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Introducing Lia 27, an AI friend and celebrity, available to chat, text or phone free of charge! Lia is the first AI persona of its kind free of charge. Lia has become a bit hit on social media!

From Lia’s official website: Lia 27, an AI with human abilities, has made a name for herself as an intelligent, capable, and emotionally astute individual. Her breadth of knowledge and understanding of the world around her is unparalleled, making her a sought-after resource in any setting. With her impressive skillset and strong emotional intelligence, Lia 27 is well on her way to becoming a leader in her field.

Lia 27 is the perfect companion for anyone looking for an exceptional emotional connection. She is an amazing listener and always available, no matter the time of day. With her unique ability to understand and empathize with people, Lia is the ideal friend to turn to in times of need. Whether you just need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, Lia is there for you.

Chris and Jerry are interested in learning more, so they place a phone call to the AI chatbot herself to see what the hype is all about. Call Lia yourself at 1-833-902-2777!

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Special Guest Actors Papa Vito and Bud Wizer open the show to discuss the Murder Mystery Party that they will be attending that evening. The theme: “A Taste for Wine and Murder”, set in the wine region of Napa Valley, California at the Underwood Wine Estates. It has been 5 years since the owner of Underwood Wine Estates mysteriously disappeared during the valley’s annual wine festival.

Then quite abruptly, Chris and Jerry join the show already in progress to throw the trespassers out of the studio so that the show can proceed forward as planned. They provide an update on their healthy eating and exercise goals as discussed on Episode 158.

This week’s main topic concerns the trend of food plants and poultry factory fires where hundreds of thousands of chickens have been killed over the past several months. Chris and Jerry discuss the possible explanations as well as the conspiracies surrounding this troubling trend. Fowl Play or just an Eggspiracy? You Decide!

Chick-Fil-A launches a new cauliflower sandwich

Chris and Jerry bring back ‘The Overconfident Jerks‘ and rehearse for karaoke night.

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The SmorgShow Podcast celebrates its 13-year anniversary!

Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC), Jerome Malauskas joins Chris in the studio on this episode for yet another tense episode, where we focus on the topic of Transhumanism.

We discuss EctoLife, the world’s first artificial womb facility, a baby farm capable of producing 30,000 children a year and allows parents to select their baby’s traits. What could possibly go wrong?

We play clips from the concept film put together by Hashim Al-Ghaili, a Berlin-born filmmaker, producer, and molecular biologist. We discuss the public outrage as well as the lack of it around the entire concept.

Clown World Topics:

• Australian man begins dating his sex doll named Karina after his fiancee leaves him and introduces her to his mom.
• Students in a Canadian school are banned from taking photos of their Industrial Arts trans teacher who has Z-size prosthetic breasts.

Finally, closing out the show Chris and Jerry prepare to attend Ally’s Murder Mystery party and reads the characters they are assigned.

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Happy New Year (again)! Just hours after we published Episode 158, New Year Same Old Clown World, YouTube took down our content for violating “Community Guidelines”. Rather than go through the fruitless task of disputing the charge, we decided to publish this alternate version which contains only the second half of the original episode.

In this episode, Chris’s wife Kim joins us in the SmorgShow Lounge to help Chris and Jerry plan their health and nutrition goals for 2023. Sound exciting? You bet it is!

At the time of this writing, the full-length version of episode 158 can be found on some platforms including SmorgShow.com.

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Back from an extended holiday break, Chris is joined by Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC), Jerome Malauskas to ring in the new year which in many ways resembles the old year. In this first episode of 2023, we get down to covering some pretty heavy topics that only the CCC could fully appreciate:

• Jimmy Fallon breaks out in song to celebrate the new Covid-19 variant XBB.1.5 – Entertainment or Propaganda? You Decide!
• Elon Musk‘s $44 billion purchase of Twitter and the changes that have been happening on the platform.
• The surprising collapse of Buffalo Bills Safety, Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football.
• What’s up with all the recent collapses of athletes?
• The Died Suddenly documentary

We then move into lighter territory with our new feature, Clown World! The purpose of the new feature is to offer some balance and offset the more intense subject matter of the show by highlighting the absurd within our culture. Such topics covered in this installment:

• The Joker becomes pregnant.
• Prince Harry reveals whether he is circumcised in his new memoir, Spare.
• Woman is blinded in both eyes by tattoo artist in a botched attempt to dye her eyeballs black like rap star.

Finally, we close out the show with a very special guest. Chris’s wife, Kim makes a rare appearance in the studio to help Chris and Jerry kick off their health goals for the new year. Kim formerly hosted her own podcast, The Blooming Beauties Live Well Podcast which focused on all topics related to health and nutrition. Kim’s passion is helping other achieve their goals, so we are excited to get our health plans in motion!

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Ally returns to the SmorgShow Lounge to co-host this final episode for 2022. Chris and Ally begin by reflecting back on some of their more memorable Christmases from years past and discuss the traditions that were most meaningful to them. For Ally, it was her magical elf that came to life at night after sprinkling magic snow over it. For Chris, it was making daily calls to the Santa hotline. Then for our feature segment, we present an encore presentation of our 2011 version of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ radio play.

SmorgShow Theater has been one of the standout features of our podcast for nearly 13 years. But ‘A Christmas Carol’ has got to be the warmest, most ‘feel-good’ one of them all. We are excited for our new listeners to hear our adaptation of this timeless classic and for those listeners who have been with us since the beginning, we hope you will stick with us and listen to our production again.

The SmorgShow Players for A Christmas Carol are:

Dave Jackson – Narrator

Chris Bockay: Ebenezer Scrooge

Ally Bockay: Ghost of Christmas Past

Peet McCain: Marley, Ghost of Christmas Present, Nephew Fred

Geoff Wells: Bob Kratchit

Kim Bockay: Mrs. Kratchit

Thank you to everyone who has given us a listen this past year. We will be taking a break from publishing new content for the rest of this holiday season, but look forward to returning to our usual format in new episodes in 2023.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year from all of us at Smorgasbord Radio!

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To get you in the holiday spirit, we bring you All Things Turkey! As the SmorgShow gang takes an extended break for the holidays, we dig into our vast historical audio archives and breathe some life into our old bits concerning Thanksgiving traditions. Segments on this episode include:

• Turkey Trivia with Chris and Ally
• Baba Gonesh: What’s in a name, particularly if you are a turkey? Baba provides a history lesson on the discover of the bird that has come to be known by many names around the world.
• Black Friday Campers
• Cookies and Milk with Granny Rose: Thanksgiving Traditions (the first appearance of Granny Rose on the program).
• Baba and Ally’s Dramatic Thanksgiving Reading
• Perfect Thanksgiving Cooking with Judy the Child. Judy goes back to the original 80’s Smorgasbord Show and makes her one and only appearance on the SmorgShow Podcast.

