the Wikkid podcast
church upbringing gone wrong, depression... and music
About the show
Being raised in a strict fundamentalist Christian group in the 1980s can cause some very predictable problems. Depression can be a Christian teenager's most constant companion despite church promises to the contrary. Dark humour, and even darker music, can help. This podcast is centered around the songs I wrote to deal back then, and what happened when I then picked away at recording workable versions of them for decades.
contact me with questions and comments at [email protected] or on Twitter @WikkidPerson
the Wikkid podcast on social media
Episodes
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Episode 44: I Just Might
October 12th, 2022 | Season 4 | 1 hr 21 mins
angry conversations with god, bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, marriage, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, romantic relationships, susan isaacs, therapeutic
For season 4 of The Wikkid Podcast, love is in the air, as things tend to be when they blow up. This episode explores that thing we tell young people that "there's someone for everyone," or in the Christian circles "the Lord has someone picked out for you to spend the rest of you life with." Author and actress Susan Isaacs (Angry Conversations With God) contributes to this season.
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Episode 45: Vacuuming
October 26th, 2022 | Season 4 | 1 hr 47 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, jay semko, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, the northern pikes, therapeutic
This week's episode is about divorce: people who've been through them, and people not allowed to have them because church, stuff like that. Some homes manage all the domestic drama and drywall damage without the divorce proceedings.
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Episode 46: Too Much For Marriage
November 9th, 2022 | Season 4 | 1 hr 26 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, louise perry, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, therapeutic
This week’s episode takes a frank, uncomfortable look at the mechanics of sexual attraction and mate selection, particularly in church communities, and an equally frank, uncomfortable look at the mechanics of trying to have spirituality despite the objections of… well… religious people.
If you're 30 and you don't think you're ever going to have a bridal shower or any baby showers, can you just throw yourself a Spinster Party? Keren did... -
Episode 47: Stranger Lady
November 23rd, 2022 | Season 4 | 1 hr 57 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, louise perry, music, music production, neal brennan, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Flirting. With Christian girls? Can you win a woman's heart with a song? Michael Vedder shares some firsts, including first (church) girlfriend, and first dumping of a committed church girl so he could be free to get his feet dirty enough from walking around in the actual world to possibly need to wash them. Harold talks about how a man who was the only survivor of a car accident when he was five, and who grew up without a mother, grew up to be someone who goes around hugging and complimenting everyone he meets. Meghan talks more about being a "worldlie" having a secret relationship with a young Plymouth Brethren Christian Church guy.
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Episode 48: Nortel Love Song
December 7th, 2022 | Season 4 | 2 hrs 4 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, louise perry, music, music production, neal brennan, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Trying to date irreligious or only semi-religious women without getting kicked out of one's church. A song written for a high tech honey, which was fairly well received. I turn my guitar amp all the way up to three (its highest setting is six). Meghan spills the tea on her secret trysts with a member of the mysterious Plymouth Brethren Christian Church/Cult. Susan and Anson weight in on workplace romances. Evan views bible conference dating as a flawed social system. Michael talks about his first kiss, which occurred a couple of years after his first serious relationship.
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Episode 49: Moonlight
December 21st, 2022 | Season 4 | 1 hr 51 mins
bible, chastity, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, hookup culture, louise perry, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, purity culture, rapture, therapeutic
Warning: the following program contains frank discussion of people trying to find sexual gratification in both church and hookup culture, within, and outside, the bounds of wedlocks both holy and infernal. Viewers are advised to thank me later. Meghan talks about sexual chemistry, and whether hookup culture serves dudes better than dames. Evan gives an economist's perspective on investing in a future with a good woman vs. short overnight transactions/evening deposits. Anson talks with his son about the birds and bees. George beats the hell out of his drums for me, to great effect. Real men sing standing up. I re-envision a song I wrote in the 90s for a girl who didn't like me.
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Episode 50: (What To Do) With An Angel
January 4th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 38 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, neal brennan, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Kissing and telling. Michael Vedder and I discuss what it is to be a fundamentalist lad trying to navigate hookup culture without exactly hooking up. Wife application forms. Meghan tells us how things ended up with her Brethren paramour. Anson and I talk about being in the same room as people, but with your attention in cyberspace. Trucks get stuck in snowy laneways. It gets a little country in here.
