Troubled Men Podcast

As the youngest member of her family band, Susan had seen more show biz peaks and valleys by age 11 than most mortals see in a lifetime. Turns out she was just getting started. She joins the Troubled Men in the Ring Room to let it all out. Topics include a medical advancement, an escape plan, a Bush stamp, early ambitions, a family audition, the '60s sweet spot, Beverly Hills teen life, the Ed Sul...

The audio savant gets roped into the Ring Room to lift the lid on the record making process and reveal what really goes on in the inner sanctum. It's a dark art of aural nuance that Bruce practices. Thankfully, the Troubled Men like it in the dark. Topics include a fish counter story, a shower variation, road dates, an anniversary party, a burial, a first job, the law game, Ethan Allen, Daniel Lan...

It's a night of bayou royalty as a member of the storied Pavy clan graces the Ring Room to dish on down-home political feuds and international nursing missions. Nicole has traveled the globe ministering to the sick. Let's see what she can do for the Troubled Men. Topics include an easy inventory, odd parking, 5G electric meters, tech phobia, punk rock childhood, mental health, a profile review, Op...

The Men draft the Squirrel Nut Zippers founder, singer, musician, and producer to talk about his new solo record, "Incinerator," and his life as the Huck Finn of American music. From the Clinton White House to the Mississippi Hill Country, he's seen a lot. Jimbo may not be innocent, but for the time being, he's pleading not guilty. Topics include SXSW, the Cactus Blossoms, more parades, Spring, br...

To celebrate the 50th episode, the Men invite the fellow creature of the night and New Orleans superstar to trace his steps from the suburban wasteland, to Harvard, to the '80's street scene of Alphabet City and back again. He's been famous since before anyone knew who he was. Topics include a practice parade, a Rite-Aid illness, a TV composer correction, Rik's bands, a Voodoo pregnancy, a high sc...

The sublime and mysterious cellist checks into the Ring Room in the sweet spot between Ash Wednesday and the Ides of March. The Belgian transplant has a Europian flair and a Renaissance sensibility. Tonight all that goes out the window. Topics include Lent, gluttony, a garbage parade tragedy, road dangers, the pancreas, familial teasing, Singapore, monkeys, a first cello teacher, quitting, a cultu...

As Mardi Gras reaches a fever pitch, the Men cool it down with the illustrator and instructor as he talks about his long road from tiny Empire, La., to art school in New York City and beyond. Topics include a near miss, laundry history, a mea culpa, childhood, art school, post-Katrina paintings, Giuliani time, a gallery show, the St. Claude corridor, a Facebook joke, art criticism, social sensitiv...

The best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and white whale of the podcast finally shows his face, and the Troubled Men haul him into the Ring Room. Chris is always very forthcoming, and tonight is no different. Topics include an earthquake prediction, a work joke, secret rules, driving issues, Mannix, MeTV, tricks of the journalism trade, podcast production, sensitive boys, prep s...

It's Valentine's Day everywhere else, but it's a dateless night in the Ring Room. The Troubled Men do a postpartum analysis of the previous episode that almost didn't see the light of day. Topics include Hallmark holidays, being alone, a missing ID, a lock thief, fast food mayhem, episode #45 aftermath, the Rock 'n' Roll marathon, tough gigs, vehicle troubles, a recording triumph, a judge on trial...

The poet-warrior, artist, performer, activist, and founder of Taco Truck Theater pulls into the Ring Room and delivers the flavor. It gets a little spicy, and by the end, he wants Manny deported. Topics include an angry dog, a boycott bit, civic civility, the Cone of Uncertainty, restrooms, an award-winning doc, a question from Jude, DMT, performance influence, arrests, cocktail choices, a cultura...

The Troubled Men bring the Happy Talk Band singer and owner of Siberia Lounge into the warmth of the Ring Room. The workers control the means of production, but they have no five-year plan. There's not even a five-minute plan. Topics include therapy, discounts, a hot streak, foley artists, theater of the mind, an Alaskan adventure, a road trip to New Orleans, a last straw, Arizona justice, Luke's...

The Troubled Men are put on the defensive as the New Orleans Chess Master in the red beret launches a blitzkrieg opening in the Ring Room. Hope is not a strategy, but it may be all they have left. Topics include a daughter's photos, Guinness World Records, life-changing events, parenting tips, Chuck Barris, Grace Slick, the Five Americans hit records, luck in life, the Iguanas' 9 Volt Heart, band...

Back in the trenches, the Troubled Men summon renaissance man DC Harbold to the Ring Room for a full debriefing. The leader of Clockwork Elvis and owner of More Fun Comics spins tales of past campaigns as they nurse their wounds and resolve to soldier on. Topics include a low bid, a bad bet, a career change, a nickname explained, collectors and OCD, burlesque vs. stripping, wasp nest therapy, the...

The Tony Award-winning actor takes his chances with the Troubled Men. It gets a little punchy in the Ring Room, and a warning is issued following a clash of heads. The charm offensive is in full swing. Topics include a job opening, a New York sound check, king cake, origins and identity, musical theater explained, Road House, a not-so-secret membership, an untimely tribute, a Kennedy Center gig, a...

The Troubled Men report to the Ring Room to recap the holidays and stare down the barrel of the new year. Things could be better. Topics include painkillers, a doctor visit, rehearsals, a video shoot, presents, parties, "the talk", local podcasts, Super Dave, The Odd Couple, a meth test, local crime, an app idea, Taco Bell, a McDonald's beatdown, resolutions, a severed brake line, added charges, l...

The Troubled Men collect themselves for the final sit-down of the year. They invite the veteran film director and writer to the Safe House for a good working over. Topics include Blue Velvet, post Xmas activities, video booth dynamics, small world connections, Rip Taylor, film self education, Ann Arbor, Repo Man, Fox Harris, Harry Dean Stanton, going method, Rocky, scratchers, Bobby Peru, The Ice...

It was Alex's birthday, so René invited long time drummer Doug Garrison and fellow bandleader "Johnny" Jay Beninati for a special episode. They took a free associative journey through the memory labyrinth of Alex's time in New Orleans, on the road, and beyond. Topics include his arrival in town, Stanley and the Undesirables, the Panther Burns reconstituted, personal resolve, unearthing discarded a...

The singer/songwriter/producer and guitar tone scientist recounts his years fronting the Killer Bees, his solo career, and his many other collaborations. He talks about being mistaken for Santa Claus, but there's no confusion about which list the Troubled Men are on. René's mic goes out early on, and he becomes the ghost of Christmas past. Act of God? Perhaps. Fortunately, there's plenty of Manny...

The holidays are weighing heavy on the Troubled Men as they work over college professor, musician, and haiku master Chris Pylant in the Ring Room. He finds out the hard way that getting a word in edgewise may be the greatest challenge of all. Topics include a daughter's first job, a harsh critique, the De Palma doc, local obits, Sensei Hayashi, stolen textbooks, touring, Laugh-In, Hee Haw, singing...

The Men square off in the Ring Room for a long overdue double dose of uncut Trouble. The head movement is impressive, but someone still winds up walking into a stiff jab. Topics include Downtown Abbey, Jumanji, pulling a googly, a kink uncovered, the Green Book film, award season, adult book stores, the L.A. Free Press, Eleanor Clift, prison porn, a license plate recall, harassing the natives, a N...

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. Dreams come true as the intrepid filmmaker finds his way into the mysterious Ring Room to discuss his new feature, "Laundry Day." It all comes out in the wash. Topics include Thanksgiving at the track, an inspirational effort, family fireworks, Randy's path to the movie biz, "Burning Annie" plot and production, the studio game, Checkpoint...

Racing season has begun, and the Troubled Men are chomping at the bit. They go all in with the veteran Rolling Stone, Crawdaddy, and Offbeat writer, author, sports journalist, and horse racing handicapper for the hot tips on everything from Dylan and Bob Marley to picking a horse by scent. It smells like another winner. Topics include vaccinations, the McRib, shower cap fashion, airport curlers, J...

It's cold outside, but the Troubled Men are sweating it out in the Ring Room. They are joined by the writer/director of the new film fest hit, "The True Don Quixote." No strangers to self-delusion, the Men can relate to this tale on a personal level. Topics include a webcam girl, a mystery unraveled, cabin fever, a funeral who's who, a white whale, holy water, Chris' journey from architect to scre...

The Troubled Men fall back into the Ring Room with Debra Howell, medical illustrator, photographic manipulator, and municipal agitator. What profits a man to gain an hour and lose his mind? Time will tell. Topics include 1980s memories, Birmingham Mexicans, an unsoundman, a Dia De Los Muertos second line, Manny's stern warning, a shocking loss, dual identity, icons attacked, community activism, a...

Armistice Day is within sight as former military photographer and indy filmmaker Renso Amariz enters the free fire zone of the Ring Room to toast the shell shocked Troubled Men. Reparations will be required. Topics include Manny's birthday month, a video shoot, the "Bird" synopsis, aerial submarine hunting, the 6th Fleet, "The Local 504," cocktail looseys, a robot brothel, a strip club story, pitc...