Deviate

“I want to be as clear as I can be on this. Mental health is one of the largest problems we have in society today.” – James Espinoza Lt. James Espinoza is a 25-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department. His father, John Espinoza, who came from a large Mexican-American family in Hutchinson, Kansas, was also a career police officer. James and Rolf attended Wichita North High School together in the 1980s. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with James about his decision to become a police officer (2:30); community policing (11:05); being a rookie on the police force (18:15); dangers involved with the job (25:30) bad police officers versus bad administrative policies (30:00); changes in policing and technology (34:40); mental health (39:15); and what is misunderstood and underappreciated about police officers (43:15). Notable Links Broken windows theory Rodney King Community policing PR24 nightstick Police body cameras Fleeing felon rule Police crisis intervention team (CIT) Wichita Massacre (the Carr Brothers) BTK Strangler (serial killer) USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal Stephen Schneider case COPS (TV show) The Wire (TV show) Baltimore Rising (HBO documentary) “Smoke & Ride” by Cadence, featuring Ace Trill & Twansac The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“We have a lot of conflict in this world because we’re too busy putting ourselves into groups.” – Bear Manuel Jerry “Bear” Manuel is a detective assigned to the gang unit in the Wichita Police Department. Prior to his work as a police officer, Bear was a teacher at Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood education services to low-income children. He attended junior high and high school with Rolf in the 1980s, and they competed together on the track team. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Bear about growing up poor in Wichita (5:10); his decision to become a police officer (10:20); the day-to-day of being a detective and the importance of community policing (14:30); the importance of having a police department that reflects the community you serve (19:30); and the use of deadly force (25:00). Notable Links Head Start (Federal early-childhood education program) Wichita Child Development Center (hospital day care program) Rainbows United (community resource center for special-needs children) “Police officers’ lives are at risk because of a false media narrative,” by Kevin Lawrence, Dallas Morning News The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“I think in every era of music you can find stuff like this — and sometimes you’ll find that it’s superior to the music that really was making it big commercially.” –Michael Carmody In this episode of Deviate Rolf delves into a musical mystery — tracing the fate of ten rock and pop albums (found in a thrift store record bin) that evoke the quintessential look and sound of 1980s music, even though — for whatever reason — they never made it big back in the day. Joining Rolf in this musical investigation is Jedd Beaudoin (@JeddBeaudoin), who hosts the syndicated music show “Strange Currency,” and Michael Carmody (@Carmody68), a musician, record collector, and donut shop entrepreneur. Album art and show notes for each 1980s mystery album are listed below, in chronological order, by time-code. Sue Saad and the Next (Planet/Elektra), 1980 [4:05 – 10:56] Featured song: “I I, Me Me” Links: 1980 Grammy Awards winners 1980 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Sue Saad on The Hustle with Jon Lamoreaux Joan Jett (musician) John Cougar (musician) Sue Saad and the Next, “Young Girl“ Sue Saad and the Next, “Gimme Love Gimme Pain“ Rush, “Spirit of the Radio“ Led Zeppelin, “D’Yer Maker“ S·P·Y·S (EMI America), 1982 [10:56 – 20:25] Featured song: “She Can’t Wait” Links: 1982 Grammy Awards winners 1982 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Al Greenwood (Foreigner and S·P·Y·S keyboardist) Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist) Spooky Tooth (band) SAGA, “On the Loose“ Rainbow (band) The Clocks, “Nobody’s Fool“ The Human League (synth-pop band) Warren Cuccurullo (Missing Persons guitarist) Cinemax (pay-cable TV network) The Breaks (RCA), 1983 [20:25 – 27:55] Featured song: “She Wants You” Links: 1983 Grammy Awards winners 1983 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Vini Poncia (record producer) Scandal (band) Patty Smyth (singer-songwriter) Harry Nilsson (singer-songwriter) Stevie Nicks (singer-songwriter) The Pretenders (band) Blue Angel (band) Village Sound, “Hey Jack (Don’t Hijack My Plane)“ Fury (New York Music Company), 1985 [27:55 – 34:15] Featured song: “In