Episode 1493 – German Week | Great British Bake You Off to Sleep S12/C9 E5
SCOOTER: Alright, friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for…hello, bakers. By the way, bakers, hello. It’s time for Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. Welcome. If you're new, welcome back. If you're coming back when you need this show…and hello, friends. To all my regular listeners, I’m so glad you're all here. I really hope I can help take your mind off of stuff, bring you some comfort, maybe some sleepy joy and delight in the deep, dark night, to create a place where you could feel at home or as a welcomed guest, and whether you want to be a part of this good company of the show or you’d just rather be out there nice and snuggled in on your own, I’m glad you are here. I do hope I can help. If you're new, by the way, the show is very different, so give it a few tries, and don't worry, I’ll explain options coming up of…if this show doesn't work for you. Don't worry, you got options. I’ll explain it to you in the intro.
But structurally I always like to tell you…so, we got some support coming up. That way, particularly for new listeners and most listeners who only listen when they need the show, paying for the show is optional. You don't gotta worry about any of that stuff. Then after the support, totally separate from the support, is our intro — it’s about twenty minutes long — to ease you into bedtime, to be a buffer between being awake and asleep. Then later on we’ll be talking about the Great British Bake-Off baking show. Not…baking show. I said bacon. I didn't mean B-A-C-O-N. I meant B-A-K-I-N, which some people that I hear from…it may be 4:20 p.m. where…or 4:20 anywhere. But I meant baking, whatever, pavlovas. Oh, pavlova. Could you have a Pavlovian…? Oh, I guess it’s still Pavlovian. I thought I had an out there, like an in there. Pav…oh, by the way, this is just the beginning of the show, so I better hold off on my meanders. So yeah, I’m glad you're here.
Thanks for checking the show out. Give it a few tries. See how it goes. But you're welcome here, and if the show is a regular part of your routine…you don't have to be a part of this thing, but if you want to be a part of this thing, you love the show, it’s changed your life, you say, man, I want to be a part of this, there’s a bunch of options — maybe you're already doing it — spreading the word, letting one person know about the show, checking out these sponsors, or supporting the show directly. Those are great ways. So, here's a couple of them. Thanks.
Intro: Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever is keeping you awake. That might be thoughts, things on your mind about the past, the present, the future, thoughts you're thinking about, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally, feelings about the past, the present, the future, right? Feelings about those thoughts, it could be physical sensations or thoughts and feelings about physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, maybe you work a different schedule, maybe you're traveling, maybe you have guests, maybe you're going through something or in the middle of something or getting over something.
Whatever it is, I really do hope I can help, and the only reason I run through some of that stuff is really…and I don't always say this directly on the nose. So, maybe I could counteract some of the loneliness I’ve always felt and maybe you feel, too. I guess maybe we could say it in a complimentary way; it’s a special kind of loneliness. I don't necessarily mean it complimentary, but during the day, right now when I’m recording this, and hearing stories from thousands and thousands and thousands of listeners over the years, that’s a goal of the show, to make it a special kind of loneliness instead of a special kind of loneliness, because now that you've tuned into the show, you're here with a bunch of other people that really do get it. There’s so many people nodding right now…and that some of us share what that means. We could…if it was sung…who sings the song A Groovy Kind of Love?
I can hear the song but I can't think of it, so…well, I know somebody sings a song called A Groovy Kind of Love, or that’s a line in a song somewhere. I wonder if that song was in the movie Emperor’s New Groove. So, these are…this is where the show goes on meanders. Welcome. But you're in good company is what I mean, where people want to understand, want you to feel welcome, seen, respected, and know that we share something here together, and that there’s some people listening who…whatever your definition or whatever it is that brought you here to the show, whatever’s standing in the way…or maybe it doesn't even seem like that. Whatever is impacting your sleep, there’s enough people listening that there’s people right now thinking fondly of you that really get where you're at. They are really sending you the most wholehearted welcomeness you can possible imagine. I know this 'cause I get e-mails from people.
The stories I’ve heard this week, they're glad you're here, someone that may be right down the road and some people on the other side of the world from you. The good news is there’s no pressure. You can receive that welcomeness, you can send that welcomeness, or you could…you don't need to participate, though. You can just be aware that it’s going on or you could just be like, nah, I’d just rather lie here and listen to your voice. But I just bring that up because I know and the other people that are welcoming you know that you deserve a good night's sleep. You deserve a bedtime where you can get the rest you need so your life is more manageable tomorrow, a bedtime you don't have to dread anymore, that you could look forward to or at least feel neutral about. Say, well, I got that podcast guy, or that podcast guy introduced me to another podcast.
