Nothing's Really Real

Chris Tharp was called away to attend a family emergency mid recording so Sam Hazelton and I wrap things up with conversation about the worst jobs we’ve ever had. Some people will think that this is the worst episode of the series, however a more intelligent listener will know that it is the best. As always, if you enjoy the show, please help spread the word. Tell a friend about it, and leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. That would be very appreciated.

It's the seventh episode of this series with Chris Tharp, Sam Hazelton and I. We talk deer hunting. We reflect on our drinking habits and tell stories of our biggest drunken ass-outs, drunk driving, fights and just chaotic white boy partying. We talk about white privilege, and wrap it up with a mild debate of tearing down statues and Kanye 2020. This series has started growing a bit of a following of its own, so, I'd like to send a thanks to the listeners that keep tuning in. The three of us have really appreciated the feedback we've gotten from you all. Thanks a lot. As always, if you do enjoy the show, please help spread the word. Tell a friend about it, and leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. That would be very appreciated.

We’ll call this the sixth episode of the series, while really it’s the seventh. We got together twice to record this and trashed the first take – and you’ll never hear it. But this time we take a long walk back to catch up on all the happenings since the last released episode. We go hard on the things going on in America in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. We talk Black Lives Matter, filming the police, and David Chappelle’s new youtube special. We talk right wing autism, Candice Owen’s vagina, Karens, Betsys, porn preferences, how culturally valuable it is to be on the spectrum and which one of us is the gayest. As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

It’s the fifth installment of the Coronavirus Series with Chris Tharp and Sam Hazelton. This time we talk about how out of shape and disgusting I look, how the recent resurgence of the virus here has made a connection to the foreigner and gay communities in Korea, why every American should carry a gun, similes for diarrhea by a professional travel writer, the ridiculous destruction of nature to serve the tourist industry, the worst public toilets, going out of your way to be nice to people with shocking physical deformities, religious animal sacrifice, a tree with dead babies inside of it, and can someone count how many times Sam says the word ASHEN? As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

We’ve got another round of Covid-19 and Friends with Chris Tharp, Sam Hazelton, and special guest this week, Steve Feldman. We shoot the breeze about the virus for a few minutes, then we get into some real deep local cuts. We lost a member of our local stand-up community last week, so we talk a while about them and the legacy they left behind. Then we discuss what seems to happen when an expat dies in this community. Then on a hard switch in gears, we talk about expat plonkers and the three types of individuals that hit hard walls after washing up on the shores of Busan. I hope you’re enjoying this series, because for me, it continues to be a blast to make. As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Covid-19 and Friends is back with our third episode. I get together with Chris Tharp and Sam Hazelton and we have a pretty good time. We talk about eating bats, snakes and rats in gnarly wet markets in South East Asia, and Tharp explores a scenario where the Coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab. I explain why Tharp’s theory is horseshit and educate he and Sam on the reality of the virus being a direct result of evil 5G technology. We also take the time to explore the link between 5G, Bigfoot and Coronavirus. We talk hard about Louis CK, and how he released a special last week. Always a good time. As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Enjoy a Saturday night in Busan. It’s an open mic podcast! Due to the state of the world, I’ve harnessed the power of the internet and friendship to gather an awesome collage of artists to use this podcast as a stage to share their work. This is a perfect example of the talent we’ve got flowing in and out of our community. Musicians, poets, comedians, writers and more. This is truly a special episode. Tune in to hear the works of Kenneth May, Nick Hemsley, The Bathing Belles, Chris Tharp and Jason Maniccia, Steve Feldman, Julia Rapp, Rob the Universe, Brian Aylward, Mr. Winkles, Amy Rose, Franklin Bongo, Caitlin Celic, Big Paper, Ryan Estrada, Noah Saunders and Mark Zink. 
 Most artists have at one time made appearances before on this show, but if not - they have made meaningful appearances in my life. Thank you to all of the artists, and thank you to the listeners. As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d rea

We’re back folks! Plans have changed and I’m sticking around in Korea for the undetermined future. I’ve decided to turn Covid-19 and Friends into a series. Chris Tharp, Sam Hazelton and I get together two weeks later to continue talking about the coronavirus and politics. Sam and Tharp tell me about Tiger King, and we review the new Bob Dylan song. We talk about the hilarity of male nudity, and discuss the stupidest things each one of us said in the last episode. We’re having fun. As always, if you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Chris Tharp and Sam Hazelton join me to rant about the Coronavirus and the democratic primaries as we practice a semi-quarantined life here in Busan, South Korea. This may be the last podcast I record while living in Korea – we talk a little bit about my plans to move back to America. We get very drunk. Tharp shares a Memory of Regret and I turn Sam’s mic off. I don’t regret anything!

In this longest episode I’ve released to date, I do a cross-over show with two of my favorite podcaster friends: Mike and Tim from the Now It’s Dark Movie Podcast. These guys have a very professional and smart movie podcast where they discuss, critique and analyze all aspects of film. In this cross-over episode, which will air on their channel as well as mine, we drink and debate movies … for three hours. It’s great. I love it. More specifically, we have a Nothing’s Really Real elimination tournament to decide what is the most undeniably good movie. I had so much fun talking with these guys, because they really know film – and they’ve got a great way of helping your average dumb-dumb see themes and meanings in films that maybe I didn’t catch on my first, second or third watch. I highly recommend checking out their podcast and skimming through the titles to see if anything interesting stands out to you. It is available on most major podcasting apps, youtube, and soundcloud. Here’s a link: soundcloud.com/now

