BooooOOOOOOoOooOooOOOOoooooOOooooooo...

G-g-g-ghoooOOOooOOooOOOoOOOOOoooooosts...

SpooOOOOooOOOOOOOOOOoooOOOOOOoooky...

We have cereal named after ghosts. Some of our biggest movies are about ghosts. As a species, we're obsessed with ghosts.

So this week, we strap on our proton packs and go a-ghost huntin'!

* * *

Right away, we establish if we believe in ghosts...or think they're bullshit. After that, we chat about people close to us who believe in ghosts...and if we've ever had strange experiences that made us question if ghosts are real.

We talk about why some people believe in ghosts, and then leap to our favorite ghost stories. Sticking to the thought of ghosts as entertainment, we discuss our thoughts about ghost hunting TV shows.

Ghosts work in certain ways according to legends. We devote a bit of time to the weird aspects of the popular mechanics of how ghosts haunt shit on up, and then we talk about some of the shittiest people on the planet: mediums who claim to channel the spirits of the deceased.

Ever lied awake at night wondering, "I wonder if the Gorillamen have ever used Ouija boards?" Well, finally, you will get your answer!

After all that, we talk about what we'd be like if we died and got to come back as ghosts.

And we wrap it all up with this question: Do you think people will always believe in ghosts?

Feel free to haunt the comments with your thoughts about this week's episode...

The Gorillamen took long weekends off work, but they did manage to record their first Skype episode in some time. About Cultural appropriation.

This is what they talked about:

• When was the first time you heard the term cultural appropriation? What was the context?
• My iPhone now auto-corrects cultural appropriation. Is that a sign of our times?
• Have you ever appropriated another culture?
• What is cultural appropriation to you?
• Is cultural appropriation a huge problem in today’s world?
• What’s the weirdest complaint of cultural appropriation you’ve seen?
• The dumbest?
• The most egregious example of cultural appropriation you’ve seen?
• How common is cultural appropriation?
• Where do we draw the line?
• How do we fix the problem of cultural appropriation?

It's October and -- somehow -- we've not talked about horror movies in hundreds of episodes. So...we remedy that.

* * *

It's a busy week in Gorillamenville, so no real commentary -- just what we discuss this episode:

• What's the first horror movie you remember seeing? What impression did it make on you?
• Are you a fan of horror movies?
• What was the last horror movie you saw?
• When was the best era for horror movies?
• The worst?
• What's the best horror movie you've ever seen?
• The most fucked-up?
• What makes a horror movie work, in your opinion?
• Assuming you are exactly as you are now (no special powers, etc.), which horror movie could you best survive?
• What's the dumbest horror movie you've ever seen?
• What's the future of horror movies?

Layoffs are a way of life in America. It seems that one of the easiest ways to make 4th quarter numbers is to cut a bunch of people at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The days of working at a place for 30-40+ years is long gone...today, you're lucky to see five years at a job.

Right now, the company where Christopher works is dealing with more cuts...so...it seemed like a good topic for the week!

* * *

We kick it off with this: who is the first person we remember being laid off from a job? After that, we discuss why we think layoffs have become more common in recent years.

There was a time you walked into a job, were willing to work, and retired at that place. That kind of situation is a thing of the past, however. Find out, if it were possible, if we'd work at a job for 30 years like "the good old days?" -- or if we'd be more like mercenaries and jump to better incomes and different job duties?

We chat about how layoffs factor into job loyalty...or a lack of it -- and then go into how many times we've been laid off. We also share some funny layoff stories, and then talk about whether we've ever been fired from a job...and how that's different than a layoff.

Find out how we prepare for layoffs...and how long we typically work at a job before layoffs come around.

We discuss whether or not layoffs are hard on us -- and why we think they are so hard on some people.

And we wrap it all up with the future, wondering if we will ever stop laying off so many people...or if this is just the way it is today...

Feel free to share your layoff stories in the comments...

This is episode 225. Some people would celebrate that. Why? Because humans look for things to memorialize or celebrate.

We remember the dates we're born, as well as the dates that will live on in infamy. Good, bad, and everything in between -- if humans can connect something deemed important to a date or passage of time, it seems we will do so. And, to that end, we decided to make August 23, 2017 the first annual Men in Gorilla Suits podcast about anniversaries...

* * *

We kick it all off talking about cake. Seriously. Our first memories of anniversaries coincidentally involve cake. And then we move on to whether or not work anniversaries mean much to us. Also: find out how long the Gorillamen have been with their wives -- and what we usually do for our anniversaries.

We chat a bit about if it's important to recognize anniversaries -- and if birthdays are important to us.

Some anniversaries are gloomy affairs; we talk a bit about if those kinds of dates are important to remember. But after the gloom, we move on to cheerier things: the strange anniversaries we recognize.

Men in Gorilla Suits started on February 7, 2013. Find out if the upcoming 5th anniversary of the show is an important thing to us. Then we jump over to how some dates of remembrance fall from favor...and why some people get uptight about that. To that point, we devote some time to wondering if there is a time we, as a society, will ever forget 9/11...and if even people a generation or two below us are wrong not to care so much.

And we close it all out with two things: wondering if there are any anniversaries we think should be celebrated...and what we'd love to celebrate in the future.

The American Dream has always been tied very closely to housing. The small house in the suburbs is what we were sold, even though -- for many -- it might be owning an apartment in a large city or off the grid in the middle of nowhere. The dream of owning a home has been exploited, leading to financial crisis -- but it's also been an indicator of financial health when all is well.

Entire networks dedicated to house hunting and restoration have popped up on television, and books and magazines (and websites and independent video channels) ensure we can consume our love for real estate any time we want. So it only made sense that we finally talked about buying houses! (Well, that -- and Shawn closed on a house yesterday...and that's been on his mind for more than the last month!)

* * *

We begin with the first time it hit us that people bought houses. After that, we talk about how old our parents were when they first purchased a house. We also chat about whether or not we've ever set out to purchase a home...and share odd stories about our hunts.

We discuss what made us want to buy a house and -- in the case of Christopher -- why he passed on one years ago. Next, we devote some time to what surprised us about the house-hunting/house-buying process...as well as the most annoying aspects of looking for a home.

We pause to describe our ideal dream houses -- and then jump to whether or not we think home ownership is on the decline (and if so, if it's the fault of Millennials...because if headlines tell us nothing else, it's that this may be the last podcast you listen to before nuclear war with Korea...and that Millennials kill all the things!)

And, as always, we wrap it all up with a look toward the future, this time speculating about what the coming years hold for home ownership.

There is design to this page. There is design in most things you interacted with today...probably without your recognition.

Whether it's advertising or truly functional user experience; the place you live, or even your thoughts...many people put great effort into influencing others with design.

Hell, some people do it all simply for the sake of design.

This week, we're all about the D!

* * *

We begin with our earliest memories of people putting in an extra effort into this thing called design. After that, we chat about how aware we were of the effort put into everyday design. (Shawn's epiphany in and Arby's is rather beautiful!)

We chat about whether or not we've designed cool things...and what those things might be.

How does design affect mood? We talk about that...as well as how environment and upbringing affect design.

We get all hypothetical and chat about if we could be a designer of any sort...what we'd make. Then we talk about our favorite designers and what they've done.

How important is technology to design -- we chat about that! We also chat about how important design is to advertising. (Spoiler: it DRIVES advertising in every way!)

Some people love what they know. Are some designs so sacred that we should never alter them? We talk about that before wrapping it all up with the future of design...

These show notes are designed to filter down to driving people to a call to action in the comments. We understand that there's enough going on in our lives that commenting on a podcast blog is a thing of the past, but if you are so inclined...we will listen!

For the past couple years, Gorillaman Shawn has done another show -- a weekly look at metal bands and their influences called Metal DNA. While Christopher doesn't listen to much music these days, he was once rumored to rock out to Twisted Sister opening for Iron Maiden on Maiden's Powerslave tour in the mid-ish 80s. So it's a bit surprising that it took 220 episodes to talk about METAL!!!

And, because it must be shared whenever metal is mentioned, there's this:

* * *

We kick it off with the first metal songs we ever heard...as well as how we heard the tune (i.e. who got us into metal). After that, we talk about the best -- and worst -- genres and eras of metal for us.

We devote a bit of time to our all-time favorite metal bands, and then we jump into our fave metal tunes of all time.

Metal fans are a dedicated breed of all kinds of people, but there's definitely a stereotype for metalheads. Do they live up to that stereotype? We chat about that before discussing some metal shows we've seen live. (As well as a story about Christopher's one and only sad blind date.)

We like talking about time machines on Men in Gorilla Suits. Find out what metal concert we'd see if we could go back in time. And in the present, we talk about the most recent metal we've heard.

As [almost] always, we wrap up this episode with a look to the future, discussing what the coming years look like for metal and its fans.

Feel free to rock out in the comments if that's your kinda thing \m/

This classic Men in Gorilla Suits episode is about...Death!

Guess what? One day, you will die.

Shawn will die; Christopher will die.

Everybody dies.

It's such a cheery little topic, we decided to talk about death this week!

We begin by talking about our earliest memories that life one day ends -- and what caused that realization for us. Then we jump to discussing if we've ever been present when somebody has dies...and how it affected us.

Death can come slowly or instantly, and the way it hits people can vary. We dedicate some time to that before moving on to a short question: are you afraid to die?

Next, we take on the roll of a psychic and predict the ways we think we will die. Keeping the snowball of happiness rolling, we ask each other if we've ever thought about taking our own lives and...if we could find out when and how we will die, would we want to know?

As serious as death is, sometimes the way people die is strange...even funny. We talk about some of the stranger and humorous ways we've heard about people dying and then talk about movies.

Death is often the focal point of stories because we've all experienced someone dying. We talk about the best movies deaths we've seen. (We'd love to hear your answers in the comments below.)

There are usually rituals after someone's passing. We ask each other if there's a proper way to mourn one's death, and then talk about what we believe happens to us after we die.

We close out this week's episode by talking about what we would do differently with our lives if we found out we only had a year to live.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about death and this episode in the comments.

It seems one can't go more than a day without seeing somebody react to something out of a backlash reflex.

Why, you might even be saying, "I am tired of sweeping generalizations like that!" -- backlash responses are not that common!

(Thank you for proving our point.)

We all push back for so many reasons...or at least enough to put together an episode of Men in Gorilla Suits about backlash.

* * *

We begin by talking about our earliest memory of backlash -- and then move on to something we once liked, but no longer do, because of a backlash reaction.

We chat about why we think people push back at things over time. After that, we discuss whether or not we've experienced backlash over something we liked or did.

How important is backlash to politics -- and even society? We talk about that a bit. We also devote a bit of time to how social media has affected backlash.

We also discuss ways in which backlash is dangerous...as well as awesome -- and we talk about something we'd like to see face backlash.

Sometimes backlash is just a weird thing...you never know what will set someone off. We chat about that, and then wrap up this week's show with the future of backlash.

(In response to us asking you to leave a comment, be sure not to leave one, just because you're tired of being told what to do by people online...)

Because the last couple episodes have been loaded later in the week, we figured we'd load this one early. Here's why:

Sometimes we record episodes and, while making the damn thing, we know it's going to be a bit better than most episodes. Sometimes we're actually funny; other times, we're quick to thoughts and sound like we know what we are doing. Sometimes, we are very open about things -- maybe even too open for some.

This episode might be a bit of all those things as we talk about something not unknown to the world: anxiety!

* * *

We begin with this: have we ever had problems with anxiety? (That anxiety is this week's topic, the answer should be pretty evident.) After that, we talk about the first person we knew who struggled with anxiety.

Find out what makes us panic...and if we've ever had all-out panic attacks. Then we talk about how we deal with anxiety.

We're guessing we all know somebody who struggles with anxiety to various degrees. We chat about what we do to try to help those people...and then discuss the dumbest things that have caused anxiety in our lives.

Lives eventually end. Death is a source of stress for many people. We talk about whether or not we often think about death -- and if it makes us anxious when it's on our minds.

Finally, we wrap it up with this: what is the cure for anxiety (or does a cure even exist)?

As always, feel free to comment on this week's episode below.

This Men in Gorilla Suits Classic episode is about aging...

As you read this sentence, you're getting older. Now you're even older than when you started reading this entry. You can step away and turn your head, hoping to not be reminded that you are aging, but time marches on.

Forward...

Always...

This week, we're talking about aging!

We begin by talking about the first time we realized that childhood was temporary -- that one day we would become adults. But aging is not all bad...we discuss the first time we were aware of our bodies aging in positive ways. After that, though, we talk about some negative things we're felt or experienced as we've aged. We also talk about age-related problems we've noticed...and age-related problems that scare us.

Hundreds of years ago, we'd probably be dead by now. We devote some time to the positive and negative effects of longer lifespans in modern times -- and then talk about how old we want to live to be.

We also chat about some benefits of getting older and whether we consider ourselves old, middle aged, young, or something else entirely.

We wrap up this episode on the front lawn (chasing off those damn kids!) to discuss whether or not we are, indeed, getting "too old for this shit!"

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about aging in the comments.

From a young age, most of us heard advice. Maybe some of it was actually good. But there comes a time when, later in life, you've either figured things out or you're simply not going to. And there are enough people doing marginally better than you who love to tell you and others how to live life...because they aren't doing such a great job with the adulting thing themselves. Knocking you makes them feel better about their lives.

And then there's us, two guys who offer one bit of advice at the end of every show. We don't expect you to take it, though...as you'll hear, we're not the biggest fans of advice...

* * *

Christopher is headed into the storms of East Texas for the annual writing retreat he does with a friend. So, in an effort to get the episode out, here's what we discuss this week:

• What is the first advice you remember hearing?
• Why do you think people like giving advice?
• How do you go about giving advice?
• Do you like receiving advice?
• What's the best advice you've ever received?
• What's the worst advice you've ever received?
• What are your thoughts on unsolicited advice?
• Where (or who) do you go for advice?
• Has advice ever changed your life or the way you look at things?
• How has the Internet -- particularly social media -- changed advice?
• What are some problems with giving or receiving advice?
• If you could give your younger self one bit of advice, what would it be?
• Is there one bit of advice you'd give for society in general?

This Men in Gorilla Suits Classics episode goes back to Episode 55: Urban Legends...

* * *

The stories often seem too perfect ("...and then the doberman was choking...on the burglar's finger!"); the reassurance it's fact is shoddy at best ("I'm serious -- it's true! It happened to my cousin's best friend's boss' daughter's tuba instructor!")

The urban legend.

What is it that makes some stories endure for lifetimes, and how does the Internet play a part in their spread today? That's what we're talking about this week.

We begin the episode by discussing the most recent urban legend we've heard; in Christopher's case, it was told the night before recording this episode, proving that far-fetched stories are definitely not a thing of the past. In fact, we discuss how we live in the golden age of half-truths and bogus stories; in part, because they are so easy to share through social media. After discussing why we believe urban legends are so easy to spread, we talk about how urban legends can still endure when sites like snopes.com and other sources for answers exist.

Urban legends endure despite how ridiculous many of the stories are -- belief is more important than fact where they are concerned. We ask (and answer): "What human need do urban legends serve?" Then we step back in time and share the first urban legends we ever heard.

Some urban legends cross the line and become not just stories to share, but deep beliefs people insist are true to the end. Dispute these people's claims or present facts and it doesn't matter -- they are all in and nothing can change them. After devoting some time to that, we discuss a couple urban legends we've believed, if only for a short time. Moving on from there, we share the craziest urban legends we've ever heard.

It's clear urban legends are a big part of the human experience. Many tales, even before the age of the Internet, spread and became things people insisted were true all around the world. With Shawn and Christopher both moving about in their youth, they saw it first hand: almost every town seemed to have their own weird killers killing in the same manner as the town where they lived before, and on the outskirts of those towns there always seemed to be railroad tracks where -- if you turned your car off and sat on the tracks as a train came your way (usually at midnight) -- ghostly children who died in a bus crash would push your car to safety. We close out the episode asking each other if urban legends will ever die?

We'd love to hear the craziest urban legends you've ever heard -- share away in the comments!

On February 7, 2013 we decided to do something on our own: start a podcast. In that time, we've started other shows, made things, and learned new stuff.

With access to so much information, it's fairly easy to learn the basics of even difficult repairs and builds. Maker culture seems to hang in the air; we, as a species, simply like making and repairing things.

Consider the many TV channels dedicated to home improvement. Hell, there's a channel called DIY.

DIY is not simply an 80s punk ethic. Every day, so many people make and repair things on their own...or with the help of a community of like-minded people. Doing it yourself is the topic of this week's show.

# # #

Here's what we talk about this week:

• When's the first time you did something yourself that someone else usually did for you?
• Do you consider yourself DIY?
• Is DIY synonymous with thriftiness? Are all DIYers cheap?
• What's the coolest DIY project you've ever seen?
• The worst?
• What was the thing you tried to do yourself that you really shouldn't have? Were you successful?
• What was your most successful DIY project?
• What's something you've never done yourself that you think you could easily do, but don't for whatever reason?
• What's one project you'd like to try doing for yourself?
• Does technology make DIY easier?
• What's the future of DIY?

Oh, hello there, you wonderful, magical being, you. What's that sour face for -- don't believe us? You are magical...and...if you have just $99.99 to spare for our 20-cassette self-help system, you'll realize your full potential! Don't buy it, and continue to be miserable: the choice is yours. Salvation is just a credit card number away...

This week, we're all about self help! Now, we should clarify that there's nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself...even pay for help if needed. It's just, if you're going to take that step, it would seem a professional therapist might be a bit better than someone making up a pile of bullshit about how quantum physics works in an effort to sell you on yet another self-help system...

We begin the episode by talking about what image comes to our minds when we mention "self help." Then, we discuss whether or not any self-help book or system has ever helped us. After that, we leap into self-help things we've been subjected to in some manner. (It's probably pretty clear at this point that we're not the biggest fans of people preying on desperate people and selling them "help" in Holiday Inns across the country. In fact, Christopher is one degree away from someone fairly well known who "helps" people, but is really just out to take people's money...so we speak from some certain experience.)

While on the subject of self help, why not talk about Scientology and other religions that are little more than a pyramid scheme? Are they really out to help people, or is it all about pushing their own agenda? On a smaller level, we ask if there are self-help gurus who actually want to help people more than they want their money. Then we ask if self-help systems have a high percentage of success, or if they are just a scheme to help those running a system make a lot of money.

Then it's time to talk about some of the more outrageous claims made in the self-help industry. You could probably call this section of the podcast, "It's no secret how Christopher and Shawn feel about The Secret!" While hammering those who know nothing about science (but use junk science to back their claims), we roll all over certain health gurus who also make ridiculous claims in their grab for cash.

But while we don't spare the majority of an industry from ridicule, we do acknowledge the marketing machines behind the self-help industry...and how they have used social media to expand their empires. After discussing how easily people are swayed by "facts" that aren't facts, we ask the biggest question of all: "Is there any value at all in the self-help industry?"

We'd love to hear what you think about self help in the comments, and...we hope this episode of Men in Gorilla Suits helps you. If nothing else, we offer it for free!

A very busy week, so we'll get right to it. This week we are talking about being childless...

* * *

Here's what we talk about (Shawn made Christopher seriously laugh so hard he cried in this episode):

• Who was the first childless couple (or person) you knew?
• Did it strike you as strange that they didn't have children?
• When you were younger, did you think you'd have children when you got older?
• We are both childless. Are you childless by choice or because of biological issues?
• Have you encountered people who INSISTED you'd have children? (And how did you react?)
• Have you ever been told, "But you can still adopt?"
• Do you think your life lacks anything with the absence of children?
• What are some advantages (and disadvantages) of not having children?
• Millennials in America have been knocked for things as ridiculous as a decline in sales of bar soap. And a BIG criticism is they are not having children as much as previous generations. Why do you think that is?
• Is it greedy to not have children?
• Why do you think some are so insistent that others have children?
• In the future, do you think we'll see more or fewer childless people?

We once stepped back in time for this classic episode...

And, for those of you wondering, "When will Christopher be done with his damn book?!" it's flowing...but new chapters are happening as well. So...who knows. (But words are piling up!)

* * *

This isn't a boring history lesson, or an episode chock full o' trivial things like, "Hey, did you all know the first person to kill at the Battle of Hastings -- in 1066 -- was a juggler?" (<----- That's for real, right there! Don't mess with jugglers!) This episode is about our relationships with history. What many deem to be a boring subject really isn't when you consider how much the human mind lives in the past, whether it's a head full of nostalgia or thinking about your place in the universe...that's all history!

We begin the episode with a bit of personal history, discussing the first time we remember even thinking about the topic. Also, who (or what) got us interested in history? With that beginning, we move on to our favorite periods of American history and world history. Many "man on the street" interviews make it look like Americans know very little about history...we spend some time discussing if that's true before moving on to what history even is.

History takes hold more when it's presented as a story rather than a bunch of dates and events we must commit to memory. We talk about how this affects our perception of history, and then move on to how history is covered: is history really written by the winners, or are there places one can go to find all sides of a story? What are the best sources for understanding history -- and what are the worst? Where do we go when we're in a mood to take in some history? We close it out with the best representation of history -- and the worst -- we've seen in popular media.

If you're a history buff, we'd love to hear your thoughts about history...and if you think history is just a boring subject, we just might change your mind...

If you've lived in Dallas long enough, you see a certain pleasure in this episode about Texas being #214 (the classic Dallas area code). But is Dallas indicative of the Lone Star State, or for a true taste of Texas does one need to gaze upon a field of longhorn cattle? Is Ft. Worth more "Texas" than San Antonio, or must we all bow before the capital of Austin? Or is Texas something else entirely?

This week we're talking about Texas in all its glory (well, most of its glory). Like any state, it has its problems -- but a place so large really is like a country unto itself full of many wonderful things...

* * *

We begin with a simple topic: when did we first move to Texas? We each moved to Texas young enough to have experience with Texas public schools. Find out if we were impressed with the educational quality of the schools we attended.

After that, we chat about the various parts of Texas we've lived in...and visited. Keeping with that theme, we also devote time to the best town in Texas in which to live...and the best place to visit.

People from other places have their own ideas about what Texas is like. When they visit, it's often up to people living in the state to show them the "true" side of Texas. Find out where we take people to show them what the Bluebonnet State is all about.

After that, we talk about the best -- and worst -- things about living in Texas. And we wrap it all up with the weirdest thing about the state.

Welcome to Men in Gorilla Suits Classic: an old episode as Christopher finishes a book...and while Shawn gets even more buff at the gym.

Oh, sure, Shawn might play the humble card and be like, "No big..." but he's lifting closer to 20 tons a night than 15 -- enough that Christopher started lifting puny weights on work breaks today.

Speaking of that Christopher guy...thanks to all those who understand that him finishing his book is important. He really hates missing a week of Men in Gorilla Suits. In fact, he ALMOST posted the episode recorded a couple days ago and was then about to email Shawn saying, "If we get back to getting things done by mid-week and even double up on episodes, we can stick to the weekly thing!"

Because this IS a pretty impressive unbroken chain.

At the very least, you get this old episode...

Thanks for understanding...

* * *

Ah, to live the life as a National Hockey League rover, or to entertain the cigar-rolling masses as a Lector. To pump gas or serve as the director of photography on pornographic movies. To open your own Blockbuster Video store franchise or manufacture cassette tapes. These are jobs...some totally obsolete, some on their way out...

This week, it's all about jobs that no longer exist: some long gone, and some we've seen die in our own time. We talk about jobs that are fading, many jobs shoved into one catch-all job, and even discuss why outsourcing may not be the evil many believe it to be. (We might not be in the majority on this one.) We discuss how the "Good ol' days," were only good for some, and why our jobs these days is to simply figure things out. Of course, Shawn works Star Trek into the discussion, and Christopher entertains what a future in which computers write novels might be like. (Smash Gerbils reference goes to Deacon McClendon.)

We wrap it up by discussing how the Internet and nostalgia have brought some obsolete or dying jobs back -- kind of a grudging praise for...the Hipster! Also, wanna be a blacksmith? It's still a better option than many jobs that are on the way out! Don't believe us? Then give this episode a listen!

Note: This episode was recorded under the influence of copious amounts of caffeine (Shawn) and a couple Martinis (Chris). It's a bit frantic and wacky, and that, dear listeners = fun!

6:00 a.m.

You wake up in the dark. You don't want to get out of bed. You move in silence to the kitchen to remedy all that ails you with coffee.

Ah, the afternoon. The morning's coffee has worn off. Some return to coffee, but many others resort to tea.

Tea and coffee are the most popular drinks in the world following water. (And, some will argue, behind milk.) But even before sodas and juices, coffee and tea are kind.

Coffee and tea often fuel the Gorillamen, so...we dedicate this week to the beverages of the gods...

* * *

Before we get to coffee and tea, though, a quick note. After 213 episodes, we're temporarily moving Men in Gorilla Suits to an every-other-week schedule. Christopher is moving his other podcast, Not about Lumberjacks, to an every-other-month schedule as he gets his current novel into readable shape. To allow him a bit more focus, we're adjusting the Men in Gorilla Suits schedule until Christopher is done with the book.

And then things will resume as usual.

* * *

What we discuss this week:

• What's your first memory of coffee?
• What's your first memory of tea?
• When was the first time you remember having coffee?
• When was the first time you remember having tea?
• Do you have a preference: coffee or tea?
• Why do you think coffee and tea are such popular drinks?
• What's the best cup of coffee you've ever had?
• What's the best cup of tea you've ever had?
• Have you ever gone a long time not drinking coffee?
• When it comes to iced tea: sweetened or unsweetened?
• Do you think people rely on coffee and tea a bit too much?
• What's the future look like for coffee and tea?

Men in Gorilla Suits started with an idea: "We should do a weekly podcast."

Then we came up with a variety of names...just random things that sounded cool. Shawn liked Christopher's idea to call the show "Men in Gorilla Suits." And that triggered an idea in Shawn: to name every episode beginning with "Last Seen..." as though we are not only Men in Gorilla Suits, but FUGITIVES ON THE RUN in Gorilla Suits.

That's it...that's the idea behind it all. Well, that and, "We can just talk about a geeky topic a week..."

Of course, that idea could have gone nowhere without effort. But 212 episodes into the show, we're finally talking all about ideas!

* * *

Here's what we discuss this episode:

• What's the first original creative idea you remember having?
• Where do you get your ideas?
• Do you do anything with most of your ideas?
• I've heard people say the ideas are the important part (i.e., I have the idea, you write the book, and we split the profits!). Do you agree?
• How important are ideas?
• What's the best idea you've ever had, creatively?
• What about in life?
• What's the worst, creatively?
• In life?
• Has anyone ever stolen your ideas?
• What was the last idea you executed on?
• What's more interesting: ideas or execution?

A list of the weird things we talk about this week...as we talk about...weirdness:

• When did you first become aware of weirdness or weird people?
• Have you ever been called weird?
• Do you think you're weird?
• I've met people who try to be weird. What would motivate a person to be weird – and does weirdness for the sake of weird work for you?
• Who is the weirdest person you know?
• What is the weirdest thing you've ever experienced?
• Why are people attracted to weird things?
• What are some of your favorite weird things?
• Describe yourself when you were at your weirdest?
• Can weird things ever become normal or even mainstream?
• Over time, have you become more normal or more weird? (Why?)
• Will there come a point where nothing is weird anymore?

This week's talking points:

• What was the first talent you discovered you had?
• What was the first talent you wish you had?
• Can talent take the place of hard work and practice?
• Can hard work and practice eventually trump talent?
• Who is the most talented person you know?
• Who is the hardest worker you know?
• Is there one that's better than the other (talent vs. hard work)?
• Which do you possess more of? Talent Or work ethic?
• Is it better to be lucky than good?
• Is it better to be good than prepared?
• Is it better to be prepared than trained?
• What's one talent you'd like to develop?

Busy week this week, but there was still time to turn us into Dumbledore and Snape for the episode art! Here's what we're talking about this week: Fan fiction!

* * *

• When did you first become aware of fan fiction?
• Why do you think people create and consume fan fiction?
• Do you consume much fan fiction? Why or Why not?
• Have you written fan fiction?
• If you could only write fan fiction -- and only from one property at that -- what would you choose to focus on?
• Fan fiction has a bit of a reputation as being sub-par writing. Do you find that to be true?
• More than a couple writers have taken issue with fan fiction from their work...while others don't care. As a writer yourself, where do you stand on that?
• How much does emotion play into the success of a work of fan fiction?
• All right, let's go there. Slash/shipping/whatever we're into this year. What's up with that?!
• A lot of people have consumed fan fiction and not known it. Any examples of mainstream pieces of fan fiction.
• What's your favorite work of fan fiction?
• What's the future look like for fan fiction?

Christopher might be writing this from Earth-13. But in Earth-27, Shawn is Christopher...but he might be a minotaur in a trenchcoat who starred in Earth-975's version of Highlander. Because really, that's all I (I mean Shawn) has ever aspired to being (and doing).

But in Earth-4,285,792, everything happened exactly like this, but Christopher is a black lab hoping you believe that Shawn is a minotaur.

The best thing about Earth-4,285,792? Obama is still president...and Abe Vigoda is still alive. (Almost as great as Earth 7,926, where Abe Vigoda is president!)

This week, we're talking about other dimensions...

* * *

We kick it off talking about our understanding of the Mandela Effect, and then jump to discussing if we believe in parallel universes/multiverse theories.

Find out how we conceive alternate realities, and find out if we believe we are all moving among different realities all the time.

Then we talk about something we can prove is real: stories about alternate realities. (At least in the dimension/reality in which you are listening to this. Unless it's a dimension where you can listen to podcasts from other dimensions. Anyway...) We talk about the best, worst, and silliest works of alternate realities fiction.

After that, we chat about what advice we'd hope other versions of ourselves would offer us if we somehow visited other dimensions where other versions of us exist.

Then we discuss whether or not we find much credibility in the conspiracy theory that "aliens" are from an alternate dimension (disclaimer: credibility AS COMPARED TO the conspiracy theory where they come from other planets)?

We talks about what the best -- and worst -- versions of ourselves might be doing in other dimensions. And we wrap it all up with a discussion about our belief (or disbelief) that science will find a way to not only prove, but view/visit other planes in the multiverse?'

In another dimension, you've already left a comment below, but in this reality you have not. Feel free...we do not bite!

In honor of talking about architecture this week, we share with you the framework this episode was built upon:

• When did you realize there was this thing called architecture?
• What is your favorite thing about architecture?
• Your least favorite?
• Do you have a favorite architectural period? When?
• What are some of you favorite architectural works (or even architects)?
• Neither of us live in architectural masterpieces, but...there are cool things about where we live. What are some of your favorite architectural aspects of your home and neighborhood?
• If money and location were no issue, what would your dream home look like?
• Does architecture matter? i.e. Why make something visually appealing vs. simple boxes?
• Has the architecture of a place of employment ever affected the way you looked at work?
• Places like Dubai are known for its architecture. But can such grand places be sustained for decades to come?
• Amazon filed a patent for floating distribution centers. How do you think advances in technology will affect architecture in the near future?
• What is the future of architecture?

Friday, it even snowed in Texas. (It was enough that many blow-hards who ignored recent days in the low to mid 80s are saying, "Haw haw haw, to much for climate change!")

Much of the nation, all the way down to Florida, is in the grip of cold and snow and ice.

It seemed like a good time to talk about winter.

* * *

We kick this week off talking about the first winters we remember, and then leap to where winter ranks for us compared to other seasons. After that, we talk about the worst -- and best -- winters we remember. Sticking to best and worst, we also share our favorite winter memory...as well as a winter horror story.

Find out the coldest winter weather we've ever experienced...and what we like most -- and least -- about winter.

We discuss how winters have changed for us since childhood before chatting about some of our favorite winter activities...and the winter activities we aren't so fond of.

And we wrap it all up with why we love (or hate) winter.

You're probably cold and maybe even snowed in; it's a good time to leave a comment below...

According to many people, 2016 was a dumpster fire. A lengthy election season in the US and a bunch of dead celebrities didn't help matters. Others didn't see it as bad.

For our first episode of Men in Gorilla Suits of 2017, we take a look back at the year that was...

* * *

We begin with how we rang in 2016. From there, we jump right to our best memory of 2016.

A lot of celebrities died in 2016. We talk about the celebrity death that hit us hardest -- and then we chat about how we plan to deal with the results of the 2016 election this year...and beyond.

We discuss things we discovered in 2016, and then devote some time to our favorite -- and least favorite -- things about the year.

We talk about things we brought into our lives in 2016...and some things we shed.

After that, we talk about our favorite accomplishments of the year...and chat about some of the trips we took.

As nice as it is looking back, we like to end by looking toward the future. We wrap up the episode with our feelings about 2017 holds.

How was 2016 for you? Any resolutions or plans for 2017?

It's easy to say, "Nobody's honest anymore!" but were we ever honest to begin with? Or has, perhaps, the ability to research fact from fiction made us more honest?

Why people tell the truth -- or lie -- is this week's topic.

* * *

We begin back in the past, when we first became aware of truth and lies. Find out if we were honest or liars as children...and how we fare as adults. We also devote some time to whether or not the people we know (or whom we're even close to) tell the truth.

Truth in media has become a hot topic of many conversations. Does truth in media exist anymore? Also: has truth always been nebulous, or is that a recent development?

Then we get a bit deeper and talk about whether it's even possible to know the truth about anything at all.

Do people in power sometimes have to lie? We devote some time to that before moving on to whether or not there is a Real Ultimate Truth™ in the universe.

