Episode Apr 12, 2019

April 12, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss wiggling, therapeutic swearing, Emily’s identification with Ramona, upgrading “nerd”, a disappointing creemee at the legislative dinner, an illusory cheese club, a spiritual awakening at Jiffy Lube, compulsively checking your dipstick, a secret tunnel at JC Penney, the bygone days of riding in the “way-back”, sleeping bags & station wagons, John’s one-speed life, paranoia and a mean nurse, overcoming technophobia, how cable television is talking about space a lot, questioning the validity of the first black hole photo, robots at Walmart, what a true self is, removing people from your Facebook news feed, the deeper implications of balled up Kleenex, debunking cloud faces, Jesus on your toast, celebrity religious icons, the arbitrary nature of attraction, a delivery of 400 plastic Easter eggs to the Tunbridge School, Ariel’s emus in the bathtub, a trick for spelling “entrepreneur”, eschewing test scores, being cool while you are alone, buying yourself a whole pie, a redesign to make men more pleasing, being liberated by someone else’s energy, clamming up, being understood by your cats, special songs for your pets, advice for tail-tugging, reviewing strip joints in Vermont - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Lizzy Mandell [Under Lock and Key]; Larry Allen Brown [Stories That We Wrote]; Julie James [Mud Season Minuet].

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts or Youtube, or tune in Fridays at 11 am to hear this show live on WFVR-FM South Royalton, Vermont 96.5 FM, streaming online and rebroadcast at Royalton Community Radio. Made possible in part by generous support from station sponsors Howvale Farm, The Tunbridge Grease Collective, Rivendell Restoration and the Mountain Folk Concert Series.

Episode Mar 29, 2019

March 29, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss a song about fish, the hood, a whole bunch of mud, more on the charmed star behind John’s book collection, a mystical roof leak, the relationship issues behind clutter, tubs of Lycra, three timeless hours with Ronni, pros and cons of driving on the wrong side, bushwhacking Strawberry Hill with a snow board, challenging insouciance, a train death in Springfield, an ill-fated excursion with the traveling lamb, failed attempts to blow dry wet animals, a difficult choice involving scary clowns, an existential question about storm drains, aquatic pets, a terrible dilemma about dead fish who come back to life, consensual sex between animals, the hidden truth about armadillos, a rationalization for castration, awkward facts about Jim, new uses for bubble wrap, scientific data on cuteness, a terrible story about “Cabby”, using stuffed animals to compensate for your losses, squeezing things to death, the neutral quality of average hugging, a prophetic dream about archetypal computer screens, any idiotic thing, maybe not-so-crazy Flat Earthers, uncovering your alien past, a hypothetical about transmissions that penetrate the skull, healing yourself with tuning forks, questioning gum massage, evil dentists, a quick look at dog horoscopes - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Davey Davis and Rick Davis [Exploding Bass]; Bow Thayer [Epitome]; Dayve Huckett [Feast or Famine].

Episode Mar 22, 2019

March 22, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss some driving difficulties, what holds us up, spring plowing, a brush hog metaphor, tips for stability when the road is slushy, more specifics on the mean nursing home lady, an insult involving sheep, when to go public with your rants, how Fruit Loops morphed into Froot Loops, questioning everything including Wikipedia, deconstructing Timmy’s relationship to Lassie, nostalgia for a Laundromats, staging areas for reality, a complaint about horse hair, pillows made of beef hide, Butch’s truck seat cover named “Manuel”, the impact of leather couches, women vs. cup holders, famous recording studio furniture, the evils of basements, square format cameras, dancers throwing down signs, what hip hop did to the peace sign, confusion about the “Loser” symbol, a new twist on the “I Made You Look” game, going west on the train, having too many cook books, when other people show up in your clothes, mud season costumes, a bad experience with beige, Emily’s declaration that “no one remembers the 70s”, the fallacy of banana slicers, a new kind of tuning fork called “The Sonic Slider”, an argument about Pavlov, using air horns for dog training, Jen’s accident, Pete Jorgenson’s wrench-a-fone, how many muffins is too many, the irreconcilable gap between healthy foods and commercial cereal products, the true genesis of food additives, Americans’ general indifference towards most fermented foods - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Val McCallum [Stellar Girl]; Val McCallum [Chateauguay]; Val McCallum [Ridgerunner].

Episode Mar 15, 2019

March 15, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss how to choose a good rubber boot, nostalgia for orthopedic shoes, cement blocks in the back of your truck, ski lift disasters, bad exit ramps, climbing hills on skins, gender switching Eagles lyrics for fun, a morbid fascination with celebrities who have aged out of their attractive period, sexist rules regarding who you can have a crush on, when to remove your long johns, the So Ro pay phone, how to find cell tower & antennae locations, running between gigs on St. Patty’s Day, sweeping perverts out of the church, corruption of our religious institutions, dog breeding gone awry, being served a mixed drink by John, how we didn’t get drunk, flagrant misuse of car windows, the down side of taking lambs to nursing homes, remembering Andy the runt, a video about Craft Night, sheep too big for car transport, debunking the term “well done”, how the sauerkraut jar upset Emily, an unexpected word to describe pathological over-talking, why hipsters don’t speak Latin, binge-watching Jonna Jinton, a philosophical musing on head size, being well put together as precursor to getting more stuff in life, the mathematical underpinnings of symmetry, the physical beauty of Tibetan nomads, water buffalo cheese gone missing, a tip for making foam volcanoes, a confession about super powers, the confusion of being psychic half the time, historical dowsing in the state of Vermont, misconstruing prayer, conversing with a façade, fantasizing about a snuggly Pope, how dressing like a leprechaun can get you in places for free, Butch’s homemade elevator - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Mark Struhsacker [End of the Line]; Willa Mamet and Paul Miller [Louisiana]; Linda Warnaar [Shambala Warrior].

Episode Mar 8, 2019

March 8, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss a pink outfit, the confusing story of Grammy Sammy, a mental health day for Eli, hidden squeaking, how phone-phobic DJs might run an on-air telethon, whether or not Rob makes dairy products, farmers in the grocery store, Liam’s moment of triumph, easy note-taking at town meeting, Cabot’s expansion into dog treats, the hidden life of a powdered cheese by-product, synthetic food spray for crackers, persistent myths & truths regarding monosodium glutamate, that strange, scary red color in some Chinese food, being led astray by appealing food, a question about the gender of trains, a mysterious disappearance at the Barnard Store, the energy of profanity, a plan for button making, the best car repairs, a text message about Lenny Kravitz, more on William Shatner’s singing prowess, when banjos arrive, a case of mistaken identity, the dark side of being a bridesmaid, a lost wedding that was not well documented, more insulting innuendos aimed at Emily’s Prius, a sheep hauling argument, northern ignorance of tropical fruits, the anomaly of a Mexican winter squash, how to secure free admission to the WFVR party, getting roped into the civic club’s variety show again, a von Trapp family comparison, remembering the lady in a wig who yodeled, a refresher on puppets, a long-term yet troubled relationship to Pee-Wee Herman in marionette form, how to quickly cultivate your “nouveau riche” - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Nick Cowles [The Truck Song]; Davey Davis [Mode for Love]; Bellatrix [Breath of the Devil].

Episode Mar 1, 2019

March 1, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss correcting the “like” habit, the sister bubble, an impending fundraiser, a tale of two barns, the stupidest kind of junk mail, wild swerving, plastic solar highways, a fond goodbye to macadam, the ins & outs of micro-blading eyebrows, problematic lips, the dangers of joy, a confusing vocabulary word, the open kitchen rule, faulty refrigerator organization, a very sad bunch of celery, Emily’s Fire Department responsibilities gone awry, the strange contradiction of “Warnings”, Matt’s goofy trick with a water bottle, the inconclusive nature of half a sentence, letting go of micro-management, all the things we could do, the relief of cancellations, whiskey as breakfast food, gratitude for Lisa, a failed interaction at Will’s Store, a slow week for human interaction, cribbing for those awkward social moments, weird hot dogs, trouble with raisins, how talking to cats may come back to haunt you, imagining a poet president, being under surveillance in the bathroom, talking smack about others, a submersion into lamb guts, dealing with farmyard deaths, when cats create hierarchies, horse stall fantasies, the sound of animals chewing as sleep aid, the PEZ Easter egg hunt disaster, the Russian polar bear invasion, a clarification about shark infested waters, current relevance of the word “churlish”, trending words at Merriam-Webster, when a brat is a brat, why you aren’t yourself, how fear runs the planet, how it feels to be lied to, putting truth back on its pedestal - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Doug Anderson [River of Whiskey]; Smoking Grass [Opus #1]; Ariel Zevon [Je Maintiendrai].

Episode Feb 22, 2019

February 22, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss makeshift baby formula for lambs, the lost udder, late night debates at the State House, farmer “tough love”, more crackpot health tips, blind belief in science, revolting advice for eradicating colds, Myra’s interest in slime, micro-managing the lives of boys & men, rediscovering lost Vermont ski areas, revisiting fashion freedom in relation to hats, how to rock a sweater, gnome pajamas, the dog dramas of Maeve and Brock, great fake laughs, dropping bread crumbs as metaphor, the terrors of Hansel & Gretel, some failings of surveyor’s tape, the multiplicity of amphibians, unpacking “dog eat dog”, Dorothy’s fall into the pig pen, advice from Tunbridge Wiccans, how the gift of bundled sage might be more than you bargained for, the benefits of wallowing and/or resetting your life, being both mother and father to yourself, the two fishes of Pisces, a horrible fight at the ski tow, a vocabulary word having to do with psychopaths, why society seems focused on narcissism, confusion about autism, the evolution of pollution’s effect on human health, why fighting with people online is useless, our emotional attachment to plastic bags, picking your battles, how frustration can get out of control, unplugging from toxic interactions, looking forward to a week of fundraising on WFVR - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Davey Davis [Night of the Wannabes]; Pete Sutherland [In the Country of the Iroquois]; Elric Walker [Odd Man Out].

Episode Feb 15, 2019

February 15, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss big eyed Bratz dolls, Emily’s trust in the flu shot, man flu, costume repair using brass brads, the world’s cheapest ($29) vacuum repair, combining tinkering with a rental business, the amazing prowess of propane truck drivers, a quick analysis of auctioneer-types, cowboy tongue twisters, Biddy Bodder, the overblown fantasy of Trucker’s hats, denim stripes under the microscope, six categories of drunkenness, attempts to create the perfect childhood for your children, a surprise discovery about the patron saint of beekeeping, “UR not that fat” on candy hearts & as political manifesto, the possible misnomer of “higher learning”, breaking down the phrase “I’m just kidding”, how product placement & cultural indoctrination has destroyed movies, the subliminal messaging of athletic clothing, contemplating the end of middle school dances, sugar overload thanks to the fundraising bake sale, baskets of puppies, tearing up, kids who are too nervous to eat or go to the bathroom in new situations, the evasion strategies of people living at intersections, a problematic plastic fork that led to food waste, minimizing your exposure to heart tweaking music, getting your dog back with dirty laundry, heart-shaped prime rib for Valentine’s Day, a perplexing sign at the VFW, shoveling needed to Norman’s door, defining organic ducks, blanket resistance to affirmations, mastering the art of writing checks - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Grayson [Giving Up on Giving Up]; Robert Resnik [All Kinds of Weather]; Gold Town [Coal Burning Smokestack].

