Fresh Catch 2.0: Recent Episodes
David Dean & Dr. Dave Rahn
Professional funny guy David Dean and near ancient youth ministry thought leader Dr. Dave Rahn jump into conversations about life and ministry that will make you think, make you giggle and (sometimes) make your day.
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As much as we enjoy delivering weekly podcasts of distinction (emphasize the "stink" sound), one of us actually has to work for a living. So this week's episode featured The Comedian in conversation with Dr Dave while awaiting his flight to Phoenix. He gets to be funny in front of some strangers. It's been a really rough recent few weeks for David. Upcoming performances will be a challenge. But after coaching St Betsy through password navigation and sob-mumbling a nonsensical declaration to a grieving son recently, he'll find something to say.
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This title deserves an asterisk. David was generally not happy with the surgeon's response when he asked why his belly-button no longer exists. A med specialist, for sure, but he drove outside his lane by deflecting with a biblical reference that was intended to cower our beloved comedian into silence. But years later—thanks to the bravery of FC 2.0—he's found his voice. Thankfully, the voice of his one-time Dominican translator found its mark so kids in the Caribbean weren't traumatized.
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Give us a listen and then a rating. We're inspired to use 1-star reviews in marketing. No longer will we be held hostage by the British voices in our head who squash our dreams with their critiques under the guise of genteel respect. Sure, we may be dazed…even deluded. SIREN spells (trans? Charlize? does it matter?) are powerful. But we are really trying. In fact, under darkness we've heard our spouses rolling their eyes at a volume so loud we know exactly how trying we can be.
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Ahhh! If only we had contracted with some Psychology Today expert to give us feedback based on listening to the podcast today; maybe then David might hear enough to open his heart to the world's beauty. On the surface, of course, this is a soccer reference. But it also shows up in his unwillingness to concede his window seat on a long flight. And—in ways that only a trained therapist might be able to name—somehow the caricature of Joel Osteen is in the mix.
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eBay sellers know this strategy: take some old useless stuff, tag it as "vintage", and mark up the sale price accordingly. Who pioneered this money-making savvy? Did it emerge from some give-and-take between spouses as an observant wife tried to shield her caveman hubby from publicly embarrassing the family name? Our own exchange today was authentic, even if the shirts we wore are in need of delicate wash cycles. Ron Coffey's 4-year old grandson delivered the raw truth—with just enough stink to confirm we're keeping it real.
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Dr Dave tried to convince David of the beauty in watching Team USA win their World Cup soccer match last night. In the exchange, we all learned how our funny co-host has grown over the years. Whereas he once held disdain, he now simply positions himself as aloof. Warnings about the slippery slope into referee-level narcissism seemed to fall on David's thick-skinned, comedy-club-trained, deaf ears. But to be fair, he seemed to be distracted by multi-syllable words.
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Listeners were treated to some real-time engagement with today's episode. First, Dr Dave had to scurry off to google who yelled "Stella!!" in an iconic movie. (It was NOT Rocky.) Having failed to lock up the "desire" we discovered (supplying your movie hint), we moved into the confessional booth once again, protesting why we must be shamed for our snack addictions. (Queue up Dr D's munching of nearby 'Nilla Wafers.) We become sneaks to feed our cravings. And whiners: "At least we're not as bad as the Salvation Army." Celebrating Costco's wide aisles with you…
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As a result of recent storms and even tornado touchdowns, Dr Dave was without electrical power for 90 hours. It's the kind of crisis that mustn't be wasted, so the funny guy of our FC team poked endlessly and elicited plenty of whine-soaked stories from his recently showered partner. David seemed most surprised about atmospheric shunning felt from some of the good doctor's neighbors while another generated real help.
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It's not exactly a lie. But we're not wrapping up the whole truth for a meal, either. Why do we insist on sparing loved ones—or strangers—from the unvarnished truth? When St Betsy delayed telling David about the wild silver vine growing from his nostril's soil bed, was it the truth we need from our most dependable monitors? Sometimes we push broom. But if we do, someone needs to deliver Billy Bob's guttural response. In love.
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We did some genuine psycho-therapy work on this podcast. It so happens our recent life experiences converged about how we can't seem to find the Gentle Button when we naturally express ourselves and say what we, er, believe. Our tongues have not yet been tamed. Saying, "I don't care" does not absolve us of the hurt mudslide we cause…no matter how the Greek gods cherished apathy. But we pinpointed the ego in the middle of our Oreo rage cookie. Having said it aloud we now fear we'll not work at getting better. It's a fear shared by our loved ones.
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Too many big moments to do justice to a single conversational thread on this episode. Dr Dave's eldest grandson is graduating 8th grade today, which is a huge deal for some of his buddies who are Amish. They're done with formal education. Meanwhile, an update on David's Pappy and his ascendancy to nursing home royalty challenges any assumption that we might ever, truly, be done. Respect to all since, as David closed with, "I can work a crowd but I can't milk a cow."
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Have you ever been around someone whose tone felt like they were cussing but the words were never actually uttered? We kind of had that vibe today…and we deeply regret it if we dropped a stumbling block in front of any loyal listeners who are struggling to tame their tongues. But, once the two D's found how they shared Liam Neeson-like intensity about retrieving a dropped French fry while driving, it became crystal clear why we belong together. To you, our loyal 27 listeners (a recent spike), thanks for being like us. We are the few. The proud. The Freshies.
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Social dilemmas are far too common for us. We cherish authenticity from our friends, so conversations should welcome truth-telling, right? But what if you're promoting a band with Genghis Khan roots to your family and they diss you? Brutal honesty doesn't feel so good. And what about those times when two thoughts get married right before they slide down into a spoken word salad not fit for anything but running for cover…at the Family Dollar? Please, loyal listeners, learn something from our mistakes.
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We talked about the probing experience too much to not give it a prime spot in this episode's title. But this conversation was not about a health procedure; it was about David's day in court. More specifically, the funny guy smuggled info into the Podcast-o-sphere about interactions he witnessed while being (not) chosen for a jury pool. Apologies to all men who remember the 70s and their long hair if you feel "throwed" under a bus.
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This episode features David broadcasting from a Florida getaway with St Betsy. We celebrated the (spoiled) fruit of his unplugged status, as confirmed by the 7-11 clerk who mistakenly identified him as a local who, like her, was glad to see the tourists head back north. Apparently all it took for her to conclude he was a resident was being unshaven and wearing a cut-off t-shirt that would not suppress his beach-baked body odor. Sometimes a Slurpee is all you need to feel like you belong.
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Every once in a while we flirt with highbrow culture, just to prove (to ourselves) how versatile we are. So when David introduced a lovely tidbit about William Shakespeare early in this episode, we started connecting dots between Pappy's love for the Bard and Dr Dave's honeymoon in Stratford. Along the way, what David turned a future guest "teaser" into the sort of ominous heads up that has Dr Dave sweating the prep time. Please enjoy us as much as we enjoy you!
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On the way to discovering solutions that work we often have to wallow in excremental floodwaters. So we decided to sprinkle instrumental song lyrics throughout this episode with Eeyore. Indignation surfaced a bit. After all, we feel entitled to indulge in whatever we need when bobbing through the waters of sorrow. We chatted about how competitive our troubles can be and now lay authorship claim to this proverb: Pain makes us narcissists. What's the song you play in your head when uninvited neighborly woes intrude on your own self-pity escapes? Never mind - we don' care enough.
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isteners know that David's beloved Pappy is in a nursing home and dealing with dementia. Too many of us have walked in the grief of caring for our parents when they've lost a bit of themselves. So David was right to pause the start of our episode to listen to the message a nurse just left him. Thirty minutes later—after collecting himself from tear-inducing laughter (relief?) while hearing what was so urgent—he may still be stuck. Today's eldercare dilemma? what to do about his dad's PDA. Listener wisdom is welcome from all those who are OK with how much we giggled about this real-time moment. Fresh Catch indeed.
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Our good friend Tim Atkins set the direction for this episode when we enjoyed a lunch with him last Friday. He insistently told us about some incomplete memory in his head that we should know. We didn't. But it was so much fun to poke at him for claiming to be King of Mindfulness that it carried over into this Maundy Thursday podcast, where we celebrated the sort of Easter music that we will likely not hear this Sunday. Sorry, Fanny.
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We've all known about triggers that launch someone down a rabbit hole they can't escape from. Trump Derangement Syndrome is defined by such an idea. There was something about the early moments of this podcast when we began to celebrate Michelle's guest appearance last week that sucked Dr Dave into Nerdland. During the remainder of the episode we tried to recover from that spin cycle. At least you now know the math won't let us declare we have a simple dyadic relationship with our listeners.
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If you've listened much to our Fresh Catch ramble-fest you've probably heard David gush with admiration about his comedian tour partner for Marriage Date Night: Michelle Miller. Today's episode was a special treat as Dr Dave learned for himself what all the hubbub was about. Michelle is a hoot…especially when she's chippy. And us two boys giggled all the way through our mulching experience. Too good for only 30 minutes, we asked her for some bonus time at the end. Please send $$ so we can pay her.
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Very seldom do we introduce a topic and chew on it for the entirety of our podcast. But today's conversation seemed to grow two new legs every time we gnawed and digested one. Tucked around the mysterious attraction church gossipers know all too well, we described an incident where David remembered all the details (including the name of the person who smugly scolded us) and Dr Dave agonized over whether his reaction was pleasing to Jesus or not. And now, with this recording, we may have entered a similar question of faithfulness into our moral ledger.
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You've likely got history with us. You're not surprised by our conversational wanderings. We pride ourselves on being unscripted. Some might observe that this brand justifies our laziness in podcasting. We think it secures the giggles most important to us. About anything…like today's episode where David throws beloved Saint Betsy under a bus and will not accept any shame from his pod-partner for doing so. Squeezed into this half hour is a sincere invitation to help God with his roadside communication campaign. Enjoy!
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As we're likely to do when we record an episode, we wandered quite a bit. Maybe (not declaring this, in case we're being monitored) we felt freedom because the President's State of the Union was such a free-flowing ride. But we quickly settled in on offering some useful advice to loyal listeners who, like us, have experienced too much hovering from restaurant staff. One finger hushing might work for a waitress, but don't EVER try it with your wife.
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As editor-in-chief of the title and description for each podcast, I (Dr Dave) try my best to be objective. But in these post-production minutes before upload I still feel the sting of being exposed for my poor Valentine's Day efforts last week. David, like Pappy, chases the laugh first. Today, in my emotionally fragile state as a love buffoon, I needed more compassion than I got. Thanks for listening…I feel a bit better now. Just don't push your sushi $#%! on me.
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Many apologies to our listeners for failing to record a podcast last week. Dr Dave's cross country drive simply didn't square with David's comedy touring schedule. We are opening a search for a manager. It's a great gig. Non-paid. Meanwhile, it was only fitting that we were blessed by David's Pacino-like interpretation of his favorite verse as spoken by Moses. It was only a slightly veiled nod to Bad Bunny.
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Mistakes happen when the risky thing we intended to do does not receive the careful attention it needs. So when Dr Dave—already experimenting with his facial hair—accidentally shaved a bunch of his trademark goatee, it now sits as a mustache deserving of the Old West. Or, as DrDR's wife warns, "Mr Monopoly is coming." Meanwhile, as David cackled and leaned in for closer looks, the missing veneer from his front tooth had his pod-ner (get it?) giggling. Too many visual distractions in this episode buried the lead: Applebee's new bacon-burger soaked in molten cheese is worth the trip.
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Loyal listeners know that Dr Dave handles post-production details like titling episodes and writing descriptions to help those who want to weigh whether eavesdropping on our free wheeling conversation is going to be worth their time. Not gonna lie. It's been a few hours since we recorded but there's still a freeze in this relationship. Comedian David P Dean felt OK making fun of the old man's sleep aid. So please forgive the public whining tucked inside this write-up. David's well-traveled hand-warmers won't soon thaw this love on ice.
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Weather reports set the tone for our day. Blue sky? Even if it's cold and snowy, that helps. Rainy and warm? Maybe that's OK. But David is preparing for frigid conditions as he prepares to see the Bears v Rams at Soldier Field and the new hand warmer St Betsy bought him has far too many buttons. We talked about which Patrick Swayze movie character might be helpful. It was weird.
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It gives us great pleasure whenever we, your frail and flawed FC2.0 co-hosts, can offer some small pearl that will enhance the life of our merry band of loyal listeners. Get your notepads out, kids; once we figured out how to burp our houses we realized that the beauty of a burp is how well it travels beyond a simple expression of an uncooperative digestive system. We hope you agree. In fact, we hope you feel empowered to explore the nearly infinite ways you can burp up the value of your every day life.
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Happy New Year, everyone! Our entire staff here at FC 2.0 headquarters wish you nothing but the best. That's very much unlike the end-of-life journey the Italians offered their once-admired dictator at the end of WW2. If you didn't know that factoid, strap it in for a 2026 ride. David invested his time during the biggest worldwide party of the year learning such knowledge and we, loyal listeners, are always generous with what we discover. If Jesus thought it important to connect in regional dialects so we could know, so do we. Dude!!
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This episode let David pay tribute to favorite actors and singers who crowded into his Christmas experience. We got caught up in the lovely imaginations of the season. How could Snoop, Jimmy, Mel, Chris, Mark and Andrea collaborate? Also, we imagined becoming more like active participants again rather than bewildered but smiling spectators. We may have encouraged one another to behave in ways that will earn eye-rolls from those closest to us. If so, mission accomplished.
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In case you've lost track of time for your Christmas shopping, we're in countdown mode. Today is the last Thursday you'll have before December 25 hits you like a spoiled fruitcake. We tried to aim this episode as public service, hoping to be helpful. But we're a bit inclined to chase shiny objects when we're chatting, so … you know. Lots of story telling today. Early hard labor work experiences that convinced us to find other ways to make money. Family. Faith. And a eureka moment where David imagined the perfect gift for St Betsy. HBJ!!
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A thousand apologies. Our podcasts always catch us in the midst of some kind of space and often one of us helps the other from stumbling off into the Ditch of No Return. Not today. We were both wired for venting and, as good friends sometimes do, we fanned a few flames we probably should have tossed water on. Singing and celebrating Christmas is a joy. No matter who's singing and how we might change the lyrics. The Santa General has slapped a warning label on this episode. Be careful.
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Like many of our podcasts, this began with a real-life encounter David had with some favorite food. In this case, it was the prodigal six-pack of soda he forgot he'd left in the snow a week ago. As he recalled the reconnection Dr Dave detected a disturbing undertone in what he said to his root beer. It turns out that the voices we hear make a difference in whether we're plump or ripped. Tune in to learn more…but grab some munchies so you can relate to us.
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We recorded on Black Friday with LOADS of Thanksgiving stuff to chat about. It feels like adding more to the description would be like adding another piece of pumpkin pie to the post-turkey food coma equation. We noticed a bunch of stuff in our separate family celebrations and confess we were secretly giggling in anticipation of swapping stories while remembering to pass the gravy. Enjoy!!
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First of all, massive apologies to our 17 loyal listeners who had to navigate their Thursday night workout without the benefit of a new episode to pump you up. David was hobnobbing among sweater-vesters so we had to push our recording back a day. But if you're a fan of hearing Dr Dave topic-hop like he's just snorted some cocaine, this 28 minutes will help you cap off your week. And since we decidedly prefer Pharell's HAPPY to his NEON GUTS, we can avoid bustin' a cap on someone. It's worthy of sharing an interview with Cairos Santos.
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This episode began by invoking the memory of legendary DJ Wolfman Jack before exploring David's early job as a 3rd shift radio host. Our fascination about how to make the best use of a long-playing song led us to wonder about the possibility of living within a peaceful and powerful flow. That's Tai Chi's Instagram promise. Of course, before actually trying these exercises to discover if we, too, might appear confident in constant shirtlessness, we decided to swap ignorance about what each titled exercise might look like.
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We had to open by cathartically dealing with national news. Will the fresh-faced mayor of New York succeed in his socialist experiment? Will Hoosiers eventually be affected? It's already been difficult to keep David's neighbors from feeling entitled to ongoing protection after he invested to halt Japanese beetles from immigrating. Do we also have to endure over-the-top barked out orders issued from school bus drivers just because they're blue collar elites? Take note, kids, because the Passive Aggressive Snark Tutorial David offers in this episode is bit-coin worthy.
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Sometimes our Fresh Catch 2.0 episodes drift into therapy sessions. Today we found some comfort in each other's Zoom arms by confessing a sin we had in common: pretending to know or remember while in a conversation that (most often) ambushed us. The formulaic goal we share is pretty simple. Hide out until you can get out. But our well-honed skills of evasion deserved a bit of moral scrutiny before ending (apologies for the short show…therapy had us both lose track of time). You'll note that how we ended invites the need for a real counselor.
