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Pro wrestler and Banana Ball cast member Shane “The Smoke Show” Savage joins Sorg and The Riz for a conversation about the surprising connection between body slams, baseball stadiums and fan-first entertainment. Also known to wrestling fans as The Savage Gentleman Victor Benjamin, Shane is now Mr. November and a member of the Calendar Crew for the Banana Ball Firefighters. He explains what a Banana Ball cast member does, how the experience compares to professional wrestling and why performers with wrestling backgrounds are uniquely prepared to entertain tens of thousands of fans in packed stadiums. Shane shares the full-circle story of attending Banana Ball at PNC Park, immediately realizing that he belonged in that world and eventually receiving the opportunity to join the organization. He discusses performing in football stadiums, meeting fans throughout every level of the venue and experiencing Iowa’s emotional stadium wave to children watching from a nearby hospital. The conversation also explores Banana Ball’s fans-first philosophy. Shane explains how small gestures, personal interactions and taking time to acknowledge supporters can create moments that last a lifetime. He reflects on faith, gratitude, career changes and learning to appreciate opportunities instead of immediately rushing toward the next destination. Back in the wrestling world, Shane recounts being unexpectedly booked against Matt Riddle for Northeast Wrestling. The dream match brought his MMA and professional wrestling experiences together while reconnecting him with someone who helped influence the development of The Savage Gentleman character during an earlier EVOLVE seminar. The weekend became even more surreal when wrestling legends Ron Simmons, Lex Luger, Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Hart began asking Shane about Banana Ball. Shane discusses the validation of seeing performers he admired recognize that his Banana Ball contract represents a major accomplishment—even without the traditional wrestling television contract he once pursued. Sorg and The Riz also discuss the latest wrestling stories, including Lyra Valkyria’s character transformation, Danhausen’s Madison Square Garden opportunity, WWE’s upcoming card, the possibility of Nick Aldis returning to the ring and several standout matches from Enjoy Wrestling. Other topics include Nick Gage’s Pittsburgh appearance, Sonny Kiss moving to Pittsburgh, the chaotic Captain’s Fall match, Dani Mo versus Hazuki, Violence Is Forever battling The Fourth Line and why wrestling promotions must make their characters and stories understandable to brand-new fans. News Stories and Topics Discussed Lyra Valkyria’s character reset: The panel examines Lyra’s disheveled presentation and more emotionally unstable direction. They believe she has always possessed the wrestling ability but needed a character that felt uniquely hers. Learning from Bayley: The group discusses how working with an experienced performer such as Bayley could help Lyra develop the personality and presentation needed to reach another level. The problem with crowded wrestling promos: Sorg critiques multi-person in-ring promos where performers stand in positions that block the audience and television cameras. Danhausen at Madison Square Garden: The crew previews Danhausen’s match and speculates about possible celebrity appearances, New York personalities and outside involvement in the no-disqualification environment. Cody Rhodes and CM Punk attempting to coexist: The upcoming tag-team match against Gunther and Sami Zayn inspires a discussion about wrestling’s traditional “can they coexist?” storyline. Nick Aldis versus Gunther: The panel believes WWE is slowly building toward Aldis removing the suit and returning to the ring for a major confrontation with Gunther. Nick Aldis as an authority figure: Shane and Sorg praise Aldis for bringing credibility, composure and a believable sense of authority to his role. Chad Gable and Penta: The panel discusses the continuing masked-character storyline and the hometown reaction Gable could receive. Women’s Tag Team Championship: Fatal Influence’s match against Paige and Brie is discussed as a possible opportunity to finally establish the faction as a significant threat. Beastman’s Big Ass Birthday Bash: The show previews the unpredictable VCW event, including Beastman versus Toby Klein in a fans-bring-the-weapons birthday brawl. A mime at a deathmatch birthday party: The presence of Jean-Paul the Miserable leads to speculation about whether Shane would wrestle a mime. Congo Kong versus Jamie Jameson: The panel anticipates another violent and unpredictable championship encounter. Banana Ball explained: Shane describes Banana Ball as real baseball surrounded by nonstop entertainment, comparing its basic concept to the Harlem Globetrotters while emphasizing that it has grown into something much larger. The Banana Ball Firefighters: Shane explains that he is not a baseball player. As Mr. November, he is a cast member and part of the Calendar Crew responsible for energizing fans throughout the stadium. Why Banana Ball hires wrestlers: Wrestlers understand improvisation, crowd interaction, character work, physical entertainment and how to remain composed when plans change. Shane’s PNC Park revelation: After attending Banana Ball in Pittsburgh, Shane realized the presentation combined everything he loved about athletics, wrestling and entertainment. Fans-first ticketing: The discussion examines Banana Ball’s efforts to maintain affordable ticket prices and help fans exchange tickets without relying on inflated resale markets. Taking entertainment to every seat: Shane describes visiting suites, press areas and upper decks so fans far from the field receive the same attention as those near the action. The Iowa wave: One of Shane’s most meaningful experiences involved a stadium acknowledging children watching from a nearby hospital. Learning to reflect: Banana Ball’s travel structure has given Shane more opportunities to process his experiences, practice gratitude and appreciate what is happening in the present. Small gestures matter: Following a young fan, taking a photograph or stopping for a conversation may cost a performer nothing but can mean everything to the supporter. Wrestling Matt Riddle: Shane discusses accepting a last-minute Northeast Wrestling booking and finally having a dream match against another performer with an MMA background. The EVOLVE connection: Matt Riddle previously helped Shane during a seminar that contributed to the development of his Savage Gentleman presentation. Praise from wrestling legends: Ron Simmons, Lex Luger, Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Hart became interested in Shane’s Banana Ball career, creating one of his most surreal wrestling weekends. Redefining success: Shane admits he once struggled with never receiving a traditional televised wrestling contract, but Banana Ball has provided a different kind of national sports-entertainment opportunity. Faith and career direction: Shane explains how stepping away from another fight created space for the Banana Ball opportunity to arrive. Wrestling prepares performers for everything: From taking a microphone in front of thousands of people to responding to unpredictable situations, wrestling has prepared Shane for his new position. Nick Gage at Enjoy Wrestling: Sorg and The Riz recap the expected pizza cutter, tables, weapons and audience interaction from Gage’s Pittsburgh appearance. A different side of Nick Gage: Shane remembers sharing a car ride with Gage and receiving thoughtful wrestling and life advice. Sonny Kiss moving to Pittsburgh: The group reacts to the announcement that Sonny Kiss is relocating to pursue a doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. Dani Mo versus Hazuki: The match receives enthusiastic praise as one of the strongest performances on the Enjoy Wrestling show. The Captain’s Fall match: The crew explains the elimination-style contest in which the match cannot end until one team’s designated captain is defeated. The Fourth Line versus Violence Is Forever: The hard-hitting tag-team encounter is recommended for anyone who appreciates physical independent wrestling. Pittsburgh wrestling connections: The discussion celebrates how Pittsburgh wrestlers, producers and personalities continue appearing throughout WWE, AEW, independent wrestling and Banana Ball. Creating understandable characters: Shane argues that audiences connect with clear characters and stories. A fan seeing someone for the first time should immediately understand who that performer is. Lifting the next generation: The group reflects on Wrestle Pit’s attempt to remove gatekeeping and provide opportunities to talented Pittsburgh wrestlers. “What We Learned” Breakdown Shane “The Smoke Show” Savage Shane learned—or more accurately watched the rest ...

