Podcast
Worst Things First Podcast
Hosted by ASPHATE · EN
A fourth season of the critically acclaimed, no bullsh*t sit-downs hosted by PHATER ROC of Galapagos4 & Scarce Elementz Crew is upon us. Ordinary life generating extraordinary dialogue is the layout. Discover what qualifies as a "shitty" situation to a janitor, the best bribes to keep the cable guy from disconnecting you, how to avoid an ass-kicking from a shoplifter as a loss prevention retail worker, whether life truly ever goes on for a sex-offender's family, or what happens between a client and tree trimmer when a tree falls on the house. The worst aspect of each guest's daily routine sparks the discussion. From there, the conversation rides the wind. Season 4 premiers Monday, February 20, with literary emancipator and children's book author, Abena Sankofa Imhotep.
10episodes
Episodes
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THE BRA MAKER
Apr 12, 202300:42:50Tap to summarizeBy way of an unanticipated stroke of grace, the W.T.F.P studios and host PHATEROC stumbled upon divine insight into the anatomy of the feminine figure and the challenges faced in producing under-garments which effectively cover and support its upper portions, while also accentuating the natural beauty of the area.In this episode, W.T.F.P guest, C.E.O and designer of Shy Intimate Apparel,, TARRITA, joins the show to discuss everything from walking the tightrope of balance between being a human with real life ups and downs impacting one's business endeavors and the productive consistency maintained therein, to the uncertain journey of casting faith in a production manager overseeing manufacturing or material sourcing in countries where the language, customs, and laws remain as foreign as they were prior to either party ever stepping foot on that unfamiliar soil.The leap of not having a technical artistic background yet having a vision and mission to provide an apparel solution to a common problem based in intimate wear for women of all sizes, is explored.TARRITA craftily sidesteps the question of how many consecutive days of wearing the same bra is cool for a woman before things either get funky or socially weird..... and PHATEROC learns the answer to the question all men have had since 1914: "Why do you, (women) even care about wearing bras, since men don't care if you wear one or not?"PHATAL EXTRACTION:"I want women - the everyday woman....to see themselves in these bras." - TARRITALEARN MORE ON SISTA SOUL FESTS HERE AND THE FUTURE OF IT HERESHOP AT SHYINTIMATEAPPAREL.COM HERESHOP AT JUSTLIVINGANDSHIT.COM
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THE REPO MAN
Mar 13, 202300:51:14Tap to summarizeBelieve it or not, you don't need a pilot's license or even a pilot rolling with you to repo an airplane. This episode of W.T.F.P features the insight of a 15-year veteran in the repossession game. Operating almost exclusively out of the San Fernando Valley and other parts of northern L.A County, the "Taker of your Tahoe," the "Collector of your Camry," the "Snatcher of Your Series 6," Keith, joins the show to give the run down from his lens on one of the most hated and perhaps misunderstood occupations. Tune in to learn why Keith preferred to work alone even in the stickiest of situations, or why the suburbs tended to pose the most frequent challenges. Keith reflection reveals a sense of empathy and a compassionate nod to the common thread of relatability between people of all backgrounds when it comes to financial struggles. Clarity is provided on why arguing with the REPO MAN will get you nowhere......and bear witness to a feeble attempt to convince W.T.FP host, PHATEROC, that he only ever stole 37 cents from a reclaimed debtor's vehicle, in order to cop a Lil Debbie Oatmeal Creampie back when the original recipe was still kickin', on a day when he forgot to pack a lunch.PHATAL EXTRACTION: "It's just a job that needs to be done. Someone's gotta do it."
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THE AIRLINE SERVICE AGENT
Mar 6, 202301:03:06Tap to summarizeThis time flies as a young airline service agent, SAALIYAH visits the W.T.F.P studios for the low down on the flight game. Unfortunately, unhappy customers have to accept that the airlines cannot actually make time fly. So when delays happen, luggage gets lost and birds get caught in the engines, patience may be the key.......even if....the flight you're missing, is a once in a lifetime trip to the Olympics.Saaliyah is also an actress, model and poet. Tune in for her project shoutouts or visit her social media links below. Follow her IG HEREFollow her TIK TOK HERE
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THE CABLE GUY
Feb 27, 202301:06:27Tap to summarizeFrom movie night with the whole family to a couple enjoying tv dinners, to the 1990's adolescent male's late night exploration of puberty, the cable guy/gal was known to set the tone for hours of home-based entertainment, and in particular prevalence prior to our current age of the information highway. This episode of W.T.F.P features the diary of a "channel-man", and within it, tales of bribery, Showtime at the traphouse, and his commentary on a society consumed with television programming to the extent of making it a top priority, with the passion to defend it at all costs. Collection tricks of the trade make the plate, and a mild debate ensues over whether hearing gunshots upon showing up to collect the cable bill amounts to a threat or just a warning.PHATE EXTRACTION: "It got to the point where I'd get to the door and I could kinda smell what this house was gonna look like." - The Cable Guy
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THE LITERARY EMANCIPATOR
Feb 20, 202301:07:28Tap to summarizeW.T.F.P's fourth season arrives with the presence of the multi-layered ABENA SANKOFA IMHOTEP, a highly revered creator, public speaker and empowerment facilitator currently enjoying the success of her most recently authored children's book "Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe." ABENA discusses the challenges faced in bringing life to a written story in the form of a published book for distribution. The journey of understanding one's past to positively navigate one's future and how it led to finding one individual's name is detailed. The controversy of Sinterklaas' helper Zwarte Piet of Netherland low country folklore is raised, as those aware of the traditional St. Nicholas' feast remain divided on its perception as innocent fun tradition vs. celebration of a derogatory depiction. PHATEROC discovers mid episode that Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe has served to remind him yet again, "what is true is simply the truth.... and nobody owns the truth."PHATAL EXTRACTION: "The challenge was....I was in the way, but I was also missing." - Abena.LEARN MORE about the Sankofa Literary and Empowerment Group.LISTEN TO Black & Privilege in America Podcast, hosted by Abena & Jay.WATCH Abena's 2021 TEDx presentation of perspective as an African American in Iowa.FIND YOUR COPY of Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe
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THE DRAG QUEENS
May 3, 202101:57:25Tap to summarizeW.T.F.P''s Season 3 Finale finds host PHATEROC seated firmly in an educational course led by the metaphorical professorial duo and literal professional drag queens: VANA B. and MS. ROBIN GRAVES . From being 'outed' as gay due to hate crime in small town America, to later returning from a Seattle-based stint of life searching and ultimately finding embrace and inspiration from Ms. Vana and others within the Des Moines' LGBTQ community, Robin Graves details the journey to her current career path and its role as a guiding light in her rise from darker days. Vana B. sets the record straight for 'PHATE and the uninitiated through a proper framing of drag as an artform, and moreover an exploration of gender expression, which should not be confused with an attempt to deceive the audience or "pass" as biological women. This week's guest list of the "WORST" includes competitors cutting up their competition's wigs, stankin' ass tights in a packed dress room full of queens, reckless use of derogatory terminology like, "Fishy," which focuses more on presumptions about genitalia than the artistry being delivered on stage, to the risks of tights combined with a full bladder under the gleam of stage lights. Occasionally, on a good night, a few staples may even end up in someone's ass. Ya never know. But in any case, you DEFINITELY shouldn't assume. PHATAL EXTRACTION: "Rarely is drag an attempt to convince you or the audience that we are actually women."REFERENCED SOURCES: CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY@THEROBINGRAVES@HEYITSVANABFIND TICKETS FOR MOTHER'S DAY DRAG BRUNCH HERE
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THE D.J.
Apr 26, 202101:27:41Tap to summarizeLong Island, N.Y native turned Des Moines hip hop fixture and member of the world famous Technitions, D.J EPISODE joins the show. Our guest recounts the meeting of W.T.F.P host PHATEROC wheeling in crate after crate of vinyl for DJ EPISODE as a resident DJ at a mutual employer/nightclub nearly 20 yrs ago. As an era of vinyl spinning replaced by digital options has returned to an appreciation of wax habits, the woes of DJing and a new found resurgence in finding fun in the craft both catch a spin...Industry story exchanges leave Das Efx and Yeezy with the short end of the stick.D.J. Episode Produces Willie T's NonfukkinNegotiable Podcast with Sarah the Reallionaire. << Click this link to listen on Spotify.PHATAL EXTRACTION: "I don't know why I had a beeper man... It was the 90's." - DJ EPISODE
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THE GOLDEN GLOVE BOXER
Apr 19, 202101:16:56Tap to summarizeTwo-time Golden Glove fighter and boxing coach, SHAWN SMITH, joins the W.T.F.P studio to discuss the less glamorous side of of the sweet science from the perspective of an amateur fighter who eventually became trainer of several Golden Glove winners. Our guest marks 'the uncertainty.' as his greatest foe. Memory lane steers recollection of his own ring experience with the body blows of Shawn Porter (former two-time welterweight champion), and a competitive bond with Super Middleweight contender J'Leon Love eventually leading to him losing 15 pounds in the Vegas desert, over the course of a few days working out with the Mayweather camp alongside his team of young Iowa boxers. UFC welterweight troll and top contender Colby Covington along with lightheavy weight champion Jon Jones both had two very different experiences in Fort Dodge, Iowa outlined by our guest.The recent passing of undisputed middleweight champ, Marvin Haggler is noted in addition to the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd, raising the question of when the cheek no longer turns.PHATAL EXTRACTION: “You can’t ‘play’ boxing. You can play basketball. You can play baseball…. But you can’t play boxing......." - SHAWN S.
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THE AMERICAN AUTO WORKER
Apr 12, 202102:35:17Tap to summarizeRegular W.T.F.P listeners should buckle up for an insightful and entertaining ride, while picky eaters may be wise to pack a lunch, as "Real Talk" is the only dish being served at today's company cookout. While approaching his 30th year of tenure, with factory experience ranging both inside and outside of the United States, our guest, DEVON ALLEN, dissects a common reflection of humanity and its tendencies found mirrored throughout blue collar America as well as every corner of the earth where terms like 'supply, demand and shareholders" can be translated into the native language.Acknowledgement of the necessity for a healthy balance to be struck between productivity and worker's rights, and the role unions play within this balancing act are both conveyed in the coolest of candor.PHATAL EXTRACTION: "Non-value added work"
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THE VIETNAM VET
Apr 5, 202101:46:45Tap to summarizeIn a monumental honor for W.T.F.P , Elvin John Kruger, better known as "BUTCH" of the legendary 101st Airborne Division, (1st of 506 Company) joins the lab to discuss some of the darkest and brightest days he experienced in Vietnam from June 1969 until an undisclosed time frame in 1971.From the disappointment of receiving a draft letter to traversing the blood soaked soil of Hamburger Hill just weeks following the tragic conflict. From a lieutenant's brash disregard for his point-man's warning resulting in a bullet thru his forehead to avoiding the dangers of sexual favors offering, or in some cases, taking more than a soldier has bargained for, the rabbit hole of an unpopular war is explored in depth.While detailing the challenging, yet always completed task of carrying away the American dead comrades, Butch explains that there definitely can be 'life after war....' even one better left un-fought.PHATAL EXTRACTION: · “Can’t drink beer at home, but we can get shot at over in Vietnam.” - BUTCH
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