You wouldn't know it by looking at us, but we have always been popular. The smartest and fittest -- Homecoming Kings...all-state quarterbacks.

As adults, we've turned down film roles, eschewed playing in popular bands...even refusing roles as heads of state.

Instead, we Gorillamen have chosen to channel all our popularity into a podcast that gets 250-500 listens a month! (Top those numbers, This American Life!!!)

Okay, so this week, two unpopular geeks talk about popular things. Specifically, this:

• When was the first time you heard of a person or thing being popular?
• When you were a kid, were you concerned with popularity?
• Was your school/schools when you were young popularity contests?
• As a (supposed) adult, are you concerned with popularity at all?
• What’s the most popular thing you’ve done?
• What are some popular things you like?
• What are some popular things you hate?
• Are presidential elections just popularity contests?
• What’s the future of popularity? 

Do as we say...not as we do...

(The Gorillamen know best...)

You will listen to this episode and like it because we made it and we are in control...

Okay, so you probably know by now that we are two of the least controlling people on the planet. But it's a good topic worthy of discussion, so...our gift to you (and what we discuss):

• When did you first become aware of the concept of control?
• Were you raised in a controlling household?
• Are you a controlling person?
• What is your opinion of controlling people?
• Any interesting stories about dealing with a controlling person?
• Why do you think some people are controlling?
• How do you deal with controlling people?
• How controlling do you think most U.S. workplaces are?
• What role does control play in politics?
• Do you think any good comes out of being controlling or having control? (On an individual or even societal level.)
• What are the downsides of trying to have or maintain control?
• What is the future of control?

Tick...Tock...the clock never stops.

You pull your back toweling off after a shower.

Sooooooooo many responsibilities!

Youth is in the rear view mirror; being officially "old" shines in the headlights.

But it's not all that bad; in fact, it's pretty fuckin' awesome!

Welcome to middle age!

In this -- the 300th episode of Men in Gorilla Suits -- we discuss:

• Who was the first person you ever heard described as “middle aged?”
• When do you believe you reached middle age?
• When did you first *feel* middle aged?
• What’s the worst thing about being middle aged?
• What’s the best thing about being middle aged?
• What was the worst birthday for you (as far as feeling like you we’re getting older)?
• Do you think there’s a certain invisibility to young people once you reach a certain age?
• When you were a kid, what age did you consider “old?”
• How about now?
• What sort of “middle aged” problems have you encountered?
• Which “middle aged” tropes turned out to be bullshit?
• What’s the perception of middle-aged people now versus when you were a kid?
• What’s the future of being middle aged?

BOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ha! Surprised you, eh?

Nah?

Well, then listen to the Gorillamen talk about these things this time around:

• What is the first surprising thing you remember?
• What last surprised you?
• Do you startle easily?
• What are your thoughts about the horror movie jump scare?
• To that point, what role does surprise play in entertainment? (Stories, music, etc.)
• Your favorite surprise?
• Your worst surprise?
• What is the best surprise you ever pulled off?
• What do you think about surprise parties?
• What do you think about online reaction or prank videos?
• Were you surprised when Trump won in 2016?
• What do you think will be the next big surprise that affects much of the world in some way?

If you've listened to the show, you know we believe Black lives matter. You know we believe in underdogs. You know we're the kinds of people the assholes will brand wicked socialists.

And we're good with that.

We've had our goofy moments over the years, but always strive to listen, learn, and be better.

So yeah...this week, we're talking about politics and protests...

This is what we talk about:

• Do you consider yourself a political person?
• Have you ever been to a protest?
• Do you think protests work?
• Would you go to a protest now?
• What other political actions have you taken?
• Have you ever worked on a political campaign?
• Do you think there is a political solution to the current crises in America and the world?
• Do you think riots are effective political action?
• What’s your opinion of the current protests/riots?
• What’s the future of political action?

May 29, 2020: We have run out of food in the arctic. Having eaten the sled dogs, we Gorillamen decided our last act would be recording a podcast. Good friends that we are, each offering their life for the other, we decided to let nature survive. One of us might make it after eating the other should one of us die first. But it is possible, as cold as it is, that we might not make it through the night...

