Episodes

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 stories of parenting during such a challenging time. The conversation explores themes of connection, isolation, grief, and resilience, as well as the unique challenges faced by parents. Lauren emph...

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 report—released on World Population Day—says the global population is then expected to decline to around 10.2 billion by the end of the century. Supporting links 1. World's population projected to nearly stop growing by end of the century [Pew Research Center] 2. T...

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 & The Papas [Official site] 3. The Mamas and the Papas - Top Hits [YouTube] 4. The Truth About 'Mama' Cass Elliot's Death [Al...

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] 3. Ultimate Typewriter Repair Guide: Restore Your Vintage Machine [Classic Typewriter] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us at https://www.thatslifeisw...

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 support positive health [AMA] 3. Why do the Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world? [Observatoire Prevention] 4. Life Expectancy in Japan: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study [Oxford Academic] 5. Why Are Americans So Bad at Getting Old? [Oprah Daily]...

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 Fair] 2. Jony Ive & Anna Wintour in Conversation - RE:WIRED 2021 [YouTube] 3. Why Jony Ive Is Apple's Design Genius [Smithsonian] 4. From Chingford to Cupertino, the quiet ascent of Jony Ive [Financial Times] 5. Jony Ive's 10 most revolutionary designs for Ap...

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 Jobs [Vanity Fair] 2. Jony Ive & Anna Wintour in Conversation - RE:WIRED 2021 [YouTube] 3. Why Jony Ive Is Apple’s Design Genius [Smithsonian] 4. From Chingford to Cupertino, the quiet ascent of Jony Ive [Financial Times] 5. Jony Ive's 10 most revolutionary de...

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 [America] 4. Putin's Opulence: A Deep Dive into the Russian President's Wealth [YouTube] 5. ...

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 stigma surrounding addiction, the importance of community support, and the transformative power of sobriety. Abby emphasizes the need for education about alcohol's dangers and encourages listeners to se...

The U.S. economy may be sleepwalking into a disaster—and the warning signs are being ignored. Are we prepared for what’s coming next? 1. Workers want AI training from their companies [World Economic Forum] 2. AI Automation And The Future Of The Workforce [YouTube] 3. The growth of the older workforce [Pew Research Center] 4. Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted Industries [U.S. Chamber of Commerce] 5. Geopolitics and the geometry of global trade [McKinsey] ...

Learn how weather forecasting, via NOAA, isn’t just about satellites or radars; it’s about the dedicated staff, research, and infrastructure behind the scenes. Private apps and companies rely on this federal backbone. Supporting links 1. Hurricane Season [Wikipedia] 2. NOAA [Website] 3. DOGE [Website] 4. National Weather Service [Website] 5. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research [Wikipedia] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Tw...

As a neurosurgeon, their expertise rests on precise skills and advancing neurological insights, but true mastery goes beyond technique to shape their impact and empathy. 1. The Making of a Neurosurgeon [American University of Antigua] 2. So, You Want to Be a Surgeon [American College of Surgeons] 3. Neurosurgeon [Cleveland Clinic] 4. History of Neurology and Neurosurgery [Wikipedia] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPha...

The propulsive story of the women who sought, and gained, a piece of the action on Wall Street. 1. The Paulina Bren [Blog site] 2. Bernadette Bartels Murphy, Pioneering Wall Street Trader, Dies at 86 [New York Times] 3. Tracing the Roots of the Women on Wall Street [National Women’s History Museum] 4. How the macho NYSE trader became an endangered species [New York Post] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky...

By taking advantage of robotics as the new digital clerk, grocery brands can solve the most pressing issues they face today: tight margins, labor shortages and shifting customer expectations. 1. How robots are taking over warehouse work [BBC] 2. Thrive Market [website] 3. How Robotics is Transforming Grocery Operations [Food Logistics] 4. 7 Online Grocery Delivery Challenges (and How To Overcome Them) [MarktPOS] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thats...

Arctic ice is melting even more rapidly than scientists previously believed. supporting links 1. Felicity Aston: Explorer-Author-Speaker [website] 2. What It's Like to Cross Antarctica Alone [Conde Nast Traveler] 3. Pole Of Cold: Felicity Aston - Extreme Challenge [YouTube] 4. Chasing Winter, A Journey to the Pole of Cold [Book] 5. B.I.G. North Pole [website] Arctic sea ice decline [Wikipedia] ...

Greenpeace, the legendary environmental group that fought to save the whales, now finds itself fighting for survival. Supporting links 1. Greenpeace [Wikipedia] 2. Greenpeace [USA website] 3. Greenpeace International [YouTube] 4. The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior [Greenpeace website] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us at https://www.thatslifeiswear.com/contact/ Episod...

Show notes What if crossing that finish line, no matter how far behind, wasn’t about winning at all? 1. Newcomb ball [Wikipedia] 2. New to Triathlon? Here’s Your Beginner Training Plan [Triathlete] 3. Triathlon [Wikipedia] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us at https://www.thatslifeiswear.com/contact/ Episode Review Su...

Frozen Obsession: Henry Worsley’s Last Expedition, chasing Ernest Shackleton’s polar dream. supporting links 1. Henry Worsley (explorer) [Wikipedia] 2. Ernest Shackleton [Wikipedia] 3. The White Darkness [Amazon Books] 4. David Grann [Facebook] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us at https://www.thatslife...

Summary In this engaging conversation, host Rick Barron speaks with Kendall Breitman, a master storyteller and community manager at Riverside. They explore Kendall's journey from her early life in Pennsylvania to her impressive career in journalism, covering politics and presidential elections. Kendall shares insights into her experiences in high school, college, and her transition into the fast-paced world of political journalism, highlighting the adrenaline rush of breaking news and t...

Summary: In this episode, Rick Barron interviews David Simmons, a former tech executive who transitioned to a sailing business in the Caribbean. David shares his journey from a tumultuous childhood in Mississippi to a fulfilling life on the ocean. He discusses his love for the water, the challenges of starting a charter business, and the realities of living on a boat. The conversation explores themes of reinvention, adventure, and the importance of staying calm in crises. In this conversation...

Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, thinks artificial intelligence could spark the greatest positive transformation education has ever seen 1. How AI could save (not destroy) education [TED] 2. The A.I. Chatbots Have Arrived. Time to Talk to Your Kids. [New York Times] 3. Most Americans haven’t used ChatGPT; few think it will impact their job [Pew Research Center] 4. Khan Academy [website] 5. Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott [YouTube] 6. Sal Khan: How AI Will Revolut...

Locked down in the English countryside during the COVID pandemic, writer Chloe Dalton found herself in an unlikely companionship—with a wild hare. supporting links 1. Raising Hare: A Memoir [Amazon] 2. Chloe Dalton [Blog site] 3. Hare [Wikipedia] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us at https://www.thatslifeiswear.com/contact/ Episode Review Submit on Apple Podcast Submit o...

Text us your thoughts on the podcast The effects of AI in drug development are expected to dramatically reshape the entire healthcare industry. supporting links 1. Terray [company website] 2. Recursion Pharmaceuticals [company website] 3. Schrödinger [company website] 4. Isomorphic Labs[company website] 5. Revolutionizing Drug Discovery with Generative AI [YouTube] 6. What AI-Desi...

Text us your thoughts on the podcast Summary: In this engaging conversation, Rick Barron interviews novelist Suzanne Junered, exploring her journey from a career in nutrition to becoming a writer. Suzanne shares her passion for storytelling, the challenges she faced, and the importance of community in the writing process. The discussion delves into her creative awakening, the themes she explores in her novels, and her reflections on growth and self-worth as a writer. Suzann...