Topic: Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead's legendary "Wall of Sound" is described as having the ability to create physical "standing waves" in an audience, a phenomenon confirmed by audio engineers. The hosts discuss the physical sensation of these waves and the technical ability to move them through a crowd using specialized gear.

The knighting ceremony continued with Sir Chris, a homicide detective from Georgia, and Sir Crocky of the Cosmic High Country. Sir Chris shared his background in the military and his transition to farming, while Sir Crocky noted the 33rd anniversary of his first Grateful Dead concert. Both were granted their requested "Round Table" refreshments and titles.

A discussion of No Agenda merchandise focuses on a popular hoodie design by artist Mike Riley. The design, which features skulls, is compared to Grateful Dead and Guns N' Roses aesthetics. The hosts also acknowledge a donation from "Sir Anonymous of Dogpatch."

John Perry Barlow, the Grateful Dead lyricist and co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), has passed away following complications from a 2015 heart attack. His complex political history, including managing a campaign for Dick Cheney and his role in early internet activism, is recounted alongside personal anecdotes about his poetic nature and past disputes over the MTV.com domain.

Bob Heil details the accidental birth of his professional sound company when the Grateful Dead's PA system was confiscated by federal agents before a show at the Fox Theater. Heil provided a massive system built from discarded Altec A4 speakers and Macintosh amplifiers. The success of that night led to a touring contract with the Dead and a front-page story in Billboard magazine.

A discussion about vocalists leads to an explanation of "standing waves" in live audio, a phenomenon reportedly utilized by the Grateful Dead and audio engineer Owsley Stanley to create physical sensations in the audience. Adam Curry mentions an upcoming interview with Bob Heil, the inventor of large-scale concert sound systems and Heil Sound microphones. The segment explores the technical intersection of amateur radio (SWR) and professional concert audio engineering.

The hosts delve into the biography of John Perry Barlow, questioning how a retired cattle rancher and Grateful Dead lyricist became a central figure in cyber-libertarianism. They mock his "Super Smart Musician" designation by Time Magazine and his various fellowships. Dvorak recounts a personal story of a near-fistfight between Barlow and journalist Greg Paschal, reinforcing his view of Barlow as a "liar."

Merck's hair loss drug Propecia is noted for new warning labels regarding permanent sexual dysfunction, creating a paradox for users seeking to improve their romantic lives. The discussion transitions to the DSM-5 and the "autistic spectrum," with a listener anecdote comparing "spinning" behaviors in children to "spinners" at Grateful Dead concerts.