If you're like most people I know, there are a few things in life that you can't seem to live without. For some, it's football, for others it's beer or music or movies. Your mileage may vary but for me, it's podcasts. Podcasts are an essential part of my workday. They help me pass what might be a really stressful or boring day and make things a million times better for me. Like books, podcasts allow me a glimpse into other people's lives and interests. For those who may not know what a podcast is or what it does, basically it's like radio only it's within the parameters of the internet. In some cases, you might like to think of it as 'internet radio'. Some commercial radio stations have podcasts of shows that are currently running which you can listen to at your own timetable. Other podcasts might not have a connection to an actual radio station or might be part of a totally different format. If you're curious about podcasts, iTunes is a great place to find them. That is where I find all of mine.
I listen to a lot of shows in this format. I like it because the hosts of these shows are allowed to do what they like best and not have a bunch of restrictions on them. They don't have to worry about getting in trouble for dropping the 'f-bomb' or using language. They can talk about whatever they like for the most part and have a good time doing it.
In my travels over the internet and podcast highway, I've been privileged enough to find out about some really talented people along the way. One such individual is a guy who simply goes by the name of mOw (rhymes with cow). mOw is interesting, funny and fascinating. I've heard his work on a few different podcasts by now and I never tire of what he has to say. The thing that I like about him is that he is so natural. He is never contrived or fake. If you listen to enough radio in general or podcasts, you can always tell when someone is phony. mOw is refreshingly original. mOw has experience in the realm of public access TV as well as podcasting. MOw's TV show was called 'Dubbed 4:20 and his podcasts include 'Bunch of Dorks'; 'Slow Robot A Go-Go' and 'The Music Dojo'.
Here I chat with the always fascinating entity known as mOw about TV, podcasting and so much more...
ATG-What is Dubbed 4:20? Would you consider this to be a forerunner to Bunch of Dorks (BOD) and Slow Robot? Is Dubbed 4:20 around anymore? If yes, where can we see this?
M-Dubbed 4:20 was a public access show that me and a very good friend Jorge made from 2000 til the public access station closed under dubious circumstances in October 2007. We took old B-movies that had fallen into public domain and we re-scripted them completely in very silly fun ways. We were considered one of the more risque shows on the TV channel. It was so fun coming from a non-television background and just going for it. Looking back, neither me nor Jorge (the co-writer) ever took 'no' for an answer, any hurdle we approached just pushed us harder. I think that BOD would have never existed without the Dubbed project because that is when I worked with Promee and Man With No Name. The Slow Robot A Go-Go podcast was really independent from the others but with all the equipment that I have been building all these years, it made our start-up virtually nothing. I I took all my technical 'lumps' with the earlier projects so now we can pretty much sit in the studio and turn the equipment on knowing it will work. That was not always the case, audio is a harsh maiden for sure. We are working on uploading the Dubbed 4:20 shows to an upcoming video channel we hope to launch. Stay tuned for that.
ATG-Bunch of Dorks, how did this originate? Who were the main characters? Is BOD still going? What do you mainly discuss on this show?
M-I am not sure exactly when the BOD podcast took form. I had always wanted to do a podcast as I could see the writing on the wall at the TV station. Promee and Man With No Name were coming in very regularly for the voice work of the Dubbed 4:20 show so it just kinda clicked. The main characters of BOD are mOw, Promee and Man With No Name. This show was absolutely free form with no boundaries. We had a lot of fun but that show kinda ran its course. The commercial appeal of a show with no direction and just basically 3 guys talking in a room never drew the following we hoped for. I don't really do the podcasts and public access shows for fame and fortune but I do like to be noticed a little.
The show is not officially done as we hope to have a few "BOD Specials" a couple times a year. We are still online and will have the website up and running for many years to come. We have added Slow Robot A Go-Go and Two Dimension Podcast onto the BOD website so essentially the fees for the website will be covered by current podcasts, allowing the back catalog of BOD to remain online and relevant. I hope we always have a few shows, I really enjoy hanging out with the Bunch of Dorks crew and just having fun.
ATG-Slow Robot A Go-Go, how did you come up with the idea to do this show? Who are the other hosts? What do you mainly discuss on this show?
M-I was talking to a friend at work who shares love for B grade movies. This was just before I left for Korea in 2011. (mOw went to Korea for a year to teach English to Korean students.) We kept talking about it over the months and then we just came to the conclusion that the world NEEDED another B-movie review podcast. So I started doing solo shows a few months before I returned to America to test what worked and what didn't. When I got back, me and Dr. Morbius went full into it. Currently, we talk about what we watch each week, then we do a Top Ten list that ranges from favorite actress to favorite snack food. Then finally we review the movie we picked for the week. It is a lot of fun and is very easy to do because we both have a very different but very deep love for crazy B-movies of the past.
ATG-Slow Robot Video Channel coming soon, will this be on You Tube? Will you put any of your Dubbed 4:20 stuff on this channel?
M-Most definitely, we have a very good fun idea where we will be taking our new video content for the Slow Robot Video channel but we should have the Dubbed 4:20 programs up on there too. They are part of our history so we hope they can make people laugh and smile. The Dubbed 4:20 project has a lot in common with the Slow Robot project because they both rely heavily on B-movies. Being such a fan of movies of the past, I really hope to always keep them in the modern world. It seems that movies and movie-making has become this untamable monster that keeps everything too generic and safe. Long ago, a movie could be nothing more than a few wacky friends and dedication. Now it is a hot mess that takes billions of dollars and corporate approval at every step. I love that about the early decades of movies. I wish it would come back around that way one day.
ATG-Japan...you seem to really appreciate all things Japanese, be it movies, music or just the culture at large. You've really blended your appreciation for the Japanese culture into your shows. Where did this love originate?
M-I can thank my parents for some of my Eastern love. They were very open people and really tried to raise me with an open mind. I always loved the 'chop suey, kung fu' movies when I was a kid. I think my love really grew in college when I took Worlds Religion classes. Being a small-minded kid from a small little town, it was like an entire world poured into my life. I study the language and got a Black Belt in Okinawan Karate. I have hosted exchange students from Japan and Vietnam so I always try to learn and grow. Of course, Godzilla and the 1950's-era Sci-Fi movies from Japan truly define what I love about movies. When I watch some old Japanese Sci-Fi movie, I am completely enthralled and so happy. When I was in Korea last year, I spent my vacations in Japan. I will say I never felt more 'at home' in my life. If I could I would move there and live happily ever after.
ATG-I've just recently become aware of another show you're doing called 'Music Dojo'. Will it just be you hosting this or will you have a partner-in-crime?
M-Music Dojo is a Slice Radio Exclusive. Basically, our Slow Robot podcast has been picked up by an internet radio station in Australia. We are very appreciative of them and support them in any way we can. i have always had it in the back of my brain to become a DJ on some public access radio station but have heard it is extremely hard to get into and very political. I sent an email to Danny P. who runs SliceRadio.com.au and asked if he could free up a slot for me to try my hand at DJing and he said yes. So I just hammer out a weekly show where I talk a little and play some of my favorite music. I have very eclectic music taste so it is always a varied wacky show, and as you may know I am never shy when the mic is in front of me. I am not opposed to having a co-host but this is pretty much a 'turn on the equipment and go' style show. Where it goes in the future we shall see.
ATG-Did you ever imagine that you'd be part of a 'radio/podcast empire'? Personally, I think it's pretty darn cool.
M-Ha ha...thank you very much for the kind compliment, never in a million years did I ever think I would foster such a desire to be out there podcasting and doing the video stuff. It has been so challenging and so much fun, sometimes I think it defines me. Above all, I always try so hard to be entertaining and bring something to the table. Without the audience, you are just a crazy guy with a mic. Who know? Maybe the Slice channel will hit and I will be transmitting from Australia this time next year? No matter what, I just want to make people smile and laugh.
ATG-Where could people find out more about you and where can they access your programs?
M-SlowRobotAGo-Go.wordpress.com and www.bunchofdorks.com and of course, look up Slow Robot A Go-Go on Facebook and Twitter as we have that stuff going on too. Thanks so much for giving me the time to talk with you and your audience. It has been a real pleasure!
No comments:
Post a Comment