1208 – Autumnal and Holiday Retrospective

Episode 1208 – Autumnal and Holiday Retrospective

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome, welcome, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep, the podcast that’s here…I’m so…I’m really so glad you’re here if you’re new. If you’re a regular listener, holy cow, is it good to see you again. If you’re new, you’re so welcome here, and you don’t even have to feel welcome; you could just listen and say, I’m not so sure about you, dude. That’s the way most people get here.

 

Sleep With Me is actually a podcast that’s here to keep you company in the deep, dark night while you fall asleep, to cut through that loneliness and, I don't know, send some piece of calm and distraction and friendship and friendliness across the deep, dark night, to give you something to listen to other than whatever’s keeping you awake, to take your mind off of stuff so eventually you could drift off, because I’ve been there and a lot of other people who are listening have been there, too, the regular listeners who come back or people that listen and come back situationally. They’re glad you’re here because we’re all in this together. It’s my honor to be the one that gets to make this show with the support of everybody who listens and to welcome you in. So glad you’re here. I can’t tell you…it’s right around ten years of me making the show.

 

It really is an honor and I really hope this podcast can help you out. Do give it a few tries. It is very different, probably already different than what you expected, and it’s harmless, so just give it a few tries. See if it works for you. Don't worry; I have a website if it definitely doesn’t work for you with other options…I’ll talk about coming up in the intro. What we got coming up is support; that’s how you get to listen for free and check this show out, is the sponsor support, then there’s a long, meandering intro right after the support. Don’t miss out on the intro. It’s a show within the show that eases you into bedtime. Later on there will be a bedtime story kind of looking at seasonal episodes of Sleep With Me and going on meanders about them, and some thank-yous at the end of the show. So, I’m so glad you’re here, and let’s just see how it goes, alright? Thanks again for coming by, and thanks for making the show…thanks for making the show possible and supporting it, my patron peeps.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] 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’s keeping you awake, whether it’s thoughts, things on your mind that you’re thinking about, so thoughts, like thinking stuff…you know, thoughts. Yeah, thinking thoughts. Thunks; all those things.

 

So, anything on your mind that’s keeping you awake, it could be any feelings or emotions coming up for you related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, ongoing physical things, it could be your work schedule, it could be guests, or you could be going somewhere, you could be going through something, or it could be something mysterious. That’s what I’m dealing with as I record this right now, mysterious sleep…you know, where my goals for sleep are not being…are being mysteriously sidetracked, and I can’t quite figure it out, and that’s okay, 'cause I have a plan. So, whatever it is…the only reason I go through that…sometimes if you’re new, you’re like, why would you remind me of whatever’s keeping me awake?

 

I say, great question. I’ve gotten asked that before. The reason is so you know you’re not alone. I don't know why that’s important exactly. I have a couple thoughts about it because for me, when I shared a room with my brother and I could not sleep at all when my insomnia first started, it was incredibly lonely. When I had a roommate and I couldn’t sleep, it was incredibly lonely. Other times I’ve been in a room with someone…it’s…when I can’t sleep or right now while I’m just going through this, and it’s just been a couple days. I got Koa right there, my dog, my daughter in the next room, but I can still feel…it still feels that way. It might not be that way for you, and that’s…it might be something different. But maybe you could relate to that.

 

That’s one of the other things, is whatever’s keeping you awake, I may not have been through the same thing that you’re going through, but it’s likely I can relate to some of the feelings you have about it. Even if I cannot relate to how you feel, there is someone listening right now who can relate to how you’re feeling — thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, or whatever it is — that’s been through something similar, and they are leaning in right now and they’re nodding their head and saying, yeah, yeah, I do know. I do know how that feels, 'cause I’ve been through something like that. They want you to know that you’re not alone. I realize this is a strange digital medium that’s kind of exploring what that even means, but you know that’s important and I know that’s important even though we can’t quite quantify it.

 

It doesn’t change the fact that it is important, and then…as we feel. So, that’s one part of the show, probably the most important part of the show. If the most important part of the show wasn’t you getting the sleep you need and you deserve, one of those two…being less…feeling less alone or just feeling connected and a part of something that feels okay or you could feel neutral about, but also getting the sleep you need so your life’s a little bit better tomorrow, so your life’s more manageable so eventually you could be out there flourishing and living your life. That’s what our world needs. The world I’m in, it needs you. You don’t have to be at your best. That, to me, is a little bit too much pressure, but just to be out there and say, hey, this is what I need to do, and then eventually you could build towards flourishing.

 

It’d be terrific, 'cause I know you got it in you. But I’m just here to help because I’ve been there; dreading bedtime…I’ll be honest, lately wondering…I don't know, I did…I’m doing all the stuff I usually do, and it’s just not restful. But I’m gonna keep trying because I know I’m not alone. That really is a part of it. I know there’s other people out there dealing with it. So, those are the most important things I’m gonna say during the show, and what I’ll do here…the way I try to do this is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. All that means is that my voice is not traditionally soothing, I go off-topic, I get mixed up. The show is very silly.

 

Right now I guess I’m in a serious mood because I just want you to know you’re important and your sleep’s important. But the show is very silly and the show is very different. As I said earlier, it is an acquired taste, and in some sense, it’s something to be proud of. It isn’t for everybody, but the feedback I hear from and the reason I want you to stick around — it does take a few episodes to get used to the show — is because I’ve heard from people…that the show’s changed their relationship with sleep and bedtime. If it’s possible for you, try it, because people say, hey, I had no idea I was looking for something like this until I discovered it, and at first I loathed it.

 

Eventually after the second or the third try I realized…and now I’m gonna try to give you some information to help you with that, but if you’re doubtful or skeptical or irritated, that’s normal. Why wouldn’t you be if you’re like me and a lot of other people listening and you tried other…a ton of other stuff to help you fall asleep? So, just see how it goes. Now, if you’re already 100% I don't like you beyond loathe…my feelings for you are much stronger than loathing, that’s also normal and probably the way the majority of people who check out the show and only listen once react. Even if you stronger than loathe me, you still deserve a good night’s sleep and a friend in the deep, dark night.

 

So, I have a website, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, and I want you to check that out and check out some of the other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff on there and see how it goes. Maybe one of those shows will help you out. A lot of those people are my colleagues and friends, so check those out and see how it goes. Other things you need to know other than you may loathe me, it does take some tries to get used to…can you give me more…how…what does it mean when it’s a high bar or whatever? Barrier to entry. Sleep With Me doesn’t have any barriers to entry; you’re just not sure if you want to go in.

 

What if that was more…and I don't understand why that’s not more…there aren’t businesses where…I mean, with clothing stores, they more show you the clothing, right, with the store…I guess that was old…the old days, but with store windows and stuff. I don't know, I…my co-working place is near a outdoor mall and there’s still a lot of mannequin displays and stuff like that. They say, hey, you might want to check…these clothes look cool on these plastic things. Maybe they’ll look cool on you. But how come more places don’t have a unsure zone? I guess 'cause they’re running a…I guess they…maybe this is why it’s so hard to run Sleep With Me as a business. You say, hey, why don’t you check this store out or this restaurant out? Like, a zone where you actually do loiter on the periphery.

 

You say, well, I’m not so sure about that. That’s how most people get…well, I’m not so sure about that. Not so sure…let me see the menu. Like, where you…maybe it’s just me where you don’t feel self-conscious. You say, well, now we’re already looking at the menu. I mean, pretty much…I know there’s people with good boundaries, but I’m sure they sleep a lot better than me, where they say, who cares? If we don’t want to order, we don’t have to order. Hi; yeah, we’re looking at the menu. We’re not sure. I said, well, can’t…you just interacted with the person that works here, so…I wouldn’t even say that stuff out loud. I would only be thinking it, wishing I could say it out loud. We’re kinda committed to eating here because we’ve crossed over the threshold. The person you’re with, they say, threshold? Let’s roll.

 

I don't see anything…well, I could tolerate some of these dishes. So, if you just had a thing where it’s like…you say, well, I’m not so sure. They say, do you have a reservation? Not sure. Not sure if I need…I mean, that would be a pretty boss move. When people talk about what it means to have a boss move, I never know what they’re talking about, but I think going to fancy restaurants…maybe…I don't think I’ll ever start doing that, 'cause I wouldn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. So, then I guess that would…a boss move that wouldn’t hurt their feelings. They say, do you have a reservation? Not sure yet. I’m gonna check the place out. I’ll tell you what; I’ll do a lap and I’ll come back. Give me a menu…oh, you got those QR code menus? Oof, sorry, I’m not so sure…okay, let me take…yeah, let me take a look.

