Verge of the Dude

I leave rambling voice mail messages on my friend's answering machine and you get to hear them too. Proudly presented raw, unedited and in one take.

Secret Successes and Broken Shoelaces 12/07/2024

Secret Successes and Broken Shoelaces Hey Dude, I'm really sorry it's been so long since my last call. I riff about a "big f'n deal" announcement that is still a secret, while also lamenting all of the broken shoelaces in my life. QUOTE: "It's not the big things in life that kill you. It's the little things like breaking a shoelace with no time left." - Charles Bukowski PEOPLE: Charles Bukowski, Sylvester Stallone PLACES: North Hollywood High School THINGS: Rocky, X (the band), Twitter, Bluesky SOUNDS: plane, birds, footsteps, gravel path, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Cafe at Christmas" shot with my RECORDED: December 6, 2024 on the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: iPhone XS voice memo recorder. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/34328300

Ode to Joan Baez 03/19/2024

Ode to Joan Baez Hey Dude, the other night I watched the Joan Baez documentary "I Am a Noise" and it struck me to the core. My new found reverence for Joan Baez is beyond measure. Plus I couldn't think of my favorite singer's name...Brandi Carlile. QUOTE: "Madonna, not Madonna the performer. Madonna the Virgin Mary." PEOPLE: Norah Jones, Kacey Musgraves, Billie Eilish & Finneas, The Carpenters, The Go-Go's, Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Virgin Mary, Taylor Swift, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Mimi Fariña PLACES: Laguna Beach, California, Los Angeles, Highland Park, Southern California, Altadena, Carmel, Woodside THINGS: The Go-Go's documentary, Seinfeld, Break Point, Netflix, I Am a Noise, civil rights, Quakers, pacifism, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame SOUNDS: plane, birds, footsteps, gravel path, Mimi, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Joan Baez Googled" shot with my RECORDED: March 18, 2024 on the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/30449608

Going Viral 02/17/2024

Going Viral Hey Dude, I had a minor battle with COVID before I really went viral with a Star Wars post in a Generation X group on Facebook. QUOTE: "A two-year-old has no context of anything..." PEOPLE: David Letterman PLACES: Hollywood Burbank Airport, Canada THINGS: COVID-19, vaccines, Star Wars, micro-generations, 1977, Substack, Generation X, 1965-1980, 1960, 1980, Facebook, History of Podcasting, Rocky SOUNDS: birds, footsteps, gravel path, plane, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Star Wars Viral" shot with my RECORDED: February 16, 2024 on the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/29998843

The Day After Christmas 12/31/2023

The Day After Christmas Hey Dude, I left you a melancholy message about my crazy days before the holidays, along with a sad remembrance of my mom's last Christmas. QUOTE: "At least that's what I call the day after Christmas..." PEOPLE: Dean Whitbread, Doug Mcintyre PLACES: England, Henry's Tacos, Ernie's Taco House, Casa Vega, El Coyote THINGS: Libsyn, Subaru, Outback, Crosstrek, Faberge egg, Christmas, Christmas Eve, "It's A Wonderful Life", redemption story, Boxing Day, Redeye Radio, KFI, New Years, IBM SOUNDS: wind, footsteps, gravel path, the 5 Freeway, birds, Ming-Ming, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "First Christmas" from an original photo, shot with my RECORDED: December 28, 2023 from the "The Barn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/29289633

Spoken Word and Music at the Hong Kong Cafe 11/17/2023

Spoken Word and Music at the Hong Kong Cafe Hey Dude, the PBS documentary "The Chinatown Punk Wars" took me back in my mind to my best live performance at the Hong Kong Cafe. QUOTE: "I was totally free on stage." PEOPLE: , , , , , , PLACES: , , , , , , , , THINGS: , , micro generation, , , "The Chinatown Punk Wars", , , , , , , , , SOUNDS: wind, footsteps, gravel path, the 5 Freeway, birds, Ming-Ming, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Hong Kong Palm" with my RECORDED: November 16, 2023 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/28694643

Rebel Without a Reunion 09/02/2023

Rebel Without a Reunion Hey Dude, the brewing storm inside my sobriety kept me from going to my North Hollywood High School "rebel reunion" for the class of 1984. I also riff on the weather. QUOTE: "The wind blowing kinda stirred my soul." PEOPLE: , PLACES: , THINGS: , SOUNDS: wind, footsteps, gravel path, the 5 Freeway, knee pop, motorcycle, helicopter, birds, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Football Profile Pic" with my RECORDED: September 1, 2023 from the "Lavina Cafe" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/27925050

