Teens in 1996 get pulled into a time travel war against their adult selves in my novel, Switchers.

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Eclipse shmuclipse, am I right?

No? Sheesh, alright. Let’s talk about it.

I’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling

I really didn’t give two shits about the eclipse. Didn’t buy glasses or make a pinhole viewer. I went for a walk and people watched while it was happening. I thought everyone’s reaction was more interesting than the event itself.

Have I Always Been a Heartless POS?

NO! I used to love holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Used to. I think ever since I went to Iraq I stopped caring about the “special” days. Not because I’m bitter or lost faith in humanity.

I don’t think I am or have.

But after spending time in a war zone during birthdays, holidays, and all the other things I missed, they just don’t seem that important anymore. When I was overseas we acknowledged it was a holiday or birthday or whatever, but we couldn’t really celebrate because we were working 12 hour shifts with no days off. And life kept going.

After spending the better part of a year working through all the special days I came away with a feeling of every-day-is-just-another-day.

Maybe I Have a Personality Disorder…

Maybe I have a personality disorder. Or I might be neurodivergent.

Maybe both.

Probably both.

Most of my life I’ve never really fit in. And for as long as I can remember, that was kind of a choice.

“Kind of a Choice” Being This Way

I say kind of because I grew up…not poor, but relatively so. The town I spent my entire life growing up in until I was 19 is known for being hoity-toity. There are a lot of wealthy folks with bigass houses, crazy cars, condos at the ski resort, and so on. But I grew up in a 2,000 sqft, 3 bed, 2 bath house. Same one my whole life. My parents bought it before I was born and live there still.

I drove a real piece of shit when I was 16, but my classmates were driving BMWs, Audis, one kid got a brand new Camaro for his 16th birthday. One kid I went to school with’s dad bought an island to live on so he could dodge the IRS. We’re talking filthy rich folks, folks. I grew up with slightly above average money, but compared to the kids in my school, I was poor.

So I got shit for my parents “not having money” at school, and when I tried to meet people from nearby towns, they treated me like shit because they assumed I was a rich snob.

It was a weird place to be, so out of that, I guess, I developed this sense of not caring about fitting in. I wore old clothes, listened to punk, playing in garage bands, and tried to hang out with people I didn’t go to high school with.

When I joined the military I grew my hair out to the maximum allowable length, even though it looked terrible. I delighted in senior enlisted and officers saying, “You need to get a haircut, shipmate.” I’d just repeat the regulation word-for-word and say, “I’m in regs.”

Ever Feel Like You Don’t Fit In? Check Out These Weirdos Who Guested on A PODCAST FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE!

If you sometimes feel like a weirdo, listen to other weirdos! And look for a new episode next week.

Here are some of my favorite interviews from my podcast with people who are just as weird and awesome as you are. Most of them don’t quite fit in in the traditional sense, so they found their own path, friends, colleagues, and so on. And we can too!

Ep.15 | Jeff Hull of Nonchalance – Participatory Arts & Situational Design – A Podcast for Creative People

Jeff Hull joined me, via the magic of the internet, to discuss literature, culture, Nonchalance, and his latest project–a revolutionary podcast–SYGNYL. Listen as we discuss past and present projects, how how created and implemented them, and how the lines between art and reality can blur to create something unintended, both in our art and, as we've seen recently, in our culture. That blurring, as Jeff puts it, "can lead us to chaos or meaning." Join us and try to find the meaning in the chaos. If we can't find it, we'll make our own. -CT . . . LINKS: Nonchalance: website | IG | Twitter | Tumblr SYGNYL: website | IG | Twitter | FB | YouTube

Ep.17 | Peter Taras – Surf Photographer, Storyteller, Wine Reviewer, & Fun Dude – A Podcast for Creative People

