This man is an enigma. Ever since the moment we met he has subverted every expectation and social interaction we've ever shared. I truly love original people like Taaffe. Often times I'm just leaning on the bar at Cold Coast Brewery and I'm greeted with a non-sequitur that has me either laughing, infuriated that I hadn't thought of it first, or questioning the seams of what we call reality. Over the past year I've learned new and interesting things about this man but I'm terrified that it's only scratching the surface. Enjoy the ride we take in this episode and a cameo from his lovely wife Sarah.

If you've ever skated in Lompoc you know Ryan "Palmdale" Walters, he is synonymous with the skateboarding scene and one of the best to represent a once great individualist pursuit on the Central Coast. He's been a shoe-in for the podcast for years and I FINALLY got to sit down across from him to have a wonderful conversation. Only the best people in life seem to be so self-deprecating, it drives me nuts. Ryan is exactly that type of person. No matter how much love he gets he'll humble himself with a quick jab aimed at his own persona. Perhaps that's part of his charm and is why he is so universally (in my opinion) respected by his peers. I've watched his transformation from skate-rat to family man and I don't know many friends I'm so genuinely happy for. Take a moment out of your day to find the Palmdale in your life and text them to let 'em know they fucking rock. Enjoy us knuckleheads talking shit.

After a year away from the solo-episode I sat down in my new studio/office to get the lead out.  It's always my intention to make rants and complaints as enjoyable as possible, hopefully even one day extracting material from these off-the-cuff proceedings, we all know people who complain at length and just exhaust our well-being.  I promise to never exhaust you for too long. Not to brag but it's become quite a skill to talk shit uninterrupted for many, many, minutes at a time. Take note of when my first break is I surprised myself. Perhaps this is all too late but I expressed some grievences I'd been sitting on. Catharsis was acheived and I had an epiphany by the end of this episode. Simply being: I have to be myself, only myself, authenticity is purity. I've strayed to far from who I am. Course correction has taken place and you, the listener, shall witness. Enjoy!

Fellow podcaster Sophia Lynn let me infiltrate her dwelling on Easter Sunday to chat about being a Peer Support Specialist, homeschooled vs public school, men's mental health, winning "Nickelodeon Rock's Your School", playing an electric violin, being a horsegirl, and cute dogs arrive. Be sure to check out her podcast on Spotify "Nobody Likes You..."

Ben joins me in my secret living room lair while the podcast studio is being constructed, we chat about the Phat Jam 7 Skate Contest, the new skatepark in opening soon in my hometown of Nipomo, rehabbing our back/knee injuries, Ben's love for physical therapy, nearly becoming a father, living in Seattle, why we hate Reels on IG, the legendary Blake, Mr. Bungle/Mike Patton, living in a world that hates cops, and advocating for the future Santa Maria skatepark.

Tiff sits down with me in the blue room of local rehearsal space and live entertainment venue Stages letting me pick her brain about her first time doing stand-up, being a music teacher, why the hell she chose to be in Lompoc, Covid vaccines, and The Circus Starts at Midnight.

Many years ago I met a video rental store clerk, Noah, in the small town of Nipomo, California. Fate would reunite us for a wild and fun conversation orchestrated by none other than the man behind the curtain Jonathan Lopez. Mixing and mastering 99% of all my podcasts this man has been working on Noah's album from music project known as DEAD MAGIC. It wasn't easy being the least talented man in the room during this hilaious dialogue but it will be easy for all of you to listen and enjoy!

A few months ago a familiar name from my social media accounts approched me about doing stand-up for show he would be hosting at the local live music venue/rehearsal Stages. It was a successful night of laughter and meant a great deal to me; so I knew I had to get this man on the podcast, try to pick his brain, and maybe get to know him as a person. We got to talk about stand-up, forgery, scabies, goth kids, etc All in all it was a great conversation bringing me closer to our oldest guest yet. Please enjoy the quick wit of this geriatric Casey Fera.

