Life 2.0: Recent Episodes
John St. Augustine
I wasn't actually going to do a podcast today, and then I started getting text messages asking where the podcast was on a Saturday. Well, all the puzzle pieces fell together for a Father's Day episode, and some great memories and lessons of Poppa John, who was a banker by profession, Count Dracula during Halloween, a Friday night bowler, and above all, my dad.
Many years ago, when I was still bulletproof and could bench press a small car, I worked as a bouncer on the weekends at a local bar. The first lesson the owner gave me was that I should never argue with drunks or idiots- usually the same thing- because the second you do, they win. In the times we live in now, arguing with dimwits, nitwits and halfwits who are drunk with an inflated political sense of self is a reminder that rational people will never convice an irrational person they are wrong no matter the facts, figures or truths.
Hitting the gym for the past 50 years has taught me a lot of lessons and given me some incredible insights into human nature, as a core sampling of society is always on display. I'm indebted to my grandfather Karl (pictured here) for passing along the "Discipline of Iron" and the reminder that no pain means no gain, be it on the bench press or in life.
I had another episode planned for today, but that "still, small voice" nudged me to take a different route, and I'm glad I listened. I was led to one of my favorite writers and authors, Tom Hanratty, and specifically to his book Master Bao Stories. In this story, the lesson of perspective is revealed as Master Bao and his pupil Ping meet two men, who have very different experiences while traveling the same path.
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. It is a day for visiting cemeteries and memorials to mourn the military personnel who died in the line of duty.
There's nothing happy about it.
Like many things, it's been hijacked by retailers as another way to sell mattresses, tires, and furniture, but the other side to all that stuff is the Gold Star families who will forever mourn the loss of their loved ones who died in combat. To that end, this is a composite episode of my other Memorial Day podcasts all rolled into one.
Lest we forget.
We are swamped moment by moment by information we have zero control over, but that info often takes control of us. Since what you focus on expands, you have to mind your focus (and focus your mind) just to make sure you don't lose the power of perspective. There is a great exercise by my old friend, the late, great Wayne Dyer, that can assist you in not majoring in minor things. A little musical interlude from my friend John Berry on this episode as well.
It's one of those days when I suddenly realized that my level was off and the "bubble" that is supposed to be in the middle wasn't. So, I stopped what I was "doing" and took a few minutes to just "be." Amazing what happens when you take a few minutes to lie down on the grass and do some cloud gazing in the middle of the day.
This episode was created from a conversation with a kid I grew up with, who shared a story of a friend of his, whose mom drove him and a few of his friends to Woodstock when they were just teenagers. That "mom moment" gave me the idea to add a couple more voices. It's Mother's Day memories from Candace Jordan, Chris Joyce, and Mandy Jankus, as well as a few memories of my mom, Carol, who passed away in 1997.
Longfellow once said, "The human voice is the organ of the soul." After attending a live event last week celebrating one of the podcasts I produce, I started thinking about all the voices I have had the opportunity to spend time with over the years, broadcasting. This episode is a montage of some of my favorites, including Ed McMahon, Royce Elliott, Ron Santo, Trudy Gronning, Dale Thomas, Bill Kurtis, Jerry Kramer, and Aboriginal Grandmother, as well as Christopher Reeve, Earl Hamner, and John Denver.
50 years ago today, on 30 April 1975, the Vietnam War came to a shuddering, chaotic end with the Fall of Saigon. The official war years are listed as 1954-1975, in which 58,148 US soldiers gave their lives. While the war might have ended on paper, for many veterans like my cousin Rich "The Sarge" Hoffman, it has been an ongoing battle. I pulled up a conversation that I had with Rich in 2018, and what he said then is even more important today.
Lest we forget.
This past week, the world lost two larger-than-life men. On the day after Easter, Pope Francis took his permanent leave of absence from the Vatican at the age of 89. Two days later, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, the Hall of Fame Chicago Bear, passed away at the age of 67 from ALS. Both men came from different camps, and while exact opposites in many ways, had one very important thing in common, and it's a gift that each of them left us in their own way.
That little blue marble hanging in space is the only home we have. The message is clear and simple, as Chief Seattle said, "Contaminate your bed, one night you will suffocate in your own waste." While the environmental challenges at times seem overwhelming, there is one thing you can do to make a world of difference. A little help from Bill Kurtis and John Denver on this one.
On this day before Easter, as many are waiting for the Easter remembrance of the resurrection, it came to me that there have been many times in my life that I had to resurrect myself from something that had died off, be it physically, spiritually, emotionally, or even financially.
The lessons of resurrection are many and often lost in the endless erosion of life. So, it's important to look back on your life and remember the times that you had a rebirth of sorts from circumstances and situations that no longer existed as they once did.
And, for those who have always wondered where the tradition of Easter eggs started...I got ya covered.
I happened across one of those Tesla Cyber-Trucks yesterday, and just a few hours later was listening to a conversation with my late, great friend Hillary Raimo, who spent a week at Tesla. No, not the Elon Musk EV factory, but rather the rooms that one of the greatest inventors-Nikola Tesla-lived in the last years of his life. Hillary's stay revealed the three secrets of the universe...that are available to everyone, free of charge (no pun intended.)
Chicago Cubs manager Leo Durocher once said, "Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Well, one guy who totally understands is best-selling author and media presence Rick Kaempfer. Rick's just cranked out the updated 7th edition of "Every Cub Ever" a book about every single player who ever played for the Chicago Cubs between the beginning of the 1871 season and the end of the 2024 season (their managers, broadcasters, and owners, too). There are 500 new profiles and some incredible pictures in Rick's latest effort. We take a deep dive into the rich and storied history of the Chicago Cubs, and the players that built the Wrigley Field legacy, from the famous to the infamous and every single one in-between.
The Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deep-water, semi-submersible drilling rig owned by Transocean and operated by the BP oil company. On 20 April 2010, while drilling in the Gulf of Mexico at the a blowout caused an explosion on the rig that killed 11 crewmen and ignited a fireball visible from 40 miles away. The fire was inextinguishable, and two days later, on April 22, the Horizon collapsed, leaving the well gushing at the seabed and becoming the largest marine oil spill in history. 15 years later, the current administration wants to roll back security measures in an attempt to save oil companies money. Wait, what?
There is no question that we are once again living in uncertain times... the key words are "once again." There has never been a time when things are ...certain...and history gives us this lesson over and over again. So, let's take a deep dive back to 1968, when the world was on fire, assassinations were making headlines, the Vietnam war raged on, civil rights marchers filled the streets in protest, Chicago was on the news for the Democratic National Convention and my dad held a gun on a Black man who wanted to use our phone. You know, the good old days.
It's another zero dark thirty-type podcast, as I am up one more time before the crack o' dawn. In the turbulent times we live in, it's important to ensure you have anchors that will keep you steadfast and not swept away by the incessant headlines you can do nothing about except getting bent out of shape over. One of mine is hanging out later today and bending elbows with some guys I played football with back in the last century. Also, I couldn't let today pass without recognizing that it's Vietnam Veterans Day and wishing my friends Mark and Pat good and great luck as they turn the page in their book of life, and start a new chapter as they head toward the Rocky Mountains.
Just a note of caution.
If you are someone who thinks that empathy is a flaw in human nature and that diversity, equity, and inclusion are the cause of all the misery in the world, don’t bother listening to this rant.
You won't get it.
DEI attempted to erase the "Enola Gay" (for obvious reasons) Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers MOH recipient (he was Black) now they are on to the Navajo Code Talkers (Native American) in some whitewashing attempt at reframing history.
But, what about herstory?
To gain some perspective, I reached out to someone I have the utmost respect for, someone I served with in the United States Coast Guard (she went on to become a Chief Petty Officer) and who's uniform hangs in a museum.
She's got the DEI Double Whammy-a woman, and Black.
I learned a lot-what a concept.
Before Mike Robbins became one of the most sought-after speakers in the world (and the best-selling author of five books,) he was a highly regarded pitching prospect who played in the College World Series and eventually spent three seasons in the Kansas City Royals organization. Arm injuries cut short the fiery southpaw's baseball career but opened up a much larger arena for Mike—becoming a global spokesman for turning your life's work into a work of art. He shares some great insights from his fifth book, "We're All In This Together."
I lost a great friend this past week. John Keith was a titan of radio production for decades and we crossed paths back at Oprah Radio and became fast friends. It was all about baseball (and radio) and if it wasn't for JK, the Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis series would have never been heard around the world as it has. I found the first four episodes of EM that John produced, and while I am very sad that he is gone, I am so very glad he was here. Godspeed BRO!
I try my best to ignore that which evaporates my remaining brain cells. But, for the last two weeks, I've been subjected to the word "gay" from so many different angles, that I had to finally come out (so to speak) and speak out. As the DEI mandates begin to take effect and the references to "gay" and "trans" are scrubbed from various govt. websites, it was time to take a deep dive into the history of the word, how the meaning has changed since the 12th century.
But what about how the Flintstones have been subliminally grooming kids since the '60s? And that line from "Deck The Halls" that insists you "don your gay apparel?"
And, what about attending the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas show or watching "The Gay Divorcee?"
With all the upheaval in Washington D.C. these days, and so much of it surrounding Elon Musk, I think we'd all be better off if TLC just gave him a reality show and instead of eliminating jobs at the VA, he could just jet around the world wielding his chainsaw. I mean he's a reality show producer's dream! Elon Musk has at least 14 children with multiple partners! But wait there's a spinoff in the works! His dad Errol "We are only on Earth to procreate" Musk just confirmed he's fathered his 2nd child with his stepdaughter who is 31 years younger!
Ratings gold!
Also, a little background on the rise of "reality" TV and how easily humans confuse highly produced reality with real life and how that eventually helped to put a former real estate developer in the White House-twice.
Fifty years is a long time.
The number of people in my life from 1975 is small, maybe 10 or so. My sister, a few high school friends, and extended family members. My mom and dad are both long gone. So, when someone stepped back into my life AFTER one-half century it was cause for both celebration and a bit of sadness.
There was a time that I paid my bills pumping gas, checking oil and doing tune-ups and when the man who was my boss on half-century ago agreed to meet for breakfast, it was a serious full circle moment.
Another interesting week behind me, with some serious reminders about not letting other people stuff your backpack, the importance of finding your path, understanding that it's later than we think, and that a Super Bowl commercial can put one of the biggest names in music history back on the charts, decades after his death.
Bill Bennett is a multi-award-winning Australian filmmaker who captures the human condition like no other. His latest work, "The Way, My Way" is based on his best-selling book of the same name and is the captivating true story of a stubborn and amusingly self-centered Australian man who decides to walk the 800-kilometre-long (497.8 miles) Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through Spain. He doesn’t know why he’s doing it, but one step at a time it will change him and his outlook on life forever.
This past week I purchased a copy of my first book, and there was an interesting note inside from whoever first bought it back in 2006. It gave me a chance to review and remember the lessons from 21 extraordinary people like John Denver, Wayne Dyer, Jerry Kramer, Dorothy Hamill, Cheryl Richardson, Dr. Kathleen Hall, Walter Payton, and three young people (Chelsey, Timmy, and Jerry) who left the game of life early, and who had (and still have) a major effect my life.
Yes, I was one of the 127.5 million people who tuned in to watch Super Bowl LIX and the ferocious dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs by the Philadelphia Eagles. But it was the Super Bowl held the day before that grabbed my attention. I think it's time that the PBA follows the lead of the NFL and starts to ramp up their half-time (beer frame!) activities to get in some of that cold hard advertiser cash!
Only a handful of men remain who played in Super Bowls I and II. My longtime friend and Green Bay Packer Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer is one of them. JK takes us back to a very different time in the game when tickets were $12 bucks, there were 10,000 empty seats, and that first contest between the Packers and Chiefs was broadcast on two competing television channels. Now, a ticket to the game tomorrow could run you $10 grand, one network will make serious coin and there will not be any empty seats at SB LIX in New Orleans.
Taking a pro-active stance on the impending tariffs, I thought a good pre-emptive strike would be to buy a few cases of my favorite beer before we went into a trade war with the Canadians. It didn't quite go as I expected. The Moose is loose!
It's the 2nd episode of Earth Matters Monday, which will air on the 1st Monday of every month in 2025. Today, it's all about the moral responsibility each of us has to be a spiritual steward of our part of the planet. As Carl Sagan pointed out... there is no Planet B we can escape to, and for better or for worse, we make our stand here on the pale blue dot.
Instead of bloviating, speculating, and ruminating as a solo act, I've secured the wit and wisdom of my gal-pal and best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and media maven- Jen Weigel on this episode. It's a no-holds-barred, unplugged, raw, and real conversation about everything from overcoming adversity to getting your sht in one sock and why I think Batman is the best super hero-ever*. Hold on to your lugnuts with this one, cause it's time for a serious spiritual overhaul.
It looks like any typical plot of ground next to the expressway in Chicago, but I see a portal into the past when that little triangle became a football stadium when I was a boy. I had an extra hour on my hands last week, so I made the "Immersion Therapy" circuit as I drenched myself in little bits of yesterday, to make today seem more bearable. Part of that route had me in front of my grandma's house, then in front of our home not far from there and the aforementioned "Triangle Stadium" as well as reliving the simple joys of ice skating when it was sold cold your nostrils would freeze shut! What a great thing!
Every time I am introduced to an audience (as I was last Monday for the MIC (Media in the Caribbean workshop) my bio mentions the thousands of hours of radio/podcasting that I have hosted and/or produced in the past 30 years. They also mentioned the long list of guests of name and note that I've had conversations with.
Its an impressive list of humans. But there is one person I never really thought I would have on the guest list-my daughter Amanda Lee.
We've had a lifetime of father/daughter conversations. Some very difficult, others hilarious and so when she asked about being a guest and "spending a little time in dads world..."
Smart, talented, driven, and creative. She's overcome some serious health challenges and wears her heart on her sleeve and the world is a far better place because she showed up.
This past Wednesday, I attended two funerals for a man named Jimmy.
One was planned, and the other was not, and while the two men being remembered were vastly different, both lived their “dash” to the fullest. Both were Navy men, later wearing different uniforms, one in the White House and the other on the streets of Chicago. It took a few hours for me to see their similarities, and while it's sad they are both gone, we should be celebrating the time they were here.
A few years ago Nike came out with the "Be Like Mike" slogan in reference to Michael Jordan.
I think it's time to "Be Like Jimmy"...that would be Carter and Maurer.
Earth Matters Monday will air on the first Monday of every month of 2025. Kicking off with a look at the very lifeblood of the planet-water- with a little help from Bill Kurtis and Jean-Michel Cousteau. The action step is to make 2025 a plastic-free zone whenever and wherever possible, especially when it comes to one of the greatest PR moves ever-bottled water- to create a ripple effect of sustainability.
Here we are in 2025, and the gym is crowded more than at any other time of the year, filled with hopefuls looking to tone, tighten, and firm. January 10th is known as "Quitter's Day" when all those well-intentioned New Year's resolutions go by the wayside. So, if you want to make this year different, remember the small things eventually add up to big things. Toss in a few words from Churchill (the poster boy for not being a quitter) and a little musical help from John Berry, you're setting yourself up for success in mind, body and spirit.
Singer/songwriter/humanitarian/environmentalist John Denver would have turned 81 today. He was the guy who kick-started my entire career back in 1994, and as I always do on New Year's Eve, I remember the man and his music, with the help of a few of John's family and friends.
"Though the singer is silent, there still is the truth of the songs..."
After just over a week of enduring some fairly serious audio issues (no mic, no sound, no fun) my IT guy installed some new drivers, and voila' good to go. Not being able to get behind the mic and deliver the mail as it were, felt like I missed my train to Podcastville USA. The quiet zone reminded me that while I cannot control (as much as I'd like to) things that happen to me, I can sure adjust and have total control of how I respond-or not-to the events in my life, including how many days on average I have left to answer the call.
For the past three days, microphone issues have had me tied up a bit, and while the sound is not to my past professional standards, I decided a little backup from some of my favorite Christmas voices over the years, takes the edge off the tech stuff.
Thanks to Percy, Dean, Seymour, JB, and JD for their backup.
Wishing you all the joy of the season and more.
It's the one thing I look forward to the most during the holiday season. No, not a nice bottle of bourbon, new socks, or even a subscription to Scary Monsters Magazine (which is pretty cool) but rather the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" starring the late, great Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. It's a guttural and uplifting take on the Charles Dickens classic, written 180 years ago, and makes the case that back in 1843 ignorance and want were just as prevalent then as they are today. So, for all our technological advances, the concept that humanity is our main business often gets pushed to the back of the line, when it should be front and center.
It's been a week of lunches, laughter and friends. Every time I have the opportunity to get in the same space as the guys I grew up with, played high school and college football with, and some of the men who coached me, the memories become more vivid and the absolute preciousness of that time is self-evident. Also, today is the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and I wanted to share my thoughts on another friend, George Reinwand, who survived that horrible day. Lest we forget.
For the most part, I am a mild-mannered, Zen-like fellow, bent on making the world a better place. However, cross a certain line with me, and it's like watching Dr. David Banner turn into the Incredible Hulk. So, this morning, when I came across a human sphincter using the N-word at the deli counter, it was time to unleash the inner beast and let the games begin. Don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry...
After barely surviving Da Bears (see what I did there) loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving, I was looking forward to heading to the Chicago Symphony for "Music and The Movies" featuring "The Wizard of Oz" conducted by my friend and internationally known conductor Richard Kaufman. It was an incredible experience on many levels, and reminded me of a talk I used to give when I was a platform speaker called "Follow The Yellow Brick Road." I can relate to all of the characters in L. Frank Baum's classic, because at some point in my life, I've been them and so have you.
I intended to create some sort of Thanksgiving message that was a reminder of the importance of counting our blessings. As it turned out, I already wrote the script for this episode way back in 2019 and posted it in the landfill of Facebook, after a phone call with Jerry Kramer, the HOF Green Bay Packer's guard who always has a story to tell and a lesson to share. This one isn't about football, but rather the game we all play every day-the game of life-and the importance of perspective.
