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Can't Turn it Off

Do you enjoy a good story, with a side of observation? Join host Mike Hanks as he shares stories about the interesting world around him. His goal is to share a story so compelling that you Can't Turn It Off.
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Can't Turn it Off
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Now displaying: Page 1
Feb 14, 2024
This is it, the long-awaited end of the longest season of Can't Turn it Off. After a few minutes of chat between the host and Brad Farrell, two nerds who love a forgotten, short-lived '80s sitcom starring Jason Bateman, the host closes out the season with a monologue sharing a footnote from his life. 
 
 
Dec 23, 2023
Another holiday season is upon us, and in the spirit of the holidays, the host will share fond memories of a game show legend who passed away not so long ago, and would have turned 100 years old this month. And then it's onto new content with past guests. In this case, we revisit our conversations with two gentlemen who have spent a fair amount of time on the radio airwaves in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area over the years.
 
Nov 26, 2023
What better way to close out the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States than with a monologue from the host of the podcast, sending out sincere thanks to a variety of folks. And to top it off, enjoy more colorful conversation with a season 6 guest who will favor us with a few of his impressions of people you probably don't know.
Nov 11, 2023

The end of season 6 is underway, a season delayed thanks to both striking writers and actors. But the team perseveres, and this week we bring you bonus content from two women who were featured during season 6. You’ll hear from them after you hear the host boast and brag. And stumble once or twice. His mouth can’t keep up with his brain. There’s a scattershot of thoughts at the beginning and end of the episode, including an update about one of our past guests. 

Oct 2, 2023
Not long ago, the podcast featured Erin Dietrich, a Minnesota woman who had a unique experience. The podcast is on its hiatus, so that means more from Erin, right? Not exactly, but we will learn more about her adventure as the hiatus begins. And we learn about it after we find out why the host thinks too many viewers of TV's Wheel of Fortune are ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. You haven't heard the host do a monologue in a while, so fasten your seatbelt, you're in for a doozy. 
Aug 27, 2023
A Minnesota woman and her husband accomplished something few people do. She recalls their adventure after the producer tries to figure out what they did. Confused? You won't be after the next episode of Can't Turn it Off.
 
 
 
 
Apr 30, 2023

Plenty of people switch careers during their life, and our guest is one of them. Radio broadcasting today is far different than it was in the 1980s, and Phil Huston was part of that '80s scene, working for two prominent Minneapolis pop music stations. He reminisces about those days with the podcast host, who use to listen to Phil on WLOL way back when.

Thanks to Jeff Sibinski and radiotapes.com for the supplemental material in this episode. 

Apr 23, 2023

Is this a Jeopardy podcast!? No, it's not, but this is the fourth time the host has interviewed a Jeopardy! contestant. in our season of celebrating Minnesota, where this podcast originates, we chat with a recent Jeopardy champion who didn't grow up here, but is investing part of her Jeopardy! winnings in a very Minnesota way.

Nov 6, 2022

It has been more than a year since our last chat with the podcast's annual guest, and the latest conversation goes off the rails a bit, but it was a lot of fun for both parties. A lot has changed since we last talked with Izzy, and this episode is very different from every interview we've ever done with the rock and roll prodigal son from Minnesota.

Oct 30, 2022
As children across the United States, and presumably elsewhere around the world, prepare for an evening of trick-or-treating, the host recalls his modest childhood fascination with the wacky world of haunted houses, and his adult experiences with the many entities that have haunted the greater Minneapolis area for the past 25 years. He'll ask questions he has no answer to and recount a vague, yet unforgettable, experience at a Minneapolis theater circa 2000. 
Sep 11, 2022
It's 2022, and a Minnesota man dedicates a lot of time and effort to his blog, which focuses on two unrelated subjects. It's the latter of the two that has entertained the Can't Turn it Off host in recent years. And if you've ever reminisced about yesteryear in the town or city where you grew up, you'd be lucky to have your own version of Aaron Wallace. 
Aug 1, 2022
The hiatus is over and the host returns with an interview featuring his new favorite radio show host. Yes, it's a radio show, not a podcast, but you don't have to dust off the old boom box to dial up the correct FM frequency, of course. You'll learn more than you ever imagined about the music of yesteryear, and how to hear it, during our interview with the host of "Crap From The Past." 
Jun 5, 2022
The host has been following a Minneapolis-based photographer for about a year. In this episode of the podcast, he learns about the inspiration, methods and process involved in capturing her distinct, memorable images. And he does so without ever asking about the photography equipment she employs. Following the interview, the host finally explains when and how he realized celebrity autographs weren't as big of a deal as they once were. It's a story he rarely tells, and yes, he will name drop during the story. 
 
 
 
 
Apr 24, 2022

The host welcomes his colleague, a longtime high school sports reporter, to the podcast. Yes, the colleague has many stories he could tell about his five decades covering boys and girls high school soccer, basketball and hockey. But those aren't the stories the host is most interested in. 

Apr 3, 2022
Season 6 of the podcast begins with a deep dive into that failed 1980s sitcom the host never forgot, and talked about in episode 68. The host isn't the only person who remembers the show fondly, the foremost authority on the show joins the podcast to discuss the sometimes-brilliant sitcom known as "It's Your Move." That discussion follows the first guest of season 6, the host's former colleague who had a recent brush with cinematic greatness. 
Feb 28, 2022
It's the season finale, really. Unless it's not. It's time to move forward with season 6, but not before a brief visit with our buddy Izzy Presley, who surprised the host with a recent Twitter revelation. But first, the host gets overly excited about a TV show you've never heard of, and spends too much time telling you about a chance encounter in Las Vegas. 
Feb 7, 2022
As the hiatus nears its conclusion, this episode features a new story from season 5 guest Jeff Walker, who reminisces about his first trip to Vegas. Following Jeff, the host shares a few tidbits about past guests. 
Jan 17, 2022

After a holiday hiatus following the close of season 5, the host returns with something you've never heard him do in any previous episode of the podcast. But first, it's story time. The host recalls his unexpected Halloween evening, spent in Las Vegas.

Nov 15, 2021
The podcast has had a longstanding invitation to take the show on the road, specifically to Bloomington, Minnesota, for a comic book show. As a podcast that has occasionally called upon the world of comic books for source material, it seemed like a logical destination. Don't read comic books? It shouldn't matter. We talked about things even we didn't expect to.
Sep 25, 2021
You never know what the podcast's annual guest is up to in Hollyweird, unless you follow him on a social media platform via @realizzypresley. This year's chat includes discussion of a new gig our buddy has landed. And we close with the story of a very Izzy road trip. 
 
 
 
 
Aug 30, 2021

The Las Vegas version of Strange Days Indeed introduces us to characters whose peculiar actions leave the host wondering what the story was behind those moments when strangers crossed paths. The host's interactions, direct and indirect, raise questions that may never be answered, and most likely will not be forgotten.

Aug 22, 2021
What do Free Blockbuster, Jeopardy!, a baby named Robbie and a possible drug addict in Las Vegas have to do with each other? Even the host would admit, not a thing.
Aug 1, 2021

Jimi and Alison Nguyen are Minnesota's first ambassadors of the Free Blockbuster movement. They'll explain what it is and why they're a part of it. If you remember anything about the once mighty Blockbuster video rental chain, you'll enjoy hearing about how they're making Free Blockbuster happen in 2021. 

 
Jun 27, 2021

This season’s second interview occurred while the host and producer were in Las Vegas earlier this month. You don't need to know anything about Sam Novak, or care about what he does, in order to enjoy our interview with him. Thoughtful and articulate only scratch the surface. This man should have his own podcast. 

Jun 6, 2021

This season's first interview features a Canadian who affirms what the host knows, and doesn't know, about his neighbors to the north. And we learn a few things about how the state of Canadian radio is similar to its U.S. counterpart in 2021. The host concludes the podcast with his opening monologue, which seems appropriate for this episode. 

 
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