Episodes
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
167: with Doyle Canning, Congressional candidate
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Doyle Canning is an organizer, a mother, and a climate law expert who is challenging Congressman DeFazio in the May 19th Democratic primary. She is a thoroughly impressive and capable candidate.
We chat about parenting during crisis (2:28), her COVID-19 platform (4:49), foreign policy (7:37), Shaun King's endorsement and OR-4 voters (12:21), policies that excite people (17:20), progressive allies like Albert Lee (21:49), Doyle's musical taste/background (24:30), A Tribe Called Quest (29:19), education policy (32:11), her qualifications and climate law background (39:07), healthcare optimism over fear-mongering (45:05), crediting a Republican (53:20), and more.
The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/tODqVGE522w.
Subscribe to be notified of next week's show -- over an hour with 3-term former Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy!
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
166: with U.S. Constitution, meaningful document
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
In this brief episode of Less Stupid, I provide evidence that the official campaign of the incumbent mayor of Eugene has violated the United States Constitution, by blocking dissenting views from engaging in a public forum. The video recording is at https://youtu.be/SSg0-n-QSeU.
I am particularly energized to share this evidence because of how disappointed I was with the City of Eugene voter pamphlet, which was mailed out this week. Not only did city staff make unfair edits to multiple Mayoral candidates' statements (which we paid to have included), but the Mayor listed several accomplishments that have not taken place yet, framing them as though they have already happened. This brief episode is posted in the name of governmental accountability.
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
165: with Marvolo (Amber Batey), YouTuber & model
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
Amber "Marvolo" Batey is a YouTuber and model. I guess she doesn't like potatoes.
We chat about those potato feelings (2:32), Oregon’s border (4:01), government and education (6:30), her channel (12:00), mania (17:45), Ye, Kids See Ghosts and neurotransmitters (20:57), YouTube history (30:40), cannabis (34:10), sex work (38:10), emotion over talent in music (46:32), homeless culture (49:15), Eminem and hip-hop radio (55:49), NRQ & MCR (59:02), BIRDEMIC!!! (1:01:40), likes/comments/anxiety (1:08:50), hipness and one-upping (1:13:31), break-ups, Pokemon Go, and vulnerable videos (1:20:09), Trainer Tips (1:23:36), Weird Al parodies (1:28:38), living homeless with an ileostomy (1:31:27), reframing being objectified (1:35:51), Fantastic Beasts (1:41:34), and more.
The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/xk9LjGC9RVQ.
Check out Marvolo’s channel at https://www.youtube.com/marvolo.
Friday Mar 27, 2020
164: with Kate Davidson, City Council Ward 2 candidate
Friday Mar 27, 2020
Friday Mar 27, 2020
Kate Davidson has spent 18 years in Eugene's second ward, being represented by Betty Taylor. Kate helped Betty win re-election in 2008, and now that the longest-held seat in Eugene history will have a new occupant in 2021, Kate is stepping up to run.
We chat about distributed energy (2:06), our three choices during climate chaos (4:26), privilege in Eugene (11:12), our age difference (14:05), establishment endorsements (18:38), Kate’s experience (20:29) fiscal responsibility (23:24), “treating posterity like dirt” (27:00), long-term thinking, communal living & Y2K (29:40), a Councilor Davidson priority (34:24), UBI and statewide ideas (38:37), founding Lane Library League and organizing in Creswell (41:12), home-schooling (48:55), the arts (52:35), human-centered economics (57:02), Biden & Bernie (1:03:34), Kate’s reading list (1:10:09), Kanye & other music (1:12:09), and more. The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/IC4V72rHt1g.
Check out Kate's impressive website at https://www.katedavidson.org.
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
163: with Matthew Yook, data analyst & Mayoral candidate
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
Matthew Yook has been an activist for various human rights issues in Eugene, and is also running to be our 40th Mayor. We dig into a lot of his extensive and enthusiastic platform.
