Podcasts by The Literate ApeCast

Literate ApeCast Ep. 314—Is True Crime Podcasting Just Voyeurism? from 2023-12-11T13:00

David reads a thing in an online magazine and has opinions. Apparently, so does Don. Anyone shocked that this podcast isn’t more popular than Serial?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 313—New Generational Labels and What Couldn’t Happen Today? from 2023-12-04T13:00

Hall decided to ‘rebrand’ the generational labels and Himmel has thoughts. Also, things that happened to them in school that could never happen today and a dive into Douglas Coupland's Generation X...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 312—The Trouble with Empathy from 2023-11-27T13:00

A deep conversation about the difference between empathy and macro-empathy goes long, plus a quote that inspires more yakking.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 311—A Very Unusual Review of Hall’s Prostitute Book from 2023-11-20T13:00

One of his prostitute ex-wife’s clients read Don’s book and put up a lengthy but positive five-star review of it on Goodreads. Once again, Don’s life is a fucking absurdist play.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 310—A Coupla Disappointed Optimists from 2023-11-13T13:00

Himmel took an EQ test and it turns out he’s an optimist so the Chimps dive in to figure out how that is possible.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 309—A Whole Bunch of Comic Nerd Stuff That Begins With ‘The Boys’ from 2023-11-06T13:00

David’s drinking and wants to geek out on Amazon’s ‘The Boys.’ Don is happy to comply with some superhero geekery.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 308—On Halloween, Candy, and Is Israel Really Homelander? from 2023-10-30T12:00

In this episode David wants to talk about Halloween but Don decides to show his complete ignorance concerning the Middle East. With visual aids (including Chuck Heston in a giant wig) David sets hi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 307—Loving Las Vegas: A Book Event in Chicago from 2023-10-23T12:00

Literate Ape Press presents Loving Las Vegas Three new books of playing against the House

Literate ApeCast Ep. 306—Live from Little Goat Diner, Chicago from 2023-10-16T12:00

Both Chimps are in Chicago! Nearly a year ago, Hall came out with a bleeding soul and broken spirit and they recorded the podcast in a diner. He’s back but far better but it seems the tables have t...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 305—A Box Full of Stuff Doesn’t Count w/ Brian Beardmore from 2023-10-09T12:00

In a really long episode, the Chimps of Literate Ape invite another one of the Beardmore Brothers to join in and discuss the things each of us consider essential keepsakes in our lives. Plus, Don f...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 304—Books That Changed Our Lives from 2023-10-02T12:00

Being a website about writing and writers, it’s about time the ApeCast covers literature. Don’t get used to it.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 303—What is Your Costume for the World? from 2023-09-25T12:00

What costumes do you wear during the week? What are you using them to project about yourself?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 302—The Need for Feminine Perspective w/ Julie Brush from 2023-09-18T12:00

The Apes bring in a guest—A WOMAN!—from Kansas to provide what she feels is a necessary perspective on the most diverse podcast in the universe.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 301—What’s the Deal with Retirement Gifts? from 2023-09-11T12:00

David has retirement on his mind; Don just likes to self gratify himself. Plus a new segment—the Quote of the Week!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 300—RIP Jimmy Buffet, the Party Jesus from 2023-09-04T12:00

It’s our fourth season and 300th episode! It’s also Labor Day, so the Chimps talk best and worst jobs they’ve had and the guy with the best job in the world, Jimmy Buffet, as he goes to the big par...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 299—Where the Brain Goes When You’re Five Years Old from 2023-08-28T12:00

The conversation starts with Harry going to kindergarten and devolves from there. Themes include age, family, a taco bar, MAGA-brain, anger management, and “We Are the World.”

Literate ApeCast Ep. 298—Unapologetic Praise for Boobs and Boners from 2023-08-21T12:00

Last week, David texted Don with the sad, hang-dog statement “Truly, I miss the days when photos of boobs have me boners.” Don loves boobs and challenges David on this statement.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 297—Having a Type is the Road to Ruination from 2023-08-14T12:00

The Chimps discuss the dangers of having a type and Don gets all emotional about the Gaurdians of the Galaxy trilogy.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 296—The Fate of Creativity, The Focus of Far Too Much Anger from 2023-08-07T12:00

Literate Ape is seven years old this month. Let’s talk about it.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 295—How to Be a Boss Bitch and Retain Your Humanity from 2023-07-31T12:00

David is reading the affirmations in his wife’s office and has some thoughts.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 294—On Therapy, the Bizarre Patriotism of Small Town America, and Salma Hayek from 2023-07-24T12:00

Himmel gets in from therapy in a pissy mood, Hall laments the strange backwards view of America from his apartment window, both find Salma Hayek in a bikini to be a supernova in their adolescent br...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 293—On Cheese Sauce, Surveys, Willie Wonka, and the Shaving Off the Pubic Hair of the 1970’s from 2023-07-17T12:00

David has a Karen moment with Portillo’s and Don sees a parallel with the new Williw Wonka movie and the nuding of the American bush.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 292—How Important Is Dick Weight, Really? from 2023-07-10T12:00

Like a conversation held by David Foster Wallace and a homeless lunatic, this thing goes off the rails in record time. Get an edible before listening to it and it might make sense.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 291—Embracing Your Roots and Madonna’s Smooth Hole from 2023-07-03T12:00

Himmel does a brief recap of his time in Israel. Hall is simply a degenerate as David exposes his deepest thoughts. You know—an ApeCast!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 290—Opposite Sides of the World from 2023-06-26T12:00

Himmel’s in the Middle East; Hall’s in the Middle West. Ah, naval gazing at it’s finest!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 289—Breaking It Down with Brandon Bruce from 2023-06-19T12:00

Himmel is out in the Middle East being Jewish so Don called up his buddy Brandon to hash out his issues.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 288—Is It Time for Some New Renegade Artists? from 2023-06-12T12:00

Hall is wondering why he hasn’t lit Kansas on fire with his artistic terrorism and the chimps yak about the ground fertility for some new artistic ‘bad boys.’

