The Domestic Role Model

If only Gina had been a TV junkie...

Episode 21: We Twenty-Won

Distracting.

Expensive trash art.

Even late at night Gina and Sam are committed to recording their 21st episode by answering more questions from Yahoo Answers.  Too bad a furry little jerk kept interrupting.

Direct download: Episode_21_20130610.mp3

We're a Success!

So we're moving into a new podcast studio!

Outta this world!

Exclamation point!

Episode 20: Vegan Bodybuilding!

Help send Sara to Austin!

Sam's nutritional stupidity turns into nutritional curiosity. So who can help? The most motivated person on the planet: a vegan body builder!

The ladies are pumped to give Sara Beth Russert a late night call to hear all about what it takes to prepare for an all natural body building competition, and what kind of delicious vegan options are available for lazy people.

Direct download: Episode_20_20130603.mp3

Episode 19: Read a Book

Move over Dr. Ruth!

One has an Oscar, the other has a podcast.

After talking about the new purse pup, Sam talks about joining the Twitter and how she has more confusion about it than a 20-something should.

Gina promotes the heck outta a Kickstarter for a family friendly video game, but then things take a weird turn when they both decide to answer people's questions from Yahoo Answers (as well as one someone asked Dr Ruth).

Direct download: Episode_19_20130526.mp3

Soooo... We Got a Purse Pup

And her name is Moonshine.  Don't judge.

Episode 18: Birthdays and Other Horrific Stories

Cake is a coping skill.

Done by this guy about this thing.

Sam shares of her recent birthday depression/anxiety, and talks about a new tattoo dedicated to mental health (sorry, Scientology).

Later the ladies discuss their complicated feelings about sensationalized stories by shaming the very news outlets they still consume.

All this, and find out why free-range chickens are a sadistic choice!

Direct download: Episode_18_20130512.mp3

Episode 17: Hearts and Minds: How a Vietnam Medic Finally Heals Himself

Greg with Gina's sister Ann, shortly after returning home.

Heart surgery propels Greg Holbrook to face down the war that did more than shatter his jaw.  He also describes a deadly fight some black soldiers faced before they could even leave the US; then talks about the newest veterans he's met.

Direct download: Episode_17_20130414.mp3

Episode 16: Everyone and Their Sister/Aunt Mikki!

Christmas with Aunt Mikki was awesome!
Except she forgot to bring a couple front teeth...and a hairbrush...

Custom Barbie dress.

After a hiatus the show makes a triumphant return with its only listener: Gina's ("much, much, much, much older") sister and Sam's aunt, the wonderful Mikki Tague!

Gina is envious of Mikki's ability to do things.  Learn how to carry chickens, how to dress in the 1960's, and how being blind makes reading awesome.  If only that were something Levar Burton had suggested...

Direct download: Episode_16_20130407.mp3

Boring Amateur Podcast Tech Talk!

Sam in action.

For those who haven't listened to hear how unprofessional we are, but for some reason are already curious about how we do the show, here is a cluttered write up...

 I survive my mundane office job thanks to podcasts.  Maybe I love talk shows because my mom has been in radio for 35+ years. (Amazing, she's 29!  Gave birth at 3 years old, too).  She's not on the air as much as she used to be, so we threw around the idea of doing our own podcast for kicks.  Just like everyone...and their mom.  But it took so much time and energy on my end to figure out how to make it happen from home.  After a lot of experimenting - and saving - here's a list of the equipment we use.  Check out my Flickr to see how it's all hooked up.

Zoom R16 - This thing has been the answer to our prayers.  Records 8 tracks at once, whereas most external recorders will only do 2.  You can use it as an audio interface to record into your computer, but we record directly to its SD card, and then mix it down.

HP Elitebook 8540p - We play drops, music, Skype and various other audio bits through this laptop.

Microphones - Samson Q6 and something left over from a radio station, we have no clue what it is exactly.  For guests we have Audio-Technica M8000 mics.  We use XLR cables into the Zoom R16.

Behringer MicroAmp HA400 - A cheap and reliable headphone amp, it has 4 outputs for every participant's listening pleasure.

IK Multimedia iRig - Intended for musicians to plug in their instruments and use with an app on their iPhone or iPad, it can also be used for podcasters to take phone calls with any phone that has a headphone jack.

Audacity - A free program I use to import the show's WAV file from the Zoom R16's memory card.  Here I can tweak the audio, or (rarely) edit out offensive things that slipped out of my mouth, and then export it as an MP3 file.

