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DVD Size Hail and 400mph Winds | Jesse Hawila
When the weather gets weird, the movies get weirder, and the music gets loud—Mike Rhyner is the guy you want steering the conversation. This time, he’s joined by Sunset Lounge transplant Rob Ervin, who swaps his regular hangout for the Dark Companion studio, and the one and only four-time returning champion Jesse Hawila, DFW’s favorite meteorologist with a knack for dropping truth bombs about the skies above and the hype below. From comparing this summer to the legendary “magical summer of 2007” to calling out fear-mongering weather reports, Jesse brings the forecast you should be hearing—minus the doom-and-gloom clickbait. Rob brings the pop culture heat, from cult film deep dives (hello, Tommy Wiseau) to metal bands with drummers who seem part human, part machine. And somewhere between Stevie Nicks stories, death metal drumming admiration, and casual Emmy drop-ins, this episode turns into a full-blown jam session of weather wisdom, movie geekery, and music nerdery. Come for the storms, stay for the shredding. Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome to the Weather Rock Show – Mike, Rob, and Jesse set the stage. 5:18 – 2007 vs. 2023 – Comparing summers worth talking about. 9:06 – The Weather Hype Machine – Why social media storms aren’t always real storms. 13:50 – Stage Fright Forecast – Jesse’s surprising #1 fear. 18:05 – Movie Geek Throwdown – Rob takes the mic with film trivia and passion. 20:37 – Tommy Wiseau & Cult Film Chaos – Behind the bizarre screenings. 27:26 – CBD & Sports Crossfade – Healing and The OG podcast talk. 30:20 – From Blues to Blast Beats – Musical taste whiplash in the best way. 37:50 – Death Metal Drummers = Cyborgs? – Jesse makes his case. 40:55 – Stevie Nicks, Floods, & Fate – Silver Spring stories. 41:53 – Drummers & Metal Evolution – Legends and lineups. 45:20 – Celebs & Emmy Moments – Name drops with style. 47:57 – Work Wardrobe Rules? – Jesse’s casual take. 50:21 – Games, Pinball, & Film Oddities – Nerd heaven. 55:28 – Fantasy Football & Sign-Off – Wrapping it up with friendly chaos. Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/ X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445 The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579 To reach out email us at: [email protected]
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57:59
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57:59
Hall of Famers Making Time for Us | Ralph Strangis
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with Ralph Strangis—legendary broadcaster, Hall of Famer, and the voice who taught Texas what icing was (and no, not the kind on a cake). From shepherding the Minnesota North Stars into their Dallas rebirth to cementing himself as a fixture in hockey history, Ralph’s journey is equal parts grit, wit, and pure love for the game. The two old friends swap stories about chaotic press boxes, unconventional bosses, and the unique insanity of professional sports relocations. Ralph opens up about the pride (and surprise) of being inducted into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame, what he’s up to now with his Ralph Cast and Substack, and why he’ll never willingly put on a tie. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build a hockey culture in a football town—or just want to hear a master storyteller at work—this is your backstage pass to the broadcast booth. Chapters: 0:03 – Weather, Small Talk & Setting the Stage: Mike and Ralph ease in with sports and meteorology banter. 4:26 – Pool Chillers, Cool Decks & Cool Guests: How the episode almost didn’t happen. 5:53 – Hall of Fame Feels: The big induction, the big speech, and even bigger emotions. 13:30 – Dry Heat vs. Humidity: A broadcaster’s meteorological take. 14:51 – The Big Weekend Ahead: Ralph’s pre-event jitters and excitement. 23:40 – Ties Are for Other People: Why Ralph has declared war on formal wear. 26:22 – Broadcast Booth Memories: Building the Dallas Stars legacy, one call at a time. 31:37 – Change, Healing & CBD: A candid turn in the conversation. 38:58 – From North to South: The messy, monumental move from Minnesota to Dallas. 42:26 – Norm Green Stories: Ice cubes in urinals and other unforgettable details. 48:51 – How Texas Got Its Voice: Ralph’s road to the mic. 52:24 – Behind the Broadcast Curtain: Budget woes and creative workarounds. 54:18 – After the Move: The aftermath of relocation—on and off the ice. 58:23 – Life After the Booth: Podcasting, creativity, and what keeps Ralph inspired. 1:04:11 – Looking Back, Moving Forward: Hockey’s journey in Dallas and what’s next. 1:07:56 – Draft Night Chaos: A very different kind of play-by-play. Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/ X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445 The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579 To reach out email us at: [email protected]
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1:11:30
