Radio Free Burrito Episode 49 – a nice pair of stories
wil, · Categories: Current Affairs, Music
I have a pair of stories this week. One is about my family’s connection to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The other is about the first time I met Adam West. There’s some music here for you, too.
- Radio Free Burrito doesn’t work as hard to earn its [EXPLICIT] tag as Memories of the Futurecast did, 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 On Your Radio by the great Joe Jackson.
- Yes, I said it was 2007. Welcome to time travel. Try not to get upset.
- My great grandmother, in 1965.
- Her obituary.
- My great grandfather’s biography.
- The Battle of Chavez Ravine.
- The old Los Angeles Zoo is worth exploring.
- I forgot to share thoughts on the Stanley Cup final. The short version is that the Preds got hosed by a quick whistle, but a team that can’t score with a two-man advantage in an elimination game doesn’t deserve to win the Stanley Cup. That’s the whole reason we have playoffs.
- Jonathan Coulton‘s Smoking Monkey, and his new record Solid State.
- Jonathan and Aimee Mann are on tour RIGHT NOW!
- King Tubby‘s incredible Dub Reggae discography.
- I forgot to tell you how Anne’s doing: she’s recovering without complications, and is feeling better every day.
- The Trojan Dub Box Set is a good place to start, if you’re interested.
- I was behind the camera when Kaley posed for this picture with Adam West. He was so into it, and thought it was as funny as we did.
- The Letter / La Carta.
- Los Nuggetz is an amazing compilation, and the liner notes, pictures, and artwork make it very much worth your while to purchase as a physical thing.
- This episode is 1h05m long and 93.9MB.
- This is the end of the notes.
Here’s your embedded player:
And a direct link to the file: 049-RFB
Yep, you did indeed introduce me to Dub Reggae. Awesome episode, keep the stories coming!
The fake sponsor ads are one of my favorite things. I really laugh more than I should. Please keep doing those.
So personally, I don’t think you can go past the Southern Saw Whet Owl. They are just the cutest. I mean, look at those faces! You just want to hug them all up, even if it meant a face pecking!
And that photo of the one wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito? See, I can kind of stay on topic… DING!
But how is Anne? You promised to tell us how Anne was doing. We love her to and want to make sure she’s ok.
It’s Chinatown, Wil.
Thank you! Also, I can’t listen to you on days I am actually in the office because that Adam West story had me in tears. I am glad you have known some awesome people who were genuinely kind and didn’t ruin things for you.
Another excellent burrito sir!
Really enjoyed the family history and stadium story.
As others have said your story about meeting Mr. West might need a NSFW disclaimer lest your listener be seen teary eyed at their place of employment. It exemplifies the power of kindness and the good it can do for you and others.
I (and if my math is correct 5.5 others) are still waiting for you to weigh in on the Stanley Cup results but I imagine you are trying to build suspense and we will just have to wait for our next burrito to get the pay off.
Just finished listing to your reading of “Ready Player One” on Audible last week. What an amazing book and you knocked it out of the park. Once the book you are currently recording is released please let us know. I was so late to the party on RPO it was embarrassing.
Have a great week!
I’ll get us to 2/6.5, I was eagerly anticipating your thoughts on the Final as well.
Your story about Adam West was very touching. It is always nice to hear accounts of genuine kindness.
You have been for me what Adam West was for you. You have been overwhelmingly kind to someone who isn’t anyone but who grew up LOVING the thing you did (Star Trek:TNG) and who was terrified to meet you, on the very off-chance you were a dick. I’m a late-20s, can’t-get-an-audition-for-my-life actor and you treat me like a person who has worth and it reminds me that who I am isn’t what I do (or don’t get the chance to do). You’re always why I will always take the risk to meet someone who means a lot to me, because you have been the gold standard since day one.
You probably think the first time we met was at The Wil Wheaton Project. It wasn’t. You were doing Leverage (I wanna say the Ho Ho Ho Job) and I lived in Portland near Pioneer Square, where the local news station was. You did an interview with Stephanie Stricklen (another friend I made because of you) and then left the studio to a small group (maybe twenty of us tops) of fans. I was with my friend Chelsea who wanted her copy of Stand By Me signed. I’d just moved to Portland and all I had with me was a copy of The Collected Stories of Isaac Asimov I got at Powell’s, so instead I asked you for a picture. Next time we see each other, ask me to get out my phone and show you that picture because I have carried it with me in one form or another since that day because you were SO NICE and it made my life! I think we talked about writing and Neil Gaiman and I might have quoted Philip Pullman. I don’t truly remember. But I remember watching you walk to the MAX stop and clutching my friend’s arm, both of us grinning like loons. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a “You were awesome to me and it made my life!” story. And the way you have been with me since The Wil Wheaton Project and just…treating me so kindly and always being awesome to me. It means the f—ing world to me. You’re already to me what Adam West was to you. And I hope someday we work together on something and can just sit and talk between set-ups.
Great episode. You introduced me to dub reggae, too. It sounds good! The family history was very interesting, and the Adam West story was wonderful. In addition to the writing, you really have a gift for this kind of audio storytelling.
Wil,
I am quite intrigued by your family history. I hope someone hears your story and request for more information and has it to give to you!
Family history is often a lot more interesting than we expect. For us, it is normal, what we grew up with, but to others? Blows them away.
Though had me almost in tears with the Adam West story. I always heard he was a good guy, but this was one of the best examples of it.
Btw, that audiobook? Was it one of yours? If so, please make sure we get a link!
If not, well, you do the narrative well, so chances are we should still get the link.
Glad Ann is doing better, and was proud of how well you took care of/helped her when she needed it. Plus sharing that story was another example for the “Don’t let people ignore women’s pain.” After I shared it, someone used it to convince their sister to actually see a doctor and went with to make sure the concerns were taken seriously. Waiting to hear about results, if I ever do, but this is another case where what you did rippled out to help others.
