Extra Credit #5: One Bad Day in Africa

 

Podcast: Download The MP3 File (Length: 18:19 -- 12 MB)

Recently I was at a store in Hollywood and I met a cool guy who worked there named Lahai.  He was really interesting and mentioned that he had been almost kidnapped in Africa in the late '90s when he was 17.  I knew he had to be on Man School!  So, that's what this Extra Credit -- "One Bad Day in Africa" -- is all about.  

Lahai was born in American, raised in Ethiopia, but his parents are Liberian -- and that's where in Africa this bad day went down.  And it was all because his dad was trying to teach him a life lesson. 

Related Class: I Was Kidnapped... Twice!

Even More: Man School Extra Credit

Man School is a proud part of the Sideshow Network.

Class #16: I Drink For A Living

Podcast: Download The MP3 File (Length: 44:31 -- 30 MB)

Zane Lamprey [Twitter] is a television host who has been able to drink his way around the world on his shows Three Sheets and Drinking Made Easy.  It's literally his job to drink booze and it's quite the adventure. 

In this class we talk about:

  • His Kickstarter campaign for a new drinking show, Chug.
  • My awkward and accidental guest appearance on Zane's TV show Three Sheets on an episode in Costa Rica (which used to be on the Mojo Network.)  Pictured here!
  • How TV hosting gigs turned into a dream job.
  • Getting grabbed in the balls by a drunk fan. 
  • Handling drunk fans in public. 
  • Dealing with Internet trolls. 
  • Having your TV show cancelled and having your network shut down. 
  • Zane's old boss Mark Cuban at HD Net. 
  • Adam Carolla's Cinco de Mayo party with Mangria.
  • Zane's live stand-up comedy tour. 
  • The small amount of money paid to television hosts. 
  • The difficulties of international travel. 
  • Hangovers around the world. 
  • Getting sick in Thailand. 
  • Zane's real relationship to alcohol. 
  • An embarrassing moment at Sun King brewery.

On Twitter? Use #ManSchool to say you're listening to the show!

Man School is a proud part of the Sideshow Network.

Caleb Bacon on 'Three Sheets'

 

A stillshot from Zane Lamprey's old show Three Sheets.  We were on a propellor plane from Quepos, Costa Rica to San Jose, Costa Rica.  And I was a dick.  Hear about it on the latest podcast. 

Takeaways for "I Work For My Favorite Band"

Thanks to everyone who caught class #15 "I Work For My Favorite Band" with Daniel 'Brat' Barassi from Depeche Mode.  There's a lot to be said about what difficulties lie in achievement.  Listen to the episode and find out more...

Class Takeaways:

  • When you're working with people you look up to, try and keep it professional.
  • Respect your employer's privacy.  It'll make you feel good too.
  • Work hard and work creatively during slow times. 
  • If you have your dream job it still means you have work really hard.  Just having it isn't enough.
  • Don't bore the band about random B-side releases from 1985... especially while they're eating.

Related Links: More Takeaway Blogs.

On Twitter? Use #ManSchool to say you're listening to the show!

Class #15: I Work For My Favorite Band

Podcast: Download The MP3 File (Length: 27:47 — 20 MB)

Daniel Barassi [Twitter] has worked for his favorite band (and my own) -- Depeche Mode -- since 1998.  He's the web guy who handles all of their digital media.  Daniel also produces music under the monicker The Brat and does some work for the band The Bird and The Bee. 

Pictured above: Alan Wilder (former Depeche Mode), Daniel Barassi, and Martin Gore

In this episode we talk about:

  • The fan site he ran before he was hired. 
  • How he faxed a nasty letter that lead to him getting the job. 
  • Growing closer to band members Dave Gahan, Martin L. Gore, and Andy "Fletch" Fletcher. 
  • Joking around with frontman Dave Gahan. 
  • Visiting Martin Gore's house in Santa Barbara and seeing the keyboard room.
  • Building DepecheMode.com from nothing to one of the best band sites out there. 
  • Going on tour with the band and filming shows and shooting photographs. 
  • Dealing with nerves around the band. 
  • Proving to the band he was a great employee and good guy -- and not just some fanboy. 
  • Advice for being around people you admire. 
  • Going record shopping with Martin at Amoeba in Hollywood.

