Ep. 281 – Through the Screw Hole

About this episode

The hosts share personal updates, discuss travel experiences, and critique political issues while engaging in light-hearted banter.

The hosts discuss Erik and Dennis catching up on their busy weeks, including Dennis’ band gig at the Old Dog Tavern with a big, energetic crowd, and Erik’s packed weekend in Spain: seeing a play in Bilbao, playing a rainy low-tide beach golf tournament, and joining a long muddy forest hike outing with lessons about oaks, beech trees, and holly seed germination via birds. Dennis describes home projects sealing and adding a recycled door under a deck, plus mishaps with a drill tearing their shirts. They share odd body experiences like cramps cured by pickle juice and Erik’s disorienting wake-up “teleportation” feeling. Erik previews a Portugal conference and a no-frills “sleeping box” hotel, recommends Apple TV+’s “Widow’s Bay,” and Dennis praises HBO’s “Half Man.” They then critique Trump-era corruption, tariffs, foreign posturing, GOP succession talk, eroding support, and the need to curb executive power, before ending with Dennis singing and a friendly sign-off.

People in this episode

Hosts: Erik Rasmussen, Dennis Schrantz

Topics covered

• personal updates
• travel experiences
• home projects
• body experiences
• political commentary

Keywords

• Erik Rasmussen
• Dennis Schrantz
• Old Dog Tavern
• Bilbao
• pickle juice
• Trump-era corruption
• Apple TV+
• HBO

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Widow’s Bay, Half Man

Places: Old Dog Tavern, Bilbao, Spain, Portugal

More episodes of Happy Hour with Dennis and Erik

• Ep. 282 – Who Washes The Washers? · June 5, 2026 · 1h 8m
• Ep. 280 – New Broom Sweeps Clean · May 15, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Ep. 279 – Loosen The Grit · April 24, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Ep. 278 – It Just Looks That Way from Across the Street · April 17, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Ep. 277 – Kick it in the Ice Hole · April 10, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Ep. 276 – Measure Once, Cut Twice · April 3, 2026 · 1h 11m