We Gorillamen have collected 308 episodes of this show.

So it seemed fitting that we talk about collections…specifically…

• When did you first notice someone collecting something?
• What was the first thing you collected?
• Why do we as humans like to collect things?
• What’s the coolest collectible you’ve seen?
• What’s the coolest collection?
• The weirdest?
• Do you collect anything now?
• If you could have a world-class collection of anything, what would it be?
• What’s the worst gift you’ve gotten because someone thought you collected something?
• Is collecting just another sneaky form of capitalism?
• What’s the future of collections/collecting?

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Hello, and welcome to the Men in Gorilla Suits community. Membership has its privileges: no message forums, membership cards, or expectations other than, “We’re not the bosses of you…do whatever you want!”

But there are podcasts, organizations, and so many other things around which communities are built. In fact, that’s the topic of this episode.

Some of what we talk about:

• What is your first memory of community?
• How important is a sense of community to a person’s development?
• What are some communities you have been a part of…or currently still take part in?
• The online world makes it possible for anyone to try establishing communities. What are some online communities that have impressed you…and why?
• What are some examples of online communities having a negative effect on society?
• Have you ever established or managed a community?
• Do you feel we have a community based around this show…and what is your opinion of it?
• Do you ever feel like we should do more to create a sense of community based around Men in Gorilla Suits?
• What’s the weirdest community you know of?
• Is there any community you’re not a part of that you’d like to join? Why?
• What do you think about people very into something who are not part of any community for that thing?
• What is the future for communities?

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Does this podcast really exist? Do you really exist?

Does anything actually exist? (Other than the simulation in which we are all trapped.)

This time around, we get all deep and talk about our very existence…specifically:

• When was the first time you realized that you, as a person, actually exist?
• When was the first time you worried you might not exist?
• Is it possible that none of us exist?
• How often do you ponder your existence? The meaning behind it?
• Do you think people ponder the meaning of their existence enough?
• What do you do to find purpose?
• Why are we here?
• Does how we came into existence matter? (Religious idea vs scientific, etc.)
• What is, in your opinion, the meaning of life?
• What is the end of existence?

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We got through this entire episode without making an instrument = penis joke.

Apparently, after 300 episodes, we have become complacent. For that, the Gorillamen apologize.

So…this week we talk about hard wood(en) instruments and playing flutes. (But not skin flutes…another opportunity squandered…) It’s all about musical instruments.

Specifically, here’s what we discuss:

• What’s your first memory of someone playing a musical instrument?
• Do you play any instruments? (What…and how long have you played?)
• Did you ever take any kind of musical training?
• How do you teach yourself new musical skills?
• Have you ever played live music for an audience?
• Who is the best musician you personally know (and what do they play)?
• If you could snap your fingers and play any instrument very well, what would you choose?
• Is there an instrument you feel you’ll never play that you still think is very cool? What is it? (And why?)
• Do you believe playing a musical instrument benefits the person playing? If so, how?
• How has social media and YouTube changed the way people play music?
• Would you ever want to build an instrument from scratch?
• If sci-fi has taught us nothing else, it’s that musical instruments will evolve. So…What is the future of musical instruments?

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Gorilla Christopher almost totally forgot to load this! Sad thing: he got a jump on the episode, but didn’t get to this part on Wednesday.

Were he to justify things, he’d say, “Well, technically, our release date is Friday…Wednesdays just happened along the way…” Or he could have said something about a busy work-week or that things got lost in the excitement of an approaching long weekend in the U.S.

But nah, he just totally forgot!

Still…this time around, it’s all about how people justify things…specifically:

• When’s the first time you heard someone try to justify something?
• Do you feel the need to justify your actions/decisions much these days?
• What’s the worst thing you’ve ever had to justify?
• What are the little things we all justify every day?
• How do people justify the actions taken by our government lately? The racism, the violence against our own people, the fascism?
• Is use of force ever justified for private citizens?
• How about for law enforcement?
• What’s the most unjust thing you’ve ever done?
• The most just?
• What’s the future of justification?