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1:11:30
Q vs Zew | Bo Roberts
What do you get when you mix a radio legend, a Russian hash-smoking adventure, a Triumph stage-crashing moment, and a career that spans five decades in Dallas radio? You get Bo Roberts—loud, proud, and on the mic with Mike Rhyner for this unforgettable ride through rock and radio history. Bo Roberts, longtime co-host of the iconic Q102 KTXQ-FM (aka Q102 the Classic Rock Station), now graces the airwaves at Lone Star 92.5 KZPS-FM—but his journey didn’t start in Dallas. From classical music roots in Corsicana to backstage antics with rock royalty, Bo has seen it all. And in this episode of Your Dark Companion, he opens up the vault. Host Mike Rhyner and Bo dive into everything from the lost art of morning show chemistry (shoutout to the late, great Jimmy White), to corporate radio's evolution, to waking up at 2 AM to prep for a show. Along the way? Stories from Bo’s time in New Orleans, London, Moscow, and… the Longhorn Ballroom. Yes, the Sex Pistols are involved. This one’s a love letter to the wild, weird, and wonderful world of radio—told by two guys who helped build it. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:02 – Radio Rivalries & Day One Friendships 3:59 – Bo’s Parade Disaster (Yes, It Hurt) 6:56 – New Orleans to Dallas: The Long Radio Road 9:02 – 2AM Alarms and the Joy of Preparation 10:02 – Sex Pistols at the Longhorn Ballroom 10:50 – Firing Stories & Climbing Back Up 13:36 – The Bo Roberts Playbook: Career, Chaos & Community 18:14 – Chemistry Is Everything in Radio (And Life) 26:52 – Facing Retirement: The Weirdest Transition of All 30:24 – CBD House of Healing Ad Spot 31:43 – Live Spots, Celebrities, and Broadcast Gold 34:02 – Hash in Russia, The Rolling Stones, and Diplomatic Rock n’ Roll 38:13 – Bo Walks Onstage During Triumph—No Big Deal 40:50 – Work Ethic vs. Corporate Headaches 44:19 – The Buckinghams and the Song That Shouldn’t Be 45:53 – Final Stories from a Radio Life Lived Loud 📝 About Bo Roberts A Corsicana native with classical roots and a rock-and-roll heart, Bo Roberts became a Dallas radio fixture at Q102 KTXQ-FM, and now co-hosts mornings at Lone Star 92.5 KZPS-FM. With more stories than a box set anthology, Bo’s voice and presence are unmistakable—equal parts velvet and vinegar, with decades of morning show magic behind him. Tune in for tales of mischief, music, and the microphone—and stay for the unfiltered wisdom only a true radio vet can offer. This is one for the books.
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51:47
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51:47
The Origins of a Saint
In this special edition of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner welcomes the unmistakable voice and soul of the airwaves—Jimmy Christopher, a.k.a. The Saint—for a ride through 50+ years of broadcasting brilliance. From the early days spinning records at The Zoo in Dallas to sparring mics with the boys at The Ticket, Jimmy’s been everywhere—and he’s got the stories to prove it. You’ll hear about his childhood obsession with Hank Aaron, his first trip to a big league game in 1957 (spoiler: it changed his life), and his music-soaked, mic-wielding journey from Minnesota to California to Cleveland and finally to Texas. Whether you know him from KNAC, KISS, KZEW, or The Ticket, one thing is clear: The Saint’s got soul—and he’s not done talking. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:01 – Two Legends Walk Into a Studio 7:47 – The Braves, The Browns, and a 7-Year-Old Superfan 10:49 – Torn Between Cowboys & Texans (Not Those Texans) 15:00 – How Vietnam Turned a Braves Fan into a Dodger Die-Hard 17:31 – Dubuque, Iowa: Where Baseball Dreams Begin 20:22 – A Mic in One Hand, a Record in the Other 24:23 – Memories of Baseball Parks and Iconic Voices 26:18 – Vin Scully, the GOAT, and Broadcasting’s Golden Age 28:39 – Getting Drafted, and Dodging the Draft (Sorta) 31:44 – Music Rebellion and Microphone Freedom in the ‘60s 35:33 – Why “The Saint” Stuck (Thanks, Springsteen) 37:49 – Radio Stops Across the Country (and Back Again) 41:25 – What Happened When The Suits Took Over Radio 47:14 – CBD Ad Break: Chill Like a DJ on Sunday Morning 49:58 – The Fine Line Between News and Noise 55:33 – Getting Hired, Getting Fired, and Staying Weird 58:42 – Creativity vs. Clean Copy: The Eternal Battle 1:01:05 – Final Memories from The Zoo Days 🎧 So grab a cold one, put your feet up, and dive into this mic-drop of a memory lane with a man who helped shape the sound of Dallas radio. And don’t forget to subscribe—there’s more where this came from, and trust us, you don’t want to miss it.
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1:08:19
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1:08:19
Emergency Diamond Talk from the OG's
WTF JERRY!!!
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24:09
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24:09