But I’m rambling, and 5:30 am comes too damn early in my timezone.
Be well.
Hi Wil,
Much professional! So Amaze! 11/10!
I’m so sorry you lost your friend Adam, and I’m grateful you got to have so many positive interactions with him.
We all fear people that are important to us won’t acknowledge us, so I’m happy Adam West respected your feelings and you continue to do that for others.
I too love the fake sponsor bits – I had an idea to do one about Lewd Crate – a subscription service that sends you (or your uptight relatives if you’d like to get them a gift subscription) a selection of explicit and raunchy sex toys once a month. Feel free to run with that idea if it appeals. Although it’s hardly as appetizing as a chapeau full of escargot.
Dammit I am not crying about your first Adam West meeting.
Does anyone have any Bat-Tear repellant?
Wil, when the world gets dark always try to remember that as much as Adam West’s kindness to you that day changed your life your kindness and openness about your struggles changes other peoples life on a daily basis.
Mine included.
Thank you.
Just finished listening to eps 47 and 48. Some of my favorite burritos that you’ve done. Keep up the good work!
Would love some more Memories of the Future too(t).
Hi Wil! This was a great fucking episode. Thank you for sharing your stories and knowledge of music with us. Also I’m glad Anne is doing well.
Re: Old L.A. and Dodgers
Great shout out to a book everyone interested in Los Angeles should read and digest: City of Quartz by Mike Davis. Also read Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner (the stress of writing that book quite literally killed Marc). Those two will put Los Angeles in a grounded state for any reader.
I did my graduate work on the Dodgers (…And so they played: Memory, Place and the Brooklyn Dodgers) and remember well sitting in Peter O’Malley’s third base line office talking about his dad, Walter. The Dodgers moving to L.A. was really the psychic break from “the old days” to “modernity” in this country and the idea that nothing is permanent or real.
I was very happy to hear someone with your gravitas truly interested in what that “place” is (Los Angeles). Pull up a beer when you want to talk about that! Or maybe a few beers…
Thanks!
Oh, Wil Wheaton. You’re not crying, I’m crying. A most excellent burrito. I truly enjoyed. I love history and baseball and intrigue. And especially sweet stories about my most favoritest Batman ever. Thank you for setting a lovely example of vulnerability. Have fun in DC. Hope you don’t need any monkey snuggles this time. I mean, unless you want to, that’s up to you.
Wil, check out the latest “Revisionist History” podcast by Malcolm Gladwell. Creepy the coincidence (good name for clown). LA golf course country clubs – corruption – ignoring the public good.
WIL!
Thanks for the family history! An absolutely amazing episode!
It is sooooooooo nice to hear all these wonderful stories of Adam West and how he was such a GOOD human. Thank you for sharing yours.
It’s time we all were the kind of person he was.
Rest in peace Batman.
This was the first time that I heard Dub reggae. It was good. Also with RFB it makes my commute way better!
Thanks for the great episode, I loved it.
Wil, you are my Adam West (along with Adam west!). However i know that if i ever get to meet you it will not be a disappointment or spoil anything in any way, because there is so much ‘you’ in all or your work and i feel like i know you.
Please keep being you and making more stuff for us all to enjoy.
I enjoyed my burrito 🙂
Nice job. Love the Adam West story!
So I lost my Radio Free Burrito virginity tonight, and I must say, I am impressed. No idea why I never listened before because I’ve been fanning on you for a second while. It was fun, rambly, conversational and those family story/myth/legends! I have those, too.
I was sitting here thinking about how quiet your background was, because when I try to record there is always some truck, neighbor, and like right now, a tree frog orgy bellowing in my backyard, interfering. Then Seamus barked. I was so relieved. It also occurred to me that you have a/c and the windows are closed.
Your stories were were personal and emotional, and I’ll be back for more. But right now I think I’ll do another run through on a couple poems in case the frogs take a breather.
Outstanding episode.
Loved the Adam West story and the history of Dodger’s Stadium.
Keep up the good work.
P.S. More TV Crimes please!
Another outstanding episode. Thanks for sharing with us. Especially like the Adam West story. Keep up the great work. Eagerly waiting next episode.
Thank you for both stories, Wil. Each one was wonderful in its own way.
Omg. Loving the return of RFB. Your providing an important service to the rest of us. Please don’t stop Wil. Thank you for the earnest and sincere requests for help. We all should do it without shame. You should ask is whenever you need it. I’m loving the music too.
I just wanted to say you, are amazing. I appreciate what you do sir. Thank you, … for everything
Wil, thank you for another amazing RFB. Thank you for appearing at AwesomeCon, where I saw you (from a distance, as you were wrapping up your stay on Sunday); hope the dice I gave you at the Birchmere when you toured with P&S are rolling well for you. Thanks (as others above have mentioned) for an amazing rendition of RPO (which is on my repeat playlist to the point where I often recite your lines. Thanks for being an awesome human; wish there were more like you in the world.
Thanks for the stories! Thank you for being you.
Hey,
I’m way behind on my podcasts. I caught 46 and 47 today, and I wanted to keep the reach-out-and-tell-Wil-we’re-listening rolling. I’m here, I’m interested, keep doing this.
If you need an east coast affiliate for the Burrito Radio Network, WPMG is interested.
Same as above. I’m behind and was excited to see new RFBs in my queue. It was a happy surprised. They bumped to the top of the list, and I burned through them in a few days during my commute. They make my commute suck less.
Since we’re saying what we like, I’m a fan of the music breaks. Sometimes you introduce me to songs and artists (both new and old) that I’ve never heard before, and sometimes you remind me of a song or artist that I used to like, but forgot. Thanks for that! 🙂