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Since we are diehard Cubs & Bears fans it feels like we're dancing near the Cliff of Betrayal to admit we really like the people we know from Wisconsin. Cheese curds sit well in our otherwise messed up digestive systems. For sure they don't provoke us to recoil like hummus does. But the hummus-hosts live in Chicago, and the comfort-foodies come from the Packers & Brewers' home state. The world confuses us. So we did what we do best: whine, giggle, and talk about Jesus.
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This episode involved some reminiscing that school age listeners could probably cite as a primary source in their next term paper. We also kicked around how we use cooler-than-normal music to connect with God. That led us into a very brief sharing of a really deep way to pray. That's Fresh Catch for you. If we go really deep you can count on us being very brief. Like the old hymn: Brief and Wide.
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When this day began, minutes after midnight, our beloved Cubs had lost and now the season is all but finished. It makes sense that one of us (the old one) was in a foul mood. A travel demand disrupted our normal recording schedule and the funny one bounced into the Zoom room freshly jubilant after hanging with other comedic friends. David tried to bring his joy juice to the moment. Dr Dave was having none of it and passed out wet-blankets for all. If you enjoy this episode, your EQ may be low.
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It's the rare empathetic young person who might listen to our podcast today and aim to be helpful. We whined. Hard and long. Our aging bodies are failing us so we indulged in swapping stories about our health problems and the way we perceive doctors and nurses fail us. Before they actually experience such degrading, it's understandable that those who still have the ability to strut might giggle at our expense. But it really hurts when your own doctor is hosting the party.
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In some cultures, old people are venerated. Cherished. Honored. Deeply respected. But in 2025 America we (remember, David turned 60 recently) are routinely ridiculed. The 10-item list of identifying foibles that comes with being in the AARP crowd might be funny to youngsters who prefer mockery to empathy, but it was far too familiar for those of us whose sphincter's beg for routine reinforcements. Feel free to laugh; we're moping.
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Thinking his invisible age cohort might escape ridicule, David merrily poked at Dr Dave's Boomer-isms. He skillfully refuted every attempt by his aged co-host to parry, scoring points while exposing his unmet needs to belong somehow…somewhere. Neither was anxious to revisit 7th grade lunchroom traumas, so we settled on sideline snobbery, critiquing an Emmy crowd that would never welcome us. But, what if they would…??
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This day has become America's national lament of remembrance. And the cloud only thickened with the news of Charlie Kirk's murder yesterday. Tucked in the folds of what most of the world is thinking about is a personal story David coaxed out of Dr Dave: he got married on 9/11/76. We remembered – and giggled, of course – in a different direction on today's podcast. HINT: David may have labeled Dr Dave's mom a floozy.
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This episode exposed a lot about each of the Davids that actually justifies the loss of followers we were whining about so much. But even as we sit in our unattractive pool of disdain far removed from smug (ya, we're jealous) social media influencers, we can't keep from giggling about the WAY we are shallow people. Just ask our wives…or, if you really want an earful, David's niece has a lot to say.
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If you are searching for some "how-to" advice you might be excited by where this episode began. Question-asking is a skill we know something about. Just ask us. But if someone answers with more than you bargained for—even when their answer is dripping with sincerity and love for Jesus—the timer in your head that says "move on" can make us feel like bad people. We two married men are very grateful for wives who linger to care and listen longer. Next question?
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A bunch of us gathered at a restaurant Saturday night to surprise and celebrate a milestone birthday for David. Meanwhile, local appliance salesmen and home repair specialists were celebrating how his advanced age lends itself to making purchases without understanding all the details. And there may be collateral trauma from the birthday dance we all experienced with the waitstaff at Tequila's in Fort Wayne. 60 year olds should avoid some gyrations.
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Sometimes an old man will tuck $6 into your shirt pocket so you'll listen to his good joke. Or a pre-gig massage to prepare you backfires…like the team chapel you were invited to speak at. But often times it's in the simplest of routines where we say something unplanned (and regrettable) in order to feel like we fit in. David offered such detail today — it provoked an awkward reaction similar to what the baseball coaches seemed to feel when they heard it yesterday.
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A bit too common these days, David hunted for cover from Dr Dave around a shady judgement call he recently made. You know… we do something that makes us conscience-queasy so we seek to be reassured by close friends. When Dr Dave instead challenged David about his lying, an inventive concept was thrown into the mix: PRE-TRUTH. While listeners weigh whether this novel defense is legit, Dr Dave is reeling from learning he's not yet close enough to be included among his funny friend's tolerance for company.
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We seldom, if ever, beg for immediate feedback. It's not our vibe here in the Fresh Catch 2.0 Chill Zone. But David is about to jump on a plane and head to Texas to do a men's comedy event and when he described the outfit he was planning to wear, Dr Dave—without benefit of any Psychology Today app—quickly tossed up a caution flag. It's unknown at this moment of publication whether David will take his advice. Too many outdoor showers have dulled his brain.
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David got bumped aside during his recent Kroger shopping experience by the cute little robot doing price checks. Apparently it was annoyed by the need to nudge David away from carefully considering which Oreos to buy. At least that's how the squeaky sounds it emitted sounded to the nearby employee who lobbed sideways shaming at David. As we decried the Machine Kingdom we now inhabit as guests, the Thunder Dome mower of Dr Dave's neighbor growled in triumph. Tech might cut in line but we know funny.
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So much to celebrate in this episode! This remote hook-up at one of our favorite restaurants as a live podcast—simultaneously being shown on Instagram—was a blast. But what was truly epic was to hear how the manager-owner of Los Amigos has indulged David's mis-naming him for YEARS because he is too kind to offend him. Hear Romero's story as you listen to us giggle in the corner booth.
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If you like the zig-zag pacing of improv conversation, this episode is for you. In an act of brave vulnerability David disclosed his pain from being kicked out of Sunday school while paying a great deal of respect to the teacher who did it. Being the gigglers we are, we found it hard to ignore how well the SS teacher's name fit. And as the boys who caught a glimpse of shirtless David mowing can testify (if called upon), we know a lot about things that don't fit.
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For all of our loyal listeners, enjoy celebrating America's birthday! Please stay safe. We learned something about the names used by professional comedians in today's podcast. Feel free to test this "conventional wisdom" while you're telling stories and brat-munching this holiday weekend. And be sensitive to the kind of story you think appropriate to share or wonder about. Unlike us.
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If you listen a bit to our podcasts, it comes as no surprise to hear us confess how biased we are about most things. It's actually quite amazing that either of us have been married for a long time, given how clueless we are with our patient and loving spouses. Our journey into self-justification and undeserved righteousness was on display in this episode that begins with David recalling a 14-year old walk of shame. Enjoy … but be careful in what you copy.
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Add this episode to your Helpful file. Have you been in rooms like David uncomfortably endured in a recent Great Clips experience? His skilled hair-stylist lacked read-the-room-awareness or a voice that didn't make his skin crawl. Intervention was needed. So we unpacked it. And we probed how new grandpa David's son gently corrected his clumsy baby-holding skills. Intervention well done.
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In only three days Father's Day will arrive, ready or not. If therapists listened to this episode they might detect our insecurity. We are, after all, two aging dads. Both of us are grandpas. And we seemed to meander our way toward comforting one another by lowering expectations for what we'll experience on Sunday. It helped that we could make fun of Pappy when he dialed in during our recording.
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Even though David launched immediately into a campy mimicry bit, this episode may actually be worth submitting to those who are spiritual coaches. We somehow got talking about our impulsive responses when flailing limbs fail to keep us from making messes. The growth techniques we exchanged can help us guard our hearts. Even when the lyrics we put to music are raunchy.
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We explore the unvarnished grist of life in our podcast. Loyal listeners have heard much about St Betsy, David's wife. She's a long-suffering woman who embraced the calling to be a moral compass. Too often she's been pressed into the thankless role of reminding Comedy Boy about where true north is. If you're at all sympathetic to her burden, you may wince a bit about the very fresh text David sent an hour before we hit record. Plz join us in prayer: "Lord, double Betsy's grace portion today…for David's sake."
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True confession. While we take strange pride in never preparing for our podcasts (an unwritten recording value is to avoid serving up anything that isn't totally "fresh"), we agreed in the minute before we began to chase what we both thought would be entertaining. But somehow the words "fact check" slipped into the intro banter and thus, O Fair Listener, were we hijacked from our pursuit. How delightful, indeed, was this romp through an unexplored forest!
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Are you annoyed by the 24 hour delay in delivering this podcast? Perhaps you have a preference for listening on Thursdays and we disrupted your routine. Before we rush to apologize we want you to consider a quote from Donald Miller that we dissected today: "Don't moralize your preferences." Is this good marriage advice? Felt like a speed trap to us. But then David offered a way out. Enjoy!
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This title is literally true about this podcast episode. It was also the only time the word was used…but it sure seems like we chatted about how many ways life's sugary sweets don't exactly nourish. Within the first 60 seconds David set the tone by failing to indulge Dr Dave's transparent request for affirmation. We're all so needy.
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We meandered a lot during this episode. After sharing our old age affections for plush, thick, green lawns we explored other attachments we've bequeathed with a near holy status. Are you a sports fan? So are we. Love blues and jazz music? That's cool. Like good movies? Us, too. Do you like to drop rare facts on your neighbor while watching the movie? One of us loves to do that.
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If you listen regularly to our podcast you know that it's not uncommon for Dr Dave to serve as David's therapist or host his confessions. It seems like a good thing to do. We all should look for low hanging fruit where at least one person is helped. In today's episode we explored David's recent confrontation while parking in a location familiar to the lowlife underbelly culture of Huntington: Patel's convenience store. We hope you don't grow disdain for David over what you hear but, if you do, be forewarned. He's not afraid to let God know "he'll be right back."
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David is under the weather, but he's learned that the show must go on. Inspired by his heroic efforts to overcome the funky infectious germs keeping him from doing an honorable gig later this afternoon at Lincoln Elementary, Dr. Dave attempted to connect to the moment by describing an upcoming encounter he will have at Huntington University. We shared awkward moments when a person (maybe us) attempts to express empathy when they would be better off wearing a t-shirt that reveals their true state.
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The Bible urges us to tame our tongues but warns us that this is no small challenge. On this episode, we spent a few minutes as fellow strugglers squeezed into a confessional, swapping stories about some untamed moments and wondering aloud why the intoxicating appeal of another big laugh can shred our filters. As you reach the painful end of our transparent exchange, we hope you can embrace whatever animalistic stride God fits you with.
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To be fair, we didn't actually and openly explore this question during our podcast. But it was in Dr Dave's heart as he sidled up to his funny friend and invited a deeper consideration of how, if, when, where, and why anyone who loves Jesus and makes a living doing comedy might dance in the Blue Zone. There would, of course, be hang-ups to reckon with. Not the least of these is based in the sinful, er, OCD nature of being judgmental to the core. Enjoy!!
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Please don't become gruff with us, loyal Freshies. We know we're a day late in posting this episode. But, as David explains in hushed tones from the sanctity of his basement, his house has been invaded, er, swarmed upon, no… ENRICHED by eight brothers who have massive drywalling skills. The whispers were due to David's desire not to say anything disrespectful about the culture of those doing beautiful work under his roof. On the other hand, Dr Dave felt very free to challenge David to get outside his comfort zone and become relational when both parties expect nothing more than a transactional exchange.
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Social media is a force to be reckoned with. When someone does a dirty deed, mobile phone cameras catch it and post it for the world to heckle. As we discussed David's near victimization yesterday (and near loyalty betrayal) we realize how healing it can be to embrace snarkiness. And, as a public service for those who secretly hope to be noticed by famous podcasters, we're posting the name of a despicable person in the title of this episode. Meanwhile, be mindful so the person you enjoy today doesn't steal affection from your true blue friends. Stay tuned to social media in case Dr Dave walks out on Brian Regan tonight.
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It was Dr Dave's turn on the therapy couch this morning, a few days before he will withstand the annual St Paddy's Day picture indignities he brought upon himself. Dave was exceptionally skillful at coaxing the good doctor into telling a couple of stories from his early days in youth ministry. The landing point of all this reminiscing was and is to reckon with how – not if – we will deal with life's natural assaults on our ego. HINT: God really loves doing this shrinkage with us!
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If you're new to the Freshie Fellowship you may not have caught on to what our seasoned loyal listeners already know. David is a bit of a narcissist. Dr. Dave may also suffer from S.A.S. (self-absorption syndrome), but he tends to mask it well. This episode caught the funny guy in an exceedingly whiny state. He needed a friend to unload on. Since St. Betsy's spatula reference cast her as a bit more unsympathetic than David needed, he turned to the podcast to share about his recent traumatizing visit to the urologist. How fitting that on Michaelangelo's 550th birthday, our little David needs to be seen as more than a block of stone.
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In this episode, David and Dr. Dave indulged in some old movie reminiscing. That led us to be vulnerable about what it was like to lag behind other teenage boys in our pubescent development. If you have monkey toes, you know. Listen closely, and you might pick up on the pain that still lingers. But we're here for you, loyal Freshies, so we pushed through our wounds to offer unparalleled wisdom and encouragement, soaked in a vocal impersonation that refused to be pinned down.
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The episode began with a quick nod to the 50-year anniversary show of SNL, some time travel about old TV, and airing grievances about changes that make us crotchety old men. But David had something sticking in his craw…or he would soon. Left with an instructional mailer for his upcoming medical visit, David required a bit of reassurance. With Ed Sullivan's constipational posture and Archie Bunker's defiance of censors fresh in our minds, we dove in. Feel free to change your channel if you can figure out how.
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Patience is a virtue. The Bible references this about 25 times. And David was a bit late to our scheduled recording time today because of an encounter at his local Tractor Supply store. Against the backdrop of this fresh experience (we deliver on the brand of our podcast name) — still breathless from the hustling irritation he was feeling — David invited Dr. Dave's moral critique. It led us into surprising territory. BTW, consider surprising your special Valentine tomorrow with a renamed body of water… it's trending.
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Our episode today was fraught with distractions. We apologize. Dr. Dave's chair made sounds David imagined were from a human source. But the elephant in the room was David's appointment 15 minutes after our recording. To his credit, our brave little funny guy confessed his vulnerability and invited Dr. Dave to try and counsel him out of the state of dread David had as he anticipated the annual tax meeting with his accountant. If you giggle at David's expense, be sure to keep your receipts.
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Our podcast was sailing along with a familiar cadence. We wondered aloud why and whether we might ever do a social media fast. We riffed on how RFK might be a good pin-up poster for good health in America but as a spokesman, we're getting mixed messages. Then David's wife sent him a text and we became 7th grade boys, giggling with glee about the messages David would send, receive, and read aloud while we recorded. David might have to do some marriage penance, but this was a generous Candid Camera gift for all of us listeners.
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Loyal listeners, how would you describe FC2.0 to those wanting a podcast referral? We get so captivated by our conversations that we imagine you might like to listen in. A bit too narcissistic? Probably. Our 47th president is setting the pace for all of us. But we also hope that when you hear us rave about a TV or movie experience that we enjoyed you might find our reviews helpful. Mostly, we hope listeners are inspired to grow a few friendships around frisky, playful, and Jesus-welcoming conversations… and we pray our example helps.
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Please forgive the tease behind this episode's title. While we did pounce on up-to-the-minute headlines (Roger's advice), it seemed out of character for us to do so. In post-production reflection, Dr Dave could not help but wonder what was driving our comedian's pursuit. We invite our loyal and embarrassingly small audience to be armchair psychologists and consider whether we have just witnessed evidence of David's fantasy to BE a headliner in Vegas. If you're ever at the Huntington DQ, ask "Jot" -- he seems to know a lot.
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We recorded our podcast with a national time stamp in the background, prompting David to ask about the apparent friendliness between former presidents attending Jimmy Carter's funeral. Our ensuing conversation ranged far and wide, with two helpful takeaways, we hope. The first is to enlarge your vocabulary. The second is to practice a lovely "slow your roll" response you can offer loved ones when the heat of conflict is unproductive. Enjoy!!
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True confession. This episode's title might promise more than we delivered. It may be that we could have pivoted toward something as helpful as our title offers, but we a) didn't (don't) plan what we talk about, and b) are easily distracted. So when David started spinning into movie character voices we rolled with it. And Dr Dave (usually the helmsman to steer this half hour) was rolling in laughter…let's just say there are worse ways to be incapacitated.
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The day after might actually be too soon to declare that we've made it through another Christmas season. But for the sake of our podcast, we celebrated being mostly done. For example, we learned that David officially disinvited Karen Carpenter's holiday music from his listening experience before the 25th had even ended. We wondered aloud whether seasonal pageantry proves that church life is too event-centric. But David needs gigs, so we hope we're not too convincing.
