Alone (you’re not, though)
"You come into the world alone And you go out of the world alone But in between, there's you and me" Trampled By Turtles, "Alone" The opening chords and lyrics are slow, methodical, like a morning alarm clock building the momentum [...]
Shot Of Soul Java
"When the Empath & Narcissist enter into a relationship together, it creates a magnetic, yet dysfunctional union because the Empath gives to the point of complete & utter exhaustion. Profoundly disoriented, the Empath is often destroyed by the relationship. This experience is painful & overwhelming but ultimately the Empath undergoes [...]
Walkens Welcome
"never half-ass two things; whole ass one thing" ron swanson, "parks & Rec" One of many marvelous aspects of being a lunatic on a creative tear is that you can come up with all kinds of ideas that make sense to no one else but are crystal clear to your [...]
Drawn To The Fire
"How do you always get the best of me?/ I'm out here living in a fantasy/ I can't enjoy a goddamn thing" Jason Isbell, "Anxiety" New firehouse, new crew, new shift and yet another new chapter in life. The last 19 months in the last fire station were a mellow [...]
Third Gear
"You and I both know that the house is haunted/ and you and I both know that the ghost is me" -Shakey Graves, "Dearly Departed" "You're actually getting in better shape. What are you doing different?" These words from a friend at the gym who has known me long [...]
Dry Me A River
“I don't see you through the windshield/ I don't see you in faces looking back at me/ Alcohol doesn't have much that matters to say/ Can't imagine where you and time to kill will stay” -Uncle Tupelo, “Still Be Around” The holidays have come and gone, and in a dozen [...]
Funktown
"Who are you if not the one I met?" -Jason Isbell, "The Life You Chose" From a long list of gibberish I utter about living authentically, one of the most often employed is "we teach people how to treat us." It's a great one from the quiver, and it's usually [...]
A Split Second Of Grace
"Death keeps no calendar" (English proverb) Scared? I've never been so scared. I have never been so scared in 17 years on the department. I have never been so scared in all my life. Today, I found out just how scared I can get. We say "I almost died [...]
The Best Of You
Eight months. It's been eight long months since last I wrote you, and even then the posts have been about the crazyscary aspects of The Job, and very little about the soul. Essays from times in the recent past have focused on the hard journey towards love (like these old [...]

- "Handy As A Stomach Pump": A Conversation With Chad Sullivanby Uli Gulje on January 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
This show's a long time coming; many of my coworkers never could imagine Chad "I'm The Entire Package" Sullivan and I getting together for a podcast. But that's the thing, right? We can be polar opposites and still find friendship and common ground. He arrived to the house with a dead raccoon in the back of his truck and more stories than you could possibly imagine. Please enjoy some Inside Baseball with one of my favorite coworkers. Musical Interlude: The Domino Kings "The Only Thing She Left" If you'd like to support the show FINANCIALLY, you can do so HERE. Thank you!
- The World Is His Playground: A Conversation With Jefe Martinsonby Uli Gulje on January 20, 2023 at 8:02 pm
From Massachusetts to Louisiana to Georgia, California, Missouri and Mississippi, there aren't too many corners Jefe Martinson hasn't explored or lived. He's a playground equipment designer, homebrewer and owner of the best moustache in the 417. But chiefly, Jefe is one of the kindest most thoughtful souls I've ever met, and I think you should hear his story. Enjoy.....I sure did! Cheers! *if you'd like to FINANCIALLY support this show you can do it HERE. Thank you!
- Mr. Howell, I Presume? A Conversation With Davidby Uli Gulje on January 10, 2023 at 1:00 pm
He's been a German translator, a magician, a brewer and done stand up comedy; he's also a Stage 4 colon cancer survivor. Meet my friend David Howell. In this long form interview, we get to peek behind the curtain and learn about this resilient, charming and unabashedly vulnerable person who has a perspective much deeper than belies his 32 years. We enjoy a conversation over some Narrow Gauge Brewing beers and a lot of off-the-rails sidebars. Please enjoy! *If you're interested in supporting the show financially, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!
- Hoping To Have Hope Again; A Monologueby Uli Gulje on December 28, 2022 at 8:51 pm
2022 is finally about done, and it happen soon enough for me. It's been a struggle this year in many, many ways for many OF us and I thought I should give you a glimpse as to why the podcast has slowed down a bit. It's a monologue, it's a ramble, but it feels good to get off my chest. Thank you for listening.
- "How I Became TikTok (In)famous": A Conversation With Mike Underlinby Uli Gulje on December 2, 2022 at 7:47 pm
He's got more layers than a complex onion, a creative juggernaut and one helluva good guy: meet Mike Underlin. He's been making viral videos from way back in the early YouTube days, and has most recently uploaded a video to TikTok that has more than 3 million views and was featured on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. From being compared to dressing like Jeffrey Dahmer to a weird love of Four Loko, Mike is one of a kind and today with Dane as a co-host, he reveals his origin story. Enjoy! If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!
- Gettin' Frisky With Miller: A Conversation With Big Jayby Uli Gulje on November 22, 2022 at 8:06 pm
He's been my mentor in cooking, a man of great integrity, a proud father & husband and an all around badass: please meet my friend Jay Miller. He'll demure with "I just sell door knobs", but the depth of this man is revealed within moments of him letting you in the metaphorical door. We share a love for music, food and metal work, although he is my superior in each category. He's the one I turn to when I look for a true compass pointing towards doing the right thing, and my respect for him is without limit. Please enjoy this show talking about our love of these hobbies!
- Cardin's Gap Yearby Uli Gulje on November 1, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Kelly Cardin is a friend, former co-worker and intellectually curious individual who seems a perfect guest to talk about burnout, retirement and how we face this relentless march of time. Please enjoy the show, and some songs by both Ryan Bingham and Charlie Crockett (I do not own the rights to this music). If you'd like to *FINANCIALLY* support the show you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!
- Mono-Log Jammin'by Uli Gulje on October 17, 2022 at 7:15 pm
Hey friends. I apologize for the 27 days its taken to get a new show out; sometimes we just burn out on life, on work, on our very own selves, and we need to take a moment. Here's a short explanation....I'll see you soon!
- "Bureaucratically Cunning"....A Conversation With Jeff "Sauce" Butlerby Uli Gulje on September 20, 2022 at 8:19 pm
In what can only be described as his millionth time on this show, Jeff Butler and I decide to tackle the big issues; issues such as what's shaking with the Royals (the British kind, not KC), reviewing movies such as "Maverick", what it's like to be around a nuclear reactor in a submarine and East Coast vs. West Coast fire department styles. Along the way we enjoy some Booker's bourbon and a Boulevard beer that's nearly two years out of date. It makes for a good time. Cheers! *if you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!
- Behind The Beer With Lear, Sept. '22.....A Conversation With Ryan Learby Uli Gulje on September 16, 2022 at 6:30 pm
We're back with another Behind The Beer With Lear! Today Ryan and I sample two new(er) beers brewed at Mother's Brewing here in Springfield, something from Rockwell Beer Co. out of St. Louis and a very odd collaboration at the end. Along the way we talk about mental health, dreams of disappointing Dave Grohl and how to consume 8 hotdogs in a row. Cheers! *If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you very much!
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