Park Bench Perspectives

Send us Fan MailPosters, Pop Cans, and Park Bench PerspectivesMike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa reminisce on a “park bench” about teen bedroom posters (Farrah Fawcett, Led Zeppelin, Lamborghini, Easy Rider), poster-shopping at places like the Fun Shop and Ridgedale, and trivia that Fernando Valenzuela’s poster surpassed Farrah’s in sales. They recall collecting RC Cola baseball-player cans by digging through Westwood Deli’s stock, confirm RC Cola still exists, and detour into a Vegas blackjack memory. The conversation shifts to beer and bar memorabilia, including distributor neons and personal wall art like a Rat Pack “Royal Flush” poster and a signed Ramones album. Carlos shares a 2003 story of receiving Bubba Gump souvenir glasses from Mike’s sons during a difficult period. They discuss St. Louis Park history (name from the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad; early downtown near Walker/Broadway and Wooddale), the value of the postal service, letters/telegrams, and reflect on parenting, especially Judy Hammer’s resilience and “showing up.”00:00 Park Bench Intro00:41 Cuban Family Story01:24 Teen Posters Debate02:43 Poster Shopping Memories05:12 Iconic Posters Trivia06:08 RC Cola Can Collecting09:24 Vegas Drinking Detour11:18 Beer Signs Bar Swag16:01 Bubba Gump Glasses19:23 Movie Posters Talk21:44 Warriors Nostalgia24:35 St Louis Park Origins26:39 Elmwood Origins27:59 Postal Service Debate29:13 Stamps And Seniors32:25 Postcards And Letters34:44 Telegrams And Keepsakes36:25 Yearbook Secrets37:40 Judy Tough Love42:27 Showing Up Parenting46:26 Youth Sports Costs50:41 Wrap Up And PlugsSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLady Gaga, Keg Parties, and Park Bench PerspectivesFrom their park bench, Mike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa catch up about Mike attending a  Lady Gaga concert and joking about painkillers for his bad knee, then give a shout-out to classmate Ron Barry’s “BarryFin Day” podcast. They discuss building a listener community around their shared hometown of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and begin reminiscing about favorite local places and teen hangouts: Park National and Carlson fields near the water tower, the Cedar Lake Road train trestle keg parties and police run-ins, Meadowbrook and Cedar Lake “Bareass Beach,” Knollwood Mall, Burger King across Highway 12, Brookview Golf Course, Coast to Coast Hardware, Cooper/Cooper Cameo theaters, and learning to drive at the Honeywell lot. They invite listeners to be guests, tease future St. Louis Park history topics, plug FootPainAuthority.com, and note Carlos’s novel “The Ghost of Lake Ossis” and  baseball-law newsletter.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:25 Catching Up01:02 Lady Gaga Night02:10 Show Highlights03:03 Bad Knee Remedies03:52 BarryFineDay Podcast Shoutout05:18 Hometown Favorites Setup05:39 Little League Landmarks06:53 Train Trestle Keggers08:01 Keg Party Economics10:30 Basement Parties And Cops13:04 Meadowbrook And Beach Spots14:02 Next House Party Tease14:11 Running From The Cops14:41 Why We Do Dumb Stuff15:06 Prefrontal Cortex Myth16:25 Staying Curious As Adults18:04 Talking Yourself In Or Out19:11 Risk Calculations And Law School21:08 Norwood Mall Memories22:19 Golden Valley Adventures22:44 Golf Courses And Marty23:59 Coast To Coast Hardware25:56 Cooper Theater And Honeywell27:17 Inviting Friends On The Show27:51 Next Episode Tease28:24 Projects And Sign Offhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2246264

Send us Fan MailFrom their “park bench perspective,” Carlos and Mike (“Hammer”) welcome Mike’s Gen Z daughter, Georgia, to discuss generations and music. They joke about Gen X vs. baby boomers, naming conventions like Gen Alpha/Beta, and how streaming and Bluetooth changed music discovery compared with radio. The group sets homework for a cross-generational song exchange to review next week: Carlos assigns The Ramones’ “I Want to Be Sedated,” Mike assigns Neil Young’s “Comes a Time” (favoring the Live Rust version), and Georgia assigns “Stateside” (Zara Larsson remix) and Olivia Dean’s “Man, I Need.” They also touch on music videos, artists’ views on digital music and Guitar Hero, pop-culture drama, and how music shaped family memories, including funerals and concerts Georgia attended as a child.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:31 Meet Georgia00:53 Generations Explained02:28 Music Swap Setup04:17 Old School Picks07:38 Modern Pop Pick10:10 Mike Picks Neil Young12:40 Second Georgia Song14:30 Pop Culture Tease14:46 Pop Culture Tea15:20 Fleetwood Mac Drama16:51 Music and Grief19:58 Signs and Synchronicity20:30 Billie Eilish Question22:12 Mom's Music Influence24:42 Katy Perry Obsession27:43 Wrap Up and Song Listhttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/43TAzoJWwrwFcvM9Zry110?si=ueoRSc5uS_KJuGEsnueIbg