And we wrap it up by discussing if there will ever be a time humans are truthful...or if some form of lying will always be with us...

In the year 2000, flying cars will take us to work and robots will babysit our children and walk our dogs. We will vacation on the moon and Mars; all our needs will be taken care of. Our only fear is an attack from Galagaxian-7...or maybe a portal opening from a fantasy realm and dragons loose in the streets. Lines blur between Macondo, City of Mirrors and our world; somewhere in northern Wisconsin, an English bulldog controls the forces of gravity.

Speculative fiction is often viewed as the genre of pulps, but so many classics we're used to are speculative works -- even though we do not see them as such.

This week, we devote an episode to speculative fiction...

* * *

We begin by defining what speculative fiction is to us, and then talk about the first speculative work we fell in love with. After that, it's on to why people love speculative fiction so much...while others hate it.

Find out if we have ever written speculative fiction...and if we think there's room for speculating in literary novels (or if here are already speculative literary novels out there).

Next, we discuss the differences (or similarities) of speculative fiction and magical realism...and whether or not we should consider all fiction speculative fiction.

We run through some of our favorite works of speculative fiction before chatting about what speculative fiction does that other forms of fiction can't.

Finally, after devoting a bit of time to things we've not seen done with speculative fiction that we'd like to see, we speculate about what the future of speculative fiction looks like.

Feel free to speculate all you want in the comments below...

"Duuuuuuuuude! Where'd you get that gnarly shirt?"

"Chess King!"

"Excellent!"

"Where you headed?"

"Gonna get me an Orange Julius and then wander Spencer's Gifts..."

"Awesome. I'll catch up with you after I pick up the new Van Halen album at Camelot Music..."

This week, we're talking about malls!

* * *

We kick it off with our first trips to mall and our impression of the places as kids. After that, we talk about our main memories of 80s mall culture.

Find out if we were those kids who hung out at the mall (spoiler: we were!) and which malls we considered our home bases for rampant consumerism.

We chat about the best places to hang out in malls...as well as some of the more ridiculous mall stores we've encountered.

Malls come and go; in honor of that, we devote a little time to chatting about dying malls and what it's like to be inside an abandoned mall. After that, we talk about some of the reasons why malls shut down.

But there are places where malls are still a thing. We discuss why that is before moving on to out favorite malls ever.

If you listen to the show regularly, you know that Shawn volunteers quite a bit this time of year...and sometimes, his volunteering takes him to malls. We chat about how often we find ourselves in malls before wrapping it all up with the future of the shopping mall.

We live in hurried times. Text messages, email, and many other things vie for our attention. At work, managers ask, "How's that coming along?" sometimes just hours after you've given them an update about a task.

It would seem to many that patience is a thing of the past. But is it really?

People still wait for things. Granted, in many instances, we've figured out ways to make those waits shorter, but if you are human, you've probably waited for something this week. And even if you turned to your smartphone or some other distraction...really, that's another form of patience. (You've still accepted the wait.)

But then there are those weird people like Christopher, who still take pleasure in simply sitting and waiting. He'd argue, though, that there's not much difference between the thoughts in his head and someone going to their phone to pass the time. Some might say, "Well, he's patiently waiting and thinking about story ideas, instead of wasting time on his phone," but Shawn has written multiple novels on his phone.

This is all getting a bit off topic...

This week, we talk about patience (and the need for immediacy).

* * *

We begin by talking about the first thing we remember "needing" right away...and whether or not we were patient kids. Also, we discuss whether or not we are patient adults.

Has the Internet affected patience and people's need for immediacy? We chat about that before moving on to how patience and immediacy have affected trends in productivity.

Next, we talk about how patience and immediacy factor into the work most people do. After that, find out if we prefer a slower or faster pace of life.

We often talk about Millennials on the show. Many older people say Millennials lack patience, but is that lack of patience truly real; and if so, is it truly the domain of that generation...or has the urge for immediacy affected other generations as well?

We discuss whether or not patience and immediacy are mutually exclusive ideas, and whether immediacy ever has its place and if patience isn't always such a virtue.

And we wrap it all up in the future: will we find more ways to do all the things right now, or will we become more patient for some reason?

On February 7, 2013, two of the greatest [and humblest] minds mankind has ever known sat down in front of a Zoom H2n portable digital recorder and...talked.

About acting grown up.

It is the one event in history more impressive than putting an American flag on the moon.

Two hundred episodes later, the Men in Gorilla Suits are still going strong...

* * *

Instead of the usual single topic being the focus of the episode, we take a look back, seeing how our feelings have changed regarding older topics...

From Episode 3, we discuss how conspiracy theories have not only gone more mainstream than ever...but how they are, at least in part, responsible for the current President-Elect of the United States of America.

Then it's a step back to the first episode, in which we not only discuss how our perceptions about being adult geeks have changed...but whether or not we are happier with our adult lives.

Episode 89 found us chatting about patriotism, which ended up being largely about nationalism. We look back and see how much has changed in that regard in just two years. (Hell, even in the last two weeks!)

In episode 54, we talked about entitlement. Find out if we think it's a bigger (or smaller) problem than it used to be. (Really, we didn't mean for this episode to be largely about the 2016 US Presidential Election!)

We discussed podcasting in episode 105, and we do so again today by devoting a bit of time to how much podcasting has changed in the past couple years.

Episode 108 was [largely] a celebration of apathy. Find out if we've been able to continue practicing focused apathy to better our lives since recording the episode.

We devoted Episode 168 to motivation. We chat about whether or not our drive for things has changed much since then...and if we've seen others more or less motivated to do the things they want to do in life.

Episode 153 was all about being American (and what it means to be American). We talk about what that means to us -- and the world -- has changed recently.

What we didn't tell you is that this entire episode was recorded 200 years in the future. Which is convenient because we also like to talk about Star Trek. According to the Trek timeline, last year (2215) saw the Drema Quadrant mapped for the first time...and we're just years away from making first contact with the Klingon Empire. Find out how accurate Star Trek was in predicting the universe in which we now live, in 2216.

Also: we hate to break it to you all, but Earth is long gone. We wrap up Episode 200 discussing whether or not we're better off without that little rock and leaving the solar system in which we were born long behind us.

* * *

Last week was Thanksgiving in the United States. Whether you've listened to just part of one episode of Men in Gorilla Suits or allowed us to steal away roughly 235 hours of your life (almost 10 entire days!), thank you so much!

(We probably shouldn't have put it in that way...now that you know how much time you've lost listening to us babble, we'd fully understand if you never listened again...)

The frantic nature of the Harlem Shake may have given us the Mannequin Challenge. Others choose to express themselves by trying to eat a spoonful of cinnamon without choking...or they throw it in Mom's face and jump off bridges because all their friends are:

Humans love doing stupid things because others are doing them. And sometimes those things aren't so stupid and catch on. We incorporate them into life so they become trends.

Fads and trends is the topic this week on Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We kick it off with the first fad we remember seeing...and then the first fad we took part in. After that, we establish the difference between a fad and a trend.

Find out if we ever kept up with trends -- and if we do so now (and why). After that, we talk about the last time we considered ourselves trendy.

Shawn once started a fad in his school. (Trust us, you'll want to find out what it was!)

We devote some time to the dumbest -- and coolest -- fads we've ever seen. After that, we talk about what we'd like to see become a fad or trend.

And we wrap it all up with the future of fads and trends.

So...that election. You know, the one that said, "Hey, you might not claim to be a bigot or racist, but if you voted for the doughy orange one, you're at least okay with bigotry of sorts." At the very least, in the words of Hasan Minhaj:

You personally may not be a racist, sexist xenophobe, but that comes with the package. So if you take that deal, what you're telling me is, 'Hey, man, I don't hate you. I just don't care about you.'

Because the Gorillamen are disappointed that people voted -- at least in part -- for these things, disappointment seemed like a fitting topic this week.

# # #

We kick off the week's talk with the first time we remember being disappointed, and then jump to whether or not we were often disappointed as children...and even today, as adults.

Find out our biggest disappointments in life and the most recent thing to disappoint us.

After that, we talk about how we deal with disappointment -- and why some people seem to deal well with disappointment, while it destroys the lives of others.

We chat about how expectations and reality factor into disappointment before discussing whether or not we agree with quotes about disappointment like, "Disappointment just means something better is around the corner."

Is it possible to do everything right in one's approach to an endeavor and still see nothing come from it? We devote some time to that thought, and then talk about how often we're disappointed in other people.

And we wrap it all up with advice we'd give someone who is often disappointed.

Feel free to share any of your thoughts about this week's topic in the comments below.

It's funny that this week's show is about time. Shawn's recently been busy, so we didn't record on our usual night. Then Christopher had an early day in the office on Tuesday, so Monday night recording was a no-go. Tuesday night in America was election night. (You might have heard a thing or two about that...)

So, it's funny that we're talking about time when this is the third week in a row with little commentary and Christopher just cutting and pasting our talking points for the episode below.

Tick...tock... Tick...tock...

# # #

• When did you first become aware of the nature of time?
• What's the weirdest time schism you've experienced?
• When did/does time pass the slowest for you? The fastest?
• Do you believe time is a thing that must be kept guarded, safe from waste?
• Are you time-obsessed?
• Do you believe humans can manipulate time?
• Do you think time moves forward in a linear fashion?
• As you get older, do you notice any changes in the passage of time?
• What do you spend the most time doing, generally?
• What would you like to spend more time doing?
• What's the most annoying thing to you about time?

We recorded way later than usual this week, and to top that off, game seven of the World Series went into extra innings...so Christopher didn't get to put the episode together after recording. But here it is, all shiny and chrome the morning after the Chicago Fuckin' Cubs won the Motherfuckin' World Fuckin' Series!

# # #

Just the list, again, since the show is going up a bit later and there's a bit of a rush this week with other things...

• What is the first thing you remember annoying you?
• What is the thing that annoys you today?
• Are you easily annoyed these days?
• How do you handle annoying people?
• Have you ever been accused of being annoying? (And was the accusation accurate)?
• What is the last thing that annoyed you?
• People say technology is the greatest thing…when it’s working correctly. Do you think technology has added to our annoyances? (If so, how?)
• Do you think people look for reasons to be annoyed? (If so, why?)
• “First world problems” has become a rallying cry by those who are annoyed by people who are annoyed over little things. But…are there annoyances (even those deemed “first world problems”) that are justified? (If yes, what are some of those things?)
• Most of us have seen a news story about people who reached a certain point where something minor was the last straw for them snapping. How bad are accumulated annoyances?
• For those who are easily annoyed, what are some things you’d suggest for letting some of that stress go?
• In the coming years, do you think humanity will become more annoyed by things, less annoyed by things, or just stay the same level we’re at now?

It's a really busy week, so no commentary -- just our talking points in a nice, neat list:

• How old were you when you first experienced irrational fear?
• What was your first phobia?
• Have you ever had a debilitating phobia?
• Have you known anyone who had a debilitating phobia?
• Who has the strangest phobia that you know?
• Have you ever gotten over a phobia? How?
• Are you currently phobic about anything?
• Are phobias something we're born with, or something we're taught?
• Can phobias serve any useful purpose?
• Has a phobia ever stopped you from doing something?
• If you had to take on a severe, incurable phobia, which one would you choose? Why?

Some of us love the call of the wild and sleeping beneath the stars; some of us live for take-out and convenience.

This week, we dedicate an hour and change to the great outdoors...

* * *

We begin as we often do: back in the past. We talk about the first kind of outdoor recreation we remember doing, and then leap to our favorite things to do outside as kids...and now, as adults.

Find out if we think outdoor activities are important to the development of kids...and our favorite things to do outside today. Also, we discuss whether or not we feel being outside is important beyond levels of simple personal satisfaction...and then we share some of our favorite outdoor memories.

We chat about outdoor activities and trips we'd love to do, including what we'd do if money and time were no object.

We live in a fast-paced world where we hear some people even listen to podcasts at 2X speed to take more in. Find out if we think we lose anything by living such hurried lives often away from nature. Sticking to that idea, also listen to us talk about the role the Internet and technology play in how we interact with the natural world.

And, as always, we wrap it up in the future; this time, chatting about what the future holds for outdoor recreation.

You will do as we say. If you do not do as we say, there will be consequences.

For many, that's what authority is -- someone with perceived power ruling over others.

But authority is also just being the person who has the authority to sign off on documents...things like that.

Really, though...we stick more with the first example of authority this episode...

* * *

We begin by talking about the first authority we recognized in life...and then whether or not our parents were seen as authority figures when we were growing up. We stick to that a bit more and discuss how our parents compared to friends' parent where authority was concerned.

Find out if we have a problem with authority [yes, we do] and when the problem started for each of us. We also chat about why we think authority can make us bristle a bit.

We devote some time to current authority figures in our lives, and whose authority we refuse to recognize -- as well as who we will listen to.

Many people say we must have authority for a society to survive, but is that true? We devote some time to that before talking about whether we follow authority more or less than others we know. And find out what gives someone enough authority that we will actually follow them.

We wrap it all up with the future of humanity's relationship to authority.

Now...respect our authority and leave a comment below!

Really, podcasting is beneath us -- we only do this to be ironic. Our true fans listen to us on vinyl while drinking craft beer you've never heard of in exclusive bars meant to look like dives, even though they aren't. All your thoughts are provincial; you simply don't have what it takes to run with us.

We're sooooooo over The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, and Bon Iver -- you know, the bands you're just now discovering. Our background music is a single note from Velvet Underground's "Lady Godiva's Operation" extended for hours while an Icelandic band only three people know of sings about the plight of being so misunderstood.

It's not that we're better than you, but...we're simply better than you!

If that makes us pretentious, well, then...call us pretentious. We're not so pretentious that we refuse to do a podcast about the subject...

* * *

We begin by talking about the first time we became aware of this thing called pretension, and then jump to how pretentious we are on a scale of 1-10. Find out what does bring out certain pretensions in us -- and why we think hipsters are so pretentious.

Then we chat about what is wrong about being pretentious...and whether or not anything good can come from pretension.

After a discussion about why we think pretensions are important to people, we devote some time to whether or not becoming more pretentious as a society comes with being civilized.

Find out if we think being pretentious lends itself to also becoming a bully -- and who stands as the most pretentious group or person we know.

We devote a little bit of time talking about if it even matters to us to put pretentious people in their places...and what we do in those rare instances.

And we wrap it up pondering whether or not Americans will grow more pretentious in the future -- as well as the rest of the world.

If you like bands no one's ever heard of, or feel you're better than others simply for what or who you know, leave a comment below!

Men in Gorilla Suits consists of two middle class guys doing a thing they enjoy doing. Sometimes we talk about serious issues. The class system in America affects many people, and that's what we're talking about this week...

* * *

We kick the week off by talking about which class we consider ourselves to be -- as well as chatting about the class or classes we've lived in over the course of our lives.

We discuss whether or not a class divide exists in America, and what other factors (besides money) contribute to class hierarchy.

We devote some time to how we've seen different classes treated in the towns where we live...and if we have ever treated people differently based on the class they are in.

There's much talk in this political season about the erosion of the middle class, so we talk about that a bit -- and then we move to whether or not it's possible to move up or sideways in a class structure.

Much of the heart of this week's episode resides in this discussion point: In America, do you think that a lot of what some people do is to avoid moving down in the class structure? Or is it to try to move up?

Find out how we'd solve the class problem in America...and what we feel the future holds for class systems.

The Gorillamen have been on the road in the last month. Right now, so many people who live in one place are working in other places. Even with technology that brings us together, we still travel for business...a lot!

Some people hate it, while others not only like it -- they seem to live for it.

It's time to catch your flight and listen to this week's Men in Gorilla Suits episode all about...business travel!

* * *

We begin by talking about whether or not our parents traveled much with work...and then move on to our first business trips, including our longest time away from home for work.

Find out how much we travel for work today, including our most recent business trip.

Many people have trips lined up -- find out if we are those kinds of people.

Then we discuss if business trips are even necessary, given recent advances in technology that allow us to work with others remotely.

After that, we chat about our best -- and worst -- business trip memories.

There are people out there who live for business travel. We talk about why we think some people prefer business travel to being around home, and then chat about our favorite -- and least favorite -- things about traveling for work.

And we wrap it all up with a discussion about the future of business travel.

Wasn't there just an Avengers or Captain America movie? What music is popular this month? You've seen Stranger Things, right? Oh yeah, can I get a cheer for FOOTBALL SEASON?! Geeks have finally won the good fight, to the point that even geeks can't keep up with the very thing they are.

Pop culture has always moved along with speed. For years, top 40 music lists changed on a weekly basis. TV shows came and went. Movies were once only there for a week or two before moving on.

But with craving comes ways to get more. Music got more diverse, cable and the Internet changed the ways we thought about television, and now theaters have 25+ screens to keep up with demand.

