Podcast in A minor

Have a piece of cake! It’s a lost weekend, commemorating my late mother’s birthday, followed four days later by the 10th anniversary of her death. So we cut loose–watch a little “Murder, She Wrote,” honor the incomparable Randolph Mantooth on his journey to the next world, explore “Cakes Men Like,” and find joy of living wherever we can! Come heal your soul with Podcast in A Minor, and maybe a nic...

Riddle me this, my brother—Riddles! Can you handle it? The car-ride quip of a Favorite Anonymous Artist births a song that is a riddle unto itself! Plus, we explore an Ancient Greek riddle, The Riddler’s riddles from Batman, and a few sinister detective riddles from Granddad’s lamp-table copy of Reader’s Digest! And finally—are you the die-hard fan who can solve the riddle of the lost Podcast in A...

Well, as another National Poetry Month dwindles to a close, we take a deep lungful of Surrealist love poetry—with this weird love song! What better anniversary gift for the man who has it all—the wrist bones, the eyes, the eyelash mites…oh! So romantic. We drink ‘em right in, along with love poems from Surrealist masters — AND from your podcast host! Love songs for Weirdos—and it’s not even Februa...

Poets tell lies? What?? Philosopher Plutarch sure thought so! And occasionally, Bjork! “Many lies the poets tell” said the philosopher—-We’ll dig into all that–AND revisit the 1989 film of films, Say Anything. It’s still National Poetry Month! WOOOT and huzzah! Poets Lie when They Cry—-Plutarch https://sententiaeantiquae.com/2015/09/21/before-you-read-a-poem-know-that-poets-are-liars-plutarch/#:~:...

Where did my vase of 100 pens go? It vanished! Was it burglars? Phroggers? Or did I stash it in the fridge in a poetic haze? OR did the ghosts desperately need pens to write their unearthly sonnets? This episode contains TWO songs on the subject—on autoharp--and will the vase ever reappear? A National Poetry Month mystery! Writers and their favorite tools https://lithub.com/writers-and-their-favor...

National Poetry Month charges headlong into our hearts with a lost poem about a lemon cake—which leads us down the winding path from lost poetry to found poetry to cut-up poetry to Surrealist Automatism to 7-Up Cake! Grab your poetry hat, let’s go!! Transfusion Poetica https://a.co/d/0gy2iYMu 7-Up Cake https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/234867/7-up-cake/ How to Write Found Poetry https://www.youtub...

What are the ingredients of poetry? National Poetry Month 2026 is here at last, so we’d best find out! Well, the ingredients of poetry are legion, but lets start with culture and dreams! Complicated front-yard gardens…dreams about jobs long abandoned…Kansas City as old-movie shorthand for “sleaze”….and a little more Rilke!! Poet’s Bowl https://a.co/d/04KNi5Bs Hot Breakfast Coffee https://a.co/d/07...

The third time Phyllis saw him she exploded!!! What did THAT sculpture look like? Was the summer rather light on Podcast in A Minor episodes? That’s because I broke a little bone in my foot in June, and my healing leaned heavily on old 20th-century horror flicks—one of which germinated into this song! More importantly, National Poetry Month 2026 is right outside the door! Wiping her feet, ringing...

Ahh, the glamorous life of a substitute teacher! The twisting, turning, wholly unfamiliar hallways! The shame of mispronouncing a name! Settle in for substitute horror stories, sub-versive poetry, and a favorite cartoon substitute and her dollhouse murders! Substitute Horror Stories https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/13zx6c4/lets_hear_your_substitute_horror_stories/

It’s the second of two Fridays the 13th in a row! And one more to come this year! Will plague and tragedy ensue?? Enjoy this sinister little minor holiday with an impromptu little song, superstitious icons, eerie books to read, a Friday the 13th dinner menu, and several odd ways to thwart the bad luck! Ahh, memories of those 13-cent donuts on Fridays the 13th gone by! Friday the 13th Reads https:/...

The future is oatmeal! And so is the past! It’s time for oatmeal whimsy---starring Oatmeal Hero Wilford Brimley, Alton Brown’s Emergency Oatmeal Kit, and what’s this? A 2014 horror movie with an oatmeal-ish theme! Jackpot! Weird oatmeal https://fatfreevegan.com/slowmiracle/2016/10/25/my-favorite-weird-oatmeal/ Mr. Breakfast https://www.mrbreakfast.com/recipe_collection.asp?subcategoryid=7 Alton Br...

Substitute teachers! The backbone of the system! After all, there MUST be an adult in the classroom—and there must. Jump into this prequel-to-a-futuren-episode for substitute madness, student madness, poetry, and the terrifying question: what if your substitute teacher is a menacing alien? And APOLOGIES for the janky, clanky "microphone"! Never again will I set it on the music stand!! Al...

Not in love this blessed February? Come sit by me! I may be in it up to my eyeballs now, but I spent many a year disdaining that loathesome heart-choked February “holiday.” Enjoy a haiku—some anti-Valentine’s conversation hearts… and a little Sean Connery, who always seems to pop up this time of year! email String-of-Pearls selfies to: hipnessandoutrage@gmail.com

February again? Thank God! What with all those boxes of chocolate sparkling down the aisles of the grocery stores! A bright beacon in the winter of our world’s insanity. Chocolates in groovy flavors, stunning colors, and unexpected sassy shapes—all befitting a sort-of psychedelic tune. Let’s get chompin’! Daily Dada Eyes and Lips Chocolate Box https://farm2.me/products/the-dada-dozen-truffle-box-6...

It’s February! Still rather a newish year—and will I break the habit of being the occasional sad sack? A chapbook I wrote for a poetry contest opened my eyes! So I’ll put on my lipstick and have a good time! Never better! Will Sarah Vowell do the same? Check out the youtube version for Put on Your Lipstick—a series of portraits I did back in ‘21! Disgruntled Housewife http://www.disgruntledhousewi...

Hey, it’s that guy! Time for some winter musings – it’s Frank Adamo, Dick Van Dyke’s stand-in and personal assistant–who appeared in something like 70 episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show, back in the day! How did Frank inspire my poetry and haunt my nights? How did Nick at Nite enrich our lives with its television promos back in the ‘90’s? How didn’t it! Huddle up—it’s the unforgettable Mr. Frank A...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Impromptu song, podcast unscripted—packed with music, New Year’s doings, New Year’s memories—where were you during Y2K? Indulge in an eggnog-infused pudding for your pancakes! Read to your darling! And check out a new collection of poetry, “Am I A Poet in December,” born from the first line of a Podcast in A Minor holiday favorite! So dive in and take it slow—winter is for ponderin...

And it’s nearly Christmas Day! 2025! Let’s stir up old memories of loved ones departed—how easily we conjure the aromas of their breads and pies, we can hear their joyful, off-key singing! This, of course, leads us right into the old tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas. I’m sharing three of my own, from Wassail to the Mausoleum Cakes and Glitter and Ghosts! (links below) Revisit some o...

Let’s do it. Let’s open the mythical poinsettia cookie jar and see what flies out! Will it be soft, fat molasses cookies in star shapes? Sad poetry? Persona reinvented—again? Pull your plush futon up to the roaring fire and inhale the sweet spices and rum! Christmas cookie time!

Christmas is coming! This time of year, don’t we all get flooded with memories! Indulge with me—in a tale of ice storms and cherry sour candies, precarious trips to the mall, a cat on top of the chimney, A Very Brady Christmas, and the pillowiest bangs a boy could ever have!

Follow me in merry measure….to a defunct pizza joint and a discovery of a coveted pie dish…on the trail of the Magi and the complicated, excited feelings they elicit—oh yes! It’s all in the song—a new Christmas banger, a destined classic! And no, I don’t believe for a moment it would make the Baby Jesus cry. What A Bunch of Fruitcakes (free tunes) https://minutewax.bandcamp.com/album/what-a-bunch-...

Turkey bowling? Did you ever?? I never did, but I’ve seen it on TV. An obscure rite of American Thanksgiving, where sport is king and it’s time for turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce and pie, LOADS of pie! But we’re not talking pie in this here episode 124—we’re talking turkey bowling! To get you PUMPED for the big feast!!! Turkey Bowling History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_bowling T...

Chocolate Turkeys! Let’s gorge on a super-smooth party favor for that most gluttonous of American holidays, Thanksgiving! Plus: a look at some kooky and expensive chocolate molds for homemade gift-giving, and the Ritz Cracker turkey recipe you know you need! The Bissingers Turkey https://www.bissingers.com/products/the-original-centerpiece-turkey-3-lb-5?variant=43259113865465&country=US&currency=U...

Pie birds! That most adorable and sassy of pie accessories as Thanksgiving sprints our way! Let’s explore some of these treasured pie tools—and how they tie into MOBY DICK, my favorite book! Oh, the air is electric around here, and filled with quirky tunes of Thanksgiving, that beloved American food holiday, a cozy lighthouse in the dark shroud of the soon-coming year’s end. https://www.peterpots....

SEVEN HALLOWEEN SONGS this year! That’s more songs than trick-or-treaters ringing our original 1978 doorbell—a disappointing turnout. But on the bright side, my Christmas shopping is done! (spoiler alert—it’s leftover Halloween candy)