Picky Eater Test

Thanks to New Heights for bringing this fun little test to our attention.  Like the younger Kelce brother, our intrepid host is a self-avowed picky eater.  So, we're going to test how picky he really is.

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The D20 Meets Wood for Sheep

When your guest talks about their love for Settlers of Catan and ways to make an interesting variant.

From our episode with the cast of Bi Spy

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Shooting the Clothes Line

When you and your guest - both former Boy Scouts - talk about summer camp, rifle shooting, and accidentally shooting the clothes line holding all of the targets up at the range.

From our episode with Jeff Polaschek

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Thoughts on College Realignment and the Death of the WAC

College realignment (specifically at the NCAA Division I level) is getting ridiculous.  It's effectively put one major conference (the Pac-12) into a coma, from which it will be relegated to mid-major status; and will likely be killing off another conference, the WAC (Western Athletic Conference).  Mike (whose alma mater was at one time a school in the WAC) reads a few articles on the subject and shares his thoughts.

Update: On July 1, 2026, the WAC will cease to exist, being replaced by the United Athletic Conference (UAC).

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Being a Kitten

When you learn about what they do at the entry level of burlesque.

From our Fringe episode with Meghan Spencer

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Explaining the Habs

When your discussion turns to hockey and you're wondering if someone who grew up in a Toronto Maple Leafs house could support their biggest rival, the Montreal Canadiens - or, as hockey fans know them, the Habs.

From our episode with Brody Otway

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Thoughts on Volunteering at Planet Comicon 2025

Mike talks about his experience volunteering at Kansas City's Planet Comicon in March 2025.  Mike did two days there - one day shooting video, and one day helping out with the board gaming area.

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Bughouse of Skullport

When you compare a chess variant to a board game expansion - not in a favorable way.

From our episode with Dalton Chavez

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The Kids Interrupt

When a bunch of local kids interrupt the first podcast recording session you have with a new co-host.

From our episode Discussion on Taylor Swift

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Richie Wolfe

Today we're joined by Richie Wolfe, local filmmaker and writer who did a bicycle tour of the US.  He was also Mike's boss doing student media at JCCC.  He recently wrote a book on his travels.

Richie's book is called "Home Is Where the Heart Lands: How Pedaling for 5 Months Brought Me Closer to Home."  You can find it at Richie's website:

https://www.wolfesdenwriting.com/

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Mike Quotes Taylor Swift

When you quote the biggest pop star in the world - as she starts spending time in your area.  Yes, we're Swifties here.

From our Fringe episode with George M. Dean

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All Roads Lead to Mr. Campbell

When one of your high school teachers is the basis for a popular TV character created by a celebrity you were briefly in school with.

From our episode with Marnie and Nick

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Robin O'Grady

Health and fitness expert Robin O'Grady joins us from Calgary for an enjoyable discussion.

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Raiders Fandom

When your high school football teammate talks about how he became a Raiders fan, how you became a St. Louis fan, and how you both feel about the NFL's LA debacle.

From our episode with Grant Adams

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Ramen, Ratings, Dogs

When someone comes up with a ridiculous rule on how food is to be classified.  Always remember the famous haiku: 

ラーメンで 
数字を取れなきゃ 
犬を出せ

From our episode Thoughts on the Cube Rule of Food

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Top 50 Fast Food Chains (Snowed In 2025)

We finish our Snowed In 2025 series with reviewing an article on the top fast food chains.

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How is Mike Not in Prison For This Clip?

When your guest hails from Palestine and you have a few things to say about genocide and the state of the world right now - things that could potentially get you thrown in prison.

From our Fringe episode with Samantha Salem

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Jenna Talleda (Snowed In 2025)

Florida-based nutritionist Jenna Talleda joins our Snowed In series to talk about health and mindful eating.

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Kerry Kott

Kerry Kott joins us today to talk about nudity, its medicinal qualities, and offers advice on how to get started being naked.

You can find out more about Kerry at her website, kerrykott.com.  While you're there, do check out her Naked Human podcast.

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Thoughts on Games on Wil Wheaton's TableTop (Snowed In 2025)

Part of our Snowed In 2025 series.

Mike credits Wil Wheaton's TableTop for helping to get him into the board gaming hobby.  Today, we go over all of the games played on the show, whether or not Mike has played them, and which games from the list he likes.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 League Championship Review

The second season of the United Football League is over and done with.

DC 58, Michigan 34

We will be back on and off throughout the offseason, hopefully doing our part to build up the fan bases of this league and its teams.  If there is any news on expansion and/or relocation, we will report that as well.

