The Sunset Lounge DFW

Two Big Swings and a Lot to Prove | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Sometimes a sports day doesn’t feel loud — it just feels important.
In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges breaks down two significant moves by Dallas teams that signal intention, urgency, and calculated risk.
First, Norm dives into the Cowboys’ hiring of Christian Parker as defensive coordinator. At just 34 years old, Parker arrives with one of the most important credentials in the NFL: five years working under Vic Fangio. Norm explains why Fangio’s defensive philosophy — hybrid fronts, disguised coverages, and confusion by design — could be exactly what Dallas needs, and why the current roster actually fits a transition to a 3–4 defense better than many realize. The challenge now becomes roster construction: linebackers, secondary help, and tough contract decisions that will determine whether the scheme can truly take hold.
Then the focus shifts to baseball, where the Texas Rangers make a bold trade to acquire Mackenzie Gore, a former top prospect and All-Star starter with undeniable talent — and a troubling pattern. Norm walks through Gore’s career arc, from elite first halves to second-half swoons, and asks the central question: can the Rangers unlock consistency where others couldn’t? The cost was steep, including top prospects and further damage to an already thin farm system, but the need was undeniable. With an aging rotation, the Rangers are betting upside matters more than depth.
It’s not optimism or pessimism — it’s realism. Two big swings by two franchises trying to solve real problems, knowing full well that neither move comes with guarantees.
 
Chapters
 
00:00:00 – Two major moves in Dallas sports
00:01:28 – The Cowboys hire Christian Parker
00:02:19 – Why Vic Fangio’s influence matters
00:02:55 – The Fangio defensive blueprint explained
00:03:44 – Why the Cowboys’ roster fits a 3–4 defense
00:04:28 – Kenny Clark’s contract and tough cap decisions
00:05:18 – The linebacker problem Dallas must solve
00:06:35 – Draft targets and Sonny Styles’ potential fit
00:07:27 – Why this is a genuinely good day for the Cowboys
00:07:49 – Turning to the Rangers and their pitching need
00:10:11 – Remembering Mackenzie Gore as a top prospect
00:10:52 – How Gore ended up available
00:11:22 – Why the Rangers desperately needed a starter
00:12:10 – Evaluating the current rotation honestly
00:12:47 – Gore’s troubling second-half struggles
00:13:25 – Can the Rangers fix the inconsistency?
00:14:14 – What Dallas gave up in the trade
00:15:43 – The prospects involved and long-term cost
00:18:01 – Why Washington made the deal now
00:18:46 – Gore’s role in the Rangers’ rotation
00:19:27 – The farm system fallout
00:19:48 – Why the risk still makes sense
00:20:42 – Sponsors and closing thoughts
00:21:23 – Final sign-off
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

History Isn’t Real, But This Episode Is | The Clubhouse Podcast Episode 16-29

We are back in the swing of things with A LOT to talk about, including some new additions to a weekly feature, National Championship Talk, more coaching carousel activity, Stuff We Watched This Week, and MORE!
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4776053739487232
Seven hundred and fifty episodes in… and somehow there’s still more to talk about.
In this milestone episode of The Clubhouse Podcast, Rob, Alex, and Don Ford bounce effortlessly between sports chaos, pop culture curveballs, and pro wrestling nostalgia — the exact mix that’s kept this show rolling for years. The conversation opens with college football history as Indiana shocks the world, sparks debates about transfer portals, draft value, and whether winning now somehow still isn’t enough.
From there, the NFL playoff picture sharpens, weather becomes a factor, and picks are made with confidence that may or may not age well. The NBA and NHL standings turn into a whirlwind of point differentials, coaching rumors, and one of the most absurdly competitive segments the show has ever created — North America’s Favorite Game Show reaches truly historic levels.
The back half shifts into television, movies, and streaming, where nothing is safe from opinion. From Night of the Seven Kingdoms to Fallout, from Baywatch reboots to Flight of the Conchords reunions, the crew weighs nostalgia against reinvention and decides that some things should absolutely return… and some things probably shouldn’t. Wrestling fans get their moment too, with the return of TNA’s Feast or Fired, ongoing rumors across WWE and AEW, and plenty of speculation that only makes sense in the wrestling world.
It’s loud, it’s long, it’s informed, it’s ridiculous — and it’s exactly what a 750th episode of The Clubhouse should be.
the_clubhouse_16-29
Chapters
00:01:14 – Episode 750 and the madness continues00:03:12 – Indiana wins a national title and breaks the internet00:05:56 – Transfer portals, draft logic, and “Google me, I win”00:06:32 – NFL playoffs, weather games, and confident picks00:13:45 – NBA standings, Steve Kerr rumors, and coasting debates00:18:18 – NHL chaos and North America’s Favorite Game Show00:27:25 – Sponsor break: CBD House of Healing00:29:44 – TV premieres and streaming overload00:38:53 – Netflix, Flight of the Conchords, and nostalgia done right00:44:47 – Casting news and the God of War universe00:52:52 – Movie talk, trailers, and award buzz00:58:15 – Wrestling legends, returns, and Feast or Fired chaos01:15:58 – Industry rumors and what’s next01:35:50 – Merch, promotion, and closing thoughts

¡Al Maximo! Ep.59

¿Carlos Beltrán y Andruw Jones son calibre Salón de la Fama o ya se abarató?
La NFL ya tiene juegos de campeonato de conferencia 
Terminó con campeonatl el cuento de Cenicienta de Indiana y su quarterback Fernando Mendoza 
México juega esta semana contra Panamá y Bolivia 
Esto y más ¡Al Máximo!
Follow us: Instagram: @almaximopodcast x: almaximopodcast Tiktok: almaximopodcast Facebook: ¡Al Maximo! Podcast 
Follow Carlos: IG: tapanavaespn X: @TapaNava 
Follow Victor: X: VJ_Villalba 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Running Off in Search of a Perfect Stranger | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

