Podcast
Park Bench Perspectives
Hosted by Carlos Figueroa & Michael Hammer · EN
Park Bench Perspectives is a conversation-driven podcast about making sense of the world without pretending to have all the answers. Hosted by Carlos Figueroa and Michael Hammer, two childhood friends who grew up in St Louis Park, MN =.
Each episode feels like sitting down on a park bench—no scripts, no hot takes for the sake of it—just thoughtful discussion, honest questions, and a willingness to challenge assumptions.
It’s not about being right. It’s about thinking better.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Father’s Day Reflections and Baseball Chatter: From Park Bench Perspectives to Square Box Baseball
2w ago00:42:43Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackMike and Carlos Figueroa talk on Father’s Day from their “park bench” perspective, reflecting on Carlos’s late father and how youth baseball has changed from inexpensive local leagues to costly, professionalized travel ball. They reminisce about St. Louis Park Little League memories, including injuries from hit batters, a city championship run, pitching limits, and the importance of catchers and infield communication. Their conversation explores baseball’s sounds and language (including the origin of “can of corn”), dugout and field chatter, taunting rules, and how pitchers and catchers call games, contrasting past intuition with modern analytics. They discuss parent behavior as a major problem in youth sports, and relate perseverance to being “on the one-yard line.” They plan to record at the old ballpark, revisit St. Louis Park in 2026, and launch a baseball-focused spinoff podcast, “Square Box Baseball,” based on a Latin American saying about baseball’s unpredictability.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:36 Fathers Day Talk01:42 Remembering Dads01:55 Kids Sports Then Now02:49 Little Gophers Memories03:42 Baseball Sounds Origins04:56 Chants Taunts Rules05:58 Voices From The Stands06:48 Scary Hit By Pitch08:19 City Champs Glory Days10:33 Pitch Counts Big Games14:21 Cinderella Man Lesson16:52 New Baseball Spinoff17:56 Square Box Baseball19:21 Can Of Corn Explained20:49 Dugout Chatter Deep Dive21:39 Dugout Chatter Jokes22:50 Calling Pitches Debate23:56 Catcher Trust And Gameplan24:49 Reading Hitters Then Now27:00 Hitting And Guessing30:02 Look Alive Field Talk32:48 Taunting And First Base Stories34:29 Parents Ruin Youth Ball39:01 Town Ball Home Run Tale41:04 Wrap Up And Podcast PlansSupport the show
Transcribe →Park Bench Perspectives - Beek's Pizza, Babe Ruth Baseball, and The White Shadow
3w ago00:32:43Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackPark Bench Perspectives - Episode 16: Beek's Pizza, Babe Ruth Baseball, and The White ShadowEpisode Summary: In this episode of Park Bench Perspectives, hosts Carlos Figueroa and Mike Hammer welcome a very special guest to the bench: their lifelong friend from St. Louis Park, Joe Riley. Take a trip down memory lane as the trio swaps hilarious and heartwarming stories about growing up in the 1970s and 80s, the drama of youth sports, and the enduring camaraderie of childhood friendships.Key Topics Discussed:The St. Louis Park Bubble: Joe shares his memories of shifting between grade schools (Park Knoll to Aquilla) and his eventual, reluctant transfer to Benilde High School, which ultimately opened his eyes to a wider world beyond their hometown.Growing Pains & Pizza: The guys laugh about their early days as "giant" kids bonding over all-you-can-eat 99-cent deals at Beek's Pizza, and the hilarious revelation that both Carlos and Hammer dated the same girl several years apart.Babe Ruth Baseball Drama: A deep dive into the highs and lows of their youth baseball all-star team. They recall the coaching tension between Brian Hartman and Carlos's dad, the agony of a championship loss to Edina where Joe made the final out at third base, and the lasting connections born in the dugout.Life Lessons on the Diamond: Carlos shares the funny, unconventional advice his dad gave him to calm his nerves during high-pressure games: "Remember Lee Trevino".Pop Culture Nostalgia: The guys discuss which TV shows and movies best capture their youth, drawing comparisons to Dazed and Confused, That '70s Show, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Stranger Things. They also shout out Steve Rushin's nostalgic book about 1970s Bloomington, Stingray Afternoons.Be sure to stick around to the end to hear a teaser for Joe and Carlos's other podcast, Forgotten Television, where Hammer might just make a future guest appearance as his childhood moniker, "The White Shadow"!00:00 Podcast Introduction01:02 Meeting Joe Reilly01:51 Growing Up in St Louis Park02:40 School Transitions and Friendships04:14 The Pizza Eating Contest05:27 First Party Memories06:31 The Shelly R Story07:48 Coach Mikey Gavron08:39 Going to Benilde09:28 Eighth Grade Geography Class10:46 The Benilde Decision11:58 Babe Ruth Baseball Finals13:09 Home Run Memories15:10 Brian Hartman's Hockey Story15:42 Coaching Dynamics and Dad Managers16:38 Mike's Coaching Experience17:38 NBA Playoffs Discussion17:57 Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Talk19:25 NBA Salaries and Contracts19:56 Babe Ruth Baseball Memories20:37 Sports Building Character21:20 Dad's Coaching Philosophy21:49 Lee Trevino Pep Talk22:33 Lasting Friendships from Sports24:19 Random Airport Encounter26:08 Benilde School Experience27:39 Embarrassing Basketball Game28:29 Steve Rushin's Books29:29 Movies That Captured Youth31:38 Wrapping Up the BenchSupport the show
Transcribe →Park Bench Perspectives - The Older Sister Perspective: Tom Petty, Twins, and a Broken Tibia
4w ago00:35:32Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackIn this episode of Park Bench Perspectives, hosts Mike and Carlos welcome a special guest to the bench: Mike’s older sister, Michelle. Bringing her "older sister female perspective" to the show, Michelle joins the conversation while recovering from a broken tibia after slipping in the shower, an injury that currently has her miserably confined to a straight-leg boot for six weeks.The trio swaps hilarious and intense stories about dealing with unruly crowds at live events. Michelle shares a memorable post-divorce anecdote where she pinned a harassing "troll" against a column at a Tom Petty concert at the Target Center and threatened to have her brother put a hit on him. Not to be outdone, Mike recounts his own near-brawls with shushing audience members at a Simon & Garfunkel concert and a performance of The Lion King. They also discuss the varying intensity of sports fans across different NFL stadiums.The conversation then takes a nostalgic turn into Minnesota Twins baseball. Michelle shares her deep love for the game, describing baseball as a "romantic sport" defined by the smell of the grass and the crack of the bat. She also expresses her lingering frustration that her father made her pitch in softball instead of letting her play Little League because she was a girl. The group reminisces about the magical 1987 and 1991 World Series championships and the shared pain of being a Minnesota sports fan.Finally, they revisit their high school years in St. Louis Park, discussing the awkwardness of prom dates, Sadie Hawkins dances, and the stark differences between how teenage boys and girls communicate and process relationships due to their developing frontal lobes.The episode concludes with an exciting tease for next week: the hosts plan to take the show on the road and record from a physical park bench somewhere in St. Louis Park.00:00 Welcome to the Bench01:22 Special Guest Michelle Hammer01:48 The Shower Incident02:45 Setting the Record Straight05:12 Tom Petty Concert Confrontation08:46 Simon and Garfunkel Rumble09:54 Lion King Theater Drama12:00 Sports Fan Encounters15:04 Growing Up Baseball17:27 Women in Baseball18:09 The Romance of Baseball20:23 Minnesota Sports Heartbreak21:47 Building Championship Teams22:56 High School Prom Memories25:58 School Dance Traditions27:08 Gender Differences Growing Up29:18 Summer Recovery Plans33:13 Future Show PlansSupport the show
Transcribe →Memorial Day Bench Talk: Dad Jokes, Raccoons in the Attic, Fireworks, and Barter
Jun 200:25:09Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackMemorial Day Bench Talk: Dad Jokes, Raccoons in the Attic, Fireworks, and BarterOn a Memorial Day in Minnesota, Carlos and Mike Hammer record “Park Bench Perspectives,” starting with a dad joke from Brady about “paranormal jeans.” They trade stories about critters in attics, including Mike’s suspected squirrels that turn out to be raccoons, a late-night raccoon at his daughter’s window, and using lights and loud music (AC/DC) to drive them out, plus a teen memory of using pellet guns on squirrels. Carlos shares a childhood incident where a squirrel fell into the shower. They reminisce about changing local wildlife, Westwood Nature Center, Dayton’s Memorial Day/Jubilee Sale ads, and Fourth of July fireworks, including large personal displays in Wisconsin. The conversation shifts to barter economics, estimates vs. bids in handyman work, coincidences in repairs and health, and frustration with vaccine misinformation. They close by promoting footpainauthority.com and announcing a growing podcast network, including “Forgotten Television” and a new show, “Role Reversal,” about caring for aging parents.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:39 Memorial Day Banter00:43 Dad Joke Detour01:30 Critters in the Attic03:51 Wizard of Oz Surprise04:42 Raccoon at the Window06:21 Blasting Music to Evict07:08 Pellet Gun Flashback07:27 Shower Squirrel Chaos08:35 Wildlife Then and Now08:55 Westwood Nature Center09:23 What Memorial Day Meant10:16 Dayton’s Sale Nostalgia11:10 Fourth of July Memories11:42 Fireworks Then vs Now12:37 Backyard Fireworks Tales13:52 Cleanup and Getting Older14:25 Barter Economy Dreams16:52 Handyman Deals and Estimates19:10 Coincidence and Vaccine Rants21:24 Workplace Shots and Meeting Culture22:39 Plugging Businesses and Podcasts23:45 New Show Role Reversal24:35 Next Episodes and Sign OffSupport the show
Transcribe →First Jobs and St. Louis Park Rituals
May 2600:25:19Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackFrom their “Park Bench Perspective,” Carlos and Mike Hammer reminisce about growing up in St. Louis Park and early work experiences, starting with a childhood paper route and frustrations with school fundraisers, including a story about Melissa McCarthy opting to write a check rather than sell magazines. They compare fundraisers like paper drives and Girl Scout cookies and joke about shrinkflation. The conversation shifts to first jobs: Hammer dishwashing at the Ambassador Motor Hotel (union breaks, heavy pots and pans) and briefly working at Jolly Troll before quitting due to a creepy manager; Carlos describes working at TGI Fridays as a teen, cutting his thumb and receiving a disability payout, then being fired over an earring, and quitting Plums after 17 straight days. They mention other jobs (Shakey’s, Snyder Drug, Tom Thumb, Domino’s) and discuss restaurant theft, service, and management lessons. Carlos announces a new podcast with Joe Reilly, “Forgotten Television,” debuting with The White Shadow, teases another podcast with Hammer, and they plan “Jobs Part Two,” while plugging Hammer’s handyman/construction work and Carlos’s writing project “The Ghost of Lake Osseo.”00:00 Park Bench Intro00:31 First Money Jobs01:03 Fundraiser Rants04:03 Girl Scout Shrinkflation05:24 First Real Restaurant Jobs09:04 TGI Fridays Thumb Story11:55 More Teen Jobs List13:12 Dominos Before GPS15:26 Restaurant Theft Wisdom20:26 New Podcasts Announcement21:29 Jobs Part Two Tease24:11 Wrap Up and ContactSupport the show
Transcribe →We Remember Summers in St. Louis Park
May 1900:40:29Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackSt. Louis Park Summertime Perspectives (and the “Bare Ass Pool” Story)Carlos Figueroa and Mike Hammer talk on Park Bench Perspectives about May leading into summer in St. Louis Park, recalling elementary track meets (relays, sack races), a tougher era of safety (asphalt playgrounds, no bike helmets, lawn jarts), and the start of summer baseball with Little League drafts, uniforms, opening day, and a memorable visit from a Japanese Little League team whose disciplined play and submarine pitching were intimidating. They reminisce about the last day of school