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Episode 51: Almost Never
January 18th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 53 mins
bible, christianity, depression, domestic violence, fundamentalism, gilette, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, spousal abuse, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Santa brings Covid for Christmas. Drums recorded in absentia. Barns burn down. Friends in neglectful, controlling and abusive relationships. The possibility of helping these friends with being drawn in too much. Is partner abuse something only men do? Trying to play guitar like Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.
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Episode 52: Would That Make You Happy?
February 1st, 2023 | Season 4 | 58 mins 58 secs
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, neal brennan, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
A short one. Silliness and sour grapes. "Treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen"? Clockwork lupines. Do people really want what they tell Cosmopolitan they want in a relationship? George adds a lot to this song. Basing expectations for men on 80s sit-com dads. Being good at stuff men around supposed to be good at. Do nice guys finish?
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Episode 53: Sara Jay
February 15th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 5 mins
bible, christianity, depression, dr. demento, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, louise perry, music, music production, neal brennan, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
This Wikkid Wednesday, we take a serious look at humour. Teasing: key relationship tool or a terribly dangerous thing to play with? The therapeutic powers of The Doctor Demento Show. Humour as shot of whiskey. Food sensitivities and emotional sensitivities.
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Episode 54: Everywhere I Go
March 1st, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 22 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, therapeutic
"I love you just the way you are. You're beautiful inside and out. Now... I was wondering if you'd mind changing a few things? I have a list." Dealbreakers vs. negotiables. More home drum recording. Church fashion doesn't fly in all venues. Looking for a fixer-upper?
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Episode 55: What A Lovely Umbrella
March 15th, 2023 | Season 4 | 52 mins 10 secs
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, louise perry, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
The Wikkid Podcast adds more cowbell and gets friendzoned this week. That is to say, it explores that experience of having grown very close with someone, a romantic relationship seeming to you to be starting out well, and suddenly being told you should be "just friends" instead. And then, instead of that meaning "sod off and leave me alone," it means you're around to provide the usual shoulder to cry on, the sounding board to sound on, and on and on. But you go along, right, because maybe she'll change her mind? Caryl says they never reverse this decision. Susan weighs in. Evan asks why, if men are famously bad at picking up on (female) hints, do women then communicate with men primarily in hints? Siri recommends against Emily blocking her ex who wants to be "just friends."
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Episode 56: Had To Be This Way
March 29th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 4 mins
angry conversations with god, bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Some stuff in your life really didn't work out. So you have to wonder: did it have to be this way? Did people and groups help make it that way? Why does God let crappy things happen to sad people? What does He have to say for Himself, if anything? Susan Isaacs tells her "Central Park" story from her book Angry Conversations With God. Michael talks about what happens when you try to date people the collective doesn't approve of.
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Episode 57: Fine
April 12th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 15 mins
angry conversations with god, bible, bruce lee, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Telling people at work you're fine when you're really not. Me and Bruce Lee. Cats might be love from God when your Kung Fu and your church upbringing aren't working out for you. How not to read the bible. A song with a whole bunch of eff words in the middle, but nary a corrupt communication in sight.
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Episode 58: Irrelevant
April 26th, 2023 | Season 4 | 48 mins 53 secs
angry conversations with god, bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Do our beliefs choose us, rather than the other way around? Doubt. People dumping you and getting right on with their lives like you never existed. Trying not to be superstitious as to one's belief in God. Car woes. From the darkness of future past: The return of Joel.
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Episode 59: Three Chord Song
May 10th, 2023 | Season 4 | 1 hr 10 mins
bible, christianity, depression, fundamentalism, guitar, hell, home recording, music, music production, parents, plymouth brethren, rapture, susan isaacs, therapeutic
Mid-life crises. Car troubles. Painter's tape as a guitar-playing aid. I can't quit you: Relationships with people who aren't over their ex. Betweeness. What hath God promised? Gloomy, doomy piano chords.