This 40th episode (without fanfare) was initially intended for my ears only. It was a journal entry. I was thinking about how The Comedy Store seemed so much bigger to me back in the 1980's, and wanted to capture my thoughts verbally instead of writing about it. After I finished recording, I decided to condense it a bit and push it out as a short podcast episode. (I might actually do more than one podcast episode this year. No promises.) By the way... no offense to current comedy club(s). This is about me and my malleable memories. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Another annual episode. Why? Because I want to. With this episode, I get back to the original spirit/mission of my podcast. Namely, I just turned on the recorder and talked for an hour... with minimal editing involved (specifically, I added intro/outro music, paused once, and inserted a coupla song samples for context). Although I'm not happy with some of my annoying mouth noises (e.g., swallowing and lip-smacking), I'm posting it anyway... warts and all. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

The running gag continues. Another annual episode. How long will I keep doing this? I have no idea. This year's broadcast is a clip show, recorded in bits and pieces over 2020 and 2021. It closes with me doing stand-up at The Comedy Store to celebrate my 60th birthday, one month before we started the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Will that be my last time doing stand-up? I have no idea. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

This podcast is now a running gag. A long con. What started in 2014 as an earnest attempt to do a weekly podcast has become the equally earnest joke of doing an annual podcast. Enjoy! [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Last January, when I recorded my first episode of 2018, I asked the prophetic question, “Will it also be my last episode of 2018?”. The answer turned out to be “yes”. Hence my use of the word “prophetic”. Now, after recording my first episode of 2019, I will not ask that same question. Instead, I will just say... enjoy my annual podcast episode! [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

After doing 23 episodes in 2016, I only did one episode in 2017. My excuse? I don’t want to talk about it. What I do want to talk about is envy being stupid. So I do talk about it in this episode. I also talk about a bunch of other stuff. Interested? Intrigued? Incarcerated? Then please listen to my first episode of 2018. Will it also be my last episode of 2018? Or will I actually maintain a semi-regular schedule this year? There’s no earthly way of knowing... which direction we are going... there's no knowing where we're rowing... or which way the river's flowing... [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

In a parallel universe, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe, I sat on the toilet and talked to myself for 30 minutes. For what it's worth, I'd like to note that when I recorded this, I didn't intend on sharing it. I thought it was only going to be heard by a future self. Then I decided to share it. Why the change of heart? How would I know? You're asking me why I do things? Have you been listening to anything I've said? [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

I had my best set since returning to stand-up. If it were any other night, that would have dominated this episode. But this wasn't any other night. It was election night. And, if I stick to my plan, it was the last night I give a shit about anything going on in the world outside of my personal experience. Sour grapes? Yup. Sore loser? Indeed. And you know what? I don't care. The person who's apparently going to be our President is a vile creature who spews endless venom. I quit drinking earlier this year. Now it's time to rid myself of political poison. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Unlike last week, there was no grappling this week with the decision of whether or not to call in for a spot at The Comedy Store's open mic. Why? I have no idea. I called. I got a spot. I performed. This episode was recorded before and after performing. It's a podcast within a podcast. Eat my dust, Shakespeare! [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Grappling (once again) with the decision of whether or not to call in for a spot at The Comedy Store's open mic (tonight). This time, the urge was triggered by going to see Ritch Shydner perform (last night). I'm leaning towards not calling, based on the simple 'HELL YEAH! or no' philosophy (from a blog post by Derek Sivers). I enjoy performing in front of a live audience, but not as much as I enjoy sitting on my couch. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Acting, training (and not training), mini-staycation, politics (and avoiding it), withdrawing from the big world, internal goals (bigger on the inside), crappy YouTube videos, and happiness (while looking over my shoulder for a lightning bolt). [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

I started the day -- with nothing to say -- and then I "came out" -- as an atheist -- (yay?) [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Today's Agenda: Zen, Weird, Pokemon (Go), Door-to-Door, Clicking Noises (i.e., Misophonia). [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Went to two comedy shows last weekend -- one planned (Louis C.K.) and one spontaneous (Lamont Ferguson). Aside from talking about that, I (once again) talk a whole lot about very little. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Broadcasting from a dark garage, capturing a thought I had while taking a walk to watch the sunset. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

In a parallel universe, I did a 3-minute set at The Comedy Store open mic tonight. In this universe, I sat on the toilet and talked to myself for 3 minutes. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

The most interesting thing (to me) this week was having my best set at The Comedy Store since returning "home". I just hope this doesn't cause me to repeat my old pattern of trying to turn this into something more than it is. What is it? It is what it is. I'm not trying to build on "this". I just want to continue doing "this" for the sake of doing "this"... whatever "this" is. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Oprah's got nothing on me. In this week's episode of my podcast, I make MYSELF cry. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Another episode with The Comedy Store's open mic at the (minuscule) core, and a bunch of tangential philosophizing around the (massive) edges. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]

Don't listen to this episode if you're in a good mood. I was sick recently, and it got me to thinking a lot more about my ultimate demise. Some recent celebrity deaths didn't help matters any. [Contact me via email at joe@palen.com]