SR016 - Part 2: Toypalooza, Thunder Mixer & Flying Barbies

Boom — we’re back for Part 2 of Episode 16 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, and this one goes everywhere in the best possible way.Brian and Corey kick things off with some WhistlePig PiggyBack, sponsor shoutouts to Maono and Dubby, and a deep dive into Corey’s latest sourcing adventures from Toypalooza. From vintage M.A.S.K. toys and The Tick collectibles to a legendary Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer, the guys break down the thrill of the find, the art of negotiation, and why pointing silently at a vendor might be the newest bargaining strategy.The episode also includes an update on Pete the Penguin, the original Pittsburgh Penguins mascot, thanks to the first text sent into the Shaffer Hotline. The guys recap the bizarre story of Pete, the live penguin mascot that sadly didn’t last long, was later stuffed, stolen, and apparently lives on through local lore.Then it’s off to a weekend music recap: KISS Alive The Tribute, backstage hangouts, Candace Campana and her cassette single, the Millvale Music Festival, and a trip to Mr. Smalls to see Love Dumpster live — complete with green room stories, flying Barbies, and plans for the new Shaffer RULES Podcast studio.The conversation shifts into music creation, songwriting, and AI when Brian shares how he uploaded one of his original songs into Suno AI and got back a full country-style arrangement. The guys talk about AI-generated demos, songwriting ownership, copyright, pitching songs to Nashville, and whether “She Took My Van” needs to become a full-blown AI experiment in multiple genres.They also get into a broader music discussion covering bands whose best work came early, artists who reinvented themselves, and legends like Aerosmith, The White Stripes, David Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, Slash, Chris Cornell, Ozzy, Fergie, Lemmy, Dave Grohl, and more.And of course, the episode ends exactly where it should — with an improvised “She Took My Van” jam, a reminder to find yourself a Thunder Mixer, and a call for Willie to come back.#ShafferRULES #ShafferRULESPodcast #Podcast #ComedyPodcast #WesternPA #PittsburghPodcast #Toypalooza #VintageToys #ToyCollecting #WhistlePig #KISSAlive #MillvaleMusicFestival #MrSmalls #LoveDumpster #SunoAI #AIMusic #Songwriting #ThunderMixer #HulkHogan #PeteThePenguin