What does it take to keep an NFL head coaching job? Apparently, winning isn’t enough.
In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges looks around the league and wonders why so many franchises are willing to burn down stability in pursuit of something better — without any evidence it exists. From Buffalo firing Sean McDermott after a 98–50 record, to Baltimore parting ways with John Harbaugh after 18 years, a Super Bowl, and consistent playoff appearances, Norm questions the logic of chasing perfection in a league designed to make winning nearly impossible.
Using historical context — including Bill Belichick, Don Shula, and Tom Landry — Norm explains why today’s NFL would have fired some of the greatest coaches of all time before they ever became legends. He compares head coaches to farmers, asked to grow championships with barren ground and broken tools, then blamed when the harvest doesn’t come fast enough.
Then the focus shifts to the Dallas Mavericks, where amid injuries, trades, and near-total roster upheaval, something quietly encouraging is happening. Norm shines a light on the under-the-radar emergence of Max Christie and gives overdue credit to Jason Kidd for keeping an undermanned team competitive, effort-driven, and functional despite losing nearly every key piece.
It’s a reminder that patience still matters — in football, in basketball, and everywhere expectations have started to outrun reality.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Why NFL teams seem to be losing their minds00:01:22 – Good teams, good coaches… still getting fired00:02:14 – The firings that make sense — and the ones that don’t00:03:42 – Raheem Morris and unrealistic timelines00:04:34 – Kevin Stefanski and coaching with “barren ground”00:05:20 – Sean McDermott’s 98–50 record — and the pink slip00:06:23 – Is the next coach really going 98–50?00:07:07 – What history tells us about patience00:07:49 – Belichick, Shula, Landry — fired too soon in today’s NFL00:08:40 – John Harbaugh, 18 years, and a Super Bowl that “expired”00:09:44 – Running off in search of a perfect stranger00:10:33 – Sponsor break: Bob’s Steak & Chop House00:11:20 – Full Moon Healing Balm and everyday fixes00:12:46 – Why nobody is talking about the Mavericks00:13:37 – Max Christie’s quiet emergence00:14:18 – The numbers that prove Christie’s value00:15:16 – Jason Kidd flying under the radar00:16:44 – Winning games without the top seven players00:17:33 – Four rookies, two-way contracts, and effort00:19:10 – Not great, but coached well00:19:39 – Sponsors and closing thoughts00:20:00 – Final reflections and sign-off
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

The Eighth Wonder That Time Passed By | Engel Angle

Houston's beloved Astrodome needs a solution, and its counter to what should have been done because it's not the American way
The city of Houston is once again wrestling with what to do with one of its, and America's, most influential buildings - the Astrodome. It was closed in 2008, and sits there as a storage shed. In this episode, Mac explains why the Astrodome is so important not just to Houston, the entire American sports' landscape, and what should be done.
 
00:00:00 – Why the Astrodome matters to America, Texas, and Houston00:01:25 – The birth of the Astrodome and the “Eighth Wonder” era00:02:35 – Astroturf, indoor sports, and revolutionary design00:03:38 – Luxury suites and changing fan expectations00:04:38 – Events that made the Astrodome a cultural landmark00:05:39 – When the Dome became dated — and money changed everything00:06:13 – Stadium lifespans and America’s 30-year problem00:07:29 – Public subsidies, politics, and uncomfortable economics00:08:25 – Closure, decay, and Houston’s inability to decide00:09:30 – Renovation plans, rejected bonds, and ballooning costs00:11:50 – Preservation status and the red tape problem00:13:27 – Why private investment never materialized00:14:27 – Seeing the Astrodome for the first time — and the disappointment00:16:29 – Why the Astrodome isn’t old enough to be charming00:17:40 – Europe, tourism, and the value of breathing history00:18:11 – Why the oldest stadiums are the most beloved00:21:32 – Renovations that erase what made places special00:22:34 – The few venues that got preservation right00:25:35 – What the Astrodome could have been — and why it isn’t00:28:41 – Sneaking inside the Astrodome: what’s really left00:35:22 – A building without its soul00:36:29 – The hardest truth: sometimes preservation comes too late00:37:29 – Final thoughts: honoring history by knowing when to say goodbye
 
Contact us: tengel@star-telegram.comInstagram: @macengelprofx: @macengelprofTiktok: macengelprof
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Murder at Baylor — The Cost of Telling the Truth Pt. 3 | Signal 51 Chronicles

In Case 2, Part 3, the Baylor basketball scandal reaches its uneasy conclusion — not with clean answers, but with consequences that linger decades later.
With Patrick Dennehy dead and Dave Bliss disgraced, attention turns to the man who pulled the trigger: Carlton Dotson. His story is strange, unsettling, and deeply fractured. Jailhouse interviews, claims of self-defense, hallucinations, and spiritual warfare paint the picture of someone unraveling — leaving investigators, journalists, and the justice system to sort truth from delusion.
But this episode isn’t only about Dotson. It’s about fallout.
We examine how a Dallas Morning News intern landed a headline-making jailhouse confession, raising ethical questions about access, journalism, and credibility. We explore Dotson’s guilty plea, parole, and what “rehabilitation” really means for victims’ families still waiting for answers.
And finally, we return to Abar Rouse — the whistleblower who stopped a lie from becoming history. His reward wasn’t vindication or redemption inside college basketball. It was exile. A promising coaching career ended, replaced by a quieter life built on integrity, corrections work, and the understanding that doing the right thing doesn’t always come with applause.
This is the end of Murder at Baylor — a story about murder, madness, loyalty, and the heavy price paid by the one person who refused to look away.
Chapters
00:00 – Last Meals and the Weight of Final Choices11:22 – Where the Case Left Off: Murder, Lies, and Fallout13:32 – Carlton Dotson Speaks: Voices, Betrayal, and Self-Defense22:28 – The Jailhouse Interview That Changed Everything27:26 – Guilty Plea, Mental Health, and the Question of Parole30:23 – Abar Rouse: From Coach to Whistleblower to Corrections33:47 – The Coaching “Code” and the Price of Breaking It34:50 – Moving On: Integrity, Family, and Life After Baylor
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

When Indiana Became the Favorite | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Imagine leaving Earth for two years… and coming back to find Indiana football sitting on top of the college football world.
In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges takes listeners through one of the most astonishing transformations the sport has ever seen: the Indiana Hoosiers playing for a national championship. A program long defined by losses, obscurity, and broken coaching careers is now on the brink of an undefeated season — something no team in college football history has ever achieved at this scale.
Norm breaks down how head coach Kurt Signetti engineered the turnaround, from importing winning culture and key players from James Madison to convincing quarterback Fernando Mendoza to transfer — a move that resulted in a Heisman Trophy winner and a projected No. 1 NFL draft pick. The episode dives deep into the numbers behind Indiana’s dominance, including defensive performances that have held every opponent under 24 points and statistical margins usually reserved for dynasties.
Norm also offers context for just how absurd this rise is, comparing Indiana’s long history of losses to its sudden place among college football’s elite. Along the way, Mary Hitzges joins with sponsor messages and reflections, grounding the episode in the familiar rhythm of Just Wondering while the story itself remains anything but familiar.
This isn’t hype. It’s perspective — and a reminder that sometimes sports still manage to surprise us.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Just wondering about Indiana playing for a national title00:01:22 – Has college football ever seen anything like this?00:02:09 – Indiana’s history as a program where careers went to die00:03:10 – Kurt Signetti arrives and brings a winning blueprint00:04:04 – From 713 losses to Big Ten dominance00:05:10 – The numbers that make this season unbelievable00:06:31 – No opponent scores more than 24 points00:07:17 – The astronaut analogy: disbelief in real time00:08:04 – Miami’s puncher’s chance and final test00:09:01 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House sponsor break00:09:38 – Full Moon Healing Balm and personal fixes00:10:16 – Fluent Financial and closing reflections00:10:38 – Why this story may never be repeated
 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