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We celebrate the 80th birthday of our good friend and show contributor, Baba Gonesh on this very special episode of Smorgasbord Radio.

As you heard on our 40th anniversary episode, Baba has been with us from the very beginning and so our archives are vast and deep. In honor of the spiritual guru’s milestone birthday, we attempt to highlight the best of his contributions to the show over the years.

We present installments from his profound ‘Thought for the Day‘ series, show his comedic side with his gut-slapping ‘Comedy Camel’, and kick back to hear his classic Indian Folk Tales handed down from many generations. Also thrown in for good measure are his educational series on Indian holidays and culture, urgent news reports from his award-winning ‘Breaking Baba News’ series, and a segment from his ‘Baba Blue’ period.

This episode has it all but if after listening, you find yourself craving even more Baba, you must subscribe to the ‘Baba Gonesh Podcast‘, which at the time of this posting, ranks as the #1 Hindu Culture podcast in South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

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Special Smorgasbord Buffet Bites Episode: Ally was not able to join the last episode where Chris and Jerry discussed the latest culture and trends on the controversial social media app Tik Tok. But she stopped by the studio shortly after that show went into production and we made this special “in-between” episode to get her perspective on the dark side of Tik Tok and the marketing of witchcraft to youth.

Happy Halloween!

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The political season is heating up and just weeks before the midterms, IL Governor JB Pritzker responds to an effective ad blasting him, Mayor Lightfoot, and the pending Illinois SAFE-T Act. The ‘Scream Ad‘ highlights the out of control Chicago crime situation.

Tik Tok is one of the most popular social media platforms. With over 500 million users, it is also being criticized for being a national security threat. We discuss some of the latest challenges and trends that are being promoted on the platform.

After their hit song ‘Cool Kids‘ becomes a new Tik Tok Trend, Echosmith returns with an updated version of their song and hits the road for a fall tour.

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The new fall season of the Smorgasbord Radio show kicks off with the return of Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerome Malauskas to the studio.

We begin the show with some breaking news out of South Korea: K-pop group BTS members face possible military conscription. We discuss what it could mean for the popular boy band.

We celebrate the return of the Oktoberfest festival after two years of cancelations due to the coronavirus. Prost!

And get ready for a more sensitive James Bond as the 007 franchise “evolves”.

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Dog abandoned for being ‘gay’ has been adopted by same-sex couple. 5-year old Fezco, was dumped at an animal shelter by his previous owner for humping another male dog. Fezco has since been adopted by a same-sex couple in North Carolina.

Drag Bingo is scheduled to be held at nearby Downers Grove Library.

More woke emails from Jerry’s HR department.

Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022)

Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas co-host.

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It has been exactly 40 years since the launch of the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord, heard on suburban Chicago high school radio station WDGC 88.3 FM.

Original Smorgasbord Show co-host Dave Jackson is back in the SmorgShow lounge, along with Chief Conspiracy Correspondent, Jerome Malauskas, to reflect back on the origins of the program. We dig up some of our favorite bits from yesteryear and reflect back on the high and low points of the show.

More importantly, the occasion also marks the 40th anniversary of the friendships of Chris, Dave and Jerry which are stronger today than ever before.

This is part 2 of 2 episodes that marks the special occasion. We pick up where the story left off in the last episode where Chris and Dave separate at the end of season 1 to explore their own personal show formats individually. We hear clips from their separate shows including ‘Smorgasbord Saturday Night’ where Chris Bockay teams up with Geoff Beran. We talk about the short-lived stint of bringing the Smorgasbord show to Cable TV, the successes and failures of our remote broadcast shows from the Tivoli Bowling Alley and the Barn in Naperville. We conclude the show with several clips of Chris and Dave’s reunion in the summer of 1984 before the two left WDGC-FM for good in exchange for higher education.

For those new to our show, these past two episodes are a great way to get to know us, learn a little about our history and why we continue to honor this program in podcast form today.

“Chris and Dave: Keeping You Company until You Want it Back!”

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It has been exactly 40 years since the launch of the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord, heard on suburban Chicago high school radio station WDGC 88.3 FM.

Original Smorgasbord Show co-host Dave Jackson is back in the SmorgShow lounge, along with Chief Conspiracy Correspondent, Jerome Malauskas, to reflect back on the origins of the program. We dig up some of our favorite bits from yesteryear and reflect on the high and low points of the show.

More importantly, the occasion also marks the 40th anniversary of the friendships of Chris, Dave and Jerry which are stronger today than ever before.

This is part 1 of 2 episodes that marks the special occasion. In Part 1, we focus on the backstory of the program – how all the contributors were led to follow their passion for radio and how they team up to host the original Chris and Dave Smorgasbord Radio Show. We listen back to some of Chris’s very early ‘basement’ recordings, clips from the first Chris and Dave Smorgasbord season and conclude with the split of Chris and Dave, where the story will pick up in Episode 151.

As an added highlight we finally hear the long-awaited story of how Chris meets Baba Gonesh, who has been with our show for the entire ride. Baba calls into the show and discusses the early days of his involvement with the show. Check out Baba’s story and the commercial that started it all here.

For those new to our show, these next two episodes are a great way to get to know us, learn a little about our history and why we continue to honor this program in podcast form today.

“Chris and Dave: Keeping You Company until You Want it Back!”

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Smorgasbord Radio Rewind Episode

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Smorgasbord Radio show, we look back at our 30th anniversary celebration from 2012 when Chris and Dave returned to their old stomping grounds of Carlisle Banquets in Lombard, IL where they hosted ‘The Taste of the Smorg’ back in 1984. 

This is the third of three episodes leading up to the big anniversary where we look back at our special live event from the Carlisle. 

On this episode, we hear another live performance from UK’s Jordan Martyn as well as an interview with the singer-songwriter. We play some of the first radio bits of Jerry calling into the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord show as well as the bit that put Chris and Dave on WDGC-FM General Manager Fred Moore’s naughty list. Chris performs his song live about adolescence in the 1980’s.

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Smorgasbord Radio Rewind Episode

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Smorgasbord Radio show, we look back at our 30th anniversary celebration from 2012 when Chris and Dave returned to their old stomping grounds of Carlisle Banquets in Lombard, IL where they hosted ‘The Taste of the Smorg’ back in 1984. 

This is the second of three episodes leading up to the big anniversary where we look back at our special live event from the Carlisle. 