Literate ApeCast Ep. 287—The Classist Exclusionary Practices of the White Sox from 2023-06-05T12:00

Himmel goes to the ballpark to discover that poor people are no longer welcome, Hall hates Red Lobster because it gave him food poisoning, and if the MAGA crowd is going to fabricate that DeSantis ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 286—David Finally Grows Up from 2023-05-29T12:00

Himmel flipped the calendar last week and is now 47 years old. He shares with us his lessons of the past year.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 285—Can a Dead Body on Your Street Get a Chubby Dragon? from 2023-05-22T12:00

The Apes have news of a dead body in David’s neighborhood and the ungodly affect that Bernadette Peters still has on their chubby dragons is a topic of discussion. Also, apologies to Naperville.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 284—What If the Apes Were James Cole? from 2023-05-15T12:00

If you could time travel, would you go back and change anything? What would you change?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 283—Being Invisible and Doing Drugs for Fun from 2023-05-08T12:00

Is Himmel drinking beer at 7AM? Is Hall walking around Wichita unseen? How many recreational drugs have the two co-hosts done and what did they learn from the experiences? Tune in, fuck-o, and find...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 282—David Himmel, Bringer of AI Apocalypse from 2023-05-01T12:00

First: apologies about Don’s audio. He’s a beta adopter and the latest update jacked up his recording inputs. Second: Himmel was in a mood. Dark. Brooding. Like the ApeCast version of doomscrolling...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 281—Which Would You Rather: The Death Edition from 2023-04-24T12:00

On the heels of David’s family friend on the cusp of a hospice death, the apes double down on their own bad taste and challenge each other to a game of “Which Would You Rather?” with horrible ways ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 280—Has Cancelling People Been Cancelled? from 2023-04-17T12:00

David went to Florida and was confronted with a fat, bald guy who put “she/her” on the name badge and he had thoughts. This leads the hosts into a discussion of promouns as fashion and the shift fr...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 279—Guns, Democrats, and the Failure to Move the Needle from 2023-04-10T12:00

Americans LOVE guns. 400 million in a country with 330 million people. Unsurprisingly, neither of the Apes has a solution but certainly have opinions.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 278—An Italian Prison and Why Words Are Harmful (Or Are They?) from 2023-04-03T12:00

Don compares living in Kansas to an Italian prison or living inside a Walmart and then the chimps chat about whether words are violent or harmful and if bullies are an essential part of living in a...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 277—Is Love Blind and Can It See Himmel’s Tattoos? from 2023-03-27T12:00

Don has taken to watching dating shows on Netflix and screaming at the bad choices; David went to Vegas and got two—TWO—tattoos. Let the hijinks and shennanigans ensue!

Literate ApeCast 276—The Nature of Good and Evil Plus Recycling Wars With the Wife from 2023-03-20T12:00

David has a conversation with his wife about her very Evangelical approach to helping him solve problems and Don, via his dad, introduces a unique way of describing someone with “Banjo Ass” being i...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 275—David Himmel: Alpha Husband and Empathetic Father from 2023-03-13T12:00

David has a manly moment in his marriage. Don wonders how that manliness applies to his role as father.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 274—Don Gets His First 5-Star Review from 2023-03-06T13:00

Don released a book about his hateful third divorce and his ex reviews it on Goodreads. The monkeys of the ‘cast break it down. Will she review this episode? Will it get 5 stars? Is Peter Benchley’...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 273—Mass Shootings Would Stop If Officer Tim Was on the Job from 2023-02-27T13:00

The Chimps in Charge talk about their various run-ins with the law and then seque into the horrifying rise in mass shootings. It’s a funnier podcast than that sounds…

Literate ApeCast Ep. 272—Who is Armie Hammer and What the Hell? from 2023-02-20T13:00

Don decides to wind David up about an article that completely exonerates Armie Hammer from accusations by some batshit crazy women. David is unimpressed because he thinks hammer is a forgettable ta...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 271—Living Large, Ape-Style from 2023-02-13T13:00

David is in Orlando for bidness; Don just moved in to his new bachelor pad. Good times are had by all!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 270—Fifty-Seven Years and Still Standing from 2023-02-06T13:00

An annual tradition for the ApeCast is to listen to Don bloviate about the lessons he learned since his last birthday. It takes a more somber tone but the year definitely pounded a few lessons in h...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 269—How to Talk to Your Kid About the Holocaust and Other Thorny Subjects from 2023-01-30T13:00

The Chimps with Zoom Access are joined by ApeCast friend James Ford and the three discuss David’s overshare of Holocaust history with his four-year-old son. Plus a crazy Rorschach of the News and s...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 268—Is 70 the New 40 and What the Hell Does That Mean? from 2023-01-23T13:00

Don brings up an article for discussion about age and changing norms. David reveals a dark secret he’s been keeping since the ApeCast started. Also, apparently Playboy finally came out with a line ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 267—Eulogizing Lisa Marie from 2023-01-16T13:00

David has some sort of feeling about the recent death of Lisa Marie Presley so the chimps talk around their Elvis experiences as well as the sordid nature of the celebrity public relations marriage...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 266—The Debilitating Nature of Self Loathing from 2023-01-09T13:00

