Radio Free Burrito

Welcome to Wil Wheaton's Radio Free Burrito Podcast

Hi there. I'm Wil Wheaton, and I'm from the Internet.

I grew up in Los Angeles, listening to great broadcasters like Jim Ladd, Richard Blade, and Doctor Demento. I listened to radio stations like KLOS, KROQ, and KMET, all during their glory days from the late 70s until the late 80s. I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love music, and didn't want to be on the radio.

I got a little sidetracked by an acting career, but even when I was at the height of my acting success, my dream of broadcasting never entirely went away. I was never able to make it into actual radio, but when the internet made podcasting possible, I seized the opportunity to play music, tell stories, and finally satisfy my delusions of DJ grandeur.

Radio Free Burrito is an infrequently-updated podcast, mostly focused on podsafe or creative-commons-licensed music. The first 13 posts here at the RFB homepage are considered the archives, and they cover a time period from 2005-2008. Comments are closed on all the archive posts, but as new episodes of RFB are added, those comments will be open.

A note to the listener: these podcasts are old, and the e-mail addresses I mention in them were sent to the land of wind and ghosts a long time ago. You can send all the mail you want to them, but it's just going to bounce.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the Burrito.

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Thirty-One

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito! That's two new episodes in two weeks, for those of you keeping score at home.

On this RFB, I read the story I wrote last week, called 239 Sycamore St.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Hey You, by Pink Floyd.
• I couldn't find the link I mentioned, but here's Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 3 from Dallas. Wow.
• You can get your very own How We Roll T-shirt from shirt.woot.com right here. Yay!
• This episode is 18MB.
• This episode is about 19 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• Please note that I've been wishing for Apple to fix this bug for over a year. Yay.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then tear down the wall and 

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode Thirty-One!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Thirty

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

On this RFB, I deliver a bunch of weird audio collected from the internets, a whole lot of thank yous, and a reading from the special edition of The Happiest Days of Our Lives.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Ceremony, by New Order.
• You can check out Incredible, But True at the Internet Archive. 
• If you enjoy Old Time Radio, you'll definitely want to acquaint yourself with the Old Time Radio Researchers Group.
• In case you wanted to see one of Nolan's art things. (Not the thing mentioned in this episode, but a thing nonetheless.)
• Really, Amazon?
• When you build your time machine and visit Mountain Park, try to act surprised when Zoltan gives you advice.
• This episode is 35.6MB.
• This episode is about 37 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• Please note that I've been wishing for Apple to fix this bug for over a year. Yay.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then kick out the jams, mother effers, and 

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 30!

 

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Nine

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

This episode was made possible by the generous contributions of listeners like you, as well as a grant from the We Didn't Really Give You A Grant, Wil, Foundation.

Show Notes:

• This show doesn't have the best audio in the world, because I used my MBP's internal mic to record it, after the mic I bought this afternoon ended up not working with my computer for some reason. I know it's not the best, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be.
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music comes from one of my favorite PC games of all time, Interstate 76.
• You can still make contributions to Team Wheaton. Here's our Wiggle Waggle Walk homepage.
• This show features a reading of my original story The Last Unicorn (Pegasus Kitten) from Clash of the Geeks.
• For context to the Unicorn Pegasus Kitten insanity, check out Scalzi's blog, my blog, and Scalzi's blog again.
• This is the original Unicorn Pegasus Kitten picture.
• This is Seamus. I know, right?
• This episode is about 15.5MB.
• This episode is about 32 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then place on ground, light fuse, get away, and

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 29!

 

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Eight

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

Has it really been three weeks since the last show? I guess it has. Well, I brought a note that will hopefully excuse my absence...

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Head On, by Jesus and Mary Chain, from their album Automatic.
• Seriously, check out Slacker; it's awesome.
• This show is almost entirely an interview with Felicia Day about The Guild.
• Turns out neither one of us could remember who that artist was, and my Google-fu in this regard is appallingly weak. Luckily for me, listener McKenneth Blue is a fountain of art (and other) knowledge, and told me that the painter is, in fact, Magritte.
• Patrick Duffy reference!
• Slightly-different Patrick Duffy reference!
• Patrick Duffy leg!
• The Guild: Season 3 at Amazon.
• I played a tiny bit of Elvis Costello's Miracle Man, from the album My Aim is True.
• Unless you hate comedy, you should listen to the nerdist podcast.
• You may also want to listen to Knights of the Guild.
• This episode is about 48MB.
• This episode is about 49 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then suit up your avatar and get ready to

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 28!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Seven

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

Let's all celebrate the departure of the Goddamn Motherfucking Bulldozer with a reading from Just A Geek!

