I first interviewed Rafer Weigel 11 years ago when he was at WLS-TV in Chicago. When I did this livestream with him, he was at KUSI-TV in San Diego. Now he's Chief Communications Officer at VetComm, so but I want to post this anyway because Rafer talked a lot not just about his professional experience, but his personal struggles as well, which is p…

Episode 185 – Cities (aka Fantasy Tripadvisor) After wandering the wilderness and diving down dungeons, plucky adventurers wish to go to an enthralling city. Maybe your entire campaign is based around one location. The lads explore various cities from ttrgps and the merits and flaws thereof! If you dig actual plays played with vim and……

A musical discussion: Steve Leventhal, creator of InternetFM, and his son and cofounder Eric Leventhal, talk about their music and broadcasting experience, what is top-shelf radio, paying for songs, why vinyl is popular with some younger music fans, commercials, changing technology and music delivery, how they define oldies, the resurgence of psych…

Episode 184 – Hot War, Cold City (with Jon Hodgson and Malcolm Craig) Joining the ‘cast this time, Jon Hodgson of Handiwork Games and RPG author and academic Malcolm Craig. The Cold War period and monster hunting in Berlin come to the fore as the lads dive into Hot War and Cold City among other…By evilgaz

Episode 183 – Unacceptable! (a.k.a. It’s Not You It’s Us) There are a plethora of gaming events to go to these days and you meet all kinds of people and playstyles. Often this is a cause for celebration, a way to pick up new ideas and techniques. Sometimes though, it’s suboptimal. There are still some……

John Siuntres (host and creator of the popular Word Balloon livestream and podcast and I often talk on the phone for at least an hour, so we decided to do a livestream conversation, and it ended up being much longer! Topics covered: how entertainment and the media have changed, the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes, creativity and syndication in TV and rad…

Episode 182 – How To GM with Justin Alexander The lads are delighted to have returning Good Friend of the Show, RPG producer and designer at Atlas Games, Justin Alexander. He’s got a new book coming out, available in all good purveyors of such things, So You Want To Be A Game Master. Join for…By evilgaz

Episode 181 – Gaming in Ukraine with Tasha from idearoll Fresh from The Kraken gaming retreat, the lads have met old friends and made new ones. Chief among those is Tasha from the idearoll youtube channel, who joins them this week to talk about gaming events, the scene in Ukraine and challenges of the current……

Episode 180 – Shadow of the Weird Wizard with Rob Schwalb Returning special guest Rob Schwalb, creator of Shadow of the Demonlord, Punk Apocalyptica, D&D designer and more, returns to the show to tell us all about his design process and work on his new Kickstarter, Shadow of the Weird Wizard. You can jump on……

Episode 179 – Pendragon 6e with David Larkins Returning special guest David Larkins, Line Editor for the King Arthur Pendragon RPG joins the lads to talk about the new edition, it’s starter set and get back to basics on what Pendragon is all about for new players and old hands alike! If you dig actual……

Episode 178 – Starforged With Shawn Tomkin Returning special guest Shawn Tomkin, designer of Ironsworn and of particular interest this time, Starforged. It’s an excellent Sci Fi RPG and well worth digging into, which is exactly what the lads do this time! If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the……

Episode 177 – Wilderness Travel Fancy a trip to the Isle of Dread!? This episode the lads take a look at traveling in the wilderness, how to make it interesting and what tips and trips can improve the journey. If you dig actual plays and reviews of played modules, check out the new YouTube channel.…By evilgaz

Ravi Baichwal is an anchor at ABC 7 Chicago and talks about his hockey documentary Summit 72; his hometown Toronto and Canadian culture; his radio career at CKNW in Vancouver before he went to CTV National News, then doing CTV and being on the air at CFRB radio in Toronto (where I previously interviewed Jerry Agar and John Moore); filling in at WLS…

Episode 176 – Dungeons Not Dragons Whether you’re from the old school days of white-lined maps on blue backgrounds, or newly arrived at the idea of maps, scouring the internet for your Roll20 backgrounds, dungeons have a long and storied history in RPGs. Join the lads as they look back over the years at dungeons,……

Justin Roman has done a lot during the 21st century: he hosts The MVP Game (sign up there to be a guest on the show) with Kenzie K (who was his fiancée when this was recorded); it's a super-fan Cubs game show (and a couple of Bears shows during the off season) on the Marquee Sports Network. He talks about his media and performing career, which incl…