Yeah, I’m really glad about that, that you could get the rest you need on a regular basis so that you're out there in the world flourishing. That means our world’s a better place to be in when you're flourishing. Our whole world’s better. Then you could take part in this thing and send kindness or receive it or just be there resting. But know that there’s other people here right now with you at as much of a distance that you feel comfortable with that really get it, because that’s been…that’s where the special kind of loneliness really comes from, is that in the deep, dark night, it does feel like nobody gets it. Then when you tell some people about it during the day that don't get it, it kinda reinforces that, or at least it’s been what it’s like for me. That’s not the case with Sleep With Me. You're a part of something whether you want to be a part of it here together or just looking on. So, that’s why I talk about that stuff.
So, you say, hey, yeah, somebody sees me, and they have a sense or a respect of what it’s like for me. So, that’s all I mean when I say I’m glad you're here and I want to help. Now, the way the show works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which means my voice is not traditionally soothing, and I go off on stuff like pavlova…I think came up in the last episode, which is like a dessert, like a meringue-based dessert, a MBD, maybe. Then I looked it up; Anna Pavlova…but then I said, Pavlovian, and my brain said…before I spoke five, six, seven, eight minutes ago, I said, okay, Pavlovian and pavlova…if I say Pavlovian, it’ll be different than Pavlovian, 'cause pavlova has an A. Pavlova and…would have been what I…what my brain meant. I mean, I do have some learning differences, so things don't…that’s why I make the show. It gives me an advantage 'cause my brain is my…a bit of a bane, you know?
But in this case I get to use it for a positive way. It just constructs things in a little different way. But you say, you mean Pavlovian like that dog response thing? No, no, no, I mean like related to the pavlova dessert. Okay, but what do you mean? Well, you know, I feel like Pavlovian, like I could use some resting after baking, or I want to be…I want to have some structure, some boundaries, but be soft on the inside. Marshmallowy, as they say. That’s what I mean. I’m feeling…I guess we don't need to take that word back, but we could…can I have…can a word have two meanings, one of which is fictional and most recently created? You say, today I’d like to feel Pavlovian, not that Pavlovian, but another…I’d like to feel like a pavlova. I guess…that actually rhymes…that sounds better in the mouth. I’ve never had a pavlova that I know of, so I don't know if that feel…but I’d like…today…I forgot what I said that rhymed. I’d like to feel Pavlovian.
This…pavlova did come up a long time ago, 'cause I remember I was saying, pavlova…all over pavlova or something. Anyway, I better get…so, those are pointless meanders, superfluous tangents, and…when you first get to the show, if you found it by a search or a recommendation, you're probably skeptical and doubtful. Especially if you're like most of us here, you searched for something, you've tried a bunch of different stuff, nothing has worked for you consistently, and you heard about a sleep podcast or you tried other sleep podcasts or sleep audio and then you checked this show out. You probably had a reasonable expectation of something reasonable, and now you got this dude talking about pavlovas and stuff. So, this show is…it defies expectations in a way that defies how people usually use the term ‘defies expectations’. So, if you expected to use the term ‘defies expectations’, our show would defy that expectation.
I think what I’m saying is true, 'cause no one…I mean, I think a lot of people, when they do e-mail me, they become regular listeners, they…no one’s ever said, this show defied expectations! Exclamation point, smiley face. But I have gotten probably hundreds of thousands of e-mails saying it the other way, and that’s okay because when you first get here, it does take some getting used to. This show is very different. It’s not for everybody, and that’s okay. A lot of people don't like me or the show, and that’s why I tell you about the other options. But I will tell you that over the decade-plus I’ve been making the show, I’ve heard from a lot of people that didn't…that gave it a few tries, and then all of a sudden the podcast worked for them like nothing else ever did. They say, yeah, at first I didn't like you. The second try I was like, ugh. Then on the third try I woke up. Now I listen every night. Or some people listen to eight episodes a night.