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Enjoy The Silence , by Depeche Mode, from their seminal album Violator .
• The Reddit post about DM, in case you wanted to see it.
• The volume of nostalgic commercials at YouTube is staggering and wonderful. Here's the Commodore 64 commercial I played today.
• Here's William Fucking Shatner beaming in from the future to tell us all about the wonder computer of the 1980s.
• The song I wanted to play but ended up having to cut is called Misery, by The Dynamics. It seems a little silly that I can link to a version of it and that's fine, but if I actually played it in the podcast, I could get into trouble.
• Last week, I said, "I just realized that I have friends who do awesome things, and I should make them the unofficial sponsors of RFB each week, so RFB listeners can discover nifty things. I hope I remember to do that next week." Oh shit. I forgot to do that this week.
• Today, I read a modified version of The Wesley Dialogs from Just A Geek.
• This episode is about 35MB.
• This episode is about 36 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then turn out the lights, relax, take a deep breath, and

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 27!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Six

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

At long last, the planets align, I have time and ideas, and the GDMF construction next door is quiet.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is from The Legend of Zelda, one of my favorite video games of all time.
• On today's show, I read two stories from The Happiest Days of Our Lives, currently available from Subterranean Press as a special edition.
• There is also an audio version of The Happiest Days of Our Lives, if you'd like to hear me read even more of it to you.
• Movin' Right Along was performed by 15-16 Puzzle. If you have some time to check out his musical archives, I believe you will find it worth your while.
• I decided that this episode was brought to you by coffee ... specifically the amazing cup of Sumatra that I made using beans that were roasted by my friend Aric. He's @WayOfCoffee on Twitter, and you can even order your own amazing beans from him at FremontCoffee.net. Did I mention that they're amazing? They totally are.
• I just realized that I have friends who do awesome things, and I should make them the unofficial "sponsors" of RFB each week, so RFB listeners can discover nifty things. I hope I remember to do that next week.
• When I read Close Your Eyes and Then It's Past, I played music from Robert Rich as a bed. He has a ton of albums at Magnatune.com; I used music from Calling Down The Sky today.
• Actually, well over 90% of listeners said the audio levels were messed up, and that the music, which I'd hoped would be a nice background bed, was actually way too loud and distracted from my reading. Since this podcast is all about me, I remastered the episode and removed the music. 
• Of course, if you didn't get this episode right when it was released yesterday, you probably won't notice the difference. Ahhhh ... BLISSS!
• This episode is about 69.5MB. Yikes.
• This episode is about 48 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then put down your kazoo, step away from the punch bowl, and

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 26!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Five

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

It's a relatively quick show this week, but it sure was amusing to me while I made it.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Steppin' Out by Joe Jackson. It was originally released on his record Night And Day. Most of his catalog is really great, but Look Sharp! is probably his best. It's one of my desert island discs, for those of you keeping score at home.
• On today's show, I told two stupid jokes, and read something I cut out of an early draft of my PAX East keynote.
• Here's the first link I came across when I googled Personics System. Here's the second. I guess I just answered my "did I talk about this before" question.
• I played a song called Rock Awhile by Goree Carter and his Hepcats. I have no idea where it came from.
• This episode is about 10MB. Ahhh.
• This episode is about 22 minutes long.
• I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast. Listener Dave K. built a workaround that you can learn all about here. Thanks, Dave!
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then wash your hands, comb your hair real nice, and

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 25!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Four

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

It's one of those shows where I talked for an hour, and feel like I didn't say anything at all.

