Episodes

Learn how Leo Yoshimura walked into an interview for a job on a show he’d never heard of and took a chance. Sometimes, seizing an unexpected opportunity—despite not knowing exactly where it will lead—can launch a long and fulfilling career. 1. SNL 50 [website] 2. Saturday Night Life [Wikipedia] 3. Saturday Night Life [IMDb] 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...

Anne Berest's "The Postcard" isn't just a novel; it's an emotional rollercoaster that will make you laugh and at moments where your emotions will be tested. supporting links 1. Anne Berest [Advance Reading Copy blog] 2. Anne Berest’s Best Story Came From Deep in Her Family’s Past [Lit Hub] 3. Anne Berest on Diving Into Her History for The Postcard podcast [Lit Hub] 4. Introduction to the Holocaust [Holocaust Encyclope...

Learn how Mechanizes bold mission to automate office work 'as fast as possible' is not a pipe dream. Their founders claim it's not about job loss—it's about liberation from drudgery. But is that the whole story? Supporting links 1. CEO of Fiverr Says A.I. Is Definitely Taking Your Job [Entrepreneur] 2. Will AI take your job? The answer could hinge on the 4 S's [The Conversation] 3. Bosses want you to know A.I. is coming for your job [MS...

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. Bootmobile [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 on That's...

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 and the US affect you personally? [YouTube] 2. Author Annie Jacobsen Describes What Nuclear War Would Look Like [YouTube] 3. Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons [Amazon] 4. Now, I Am Become Death, The Destroyer Of Worlds [That’s Life, I Swear podcast...

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 View Work So Differently [YouTube] 4. 5 Reasons Why ‘Gen Z’ Is Struggling In The Workplace—By A Psychologist [Forbes] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email ...

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 Stern [Instagram] 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 on Tha...

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 & Facts [Pope History] 4. Pope Leo XIII & the Meaning Behind the Name [Spiritual Wanderlust] 5. ...

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 world [Harvard] 4. King John of England [Wikipedia] 5. Henry III of England [Wikipedia] 6.&nbsp...

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 and Portugal [APNews] 3. Power Outages and Other Emergencies [Ready Gov] 4. 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout [Wikipedia] 5. The Iberian Peninsula Blackout — Causes, Consequences [Baker Institute] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.t...

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 Burns [YouTube] 4. Ken Burns [Facebook] 5. What Ken Burns Won't Say About the American Revolution [P...

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 Steves on the "Hippie Trail" Trip That Changed Him [Conde Nast Traveler] 3. Rick Steve's Europe [Website] 4.&nbsp...

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. Franciszek Kempa [Wikipedia] 2. Dachau concentration camp [Wikipedia] 3. Violin Crafted in the Infamous Dachau Death Camp [Yeshiva World News] 4. How a Violin is Made [Simply for Strings] 5. Violin making process explained (Documentary with Commentary) [YouTube]...

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. Kyla Scanlon: “In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work” [The Daily Show] 2. Understanding Trump's Tariffs [Kyla Scanlon/YouTube] 3. Trumponomics [Youtube] 4. Trump Tariffs: Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War [Tax Foundation] 5. The Ca...

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 prosthetics to women who have undergone mastectomies. The conversation explores the emotional impact of receiving a knitted knocker, the organization's growth to distributing over one...

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 that allows people to play music without years of practice. The conversation delves into the challenges of design, the philosophy of failing fast, and the significance of user feedback. An...

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 and Cancer [American Cancer Society] 3. She was already battling cancer, then the bill collectors came [NPR] 4. How to Fi...

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 ‘golden years’. supporting links 1. America Has a Retirement Crisis. We Need to Make It Easier to Save [PEW] 2. SECURE 2.0 [Principal] 3. Will Your Retirement Income Be Enough? [Investopedia] 4. Americans need 53% more in retirement savings, higher than 4 years ago [...

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, and the importance of proactive measures such as water testing. Cydian shares insights from her experience in the water treatment industry, emphasizing the need for awareness and action to ensure safe...

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 family. Ian emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resilience, drawing inspiration from his Olympian friend, Karen Dark. Despite setbacks, he remains determined to continue his journey, plann...

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 significance of embracing life's challenges, the therapeutic nature of creativity, and the value of building diverse relationships. The conversation highlights the power of mindset s...

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 that over [UN Organization] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom ...

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 the importance of hard work, resilience, and the dignity of every job, reflecting on how these experiences shaped his values as an entrepreneur and leader. Ashok also discusses the significance of hope and perseverance for future generations, encouraging them to embrace oppor...

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 House [Website] 3. Haskell Free Library and Opera House [Google Maps] 4. A Century of History on the Canada-U.S. Bor...