Her Arms” Links: 1985 Grammy Awards winners 1985 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Felix Cavaliere (producer) Young Rascals (band) Kenny Loggins (singer-songwriter) Yamaha DX7 (synthesizer) Former Fury fan club, current location on West 57th Street La Blanc Brothers (post-Fury wedding band) Surgin’, “When Midnight Comes” (EMI), 1985 [34:15 – 46:00] Featured song: “Shot Through the Heart” Links: Jack Ponti (musician) Jon Bon Jovi (singer-songwriter) Bon Jovi, “Runaway“ Kevin DuBrow (heavy metal singer) Blizzard of Ozz (Ozzy Osbourne album) Master of Puppets (Metallica album) Reign in Blood (Slayer album) Cinderella (glam metal band) Stryper (Christian metal band) Judas Priest (metal band) Iron Maiden (metal band) Rough Cutt (Warner), 1985 [46:00 – 55:25] Featured song: “Piece of My Heart” Links: Mickey Ratt (rock band) Chris Hager (guitarist) Jake E. Lee (guitarist) Ronnie James Dio (musician) Ted Templeman (Van Halen producer) Paul Shortino (musician) Shortino as Duke Fame, in This is Spinal Tap MetalShop (radio show) Rough Cutt, “Never Gonna Die“ The Choirboys (band) Y&T (band) Rough Cutt (current band website) Stone Fury, “Let Them Talk” (MCA), 1986 [55:25 – 1:06:00] Featured song: “Too Late” Links: 1986 Grammy Awards winners 1986 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Rutger Hauer (Dutch actor) Limhal (singer for Kajagoogoo) Lenny Wolf (vocalist) Kingdom Come (band) Bruce Gowdy (guitarist) World Trade (prog rock band) Elf (band) Stone Fury, “Stay“ Glass Tiger (band) Le Mans (Columbia), 1986 [1:06:00 – 1:14:10] Featured song: “Chain Around Your Heart” Links: Derek Frigo (guitarist) Peter Marrino (singer) Mike Varney (founder of Shrapnel Records) Yngwie Malmsteen (guitarist) Guitar Player (magazine) Paul Gilbert (guitarist) Charles Bradley (singer) Journey (band) Arnel Pineda (singer) Steve Perry (singer) Envy, “Ain’t It a Sin” (ATCO/Atlantic), 1987 [1:14:10 – 1:25:36] Featured song: “Ain’t It a Sin” Links: 1987 Grammy Awards winners 1987 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Dee Snyder (singer-songwriter) Gina Stile (musician) Vixen (band) Heart (band) Lita Ford (guitarist) Fiona (singer) When in Rome, “The Promise“ Headbangers Ball (MTV program) Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit“ Hüsker Dü (band) Leatherwolf, “Street Ready” (Island), 1989 [1:25:36 – 1:30:45] Featured song: “Street Ready” Links: 1989 Grammy Awards winners 1989 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Leatherwolf (current band website) Armored Saint (band) Final comments [1:30:45 – 1:45:20] Links: Sammy Hagar (musician) Matthew Wilder, “Break My Stride“ Soundscan (sales tracking system) Captain Beyond (album) Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, by Bob Mehr Lester Bangs (rock critic) Rodney Bingenheimer (radio personality) John Peel (radio presenter) Circus (rock magazine) Hit Parader (rock magazine) Creem (rock magazine) The Archies, “Sugar Sugar“ Sammy Johns, “Chevy Van“ Computer World (Kraftwerk album) Nothing’s Shocking (Jane’s Addiction album) The Joshua Tree (U2 album) Anton Corbijn (photographer) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“To be creative, you have to live. You have to exist on this planet for a little bit” – Tod Goldberg Tod Goldberg (@todgoldberg) is an American author and essayist, best known for his novels Gangsterland and Gangster Nation, and the tie-in novels to the television show Burn Notice. He directs the UCR Palm Desert Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Tod about studying true crime and how to get away with murder (2:50); our relationship with athletes and sports (23:30); the Olympics and the Cold War (45:00); and the psychology of fandom and meeting your sports heroes (54:00). For more information Tod Goldberg, you can visit his website, www.todgoldberg.com. Notable books, essays, poems, and podcast episodes “When They Let Them Bleed,” by Tod Goldberg Horny? Las Vegas: A Sexy, Steamy, Downright Sleazy Guide to the City, by Tod Goldberg “Las Vegas was built by gangsters, and we celebrated those stories,” by Tod Goldberg The Pistol Poets by Victor Gischler (novel) “Notes On the Narrative Conundrum of Baseball Fandom,” by Rolf Potts “Literature of Desire: The 1976 Sears Christmas Wish Book,” by Rolf Potts Deviate podcast interview with Tom Bissell Deviate podcast interview with Jessa Crispin “Lines on seeing a Lock of Milton’s Hair,” by John Keats Notable athletes and sporting events mentioned Kim Duk-koo (boxer) Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (boxer) Mark McGwire (baseball player) Rickey Henderson (baseball player) 1980 Olympic hockey “Miracle on Ice“ Jim Craig (hockey