EP #223 - NOW PLAYING Oct. 23, 2025: Book 📚 Review From Rick’s Library: The Hippie 🚐 Trail

Episodes

Oct. 23, 2025

Book Review From Rick’s Library: The Hippie Trail

Find out what Rick Steve's learned in 1978, at the age of 23, when he embarked on the famed Hippie Trail, traversing countries like Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. supporting links 1. Travel Guru Rick Steves Say His Prostate Cancer Is a 'Thrilling' Journey [PEOPLE] 2. Rick St…

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Oct. 22, 2025

A Prisoner, Limited Tools, A Violin of Hope

This is the story of a very old violin that stored a secret—one that lay hidden for 80 years. This instrument was crafted behind barbed wire in the Dachau prison camp, by a prisoner fighting to survive. Supporting links 1. Fr...

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Oct. 21, 2025

Kyla Scanlon Explains Trumponomics

Learn how Trumponomics offers a powerful lesson about the difference between rhetoric and reality in economic policy — and the critical importance of strategic coherence in national industrial planning. Supporting links 1. Ky...

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Oct. 15, 2025

Interview #24 Barb Demorest and Patti DeFreeuw - Knitted Knockers: A …

In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Barb Demorest and Patti DeFreeuw, the founders of the Knitted Knockers Organization. They share their personal journeys with breast cancer and how it led to the creation of a nonprofit that provides free, hand-knit breast prost…

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Oct. 8, 2025

Interview #23 Andy Unruh - Revolutionizing Music: The Story of the Am…

Summary In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Andy Unruh, the creator of the Amazonica, an innovative musical instrument designed to make music accessible to everyone. Andy shares his journey from a career in nuclear engineering to developing a unique instrument th…

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Oct. 7, 2025

Cancer Costs: A Financial Freefall

Cancer is capsizing Americans' finances. It’s bad enough to be diagnose with cancer, but to then be slapped with the immense cost of medication required to help you stay alive is another. supporting links 1. Cancer, bankruptcy and death: study finds a link [Fred Hutch Cancer Center] 2. Medical Debt…

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Oct. 1, 2025

The Vanishing Dream: Retirement in America

Many people today are confronting a stark reality: the looming retirement crisis in America. Picture this – a significant portion of our seniors, after a lifetime of hard work, find themselves barely scraping by in their ‘gol...

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Sept. 25, 2025

Interview #22 Cydian Kauffman - Day Zero & Navigating the Water Scarc…

Summary In this enlightening conversation, Rick Barron and Cydian Kauffman delve into the critical issue of water safety and the looming crisis of water scarcity, known as Day Zero. They explore the complex factors contributing to this crisis, including climate change, infrastructure challenges, an…

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Sept. 24, 2025

Interview #21 Ian Darley - Resilience on the Road: The 7,000 Mile Epi…

Summary In this discussion, Ian T Darley shares his experiences and challenges during his ambitious journey to walk 7,000 miles around the UK. He reflects on the physical and mental hurdles he faced, such as dealing with inadequate footwear, lack of water, and the emotional toll of being away from …

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Sept. 23, 2025

Interview #20 Pam Sandrock - Embracing Life's Challenges

Summary In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Pam Sandrock, creator of the No Knockouts podcast. They discuss Pam's journey through a life-altering cancer diagnosis, her philosophy of resilience, and the importance of sharing personal stories. Pam emphasizes the si…

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Sept. 17, 2025

Gaza Famine Declared: UN Warns of Starvation Amid War and Aid Blockade

Show notes Learn how UN experts confirm famine in Gaza City as war, Israeli aid restrictions, and collapsed infrastructure push millions into Starvation and acute malnutrition. Supporting links 1. Tom Fletcher [YouTube] 2. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification [Wikipedia] 3. UN experts warn…

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Sept. 10, 2025

Interview #19 From Immigrant to Entrepreneur: Ashok Rajan's Story

In this enlightening conversation, Ashok Rajan shares his remarkable journey from India to the United States, highlighting the challenges he faced while pursuing his education and building a successful career. He emphasizes t...