Doug Cummings is a resident of Highland Park, where the shooting tragedy happened on July 4th at the Independence Day parade. He wrote the personal safety handbook, Escaping the O-Zone, to help people take steps to keep themselves safe and preventing becoming a victim. All proceeds go to the Highland Park Community Foundation. He talks about his re…

Karen Schaler was a journalist and crime reporter who is best known for the Netflix hit "A Christmas Prince." She talks about how her journalism experience led to Hollywood success; how she got into the TV biz at a station in Billings, Montana, then worked at a number of stations: in Twin Falls, Idaho, in South Dakota, at KSTP-TV in Alexandria, Min…

For two decades, Kathy Hart was part of the most popular morning show in Chicago, on 101.9 WTMX The Mix. She talks about how she went from being an intern to getting on the air in Rockford at WKKN and WYFE, then driving the station van at WZOK and WROK; how she was different from the "pukers" and wanted to be authentic on the air; how her radio exp…

Hannah Brummer is on the air every morning with Eddie Volkman on Star 96.7. She talks about her radio career, which includes hosting afternoons on 103 WXLC, and working in promotions at US 99, 104.3 Jams, WLS, and Q101. She talks about how she got into radio, why she loves radio, what auditions are like, show prep, why she's so grateful, her podcas…

Vicki Quade is best known for her popular show, Late Nite Catechism, and she talks about how she came up with the idea for that show; her journalism career, which included the News-Tribune newspaper in La Salle and the Waukegan News-Sun; her books Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind and I Remember Bob Collins; the decline of newspapers and how the I…

John "Bulldog" Drummond has had a long career and is best known for being a world-class reporter covering breaking news, corruption, and, most notably, the Chicago Outfit. He grew up in Wisconsin and worked in Des Moines, Iowa before coming to Chicago to cover the Illinois legislature for WIND Radio. He worked at WREX-TV, then joined CBS-TV in the …

Brian Pecht has been a jock and programmer at music radio stations for several years, and he hosts the very popular The Catholic Word Podcast. He talks about why he enjoys doing traffic at WBBM Newsradio; his on-air work at WLS-FM; payola in the music radio business; office politics; being on the air and Program Director (the youngest in the countr…

The last time I interviewed Sam Panayotovich, he was just getting his career started in sports radio. Now Sam is on NESN and Fox Sports TV. He talks about his journey from Chicago to Las Vegas to Boston, his sociability, sports betting, working hard and paying your dues, comparisons between Boston and Chicago, advice, locker rooms, covering pro tea…

Charlie Meyerson is publisher of Chicago Public Square. He talks about how he's become successful in digital media, what he thinks of the news business, his belief in independent pursuits, his podcast, and more. If you want to know more about his radio and newspaper career, listen to the interview that we did ten years ago. This is from a livestrea…

Adam Wade is from New Hampshire and has lived in New York for almost 25 years. He has won The Moth 20 times, and has appeared on Conan O'Brien's show, "Inside Amy Schumer," and Lena Dunham’s "Girls." He created the popular album The Human Comedy and was featured in The New Yorker. He teaches storytelling at the Magnet Theater and has popular conten…

I first interviewed Neil five years ago, and his work situation has changed since then. He is no longer at the hotel (where I interviewed him early in the morning), and now teaches broadcasting and radio, in addition to doing traffic at WBBM Newsradio. This interview includes breaking news: Neil is going to be in the movie, Never Stop Talking, whic…

Bart Shore was one of the early guests on this podcast 12 years ago, and he was my first livestreaming guest last week. He is still doing traffic in Chicago in the morning with Melissa Forman and hosts weekends at WLIT. Lately, he's also been on various music stations throughout the country. Click the link below to play, or download it by right-cli…

Pat Cassidy spent more than 50 years on the air in news radio. Just before he retired from WBBM Newsradio, he talked about what he's learned over the years, why news is important, how he's maintained a good attitude, how he thinks news reporting and the media have changed, advice he has for broadcasters, and more. Click the link below to play, or d…

Lin Brehmer, who has a fantastic reputation for being a super-friendly, interesting, talented radio guy, is well-known in Chicago via his on-air work at WXRT, where he was previously Music Director. He talks about his baseball and music nerdiness; interviewing Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and The Replacements; creating the always-entertaining Lin's Bi…

I have known Jill Urchak for many years, but I did not know that she was married before (though now I know, not just because she told me, but because I searched online after we did the interview; I should have searched before). She is probably the only person on this podcast who has discussed personal topics on the record, such as marriage and work…

