Christmas is over. What does that mean? For Victor, it's freedom for another 364 days and Rix counters with his own experience of family time, followed inevitably by a back-and-forth over how personal experiences really color the season. Then, the weather. -40 with the wind chill in Minnesota, 0 degrees here in Chicago; would you rather take cold or snow? But this too shall pass, and as late 2017 transitions into 2018, Victor and Rix discuss goals big and large, whether it’s worth setting them, ...
Dec 28, 2017•43 min
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Boxing Day! And of course, Yule! What better way to celebrate the season than to reminisce on classic holiday movies and traditions. What's your favorite part of the season? For us it's the lights. SO MAGICAL. Enjoy this episode with a fine glass of egg nog, or peppermint coffee with a splash of Schnapps! Bundle up and throw another log on the fire as we explore the wonders of the holiday season.
Dec 24, 2017•58 min
What better way to spend one's time than in a deep slumber, especially in these cold, winter months when there's nothing to do except talk about how cold it is. What is art? It's certainly not a large piece of canvas with paint spattered in random patterns, or is it? How do we determine value? What drives our need to find meaning? TECHNOLOGY. Still in it's infancy. How long until society extablishes social norms in terms of behavior? It may be a while given the current direction of people's beha...
Dec 22, 2017•48 min
We did it! We’ve surpassed 50 episodes! *dj scratches/obnoxious airhorn/confetti* What’s in store for 51 you say? Humorous observations with an extra side of personality. Aka, “The Usual”. First and foremost, Subway game strong. That’s for sure. What happened? Tell us more. Listen and find out. But wait, there’s more! Second City, Guardians of the Galaxy and last but certainly not least, annoying neighbors. Is it a cultural barrier or are they just assholes?? Our conclusion: (Spoiler Alert) Yes,...
Dec 17, 2017•45 min
Doug Jones (D) has WON Alabama and America is saved… for the time being. What a monumental upset for Roy Moore (R), and half the state of Alabama, whose values lie in an outdated and prejudiced culture. SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! FOOTBALL! Fantasy leagues. Are they a nuisance to the cognitive development of human beings or just innocent fun? Rix and Victor go head-to-head. Last, but not least, bad drivers. Tf are you doing, bro? Rix and Victor share a few stories regarding cars, bicycles and pedest...
Dec 14, 2017•52 min
Sleep. Who needs it? Rix and Victor start things off by addressing Victor's awkward and slightly inconvenient sleep pattern. CHOO! CHOO! Another ride on the Metra equates to an interesting encounter with a new personality. Steel Toe boots and wireless headphones; who would've thought the two had such a profound impact on people's lives? A true marvel of epic proportions. Chocolate. Cioccolato. Chocolat. What better way to wrap things up than to touch on the intoxicating wonders of chocolate!? We...
Dec 11, 2017•56 min
We are BACK for another episode of Stream of Thought and on #48 we start off with Victor’s brief cameo in Chicago Med, season 3 episode 2 (about 5 minutes from the end) and whether Victor with do extra work in the near future. Then, it’s the Metra, the Chicago way to travel. Will conductors let you off on the middle of the track? Turns out, if you’re annoying enough they will. Which leads us down the rabbit hole of human psychology. Rix tries to convince Victor it’s so much better than trusting ...
Dec 08, 2017•58 min
Prior to getting back on track with the trip Minnesota, Rix and Victor briefly go over the final performance of Second City's, Sabotage! . What did Victor learn over the course of this 5-week show and what were his overall thoughts? But back to the MAIN SQUEEZE! Minnesota! "Fire and Fury" as Rix likes to put it. Listen as he describes his adventure through a forest, the fire he witnessed and the lack of servitude local law enforcement embodies. The two finish things off with a few airport experi...
Dec 03, 2017•51 min
What happens up in the Great White North? No not, Canada, but about as close as you can get, as Rix visits friends up in the Twin Cities, spending time doing some out-of-the-ordinary things. First and foremost, a new phone??? After toilets and cracked screens, Rix's iPhone 4s goes out of commission in a weird twist of fate, just in time to capture some sweet video from his first tailgate at the University of Minnesota, something Victor has been able to relate to from his own Big Ten college expe...
Dec 01, 2017•55 min
Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for, like this entertaining podcast that gives us so many laughs. Rix and Victor start things out by discussing family dynamics; the pros and cons of small/large gatherings. What's the best part about Thanksgiving? No, not family. That response is both lame and cliché. FOOD! Duh. What you r favorite dish? But in all seriousness, a lot to be thankful for as Rix and Victor share how they've grown since this time last year and what they hope to gain in the...
