The Spring R.E.M. Came to Town w/ David Brent Johnson and Friends
Bloomington Stories
In April and May of 1986, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe walked the streets of Bloomington and recorded Lifes Rich Pageant at Mellencamp’s Belmont Mall Studio in Brown County.* So how could we resist getting in the wayback machine to dig up some stories? David Brent Johnson, our college rock oracle, led us back to 1986. Along the way we heard from Zirque Boner, James Combs, Mark McCormick, Kelly Walsh, Barb Stahl, and Lawrence Wells. *By the way, that’s not a typo. According to music journalist Tim Peacock, “Peter Buck stated: ‘We all hate apostrophes....
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Cooking for the Stars: Le Petit Café Partie 2
Bloomington Stories
Think of this as the Page Six episode of our interview with Patrick and Marina Fiore of Le Petit Café. After we learn about their relationship with a curious building on the near west side and with TD’s CDs and LPs, we get into the celebrity sightings. Of course, we are treated with a few Mellencamp moments, but they also take us in the wayback machine to the cast of Breaking Away and to other famous musicians who have dropped in to the cafe over the years. Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and Ruth Nall and for their support of the pod. And thanks as usual to Designed by and...
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Patrick and Marina of Le Petit Café: Bloomington’s Favorite Froosiers (part 1)
Bloomington Stories
As we were setting up our recording gear in the dining room, Marina Fiore materialized with two plates of warm apple tarts with streusel topping and brie pastries, accompanied by handfuls of walnuts. She told us that Patrick thought the young men–he was referring to us two, of course–might need a little energy before the interview. This was our portal into the hospitality and warmth of Patrick and Marina Fiore, who opened this iconic Bloomington restaurant almost fifty years ago, serving hippies, academics, and townies who drunkenly arrived thinking it was still the greasy spoon that had...
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Putting the "T" in ChrisTmas
Bloomington Stories
In 2007, Josh Snowflake, Kenny ChrisTmas, and Holiday Mike recorded their first album, Crazy for ChrisTmas, which might never get its due as a cult classic, despite the fact that its themes are timeless: drugs and alcohol, excrement, capitalism, insanity, familicide, general murdering, and, of course, ChrisTmas. This episode is not for everyone. In fact, it’s probably not for anyone. Merry ChrisTmas to all and to all a good fight–preferably with a family member right before ChrisTmas dinner. Click for more Hung Stockings ChrisTmas cheer! Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and Ruth Nall...
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How to Win Friends and Influence People with Sleeper and Brad Engel
Bloomington Stories
Sleeper started a hotel bar and created a community. He owns a Sleeper’s Bar in the Cascades Inn, and Brad sits at his bar pretty regularly. In fact, last weekend, at the first annual Sleeper’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Brad was the most honored honoree because he has lured teachers, coaches, and even his wife Jenn into this townie bar. As for Sleeper, he’s a bit of a Forrest Gump, so we get to hear about his run-ins with everybody from RFK Jr. to TJD–and about his bar, of course. If you haven’t been to Sleepers, get yer ass up there. Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and...
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Sometimes You Find Yourself in a Porta Potty
Bloomington Stories
Our production schedule is a little cattywampus because Chris has run into some health problems, which we discuss on the pod, so honestly, if you're not feeling like hearing about some asshole’s health problems, maybe don't listen to this one. We also get into horror movies and porta potties. The light at the end of the tunnel is that we already have our November interview in the bag: we posted up at Sleepers Bar in the Cascades Inn with Sleeper and one of his regulars, Brad Engel. Here's to waking up some feelings a little bit: Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and Ruth Nall and ...
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Catching Babies with Mary Helen Ayres (part 2)
Bloomington Stories
Kayaks, Coyotes, Wheelbarrows & Placentas with Mary Helen Ayres Think one ep of midwifery was enough? Well, think again MFers. Mary Helen kicks right in with wild birth stories and wild birth locations–valleys, backyards, condos in Carmel. We discuss life in a town that you help populate. MH pays beautiful tribute to Tom Donahue of TD's CDs. Then we round it out with placentas and, of course, John Mellencamp. Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and Ruth Nall and for their support of the pod. And thanks as usual to Designed by and sponsored by . Check it out! Support: ...
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Catching Babies with Mary Helen Ayres (part 1)
Bloomington Stories
Mary Helen claims that we are all celebrities in Bloomington. And yeah, she’s got a point. But, c’mon, she is one of the few local celebrities who can claim that, on a regular basis, she goes into a home and leaves after another human has magically appeared. In this episode, we get to talk about one of our favorite subjects: screwing life up in your teens and twenties. We also discuss Russian literature, Led Zeppelin, the fight to legalize midwifery in Indiana, Tom Donahue of TD’s CDs and LPs, and much more. We also get a rollicking Mellencamp moment, courtesy of James Robinson. Thank...
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Josh Got Effed and Chris Effed Up: A Summer Check-In
Bloomington Stories
We’re on vacay but couldn’t resist throwing together an ep so we don’t break our 26 episode streak. So, that leaves you having to hear us on our bullshit again with no guest to redeem us. In this lil bitch chat, we discuss falling utility poles, mustaches, customer service, Facebook Marketplace deals gone very wrong, falling limbs, and so on. The only redemption this episode enjoys are jokes from Jon Hancuff and a Mellencamp Moment with Dason Anderson. Happy July and eff you. Thank you to our sponsors, Gretchen and Ruth Nall and for their support of the pod. And thanks as usual to ...
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Tom Shelton, Hoosier Artographer
Bloomington Stories
In a 1999 song, Tom Waits persistently asks, “What's he building in there?/ What the hell is he building in there?” In his humble garage art studio, Tom Shelton has been making magical “pictures,” often landscapes, rendered through the ordered lens through which he sees the world. In fact, a piece on Journey Indiana describes him as a “system painter.” Not only did we discuss his paintings but also his childhood, partially defined by his mother’s alcoholism, and his circuitous and beautiful life path. Episode links: (documentary mentioned in episode) Thank you to our...
info_outlineSara Gardner came to town/ Turned her bike into a crown/ Rode the bus to sororities/ For shits and giggles-what a tease!/ Went out west to use her math/ Stacked up cash and came on back/ Opened the doors to a rainbow space/ Stuck some fake teeth in her face/ Trolls the town, leaves some aghast/ And now she’s a guest on our podcast.
Special thanks to Jon Hancuff for kicking off the episode. Sign up to follow him here!
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Content Warning: It is never our intention to hurt or offend people, and we plan to be mindful about not punching down. We are always open to feedback about this because we want to keep growing and evolving until we croak. However, we do like to joke around and we are middle-aged, so our sense of humor may not be for you.