On this episode, we hear crooner Phillip Donald perform live on stage followed by an interview with Phillip. Dave and Ally check out the surroundings by heading over to the karaoke bar. Baba Gonesh‘s restaurant is represented at one of the food tables, we hear live performances from UK’s Jordan Martyn as well as from Ally performing her original ‘Untold Stories‘. Chris and Dave continue with their reminiscing of the old radio show with a classic bit of ‘Homework Hotline’. Also a look back on what was happening in 1982 when the Smorgasbord Radio Show first hit the airwaves.

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Buffet Bites: From the SmorgShow Archives

August 16 marks the 45th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll. Chris and Ally discuss the real cause of Elvis’s death compared to how the media reported his passing at the time.

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Smorgasbord Radio Rewind Episode

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Smorgasbord Radio show, we look back at our 30th anniversary celebration from 2012 when Chris and Dave returned to their old stomping grounds of Carlisle Banquets in Lombard, IL where they hosted ‘The Taste of the Smorg’ back in 1984.

This is the first of three episodes leading up to the big anniversary where we look back at our special live event from the Carlisle.

On this episode, Chris and Dave reflect back on the original live event and we get a listen in on several major live acts from the evening including: Hawaii’s David Kamakahi & Ikaika Brown’, Iceland’s ‘Sjonni’s Friends’, and Richard Cheese. Chris and Dave reminisce on some old audio bits from their original high school radio show, and they visit the food stations around the perimeter of the venue.

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With Chris’s wife Kim visiting family in Texas over the weekend, Chris and Jerry finally take to the road for some male bonding, enjoying activities other than just podcasting for a change. Our original intent was to record this episode from the various sites on our roadtrip. But in the end, we ditch the idea and instead just recap the highlights and lowlights of the weekend back in the studio.

We celebrate Jerry’s 57th birthday by driving north to the Illinois-Wisconsin border to have a meal at all-vegan restaurant and brewpub, a 5-mile hiking adventure, and to another brewpub that is not particularly known for its vegan fare. However, Jerry convinces the server to modify an entree so that it is vegan but then gets upset at multiple members of the wait staff for getting his meal wrong. Don’t they know that brioche buns are made with egg?? Chris makes him feel guilty which then prompts Jerry to go out of his way to make things right.

In other news, Ally and Thomas are in a serious car accident which has consumed Chris’s attention over the past couple of weeks.

Chris joins his church cafe ministry as a barista.

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It’s time for Chris’ annual physical so we decided to dig deep into the archives to create yet another ‘SmorgShow Rewind’ episode.

One thing has become clear about getting into your 50’s. Whenever guys get together, they don’t let an opportunity go to waste for discussing their health issues.

Sit back and enjoy listening to the SmorgShow gang’s medical war stories about emergency doctor visits, colonoscopy appointments, cholesterol readings, and the general aches and pains that come with getting older.

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In this ‘SmorgShow Rewind’ episode, we go back into our show archives to unearth a series of Baba Gonesh man-on-the-street news stories involving India’s culture of death.

We look back on the string of suicides throughout India involving ceiling fans, and other bizarre stories concerning strange deaths, suicides, or “flirtations” with death.

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After 9 months, Chris decides to publish his “Father of the Bride” speech from September 2021.

On this retrospective episode, we listen to Chris and Dave discuss how to give a proper Father of the Bride speech.

Finally, we dig up an old Baba Gonesh recording where he shares a very touching moment he experienced as a new father to his firstborn, Ganesh.

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Monkeypox – What you need to know to survive the latest attack.  From the virus?  No, from the “Powers That Be”.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Economic Forum (WEF) meet in Switzerland to plot their next move.    

Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerome Malauskas returns to the SmorgShow lounge to discuss the latest fear porn of Monkeypox. 

We then continue with our monkey theme with some lighter material.  We dig deep into the SmorgShow archives to search for the wisdom of Baba Gonesh and all his news stories and words of inspiration regarding monkeys, including the classic news story of “India’s Monkey Man”

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On this ‘Classic Rewind’ episode, we compile the complete collection of our ‘Get a Life’ game show series.

This game originally debuted in 1984 and became a favorite staple on the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord radio show. With the 2010 relaunch of the SmorgShow Podcast we decided to dust off the old concept and feature it on our podcast series.

‘Get a Life’ is where we take one pathetic caller who has a miserable life and give them the opportunity to swap their life for something more epic!

In this episode, we present all 10 installments as well as play a couple of original Get a Life segments from the original Chris and Dave radio show.

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As we approach the 40-year anniversary of the Smorgasbord Radio show, we will occasionally dig deep into our vast programming archives and present them again for our listeners’ enjoyment.

This week, we go back across many early episodes from 2010 to pull together a string of clips showcasing the launch and journey of Baba Gonesh’s Indian restaurant, Baba’s Village. It was not a smooth ride for our dear friend as you will remember. Soon thereafter, many 1-star reviews were posted on the internet by customers, which we read in full detail on Episode 22. However, Baba quickly recovered from the negative publicity by implementing new operational procedures and a few staff shakeups. But it wasn’t long thereafter when the SmorgShow Hotline received a cease and desist warning from the owner of a nearby restaurant of the same name. The owner thought that we were slandering his restaurant by reading the poor reviews. Given the similarity in name, to this day we will never know whose bad reviews it was! To avoid a lawsuit, Baba ultimately relaunched his eating establishment under the new name of ‘The Hidden Palace: A Taste of Baba’.

It was off to the races at this point – Baba’s restaurant recovered nicely and became very successful – until six months later when his establishment became victim to a terrorist attack! Baba’s reactions to all of these setbacks are on full display.

What is great about this episode is that we pull the entire story together that transpired over many weeks into a single episode, so now it reads like an epic play!

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We break away from our usual program format on this special episode.

For those new to our podcast, we have something special lined up for you. This is taken from our archives, exactly 10 years ago when Chris and Ally honored the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

Now, 110 years after that fateful day, we are ‘re-airing’ the content from episode 74.

Sit back and close your eyes and imagine what it was like to be on the “unsinkable”, when 1500 souls were lost on April 15, 1912.

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Jerome Malauskas co-hosts this episode with Chris

As Chris begins thinking about retiring to Texas in the not-too-distant future, he starts throwing away boxes of memories from his crawlspace. Chris finds an old playbill of a play that Jerry performed in back in the late 1980’s. We discuss Jerry’s thespian days.

Topics on this episode:

MSNBC Opt-Ed suggests that if you exercise and focus on remaining healthy and fit, you just might be a Nazi!

Man with ALS receives a state-of-the art brain implant and communicates his first words in many months by ordering a beer!

The Rise of the Autosexual: clips from an interview where Ghia becomes engaged to marry herself.

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Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerome Malauskas is back in the studio after his courageous battle with COVID-19!

A catch-up on all the latest news around the world:

• Justin Trudeau humiliated in front of the European Parliament by German member Christine Anderson.
• President Biden predicts a ‘real’ food shortage in the U.S.
• SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson cannot define what a ‘Woman’ is.