People have listened to the show for twelve to thirteen years on a regular basis that at first loathed me, because they said, oh, I didn't get that the show was always never getting started, always going nowhere. You are just here to be my bore-bud. So, it does take a few tries. Some people get the show right away and some people never get it. But just give it a few tries and see how it goes, and if it doesn't work out or you already know this podcast is not for you or my personality does not fit what you would like, that’s totally fine, or the way we structure the show doesn't work for you, whatever it is. Go to sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, and there will be other sleepy podcasts on there and sleepy stuff. We recently refined that page to make it even easier to get away from the show as fast as you can, 'cause I got some feedback, some strong feedback from someone. Not only were they saying no thank you to the podcast, they were saying no thank you to the /nothankyou page.
I said…at first I said, ugh. I said, ugh. But then I said, oh, maybe I could make it…is there some little way…? I thought I was being helpful that I could not…make it even more efficiently to just be like, nope. So, by the way, there’s also…you could just do /nothanks. Then you don't even have to type out /nothankyou, and that’ll bring you to the same place. So, that’ll get you outta here even faster. Then you'll find something to help you fall asleep, maybe, another sleep podcast, or maybe that sleep podcast introduces you to something else, or have other repurposed things I use. So, see how it goes. What else do you need to know? Oh, most people don't like the show…oh, this is a podcast you don't really listen to. So, it’s kinda like a out-of-focus picture, a TV on in the other room, sand passing through your hands, like a show streaming under your pillow or some other…like a audiobook or something you repurpose that you're not really paying attention to but you like that it’s there.
My daughter and…it used to be my dog Koa; they loved watching makeup tutorials, and they would fall asleep to it, the two of them. That’s an example of a little bit of the podcast. So, it may be a professor or clouds in the sky or a class or a seminar, wind in the trees, nice water passing through your toes. It’s something that you can tune in and out of when you need to, or you don't need to tune into at all, or you could be there the whole time. So, that does take some adjusting, too. It’s a podcast, but we’ve…I think we’ve done it with friends or companions or other audio or media. We’ve tried it before. It’s just not…this is more intentional and on-call versus a friend that can only do it for you once or twice a year, or a partner who…if it’s anything…like they do it on your birthday, your anniversary, Valentine’s Day…oh yeah, I’ll tell you a bedtime story for an hour. So, yeah, just see…oh, yeah, I mean, I guess it’s a podcast you don't really listen to, but you'll get it if it works for you.
It’s also a sleep podcast…started in 2013, way, way back. I think 2013. I think I had the idea back…before in the aughts. It’s not here to put you to sleep. There is no pressure to fall asleep with this show. My job is not to put you to sleep. It’s to keep you company. There’s people listening who can't sleep at all. Maybe you're one of them. I’m here for you to the very end of the show whether you're awake or asleep. Maybe you need a break during the day. Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night. Maybe you have a job where you just need some…you need that. I’ve had those jobs before. Maybe you're napping. Whatever it is, or you're work…you work a flipped schedule. I’m here to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company, not to pressure you to fall asleep. There’s over 600 episodes ready to go for you. So, yeah. ‘Cause my job is to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bruh, your bore-bie, your bores, your Big Borebowski, your Barbra Borebot…wait, Borebra, Borebra.
Not Barbra. Borebra. Borebra Borestrand. Your…what was that? Boris Borelaf, your chairman of the boreds, your best bore-friend f’eva. A bore-friend just keeps you company, distracts you, and is there talking, talk, talk, talking about…tonight about bake-off. The last thing I like to run through is the structure of the show. The reason we structure the show the way we are, 'cause it’s one of the things that throws most new listeners off. But I want to meet you where you are so you have a understanding and of what your options are. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, okay, I might check that show out. Then there’s support, and the support keeps the show free for anybody to discover the podcast for the first time, to return to it when they need it, 'cause a lot of people just listen for a couple weeks at a time during tough times, or people that aren't in a position or just don't want to support the show or whatever.
It’s available to anybody. So, that’s what the support is about. You don't have to be a part of the show, but if you are, you support it for tons of other people, too. So, it’s a win-win, right? Then after the support, totally separate from the support — but I understand that people get caught up, but I try to explain what this is — is the intro to the podcast. It has nothing to do with the support. It’s a show within a show that we're probably already fifteen minutes into, where I explain what the podcast is but it takes me fifteen to twenty minutes. I go off…I follow a familiar structure every time, but I go off on new tangents every time. I mean, I don't think…I mean, maybe we could say I am Pavlovian. You say, no, not like that Pavlovian. I’m not gonna scratch my ear if you blow a whistle. I just am feeling…I’m feeling Pavlovian. I’m feeling pavlova. Was that ever a song, I’m Feeling Pavlova? I think that might have been one of the grunge bands. I’m feeling pavlova, I’m feeling pavlova all over.