Episode Feb 1, 2019

February 1, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss a sliver somewhere in your hand, pulling into the wrong side of the gas pump, the upside of germ exposure, Bluebird Friday, old lady ski instructors, dunking babies in cold water, a very strange fundraiser, an undertaker’s approach to removing tattoos, the spiritual properties of puppies, whether or not angels cry, choosing birth, invisible support, Kristina’s growing mistrust off vacuum repair, the indignities of sheep birth, the difference between schussing & slogging, an obscure Bing Crosby reference, a sudden & startling confluence of people named Pat, the deep silence of some electric typewriters, prescient science fiction movies, a quick review of appliance colors, growing up with a goldenrod kitchen, the symptoms of depersonalization disorder, an awkward moment at the Dairy Summit, reaching new heights of inappropriate behavior, a fire alarm just in the nick of time, discrimination against poultry, a new look at chicken legs, a goose attack averted, Butch’s Halloween surprise, an unfortunate bite, basic pet cemetery protocol, the sound of submarines in deep space, why boys like battle ships, how a torpedo laden military installation might induce claustrophobia in certain individuals, nice metals, a southern colloquialism come to Vermont, being a dog’s “friend” rather than its “mother”, hella debunked, how far to go with goats - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Doug Perkins [Hang Glide]; Terry Lee Hale [Scientific Rendezvous]; Robert Bryant [Thinking Too Much].

Episode Jan 25, 2019

January 25, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss a panoply of legless creatures, worst attributes of a snake, a horrible trip from the front door to the car, how low water pressure led to an unfortunate encounter with a vacuum cleaner attachment, one strategy for almost blowing up your car, horse manure’s contribution to barnyard traction, an impromptu party, perplexing rules of the alphabet, a cool brother-in-law named Jim, mounting the impossible driveway, John’s spacey driving, a panicked call to the Sargeant at Arms, feeling abandoned during a laundry room emergency, almost burning down the house, how a good husband can go wrong by being happy, the sideways snow, a train’s sense of urgency, flooding on the First Branch, Kristina’s natal moon placement in relation to the recent lunar eclipse, automatic camera settings that turn bad photographers into geniuses, problems with the free will universe, escapism vs. awakism, more on over-use of the word “like”, what they give away for free upstairs at the Plainfield VT food coop, a confusing moment with two boys & a box of condoms, historical novels about prostitution, the startling lack of body parts in Laura Ingalls Wilder books, revelations about outhouse technology, a near electrocution, the joys of peeing outside, a volunteer opportunity to house-sit in Belize with a pig, a strange cartoon themed around sausages, unpacking the Oscar Meyer Weiner-Mobile, how faking friendliness can sometimes become sincere, the many things we could have learned, school projects that cost too much, a sap bucket guitar - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Michael Jermyn [All Hail the Underachievers]; Mark Struhsacker [Your Actions Spoke Louder Than Words]; Chris Kleeman & Malkum Gibson [Gospel Train].

Episode Jan 18, 2019

January 18, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss some confusion concerning Choo Choo Charlie, the horrid truth about peanut butter & molasses-based candy, deflecting attention away from what you actually feel, the consequences of feeling lazy, miserable and isolated for a whole week, losing your social skills, making eye contact with animals, the difference between flout, flute and flaunt, John’s random purchases, the bad dog’s mutiny, how Kristina deals with her cat walking into the kitchen, unpacking the hipster phrase “super twee” & its British etymology, the affect of wearing an ascot, an ongoing problem with pillows, clutching & gesticulating with your chapstick, practicing not looking at your phone, a strange warning at the vacuum cleaner store, the true impact of Todd’s voice, another Facebook scam to be creeped-out by, a two hour makeup job, a near miss with Mary Oliver, the magic of people who know “everybody”, a run in with Roy at the cheese case, how many whiskeys is too many, picking on your spouse because you feel shitty, the logic of feeling sorry for yourself, an update on “cheese food”, a possible relationship between hydroponics and beer pong, changes in the door bell at Will’s Store, one drunken summer after high school, sordid details regarding the difficulties of milking sheep, visits from babies, getting your monster on, being stumped by alternative pronunciations, a theory about planet Mercury & how humans may have affected its behavior, the sweetness of stars, the new trend of flipping out over snow storms, the dangers of snow caves - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Hooligans [Topsy Turvy World]; Brian Clark [West]; Steve Mayone [Time Moves On].

