Episodes

Taking a look back at the year on the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast “Year In Review” Season Seven will begin in the new year. Tune in for the year end wrap-up of Season Six, the biggest season we’ve ever had. Listen for a year-end run down of all the things that crossed the bow of WTMWM? in 2022. It was a big year, a good year. Let’s get into it. Holiday In Cambodia https://youtu.be/-KTsXHXMkJA Essential coming-of-age My wife doesn’t k...

Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast S6, Ep. 45 “San Diego Trip” In this episode, I’m on the road again for the first time in what feels like a long time. My wife and I flew to San Diego to attend her company’s year-end holiday party. For the first time, I flew with my wheelchair. I got frisked and swabbed lot, but I didn’t miss my flights, so it evened out and I made it home in one piece. It was not without hiccups, but we managed to have a pretty good trip overall, and I’m looking for...

Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast S6, Ep. 44 “Pot Roast and Polenta" In this episode, I cook pot roast and polenta. Reecently, I've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen, laying low and taking care of my self. I'm having some anxiety but I'm trying to work with it. I'm taking a plane trip to SoCal and having a holiday party at my house later this week, so it makes sense that I am a little stressed. There's a lot of killer sound effects ion this weeks episode including people boo...

Thanksgiving is over, happened and done but BBQ parts are still in the mail. We smoked the turkey. Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast S6, Ep. 43 “Thanksgiving Autopsy” In this episode, it finally happened. Thanksgiving is over and it went fairly well after all, even though the rotisserie parts never arrived. We adjusted more or less successfully by smoking the turkeys. It took a little longer because of the slower cooking method, but it was tasty, and we had enough appetizers to tide...

It’s coming.. I can feel the gravity.. Space-time is starting to warp, because Thanksgiving is happening soon. Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast S6, Ep. 42 “Thanksgiving Warmup” In this episode, I’m getting ready for Thanksgiving, roasting chickens, buying barbecue parts, checking out tactical wallets, and more. I went to my friend’s birthday party and I managed to hang around and put in a pretty decent appearance. Disabled culture this week: Alice Wong, Leon Fleischer, and Daniel R...

The turkey order’s in, and I ordered two. We’re going to use the rotisserie. I had pretty eyes at the Halloween party Welcome to “Turkey Order” on the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast In this episode, I put in the turkey order at the butcher shop. This year, we’re having Thanksgiving at the house again, and we’re planning to cook the turkey on the rotisserie. I ordered two smaller birds instead of one big one, and I’m hoping it’ll be more manageable that way. Also in this episode, we went to ...

Remote work and labor shortages have increased the number of disabled workers & experts say it may be permanent. Welcome to “Disabled Americans Are Going Back To Work” on the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast There are plenty of sound effects in this week’s episode, like a xylophone and a noise like, “Fweet!” that we hear while reading through “For Disabled Workers, a Tight Labor Market Opens New Doors” by Ben Casselman in the New York Times to find that changes ushered in by working remotely ...

At the first What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Listener Appreciation Party, everyone gets their own booth Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, “Midwestern Concepts” Continuing my transition away from the protracted intense pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia that my successful rhizotomy has brought me. In this episode, I explore Midwestern Concepts such as the work of the artist Marc Fischer and holding a listener appreciation party/convention at a hotel ballroom in Chicago. I think the thi...

NO MORE PAINKILLERS: After successful surgery, I’m off of painkillers for the first time in seven years. Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, “No More Painkillers” It’s a big day for me because I’m finally free of trigeminal neuralgia pain after successful rhizotomy surgery last month. It’s been seven years that I’ve been battling the disease and it feels like a major victory. Shoutouts to Jersey Girl who told me about the Superfest Disability Film Festival happening in Berkeley & Sa...

I am getting ready for surgery. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6, Episode 34, “Pre-op” In this episode I’m getting ready to go into Stanford next week for surgery to help with trigeminal neuralgia. In the meantime, the kids are playing soccer, there’s heat dome, and the podcasts that kids are making. Shout outs to mom who wrote in to make a correction that she was not actually a Registered nurse But I tell people that she was so so I guess if you’re one of them watch...

I went for a walk with Koko and I got more than I bargained for Welcome to Season Six, Episode 33, “Wheelchair Tipped Over“ My wheelchair tipped over. I was on a walk with my daughter but it didn’t seem to scare her too much– we went to the swings and she had a good time. My name is John Hoppin, don’t wear it out. My wheelchair tipped over https://twitter.com/johnhoppin/status/1567558019155906560 deplatforming hits home Death of a Statesman My wife was like, “I don’t think I knew that Gorb...

I went for a walk with Koko and I got more than I bargained for Welcome to Season Six, Episode 33, “Wheelchair Tipped Over“ My wheelchair tipped over. I was on a walk with my daughter but it didn’t seem to scare her too much– we went to the swings and she had a good time. My name is John Hoppin, don’t wear it out. My wheelchair tipped over https://twitter.com/johnhoppin/status/1567558019155906560 deplatforming hits home Death of a Statesman My wife was like, “I don’t think I knew that Gorb...

