Mike fires up Your Dark Companion with a literal lightning strike, then welcomes Dallas lifers Ward Richmond and John Pedigo to talk about Ward’s new album, Big Addict Energy—a brutally honest, oddly hilarious chronicle of high-functioning drinking, rehab math, and rebuilding a life that actually fits. We bounce from Lakewood and Deep Ellum war stories to the therapist who called her shot (“alcoholic”), the Truck Yard-as-office era, and why Ward now tours with… a pedal that plays his whole band (karaoke, but make it auteur). Pedigo breaks down the “producer as translator” approach—less sprinkle, more spine—while the guys trade memories, cuss less (sometimes), and make a pretty airtight case for talking about addiction without the shame fog. Stick around for the closer: Ward’s earworm “Non-Alcoholic Beer Drinking Man.” It slaps, even if your drink is Topo. 00:00 – Cold open, lightning strike, live-at-5 banter 01:41 – Meet Ward & Pedigo; the new record is the story 03:05 – “Big Addict Energy”: single in Aug; album out Nov 21 04:31 – Three friends lost in Summer ’24; writing through grief 07:49 – High-functioning drinking in CRE culture 09:09 – Genetics, social anxiety, and why alcohol “worked” 10:15 – Lakewood roots → Deep Ellum bands (Boys Named Sue, Slick57) 12:32 – Ward + John origin story (choir class to clubs) 14:19 – “High-functioning” vs. “asshole”: the counselor’s wake-up 18:34 – The decision to quit; mapping rehab like a project 20:46 – Day one, therapy, psychiatrist, acceptance 22:36 – The call that changed it: AA, rehab choice, no rock bottom 25:21 – Lunch drinking, Truck Yard “office,” living in the open 30:42 – Turning the mess into music 31:33 – From early sobriety songs to darker honesty 34:24 – Calling Pedigo; the producer’s job: serve the story 36:11 – The “Party Police” and John’s producing origin 39:20 – Parallel divorces, Tulum writing trips, new studio 41:27 – Pedigo’s philosophy: make the song bigger, not busier 44:01 – Clean/explicit cuts, sequencing chaos, mastering 45:22 – Ward’s writing workflow (click, scratch, build) 46:06 – The players: Joshua Ray Walker, Charlie Wiles, Trey Pendergrass, Chad Stockslager & more 47:28 – Releasing with Idol Records; PR; the Beyond the Bar show 49:05 – The “pedal band” plan (full band, one pedal) 51:12 – Using the record to talk openly about addiction (+ book tease) 52:09 – Setup to the feature track 53:00 – Song: “Non-Alcoholic Beer Drinking Man” 56:38 – Wrap and sign-off Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/ X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445 The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579 To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com

Mike Rhyner sits down with Rick and Ryan Holden — a father-son polygraph team whose client list ranges from federal agencies to murder suspects to people just trying to clear their names — to pull the curtain back on the world most of us hope we never have to visit.

They walk Mike through how a real polygraph actually works (and why “lie detector” is the wrong term), why the machine itself isn’t magic but the examiner better be, and why anxiety doesn’t automatically make you look guilty. Rick talks about 50+ years in the chair, from Texas death row to child abuse cases to capital murders, and Ryan breaks down how this work shows up in counterintelligence, national security, and courtrooms.

They also get into ethics: when you’re allowed to tell, when you’re not, and what it feels like to know the truth in cases that are dark, heartbreaking, and legally delicate. It’s intense, it’s honest, and it’s not reality TV.

Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Your Dark Companion 00:01:24 - Meet Rick & Ryan Holden, Human Lie Detectors (Sort Of) 00:03:53 - 52 Years in the Chair: How Rick Got Here 00:06:39 - “Lie Detector” Is a Bad Name (Here’s Why) 00:08:33 - Has the Polygraph Game Changed? Uh, Yeah 00:10:39 - Courts, Admissibility, and That 1923 Problem 00:12:12 - Is It 100% Right? (Short Answer: No) 00:13:20 - When Examiners Get It Wrong 00:15:06 - Trusting the Human, Not Just the Machine 00:16:17 - Panic in the Chair: Does Nerve = Guilt? 00:18:28 - Why They Actually Want You a Little Nervous 00:20:33 - “Do I HAVE to Take This?” Voluntary vs Forced Tests 00:22:29 - No, You’re Not Walking In Off the Street for a Cheater Test 00:24:38 - Reality TV Polygraphs Are Garbage 00:26:38 - Rick’s Still Obsessed With This Work (In a Good Way) 00:27:40 - Clearing People vs Catching People 00:28:31 - Polygraph 101: How a Real Exam Actually Works 00:33:12 - Reading Physiology, Reading Behavior, Reading You 00:35:24 - When They Confess Before the Test Even Starts 00:36:15 - Midshow Read: House of Healing 00:39:01 - The Case That Still Haunts the Room 00:43:52 - How Child Abuse Allegations Actually Move Through the System 00:47:00 - The Confession, Attorney-Client Privilege, and Outrage 00:51:32 - Are You There to Find the Truth or Deliver Justice? 00:53:41 - How Do You Hear This Stuff and Sleep at Night? 00:56:06 - “Everybody Has Something at Stake” 00:56:32 - Why People Come to Them Quietly 00:57:27 - Everyone Has a Right to Defend Themselves

