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Here's My Thing

Here's My Thing

By John Roussos

My journey to becoming a fine storyteller.
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Graham's Haul

Here's My ThingApr 03, 2019

00:00
10:51
No More Felt-Matted Checkers Sets (1/10)

No More Felt-Matted Checkers Sets (1/10)

Today marks a new day at a newer coffee shop. The past cafe has been recategorized to a social infirmary: a place where I can go with a mismatched outfit and some unexplained bruises, bedhead too. But this new place that I'm at, it's the fancier, more judgmental of the two. It runs on the very thin line between aesthetic and toxic, something that I think I might need right now in order to get any work done.  A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date. Follow the podcast! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_ Follow me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss


Sep 13, 202104:14
Coffee S-H-O-P-P-E (2/10)
Sep 13, 202110:27
The Timberland Excuse (3/10)
Sep 13, 202111:31
Hot Chocolate Fucking Whipped Cream (4/10)
Sep 13, 202111:43
Going On A Date After Being Severely Disappointed (5/10)
Sep 13, 202113:28
Shaking Some Hands (6/10)

Shaking Some Hands (6/10)

I start my job hunt by getting stood up for a work interview. Later, I tuck into a Hot Topic, a Lids, and a massage therapy studio before walking into an H&M.

A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss

Sep 12, 202109:50
The Place Of Possible The Place To Be (7/10)

The Place Of Possible The Place To Be (7/10)

I share space with a couple of people while waiting for a job interview. One of them was heads-down playing some sort of video game, the other couldn’t open their locker. I wore khaki slacks to the interview.

A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss

Sep 12, 202108:34
Warm Dogs and Bubbly Water (8/10)

Warm Dogs and Bubbly Water (8/10)

Before I got the job at “the place of possible, the place to be”, I worked at a company that let it’s employees bring their dogs into the office. 

A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss

Sep 12, 202110:35
My Company Branded Lanyard and Me (9/10)

My Company Branded Lanyard and Me (9/10)

I had my first shift at H&M. The girl with the tattoo of the rattlesnake on her stomach sent me a picture.

A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss

Sep 12, 202113:30
Pathetic and Capable (10/10)

Pathetic and Capable (10/10)

I struggled to ring up a pair of pants. Then, right at the end of an important closing shift, some customers tore through each and every fedora, bomber jacket, cargo pant, and v-neck t-shirt that the men’s department held.

A Toast To My Naivety is a 10-episode series about spending time at a coffee shop, working in retail, and an online date.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnroussosss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnroussosss

Sep 12, 202111:56
An Elkwood Election (podcast update)
Nov 02, 202008:19
A Cigarette In London
Oct 26, 202007:39
The Buzz Cut
Oct 19, 202005:36
The Telltale Signs of Autumn
Oct 12, 202005:30
Keith
Oct 05, 202011:37
Buy Plants
Sep 28, 202008:52
Dennis and Bree
Sep 21, 202008:34
They Keep Their Diary In Their Sock Drawer
Sep 14, 202007:01
Qualified Immunity
Sep 07, 202006:16
The Elkwood Forum
Aug 31, 202009:53
The Chaos Experiment

The Chaos Experiment

This week's installment talks about Steve Bannon and his history producing direct-to-DVD films, We Build The Wall, and I even read a haiku. 

I post the video to the monologues to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYHJzsY1nzTjrwJ3oxSKH0w?view_as=subscriber

^there's pictures and videos for these and if you watch closely enough you can see my pores dilate as I start to sweat (is that how it works?)

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Aug 24, 202007:11
The Nuances Of Moving Back In With Your Parents

The Nuances Of Moving Back In With Your Parents

For this episode there is no current event piece, rather I overanalyze some of the nuances in moving home at 25 years old. Which, I suppose, is a current event piece in it’s own right. Enjoy!

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Aug 17, 202006:32
The Mail and Locker Room Talk
Aug 10, 202012:07
Team Names and DISCIPLINE

Team Names and DISCIPLINE

This week's monologue is about The Washington Football Team name change. The name is temporary, but I like it as it is, I say they keep it. Then for the reading, it was laundry day, which means it was laundry day a couple of days prior. I talk about the lack of discipline in that regard, some of the traits my parents gifted me, chewing big red, and more. Enjoy!

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jul 27, 202005:45
Understanding Portland and Dutch Bros in Hell

Understanding Portland and Dutch Bros in Hell

What’s going on in Portland? I give some tips for the untrained federal officers on mass demonstrations (in Portland though, not sure if my tips apply to other cities). This week's story is about the time (last week) when I got off at exit 666 and the first thing I saw was a Dutch Bros coffee hut.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jul 20, 202007:35
Disney World and Elkwood's Pandemic

Disney World and Elkwood's Pandemic

Florida set the record for daily COVID-19 cases, so Disney World opened. Then for chapter 2, we go to Elkwood for a story about the pandemic that they went through.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jul 13, 202015:30
K-Pop Stans

K-Pop Stans

This episode is a different format than most. It starts with a current events piece, the topic: K-Pop Stans, what are they? How strong are they? Then we get a brief synopsis of the reading, and we get into the reading which is about people pumping your gas, and a specific gas attendant who never really spoke, but all of a sudden, during the pandemic, and without a mask, he became a comedian. Enjoy.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jul 06, 202011:07
Work In Progress - a conversation with DeVoCustoms

Work In Progress - a conversation with DeVoCustoms

For this episode, I'm joined by my friend Nathan DeVaughn, also known as DeVoCustoms. He is an artist in Portland, OR who has had his work worn by CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, among other athletes. He came on the podcast to talk about his journey as an artist and experience as a black man in the United States.

DeVoCustoms: https://www.instagram.com/devocustoms/ 

https://twitter.com/devocustoms

Claima Stories with Bimma: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/claima-stories-with-bimma/id1495113118

Here's My Thing: https://www.instagram.com/heresmything_/

https://twitter.com/heresmything_

0:50 DeVoCustoms origin story

3:56 does his work crossover at Adidas

4:55 being at Adidas

5:18 Everyone Is Creative

7:33 making art for CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic

12:42 working on clothing

13:50 where does he see himself in 5-years

16:17 not selling anything from his first collection

18:27 what did he learn from that experience

21:10 people who resonated with that experience

22:15 the story behind the Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor piece and why he chose to donate to Don’t Shoot Portland

28:27 his thoughts on Blackout Tuesday and social media

32:05 how should the social media narrative be pushed if we actually want to see legitimate change

33:43 how feels about the protests

36:32 his experience being a black man in Portland

40:57 unlearning and learning

44:14 being a black artist right now

47:06 Shout out Claima Stories

Jun 29, 202049:44
You Look So Hot Wearing That Mask

You Look So Hot Wearing That Mask

In 5th grade, my parents signed me up for cotillion. Here, hundreds of other 11-year olds and I learned the specific roles and disciplines of each utensil plate and glass. If I ever told my parents I enjoyed it, I can assure you that it was because I don’t like disappointing people. People would get denied because they came underdressed, I find a slight parallel with the people getting denied at grocery stores for not wearing masks.

 @heresmything_

@johnroussosss

Jun 22, 202005:20
This Isn't Fine

This Isn't Fine

It's been a few weeks and the normal social media climate seems to be creeping back in. Not barging in or even knocking on the door, but pulling into the driveway and shining its lights through the front window.  

#BlackLivesMatter

@heresmything_

@johnroussosss 

Jun 15, 202005:11
Marching with Masks

Marching with Masks

It’s an interesting complex, as being around so many people brings on a sense of pseudo normalcy, yet the main reason that we’ve come together in masses is to stand up against one the most normal things this country knows. This episode is about the 4th day of the police brutality protests in Portland, OR.  #BlackLivesMatter

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jun 08, 202005:37
Karenly

Karenly

Karen can't help but say things "karenly". 

#BlackLivesMatter


Jun 01, 202002:09
Dress For Success

Dress For Success

A man wearing a Gucci t-shirt bumped into me at a street fair. He had a couple of burlap sacks of potatoes for pecs and a two locomotives that I guessed he called his legs.  

May 25, 202003:40
Paranoid

Paranoid

Books coming in the mail at random unannounced. Not sure from who. It's mysterious, provokes a little paranoia. Also been sanitizing everything, and in doing so, getting my money's worth on Clorox wipes.

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

May 18, 202005:27
Frozen Cookies

Frozen Cookies

I’d be better off hoping to wake up in time to see dew on the strip of dead grass outside our house than to expect a rainy afternoon in San Diego. When it did in fact rain, people canceled their plans, cars stopped driving, it became a talking point. But it also ixnayed normal dietary protocol, someone didn’t have to get Bar-Mitzvah’d or turn 5-0 for my mom to tear open a new bag of brown sugar and dose a couple drops of vanilla extract into a khaki-colored batter.

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

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Twitter: @johnroussosss

May 11, 202003:28
Vicariously

Vicariously

An admiration, an envy for the lengthy frames of cross country runners and their community.  And I've taken an appreciation to running through Portland neighborhoods on late Saturday mornings for a certain reason.