David is dealing with a sense of self loathing—he even wrote about it! The chimps talk around the ideas of looking at one’s life and feeling like you came up short and wallowing in blame and shame.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 265—Predicting 2023 from 2023-01-02T13:00

Jumping into 2023, the Chimps throw out some predicted headlines for the coming, predictions of the future, a Rorschach, and six things to do this week. Chock full of goodness!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 264—The Best of Christmas Past in ApeCast Terms from 2022-12-26T13:00

Due to poor planning and old men falling asleep, Don and David failed to record this week. So here’s an episode culling from past Christmas ApeCasts including some from December 2017, 2018, and an ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 263—All Books Are Vanity Projects from 2022-12-19T13:00

The question of the day is are all books written just vanity projects or something more?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 262—The Trouble with Troubling the Jews from 2022-12-12T13:00

Don is concerned with the increasingly casual anti-semetism out in the world; David doesn’t really care much. Like white women and black people, I guess.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 261—Mayonnaise and the Rosetta Stone are Simply Not a Good Comparison from 2022-12-05T13:00

Don is starting over and is now actually starting. Except his analogies leave David perplexed.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 260—David Wants a T’too of a Pansy Because Parenting is a Mental Illness from 2022-11-28T13:00

David’s recent “Post-It Notes” indicated his feeling that parenting is either form of or cause of mental illness. Given Don’s deep resevoir of pertinent experience, the Apes talk parenting, mental ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 259—More Trump, More Wakanda, More Chris Evans! from 2022-11-21T13:00

The Chimps hold court about the possibility of another Trump presidency, the marvels of Marvel’s “Wakanda Forever,” and a Rorschach that includes Chicago’s The Hideout, the NYT’s coverage of pubert...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 258—Live from Chicago! from 2022-11-14T13:00

Don comes back to Chicago for a week and discovers a few things much needed. David gave him a couch and fun. They convene at the Cornerstone Cafe for breakfast and recorded the ApeCast amongst othe...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 257—A Very Special ApeCast | The Rocky Moment from 2022-11-07T13:00

Like a Back to School or Breaking News Episode. She Who Will Not Be Named (by earnest request) wrote a love letter to her lover from the summer for The Ape. Don and David decided not to publish it ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 256—McRib Is On Its Last Leg (or Whatever Those Fake Ribs Have Instead of Bones) from 2022-10-31T12:00

Don goes on a non-date and David seems unusually invested in the outcome. Plus a good discussion of the final farwell of the McRib, Kanye West, and other tawdry crap in the world.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 255—Substitute Teacher and the Joys of Periphery from 2022-10-24T12:00

Don finds some success and failure in his part-time gig as a Wichita sub and David revels in being a peripheral character to buddies from college. Also: SPED.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 254—Playing Catch vs Headrock from 2022-10-17T12:00

Don visits his high school for the first time in four decades and the experience exposes a definitive difference between our two hosts.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 253—Checking with Post-Prostitution Divorce and Reclaiming Confidence from 2022-10-10T12:00

It’s time to check in with Don after being thrown off the cliff. Turns out David didn’t know that Jerry Orbach was the candelabra but has solid advice about getting off yer ass and regaining confid...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 252—Finding Jack Ruby and Who is the Most Dangerous Kind of Person in America? from 2022-10-03T12:00

David has taken to running in cemetaries and made an odd discovery. Don is fascinated by the idea that there is a ‘most dangerous’ kind of human. Plus a great Rorschach and some choice things to do...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 251—What is Kid Rock Trying to SAY?! from 2022-09-26T12:00

David is having a mental meltdown over the most recent Kid Rock video. Don has a theory as to why the MCU Phase 4 is a bit of a turd. The chimps dive into the paradox of being deeply suspicious of ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 250—A Healthy Diet of 80’s Action Films from 2022-09-19T12:00

Some advice for newly minted father of three John Beardmore from the least qualified source (Don). A quick discusiion of staying cool during floods and car impairment. Rorschach of the News includi...

Literate ApeCast Ep 249—Breaking Down ‘Farewell to Las Vegas’ And The Dana Situation from 2022-09-12T12:00

A long unedited conversation between David and Don about how it feels to marry a soulmate and divorce a covert sex worker seven and a half years later.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 248—Two Guys, Two Marriages, Five Kids, and a Patridge in a Pear Tree (with John Beardmore) from 2022-09-05T12:00

Don is off for the week and joining David is the always excellent John Beardmore. The two talk about the now public revelations of Don’s bizarre and absurdist divorce and wonder about their worst b...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 247—Control of Temper and Who Decides When the Price Has Been Paid? from 2022-08-29T12:00

Don is feeling that he has effectively found a certain zen in the face of inconvenience. David confronts the issue of a guy he knows who really fucked up, paid his penance, yet still is reviled in ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 246—Mourning the Stick Shift in the Age of Automation from 2022-08-22T14:00

Based on a recent article in The Atlantic mourning the loss of standard transmission, the Ape Chieftans discuss the anologue world and personal control of the tools we use that they miss. Plus a su...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 245—Dogs are Rapists and Other Pearls from 2022-08-15T14:00

David sneaks away from new baby duty to record. The chimps converse about the relics of our past that tend to be sequestered in boxes, what we keep and why we keep it, tattoos, and sort of whatever...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 244—The Personal Origins of Political Belief with Rory Zacher from 2022-08-08T14:00

David is busy tending to his youngest spawn, so Don has special ApeCast guest Rory Zacher on. The dudes talk about the lack of joy and curiosity in the world today, do a great Rorschach of the News...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 243—On Negative Energy, Dogs vs Cats, and a Brand New Literate Ape Poll from 2022-08-01T14:00

On the eve of potential birth, the Apes discuss David’s negative energy (from his pregnant wife’s perspective), the relationship strengths of cats and dogs, and Don initiates a brand new national p...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 242—Mucus Plugs, Soma, and Avoiding the Entertainment Glut Like Choosing Jelly from 2022-07-25T14:00

A quick update on the second Himmel baby itching to crawl out into the world and a long-form discussion of the availability of 200+ streaming options and over a million podcasts effectively passify...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 241—Apparently Don Is Phobic About EVERYTHING from 2022-07-18T14:00

After a bit of technical difficulty, Don & David get the goddamned podcast recorded. Discussions of Himmel’s upcoming second child, biologicall clocks, the bizarre viral video of Josh Hawley and Kh...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 240—Guns, Parenting, and Poverty from 2022-07-11T14:00

David is flirting with nihilism after the latest mass shooting. Don is more optimistic. The chimps dive in and discuss solutions to American gun violence. Also, Harry joins the ApeCast and Don reco...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 239—The Cold (un)Civil War from 2022-07-04T14:00

Happy Fourth of July! The Chimps on Microphones discuss the possibility of a Civil War as the SCOTUS rips rights away from us, the question of a better slogan than “My Body, My Choice” is asked an...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 238—Living While Being a Disappointment and Leaving Las Vegas from 2022-06-27T14:00

David’s back from France and all brought home was diarrhea! A brief recap of his trip, a discussion of being a spouse to a partner who sees little else but flaws, and Dons impending exit from Sin C...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 237—Donnie Smith Has Anger Issues, Man… from 2022-06-20T14:00

I Like to Watch Podcast co-host Donnie Smith joins Don this week because David has diarhea in Munich. Instead of movies, Donnie and Don talk about the Big Lie, the hypocrisy of Hollywood, and the r...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 236—Old White Guys Conversing (with Joe Janes) from 2022-06-13T14:00

David is in Cannes for the next two weeks so Don snagged some time with Joe and they jawed on about sci-fi TV, the January 6th Commission, and being old, white guys in America.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 235—On Vasectomies and Comic Book Movies (with Dr. Keene) from 2022-06-06T14:00

Joining the Apes is the Vegas equivalent of a machismo comic book nerd and Literate Ape contributor, our very own Dr. K. The three monkeys talk about vasectomies (which David is considering after c...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 234—Himmel at 43 from 2022-05-30T14:00

David just crossed over into 43 years and started pre-gaming before the recording. He’s a little blitzed but manages to give us a few lessons learned on his birthday.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 233—Listen to Us in Your Butthole from 2022-05-23T14:00

David is hitting his full-on midlife crisis. Don’s recently divorced. Guess who has his shit together this week?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 232—Harry Needs a New Friend from 2022-05-16T14:00

Don takes a roadtrip home to Kansas to give him some distance from recent events; David panics as Harry starts mentioning the race of his classmates. Plus a Rorschach of the News and Six Things to ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 231—What Do We Do About Roe? from 2022-05-09T14:00

Storytime with Don gives you all a wellness check on the recently divorced moron and then the two apes—appropriately as two men—weigh in on the SCOTUS decision to eliminate Roe v. Wade as the law o...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 230—The Divorce Episode (Or What Grown Man Closure Looks Like) from 2022-05-02T14:00

Out of the gate Don reveals his Big Personal Shit—he and his wife are no longer he and his wife. A Vegas wedding and seven and a half years later, a Vegas divorce. No juicy details despite David re...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 229—The Gap Isn’t Between Generations, It’s Within Them from 2022-04-25T14:00

David is recently fascinated by the often inaccurate stereotypes of Baby Boomer to Zoomer so the chimps break it down.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 228—Waffle Parties, Baby Goats, and Gemma with John Beardmore from 2022-04-18T14:00

Joining the ApeCast is longtime listener and Severance superfan, John Beardmore. Yes, we talk about the Apple+, Ben Stiller produced, dark workplace dystopia. WARNING: Spoliers abound.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 227—with Sci-Fi Author Brendan Wilson from 2022-04-11T14:00

David and Don talk with Brendan Wilson, author of The Achilles Battle Fleet: Book One: Mei-Ling Lee, recently published via Literate Ape Press and available everywhere.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 226—In Praise of Thin Skin, My Ass from 2022-04-04T14:00

What else are we gonna talk about this week? The Slap. Also, Dr. Roxanne Gay’s NYT defense of having thin skin.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 225—The Brothers Himmel Converge (Part Two) from 2022-03-28T14:00

The second half of the conversation with David’s two younger brothers (Eric and Steven).

Literate ApeCast Ep. 224—The Brothers Himmel Converge (Part One) from 2022-03-21T14:00

Per our conversation last week, David is entering into the growing Russian family mode. As he becomes overwhelmed by family, he decided that a discussion with his two younger brothers (Eric and Ste...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 223—A Wife, Two Kids, Two Dogs, and a Mortgage from 2022-03-14T14:00

David is slowly becoming Papa Walton as his family gently increases. Don is curious how Mr. Himmel is handling all of this. We also talk about Jussie Smollet and teaching kids about gender fluidity...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 222—The Kids Are Alright but Maybe Biden is Not from 2022-03-07T15:00

Don crawled, blind and barely cogent, out of his Vegas spider-hole and went to a college in Utah to teach. Turns out the college kids are not as fragile as the media paints them. David did not watc...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 221—Will Professor Bruce Be Cancelled for Doing This Podcast? from 2022-02-28T15:00

