Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:33 Creature Comforts with Corey Atad

24:53 The Feature: STORIES WE TELL (2012)

71:07 The Other Side: Corey and Ryan talk further reading after Sarah Polley’s epic film

Thoughts From Your Host…

It’s my birthday today. I type these words thankful that I get to celebrate another spin around the sun.

I’d be lying if I said that this was how I anticipated celebrating my name day. I’m still not working, but that’s nothing new. I haven’t been on the clock for my birthday my entire life, and if I can help it – I will keep things that way. But no, it’s not that.

It was bad enough that a bloody pandemic clamped down on the whole world and made sure that this would become a birthday spent in seclusion. Now, I have to watch as America burns…because of the same problem that has plagued it for so long…the same inequities..the same hatred…the same complete disregard for human life. This time though, it comes with a special extended dance mix…since the powers at the top really don’t care about how much of a mess they’ve made of things.

It’s fucked-up. There’s no other way to put it. Just plain and simply fucked-up.

I feel awful tweeting about anything that isn’t on-message. I feel like a heel getting lost in my headphones. It’s not guilt (I have plenty of that, thanks) – it’s that I am fucking someone else over by focusing on self-care, let alone celebrating turning another year older.

If I’m letting someone down and they’re reading this, I’m sorry. Please know that privately, I am spreading the truth and being a positive ally.

That’s the best I can offer today. A declaration that while I’m not exactly “celebrating”, I’m not crying about it since there are SO damned many who have things so much worse. In years past, I’d be travelling today, drinking with friends, getting out, getting around. Not today – today is about subdued reflection, and I’m at peace with the role.

Maybe next year there will be justice. Maybe next year there will be a cure. Maybe next year we will be able to look at what we collectively survived and find ourselves better for it.

Maybe next year, my birthday will be something to celebrate. This year, I just put this audio offering out into the world, and retreat to my balcony with a cup of coffee and a comic book.

Peace and love, y’all.

Links Mentioned on The Sixth Dispatch:

A consideration I wrote a few years back on SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, and how it blurs the line between fact and truth.

The Reply-All Podcast’s episode “The Case of The Missing Hit

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!