paper-throwing chaos, summer park programs with the “green box” of games (four square, capture the flag, Knox hockey), neighborhood mischief, Cub Scout paper drives and liability fears, exploring marshland, and local traffic changes advocated by “Disco Dave Hammer.” They also cover the rec center pool, beaches and cabins, teen driving and partying stories, and invite listeners to share St. Louis Park trivia—jokingly titling the episode “Bare Ass Pool” after discussion of nude swim classes in earlier decades.00:00 May Bench Banter01:07 School Track Meet Memories02:13 Dangerous Games and No Helmets04:13 Little League Draft Days05:32 Japanese Team Showdown08:05 Last Day School Chaos10:53 Summer Parks and Green Box12:01 First Kisses and Window Breaking14:44 Neighborhood Games and Lawsuits16:49 Cub Scouts Paper Drive Hustle19:16 Cub Scouts and Summers19:28 Neighborhood Exploring Tales20:19 Phone Book Anderson Joke20:37 Hampshire Road Changes22:02 Snowballs and Speeders22:53 Highway Frogger Food Runs23:43 Mark Globus Memories25:09 Rec Center Pool Days28:50 Beaches Falls and Cabins30:01 Boy Scout Camp Mischief31:06 Road Trips and Teen Years33:24 Driving Drinking Concert Chaos35:58 Podcast Wrap and Call In37:44 Bare Ass Pool Trivia39:10 Bench Season GoodbyeSupport the show
Transcribe →Mother’s Day Park Bench Perspective: Remembering Judy and Maria
May 1200:37:08Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackOn Mother’s Day, hosts Mike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa return to their “park bench perspective,” invite listeners to leave Fan Mail or voicemails on their Buzzsprout page to share St. Louis Park stories, and dedicate a mom-centric episode to their late mothers, Judy and Maria. They discuss grief and the ongoing one-way “conversation” after a parent’s death, including therapy practices like talking at the cemetery and writing letters, and reflect on how their moms quietly supported families and neighborhoods through work, Scouts, sports, and hospitality. The conversation touches on generational realities such as women’s limited ability to sign contracts before 1974, financial strain after divorce, and the importance of checking on others. They also share personal memories, including Marty Hammer’s severe accident and ICU ordeal, Maria’s lonely phone calls, and Judy’s “not today” refrain near the end of her life.00:00 Park Bench Return00:43 Listener Voicemails Invite01:50 Mothers Day Reflections03:29 Grief Coping Tools04:37 Moms Who Show Up05:32 Pick A Pop Memories07:09 Divorce And Resilience09:00 Check In On People10:13 Entrepreneur Mindset15:23 Sales Luck And No17:40 Create Your Own Luck18:50 Handling Rejection19:11 Rejection Isn’t Personal19:57 Sales Process and Asking20:43 Fair Deals and Karma21:17 Hidden Fees and Tipping Screens23:55 Back to Mothers and Similarities24:41 Judy’s Compassion and Passivity25:54 Aging Parents and Doctor Visits27:49 Marty’s Accident and Aftermath33:19 Shoutout to Moms33:36 Maria Story and Not Today36:25 Final FarewellSupport the show
Transcribe →The St Louis Park Experience: Posters, Postcards, and Parents
Apr 2100:52:44Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackPosters, Pop Cans, and Park Bench PerspectivesMike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa reminisce on a “park bench” about teen bedroom posters (Farrah Fawcett, Led Zeppelin, Lamborghini, Easy Rider), poster-shopping at places like the Fun Shop and Ridgedale, and trivia that Fernando Valenzuela’s poster surpassed Farrah’s in sales. They recall collecting RC Cola baseball-player cans by digging through Westwood Deli’s stock, confirm RC Cola still exists, and detour into a Vegas blackjack memory. The conversation shifts to beer and bar memorabilia, including distributor neons and personal wall art like a Rat Pack “Royal Flush” poster and a signed Ramones album. Carlos shares a 2003 story of receiving Bubba Gump souvenir glasses from Mike’s sons during a difficult period. They discuss St. Louis Park history (name from the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad; early downtown near Walker/Broadway and Wooddale), the value of the postal