Wrap it all up in hundred dollar bills, and people will churn out as much as Americans (and the rest of the world) can consume. (Because if we're good at one thing in America, it's consumption!)

Today, you so much as blink and you missed 20 trends. Add to it Internet memes, YouTube videos, and so many other things, and it seems like we're all traveling near the speed of light and still being passed by pop culture.

Cultural acceleration is the topic of this week's Men in Gorilla Suits!

* * *

We begin with something not-at-all about this episode: talking about the fastest we've ever traveled in a motor vehicle. Then we get into this week's actual topic, kicking it off with whether or not culture seems to have sped up.

We jump to a cultural trend we found out about after it had it's time in the spotlight...and chat about whether or not missing it made us feel old.

Find out when we last felt we were on the cutting edge of culture -- and the first thing to happen culture-wise that we just didn't get, or that even made us feel irrelevant.

We then discuss whether or not we think there's an age when one naturally fades from the cutting-edge of pop culture. After that, we talk not only about if there are pop culture standbys that always remain relevant...and what those things might be. Find out why we think some things will always work on a cultural level.

Because we're middle aged, we devote time to discussing if we think people in their late 30s - 50s have always felt that culture speeds up relative to their age -- or if culture really is accelerating.

And we wrap it all up with this: what's the next big pop culture thing?

We know it's so early 2000s to leave a comment on a blog, but if you are so inclined, have your say!

God damned atheists! Always being all up in our faces with, "There is no God!" while vaping and brushing dandruff off their trilbies (or is it trilbys?)...another reason to hate those neck-bearded mouthbreathers!

Here's the thing: atheists are all assholes...at least it seems that way if you go online to look for them, where -- sadly -- many people are first exposed to atheism. (And where, if we're being honest, even good people of all types often come across as assholes.)

It's almost akin to being introduced to Christianity by a hell-and-brimstone, neo-conservative Baptist shit-storm of a church.

Why...it's almost like NO group of zealots have a lock on absolute asshat-ery!

But here's the real thing: atheists aren't all assholes. Religious people aren't all bad guys (even those hated Muslims, although it can be hard to convince Christian and atheist zealots of that...it's almost like they do have something in common after all!). Sure, the Gorillamen may not get how otherwise rational individuals can believe in absolute constructs, but we're not willing to say all religious people are ignorant assholes wandering the world fueled by little more than their brain stems.

This week, a life-long atheist and his buddy talk about...ATHEISM!!!

* * *

We kick it off talking about when we first became aware of these things called atheists. Then we jump to the following:

• Do you consider yourself an atheist?
• What is an atheist to you?

After that, we leap to the new atheist stereotype: neck-bearded, trilby-wearing, vaping mouth-breathers (with a dash of misogyny). Is that accurate or not?

Find out what effect the Internet has had on atheism...as well as if the Internet meme linking atheists to Hitler, Stalin, and Mao bears any weight.

Without religious rules to guide them, how can atheists have morals?

Then we chat about the downsides of being an atheist.

Lately, there's been a rise in people identifying as non-believers -- and even out-right atheists. Find out what we think has contributed to that rise (aside from the Internet), and then find out who are favorite famous atheists are.

We go a little deeper and discuss whether or not one can find beauty in existence through atheism (and how)...and we wrap it all up by talking about the future of atheism.

At least one of us has been pinned down and assaulted for not believing in any gods, so do any damage you please in the comments below.

By the time you listen to this episode, somewhere in the United States one person will be murdered.

Not killed in an accident, and no suicide...straight up muthafuckin' murdered!

Someone taking the life of another!

We're fascinated by murder in America. We've raised Hannibal Lecter to hero status, and we will never be lacking in true crime television, movies, and books.

One-eight-seven is police code for murder, and what episode is this?

Keep an eye behind you and listen to us talk about murder for awhile, all the while remembering that statistically, a real person will be murdered somewhere in America before you're done...

* * *

Oh, sure...we're goofy up front and ask if either one of us have been murdered, but then Christopher ruins it all by asking Shawn if he knows anybody who's been murdered.

Find out if anyone has ever attempted to kill us and whether or not we were ever afraid we would be murdered.

Confession time: have we ever murdered anybody? Okay, so more realistically, find out if we ever thought about murdering someone.

After that, we discuss whether or not we are fascinated by murder. We keep that line of thought and talk about whether or not we think murder is a big part of America...and if the United States has more problems with murder than other parts of the world.

Then, finally, we get down to talking about the murders Americans seem to love: serial killers. Do we have a bigger problem with serial killers in America than other parts of the world? And what's the scariest murder we've ever heard of.

We devote some time to the unsolved murders that fascinate us most -- as well as our favorite TV or movie murder.

If you watch the news (or listen to a certain politician whose hair looks like it survived a gangland stabbing), you'd think the murder rate was skyrocketing. But it's not. We chat about what we've done right in reducing the number of murders in America...and then wrap it all up talking about the future of murder.

So grab a butcher knife and make a bloody wreck the comments...or just stop by and say hi.

Everything...in its right place...

Cleanliness is next to Godliness...

Cleanliness has its place. It keeps us healthy, until it makes us sick if we take things too far.

Need something fast, organization and cleanliness gets you there quickly. Electronically or physically, there's no denying that cleanliness has its place.

So...we are keeping this description tidy and letting you all know this week's topic is all about cleanliness!

* * *

We kick it off by talking about the first time we realized there was this thing people did called "cleaning." After that, we talk about our cleanliness factors in the following times:

• Childhood
• Teen Years
• Current Days

Find out where we place ourselves on a scale of 1 - 10 (with 10 being obsessively clean) when it comes to personal hygiene. Also find out if we are so clean that we deliberately avoid situations that can leave us muddy, dusty, or sweaty.

Ever lied awake at night thinking, "I wonder the longest the Gorillamen have gone without properly bathing?" We give you that answer...and then talk about how clean (or dirty) we keep our vehicles.

We then discuss whether or not Americans are obsessively clean (they are, at least where showering is involved).

There are conceptual phases of cleanliness. Find out if we have dirty minds...or if we keep clean processes when it comes to writing and other things in our lives.

And we close out this week's show with this: Have become clean to the point that we've made bacteria stronger? What role will cleanliness play in the future?

Let us know how clean (or not-so-clean) you are in the comments below...

That wacky war, all good for the economy and giving nationalistic asshat Americans tiny hard-ons!

But is it all that bad? Have there been justified wars? Or is it all just proof that humans are a waste of carbon?

We talk all about war on this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We begin this week's show on a happy note: talking about when we first became aware of war. (Fortunately, it was not in the same manner so many children have learned about war...by actually being in the middle of a friggin' war! WTF, adults?!) Then we discuss our reactions upon learning that we could die by enemy gunfire or a burst in the sky.

We then jump to whether or not we think any of America's [recent] wars have been justified...or any of our wars at all!

Things get even sadder when we chat about what has shaped history more: war or peace? Then it's on to family members who went to war, died in war, and what those who returned from war were like.

Find out if either of us have ever worked for the military-industrial complex, and then listen to us prattle on about whether or not war is good for the economy...and whether or not the American economy could survive without wars.

What's the next war we think we'll see America step into or start? We talk about that. And then we almost laugh (and cry) when answering this: do we think we'll see an end to war in our lifetime?

We wrap it all up on this happy note: is war ever necessary?

Hit the trenches, and leave a comment below if you are so inclined.

We don't know how many photos were taken worldwide in the time it took to write this sentence, but we're guessing it was a ridiculous amount.

With all the professional cameras, amateur cameras, security cameras, and smartphones, the number of photos taken in a day [even in small towns] must be high -- let alone, all around the world.

Camera technology changes quickly; the ability to take quality photos from things we carry in our pockets is beyond imagination to those who once looked at Fotomat kiosks as the epitome of convenience.

Oh, snap: the topic this week -- obviously -- is photography!

* * *

We begin by going back in time to talk about the first photos we remember affecting us...and then jump to whether or not we took many photos when we were younger. Find out what our first decent cameras were...and also if we've ever made money with photography. There's no denying times have changed when it comes to photography...we discuss whether or not shooting (and processing) film is somehow more "real" than shooting digital images.

We chat about why we think photography is such a popular form of art, and even devote time to whether or not we think photography is generally on par with painting, music, and writing. Sticking to that kind of thinking, we talk about whether or not photography gear matters in capturing good images.

It seems you can't go more than 10 minutes without seeing a selfie. We discuss whether or not the ability to share images through social media has made us vain...and how having cameras with us at all times (smartphones) has changed photography.

Find out how important photos are in our lives...as well as some of our all-time favorite photographs.

And we wrap it all up in the future...chatting about what photography will be like in the years to come.

Few things say "cultural appropriation" like a thin, white model -- barely dressed -- and wearing a warbonnet on her head. At the same time, there are so many things from other cultures people don't think twice about in America. Some will argue that appropriation of any kind is terrible; others claim it's bound to happen in a place where many people come together...that it can even help others come to understand what they may have once feared.

Cultural Appropriation is the topic of this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We begin with whether or not we identify as white -- and what it means to be a white guy in America. After that, we talk about whether or not we identify as American -- and what that means to us. Next, we chat about whether or not we fit wholly within what most consider a white, male American...or if we've borrowed traits and ideas from other races and cultures.

We discuss the first thing we remember admiring about a different culture -- and whether or not we attempted to appropriate what we admired into our lives.

We've all appropriated something from other races and cultures...find out what we've brought into our lives and why we chose to focus on those things. (As always, it's mostly about all kinds of food with us!)

Using a scale of 1 - 100, we talk about how much we think we've personally been influenced by other cultures...as well as how much Americans in general have been influenced by others.

For some, cultural appropriation is much more than simply cooking a meal originating elsewhere in the world. We chat about extreme example of cultural appropriation, and then jump to the best -- and silliest -- uses of cultural appropriation we've seen.

Near the end of the episode, we discuss the one idea or concept from another culture we would like to see adopted in America, and then wrap it all up with this: In the future, do we think cultures will borrow from each other more or less?

There are many things in life where strategy and luck come together, but few things living up to that description are as loved as board games.

In ancient times all the way up to right now; played in the dirt or on special tables made for board games -- humans love board games...and the Gorillamen are no different. In fact, this is one of those episodes that made us think, "It took us this long to get to this topic?"

* * *

We begin by going back in time and kicking it all off talking about the first board games we remember. After that, we discuss our favorite board games back then -- and if we still play board games with any regularity today.

Find out what the last board game we've each played was...and why we think board games have such a huge appeal.

We run through lists of our favorite board games, and then dedicate a bit of time to what a Men in Gorilla Suits board game might be like.

Is there a certain kind of mind that's most appealed to playing -- and even making -- board games? And do we see a difference between board games, war games, and table top role playing games - or are they all the same to us?

We chat about our favorite board game memories (Christopher made a grown man cry) and how technology has influenced modern board games...before wrapping it all up by talking about the future of board games.

Do not pass go or collect $200 until leaving a comment about your favorite board games below.

Ask most people if their life is chaotic, and they will say "Oh hell yes!"

There's rushing about for work, taking the kids to 20 different kinds of practices, errands, working around the house, and hours of Candy Crush while watching a myriad TV shows. Teenagers will talk about how much school work they have (and they do!)...as well as the pressure to pick their life path before even experiencing what will become most of their lives. Millennials will talk about how busy they are trying to balance work and life. And we two Gorillamen will talk about chaos in a much different manner.

For us, chaos is an unpredictable system in which certain patterns often emerge. It is not something to be feared, but surfed!

So this week, we talk about all facets of chaos: how for many it's a hectic thing, how it can destroy us all, and even how it's beautiful when viewed a certain way...

* * *

We kick it all off discussing if the universe tends toward chaos or order -- and then jump to which we tend toward in our own lives.

Life can be chaotic. We talk about whether or not it bothers us when our lives are chaotic...and who we know who has the most chaotic life -- and the most ordered.

We get all trippy for a moment and ask if reality is subjective or objective. Sticking to that kind of thinking, we move on to whether or not one's mental attitude can affect the world around them.

Getting back to ourselves, we reveal if we can alter our perceptions and points of view easily. After that, we ask if it's possible to modify reality.

Then we devote some time to the big point of the episode: is there order in chaos? Also: whether or not chaos can be a good thing.

And we wrap it all up talking about the most chaotic our lives have ever been.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about this week's topic in the comments.

Everywhere you turn, lazy Millennials are taking their parents to job interviews, watching their YouTubes, mainlining text messages like junkies, and using slang the rest of us don't understand.

How could such a self-centered, good-for-nothing generation come into existence when their Baby Boomer grandparents and Gen-X parents are so damn flawless?

Or...is that all bullshit? Could Millennials be doing well, all things considered, with what they're being handed? Could it be they are more likely to not care if a black guy is dating a white girl or -- GASP -- if two guys want to marry? Could it be that much of their negative press isn't wholly true; that maybe they write articles about themselves in defense of Gramps in a Crosby, Stills, and Nash t-shirt shaking his cane on his front lawn while his Nirvana-wearing T-shirt son (Bleach t-shirt, at that; you know, to prove they were fans before Nevermind, even though they weren't) throws Pabst Blue Ribbon cans of irony at a 24-year-old passer-by just wanting to pay off her student loans?

Or...could it be something somewhere in between (but probably skewed toward bitter Boomers and jealous Gen-Xers just being grumpy before their time)?

Step into your safe place and listen to this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits!

* * *

We cut right to it at the start and talk about how many Baby Boomers (and Gen Xers to a degree), say Millennials are lazy and financially irresponsible. But is there truth to that? After that we discuss our personal experiences -- good and bad -- with Millennials at work.

We devote some time to the traits we believe Millennials have over those before them...and also where they may be a bit lacking than previous generations.

But one thing is certain: Millennials are cowards compared to Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, right? We destroy that bit of stupid before jumping to why we think Boomers and Gen-Xers have such an issue with Millennials.

Some evidence points to Millennials not being as entrepreneurial as the generations before them. Find out if we think that's true and, if we do, why we think that might be. (And maybe point out that many Boomers and Gen-Xers don't quite get that ways of making money on one's own no longer relies solely on starting a traditional company.)

Next, we get a bit specific, talking about our generation (Gen-X). Are we just jealous that Millennials got more attention and opportunities in their early 20s, while we were handed nothing much at all? (And, if so, doesn't that make us the whinier generation complaining about the generation we spawned?)

You can probably guess by reading this far that we don't have issues with Millennials...you might even say we like them. But...would we want to be a Millennial -- or continue clutching our Dinosaur Jr. CDs and remain Gen-X? (Somewhere in a dark bar outside of Seattle, two 45-year olds are drinking Rainier Beer while arguing about who's better: Mudhoney or Tad! They leave when an old guy drinking a Busch shouts, "I'm sleeping with the ghost of Janis Joplin!" and poops his Depends.)

As positive as we are about Millennials, we do wonder how they will react when Generation Z comes into their own and gets the limelight. We talk about that a bit before moving on to whether or not the so-called "Millennial [distracted] Mind" is real or not. (Hint: Christopher knows 70-year-olds who can't get through an in-person conversation without playing Words With Friends.)

And we close it all out with this: will there be a day a Millennial in a Lorde t-shirt shakes her fist at a GenZer while shouting, "Get off my lawn, ya punk!" (i.e. that Millennials will one day become critical and bitter)?

(If so, we'd still call that progress over sad old men getting riled up about things that really don't matter...)

Be like an old person and leave a comment, 'cause we're afraid of the Snapchats and the Bemes.

For many of us it came with chores. Others, with school. Later, it carried over to our first jobs...and then when we found ourselves out on our own.

Responsibilities.

What is seen as responsible to some is seen as taking on too much for others. In turn, some people look at a person making riches surfing or skateboarding and claim that person isn't responsible...because they aren't in an office job with standing. (Perhaps that's just jealousy that someone figured out a way to make millions doing what they love, while most people are stuck in jobs they'd not do were they independently wealthy.)

What constitutes responsibility is an interesting thing, so that's the topic for this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We begin by talking about our first responsibilities and then move on to when we actually became aware of this thing called responsibility.

Find out if we actively seek out responsibilities today...and if we consider ourselves responsible people. After that, we chat about whether or not we currently have a lot of responsibilities.

We devote some time to discussing the times in our lives when we were the least responsible -- and the most! Sticking to that thought, we get more specific and talk about the least responsible thing we've ever done...as well as the most.

Perception can be a strange thing. We wrap up this episode discussing whether we think people see us as responsible adults or overgrown children...and whether or not those two things are mutually exclusive.

Feel free to do the responsible thing and leave a comment about this episode.

If we say, "What do you think of when you think about performers?" you probably think of an actor, musicians, or maybe even [God forbid] a clown or mime. But chances are you spent your day around performers: people holding back what they really want to say or that guy at work who honestly thinks his desperate attempts to suck up to managers isn't recognized as the corporate version of jazz hands that it is!