I’m feeling pavlova. Maybe it was…I don't know anything about this Anna Pavlova. I believe she was a Russian ballerina. Someone named a dessert after her. Maybe it was a love song about Anna Pavlova, or maybe a fiction…like a lot of things with Sleep With Me, fictional. But yeah, I’m feeling pavlova all over. Oh, boy. I mean, I guess in that way I kinda feel like, eh, but I mean, normally…what if it was an empowering statement you could say in a disempowered way? Maybe even in a sleepy way? I’m feeling pavlova all over. [Yawns] Gratuitous yawn. So, what was I talking about? Bore-friend…oh, structure of the show. So, on the intro…that was just an example. Who knows what I’m gonna go off topic about? That’s what it is, familiarity, reassurance, and variety, 'cause it’s just my…what I’ve found works and what I’ve…based on the feedback of the show and my own experience is whatever it is that keeps me awake, it can't have repetition.
It wants something familiar and reassuring, but something’s gotta be different every time, 'cause I think whatever keeps us awake, in my opinion, wants to be respected, wants to be seen and welcomed in, too. So, having something new every time, I don't know, that’s the only thing I’ve found that works, and that’s what I want to make, is what I think works. So, that’s why every intro is fresh, and why not? I mean, what a great opportunity to say I’m feeling pavlova all over, and maybe even to kiss your biceps or blow kisses to the new listeners or the people coming back or to yourself or to your pet or your fish across the room as you wind down, because that’s what the intro’s about. If you fall asleep fast, this podcast really isn't…you're better off supporting the show…the show is meant to ease you into bedtime. Like, if you go on Sleep With Me+, there’s a lot of stuff designed for people that fall asleep fast or if you listen all night long.
Those are the kinda listeners…but yeah, this intro is meant to ease you into bedtime, to be a buffer between being awake and asleep, to help you transition, to wind down. So, a lot of people are getting ready for bed, some people are in bed getting comfortable, some people are blowing kisses to their fishes and saying, I’m pavlova all over. They're petting their pets, chilling out, lying on the floor, maybe somebody’s foam-rolling — I know I will be at bedtime, maybe — looking out the window at the clouds or the stars, drawing, doing something nice to get eased into bedtime. That’s why this intro…it’s kinda like a hangout time, like the relaxing part of a sleepover. Now, if you start listening, you find you don't like the intros, don't worry. You have great options. One, if you prefer something that’s ad-supported, listener-supported, there’s Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me in every podcast app. It just has the stories from the show.
Or if you find you…particularly if you fall asleep fast or you listen all night long, Sleep With Me+ has multiple different versions of shows designed for people that listen in that way. But at first just see how it goes, 'cause the intros are kind of a nice time to be together. I mean, who doesn't love blowing kisses to fishes, even if it’s figurative? Is there such a thing as figurative fishes? Literal…? I’m blowing kisses to literal…I mean, I can't right now. I don't have access to any fish. I mean, I guess I could…if we presume…what's the limit…? I wonder if we could get…and be like, oh yeah, the…whatever, the potential energy of a blown kiss. Is it infinite? Let’s say it is tonight. I’m blowing my kisses at fishes, then. So, that’s what the intro is, a wind-down and ease into bedtime, then there will be some support, and then we’ll have our Bake-Off coverage. All told, I’ll be here about a hour so you don't have to worry about falling asleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep.
I’m here to be with you for you, to be your mild distraction and friend in the deep, dark night. I’m really glad you're here, whether this is your first time checking the show out or your thousand, thousand, thousandth time. I’m really glad to be a part of your nighttime routine or to introduce you to something that helps you, or those of you that are like most people that just come to the show when you need it, I’m glad to be a resource for you. If you find you do fall into that regular listener pile and you say, I want to be a part of this thing being around now and in the future; it’s part of my life, I know it’s a part of other people’s lives, too, you could spread the word about the show, let one person know about it, or you could check out these sponsors or support the show directly. Those will change…they’ll be…make you a part of this. Thanks.