We chat about Asians onscreen (0:41), confrontation and alleging racism (5:20), grassroots strategies for challenging the incumbent (9:04), "the establishment" (11:20), American flags on pickup trucks (15:10), racism and privilege within activism (21:40), MUPTE (24:02), a lodging tax (28:50), Airbnb (30:35), "Housing: A Wish (A Hiss) 4 So Many Lips" (42:00), ADUs (44:22) limitations/violations of sanctuary city policy (48:47), opportunity zones (51:58), CAHOOTS (58:49), visibility of accomplishments (1:06:22), UBI (1:09:34), conservative dignity (1:12:56), feeling leaderless (1:16:41), tonkotsu vs. tonkatsu (1:23:29), Cybertrucks (1:28:47), live music (1:34:20), B.o.B (1:42:21), and more.
The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/HmYRoZaaw_g.
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
162: with Robert Patterson, activist & Mayoral candidate
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Robert Patterson is an activist for unhoused rights around Oregon, and together we comprise 29% of Eugene's Mayoral ballot. Our chat begins at 10:14, after I respectfully lay out some concerns about how Robert treated me afterwards (3am Hitler image details at 4:34).
Nonetheless, we have a friendly chat about homelessness (11:32), the limited power of one person like Obama (18:30), medicare for all (22:06), physical and mental health distinctions (25:33), being against suicide (28:44), blending in with Asians (35:08), fancy public universities (35:47), Robert's plan to win (38:58), non-selective door-knocking (40:40), politicians and whether Bernie's an outsider (45:39), great teachers being underpaid (50:44), "Less Stupid" (53:14), DPLC resolutions (55:00), legislator entitlement (56:38) and more.
The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/7mG7f5ReuoM.
Saturday Mar 07, 2020
161: with Dillon Hudson, property manager
Saturday Mar 07, 2020
Saturday Mar 07, 2020
Dillon Hudson manages apartment properties and practices jiu-jitsu (53:41) in Eugene. Though our perspectives can differ on things like gentrification, social justice, and President #45, I have known Dillon to be a sharper, more disciplined, and more empathetic thinker than many of my "elite" college friends.
We talk personal responsibility and opportunity (1:44), experience vs. book learning (14:19), VR (23:11), equality/equity and changing definitions (36:15), ADHD/phones/Twitter journalism (1:27:28), getting docked for making a legitimate penis-inclusive Japanese history project (2:23:22), and more. ONE OF THE BEST INFO-DRIVEN TOPICS: Dillon's inside knowledge on the RENTAL HOUSING MARKET (1:38:38), which remains Eugene's most urgently contentious local issue.
The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/-kpBOZSn0So.
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
160: with Katey Harvey, DJ Kalien
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Katey Harvey (DJ Kalien) is an award-winning DJ and burgeoning fashion designer. She's lived in Eugene/Springfield her whole life, where she recently placed #1 in Best DJ Music from Eugene Weekly's Best of Eugene. As fellow North Eugene HS alums, we chat about diversity at our school, Straight Pride, same-sex couples on the street, the many ways to be a DJ, how to save a party, perspectives on the gun debate, bumper stickers, an award for Tech N9ne, semi-famous artists we love, and more.
YouTube (pretty much audio-only...): https://youtu.be/qj7uCGWigI8.
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
159: with Amiia Nectar, vocalist
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
Amiia Nectar is a vocalist and a community radio co-host in Eugene. Alongside her peers in The Black Triad, she hosts dope conversations every Friday from 3-5pm on Fire Walker Radio, broadcast live via KEPW 97.3 FM (Eugene PeaceWorks' Homegrown Community Radio) and http://kepw.org.
We have a great chat about sexuality, music genre, the "urban" label, getting hit in the eye with a plastic chair during youth sports, and more. The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/kKWHF2WukJs.
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
158: with Tyger Gruber, podcast host
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Tyger Gruber (Talks With Tyger) is a prolific podcast host in Eugene. He labels himself as almost "alt-right" within the first two minutes, visibly worrying me! We discuss his knowledge in kinesiology/health, whether labels and identities are helpful, aphantasia, TikTok, Islam, and much more. Just like in my three appearances on his show, we deeply disagree and have deep love for one another.
The discussion is on video (in 4K!) at https://youtu.be/DclNyjc3WiE.