 

I want to see…what kind of seating? What are we talking? What do you got open? We’re booked for the next twelve…okay, well…no, no, that’s not what I was asking. I say, where would I be sitting? You could even say, okay, well, I don't know where I’ll be eating in twelve months, but if it looks good, we’ll talk about it. Thirteen months from now I could…if you show me where I could be eating, we could make…if it’s booked for the next twelve months…I just want to be sure. I mean, I’m just check…I’m checking my options. This could be an enjoyable process for both of us. I thought this was the foyer or whatever. I’m here to do some foyering. I’m foyering. I’m in the…I’ve made foyer…is that what that word is, by the way? Could it be a verb?

 

I don't even know what the word means other than a traditional place where people are greeted, and maybe they take off their outdoor clothes and prepare to be indoors. But I say, well, that’s the subtext exactly. Yeah, I’m foyering. What are you…what is that…that’s a verb now? Yeah, yeah. I’m in the process of participating in the foyer. ‘Cause a mudroom, it’s actually…you say, that’s another good subtextual room. I’m leaving my muddy stuff behind. I’m de-mudding, you know? I don't live in a mud…I don't have a home, so…but even if I…I’ve been in mudrooms before, I think. I thought my brother’s house had a mudroom. He lives in a mud…snow zone, which is…they call it…I think they were smart; they didn’t call it a snow room. Because you say, well, it rains, too. That’s too seasonal.

 

No one’s gonna pay $8,000 for a snow room, 'cause they’ll be…they’ll be like, it snows in there? No, no, no, it’s for getting the snow off. Nah, we’ll just…oh no, it’s a mudroom. Everybody got them nowadays. But so, that’s the…I’d say, yeah, I don't know, is that what they call it in a restaurant? I mean, I know it’s where the maître d’ traditionally is. You say, no, I’m just here to foyer. I’m not sure if I’m gonna be…amussing my bouching, but first I’ll foyer around. They could…it could even be a part of the greeting; like, they say, foyer! You say, yeah, I’m…foyer…yep, foyer. Cousin; foyer. Foyer, cousin. Thanks, cousin. Foyer, chef. I’m here to foyer. So, anyway, talk about distractions. I don't know, I think this…I think I’m onto…you say, reservation? No, I’m not sure yet. Maybe. Maybe I’ll have a reservation.

 

I gotta see if I’m comfortable. All that tangent was to say you’re welcome to foyer around here. Sleep With Me, the podcast where you could foyer. It does sound like something that would put a spring in your step, right? As soon as you detach the verb from the noun…especially 'cause I’m not sure about the definition of the noun or the pronunciation…you say, oh boy, I can’t wait to do…I’m seriously into foyering. Now, you gotta foyer with the intent of completing an actual entry into the business. It could be for every place, too. Then a place would be like…it would be…you’d say, we gotta put some foyer in this place. You say, what is…? I’m the first…I’m the world’s first foyer consult…imaginary foyer consultant. I don't want to brag. Oh yeah, we gotta put some foyer in this place.

 

I mean, I’m not good…I’m just good at introducing the concept. You’re gonna have to hire some people that are…actually know what they’re doing. But the goal would be to greet people at the very opening of the show and say, hey, you could just look in here and see. Come by a few times and say, hey, now I’ll make a reservation. Sleep With Me, you don’t even have to book a reservation, so…okay, so…holy moly. Great tangent, though. I love saying foyer. I wish I was…this is where I wish I was in hip-hop, because I could throw…do some old-school hip-hop about foyer…every day…by the way…pay to pay. Hey, hey, hey. Please, no more, no way. Please end this tangent about…now you’re in Seussian. I’d say, okay. Okay, so, those…so, that was a superfluous tangent.

 

Oh, so the show…oh, when you first…how do you listen to the show? That’s it. So, at first you just kinda barely listen. It’s kinda like background noise. You passively consume this podcast. It also is not here to put you to sleep. It’s here to keep you company while you fall asleep. There is no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m gonna be here for over an hour to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bor, your neigh-bore, your Borbie, your bores, your bore-bruh, your bore d’ or bore…maître d’…maître bore, bore d’, bore d’ maître — one of those things — to take away your thoughts or whatever’s keeping you awake, really, just like a coat room. I’d say, okay, now you’re…come on in. Leave your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.

 

You don’t even have to leave them; they just kind of pay attention to me. The Dancing Maître d’; that could be something. I don't know. But that’s really what I’m here to be, is as you cross…'cause the foyer is before…is one threshold, but then you cross over into the threshold of the restaurant. So, the intro, in this case, is the threshold of the show. But this foyer concept would apply to almost everything for people like…anybody that relates to me, they say, oh boy, I don't know if I want to go in there. Is there gonna be eye…do I have to make eye contact in this area? Sir, would you prefer to make eye contact or not? Not sure. I’m just wondering about it before I come in. They’d say, okay…I don't know what a good person would…a person that’s skilled, they’d have a way to spin it either…they say, whatever you’re comfortable with, sir.

 

We’ll get you…if you decide you want some eye contact, we’ll get it to you right away. But for the time being, why don’t you…we have…we’ll give you a private sitting area. I don't know. So, I’m supposed to be introducing a sleep podcast, not designing a new way of living that already exists for most people. It already exists; it’s just not such a on-the-nose manner where we have to discuss the subtext to discuss what’s on the nose. But there’s a freedom there, right? The thing about Sleep With Me is you’re free to be you here, and if you’re anything like me, it’s a relief because most of the time…I can’t say this stuff to normal people. I’m not even kidding. Not to go on another tangent, but I was at a social function where somebody had to give me the old bathroom thing.

 

Now, they actually did go to the bathroom, I think, because I said, huh, I blew it again. So, at least they actually used…they went to the restroom. ‘Cause I said…'cause I was trying to work with my internal critic. It said, well…it said, what happened there? I thought we were having a good conversation. So, yeah. What else? Oh, so…a podcast you don’t really listen to, it doesn’t put you to sleep, just keeps you company, or if you need a break during the day…whatever it is, I’m here to the very end to keep you company whether you’re awake or asleep. Structurally what to expect; show starts off with a greeting; that’s the foyer. You say, hey, I might check this out. Then there’s support so the show could be free.

 

There’s over 600 episodes, ad-supported, that you could listen to or make playlists of, so you could kinda find your favorites as you become a regular listener. If you decide to subscribe to the show directly, there’s over 2,000 episodes and variations on episodes. So, pretty cool. A lot of options, 'cause as people become regular listeners, they say, well, I might want to listen in a little bit different manner than the way the majority of people listen to the show, which is in that order. They check out the foyer, then they listen to the support, then they listen to the intro, which is after the support and separate from the support. What the intro is here to do is for me to explain what the podcast is and go on random tangents. It’s different every time.

 

It really is a show within a show, and it’s an important show because it’s the opening act that eases you into bedtime. Who would have known? I don't know that we’ve discussed…probably…we’ve discussed mudrooms in intros before, but I’m not sure about foyers and making new nouns. I think that would actually be a noun. I’m participating in the act of being in the foyer in a active way. That’s a noun. You say, well, wouldn’t that be taking off your coat? No, no, no, I’m foyering around, and a matter of fact, part of my foyering is having an excursion into the restaurant to see what’s up, to see if I do want to eat here in fourteen months, because I was talking so long that thirteen months got booked up. Okay, so, what else? Oh, so then…so, the intro is really…for most people, it’s part of their bedtime routine.

 

Most people don’t fall asleep during the intro or listen all night. So, if you do, you may want to think about subscribing to the show directly. But for most people, it’s part of their wind-down routine or their getting-comfortable-and-getting-in-bed routine, or their getting-ready-for-bed routine. Then after the intro is support, and then there will be our bedtime story. It’ll be kind of a look back at autumnal episodes and pumpkin episodes and holiday episodes. So, if you want to do any dives into the archives based on that, it might help…it’s just a look back and it’s also part of showing solidarity with the writers and the performers who are on strike right now and not doing any content…content that’s on platforms, or doing my best. I’m not perfect. So, that’s the intro.

 

It’s long and meandering, then there’s support, then there’s the story. So, that’s the structure of the show, but you could adjust, right? There are people that subscribe to the show that only listen to story versions. There’s people that subscribe to the show that only listen to intro versions. There’s people that listen to ad-supported podcasts that start it at thirty minutes. So, just see what works for you, but first listen a few times and say, okay, I’m into this foyering thing, man.

 

If you never listen to the podcast again but you get into it…or, I’m sure if you’re…you know…if you have a better vocabulary than me, you’re like, oh my goodness, is this a bit or not? I assure you, the lack of definition is not a bit, but I will be doing this bit because this is something that I’d like to do. I mean, I would love to go into restaurants…sir, will you be dining with us this evening? I’m not sure, but in a way…I’m not sure in a way…I’m not trying to put my feelings on you. You should be comfortable. I’m here out of respect to you…I’m not sure more. I gotta take a look around, you know? I gotta do a little…gotta get a little foyer on. Oh, wait a second, do you bib your customers? Never mind; I’m in.

