Open Mike LIVE

Mike reflects on his challenging three-year "sabbatical," particularly specific instances in which he has relied on others for financial and emotional support while being unhoused. He emphasizes the profound power of expressing gratitude and saying "thank you" to others.

Mike welcomes David as a guest off-screen, as they grapple with how to define "artificial intelligence" (AI). From their discussion emerges several key components to defining "intelligence" more broadly. Intelligence entails acquiring and retaining information, but also critically includes the ability to adapt and change goals, as well as identifying and rejecting misinformation.

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, in addition to the Olentangy River.

Mike looks to artificial intelligence (AI) for some constructive feedback.

Mike shows off University Square on a foggy Wednesday morning, admiring the ambient mug sand 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 and car, which occurred 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.

Mike decompresses aboard the 2 bus in Columbus, Ohio, during the after-work rush.

Mike basks in the first significant snowfall to hit Columbus this winter season.

Mike encounters Parking Garage KAREN in his penthouse loft.

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.

A beautiful morning greets us on the winter solstice in The Ohio State University

Mike finds a fabulous and unexpected solution to his present housing woes.

While struggling to multitask during this 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.

Because model train sets aren't beholden to cancellation by a boondoggle governor...

Basking in the things that aren't election-related.

Two months after getting his laptop AND phone stolen, Mike gives a brief update, using his replacement device.

Mike presents his first improvised dwelling, a "camp" site created to accommodate his overnight stays in the Clintonville district of Columbus, Ohio.

Mike reflects on how notable places in our life anchor us to the past.

Mike presents on Street|SMART, a Shared Map of Aid, Resources & Tips made to aid folks on the streets with locating free resources nearby.

When the rut starts to feel like the “new normal”…

Mike shares a stroll with WANDA through the University District.

Mike pauses to reflect on some of the obstacles encountered with developing WANDA for market and asks how to overcome them.

Heterosexual Pride is on St Patrick’s Day.

A walk through The Ohio State University during the eerie calm of finals week on campus.

Mike strolls down High Street in Columbus’s Short North neighborhood, which has been at the center of the city’s rapid development.

Karaoke performance in Columbus of "Letting The Cables Sleep," by Bush.

Rainy morning in New Orleans’ French Quarter

Despite the stigmas of not owning a car, walking affords a much more intimate relationship with the places I live.

Today’s children enjoy far nicer playgrounds than were around when I was a child.

Mike reflects fondly on his past month marooned in Natchez, Mississippi, and expresses gratitude to the distant friends, recent acquaintances throughout Natchez, and even small businesses who have provided aid to Mike in the form of monetary donations, loans, and/or in-kind assistance.

After having the opportunity to live in seven distinct parts of North America, Mike grows weary of the nomadic transience of moving and reestablishing his social life every few years, now longing for the very thing he used to dread when in his twenties - to “settle down” in his home state of Ohio to focus on building something more everlasting and impactful for the communities and people he cares most about.

Mike highlights some of the projects he’s been working to develop while in Natchez, as he shows off his latest incarnation of WANDA and discusses a mobile app he’s working to develop.

Mike contrasts between his times of being broke/unhoused versus those of financial abundance with a roof over his head.

As the people of Natchez gather along Commerce Street for its Mardi Gras celebration, Mike reflects on the comeback of numerous small and mid-sized towns throughout America.

A riverboat serenades Mike with its onboard calliope, as it travels up the Mississippi River from its former port in Natchez.

Finding an unlocked door to the presidential suite of the flagship hotel in Natchez, Mike steps inside…

Mike visits the Natchez police department in a vain attempt to retrieve his belongings, after his hotel inexplicably turns them over to the police instead of returning them to their rightful owner.

Mike describes his first impressions of Natchez, Mississippi, from its downtown cafe.

After spending 2 years in Louisiana for his last utility/engineering job, Mike finally manages to return to the proper side of the Mississippi River to discover the cute little town of Natchez, sitting atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

A Grindr date abruptly goes awry during a short roadtrip to the lad’s hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, resulting in the lad speeding off in his vehicle alone, leaving Mike in a hotel parking lot near the Mississippi River in an unfamiliar area with nearly no money, accommodations, or friends.

Welcome to Natchez, y’all!

In this first-person POV of downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, Mike marvels at some of the small towns and unexpected places that have made efforts at better connecting their communities with transit and other pedestrian-oriented measures.

Mike marvels at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) corporation for its unmatched ability to profit from drumming up conflict and division among young Americans. As US politics devolves into some combination of entertainment and rivalry, at what point should we expect the chambers of Congress to be littered with folding chairs for C-SPAN’s exclusive pay-per-view fights?

In the absence of any sort of city recycling service, Mike demonstrates his routine of walking his discarded recyclables to Target - one of the few places that offers any semblance of recycling disposal.

Mike seeks refuge from the rain beneath the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge spanning the Mississippi River.

During his first week living the streets of Alexandria, Mike bemoans the lack of consideration for pedestrians and non-motorists in the design and construction of roadways throughout American cities.

We’ve managed to take the greatest country on Earth and devolve into a nation of cowards - incapable of anything beyond armchair activism and complaining into the void of social media.

This holiday season, Mike reflects fondly on his hometown Steubenville, praising in particular the way its people treated his mother throughout his childhood.

Mike kicks back with his new friend Robert and throws an impromptu soiree to commemorate the final days of Crimson House Alexandria, as his eviction date of 1 January 2023 draws ominously near…

GLADYS is the wireless audio network powering all bluetooth speakers in Crimson House. WANDA is a musical baton comprising 2 of those speakers.

Mike reflects on how social media and the internet has fundamentally changed the way we talk to each other in real life - listening to respond vs. listening to understand.