Episode Jan 11, 2019

January 11, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss cheek squeezing, beer drinking & helium inhalation, the heights of Strawberry Hill, an update on the “What’s Up” controversy, trying to stay current with younger generations, opposite compliments, plans for the inaugural ball, responses to the heckler in the galley throwing monopoly money, a triumph for freedom of speech, paper hoarding as “way of life”, saving doodle artifacts, Victorian restoration at the Vermont State House, remembered terrors of the Van der Graff generator, going back to index card organization, understanding office supplies, smelling corporate America, witnessing the skills of a serial interrupter in real time, a conversation with Pranay at PayPal, playing the karma card, confronting Big Brother, what the moon looked like last night, clarification concerning the planet Pluto’s supposed retirement, an astute analysis of Disney’s inconsistent portrayal & personification of animals, appreciating William Butler Yeats, the joys of reading poetry out loud, a dark interpretation of Frost, realizing you were smarter than you thought you were, taking responsibility for your bad relationships after a period of victimhood, pocket hand warmers, purchasing tips for maxi-pad users, the chaos that can ensue from trying to hide shame, a deeper look at over-sized marshmallows, eating things you should not, the trepidation induced by suspicious bank tellers - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Lori Oz [Ode to the Gyspysongman]; Martin van de Vrugt [We Didn’t Teach Our Children]; Wagtail [Meet Me When the Sun Goes Down].

Episode Jan 4, 2019

January 4, 2019 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss a little rat wheel, the perfect Christmas, developing a new relationship with your treadmill, all day snacking, happy pills, walking in ice cleats, whose car is worse, timing belt as metaphor, the weirdness of cars that start with a button, tipping your tow truck operator, whether or not to invest in crypto-currency, a review of metal detector settings, what might be hiding in your yard, the art of spelling out swears, something to do with dead chickens, stocking up on stock, a typical grocery store faux pas, a vegan affirmation, bonding over frozen corn, a dream job at the Onion, Emily’s personalized ice fishing stick, more on poking fish, using Kevin as a fake groom, being jealous of others having fun, an implication regarding “hanky-panky” in shacks, a scientific finding about socks and sex, a resolution to eat no more Cheez-its, debunking the “She-Shed” concept, what happens after decades of caring for others, getting to a point of clarity, the sad state of Rolodexes, danger reduction, a stranded vacuum, going to Lebanon, an assertion of superiority, more on smiling at goats, wearing a skirt on Christmas, a style that mirrors Octopus legs, sap bucket babies in pink snow suits, feeling bad for a calf at birth, turning off the music, conjecture about the other half of humanity, looking for a romp, a cowboy’s move from Montana to Wyoming - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Richard Ruane & Beth Duquette [Come On Back]; Lewis Franco [Robinson Cemetery]; Ben Reed [Cowboys and Heroes].

Episode Dec 21, 2018

December 21, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss trying to slow down, the pleasure factor hidden in OCD, a humongous freakout, how eye bags can erode your self esteem, some complex feelings elicited by tattoo placement, gossip at the Christmas party, tap shoes on tile floors, an indignant eight year old, the tale of the two Buddies, famous family disclaimers, seasonal magic via the Canadian Christmas train, how John likes a good nap, more on zealotry, a hypothesis for regrowing hair on a troll, ongoing confusion caused by the color designation “buff”, making room for UFOs, YouTube’s ascendency as the people’s channel, deity vs. iPad, moving the dog house with Herb, increasing your stature thanks to outbuildings, a plague of Mistletoe, a breakfast cereal update from Emily, icky “Remnants of Love”, controlling your worst instincts on social media, surprising revelations regarding what happens in the back of Will’s Store, what Kristina’s fancy accountant does with his time off, fabricating mashups in the name of Art, what might be considered inappropriate Christmas cheer as it relates to hermaphrodite gingerbread people, a mishap with sheep entrails in the back seat of the car, contemplating the ecstatic moment of spring’s first arrival, road treatment science, hating on herb tea, homemade pot holder dos & donts - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Dayve Huckett [After All You Say]; Eric Goodenough & Mark Johnson [Merrily Kiss the Quaker]; Dylan Waller [The Highway Kind].