Peter Taras is an icon in the world of surf photography, starting in the profession at a young age. With his magazine days behind him, Peter continues to tell stories with his amazing pictures on Stellar Storytellers, and has fun with his wine reviews on his Instagram. He has collaborated with Jonathan Freeman on the Ultra Core Surf Hour. Hilarious. He's also part of the Kook of the Day series. Also hilarious. Go check him out! Thanks everyone! http://www.steller.co/petertaras http://www.instagram.com/petertaras/ http://www.instagram.com/jonathanwaynefreeman/ http://www.christophertallon.com http://www.instagram.com/christopher_tallon/ http://www.twitter.com/TallonWrites http://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeops

Ep.23 | Jonathan Wayne Freeman – Professionally Silly on Instagram – A Podcast for Creative People

Jonathan Wayne Freeman is a funny funny man. He didn't find his niche until he was in his late 30s, but now he's posting funny stuff on IG daily, and getting paid to endorse cool stuff. He's an inspiration and always good for a giggle. Go check out @jonathanwaynefreeman on Instagram and peruse the JWF online shop. ——————————————————– Go to http://www.christophertallon.com if you don't have anything better to do right now. ——————————————————–   Friends of Creative Ops: River Town Adventures, Baby Farm Soaps, Six Coast Soil, Fresh Coast Seed Co. Buy me (Christopher Tallon) a coffee!  

Ep.27 | Mike Logan – ADD & Homegrown Weed – A Podcast for Creative People

Got to sit down with the Ice Cold Comedian, Mike Logan…IN HIS HOUSE! (He's got a bad leg at the moment, so I came to him. You'll hear some neighborhood noise in the interview.)  I named this one "ADD & Homegrown Weed" because those were the main obstacles early in our conversation. But once it got going, Mike and I had a great talk. We, of course, covered creativity and the creative process, but we got into all kinds of other stuff: moving from place to place, racism, goal setting/changing goals as you age, classic art, how the media tries to convince us we're divided when, in Mike's opinion, we've actually been brought closer together in the last year and a half.  Mike tells stories from the entertainment industry, does a few impressions, cracks me up, and shares his fascinating perspective on a wide variety of topics.  Follow Mike Logan on all your favorite social media platforms @icecoldcomedian for updates on performances, a daily dose of wholesome, and some hard-but-necessary truths. Follow the host of Creative Ops at http://www.christophertallon.com and as @tallonwrites on all social media!

Ep.30 | Joshua Marsella – Author of ”Scratches” and ”Severed” – A Podcast for Creative People

Joshua Marsella is an Army veteran turned stay-at-home dad and horror author. His books "Scratches" and "Severed" are making a lot of noise on the indie horror scene. We talk about his military experience, struggles and triumphs with mental health, and OF COURSE his creative process as a writer. Books, films, adaptations, Stephen frigging King, military stories, dad stories, being a creative writer, and lots more. Such a nice guy. I hope you enjoy the interview and decide to check out one and/or all of his books. Lastly, be on the lookout for his collection HUNGER FOR DEATH when it becomes available on Halloween 2021 (mwah-ha-ha!). . . . SOCIAL LINKS Joshua Marsella on: Instagram Twitter Amazon Links  

Ep.35 | Marcel ”Fable” Price – Creatively Affecting Change – A Podcast for Creative People

Fable the Poet (aka Marcel Price) became the Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, MI in 2017. At the time, he was GR's first black PL. He was the first PL to not graduate from college. On top of that he was also the youngest PL in city history. Now he works with The Diatribe, mainly focusing on improving the south side and educating people about GENTRIFICATION and REDLINING. Check out The 49507 Project. Marcel Price / Fable the Poet: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter The Diatribe: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, SUPPORT!

Ep.39 | TJ Tranchell – Author of TELL NO MAN (and others…) – A Podcast for Creative People

Author, Actor, & Academic, TJ Tranchell came on the podcast to discuss his book TELL NO MAN, as well as his writing process, upcoming projects (so exciting!), acting, teaching at a community college, dropping out of school, providing professional writing services, and much more. Check out his website: http://www.tjtranchell.net Buy his books on Amazon, I highly recommend TELL NO MAN. Look for him on Instagram (@t.j.tranchell), Facebook (@TJTranchell), and Twitter (@TJ_Tranchell). Thanks to TJ for the chat, thanks to you for listening in, and HUGE thanks to anyone who will or has left a review AND rating on Apple podcasts or wherever you get the show. Enjoy!

Ep.40 | Casey Kornoelje – Grand Rapids’ Only Local in the Cannabis Game – A Podcast for Creative People

Casey Kornoelje is the sole owner of the only locally-owned cannabis dispensary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You might ask, "There are so many dispensaries…how is Pharmhouse Wellness the only local one?"  Great question. Listen for the answer to that, how Casey got into growing in the first place, how the shop came to fruition, and what his plans are for the shop and the community around it going forward. . . . Check out Pharmhouse Wellness on their website, http://www.pharmhousewellness.com, on Facebook @pharmhousewellness, and on Instagram @pharmhousewellness. . . . Follow the show and its host at http://www.christophertallon.com and on all social media @TallonWrites. . . . And leave a review AND a rating for the show wherever you download podcasts. Thanks!

Ep.54 | Brandon Dante Copeland does EVERYTHING! – A Podcast for Creative People

Some call him Brandon, some call him Dante, some call him Dante Cope. I'll introduce him by his full legal name, you call him want you want, I guess… Brandon Dante Copeland is a multi-talented musician (mainly sax, but other wind instruments, too), beat maker, rapper, producer, who also plays guitar, keys, and a little drums. Originally from Jackson, MI, he now lives in Grand Rapids and is a key member of the artistic and musical community. He also hosts art, music, and community events in the downtown GR area. A very cool guy doing very cool things. . . . Come to the 106 Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI, Thursdays thru mid-December 2022 (Except Thanksgiving, duh…) for THE THING TO DO THURSDAYS!!! . . . Catch up with the man here: IG: @dantecope FB: @dantecope Twitter: @dantecope Spotify: Les Créatif Apple Music: Dante Cope; Les Créatif  

Ep.56 | Josh Adams is funny as f–k! – A Podcast for Creative People

Seriously though…Josh Adams really is funny as f–k! Get your weekly creative inspiration as we hear from a Detroit kid who had NFL dreams, but wound up in the locker room and on the field with the Lions, AND had a highlight on the jumbotron at Ford Field as the comedian who roasted the Detroit Lions on HBO's Hard Knocks. He's got jokes, but also wisdom and insights from his time as a professional creative and businessman. Embrace your pace. Celebrate the Yes's AND the No's. Work hard and wait for your opportunity. Let it come to you. Enjoy the ride. Check out Josh Adams on Facebook @JoshAdamszzz, and on Instagram @joshadamszzz. Listen to the Josh Adams Podcast on Apple. And check out his friend and Detroit legend (RIP) Coolaide's set on YouTube.  

Ep.61 | David Hayward (aka The Naked Pastor) – A Podcast for Creative People

David Hayward is a former pastor turned full-time artist and he shares his story of becoming an artist, leaving the church, and moving into art as his main hustle. David makes art from a very welcoming place of spiritual freedom. If you're looking for a good follow on Instagram, check out @nakedpastor, and consider buying his book, sort of a "best of" collection of his comics: FLIP IT LIKE THIS. Get more at: http://www.nakedpastor.com!

Ep.62 | Jody J Sperling – Author of ”THE 9 LIVES OF MARVA DELONGHI” & Host of TRBM – A Podcast for Creative People

Jody J. Sperling came on to talk about creative stuff, including (but not limited to) his amazing novel, THE 9 LIVES OF MARVA DELONGHI. It's a story in a time loop, with a lot of cool characters, murder, booze, murder, psychopaths, murder, sacrifice, and…MURDER! Some characters die. A lot. It's a lot of fun. Jody also hosts a podcast called TRBM, he has other books, and you can find out about ALL of it at http://www.jodyjsperling.com! (Buy his books there!) . . . Thanks for listening. Go to http://www.christophertallon.com for more podcast info, or to check out Christopher Tallon's novel about teens in 1996 who get in a time travel war against their adult selves: Switchers If you're on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or TikTok, please follow me @tallonwrites and let's keep the creativity flowing!

Ep.63 | ZERO – Reigning Beat Battle Champion (Woo!!!) – A Podcast for Creative People

ZERO is a fantastic beat producer in Grand Rapids, MI. His energetic performances are mesmerizing. I liken watching him play his drum machine to watching Stevie Wonder play the piano. Those performances, coupled with award winning music, are a can't-miss. Follow ZERO on his Instagram @zerodgaf to keep up with what's going on and to see some examples of his performing and musical abilities. He's on Twitter and Facebook as well, if you're not into the whole Instagram thing. . . . Thanks for listening. Check out more show stuff, listen to some original music, and take a gander at my time travel novel at http://www.christophertallon.com. Follow me on IG, FB, Twitter, & TT: @tallonwrites . . . Shout outs to Dante Cope, Wuzee, Beatrat, and DJ Phazer.

Ep.75 | Tyler D. Way – Custom Shoes, Painting for LeBron James, & HAS HEART Coffee Shop – A Podcast for Creative People

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimately led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee but it's more than that. HAS HEART also allows veterans to connect with artists to tell their story. As a veteran myself, I love that there's a social space where people can share their military experiences and get a free cup of regular coffee, as well as discounted specialty drinks and food. . . . Follow my guest, Tyler D. Way: on Instagram and/or LinkedIn, check out his Bio Site, and for the love of God, check out HAS HEART on Instagram or their website. Follow me, Christopher Tallon: on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, check out my website where you can buy my novel, Switchers, about teens in 1996 who get into a time travel war against their adult selves. Thanks for listening. Hit me up on social media and let me know what you think of the show! . . . Shout outs to HAS HEART and every one of the wonderful people who work there, Cpl. Joshua Hoffman, Mike Posner, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, World Wide Wes, Chris Paul, Threadless, Treetops Collective, Brian Cousins at Wolverine Footwear, Phil Knight and Nike, Memorial Park, ArtPrize, and the City of Grand Rapids (MI).    

Ep.78 | Ivan Labra – Photographer, Videographer, and Coffee Maker – A Podcast for Creative People

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself! Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff all over the country. We recorded at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ivan shoots and manages the office. When he's not shooting content, he's making coffee at Has Heart Coffee Shop. Topics range from creative process, inspiration, being self taught vs. classically trained, overcoming doubt, how to get into something without training, coffee, Carbon Stories, film (specifically Christopher Nolan), and music. Follow Ivan Labra Instagram: @ivan.labra_ Website  LinkedIn Shout Outs Carbon Stories Has Heart Coffee Shop Keep up with Christopher Tallon @tallonwrites on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X Buy my ebook or paperback Go to http://www.christophertallon.com for news and updates about books, podcasts, appearances, and more. 

Ep.78 | Ivan Labra – Photographer, Videographer, and Coffee Maker – A Podcast for Creative People

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself! Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff all over the country. We recorded at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ivan shoots and manages the office. When he's not shooting content, he's making coffee at Has Heart Coffee Shop. Topics range from creative process, inspiration, being self taught vs. classically trained, overcoming doubt, how to get into something without training, coffee, Carbon Stories, film (specifically Christopher Nolan), and music. Follow Ivan Labra Instagram: @ivan.labra_ Website  LinkedIn Shout Outs Carbon Stories Has Heart Coffee Shop Keep up with Christopher Tallon @tallonwrites on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X Buy my ebook or paperback Go to http://www.christophertallon.com for news and updates about books, podcasts, appearances, and more. 

-CT

Christopher Tallon is the author of the dark, adventurous, time-travel novel Switchers.

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