On this episode of Off the Clock, I’m joined by my friends @henryofnavarre and @brian.ssh of @sorrysweetheart_official who recently signed to @badtimerec , created the theme song for this show, and are one of my favorite bands. Here’s some of what we talk about:
First Question: How did the signing to Bad Time Records come to pass?
I make a bunch of guesses about what the song “IK4ND” stands for and they tell me the real meaning
Henry tastes some new coffee and I ask them about “getting into character” before they play a show because their stage presence is so different than them in real life
the metalcore vocals, how to do them, and how I’m never ready for them
how Days of Thunder is actually Top Gun 2 and why Henry is like Cole Trickle
how do Sorry Sweetheart songs actually get composed?
we talk about the creation of this show’s theme song and give a special shout out to the band Good Clean Fun
some dated NBA playoffs talk as we pontificate about teams that have already been eliminated
some talk about the song “Touch Grass” and its origins
a story of Sorry Sweetheart seeing an All Waffle Trick shirt completely out of context at a festival in Western Massachusetts (this was partially my doing)
could Sorry Sweetheart open for Slipknot? we debate. and which times have they been a mismatch on a bill?
smart guys that we are, we share all the ways one can use their teeth
what does success look like for Sorry Sweetheart?
theme bars “Shot Topic” and “The Squared Circle”
Podcatchers everywhere or the first link in my Linktree in bio.
One of the purest joys of doing this show is getting to tell people whose work I adore how much I love their stuff. @rich_k_wilkes has written Airheads, Glory Daze, the xXx movie series, scammed his way on the Warped Tour and made a documentary about it, and tells an incredible story about stealing a Sex Pistols t-shirt at the Airheads movie premiere party that now sits in the Punk Rock Museum. He’s an awesome dude, and this episode is some of the most fun I’ve ever had on this show. Podcatchers everywhere or the first link in my Linktree in the bio.
One of my absolute favorite movies is Airheads, and so a few months ago I just cold pitched the writer @rich_k_wilkes to be on my show. To my delight and surprise, he agreed! His episode debuts tomorrow and we talk about Airheads, Glory Daze, punk rock, cult fandom and lots more. Here’s a teaser where he discusses one of my favorite lines from Airheads. Podcasters everywhere TOMORROW 5/7!
@shepardnevel is someone who called me out of the blue a couple weeks ago after not seeing or hearing from him for like a decade. Find out why and how quickly we reconnected. This is a great episode that tackles how we find fulfillment, intentionally making time for leisure and whimsy, integrity in politics, and lots more. Shepard is a wonderful man who approaches his world thoughtfully and with a great deal of care. You'll get a lot of out of this conversation. I certainly did. Podcatchers everywhere or the first link in my Linktree in my bio.
My show returns tomorrow with @shepardnevel , someone I haven't talked to in probably a decade before last month, and someone I deeply respect, adore and admire. He posed a question to me that informs who I am in a way that I think is instructive:
Are you someone who plans 5 or 10 years ahead? Or are you the person who focuses on what you're doing now with passion, vigor and enthusiasm?
I am terrible at projecting myself into the future, so I am extremely the latter. If I like who I work with and do work that is challenging and fulfilling, the future tends to take care of itself. My 11-years of solo entrepreneurial success are testament to that. Short video illustrating that point attached.
Full episode tomorrow. Shepard is one of the best.
Two albums today in my Dog Walk Album Review -- one from My Chemical Romance, one from Drug Church -- and we tackle negative self-talk, getting yourself out of a funk, one of the funniest lines I've ever heard in a song, and two albums that rock. Read it, enjoy it, share it! First link in the Linktree.
Howdy, friends! Tomorrow, Sunday 2/15 from 1 pm - 5 pm I’m down at @ratiobeerworks with my pals @nerf933 and @933swanny from @punktacos spinning tunes, drinking brews, and celebrating this awesome brewery’s anniversary. Come say hi! Request a song! Buy me a beer shot! Or just put $20 in my hand for no reason! How you celebrate is your business. See you there!
