Michael Ableman
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Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. 

Our conversation with Michael Ableman was an honor for us.  Michael is, in the truest sense of the word, a farmer.  We met him at his farm on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.  When we arrived (in the middle of planting season), Michael was on his hands and knees, planting strawberries and working the dirt.  When he isn't actually farming, he is writing books, taking beautiful photos, lecturing and consulting around the world, and managing an urban agriculture project in the city of Vancouver.  As two people who have quit working to go have fun and play around, being with such a hardworking and driven individual was an inspiration.  

Andrew CouchComment
On The Hiyu

These two characters, Jeff Wilson and David Crellin, are the brains, brawn, hair skin and nails behind Seattle's newest floating venue - The Hiyu.  We talked about magic, acrobatics, boats, bars, and bris.  Give this one a listen if you want to be inspired to take on your next challenge.  

 

LINKS  

 

HIYU

Tunes in this Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

Celia Cruz - Tu Voz

Easy Star All Stars - Money (Pink Floyd)

The Black Keys - Act Nice and Gentle to Me (The Kinks)

Wanda Jackson - Funnel of Love

Bas Power - Waati

 

 

Andrew Couch
Russ Yuly
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It All Begins With an RV...

Russ Yuly stopped by our van to tell us about the worst day of his life. We were happy to turn on the mics and listen in while he wove his yarn through our brains and into our hearts. This type of encounter is exactly what we had in mind when we set out to meet interesting people and share their stories with anyone willing to listen to them. Welcome to Monkey Tooth!

This episode resonates deeply for us.  As you may know, we lived in an RV for the last 3 1/2 years. We recently sold that RV to some friends and neighbors. Since selling it, a massive water leak was discovered, and upon further inspection, it turns out the leak ruined a substantial amount of the sub-floor! As you can imagine, this has been upsetting to our friends who bought the RV from us, and has been deeply unsettling to us, as we would never have sold the thing if we had known about the leak and water damage. This saga is ongoing, and will require quite a bit of expense on our part, and no small amount of inconvenience to our friends.

As we listened to Russ tell his tale (trying desperately to ignore the mid-level anxiety of our own lingering troubles), we were reminded - everything is temporary and if you live through it you win!

I think we will all live through the ordeal of our old RV. We are supremely glad to have lived long enough to meet this sweet character.  Thanks for the reminder, Russ!

Tunes in This Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

Fats Domino - I'm Walkin'

Cliff Carslile - Ash Can Blues

Blind Willie McTell - Broke Down Engine Blues

Django Reinhardt - Solid Old Man

Johnny Cash - We'll Meet Again

Andrew CouchComment
Old Apple Farm

Old Apple Farm (Humans Left to right - Trevor, Mike, Kenny*, Gregg, and Dave) (Dogs Left to right - Noodle, Watson, Peppers)

What can we say about this group of dudes? These four have gone the distance and are pursuing their dreams with every bit of their ingenuity, effort, passion, drive, and basically every word you have ever seen on an ad for a supplement, a boner pill or workout routine. Do you have an interest in cannabis? Have you ever smoked grass, maaannnn? If not, don't worry, being a pot-head is not required to enjoy this episode. If you have an interest in hearing about a team of individuals working together to succeed in the face of long odds, you will enjoy this. If you are interested in botany, biology, horticulture, sustainability, or organic farming, there is plenty here for you. If you just like to imagine four hot dudes sharing one thick black microphone, passed roughly back and forth between them, then you are in for a treat!

*Kenny was not present for the recording of the podcast and regrets it deeply.

LINKS

Oldapplefarm.com

Instagram - 

Tunes in This Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

The Specials - Gangsters

Scientist - Party on the Enterprise

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Superape - Underground

Yabby You - Achieving in Dub

 

 

 

Ross Evans (Xtracycle)

Xtracycle or SEXtracycle?