Send us Fan MailRockin' the SLP Park 2Carlos Figueroa and co-host Mike Hammer chat on Park Bench Perspectives about how music and pets mark life’s timeline while reminiscing about growing up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. They joke about their limited musical talent, Carlos’s LaBelle’s electric guitar that Mike borrowed for lessons, and invite listeners to submit a jingle for the podcast. Memories include hearing “Come Sail Away” at the Piccadilly Circus arcade at Ridgedale, bus adventures to Southdale and skipping school for a Twins opening day at Met Stadium, and Mike bringing home a puppy from 31 Flavors in an ice-cream pail. They discuss Walkmans, punk/new wave, a signed Ramones “End of the Century” cover from cousin Susie, Neil Young’s Live Rust, changing attitudes toward alcohol and marijuana, house parties and bands, and the Zenith house era with dogs Cosmo and Windsor, then close with listener feedback requests and Mike’s insole business plug.00:00 Welcome to the Bench01:12 Guitar Dreams and Lessons02:23 Need a New Theme Song02:53 Music and Memory Triggers04:31 Arcade Days at Ridgedale05:25 Bus Adventures and Mischief06:54 Puppies at 31 Flavors10:11 Moped Plant Caper13:00 Headphones Punk and Mr Baum14:09 Ramones Devo and Cousin Susie15:37 Babysitting Chaos and Apple Tossing17:11 Big Kid Pranks and Chubby Checker17:39 Pickup Game Memories18:09 Neil Young Tape Era19:49 Reefer Madness Talk20:45 Stoner vs Drinker Labels24:30 Ride Shares and Cabs25:27 Band Names and Trivia26:54 Local Venues and Bandshell28:42 House Shows and Parties30:31 Zenith House Stories32:07 Wrap Up and Thanks

Send us Fan MailPark Bench Perspective: First Albums, Concert Memories, and Music DiscoveryCarlos Figueroa and Mike Hammer discuss music from their “park bench” perspective while joking about Carlos’s recent knee surgery and lack of musical talent. They reminisce about early records and where they bought them (Shopper City, Down in the Valley), including first albums like The Who’s Tommy, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Sean Cassidy, and Saturday Night Fever, and talk about influences such as an older sister and radio. They cover favorite artists and genres spanning the Rolling Stones, Doors, Led Zeppelin, REO Speedwagon, Queen, Prince, punk (Ramones, Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop), and rap, and recall concerts and ticket-buying experiences including Paul McCartney, Neil Young (with the Shocking Pinks), Devo, George Strait, and Paul Simon/Bob Dylan. They briefly detour into early cable TV and music video channels, plug Foot Pain Authority insoles and Hammer’s Substack, and invite St. Louis Park musicians to join future episodes.00:00 Park Bench Intro00:32 Knee Surgery Catchup01:06 Why Music Matters02:24 First Albums Debate05:05 Early Influences Stories07:44 Guilty Pleasures And Queen09:27 Punk Rap Country Mix11:01 Concert Memories McCartney12:50 All Night For Neil Young14:19 Neil Young Breaks The Rules15:21 Tailgate Heat and Chaos16:11 Neil Young Live Memories17:02 Kidhood Movie and Music Discovery17:39 Hunting Punk Imports18:34 Old School TV Tech21:15 Cable Hacks and Early Videos23:24 Prince and MTV Era24:27 Albums and Genre Detours26:39 First Concerts and New Venues28:47 Adult Shows and War Stories29:19 Sponsor Plug and Substack30:44 More Music Ahead Closing

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Park Bench Perspectives, Mike Hammer and Carlos kick off spring by talking baseball—how T-ball and Little League shaped their Minnesota childhoods, expanded their friendships and rivalries, and later became a bond through their own kids. They reminisce about the Twins as a constant “soundtrack to life” on WCCO, old players and eras, and the appeal of small-ball fundamentals like bunting, stealing, and hit-and-run. They share stories about curveballs, pitching machines (“Juggs”), town ball traditions, and a Little League moment when Mike was told to pitch inside and hit a batter. The conversation also touches on MLB’s financial imbalance, fears of a future work stoppage, and a plug for FootPainAuthority.com plus Mike’s Substack and Carlos’s in-progress novel.00:00 Bench Intro Theme00:50 Show Welcome Banter01:08 Future Topics Tease01:48 Spring Means Baseball02:04 T-Ball Childhood Days03:33 Girls In The Game04:23 Twins Return And Fears05:31 Town Ball Tradition07:07 Twins Memories And Voices09:51 Stealing Home And Small Ball13:15 Cheating And Pitch Guessing16:01 Curveball Shock Story17:24 Pitching Machines And Fungo19:45 Beanball Confession Setup20:20 Little League Hit Batter22:20 Baseball Radio Memories22:45 Why Baseball Works24:54 Pitch Clock Debate26:16 Seat Upgrading Game28:18 Dodgers Money Problem30:27 Beep Baseball Origins34:33 Backyard Baseball Days37:22 Sponsors And Signoff

Send us Fan MailPark Bench Perspectives: Growing Up in a Smaller WorldFirst off Mike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa really appreciate all the great feedback.  We recorded this episode before receiving comments but rest assured SLP Food Part 2 is on the agenda for next week.Park Bench Perspectives, as two longtime friends chatting on a virtual park bench about their lives, the St. Louis Park, Minnesota community they grew up in, and current events. They discuss how friendships can resume effortlessly after years and reflect on how their childhood world felt geographically small, expanding through bikes, sports, and later broader social circles, contrasting that with how the internet expands kids’ worlds today. They reminisce about the Eliot neighborhood and Eliot Elementary, teachers and school memories, hiding chocolate milk, and sports and biking adventures, including Evel Knievel-inspired jumps. They recall anxiety about mixed-grade “Team Room,” Eliot’s closure, being merged with rival Cedar Manor, and resulting friendships. They touch on social anxiety, learning about people through conversation, bar-industry dynamics around “freebies,” and invite viewers to comment and join the community.00:00 Theme Song Intro00:39 Welcome to the Bench01:02 Why the Bench Matters01:33 Old Friends Chemistry03:02 Growing Up Pre Internet03:45 Eliot Neighborhood Boundaries04:33 Sports and Skating Days05:47 Bikes and Dirt Jumps07:20 Eliot School Memories07:38 Chocolate Milk Heist09:57 Name Stories and Chuck Norris11:27 Teachers and Team Room Anxiety13:23 Childhood Crush Memories13:33 School Closure Shock14:05 Rival Schools Merge15:58 Classroom Chaos Stories17:18 Friendships Over Time18:16 Small Talk And Anxiety20:18 Avon Collectibles Tangent21:08 Bar Friends And Freebies23:39 Growing Up And High School24:05 Community Call And SignoffSponsorsFoot Pain AuthorityIf your feet are barking louder than your opinions, check out Foot Pain Authority for insoles and relief. Mention that you “heard about it on the bench.” https://www.footpainauthority.comFrom CarlosCarlos also shares an update on his upcoming psychological thriller, The Ghost of Lake Osakis, andI write essays on my Substack about institutions, technology, and change.  https://substack.com/@carlosmfigueroaJoin the conversationWhat St. Louis Park restaurant do you remember most? Drop a comment and tell us which places still live rent-free in your memory.

Send us Fan MailFan Feedback, St. Louis Park Food Memories, and Pig Roast StoriesMike Hammer and Carlos Figueroa open the episode by reading early listener feedback, including a Minneapolis commenter questioning whether Hammer is the real 1984 graduate, which they clarify by distinguishing him from an older Mike Hamer. They discuss how suggestions are expanding their focus beyond their childhood neighborhood and recall St. Louis Park-area staples such as Beaks Pizza (including an all-you-can-eat contest and a late-night cash-register robbery), Lincoln Dell deli, Schlotzky’s, My Pie, Clark’s submarine sandwich, and the McDonald’s by the high school during open campus and smoking-era rules. They share stories about skipping school to make pizza, Rocky Rococo’s heart-shaped pizza while watching Luke and Laura’s wedding, Carlos’s family pig roasts and an epic joint graduation party, plus the Lions Club pancake breakfast and paper route memories. Carlos plugs his Substack and a baseball-law feature, “The Ballpark Barrister.”00:00 Show Intro and Tease00:18 Theme Song and Greetings00:54 Fan Mail and Feedback01:10 The Mike Hammer Mystery02:22 Listener Ideas and Expanding Town03:41 Beaks Pizza Memories04:47 Pizza Contest with Joe05:50 Beaks Robbery Story07:02 Lincoln Del Deli Love08:41 More Local Eats Roundup09:14 McDonalds Open Campus Days10:32 Skipping School for Pizza11:45 Homemade Crust Hacks12:03 Open Campus Pizza Runs12:41 McDonalds and Cafeteria Classics14:11 Rocky Rococos Memories16:11 Pig Roast Block Party18:28 Graduation Party Chaos20:04 Lions Club Breakfast Talk21:15 Bennigans and Paper Route Donuts22:55 Substack Plug and Sign OffSponsorsFoot Pain AuthorityIf your feet are barking louder than your opinions, check out Foot Pain Authority for insoles and relief. Mention that you “heard about it on the bench.” https://www.footpainauthority.comFrom Carlos FigueroaCarlos also shares an update on his upcoming psychological thriller, The Ghost of Lake Osakis, andI write essays on my Substack about institutions, technology, and change.  https://systemsunderpressure.substack.com/s/the-ballpark-barristerJoin the conversationWhat St. Louis Park restaurant do you remember most? Drop a comment and tell us which places still live rent-free in your memory.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episodeMinnesota March weather and the false promise of springWhy baseball and spring were inseparable growing upMeeting before kindergarten at Elliott ElementaryLittle League, Cub League, Babe Ruth, and neighborhood baseball memoriesKite flying across from Elliott and the legend of razor-blade kite warsOpening Day rituals, stirrups, and looking right in a baseball uniformSt. Louis Park restaurant memories, including:Shakey’s PizzaYangtze RestaurantDavid Woo’sPerkinsEmbersMr. SteakJolly TrollBridgeman’sFarrell’sCarriage House, bowling, pinball, and Saturday hot dogsHow food places become part of a town’s identityListener callout: favorite St. Louis Park restaurants, past or presentSponsor mentions and Carlos’s upcoming novel, The Ghost of Lake OsakisNotable momentsMike and Carlos realizing they forgot to actually introduce themselvesThe case for proper baseball stirrup height, argued like it’s constitutional lawA wonderfully chaotic detour from restaurants into MSG, hot dogs, and marijuana policyThe reminder that old neighborhood places were never just businesses—they were landmarks in people’s livesMentioned in this episodeElliott ElementarySt. Louis Park baseballSols Koch’s Sporting GoodsShakey’s PizzaYangtze RestaurantDavid WooPerkinsEmbersMr. SteakJolly TrollBridgeman’sFarrell’sCarriage HouseFoot Pain AuthorityThe Ghost of Lake Osakis by Carlos FigueroaSponsorsFoot Pain AuthorityIf your feet are barking louder than your opinions, check out Foot Pain Authority for insoles and relief. Mention that you “heard about it on the bench.” https://www.footpainauthority.comFrom CarlosCarlos also shares an update on his upcoming psychological thriller, The Ghost of Lake Osakis, and talks briefly about his Substack writing on institutions, technology, and change.Join the conversationWhat St. Louis Park restaurant do you remember most? Drop a comment and tell us which places still live rent-free in your memory.

Send us Fan MailWelcome to Park Bench Perspective: Old Friends, St. Louis Park, and Making Sense of the WorldCarlos Figueroa and Mike Hammer introduce their show, “Park Bench Perspective,” describing it as a thoughtful conversation between two lifelong friends rather than a hot-take format, starting with memories of growing up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. They discuss the town’s sense of community, diversity, and how people were judged by character, while noting how memory is reconstructed rather than replayed. They share nostalgic examples from childhood media and parenting perspectives, and reject simplistic “generation wars” and horoscopes. The hosts begin a “Mount Rushmore of St. Louis Park,” naming Sol from Sol’s Superette, Lyle Hanks, the Coen brothers, Mark Rosen, Al Beugen, and Carlos’s father as influential figures. They close by introducing their current work: Carlos in law, Substack writing, and a novel, and Mike in construction/handyman work, insoles/foot care, a home maintenance guide, and a product-authentication project, plus family details.00:00 Welcome to the Bench00:58 Meet the Hosts01:22 Growing Up St Louis Park02:25 Friendship and Community03:45 Nostalgia and Time Travel04:35 How Memory Rewrites05:50 Simpler Times Then06:58 Beyond Generation Wars08:14 Earliest Childhood Memories10:06 Mount Rushmore of SLP15:01 Mentors and Coaches17:29 Neighborhood Watch and Lessons19:29 Who We Are Today20:49 Insoles and Side Hustles22:58 Wrap Up and Sign OffYou can find Carlos Figueroa's writing at systemsunderpressure.substack.comCheck out Mike Hammer’s massaging insoles at https://www.footpainauthority.com