The Pie Boy Podcast

Reflections and connections about the impact of gun violence, forgiveness and redemption.

Reflections and connections about the spectrum of pain we as humans go through, from the simple pain in the ass to major trauma. Writing, poetry and music are the best medicine for those times.

Reflections and connection about using art to express yourself and work through challenging moments in life and work.

Reflections and connections about surviving the storm, driving in serve weather and cabin fever debacles.

Reflections and connections about the importance of people that show you new music and the magic of early morning hangouts.

Reflections and connections about the video game consoles, games and experiences that defined my childhood.

Reflections and connections about Swain family Christmas celebrations, football traditions, superstitions and the true meaning of the holidays.

Reflections and connections about a coach and substitute teacher that tested me, made me laugh and was the bane to my existence as a teenager.

Reflections and connections about mistaken identity and the power of saying yes in a world of no’s.

Reflections and connections about surprise guests for holiday gatherings and the lesson of seeing people as they are.

Reflections and connections about making friends at the park and the gift of human connection. There is always a story.

Reflections and connections about the time travel qualities of music, the sound of certain social movements and being right where you need to be.

Reflections and connections about the good, the bad and the ugly of being a Photo Booth Attendant.

Reflections and connections about meeting a local sports legend and being disappointed. Sometimes meeting your heroes is not what you expect.

Reflections and connections about pranks gone wrong and right. If you are going to be dumb, you better be tough. Don’t do drugs kids and don’t dose your friends.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. I remembered a story this week about a fight at a party the night before a road trip home for Thanksgiving break.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Siskiyous Blues,” is a nostalgic poem that reflects on the ups and downs of a college football dream and football life I once lived.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Buffalo Street”, is one part a directional poem about how to get to my home and another part a meditation on the darkness that lingers just outside that happy place.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Down the Mountain Blues,” is a meditation on enjoying the sense of balance a favorite park provides, observing the little bits of life around and trying to get some creative work done.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Jude Came Today,” is a reflection on the the day my son was born and all the energy that came with it.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Bedtime Story,” is about my time working at an import car repair and restoration shop in Southeast Portland when I was finishing my undergraduate degree in English, writing for poetry open mics and feeling lost about the future, but being in tuned to the prese...

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “From a different moon,” is about the magic of where the words to my poetry come from and what that means to my art and soul.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “House,” is about a house I saw get demolished in my neighborhood when I first moved in. This was my imagination filling in the missing parts to the story of who lived there and what I saw while the house was still standing.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Kitchen Window,” is all about being present with the space your in, gratitude for the beauty in nature and using moments of awe to release ourselves from negative energy. Inspired by the nature outside my kitchen window.

Reflections and connections through the thoughts rolling around in my head about life, writing, storytelling and music. The featured poem, “Vampire Bat,” is vision of myself as a vampire bat as well as a reminder of the things that make us love and fear the lore of vampires.