Nov 24, 2017•47 min
It's episode 44 for the big 30. It's Rix's birthday and he's out of his 20s. What does that mean? Aside from the fact that he's old now, it's a chance to reflect on the last 2 years to where he and Victor are now. There's a gift of socks and a story of pants patches that's sure to amuse and entertain. Then, Victor's on full throttle at Second City where he tries to nail his 3rd show for SABOTAGE, and Rix recounts his jury duty this past week. From the subject of the law to an agent of the law, i...
Nov 20, 2017•57 min
There comes a time when every person needs to take a stand, even... if not especially, in times where you've made a mistake and must confront consequences. What if those consequences themselves aren't fair, or even morally wrong? Rix takes the approach that two wrongs don't make a right as he shares and exhilarating and nerve-wracking experience going up against a debt collector for an actually trial, and his attempt to take on the man. Showing up is half the battle... and sometimes it’s even mo...
Nov 17, 2017•44 min
What happens after the show? A whole lot of crazy, unexpected and revealing things... Victor and Rix share their perspectives on Victor's latest show, "Sabatoge", airing at Second City for a limited time. It's a sketch comedy that showcases some great improv ability, but what's really of interest are the personalities behind the characters they play. And so, in a twist of fate, Rix is able to make the show, talk with Victor's colleagues and get a taste of the unpredictable and unexpected in the ...
Nov 10, 2017•48 min
Welcome to Stream of Thought's first mobile episode! Rix and Victor record at Second City Chicago where the two sit with Greg and Mike Coady, twin brothers and castmates of Victor in the Second City production of "Sabotage". Rochester natives Greg and Mike share a plethora of laughs as they discuss what it was like to grow up as twins, what brought them to Chicago/Second City and the handful of times they escaped the perilous grips of death... and arrest. Welcome to a new edition of Stream of Th...
Nov 05, 2017•57 min
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" Wow! Serious stuff. How many mailmen actually live by the USPS motto and treat their responsibilites as a civil duty rather than a job? Rix and Victor share their experiences regarding the memories of their mailmen as they grew up. *Heavenly auras of light, angels singing* Rix tells us of his interesting morning that took place at the Holy Grail of electronic stores. The t...
Nov 03, 2017•48 min
Where do you draw the line of morality? Do you even think about it? If you need a new pair of shoe laces and Target has the perfect pair on display, do you swap them out without a second thought? If you're disrespected in the workplace, do you find a way to get your revenge? And if you leave a comment on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter, what should you honestly expect? Luckily, Victor and Rix are able to wade through these questions with some probing questions about their own behavior and how it re...
Oct 29, 2017•1 hr 1 min
We begin this episode of stream of thought with Victor sharing a minor revelation: traffic frustrates him. Then Rix delves into his thoughts on the importance of communication in a time when we're lost in our own little social bubbles. Then we take a turn into the realm of technology and sit in awe of what's on the horizon of anything from virtual reality to taking a selfie. That brings up the last frontier of human experience. Time. Victor and Rix discuss a provocative question: is time real?...
Oct 25, 2017•49 min
There's little doubt that sh*t talking the president is our national pastime, however Victor and Rix went downtown Chicago this weekend to absorb the work of the Presidential Twitter Library #DailyShowLibrary. They start episode 36 by talking a little bit about the challenge of "live streaming" on YouTube and Rix talks a little bit about his frustrations with perfection. Then the two swing back to the main story of the evening; the massive production that was Trevor Noah's Trump Twitter Library ...
Oct 23, 2017•51 min
Do you ever get that feeling...? Deep inside, where it bubbles and rises to the point where you can't contain it? Well, get ready for a similar roller coaster as Victor and Rix share experiences of that sick feeling that comes out of the blue and threatens to destroy everyone near to you. In this literally explosive take, we look at the dangers of not being on the same page as your stomach. Speaking of gag reflexes, Victor visits the dentist! A fair warning to most of you out there, he's one of ...
Oct 19, 2017•40 min
What's the huge upswing to working at a grocery store? Attractive women. I guess that's why Victor always provides the highest quality of customer service to only a select few, and one in particular. Facebook, so popular yet so unreliable. What? A majority of full grown adults receive their "news" from social media? For real? "What's the alternative, we just don't use Facebook" - says an author from the Huffington Post. Yeah, dude, we did just fine without it. Remember that time Facebook shut do...
