Life 2.0

Fish or Politics?

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.

STRETCH IT!

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. 

Lessons of the Game

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.

 

CASHING IN

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. 

Takin’ Care of Business

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. 

The Greater Good

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. 

Buy The Book

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. 

Never Forgotten

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.

 

Keep The Faith

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.

A Little Further North

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.