Episodes

The L.L.Bean Bootmobile, a giant replica of the iconic Maine Hunting Shoe, offers key lessons in branding. 1. Driver Stories Show the Bootmobile [website] 2. Making of the L.L.Bean Bootmobile | L.L.Bean [YouTube] 3. Bootmobil...

Overall, Nuclear War, A Scenario serves as a wake-up call to the continuing threat of nuclear weapons and the need for global cooperation to mitigate these dangers. supporting links 1. How would a nuclear war between Russia a...

Why are Gen Z is most challenging generation to work with, according to surveys? 1. ‘Problems’ With Gen Z in the Workplace [Forage] 2. Gen Z is most challenging generation to work with [KRON4] 3. Why Gen Z and Millennials Vie...

Remember Marv, the bumbling burglar from Home Alone? Actor Daniel Stern has traded break-ins for something far sweeter—tangerines and sculpture. Supporting links 1. Daniel Stern Art [website] 2. Home Alone [movie] 3. Daniel S...

Learn how the Catholic Church, under Pope Leo XIV's leadership, is positioning itself as a moral and ethical voice in the global conversation about artificial intelligence. Supporting links 1. Meet the Vatican’s AI mentor [POLITICO] 2. Pope Leo XIV and A.I. [PBS News] 3. Pope Leo XIII – Biography &…

Learn how a long-overlooked "copy" of the Magna Carta turned out to be the real deal. This is one of only seven known to survive from the year 1300. Supporting links 1. Magna Carta [History] 2. The impact of Magna Carta in the 13th century [YouTube] 3. Making a key piece of history available to the…

Learn how the April 2025 blackout in Europe was not just a technical failure but a social x-ray. It revealed the fragility of systems we think are unbreakable. 1. Carrington Event [Wikipedia] 2. Massive power outage in Spain ...

History isn't neat, and it shouldn't be. Ken Burns dismantles sanitized narratives by showing how the U.S. was "forged in violence"—a fact that doesn't diminish the nation's ideals but strengthens our understanding of them. Supporting links 1. Ken Burns [Wikipedia] 2. Ken Burns [Website] 3. Ken Bur…

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…

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...

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...

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…

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…

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…

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...

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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...

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 …

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…

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…

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…