Trying To Be Better with Joel and Steve

Joel and Steve celebrate their freedom to exercise their 1st Amendment Rights - without which they wouldn't have much of a podcast. Alec Baldwin facing involuntary manslaughter, a convicted Hollywood star murderer gets pardoned by another Hollywood star, and be sure to catch the live version of "The Handmaid's Tale" - coming soon to a State Legislature near you! Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe to...

Joel and Steve talk about Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll - in a round-about sort of way.  Now people take drugs to not get high, and rock and roll has... a conscience.   The times - they are a changin'! Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com! #tootyourhooter #fightforthe...

Joel and Steve are celebrating their 100th (!) TTBB! They are delighted to welcome Certified Spiritual Director Michelle Mainquist to the TTBB podcast to talk about spiritual matters.  Michelle works with Akashic Records to help uncover roadblocks and challenges that people may have in their lifetimes, to help become the best version of themselves.  You can find Michelle on her website: https://so...

Joel and Steve wish all of their listeners a Happy New Year, and hope that you all made it through the holidays unscathed! Joel's holiday travel plans got... Southwest'ed - so Plan B was implemented.  There is also the obligatory '2023 resolution' discussion! Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, em...

Joel and Steve sit down with longtime mutual friend Erik Delaney to discuss the intersection of addiction, trauma, criminality and ADHD.  There is a lot to unpack there, but they take a good shot at it!  Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts.  Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com! #TootYourHooter #WharfRat...

Joel and Steve do their now-annual ritual of prepping for the Holiday Season!   Steve has decided that it's time to re-commit to his well being after being sick (and being lazy) for a couple weeks, and Joel grapples with his FOMO issues. They discuss the Reason for the Season, and the non-existent War on Christmas. Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to p...

Joel and Steve reconnect after yet another absence from each other, and from you - their faithful listeners! Joel went to Denver for work, and while there got to experience the maelstrom of jubilant electric mayhem that is Andy Frasco and the U.N., who have been Steve's favorite 'new to him' musical act since seeing them last summer.  Steve has been turned on to the books of Bruce Wagner.  They ar...

And... They're Back!  Joel and Steve want to thank everyone for being chill while they... did other things.  The records are a little shoddy, but this hiatus has probably been the longest one in the Two Years of doing the podcast! That's Right Folks - the first Trying To Be Better with Joel and Steve went out on November 16, 2020!  You can listen to that important piece of media history wherever y...

Joel and Steve are so dedicated to you - their loyal listener - that they power through and create some content despite the fact that their entire production crew didn't bother to show up. Bunch of ingrates.  (The crew, that is.) Joel went to an awards ceremony with the Mayor and decided that it was OK for him to be there, Steve had a similar experience at a recent gig. Be sure to Like/Follow/Subs...

Joel and Steve talk about... themselves for a change! Joel got to hang out with past guest Armando McClain, and went took himself downtown to get some good vibes after watching Joker.   Steve is struggling with so Joel helps him walk through all of that. They also continue to unpack the concept of 'hope', and discuss an episode of Glennon Doyle's "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast with Tricia Hersey,...

Joel and Steve have no room to talk.  Their own karma is... suspect.  This is why they get together and bare their souls (even more so for their Patreon subscribers) to all of you - so that we can grow together! Joel asks Steve what he thinks happens when you die, and discuss the point of existence - if there is one.   Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen...

And they're back after a one-week... absence. Steve enjoyed something new that he wasn't sure he was going to like!  Joel also had a similar experience!  Admit it - you're curious.  Press 'Play'. Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Really - you should do it.  Their egos depend on it!  Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at tt...

Joel and Steve talk about video games, family illness, getting new cell phones and what it means to have and maintain hope in times where that can be a challenge. Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email Joel and Steve at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com! #TootYourHooter #WaveThatFlag

This week Joel is in St. Louis to see Pearl Jam - a concert that was originally supposed to happen in April of 2020! He joins Steve from his rental Nissan Sentra - where he is absolutely *not* doing anything shady in Forrest Park. They reminisce about Steve's memories of playing 'Even Flow' for Joel at a beach party many years ago even though he really didn't want to - and got to see Joel in his n...

Joel and Steve sit down with Will Harman of the Lincoln, NE based band A Ferocious Jungle Cat. To paraphrase Joel - A Ferocious Jungle Cat is a 'Funk Explosion Circus', and we're all very glad for that!  Check them out on the social media's, Spotify, Bandcamp and YouTube. https://www.instagram.com/aferociousjunglecat Be sure to like/follow/subscribe and review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to...

Joel and Steve do their 2nd Annual 'Live from Kansas City' podcast!  This time they are recording prior to going to see Roger Waters at the T-Mobile Center.  (And also prior to the culinary bacchanal that is Minsky's Pizza!) Steve just got back from a three-day music festival in Chicago (his first), so they de-brief on that situation.  The highlight was Phil Lesh playing with Jeff Tweedy and Nels...

Joel (shockingly) has an issue that needs to be unpacked.  It turns out words can be hurtful (even if not intended to be so) - and that people's feelings *are* valid. Also if you are watching Better Call Saul but haven't finished it - here there be spoilers. (Sort of.  Proceed at your own risk.) Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Follow on...

Joel and Steve talk about what means to take care of yourself in spite of having to carry the burden of having wonderful lives! Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com! #TootYourHooter #HydrateDontDiedrate

Joel and Steve have a Marvel-ous conversation with comic book aficionado Brian Griesbach!  (The person responsible for the pun in the previous sentence has been sacked.) Brian is Steve's cousin, and has been a comic book collector for decades.  He's a very interesting person, with a wealth of knowledge on the subject of comics and the Marvel universe!  Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review J...

Joel and Steve get called out!  Finally!  Former guest Eduardo Bousson emailed with some thoughtful and rational critiques of recent epidsodes. Joel and Steve also randomly ran into each other in person last night - it was weird and great! They talk about Lincoln Calling music festival, and other local music events/acts - and how they are increasingly out of touch with what's happening. Joel is pr...

Joel and Steve are back to discuss the merits of small heartfelt films like Marcel the Shell With Shoes On vs. the Big Media Juggernaut that is the Marvel Universe, with a side of Star Wars in the Disney era.  Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com .  #TootYourHooter #B...

Joel and Steve put up a new podcast after taking the longest break since they started the podcast! They talk about Joel's trip to the Pacific Northwest, "Newsies" at the Pinewood Bowl Theater, a book by Sam Tallent called 'Running The Light' (which you should go get right now), the Dan Savage Lovecast - and the passing of Steve's friend Seth. You can hear Joel and Steve's April 2021 conversation w...

Joel and Steve discuss the Supreme Court's repeal of Roe v. Wade.  That's it.  If you're pretty OK with that - this is not your podcast. (Let's face it - anyone that is OK with that stopped listening to Joel and Steve a long time ago.) Joel and Steve are OK with this going on their permanent record. Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Follow on...

Joel and Steve unpack selling old toys (and your childhood), the NKOTB Mix-Tape Tour, ballet, art in general and have actual technical difficulties (that they decide to not overcome.)  Be sure to Like/Follow/Subscribe and Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Follow on Instagram @TryingToBeBetterPodcast, email at ttbbpodcast@gmail.com ! #TootYourHooter #Shoop

Joel and Steve have a plan to save the country from gun violence - at a very reasonable rate!  Don't Wait - Act Now! But, should you need to wait, you should listen to Joel and Steve talk about Colorado, Michael Franti, Guns and Roses, Paul McCartney and Joel's impending adventure in the Pacific Northwest! Be sure to Like/Subscribe/Review Joel and Steve wherever you listen to podcasts!  Follow Joe...