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On this last episode before Christmas, we shared the unspoken goal of offering loyal listeners a gift worth cherishing. It took us a bit of stumbling around some Granny and Gramps memories (rehearsal for table talk next week) before we found a way to be helpful. Please remember for years to come how your Fresh Catch Santas introduced you to Shame Judo—an invaluable, yearlong skill—in 2024. Merry Christmas, everyone…. we hope you can find Baby Jesus!!
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Loyal Freshie podheads know that "unpredictable" is sort of our brand here. We love the chance to deliver something uncontrived and savory in the moment. Today we pulled back the curtain a bit on why this tastes so good, exploring moments of edgy comedy that might offend both Amish and gay communities while searching for a simple way to help churches dodge dodginess. Enjoy!
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It all begins when we stand in our morning closets, selecting how to present ourselves to the world on any given day. For whatever reason, David felt like showing a bit of skin during this episode, and his unzipped exposure led us to fondly remember the Bee Gees and disco days. During a rare podcast recorded a mere hours before David earns a living doing a comedy gig, we treated our time as his professional warm-up act.
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Anticipating a great holiday feast with family, we offer this episode as a public service to those who might not naturally be wired to give thanks. Predictable scenarios await. Expect to be annoyed. Spend a few precious turkey-brining moments getting your heart soaked in juices that make gratitude front and center. Maybe you will whisper a prayer of gratitude for your two pod-hosts. We'd be thankful if you did.
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In this episode, we accidentally came out of the closet. Starting playfully (as we are wired to do), we made a big deal out of our husky voices. That led to cowboy talk, man talk, Mike Tyson talk, and Jesus talk. Ultimately, we confessed our love for Yellowstone in public and wondered how Jesus might interact with our favorite cowboy, Rip. Come, wonder with us.
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This episode migrated from a frisky frolic around what research might do to break down the authenticity of love to some vulnerable sharing. First, David "other-disclosed" (he's working his way to brave SELF-disclosure) about a story from a friend. But that laid the trap for Dr. Dave to reveal fresh pain from not being noticed. Along the way, our apologies to the world's largest nation.
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At a certain age, men seem to make peace with how they will present their bellies to the world. We celebrated our shared contentment with having enough in the round to thump soundly, but the topic triggered a frat initiation memory for Dr. Dave that may be hard to un-hear. You've been warned.
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Our Fresh Catching immediately jumped into the festivity of the day and we could never quite get dislodged from discussing Halloween. It's not like there aren't other storylines to tackle. Next week, for example, we might elect the Great Pumpkin as our president. If so, Pappy will be happy…unlike the costume mask David will ask him to wear tonight. But WHERE will he WEAR it?? (Cue scary laughter.)
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We know we're biased, but from start to finish in this episode, it felt like we set a new record of hard laughter during a single show. Admittedly, we road the coattails of last week's wedgie guffaws. But then, as often happens in FC2.0, we got to eavesdrop on David's therapy-seeking confessions to Dr. Dave. Let's just say it might take some healing before we can hold eye contact with one another in the immediate future.
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Like a psalmist's lament, we opened this episode in honest acknowledgment that we delivered a poor podcast last week. David was pretty quick to assign blame and he's probably right. But to his credit, he also ushered us into a warmer space of reflecting on our good times. Favorite memories, decades old, had us giggling like crazy. It may be that Kool and the Gang will request a royalty check. Or it may be that an Indiana Hall of Fame wrestling coach will deliver yet another move to entertain us all and smite the wounded, cackling camel. Enjoy!
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It's a movie. It's a metaphor for life. And by the time you finish listening to this podcast, you may turn it into your prayer. Enjoy. (Cue banjo…)
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We danced with a bit of syrup from Love Potion #9 today. Eventually, we scrambled out of our hugfest hole to properly poke fun at some of our recent experiences. But the real payday came as Dr Dave shared the incredulous story of a church friend's unfiltered comments to his dental hygienist. Color us wistfully mocha-skinned.
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It takes a while to crack open our windows of transparency. David unpacked the wonder of being named #2 instead of Jr., revealing a memory of Pappy that earned him a place on Dr Dave's psychoanalysis couch. A 48-year old original parable got dropped into the discovery conversation, bubbling up unresolved resentment for one of our most loyal Freshies. There's gold in this podcast. Enjoy!
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If you prefer your podcasts to jump around a bit, this one's for you. We advanced the theory that comedians benefit from being overweight or slightly un-handsome. We got confused about how to pronounce a British singer's name. We called out David's (once) good friend from the humor industry, Andrew Stanley, for being a botoxer. And after hearing about David's latest adventures with his aging dad, we may have agreed to lie about Pappy's birthday is OK. Be careful. This episode may border on being helpful to listeners in tough times.
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As a rule of thumb in this largely lighthearted podcast, we two Davids talk about our political perspectives in hushed tones. But whispers can backfire on us. They sometimes do better at communicating and, as we freely admit, they can also just creep us out. Especially if the topic happens to be pet consumption. WARNING: This episode offers Dr Dave's surprising slant on how the past week's presidential debate may impact his vote. For now, let's keep it at a whisper.
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We'd love to hear from loyal listeners who live somewhere outside of the Midwest … what are garage sales like in your community? Dr Dave was given a pass from his three-day duty to record this episode as the haggling was happening on the opening morning of their bizarre bazaar where the cars are usually parked. For some folks, it's more about the social interaction than The Art of the Deal. That's when he heard a friendly buyer complain about Gene Autry.
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This episode's title was tough to land. If you've come to love our distinctively free-wheeling conversations at FC2.0, you'll enjoy this dance fest. We routinely pounced on and hijacked one another's topics, took them for a quick surfboard ride, then quickly caught another wave. One of the foamy curls we hung ten on was David's admission that he likes laughing at old people's troubles. Since Dr Dave is now 70, you might want to bookmark this moment as the day when it was no longer pure fun to be podcast partners. We're calling our sons to the green room.
Relationships being the confusing Matrix-adventure that they are, everything we notice about someone, each smidgen of communication (in whatever form), and gestures of give and take can get over-analyzed. It spills over into what we see on the TV screen, even when the DNC is our main primetime option. It also includes delivering saucy gifts to a hip-hindered neighbor who's love for "luv-texts" weirds us out. Never fear. We made sure this dance got proper scrutiny.
Dave V and Roger V, we heard you. The week of August 8, 2024, will go down in history(!) as a shameful betrayal by the two lame hosts of FC2.0. Although, if you listen carefully to the details of this week's podcast, it does seem like one David owns more of the responsibility for our non-transmission than the other does. But, hey, since there's no "I" in team, why make it a big deal, right? We've got other bullhorn messages to stir us up. Seriously, thx for your patience. Have fun.
Keenly connected to contemporary headlines, your FC2.0 team jumped into the controversy surrounding the opening ceremony at the Olympics. As a result, we also took a swim in the Social Media River, mindful that even the Seine running through Paris may be less murky and polluted, especially for Christians. Thank God that Dr Dave's middle name is both a calling and a gift … we think.
One of the things we pride ourselves in delivering through our FC2.0 podcasts is a willingness to dive into our conversational walk-abouts without holding back. We fancy ourselves as comfortably authentic. No spin that's not exposed. That's why we might need to apologize for today's episode. As it turns out, David's desire to chat about "fibby-fibs" may have been a veiled attempt to coax Dr. Dave from his sleepy state for the sake of a more energetic, entertaining listening experience. Alas, this truth was left unsaid during our recording. Pray for us.
Loyal FC2.0 listeners have come to expect scattershot ramblings from the Davidic duo. Today's episode was a transfixation. It's like we were swept away, caught up in irresistible conversation that — if we were all in a room together — would have made total sense. If seeing is believing then you'd better believe that David's nose repair job was worth talking about. The whole time. Endlessly. It was a like a verbal hard massage. Enjoy … at David's expense.
We're hoping one of the two topics we danced with during this day late episode makes the wait worthwhile. First, if there's wisdom in waiting, why does it annoy us so much? Second, if there's wisdom in weight control why is fair food so scrumptious? Moreover, how should we respond when the voice in our head sounds like the robot from a 60's science fiction TV show (when science WAS fiction)?
Happy Fourth of July, podheads! We lit so many fuses that the fireworks from this episode had us scurrying for cover. Our civic duty obliged us to contemplate the state of our country by trash talking the Brits while lamenting about last week's presidential debate. We fondly remembered bigger-than-life heroes from the past, e.g., Jack Palance's push-up on the Oscar stage, Reagan's aplomb, and Kojak's lollipop. When we linked angelic coolness with cigarette smoking, we decided to say farewell. Picture us waving goodbye with the delight of two modern dictators.
We don't actually know who our loyal listeners are, but we suspect 16-year-old boys are not our demographic. But COULD they be? This episode features an on-air, lively exchange between two tame-named old dudes. Don your favorite comfy shirt. Grab a cup of Joe. Listen to the fun as we talk about names. Guaranteed to be the most entertaining debate of the day.
We started this episode with plenty of self-congratulations. It needed to be done and, frankly, we're not sure we'll get it from anyone else. But David came to our cackle-fest with a troubled heart. He needed to unburden himself. So, he told a story, inviting Dr Dave (first of all) and Freshies (next) to render judgement about whether he should be condemned or appreciated for how he responded to a heartfelt heart-tale when the personal pan pizza arrived.
The term "micro-aggression" is in our popular culture nowadays. It's a reference to the little ways things are said or done that actually hurt people. We didn't actually use that word during our podcast (it's a bit too uppity for our taste…wait…that MIGHT be a micro-aggression…it's confusing, right?). But if you want to archive this episode, it's a label that might fit. Dr Dave felt micro-aggressed by David's critique of his M&M nibble sneaking during the recording. And we anticipated neglect during Father's Day. Kinda whiny, really. Sorry about that.
When loyal FC2.0 listeners have built their week around the expectation of our podcast being delivered by Thursday midday and it shows up on Saturday morning, confidence is shaken. Justifiably so. Having fun is one thing. Chilling with friends is OK, but there are times we simply need to get the right things done on time. Is that so hard to ask? Can we just agree it's OK to move directly to the mission that brought us together without the need to be coddled by preliminary pleasantries? Apparently not, as Dr Dave learned on location among the smarty-smart crowd in Houston. What's love got to do with it?
Raise your hand if you've got a really good friend who's a comedian. If you know, you know. Most of the world thinks of entertainers as their own personal vending machines. "I paid money for this treat, so you'd better come through!" But for those of us, say, who share podcast time weekly talking about anything and everything, we realize our funny and talented friends are also human beings. In this podcast, we scratched below the surface…of David's cancerous nose. It wasn't pretty.
To our most loyal listeners…will you PLEASE let us know if you think we're trending towards being crotchety old men too much for your taste? Today's podcast started slipping that direction, where complaints get the headlines. That's what led one of us (no sense rubbing in the shame, right DD?) to utter the phrase that is this episode's title. And if you think that's bad, wait until you hear his last words. FCC alert…
"Whatever." "If you say so." There are more of these poor inauthentic ways we avoid transparency. Lots of them are favorite weapons of those skilled in passive-aggressive relational warfare. But we chose to camp on something that presents another sort of problem: it so happens that "it's all good" can be understood as one of the deepest, most portable biblical truths available to those who confess Jesus is Lord. Credit for the origin of this line of appreciation goes to Larry David, one more pawn in God's master work of making all things good.
Therapy is intended to help you get in touch with your feelings and act in a way that respects their power without letting them carry you where you'd prefer not to go.
Dr Dave experienced this episode like a therapy session done for the entertainment of others. When the microphone is turned off, he realized he just survived being ravaged. Wondering "what just happened?" he appreciates that his emotional resiliency is thin.
Enjoy, if you must.
We don't actually do our podcast in the same room, so if one of us has been working out and smells like it…or more likely, has been eating garlic-soaked braunschweiger, we simply don't have the benefit of enjoying a distinctively pungent olfactory connection. But our imaginations carried us there during this episode. We also remembered one of the best movies of our lifetime, one that is hauntingly marked by an epic BANJO tune. Please forgive us if you need delivered from the weird, stinky river we drifted down.
As is more common than not for a free-wheeling Fresh Catch frolic, we bounced around with butterfly nets trying to catch the giggles this morning. Dr Dave's brash on-air snacking led us to explore eating etiquette. We then meandered down the winding Wabash River, giving David the chance to boldly insert himself as our Huntington tour guide. He dropped pearls of dubious, colorful local knowledge into the mix, hoping to lure vacationers to consider visiting his hometown. Just don't Google-check him; we hubbies prefer to not have our word questioned.
Too many Yelp food reviews don't address our basic eating patterns - not ours. David opened the door for today's Glutton Support Group with his confession about the lingering effects of yesterday's White Castle drive through. And since confession is good for the soul (not "sole"…which is an absolutely delicious fish to feast on), Dr Dave hopped on, fighting the immediate temptation to munch a bunch of chips while turning into a human pod. BONUS: We celebrated how words, like waistlines, can be stretched.
Though 90 minutes apart we shared a moment with each other (and much of the nation) when Mother Earth's one true moon moved to block Father Sun's warm, full light. Our peace and harmony experience of wonder was short-lived. Our hearts – like the moon – tend to hoard the spotlight. "How dare the moon interfere with the tanning practice I'm entitled to?" And, "How dare Brian Regan claim some of Dr Dave's laughter devotion?" We did our best to keep the jealousy solar flare in David from becoming a total eclipse of the heart.
It became apparent during the course of this unrehearsed episode that David deserved recognition for his unusually advanced empathy. It revealed itself in the time he made available on Easter Sunday evening to his trans neighbor. And though he's not one to toot his own horn (he'll happily toot yours!), the level of care he's offered St Betsy while she recovers from surgery has been so imaginative it's hard to categorize. Nonetheless, Dr Dave sought to commend the unusual gift he is to those around him…no matter how it makes them feel.
Sorry about the clickbait title. In this episode Dr Dave's blood pressure rose in recalling how Donald Trump hawked Bibles that he "personally" endorses during Holy Week. It's probably hypocritical for us to decry the cynical mockery of someone who will make $$ from the loyal church region of MAGA Nation and then turn around and name drop to entice new listeners. But we're a conflicted duo – sometimes we embrace grace but most often we keep adding up our quid pro quo scores. Don't blame the funny Dave.
It's tourney time - have you placed your bets? Entered your office pool? Filled out your brackets? As countless men recover from their planned vasectomies so they can watch non-stop NCAA tourney action, David will be entertaining in the Great Northwest. Not sure if his bitterness is in anticipation of this misaligned schedule planning or a result of the tax counsel he receives from Mr Flat Voice. But as we wound down our episode we may have stumbled on a way to properly make our needs more important to others: just ring your bell. Enjoy!!
"X" marks the spot. In today's episode, it led to an ego-bruising delay of our scheduled recording. One feature of FC2.0 is that we Davids process our conflicts in real time, hoping we might bring benefit to listeners regardless of the personal pain. Or the giggles. We're ambidextrous that way…though David fancies himself a joy-eater. Maybe that's why he felt free to drag Dr Dave into yet another defense of his soon-to-be-recycled "Hungry Eyes" birthday picture.
Many of us live in privacy and no space is more sacred than our bedrooms. It may not surprise loyal FC2.0 pod-heads to learn that David not only saw his neighbor through his 2nd story bedroom window, he responded to a beckoning wave. His cross-the-street encounter offers an apt and weighty metaphor for today's confusing social landscape; the unsettling wave came from a hulking, hairy human wearing a skirt and a smile. The old rules just don't work anymore…
Unfortunately for loyal Florida listener, Paul Coy, we confounded his well-deserved shout out (a 3 hour drive to hear David entertain!) by loving the sound of our own voices. Dr Dave had trouble NOT impersonating Steve from "Love on the Spectrum" and David was trapped in his Fargo dialect. At least we didn't drop the F-bomb. Yet.
We're hoping our loyal FC2.0 listeners appreciate the therapeutic breakthrough that took place on this episode. It's possible that our growth is a less entertaining podcast than we can usually deliver. If so, we apologize and pledge to do better next time. But somewhere in the middle of our haughty critique of elites and their snooty ways we realized that we are they. Our saving grace is that we exist here to simply talk (not live) a good game.
Elitism is kind of icky.
On this episode David was kind enough to articulate the difference between apologies that are sincere and those that are perfunctory. (To reassure listeners, that particular word - "perfunctory" - was never uttered during our podcast. But since Dr. Dave confessed his love for wordiness it seems fair to illustrate such verbosity in this description.) And even though our 30 minute chat-fest included referencing God's directive that Jeremiah is to avoid using "worthless words" we're not sure we did so.
