Download the first 100 episodes here

I've uploaded the first 100 episodes in one 6.75 GB folder on my Google Drive account, which you can download by clicking here.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Ep. 16 - Ash Burgess

Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.
Hello, and welcome to The Rob Burgess Show. I am, of course, your host Rob Burgess.
On this, our 16th episode, our guest is Ash Burgess.
But, before we get to that, I need to take a moment to tell you about our sponsor.
For you, the listeners of The Rob Burgess Show podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.
A book I would personally recommend that pertains to this episode is “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James. At nearly 20 hours long, this unabridged audiobook is narrated by Becca Battoe and can be yours for free. Whatever book you pick, you can exchange it at any time. You can cancel at any time and the books are yours to keep.
To download your free audiobook today go to audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Again, that's audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow for your free audiobook.
Please consider supporting those who support the show, like Audible. You'll be helping me out, and it won't cost you a thing.
Another totally free way you can help the show is to comment, follow, like, subscribe, share, rate and review everywhere the podcast is available. Whether it's iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Facebook, Twitter, TuneIn or RSS you can finds links to everything on the official website, www.therobburgessshow.com. You can also find out more about me by visiting my website, www.thisburgess.com.
Back to today's show.
Ash Burgess has a dusty degree in Religious Studies, an obsession with pineapples and an appetite for both high and low culture. She cuts her own hair, bakes her own sourdough bread and spends most of her time at home with her young son. Sometimes, she blogs at burgessbaby.blogspot.com.
And now, on to the show.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Ep. 15 - Rick Friday

Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.
Hello, and welcome to The Rob Burgess Show. I am, of course, your host Rob Burgess.
On this, our 15th episode, our guest is Rick Friday.
But, before we get to that, I need to take a moment to tell you about our sponsor.
For you, the listeners of The Rob Burgess Show podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.
A book I would personally recommend that pertains to this episode is “The First Amendment and You: What Everyone Should Know.” This is a nine-hour audiobook in The Great Courses series narrated by Professor John E. Finn and it can be yours today for free. Whatever book you pick, you can exchange it at any time. You can cancel at any time and the books are yours to keep.
To download your free audiobook today go to audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Again, that's audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow for your free audiobook.
Please consider supporting those who support the show, like Audible. You'll be helping me out, and it won't cost you a thing.
Another totally free way you can help the show is to comment, follow, like, subscribe, share, rate and review everywhere the podcast is available. Whether it's iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Facebook, Twitter, TuneIn or RSS you can finds links to everything on the official website, www.therobburgessshow.com. You can also find out more about me by visiting my website, www.thisburgess.com.
Now, on to today's show.
Here is how Rick Friday describes himself on his website, www.fridaycartoons.com:
I grew up on a 300 acre farm in Southern Iowa during a period in which our nation was at war. Times may have been difficult, but Sis and I didn’t know it. The country life seemed to protect us from the world. We didn’t want for much and created our own entertainment. Soda pop was our reward for being good kids, so once in a while Sis and I would slide the pitcher of sweet tea aside and share a bottle of pop. My mother says that I began drawing cartoon characters on my toy box at age 4. A few years later, I started drawing cartoons and selling them to the kids on the school bus for nickels and dimes. When our farm chores were done Sis and I would walk two miles to town and spend the cartoon money on orange pop and Chick-O-Sticks. I had enough cartoon money for Sis and I to each have our own bottle of pop. I was an average student, however, there were times I was scolded for doodling on my homework. 'He needs to focus more!' my teachers would say. I was voted class clown by my peers and I turned down an art scholarship in 1978, I thought I would work and eventually farm. Under my picture it read: 'What are your future plans?' My answer was, 'Undecided.' I was successful with my plans, I am still 'Undecided.' My first cartoon was published in a local paper in 1993. I traded one cartoon per week for a subscription to the paper. Soon I was drawing for three papers and one magazine. The mailbox was always full of newspapers. In 1995, Farm News out of Fort Dodge, Iowa contacted me and offered me a position as their editorial cartoonist. They were delighted to find a farmer who could draw cartoons. Twenty-one years later, the publication cut me loose for offending Big AG Biz and once again I am drawing on toy boxes. I am optimistic and hope that someday I will be remembered as 'Author Unknown.'”
Finally, I'd like to extend an open invitation to Farm News and the seed dealer who was offended by Rick's cartoon. You're welcome to come on the podcast and give your sides of the story any time.
And now, on to the show.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Ep. 14 - Brandon Chapman and Josh Sigler

Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.
Hello, and welcome to The Rob Burgess Show. I am, of course, your host Rob Burgess.
On this, our 14th episode, our guests are Brandon Chapman and Josh Sigler of the Sounding Off w/ Chap & Sig podcast. This is a milestone as it's the first episode recorded live with two guests.

