Click here to download and listen.

This is a unique Thoughts episode indeed. And recorded in a timely manner.

We start tonight with a drink recipe: the Doc Saunders. Here’s how you make it:

• 4 parts Coke (or whatever cola you have on hand)
• 2 mint Mentos (can substitute with some mint flavoring)
• a few dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 part Johnnie Walker Red Label whiskey
• 1 part rum (we’re using Bacardi Gold)
• a little water

Now to the serious part: we remember three persons who had a tremendous influence on our host, and who continue to watch over this podcast today. They are:

• Cheryl J. Czerniewski, Mike’s mother (we are recording this on the 10th anniversary of her death)
• Ryland Lundy, one of the many co-hosts of the Winning Side Coaches podcast and President of the Kansas City Young Democrats
• David Berry, filmmaker and musician who worked with Mike and a few of our previous guests

We miss and love you all, and thank you for looking over this podcast.

Further, we don’t want to get into trouble with the copyright gods, so here is something we wanted to include in today’s episode: David’s song “Kalifornia.”

Music

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Background music: “Secret of Tiki Island” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “In Awareness” by Andy G. Cohen

This is what happens when you play a 6 hour board game – and commit it to a podcast.

The game in question: Twilight Imperium (4th edition)

Twilight Imperium is what is called a space-based 4X game (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) where all of the players are looking to control the central planet Mecatol Rex – and score points by completing different objectives. The game is for 3-6 players and can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours to complete, so you will need to plan an entire day around it.

In this three-part playthrough, there are five players:

• Mike (our intrepid host) – Federation of Sol (the humans)
• Matthew – Mentak Coalition (space pirates)
• Clinton – Emirates of Hacan (humanoid cats who are masters at trade)
• John (the owner of this copy) – Barony of Letnev (vampire-like military industrialists)
• Jonathan (manager at the Game Cafe, where this game was played) – Naalu Collective (telepathic snake women)

Part 1: Click here (releases with this post)

Part 2: Click here (releases February 5)

Part 3: Click here (releases February 19)

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “Badlands” by Silicon Transmitter
• Transition music: “Morocco Sting” by Kevin MacLeod

Click here to listen and download.

What better game to play during a pandemic than Matt Leacock’s Pandemic?

That’s exactly what we’re doing on today’s episode.

While Mike does own the board game – as well as Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (completed a campaign in 22 games) – today’s playthrough is being played on the iPad app.

Music:

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Transition music: “No Frills Salsa – Alternate” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “Hitman” by Kevin MacLeod

Click here to download and listen.

In summer 2015, Mike was asked (for free, it should be pointed out) to do some video work for the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus. The event in question included a keynote speech from former Texas State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis.

This is indeed an example of Mike meeting a well-known person of influence.

On today’s edition of the podcast, we are recycling the audio from that speech.

Music:

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “Hometown Streetlife (ID 397)” by Lobo Loco

Click here to download and listen.

Remember when we had Tim Crippen on the podcast for the first season?

We talked about the only interview we did for the Winning Side Coaches podcast, with Jim Chappell, who owned Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum in North Kansas City, MO.

Today, we are recycling that episode of the old podcast because why not?

Music:

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “Playing to Win” courtesy of FreeStockMusic.com (which sadly seems to be defunct)

Click here to listen and download.

Today’s guest on the podcast is Lauren Lindsay, who shares a couple of things with our host (that can be discussed publicly, of course):

1. Both are creatives. In fact, that’s how they first met.
2. Both have Asperger’s.

Today’s episode is largely on the subject of Asperger’s, the autism spectrum, and its effect on those who suffer from it.

Music:

• Intro music: “Fantasia Fantasia” by Kevin MacLeod
• Outro music: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod
• Transition music: “Morocco Sting” by Kevin MacLeod