For several years, Steve Dale has been hosting Steve Dale's Pet World and more recently Steve Dale's Other World on WGN Radio, in addition to writing and lecturing all over the world. He talks about his extensive radio experience, advice he's followed, how he got into the radio biz and why people shouldn't work in it, working with the grand masters…

Everyone seems to have a podcast now, but John Siuntres is one of the very early podcasters, and has been going strong since 2005 with his very popular Word Balloon podcast. He talks about how he started podcasting, how he built his audience, boxing, what he thinks of the proliferation of podcasts, how he’s been able to podcast for so long, comics …

TV pro Fred Weintraub and radio pro Hannah Stanley host the Hannah and Fred show on WCGO and WIMS Radio, and they talk about how they host live while Fred is in London and Hannah is in Chicagoland; how he got interested in the British Royal Family and discussed them on Hannah's WGN Radio show; how they are different yet use their strengths; working…

Gary Wordlaw is a very experienced TV pro, and is now the Vice President of News and Programming at the Black News Channel, which can be viewed throughout the country, including Chicago. He talks about how he got into TV; what the South and Chattanooga, Tennessee were like when he was growing up; working in TV in the 1960s as the first African Amer…

Brent Payne, the "Bald SEO" who I interviewed ten years ago when he was doing SEO (search engine optimization) at the Tribune Company, gives an update about his company, Loud Interactive, moving out of the city into the North Shore with his family, why he likes working from home instead of having an office downtown, being intense and motivated, why…

Does the way a son mows the grass reflect on the father? Absolutely, so you had better do a good job. The same is true of a wife's ability to make a delicious comfort dish. All this and more are discussed in depth by Martin and Justin in episode 149.By Two Bearded Preachers

Justin and Martin survive hurricane Dorian by buying extra snacks, going on vacation, and relying on their neighbors.By Two Bearded Preachers

Justin fails at parent and it might cost him his shoes. Martin gambles on a low impact sheep. And Joshua Harris kissed marriage and Jesus good bye. All this and more.

The Boys are back from their summer time off and ready to misbehave. The Goats of Podcasting are back with more dad jokes and more shenanigans than ever before.

Justin and Martin ask if its racist to have kids pretend to be slaves during VBS. They also spend a little time talking about that time a stranger tried to sell Justin CBD oil in a Starbucks. Martin gets a little insensitive and wants to escape the pain and suffering of everyday life. All this and more from the Two Bearded Preachers!…

Why would a minister try to hire someone to kill another person? Good question! Justin and Martin's discussion is centered around the latest celebrity pastor caught up in controversy.

The Two Bearded Preachers are at it again after a little break in the action. Justin and Martin rekindle their bromance talking about everything that's been going on in their lives and the stuff on their minds. Remember, this show is all about maintaining their relationship and a sense of sanity for two guys just trying to figure life out. It may b…

More podcast gold! Justin gets his finger broken by his wife. Martin is scamming for books. And finally Martin agrees that Justin is the wife in their relationship. All this and more. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call sometime with a question or comment …

The boys are still alive! Sorry for the delay but they're back and edgier than ever. Listen as they take a call that causes them to lash out at all those preachers with expensive shoes and take shots at the every lovable Francis Chan. All this and more. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform.…

The fellas take some phone calls. Martin gets slightly stoopid and Justin takes back the night. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call sometime with a question or comment at 951-472-3273.

Exciting times at Martin's church. They're using drums this week! Justin is struggling to sleep and Martin explains the taste of bacteria. All that and more. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call sometime with a question or comment at 951-472-3273.…

The boys are late this week but with good excuse. It was all Martin's fault. Now that we are back on track, love is in the air and your two favorite facially blessed individuals have a lot to say on the matter of weddings and marriage. All that and more. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform…

The boys are confronted by their own mortality again. Martin holds a revival in his town. Justin apparently isn't good enough to lead his revival. BUT TIM TEBOW IS! All this and more. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call sometime with a question or comment …

The fellas discuss masculinity in our world today in the latest installment of the Two Bearded Preachers. Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call sometime with a question or comment at 951-472-3273.

Right off the bat the butt talks starts. Martin of course starts by suggesting a new show to Justin. Then Martin's cat crashes the podcast. Then Martin describes in very vivid details killing his two turkeys. Enjoy! Don't forget to share the podcast and give us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast platform. And make sure you give us a call some…