 

Never mind, I don't need to do any foyer…anymore foyering now that I see you bib your customers. Most bib-based foods I can’t eat because it’s shellfish; I can’t eat that. But if this restaurant comes with a bib, I mean, I’ve already been foyered. Okay, so, yeah, just see how it goes. I’m glad you’re here. I work really hard. A team of people work really hard on these shows because we love it. We love putting you to sleep. So, I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard. I yearn and I strive. I really hope the show can help you fall asleep. Thank you again for coming by, and and here’s a couple ways we get to do it for free twice a week.

 

Alright everybody, Scoots here. I’m doing these review episodes and originally I was doing them based on…in order, but then I said, what about going deep about seasonal episodes? Because trick-or-treating season’s coming up. Then I said, have I done enough trick-or-treating season episodes to even cover trick-or-treating or not? Then I said, well, I can always go into the other holidays. So, I’m gonna take a look all the way back in the archives and try to get to the present and check out what we put out in the autumnal season, and probably put out audience favorite this year for the season, too. So, the show actually did start in the autumn. It looks like the first episode, according to what I’m looking at, came out 10/19/13.

 

What is that, October…? Yeah, October of 2013. Right away we were actually covering a show that could be associated with trick-or-treating based on a comic book. In a world where trick-or-treaters wander around so in search of candy, they’re oblivious to everything else. It’s called The World of the Walking Trick-or-Treaters. Who would have thought to start a sleep podcast, Episode 2, 3, 4, 5…covering that and then beyond that for a while? But I said, that’s a great idea. That’s the kind of challenge I love. I have no idea what those episodes…they’re definitely a lot different than the podcast was today. That was kinda how I came up with the idea for the show. But other than that, it doesn’t look like there’s anything autumnal in there. So, let’s go…that’s 2013, so let’s head into 2014.

 

Heading forward…okay, now we’re in September 2014. Back then we were doing…Trending Tuesdays had started. What else? Oh, here we…oh, Superdull had a trick-or-treating episode. That came out probably in August, though. That was called Hero’s Halloween, a Ray episode…oh no, that was Ray’s lost file. So, we had lost a file of Ray’s. Then we started…had we already been doing Game of Thrones? Yeah, we already had been, it looks like. But what else do we want? More trick-or-treating, Superdull, GoT…so, wow, already in 2014 we had settled on our regular release schedule that we still follow to this day. That’s cool. I didn’t realize…so, this is a really useful look back. Okay, so, here’s our first…this may be our first…and this was popular.

 

Actually, Damon…I just heard from Damon who wrote a song for this episode. Episode 145 was Whatever Happened to the Transylvania Twist? That came out in 10/09/14. Then, that started…that may have been the first episode where I went to the transverse plane, and then that…then I said, wait a second, that worked, so let’s do another one. So, then Episode 148 was The Creature from the Black Lagoon Tells Me He’s Originally from the Big Goon. That was another Trending Tuesday episode; 148. I would have thought that was in the 300s. That came out 10/14/14. Talk about time travel. Honestly, Episode 148 is one of my favorites. I’ll have to listen to it and see if it’s appropriate to put out in the main feed. But if you’re a premium subscriber, $10 and up gets you back there.

 

But I really felt like that was one where you can kinda see some of the outside influences of the podcast, 'cause it’s just a ridiculous episode. It might not be sleepy, though. I don't know. Okay, and then…don’t see any other ones. Borked Love Story; that’s not…but that was really popular. Oh, first Real Time Recipe episode, maybe? 161. No other autumnal things. 2014…so, let’s go to 2015 now. Traveling into the future by scrolling. 2015…or, yeah, let’s go to…start in September. Oh, we’re doing Metastasnooze then; that’s cool, and some outdoor episodes were coming out. Bug Smooth Night That Happened to Have Light…oh wow, this is a good time for the podcast. These are episodes I really remember. Goat of Many Colors, Lady Witchbeard, Episode 10, Bobadas Swiss Cheese Circus; that was Metastasnooze 13.

 

Taking out the lab coat to explain where dolphins sleep, but none of that is…oh, Crying Cave on Science. Wow, these are all pre-300. This is early years of the podcast. These are kinda cornerstone episodes. I’ve Got a Garland to Deal With…weren’t these Halloween-themed episodes? Let me see. Mumble Bear, My Guide to Garland…so, these were about my piano teacher and Judy Garland. But I want to say that they somehow had to do with Halloween. Maybe not, though. But it was not a series, but a series of interrelated episodes. Crawford Costume Dance; that was Episode 300. There’s a milestone, Episode 300. When did that come out? 10/12/15. What else do we got? But we don’t see any other…let’s see. Harpsichord…wow, so a lot…this piano teacher series went on even though it wasn’t a series.

 

Tattoo…Cat Wisdom, As You Wish, Miss Garland…oh yeah, so Trending Tuesday Costume Finale. So, there you go. So, Episode 30…so, there was a little costume…I don't know the plot of it anymore, but…things. Then already 310, I explained how…that’d be a interesting one to listen to of how I break a story for Sleep With Me. It’s probably pretty similar now. Okay, so that’s 2015. Let’s fly all the way to 2016 now. September 2016…feels like it wasn’t just yesterday, but…okay, so, we’re still doing some Metastasnooze, the Olympics…oh, a crossover episode with Half-Hour Intern. I remember that was fun. Real Time Wall-bed Assembly? Wow, that came out in…what year is this? 2016, eh? Interesting. I guess that would make sense. Nuns in Space…let’s see what else we got.

 

A little cross…not quite a crossover, but a episode dedicated to the Illusionist Podcast and Helen, and kind of inspired by a post she had posted. That’s 436, Dirty Dollhouse. Nuns in Space, a Ray episode, Lost Village…that was a attempt at a crossover with Classical Radio Station. They weren’t…it’s kinda hard to do crossovers with non-podcasters, 'cause they’re like, what? But I did that. What do we got…else? I don't see any other ones about…were we into…? Oh yeah, we’re in October. Oh, here’s one; Datemoi. Pumpkin Guts and Datemoi. So, that was about a pumpkin…so, that was Halloween-themed and that was kind of about my imaginary dating platform, Datemoi, and having a thing where I think you carved…you did Jack-o-lanterns while on a date, like on a first date.

 

Then we also did Lulling Analysis of the Great Pumpkin, which I think we put out as a repeat. Maybe I should put that out as a repeat again. That’s one of people’s favorite episodes, 456. It was in the…what could be considered the early era of the podcast, depending on how you define that. What else? Anything else? No. I Kissed A Brook; I like that name of that episode. That was Metastasnooze, 661. But yeah, no other autumnal ones. That’s 2016. Coming up; 2017, six short years ago. So funny. Who would have thought I would have followed through? I mean, I can’t believe it. Oh, there’s PeeWee’s Big Adventure. Hey, PeeWee. Hopefully you’re listening now and having a good laugh at all of us. What else do we got? After the Glass Slipper, Season 3. Wow, After the Glass Slipper, Season 3 already.

 

Oh, there’s a Desert Island Serial, so there’s…that’s kind of autumnal. There was a podcast that just covered those serials of those friends. 538…podcast…I’ll try to link to it somewhere. Oh, there’s On Summer’s Horseback; that was another very popular episode. Statue Love, After the Glass Slipper, Pop Quiz, After the Glass Slipper, Fearless Flyer Review, Hamlet with Brain Bots. Wow, that was 606. I went to Hamlet with my brain bots. Oh, here we go, 609; Costume Nostalgia. That was me remembering costumes. 10/29…no, that’s the wrong date. Yeah, 10/29/17. That’s a Halloween-themed episode. I don't know if that came out already or not again. I’ll have to look. Here’s some more autumnal stuff, though. This was one…and we never got paid for this, but these were crossovers we did.

 

Apple at My Core; that was a really good episode, and that’s been re-released, I think. It was about apples, and that’s definitely autumnal. You know what I’m saying. I think that’s it for that year. What are we in? 2017. So, let’s go to 2018, eh? Oh, but we did have Peeping Leaves; that was another one…maybe that was the one we didn’t…but we did it with a company and there was some complications in us. But anyway, not a big deal. Okay, so, 2018 now. We’re getting into September 2018. TNG. Let’s see. Oh, we did a retrospective; Episodes 500 to 599. I think we just re-released that one. A Tingler crossover…okay, so this is a good era of Sleep With Me now, too. 800s…700s; okay. So, everybody can check these ones out if you want. Crossover with Sleep Whispers; that was 700?

 

Holy cow, I would have thought that was…wow, that’s cool. Stan…so, Nuns in Space, Season 2 is going on right now. What do we got here? Autumnal themes is what we’re looking for. Oh, there’s when I moved; 2018. Goodbye, closet. Dustbusters; that’s seasonal. Dustbusters Tale of the Tape. Greatest Greeter…I remember we just did this in a review. But…don’t see any fall-themed episodes. Okay, so, we didn’t get any in 2018. Let’s go to 2019. About to break into the next…what is it, century or millennium or whatever? Say goodbye to the…not the aughts. Sandy Day at the Beach…we got…we were doing National Lampoon’s Vacation, Dr. Triangle and Isosceles, and The Good Place, but I don't see any…oh, here we go; yeah, 818, another one. Claude and Count Chocula’s Cereal Box History.

 

So, we looked back at the boxes, I think. 818. Cool. That was back then. Then we did a costume crossover with Within the Wires and Ings. That was based on a live show and…a podcast crossover and a musical crossover with Ings. So, that was really cool. When did that come out? Right around Halloween, huh? Yeah, 10/30. So, that’s very autumnal. Okay, so, let’s go forward to 2020. We’re coming in, coming into…coming in hot, 2020. 2020. 2020. 2020. Oh, Otter Things, Forte…On Forts and Forte. Board games…oh, Beetlejuice; I only say it once. We did Beetlejuice Tale of the Tape. So, we did a Tale of the Tape about the movie…not gonna say it. 919…then we did our first…then we did a repeat of the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Let me do a little thing here for my own records and do…fill that one in. No, not with text.

 

Oh boy, a mistake; undo. How do I fill in…? There we go. Let’s do it…a fill in with maroon. No, you can’t see it with maroon. Green? But it’s not green. Okay, orange; okay. That way I can know…so, that came out as a repeat in…three years ago. It might be time to put that one back out in the main feed. Carole King episode, Otter Things, Great British Bake Off, a crossover with Vast Horizons, Sleepy Adventures in Reading…wow, that came out…900. That was almost 300 episodes ago. Peeping Leaves and Bonnets; I don’t know what that is. I have no…literally no idea what that…I’m guessing it was a crossover, but let me just…but I’m not sure. Interesting. So, that was it for 2020. Wait, I thought we were doing 2019. What happened to 2019, Scoots? I don't know. I think we already did it.

 

We might have gone into…you might have put us to…some part of us to sleep, but we could double-check again. Okay, let’s just double-check. Oh yeah, you’re right; we did cover it, because that was…Costume Crossover was the only one we did. Okay, so, let’s get back into 2020. Yeah, I don't see any other ones in 2020, so now we’re going to 2021. 2021. I don't know why I like saying that. 2021. All of 2021…we did…oh, there’s a repeat of the retrospective 500. Let’s just mark that one, too. Then, yeah, we put out Apple at my Core again, 'cause that…another very popular episode. Anybody could listen to that one. What else do we have in here, though? Anything else? Listicles and Icicles, Round of Thanks…oh, that was Episode 1000.

 

Tube Town, all-intros, Isthmus…oh, so, Lady Witchbeard…what was that, Season 3 of Lady Witchbeard or Season 2? I don't know. I don't know…oh, Euro Disney PR Project; that’s another very popular episode. JCPenney catalog with no toys; wow, that was two years ago. It feels like…that feels like one year ago. Oh, this is…there we go; so, Ben Cooper Costume Catalog. That was a fun one where we went through the Ben…we went through that catalog. We did StarKid…but yeah, that’s it for…I don't see anything else autumnal-themed. So, now we’re gonna jump to 2022, last year. Last year I did 2022, and last year was…or is it…it’s 2023 right now, right? Okay, so, what do we got here? 2022. Okay, let’s see if we have any autumnal stuff. We did Costume Nostalgia; we put that out as a audience favorite one.

 

Listener Wish; that was 1111. Rings…Two Aces…Sleepy Spelling Bee; that was a really good one. Bunsen Burner of Love…oh, Ray’s…oh, Knott’s Autumnal Joy Farms. We got one coming out this year like that, and we did a live show based on that. So, that’s cool. Anything else? Nothing else I’m seeing that looks like it’s autumnal. But that’s interesting. So, let’s roll back and let’s look at…we might as well do holiday ones, too, you know? I think that’d be cool, huh? Just running through other popular ones we put out again. Spruce Museum, Morally and Borally…these were all in…a couple years back. Datemoi or Datemo…we didn’t…I don't know, we could put out that pumpkin one, maybe. I don't think we ever put that one out. There’s On Summer’s Horseback, when that came back out.

 

There’s another retrospective episode for Episode 500. Phil Fushigi; that was a My Brother and My Brother and Me dedicated episode, kinda crossover-like. I wonder what Peeping Leaves Bonnets is. Was that a new episode or an old episode? 925. I’m gonna have to…that’s the one mystery we have right now. Let me open up my podcast app here. That’s an upload…okay, let’s go to the patron feed. Okay, this is Time Travel for Ten…okay, this is the right one. So, what do we got? Peeping…P-E-E…Peeping. Peeping Leaves and Bonnets. Trending Tuesday…huh, good question. It doesn’t really say. It makes it sound like it’s a new episode, but it came out…I think it’s a repeat, though. But I don't really know, so, we’ll just keep moving on here.

 

I don't know, this was back when we only had 200…we put out a lot of these audience favorites, 'cause there’s My Life with a Perm…just doing a little housekeeping here. My Life with HBO; that was another…these are deep-cut favorites that we were like, oh, we don’t want people to miss out on. Alright, so, now we’re gonna roll all the way back. What time are we at? Yeah, I think we got time. Okay, so, the first year I definitely did a lot of seasonal episodes, a couple different ones. I did seasonal ones based on…I think based on that show that I talked about earlier where trick-or-treaters were wandering the world, The World of Wandering Trick-or-Treaters, where I did…what would happen if that world was crossed over with the world of Santa Claus? So, one episode was called Crying Over Cookies.

 

Then we did a classic; that was Episode 17, The Elf Nobody Knew. That was a story…still hasn’t been told properly. Then another one; Frozen Reindeer Tears, then The Year Rudolph’s Nose Broke. That was definitely an episode I tested out on my daughter and other people in a car one time when we were driving around. That was the year Rudolph’s nose broke and they had to do something else. Santa Jack Skeletor; that was also another one based on that thing. Oh, The Year Rudolph’s Nose Broke, Part 2. Then A Rust Belt Christmas; that was, again, this theme…and these are very, very old shows, a very different style. Call Me Canada’s Wonderland, Maybe? So, it must have been after the holidays at that point. The Elf Nobody Knew, man. I wonder what that episode’s like. Okay, so, that was 2013.

 

Let’s go to the holidays of 2014. Okay, 2014 holidays…what do we got here? Again, this is based on…oh, Mall-Walking On A Space Station. A lot of this stuff is based on the idea of holiday specials. I just love holiday specials. Oh, this was a Thanksgiving Day Parade, Ray and the Gregor; 2014. That may have been the first time we did that. I don't know. Snowy Woods Guided Meditation…what else do we got? Heat Miser with a Bowl Cut, The Disagreement that Saved Christmas, Cracking Nuts Nutcracker, Ode to Daphne…this is a continuation of the Christmas dispute. Scientist Cold on Santa, Meditation Christmas Present, Ray at the Dickens Fair…so, those are all interesting ones, I think, and that’s it for that year.

 

Oh, I guess some part of my producer brain was like, maybe you could speculate on what they were about for people since these were such deep episodes. Okay, I’ll do that with 2015 here. So, we’re into 2015, and what do we got? Any holiday stuff? We’re still…what do we got? Oh, Roberta Claus; okay, so, this was 318, 317. So, this was a good series. I think we did…ended up two…doing this twice. This was this idea that Roberta Claus was gonna take over from Santa Claus, and she was gonna become the new Santa Claus in reality, 'cause I know there’s mythological stuff. But this was a real thing, and Claude Neon was a reporter spending time working and getting to know Roberta Claus and finding out the legends and getting to the bottom it. Claude Neon reports.

 

So, that was really cool because it kind of was looking at, hey, what is…and now there’s all these specials, but also what would happen if someone took over for Santa Claus? Some people said, well, I don't know about that. He said, well, I didn’t ask. So, Roberta Claus is Santa Claus now, so…just so you know. So, that was cool. I really enjoyed that series. I thought it was…well, anyway, I thought that the series was…I don't know. It was just reflective of the world, that…I didn’t think it would be predictive. I thought it was basically more fictional than the real world, but it was not…I was incorrect about that. So, there’s a couple episodes about that. Then we had Yule Lads, Where Is Roberta Claus?, A Day at the Dickens Fair…I don't know if any of these were on-locations episodes.