The GLOW of My Great Uncle's FBI File 07/22/2023

The GLOW of My Great Uncle's FBI File Hey Dude, the FBI finally sent me the file on my Great Uncle Blayney. It's a 210 page mixed bag, but now I have a new angle to tell his story. I also recently binged GLOW and Ted Lasso. QUOTE: "I'm not easy to work with, for sure." PEOPLE: , , , , , , PLACES: , , , ., THINGS: , HULU, , , , , , , SOUNDS: footsteps, gravel path, wind, plane, the 5 Freeway, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Cafe Revisited" with my RECORDED: July 21, 2023 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/27538437

Rebuilding My Engine 07/02/2023

Rebuilding My Engine Hey Dude, my life has been a real jigsaw puzzle, slowly put back together this past month. Not only does my truck have a rebuilt engine, I may have found my voice...again. QUOTE: "At first I thought it was going to be a disaster, but in the end, it was perfect." PEOPLE: , , , PLACES: , , (), , , , , , , THINGS: , , , SOUNDS: footsteps, gravel path, wind, birds, plane, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Intro Pod Tweet" with my RECORDED: June 29, 2023 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/27345630

Star Wars Generation 02/07/2023

Star Wars Generation Hey Dude, I riff on the idea of "micro-generations" and make the case that I'm at the center of my own private "Star Wars Generation" even though I'm really a Rocky guy. QUOTE: "The wheelhouse crowd for Star Wars..." PEOPLE/ACTORS: , , , , , , PLACES: , FILM/TV: Brady Bunch, , , , , , , , , , THINGS: , , , , , moon landing, Watergate, analog, astronomy SOUNDS: birds, footsteps, gravel path, airplane, helicopter GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Google Star Wars and Rocky" with my RECORDED: February 5, 2023 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/25858443

Inspired by Annie Lennox (and Friends) 11/27/2022

Inspired by Annie Lennox (and Friends) Hey Dude, I was feeling deep blue until I saw a Facebook post from an old high school classmate, and later the video of Annie Lennox getting inducted into the Rock Hall. QUOTE: "Whenever I need to jump start my creativity, I watch it." PEOPLE: , , , , , , , , , , , PLACES: , , , THINGS: , , , , , , , , SOUNDS: wind, birds, footsteps, gravel path, saw, dog bark, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Google Lennox and Bowie" with my RECORDED: November 22, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/25142430

Remembering Thomas, Vin and Olivia 08/10/2022

Remembering Thomas, Vin and Olivia Hey Dude, I fondly reflect on the passing of our beloved cat Thomas, the great Vin Scully, and the luminous Olivia Newton-John. I also find time to whine about not making it on the radio. QUOTE: "A tear welled up in his left eye." PEOPLE: , , , , , , , , , , , , PLACES: , , , , , , , RADIO/PODCASTS: , , , , , , , THINGS: , , , , , , , , SOUNDS: footsteps, gravel path, cars, train, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Thomas' Last Day in the Garden" by Marisol on her RECORDED: August 9, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/24018684

Howard Hughes and The Americans 06/01/2022

Howard Hughes and The Americans Hey Dude, I riff and ramble about Howard Hughes and his dirty fingerprints all over the 20th century. I also admit to going on a 48 hour binge of The Americans. QUOTE: "Another time, another dime." PEOPLE: , , , , , , , , , , PLACES: , , , , THINGS: , , , , , TV/FILM: , , , , , , , SOUNDS: footsteps, gravel path, jet, birds, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Shoreline Village Chimes" RECORDED: May 29, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/23297153

Radio Killed the Podcasting Star 04/04/2022

Radio Killed the Podcasting Star Hey Dude, while listening to KPCC on the radio, I heard a mashup episode of Snap Judgement and Love + Radio, featuring Nick van der Kolk interviewing Glynn Washington. The whole thing made me trip on the blurred lines between podcasting and radio. QUOTE: "I freakin' love radio." CHARACTERS: , , , , , , , , , , , SETTINGS: , , , , , PODCASTS/RADIO: , , , , , , , , , , , , , THINGS: , , , , , , , SOUNDS: footsteps, birds, jet, freeway, virgin cocktail, horn GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Wawona Podcast Studio" RECORDED: April 2, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/22676144

Kerouac 100, Anderson 17 03/16/2022

Kerouac 100, Anderson 17 Hey Dude, I riff about the relative indifference to Jack Kerouac's 100th birthday by the popular culture, and how my 17th anniversary in podcasting was politely ignored. QUOTE: "He loves the word sad, I love the word sad." PEOPLE: , , , , , PLACES: , , , THINGS: , , , , , , , , SOUNDS: wind, jet, airplane, virgin cocktail, footsteps GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Here Comes the Sun" RECORDED: March 15, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/22469081