Libsyn - Here is where we (and nearly every other podcast on the internet) upload the show's MP3 file.  For a small monthly fee, they will host the show, help you get it into iTunes, or people can directly download the show's MP3 file from them.  Their player is what is on our website so you can easily stream the show.  But we would prefer it if you would kindly download it, so it shows up in our statistics.  We like to know how many people are listening.  Y'know.  To boost our self esteem.

Again, if you want to see how that mess of cables in the above photo are hooked up, check out my Flicker for confusing notes.

Episode 15: Days of Oscar

Mix talk about Hollywood glamour with NASCAR?
Mission: Unimpossible.

Helen Hunt wears an H&M dress with $700,000 worth of jewelry.
It's all about balance.

Oscar predictions are made before the ceremony, and then reviewed after.  Listen to find out if Sam loses a huge bet to Gina.  (Hint: she does.  And Leah Lee Riley will debut as the third host in 9 months).

How the hell does Sam manage to weave this into revisiting her conflicted feelings towards Danica Patrick (summed up here and here), and then a discussion of a huge NASCAR accident?  She's a pro at amateur podcasting, that's how!

All this, plus: "...body like Arnold with a Denzel Face."

Direct download: Episode_15_20130224.mp3

Episode 14: Sailor's Delight

John Lyons. Or...

...Ricky Nelson?

How many languages can you sing Happy Birthday in?

Resident husband/father/coffee maker John Lyons spends his birthday in front of a microphone for the first time ever to discuss various aspects of his life.  Topics include losing his mother at the age of 8 to a drunk driver, time spent in the Navy traveling the world, moving to San Francisco in the 1960's despite not being a hippie, and missing out on the moon landing because the Matterhorn was more interesting.  A lot of memories for a man with Alzheimer's!

(PS Thanks for waiting 24 hours.  Better than 3 weeks, right!?  Also, thanks for sitting through us looking up YouTube videos.)

Direct download: Episode_14_20130211.mp3

Hey Baby, Wanna Skype?

Have anything interesting to say?  Or at least something more interesting than us?  (Not likely!)  We're set up with Skype now, so if you are too shoot us an email, Facebook message, or carrier pigeon and let's do this!

...but don't actually shoot the carrier pigeon.

We're Big in Japan

But not quite as big as we are in Uganda.

Looking at the statistics of our downloads we were surprised to find how diverse our audience is.  If these are accurate, sorry world. Please note that the opinions expressed on our podcast do not necessarily reflect those of...well...basically anyone else.

Hit us up, we want to hear from you!

Episode 13: Super Lucky 13!

By far Sam's favorite moment of the Super Bowl.

Touchdown San Fran Descher!

Gina does what she does every year and watches the Super Bowl so she can talk into a microphone about the ads, and plays favorites.

Alicia Keyes and Beyonce weren't exactly her favorites, but Destiny's Child was Sam's.  Along with a little girl doing her best Carol Burnett impersonation.  And yet again Susan Sarandon (unrelated to the Super Bowl).

Later, Sam feels like she got screwed over by a pharmacy, but tries to defend drug companies. Gina helps her see the light and now she's bitter.  Stay tuned for upcoming shows to see just how bitter she may become if she is forced to go without mood stabilizers!

Direct download: Episode_13_20130203.mp3

Episode 12: How to Morally Hate

Dan Conner is the blueprint for the perfect man.

Susan Sarandon: pregnant and pro-choice.

Been sitting on this show for a week because a whole lotta Facebook activity caused Sam to ramble about serious stuff, which for some reason made her worried it would be a tad offensive to some!

A friend request has Sam wondering if she can morally hate someone (and in the process causes her to educate Gina on the importance of Roseanne).

Then an anti-Roe v. Wade post leads to yet another pro-choice rant.

Kudos to those who make it through the entire show!

Direct download: Episode_12_20130131.mp3

Studio Upgrade

Thanks to Christina (Sam's new favorite person ever) we have something for our walls until the awards come flooding in!

Episode 11: We Should Win Awards For Our Award Show Coverage

Jodie Foster is silent no more.

Matt Riedy: Need a moment?

Gina and Sam feel very proud of their witty notes on the Golden Globes, and reenact things actual witty people said!

Direct download: Episode_11_20130113.mp3

Episode 10: The Greatest Tenth Episode We've Ever Had!

It took three amazing ladies to replace Sam.

After a three week hiatus Gina and Sam return with the greatest 10th episode ever!  (Hence the name).  Gina's janky New Year's Eve production in a professional radio studio is quickly overshadowed by a chat with her three friends; all of whom tell fascinating stories surrounding relationships they had with their mothers, aspirations for parenting, jobs as NICU nurses, surviving Polio, and opinions on immunizations.  Plus: parents who spent WWII in Holland and then raised their children in Indonesia?  Sure, why not!?

Direct download: Episode_20130106.mp3