Have you ever wondered what might happen to an expat if they were arrested in Korea for possession of marijuana? My guest on this episode was arrested, jailed and tried for his crimes, facing a minimum sentence of 5 years behind bars. He joins me to tell his story from start to finish. We talk about the arrest, the miserable and crowded conditions of his cell, his case and the trial. We talk about the emotions he went through during the whole process, and how it had affected his family and friends. Even through such a troubling and depressing time, my guest continuously focuses on how incredibly lucky he was and expresses endless gratitude toward the people on the outside who helped him remain positive even through the tougher times. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

It’s Nothing’s Really Real the podcast LIVE! This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Saturday, November 9th at HQ Bar. Guest included Saul Goode from the Seoul based hip-hop duo Part Time Cooks, demon expert Sam Hazelton, and stand up comics Caitlin Celic and Connor Peatzold. The audience participation was through the roof, and the show was a blast. There isn’t much I want to spoil about what goes down, but I’ll say a few things. There is satanic prayer, a roast battle between Caitlin and I, an incredible and recent story of near death, and a lot of laughs. I must also add a warning that there is a story of animal abuse which may be distressing to some listeners. Mostly, I can’t say enough about how proud I am of this live show – and I hope you listeners feel like you are right there in the room with us. Thank you to Galmegi Brewing Co., HQ Gwangan, and thank you to my guests. Most of all, thank you to the audience that came out to the event. Without you, this episode would have sucked.

The Horror Movie Hot Boys is a super exclusive group which I am involved in. The OG’s consist of John Meyerriecks, Mark Shelley and I. I wouldn’t not call us horror movie experts – and we’ve gotten together on this pod to figure out the ONLY movie you should be watching this Halloween. We do this by selecting 24 of our favorite horror movies, and then eliminating them, one by one, until only one recommendation remains. If you’re interested in hearing three middle-aged men nerd-out and argue about horror movies – than this is the episode for you! And please, let us know which ones we got wrong. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Too Many T’s are a UK based hip-hop duo who were just passing through Korea for the Zandari Festival and a handful of other shows. They made time for the podcast, and also share the first single off their newest unreleased album. We have a fun conversation, arguing about whether or not Ross was a townie when he met Leon, the time the UK’s prime minister was Ross’s neighbor and the best t-shirt’s the boys ever owned. We rap Eminem lyrics, talk about Logan Paul, killing animals and telling lies for no reason. Both Leon and Ross share excellent Memories of Regret so stick around to hear those as well as their new single Freaky (feat. La Fine Equipe and Hippocampe Fou). If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Steve Feldman and Sam Hazelton join me for this episode. Steve has been doing stand-up comedy with The Ha-Ha Hole for many years, and Sam just got out of jail. Join us as we discuss our own personal physical grotesqueries, how I can’t read Korean, learning to dance and helping people in danger. Steve talks about losing his father to Alzheimer’s and why he is rude to Korean restaurant servers. We talk about the phenomenon that was late night DVD sales, like Girls Gone Wild and Bumfights, I defend Logan Paul, and Steve tells us the mystery of the mixed up birth certificates. Steve and I share Memory of Regret stories, and we talk about some of our worst comedic bombs on stage. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Ryan Estrada is an artist, author, adventurer, return guest and friend of the show. He comes in to talk about a few of the big projects he’s got on the horizon. We talk about a recent viral trend he started, how he deals with rejection, and staying motivated while balancing multiple projects. We talk about cutting off hyena heads, setting oneself on fire, and bidets. We also talk about how Ryan recently found out a mass-murderer was following him on twitter. Of course, Ryan shares a Moment of Triumph and a Memory of Regret - and on top of all that - Ryan not only DRINKS HIS FIRST BEER EVER on this show, but he shotguns it proving once and for all that he is not a baby. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Leah Barbata is a singer and songwriter, she joins me on the show to talk about her music, her family, and the messiest drunkest night of her life. I prompt her into talking about a past relationship she had with my good buddy, then we talk about her unique rebellious youth, expensive fashion, and cutting off our noses. Things sometimes get a little serious, Leah sings a beautiful and very personal song about dealing with the loss of her mother. She also plays a song from her band’s recent EP and tells a Memory of Regret and Moment of Triumph. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

I’m joined by John Durso and Caitlin Celic, for John’s possible last appearance on the podcast – at least for a while. John is leaving Korea and I’m sad to see him go, so we talk about what the hell he is doing with his life. We talk about comedy, crying, going viral, intrusive thoughts, the third tower that fell on 9/11, and being teachers. We talk about relationships in adulthood, procrastination, jiu jitsu, choking people out, Napoleon Bagel Boss, and we learn about the benefits of having Tinder Gold. Caitlin and Durso share Moments of Triumph and Memories of Regret – we have a good time. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

Johnny The Greek is a stand-up comic, one of the original Ha-Ha Holers, and hardcore comedy enthusiast. We have a good talk about his background, Greek heritage and family. We talk about music, movies and comedy. We talk a lot about stand up and the right kind of attitude to have if you’re going to take to the mic. Johnny also shares a Moment of Triumph and Memory of Regret. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. I’d really appreciate it!

I begin this podcast by telling a story of an intense and kind of, I guess, unique human experience I became involved in over this past weekend. It’s pretty heavy and graphic. After that, Julia Gardner and I have a fun talk about poetry, playground boys, cringey open micers, engaging crowds, looking up my Nana’s nightgown, and getting chased by dogs. Julia talks about losing her father when she was a child, and mental health awareness. Julia is a poet who runs a writing workshop here in Busan, and I got her on the pod before she leaves Busan to pursue a MFA in poetry. If you enjoy the show, recommend it to a friend, and please leave a review on iTunes or whatever app you listen to podcasts on. It would mean a lot to me!