This episode, we're talking about these fine topics of adventure:

• When did you first become aware of the concept of adventure?
• How do you define adventure?
• What is the appeal of adventure?
• What’s your earliest memory of an adventure you took part in?
• What’s your best (or a couple best) adventure experiences?
• Your worst?
• How important is adventure in your life?
• What is your favorite adventure story? (Can be a book, movie, song…anything…)
• Must something be big in order to be an adventure?
• What do you think stops people from living adventurously?
• Do you think younger you would be pleased with the level of adventure in your life?
• What is the future of adventure?

Could probably just drop the lyrics to Fugazi's "Merchandise" here and call it a wrap...

This week, it's all about capitalism:

• When were you first aware that things cost money?
• When were you first introduced to the idea of an economy?
• What’s the first major purchase you remember someone making?
• What’s the first major purchase you made on your own?
• How do your major and minor purchases affect society?
• Is our current system of capitalism different to the one you remember from 20-30 years ago?
• Is capitalism a good way to run a society?
• Is an economy more important than the people in that society?
• How would you change our current system of capitalism, if at all?
• Is there a better system already out there? Or do we need something new to replace capitalism?
• What’s the future of (American) capitalism?

In Gorilla Christopher's efforts to not talk about that thing everyone is talking about, this week we talk about...PIZZA!!!

Here's a peek at the points:

• When did you first become aware of pizza?
• When’s the last time you ate pizza?
• What, to you, makes a pizza great?
• Why do you think pizza is so popular?
• Worst pizza you ever had?
• Your all-time favorite pizza?
• Have you ever worked in the pizza industry in any way?
• What are your favorite pizza toppings?
• Where do you stand on what’s deemed as untraditional toppings...things like pineapple or weird fusiony things?
• What is your favorite untraditional topping or full pizza?
• If you had to pick a side in the thin pizza vs. deep dish battle, who’s side are you on?
• What is the future of pizza?

Dearest listeners. While the pandemic is far-reaching, we Gorillamen are doing as well as can be expected. Such dire circumstances, but we must strive for some semblance of our lives before March, when the vapors strongly made its presence known.

But if history tells us nothing else, it's that those of us who stay in place and consider many things have the greatest odds of weathering through. To that end, Gorilla Shawn and Gorilla Christopher communicated recently through telegraph, creating a thing that history may remember one day as a "podcast."

While they realize many may be exhausted by the constant drumming of newsboys and news moguls, it is important to share our own stories, so one day one may look back and live history through our eyes.

To that end, we offer this show...

These items are discussed:

• How long have you been doing the stay-at-home thing?
• Did you start before or after someone recommended it?
• When did your town/county officially order you to stay at home?
• How are you holding up?
• Do you actually think self-quarantine is over or under reacting to the current situation?
• What do you think about the coronavirus situation in general?
• Are you concerned for the future?
• What are you doing to fill the time?
• How are you coping with the uncertainty the situation has created?
• What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen since this whole thing started?
• The dumbest?
• What’s the future? Of, like, the future?

With the world in a weird state right now, the Gorillamen have thought about addressing Da Covidz, but instead...Gorilla Christopher opted for something more inspirational...forgiveness.

(He almost went with Pizza as the topic, so expect that next time it's his call...)

Anyway, here we go...

• When did you first become aware of forgiveness?
• Are you a very forgiving person?
• What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever forgiven?
• Is there anything you can’t forgive?
• How does living in a world that demands speed, perfection, and getting what you want (sometimes, at any cost) affect forgiveness?
• What are some benefits of forgiveness?
• Who’s the most forgiving person you know?
• What do you think of those who equate forgiveness to weakness?
• How important do you think forgiveness is to living a happy life?
• Some people joke about odd “unforgivable things” like putting pineapple on pizza, beans in chili, or wearing white after Labor Day. Other people take those things seriously. What do you think about how people react to those stranger unforgivable things?
• What advice do you have for someone who finds it hard to forgive?
• What is the future of forgiveness?