Shia LaBeouf and his So Called Mom 02/27/2022

Shia LaBeouf and his So Called Mom Hey Dude, two years ago I was in a mad dash to pack my stuff to move out of the Zane Grey Estate, when suddenly actor Shia LaBeouf was standing in the middle of my messy studio apartment. QUOTE: "That's one hell of a mom!" PEOPLE: , , PLACES: , , THINGS: , , , , , , SOUNDS: wind, footsteps, gravel path, GENRE: , , PHOTO: "Three Burbank Palms" RECORDED: February 22, 2022 from the "Wawona Lawn" under the flight path of the in , GEAR: Sony ICD PX370 digital voice recorder and Sony ECM CS3 "tie-clip" microphone. HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/22271576

Joe Frank Experiment (Featuring Stan Hillas) 01/25/2022

Joe Frank Experiment (Featuring Stan Hillas) BONUS EPISODE: A few years ago, my late friend Stan Hillas and I were working on creating a piece about radio pioneer Joe Frank in a Joe Frank style. Set in the mid-90's, the story is about an old girlfriend, who along with her Julie Christie lookalike friend fantasized about meeting Joe Frank. Music and sound design by Stan Hillas. PEOPLE: , , , , , , PLACES: , , THINGS: , , , GENRE: , , PHOTO: Joe Frank Stan RECORDED: 2018? HYPE: "It's a beatnik kinda literary thing in a podcast cloak of darkness." Timothy Kimo Brien (cohost on and host of ) DISCLAIMER/WARNING: Proudly presented rough, raw and ragged. Seasoned with salty language and ideas. Not for most people's taste. Please be advised. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/21879074

A Year of Living Without Drinking 11/05/2021

A Year of Living Without Drinking Hey Dude, on the Day of the Dead I quietly celebrated a year without drinking. Meanwhile a random 50,000-Watt punch to the gut leads to a new lease on life. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/21067778

This Maker's Life 10/04/2021

This Maker's Life Hey Dude, a bit of recognition for my photos by Descanso Gardens and The Arboretum paves the way for me to see Ira Glass in a new light, from "broken glass" to an arrow straight to the heart. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/20683916

Summer of '79 09/08/2021

Summer of '79 Hey Dude, I reminisce about being a goofy 13-year-old during the Summer of 1979, and the time I made Molly Ringwald's stunning older sister Beth laugh at my expense. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/20400974

Erle Stanley Gardner's Dictaphone 08/10/2021

Erle Stanley Gardner's Dictaphone Hey Dude, I riff about our new "barn" and the writing techniques of Erle Stanley Garner of Perry Mason fame. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/20096234

My Four Favorite Filmmakers 06/27/2021

My Four Favorite Filmmakers Hey Dude, I answer your question about my four favorite filmmakers by listing their four best films. I also include plenty of tangents and a short list of honorable mentions. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/19619657

Lost Chain Link Channel 06/11/2021

Lost Chain Link Channel Hey Dude, I was on my daily walk "feelin' groovy" while thinking about the poetic writings of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, when all of a sudden I narrowly escaped a random act of violence. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/19445354

The King of Summer Tours 05/29/2021

The King of Summer Tours Hey Dude, on Bob Dylan's 80th birthday I listened to the Petros and Money Show and was reminded about the time I met Bruce Dern and gave him a bag of handmade keychains. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/19285973

Don Crackpot 04/18/2021

Don Crackpot Hey Dude, while listening to a lot of mystery and conspiracy style podcasts, I've uncovered a host who has never seen the Godfather Part II. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/18761711

Bittersweet Sixteen 03/09/2021

Bittersweet Sixteen Hey Dude, on my 16th anniversary of podcasting I remember my long lost buddy Joe and his tragic passing. I also trip on the brutal Allen v Farrow documentary. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/18255977

Stage Time 1988 01/31/2021

Stage Time 1988 Hey Dude, while working with my cousin on our future podcast, I was reminded of the time I did stand-up comedy at a family party. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/17760614

Archie Bunker and the Magic of Art 12/31/2020

Archie Bunker and the Magic of Art Hey Dude, I trip on the mystical magic of the artist with a little help from Carroll O'Connor and Dick Cavett. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/17384579

The Lonesome Podcaster (Original Scroll) 11/22/2020

The Lonesome Podcaster (Original Scroll) Hey Dude, I riff and ramble about taking a second crack at the "podcast novel" using a new program that might really tie the room together. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/16908869

Cassavetes on Columbo 11/02/2020

Cassavetes on Columbo Hey Dude, I express my deep love for the TV show Columbo after watching "pioneer of American cinema" John Cassavetes guest star alongside his friend and collaborator Peter Falk. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/16641188

A Shaggy Passage to India 10/09/2020

A Shaggy Passage to India Hey Dude, I ramble about my "fans" in Pakistan back in the year 2000 and my excitement about my new surge of listeners in India. /episode/index/show/vergeofthedude/id/16340609

Verge of the Dude

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