Also, I am aware that the tags are screwed up and the feed doesn't validate, so unless you're grabbing RFB from iTunes or getting it directly here, it's a giant hassle to get it. I am aware of this problem, but it's a gigantic pain in the ass for me to correct it, given the tools I have available to me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm very annoyed by it, but I can make a podcast, or I can be a bug-squashing code monkey. I can't do both, and I quite frankly prefer making the podcast.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Driver 8, from REM's amazing Fables Of The Reconstruction.
• On today's show, I talked about the responses and thoughts I had when I told Twitter, "All I want to do today is listen to REM and paint 40K figures. It would be like sitting in my dressing room in 1988, minus the muscle suit."
• Here I am on Twitter. If you choose to follow me, read this first.
• Warhammer 40K is an amazing universe, with more than just Ultramarines in it.
• Ultramarine loyalists: I don't have anything against your chapter. It was just a silly thing with my friends when I was 14. Please don't hurt me.
• You can get your own copy of Dungeon Delve at Amazon.
• If you're interested in checking out D&D 4th Edition, this post on my blog may help you get started. If you're interested in running a game, I once talked a little bit about the art of DMing.
• The Freeport setting from Green Ronin is intended for D&D 3.5 (or compatible rules, like True 20 or Pathfinder) but it's really neat and very easy to swap out the 3.5 creatures and NPCs for 4e equivalents.
• Toward the end of the show, I played Downstream by Shira Kammen from the Soundtrack to Braid, available from Magnatune.com.
• This episode is about 55MB. Holy shit.
• This episode is about 57 minutes long. Holy shit.
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done (please see the above note.) Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then roll initiative and...

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 24!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Three

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

It's a very brief episode this week, because I've just been too busy to cook up a proper burrito.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Mango Mangue by Charlie Parker, from the fantastic album The Essential Charlie Parker.
• On today's show, I tell a very quick story about something amusing that happened to me this morning on my way into work on The Big Bang Theory.
• Here I am on Twitter. If you choose to follow me, read this first.
• Here's a picture I took on the set today.
• Here's a hilarious (and more accurate) version of the same picture, from dburns308.
• Podcasts you may enjoy in place of (or in addition to) Radio Free Burrito while I'm too busy to make it every week:
• • The Moth.
  • CBC's Spark.
  • The Nerdist Podcast with Chris Hardwick.
  • Stuff You Should Know, from How Stuff Works.
• This episode is about 12MB.
• This episode is about 13 minutes long.
• Again, no embedded artwork. This distresses me, but it's Apple's fault, not mine, and it's too much of a pain in the ass to get it done. Hopefully, they'll fix the bug REALLY SOON.
• This is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then shuffle your Mystic Warlords of Ka'a deck and...

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 23!

Radio Free Burrito: Episode Twenty-Two

Holy Crap, it's time for a new episode of Radio Free Burrito!

I had a ridiculously good time putting this show together, even though I didn't plan any of the stuff that ended up being so fun to create.

Show Notes:

• The logo was designed by WWdN:iX reader Marc, who asked that I not link to his "in progress" website. Thanks, Marc!
• Radio Free Burrito doesn't work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast does, but it still manages to upset mom and get Twitter breakup messages from sensitive people. You have been warned.
• This week's theme music is Sweat, by Oingo Boingo, originally off the 1987's Good For Your Soul, but this version is from 1988's Boingo Alive .
• On today's show, I read an excerpt from the soon-to-be-shipping special edition of The Happiest Days of our Lives, called a portrait of the artist as a young geek.
• If you liked that story, you may want to check out the audio version of The Happiest Days of our Lives.
• BEHOLD! The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, from the Gong Show in 1976.
• That may have prepared you for the magnificence of Bim Bam Boom and Pico and Sepulveda, from 1980's Forbidden Zone.
• Did you know that Radio Free Burrito has a Mixtape? I've been working on volume two in my free time.
• Did you know that there was a Twilight Zone called Twenty-Two? Spooky!
• If you wanted to know more about the dark fantasy pen and paper Dragon Age RPG from Green Ronin, now you know where to look.
• I just discovered Dragon Age Journeys a few days ago. It's a hell of a lot of fun.
• MC Frontalot talked to Spin about his song Your Friend Wil. You can get an mp3 of the song there. I hear it makes a great ringtone, among other things.
• Mike Doughty put The Only Answer on LastFM, just for you. (Maybe not, but we can all pretend, can't we?) Mike doughty has a Twitter. Mike Doughty has a blog. Mike Doughty has records for you to buy. Mike Doughty is on tour.
• Everything you didn't want to know about backwards messages in rock music, but can't seem to stop laughing at, can be found at 2007's 365 Project from WFMU's Beware of the Blog.
• This episode is about 39MB.
• This episode is about 40 minutes long.
• I know I'm forgetting something I wanted to add to the links, but ... Dave ... my mind is going.
• So this is the end of the notes. 

Ready? Then stir up a Hendrick's martini with a twist and

Download Radio Free Burrito Episode 22!