Episode 265 is all over the place in the best way.

TJ checks in on getting his health and routine back on track after a busy end to summer, talks parenting, school pictures, changing school hours, work and the unexpectedly frustrating process of trying to record the Hometown Hero audiobook.

On the entertainment side, there’s talk of Oz, Wasteman, early thoughts on The Whisper Man, Andy Ruiz, Katie Taylor, UFC Fight Night, and the increasingly impossible task of keeping up with all the new talent showing up in combat sports.

But the night that unexpectedly takes over the episode starts with dinner and drinks at The Viking and a random decision to say yes to the Too Broke to Rock show. Nothing Shameful, Leviticuss and Kingdom Collapse introduce TJ to a side of live rock music he’d never really experienced before—and somewhere between studying the sound, watching a crowd compete to deliver a water bottle, remembering Freaks and Geeks, and discovering that rock vibrations can apparently travel to very different parts of the human body, a new scientific measurement is born:

The Dart.

Sometimes you say yes to something outside your world and discover exactly why other people love it.

And sometimes it hits you right in the dart.

The return episode is out of the way. Now it's time to get back to work.

This week, I'm settling back into a regular routine after vacation and talking about everything from work and social awkwardness to stand-up comedy, movies, television, creativity, and AI.

I get into attending a community event for work and doing what I do best — sitting awkwardly by myself until someone finally came over and started a conversation. I also went to the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival to see Matt Rife and Bill Burr, which gave me two very different experiences with event security... along with the experience of sitting next to a fuck boy and a drunk woman who absolutely would not stop talking.

There's also Will King and his hilarious rendition of the 2003 classic "Stacy's Mom," because the song really does hit different in your 30's compared to when you were a teenager.

On the movie and TV side, I talk about The Last House on Netflix, The End of Oak Street in theaters, Anne Hathaway somehow having five films this year, my thoughts on Marshals and Dutton Ranch feeling like Taylor Sheridan sold the Yellowstone universe to Dick Wolf, and my ongoing binge through Oz on HBO Max.

Finally, I get into something I've been thinking about a lot lately: using AI as a creative tool while navigating the criticism and shame surrounding it within parts of the artistic community. That leads into the story behind how the cover of Hometown Hero actually came together — and the role different creative tools and people played in bringing it to life.

Work. Comedy. Movies. TV. Creativity. AI. And plenty of random shit in between.

We're officially back to work.

After nearly three years away, True Reviewz & Interviewz is back.

In Ep. 263, I sit down behind the mic for the first time since October 2023 to talk about where I've been, and what's changed along the way.

From losing my podcast equipment and most of my favorite possessions in a garage fire, to major changes in my career, family, health and perspective on life. There's a lot to catch up on.

I talk about my leadership development journey and travels, losing nearly 200 pounds, stepping away from gaming, unexpectedly joining my 14 year old daughter on her first date, some movie favorites from the last couple years and becoming a published author.

The experience and confidence I have found in finishing what I start- through creativity, transparency and discipline.

A lot has changed. And we are officially back.

Hometown Hero is available now- Amazon, Kindle, Apple Books.