Episode 150: Season 7 Finale

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[00:00:25] Go discover the incredible talent, the amazing venues, and the exciting nightlife that Ottawa has to offer. Start your night with ottawagigs.ca. Your guide to the gig.

[00:00:37] You've got a real attitude problem, McFly. You're a slacker.

[00:00:41] Hey, welcome to Ego & Vice. This is episode 150. 150. It's a milestone. Another milestone for the little podcast called Ego & Vice that started as a

[00:01:59] almost just a dare. Hey, betcha I can start a podcast. Betcha can't. Something like that. I don't know if it went down like that, but it was something along those lines.

[00:02:09] And here we are. Here's the funny thing, though, is that I have been, for the last couple of months, I've been saying,

[00:02:14] oh yeah, it's almost the end of season 8. We're moving into season 9. I just realized that going back through my notes, if you will,

[00:02:23] this is season 7. This is the end of season 7. I'm going into season 8 because it, I guess technically it's been 8 years since I started in 2017, 2025.

[00:02:34] Math was never my best subject, nor was paying attention to anything around me that wasn't immediately in front of my face.

[00:02:46] So, I'm sorry. So, season 7 coming to an end. So, this is the season 7 finale, I guess.

[00:02:56] Man, I could have swore it was 8. I don't know why. I don't know why I thought that way.

[00:02:59] But anyway, it doesn't matter. I don't have any guests on. I have been so crazy busy.

[00:03:05] I thought I'd do a solo podcast for the first time in probably all season.

[00:03:10] The way Ego and Vice started was just me talking about my interests in music.

[00:03:15] Like, I would, I, if you ever scroll back through the Ego and Vice catalog, you'll see that it starts,

[00:03:21] the actual, I guess the number count starts at episode 9.

[00:03:28] The first 9 episodes are out there. Well, they're not.

[00:03:32] Well, they might be, but I have them tucked away in a little vault.

[00:03:36] Because they were me learning how to do a podcast, and they were on a different provider at the time.

[00:03:43] So, when I started using my current podcast host, which I've been using since episode 9,

[00:03:50] everything got kind of dumped to where it goes.

[00:03:52] Spotify and all those places.

[00:03:54] But those first 9 episodes, they basically went nowhere, I think.

[00:03:58] I have them, and I tried to actually put them into the, like, the catalog or the list of them.

[00:04:08] Set by the date, I tried to put them down before, like, episode 1 through 8 before 9.

[00:04:13] But every time I tried to download them or upload them, they would show as a new release.

[00:04:17] And I didn't want that to be, like, a big focal point.

[00:04:20] Like, oh, look, new episode.

[00:04:22] But it's the first episode, and it's the worst piece of shit you ever heard in your life.

[00:04:25] Me just sitting there mumbling and bumbling.

[00:04:27] Much like I'm doing now, actually.

[00:04:29] So, not much has changed, really.

[00:04:32] I'm just a little bit more confident with my mumbles and bumbles.

[00:04:36] Or at least that's what I want you to believe.

[00:04:40] But, yeah.

[00:04:41] 150 episodes later, 8 years later.

[00:04:44] Sure, it's not 9.

[00:04:45] 8 years later, here we are.

[00:04:50] I've been really busy.

[00:04:51] There's, like, tons going on.

[00:04:52] So, as I said, solo podcast.

[00:04:55] Started out talking about music.

[00:04:56] Decided to have guests on.

[00:04:58] And the rest is history, I guess.

[00:05:01] Except for the pandemic when I had the lean years.

[00:05:05] The lockdown years, which we're not going to go back to or talk about.

[00:05:09] Some of those episodes are MIA as well.

[00:05:11] Because I pulled them because they were just rambling nonsense between me and my then co-host.

[00:05:18] So, anyway.

[00:05:21] The Riptides.

[00:05:23] My band, The Riptides.

[00:05:24] Are set to have a really big 2025.

[00:05:29] As I've said before, the new record is done.

[00:05:33] We are now affiliated with Pirates Press Records.

[00:05:37] Which is super rad.

[00:05:40] Never thought I'd be label mates with some of my heroes, like Off With Their Heads, Ryan Young.

[00:05:46] And legends like Rancid, who are also represented from this label.

[00:05:50] But here we are.

[00:05:51] Crazy things happen when you're not paying attention.

[00:05:54] But the new record, which will remain unnamed, secret.

[00:06:02] Should drop sometime in the springtime, I believe.

[00:06:06] Late winter, early spring.

[00:06:09] Riptides new record.

[00:06:11] Which was recorded in Colorado at the Blasting Room.

[00:06:15] Which is very, very cool.

[00:06:17] By producer Andrew Berlin.

[00:06:20] And mastered by Jason Livermore.

[00:06:24] Which is very rad.

[00:06:25] And if I may be so self-indulgent, since I did have a hand in some of the creative process for the new Riptides record.

[00:06:36] Bob Goblin is the sole songwriter.

[00:06:40] And he is an amazing songwriter.

[00:06:42] And he has written a gem.

[00:06:45] A classic.

[00:06:46] A peach, if you will.

[00:06:49] We all had our little says and to-dos and kind of fingers in the mix.

[00:06:55] In the pie, if you will.

[00:06:57] But the filling was done by Bob Goblin.

[00:07:01] And I can't wait for everyone to hear it.

[00:07:04] Because we're super proud of it.

[00:07:06] And again, the self-indulgent part.

[00:07:08] I think it's the best thing that the Riptides have put together.

[00:07:11] But, you know what?

[00:07:12] The longer you do something, the better it is that you should get at it.

[00:07:16] And if you get worse at it, maybe you should stop doing that.

[00:07:20] Right?

[00:07:21] But, based off this record, the Riptides shouldn't stop anytime soon.

[00:07:26] We should only, you know, follow the snowball as it rolls downhill and gets bigger.

[00:07:32] Because 2025 is going to be a snowball.

[00:07:34] And we are going to, yeah, roll with that.

[00:07:39] But the first single off the new record, which will also remain nameless, will be released on January 20th.

[00:07:49] You can reference that date.

[00:07:51] I'm not sure if anything else is going on that day.

[00:07:55] Whether it's good or bad.

[00:07:56] I'm not sure.

[00:07:59] And the video that follows.

[00:08:00] We filmed a video at the start of December.

[00:08:03] Had a ton of fun with it.

[00:08:05] Peter Moore of Ottawa filmed the video for us.

[00:08:08] We kind of put it together with him.

[00:08:10] And we tried to create something that was, well, it was entertaining for us.

[00:08:15] How it's going to turn out, I'm sure, will be subject of a conversation.

[00:08:21] I think Peter did an amazing job.

[00:08:23] He is a local photographer.

[00:08:25] He has an art studio.

[00:08:26] Super fun.

[00:08:27] Super creative guy.

[00:08:29] Check him out at Peter Moore.

[00:08:32] It's P-E-T-R-M-A-U-R.

[00:08:36] Instagram.

[00:08:38] Facebook.

[00:08:39] All those fine, fine social media sites.

[00:08:43] Very talented guy.

[00:08:44] If you want him to film your video, I say reach out.

[00:08:47] Because it's a great time.

[00:08:48] Very pro.

[00:08:50] But still loose enough to have a good time.

[00:08:52] Anyway.

[00:08:53] So yeah, lots of stuff going on with the Riptides.

[00:08:56] Our new hot sauce just dropped.

[00:08:58] It's called Agent Orange.

[00:09:00] We have two others.

[00:09:01] Soylent Green and Red Dawn.

[00:09:05] I slipped my mind.

[00:09:07] Very spicy.

[00:09:09] From Heiko's Hot Sauce.

[00:09:10] That's another friend of ours.

[00:09:12] Local business.

[00:09:14] Heiko's Hot Sauce.

[00:09:15] Check it out on social media.

[00:09:18] Look them up.

[00:09:18] If you like hot sauce, support the local.

[00:09:21] And buy some Riptide sauce.

[00:09:24] But Heiko has a huge lineup.

[00:09:27] A huge menu of different sauces.

[00:09:30] Heiko's actually been on the show before.

[00:09:31] If you scroll back through Ego and Vice.

[00:09:34] Way back to maybe the second season.

[00:09:38] Heiko and Angela were on.

[00:09:41] And they'll tell you all about their hot sauces.

[00:09:43] So you can figure that out.

[00:09:45] So cool.

[00:09:46] We're looking forward to a lot on the go.

[00:09:49] Hopefully a tour.

[00:09:50] Some shows.

[00:09:51] And that's going to be fucking rad.

[00:09:55] Okay.

[00:09:55] Let's play a song from the Riptides.

[00:09:58] Just because we've been talking about them.

[00:10:00] And it's my show.

[00:10:01] I'll play what I want.

[00:10:03] This is a song called I Don't Want to Go to the Movies.

[00:10:06] Now, I have to be clear.

[00:10:07] This is not a new Riptide song.

[00:10:09] This is not of the new record.

[00:10:11] Because it's not available yet.

[00:10:12] But this is a classic.

[00:10:14] This video for this song, I Don't Want to Go to the Movies, was also shot by Peter Moore.

[00:10:21] So there you go.

[00:10:22] There's the tie-in.

[00:10:24] Enjoy it.

[00:10:25] Have a good time.

[00:10:26] Go to the movies.

[00:10:27] This is the Riptides.

[00:10:29] This is Ego and Vice, episode 150.

[00:10:38] These aren't funny because I can't laugh anymore.

[00:10:43] The dramas are too real to me since you walked out.

[00:10:48] My door.

[00:11:00] But when the picture stops, cause I don't wanna go.

[00:11:52] When the picture stops, cause I don't wanna go.

[00:12:29] What else is happening?

[00:12:30] Goat.

[00:12:31] My band Goat.

[00:12:32] Here's some news.

[00:12:33] Here's a very cool thing.

[00:12:34] Goat was a band, a punk rock band that I was in for.

[00:12:37] Well, I've never stopped being in it because I am.

[00:12:40] Goat, if you will.

[00:12:41] Getting Old and Tired is the acronym.

[00:12:43] Not the other one.

[00:12:46] In 2011, I started the punk band Goat.

[00:12:49] We were always a three-piece.

[00:12:50] It was me and one of my oldest friends in the world, Mike Mayer.

[00:12:53] Oops.

[00:12:54] I mean, Mikey Knox.

[00:12:56] And we played right up until the pandemic around 2019 into 2020.

[00:13:01] And then three years later, we just kind of lost touch, which we do sometimes.

[00:13:07] You know what I mean?

[00:13:08] And getting back on the horse with any musical project was kind of hard to do because you're

[00:13:13] kind of reinventing how you do the whole social thing.

[00:13:19] And also, hey, that is a great kind of segue into, without veering off the point, I'll come

[00:13:26] full circle.

[00:13:26] I'm sure I will.

[00:13:29] After the pandemic, because I quit drinking in the pandemic.

[00:13:31] As I said, this is my three-year anniversary of being sober.

[00:13:36] Straight edge.

[00:13:37] I represent the straight edge proudly.

[00:13:41] Maybe I haven't even said that yet.

[00:13:42] Wow.

[00:13:43] I don't do solo podcasts, so I guess there's so much to say.

[00:13:47] But how do you say it in a straight line?

[00:13:49] I usually rely on other people to do most of the talking.

[00:13:54] I just intro and outro.

[00:13:56] Anyway.

[00:13:57] So yeah.

[00:13:59] Getting back after the pandemic, being sober, I didn't really go out as much because my life

[00:14:04] basically was out in the bars or pubs or whatever.

[00:14:10] So when everything opened back up, I didn't have a band, so I didn't really have anything

[00:14:14] to do.

[00:14:15] So I became kind of a homebody.

[00:14:16] Plus, I'm getting kind of older, so I'm really seeing the greatness that is the comfort of

[00:14:25] your couch on a Friday night, as opposed to being out in the shit, if you will.

[00:14:30] Not calling Ottawa shit, but just the nightlife, the cold, the hot, the...

[00:14:34] Anyway.

[00:14:34] The craziness.

[00:14:36] People are amazing sometimes.

[00:14:40] You know what I'm saying?

[00:14:41] Anyway.

[00:14:42] But anyway.

[00:14:44] A couple weeks ago, I reached out to Mike and I said, hey man, how would you like to jam sometime

[00:14:51] and kind of see if we can get the band back together?

[00:14:53] He said, absolutely.

[00:14:55] Absolutely.

[00:14:55] So come this Sunday, which is the 5th of January, Mia and Mike are getting back together and

[00:15:02] we are going to jam out some GOAT stuff with my intention of putting the band back together

[00:15:14] and just basically picking up where we left off because I never really let GOAT die, right?

[00:15:18] After a decade in the city, all my connections are still there.

[00:15:23] I've kept in touch with everybody.

[00:15:25] I still have like...

[00:15:27] Before the pandemic, we just did like a huge run of merch, so that's still all sitting there.

[00:15:33] I've kept the social media stuff active.

[00:15:35] I'm not overly active on social media to begin with, but I've kept up appearances, if you will.

[00:15:43] So it really is.

[00:15:44] It's just like picking up where we left off.

[00:15:45] The bass player, I did reach out to him.

[00:15:48] He hasn't got back to me.

[00:15:49] If that doesn't work out, all I want to say...

[00:15:53] I'm sure he won't listen to this, but what I want to say to the universe is that

[00:15:56] nothing but the best, man.

[00:15:58] No hard feelings.

[00:15:59] Go do your thing.

[00:16:01] See ya.

[00:16:03] See ya on the flip-flop.

[00:16:05] See ya on the...

[00:16:06] Catch ya on the rebound.

[00:16:08] But me and Mike are going to get together and just start banging it out again.

[00:16:12] And even if we stay like a two-piece, that would be enough right now.

[00:16:19] You know what I mean?

[00:16:19] Whenever we would write songs back in the day...

[00:16:22] Me and Mike grew up in Thunder Bay together.

[00:16:24] I've known him for like 30 years.

[00:16:26] Over 30 years.

[00:16:27] We came to Ottawa together.

[00:16:29] We've played in like four different bands together.

[00:16:33] He's like my drummer.

[00:16:34] You know what I mean?

[00:16:35] You know when you just have that...

[00:16:37] I'm like...

[00:16:38] You know, anyway.

[00:16:39] But I can't wait though.

[00:16:41] It's a part of my life that was really, really lacking, missing.

[00:16:45] I was missing it.

[00:16:46] And I didn't realize I was missing it until I really...

[00:16:48] Until I got it back.

[00:16:49] I was like, wow.

[00:16:50] So it's all I've been really doing.

[00:16:52] I've been going back through the old Gulp catalog and just trying to remember the songs.

[00:16:58] And it's amazing.

[00:16:58] Songs that you wrote and you lived with and played a hundred times.

[00:17:01] Sometimes if you step away from them for a little while, it's just like...

[00:17:05] It's like learning someone else's song again.

[00:17:07] It's like this is really familiar, but I have no fucking idea how to play it.

[00:17:14] So we'll see how that goes.

[00:17:15] I can't wait though.

[00:17:16] And even if it never leaves the jam spot, at least I'm there.

[00:17:20] At least that's part of my life again, which is huge.

[00:17:22] Huge for me.

[00:17:25] Coming into 2025 with the Riptides plus Goat.

[00:17:29] And I'm really kind of getting back to where I want to be in that comfort level.

[00:17:34] That good balance in my life.

[00:17:36] My life was very one way for the last bunch of years.

[00:17:40] And now it's finally coming kind of full circle and balancing out again with, you know, work and life in general.

[00:17:48] I always had music.

[00:17:49] I always had a band practice to go to.

[00:17:51] I always had a show coming up to plan for.

[00:17:54] And then it was gone.

[00:17:56] And now it's kind of all back.

[00:17:59] And it's very, very exciting.

[00:18:01] And I feel very, very good about it.

[00:18:05] So yeah, I'll keep everyone updated with that if you're interested.

[00:18:10] Any old goat fans, thanks for hanging in.

[00:18:13] We'll be back soon.

[00:18:16] Right?

[00:18:17] I guess.

[00:18:19] On that note, I think I'm going to play a song.

[00:18:22] I'm going to play a goat song.

[00:18:24] A good old fashioned goat song.

[00:18:26] I'm not sure which one yet.

[00:18:27] Let's do...

[00:18:30] Let's do Mawfucker.

[00:18:31] All right.

[00:18:32] This is Goat.

[00:18:33] This is off the record 2000...

[00:18:38] I don't know.

[00:18:39] It's off one of our records.

[00:18:40] This is Goat.

[00:18:41] This song is called Mawfucker.

[00:18:43] Right here on the 150th episode of Ego and Vice.

[00:18:48] So you said you're going to hit the road.

[00:18:57] Try and find a better place.

[00:18:59] Well, don't you go.

[00:19:01] Motherfucker don't go.

[00:19:03] Motherfucker don't go.

[00:19:07] Carry in the same old motherfucker.

[00:19:15] Don't go.

[00:19:15] That was Goat.

[00:20:28] Fucking right.

[00:20:29] Which will be soon coming back to your...

[00:20:32] In your neighborhood.

[00:20:33] Eventually.

[00:20:34] I want to cover the...

[00:20:37] Yeah.

[00:20:38] The three years sober thing.

[00:20:40] That's kind of a big deal for me.

[00:20:42] I don't promote things on social media.

[00:20:47] And I'm not a big...

[00:20:48] Oh, you know.

[00:20:49] I'm more of a milestone kind of guy.

[00:20:51] And I'll do like once a year.

[00:20:53] I'll let people know.

[00:20:54] Because I'm proud of myself.

[00:20:56] You know.

[00:20:56] If anyone knew me back in the day.

[00:20:59] I was kind of the same person.

[00:21:01] But I just...

[00:21:02] I always had a fucking drink in my hand.

[00:21:04] Right?

[00:21:06] And it got to a point during the pandemic where...

[00:21:09] I couldn't...

[00:21:12] You know.

[00:21:12] I was sitting alone a lot.

[00:21:14] I was doing my own kind of thing.

[00:21:16] And as everyone else was, I guess.

[00:21:19] But I live alone.

[00:21:19] Right?

[00:21:20] So...

[00:21:21] It just...

[00:21:23] I would go and buy like 64 packs of fucking...

[00:21:26] Coors Light.

[00:21:27] And I'd...

[00:21:29] Not leave the house for four days.

[00:21:31] Right?

[00:21:31] And it got to the point where it would...

[00:21:34] It was just really bad.

[00:21:36] And...

[00:21:36] It's hard to...

[00:21:38] Break free of.

[00:21:40] Because it's...

[00:21:40] It was like my social...

[00:21:44] Lubrication, if you will.

[00:21:45] And it was also my...

[00:21:47] Self-medication.

[00:21:51] And it's a really tough...

[00:21:54] Thing to get out of.

[00:21:55] And I was a very functional drinker.

[00:21:57] Don't get me wrong.

[00:21:58] I had pieces of my life that were completely broken because of alcohol.

[00:22:03] When it came to friends.

[00:22:05] When it came to responsibilities.

[00:22:08] When it came to financial things.

[00:22:10] I made a lot of stupid decisions.

[00:22:14] While I was drinking.

[00:22:15] Or when I was drunk, I guess if you will.

[00:22:20] Social-wise.

[00:22:21] I did a lot of stupid things that I...

[00:22:23] I guess I don't regret because they made me learn from them.

[00:22:28] But I do regret hurting people.

[00:22:34] Which wasn't the intention.

[00:22:37] It really wasn't.

[00:22:38] Even though you're...

[00:22:39] You know you're being a selfish idiot.

[00:22:42] At the time, you just think...

[00:22:44] Oh, well.

[00:22:45] Me.

[00:22:45] Right?

[00:22:46] And...

[00:22:47] It got to a point where I just had to stop.

[00:22:50] I lost a very close friend.

[00:22:55] And that was a big eye-opener for me.

[00:22:57] It's like, what...

[00:22:58] What...

[00:22:59] What happened here?

[00:23:00] Like, what am I doing?

[00:23:02] What...

[00:23:02] What am I doing wrong?

[00:23:03] What's going on?

[00:23:05] And I had all the...

[00:23:11] Let's just say I had everything I need to kind of survive.

[00:23:13] But I wasn't using any of it because I didn't appreciate anything.

[00:23:16] Because it was just...

[00:23:17] I was in this weird kind of tunnel vision of self-pity and anxiety and drunken.

[00:23:25] But it was all...

[00:23:26] It was all...

[00:23:26] Everything in my life was caused by the alcohol.

[00:23:30] However, I used it as a cure for everything.

[00:23:33] But that's the vicious cycle of it.

[00:23:35] Right?

[00:23:37] And the scariest thing was, well, how am I supposed to function without alcohol?

[00:23:43] How am I supposed to go out and do stuff if I can't go out for beers?

[00:23:47] Because that's your life.

[00:23:49] Right?

[00:23:49] How am I supposed to sit down and write songs?

[00:23:51] How am I supposed to, you know, be creative?

[00:23:54] How am I supposed to relax?

[00:23:56] How am I supposed to fall asleep?

[00:23:57] How am I...

[00:23:57] How am I...

[00:23:57] You know, it's just like...

[00:23:58] It's amazing how intertwined in your life it becomes.

[00:24:01] Where it's just...

[00:24:02] It becomes such a crutch.

[00:24:04] You honestly convince yourself that you can't do anything without it.

[00:24:08] Because it's that one comfort.

[00:24:11] In all the amazing shit you do with all your friends and all the opportunities and all the advantages you have for living in Canada.

[00:24:18] It's like, I'm going to lean on this one crutch because it's the only thing that makes me happy.

[00:24:26] And I'm going to tell you right now, from my experience, that way of thinking is super, super easy to do.

[00:24:33] But it's all an absolute lie.

[00:24:38] Because there is not one positive thing that alcohol contributes to your life.

[00:24:46] You may think it does, but really, you're just ingesting a poison.

[00:24:51] It affects your health really badly.

[00:24:56] It affects your mental state.

[00:24:59] It heightens anxieties, depression, blood pressure.

[00:25:06] It clouds your common sense and your decision making.

[00:25:13] And as comfortable as you think you are out in the world, socially, having a few drinks or getting drunk, it's just a moment in time.

[00:25:25] And the next day, it takes a day from you.

[00:25:28] A few hours will take a day from you.

[00:25:32] And you're losing super important parts of your life.

[00:25:36] And a full day, there's people that, I know this is dramatic, but there's people that are in the hospital that have very short amount of time to live.

[00:25:46] Who would give anything for that day that you lose just being hungover piece of shit on the couch.

[00:25:55] And what I have learned is that, yes, you can thrive, actually, without alcohol.

[00:26:03] All that stuff you were worried about.

[00:26:04] Social, creativity.

[00:26:10] How can I relax or deal with my problems without drinking?

[00:26:17] You can't explain to somebody.

[00:26:18] It's like people who say that, like I don't have kids, but people say when they have kids, you can't explain what it's like to hold your baby.

[00:26:24] Right?

[00:26:25] Your baby for the first time.

[00:26:26] I don't understand that.

[00:26:27] I believe you, but I'll never know.

[00:26:30] That's why me saying this to you, I understand if it's just like, it is what it is.

[00:26:36] I take it for what it is.

[00:26:37] But you will not, I can't explain to you once you get through breaking the habit, let's say.

[00:26:47] Of always having that drink or going out for that drink or just coming home for that drink.

[00:26:54] Once you break through that, which is tough.

[00:26:56] Nothing is easy.

[00:26:57] It's always going to be difficult.

[00:26:58] But once you break through it, and you will, I cannot explain to you the clarity of your mind.

[00:27:06] Just the overall uplifting.

[00:27:10] It's like a cloud that squeezed your mind and your heart and your head with anxiety and depression and uncertainty and sadness.

[00:27:18] And just like that dramatic, woe is me kind of feeling.

[00:27:23] It's all alcohol.

[00:27:24] Once that's out of your system and you wake up one morning and you wake up on your 60th day without a hangover.

[00:27:31] And you take a breath and your head is clear.

[00:27:34] And for some reason you're just happy or you feel lighter.

[00:27:38] And it's more addictive than the alcohol or than the urge to drink.

[00:27:50] And it's been three years.

[00:27:53] It was actually three years on the 27th when I quit drinking.

[00:27:56] And I don't promote it, like I said, because I never want to come across as like one of those born again.

[00:28:04] Oh, drinking is bad.

[00:28:06] Teach his own.

[00:28:07] Nobody can tell you to quit drinking.

[00:28:10] You can't quit drinking for somebody.

[00:28:14] You have to, and you can't even quit drinking because you feel like it's the right thing to do.

[00:28:18] You have to absolutely know this is what you want to do.

[00:28:24] That's the only way you can do it.

[00:28:28] My only real advice to anybody is you're young, you're healthy now.

[00:28:37] Like right today, you're the healthiest as you'll ever be.

[00:28:40] You'll ever be right today.

[00:28:44] And the longer you put it off, if you're thinking in your mind like, I should really quit this.

[00:28:49] Because most people who drink a lot, when they have hangovers and when they're hurting or they know that they're overdoing it or they know they have a problem.

[00:28:57] And I'm not saying like a staggering person who sleeps on park benches drinking out of a brown paper bag.

[00:29:04] I'm not saying that.

[00:29:05] Just a social functioning person which alcohol is making their life miserable or their health miserable.

[00:29:14] What I'm saying is that you are as healthy as you're ever going to be right now.

[00:29:18] But the longer you put it off, it's just going to get worse and worse and worse.

[00:29:23] And from my experience, not just the health, but alcohol will start dismantling your life over a long, arduous, painful time.

[00:29:36] And in the end, it will destroy all the goodness that you have.

[00:29:44] It will destroy your relationships.

[00:29:46] It will destroy your mind, the way you think, the way you make decisions.

[00:29:51] And it will destroy your body.

[00:29:54] In the end, it'll kill you.

[00:29:56] That's what it'll do.

[00:29:57] I wish I could be the people.

[00:29:58] I wish I could be a person who could go out for a beer once a week or once a month and then never touch it again.

[00:30:04] But I know I'm not that person.

[00:30:06] I can never touch alcohol again if I want to never touch alcohol again.

[00:30:12] But I'm good with that because three years in, quitting drinking, looking back, it was the absolute greatest thing.

[00:30:19] The thing I am the most proud of.

[00:30:21] It's my greatest achievement in my life.

[00:30:23] And I wouldn't change it for anything because I can't explain to you how much my life has improved overall.

[00:30:36] And it happens.

[00:30:37] It happens.

[00:30:38] When I quit drinking, I lost like 20 pounds of shitty weight.

[00:30:42] Big fucking muffin top, bad shitty weight.

[00:30:45] I'm not fat shaming.

[00:30:46] I'm just saying I was a fat piece of shit.

[00:30:48] I was.

[00:30:48] But it was all alcohol.

[00:30:49] I was eating garbage.

[00:30:55] My brain cleaned up.

[00:30:56] Cleared up.

[00:30:57] My anxiety went away.

[00:30:58] The depression goes away.

[00:31:00] I'm not saying all of it.

[00:31:02] You still have bad days and stuff.

[00:31:04] But it doesn't help when you're pounding a depressant into your body.

[00:31:08] Physically, I got in better shape.

[00:31:11] I felt better.

[00:31:12] I looked better.

[00:31:13] Everything improved.

[00:31:14] My relationship improved.

[00:31:16] My commitment to this podcast alone improved.

[00:31:20] My commitment to my job.

[00:31:23] In the last two years, I've been at a company.

[00:31:28] And I was recently, in the summer, I applied for a promotion.

[00:31:32] And I received the promotion.

[00:31:34] I never would have done that if I was just some drunken boob.

[00:31:38] Oops.

[00:31:40] So, I don't know.

[00:31:41] All I'm saying is, I'm proud of myself.

[00:31:45] And that's kind of my story.

[00:31:47] And I'm not looking to change the world.

[00:31:49] And I'm not looking to, you know.

[00:31:54] Hey, if you can get something from it.

[00:31:56] If you can take something from it.

[00:31:57] That's all I have to give back on that front.

[00:32:00] I am proudly straight edge.

[00:32:02] I don't smoke.

[00:32:03] I don't drink.

[00:32:04] I don't do drugs.

[00:32:05] I drink a fuck lot of coffee.

[00:32:08] But that's okay.

[00:32:11] And I've never been happier in my life.

[00:32:13] Everything in my life.

[00:32:14] And this is hard for me to say.

[00:32:15] Because I'm a superstitious person.

[00:32:17] I don't want to fucking jinx anything.

[00:32:19] I'm going to knock on some wood.

[00:32:23] But I owe everything.

[00:32:24] My life.

[00:32:24] I've never been happier in my life than I am right now.

[00:32:27] And if I was.

[00:32:27] I don't even know.

[00:32:28] I think sometimes.

[00:32:28] If I was still drinking the way I was.

[00:32:30] The way I was like.

[00:32:31] It just was getting worse and worse and worse over the years.

[00:32:34] Because it's a slow process.

[00:32:35] I don't even know where I'd be right now.

[00:32:38] I probably wouldn't be doing this podcast.

[00:32:41] I'd probably be dead.

[00:32:42] To be honest with you.

[00:32:44] If anybody ever wants any needed advice.

[00:32:46] If you're in a place.

[00:32:49] Where you're like.

[00:32:50] You need.

[00:32:50] You know.

[00:32:52] Things are going kind of.

[00:32:53] Downhill a little bit.

[00:32:54] On that front.

[00:32:55] With any.

[00:32:56] Types of addiction.

[00:32:57] Or horrible habits.

[00:33:00] I'm always available.

[00:33:02] Just send me an email.

[00:33:04] Egoadvice.gmail.com

[00:33:06] And I will.

[00:33:07] Do my best to give you as much advice.

[00:33:10] Or even just.

[00:33:11] Shoot the shit with you.

[00:33:12] Regarding my experiences.

[00:33:14] And what you're going through.

[00:33:15] Because I've been there.

[00:33:16] I tried to quit drinking for 10 years.

[00:33:18] Fucking.

[00:33:19] My whole life I tried to quit drinking.

[00:33:20] And I drank for 30.

[00:33:21] Heavily.

[00:33:23] So.

[00:33:25] I'm here if you need me.

[00:33:28] Yeah.

[00:33:29] Anyway.

[00:33:30] Let's play a song.

[00:33:31] I feel like some Passenger Princess.

[00:33:33] What do you think?

[00:33:34] They were on episode 137.

[00:33:36] This season.

[00:33:37] And.

[00:33:38] Congratulations to Passenger Princess.

[00:33:40] I got my stats back for the year.

[00:33:43] Looking at it.

[00:33:44] They were.

[00:33:45] Episode 137.

[00:33:47] With Passenger Princess.

[00:33:48] Was the most listened to episode.

[00:33:50] From.

[00:33:51] Season 7.

[00:33:52] Of Ego and Vice.

[00:33:53] So.

[00:33:53] Congratulations.

[00:33:54] To Grace.

[00:33:55] Caden.

[00:33:55] Vic.

[00:33:55] And Corey.

[00:33:56] Of Passenger Princess.

[00:33:58] This is a song called.

[00:34:00] Arson Girl.

[00:34:02] Ego and Vice.

[00:34:03] Episode 150.

[00:36:56] Passenger Princess.

[00:36:58] Such a great band.

[00:37:00] Such a great band.

[00:37:01] Congratulations.

[00:37:01] Congratulations.

[00:37:03] On all the success.

[00:37:06] For sure.

[00:37:07] As far as the podcast goes.

[00:37:09] For season 8.

[00:37:11] God damn it.

[00:37:11] I can't believe I was like.

[00:37:12] Season 9-ing it.

[00:37:13] I was getting ahead of myself.

[00:37:14] But for season 8.

[00:37:17] It's not going to be until February.

[00:37:20] Early March I think.

[00:37:22] Because.

[00:37:22] As.

[00:37:23] I always do.

[00:37:24] I'm taking January.

[00:37:25] And probably some of February off.

[00:37:27] If not all of February off.

[00:37:29] Because.

[00:37:29] It's snowboard season.

[00:37:31] As you know.

[00:37:31] And that's what I do.

[00:37:32] And I can't.

[00:37:33] Uh.

[00:37:33] Do the podcast.

[00:37:35] All year round.

[00:37:37] Everybody needs some time off.

[00:37:38] Everybody needs a vacation.

[00:37:40] And.

[00:37:41] Uh.

[00:37:41] I had a hell of a season.

[00:37:43] I really did.

[00:37:44] Uh.

[00:37:44] It was.

[00:37:45] Better than I could have imagined.

[00:37:47] And.

[00:37:48] The more.

[00:37:49] I do.

[00:37:49] Ego and Vice.

[00:37:50] And the longer.

[00:37:51] The seasons go.

[00:37:52] Or the.

[00:37:53] The.

[00:37:53] Not the seasons go.

[00:37:55] Fuck.

[00:37:56] The longer the.

[00:37:57] Podcast goes.

[00:37:58] The better it gets.

[00:37:59] Per season.

[00:38:00] Is what I was trying to say.

[00:38:01] Um.

[00:38:02] I want to thank.

[00:38:03] All of.

[00:38:04] The artists.

[00:38:05] And bands.

[00:38:06] That were on this season.

[00:38:07] If I could just run them down.

[00:38:08] Really quick.

[00:38:09] Um.

[00:38:10] I want to thank.

[00:38:11] Backseat Dragon.

[00:38:12] Kingfisher.

[00:38:13] Root Cause.

[00:38:14] Cultural Treason.

[00:38:16] The one and only.

[00:38:17] Rich Chris.

[00:38:18] Uh.

[00:38:19] The Tenenbaums.

[00:38:20] Thundercock.

[00:38:21] Deadwell.

[00:38:22] Uh.

[00:38:22] Uh.

[00:38:23] My local.

[00:38:24] Uh.

[00:38:25] Podcasters.

[00:38:26] Dog and Gus.

[00:38:28] Uh.

[00:38:28] Mackenzie Drew.

[00:38:29] Hannah Vig.

[00:38:31] Uh.

[00:38:31] Speed Bump Sally.

[00:38:33] Passion to Princess.

[00:38:34] Check out that episode.

[00:38:36] It was the number one listened to episode of the season.

[00:38:38] Not to take anything away from the rest of them.

[00:38:41] Uh.

[00:38:41] Just fine.

[00:38:42] Um.

[00:38:43] My friend Maddie Grace.

[00:38:45] Who.

[00:38:46] We may.

[00:38:47] There may be a special project between me and Maddie.

[00:38:50] Which might have something to do with pro wrestling.

[00:38:56] That's right.

[00:38:57] Uh.

[00:38:57] Okay.

[00:38:58] In 2025.

[00:38:59] Just saying.

[00:38:59] Uh.

[00:39:00] Halfway there.

[00:39:01] Future Free.

[00:39:02] Ah.

[00:39:03] My old friend Tara Holloway.

[00:39:05] Uh.

[00:39:06] Will Stockton from OttawaGigs.ca.

[00:39:09] Um.

[00:39:10] I've been.

[00:39:10] I made a commercial.

[00:39:12] Just like a little.

[00:39:12] Uh.

[00:39:12] Uh.

[00:39:13] An ad for him.

[00:39:14] I don't want any royalties.

[00:39:15] I don't want any money.

[00:39:16] I want to help him out.

[00:39:17] Because it helps Ottawa out.

[00:39:19] Basically.

[00:39:20] Go to that website.

[00:39:21] OttawaGigs.ca.

[00:39:22] And find what you're looking for.

[00:39:24] As far as nightlife.

[00:39:25] Bands.

[00:39:26] Artists.

[00:39:26] Venues.

[00:39:27] Listen to the start of the podcast.

[00:39:29] You'll hear it.

[00:39:30] Way to go.

[00:39:30] Will.

[00:39:31] Um.

[00:39:31] I think you're doing a great thing for the city.

[00:39:33] And I will proudly play.

[00:39:36] Uh.

[00:39:36] That ad.

[00:39:38] And promote your website.

[00:39:39] For as long as your website is a website.

[00:39:41] How's that?

[00:39:42] Cool.

[00:39:43] Uh.

[00:39:44] Logan Brown.

[00:39:45] Steve and the Stab Wounds.

[00:39:47] Uh.

[00:39:47] Wade Barris.

[00:39:49] Sugar Bomb.

[00:39:51] And Allie Beers.

[00:39:53] Wow.

[00:39:54] That was a big season.

[00:39:56] Um.

[00:39:57] I couldn't ask for.

[00:39:59] Uh.

[00:39:59] A better city.

[00:40:01] And a better group.

[00:40:03] Better community of.

[00:40:04] Musicians and artists.

[00:40:06] And.

[00:40:07] Um.

[00:40:08] Business people.

[00:40:09] To help me.

[00:40:11] Do this podcast.

[00:40:13] By coming in.

[00:40:13] Giving me their time.

[00:40:15] And in turn.

[00:40:16] Letting me.

[00:40:17] Make episodes for them.

[00:40:18] So you can listen.

[00:40:19] And everybody can listen.

[00:40:20] And they have it.

[00:40:21] And they can play it for their moms.

[00:40:22] And.

[00:40:22] And.

[00:40:23] Ants and shit.

[00:40:24] At Christmas time.

[00:40:24] I hope they did.

[00:40:26] I don't know how.

[00:40:27] Eagle and Vice.

[00:40:27] Could be a stocking stuffer.

[00:40:29] But maybe you could figure it out.

[00:40:30] Stuff it in there.

[00:40:32] Stuff it in.

[00:40:33] Burn it.

[00:40:34] To a CD.

[00:40:35] Or.

[00:40:35] On a.

[00:40:36] Like a cassette.

