Flightless Bird

Phil Hirons, a lifelong Dungeons & Dragons player and dungeon master since the 1970s, shares stories from a five-decade campaign. He talks about teaching D&D in schools, hand-drawn campaign worlds, and how the game builds lasting friendships. The conversation covers D&D’s cultural shifts, its influence on video games, and why it keeps drawing new generations.

On this week's Flightless Bird, David Farrier temporarily halts his New Zealand holiday to bring you the guest to end all guests: Rosabel. If you've listened to Flightless Bird for awhile, you will be familiar with the Rosabel calls that kick many episodes off. You may also recall the time David cracked an egg on Rosabel's head. In this episode, let's learn a little more about Rosabel - and whether she has revenge in her heart. 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 explores the world of the tribute band - meeting “Dirty Deeds”, America’s best AC/DC tribute band (yes, there are lots of them). With their youngest member in their 30s and their oldest in their 70s - David explores how these American friends ended up choosing to portray Australia’s biggest rock band, learning that the world of the tribute band is expansive, surprising, inspirational... and often deeply weird.  Links: - Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com - Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/flightlessbird Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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