But before we get to that, I need to let you know how you can support the show. I love presenting you this podcast every week. Thank you so much for listening. If you want to help the podcast continue on the journey of more success, there are a few very simple things you can do.
First, support those who support the show. I am excited to announce we have our first sponsor, audible.com.
For you, the listeners of The Rob Burgess Show podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.
A book I would personally recommend that pertains to this episode is the new Chuck Klosterman book, “But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Was yhe Past.” During this conversation you'll hear us allude to an essay adapted from this book that was published in GQ, “Chuck Klosterman Asks: Will Violence Save Football?” Whatever book you pick, you can exchange it at any time. You can cancel at any time and the books are yours to keep.
To download your free audiobook today go to audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow. Again, that's audibletrial.com/TheRobBurgessShow for your free audiobook.
And second, follow, like, subscribe, share, rate and review everywhere the podcast is available. Whether it's iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Facebook, Twitter, TuneIn or RSS you can finds links to everything on the official website, www.therobburgessshow.com. Even if you did these things and never listened to another episode it would help more than you might realize. All these companies track interactions and every little bit helps. All this will help the podcast reach an even wider audience. You can find out more about me by visiting my website, www.thisburgess.com.
Now, on to today's show. This is a companion piece to the four most recent episodes of the Sounding Off w/ Chap & Sig podcast. They gave shout outs on Episodes 19, 20 and 22, and were kind enough to have me as a guest on Episode 21.
Brandon Chapman, “Chap,” was born, raised and currently resides in Peru, Indiana. He grew up a dedicated and die hard Hoosier basketball fan. He graduated from Peru High School and attended Manchester College for one year. In the one year, he finally found love. That is where he met his hetero life partner, Sig. He currently is a senior at IU Kokomo pursuing a degree in communications. He plans to take over the world with his podcast so him and Sig can sit on an island and count their money. He is married (not to Sig) and has two dogs, Milo and Lucy.
Josh Sigler, “Sig,” is a fairly accomplished dude who doesn't like to take himself very seriously. The Tipton, Indiana native graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Media Studies in 2006, and spent 10 years as a journalist before opting to leave the business for greener pastures. The multi-award-winning reporter was honored by the Hoosier State Press Association in 2015 as producing the top sports feature series, where he covered several angles of how concussion knowledge has evolved over time, the attitudes toward head trauma, and the viewpoints of local coaches, athletes, trainers and doctors on the subject.
One final note, if you've ever listened to Sounding Off w/ Chap & Sig, you'll know the Parental Advisory label on their podcast is well-earned. As such, this episode contains explicit language.
And now, on to the show.


Friday, June 3, 2016

Ep. 13 - Martin Shkreli

Hello, and welcome to The Rob Burgess Show. I am, of course, your host, Rob Burgess.
On this, our 13th episode, our guest is Martin Shkreli. Yes, that Martin Shkreli.
[A quick programming note: If you already know the Martin Shkreli saga and just want to hear my conversation with him, go ahead and skip to the end now. Everyone else, keep it locked.]
Shkreli, a former hedge fund manager and Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO, became internationally infamous in October 2015 when he purchased Daraprim, a drug used to treat toxoplasmosis. There is a good chance you already host toxoplasmosis, especially if you have a cat, but you may never know it. Only children, pregnant mothers and those with weakened immune systems are at risk for developing symptoms. But for those who do, the symptoms can be severe, even fatal. The medication used to treat patients, pyrimethamine, has been available since 1953.
Shkreli inspired indignation when he upped the price of the drug by over 5,000 percent from $13.50 per pill to $750.
Then, in December 2015, he was arrested by the FBI on securities fraud charges. He is currently out on bail.
On Feb. 4, Shkreli testified before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The album you heard mentioned in another story entirely. Starting in 2008, rap group the Wu-Tang Clan spent five years recording an album only one person, one who couldn't legally profit from until 2103. In May 2015, Shkreli was the winner of an auction for "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," paying $2 million. Here's Wu-Tang Clan leader The RZA being interviewed by Jan. 6, by Bloomberg, who broke the story in December 2015.

Later in January, Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah was asked about Shkreli by TMZ. He responded by calling him a shithead. A few days later, TMZ published a video response from Shkreli, who, stemless wine glass in hand, had three masked men placed behind him.
During his Feb. 3 appearance on Power 105.1's “The Breakfast Club,” Shkreli added fuel to the fire.
A few days later, Ghostface Killah issued a video response that doubled as a promotion for his CBD oil, Wu Goo.
You get the idea.
So, here's how I happened to speak with Shkreli. On May 27, Shkreli tweeted the following: “I haven't been called by the Trump camp. I support him vs. Hillary. He should find a VP candidate who is seasoned in politics, an ugly game.” The same day, Colin Daileda of Mashable published an article titled: “America's most hated man endorses its most hated presidential candidate.” On May 28, Shkreli published his phone number, 646-217-2783, on Twitter and asked people who hate him to call him to prove Daileda were wrong. From there, Shkreli and I tweeted back and forth and I dialed his number on a phone without a redial button I knew of for more than 30 minutes. Finally, I got through. And, now, my conversation with Martin Shkreli.
 
Let me be clear: I have loved the Wu-Tang Clan since I was college, and Ghostface Killah is one of the best rappers ever. And, I'll admit to a healthy case of schadenfreude when I saw Shkreli being hauled away in handcuffs, and having to explain himself to Congress.
But, whatever you think of Shrkeli, give him credit for doing what he didn't have to do. He didn't have to put his phone number on social media during a time which he would be available. (Also, if everyone else I'm interested in talking to could just go ahead and do that, this show would be so much easier to book.) He didn't have to agree to be recorded for this podcast. He could have just as easily declined. He didn't have to answer every question I put to him without hesitation. He didn't have to talk for almost 10 minutes.
So, Martin, if you're listening, you're welcome back any time. I had so many more questions we didn't even have time to get to.
But, if nothing else ever comes of this, I can always say I got more of Shkreli than the House of Representatives did, right?
I want to thank Josh Sigler and Brandon Chapman of the Sounding Off w/Chap & Sig podcast for the shout outs on their last two episodes. If you're into unfiltered sports talk, I highly suggest checking them out on on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud and iTunes.
You can help The Rob Burgess Show reach a wider audience by rating, reviewing and subscribing to the podcast on iTunes at tinyurl.com/therobburgessshow.
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And, until next time, thanks for listening.