A little help from Mr. Denver on this one as well. Safe travels.
In a time that often calls human intelligence into question, we are also on the brink of an artificial intelligence tsunami of sorts. Everything from Alexa to GPS to spell check already has a place in the world, but what about the more challenging aspects and risks AI brings with it? Best-selling author and CEO of The Cyber Dawn and world-respected AI risk expert Dawn Kristy joins me to explore the world of AI and how we can best protect ourselves. What is our collective moral responsibility as it pertains to the technology that we have created, which in turn might be a serious threat to humanity?
Tomorrow is Bears vs. Packers and with that in mind, this show is like a football game. The first half is a review of the incoming fan mail regarding the Line in The Sand episode and one listener in particular decided to let me know how much of an &#($&@#@ I am. The 2nd half of the show is a total shifting of gears as I grabbed some audio from one of the many conversations I've had with longtime friend and Green Bay Packer HOF Guard, Jerry Kramer about his insistence that we can all find higher ground in our lives, it we are willing to pay the price.
Back from just about two weeks in London, Paris, and Normandy. I was able to witness the turmoil of the US POTUS election from a very unique perspective, from across the pond, surrounded by many people from different backgrounds. What stuck with me most, was the two days in Normandy, and all that went into D-Day 80 years ago, Operation Overlord which was the beginning of the end for fascism and the incredible line in the sand drawn by thousands of young men, who gave their last full measure to a cause greater than themselves, a character trait that has given way to a world of "it's all about me."
As I lock down the Aurora Media Studios for a much-needed and long-awaited hiatus, I wanted to share a few thoughts about the importance of perspective in these turbulent times. Also, I am remembering one of the most incredible people I've ever known-Amy Lyon- who I met way back in 1993, and after a 30-year battle, has transitioned to the beyond place, leaving all who knew her, richer for her presence in our lives.
With less than a week before the polls open for the 2024 POTUS race, the pressure has become formidable for many voters. I've always been fascinated by why people vote one way or the other, the factors, the circumstances, and the thoughts that go into going blue or red. Three people volunteered to join me on the episode to share their opinions that shaped their vote in the election on November 5th. The rudder of beliefs, both great and small steer our individual ships and perhaps some candid, civil conversation can help us all navigate the stormy political waters together...or not...but I'm willing to give it a shot.
Note: This podcast is approximately one hour and 14 minutes long.
No, that's not a typo in the episode title because gridiron glory can turn to gridiron gory in the blink of an eye or the launch of a "Hail Mary" pass and that's exactly what happened yesterday when the Bears came up short against the Washington Commanders. But to rub salt into the wound, the taunting by a Bears player before the game ended went viral and it begs the question about "excessive celebration" when it comes to everything from recovering a fumble to getting a sack. Somewhere, Dick Butkus is smoldering...
Halloween is a bittersweet holiday for me. It was without question, my dad's favorite time of the year, as he would transform our house into "The Haunted Castle" and himself from a mild-mannered banker, into "The Count." For over two decades my dad and his supporting cast of werewolves, mummies, monsters, and more, scared the living sh*t out of untold numbers of Chicagoans, just for fun. Long before the massive Hollywood-style terror-filled, high-priced experiences of today, my dad was charging a quarter and loving every single, horror-inducing moment of Halloween.
So, what do Julie Murphy, Oprah Winfrey, Georgia O'Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, Albert Einstein, Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Arden, Dr. Seuss, Chris Gardner, J.K. Rowling, and 'Yellowstone' creator Taylor Sheridan all have in common? They all went through the wringer, which is a prerequisite to success. The most successful and significant people I know have had to "go through the wringer" to bring their message and magic to the world. Despite all the marketing attempts to the contrary, there are no shortcuts to success. The path to your higher self is long, arduous, and difficult, which is why most people avoid it, but for those who take the journey, the reward is worth it—a little musical backup by KT Tunstall on this one.
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches. But that definition is just the concept of the thing. As I was reminded yesterday when attending homecoming at my former high school, it goes far past the football games, floats, parades, and dances. It can be about reconnecting with people, places, and events of the past, to make the future even brighter if we choose to see it that way.
So, I had prepared The Wednesday Rant a day in advance, based on the headlines but since your host forgot to turn his microphone on, there's nothing to hear on that side of things. The bottom line is I had forgotten about the lifelines, that is until a piece of paper fell out of a folder stored in a box since...1997. Add to that a phone call from a longtime friend and breakfast with new friends had me grounded again and compelled to share the words on that paper from 27 years ago, a reminder from Gandhi and MLK Jr. about the power of peace, that begins and ends with you. Add in a little musical backup from Mr. Denver and you have another audio outing of common sense for uncommon times.
John Denver is among the world's biggest-selling solo artists in music history. Noted for his stratospheric vocals, guitar skills, and songwriting ability, Denver also pioneered environmental ethics and responsibility and was a champion of human rights as co-founder of The Hunger Project. 27 years ago today, Denver perished in a plane crash at the age of 53 and the Earth lost its troubadour and I lost a friend. Remembering the man who put me front and center, and sparked a flame in me that still burns today.
So, what do the hit show Pawn Stars, my first car, the cost of living in 1974, a subscription to the Life 2.0 Podcast, the cost of a medium cheese and sausage pizza at Rocky's, and time all have in common? Who gets to determine the value of something? Well, on Pawn Stars it's Rick, for the podcast it's me, but in your life, it's you.
An hour conversation with a highly respected friend and fellow author revealed that she was in that gap between who she used to be, and who she is becoming. That gap can be scary, as we lose our sense of self and accomplishment and the outer validation that our presence on the planet matters. Of course, this lack of unconditional love to ourselves is all a matter of perspective and perception plus having the faith to allow the great chess game of life to show us the next moves. Always easier said than done, and that's kinda of whole point.
Pete, Rose, Kris Kristofferson, John Amos, John Ashton, Maggie Smith...the list goes on and on of those we recently said goodbye to. The lesson of course is that one of the reasons we know them is because they found their purpose in life and lived it in such a way that we couldn't ignore their talents and gifts. But, what about us? The lesser known but just as important carbon life forms that at some point will leave this "Mortal Coil." Cause in life is more important than the cause of death. It's always later than you think as the sands of time eventually runs out on all of us.
So, I've managed to include my concert experience last night with Jeff Lynne, the dedication later today of a marker/bench that designates the former site of the Coast Air Station Chicago hangar, a CNN report that shows how the presidential race is seen by 4th & 5th graders in one clear, cohesive and compelling episode in just about 30 minutes.
Or not.
Because, as with all things, it depends on your perspective.
I tried to ignore this one but to no avail.
"This extraordinary GI Jesus figurine embodies the essence of a devoted soldier. A testament to faith and bravery, this figurine encapsulates the unwavering spirit of a soldier of Christ! On sale for only $19.99 (regular retail $36.99) all major credit cards accepted!"
Add to that, an article in the NY Times about the uptick in sales for armor-plated school gear for children, and I'm having a problem with how we've become what we allow, in such a very short time.
Just the latest way we've hijacked the Prince of Peace into a mashup of Kenny Loggins, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger "suitable for all ages!" to fit our own ways and means.
WWJD?
Danny Vader and Hélène van Engelen are the heart and soul of the Firekeeper Academy based in the Netherlands. With over 50 years of experience in fields ranging from banking and IT to consultancy and the health industry, they bring a wealth of professional knowledge to their roles. But their deep spiritual journey and dedication to personal growth define their work. They join me to talk about their upcoming event at the Climate Action Museum in Chicago and how important it is for each of us to find the sacred fire within ourselves.
It's another busy day on this end of the microphone. This afternoon is the last public event with Chicago Cubs legendary catcher Randy Hundley, for the IRONMAN book, which I so looking forward to. But as always, there's more going on, like the cracks that needed to be repaired in the house foundation, which of course reminds me how important is that we address the fractures in our foundations by filling them with kindness whenever possible, as prescribed by the late, great Dr. Chuck Wall.
Every Full Moon, hundreds of people around the world go out to gaze at the night sky and look up at our lunar neighbor to remember and pay respect to an incredible woman, Molly Creely, who passed away on September 10th, 2019 at the age of 44.
For the past five years, "Molly’s Moon" has become a rite of passage once a month, a holy mass of sorts, and a prayer of thanks for those of us who knew her. If you look up the definition of “formidable” it is “inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder." Those few words describe Molly’s impact on the world, one that continues through her family, friends, and former students to this day.
On this episode of the Life 2.0 podcast, a short recap of my talk this past week at the Climate Action Museum in Chicago, and how one man changed the Chicago River's course and saved thousands of lives in the process. In other news, the last POTUS debate had some wild claims by former President Trump about Haitian immigrants chowing down on cats in the bustling metropolis of Springfield, Ohio which of course set unsocial media on fire and brought back memories of the 80's sitcom ALF (Alien Life Form) who often feasted on felines. As it turns out, the CATastrophic story was false, and the woman who started it all was surprised that it made the national media, as well as causing bomb threats. Surprised? Really? Welcome to the 21st century where facts always take a backseat to fiction.
In this edition of Earth Matters Monday, taking time for a last shout-out for the upcoming Earth Matters event at the Climate Action Museum on 9.11.24 with my tag-team partner Jen Weigel. At some point, we're not going to use the term Planet Earth anymore but rather Planet Plastic, as there is more plastic in tonnage than all the living things in the world combined and it's our collective fault. But, there are signs of hope amidst the floating water bottles, and I've included a few Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis spots for effect and a little help from John Denver to close the show.
It's been another interesting week for me. I ended up at Wrigley Field and witnessed the Chicago Cubs' no-hitter, which got me thinking about that iconic shrine and how much it's played in my life over the years. Then, a reminder popped up on Facebook about an early episode of "The Bridge" from 2020 with my friend the late, great Hillary Raimo. I grabbed some audio from 2019 when HR was a guest on this podcast; hearing her voice again is a real gift. Finally, it's the birthday of a dear friend who just happened to have a song written for her in 1974 by her then-husband John Denver and his version of "Annie's Song" in Russian is stratospheric. As always, more life lines than headlines as we dig for common sense in uncommon times.
Last night, I happened to catch one of my top ten fav films of all time "Cinderella Man" starring Russell Crowe and Rene Zellweger. It's Ron Howard's excellent movie about the true life and times of boxer James J. Braddock aka "The Bulldog of Bergen" and how he went from a contender to a washed-up pugilist and then incredibly found himself as the heavyweight champion of the world after defeating Max Baer in 1935. The movie is set against the background of The Great Depression and is filled with reminders of how good we have it today, despite what both political parties are selling these days.
Labor Day was born out of difficult (to say the least) working conditions in America back in the 1800s. It's the end of summer and the beginning of fall, but it also has me thinking of a few of the early jobs I had, like stacking bags of flour and fixing tires, as well as pouring concrete. It's about the value of work, putting in long hours, grinding it out, and deep satisfaction on a job well done...and then kicking back one day a year and having a cold one or three in honor of your efforts.
Frank Cale was just 19 years old when he came to the United States in 1967 in search of The American Dream. He found it, on the corner of Elston and Lawrence Ave. in Chicago, and for the past half-century, he cranked out untold pizzas and memories for those of us fortunate enough to call Sano's home. Last night, the doors closed for good, signaling the end of an era.
The landfill of the internet is filled with all sorts of #$%!($!! and on the heels of celebrating my 27th year in radio and still attempting to find common sense during uncommon times, it was time for another edition of The Wednesday Rant*. Is it true that in November of 2020, gas was $1.80 per gallon and mortgage rates were at a low of 2.75%? Yes...but why was that? A) Due to the former president in office OR B) Because there was a global pandemic and the world was shutting down? Let's find out! Higher Ground still exists, but the climb while slow at times, is worth it.
After watching "It-Chapter Two" last night for the third time from the master of horror Stephen King, the underlying theme of how fear can distort our view of the world and create lifelong challenges was crystal clear. The "fear factor" is a very real thing...or is it? Pennywise the Dancing Clown only existed by feeding off fear, not unlike humans who are nose-deep in the news that brings us every bit of low-level human behavior that does little to improve the human condition, but adds greatly to their anxiety levels. Add in my take on AI and a little help from Colin Hay, and it's another dose of common sense for uncommon times.
It's been another busy week at the Aurora Media Production Studio. I've done a few video-based interviews for the IRONMAN book, (meaning I needed to clean up a bit on-site.) During the clean-up process, I came across the original concept for the Oprah Radio Network I created back in 2004 and while that project didn't go as planned, it gave me a push in my career that has sustained me to this day. Also, it was 47 years ago on August 16th, that the world learned that Elvis Aaron Presley had died, and for millions of fans, their lives would never be the same. But, there is a song that sums up his presence and the ripple effect of his voice continues 56 years after he recorded it, as a reminder that we are capable of so much more.
On this edition of "Earth Matters Monday" I am joined by my gal-pal, the Emmy Award-winning journalist and best-selling author Jenniffer Weigel. We're gearing up for a tag-team public event at the Climate Action Museum in Chicago on September 11th and in preparation for the program, we are talking about some of the basics of earth science, how important it is to keep the water supply chain as healthy as possible and what the challenges might be in taking too much, and not giving enough back in terms of environmental stewardship.
As I prepared for this episode, the 1957 hit "At The Hop" by Danny and The Juniors kept popping up on my social media feed. I then remembered the back story of how Danny Rapp eventually took his own life.
Once again, I was reminded about the importance of not confusing who you are, with what you do and that finding purpose in life whether you're onstage or off is of utmost importance.
In April, I signed up for both presidential candidates' email lists, to see what the chatter might be. Six months later, I've had enough of them asking for cash to "Save The Republic" or "Battle for the Soul of America" and decided to unsubscribe to save my sanity. But before I did, I saved the good, the bad, and the ugly from both camps and thought I would share them with you, for better or for worse. The big takeaway? Apparently, just $1 can win The White House.
Resistance training has so many benefits that it takes an expert to explain them so that people who do not have a regular exercise program can understand the positive impact it can make in their lives. So, I reached out to Liz Kinnart, the best trainer/coach/motivator I know. Liz is an elite athlete, a mom, and owner of Bloom Holistic Health and Fitness, and all this while she battled Lyme disease for years. She takes a common sense approach to fitness and her clients are thrilled with their results. Listen to this episode to see how you can win a free personal one-on-one personal training session with Liz, or a three month membership to her Longevity Program! We're going for the gold and beyond as the Olympics have just opened in Paris!
109 years ago today, on July 24th, 1915, The Eastland sat docked on the Chicago River as hundreds of employees of the Western Electric Company crammed on board what was to be a day excursion to Michigan. As the ship filled up with passengers, it tipped to the waterside and quickly rolled over, throwing 2,500 people into the murky river water. In less than 8 minutes, 844 men, women, and children drowned making it the worst maritime disaster in Chicago history. Decades later, my radio team at Harpo was recording a show about the Eastland, and we had an unexpected encounter with EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) that is at once both unbelievable and incredible.
It's an oft-repeated theme that needs to be constantly reinforced. The lens you see the world with is determined by the beliefs you hold to be true even though they might not be. In optics, the aperture of an optical system is a hole or an opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. So the more light you let in, the clearer things become. It is easy with a camera, not so much for human beings, and while it's difficult, it's also worth the effort. As old friend Wayne Dyer insisted, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
At lunch this past week, I was asked "How did this all start for you?" Answering that question has been an ongoing exercise for nearly 30 years about the great game of connect-a-dots and the absolute knowing that whatever you seek...is seeking you. Whether or not you take the journey is a choice, but as Louis Pasteur insisted, "Chance favors the prepared mind."
So here we go again. Another tug of war for the White House between Biden and Trump. It's an ongoing reality show for the masses, and like most reality shows, illusion is what creates how we see the show. But, what if, we could use Artificial Intelligence (AI seems to be better than real human intelligence) and build the "Perfect POTUS" and skip all the BS? Imagine creating a hologram (like Michael Jackson who still performs after his death) with elements and characters from the top 10 presidents of all time. Hmmm, what then?
Since 1988, Shark Week has captivated audiences around the world, which is a good thing. The sharks have no idea how popular they have become, and usually only make the headlines when they take a bite out of someone, often with deadly results. But the few human fatalities are nothing compared to the fact that humans take 100 million sharks out of the world's oceans every year, seriously putting the water world out of balance. Another episode of Earth Matters Monday.
It's been said that the two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you figure out why. Most people never take the road less traveled, where their mission is waiting for them. Life is set up like a game of connect-a-dots but you don't get to see the mosaic until you reach a point of clarity. If you go within, you'll never go without but taking a deep dive is an arduous task and it's not until you clear out the septic tank of experiences, can you begin to understand that whatever you are seeking, is seeking you.
I was just about to lower the boom on the onslaught of emails I have gotten from Joe Biden and Donald Trump (they apparently know me but I don't know them) and how each of them needs my money right now (or at least by midnight) in the race to save the republic. But, Joe and Donny will have to wait, because something else has my attention. Lower lifeforms, nitwits, halfwits and dimwits posing as real people with one goal in mind-getting the inside track on my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Hold on to your lugnuts, time for an overhaul!
We are smack dab in the middle of summer with a few months left of grass-cutting before we can park the mower. Last summer, I swapped out my gas-belching mower for a sleek, new E-powered Black & Decker and never looked back. Americans will spend an estimated 127 billion dollars on lawn care and maintenance and the time has come to stop bombarding your lawn and let nature have a little corner to keep the balance. Add in a brand-new "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and you have another outing in environmental audio excellence.
Cimcie Nichols is a formidable combination of nature and nurture. She was my producer on "The Bridge" radio show that had us in conversation with Beijing daily for a year. Since then, she's gone through the gauntlet of change and has emerged as a certified practitioner in Sound Therapy, Reiki, and Herbalism, dedicated to holistic well-being. Over two decades of sobriety and a rich background in sales and marketing for wellness, brands have equipped her to guide individuals through life’s challenges without reliance on drugs or alcohol. She's the oldest daughter of the late, great 8-time Grammy award-winning sound engineer Roger "The Immortal" Nichols and is now reaching out to the Life 2.0 listeners to get the Hatchet Granny non-alc craft beverages launched to the commercial market!
