Key Takeaways

The New Year’s Illusion: How parents use early countdowns to trick their kids into going to bed early.
90s TV Deep Dive: A hilarious look back at shows like Elimidate, Singled Out, and In Living Color.
The "Teatro ZinZanni" Saga: Mike shares his experiences with dinner theater and the mysterious "Mr. PP’s Clubhouse."
The Future of AI: A serious (and slightly terrifying) discussion on AI’s power consumption and whether the universe itself is just a "natural version" of AI.

Timestamped Chapters

[01:40] Introduction and the search for a live ball drop.
[03:50] Time zone confusion: Why does Canada get New Year’s before the US?
[07:05] Discussion on "Grinds" coffee pouches and nicotine alternatives.
[11:35] 2026 Resolutions: From having more fun to avoiding felonies.
[19:15] Watching the Arc de Triomphe light show in Paris.
[21:10] The redacted Epstein files discussion.
[26:50] Nostalgia Trip: Carson Daly, Dick Clark, and 90s dating shows.
[38:15] Rick Moranis and the potential for a Goonies 2.
[43:50] The dinner theater experience: Teatro ZinZanni.
[62:30] AI Deep Dive: Google Gemini, power bottlenecks, and simulation theory.
[69:40] Lucid dreaming and state checks.
[77:00] Final New Year’s toast and sign-off.

Sponsored By:

• Die Cut Stickers: Use the code GRITCITY15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order! · Insanely custom stickers crafted to survive the PNW and beyond! Promo Code: GRITCITY15
• RCF Exteriors: Cut Wood. Not Corners. RCF Exteriors specializes in Window and Door installation across the South Puget Sound region. RCF Exteriors is a customer service orientated company with 20+ years experience in window and door installation. Our efficient and knowledgeable team is dedication to making sure you are satisfied with not only the final product but throughout the entire installation process. Email: rcfexteriors@gmail.com Phone: 253-446-8854
• The Union Club: The Union Club is a coworking space contributing to Tacoma's growing artistic and entrepreneurial communities. It combines a maker studio, event hall, and office coworking space, in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma, Washington.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• MR. P.P.'S CLUBHOUSE - Teatro ZinZanni Seattle — You’re invited to play with your food at Mr. P.P.’s Clubhouse
• New Year's Eve - Wikipedia — New Year's Eve in the Gregorian calendar refers to the evening—or commonly the entire day—of the last day of the year: 31 December.
• Lucid dream - Wikipedia — In the psychology subfield of oneirology, a lucid dream is a type of dream wherein the dreamer realizes that they are dreaming during their dream.
• ElimiDate - Wikipedia — ElimiDate is an American reality television dating show in which one contestant chooses between four contestants of the opposite sex by eliminating them one by one in three rounds. On August 11, 2006, it was announced that the show would not be renewed for the 2006–07 season due to low ratings,[1] and it went out of syndication after September 5, 2006.
• Blind Date (American TV series) - Wikipedia — Blind Date is an American dating game show. The show was originally hosted by Roger Lodge from 1999 until 2006, and was later hosted in narration by Nikki Glaser from 2019 until 2020.
• Singled Out - Wikipedia
• InsideAI - YouTube — AI news, features, safety, jailbreaking and social experiments
• AI Might Let You Die to Save Itself | Lawfare — In recent simulations, leading AI systems blackmailed their human users—or even let them die—to avoid being shut down or replaced.
• AI system resorts to blackmail if told it will be removed — Artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic says testing of its new system revealed it is sometimes willing to pursue "extremely harmful actions" such as attempting to blackmail engineers who say they will remove it.

02:30 - The gang enthusiastically welcomes back Rusty and Ken to catch up on the latest happenings in their lives. Justin can’t help but gush over the incredible renovation work RCF Exteriors has done on his home and the Brass Kraken Studios. The conversation then shifts to the joys and challenges of handyman work, highlighting Justin's playful aversion to DIY projects.

22:00 - Ken reveals that he recently watched Thelma & Louise for the first time. The gang dives into a lively discussion about the movie before branching out to chat about various other films and TV shows, including the live airings of the FOX sitcom ROC.

33:00 - The conversation shifts to video games, debating whether looking up tips online counts as 'cheating.' They then take a nostalgic dive into retro games and the experience of playing them with emulators.

53:00 - The gang explores the concept of 'smash rooms' and the cathartic process of getting rid of trash, leading Justin to share his unique 'Donate-Trash-Smash' method. They circle back to more gaming discussions before wrapping up with a talk about upcoming projects and where listeners can find them!

Thanks again to Ken and Rusty for the lively chat and a fantastic time at the Union Club!

FOR MORE GCP

Website: https://www.gritcitypodcast.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gritcitypodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritcitypodcast/

Special Guests: Ken Carlson and Rusty.

