Shed Dogs. A podcast wherein we discuss things that matter to three old guys who should have better things to do. Featuring Kevin J McNulty, Patrick J Lilburn, and Richard J Tench. It's like watching the ocean from the shore.
For most episodes theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, with permission. For other episodes theme music is by Voodoo Jazz, with permission.
It’s pouring out but warm and dry in the shed. In true Dog fashion and in no rush to be let outside, we review Listener Mail, Tales From the Shuttle, and what was up with those crazy pics of KJ seen on Facebook last August. We also take some time to recall playing guns as kids—remarkably similar experiences for all three of us in two different countries. And whatever did happen to Life Savers, anyway? We get our kicks… in episode 66!
Read MoreThe Dogs are happy to welcome special guests and longtime listeners Leigh of Courtney and Moira of Steveston into the Shed for an informative and sunny 65th episode, in which we discover what we never knew about pickleball and eating cereal. Moira and RJ compare notes on architecture tours they’ve been on in Vancouver, and while KJ continues his beach vacation at Christina Lake, the four of us in the Shed puzzle over PJ’s pole dancing skills and fondly remember Johnny LaRue’s unmet crane shot dreams.
Read MoreWhile KJ takes a well-deserved vacation at Christina Lake, RJ & PJ welcome very special guest Hayley from North Van into the Shed for a fascinating inside look at the culture and happenings at the Shambhala Music Festival held at Salmo River Ranch in August every year. All the wooks out there can relive the experience, while the non-Shambhalized will find this an eye opener!
Read MoreHow to make a PBJ, The Barber of London, big government projects, and the strange pleasure of seeing that old-school scams involving actual letters (you know, with paper and stamps and envelopes) are still being run, maybe by some kind of steam-punk gang. As if all that wasn’t enough, there are also entertainment reviews and recommendations galore. This episode is clearly time well wasted, to steal a phrase.
Read MoreWe can’t say how we got here, but in Episode 62 we find ourselves discussing the nighttime bathroom habits of high altitude mountain trekkers, and, well...people our age. We knew we were going to hear about KJ’s trip to London and RJ’s Lillooet adventure, and Listener Mail was no surprise either...but commodes?! There’s some alternate fuel vehicle talk, and a poll question on lake swimming, and even a backgrounder on theme music...but we didn’t see commodes coming. Maybe you can figure it out - have a listen and let us know!
Read MoreWhile RJ visits a country club, PJ attends the McCartney concert, which of course leads to Carpool Karaoke, before enjoying Listener Mail and appliances that play music when they’re done. We shed (heh) a little light on things that freak real dogs out and again get lost in handyman talk. Fortunately we recover in time to consider our careers, including RJ’s new job as a personal assistant, and complain about our taxes. This is real Dog talk - enjoy.
Read MoreOur 60th episode is as true to form as the first: we go from worrying about whether we’re tainting your good name at the border, to the World’s Toughest Milkman, to tender moments in the Shuttle. RJ then dogsplains how to save big bucks on your telecom bill, PJ marvels at a really tough Samsung phone, and KJ frets about long flights. We wish a couple of daughters a happy birthday. Specifically, we shout them out. We’re everywhere and enjoying evey stop on this tip-laden podcast shuttle. Come along for the ride, but bring your own Kleenex!
Read MoreAs the waves crash endlessly onto the shore, the Dogs prattle on about a spectrum of interests and observations, criticisms and plaudits, tenderness and scorn. Reality doesn’t interfere much. Just sit down and hang out and hear about everything from salsa extraction to insurance to ghosts to plumbing to the threat of sophisticated AIs creating humanoid faces. Have a cup of whatever and a bite of something good—we’re happy you’re here with us in the uncanny valley.
Read MoreListener Mail is super important to us. We care about what our listeners think about and what they think about us. But somehow we fell far behind. However, not to worry, in this episode we really go to town on said correspondence. We do manage to squeeze in a little MooT, life tips from a professional driver , some old Spokane TV ad jingles, the last day of Spring, and of course the Phoenix Payroll System, incorporating something about ashes. But really: it’s all about that Mail. So whether you’re out on the road, preparing dinner, on your way in to work, or using us to go to sleep, settle in for some fun!
Read MoreKJ, RJ, and PJ get the update on RJ’s home water situation, and as a result Episode 57 sees a wide range of plumbing opinion, advice, and information. It’s riveting. I mean come on, it’s handy guy stuff! We also look into a Neil Young concert RJ attended, more anecdotes from PJ’s driving job, KJ’s favourite Cominco year (doesn’t everyone have one of these? We think so), some fun news items, and even local politics. To top it all off we get to hear RJ use the expression “giddily excited” with only minimal irony - worth the price of admission by itself.
