Life 2.0

BREAKING HATE- CHRISTIAN PICCIOLINI

This might just be the most important and powerful Life 2.0 episode you will listen to. In a time when hate crimes are grabbing the headlines, we are often left with no way to make sense of the senseless. That's where Christian Picciolini comes in. At age 14 in 1987, Picciolini was recruited to join the Chicago Area Skinheads (CASH.) Two years later, he became the group's leader at age 16. After years of furthering the neo-Nazi agenda, Christian renounced his ties to any and all white supremacist organizations in 1996 at the age of 22. He has spent the last two decades repairing the pain he inflicted on himself and others, along with being an advocate for other extremists to leave their lives of hatred and find better lives. Christian is the author of "White American Youth: My Descent into America's Most Violent Hate Movement-and How I Got Out"

Photo Credit Britton Picciolini

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THE WEDNESDAY RANT- VETERAN'S DAY EDITION

The bottom line is that Veteran's Day is every single day. Sometimes lost in all the mattress sales, tire sales and free chicken dinners, are the stories of those who served. 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 Life 2.0- and he said "YES" I knew his would be a powerful perspective on a very difficult time for him personally and for our country. Thank you for your service Sarge.

THE TEACHINGS OF TRUMP

There is an old adage that states "That which hurts, instructs." Since Donald Trump became the 45th POTUS, there are a lot of people in pain, as their belief systems get put in a bench vise and squeezed as never before. There are other people who think DJT is a Superman of sorts, battling on their behalf for truth, justice and the American way. For me, the former (and current) reality star is a teacher, someone who embodies much of what has been hidden from view, but is now on full display. The lessons aren't fun, but they are more like a refresher course than new material. Class is in session for subscribers of the Life 2.0 Podcast. 

REMEMBERING WALTER PAYTON

I have a boatload of memories from the time I spent working with Walter Payton back in the early 1990's. A few of those moments I shared in "Chicken Soup for The Golfer's Soul" and in my first book "Living An Uncommon Life." 

Just yesterday, I caught sight of an organ donor license plate that honors "Sweetness," whose struggle with rare liver cancer increased public attention on organ donation, even though a transplant couldn't save his life. Since he passed away on November 1st 1999, thousands of people have become organ donors because of him.

 

While I am sad that he is gone, I am so very glad he was here.

 

TBT Life 2.0 and my conversation with Connie Payton from 2016.

 

"Tomorrow is promised to no one."

HALLOWEEN MEMORIES

When October 31st rolls around each year I think of two guys. First, my dad who for twenty years turned the basement in our big old Victorian house into a haunted castle, then transformed himself from a banker into "The Count." Secondly, I think of my longtime friend, the late, great original "ghost-hunter" Richard Crowe. RC originated the concept of "ghost tours" back in the early 1970's and was a fixture in the media when it came to all things supernatural and unexplained. I'm remembering both of these guys in this special "Halloween" edition of the Life 2.0 podcast, including the very first interview I had with Richard 20 years ago, on this day in 1998.

That pic of Dracula is Poppa John, and when he passed in 2004 we buried him with his cape, just like Bela Lugosi. 

TBT-CHARLES OSGOOD

I've done "The Monday Memo" and "The Wednesday Rant" and of course "Freebie Friday"- but this is the first "Throwback Thursday" edition of The Life 2.0 Podcast. In this inaugural episode, we roll back eighteen years to 2000, (after surviving the end of the world with the Y2K scare of 1999,) and a rousing conversation with the one and only Charles Osgood, a living legend of broadcasting who hosted "CBS Sunday Morning" a role he held for over 22 years from April 10, 1994, until September 25, 2016. Charlie also hosted The Osgood File, a series of daily radio commentaries, from 1971 until December 29, 2017. Once again the audio vault has opened, giving us a perspective of the past that can help us endure the future. Click the "Subscribe to Premium Content."

THE WEDNESDAY RANT

According to a number of Americans, the impending election cycle brings with it the chance to "Take Back Our Country" which has become an oft heard rally cry on both sides of the political aisle. Where exactly should we take it back to? What year did we "have it all together" as a nation? 1955? 1973? 1999? A little perspective goes a long way. 

THE TOTAL PACKAGE.

Candace Jordan is a renaissance woman. She began her journey in tiny Dupo, Illinois, found her way to the St. Louis Playboy Club, then to Ms. December 1979 and numerous covers of the iconic magazine created by Hugh Hefner. Using her platform to the utmost, she would go on to capture the pulse of The Windy City, being named to three of Chicago's top 100 lists – 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans, 100 Women Making a Difference and 100 Women of Influence. CJ writes the Candid Candace column for the Chicago Tribune along with her own  her Chicago Now blog and her own blog, CandidCandace.com 

From helping to raise millions for charity to hanging out on the Red Carpet with Al Pacino to collecting rare books to being a voice for our four legged friends, she has much to say about the power of kindness, appreciating the journey and insisting that you are "more than enough" just as you are. 

EARTH MATTERS

Digging into the vast audio archives I came across a "double header" conversation with two of the most respected names in the media, when it comes to information that informs, entertains and inspires with regard to environmental issues. Bill Kurtis & Jean- Michel Cousteau joined me back in 2008 to talk about some of the challenges we face as a species, most of which we seem to inflict on ourselves. For those of you that look forward "The Wednesday Rant" fear not, its included.

REMEMBERING JOHN DENVER.

On October 12th 1997, John Denver's experimental plane plunged into the waters of Monterey Bay, California. His family lost a father, son and brother, I lost a friend and millions of fans around the world, mourned the loss of this celebrated and beloved singer/songwriter. This "Freebie Friday" on the 21st anniversary of John’s death, takes a look back at the man and his music through my conversations with a few of his friends including country music stars Michael Martin Murphey and John Berry, legendary producer the late Roger Nichols, his wife Connie Reeder who backed up JD vocally along with award winning broadcaster Rolland Smith and the late, great Aussie Terry Lipman. Click the "Subscribe To Premium Content" button to listen.