Concrete Cactus

Send a text 010 | We ( and by we, we mean Ryan ) come off hiatus (and git commits), with a new format in development at the time of this writing.  Anyway, we reflect on the assassination of a political podcaster and the unexpected empathy he had for someone Ryan's  disagreed with 65% of the time.  ALSO: Liberal John McCain does Liberal John McCain things (American) Football TikTok is inadvert...

Send a text Five months ago, Concrete Cactus started as a dry run. A side quest. A way to speak honestly without breaking under the pressure. What it’s become is still evolving—but this episode? It’s the closest we’ve come to hitting what we set out to build: fire meets reflection . We don’t just recap headlines here—we reckon with them. From wildfires in Jersey to an autistic child navigating Ari...

Send a text What do Suns owner Mat Ishbia, Elon Musk, and American Water Works have in common (besides being billionaires)? Self-sabotage. From luxury tax flameouts to the planned demolition of local landmarks, this episode tours the many ways power mismanages potential—and the regular folks who pay the price. Ryan kicks things off with an early COVID-era flashback that crashes into Jersey’s reeme...

Send a text 006 | Torpedo bats. OMNY & TAPP to-pay systems. Drunk mayors. You can’t make this up—but Concrete Cactus can break it down. 🧨 The Bronx Bombers are back—but this time, they brought missiles. Is it innovation… or war crimes at the plate? We—and by ‘we,’ we mean just Brandon—give the Yankees’ torpedo bat conspiracy a fresh pair of legs. Also in this episode:  – We drive you into “Go...

Send a text Mark Kelly trades in his Tesla for a tank and calls Elon Musk an “a**hole” on live TV. Meanwhile, LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith reignite a 21-year ego feud, and we break down one of the weirdest music videos in NYPD history, and tap into our inner-nostradamus with some free agency predictions that came true post-taping.  Also in this (unusually compressed) episode: • IN MEMORIAM –...

Send a text Join Ryan & Brandon—as they break down the absurdity of current events with humor, sharp insights, and just the right amount of cynicism. In this episode: • Ukraine. There. We said it. • Certified Transformation Coaches • Ryan's political typology REVEALED  • IN MEMORIAM: A lot • A masterclass in proper political discoursing on TikTok Timestamps: 00:00 - *Cold open* 01:49 - Wh...

Send a text  Two friends, two states, one hilarious podcast. Join Ryan and Brandon—a dynamic duo merging New Jersey grit with Arizona cool—as they explore cultural quirks, insights that challenge conventional wisdom and reveal unexpected truths throughout the conversation. In this episode: • Eagles exceed expectations - by light years! • Mayor Meme (at this point you should expect him to appear in...

Send a text Join Ryan and Brandon—a dynamic duo merging New Jersey grit with Arizona cool—as they explore cultural quirks, insights that challenge conventional wisdom and reveal unexpected truths throughout the conversation. In this episode: • A Super Bowl conspiracy that doesn't involve refs • DEI (but not liberal) • A$AP Courtroom • The riotous saga of Bobby “Gold Bars” Menendez Timestamps:...

Send a text In this episode, Ryan and Brandon—a duo blending New Jersey grit with Arizona chill—dive into everything from cultural quirks to hot takes on music, sports, and local news. You’ll discover: • Why “Central Jersey” doesn’t exist (and never will). • Bold Super Bowl predictions and why Eagles fans never take a day off. • Ryan's really not trying to catch any smoke from the government...

Send a text In this debut episode, Ryan and Brandon—a duo blending New Jersey grit with Arizona chill—dive into everything from cultural quirks to hot takes on music, sports, and local news. In this video, you’ll discover: • Why small talk doesn’t exist in Jersey. • A fiery debate over Billboard’s top artists of the century. • How wildfires in AZ compare to LA’s raging blazes. • The madness of con...