There I was, cleaning up the Aurora Media Productions studio when I came across a letter that Bill Kurtis passed along to me a decade ago. It was from a listener of the Earth Matters radio vignettes and the changes they made, that caused a positive ripple effect, simply from listening to a one-minute short-form show. Next thing I know, I'm firing up the microphone and launching "Earth Matters Monday" in an attempt to interject common sense into our uncommon times.
John McEuen has been called "A Father of Americana Music."
Best known as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he is a key figure in the history of American folk music. Born in Oakland, California, McEuen grew up outside of Los Angeles. He began playing the banjo at age 17, after hearing live bluegrass at a club near his home.
That night changed McEuen’s life. He introduced his high school friend, comedian Steve Martin, to the banjo and both fell in love with the instrument together. John would go on to an incredible Grammy Award winning career, and shares his latest effort "The Newsman-A Man of Record" a spoken word album that is shaking up the charts.
An unplanned, early morning jaunt to grab some donuts, and a chance encounter with a woman who just lost her dad a month ago, kick-started this Father's Day episode. Add in some of my most profound (and often difficult) memories of my dad as well as a couple of his favorite songs, and this being my 20th year without him, goes to prove as my friend Conrad Reeder says, that the grief you feel is equal to or greater than the love you have for those you have lost.
I'm just back from a trip to the UP of Michigan, and it was another perspective-changing experience. It was the end of an era for The Naked Men's Club, a sacred ritual that was given form by the loss of two young people back in 2002. As with all things, I was reminded that as the late, great Wayne Dyer said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." A little musical help from America's Troubadour-David Stoddard-helps to round out the reminder that it's both choice and chance that determines the path of our lives.
After some serious behind-the-scenes stuff regarding this podcast, I've decided to mush on with it for now. I couldn't miss the chance to wish my friend and legendary Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley a happy 82nd birthday! I've dropped a vintage clip of Randy on The Dr. Oz Show from Oprah Radio and to top off the show, a fantastic song written and performed by Phil Lynch, celebrating the life and legacy of "The Rebel."
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. It is a day for visiting cemeteries and memorials to mourn the military personnel who died in the line of duty.
There's nothing happy about it.
Like many things, it's been hijacked by retailers as another way to sell mattresses, tires, and furniture, but the other side to all that stuff is the Gold Star families who will forever mourn the loss of their loved ones who died in combat. To that end, this is a composite episode of my other Memorial Day podcasts all rolled into one.
Lest we forget.
In 1993, John Berry scored his first #1 hit "Your Love Amazes Me" and at the very same time, he was battling a brain tumor. Since then, JB has gone on to become one of the most iconic voices in music, and he joins me to talk about that breakthrough hit and the songs that have kept him on the road for the past 30 years. Also, there's a great story about John's version of "O Holy Night" and even though Christmas is still 7 months away, I had to include it in this episode of the Life 2.0 Podcast.
We are smack dab in the middle of Military Appreciation Month, and it's Armed Forces Day. Taking a little bit of a different track on all this, as the further I get from my days in the United States Coast Guard, the more I appreciate all that I learned, the people I served with, and the motto of "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready.) Also, I would be remiss if I didn't include the voice of the man who has been a great friend and influence in my life, the late, great Lt. Lionel R. Munsey in this episode.
Every time I water the plants or work in the yard I think of her. Or whenever my voice goes up a few octaves if the Cubs aren't playing top-notch baseball or some injustice in the world needs to be fixed. My mom was a complicated person, and while we had our share of challenges, it wasn't until she passed away at the age of 59 that I was able to see her not as I thought she should be, but rather as who she was...my greatest teacher.
If there is one thing that grinds my gears, it is the onslaught of drug commercials on nearly every media outlet humans are connected to. There's gotta be a better way to find healing, especially when it comes to the mental health challenges we all face, as our collective PTSD runs rampant. My guest this week, Dr. Judy Tsafrir the author of Sacred Psychiatry offers up some holistic approaches to stave off the erosion of life, how to handle the inevitable wake-up calls, and stop the energy vampires from sucking the life out of you.
As April wraps up, it's another action-packed episode focused on the gift of life, relating to the Earth we all share (like it or not) and organ donation. First, it's a walk in the woods and the concept that trees have an underground connection, unseen to the human eye. Then it's my conversation with comedian George Lopez, ( who was given the gift of life in a kidney transplant) from my Oprah Radio show back in the day, further proving that spirituality and intelligent design can co-exist.
I'm always looking to come at the environmental challenges we all face from a different angle, to shed light on our responsibility as stewards of the biosphere we call home. I took a deep dive into the audio vault and came up with a conversation that I had with Bill Kurtis and Jean-Michel Cousteau from 2009 when I was on Oprah Radio. It's timeless stuff and a full five years before BK and I launched the "Earth Matters" syndicated radio program. In honor of our collective efforts, I edited in a few EM spots, designed to underscore the fact that like it or not, believe it or not, understand it or not-there is no place else to go, so we make our stand on Earth-for better or for worse.
Working off the trusty, dusty Dell this morning (that spends most of its time packed away) has me once again realizing how unadaptable I've become when the keyboard is in a different location. But mushing on, I'm so excited to support a true pioneer in American music-John McEuen-one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (and the guy who gave Steve Martin banjo lessons) in his latest audio effort "The Newsman" that is a rare spoken word just released CD. I've got a cut off that album as well as another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and to wrap up the whole enchilada, Phil Lynch has a new song out that is all about listening first, and seeing each other as human beings, not political punching bags.
Another deep dive into common sense for uncommon times.
Everyone knows (or should know) that a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. That's stuff I learned in Mr. Andler's 5th-grade science class. Even so, there are some myths surrounding this celestial event, and I thought it might be important to separate fiction from fact. Add in an episode of Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis, an homage of sorts to my biggest environmental influences, and a text message from the greatest sports writer in America about the book "IRONMAN" and you have another episode of common sense for uncommon times.
Dr. Jane Goodall is known the world over as an ambassador for the natural world, and the foremost expert on chimpanzees after 60 years of studying wild chimpanzees' social and family interactions. Goodall first visited Tanzania to observe its chimpanzees in 1960.
She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program and has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues. In April 2002, she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Goodall is an honorary member of the World Future Council and today is her 90th birthday.
I went into the vast audio archives and pulled up my conversation with Dr. Jane from a few years ago. Her messages are more relevant than ever.
Easter is just hours away, but my attention has been diverted to a breaking news story in Chicago that is putting the city on edge! Heinz is building "Ketchup Relief Stations" around the city near hot dog joints, to push back on the "No Ketchup" tradition that has made mustard king for decades. But where did this all start? It's time for a history lesson that rolled back to 1893 and the World's Fair as my German relatives brought sausages to the Windy City. But, the reason for Easter Sunday is not lost on me, as I have a few thoughts on the concept of resurrection, and I have a little help from country music icon John Berry to get my point across.
Once upon a time, I was Superman! But my cape took a serious hit when I tried out for the men's 65+ baseball league last week. I haven't swung a bat in 8 years, and Father Time gave me some serious reminders about the inevitability of growing older. And, I was close to just going fishing for the rest of my natural days after I got an email that seemed to be the biggest stroke of luck ever, which turned out to be another attempt from lower life forms to raid my stuff. But we end on a high note (pun intended) as millions of people around the world have watched a group of middle schoolers sing "Country Roads" on Tik-Tok much to the amazement of their teacher.
After 40+ hours of audio work this past week, I was ready to watch something and not just hear it. I came across a video from the early 1970s featuring my longtime pal and Green Bay Packer Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer titled "The Habit of Winning." JK was interviewing some of his former Packer teammates about how their time under Vince Lombardi and his "teachings" had followed them off the field into the game of life. I called Jerry after I finished and our conversation was another reminder for me that discipline, perseverance and dedication to your calling are timeless principles that apply to everyone... but not everyone applies them.
Does prayer work? If so, what happens to the theory that it does, and you pray for an outcome, and it doesn't happen or turn out like you think it should, hoped it would, or prayed that it would?
Then what?
A lunch with old friends had us taking a deep dive into the well of faith and when I came across a long-forgotten memo I wrote on prayer, I knew it was fodder for this week's podcast. Add to that a great version of a well-known tune that was written as a love song, but became a prayer over time, and you have another outing in audio excellence.
It's been another busy week at the Aurora Media studios, so I've implemented a mandatory lunch break away from my desk, which put me in front of a Netflix documentary series about the most dangerous prisons in the world. I've been in prison six times (as a guest not resident) and the show took me back to some of the memories of when I spoke to prisoners over the years, and how the rudder of our belief systems will always put us in the direction we believe in most-for better or for worse. Add to that a free haircut (first time ever!) and a great song from my gal-pal Lisa Bradshaw, and it's another audio outing with common sense for uncommon times.
Jenniffer Weigel is a prolific author, Emmy Award-winning journalist, respected radio host, and truth-seeking force of nature. She's also a seasoned stage performer who is bringing her one-woman show "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" to the Chicago area in March. It's another deep-dive conversation into the human condition, as we solve the problems of the world on "Wednesday with Weigel."
There I was, minding my own business editing an audio project on Thursday afternoon when a "ding" went off in my ear, signaling a message in the landfill of Facebook. It was Lieselle Elliot checking from France, where it was nearly midnight. She sent me a song from an old friend, which started a flurry of activity, as we shared music videos from 2,000 miles apart, for about 45 minutes. So, we decided to move all that to this episode of the Life 2.0 podcast, and what a gift to spend time with this force of nature, poet, and humanitarian who is followed by over one million people on Instagram. With music from Alessandro Frosali, John Denver and Colin Hay.
A couple of months ago I met with a true American icon-Gen. James Mukoyama. General Mukoyama's story, at its heart, is a love letter to the most generous nation on Earth—a beacon, a manifesto to remind us all that through hard work, dedication, and an allegiance to something greater than oneself... anything and everything is possible. His journey is remarkable, and his experiences on and off the field of battle, have given him insight and wisdom into the human condition that few have. I'm honored to have Gen. Mukoyama in the studio for a conversation about his new book "Faith, Family & Flag: Memoirs of an Unlikely American Samurai Crusader."
58 years ago, in 1967, the Green Bay Packers of the NFL defeated the upstart Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL in what would eventually become the Super Bowl three years later. Tickets to the game were $10 bucks, pigeons were part of the halftime show and there were 32,000 empty seats. Tomorrow, the Chiefs take on the 49ers and billions are on the betting line, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift will be a topic of controversy and by Monday...it will all evaporate once again... until the next Superb Owl Party.
We live in a world filled with QR Codes, but have you ever heard of the QTR Code? Probably not, but in this episode I will explain what it is, and the importance it has in your everyday experience. Add to that a short recap on one of my monthly conversations with Green Bay Packer HOF'er Jerry Kramer (who wanted to talk about the GOAT Code) and my review of the "We Are The World" documentary and once again, we're off to the races looking for the obvious buried in the absurd.
Legendary journalist Charles Osgood passed away last week at the age of 91. He was best known for being the host of CBS Sunday Morning, a role he held for over 22 years, and The Osgood File, a series of daily radio commentaries he hosted from 1971 until 2017. When I was cutting my teeth on the radio back in the day, Charlie always took time for an interview with me, all the way from New York to the UP of Michigan on a little CBS affiliate. After digging in my audio vault, I came across one of our conversations from the early 2000s and I'm honored to share it on the Life 2.0 podcast. Toss in a never-heard-before episode of "History Matters with Bill Kurtis" and it's another outing in audio excellence.
It's been a rather interesting week for your host. From lunch with a General, to pushing a 5,000-pound truck down the block, to watching the news going crazy over cold weather (again) to learning that "Manwich" doesn't include meat in their cans. I'm all over the map in this episode, which is just how life goes sometimes...enjoy.
Instead of omitting the podcast today due to time constraints, I opted to throw a dart and send out a rebroadcast of a previous Life 2.0 episode from 8.13.21 "In a world where pseudo-talk radio hosts lie to people to make money, and my email inbox looks like a cat box full of crap, I am reminded that the best way to stay out of the headlines, is to contribute to the greater good via the lifelines." Enjoy!
On the eve of the Bears vs. Packers in Lambeau (and the last regular season NFL game) I cannot help but think about the lessons the game of football has taught me, after playing it for over 20 years. There is a price to be paid for those lessons, and what I learned on the gridiron has become an invaluable part of my professional success. Also, a 30+ friendship with Hall of Fame Packer legend Jerry Kramer has taken those lessons to another level. You don't have to be a football fan, to apply the lessons of the game to the game of life.
December 31st would have been John Denver's 80th birthday, so I gathered up some of his friends to talk about his environmental impact, his musical legacy, and perhaps most importantly, the concept that one person can make a world of difference. My guests on this very special episode are educator Dr. Cheryl Charles, legendary country/western artist Michael Martin Murphey, and communications coach Donna Lipman, who share their thoughts, memories, and more of JD.
There's no going up the down staircase, in the "out" door, making sense out of the senseless, or finding the obvious buried in the absurd in this episode. It's time for some of my favorite Christmas music including Seymour Swine, Julie Andrews, John Denver, and John Berry. Also, I had to include the great story of how President Theodore Roosevelt's son Archie, saved the tradition of the Christmas Tree back in 1902 and a few thoughts on the sacredness of the season.
It is the news that no parent wants to ever hear...that your child has died. In 2016, 21-year-old Chris McQuillen and a group of friends, many home from college on winter break, had met up at a lake house in southern Wisconsin to catch up and celebrate the new year. At some point early in the morning, Chris and three friends went missing, and sadly, drowned in a nearby lake. Joe McQuillen began a journey that would make him a "reluctant prophet" when it comes to staying connected to his son after his death, and the many gifts that have come out of his grief.
Dealing with loss at the holidays is compound interest of the worst kind, but Joe insists that there is light in the darkness, if we look for it.
This is a rebroadcast of an earlier Life 2.0 podcast episode. But, just because it's a repeat, doesn't mean you don't have to pay attention, pilgrim...
16 years ago I shared the stage with a then-unknown (at least to me) Taylor Swift. In full disclosure, we were on the same stage, (an hour apart) however- we were in the same room, that's for sure. There was nothing in her presence or performance that night that would have led me to believe that one day she would be named the "Time Magazine Person of The Year" for 2023 and become a billionaire in the process.
Perspective of course, is everything.
50+ years ago I would have been up early on a Saturday morning having a great time with the "Thingmaker" cranking out rubbery-looking bugs, racing on my Hot Wheels set, or looking for an opponent to play "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots" (and you do know the whole blue and red thing is a reflection on politics right?...or left.) But fear not! This episode is about raising your vibrational patterns, and one of the best ways to do that is music-and at this time of year, there is no one better than John Berry
When I had a no-show client, but a mic that was ready go to, I launched into a rare audio version of "The Wednesday Rant." It all started when I got a call to speak at a local college as a stand-in for another speaker who took ill. While it's been a while since I've done a platform performance, the switches flipped, the words came forth and I had the opportunity to deliver the mail one more time. It's the best way I know to validate the fact, that I've won the lottery of life one more time-and so have you.
There I was, minding my own business on Thanksgiving Day, watching a football game between the Packers and Lions, when suddenly a Chevy commercial had me in tears. Not 24 hours earlier, I had been in conversation with Jerry Kramer (one of the greatest Packers of all time,) talking about the magic of music and recalling an event that took place a decade earlier, that once again manifested itself right on time. It is a reminder of the power music has when it comes to breaking down the demons of dementia, this time with a little help from John Denver.
After several conversations this past week about the concept of living a "brick and mortar" life, I was moved to make it the theme of this week's podcast. We're not talking about physical buildings but rather the bricks (events) and mortar (experiences) in our lives that have created the path we've traveled, the people we've met, and the importance of reconnecting with the past, to create a more vibrant present and future.
My cousin Rich "The Sarge" Hoffman has been a great influence in my life. I have clear memories of tracking his movements on a map of Vietnam in my bedroom as a kid when he put in two tours as a young Marine back in 'Nam. In all the years I've known him, we have never talked about his experiences there, and so when I reached out and asked if he would be part of this episode of the Veterans Day podcast- he said "YES" I knew he would have a powerful perspective on a very difficult time for him personally and for our country. Thank you for your service, Sarge, and to all of the DD-214 alumni.
Legendary Green Bay Packer guard and Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer and writer Bob Fox join me in discussing their just-released book Run to Win which is a compilation of stories and profiles from Kramer's NFL career under Vince Lombardi. The book also features some of Jerry's post-career adventures (like the time he almost punched out Elvis) reflections on the game and some of his most formidable opponents (doing battle with Merlin Olsen and Alex Karras) as well as his thoughts about the journey he's been on since he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1958. Run to Win is must read for football fans, especially those wearing the green and gold.
Growing up with a father who was a mild-mannered banker 11 months out of the year and morphed into "The Count" and scaring countless Chicagoans, had a profound effect on the way I experience Halloween every year...and still do. Add to all that my own "unexplained" experiences including the name of a man who perished in the Eastland disaster suddenly being heard by a group of radio pros working at Harpo and a distended "voice" that turned up on supposedly a blank recording at my high school decades after I graduated. Yeah, it's scary stuff for sure. Enjoy!
I've been to three reunions in the last six months; every single one was a sobering reminder that time marches on. However, spending time with people from an earlier era of my life pushed the hands on the life clock backward and revealed some serious teachings, lessons, and reminders. The experience of "reuniting" might just be one of the most powerful things you can do in terms of creating moments that matter-which is kinda what life is all about.
Twenty-six years ago today, John Denver perished in a plane crash in Monterey Bay, California. Every October 12th, I take time to honor and remember the man who helped me discover my voice, my calling, and my divine assignment.
"While the singer is silent, there still is the truth of the songs."