When Everything Changes at Once | The Clubhouse Podcast 16-28

The boys are all together to course-correct episode numbers, talk football playoffs in college AND pro, the coaching carousel, a major jump in pro wrestling, a new version of "The Rockford Files," and MORE!
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4776053739487232
It turns out the hardest part of podcasting… is counting.
In this episode of The Clubhouse Podcast, Rob Ervin opens the show with a long-overdue correction — the show didn’t just pass 449 episodes… it hit 749. From there, Rob, Alex Barnhill, and Don Ford jump straight into a packed episode covering sports, streaming chaos, pop culture, and pro wrestling, all at full speed.
The conversation kicks off with predictions and perspective on the College Football Playoff National Championship between Miami and Indiana, including why the new playoff system might actually be doing what it was designed to do. Then it’s on to the NFL coaching carousel, where Mike Tomlin stepping down sends shockwaves through a league that rarely sees stability like Pittsburgh’s — and opens the door to speculation about what’s next for both Tomlin and the Steelers.
The guys break down NFL playoff matchups, dive deep into NBA and NHL standings, and introduce a new edition of “North America’s Favorite Game Show,” featuring one struggling hockey team and a brutal goal differential. From there, the episode shifts into TV and movie talk, including streaming renewals, reboots, docuseries announcements, casting news, and Rob’s growing frustration with Netflix’s evolving viewing policies.
The episode closes with pro wrestling updates spanning WWE, AEW, TNA, and global promotions — because no Clubhouse episode is complete without wrestling headlines, strong opinions, and at least one “where is this headed?” moment.
Sports, entertainment, pop culture, and wrestling — all in one place, and all moving fast.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Welcome to the Clubhouse… and the episode count correction00:01:11 – 749 episodes later: how the math went wrong00:03:00 – College Football National Championship preview: Miami vs. Indiana00:06:30 – Why the new playoff system might actually work00:08:31 – NFL coaching carousel: Mike Tomlin steps down00:09:52 – The Steelers’ coaching history and what comes next00:12:00 – Where Tomlin could land next — coaching or TV?00:15:16 – NFL playoff predictions: Bills, Broncos, Niners, Seahawks00:18:37 – Patriots vs. Texans and weather advantages00:21:55 – Rams vs. Bears: confidence, chaos, and bold picks00:25:39 – NBA standings: quiet contenders and surprising gaps00:28:27 – NHL standings and early-season realities00:31:37 – North America’s Favorite Game Show: St. Louis Blues edition00:34:47 – What the hosts are watching right now00:38:37 – TV headlines: docuseries, reboots, and renewals00:41:39 – Casting news and upcoming series worth watching00:44:38 – Sponsor spotlight: CBD House of Healing00:46:24 – New movie releases and early reactions00:49:16 – Alamo Drafthouse goes paperless — and why that’s a problem00:50:12 – The Batman Part II casting news00:52:01 – Godzilla, How to Train Your Dragon & live-action debates00:54:27 – Wrestling news: roster changes and future storylines00:01:15:05 – Netflix ads, viewer frustration, and final thoughts

Welcome to The Dirt Doctor: Let’s Get Back to the Soil | The Dirt Doctor Ep. 1

If you’ve ever wondered why your lawn struggles, your plants don’t thrive, or your garden just doesn’t feel right — it probably starts with the dirt.
In this very first episode of The Dirt Doctor's new PODCAST, Howard Garrett lays the groundwork (literally) for organic gardening done the right way. No chemicals. No gimmicks. No scare tactics. Just common-sense, natural solutions that work with nature instead of against it.
Howard shares why healthy soil is the foundation of everything, what most people get wrong about lawns and landscapes, and how going organic isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being smarter, safer, and more sustainable over time.
Whether you’re brand new to organic gardening or you’ve been composting longer than your neighbors have known your name, this episode sets the tone for what The Dirt Doctor is all about.
Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s talk dirt.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00:00 – Welcome to The Dirt Doctor00:02:15 – Why Everything Starts With the Soil00:05:40 – What “Organic” Really Means (And What It Doesn’t)00:09:10 – The Biggest Mistakes People Make With Lawns & Gardens00:13:45 – Nature Already Has the Answers00:18:20 – Chemicals vs. Common Sense00:22:30 – How This Show Will Help You Grow Smarter00:26:10 – What’s Coming Next on The Dirt Doctor
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

All I got is Beers and Tears | Beer 30 Sports O'clock

Bri and Ziggy discuss football playoffs. Ziggy is sad and Bri might have to call a hotline soon. Do you trust your dishwasher? Are you OCD about it? Ziggy finds out a shocking discovery about the Bri family. Dirk's new position and instead of just a flight Ziggy is drinking a lot of beers throughout the night. 
Contact: sportsoclockbeer30@gmail.comIG: beer30sportsoclockTikTok: beer.30.sports.oFacebook: Beer 30 Sports O'clock Youtube: @beer30sportsoclock
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

One Move to Make and No Room to Miss | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

How much can one move really fix?
In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges walks through the cold math of the Cowboys’ offseason and arrives at an uncomfortable conclusion: Dallas likely has enough money to make one meaningful defensive free-agent signing — and that’s it. Even with difficult decisions looming around George Pickens and the franchise tag, the Cowboys’ financial flexibility is minimal, forcing them to be precise instead of hopeful.
Norm lays out five realistic defensive targets who could fit Dallas’ needs and budget, including Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd, Seattle safety Kobe Bryant, edge rusher Boye Mafe, and the high-risk, high-reward possibility of injured linebacker Nakobe Dean. It’s a conversation rooted in value, age, availability, and the reality that the Cowboys can’t afford to miss — not financially and not competitively.
The episode then zooms out to the bigger picture: a 30-year playoff drought that looks worse the deeper you dig. Norm breaks down just how rarely the Cowboys have even reached the quarterfinals — and how consistently they’ve lost once they got there. Add in bad luck on the draft front, with quarterback Dante Moore choosing to stay in college and shrinking the pool of players who might slide to pick No. 12, and the margin for error grows even thinner.
Norm closes with a look at an unusual NFL playoff weekend, where home-field advantage barely matters and parity reigns — a reminder of how far Dallas still is from being part of the real conversation.
It’s not angry. It’s not dramatic. It’s just honest.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Free agency reality: the Cowboys can afford one move00:01:29 – The George Pickens franchise-tag dilemma00:02:12 – Why elite free agents are out of Dallas’ price range00:02:50 – Focusing on defense and realistic targets00:03:30 – Devin Lloyd: breakout year, real value00:04:03 – Can Lloyd blitz and cover? Yes00:04:53 – Kobe Bryant and fixing safety coverage00:05:44 – Boye Mafe: affordable edge-rush upside00:06:27 – Nakobe Dean: talent vs. availability00:07:59 – Nayshaun Wright and why change matters00:08:41 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House sponsor break00:09:27 – Full Moon Healing Balm and personal fixes00:10:04 – Cowboys playoff history nobody likes to revisit00:10:46 – Seven quarterfinals, seven losses, thirty years00:11:42 – Draft hopes hinge on players sliding00:12:25 – Dante Moore stays in school — and that hurts00:13:06 – Why the Cowboys’ draft board just got tighter00:13:54 – An unusual NFL quarterfinal weekend00:14:54 – Betting lines reveal league parity00:15:59 – Final thoughts and sign-off
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFWyoutube:  ⁨@SunsetLoungeDFW⁩  

¡Al Maximo! Ep.58

- Los Steelers vivirán una nueva era sin Mike Tomlin por vez primera en dos décadas y ya son - nueve los equipos que buscan head coachSi la ronda de Comodines estuvo ¡Al Máximo! la Divisional luce todavía mejor en la la NFL- Ya es oficial, David Benavidez enfrentará a Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez.  Y nadie sabe por qué Ryan García tendrá oportunidad de pelear por título mundial en febrero.Esto y más ¡Al Máximo!
Follow us: Instagram: @almaximopodcast x: almaximopodcast Tiktok: almaximopodcast Facebook: ¡Al Maximo! Podcast 
Follow Carlos: IG: tapanavaespn X: @TapaNava 
Follow Victor: X: VJ_Villalba 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW

A Conversation Thought Lost: Sebastian Junger | Engel Angle

Mac brings back something he thought he had lost - an interview with best-selling author Sebastian Junger. In 2024, Junger's book, "In My Time of Dying," which covered his near death experience. There was one part to Mac's interview with Junger that stuck out, and it should resonate with all of us who question a life after our death. 
Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones you thought were gone forever.
In this episode of Engel Angle, Mac Engel shares a rediscovered interview with acclaimed author and journalist Sebastian Junger — a conversation pulled from the digital archives that feels even more powerful today than when it was first recorded.
Junger, best known for The Perfect Storm, War, Tribe, and Freedom, opens up about a near-death experience caused by a ruptured aneurysm — an event that nearly ended his life and fundamentally challenged how he understands existence. Despite identifying as an atheist and skeptic, Junger describes a vivid moment in which his deceased father appeared to him as he was slipping toward death, urging calm as everything went dark.
What follows is a deeply thoughtful discussion about near-death experiences, shared patterns among people on the brink of dying, and the uncomfortable questions that arise when science, neurochemistry, quantum physics, and human consciousness begin to overlap. Junger doesn’t claim answers — instead, he explores possibilities, acknowledging that both life itself and the idea of life after death may be equally “preposterous.”
Mac reflects on curiosity, aging, memory, and why gathering meaningful experiences matters — especially when they force us to admit we may not understand nearly as much as we think we do.
This isn’t a religious discussion or a scientific lecture. It’s a calm, honest exploration of uncertainty — and why that uncertainty might make existence itself even more remarkable.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Rediscovering a conversation thought lost00:01:25 – Why curiosity still drives the podcast00:02:31 – Interviewing people beyond sports00:03:33 – Why Sebastian Junger mattered to Mac00:05:12 – Asking the unanswerable questions about the afterlife00:07:15 – The interview that almost ran out of time00:10:00 – Junger’s ruptured aneurysm and near-death experience00:10:28 – Seeing his deceased father as death approached00:11:51 – Why near-death experiences are strangely consistent00:12:20 – Neurochemistry vs. something we don’t understand00:12:59 – Quantum physics, shamanism, and alternate explanations00:13:52 – Did the experience change Junger’s beliefs?00:14:34 – The “preposterousness” of existence itself00:15:18 – What the experience ultimately changed00:15:50 – Final reflections on life, memory, and mystery
Contact us: tengel@star-telegram.comInstagram: @macengelprofx: @macengelprofTiktok: macengelprof
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Is Brian Schottenheimer Too Nice? | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Is being likable enough to lead an NFL team?
In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges takes a thoughtful look at Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and asks a question many fans are quietly wondering: can a “Mr. Nice Guy” succeed long-term in the NFL? Norm breaks down coaching styles from Tom Landry to Bill Belichick, and introduces the idea of the “thundering velvet hand” — leadership that blends discipline with care — while questioning whether Schottenheimer strikes the balance players need to win.
Then the focus shifts to the Dallas Mavericks, where injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving force a hard reset. Norm lays out a blunt plan: forget the playoffs, invest in young players, and start building for the future. From developing Ryan Nemhard and Brandon Williams to eyeing draft position and long-term roster construction around Cooper Flagg, Norm explains why patience now could pay off later — even if it’s not the plan fans hoped for.
It’s a candid, realistic look at leadership, culture, and decision-making in Dallas sports — the kind of thinking that doesn’t chase headlines, but might just point the way forward.
JWw-NH SL Ep 85
Chapters
00:00:00 – Opening thoughts and today’s big questions00:01:27 – Is Brian Schottenheimer simply too nice?00:02:53 – Coaching styles: fear, respect, and leadership00:04:21 – The “thundering velvet hand” explained00:05:14 – Why likability may not equal long-term success00:05:14 – Transition to the Mavericks and roster reality00:07:46 – Anthony Davis injured again and plans unravel00:08:29 – Forget the playoffs: time to invest in youth00:09:30 – Building next year’s lineup around Cooper Flagg00:10:16 – Trade flexibility and long-term roster vision00:11:02 – Why this plan offers a real future00:11:13 – Sponsors and closing reflectionsCheck us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Murder at Baylor — Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Pt.2 | Signal 51 Chronicles