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Sept. 9, 2025

A Border-Crossing: Canadian Library's Fate

Show notes Learn how a library was deliberately built on the borders of Canada and U.S.A, as a symbol of shared community, showing how physical lines on a map can foster unity rather than division. Supporting links 1. Haskell Free Library and Opera House [YouTube] 2. Haskell Free Library and Opera …

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Sept. 3, 2025

Interview #18 Bryanna Mehling - Navigating Life's Peaks

Summary In this enlightening conversation, Rick Barron speaks with Bryanna Mehling, founder and CEO of Bright Peak Consulting. Bryanna shares her journey from personal challenges to becoming a life and leadership coach, emphasizing the importance of communication, self-awareness, and relationship b…

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Aug. 27, 2025

A.I. Defeats Go Legend Lee Saedol: Implications for AI and Society

Lee Saedol, one of the greatest Go players of all time, is defeated by AI. His shocking defeat wasn't just a game-changer—it was a glimpse into a future that may not have a happy ending. Supporting links 1. Go game [Wikipedia] 2. AlphaGo [Wikipedia] 3. Google DeepMind [Wikipedia] 4. The Story of Al…

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Aug. 26, 2025

Interview #17 Lauren Van Duyn - The Mom-demic Diaries: Stories of Res…

Summary In this episode, Rick Barron interviews Lauren Van Dyne, a recruitment manager and podcaster, about her experiences as a mother during the COVID pandemic. Lauren discusses her podcast, 'The Mom-demic Diaries,' which aims to provide a space for mothers to share their raw and unfiltered stori…

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Aug. 20, 2025

2084: The Year of Earth’s Peak Population

The world’s population is expected to grow by more than 2 billion people in the next decades and peak in the 2080s at around 10.3 billion, a major shift from a decade ago, a new report by the United Nations said Thursday. The...

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Aug. 13, 2025

Cass Elliot and the Ham Sandwich Myth

Cass Elliot's life was a testament to the power of talent, perseverance, and authenticity. From her early days in the folk scene to her meteoric rise with The Mamas & The Papas and her solo career, she left an indelible mark on the music industry. 1. Cass Elliot [Wikipedia] 2. The Mamas & T…

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Aug. 12, 2025

Typing a Note to Say Good-bye

Learn how one man sought to keep typewriters alive. Not as museum pieces, but as living, breathing conduits of human creativity. Supporting links 1. Typewriter [Wikipedia] 2. Who Invented the Typewriter? [History Cooperative]...

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Aug. 6, 2025

Mindset Matters in Aging and Longevity

A growing body of evidence suggests our mental outlook on aging plays a far more significant role in our longevity than previously recognized. 1. Becca Levy, PhD [Yale School of Medicine] 2. How positive age beliefs can suppo...

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July 30, 2025

Life After Apple: Jony Ive’s Vision – Part 2

Jony Ive left Apple for a new journey beyond consumer electronics. That journey was to revitalize the historic Jackson Square district in San Francisco. 1. Apple's Jony Ive on the Lessons He Learned From Steve Jobs [Vanity Fa...

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July 29, 2025

Life After Apple: Jony Ive’s Vision – Part 1

Six years ago, Jony Ive stepped away from Apple, leaving behind the iconic products that reshaped our world. But did he leave his design dreams behind? Not even close. 1. Apple's Jony Ive on the Lessons He Learned From Steve ...

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July 23, 2025

Book Review From Rick’s Library: Alexei Navalny, Patriot, A Memoir

Alexei Navalny's Patriot: A Memoir chronicles his evolution from an ordinary Russian citizen to a global symbol of resistance against Vladimir Putin's regime. supporting links 1. Alexei Navalny [Wikipedia] 2. Yulia Navalnaya [Wikipedia] 3. The faith that sustained Russian dissident Alexei Navalny […

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July 16, 2025

Interview #16 Abi King - Breaking free from the chains of Alcohol Add…

Summary In this episode, Rick Barron speaks with Abby King, a sobriety coach and host of the Sober Connection podcast. Abby shares her personal journey through alcohol addiction, the struggles of quitting, and the emotional toll it takes on individuals and their relationships. They discuss the stig…

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