We all perform...whether it's looking out over the audience from a stage and overacting in the hope that your father will see in what you do the same thing you do, or saying to your kids, "This breakfast you made is yummy," when it tastes like Play-Doh and cat urine. (Hint: you probably just ate Play-Doh and cat urine.)

Performing of all sorts is the topic this week, so step into the spotlight and claim your 15 minutes!

* * *

We kick it off talking about the first performance we remember actually impressing us, and then talk about performing before others we've done.

Find out if we believe live performances are better than other kinds of performances -- as well as the worst performances we've ever seen. After that, we chat about the last thing we did that we consider performing.

Enough theater and movies -- we jump to talking about work...specifically, what role performing plays when we're at our day jobs. From there, we move on to the role performing plays on social media.

While it's evident that many people take up performing as a desperate attempt at getting attention, are all performers inherently seeking acceptance and attention? And does performing (as entertainment or even at work) inherently mean one is being fake?

We list some of our favorite performers and then chat about how the Internet has changed performing in recent years.

We wrap it all up by talking about what the future holds for performing.

For an encore: wave those jazz hands loud and proud and leave an interpretive dance in the comments.

"I remember it as though it were yesterday: the first time I wiped my butt with a log. It was after I beat up 12 men in a drunken brawl and zipped off with a bunch of strippers in the old Pontiac GTO I restored with my bare hands. Did I ever tell you about that time I punched a moose so hard in the head that it went mad and destroyed a lumber camp? Those bark-skinned pussies didn't know what hit them! But it was out in those woods, living off the land, when a log was all I had at my disposal. You know what it's like when you eat nothing buy protein 'cause yer in the gym all day, pumpin' iron and getting all swole for your next big fight. You may as well be shitting steel girders! Or maybe you don't know, 'cause yer not a real man like me..."

What it is to be "manly" varies over the years and depends who you ask. Some would say there's not even a need for manliness in modern society. It's an interesting enough topic -- what it is to be "manly" -- that we decided to dedicate this week's episode to "manliness."

* * *

We kick it off by defining what manliness means to us -- and then talk about when the concept of "being a man" was introduced to us.

We chat about the most stereotypical manly things we've ever done...as well as the least manly things.

Most males are taught by their fathers what it is to be masculine. Find out if manliness was important to our fathers when we were kids...for themselves (and for us).

Also find out if we consider ourselves manly...and what someone wanting to be more manly would have to do to achieve our version of the concept.

After that, we discuss whether or not the concept of manliness is old fashioned...and if it should become obsolete.

We also talk about if traditionally defined manliness is useful...or if it's actually damaging.

And we wrap it all up with what it will mean in the future to be "manly."

So grit your teeth and let us know what you think about manliness in the comments.

More Americans than not ate at a restaurant this week; in some cases, multiple times.

People begin their day with a stop for coffee and a bite to eat. At lunch, we head out with coworkers to get away from work (and often, depending on the group, talk about work while eating...for the record, we hate those kinds of lunches). Dinners out with family and friends -- it's easier than cooking, after all...or at least it feels that way at the end of a long day when you don't want yet another list of tasks to contend with.

It's just not Americans -- all around the world, from cities to even rural areas, people make a living cooking for others. Because we're fans of restaurants (and have even worked in them), we decided to chat about eating away from home on this week's show.

* * *

We begin with the very first restaurant we remember and then move on to how frequently we went out to eat with family when young -- and today.

We talk about working in restaurants, and then share our favorite local restaurants -- as well as our favorite restaurants anywhere.

Celebrity chefs are big draws, and their restaurants further bolster their coffers. Find out what we think about them. And while on the subject of chefs, there was a time when culinary school was almost deemed just one mere step above prison, but now it's seen as an admirable pursuit. We talk about why we think views have changed over the years.

We share whether or not we prefer fancy restaurants to dives -- and why. Also find out the most expensive meal we've paid for (and even the most expensive meal on someone else's dime).

We close out this week's show chatting about why there are so many restaurants -- and if there's a limit to how many places we can build in honor of food.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about this week's show in the comments.

Christopher is currently sick, so all you get this week is a notice that he's sick and our runsheet. (Cheerier show notes next week.)

* * *

What is the first holiday you remember celebrating?

What was the "big" holiday in your household growing up?

What's your favorite holiday now?

What was your favorite holiday as a kid?

What's the stupidest federally recognized holiday?

What's the stupidest non-recognized holiday?

What isn't a holiday that should be?

Why do you think there are so many holidays?

What holiday do you think Americans should co-opt from another country/culture?

Whose birth or death should be a national holiday?

What do you like most about holidays?

What do you dislike?

On Memorial Day, Christopher saw a couple cop cars behind a truck with a couple kayaks in the back. Christopher was going to buy beer, a substance that has led to more than a few fights in the drink's history. On the way back, the cops were searching the vehicle.

It's not right to stereotype people, but Christopher guessed that maybe they had a little marijuana on them...a substance that has not contributed to nearly as much violence over the years as alcohol.

And yet, the dudes with the kayaks were in trouble from the looks of things. (This point made very well with this video by The Streets)

Trouble is a strange concept to us, so we decided to devote an episode to it. We hope you like it, but if you don't -- worry not because...you're not in any trouble...

* * *

We begin by discussing the first trouble we remember getting into, and move quickly to the last bit of trouble that came our way (as well as the worst trouble we've ever been in).

Next, we get a bit more philosophical and ask if getting in trouble can ever serve a purpose. We also chat about the appeal of getting in trouble.

Find out the who the biggest troublemakers we've ever known are -- and what activity right now gets people in trouble that we don't think should be a big deal. (Hint: If legalized, we'd still not smoke it.)

We discuss whether or not rules and laws prevent trouble...and whether or not society deals with troublemakers well (or generally treat them terribly).

What is it about troublemakers some people are attracted to -- and at what point do troublemakers cross the line for us? Find out right before we end this week's show by asking if we think people will get into more or less trouble in the future.

You won't get in trouble for not leaving a comment, but we'll definitely be happy if you choose to share your thoughts about trouble or this episode.

Bumping your head into cabinets or stubbing toes; chainsaw accidents and car wrecks; mauled by wild animals: All painful things.

But pain goes beyond physical injuries. Emotional pain can lead to physical pain.

Hell, many people believe life is pain.

Whether it's a chronic illness or feelings that cannot be shaken away, part of being human is experiencing pain. So that's the topic for this week's show.

* * *

We begin by talking about the first time we remember being in severe physical pain, and then get even happier by jumping to the first emotional pain we remember experiencing. Then we leap to the present day and discuss the last thing that caused us pain.

We're both getting older (this episode is being loaded the day before Christopher turns 47, and Shawn trails Christopher by 9 years), so we wondered: do we believe we experience more or less pain than most men our ages?

After that, we chat about the worst pain we've ever experienced -- as well as how we deal with pain and reduce its effect on us.

Some say that modern life is an attempt at the avoidance of pain. Find out if we believe there's any truth to that...and if we'd want to live a painless existence.

We wrap it all up by wondering if there is value in pain.

Leaving a comment doesn't hurt; if you are so inclined, have your say about pain!

When we aren't recording podcasts, writing, or doing the other things we do on our own, we're busy working corporate jobs. Corporate America gets a bad rap by many, but it affords us enough security to approach episode 175 of a weekly podcast without an end in sight (or ever missing a week). It has provided us with a higher income than we made at more menial jobs. Some places we've worked have even offered some great perks we'd never have imagined when we first started working in offices.

But we've also seen more than our fair share of layoffs. We've worked long hours to cover the mismanagement of tasks and other things. We've had to hear people complain and gossip about jobs that -- for us -- are a far cry from the days in corn fields, on warehouse floors, and in restaurants being yelled at as an entire team by irate managers. We've seen work/life balance blur in an always-connected society.

We've lived the life for years, so it seemed time to devote an episode to corporations.

* * *

We begin by talking about when we first became aware of these things called corporations (and the jobs that came with them). We then move on to our first corporate jobs; as well as our best -- and worst -- corporate day gigs.

Many people view corporations as inherently evil things, but...is that true? Are they better, worse, or the same as "Mom and Pop Shops"?

There is no denying the reach of corporate interest into politics and the power big companies wield over nations. We discuss Citizen's United (i.e. the corporation as person), and move on to whether or not corporate tax havens and loopholes should be stopped.

Whew...got serious there for a moment! After that, we chat about a movie that seems like a documentary: Office Space. Hear some of our funniest and saddest corporate stories.

We did an entire episode about buzzwords and buss phrases early on; we revisit that when we talk about "corporate speak" leading to a potential problem with communication as a whole...and then we ask if corporate America is getting worse?

And we wrap it all up by discussing the future of corporations.

Fill out your TPS Report and drop it in the comments to have your say!

Chances are, you were bombarded by advertising today -- you probably didn't even realize it. Many of you probably bought stuff today as well. Looking around your home, it's probably full of stuff.

Marketers do what they can to get you to buy, while others tell us all to be appalled by consumerism.

This week, we chat about buying stuff!

* * *

We begin by talking about the first things we bought on a regular basis -- and what we spend the most on today.

We make it clear from the start that yes, we consume stuff; in fact, we chat about how often we go into stores for one thing and come our with a dozen things...and what we do if a store is out of the thing we are there to buy. What then? (And where do we go to buy our stuff?)

If you ever lost sleep thinking, "I wonder how often Shawn and Christopher shop for groceries, clothes, and other things?" then this is your lucky day! We also discuss whether or not we've gone out to purchase something in a major metropolitan area like the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex and failed at the task. (i.e. Is the Metroplex full of all one can hope to buy?)

We chat about people who stockpile purchased items -- and whether or not there's ever a reason to stockpile goods. Are we members of warehouse clubs, or do we feel there's simply no need for them? Find out!

We come right out and answer this question: Do we consider ourselves consumers? (And then we talk about what we consume most.)

Find out what brands we would gladly promote...before we wrap it all up with this question: What is the future of consumerism?

It costs nothing to leave a comment, and the joy you will receive in doing so far exceeds that of buying a gold-plated pony! (So have at it!)

Nothing happens to us if we don't get this show out weekly, but we told ourselves from the start that we would get episodes online by Thursday of every week. 170 episodes in, we've never missed a deadline; in fact, it's not uncommon to post episodes early.

We usually record episodes on Sundays. If recording in person, it's an 11:00 a.m. start time. If we don't meet in person, it's 9:00 p.m. Sunday night on Skype.

While one could argues these are deadlines more than schedules, we both schedule things to various degrees (erring quite heavily toward the side of no real schedules -- just hitting deadlines and remembering the bodies of work we have created to drive us to create even more). Others schedule things down to the seconds (which helps if, say...you're launching a rocket into space -- but it's probably not necessary for daily life).

This week we are on schedule and...talking all about schedules.

* * *

We kick off this week's show talking about the first schedules we remember. Oh, wait...Christopher had his runsheet out of order, so we really begin in the middle, talking about whether or not we prefer schedule things by time or by necessity to complete the thing. After that, we leap to how important schedules are to completing our creative endeavors -- and how important schedules are in our lives.

We devote some time to discussing how we schedule things in our lives (if we use any apps, planners, or other things), and what kinds of schedules work best for us.

Many people swear by books like Getting Things Done and productivity blogs. Find out if any of those things have ever helped us with scheduling; then we chat about whether or not people can go too overboard with their schedules. And sticking to that topic, we talk about whether or not people generally give their kids too much to do.

We've all had to deal with someone not only heavily into scheduling, but also wanting others to follow their methods for scheduling things. We discuss how we deal with those people, and then move on to some commonly scheduled things that could use a revamp. (Okay, so we mostly hammer on the 40-hour work week.)

Finally, we wrap it all up by talking about what advice we'd give people where scheduling is involved.

And right on schedule...we ask that you leave a comment if you are so inclined to discuss this topic further.

By Christopher's own admission, loading this episode will be one of the most boring tasks he completes this week. (Right up there with speaking of himself in third person!) From day jobs, to the times following them, people look to myriad things to alleviate boredom, succeeding to various degrees.

You could say boredom is our shadow, but is there a way to fight it?

Ho hum...this week, we talk about boredom...

* * *

We kick it off talking about the first time we remember experiencing boredom -- as well as our most recent moments of boredom.

Find out what we did to alleviate boredom when young...and today.

We chat about how often we're bored today -- and whether or not it's more (or less) than when we were younger.

We also discuss whether or not one can be bored when they have a lot going on -- and also what always bores us...and what we find boring right now.

We know many bored people. Find out what advice we have for the bored masses in an effort to combat those feelings, as well as the most -- and least -- boring things we do in our lives.

We wrap it all up with this: does boredom ever lead to any good in people's lives?

If you're bored, we have a remedy for that: leave a comment and chat with us!

Do sayings like this motivate you?

If you dream it, you can achieve it...

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

Or does it take something more, like a mentor constantly checking on your progress?

Maybe you hate someone and are like, "I'll be damned if that son of a bitch is successful before me!"

Or perhaps you simply enjoy doing something, so you do it.

There are many reasons people seek out motivation; probably as many as there are to be motivated. That's our topic for this week's episode...

* * *

We begin back in the past, talking about the things that naturally motivated us as children -- and the things for which we needed motivation in order to do.

Find out what motivates us today -- and what we need motivation in order to do even as adults.

After that, we discuss how we feel about motivation as an industry, and why we think many people will pay good money to be motivated by another person.

Clearly, some people are naturally motivated, while others need assistance to do their things. We chat about why that might be before we move on to whether or not people have ever come to us to be motivated.

We talk about groups that are meant to motivate each other (writers groups, meetups, etc.), and then discuss how we stay motivated while working from home.

Is using anger a good or bad way to motivate oneself? (e.g. "That guy will not make it before me, and I will succeed before him if it's the last thing I do!")

And we wrap it all up with this: is there a point at which motivation can be bad?

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Ghoooooooooooooooooooooosts!!!

SpooooOOOOOOoooOOoOOOooooOOoooooky things!

The OTHER side...

The truth is out there...and...it's not what they want you to believe.

This is the episode in which you will hear Christopher almost come unhinged. This is the episode you will see (and hear) the Gorillamen fly the "No Ghosts" banner -- but they are not Ghostbusters...

And yet...they have experienced "paranormal things."

That's the topic of this week's episode.

(You might even walk away from it being like, "Okay, I do NOT want to push that Christopher button...holy hell - I can't believe he said that about one of his favorite people of all time!)

* * *

We kick it all off by talking about the first time we were introduced to...THE PARANORMAL!!!

Find out if we believed in ghosts when we were kids, and what -- if we believed -- those ghosts were (are).

Déjà vu. We've all experienced it, but does it mean we're psychic? What is that feeling that we've not only been here before, but that we can predict...the FUUUUUUUUTURE (at least for 5-15 seconds -- but rarely longer)?

Find out if we have ever experienced precognition...and also: if we believe any psychic powers exist (and if so, which ones).

If you know us, you know this is not a favorable episode if you believe in paranormal things. Find out what we think are the silliest paranormal things to us (this is where Christopher may have crossed a line and angered someone very dear to him), and also: if we know of any paranormal claims that defy explanation.

We wrap it all up with what we'd need in order to actually believe a paranormal claim.

Feel free to leave a comment...while it's probably clear we lean toward the side of skepticism -- as long as you don't insist our experiences are "something more," we won't bite...

And in honor of this episode, the best "ghost" thing Christopher has ever seen...posted by Shawn on social media...

GHOST PEE!!!

Oh yeah...that sound in the background near the end of the episode? Not ghosts -- but a snoring Boston terrier!

Oi, ya c@unts -- we f&cking did it! We went an entire f@cking episode of our sh$tty podcast without any G!d-d%mned swearing! That's cooler than sh*t -- especially because the motherf%cking episode is about f#cking SWEARING!!!

And it wasn't easy because our f#cking signoff is "Chill the f*ck out, and make the d@mn thing!" No s%it -- look at that motherf@cking image up top!

We're badass b%stards for not dropping so much as a b%tch, @ss, or other sh%tty word that's okay of f!cking television...let alone f&ck and c@nt and other words that make people cringe like sh$t-monkeys!

So open your f@cking earholes and listen to our only "clean" f&cking episode to date!

* * *

We kick it all off with our first memory of swearing -- and then talk about the first time we swore (and if we got in trouble).

After that, it's on to places we don't swear (if they even exist) -- or people around whom we refuse to swear.

This whole episode came to be after reading that Adam Carolla is doing a couple "clean" shows to attract big advertisers. Some podcasters say swearing limits audience size. We discuss our thoughts on that, and then chat about whether we have (or would) not swear in order to get a specific deal.

We discuss if certain words cross the line (fuck and cunt vs. shit and damn) -- and whether or not that makes any sense to us.

By the time we get to it, we've established things, but we talk about when we were "allowed" to swear at home...and if we dare swear around our parents today.