Episode Dec 14, 2018

December 14, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss the pernicious smell of burning plastic, cost saving measures at the Tunbridge town garage, polluted roadways, another use for vinegar, more confusion about the Lion’s Club, arguments for and against windshield wiper fluid as a stocking stuffer, shame as it relates to your Youtube or Google search history, huge spinning chairs, no shortage of good singing voices, recurring ads for monster sex, weird, confusing drug promotions that show adults in swings, birthday money, train whistle intoxication, debunking the silence of lambs, sunbathing sheep, new paint at the Chelsea post office, different approaches to free associating, a use for monkey puppets, an inventory of the most typical insults we receive, deflecting criticism, airing issues to clear them, the curiosity of being called a slut, a psychology experiment at the high school, turning a negative into a positive, Santa’s “Pet Day” at Nelson Hardware, picturing a Nordic Christmas guy, bring scared by Bjork, progress on Kristina’s family member’s criminal background check, a bonus tarot reading from an aging rock star, Emily’s favorite lullaby by Concrete Blond, a bad experience with a bad sister-in-law, a metaphor involving Niagara Falls, resenting a privileged prisoner, why its expensive to be poor, spoiling an event with your presence - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Jennings & McComber [Half a Mile]; Hunter Paye [The Walls are Windows]; Erin McDermott [Going Home].

Episode Dec 7, 2018

December 7, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss skanky foam, Bill & Lady on the move, an enormous scheduling faux pas from which Emily finds it hard to recover, hatred of chair lifts & ski areas in general, tricks for making Christmas come faster, the true essence of holidays, being tired of yourself, how your ornaments could save your life, terrible gift ideas, designer bulldog clips, how to avoid being disappointed by your lava lamp (don’t get one), how a bear got involved with grammar, complications of being a “plus one”, a misguided impulse to take oil to a Hanukkah party, more on fake Santas, an expired driver’s license odyssey, John’s failed attempt to call Kristina on-air, a message about honesty from Mama Maja, struggling to make contact with defunct business pages, searching for your deeper soul work, tapping into your innate healing powers, a look at trying vs. being, locating only three winter tires, the magic and/or shortcomings of Craigslist, getting up to speed with Scandinavian gorilla hair, a near miss at the Wayside, looking for an old fashioned diner, mincing the nuances of booth etiquette & respecting waitresses, what the new “comfort food” might look like, an unappetizing rebranding, 2nd jobs for dairy farmers, finding out about your neighbors from the newspaper, the consequences of skipping study hall, words of warning for slackers, the dangers of wearing bandanas in New York - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Michael Jermyn [Suitcase Full of Denial]; Martin Van de Vrught [On My Way]; Jim Reiman [She’s a Mystery to Me].

Episode Nov 30, 2018

November 30, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss curtains that don’t fit, whether or not your kids’ math homework is too hard, discovering the Butthole Surfers later in life, erratic behavior from a normally dependable device, Butch’s heroic efforts to help Gramps conserve his hearing aid battery, less-than-stellar backline support at the nursing home, how Tupperware can destroy the taste of your food, limb breakage on the driveway, another epic trudge into the woods without ski wax, refined techniques for crossing a stream on skis, more confusion about snow tires, trying to find Julie in a blizzard, a nighttime sojourn in pajamas, when the mailman doesn’t come, the reliability of junk mail delivery, clogging on a parade float, letting swears fly, expanding your vintage Santa display, the ins and outs of getting Xmas photos done with pets, occupational hazards of a messy laundry room, trying to be everything to everybody, another great baby video, piping classical music into your pregnant belly, convincing your kids they used to like stuff, intentionally upsetting plants, deciding why it’s okay to eat certain animals, meditating with chickens, empathizing with ants, if hurting is better than killing, good advice to deer hunters, how to know if you’re brilliant or just off track, getting back into a routine with grilled cheese, Glo’s magic maple syrup bottle, catsup squirters, remembering “The Big Isle” - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Ariel Zevon [Better Than]; Ben Reed [Schizophrenia]; Kristina Stykos [Forgiveness].