In Case 2, Part 2, the Baylor basketball scandal takes a darker turn — because the murder wasn’t the only crime unfolding behind closed doors.
With Patrick Dennehy gone and the investigation closing in, Baylor head coach Dave Bliss didn’t focus on justice. He focused on survival. What followed was an audacious and chilling plan: convince players and staff to tell authorities that the victim was a drug dealer — a lie designed to explain away illegal payments and protect a career.
Enter Abar Rouse, a 28-year-old assistant coach who thought he’d landed his dream job. Instead, he walked straight into a moral trap. Lie and protect the program… or tell the truth and burn everything down, including his own future.
This episode pulls back the curtain on how power pressures silence, how authority manipulates loyalty, and how one person pressing “record” stopped a conspiracy from becoming the official story of a murder. Along the way, we explore informants, false narratives, NCAA corruption, and the razor-thin line between institutional damage control and obstruction of justice.
This isn’t just about Baylor.It’s about what happens when truth becomes inconvenient — and who pays the price when someone refuses to stay quiet.
Chapters
00:00 – When a Murder Turns Into a Cover Story02:40 – Informants, Lockdowns, and the Smoker That Led to a Lesson08:06 – How Informants Really Work (and Why Motives Matter)15:35 – Trust, Authority, and a Rookie Cop’s First Arrest18:20 – Enter Abar Rouse: The Coach Nobody Wanted to Be23:48 – The Lie: Turning a Murder Victim Into a Drug Dealer30:22 – Press Record: The Moment Everything Changed33:04 – NCAA Fallout and How Baylor Avoided the Death Penalty35:55 – Dave Bliss: The End of a Career and a Tarnished Legacy39:29 – Corruption, Silence, and the Cost of Telling the Truth47:50 – Case 2 Continues: The Story Isn’t Over Yet
Follow us: Instagram: Signal51_Facebook: Signal 51 ChroniclesYoutube: Signal51ChroniclesPodcastTikTok: Signal51Chronicles_Email us at: Signal.51Pod@gmail.com
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Best & Worst Movies of 2025: Hot Takes, Cold Flops & Zero Consensus| The Clubhouse Podcast Ep 16-27

It’s a new year, which means it’s time for the Clubhouse tradition that causes the most arguing, second-guessing, and hurt feelings: the Best and Worst Movies of 2025.
In this episode of The Clubhouse Podcast, Rob Ervin, Alex Barnhill, and Don Ford break down the films that thrilled them, disappointed them, and made them question how some of these movies ever got greenlit. From award-bait performances wrapped in bad scripts to big-budget releases that somehow felt unfinished, nothing is safe.
The guys also mix in NFL chaos, coaching firings, mind-blowing Jets statistics, strange betting odds, tech toys like the Stream Deck, and why respectful disagreement is basically the lifeblood of this show. Expect strong opinions, passionate defenses, brutal takedowns, and at least one list that sparks immediate controversy.
This isn’t a definitive ranking — it’s three different perspectives colliding in real time. And that’s exactly the point.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Welcome to the Clubhouse and New Year chaos00:03:00 – Shoutouts, gadgets, and early banter00:04:18 – Bowl season updates and betting oddities00:10:08 – NFL season wrap-up and coaching firings00:12:55 – The Jets stats that don’t feel real00:18:07 – Don’s tech issues and list tension begins00:19:50 – Stranger Things finale reactions00:22:40 – Sponsors, Kid Fest, and upcoming events00:25:14 – Introducing Best & Worst Movies of 202500:29:22 – Worst Films of 2025: Don’s picks (#10–#5)00:43:02 – Worst Films of 2025: Alex’s picks (#5–#1)00:57:10 – Best Films of 2025: Don’s picks (#10–#5)01:15:32 – Best Films of 2025: Alex’s picks (#5–#1)01:45:14 – Best Films of 2025: Rob’s picks (#5–#1)02:11:14 – Final thoughts, disagreements, and sign-off

From Radio to Roots: The Dirt Doctor | Howard Garrett

Mike Rhyner welcomes a new voice into the Sunset Lounge universe — and it’s one that knows more about dirt than just about anyone alive.
Howard Garrett, better known as the Dirt Doctor, joins the show to talk about his transition from decades of terrestrial radio into the podcast world, and the unlikely path that led him there. What starts as a conversation about gardening quickly turns into a deeper discussion about health, industry resistance, bad science, and why doing things the “normal” way doesn’t always mean doing them the right way.
Howard explains how his entire career changed the moment he realized he didn’t want toxic chemicals anywhere near his young daughter — a decision that pushed him toward organic gardening long before it was fashionable. He breaks down why synthetic fertilizers damage soil over time, how organic methods actually save money, and why healthier soil leads to fewer pest problems instead of more.
Along the way, Howard shares stories of pushback from the landscaping industry, getting canceled for challenging the status quo, and why no university in America teaches the organic approach he’s spent decades perfecting. From fire ant control using dry molasses to curing tree problems others say can’t be fixed, the Dirt Doctor makes a strong case for doing things naturally — and smarter.
It’s practical, eye-opening, and occasionally rebellious… just the way Mike likes it.
Dirt Dr.mp3
Chapters
00:00:00 – Lightning strikes, chaos, and a proper Your Dark Companion return00:01:58 – Mike introduces the Dirt Doctor00:02:50 – Leaving terrestrial radio and entering the podcast world00:03:19 – Howard’s background: Marines, landscaping, and Camp Lejeune00:05:10 – From golf courses to organic advocacy00:05:40 – The moment everything changed: protecting his daughter00:06:10 – What “organic” really means (and what to stop doing)00:06:45 – Why organic works better — including financially00:07:08 – The myth that organic costs more00:07:56 – Why no universities teach the organic approach00:08:21 – Teaching outside the system: classes, radio, podcasts00:09:19 – Tree care, oak wilt, and solving “unsolvable” problems00:09:53 – Learning the organic method from early pioneers00:10:53 – Industry backlash and being labeled a renegade00:12:21 – Why professionals stick with broken systems00:12:41 – Cutting costs by improving soil health00:13:30 – Saving water and money with organic landscapes00:14:28 – Why soil never “wears out” organically00:15:09 – Fire ants, dry molasses, and accidental breakthroughs00:16:57 – When skeptics become believers00:17:33 – Natural pest control that actually works00:18:17 – Consulting, contractors, and organic holdouts00:19:36 – Transitioning from radio to podcasting00:20:10 – Learning a new medium and reaching new audiences00:21:18 – Helping people live healthier through better dirt00:22:25 – Final thoughts and welcoming the Dirt Doctor aboard
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/X: https://x.com/YDC_DfwTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanionFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445
The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolfIG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579
To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com