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Mike Rhyner and gang unveil a new wing of the the Sunset Lounge: The Sunset Soccer Club with Tyler Kern—a show built to make the world’s game make sense before the 2026 World Cup steamrolls America like a well-timed counterattack. Rob Ervin tags in to talk fandom, promotion/relegation, and why Bundesliga is the most fun word to say out loud.

From Dallas hosting more Cup action than anyone, to how MLS grew up without face-planting, to why the U.S. men might finally be good on paper (our favorite American surface), this one’s a crash course wrapped in a hangout. Rhyner plays curious convert, Tyler speaks fluent footy, and Rob swings the supporter’s hammer. Come for the Rush detour and transfer-fee nerdery; stay for the plan to turn soccer snobs into soccer sherpas.

Chapters

00:00 – Rhyner Kicks Off: “Podcasts live forever—kind of like my Rush regret.” 01:34 – Meet Tyler Kern: Ticket alum, WBAP survivor, soccer lifer. 06:55 – Sunset Soccer Club 101: The show that preps America for 2026 without gatekeeping. 07:21 – World Cup on Home Soil: Why Dallas is basically Tournament HQ. 09:50 – How We Won the Bid: FIFA votes, super-bids, and not-so-subtle course corrections. 11:14 – From ’94 to MLS: The league that learned to grow up slow (on purpose). 12:37 – U.S. Sports Appetite: WNBA proof, Messi mania, and “yes, there’s room for one more sport.” 13:44 – No Snobs Allowed: Making the game accessible (and keeping the weirdos fun). 19:56 – Pick a Team, Coward: Tyler chooses Borussia Dortmund and explains tifos like a proud dad. 23:57 – Rhyner’s Conversion Arc: Hockey hooked him; soccer’s next. 25:35 – Is MLS Here to Stay? Why slow and steady beat NASL’s rocket-sled. 27:08 – Academies vs. Hope & Dreams: FC Dallas as a talent factory. 31:32 – Lamar Hunt Appreciation Minute: The man who named the Super Bowl and propped up soccer. 33:42 – What the New Show Will Do: News, guests, evergreen explainers—no EU passport required. 38:24 – USMNT Lens: Why “on paper” is our favorite American tactic. 46:24 – 48-Team World Cup: New nations, new chaos, same beautiful game. 49:09 – Who’s Best Right Now? Haaland the hammer, Mbappé the jet, Messi the myth. 51:36 – Transfers, Fees & Loans: Soccer’s trade system, but weirder (and richer). 54:11 – Sunderland ’Til It Hurts: Relegation’s civic hangover—required viewing. 58:53 – Launch Time: Sunset Soccer Club records Tuesdays, drops Wednesdays—send your love (and hate) to sunsetsoccerclub@stolenwatermedia.com .

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Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker joins Mike Rhyner and Woodsey (Ben & Woods Show, San Diego) for a lively, honest, and at times hilarious look into baseball, leadership, and life in the big leagues.

Skip talks about his path from player to manager, lessons learned under Tony La Russa, and what it takes to build a real clubhouse culture. The guys dig into the Rangers’ rollercoaster season, the difference between coaching and managing, and what Skip’s bringing to Arlington.