Alright everybody, this is Scoots. We're talking about Episode 4, German Week. It starts off with this Devo-esque…I'll try to maybe grab the transcript. Everybody’s got wigs on, red shirts, red lipstick, and all that. Then we get the talking heads. It’s German Week. They're saying it’s Jurgen Week, 'cause he’s German. So, it’s more pressure for him. I like Chigs’ shirt. Very purple with a red circle. First up; twelve batches, two…twelve biscuits, two batches. So, you gotta make these biscuits. Twenty-five total though, question mark? I guess 'cause baking a biscuit…now, these ones are gonna be ones that you usually make for Xmas. Intricately iced, says the alliteration. These are gonna be coated, dipped or coated. Don't go too far, but don't watch Jurgen. First batch is shortbread. Don't overwork it. House of friends…Jurgen’s making almond horns with expresso. They also talk that on the…there’s a host. So, they talk about Great British Bake-Off in Germany. Is there a host like Noel? No, there’s only one host.
Giuseppe’s using piece dough. Talks about a gravy. Linzer cookies; I wanted to look that up, which I will. Sticky dough…Lizzie…spitzbuben. Cheeky, cheeky boys. It’s like baby boys, kind of. Apple, cardamom…Crystelle is…she’s doing something. George, he says he usually needs…his is…usually needs twenty-four hours of rest, so I don't know. There’s no respite though on this, 'cause you gotta make your second batch. Chigs is gonna add the zest of three oranges. Freya’s looking to make something like a chewy Bakewell with jams and marzipan. There’s also a rhyme related to that. Jams and marzipan…I don't know if I could make it. A mullet wine? Amanda is making a mulled wine, not mullet wine, Scoots. Mulled wine. That’s in a pre-ski. First batch of biscuits. Make way for the second. Ten percent white chocolate. Lost touches…second batch comes out of the oven. This is just my jam, Lizzie says. Gotta put powder on them like snow. Okay, Giuseppe delivers his. Beautiful, delicious.
Spiced perfect. Unusual but perfect. Crystelle; looks nice. Love the flavor. Delicate. Chigs; texture, nice, chewy, flavor is good. Lizzie; delicious but too big. Amanda; nice taste, beautiful, astonishingly good. Worth every…Prue really appreciates it. George; tough. Love the flavors. Well done. Freya; chewy, delicious, love the flavors, but over-baked. Jurgen; lovely, uniform. The tea comes through. He gets a handshake for his. So, then we have talking heads. Now, Prue’s gonna do this other gingham mystery. Don't worry. I also…this is gonna be a Prince Regent cake. But…oh, don't P-A-N-I-C, from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But it’s very regal. Eight layers of chocolate custard. You gotta make it and chill it in stages. Jurgen has never made it or eaten it. That’s a Genoise sponge. Portion…out with precision. Batch bake three layers at a time. Ten to fifteen. Seven plus swap…Giuseppe gets compared to Frank Zappa. Second batch…Genoise production line.
Matt on radio; he does this radio bit with three different fake stations, which is pretty funny. Then you move on to the filling and the custard, which is cooler. You got cool sponges, and then you do sponge, cream, sponge, cream, sponge, cream. Everybody’s moving around. Chigs…oh, Amanda’s observing. Chigs moves around a lot. Crystelle talks to herself. Jurgen gets in the zone. Pour over or pipe it. Rosettes melting…there’s…as everybody gets finished, there’s big final music. Then they have to bring it up to the gingham table. Crystelle; they say lovely shine. Layers are compressed, though, but it tastes good. Lizzie; eh, nice enough. Giuseppe; quite neat, very nice moussey texture. Chigs; nice shine, nice sponge, fluffy. Don't know who that is, but small and erratic? Amanda; it’s tough. Freya; wobbly. Jurgen; nice sponge. So, it’s eight; Amanda, seven; Crystelle, six; George, five; Freya, then Jurgen, Lizzie, Chigs in second, Giuseppe in first. He laughs. He’s surprised.
He’s not so much into chocolate cakes. So, last chance. This is gonna be yeasted cake. So, it’s like the structure of bread but cake-like. Festive, funny, over the top is what they want. Jurgen’s doing a three-tier apple crumble. Lizzie; raisin, gin, cinnamon, Hansel and Gretel style. Boozy berries…Amanda; rum-soaked raisin cake. Sound of Music…Jurgen’s really making noise with his dough. How much to knead? Is the question. Brioche-style bake for Crystelle. Giuseppe; a cherry-honey pandoro. Jurgen also…they mention really took time to tutor everybody one on one in German baking. So, that was nice of him. Matt and Noel do a jar-talking bit, and then people start working on the fillings. George; tahini and chocolate. Focus on those fillings for alliteration. Chigs is doing a honeycomb crunch. Freya; an upside-down German red wine, three-tier. Proving time is thirty minutes. Various sizes of bake time. Precision planning. Freya does all hers at once. She says, actually, they all bake the same.