goalkeeper) Mike Eruzione (hockey player) 2017 World Series 2017 NBA Finals Alex Johnson (1970 AL batting champion) Billy Martin (baseball manager) Billy Beane (baseball executive) Ryan Braun (baseball player) Steve Garvey (baseball player) Bill Buckner (baseball player) Mark Breland (boxer) Sugar Ray Leonard (boxer) Tim Bradley (boxer Bill Ring (NFL running back) Mike Mercer (NFL kicker) Tony Dorsett (NFL running back) Lyle Alzado (NFL defensive end) Charlie Batch (NFL quarterback) Earl Thomas III (NFL defensive back) Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (2016 Olympic gold medalist, 1500m) Renaldo Nehemiah (Olympic 100m hurdler) Edwin Moses (Olympic 400m hurdler) LeBron James (basketball player) Steve Zungul (MISL striker) Slobo Ilijevski (MISL goalkeeper) Wichita Wings (MISL franchise) Notable films, TV shows, and videos mentioned: Peaky Blinders (television show) Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino film) John Wick (Keanu Reeves film) Battle of the Network Stars (television show) Superstars (television show) Wide World of Sports (TV show) 30 for 30 (ESPN documentary series) Romper Room (children’s TV show) “Stop,” by Jane’s Addiction (music video) Other notable people and events mentioned Scott Baio (actor) Keanu Reeves (actor) George R.R. Martin (author) Robert Conrad (actor) Mark Harmon (actor and former UCLA quarterback) Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction singer) Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction guitarist) Iran Hostage Crisis This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“Go forward, have strength in your own convictions, enjoy what you’re doing, and you’ll be fine.” – David Latt David Latt (@DavidMLatt) is the co-founder of The Asylum, which is the most prolific independent film studio in Hollywood. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with David about his path into B-Movies and the beginnings of The Asylum (8:30); independent filmmaking and “mockbusters” (28:00); the Sharknado franchise (43:15); the future of entertainment (1:02:00); and lessons learned throughout his career (1:07:00). For more information on The Asylum, you can visit their website, www.theasylum.cc Notable films and TV shows mentioned: Sorority House Party (Rock and Roll Fantasy) (film) Sharknado (film) Killers (film) Jane White Is Sick & Twisted (film) Transmorphers (film) Giant Shark Versus Mega Octopus (film) Z Nation (film) The Walking Dead (television show) Leprechaun 4 (film) Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (movie) Pulp Fiction (movie) Notable people mentioned: Larry Cohen (B-movie director) Henry Hathaway (B-movie director) Roger Corman (B-movie director) Jeff Kanew (Revenge of the Nerds director) Mia Farrow (actress) Patton Oswalt (comedian) Anthony Ferrante (film director) Craig Engler (Z Nation writer) Other links: Mockbuster (movie genre) Rolf Potts, “Humor Doesn’t Translate Internationally,” from The Believer Tom Shone, “The Glorious Bullshit of “Reservoir Dogs,” from The New Yorker Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes, by John Pierson C5LA (charity) Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mean Tweets – President Obama Edition SyFy (TV network) Sharknado: The Musical This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“I thought that if things were hard it somehow meant that you shouldn’t be doing them. I think that was a youthful notion.” –Cynthia Sweeney Cynthia Sweeney (@CynthiaDSweeney) is an American author, whose debut novel, The Nest, was a New York Times bestseller. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Cynthia about therapy and hugging (2:00); career changes, writing her first novel, and the benefits of obtaining an MFA (6:30); writing tactics (21:15); starting a career in writing later in life (27:00); signing a seven-figure advance for her debut novel, and navigating the resulting expectations (34:00); writing in different genres, and the process of adapting a novel into a screenplay (46:40); the idea of talent, and its relationship to hard work within the creative process (57:00). For more information on Cynthia Sweeney, you can visit her website, https://www.cynthia-sweeney.com/. Topics discussed: Esther Perel podcast UCLA Extension (writing program) MFA in Writing at Bennington (graduate program) Scriptnotes podcast advice for MFA degrees Poets & Writers (magazine) UCB Theater (improv program) John Irving’s The World According to Garp (novel) Six by Sondheim (documentary) Memento Mori (theory of mortality) “Tell me why I shouldn’t hate you” interview with Cynthia People mentioned: Bret Antony Johnston (author) Peter Ames Carlin (author) Amy Poehler (actress and comedian) Conan O’Brien (TV host and comedian) Jill Soloway (writer/director) Henry Dunow (book agent) George R.R. Martin (author) Dennis Lehane (author) Stephen Sondheim (Broadway composer) Gillian Flynn (author who adapted her own novel for the screen) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“It’s helpful to have a thing that only exists in your imagination, as long as you are aware that that’s what it is. It’s only when you try to drag it into reality that it goes to a weird place.” –Jessa Crispin Jessa Crispin (@thebookslut) is an author, book critic, former editor-in-chief of the pioneering literary blog Bookslut, and current host of the podcast Public Intellectual. Her books include The Dead Ladies Project: Exiles, Expats, and Ex-Countries and The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Jessa on all things Keanu Reeves. Through this lens, they explore high school, and how ones world is forever contextualized by that experience (16:30); hooking up with celebrities in the social media age (29:40); adolescent crushes and idealized love (34:30); and personal obsessions (43:10). For more information on Jessa Crispin, visit her website, www.jessacrispin.com. Links of note: Jessa Crispin’s favorite YouTube video of Keanu Reeves clips Jessa Crispin and Jen May’s tarot deck Lisa Frank stickers Tiger Beat (teen magazine) Guiding Light and As the World Turns (soap operas) Burning Man (gathering/event) Jessa’s podcast interview with Neal Pollack Joe Rogan’s podcast interview with Henry Rollins “Julian Edelman learns falling asleep with strangers is a bad idea,” from the Washington Post Evan Wright’s “Scenes From My Life in Porn,” from the LA Weekly Rolf’s Kansas City Royals Twitter list The Goddess Kali Notable People Mentioned: Cosima Wagner (wife of Richard Wagner) William James (philosopher) David Fincher (director) Paul Verhoeven (director) David Wojnarowicz (queer painter and writer) Paul Monette (queer author and poet) Cary Grant (actor) Tori Amos (singer-songwriter) Nina Hoss (German actress) Notable Films Mentioned: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Keanu Reeves film) The Matrix (Keanu Reeves film) John Wick (Keanu Reeves film) American Beauty (Sam Mendes film) Susan Orlean (journalist) in Adaptation (Charlie Kaufman film) Zodiac (David Fincher film) Philadelphia Story (George Cukor film) The Achievers, a documentary about fans of The Big Lebowski (film) Keanu (Peter Atencio film) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“The Sears Christmas Wish Book was, for me, a kind of foundational text — a secular counterpoint to the Bible stories I learned around that time in Sunday School. I paged through the holiday catalog’s 620 glossy pages as if they amounted to an intoxicating graphic novel of desire, rich with abundance and possibility.” – Rolf Potts, from “Literature of Desire” In this episode Rolf reads an audio version of his Christmas-themed essay “Literature of Desire,” and discusses the wonders of the Sears Christmas Wish Book with novelist Tod Goldberg (@todgoldberg). Tod is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including the novel Gangsterland, which is currently being developed into a television series. He is also the director of the University of California-Riverside Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA, and the co-host of the Literary Disco podcast. Introduction (00:35 – 11:20) Vintage Sears Wish Book online archive What Exactly is Christmas Tree Flocking? from Mental Floss Klonopin (anxiety medication) Janis Ian (singer-songwriter) Enchroma glasses (to correct colorblindness) Literature of Desire essay (11:20 – 32:20) Richard Warren Sears (catalog founder) Mr. Sears’ Catalog (video) from PBS’s American Experience Sears Catalog Home (ready-to-assemble houses) That ’70s Show, Happy Days, Good Times, Welcome Back, Kotter (TV shows) Christie Brinkley and Renee Russo (fashion models) Pong (video game) Big Jim’s P.A.C.K. (toy line) Jay J. Armes (private investigator) JJ Armes action figure (TV commercial) “Is Jay J. Armes For Real?” from Texas Monthly WishBookcom Sears Wish Book memories (32:20 – 50:10) Action figures (dolls marketed to boys) Toughskins (jeans for children) Huffy (bicycle brand) BEST (showroom retail store) “Kerouac’s Fantasy Baseball Obsession” from Mental Floss Coleco’s Electronic Quarterback (game) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“These travel podcasts are great because you just drive around talking, and people feel like they’re sitting in the back seat.” – Ari Shaffir Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian whose standup special Double Negative recently debuted on