Men in Gorilla Suits
Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 194: Last Seen…Being Outdoors-y

Tent in the woods - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 194: Last Seen…Being Outdoors-ySome 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...

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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.

Direct download: migs194.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 7:51pm CDT

Cartman from South Park as a cop - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 193: Last Seen…Talking about AuthorityYou 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...

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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!

Direct download: migs193.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 6:49am CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 192: Last Seen…Being Pretentious

Pretentious fashion models - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 192: Last Seen…Being PretentiousReally, 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...

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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!

Direct download: migs192.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 7:09am CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 191: Last Seen…Talking about Class Systems

Wealthy man looking down on a kid selling newspapers - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 191: Last Seen…Talking about Class SystemsMen 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...

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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.

Direct download: migs191.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 3:41pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 190: Last Seen…Traveling for Business

Arrivals/Departures Board - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 190: Last Seen…Traveling for BusinessThe 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!

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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.

Direct download: migs190.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 2:18pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 189: Last Seen…Culturally Accelerating

Star field hyperdrive - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 189: Last Seen…Culturally AcceleratingWasn'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!

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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!

Direct download: migs189.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 6:15pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 188: Last Seen…Being Atheists

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 188: Last Seen…Being AtheistsGod 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!

Amazing Atheist
Is This Really The Best We Can Do?!
(We pray to the gods we don't believe in to give us something better...)

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!!!

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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.

Direct download: migs188.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 10:04pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 187: Last Seen…Talking about Murder

Blood spatter - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 187: Last Seen…Talking about MurderBy 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...

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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.

Direct download: migs187.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 10:15pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 186: Last Seen…Talking about Cleanliness

Person doing laundry - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 186: Last Seen…Talking about CleanlinessEverything...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!

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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...

Direct download: migs186.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 8:24pm CDT

Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 185: Last Seen…Talking about War

Girl standing in bomb wreckage - Men in Gorilla Suits Ep. 185: Last Seen…Talking about WarThat 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.

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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.

Direct download: migs185.mp3
Category:Pop Culture -- posted at: 9:43pm CDT