Everybody’s waiting for their bakes. Who could be questioned the longest? Lizzie and Noel…oven watching…George can't wait any longer. One of Lizzie’s cakes is broken. Assemble the cakes. Then we realize Noel’s under the weather, so he’s not there anymore. So, we do the judging, right? Lizzie; Paul likes it. The style is very nice, cake-like. Prue wants more sweetness. Crystelle likes the look. Or Crystelle…for Crystelle. They like the look. It’s uniform. Works. Love the lightness. Good job. Chigs; pretty over-baked. I like the design. Tough and dry, but the idea was good. Amanda; effective. A lot of flavor. Flavor fantastic. Spot on. Best tasting in a long time, according to Prue. Freya; so messy. Needs more baking. Topping’s delicious. George; too light, like a roll. Clumsy. Lose flavor…Giuseppe; lovely, well made, better than any…something I’ve had. Jurgen; beautifully baked, bready…but bready and dry. Then we go to the talking heads. George is pretty concerned, and Freya.
Giuseppe’s really hit his stride. Matt’s gotta do both jobs as we get to the end. Giuseppe’s the Star Baker, and Freya’s going home. She just had…believe it or not, she’s only nineteen years old, which I was like, wow, that is impressive. Between her being nineteen and Chigs only baking for a year, those are two impressive contestants. So, they all…everybody’s really touched. They got really close with their…George can't believe he’s still there. Really kind…even Paul and Prue. But there is no call home or anything. The episode ends with Giuseppe, but this episode won't end. I’ll be back with more facts and looks back at the episode. Thanks, everybody.
Alright, I’m gonna run through some facts that came up in this episode. A lot of stuff is interesting, starting with Devo. I don't know if I’ve…we’ve talked about Devo very much on the show. But Devo was formed by two sets of brothers, Mark and Bob and Gerald and Bob, and it was…it’s interesting 'cause the two musicians that’ll come up, I think I have to really start to dig a little deeper, because Devo stands for ‘de-evolution’, and it’s a bit of satire and kind of like their view of the world. They used style kind of as a part of their kind of subversive way of looking at the world. I think this comes up with the third thing, too. This is interesting. So, their flowerpot hats are like a energy dome. That was during the eighties freedom of choice era. Red, tiered, plastic hats. Also, by the way, I’m not positive that this was Devo. I could be wrong that this was even a Devo tribute at the beginning of the episode, but here we are. It was based on Bauhaus architecture, so I guess that kinda makes sense.
They were kind of…they would recycle their energy and focus it. Then they had yellow suits, Tyvek. These are in their earlier live shows, and they would take them off and…kind of a comment on conformity, maybe. Then in the eighties they had…they would wear kinda pompadour wigs, which I think fits this one, and kinda like this…the trends in the eighties, romantic. Now, they were also pioneers of musical videos and also the surrealist style. I mean, satirical, comedic, and I guess subversive. Yeah. Their ‘78 album was produced by Brian Eno. So, I gotta dig more deep into it. They've had a lot of things…influenced a lot of other things, and including…Mark Mothersbaugh produced music for Pee-wee’s Playhouse, LEGO Movie, Rugrats, Thor: Ragnarok, and of course, a lot of other things. They're hitting a new layer…level of popularity today. Next up is Linzer. It’s named after Linz, Austria. There’s a Linzer cookie, there’s a Linzer torte. Is Linzer a spice or…?
That’s what I was wondering. It’s a spiced dough. Ground, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts. I think in this episode it’s ground almonds. Warm spices, aromatics. The Linzer cookie has the base, then a filling with tart fruit, maybe red currant jam or plum jam, windowpane top, a Linzer window, and then dusted with sugar. Then piece dough comes up. I’m not even sure I looked up the right piece dough. Fresh, Mediterranean vegetables slow cooked in high-quality olive oil; tomatoes, zucchini, pepper…bell peppers, onions, garlic. I’m not sure now, but a really slow-cooked vegetable thing. I’m gonna have to try that. It’s from the same region as Don Quixote. Oh, a pre-ski came up, too. This is like after skiing, kind of…it is one of these idealized things, whether you're getting cozy in a sweater by the fireplace or you're out on the town having drinks, or if you're like in that movie where they make people laugh with Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey. It means after skiing.