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“Remember the time that I spilled the cup / Of apple juice in the hall / Please tell mom this is not her fault…”

Blink-182 – “Adam’s Song”

This time around, we’re talking about shame…

Specifically, this:

• When did you first become aware of shame?
• Do you find shame a problematic thing?
• What’s the most shame you’ve ever felt?
• What is something society (or even a large group of people) seem ashamed of that doesn’t bother you at all?
• Have you ever shamed others?
• Do you think shame is used to control people?
• How damaging do you think shame is for those on the receiving end?
• We’ve all heard the saying, “Have you no shame?” Why do you think some people fixate on shame?
• Do you think shame can ever play a good role in society?
• What role does shame play in politics?
• Do you think we’ll ever move beyond body shaming people?
• What’s the future of shame?

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You wouldn’t know it by looking at us, but we have always been popular. The smartest and fittest — Homecoming Kings…all-state quarterbacks.

As adults, we’ve turned down film roles, eschewed playing in popular bands…even refusing roles as heads of state.

Instead, we Gorillamen have chosen to channel all our popularity into a podcast that gets 250-500 listens a month! (Top those numbers, This American Life!!!)

Okay, so this week, two unpopular geeks talk about popular things. Specifically, this:

• When was the first time you heard of a person or thing being popular?
• When you were a kid, were you concerned with popularity?
• Was your school/schools when you were young popularity contests?
• As a (supposed) adult, are you concerned with popularity at all?
• What’s the most popular thing you’ve done?
• What are some popular things you like?
• What are some popular things you hate?
• Are presidential elections just popularity contests?
• What’s the future of popularity? 

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Do as we say…not as we do…

(The Gorillamen know best…)

You will listen to this episode and like it because we made it and we are in control…

Okay, so you probably know by now that we are two of the least controlling people on the planet. But it’s a good topic worthy of discussion, so…our gift to you (and what we discuss):

• When did you first become aware of the concept of control?
• Were you raised in a controlling household?
• Are you a controlling person?
• What is your opinion of controlling people?
• Any interesting stories about dealing with a controlling person?
• Why do you think some people are controlling?
• How do you deal with controlling people?
• How controlling do you think most U.S. workplaces are?
• What role does control play in politics?
• Do you think any good comes out of being controlling or having control? (On an individual or even societal level.)
• What are the downsides of trying to have or maintain control?
• What is the future of control?

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Tick…Tock…the clock never stops.

You pull your back toweling off after a shower.

Sooooooooo many responsibilities!

Youth is in the rear view mirror; being officially “old” shines in the headlights.

But it’s not all that bad; in fact, it’s pretty fuckin’ awesome!

Welcome to middle age!

In this — the 300th episode of Men in Gorilla Suits — we discuss:

• Who was the first person you ever heard described as “middle aged?”
• When do you believe you reached middle age?
• When did you first *feel* middle aged?
• What’s the worst thing about being middle aged?
• What’s the best thing about being middle aged?
• What was the worst birthday for you (as far as feeling like you we’re getting older)?
• Do you think there’s a certain invisibility to young people once you reach a certain age?
• When you were a kid, what age did you consider “old?”
• How about now?
• What sort of “middle aged” problems have you encountered?
• Which “middle aged” tropes turned out to be bullshit?
• What’s the perception of middle-aged people now versus when you were a kid?
• What’s the future of being middle aged?

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BOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ha! Surprised you, eh?

Nah?

Well, then listen to the Gorillamen talk about these things this time around:

• What is the first surprising thing you remember?
• What last surprised you?
• Do you startle easily?
• What are your thoughts about the horror movie jump scare?
• To that point, what role does surprise play in entertainment? (Stories, music, etc.)
• Your favorite surprise?
• Your worst surprise?
• What is the best surprise you ever pulled off?
• What do you think about surprise parties?
• What do you think about online reaction or prank videos?
• Were you surprised when Trump won in 2016?
• What do you think will be the next big surprise that affects much of the world in some way?

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If you’ve listened to the show, you know we believe Black lives matter. You know we believe in underdogs. You know we’re the kinds of people the assholes will brand wicked socialists.

And we’re good with that.

We’ve had our goofy moments over the years, but always strive to listen, learn, and be better.

So yeah…this week, we’re talking about politics and protests…

This is what we talk about:

• Do you consider yourself a political person?
• Have you ever been to a protest?
• Do you think protests work?
• Would you go to a protest now?
• What other political actions have you taken?
• Have you ever worked on a political campaign?
• Do you think there is a political solution to the current crises in America and the world?
• Do you think riots are effective political action?
• What’s your opinion of the current protests/riots?
• What’s the future of political action?

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