Lori Culwell is making observations.

Back from the Dead, With An All New Podcast!

Did you also get a nasty cold/ fever thing the day after Christmas that you still sort of have?  I've heard that everyone got it, but frankly I was so out of it I couldn't even post up on social media about it.   

Fortunately I was better enough yesterday to get back into the studio for a new episode of the "Get Inside" podcast!   In case you're wondering, yes, the name was changed, and the whole project now lives over at www.getinsidepodcast.com.   If you want to subscribe to it on iTunes, you can do that at:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/get-inside/id1073200197.   Stephan is now doing a daily, super-awesome, shorter version of the show, then we do the full "week in review" on Fridays.   That means that you actually have FIVE new shows to catch up on!   Whoo hoo!

Here are all the references and links!

The show itself


Stephan's Top Ten TV shows of 2015:

10. Catastrophe 9. American Crime 8. Jessica Jones 7. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 6. Louie 5. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 4. Mr. Robot 3. Transparent 2. Mad Men 1. Fargo  

Lori's Top Ten TV Shows of 2015:

Mr. Robot
Transparent
Mad Men
American Crime
The Knick
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Going Clear
Game of Thrones   American Crime: The Get Down: The Crown: Netflix's 46 Original Programs David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie - Cactus (Pixies Cover):

Still funny.

Get Inside, Episode 1

Hey there hi there! We skipped last week’s show because of a business trip and also…the holidays. Are you feeling overwhelmed yet? I know I am. Here is the show as a YouTube video. 



I might stop doing these, but I thought I would just keep providing them for now, just for people who don’t want to download an mp3 or subscribe to the show on iTunes.  You know, for variety.

We would love your feedback on the show! Contact me here if you want to do that. http://twitter.com/loriculwell

Anyhow, here are some interesting things you might hear about during the show! --We changed the name to “Get Inside.” We haven’t “officially” officially launched yet, so we knew we were going to change the name at some point, and here it is! Still trying to figure out how to change the actual name of the feed in iTunes/ whether that can even be done/ if I need to start a whole new website. If anyone knows anything about podcast programming, do let me know, won’t you?

Here is some stuff we mentioned in the show:

Transparent season 2:

Vinyl, the show, the trailer:

Marco Sanchez is providing film commentary for us once again, and he is super amazing, and you should check out his IMDB listing.

Another Starbucks controversy:

http://www.today.com/news/starbucks-polar-bear-cookies-stir-controversy-theyre-actually-old-news-t61391

Reese's tree shaming:

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/reeses-turned-gripes-about-its-ugly-christmas-candy-funny-ads-about-tree-shaming-168615

Here is that guy who acts as companies and trolls people who complain:

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/man-poses-target-facebook-trolls-haters-its-gender-neutral-move-epic-replies-166364

Donald Trump being attacked by a bald eagle named Uncle Sam:

 

Prince's super amazing cover of the Radiohead song "Creep':



Steph's song pick of the week:  Jason Isbell's "Flagship":  

 My pick:  Alabama Shakes' "Sound and Color":

That great song from the Fargo Soundtrack:

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 11 (The Thanksgiving Edition)

We’re putting out the Funny Strange Week in Review early this week to hopefully help you with your Thanksgiving celebration by providing you with a mellow playlist and some helpful conversation starters that will hopefully keep you from getting into it with relatives with (ahem) differing opinions. After all, we all just want to get along, right? RIGHT?!

Here is the show in YouTube video form: 

And here it is as an mp3, of course.

Trailer for our TV pick of the week, "Jessica Jones":


Stephan's review of Jessica Jones on his blog, "Pop Culture Snob": http://www.popculturesnob.com/2015/11/24/jessica-jones-reviewed/ 

Now, here is that Adele video I am talking about:

And the “Adele is a Thanksgiving miracle” SNL sketch:

Here is our list of super-neutral Thanksgiving conversation starters:

1 What was the first piece of music you ever bought?
2 If you could have one (and only one) super power, which would you choose, and why? (Stole this one from John Hodgman, kinda)
3 Who’s your best impersonation? (With demonstrations, naturally)
4 If you could only eat one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
5 What is your favorite movie of all time?
6 Can you hand jive? Prove it.
7 Are you superstitious? What’s your biggest superstition?
8 What’s your earliest memory?
9 What’s your favorite Halloween candy?
10. What was your first job?

Here is KEXP, our hometown radio station-- listen to it online! http://kexp.org

Grizzly Bear’s version of “While You Wait for the Others” with Michael McDonald on lead vocals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPI7oU-fuGw

Drive-By Truckers – Danko Manuel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KSaXdG0ML4

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 10

Well hello again!

This week we are ranting about storms, weird people in the grocery store, and so much more.   As always, here is the show in YouTube form:

Here is the show as an mp3.

Here is that "Cats and Cucumbers" thing.   WE THINK IT IS FUNNY, ok?

 

Here is a kicky W/ Bob and David clip:

Here is the website for Gibson Frazier, who we interviewed about his appearance on Cinemax show "The Knick." 

Here is the blog post where I cover what I think you should NOT do if you want to get on "Shark Tank."

Here is the IMDB listing for our super amazing film correspondent and great actor Marco Sanchez (yes, you have definitely seen him somewhere before)

Here is the trailer for the upcoming Charlie Kaufman stop-motion film "Anomalisa"

 

 

This week's Spotify playlist:

 

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 9

First of all, I of course want to address the horrific situation in Paris.   I don't really know what to say, other than that I am shocked and saddened and I don't think there are words to exactly say to encapsulate my feelings and how much I emphasize with the people there, who I know are so scared and shocked and have lost their sense of safety.  

