Muhf***as I Know

Sorry for the lateness, but I've been fighting off a sinus infection -- or maybe it's a tumor. Nevertheless, I feel OK enough to finally post today's Crizzlecast. On this episode, I talk my old buddy, Philadelphia Weekly film scribe (and disappointed cinephile) Matt Prigge. We talk about his recent move from Philly to New York, how he's enjoying the movie scene in the Big Apple and what movies did he enjoy at this year's New York Film Festival. And, for reasons I still can't figure out, we end up talking about The Room and Superman III. Just roll with it, as Steve Winwood would say. 

I basically get my Marc Maron on for today's Crizzlecast. I speak with North Carolina comedians Adam Cohen and Shane Smith, the men behind the monthly comedy night known as the Dangling Loafer. Recorded one late evening at a Dunkin' Donuts near a strip club (I'm SO not kidding!), we discuss what got them doing standup comedy, what keeps them doing it and what they're looking to accomplish in their careers. And, in fitting Crizzlecast fashion, we somehow end up talking about porn. Have fun.

I've never really spoken to Tess Rafferty before she agreed to be a guest on the Crizzlecast. So, I was a bit worried if she and I could get into a good, hour-long discussion. I soon learned that was a silly thing to worry about. Rafferty, a stand-up comic, former writer for E's The Soup and author of the book Recipes for Disaster (in stores today, by the way) is a delight to talk to. During this episode, she and I chop it up about her days as a stand-up in Boston, why she had to leave The Soup, how she became a writer for Roseanne's Comedy Central roast and the personal experiences that led her to write Disaster. Also, every once in a while, we bring up food. This episode is straight-up delicious. 

For today's Crizzlecast, I venture back to Houston (via Skype) and talk to another one of my film-critic colleagues, Michael Sicinski. A very well-regarded film writer (thanks mostly to his website, The Academic Hack), Sicinski unfortunately lives in H-Town, which isn't exactly a town a cinephile like him can indulge in his passions. We mostly talk about that, specifically the theaters in Houston that plays art-house films, his problems with the local film-critic society and how he sees films he can't find there. We also get into that dark year in his life where he was depressed and seeing three movies a day, and what movies he's looking forward to this fall. So, get your listen on!

For today's Crizzlecast, I speak to Odie Henderson, fellow African-American film scribe and all-around super genius. (As you listen to the podcast, you'll find out that I'm SO not kidding about that.) It seems quite a few people have expressed interest in hearing me and Henderson rap a taste. Considering this would be our first time speaking, I was wondering how we'd hit it off. As you'll hear in this episode, he's practically my brother from another mother. We talk about it all: movies, growing up as black nerds, Republicans, racism, why black folks can't seem to get it together, Armond White, Here Comes the Boom, etc. It's another episode that was truly enjoyable for me. Hope you enjoy it too.

When I asked filmmaker and fellow Houstonian Raymond Gayle if he wanted to do the Crizzlecast, there's one thing he immediately wanted to discuss: porn stars who won't do interracial. We spend a few minutes at the top of this episode talking about that before we go into what made him want to be a filmmaker, his experiences as a "video girl wrangler" and why Live and Let Die is the best James Bond movie. Of course, we also talk about the ups and downs he went through directing his own movie, the black rock documentary Electric Purgatory. He also ends this podcast handing out some much-needed advice for President Obama. Yes, it's that kind of an episode. 

Well, people, in my further attempts to rack up hits and downloads for this barely-listened-to podcast, I decided to pull out all the stops and interview a bona fide member of the adult entertainment industry. Somehow, I got Alexis Couture, retired adult-film actress, full-time exotic dancer and all-around fascinating gal, to be a guest on the Crizzlecast. And when I say we get into some freaky-sneaky stuff, I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! We discuss how she got in the adult business, her best and worst experiences and her taste in men. (Hint: She takes them like she takes her coffee.) She also details the mess she got in with one of those Bravo Real Housewives and hands out some good advice to those girls who want to make a career in the adult industry. Believe it or not, this entire episode was an experiment to see if I sould have a conversation with a sex worker and not come off sounding like a gotdamn perv. I think it was a success. By the way, this probably goes without saying, but this episode is NSFW.

For today's Crizzlecast, I go all the way to Hawaii (via phone) and talk to Gary Chun, features reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. We discuss the odd-but-amusing way we first got to know each other (it involves cookies). We also trade war stories about working at daily newspapers, talk about how shows like Lost and Hawaii Five-O have brought awareness to the state and reveal why you should always have a second Twitter account while working at a daily (like he does). Oh, and Gary also pledges his allegiance to Spam near the end. Have fun!

We're now in week two of talking to journalists about the politics of the journalism business. And, for today's Crizzlecast, I make a call over to Jersey to talk to the entertaining and exquisite Kellie C. Murphy. A former print journalist with her own news site, I talk to her about her experiences in the print field (especially her stint with Philadelphia Weekly) and how she's persevering in this age of new media. We also discuss the personal hardships she's dealt with, as well as her experiences growing up with a sister with cerebral palsy. We get quite deep and emotional on this one. 

For today's Crizzlecast, I go back-and-forth about journalism-related stuff with Sam LaGrone, D.C. reporter, U.S. Naval Institute online editor and a former colleague of mine from my News & Observer days, But it isn't all about journalism -- we also talk about being thirtysomething old farts, his experiences in military school, who the hell is that "Gangnam Style" guy and how people in other countries aren't really feeling Americans like we think they are. Oh yeah, we also talk about that time I brought a 12-pack of Tab at one of his birthday parties, a party which ended with a ballet dancer fondling my package. NOW, DO YOU WANNA LISTEN?!

