And Begin Show
Episode 19 - "The Latex Chronicles: A story about a boy, his raft, and a "rash" of issues that ensue..."
Download | Duration: 00:59:09
...Marty w/Dean, Dave, Rich, & friend of the show Shane Ransome
Marty's son Holden gets a rash which provokes theories from Marty's wife about the cause. She serves up the supposed general knowledge that some "people" are just allergic to latex (a new pool raft in this case, "like condoms" in other cases apparently?) which leads the guys into an exploratory conversation, of sorts, as to whether information, or more the origin of information, is REALLY the cause of stress in today's society. After all, information is what is it, but the origin...now that's another story altogether. Another friend of the show, Shane Ransome, joins the crew to show off his new tattoo (a "mosaic" of sorts as suggested by certain members of the show) which leads the guys into a conversation about whether we are all limited by theoretical "correctness" (political, spelling, grammatical, and otherwise) and not truly free to explore our inner selves because of these so called limitations. The joshing takes on a more serious tone though as the conversation morphs into a commentary about what sort of impact technology is having on today's youth. Is technology, or more so the potential for documenting one's faux pas, preventing some from taking chances on themselves? And, might a possible net result of this "discouragement" be the whittling down of those with true potential into somewhat of a shell of oneself? And, if true, how will this impact today, tomorrow, and society's needs for leaders, heroes, visionaries?
ABS's Rich (left) and Shane Ransome's "Mosaic" (right
Episode 18 - "No soup for you!!!"
Download | Duration: 00:47:55
...Marty w/Dean, Dave, & Andy
It is a week of new beginnings for certain members of team And Begin. The ranks are stretched thin as Former Greens Keeper, Current Entrepeuner, & Budding Rock Star Andy Lehman makes his second straight appearance on the show after taking in Jerry Seinfeld in Spartanburg while Dean reports in on the heels of Neely Farm's first swim meet of the year. Marty, and Andy...try to...suggest that Seinfeld is through and should step aside so the newer brighter comedic talent of the day...ABS perhaps, or not?...can shine. Dean sounds like a major league umpire after working a Yankees/Red Sox game in suggesting that the 350 race, 5.5 hour, Neely Farm swim meet marathon could not possibly be consumed in one sitting, at least without the assistance of a beverage, or two. Marty offers ways to spruce up the entertainment content of the meets, before Dave takes Marty's ideas too far, to a regrettable place. And, with no hope of turning back, Andy, in his innocence, asks for clarification on terminology which lands the crew in a nothing short of regrettable place considering Andy's desire to overcome his hesitancy towards women. In the end, it is painfully clear that And Begin is no place for the innocent to be sorting through such things.
Episode 17 - "In today's other top stories...Mother Nature continues to plague domestic relationships across the land with no end in sight..."
Download | Duration: 01:14:24
...Marty w/Dean, Rich, & SPECIAL GUEST ANDY LEHMAN
The guys convene for a Memorial Day edition of And Begin and are joined by uber-fan of the show, Andy Lehman. Andy arrives at Marty's house for the taping in The Nightmover (his band's vehicle) which opens things up to ideas about how the show can utilize some a handsome ride. Marty unleashes his "KOTEXT" idea as an electronic early warning system and as a way to help men be more prepared for when their significant others reach "that time of the month" siting the divorce rate as statistical proof that men and women need to band together and fight as one against the ruthlessness of Mother Nature. Dean pushes Marty back siting that stripping women of this "license to ill" is the opposite of what they really want, but Marty holds firm citing that men can't give striving for solutions that will hopefully lead to a more peaceful, tranquil (if you will) existence for us all, collectively, as one, together, in understanding, sickness, and in health, to infinity and beyond!!!...hopefully, maybe?
Dean's ride to the left. Andy's ride, The Nightmover, to the right
Dean and uber-fan of the show, Andy Lehman, backstage at Freedom Weekend Aloft
Episode 16 - "The most interesting men in the world? Stay thirsty my friends..."
Download | Duration: 01:05:11
...Marty w/Dean, Dave, Rich, & SPECIAL GUEST MARTY'S DAD!!!
Download | Duration: 01:05:11
Marty's dad is in town for the weekend and joins the guys for the show to help shed some light on all the professional, but mostly domestic unrest, in the land of And Begin. No punches are thrown, but none pulled either as the master being in town certainly stifles the guys and their normal allotment of nonsensical theories and general disregard for logic and ignoring common sense. Bob lays it all on the line at the end calling bull shit on his one and only son's raw theory of the relationships between male income and expected female sexual output by imploring that there is much more than dough when it comes to meeting, greeting, and eventually pleasing the eye and, more importantly, the heart of the species known as woman. The guys don't seem to be willing to heed the advise of the wise though by going the distance in transforming themselves not only into the object of their woman's desire, but instead by becoming the desire of all women, across the land, both far, and wide. Stay thirsty my friends....
Episode 15 - "SWM, mid-40s, fit, professional, loves kids, outdoors, and banging recklessly around FACEBOOK, looking for.........................?"
Download | Duration: 00:50:01
...Marty w/Dean, Dave, & Rich
Marty cries "uncle" to the allergy-Gods, and his dad's pleading with him to purchase an air purifier only to have his kids test the limits of the so-called new technology by "passing" it through their own version of quality control. Marty, Dean, and Rich play baseball with Marty's wife, but commit an error in attempting to err on the side of caution in throwing to her like she's a girl. This leads the guys down the path, once again, to the dark side, well the more grayish dark side of the dark side, of how confusing it can be to be a man, and/or a woman...for that matter, in today's world. Marty's sister suggests set ting up Dean on a date only to discover, after close inspection of Dean's Facebook page, that Dean is either VERY confused by the inner workings of Facebook or that Dean has a side to him that is completely unknown, or rather "untapped" perhaps?...by those closest to him.
Some things must be shared
Contrary to the message within the message below, I felt compelled to share this little note from my dad. As an aside, this came on the heels of him telling me how my divulging his "list" was done unequivocally without regard to the intended context of the list, and that my delivery was less than fluid...by normal, more professional, accepted, if you will, journalistic standards. My retort, as expected, was pointing out to him that I don't consider myself to be the least bit "journalistic" so all is well. None the less, these exchanges, to this day, remind me of "playing catch" in our backyard, when we were both MUCH younger, or rather the part of playing catch where my dad is constantly leaping, or diving from side to side, after my quite so often errant attempts at throwing the "junk ball" pitch of the day.
"Having lived for 60+ years so far, and as an intelligent, very healthy,
good-natured, moral man, I have learned two things for sure:
1)That I am right about most things, and if I were King, the world
would be a much better, happy place; and
2) That no one has the slightest interest in anything I have to say."
Marty's dad
Episode 14 - "A Super, Most Excellent, And Stupendously Good Friday..."
Download | Duration: 00:52:42
...Marty w/Dean
Marty and Dean carry the ABS torch with the other guys on hiatus. Marty is concerned that one of the holiest of holy days is known around the world only and as merely "Good" while both Marty and Dean struggle to accept bunnies, sweets and eggs as appropriate symbols for the Savior's ultimate sacrifice. Dean suggests that the "Easter" bunny might struggle to retain his (her) gig if there isn't serious consideration given to potentially upgrading said image. The guys consider attending a neighborhood Easter egg hunt after a few cocktails, but in the end decide that being violated while incarcerated around the holidays isn't such a good thing for family (and neighborly) relations. Dean's in-laws drive by Marty's house just prior to the show which has both guys wondering what they might be thinking as they spy Dean's vehicle parked outside in the middle of the work day. Dean introduces his dad to the show and his dad is immediately becomes concerned and wonders whether his son might be pissing away the kid's college funds on his addiction to colonoscopies. Marty's dad sends to the show his work in progress list of reasons that women give men for not being into having sex.
Download | Duration: 00:52:42
Episode 13 - "Messin' With Sasquatch?"
Download | Duration: 00:51:40
...Marty w/Dean, & Rich
The guys discuss whether if there are signs that Marty is FINALLY going through puberty at age 40. Rich throws out "fun junk" and Dean counters with "wedding tackle" as the guys discuss Rich being follically-challenged in a more robust sort of way around back and down below. They argue whether it at any time appropriate for anything THAT sharp to be near anything THAT valuable. This leads to a spirited discussion about the pros and cons about whether Marty should join the party, get a vasectomy, and whether it is a good idea for Six Flags to create a ride and name it The Vasectomy.
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Episode 12 - "If he gets up, we'll all get up, it'll be anarchy!!!"
Download | Duration: 00:52:28
...Marty w/Dave, Dean, & Rich
Dean has a physical which leads to Marty recollecting about a past surgery in a not so glamorous place. Marty's wife takes on her Gynecologist in a tennis match. Rich isn't having fun thinking about why his wife is pissed at him....again. Are we, as a society, paying TOO MUCH attention to advertisers who's goal is to convince us that we are more sick than we are? Are we ODing on the offerings from entities like drug companies, accessibility to electronic stimulation, wealth, etc. Is the human race to "blame" for the seemingly and ever-increasingly calculated nature of our lives? Dave argues, on the heels of Dean's suggestion that we are just living out a preconceived outcome, that although seemingly contrived, we as humans are still following the natural course of evolution or de-evolution.
Episode 11 - "Paging Dr. Dean...Paging Dr. Dave...Patient came in complaining about turning 40 last week..."
Download | Duration: 00:48:33
...Marty w/Dave, & Dean
Marty flies under the radar (and out the country) and attempts to turn 40 in peace, but Dean and Dave sniff Marty out. Having been through "this" before, Dean and Dave try to help Marty by suggesting that obsessing and trying to define the role of being in the "40-Something Club" is not the way to go. Rather, they gently offer up that "going with the flow" might just be what the doctor(s) are ordering. With it meets all sorts of resistance from Marty who isn't quite hip on the idea of "not knowing" as a proposed and accepted solution. Trouble ensues when Dean and Dave share their own, in some cases, somewhat tragic experiences, but can't quite get on the same prescriptive page when it comes to a game plan for Marty. In the end, the guys come full circle and Marty realizes his biggest fear that, while experience helps, there is no clear cut road map to meet his every unnerving need.
About And Begin...
AND BEGIN: There's "The View" and then there's what men are thinking. Raw, honest, and unscripted, "And Begin" is men discussing their ordinary lives in a not so ordinary way. Upstart host, Marty Winsch leads his entourage of co-hosts (Dean Davidson, Dave Mihalic, Rich Miles, and others) through an unscripted winding path of the very personal, domestic and socially controversial topics of the day. Seemingly nothing is out of bounds when this troup adjournes, turns the mics on and treats listeners to a sustainably unique and at times an utterly hysterical and thought provoking view from where the common man stands, or sits.
Behind the And Begin mics....
Marty Winsch
Born in Brooklyn, I spent most of my childhood in Connecticut before heading off to Clemson University where I graduated from in 1992. I currently reside in Simpsonville, SC, am happily married, have two sons, and kick ass neighbors named Dave, Dean and, Rich. My Catholicism is currently leased, but am thinking about some day upgrading. American Idol makes me ill as do awards shows and political debates. I like to sound like I know what I am talking about more than I actually do and to make up words along the way. "Holidaic" (like anything Christmasy) is one of my favorites. Some others include: penicular (anything penis related), robotize (see today's pop music)and assaholic (anyone who is addicted to being an ass hole). My 5 year old son Max came up with the word phoniac (anyone who is a maniac about being phony) which fits perfectly for me since my favorite book is Salinger's Catcher in the Rye....my oldest son's name is Holden... Max is also the one you hear at the beginning of the show saying "previously on And Begin". There are two reasons why I like making up words: #1 - I get tired of the words I know, and don't enjoy reading hence my lack of expanding my vocabulary and #2 - I have never been very good at spelling and frankly find being grammatically correct a drag. I don't sleep all that well as I find it hard to turn off my mind at night. Walking is the the perfect exercise as it isn't all that physically challenging yet it allows my mind to wander. I am a man which means 51+% of the population will NEVER understand me and that I will NEVER be able to understand 51+% of the population. Often, I look at my kids with utter amazement and wonder how it is possible to be responsible for something so perfect yet spend my days fucking up so many other things. As I listen to others, I am envious of their intelligence yet feel blessed at the same time that I am not burdened by the same thing. I worry too much about things I can't control and WAY overestimate the control that I think I do have. I would love to have complete and total faith in God, but am not quite there yet. So, I walk and I think. About six months ago, it seemed like I wanted to do more than just walk around and jot shit down. At around the same time, it s eemed like Rich, Dave, and Dean were also looking for a more proficient way to spew forth their crap as well hence this thing we now call, AND BEGIN...
Marty
PS: Does this feel like the end of the movie "The Breakfast Club" to you as well? Insert Bender's fist in the air here if so. Either way, feel free to move along now please.
Dean Davidson
A native of West Virginia, Dean grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dean graduated with an Engineering degree from West Virginia University in 1984. Dean has over 25 years of international business leadership experience and is the founder and President of The Adopt Lean Group, a business coaching firm based in Greenville, South Carolina. Dean has 3 children, Ryan (16), Courtney (14) and Drew (8) as well as a dog, Yogi. Dean enjoys coaching little league and high school football, baseball and basketball as well as health and fitness. Dean is a certified Health and Wellness Coach and Certified Lean Practitioner. Dean and his family are members of Brookwood Church in Mauldin, South Carolina. Dean and Dave attended West Virginia University together. Dean, Marty, Dave and Rich all have children the same ages and have been neighbors for many years.
Dave Mihalic
The highlights:
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA * Graduated from West Virginia University (yes, with Dean) with a Mechanical Engineering degree * Left the corporate world in 1999 to become a franchise owner * Owned two franchises - Money Mailer (direct mail advertising) * Current owner of The Entrepreneur's Source (career coaching/self employment) * Love all sports, playing golf, travel, and movies * Married with three teenagers (17/15/15) - yes, twins * Wife is the principal of the local elementary school where both Marty's boys and Dean's youngest son attends *
Dean and I met Marty as a part of our annual neighborhood golf outings in Myrtle Beach. It was the many hours in the car and on the courses that we knew the 'chemistry' between us was there in a weird sort of way. The beginning of And Begin…
Rich Miles
Although I was born in PA, I moved and grew up in Delaware at the age of 3. My dad worked for United Airlines at Philadelphia Int. Airport until he retired. My mom was a house wife, for the most part, but also had some part-time jobs. They divorced after about 17 years. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. As a kid I loved and thrived in sports, mostly baseball. In school I was pretty much just a number. No real genius (I still ask my 14 year old son for spelling help ) with about a C average and normal to bland social life. Upon graduation I was accepted to Wilmington College on a baseball scholarship. After 1 ½ weeks I dropped out. I had various part time jobs but with no real career, most of my steady jobs were in construction. In 1990, I met my wife, Wendy Morse. We married on October 17, 1992, had 3 boys. We moved to Simpsonville, SC in 2000 and had another boy (if you’re keeping track that makes 4 boys) in November. I met Marty a few years later when his son Holden and my son Shane became friends in daycare. We have been friends since.
