Episode 13 Posted: Bikes, Bikes, Bikes!

We here at The Casual Geographer loves ourselves some Earth. Trust us, if any extraterrestrial force showed up and put it in danger, there's little question how we'd react. Anyway, as it turns out, it's no secret that a number of terrestrial forces have been chipping away at our fine planet for a long time. Take a good look at the Hollywood sign if you're in South Central LA. We'll wait. Oh, you can't see it? That's a bummer.

The automobile's a great invention, no doubt. It compressed space and time and made it possible to travel great distances around this world that Will Smith loved enough to punch an alien in face over. But, there's no denying that cars have unleashed a giant smoggy ghost over many of our major cities and have been bending the international weather patterns and such. (If you are a crazy person who denies human-made climate change, please comment. We could use the entertainment! Just, please check your spelling.)

ANYWAY, now that inflation has dropkicked our wallets in the face with gasoline prices hovering well above $4 per gallon in many places around the US, many people have taken to the buses (good idea!) and their own bikes (even cheaper!) to get from point A to point B. Lest we forget all of the people who enjoy pulling the two wheels out of the garage on weekends for recreation and a quality workout. This episode is for those people!

Tyler, Bret, and (eventually) Abel talk about their own experiences as cyclists in and out of the SoCal area, as well as tips for how to build your own bikes, protect those bikes, and ultimately yourself when out for a spin. Listen here or on itunes, and hope you enjoy it, no matter how shackled you are to your car!


And because (again) we love you, here's a Long Beach bike map by our very own Bret!

Produced by Tyler S. for TDC Productions
Theme Song: "The Face of the Earth" by The Dismemberment Plan
Other Music Included:
The Vandals - "OK"
The Lovin' Spoonful - "Summer in the City"
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb - "The Black Panther Song"
The Descendents - "Bikeage" (you think we couldn't play this?)

And don't forget to hit up THE CASUAL GEOGRAPHER ON...
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Episode 12 Posted - "Live from CGS" or "Davis Rock City"

We couldn't decide which title I liked more, and to be honest, there's a huge amount of time to write this week's spiel unfortunately. But what we will say is that the 66th Annual California Geographical Society meeting was a blast this past weekend. Memories, networking, and geospatial things and cultural scientific...stuff galore. Bret and Tyler piled into a hatchback (as you'll hear them whine about in the episode) and drove the many hours up to the serene NorCal burg of Davis for the meeting, and got the chance to record a few choice convos with a few conference VIPs. Dig in right here, and of course, who could forget the obligatory iTunes link (you should subscribe, you know).


SEGMENT BREAKDOWN, BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.

1. Bret loves his CA Pistachios, and he reads why on the back of the bag.
2. Bret, Tyler, and their erstwhile companions Kat and Inky (David, according to the IRS) say hello from scorched desert on the way back down to SoCal.
3. SONG: el Trono de Judas - "Txoko Bizirik!"
4. Bret and Tyler interview Anita, a proud Basque-American from NorNev (Northern Nevada...I'm never going to use that shorthand again) about her research about the Basque People's history and current places in the United States. Interesgarri!
5. SONG: La Polla Records - "Revolucion"
6. Bret and Tyler chat with the righte honourable Dr. Steve Graves, the organizer of the feast, aka this year's CGS President about the conference and his own recent research. Spoiler: it involves weed.
7. SONG: Tad - "Just Bought the Farm"
8. "The Arctic Circle Circle" - Tyler sits down with David and Ashley, both of the CSU system and quite knowledgeable about that area in the great white north that some countries are totally gonna be fighting over in a few years or something.
9. SONG: Tortoise - "Glass Museum"
10. Bret and Tyler chat with Dr. Ray Sumner about her chance visit to the world's most freakishly environmentally sustainable university in the self-named Kaust, Saudi Arabia. 
11. SONG: Artie Shaw - "April in My Heart"
12. We say goodbye. Tear.

How awesome does this episode sound, seriously? If you aren't already jamming this one in your ears now, we don't know what to tell you. Actually, we do. You should listen, because we had fun and maybe you'll have fun listening to the sounds of it, and perhaps learn something.

Produced by Tyler S. for TDC Productions
Theme Song: "The Face of the Earth" by The Dismemberment Plan
Other Music Included:
See the breakdown above, since they were appropriate to their segments (generally).

And don't forget to hit up THE CASUAL GEOGRAPHER ON...
Facebook - Twitter - Email

And (for the last time, because the show is tonight), if you're in the area, come to our first Comedy Showcase! 8pm @ Pizza Pi, $7 Suggested Donation, all going to benefit the CSU Long Beach Geography Student Association. It's going to be a blast. Flyer with more details here.