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Amanda Stacey (Snowed In 2025)

Amanda Stacey is a fantasy writer based in Joplin, Missouri.  She was kind enough to join us during a massive winter storm that left us Snowed In.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season - League Championship Week

We have our UFL Championship Game set!

Conference Championships Results:

USFL: Michigan 44, Birmingham 29
XFL: DC 36, St. Louis 18

UFL Championship:
Saturday, June 14 - DC vs. Michigan in St. Louis

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Conference Championships Week

The regular season is over!  On to the playoffs!  We also start our power rankings, beginning with the teams that didn't make the playoffs.

Week 10 Results:

St. Louis 13, DC 8
Houston 19, Michigan 12
Arlington 23, San Antonio 6
Birmingham 46, Memphis 9

Conference Championships:
Sunday, June 8 - USFL Conference: Michigan at Birmingham
Sunday, June 8 - XFL Conference: DC at St. Louis

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Tale of the 24 Year Old Midget

What do Webelos Scouts, nuclear power plants, and bald eagles all have in common?  This 30+ year old tale that Mike will be sharing with us in today's episode of the podcast.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Session Week 10

Week 9 is in the books.  The season is almost over.  We also talk about potential expansion and relocation rumors.

Week 9 Results:

St. Louis 39, San Antonio 13
Birmingham 26, Michigan 22
Arlington 30, Memphis 12
Houston 24, DC 21

Week 10
Friday, May 30 - St. Louis at DC
Saturday, May 31 - Houston at Michigan
Sunday, June 1 - Arlington at San Antonio
Sunday, June 1 - Birmingham at Memphis

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 9

Week 8 is in the books.  The playoffs are set.

Week 8 Results:

Memphis 24, San Antonio 22
Michigan 30, Houston 18
St. Louis 29, Birmingham 28
DC 33, Arlington 30

Playoffs are set:

USFL Conference Championship: Michigan vs. Birmingham at Protective Stadium in Birmingham

XFL Conference Championship: DC vs. St. Louis at the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis

Week 9
Friday, May 23 - San Antonio at St. Louis
Saturday, May 24 - Arlington at Memphis
Saturday, May 24 - Michigan at Birmingham
Sunday, May 25 - DC at Houston

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Hanna Rogers

Mike sits down with Hanna Rogers, a local model who served in the US Army and is also looking at getting into acting.

We recorded this at a coffee shop, so please excuse the background noise.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 8

Week 7 is in the books.  Week 8 is upon us.  Four teams are in great position to make the playoffs.

Week 7 Results:

DC 32, San Antonio 24
Michigan 25, Arlington 24
Birmingham 33, Houston 25
St. Louis 19, Memphis 9

Memphis and San Antonio have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 8
Friday, May 16 - Memphis at San Antonio
Saturday, May 17 - Michigan at Houston
Saturday, May 17 - Birmingham at St. Louis
Sunday, May 18 - Arlington at DC

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 7

The playoffs are in sight.  In addition to looking forward to Week 7, we look at how the teams' fan bases rank (at least how Mike sees it).

Week 6 Results:

St. Louis 12, Arlington 6
Houston 21, Memphis 20
Michigan 38, DC 14
Birmingham 26, San Antonio 3

Week 7
Friday, May 9 - DC at San Antonio
Saturday, May 10 - Michigan at Arlington
Sunday, May 11 - Houston at Birmingham
Sunday, May 11 - St. Louis at Memphis

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Sunflower Brew Revisited - Barbeque Four-Parter

12 years after the recording, the Sunflower Brew four-parter on barbecue and BBQ judging is finally together in one episode of its descendent podcast!

The official guests on this 2013 four-parter were Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent.

Part 1 was chicken, prepared by Jeremy Smith.
Part 2 was St. Louis style ribs, prepared by Mathew "Doc" Love.
Part 3 was pulled pork, prepared by Nathan Victor.
Part 4 was brisket, prepared by Ryan Walsh.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 6

We are at the halfway point of the season.  In addition to looking forward to Week 5, we look at power rankings, attendance, and how good (or bad) Mike's picks have been.

Week 5 Results:

Memphis 24, Birmingham 20
St. Louis 32, Michigan 27
DC 37, Arlington 33
Houston 27, San Antonio 3

Week 6
Friday, May 2 - Arlington at St. Louis
Saturday, May 3 - Memphis at Houston
Sunday, May 4 - DC at Michigan
Sunday, May 4 - San Antonio at Birmingham

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 5

Week 5 is upon us, and with it the halfway mark of the UFL season!

