20 Year Timeout: Hitting Unpause on the Past (Episode 1: Chris Parks “The Boss”)

We all have those people from our past—
A best friend from middle school.
A roommate from a chaotic college semester.
A bandmate who vanished before the demo dropped.

And every once in a while, something makes you wonder:
What ever happened to them?

20 Year Timeout is a new podcast built on that question. Each episode is a real-time reunion with someone I haven’t spoken to in 20 years—or more. There’s no script, no prep, no idea what’s going to happen. Just a camera, a mic, and a chance to reconnect with people who shaped who I was.

Some were close friends. Others were part of a very specific chapter in my life. But all of them—at some point—meant something.

Now I’m tracking them down to see who they’ve become… and who I’ve become in their eyes.

This project ends when I run out of people willing to hit “unpause” with me.

🎧 Episode 1: Reuniting with Chris Parks — “The Boss”

To kick off episode 1 I sat down with someone who played a huge role in my creative life growing up: Christopher Parks, aka “The Boss.”

We met in the early 2000s as teenagers in Worcester, Massachusetts. I think I was 14. He was a little older and already had this confident, take-no-BS attitude that earned him the nickname “The Boss.” Somehow, we ended up in each other’s orbit, connected by a shared love for music, weirdness, and getting into just enough trouble to stay interesting.

Back then, we were teaching ourselves guitar, swapping lyrics, and making beats on pirated Fruity Loops software. We’d sneak into shows, perform at school talent nights like our lives depended on it, and record demos in attic bedrooms with whatever gear we could cobble together. It felt chaotic and endless—like we were onto something huge, even if no one else saw it.

And then, life happened. School. Work. Moves. Silence.

🕰️ Two Decades Later…

This was the first time Chris and I had spoken face to face in over 20 years. It’s the reason why I started 20 Year Timeout!

What surprised me most was how easily we fell back into rhythm—not just joking about the past, but digging into what came after. Chris shared stories I never knew:

How his music journey continued through teaching and performance
The struggles of identity and creativity after those early dreams faded
His experiences with homeschooling, mental health, and redefining success
And of course… that absolutely insane story from Foxwoods (you’ll know it when you hear it)

He’s still bold. Still thoughtful. Still very much The Boss—but with layers that only time, setbacks, and growth can bring.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in Episode 1

Guitar lessons and locker-throwing teenage chaos
The Catholic school talent show that changed everything
Making beats, meeting Korn, and chasing music dreams
Creative pivots, mental health, and finding meaning in failure
An original poem near the end called “Timelines and Lifetimes”

It’s awkward. It’s real. It’s nostalgic. And it’s exactly why I started this podcast.

📍 Behind the Scenes

Location: Worcester, MA
Date Recorded: July 24th, 2025
Show: 20 Year Timeout

🔁 What Comes Next For 20 Year Timeout

20-Year Timeout will feature a new guest each month. People from different chapters of my life—some close, some nearly forgotten. Each one a mirror to a time and place I can’t get back… but might just learn something from.

Thanks for watching, listening, and remembering with us.

We took a little break…
But now we’re back.

📲 Stay Connected

Follow along for upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and bonus clips:
YouTube: Rich Marks the Spot
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Reach Out: https://richmarksthespot.com/connect/