Five Dollar Buzz

Year end specials are for the birds. Remember those holiday special shows in the 70s and 80s when networks like ABC or CBS would throw their B-list actors from their shitty sitcoms together in amazingly awful skits, toss in a few "hip" up-and-coming musicians like Captain & Tennille or Pepsi-disco-cocaine boy Leif Garrett as they sing the standard holiday crap and have the whole affair be an excuse to try and salvage the sagging ratings of moribund TV shows that were written in crayon on a napkin in the first place?

 

Well, welcome to the FDB version of that! Except we take our cue from that old standard bearer of holiday tradition, Dickens's "A Christmas Carol". Roger as Christmas Past eulogizes the various folks we lost throughout the year; George as Christmas Present talks cold turkey about current events and Pete as Christmas Future dreamily envisions the future of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.  Leading the show like a Dickensian boss is, of course, Nate, who stands in as our very own abused and underpaid Bob Cratchit. 

 

This episode is not especially nostalgic (leave that claptrap for Norman Rockwell's pandering to the American people to sell more Coca-Cola) but we do give an expletive-laden, free-form frivolity to the festivities (think BAD SANTA) as we wax on about the year 2021, the guests and episodes we've had on and all of the artwork Nate has put into it.  It's an episode not to be missed because it's all four of the Buzzards right in their wheelhouses; unexpurgated, untethered and riotously funny.  It's the year in review on this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We are taking a short break to finally catch our breaths, gorge ourselves on food and spirit and recharge for FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ Season 3 coming this January 2022! 

Jerad W. Alexander is a writer, who's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire and other notable print publications.  He is the author of the recently released book "Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War".   Mr. Alexander served as a U.S. Marine during the peak years of the Global War on Terror from 1998 to 2006.  His military service took him to Iraq, East Africa and the Mediterranean region. 

 

Prior to his deployment to Iraq, Alexander was part of a chemical/biological threat response unit based in Washington DC.   In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, this special unit was tasked with responding to several high profile incidents associated with Anthrax and Ricin. The DC sniper was also an active threat during Alexander's time in the U.S. capital region, causing additional levels of stress and uncertainty amongst the military community. 

 

On this episode on FDB, our guest reflects on his time growing up on various military bases throughout the U.S. including Utah, California and Georgia.  We also discuss the heavy influence of 1980s motion pictures such as Platoon and Full Metal Jacket on GenX.   Alexander goes into detail about his new book and other current political events that continue to evolve.  With the GWOT ceremoniously finished, Volunteers allows readers a chance to look back at a complicated and violent time in human history, as told by a significant individual who lived it up close and personal.

"The Simpsons" is probably the most famous American television series in history. It's the cultural landmark equivalent to STAR WARS, Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer," and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."  It's had 33 seasons. Only news shows, NFL programming, soap operas and "The Tonight Show" have been on longer.

 

The show was developed by the legendary Matt Groening along with Oscar-winning filmmaker James L. Brooks and the multi-talented Sam Simon (who passed away in 2015 and his contributions to the world are sorely missed).  Along the way they hired many fantastic writers, producers and showrunners including Conan O'Brien, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti, Al Jean, etal. 

 

Somewhere along the way they received a script called "Marge Gets a Job" from up and coming writers Josh Weinstein and Bill Oakley. They were hired as permanent writers and would be producers and showrunners for the seventh and eighth seasons and continue on for a total of six seasons.  Weinstein would win three Emmys for his efforts. 

 

Weinstein and Oakley would go on to develop the problematic "Mission Hill" and be consulting producers on hit show "Futurama" and producers on "The Mullets." They went their separate ways and Weinstein went back to "Futurama," winning another Emmy. He went on to create and write for the shows "Strange Hill High" and "Disenchantment."

 

The Buzzards are excited to welcome Josh Weinstein to the fold as he deep dives on his illustrious career, all things "Simpsons," Sonic Youth, and whatever pops into his fervent, hilarious and deliciously wicked mind. 

 

So, grab a six pack of Duff, have a donut and tune into another great episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon as we stop Homer from bringing about Apocalypse Now with another nuclear meltdown accident in Springfield..."D'oh!"

 

Colin Sullivan is the founder and CEO of Mintgreen.

Based in British Columbia, Sullivan’s organization makes Digital Boilers that heat communities sustainably with Bitcoin.

 

This Canadian visionary is attempting to solve 2 crises at once: establishing  a stable currency in a world rife with hyper fiat currency inflation and generating heat where it is scarce and needed.

Listeners will be hard pressed to find a more compelling story of positive vibe ambition against a relentless torrent of negative news, in an always expect the worst atmosphere. 

 

A breath of fresh air and a reason to be hopeful for the future- as well as some much needed Canadian wisdom and humor !

Author, journalist, and Vanity Fair Magazine contributing editor: Bethany McLean sits in with the boys to talk some shop… College, journalism, documentary filmmaking, Enron, the opiate crisis, Bob Dylan, penguins, parenting tips for raising strong, confident, kickass daughters, penguins, did we mention penguins? This one has it all! Don’t miss it.

There are those of us from Generation X in the U.S. that grew up on a steady diet of horror films, underground comix, sci-fi mags, punk and metal music while the rest of the country soaked up sitcoms and disco.  It was an era where such preoccupations were not met with wide enthusiasm despite occasional mainstream successes. 

 

This, of course, has all changed. To define grunge, for example, is to say that it was the synthesis of metal & punk with both noise and classic rock thrown in for good measure. Hollywood has gone all in on horror and especially films starring people in tights. The kids that grew up throughout the 70s and 80s have now become the tastemakers and almost everything has become mainstream (even bands like The Velvet Underground and Mötörhead).

 

On this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ, the Buzzards get down with an artist that defines the best combination of all of those influences, Rich Ragsdale. As a director he's made the horror films THE CURSE OF EL CHARRO, GHOST HOUSE and the upcoming THE LONG NIGHT and music videos for Avicii & Lenny Kravitz, Sean Lennon and Les Claypool, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman and countless others.  He's composed scores for most of his films and films EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS, BIG RIVER MAN and THE GIANT MECHANICAL MAN and TV series' "The King of Queens,"  "According to Jim" and "Freakshow." His recent spate of cartoons revolving around the last four years in politics takes their grotesque cue from famous EC horror comics from the 50s. 

 

Rich is the definition of the modern Renaissance Man influenced by John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Richard Corbin, Jack Davis, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bernard Herrmann and Iron Maiden. 

 

The Buzzards go down the proverbial rabbit hole of all these topics and more as Rich Ragsdale gives insight into his childhood and influences that helped shape an artist that just keeps growing with each new avenue he pursues. 

 

So, turn out the lights, pour a mug of hard cider and take a walk down memory lane with the current reign of the new prince of darkness, Rich Ragsdale. 

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon we can find a light switch...it's goddamn hard to feel around in the dark as things go bump in the night...

The Buzzards go for round three about the business of marijuana. This episode we get frontline reportage back from our cannabis correspondents and Buzzards-at-Large Brian Jones and Patrick Ryder. They covered the MJBizCon in Las Vegas and have quite a bit to fill in as to the bright future marijuana has in its steamrolling legalization throughout the individual states of America (it's gonna take some doing to federalize it...as you'll hear).

 

The convention has the look and feel of any other convention but the aroma sure is better and the participants are a whole other crowd than the usual sharks in suits (there were those but also think t-shirts, shorts and flip flops). Brian and Pat give us the latest and greatest news, most of it very encouraging with a bit of pessimism sprinkled throughout.  If you wanna know just where weed is heading, then this is your one stop dispensary of information.

 

So, get that pre-roll sample ready, fire it up and pass the dutchie 'pon the left hand side as you take another toke on the FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon as we come down off of the ether...what, you think all we do is get high on weed...

Emily Dickinson wrote a poem about recapturing the spark she once held for something that she truly desired. On this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ we honor that spirit by interviewing two people that have reinvented themselves and are now on the journey of their lives, reigniting that spark they both held years ago as artists and world travelers.  

 

Teresa Coates (www.teresacoates.com) is a world class sewing expert and teacher. She is so good that she now has her own streaming show called "Sew Together Tuesday" where she demonstrates how to put together a specific pattern each episode, ala Bob Ross!  She is not your grandmother's knitter, however. She is more Anthony Bourdain than Martha Stewart, or the offspring of their unholy alliance.  She does museum-worthy pieces as much as she demos baby blankets.

 

Jason "Hawke" Hamilton (www.hawkeartist.com) is an artist that has been working in so many applications he's stopped counting. Painter, sculptor, digital artist, filmmaker, pretty much anything that requires his hands, he's getting dirty. He also produces huge live events for major corporate advertisers and film and television industry awards shows.  Hawke rocks a mohawk and just so happens to be Teresa's partner in crime.

While living together during the pandemic, their restless spirits shaped a new future for them. Hawke began to film the episodes for Teresa and together they worked on making it more professional and streamlined. This grew into an ambitious pitch about taking the show on the road to the company Teresa worked for, Shannon Fabrics. And they said yes. Next thing you know they had a brand new RV with her show and name wrapped around it.  They hit the road and traveled to many places in America where they were greeted with fanfare, in some places, near rock stardom.

 

We are fortunate to catch up with them as they are on their break before they hit the road for good. The Buzzards dive into red states, Elon Musk, outlaw country, and everything you always wanted to know about stitching, sewing, knitting and quilting but thought it was gonna be...old. Well, not only do these two jumpstart on a new exciting adventure they also make sewing damn sexy, fun and vibrant.  Teresa even gives a real lesson in long term care for a quilt piece from a question by a special guest, Aunt Ruthanne Dodge!

 

So, put down the knitting needles, stick the pin in the etui (crossword puzzles really paid off), grab a frosty beverage from the fridge and listen to yet another scintillating episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ. 

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon as we finish our buttonhole stitch on our appliqué template

On this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ, we are just a two-Buzzard squad with George and Roger while Pete takes a u-turn down the newborn baby highway.

 

We're up to the task, though, because this guest today is a true blue, dyed-in-the-wool Generation X variation of the Ramblin' Man. We are excited to have Eric Kramak in the house, coming to us live from Amman, Jordan, our first guest to talk to us from outside of the U.S. 

 

Eric works for IMPACT Initiatives, a humanitarian non-profit organization that does research and analysis into those areas of the world that have been significantly impacted by war, disaster, famine, disease, etc., in order to single out what it is those hotspots require for immediate assistance.

 

How Eric arrived here is a story unto itself that includes stints in the Air Force during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a period of mountaineering and intensive world traveling, and two tours of duty in college, one successful and one not so successful.

 

So, get out your world map, grab a few freshies, and take a listen to Eric Kramak because he just might have something for you to learn here on this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon as we are done trying to save the world...one podcast at a time...

On this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ, we are lucky to have with us one of the most exciting young voices to pop up on our radar that we can hardly contain ourselves.  She is Alyx Ruibal, who has become a social media personality and uses her platform for a myriad of significant reasons. She is striving to become a professional dancer and demonstrates the many techniques she's developed over the years.  She is a burgeoning actress who recently wrapped her first feature film, a family drama called HELLBENT ON BOOGIE about a young woman with autism that wants to become a professional dancer (not unlike herself) but lives at home with her domineering mother in a trailer park until her wayward brother comes home and chaos ensues. She also uses it to promote social awareness, representation and activism for people with autism. 

 

Roger and Pete are joined by Nate, the Buzzard artiste, who is filling co-hosting duties on this episode for George due mainly to the fact that Nate is a veteran special education teacher with twenty years in the field. 

 

Alyx has been coming to terms with her autism all of her life. Being non-verbal as a small child she has developed into a very exciting, insightful, witty and extraordinarily intelligent woman. She went to Rutgers for dance. Nate has never quite met anyone like her in his years of teaching. Alyx comes armed and she teaches these old Buzzards a thing or two that they thought they knew already, those know-it-alls. 

 

So, put on your dance shoes, get that cell phone out, take a few pics and vids for your IG or TikTok, put that phone away, and fire up another exciting episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ.  We have Alyx Ruibal in the house!

 

Please subscribe to us on our YouTube Channel and hit like on our audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes. If you have any questions, comments, ideas for guests or episodes, please reach out to us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com.  We'll get back to you as soon as we get done burnin' down the house!