In Episode 523 of Fishing Without Bait, we continue our conversation with Missy Sorg in Part 2 of a thoughtful and challenging discussion about politics, responsibility, family support, and respectful disagreement. Missy and Jim Ellermeyer begin by examining the complicated realities surrounding abortion and the question of what happens after a child is born. Their conversation moves beyond political slogans to consider infertility, adoption, foster care, support systems, special-needs care, financial responsibility, and the difficult decisions families may face. Missy shares personal experiences that have shaped her perspective, including going through infertility treatments and seeing family members navigate teenage pregnancy and lifelong care needs. The discussion asks whether society is doing enough to educate young people about consequences, critical thinking, emotional decision-making, and personal responsibility. The conversation then expands into voter education and representative government. Drawing from her work as a Republican committee woman and her experiences at polling locations, Missy discusses the importance of understanding what elected offices actually control rather than voting entirely through party labels or a single issue. Jim and Missy also consider how political representatives can become disconnected from their constituents, how social media encourages echo chambers, and why people often listen only long enough to prepare their response. Despite the disagreements and difficult subjects, the episode returns to a simple principle: people should be treated with courtesy and respect. Meaningful progress begins when we stop reducing one another to political labels and begin listening to learn. This is Part 2 of our conversation with Missy Sorg. The discussion continues in the next episode. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait through your favorite podcast player so you do not miss the continuation. Support the podcast and receive ad-free episodes through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait Pick up Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book: https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4 Do a kindness for yourself. Do a kindness for another. Forgive yourself and forgive another.

This episode, Eamon & Merlin talk the art of drag clashing with the art of fashion on Project Runway; Rachel Reilly being led to a volcano by a dinosaur on Big Brother; the OG of the OC back for Season 20 on Real Housewives of Orange County; and the most awkward family reunion in history on Love Island USA. 5:42 - Project Runway: Season 22: Episode 01 28:07 - Big Brother: Season 28: Episode 01 41:38 - Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 20: Episode 01 1:20:11 - Love Island USA: Season 08: Week 6 We are Eamon and Merlin, a queer married couple from Texas living in Pittsburgh, PA. We love reality television, wrestling, drag queens, and pretty much anything that can be called even kinda gay. A Gay & His Enby is a podcast where we talk about everything we love in terms of media and pop culture; everything thats gay and gay adjacent; basically all the conversations we have in our living room we are now putting in front of a microphone and on the internet for you. We have launched our MERCH STORE! We are so excited to bring you these designs, all made by Merlin, commemorating some of our favorite iconic moments! Shop now at https://AGayAndHisEnby.Threadless.com Every week, we have the pleasure and privilege of recording from Sorgatron Media Studios in Pittsburgh. The theme song for our main show is Pulsar by Shane Ivers, and the theme song for Binge Watch is Higher Up by Shane Ivers, both of which you can find at https://www.silvermansound.com All of our social media can be found at our linktree: https://linktr.ee/agayandhisenby We want to take a moment to uplift a powerful resource: 👉 Nationwide Bail Funds and Immigration Support from So Informed. This is a direct action guide that helps connect people to immigration bail funds, mutual aid efforts, and legal support across the country. Let us be crystal clear: A Gay & His Enby stands for immigrant rights. Period. We stand against the racism, xenophobia, and violent white supremacy driving Trump, his administration, and the illegal ICE raids terrorizing immigrant communities. This isn’t just politics—it’s about people. Families being torn apart. Communities being surveilled and silenced. And the same systems that criminalize immigrants also criminalize Black people, trans people, queer people, disabled people—anyone who doesn’t fit white supremacist standards of “belonging.” We believe: 🖤 No human being is illegal. 🖤 Borders are violent. 🖤 Solidarity means action, not just vibes. If you’ve ever wondered how to help, this guide is a great place to start. Share it. Donate if you can. Speak out even when it’s uncomfortable. None of us are free until all of us are free. In recent years, states have pushed forward a record number of bills that attack LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth. The current obession with Drag Queens is no exception. This is a thinly veiled attempt to outlaw gender expressions that do not fall within the cisheteronormative guidelines. Please consider donating to one of the following charities to help make the US a safer place for Queer folks to live in peace. American Civil Liberties Union Trevor Project PFLAG True Colors United OutRight International Lambda Legal GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders Human Rights Campaign It Gets Better Project

AwesomeChat welcomes Frédéric Guitton of iTargetGolf to talk about the future of interactive golf technology and how driving ranges are becoming more social, competitive, and game-like. Frédéric explains how iTargetGolf uses interactive targets, animated lights, in-bay feedback, and integrations with systems like Toptracer, TrackMan, and Inrange to make golf practice feel more like a real-life video game. We also discuss Cash Cup Golf, a new hole-in-one skills game using RFID-enabled balls and video validation to create prize-based golf challenges. This episode explores gamified sports, golf entertainment, customer engagement, worldwide virtual competitions, and the business of building technology for outdoor venues. Learn more about iTargetGolf at www.ITargetGolf.com