If we were submitting an episode of FC2.0 for Grammy consideration (is that possible?), this might be the one. The giggles threaded their way through guffaws and groans as we talked about how surveilling Pappy might lead to disturbing discoveries about his cozy relationship with a wooden spoon. David's Saturday laughter gig in a Catholic church left enough residue to celebrate how ALL THINGS are a gift from God. We're claiming the joy while we search for our own utensils of comfort.
For our many podheads who count on our 30 minute conversations to time your workout or ease you into sleepy-town, we apologize. Today's episode was first delayed (yesterday) and then cut short (today) due to yet another encounter with David's sewage repair team. They're a riot!! Though we resolved to NOT dwell on (or in) the muck we described last week, we stepped in it when we psychoanalyzed those who wear uniforms…but maybe shouldn't. BTW, what happened to the USPS dress code?
Some delays are due to natural causes. Planes don't fly on time when storms and fog are everywhere. In a similar way, your FC2.0 podcast is 24 hours late because David had "one of those days" …the kind we've all experienced. Please feel his pain as you listen in. And please hide your fantasy-inducing garden rakes. Most of all, don't use Dude Wipes.
Some people have a glow about them. After connecting with them, you can FEEL the warmth of life being transferred your way. That's glow. And if you're married long enough, you accumulate stories about conflict. So, the FC2.0 question we explored is: "How can we glow when we argue?" Lots of name dropping as we hunted for answers. Meanwhile, we truly hope our wives don't listen to this episode.
Don't you just love it when you discover how some things, when smushed together, make for a great tasting treat? As we zig-zagged through today's unscripted podcast we told a couple of stories and David tested out an idea for a comedy bit that makes for a sandwich worthy of its own name on the menu. That's how we came up with this title. Your assignment, loyal FC2.0 listeners, is to revisit the title after you hear what we giggle about in this episode and see if you enjoy a lingering laughter aftertaste!
Our first podcast of 2024 had a bit of holiday residue in it. Forgive us for being a bit distracted by news of who's on the Epstein list. And forgive us for disrespecting one of the great physicists of our time. Also, please forgive us for embarrassingly poor imitations of people we truly admire. One more thing: could you forgive us for spending even a smidge of time talking about goals for the new year?
Maybe we should have agreed on the worthy goal of needing less forgiveness from our loyal FC2.0 listeners.
If you prefer an orderly conversation that leads to a clearly defined end in mind you are likely frustrated by our affection for improvisation. But we respect the craft enough to delight in bringing our often-wobbly plane to a soft landing after our 30 minute flights. Today's technical interference was challenging. Since we don't understand Internetting, we declare Year End Weirdness Week (far more powerful than a full-moon!) Hopefully our editing coughed up the seasonal gunk – let us know…gently. Happy New Year!
Comedians have keenly trained ears; it's not fair to ask them to hear what's going on in the world like us common folks do. "Blessing and curse" is how David framed his audible-ity. So when Dr Dave was simply recounting a story by naming a favorite Campus Life kid from 40 years ago, Mr Funny couldn't stop giggling at the sound. It's OK that he acted like a 7th grade boy because soon enough he was reliving a terrifying moment from his high school days. Merry Christmas? Yes. Eventually. Sort of. ENJOY!
Most times we title an episode based on what we actually discussed. But in this case, we have to apologize for not smashing together the two topics we DID talk about: 1) Norman Rockwell art, and 2) the Idaho-cy of spending 8 hours in line for an In-n-Out burger. We often collude together to imagine funnier-than-life situations and it feels like we were just a tad off our game. As you listen, do you agree it's fair to blame Pappy?
Your FC2.0 hosts are here to serve, and we are keen to be helpful during the chaos of Christmas season. We worked really hard to not camp too long on the giggling detours of story-telling about one of our favorite rock 'n rollers impersonating a bear in the north woods of Michigan. In fact, we're pretty proud of ourselves for leveraging the remembrance to land on a principle to help you plan for the family time ahead. That's us: two stars twinkling holiday guidance through the dark days of December.
It's a weird juxtaposition. A day that's intended to set aside our normal patterns of self-absorbed living in order to aim every spotlight at God in gratitude has been fogged over by our entitlement culture. Unfortunately, we who are prime targets for AARP membership are chief culprits. David wondered why it's only the most elderly among us that receive compassionate understanding from loved ones. Too bad that his question actually threatens the likelihood that he will ever be eligible for the Grace Pass.
It's Thanksgiving Eve and both of the Ds are ramping up for family time in the days ahead. In order to be at our best we thought it wise to probe some of the ways we might be at our worst. You know: what ditches should we avoid stumbling into? As it turns out, we've got a lot in common and neither of us are likely to be MVFM (Most Valuable Family Member) at the festive gatherings. But we still hope you enjoy a great holiday!!
If you're a loyal FC2.0 podhead and you're frankly tired about our health-related discussions lately, we hear you. Frankly, we're tired of talking about our maladies. So our tactic in this episode is to accelerate from COVID concerns or pinkeye social isolation to the Big Endgame facing us all. Musing about the music we'd want played at our funerals gave us great delight. We only hope our loved ones are listening. If not, may Norman Rockwell paintings populate your dreams, beloved. Enjoy!! NOTE: DR failed to hit "UPLOAD" on Thursday…apologies to listeners for the senior moment!!
It's gotta be fresh for us to catch it in our giggle net. (Brilliant podcast branding, right?) Today's topic was unavoidable. And if you looked too closely it was scary. Dr Dave's conjunctivitis (commonly called "pink eye") was an irresistible fascination to Dave, who may have scribbled notes while we chatted. If you're attending one of his comedy shows during this busy stretch, listen carefully to see if his laughter-seeking contains any hint that he carries empathetic human decency. And if he riffs about males being whiny and self-absorbed when sick, just realize that you're hearing fresh material, birthed while poking at Dr Dave's pain during today's episode.
We didn't giggle as much in this episode. Take that into account if you're looking for a podcast to enjoy while you nibble on your comfort food. Blame Dr Dave. He came away from a professional conference after hearing about research that was too disturbing to ignore. We imagined life in a delivery truck, in part because we know and admire how our friend Margo Whitfield handles FedEx. But we're a couple of clunk-ers…so pass the stash of Halloween candy and let's reload to handle what's next.
Have you ever been humbled by someone who doesn't care about your otherwise impressive credentials? In the world of youth ministry the rules of engagement are, er…irregular. For instance, what possesses two young boys to press their bare bottoms against the picture window of an elderly woman? Dr Dave failed to probe this with David - probably because he was still feeling stung by his 6 year old granddaughter's morning greeting yesterday.
It may be that you had not reckoned with the risk involved in professional dart throwing. Well, on the heels of tough news for dart-ists around the world, we decided to dive into a headline that we know very little about. Honestly, this may be what distinguishes FC2.0 from other run-of-the-mill podcasts - we fearlessly engage topics without feeling the slightest need to conceal our ignorance. We're simply going for the giggle. Enjoy!
First of all, shout out to sometime-listener Seth Baker for enlarging our vocabulary. Our podcasts often assert what we think we know for sure. But we especially enjoy offering theories to explain something that arouses our curiosity. Some might call that swapping ignorance. We call it entertainment. If you are adept at seeing what's giggle-worthy, old guys dancing and neighbors' evening Walmart runs are equally objectifiable. This we declare with ultracrepidarian certainty.
People who are devoted to being as productive as possible will likely dismiss the hidden value in our podcasts. We talked today a lot about what we talk about. That's the familiarity that makes hanging with DaveX2 so fun. But don't miss the gem tucked inside ourCracker Jackconversation: life together is in trouble. If we misdiagnose we may do more harm than good. Loyal listeners can decide if the clarity we offer is helpful beyond the giggling. Either way, we're here for you. Enjoy!
Two themes dominated our conversation in this episode. The first was to consider how, why, when, and where we might be inclined to feel like an exchange with someone is actually wasting our time. (Ironic, given what we actually talk about in our podcast, right?) The second was to wonder what price might buy official FC2.0 endorsements …and whether Howie Long actually wears Skechers.
The ancient Greeks cherished the sort of virtue dissection we enjoyed on this episode. Maybe. Some of it. We politely described the plentiful girth to work around while we discussed the moral responsibility of a sleeping seat-neighbor on David's recent flight to Arizona. There's a lot at stake in getting this right. Being genuinely accountable for everything we actually do while sawing ZZZZ's is a slippery slope, so we spoke with care. Curiously, this somehow led us to endorse Abreva for whatever ails you.
The implicit covenant we two Davidic hosts have with our loyal listeners is that we will be honest. Today's episode should be reassuring to FC2.0 podheads; even when our conversation sparks painful memories we bravely engage. Somewhere in the midst of whining about whatever happened to the art of loving correction (even when expressed by Pappy's perforated board of education) we managed to giggle. And even cuss a bit.
In clear violation of FC2.0 protocols, David brought a pre-meditated agenda to this podcast episode. But — as is common — the cultural norms we've established were able to triumph over the Funny Guy's wily attempts to manipulate the program. Longtime listeners will note the familiar pattern. One of us says something…anything…to grab the other's attention. We launch into a curious probe and get ridiculous. Our wondering today hung on some Hoosier colloquialisms that don't make sense. But those long in the tooth will probably giggle with us.
Apologies to loyal pod-heads for the clunky sound. The host hotel for our Philly-based remote recording will NOT receive a good review from us. (You'll hear a few reasons during Dr Dave's whiny section in this episode.) But we pivoted, and hope we overcame self-pity so listeners could weigh the risk/reward of taking our challenge. For some, the stretch we're inviting is simply too much. But this adventure comes with a rare Double D endorsement, guaranteed to open eyes and enlarge hearts. Let us know if you take the plunge - you'll have our admiration and our prayers!
An episode's title seldom captures the wide-range of frolic loyal pod-heads can enjoy. We only hope we don't bury the lead. In the truest sense of "Fresh" and "Catch", we hear David breathlessly share a 9 hour-old story of a bat-in-his-bedroom encounter. As if in trauma aftershock, he was openly processing what happened and a bit shaken up by St. Betsy's threats to leave him. Can we extend a little grace for his raw, no-filter reporting?
Loyal listeners might have noticed the 24 hour delay in our FC2.0 podcast this week. We apologize for any disruption to your workout routines or white noise induced sleep. Our zig zag life patterns don't always land us at a shared intersection with the precision timetable of German commuter trains. Ours is more like a wagon train. But, hey, if you've got any helpful knowledge to share with us we are all ears. Unless we're like a few people we talked about today whose body parts on display were everything but ears.
Our FC2.0 questionable artistry is based on a weekly commitment to start recording without having or sharing any plan for our 30 minutes together. Whatever else is true, we are determined to catch a fresh and frolicky dialogue that we hope is entertaining. Today's bounce-about included a painful admission about sharing our ailments with others, a breakthrough idea for class reunions, and a long-necked quarterback in need of a peppermint oil rub-down. Enjoy!
The evidence about what tickles our fancy is indicting (to borrow a word from the week's headlines). We fessed up about lots of things that make us giggle and that endear us to personalities from bygone years who could not possibly survive today's cancel culture. Even David's mid-recording rant against the annoying presence of an EMT truck at his neighbor's home testifies to something pre-pubescent at our core. And then there's that final word…
We sometimes wonder if listeners experience our 30 minute episodes flying by as quickly as we do when we laugh practically non-stop through our conversation. Today, even as Dr Dave was fishing for a little empathy about his stumble-bum injury, it was clear that David had a listener's gift to share. Dr Ron Coffey asked Artificial Intelligence to generate a poem about FC2.0. Apparently he fed the system info with a tad bit of bias. Much like the writers of Barbie must have done…according to David's movie review.
David's stories about his aging father, affectionally known to Freshies as "Pappy", often make us giggle and squirm at the same time. We love the raw inhibition. We expect his unpredictability. We can't wait to hear about where David finds the mess, not IF there's a mess to clean up. As it turns out, some of these endearing qualities are attractive to both of us who share the Fellowship of David. Like trying to do The Gritty.
This phrase popped up early in our conversation as we poked around the dumpster fire of David's livestream efforts in last week's podcast. It may be a bit insensitive. But we took a few moments to unpack it anyway since…well…it seemed like a pathway we could enjoy giggle-skipping along in the company of Jesus. After all, as Irish poet Nick Laird wrote, "Time is how you spend your love."
Adventures. Risk-taking. Living on the edge. No one wants to settle into comfort zone habitats as a way of life. Our buddy is currently touring through Wisconsin on a devil-may-care biker ride. Another friend engaged an unusual vertical challenge at Lowe's recently by adding a little socially demanding twist. No strangers to dangers, we live-streamed this episode through David's Facebook page. It's like we licked our fingers and stuck them into a light socket, dancing with technology clearly beyond our reach. Woo-hoo!! Ride, baby!!
Comedy is art. Much of life, though we'd prefer scientific certainty and control, is also art. We make decisions every day based on intuitions or hunches or the undigested food giving us grief. Since poking others to reveal something true about themselves that we might enjoy seeing is a shared value for us David-types, we decided to poke around and see what we could stir up.
WARNING: If you fancy yourself to be a bit delicate, this FC2.0 episode might be one to avoid. We migrated back to proper decorum by the time we concluded our conversational frolic, but before we put this recording in the can we spent a bit too much time talking about being in the can. As brave listeners will soon discover, we will not take kindly to requests to clean up our act…or prayer requests, for that matter.
We have so much fun in the unplanned conversations we record for FC2.0 and the joy of including others is pure bonus. You can try this at home. Pick a topic, any topic. Chase the crumbs. Pick up speed when you feel giggly. Never hesitate to include Jesus in the mix; inviting him into a party is an epic move, not a laugh killer. So when Dr Dave summed a thought with a word retrieved from his mind's deep storage, we celebrated the delightful gift of such a rare appearance. Maybe we made too much of today's surprise…but we ended, like always, with huge smiles. Enjoy!
Giddy. Twitchy. Probably a bit too "inner circle" for great entertainment. But – true to form – our FC2.0 brand is to give listeners a front row seat at the joy of an unlikely friendship between a guy who makes his living being funny and a guy who lives on Social Security paychecks (and is relieved by the debt ceiling negotiations - isn't it great that government works so well!!?) We're about to gather over chimichangas and wanted you to feel our vibe. Even if Neil Diamond does the intro.
Is there efficacy to venting? (Sorry. That reads like the title of an article in the Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences…pretty sure that's not our audience.) We're simply two clowns who started off whining in this episode , giving the Vent Dog within us too long a leash. Eventually we asked how such tasty complaining actually helps us enjoy living with Jesus and representing him well in the world. If only one FC2.0 listener curbs the impulse to parking lot rumble with other fans at 12-year-old baseball games over their music playlist, we've done good here.
Our staggered start for recording today was not that unusual. We often slide Zoom times around to accommodate our other important activities. And, as we explored during this episode, what rises to the level of a priority can, at times, be puzzling. (You'll enjoy this cryptic clue once inside this FC2.0 conversation.) But you will also hear the quaver in David's voice as he retells a fresh encounter he had minutes earlier with a 3rd grader who, according to spelling standards, might have to be held back for a year. This podcast is jam-packed with surprise morsels - enjoy!
David surrendered graciously because Dr Dave hits the buttons for our podcast. When it comes to the TV remote control our wives concede that we might possess the better skills, but the exchange might get a little testy. This, of course, illustrates a life truism: We are strangely comforted when we think we have control. Whether someone can actually handle the responsibility of control is an entirely different matter. For example, will Dr Dave be OK announcing tonight's baseball game after he skipped sleep entirely to finish a massive jigsaw puzzle? Only he controls the live mic…
Being on vacation or in the DR usually means near-the-beach conditions for David's Zoom connection. Today's Florida location was no exception. Under the pretense of needing to "steady his camera" – David peeled off his shirt at the outset. Well…(dramatic, Chant Thompson-like pause)…when we can hear one another (wives dispute this) we enjoy a conversational podcast that's free-flowing. But some things we see can't be ignored. An agenda was born for today's episode as soon as David embraced his off-the-shoulder look. Dr Dave joined the shirtless parade, palmetto bugs applauded, and at least two passersby uneasily whispered. At least, it sounded like whispering to us; our earth suit ears are getting worn out.
In a rare single-focus thread this episode lingered in the category of how to handle road trips to max the fun and make the journey feel shorter. File this under a public service offering from your two frolicky friends. We know many of our listeners take us on jogging trails, treadmill runs and longer drives. We feel the connection. In a fit of generosity we wonder aloud whether you might want to take the relationship to a whole new level of companionship. The offer stands…
One of the challenges erstwhile podcasters are familiar with is how to title an episode so that it accurately represents the discussion and is, at least, somewhat attractive. Loyal listeners of FC2.0 know that the wild ride we enjoy for about 30 minutes weekly is seldom a single-topic focus. Today was no exception. But, on behalf of everyone who tilts toward weight gain and have been a tad nervous about getting older, please take a beat to share our pain. It's far too common. Tucked into life's daily, tiny details. Like tying your shoes.