Joining Don and David is St. George College theater professor Brandon Bruce and he takes us into the dismal and scary world of collegiate academia in 2022. Elements of self censorship regarding the...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 220—What Is This Episode About Again? from 2022-02-21T15:00

A long-winded meandering of topics with no compass to guide it. Don quit his job, Katie has a stranger request to dress him to go to hospital, Rorschach of the News, and Six Things but I’ll be damn...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 219—The Flaccidity of Portland, Things That Cracked Us Up, and Pelaton is for People with Too Much Money (with Vincent Truman) from 2022-02-14T15:00

David and Don are joined by guest Vincent Truman and the three catch up with Vince’s prognosis on Portland, OR, shameless self promotion of a film he and David made before they could drink legally,...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 218—The Book of Boba, The Commodification of Wordle, and the Rorschach of the News from 2022-02-07T15:00

David completely spoils the sixth episode of The Book of Boba Fett as the guys talk about his assertion that the series is all about religious dogma. David revisits his Literate Ape article bemoani...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 217—Can Artists Help with the Mental Health Issues of the Broken? (with Heather Bodie) from 2022-01-31T15:00

Erasing the Distance

Literate ApeCast Ep. 216—Peter Parker and Lee Harvey from 2022-01-24T15:00

David finally saw Spiderman: No Way Homeand so he and Don can do a spoiler-laden discussion of the film. Don saw the latest Oliver Stone salvo regarding the JFK assassination and, knowing David is ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 215—Bloodsport and Bullshit from 2022-01-17T15:00

Don asks the question “What are you gonna do when the GOP wins the midterms?” and the two hosts go on an audio journey that encompasses an interview David had with Rudy Giuliani, an inarticulate qu...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 214—Himmel’s COVID, One Year Since Insurrection, and Is “Don’t Look Up” Worth Your Time? from 2022-01-10T15:00

The Apes ring in January 2022 with the tale of David’s battle with Omicron, some discussion about the anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and two very different perspectives on A...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 213—Tools Are My Friends (with Dana Jerman and Lawrence Volbrecht) from 2022-01-03T15:00

ApeCast producer Dana Jerman does a Kansas follow-up from her interview with her mother-in-law last year by sitting in the garage with with her father-in-law, Lawrence Volbrecht, and letting the to...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 212—The Headlines Predicting 2022 from 2021-12-27T15:00

In the pursuit of predicting both personal and societal future, the chimps discover that David’s In-Laws think he’s basically Jerry Seinfeld, that Don has no Jew Radar, David’s barber is a benign r...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 211—What Does the Second American Civil War Look Like and Will Jussie Smollett Be the Spark That Starts It? from 2021-12-20T15:00

David and Don walk through the possibilities of a second American Civil War. Has it already started? Will people die en masse? And what about Jussie?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 210—The Horrors of Holidays (with Rory Zacher) from 2021-12-13T15:00

Joining the monkeys with microphones is none other than Rory Zacher. The three talk about mullets, tattoos, and the worst holidays the can recall.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 209—Write with a Broadsword or a Rapier (with MT Cozzola) from 2021-12-06T15:00

In a rare moment, the Chimps have a female guest and talk about writing instead of Marvel movies! The Chicago playwright MT Cozzola joins and the three discuss why writers write, how thety write, a...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 208—What the Hell is JewFace? from 2021-11-22T15:00

Spurned on by Will Ferrell (not a Jew) playing an extremely Jewish character in his latest tv show, the boys discuss the phenomenon Don dubs “JewFace” as well as a dive into what heroism is and wha...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 207—Deltatoid? from 2021-11-15T15:00

David and Don show their shocking ignorance of body part knowledge, check out an NPR headline that accuses Chappelle of ‘white privilege,’ and discuss David’s newest tattoo. Avoiding the news of th...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 206—On Being an Asshole, Leaving Faceborg, and the Incompetence of Democrats from 2021-11-08T15:00

Don has become one of those “Steps” people to David’s dismay. Also, Don is an asshole and will endeavor to keep his opining to himself in conversations (don’t hold your breathe). Apparently, David ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 205—Is Comedy Harder Than Before (with Erik Lewin) from 2021-11-01T14:00

Joining the Chimps is Erik Lewin (local Vegas stand-up comic, author, and generally likeable guy) as they dive into the question of comedy in the 21st Century. Could Blazing Saddles be made today? ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 204—The Hatred of the MCU (with Don Smith) Part Two from 2021-10-25T14:06

In Part Two of Don Smith joining in, we talk about his distatse for the bombast of the MCU.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 203—Modern Horror (with Don Smith) Part One from 2021-10-18T14:01

Joining the Apes in this episode is Don Smith (check out his IMDB for more) and we talk about two specific topics in celebration of October: what makes a horror movie a horror movie and what horror...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 202—Purging Distraction for the Good of Society from 2021-10-11T14:00

The Apes pulled the trigger on their Faceborg page. Don pulled the trigger on his own (again). Will David? Why doesn’t he?