This week on AwesomeCast 786, Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar talk practical gadgets, game streaming, refurbished tech, digital ownership, and the weird future of transportation. Katie brings a larger, easier-to-open pill organizer that solves real daily medication frustrations. Dave recommends Dell Refurbished for affordable business-class computers, and Sorg shares how Aeroplay brings NVIDIA GeForce Now streaming to Apple TV, with a few login caveats. The crew also highlights Herman Hollerith for Disability Pride Month, reacts to Sony’s reported physical disc and digital library controversies, explores functional LEGO F1 cars, checks out Pittsburgh’s upcoming Science of Speed exhibit, watches a Waymo drive through fireworks, and discovers the surprisingly adult world of Fisher-Price Little People collector sets. Get geeky. Get awesome.

On Wrestling Mayhem Show 1011, Sorg is joined by TruePrinceofPro “T-Pop!” with surprise run-ins from Mad Mike live in Chicago and Dave Podnar. Mad Mike gives his live perspective after WWE Raw in Chicago, including CM Punk’s title win, the Chicago crowd, and why Sami Zayn’s short championship reign still has everyone fired up. The crew debates whether Sami got screwed, whether WWE ever truly backed him as champion, and what the lack of Sami merchandise says about the company’s priorities. The show also covers AEW Beach Break, Kenny Omega vs. MJF, the Casino Gauntlet, AAA’s WWE/TKO era, Damian Priest entering AAA, Vikingo’s injury, El Grande Americano’s massive popularity in Mexico, and whether AAA should stay one hour. Plus: Sorgstock returns, Enjoy Wrestling and AIW Absolution previews, Top Rope Tabletop, 880 Wrestling, VCW, and a heartfelt “What We Learned” about wrestling fandom, real-life connection, ALS awareness, and stepping outside your comfort zone as a fan.

In Fishing Without Bait 522, Jim Ellermeyer begins a new conversation with Missy Sorg about one of the most difficult challenges many people face today: how to stay connected when political differences feel personal, painful, and divisive. Missy shares why she wanted to return to the show and talk openly about strained friendships, lost connections, and the fear of being reduced to a political label. Jim and Missy explore the idea that even when people disagree, there may still be a shared “ice cream” — a common point of connection that allows a real conversation to begin. This Part 1 episode moves through themes of political polarization, patriotism, social media, assumptions, “contempt prior to investigation,” and the need to focus less on identifying problems and more on finding solutions. Missy also opens up about women’s health, fertility treatments, abortion, birth control, and the way women’s bodies are often discussed or legislated without enough listening or understanding. Rather than a shouting match, this is a conversation about conversation itself: how to disagree without dehumanizing, how to listen without surrendering your values, and how to look for the person behind the label. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player. Support the show and receive ad-free episodes on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait. You can also pick up our book, “Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book,” at https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

This episode, Eamon & Merlin talk the women giving Pride Month an extra week on Real Housewives of Atlanta; Jo-Ellen with a Top Ten reunion performance of all time on the Real Housewives of Rhode Island reunion; and Carl being the shining light in a group of absolutely insufferable men on Love Island USA. 5:15 - Real Housewives of Atlanta: Season 17: Episode 13 26:52 - Real Housewives of Rhode Island: Season 01: Episode 14 1:14:16 - Love Island USA: Season 08: Week 5 We are Eamon and Merlin, a queer married couple from Texas living in Pittsburgh, PA. We love reality television, wrestling, drag queens, and pretty much anything that can be called even kinda gay. A Gay & His Enby is a podcast where we talk about everything we love in terms of media and pop culture; everything thats gay and gay adjacent; basically all the conversations we have in our living room we are now putting in front of a microphone and on the internet for you. We have launched our MERCH STORE! We are so excited to bring you these designs, all made by Merlin, commemorating some of our favorite iconic moments! Shop now at https://AGayAndHisEnby.Threadless.com Every week, we have the pleasure and privilege of recording from Sorgatron Media Studios in Pittsburgh. The theme song for our main show is Pulsar by Shane Ivers, and the theme song for Binge Watch is Higher Up by Shane Ivers, both of which you can find at https://www.silvermansound.com All of our social media can be found at our linktree: https://linktr.ee/agayandhisenby We want to take a moment to uplift a powerful resource: 👉 Nationwide Bail Funds and Immigration Support from So Informed. This is a direct action guide that helps connect people to immigration bail funds, mutual aid efforts, and legal support across the country. Let us be crystal clear: A Gay & His Enby stands for immigrant rights. Period. We stand against the racism, xenophobia, and violent white supremacy driving Trump, his administration, and the illegal ICE raids terrorizing immigrant communities. This isn’t just politics—it’s about people. Families being torn apart. Communities being surveilled and silenced. And the same systems that criminalize immigrants also criminalize Black people, trans people, queer people, disabled people—anyone who doesn’t fit white supremacist standards of “belonging.” We believe: 🖤 No human being is illegal. 🖤 Borders are violent. 🖤 Solidarity means action, not just vibes. If you’ve ever wondered how to help, this guide is a great place to start. Share it. Donate if you can. Speak out even when it’s uncomfortable. None of us are free until all of us are free. In recent years, states have pushed forward a record number of bills that attack LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth. The current obession with Drag Queens is no exception. This is a thinly veiled attempt to outlaw gender expressions that do not fall within the cisheteronormative guidelines. Please consider donating to one of the following charities to help make the US a safer place for Queer folks to live in peace. American Civil Liberties Union Trevor Project PFLAG True Colors United OutRight International Lambda Legal GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders Human Rights Campaign It Gets Better Project

