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Uncommon Content

Uncommon Content

Michael C. Durso

Uncommon Content; True Stories and Warnings from the Forgotten Generation is a social commentary podcast by Michael Durso.
Michael was a devout liberal for most of his life and believes he still is; its the liberals that went crazy. Michael discusses sex, politics, history, childhood, work, education, parenting, and just about everything else relevant.
Each week Michael points out some simple pleasures in life, as well as the absurd hypocrisy that is destroying our society from the inside.
This podcast is an extension of Michael's extensive writing, as well as many stories yet unheard. Stuck in the middle of Generation X, Michael's lifetime of stories will make you laugh, at least at him, and possibly give you some perspective.
Michael is the author of OFF THE RESERVATION; Stories I Almost Took To The Grave Probably Should Have, published in 2015. You will be able to listen to the book chapter by chapter for free, beginning October 1st!
Equal parts shocking and moving, Off the Reservation is an absurdist confessional memoir, accurately detailing the reckless hijinks of a bipolar alcoholic. This stranger-than-fiction true story spans over three (five now!) decades, as Michael recounts his tales with wincing honesty. Eventually, the maniacal nights of booze, drugs, and sex give way to rude awakenings in empty rooms, jail cells, and beds of snow from a failed suicide by Mother Nature. Rossi learns most of his lessons--gradually, reluctantly, painstakingly--without imposing them on anyone. Thankfully for us, these unapologetic, darkly comic tales haven't been taken to the grave just yet.

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Top 10 Uncommon Content Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Uncommon Content episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Uncommon Content for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Uncommon Content episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Uncommon Content - The End Of The Beginning

The End Of The Beginning

Uncommon Content

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11/14/24 • 27 min

This week is the last episode of Uncommon Content's first season. The first season was all spoken word and I am grateful for everyone that listened. It was humbling. Moving forward, Uncommon Content will be a traditional interview style podcast.
For this first interview, I asked my good friend Mitch Broader to come in and shoot some interview questions at me about this podcast and its purpose. I would eventually like to have everyone I know as a guest, so if you have a great story, and want to be on the show, just drop me a line!

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Uncommon Content - What Is A Sex Worker?

What Is A Sex Worker?

Uncommon Content

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05/08/24 • 43 min

Uncommon Content explores the world of sex workers by asking the question, "What is a sex worker?" This episode is a three-story montage of shocking true-life hooker stories, while we further investigate some of the particulars of the job, and where it has intersected my life and relationships.
And don't forget... marrying a sex worker is like buying a rental car.

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Uncommon Content - An Accidental Oxymoron

An Accidental Oxymoron

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09/19/24 • 32 min

In this weeks episode I discuss toys, progress, the latest presidential assassination attempt, and the benefit of taking political advice from pretty blond singers.

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Uncommon Content - The Three Beers

The Three Beers

Uncommon Content

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05/17/24 • 39 min

The DEA recently re-categorized marijuana from schedule I to schedule III. This story is one of my few stories with no repercussions for me. I just like the story, and as we change our views on what constitutes a dangerous drug, I think it should be told.
I don't think my stories should ever be emulated, but understanding them should be important to everyone. We have been making beer for thousands of years, so I don't think mind-altering substances are going anywhere. Although alcohol and opioids are the clearly the most dangerous, it is time to take a better look at psychedelics.
And remember, drugs will take you nowhere, but at least it's the scenic route.

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Uncommon Content - Greetings and Salutations from Generation X
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05/07/24 • 37 min

This is Uncommon Content's introductory episode. Michael Durso is a the author of OFF THE RESERVATION; Stories I Almost Took To The Grave & Probably Should Have.
Equal parts shocking and moving, Off the Reservation is an absurdist confessional memoir, accurately detailing the reckless hijinks of a bipolar alcoholic. This stranger-than-fiction true story spans over three (five now!) decades, as Michael recounts his tales with wincing honesty. .
Uncommon Content is an extension of Michael's past writing, as well as many stories yet unheard. Stuck in the middle of Generation X, Michael has a lifetime of stories that will make you laugh, at least at him... and possibly give you some perspective.
Michael Durso is a walking trigger warning!

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Uncommon Content - Hope & Baseball

Hope & Baseball

Uncommon Content

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06/13/24 • 32 min

The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals were my introduction to the fairness of sport, in a world where nothing else made sense, and everybody wanted something. To hope for, or be crestfallen by, circumstances completely out of my control was a valuable lesson. I'll let you know when I've learned it.
Thank you baseball... GO CARDS!
Favorite baseball joke before they finally won a championship:
What did Jesus say to the Cubs?
Don't do anything until I get back." People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn into your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it.

They’ll arrive at your door, as innocent as children, longing for the past. “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around.” You’ll say. “It’s only twenty dollars per person.” And they pass over the money without even thinking about it. Whereas money they have, and peace they lack....

And they’ll walk off to the bleachers and sit in their short sleeves on a perfect afternoon. And find they have reserved seats somewhere along the baselines where they sat when they were children. And cheer their heroes. And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come, Ray.

The one constant through all the years Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steam rollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People most definitely will come." Darth Vader - Field of Dreams

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Uncommon Content - I'm Sorry Sigourney Weaver
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06/27/24 • 37 min

Last week I called Sigourney Weaver a demonic dog, and that was in error. It was a sloppy mistake. I hope that this deep dive on some of my worst mistakes is an acceptable apology.
Two men were sitting at a bar one night talking about mistakes. The first guy said he'd had a horrible Freudian slip just days earlier, when he was at the airport and mistakenly asked the large breasted woman behind the counter for "two Pickets to Titsburgh". The other man laughed, and said the exact same thing had happened to him while he was having breakfast with his wife.
He said, "I meant to ask her to please pass the salt, but what came out was - you ruined my life honey."

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Uncommon Content - Sometimes You Need To Burn Your Boat
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07/04/24 • 32 min

This is my tenth episode! I set that as goal number one and that's that!
I am really proud to hit my first milestone. I don't know if I can say that I did it in-stride though. The last few episodes turned out well (to me), but I am struggling a little bit trying to find the balance between the good old-fashioned storytelling, and the interactive storytelling that attempts to scope the reason I'm telling the story in the first place. I'll probably miss things like that as the process becomes more routine and I improve.
This week's story is one of my black swan moments. Moving to Seattle at 17 YO was reactionary, poorly planned, wholly underfunded, and utterly ridiculous. I have many more stories from my time there - Good and Bad. I just wanted to tell the part that was scarry, because I have the same feelings now.
They are different feelings because I am on the way out. Save the platitudes; we are all on the way out. Danger just feels different at the beginning, and I can promise you that changing your life, even for the perceived good, is dangerous for me at any age. The good news is; the old man adventurer knows to stop and look around once in a while.
If a light sleeper sleeps with the light on, how does a hard sleeper sleep? With the window cracked just so much...But I like the way you think.

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Uncommon Content - Be Kind. Rewind.

Be Kind. Rewind.

Uncommon Content

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07/11/24 • 32 min

Generation X was the "take it home" movie generation. The first video store opened in 1977, and streaming started in 1992. We watched as VHS, BETA, and Laserdisc battled for market dominance, but it was a short-lived victory for VHS. Within a few years we threw away our VHS for Blu-ray like it had cooties. Now Blu-ray and Generation X are both in their twilight.
Having a movie at home meant that your home or surroundings were a part of the movie, just like the people you eat with are part of the meal. We made an event out of "movie night". Walking around the video store was as much a piece of the experience as the movie itself.
A girl is fed up with her boyfriend's unhealthy obsession with cop movies, and wants to break up with him.
Girl: "This is too much. We really should split up."
Boy: "Good idea, we can cover more ground that way."

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Chapter 3 - Square Burgers & Savings
Equal parts shocking and moving, Off the Reservation: Stories I Almost Took to the Grave and Probably Should Have is an absurdist confessional memoir, accurately detailing the reckless hijinks of a bipolar alcoholic with borderline personality disorder. This stranger-than-fiction true story spans over three decades, as Michael recounts his tales with wincing honesty. Eventually, the maniacal nights of booze, drugs, and sex give way to rude awakenings in empty rooms, jail cells, and beds of snow from a failed suicide by Mother Nature. Rossi learns most of his lessons--gradually, reluctantly, painstakingly--without imposing them on anyone. Thankfully for us, these unapologetic, darkly comic tales haven't been taken to the grave just yet.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Uncommon Content have?

Uncommon Content currently has 42 episodes available.

What topics does Uncommon Content cover?

The podcast is about Stories, Society & Culture, Society, Conservative, Personal Journals, Writing, Comedy, Podcasts and Memoir.

What is the most popular episode on Uncommon Content?

The episode title 'A Memorial Day To Forget' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Uncommon Content?

The average episode length on Uncommon Content is 28 minutes.

How often are episodes of Uncommon Content released?

Episodes of Uncommon Content are typically released every 5 days.

When was the first episode of Uncommon Content?

The first episode of Uncommon Content was released on May 7, 2024.

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