Raff's Brain

Filmmaker and techno-optimist Nick Tucker joins Riffin’ with Raff to talk about Decommissioned , his ambitious new sci-fi short exploring the future of warfare, drone technology, and human connection. Rob and Nick dig into the creative process behind launching a successful Seed&Spark campaign, what it takes to bring practical effects and dystopian visions to life, and why stories like these ma...

Today’s Hot Yoga Problems episode is a whirlwind of classic Raff: part therapy, part traffic survival guide, part existential crisis. After crushing a solid yoga class, Rob battles a nightmare parking garage, debates whether a nice car is worth it, and accidentally stumbles into cartoon character sightings. Plus, he teases big crossover plans for Mental Health Awareness Month, including teaching y...

In this episode of Riffin’ with Raff , Rob Raffety is joined once again by graphic novelist Olivier Ballou. They dive into the realities of creative output — what it really takes to finish a project when life keeps throwing curveballs. Olivier opens up about the third and most ambitious book in his Val d'Or  series, and the creative methods he uses to keep momentum: deadlines, critique groups...

In this brutally honest installment of Hot Yoga Problems , Rob Raffety emerges from a 5:30AM class dazed, drenched, and deeply confused. Wrestling with muscle pain, mental haze, and a weird post-cereal energy crash, Rob lays out three competing theories for his sorry state — including potential sickness, a rogue long walk, and the classic "two-bowl cereal trap." From pollen denial to roo...

On this Drive & Jive installment of Raff's Brain, Rob takes listeners along for a candid, caffeinated drive to Shepherdstown, WV, to visit Shepherd University with his niece. This road trip turns into a full-blown stream-of-consciousness odyssey—touching on college admissions madness, Waze loyalty, West Virginia nostalgia, and creative inspiration from filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. He refle...

In this episode of Hot Yoga Problems , Rob dives into his pre-dawn journey to a Yoga Sculpt class in Clarendon, Virginia — and all the madness that came with it. From silent coffee grinder dreams to green-light miracles on Washington Boulevard, it's a morning of small wins, big sweats, and unexpected revelations. He reflects on the challenge of categorizing hybrid workouts, makes a humble ple...

Ever been ambushed by a yoga pose? Rob returns to the hot yoga studio and gets completely wrecked by his longtime nemesis: the dreaded baby back bend. In this episode, he channels his frustration into song (literally), serving up an improvised riff on the iconic Chili’s jingle with a side of spicy takes on yoga vulnerability, backup cameras, and the glory of pancakes for dinner. Whether you’re a y...

Rob’s back in Arlington and crushing the mat—but serenity is short-lived when the sounds of a boot camp next door start leaking into the studio. And not just any noise—a techno remix of Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine . In this episode of Hot Yoga Problems , Rob dives into the absurdity of cross-studio chaos, reflects on the musical majesty of GNR, and contemplates creating a tiered ranking of...

In this episode of Raff's Brain - Hot Yoga Problems - Rob emerges from a soul-stretching Yin Yoga class and takes us on a ride - literally and metaphorically. Broadcasting from downtown Buckhannon, WV, he reflects on the deceptive difficulty of Yin Yoga, the joys and pains of rediscovering the jump rope, and the ever-evolving etiquette of tipping culture. From foot cramps in Child’s Pose to t...

🔥 RAFF'S BRAIN #107: HOT YOGA PROBLEMS!! Back in Ballston, Baby! Heart Openers, Partridges, and Yoga Agony!! Episode Summary: Rob’s back on the mat and back in Ballston for another deeply unhinged and wildly relatable episode of Hot Yoga Problems. After a whirlwind of travel between Virginia and West Virginia, he returns to his beloved studio only to be ambushed by The Partridge Pose — a tor...

🎙️ Riffin’ with Raff feat. Code H – Flip Life, Plush Gold & WhatNot Dreams In this very special episode of Raff’s Brain , host Rob Raffety welcomes back Code H (aka Cody Hollen) for a deep dive into the ever-growing world of online reselling, nostalgia-fueled treasure hunting, and their grand plan to dominate the Whatnot live auction space. Recorded in their beloved hometown of Buckhannon, WV,...

🔥 Episode Summary Rob takes us on a road trip detour to Buckhannon, West Virginia (26201), for a small-town yoga experience that’s big on charm and full of surprises. Broadcasting straight from the parking lot of Las Trancas Mexican Restaurant, he recaps his first-ever PiYo class — a Pilates–yoga hybrid that feels more “micro-torture” than mindful flow. From the surprising serenity of this North...

In this solo Walk & Talk episode, Rob Raffety checks in from Buckhannon, West Virginia, reflecting on family, fitness, and the fight against father time. Unable to hit his usual hot yoga studio, Rob dusts off an old habit— the yog —and takes listeners on a meandering mental jog through memory, motivation, and movement. From running his first 10K back in law school to raw-dogging a marathon, to...

What starts with a tweet and a copy of 12½ by Gary Vaynerchuk turns into a cross-state donut taste test between two new friends: host Rob Raffety and guest Matt Brady. Matt, a self-proclaimed foodie with a culinary background and a knack for reef design, joins Rob to unpack everything from parenting late in life to Halo nostalgia, while diving deep into the local legends of Neil’s Donuts (CT) and...

When Rob returns to his hometown of Buckhannon, WV, he discovers something unexpected: yoga is alive and well in rural America. In this off-brand (but 100% heartwarming) episode, Rob navigates small-town bulletin boards, unfamiliar classrooms, contact lens battles, and a deeply focused flow class in a former elementary school. It’s not hot yoga—it’s cold(ish), local, and surprisingly crowded. But...

After a two-week hiatus filled with personal chaos and West Virginia misadventures, Rob returns to the hot yoga studio—and walks right into a substitute-led slow flow class. What follows is a sweaty odyssey through extended poses, skipped core work, and an unexpectedly spiritual Shavasana that might’ve included interdimensional travel. It's not about making progress—it's about making it...

Riffin’ with Raff is back with Episode 99, and Rob welcomes three-time guest and hometown legend Cody Hollen for a nostalgia-fueled conversation recorded live at CJ Maggie’s in Buckhannon, WV. They dig into the golden age of GI Joe, Garbage Pail Kids, comic books, and the joy of blowing up action figures in your backyard. Now armed with “adult money,” the duo explores the rebirth of childhood hobb...

🐱 The THREE-LEGGED CAT Who Defied the Odds! | Raff’s Brain Drive & Jive! 🎙️ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CAT DISAPPEARS FOR MONTHS… AND RETURNS WITH A SHOCKING TWIST? In this episode of Drive & Jive , I take you on the road 🚗💭 for a stream-of-consciousness deep dive into one of the wildest pet stories I’ve ever lived. Leia—the three-legged warrior cat —vanished into the Appalachian wilderness, o...

In this Hot Yoga Problems episode, Rob Raffety previews an exciting (and totally unnecessary) new experiment—the Hot Yoga Towel Challenge ! After years of dedication to one reliable brand, he’s throwing caution to the wind and testing an array of hot yoga towels to find the ultimate champion. Will price matter? Does texture affect performance? Will he ever master side crow ? Also, Rob rants about...

🎙 Hot Yoga Problems #TowelTalk 🎙 It’s an afternoon yoga session, and that means maximum energy – thanks to coffee, blood pressure meds, and a CorePower Yoga class that nearly annihilated me. But today’s real hot yoga problem? Yoga towels. I’ve got some strong opinions on: The tightest parking garage in existence (seriously, are spots getting smaller?) Becoming a hot yoga regular (they know my name...

Rob is feeling the yoga energy today! In this episode of Hot Yoga Problems , he shares his latest class experience, where he absolutely crushed it . With an early arrival, prime mat positioning, and a friendly chat with the instructor, Rob found himself influencing the class flow—unintentionally, of course. The focus? Headstands. Turns out, his request came with a price: an immense amount of core...

🎶 Ep. 94 - Hot Yoga Problems: The Theme Song Episode We did it, folks! Hot Yoga Problems officially has a theme song, thanks to a listener who took the idea and ran with it. Rob dives into the song’s creation, the power of community engagement, and why simplicity in content production is key. Plus, a Reddit experiment, a marijuana-infused rant, and motivation to start your own creative journey. I...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Drive & Jive , the latest segment on Raff’s Brain ! Today, I take you along for a spontaneous drive to the car wash while discussing the quirks of car culture, the economics of car washes, and why some people insist on naming their vehicles. Do you name your car? What’s the best name you’ve ever heard? We also break down traffic pet peeves, the zipper merge...

Hot Yoga Problems: Morning vs. Afternoon Yoga Description: Rob is back with another sweaty saga, this time questioning the optimal time for yoga practice. Is morning yoga still king, or has the afternoon session unlocked a new level of energy? As he navigates poses (including a mysterious one-legged push-up that may or may not be called Ecopotama ), deals with unexpected medical call anticipation,...

Hot Yoga Problems - The Agony of Yin Yoga Episode Summary: Rob’s back with another hot yoga struggle, and this time it’s Yin Yoga—aka Core Restore , but don’t let the name fool you. What was supposed to be a restorative session turned into a slow-burning masterclass in discomfort. As he pushes toward his goal of 20 yoga sessions in 30 days, Rob shares the mental and physical battles of holding dee...