People have socialized after skiing for centuries, but skiing, downhill skiing, became popular in the 1950s in the European Alps and then became a luxury pastime. Most things would close down at 4:00 p.m. as it got cold, but people didn't want to go home yet, so they hung out after skiing. But they would still wear their gear. Maybe mulled wine; that was what was in this one, maybe Europop dance parties. Yeah, now it’s still a term used today, but it could mean anything. But it’s also kind of like association with style and luxury, aspirational for me, at least, the way I look…I say, well, am I pre-skiing or am I just taking my boots off? Okay, what about this book, seminal book in the history of Sleep With Me, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? They said, don't P-A-N-I-C. I said, oh, that reminds me of that book. This is a Douglas Adams sci-fi comedy novel or a series of three…I mean, there’s more than three books, but when I first read it I read the first three books in a row.
There was also a radio show. Five-book trilogy total. Huh, have I read the fifth book? Not sure about that. 1972 to 1992. It’s been rewrote, changed, and altered depending on the medium. So, there was the 1981 BBC TV series, a 1984 text adventure video game, 2005 movie. Follows Arthur Dent, who deals with people in outer space, bureaucratic stuff. There’s the number 42 and the term ‘don't P-A-N-I-C’. There’s a towel…plays an important thing. Still popular in some parts of the world. May 25th is Towel Day. I gotta remember that. Hitchhiker’s Guide kinda came true, and…yeah. Oh wow, there’s even an experience somewhere. Oh, it’s a pop-up. I’d like to check that out. But also a bit like Devo, where it’s a commentary on things. Then we had Frank Zappa came up. ‘Cause Noel said, Giuseppe, you remind me of Frank Zappa. So, let’s look up a little bit about Frank Zappa. 1940 to 1993. Three decades, sixty albums jumping between a lot of different styles. Covered by Phish.
That’s honestly…other than…so, my first exposure to Frank Zappa was his kids on MTV, then Phish covering, then checking out, but I still haven't dived deep. I’m gonna have to do a big Zappa dive. It’s very complex music based on polyrhythms, which is multiple conflicting rhythms at the same time, rapid time signature changes, dense, packed music and notes. Also maybe Zappa viewed his entire life’s work as one giant interconnected art piece. So, this is ‘67 to ‘88. Things would…themes and jokes would pop back up. So, if Sleep With Me makes it twenty years, that would be ‘33. Maybe we could make it a little longer than that. We can keep…'cause Sleep With Me has similar continuity and discontinuity at the same time. Sing…Synclavier, Synclavier, was a early digital synthesizer and sampler where Zappa would program his performances, like these avant-garde pieces he made, including winning him a Grammy in 1988, and would edit his things…and key changes and splice things together even before he could do it digitally.
Was…I don't know, this is the Zappa Wiki. Was Zappa straight-edge? And speaking out about things…he had a lot of interesting names for his kids. He’s a hero across the world. There’s even an asteroid named Pre-Zappa and a fish named after him. So, those…that’s cool. Alright, what do we got next? Oh, I was like…okay, so yeast cakes came up in this. I’m like, are any yeast cakes popular in the United States? ‘Cause a lot of them are just using baking powder or baking soda. They're apparently, yes, pre…'cause I was particularly interested in pre-packaged ones. Honey buns are a yeasted cake. So, then it’s like…babka and coffee cakes are also yeast leaven cakes. So, hey, honey bun, which is like a popular pre-packaged one. But babka came up in Seinfeld. I do love a sour cream coffee cake. So, king cakes, New Orleans for…what is that called? Big Friday? Whatever it’s called from Mardi Gras. A king cake is a braided yeast dough similar to brioche.
Coffee rings, tea rings…but I wonder if danishes are…so, I wonder if our…what's that thing called that I get at Trader Joe’s? The circle danish? How can I not think of that thing even though it comes up all the time? It’s got a unique name, but, I don't know, my mind’s blank right now. But maybe that’s yeasted. Speaking of yeast is…oh no, pandoro. That’s…yeah, Italian…that was another thing. That’s a sweet yeast bread. Staple of Christmas and New Years. Golden bread, vibrant yellow interior, a massive amount of egg yolks and butter. Should be in a metal mould, truncated pyramid, eight…or eight-pointed-star design. Should come with vanilla-scented powdered sugar. It’s not like pan…however you're supposed to say that that I can't…that…I’ve still never had a pantone or panettone — I’ve bought them; haven't eaten one yet — that I remember. I’m sure I have in my life, but…pandoro is plain. Purest dream. Just on the quality of its ingredients.