Amen, brother.
On the heels of our 35-year-plus reunion last Saturday for Coast Guard Air Station Chicago, I was ready to do a short, 45-minute recap and call it a day. Then, I had an idea. Instead of me yakking it up solo, how about I have a few of the guys on to share their thoughts about the reunion, what it was like to reconnect after so many years, how their lives turned out after they left the United States Coast Guard, and share the laughs and love that only comes with serving together in the military. DISCLAIMER: There was no way to edit this down for time, without losing the essence of the conversation with Wally, Doc, and Artie, so be forewarned it's 90 minutes long. Grab a bourbon, or liquid of choice, sit back and enjoy.
It's a big day for this kid. I'm getting ready to reconnect with the men and women I served with in the United States Coast Guard 40 years ago. While I am feeling really good about that, the other side of the coin has me at odds with those who think a government shutdown is a good idea, and maybe I need to get with Marianne Williamson as her VP and run for office in 2024. Then again....maybe not. Music this week from the highly talented Heidi Newfield.
Homecoming as defined by Webster "is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence." So, when 30 alumni returned home to our alma mater for a high school football game and BBQ we were welcomed back to a time that in many ways no longer exists. Once again the lessons of perspective were front and center.
As another week unfolds in so many interesting ways, the messages from The Wizard of Oz come to mind. At some point in my life, I've been just like every one of the characters in the classic movie. There have been times I questioned my smarts, heart, and courage, but in the end, as in the beginning, it's all about remembering to "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." Had to add one of my favorite songs from David Stoddard to close out the show.
It's another literary milestone, as IRONMAN was cleared for retail sale today. It's the 9th book I've written and released it's been released on 9.9.23 and Randy Hundley wore #9 for the Cubs! I'll take it! In other news I had the opportunity to sit in on live radio again last week, and the reminders of "right" vs. "left" leaves very little room for middle ground, where most people live. If you are still upright and breathing, you've won the lottery of life...again!
Last week I had the opportunity to sit in "live" on the radio here in Chicago. It's been a few years since I did a three-hour show, but much like riding a bike, I found my balance in just a few pushes of the pedals. I didn't spend any time on politics, but rather on more important things like health care for veterans, the good and great things going on in Chicago, "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and...cicadas. Had to include the recently departed for warmer waters Jimmy Buffett of course...right in time for the Labor Day weekend show.
I'm still in recovery mode from the book launch of "IRONMAN" the autobiography of legendary Cubs catcher Randy Hundley. It's one thing to write a book in a defined space of time, quite another thing to experience the effect our efforts on the book had on a roomful of people. As if I needed another thing to be focused on, my trusty, dusty Dell slowed down to a crawl (it worked hard too) and my computer wizard Zack explained on memory (or lack of it) plays a role in the efficiency of the machine-which is not unlike how our minds work.
On the eve of a major book launch party for "IRONMAN!"-The Autobiography of Legendary Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley-I've had an interesting week watching all the puzzle pieces come together on this project. Add to that a new wrist-watch (not unlike my old one) as well as some thoughts on watching the 81 year "Rebel" signing books and I cannot help but think about how fast our timelines seem to evaporate. Then, a late night text message from country music superstar John Berry seals the deal, and it's another attempt at audio excellence and podcasting possiblities.
There is an old saying..."You can't push the river" but we try to anyway. As humans, we are often more like a stone, firmly entrenched in our opinions, beliefs and experiences in the river of life, than the waters that flow around, over and under the stones, eroding, polishing and refining them. This past week, I’ve had a few reminders of perspective, and the power of asking better questions, and how much I enjoy getting my quills cut at the barbershop-all of it an invitation to “be like water.”
I've been working on a book project for exactly one year. When the Author's Proof finally showed up, I had some fairly serious insights to the process that always takes over my life to a greater or lesser degree, and the satisfaction that comes from creating a book out of some pretty thin air. It's humbling, frustrating and magical all at once.
Everybody running around buying lottery tickets, all the while not realizing that they have already won the biggest lottery there is-LIFE. What you do with your winnings is a matter of choice, not chance. Don't believe me? Check your Human Math.
A milestone was reached this past Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. (and 9:02 a.m.) EST as my son Andy and daughter-in-law Kaitlyn, welcomed identical twin girls to the world, and I officially became "Poppa John." It's been a few days of reflection and memories, lessons and reminders, delivered to me, via the two newest members of the Human Family.
At one time, John Denver was the biggest-selling artist in the world.
When he embarked on an ambitious tour of the USSR in 1984, there was no cultural agreement between the USA and the Soviet Union, as the Cold War was just starting to thaw. Roger "The Immortal" Nichols, the engineering genius behind Steely Dan, accompanied Denver to Russia with a small yet state of the art recording rig, at the urging of John's brother Ron. The tapes of those historic concerts eventually became an album after Denver died in a plane crash in 1997, but then were swallowed up over time.
In an effort to restore history, Roger's daughters Cimcie and Ashlee have spent the last decade tracking down the master recordings, and along with their mom Conrad Reeder, successfully completed their mission, with support from the Denver Estate.
These historic concets from 1945/85 are now available for digital download on all streaming platforms. Connie, Cimcie and Ashlee join me to share the journey, recount the incredible efforts of Roger to capture the concerts in the USSR and how 40+ years later, Denver's message of peace looms larger than ever before.
Included in this episode are some of Denver's classics, recorded on stage, just as he peformed them, for a very receptive audience in the USSR.
There was a time that I paid my bills running an 80 pound jack hammer all day. The lessons of those years of hard work, have played out in my literary life decades later. Whenever it's scorching hot and I'm doing yard work, sweating in the summer sun, I go back to that time as well as football practice and the memories infiltrate my mind. Also, its a fodder filled show that has me wondering if John Denver should be in the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame (maybe/maybe not) and a follow up on the sh*t show from last week with listener suggestions.
My dad used to say that the only difference between sht and spaghetti, is the sauce. Fresh off a stop at the auto parts store, where F'bombs were dropping in blitzkreig like fashion, thought I would share the "Know Your Sht" list, so you can be more accurarte in your verbiage. Monday is our 247th birthday as a nation, and I've got some trivia you can use at the BBQ to impress your friends and neighbors. Did you know that a 16 year-old designed our current flag? Didn't think so. Be safe!
50 years. That's how long it's been since I last saw many of my classmates from the Belding Elementary School Class of 1973. Back then, I was a tadpole in terms of human development. Last night we celebrated the half-century mark, with a few hours of memories and laughter, bundt cake and pictures. It also took me back to that day in June, when my dad took off a half-day of work, and with Father's Day fast approaching, some lessons learned from Poppa John. Add to that my mom's efforts that transformed my bedroom into a Rocky Mountain cabin, and it all adds up to another deep dive into the memory pool on the Life 2.0 podcast.
We're rolling back to Father's Day 2022 on this episode as Jen and I share memories of our dads, and some thoughts on the journey of our friend Joe McQuillen, who lost his son Chris, but continues to inspire and inform grieving parents. The lighter side is a romp through my first sit-down drinking experience with my Old Man, and a rare "Daily Duff" feature from the highly talented Chris Duffy.
It's talk that matters.
It's been another interesting week. But, when you see life from a certain perspective, everything becomes interesting, if not magical. What you focus on expands, so the bottom line is that if you want to keep getting what you are getting, keep doing what your doing. If not, change your perspective. I had a little help with that at the gym, when a group of elderly ladies reminded me that expressing ourselves in the world is so very important. A little musical back-up from the incredibly talented Heidi Newfield.
For the past three Wednesdays, I've been airing reruns of the "John & Jen Show" that was broadcast in Washington D.C. in 2022. HOWEVER, this episode from is our conversation yesterday, not last year. It's amazing to me how much ground we cover (on and off the air.) Ever the journalist, Weigel turns the tables on me, and has me answering questions I never intended to, but that's part of her super-power. Everything from the very long walk I took in 1996 to the karmic kick-back that had me on the floor (literally) in a training session, to our upcoming writer's workshop and pretty much everything else in-between.
Little did I know back in 1975, that by covering a shift for a co-worker, I would be exposed to a couple of new experiences. I discovered the glories of the Burger King Whopper, and it was the summer that a mechanical shark cleared beaches around the world, and I became a JAWS aficionado. In this episode, I've dropped in my conversation with JAWS screenwriter Carl Gottlieb from a couple of years ago, as well as another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis."
“You're gonna need a bigger boat…”
If you missed the John & Jen Show from last year that aired in Washington D.C. here's your chance to get in on the rewind, every Wednesday.
Recounting how Jerry Kramer and I made every attempt to put Maker's Mark out of business when he was in Chicago, and some of the success principles that Lombardi touted. Add to that the time Steve "Mongo" McMichael broke up a hockey-game and how quickly the "back nine" creeps up on us.
Jen shared about spending a few days with Steph Arnold at the Edgar Cayce Instititue, and goes for higher ground when it comes to finding the purpose of life. Later in the show, the wonderful and talented Lisa Dietlin joins us and bestows some great insights into the world of charitible giving.
It's talk that matters.
Definition of the word memorial: “something (such as a monument or ceremony) that honors a person who has died or serves as a reminder of an event in which many people died.” Doesn't say anything about buying tires, mattresses or that it’s a reason to celebrate. Memorial Day isn’t for those who are currently serving-that’s Armed Forces Day. It’s not for those of us who have served and returned home-that’s Veterans Day. This is to honor those who served, gave their last full measure for an ideal, a cause or effort that represents the best of American values and conscience. Remembering Nikolas Daniels, Ryan Jopek, Donald Sansone, Kurt Duncan and Nathaniel Bruckenthal.
I've known the Emmy award winning journalist, best-selling author, and stellar radio show host Jen Weigel-for 20+ years. In 2022, we tag-teamed a weekly audio outing in Washington D.C. that most of you never heard, unless you lived in area code 202. So, when I came across a file with all the "John & Jen Show" files, thought it would be a good idea to share them each week on this platform. Had to take the music out, but other than that, Ms. Weigel and I are off to the races in many different directions. It's talk that matters...
Another interesting week in review, as I spent some time with my chiropracter, re-learned the lesson of S.A.I.D (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand) and had lunch with Spencer Tracy and Fredic March. Add to that, a chance encounter with a young man attempting to sell God door-to door, and all-in-all, it's another audio testament (no pun intended) in commonsense for uncommon times.
Also, a little musical back-up from John Denver.
My mom was tough as nails, with a heart for all the four legged strays. A Benson & Hedges smoking, F-bomber with the best of them. An artist, voracious reader, rabid Cubs fan, outspoken, opinionated, green thumb, no power steering driving, music loving, fashion statement. Thursday morning bowling, interior designing, ice skate loving, Halloween hostess, over the top Christmas decorator, neighborly, Six Corners shopping enthusiast, complicated, hard headed, driven, whip cord strong country girl, with a city life that died so very young, gone so soon.
And, she was my greatest teacher.
I've been producing radio for over 25 years, and that has created side bar for me to produce podcasts for clients. Just last week, I was with two of my newbies, Billy Dexter and Melissa G. Wilson on their "Awake in The Network" pod, and the talk turned to the journey we all have to take in life, and next thing I know, the long walk I took from the UP of Michigan to Chicago and back, became the topic of discussion. The boots I wore, that sit in my studio, are a reminder to me that sometimes the most important lessons, come on the last 100 miles But in order to do that, you've got to get up and walk. A little musical back-up from my brother Mark B. Cleveland on this one.
On the heels of Fox News having to cough up nearly a billion dollars for "gross inaccuracies" (aka BS on the channel for an extended period of time as it pertains to voting in the last election) a few names have been dropped from their roster. The biggest of course, is Tucker Carlson, who apparently had zero idea that he'd broadcast his last show. Being the polarizing figure that he is, you might be surprised that I actually agree with him on some things, and his departure comes as a reminder that if you don't own the company, and you become a liability, you lose your parking spot.
Humans have been around in our present form for about 250,000 years. Earth however, is 4.65 billion years old, so in geological terms, we're just a blip on the radar, which accounts for the lack of consciousness when it comes to our place on the planet. I've enlisted the help of my friends Dr. Jane Goodall, Bill Kurtis and the late John Denver, in reminding us that "Earth Matters."
When I came across the research that shows 54% of Americans aren't as smart as an octopus or squid, I knew it was time for a refresher course in being conscious of what you consume (like calamari.) In keeping with my mantra of common sense for uncommon times, a little good news was needed to balance out the BS that takes up so much of our attention. Add to that the fact I brought brass knuckles to the movies last night, as well as some music from country legend John Berry, and you've got another rousing episode of the Life 2.0 podcast.
On this day before Easter, I have been thinking about the gift of resurrection. Not in the traditional, biblical sense, but rather the many times in my life, when I thought I couldn't go on, and yet somehow found the faith to move forward, rising up from what appeared to be the ashes of my life at the time. It's not what happens to you in life that counts, but rather how you respond that matters most.
Hopelessness, characterized by despair and helplessness, is on the rise globally, with 48% of Americans experiencing it since COVID-19. Hopelessness has a significant impact on retention, productivity, absenteeism, violence, addiction, self-harm, and all areas of mental health, including suicide. In so many ways, we are teaching our children "hopelessness" with the constant bombardment of negativity that permeates so much of unsocial media. Kathryn Goetzke, The CHO (Chief Hope Officer) of The SHINE Hope Company, joins me for a pivotal conversation about keeping hope alive.
A Smörgåsbord is a buffet-style meal of Swedish origin. It is served with various hot and cold dishes, and in homage to my mom's side of the family, I offer up a smattering of stuff for you to ingest, digest or just plain egest. So, what do the following things have in common? Baseball, April Fool's Day, Kinesology, country music superstar Heidi Newfield, overweight walleyes and karma have in common? That's easy, they are all part and parcel of another edition of the Life 2.0 podcast. It's another audio exercise in "Common Sense for Uncommon Times."
I wasn't sure what to expect when we left Chicago headed for Amersterdam, for an 8 day cruise down the mighty Rhine River in Germany. Suffice to say that it was an excursion for the senses and palate, but also a serious perspective shift, when some of the buildings there are 4 times older than our country. From spending time at an ancient cathedral, to a bar full of Germans singing "Country Roads" it was a reminder that people all over the world are basically the same.
In order to save my voice (while battling back a head cold) thought I would enlist the support of other voices for this episode. I went back into the Aurora Media Productions audio vault, and pulled up conversations with Royce Elliot, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Ed McMahon, Bill Kurtis & Jean Michel-Cousteau, and Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo. Enjoy-
So, what do the following things all have in common? The Creature from the Black Lagoon, a country music legend in Chicago, lunch with three guys I haven't seen in a half-century, gas prices in 1943 and a new pack of underwear? Not really sure myself, but they are all puzzle pieces for this week's Life 2.0 podcast.
I first met Lisa Bradshaw, when she was a guest on my radio show, way back in the year 2000. At that time, she had written a book about overcoming cancer, and for reasons ony known to the cosmos, we have stayed connected these past twenty-three years. I've been witness to her courage in the face of the loss of her husband, steadfastness in raising her son as a single mom, her brillance in writing books, and her passion for helping people, especially when it comes to managing our wellness, so we don't have to deal with illness unprepared. She is, by definition, a true force of natue.
John Berry is a legend on the country music stage, and one of the rare talents of his time. JB is back in the Chicago area for a concert on March 1st, and I'm always happy to promote and support his agenda of bringing people together, one song at a time. A great conversation about overcoming adversity, the power of faith, and how much he's looking forward to a real Chicago hot dog.
Facing Fear is a film that details one man’s global search to find ways to handle his fear, after he received some devastating health news. Internationally known filmmaker Bill Bennett, sought out some of the world’s leading experts in fear management. He wanted to understand how fear worked, and how to best manage it. Featuring such luminaries as Dr Joe Dispenza, Dr Bruce Lipton and Caroline Myss, the resulting film is a unique perspective that examines fear scientifically and spiritually. Hold on to your lugnuts for this one, time for a serious belief system overhaul.
There are only a handful of men, who played in both Super Bowl I & II-and HOF Green Bay Packer guard Jerry Kramer is one of them. It's a special Throwback Thursday episode, as we roll back the years to 1967 & 1968, for a close up look at the game, when tickets cost $12 bucks and long before all the pomp and circumstance that has become the 2nd most watched, largest global sporting event in the world.
I checked in on a friend this past week, who shared with me the devastating news that his wife has a terminal condition. Our conversation once again had me thinking about life expectancy, the concept that we are all terminal on some level, and that living the time we've been given-and using it up-should be a priority, that often gets overlooked, until we face the final countdown. The sands of time, in the hourglass of life, only drain one way.
So, what does a heating pad, Kim Kardashian, a four speed Opel Manta, David Letterman, Dave Chappelle, country superstar John Berry and Netflix all have in common? They are the puzzle pieces for a look at the concepts of success or signficance when it comes to building a life. No really.
This past Thursday was the 45th anniversary of my 2nd rebirth. I was 19 years old, and died on the floor of an Osco Drug store after suffering an electric shock. The pharmacist who stayed late that Friday night in 1978, saved my life with CPR. One of the great lessons my 2nd chance gave me, is that we need to deal with our sht before it deals with us, because life is too short to major in minor things. You can either get bitter or* better, but not both.
Prayer is the default setting for a massive number of humans, including myself at times. But after watching people pray for years to end to wars, gun violence and disease, I find it all fascinating. Where we apply prayer, and the different reactions to unanswered prayers. Is it effective? Does it really work? Who decides? More questions than answers in this episode.
Damar Hamlin was brought back to life, while millions watched on Monday Night Football. His road to recovery has been remarkable, but the ripple effect from this incident will be felt on many levels, for many years to come.
As another year slowly fades into the history books, we're always looking to make a change, which at the same time, is the one thing humans hate most, but is necessary to take your life to the next level. The one tried and true route to positive change, is the S.A.I.D (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand) that isn't a jazzy buzzword, but most definitely a game changer. Also, a couple of reminders on this New Year's Eve from my friends John Denver and Capt. Jerry Coffee, as we get ready to welcome 2023.
So much of what I learned in high school, has played a significant role in my adult life. Not specific classes, but rather the experience itself, during those formative, formidable four years. Never did I think that once I graduated, I would ever have cause to return to my alma mater-Schurz High School-in Chicago. Eventually I ended up teaching there for a couple of years, and decades later, have become active with the alumni. But, the challenges faced by Schurz are very different than when I attended, and this conversation with the current principal-Dr. Heidy Moran-sheds light on the uphill battle of education in the 21st century, the importance of the connection between students and staff, and her own incredible story of success, from immigrant to educator.
I had zero idea that when I volunteered to "play" Santa in 1980 during my first year in the United States Coast Guard, that I would spend nearly 20 years putting on the red and white rig. Every Christmas Eve, I remember those long, cold nights, bright smiles, a few tears, and the great experiences I had. This episode features a reading from my upcoming audio book "Every Moment Matters" about my metamorphisis from a regular guy-to Kris Kringle.
It is the news that no parent wants to ever hear...that your child has died. In 2016, 21-year-old Chris McQuillen and a group of friends, many home from college on winter break, had met up at a lake house in southern Wisconsin to catch up and celebrate the new year. At some point early in the morning, Chris and three friends went missing, and sadly, had drowned in a nearby lake. Joe McQuillen began a journey that would make him a "reluctant prophet" when it comes to staying connected to his son after his death, and the many gifts that have come out of his grief. Dealing with loss at the holidays is compound interest of the worst kind, but Joe insists that there is light in the darkness, if we look for it.
Julie Murphy is a best-selling author, sought after and highly respected wealth managment professional, who is on a mission to help people resolve their trauma around money. Your deeply ingrained beliefs around money, are the guideposts that can make you, or break you. Get ready to take a dive in the deep end of the money pool, and learn a few new strokes, to launch your life in a whole new direction, when it comes to true wealth.
My broadcasting career started as a calling, and the long, winding road of radio have taken me to some interesting places, both physically and spiritually. The one thing that has been a powerful tool on the journey, has been surrendering to something bigger than my ego, which has given me the opportunity to walk through doors I never could have imagined. Recently, I was compared to the late, great DJ and radio personality Casey Kasem, and it was confirmation on some level that I'm still on the right track.
Chance or choice? Power or force? Good or bad? Action or reaction? One of the great keys to a better life experience, is to ask better questions, which evenutally leads to better answers, that if acted upon, can enhance your existence in a big way. Or, you can remain a victim of circumstance, constantly ride the emotional rollercoaster and try to drown your pain in bottle, which never works.
If you would have told me that one day I would be giving Howard Stern credit for being insightful and authentic, I would have said-no #%)#@ way! However, gotta give credit where credit is due, and after watching Stern in conversation with David Letterman on "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction*" on Netflix, I stand corrected and apologize...kinda...sorta.
After surviving another barrage and bombardment of political ads and elections ( BTW do you know why we have "red" and "blue" states?) it was was time for a short trip to the Fox Valley of Wisconsin for a mini-family reunion, and coming across a $1.99 copy of "Farewell to Football" by old friend Jerry Kramer and subsequent conversation with Jerry, helped put things into perspective, decades after it was published.
As I get ready to put the epilogue on the audio version of my 2nd book "Every Moment Matters" I am remembering and recalling the past thirteen years since I first sat down to write it. Much has changed, some things have stayed the same, but one thing is for sure, moments still matter, perhaps now more than ever.
Halloween at our house was a BIG DEAL! Once a year, my dad transformed from mild manner banker, to Dracula right before my eyes, and along with a cadre of cousins, created "The Haunted House" that for 20 + years, scared the crap out of young and old alike. Remembering my dad on his favorite day of the year.
Intuition is defined as: "the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning." Well, I don't know about the "immediately" part when it comes to my own life, because I usually need a few spiritual 2X4's upside my ego, but learning to "go within, so you don't have to go without" is a critical part of the human performance system-that so often goes unused. Add to that, the importance of having an "external hard-drive" or platform you can store all the stuff you don't need, so it doesn't drag you off into the landfill of life, and it's another episodic adventure in common sense for uncommon times.
In 1967, Salvatore Canale ventured out from the small town of Altavilla Milicia in Sicily and embarked on a journey to Chicago with his wife, son, and daughter. Salvatore dreamed of bringing a piece of his background to Chicago and sharing it with others. In 1972, he opened a small carry-out establishment in Chicago and called it La Villa.
Salvatore took pride in his pizza and enjoyed entertaining the neighborhood kids by flipping pizza dough in the window. After outgrowing the original location, in 1976, Salvatore relocated the business to its current location.
50 years since its original opening, La Villa has expanded from a small carry-out window, to an iconic nationally known restaurant! Salvatore passed away in 2018, but his recipes and success live on through his daughter Christina and family, who have continued offering customers authentic Italian food and are celebrating one-half century in business!
Two months of production work on "John Denver Remembered: The Man & His Music" has me looking at my own life, in the 25 years since John passed away. What are the gains and losses? Then, a trip to the antique auto auction becomes a reminder of who decides what the value of something is, and to wrap up, I give JD the last word (literally) with rare audio from "On Being Human" a talk he gave in 1980.
25 years after his death, on October 12th, 1997- John Denver still remains a formidable presence in the world, as his music and humanitarian efforts live on in the lives of millions of people. This tribute is filled with music and memories, songs and stories from Annie Denver and Ron Deutschendorf, Hall of Fame musicians John Oates and Richie Furay, country star John Berry and conductor Richard Kaufman. Add in some great moments from Bill Kurtis, Jim Horn, David Stoddard, Ron Lemire and Renee Armand, as well as thoughts from fans and friends around the world and you have a wonderful remembrance of one of the world's most beloved entertainers. This is a special 3 hour "Director's Cut" version of the radio program that aired on October 9th, 2022.
In 2017, my longtime friend and colleague, the world renowned speaker and author, Steve Rizzo, sent me a rough draft of a book idea he had (or more aptly put had him) called "Conversations with Bob." The book was formed out of some of the lowest points in Steve's life, and its riveting, impactful and profound. It's the story of Bernie, who is a down in the dumps, life did me wrong guy, who finds himself asking questions of Bob, who just happens to be God. A must listen, and read from Steve Rizzo.
It's a pretty rare thing, to have a friendship that goes back to my early years on Fletcher Street. Rarer still, that even though there's been a half-century (or more) that has gone by, since my first, best buddy Garry and I spent time playing GJ Joe, baseball in the lumberyard or being at the the helm of "Seaview" (his back porch) that we found each other again, and the memories flooded back like a wave. Time is an illusion, when it comes to the fact that a couple of guys in their 60s, are magically transported back to being boys-and instantly become younger-just by having breakfast.
When I received a request for copies of my books this past week, it had me thinking about the many teachers I have had in my life. In particular, my friend the late, great Dr. Wayne Dyer, who passed along some great reminders about seeing the world, and your life, from higher ground.
So, what does the senate race in Pennsylvania between Dr. Oz and John Fetterman, have to do with a Betta Fish? Well...you'll have to listen to find out. Bottom line is that one way or another, we're all funding our own fears, and contributing to the division and chaos, whether we like or...or not.
One of the great truths of life, is that you are gonna be stretched in ways that are often uncomfortable, but can also produce incredible results if you are aware of them. Sometimes, we need someone to take us past our comfort level with an imposed stretch, one that we cannot achieve on our own. That's exactly what happened when I took a free session to be strapped down on a table, and have my muscles pushed and pulled in ways they never had been before.
I played 18 seasons of football, and the lessons of the game, have far outlived my three point stance. But, you don't need to play the game, to apply the fundamentals that contribute to a winning effort in life.
The helmet in the corner of my studio under glass, signed by HOF Packer Jerry Kramer inscribed with "Passion, Persistence, Commitment and Discipline" are reminders of the foundational pieces of a successful effort-no matter what the outcome of the game is.
"The only way you really lose, is if you quit on yourself"-a message delivered to me by my high school coach nearly 50 years ago, is all important today.
Don't need to strap on a helmet to understand the importance of that concept.
Taking their lead from televangelists who promise that your soul will be saved by helping them to fund their new jet plane (so they can spread the word,) politicians on both sides of the shrinking aisle, are ramping up their "doom and gloom" forecast that only needs my $14 bucks to save the democracy. On the opposite side of the coin, I had a great time talking with journalist in the Caribbean, about the responsibility we have have as broadcasters, and our ability to respond to offset the headlines, with a focus on lifelines.
It's Radio Day for all of us that sit behind the mic, produce the shows, keep the machines moving and sell the programs. Good time for me to stop, drop and roll into a little perspective of my 25 years in the media. Some retro conversations in this episode with the late, greats Chris Reeve, Earl Hamner, Carol Channing and Dick Schapp, with additional audio from Jean Chatzky, Jerry Kramer, and my favorite all-time guest, the late Capt. Jerry Coffee.
In a world where pseudo-talk radio hosts lie to people to make money, and my email inbox looks like a cat box full of crap, I am reminded that the best way to stay out of the headlines, is to contribute to the greater good via the lifelines.
Yesterday, we attended the annual book sale at a famous library in Chicago, and once again I was in overwhelm at the sheer number of titles that are literally (no pun intended) at our fingertips. The answers to life's biggest questions and challenges are often found in-between the covers of a book, and yet, humanity seems stuck in place, in so many ways. Can't do a show about books, without mentioning the impact that "Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer" had on my life, at the age of ten.
The S.S. Eastland, known as the "Speed Queen of the Great Lakes," was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for a day of fun and fellowship. But the festivities were short-lived and quickly turned tragic.
On the morning of July 24th, 1915, the Eastland was docked at the Clark Street Bridge, but never left the Chicago River. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharf's edge. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day – and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families.
Two of those that lost their lives, 107 years ago tomorrow, were Niels Petersen and his little son Royal.
In 2008, one of the strangest experiences of my life took place (with witnesses) in one of the edit studios at Oprah Radio, in a building that was across the street from Harpo Studios, that was the Second Regiment Armory at the time, and used as a morgue for the victims of the Eastland.
Some of the security guys I knew reported strange "phenomena" in the main building, but that was across the street...right?
Remembering that morning, and those who perished, and the beyond incredible intervention from the other side, in this episode of the Life 2.0 podcast.
After going toe-to-nose with my 2nd bout of Cyrus The Virus this past week, I was once again regulated to couch patrol, and put on a few of my favorite movies-including Batman. All that was overshadowed by yet another "senseless act of violence" on July 4th, in Highland Park, that has me once again insisting that we become what we allow. In spite another tragic headline, and Covid-19, hope and faith are still the most important ideas that we need to hang to, when the headlines disrupt the lifelines.
It's been a long time since I was able to spend a week away from the push and pull of media demands, electronic umbilical cords and deadlines-and just focus on the lifelines. A few days in the glorious Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my son was right on time. There's something sacred to me, about getting to a place where there is more trees than people, that resets my inner GPS. Add to that, some major synchronicities involving my old friend John Denver, a wonderful woman on a flight, (who flew to New York just to bring her father some chocolate candy) and sleeping 12 hours a night, has me feeling like a major amount of rust has been removed from my reptilian brain stem.
Some of my earlier life experiences have me well acquainted with PTSD. So, when I find myself turning from Bill Bixby into The Incredible Hulk over a new cellphone, I have to remind myself to switch from reacting to responding, all because someone thought 5G was a good idea. Can't we just go back to wall phones?
I was unprepared for the feeling of overwhelm that awaited me, upon entering my former grammar school for an alumni open house. Rolling back the years, over a half-century later, brought some things to the surface, like a splinter working its way out. It was the perfect lead-in to Father's Day, as I heard from some kids on the tour, about how much they enjoyed my dad aka "Dracula" and the great times we all had on Halloween. Not all memories for me are good, there's some bad and the also the ugly, but above it all, the lessons I learned from my dad, have had a profound effect on me, and continue to do so, decades after he passed.
I often pinch myself, in marvel at the route my life has taken me, and the people who have crossed my path at various times. When I was a kid, I would wait at "The Corner" to get an autograph from my Chicago Cubs heroes, in particular, the ironman catcher-Randy Hundley. As it turned out, my first paid writing assignment in 1993, was to cover the "Fantasy Camp" experience Hundley created after he retired from baseball, and we've been in each other's orbit ever since. Great conversation with one of baseball's most iconic and celebrated catchers.
An interesting week for your host to say the least. After consuming multiple hours of Teddy Roosevelt on The History Channel, I was able to pinpoint where I grabbed on to the notion of "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" and how that has played out in my life, and career. That concept has a real life connection to a late friend, and had me a bit bound up emotionally in front of a live audience at my high school, handing out scholarships in his memory.
There's nothing "happy" about Memorial Day. It was originally created as "Decoration Day" shortly after the Civil War, to commemorate those who lost their lives. Somehow over the years, its become a three-day weekend, and an excuse from retailers to sell more tires and televisions. But, for two families, memorial day is filled with the memories of their sons, who gave their lives in service to our nation.
I came across a blog post that I wrote three years ago-that I have zero recollection of writing-and it turned out to be right on time. There are just some universal truths that need to be recognized, and paid attention to, that affect all of us, without exception. Might want to write these down-just in case you need them in three years too-or maybe-today.
I should probably still be in bed, ice pack on my head, hot chicken broth in a cup, ample supply of Kleenex and cough drops, battling whatever has taken up residence in my human carcass. Instead, I'm behind the mic per usual on Saturday mornings, with some thoughts about sticking a nasal swab so far up my nose, my frontal lobe got a cleaning, just to see if I have Cyrus The Virus, and how a few hours with an old friend, is a great reminder that health equals wealth...and that a little sunshine on my shoulders is a good thing.
Captain Jerry Coffee USN (Ret.) was one of the longest held POW's in Vietnam, and after captivity, used his experience to become better, not bitter. His bestselling book "Beyond Survival" has changed thousands of lives, and he spent the rest of his life lifting others up out of their self-imposed prisons. Jerry passed away in November of 2021, and I had the opportunity to attend his burial at Arlington-to be there when he was laid to rest- was a high honor.
When word reached me this past week, that a close cousin had passed, my mind began to look back at the times we had together, and the time he had to live his life. That in turn, had me recalling the Human Math concept, that is a non-linear approach to life expectancy and the importance of days, not years, when it comes to living life as if tomorrow is not promised-because the ultimate truth is- its not.
As "Earth Week" concludes, it's my annual deep dive into the unconscious human decisions that contribute to environmental challenges we all deal with in one way, shape or form. Add in a few "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" messages, and a couple of songs from John Denver, and you have the needed ingredients to make a world of difference.
After three restarts, I was finally able to get a full episode in, that includes elements from the giant comet heading towards earth, an evening with Fran Lebowitz and Rocky Mountain High being played by upon landing in Denver. Another eclectic outing off the Life 2.0 Podcast, that almost didn't happen.
For a long time in my lifetime, I was basically The Incredible Hulk, living in Chicago. It didn't take much to trip my trigger, light my fuse and before you can say "Lou Ferrigno" someone was going to pay the price for their infraction of my rules. Two specific events changed all that, and as I look back 40 years, I can see the transformation of anger into action for the greater good. I'm not who I used to be, and that's a good thing on many levels.
I'm in the process of converting my 2nd book-Every Moment Matters-into an audio version, and that had me reading chapters that I wrote over a decade ago, one of which recounts some magical moments on "The Corner," a sacred spot that young Cub fans waited for their heroes to stop and sign autographs. That then led me to coming across a conversation I had with the late, great Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo, back in 2008, on Oprah Radio, while producing The Dr. Oz Show. With spring training in full swing (pun intended) thought it was a good time to remember #10.
As one who has spent 50 years in the gym, I can affirm that those thousands of hours under the iron, have made me stronger, not weaker. It's a predictable result, based on the Kinesiology tenant of SAID (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) that also has me pondering on how the very same concept can be used for building our faith muscle, with Spiritual Adaptation to Imposed Demands, and an inner strength, that only comes by pushing through the difficulties of life.
Webster's defines the Ripple Effect as "the continuing and spreading results of an event or action." It's the cause and effect of our lives, as splayed out in the headlines, and often overlooked in the lifelines. The Saturday Morning Rant is in full swing, as I make the case that a little good news can go a long way, and that the more things change, the more they stay the same, (until we change them) and it's all about common sense during uncommon times.
Stephanie Arnold knew she was going to die. She spent months preparing herself, her doctors and her loved ones...but no one believed her.
Then, moments after giving birth to her son, Stephanie died, just as she predicted. It happened exactly how she knew it would. What she didn’t know was that using her voice would save her life.
Stephanie is now an award-winning, international best-selling author, inspirational speaker and thought leader on a mission to help others realize that connecting with our sixth sense can not only enhance our lives, but can very well save them.
An incredible conversation about life and death, and how there is always more going on than meets the eye, and the importance of listening within.
Since 1979, John Berry has recorded more than 20 studio albums, including one platinum album and two gold albums. In his career, Berry has also charted 19 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One single "Your Love Amazes Me" from 1994 and six additional Top 10 hits: "What's In It for Me," "You and Only You," "Standing on the Edge of Goodbye," "I Think About It All the Time," "Change My Mind," and "She's Taken a Shine."
A Country Weekly article said of Berry "John's greatest strength is his pure, soulful tenor" and The Entertainment Nexus described him as "one of the most remarkable voices in music."
But that's those are just the headlines. The lifelines are very different.
In 1981, at age 21, while riding his motorcycle, Berry was hit by a car, breaking both of his legs and his left hip. He had just lost his mother earlier that year. Doctors were afraid that he may not walk again. He spent several months in physical therapy, working to regain the use of his legs. Early in 1994, Berry began to have terrible headaches, lost his appetite and finally blacked out during a concert. He was rushed to the hospital on May 9, 1994, in Atlanta, where a cyst was found in the third ventricle of his brain. The same day he underwent brain surgery, he celebrated his first No. 1 single, "Your Love Amazes Me", from his hospital bed in Atlanta. Fast forward to 2019, Berry was diagnosed with throat cancer, requiring 35 treatments of radiation and chemotherapy. Again, Berry's voice survived, adding to the emotional layers of his sound.
A great conversation with an incredible singer/songwriter, about life lessons and the musical influence of John Denver.
Marcia Kimpton is a force of nature. She's considered a "quadruple talent" as a director, producer, writer and actress in the media world. She has 40+ film awards for her work, is a best-selling author and champion for women filmmakers. Marcia joins me for a rousing conversation about her roller-coaster ride in the world of entertainment, how she pushes back on the darkness of depression, and is learning unconditional love, by testing herself in the customer service line. If you are in the greater (or lesser) Chicagoland area, she will be Jen Weigel's guest at Madame Zuzu's in Highland Park. You can get your tix online at https://madamezuzus.com/pages/calendar
Rolling into Super Bowl LVI weekend, I thought a little retrospective was in order, so I reached out to my longtime pal, Green Bay Packers HOF guard Jerry Kramer, who played for Vince Lombardi in SB I & II for a little perspective on the spectacle, 56 years after the first kick-off. Kramer is one of a handful of men, who is still alive (and kicking) from those gridiron games from over one-half century ago. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round (39th player overall) of the 1958 NFL Draft and starred for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 to 1968 playing most of his 11-season career under the direction of Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi. Kramer played 130 games as the Packers guard and his leadership and talents helped the franchise capture five NFL championships and victories in Super Bowls I and II. He earned All-NFL acclaim five times (1960, 1962-63, 1966-67) and was voted to three Pro Bowls. Kramer was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s, the NFL’s 50th Anniversary Team in 1969 and the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team. After being overlooked for Canton ten times, Jerry was inducted into the Pro Football HOF in 2018, at the age of 82.
So, what do the first outing of the year with a snow blower, the Creature from The Black Lagoon, a Windy City Clincher Softball and Batman have in common? They are all part of the puzzle of this Saturday Morning Rant, as reminders of a time, when my biggest concern was where to build a snow fort, and whether or not the ice would be ready at the playground for endless hours of skating.
So, what does a immigrant from Italy, who didn't speak a word of English, and yet built LaVilla Restaurant, brick by brick into a Chicago institution, with a legacy that endures through his daughter 45 years later, have in common with arguably the greatest guard, and Hall of Fame Green Bay Packer, Jerry Kramer? Nothing...and yet...everything. Success leaves clues, and there are no shortcuts, whether you are making the best pizza on the planet, or winning the Super Bowl.
Throwback Thursday features my conversation with Nate Boyer from 2016. After serving six years and multiple tours for the Army in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as a Green Beret. Boyer played college football as a walk-on at the University of Texas, despite never having played a down of organized football in his life. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He co-founded MVP (Merging Vets and Players) with Fox Sports Analyst Jay Glazer, and a film about his life, is in the works. Nate dropped one of the all time memorable quotes in this show..."We should be doing something every day to earn our Americanism." Yea-what he said.
Pete Huttlinger was a true force of nature. By the age of 12, Pete had begun music lessons and by 14 he had settled on the guitar. Soon after he graduated from high school, a relative left him a small inheritance. He decided to use this windfall to study at Berklee College of Music. Pete would go on to perform around the world with such artists as John Denver, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Wynonna, Donna Summer, Brenda Lee, Engelbert Humperdinck, and George Burns. In 2000, he won the National Fingerpick Guitar Championship and soon after emerged as one of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra’s most popular guest soloists. and many others. As a solo artist, he performed across the U.S. and Europe. He battled his entire life with a congenital heart defect, and passed away on January 15th, 2016 at the age of 54. This remembrance of Pete, is my conversation with him and his wife Erin, about their book "Joined at The Heart." More info at www.petehuttlinger.com
It's New Year's Eve, and John Denver would have been 78 years old today. Ever since John's passing in 1997, I have produced a tribute show to my friend on his birthday, and this year I am thrilled to have shared a wonderful conversation with Conrad Reeder, who was a backup singer for JD and whose husband, the late, great Roger "The Immortal" Nichols engineered and produced some of John's best albums, and captured the incredible and ground breaking U.S.S.R. concerts in 1985.
"Though the singer is silent, there still is the truth of the songs."
Finding the vintage Grundig Stereo my folks bought in 1958, brought me back to Christmas in a much simpler time. It's a great lineup of music and memories, as we once again celebrate the season. I am also reminded of those who are no longer here to celebrate the season, and its with them in mind, I offer you a little respite from the sadness that often comes this time of the year.
Merry Christmas!
From the first time I watched "A Christmas Carol" (starring the incredible Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge) on a little black & white Sears TV set, back in the late 60s, I have been captivated over and over again, not only by his performance, but the theme of the movie. It has reminded me time and time again, that humanity is my business. This episode includes audio from the 1951 film version of the Dicken's classic. Enjoy.
There is something just this side of sacred, when I have the opportunity to reconnect with my former college football teammates. Huddling up once again, the decades simply disappear, and we are instantly transported back in time, to the glory days of the gridiron. This reunion turned out to be a master class in success (not only on the field, but more importantly off) as the lessons of the game, had carried over into our civilian life, giving us the three most needed tools for winning seasons. Fundamentals are never fun, but they work.
"Cause and effect" is the simplest way to explain karma. So, when I failed the test that was about reaction vs. response back in September, I knew it would come back around again. Lessons are repeated until learned, so when another test popped up a couple days ago, I recognized it for what it was, and what is was not, and made the choice to respond, and not react, saving myself (and the other guy) from an altercation that would have not been good, thus avoiding a negative karmic kickback in the future and a possible visit to the dentist for new front teeth. Not mine...his.
To me, it was more than mere coincidence that I came across a cassette tape with Earl Hamner's name on it (in a box with hundreds of other shows) as my guest from 20 years ago to the very date, just before Thanksgiving in 2001. Earl was the creator of "The Walton's" one of the most popular television shows of its time (that still airs in worldwide syndication) and his soft Virginia accent, simple way of seeing life, and his thoughts around Thanksgiving two decades ago, is a great gift. Enjoy
When I received word from that my great friend Capt. Jerry Coffee USN (Ret.) had passed away, I set about building a remembrance episode to the one person among all the thousands I've known and worked with that has made the greatest impact on my life.
Captain Coffee flew low-level reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which provided photographic proof of Soviet nuclear-tipped missiles, turning the tide of the dangerous Soviet – U.S. standoff. During the Vietnam War, Jerry was flying a combat mission off the USS Kittyhawk when he was shot down by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft guns. Immediately captured, he was held prisoner for over 7 years in the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ communist prison where torture and solitary confinement were routine.
He was the living embodiment of forgiveness. Godspeed my friend.
For nearly a decade, we've been hearing that 22 veterans a day take their own lives, a number that has become a rallying cry for advocates trying to call attention to suicide among vets, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. That number kicked off a flood of people pumping out 22 pushups a day for 22 days, and became a fad of sorts, in order to bring attention to the number, that my own digging confirms is slightly less, bringing that number to between 18- 20 per day.
That's 18-20 too many.
This episode of the Life 2.0 podcast attempts to pull back the layers of this situation, as well as focusing on how each of us, myself included, can make a difference in the lives of our veterans, of which I am one.
Couldn't resist adding a few memories of my time in the United States Coast Guard, and the lessons learned, that are with me to this day, as well as the ongoing educational piece to remind people of the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Semper Paratus.
Later this morning, I will be in front of a sold-out venue of real live humans (first time in 2 years) at the All Souls Weekend, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I'll be sharing the Human Math concept, as well as one of the experiences in my book "Phenomenon-Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sh*t I Can't Explain." None of what I am doing today (or have done for the past 28 years) would even be in play if it wasn't for one man coming along and reminding me that my voice mattered. For those of you unable to attend, this is a virtual version of the talk I will give at All Souls.
Dr. Jeff O'Driscoll M.D. has had extensive experience with shared death phenomena during 25 years as an emergency physician in a level-one trauma center. He has welcomed souls arriving into this sphere of existence and bid farewell to others who were leaving. He terms these events as "Near Life Experiences" and its a fascinating conversation about the meaning of life, the challenges we face that are disguised as opportunities for growth, and how empathy can change everything. Jeff is the author of the best-selling book Not Yet-Near Life Experiences & Lessons Learned.
On November 1st, 1999, Walter Payton passed away at the age of 45. The world mourned the loss of perhaps the greatest running back in the history of the NFL, but for his son Jarrett Payton, the impact of his father's death is a loss that can only be filled by putting his energies into maintaining and building on his dad's legacy.
50 weeks out of the year, my dad was a mild mannered, buttoned down banker, but for the two weeks prior to Halloween, he transformed into a combo of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee as..."The Count." For 20 years, hundreds of people flocked to our house (aka The Haunted Castle) and endured the maze of horrors in the basement, to the great delight of my father. A retro podcast on my Halloween memories, and a bit of radio theater as I read "The Tell-Tale Heart" to wrap up this All Hallows Eve broadcast.
I spent about 15 minutes trying to come up with some clever title for this episode with award winning journalist, best-selling author and force of nature Jenniffer Weigel. Mostly because what Jen adds to our conversations, (both on and off the air) is often just this side of indescribable in terms of insights, inspiration and humor. She has the ability to make the ordinary into the extraordinary, and in this outing, we cover everything from Neti pots to the low level behavior in radio to finding higher ground on the journey of life. Just hanging out on the air with one of my favorite people.
When singer/songwriter John Denver asked me a simple question after concert in 1992, it changed the direction of my life on so many levels, that continues decades later. Ever since that night, I've used whatever platforms have come my way, including radio, books and stages around the world, to inform, entertain and inspire as way to pay rent for the space I have been given in life. Remembering an extraordinary talent, man and poet for the planet.
As a baby, she was left abandoned in a bus stop in China, and was taken to a police station and then to an orphanage, where she lived until a family adopted her...from Alaska. So began the incredible journey of Rose Crelli. As a little girl, she used to rub two sticks together, pretending to make music, and now as a world renowned violinist, she performs with the likes of the Trans Siberian Orchestra and Michael Bublé. Rose uses her musical platform to push back on the wave of Asian hate that has surfaced over the past year, and shares insights and inspiration from her incredible journey.
Chris Duffy is one of the most recognized voice over and production gurus in the radio business. I met Duff back when I was on the air at WGN Radio in Chicago, and was not only impressed with his production skills, but his insights on the good, the bad and the ugly trajectory of talk radio. This is an insider conversation behind the mic on everything from Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh to Delilah. It's your chance to eavesdrop, as we share our thoughts of a combined half-century of experiences in radio.
On 9/11/2001, I was on the air for six hours, but we didn't resume regular programming until September 14th, 2001. 20 years ago today, our guest was my friend the late Dr. Wayne Dyer, who's book "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem" launched on the same day of the terrorist attacks on US soil. I went back and pulled some audio from that episode, as Wayne offered up his insights and inspiration on one of our nations' darkest days, and longtime friend Steve Rizzo, a native New Yorker joined us as well. Two decades later, the cost of "The War on Terror" is still being counted, but the price many have paid, will never add up on a spreadsheet.
In a week where the worst and best of human behavior was on full display once again, it was the death of a friend, that I served with in the United States Coast Guard, that helped me keep my perspective, in spite of the chaos. In many ways, he was the richest man I ever knew.
Godspeed Lt. Munsey. Semper Paratus.
Music by John Berry.
As I watched Kabul taken back by the Taliban, and hundreds of people hanging on a C130 aircraft for their very lives, my thoughts turn to the cost of this conflict over the past 20 years, the ripple effect on those who fought and their families. I am all about finding sense in the senseless, but this time, not sure that's possible.
In my down time between hosting and producing "The Bridge" international radio show/podcast, I've taken to watching documentaries. I came across "Bobby Kennedy For President" on Netflix, and after spending 4 hours in 1968, I am more convinced than ever before, that if we don't learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it. If we always do, what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got.
On July 20th, 1969 I was a ten-year-old boy, standing in awe of the moon landing. In 2009-40 years later-I was onstage for my TEDXNASA talk, standing in awe of the 5,000 people in the audience that are part of the space program and today, 52 years after that historic day, I watched a billionaire go into space for 11 minutes, and return to earth. My thoughts on all of that, and how there is a beginning, middle and end to everything, even for billionaires.
My banker dad's alter ego was Dracula, and he always wanted to be an architect. Yea-that's him dressed up as "The Prince of Darkness" for Halloween circa 1975.
My maternal grandfather Carl, was a muscle-bound Swede, who came to America at 19 with nothing in his pockets and built a life, and my paternal grandfather Big John, was a 6'3 hard charging, plain speaking "jack of all trades" German.
Over time-all of their stuff rolled down hill and took up residence in me, to a greater or lesser degree.
I learned some valuable lessons from these three men, all of them long gone, but their presence in my life remains alive to this day.
This episode is in response to a former subscriber who cancelled last week because of the Deacon Jones episode. So, I thought I would clarify my concept of motivation, which to me is more than being a "quote thrower" and defend my long held position that finding sense in the senseless is often a difficult process. Especially when we have elected officials that suggest perhaps the best way to counteract climate change is by altering the orbit of the moon and when skipping due diligence in favor of attempting to make a statement, backfires in Georgia. Chris Farley's "Mr. Motivation" skit on SNL is a perfect example of finding the obvious buried in the absurd.
I was out early this morning watering the veggies, and decided to take a long drink of ice cold water, directly from the garden hose.
According to experts, I might be putting myself at risk by doing so.
I call bull$hit...
It got me thinking about other things that we did "back in the day" like riding bikes without helmets, leaving the house in the morning, and being gone all day, until the universal signal of the street lights coming on called us home. What it was like to flood the playground and swim around in muddy, nasty water, without a care in the world.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season, and retailers have piggybacked on the three day weekend for decades, giving deep discounts on everything from mattresses to tires to appliances. But, for Gold Star families, there is nothing "Happy" about Memorial Day. In this podcast, I share with you the lives of Nick Daniels, Ryan Jopek, Don Sansone, Kurt Duncan and Nate Bruckenthal, who gave their last full measure for their country.
It's not often that I feel like a 12 year-old kid, but today a box arrived that contained treasure beyond measure to me, and while I have almost nothing in common with the late, Hall of Famer Deacon Jones, the greatest defensive end in the history of the NFL, his presence and legacy was an important reminder to keep the kid in me alive, more than I do.
Last week I was in the gym, which isn't anything new-but-what is new, is that I pushed more weight than I had in a few years, which had me thinking about the kinesiology concept of S.A.I.D. or Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands and "muscle memory."
I've been marinating on these concepts for three days, and once again the reminder comes that SAID isn't just limited to working out, and the physical body-but also applies to the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives. That pic is of "The Iron Swede" aka my maternal grandfather-Karl Gustave Bengston-when was 20 years old in 1925.
Over time, I've become a conservation curmudgeon, when it comes to the ongoing environmental challenges we face, mostly because we're the ones creating the problems, then denying they exist. With over 20 years of effort in using my media platform to inform, entertain and inspire a greater awareness and responsibility, I wonder if any of it really matters in the big scheme of things. But, as always, there is a corridor of hope, of change and of stewardship that remains, no matter how much plastic we put in the oceans. Music from old friend John Denver always puts things in perspective as well.
It dawned on me earlier this morning, that today would have been my friend Hillary Raimo's 48th birthday. Hillary passed away suddenly last November, not long after she was a guest on the international radio show I host called "The Bridge." She was a force of nature, a fierce warrior and incessant seeker of those truths that live between the lines, that most of us miss. She was a best-selling author, internationally recognized artist and radio host. Taking a few moments to listen to her voice, lessons and laughter, I am reminded that tomorrow is promised to no one, and while she is no longer here in the physical, her gifts are still alive in the world.
So, I forked over $69.95 to watch five seasons of The Muppet Show on Netflix-and was surprised to find a disclaimer, warning me of the dangers and stereotypes that are embedded behind the antics of Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang. Then, a few of Dr. Seuss's books were on the chopping block for the same reasons. As recall the one year anniversary , when Cyrus The Virus put us into barely controlled chaos, I was reminded by my conversation from many years ago, with the late, great Christopher Reeve of what's important.
When a friend of mine suggested I watch a documentary about the effects of social media on humanity at large, I carved out 90 minutes-which might have better been spent watching "Creature from the Black Lagoon." The documentary made some great points, but being a media insider for a couple of decades, nothing I haven't really heard before-and since I still think that common sense in uncommon times is usually the best answer-I offer up a solution to the "Social Media Dilemma."
I received an email last week from Christopher Wray, the Director of The FBI-informing me that after much searching and validation, I've been chosen to receive $10.7 million dollars tax free! I deleted the email of course, but somewhere in the world there's someone who thinks they finally hit the lottery-but only nitwits, dimwits or halfwits need apply.
That email had me going down the rabbit hole of human behavior and our seeming lack of common sense during uncommon times-which of course is nothing new.
What do the following things have in common?
Theodore Roosevelt, my barber, an internet troll, Burger King, a Post-It Note and the American flag have in common?
They are all part and parcel of the latest episode of the Life 2.0 Podcast.
Enjoy.
JSA
Finally! 2020 is officially in the history books, and life can start anew! Well...not exactly. While the concept of a clean slate is a good thing, but expecting 2021 to be a cake walk, is a set-up for depression, anxiety and a host of other soul crushing maladies, and while some major names passed away last year, I also wanted to take a little time and remember a few friends I lost, and also what I found, in their passing.
'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house, hardly a creature was stirring, except my computer mouse. So, I fired up my mic and swung into action, just to see if I could get a reaction. As we put another Christmas in the books, perhaps it's the perfect time to remember a few lessons that Charles Dickens wrote about 177 years ago, and that unfortunately are still much needed reminders today, and as a matter of fact...every single day of the year.
George Reinwand was a lanky 19-year-old sailor aboard the USS St. Louis, on December 7th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Remembering him and the "day that will live in infamy" 79 years later.
THIS IS THE WORST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY! WE'VE NEVER BEEN SO DIVIDED! WE WILL NEVER HEAL THIS NATION!
Meh...okay.
Sometimes a little perspective is in order, to maintain and preserve our brain cells, as they are bombarded with news we can't use- or do anything about. 57 years ago today, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 46.
One year ago, I recalled some of that time, as a matter of perspective, as we were heading into 2020 and I'd forgotten about what I had written in 2019, until a friend sent me a note, thinking it might be a good time to re-share my thoughts, in light of the current reality show we are all cast in. This is the year so many people hoped would bring everything into a much clearer view of the world.
Oh, we got clarity all right.
Halloween was bigger than Christmas at our house, it was the time of year my dad would transform from banker into full-blow Dracula mode, scaring the snot of out people in our basement, for over 20 years. I felt it was the perfect day to share perhaps the most unnerving event I have ever been witness to, from my book Phenomena, when a voice came through a speaker and gave the name of a man who had died 93 years prior, in the Eastland disaster on the Chicago River. And finally, my high school apparently has residents that have never left, especially in the library, where I caught something on tape that is beyond unexplained. Happy Halloween indeed...
When news reached me last week that my friend Matt Blair had passed away, it set off a ripple effect of emotions-some good, some not so good. Matt played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the Vikings, racking up 1,452 tackles and from 1977 to 1982, Matt made it to six consecutive Pro Bowls with a 1980 All-Pro selection. In Blair's 12-season tenure with the Vikings, they went to the postseason seven times and played in two Super Bowls. But, Matt Blair was so much more than a football player. His passing from CTE related dementia had me thinking about my own time wearing a helmet, and the "disposable heroes" like Matt, that offer up their long-term health for the short-term entertainment of fans and talk radio.
On October 12th, 1997, John Denver perished in a plane crash, the earth lost its greatest voice, the music world lost a legendary performer, and Ron Deutschendorf lost his brother. Ron joins me to share his thoughts about John, and how 23 years later, his influence and impact continues to create ripples of positive change. For me, my friendship with JD is the root cause of the entirety of my radio career, and without a song heard on vinyl back in 1974 and a chance encounter after a concert in 1992, my life path would be very different.
When news reached me that longtime friend Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis had passed away, I felt like I had been body slammed. Joe was one-half of "The Road Warriors" along with the late, great Mike "Hawk" Hegstrand, the greatest tag-team in the history of pro wrestling. Back in the early 90s, I was fortunate to connect with these two characters, and for a few years, we worked together, and the memories of that time are a headlock on my heart. WHAT A RUSH!
So, what do China, haircuts and cellphones all have in common...? Those elements are part of my recent hiatus that includes launching an international radio show, my visit to Ray's Barbershop (haircut is just $12) back in my old neighborhood and my ongoing angst about cellphones becoming part of people's workout routine in my gym. They are apparently more interested in building up their scrolling muscles instead of their biceps.
75 years ago today, August 9th, 1945 the city of Nagasaki was obliterated by the second atomic bomb in human history, the first being on Hiroshima, three days earlier. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the only uses of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.
Jan Eliasberg, an award-winning screenwriter and director of film and television, was perusing microfilm in the New York Public Library and came across an issue in the New York Times published on the day U.S. Forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. A one-sentence paragraph caught her attention.
"The key component that allowed the Allies to develop the bomb was ... (provided) by a female, non-Aryan physicist."
That's all it said.
"My immediate thought was, 'Who IS this woman and why has her face not been staring out of the pages of every science magazine ever?"
In "Hannah's War," Eliasberg makes her thrilling historical debut, with a novel about a female scientist working to develop the first atomic bomb during World War II, and the young military investigator determined to uncover her secret past.
Put this book in the "Can't put it down" category, a terrific read based on the life of Dr. Lise Meitner.
Opening music bridge McGuire's Landing by Pete Huttlinger. Used by permission.
Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?) written and performed by John Denver. Used by permission.
I have covered a lot of ground since this picture of me, taken at USCG boot camp in Alameda, CA back in 1980. While I've touched on just about every subject in radio for the past 20+ years, I have never produced anything on the incredible men and women I served with-until now.
This is part I of the recognition and celebration of the efforts of the men and women whom I served with at Coast Guard Air Station Chicago from 1980-84. They are all heroes to me, with tireless dedication to duty and a high degree of professionalism and military bearing-but also knew how to have more fun than legally allowed. Semper Paratus "Always Ready."
This is part II of the recognition and celebration of the efforts of the men and women whom I served with at Coast Guard Air Station Chicago from 1980-84. They are all heroes to me, with tireless dedication to duty and a high degree of professionalism and military bearing-but also knew how to have more fun than legally allowed. Semper Paratus "Always Ready."
It was the great writer and philosopher George Santayana who insisted that-"Those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it." History, if studied and learned from, is our greatest teacher-but humans aren't always the sharpest tool in the shed. Basically its the same sh*t, different century as we once again muddle through another pandemic, as Cyrus The Virus continues to remind us that even with all our modern medical advances, its obvious that technology far surpasses our humanity, and that when you strip away all of the bells and whistles of society, and we are left with just ourselves, it's not a pretty picture.
Little did I know that going out to cut the grass in near 90 degree heat yesterday, was going to be a "Back to The Future" type experience that opened a portal, taking me back 44 years-to 1976. It was the bi-centennial year, Carter beat Ford for the Oval Office, the Concorde enters service and cuts transatlantic flying time to 3 1/2 hours, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was at the theater and gas was .59 cents a gallon. But the big news was that double sessions for football was gearing up and how countless hours spent on a small dirt field have been a rudder for me ever since.
105 years ago this very morning, a light rain was falling on Chicago, in the early morning hours of July 24, 1915 as passengers lined up to board the the S.S. Eastland, known as the "Speed Queen of the Great Lakes," that was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for a day of fun and fellowship. But the festivities were short-lived and quickly turned tragic.
The Eastland, docked at the Clark Street Bridge, never left the Chicago River. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharf's edge. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day – and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families.
The makeshift morgue for the Eastland victims was the 2nd Regiment Armory located at Washington and Carpenter Streets. 75 years after the disaster, that same building would become the home of Harpo Studios and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Rumors of strange occurrences, sounds and even sightings of people from another era had been reported over the years, but I didn't pay much attention to that stuff while I was on staff at Oprah Radio-as the building I worked in was across the street from the main studio.
"Etched in Stone" is a chapter from my book "Phenomena: Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sh*t I Can't Explain" that recounts the day in Edit 1 back in 2008, when a "voice" reached out through a speaker that wasn't even connected to anything with the demand that "Neils Petersen will not be forgotten"-not once-but twice. That "event" was heard by three people besides me....but that was just the beginning of a strange journey.
One of many in my life, that I share in the book.
" I'll never, ever change the name of my football team." Washington owner Dan Snyder. As the old saying goes, never say never.
After years of pressure from Native American groups and attempts at rescinding the patent on the logo in court, it finally came down to the almighty dollar-actually losing lots of them-from sponsors. FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America all lined up against the name, which was given to the franchise in 1933 when the team was still based in Boston.
BTW, the team was called the Boston Braves back then, and after just one year as the Braves, the franchise was renamed to the Redskins in 1933, four years before the team moved from Boston to Washington. The reason for the name change was simple: Boston's new coach, Lone Star Dietz, and several of his Native American players disliked the name Braves and lobbied for the team to change its name to the Redskins, a name the players felt denoted courage and strength. Joe Podlasek is the CEO of the Trickster Gallery, a Native American cultural center in Schaumburg, Illinois and for the past ten years has built a working relationship with the Chicago Blackhawks, that has become a template for other teams to follow when it comes to Native American mascots. In full disclosure, I add my 7 cents worth as well, in regards to an "empirical study" that concluded that all mascots (even the positive ones) are harmful to Native American youth. I wonder what Jim Thorpe would think of that. "Potter's Wheel" written by Bill Danoff, performed by John Denver.
Country music legend Charlie Daniels passed away on July 6th at the age of 83. He was a pioneering singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his contributions to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. He is also remembered for his humanitarian efforts, support of veterans and ability to touch generations of fans around the world. This is a long play-"double album" with country artists John Berry, Heidi Newfield, Kent Blazy, J.P. Pennington, Jim Horn and Michael Cleveland sharing their memories and moments about one of the most influential artists in music history.
I don't toss words like "icon" and "pioneer" around lightly-but both those descriptions fit Tom Dreesen like a custom- made tuxedo. From dirt-poor humble beginnings to serving in the US Navy, to finding his niche in comedy and breaking the interracial color barrier with Tim "WKRP" Reid to opening for "The Chairman of The Board" Frank Sinatra, Tom has had a life and career arc that is worth putting into a book- and he did just that. Its a candid, no-hold barred conversation about the best-selling "Still Standing: My Journey from Streets and Saloons to Stage, and Sinatra."
I read the full text of the Declaration of Independence once a year (required reading for me) but I've never read it "on the air" in my 20+ years of broadcasting. This simple document, created 244 years ago, was the launching pad of freedom from the yoke of tyrannical rule by the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained why the Thirteen Colonies were at war with the British, regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule. With the Declaration, these new states took a collective first step toward forming the United States of America. Add in the fact, that the 56 signers of the Declaration didn't always agree, and many of them would suffer greatly just for putting their names on a piece of paper, and you have some serious lessons about what sacrifice really looks like.
Garry Meier is a radio legend. He will tell you that it all began with a dead butterfly. One day he walked out of his house and saw a beautiful dead Monarch butterfly lying on the ground. He scooped up the lifeless harbinger of things to come and sent it to his then favorite disc jockey, Larry Lujack, the biggest jock in Chicago at the time. Larry was always talking about reincarnation and he claimed he was going to come back as a butterfly. In a note accompanying the butterfly Garry said, “I think I found your dead uncle. Sorry for your loss”. Larry read the note on the air. For Garry it was a “flash-point” moment. Fascinated with radio, he knew what he was destined to do in life when he heard his material on the air.
What followed is an amazing career beginning as part of "Steve and Garry"-one of the most successful number one radio duos in the country. That fifteen-year run garnered international publicity, as well as an Emmy for the TV show Greetings From Graceland.
I had to opportunity to broadcast back to back with The G-Man at WGN Radio in Chicago for a couple of years, and this episode is an "unplugged" conversation with one of the great voices in the business.
I've hosted thousands of radio shows in my twenty-year plus career. My conversations with Christian Picciolini are in the all time Top Ten when it comes to impact, perspective and the courage to change one's life, and in doing so, save countless others. At age 14 in 1987, Picciolini was recruited to join the Chicago Area Skinheads (CASH) by the group's founder, Clark Martell. Two years later, after Martell had gone to prison for a second time, Picciolini became the group's leader at age 16. He would go on to head the white supremacist punk band, White American Youth (W.A.Y.) and, eventually, a hate rock band called Final Solution. Final Solution was the first American white power skinhead group to perform in Europe. The concert was held in a former cathedral in Weimar, Germany attended by 4,000 people, and was made up of several other white supremacist bands. After some serious wake-up calls, he officially renounced ties to the American neo-Nazi movement in 1996 at the age of 22, and has spent the past 24 years breaking the chains of hate.
45 years ago today, the movie JAWS was released in 400 theaters, and created a widespread fear of sharks and an increase in business for therapists trying calm the waters of fear for millions of people who vowed never to go into the water-any water-(including pools and bathtubs) ever again. It was the first "Summer Blockbuster" that brought Peter Benchley's best-selling novel to life on the big screen. It's back to the summer of 1975 with JAWS fan Jim Brinkman, award-winning screenwriter Carl Gottlieb (who also played Harry Meadows in the movie) and celebrated conductor Richard Kaufman, who played on the original soundtrack, hitting the notes on the iconic John Williams score.
I am no clinical psychologist, but I am intimately connected to PTSD, a condition that I was unaware of until I was hit broadside by a drunk driver in 1986. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.
So, I am qualified to make the following statement.
It's my observation, experience and opinion that most us in America have some level of PTSD, as our central nervous systems are overloaded, saturated, bludgeoned, beaten and hammered into submission with headlines of virus, murder caught on camera, riots, looting, protests, along with the usual mayhem and chaos humans seem to enjoy creating.
But, the new term for PTSD (for me) isn't "Post Traumatic" but rather "Present Tense Stress Disorder."
There however, an antidote to the current level of madness and mayhem that works every-time, and you already know what it is....
George Hawthorne and I both attended Schurz High School in Chicago. I graduated 1977, George in 1985. He was a stand out football player who would go on to be named to the All-American Team in 1987-then on to the University of Iowa playing ball for Hayden Fry. He'd strap it up for the Cleveland Browns and make a career of of law enforcement, 25 years with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and held the rank of captain the last 15 years.
After years of assistant coaching, George was named the head coach of the Arizona Skyline Coyotes high school football team in 2019. He's made quite a life from humble beginnings and also has had to deal with racism on many levels.
I reached out to George this past weekend, as the fires burned, the crowds gathered and the protesters marched, and asked if he would consider have a conversation around finding higher ground when it comes to race relations in America. Listen and learn.
As Space-X prepares for the Falcon 9 for launch today, the timing is perfect for this episode of the Life 2.0 podcast.
The Apogeo Spatial mission is to communicate the power of geospatial tools and technologies in managing the world’s scarce resources and environment, so that the global population has security—of water, food and energy. The driving force behind this incredible effort is Myrna James-Yoo, the publisher of Apogeo Spatial magazine, where she has gained a unique macro view of the satellite and space industry. Among Myrna’s defining experiences are traveling the world solo for 18 months, when she lived in tree houses in Turkey, trekked in the monsoon with leeches in Nepal, cooked on a cattle station in outback Australia, debated politics with a Frenchman of her father’s generation. She was blogging before it was an official word, and in this episode of Life 2.0- we take a look at the human condition as it pertains to living on the "blue marble" that hangs in space, and the official announcement of the partnership of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" videos on the Apogeo Spatial magazine platform. Music in this episode by John Denver.
This is a mashup of The Wednesday Rant and Wednesday Wisdom-and in order to pull that off, I had to reach out to my gal-pal Jen Weigel the vaunted award winning journalist and long-traveled talk radio host and best-selling author. We cover a lot of ground, so you might want to take notes (or just keep listening over and over and over again) and mine your own gold as it were. The big take away for me today, is that the bottom line is that your cause in life, is far more than your eventual cause of death.
For 50 years, Tom Skilling has been at the forefront of forecasting the weather. He's become "America's Weatherman" from the studios of WGN-TV in Chicago and one of the most trusted, knowledgeable and reliable sources when it comes to all things atmospheric. At one time a skeptic in regard to human induced climate change, Tom now leads the charge in raising awareness of the challenge of global warming, based on science but also experience. Millions follow his predictions, which isn't something anyone could have predicted when got his first big market break in Milwaukee, with the help of a sock puppet named Albert The Alley Cat. The price of fame...is steep.
What are the odds that best-selling author and celebrated journalist Cathleen Falsani would win a trip at a fundraiser-throw a dart at a map that lands on Malawi, she and her husband, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, Maurice Possley head off on an adventure, and in a matter of grace... meet a little 10-year-old boy named Vasco, who had a serious heart condition, and in doing so, steal their hearts in a moment, and...eventually become their son? It's a miracle of the highest spiritual significance, and a reminder that whatever you are seeking...is seeking you. 10 years later, we revisit their incredible journey. We also talk about the latest book by Cathleen and co-author Jenny Dyer- "The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World." Once you listen to the podcast, and are ready to take an action step to make sure you help a child keep their belly full-just click the link to "Corbin's Legacy" make a donation of any amount, and this incredible organization will take care of the details.
When 18 year old Richard Hyman volunteered to drive a truck for famed oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1973, he couldn't have imagined just saying "yes" to that job, would eventually lead to many ocean voyages and adventures. Months later, he flies to Mexico's Yucatán and boards the world famous ship- RV Calypso- and camps on an uninhabited island to study lobsters. From there he sails south along the 180-mile Belize Barrier Reef, filming the spawning of thousands of grouper and a visit from singer songwriter John Denver, who begins writing the lyrics to "Calypso" a song that became an anthem for millions. Richard is the founder of "Future Frogmen" a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and public charity that works to improve ocean health by deepening the connection between people and nature and the author of- Frogmen: The True Story of My Journeys With Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the Crew of Calypso.
"Calypso" & "Eclipse" by John Denver. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
It's been one-half century since the first official "Earth Day" was held on April 22nd 1970. Over the past five decades, there have been some great improvements in our collective efforts to clean-up the mess we've made of and on the planet, but also some serious setbacks as well. Bill Kurtis, respected journalist, documentary filmmaker and award winning producer, shares his insights and perspectives on the "State of the Planet" and if he feels that there is still a reason for hope, when it comes to life on earth. "Amazon" by our friend, the late, great John Denver.
Ya gotta like a guy who could be George Thorogood's stunt double and names his dog "Lucas" after Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman" but as if that's not enough, Thom Rutledge is a best-selling author, highly regarded psychotherapist and a down home soul, who fought his own demons and teaches others how to do the same. In a day and age when fear is the main ingredient in life, Thom shares his concept that embracing fear is the way to go, and that "The Ripple Effect" is all important, when it comes to not letting the headlines destroy your lifelines.
Dr. Robin Smith, is one of the founding voices of the Oprah Radio Network, a NYT best-selling author, highly sought after executive performance coach and ordained minister with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. After an extended hiatus, Dr. Robin is most definitely "back on call" and right on time, as we are immersed in the middle of a world-wide pandemic. This conversation is not just an ear popping, belief busting adventure in authenticity, but also riddled with inspirational nuggets of wisdom from one of the premiere voices of truth as it pertains to your life experience, and the power of "just showing up."
On "Throwback Thursday" we are turning the dial back to 2015-when I was on the CBS Radio Play.it platform. Its my conversation with NYT best-selling author and History Channel guy Brad Meltzer. But-before all that- I gotta get my rants in about what was going on in the world five years ago-different headlines-same lifelines.
Well here we are...navigating uncharted waters...or...are we? While some of the numbers are staggering and the influences, opinions and observations are many, human behavior doesn't change much when push comes to shove-and the sad example of Typhoid Mary once again comes full circle.
Disclaimer: This is the shallow end of the pool as it pertains to any serious eye opening, brain jarring, knuckle scraping, break through insights about the human condition-except how quickly a somewhat normal person can go ballistic over a piece of machinery that isn't working as advertised. That being stated, it was a vast, week-long maze of regional jet travel, hanging out with country music star John Berry, eating my way through Nashville, the near demise of my trusty, dusty Dell laptop, and my subsequent return to Chicago. Then it was on to the bustling metropolis of Appleton, Wisconsin wherein I met Jorge, the Yoda of the IT universe, and all was well again in the world...for now. If you have ever wanted to take a hammer or other blunt object to your laptop or PC...this episode is for you.
I'm back from a month-long hiatus, and we've officially hit the 100th episode of Life 2.0.
Wasn't sure what was going to get me back into the bully pulpit of podcasting, and as it turns out, the catalyst was a trip "Back to the Future" to my alma mater, Schurz High School in Chicago, and conversation with four students in their junior year (and a full class in the audience as well)-as to how they see the world-with a measured dose of perspective from the guy who sat in the same chairs as they do now, back in 1974.
I was in fact able to get in the desk chair-but getting out...meh. I've gained four or five pounds since Nixon was president.
I've done thousands of shows in the past two decades plus, incredible conversations, enlightening perspectives, salient points, from the famous and infamous-however- whenever I talk with young people, I am reminded that all is not lost, and that they are far more informed, connected and passionate about their place in the world than we give them credit for.
My self-imposed hiatus ends today, on New Year's Eve 2019. This is the 99th episode-filled with rants, raves and reflections about the past 365 days, the ongoing impact of my conversations with some of the most incredible people in the world, why making "New Year's Resolutions" is not a good idea, why I am no longer the sheriff of "Truth Town" and a few thoughts about my old buddy John Denver, who would have turned 76 today.
Hold on to your lug-nuts, we are moving into a new decade.
Corbin Leafman was an extraordinarily compassionate, caring and creative Kindergarten teacher who taught in schools with disadvantaged students. She made it her mission to never let a child go hungry…not for a meal, a day, or a weekend. She was known for always walking through the lunch line holding up a $20.00 bill to make sure that the cafeteria lady knew that none of her students were to go without a hot meal.
Corbin died in 2015 at the age of 31 from cancer. She was adamant about being remembered, not by her death but by who she was, how she cared and the way she lived. Corbin's Legacy was established in memory and honor, a dedicated teacher, colleague, steadfast friend, and devoted family member, and champion for children.
This episode is a partial rewind to 2016, and my conversation with Corbin's mom Joan Leafman, and how she has been guided by the spirit of her daughter, to continue making sure that children who suffer from "food insecurity" do not go without.
It's Giving Tuesday, and your $20 donation will feed one child, 42 meals for two weeks over the upcoming Christmas break- go to www.corbinslegacy.org to change the world, if only for a little while.
So what's worse? The sin of commission or the sin of omission? Its been a week of lessons around those two concepts, from getting rear-ended at a stoplight (sin of commission) to the perp leaving the scene of the accident (sin of omission) to forgiving myself for an error in my new book (commission AND omission) along with a deep dive into the life of an incredible man named Ervin Erdose M.D. who rose from the horror of a Nazi concentration camp, to save lives all over the world, before he passed away recently at the age of 97.
When it takes me an hour to come up with the name of an episode, because my guest covers so much ground in such an incredible way, you know its gonna be a great conversation. Hillary Raimo is a renaissance woman in every sense of the word. Best-selling author, award winning photographer, vaunted artist and enduring presence in the world of digital radio. As a multi medium artist, Hillary creates "acts of beauty" across all her platforms, and we cover some heavy duty topics ranging from the challenge of dealing with alternative media information to personal responsibility in the digital age to the importance of having conversations that can lead to transformations. Click to purchase her book "The Hillary Raimo Show Transcripts."
20 years ago today, November 1st 1999, Walter Payton passed away at the age of 45. His death sent shock waves throughout the world of sports, but his legacy is intact and lives on through his son, Jarrett and daughter Brittany. I've watched JP grow up from the 12-year-old who gave the Hall of Fame induction speech for his father in 1993, to his time at the University of Miami (2004 MVP of the Orange Bowl) to his stint in the NFL to becoming an entrepreneur and father, and now as the afternoon sports anchor on WGN TV in Chicago. Its a very powerful and provocative conversation with Jarrett Payton as he shares his memories and moments of his dad-Sweetness.
Halloween comes in a close second to Christmas for the holiday Americans spend the most money on for decorations. When I was growing up, the ghoul filled scare-fest was always in the #1 slot around our castle...er...house. My dad was a banker for about 11 months a year, but then came the ramp up to Halloween and he transformed (with some help from my mom) into a mashup of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee as "Dracula" and for twenty years, our basement became a maze of horrors. Wonderful memories in this episode including an insightful and frightful TBT conversation with the original "Ghost Hunter" and historian, the late, great Richard Crowe from 1999.
It's been nine years since I wrote "Every Moment Matters" and thirteen since my first book "Living An Uncommon Life" was released, so why in the world would I go through the maze of publishing a third book? I call it..."The Nudge." I've learned over time that if I don't follow that "inner push" I come down with a serious case of "spiritual constipation" (for lack of a better term.) My latest book is "Pheonmena: Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sh*t I Can't Explain" wherein I share many true-life events, the most incredible, humbling and awe inspiring experiences of my life. Like the desk drawer in an empty classroom that revealed hope for a little girl with terminal cancer, the mysterious voice that spoke the name of a man who died tragically over a century ago, the "visits" from a powerful Native American chief and the daughter who reached past the veil of death, to ease the pain of her grieving father, and more phenomena that I absolutely cannot explain.
You can pre-order the book by clicking the title.
Any guy that is an aficionado of the animated series "Beany & Cecil" is okay in my book.
Charlie Meyerson not only has a beanie copter hat to prove his loyalty to the classic cartoon, but an Edward R. Murrow Award (which is nearly as important) on the shelf as well. Charlie has delivered award-winning Chicago-area news for a long time — including more than 10 years at the city’s legendary progressive rock station, WXRT-FM 93.1; almost nine years at pioneering “smooth jazz” station WNUA-FM 95.5; almost 13 years at Tribune Co., as senior producer and Daywatch columnist and then as news director at Chicago’s premier news/talk station, WGN-AM 720.
Its a dive into the deep end of journalist integrity, the importance of being relevant and the ongoing, uphill climb to uncover the truth, in an unprecedented era of fake news.
You can connect with Charlie at www.chicagopublicsquare.com
Photo credit: Steve Ewert
For the past 22 years, thousands of people have converged on Aspen, Colorado to celebrate the life and legacy of the late singer/songwriter and humanitarian, John Denver. Jim Horn, legendary sax player and a member of the elite studio musicians known as the "Wrecking Crew" has backed up everyone from Duane Eddy, to Frank Sinatra to George Harrison, and spent 18 years on stages around the world, with Denver. I had a great conversation with Jim from Aspen, and we share some insights, stories and thoughts (and music) from our late, great friend, who's impact in the world is still felt all these years later.
Dr. Kathleen Hall just might be the most authentic human I've ever known, overcoming severe childhood trauma, to become one of the preeminent stress experts in the world. She is a pioneer in the Mindful Living movement of the 21st Century and is the founder, CEO, fearless leader & driving inspiration of the Mindful Living Network® and the Stress Institute®. Dr. Hall is an internationally recognized lifestyle expert in stress, work-life balance and Mindful Living, and has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, FOX, USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, Money Magazine, Business Week, Huffington Post, ESPN, Parents, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple and Woman’s Day. Dr. Hall is an award-winning author of four books: Mindful Living Everyday, Uncommon HOPE, A Life in Balance and Alter Your Life.
Its a rousing conversation about keeping the bubble in the middle of the level of life, come what may, no matter what, and the power of making mindful choices.
Christopher Reeve would have turned 67 yesterday, September 25th 2019.
In 2018, I posted this interview with him that originally aired on my Michigan talk show in May of 2002, the day before the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) opened its doors 17 years ago for subscribers only, but I am moved to re-post the episode as an "all skate" on Throwback Thursday.
It's a chance for anyone who needs a serious perspective shift from "The Man of Steel." His insights, inspiration and strength are timeless.
Wouldn't be great if superheroes could save the world just like in the movies?
Music this week from another "Super-Man" who left us too soon... Pete Huttlinger.
"On the road again...just can't wait to get on the road again..." A short road trip from Chicago to Pittsburgh to Lancaster and back, just enough of a break from unsocial media to clear my brain bucket. Nothing like spending time with Trudy Gronning who survived WWII as young girl in Germany to put things in perspective. Add to that Prof. Peter as my sidekick on the journey, a few libations, and celebrations along the way and its another exercise in going past the headlines, to the lifelines.
Full disclosure: My co-host for this episode of the Life 2.0 Podcast...is beer, Moosehead Beer to be exact. I've been busier than a one-eyed cat watching nine rat holes. But fear not, I just did a "Week In Review" including the honor of attending the unveiling of the Walter Payton (and George Halas) bronze statues at Soldier Field and then even more honored to be back at my high school as the brand new multipurpose field was dedicated as well. In between I found time to hang out at a bar and stuff three hours of live radio in as well. Don't miss another segment of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis."
Part 1 of my conversation with Capt. Paul Langlois, United States Coast Guard (Ret.) a highly decorated helicopter pilot, who has endured more physical challenges than can be counted. Cliff Bayuk, former Navy and Coast Guard veteran, is the man responsible for putting this podcast in place, he joins us as well. We are all running the human race, however, Paul Langlois is actually winning in his lane despite a heart transplant, and losing his arms and legs, and continues to move forward no matter what.
Semper Paratus.
This is part two of my conversation with Capt. Paul Langlois, United States Coast Guard (Ret.) a highly decorated helicopter pilot, who has endured more physical challenges than can be counted. Cliff Bayuk, former Navy and Coast Guard veteran, is the man responsible for putting this podcast in place, he joins us as well. We are all running the human race, however, Paul Langlois is actually winning in his lane despite a heart transplant, and losing his arms and legs, and continues to move forward no matter what.
Semper Paratus.
The year was 1993, it was my first paid writing gig for Chicago Sports Magazine, covering the Randy Hundley Chicago Cubs Fantasy Camp at Wrigley Field. I had a stellar outing at the camp, hitting a grand-slam homer the day before we actually played at "The Friendly Confines." My luck changed for the worse when I had to face a real MLB pitcher, "The Hook" lefty Rich Nye, who was one of the aces on that vaunted 1969 Cubs team. But it all got better at the banquet after the game, when we roared to the onslaught of jokes and one liners by the late, great Royce Elliott- American's Funniest Clean Comedian.
This Flash Back Friday made possible by the Life 2.0 Subscribers.
At the age of 14, a guidance counselor told him he wasn't college material, as a senior in high school he was voted "Least Likely to Succeed" and he proudly wore the label of "loser" because he believed that other people's opinion of him, was who he really was. Eventually, Steve Rizzo would go on to become one of the most sought after comedians in America, and had some of today's biggest stars like Drew Carey and Ellen DeGeneres as his opening act. With his own SHOWTIME special, he was destined for sitcom stardom, but instead of heading to Hollywood, he began a quest to find his true calling in life, and along the way became a best-selling author, and the funniest motivational speaker on the planet. If laughter is the best medicine, Steve Rizzo is a master healer, and he shares his triumphs and tragedies on the Life 2.0 Podcast.
Christian Piccioliniwas an architect of the white-supremacist skinhead movement in America during the 1980s and 90s. He had a couple of life changing moments, left the movement and earned a degree in international relations from DePaul University and went on to launch Goldmill Group, a global digital media and counter-extremism consulting firm. In 2016, he won an Emmy Award for his role in producing an anti-hate advertising campaign aimed at helping people disengage from extremist groups. His life since leaving the white-supremacist movement over two decades ago has been dedicated to helping others counter racism and violent extremism by co-founding the organization Life After Hate. Picciolini now leads the Free Radicals Project (freeradicals.org), the world's first global disengagement platform.
While everyone on television talks about the politics of hate from the outside in, Christian addresses this infection of the human spirit from the inside out.
Had to bypass The Wednesday Rant and Throwback Thursday this week, which means I had to stuff everything into a WTF Friday episode of The Life 2.0 Podcast. Spanning the globe attempting to make sense of the senseless (how is it possible that four Chicago area restaurants sell shark fin soup?) Why would a former shark attack victim go into a shark cage and have buckets of chum dumped on them? Cause its "Shark Week!" Why do I have to turn the sound off on baseball games? Football games? What about all the broken left turn signals in America? And have people REALLY passed Drivers Ed? It's a full house for sure...jump in...the waters...fine...except for..."BRIDE OF JAWS!"
If you were one of the many subscribers, listeners or followers of the Life 2.0 Podcast, and voted for who you wanted to hear on the TBT episode this week, and cast your vote for former CNN Anchor and best-selling author Daryn Kagan...then your voice has been heard. From 1994 to 2006, Daryn served as a CNN main anchor and correspondent based in CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. Her untimely departure from CNN turned out to be a "blessing in disguise" as her work now is about filling the world with uplifting stories, that offsets the negative news that grabs headlines. But first, its a rollback to the year 1967, and a short walk through what was going on in the world 52 years ago, because perspective...is power.
So what does an alligator in Chicago, Newton's 3rd Law, three congressmen, a senator, a meteorologist, a 116 year old book, a deceased cicada bug and July 20th 1969 all have him common? At first glance, nothing...but upon further inspection they are the whole kit & caboodle when it comes to The Wednesday Rant. Another foray into my never ending search to find the obvious buried in the absurd and make sense of the senseless. Don't know what a caboodle is? You're gonna find out.
While digging for an archived cassette tape last week after hearing about the passing of Lee Iaccoca to create a #TBT episode on the Life 2.0 podcast, I came across a Rubbermaid vault filled with names from the past, among them Jim Bouton, a 21-game winner for the New York Yankees in 1963 and author of the best-selling Major League tell-all book “Ball Four." I put it aside along with a few other tapes for future consideration. Little did I know, that one week later, Jim Bouton would pass away at the age of 80. So this week its an audio jaunt back to the year 2000, with hanging chads and Y2K, and my conversation with one of the all time greats. You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate Jim's take on pro sports, and overcoming loss. Godspeed my friend.
I had to dig into the blog archives to find the 1648 words I wrote back 2015 regarding my thoughts about Independence Day. After posting the text on Facebook, I had a few people ask if I would please read it and make it available via the Life 2.0 Podcast.
Honored to be asked and to do so.
Just to be clear, the first to take a bullet for the cause of freedom was a black man, Crispus Attucks, whose name doesn't appear on the Declaration of Independence, but is a pivotal figure in our short history, as are the lesser known men who signed their own death warrants with the stroke of a quill pen.
Its the ultimate TBT- 243 years later.
Been busy with wrapping up my latest book "Phenomenon: Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sht I Can't Explain"* but of course there is always time for foray into the Life 2.0 Podcast! It wouldn't be politics without name calling, (just like on the school yard in 1975)...HEY... that was the same year JAWS came out! So what do shark attacks and climate change have in common? Is Marianne Williamson heading to the White House? Is Joe Biden a wimp? As always, the headlines are no match for the lifelines...and I am reminded again this week that in the end, just in the beginning...we are all estate sales in the making or in the case of the guy next door, a garage sale.
1977- Jimmy Carter was elected president, a gallon of gas and carton of eggs cost the same, a new stereo system would set you back $250 bucks, the New York black-out lasted 25 hours (the population of NYC increased significantly nine months later) and it was the year Elvis died. 42 years ago, I graduated from Schurz High School in Chicago, and this past week, I was back there with a cadre of other alumni, celebrating with the 2019 graduates, and awarding scholarships to some of them. I learned a lot hanging out with these kids, not an easy thing to do sometimes, I have shoes older than they are. Another reminder that the world isn't the toilet we are told that it is, and once again, lifelines are far more important than headlines. Toss in an "aha" moment during an episode of The Partridge Family and "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and we are good to go.
"Who is the most impressive, impactful and important person you have ever interviewed in all the broadcasts and podcasts over twenty plus years?" the young man asked me at dinner a few days ago. I have been asked this question many times over the past two decades plus, about my conversations with movers, shakers, ground-breakers, news makers and risk takers, and while they all brought great things to the table, there is an easy answer to the question.
Capt. Jerry Coffee USN (Ret.)
During the Vietnam War, Jerry was flying a combat mission off the USS Kittyhawk when he was shot down by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft guns in 1966. Immediately captured, he was held prisoner for over 7 years in the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ communist prison where torture and solitary confinement were routine. He has endured the very worst of human behavior, and has transformed that experience into making the world a far better place, through the power of forgiveness and faith.
His book "Beyond Survival" is required reading for every American.
When Neli Vazquez Rowland was growing up on the gang and drug infested streets of "Little Village" in Chicago, she could never have imagined that one day, she would create the most effective and highly regarded foundation for ending homelessness in America...and help people like Bianca..."I abused heroin for 36 years. I’ve been arrested 120 times in my life and have been to prison 7. Of course I wanted to change. But I didn’t know how. Without A Safe Haven teaching me how to change, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. For the first time in my life I have a full-time job and I’m living in an apartment by the lake."
A Safe Haven, located in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago, houses 400 people who would otherwise be forgotten shadows in the city. Their work with veterans is unparalleled and while Neli and her husband Brian have made a serious impact in creating lifelines out of headlines, there is more work to be done.
If you have ever doubted that one person can make a world of difference...Neli will change your mind.