Jerry the Dreamer but there's a GM Dilemma | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

It’s another Cowboys postseason press conference, which means plenty of smiles, sound bites, long explanations… and absolutely no real change.
In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges breaks down Jerry Jones’ latest round of optimism, focusing on the Micah Parsons trade, the financial gymnastics that come with it, and Jerry’s ongoing belief that he can “bust the budget” his way back to a Super Bowl. Norm questions whether trading elite defensive talent while handing out massive contracts elsewhere actually solves anything — or just pushes problems further down the road.
Norm also takes aim at the Cowboys’ strategic contradictions: a defense everyone admits was bad, a running game that actually worked, and an offensive approach that somehow ignored it. If your defense can’t stop anyone, shouldn’t your offense help protect it? Apparently not in Dallas.
Then it’s on to the numbers — the strange, fascinating, and occasionally absurd stats from this weekend’s football games. From Carolina winning a division while being outscored, to San Francisco thriving without a pass rush, to Jacksonville’s late-season dominance and the one number that decides whether Houston wins or loses, Norm connects trends, history, and logic in a way only he can.
Dreams, data, and disappointment — just another week in Cowboys country.
JWw-NH SL Ep 84
Chapters
00:00:00 – Another Cowboys postseason press conference begins00:01:29 – Smiles, sound bites, and decades of disappointment00:02:12 – The Micah Parsons trade and why the math doesn’t work00:03:47 – Paying receivers instead of elite pass rushers00:05:08 – Jerry picks the next defensive coordinator (again)00:06:46 – “Busting the budget” and pushing money down the road00:08:14 – Who pays if this plan fails?00:09:02 – Protecting a bad defense with smarter offense00:09:47 – The Cowboys ran well… so why didn’t they run more?00:10:24 – Passing too much and wearing down the defense00:11:08 – Jerry the dreamer vs. Jerry the general manager00:11:53 – Four Super Bowls, ten years, and reality setting in00:13:35 – What a real GM’s job actually looks like00:14:26 – Sponsors, healing balm, and practical solutions00:16:29 – Nick Saban’s massive coaching tree00:17:21 – Carolina wins a division while being outscored00:18:04 – Eric Dowdle’s bizarrely identical seasons00:19:01 – San Francisco wins big without a pass rush00:19:53 – Jacksonville’s dominant eight-game streak00:20:49 – Old rivalries and playoff history00:21:43 – The magic number for Houston: 2000:22:52 – Final thoughts and wondering what’s nextCheck us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

¡Al Maximo! Ep.57

Follow us: Instagram: @almaximopodcast x: almaximopodcast Tiktok: almaximopodcast Facebook: ¡Al Maximo! Podcast 
Follow Carlos: IG: tapanavaespn X: @TapaNava 
Follow Victor: X: VJ_Villalba 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Let's Play General Manager for the Day | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Today on Just Wondering, Norm does what every sports fan secretly wants to do — he makes himself the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. Fair warning: you’re probably not going to like some of the moves. Norm doesn’t like all of them either.
With the salary cap looming and bills coming due, Norm walks through what tough, realistic roster decisions actually look like — who stays, who goes, and why kicking the can down the road eventually turns into a financial brick wall. From Dak’s ballooning number to painful goodbyes on defense, this is a no-nonsense look at what roster discipline really costs.
Then, Norm shifts to the Dallas Mavericks and a familiar problem: Anthony Davis. When healthy, he’s elite. When not, he’s unavailable. With a massive extension looming and a rebuild quietly underway, the Mavs find themselves stuck between what they hope Davis can be and what he actually is right now.
It’s cap math, uncomfortable truths, and the reminder that being the GM is hard — even when it’s hypothetical. 
Chapters
00:00:00 - Norm Makes Himself Cowboys GM (You Won’t Like This)00:02:02 - The Salary Cap Reality Check00:05:14 - Tough Cowboys Cuts and Contract Decisions00:07:32 - Who Stays, Who Walks, and Why00:09:45 - The George Pickens Decision Nobody Wants00:14:07 - Full Moon Healing Balm and Aging Gracefully00:15:23 - The Mavericks’ Anthony Davis Dilemma00:19:40 - Big Picture Decisions and Dallas Sports Reality
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Korea is a Peninsula | Beer 30 Sports O'clock

Bri and Ziggy discuss Diggs, coach carousel and The U is back. Ziggy likes lil dunk on Beer flight of the night. Drunk people do drunk things on Beer Goggles of the Week. The stories on Six pack take over the videos. Ziggy has an announcement and it's not that he's good at Geography. 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Standing Next to Greatness and Not Knowing It | Engel Angle

The classic film "Rocky" turns 50 here in 2026, and Mac has an anecdote about meeting a figure from the famous movie that is consistent with some of his other chance meetings with some famous people that he had no clue who they were until later.
00:00:00 - New Year’s Resolutions (Lower the Bar, Please)00:01:39 - Rocky Turns 50 and Why That Matters00:02:50 - The Free Concert I Absolutely Should Have Gone To00:04:28 - Realizing You Missed Pearl Jam…Too Late00:06:14 - First Press Box, Big Game, Bigger Miss00:07:50 - Casual Small Talk With a Coaching Legend00:09:03 - Playing Pickup Basketball at Allen Field House00:10:52 - Finding Out You Just Guarded a Hall of Famer00:12:13 - My Batting Average With Famous People Is Terrible00:13:04 - Lunch in LA With a Guy From Rocky00:15:31 - Trashing a Movie That Became a Classic00:17:28 - How Rocky Almost Lost Its Voice00:19:40 - When the Story Is Better Than the Assignment00:21:22 - Do Your Homework and Don’t Blow the Moment
Contact us: tengel@star-telegram.comInstagram: @macengelprofx: @macengelprofTiktok: macengelprof
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Murder at Baylor — When Silence Became the Crime | Signal 51 Chronicles