New on the Off the Clock blog:
Its main character wants to f*ck a child, and his next door neighbor collects N*zi memorabilia. American Beauty is a film that is weirdly resonant in 2026, a fact that should fill all of us with shame, disgrace, and sadness. I hope it motivates us to keep up the fight for what is right. Link in bio. Check the Linktree.
On this episode of Off the Clock, I’m joined by my friend @n8_chunge , who I’ve hung out with primarily in mosh pits before this get together. Here’s some of what we talk about:
First Question: What was the first concert you ever attended?
favorite Weird Al Yankovic songs
how did Nate end up in Colorado, and why did he almost not tell his wife about the opportunity to do so?
how did Nate get into the local scene?
how many siblings and family members does Nate actually have? and what does “Lake County Brady Bunch” mean? and how his mom had more kids at the age of 50 (!!!)
we talk about the absolute monster size of some of these dudes we run into in the pit and they’re like the Monstars from Space Jam
the joys and challenges of being a cover band
we once again talk about the cure to the Male Loneliness Epidemic and it’s just as f*cking simple as you think it is
we explore the old cliché of “punks and metalheads are nice people who pretend to be mean; hippies are mean people who pretend to be nice”
the concept of a “concrete rose” and sometimes the lessons we get are in what not to do
the synesthesia that happens when you’re moved by live music
a hypothetical: a band he’s playing in gets to open for any 3 bands. what is that ultimate bill? Apple link is the first one in my Linktree in bio.
On this episode of Off the Clock, I’m joined by my new pal @chungawamba – thanks for the intro @paul_karolyi ! – a fellow dad, content creator, and the man I’d trust most to give me restaurant recommendations. Here’s some of what we talk about:
First Question: You get offered money to produce videos of the best food in the city of your choice. What city are you choosing?
why transplants make any city’s dining scene better
the bizarre ambitions of little kids before they understand the world
having lived in Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle, how does he rate the Denver food scene?
how does Dave approach and review legacy places that Denverites are going to have outsized fondness for?
how mean can people be to him in YouTube comments?
the difficulty of doing a “hidden gem” video and do people get pissed for driving traffic to their favorite spaces and making them more crowded?
indulging in barbecue, pizza, burgers… how does he keep himself in shape?
how does he avoid side eye from other patrons if he’s coming in filming and generally avoid being a d-bag?
how does he handle sponsored content?
Dave is from Los Angeles. he’s a huge Nuggets fan. how does that happen?
we spend a good deal of time talking ball and doing some of my favorite sh*t on earth: remembering some guys!
let’s say I meet with Dave in the future and his YouTube channel has become wildly successful. what will have happened?
Podcatchers everywhere or the first link in my Linktree in bio.
Today I launch a new series at the Off the Clock w/Jon Eks blog called the "Turn the Record Over Challenge" (inspired by the Gaslight Anthem song "45") where I share with you how much I've been working out and how much I've been drinking.
Real talk: Since COVID I have been dissatisfied with how much I've been consistently exercising (not enough) and how much I've been drinking (too much). So this is my attempt at a new form of accountability. I hope by sharing my this, I keep myself motivated, and hey, if you find a little motivation for yourself, even better.
Week 1 is the first link in my Linktree.
On this episode of Off the Clock, I’m joined by my pal Jason, a fellow girl dad, and one who was goodly enough to coach my younger daughter’s soccer team and who is one of the most genuine dudes I have had the pleasure of knowing recently. Here’s some of what we talk about:
First Question: What is a memory from his soccer playing days that really stands out?
how cool it feels as a kid when an adult coach cheers you on, calls out your good effort and good plays
how do you, as a coach, find the correct level of intensity in dealing with developing young girls as athletes and people?
we share a sort of unhinged story about something an opposing coach said to Jason within earshot about an upcoming game that my daughter’s team played
the competitiveness of modern youth sports from the point of view of players, coaches, and particularly parents
which statement does Jason identify with more: “I love winning.” or “I hate losing.”?
we take a quick digression in talking about the weird Coach Beard standalone episode of Ted Lasso
why he picks one or two players per practice and focuses on coaching them up in a positive way
when does he know it’s time to stop coaching his daughters’ teams?
we share why we love being Girl Dads
why Jason believes team sports are the most important thing in developing strong women
First link in my Linktree.
