Brian Shaffer

SR013 – Part 1: Erik Winger Joins the Shaffer RULES Madness

In Episode 13 – Part 1 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, Corey and Brian kick things off with original music, new shades, new kicks, sponsor shoutouts, and the official “Pour of the Week,” featuring Buffalo Trace bourbon. The guys also give some love to Dubby Energy and Maono, including the wireless PD200W microphones and headphones helping power the podcast. This episode takes its usual unpredictable path through reseller life, bulk finds, Fitzgerald’s store closing, hats, socks, Funko Pops, Shaffer RULES Podcast stickers, Elk Brewing, karaoke nights, old local bars, and the newly established Shaffer RULES Podcast, “RULE of the Week”: Never assume a woman is pregnant! The highlight of this episode is a call-in conversation with Erik Winger, a musician originally from Kittanning, PA, now based in Orlando, Florida. Erik joins the show to talk about performing as Peter Criss in KISS Alive: The Tribute, including recent shows, full-stage tribute performances, pyro, fire breathing, blood spitting, and what it takes to keep the classic KISS experience alive on stage. Erik also opens up about his own music career, including his solo albums, songwriting process, and the long journey of finishing creative projects. He shares how his first album began years before it was completed, why it was eventually shelved, and what pushed him to finally return to the recordings and finish the project. The conversation gets into recording studios, creative momentum, working with talented producers and engineers, writing across different musical styles, and the pressure of following up a first album with new material. The guys also get into the wild new world of AI-generated music, including Erik’s experience running his original song “Bones” through Suno. Erik talks about using AI as a creative tool to reimagine a song in different styles, how quickly Suno generated fully produced versions, and where he draws the line between inspiration, experimentation, and claiming ownership of music created by artificial intelligence. The conversation also includes Brian’s hilarious early attempt at using AI to write a love song, which somehow turned into an accidental Ed Sheeran situation. From KISS tribute stories to original songwriting, AI music, unfinished albums, wedding songs, music history, reseller chaos, and small-town memories, this episode has a little bit of everything — exactly how the Shaffer RULES Podcast likes it. Grab a drink, hit that Dubby button, and enjoy another ridiculous, honest, and music-filled ride with the Shaffer RULES Podcast. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULES #ShafferRULESPodcast #ErikWinger #KISSAliveTheTribute #KISSArmy #PeterCriss #SunoAI #AIMusic #Songwriting #OriginalMusic #ComedyPodcast #MusicPodcast #LocalPodcast #KittanningPA #OrlandoMusic #BuffaloTrace #PourOfTheWeek #DubbyEnergy #Maono #FunkoPops #ResellerLife #ElkBrewing #KaraokeStories

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SR012 – Part 2: Mixtapes, Memories & Lee’s Legacy

Episode 12 – Part 2: Mixtapes, Memories & Lee’s Legacy In Episode 12 – Part 2, the guys kick things off with a blast from the past, revisiting an old live recording from the Free Peanuts Band at the Hilltop and diving into the nostalgia of mixtapes, cassette recordings, and the raw magic of old-school music memories. They swap stories about digitizing old tapes, lost homemade radio shows, local bands, and the musicians who made an impact along the way. The heart of this episode is a tribute to Lee Grafton, who wraps up an incredible 11-year run building the Armstrong Arrows National Bound hockey program into something respected far beyond the local scene. The guys reflect on the time, sacrifice, mentorship, and legacy Lee created, then bring him on for a call to talk retirement, summer plans, concerts, and what comes next. It is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious, exactly the way friends should celebrate each other. They also shout out sponsor Maono, talking about their new PD200W microphones, upgraded headphones, AI noise reduction, and the kind of gear that makes the show sound better and look sharper in the studio. And because this is Shaffer RULES, the episode closes with a totally unpredictable run through pillow fighting championships, old-school American Gladiators, oddball TV, local stories, and the usual mix of laughs, side quests, and barstool-style commentary. They wrap by inviting listeners to send in music, old mixtapes, and anything weird, fun, or nostalgic worth sharing. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULESPodcast #Podcast #Mixtapes #CassetteTapes #MusicMemories #LocalMusic #HockeyLife #CoachLegacy #LeeGrafton #AmericanGladiators #PillowFightingChampionship #Maono #PD200W #Nostalgia #ComedyPodcast

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SR012 – Part 1: Tube Socks, Taint Bacon, and American Ice Football

Episode 12 – Part 1: Tube Socks, Taint Bacon, and American Ice Football In Episode 12 – Part 1 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, Brian and Corey kick things off with featured local music from Gypsy Cowboys and their song “Easy on the Eyes, Hard on the Heart,” then roll into a wide-open conversation full of bar stories, old-school nostalgia, weird internet rabbit holes, and the kind of off-the-wall humor only this show can deliver. This episode covers everything from new podcast gear and a shoutout to sponsor Maono, to talk about bourbon, rye whiskey, homemade salsa, vintage video store memories, and the continuing saga of “She Took My Van.” Along the way, the guys riff on weird band names, classic slang, old trends like tube socks, Skidz, Jams, and Starter jackets, plus music talk ranging from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits to Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, and the Grateful Dead. They also dive into bizarre sports content, including the discovery of German Ice Football, swap stories about local bars and old VHS rentals like Cops Too Hot for TV and Faces of Death, and wrap this part with some passionate Pittsburgh Penguins talk heading into the playoffs. It’s funny, chaotic, nostalgic, and absolutely on brand. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULESPodcast #Episode12 #PodcastLife #ComedyPodcast #LocalMusic #GypsyCowboys #EasyOnTheEyesHardOnTheHeart #Maono #SheTookMyVan #IceFootball #PittsburghPenguins #AmericanaMusic #AltCountry #RootsRock #BarTalk #Nostalgia #PopCulturePodcast #FunnyPodcast #SpotifyPodcasts #BlueCollarHumor

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SR011 – Part 2: The Alcohol Does the Podcasting

Episode 11 – Part 2: The Alcohol Does the Podcasting In Episode 11 – Part 2 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, the guys dive into one of the strangest dream stories yet, featuring an international singing competition, Ice Ice Baby, and an unwanted Backstreet Boys performance. From there, the conversation rolls into reactions to their original song “She Took My Van,” including listener feedback, laughs about the video, and a replay of some of its most ridiculous moments. The episode also features a fun spotlight on unique thrift and auction finds, including chalkware collectibles, vintage carnival prize pieces, oddball instruments, and collectible toys. Along the way, they talk music, collecting, podcast growth, social media, new sponsor support, and ideas for future live call-in episodes. There is also a surprise phone call with Lee, who checks in before heading to USA Hockey Nationals, shares details on his team’s impressive season, and gives an update on his retirement countdown. The episode wraps with sports talk, everyday frustrations, stories from work and travel, and a classic closing song that brings the whole thing home with vintage Shaffer RULES energy. #ShafferRULESPodcast #Podcast #ComedyPodcast #FunnyPodcast #PodcastLife #NewEpisode #IndiePodcast #SheTookMyVan #WeirdDreams #BackstreetBoys #IceIceBaby #VintageFinds #AntiqueCollecting #Chalkware #SportsTalk #HockeyTalk #WorldBaseballClassic #RetroCollectibles #AuctionFinds #OffTheRails #Maono

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SR011 – Part 1: Belly Busters, Beer Bongs, and Bad Ideas

Episode 11 – Part 1: Belly Busters, Beer Bongs, and Bad Ideas In Episode 11 – Part 1 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, the guys bounce between old band memories, hometown stories, and the kind of laugh-out-loud conversations that only get better once the drinks start flowing. What starts with music nostalgia quickly turns into stories about dive bars, old friends, and the glory days of trying to act like rock stars before real life took over. They also talk about launching new Shaffer RULES merch and celebrate a big milestone for the show: landing their first official sponsor, Maono. Between the excitement of new gear, product testing, and building the podcast into something bigger, this episode has a little behind-the-scenes energy mixed in with the usual chaos. From there, the conversation veers into “Me & My Guy” dance survival, bringing the word “rad” back into circulation, memories of Miller High Life, and stories from local staples like the Hilltop and the Halton Hilton. It is equal parts nostalgia, barroom history, and small-town storytelling. Then things really go off the rails with a run of unforgettable college stories involving fraternity drama, reckless drinking, trashed bathrooms, fire extinguishers, fights, and all the dumb stuff that somehow becomes legendary years later. It is the kind of episode that feels like sitting at the bar with friends while one story keeps topping the last one. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. Stay tuned for Part 2! #ShafferRULESPodcast #Episode11 #ComedyPodcast #StorytellingPodcast #BarStories #CollegeStories #SmallTownStories #MerchDrop #PodcastSponsor #Maono #BourbonTalk #MillerHighLife #ChampagneOfBeers #DadLife #LocalLore #FraternityStories #ClassicMemories #BlueCollarHumor #HaltonHilton #WesternPA

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SR010 – Part 2: Broken Patience, Late-Night Chaos, & She Took My Van

Episode 10 – Part 2: Broken Patience, Late-Night Chaos, & She Took My Van Show Notes: In Part 2 of Episode 10, the guys are back from break and immediately dive into a brutally relatable rant about trying to cancel DirecTV. What should have been a simple phone call turns into a drawn-out mess involving missing cancellation requests, endless hold times, surprise charges, and the all-too-familiar frustration of dealing with customer service. From there, the conversation shifts into the world of streaming, internet providers, and the pros and cons of services like Fubo, Xfinity, Kinetic, T-Mobile, AT&T, and mobile hotspots. There is plenty of talk about what it takes to keep reliable internet running at home, at work, and eventually at the new podcast space. The crew also gives an update on the new building, including cleaning out the office, getting the room ready, and planning the move for podcast production. To close things out, the episode goes completely off the rails in the best way possible with a hilarious, improvised recorder jam session and the unforgettable original song, “She Took My Van.” Expect tech headaches, real-life frustrations, shop talk, and the usual Shaffer RULES brand of unpredictable comedy. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULESPodcast #SheTookMyVan #ComedyPodcast #PodcastHumor #StreamingWars #DirecTVDrama #CustomerServiceNightmare #CordCutting #HotspotStruggles #SmallTownChaos #LateNightLaughs #UnfilteredPodcast #VanSong #FunnyPodcast #RealTalkFunny #BillsAndBandwidth #ChaosAndComedy #SpotifyPodcast #ApplePodcast #GooglePodcast

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SR010 – Part 1: Old Balls, Dirty Woman & the Oddities Expo

Episode 10 – Part 1: Old Balls, Dirty Woman & the Oddities Expo In Part 1 of Episode 10, the guys kick things off with a completely off-the-rails original song before settling in with the Whiskey of the Week: Travelers. From there, the conversation jumps from Brian’s Texas work trip and TSA panic moment to music talk, including Rob Zombie, April Wine, and upcoming concerts. They also recap a trip to the World Oddities Expo, where bizarre displays, strange stage acts, and unusual finds made for plenty of stories, including this week’s Find of the Week: a hand-painted wooden mask. Along the way, there’s the usual mix of weird instruments, old stories, and random memories that send the episode in all kinds of directions. The episode also dives into a fun stretch on card collecting and memorabilia, with plenty of nostalgia around old sports cards, the junk wax era, overpriced rookie cards, and the thrill of digging through collectibles to find something worthwhile. It’s a mix of childhood memories, hobby talk, and the kind of conversation that anyone who ever ripped open packs of cards will appreciate. One of the most interesting parts of the episode is the conversation around hearing loss, tinnitus, and strange sound frequencies. The guys get into what it’s like dealing with constant ringing, how certain frequencies seem to stand out in unexpected ways, and the strange experience of hearing sounds, patterns, and loops that other people might not even notice. It turns into a funny but genuinely fascinating rabbit hole about how hearing changes over time, how the brain may compensate for lost frequencies, and how those changes can make everyday sounds seem a lot stranger than they should. It’s loose, funny, strange, and exactly what you’d expect from the Shaffer RULES Podcast. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. Stay tuned for Part 2! #ShafferRULESPodcast #Podcast #WhiskeyOfTheWeek #OdditiesExpo #RobZombie #Kittanning #WickCitySaloon #BaseballCards #Tinnitus #ComedyPodcast #SpotifyPodcast