This episode of the MTP is with the creator and CEO of Xtracycle, a family-commuter-utility longtail bicycle company.  Ross was kind enough to invite us over to his home to record with us.  We talked about bicycles, socially responsible business practices, podcasting, trusting your intuition, navigating our own hypocrisy, and getting horny on a bike.  Ross is an EdgeRunner, a pioneer, and according to his two kids (Kale and Ike, ages 7 and 1), he is one part fish, one part beaver, two parts owl, three parts monkey, one part turtle, one part lion, 3.14 parts dragon. and constitutionally unemployable.  
Share and enjoy!  

Links

Xtracycle - 

Tunes in This Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

The Meters - Chicken Strut

Midlake - Mr. Amateur

Ray Charles - Mary Ann

Scientist - Smerf Wak Head

John Lee Hooker - Will The Circle Be Unbroken

 

Andrew CouchComment
Christina & Ellie (Mommy & Mama)
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Mommy& Mama

In the second part of our two-part series on non-traditional parenting, (and only two days after mother's day) we struck Mom-gold!  These two ladies are great moms and have a special tale to tell. We sat down with Ellie and Christina in their home in Marin, County and talked about breaking a leg in New York City, finding love, and what it takes to be a mom when your partner is also a mom.  

TUNES IN THIS EPISODE

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

Cat Stevens - Where do the Children Play

Eels - World of Shit

Everly Brothers - Lord of the Manor

Pavement - Pueblo Domain

Gillian Welch - Look at Miss Ohio

Miriam Makeba - Intandane

 

Andrew Couch
Peter Funch
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So, Who is Your Daddy?

Before we left on our journey, we got a chance to sit down in the van (behind The Boom-Boom Room, no less) with our new friend Peter.  Peter is a skilled physical therapist, a personal trainer, a Dane, a world traveler, and a hopeful father to be!  Check-in and learn a little something about the trials of becoming a gay dad through surrogacy!

Tunes in This Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

The Tams - Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

Sarah Jaroz - Simple Twist of Faith

Björk - Oceania

Stan Getz & João Gilberto - Aguas de Marco

Dan Auerbach - Trouble Weighs a Ton

 

Dr. Christopher Ryan

Some Guy in Topanga...

Our guest today is the one and only, Dr. Christopher Ryan.  You may know him as the host of the popular podcast, Tangentially Speaking, or as the New York Times Best Selling Author of "Sex at Dawn".  Andrew took an 8-hour drive to Topanga Canyon to hang out with Dr. Ryan.  You may be asking yourself, "HOW IN THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?"  Well, Dr. Chris Ryan ain't afraid of no stranger from the internet, that's how!  We talked sex, Sprinter vans, disaster sociology, influential teachers, poop, and much more. 

Don't be a dick...get in the van...and have a good time!

 

Links

Chrisryanphd.com 

Instagram - @thatchrisryan

BUY A SIGNED BOOK!

TUNES IN THIS EPISODE

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

Mulatu Astatke - Yekermo Sew (A Man of Experience and Wisdom) 

Calexico - Alone Again or

The Arcs - Searching the Blue

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Te Duniya Laban

Beach Boys - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

Miriam Makeba - Laku Tshoni 'Ilanga

The Brother's Johnson - Strawberry Letter 2

An Afternoon of T&A
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Tell Us a Story...

Today's special edition episode is brought to you by our good buddy, Shooter. Shooter would be an ideal guest; unfortunately for our listeners, he refused to be a guest, and instead hijacked the podcast to interview us!  
If you don't want to hear Tiff and I talk about ourselves, skip this one.  If you don't mind salty language and poop talk, give this one a listen.  

Tunes in this episode

The Beta Band - Inner Meet Me

Andrew Couch
Heather Young

The Power of Story

Our guest today is an actress, a producer, a writer, a project manager, a director, and ultimately a hustler!  We talked poo, Pooh, religion, hard work, identity, empowering women, family dynamics and the power of creating a better story.  Open your mind and let Heather inspire you to do your best work!

Links

HeatherMYoung.com - sosheslays.com  - @TheHYoung

Tunes in this Episode

Beastie Boys (Feat: Santigold) - "Don't Play no Game I Can't Win"

Big Thief - Haley

Sampa The Great - Dutch Spring

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

Alabama Shakes - Shogaze

Sylvan Esso - Uncatena

Sister OM Terrell - Swing Low Chariot

 

 

Antoine Lammam
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القرد في عين أمه غزال - Al Erd Fi Ein Omo Ghazal (The monkey is as beautiful as a Gazelle in his mother's eyes)

This episode features our friend Antoine; a poet, a musician, a counselor, a massage therapist, a teacher, a translator, a parent, a published author, and an all around interesting character.  We got the chance to record some of his fantastic drumming, a few poems, and one of the greatest laughs we've ever heard.   Open your mind, enjoy some beautiful arabic music, and take a trip with our calm, yet rhythmic friend.

LINKS - Antoine's Facebook - Antoine's Book - About Antoine

Tunes in this episode

 Antoine Lammam - Shallal

Alla - Oud music

Alla - Le Foundou

Antoine Lammam - in his living room on Dumbec

Antoine Lammam - In his living room on Arabic Tambourine

Alla - Oud Music

Alla - Le Foundou

 

Andrew CouchComment
J.T.
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A traveler, a gentleman, a bread making genius, and of course, a lover; our friend J.T. is one of a kind.  We got the chance to sit down with him at his home in San Leandro, CA to talk about the value of civility, the joys of travel, the unexpected places where love tends to land, the immigration blues, and Turkish apartment rental.  Also, we got the opportunity to test a theory about the universal appeal of Bobby Womack.  Stay tuned-in until the end to hear Tiff tell you how the tale ends!    

Links - semifreddis.com  

Tunes in this Episode

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie

Selim & Orchester Sesler - Saniey'm

Bobby Womack - I'm in Love

Bobby Womack - Daylight

Oruc Guvenc - Veysel Qarani

Air - Universal Traveler

James Brown - Funky President

Booker T. and the MG's - Stranger on the Shore

 

Rory Cameron Gibson
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Vipassana, Travel, and Wriggling

Are you interested in meditation?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live life as a gentleman, an adventurer, or a father to be?  If so, Rory has you covered!  Rory and his wife Niki are expecting a baby, moving from California to the UK, and have ridden bicycles around 70% of the globe.  Will they do the other 30% with a baby in-tow?  Tune in, observe it, and move on.  

Links - 

Dharma.org - Rory Gibson 

Tunes in this Episode - 

Oscar Aleman - Delicado

The Clash - Straight to Hell

Frisco Blues - Bayless Rose

Alash Ensemble - Ondar Girls

Daniel Rosen - Up On High

Zombies - Goin' Out Of My Head

Beta Band - Troubles

Astrud Gilberto - Aruanda

 

Inge McCormack
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Sweet Inge and Parker

On a neighbor's back porch, overlooking a lovely vista, serenaded by birds and local barking dogs, is a great place to hear a heavy story.  Our friend and neighbor, Inge, provided the setting and the story.  Come with us on a little journey through the time and space of an unlikely and beautiful friendship, and let Inge's charm soften the buttery edges of your heart!

Prosthesis Company, mentioned in the story (John Hattingh)

Music credits (In Order) - 

Yves Montand - Rue St. Vincent

Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum

Adrienne Linker - Jonathan

The Impressions - Woman's Got Soul

Otis Redding - I Love You More than Words Can Say

Lord Melody - BooBoo Man

Corrine Couch - Dreamer in the Moonlight 

Andrew Couch
Charris Ford

Come take a ride with our friend Charris Ford!

Grab Yourself A Cricket! 

Here it is, the very first Monkey Tooth Podcast! Our first guest is the one and only Charris Ford! In this episode, we talk with Charris about the unexpected outcomes of experimenting with psychedelic substances, growing up a reluctant hippie, and finding the intestinal fortitude to eat a cricket. We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as we enjoyed having it!

Here is a song list (by order of appearance)

Oscar Aleman – Delicado

Abida Parveen - Aandhi Chali To

Funkadelic – Can You Get to That

John Lee Carter – Let Me Know

Andrew CouchComment