Buy the Ticket, Take the Vote

Christopher and Curtis deep-dive into the the sweeping Trump victory through the lens of F&L, Campaign Trail '72. This includes many trends in common (history repeating?) and a few dangers unique to our age. Is that a reassuring sign that we've "been here before," or does it offer depressing evidence that we've actually learned virtually nothing in all those decades? 

Ron Turner: Drugs, The Kentucky Derby and Gonzo Journalism

How the monkey getting high on Hunter's drugs led to the famed Kentucky Derby column! Ron Turner, famed Bay Area publisher, tells all, including how he used to discuss Ayn Rand with Hunter, how San Francisco created gonzo, and how the city still remains a font of creativity today. Curtis and Christopher listen at the feet of one of the fathers of gonzo, and so can you.

Fear and Malaise on the 2024 Campaign Trail

Curtis and Christopher take on the malaise of the 2024 election which brings "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" to a new level. But worry not. Suicide is not the result. We explore some craziness along the way, and compliment "Colonel" Johnny Depp on his new art exhibit in NYC which features quite a lot of Hunter Thompson. We talk about drinking with Christopher Hitchens and the upcoming Gonzofest in New Orleans in May 2025.

Chicago Convention Redux? Hunter Clubbed By Cop at '68 Convention

The (oft considered) first time Hunter S. Thompson used the title “Fear and Loathing” came as a result of his attendance at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago—when a cop pushed a billy club into him like a “spear”. Will the police act the same amidst the legions of Gaza protesters descending on the Windy City for this week’s Democratic convention? Curtis Robinson and Christopher Tidmore analyze the parallels and differences to Hunter’s experience in 1968.

Fear and Loathing - have we regressed to 1968?

After two years of citing how close the 2024 race resembled Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, Curtis and Christopher finally conclude that "we have regressed" to 1968. What would Hunter have thought of these "nine days in July" from attempted assignation to effective candidate resignation? And we discuss how Kentucky is Vance, whether Hunter was a Hillbilly, and if Harris is less Chisholm than Humphrey? And most importantly, will the Chicago convention protests resemble 1968?

Why Colorado is the perfect Gonzoland

Colorado is weird in a particularly gonzo kind of way. It is both free thinking and libertarian practical, the kind of place that one politician described, "Where a gay married couple defends their weed farm with automatic weapons." It is Hunter's kind of place, and he was proud to call it home. But why is Colorado the perfect gonzoland? Curtis and Christopher explore the history and development of the state – and why it is NOT called Idaho.

Fear and Loathing on the Trump Verdict

Curtis and Christopher examine the Trump Trial and the comparisons of this election to "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72".  We come to a sudden realization.  It is actually 1968, all over again.   

Fear & Voting, Summer of Loathing, Kickoff 2024 

Curtis and Christopher Surrender to temptation and launch our latest 'Linkage Fest' between this presidential election and Hunter's 1972 campaign trail classic. The ticket is punched, the ride begins.

Super Bowl & Politics: The Predictions Podcast, Vol. 1

From the over-under on Super Bowl cut-aways to a certain singer and the chances that RFK Jr. gets onto enough ballots to make a difference, Christopher & Curtis cite Hunter's writing and note that the distance from sports to politics grows shorter by the day. That is, if it ever existed at all. Trigger alert: Somebody sees a crowded presidential debate stage.

Fear & Loathing '24: Iowa Is A Political Junkie's Call to Action

The Trump victory in Iowa's presidential caucus is tipoff for the 2024 election cycle, and of course that sends us back to Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, '72. In particular, Curtis and Christoper note that, to see the parallels, you begin by realizing that objective vs. subjective did not end with Richard Nixon.

Our Regards: About that Unauthorized, Untitled Hunter S. Thompson Musical

Kent Fielding, yes the one from GonzoFest, visits H-G to discuss that San Diego bio-musical. We offer perfectly legal fair-use snippets from the show that you can find on YouTube and ponder the chances that the musical, which is now closed, might make its way to Broadway. And just wait for the part about that big Jann Wenner controversy.

Jimmy Buffet: An HST Friend and Too Much Fun Club Charter Member Has Left the Boat

From those stories about wild long-distance bills in Key West to playing backup for Hunter during an Aspen High School book event (there's video and audio... wait until you hear what he did after he blows out the flip-flop in 1977!), we bid farewell to a truly gonzo original.

C&C Perform Wrap: Lessons of Gonzofest

Looking back on hours of HST stories, our hosts find that Gonzoland is clearly in good hands, next-generation wise. Also, the wealth of diversity remains strong -- and, of course, the credibility of this being The Last G'Fest is always in question.

FROM GONZOFEST: Margaret A. Harrell, Hunter Thompson's editor and 'special friend' 

She was Hunter S. Thompson's first book editor, helping craft the Hells Angels book. She was also a friend and, as readers of her book "Keep This Quiet" know, "special friend." Some even say she was a muse at the most critical time of his career... she certainly pulls no punches during a live interview from Louisville.

From GonzoFest with Matt Hahn: 'Bookends of a Literary Legend'?

Matt Hahn speaks on Hunter's writing style, his fear of failure as a literary motivator, those who knew him (and those who did not), and how the 1996 tribute and the 2010 GonzoFest are bookends of literary legend. Also, Curtis reflects on the hat Hunter gave him...and how it is a symbol of how Hunter brought friends together.

LIVE AT GONZOFEST: WHAT'S IT WORTH TO YA?

Since GonzoFest is at least part swap-meet, the legendary Hunter-stuff collector and market guru "Jackalope," from the Instagram of the same name, joins C&C to discuss what's hot... and to address a few totally hypothetical items that may include a UK baseball cap Hunter brought back from the 1996 Louisville homecoming.

RECORDING FROM GONZOFEST: : MAt GF, John Brick, An Actual PhD in HST

You think you might be a bit OCD on HST? Well, Dr. John Brick is not just one of the nation's leading experts on Hunter S. Thompson, but his dissertation actually ttracks the changes and rewrites to Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. You can start with the changes from the Rolling Stone publication to the book. Spoiler alert: Lawyers get involved! And he also explores who the characters were in real life, and how/why HST edited his most famous work. Also: Dr. Brick explains how he teaches Hunter to the next generation.

GONZOFEST FOUNDER DEFENDS CREDIBILITY

Ron Whitehead, the legendary beat poet and GonzoFest founder, joins Curtis and Christopher to explain the event's origins, serve up some gonzo history and make his case that this is really, truly, no kidding the 10th and last GonzoFest... most likely. 

GONZOFEST: BUY THE TICKET, RIDE TO LOUISVILLE

In their first post-pandemic studio gabfest, the H-G crew talks with a GonzoFest organizer about what to expect in Louisville on July 14. Plus: Why does it take Louisville so long to embrace its famous residents like Hunter and Mohammad Ali? We also wonder if this will actually be the10th and last GonzoFest – well, one of those things is clearly true but the other meets skeptics. Tickets for GF10 are on sale and going fast! FIND TICKETS AT GONZOFESTLOUISVILLE.COM.

GONZO ON CAMPUS: NOT EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS THRILLED WITH HST CAMPUS TALKS

Those many HST campus visits are always the stuff of stories, but not always with the impact you might expect. For one Appalachian American FOC (Friend of Curtis), Jeff Weddle, it seems Charles Bukowski was a much bigger deal – but he comes around as he becomes FOC. (Also: Ignore that politically incorrect book inscription.)

THE BEST HST INTERVIEW?

Matthew Hahn, a then 26-year-old writing 25 years ago for The Atlantic, got HST to open up about the JFK murder, why the Internet feeds TV lust and that Nixon obit — and, oh yes, the Modern Library honoring ‘Vegas.’

GOODBYE 2022, AND A BET ON FRANCO HARRIS BEING BLACK

The HST classic book Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail, '72 was published in 1973, just one of many follow-on impacts of that year on the next. For example, one 1973 story involves HST, Franco Harris, ESPN Legend John A. Walsh, George Plimpton and Jann Wenner. Trigger warning: It was a different era in gambling on race.

FEAR & LOATHING PODCASTING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL '22: THE ELECTION COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Fifty years ago, as September rolled into October, Hunter was returning to the National Affairs Desk from an extended Aspen respite. Then, as now, the November elections really went into high gear after Labor Day, and the accelerating countdown finds Hunter ignoring his famous gambling objectivity. Instead, he is widely speculating that the Democrats might yet avoid a historic defeat come November. Our hosts revisit all that plus the weird parallels to this election season; they even quote that most wise of political consultants, Sitting Bull.

FEAR & POLITICS '22: ELECTION SEASON NEVER REALLY ENDS

The votes are finally mostly counted, so how did 2022 reflect the wisdom of Hunter's 1972 classic Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail, 72? Fifty years later, the trends are oddly similar – including that President Nixon had only slight influence on down-ballot Republicans. So, when a seated president has little influence on other elections ... well, Curtis and Christopher break it down and offer announcement at post-election-ish plans for Fear and Podcasting efforts, 2024.

HST WOULD HAVE BEEN 85 ON JULY 18

Happy birthday, Hunter! Curtis and Christopher discuss the milestone along with that birthday story about a certain A-list celebrity's daughter getting to rub HST's bald spot for luck. Could there be any better foreshadowing for Fifty Shades of Gray?