Some say that swearing is a sign of low intelligence...but is that shit fucking true? Hell, there are even advantages to swearing -- and we talk about that shit!

Is a corporate environment elevated to the point that swearing is wrong, there, or is it as okay to speak in an office as though you're on a factory floor?

Bleeping words we all know or writing F#ck instead of Fuck. Is that shit goofy, or does it make sense -- even though we know what's being written or said?

We close out this episode by talking about how violence is far more accepted by many people who will storm out of a movie in which someone says fuck. Is there a certain hypocrisy to that, or is watching a hero put down 30 bad guys more acceptable than someone stubbing their toe and saying shit?

Leave a fucking comment if you want. Or don't if you're like, "Screw those @ssholes and their f&cking potty mouths!"

It seems one can't watch the news without hearing that ISIS, their neighbors, or even the weather is out to get them. While we're at work, criminals are stealing our stuff. No one has money; we're all facing a Mad Max future...and it's all the fault of politicians and the people who follow them.

There's a lot of money in making people secure (or feeling secure after you've scared them). This week, we're all about security.

* * *

We kick it off talking about if we feel more or less secure than we once did, and then step back to the first thing that made us feel secure...and the thing that shattered our sense of security.

After that, we discuss the least secure times in our lives -- as well as the most secure time.

Security and stability are the most important things in some people's lives. Find out how important it is to us -- as well as the thing we're most worried about upsetting our security. We chat about what we feel would make us more secure, and whether or not there's too much emphasis today on safety and security.

Find out our plan for an active-shooter scenario at work...or if we even have one. We also devote some time to whether or not closing the borders would make America more secure.

And we wrap it all up with what we think security will look like in the future.

Feel free to leave a comment, or gaze below at the horror that is Shawn with Nick Jonas's fake nipples over Shawn's eyes. (It makes sense if you listen to the episode. Okay, not really...)

Combine the elitism of the staunchest fan of classical music with desperation and a Hammond keyboard or synthesizer and what do you get?

Progressive rock!

Ah, prog rock, you wacky thing. The musical equivalent of an awkward night of Dungeons and Dragons with a table full of mouth-breathing cretins; the music of "nice guys" and straight up assholes who thought the best way to win over the opposite sex was by telling them how wrong they were in their musical choices -- and to prove it, put on Yes' Tales from Topographic Oceans or Relayer (or worse for the unsuspecting woman: both albums back to back!).

We are not beyond seeing the weakness and ridiculousness in the things we held [or still hold] dear to us. But come on...entire albums dedicated to a concept was going to win over only a handful of people, regardless of gender. But for those of us who "got it" new worlds opened to us. Prog rock -- largely -- was the realm of desperate men who thought, "If I can't beat the crap out of the jocks, I can at least show off how intellectually superior I am to EVERYONE by my choices in music." (Or maybe you just liked the music -- it's possible.)

If it sounds like we're going to dedicate the next hour to slamming on prog rock and its fans, you're wrong. Cut us, and we bleed musical synthesizer backing layers in weird time signatures, wrapped in fantasy lyrics (and so much more).

We will defend how hokey what we love was [IS!!!] until our last breath.

Yes (<--- see what we did there?)...this is our tribute to the very music that kept us alive through our teen years and into adulthood (and hell, a blood that still flows through us today): prog rock!

* * *

We kick off this episode Living in the Past, when we talk about the very first bit of prog rock we remember listening to. Then we move on to how we define prog rock...and even show our hand and reveal whether or not we find prog rock just a bit hokey or not (and why).

MUTHAFUCKIN' SYNTHESIZERS, Y'ALL!!!

Can prog rock exist without synthesizers? Or, at the very least, we discuss just how important synthesizers are to progressive rock. Closely on the heels of the synthesizer is the concept album in its importance. We discuss not just the appeal of the concept album, but share what we feel is the ultimate concept album. (We match up on this one!)

Prog rock existed in a very tight time in popular culture -- and we'd be remiss to not address the link between prog rock and the many other things that came to light during that time. So we devote time to that.

And while we define what we feel makes up prog rock, there are bands that many don't put on their lists of progressive rock bands. We chat about those bands before coming out and telling you all what are our favorite progressive rock bands.

Face it: prog rock is trippy. We talk about the importance of drug use on the music, and then jump to whether progressive rock is largely the domain of guys -- or if it crosses genders. (But come on...largely, at least, it's a sausage fest!)

In the homestretch we discuss what we deem the ultimate prog rock album -- and wrap it all up with the influence of prog rock on modern music...and even music in the future. (Because we must have waited our whole lives for this moment (X6!).)

Feel free to share your favorite prog rock moments, bands, or anything else in the comments (because if you like prog rock, we know there are few things in life more important than establishing who you are by the bands you still love...and should you feel that's a poke at you, prog rocker-man (face it: odds are, you probably have a penis -- with an exception or two of female regulars to the show!), the person writing this is listening the Jethro Tull's "Jack in the Green" while typing this...and while [Christopher] will admit that there is a bigtime hokey factor on Songs from the Wood, he will stab you in the eye with a holly branch as he draws his last breath in defense that the album is one of the best homage's to nature ever written..)

So yeah, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder...and let your hair blow in the breeze!

* * *

One more thing: in the episode, we tease a fellow podcaster named Mitch Todd about a prog rock tune he was once part of. We say "tease," but if you replace "tease" with "secretly admire," it's probably more accurate. So we give you the best thing to EVER come out of the God-forsaken state, Oklahoma: Zyrian doing "Winds of BAAG." (Down to the featured Wendy's cup, everything about this is GLORIOUS!!!)

And if you want to hear an interview with Shawn on Mitch's podcast, go here.

And to hear Christopher and Mitch come up with a monster on the fly, go here.

Christopher just read a Facebook post about a podcast that just hit 163 episodes. They have 1 millions downloads (and good for them). To put that in perspective, this is our 163rd episode, and we’re at 8,815 total downloads.

Here’s the thing: we could look at our biggest episodes ever and be like, “All we should talk about are movies, TV, music, the 80s, and…poop! (Oh, and religion.) Seriously, those are the topics of our big episodes. But…if that’s all we talked about, the people who love that we talk about such a wide range of things would be like, “Uhm…if I wanted movie talk every week, there are better sources.”

This much we know: people appreciate that we’re just us. Granted, we could pretend to be what we’re not (and probably get more downloads), but this is the show we want to do.

It goes against everything people say in conferences and meetups, but the show exists for us, and if you like it, cool. If you don’t, well…that’s also cool.

We can only be what we are, and if we are nothing else, we are…authentic. And that matters to some, as we chat about this week on Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

 We kick it all off talking about the first time we heard something was “authentic.” Then we move on to right now and people’s obsession with things having to be “authentic.”

It’s probably clear just by reading this that we believe “authentic” is up for debate. So we devote some time to whether or not we have a preference between authentic and less-than-authentic (manufactured, modified, etc) experiences.

If you listen to us, you know we believe wars could be stopped if people gathered at a table and shared a good meal. Food is a great way to learn about others. We discuss the most authentic Mexican food weve ever had — as well as the least!

But we’re not down on unauthentic stuff; in fact, we chat about whether or not there’s something to be said for inauthentic stuff (cuisines, experiences, music, entertainment, etc.). And then we get political.

Find out if we believe “authenticity” is part of the appeal of candidates like Trump and Sanders — and if we believe either are truly authentic.

Also find out if there are things we feel are important to be authentic…as well as what we let slide.

We close out this week’s episode with the least — and most — authentic experiences we’ve ever had.

Feel free to leave an authentic reply in the comments. We’ll even give you an authentic reply.

One day, several years ago, we imagined having a podcast. (A podcast made out of rainbows and songs and wind all wrapped up in the remnants of a mummy and steeped in a gallon jug of Prohibition-era bathtub gin.)

It's the only way we can imagine to describe what we do.

Or maybe we're very serious individuals lacking foresight and vision, unable to scour the depths of our minds to summon this thing called imagination.

So to remedy all that, we decided to create an episode dedicated to cotton candy memories and envisioning all the things that go bump in the night. This week, we talk about...imagination.

(If you can imagine that!)

* * *

We begin back as wee laddies, talking about the first time we were aware of this thing called imagination. After that, find out if we consider ourselves very imaginative...as well as how important imagination is to our lives.

As you know, we like chatting about society...so we chat about whether or not imagination benefits society, and whether or not there's actually room in office jobs for "outside-the-box thinking" -- or if many people using the phrase would even recognize good ideas if others handed them over.

Most people have met a person who think life is all about expression and imagination with no limits. We discuss if imagination all on its own without structure or limitations is overrated -- and whether or not imagination is inherent or something that can be learned. (It should be no surprise that we think imagination can be learned and refined, so we dedicate some time to how people can become more imaginative.)

We talk about the most imaginative creators we look up to -- and then about the most imaginative person we personally know.

Many people seem to believe that with so many distractions in life that we've all lost our attention spans and imaginations. But is that truly the case?

And we wrap up this week's show discussing what the future holds for imagination.

We like imagining everyone who listens will leave a comment. Feel free -- we're pretty harmless (except when hopped up on 1920s bathtub gin).

Close your eyes, and align your chakras -- we're getting all New Age up in here! Okay, so if you listen to us regularly, you know that's unlikely, but...we do try to see the good in things we [largely] don't believe. (Unless, you know, you believe in being racist, homophobic, or just generally full of hate.) We even admit that there are some things many attach to New Age beliefs that work -- including sme things we think are ridiculous.

Was the Age of Aquarius was monetized so we could all become Reiki masters, or is there something more to it all?

That's the subject of this week's episode.

* * *

We begin by talking about when we were first introduced to new age ideas, and then move on to the most useful things we've learned from the philosophies. (See, we're not totally out to discredit it all -- just, you know, most of it...like the notion that a human being contains enough energy to power a city!) We also chat about the dumbest things we've seen.

After that, we discuss whether or not we think we'll ever see a case where a new age cure trumps a scientific/medical cure. Sticking with that train of thought, we ask if there are some things that new age practitioners have right that science has wrong or yet to prove.

It's probably evident where we stand when taking sides, but we clarify it with this question: do we identify more with new age philosophies, or scientific facts?

But we really do try being fair, going as far as talking about what parts of the new age movement are misunderstood or misrepresented.

But let's be honest, when you can make any claim you want, and all you need for success is convincing a small group of people that it's a thing, it's a system that could easily be prone to fraud. So...is that the case? Also, find out the scariest advice we've ever seen given from a new age perspective (as well as the best advice).

We also discuss how we draw the line from something useful in the new age movement to something fraudulent or dangerous...and wrap up this episode chatting about what we think is the future of new age type movements.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

We'll get right to it: you want to know our greatest regrets -- the things we are most ashamed of -- it's all right here! (Okay, and Christopher, at Shawn's request, talks about the time he found his father in the basement doing surgery on himself.

Seriously!

Ralph Bertil Gronlund may have been a man wrought with regrets, but he did shit his own way...

* * *

We kick it off by talking all about the first time we became aware there was this thing in the world called regret. After that, we define regret...and chat about whether or not it's possible to live a life without regrets.

Want to know what we regret in life? We talk about that shit...and then we discuss people [not by name -- we're not assholes] we know who are torn apart with regrets to the point that life is hard for them. (And, sadly, a lot of people are like, "Get over it!" to them. Ah, were it that easy for those people...)

Sticking to that, we chat about why some people have a tougher time with regrets, while people like us are like, "Ah well, there was a time in the past when we were stupid...and even did horrible things..."

We step back to the "Get over it!" advice, talking about whether or not that's a realistic bit of advice when dealing with people who carry regret. (By now, it's probably clear that we are not heartless bastards and feel for those around us.)

We love technology on this show, so...we devote time to how technology affects people's regrets...as well as how simply being an American (and what we "stand for") can play into regrets.

If we had a time machine, find out the one thing we'd go back to in our own lives and change. But let's be honest: the present is where it's at. We talk about if there's anything we're doing right now that we might one day regret -- and what we can do today to prevent that from ever happening.

And while we were scheduled to talk about what advice we'd give to a person torn up by regrets, we had such a great time with this episode that Shawn thought Christopher was setting him up for our end catch phrase. But it's probably fair to say we'd each have said something like, "Get professional help, and realize we all make mistakes. Find a way to love yourself and see your good, no matter what terrible things you did in your past. They're probably not as bad as you imagine them to be." (Seriously, Christopher really did something shitty to a kid in his neighborhood, but the past is the past...)

And don't regret not sharing your greatest regrets in the comments.

Some people feel it's a huge obligation to help others, while others are mostly interested in helping themselves and a few people close to them. Is one view of society right and the other wrong? What about those who volunteer more to boast about all they do, rather than actually helping causes? Can a person be like, "Fuck it -- I look out for Numero Uno," and still be decent...or must we all give more of ourselves than we have to give? (And at what point is giving convenient and actually a personal sacrifice?)

In short, is there a proper way to volunteer one's time?

That's what we're talking about on this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We kick it all off by talking about how often we volunteer our time, and quickly jump to the last time we volunteered. On that topic, we discuss what we last did to help others -- and why we volunteered our time and energy.

Want to know if we've ever volunteered to get something in return? Well, listen in 'cause we talk about that. And also find out our ideal volunteering scenarios.

After that, we chat about whether or not we've been forced by loved ones or even the state to volunteer our time...and then we move on to our worst -- and best -- volunteering experiences.

Are we so ingrained with volunteering that others volunteered their time for something we organized? And is there a societal obligation to volunteer?

We close it all out by talking about how often we've volunteered for things no one else wanted to do.

Feel free to volunteer a little bit of your time and leave a comment about this week's episode.

There was a time when men were men and took great risks. (And the world was even more sexist than it still is.)

Today, it's not hard to find some middle-aged guy talking about the "Pussification of today's youth," when they rarely did anything to merit any real degree of boasting. But to hear them tell the story, we were all hanging from hot air balloons from threads of dental floss while today's younger people are living in a world of cushions and hugs.

The thing is, that's all bullshit. Men and women have always taken risks to various degrees, and still do today. That's the topic this week -- not the board game, Risk, but actual risky behavior and how it's shaped humanity.

* * *

We kick off this episode talking about the first time in our lives when we realized there was this thing out there called risk. After that, we discuss whether or not we were risk-takers when younger...and whether or not we are today.

We chat about the greatest risks we've taken...as well as the funniest.

Is physical risk the pinnacle of risk, or are there other kinds of risks that eclipse even the kinds of things that can kill us? Also: find out what we've learned about ourselves by taking risks.

Risk has become a bit of a buzzword. Go to a conference of many sorts, and you'll hear people saying that even things as normal as blogging and podcasting are "risks." Are those actual risks -- and is "Take more risks!" good advice, or just a platitude?

After that, we talk about if what constitutes risk has changed over the years or remained the same. We also discuss the point at which taking risks is unwise.

We weren't kidding in our intro about hearing middle-aged men talking about today's youth being "pussies." But is there any truth to the notion that millennials don't take risks?

Then we drag out our imaginations and pretend we have kids. Find out how we'd deal with having kids who are thrilled by taking great risks.

And we wrap it all up with a look to the future -- and whether or not humans will reach a point of maximum risk achieved...or if we will always find new risks to take.

Take a risk and leave a comment if you'd like...we'd love to hear about some of the risks you've taken in life.

When thinking about strength, most people seem to think about physical strength. We've all seen circus strongmen, female body builders, and even wiry-looking people who can seemingly dead-lift a Yugo.

But strength goes well beyond just physical strength. We've all heard tales of people lost in extreme conditions who only survived because they were mentally strong. Emotional strength is craved as much as physical strength by others.

This weak is all about strength! (<------ See what we did, there? "Weak." That's some STRONG comedy right there. Or maybe lack of sleep...)

* * *

We begin with the first time we ever looked at someone and thought, "Damn, they're strong!" Find out if it was physical, emotional, or mental strength we first witnessed. Then we talk about what comes to mind when someone mentions strength. Next, we discuss what we feel is the most important kind of strength: physical, mental, or emotional. (And we even define what the difference between mental and emotional strength is to us.) Also: Is physical strength even relevant these days?

After all that, we talk about strong people: the strongest person we know (physically), as well as the most mentally and emotionally strong person we know. (Even all-around strength of da human supérieur!)

Find out if we consider ourselves to be strong, and hear how we'd hold up under interrogation, "enhanced" interrogation, and out-and-out torture.

In the homestretch, we chat about our greatest feats of strength in life, and close it all out with the most important kind of strength in today's society.

Feel free to flex your commenting muscles if you desire, and leave your thoughts about strength.

From a young age, we're conditioned to look at certain people and things in a larger-than-life way.

These are the people we hope to become. Some are driven to succeed because of the people they looked up to, while many more fall short of their dreams. Sometimes heroes themselves "fail us."

Is it even realistic for an adult to have a hero, or is it something that should be reserved for youth?