service, letters/telegrams, and reflect on parenting, especially Judy Hammer’s resilience and “showing up.”00:00 Park Bench Intro00:41 Cuban Family Story01:24 Teen Posters Debate02:43 Poster Shopping Memories05:12 Iconic Posters Trivia06:08 RC Cola Can Collecting09:24 Vegas Drinking Detour11:18 Beer Signs Bar Swag16:01 Bubba Gump Glasses19:23 Movie Posters Talk21:44 Warriors Nostalgia24:35 St Louis Park Origins26:39 Elmwood Origins27:59 Postal Service Debate29:13 Stamps And Seniors32:25 Postcards And Letters34:44 Telegrams And Keepsakes36:25 Yearbook Secrets37:40 Judy Tough Love42:27 Showing Up Parenting46:26 Youth Sports Costs50:41 Wrap Up And PlugsSupport the show
Transcribe →Tapping the Keg at the St. Louis Park Train Trestle
Apr 1600:30:23Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackLady Gaga, Keg Parties, and Park Bench PerspectivesFrom their park bench, Mike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa catch up about Mike attending a Lady Gaga concert and joking about painkillers for his bad knee, then give a shout-out to classmate Ron Barry’s “BarryFin Day” podcast. They discuss building a listener community around their shared hometown of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and begin reminiscing about favorite local places and teen hangouts: Park National and Carlson fields near the water tower, the Cedar Lake Road train trestle keg parties and police run-ins, Meadowbrook and Cedar Lake “Bareass Beach,” Knollwood Mall, Burger King across Highway 12, Brookview Golf Course, Coast to Coast Hardware, Cooper/Cooper Cameo theaters, and learning to drive at the Honeywell lot. They invite listeners to be guests, tease future St. Louis Park history topics, plug FootPainAuthority.com, and note Carlos’s novel “The Ghost of Lake Ossis” and baseball-law newsletter.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:25 Catching Up01:02 Lady Gaga Night02:10 Show Highlights03:03 Bad Knee Remedies03:52 BarryFineDay Podcast Shoutout05:18 Hometown Favorites Setup05:39 Little League Landmarks06:53 Train Trestle Keggers08:01 Keg Party Economics10:30 Basement Parties And Cops13:04 Meadowbrook And Beach Spots14:02 Next House Party Tease14:11 Running From The Cops14:41 Why We Do Dumb Stuff15:06 Prefrontal Cortex Myth16:25 Staying Curious As Adults18:04 Talking Yourself In Or Out19:11 Risk Calculations And Law School21:08 Norwood Mall Memories22:19 Golden Valley Adventures22:44 Golf Courses And Marty23:59 Coast To Coast Hardware25:56 Cooper Theater And Honeywell27:17 Inviting Friends On The Show27:51 Next Episode Tease28:24 Projects And Sign Offhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2246264Support the show
Transcribe →Talkin’ ’Bout My St. Louis Park Generations Gen X vs Gen Z Music Swap
Apr 1400:30:07Tap to summarizeSend Comments and FeedbackFrom their “park bench perspective,” Carlos and Mike (“Hammer”) welcome Mike’s Gen Z daughter, Georgia, to discuss generations and music. They joke about Gen X vs. baby boomers, naming conventions like Gen Alpha/Beta, and how streaming and Bluetooth changed music discovery compared with radio. The group sets homework for a cross-generational song exchange to review next week: Carlos assigns The Ramones’ “I Want to Be Sedated,” Mike assigns Neil Young’s “Comes a Time” (favoring the Live Rust version), and Georgia assigns “Stateside” (Zara Larsson remix) and Olivia Dean’s “Man, I Need.” They also touch on music videos, artists’ views on digital music and Guitar Hero, pop-culture drama, and how music shaped family memories, including funerals and concerts Georgia attended as a child.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:31 Meet Georgia00:53 Generations Explained02:28 Music Swap Setup04:17 Old School Picks07:38 Modern Pop Pick10:10 Mike Picks Neil Young12:40 Second Georgia Song14:30 Pop Culture Tease14:46 Pop Culture Tea15:20 Fleetwood Mac Drama16:51 Music and Grief19:58 Signs and Synchronicity20:30 Billie Eilish Question22:12 Mom's Music Influence24:42 Katy Perry Obsession27:43 Wrap Up and Song Listhttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/43TAzoJWwrwFcvM9Zry110?si=ueoRSc5uS_KJuGEsnueIbgSupport the show
Transcribe →