Perhaps a dose of humility would enrich this form of conversation. Divided we fall - to some of the worst people imaginable…

Two years after the 2020 West Coast wildfires, Mike opens up and shares the series of traumatic events he faced mere months after moving to Portland, Oregon.

Mike discusses his progress on a couple home improvement projects in the works - including a home security and control system for his smart devices, and a home audio bluetooth network in development.

Mike enjoys a rainy afternoon in Alexandria on the Crimson House patio.

Silence is an unnatural state that induces discomfort. But it also reveals the extent to which we are accustomed to a noisy world.

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 emphasizes his admiration towards his fellow transit warriors who elect to walk in places hostile to pedestrians, that do not provide sidewalks, crosswalks, and basic pedestrian safety features.

proposes a thesis on the correlation between a community's walkability and the preponderance of nice butts among its residents.

Mike shares the excitement of opening a package he'd forgotten that he ordered.

Mike shares a lazy Saturday morning, covering an eclectic mix of topics. He begins by expressing frustration of Alexandria, Louisiana's urban planning, specifically the lack of sidewalks and car-centric road design, which he argues makes the city dangerous. After sharing some recent musical finds, Mike introduces a cooking segment, extolling his new stuffed pepper recipe.

Another morning greets us at Crimson House in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Mike shows off his new home, the newly established Crimson House location in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Mike introduces Neo Hyrule, a post-apocalyptic region in the Legend of Zelda universe, rebuilt after a "great flood" caused by a dam burst. Mike gives in-depth analysis of population distribution, traffic solutions (highways, bus lines), and public transit (railways, buses), as well as different districts like Hyrule Castle City, New Halia, and Lake Floria, even following a simulated resident named "Karen" through her commute in Neo Hyrule.

Mike vents about a relentless stream of hardships and trauma that have followed him since leaving Portland, Oregon, during a period of hell that includes being a victim of rape and theft by an ex-partner, an illegal eviction spurred by friends of the ex, and precipitously losing his job after a mental health crisis sparked by the wildfires that besieged the state of Oregon in summer 2020.

Mike broadcasts from Portland, Oregon, during a celebration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the 2020 presidential election, expressing immense relief and excitement that the "nightmare" from the previous administration seems to be over.

In this Valentine's Day special, Mike reflects candidly on his recent dating misadventures, including one with a gay white supremacist. He also discusses his relationship with cannabis, comparing the market between different states he's visited recently, and shares his thoughts regarding addiction, politics, and the state of the country.

A double rainbow unexpectedly greets us while enjoying some music from Hairspray the Musical, days following the 2020 election.

Celebrations in downtown Portland in November 2020, following Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's presidential election victory.

Mike embraces a waterfall at a suburban Portland cafe to accompany it with some TLC.

In the peaceful pre-dawn hours, Mike outlines the personal turmoil faced in Portland during the Oregon wildfires.

The moon is red in the sky, shrouded by the thick smoke from the wildfires surrounding Portland, Oregon, in August 2020.

Mike shows off a replica of Steubenville, Ohio, created in the video game “Cities Skylines”

On medical leave from his job in Portland, Mike relaxes outside with a beer over a conversation with his friend David in Montreal, who is working to complete a stressful proposal before undergoing eye surgery. Their conversation flows between personal updates, including relationships and social gatherings like grilling steaks, to broader topics like gun laws among different regions and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike shares personal updates, particularly about recently starting his "dream job" as a transmission operations engineer at Portland General Electric, which he is passionate about and sees as a significant positive change after a challenging year.

Mike basks in the beautiful spring weather of Montreal, in anticipation of reporting to the police station in 24 hours.

Mike marvels at "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and its expansive portrayal of the Hyrule world, comparing it to his expectations during the 1998 release of "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time."

To save his friends the labor of typing out “happy birthday” messages, Mike invites them to this livestream to deliver their well-wishes with a slightly more personal touch., while gossiping and fawning over the heaps of gorgeous men lurking throughout Montreal.

Mike gawks at the neighbors from his apartment balcony overlooking the streets of Montreal.

While enroute to Detroit, Mike drives beneath one of the major coal-fired power plants along the Ohio River, FirstEnergy’s Sammis Plant.

Mike drives into his beloved hometown of Steubenville, Ohio, and shows us around.

Matt and Mike share one of their routine trips along Interstate 15 delivering goods for Walmart from their distribution center to the various stores across the state of Utah.

This episode chronicles Mike’s commute from a truck stop in Salt Lake City to the airport via public transit. He navigates the city streets, highlighting the challenges of being a pedestrian amidst traffic and the surprising speed of the light rail system.

This episode captures Mike and Matt on their trucking journey, bobtailing south of Tacoma, Washington, after delivering corrugated steel. Their travels take them towards Portland, Oregon, where they anticipate a fun evening and plan to meet friends.

Matt and Mike spend a few days in San Francisco, delivering rebar to the construction site of a new water treatment plant in Pacifica, California.

They discuss the concept of "pride” and the fluidity that one’s personality can take, adapting to various social situations. Mike mentioned Matthew's "bro mode," acknowledging the influence of others' personalities and accents.

From a truck stop in Phoenix shortly after a dust storm, Mike reflects on learning his rider duties assisting with truck deliveries. Also discussed are the commonly mistaken distinction between power and energy, as well as procrastination habits, and remembering back when talking about nazis used to be comical.

Suffering from the early stages of heat exhaustion while helping Matt secure his flatbed load, Mike reflects on the recent solar eclipse that they viewed from Arizona.

Mike begins piloting a video commentary series "Trans/America" to chronicle his months abroad his boyfriend's flatbed tractor-trailer, as they traverse the western states of the United States together.