Episodes

Monday Feb 27, 2023
EC Update 2-27-23.m4a
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
There WILL be a new episode this week...just not on Tuesday. Thanks for your understanding!

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Episode 147 - This Whole Episode is a Subtweet
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
In this kinda grumpy episode, I share some personal stuff then talk about music from Michael Penn and the Decemberists, because their music helped me through a rough week. This one has a slightly different tone, but I think it still manages to be fun.
Companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
e-mail: db@derekbrink.com
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro, including me hating my new phone and ranting about how to podcast real good...
- 26:47 - Diner
- 27:17 - Music to have a bad week by...
- 28:04 - Michael Penn - Mr. Hollywood, Jr. 1947
- 37:25 - ...I get weirdly mad defending the Decemberists, who I only sort of like...
- 53:02 - Napalm
- 53:32 - Outro

Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Episode 146 - Get Blip-Blorp!
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
In this episode I'm all over the place bidding farewell to Burt Bacharach, complaining about streaming services, praising Vox Machina, and talking about my new vests. It's fun! Give it a shot!
Visit the Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
E-mail me: db@derekbrink.com
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro, including talk of vests!
- 17:48 - Nobody Else
- 18:18 - RIP Burt Bacharach
- 29:25 - Who I Am
- 29:55 - TV stuff, including talk of Vox Machina and a weird rant about streaming media being terrible.
- 41:35 - Always
- 42:05 - Outro

Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Episode 145 - In Gord We Trust
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
In this episode I mostly talk about Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip, but there's also some mildly personal stuff at the start and some surprisingly deep personal stuff at the end. So it's got some layers. Make like an archaeologist and dig it!
The companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
E-mail me: db@derekbrink.com
Time index:
- 0:00 - Intro
- 18:51 - Coming Storm
- 19:21 - Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip
- 47:44 - Give It Up
- 48:14 - Outro and a personal story about the cats.
Thanks, Checkmates!

Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Episode 144 - I Really Want a Beer...and a Vest
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
In this slightly all over the place episode I talk about how much I hate the DMV, bid farewell to Sal Piro and David Crosby, consider wearing vests, and review new music from Iggy Pop and Guided By Voices. Check it out! Be there or don't!
Companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
Email me: db@derekbrink.com
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro, including me hating the DMV.
- 15:00 - Born in this Town
- 15:30 - RIP Sal Piro
- 26:11 - Absent Friends
- 26:41 - RIP David Crosby
- 38:22 - Falling
- 38:52 - Music Reviews - GBV and Iggy Pop
- 45:29 - Church Girls
- 46:00 - Outro

Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Episode 143 - Fab 15Cover Songs
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
In this episode, we are once again joined by Dave and we count down our Fab 15 Cover Songs. Y'know...like in the episode title! It's a fun talk with some funny moments and some good talk. Check it out!
Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com with your thoughts (preferably about the show)!
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro/Preface
- 14:09 - Starting the list
- 14:25 - #15 - We're both shocked Dave didn't think of this...
- 20:08 - #14 - I want to stop saying something is higher on my list. And a brief tribute to David Crosby.
- 26:49 - #13 - Stepping away from the Rock genre.
- 31:01 - #12 - I didn't know that was a cover!
- 37:51 - #11 - Derek yells the f-word.
- 45:25 - #10 - It's easier to sing.
- 48:53 - #9 - Yeah, but what if it rocked?
- 53:36 - #8 - You wanna hear something funny? (1/4)
- 1:00:30 - #7 - We find out Dave's wedding song, but that's not really part of the list. Shut up.
- 1:11:55 - #6 - IT'S A SONG?!?/You know how to spell it...
- 1:19:32 - #5 - You wanna hear something funny? (2/4)
- 1:32:12 - #4 - ...say more.
- 1:41:33 - #3 - You wanna hear something funny? (3/4)
- 1:47:07 - #2 - You wanna hear something funny? (4/4)
- 1:56:06 - #1 - Is Derek cheating?
- 2:04:27 - Honorable Mentions...
- 2:12:37 - Matches and making the final list.
- 2:17:34 - The final 15.
- 2:18:04 - Choosing #1.
- 2:22:32 - Closing remarks, etc...

Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Episode 142 - Good is Good
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
In this episode I talk about the new album my Margo Price, the weirdest movie I've ever seen in my life (The American Astronaut), Wall-E, and the Kurt Vonnegut documentary, "Unstuck in Time." It hangs together a lot better than it sounds... Dig it!
Remember to visit the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com. You can e-mail me your thoughts, arguments, and so on at db@derekbrink.com. And so on.
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro
- 9:57 - I Hope You're Happy Now
- 10:27 - Music Review - Margo Price - "Strays"
- 19:10 - Bullsh*t
- 19:40 - Movie Reviews
- 20:09 - The American Astronaut
- 31:45 - Wall-E
- 40:38 - Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time
- 49:32 - That Weekend (Blue Tattoo)
- 50:02 - Outro

Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Episode 141 - 11%, Anagrams, Spoilers, Second Chances, and so on...
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
In the first episode of the new year I review a bunch of stuff from last year, including music from Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and The Smile, and the movies Glass Onion and Clerks III. It's a good one. I'm inexcusably drunk for about half of it, too. So. There's also that. (SPOILERS GALORE on the movies, btw!)
Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com.
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro
- 12:21 - Deeper Than Oceans
- 12:51 - Music Reviews
- 14:06 - Bruce Springsteen - Only the Strong Survive
- 20:58 - The Smile - I don't remember the title and I bet I forget to find it...
- 27:18 - Neil Young - World Record
- 34:13 - Lectio Divina
- 34:43 - Movie Reviews
- 37:20 - Glass Onion
- 59:49 - Clerks III
- 1:13:03 - Absent Friends
- 1:13:33 - Outro, including me talking to the cats.

Friday Jan 06, 2023
EC Update 1-6-22.m4a
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Friday Jan 06, 2023
There's a typo in the file name and I can't fix it. Obviously it's 2023. You don't need to tell me that. This is an upload to tell you why there isn't an upload yet. It'll come soon. I promise. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. - Uncle Derek

Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Episode 140 - Top Ten Albums of 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
In this episode I count down my top ten favorite albums of 2022, including a bunch of honorable mentions and some other stuff. (And no, #1 is NOT visible in the thumbnail!) It's always a good time, any time I get to make a list! :)
Remember you can e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com--tell me your favorites from this year! And there is a companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com with photos and stuff.
Time Index:
- 0:00 - Intro Stuff (Including my favorite music memories from this year.)
- 17:08 - Born in this Town
- 17:38 - Mostly Honorable Mentions
- 38:43 - Hindsight
- 39:13 - The Top Ten!
- 1:15:31 - Being There
- 1:16:01 - Outro (Including some other music that isn't new, but I learned of it this year, and a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Checkmates for 2022!)