Grade A Nation: Recent Episodes
Grade A USA
Grade A Nation is an easily digestible podcast with no filler. Think of it as theater of the mind...and sometimes of the absurd! Topics are discussed with a quirky blend of humor and honesty. Hear from the interesting personalities of the day at their most unfiltered with compelling interviews. The podcast for folks that don't want to be pandered to or have their time wasted. A program presented by Grade A USA and hosted by Chris Thomas.
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with artist Dan York about his delusionism paintings. What is delusionism, you ask? The paintings are certainly unique; some folks will call them funny, others might call them provocative, while even a few others will potentially label them deranged nonsense. Dan wouldn’t have it any other way!
We discuss his upbringing, artists and comedians he admires, his opinion on critics, the art scene in Nashville compared to other cities, his love of buck-toothed women with large breasts (or at least his love of painting women that way), and the potential future of art given the blockchain, NFTs, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Daniel Matthew York – if that is his real name – is one interesting cat!
To learn more about Dan York’s art, go to https://danielmatthewyork.com/
Robbie Burgess lost his father and attempted to take his mind off the grief by starting an online music station. While struggling to make it financially viable, he wanted to press on and interview the musicians that made the 80s music so memorable to him with a podcast show. Robbie’s passion for music came about at a very early age. His parents split up when he was one; going along to his dad’s gigs in a country music band immersed Robbie into the music world. A self-proclaimed music fanatic, Robbie talks Queen, Phil Collins, Steely Dan, Wang Chung, Duran Duran, Prince, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, and so many more incredible artists. He also provides great tips for those looking to play the drums or to start a podcast of their own!
Somehow, we also cover Benny Hill, Page 3 Girls, J.K. Rowling, the risks of a cancel culture world, and how loathsome the band Oasis happens to be (in our view). We run the whole gamut.
To learn more about The 80s Rewind Show Podcast, go to https://www.the80spod.com/
On this installment of Grade A Nation, we have the opportunity to hear the amazing life story of author and counselor Marie Mosley. Marie had a difficult childhood which led to rough circumstances in her teenage and adult years, but she was ultimately able to persevere. We discuss:
-Her dad passing away from diabetes when she was five years old, living in a shelter after a building fire, then losing one of her sister’s and a niece when she was just twelve years old.
-Feeling like God hated her and challenges of feeling like there was a cloud hanging over her head.
-Her support system while experiencing all of this hardship.
-How getting pregnant at 13 and having a baby at 14 years old revitalized her relationship with her mom.
-Not being exposed to sex education in her teenage years and not having interest in sex, but feeling peer pressured into doing it.
-Seeing the positive in toxic times.
-Experiencing physical abuse from the father of her children.
-What it was like being a parent while she herself was still growing up.
-The father of her children being unfaithful throughout their relationship.
-The turmoil of the dynamic with the father of her children leading her to contemplate taking her own life.
-Why she stayed in such a dysfunctional relationship with the father of her children for so long.
-Abusing drugs and alcohol leading to tension with her children at times.
-Having her own side relationship where she found happiness and inner peace.
-Giving the father of her children multiple chances despite all of the problems.
-How the father of her children would be psychologically abusive to them.
-Despite his flaws, how her children still have love for her father.
-Her thoughts on whether God sent her into a path of infidelity to save her from hurting herself.
-Being a hands-on mom with her children ultimately experiencing so much success.
-Losing her mother during COVID but being able to have a beautiful celebration of her life in a massive church.
-Finding a new partner, personal fulfillment, and breaking the tumultuous cycle!
-How her life experiences helped her in guiding the lives of students as a school counselor.
-Why a pretty divorce is ultimately about feeling good about yourself again.
To learn more about Marie Mosley and her book, go to https://www.theprettydivorce.com/
Grade A Nation has the honor of welcoming Bill Ottman on to the podcast. Bill is the CEO and co-founder of the social networking app called Minds. Bill is definitely a polymath with keen insights into a lot of different things, which makes him a Grade A podcast guest!
We discuss:
-Acquiring the Minds.com domain name and the chaotic domain name market
-The purpose of Minds as a social platform, with an emphasis on free expression and creator monetization
-Minds integrating with the decentralized relay protocol Nostr that can eventually bring about interoperability between a variety of social media platforms to create a broader community of conversation
-Minds attempting to facilitate commissioned work in a way different from platforms like Cameo
-How Minds might be a viable option for small and medium-sized content creators to develop a larger following
-Trying to overcome the skepticism people have about Web3 projects
-Preparing oneself for a potential severe collapse in economic markets if that were to occur
-The crypto market having long-term benefits in that it is not being propped up, which allows for authentic correction
-Energy and financial independence being forms of national security
-Willingness to work with Elon Musk and Twitter
-Thoughts on mass media portrayals of himself and Elon Musk as enabling those that are politically on the far-right, and whether Twitter has saboteurs from the inside
-Why the decisions of people like Jack Dorsey and Mark Zuckerberg have undermined an honest and free exchange of ideas
-Views on why Hive and Mastodon are darlings of the mass media in recent times
-How deplatforming makes radicalization worse
-People assuming he is a conservative extremist simply for appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience and Tucker Carlson Tonight
-How being a CEO has been a process of personal growth
-Whether TikTok should be removed from markets like the U.S.
-The inability for artists to stop similar works being created with advances in technology like AI
-Concerns for society moving forward
-Predictions on the 2024 U.S. presidential election
And actually quite a bit more in this extensive and entertaining conversation. To learn more about Minds.com --- go to, you guessed it, https://www.minds.com/
On this four year anniversary edition of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Mike Cotayo. There is a famous joke about Mike: "a comic, a social worker, and an escort walk into a bar, and they're all Mike Cotayo." Okay, enough kidding around!
Mike Cotayo is a great comic that has done it all and seen it all. From flying through a windshield in a car crash at 18 months old to getting HIV in a West Village sex club, Mike has a ton of life experiences to incorporate in his stand up material.
We cover Mike's:
-lack of confidence in himself because of the inability to use his left hand and hatred of being treated differently due to having a disability
-stand-up comics that he idolized growing up
-riding the Staten Island Ferry as a young man hooking up with other men and getting a thrill in encounters with total strangers (don't call him the Staten Island Ferry Fairy....show some respect)
-experiencing assault without consent while on a Holocaust museum field trip
-what made him interested in social work
-smoking crack; just say no folks!
-his thoughts on engaging in behaviors he would tell his social work clients not to do
-how getting HIV made him want to pursue his stand-up dreams
-having success as a stand-up that became almost too much to handle due to panic attacks
-sometimes identifying as gay and sometimes identifying as bisexual over the years
-grieving after the passing of his mother
-whether he can see his dad being with another woman in the future
-a brief stint as an escort
-his sometimes self-destructive tendencies in his comedy career
-falling in love with a married woman that is a mom and having her leave her husband for him, only for the ex-husband to end up living in their basement (I smell a My Two Dad's reboot in the works)
-being an extra on SNL and his comedy goals
A spectacular conversation with an honest and funny man! Go to https://www.funnymanmike.com/ to learn more about Mike Cotayp.
Jack Canfora chats with Grade A Nation about his various pursuits over the years. Although Jack has accomplished quite a bit, his heart is in writing plays and the live theatre. On the show, Jack and Chris Thomas talk about:
-Jack's passion for the written word and the musical nature of English
-which genre of music matches Jack's voice
-how to approach writing and editing in a way that accentuates your strengths
-why being paralyzed by depression in his twenties might have inhibited Jack's progress as an actor
-what it means to be a natural born pessimist and the challenges of raising children when you don’t always have an optimistic mindset
-actors Jack would like to work with…apologies in advance to Carrot Top
-his parents supporting Jack's career choices despite the fact they did not share as much interest in literature
-becoming enamored with The Beatles as a young man
-writing plays with dialogue not reflecting Jack's New York upbringing and also with an awareness of the challenges women face
-crafting language to sell a product that is not Jack's own
-the pluses and minuses of being a ghostwriter for non-writers that can’t write but still have something to say
-making a living as a writer by diversifying the projects one works in
-avoiding writer’s block and keeping the professional juices flowing
-New Normal Rep creating podcasts as an approach to democratizing theatre
-why the arts should not be considered a luxury item and should be prioritized in education
-the thrill of observing a live audience reacting to one’s creative work
-the background of Step 9, an audio drama podcast based loosely on a true story about a woman who receives contact from a man trying to make amends that violated her thirty years ago
-how to integrate a bit of humor when artistically discussing serious subject matter
-whether theatre might appeal to younger generations of today
-the ways in which theatre might capture society in a way that film or television might not
-a cool opportunity to watch a play online from New Normal Rep!
