Tag Archives: wwe

Podcasts, Show Notes

5: ‘We Hide Our Genocides Really Well’ With K Sawyer Paul

I used to host a podcast with K Sawyer Paul called ‘You Chose Poorly’. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done on the internet, and it’s still linked at the top menu of this blog. Every week we would talk about our poor tech choices, and we tried to figure out whose fault it was—ours or the companies that made them. It was a blast, and a dream come true. I loved podcasting with Sawyer. He was my podcast guru, and the guy that brought me into the podcast game in the first place when he interviewed me all the way back in 2009 for the old International Object Podcast.

We had to put our show on hiatus shortly before Max was born in September 2016. The world has changed since then (to say the absolute least). But Sawyer is just as sharp, as warm, and as much of a blast to talk to as ever. I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Production Notes

  • At the start of our conversation, Sawyer went on a rant about how Spotify is a terrible podcast app. It’s hilarious and accurate. That being said, I think the best podcast app there is is Overcast (website / App Store) — it has a great audio processor, speed boost features, chapter support, options to stream and/or download, and it displays podcast show notes correctly, like any grownup podcast app should.
  • Sawyer and I talked on Skype, as we always do, and it was my first time to use it for the podcast. I now know why tech podcasters continue to use it, despite the multitude of options nowadays. Skype handles connection and audio interruptions so much better than Zoom or Google Meet do—audio simply disappears, instead of glitching out with a >BZZT<. Thus, it’s much easier to edit audio recordings. Maybe I’ll use it for all future episodes.\
  • Sawyer and I had our conversation at 6:00 AM, I recorded the interview at about 7:30, I edited and produced the show for the rest morning (while at work—sorry bosses), and I added finishing touches and Char’s voiceover recording in the afternoon. Total podcast production time is about 5-6 hours. In comparison, production time for episode 1 was about three days. Hooray for efficiency and streamlining workflows!
  • The Hurry Up the Cakes podcast is now available on Stitcher!

Show Notes

This is for the frustrated wrestling fan, the podcast snob, the tech enthusiast, and privileged folk affected by the pandemic.

Special guest K Sawyer Paul is a novelist, podcaster, graphic designer, one of my favorite technology and wrestling critics, and one of my favorite people in the world to talk to. In our first conversation since we put our podcast on hiatus four years ago, we talked about podcasting, how stupid wrestling is nowadays, how quitting Twitter is a lot like quitting a church, and how important (and challenging) it is do the right thing, in any context.

Outro instrumental: “Chords For David” feat. Jlbrock by Pitx copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.

The Hurry Up the Cakes Podcast is published and distributed via Anchor.fm.

Chapters

  • Opening Song 
  • Introduction (0:27)
  • Spotify is the worst (4:00)
  • Sawyer is my podcast guru (9:36)
  • ‘Why Are We Wrestling Like This?’ (17:27)
  • The best internet (32:16)
  • Rich Boy Watch Pals (40:08)
  • The pandemic has changed us (56:01)
  • What matters now? (65:59)
  • Outro (71:44)
  • Super Wings Theme (Transformers Remix) (72:41)
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Wrestling

That accolade is fresh

KSP on Punk vs. Taker:

CM Punk is the first legitimate candidate to challenge Undertaker’s winning streak since Randy Orton in 2005. In retrospect, Henry, Batista, Edge, Michaels, and HHH were all obvious in how they would play out. Henry wasn’t worthy; Batista and Edge couldn’t beat Taker and hold onto their championships; and Michaels’ pair was really all about defining what it means to be a great wrestler. HHH also lost twice.

I laughed out loud at this, but I would propose that HHH’s pair was about defining what it meant to be a great wrestling performer, without necessarily being a great wrestler.

Also, welcome back, Sawyer.

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Wrestling

Royal Rumble Depression 2013

I’m over it.

The Royal Rumble was an emotional roller-coaster, just as any wrestling show should be. But damn if Cena’s win didn’t depress me.

Quick thoughts:

+ Zigger is the man right now. Current in-ring MVP.
+ John Cena the human being is admirable, and worthy of respect. John Cena the character sucks balls and I hate him please go away
+ I love The Rock, but Punk has my current grown-up WWE fan heart. The false finish and Rock’s win made me look like this:

+ The Royal Rumble match itself wasn’t the best, but the surprises (JERICHO!!!) made it fun.
+ I like that Kofi Kingston was the only one dumb enough to get hit by the Cobra
+ Where does Punk go from here? Who is he facing at Mania? Taker? Austin? Brock? He’s been so good this past year, and I can’t wait to find out what’s in store.
+ I guess that means it wasn’t so bad after all?
+ Cena sucks. Because of you, I have to quit meat for a week. (Char and I have strange bets.)

In other news, Hurry up the Cakes is a year old today! Thanks to all who drop by here, the regulars and the Google-Searchers. God bless your kind hearts.

I’m exhausted. My grown-up heart can’t take roller-coasters like it used to. I’m going to bed now. See you soon, Cakers.

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Wrestling

Jerry Lawler suffers heart attack ringside in Montreal

KSP, a friend and most trusted wrestling/liberal arts critic, on Jerry Lawler:

What I’m trying to say is Jerry Lawler is really fucking important and good and necessary and a treasure, and I want him to be okay, and if I ever made it seem like I didn’t respect his day job I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention.

He continues, on his being a critic:

I dig deep and think really hard because I respect the people who put on this show, who wake up every day and do a phenomenal job doing a thing that doesn’t get nearly enough respect. I don’t say that enough. None of us do.

Guilty as charged. I am much less a critic than I am merely a fan, and I have my opinions on the in-ring action, the mic work, the commentary. But regardless of any of any of that, I do respect any and all performers involved with the product that I love so dearly.

Jerry Lawler, our thoughts and prayers are with you over here on Hurry up the Cakes. Beat this, King.

Aside