 

We tried to do some at the Dickens Fair, but there was a lot of issues. One, the first year we did it, the security didn’t know, so they were constantly stopping me and they were very protective. Then the characters…I wasn’t in character. There was other reporters, though…well, I guess that was the second year we did it where we actually had a press badge. We had permission the first year. Then also the performers…there was a lot of music and then there was a lot of people imbibing beverages, and then, I don't know, it just didn’t work because…what’s tough is…yeah, it just wasn’t…it worked for…it was fun, but it took…it didn’t work in the sense like, all of these external factors create…take up my attention and drain me in a way where I’m not able to participate in the flow of the episode.

 

That’s just what I’ve kinda learned over the years. So, it’s helped inform me that…it’s just how I do stuff. Then we had Thanksgiving…another Thanksgiving Day Parade episode. How fast did that come out? 12/09; okay. Then another Roberta Claus episode, Net Hoss Syrup. That was 3. Then Lights on the Lake with Flaky. Man, I keep meaning to sponsor that thing. Maybe I could get into it this year. It might be too late already. Cotton King Cotton Candy; that was predictive. Who would have known we’d have tons of cotton candy flavors now? Another Day at the Dickens Fair, Searching for Havisham…I haven’t seen Miss Havisham at the Dickens Fair in quite a few years. Then a couple more Roberta Claus. So, the Roberta Claus series was six episodes. Oh, and then we looked back at Get Besos and Roberta Claus.

 

So, that’s quite a holiday lineup. But this is when I was working a full-time job, too. So, it was wild. I mean, man, I was staying up…yeah, I wasn’t setting a great example for the listeners and not really living a balanced life then. So, let’s see…okay, now we’re in 2016. Okay, so, what do we got coming up? Oh wow, we started out early. We started out with The Christmas Tree that Took A Walk. That was a classic. I think that’s been put out again, but if it hasn’t, I’ll…I think we did that one last year. Then 2016 Thanksgiving Day Parade, then another Dickens Fair episode, Shirtless Holiday Ghosts. At some point the Dickens Fair episodes, though, we started doing them in the studio, just Ray remembering.

 

Oh, Tale of the Tape, Laurel and Hardy…that man; that’s one of my favorite holiday shows, so I gotta…I’m gonna tag these just to look back and see if these had actually been put back out. These are classics. The Christmas Tree that Took A Walk, Real Time Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes; I assume that’s been re-released, but maybe not. These are some deep cuts. Christmas Story Tale of the Tape; holy cow, I was so incorrect about that one, too. Shopping for a Happy Christmas at the Dickens Fair, and that’s it for that one. Okay, yeah, so, let’s go to 2017, then. 2017, holidays of 2017. What do we got coming up? Coming up on holidays of 2017. Alright, we’ve got…yeah, we got…oh, Home Alone. There’s another one. 619; Home Alone, Snow-Sledding…wow, these are some good ones.

 

As the North Pole Turns; okay, so, this…oh, Scrooged Tale of the Tape? Wow, we did a bunch of Tale of the Tapes this year…that year. That’s cool. A Knocks episode, Stormy Sheep…I don't know what that is. Oh, it’s a part of As the North Pole Turns. Doctor Who holiday episode, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Christmas Vacation…wow, we got quite a few Tale of the Tapes that year. We really hit it. Then The Elf Nobody Knew Takes A Holiday, Adventure Sabbatical, and then the conclusion of As the North Pole Turns. So, As the North Pole Turns was another one I really enjoyed making and prepping for, and it was my closest attempt to doing a…what do you call it? A episode…what is that called? Soap opera. I said, what if there was a soap opera about the North Pole?

 

Then so, I listened to some radio dramas of…radio soap operas and then kinda tried to learn the structure. I’m pretty sure this was in the summertime when I was on vacation, 'cause I can remember listening to the episodes over and over again and trying to get a sense of like, okay, how many characters are they? How are these scenes structured, and what happens? I don't know, just getting a feel for it. I’m not sure if I…when I listened to…but so, what I did was…yeah, I said, okay, how could we have that and it be sleepy like Sleep With Me but fun? So, again, just a fun challenge. Yeah, so, that was As the North Pole Turns.

 

I think…I can’t even remember now, 'cause I think we did two seasons of it where it was like…there was reindeer, so Dasher and Dancer, and the reindeer were sentient characters then, 'cause I needed more characters, right? Then Santa and Mrs. Claus and maybe Roberta Claus was in it? I don't even know. But it was solved with a square dance, at least Season 1. So, that’s pretty good. Alright, coming up, 2019 holiday. Or, wait, no; 2018? No, 2018, Scoots. Oh, okay. Thanks, Scoots. You sure? Yeah. We just did 2017, I think. Let’s double-check the years. What year is it? Yeah, that was 2017. You were right. Thanks, Scoots. No problem. That’s why I’m here. Alright, so, 20…so, what year is it now? 2018. Alright, so, we’ve got…what do we have coming up here? Another…Mistletoe Junction.

 

So, 2018 Thanksgiving Day Parade, we did a Doctor Who holiday episode…Top Tangents on Holiday Specials; that’s another good one. Then we did The Happiest Holiday Shop, which, again, was one I really was proud of. I feel like it’s kind of a archetypal thing, and then other people have done it, too, where it’s a shop that you go into and it leads you on…then the shop…the gift is the journey to find the real gift. You know, you’re going in there to buy a gift, like a antique shop. On the quest to find the gift, you find what you were really looking for. I have no idea what Episode 727 was 'cause it got deleted somehow, but that was probably Happiest Holiday Shop, Episode 2. Yeah, 'cause then Episode 3 is Monchhichi Fans Eve, and then Thresholds in Gifts must have been Happy Holiday Shop, Episode 4.

 

So, yeah, a couple good episodes in there. What else? Is that it? Yeah, and the Doctor Who episode. Okay, so, that was 2018, right? Yeah, so, let’s go to 2019. 2019 holiday…2019 holiday season, seasonal episodes, holidays, 2019. Thanks, Scoots, for reading all that. No problem. Just filling air here. Okay, this is another good one I was happy with. Different direction, other…a way to kinda look at ways…other than Christmas ways to celebrate it, but also taking in cooking shows and what’s fun. We did the Great Holiday Cookie Adventure, which again was just a concept of…it was kind of…maybe this was…Meow Wolf was already around. I don't know if that was an influence, but it was a bake-off-type show, more of a Iron Chef style because it was a game show.

 

But when you entered the game show, then you would cross over into another world where I think the person competing would learn, and they would…it was like, they were also trying to solve a mystery and find ingredients to cook what they needed to cook to celebrate the holiday they needed to celebrate, but really to learn more and expand themselves, really, I think, maybe. Let’s see. Oh, I lost my spot, though. Costume…oh, Scalene and Fruit Pies? No, that’s…Tale of the Tape, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Oh yeah, Fest…Ingredients of the Festival of Lights, Great Holiday Cookie Adventure, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2019, Yule Log Tourist…that was 3. Tribute Tree and Cones of Kindness, and…yeah, that was 20…whatever year that was. 2019. Wow, so we’re getting into 2020, here.

 

Oh, good, 'cause then I can see if we reused any episodes. That’s 2021, though. Oh, thank you. 2020. Peeping Leaves and Bonnets, The Santa Element…that sounds interesting. North Pole…As the North Pole Turns Chronicles, so that was our next season of As the North Pole Turns with Roberta Claus, I think. North Pole Local; that was a train ride that we would do again last year or two years ago. Kissing Mrs. Claus; that was The North Pole Chronicles, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Recap 2020, Santa’s Twin, Ray’s Disney Holiday Adventure…so, that was interesting. That was it, huh? That’s interesting. Okay, North Pole Local, though, that’s one that’s really popular. Sleepy…yeah, sleepy…okay, so that’s 2020. 2020, okay; not 2021.

 

Okay, into 2021. What are we looking at here? Oh, this was…we did start doing the catalog episodes, I think. What do we got here? World of Motion, Sleepy…oh, North Pole Gardens Train Tour. So, this was our train tours, so…and JCPenney Holiday Catalog. So, those are some big ones, man. Those are some popular ones we did. North Pole Park Train Tour, North Pole Gardens Train Tour, JCPenney Holiday Catalog, Ray Holiday Trip with Scooter, Inside Outside North Pole Park Train Tour, then the 2021 Thanksgiving Day Parade. So, this was finally…last year or the year before I learned, let’s just do…oh no, that was 2021, so it was before…this is when I was experiencing parade burnout, though, I think. Wait, how did we do it in 2021? ‘Cause last year we did…I think that’s wrong. Okay, that’s probably what it is.