For the next two weeks, Muhf***as I Know will be talking to journalists about the politics of the journalism business. And, for today's Crizzlecast, I'll be speaking to someone who's been dealing with a lot of journalism business these past few weeks. Independent Weekly editor (and kind of my boss) Lisa Sorg will be discussing the North Carolina alt-weekly's future now that it's been bought by another paper. We also talk about how she became top dog at the Indy, as well as her philosophies on life, marriage and the best way to deal with sciatica. She also gives me a nice writing assignment. By the way, for this episode, the podcast is called Muhf***ettes I Know. Just listen and you'll find out why.

So, what's it like being married to a rock musician? Shelby Bacchus will tell you all about it on today's Crizzlecast. As we close out Love & Marriage Week, both Shelby and her husband, renowned rock-and-roller Richard Bacchus, discuss the rather sordid tale of how they got together, along with how they manage to stay together even when they're apart. You'll also learn a new term during this episode: "fairly faithful." By the way, they also tell a delightful story about the time thay spent Thanksgiving at a gay bar in Tulsa. Have fun!

Well, it's Love & Marriage Week at Muhf***as I Know -- because, sometimes, I need to talk some couples and figure out how the hell they do it. Today's Crizzlecast is a doozy! I speak with Warren & Donna White, a pair of drinking buddies who also has been married for a whopping 40 years! We discuss how they got together, Warren's time in Vietnam, Donna's time working for male chauvinist pigs and just how they've managed to keep their relationship fresh and frisky all these years.  Hey, for all those couples who don't know what the hell they're doing, it's worth it to take a listen to this episode.

It's another noisy, lengthy edition of the Crizzlecast. If you can stand the occasional gusts of wind and music playing in the background, you'll probably get a kick out of this installment. I speak with film critic Isaac Weeks about a number of things: why he hated Beasts of the Southern Wild and loved Ted, the hilarious shit he got from readers about those two reviews, why most movies blow, women and relationships, the pros and cons of freelance writing, Jennifer Lawrence's rack, why CGI nudity is fucked up and a very inside moment where we match many of our film-critic pals with the Winnie the Pooh character they most represent. It's nearly two hours of straight shit-shooting. Have fun! 

This week, the Crizzlecast goes punk! I spent a somewhat noisy hour-and-a-half with three members of the Durham punk-rock band the Bastages. We discuss how a bunch of middle-aged white dudes (which includes guitarist and Independent Weekly TV critic Danny Hooley) got together to rock like they were in their twenties. We also discuss old punk-rock memories, the so-called "legacy rock" scene, why being left-wing is better than being right-wing and how Michelle Malkin drives one of them up the wall.  Enjoy at your own risk!

For today's Crizzlecast, I rap a taste with Toledo poetess (and upcoming radio host) Kayla Marie Williams, a former high-school classmate and, as she reminded me, one of the first newspaper editors I ever had. We discuss whether or not I was a dick in high school, her quite-fascinating family history, her time at Oberlin College (yes, Lena Dunham's name pops up!) and just how vibrant is the literary arts scene in Toledo. We also talk about what foods we can't eat because we're old. Even though it's another lengthy one, and I sound a bit out of it (this was recorded at the end of a very vexing day for me), I still think it's worth a listen.

I might as well tell you right now: The next few Crizzlecasts are going to be lengthy. This is what happens when you have endlessly fascinating people for friends. Today, we start with Simon Abrams, perhaps one of the most hard-working, freelance film critics out there. (You can read his published pieces on his blog.) But, along with having one of the most adorable handles on Twitter, he's also a podcaster himself. I caught him before he took off to the Toronto Film Festival one Sunday night. And, for nearly two hours, we just riffed. We talked about The Reader (Kate Winslet's ass is in there as well), David Cronenberg, Paul Verhoeven, whether or not Lee Daniels is a shitty filmmaker and why must publicists make it so hard out there for a freelancing pimp. I start to ramble near the end (this was bought on by drinking Francis Coppola wine), and Simon makes a high-pitched noise in the middle that still baffles me when I listened back to it. But, other than that, this is one entertaining-as-hell episode.

Once upon a time, I was involved in Houston's spoken-word poetry scene. Oh yes, Uncle Crizzle could rhyme and flow with the best of them. (OK, I'm kind of embellishing there. I was a'ight.) I met a lot of verbally talented people in that community. One of them is today's Crizzlecast guest, poet/recording artist Karega Ani. I talk with my old colleague his various travels, starting and restarting a family and the state of spoken-word poetry today. I also play a cut off his latest album. So, light up some incense and get in the groove!

Today's Crizzlecast is one for the ages! I speak via Skype to Bari Kindle, editor of JusFlippin.com, fellow Texas Southern University alumnus and all-around gotdamn fool. We spend an hour and some change talking about it all: 2Pac, Soulja Boy, Lance Armstrong, ball cancer, Clint Eastwood's old ass at the Republican Convention, the tv show Daria, donuts, strip clubs, bringing donuts into strip clubs, dropping cell phones in the toilet, Love and Hip-Hop, the various uses for Coke and other ignant-ass things. I had too much damn fun with this one. 

This one goes out to all the foodies and people looking to make it in the restaurant business! For today's Crizzlecast, I visit Piebird, the Raleigh restaurant, and talk to its owner, Sheila Duncan. We discuss where she got the idea for a pie-heavy eatery as well as her early days as a former interior designer. Halfway through, some wine shows up and that's when things get interesting. All I gotta say is, making Night Train-flavored pastry, what's good and bad about the Oakwood neighborhood and the craziness of Florida enter the conversation. Man, I was so day-wasted! Enjoy.