Sponsored By:

• RCF Exteriors: Cut Wood. Not Corners. RCF Exteriors specializes in Window and Door installation across the South Puget Sound region. RCF Exteriors is a customer service orientated company with 20+ years experience in window and door installation. Our efficient and knowledgeable team is dedication to making sure you are satisfied with not only the final product but throughout the entire installation process. Email: rcfexteriors@gmail.com Phone: 253-446-8854
• The Union Club: The Union Club is a coworking space contributing to Tacoma's growing artistic and entrepreneurial communities. It combines a maker studio, event hall, and office coworking space, in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma, Washington.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• RCF Exteriors — RCF Exteriors specializes in Window and Door installation across the South Puget Sound region.
• Ken Carlson — I’m Ken. I make movies, write novels, draw comic books, play guitar, build things with my hands, play D&D, drink booze and contemplate the futility of existence. From the ether of my imagination to the digital or physical world, come take a peek inside my head!
• The Union Club Coworking & Events Space — The Union Club is a mixed-use project contributing to Tacoma’s growing artistic and entrepreneurial community. It combines studio space, coworking space, office space, beautiful common areas, galleries and an event hall in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma.

00:00 – GCP welcomes this episode by discussing gaming, recent bear sightings in the area, and other wild animals the crew has seen. Derek talks about running into wild bison, Justin reflects on getting into a drunken argument with raccoons, and Scott talks about having a pet scorpion. He talks about watching free-range bulls fight, and they ponder when Tacoma’s cocaine bear will appear.

17:33 – Erik shares an exciting encounter, running into a black bear cub in his neighborhood. Jeff adds to the thrill with a story of a deer recently visiting his neighborhood, and Justin's exclamation of his love for sausage adds a humorous touch. Derek takes a moment to appreciate the live listeners, and they all eagerly discuss the upcoming screening of 'Say Anything' with John Cusack, diving into the details of where the movie was filmed.

34:21 – Justin shares other movies that were filled in Tacoma, how people can get more information about the event, and Justin talks about screenings he’s sat in on with directors. Justin talks about their upcoming recordings at the Union Club, who they’re going to be hanging with, and his recent deck renovation.

52:24 – The crew wraps up the episode with a sense of anticipation, discussing strategies for claiming yard dominance, Erik's potential strength to carry each of them, and his enlightening explanation of Bike Polo. They share their excitement for 2nd Cycle's plans to make it a monthly event, and Justin's discovery of Sig Brewing's collaboration with Bob’s Java Jive adds to the buzz. The crew eagerly makes plans to visit Java Jive, discussing their mode of transportation with enthusiasm.

Sponsored By:

• Grim Workshop: Grim Workshop specializes in the making and using of ultralight, reusable, and wearable everyday carry tools. Perfect for a standalone ultralight survival kit that you can keep on hand at all times or as an addition to an existing survival kit to remove unwanted weight. A Family Owned and Operated Company Grim Workshop is proudly family owned and operated deep in the heart of Texas
• Die Cut Stickers: Use the code GRITCITY15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order! · Insanely custom stickers crafted to survive the PNW and beyond! Promo Code: GRITCITY15

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• An Evening with John Cusack & Screening of "Say Anything" | Tacoma City Theaters
• Say Anything - The Ultimate Filming Locations - YouTube
• 8 Iconic Movies Filmed in Tacoma - Tacoma Clever Neighbor
• Clever Neighbor
• The Witch (2015) - IMDb — A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.
• Pedal into Spring: Exciting Bike Month Events at 2nd Cycle! — Curious about bike polo? Here's your chance to give it a spin!

00:29 – Justin kicks off the podcast expressing his love of sausage, they talk about their studio video options, and how they prepped for the show. Justin thanks Derek for providing Absinthe for his bar, they talk about the Tacoma fireworks, and Justin talks about the gaming channels on Discord. Justin and Derek talk about enjoying playing Diablo IV, if they play in hardcore mode, and Scott talks about the stories of people getting disconnected after reaching a certain level in the game.

22:10 – The group reflects on the Boot 2 Boot four years ago, dive into Jeff's Capades, and Jeff talks about the nice lady from New Jersey he met on his cruise. Justin talks about shopping adventures with his wife, shares the alcohol party pack he bought at Walmart, and the flavors that came in the package. He reflects on a not-so-fun run with 99 Bananas, the drinks it’s best in, and the people it’s best suited for.

43:15 – Justin reveals the horrible news of Pat Sajak retiring from Wheel of Fortune, they talk about his replacement, and Justin talks about how he feels about it. They discuss who else they think would make a great host, Scott jumps into Scott Topics, and talks about the Italy volcano eruption that moved to the yellow warning.

61:45 – The guys talk about the earliest movies they remember watching in the theaters, Jeff reflects on seeing movies in the drive-in, and Justin talks about where he watched drive-in movies at back in the day. He jumps into Is It Tacoma, introduces the contestants, and reads off the three articles. Each of the guys guesses what article they think is from Tacoma, Justin reveals the winner, and shares where each of the other articles were from.

Sponsored By:

• Cosmic Bottles: Tap into the universe of craft beer! CRAFT BEER FOR YOU! Tired of the same old grocery store beer selection? Looking for a beer selection that caters to your taste? At Cosmic Bottles the choice is always yours. Every day: 11am - 10pm 27116 167th Place SE Suite 108 Covington, WA 98042
• Manscaped: MANSCAPED™​ is the best in men’s below-the-waist grooming. ​Their products are precision-engineered tools for your family jewels. MANSCAPED’s™ Performance Package is the ultimate men's hygiene bundle! Inside this package, you’ll find their Lawn Mower® 4.0. trimmer, Weed Whacker ear and nose hair trimmer, Crop Preserver ball deodorant, Crop Reviver Toner, Performance Boxer Briefs, and a travel bag to hold your goodies! Join over 8 million men worldwide who trust MANSCAPED with this exclusive offer for you... Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code GRITCITY at MANSCAPED.com! ... #ad #manscapedpod #gritcity ... Promo Code: gritcity