 

You’re right. So, I don't know, at some point we started doing the parade a year later, because I said I can’t keep this up. Yeah, that was it for that year, 2021, looks like. Case of the Approachable Safe, man; there’s another one that…another episode I really liked. This Old Boat; I don't know what that one is, though. It’s funny. Some things I remember photographically. I think sometimes it depends on where I was listening when I was proofing the episodes. Okay, so this was last year. What do we got? Magic by Mail, 2013 Macy’s Day Parade…okay, so that’s why. Okay, so, we jumped back. So, last year was the first year I did it, and then this year we’ll do the 2022 Macy’s Parade. That makes more sense. Okay, thanks for doing that, Scoots. That’s good practice of self-care, honestly.

 

Then we did Carol of the Bells Lasso episode, Holiday Toy Catalog General, Carols with the Clomps…oh, that was about clomping. That might have been a live show first, too. Great British Bake Off Holiday Episode…oh yeah, then we did The Christmas Tree that Took A Walk, and Real Time Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes…those were from the 400s. Yeah. Oh, then Fantastic Voyage for Doctor Who. Okay, so, let’s run back, here. I want to run all the way back to these early holiday episodes. I wish I would know…I wish I know, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. No, really…okay, so, we got some good ones in the 600s that we should probably put back out at some point. Okay, so, the 500s…this one got re-released, so we can change the color on that one to orange. Just going through the spreadsheet.

 

Real Time Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes…okay, so, in the 400s, it looks like two episodes that haven’t been put back out and that the free feed doesn’t have access to, our March of Wooden Soldiers Recap — I’m surprised we never put that back out, but I’ll have to listen to that one — and A Christmas Story Tale of the Tape. So, those are ones that could be re-released, I think. Let’s go back even earlier, though, and…oh, we didn’t highlight anything in these earlier years. I guess we didn’t start highlighting it ‘til…so, I don't think anything in the 100s has ever…well, I don't know, the mall-walking tour…I could swear we put that back out, but that’s an extremely popular episode. The Elf Who Wouldn’t Listen; that’s one I want to listen to again and just see…oh, Warren…episode. That’s cool. I didn’t realize we did that.

 

Any other ones in there, Scoots? No, I think that’s…The Elf Who Wouldn’t Listen, Episode 57, Lord Larry of Ladybird, and…After the Glass Slipper was bonkers. This podcast used to be super bonzo, man. I mean, definitely the episodes that are not ready for prime time. Oh, wait…oh, I just lost it all. Holy moly. Real Time Flatbread Pizza; that’s a classic. Somebody was just asking about that. Episode 118. Okay, so, yeah, we’re looking at holidays this year. What is this, year two of the podcast? Remember 49ers and Vikings, an action movie? That was…yeah, I remember. Okay. Oh, maybe Creature from the Black Lagoon? Can we check that…try to re-listen to that one, maybe? Spokesperson for the Person from Hansel and Gretel; I didn’t see that one. That’s definitely seasonal.

 

Okay…oh, Snowy Woods Garden…I can’t believe that one has never been put back out. I think it has; it’s just, you didn’t label it correctly. Heat Miser with a Bowl Cut; I wonder what that one sounds like, you know? So, these are ones…what I’ll do is I’ll have…if any patrons are hearing this and you listen to them, let me know. But it’s also for…then I can have Russell look at them. Since Russell’s only worked on the show in the new…post-2019, 2020 era of the show, some of this stuff will be easier for him to be like, yeah, no, or maybe. So, yeah, 'cause we got…this was where…I think we put these out before Roberta Claus, the cold ones, but I don't know. These are all good questions. Okay, so, that’s all in the 100s. Okay, so let’s hop into these 200s, right, and just see if there’s anything else.

 

Tsunami Sofa; that’s one of the most personal episodes I ever made. I haven’t listened to it, no. I don't know if I have the ability to listen to it. Okay, here we go. So, we had…this is the year of Claude Neon and Roberta Claus. We have a Dickens Fair episode, Thanksgiving Day Parade episode…I don't see any other holiday stuff, though, that you could put back out that would be good. Okay, let’s hit it into the 400s. So, this is interesting; it’s like we’re working together. Yeah, so, the 400s do have some good ones, I think. I think March of the Wooden Soldiers we should look at putting back out, and maybe Christmas Story.

 

I don't know, 400…episodes from the 400s I don't…so, there’s a couple things…this is late behind-the-scenes, but we don’t have project files for those most of the time, which means…so, I don't have the original files I recorded and I don't have the original things we were working on, because everything used to be…a lot of stuff was on a USB. I never had very much storage. Honestly, even in the 400s, I was like, I don't know if this podcast is gonna keep continuing for…I did not think it would be continuing to Episode 1,200. So, I fantasized about it, but it was…none of that stuff I have access to, the original files. It’s always like, what do the files sound like, and then what is the content? Because I can only delete so much. Okay, so, we’ll see. Let’s see, let’s just check the 500s again before we sign off here.

 

Superdull Season 2; that was a good one. Where are we? We’re almost…2017; that’s where we’re looking. Girl Without Birdsong, man; that was a good one. Okay, so, yeah, we did highlight some of these. So, we got Home Alone; that might be good. Snow-Sledding, Scrooged Tale of the Tape, Christmas Vacation Tale of the Tape, and The Elf Nobody Knew Takes a Holiday Adventure Sabbatical. So, those are good options. Maybe we’ll put those out in 20…we’ll listen to those 400 ones and then these 600 ones, and then what we’ll do is we’ll put…I’ll put them out in 20…whatever this year is, maybe a couple out this year, and then a couple out next year. That’s cool. Then, yeah, we got some options. So, that’s cool. So, yeah, I guess that’s a little review of seasonal episodes, and seasonal episodes make it fun.

 

I have cut…there’s been times where I tried to cut back knowing that most people don’t listen seasonally, and then I kinda returned when I look at what the listener favorites are, and again, it’s kinda hard…it’s one of the challenges and puzzles of making the podcast, is most people listen to the show passively and linearly, and…to the free show. But the people that are either the most invested in the show or most invested in the show…even…and pay for it, they listen a lot differently 'cause they have access to different stuff, they get access to stuff early, and they have the ability to be a little bit more particular about their listening. So, they have a little bit more…I don't know, they’re more invested in developing their own playlists and stuff, too.

 

There are free listeners that do that, too, but again, that’s people that are more invested that way. Then there’s people more invested in the show in a little bit different way. So, that’s where I try to keep the programming coming as…in variety of ways but also remembering, hey, what can I do to make the show feel special, and mixing it up for…in a seasonal way if I can give it that extra-special feeling. Just like the smell…whatever, the smell of pumpkin pie spice or, whatever, repetitive holiday songs, tinsel. Whatever it is, I don't know, I think that’s important because I think that’s one of the most important things about this show, is that it feels special and fun, and you do get…you go, oh yeah, I remember that episode, or I’ll remember it in the future.

 

I guess it’s interesting wondering about these ones I don't remember versus the ones I do. But it’s like, that always reminds me of the listeners, because the stuff I remember isn’t necessarily…isn’t always…is usually not the most popular stuff. I remember the popular stuff 'cause people ask me about it; hey, I love this episode so much. I’m like, oh, yeah, yeah, I remember that one, too. So, it’s usually just because…The Case of the Approachable Safe; I can remember proofing that episode, which…proofing means just listening to it over and over again on headphones. I was in…I can remember running in New Jersey over the holidays in this…along this creek trail, and then listening to it again the next time I ran in New Jersey.

 

I was visiting family. So, it’s just very tied to…I don't know. So, it had a anchor or whatever. So, anyway…and it just…I don't know, it was a fun one 'cause it was just a ridiculous idea. So, anyway, thanks, everybody, for listening. I hope you’re gonna have a great autumnal and holiday season, and I’ll be here to keep you company whether you’re having a good one or not. I’m here to keep you company either way, 'cause it’s gonna be okay, and I’m gonna be here on a regular basis, and there’s plenty of old episodes to choose from, too. Thanks, and goodnight.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

Retrospective / Holiday / Seasonal

 

Restaurant Reservations

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/restaurant-reservation-culture-explained

https://ny.eater.com/2023/8/3/23817542/reservation-fees-deposits-resy-opentable-nyc

https://www.mashed.com/1378587/why-reservation-fees-rising-restaurants/

 

Holiday Specials

https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/holiday-tv-christmas-special-timeline.html

https://www.timeout.com/film/best-christmas-specials-of-all-time

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/charlie-brown-christmas-special-history-television-classic-cbs-180957490/

 

Square Dance

https://daily.jstor.org/the-slave-roots-of-square-dancing/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/square-dancing-uniquely-american-180967329/

https://qz.com/1153516/americas-wholesome-square-dancing-tradition-is-a-tool-of-white-supremacy

 

Iron Chef

https://thetakeout.com/the-history-evolution-and-future-of-iron-chef-1849066842

https://movieweb.com/iron-chef-japan-best-cooking-show/

https://pogogi.com/quick-history-iron-chef-japan

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Welcome, welcome, welcome

You don’t have to be so sure about me

Looking at seasonal episodes of SWM

 

Deep Dark Night United

Lois (SleepPhones)

 

PLUGS

Friends of Hand in Hand; Pete Davidson SNL Cold Open; SAG-AFTRA Strike Support; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Hello Fresh; Odoo; Helix Sleep; Air Doctor Pro; Zocdoc; Progressive 

 

INTRO

Thoughts, Thinkings, Thunks

Maybe it’s something mysterious

My goals for sleep are being mysteriously sidetracked

My dog’s next to me, my daughter’s in the other room, but I’m still having a hard time sleeping

The world needs you just as you are

All my normal stuff hasn’t been restful lately

It’s normal to be skeptical

SWM doesn’t have any barriers to entry; you just may not want to go in

How come more stores don’t have an Unsure Zone

A zone built for loitering

Maybe this is why it’s so hard for me to turn SWM into a business

I guess some people don’t care as much as I do

Once I crossed the threshold, I’m committed to eating there no matter what

A really boss move

Do I have a reservation? Let me check the place out and then we’ll see

I’m foyering over here!

