Breaker Whiskey

253 - Two Hundred Fifty Three

Breaker Whiskey

Show Notes

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit patreon.com/breakerwhiskey. As a patron, you will also receive each week's episodes as one longer episode every Monday. ------ [TRANSCRIPT] [click, static] Okay, Utah postcard. I wish I still had it, so I could be certain, because I did date all of them, but I just have to hope that Harry’s notes are accurate. She wishes I still had it too. She said she really hoped that she’d get to read all the postcards someday and…well, maybe she still can. Maybe someday we will go back to the house and gather them up, along with all her art and the painting I got for her in Santa Fe. If you’d told me six months ago that I’d happily hand over each and every one of those postcards to her, I’m not sure I’d believe you. But what else could she possibly learn about me, what could I possibly say to her that would be more vulnerable than everything that’s already happened. She’s cracked open my rib cage and looked inside and somehow I’m still standing, so… She’s started to let me read her notebook. She says it’s only fair. That she has this enormous advantage having listened to me talk to the air all this time. That she always had the advantage, knowing the score when I didn’t. I thought it would be helpful to hear that. To hear her admit that she’s always had the power out of the two of us. That letting her guilt and secrecy dictate our lives meant that she was always the one who had her finger on the button of our potential happiness. But it didn’t. Knowing that she thinks of herself as a coward, that she regrets what she put me through, it doesn’t actually change the fact that she put me through it. It just…makes me sad. For me, for her, for us. But I do—I do appreciate the gesture of giving me her notebook. I never would’ve expected that from her. Fox said…they said it was too late. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know if it’s too late for us to disappear, too late for us to come and meet you, too late for us to fix anything but… I’m choosing to ignore it for now. As long as you’re still sending us codes, I don’t need to listen to Fox. That’s a problem for future Whiskey. And you said—you also said “keep you safe”. That’s what you’re trying to accomplish here? Keeping us safe? From Fox? From Junior? If that’s the case, I guess I should say thank you. Though don’t hold it against me if I wait to see where this all leads before I give my full gratitude. [click, static] [beeps] ..-. .. -. .- .-.. .-.-.- / .-- .... --- / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / - .- .-.. -.- .. -. --. / - --- / .. -. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -.. .-. . .- -- ... ..--.. Final. Who are you talking to in your dreams? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More from Breaker Whiskey

Jun 24, 2026

A final transmission before I take an indefinite break. Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support. ---- [Transcript] Breaker, breaker. This is Whiskey calling out for Passerine. Got another message here so I'll, uh, read it out.

May 20, 2026

To Rum Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support. ---- [Transcript] Wow, Rum, I haven't heard from you in an age. I think I remember correctly that you found your dog, and your dog had also picked up some other dogs in the process of being missing. So it sounds like all of you are doing well. I have talked to Harry before about finding some kind of pet, but I don't know. We have yet to happen upon any creature that would seem to have their life improved by joining up with us. Lots of wild animals, not a lot of domesticated left. I am sorry that people keep trying to take them from you. Sounds like it's sort of dodgy where you are. Weird that some woman claimed that she knew me and could take you to me. I guess maybe she's heard me on the radio too. Maybe she's heard me talking to you on the radio. But in any case, no, I don't know anybody. I mean, well, I guess I know you, I know Passerine. I know the Red family, solitude. Lots of people who have sent me radio messages, Morse code messages through the years, but I haven't met any of you in person. So any one of you is as trustworthy as any of the others. I guess that's not really that helpful. In any case, I hope you're well too, as well as you can be, and that you are able to track down your Birdie, whoever he is, wherever he is. I like the idea of having a secret language with a friend. I guess Harry and I sort of have that, a holdover from some of the signs and whistles that we would use in our work. But it's not like it comes much in handy now. We don't really need to speak in secret code when there's no one around to hear us. In any case, I'm glad you got your radio fixed and keep your head on a swivel. Sounds like there are some not great people where you are, but also sounds like you've got some good friends in those dogs. Whiskey out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 13, 2026

