Happy birthday to the podcast, the state of the world since last year, the rampant California wildfires, the apocalyptic air quality here in the Bay Area, camping in 105 degree heat in Lakeport last weekend, a protracted commentary on Charlie Kaufman's frustrating new film "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," the case for clarity in the midst of creative complexity, Christopher Nolan's "Inception," the genius of Jonathan Blow's video game masterpiece "The Witness," and a few nuggets from the "Podcast Ideas" Google Doc. Music by Disasterpeace.