My Views Are My Own

Never Rat on Your Friends and Always Keep Your Mouth Shut

In this episode, actor, director, and filmmaker Steve Young joins me to talk about why he decided to quit his lucrative job as an actuary on Wall Street to pursue his passion for making movies. We discuss how he landed several roles in feature films as well as his directorial debut "Hell's Kitchen," a short film about mobsters in New York City. Steve and I talk about our shared love for gangster films and how we surprisingly have the almost exact same top five ranking for best gangster films of all time. Obviously I had to ask Steve to join me in some improv to find out what it would be like if the Godfather Don Vito Corleone went to Jurassic Park or played Pokémon. You can find out too by listening to this podcast episode.

From the Archives: Wilderness Adventures with Frank Wolf

This episode was originally released July 10, 2021.

 

In this episode I talk with renowned explorer and gnarly wilderness dude Frank Wolf. I get inspired to go on an adventure. And I hope this conversation inspires you to go on an adventure too. 

Florida vs. New York: This Time It’s Personal

When I first discovered there was a raging debate on the internet about whether the state of Florida or the state of New York was a better place to live, I knew that I had to bring a voice of reason to this age old argument. That's why I called actor and comedian Torrey Huggins to help settle this dispute once and for all. We use the latest advancements in journalistic excellence to analyze, dissect, and scrutinize the top headlines from both states to come to a decisive conclusion about which place is worse. Which one comes out on the bottom? The only way to find out is to listen to this podcast episode. Obviously, Doug and Torrey remain extremely unbiased and professional, and this is the most objective analysis of Floridian and New York news that has ever been done. We also write an entire Law and Order episode using a Mad Lib that we will submit for Dick Wolf's consideration.

Halloween Spooktacular 4

In a terrifying turn of events, Doug and Zach were kidnapped by the clown puppet from the Saw movies and are being held hostage on a train! Clown puppet is threatening to release their nude photos to TMZ and ruin their chance of ever getting a People's Choice Award! The clown puppet's demands are clear. Doug and Zach have to produce five terrifying Zoom calls in order to unlock the train car doors and escape the train as well as keep their nudes off of TMZ forever. Will they survive this harrowing predicament? The only way to find out is to listen to this spooky episode. 

Featuring: Special co-host Zach Wilkinson, Danny Moss, Marianna Barksdale, Jasna Celovic, Liz Saydah, co-producer Bill, and co-producer Colleen.

Living to 100 Years Old and Beyond

In this episode I am joined by William J. Kole, award-winning journalist and author of "The Big 100: The New World of Super-Aging," an exploration of extreme longevity. We discuss the rapidly increasing demographic of people who are 100 years old and older and how this trend is continuing. We also talk about blue zones and how they may or may not affect people's ability to extend their lifespan due to their surroundings and lifestyles. In Bill's incredibly impressive career, he has reported on several extraordinary events including being a reporter at the Hague. I ask Bill if there's a chance we'll see a 120-year-old Nazi go on trial there, and he says it's certainly a possibility. We also discuss the increased risk of elder poverty and how we can combat that as a society, the implications of our youth-obsessed ageist culture and how this is a modern development, and all of the tricks and tips you might need if you want to live to be 100 years old yourself. 

Taking the Perfect Photo with NitaInNashville

For long-time listeners of the show, you've probably heard me talk about "Old Nashville" vs. "New Nashville." And I haven't always been objective on how the city has changed. But thankfully I met photographer Nita Ann who not only inspired me to take a new look at the city, but also inspired me to even make a new vision board for myself, no joke. Nita Ann moved to Nashville from Ohio and turned her side hustle into a full-time career, doing professional photography with her iPhone. In this episode, she shares step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect photo. We discuss the fun and not-so-fun parts of networking, the dos and don'ts of taking a great picture, and why Nashville is such a fun city to be a photographer in. 

Bonus Episode: Ask A Stupid Question Day

It's time for another holiday special. And this time we're celebrating Ask A Stupid Question Day. I'm joined by special cohost Zach Wilkinson as we learn everything there is to know about this holiday and how to celebrate it. And we celebrate it. Hard. So join us on this journey of knowledge and discovery as we grow to love and admire the stupidity in all of us.  

From the Dojo to the Director’s Chair with Choice Skinner

Award winning filmmaker Choice Skinner joins me on the podcast today to talk about deciding to go from running his own martial arts studio to working in the music industry. Then we talk about why he left the music industry to become a stuntman. After being a stuntman he moved to acting. And then he moved from actor to director. Then from director to starting his own production company Darkan Entertainment. We also discuss the making of his latest film A New Life. All that and more in this episode.  

The Talented Mr. Steiner

When I first met Andrew Steiner, he told me that he was a stand-up comedian. But I felt like there was more to the story. So I investigated. Deeply. On Google. And I was astounded to find out there was so much he wasn't telling me! The first thing I uncovered in my research is that Andrew Steiner teaches theoretical nuclear astrophysics to graduate students. My research further revealed that he holds a senior position at a leading medical research organization and has had a decades-long career in finance. He has been passionate about cheese for years, and even rose from a waiter to become a nationally renowned cheese expert. On top of all that, he died in 2009 and yet still showed up to our interview. The following podcast you are about to listen to is my interrogation of Andrew Steiner and the discrepancies in his resume.

Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game

In this episode, the amazing and talented Elizabeth Saydah joins me to share her talents as a voice actress. You may recognize her voice from some of your favorite video games! It also turns out she is a master of improv, and we are finally able to find out what it would be like if Ian McKellen acted in Red Dead Redemption, if Joe Pesci was in Halo, if John Malkovich was in Mario Kart, and if Hugh Jackman was in Grand Theft Auto. But more importantly than all that, she teaches me the difference between how to voice act in a Mercedes Benz commercial compared to a Hyundai commercial. I forgot which country Mercedes Benz and BMW fought for in WWI, but that's because I drive a Hyundai, and if they want me to care about things like that they can contact me at myviewsaremyown.podcast@gmail.com!

Alaska’s Mysterious Triangle: Portals, Strange Phenomena, and the Nature of Time

Mike Ricksecker is a best-selling author and researcher who has appeared as an expert on several investigative programs on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, and Disney+ to explain things that are difficult to explain. He joins me on the podcast to talk about the Alaska Triangle, shadow beings, time travelers, extraterrestrials, and UFOs. We also get the opportunity to talk about his latest book, "Travels Through Time" to discuss ancient alchemy and the secrets of the Ouroboros, the nature of time, and the paradoxes of time travel. I gain insight on a personal experience I had many years ago concerning lucid dreaming and how this experience relates to a phenomenon that has been documented for thousands of years.

Extry! Extry! Read All About It!

Martin Morrow is an LA-based comedian that has appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing, Netflix's I Think You Should Leave, and Comedy Central, but now most importantly he has joined me on My Views Are My Own Podcast. We make sense of some of the most sensational news stories that have gone under the radar in recent weeks. We discuss an enormous bologna sandwich in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and a missing Texas rodeo goat from a small rural county (rumor has it Jason Aldean is writing his next hate song about this goat!). And, in world news, sea otters are stealing surf boards off the coast of Santa Cruz in solidarity with orcas and we support them implicitly.

Good News! Hanging Out is Good for Your Health!

Hanging out is one of my favorite things to do already. But now, I can feel even better about it because Sheila Liming, author of "Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time" told me it would help me be happier and make the world a better place. Yay! We talk about what makes hanging out a radical act, why we both love and hate parties, how to find friends as you get older, and how hanging out on a reality TV show inspired her to write her book. Should you seek out strangers and start hanging out with them? Can dinner parties be both fun and stressful?  Does hanging out on the internet count? All this and more on this week's episode.

Bad Boys 4: Welcome to Flavortown

Welcome to Miami! In this episode, I am joined by comedian Tarek Turjman to make sense of some of the biggest news stories in his city, such as Ginger Gaetz's obsession with Ryan Gosling's testosterone level, Guy Fieri opening the 76th best restaurant in the Dadeland Mall, and whether or not Miami street racers should just do graffiti instead because it's less dangerous, annoying, and loud. We talk about how to get some really great deals on beachfront property, hosting comedy events at the legendary Villain Theater, and whether being Guatemalan and Palestinian makes Tarek the Shakira of comedy. We also write a script for Bad Boys 4 that we're sure will bring a tear of joy to your eyes.

