Music, Musings, Moments, and Misfortune
Join Canadian author and creator Andrew Butters to hear his thoughts on current events, rants about whatever's bothering him, conversations with interesting people, in-depth discussions about music, and hilarious tales of misfortune from his book, Near Death By A Thousand Cuts.
Episodes
This week, two stories about misfortune on a lake. First up, Lake Manitouwabing, where I received my 8th concussion. Second, there is Sparrow Lake, where I broke my toe in front of a dozen ten-year-olds.
The song recommendation for this week is Broken Toe by Smoke Free Home.
This week, I talk about habits and the difficulties some ADHDers have because we can’t make something a habit like most neurotypical people can. We have to “engage the protocol” for almost everything, which is exhausting and frustrating, especially when we're blamed for it and told to “deal with it,” or worse, used as an excuse for laziness.
The song recommendation for this week is Habits (feat. White Gold) by Eminem.
Writer Michele Peters joins me for a conversation about baseball, creativity, happiness, anxiety, and embarrassing moments. Check out Michele Peters Light Into Dark Places.
The song recommendation for this week is Anthem by Leonard Cohen.
For this music episode, the first that’s not focused on a specific band (or bands), we talk about covers, collabs, and theft. There’s a popular trend now of sampling not just a riff from a song, but the whole melody or chorus (think: JAY-Z scooping most of the song “Forever Young” by Alphaville). Then, there are standard covers, which I think we can all agree are a lot of fun—when they’re done well (think: Johnny Cash covering NIN’...
This episode’s misfortunes are not one, but two incidents that:
a) involved alcohol, and
b) trees. Get the book in any format from your favourite bookseller. All the links are conveniently organized on my website.
The song recommendation for this episode is George of the Jungle from the original cartoon TV show (Stan Worth and Sheldon Allman).
I’ve been having a tough time lately, what with nothing brewing on the job front and being benched from physical activity by my doctor due to a T8 spinal fracture. On my social media platforms and LinkedIn page, I put on a brave smile, but on my personal Facebook page, I vented some frustrations, and you know what happened? A whole bunch of friends showed up. It was a great feeling. This week I'll talk a bit about friendship.
How many astronomers do you know? I know one and got to spend an hour talking with him about the Canadian 90s music scene, life on other planets, decaying orbits, and our favourite physicists. The discussion about Matt Cameron leaving Pearl Jam will have to wait for another day.
The song recommendation for this episode is Eclipse by Pink Floyd.
“There’s no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark.”
This week, instead of talking about The Airborne Toxic Event, we’re going to talk about U2 instead. I opened the window and popped my head out this morning, and it felt like that day back at summer camp when U2 was playing in the craft hut. So, I’ll tell you all about my experiences with U2 and how they came to be my #1 album of all time.
The song recommendation and my a cappella for this week is All I Want Is You by U2.
Three stories connected by nothing beyond the letter “W”:
- Waterfront emergency drill at summer camp – almost drowned
- Not one, but TWO trips to Canada’s Wonderland – severe sunburns
- Doing “off the top rope!” wrestling moves at a friend’s – probable concussion
The song recommendation for this week is Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus
Today, I discuss authenticity and being one’s true self, as well as the benefits of this approach on social media AND in the classroom. I also examine the challenges of being truly authentic as a job seeker and the role AI plays in this process. Remember: don’t compare your work in progress to someone else’s highlight reel
The song recommendation for this week is Born This Way by Lady Gaga
This took a while to make happen, but it finally happened and was an absolute blast! I enjoyed talking with the hardest-working comedian in Atlantic Canada (and maybe even the whole country).
- James Mullinger on YouTube
- James’ ADHD Toilet Book
- My ADHD Toilet Book
- The song recommendation for this week is (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) by Beastie Boys
- Song recommendation for this week is “Morning Song” by Serlin Greaves
- My a cappella cover
- McLaren Furnace Room
- In The Trees
- The Watchmen website
- Serlin Greaves on YouTube
- Ken Tizzard
- The Watchmen covering “Wheat Kings” by The Tragically Hip
- The Watchmen covering “Political” by Spirit of the West
- The last recording I made of “Say Something” for my friend Alex
- My band, Speed of Light Lab, covering “All Uncovered”
- Daniel Greaves and Ken Tizz...
Ah, what’s a boy to do with snow on the ground in March when he gets a brand-new BMX trick bike for his birthday? If you thought, call up his buddy, build a ramp out of snow, and see how far he can jump, then you’ve got the right idea. And what’s that same boy to do when he’s with that same friend, and the difference between hypothermia / near death and safety is a simple decision between left and right? Listen to find out! Or, buy...
- Years ago, I got the idea for a book about an authoritarian state that uses a semi-sentient AI to control its citizens. I published it exactly one year ago and did NOT count on it becoming nonfiction so quickly.
- Earlier this year, I wrote about how I feel about AI being used for creative purposes.
- The song recommendation for this episode is Paranoid Android by Radiohead.
- For the video edition of this, ...
This week, I have the pleasure of talking with writer Gordon Bonnet. Gordon and I have been friends for a long time, and it was great to spend some time catching up and chatting about writing, creativity, impostor syndrome, and more!
- Check out this video of Gordon and me being sexy beasts
- The song recommendation for this episode is Oh Yeah by Yello
- Arc of the Oracles trilogy by Gordon Bonnet
- Known Order Girls by Andrew Butters
- My “Kiss Me You Fool” by The Northern Pikes a cappella cover
- 54-40
- I Go Blind covered by Hootie & The Blowfish and used on the Friends soundtrack
- Nice to Luv You LIVE from Moncton
- Other great songs: Baby Ran, One Day In Your Life, One Gun (sang by me and my now retired coffee shop band Argyle Speedo), Miss You, Baby Have Some Faith, She La, Ocean Pearl, Nice To Luv You, Lies to Me, Crossing a Canyon
- The Northern Pikes...
This week, we take you back to Paddock Park, a place that provides many joyful memories for many, but for me, it was the source of much misfortune.
- The metal geodesic dome + stranger danger
- The massive crab apple tree
- The crab apples from the massive crab apple tree
Buy my book, Near Death By A Thousand Cuts: A Humorous Memoir of Misfortune
The song recommendation for this episode is Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day
This week, I do a quick lesson on the Canadian electoral system and recap the election. I discuss the differences in campaigns and platforms between the Liberals and Conservatives. The song recommendation for this week is It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by Great Big Sea (R.E.M. cover).
This week, I welcome Ken Tizzard (The Watchmen, Thornlea, Music For Goats, Whiskey Wednesdays) to the show, and it was a rockin' good time for sure. We discuss core music memories, connections, creativity, and more. He's a fine musician and a hellova good human.
The song recommendation for this episode: Drunk, Stoned, and Broke by Ken Tizzard and Music for Goats.
- My a capella cover of “Subversives”
- Spirit of the West
- “Save This House”
- Theme song for the Western University dorm “The Zoo”
- “Home For a Rest”
- “And If Venice is Sinking”
- John Mann: Spirit Unforgettable
- “Save This House”
- Lowest of the Low
- Ron Hawkins & The Do Good Assassins
- Greg Smith Sounds
- Weakerthans
- Website Store | Redbubble Store ...
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