of the best films from the past 10 years of Hump! The fact that the name of the festival ends in an exclamation point is making this description difficult for me to write and I think I’ll be blocked from iTunes if I list the names of the films shown at the festival, so just listen in already.Jenna and I talk about who makes porn to be shown on the big screen, and who watches it. We discuss the rules that the audience must obey and the limited instances of indecent exposure (from the audience. There's LOTS of it on screen). To find out where and when you can see Hump!, visit humptour.comMy good friend Jenna is here to teach you all about Hump!

Sweet Baby Rei is a tiny but tough skater with the Burning River Roller Derby. In this interview you will learn all about roller derbies and and how derby=teamwork. Learn about things called blockers and jammers and panties and 187 knee pads.
Find out if I pass the WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) written test and become an honorary member of the Burning River squad (spoiler: I don't). Find out the worst injury Sweet Baby Rei has seen on the track. Meet my good friend who is part barbecue sauce, part Sailor Moon. Meet Sweet Baby Rei!

Meet Tim. He is from Boston and travelled in to Cleveland to watch the Celtics lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs. We talk basketball, baseball, football, and Tim’s love of watching sporting events in various cities. You will also learn what an insurance claims adjuster does, which includes, but is not limited to “I do my job.”The real meat and potatoes of the talk is about the City of Boston and it’s various landmarks and peculiarities. For example, did you know that the entire city of Boston shuts down for a holiday called Patriots' Day where they run marathons for some reason and everyone wears Bill Belichick sleeveless hoodies?I’m pleased to introduce you to my good friend Tim.

Matt Brady is a standup comedian and purveyor of video games and other stuff online. Find out what it's like to make a living by making people laugh (and by selling super Nintendos). Please meet my good friend Matt!

Let's just call Nick an Astronomer. You wanna know about space, you gotta know about the planets. You wanna know about the planets, you gotta listen to Nick right now. Please meet my good friend Nick!

Meet my good friend Taylor. She is a hairstylist/beautician/aesthetician. If you listen to this episode you will automatically be a registered beautician in the state of Ohio! It’s that easy! Or not.Learn about balayage which is a cutting-edge word for hair painting.Do you know that there are 3 types of hair bonds? You will!Learn to say the colors of the rainbow in reverse-ROYGBIV order. Learn about shampooing and something called dry shampoo (baby powder on crack).Please, meet Taylor and learn HAIR!

Meet Shannon. She is a hippie I met at a hippie gathering. Learn about an awesome group of people that call themselves The Space Rangers. We talk about Michael Jackson, spirituality vs. religion, healing crystals, flaming hula hoops, and so much more.Also, don’t eat meat. Or do. We don’t judge. Meet my good friend Shannon.

Meet Wade. He is a self-described “conspiracy nut” who plays tennis. Learn how waking up wearing socks can be proof of demons. Also, the Earth is flat but we can’t talk about that. The POWERS THAT BE will shut us down!Bartender Kayla makes a guest appearance and gets to hear about Wade’s Star Trek fan fiction.