Nearly half of Americans suffer from a chronic disease of some sort, or "pre-existing condition", to put it in political terms. In this episode we welcome special guest Paul White, who talks about living with Type 1 Diabetes, while Danny reveals some of his struggles with "aggressive and penetrating" Crohn's Disease. Dylan ponders his role as the only "healthy" person in a studio--and a world--so rife with illness and discord. What's the best way to feel someone else's pain? Should we even try? How do we express compassion without presuming to understand one's plight?

Is culture a status symbol? Barbie Garvey is the special guest on episode #16 of TGFS. She takes us through her life: from her days on the breezeway with the 2-karat diamond, to the seizure of her home by federal agents, to heroin addiction and a three-year bid at Framingham Women's Prison, and finally to a spiritual program of recovery, where she met an unlikely confidante: our co-host, Dylan. Danny reads his essay, "From the Uncultured File", about two vastly different experiences he's had with so-called "cultured" people. 

What motivates us to be creative? Is it recognition? A sense of calling? Self-expression? Probably some mix of all three. In this episode Danny and Dylan are joined by a very special guest, Tito Deler. By day Tito is a VP Director of Graphics at Tommy Hilfiger. At night he becomes "The Original Harlem Slim", a bluesman who plays juke joints all over the world. Tito brought his guitar, plays us a few songs and talks music, Harlem, and what inspires him, at 45, to keep on gigging. Danny reads a new essay, "Superstar", about the time he moved to L.A., in 2002, to pursue standup comedy. 

Ever wonder why some people talk quietly in public spaces, while others feel compelled to broadcast their conversations for all to hear? Often the loudest voices have the least interesting stories. It's the whisperers that seem to provoke the most intrigue. In this episode, Dylan and Danny recall some of their experiences in the field of eavesdropping, from the unbearable to the captivating. Danny reads his essay, "At The Movies", about a truly unique and refreshing exchange he overhead in a movie theater, while Dylan waxes philosophic on the skillfulness of productive conversation: the art of listening, and the virtues of vulnerability. 

Danny reads a story about the perms he got as a teenager; Dylan discusses image, identity, and homeless penis envy. Jason Coolyard, a friend of Danny's from high school who also got his hair permed, is the interview guest. Now living in Los Angeles, waiting tables and soaring the charts of rap battle apps, Jason takes us through his many diverse teenage phases, ranging from Corey Haim/Teen Idol to Vanilla Ice to Keanu Reeves in "Point Break".

In 1999 Danny got his first job in advertising. Selling coupon booklets, door to door, in the projects.

In 2012, Danny had his colon removed. And replaced with a plastic bag. 

In 2010 Danny had a mice problem. So he got a cat. Then he had a women problem. 

In 2015 Danny visited his in-laws in New York, and found painkillers in the medicine cabinet.

In 2000 Danny met his new hero, Phil, who watered the office plants by day and fronted a heavy metal band by night.

Danny has a sleeping problem--he wakes up at 3:30 every morning and cleans. Could this be supernatural?

In 2016 Danny got married. But he felt guilty spending money on a wedding after dropping $100,000 on a drug addiction over the last ten years.

In 1988, Danny was too inept to work a lawnmower. Now, almost 30 years later, he's still just as inept.

Danny is terrorized by a goth chick that he dated for 3 weeks. This after she came across his blog, years later, and read a story about their brief romance.

Part 3: Danny grows obsessed with Kate, gets admitted to the hospital, and finally moves back home to be in love.

Part 2: Danny flies Kate out to L.A. for a long weekend, and really knocks her socks off.

Part 1: Danny works as a producer's assistant in Los Angeles. He lives with 4 guys in a 2-bedroom apartment. It's a lonely existence. Until he meets Kate...