It’s part baseball masterclass, part barroom storytelling—classic Your Dark Companion energy.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 – Intro: Mike Rhyner welcomes Skip Schumaker & Woodsey 00:01:33 – How Skip fell into coaching and learned the game from the other side 00:02:50 – Lessons from Tony La Russa & how bench roles shaped his mindset 00:04:19 – The DH debate: Has baseball changed for better or worse? 00:05:30 – Who influenced Skip’s baseball brain the most 00:07:17 – Skip’s radio connection with Woodsey and Ben & Woods Show 00:11:39 – How Skip’s long ties led him to the Texas Rangers 00:15:27 – Working alongside Bruce Bochy as a senior advisor 00:19:10 – Why Texas was Skip’s #1 choice & family ties to TCU 00:21:26 – Building a clubhouse culture from Day One 00:23:53 – Why culture wins games & why staff chemistry matters 00:25:44 – The kind of people Skip wants in the organization 00:26:30 – The Rangers’ frustrating 2024 season – what went wrong? 00:30:22 – Skip’s pitching philosophy: command beats velocity 00:32:24 – October baseball – pressure, preparation, and playoff mentality 00:35:06 – Pitching evolution: velocity vs. control in modern MLB 00:38:18 – The Rangers bullpen & the power of command 00:39:33 – Building chemistry through communication 00:41:50 – Hotel-bar lessons with Tony La Russa 🍷 00:42:50 – Padres talk: culture, chemistry, and what went wrong in San Diego 00:46:19 – Would Skip ever have imagined managing the Rangers? 00:48:42 – Closing thoughts, friendships, and managing with gratitude

Watch the full conversation now and don’t forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and share with your fellow baseball fans.

📺 Your Dark Companion 🎙️ Hosted by Mike Rhyner 💬 Guest: Skip Schumaker – Manager, Texas Rangers 🎧 Featuring Woodsey (Ben & Woods Show, San Diego)

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On Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes sit down with Dallas Morning News veteran Evan Grant (29 seasons on the Rangers beat) to unpack a maddening 2025 campaign: elite starting pitching, an offense that never synced, and a clubhouse that couldn’t find its rhythm. Evan explains why this felt like the most underperforming Rangers team in memory, what changed going from Donnie Ecker to Brett Boone on hitting, and how a late-season infusion of “Little Rascals” energy briefly jolted the club. They also dig into Jack Leiter’s leap, where Kumar Rocker stands, the Seager–Semien dynamic, the looming payroll/CBT constraints, potential trade math (who’s movable, who isn’t), and what new manager Skip Schumaker’s C.A.P.E. mantra (Communication, Alignment, Preparation, Execution) could mean in practice. Plus: catcher conundrums, Adolis adjustments, and who Evan would love to see in October.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 - Open & Introductions 00:04:45 - Pitching vs. Hitting 00:09:20 - Ecker → Boone (Hitting Message Shift) 00:13:50 - “Little Rascals” Bump 00:18:05 - Jack Leiter’s Breakthrough 00:22:40 - Kumar Rocker’s Path 00:27:10 - Clubhouse Chemistry 00:31:35 - Catcher Crisis 00:36:00 - Adolis & the OF Puzzle 00:40:10 - Payroll Reality Check 00:44:45 - Trade Talk 00:49:05 - Enter Skip Schumaker (C.A.P.E.) 00:53:20 - Ballpark & Approach (Line Drives > Uphill Swings) 00:58:00 - October Wish List 01:04:00 - Wrap & What’s Next

Mike Rhyner, Grubes, and DLLS’s own Kevin Gray power-wash the offseason angst off Mavericks fans and get you ready for tip-off. Yes, the Luka-to-LA asteroid actually hit. Yes, everyone doom-scrolled. And yes, there’s still basketball to play — with Cooper Flagg flying around like a caffeinated free safety, Anthony Davis trying to carry while the eyeball heals and the scale side-eyes him, and a defense-first identity that might just make Dallas obnoxious to score on again.

Kevin dishes on where fans’ heads are post-catastrophe, what “movement and spacing” looks like without Luka-ball, why the frontcourt depth is quietly nasty, and which Western heavies (OKC, Denver, Houston) are about to make your sleep schedule worse. Plus: CBD slushies, cap-circumventing conspiracies, and the annual reminder that the Cowboys will test your faith more than any religion.

It’s fast, funny, and Mavs-nerdy in all the right ways.

00:00 - Lightning Strikes & Roll Call at the Mothership 02:10 - Enter Kevin Gray: The Dark in Your Dark Companion 05:06 - Two Weeks Out: What Even Are the Mavs Now? 06:22 - “That One Thing”: Reliving the Luka Trade Night 12:11 - Fallout & Fanbase Therapy: From Apoplectic to Apathetic 15:10 - Lottery Luck & Flagg Day: Turning the Page (Maybe) 22:25 - Luka vs. Cooper Flagg: Artist vs. Disruptor 26:19 - Defense, Junkie Vibes & Not Here to Make Friends 26:31 - Kyrie’s Timeline, AD’s Burden, and Reality Checks 30:08 - New Look Offense: Movement, Spacing, Many Hands on the Ball 31:44 - Identity Reset: Clamp First, Score Later 32:14 - Mid-Show Read: CBD House of Healing (Slushies Optional) 35:43 - Cowboys Tangent: Silver, Blue, and Emotional Damage 41:00 - Bigs, Depth, and Rotation Math: AD, Lively II, Gafford, PJ 42:48 - The West Gauntlet: OKC, Denver, Houston and Friends 45:22 - East Wild Cards: Boston’s Gap Year, Knicks/Cavs, Watch Orlando 48:20 - Around the League: Cap Shenanigans & Mystery Guests 50:04 - Who’s Left Standing? Kevin’s Chalk (and We Hate It) 51:42 - Parting Shots: Mavs Homework and Kevin’s Flowers