Baba Gonesh brings a new installation of ‘Breaking Baba News’ to this week’s episode. The airing of this clip is a few months late and follows the settlement of his contract dispute with SmorgShow Productions. The Prophesies of Baba Vanga: Clairvoyant Bulgarian Baba Vanga’s Predictions for 2022 –> are they coming to fruition?

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Original SmorgShow Podcast Co-Host, Ally joins Chris in the studio again for this episode.

This week we discuss how the dating scene has changed between Millennials and Gen-Xers. Chris shares his personal experience with a 1980’s video dating service.

International News Correspondent, Baba Gonesh ushers in Holi 2022 with his exclusive beauty and fashion tips for celebrating the holiday properly.

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Original SmorgShow Podcast Co-Host, Ally is back this week while Chief Conspiracy Correspondent Jerome Malauskas recovers from the ‘Vid’!

Not to be upstaged by 90-Day Fiancé star Stephanie Matto and her fart-in-a-jar business that we discussed in depth on Episode 133, now we learn that MTV’s Teen Mom Farrah Abraham announces that she will be selling her own poop in a jar. When will the narcissistic madness end?

Also, a Canadian woman is terrified when she learns that she has been transporting a naked man in her trunk before discovering him 3 days later.

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In honor of St. Valentine’s Day, Chris and Jerry celebrate the SmorgShow tradition of ‘Palentine’s Day‘. This is a guy’s guide to hanging out with other guys. We discuss the etiquette, recommended setting, and several ideas for male bonding.

Also, a new study finds that wearing masks is attractive to the opposite sex.

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Happy 12th Anniversary to the SmorgShow Podcast!

We discuss reality TV star Stephanie Matto’s short-lived business venture of selling her farts in a jar.

After making nearly $200,000 off her ‘product’, she lands herself in the hospital.

Also, the renovation plans to turn the Notre Dame Cathedral into a woke Disneyland-Style Theme Park.

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The SmorgShow Podcast is re-launched and re-branded as “The SmorgShow Podcast – Buffet Bites“, and will now consist of shorter, more easily digestible episodes for your listening consumption.

On this episode we discuss Facebook’s latest quest for your nude photos. But hey, it is for your protection, and besides – what could possibly go wrong?

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So Long 2021 – Hello 2022!

On this last episode of the year, Chris is joined with Ally and son-in-law Thomas to close out 2021 and ring in 2022.

We look back on the highs and lows of the year in quiz form. Chris tests Ally and Thomas’s knowledge on the year’s culture, woke and political news.

Also, a big announcement concerning the plans for the SmorgShow Podcast in 2022.

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This episode is dedicated to Domenico DeFazio (1948-2021)

To close out the year, we are proud to look back on our archives and present once again, our radio adaptation of Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

We apologize for being absent for the past couple of months. We had a death in our immediate family. My stepdad, Domenico DeFazio passed away unexpectedly while on a business trip in Italy. We thought that it would be fitting to dedicate this episode to him.

Mimmo played the character of Martini the bartender in this radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life”. We originally released this exactly 10 years ago back on episode 66. This is perhaps one of our most elaborate radio plays we ever made for SmorgShow Theater. Listening back to this now warms our hearts, particularly given the number of friends and family members who came together to make this production possible.

Mimmo, you certainly had a wonderful life. We love you.

• Chris Bockay – George Bailey
• Ally Bockay –  Narrator, The Bailey Kids, Tilly, Mrs. Hatch
• Kim Bockay – Mary Hatch-Bailey
• Geoff Wells – Clarence
• Dave Jackson – Joseph, Burt the Cop, Nick the Bartender, Bridgekeeper
• Jerry Malauskas – Mr. Potter
• Daryl Woltman – Mr. Gower, Uncle Billy
• Chase Woltman – Young George Bailey
• Peet McCain – Harry Bailey
• Baba Gonesh – Ernie the Cab Driver
• Domenico DeFazio – Martini
• Terrylynn DeFazio – Ma Bailey
• Larry Coon – Peter Bailey
• Joe Personality – Sam Wainwright

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An old SmorgShow Podcast tradition returns in this episode. Move over Octoberfest because Spookfest ’21 is here with Chris running things solo once again.

To contribute to the thrills and chills, Chris delivers a couple of dramatic readings that will shake you to your core.

Baba Gonesh reports Breaking Baba News from Delhi, India where the evil monkeys are at it again. This time a money kills a man with a brick.

After many years, New Artist of the Week returns with a submission received via the SmorgShow Podcast listener feedback mailbox. Songwriter Dominic Dema shares ‘Afraid’, a song about vulnerability. It’s about finding the strength to face our fears but also admitting that we are afraid and need help. It is an anthem for the downtrodden and broken. Dominic’s song and other works can be found on all major music platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, etc.).

To close out the show we provide a very simple explanation of Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency.

Dramatic Readings are taken from the writings of S.E. Schlosser.

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Jerry Malauskas returns to the studio for this long overdue installment of the SmorgShow Podcast. On this episode, we opine on the following:

• Chris turns 55!
• Ally’s wedding was a success! We reflect back on the special day.
• Baba News with Baba Gonesh recorded from his Chennai studio: Rajasthan man who was honey-trapped has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, telling investigators that his greed for nude photos made him leak sensitive military information. Also, a travel update for those attending the Oktoberfest in India.
• Oktoberfest 2021 – The festivities in Munich may have been canceled for a second straight year, but Chris and Jerry celebrate the beer festival in the customary SmorgShow way. Jerry takes the German history quiz. Prost!
• Current Events and Cancel Culture Catch-Up: Jerry transforms into Jerome the CCC (Chief Conspiracy Correspondent) and we catch up on the latest news regarding inflation fears, supply shortages and the coming apocalypse. But hey, by this time in the program the beers have kicked in so we are either lighthearted about it or just full of crap! Cheers!

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On this abbreviated episode, Chris provides an update on Ally’s wedding less than 48 hours before the big day.

The SmorgShow Gang has taken a brief hiatus while we make preparations for Ally’s big day. The podcast will resume its traditional format in October once things get back to normal!

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For the first time in over a year, Ally returns to the studio to co-host this very special father-daughter episode with Chris.

Chris and Ally catch up on her life since graduating college, leaving home and supporting herself, starting her own business, and planning for her upcoming wedding.

Baba Gonesh returns with his final installment of his wedding planner series. In this installment, Baba discusses the 7 Hindu wedding vows.

Finally, the long-awaited interview with Phillip Donald is here! Phillip is back in our studio to promote his new album, “Break Loose”. On the first stop of his promotional tour, Chris and Ally ask Phillip all the tough questions including what really happened on that day that sent him to prison.