Fan-Favorite of the show Kale invites me in and makes the best old fashioned I've ever had before we get down to the dirty, offensive, sense violating, discussion that's alwasy promised when you're talking to this lothario of lust and liquor. Everybody needs someone like him in their life and everytime I witness his social anarchy it reminds me to be a little more authentic, push the envelope, and forget to care what people think. After what I can only quanitfy as my entire life his influence bleeds into the spirit of this show and what I originally set out to do by starting a podcast. Saying the wrong thing at the right time, especially with the right person, will always be my favorite kind of moments to share. Please enjoy the explicit, unfiltered, and unwavering Kale Nickelson.

My friend Jason Elliott is the owner of Allegiant Futness and Gracie Barra Santa Ynez Valley, my jiu-jitsu coach, co-host of the Mat Brain Podcast, and finally got to sit down for an episode of the Bad Etiquette Podcast and share details of his life and fatherhood for your listening pleasure.

Weeks into the fifth Sober October Kyleigh and I discuss our clearer thoughts, social anxiety, breaking old cycles, relationships with grief, my favorite brewery, feeling more present, and some important self-reflection.

This was originally a conversation that I deemed unworthy of releasing but since I accidentally sent this to the mixmaster J-LO himself instead of the correct recording you all will get to listen to what me and Kyleigh sound like when we're drinking and less than awesome contributing members of society. Stay tuned and keep your eyes out for part two where the real intended episode of whimsical catharsis and self-reflection is captured for listener's pleasure!

The Mat Brain Podcast has returned! I sit down with my Jiu Jitsu coach, Jason Elliott, at his new gym Allegiant Fitness in Solvang, California to catch up after almost a year away. We discuss preparing for IBJJF Worlds, rest-stop altercations, my back injury recovery, falling in love with Montana, saving a trucker's life, exercising self control, the dangerous addiction harming young men, and we recap the 2022 ADCC,

After business hours I sit down with Central Coast hairstylist and photographer Ruby Villalobos to discuss the origins of her career, have a whiskey, childhood reflections, surrounding yourself with interesting people, failing our punk roots, comfort movies, hard lessons learned, and plenty more hidden deep in our conversation waiting for you to discover.

Lead vocalist Kevin Lietz of the Lompoc local favorite pop-punk band Yearbooks sits down with me while on leave from the ARMY to chat about almost being my first guest on video, why he joined, male insecurities, MMA fighters we don't care for, starting music with his brother, (listen closely and you'll hear music throughtout being made), foreskin, military optics, living outside California, good cops vs bad cops, while I sit and enjoy his service member accent.

Thanks to this man for giving me the courage to ask you all for donations towards the video camera. I'm excited to show you what really goes on in this show. Corporal Navarro invited me into the back of his Tacoma outfitted for travel and told me some amazing stories including acute cirrhosis of the liver, sweeping for IED's in Afghanistan, international ladies of the night, helping a gunshot victim,  and why he joined the Marine Corps. Dive into this week's episode and escape with us as we overlook the beautiful Lompoc Valley.

Every group of friends has at least one person that is truly loved in a benevolent way, they're the warm center to any good friendship. To Orlando's friends, in my opinion anyways, he is just that very guy. He was kind enough to join me in my truck one afternoon to record this and talk about his recently released album(Can't Connect), ditching cardio for weightlifting, his creative process, and of course the raunchy juicy bits I won't mention here.

A solo journey into the ramblings of a film-noir obsessed narrator contending with the bad drivers of the Central Coast, outrageous gas prices, cruise control pros and cons, clueless victims of the pandemic, personal mantras, and misleading headlines. Anti-heroes and misanthropy ahead.

I'm very proud to bring you this episode this week around, a somewhat dark and strange story was brought to my attention and I had to interview this man to get the gritty details! Max is one of the nicest people I've sat down with for a podcast. It's all smiles as we dart around like a Tarantino movie explaining his toxic relationship ending (for the better) and his business as a local photographer. A genuine soul can be heard through this conversation and you know it ain't coming from me. Domestic Violence, Rage Piss, gaslighters, and more.

A staple in the Central Coast skateboarding scene, all out rail-conqueror, and man-behind-the-lens of the recent videos "Fuck Your TV", "Secret Vol. 3" Shane Marriott invited me over for a nice talk about his tattoo collection, solo trips, local skate heroes, what camera equipment he prefers, sobriety, our late friend CJ Paz, and more.