Bonus Episode: Barbie

In this episode, Doug and special co-host Zach put everything on the line as they risk losing all their testosterone and questioning their sexual and gender identities. If the Barbie movie is anything like the extremist Right Wing media has said, all could be lost forever!! The insightful and hilarious script gives them an irreversible hormonal imbalance! The very accurate social commentary turns them into Satanic worshipers! And the extraordinary acting performances rob them of the ability to make any gains in the gym ever again. Will they make it out alive?? Or will the Barbie movie be so good that they will be permanently infected by the woke mind virus??! The only way to find out and save yourself is to listen to this podcast episode. *NOTE: Doug and Zach are recovering from this traumatic experience by eating raw livers and shooting steroids. Please respect their privacy during this difficult time.*

Not Another Nashville Episode

Comedian, writer, and aspiring cat lady Marianna Barksdale joins me on the podcast today to settle all of the biggest beefs in Nashville. If you've been wondering if the dispute about whether or not people should eat the turtles out of the Centennial Park pond would ever be addressed, don't worry we settled it. We take a look into Kid Rock's Bud Light enigma and all that it implies. And we simplify how to structure and run a profitable cult. Also if you've been looking for a helpful and informative tourist brochure to Music City USA, look no further, we wrote one of those too. 

Bonus Episode: Happy Pandemonium Day

In this episode, Doug and special co-host Zach celebrate Pandemonium Day on July 14th. This special holiday urges us all to live in chaos and joy in order to experience life to the fullest. Doug and Zach discuss how to best celebrate this holiday, the difference between good and bad pandemonium, and whether or not starting a barber shop quartet with their dogs is the right thing to do. Doug debates challenging Kid Rock to a special arm wrestling bet, and Zach argues why Bonnaroo is pandemonium at its finest. They also write the new theme song for Pandemonium Day and sing it many, many, many times. 

Digital Feudalism with David Arditi

David Arditi joins me on the podcast today to discuss digital feudalism. We talk about the gig economy and it's implications for the workforce, the various ways in which the labor market allows and encourages labor conditions that share many of the core qualities of Squid Game, and the modern emergence of debt peonage. We also investigate the era of subscriptions and the cycle of endless consumption. And we discover the political leanings of some the most iconic fast food mascots.

Clever Carbon with Michelle Li

Michelle Li is the founder of clever carbon. She launched her career in Silicon Valley where she worked for some of the biggest names in tech including Salesforce and DocuSign. A proponent for making sustainability the new norm, Michelle founded clever carbon to help teach people about their carbon footprint in a hip, fun, and relatable way. She is a TEDx and SXSW 2022 speaker on the topic of carbon literacy and believes that a carbon literate society is one where transparency and accountability will flourish and one worth striving for.

Michelle joins me on the podcast today to talk about making carbon literacy more accessible and easier to understand. We discuss her experiences at COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, and her expectations for COP28 which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates this year.

We also talk about her transition from Silicon Valley to building a nonprofit. And we delve into the controversial topic of personal responsibility vs corporate and governmental responsibility relating to carbon footprints.

Bonus episode: Doug and Colleen Review Speed

In this episode, Doug and Co-Producer Colleen review the classic 1994 film Speed starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and Dennis Hopper. Rising LAPD star Jack meets his match in retired disgruntled bomb-squad officer Howard Payne, who decides the only way to get his pension is to plant a bomb on a bus and set it off if the bus goes under 50 miles per hour. Jack uses his tact and de-escalation skills to tell the bus full of helpless victims they're all going to die, all while helping Sandra Bullock learn how to drive a bus without blowing it up. Will Doug and Colleen give this film a higher rating than the Kids' Choice Awards? Is narrowly avoiding getting exploded by jumping out of a moving vehicle onto an airport tarmac the ultimate meet-cute? Most importantly, will there be justice for Tuneman? The only way to find out is to listen to this podcast episode.