Netflix. He is the former host of Comedy Central’s storytelling show This is Not Happening, the current host of the Skeptic Tank podcast, and the perennial host and organizer of Shroomfest. In this freewheeling episode of Deviate, Rolf drives Ari around Los Angeles on a quest to get a burrito. Along the way they cover numerous topics, including Tinder and dating (8:30); their conflicted relationship with smartphones and technology (32:30); the psychic merits of taking magic mushrooms (55:15); and the awkward etiquette of when it is and is not appropriate to hug someone (1:36:50). People and interviews mentioned: Paul Thomas Anderson (film director) Sam Tripoli (comedian) Jessa Crispin (writer and critic) Keanu Reeves (actor) Vanna White (television personality) Tiffani Amber Thiessen (actress) George Brett (baseball player) Roger Staubach (football player) Ernest White II on Deviate Rolf Potts on Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank Bert Kreischer (comedian) Quentin Tarantino (director) Joe Rogan (comedian / podcaster) Tim Ferriss on Deviate Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign Other links: Bushwick (neighborhood in Brooklyn) Boogie Nights (film) The 2017 World Series, Astros v. Dodgers The 2015 World Series, Royals v. Mets Bleach and Nevermind (albums by Nirvana) Mother Love Bone (band) Jane’s Addiction (band) Fugazi (band) Pasadena’s Suicide Bridge Pulp Fiction (film) Magic mushrooms “There is a time and purpose for everything under heaven.” Joshua Tree National Park (place) East Timor (country in maritime Southeast Asia) Rolf and his Kansas City Royals sign: This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“If you go through your life expecting moral purity from every artist you love, you’re going to have a very lonely life, aesthetically.” – Tom Bissell Tom Bissell is an American author, journalist, and critic. He co-authored the book The Disaster Artist, which has been adapted into a movie starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Dave Franco, and Alison Brie. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tom discuss Metallica and thrash metal (5:25); violence in music and video games (23:30); how one’s relationship to one’s own writing transforms over time (28:10); the shallowness of cultural criticism in social-media (33:55); the dubious concept of “authenticity” as applied to food, music, and travel (42:00); co-writingThe Disaster Artist with actor Greg Sestero, and making sense of The Room (58:50); and finding joy and contentment within the creative process (1:06:00). Articles, books and movies: The Geto Boys, by Rolf Potts Slayer’s Reign in Blood, by D.X. Ferris Some Kind of Monster (documentary film about Metallica) The Defiant Ones (documentary about Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre) Straight Outta Compton (movie about N.W.A) “My Holy Land Vacation,” by Tom Bissell “Euphorias of Perrier: The Case Against Robert D. Kaplan,” by Tom Bissell “One Man’s Odyssey into ‘Eat, Pray, Love’,” by Rolf Potts Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture, by David Kushner Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads, by Paul Theroux “The Mystical High Church of Luck,” by Rolf Potts (about Las Vegas) “Humor Doesn’t Translate Internationally,” by Rolf Potts (about The Asylum) Bands, songs, and albums mentioned Metallica (thrash-metal band) Anthrax (thrash-metal band) Slayer (thrash-metal band) Testament (thrash-metal band) The Exploited (punk band) Public Enemy (rap group) NWA (rap group) “Angel of Death” (song, by Slayer) “Wake up Dead” (song, by Megadeth) “Indians” (song, by Anthrax) “Creeping Death” (song, by Metallica) “Disposable Heroes” (song, by Metallica) The Black Album (1991 album, by Metallica) Other Links: Dungeons & Dragons books Cliff Burton (Metallica bassist) Chuck D (rap artist) James Smith (Rap-A-Lot Records founder) Dr. Dre (music producer) Rick Rubin (music producer) Paul Theroux (travel writer) Pico Iyer (travel writer) 33 1/3 (book series) Virtue signaling (concept) Tom Bissell’s favorite Metallica albums: Kill ‘Em All (1983) Ride the Lightning (1984) Master of Puppets (1986) …And Justice to All (1988) St. Anger (2003) Death Magnetic (2008) Hardwired..to Self-Destruct (2016) Other books by Tom Bissell: Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia (2003) God Lives in St. Petersburg: and Other Stories (2005) The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam (2007) Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter (2010) Magic Hours: Essays On Creators and Creation (2012) Apostle: Travels Among the Tombs of the Twelve (2016) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.