Welcome back to The Signal 51 Chronicles, where “just one more question” turns into an entire investigation.
In Case 2, Part 1, John Henry & Jake White  open the door to one of the darkest chapters in college athletics — the 2003 Baylor basketball scandal. What begins as a missing player quickly spirals into murder, institutional panic, and a moral standoff no playbook could prepare anyone for.
This episode isn’t about box scores or brackets. It’s about what happens when a young man vanishes, a university circles the wagons, and one assistant coach is forced to decide whether protecting his career is worth sacrificing the truth. Along the way, we dig into early investigative blind spots, pre-social-media policing, internal warnings that went unheeded, and the quiet moment where integrity became more dangerous than silence.
No hot takes. No hindsight heroics. Just a cold case that was never really cold — and a reminder that sometimes the most important evidence isn’t physical… it’s ethical.
This is Case 2, Part 1 — and the nightmare is just getting started.
00:00 – Murder at Baylor: A Missing Player and a Bad Feeling06:56 – What Signal 51 Means and Why This Case Still Haunts10:25 – A Political Traffic Stop and the Problem With Power19:23 – Baylor in 2003: Faith, Basketball, and Cracks in the Foundation26:34 – Patrick Dennehy: Talent, Transfers, and Rising Tension30:53 – A Disappearance That Didn’t Add Up34:26 – Then vs. Now: How Modern Policing Would’ve Changed the Case42:10 – The Break in the Case43:21 – The Choice That Changed Everything (Part 1 Ends)
Follow us: Instagram: Signal51_Facebook: Signal 51 ChroniclesYoutube: Signal51ChroniclesPodcastTikTok: Signal51Chronicles_Email us at: Signal.51Pod@gmail.com
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Was That a Football Game or a Cry for Help? | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Norm is just wondering… what exactly were the Cowboys trying to accomplish in New York?
After another joyless, mistake-filled loss to the Giants, Norm breaks down a season that somehow managed to be worse than it already felt. From a defense that couldn’t stop anything, to penalties, turnovers, and the ever-popular “culture building” excuse, this one had it all—except competence.
There’s talk of meaningless records, wasted seasons, free-agent decisions, and the haunting image of Jerry Jones sitting alone in his suite, watching it all unravel. Norm finds a few bright spots (yes, there were some), wonders aloud about the future at quarterback, and questions whether this team has any real path back to relevance.
Along the way, Mary joins in, sponsors get their due, and Norm shares a very personal—and surprisingly useful—side story that only he could make work in the middle of a Cowboys rant.
Another season down. More questions than answers. And as always… Just Wondering.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Just Wondering What That Was in New York00:00:24 - Sponsor Message: Fluent Financial00:01:23 - Chasing 8-8-1 and Other Pointless Goals00:02:16 - Culture Building and the Brontosaurus Egg00:03:02 - A Defense That Let the Giants Look Competent00:04:05 - Run Stuffers Who Didn’t Stuff Anything00:05:30 - Historically Bad Numbers (Yes, Really)00:06:57 - Penalties, Turnovers, and the Ugly Truth00:07:35 - The Few Guys Who Didn’t Embarrass Themselves00:08:28 - Jerry Jones, Alone in His Suite00:09:29 - Another Wasted Year and What Comes Next00:10:11 - Sponsor Message: Bob’s Steak & Chop House00:11:16 - Senile Purpura, Aging Gracefully, and Full Moon Healing00:12:27 - Sponsor Wrap and Final Thoughts00:12:49 - Thanks for Listening… Still Just Wondering
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Sometimes a Change of Scenery Is the Play | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

On this episode of Norm Hitzges’ Just Wondering, Norm rings in the new year by wondering whether a breakup everyone saw coming might actually work out—for both sides.
The Cowboys officially move on from Trayvon Diggs, and Norm walks through how a once-promising marriage unraveled: injuries, disagreements over scheme, rehab disputes, fines, frustration, and a quiet but inevitable divorce. When Green Bay claims Diggs off waivers, Norm asks the real question—does Diggs still have that star cornerback inside him, and is this exactly what the Packers need heading into the playoffs?
From there, Norm shifts gears to remind us that football doesn’t always come down to four quarters, a coaching philosophy, or a season-long narrative. Sometimes, it really does come down to one play—and Norm breaks down a postseason moment where preparation, film study, and perfect execution turned a game on its head.
It’s a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at player fit, timing, accountability, and why change—when it finally happens—can feel overdue and perfectly logical at the same time.
⏱️ Chapters00:00:00 - A New Year and a New Cowboys Question00:01:33 - Why the Diggs–Cowboys Split Was Inevitable00:02:18 - Rehab, Fines, and Philosophical Differences00:03:50 - When Frustration Becomes a Pattern00:04:36 - Waivers, Green Bay, and a Second Chance00:05:27 - Is the Old Trayvon Diggs Still in There?00:06:12 - Why the Packers Are Desperate at Corner00:07:38 - A Perfect Fit—or Just Convenient Timing?00:10:06 - When Defense Carries a Team That Can’t Score00:11:40 - The Rare One-Play Football Game00:12:30 - Film Study, Preparation, and a Season-Changing Read00:14:16 - Why One Moment Can Define Everything
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Becoming Joker and Harley Quinn: A Live Dallas Comic Show Conversation | The Clubhouse Podcast 16-26

The Clubhouse heads to Dallas Comic Show for a live Q&A that goes completely off the rails—in the best possible way.
Rob Ervin sits down with voice actors Scott Gibbs and Carly Hoke, the voices behind Joker and Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad Isekai, to talk anime, DC fandom, improv, and the weird paths that lead actors into a voiceover booth.
From fourth-grade theater trauma and professional princess gigs to anime titles that feel like full paragraphs, Scott and Carly break down what it’s really like stepping into iconic characters with massive fan expectations. They dive into how improv, instinct, and bold choices shape performances—and why sometimes you just have to make the choice and go.
Along the way, there’s plenty of nerd talk (Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, anime naming conventions, DC animation supremacy), heartfelt moments about dreaming big, and just enough chaos to remind you why live comic-con conversations are undefeated.
If you’ve ever wondered how someone goes from loving a character… to becoming that character—this episode is for you. 
⏱️ Chapters00:00:00 - Comic Con Energy and Controlled Chaos00:06:52 - From Stage Acting to the Voice Booth00:10:21 - Anime Titles That Refuse to Be Short00:15:58 - Harley Quinn, Joker, and DC’s Animated Advantage00:25:14 - Making Bold Choices as the Joker00:28:06 - Harley Quinn’s Evolution and Fan Expectations00:29:32 - Becoming Harley Quinn: A Personal Journey00:34:33 - Dream Roles, Fandom, and Manifesting the Future00:37:34 - Voice Acting Goals in Animation and Gaming00:42:55 - Social Media, Career Shifts, and What’s NextCheck us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