As it turns out, both members of the FC2.0 podcast team have reasons to love those moments that feel awkward. David pounces on the comedic opportunity like an eagle swooping in on an innocent barnyard chick. Dr Dave is equally eager to capitalize on an occasion that has vulnerability and growth possibilities. Since most of us can at least swap stories of times when awkwardness hinders rather than helps, we wonder if this might be a way we could make a buck tag-teaming to share our expertise. Let us know what you think…unless that seems too awkward…
Sometimes our podcast is recorded from remote locations that are cool. David has been on a beach in the Dominican Republic and Dr Dave has been gazing at Pikes Peak while we Zoom. If this episode feels like listeners are an afterthought because David is in a truck stop parking lot on the way to something really important…well…we're sorry. And maybe - just maybe - we repent. At least we'll talk about stuff that made us wonder if we should repent and then we agreed to repent. Don't judge.
We tried on this episode. Really, we did. But the technology gremlins dragged us through three reboots while we were Zoom-casting. Sort of ruined our flow. We think that's one of the hidden qualities of Easter weekend, one that we were loathe to talk about before we got waylaid. Something as epic as life transformation for billions (including us) because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ deserves to be told even when the delivery platforms are less than quality. We think. Maybe?
This episode had a grunginess to it. Sorry. Our visual connection while recording was a bit unsettling, though we celebrated the shared casual space we enjoy in an audio-only podcast. But David's long road trip has him taking liberties with his hotel room accommodations that Dr Dave felt led to rebuke. He might have been too judge-y. To come full circle, if the "Buddy Award" that David (almost) enjoyed as a Lincoln School volunteer wasn't special enough, we may be able to join Comfort Inn housekeeping to pick up on why it was exactly the humbler he deserves.
We can't help it when a spoken word triggers a rogue thought. Some of us deal with this as a temptation to guard against. David has learned to pounce on such opportunities like a cat, playfully pawing at them to see if they might produce giggles. (On our podcasts they typically do.) Apologies for the disturbing visual images exchanged in this episode. But we scampered quickly to wonder aloud about the value of a first-hand experience. For example, an epic moment with Jesus like Palm Sunday – however carefully reported – simply isn't the same as being in the crowd cheering. Carpé diem!
Our FC2.0 banter is never pre-arranged and generally we enjoy politely deferring to one another as we grope toward the agenda of the day. This episode betrayed those unspoken guidelines as David pounced immediately, hijacking the conversation so we could talk about Dr Dave's St Paddy's Day birthday. More specifically, he wanted to press in to the question of judgement that led Dr Dave to post the birthday-suit clad hungry eyes selfie that therapists are still helping youngsters cope with. Hard laughs…with some teeny regret!
Dr Dave insists that Jesus' words are public domain but that didn't keep David from praying for his forgiveness. At the very least, citation is needed. We would like to issue the same invitation that Grateful Dead offered their early audiences: feel free to use our stuff any way you want. When everything you say is absolutely fresh, you have no need to keep it in a vault for the next time you (and you alone) get to say it. Manna expired after one day, eaten or not. Fresh Catch 2.0… a creative collaboration that, like Jesus' teachings, can be freely shared for widespread enjoyment.
This episode featured a debate about whether Dr Dave had actually done something that can only accurately be labeled as stupid. David tried to console a bit, explaining that the good Dr just made an honest mistake. But since the comedic core at the center of his personality is always whispering, "Pay attention…this could be funny…" his efforts didn't seem to offer much comfort. We turn to you, our loyal listeners, to render judgment as Dr Dave wriggles in the confessional.
One of the fascinating ways we all learn is to pay attention to the instruction others receive. You deserve college credit for listening to this episode. For 30 minutes Dr Dave became an eager student, insistently quizzing his street-wise pod-partner about gaslighting. While unaware of the term's meaning, he was well-acquainted with its practice. David's tutorial brought him up to speed. But it also seemed unnecessarily harsh. Why expose how DrDR's frugal nature crushes his hope to be godly? If you find any part of our giggly conversation offensive, we're sorry you feel that way.
There's something in the air. Consider the fact that students and visitors to Asbury in Wilmore, KY, are encountering the thick, upending presence of God that has a lot of people talking about revival. The "He Gets Us" TV ads during the Super Bowl and beyond have people chirping more about Jesus. Next week a movie will open at the theaters that talks about the Jesus Movement…an historical event that overlays with the powerful Asbury Revival of 1970. The National Collegiate Day of Prayer will be hosted via lifestream on Feb 23 from…Asbury. Since we don't want to be Spirit-tone deaf, we chatted about all this in our own way. Giggles galore, hearts wide open.
Loyal FC2.0 listeners know that we Davids pride ourselves in being unscripted. The funny David was trained in improvisational comedy through Chicago's legendary Second City, so his skills are formidable. But when we gave our attention to measuring an entirely different skillset – how we score on indicators of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – we came up short. We stayed true to ourselves, though. Instead of crying in our soup like some baby we made fun of ourselves like the 7th grade boys that we are.
David's new mic quality emboldened us. We bravely spoke of Punxsutawney Phil, and wondered aloud about what a meeting with Mephibosheth might look like. (Does Groundhog Day exasperate farmers?) By stretching our pronunciation muscles, this episode helped prep David for comedy in Portlandia. Since his words, especially, come back to haunt him, we decided to articulate well. This strategy also serves the relaxation needs of our listeners. We were chill. After all, you never know when the pity and disgust of a treadmill repairman might incite you to farmer-friendly roadkill.
Hardly a day goes by when we don't face something unexpected. But somehow the normalcy of interruptions doesn't weaken their power to ruin a perfectly-chilled vibe. Unanticipated and unwelcome events spike our alert-o-meters, rev up our hearts, and sometimes send us to bed with throbbing temples. If we just learned to giggle more as they hit us we'd all be better off. In today's episode we demonstrated what that looks like.
Get your notepads ready. This episode drops some sweet skills on our FC2.0 listeners. All of us have had occasion to either deliver some communication that's met with glazed-eye unresponsiveness or you've been the un-responder yourself, offering a few guttural sounds in an attempt to be less harsh than the Boring Moment deserves. We've got some tips for navigating these social speed traps. Gosh, this was fun!
One of the great mysteries of life is how little we know about the way prayers grow tipping points of change. But it's sure to fun to imagine we can trace how these cause-and-effect connections work. Today's episode was a celebration in hearing ourselves talk. Clearly. David's expensive Yedi microphone finally delivered the audio quality he paid for months ago. Shout out to Nick Wilson of Life Church; we recorded from their studio home. That's when we realized they had probably been praying for ways to draw David into their orbit more often. Enjoy giggling with us!
Happy New Year, everyone! We greeted 2023 with some deep conversation about how to upgrade our Christmas card strategies, four words that deserve thought and prayer, and a confession that we couldn't stop giggling about. You may be asking, "How does listening to FC2.0 benefit me?" Yup. That gets at the question of the day.
There is no denying that this episode might be painful for listeners. David's otherwise pleasant voice got walloped by some seasonal bug. But he's a seasoned performer, and the show must go on…even when we're not making a buck to record FC2.0. If you like watching Yellowstone, you might enjoy David's John Dutton impersonation. And no one will like Dr Dave's version of that female cowhand who composts her every word.
Keen regular listeners might pick up on the undercurrent of anxiety we two Davids shared in this 30 minutes. Families. Holidays. Stress. We get it. We feel it with you. When beloved children & siblings convene infrequently, the stakes are high for us parents. As Christmas clean-up begins and household quiet returns we intuitively conclude something about whether the families we groomed are in a good place. For you young 'uns who are visiting mom & pops, be gentle. And then be meta-gentle.
We began in earnest critique mode and got stuck there during this episode. But we also managed to pivot into appreciation as we divided the question. There's both good and bad in how easily we Davids jump to conclusions about how we would improve something if it were ours to upgrade. As we groped our way down humility's spiral staircase we ultimately celebrated those who contribute advice to us…even when it's unsolicited.
The FC2.0 duo is, after all, only human. Perhaps when one of us shows up to record with an axe to grind (hmmm, could be Freudian slip), a little tolerance might be granted as we simultaneously seek to record an entertaining podcast and get after what the real issue is. David pounced with a bit of ferocity on all the noise-making celebrations surrounding Brittany Griner's release from Russian prison. But it just might be that his real issues trace back to the TSA agent who confiscated the $40 cologne he tried to smuggle through the checkpoint. Stupid rules…
David is on the cusp of doing a comedy gig in Sarasota for a largely Amish-Mennonite crowd who will have just enjoyed a huge luncheon feast. While we swapped stories about the epic bombs both of us have delivered in front of large audiences, it felt like the truest undercurrent of this episode was to fortify David's heart for Sunday's upcoming challenge among those who "laugh internally." And BTW, please don't let Dr Dave's seasonally-sick, scary-deep voice ruin your own festive Christmas mood.
A bonus treat for loyal FC2.0 listeners. We release this episode a day before you sit in traffic on your way to a Thanksgiving feast with friends and family. And if you are heading to a vegan hosted shared experience, you've got shared empathy from one of us and disdain from another. What to talk about around the table? Well, we fixated on one word quite a bit during this podcast, decided not to put it in print, and advise against making it a conversation topic at a gathering of loved ones. Giggle quietly as you endure the highway crowds en route to gratitude.
We were downright silly on this episode of FC2.0. If you listen carefully you might be able to pick up on the moment the conversation pivoted from helpful to useless (not to be confused with David's weekend comedy destination in Florida – EUSTIS…). We offered mumbly assistance to those needing escape from their Life-Is-Annoying trend line. In fact, we probably added frustration to those with an Eeyortic affliction by trying. That's when we stumbled into NPR's better way of broadcasting and abruptly decided to make up a story about the world's richest man. Enjoy!
Mark this moment. Our loyal FC listeners have agonized with David as he's toiled and failed to make his new, refrigerator-size microphone work. OK, maybe you laughed as a first response rather than empathize with our technologically challenged friend. Understandable. We routinely do the same. In fact, that might be our brand. The same poking pattern showed up in the stories we swapped today. And that includes the peek behind the curtain about how to gently move someone's sincere - but flawed - idea away from true consideration.
This episode allowed us to unpack one of our epic shared memories from decades ago as well as a very fresh experience one of us had among Colorado wildlife. The chance to lean into any moment allows us to be nourished and surprised by God's love . In one instance it was projectile vomiting amidst gale-force wind and rains during a Bears-Packers road trip game. The other, as reported by Dr Dave as David alternated between giggling and interviewing, was prairie dog fellowship on a solo hike. With Jesus, it's ALL good.
Dr Dave blames himself for this one; he knows better. There's actually research about taking a minute to turn on our brain's "joy switch" before tasking it with creative demands like…well…providing an entertaining podcast. But right from the jump his urgent demeanor subdued his funny pod-ner, steering the conversation into highbrow matters of importance. (Except for that unfortunate reference where Dr Dave called his buddy Mike Higgs a "trans-Pentecostal"…). Oh, well. Maybe we shouldn't apologize; this episode offered helpful insights. It just wasn't our normal raucous fun-fest, in spite of what David promised potential new listeners last week.
This FC 2.0 episode reflected the season of being at odds with one another that seems to have enveloped all of us. It's not just politics. It's Mac vs Android… Indiana potholes vs San Diego seagulls… the Hampton Inn vs Ritz-Carlton… general life-angst vs momentary bliss. This tug-of-war might compel you to choose sides. Don't take the bait; just enjoy our sparring and thank God you, too, are uniquely wired to be you.
In Dr Dave's temporary youth pastor responsibilities he scrambles for creative ways to help kids. Idea testing is a crucial part of that process; David offered savvy insights about why deconstructing Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk might not be the way to go. Then he jumped into a wondrous riff about how a famed British naturalist might narrate the movements of two students seeking their evangelistic prey among cafeteria classmates. All in all, a pretty good episode on the eve of David's titanium neck infusion.
In this episode of FC 2.0, David proudly brought his own research discoveries into the conversation. He confessed that his purpose was to work magically hidden tricks of influence on Dr Dave. (Curiously, David had not reckoned with the fact that a secretive manipulation agenda might actually lose its advantage when it becomes publicly disclosed on a podcast, even one with less listener-traffic than an 8-year old's lemonade-stand.) Our frolicking conversation convinced us we can now help waitresses secure bigger tips. Stay tuned…
Can you remember a time when you anticipated an amazing, long-awaited breakthrough? Research has shown that the joy in such expectation soars almost as high as the actual experience might deliver. Of course, most of us vividly recall when those hopes were dashed in disappointment because what we worked so hard for simply didn't come to fruition. This week's episode captures the angst of David's crushing realization that his Best Buy shopping adventure has not (yet) delivered the sound quality he's dreamed about for FC 2.0. If you're in Huntington, Indiana, and have 5 minutes to spare, David could use your help.
We survived a disruption in the wifi meta-verse to deliver this podcast to our loyal listeners. But this effort was not without some strain, however under appreciated it is by funny David. Perhaps he luxuriates in a continuous expectation of Green Room privilege as is befitting a paid entertainer. At any rate, what he does with his sweatiness contrasts with Dr Dave's post-production burdens. Here's hoping that David's long-suffering neighbor can continue to adjust her lawn-mowing schedule according to when we decide to record. There's a potential hug awaiting as compensation. Or condensation…
This episode provoked painful self-discovery, courtesy of David's neighbor. She innocently mowed her lawn while our one-armed comedian podcasted. How could she not know that David – camped on his deck with his extravagant smart phone plugged into his ears – was trying to record something funny and worthwhile for worldwide distribution? Our complaints soon expanded. How insensitive for the train engineer to blow his whistle as he rumbled through town! What disgust as David's Pappy stripped off his aged jeans for a birthday suit plunge into the hot tub! CONCLUSION: The world rudely and regularly is an inconvenience.
Don't listen to this complaint fest unless you enjoy others' misery. We were a mess today. A fun mess…but a mess, nonetheless. As we pledge to loyal listeners, better next time.
Having launched into our episode with radio voice impressions that were borderline annoying, the bulk of our time was dedicated to satisfying David's thirst for understanding the psychological profile of a high school swim team manager. So, Dr Dave obliged – not by referencing some data base of published research – but by sharing candidly about his personal experiences. This podcast is dedicated to graduates from Peoria Richwoods Class of 1972, with whom the good Dr is about to celebrate a 50th reunion. Their class motto burst to life in his spirit…a tall, gangly, commanding swim team manager: "Keep on Truckin'. "
First things first. It's David's birthday and it was pure delight to share 32 minutes on this precious day of celebration with the entire FC2.0 pod-family. Unfortunately, David has lately been experiencing a bit of angst over some aging processes. So some of what happened on today's episode was Dr Dave consoling the birthday boy. Even more unfortunately (for our comedian), Dr Dave was less inclined to offer empathy than make sure we had a fun conversation that included "Jesus" as the best Freudian slip of all.
At the outset, we have a prayer request for our loyal FC2.0 listeners. David has a pinched nerve that keeps his left arm at penguin gesture height. For an active comedian who depends on the full range of bodily movement for his laugh (and $$) generation, this is a real concern. As it turns out, the needed MRI in a confining tube was an even greater concern. Thankfully, it wasn't off limits. Feel free to join the fun and giggle at David's expense.
Too many of us are confounded by the unclear rules of being a good guest. Accidentally rude is still rude. We tore into some situational clarity so our listeners need not step in it. And then we extended our Guide to Polite Public Behavior to tricky situations – like unwelcome seat neighbors on flights. This episode is pure public service. Especially the tips about an artful fluff in support of your friend.
In a next-level encouragement attempt we tried an experiment in eulogizing one another. We role-played. Untethered our imaginations. Spoke glowingly over each other. Enjoyed what might be said over us one day…and appreciated how we might ask a funeral home director to stage our bodies with grins. It was a nice exercise. Let us know if you try doing it with someone who loves you. Bonus points if you step into it with a sworn enemy.
Off-handedly, many of us who've been married for more than a decade might use the word "patient" to describe our spouses. That's accurate but doesn't quite capture the reality of living with one of the two FC2.0 Davids as well as does this descriptor: LONGSUFFERING. At one time it must have been a widely circulated adjective since the King James Version of the Bible lists it as the fourth fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. But try typing it in today; you'll likely get autocorrected by the spelling bot that patrols your computer's innards. What loyal listeners could not know is that after giggling through memories of marriage before cell phones, we lingered when the recording stopped to let the gratitude for our two longsuffering wives bubble up. We're still in love, and the stories are good… ALL of them!
