Flightless Bird

Raygun Busch and Sten from Chat Pile join the conversation, sharing their Oklahoma roots and the story behind their band's name, inspired by local hazardous waste hills. They reflect on their quirky experiences at church camp, like discussing Apollo 13 over meals. The duo dives into their songwriting for tracks like 'Tenkiller' and 'King', and even perform stripped-down versions. They also indulge in regional snacks, revealing the snack culture on their tours and the funny bits about their hometown's 'chat rat' culture.

Jared Garrett, a former member of the controversial Process Church, shares his childhood experiences growing up in a cult that eventually transformed into Best Friends, a prominent animal rescue organization. He recounts the cult’s bizarre practices, including raising German Shepherds and community living under neglectful conditions. Jared also reveals shocking details about how he and other children helped build the Utah sanctuary. The conversation dives into the group's mysterious past and its transition from a religious cult to a leading animal welfare organization.

A listener named Nick shares his transformative journey from a sudden medical crisis during a Zoom call to recovery and community support. The hosts dive into the intricacies of parasocial relationships, discussing how podcasts foster genuine connections compared to traditional media. They reflect on the power of listener emails and celebrate the kindness of Nick's community through initiatives like the Friendship Paddle. As the conversation unfolds, themes of resilience, optimism, and finding joy in the little things resonate, leaving a lasting impact.

Sara Reddy, a celebrated television showrunner behind hits like Toddlers & Tiaras, shares her insights on producing reality TV and the ethics involved, especially regarding children's consent. She recounts her journey, including creating Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and the complexity of behind-the-scenes storytelling. Jordan Wisely, a veteran reality contestant, discusses the challenges of filming shows like The Challenge while navigating fame and contestant treatment. Both guests reveal the manipulative yet authentic nature of reality TV.

Nathan Willett, lead singer of Cold War Kids, and bassist Matt Maust dive into their shared obsession with vintage t-shirts, sharing how punk culture fueled their collection. They discuss the uniqueness of worn shirts and why they resonate with collectors. Highlights include amusing stories of eBay negotiations and memorable local pickups. The duo also pays tribute to their late friend and collaborator Richard Swift, reflecting on his immense talent and the lasting impact of his work.

In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob meet Betsy, a librarian who one day found herself being harassed by a “First Amendment Auditor” - a man in a hoodie badgering her endlessly for her name, salary and employment details. After calling the police, she discovered they could do nothing - and Betsy’s footage was uploaded for 100,000 people calling for her dismissal, and arrest. Farrier interviews Kristina Wilson and Kristi Nickodem, both experts in Public Law and Government, to find out what the hell was going on - and to see what someone like Betsy can do when confronted by this very unusual subculture of insufferable YouTubers.Email us: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/flightlessbird Dealing with Harassment and Threats Towards Local Government Officials and Employees: https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2022/07/dealing-with-harassment-and-threats-towards-local-government-officials-and-employees/ Responding to First Amendment Auditors: https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/reports/2022-11-09%2020220124%20LGLB%20141.pdf Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law: https://canons.sog.unc.edu/?s=%22responding+to+first+amendment+audits%22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s Thanksgiving-vibed Flightless Bird, David sets out to learn about the iconic American staple on the Thanksgiving table: Pumpkin Pie. Rob and David blind taste test three pumpkin pies - from supermarket scraps to high end Hollywood - to see if they can tell the difference. Rob then surprises David in the studio with Jordan Kahn, the chef behind incredible restaurants like Vespertine and Meteora (with French Laundry, Per Se, Alinea and Michael Mina also in his CV) who has made the Flightless Bird team his own pumpkin pie. Kahn then shares his pumpkin pie tips, along with his thoughts on what else should go (and not go!) on the Thanksgiving table. Support Flightless Bird on Patreon: www.patreon.com/flightlessbird Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/flightlessbirdpod Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Flightless Bird, David and Rob attend Medieval Times in California - and are joined by Rob's son, Calvin. They set out to discover if it's still the same experience documented in the 1996 hit film The Cable Guy, before talking to a former worker at Medieval Times.JOIN US ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/flightlessbirdEmail us: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flightlessbirdpod Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kirk Huffman, a Seattle musician, shares his memories of Tom Pfaffel, a legendary audio engineer, and mentor. Thomas Hunter, a touring guitarist, recounts experiences with Tom that shaped their band, Wild Orchid Children. Trent Moorman, a journalist, dives into the chilling events of the Blue Spruce Motel shooting that claimed Tom's life. The conversation touches on grief, community disbelief, and the haunting mysteries surrounding these events, illustrating how art and tragedy intertwine. Their powerful song, 'Black Shiny FBI Shoes,' serves as a cathartic tribute to loss.

Once a month, Flightless Bird will release “The Nest Sessions,” a new music-focused series where each week Rob and David have a different musician in the studio to talk about a piece of American culture they’re obsessed with, before they share some live music in the studio. The Nest Sessions debuts with Anthony Green from Circa Survive, L.S. Dunes, The Sound of Animals Fighting, and Saosin. Anthony talks about his battles with sobriety on the road, and reveals his favourite American snack to David. Email us: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flightlessbirdpod Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast Anthony Green: https://www.instagram.com/anthonygreen666/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices