Explore every episode of the podcast Higgenbaum's Mitzvah

Have you ever encountered a challenge so vast and convoluted that you had to take multiple runs at it over the span of many years? If so, you may relate to the cautionary tale contained herein. If not, well, bonnie for you! Perhaps there's some value here for if and when you do encounter your own personal Everest.

Today's episode is an audio journal of my attempt to read Thomas Pynchon's 1100-page metahistorical explosion of a novel, "Against the Day." Join me on this intimate journey of struggle, joy and self-discovery.

#ThomasPynchon #AgainstTheDay #Pynchon #ShadowTicket #OneBattleAfterAnother #ReadAlong #BigBooks #OleTommyPincher #EpicNovels #MetahistographicalNovels #Coattails #FameChasing #Drafting #TakingAdvantageOfAnothersNotoriety #DidIMentionThomasPynchon? #PaulThomasAnderson #Fiction #LiteraryFiction #LiterallyFiction #Higgenbaum #Reading #Paper #Words #Ink #PrintingPress #MartinLuther #HumanLanguage #1883WorldsFair #Dirigible #GravitysRainbow #1085Pages #DeepLiteraryAnalysis #StunningInsight #Juggling

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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We're doing something a little bit different this episode. I needed a break after completing that 3-part series, so we've arranged a feed swap with one of our all-time favorite shows and a major inspiration for Higgenbaum's Mitzvah – The Dark Highway. If you're unfamiliar with The Dark Highway, it's a late-night nationally syndicated AM radio broadcast that's been running since the late 1980s. It's got a kind of cult following among college students, long haul truckers, shut-ins and speed freaks. It's best experienced on a long, solo, cross-country night drive along a two-lane highway, but any sized highway will do.

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

The Groan Bag by Levi Fuller

Caller 2 – Kirra Rector

Caller 1 – Skylar Fordahl

Never Let Me Go – Bill Evans

Angel Face – Bill Evans and Jim Hall

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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48% experimental bedtime story, 39% wise, insightful mommy blog, 23% atonal manifesto, 16% accidental mouth sounds, 21% stalling while I try to think of synonyms for "Prussian," 100% subconscious advertisement for serotonin-flavored suppositories.

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Dr. Baby

Gravlax Pepsico

Music by Cedric Poncé Quartet

Feldman & Squatch

Scott Pinkmountain

Music by Scott Rosenberg

"rerur"

Percussion: David Brandt, Garth Powell, Gino Robair, Moe Stiano

Trumpets: Liz Albee, David Bithell, Tom Dambly

Trombone: Toyoji Tomita, Ron Heglin, Tom Yoder

Woodwinds: Kyle Bruckmann, Sara Schoenbeck, Matt Ingalls, Brian Kane, John Ingle, Dan Plonsey, Randy McKean, Steve Adams, Dave Barrett, Alex Weiss, Justin Yang

Electronics: Tim Perkis

Guitar: John Shiurba

Conductor: Scott Rosenberg

Recorded by Dave Greenberg

Wellness Mama

Katie Schmid

Music by Jean-Jacques Perrey

"The Little Girl From Mars"

"Mood Indigo"

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Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Northeastern Airlines flight 671 from sunny Burbank to Boston's Logan airport – go Whalers. My name is Maxmillian Fist, and I'll be your voice in the sky for the duration of this journey.

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Minna Abdel-Gawad - additional voice

Music

The Chill Zone, by Jeffrey Smith

Lament, by Movement in the City

Camel Walk, by Movement in the City

Black Teardrops, by Movement in the City

Cooley's/The Cup Of Tea/The Wise Maid, by The Tulla Céilí Band

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Samuel "Uncle Sam" Turner's infamous Broken Rock Massacre was hardly the beginning of Frontierville's history, but it marked the start of its modern era and cast a crooked shadow over the future generations of outlaws, renegades, dropouts, freakers, seekers, and cranks who would be drawn to its once hallowed ground.

This episode is dedicated to Hector Alvarez, Johnny Ray Martin and David Morgan

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Intro

Concert Band 1, CD 23 by Dan Plonsey

Crane Zelhart

Written and performed by Katie Schmid

Music by the Frontierville Saloon House Band

Sunshine Lightyear Cohen

Co-written by David Henson and Scott Pinkmountain

Performed by Claire Reardon

Music by Scott Pinkmountain with:

David Morgan - pedal steel guitar

Tim DeNardo - guitar

Nigel Grey - guitar

Bo

Written and performed by David Henson

Crickets:

bbc.co.uk – © copyright BBC

Music:

Scott Pinkmountain

The Frontierville Saloon House Band:

Tim Chinnock - drums

Brian Crook - guitar

Maryrose Crook - keyboards 

Lucio Menegon - bass

Recorded and mixed by Scott Pinkmountain

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We scuttled our scheduled episode and decided to share a guided meditation as a balm for these difficult times. Nothing cleanses the spirit like a deep dive into the interior, or as Whitman so elegantly put it, "A naked whistling stroll past the barnyard brothel of the cloaked boatman himself."

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain.

Music:

soft crusade – vexed method

Scott Pinkmountain – Guided Meditation 1

John Shiurba – live (for Matthew)

Martyn Cawthorne of Gong Spa – Full Length Gong Bath with Paiste Gongs

Juna Serita – electric bass

Theme from Deep Throat

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What's the longest you've gone without food? How about alone in a room with no food, no water and no light?

And you consider yourself an enlightened being?

Step into The Dark Room and discover what's to be seen.

This episode is sponsored by the letter B.

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain.

The music for "The Eleven Senses" is Trtre from the album Tee (For Big Band) by Scott Rosenberg.

F(ear) was composed by Matt Ingalls.

"The Dark Room" features Kashyapa J. Fisher and Cynthia Furman and was both edited and scored with original music by David Henson.

The Call Ups feature Kelly Gazley, Dru Faro and Morgan Guberman with music by the Mitzvah House Band.

This episode's Mitzvah House Band features Tim Chinnock on drums, Brian Crook on Guitar, Maryrose Crook on Keyboards and Lucio Menegon on bass, and was recorded and mixed at Frontierville Studios in Pioneertown, California.

Special Thanks to Kelly Herbinson, Johnny Ray Martin, Eli Crews.

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"I wake each morning to a different, algorithmically selected deep cut chosen based on my observed patterns collected from over 7000 hours of engaged listening."

Join me as I navigate a single day of my life wandering the narrow gray corridors of end-game techno-capitalism. Maybe you walk these same halls?

This episode is sponsored by Prussian Pumpernut Fudge Doubt

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

with:

Lindsday Beamish - Words

Jesse Gilbert - Words

Anthony Lukens - Organ

Justin Pinkerton - Drums

Scott Pinkmountain - Music

Shecky Pinkmountain - Singing

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This episode is the third and final part of a serialized story. If you start here, it won't make much sense.

Join me along with my cohort – Lex Looser, Lariat Oxnard, K-Slax, Snozz Shagwong and Louderman – in device addiction recovery at the Mojave Wellness Clinic under the watchful eye of Antonioni Blanderziltch and the caring support of Rutledge Smoothitem. Names have of course been changed to protect people's privacy.

Credits:

Produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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Welcome to the Mojave Wellness Clinic where you'll experience our patented Clear Sky method of treatment. You are in a safe environment under the guidance of trained, healthcare professionals. We fully believe in your ability to heal yourself with the resources and support we provide.

This is the second part of a serialized story. If you haven't heard part one, please go back and start there.

Credits:

Produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Roy Kettler – bass on Compound Tour

Barnum and Bailey's Favorite – The Circus World Gavioli

Candy Crush Saga

Applause – Berlin Atmospheres (start at "37")

Waves – Soaring Ideal Sound

Tense Movie Background – Music Sound Effect

Sandstorm – Darude

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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Are you having trouble sleeping lately? How would you rate your irritability? Does your phone's text notification sound trigger intermittent eye spasms? Does silence make you sweat?

Hi, my name is ______ and I have a problem. Several, actually.

Credits:

Produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah will be back with Season 2 soon. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of things to come. Or, more accurately, things not coming.

Words and music produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

I've finally broken down and accepted the fact that the only way forward with this project is to humbly ask you for your direct patronage. Kind of.

This episode is sponsored by Nikki Dinki's Pre-Crumpled Tissues, Classic and Danish Modern, sold in a stylish 3-pound sack in your choice of pigeon gray, end-of-days black and harrowing phlegm-yellow.

Credits:

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Voices:

Tina Karisch – Deutschesprachedinge

Lindsay Beamish – just trying to help

Music:

Ellington, Mingus, Roach – Caravan

Myles Boisen Past - Present - Future – Everything I Have is Yours

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – Spanish Flea

Hank Mobley – Dis Dis

Katherine Hoover – Winter Spirits for Solo Flute

J.J. Johnson – Minor Blues

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – A Walk in the Black Forest

Chet Baker – Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Gino Robair – Cup #1 and Cup #2

Moon Boots – Hold Me Tight

John Coltrane – Crescent

David Bowie – Rock and Roll Suicide

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Peckham & Fleece, Part 2 – Snade Days

I agreed to have lunch with the Vice President of Domestic Tele-visual from Peckham & Fleece after our somewhat asymmetrical exchange.

This is the second part of a two-part story. If you haven't heard the previous episode, I suggest starting there.

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Original music by Themphthathee's Thweethearts

Gene V. Baker – keyboards

Scott Pinkmountain – bass, drums, guitar, saxophone

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Peckham & Fleece, Part 1 – The Letter

I recently received a letter from the Vice President of Domestic Tele-visual at one of the lead US ad firms, the contents of which I thought would make for an interesting episode.

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Original music by Themphthathee's Thweethearts

Gene V. Baker – keyboards

Roy Kettler – bass

Scott Pinkmountain – drums, guitar

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Hello, and thank you for calling Quintilletech, the industry leader in advanced product solutions. All of our agents are busy helping other customers, but one of our skilled service professionals will be with you in a moment. Please stay on the line and we'll be with as soon as humanly possible. Press "one," if you'd like to be helped sooner than humanly possible!

Produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Introduction - Beth Lisick

"Music"

Various (with thanks to TooPeachy)

The Popcorn – MotownMan

Sound of Dolphin – Nature Sounds

Special thanks to Eli Crews

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A few months back, I made a documentary about Jimmy Buffett (Ep 17). There was some stuff that happened in the wake of that episode that I wanted to tell you about. This is that.

You don't have to have listened to episode 17 before you listen to this. There might be a couple small spoilers, but this is effectively a stand-alone episode. Though if you're interested in learning the true story of the Trop-Rock bard, you'll definitely want to check out that show.

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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On Bluesky @higgenbaum.bsky.social

Thanks for joining us, here at Higgenbaum's Yoga Clearinghouse, for your premium yoga experience. Whether you've come for physical, mental, spiritual or congruent plasmatic dimensional health, we've got you covered. Just put your trust our army of rigorously trained yogis and we'll take care of the rest.

*Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is not responsible for any injuries (psychic, moral or otherwise) incurred during the consumption of their Yogatic(TM) products. Anything bad that happens to you is because you deserved it from actions perpetrated in a previous or future life. All responsibility belongs to other parties. Except for good stuff, which is solely the property of Higgenbaum's Mitzvah PLC, registered in Turduckistan.

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Music by:

Brian Eno – Music for Airports

Merzbow – Yellow Hyper Balls

Vinyasa Boombatz performed by Donnie Lightning

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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On Bluesky @higgenbaum.bsky.social

When the going gets tough, it's important to seek love and support from your greater community of sympathetic friends and family. If the going is going to get much tougher than this, shelter in place.

And yes, I call a simile a metaphor in this episode. I blame the writer.

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written and performed by Scott Pinkmountain

Special thanks to Levi Fuller of Passenger Pigeon

Music by:

Yo La Tengo – Everyday

Yo La Tengo – Sea Urchins

Can – Fizz (Live)

Can – Paris 73 Zwei

Yo La Tengo – The Sea Horse

Passenger Pigeon – Fucking Do Something

Passenger Pigeon – At the Funeral, Someone Handed Me a Box

Grateful Dead - New Speedway Boogie

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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On Bluesky @higgenbaum.bsky.social

Odd Ducks Aud Docs Presents the Official Unofficial Audio Biography of Jimmy Buffett. We are proud to bring you this explosive, documentary story of the shocking, untold secret life of one the 20th centuries most beloved songsters.

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Cast in order of Appearance:

Blart Hogglestench – Himself

Wilber Wilber – Emmanuel Atalaphe

Translator – Kelly Herbinson

Pingu Ballrash – Himself

Fezzle Freeley – Sam Amidon

Mama Buffett – Patrice Zappa Porter

Warren Buffett – Bob Marsh

Dr. Bran Elt – Lesna Smada

Countess Tippie Whippleworth – Katie Schmid

Lunch Albert – George Chen

Mervyn Worble – Gene Baker

Brett Dennen – Himself

Jordon Jardin – Himself

El Noche – Himself

Music by Gene Baker

Original Buffett Song:

Ben Lee – harmonica

Steve Hogan – keyboards

John Nuhn – bass

Scott Pinkmountain – drums, guitar, voice

Michael Zapruder – good guitar

Additional Music:

The Elephant Never Forgets – Jean-Jeaques Perrey

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Marcus Johnson

This Christmas – Don Diego

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.com

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On Bluesky @higgenbaum.bsky.social

In this bonus episode, I have a conversation with nonviolence expert (and longtime friend), Blase Martin Bonpane, III, about his reaction to something from episode 16, TV Guide. I had a few anti-ICE spots in there, one of which raised concerns from Blase when he heard it. I thought I'd take the opportunity to give broader voice to Blase's thoughts and share them with you all here.

Please note, this is not a regular episode of the show – it's supplemental material. If you're looking for a dose of the "standard" material, please look elsewhere! If you are interested in hearing the conversation, but haven't listened to Episode 16, TV Guide yet, no fears. There's no real spoilers and I play the part we talk about, so you can dive in here without any preparation.

Here's a link to the video that Blase and I discuss.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CURm-PBBAzM

Video by Jacopo Andreini

Voiceover by Beth Lisick

#nonviolence, #politicalcomedy

Remember back when we all used to be woken at the exact same moment by nuclear synchronized neural strobe, unbuckle from our rejuvenation pods, remove our driplines and strap on our unigoggles to succumb to CHANNEL ONLY? I don't recall anyone complaining about lack of choice, but then again, those memories were likely erased in the #whiteout. But I do remember the pleasure of universal collective zany escapade rehashing that would occur during untethered time at the rehydrating zone. Ah, those where the chronometric sub-units!

While the violent atomization of society has been exacerbated by the overwhelming proliferation of commercial manipulation falsely equivalated with free choice, at least it's diverting!

Today's episode is here to help guide you through a single hour of television viewing options. This episode is especially made for listeners who either like or don't like TV.  

Higgenbaum's Mitzvah is produced, written, performed and scored by Scott Pinkmountain

Additional Voice – Beth Lisick

Additional Music:

Dramatic Epic Background – Dmitry Taras

Bright Inspiration and Calm Corporate – AleXZavesa

Be Child – Steve Kaldes

Join the Higgenbaum's Mitzvah mailing list at www.higgenbaumsmitzvah.comFollow along on Instagram @higgenbaumOn Bluesky @higgenbaum.bsky.social

#television #tvguide #tv #channelsurfing #tvcritic #tvcritique #interdimensionalcable #tvchannels #tvhumor #fuckice #anitice #noice #meltice #mustseetv