Episode Nov 23, 2018

November 23, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss an imagined mothball invasion, an unidentified object, acting stupid as a life strategy, one generation of snobbery, shopping with donkeys, being jealous of your dead friend’s friends, a nuanced look at the cliché coop shopper, a much needed update on man buns, how to make cheap, healthy meals, always bumping into the same person, the stress of bagging herbs, an Italian Thanksgiving, advantages to living in obscurity, renegade lettuce, car wash for cows, treasure found in the storage hamper, cling plastic for the studio window, proving your mettle on the Appalachian Gap, making bad weather videos, the joys of sliding backwards on ice, dangerous sledding, laughing at the wrong time, the educational benefits of small mishaps, acting like an adult before you are one, faith as pragmatism, the collision of cultures at Dan & Whit’s, prohibitive pricing from the local woolen industry, a horrifying new development at Schwann’s, imagining a world of frozen food without refrigeration, what happened to the paddle boat, mixing up and conflating fables, being alone yet productive on holidays, Murphy’s Law as it relates to cats, formidable rabbits, gossip as a non-malicious outlet, managing recurring waves of self doubt, the value of success, embracing your creative landscape, practicing the art of perseverance, different functions and levels of art, how a debacle can help you get ahead, dialing back your volunteerism - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Patrick Ross & Aaron Johnson [Flintlock]; Pete Sutherland [Hard Hearted Hills]; Steve Mayone [It’s Beautiful].

Episode Nov 9, 2018

November 9, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss residual side effects of wearing a scarf, emotional meltdowns, hating on November, unpacking “What’s Up?” for the last time, what to think about a pair of hand-blown glass devil horns on Bow’s head, how to sit down when your Halloween costume is glued to your butt, a fond memory of when John dressed up as Chinese Take-Out, surviving the “Honk & Wave” while mixing it up with the “Park & Ride”, the misery of mothers driving kids to school, unpleasant encounters with some Republicans in trucks, cats in the gift basket, switching to a green credit card, looking for Salmon Nation, the questionable pantheon of natural products, the pros and cons of pissing people off, getting mad at someone because they’re mad at you, what to do with the unhappy client who demanded extras, a dust up with the pesticide company, when the invisible moon conjoins the hidden self, how the car is like a womb, connecting with your repressed emotions, a beautiful time warp, good news about the difference between ghosts and demons, hearing Suzy after her passing, strange noises on the farm, the validity of being scared by malevolent spirits, loving Bill Vesper’s dog, the final word on whether or not Timmy fell in a well, Lassie as touchstone for a more innocent way of life, why Kristina tied up her cat, getting stuck in mines and pipes, a claim of temporary insanity - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Bow Thayer [Silvertone]; Grayson [Broken Hearts and Broken Bones]; The Hillman Hunter [Heijastus].

Episode Nov 2, 2018

November 2, 2018 Kristina Stykos

In this episode co-hosts Kristina Stykos and Emily Howe discuss dry bread sandwiches, the “see-saw” effect, Lily Tomlin’s sandwich sketch, an awkward attempt to look natural, dangerous electrical outlets, the privileged and their house restorations, a new approach to watering your plants, being attacked by the misinformed, grouchy week, a good hoodwinking from the Left, when people think you’re rich, a run-in with the GPS unit, searching for Tiffany, what was inside the tractor trailer size storage space at Bolton Valley, feeling your pulse in the wrong places, nipple ring issues, a strange sound montage, using your first name to advertise yourself, whether or not Christine is playing the gender card, contorting yourself to please others, shamanic stage & space clearing, “Stay-Up Technology”, an Irish dancer’s secret, deconstructing a smirk, when AI takes over your texting, eschewing Alexa, the complexity of asking Paul for a gas cap, the acting talents of car salesmen, shedding loneliness, a suggestion for human beings, throwing your heart into the public square, the good behavior of psychopaths, doing unto others, personal paralysis due to shock, taking a stand against war, disappointing Democrats, the fakery of candidates, why working people can’t run for office, giving your consent to be governed, successful parallel talking, the cumulative effects of being interrupted by children for 20 years, a nasty friend, an impatient trick-or-treater - and so much more!

Featuring music from Vermont musicians & friends: Nick Cowles [Dark Door of Loneliness]; Mary McGinniss [The Wind Is Lonesome]; Marek Stycos [Dear Steve].

Show Notes