[00:40:37] Do.

[00:40:37] If anyone can make me an Eagle.

[00:40:39] And Vice.

[00:40:40] Cassette tape.

[00:40:41] Of their episode.

[00:40:43] That'd be rad.

[00:40:45] Anyway.

[00:40:46] So.

[00:40:46] Eagle and Vice.

[00:40:47] Will be coming back.

[00:40:47] With season 8.

[00:40:48] End of February.

[00:40:49] I already have the first guest.

[00:40:51] Lined up.

[00:40:52] I'm probably booked until May.

[00:40:55] So.

[00:40:56] If you want to be on Eagle and Vice.

[00:40:58] Contact me now.

[00:40:59] And.

[00:41:00] We'll be booking into the spring summer.

[00:41:03] Cool.

[00:41:03] And I'm doing a couple of different things next season.

[00:41:05] And I'm still not doing video.

[00:41:07] Because fuck that.

[00:41:09] I don't have.

[00:41:10] I don't have time.

[00:41:11] With.

[00:41:12] With GOAT.

[00:41:12] And the Riptides.

[00:41:14] And.

[00:41:14] Everything else that's going on in my life.

[00:41:16] I don't have time for video.

[00:41:18] So sorry.

[00:41:19] That's one change I'm not making.

[00:41:21] I'm sticking to my guns.

[00:41:22] I'm an audio guy.

[00:41:23] I'm an old fashioned radiosman.

[00:41:28] It is what it is.

[00:41:30] I think that's.

[00:41:31] That's pretty much it.

[00:41:32] I'd like to wrap it up.

[00:41:33] Because I've talked for.

[00:41:35] 41 minutes.

[00:41:36] On my own.

[00:41:38] One of the things I am going to do.

[00:41:40] Though.

[00:41:41] In season 8.

[00:41:43] Is.

[00:41:44] Instead of.

[00:41:45] Always having.

[00:41:46] Musician.

[00:41:47] Artists in that.

[00:41:49] Well.

[00:41:49] Which is the.

[00:41:49] Always going to be the brunt of the.

[00:41:51] The content.

[00:41:52] Of Eagle and Vice.

[00:41:53] I am going to take.

[00:41:55] An episode or two.

[00:41:56] Every month.

[00:41:57] Just to do one of these.

[00:41:58] Just to touch base.

[00:42:00] So I can get some shit off my chest.

[00:42:02] Let you know what's going on.

[00:42:03] I hate posting daily on social media.

[00:42:05] So I don't do it.

[00:42:06] But.

[00:42:07] I have control over what.

[00:42:08] What.

[00:42:08] What.

[00:42:09] Goes into this.

[00:42:10] And it makes me feel.

[00:42:11] Like I can.

[00:42:12] Explain myself.

[00:42:14] And it's kind of cathartic.

[00:42:16] And therapeutic.

[00:42:17] In that sense as well.

[00:42:18] Going back to the beginnings.

[00:42:19] Right.

[00:42:20] So.

[00:42:21] Again.

[00:42:22] I want to thank.

[00:42:23] All the bands.

[00:42:24] All the artists.

[00:42:25] I want to thank the listeners.

[00:42:26] I want to thank everyone that supports.

[00:42:28] Eagle and Vice.

[00:42:29] And there's a lot of you.

[00:42:30] I've seen my stats.

[00:42:32] And.

[00:42:32] Over the eight years that I've been doing this.

[00:42:34] Um.

[00:42:36] I've watched them grow.

[00:42:38] And I have my core group of people.

[00:42:40] That listen.

[00:42:42] And I.

[00:42:43] I don't know what to say.

[00:42:44] Other than.

[00:42:45] Thank you so much.

[00:42:46] And I will keep trying to.

[00:42:47] Bring you the content when I can.

[00:42:49] It's never going to be on a regular basis.

[00:42:51] It's never going to be.

[00:42:53] Monday at nine o'clock.

[00:42:54] Because.

[00:42:54] That's just not who I am.

[00:42:56] This is a labor of love.

[00:42:58] I do this.

[00:42:59] When I feel like doing it.

[00:43:01] And when I'm interested in.

[00:43:03] Meeting and talking music.

[00:43:05] With.

[00:43:06] Like-minded people.

[00:43:08] And it's an outlet for me.

[00:43:10] So.

[00:43:11] I never want it to become a job.

[00:43:13] Or an obligation.

[00:43:14] I just want it to be.

[00:43:16] Hanging out with friends.

[00:43:17] That's all it is.

[00:43:19] All the power to everyone else out there.

[00:43:21] That are attempting to do the same thing.

[00:43:23] Good luck to you.

[00:43:26] Don't set yourself up.

[00:43:27] For a burnout.

[00:43:28] Or a crash.

[00:43:29] It's very easy to do.

[00:43:30] Anyone who wants to talk.

[00:43:33] Quitting alcohol.

[00:43:34] Quitting drinking.

[00:43:34] Quitting something.

[00:43:35] Give me a shout.

[00:43:37] Anybody who just wants to say hello.

[00:43:38] While I'm gone.

[00:43:40] Reach out.

[00:43:40] I'd love to hear from you.

[00:43:42] Until then.

[00:43:43] I'll play one more song.

[00:43:46] And that'll be it for season seven.

[00:43:49] And we will see you in.

[00:43:52] February.

[00:43:53] I think.

[00:43:55] But if not.

[00:43:56] Wish me luck.

[00:43:57] I'm going snowboarding.

[00:43:58] See you later.

[00:45:32] You're a slacker.