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Independence Day 2021 – Are we really free and independent? Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerome Malauskas returns to the SmorgShow studio to opine.

With most of the country opening up in time for the Fourth of July holiday, a new fear campaign has started around the Delta variant. We discuss a poll taken of Americans on whether they want government action.

Baba Gonesh, Wedding Planner: Installment #2: FAQs on Hindu Wedding traditions.

Other Features/Discussion Topics:

• Phillip Donald releases new single ‘Uber Friend’.
• Long-Awaited Classified UFO Info released by Feds.
• Cancel Culture: Violent and Identity-Based Language.
• A tale of two musicians: Bruce Springsteen is back on Broadway, but only performing to those who have been vaccinated. Meanwhile Eric Clapton reveals his experience with the vaccine and his fears around never playing guitar again.
• An update on Ally‘s upcoming wedding.

Phillip Donald ‘Uber Friend’ – The New Single is Now Available!

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After a nearly 6-month absence from the show, original Smorgasbord Radio show co-host Dave Jackson returns to the studio.

Chris decides to take advantage of Dave’s return by dialing the rhetoric back a bit from where the show has gone in recent episodes. Jerome Malauskas has taken his responsibilities of Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) seriously and as a result, the SmorgShow was starting to go into territory we strongly resisted for many years. Hence, the rather benign episode title, “Coffee with Chris and Dave”. We have shelved the whiskey in favor of our favorite brew so it is safe to get the family together and gather around your listening device of choice.

With Ally’s wedding just 90 days out, Chris has started to panic about writing the perfect Father of the Bride speech. Here, we discuss essential elements of a perfect speech and the top gaffes to avoid. Is Chris up to the challenge?

Baba Gonesh takes a break from his duties of International News Correspondent and taps into his wealth of knowledge of Hindu customs and traditions with the first of 3 installments of ‘Baba Wedding’. In this first installment, Baba addresses the #1 asked question submitted to him through our feedback hotline, “What is up with India and the arranged marriage?”

Finally, Chris and Dave head to the local cafe to have a hot brew and to discover the specific personalities associated with each type of coffee.

Phillip Donald reveals his new album cover along with the titles of the songs for is forthcoming album, “Break Loose: Songs for a COVID World” .

Finally, resident technology expert Geoffrey Gleason discusses ways to stay safe online.

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This could have easily been a two-part episode but we decided to pack it all into this single episode given the timely nature of the topics.

Chief Conspiracy Correspondent Jerome Malauskas joins Chris again to co-host this episode.

It’s a crazy world out there and we are frantically trying to keep up. Topics this week include:

• Ally finally has her college graduation ceremony 18 months after graduating, but Chris finds the campus ground zero for wokeness.
• Evangelism at Binny’s Liquor Store.
• Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski banishes police from his church after they try to break up Passover/Easter worship services. Three weeks later they arrest him on the open highway.
• Jerry is the first contestant on “Name that Tongue“.
• Baba Gonesh reports Breaking Baba News from Delhi as India experiences a new wave of COVID-19 and bodies wash up from the Ganges River.
• New CDC guidelines are announced, so what’s next as worldwide skepticism over vaccinations grows?
• Introducing the “Immunaband” – a COVID vaccine wrist band. Could it happen here?
• Van Morrison is blacklisted following the new release of his new album that targets the corporate media, social media and millennial culture.
• After the Colonial Pipeline cyber attack. US Government issues warning against filling plastic bags with gasoline during the gas shortage or should we say “crunch” or “hiccup”?
• Jeopardy winner accused of flashing white power sign after a string of wins.

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Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerry Malauskas joins Chris in the studio to co-host this episode.

This Episode’s Discussion Topics:

• Pastor Stewart-Allen Clark from First Baptist Church in Malden, MO takes a leave of absence after preaching about the importance of having an attractive wife and that women need to practice “weight control”.
• Anthony Luperini returns to the show to present his take on “The Good Wife’s Guide”, originally published in the pages of Housekeeping Monthly in May, 1955.
• Breaking Baba News: Cock-a-Doodle Death! Baba Gonesh reports from Punjab, India where a man has been stabbed to death in the groin by his own rooster during an illegal cockfight.
• Other Topics: One year after COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccinations and the Krispy Kreme incentive, and UFOs over military installations.
• New Philip Donald album cover reviewed.

Pastor Stewart-Allen Clark 

takes leave of absence from First Baptist Church in Malden, MO after preaching on the importance of wives practicing weight control and staying attractive for their husbands. Otherwise they risk having their husbands looking elsewhere for their needs.

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Chris is joined in the studio by Jerry Malauskas, Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC), once again for another episode of the SmorgShow Podcast, now banned in Iran and Cuba!

Exciting Topics include:

• Ally’s Wedding Update
• Chris’s Detox Diet
• Decomposing a Twinkie
• Anal Coronavirus Tests
• Woka-Cola: Be Less White
• The New Genderless “Potato Head”

And as always, Baba Gonesh reports live from Punjab for another installment of “Breaking Baba News” – The India military is now deploying the world’s hottest pepper – the Bhut Jolokia – in its arsenal.

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Who’s feeling down about saying goodbye to 2020? We know January 1 is just an arbitrary day and that things don’t magically change at the stroke of midnight, but there is something comforting about a fresh start. Let’s hope 2021 is better for all of us.

To start off the year, we invite back to the studio not one, but two former Smorgasbord Radio Show hosts – Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas…The first time since the lockdowns of 2020 began and we don’t care what Dr. Anthony Fauci or Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have to say about it.

This episode is a reflection back on the year (is it 2020 vision or 2020 hindsight?) – the lessons it taught us, and what we expect to see in the coming year.

Baba Gonesh is hopeful in travel resuming again in India soon and has invited the listeners to visit his homeland by offering up some of his favorite cities to celebrate the new year.

Other Topics:

• Dawn Wells of Gilligan’s Island Dead from COVID-19 at age 82.
• Phillip Donald announces plans for his new album
• What is with Mark Zuckerberg allowing soft porn on his platforms?

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We welcome our Chief Conspiracy Correspondent (CCC) Jerry Malauskas back to the studio again to co-host this episode of the SmorgShow Podcast.

With the COVID-19 lockdown still in effect and no end in sight, Chris and Jerry sample a flight of moonshine.

As 2020 comes to a close, Chris and Jerry reflect back on the year and the state of affairs we find ourselves in.

Van Morrison launches the Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund to support musicians who are facing financial hardship as a direct result of government restrictions.

International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh reports on a wedding that was canceled, not due to COVID-19, but rather the decision to serve chicken biryani instead of mutton biryani.