The mud room’s function couldn’t be clearer

It’s smart they call it a mud room, not a snow room

I might be amusing my bouching, we’ll see

I’m here to foyer, Cousin

Foyer, Chef

A very timely The Bear staging reference

We’ve got to put some foyer in this place

The World’s First Foyer Consultant

Holy Moly, what a great tangent

I wish I could do some old school hip hop about Foyer now

Please stop your Seussian rap about foyers, Scoots

Can I be your Bore-tre D’?

Is The Dancing Maitre D’ anything?

I can’t say this stuff to normal people

Let me explain the structure now

A look back at Autumnal, Pumpkin, and Holiday episodes

I assure, the lack of destination for “foyer” is not a bit

I gotta get my foyer on

If this restaurant comes with a bib, I’m already foyered

 

STORY

Trick or Treating Season is coming up

The show originally started in the autumn

One of the first shows we covered was trick or treating

The World of the Walking Trick or Treaters

Heading into 2014

Trending Tuesdays had started

Superdull had a trick or treating episode

Ray’s lost file?

We’d already been doing Game of Drones

Wow, we’d already settled into our regular release schedule in 2014

Listener Damon made a song for this episode

Ep 145 – “Whatever happened to the Transylvanian Twist”? 

The first ep where I went to the Transverse Plane

Ep 148 is one of my faves – Creature from the Black Lagoon themed

The first Real Time Recipe might have been Autumnal some way

Into 2015

Wow, we were doing Metastasnooze then

Wow, all this stuff was pre-300

Memories of my piano teacher and Judy Garland

Crawford Costume Dance, ep 300

Cat Wisdom

Trending Tuesday Costume Finale, this was autumnal

Flying into 2016

Still doing some Metastasnooze

The Olympics

Crossover with Half Hour Intern

An episode dedicated to The Allusionist and Helen Z

It’s hard to do crossovers with non-podcasters

Pumpkin Guts and Datemoi

Carving jackolanterns on first dates

Analysis of the The Great Pumpkin

Into 2017

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure recap

I can’t believe I already did 3 seasons of After the Glass Slipper

Hamlet with Brainbots

609 – Costume Nostalgia

We never got paid for some of these crossovers

Apple At My Core

Oh, peeping leaves

Into 2018

Oh, TNG started

Crossover with Sleep Whispers was in the 700s?!

Dustbusters Tale of the Tape

Into 2019

818 Claude and Count Chocula Cereal Box History

Within the Wires crossover

Coming in hot into 2020

Otter Things -that’s kind of seasonal

Beetlejuice

Let me make some notes for myself here

Peeping Leaves and Bonnets, what’s that?

I bored myself into forgetting I already covered 2019

Into 2021

We re-released “Apple at My Core”

Season 3 of Lady Witchbeard

Wow, JC Penney Catalog was 2 years ago?!

Ben Cooper Costume Catalog – a classic

Jumping into 2022

Costume Nostalgia – an audience fave rerelease

Bunsen Burner Love, a great

Knott’s Autumnal Joy Farm

Okay, let’s roll back and look at Holiday ones now

Spruce Museum

A MBMBAM crossover

What was “Peeping Leaves and Bonnets”? I need to figure that out

I’m just doing some real-time housekeeping while recording

Rolling all the way back for real now

First year, I did a lot of seasonal episodes

Walking Trick or Treaters meeting Santa Claus

The Elf Nobody Knew

Frozen Reindeer Tears

The Year Rudolph’s Nose Broke

Holidays 2014

This may be the first Thanksgiving parade recap

The disagreement that saved Christmas

Meditation Christmas Present

Ray at the Dickens Fair

Producer Brain chimes in

Let’s speculate on old episodes for 2015

Roberta Claus – a classic

Roberta takes over for Santa

Claude Neon reports

Yule Lads

That fiction ended up being surprisingly predictive of the future

I tried to record live at the Dickens fair but kept running into trouble even though I had permission

It was just hard to record usable material

All these external factors just drained me

Cotton Candy Flavors

I haven’t seen Miss Havisham at the Dickens Fair in quite a while

I was still working a full-time job at this time

Man, I wasn’t sleeping much while making the sleep podcast then

2017 

The Christmas Tree That Took a Walk

Ooh, a Laurel & Hardy tale of the tape

A Christmas Story tale of the tape

Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes Real Time Recipe

Oh, Home Alone tale of the tape!

As The North Pole Turns

We did a lot of Tale of the Tapes that year

I enjoyed making and prepping As The North Pole Turns

I think I prepped this North Pole soap opera during the summer

Reindeer were sentient characters in it

Season 1 was solved with a square dance

2018

Mistletoe Junction

Doctor Who Holiday episode

The Happiest Holiday Shop

The gift is the journey to find the real gift

Into 2019

The Great Holiday Cookie Adventure

This was kind of like Bake-Off meets Iron Chef meets Meow Wolf

Santa Claus is Coming to Town Tale of the Tape

Time for 2020

The Santa Element – that sounds interesting

As The North Pole Turns returns

The North Pole Local – that was really popular

Ray’s Disney Holiday Adventure

Into 2021

This was when catalogs started

North Pole Park Train Tour

JC Penney Holiday Catalog

This was when I was experiencing parade burnout

Man, I loved Case of the Approachable Safe

2022 time

2022 we jumped back to the 2013 Thanksgiving Parade

That’s great self-care, Scoots, thank you

Ted Lasso holiday episode

Some re-releases

I want to run back to these old holiday episodes now

Some good ones in the 600s that we can re-release

There’s a couple from the 400s that we could put out again

March of the Wooden Soldiers and A Christmas Story could be rereleased

Combing over the spreadsheet

Mallwalking was extremely popular

This podcast used be super bonzo, man

Spokesperson for Hansel and Gretel

Heat Miser with a Bowl Cut – what does that sound like now?

Patrons, let me know what you want?

Russell can also give a clear eye on what is good to put out again

Tsunami Sofa – the most personal episode I ever made

There’s a few good ones in the 400s

A big look behind the scenes

I don’t have the original project files for stuff in the 400s

Let’s check the 500s again

There’s some good ones here

We’ll re-release these over the next couple of years

Seasonal episodes are fun

The people that are most invested in the show also listen to it in the least straightforward way

What can I do to mix things up and keep the show feeling special?

The stuff I remember vividly isn’t always the most popular stuff

I remember running in NJ and listening to The Approachable Safe

I hope you have a great holiday season and I’ll be here

 

PATREON THANKS

Alex, Claire, Annie, Nancy, Colin, Michael, Charlotte, Yara, Matthew, Catherine, Zandi, Nicholas, Michaela, Frances, Sarah, Matt, Chauncey, DJ, Lucy, Heather, David, Melanie, Plato, Ian, Keener, Julia, Gene, Jim, Jeff, Joseph, Victoria, Mike, Sophia

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1,208

Title: Autumnal and Holiday Retrospective

Deep Dark Night United: Lois (SleepPhones)

Plugs: Friends of Hand in Hand; Pete Davidson SNL Cold Open; SAG-AFTRA Strike Support; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Hello Fresh; Odoo; Helix Sleep; Air Doctor Pro; Zocdoc; Progressive 

Patreon Thanks: Alex, Claire, Annie, Nancy, Colin, Michael, Charlotte, Yara, Matthew, Catherine, Zandi, Nicholas, Michaela, Frances, Sarah, Matt, Chauncey, DJ, Lucy, Heather, David, Melanie, Plato, Ian, Keener, Julia, Gene, Jim, Jeff, Joseph, Victoria, Mike, Sophia

Notable Language:

• Thunks
• A Strange Digital Medium
• The Unsure Zone
• A Boss Move
• Foyering
• Foyer Consultant
• Bore-tre’d
• The Dancing Maitre D’
• Bib-Based Restaurants (BBRs)