Heroes are the topic of this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We begin by chatting about who our earliest heroes were, and then jump to whether or not parents or other relatives ever held hero status in our lives. After that, we talk about how important heroes were to us when we were younger -- and why that was.

We list off our heroes from childhood before discussing whether or not heroes are important to us today. Maybe we no longer have heroes -- just people we admire on some levels. We talk about that, and then move on to why the deaths of people we may have never met, but still admire, can affect us as though we were close to them. Also: find out if we'd ever want to be somebody's hero.

Sometimes heroes "fail us." We discuss why some people are stung when they see a flaw in someone they looked up to, and why some people will go to great lengths to defend the actions of a hero-done-wrong.

The "real life hero" (police, soldiers, firefighters, etc.) are often positioned as having more merit than imaginary heroes. We chat about why that might be, and wrap it all up with how our views of heroes has changed over the years...and how new generations will define what constitutes a hero.

If there's anybody you look up to (or even dislike who's liked by many), feel free to talk about it in the comments.

It's probably evident by the photo we used to represent high school that we weren't big fans of those four years. Still, they were not without their moments.

For some, they are the best days of their lives, while others could have easily done without them. Football games, parties, and fun; dodging bullies, isolation, and despair.

Being somewhere in the middle of it all, we decided to devote this episode to high school days...

* * *

We begin by sounding off: when did we graduate high school. After that, we talk about where we went to high school...and whether or not it was a good experience for us.

Find out if we agree with those who say high school is the best time of one's life as well as what we remember most about those years.

For many, extracurricular activities are what high school is all about. We discuss what we took part in -- and then chat about how many people from high school we're still in touch with.

High school is supposed to serve a purpose: preparing students for college. Was that the case for us? Did it even vaguely prepare us for the adult world?

As we often do, we hop into our imaginary time machines to go back to our high school selves. We have 30 seconds to offer advice about the time and life ahead. Find out what we would tell our younger selves.

Because we're old enough to have had high school reunions, we chat about if we attended any...or plan to in the future.

And we wrap it all up by discussing what we'd do to improve high school as it currently exists.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about this week's topic in the comments if you are so inclined.

Do as we say, and all will be wonderful...

Fuck the system -- Tear it all down!

You make it easier on yourself if you're just like us...

Do you really want to be just like them?!

It's for your own good...

Only you know what's right for you!

It's an old battle: to conform or not to conform? Some (including us) argue that by not conforming...you're probably still conforming.

So...is resistance futile?

This week's episode is all about conformity (and non-conformity). Whether you're on the side of the popular jocks and cheerleaders...

...On the side of the deliberate non-conformists (who, remarkably, all look and act the same as each other, in much the same way as the jocks and cheerleaders)...

...Or if you're the geek totally out there on your own...

...This is an episode for you!

* * *

We kick is all off by talking about our first memories of conformity, and then jump to the benefits -- and drawbacks -- of conforming. After that, we discuss how important conforming is to society...and to us.

There are those who take incredible offense with those not like them. We talk about why that is before chatting about how much our environments influence us and our views.

Trends. Ah, wacky trends. We cover some of the trends we've followed, and then jump to whether conforming (or not conforming) has ever had a negative effect on us.

Our teens years are the most awkward years in our lives. It's a time when conformity is almost vital, even if you claim to not conform to anything at all. We chat about why that is, and then move on to whether people see us as conformists or non-conformists...and if those views are even accurate.

We wrap it all up by discussing the future, and whether or not conformity will be more -- or less -- important in the coming years.

Conform to the ways of all the cool kids and let us know your feelings about conformity in the comments. (To not comment is still conforming to an even bigger group, so sit at the "cool table" for a bit and have your say!)

Or just watch this:

(Is it sad that Christopher, at least, kinda envied Tom Hanks at the end of Mazes and Monsters...and still has days he kinda still does...?)

While we talk about a wide variety of things on Men in Gorilla Suits, there's no denying that much of what we talk about comes from an American perspective. (At least what we consider American.)

Some consider a group of men with guns holed up in a small Federal building they decided to occupy American.

People from other places might view Americans as loud and fat; others may say we're friendly. Some might even say we invaded their land and made a big mess of things.

America is a funny place. We can get away with things that would get us killed in some countries. At the same time, many think we're the only country with such freedoms...when that's far from the truth.

This week, we talk about what it is to be American (whatever the hell being an American is).

* * *

We begin by talking about how far back we have to go to find non-American citizens in our families. After that, we jump to whether or not people from other countries assume we're Americans when they meet us (and why we think that is how we're viewed). Next, we discuss what we love about being Americans...and what we're not so keen about.

People make assumptions about Americans. We chat about the assumptions we think people from other countries make about us because we're Americans, and even touch on the assumptions we make about our place in America.

American citizenship can be a heated topic -- so of course we devote some time to that. We chat about what we believe should be the process of becoming an American; what parameters (if any) should one lose their American citizenship; what we think about dual citizenship (and if we're eligible); if those who carry dual citizenship are any less American than single citizenship citizens; and what countries we would gladly share citizenship with if we could choose another. We also pretend we're exiled from America -- find out which countries we'd hope would take us.

Also find out what duties and responsibilities -- if any -- we believe we have as Americans (at home and while abroad).

And we wrap it all up with what we think America will be like in the future.

If you're an American, we'd love to hear your thoughts about all this in the comments...and if you're from another country, we'd love to know how we're viewed where you are from.

No, the title of this episode doesn't mean the Gorillamen have bolted into the trees to take a vacation hiatus from the podcast (although Christopher is taking his last vacation day of the year as this week's episode is being put together). With so many people taking time off at the end of the year, we decided to dedicate an episode to taking vacations.

* * *

We begin with our earliest memories of vacations and where we went (and what we did), and then we define what constitutes a vacation in our minds. After that, we discuss our best -- and worst -- vacations.

When people think "vacation," they often think of exotic locations that cost a bit of money for the trip. But can you take a vacation when you don't have much money?

We are connected more than ever, and that can mean an issue when announcing you are taking a vacation in certain areas. People you may know, there, want to see you, but all you want is to get away from it all and spend time alone, with your significant other, or your family. How do we deal with this situation? Find out!

Some people love taking vacations with family and friends, while others like keeping it to a significant other or immediate family. Find out if we like vacations with a group of friends and family, or just with our wives. Also find out where we like to go on vacation: beaches, exotic locations, cities, or the middle of nowhere.

Solo travel can be a wonderful thing. We chat about whether or not we've taken a vacation with nobody else...and then we talk about a growing issue with vacation: being constantly connected. With it being the end of the year, many workaholics are using up the vacation time they didn't take during the year. We know people planning to work at least a little bit over their vacations or, at the very least, keeping up with email daily. (How that isn't work is beyond us.) Is the actual getaway vacation a thing of the past when living in an always-connected society?

Traveling can be expensive, and sometimes when you finally get a break from work or the busy pace of life, the last thing you want to do is manage an itinerary and still have a schedule shoved in your face. Many people opt for a "staycation" when they have time off work. Is the staycation a valid vacation and, if so, do we like them?

The world is a big, wonderful place, but there are still dangerous places out there. Find out if there are places we'd love to see, but are afraid to visit -- and then find out what our dream vacations are.

We wrap up this week's episode by discussing our next planned vacations.

Have you had a wonderful vacation you'd love to chat about (or a tale of a vacation gone wrong)? Tell us about it in the comments!

If stats for Men in Gorilla Suits tell us anything, it's that many of you are reminded about new episodes through social media.

Chances are, your parents and even grandparents are on Facebook. Once "the next big thing hits," and is proclaimed the killer of the previous network or app, something new comes along to take its place.

Our desire to communicate in short bits of information seems to know no boundaries. Social media now drives revolutions and political campaigns. It's a way to stay in touch with people all over the world or sell the things you make. What was once seen as a risk by companies is now an asset.

But it's not all a wonderful thing. Some studies show that social media makes many people feel bad. Despite being connected in ways we never imagined, it leaves many feeling more lonely than ever. But is that the fault of the social networks, or the person using them?

It's a topic that interests us enough that when Shawn pitched this show, Christopher thought, "We've done that one already..."

But we haven't (we just talk about social media a lot). So, finally, it's a show dedicated to social media.

* * *

We kick it off talking about the first social media platforms we ever used -- going as far as why we joined the particular site. Then we chat about Facebook: when and why we joined.

Many people use social media to stay in touch with friends. We chat about which friends we stay in touch with through social media, and then talk about whether or not we have friends who refuse to use social networks.

It seems with each new network that a lot of hype surrounds the launch of new things. Does social media live up to its hype?

There are people (like Christopher) who tire of it all and take breaks. We discuss how often we take social media breaks, going as far as covering if there are some networks we avoid more than others. But even those taking breaks return: we talk about why that is.

Like it or not, social media is part of life. We chat about how life would be different without it, and then jump to the goofiest -- and best -- uses for social media we've seen. We also talk about the most annoying, tone-deaf use for social media.

We wrap it all up as we often do, talking about the future -- this time, the future of social media.

Comments are just another form of social media, and we'd love to hear what you think about it all in the comments for this episode.

When we look at something big, our minds are conditioned to say, "Damn, that's big!" Many people will never look at something big and see all the tiny pieces that make up the big thing. Because of that, it seems some people think creating substantial things is beyond them. For every thousand people who say, "Someday I'll finally write the best selling novel I know I have in me," is a person who probably actually does have it in them, but believes it's simply beyond them for a variety of reasons.

• "I don't know how to start..."
• "I don't have that kind of luck..."
• And the biggie: "I don't have the time..."

There are busy writers people look up to who shoot for 250 words a day. Over the course of a year, they have a novel. Inside a couple years, they have a body of work.

But not everything takes as long as a novel. A handful of paintings for a gallery show can be a body of work. Sure, we may not see all the paintings and sketches that got the artist to that point in what they do, but even those sketches in a pile compose a body of work.

With podcasting, one might hear that 7 is a magic number -- that if someone hit 7 shows, they will probably hit 20 or 25. Some shows have an arc that ends, and some are open. Some people have recorded thousands of episodes. We've recorded 150 episodes, which is enough that we decided -- in celebration -- to make our 150th episode all about what goes into a body of work.

* * *

We kick off the episode talking about the first body of work we ever created and quickly jump to what we think is the most impressive body of work ever created. Next, we discuss which body of work we've created that is our favorite -- and our favorite body of work produced by another person. What makes up a body of work -- how big does something have to be? We chat about that, as well as the benefits of producing a body of work.

The world is full of people who want to make things, but don't. We devote some time to why we think some people have a hard time creating a body of work -- and offer advice about how to get started.

Recurring elements appear in most bodies of work. We talk about how important consistency of theme is in creating a lasting body of work, and then chat about the strangest body of work we've ever seen.

After that, we hop into our imaginary time machines to discuss who we'd go back in time to watch work if we could, and we wrap it all up by discussing the next bodies of work we plan on making.

We'd love to hear about what you've made in the comments. (Feel free to link to stuff -- we love seeing what others are up to.)

From a young age, many of us are primed to believe that college is a thing that will happen after high school. Despite the staggering debt many carry after graduating college, you are more likely to earn more over your lifetime with a college degree. At the same time, many of the wealthiest people out there have dropped out of college or never attended at all. Some have such fond memories of college that they have a hard time leaving it behind, going to their graves die-hard fans of their old school's sports teams and towns; others have no problem leaving it all behind.

We've spent our time in colleges, so we decided to dedicate this week's show to college.

* * *

We begin by talking about where we went to college and when we started. After that, we discuss the major social movements at the colleges we attended.

Find out if we ever lived on campus and how much what jobs we held while attending college. Also find out how many different colleges we attended.

We then chat about all our different majors and why we chose them (and changed them). Next, we talk about how long we attended college -- and whether or not we graduated.

A college degree is the thing many of us are told, from a young age, is the only thing that can lead to success. But is that really true? We then devote some time to whether or not our degree/lack of degree has helped or harmed out careers and also talk about whether or not college is even a necessity?

Before wrapping the episode up, we cover our best -- and worst -- college memories. Finally, find out what we'd do differently if we had our college years to do all over again.

Whether you've been to college or not, feel free to chime in in the comments.

For some, it comes as an epiphany: just like that, their lives are changed forever. For others, it can be triggered by a place or event. For most of us, it comes slowly, but it happens to all of us at some point.

Our lives change.

We hope it's from something wonderful, like in the movies. In a flash, everything is wonderful and makes sense forever. It's long been the stuff of entertainment, the promise that we matter and that life is wonderful. But for most of us, it comes through harder things: a life-threatening illness, or the sudden loss of a loved one.

Life changes, and that's what we're talking about this week.

* * *

We begin by talking about the first time we felt like we experienced a life-changing event, and then we jump to the age we feel most people experience the most change in life. After that we discuss whether or not we stop having life-changing events by the time we reach adulthood, or if that's when we're most likely to have them.

Next, we chat about the biggest life-changing events in our lives and the effect they had on us. Find out if we've ever changed somebody else's life, and which books, movies, or other things have affected us deeply. Then we get specific and talk about some other bigger life-changing events in our lives.

We devote some time to whether or not the relative safety of suburban existence creates more or fewer life-changing events, and then talk about bucket lists: are they all they're cracked up to be?

Some people fear the changes we go through as we age. We discuss whether or not we fear the future, and if we believe that life changes when we reach milestone ages in life.

We close it all out with the life-changing events we haven't experienced that we hope to experience sometime in the future.

How has your life changed? Feel free to discuss it in the comments.

When we started Men in Gorilla Suits, we made an agreement to post episodes on Thursdays. It works out that we usually post on Wednesdays, though...with the rare Thursday posting.

With a holiday week in the states, we're posting on a Tuesday. It is not wasted on us that there's a certain humor in us posting an episode about procrastination two days early.

* * *

We begin this episode talking about if we are (or have ever been) procrastinators. After that [spoiler alert] we discuss the reasons we procrastinate -- going as far as chatting about the worst thing we've put off for later.

If you listen that far into the episode, you'll know we see strength in proper procrastination. We devote some time to when procrastination has been the best course of action in our lives before talking about the last thing we put off.

If you've ever wondered, "Who is the worst procrastinator the Gorilla Men know?" -- we answer that question. We also answer this one: "Why do humans procrastinate?"

We close out the episode discussing whether or not procrastination is generally a good or bad thing.

As always, the comments section awaits your feedback; you know, whenever you get around to it...

The power we wield because of this podcast is staggering. We stand like two gods above the masses, our voices swaying your every thought!

Okay, so not really to any of that. We're just two guys with a podcast. (No one's ever done that before!) Some might say the listeners hold power over us; that if you didn't listen, we would have nothing. (Of course, if you listen regularly, you know we'd do this even if no one showed up. This podcast is simply about a good friendship, which -- to us -- is one of the most powerful things out there. We're like My Little Pony, without all the colors and cutie marks...although we both have tattoos (Shawn far outnumbering Christopher...we might even talk about that in this episode...we record often enough that it all kind of runs together. Sometime, recently, we talked about tattoos.))

Anyway...this week is the power-talk mashup. We talk about power as a thing many crave, but we also talk about power as physical strength and even pure energy. You even get to hear tales of minor (and not so minor) electrocutions. (Self inflicted, at that! We never claimed the power of intelligence, but where the power of curiosity lies, we are thunder!)

Christopher loved that damn game...

* * *

We begin this episode with our first memories of something powerful...and then go right into whether or not we crave power. After that, we talk about how we deal with powerful people.

Then we hop into time machines and discuss what act of power in history we would love to go back to witness. Want to find out the most powerful things we've ever done? We cover that before sharing stories of our [stupid] encounters with electricity. (If nothing else, our heads seem fairly impervious to electric shocks. But not really. And those shocks so close to our brains might explain a thing or two about the show.)

Find out not only what super powers we'd love to have, but why we'd choose them. And then we throw out another random power topic: what's the most powerful animal? We also share when we feel our most powerful.

We get a little serious and talk about how much a problem the abuse of power is in society...and the best ways to prevent those abuses. And we wrap it all up with how power of all sorts will change in the future.

You have power of your own in the comments if you so choose to make that power known...

How do you know you're really reading this right now? (We mean, other than you are sitting there reading and comprehending it.) So scratch that opening -- that kind of thing is not what we're into when talking about more philosophical things. We understand that at some point, many of those kinds of questions needed to be asked, but...that's not the kind of philosophy we're chatting about this week.

Every week, we drag philosophy into the show...even when dedicating an hour [and a special added interview with Christopher's mom] about poop! But it's not philosophy in the way you remember it in high school or college. Chances are, you have been philosophical about something today. And you will be tomorrow. So...we decided to finally dedicate an entire show to philosophy!

* * *

We begin by talking about the first time we were aware that there were different schools of thought in life, and then we jump right to what "philosophy" means to us. After that, we discuss the major school of philosophy we most -- and least -- identify with.

