Here's the Tower

Episode 20 On this week’s episode we welcome guest host Michael Peterson from the Netflix series The Staircase . Okay, fine. It’s just my best impersonation of him. He may or may not have murdered anyone, but he is definitely guilty of being a weirdo. That’s not a crime in my book, so this impersonation is my celebration of his many quirks. If you haven’t seen the series, I highly recom...

Episode 19 When I was a kid, I wanted to be a garbage man, a talk show host or an astronaut. The stillness of space makes it seem peaceful, but it is the harshest of environments. It is nothing. If you find yourself in space, outside of the ship and without a space suit, don’t hold your breath. Doing so will cause you to die faster.

Episode 18 The desert is a fickle mistress. Things can get prickly. Tonight is no different as Yucca County Sheriff’s Deputies are responding to an incident out at the old Macklimmens property. So ma’am, if you wouldn’t mind just stepping aside, we are going to be required to search these premises. Guest appearance by Pat McClimans in the role of Sheriff’s Deputy. Special t...

Episode 17 We’re in the middle of our autumn on-air pledge drive here at listener-supported K Composite. If you enjoy quality programming like Here’s the Tower , we want you to show your support. It costs a lot* to produce these programs which are all distributed without advertising interruptions**. This year alone, Here’s the Tower has brought you more than 15 minutes of or...

Episode 16 Konbanwa. If you are like me, a superfan of the Japanese reality show Terrace House , then you are familiar with the curse of having its theme song stuck in your head for weeks at a time. While I can’t sing like Hiroomi Tosaka or play guitar like Yusuke Aizawa (a.k.a Eden Kai), I felt it was imperative that I record a cover version of the theme. The song is called “Slow Down...

Episode 15 Beware! Outlaw comedian Rick Diamond’s humor isn’t for everyone. Some members of this audience simply aren’t prepared for his edgy brand of wisecracking. But careful with your heckles, this actually  is his day job. Guest voices: Arvid Ringborg as Rick Diamond Johan Angantyr and Rachel Matchett as audience members

Episode 14 A few weeks ago, I published an episode that contained some explicit language. I am happy to accommodate any sensitive listeners who may have found that type of language to be too strong. This week’s episode is a family-friendly version of episode 7. A word of warning, the new swear phrases that were introduced in the earlier version of this episode – “Oh, it’s real wi...

Episode 13 This episode is a musical experiment based on two sets of five beats followed by six beats. The unusual combination adds up to four measures in 4/4 timing.

Episode 12 Before Hank Williams, Jr., became the outlaw country legend we know as Bocephus, he toiled in a career overshadowed by his father’s greatness. When he finally began shaping his own image and writing his own material, there was an adjustment period before he established himself as a legend in his own right. His 1973 album, After You, Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow , was a notabl...

Episode 11 You’d never eat a horse – that’s gross! But what if you could have all the succulent flavor of horse, without the guilt? For years, families have trusted Minnesota Mark with vegetarian alternatives to their favorite meaty dishes. Now they’re proud to introduce Minnesota Mark’s Vegetarian Horse Meat. (Produced in a facility that processes actual horse meat. May...

Episode 10 When International Genetic Technologies (InGen) built Jurassic Park, the world was stunned, not only by the wonder of it all but by the horrors that followed. When they tried again with the Jurassic World theme park, it seemed like they had learned from their mistakes. It was not to be. How many times can we give John Hammond and InGen second chances? In this op-ed, our character assert...

Episode 9 Here’s a cover of a song I really love by Rihanna. I’ve been playing this for a while around my apartment, however, I had to speed it up quite a bit and remove some parts in order to fit it into this one-minute format. This version is faster, less sparse and less country than I usually play it. While working on this episode, I found that if you look up the lyrics to this...

Episode 8 This is the second part of a multi-episode series that takes a look behind the scenes of how Hank Williams, Jr., arrived on the cover of a major label album wearing an unzipped, wide-lapeled terrycloth exercise jacket in a poorly lit photo that looks like it was shot late one night when he got high and broke into a zoo. Before Hank Williams, Jr., became the outlaw country legend we know...

Episode 7 A quick warning: This episode contains words that some people may find objectionable. I mean, hopefully. Listener discretion is advised. Special appearances by Hank Williams, Jr., Alex Leask, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat McClimans, Bill O’Reilly, Rachel Matchett, Orson Welles, Emily Meurer, The Frogs, Barack Obama, Claire Danes, Gordon Ramsay and Casey Kasem. This episode introduces the ne...

Episode 6 In January of 2018, I escaped the cold, dark winter in Stockholm and set off for some better weather in the Canary Islands. My objective was to get some sunshine and enjoy the ocean breeze. I didn’t know much more about the island of Tenerife before I got on the plane, but I did know that it would be warmer and sunnier. The island is part of Spain, though it is located far wes...

Episode 5 Look out, everybody! It’s a blizzard out there and those roads are slick, so roll down the windows and turn it up! Mister Bones is with you at work, home and during your drive-time commute. Lite FM has all the hits from the ’80s, ’90s and today.

  Episode 4 Before Hank Williams, Jr., became the outlaw country legend we know as Bocephus, he toiled in a career overshadowed by his father’s greatness. When he finally began shaping his own image and writing his own material, there was an adjustment period before he established himself as a legend in his own right. His 1973 album, After You, Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow , was a...

  Episode 3 In this audio drama, we get to be a fly on the wall, listening in as our unsuspecting protagonist receives an email notification about Apple’s new HomePod. Let’s listen as the drama unfolds!

  Episode 2 When I was growing up in Kentucky, the current prices for agricultural commodities would be announced on the radio and television each morning. Every damn morning when we were getting ready for school, eating breakfast or sitting in the back of Mr. Maguire’s station wagon, we would would hear a report a lot like what I’ve tried to recreate here. I presume farmers get this i...

Episode 1 Hi, I’m Scott Ritcher, publisher of K Composite Magazine, songwriter with the band Metroschifter and the losing candidate in a Kentucky election or two. I moved to Stockholm, Sweden, in 2009 where I have worked with design in the magazine business and produced a podcast series with my friend Karin Olli-Nilsson called Snuggling With the Enemy . If you’ve heard that p...

The full experience – free in the Apple Newsstand! Note: This is an archived page. K Composite on the iPad is no longer available. A unique magazine of interviews with everyday people , editor Scott Ritcher launched the periodical in the ’90s by interviewing his friends. The concept continues to expand by investigating the lives and personalities of more unknown individuals with the same det...