Erudition 6 - The Bald Merbuck, Tick Tapp, and Erik Wolf [ 31:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (350)

Sadly for me, this week Nick’s schedule and mine were both very tight, so I had to construct a robot to take his place. I named him Tick Tapp, though.

Some of his motivations are the same, but his delivery leaves much to be desired. I’m definitely hoping to get the real thing back soon. COME BACK TO ME NICK!

Still, I start off this week with a patriotic piece about the mythical Bald Merbuck. Hope you guys enjoy it.

After that we get to know Tick a little bit, he sings us a love song, and finally Erik Wolf graciously gives of his time to appear. We talk about self publishing and what writing nonfiction books can do for business.

Thanks to Erik for being involved. He’s awesome and so are you.

Erudition 5 - Apologies, The Grove, and Gabe Berman [ 29:40 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (272)

This week’s episode starts out with a heartfelt apology to the lady I offended at the Decatur Book Fest. I was there to volunteer for (w)ink Atlanta, and I really put my foot in my mouth. Sorry about that, kids.

The only way you guys can make me–I, uh… I mean the kids–feel better is to get involved with (w)ink Atlanta. Do it. Now.

We then get a really excellent defeNicktion of the word “Paralipsis” which contains almost nothing dirty. Shocker!

Nick then goes into a dreamlike state to bring us a Nickipedia book report on The Grove by John Rector. It turns out to have some unexpected economical undertones. Weird.

Last, but far from least, Gabe Berman, author of Live Like a Fruit Fly very graciously donates his time to be interviewed. This is a guy whose book has been endorsed by Deepak Chopra, right here on our silly little podcast. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.

We discuss pipes, smoking jackets, and how Gabe got published. He got rejected by agents and publishers for years, and then broke through and got traditionally published like the badass fruit fly that he is. It’s a great story, and he has a lot of interesting thoughts. LISTEN TO IT.

I love you, my lovelies. Thanks for listening!

Erudition 4 - Kids, Nick's Uncle Artie, and Allison Rizk [ 33:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (246)

This Week's guest: Allison Rizk of RadioPotato.com

This week starts out with some talk about whether dogs or kids are smarter. We come to some conclusions that will likely rock the science of childhood development. Or just annoy some moms.

We then move on to the Word of the Week. This week it is “Corpulent“. Nick’s definition (or defi-NICK-tion) is questionable at best, but it leads us to some discovery on the nature of the “fatty grunt.” Full disclosure, I stole the idea of the fatty grunt from Harvey Birdman.

I then read a note that I found in Nick’s car, written to him in middle school by the first girl he ever kissed. I feel bad for kids that they don’t write notes to each other anymore, and Nick relates the tale of his first french kissing encounter.

Last, but far from least, my guest is local Atlanta music blogger Allison Rizk of Radio Potato! She’s using her blog, and the written word, to give a greater voice to up and coming music artists. She also reveals that Amos Lee is a literature buff and a former english teacher. Who knew?

Be sure to vote for Allison’s awesome blog to win Most Valuable Blogger, and catch her hosting Park Tavern’s Americana in the Park series!

Erudition 3 - Runics, Crocs, and Jon Fasman [ 33:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (182)

NYT Best Seller, father, and Atlantan Jon Fasman

This week’s episode starts out with a few thanks for our friend Kelley Hagen, who supplied the winning coffee pun that we asked for in last week’s episode. Our baristas loved it.

Hagen is also to be thanked for turning me on to Quiet Hounds, an amazing new local Atlanta band. Listen to them right now.

The Word of the Week was originally titillate, but since Nick knew what it meant, we scrapped it in favor of runic. Turns out Nick knew what that one meant too, or at least he did according to his strange fantasy world.

Nick then takes time out to abuse me for wearing Crocs, but not just Crocs: red Crocs that matched my tee shirt.

We then try out a section called Craigsliterature, which leads Nick to very rudely objectify women. Shame!

We then enter into the Nickipedia for a book review of Guilty Wives by James Patterson and David Eillis. Nick is dubious that two people can write a book together, but we go over the plot together as according to him anyway. I think anyone will want to read Guilty Wives as of hearing this.

Last, New York Times best selling author and Atlanta resident Jon Fasman talks about self publishing, his experiences with his novels, The Geographer’s Library and The Unposessed City, and gives some excellent advice for aspiring authors. He also recommends Barry Eisler’s thoughts on self publishing.

Take a look at Jon Fasman’s author page at The Economist.

Thanks so much for listening, please tweet to us with hashtag #Erudition, and like us on Facebook too!