Read MoreEpisode 56 is chock full of great listener mail, including a harrowing coyote story. RJ gives us a fascinating look into the origins of the Cake Walk still seen at elementary school fundraisers, but It’s not all gâteau: our testosterone flows as we take heated issue with a recent controversy in the sports world. To round things out we have a fond look back at some of the best jobs we ever had, and come out strongly in favour of dog-centric walking and dogs in general. Of course we do!
Read MoreLacrosse is Canada’s national summer game, and in Episode 55 the Dogs take issue with how it’s being marketed and presented. We also debunk the idea that taxes led to the recent jump in gas prices, report on Uber’s supposed worth, relate a harrowing taxi tale, and reflect on who is, versus ought to be, paying to fix the Notre-Dame Cathedral. And in his regular Tales from the Shuttle segment, PJ provides advice to his spellbound, that is to say locked in a moving car with him, audience on whether or not to have kids.
Read MoreDid you ever listen to “Peter and the Wolf” in early life? We did, and we talk about that, as well as about whether tomato juice eradicates skunk smell, what happens when your boss is a robot, and some of the wrinkles that kept nuclear airplanes from ever really catching on. We also get to discuss how some of our earliest attempts to become self-made Dogs panned out...or didn’t. But this podcasting gig has changed all that, I mean, Episode 54? It’s more like Studio 54 in the shed this week!
Read MoreThis episode finds the so-modern Shed Dogs hearing from Special Guest Deb of Cow Bay about the long-known but little recognized healing powers of colloidal silver and comfrey root. Blue bloods as ancient as the Dogs need this knowledge as we march ourselves through US and Canadian politics and find time to consider tattoos, zoot suits, and whether criminals should fear an overweight police officer more than a fit one. All this plus KJ’s impromptu rendition of an old Girl Guide camp song. What is not to love, we ask you?
Read MoreRJ delivers his Hawaii trip report and presents souvenir Hula Men to the other Dogs. Special guests Crome and Deb also sit in on an array of topics from aging cars and pets to disposing of latex paint to the future of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. We are sad to announce the demise of champagne as a colour for PJ’s car. Nonetheless this episode is a swaying, soothing, yet not-to-be-taken-lightly road trip through a plethora of topics!
Read MoreAre smart dogs as smart as big dogs? Smarter? Smart enough to do their taxes? Smart enough to lobby for complex returns? The rest of the world Eurosplains how taxes should work while we put H&R Block in the doghouse. Don’t trust the CRA Download feature. Don’t trust but verify. We’re not judging but we might have found a shortcut to deciding cases, while Rex plods along. Speaking of which, RJ endorses Global National, and we cover Rachel Maddow’s performance as fisherman. Plus bonus Brexit material!
Read MoreNote: we lost some footage this episode, so please forgive a few oblique references as you listen.
Our landmark 50th episode sees the Shed Dogs enjoying Listener Mail, examining “Chinese” dance as seen lately in Vancouver, and continuing our discussion of the article on white fragility that we started in Episode 49. What this episode doesn’t see us doing is getting closure on that topic nor holding back on Tales from the Shuttle, the Internet Research Agency, or Attorney General Barr’s recent letter to Congress. Ladies and gentleman, sit back and enjoy the wonders and culture of ancient Shed Dogs.
Read MoreEverything’s fine. It really is, the settlers are just a little tender at the moment. We’re swimming in the deep and troubled waters of racial fragility, and of how and when to draw ethical lines around everything from conversations to music purchases. The Dogs ponder whether people still listen to music on radio, and if so do they listen to Michael Jackson? Hip Hop? Can the hearing impaired enjoy hip hop? In this week’s Stories From the Shuttle, an Olympian ski jumper looks for gainful employment as a stuntman. It’s a frustrating world when studies conclusively prove that studies keep getting it wrong. Need to lose weight? Get a hold of RJ, he has a deal for you.
Read MoreSuggesting how grocery stores should be organized, opining (omapling?) on a high school unfinished woodwork master(chess)piece, KIR (keepin’ it real) on texting slang and abbreviations, blocking calls, sharing Netflix recommendations, and remembering old TV theme music: these are what retirement is made of, and consequently they’re also what Episode 48 of our podcast is about. Shout out to Cranbrook!
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