We've all been there. Whether the sixth slice of pizza put us in a temporary food coma, or a heavy conversation left its residue as we pivot to the next thing where a bit more energy is expected. But we just can't find the next gear. We're subdued when we want to be frisky. Today's episode fought off the fog by invoking multiple images; imagine how helpful it might have been for Tammy Faye to flutter the mist away with her legendary eyelash gusts…just as she breaks down into her equally-epic sobs of emotion. We did. Sorta.
Today we converged to address a common challenge among Christians: when is it OK to cuss? FAIR WARNING: Pod-heads hungry to hear either correct pronunciations or creative hyphenations of the unholy words that haunt you may be disappointed. We spent more time on the spirituality of non-judgmental poise whilst sailor wannabes spew their mouth-slop than reciting our Top Ten list. Maybe you think angels are deployed to help us tame the tongues that have gone postal? Not the angel in the story we guffawed about. SECOND FAIR WARNING: We split our sides split so bad we're chugging Advil.
Every once in a while the podcast drifts into the deep end of the pool where it takes a little bit of effort to stay afloat. If the catch is genuinely fresh, we relish the work. Our eyebrows are telltale indicators of our willingness to engage a conversational adventure (David has tested this on hundreds of flights to comedy gigs). Also, there's a Rule of 3s at work…unless you use the triple-ask as a way to get $50 from your friend. Our FC 2.0 takeaway? "Nothing matters; everything matters." Chomp on that with us.
It's not uncommon that one of the Daves comes into an episode with something sticking in his craw. (BTW, that word, "craw", is yet another dated reference that exposes why our audience demographic is what it is.) Today was no exception. Dr. Dave attempted to put a label on it: "When Expectations Aren't Met". But the question remains…is that really all that's going on when a weary road warrior spends four hours in the truck stop shower?
Some FC2.0 episodes pursue legit questions and come up with helpful insights. Not this one. We named (and demonstrated) how frustrating it can be to live in the swirling orbit of children who have not yet acquired adult filters of decorum, propriety, and restful quiet. As we explored our own fickle responses to kids – sometimes we're swept up in their delight…as with parades – we failed to mount a justifiable defense for when we behave like curmudgeons. And the cows in Zanesville, IN, were not helpful.
Long before social media made it convenient and even normal to critique, attack, and lob judgement bombs on one another, comedians have had to deal with hecklers. So we who are being daily tenderized by the meat mallets endured from fellow citizens might give an ear to David, who simply says, "Welcome to my world." Unusual shout-outs surface when we all aspire to something good and true from life together. Bill Maher, for instance. And we each tipped our caps to John Dewey, though for different reasons.
Let it never be said that Fresh Catch 2.0 does't look out for the interests of the common person. Under the probing, persistent questions of podcasters-turned-political-reporters, Indiana State Senator Andy Zay revealed that he, too, is a commoner. Familiar with public scrutiny, he could understand David's need to be liked. So he proved himself therapeutically helpful to our little comedian. We agreed there's no substitute for being fully present with people, celebrating how Jesus draws us away from letting others' expectations define us so we can do real good in the world. And then there was that unfortunate "Speedo" reference…
It's summertime. That means some schedule shifts at the world HQ for Fresh Catch 2.0, and this week's road trip by Dr Dave is the first of such disruptions. That's OK. It gave us a chance to offer travel tips. But it was with great dismay we realized our coaching included references that millennials might not appreciate. We're hoping for the best but bracing ourselves for the worst. Hopefully, the feedback won't be like David's friendly neighborhood Ace hardware cashier recently received. We say it's her own fault. What was she thinking when she failed to have the free popcorn ready for her early morning customers?
It's only because we love our listeners that we're willing to put our painful moments to good use. When David took Pappy to the airport last week, the short conversation got hummed away. Maybe you've hummified a comedian whose smug style (you know who you are, Bill Maher) turns you off. But David is an earnest comedian. He wants you to be refreshed when you hear him perform or are simply one of the dinner party conversation circles he slides into. But this Hum Snub? It's just hurtful.
Have you ever been around someone who's so well-built you hardly want to look at them? David's surprising shirtless look was impressive enough that Dr Dave dared not talk about it until we were well past the half-way point of debating what makes for good connections. We agreed that our friend, Mitch Kruse, is a gifted relational concierge…though to be fair that particular word was never uttered on this podcast. It could have been, had Dr Dave not become so infatuated with trying to understand what David's garden purrding activity actually meant. We fancy ourselves word baristas; if you think otherwise please don't pop our fantasy.
Onomatopoeia. What a great word to describe perfect word choices, where the sound of the word itself represents its essence. In today's episode, Dr Dave powered through a head-cold-heavy gruff tone in efforts to jerk David into cheeky exposure. A squeamish problem, for sure. Carelessly popping off, David insisted that only St Betsy's lance could be trusted…though Alex's self-tasing experience offered a novel solution. Giggle or guffaw, these words sound like this episode: GRUFF…JERK…CHEEKY…EXPOSE…SQUEAMISH…POP…LANCE…TASE.
It was bound to happen. Life doesn't let us cruise along the Merry Road, giggly companions at our side in a constant posse posture of positivity. To be fair, the duo of Daves who host this podcast in denim have tried to laugh without ceasing…a clear one-off from the Biblical imperative we've converted to a National Day. But that only makes us duodenum in the Body of Christ. And if this episode's description sends listeners scurrying for their dictionaries, we've done our public service. We welcomed the grins and tried to lean into some pain during this half-hour. In the end, like some days, kind of a letdown.
Dictionaries try to keep up with the times. Words begin somewhere. They are tugged and twisted into shape by many folks until they settle into a stable form everyone understands. If the word SLONG shows up in Webster, will someone please make it a Wikipedia entry and tag its origin to this episode of our podcast? This is the second week in a row when our verbal stumbling led to giggling merriment as we riffed together. You're welcome…FC2.0 is contributing efficiency to the English language. The lesson: whenever possible – even if you need to be inventive - save the world some time by using one word rather than two or more.
We are not afraid to mash words together so we can say what we mean. I guess that's why David described himself on our new FC2.0 artwork cover as "cuzzling" up to Dr. Dave. This is an endearing posture, one that reveals warmth and affection. Pappy might have appreciated more of that from David and his family when his droopy mouth made him a bit self-conscious. Comedians are wired to learn just enough about others to poke fun, but not so inclined to actually be empathetic. So we wonder if a funeral viewing line holds promise for future gigs?
On Maundy Thursday, the Fresh Catch duo worked hard on the Flip Factor. Table flipping…finger flipping…joy switch flipping… BTW, did you know the word "maundy" comes from Latin for "mandate", marking the night Jesus' delivered the new mandate to love one another? We didn't actually drop this knowledge into our podcast, so we offer it to discerning listeners who only "flip us on" when our episode description is compelling. We were too busy imagining how Thurston Howell or Ron Burgundy might deliver a memorable sermon title that should only be uttered by black preachers who can growl the truth in love (aka, Luther Whitfield).
What does a sigh mean? Is it ever positive to hear someone sigh after you make a request? This podcast began 24 hours later than normal, which evoked a sigh in the direction of poor internet service providers. We tiptoed through the minefield of how and when we might answer our beloved wives with sighs. David's disclosure about a "dis-clothing" experience might launch sighs of exasperation from some corners, but we simply giggled. And we sought to unpack what made Jesus sigh…hoping it's not us!!
When David connected after a comedy gig with YFC USA's top strategist, Seth Baker, he was enchanted enough to invite him onto our podcast. Little did he know that the timing was perfect for a gentle intervention. Mark this episode, this day in history. We might have turned a life corner so significant that every color from here on becomes more vivid. Or…we might have simply giggled a lot, channeling whatever strategic innards middle school boys possess.
It's St Patrick's Day and Dr Dave's birthday. For many of his friends, this is a day of haunting remembrance about the time a few years ago when he posted an unfortunate selfie. There's no hiding from such evidence in this day and age; in fact, this is perhaps the only thing keeping the good Dr. from seeking public office. We've come to expect David's extra-keen abilities to pounce on the vulnerable during such occasions. He doesn't disappoint. And his Depends prepared him perfectly for the raucous giggling shared in this episode.
On an irregular basis we invite guests to liven up the party. This week, longtime friend, Gene Reineman, exited the Wayback Machine to join Team Dave. The conversational stroll down memory lane with this former youth pastor and camp director was a lovely wit-fest, and we agreed that our younger, mullet-haired selves were largely unaware of the difficult times to come. Finally, we demanded that our guest justify the name he bestowed on his daughter. Too many people skate through life without being held accountable. Not on our watch.
We used our words to talk about using our words. Each of the Daves have 'stepped in it' with words before. It's fair to say we've even made our living for years largely because of the way we handle words. Maybe the best way to be sure we understand what someone means by the words they choose to use is to ask them. And if – check that… when – we word-torque an innocent, we agreed that Bill Crawford's response is hard to beat. So, in anticipation of an offense that's sure to come (perhaps even in this podcast), we draw from Bill's example and preemptively offer this:"Will you forgive us?"
In celebration of David's mole healing atop his nose, we gave our podcast a musical face lift, so be prepared for a fresh Latin-beat bumper as you tune us in. "Scrumpy Jack" served us well, but 'tis the season for change, as we've been reminded constantly…even as some change comes with dire consequences. To quote Tim Keller, let's "make good spiritual use" of these difficult moments. For us that includes laughing about the small things, and the whole world is pretty tiny in God's hands. True to ourselves (and our faith), we do a LOT of giggling in this episode about David's experience in London (KY) as we re-imagine a makeover we'd like to offer Putin, courtesy of Bimbo Bakery.
This isn't a video podcast. That means the two Daves show up in pretty casual dress to do their Zoom recording. In the past, much has been made of David's bare naked chest on a Caribbean beach, or the summer sleeveless shirts as the boys prep for a day's chores outside … you know, right before they get their vittles. But today's visual was disruptive in ways that made it impossible to engage any other topic, and it exposed how Dr Dave's lack of mercy might have inhibited his ministry among acne-infected teens.
It's the last episode before Valentine's Day. David made a hurried move to secure just the right expression of love for St Betsy. We learned in this podcast that David enjoys watching octogenarians struggle to put their carry-on bags in the overhead bins. Maybe his well-intended ordering error for the "naughty candle" was the universe giving him what he deserves? Nah…
Snow in February. Go figure. Pleasurable pursuits with a 2 minute shelf life. Who's surprised? David's surprise visit to Pappy…good intentions greeted by boxer shorts. He should have known. Choosing a new podcast music loop to accompany the tag we're giving to Fresh Catch 2.0 loyal listeners. Enjoy……CASTANETS!
This was a wonky wi-fi episode so we kept it blessedly short. David was scurrying about, with only a few minutes before heading home from the Dominican Republic. Though he enjoyed the shirtless opportunity he had in this audio-only podcast, he was soon shook by Dr Dave's warnings about what he might see on the plane. And the Speedo-clad European tourists walking near him on the beach didn't help his mental state. As we ended, he headed to the airport with disturbing images as carry-ons he hoped NOT to declare to anyone upon re-entry to the USA.
The two Davids were scattered with three time zones of separation. What production challenges? We're on adventures of exploration! As we swapped stories, we realized we prefer to verify our privacy in different ways and are not above sneaky activity. Also, one of us modulates our deception with a higher-than-normal voice while the other seeks to mask his fibs in a Barry White tone. It's all playful, of course…and Jesus invented playful.
He was sneaking around the JFK airport, trying to engage our podcast unmasked without being found out by TSA. Fresh from a post-Christmas experience (not really a gig) with Amish families…heading to a country (Dominican Republic) where English is a foreign language…David's a comedian in need of an audience that fits him! Aside from the hardship stories, there was an actual spigot of encouragement flowing between the fellas around the common joy of noticing what needs to be expressed – and God's gifts!
Some people are into numbers. So for the metric-minded with pie charts dancing in their heads, we've got a nice summary of 2021 to share with you. Others fancy themselves to be artsy, and our discussion about Van Gogh will either whet your appetite or horrify you. The fact that we ended by talking about painting our own bellies yellow should tell you all you need to know about how highbrow we are. Enjoy #1 of 52 to come in 2022 (Lord willing)!!
The rapid test tells one story, but David's cough during our podcast forecasts that he might be smitten with COVID. Not one to ever let someone's suffering state (including his own) go unexploited, we seized his raspy voice and imagined how the kids of Wolfman Jack and Casey Kasem might interact. As fun as this was, our irreverence might need repair in the new year…just like the relationships we enjoy with our adult children. Sheesh.
We were on shaky ground today. For the first time in Fresh Catch 2.0 history, we had to suspend our morning production due to shaky wifi connections. Once we reconvened in the early evening, it's like we'd been into the holiday egg nog a bit early. Also, David had a pretty emotional experience with a tree he's had for 20+ years, so the Podcast Therapy led us into how disruptive grief can be…and why planning ahead for our funeral music playlist straddles the line between love and an epic final prank.
Every once in a while our goal of entertaining FC2.0 podheads gets diverted. Today's marriage 'mutual therapy session' was one of those occasions, so we apologize. It was an eye-opener to discover that the two Davids might prefer alternate confrontational stylings from their beloved spouses. But is that such a surprise? Don't we generally imagine an easier pathway than the road we're on? If only we could experience a catalytic event for men to begin working on the change we need. Can't you just see it? Football stadiums packing testosterone, seeking support…courage…direction from being together… We could call it, Promisers.
We agreed, albeit with a tad bit of hesitation, that anyone in the entertainment industry is fair game for snarky critiques. Hmmm. Why didn't we scrutinize David, a professional comedian, with that same lens? There's a lot of brain bias at work in what we remember, when we remember it, and what we feel entitled to do with those memories. This was a festive frolic.
There was a bit of turkey coma at work in this episode, as the Daveys skipped around like there was no script to follow. Imagine that. Could have been their energy drink of choice at work. Maybe it was the painful memories revisited that cancels a particular location (Soldier Field) as a destination of choice. Perhaps it was fear of the quick witted Lance men, Larry and Justin. Or did they simply try to sidestep their mean "seek the laugh above all" instincts? 'Tis the season for apologies and forgiveness. Remember that if we crossed a line, please!
Apologies to those loyal Freshies who were looking for a tasty after dessert listening treat. David was preoccupied with Rosemary and other herbic delights he was basting on his slow-cooking turkey. He didn't mean to sound elitist with his obsession about extra virgin olive oil. Doing his best temporary Ridley Scott impression, his cooking certainty needs no one else's approval. This was very much unlike each of our experiences doing ministry walk-throughs at local high schools.
At the outset, Dr Dave made it clear that he refused to be pinned down with the binary (YES or NO) question: do you have a cold? How fun to live in an age of limitless, self-constructed meaning-making! Of course, we should all engage in a bit of research that will help us make good judgements. Was David's joke funny? Guffaws in Carmel were only giggles at an event in Ohio. (Listeners could help David 'get his act together' by booking him in another 50 test sites for laugh-testing his material.) Or…we could all simply embrace our quirkiness and live freely, watching God leverage the unique gift package he gave us for legacy making; RIP Otto Pruitt.
With loyal listeners skyrocketing into the double digit teens, the Davidic Duo began laying plans for taking care of our fan base. Can we take our Fresh Catch 2.0 conversation on the road? If so, where should we go? Our on-air brainstorming got a bit self-absorbed. But we want to fight against our instincts and actually be responsive to those who imagine that hosting us at your favorite coffee shop, parking lot, or recital hall would be something you'd enjoy doing. We began our friendship years ago on a ski slope in Michigan called Nub's Knob and now we're ready to engage y'all anywhere your nubs might welcome us. (We published a day early in order to handle the high volume of response we expect from this episode.)*
We need good friends…spouses…anyone…to let us know when we stray from who we want to be. That's how we become self-aware. (Thanks, Dr. Linhart!) Maybe that's how we learn how to pray so that others can get a word in edgewise. Too many words, too much fog. On behalf of podcasters everywhere, we apologize. This offer is good for one week only.
It turns out that the Daves really love each other. So we got kind of slobbery here. Laughing all the way. Join us?
As the sun rose in the mountains, Dr Dave was able to join David for some laughs…a day later than normal. But the stories rose to the occasion, no doubt due to the after-glow from encountering earnest tourist-pleasers serving fantastic BBQ the night before. When the response to every menu item or playing card color choice here near Winter Park, CO, is "excellent!",it invites further discovery about what might not be so welcome. This, of course, led to David's "dookie in the woods" story. It will be tough for Dr Dave to explain to his grandson.
David caught Dr Dave in the midst of a Texas whirlwind and his lame "howdy" efforts revealed just how much he was at the end of his rope. Too many…too much…too…everything. The cockroach was bow-legged. The barista demonstrated Middle East hospitality, not Texan. All of this in spite of multiple BBQ meals drinking his favorite pop (or soda if you're from New York), and the good Dr's best fashion effort which has consistently failed him. But life is rich when they include fascinating experiences and friends. We think we could hang with the tall-tale-campfire cowboys; David brings the funny to any story swap n' spit meet-up.