 

Notable Culture:

• • Malls

• The Bear

• • Old School Hip Hop
  • Dr. Seuss
  • WGA / SAG-AFTRA 2023 Strike

• The Walking Dead

• Game of Drones

• The Creature from the Black Lagoon

• Metastasnooze

• Lady Witchbeard

• • Judy Garland
  • Olympics

• Half Hour Intern

• Nuns in Space

• The Allusionist

• • Venmo

• It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

• • Pee Wee’s Big Adventure

• After the Glass Slipper

• Hamlet

• Star Trek: The Next Generation

• • Sleep Whispers podcast

• Ghostbusters

• Within the Wires

• Otter Things

• Beetlejuice

• • VAST Horizons
  • Knott’s Berry Farm
  • My Brother, My Brother, and Me
  • Charles Dickens
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas
  • Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

• Get Besos

• • Laurel and Hardy

• A Christmas Story

• Home Alone

• Scrooged

• Doctor Who

• As The North Pole Turns

• The Happiest Holiday Shop

• Great British Bake-Off

• Iron Chef

• Meow Wolf
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Warren Zevon

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Thoughts, Thinkings, Thunks
• Maybe it’s something mysterious
• My goals for sleep are being mysteriously sidetracked
• My dog’s next to me, my daughter’s in the other room, but I’m still having a hard time sleeping
• The world needs you just as you are
• All my normal stuff hasn’t been restful lately
• It’s normal to be skeptical
• SWM doesn’t have any barriers to entry; you just may not want to go in
• How come more stores don’t have an Unsure Zone
• A zone built for loitering
• Maybe this is why it’s so hard for me to turn SWM into a business
• I guess some people don’t care as much as I do
• Once I crossed the threshold, I’m committed to eating there no matter what
• A really boss move
• Do I have a reservation? Let me check the place out and then we’ll see
• I’m foyering over here!
• The mud room’s function couldn’t be clearer
• It’s smart they call it a mud room, not a snow room
• I might be amusing my bouching, we’ll see
• I’m here to foyer, Cousin
• Foyer, Chef
• A very timely The Bear staging reference
• We’ve got to put some foyer in this place
• The World’s First Foyer Consultant
• Holy Moly, what a great tangent
• I wish I could do some old school hip hop about Foyer now
• Please stop your Seussian rap about foyers, Scoots
• Can I be your Bore-tre D’?
• Is The Dancing Maitre D’ anything?
• I can’t say this stuff to normal people
• Let me explain the structure now
• A look back at Autumnal, Pumpkin, and Holiday episodes
• I assure, the lack of destination for “foyer” is not a bit
• I gotta get my foyer on
• If this restaurant comes with a bib, I’m already foyer
• Trick or Treating Season is coming up
• The show originally started in the autumn
• One of the first shows we covered was trick or treating
• The World of the Walking Trick or Treaters
• Heading into 2014
• Trending Tuesdays had started
• Superdull had a trick or treating episode
• Ray’s lost file?
• We’d already been doing Game of Drones
• Wow, we’d already settled into our regular release schedule in 2014
• Listener Damon made a song for this episode
• Ep 145 – “Whatever happened to the Transylvanian Twist”? 
• The first ep where I went to the Transverse Plane
• Ep 148 is one of my faves – Creature from the Black Lagoon themed
• The first Real Time Recipe might have been Autumnal some way
• Into 2015
• Wow, we were doing Metastasnooze then
• Wow, all this stuff was pre-300
• Memories of my piano teacher and Judy Garland
• Crawford Costume Dance, ep 300
• Cat Wisdom
• Trending Tuesday Costume Finale, this was autumnal
• Flying into 2016
• Still doing some Metastasnooze
• The Olympics
• Crossover with Half Hour Intern
• An episode dedicated to The Allusionist and Helen Z
• It’s hard to do crossovers with non-podcasters
• Pumpkin Guts and Datemoi
• Carving jackolanterns on first dates
• Analysis of the The Great Pumpkin
• Into 2017
• Pee Wee’s Big Adventure recap
• I can’t believe I already did 3 seasons of After the Glass Slipper
• Hamlet with Brainbots
• 609 – Costume Nostalgia
• We never got paid for some of these crossovers
• Apple At My Core
• Oh, peeping leaves
• Into 2018
• Oh, TNG started
• Crossover with Sleep Whispers was in the 700s?!
• Dustbusters Tale of the Tape
• Into 2019
• 818 Claude and Count Chocula Cereal Box History
• Within the Wires crossover
• Coming in hot into 2020
• Otter Things -that’s kind of seasonal
• Beetlejuice
• Let me make some notes for myself here
• Peeping Leaves and Bonnets, what’s that?
• I bored myself into forgetting I already covered 2019
• Into 2021
• We re-released “Apple at My Core”
• Season 3 of Lady Witchbeard
• Wow, JC Penney Catalog was 2 years ago?!
• Ben Cooper Costume Catalog – a classic
• Jumping into 2022
• Costume Nostalgia – an audience fave rerelease
• Bunsen Burner Love, a great
• Knott’s Autumnal Joy Farm
• Okay, let’s roll back and look at Holiday ones now
• Spruce Museum
• A MBMBAM crossover
• What was “Peeping Leaves and Bonnets”? I need to figure that out
• I’m just doing some real-time housekeeping while recording
• Rolling all the way back for real now
• First year, I did a lot of seasonal episodes
• Walking Trick or Treaters meeting Santa Claus
• The Elf Nobody Knew
• Frozen Reindeer Tears
• The Year Rudolph’s Nose Broke
• Holidays 2014
• This may be the first Thanksgiving parade recap
• The disagreement that saved Christmas
• Meditation Christmas Present
• Ray at the Dickens Fair
• Producer Brain chimes in
• Let’s speculate on old episodes for 2015
• Roberta Claus – a classic
• Roberta takes over for Santa
• Claude Neon reports
• Yule Lads
• That fiction ended up being surprisingly predictive of the future
• I tried to record live at the Dickens fair but kept running into trouble even though I had permission
• It was just hard to record usable material
• All these external factors just drained me
• Cotton Candy Flavors
• I haven’t seen Miss Havisham at the Dickens Fair in quite a while
• I was still working a full-time job at this time
• Man, I wasn’t sleeping much while making the sleep podcast then
• 2017 
• The Christmas Tree That Took a Walk
• Ooh, a Laurel & Hardy tale of the tape
• A Christmas Story tale of the tape
• Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes Real Time Recipe
• Oh, Home Alone tale of the tape!
• As The North Pole Turns
• We did a lot of Tale of the Tapes that year
• I enjoyed making and prepping As The North Pole Turns
• I think I prepped this North Pole soap opera during the summer
• Reindeer were sentient characters in it
• Season 1 was solved with a square dance
• 2018
• Mistletoe Junction
• Doctor Who Holiday episode
• The Happiest Holiday Shop
• The gift is the journey to find the real gift
• Into 2019
• The Great Holiday Cookie Adventure
• This was kind of like Bake-Off meets Iron Chef meets Meow Wolf
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town Tale of the Tape
• Time for 2020
• The Santa Element – that sounds interesting
• As The North Pole Turns returns
• The North Pole Local – that was really popular
• Ray’s Disney Holiday Adventure
• Into 2021
• This was when catalogs started
• North Pole Park Train Tour
• JC Penney Holiday Catalog
• This was when I was experiencing parade burnout
• Man, I loved Case of the Approachable Safe
• 2022 time
• 2022 we jumped back to the 2013 Thanksgiving Parade
• That’s great self-care, Scoots, thank you
• Ted Lasso holiday episode
• Some re-releases
• I want to run back to these old holiday episodes now
• Some good ones in the 600s that we can re-release
• There’s a couple from the 400s that we could put out again
• March of the Wooden Soldiers and A Christmas Story could be rereleased
• Combing over the spreadsheet
• Mallwalking was extremely popular
• This podcast used be super bonzo, man
• Spokesperson for Hansel and Gretel
• Heat Miser with a Bowl Cut – what does that sound like now?
• Patrons, let me know what you want?
• Russell can also give a clear eye on what is good to put out again
• Tsunami Sofa – the most personal episode I ever made
• There’s a few good ones in the 400s
• A big look behind the scenes
• I don’t have the original project files for stuff in the 400s
• Let’s check the 500s again
• There’s some good ones here
• We’ll re-release these over the next couple of years
• Seasonal episodes are fun
• The people that are most invested in the show also listen to it in the least straightforward way
• What can I do to mix things up and keep the show feeling special?
• The stuff I remember vividly isn’t always the most popular stuff
• I remember running in NJ and listening to The Approachable Safe
• I hope you have a great holiday season and I’ll be here