Some people consider religion and philosophy separate things (funny thing, semantics). Find out if we believe that, or if we think religions are just other philosophies. Then we chat about whether or not a philosophy can become a religion (and how it happens).

We tackle whether or not philosophy is a scalable thing (or if it's meant to be personal), before moving on to what personal codes we live by. Next, we talk about which or our core tenets have changed as we've moved through life...and which have remained the same.

As we near the end of the episode, we discuss whether or not we've taken any formal philosophy classes (and if they helped in some aspect of our lives), and then we wrap it all up with this question: "Is philosophy still relevant in today's society?"

We'd love to hear your philosophical thoughts in the comments.

These are just some of the tools we use to create an episode of Men in Gorilla Suits:

• Our brains
• Smartphones
• Web-based email
• Cars
• 2 Audio Technica ATR-2100 microphones
• 2 Gator Frameworks tabletop boom mic stands
• Zoom H6 digital recorder
• Computers
• The World Wide Web
• Adobe Photoshop
• morguefile.com or unsplash.com (for images)
• Skype (on occasion -- like this episode)
• Audacity
• Auphonic
• This website
• Libsyn

Tools can be as complex as the International Space Station or as simple as a stick used to dig holes or defend yourself. What some deem as tools, others claim are something else. (Are our brains really tools?) But there's not a person alive who won't use a tool of some sort today. So...we decided to dedicate an entire episode to the things that make life a little better.

* * *

We begin this week's episode talking about the first tool we remember seeing, and then...the first tool we ever used that helped define who we are.

After that, we discuss a tool we regularly use that many might not consider a tool. Next, it's back to school, where we ask if the use of traditional tools was taught to us at any point during our educations.

Most people associate tools with work. We dedicate some time to talking about working jobs where we've used what most would consider traditional tools, and then we jump to the one tool we cannot live without.

We constantly find new ways of doing things, and that usually involves new tools. We talk about some recent tools we've incorporated into our lives in recent years before chatting about the most badass, tough tool we've ever used.

It's not uncommon to use tools to make new tools to fit one's needs. Find out if we've ever invented or repurposed tools for other things, and also listen to us discuss out favorite tools of the trade. After that, it's on to the one tool we do not own that we'd love to have in our possession.

We close out this week's episode talking about the future. (Big surprise, huh?) Find out if we think humans will use more tools -- or fewer tools -- in the future.

And please consider the comments section your tool for telling us what you think about this episode.

We can't think of one person we know who didn't grow up with a pet of some kind. Whether a dog or a cat, fish, or something exotic, some of our earliest friendships are with animals. For many of us, we learned about the pain of death from losing a pet. Some of you are probably reading this with a pet in the room -- maybe even on your lap.

Scroll down on our About page and you'll see photos of Shawn's dogs -- we consider them part of the podcast crew.

It's about time we finally talked about pets!

* * *

We begin by talking about the first pets we remember having, and then jump to the first pet that was considered our own. Next, we discuss not only how many pets we've had, but we devote some time to the first pet we had that died.

We chat about our last/current pets before talking about whether we prefer dogs, cats, or something else entirely.

It's no secret that Shawn has a tiny Wolfpack living in his home while Christopher currently has no pets. We discuss why we have/don't have pets before talking about which we find easiest to relate to: pets or people?

We round out this episode sharing our favorite story about one of our pets and what kind of pet we'd have if we could have any kind of animal we wanted.

Definitely feel free to share a favorite pet story in the comments...hell, even links to photos!

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?!?! (Or maybe just listen to something nice and soothing in person?)

We've been listening to live music ever since people began humming tunes and banging out a beat on whatever they found available. Music has been said to fill the soul, and live music can transcend what it is to be human. So of course we had to eventually get around to an entire show about listening to music in person!

* * *

We begin by talking about the first live music event we remember attending. After that, we discuss why live music has the appeal it has.

From there, we move on to the best -- and worst -- concerts we've ever attended...and why we feel that way. After that, find out if we prefer live music to listening to music at home, in the car, or while working.

We then talk about how often we hear live music these days and why we think we used to attend more live shows than we do today.

If you've ever lied awake at night thinking, "I wonder if Christopher or Shawn have ever been part of a live music show of some sort?" you finally get your answer. You'll also find out what we consider our favorite live music experiences.

Next, we wonder if one kind of music lends itself to a better live experience than others...and what music does it for us.

Near the end of the show, we discuss which live music experience we wish we could travel back in time and see -- and then we wrap up this week's episode talking about the future of live music.

What's the best concert you've ever attended? Let us know in the comments.

Political season in America has started. (It seems to start earlier and earlier each election cycle.) A peek into the world of the Internet reveals -- surprise, surprise! -- that people are out there arguing about politics.

Conflict might be our national pastime, so conflict is the topic for this week's show!

* * *

We begin by talking about the first time we became aware that people sometimes didn't get along. After that, we chat about the first conflict we remember having with someone.

Find out if we're the kinds of people who gravitate toward conflict, or if we avoid it whenever possible. We share our tricks for avoiding interpersonal conflicts with acquaintances -- and even those close to us. But sometimes conflict is unavoidable. We devote some time to talking about how we handle conflicts we can't avoid.

We also share the worst conflict we've ever had with another person; then we chat about whether or not we find ourselves running up against the same kinds of conflict over and over.

Want to find out if we've ever been able to resolve a long-standing conflict? We talk about that. Have we ever said or done something that conflicted with our beliefs to avoid or end a conflict? We chat about that, too.

We close it all out with this question: why do humans -- who have had many thousands of years to learn how to deal with each other -- keep having conflicts?

We'd love to hear about how you handle conflict in the comments!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Okay, not so long ago (1977) and not so far away (Earth) a little movie called Star Wars came out. And it's safe to say it changed movies as we know them.

It was a franchise that spawned sequels, a ridiculous amount of merchandise, and even this:

We've talked about Star Trek many times on the show, but this week it's all about Star Wars!

* * *

We begin by talking about how old we were when we first saw a Star Wars movie...and what the experience was like. After that, we move on to how important Star Wars was in our lives when we were younger. Now that we're adults, do the movies carry the same weight?

Did you know there are grown friggin' men who fume about the Star Wars prequels, going so far to say the prequels ruined the original trilogy for them even more than Ewoks in Return of the Jedi? (Ewoks are worse than Jar-Jar Binks, people!) Find out what we think about those who let other things ruin the movies they love. (Although it's probably more than evident with these lines...and if you've listened to the show enough, you know our answers already.)

Another thing people say destroyed the franchise was George Lucas constantly tinkering with the original trilogy. Find out our thoughts about a world full of computer-generated effects juxtaposed with people in rubber masks!

Next, we discuss our favorite -- and least favorite -- Star Wars characters. (Hint: Shawn's entire back is covered in a giant Jar-Jar Binks tattoo and Christopher has Watto tattooed on his chest!)

When talking about the structure of the original trilogy, one can't claim it's a very complex thing. Based on the Hero's Journey concept culled from Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces, we talk about whether or not the structure of the original trilogy works for us.

We get a new Star Wars movie in December. We talk about the teaser trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and whether or not we're looking forward to the next Star Wars movie.

In between the movies, fans have read Star Wars books, played video games based on the movies, and watched Star Wars cartoons. Find out how much of the Star Wars expanded universe we've consumed. (And laugh as Shawn introduces Christopher to this:)

Near the end of the episode, we get geeky and talk about which one Star Wars character we'd be if we could...and why.

And like so many episodes, we wrap it up by talking about the future -- this time, the future of the Star Wars franchise.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts about Star Wars in the comments.

Depending on who you ask, the American justice system is the best in the world, or it has a long way to go to clean up its problems. Probably no surprise that we lean toward, "We have a lot to fix, but it could be worse."

Friggin' optimists!

But we're not Pollyannas because we probably spend more time this episode talking about what is wrong with justice in America than what's right.

* * *

We kick it off with a couple questions: Have you ever had an experience with the American criminal justice system? If so, what was the first?

America loves court-room dramas, so we jump on the bandwagon and talk about whether or not we've ever been to court as a plaintiff or defendant. (Since we've posted Shawn's mugshot before, you at least have a good guess with one of the Gorillamen...)

Then we jump to whether or not we have turned to the American justice system for any sort of legal recourse.

We talk about our impression of the American criminal justice system before devoting some time to whether or not our courts work...and what might work better?

Americans like to think we are fair, but do we really practice what we preach? (Innocent until proven guilty, reasonable doubt, etc.?) Also, do we think most people found guilty of crimes actually committed them?

We devote some time to whether or not mandatory sentences are good things, before talking about if we sentence people too harshly, too light, or all-out inconsistently.

Americans are often all, "USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!" but is it merited for the U.S. having the best justice system on the planet, or do other countries put us to shame? (Like...maybe at least a dozen or so?)

Finally, we wrap it up with how we'd change the current system.

We'd love to hear about any run-ins with the legal system (or just what you'd do if you were in charge) you've had in the comments.

You hold in your hand a rectangular device with a smooth glass screen.

Are there any buttons on it?

There appear to be, yes.

I press one.

The screen lights up with a passcode message.

I make a hacking roll.

[The Game Master mutters to self: Okay, unfamiliar device modifier -1, but universal hacking kit (electronic) +2. Simple code +1...]

Okay, you need a 13 or less.

[Player rolls 3 6-sided dice. A 9.]

You make it past the passcode block. On the screen before you are rows of icons.

I look for one that says Podcast.

You find it.

I tap the icon and subscribe to Men in Gorilla Suits.

Wise choice. Give yourself a million experience points!

Ah, role playing games. Most people, even if they've never played one, have heard of Dungeons and Dragons. But D&D only scratches the surface of the world of role playing games (RPGs). We take our dice bags from our belts and roll a critical hit on this episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

* * *

We begin with the first role playing game (RPG) we ever played...and how old we were when we first played it. After that, we discuss the effect RPGs have had on us.

We knock out our favorite -- and least favorite -- RPGs...and why we made our choices. Want to find out the most obscure RPG we've played? We share that as well.

After talking about the one RPG we'd love to see that hasn't been made yet, we talk about how RPGs have helped us as writers. On the subject of writing, find out if we've ever thought about writing for RPGs.

Also find out if we've crossed the threshold into Live Action Role Playing Games (and what we think about them). Then we go online and talk about World of Warcraft and other massively multiplayer role playing games (MMORPGs). Find out if we've played any...and if so, which ones. Before stepping back to our paper character sheets, we talk about how MMORPGs compare to tabletop RPGs.

And we wrap it all up talking about what the future holds for role playing games. (Somehow, Christopher totally forgot to mention Storium in this episode!)

Feel free to share your favorite RPG moments in the comments...and may all your rolls be 3s or 20s, depending what game you're playing...

Marriage is one of those things we're conditioned to accept as our future from a young age.

We can both remember relatives talking about, "When you're older and get married..." for almost as long as we've been able to retain bits of the past in our brainmeats! It's a thing we're just supposed to do as humans.

This leads to all kinds of wackiness: people spending more on weddings and honeymoons than they can afford; people judging how much a person loves another by the size of an engagement ring. Some people say, "What's wrong with them?" about people who aren't married, as though marriage is the only thing that defines us in adulthood. Hell, some people (even those married multiple times who can't seem to get it right), fume that same-sex couples who have been together for decades and had to hide their love for many reasons are now able to [FINALLY!] legally marry. (So far, the damage to my marriage -- and all my heterosexual friends -- that was promised if same-sex marriage were legalized hasn't happened. Funny how that worked out...almost like love is stronger than ignorance and those into fear mongering.)

But marriage can also be wonderful. Since we're optimistic guys, we tend to lean that way, and decided to make marriage (and relationships) the topic of this week's episode.

* * *

We begin by trumpeting our massive dating prowess. Or...we would have if we had any actual moves in the past. Really, we open up this episode amazed we're not steeping in our own waste and wondering how we ended up with intelligent, awesome women in our lives. But before marriage, there were dates. We discuss out first dates before chatting about how good we are at dating (based on a scale of 1-10).

If you listen to the show regularly, you know we're both married. Find out how long we've been "officially" married in society's eyes; then find out how long we've been with our wives.

Some movies portray love as this pure thing where there is just a one and only, but [unless you're Christopher, who almost peed himself at the mere thought of talking to a girl, let alone actually doing so] most people have had a boyfriend/girlfriend (or two) before meeting the person they married. Also, find out if we were ever convinced we'd marry someone other than our spouses.

Running with the idea that we're conditioned to have views about marriage from a young age, find out if marriage is what we imagined when we were younger -- or if it's much different than we were led to believe. We then talk about whether or not we feel we are in good marriages.

People love to give unsolicited advice and opinions. We talk about the best -- and worst -- pieces of marriage advice we've been given. After that, we talk about the best -- and worst -- things about being married.

We wrap up this episode by looking toward the future and asking, "If you were to be single at some point in the future, would you date/marry again?"

We'd love to hear funny/sad/wonderful relationship and marriage stories in the comments -- including some of the best (and worst) bits of advice you've ever been given.

Earlier today, old-school wrestling legend, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was arrested for the 1983 death of his girlfriend. (Figured if we're providing a link about the story, it may as well be a TMZ link!) Soon, the story will be a thing on a variety of true-crime television shows.

True crime TV is so big, entire cable networks are dedicated to the stories behind the murders and capers. It doesn't matter if it's unknown people in a no-name town or a huge celebrity trial after a low-speed chase in a white Ford Bronco -- the viewing population has a hunger for crime stories.

So we decided to talk about it on this week's episode of Men in Gorilla Suits.

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We begin by talking about the first true crime TV shows (or "Murder Shows," as Shawn likes to call them), we remember watching. After that, we talk about the most recent murder show we've watched. (And it will become apparent why Shawn pitched this topic.)

Everybody needs a favorite murder show, right? We talk about our faves, and then we discuss if it's a problem that there are so many of these shows that an entire network can run them 24/7.

Then we get a little more specific and chat about the following crimes we've seen on these shows:

• The most interesting murder tale.
• The saddest murder tale.
• The goofiest murder tale.
• The biggest murder tale.

If you watch enough of these shows, patterns emerge. One such pattern is that more than a handful of Eagle Scouts have gone on to commit murders. We talk about why that might be -- and then move on to revealing if we've ever worried that our spouses might have thought about killing us for insurance money.

We wrap up the weeks episode talking about the show we wish would just go away.

Do you watch true crime television shows? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments.

It was Christopher's turn to come up with the week's show idea. He had plenty to choose from, but as he's been helping his mom move to a new place, the idea came:

We've all moved, so...why not do a show about moving?

And so it came to pass that this week's show came to life.

And it was good...

(Except all the singing in this episode. Our [vague] apologies...)

* * *

We begin this week's show talking about the first time we ever moved...and the first time we actually remember moving. After that, it's on to how many times we've moved in our lifetimes.

After that, find out the best -- and worst -- places we've ever lived. Then we discuss where in America -- and the world -- we'd move to if we could. Since the places in America Christopher considers comes from places he's visited while working, we then talk about whether or not we've ever moved for a job.

Moving is a mundane act. Box after box is packed, moved, and eventually unloaded. Along the way, though, sometimes interesting things happen. We share some moving stories before moving on to our favorite -- and least favorite -- things about moving someplace new.

As many times as we've moved, we talk about where we might move to next...and then we wrap up the week's episode talking about the future of moving. Will people move more (or less) in the future?

We'd love to hear your favorite places and moving stories in the comments.

[We apologize in advance for all the links to songs and videos. (But not really)]

* * *

"We're on a space race, baby..."

Space...it's been called the final frontier...

"Open the pod bay doors, HAL..."

It's kind of hard to believe we've gone 132 episodes without dedicating an episode to space.

Oh, sure, we talked about space in our first episode (and so many episodes since that time), but have yet to do a show completely about space.

* * *

We begin this episode talking about the first time we were aware that the earth was nothing more than just another planet in space. In this part of the show, you get to hear Christopher sign some of this. His voice will not go high. It is a terrible moment. He apologizes for the auditory agony inflicted on you. (Come on, that song is like being subjected to the music from the Hobbit cartoon over and over and over. It's not a pretty thing...)

Next, we talk about when we first became interested in space...and when Americans, as a whole, seemed to stop caring about space.

Space exploration has given us things we first only imagined in movies and on television. We chat about the coolest things space exploration has brought to Earth and...the coolest development in space technology in our opinions. But we stick with the "important" theme and talk about the best space-related event in our lifetimes/memories...as well as discuss the next most important thing we should do in space.

But dumb things have happened in space...and we talk about some faves before devoting some time to the weirdest space-program story we've heard.

So many of us came to love space through movies. We wrap up this episode with our favorite movies about space (Star Trek and Star Wars excluded), and go deeper into the void as we talk about the future of space exploration.

We know there are space-loving geeks out there who would just love to leave a comment, so...have at it, cosmonauts!

And always...ALWAYS remember this: