In the mid 90s, I "performed" in a "talent show" at Chapel Hill High School. After an embarrassing debacle involving myself, a cassette single of "Shook Ones, Part II" and some awkward freestyles, a tall man with dangling dreadlocks took the stage. In a deep baritone, he spoke into a microphone and said the words that would haunt me for years to come: "What's up, Chapel Hill?" By the end of the decade we would come to be good friends and in 2021 he visited my studio and made me coffee from his own signature roast as we recorded a podcast.

Lem Butler has done a lot. Type his name into YouTube and a variety of videos come up, all related to his involvement in the coffee industry. Product unboxings and reviews, footage of him competing in the World Barista Championships, interviews on shows and podcasts (none of which are as cool as this one). But if you lived in the Triangle in the 00s, you most certainly knew (or at least recognized) the big-haired man with the glassy eyes behind his spectacles. He was DJ Pez, and he was spinning in the nightclub that you threw up your Long Island Iced Tea in. And at the one that you were scared to go to. And cutting records at the hip hop show where you were nodding your head till your neck was sore after smoking a blunt in the parking lot.

But somewhere along the way, a random job that wasn't supposed to last more than a year would ignite a spark that turned in a passion, a lifestyle, and a career. Lem has since traveled the world as a coffee competitor and educator. Plus he's been known to DJ an industry party or two. He now owns his own curated coffee experience in Black & White Coffee Roasters. (Y'all KNOW I don't like flowery words like "curated" but I didn't know how else to put it.) Yes, you can buy coffee from him.

While this intro may be serious, this episode is not LOLOLOL. We explore what it means to go from beats to beans* all whilst sipping fresh-squeezed B&W brew and burning one. Pez is a natural storyteller and his voice is a soothing balm to your chapped ears. We bounce from North Carolina to Ethiopia to Amsterdam to Colombia ... it's a wild ride. Meet me for coffee and a cigarette afterward. See you soon.

Featuring "Worldwide" by Tyfu and additional music by Juan Huevos. Shout out Prince, The Time, MA$E, David Lynch, and The Pharcyde.

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Theme Song by Cheers For Fears (Boy In Sleep and Kent Hernandez)
Artwork by Chris Musina

If you need podcast services from story development to recording to editing to publishing, Sparse Mansion Media can help. Contact Jon Gregory at sparsemansionmediaLLC@gmail.com for inquiries.

*intentional rhyme

Ah yes. In the words of Staind, "It's been awhile." But I am thrilled to be back with my favorite Ratfluencer from the UK, Lily from Lily's Rat Club!

I can't stress enough how much I love her rat content, because hey, I think rats kick ass. And if you are sitting there thinking I'm crazy, then this is definitely the podcast for you. Lily and I break down why we think rats are cool and lace this podcast with numerous rat facts that will have you re-thinking your position on "sexy slugs" and "serotonin potatoes™".

In typical fashion I make some mistakes, like referring to Mrs. Brisby (aka Mrs. Frisby) and her son from The Secret Of NIMH as rats, even though they are mice. But there are hella rats in that one so I don't feel too too bad.

I also wish I had all the time in the world because I have been on a huge TLC kick lately (the group, not the channel) and I would totally make a parody of Hat 2 da Back and call it "Rats and a Cat" ... my dream pet situation that will probably never happen. But for real, that first TLC album is 🔥🔥🔥. RIP Left Eye and Chilli PLEASE CALL ME, I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE 50.

Also RIP Sid The Rat, a very handsome boy whose Insta account led me to Lily's Rat Club.

Music sampled in this episode:

High Marks (Instrumental) - Living Dead
Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide) - Marcia Griffiths
Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
I Think I Smell A Rat - White Stripes
Girls in the Hood - Megan Thee Stallion
Step On - Happy Mondays
Ben - Michael Jackson
Under My Bed = Vermin - Living Dead

Follow J Waves here.

And be sure to check out Sparse Mansion Media's other podcasts:
Bachelor Massacre
Coronatose™

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Theme Song by Cheers For Fears (Boy In Sleep and Kent Hernandez)
Artwork by Chris Musina

Whitney Dane is a personal chef based in a rural town outside Chapel Hill, North Carolina and a good friend of mine. Though she was born in Manteo, part of our beautiful Outer Banks (like the TV show, only real), she found herself living in South Pasadena, California at young age where she became best friends with an actress by the name of Nicholle Tom. (You may know her from such films as Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd and shows like The Nanny but I prefer to think of her as the the invigorating but troubled Sue Scanlon on the OG Beverly Hills, 90210.)

As you can imagine, shit got crazy as the bffs grew up and tore through Tinseltown. When Nicholle decides to buy her first house, a chance meeting with a sketchy female contractor results in a gutted house for Nicholle and (supposedly) nothing but good times for Whitney. The whole experience would prove to be traumatic for Nicholle and end with lost money, a damaged friendship, and a possible arrest. In May of 2017, Nicholle went on the podcast Worst Ever Podcast and told her version of the events. But as with all stories, there is more than one side. And mayyyyyyybe, just maybe, some of Nicholle's details were off. Or were they? Whitney seems to think so. So I said IT WAS TIME TO CLAP BACK. Right here on Lurk Mode. (Editor's Note: on the show I refer to the podcast as Worst Podcast Ever which is totally wrong and totally changes the vibe and for that I am truly sorry. Bad journalism on my part, I am not allowed to play video games for 2 weeks.)

Whitney and I talk about the good ol' days and then we break this crazy ass journey on down. Over the course of the episode I realize that Whitney is more than just a Z-list celebrity: she's at least W-list. Maybe V-list? Anyway, she got some stories. So many I had to edit most of them out but at least you'll get to hear her talk about referencing "cum gum" with one of the Mowry twins. Cum gum? Oh shit ... Freshen Up! You got to be of a certain age to remember that shit.

Follow Whitney Dane here.

Check out some hilarious modern content from Nicholle Tom here.

Check out the 90210 recap podcast Again With This here.

Follow J Waves here.

And be sure to check out Sparse Mansion Media's other podcasts:
Bachelor Massacre
Coronatose™

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Theme Song by Cheers For Fears (Boy In Sleep and Kent Hernandez)
Artwork by Chris Musina