The Voice of the Arts

You might just want to listen to this re-release of Podcast #22 if you answer YES to the following questions: Are you so tired of superheroes that even a hero sandwich gives you pause? Are you a man who can readily observe unique qualities in your spouse such as the ability to save you from a school of man-eating rainbow trout? Are you a baby boomer who has experienced the heartache of being unabl...

A toxic mix of Bob Newhart, Mel Brooks, Dr. Fllambeau, and the best Klezmer band that ever was.

“Paging Mr. Driftwood!” Humor abounds in this episode, brought to you by the likes of Groucho Marx, Bob Newhart, and Flight of the Conchords. A treasure trove of comedy gold all for the low low price of free — there’s no chance you’ll see the bill and say “This is an outrage! If I were you, I wouldn’t pay it…”

Returning to our very first episode, we feature the short story “The Babes in the Wood” from Irish writer Frank O’Connor, a show favorite whose work often appeared in The New Yorker during his life.

This week, we revisit a favorite episode from the past — Episode #15: “The Sacred and the Profane”, in which Simon Rich wonders whether making sure that Orel Hershiser won his game prevented God from relieving half a million flood victims in Southeast Asia.

Geronimo and the longest armed conflict in U.S. History, including the recently ended war in Afghanistan.

The Spirit of Giving, 3 gals crazy for Santa, and Clyde McPhatter’s “White Christmas”.

Stefan Fllambeau gets to the bottom of Atlanta’s scandal at the DOT. And, the Venona Project, and what we knew but could not reveal about Soviet espionage during the critical years toward the end of World War II and after.

Acting at its finest, and a story about an imaginary playmate who can’t play because he has to take a meeting.

Music from Eastern Europe: Corky Bucek’s “Bing Bong Bing Bong Did a Liddle Liddle”. Plus, the perils of sexual overstimulation, and Simon Rich with a story about God’s girlfriend.

A grand mix of the St. Crispin’s Day Speech from “Henry V” and some insight into another Henry: Henry Hill, who helped engineer the largest cash robbery in American history. Plus, the life and music of Jackie Wilson.

The varied films of George Miller from “Mad Max” to “Babe”, and the story of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and the battle against ISIS for the city of Mosul.

Free-Range Chicken Number 1: “Life is really great here. The food is fantastic and you really get room to run around and peck others.” Free-Range Chicken Number 2: “Tell me about it. I’m never thirsty because there’s always water nearby and I hear that when the farmer comes for you, they take you to a wonderful place where you’re taught to fly.”

A shake-up in the executive suite at the Waffle and Pancake Council of America. Plus, the sex scandals at Meerkat Manor.

Jim Dunham discusses the history of the nomadic Native American tribes that followed the buffalo, and the charismatic leaders of the Oglala and Hunkpapa bands that were part of the Lakota people.

Is there really such a thing as pre-natal speech, and did the Earl of Sandwich really invent the sandwich?   Podcast 33 reveals the truth with the help of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. Join us for some first-rate comedy including Bob & Ray’s “Two Faces West”, plus a variety of music that you won’t typically hear on the airwaves.

The legendary comedy duo of Brooks and Reiner teach us the secrets of longevity, poet Richard Wilbur whimsically explores the nature of shame, and Stan Grossman tells Jerry Lundegaard, “We’re not a bank, Jerry.”

The Ventures, Bill Justice and others give us a taste of a bygone art form: rock songs without lyrics where the guitar riffs and driving beats provide all the story we need. And we honor Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday with Alec Baldwin’s hilarious Saturday Night Live impressions of the legendary crooner.

Likes mud likes mud, this X means the horse likes mud – “Guys and Dolls”, horse racing, and the great foot race between Jerry and Duncan.

The blood curdling howl of a schnauzer in a frightful urban legend, and the Wild West saga of Henry McCartey, alias Henry Antrim, alias William Antrim, alias Billy Bonney, alias Billy the Kid.

Bruce Springsteen’s song reflecting on his second trip to the altar and Woody Allen wondering how the word “Oldsmobile” showed up in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found near the Gulf of Aqaba.

The big band leaders of the 30’s and 40’s referred to them as canaries and saw them as a necessary distraction from what they enjoyed most: elaborate instrumental arrangements.   They knew that only their male fans would be left, and perhaps not even them, if they completely abandoned female vocalists like The Two Helens: Forest and Ward.

In Podcast #27, we will explore the questions: Are my standards too high, too exacting for me to be truly happy? Why do I sometimes feel like I should get a “job” or do some kind of “work”? Does thinking about maybe getting a job make me better than other people? Am I worried that if I quit borrowing money from my friends, they’ll think I’m stuck-up?

A salute to more early country musicians, especially the broken-hearted like George Jones, “who may not be walkin’ tall but he’s tryin’, and at least he’s learned how to stand on his own two knees.”

This week you’ll hear from two of the pioneers of country music, plus a General Motors ad from the 2008 recession: Take this car……please.