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

May 04, 202006:23
Are you paying attention?

Are you paying attention?

A priest, a student with a short attention span, and a test to a moral compass.
Follow the podcast!
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Twitter: @heresmything_
Follow me!
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Twitter: @johnroussosss
Apr 27, 202008:15
A Medicine Cabinet

A Medicine Cabinet

A house isn't a home until you've been sick in it. This goes against the millennial desire of a semi-furnished studio apartment. One plant can't cure everything (maybe 2 or 3 or 4), other variables play into it. Comfort, space, family, love, posters.

Been doing some live streams over on the Instagram account @heresmything_. Trivia, live readings, 10-minute drills too. Join us! Wednesdays and Sundays at 8pm.

Follow the podcast!

Instagram: @heresmything_

Twitter: @heresmything_

Follow me!

Instagram: @johnroussosss

Twitter: @johnroussosss

Apr 20, 202006:38
Fedoras

Fedoras

I was googling celebrities wearing fedoras when I found a photo of Barack Obama wearing one. Not the cool photo where he was smoking the joint. This photo is better put as ill-advised. The way he wore it reminded me of how you wear fedoras before going into a photo booth. I’d never force my opinion on him, but if he asked what I thought, I’d say, “Mr. President, there’s a time and place, just not right now.” 

Follow the podcast!

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Follow me!

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Twitter: @johnroussosss

Apr 13, 202004:59
Far From Bored

Far From Bored

Dealing with boredom during quarantine, being easily amused, anxious thoughts. 

Follow the podcast!

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Apr 06, 202006:53
Pandemic Groceries

Pandemic Groceries

The first half of this episode is about a bowl of strawberries my mom prepared for me when I was 9.

The second half of this episode is about grocery shopping during the pandemic. 

Follow the podcast!

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Follow me!

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Twitter: @johnroussosss

Mar 30, 202006:41
Love at The Court (Pt. 2)

Love at The Court (Pt. 2)

Love at The Court is brought full-circle!  The thing about this story is that it takes place only as far back as a year and a half ago. So those close to me know that I haven’t dated anyone who looks like Dua Lipa. And if you follow me on social media you’re on the same page too because my feed would maybe be only portrait-mode photos of her. Or photos of her after we’d finish a hike, so blinded by love I’d caption the photo, “Beautiful, but I'm not talking about the view." But me dating Dua Lipa, is far from the point, there's more to it, enjoy!  

Follow the podcast!

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Mar 23, 202007:15
Love at The Court (Pt. 1)

Love at The Court (Pt. 1)

This episode is part 1 of a 2 part installment, Love at The Court.  Part 1 sets the main stage: a food court. More than that, the general luncheon landscape from an old job downtown. There was an employee at a juice bar at the food court that looked like a Portland version of Dua Lipa, she gets introduced at the end of this episode.  

Mar 16, 202004:59
Blisters and Hobbies

Blisters and Hobbies

Because of some reoccurring blisters on my pinky finger, I’d recently been referred to a specific dermatologist who looked more like someone who would’ve made a killing as a stockbroker in the late 80s than a decorated academic. The appointment paperwork came with a twist.

Mar 09, 202006:59
Initiation

Initiation

My car got broken into this past week. Obviously that's not good, but after letting it sit, it's really podcast episode waiting to happen, a story to tell! Enjoy. 

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @johnroussosss

Mar 02, 202005:09
Too Good To Be True

Too Good To Be True

The apartment that was too good to be true - I think. 

Feb 24, 202007:20
Dank

Dank

Buying weed when recreational dispensaries weren't a thing. You said the bud was how dank? And smoking for the first time, chasing something different than getting high. 

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Feb 17, 202005:03
Slack

Slack

A time where generational gaps plagued social interaction. Thank goodness for Slack and a library of emojis. 

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Feb 10, 202006:19
Rips At The Knees

Rips At The Knees

I was on my way to the fitting room to take a snap chat when a customer stopped me and ask if we had any black skinny jeans, the caveat being that they had to have rips at the knees. What he did was no different than asking a server at Red Lobster if they sold Lobster, as ripped clothing is H&M’s forte.

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Feb 03, 202004:20
Tie Me Down

Tie Me Down

I was getting milk tea at this new place in town with my friend Brae. A couple next to us took a boomerang of their drinks when he told me about some of the double entendres from Eminem’s latest album. Apparently with each time through he’d catch something new.

A few tapioca balls settling in my mouth, “how many times have you listened to it?”

“Eight”, he said

Follow the podcast!

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Twitter: @johnroussosss

Jan 27, 202006:06