Episodes

No Ordinary Assignment offers lessons that extend far beyond journalism, though it is indispensable reading for anyone who practices or admires the craft. supporting links 1. Jane Ferguson details career reporting in war zones [YouTube] 2. Life on the Frontlines of War Reporting | Jane Ferguson [TED] 3. Jan Ferguson [Wikipedia] 4. Jane Ferguson [PBS News] 5. Jan Ferguzon [LinkedIn] 6. Jane Ferguson [Instagram] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatsli...

Learn about the most devastating financial collapse in history—the Great Crash of 1929—through the lens of Andrew Ross Sorkin’s electrifying new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation. supporting links 1. Wall Street crash of 1929 [Wikipedia] 2. Andrew Ross Sorkin [Wikipedia] 3. Applying lessons from the Wall Street crash of 1929 to today's market [60 Minutes] 4. Sorkinsays [Instagram] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website...

Learn how Betty Reid Soskin understood that simply being seen—as an elderly Black woman in a ranger’s uniform—challenged assumptions about who belongs in American institutions. Representation isn’t symbolic; it’s transformative. Supporting links 1. Betty Reid Soskin [Wikipedia] 2. National Park Service [Wikipedia] 3. What life feels like at 101 [YouTube] 4. Sign My Name to Freedom: A Memoir of a Pioneering Life [Amazon] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www....

The birthright citizenship battle before the Supreme Court teaches several profound lessons that stretch well beyond immigration law. The Wong Kim Ark decision is 128 years old. It has survived every political storm since 1898. And yet here we are, with a sitting president arguing it was wrongly decided. Supporting links 1. The 14th Amendment [Constitution Annotated] 2. This Dead California Senator Can Save Birthright Citizenship [Zocalopublicsquare] 3. Birthright citizenship in the ...

This story teaches us that risk can be managed, but never eliminated. Supporting links 1. 2026 Lake Tahoe avalanche [Wikipedia] 2. How to Survive an Avalanche [WikiHow] 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 PodcastSubmit on That's Life, I Swear websiteOther t...

Learn how Ringo Starr was often underestimated within The Beatles, yet the band’s sound would not have been the same without his feel, timing, and restraint. Supporting links 1. Ringo Starr [Website] 2. The Photography of Ringo Starr [Shutterbug] 3. Ringo Starr [Facebook] Ringo Starr [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/conta...

Send us Fan Mail Learn why Everyone's Using WhatsApp Now: Group Chat Features iPhone Users Love Supporting links 1. WhatsApp New Features 2025-The Ultimate Guide to Practical Functions [Omnichat] 2. WhatsApp Communities vs Groups: Understanding the Key Differences [Periskope] 3. New WhatsApp Features That Make Life SO Much Easier!-2025 [YouTube] 4. WhatsApp History [Wikipedia] 5. Jan Koum ...

Send us Fan Mail The central lesson of Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue’s book, reminds us that the future isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something that gets built, one idea at a time. supporting links 1. Apple: The First 50 Years [Amazon] 2. Macintosh [Apple website] 3. Mac [Wikipedia] 4. Make Something Beautiful [Steve Jobs Archive] 1984 (commercial) {Wikipedia] Contact That's Life...

Send us Fan Mail The ghost light that’s turned on in stage theaters isn’t just for safety… and it’s not just for ghosts. It’s for us—a quiet reminder that even when everything goes dark, we’re not ready to let the story end. Supporting links 1. Why Do Broadway Theatres Keep a 'Ghost Light' Burning on the Stage? [Playbill] 2. Haunted or Helpful? [Backstage] 3. Keeping Broadway's lights on [CBS NEWS] 4. Theatr...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about how Selma van de Perre joined the resistance during World War II. How she survived the unsurvivable, and what her life teaches us about courage, memory, and the fight against hatred that continues in our own time. supporting links 1. My Name Is Selma [Amazon] 2. Ravensbrücke [Holocaust Encyclopedia] 3. Nazi concentration camps [Wikipedia] 4. Dutch resistance [Wikipedia] Contact That's...

Send us Fan Mail Learn how Wikipedia spent 24 years building trust through consistent application of principles: verifiability, transparency, and neutrality. Supporting links 1. Jimmy Wales - Wikipedia’s Real Genesis Story, The Questioning Mind, and More [YouYube] 2. Wikipedians [Wikipedia] 3. The Depths of Wikipedians [AsteriskMag] History of Wikipedia [Wikipedia] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://w...

Learn how great institutions, like the Nobel Prize, can become outdated—and when they do, they start misrepresenting the very excellence they’re supposed to honor. Supporting links 1. Nobel Peace Prize [Wikipedia] 2. List of female Nobel laureates [Wikipedia] 3. Nobel Prize Organization [website] 4. Minneapolis for Nobel Peace Prize [The Hill] 5. The problem with Nobel’s ‘rule of three’ [CNN] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitt...

The takeaway is that when leaders like Trump break core promises or values that hold their coalition together, even their friendliest influencers, like Joe Rogan, can become powerful amplifiers of disillusionment. Supporting links 1. Joe Rogan [Wikipedia] 2. Joe Rogan Makes Dire Prediction in Scathing Attack on Trump’s War [The Daily Beast] 3. Joe Rogan [Instagram] 4. Joe Rogan [Website] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @R...

Learn how the Blatten disaster in Switzerland, is a sobering reminder that our relationship with nature is not one of control but coexistence. Supporting links 1. This is ground zero for Blatten [The Guardian] 2. More melting giants to follow? [PreventionWeb] 3. Melting glaciers mean an uncertain future for Europe's rivers [NPR] 4. Glacial Losses in the Swiss Alps [Earth Observatory] 5. Global Maps [Earth Observatory] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www...

Summary Explore the profound differences between knowledge and wisdom with Skip Leinberg, host of The Main Thing podcast. Discover how wisdom guides us through life's challenges, the importance of civil discourse, and practical tools like wisdom cards to enhance personal growth. Supporting Links 1. Skip Lineberg [LinkedIn] 2. Skip Lineberg [podcast] 3. Skip Lineberg [YouTube] 4. Skip Linebe...

In this episode, Rick Barron speaks with Jenny Chan, the co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, a nonprofit dedicated to uncovering and preserving the often-overlooked narratives of the Pacific War during World War II. Jenny shares her personal journey that led her to establish the organization, the importance of documenting survivor stories, and the challenges faced in educating the public about these historical events. The conversation delves into the impact of historical trauma on cur...

Learn how innovation and expansion come with real trade-offs, especially when a beloved brand tries to grow beyond its core identity. Supporting links 1. Whole Foods will transition to Amazon labor framework [Supermarket News] 2. The Whole Foods Story [Website] 3. Whole Foods Market [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/...

The Secret of Secrets reinforces why Dan Brown remains a master of the modern thriller. His mix of historical intrigue, philosophical inquiry, and page-turning suspense keeps readers riveted from start to finish. supporting links 1. Dan Brown [Official Website] 2. Dan Brown [Wikipedia] 3. Dan Brown on the mysteries and mayhem in his new thriller [PBS News] 4. Robert Langdon Series [Goodreads] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitt...

Summary In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Nikki Corbett, the host of 'The Scarlet Edit,' a podcast that delves into the complexities of infidelity, divorce, and the gray areas of modern relationships. Nikki shares her journey into podcasting, the importance of speaking openly about taboo topics, and the profound impact these conversations have on both guests and listeners. The discussion highlights the significance of courage, community, and the power o...

Summary In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Theresa Lyons shares her journey from being a scientist to an advocate for children with autism. She challenges the traditional views of autism as a lifelong condition, emphasizing the potential for improvement through functional medicine and understanding the root causes of symptoms. Dr. Lyons discusses the importance of communication between parents and children, the role of grandparents in the diagnosis process, and the emotional challenges fa...

Kyla Scanlon explains how America’s economy is no longer built on production, innovation, or shared prosperity — it’s built on speculation. Supporting links 1. Kyla Scanlon Explains Trumponomics [That’s Life, I Swear] 2. Kyla Scanlon: Gen Z’s Economic Guru Adviser [That’s Life, I Swear] 3. Kylascan [Instagram] 4. Kyla Scanlon [YouTube] Contact That's Life, I Swear Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com Twitter at @RedPhantom Bluesky at @rickbarron.bsky.social Email us...

Public health isn’t just a government line item. It’s the invisible shield that protects all of us. When that shield weakens, so does our collective safety. Diseases don’t wait for bureaucracy to catch up. They spread in the silence left behind when experts are told their work no longer matters. Supporting links 1. USAID [Wikipedia] 2. Will the next pandemic be caused by coronavirus again? George Fu Gao Interview [NSR] 3. Ebola...

Summary In this episode, Rick Barron interviews Chris Watson, the creator and host of The Adventurers Diaries podcast. They discuss Chris's journey into podcasting, the philosophy behind his show, and the importance of adventure in personal growth. Chris shares insights on finding guests, creating authentic conversations, and the impact of his podcast on listeners. The conversation also touches on the significance of the 'pay it forward' segment, memorable episodes, and the human connection i...

Learn how REI’s Soho location wasn’t just a place to buy hiking boots or camping gear; it was a quiet refuge in a city that never seems to pause. Supporting links 1. REI [website] 2. REI [Wikipedia] 3. REI Co-op Store Closing [YouTube] 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 Li...