#120 Michael Taaffe

For our dedicated listeners you'll recognize this familiar face. Going all the way back to a world before this hellish cyber dystopia we call reality; my very first guest episode that i'm not even sure is still available anywhere I was joined on a folding stool in my bedroom by Phil. His charm, vulgarity, and verbal counter-strikes were immediately welcomed to your ears. Setting the precedent of political incorrectness, passion, and pure fun. Five years later worlds away and we're graced by his prescence for more dialogue, distatse, and heart. Skateboarding, white children's upbringing, firearms, homeless solutions, answering all of your guest questions inside this episode. Sit back, relax, tune-in, and watch the world burn. 

We're lucky enough to know people that are closer to you than family. Some families are so intertwined with yours it would be remiss to not mention them in tandem. Garrett's family is my family. And mine is his. We're not blood relatives but that's the only thing separating us from one another. I'm proud to bring you an additional conversation that's brought me closer to understanding someone I've known for so long. I hope you get to know me a little better with each passing episode. I know I'm learning who all of you are piece by piece.  Authenticity is a quality I strive for. Garrett embodies this. You'll get roughly an honest interaction from me, but you'll always get the real fucking deal from Garrett. From our family to yours please enjoy this edition of the Bad Etiquette Podcast.

When a friend suggests someone they know to be a guest on the podcast I'll be the first to admit its met with apprehension; however this one was a no-brainer. Daniel was so easy to speak with. A member of the Los Padres Forest Association, co-owner of TaylerMade Training, and outdoorsmanship to envy, Wildman Dan tells me about wine making, butchering livestock, hunting, playing guitar for Downhour, hanging out with The Bad Crowd, interfacing with local homeless, and dogtraining. Can't wait to have him around more. Enjoy the first guest of 2024!

Over the past few months I've had multiple recorded episodes fail to launch. Whether personal choice, guest apprehension, or the dreaded ever-present technical difficulties.  This was the second attempt with my friend and recently discovered relative Matthew.  Always punctual, always professional, and willing to record he was someone I knew i'd have a good conversation with let alone the two that stretched over 5 hours together. Matthew is a twin, born premature, with Cerebral Palsy although you'd never guess a single one of these facts. Never one to let anything slow him down, especially me interrupting, he came by to christen the new podcast set-up and blaze through and epic sequel conversation to recover the lost episode plagued with techincal failure. 

This man is an enigma. Ever since the moment we met he has subverted every expectation and social interaction we've ever shared. I truly love original people like Taaffe. Often times I'm just leaning on the bar at Cold Coast Brewery and I'm greeted with a non-sequitur that has me either laughing, infuriated that I hadn't thought of it first, or questioning the seams of what we call reality. Over the past year I've learned new and interesting things about this man but I'm terrified that it's only scratching the surface. Enjoy the ride we take in this episode and a cameo from his lovely wife Sarah. 

If you've ever skated in Lompoc you know Ryan "Palmdale" Walters, he is synonymous with the skateboarding scene and one of the best to represent a once great individualist pursuit on the Central Coast. He's been a shoe-in for the podcast for years and I FINALLY got to sit down across from him to have a wonderful conversation. Only the best people in life seem to be so self-deprecating, it drives me nuts. Ryan is exactly that type of person. No matter how much love he gets he'll humble himself with a quick jab aimed at his own persona. Perhaps that's part of his charm and is why he is so universally (in my opinion) respected by his peers. I've watched his transformation from skate-rat to family man and I don't know many friends I'm so genuinely happy for. Take a moment out of your day to find the Palmdale in your life and text them to let 'em know they fucking rock. Enjoy us knuckleheads talking shit. 

After a year away from the solo-episode I sat down in my new studio/office to get the lead out.  It's always my intention to make rants and complaints as enjoyable as possible, hopefully even one day extracting material from these off-the-cuff proceedings, we all know people who complain at length and just exhaust our well-being.  I promise to never exhaust you for too long. Not to brag but it's become quite a skill to talk shit uninterrupted for many, many, minutes at a time. Take note of when my first break is I surprised myself. Perhaps this is all too late but I expressed some grievences I'd been sitting on. Catharsis was acheived and I had an epiphany by the end of this episode. Simply being: I have to be myself, only myself, authenticity is purity. I've strayed to far from who I am. Course correction has taken place and you, the listener, shall witness. Enjoy!  

Fellow podcaster Sophia Lynn let me infiltrate her dwelling on Easter Sunday to chat about being a Peer Support Specialist, homeschooled vs public school, men's mental health, winning "Nickelodeon Rock's Your School", playing an electric violin, being a horsegirl, and cute dogs arrive. Be sure to check out her podcast on Spotify "Nobody Likes You..." 

Ben joins me in my secret living room lair while the podcast studio is being constructed, we chat about the Phat Jam 7 Skate Contest, the new skatepark in opening soon in my hometown of Nipomo, rehabbing our back/knee injuries, Ben's love for physical therapy, nearly becoming a father, living in Seattle, why we hate Reels on IG, the legendary Blake, Mr. Bungle/Mike Patton, living in a world that hates cops, and advocating for the future Santa Maria skatepark. 

Tiff sits down with me in the blue room of local rehearsal space and live entertainment venue Stages letting me pick her brain about her first time doing stand-up, being a music teacher, why the hell she chose to be in Lompoc, Covid vaccines, and The Circus Starts at Midnight.