Having been in that situation for 9/11, I am now heartbroken for them.  Also, I went to high school with the guys from Eagles of Death Metal, so there is an added level of familiarity to this latest terrorist attack.   I'm just so sad that this is happening and that people I know have to feel this way.  

So, ok-- I didn't want you to think we were making jokes and reviewing tv shows and ignoring the fact that this was going on.  We do the show on Fridays, and it was already done by the time we heard about Paris, so we decided to put it out a little late.  

With all of that said, if you feel like you could use a laugh right now, here is the show.  Totally understand if you want to listen to it later.

Here it is in YouTube form:   

 

And its mp3 form

Phil Collins/Starlee Kine interview:

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/339/break-up

 

Japanese Star Wars trailer:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XNit858b6I

 

Comedian Matt Smith:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQF2uJS6To6eBk9PWuYMlQ

 

http://qedastoria.com/products/a-friend-of-dorothy-zbornak-1

 

https://www.purplepass.com/#72273/The_Duplex-Matt_Smith:_Broad_Shoulders-The_Duplex_Cabaret_Theatre-January-30-2016.html

Jenica Bergere's amazing film "Come Simi" on iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/come-simi/id1048324735

And on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Come-Simi-Jenica-Bergere/dp/B017O65ZQQ/

 

Our picks for "best cover song"

 

Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCYWymG9fSs

 

Devo - I Can't Get No Satisfaction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxa3bIpmRFU

 

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

 

 

Chris Cornell - Nothing Compares 2 U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuUDRU9-HRk

 

Amy Winehouse - Valerie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqSKVv6YO8g

 

Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdcsR0YaOE8

 

Spotify playlist:  

 

  

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 8

Hello again!    This week's show features more new bumpers, a discussion of "deal breakers" in dating/ relationship scenarios, tv + music talk, a new theater correspondent, and much much more!

Here is the show in YouTube form:

 

Here it is in its mp3 incarnation..

Here is where you subscribe to the podcast itself (on iTunes):  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/funny-strange-by-lori-culwell/id276922972?mt=2

Article about Adnan Syad: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/11/06/judge-reopens-serial-case-allowing-adnan-syed-to-introduce-new-evidence/ 

Serial Podcast:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/serial/id917918570?mt=2 

Deal Breakers article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-better-relationships-know-your-deal-breakers-1446489865

Freaky photo on our new air mattress:

Lunch meat is not as bad for you as they originally said:  http://www.wired.com/2015/10/who-does-bacon-cause-cancer-sort-of-but-not-really/

Natural antibiotic recipe: http://www.dailynutritionnews.com/the-greatest-natural-antibiotic-look-no-further/

Taio Cruz – Dynamite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vysgv7qVYTo

Grimes: Flesh without Blood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE

Luna - Malibu Love Nest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSaDCVUWxbU

 





Our new correspondent, Thia Stephan, who you can also find on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Spotify playlist:

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 7

Remember when I said that thing last week about things just being in a constant state of “this is nuts” and how I was putting out tech-related fires and I did not expect this week to be like that?

WRONG.   This week was more nuts. The dog got super sick (she is now better), everyone’s website exploded, etc. etc. And yet, we did the show anyway!

Here it is in YouTube form:

Here it is in an mp3.

Here are the links/ references: Holograms of comedians going on tour—that’s not morbid, right?

http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/andy-kaufman-and-redd-foxx-holograms-to-tour.html

Carry-overs from iterations of Fargo past: http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/fargo-season-two-fargo-movie.html?om_rid=AABdPc&om_mid=_BWHWLLB9GPXgU5

The website mentioned in the brand new commercial! http://www.thebestexamplesite.com

Here is Jordan Smith’s super amazing audition for The Voice.

Here is an embarrassing photo of myself and my friend Lisa with gigantic 80s hair:



This week’s Spotify playlist:

Where I Teach You to Make Your Website

I am going to take a break from the snarkiness and strangely-named food, today only, so I can tell you about this project I just finished that I am actually proud of because I think it’s going to actually help people.   I would love it if you would tell ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE about this, only because I think it is so super important to have your own website in this day and age, especially if you have something you’re trying to do, like sell books or market music or have a small business or (and this one is huge) take control of your reputation management, which is “what you see when you Google yourself.”

I will not describe the embarrassingly long process of making this video, but I will say that I now have a whole new respect for Stephan Cox, the actual Voice of God, because OMG DID YOU KNOW THAT VOICEOVER IS REALLY HARD?

So, even though this video is on the short side and I tried to be really to the point and boil everything down so that it would be so simple and inexpensive to get started with your own website. I think this is really important, especially if you’re feeling like you want to get started with something but you’re intimidated. I want you to take the first step!   Here is a whole video to help you get started!

See, you can tell I am excited to be getting this video out there because I am using A LOT OF EXCLAMATION POINTS AND ALL-CAPS SENTENCES.

I will settle down now. Watch the video, make a website, and please do not let anyone tell you that you have to know how to code or have a lot of money to start a website.   Not true!   You can do it!

Whoops.   More exclamation points.  Here's the video.   Please watch it and make a website while I try to calm down.

 

Funny Strange Week in Review, Episode 5

Hey there hi there!

Does it ever seem like you spend the whole week putting out fires?   That is this week for me, but I am attempting to make progress on some projects that have been plaguing me (articles! videos! deadlines!), even though I now have a mysterious and delightful headache/ fever combo.   Hopefully I will have something to announce early next week.   We did manage to get the podcast out this, though!

 

Here is the mp3 of the show

Christmas decoration roadkill:

That Halloween candy post: http://www.funnystrange.net/2006/10/a_halloween_can.html

Halloween Candy Stock Trading: Pizza rat:

Mr Show with Bob & David clips: 

Spotify playlist: