Random thoughts & other unrelated information from the dude who does "Self Help Radio" - a radio show which originated in Austin, Texas & now makes noise in Portland, Oregon. Listen to new & old shows & look at playlists at selfhelpradio.net.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Bald Is Beautiful Day
Ahem. We have to tell you from the outset that, though we support & are reporting on National Bald Is Beautiful Day tomorrow on the Dickenbock Report, this is in no way stating that Dick Dickenbock is bald. He is not bald. Not that there's anything wrong with being bald. He's just not. Anyone who tells you he is bald is woefully misinformed. That's his real hair.
Understanding that, join us tomorrow, Sunday, September 13, from 11am to 1pm Portland time, to hear musical reports about baldness, as well as movie recommendations, commentary, & an investigative report. Only on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere.
Also Dick Dickenbock is not bald.
Friday, September 11, 2026
This Week In Self Help: September 6 & 8
Because I have no images of seaweed I dug up this picture I took in Astoria of old pilings right off the pier. Please enjoy.
My regular three shows this week went like this:
The Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM 9/6. It was Roger Waters' birthday. I played lots of covers of Pink Floyd songs, mainly from their early singles & first three albums. Listen to that show here.
Self Help Radio on KBOO 9/8. The theme was seaweed. Listen to that show here. Or. Listen to that show here.
My regular three shows this week went like this:
The Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM 9/6. It was Roger Waters' birthday. I played lots of covers of Pink Floyd songs, mainly from their early singles & first three albums. Listen to that show here.
Self Help Radio on KBOO 9/8. The theme was seaweed. Listen to that show here. Or. Listen to that show here.
Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO 9/8. Music by artists we lost in April of this year. Listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). Or. Listen to that show here.
That wasn't too painful now was it?
That wasn't too painful now was it?
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Self Help Radio 090826: Seaweed
When I confessed a couple days ago that I had never eaten seaweed, I didn't know that I actually had, & had seaweed in the house, like the sheet above which I unceremoniously stamped with the Self Help Radio logo. & though I have never had sushi with animal products in it, my wife has reminded me that vegan sushi places use nori which is of course seaweed. & I've eaten lots of nori. Oops.
Luckily I made a show that celebrates all kinds of seaweed so I don't seem like a hater.
You can listen to it now & whenever at both the KBOO website & the Self Help Radio website. Most everything that happened on the show is below. & that's all I really have to say about it!
Self Help Radio Seaweed Show
"Seaweed" Freddy Mitchell _Destination Beach (30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand)_
"Seaweed" Quincy Jones _Golden Boy_
"Seaweed" Tipsy _Uh-Oh!_
introduction & definitions
"The Seaweed Song" Bob Pyle _Apples & Oranges_
"Seaweed" Fruit Bats _Mouthfuls_
"Seaweed Jam" Sarah Pirtle _Two Hands Hold The Earth_
"Dúlamán" Clannad _Dúlamán_
"Les Goémons" Serge Gainsbourg _Les Goémons_
interview with seaweed recorded Robert Wooder
"Just Another Seaweed" Millie Esperson _The Soul Of Texas Blues Women_
"Seaweed Avenue" Moon Williams _Sticks & Stones_
"Seaweed" Saul Williams _Saul Williams_
"In A Kelp Bed" Babyfat _Dragons Go Away_
"Seaweed" Cinnamon _Summer Meditation_
interview with spectral presence Eva
"Seaweed Shovelling Song" Mike Scott _Lion Of Love_
"Seaweed" Bilders _Cut_
"Seaweed" House Of Large Sizes _House Of Large Sizes_
"Cape Of Seaweed" The Shadow Ring _City Lights_
"Seaweed" Mount Eerie _A Crow Looked At Me_
interview with writer Gustav Bright
"Seaweedhead" Katie Lass _Hypnopomp_
"Seaweed" Hockey Dad _Dreamin'_
"Teen Dreams Of Seaweed" Tannhauser Orchestra _Low Tide_
"Seaweed" Please _1968-1969_
"Seaweed In Gears" Digital Leather _The Death Of Real_
conclusion & goodbye
"The Seaweed" Suckdog _Little Flowers Dying_
"Seaweed Men Stomp" Washington Dead Cats _Go Loco! Or Gore Away!_
"The Seaweed Song" Gnarly Love _The Long & Gnarly Road_
Monday, September 07, 2026
Whither Seaweed?
(imaged by Peter Woodard, found here)
When my friend Mark found out that the theme this week would be seaweed, he said, "Ah! The pride of Tacoma!" But I didn't find a song about or even called "Seaweed" by Seaweed so you probably won't hear a song by Seaweed on a show about seaweed.
You won't even hear the word "seaweed" in the song that inspired the show about seaweed. That's because the song that inspired the show is the song "Les Goémons" by Serge Gainsbourg. I first heard the song in translation by Mick Harvey as "Black Seaweed" but the word just means "seaweed." I was in a Gainsbourg mood a while back. Spent some time with him. Wondered if there were enough songs about seaweed to justify it as a theme for Self Help Radio.
Find out how I did tonight. From midnight to 2am. On 90.7 fm here in Portland. kboo dot fm everywhere. Maybe even under the sea.
Sunday, September 06, 2026
Preface To Seaweed: Never Eaten Seaweed
Not that I know of, anyway.
As Costco this past week I saw not one but two kinds of seaweed snacks.
(The one that looked tastiest had fish flavor, & I don't eat fish.)
Come to think of it there may have been a seaweed salad in another area.
When I past the selection above, I thought I might try some seaweed.
Just for the show.
But passed on it.
Couldn't make up my mind.
& forgot something on my list & had to go back.
& didn't return to that aisle.
So. Maybe I've had seaweed like in Japanese food before.
But never on purpose.
Never have I said, "You know what? I'll have the seaweed."
You'd think someone doing a show about seaweed would have at least tried it.
As Costco this past week I saw not one but two kinds of seaweed snacks.
(The one that looked tastiest had fish flavor, & I don't eat fish.)
Come to think of it there may have been a seaweed salad in another area.
When I past the selection above, I thought I might try some seaweed.
Just for the show.
But passed on it.
Couldn't make up my mind.
& forgot something on my list & had to go back.
& didn't return to that aisle.
So. Maybe I've had seaweed like in Japanese food before.
But never on purpose.
Never have I said, "You know what? I'll have the seaweed."
You'd think someone doing a show about seaweed would have at least tried it.