Check out more about Jack Canfora on his website https://www.jackcanforawriter.com/ or his personal blog https://thewritingonthepaddedwall.com/ . See the New Normal Rep in action at https://www.newnormalrep.org/
Grade A Nation is joined by content creator Adelia Acker, who has an OnlyFans account with hundreds of thousands of followers as well as a podcast called That's OFfensive about working on the platform. Adelia has experienced a lot, including:
-being kidnapped to go to rehab for smoking weed by her parents
-growing up in a controlling and conservative Christian household with a dismissive father
-feeling a lack of confidence about herself that led to body image concerns and an eating disorder
-having fun times every weekend at the University of Arizona, but still feeling like she wasn't good enough
-setting boundaries with her parents, her brother, and friends for her own wellbeing
-having disturbing and dark dreams
-getting nauseous while around little kids
-making a ton of dough on OnlyFans
-having mold poisoning for several years
-being celibate for a year by choice -- a volcel if you will
And that is just a small sample of her experiences and thoughts covered in our talk. Adelia is super honest and engaging. The original chat was about a half hour longer, but Adelia was cursing like a sailor. We'll likely see the unedited chat be available someplace in the future!
To check out the latest on Adelia Acker, go to https://www.itsdeelz.com/
Best Kept by Kat McCoy is a jewelry consultation and sourcing company that tries to take the anxiety out of the jewelry purchasing process. Chris Thomas talks with Kat about how Best Kept was created and how it operates as a concierge service.
Areas covered include:
-why her experience growing up in wealthy Greenwich, CT doesn't mean she unable to connect with a diverse collection of people
-how she developed an interest in jewelry from her grandma and her grandma’s sense of style
-what it was like working at Ernst & Young immediately out of college
-moving on to SocialCode creating partnerships with other technology companies
-whether the influence of growing up in a family of entrepreneurs made her comfortable transitioning to starting a business as a solopreneur
-working with the startup accelerator Tacklebox to get her jewelry business idea fully idealized through mentorship and group feedback, and what people on a budget can do to execute a business idea
-the sometimes isolating nature of solopreneur work
-how she acquired an in-depth knowledge about jewelry over time to help people find a gift for someone else or to build up their own jewelry collection
-how she reacts when receiving a six-figure jewelry order…hint: it involves a lot of breakdancing (okay, maybe breakdancing is exaggerating a bit)
-building a reputation where people trust you when doing business
-why buying jewelry is often seen as so stressful and how her concierge service can help people from all sorts of backgrounds find a meaningful piece of jewelry
-whether there is ever a truly “perfect” piece of jewelry and how jewelry can be seen as an investment
-being a hands-on parent while simultaneously being a hands-on business person
Interested in starting a business? Interested in learning about jewelry? Interested in addressing the work-life balance challenge? If the answer to all of these is no, get your head examined, because these are all Grade A topics!
To learn more about Best Kept by Kat McCoy, visit https://www.bestkept.com/
In this fun-filled installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with adult content creator Serenity Cox, who has just exploded on the amateur scene through posting on Pornhub, earning over 200 million views and over 200,000 subscribers to her channel in short time. Serenity was awarded “Favorite Newcomer” at the 2022 Pornhub awards, as well as Pornhub Model of the Month for April 2022. She is a rising star, but you wouldn’t guess it with her down-to-earth and personable approach.
We discuss:
-Serenity attending Catholic school and how that might have sparked interest in the naughty side of life
-Working at a cigarette booth in a supermarket while attending college
-How her adult content was discovered by her colleagues at her full-time work, and how she responded to the gossiping hens chattering about her
-Why both her and her husband have an exhibitionist side to them
-Her love of threesomes, and some reflection on whether her love of threesomes is tied to not getting enough attention from others growing up
-How she lives a hot wife lifestyle and what that lifestyle entails
-Why her husband is not a cuckold
-Whether or not she would spend sexy time with Justin Trudeau if he were to ask
-Her mad accordion playing skills
And a whole lot more. This is Serenity’s first ever podcast interview, so it is a big privilege to take her podcast virginity!
To see more of Serenity (and you would be foolish not to want to), check out her OnlyFans page: https://onlyfans.com/serenitycox
During this sometimes combustible chat on Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Matthew Karchner, a man who founded the non-profit ministry known as Castaway Ministries. Matthew operates the ministry out of Cambodia. Raised in the United States, Matthew has struggled for many years with his sexual identity, and also experienced drug dependency for many years. He now identifies as "ex-gay" and works with the youth in Cambodia discussing what he views as the risks tied to LGBTQ life and the value of the Bible. Whether or not you initially agree with Matthew's work or his point of view, listen to the episode with an open mind and come to your own conclusions.
During the interview Matthew discusses:
-growing up in a religious family
-his perspective on gender roles
-initial relationships with other men
-being dishonest at work while masking drug addictions
-why he feels his work is of value and has a purpose
-falling romantically for a woman and marrying her
-marital and community strife while in Cambodia
By the way, the number "69" being featured in the number of the episode is purely coincidental!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Dr. Soumyadip Rakshit (not pronounced how you think, get your mind out of the gutter) joins the program. Dr. Soum is the co-founder and CEO of sexual health company Mystery Vibe. He discusses the science behind where sexual health issues often stem from and how vibrating devices can improve not just sexual pleasure but also reduce physical pain.
We discuss:
-earning a PhD in biometrics and doing research using technology combating against terrorism
-moving from the management consulting world of a firm like Deloitte into the realm of sexual health devices
-if friends and family were supportive in his efforts to get Mystery Vibe started
-the importance of blood flow in the body
-what the research and development process is like when developing sexual health devices
-thoughts on why some parts of the world still view talking about sexual health as taboo
-the value of sexual health products winning mainstream awards in areas like design
-the challenges of trying to keep sexual health accessible regardless of economic status
-whether men are embarrassed buying vibrating devices
-why Oprah Winfrey or Kim Kardashian promoting Mystery Vibe might not be as valuable as words of recommendation from respected doctors
A stimulating conversation to say the least! To learn more about Mystery Vibe products, go to https://mysteryvibe.com/
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn, authors of the book, “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.” The book approaches noise and silence in a sophisticated manner that should get people thinking about how the extent of noise and silence in one’s life can play a role in personal well-being and work performance, among other aspects of life.
We talk about:
-where the book fits within studies of human psychology
-the concept of justice including a democratization of silence
-whether there is a danger in certain cultures embracing silence to an extreme extent
-how people selectively tuning out others that think differently can be a potentially counterproductive type of silence
-the value in removing the stigma tied to hyperacusis and autism where individuals have noise sensitivity
-how shared communal experiences, even at a noisy rock concert, can potentially allow people to tap into a valuable form of internal quiet
And lots more on this fun-filled discussion of complex subject matter. Every Grade A Nation interview is a winner in some way, but this one stands out!
To learn more about Leigh and Justin’s book, check out: https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Power-Silence-World-Noise/dp/0063027607/
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Yasmeen Hassan, former local TV news anchor and recent co-founder of communications consulting firm H CUE.
Areas covered include:
-moving around quite a bit as a child and how that prepared Yasmeen for her work in television
-starting work in broadcasting behind the scenes as a producer, and what are the aspects people may not appreciate about what goes into getting a news broadcast together
-her vivid memories of the first time doing a field report
-managing both work as an anchor and a producer while trying to avoid burnout
-why trust in the media has declined in recent years
-comparing work in media markets like Phoenix, Chicago, and Las Vegas
-what it was like covering the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and the troubling lack of information about the motive of Stephen Paddock
-making the transition from television news to consulting organizations and working professionals on how to craft effective messages
-how Winston the dog became a TV news celebrity
The chat gives a great glimpse into all the sacrifices and hard work that go into a career in broadcasting!
To learn more about Yasmeen's consulting firm H CUE, go to https://hcue-llc.com
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Steve Maher from the band Night Routine. We discuss a lot, including:
-big city life in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Denver and living internationally in Uruguay
-what it was like working for a roommate matching service
-transitioning to pursuing music and how to make a viable living as a musician
-operating frugally when touring by sleeping in housing provided by fans that hopefully won’t hold you captive against your will
-dream gigs and the nightmare shows from hell
-maintaining friendships with bandmates
-the evolution of Night Routine musically
-how people have received the band: the good, the bad, and the indifferent
-the importance of trust when doing business
-side work in podcasting and how the podcast industry is like the music industry
We clearly run the gamut of topics, so this show is a must listen! You know what else is a must listen? Night Routine’s music…they have a real cool vibe that fuses together pop, soul, and rock that is worth getting better acquainted with.
To learn more about Steve Maher and Night Routine, check out: https://linktr.ee/nightroutine
OnlyFans content creator Sarah Juree describes the scary experience of a blogger targeting her in an effort to get her fired from her work as a 5th grade STEM teacher. We discuss what it is like to be at the center of mass media attention, including all the cyberbullying she has experienced.
Sarah talks about her challenging upbringing and hardships of being a single parent looking for a new partner. Despite the dark periods, Sarah approaches things with a cheery outlook and this interview is sure to brighten your day!
To learn more about Sarah's work, check out https://onlyfans.com/love_misssarah_unlocked
Chris Thomas talks with Mr. Slade, a recording artist based in Canada. We cover his rough childhood where he experienced bullying, how his time at a school for the arts allowed him to blossom creatively and personally, as well as his musical roots in glam rock, 80s hair metal, and 90s alternative.
Mr. Slade shares how intoxicating an energy-filled live crowd can be, career goals and worries, and why he hopes his creative work can change stereotypes people might possess. The mutual love Chris Thomas and Mr. Slade have for Duran Duran is addressed in detail!
To learn more about Mr. Slade's work, go to https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TqQ9VJggVOUwAGXYt19QL?si=7tIfRh5DQjOlYQ3MW2jZ1Q
Chris Thomas has an excellent chat with Cavil Helm, author of the short book, "A Man's Guide to Tinder as Written By A Woman: A Quick and Easy Guide to Making a Great Profile." Cavil talks about how being homeschooled led her to get acclimated to the digital world at an early age, as well as how her own extensive experience with online dating helped her in developing the book. Cavil's thoughts on love, prejudice, self-esteem, and the future of dating are all covered here, making for a top-notch conversation on Grade A Nation!
To learn more about Cavil's book, check it out on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Tinder-other-Dating-Written-ebook/dp/B0B5CHYPHQ
Mikhael Porter, co-founder and CEO of the social media platform Needle Music, discusses how the idea of a digital community oriented around music came about during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why music serves as a special means of bringing people together and the features of Needle Music not seen elsewhere are key areas of our discussion.
If you are a music fan or someone looking for an alternative social media platform to connect with others, this is one conversation you do not want to miss out on. To learn more about Needle Music, check out https://www.needlemusic.co.
Alex Bystrov, founder of a unique livestreaming app Leam, discusses with the Grade A Nation how content creators can create closer connections to supporters they have cultivated online with Leam. Alex talks about his background in web development and design, how he has tackled self-doubt tied to perfectionism, which type of content creators will most benefit from Leam, and how creators on Leam can earn money through tokens from the Voices governance protocol.
We have a neat conversation that should excite creative people of all backgrounds, regardless of your background knowledge of cryptocurrency, NFTs, or Web3 innovations. To learn more about Leam, go to https://leam.xyz/
Amy Evans visits to chat about how growing up in Portland, Oregon influenced her as an artist, why Adele is one of several artists she admires, if it is ever possible to turn off the noise of a musical mind thinking about new ideas, her spiritual upbringing, sharing parts of herself in her art, and her new funk fusion EP called Babybird!
Amy has a beautiful voice and her music bridges a variety of genres seamlessly. Check out her soulful music and learn more about her at https://www.evansamy.com/
Koen Geron saw that working professionals did not have the time to maintain online dating profiles and communicate with their matches. He has founded an online dating management service called Hovalo, where people that are too busy to seek out a connection can have their photos, profiles, and messages handled by Hovalo staff. The ethical and privacy questions raised by a service like Hovalo are discussed, as well as general tips for creating a successful online dating profile!
To learn more about Hovalo, go to https://hovalo.com/
On this intallment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with all members of the band Stargazy Pie (Jack Stoker, Logan Chernoske, Logan Neville-Neil, and Sulli Olson-Rexroat). The band discusses their roots, aspirations, making a music video, the supportive Pacific Northwest music scene, and why that wild band name was chosen. We go over their thoughts about several tracks on their first album, Butterfly Hand Grenade, which is an incredible debut effort. Come for the great music discussion, stay for the whacking Lightsabers talk!
To listen to Stargazy Pie, go to their Spotify page, https://open.spotify.com/artist/7DayzFV9Wwllon33FQmkpQ and find their upcoming gigs on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/stargazypieband/
Ruth Rogers is the owner and operator of The Canvas, a dining and creative space in the United Kingdom. The Canvas provides meals to those in need, as well as serving as a meeting place for events like art shows and group networking. It is clear The Canvas performs a lot of good for the community, but it is also clear that the pandemic has put The Canvas in tough economic circumstances.
Hear how Ruth has adopted a crowfunding campaign in an attempt to maintain her establishment into the future, as well as her valuable advice for anyone that aspires to open or already runs a small business. Ruth is a wonderful person doing vital work.
Support The Canvas by checking out their crowdfunding page at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-seats!
Chef Dennis Littley talks about the ingredients of a great chef, memorable moments in his career, his thoughts on fast food, how the pandemic has impacted the hospitality industry, and why he transitioned to being a blogger. His tips on being a successful blogger will be helpful to anyone interested in doing this kind of work, even if your focus is not on food and/or travel!
Check out Ask Chef Dennis at https://www.askchefdennis.com/
Chris Thomas and special guest co-host Kevin Slaughter interview the Ukranian pop-punk band Cardinal Birds about how they formed, their musical influences, the art of constructing a song, their thoughts on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, how they feel about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, what Ukrainian groupies look like, and all the other pressing questions of the day. Lots of ambient noise here, but listen in and enjoy the wild ride!
Check out the music of Cardinal Birds on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DPsCiaIwjENusaI2nplsK
Chris Thomas talks with Kristine Grant, a ghostwriter that has assisted many people in crafting messages. From love letters, eulogies, dating profiles, and everything in between, Kristine discusses how she maintains an authentic voice for each client. The importance of self-confidence in making interpersonal connections is a key theme.
To learn more about Kristine's work, visit http://inspiredheartletters.com/
A practitioner of sports medicine makes some tasteless remarks about the middle schooler that fell out of the drop tower ride in Orlando. The video is haunting, as are the comments of a so-called Doctor!
A substitute teacher returns to Grade A Nation to talk about how an acting class reenacting the Will Smith and Chris Rock slapping encounter at the Oscars ceremony did not go according to plan....if there even was a plan to begin with.
Hala Abdul is a licensed psychotherapist in Canada working with clients in the financial technology domain. Hala shares with Grade A Nation the most common psychological concerns expressed by those working in FinTech, tips on how to find a psychotherapist with knowledge about new and emerging technologies, and thoughts on whether the rapidly evolving nature of digital innovations exacerbates mental health concerns. It is a thought-provoking interview that should be engaging for anyone interested in the future of mental health!
To learn more about Hala Abdul's work, visit https://www.halatherapy.com/
Chris Thomas chats with Jeremiah Stemple, a developer of comic book projects for chronic patients and the charities that serve them. Hear how Jeremiah and his friends are trying to put a smile on the face of those who need it most!
Learn more about Jeremiah's work at https://heroesforcauses.com/
Chris Thomas chats with actress and model Ellie Noir about a collection of topics pertaining to the entertainment industry, including:
- preparing for roles in film and television compared to the live stage
- moving to pursue career goals
- how travel allows a performer to experience new cultures
- getting into the mindset of characters
- the most and least enjoyable aspects of being an entertainer
Ellie already has a cool body of work and she is bound to have a bright future as she climbs atop the showbiz ladder. Keep track of what Ellie is up to by visiting http://www.ellienoir.co!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Riley Jarvis of TheSleepConsultant.com chats about what initiated his interest in helping others with their sleep, the general ingredients of sleep that enhance personal performance, the potential significance of dreaming, and warning signs of harmful sleeping habits. A good sleep is linked to positive health outcomes, so this conversation should be appointment listenting for many....and it is so engaging that I'm confident you are not going to doze off listening to it!
Vi Vi Thai is a writer and YouTube content creator. While some may be shocked to learn that a person who earned engineering degrees from Texas A&M and Cornell University currently lives in a van, Vi Vi talks about how the van lifestyle has helped her to focus her mind on living a life of adventure unencumbered by any materialistic mindset. Vi Vi discusses how some perceive her as homeless, and how she responds to that.
Vi Vi is a genuinely sweet person, and her story deserves a listen! Check Vi Vi's writing at livingthroughalchemy.com and watch her videos about the van life on her YouTube channel.
Lance Ingram, host of the podcast Yesterday's Concert, joins the Grade A Nation to explain why he has attended so many live concerts from so many different genres of music in recent years. Is this behavior a passion or a compulsion? We discuss that, as well as the financial considerations tied to frequent concert-going, the reaction he has received from loved ones, memories of shows that stand out, and how to protect your hearing when going to so many noisy live events!
To learn more about Lance and his podcast, go to http://yesterdaysconcert.com
Lacey Lehotsky, who runs travel blogging website liveitupwithlacey.com, reveals how she has not let anxiety and CPTSD stop her from exploring destinations around the world. Lacey wants people to know that anxiety is not something that should prevent people from trying new experiences in new places. A candid conversation that will hopefully get people thinking!
Note: This installment contains discussion of traumatic life events that some may find triggering. Please keep this in mind when deciding to listen.
Chris Thomas, host of Grade A Nation, will be using the Wisdom app (at this time available on Apple iOS but soon to be available on Android), a new way to have in-depth and meaningful live conversations. The first live meeting on Wisdom will be January 15th, 2022 at 2 pm EST. If you want to interact with Chris Thomas live, download the app and look for Chris at https://joinwisdom.audio/gradeausa
Michael Unbroken talks to the Grade A Nation about his personal experiences with severe trauma at an early age and how these experiences led to self-destructive behaviors growing up. Michael decided to break the cycle of pain and studied to become a certified life coach to assist adults who also experienced trauma at a young age. Through helping others, he has learned quite a bit about self-improvement and mental health, and he shares his insights in this captivating discussion.
Note: Some of the topics mentioned involve traumatic experiences that some may find triggering.
To learn more about Michael and his work, check out https://www.thinkunbroken.com/
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Sophia Vee shares her experiences finding an audience on Twitch doing sidecasting (watchalong reactions to live material) and interviewing unique people like a spirit medium. Sophia gives tips on how to avoid toxic trolls while attempting to grow a fanbase as a live streamer and social media personality.
She has a big appreciation for professional wrestling, so we discuss the general state of affairs with WWE and AEW. Sophia is a rising star on Twitch and you should check out her content at https://www.twitch.tv/Sophia in addition to prior installments of her live interviews at https://www.youtube.com/vocalminds
Actor Christian Birkenberger talks about his experience on Season 23 of the CBS show Big Brother, as well as his determination to achieve major mainstream acting goals. Christian emphasizes the importance of taking a 'no days off' approach in the pursuit of success. As someone who has done extensive modeling work, he reflects on how having a thick skin helps avoid being pigeonholed as someone that only brings looks to the table. Having cultivated a fanbase from reality television, Christian talks about how he hopes his supporters follow him on his journey to being a leading man...as well as how one fan has already followed him for a 3 am photograph!
Chock full of energy and desire, Christian is someone you should definitely be rooting for. Follow up on what Christian is up to on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CBirkenberger and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/christian_birkenberger.
Kanika Issar is host of the new podcast 'You What?!!' and talks about her efforts to take the negativity out of divorce. Getting married at 23 and divorced at 27, she was struck by how divorce is always characterized as a bad thing. Kanika wants to make clear that life after divorce can be personally enriching, as she feels the last two years have been some of the best in her life despite the pandemic. Kanika has the gift of gab which makes for a Grade A interview!
Check out Kanika's podcast at https://www.youwhatpodcast.com/
Chris Thomas has an honest and open discussion about mental health with Paul Marlow, founder of the mental health advocacy platform Never Alone. In the discussion, Paul reveals how a challenging breakup and the death of his father led to serious mental health challenges that ultimately led him down a path toward self-improvement and a desire to help others facing mental health challenges. Paul reflects on his prior pursuits as an athlete and a model with candor and relates how these experiences have helped him confront the fear of failure. As someone who has had MDMA therapy, Paul gives his personal point of view on the potential future of this form of treatment. Don't miss this fantastic interview!
Guest Bio: Paul Marlow is a mental health advocate and the founder of Never Alone. Learn more about how to start your therapy journey today to better your mental health with the Therapy Hub.
In this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Scott Heric, co-founder of the digital transaction platform Unionly. Unionly is designed to facilitate the collection and raising of funds by labor unions. Scott discusses how Unionly works, what inspired the idea, offers his thoughts on the strength of labor unions in the future, as well as his view on online groups potentially preventing labor groups like a law enforcement union from using Unionly. We also talk about the feasibility of a work-life balance when you are creating a start-up business. Another Grade A conversation!
To learn more about Unionly, check out unionly.io
Ed McCormack, founder and CEO of the cryptocurrency education platform Dchained, talks to the Grade A Nation about an array of topics, including:
-What Dchained potentially offers to people interested in crypto investing
-Why Dchained has popularity with Gen X investors
-How Dchained as a startup grows at scale while serving both beginner and veteran crypto investors
-Avoiding perceptions of favoritism or pushing specific crypto projects
-Concerns investors have about recent cryptocurrency trends
-Common misconceptions about cryptocurrency
Ed is a hands-on CEO, and the episode is a great chance to hear from someone immersed in the world of cryptocurrency. To learn more about Dchained, visit dchained.com!
We chat with Will McKissick, the Chief Chief Strategy Officer for mePrism. mePrism is a service that encrypts and stores your personal data to help you discover insights about your digital identity, as well as facilitating potential sales of information linked to your digital identity that you can opt into. Will shares some background on how he joined the startup, advice for others exploring entrepreneurial avenues in the online realm, and thoughts on complex ethical questions regarding privacy and information ownership. It is a thought-provoking and mentally stimulating conversation that is tied to core issues in our evolving society.
To learn more about mePrism and the data economy, check out mePrism.com!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Nai Nicole, a life coach who has tons of experience with solo travel. Listen in as Nai talks about how traveling alone can foster meaningful personal growth, how her approach to travel has adjusted given the events of the last two years, and then offers us all some valuable travel tips! A perfect episode for people thinking about traveling in the near future.
To learn more about Nai Nicole and her work, check out www.thespiritadventure.com
Chris Thomas chats with author, entrepreneur, and film producer Doug Stebleton. Doug has co-written a historical science-fiction work titled, "It's a Wonderful Time," where the main character is transported back to 1946 while the classic film "It's a Wonderful Life" is being made. The book is the first in the Hollywood Time Travel series.
Doug shares his inspiration for the book, tales of his early years in Hollywood pursuing a career in show business, converting a screenplay to a novel, the nuances of the collaborative writing process, and starting an independent book publishing outlet. His story of perseverance and believing in oneself is definitely inspirational!
To learn more about the book, visit https://www.hollywoodtimetravel.com/
Thanks everyone for supporting the show for 3 years and counting. On this installment, we talk about a holiday fundraiser where people are asked to buy Cup Noodles ramen soup...but the promotion for the fundraiser doesn't appear to depict someone slurping on a ramen noodle. Perhaps slurping some other type of noodle; good grief!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Debby Montgomery Johnson, a crusader and advocate for victims of online romance scams. Having herself experienced a two-year online relationship filled with deception that drained her both emotionally and financially, Debby shares the common signs of online dating and social media fraud to be aware of. Debby also reveals how she came to trust others again and rebuild her life in positive ways. You will learn a lot in this compelling interview!
To discover more about Debby and her work, check out the following:
Book and Podcast - https://thewomanbehindthesmile.com/
Non-profit victim assistance group The Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams - https://www.romancescamsnow.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RomanceScamsNow
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Amy Sinha, a wickedly talented singer, voiceover artist, and entrepreneur. Growing up with severe health troubles did not impede Amy in achieving her goals. Hear how a positive mindset, a support system of friends and family, and a lifelong passion for creative arts led Amy to accomplish her ambitious dreams. Amy's enthusiasm for life exudes throughout the interview! To learn more about Amy, check out her various pages:
Website - https://www.amysinha.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/amysinhavoice
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amysinhavoice
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Taly Matiteyahu, one of the founders of a new dating app called Blink. Blink hopes to establish more meaningful connections based on thinking beyond physical appearances. In the interview, Taly shares insights into how the idea for Blink was developed, how Blink can potentially limit biases and frustrations seen with other dating applications, and also addresses some potential obstacles tied to a culture where many seek instant gratification. It is an interesting talk about an interesting concept! To learn more about Blink, check out these ways to connect:
Website - https://www.theblinkdate.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/theblinkdate
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theblinkdate/
Podcast (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/date-in-a-blink/id1553516963
Podcast (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/5NLsgOL3rr8nsiZaEbT69d
Chris Thomas, still grieving over the passing of comedy icon Norm Macdonald, is forced to sit through a former talk show host doing material about a one-armed and one-legged person getting around an airport on a skateboard. What is the deal?
A cowboy with no respect sleeps through a woman describing her life growing up without parents after losing them during the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks. The 9/11 tribute was ruined by a drooling fool! Plus, a discussion of a recent stop at McDonald's.
In what can be interpreted as a continuation of the culture war, a substitute teacher removes the U.S. flag from their classroom, replacing it with a flag bearing the ABBA logo. The teacher believes the students should salute the greatness of ABBA's music, as well as their upcoming new album and hologram tour. How does the school's principal respond? Find out on a brand new Grade A Nation!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, I have the privilege of talking to Carlos Alonso, a part of the FEG token marketing team. Carlos shares why he is so passionate about FEG, to the point where he participated in a cross-country bus tour spreading the word about FEG! We discuss the various initiatives being developed, including FEGex, a cryptocurrency listing platform where people can trade pairs of tokens. Why there is so much positivity within the FEG community is covered. If you are interested in learning more about FEG, check out their helpful documents at https://fegtoken.com/#docs or reach out to Carlos at @carlosalonso369 on Twitter and the verified FEG account @FEGtoken.
A man of faith feels ashamed after being accused of stealing from Target. Hear what he has to say on the Domenic Taylor Hour of Power....uh, we mean Grade A Nation!
An adult day care center operator returns to the program after a lengthy hiatus to say things are going well at the center. To show how much fun his center clients are having, he is having them participate in a TikTok challenge where they are locked in a car on a hot day with no water and seeing if they can avoid passing out. What in the world?
A travel agent is upset that his efforts to fill an entire airplane with volunteers to assist with the Dixie Fire in Northern California did not result in him getting a plastic American Airlines wings pin from a stewardess, as he lost out to a well-behaved special needs person that was also on the flight. Some people can be so narcissistic!
The inventor of the quilt pillow has a plan to get back at a person who laughed at him for being cross eyed. Who knew blankets and pillows were such serious business?
A self-proclaimed relationship expert for men teaching an online course called FICUS 101 is facing calls for refunds from his students after he expresses a strong and deep affection for Leyna Bloom without knowing about her background. Is the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue creating drama?
Since Tom Ladoux is taking a break from the show apparently, Chris Thomas has the distinct honor of interviewing Lawrence Ross, the host of The Lawrence Ross Show (an inventive title, for sure). Lawrence is an open book and talks about quite a bit on Grade A Nation: he addresses false accusations that he is stalking YouTuber Trisha Paytas, reveals a missed romantic encounter with a lady of the night arranged by his friend's mom, reflects on his goals as an entertainer, and shares some of the challenges of life as a visually impaired person. It is cool how Lawrence has taken his passion for radio and become a content creator in the digital audio space. Lawrence has a heart of gold; show him some love by checking out his podcast, merchandise, and his social media! Podcast: https://anchor.fm/lawrence-ross9Merchandise: https://teespring.com/id/stores/lross1987Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlindLawrence
A debate over spending saved-up funds on concert tickets turns into one of the Grade A Nation crew stating they are quitting the show! Also, what is up with the perverted drifter that stops by unannounced?
A famous comedian wants Bill Cosby to be integrated back into public life. He suggests having Bill Cosby be a new spokesman for Subway, promoting their maligned tuna sandwich and a new sweetened ice tea called ‘Bill’s Special Brew’ that “makes you a bit sleepy after drinking it.” Outrageous!
Adam Sysler is trying to generate funds for his “Dinner With You” app and comes across an interesting casting call on Craigslist. He is potentially open to appearing on the television show, as long as he gets to wear and talk out of a Bane mask. Find out his reasoning (or lack thereof) on the latest Grade A Nation.
A youngster is assigned to disciplinary summer school because he asked his teacher if she was good at giving big brain...because he overheard his mother’s boyfriend Kwame talking about his mom’s “skills” in that area. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A Los Angeles Magazine profile piece on Twitter personality Yashar Ali feels like a hit job. Why was it released at this time? Why is there the insinuation that his dark thoughts on Twitter of late are emotional manipulation? Is there any tangible evidence that he is indeed a grifter that uses his private Venmo to collect donations for charitable causes which do not go to the charities? We discuss...you decide.
A practitioner of sports medicine wants to raise money for Steve "Mongo" McMichael’s battle with ALS by dressing up Special Olympians as football players, attaching buckets to their helmets, and having them collect donations from people. Sheesh!
Billy Briggs thinks Uber is falsely profiling him by showing his route to get some iced coffee in rainbow colors. Oh, brother!
A man uses the spurs on his cowboy boots to power his way through a sea of people trying to grab a box of Travis Scott’s new Cacti spiked seltzer. The police obviously respond. We also have a taste test of Pineapple Cacti!
Geii Whang believes that he if he does not shower he will conserve water, which will save the environment. He is convinced he will be rewarded with a fourth stimulus check for his efforts. Geii believes people are not able to smell him anyway since face masks block his odor. What? Listen in on his convoluted reasoning.
The Grade A Nation crew encourage people to spend any third stimulus payment wisely. We chat about the risks of the stock market and cryptocurrency when an unknown stranger asks for stimulus check money and promises a romantic dinner at Olive Garden in return. Oh brother! Note: This show should not be interpreted as personal financial advice.
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson, who was suspended after students saw his “stuff” during a Zoom class session, somehow got a vaccine dose ahead of actual working teachers. How is this possible? Why did Paul wear a tuxedo to the vaccination center? Was him giving the vaccination staff slices of Pizza Hut wise? So many questions to answer in this installment of Grade A Nation!
Jeremy Gable is charging people to take their picture as they pretend they are falling off a railing in an abandoned old church like at the Bolivian University. Exploiting a tragedy? Most definitely! In bad taste? Certainly! Potential big money maker? Disturbingly likely!
Environmental justice advocate Greta Thictung warns Grade A Nation that pizza boxes are harmful for the environment. To prevent climate change, she encourages people to pick up pizza at the store with their bare hands instead of using a pizza box. She then talks about how she pretends a pizza slice is Tom Brady’s hog. As you can probably tell by now, not much progress was made talking about the Kansas City Chiefs matching up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sheesh!
On the 100th installment of Grade A Nation, we discuss the risks of not buying your aunt her insulin pens so you can buy lotto tickets and shares of AMC and GameStop stock on Robinhood. Trying to make the money back by having people pay to watch your aunt have manic cases of insulin withdrawal on webcam is not right! Thanks to everyone who has ever listened to the podcast. Here is to another 100 installments, and many more after that.
A practitioner of sports medicine comes on to suggest "beautiful athletes with lovely bodies" get vaccinated before people that are older because older people are past their prime. How rude!
A young AEW fan wanted his mom to get him a Sting zip hoodie...she didn’t get it for him. Now he wants to run away from home and never come back! Will this ultimately be a story of Christmas cheer or woe? Listen in to find out! Happy holidays to everyone.
Video game expert Adam Sysler is supposed to provide insight on the Cyberpunk 2077 lawsuit that was filed. Instead, Adam wants to yammer on about his lawsuit against a local mall for “emotional distress and trauma” following his reaction to an African-American Santa taking pictures with people in the food court. What a zany guy!
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson is desperately trying to get a PS5 for his godson Michael. He finds one last remaining Playstation 5 at a video game store in a quiet strip mall...but has to engage in Mortal Kombat style action to wrestle it away from a group of youngsters. Such a shameful guy!
A financial advisor is telling small businesses to send coupons that look like a second stimulus check envelope. So someone expecting $1200 instead gets $5 off a large pizza. Not right!
December 1, 2020 marks the 2nd year anniversary of the launch of the Grade A Nation podcast. While Chris Thomas wants to walk down memory lane, others want to debate whether Elliot Page should give back his awards that he competed and won for in the “Best Actress” categories of awards committees. Good grief!
After an impressive 15-year run at the great SiriusXM, Jason Ellis was let go this week. A Howard Stern hater comes on the show and blames Howard for Jason being fired. Do you agree with this wild allegation? Listen and tell us what you think!
Billy Briggs has been so consumed with Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit that he made a special track in his house. His girlfriend is not happy, and has decided to let Billy discover via his Mario R/C Racer car that she is being intimate with other men!
Travel agent Jeremy Gable is trying to make money through creative means...even if it includes cashing in on the drive-in movie theater craze by screening adult films and allowing people to watch via a website what happens inside each car (without telling the theater customers). What kind of creepy stuff is that? We discuss!
Grade A Nation welcomes Aubrey to the show. She discusses all sorts of things in her life: her love of beating special needs children in sports, how to thrive despite not being in a relationship for five years, her crush on Alex Jones, and the appeal of eyelid tattoos. Aubrey has a mouth that is dirtier than a state fair outhouse, but we love her anyway. This episode is not for those of the faint of heart (or social justice warrior types). Check out Aubrey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theplasticpope and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aVeryNiceLady11 before she gets banned on there again!
We discuss a tumultuous week that ends with the passing of game show icon Alex Trebek. Since he will have a lot of free time in the near future, would Donald Trump be a suitable new host of Jeopardy! that will bring the country together? Is a hologram Alex Trebek out of the question?
Larry Insell says his sister thought that when she saw Larry logging into his Gmail account that he was looking at a naughty man-on-man website called “Meat Lovers.” Larry blames the new Gmail logo for causing confusion. It certainly didn’t help matters that “YMCA” from the Village People was blasting out of the TV since Larry had a Trump rally on in the background. Sheesh!
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson is screening an anatomy video in a bathrobe over Zoom to middle schoolers when he gets up to make Hot Pockets....totally forgetting that he has no underwear on. Makes Jeffrey Toobin seem mild in comparison!
Relationship expert and couples therapist Michael Ficus comes on to claim that both Doc Rivers and Rush Limbaugh are not “real men” for crying in public...and then calls out survey researcher Nigel Lee for stealing the name of adult day care center operator Dale Pine while cohosting Grade A Nation. Awkward!
The crew discusses the shocking news that both President Trump and the First Lady were diagnosed as having the coronavirus. Is Hope Hicks responsible? Will President Trump recover and become a born again Christian tweeting out Bible verses? What does President Trump kissing the First Lady with meatloaf remnants in his mouth have to do with all of this? We discuss in yet another Grade A Nation that goes off the rails!
Good Times Tom Ladoux gets free meals from fast food restaurants by playing the Ron Paul stroke audio when placing an order at the drive-thru. He's manipulating people for sympathy. Isn't that shameful? We discuss!
The crew discusses the ad campaign in Finland featuring the Burger King mascot making out with what looks to be Ronald McDonald. Someone says they are uncomfortable now to order any items with mayonnaise on it because they are not sure if it is mayonnaise or Ronald McDonald "love juice." Totally ridiculous!
News reports claim that President Trump wants to be added to Mount Rushmore. Are the critics of President Trump being fair? Will South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem change her last name to something that doesn't sound like the word "gnome?" We discuss!
A financial advisor claims a cost effective solution to making sure students are safe with school re-openings is to convert backpacks into masks that students wear. Is this a credible idea or a half-baked idea? We discuss!
A member of the Grade A Nation cast went on an inappropriate website at the recording studio, an adult page called Latin Leche. He claims he was merely looking for delicious horchata to drink. Do you believe him?
A provocative photo of Jerry Falwell Jr. where his fly is halfway down seems to have gotten him into hot water. Are all good people of faith allowed to walk around with their fly down, even with no underwear is on? We discuss!
The Ellen Show has been accused of some very serious things regarding misconduct and toxicity in the workplace. A Grade A Nation panelist thinks it is because people are jealous of Ellen DeGeneres and her alpha male big dong energy. Oh, brother!
The group discusses why seeds might be coming from China. Can the seeds grow a McDonald’s Happy Meal tree to grow in your backyard? You won’t believe the outrageousness!
The group discusses the surprising firings of Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews from ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Chaos breaks out when someone recommends Naya Rivera as the new host and then says Nick Cannon is going to be Kevin Arnold's dad in the Wonder Years reboot. Sheesh!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, an attempt (emphasis on attempt) is made to celebrate the lives of two icons: Joel Schumacher and Carl Reiner. Instead, time is spent on wild rumors like Joel Schumacher being shot by police at an ampm convenience store. Will the madness ever end?
On this installment of Grade A Nation, we discuss how companies might replace now controversial product branding. Instead of Aunt Jemima, would you buy a box of Aunt Agnes featuring a white woman with pancake batter spread across her mouth? Would Ben Shapiro make a good replacement for Uncle Ben? A provocative conversation indeed!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, we discuss whether an African-American man as "The Bachelor" will heal racial tensions in the USA. Also, is the national outcry over the police going to result in the band "The Police" being taken off radio? Sting probably won't be singing "Every Breath You Take" any time soon -- insensitive to George Floyd's family!
Dale Pine (a.k.a. Nigel Lee) and Good Times Tom Ladoux propose an outrageous giveaway promotion that they claim celebrates the memory of George Floyd. What do frosties from Wendy's have to do with George Floyd? Try to figure out their convoluted logic on the latest installment of Grade A Nation!
Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer and radio talk show host Grant Napear was fired for tweeting All Lives Matter. Is tweeting this an offense that can cost someone their jobs they have held for decades?
Joe Rogan and the Call Her Daddy hacks are making big money podcasting. Is it deserved or earned? Chris Thomas discusses the Joe Rogan to Spotify deal and the mediocre looking Call Her Daddy girls getting put in their place by Barstool Sports with Dale Pine (or is it Nigel Lee) and Good Times Tom Ladoux.
Chris Thomas discusses the 2020 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) being cancelled due to the pandemic. Michael Ficus gives his thoughts on landlords trying to romantically take advantage of tenants that cannot pay rent due to the coronavirus.
It looks like the XFL 2.0 is already finished. The AMC movie theater chain is considering bankruptcy. Can all of this be pointed to the stay-at-home and social distancing orders pushed by Dr. Fauci? We talk to someone who passionately thinks so!
The professional critic Good Times Tom Ladoux is concerned because all his area's restaurants, stores, and movie theaters are closed given the pandemic, so he has nothing to review. In desperate need for cash, he proposes a service called "House Calls for Good Times" where people can request to have their temperature taken from home. If they have a fever, they get a pamphlet and can watch on video as one of Tom's relatives engage in "self-love." If they don't have a fever, they can pay a fee and enjoy 30 minutes with one of Tom's relatives. What an outrageous proposal!
Travel agent Jeremy Gable has fallen on tough times because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now he wants to create a unique experience where a person has to get out of an escape room located in an abandoned Chinese food restaurant filled with stuntmen of Chinese heritage pretending to cough on the person attempting to escape. Jeremy says weapons are allowed in this escape room. He sounds desperate!
Corona discusses how her children's hand sanitizer stand was demolished by someone. Domenic Taylor says that the coronavirus is disproportionately in "Godless" liberal states, which means it is an act of God. Ridiculous!
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson describes how he steals from the school food pantry created for needy students because the panic over the coronavirus meant his favorite chili con carne cans were all gone from the supermarket. This is a tale of disaster preparedness driving a man over the edge!
Survey researcher/analyst Nigel Lee gives a sexually inappropriate “get well soon” card to his niece being held in quarantine to make sure she does not have the Coronavirus. Good grief!
In this edition of Grade A Nation: an adult day care operator proposes a disgusting Kobe Bryant “tribute” mural, Nyla Rose receives a date offer to Sonic for corn dogs dipped in ranch dressing, and “Mayor Pete” celebrates Black History Month with a Family Matters marathon. A truly stacked show!
Good Times Tom Ladoux reeeeaaaallly enjoys the Iowa Caucus. What a nut! Chris Thomas discusses coming to terms with the loss of Kobe Bryant, and also shares his thoughts on the Royal Rumble and the Super Bowl.
On this Grade A Nation, a Holiday Inn Express breakfast attendant named Corona complains about all the talk over the Coronavirus, Larry Insell gets confused for a member of Space Force at a special needs person’s birthday party, and Chris Thomas questions why people care what Joe Rogan thinks about Bernie Sanders.
Chris Thomas talks with Billy Briggs. Billy says an unruly UFC and Conor McGregor fan put Mag Dog 357 No. 9 hot sauce down his underwear just because Billy winked at the man’s wife. Violently scratching your privates because of hot sauce is certainly an experience Billy would like to forget. Hear all the details on this installment of Grade A Nation!
A financial advisor talks about losing $50,000 by investing in the premature production of World War III commemorative coins and dinner plates, as well as his foolish plan to make that money back: serve as Meghan Markle’s agent in the adult film industry. Sheesh!
Chris Thomas speaks with substitute teacher Paul Dawson about Friends being removed off of Netflix before moving to the HBO Max streaming service. Since Paul doesn’t teach students the materials and instead screens episodes of Friends off of Netflix, he is horrified about what he can do to take up class time in the upcoming semester. Listen to Paul fail miserably on a basic knowledge test, and also hear him describe how he violated himself to a student’s charcoal drawing of Jennifer Aniston with the “Rachel haircut.” Paul is seriously a total mess!
This installment of Grade A Nation to start a new decade features Greta Thictung, an environmental justice advocate that wants to reduce waste by having people bring their own ceramic plates and drink directly from the soda fountain when going to Del Taco. Next, Domenic Taylor discusses how some teens were going to turn pages from his Bible into “rolling papers for doobies.” Lastly, we have a very helpful French speaking lesson for the new year. Happy New Year!
Adam Sysler talks with Chris Thomas about the “Dinner With You” app, which pairs random people together that are eating alone so that they have someone to talk to while eating. This app is perfect for individuals who might have feelings of loneliness, but there seems to be people using the app for their own nefarious purposes!
Travel agent Jeremy Gable is on to talk about his Star Wars holiday package to celebrate the opening of the Rise of the Skywalker film. His plans include a Baby Yoda nativity scene, featuring Baby Yoda with mayonnaise along his mouth. Listen to hear his disgusting reasoning for this!
Chris Thomas speaks with Sam Stoops, a man who had his tongue removed in an exploding vape pen mishap. Sam went on a date with a woman who got upset that the Martin Scorsese film “The Irishman” did not feature any meaningful characters that were Black. Sam blames Mr. Scorsese for not getting laid!
On this one year anniversary installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Dale Pine, an adult day care center proprietor opposed to Disney+ content being watched by “old people soiling their diapers.” Dale is also shocked to hear Billy Dee Williams identifies as gender fluid and questions whether Billy Dee used to wear frilly nightgowns to turn on George Lucas. Chris Thomas addresses the conspiracy theory from the last installment of Grade A Nation as well. Thank you everyone for listening. Here is to (hopefully) many more anniversaries!
Mauro Ranallo, announcer for a variety of combat sports, has taken a recent leave of absence after a WWE coworker tweeted criticism of his broadcasting style. Ranallo, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has in the past missed work because of symptoms related to his mental health condition. Despite all the evidence, two conspiracy theorists raise outlandish reasons for why Mauro is not currently broadcasting NXT wrestling shows for WWE. They also propose a grand conspiracy regarding Grade A Nation with Chris Thomas!
Gabrielle Union was dismissed from AGT (America’s Got Talent) after one season on NBC. She raised concerns about the climate and treatment of minority groups during tapings. She points to incidents like Jay Leno saying dogs in a painting “looked like something on the menu at a Korean restaurant” as proof of a hostile work environment. Based on the comments of Jay Unleashed to Chris Thomas on this installment, she may have a valid point!
Chris Thomas hears from Billy Briggs, who shares a revealing story of how simultaneously seeing a trailer of ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ about Mister Rogers on display televisions and hearing John Fogerty’s ‘Centerfield’ over Target’s sound system activated a flashback to childhood trauma! Warning: This episode is likely not ideal for victims of ping pong paddle abuse.
Chris Thomas and independent consumer advocate/critic Good Times Tom Ladoux try the limited edition holiday flavor of Mountain Dew. The drink seems to make Good Times speak in Spanish, even though he doesn’t even know Spanish! What the heck?
Chris Thomas chats with survey analyst Nigel Lee about the poor performance of the Charlie’s Angels reboot movie. Nigel says his survey results from over 200 inmates held in a correctional facility proves the entire country does not want to see “women acting like men.” Nigel goes on a oddball tangent about unwashed menstruation stains on the uniforms of the female Ghostbusters. No, we don’t know what that has to do with the Charlie’s Angels reboot either!
Relationship expert Michael Ficus joins the show to discuss how he unexpectedly made a familiar face gag on his fart while they were waiting in line for Subway sliders. Also, feel his shame as he describes his date seeing a Magnum Condom ad promoted in his Twitter feed when he doesn’t actually have “the goods.”
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson is upset that he lost out to deceased actor James Dean on an acting role he tried out for. He also recently was dismissed from a substitute teaching position because he ate 80 pieces of snack sized Halloween candy, had to move his bowels in the middle of a line dancing activity, and called a middle school student the “n-word” in frustration after she called him a “boomer.” Things just haven’t been going Paul’s way!
Survey analyst Nigel Lee claims to have analyzed how women respond to the Joker Dance being performed on the now infamous steep stairs in Brooklyn. He believes that women from all demographics have a strong sexual attraction to the dance, including “Panera Bread Moms” that can’t cook if their lives depended on it and “Chipotle Moms” that hope their kids get food poisoning eating a chicken burrito. Given this, Nigel says President Trump will win over women by dressing up like the Joker and doing an exact imitation of the Joker Dance on the steps. Nigel thinks women will be so turned on that they will demand Trump not be impeached. Oh, brother!
Travel agent Jeremy Gable is on the program to promote his “Total Satisfaction Holiday Ecstasy in Paradise” package. Would you spend 5 days and 4 nights at a Days Inn in Hawaii having sex with strangers despite the STD surge in Hawaii? If yes, Jeremy Gable would like to have your business!
Adult day care center operator Dale Pine comes on to discuss Shepard Smith leaving Fox News. Dale thinks he’s joining CNN to start a “queer block” of news with Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon...sigh. Dale also expresses disgust over Joaquin Phoenix gyrating in the nude in the Joker movie. Dale has problems!
A financial advisor soils himself in horror after seeing a sanitary napkin and tampon dispenser in the men’s restroom at a bookstore. Is this a normal reaction? Also, we discuss whether Bernie Sanders having a heart attack can be attributed to eating too much spicy Chinese takeout on the campaign trail.
Larry Insell thinks movie theaters are inappropriately lumping in all Joker enthusiasts that dress up as the character with involuntary celibates. He thinks he should be able to go into any theater dressed up as the Joker with a boombox and dance to Batman movie soundtrack music. Do you agree?
Chris Thomas and special guest Jeremy Gable discuss Shane Gillis being hired and fired by Saturday Night Live, as well as the passing of several prominent public figures. Somehow Jeremy Gable screws up at every turn, confusing Shane Gillis for Shane Dawson, Cokie Roberts for Edd ‘Kookie’ Byrnes, etc. Thanks for listening; tell a friend about Grade A Nation!
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks to a youngster that has special feelings about AEW wrestler Nyla Rose. After Chris Thomas tells the youngster that Nyla Rose is a transgender performer, the discussion snowballs into talk of Sonic corn dogs dipped in ranch dressing and other bizarre areas. Yet another Grade A Train-wreck ;)
A fast food worker loses his job over refusing to give an IT Chapter Two collectors cup of Pennywise to an 8 year old. Is this fair?
Chris Thomas and independent consumer advocate/critic Good Times Tom Ladoux compare the brand new Popeyes chicken sandwich with the original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. Good Times Tom Ladoux has a REALLY good time eating these sandwiches!
In this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with substitute teacher Paul Dawson about an incident involving self-love in a middle school parking lot while viewing a bare butt picture of James Charles. Goodness gracious!
In this breaking news installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Jackson Jones about various scenarios involving the death of Jeffrey Epstein. Jackson Jones claims there is more to this story than meets the eye. Listen to his thoughts on a body double being used and Epstein actually being alive enjoying a Shamu Shake at SeaWorld!
Many concerned parents are purchasing bulletproof or bullet-resistant backpacks for their children. Do these backpacks make children any safer at all? Hear the pros and cons of purchasing these items for Back to School purposes on this installment of Grade A Nation.
“Relationship expert” Michael Ficus believes that the news of Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes dating is fake and absurd. Listen to his shocking reasoning!
Robert Mueller did not have a very good showing testifying before Congress. When someone gets old and loses a step mentally, what should be done? A financial advisor gives his thoughts on how people can avoid monetary and psychological stress providing care for those that are of an age where they are no longer playing with a full deck of cards. Important listening for anyone who was horrified by the Mueller Hearing.
In this installment of Grade A Nation, we talk about how Twitter was limiting the ability of people to see tweets from the @gradeausa account. Why would they do that when the account didn’t break any rules? Also, Billy Briggs (or is it Billy Myer) leaves a threatening voice message.
Chris Thomas describes an embarrassing experience where he thought a studio audience from a television show on in the bedroom was actually laughing at his romantic performance.
It seems like every woman (and man, for that matter) is creating an Onlyfans.com page these days. Are these people exploiting the lonely people of the world? Are these people considering the potential long-term consequences of posting pics and vids of themselves in exchange for money? We discuss!
In this tribute edition of Grade A Nation, we pay respect to the memory of Desmond Amofah, also known as Etika. He was a great Internet personality with funny video game commentary, especially with Nintendo games. His passing hopefully reminds all of us that we never truly know the struggles that others happen to be facing. For those in the United States experiencing distress or if you know someone that is in psychological distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
In this installment of Grade A Nation, we cover how a Canadian store's attempt to discourage people from using plastic bags backfired. In order to get people to not use plastic bags and help the environment, "shame bags" have to be a bit meaner! An update on Tim Thomas and his current status on the show is provided as well.
The Los Angeles Lakers give up a lot of assets for Anthony Davis. Is this a wise move? Jessica Biel is accused of being an anti-vaxxer. Considering she is still fairly hot for her age, perhaps having those kind of views are okay? We discuss all of this and more on Grade A Nation!
In this installment, listen in as Chris Thomas reacts to the obnoxious and dull Kylie Jenner go about her day pretending to be a good parent and cosmetic product guru. Steven Crowder running afoul of YouTube and triggering a #VoxAdpocolypse is also discussed. Tell us what you think about the show on Twitter @gradeausa --- any feedback is appreciated!
In this jam-packed installment of Grade A Nation, "Good Ol' JR" lets his real thoughts known about the professional wrestling world, Jay Unleashed accuses Howard Stern of buying his own book to get on the New York Times bestseller list, and Adam Sysler talks about YouTube's efforts to abolish live subscriber counts. Let us know what you think about the show on Twitter @gradeausa -- all feedback is appreciated!
Substitute teacher Paul Dawson describes his English Composition lesson plans for a 6th grade class that involved Ashley Massaro. Sounds like Mr. Dawson will be out of work for a while. Afterwards, "Mayor Pete" gives his two cents about the infrastructure impasse between the White House and Congress. Let us know what you think about the show by writing to us on Twitter @gradeausa !!!
James Charles got called out by Tati Westbrook on YouTube. Watch along on YouTube (or just listen) with us as we discuss how the "Internet personality" and make-up artist James Charles crafts one of the most insincere apology videos of all time! Also, there was some innocent confusion about a pizza delivery driver. Lots of fun on this installment of Grade A Nation!
The Alabama Fatboy Conrad Thompson lost out on WWE affiliated talent like the Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and Shawn Michaels at Starrcast II, much to the delight of Grade A Nation. Also, Mother is refusing to be interviewed on the podcast. So sad! Find out why on the latest edition of Grade A Nation!
In this jam-packed episode, we confirm that Mother will be an upcoming guest on Grade A Nation. Also, Julian Assange's Woodstock-era lady bush for facial hair is discussed. A "Mayor Pete" announces that he is running for the Presidency, but perhaps not the office you were assuming. Spread the word about the podcast! Check in with us @gradeausa on Twitter!
Lots of folks are spreading an absurd conspiracy theory regarding the murder of rapper Nipsy Hussle. Chris Thomas discusses the disturbing proclivity of people to leap to farcical conclusions with no evidence. Some alternative events for the Special Olympics are proposed, and there seems to be some confusion about how Pizza Hut's version of the calzone is supposed to be pronounced. So much covered on this edition of Grade A Nation!
Trying to take Mother's mind off of the endless television coverage of the Mueller report being submitted, Chris Thomas and his brother Tim take Mother on a nice lunch and a movie trip.....or at least that was the plan. Also, is anyone else disturbed by the rates being charged by celebrities on the Cameo app? Would you pay $999 to have the fat slob from "Shark Tank" tell your niece about proper condom usage? Good grief!
In this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas discusses how his father was fired over a handicapped bathroom stall incident. There is also talk of a Catholic Gamer House being developed on Twitch, as well as a frank analysis of a group of young foul-mouthed punks in Panda Express uniforms claiming to be members of the Yang Gang advocating for Universal Basic Income. A unique series of events are described in this edition of Grade A Nation!
In this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas makes a sincere plea with authorities to not imprison beautiful women like Lori Loughlin; they might be taken advantage of by inmates and prison guards that resemble Rosie O'Donnell! Also, Chris discusses the terrible Odell Beckham Jr. trade in the NFL and a bizarre lotto scratcher incident. Lastly, Michael Ficus talks about the art of romance....and revenge! Reach out on Twitter @gradeausa to let us know your thoughts about the show. Give us a nice rating on your podcast platform of choice!
Luke Perry passes away at 52 years old. The Grade A News Team reports the latest of what they know about this tragedy. The inside scoop for Luke Perry and 90210 fans.
The #FakeLiberals are back at it again, whining about voter suppression yet not wanting to give people an alternative option in the 2020 presidential election with former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz potentially running as an Independent candidate. Such hypocrisy! Also, get introduced to Tim Thomas, the co-host of Grade A Nation!
Consumer advocate, investigative journalist, and renegade critic Good Times Tom Ladoux hurts his dentures eating leftover Chuck E. Cheese pizza that is probably from another table. Tom is embarrassed when nipple clamps fall out of his popcorn box while watching 'Fighting with My Family.' Not so good times after all!
Guest host Billy Myer (also known as Billy Boy Myer by friends and loved-ones) is upset that an innocent request to a fellow Payless ShoeSource employee about getting together to 'Netflix and Chill' in order to calm fragile nerves following news that Payless is going out of business gets totally misinterpreted. Is Billy Boy right or wrong? Tell us what you think on @gradeausa on Twitter. Leave a positive review on the show if you like what you hear!
Alleged romance expert Michael Ficus is a guest host answering listener questions on love, dating, and relationships. Don’t take Michael’s advice too seriously; he seems to be out of his freaking mind! Following his advice might ruin Valentine’s Day for the Grade A Nation. Get in touch with the show on Twitter @gradeausa
Special guest host Sam Stoops, a man who had his tongue removed after a vape pen exploded in his mouth, offers his thoughts on the Liam Neeson racism controversy. Sam is particularly upset that Michelle Rodriguez has chimed in about Liam Neeson french kissing women of color, as it triggers Sam into a shame spiral about losing his tongue. Tell us on Twitter @gradeausa if you enjoyed Sam Stoops as a fill-in host!
Some rapid thoughts on the train-wreck of a program that was the WWE Royal Rumble on the WWE Network. The WWE is a product that is merely coasting and going through the motions, and people are still insane enough to avidly watch it. If you want to hear about Nakamura wearing women's pajamas, Itami's man boobs, or the Nia Jax bulge, you have come to the right place! Tell us your thoughts on Twitter @gradeausa and leave a nice review of this show wherever you download podcasts!
A seemingly harmless trip for burgers becomes a harrowing journey that is wild with hate!
An invitation to a basketball party takes an unexpected twist that makes Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut look tame in comparison!
The shock and horror of seeing your mother engaged in a sensuous affair with Trumpy Bear is described for the enjoyment of the Grade A Nation. Here is to a happy and healthy 2019; spread the word of the podcast!
On this edition of Grade A Nation, the plans to change the WWE product are discussed. We also have a perverted pillow maker talk about his plans to help you get a better sleep. Lots of variety with this installment of Grade A Nation!
Banned from the family residence after a Stone Cold Stunner is used in a real-life battle over Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, we provide an update on the well-being of Pete Davidson. Pete seems to be taking the end of The Weekly Standard publishing new issues a little too hard!
In our second installment of podcast gold, we discuss Kevin Hart losing his Oscars hosting gig, naughty video of Fox Sports host Charissa Thompson caught online, and the relaxing powers of Wonder Bread. Enjoy!
Breaking: George H.W. Bush has left this earth. Listen in as the Grade A News Desk provides up-to-the minute information on the passing of a hero.
It means a lot that in a busy marketplace of content that you consider investing your time into the Grade A Nation podcast. Thank you so much. You won’t regret it!