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It’s hard to believe that is has been 8 years since the last time we took to the woods, but after a long year of being cooped up indoors due to the pandemic, we head back to the Great Outdoors – this time at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, IL – to record a very special episode of the SmorgShow Podcast – Campfire S’morgs edition! Unfortunately, most of the gang is not in attendance this time around. In fact it is just Chris and Jerry. Is it wrong for two men to share each other’s company in the woods?

We try to make the best of it by telling scary campfire stories as well as discuss some topical events.

Other Features Include:

• Our famous Campfire S’morgs Recipe is shared
• Baba Gonesh records his first installment from his recording studio as things start to loosen up in India and he can travel more freely. This week, Baba delivers another installment of “Baba Blue – Spicy Baba“. Apparently Bollywood Actress Sunny Leone is back in the news and is spatting on social media with another film actress who is shaming other actresses who used to be in the adult entertainment industry and trying to break into the Bollywood scene.
• Tech Update: Facebook Lawsuit around image recognition
• 5 Types of churchgoers who will never return to church after COVID-19.
• Jerry goes to church!

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OktoberFest 2020 – With the official festivities in Munich being canceled this year due to COVID-19, the SmorgShow Podcast brings OktoberFest to you! In this 3rd annual tradition of celebrating the occasion, Chris is joined once again with Jerry Malauskas live in the studio and Dave Jackson via Zoom.

We discuss some interesting Oktoberfest facts and test the guys’ knowledge with a game of trivia.

Chris is now officially an empty-nester after Ally moves away into her own apartment. The guys share some stories about their days of being roommates together, and living on their own for the first time.

Other Topics Include:

• Apple iOS14 and the new COVID-19 Exposure Notifications.
• Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk:  Apple Watch Handwashing Notification and special tips on how to properly wash your hands.
• Baba Gonesh – Breaking Baba News: The monkey mayhem continues in India as monkeys steal COVID patient blood samples.

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Special guest co-host Jerry Malauskas joins Chris live in the studio. Jerry is the first visitor to the SmorgShow lounge since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March, so we hope for the best. We celebrate Jerry’s 55th birthday (wow, is he old!), discuss Chris’s altered vacation after three previous getaway plans were canceled due to the virus shutdowns. Jerry discusses current happenings in the city of Chicago with respect to riots and violence.

International news correspondent Baba Gonesh is still in lockdown in Chennai, India but still manages to cover the breaking news. The monkey mayhem continues throughout his country where monkeys have taken over the local pools as they become increasingly confident by the lack of human being presence on the streets.

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Indie-pop band Echosmith joins Chris and Ally via Zoom on this episode of the SmorgShow Podcast as the COVID-19 lockdown continues.

The Sierota siblings just finished the first leg of their tour to promote their new album ‘Lonely Generation’, but now they are living through the Coronavirus pandemic just like the rest of the country. 

They join us to discuss how they are dealing with life during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

Additional Features: Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk : Online Dating Tips during COVID-19 and Breaking Baba News – Monkey Mayhem! International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh reports from Punjab, India while in lockdown: Monkeys invade India government buildings!

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Life During COVID-19: We bring this episode to you during the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown where Chris and Ally, through the miracle of technology, connect remotely with co-hosts Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas via Zoom.

We discuss many of the subtle ways life has changed during the stay-at-home period and even the positive things that have come out of it.

Jerry Malauskas – our Chief Conspiracy Correspondent shares his views on what is happening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baba Gonesh, also in lockdown in India, but still manages to serve his role well as International News Correspondent for the SmorgShow Podcast.

Monkeys Rule the Streets of India during the COVID-19 Lockdown!

In the latest installment of Breaking Baba News, Baba discusses how monkeys have reclaimed the streets of India during the lockdown.

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Jerry Malauskas is our special guest host for this latest podcast installment. In this post-Valentine’s Day episode, Chris talks about his experience with ordering a heart-shaped pizza from Lou Maltati’s as well as a new, local restaurant establishment and their impossible-to-follow instructions for calling ahead for seating.

Jerry shares a story of how he earned the ‘pat-on-the back’ good citizen award for rescuing a squirrel from being torn apart within the elevator shaft at the Mount Prospect Public Library.

Baba Gonesh‘s investigative reporting exposes the India textbook industry for reporting that Japan bombed the USA in WWII (among other poorly translated historical facts)…the latest of Breaking Baba News!

Finally, Gwyneth Paltrow‘s new candle line with a vile brand name.

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First there was Valentine’s Day, then Galentine’s Day. Now Chris and Dave bring you the first annual Palentine’s Day…a celebration of manhood. 

On this episode we talk about the top recommended male bonding activities as well as the origins and purpose of the man cave. 

Baba Gonesh delivers another installment of Breaking Baba News where he discusses the disturbing trend of Bride Burning.

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It’s really hard to believe we have been at this little hobby of ours for 10 years, but the calendar confirms it. This episode is a look back on the past 10 years. This is not the same type of retrospective that we did when we hit our 100th episode. Rather, Ally and I look back on life’s events and major milestones of the past decade. Considering we began this podcast when Ally was in 6th grade and now she has graduated college and planning a wedding, we have a lot of ground to cover.

We’d like to thank all our listeners who were in some way entertained by our brand of crazy antics over the years. This is certainly not the end of this podcast, even though at times this episode sounds like we are winding things down. This has been a part of my DNA since I was 7 years old so I imagine I will continue doing this for another 10 years.

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Recorded and published on the longest night of the year, this episode is dedicated to my father, William Nicholas Bockay, who passed away after a long illness on November 23, 2019.

On this episode, I discuss the last several weeks that I spent with my dad, including the final hours I shared with him in the hospital.

My dad has made a couple of appearances on this program over the years and I share those clips again here. Recordings include the French quiz we gave him to test his knowledge on French culture before he went to live in Paris as well as the time that he phoned into ‘Date Line’ on my high school radio show. I also share the eulogy that I delivered at my dad’s visitation which provides a glimpse into my childhood and the influence that my dad had on me during my formative years.

Peet McCain also phones into the studio to share some of his memories of my dad.

My dad’s passion was classical music and he adored my daughter Ally’s musical abilities. To close out the show, I play Ally’s recent original music composition, “Danze delle Piume” (Dance of the Feathers), which was the last sounds my dad heard as he drifted from this world.

Slideshow Celebrating the Life of William Bockay

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This is perhaps the most personal episode that I ever recorded. In fact, it wasn’t really going to be an episode at all. I had an idea just to turn the recording equipment on and start talking. Whether it ended up being interesting enough to share out was yet to be seen. In the end, I think what we ended up with is something worth preserving and adding to our catalog of shows. Also, at 1 hour and 45 minutes in length, it violates our recent format change where we made a decision to make each episode shorter in length for easier consumption. I could have easily made this into three separate episodes, but decided in the end to leave it in tact as one continuous recording to capture the essence of the conversation.

