8 MAY 2024 · I did a special recently on Mediocrity and how it does NOT mean what you've been taught.  If you're feeling less than...  If you're feeling down... If you wonder what you're doing with your life... If you wonder if you'll ever be anything... My answer is to be fully mediocre.  This is NOT a joke. Listen and learn. Today is a new day and it's made just for you. Thank you! ---- ***This is not a TED or TEDx talk, but an audition reel for TED. As it happens to many, I can only assume that they'll pass on me, so I recorded it myself, found an audience and here we are. I hope it speaks to you. *** Copyright Rob Leland, Sentimental Illness, and the Rockstar Superhero Company 2024. All Rights Reserved.

2 MAY 2024 · This week's guest is Nik (kin) Barker, ex singer of Twelve Foot Ninja! MONOLOGUE:  It's been a week full of creative energy and gnashing of teeth.  My head hurts way too much because I don't sleep, but when have I ever actually slept? The bags under my eyes prove the truth, you know? I'm starting to seriously think I have a solid case of sleep apnea.  I know I'm not in perfect shape, but I've noticed the last few months (only the last few) that I wake every night with a very dry mouth and I think I'm sleeping with my mouth open at night.  Granted, I'm also a diabetic now (don't get me started) and it's a sign of something greater and sadly distressing.  All said, I know I'm turning a blind eye to my health, but I just don't have the bandwidth to care at this moment.   I'm still dealing with anger, but I can't complain too much.  I've been begging the big man to take it all away from me, but he's got bigger fish to fry. A very close friend who suffered from a brain tumor a few years ago has finally been diagnosed with malignant cancers in her liver and chest so things went upside down in our community of friends pretty quickly. It reminds me that as much as I hate my life at times, I don't have to worry about having my head cut off because I don't believe the same things that the government does or how can I complain when I have a refrigerator with 25 different hot sauce flavors to compliment my meal?  I mean ... how hard is this really? Nik Barker and I had never met in person until today. Today is numero uno.  All said, I have been a fan of Nik's for a number of years.  I discovered his old band, Twelve Foot Ninja at the end of 2015. I'd heard about the band through the grapevine and my connections in the music business.   A buddy of mine had seen them at a festival in Ohio and told me how much he'd enjoyed them. Surprisingly, a new video of theirs ended up on YouTube.... something called One Hand Killing, and the next thing you know, I'm jumping down the rabbit hole of everything I'd missed.  I told everyone. I learned all the material.  I reveled in the absurdity of their musical skill levels and their very bizarre sense of humor.  Sadly, within the last few years, the band went on permanent hiatus and Nik has moved on.   This all to say, regardless of what happened and where they may be going, they have done something very few bands have... they've created something truly unique and inspiring, they've reached around the globe and my guest today was the VOICE of that legacy.  FUN STUFF:   What special things are happening on April 23rd? Today is NATIONAL ENGLISH MUFFIN DAY Today is WORLD TABLE TENNIS DAY Today is also NATIONAL TAKE A CHANCE DAY, NATIONAL TALK LIKE SHAKESPEAR DAY, and most importantly, NATIONAL LOVERS DAY.   NEWS: Rock and Roll Hall of fame BIRTHDAYS: Roy Orbison DEATHS: According to Sir Isaac Newton, Jesus Christ was crucified on this date in the year 34 AD.    TIME CODES: 3:00 No bandwidth in my life. Full on midlife crisis. 8:00 Introducing Nik Barker 10:00 Fun Stuff 13:00 Vegemite 17:45 American hubris 22:00 Political affiliations on your sleeve 26:20 Stuck with presidents 31:20 Shutting down those that dissent 36:00 The point of popularism 41:30 Exemplfying the teachings of Christ 46:00 Trump tried to be Jesus 49:40 The source of all light 52:30 Diverting attention away 58:30 Singling out artists doesn't make sense 1:07:00 Nik did an Odd Covers cover of Anubis 1:14:00 Nik is grateful 1:19:00 Nik's parents were musicians as well 1:23:00 KISS was the one 1:27:00 When Nik figured out music was the future 1:33:00 White lace doilies 1:37:30 Nik getting better at controlling emotions 1:41:45 What is Nik nostalgic about? 1:47:00 Nik's irrational fear is being seen 1:50:40 Neglecting others for selfish reasons Copyright 2024 Sentimental Illness, a Rockstar Superhero production, All Rights Reserved.

19 APR 2024 · My guest this week is Belgium's own Sander Rom! Sander is a fantastic songwriter, guitarist and singer and I love him to death. He's the leader of the Mechelen scene's L'itch and, until recently (one week post recording this interview, one fifth of the EU supergroup known as Hippotraktor. Available on Pelagic Records, Hippotraktor features members of L'itch and Psychonaut. The band is known for soaring hooks, technical riffing and earth-shattering breakdowns. Their new album releases June 7th, 2024 and it's progressive metal of the highest order. L'itch is an monster of an alternative band and is Sander's most important pet, with a new record releasing soon. I've heard it and it's unbelievably good. I can't wait to share more when the time is right. Reiterating, Sander has all the bells and whistles in his musical repertoire and he's a fantastic human. Maybe the best ever. He is so clearly aware of his surroundings, he's inspiring, and above all, he's kind. We could all do better like Sander. Please enjoy our wonderful conversation, completely unedited and ready for consumption. If you're seeking answers and a connection to the truth, this show will help you find the way. TIME CODES: 3:00 A frustrated moment of release 6:45 Guest: Sander Rom 11:25 Fun stuff  11:50 The Titanic sunk on this day 17:30 Fan club president is a murderer 20:00 Sander got picked on as a kid 24:00 Kidney donations 32:00 You shouldn't keep veggies after cutting them 39:00 Reacting instinctively 45:20 The priviledge to do the right thing 50:50 Crazy cool collections at The Louvre 56:20 Star Wars and the Mona Lisa 1:02:05 Rob was super interested in drums 1:05:00 Hippotraktor's new album title - 'Statis' 1:07:00 The noise you're feeling 1:12:00 Wanting to know the real person behind the music 1:17:00 People seeing the hidden parts of our heart 1:22:30 Sander's neck injury and future 1:27:00 The purpose of life is to influence others and help them find their own 1:31:00 Struggling with communication when angry Theme music, 'Goretex Weather Report' provided graciously by Jørgen Munkeby (Shining NOR). Copyright 2024 Rockstar Superhero Inc. All Rights Reserved.