Sorg and Mad Mike are joined by guest co-host Tina Keys for Wrestling Mayhem Show 1010, breaking down one of the busiest wrestling weekends of the year. The crew talks AEW Forbidden Door, Mercedes Moné vs. Mina Shirakawa, the wild steel cage match with NES weapons and explosions, Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland, and the international wrestling connections that made the show stand out. They also discuss WWE Night of Champions, Sami Zayn’s big championship win, Oba Femi’s King of the Ring situation, Brock Lesnar’s Hell in a Cell challenge, Cody Rhodes’ possible character shift, NXT Great American Bash, TNA Slammiversary, the new Knockouts Television Championship, Produce Wrestling, Charles Mason, RWA Unleashed, Super Hentai’s final stand, Enjoy Wrestling, and more from the Pittsburgh indie wrestling scene.

This week on AwesomeCast 785, Sorg and Dave Podnar get geeky with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s massive 3,200-megapixel digital camera, Red Bull’s world’s fastest filming drone chasing a Formula 1 car, and the tech legacy of Martine Rothblatt for Pride Month. The hosts also dig into digital game ownership, GTA VI’s physical copy controversy, Nintendo-style game key cards, Sorg’s new AI video experiment “It Came From AI,” Meta and Snap’s latest smart glasses, Apple price increases tied to AI hardware demand, hand-crafted animation, Minion singing contests, and a wild pro wrestling Nintendo moment involving an NES cartridge. Links discussed in this episode: Rubin Observatory space camera: https://www.space.com/astronomy/rubin-observatory-begins-filming-the-greatest-cosmic-movie-ever-beginning-a-new-era-of-astronomy https://rubinobservatory.org/ Red Bull F1 filming drone: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaFPQ8pOEXN/ https://www.redbull.com/us-en/worlds-fastest-filming-drone-build Martine Rothblatt: https://achievement.org/achiever/martine-rothblatt-ph-d/ Chachi Says Video Game Minute: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrg52egw1ro https://www.polygon.com/1000-dollar-game-steam-10-minutes-congratulations-on-your-purchase/ https://www.cbr.com/universal-five-nights-at-freddys-3-gary-dauberman-screenwriter/ It Came From AI: https://www.instagram.com/itcamefromai/reels/ Animation by dad for child: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3485866488230002 Meta AI glasses: https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/meta-glasses/ Snap AR glasses: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/snap-specs-launch-live-latest-updates Apple price increases: https://www.cultofmac.com/news/ouch-apples-mac-and-ipad-price-hikes-brutal Minion singing contest: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8G67fFM/ Nintendo wrestling moment: https://apple.news/A2iJBMG51SlKOCgHFRwk6xA Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast and get exclusive aftertalk content for as little as $1 a month. AwesomeCast is part of the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network. Find more at https://sorgatronmedia.com/