This livestream series chronicles Mike’s adventures in the US and Canada, sharing with radical honesty his personal life, career, political perspectives, and spiritual evolution.
Mike’s life is deeply rooted in his Steel Valley upbringing but shaped by his travels throughout North America and a lasting desire to build a better home back in Ohio.
CBUS Side B
Pardon My French
Calling My Bluff
Down South
Street Cred
Paradise in Smoke
Trans||America
On the Road
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Despite the stigmas of not owning a car, walking affords a much more intimate relationship with the places I live.
Mike reflects on a spiritual moment he had during Sunday service at the First Assembly of God in Natchez, Mississippi.
Mike contrasts between his times of being broke/unhoused versus those of financial abundance with a roof over his head.
Mike expresses his deep concern for the political shift in his home state of Ohio, attributing it partly to demographic changes linked to the shale gas boom and an exodus of college-bound graduates away to coastal cities.
Lamenting on his unsatisfaction in his present work in Louisiana, Mike ponders on the next steps in his career and where that will prompt him to move next.
Mike brings to light the cultural and social implications of car dependency, expressing admiration for those who navigate on foot, especially in areas hostile to pedestrians.
Mike provides a tour of downtown Portland, Oregon, discussing his tenuous housing situation and his frustrations finding an apartment. Passing by Powell’s Books and turning onto Harvey Milk Street, Mike reflects on the challenges of being homeless, including the loss of his personal belongings.
Mike and Matt recount their recent trucking detour through San Francisco, sharing their excursion in the Castro district, enjoying local cuisine, and getting pedicures. Exploring Queer identity, they celebrate the fluidity of personality and the importance of finding moments of joy along the open road.
Episodes
Mike conducts a sound check from the "tree of knowledge" behind the Columbus Metropolitan Library, eating an apple picked up from the street and riffing on the theme of forbidden fruit during his months-long suspension from the public library. Under the watchful eye of library security staff, Mike reflects on his personal transformation from a quiet child to a loud persona, thanks the ants for tenderizing his apple, and concludes the with a hope for his future re-admission to the library.
Mike broadcasts from the topiary gardens in Columbus, following his completion of a 2-month jail sentence, lamenting the difficulties of being digitally crippled while trying to survive in a tech-dependent world. Despite finding himself living in poverty, he somehow finds the resilience to enjoy inner peace amidst the beauty he sees while acclimating to life outside of incarceration.
Mike recounts his recent 2-month incarceration at an Ohio correctional facility following a period of absentia, reflecting on the psychological toll of jail. He describes the necessity of surrendering to one’s circumstances and the lingering guilt of failing to intervene during acts of violence.
To exist is political. Mike looks back on his 3-year quest with both triumph and remorse, performing a cappella the Elton John smash hit "I'm Still Standing."
Mike breaches and explores the emerging structure that will be known as the Merchant Building in Columbus, Ohio, adjacent to the North Market in its former parking lot.
Mike discusses the concept of ignorance, particularly in the context of political and social discourse.
Mike reflects on his past 3 years of relying upon the financial and emotional support of others. He emphasizes the power of gratitude, particularly in the form of handwritten thank-you notes, and reflects on others who had worked for him.
Mike performs with WANDA in Harrison Park, basking in the ethereal and peaceful night to M83’s album “You And The Night.”
These episodes focus on the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring various facets of intelligence itself and distinguishing real from artificial intelligence. We question how intelligence is defined, debate whether it involves acquiring and retaining information, goal-oriented learning, and the ability to adapt or alter goals.
Mike performs Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" at karaoke night to accompany the riveting conclusion of the syndicated hit game show "Supermarket Sweep."
Mike takes a moment to marvel at the massive new 70/71 interchange in downtown Columbus, notably a towering flyover ramp that spans multiple major corridors, and over the Olentangy River.
Mike tests his new laptop while relaxing on the patio of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. This device replaces Mike’s Chromebook laptop, which was stolen from next to him overnight at Camp Shameless.
Mike performs on WANDA to the Nine Inch Nails single “Alive As You Need Me to Be,” from the “TRON: Ares” film soundtrack.
Mike utilizes Google's artificial-intelligence platform Notebook LM to review his video collection. This AI-generated analysis serves as a unique self-evaluation, highlighting Mike's adaptability, resilience, and observant nature as he navigates various life challenges, including housing insecurity and financial struggles.
Mike shows off University Square on a foggy Wednesday morning, admiring the ambiance and the electric mix of shops and restaurants that have sprung up in this relatively recent development adjacent to The Ohio State University.
Mike shares his recent struggles, including the theft of his belongings around his 39th birthday. Despite these setbacks and over two years of living on the streets, he remains resilient, finding gratitude in those he's met during this journey.
Mike struggles to kick off the week during a leisurely - if not disheveled - stroll in Columbus's German Village.
On his first broadcast of the new year, Mike shows off downtown Columbus, following the city's fresh snowfall.
This walk along Broad Street includes a glimpse of the nativity scene of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Ohio Statehouse.
Mike uses the coping mechanisms that he's learned over the course of previous dark holiday seasons to coax himself out of his holiday blues this year.
Mike observes how the genre of science fiction has shifted in tone from utopian visions of humanity to a more fractured and tribalistic society, mirroring societal changes in the real world away from embracing globalization to the balkanization of global politics, economics, and culture these days. From this imperfect future stems the notion of the multiverse.
Walking in the south campus area of The Ohio State University, Mike recounts a harrowing “walk of shame” in freezing conditions during which his backpack disintegrated and spilled the contents along Parsons Avenue. While struggling to multitask during the broadcast, Mike reflects on how the genre of science-fiction has evolved alongside our actual “future,” including the concept of multiverse theory.
Mike proposes a basic set of 3 cardinal rules for any sort of electrical or electronic device on the market, and expresses bewilderment at the fact that such rules don't already exist as common sense. He emphasizes the need for user-centric design in electronics, where clarity and human control override potentially dangerous or frustrating automation.
Mike shows off the Columbus Metropolitan Library and its annual holiday train set, discussing urban infrastructure and the transit levy passed recently in Columbus.
Mike breaches and explores the emerging structure that will be known as the Merchant Building in Columbus, Ohio, adjacent to the North Market in its former parking lot.