Those are just a few of the topics I’ll be discussing today with my guest, Mike Edison, author of a glorious romp through the modern history of sex magazine publishing, Dirty! Dirty! Dirty! Of Playboys, Pigs, and Penthouse Paupers. MIKE EDISON podcast excerpt: "People who try to claim the moral high ground, why is it they're the first ones wearing silver cufflinks and being hauled off to the hoosegow? Why is it that the guys that scream loudest about morality... Look at Newt Gingrich! Hypocrisy is the default position of the Republican Party." I’m telling you this up front so that those of you with sensitive moral constitutions – or if you’re simply under the age of 18 – will have plenty of time to watch and/or listen to something else. You might even hear a word or two about Lenny Bruce or George Carlin, Linda Lovelace or Harry Reems. For those who remain, I think you’ll find this conversation at times provocation, maybe a little shocking and rarely dull. This is Mike Edison’s second visit to Mr. Media – the first was to discuss I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, America -- and he talks the way he writes: rat-a-tat-tat, take-no-prisoners, waste no words, leave the reader no choice but to keep turning the pages and the listener no choice but to stay tuned. Edison is a long-time magazine writer, formerly the grand inhaler at High Times magazine, editor at Screw and a prolific staff letter writer at Penthouse. (You know, the kind that begin: “Dear Penthouse, I never thought it would ever happen to me, but…”). Personally, I think much of his style comes from his other obsession: he’s a rock ‘n’ roll drummer and there’s always a rhythm to his presentation, whether he’s talking with his lips or his hands. Mike Edison • • • • • •