Week 4 Results:

Michigan 27, Memphis 9
Arlington 30, St. Louis 15
Birmingham 23, Houston 16
San Antonio 24, DC 18

Week 5
Friday, April 25 - Memphis at Birmingham
Saturday, April 26 - Michigan at St. Louis
Sunday, April 27 - DC at Arlington
Sunday, April 27 - Houston at San Antonio

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Thoughts on RFK Jr and Autism

This episode is in response to RFK Jr.'s disgusting words on autism and its effects on the people who struggle with it - including the podcast's host and producer.

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Season 9 Potpourri

We're back for Season 9!!!

Mike starts us off with an update on his car troubles, and talks about a few other subjects.

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 4

Week 3 is in the book!  On to Week 4!  And official news that the UFL Championship Game will be in St. Louis.

Week 3 Results:

Birmingham 10, Arlington 9
Houston 18, Memphis 17
Michigan 26, San Antonio 23
DC 27, St. Louis 15

Week 4
Friday, April 18 - Memphis at Michigan
Saturday, April 19 - St. Louis at Arlington
Saturday, April 19 - Birmingham at Houston
Sunday, April 20 - San Antonio at DC

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 3

Week 2 is in the book!  On to Week 3!  And wash the word "relocation" out of your mouths!

Week 2 Results:

Birmingham 21, Michigan 12
DC 17, Memphis 12
Arlington 11, Houston 9
St. Louis 26, San Antonio 9

Week 3
Friday, April 11 - Arlington at Birmingham
Saturday, April 12 - Houston at Memphis
Sunday, April 13 - San Antonio at Michigan
Sunday, April 13 - DC at St. Louis

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 2

Week 1 is in the book!  On to Week 2!

Week 1 Results:

St. Louis 31, Houston 6
Arlington 33, San Antonio 9
Michigan 26, Memphis 12
DC 18, Birmingham 11

Week 2
Friday, April 4 - Birmingham at Michigan
Saturday, April 5 - Memphis at DC
Sunday, April 6 - Houston at Arlington
Sunday, April 6 - San Antonio at St. Louis

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Unofficial Fan Lounge - UFL 2025 Season Week 1

Welcome to our new series, Unofficial Fan Lounge!  This is an unofficial podcast of the United Football League (UFL).

Throughout the 2025 UFL season, we will be previewing each week's games and giving our picks.

Week 1
Friday, March 28 - St. Louis at Houston
Saturday, March 29 - San Antonio at Arlington
Sunday, March 30 - Michigan at Memphis
Sunday, March 30 - Birmingham at DC

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2025 Basketball Tourney Picks

It's Tournament Time again!!  Mike has his picks ready!

Think you can beat Mike?  Enter our Yahoo tournament pool and submit your picks before the first tip-off on Thursday, March 20, 2025.  Winner will be invited to do an episode of the podcast!

Click here to enter!

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The Uncalled For Fortnight Challenge

What would Taylor Swift's Fortnight Challenge look like in podcast form?  That's what today's episode is all about - 14 different topics recorded at different times to form one long episode (likely our longest ever!).

Part 1 - Challenge Intro and Spotify Stats

Part 2 - Addressing the LA Sports Idiots

Part 3 - Driving Through Slippery Winter Conditions

Part 4 - Dead Poets Society Article

Part 5 - UFL Fan Opinions

Part 6 - Heather's New Year's Card

Part 7 - 3,000 Hit Club Members Not in Cooperstown

Part 8 - Naturist Quiz

Part 9 - Kansas City Chess Scene Article

Part 10 - NASL v. USSF Lawsuit Verdict (It's Not Good)

Part 11 - James Woodrow In Memoriam

Part 12 - App Nebula Quiz and Results (That I'm Not Paying For)

Part 13 - Conference Alignments Among Kansas City Area High Schools (Is Blue Valley in the Sunflower League?)

Part 14 - Possible Future Streetcar/Rail Transit Routes in the Kansas City Metro Area

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NASL vs USSF and MLS (Snowed In 2025)

This episode is part of our Snowed In 2025 miniseries.

The long-awaited lawsuit filed by the North American Soccer League (NASL) against the US Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer is about to go to trial (at least at the time this was recorded).  Soccer Wars has reached the courtroom.

(Update: This will be an early release episode for Season 9 because the lawsuit has reached a verdict.  We will follow up as part of our upcoming Fortnight Challenge episode.)

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Discussion on 2024 Elections with Andrew Rainey

Apologies to the rest of the world for our bad electoral decisions in 2024.

In light of the disaster that was the 2024 election cycle, Friend of the Podcast Andrew Rainey returns to discuss with Mike what happened.

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