What if He's Jewish | Beer 30 Sports O'clock

Bri and Ziggy discuss Christmas and why it’s not so special. Bri hates the Paul brothers and engagements. Ziggy thinks Boxing is back. Christmas halftime shows better than Thanksgivings? Is Ziggy a Scrooge? Beer flight gets warm and Bri thinks her future husband maybe Jewish.
Contact: sportsoclockbeer30@gmail.comIG: beer30sportsoclockTikTok: beer.30.sports.oFacebook: Beer 30 Sports O'clock Youtube: @beer30sportsoclock
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Winning the Wrong Game: Why 8-8-1 Might Be the Worst Possible Finish | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Norm is just wondering whether the Cowboys are about to do the most Cowboys thing imaginable: win a meaningless game and make everything worse.
With Dallas already eliminated from playoff contention, Norm breaks down the logic (or lack thereof) behind trying to finish “strong” by beating a broken-down Giants team. Is two late-season wins really a “springboard,” or just a fast way to slide down the draft board? And why, exactly, are the Cowboys planning to play Dak Prescott and other key starters in a game that can only hurt them?
Norm walks through the math, the draft implications, the injury risk, and the feel-good narratives that don’t survive even a mild fact check. In the end, he’s left with one unavoidable question — the same one Cowboys fans keep asking themselves every year: why? 
⏱️ Chapters00:00:01 - Happy New Year… Now Let’s Talk About a Bad Idea00:01:35 - The Cowboys Call This a “Fast Finish”00:02:03 - Beating the League’s Leftovers Isn’t Momentum00:03:38 - The Washington Win: Context Matters00:04:05 - How One Win Can Quietly Ruin the Draft00:04:42 - The Domino Effect Around the NFL00:05:19 - From Pick 13 to Pick 18: The Real Cost of Winning00:05:51 - Is 8-8-1 Actually Better Than 7-9-1?00:07:06 - So the Cowboys Plan to Play the Starters00:09:13 - Dak Prescott Is Starting… and That’s a Problem00:10:02 - Eleven Hits Last Week and the Injury Risk Nobody Wants00:10:43 - Could the Reserves Win This Game Anyway?00:11:24 - One Final Question: Why?
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Buying Championships and Calling It Progress | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

It’s Monday, December 29th, and Norm is just wondering when college athletics quietly turned into an arms race for billionaires.
With championship games approaching, the sport looks less like tradition and more like open-market chaos. Players are transferring for the third and fourth time, skipping bowl games without a second thought, coaches are being fired at record speed, and the NCAA appears to be standing off to the side whistling nervously.
But the real concern arrives in Lubbock.
Norm walks through how a massive, perfectly legal cash infusion turned Texas Tech into an overnight powerhouse—and why that should make every college sports fan uneasy. When one billionaire can spend $20+ million on transfers alone, what happens when ten of them decide to compete? And what happens to parity, recruiting, and the very idea of college athletics when championships can simply be purchased?
Then, some genuinely good news: the 25th annual Normathon delivers once again, raising more than half a million dollars for the Austin Street Center for the Homeless—proof that money can still be used the right way.
One part warning, one part gratitude, and entirely on brand. 
Chapters00:00:00 - A New Alarm Bell for College Sports00:00:22 - A Word From Our Title Sponsor00:01:26 - College Football Has Officially Gone Off the Rails00:02:08 - The Transfer Portal: Musical Chairs With Scholarships00:03:13 - Playoff Confusion and the Toothless NCAA00:03:39 - Who’s Actually in Charge Here?00:04:21 - Texas Tech’s Sudden Rise (And Why It Matters)00:05:07 - $20 Million, 21 Transfers, and Instant Contender Status00:06:35 - Cody Campbell’s Vision — and His Checkbook00:07:22 - Congressional Influence and the Bigger Picture00:08:27 - When Billionaires Start Buying Championships00:09:08 - This Isn’t New… It’s Just Getting Bigger00:09:33 - The New Recruiting War: Cash vs. Cash00:10:20 - A Quick Break for the Sponsors00:11:01 - Senile Purpura (Still Not a Great Name)00:12:16 - The Good News: Normathon 2500:12:49 - Auctions, Guests, and Community Support00:13:30 - $545,192 Raised in One Day00:14:00 - 25 Years, $10.65 Million, and Countless Lives Changed00:14:36 - Thank You, Truly00:14:58 - Closing Thoughts and See You Wednesday
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW

Eight, Eight, and One: The Most Cowboys Ending Possible | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

It’s the day after Christmas, and while the wrapping paper is still on the floor, Norm is already wondering about the one gift Cowboys fans didn’t ask for: finishing the season 8-8-1.
After questioning why the NFL insists on hijacking Christmas Day (nothing says “holiday spirit” like wall-to-wall broadcasts), Norm dives into a Cowboys win that somehow felt like every other Cowboys game. A fast start, long scoring droughts, penalty problems, defensive issues, and just enough competence to keep everyone arguing about whether this team is “close.”
Dallas beats a battered Washington team, but not convincingly enough to feel good about it. Dak shines. The running game shows promise. Penalties pile up. The defense remains allergic to takeaways. And the big question lingers: if the offense is elite and the defense is awful… isn’t .500 exactly where you’d expect to land?
Norm breaks it all down with stats, context, and his usual brand of dry realism—then wraps things up with the truth Cowboys fans may not want to hear, but probably already know.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Merry Christmas… Now About That 8-8-1 Record
00:01:24 - Can the NFL Leave Christmas Alone for One Day?
00:01:57 - A Familiar Cowboys Script (This Time With a Win)
00:02:32 - Fast Start, Then the Scoring Vanishes Again
00:03:47 - Dallas Finally Bows Its Neck Late
00:04:22 - Dominating the Stats, Confusing the Result
00:05:04 - Six Sacks, Eleven Penalties, and Self-Inflicted Wounds
00:06:27 - Takeaways? Still Missing in Action
00:07:08 - Dak Prescott Continues His Excellent Season
00:07:40 - Malik Davis Steps Up in the Run Game
00:08:11 - Young Defenders Show Flashes
00:08:36 - Free Agents, Futures, and Tough Decisions
00:09:15 - George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and Offensive Reality
00:09:45 - Are the Cowboys Underachievers… or Exactly What They Are?
00:10:26 - A Quick Word From Our Sponsors
00:12:02 - Final Thoughts on a Perfectly Average Season
 
Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw
Instagram: sunsetloungedfw
Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw
X: SunsetLoungeDFW
FB: Sunset Lounge DFW