Literate ApeCast Ep. 201—What’s with All the Horror Movies and How Does One Say “Rob Lowe”? (With James Ford) from 2021-10-04T14:02

For the first episode of Season 3, the boys invite returning Ape James Ford to join them as they discuss the new rash of horror films and the horror movies that scarred them as kids. Also, a new pr...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 200—The Best Moments of Four Years of Weekly Podcasts from 2021-09-27T14:00

The Chimps in Charge celebrate their 200th episode by going back and picking some of their favorite moments in recording what could be seen as an inconsequential weekly conversation but, instead, b...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 199—Leaping Off a Cliff with Frank Leyden from 2021-09-20T14:00

David and Don are joined by Frank Leyden. Frank is leaving Chicago for L.A. and gave the three an opportunity to catch up and discuss what it takes to up-end your life and move to a brand new one.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 198—More Horrible Parenting Advice from Don Regarding the Toys of the Eighties from 2021-09-13T14:00

A triple anniversary. A run-in with an old Hot Wheel car with the Confederate flag painted on top from David’s childhood discovered by his son. And Don deciding, in his childless existence, that he...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 197—Leaning Into Afghanistan with Lester Wang from 2021-09-06T14:00

Joining the Gentlemen Apes is David’s brother-in-law and Army vet Lester Wang. He’s actually been to Afghanistan and gives us some insight on what it’s like to be in the army as well as his thought...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 196—Where We Actually Discuss Writing from 2021-08-30T14:00

Literate Ape is, after all, a place where writers write and readers read. This is one of those rare episodes when the boys discuss that very subject. Yes, it’s insider baseball all the way.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 195—Is the World Going Completely to Hell or Is It Just the News? from 2021-08-23T14:00

The Chimps skate across the putrid pond of cynicism and optimism with regard to the state of the world versus how we are trained to perceive it. Also, can Don use the term ‘Paddy Wagon’ because he’...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 194—Preparing Harry for the Impending Climate Apocalypse from 2021-08-16T14:00

Don is resigned to being long dead before things really get apocalyptic climate-wise so he sets his sights on David’s parental task of preparing Harry to live through the coming disaster. Where do ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 193—Is David a BOBO and Does His Self Awareness Lessen the Doucheyness? from 2021-08-09T14:00

What does it mean when a modern white guy is discriminated against for being a modern white guy? What does David Brooks mean when he writes about the BOBOs and is David just a very self aware versi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 192—Defining an Olympic Flake, Brad Pitt, and Magnetic Vaccines from 2021-08-02T14:00

This one is a mess. Did Simone Biles flake or just courageously protect her mental well being? Some stuff about Brad Pitt and ScarJo. Then a whole bunch of horseshit about the unvaccinated in Ameri...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 191—Is Jeff Bezos a Dick or Is It Just His Rocket Ship? from 2021-07-26T14:00

David wants Bezos to spend money on society instead of a Phallus-shaped rocket ship. Don wonders why, if David is so adamant, he continues to use Amazon instead of going to a brick-and-mortar. Then...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 190—Movie Nerds Holding Court and Spoiling ‘Loki’ from 2021-07-19T14:00

The Nerds talk seeing Black Widow in an actual movie theater, whether theaters will ever be more than boutique again, and spoil the shit out of Marvel’s Loki.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 189—Richard Donner is a Director for All Seasons But First, Let’s Twist Rumsfeld’s Dick from 2021-07-12T14:00

Would David really twist a dying Donald Rumsfeld’s dick and is justice served when those who get away with it suffer? How about that creepy fucking bathroom on the 2nd floor of Piper’s Alley in Chi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 188—Don’s Mom Was Awesome but Bill Cosby Is Not from 2021-07-05T14:00

David is still getting lost in his new neighborhood, loved the last episode that featured Don’s mother, and has a few things to say about Bill Cosby.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 187—The Old Lady Talk Show Express from 2021-06-28T14:03

David’s moving this weekend. Don is in Kansas visiting family so he turned the ApeCast over to his wife (producer Dana) and his mother to have a conversation about memory, dreams, marrying your par...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 186—Your Dead Mom is a Broken iPad from 2021-06-21T14:00

David feels he is surrounded by death lately so the Chimps talk death, the classist perspective on living rooms, and whether or not your mother’s death will occur to David when he stops to wash his...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 185—David and Don Get Lost from 2021-06-14T14:00

David just bought a house but can’t find his way around his neighborhood. Don has a legacy of having the world’s worst sense of direction. They also talk about David getting lost in the nostalgia o...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 184—The Consequences of Drunk Podcasting and Re-entering the World with a Billion Feral Monkeys from 2021-06-07T14:06

Last week’s episode was a drunk one for David and he begged Don to delete it. Why? What did he say that was so horrifying? Couched in a discussion of a dildo for your balls and the awful reality of...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 183—The One About Drunken David And Turning 42 from 2021-05-31T14:00

Immediately following David’s first work Happy Hour and his subsequent ousting from the bar, Don prompts the alcoholic ape to talk about the things he learned in his 42nd year.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 182—Do GenZ Serial Killers Also Suffer from ‘Burnout’? from 2021-05-24T14:00

Does GenZ burnout affect serial killers? Is the push to return to the office a bunch of post-COVID bullshit? Was the ApeCast better when it was Don and David in his apartment or since they record r...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 181—Maskless Vegas, Chumming Social Media for Reward, and the Right to Self Expression at Work from 2021-05-17T15:28

The boys discuss the new maskless world, why David has issue with people on Faceborg writing long-form posts, and then get into disagreement about whether workers have a right to self expression wh...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 180—A True Friend Can Cross the Line of Taste and Still Be a Friend from 2021-05-10T14:00

David both looks surprisingly like Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle” as well as wrote a speech for President Joe Biden. No one most of the planet gives two shits about the Moth Radio Hour. Don gi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 179—How Black is Captain America and Don Doles Out Unsolicited Couples and Parenting Advice from 2021-05-03T14:05

WARNING: Spoilers for MCU’s “Falcon and The Winter Soldier” as the chimps on microphones parse out the new Captain America. Then David opens up about a true rift in his marriage and his screaming c...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 178—What Do the White Chimps Think of the Chauvin Verdict and What Does It Mean for the Future? from 2021-04-26T14:00