Oct 16, 2017•55 min
The bill has come due for Harvey Weinstein, which according to the amount he paid out to his victims, probably wasn't high enough :-) Anyways, the reason we talk about this on a new episode of Stream of Thought is that Victor's hopes at a future in "the Industry" will likely have something to do with the politics that created this whole mess. Rix gives a little insight from the New York Times story and asks the question: Where will Victor draw the line? You'll have to listen to find out. Then we...
Oct 09, 2017•57 min
What's upset, distressed and can't be seen?? RIX!! lol R: "Dude, I was standing at the end of my driveway so you wouldn't have to pull in" V: "Dude, you're wearing all black and it's completely dark out". R: "And why's the volume all the way up!?!? My mom is SLEEPING!!!" V: "The volume's perfectly fine. Stop turning it down" R: "SERIOUSLY!? Sound carries. I would know. It's my house." V: "Well, the good news is we're not in front of your house anymore..." In today's episode we learn why Rix's br...
Oct 06, 2017•50 min
Who would've thought Rix likes to get DOWN and DIRTY!? Listen as he shares his story from his Tough Mudder race where he trudged through grime, scaled slick walls and flipped giant tires! What an experience! What's next on his list of EXTREME activities? Polar Plunge? Skydiving? Swimming with sharks? Maybe just the polar plunge for now. Rix and Victor share their favorite moments of adrenaline, excitement and injury as they look back and share what gave them the utmost joy growing up; and it was...
Oct 02, 2017•59 min
Memes & Models, Models & Memes - what event prompted Victor to favor these two areas of Instagram? "Rix Thorsell...resident novelist", that was front page of the March 2006 issue of The Glen Bard , their high school newspaper, which they randomly came across as they walked in to the office. Victor, a party animal? Hear what happened when he threw a party at his house back in high school and how his mom found out. What awards did the two receive at their Senior Most Awards?? Hint: it fit ...
Sep 29, 2017•52 min
You're upside down, you feel your phone slowly slide out of your pocket, you extend your arm in a desperate attempt to recover the air-born instrument, all while happening in slow motion - and THEN... the roller coaster continues and your realize your phone is GONE! One of many instances that Rix and Victor encountered since the age of CELL PHONES. What else have they gone through? Clue: it's too intense to even put into text! Though you should proceed with caution... "Hello?? Can you not apprec...
Sep 23, 2017•46 min
Vroom...vroom... VROOM!! Imagined Rix as he mounted his bicycle only to notice his tire was completely flat. What happened? Sabotage!... Unlikely. Listen as he describes the surgical procedure regarding his bicycle and the hiccups along the way. A podcaster that stopped listening to podcasts!?!? Victor currently put his podcast listening on hold as he dives back into music for a reason that will be sure to surprise you. Who knew he cared so much and approached his project with such care and deta...
Sep 21, 2017•52 min
What happens when you've got way too much going on in your day, your dog starts barking for no reason and you're running behind on schedule? Then, thanks to your go-to liqour store changing locations down the street, you add a few extra minutes and miss your train. So what's one to do Well, Victor has his own solutions that feed his growing motivation to NOT drive anymore. Nothing eases the unease of a stressful day like our favorite segment, Fun With Words! Is Rix as smart as he thinks he is? V...
Sep 17, 2017•50 min
BELTS! BELTS! BELTS! Ever get that, "My pants don't fit" feeling? We do! Why do they fit so snug in the store and after a few months they seem to be too loose? Mystery solved during this episode of Stream of Thought . Not really but it's entertaining for a few moments before Victor discusses his encounter with a homelessman and how that man stole his beer. Remember back in school when rumors were deemed as facts. Interesting how today's world also finds slander to be incontrovertibly true, espec...
Sep 14, 2017•48 min
Welcome back! Six whole days since our last episode. That makes it almost a whole week. That was a close one! *Sigh of Relief*. Victor finally has his car back? What was the total damage? Rix takes a few guesses. Over or under $1200? Remember that PSA announcement from the 1970s to "Keep America Beautiful"? No? It's the the one with the Native American shedding a single tear. Yes, that one. Well, we talk a little bit about recycling, carbon footprints and what we currently do (and don't do) that...
Sep 10, 2017•53 min
Ever have that feeling where you're about to DIE!??? Victor has, and it's not the first time. Learn how a shoelace almost got the best of him. Rix a demon-child? Never! His middle name is, "Damien"??? Not really, but you're about to be exposed to the tip of the iceberg. Vroom Vroom VROOM!! Not so much for Victor, his car has been in the shop all week. Will the repair be over or under $1200? PLAY BALL! Rix is actually not that great of a softball player as he made himself out to be in one of our ...
Sep 04, 2017•50 min