How do you prefer your text messages? Short and sweet? Sprinkled with love? There's lots of room for variety here and, as a public service, the Davidic Duo decided to help clean up the confusion. Not sure if we did. But the funny David was really on his game…you can tell he's out and about doing more gigs these days. Meanwhile, Dr Dave was a laughing soundtrack.
It's been a minute since it was only the David twosome doing an episode. So naturally, we needed to be sure we weren't dodging some unpleasantry that might hurt our relationship. Given that we boys aren't inclined to get straight after it, the wandering was both fun and enlightening. We're just moving in our friendship like Oxford scholar Robin Dunbar says old clunky men are built to do. We're also built for bodily mis-functions, as David shares. In the meantime, we've got Georgia on our mind!!
Many little children are delighted by surprises, even scary ones. Adults prefer predictability. That's why this episode's ambush start was so fun. Thx to Roger for helping us bounce into our time together with so much energy. We chatted about the art of catching each other off guard, and wondered about David's smoking fantasy. In our world you aren't keeping it real unless you can giggle a bit. It de-clutters the path for life with Jesus. Why hide? Emboldened by the fun of like-it-or-not transparency, DavidX2 got giddy over the prospect of wooing legendary laugh-wheezer Mike Frame onto a future episode – perhaps to defend himself.
It might surprise you to know that, not one, but both of our podcast hosts are published authors. (We know this because puny book sales don't lie!) But our special guest this episode, Dave Veerman, is an accomplished author and editor with a youth ministry DNA. And…he's a loyal Fresh Catch 2.0 listener!! Since these things don't seem to belong together we invited him on for a little interrogation. Beyond the expected giggles, we loved the stories!
The life of a celebrity is fraught with danger at every turn. Is my next public event going to ruin me or make me a household name? Will my hosts provide the Green Room necessities as spelled out in my contract? From which shadowy corner will the paparazzi jump out, cameras a-clickin'? This episode pulls back the curtain on the burden of notoriety that comedian David Dean carries. It demands cheek-to-cheek interface with strangers. Thankfully, the Master of the Nearby Nudge is no stranger!
If our podcasts could be evaluated purely on the basis of how often and long we laughed, this one might rank near the top. The two Daves hosted Dr Ron Coffey of Huntington University, their distinguished VP for Student Life. But we worked really hard to pull him back into the life we shared with him decades ago, when the rules of youth ministry engagement hardly existed and creativity was boundless. (Those days likely created the need for offices of Risk Management…) Too much fun as the stories were flying!!
Her song, featuring the unparalleled harmony of James Taylor, is "Don't Try So Hard". So, we didn't. Seriously. This podcast was effortless. We barely showed up. It was so easy to poke fun at ourselves you could almost feel our souls yawning while we enjoyed yet another giggle-fest. Maybe we were deflecting. We began a conversation about the business side of church … were we avoiding the topic? After all, we've made $$ from CHURCH, INC. We've heard it's a turn-off from GenZ. But what do we know? We're seniors…part of GenZZZZZ…
Have you ever said something that you almost immediately wonder about where that came from? The title of this podcast was an utterance 10 seconds before we concluded…it cannot be explained or understood without context. Even then, it might be indefensible. But what you've come to expect from the two Daves is what we delivered in this episode: we are who we are. It's just a lot of fun getting bettertogether by avoiding the comparison game and enjoying the place God has given us to occupy with him - even if it's on the city's south side.
The night was stormy at FC2.0's operational HQ. You'd think among the Amish, who work religiously to stay off the power grid, an electrical outage would be no big deal. So…because that's what you'd think…it was no big deal. We broadcast from a parking lot where some wayward Amish avoided landline hookups but hosted a nice cell signal. It's a good thing we overcame these annoyances, because two professional comedians - our beloved David and his ultra-talented buddy, Andrew Stanley - swapped insider stories that were hilarious. Unless you're an organ donor. Enjoy!!
Dr Dave records from one of the great Christian camps in America and ornery Dave feels the need to splash cold water on his prayer team vibe by challenging his taste in music. It is really cool when God connects the dots. So why is it when we try to mix and match the variety of experiential species, we're left with largely disturbing images? Still giggling…
On some occasions you know if you spend much time in small talk you may never get to what you really wanted to chat about. In this episode we explored the art of being abrupt…and whether there's a loving way to cut someone off before their droning leads you to a sinful response worse than being rude.
Grab a mirror to practice your own De Niro delivery technique alongside the Davidic Duo. Confrontational possibilities are endless. For David, it's the 8-yr old boy kicking his seat on a rare flight where he's burdened to sit among the commoners. He'd love to go all Goodfellas on him, hopefully haunting the kid's sleep with an enduring memory. Dr Dave imagines the fun of jaw-thrusting in everyday conversations. But like his recent county fair capri pants faux pas,he's resigned himself to the likelihood that few will enjoy such experiences like he will.
To be accurate, we're not exactly sure that Dr Dave's extra-long shorts qualify as clamdiggers. We've been banished to fashion uncertainty. We Daves simply do not know what works to wear in public anymore…even when the bar is set to 4-H fair standards. Against that backdrop, there was also David's report of a zesty celebration of life after the tragic death of a friend. We can carry each other into hope when we have a mind to do so. And is it so far-fetched to think of whistling in response to God's amazing love as a true clamdigging spirit? "Inhibitions? We don't need no stinking inhibitions!"
There's, of course, a story behind this title. Our lawyers(?) have advised us to not actually publish the details in this podcast description. The audio file is incriminating enough. If you're inclined to be judgmental, please skip this episode. If you work at Wal-mart, please find something else to do with your 35 minutes. If your name sounds like it belongs to either of our wives…go enjoy a pedicure and send us the bill. We two Daves need lots of grace from lots of people.
It was a sprite and lively tour for the podcast, no doubt provoked by David's "too close" Zoom proximity in order to get our sound just right. Imagine the salesman who says, "I can get you quality sound but you'll have to live with this unsettling image." The picture blew us up into talking about the burden of being a bit too big. But we settled into deep gratitude for those who cannonball through the splash and snorkel depths to dive into life with us and Jesus.
There was a bit of carryover from last week's podcast as we heard from longtime listener and good friend, Dave Veerman, about his jet-lag induced lack of attention to a missionary and the subsequent generic prayer that was all our buddy could muster when called upon. Ouch! David also needed a bit of hand-holding from Dr Dave (aka, Dr Phil) over some recent stinging experiences from hecklers. NOTE: There's an underage grade schooler who might just be strutting around Angola, IN, bragging to his kickball buddies about how he put down a professional comedian. Double ouch!!
Prayer - that most amazing privilege to enjoy communion with God - can gather stories fit for an entire comedy album. We cracked open a few of our own in this episode and are ready to proclaim Spirit-led giggling as a sign of true spirituality. Don't fall asleep on us!
After last week's giggle-fest we tried to leave our buddy Roger alone…but in the short declaration about our honest intent, describing his raised eyebrows moments before sent us spinning off into a discussion that might lead every listener to the mirror with trimming scissors in hand. Eventually we zeroed in on Dr Dave's use of the word "fetch" to describe the midnight drive he made to Chicago to pick up his wife at the airport. David's keen eye for social media snafus depends on — and appreciates — the same diversity of perspectives that are the source of too many conflicts today. You'll find this to be a fetching episode….
Rarely do either of the two Daves come to a podcast determined to chase a topic with notes in hand. But David had a bone to pick with our mutual friend, Roger, and – being unsatisfied by their private exchange – he aired his grievance in front of the entire Fresh Catch Nation. He prepared like a lawyer in desperate need of a victory…or a comedian fishing for his first laugh. Dr Dave acted as proxy-judge on behalf of all 17 listeners…a gavel grip he held onto while David sought an additional ruling about St Betsy's purring demurring. We hope our laughter doesn't prevent listeners from hearing enough to judge fairly: did David win either case?
Sometimes David's curiosity is that of an outlier among normal humans. He seeks follow-up for the comedic potential inside the nut to be cracked open. But Dr Dave joined him in the head-tilting exploration about what David's neighbor could have possibly meant – and not meant – when she shared this thought about their home. Have you considered what clothing… activities… meals… homes… are "death-worthy?" Gosh, this was fun.
This episode featured special guest, Mark Boersma, an entrepreneurial businessman who attributes his success, in part, to having "social autism"…a label David immediately tried to confer on himself. In addition to being the Wizard's best friend, Mark introduced us to the concept of "pusty" and David offered that his way of calling someone stupid is using the gentler, less obvious term, "jackwagon." Along the way Mark asked David remarkably few questions in order to get insights on his personality (a longtime struggle pod-partner Dr. Dave has worked on). If Mark's 2-question, 17-second test fascinates you like it does us, here's the website link for your own exploration: https://www.life-gps.org/#/
Is it even possible to intimidate someone who welcomes every life episode as an opportunity to poke and prod until you can find a laugh? David's worldview outlook is pretty solid; will he welcome a different kind of probing in the future from Dr Dave's new friend? This episode offers a peek at the production meeting discussions we have routinely…or…more accurately…it reveals something rare: we made a decision made about Fresh Catch content a week before we will start recording. Try not to judge us too harshly.
We are not making light of this pandemic. But, in keeping with the comedian's worldview that nothing is off-limits when it comes to laughter, David spilled his guts about his current bout with COVID-19 (he likely had it in January 2020). In fact, as David recounts his story about why he spilled his guts last night, and why St Betsy giggled in delight over the instance, you might find yourself judging us for our various responses. Have at it. This was funny! Oh, we know we're a day late getting this into the Pod-mosphere; here's hoping that this episode is a sufficient note from the doctor.
Dr Dave pressed his point with such enthusiasm he momentarily forgot that his given name was also bestowed on his podcast partner. Within normal conversations it might be fair to accuse him of lacking empathy or awareness. Also possible (though a bit harsh) is that he's simply self-absorbed. In the presence of a comedian, it became a feast. David pounced on the good doctor's misspeak like a lion jumping on a wounded gazelle at the back of the herd. There was merciless carnage everywhere.
Nationally syndicated Presbyterian pastor Steve Brown had a radio voice so deep you could feel the God of thunder rattling your spiritual bones. How does a vocally gravel-gifted father deliver words meant to be tender and gentle? Against the backdrop of Dr Dave's high school baseball team announcing gig – and the suppression of creativity he's sometimes felt from his son, the coach – we chatted about all different ways to express a thought. Except for Sounds of Silence…that would be podcast-awkward and we might owe Simon & Garfunkel some $$.
The question evolved as we started complaining about the Cubs. Unless you're one of our podcast's Faithful Few (big shout out to Dr Terry Linhart) you might be perplexed about how this sort of beginning led to our romp through the minefields of conversations that may…or may not be properly sensitive. Just ask David's neighbor or Dr.Dave's high school buddy, the Turk.
We ramped up slowly on this episode, as befitting a retired, poetic Dave and one doing a 12-day simulated retirement. Apparently—in Madeira Beach, anyway—it's hard to avoid Allman Brothers Band former roadies who hang out at the 7-11, awaiting the occasional comedian-on-vacation, eager to swap stories about life on stage…or near it. If only their hair could talk, what epic tales they might tell about their epic tails. How to de-escalate such conversational loops? The secret might be in the whisper brag!
Have you ever seen someone wearing a t-shirt that made you wonder…well…WONDER? Now imagine that you are "gifted" with a hyper-comedic perspective on the world. Dr. Dave tried to be sympathetic to David's difficulty in making sense of what he witnessed in the airport until we lost our compass and giggled our way through this podcast. When David leaned close to the camera and began whisper-bragging about the ways he was asserting himself in his son's Florida home there was no turning back. Only turning off. ;-)
Dr Dave came out swinging. Hard. At one point, funny Dave practically begged for mercy. For relief. He confessed feeling guilty. Dr Dave didn't back off. He told yet another story as evidence, raised yet another question to expose his pod-brother's frail defenses. A slight diversion into Kirk Franklin's disheartening public exchange with his son was only a brief speed bump, quickly covered with a FC2.0 first: a prayer offering. There was no stopping Dr Dave's fierce recommendation about the TV show you must watch if you love God. TBD…
On the day after Dr. Dave's birthday, David wanted to understand why he delayed in his social media response to the funny guy's well-wishes. He asked for it… In the confusion that followed we discovered that sometimes we flail about in our efforts to say something and come up with a word that's not quite on target. That doesn't mean it's not funny. Shout out to Seth Kimmel for stirring up trouble.
A few things hit us as concerns during this episode. Should one partner publicly infer that the other might be on a marijuana high? Should Christmas lights be put up or taken down within particular windows of time? Should we engage in fictional role play by pretending to be persons from another culture and time period? Should David have followed the house appraiser around while he did his work? We just don't know the protocols any more.
Good friends let one another know when there's spinach in their smile. In that spirit, David (the younger) alerted Dave (the aged) about his Instagram missteps. This courtesy was met simultaneously with gratitude (Dave would prefer NOT to be foolish) and dismay (others must see the gaffe and simply shake their head). Guffaws aside, or at least suppressed, the duo dove into a great conversation about great conversations. Step up!!
This podcast started with the innocent, vulnerable confession of David as his bathroom scales took him to a dark place. And when he chose to riff about the message of this bad news by using an Eeyore-ish voice to say, "Oh, well…" we were off to the races. If you've got a thought to contribute, don't hold back. We need more people willing to jump into hard conversations, especially with those of us who are a bit addled by age.
As the duo has been known to do, this episode skips about as much as a comedian scrambling for the night's first laugh. (Not that we know about that…) David courageously confesses to recent pettiness with his wife over a missing common household utensil. (Why only one?? Exactly!!) Then we offer a tip of the fedora to Carmen—recently deceased—an entertainer-singer whose style was…er…unique. May our brother in glory enjoy this backhanded tribute.
The two Daves had fun celebrating their differences. Maybe we celebrated the wrong things along the way. If you've got a thought on that, please don't hesitate to share. But be gentle; the funny guy has a gig coming up and needs the illusion of confidence working for him.
Cultural identity expressions are so fluid we are struggling to stay afloat in floodwaters of change. If you feel like it's unfamiliar territory …it is! The two Daves talked around how we got where we are and the careful conversations we need to share as we live amicably together. BTW, the word "amicably" is a lovely stretch for David's vocabulary and he seems very open to growing his lexical range. If you tune in to this episode, we'd sure love to hear whatever you think will help; this is an all hands on deck moment in time!
He's on location for a couple more days. Blue sky. Pristine beach. Azure water. Serene music. So what does our favorite funny man do? He fixates on European tourists. And recounts his recent painful spontaneous gig among front line health care workers in the Dominican Republic who hardly giggled at his comedic offerings. Unfortunately for David, Dr Dave was unsympathetic.
From the first moment we engaged in our Zoom podcast there was tension. Why? Because David's picturesque background of the Caribbean while on the beach in the Dominican Republic felt like an in-your-face showcase to Dr Dave, struggling with his blanket to keep warm in Northern Indiana. So much ground was covered here…literally, as David walked us across the sand from one location to another in search of just the right wi-fi signal. You know where he didn't look for an Internet connection? At the dump, in spite of his insistence that he would have. If you think, like Dr Dave concluded, that David deserved the crotch sweat and stained shorts he talked about (Vegas comparison aside), you join the people who can't help but judge the worthiness of some "mission trips."
As Dr Dave prepares for his COVID jailbreak he still has not recovered his sense of smell. David thinks there might be some line of income to be harvested from this malady. But this investigation requires a degree of empathy, something that - as was made abundantly clear during this episode - neither Dave possesses to the satisfaction of others. Especially women. But think about it: Don't we all find some glorious, deranged comfort in being so unique that no one really understands us? Of course, God has a different take…
Who else would you rather listen to after a day that will go down in our nation's infamy? We sure needed to laugh together and determined to do so without ignoring the heaviness around us. Life is hard. As the wisdom of experience teaches, we will certainly get thunder-jolted by events beyond our control. Pay attention to what matters most; there's inexplicable joy to be shared in our journey together with God.
To be fair, David gave credit to his buddy, Jeremy, for being a funny writer. But not every fashion designer can strut the sell on the boardwalk; that's why David makes money doing comedy and Jeremy just makes money. Lots of laughs today, as befits a wrap up to one of the toughest years (collectively) we've ever seen. Lord, please give us a new storyline for 2021!
