Looking south from the "True North Strong and Free"... do we need to pass you the joint or what?

​

In this episode of Thoughts Off The Stem, we’re sparking up and peering over the 49th parallel to witness the absolute unit of a circus that is the American political landscape. Sometimes you need a little herb just to take the edge off, especially when the "quiet neighbors" upstairs are watching the party downstairs turn into a full-blown dumpster fire.

​We’re breaking down the madness with the bewildered curiosity only a slightly toasted Canadian can provide, covering:

• ​The TikTok Trauma Feed: Why MAGA ideology on the FYP feels like a hockey riot where nobody is wearing skates and everyone is screaming at the ref.

• ​The Death of Civil Discourse: Is "please" and "thank you" officially extinct, or has the culture war just made everyone forget how to share the metaphorical bong?

• ​The "Maple MAGA" Leak: How political polarization is trickling north faster than a cold front from the Arctic, testing our "sorry" reflex to the limit.

​Join Thoughts Off The Stem for a comedic deep dive into why "America the Great" has become America the "I Said We're Great." We’re looking for common ground, but at this point, we’d settle for a conversation that doesn't end in a digital restraining order.

​Whether you’re a concerned Canuck or an exhausted American, let’s see if we can find some chill in a world that’s lost its cool.

Don't forget to Like, Share, Follow/Subscribe and visit Tots420.com

Welcome to the third instalment of the "Start a Podcast for $0" series. With 5 years of podcasting experience I wanted to help those with podcasting dreams start their own podcast.

This isn't a deep dive into the most extensive podcast setups, or expensive tech. This is a blue collar grass roots journey in to podcast production. Many people want to put their ideas and creativity out to the masses and they have a hard time getting started.

This episode "Start a Podcast for $0 (The Essentials)". Helps identify the tools you already have at your finger tips to get started. There is no investment or budget needed and you can start today. This will help you bring your idea to life, with tips on how to stay out of your own way when deciding what content to create, how to refine your sound with free audio editing programs and where to set yourself up with free hosting.

The whole series is a simple step by step guide to getting started. These are the essentials, the only things you need, to actually become the host of your own podcast.

We'll also discuss some of the mistakes I've made and money I've wasted in trying to produce a quality podcast. Because why spend money or waste time if you don't have to.

I hope this episode and series gives you the tools and confidence to start your podcast dreams.

Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, leave a Comment and visit Tots420.com

Welcome to part 2 of "Start A Podcast For $0 (Zero Budget Guide)". In this episode "The $0 Blueprint: 5 Years Of Podcast Lessons That Actually Matter"by Thoughts Off The Stem, we discuss what I've learned over the last five years of podcasting, the things that are most important and should be the primary focus of your attention when starting out.

Many podcasts out there fail within the first year because people lose sight of what is important, have over inflated expectations, and let external influences dictate how they view success.

Podcasting is fun and can be a lucrative business but for most people it doesn't start out that way. There are a many factors that go into the growth of a podcast that, you as new person starting out are going to learn as you go. As your show's concept, creative ideas and audience evolve so does your production, and production is an aspect that improves over the course of time with a lot of trial and error. It's very unlikely that your show is going to skyrocket to the top of the charts after the first week. I'm not saying it can't happen I'm saying it's unlikely.

"The $0 Blueprint: 5 Years Of Podcast Lessons That Actually Matter" is essentially a guide to avoiding the pitfalls and mistakes that a lot of new podcasters fall into and make. There are over 4 million podcasts out there, it's a big pool for listeners to choose from. If you keep that in perspective and remind yourself of the depth of the pool it helps to maintain healthy expectations. Especially for the podcaster like myself who has to find and build a fan base, as well as trust with listeners.

I hope you enjoy the sesh.

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So you want to start a podcast? Think you need a $500 microphone and a soundproof studio to get heard? Think again. In this episode of Thoughts Off The Stem, host Justin Barone breaks down exactly how to start a podcast with zero budget.

Forget expensive gear and high-priced studios. You can launch a professional show from your couch using the tools you already own. Whether you're looking for a fun new hobby or a potential career shift, we’re proving that you can create a high-quality podcast with a total investment of $0 in 2026.

As an independent creator, editor, and producer with 5 years of podcasting experience, Justin Barone is stripping away the gatekeeping to help you enter the world of podcasting without spending a dime. This is the first episode in our new "Getting Started" series—designed for the creator who has the ideas but doesn't know where or how to begin.

In this episode, we cover:

• 
  

  The "Hidden" Studio: Which tools you already own that are perfect for your first 5 episodes.

• 
  

  Editing for Free: The best no-cost software to produce a crisp, professional audio experience.

• 
  

  Zero-Cost Distribution: Free hosting platforms that push your show to Spotify, Apple, and beyond.

• 
  

  The Creator Mindset: How to keep podcasting fun and avoid burnout.

• 
  

  Your First Content Map: What to record first (and why your audience will help you find your "niche").

• 
  

  Organic Promotion: Which social media platforms to prioritize for your first listeners.

Websites to help start your podcast

https://creators.spotify.com/

https://rss.com/

https://www.buzzsprout.com/

https://www.podbean.com/

https://redcircle.com/

I hope you enjoy the sesh!

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This seshisode of Thoughts Off The Stem is all about gratitude and refocusing expectations.

I have always wanted to get involved in radio and television broadcasting. So when the pandemic hit and we were all trapped inside during Covid-19. Like many other people I didn't have anything to do. Spotify for creators, then known as Anchor, gave us the ability to simply record podcasts. So that's what I did. I started recording Thoughts Off The Stem on a weekly basis.

It was designed to encompass all the things that would allow me to talk about a wide range of topics. The catalogue is filled with over 200 episodes, ranging from comedy, cannabis and entertainment, to stories of personal growth, self improvement, parenting struggles, what it's like to be a single dad with three kids and a whole bunch of relatable content about life.

It's been 5 years since the inception of the show and it's time to show some gratitude to you for coming back each week. Thank you! Without you wonderful folks I would not have kept going for this long. I appreciate that you make time for me and my silly.

The point of the show is to mimic a sesh, where no topic is off limits and hopefully I can provide you with a few laughs, a break from the worlds crazy, maybe get you to think differently and some times teach you a thing or two.

All I really want to do is put a smile on your face and add a dose of fun to your day.

This sesh is for you. I guess you could say I was all in my feels for this one and I hope that it hit's the spot and truly show's the appreciation I have for you.

Enjoy the Sesh!

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If you’ve ever been just high enough to question your entire existence, this episode is your new spiritual home. We’re diving headfirst into the trippy, hilarious, mind-warping question:
“What even is reality?”

In this episode, we explore:

• Why your brain suddenly feels like it has four tabs open and all of them froze

• The strange moment when you look in the mirror high and think,
  “Is that really me… or just the meat suit I drive?”

• How we’re all basically NPCs wandering around doing side quests

• The weird glitch moments in real life—like when you walk into a room and forget why

• Why being high makes everything feel deeper than it actually is
  (“Bro… time isn’t real. It’s just vibes.”)

• The possibility that we’re all living in a simulation run by someone who definitely forgot to update the software

• And the classic stoner spiral:
  “If reality is what I experience… who’s experiencing ME?”

This episode blends comedy, cannabis chaos, and stoner philosophy into one big, hilarious existential meltdown—in the best way.

🎧 Press play and prepare to question everything… while laughing your face off.

Visit Tots420.com

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Get ready for an episode dedicated to the strange, the awkward, and the downright WTF things people do every single day—usually without realizing how bizarre they actually are.

In this episode, we break down the weirdest human behavior you definitely notice but never talk about, including:

• People who fake-laugh just a little too hard at unfunny jokes

• The ones who open a bag of chips like they’re diffusing a bomb

• Folks who talk to their pets in full sentences—and expect answers

• People who say “I’m not weird” (the biggest red flag of all)

• Awkward over-sharers who treat small talk like a therapy session

• The classic “hover behind you silently” move while you’re shopping

• And those strange habits that only come out when you’re high
  (like staring at a wall for 10 minutes and calling it multitasking)

This episode is a hilarious breakdown of the quirky, confusing, and totally relatable behaviors that make humans… humans. If you’ve ever watched people and thought, “No way we’re the dominant species,” this one’s for you.

🎧 Hit play for big laughs, weird stories, and pure comedy chaos.

Visit Tots420.com

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Get ready for a full-on comedy vent session, because this episode is all about the pet peeves that drive EVERYONE insane—the tiny things people do that make you question humanity, your sanity, and whether society is actually okay.

This episode dives into the funniest, most infuriating, most universally hated everyday annoyances, including:

• People who chew like a cement mixer

• That one coworker who acts like they invented being busy

• Drivers who treat turn signals like optional DLC

• Folks who stand in the middle of aisles like they own Costco

• The “I’ll put it back exactly where it DOESN’T belong” people

• Loud breathers, slow walkers, interrupters, and the classic “just asking questions” guy

• The weirdly specific pet peeves that hit way too hard when you’re high

• And the biggest pet peeve of all: people who think they have no pet peeves

It’s a mix of rants, reality checks, and the type of relatable chaos that makes listeners say, “Okay, I thought it was just me.”

🎧 Hit play, laugh with the madness, and maybe feel a little more normal.

Visit Tots420.com

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