Howdy – No Man is an Island features Jonathan Goldstein interviewing Patri Friedman (son of famed economist Milton Friedman) about seasteading. Unlike some of the crazies that Jonathan Goldstein interviews, Friedman is, indeed absolutely serious. In fact, I’ve actually heard of this before Wiretap. Unsurprisingly, a lot of business big wigs are very interested in the concept. I think it has something to do with Ayn Rand. Anyway, check out the blurb and listen to the mp3 after reading the summary of No Man is an Island
Howard starts his very own country within the borders of his apartment: the first nation with wall-to-wall carpeting. Plus, Gregor makes Jonathan a personalized mix-tape to help him seduce the ladies, and Patri Friedman discusses his latest project, the Seasteading Institute.
Sorry if this spoils the plot (it won’t) for you but in the end of the bit with Howard Chackowicz where Jonathan Goldstein claims that he “doesn’t beatbox” – well, that’s a damn lie! HumV Chackowicz (that’s Howard’s rapper name, in case you were wondering) makes his debut in the episode “The First Thing That Comes to Mind” way back from Season One. Jonathan Goldstein provides the backbeat for HumV’s freestylin’ in that episode as well. In fact, I think he uses the exact same beat…
Also, the monologue that opens this episode appeared in the National Post way back in May 2009. Here it is in its original form:
Thursday. I’m at a local book store doing a reading. When it’s over, I mill around. “I fall asleep listening to your radio show,” a woman says and, in case the point has been lost on me, she adds: “Your voice puts me to sleep.” People approach, either asking me to sign their books or sharing with me their thoughts. Their ruthless, brutal thoughts. “You have a face for radio,” another woman gleefully tells me. When I try to change the subject, asking her if she has a book she’d like me to sign, she tells me no, that she’s waiting to buy a used copy. When she walks away, an intense-looking mustachioed man takes her place. “Some of what you say on your show is what I would say,” he says. “But then there are other things you say that I would never say. That’s when you’re at your weakest.” “So let me get this straight,” I say. “I’m at my strongest when I’m sounding the most like you?” “Yes,” he says. The main difference between talking to the radio and talking to the person on the radio is that the person has feelings, feelings that will keep him up at night. The person on the radio will stay up worrying about the next time he’ll have to appear in public and be exposed to the casual cruelty of well-meaning strangers.
Thursday. I’m at a local book store doing a reading. When it’s over, I mill around.
“I fall asleep listening to your radio show,” a woman says and, in case the point has been lost on me, she adds: “Your voice puts me to sleep.”
People approach, either asking me to sign their books or sharing with me their thoughts. Their ruthless, brutal thoughts.
“You have a face for radio,” another woman gleefully tells me. When I try to change the subject, asking her if she has a book she’d like me to sign, she tells me no, that she’s waiting to buy a used copy.
When she walks away, an intense-looking mustachioed man takes her place.
“Some of what you say on your show is what I would say,” he says. “But then there are other things you say that I would never say. That’s when you’re at your weakest.”
“So let me get this straight,” I say. “I’m at my strongest when I’m sounding the most like you?”
“Yes,” he says.
The main difference between talking to the radio and talking to the person on the radio is that the person has feelings, feelings that will keep him up at night. The person on the radio will stay up worrying about the next time he’ll have to appear in public and be exposed to the casual cruelty of well-meaning strangers.
Hello all – be sure to tune in to the podcast to hear “A Better You” featuring a story by David Eagleman and some exercise help for Johnny from Gregor Ehrlich, Howard Chackowicz and Buzz Goldstein. Can you name the artist who wrote the “inspirational music” that Johnny listens to on his iPod without referring to the summary?
Also, for more from David Eagleman, check out the Radiolab episode “Afterlife” and his book: Sum, 40 Tales from the Afterlives:
Hey – which season is Do It Yourself Fun Time from? I don’t have it on my list but apparently I wrote the summary. It’s the episode where Howard becomes a professional party animal. Also, I found a summary of a Fresh New Voice – the episode where Jonathan gets a little EQ on his voice and sings Shaft with Gregor.
Hello – this week we had a best of season five roundup, featuring picks from 100 False Messiahs, Adam and Eve, The Hangover and How to Say Goodbye. Check it out.
Hey! Check out the new Wiretap trailer. With never before seen footage of Josh Karpati (looks exactly how I imagined him) and Buzz Goldstein (looks different from how I imagined him). Also see Sam Shalabi, Howard Chackowicz, Jon Tucker and ….. The Barber!
Oh, and by the way, I would’ve owned in the Wiretap quiz he gives. Missed opportunity.
Hi, pals. I’ve got summaries for you: Why We Mistakes and Adam and Eve.
These episodes are quite the treat. Adam and Eve had a performance by John K Samson of The Weakerthans, Christine Fellows, and Leanne Zacharias. The trio appeared on Ms. Fellows albums Paper Anniversary and The Last One. Also, Why We Mistakes has a funny bit with Howard and Wiretap newcomer Natalie Karneef. Also, there’s an interview with Joe Hallinan, author of Why We Make Mistakes. More details inside.
Guess who missed out on a chance to ply Jonathan Goldstein with nerdy questions? It was me. Check out the CBC Book Club Liveblog with JGold2000 HERE . Here are some highlights:
Jonathan: something in my office smells bad. Jonathan: I edit out all my laughter [on Wiretap recordings] Jonathan: I modeled [Noah] on my friend Howard’s dad, who was hot on art, used the word dummy a lot. Jonathan: not to get too existential on your ass, but i really do feel like things only have the meaning that you give them. Jonathan: Woody allen is such a part of childhood. I had his book “side effects” and I used to make my dad (who has a similar brooklyn accent) read the stories into a recorder.
re: his parents acting Jonathan: I think they are great actors… and these are people with no training… never in the hi schol drama club even… and they nail themselves… which isn’t easy… and often times, we’ll do line readings over and over. i’ve played tape of the directing process at conferences and people find it pretty funny. Jonathan: alot of it is candid, too.
Okay, so this week’s episode was a repeat of David and Goliath. It featured Jonathan Goldstein talking to his parents, Buzz and Dina Goldstein and a performance by Vancouver-based band The Awkward Stage.
Also, the episode where Howard makes himself a sensory deprivation tank is referenced in this. I can’t remember which episode that was in, but Third Coast International Audio Festival website has the clip as well as an interview. Enjoy it.
Update: Sensory deprivation tank is from “A Catalogue of Previous Universes.”
The Heaven and Hell episode from which Ice Cream Man comes from is here.
Also, in the second clip on that interview, he mentions the genesis of Life is Lovely.
Just uploaded the summary for “Positive Thinking” which features a 1950s self help tape by Earl Nightingale, an interview with Catharine Allan of Le Melange Magique, an interview with Buzz and Dina Goldstein and a bit with Zouzou, too. The episode also closes out with a Moldy Peaches song (Jorge Regula).
Check out the summary. There is some information on Catharine Allan as well as some other links.
AThis week’s episode has gobs of references, and the debut of Starlee buddy and Post-it Note Stories partner Arthur Jones. Check out the summary and then these links:
Anyway, this episode features 50 fun facts about the United States and some pronunciation lessons from David Rakoff (though no one flagged the unsavory pronunciation of “Ill-eh-noise,” which is really only acceptable when Sufjan Stevens does it). Buzz Goldstein hangs out too and Tucker is mentioned, as usual.