Panettone versus pandoro; that’s the debate in Italy, maybe? Which side do you fall on? I think I’d be more in the pandoro…with bread or maybe…I mean, I know people probably shouldn’t put…you probably shouldn't put peanut butter on there, but maybe I would. It does sound delicious. Maybe leftover pandoro French toast. While we're on yeast, what about brioche and brioche baking? That’s a French pastry bed…bread…for bed. Not a bed, though. It’s in the same category of baking as croissants and danish pastries. What sets brioche apart is that it’s enriched dough. So, it’s flour, water, yeast, milk. Brioche replaces the water with butter, eggs, and milk. So, the science is different. The dough has to be kneaded for a long time 'cause of…the butter inhibits gluten development. I’m an Aldi shopper, so the brioche comes up a lot in Aldi’s. Alright, what about tahini? Tahini is made from 100% ground sesame seeds soaked in water, then the outer hulls are separated, then ground into a silky, pourable paste.
Talk about alliteration. It’s got a nutty flavor, bitter finish, maybe, kinda runny peanut butter. It’s like 4,000+ years old. In the fertile crescent…Mesopotamia. It’s mentioned in tablets that are 4,000 years old. Yeah, they're using sesame seeds. Yeah, that’s wild. The first written recipes are from the 13th century of this culinary paste called…first written records of tahini. Then it started to expand around the world. Now, it didn't become popular in the US or Western Europe ‘til the 1940s. At first it was prized for nutritional value, but then it kind of became a mainstream culinary staple. Alright, this was a question I posed. It’s like…okay, so, they got three-tier cakes, right? First I was like, how many cake…what does a normal cake have, two tiers? One tier? I’m more familiar with two-tier cake, but then I found a lot of popularity of three-tier cakes. Ten, eight, and six-inch stacked rounds, whether they're circle…I guess a lot of them are not rounds, though; they're squares.
So, two tiers are common, but some people bump it up to four or five. Tiers are stacked cakes. Layers are different. Layers are slices of cake. I wanted the Guinness Book of World Record for the tallest cake, which was 33 meters. That’s 108.27 feet, in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was an immense, multi…it needed scaffolding and weighed twenty tons. That’s the tallest cake. The most layers, according…were Minnesota. This is Guinness Book 2. 260 layers of cake and buttercream six feet tall. That was from the Watkins Company. But I think the three-tier variety is considered…I don't know, it seems to be the best, though I’m like, huh, that’s one more tier than I’m used to. Also, by the way, I thought I was…this is like how my…I get ahead of myself. This was maybe four or five years ago. I was reading recipes about cooking cake in the Instapot. So, you're almost steaming the cake. Then I bought these inserts and I was like, what if I could make…start making three or four-layer cakes? It never worked out.
I think I even put a video out one time of a cake I made a long time ago. So, if anybody was listening in like, 2002…no, 2020, probably, would be my guess. It didn't work out. But in my mind I was already like a cake boss. Even though most reviews said steaming…making Instapot cakes it a good quick fix, but it’s not really the same. Or why I was like, this is gonna be so much easier than baking cakes. But yeah, these things happen. Okay, the last thing; Talking Heads always comes up. So, I wanted to just dig a little bit deeper into the movie Stop Making Sense. So, that was direct…that was a Talking Heads concert documentary by Jonathan Demme. 1983 tour. It also had a narrative. It was four different concerts from December 13 to December 16 at the Pantages Theatre in LA, and self-financed. But Jonathan Demme also had rules; no shots of the crowd. He wanted it to be cinematic, completely immersed, no distractions. Long takes and close-ups rather than rapid cuts like a music video.
Demme and Jordan Cronenweth or Cronenweth, they used six fixed cameras, a handheld camera, and a camera on a dolly or something. They also had one night where they only did wide shots so that the cameras wouldn't be on stage. Then they…David Burn…it was conceptualized. So, yeah, I guess you could see it for that. It was the first one recorded in digital audio, a 24-track audio recording system so that the live mix was crisp and punchy. There’s also…you should see it because the rest of the stuff will be interesting. So yeah, that’s a little bit about the facts of the episode, and yeah, thanks for listening and goodnight, everybody.
[End of recording]
Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes