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support. ---- [Transcript] Hi Whiskey, I've been trying to fix this bloody radio for months, and it just now sprang to life and started playing hymns so I'll message you quickly before the God Squad track me down. Hypocrites. Let me warn you - there are bad people out there who pretend to be all holy and helpful, then they try to nick your supplies (and your dogs) when you're asleep. They tried this trick with me, which was a big mistake: let's jusy say that my dogs are a very protective of their Person... I also wanted to let you know that I met a squat, red faced, scarlet haired 70 something woman called Jay - she has a face like an angry terrier, do you know her? She reckoned she knows you and could take me to you. I fell for it for roughly 20 seconds until she started asking me things like how to cook wild meat, how to train wolf hybrids etc. No you can't have my dogs. Bugger off. It's always the same if we meet someone - they see a disabled lady and see easy pickings. Mugs, there's more than one way to be able. My dogs are a team. They keep me safe and fed and won't work for anybody else...except for Birdie, if we ever find him. He and I made up a secret language as kids and Iused this to train the dogs. Maybe Birdie would get me home if I let him have a dog I bred for him. A girl can hope... Hope you're well. Beware of red faced shrieking women and false Bible bashers! Your friend Rum (and doggy family - now if YOU found me, you I'd trust to have a puppy, I have it on authority that you have a good heart) xx See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 22, 2026

To Passerine Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support. If you'd like to send Whiskey a message, click here. ---- [Transcript] God isn't cutting your hair short. Just the best thing in the world. I definitely feel much better now that I have Harry cutting my hair short again, rather than me hacking away at it. It looks better too. Not that I'm ever looking at myself, but I think Harry appreciates it. I think I would have assumed that your favorite bird was the passerine, given you know the name. But I like that it's a raven. You know, they can live up to three decades. It's a long time to have something squawking nevermore at you. It's weird to think about that. That I've been on this earth for more than three decades now. And as long as I stay healthy and we continue to figure out the food situation, I could be here for three more decades. It seems like a long time, especially when there is so little change. I know you talked about how that's the only certainty in life, but. I don't know, we've settled into stagnation or something. Or. Or maybe. Maybe we're resisting change. Maybe we hit upon some degree of peace that any rupture to that, any shaking of the boat is too unbearable to think about. But it does feel like we should do something. Like we should pursue some change. Some…I don't know, extreme is the wrong word, but just something. Just something I don't know. I'm getting restless, my friend. I am getting restless. I don't know, maybe. Maybe. Right. Maybe change isn't something you ever choose. Maybe it's just something you wait for. And I guess I'll continue to wait. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 15, 2026

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support. If you'd like to send Whiskey a message, click here. ---- [Transcript] Breaker breaker, it's Passerine, once more joyously heard. You said you wanted to hear from me again, and well, I like writing out to you. I like hearing my words read out and answered, just another reminder that I'm real and that other people find worth in my words. You feel like a friend, even though we've never met, and likely never will. Thank you. I'll be completely honest with you Whiskey, I've rewritten this message so many times. I keep trying so hard to say something profound or meaningful, something from the heart. The issue is that my heart keeps changing, I go from hopeful to hopeless, and words I believed in one day seem like lies the next. It's obvious to say, but that sort of change is certain. The world around you changes, and you change with it, sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once. You know something about that, about breaching into the unknown, choosing that change, and realising that really, you have very little control of what comes next. But, in a way, that's the best part. Because if things keep changing, if things are chaotic and unpredictable, then at least it means you're still there to experience it. And if you're still there, then it means things can change for the better still. It means the candle is still lit. Again, I think you get that. The refusal to let the chaos and darkness and uncertainty win, because you have a goal, you have a fire, and you need to keep fighting. By the way, I've never had a Charleston Chew, but now on my adventures, I've been keeping an eye out for them. Haven't found one yet, but I'll keep looking, and when I find one, you'll get my honest review. Also, about the tree thing, everyone does really dumb and idiotic things at seventeen. It's the magic of being seventeen. If anyone out there listening is currently that age, keep going kid, it'll get better. I'll give you a few more fun facts about me and my life. I cut my hair short last year and I finally felt like myself when I looked in the mirror. Sometimes I think I'm in the wrong universe too, because I always seem to be the odd one out, no matter where I go. I find cleaning dishes to be soothing. My favourite bird is the raven. I hope you get this message. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. I hope your life keeps changing, and that the fire doesn't go out. We're not alone. Passerine out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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