Some might consider them guilty pleasures. But here at On Cue, it's our mission to rescue certain songs from the shadowy depths of shame and embarrassment. We're rebranding these savory and sweet auditory nuggets as GIVE NO F*CKS songs: tracks that might have caused a cringe when we were younger, but now we openly love with full-throated and reckless abandon.

Also, Liz's favorite thing this week: Trusted HouseSitters. Get 25% off when you use this link.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE SOLDIER OF LOVE:

3 oz fresh spearmint tea, chilled
1 teaspoon of honey
1 oz herbaceous honey liqueur (we love Casa D'Aristi Xtabentún. For mocktail, use a anise syrup)
1 oz elderflower liqueur (for mocktail, use white grape juice and a few drops of orange blossom water)

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a glass over fresh rocks. Garnish with fresh mint, star anise, or whatever else looks pretty and smells great.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 26 - Give No Fuck Songs

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

In the wake of a dramatic, far-reaching and consequential US election, you may be feeling drained, confused, overwhelmed or even brokenhearted. While we can't offer any quick fixes, we do appreciate that the right song at the right time can bring comfort, resilience, faith and a way forward. Putting together this episode was a cathartic and restorative exercise for us. Our hope is that it might bring you some relief as well.

Thanks to the musicians who keep making music, lifting us all up and pushing us forward. And thanks to all of you for listening.

Our favorite things this week are tools we've recently discovered to help us make sense of the world:

Thoughtful, nonpartisan news and analysis via Tangle News is here.

Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, by Dr. Jamil Zaki, is here.

The official music video for Ólafur Arnalds' song 3005 is here.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail is a variation on THE LAST WORD:

1 oz Laird's Apple Jack (for mocktail, use gingerale or ginger beer)
1 oz St. George spiced pear liquor (for mocktail, use a spiced pear syrup; we loved Crafted Cocktails Asian Pear Shrub)
1 oz yellow Chartreuse (for mocktail, use a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup dissolved in warm water, plus a pinch of saffron, cinnamon, and anise if you've got it)
1 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients on ice, then serve strained into a sweet glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or a sprinkle of nutmeg.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Songs Of Hope

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Meet our friend, Miguel Rodriguez! He's a professional saxophonist, with a love of jazz and improvisation. As a music producer, a developer of music-centered apps, and a multi-disciplinary collaborator, he dishes on his wide range of musical influences-- from Kenny G, Stan Getz and Sade, to N.E.R.D. and Mk.Gee.

Plus, we taste-test non-alcoholic adaptogen cocktails and expound upon the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.

You can check out his ongoing improvisational dance and music collaboration with Jake Kus Moyle here.

Reviews were mixed on this week’s drink, an alcohol-free "social tonic" called HIYO. It comes in a can, so there's no recipe to share!

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 24

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

This episode is not for the faint of heart. It's Trish's turn to direct her dream funeral, and she's not exactly squeamish about this sort of thing.

Plus, her favorite thing this week is her gaggle of skeleton friends in the front yard, along with the musical soundtrack Liz has provided for this year's Halloween scene.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE TURKEY VULTURE:

1 ½ oz gin (for mocktail, use soda water)
1 oz pomegranate molasses
¾ oz fresh lemon juice (about ¾ medium lemon)
½ dry pomegranate juice
3-4 dashes rose water
2-3 ounces chilled Champagne (for mocktail, use lemon-lime soda or sparkling juice)

Shake all ingredients except the champagne/sparkling juice in a shaker, then strain into a champagne flute or coupe, top with the champagne/sparkling juice, and garnish with a fresh lemon twist.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 23 - Trish's Funeral

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth by Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Dr. Amanda Gretsch, PhD, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with nearly 25 years of experience working with individuals who have sensory and motor issues, trauma history, attention issues, Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). She also helps people simply improve their overall brain function. Happily, she's one of Liz's best friends, and she joins us this week to discuss how our brains and emotions are affected by music. She even used EEGs to track differences in our brain activity while we listened to our favorite happy and sad music!

Liz's favorite thing this week is her new t-shirt hookup: teepublic.com

THIS WEEK'S COCKTAIL OR MOCKTAIL: The Alpha Coherence

2 ½ ozs Vodka
¾ oz Vermouth
¾ Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet Jalapeño brine

Garnish with 2 Olives stuffed with Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet Jalapeños

Music From Episode 22

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth by Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Spooky Season is in full swing. As the Northern Hemisphere turns toward darker days, we here at On Cue are turning towards darker topics.

This week, Liz lovingly and thoughtfully curates a soundtrack and emotional musical experience to score her dream funeral. Discover who shows up to celebrate Liz's life, what bands reunite in her memory, and which tracks will be sending her off to the Underworld.

Plus, Trish discusses her new love for environmentally-responsible wax-free liquid candles and her favorite all-natural botanical incense, perfect for moody autumn nights. You can find the forever candles here and the seasonal incense here.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE TRAPEZE SWINGER:

2 oz Vodka (for mocktail, use 2 oz tonic water or lemon-lime soda)
¾ oz simple syrup (skip for mocktail)
1 oz fresh lime juice
7 mint leaves
2 slices of cucumber

Muddle the cucumber slices and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker, then add the liquid ingredient and ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass; garnish with fresh mint and a slice of cucumber.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 21

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Kestrin is a rock cellist who has appeared onstage alongside Weezer, Beck and Brandi Carlile. She also invented, built and captained a legendary glam RV which she and Disney imagineers outfitted as a rave cave karaoke studio. She's written, directed and starred in feature films. She plays with David Wain and Ken Marino's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. She lived in Taiwan for a while and speaks fluent Mandarin. There's more to say about Kestrin than any single episode of a podcast can possibly cover, but we get to as much as we can.

Kestrin and her work can be be found here.

The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band can be found here.

Plus, Trish's favorite thing this week is West Coast Swing dance classes. Wanna get dancing, too? Her favorite places to take lessons in LA are with Tip & Teveya and at Motivo.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE DIRECTOR'S CUT:

1 oz gin (for mocktail, use 2 oz tonic water. We loved Fever Tree's elderberry tonic water in this concoction.)
½ oz Cointreau (for mocktail, use a few dashes of orange bitters)
½ oz Suze Aperitif (for mocktail, use white grape juice)
1 oz preserved lemon juice (Radical Radish's Chef Nina's recipe here!)

Shake all ingredients over ice and serve strained into a chilled glass. Use preserved lemon as a garnish.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 20

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth = Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Gemma writes about music, fashion, and culture, specializing in intimate one-on-one artist interviews. While her sub-par drawing skills ruled out a coveted career in fashion design, she's found her niche, and this month celebrates the tenth anniversary of PUSS PUSS magazine. As co-editor, she's passionate about helping PUSS PUSS channel the insouciant, indomitable and independent spirit of cats in fashion and pop culture.

Gemma delivers some choice dirt on her most memorable interviews, the fresh new artists she's loving these days, and why Empire Records is her favorite movie. Plus, she reads the Tarot card of the week!

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to hello@oncuepodcast.com.

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE CAT'S MEOW
1 oz rum infused overnight with spearmint (for mocktail, use 1 oz ginger ale infused with spearmint)
1 oz gingerale
½ oz coconut water
½ oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice, then serve straight up into a chilled glass, garnished with fresh mint or basil.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 19

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber