Ye Olde Magic

A lovely night chat with Aly Sanders. We chat New England, videography, and haunted houses. 

Aislynn joined me tonight to discuss art, philosophy, and the heartbeats of family life. Destined to be one of the more famous on the Poppleton line, this is a great chance to get to know her when. 

Nathan Moffett and I have been trying to connect for a while, and conversation 35 is where it happened. Just a lovely conversation about jaguars, Simi Valley, Nintendo, my dad, and what happens when you introduce wolves to Yellowstone. 

Chip and Abigail return to discuss the songs they wrote for their grandfather, and how they came to collaborate on the funeral piece. I'm not a music producer, so all apologies for representing their work, but we also discuss Papa's chord and how we all take Appa to heaven. 

Where we talk about the Greatest Generation and whether people need therapy. We also talk about long term goals vs living in the moment and what Travis would do on a raft going over a waterfall. 

Thayne and I chat about love, history, and politics. He explains what life on the reservation was like, as well as what it was like dating Heather. This is definitely a part I, as I feel like we set the stage with what happened so we can follow-up soon with what any of it means. 

Where I chat with Haley about capturing the little details. We discuss the stories behind a single moment, and the daily cadence of getting better. Also, we discover the secret to life is having  a story, finding your light, knowing your shadows, and taking the little steps. 

Just reading a bit more to my dad. 

On October 24th, 2025, my father passed away. My sister Rachel gave the eulogy at his funeral. 

Where dad and I discuss his career, early life, and the red sox. 

It's been just over a year since my dad and I began having these conversations. Recently, he decided to refuse certain medications, a choice we know will significantly affect his life expectancy. In this conversation, we talk more about what that means, what we've learned from recording these chats, and what we hope to get out of the few we have left.

Jason Poppleton spoke with us today as Dad described what it was like to be brothers with Max. Also, there's something about a paintball to the neck, a jeep crashing into the Mahn's house, and an especially cruel barber. 

My childhood friend, Wayne Clements, joined us to discuss life at the Poppletons. We cover Moorpark training, the old watering hole, religious life, and almost getting killed by the cops. Also, there's a part about cultural appropriation I may delete one day. I can't promise I know what version you're listening to. 

There was no way to get to all of the songs we played in the front room in just one hour, so Rachel and Dad take us back this week Simon and Garfunkle, Burl Ives, and the Everly Brothers.

The Brower house was always filled with music, whether from the giant turn table, someone playing piano, or Dad playing guitar for the kids. In this conversation we play some of that music and talk about why Dad chose the songs he did and what those songs mean to him now. 

Jacob Hixon joins us tonight for a conversation about classic movies and choosing a theme for your stories. We talk about Dad's early days going to the movies with his brother Max and the times they were thrown out of the theater. We also discuss the difference between high and low fantasy and the right way to tell a mystery. 

The Legend of the Green Monkey

Stephen Hixon joins us to discuss what it was like coming over to the Poppletons. We spend most of the time in the old Brower backyard, but detour a bit to argue ice skating scores and east coast basketball feeds. 

Megan joined us this week to discuss loneliness. We discuss Pa and what his loneliness looked like, Megan as the youngest of eight children and five years from her closest sibling, and a poem written for Judie. 

Desiree and Tauni join us to discuss the chaos that was being the oldests. We talk early days, running away, cousin Julie, and take a moment at the end to listen to one of Travis' favorite poems -- "In Just" by e e cummings. 

Abigail and Chip join us this conversation to discuss music, what it means, why we write it, and the influences that drive us to create. Our first introduction to the grandkids on my favorite ninth episode of a magic podcast. 

Where we discuss the song "Look Into the Mirror," 2024, and the value of grief.