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Parkland Putters — Welcome to Parkland Putters Miniature Golf. We have 4 different mini golf courses to choose from, ranging from easy to hard... Pick one or play them all!
• Boot To Boot - The Ride!
• Pat Sajak, Longtime ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host, Says He Will Retire
• Ryan Seacrest to replace Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune
• A "supervolcano" in Italy last erupted in 1538. Experts warn it's "nearly to the breaking point" again.
• Imploded Titanic submarine seen for first time as pieces recovered from sea floor
• Car crash into Tacoma daycare center Wednesday evening reveals gunshot victim, police say
• Man stabbed with samurai sword after attacking Seattle homeowner with a pitchfork
• Man uses Apple AirTag to track down truck thief and shoots him dead, police say
• Foss Kayaking Tour — Come out and explore with us! This tour is your chance to get out and explore the Foss Waterway by kayak. We will have a brief safety discussion, get life jackets, go over basic kayaking skills, and then you and an expert guide will go out on the water with the group to see and hear about this iconic part of Tacoma's history.
• Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles
• Side Piece Kitchen

00:00 – The show starts talking about weird shows before metal concerts, the amount of cash Jeff would take to have it stapled on him, and Justin talks about the pizza they enjoyed at Puget Sound Pizza. He shares how listeners can tune in live while recording, Jeff talks about why he carries a pocket of animal crackers, and Justin explains how listeners can support the podcast. He talks about past guests they’ve had on, the crazy weather that’s been going on in the PNW, and invites listeners to join them on March 10th for Mario Day.

13:47 -Derek talks about going on the Dudes with Brews on a Porch podcast to talk with a close friend about the GCP, Scott expresses how Grit City is a state of mind, and Justin talks about finding the east coast version of the Grit City. Derek talks about doing indoor golf with his wife at Tower Lanes, he talks about it being open 24 hours in the past, and the other put-put golf places in the area he’s visited. They make plans for a Tacoma Olympics, the new Discord channel Derek made, and gives his review of the new horror sci-fi movie M3gan.

27:12 – The guys discuss their reviews of the movie The Goonies, movies in the 80’s that were products of their time, and Scott recommends the rewatch of Popeye with Robin Williams. Justin runs a test of their newest game 3 questions, each of the guys share their dream vacation, and Justin explains why he would love to go to New Zealand and what he would do there if there was no limit on money.

39:52 – Derek expresses the most important thing for a workplace to have, Scott and Justin share what’s essential for them, and Jeff reflects on getting spoiled at a place he recently worked out. Scott talks about the guacamole contest at one of his jobs, Jeff describes the worst movie he’s ever watched, and Derek talks about renting bulk movies from Hollywood Video back in the day. Justin talks about the movies that were so bad they were good, if he prefers casual or professional dress, and encourages listeners to give feedback on the new game.

Sponsored By:

• Cosmic Bottles: Tap into the universe of craft beer! CRAFT BEER FOR YOU! Tired of the same old grocery store beer selection? Looking for a beer selection that caters to your taste? At Cosmic Bottles the choice is always yours. Every day: 11am - 10pm 27116 167th Place SE Suite 108 Covington, WA 98042
• The Union Club: The Union Club is a coworking space contributing to Tacoma's growing artistic and entrepreneurial communities. It combines a maker studio, event hall, and office coworking space, in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma, Washington.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Dudes with Brews on a Porch
• Amazon.com : frosted animal crackers
• Popeye (1980) - IMDb
• The Goonies (1985) - IMDb
• The Greasy Strangler (2016) - IMDb
• Ichi the Killer (2001) - IMDb
• Wolfcop (2014) - IMDb

00:16 – They kick off this episode discovering that they’re all masters of improv Justin talks about the last time they had Amani on, and Armani discusses how much he loved the break that came with Covid. They talk about the laps around their house that developed while working from home, Amani discusses the return of live audiences post Covid, and keeping the comedy show at Tony V’s rolling after a power outage.

23:26 – Amani talks about the comeback of live comedy shows, Justin talks about the number of guys post covid that had long hair, and Amani reflects on the marathons he’s run in the past. He talks about the fantastic places he ran through during the Tacoma marathon, Justin talks about doing the Boot To Boot, and reflects on his first date with his wife.

48:02 – They talk about the powers behind using DNA to solve crimes, Amani shares his love of movies, their importance on him growing up, and the Oscar-nominated films he’s watched this year. He talks about falling in love with the movie Everything, Everywhere, All At Once the second time he saw it, why he loves films, and Jeff expresses his love of Dan Ackroyd.

67:58 – Justin names his top five movies, he and Amani talk about how Pulp Fiction changed cinema, and Amani talks about Quinton Tarantino’s foot fetish. They dive into the hot sauce challenge, Amani names off his top movies, and Justin reads off info on the first hot sauce they’re trying. Each person gives their review of it, Justin talks about his recent visit to Grand Cinema Theater and watching The Wale, and Amani talks about his love of the Seattle International Film Festival.

Thanks, Amani, for catching up; looking forward to checking in with you again soon!

Special Guests: Amani Taylor and Derek G.

Sponsored By:

• The Union Club: The Union Club is a coworking space contributing to Tacoma's growing artistic and entrepreneurial communities. It combines a maker studio, event hall, and office coworking space, in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma, Washington.
• Cosmic Bottles: Tap into the universe of craft beer! CRAFT BEER FOR YOU! Tired of the same old grocery store beer selection? Looking for a beer selection that caters to your taste? At Cosmic Bottles the choice is always yours. Every day: 11am - 10pm 27116 167th Place SE Suite 108 Covington, WA 98042
• Die Cut Stickers: Use the code GRITCITY15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order! · Insanely custom stickers crafted to survive the PNW and beyond! Promo Code: GRITCITY15

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• 1917 (2019) - IMDb — April 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.
• Seven Samurai (1954) - IMDb — Farmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him.
• Amani Taylor | Facebook
• The Local 907 | Renton WA | Facebook — The Local 907 is a 21 and over Pub and Eatery in the DTR.
• Trencher's Kitchen & Tap in Renton, WA
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - IMDb — A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
• The Grit City Podcast - Amani Taylor — Past GCP episodes Amani has also been on.

01:26 – Jeff gives the podcast word of the day, Robo Brogan visits the podcast, and Justin welcomes Jeff and Scott to the New Year. He chats about their New Years' Eve casserole party, the shots they shared at the party, and the games they played that night. Jeff talks about the making of the casserole, they express how awesome the deep-dish pizza they enjoyed was, Justin poses the question on offering leftover casseroles to neighbors, and mentions that The Tacoma Light Trail is still going on through mid-Jan. He talks about enjoying casserole leftovers, Justin shares the latest work from past GCP guest Mark Monlux, and Justin talks about doing the early morning New Year's Day Polar Plunge with 130 other people that day.

20:06 – Justin talks about the water experience, how the first two minutes of the experience was the hardest, and what getting out of the water felt like. He talks about how it helped energize him for the week, the importance of having a word of intention, and Jeff shares his movie reviews. He talks about what he liked about the movie Halloween Kills, how well the writers balanced the story, and they reflect on the long, awkward scene from a movie they all enjoyed together at the theater. They question if Mike Meyers can actually be killed in a movie, Jeff recommends they watch Harley Quinn Birds of Prey, and Scott talks about the new show on Netflix, Kaleidoscope.

35:11 – Justin talks about finishing the second season of White Lotus, GCP showing up on Reddit, and businesses closing in the area, including Hello Cupcake. They talk about the egg shortage, other restaurants closing in the area, and the importance of networking and supporting local businesses. Justin talks about the most recent library book he's been reading, Scott talks about his frequent past visits to the library, and reflects on participating in Read-A-Thons as a kid.

52:03 – Justin talks about always being a computer nerd, his first orientation of wrestling class, and Scott talks about sports he did back in the day. Jeff reflects on being a big reader as a kid as well, they share their stories of playing baseball as a kid and question if there is ever a stand in spinner for Wheel of Fortune. Scott ponders on if the game is gambling, if they discriminate against people with no arms, and Justin talks about having the home version of Wheel of Fortune, and Scott suggests new show concepts. Friend Erik shares that people can have a designated fill-in on Wheel of Fortune, and Justin closes out the show talking about their other friends setting in on the live recording.

Sponsored By:

• Cosmic Bottles: Tap into the universe of craft beer! CRAFT BEER FOR YOU! Tired of the same old grocery store beer selection? Looking for a beer selection that caters to your taste? At Cosmic Bottles the choice is always yours. Every day: 11am - 10pm 27116 167th Place SE Suite 108 Covington, WA 98042
• The Union Club: The Union Club is a coworking space contributing to Tacoma's growing artistic and entrepreneurial communities. It combines a maker studio, event hall, and office coworking space, in a 15,000 square foot historic building in downtown Tacoma, Washington.
• Die Cut Stickers: Use the code GRITCITY15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order! · Insanely custom stickers crafted to survive the PNW and beyond! Promo Code: GRITCITY15

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Chi-Town Pizza | Spanaway WA | Facebook
• Atomic Age Alien Series Enamel Pins by Mark Monlux — Kickstarter — A series of enamel pins featuring aliens from Atomic Age science fiction cinema.
• The Grit City Podcast: GCP: Puget Sound Plungers - Renate Rain — Renate Rain, the founder of Puget Sound Plungers, sits down with the guys to discuss creating the group Puget Sound Plungers and her local business.
• Kaleidoscope (TV Mini Series 2023) - IMDb
• What Tacoma/Tacoma adjacent Podcasts are a must listen? : Tacoma — I am big on Podcasts, Most Channel 253 are quality, my favorite being Grit and Grain Pod.
• C.L.A.W. - Artist Guild, Formerly the Cartoonist's League of Absurd Washingtonians (Tacoma, WA)
• Mark “Grand PooBah” Monlux (@markmonlux) / Twitter — Self-aggrandizing whimsical cartoonist, and author. I do my best to screen who I follow.
• MAMEdev.org | Home of The MAME Project — MAME is a multi-purpose emulation framework.
• Pierce County Library > Home
• Halloween Kills - Official Trailer - YouTube
• Birds of Prey (2020) - IMDb
• Tacoma, Washington — Welcome to r/Tacoma, The Subreddit of Destiny. Much like the city, this forum is a dusty old jewel of Puget Sound

00:00 – This episode kicks off with a Happy Birthday song for Brogan, they make plans to get back into VR, and Jeff reveals the word of the day. They talk about time falling back, reflect on their visit at Grit City Comic Show, and Justin gives props to those that came out and bought t-shirts. He kicks off Grit City Grub, his love of the Cuban sandwich at The Chruch Cantina, and Scott and Jeff talk about their breakfast at The Valley before the con.

18:57 – Justin talks about GCP's plans to eat at Camp Bar after the con, what happened instead that led him to have to go to the ER that night, and they talk about going to Brogan's 42nd birthday party at Cosmic Bottles. They talk about the people they got to catch up with at the party, the great food they enjoyed, and hanging with superfan Erik.

37:00 – They look through pictures they took at the party, Justin talks about what he would do if he won the lottery, and Scott talks about going to The Beacon Cinema for a Birthday Party. Justin talks about Brian Bosworth's football history, what ended his career, and Brian becoming a movie star. He talks about the making of the movie Roar, the happenings over the 11 years of the making, and plans for a GCP movie night.

55:54 – They make plans for Patrons to join them at a movie screening, other guests they'd love to invite to the event, and they type of movies they'd like to see. Justin talks about the recent Werewolf movies he's watched, Jeff gives his review of Werewolf by Night, and Justin shares where it fell in his Werewolf ratings. He recommends the guys watch WolfCop, they jump into Scott Topics on the Army ranger that led a terrifying bank robbery in 2006, and Justin talks about plans for a sports review from listener Erik.

Sponsored By:

• Cosmic Bottles: Tap into the universe of craft beer! CRAFT BEER FOR YOU! Tired of the same old grocery store beer selection? Looking for a beer selection that caters to your taste? At Cosmic Bottles the choice is always yours. Every day: 11am - 10pm 27116 167th Place SE Suite 108 Covington, WA 98042
• Die Cut Stickers: Use the code GRITCITY15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order! · Insanely custom stickers crafted to survive the PNW and beyond! Promo Code: GRITCITY15

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• A new movie theater in Columbia City | The Beacon
• Roar (film) - Wikipedia — Roar is a 1981 American adventure comedy film
• Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) ORIGINAL TRAILER
• Werewolf by Night (TV Movie 2022) - IMDb
• Wolfcop (2014) - IMDb
• Former Army Ranger bank robber re-sentenced to 31 years | Tacoma News Tribune — A former U.S. Army Ranger who led a 2006 military-style robbery of a Tacoma bank and tried to hire someone to kill a federal prosecutor had his sentence reduced Wednesday by 12 years in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
• U.S. Army Rangers from Fort Lewis rob the Bank of America branch in South Tacoma on August 7, 2006. - HistoryLink.org — U.S. Army Rangers from Fort Lewis rob the Bank of America branch in South Tacoma on August 7, 2006
• VENUS (@venusontheflipside) • Instagram photos and videos

01:47 – Ethan talks about how he's been, Justin congrats Ethan on winning the WAC belt, Ethan talks about winning the belt and how well Destiny City Comics has been doing. He talks about questioning going back to wrestling, the great people he meets from the community at the shop, and his plans to do joint events with other businesses in the area. Justin shares his love of the Weird Elephant, kicks off coaster questions, and Jeff reflects on his love of wrestling as a kid.

22:09 – Justin talks about the comeback of Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers, Ethan discusses why Disney became so much more successful than Looney Tunes, and how John Cena knocked Peace Maker out of the park. Justin compares the difference between DC and Marvel characters, Ethan talks about people coming into the store interested in the b and c comic book characters and Peace Makers background story in the comic book.

44:22 – Jeff talks about how the Batman Return of the Phantasm is a cinematic masterpiece, he asks Ethan another coaster question, and Justin expresses his love of the Y: The Last man comic books. Ethan shares his favorite comic book based TV series, what sold him on the show, and they give props to John Cena's improv in Pease Maker. Ethan gives props to James Gunn for the casting of Guardians of the Galaxy, Justin talks about James's movie Super and how he brilliantly casted the main character.

66:32 – Ethan talks about being on the pulse of discovering artists in the area, his appreciation for the writing style of Kayden Phoenix, and his shift in business due to Covid. Jeff shares how he got his son interested in comic books, Ethan discusses how he is a comic book trade paperback person, and talks about buying comic books he loves for himself then reselling them in his store at a discount. He talks about starting collecting vinyl, the record treasures he finds, and Justin talks about cool records he's found.

Thanks, Ethan, for rejoining the crew to discuss what you've been up to since you were last on!

Special Guest: Ethan HD.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• ETHAN HD (ALL CAPS) (@ethanhd312) on Instagram — Pro Wrestler. Owner of @destinycitycomics.
• Weird Elephant — THE GRAND CINEMA'S EVERY-OTHER-WEEK LATE-NIGHT CINEPHILE INFUSION 
• Kayden Phoenix LatinaSuperheroes.eth (@kayden_phoenix) on Twitter — A LA BRAVA, Latina Superhero comics
• Destiny City Comics — Tacoma's #1 Destination for Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Pro Wrestling Memorabilia
• ETHAN HD (ALL CAPS) (@REALEthanHD) ON Twitter — He/Him, Worldwide Scoundrel, Pro Wrestler, Owner of @DestinyCityComx, Stand-up Comic, Int'l Pro Wrestling Coach.
• Destiny City Comics on Facebook
• Destiny City Comics 🗻 (@destinycitycomics) on Instagram photos and videos — Tacoma's Unapologetically Black and LGBTQ+ Friendly comic shop. WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. Comics, graphic novels, pro wrestling merch, and toys!
• ETHAN HD - Wikipedia
• Around_Seattle (@Around_Seattle) / Twitter

02:16 – Justin reflects on their recording the night before for GCP’s Patrons, what brought them to hangover Sunday, and other things GCP offers their patrons. Chase talks about what he’s been doing with the Stranger, what has stood out to him so far during Sun Dance Weekend, and gives praise to those that put together the virtual experience of the festival this year. They talk about King County entering Phase 2, Chase share’s how long he’s been with the Tribune, and some of the local stories that have interested him during 2020.

18:31 – Chase talks about covering the recent incidents that have happened in Tacoma that has hit national news, gives a shout out to those involved with him on the story, and Justin talks about key things that he’s been paying attention to in local media. Scott mentions the difference between the national and local news coverage of the event, Chase talks about an issue he had while capturing what was going on, and the general feel he got from the people present at the protest.

36:02 – Jeff talks about how much watching movies with a VR headset has changed his movie experience, screen parties that are available, and Justin gives his review of watching movies in 4DX. Each reflect on movies they’ve watched where the theater added to their experience, Justin talks on his plans to rent out The Weird Elephant, and his favorite theater experience.

55:46 – Justin gives his review on the locally made movie The Stakeout, reflects on living in Roy, and shares with listeners where they can find Chase online. He gives an update from a past guest Steven on ZEVA Aero, Scott talks about the grant Zeva was awarded, and Justin gives another shout out to Ken Carlson and his Kick Starter account for his Hellbound Slant 6 comic book.

Thanks Chase for an update on the haps around Tacoma!

Special Guest: Chase Hutchinson.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• WA State NewsGuild (@WaNewsGuild) on Twitter — We are the journalists of @thenewstribune, @theolympian, @BhamHerald, & the @TriCityHerald.
• Chase "Hutch" Hutchinson (@EclecticHutch) on Twitter — Reporter @thenewstribune/@pengateway. Member of @WaNewsGuild. More words in @TheStranger.
• Sundance Film Festival — In 2021, we will offer an online platform featuring seven days of premieres, events, artist talks, and cutting-edge XR exhibitions.
• Current COVID-19 Guidance and Restrictions - King County — King County is in Phase 2 of the state's Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery plan. Effective Feb. 1, 2021.
• Weird Elephant
• ZEVA AERO - zero-emissions Electric Vertical Aircraft
• Major's Restaurant in Yakima
• Hellbound Slant 6 #1 by Ken Carlson on Kickstarter — Hellbound Slant 6 #1 of 4, a heavy metal hot rod horror comic about a woman who drives her car into Hell and battles demons.

01:32 – They chat about the hurdles GCP is having with technology on this episode, Justin introduces Chase to the listeners, and Brogan talks about his new red beans and rice hot dog idea. Chase tells the guys about himself, where he can be found online, and Brogan shares his love for The Stranger magazine out of Seattle. Chase talks about how long he’s been in Tacoma, Scott talks about Twin Falls being one of the few places in the US where people can base jump, and they talk about how part of Borat was recorded near Olympia.

19:35 – Chase talks about filming that has been going on in Tacoma, the release of the movie They Reach, and local places in Tacoma it was recorded at. Chase shares his favorite Bigfoot joke, what he did during Halloween, and Justin talks about the movies he watched over the past couple days. Jeff reflects on when, on a whim, he, Scott and a few other friends enjoyed the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma, they talk about Hanks Restaurant in Tacoma, and Chase shares how he removes his bias of movie sequels when reviewing them.

37:30 – Scott gives his review of the new Adam Sandler movie, they each share their favorite and least favorite Adam Sandler movies, and confirm the Netflix does still have subscription option for DVD’s. They discuss the potential for movies to be more Sci-Fi based due to Covid, Chase talks about when the production of movies will be able to start back up in Washington, and the current regulations the state has put in place on production since Covid started.

58:06 – They discuss putting wallpaper in the house and using it for your business, they give props to beer, and talk on their hopes of changes that will come on November 4th. Chase shares other things he does outside of Tacoma News, Justin talks about how he misses having parties at his house, and Scott talks about drinking in Seattle. Chase talks about the current small business vibe in Tacoma, what some of the venues are doing to stay alive, and the huge loss when The Swiss went out of business.

Thanks, Chase, for joining the crew for a great conversation!

Special Guest: Chase Hutchinson.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Hutch-reviews-stuff — Stuff - Art and Culture 
• Chase Hutchinson (@EclecticHutch) on Twitter
• The Stranger: Seattle's Only Newspaper
• They Reach on IMDB
• Bigfoot - Waking Bear - YouTube

01:40 – Justin introduces Joe, Ken, and Rusty to the podcast, gives a shout out to the Church Cantina, and talks about their last get together where they discussed the movie Scanners. Rusty talks on brining the podcast Rated 80’s back to life, Justin talks on their decision to make Gremlins the next movie they review, and they all talk about what Christmas means to them. Justin brings up the Wikipedia review of Gremlins, Ken talks about Chuck Jones being in the movie, and Justin gives a shout out to Tacoma Public Library’s streaming service Kanopy.

16:11 – Justin discusses the backstory to the movie Boondock Saints, Joe also gives props to Tacoma Public Library for carrying his books, and Justin shares that Gremlins was one of the movies that caused the creation of the PG-13 rating. Ken introduces the guys to the saying “your feelings are not an emergency”, they discuss the cast of the movie, and Joe gives a shout out to Kate at Doyle’s in Tacoma. Justin talks on what Gremlins 3 should be about, how Ghostbusters 3 is in the making, and Rusty mentions Bill Murray and John Candy.

33:48 – Justin talks about Steven Spielberg getting a Cameo award from this movie, shares the Gremlins anti-drug PSA from the 80’s, and Ken shares with the group other Joe Daunte movies. Rusty shares his favorite 80’s movie ‘Batteries Not Included’, Ken shares his favorite part of Gremlins, and they talk about taking blowtorches to Furbies and microwaving G.I. Joes as kids. Conversation turns to using a bidet, the importance of using Metamucil, and Joe tells that guys that the key to being healthy is good fiber, scotch, and three miles a day.

46:10 – Justin shares where people can find each of their guests online, Scott encourages the guys to watch their diet, and Justin talks of the two things that were big main themes for Gremlins. They talk on the different things that sold based on the movie, toys that came from other movies, and they decide on what their next movie review will be on. Rusty encourages Scott to embrace his age, Justin talks on the technology theme of Gremlins, and Scott talks on the importance of people being prepared for disasters.

Thanks Joe, Ken, and Rusty for an interesting conversation on Gremlins, movies, and getting older!

Special Guests: Joseph Malik, Ken Carlson, and Rusty.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Gremlins - Wikipedia — Gremlins is a 1984 American comedy horror film written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante.
• About the Author | Joseph Malik — In addition to fiction, Joseph Malik writes and lectures on advanced intelligence theory and asymmetric warfare for the U.S. military.

1:36 – Justin shares with listeners how they can watch live streaming of the show, encourages users to review the show on ITunes, and talks about his and Rusties float on the Deschutes River. Rusty talks about saving his tubing partner during the float, the new Kobrew restaurant in Tacoma, and gave his review of IT Chapter 2. Conversation goes to the podcast Rated 80’s, Ken talks about show’s he has directed, and his most recent project, Roscoe The Junkyard Cat.

18:13 – Ken dives into the challenges that are involved with filming puppets, Scott talks about overdubbing of movies, and Ken talks about Enter The Mind Dungeon. Brogan and Rusty taunt each other, Scott gives a shout out to The Valley and their breakfast, and conversation turns to the Impossible Whopper at Burger King. They comment on how the Impossible Whopper is a cause to shift people away from meat, Justin talks about watching Scanners, and the early September lightning strikes in the Tacoma/Puyallup area.

35:37 – Jeff talks on his love of Screamers, they talk about the movie Defending Your Life, and Justin gives Brogan a new backpack to finally pay him back after 20 years. He talks about his trip to Arizona that he used the backpack for all those years ago, his adventures on Greyhound, and his move to Wisconsin. He dives into what Scanners is about, Jeff talks about the guy that blows up in the first part of the movie, and Scott talks about his favorite scene of the show.

52:15 – Justin share’s Michelle’s review of the movie, they discuss remakes, and how they feel one should not be made on Flight of the Navigator and Back To The Future. Brogan touches on game store drama, Ken gives his thoughts on the sound design of The Scanner, and Scott talks about what it must have been like for those trying out for the movie. They chat on how much Scanners made money at the box office, how David had to record the movie in two months, and Brogan proposes that they pick another other movie to discuss in a future podcast.

Thanks Rusty and Ken for joining the guys for another great conversation!

Special Guests: Ken Carlson and Rusty.

Sponsored By:

• The Great Washington Shake Out!: Millions of people worldwide will practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:17 a.m. on October 17* during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills! Washingtonians can join them today by registering for the 2019 Great Washington ShakeOut. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes– wherever you live, work, or travel.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Dead Drift (TV Series 2015–2016) - IMDb
• Roscoe the Junkyard Cat (TV Movie 2019) - IMDb
• The Church Cantina

1:17 – Justin introduces Scott Weil, lets the listeners know how people can reach out to the podcast, and how listeners can support them on Patreon. They move from fungus to Scott W telling the guys what the movie is about, the comments he has receive from people giving him props on how he captured the grit and the feel of Hollywood in the movie, and Justin shares the upcoming playing of the film at the Blue Mouse Theater in Tacoma. Scott W shares that he and John will be there to present the movie and answer people’s questions and Justin brings up PNW’s super hero legacy Phoenix Jones.

7:58 – Scott W shares that the movie was made over the course of 6 years, their strategy behind recording the movie inconspicuously in downtown Hollywood, and the organic process behind filming. Scott W gives props to the guys for their recording location and them serving beers while recording, his enjoyment of the road trip from LA to Tacoma, and the different phases behind the making of the movie. He shares one of the catastrophic things that happened during the recording and how at times the roadblocks you run into are usually meant for a reason, as hard it is for you to understand it at the time it happens.

16:32 – Scott W talks about the experience it’s been showing the movie off at different film festivals around the world, Justin talks about superhero movies being at the forefront of Hollywood cinema, and the beauty of how this film is the turning of peoples perspective of superhero movies on it’s head. Scott W shares where they will be ging over the next two weeks in the PNW, going back east next, and gives props to movies cinematographers.

22:17 – Scott W talks on how actor Adam Marcinowski took ownership of the character, how they ended meeting up with him when they were casting for the role, and Justin shares how he loves the theatrical experience behind watching movies. Scott W talks about the killing of the western movies in the 70’s, Justin gives props to the original Magnificent 7, and Scott T tells their semi-secret behind the movie. Justin gives props to the Blue Mouse Theaters Friday Night Frights and this episode comes to an end with Scott haring his love for the conversations they have after the movie.

Thanks Scott for joining the guys to share information about the movie and the great conversation!

Special Guest: Scott Weil.

Sponsored By:

• Grit City Magazine: Grit City Magazine was founded on the notion that Tacoma has good stories to tell. We explore the places that define it, pay homage to the history that built it, and celebrate the people who make it what it is today.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Home — A homeless wanderer, named Solar Flare, proclaims to be a real superhero from the Sun who's been exiled to live on Earth without his superpowers for 189 days.
• ONCE UPON A SUPERHERO - About — "Not your ordinary Superhero story"

1:51 – Conversation starts around third breakfast, Matt talks about his screening at Norwescon, and tells the guys about his movie DRONE. Brogan talks about looking through Matt’s YouTube channel, the quality of the movie, the type of technology Matt used in the film, and Brogan's review of the story. Matt tells the guys what inspired him when creating the robot story, the reason why he had the robots wearing Converse, his budget for the film, and the resources he was able to use at no cost to him.

15:55 – Matt talks about his Blade Runner jacket, DRONE being his first big project, the skits he made before this film, and the awards DRONE has won so far. He talks about recently graduating from college, Scott shares how people can listen to past GCP episodes, they talk about the nerdom coming back, and the movie being a homage to the things Matt loves.

30:28 – The guys talk about their comfort movies, TV listings in the newspaper back in the day, reflections of Dune, and the different artists that live in the Tacoma area. Matt shares the official release of the movie in November on his YouTube channel, where people can find additional movie information online, and Brogan’s proposal of a new Dune movie. Brogan discusses the movie Pathfinder, Scott talks about his favorite Viking movie, and they chat about the recent reunion of the cast from The Big Lebowski.

42:44 – The guys give their props to the Higher Side Chats podcast, hollow earth, what Matt’s next projects are, and the Tacoma One Minute File Festival. Matt shares where people can find DRONE online, the streamlining of his branding, and his plans for posting more behind the scenes pieces of the film. He shares how he came up with the name of the business, they also talk about Dead Drift and Jeff’s review of the film.

Many thanks the Matt for joining the guys to talk about your movie, livelihood, and upcoming plans!

Special Guests: Billy and Matt Esteron.

Sponsored By:

• Wizard's Keep Games: Building Community Through The Power Of Games. Stop by and check out the weekly events. Commander, D&D, Friday Night Magic, It all happens at Wizard's Keep Games in Renton. 17148 116th Ave SE Renton WA, 98058

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• MozaicStudios - YouTube
• Matt of MozaicStudios (@mozaicstudios) • Instagram photos and videos
• MozaicStudios - on Facebook

This episode kicks off with Brogan’s quick chat about his choice to wear skinny jeans. They then dive into talking with Wade, creator of Weird Elephant at the Grand Cinema. He tells the guys about where the idea of Weird Elephant came from and his choice to show a movie weekly for Tacoma people to enjoy. He covers the movies they’ve played, how they choose the movies, and their upcoming shows.

14:00 – Wade talks about partnering with local businesses to offer customers a more in-depth Experience for the show. He then goes into what drew him into movies as a child and him taking his love for comics, sci-fi, and horror films to work at Stadium Video. He then dives into the first sci-fi and horror movies he watched.

Around the halfway mark, Kathly, Wades wife explains what she does for the cinema, how they encourage people to dress up to go to the show much like may Rocky Horror Picture Show attendees. Justin tells about a place that recently did a screening of Lady and The Tramp where people were allowed to bring their dogs and they had plates of spaghetti setup. They then turn to their plan to do a showing of The Big Lebowski at the end of March where they plan to offer WII bowling and encouraging people to cosplay.

42:20 – Kathlyn talk about movies she loved and shared with Wade and Wade discusses moved he’s shared with Kathlyn. Justin talks about the importance of people to go to the cinema for the full magical experience of watching movies in the cinema vs watching them at home.

This show comes to a close with discussion of other movies Wade is planning to feature in the upcoming months and where people can find them online. Wade also shares other plans The Grand Cinema will be doing in the upcoming months.

Thanks you both for joining the guys for an insightful conversation on Weird Elephant!

Special Guest: Wade and Kathlyn.

Sponsored By:

• Wizard's Keep Games: Building Community Through The Power Of Games. Stop by and check out the weekly events. Commander, D&D, Friday Night Magic, It all happens at Wizard's Keep Games in Renton. 17148 116th Ave SE Renton WA, 98058

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Weird Elephant | The Grand Cinema — Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema
• Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema - Home | Facebook — Weird Elephant on Facebook