We resume our weekly content production with a West Coast road trip, complete with catching the opening of the new HST film by Bobby Kennedy III, "Fear & Loathing in Aspen," which is available at Amazon Prime and other places. Our multi-part recording binge begins with returning champion Dan Dunn, of What We're Drinking With Dan Dunn fame, who you may recall is pretty much our West Coast co-host. From there Curtis Robinson visits with Paul Morgan, producer of "Fear & Loathing in Aspen," who plays the supporting character known as Undersheriff Ricks. Curtis then hosts the producers of a looming audio documentary about HST's run for sheriff, which is what the Aspen film also covers. In this segment (Part 4) our hosts turn to some surprises from those who were actually in the Aspen film, including two of the youngest members of the tribe.

We are back! Fear and Loathing in Aspen and more, Part 4 (I can cry on demand)

Colorado is weird in a particularly gonzo kind of way. It is both free thinking and libertarian practical, the kind of place that one politician described, "Where a gay married couple defends their weed farm with automatic weapons."  It is Hunter's kind of place, and he was proud to call it home.  But why is Colorado the perfect gonzoland?  Curtis and Christopher explore the history and development of the state – and why it is NOT called Idaho.

Why Colorado Is Weird And The Perfect Gonzoland

After two years of citing how close the 2024 race resembled Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, Curtis and Christopher finally conclude that "we have regressed" to 1968.  What would Hunter have thought of these "nine days in July" from attempted assignation to effective candidate resignation?  And we discuss how Kentucky is Vance, whether Hunter was a Hillbilly, and if Harris is less Chisholm than Humphrey?  And most importantly, will the Chicago convention protests resemble 1968?

Fear and Loathing...Have we regressed to 1968?

The (oft considered) first time Hunter S. Thompson used the title “Fear and Loathing” came as a result of his attendance at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago—when a cop pushed a billy club into him like a “spear”. Will the police act the same amidst the legions of Gaza protesters descending on the Windy City for this week’s Democratic convention? Curtis Robinson and Christopher Tidmore analyze the parallels and differences to Hunter’s experience in 1968.

Chicago Convention Redux? Hunter Clubbed By Cop at '68 Convention

Curtis and Christopher take on the malaise of the 2024 election which brings "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" to a new level.   

But worry not.  Suicide is not the result.  We explore some craziness along the way, and compliment "Colonel" Johnny Depp on his new art exhibit in NYC which features quite a lot of Hunter Thompson.  

We talk about drinking with Christopher Hitchens and the upcoming Gonzofest in New Orleans in May 2025.  

Fear and Malaise on the 2024 Campaign Trail

How the monkey getting high on Hunter's drugs led to the famed Kentucky Derby column!  Ron Turner, famed Bay Area publisher, tells all, including how he used to discuss Ayn Rand with Hunter, how San Francisco created gonzo, and how the city still remains a font of creativity today. Curtis and Christopher listen at the feet of one of the fathers of gonzo, and so can you.

Ron Turner: Drugs, The Kentucky Derby and Gonzo Journalism

Christopher and Curtis deep-dive into the the sweeping Trump victory through the lens of Fear & Loathing, Campaign Trail '72. This includes many trends in common (history repeating?) and a few dangers unique to our age. Is that a reassuring sign that we've "been here before," or does it offer depressing evidence that we've actually learned virtually nothing in all those decades?

Buy the Ticket, Take the Vote

Did Hunter S. Thompson help create Jimmy Carter's Presidency? Curtis Robinson and Christopher Tidmore explore President Carter's legacy and Hunter's opinions on him, including whether Carter was a lot meaner than his reputation suggests. And it might have led to some of of Carter's greatest successes, including the Camp David Accords.  

Jimmy Carter's Legacy

In honor of Super Bowl LIX, Curtis Robinson and Christopher Tidmore broadcast from New Orleans, reading from the scribe himself, and realizing just how prescient Hunter S. Thompson was about NFL and politics. What would Hunter have made of Donald Trump becoming the first sitting President to go to the Super Bowl...and what bets would he have made, particularly on the commercials?

And how is Steve Jobs ultimately responsible!


Hunter S. Thompson's Superb Super Bowl Story

Music icon David Amram will headline and the countdown to GonzoFest begins. The resurrected festival is drawing a lot of attention to New Orleans. Four days and nights, May 15-18, based out of the Garden District Bookshop and various nightime venues, Curtis Robinson and Christopher Tidmore break down all the events and explain how it came together to honor Hunter S. Thompson and gonzo journalism. Buy the ticket to NOLA – take the ride! Check it out - events are free but you need to buy your own airfare and drinks: https://gonzofest.net/

GonzoFest 2025 in New Orleans in May! The insider story on how it came to be...

Curtis and Christopher are joined by one of the organizers of the 11th GonzoFest, Kent Fielding, calling in from Alaska.  Kent will be in New Orleans on May 15-18 with Christopher and Curtis at GonzoFest's headquarters, the Garden District Book Shop's Bar Epilogue located at 2727 Prytania St. in the historic Rink, plus there will be tons of other "after hour" locations. Gonzo acolytes will gather to celebrate Hunter's life and legacy with panel discussions, music, poetry, and even two walking tours of HST's favorite French Quarter haunts. It's free - you just need to get yourself there. More at gonzofest.net.

We are back! Fear and Loathing in Aspen and more, Part 4 (I can cry on demand)

Hunter-Gatherers Podcast

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