Support our sponsor and shave your face easier, cheaper: DollarShaveClub.com/caleb

Man School is a proud part of the Sideshow Network.

Want more Bacon?

Recently I've been a guest on some great podcasts.  So, if you have some extra time in your day... might I recommend:

Written Stuff


Related Link: More Man School News.

Takeaways for "Living With Disease"

This week's class is Living With Disease featuring my friend Bill Cleveland.  He has battled Hepatitis C since before doctors even knew what to call it.  Now, he could use a new liver. 

Class Takeaways:

  • Meditation is important.  Especially when you have nowhere to go but up.
  • Don't believe what your head tells you.  Sometimes you shouldn't listen to you.
  • The problems of your past can be used to help people with their problems today. 
  • Just because you've made mistakes in the past doesn't mean that you have to repeat them. 
  • Asking for help is important.  For Bill he's sought help from other men with Hepatitis C, spiritual advisers, and his own wife. 

Related Links: More Takeaway Blogs.

On Twitter? Use #ManSchool to say you're listening to the show!

Hello, Front Page of iTunes!

 

I'd like to thank the Academy... err... Apple for thinking highly enough of Man School to feature the show on the podcast front page!  If you'd like to see Man School keep climbing the charts of the world's biggest digital media marketplace, please leave a kind star rating and review over on iTunes.

Class #14: Living With Disease with Bill Cleveland

Podcast: Download The MP3 File (Length: 38:44 — 27 MB)

Bill Cleveland is a great friend of mine who has Hepatitis C and needs a liver transplant. He came down with Hep-C from using dirty needles before he quit alcohol and drugs.  Now, Bill's 28 years sober and is a wonderful wonderful guy.  He's really helped me with a lot with various issues (namely my own sobriety) by sharing a lot of his great experience. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Intravenous drug use and sobriety from drugs and alcohol. 
  • Getting in shape after getting sober. 
  • Losing over 100 pounds and getting very much into bicycle riding. 
  • Getting diagnosed with a then-unknown for a Hepatitis. 
  • Extreme lethargy and anemia from Hep-C. 
  • Pursuing natural treatments to clean his liver and treat his disease. 
  • Two rounds of Interferon treatment (which is like Chemotherapy for Hepatitis C.) 
  • Getting rid of the virus only to have it come back stronger. 
  • The depression and anxiety of being on Interferon. 
  • Having friends and family help through the tough times. 
  • His spiritual (and non-religious) path and how that helped him find some peace. 
  • Spiritual knowledge vs. spiritual experience
  • How Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" book changed his life. 
  • Perception as friend and enemy. 
  • Meditation as a practical way get better and stop the downward spiral.
  • Dealing with sadness about his situation.
  • Helping others who also have liver problems.
  • Being on the liver transplant list and waiting for a new liver.
  • His club of men who are also on the liver transplant list. 
  • Breaking down a barrier and asking his wife for help. 
  • Simple ways to change your attitude. 
  • Developing Encephalopathy and dealing with that.

On Twitter? Use #ManSchool to say you'

re listening to the show!

Man School is a proud part of the Sideshow Network.

Thanks, Insidehook!

Insidehook — the great cool-stuff-for-men blog/email list — ran a great feature on Man School!  Check it out here.  

Here’s a few of their kind words:

Two qualities many a good man would admit he can improve: his willingness to take advice and his patience for traffic.

Here to knock out two birds with one stone:

Man School, a gut-bustingly funny podcast that drops bons mots on how to be an upstanding gentledude.