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SR009 – Part 2: One-Hit Wonders, Wild Tabloids & Streaming Wars

Episode 9 – Part 2: One-Hit Wonders, Wild Tabloids & Streaming Wars In Part 2 of Episode 9, the guys are back from break and immediately dive into annoying insurance spam, scam calls, and the art of messing with telemarketers. From there, things roll into a fun rabbit hole on one-hit wonders, with debate over artists like Ace of Base, Evanescence, Blind Melon, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and plenty more from the 70s, 80s, and 2000s. They also get into a hilarious batch of old tabloid newspapers and magazines, reading outrageous headlines involving Elvis, aliens, Oprah, killer camels, miracle babies, and total grocery-store nonsense. The conversation then shifts into movies, streaming services, sports broadcasting, UFC, and how live TV is quickly becoming pay-to-watch, before wrapping up with some great stories about missed opportunities in Hollywood and entertainment history. As always, the episode closes in true Shaffer RULES fashion: loose, loud, and completely off the rails. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULES #Podcast #spamcalls #ComedyPodcast #Milanaccordion #tabloids #livetv #streaming #UFC #payperview #onehitwonders #music

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SR009 – Part1: Accordion Chaos, Bourbon Truths & Small-Town Smoke

Episode 9 – Part 1: Accordion Chaos, Bourbon Truths & Small-Town Smoke This week on the Shaffer RULES Podcast, Brian and Corey kick things off with a wildly unhinged mix of musical experiments, including Corey’s sweet “Milan” accordion, a homemade steel drum, and Brian’s new tiny-but-mighty guitar processor, the “Sonicake Pocket Master” that somehow turns into a full-blown jam session. What starts as “find of the week” quickly becomes a full-on noise parade. The guys also crack open a fresh bottle of “Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Cask” bourbon and give it the full Shaffer RULES treatment. Neat? Not quite. On the rocks? Much better! They break down the nose, the proof, the lack of cab finish, and why this one needed a little more time in the barrel to really hit right. Naturally, it gets paired with some bacon jalapeño beef sticks from Kevin’s Meats in Kittanning, PA. From there, the conversation goes everywhere in the best way possible: Olympic curling, duckpin bowling, bowling “pro cards,” TikTok doom scrolling, local business support, first impressions, courtroom etiquette, and a heated rant on why local people should support local businesses before chasing corporate hype. This episode has a little bit of everything: bourbon talk, weird instruments, old-school values, and the kind of honest small-town commentary that makes Shaffer RULES what it is. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. Stay tuned for Part 2! #ShafferRULES #Podcast #ThomasSMoore #bourbon #Sonicake #SonicakePocketmaster #ComedyPodcast #Milanaccordion #winterolympics #duckpinbowling #shoplocal

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SR008 – Part 3: Taint Bacon & the 1945 Autograph Book

Episode 8 – Part 3: Taint Bacon & the 1945 Autograph Book Episode 8 – Part 3 is full-on Shaffer RULES chaos, with Brian and Corey bouncing from wrestling talk and random late-night banter into the completely ridiculous world of Fritzy’s, the fake restaurant known for deep-fried nuts, squirrel specials, and the now-legendary taint bacon that sends the episode totally off the rails. The episode also features a quick, live, and unplanned call from Brian’s son, Maddox, our first guest, which adds even more loose, unscripted energy to the mix. From there, the guys dig into the vintage autograph book that inspired part of the episode title, reading through old entries and reacting to the weird, funny, and surprisingly scandalous notes written to Betty back in the 1940s. It’s weird, nostalgic, unfiltered, and exactly the kind of late-night nonsense that makes this podcast work. If you like off-the-cuff humor, ridiculous bits, and stories that keep getting stranger the longer they go, this one delivers. Like, comment, and subscribe, and share the show with a friend. #ShafferRULES #Podcast #PittsburghSteelers #MikeMcCarthy #Kittanning #VintageVan #ComedyPodcast

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