The Chauvin guilty verdict is an absolute win in our days but what does it mean for the future of police reform? David reveals that one of his favorite storytellers in none other than Chicago’s Nes...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 177—Are We Entering Into a Second Roaring Twenties? from 2021-04-19T14:00

Don and David explore the possibility that history is ever repetitive and may result in a second “Roaring Twenties” scenario. They also cover the existence of OnlyFans and the awful wonder of a Cru...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 176—Living with a Wild Animal While Trying to Have a Goddamned Conversation from 2021-04-12T14:00

Amidst an urbane and surprisingly adult conversation about the social responsibility of the church-goers, gun rights for the Evangelicals, and our decades-long descent into toxic individualism, thr...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 175—Tough Love Parenting and What Price Self-Care? from 2021-04-05T14:00

It’s perhaps a very good thing that Don has never spawned offspring and is not in charge of the “self-care” industry in any way. David tries to guide this self-professed “guy from the eighties” in ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 174—An Apology, A Defense, and A Reckoning from 2021-03-29T14:00

Turns out Don is the corner of the table you bump your funny bone on (according to David) in a bit of a therapy turnaround with the Chimps psychoanalyzing the guy “from the eighties.” David moves o...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 173—Woody Allen: Predator or Prey? from 2021-03-22T14:29

David believes Woody Allen is a child molester; Don does not. This one gets ugly.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 172—Harry Turns Three During Pandemic and POLITICO Confirms the Centrism of Most Americans from 2021-03-15T17:39

David and Katie throw Harry his third birthday and then, mid-episode, have to deal with life in a cell with a three-year old. D&D reminisce about birthdays they can barely remember then dive in to ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 171—Cancel This, Dr. Seuss! from 2021-03-09T20:00

In a discussion about the (not) cancelling of six Dr. Seuss books and the cancel culture that may (or may not) exist in the world, Don antagonizes David as the gadfly in his soup.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 170—David Is Losing Interest in Life and Politics and Has Become a Drooling Idiot from 2021-03-01T15:00

Apparently, working from home with no place to go in Chicago is finally getting to Himmel as he can’t seem to understand basic conversation. In the stranger or already strange conversations, Don fi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 169—How Twitter Beat Up on David and Why He Also Hates the Chicago Storytelling Community from 2021-02-22T15:35

Himmel stepped into a pile of his own digital crap this week and, apparently, the Chicago Storytelling Community is up to its old gossipy, bitchy tricks. Don calls Alvin Las a Class A Cunt and Davi...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 168—Does David’s Culture Allow Him to Wear a Raccoon Coat and Can the Mandalorian Possibly Go On Without Gina? from 2021-02-15T15:00

In a rare occurrence, Don records a bit drunk and it just gets worse as the podcast continues. Somehow David manages to engage in a conversation about culture, David’s bizarre coat, and a discussio...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 167—Don is Effing Old and Harry Is What They Call a Threenager…What?! from 2021-02-08T15:02

Turns out that Don is just one year younger than Abraham Lincoln was when he was shot and that David is getting older by the day because his child is almost three and living in a pandemic.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 166—A Full Episode on Cobra Kai (with Special Guest Rory Zacher) from 2021-02-01T18:46

The boys welcome return guest Rory Zacher to talk the 80s nostalgia porn that s Netflix “Cobra Kai” and our mutual love for it. Plus two bonus stories about Corey Feldman.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 165—The Pains of Parenthood and the Challenges of the Writer’s Life from 2021-01-25T15:29

David takes parenting advice from the least qualified source in history and then the boys settle in on the ups and downs of being a writer for a living. Also WARNING: Complete spoiler alert for the...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 164—Impeaching Trump a Second Time and WTF Was Last Week Again? from 2021-01-11T18:38

Last week’s events have thrown the boys off. Reactions to the breach of the Capitol, a bizarre truncated BUGHOUSE! Debate about whether Congress should impeach the Donald again and if there’s any p...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 163—Ten Predictions for 2021 from 2021-01-04T15:15

The Apes have ten predictions for the coming (happy or relieved) new year. Do you agree with them? Are they completely cracked? Welcome to 2021 (which sounds like 2020 Won)!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 162—Farewell to 2020 and Will 2021 Be Any Better? from 2020-12-28T15:24

Harry wants to watch the iPad but the battery is dead. His two-year old existential angst is a metaphor for 2020 and the Chimps in Charge break down their hopes for the coming year.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 161—Talking to the Crazy Conspiracy Theorist Without Dropping Your Jaw from 2020-12-21T15:14

After a group text when a trusted intellectual lowers the conspiracy-boom on both the Apes, the boys chat about how to square the circle and not simply shun their friend. Also, Don is leaving his w...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 160—Where Does “Rogue One” Fall in the Star Wars Canon (with Special Guest James Ford) from 2020-12-14T17:28

Don and David welcome special guest James “Jed” Ford and we break down where the film “Rogue One” fits in our collective perspectives on the Star Wars universe. Also, David drank a bunch so there w...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 159—Whx Xsn’t Dxvxd Wrxtxng Mxre? from 2020-12-07T15:44

David has hit what we call a “writer’s Block” and the two Apes do nothing whatsoever to help him. That and some deviations into the similarities of the Extreme Left and Right, whether Dan Brown is ...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 158—A Host of Unsavory Topics Followed the Philosophy of Evil from 2020-11-23T13:30

Would David rather have his son blow a load in face or sneeze in it? Can David tell an appropriately funny Parkinson’s Disease joke? What exactly is the Sack Pack? What is truly the root of evil if...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 157—Han Solo, Professor X, or Samwise Gamgee? (with Guest Rory Zacher) from 2020-11-16T16:00

A stoned Rory Zacher joins a slightly drunk Don and a stressed out David to discuss Trump’s refusal to concede, fictional characters they aspire to be like, and David’s horrible taste in music (sur...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 156—Where Were You When We Got Rid of Trump? from 2020-11-09T13:58

Both happy liberals, Don and David muse where they were when they heard Biden had been anointed, a brief interlude as Harry imitates a losing Trump, and our assessment of why the Left needs to do s...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 155—Should We Be More Enraged and Scared Than Don? (With Guest Peter Kremidas) from 2020-11-02T14:30

Literate Ape contributor Peter Kremidas joins the Apes to discuss why Don should be more enraged and scared in the wake of the 2020 shitshow and the potential for a second Trump term. It’s a good one!

Literate ApeCast Ep. 154—What Happens If Trump Wins This Fucking Thing? from 2020-10-26T14:00

Don poses the question. David deflects. Don poses it again. David wants to talk about Rachel Maddow. Don keeps asking. The answers are as muddy and scattered as the 2020 debates.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 153—On Harry’s Nightmares, the Pronunciation of Macklemore, and Is Don Henley the Ira Glass of Rock? from 2020-10-19T16:55

https://www.nevadahumanities.org/events/2020/10/22/las-vegas-writes-book-launch-and-conversation-with-the-authors

Literate ApeCast Ep. 152—Twenty-Four Freaking Things (Greatest Hits Edition) from 2020-10-12T15:00

David is previously engaged so get all quarantined and settle in to twenty-four things to do while you wait for Trump to stop having supper spreader events across the nation.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 151—How Donald Trump is a Cyst on Our National Balls and Are We Currently in a Civil War? from 2020-10-05T15:00

D&D start off congenial enough — a moment with David’s kid, some brief discussion of the presidential debate. Then the pleasantries are discarded as they battle it out on the question: Are We Curre...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 150—Optimism Sounds Like a Retinal Disease from 2020-09-28T15:00

In a world so completely falling apart, how does one maintain even a semblance of optimism? DH (squared) get into the weeds on this one and still manage to demonstrate an almost pathological ignora...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 149—On Wedding Anniversaries and Why A Common Language is the Key to a Quality Tattoo from 2020-09-21T15:00

After a week off to celebrate their respective anniversaries, the gentlemen chimps wax on about Don’s eleventh tattoo experience and David keeps drinking and talking. And drinking. And talking.

Literate ApeCast Ep. 148—What Was That Actor’s Name Again, the One Who Died? from 2020-09-07T15:00

The topics today revolve around Don’s curiosity at what David actually does as a “Creative Director” and the fact that neither of them are finding voice for their personal writing in the midst of w...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 147—How to Reverse the Pro-Police Indoctrination of David’s Toddler Son from 2020-08-31T15:00

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2019/07/31/you-re-gonna-kill-me-dallas-police-body-cam-footage-reveals-the-final-minutes-of-tony-timpa-s-life/

Literate ApeCast Ep. 146—The DNC as Televised Wrestling and Jim Crow Fan Fiction from 2020-08-24T15:00

We see things through the lens we choose. Poop is a Flower. Moldy jam is white supremacy. The DNC was WWE. A deck of cards is a tiny pistol. “Lovecraft Country” is Jim Crow Fan Fiction....

Literate ApeCast Ep. 145—How Can One Truly Appreciate Looting Without Social Media? from 2020-08-17T15:00

Its an early morning recording and the Apes wander through the Catch-22 of abandoning social media and David’s non-plussed take on Chicago’s BLM Reparations via Macys night. Also, Himme...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 144—The Apes Have a Class War! from 2020-08-10T15:00

Starting with the question “Is bigger better, is more the goal?” the Apes get into some deep dive into their own financial situations both in growing up and currently. The idea that everyone’s vers...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 143—The Whole Rigamoro, the Indestructible Nature of an Idiot, and the Nostalgia Porn of Perry Mason from 2020-08-03T15:00

A bit of pandemic nonsense both in the casino and the world. David had to get some healthcare because of a dent in his head and his visit included an angry immigrant and a wonderful nau...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 142—A Jew Walks Into a Bar and Psychoanalyzes an Irish Adjacent Blowhard from 2020-07-27T15:00

As a follow-up to episode 138 when Don quizzed David, this episode is David’s attempt to “dig into Don’s soul” and do his level best to put him on the therapy couch. With talk about his...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 141—According to the National Museum of African American History&Culture, How Stereotypically White Are the Apes? from 2020-07-20T15:00

National Museum of African American History & Culture put out a graphic this week defining Aspects & Assumptions of Whiteness & White Culture in the United States. The Gentl...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 140—The Razor’s Edge of Cancel Culture and the Mediocrity of “Hamilton” from 2020-07-13T15:00

The Letter

https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

Falling Down

https://g.co/kgs/uqZXiL Listen

Literate ApeCast Ep. 139—Liberals Not Calling the Cops Anymore, Facebook Losing Cash, and Carl Reiner from 2020-07-06T15:00

A liberal enclave in Minneapolis decides to stop calling the police and their neighborhood is overrun by homeless, drug addicts, and criminals. Major corporations are boycotting Zuckerb...

Literate ApeCast Ep. 138—20 Questions with David Himmel, the Heart of His Darkness from 2020-06-29T15:00

Today’s episode has Don quizzing David in the spirit of James Lipton. We find out how he feels about diversity training, which Friends character he identifies with, why the movie Co...