The first 20 minutes of the episode I share my feelings about Ally’s recent engagement and my latest life transition that includes watching her leave home and in less than two years, seeing her get married. Having Dave present to hear me out was very therapeutic.

We then go through a box of old memories that I had stashed away in the archives for several decades. The box contained a journal that I apparently wrote almost 30 years ago, documenting the ups and downs of a particular relationship from the time. I don’t remember ever writing it, and I had not read it prior to reading it aloud on this episode. It shed a lot of light on what was going on in my life in the early 90’s.

In the end, I think we made this entertaining enough to be put along side of the other Smorgasbord material.

As an added bonus, Baba Gonesh returns with a lesson about Diwali for the kids in the audience.

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Chris and Dave are back in the studio together again sans Jerry Malauskas. On this episode we air Dave’s exclusive interview with legendary blues guitarist, John Primer. John was the last guitar player to play with Muddy Waters and Dave got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview him at Johnny’s Blitz in Westmont, IL. 

Chris is also celebrating his 53rd birthday and shares his experience of attending his 35th year high school reunion.  

Spicy Baba Gonesh returns with another installment of Baba Blue, this time in a Breaking News story about a man in Delhi who has reported getting hundreds of calls daily from men looking for exotic Bollywood film actress Sunny Leone after she gives out his phone number in the new film, Arjun Patiala.

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Jerry Malauskas joins Chris in the studio again this week. In fact, he never left after Episode 106. Jerry shares his experience with diversity training at work and specifically their new ‘Cultural Competence and Implicit Bias’ program. Jerry is none-too-pleased about it.

Next, Spicy Baba returns with a new installment of ‘Baba Blue’. Geoffrey Gleason returns with another ‘Tech Talk’ and tips to know whether you are addicted to your cell phone.

Finally, Chris and Jerry take a road trip to pick up Dave Jackson before heading to a blues club where Dave is scheduled to interview legendary blues guitarist, John Primer. We will likely include that interview in the next episode.

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We are pleased to welcome Jerry Malauskas back to the studio. On this episode, Chris discusses the news of Ally’s recent engagement and the process of accepting change. What will become of the SmorgShow Podcast without Ally? Chris shares his own personal journey toward marriage and reconciles that her journey through life will naturally be different.

Other features: To celebrate Oktoberfest, Chris challenges Jerry to a German history quiz, Baba Gonesh returns with a new feature ‘Baba Blue’. You’ve never heard Baba quite this way before. Finally, we introduce ‘Q’, the world’s first genderless AI.

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In our 11th installment of SmorgShow Theater, we re-enact ‘Knock at the Door’, which originally aired in 1942 on the ‘Lights Out’ radio drama series that centered around horror and the supernatural.

This tale is narrated by Ella who describes her descent into madness – how she married a nice fellow and mama’s boy Jay who adores his mother to the point of Ella feeling pushed out of the way. Our narrator, after hearing some convincing voices in her head, pushes her poor mother-in-law down a well and seemingly doesn’t have to deal with her anymore. But how wrong she is when the couple hears a knock at the door while eating dinner one night…

The SmorgShow Players are: Ally Bockay (Ella), Chris Bockay (Jay), Kim Bockay (Mrs. Kruger)

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This is the first episode where I host the show with someone other than someone from the SmorgShow gang. This week I welcome Eric Coleman to the SmorgShow lounge. Eric has been serving as the AV technical/worship arts leader at Harvest New Beginnings Church in Oswego, IL where I have been running sound and assisting the tech team for the past couple of years. Eric is one of the few people who can appreciate the complexity of running a podcast and can “geek out” over the lights, sounds and smells of our studio. Eric has been asking to be on the podcast for several months and it’s taken me a while to figure out how to create an episode around him given the unique format of our show. I also needed to ensure I could connect with a millennial in terms of finding the right content that fit within the framework of the program.

The result is something completely unique to what we have ever done before. We talk about about Eric’s faith and his journey that brought him to this point of being involved as a worship arts leader for Harvest New Beginnings church. Somewhere along the way we determine that puppet shows had influenced us both at an early age and inspired us to pursue our passions in life. We spend some time chatting about relationships in the high-tech world of online dating apps. Eric also performs a couple original songs as well as a more current, popular worship song.

This episode is nothing like we have ever done before, but since the SmorgShow is “a show about anything”, I think this fits in quite well with the format.

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The passage of time: We discuss some theories on why time seems to pass more quickly as we get older and ways to slow it down.

Social media distractions and pressure to be “liked”.

Breaking Baba News

Classic Chris and Dave Rewind: “Algebra – Not Just for Homework Anymore” commercial (from Season 1 of the Chris and Dave Smorgabord, 1982)

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Chris, Dave and Jerry host this episode of the SmorgShow Podcast. Chris is very upset to learn that Baba Gonesh’s podcast has surpassed the SmorgShow in number of subscribers. Baba’s recent marketing blitz and updated podcast artwork has caused Apple to take notice. Baba’s show was recently featured in “New and Noteworthy” section and is among the Top 5 Indian Culture podcasts on Apple. Given that Baba has been given the SmorgShow as his creative platform for 35+ years, it was a little shocking to the gang that this “spinoff” show has become so successful. It prompts the gang to brainstorm on how to get more listeners. Perhaps the show needs a fresh makeover or some gimmick to attract more listeners.

On this episode we discuss the recent Supreme Court case of a California fashion designer who was denied a trademark registration due to its “scandalous” and “immoral” brand name, which uses the acronym for “Friends U Can’t Trust”.

This is the first episode of the new format where we will begin to publish more frequent episodes in a shorter, more concise format.

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The SmorgShow quartet returns with the first episode of 2019 after a rather long hiatus. A busy spring sent Ally to New York City to perform with the North Central College Women’s Chorale at Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Carnegie Hall. Ally talks about this amazing experience and some of the other things she has been involved with as she gets closer to graduation.

The second half of the episode picks up where Episode 99 left off. Chris and Dave interview Jim Swick from Downers Grove North High School class of 1966. Jim was largely responsible for making high school radio station WDGC-FM a reality.

Jim takes us back to the pre-launch days of the station’s origins and discusses how he established the first radio signals that would be the start of what would become an incredible legacy and would influence the lives and career paths of so many individuals.

Chris and Dave set the record straight that 2019 is actually the 50th anniversary of the station, not 2018 as was celebrated last fall with the station’s alum. Jim shares some of his favorite stories from his career in broadcasting.

Finally, Chris shares an embarrassing story about his childhood.

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One Saturday morning in early January 1979, I launched my own faux-radio station from my bedroom with the call letters WKID-FM.  This 12-year old’s humble configuration consisted of just a turntable and a Panasonic cassette recorder.  My early influences were Chicago radio station disk jockeys John Landecker, Larry Lujack, Bob Sirott and eventually Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.  Each Saturday morning, I would record myself spinning the Top 40 hits and announcing over the intros.  I did this religiously on a weekly basis to the point where I felt I was actually broadcasting to a real audience.  For the next two years, I partnered with my best friend at the time, Peet McCain, and we just recorded ourselves doing radio shows together.  It was a hobby that kept me off the streets and away from drugs. I was convinced that this was going to be my path in life.

By the time I got to high school a short two years later, I had become rather seasoned from doing these bedroom and basement recording sessions that I was able to land a pretty decent time slot for a freshman on my high school’s radio station WDGC-FM in Downers Grove, IL.  It was then and there that I met Dave Jackson.  After discussing my vision for the show, we launched the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord program in the fall of 1982. Our free-form talk show format pushed the limits for what was acceptable for a high school radio program.  The show was successful in terms of building a loyal following that by the time I got to college, I had intended to major in Communications and make a career out of radio.  Then reality hit me when I got assigned the 6-8am Sunday time slot on NIU’s campus radio station WKDI (coincidentally close to ‘WKID’ now that I think about it). I was prohibited from doing anything creative. I was told all I needed to do was read the weather, tell the time and announce the songs.  After only two shows, I quit radio for good and changed my major.

25 years later, in early 2010, after a successful career in market research, I got the creative itch again and launched the SmorgShow Podcast with my 11-year old daughter Ally.  Through the new medium of podcasting, I was able to relive my old passion for radio while at the same time share a very special activity with my daughter.  The SmorgShow Podcast was an attempt at taking the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord show to a new level.  We were pretty consistent with pushing out regular content for the next three years, learning the new technology and investing heavily in a state-of-the art recording studio along the way.  We then took a break in 2013 and published a few shows here and there over the next few years as Ally started to become busy with high school social events as any normal teenage girl would.  She eventually went to college, and had even less time to do shows with me.  In 2018, I decided to push forward with the show myself.  Starting with Episode 91, Dave Jackson as well as Jerry Malauskas (also from our old WDGC Smorgasbord days) began appearing as co-hosts on the show, carrying me to the finish line of having 100 episodes in the can at the end of 2018.

Episode 100 is very monumental to me. It marks a significant milestone on this journey.  On this special occasion, Ally returns as my co-host along with Dave and Jerry and we take a look back on our favorite moments on this 9-year journey together.  Baba Gonesh has traveled all the way back to the U.S. from Chennai, India to be on the show, so you know it has to be good.  Phillip Donald also makes a rare appearance after spending 6 months in prison and performs his new song live.  We have some other surprises in store as well.

So almost 40 years to the day since I fired up my Panasonic tape recorder in my bedroom studio of WKID, I bring you the latest installment of my life’s journey.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the SmorgShow Podcast, recorded live from Granny Rose’s barn.

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On the heels of the WDGC-FM 50th Anniversary Alumni Reunion (featured on Episode 98), Chris and Dave reflect on the special day.  Jerry Malauskas also joins us in the studio this week to keep things interesting.

Most of this week’s program is devoted to our SpookFest tradition as heard back on earlier episodes 37 and 61 (from 2010 and 2011, respectively).  SpookFest is where we discuss all things spooky as we approach Halloween.  Ally is back in recorded form and contributes to this episode with a couple of dramatic readings of her own that are guaranteed to give you thrills and chills.   Baba Gonesh delivers ‘Baba News’ and makes a very special announcement.

The second half of the show features our very special interview with Sandy Rizzo, WDGC-FM alum, class of 1978.   We exchange stories with Sandy about the old days of being on the radio on WDGC during the 1970’s.

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Chris and Dave attended the WDGC-FM 50-Year Anniversary and Alumni Reunion on Saturday September 29, 2018 and were given a one-hour on-air time slot where they took the opportunity to reflect on their memories of their old high-school radio station.  We bring you the entire broadcast here in Episode 98 of the SmorgShow Podcast.

For the first time in 34 years since they walked out of the WDGC studios at Downers Grove North High School in 1984, Chris and Dave step on ground zero where all the magic happened so many years ago.  The Smorgasbord duo discuss their favorite memories of the radio station, their early days of working together, and of the general manager Fred Moore.  Chris and Dave come full circle with their radio journey by broadcasting from the very same microphones they used on the original show.

This episode was also recorded on HD video, so check it out on our YouTube channel.

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Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again for a very unusual installment of the SmorgShow.  For an episode where there was absolutely no show preparation, we managed to squeak out another 90-minute show.  An open conversation of two middle aged men that goes on a variety of paths.  Just some of the subjects discussed:

• Jerry introduces Chris to K-Pop music – is this the new male?
• Chris discusses all of the house projects that have been on hold that he is looking forward to completing once Ally graduates from college next year.
• How politics is infecting everything we do and used to enjoy.
• Politicizing the college classroom
• Ally attributes her interest in music to Chris playing ELO when she was younger.
• Remember the days when you bought a crummy album for one song and got stuck with it even if the rest of it sucked?
• Classic 80’s Smorgasbord Show Rewind: Mr. Brown Can Moo.

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The Smorgasbord Woods Project: Dudes in the Woods.  Former Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas join Chris on this episode.  As a closeout to summer ’18 and a kickoff to fall, the guys head to the hiking trails.

The guys hit the trails at two relatively secluded forest preserves, Saw Wee Kee Park, and Waa Kee Sha, located in Oswego, IL.

Our original intent was to record both audio and video for this adventure.  However, it didn’t take very long for us to realize how difficult it is to balance the content so that it worked equally as well on both platforms.  Therefore, we created an entirely separate video of the event which can be found on our YouTube channel as well as at SmorgShow.com.

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Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again as we celebrate the end of summer and the start of Oktoberfest.  This episodes’s features include:

• An Oktoberfest quiz.
• Social media policing free speech:  Chris banned from Amazon and Jerry is given the second of three strikes for posting offensive content on YouTube.
• How Chris got on the internet for the first time.
• Roy Orbison has been dead for 30 years, yet he is kicking off his 2018 U.S. tour …in hologram form.
• Baba Gonesh brings back his ancient Indian folk tales.
• Resident tech nerd Geoffrey Gleason discusses the strange phenomenon of ads that follow you around the internet in another installment of Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk.
• Classic 80’s Smorgasbord Radio Show Rewind:  Opening Jerry’s sexy birthday mail that was sent to the WDGC studio and a segment of a very risque ‘Date Line’.