I went for a walk with Koko and I got more than I bargained for Welcome to Season Six, Episode 33, “Wheelchair Tipped Over“ My wheelchair tipped over. I was on a walk with my daughter but it didn’t seem to scare her too much– we went to the swings and she had a good time. My name is John Hoppin, don’t wear it out. My wheelchair tipped over https://twitter.com/johnhoppin/status/1567558019155906560 deplatforming hits home Death of a Statesman My wife was like, “I don’t think I knew that Gorb...

I said something ableist to someone I admire Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6 Episode 32, “Disability Consciousness” In this episode, I reflect on the time I said something ableist to someone I admire, the drummer in deerhoof, what I might say (or not) now that I’ve spent some time working on my disability consciousness. I hope I might come up with something better. Also, Botox, falling and the first law of success, “Do You!” Disability Consciousness One time I ate with ...

Misunderstanding at the bathroom Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season Six, Episode 31, “Conference Call On Steroids” In this episode, the lady was pretty loud on the phone when she hosted her conference call on steroids. S6e31 I’m learning how to use adobe character animator Misunderstanding at the bathroom misunderstanding Using the bathroom at Trader vics The bathroom at Embarcadero/ Ferry building john john sat in the wheelchair I’m woozy Since I increased dosage, I’ve...

In this episode I battle face pain to go to a birthday dinner, take a family train trip, and have a date at the movies. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6, Episode 30, “Birthday Dinner.” In this episode I battle face pain with varying levels of success to go to a birthday dinner at Trader Vic’s, take a family trip to the Embarcadero, and have a date at the movie theater. Shout outs Shout outs to Jersey Girl who used to work with Judy Huemann Birthday Dinner at Trader ...

In this episode I battle face pain to go to a birthday dinner, take a family train trip, and have a date at the movies. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6, Episode 30, “Birthday Dinner.” In this episode I battle face pain with varying levels of success to go to a birthday dinner at Trader Vic’s, take a family trip to the Embarcadero, and have a date at the movie theater. Shout outs Shout outs to Jersey Girl who used to work with Judy Huemann Birthday Dinner at Trader ...

In this episode I battle face pain to go to a birthday dinner, take a family train trip, and have a date at the movies. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6, Episode 30, “Birthday Dinner.” In this episode I battle face pain with varying levels of success to go to a birthday dinner at Trader Vic’s, take a family trip to the Embarcadero, and have a date at the movie theater. Shout outs Shout outs to Jersey Girl who used to work with Judy Huemann Birthday Dinner at Trader ...

I can’t talk at a full volume but I can whisper about Judy Heumann on PBS and Terry Wahls’ diet study. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast Season 6 Episode 28, “The Whisper Episode.” In this episode, I can’t talk with my full voice because it makes my trigeminal neuralgia flare up. So I whisper, more or less. Go on a journey with me through a study about MS & diet, a talk by disability activist Judy Heumann, LOL One of my family was on social media saying “So there are reports o...

My friends came over and I got some much-needed support. PLUS, more adventures in Cooking While Disabled. Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, Season 6 Episode 26, “We Had A Barbecue” When in doubt, grill it out In this episode, my friends came over to have a barbecue and I got some much-needed support. PLUS, more adventures in Cooking While Disabled. Gangnam Style was 10 years ago on July 15, 2012 Record review: “Gospel drone trance screaming blues minimalism” Reverend Charlie Jac...

Welcome to What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, Season 6 Episode 25, “Are You Here By Yourself?” are you here by yourself? People keep asking me, “are you here by yourself?” I’m not sure when I should have someone with me when I go somewhere alone. Whether I’m OK to go or.. Didn’t even want too say anything but what did I tell you- he dumped that nerd and he’s going to the prom with Kelly. I went to the butcher shop and I got some good looking red snapper filets. Anthony B Getting snapper re...

Going places in my chair- Hit my head again- Barbecue using the tray method- The Pepper Show is back. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, “Fourth of July” In this episode, we take stock of the busy Fourth of July holiday week that was full of wheelchair rolls, head injuries and new grilling setups. Plus, we got a new Pepper Show! Statistical shout outs to places far and wide and thick and thin where people listen to the show. Have you heard of the disorder where people take s**...

Using touchless pickup at Walmart with mixed results. Unexpected comments provide food for thought. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, Season 6 Episode 23, “I Admire You.” In “I Admire You”, I went to Walmart again. Which means that I like it, maybe. People made unexpected comments to me this week, so I dealt with those as best I could. Hoppin Hot Sauce is back in business. At the Royal Shakespeare Company, disabled actor is playing Richard III, a first. It’s a disabled role oft...

I didn’t want them. They’re big and ugly. Welcome to the What’s The Matter With Me? Podcast, Season 6 Episode 22, “ADA Bars Keep Me From Falling.” In the new episode, I have to admit that ADA bars have been useful. Tune in because this episode features sound effects. The guy who taught me to do production was really into sound effects, that was pretty much his only feedback. “Pretty good. You could add a couple of sound effects,” he’d say. ADA grab bars keep me from falling over. My mom is th...