It seemed like a good idea. We two Davids invited each of our two sisters to join this Christmas Eve podcast. Call it a COVID family workaround for the holidays. For any who wonder what makes us boys tick, this episode offers major archaeological discoveries. The stories were flying. And in the spirit of Christmas, David revealed how his Granny – while proudly displaying her freshly painted nativity creche – uttered just the right words, fit for the season … if you're a sailor. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
LISTENER ALERT: We hope not to offend any listeners…ever…but the toes we targeted to pounce on today are those of white religiously devout males over 50 years old. Is this a cohort that deserves some scrutiny? Especially by two white males over 50 who are arguably, but also questionably, "religiously devout" themselves. In fact, during this episode, we two Daves (not to be confused with the seasonal song about a trio of kings) went out of our way to prove that we deserve to be excluded from this description.
It was a Fresh Catch first as the Davidic duo was joined by Huntington mayor, Richard Strick, for a lively exchange about the burdens of leadership during COVID. With refreshing transparency, David's neighbor and Dr. Dave's former student gave us a peek into the how and why of issuing executive orders about mask-wearing…listening to those who disagree strongly…and the need for comedic contributions as we engage public life together. In case it comes to fruition, you can hear the moment when David lobbied the mayor to host a stand-up gig in the vacant lot nearby. Awkward…
Thanksgiving is history; it's time to get back in shape. David's confessed love for the McRib aside (he's chasing a product endorsement), he found another gear of indignity as he reflected on how his beloved son, Alex, not only inconvenienced him during this holiday visit, he showed NO respect for Mrs. Pickles. Chant Thompson got a shout out for being a ridiculously willing thrill seeker…if by thrills you mean camping out all night before a Ponderosa grand opening. All of this, by the way, took place while Dr Dave was trying to get some steps in on the treadmill – a sight that surprisingly unnerved David.
David's compassion from the last episode carried over at the beginning of our time together as he asserted his intent to care more by listening more. Then he told a fresh story about his shorts…which led into other stories about bygone shorts…which led to him refusing to accept that Haitians watching him on the toilet and asking him if he was OK was a form of love that listens. Here's hoping you have a love-loaded Listenfest around whatever social distance Thanksgiving table you are able to enjoy!
As all 24(? … ±) loyal Fresh Catch pod-heads know, we two Daves relish the unrehearsed, free-flowing conversational improv that happens when we press "record" each week. While the chat snakes its way toward Destination Unknown, we often find ourselves moving from giggles to guffaws. Our delight is that we didn't plan for it; we're just riding the wave together. So this episode is a bit unusual, leaving Dr Dave to wonder if an intervention is afoot.
Playful bantering among friends. That's what you can expect from a typical FC2.0 listening experience. So apologies to those who tune in for light-hearted fare and are horrified as you witness a friendship strain under the weight of accusatory questions. Were the Daves divided? Will they weather this stormy encounter? Prayers welcome…if you can laugh and pray at the same time.
Sometimes, after we've been through a really tough experience (political advertisements with assault rifle frequency), we laugh a bit louder and longer than normal. It's a stress reliever. That's certainly what this episode felt like, as we two Dave's grabbed for the giggles and never let go. From ridiculous bumper stickers to teenage rejection stories and the impulse to flip someone off in a Christian way, we laughed. We laughed hard. Hope you do, too!
As with all of our Fresh Catch frolicking, this half-hour conversation had a mind of its own. We began chatting about being constantly told which of our devices need upgrades. Have you considered what upgrades would add the most value to your life? The possibilities are endless and, if you track with our giggly line of thought, they might include better bladder control. Enjoy — we sure did!!
Tune into this episode to hear David describe how important his intuition is to being a comedian. You can also hear David confess that his intuition is sometimes in need of impulse control. Dr Dave – having spent two weeks with his 5 yr old and 3 yr old grandkids in Colorado – offered some gentle commentary about impulse control. Whatever word describes next level giggling…guffaws, horselaughs, side-splitting, coffee-spewing laughter…that's what we enjoyed during our 30 minutes together. Jump in with us!!
Dr Dave tuned in from an even more remote mountain connection. Whether it was the high altitude or hotel confinement with grandkids and a clogged toilet, his lack of inhibitions seemed a bit disturbing to David, our seasoned comedian. Normally unflappable (after all, he engages crowd hecklers with skillful and witty responses), apparently he can be stunned into paralyzing laughter – exactly what both of us needed today. Enjoy!
We are stretching our limits. Trying new technologies. New surroundings. Making ourselves available to whatever may come our way from nature's disruptions. And, of course, giggling all along the way while we constantly evaluate whether some experience is worthy material for David's next gig (in Provo, BTW, Oct 10!). By testing the strength of our love for one another over two time zones we proved we don't YET need life coach intervention. Enjoy!
Like most Americans, the presidential mud wrestling match discouraged us deeply. Unlike most Americans, we have a podcast committed to giggling at all costs. And as David pointed out, our clothing attire usually gets us laughing. In this episode we did the Husband's Lament, confirming that we each have lost all sense of fashion. As it turns out in today's frustrating political climate, that fits well.
Sponsors! Looking for SPON…SORS!! Can you hear us shouting like a hot dog vendor at a ball game? We toyed with who would be a good fit and somehow got talking about the loving care of a doctor giving a proctology exam. Maybe it was David's A+ health score card on display behind a magnet on the kitchen fridge. But in the twists and turns of this giggle exchange we managed to also talk about the power of being present with others. Enjoy!
David's first life comedy gig in Prescott, AZ went well, after he told them how he was praying about the evening. His declaration and their laughter unleashed David for a great connection, in spite of his status as a big baby. We talked about how his experience is the way life repeats with people all the time…and why our brains make it so. Enjoy the giggles.
We were all over the map in today's conversation. Zig zagging from David's tender expression(!) of empathy for Dr Dave as he had a fleeting thought that he was being ghosted by his bride of 44 years to enjoying God's presence when stepping on any stage – even when a bit scared that we’ll mess up. The belt buckle discussion was one of those scratch-your-head moments as we wondered aloud together how we camped on that topic for a while. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!
The two Dave's had an all-to-rare face-to-face at a recent dinner party where the stories were flying and the ongoing laughter was so satisfying they didn't want it to end. Predictably, Dr. Dave tried to connect all of this to super smart brain science and Scripture while David just kept giggling like Chris Farley asking, "Do you remember when…?"
Unlike the typical give and take between pod-partners, David seized control and never looked back. The occasion? Ebonie Davis, Dr. Dave's co-author for the newly released book, Disrupting Teens with Joy, was our guest. BTW, if you imagined that David might upgrade his attire to host our special friend, you'd be wrong. And we had a Fresh Catch first when Eb divulged something immediately after we ended the podcast that was too delicious to ignore…so we quickly hit "record" and tacked it on to this episode!
We confess that, while we've got a few loyal listeners, we really don't know why. Should the Dave Duo get more dialed in to expand our base? Maybe. In the meantime, we had a blast recalling stories about spanking after mooning and the challenge of raising kids today…or even caring for grandkids. To the witness stand? Dr. Dave's grandson, Sully, on loan for the day. Our big aha! was that some listeners have a short attention span. We'll work on it…
We bounced around quite a bit today, fully enjoying the freedom of wearing what we want for an audio podcast. Disturbing recollections of childhood experiences with extended family members are not only bothersome…they create a target for us to aim at. And David committed to read Dr Dave's new book as long as he doesn't have to pay for it.
In this episode David seemed obsessed with engaging Dr Dave in a DTR conversation (Define the Relationship). A bit more emotionally fragile than normal, our favorite comedian noted Dr Dave had posted on social media his plans to teach an upcoming grad class at Bethel University (Indiana) and was a bit miffed that he had to hear of this at the same time as thousands(?) of other Looky-Lou friends. So he pressed in: "Where do I stand with you?" David was hoping for something better than the response Dr Dave gave.
Last week's episode left David smoldering. His friend Roger had embarrassed him by greeting him loudly with "Hey, Pumpkin!" across the crowded restaurant. So David plotted the line of attack he imagined taking by inviting Roger to make a rare guest appearance on this podcast. In spite of the bravado predicting a comedic smackdown, our funny orange globe of seeds fell short of his promise (according to Dr Dave, an apparently biased moderator). The contest is under review. In the meantime, evidence is gathering that David is in medical need of a live audience.
Sarcasm doesn't translate well to social media posts. Duh - do you think?While we unpacked how to be thoughtful, respectful and engaging during Facebook interaction, we were mostly giving David some needed space to stretch out his comedy performance muscles in anticipation of his live audience gig this Sunday…the first since March 6. As our good friend, Roger Vezeau, might say amidst the lunchtime crowd at Huntington's Los Amigos restaurant: "Go get 'em, Pumpkin!"
David was clearly miffed at something, so he came out swinging (or whatever might be the equivalent for his cute little comedic fists). With all of the important things we could talk about that might really be helpful to someone, David fixated on how Dr Dave was a minute late to our scheduled podcast - "What could possibly be so important now that you're retired?" he challenged. The verbal jousting that followed kept us from solving any big problems…so we apologize for not agreeing about wearing masks.
We are officially declaring ourselves to be "platonic pod partners" and are willing to take the social heat. In the meantime, we're muddling through all of the ways we can engage complex issues today with others. It's not easy! David called Dr. Dave a drone and we laughed about how one of his earliest sermons about 50 years ago had 17 points…so "droning" fits. By contrast, Jesus - then and now - is remarkably concise and provocative.
Lots of confessing going on by two guys who are like David's broken hot water heater: old and leaky. We're getting pretty comfortable baring our true feelings about what has hurt us on our journeys into manhood. Somehow giggling helps (though that word doesn’t feel very manly). Jesus helps most. He's got us right where he wants us, and even the giggles feel like they've been approved by him.
Dr. Dave experienced Zoom whiplash. David's sleeveless-ness today contrasted with N.T. Wright's attire yesterday. Fittingly (which is what you do when you cut the sleeves off shirts for summer styling in Indiana), though our little podcast might not be smart-sounding like a webinar from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, we did make practical sense of what Jesus meant by being "sifted." N.T. Wright – perhaps the world's most influential Bible scholar – probably could have done better. But we concluded it's because he uses pretentious British initials, and that's a price D.D. Rahn is not willing to pay. Plus, he is probably all tightly bound by constrictive sleeves on his shirts.
You don't have to dress up in fancy clothes to hang with real friends. David insisted that sleeves aren't necessary. We pushed into how critical it is to have true blue friends with whom we can be transparent. Unless they sound like Mike Tyson…or at least David's impression of how he sounds.
We celebrated for a moment the rich, lingering benefit we gained from last week's episode with Arthur Wilson and Josh Raines. But, as critical as it is to gain breakthrough insights about what our black friends routinely encounter, this is only a foundation for finding shared solutions. Apparently, David is resistant to the idea that he might become the Reconciling Clown of COVID. Seriously, we resolve to step into peace-making with all of our assets, including the extra time Dr. Dave will have as he retires next week from Youth for Christ. This was a technology nightmare. Blame David.
The country is searching for its soul right now. Typical light banter seemed out of place. So we invited two black friends we both admire and respect to join us for this episode. We were authentic (which meant some laughter) and talked about our tough challenges to overcome racial division and live in love as God's people. Many thanks to Huntington University's Arthur Wilson and STAR 88.3's Joshua Raines for tolerating us…and lifting us.
This podcast starts and ends abruptly, like lots of arguments. What sets them off? What sets US off? Why, at our mature age, are we still sneaking around the house to avoid upsetting the natural balance of things? Is it because we've become wise or tamed? Finally, would you like to be one of the few who are empowered to declare that David is a donkey, as the proverb goes? Sometimes a conversation raises so many questions it can be as entertaining as a dog chasing its tail. Forgive us.
We tried to nip at each other and create entertaining sparks for listeners but we fell short of our goal. Rather than actually argue about something we spent most of this podcast talking about the art of arguing. It was, to be most honest, cowardly. I made fun of David's use of the word "scolded" but that only incited giggling, not verbal fisticuffs. But we experienced a first. AFTER we stopped recording we lowered our voices and talked about the most honest conflicts have lived with over the years: in our marriages. So we've resolved to actually bring issues to the table next week (preparation??!!) so we can explore whether we might legitimately disagree and drop the gloves…like we did about 10 years ago when I insisted that David was not allowed to hate Tim Tebow, a Christian brother, just because he led the Broncos to victory over our beloved Bears. We need to strengthen our relationship by subjecting it to the hot cauldron of disagreement and coming out of that bout with deeper love and respect for each other. Our marriages have convinced us this is true.
Most often we giggle so much it's like we're cuddling. Much of this podcast took that vibe as we talked about how authentic creativity differs from gimmickry. But something dark arose in David's heart as he seethed quietly, eager to be pugnacious. Perhaps it's because Dr. Dave's new moustache style invoked a memory about some schoolboy report he once had to write about famed boxer, John L. Sullivan. It doesn't matter now. We are officially teed up for some nasty sparring next week. The question is, can we deliver?
There's something about the way comedians see the world that is a bit tilted, like a picture hanging that's not quite aligned. It's the necessary gift David brings to his craft, but it sometimes leads him to push social boundaries as he did with a couple of innocent grocery store clerks. By the way, when this way of seeing gets unleashed on the gospels, we might actually see Jesus more accurately than scholars portray him.
Have you ever been startled by someone's unusual competence? David was ready to roll for this podcast and his tight execution was almost disruptive. Not quite as unsettling as the pandemic, though there seems to be some good neighbor growth to be celebrated during these homebound days. Remembering God's goodness is a habit worth practicing, even when the memories tag each other so rapidly that it's hard to keep up with why a story might come to mind…like Dr Dave's brief opportunity to become a famous wilderness videographer.
When you're stuck in the same place for a while it's only natural to start seeing things you can find fault with. We've both noticed how that's hitting us. This was a pretty convenient topic since David can't be trusted to push the right Zoom button. In fact, we instituted a Praise Zoom technique many listeners might find useful. Above all, we are grateful for how often our wives rescue us and that Jesus can help David not grow weary of Dr Dave.
Like many people during this COVID shelter-in-place, we have become less attentive to personal grooming routines. Somehow, as is typical in our wandering conversations, we started chatting about toes before David's big reveal of nothing where most of humanity has something. He explained how it came to be that his bellybutton evaporated and, no, magician David Blaine had nothing to do with it. And while we both are trying to re-routine our lives, being content depends on trusting God, who defies any attempt to be controlled.
On Easter weekend we talked about the profound life change David has recently experienced…due to a stray cat. This one's a bit edgy as Dr Dave pursues the kind of information that inquiring minds want to know. (Or, more likely, news-weary minds simply want a brief reprieve.) BTW, post on https://www.facebook.com/daviddeancomedy/ if you want to engage David about our little secret. Happy Easter, be safe, and trust Jesus for your most durable joy!
Thank God for technology that allows us to connect during COVID-19. The hug deprivation we are all going through has us dreaming about the day when human touch isn't dangerous. In the meantime, could someone please help David push the buttons that make Zoom work? He confessed how eager he was to re-engage with Dr Dave after a week. He spruced up. Felt his heart racing. Winced a bit over what he saw in his bathroom mirror. And then, filled with anticipation, he stumbled in the moment. In his mind, Zoom could be better. Visiting his mind is part of what makes this podcast so fun. Enjoy!
David misses applause. It's how he make money. And apparently his beloved wife, Saint Betsy, also thinks he might be inclined to neglect some hygiene habits. Though it was unspoken, it felt like we agreed to be accountable to one another during our weekly check-in. Maybe that's why David felt like he wanted to know more about what prompted Dr Dave to post an 'edgy' message directed toward faith leaders whose stupidity is embarrassing. Dr Dave is praying for laser eyes.
Like most of America, the two Daves practiced responsible social distancing. This podcast was Zoomed, but it didn't keep us both from laughing until we cried. Mostly about a famous birthday picture Dr Dave posted about 9 years ago and the disturbing "hungry eyes" image seared into many memories on St Patrick's Day. It felt good to laugh together, even if couldn't hug it out afterwards. Being funny when tragedy hits is a whole different kind of ministry.
The ol' "trailing toilet paper" stunt was an important discovery moment for David as he became "back hallway funny" in high school. Dr Dave remembers things a bit differently, centered around a haunting sound bite from Kook & The Gang. And shared memories of one of our favorite shared friends, Tim Atkins, had us giggling like crazy!
Pood, Pearly, Scrumpy Jack, Bouncer…we daydreamed a bit about having cool nicknames. Then reality set in as David recounted today's quick expression of love to the skilled craftsmen doing chimney repair and Dr. Dave got a bit choked up over the celebration of a pretty amazing life milestone.
It's been 8 years since we did our last podcast. We spent a little time trying to figure out whose fault it is which led us into an excuse-filled dialogue about our very real relationship capacity limitations. Big takeaway? If you talk to David you've got about 42 seconds before he drifts off. Also, we talked about laser love, solar love, and total eclipses.