Raul Alvarez
What’s your name and where do you live?
Raul Alvarez. Seattle, WA.
When did you start listening to TBTL? How did you find the show?
I started listening sometime during the summer of 2008, while I was living in Portland. I'd just graduated from college with an English degree, so naturally my first job was working for a dry cleaning shop. Most of my workday consisted of me delivering dry cleaning around the greater Portland area, and to fill the time I needed to listen to lots of podcasts. I honestly don't remember how I heard about TBTL, a Seattle radio show, when I was in Portland - but I did and was immediately hooked. If my friend Laurel is reading this, maybe she remembers.
How would your friends describe you?
"Raul's the best," they'd say while I'd bashfully scoff, pretending like I didn't deserve their praise while secretly becoming more powerful and annoying with each kind word.
What was your favorite cereal when you were a kid? Is it still your fav?
I was going to write "Captain Crunch," but I looked it up and actually it's Christian name is "Cap'n Crunch" so I'm glad I checked. I have a reputation to uphold as a professional editor. I also have no skin left on the roof of my mouth.
What food do you love to eat the most of?
The rich. Hahaha. No, I love eating hot chip.
What’s the best or worst nickname you ever had?
As one of the only Mexican kids in my predominantly "white-ass" neighborhood growing up, the nicknames were not of the sharable variety. Today my friends call me “The IBS Bandit.”
If you could play one song on TBTL, what would it be?
Providence by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The show's already too long, why not add a jaunty 29-minute-long apocalyptic post-rock song as a fun Friday coda?
What’s a special skill you have that you’re most proud of?
I WROTE A BOOK! THAT WAS PUBLISHED!
What’s a special skill that you *wish* you had?
Writing a book that people actually liked to "buy" with "money."
If you were driving down the street and you saw Luke and Andrew on the sidewalk, what would you yell at them as you drove past?
Either "Epstein didn't kill himself!" or "Looking good, Podcast Gods!"
Can other Tens find you on social media? If so, how?
For sure. I'm on Instagram and Threads @rauliealvarez. Elon Musk can bite me.