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Mike Rhyner pulls up a barstool with Matt Lyle (playwright/agent of chaos) and Max Hartman (actor/true believer) to unpack The Trade—a sharp, satirical stage play where Luka “gets shipped” to the Lakers… strictly in parody land. It’s a Greek tragedy with punchlines, puppets (yes, a giant one), and the kind of Dallas sports heartbreak that only theater can make weirdly healing.

In between a studio lightning strike (because of course), a Rangers victory lap, and Shoopy’s drive-by quips, the gang digs into how you spin sports calamity into catharsis, why comedy is the only way to survive a news cycle like that, and what it’s like rewiring a script on the fly while your opening night anxiety does suicides in the lobby.

Come for the Mavs angst. Stay for the craft: character builds, last-minute rewrites, staging a sports scandal with style—and the reminder that, sometimes, parody tells the truth better than a press conference.

⏱️ Chapters

00:02 — “Thunder, Meet Rangers” A literal lightning strike says hello as the crew toasts a World Series and checks if the breakers—and Mike—are still alive.

03:13 — “Luka to the… Lakers? Relax, It’s Theater” Max and Matt introduce The Trade: a satirical fever dream, not Woj-bomb reality. (Everyone breathe.)

05:08 — “Friendship, Grief, and a Giant Puppet” Building characters from fan trauma, plus the Patrick Dumont mega-puppet cameo you didn’t know you needed.

08:17 — “When Sports News Feels Like a Prank” Remember that day you refreshed your phone 400 times? They bottle that energy—then set it on stage.

11:32 — “Greek Tragedy in a Jersey” Matt on using pain and rage for laughs (the good kind), and why parody hits where pressers won’t.

17:20 — “The Trade: A Comedy Built on a Collapse” How to stage the unstageable: tone, pace, and keeping the crowd howling without twisting the knife.

24:24 — “CBD Time-Out” A mid-show pit stop at CBD House of Healing. (Because opening nights and sports fandom both need balm.)

26:48 — “Rewrite, Rehearse, Repeat” The breakneck cycle of writing in April, staging by fall, and changing lines five minutes before curtain.

29:30 — “Parody vs. Press Release” Sports drama on stage vs. in real life—and why one of them actually gives you closure.

34:44 — “Stage Fright & Film Fights” Max on opening-night nerves, theater vs. film rhythms, and making the laugh land on two.

40:29 — “Tell a Friend, Bring a Frenemy” Mike’s parting shot: subscribe, share, and yes—argue with us in the comments. It’s tradition.

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Mike sits down with the guy who helped steer the ship when The Ticket went from scrappy longshot to Dallas sports juggernaut: former program director Bruce Gilbert.

In true Your Dark Companion style, this isn’t a dry industry interview—it’s two radio lifers swapping war stories about wild ownership changes, home-brewed sports talk, and the kind of chemistry you can’t script. They laugh about bad ideas, celebrate good ones, and unpack why The Ticket still matters in a world where every phone is a radio.

This is part origin story, part master class, and part therapy session for anyone who ever loved—or worked in—live radio. 00:00 Lightning & Rocktober 02:47 Conference-Room Ambush 04:54 From FM to Misfits 06:58 No Blueprint, Just Guts 09:43 Bought To Be Killed? 12:19 Bunker Mentality 101 15:27 Chemistry You Can’t Fake 20:48 Management: Human Shield 23:33 Stars, Not Egos 26:15 Underdogs With Nothing 30:03 Slushies & CBD Reads 33:08 Okay, We’ve Got It 36:12 Magic vs. Spreadsheets 41:45 Everyone Wants Content 46:28 Why Radio Still Hits 50:03 Talent Hall of Fame 52:35 Ticket Luck Strikes 55:27 Our WLS Moment 56:53 Pants Off, Sign Off Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/ X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445 The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579 To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com