Talk with Ted - A Show About Nothing

Manny Ohonme joined me to discuss his journey from Nigeria to North Carolina, with a stop in North Dakota where he played hoops and maximized the value of his college scholarship.In 2003, after re-visiting the extreme poverty in his homeland, Manny set out on a mission to provide “shoes as the foundation to a spiritual and healthy life resulting in the advancement of education and economic opportunities.” Samaritan’s Feet and its partners have distributed over 7.5 million pairs of shoes in 108 countries and over 420 U.S. cities.We talked about conflict, history, Nigeria, peaceful protest, corporate sponsors and fundraising. Manny shared some sobering stats about shoeless children and described how easy it is for you to help.Husaya Hama (pictured) joined me for the second hour. I met Husaya on a hiking trail and invited him on the show to discuss his journey from Sudan to Utah (through Washington State). Husaya talked about the struggle to find his identity after his family won a lottery in 1999 allowing them to escape war violence and enter the U.S. - American culture. He tells a story about getting his shoes stepped on and noting that his response (indifference) didn’t sit well with his new “friends” who expected him to feel, and act, more disrespected if he expected to “fit in.” (confusing, right?)  After running with the wrong crowd for a bit, Husaya's back on the right path and is fortunate to call Utah home. He’s a newlywed (9/10/20) and is working on building his family’s future.Visit Samaritansfeet.org to help.

Hmmm, yesterday while I was talking about censorship the FBLive feed to my radio show stopped working. Maybe it's because I was talking about Antifa and QAnon. If that's what it was, Mark Zuckerberg (the machine) should have listened to the entire show, instead of cutting off the live feed after 30 minutes. He (it) might have learned something that didn't fit the "profile."Stupid computers! Photo by Annie Spratt at Unsplashed 

I managed to conjure up Tobias Beckwith’s appearance in Salt Lake City this past week through the Spirit of Radio. It was a pretty simple trick. (1. invite, 2. provide call-in number, 3. answer phone, 4. listen.)Tobias is an author, consultant, teacher, manager and faculty member at McBride's Magic and Mystery School. We spoke about his book, The Wizard’s Way, which examines commonalities among transformational people and tools for incorporating those characteristics into your own life.This show is sort of hard to described. We shuffled through a bunch of topics, including the secrets of magic, mirroring, radical responsibility, autosuggestion and re-programming your memory through magic.(Re-programming someone’s memory to trigger a different emotional response? C’mon Tobias, are we really supposed to believe that’s possible?)Oh, I almost forgot. We also spoke about techniques to improve your memory and how to overcome limiting beliefs.Hmmm? .

Local politician Julie Jackson knocked on my door a couple of weeks ago and asked whether I'd place a sign in my front yard supporting her campaign for a position on the Granite School Board. I chatted with her for a few minutes, told her I'd do a little more research, invited her on my podcast and took the sign inside before promising to commit.The next day I put the sign up.Yesterday I caught up with Julie again. We talked about local politics, public schools, special education plans, on-line learning, as well as her experiences/perspectives as an educator and mother. (She has four students of her own at home.)It's that time of year again, and it was real "treat" getting to know Julie.Knock-knock.VoteJulieJackson.com

Former executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Management and Budget Kristen Cox joined me yesterday to discuss her life story and experiences in applying the Theory of Constraints to government. She describes the government procurement processes (RFP vs. emergency spending powers) and how our state (Utah) maximized efficiency and effectiveness in an environment of heightened demand and dwindling resources.Kris is an author (Stop Decorating the Fish) educator (Professor UofU), consultant and founder of The Fulcrum, “a one-of-a-kind community of cutting-edge leaders and practitioners from around the globe that are all going for it.  We share.  We learn.  We support.  We bring out the best in one another.”We discussed the public’s expectations of government, civil discourse, mandates vs. incentives, traffic, public transportation, the press, manufacturing, pollution, Tesla, recycling and the potential for the rebound effect - cheaper costs resulting in greater consumption.I start the show talking about the upcoming VP debate here in Salt Lake City and taking a look back at Geraldine Ferraro being called a “witch” before her 1984 debate with VP George Bush.Wow, time flies!Seems like 1984 was just yesterday . . . or today for that matter. 

Second Chance 4 Youth CEO Melissa Moss joined me to discuss the Utah based non-profit program founded by Superbowl Champion and Republican nominee for Utah's 4th congressional district Burgess Owens.SC4Y is dedicated to helping incarcerated youth during their post release phase. "SC4Y provides the tools, support, environment and post-incarceration career opportunities to those seeking to be productive citizens. Highlighted throughout this initiative is the recognition of the blessing of being an America, where the concept of second chances is innate and within the core of its DNA."To support its mission Second Chance 4 Youth relies on its corporate sponsors, private donations, volunteers and special annual events.We need volunteers to serve as mentors and money to help support the program.Follow the lead of companies like Perry Homes, Hamlet Homes and The Sagamore Institute and donate today!www.secondchance4youth.org       

My buddy Darren McCarthy and his colleague Gayle Moyers joined me to discuss education/parenting techniques proven to help children learn and grow.Darren co-founded Sound Foundations for Parenting, a platform connecting parents with innovators from around the world to “teach the why and how of learning and education.” One of the programs that Darren uses is The Learning Ears System created by Gayle Moyers.Darren and Gayle explain how the system, using music and sound, teaches your brain how to connect the pieces that disrupt your thinking.  “From ADHD to Dyslexia to Spectrum classifications, The Learning Ears® System will teach your brain how to overcome challenges that have been diagnosed as insurmountable.”“Not only does our auditory system protect us from noises and sounds we do not want to hear, it also provides energy to the brain and body that results in effective processing and thinking necessary for coordination, movement, balance, language and literacy. In order to be a functional learner, an individual must be able to listen and think, read and think, and say what he wants to say in a few words. The ability to accurately read and receive oral language is critical.We talked about the importance of listening. (ironic, right?)I start the show discussing the Supreme Court of the United States, Amy Coney Barrett, stare decisis, separation of powers, due process, Dred Scott v. Sanford, the 1858 Lincoln/Douglas debates and a couple of executive orders.I got home and tuned in to watch the presidential debate, but it was too hard to listen to, so I turned it off to protect myself from noise and sound that I don’t want to hear.

Mike Duhacek joined me this morning from Ontario, Canada.“In the coldest month of the year, February 2013, one man took a journey of approximately a million steps across Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa, pulling a 125-pound sled with the letters CANCER on it, to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. When Mike Duhacek lost both of his grandparents to cancer and watched his mother diagnosed with a rare cancer, undergoing a grueling three-year battle, he knew it was time to act and helpmeburycancer was born. Duhacek, who is the newly appointed Canadian Ambassador for Cops for Cancer, has now written a book about his journey.”Mike spent more than three weeks enduring the elements and testing his physical and mental capacities. This book chronicles the overwhelming support he received from his fellow Canadians along the way, including family, students, politicians, police, first responders and kids willing to empty their piggybanks to support the cause. On day 7 he crossed paths with his mother, who's still alive today - 7 years later. And, when it was over, he was even honored by the Queen.Take off, eh! 

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' frontman (1981-1991) and Rock 'n' Roll HOFer (2015) Ricky Byrd joined me from Queens to discuss the release of his new album - Sobering Times - which is another “straight up Rock ‘n’ Roll record with a message that speaks to addiction, recovery, hope and a life beyond your wildest dreams.”On this project, Ricky collaborates with musicians Bob Stander, Jeff Kazee, Steve Holley, Liberty DeVitto, Rich Pagano, Christine (The Beehive Queen) Ohlman and more in supporting the recovery (Rock 'n' Roll) lifestyle.We spoke about his playing days, early gigs in the Catskills, record deals, benefit concerts and the meaning behind his HOF acceptance speech, including whether it was entirely scripted, or not.Keep on rockin' Ricky!Photo credit: Frankie Byrd 

Deborah Coviello (The Drop In CEO) dropped in on me this morning.In her article “Losing Your Way is Part of your Growth Journey . . .” she writes: “So what is your path that you have started on? Have you come to a place where you don’t recognize yourself or you had well intended goals but at mid-year, you’re not on track? Do you move to a place of disappointment in yourself or do you see it as a positive opportunity to reflect and get back on track; or even better adjust your compass? You have choices and depending upon how you feel about yourself, you can set you up for failure or I like to focus on; your success for the rest of 2020.”We spoke about corporate responsibility/management, leadership, podcasting, career changes and her family life in Ohio.I also took the opportunity to ask her for directions.

I spoke with former pimp turned advocate/author/mentor Armand King about surviving childhood in the marginalized neighborhoods of San Diego during the crack epidemic in the 1990s.“Fueled by his experiences in the streets, Armand co-founded Paving Great Futures and now works to guide others out of the systemic prison pipeline. As a young man, Armand was misguided by the streets and, in turn, misguided others, blind to the detriment of his actions. His life mission now is detouring individuals from the many socio-economic pitfalls faced by the underserved communities in San Diego.”Armand’s making a difference in the exact world that almost ruined his life and that took the lives of so many of his friends. We spoke about his unique experiences and new book Raised in Pimp City: The Uncut Truth About Human Sex Trafficking.Tune in the hear Armand’s suggestions for permanently sprucing up the neighborhood, so to speak.

University of Utah Law Professor Amos Guiora joined me this morning to discuss his new book, Armies of Enablers – Survival Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults. The book examines cases of sexual assault at Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, USA Gymnastics, the Catholic Church and Penn State University. Professor Guiora “illuminates how enablers protect their institutions and the perpetrators at the expense of the survivors.”The question Professor Guiora posed to the survivors was, “What did you expect from the enabler?” Throughout his conversations, the role of the enabler was front and center because the survivors reported the abuse to the person they believed was best positioned to protect them, and the systems repeatedly failed. He explains how this breach of trust/abandonment stands out as a separate and distinct trauma.The book examines these shortcomings and proposes changes to the criminal law to better protect future victims from sexual assault. 

Chad Hymas joined me this morning from his elk ranch in Rush Valley, Utah to discuss how he’s been finding his way through the covid-19 crisis, which he describes as worse than the accident leading to his quadriplegia.In 2001, at the age of 27, Chad broke his neck and severed his spinal cord while attempting to transfer a 2,000 bale of hay with a tractor. Chad explains how he had gotten into the habit of ignoring the warning light that came on that fateful day which indicated low hydrolytic fuel and how, as a result, he didn’t get to witness his youngest son take his first steps. Ironic, right?Chad is a member of the National Speaker Association Hall Of Fame and travels the world, mostly solo, despite his seemingly insurmountable physical limitations. He explains how he’s able to do it, and how grateful he is for it.We discussed his inspiring journey (author, elk rancher, athlete, motivational speaker, father, husband) some local politics (subdivisions), Covid-19, anxiety, travel (less), working his ranch, safe social gatherings, new dynamics in relationships, adoption, national politics, as well as his newly constructed recording/broadcasting studio where he intends to keep Doing What Must Be Done.

Robb Kelly, PhD (psychology, Oxford, 1984) joined me this morning and shared his remarkable story.Dr. Kelly is an addiction expert. He provides one-on-one coaching which focuses on “healing the body, mind and spirit of our clients” by teaching addicts to change their thought patterns, which manifests in changed behaviors.  He “pulls the disease out of his clients and empowers them to fight their disease head on.”In this episode, Dr. Kelly discusses growing up in England and drinking when he was just 9-years old.  He describes his early career as a bass player and “partying” with Elton John and Freddie Mercury before scraping his way through college/graduate school, starting a family and then losing it all by age 26. After several failed suicide attempts, he was “led” into Alcoholics Anonymous, which changed his life.We spoke about anxiety, fear, covid-19, mental health, AA and his unconventional approach to permanently closing the revolving door of recovery.Good thinking Coach!! 

Melissa Marsted, the founder and publisher of Lucky Penny Publications, joined me this morning and spoke about her “hero’s journey” in becoming a children’s book author/publisher.“It really all began on the night of the Santa Barbara Tea Fire in November, 2008. My two boys, three pets and I lost nearly everything after having an hour to evacuate. After the fire a friend asked if I could do anything to start my life over, what would I do? Without hesitation, I wanted to finish self-publish a children's book, I was working on. I set my intentions and within a year that book was finished at the end of 2009. In March, 2010 the iPad was released, and I had the idea to start an eBook publishing company. TEN years ago! Over the years I have hit road blocks but as a long distance runner I have learned to go the distance. There is no giving up!I am re-writing this now in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis, and re-evaluating how far Lucky Penny has come in ten years and what's next? It's a time for us to believe in our dreams!”We discussed A Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell, 1949) and her personal transformation which included obstacles, trials, allies and a little luck!  

Technology and Science Futurist Rebecca Costa joined me from her home in Oregon. She’s voluntarily participating in her own social experiment which is designed to cultivate increased probabilities of being happy. It seems to be working, and now she’s in the process of writing a new book about it. (Her friends know not to "drop in" on her when the flag is out, . . . because she's busy, which is a big part of being happy.)Rebecca explains how we can “leverage what we know about everyday behaviors which produce resiliency, enjoyment and hopefulness” and “fortify positive emotions and change the outlook millions of Americans have on life.”We discussed sociobiology, vaccines, facts vs. beliefs, science, Covid-19 treatments, unemployment, mental health, artificial intelligence, political philosophy, as well as her books The Watchman's Rattle (2010) and On The Verge (2017).She’s a futurist, so naturally I took the opportunity to ask her . . . 

Brad Schreiber's introduction to his book, Music is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice and the Will to Change, states:"Music is sound waves. It is energy made entertaining, mathematics inservice to the human ear. It is power—but not just sonic power or powerin consumer currency or the power to evoke an emotional response ormemory. Music, when it is crafted to address the ills of the world, becomes a special kind of force."Brad joined me from his home in California and we rapped about music  (Joe Hill, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Ozzy Osbourne and Rush (of course)), as well as history, politics, social change, Covid-19, symbolism, big money, etc.  I start the show discussing my break from social media, a two month roadtrip across the country and the origin of the term "hippie." 

Traci Neal isn’t only inspirational, she’s funny too. Traci is a poet, cook and so much more, including a teacher.Former NBA Champion and University of Utah legend Mike Doleac joined me for the second hour and reminisced about his glory days. He’s considering “home school” this fall if things don’t change. 

                I’m taking the liberty of blending some of Jason’s story (Author, Deliberate Discomfort) with my own. _________                I was uncomfortable.                There was no denying it. Unnerved, stressed, under pressure, what-ever you wanted to call it. That was, of course, by design.                I was at the crossroads of “how the hell did I get here?” and “what will happen next?”________                I reached for my M60 and immediately began panicking when I realized it felt light. It struck me - I’d forgotten to load my weapon before (tandem) jumping out of the C-5 into this place with Commander Van Camp.                 Instinct took over. I jumped to my feet and began running across the beach while yelling “Don’t Shoot, Don’t Shoot!” I made it to the cliff, looked back, saw nobody and asked myself “where the hell is Commander Van Camp?" and "what will he do next?" _______                Jeramy Lund, Managing Director at Sorenson Impact Institute joined me for the second hour and shared some war stories of his own – literally.

Park City Mayor Andy Beerman joined me this afternoon and shared some of his history, both personal and professional. Andy served on the City Counsel before responding to a call from former-Mayor Dana Williams to run himself.  In October of 2017 the City Council of Park City voted unanimously to approve a net-zero energy performance requirements for all municipal buildings and facilities. According to the City’s website, “[a]s of 2017, we are offsetting approximately half of our electricity consumption with Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through our utility. Our goal is to bring new renewables online to power 100% of our municipal operations by 2022, and hence bring our Scope 2 emissions to zero. In the meantime, we are electrifying our bus fleet, which temporarily raises our footprint, but will drop it to zero once the renewables come online.”Andy shared his passion about Park City, the environment, history, climbing, philosophy and the old Wednesday evening concerts in the Park, next to the old Miner’s Hospital. He also spoke candidly about the uncertain challenges we face, and optimistically about those same things.I started the show discussing my 1997 move to Utah, moose(s) sightings and a 1986 United States Department of Interior Nomination Form - National Register Historic Places (Ecker Hill Ski Jump, Summit County, Utah). 

Katie Wright seems to know what’s right when it comes to coordinating philanthropic efforts. Katie serves as Executive Director at Park City Community Foundation.  According to her Linkedin bio: "I’m dedicated to the nonprofit sector, where I believe that innovation, collaboration and data-driven strategies can change lives - and communities - for the better. I have proven successes tackling complex issues such as climate change and education and practical experience in nonprofit essentials such as fundraising, grant making, and project management.” We spoke about PCCF’s role in addressing the urgent needs of those critically impacted by the Covid-19 virus.Patrick Crowley founder at Chapul joined us for the second hour. According to his Linkedin bio: “In 2019 I launched Chapul Farms as a way to continue growing the regenerative potential of insects to bio-convert food and ag waste into healthy foods and microbial rich soil. We work with selected domestic and international insect farms to scale their operations and provide the highest quality insect products to B2C and B2B markets. As project developers, we are building some of the world's largest insect farms, focused on un-compromising sustainability metrics. I've been interviewed and quoted by CNN, Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, and has spoken from TEDx, University, and International stages.”I started the show talking about Jaws, the U.S.S. Indianapolis and a little military history.

AtlasRTX CEO Bassam Salem joined me this morning and we chatted old-school style - cell phone/blue tooth, no video, that is. Bassam shared some of his remarkable story which includes growing up in Cairo, Paris and a small town in Great Britain before his family scored an apartment on the east side of Salt Lake City in 1986. He launched his company in 2015 and is implementing AI (which I now understand a little better) in ways to help companies provide better services. We spoke about his family’s journey to success and how lucky he feels to be living (and working) in Park City, Utah.I started the show discussing the morning news (Headline: Sundance Film Festival possible site of early COVID-19 outbreak) and wondering why it is that I can get a haircut down here (Salt Lake County), which I desperately need, but not up there (Summit County). 

Yesterday I caught up with teammate (Summit Commerce Covid Collective) Todd Astill and fantasized about building a custom home in Park City, Utah. Todd is the CEO of Nerve.TV which “offers a unique, simple and cost-effective approach to everything technology related. In addition to the traditional audio/video distribution, theater and control systems we offer green solutions such as lighting control, automated shades, networking, telecom and video conferencing.”After a bit we caught up with Davis Smith, CEO of Cotopaxi. (And, we didn’t have to go into the jungle to find him, which was comforting.)  Davis is working with the State of Utah to bring PPE into our trenches. He shared memories (lessons) from his “homeschool” and explained the motivation behind his B corporation.Turns out these guys have crossed paths before. (Small state – approx. 3 mil.)I could really use a new back-pack . . .FORE!!!

After giving his fair share of “good hits” playing football with the boys, Kyler Alm decided that he couldn’t risk taking another one himself.  Toward the end of the 2018 season he suffered a whiplash injury (subdermal hematoma) and was placed under close observation in the ICU. Kyler explains how the hematoma, and his comeback in 2019, each dissipated on their own. But those setbacks haven’t held him back. He’s finishing high school next month and is starting an apprenticeship with Western States Fire Inspection. He’s welding a ten-year plan into shape. We discussed his family life in Montana, which includes lumbar yards, cattle, alfalfa and rodeos. Seems like the only thing he’s missing is the prom. Too bad he doesn’t have a date, . . . because he has a date . . . and a suit! (I’m envisioning a big buckle and cowboy boots to dress it up a bit.)I was a little nervous starting the show, in part because it’s a sensitive topic – the KKK that is. I reviewed Art Raymond’s article in yesterday’s Deseret News regarding Banjo CEO Damien Patton’s past ties with the KKK, and the State of Utah’s response. I read about half the story during the show. Enough to raise a few questions. I'm sure there's more to it. There (almost) always is. Right? Impressive decision Kyler! Good luck!

Maryguenn Vellinga knows a thing or two about fighting. She's a professional boxer who operates Rise Boxing, a fitness studio with youth and technical programs here in Park City, Utah. She’s fighting to keep her gym in business.Garrett Robertson knows a thing or two about finances. He operates Empyrian, a boutique consulting firm where he “provides CEO/CFO advisory services, conducts due diligence on behalf of private companies and VC's, and advises on growth strategy.” He’s also a “an avid blogger and humanitarian who believes the best way to build society and alleviate inequality is through embracing diversity.”We’re part of a team (Summit Commerce Covid Collective) that Earl Foote (Nexus IT) and Todd Astill (Nerve.TV) put together to help people fighting through the current crisis. This episode contains some specific information about the best way for small businesses to access government relief funds, and some general information about dealing with creditors.To be continued . . . . 

There was a lot of (mis)information swirling around Washington, D.C. long before I started playing “tag, you’re it” with my guest Matthew Barnes at 4th of July parties when Jimmy Carter was in charge, and just before the first agent orange class action lawsuits were filed. (Uncle Dick missed a few parties in the 1980s - probably too busy working.) Speaking of the President, since the White House cancelled today’s coronavirus briefing, I thought it’d be “worth the time and effort” to get caught up with Matt and hear about what he’s been up to at the State Department.Matt is the founding partner of ASG Advisors which provides strategic counsel to companies, corporate executives, foundations, and public officials on maximizing their impact through philanthropy and thought leadership. ASG supports its “clients with sound research, intimate knowledge of best practices, thorough planning, and strong execution.”In July, Matt was called to serve a special assignment with the U.S. State Department as part of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). He describes his work related to the AIDS pandemic and how he believes Dr. Deborah Birx’s experiences there can help us here. We talked about world supply chains and using “analytics” to maximize outomes, not just outputs. Keep up the great work Cuz! Proud of you!! 

I overheard my guests DJ Joune (Official DJ Utah Jazz) and Dustin Smith (Pastor, Capital Church) comparing the risks/benefits of "day trading" versus "longer term" investments before we started recording today's episode. It didn't surprise me that they were discussing money and looking at things in new ways. Who's not these days?Apparently, that's what they do when they're not hosting live concerts in a socially responsible and hip (-pie or -hop) kind of way.I start the show discussing Utah's response to the crisis and the history of a couple of old movie theaters in our backyard.To be continued . . .    

I spent the first hour discussing the coronavirus, of course, as well as mental health, vacations and Charles Ponzi's scheme to cash in on "postal reply coupons" - tens of millions of them.Nexus IT CEO Earl Foote joined me for the second hour and explained what his company is doing to keep us all connected.  Earl described how the "Nexus IT team is interacting with and serving clients, and dreaming up and providing reliable, progressive, business-changing IT solutions to each of them." He provided useful information about electronic security, computer viruses and malware. He also explained why you might be at risk for logging onto the internet at Starbucks, how to protect yourself at the gas pump and why integrity matters in the computer security business. Lastly, he promoted his band, 90 Proof, and his on-line guitar instructor, Corky. Aw shucks, I just remembered O'Shuck's was closed . . . but Earl will be there when it opens back up.

I talk about our current circumstances, civil liberties, stock buybacks and corporate America's latest request(s) to be "bailed" out. Maybe we should let the market decide what those assets are worth. Just sayin'.

Utah Warriors General Manager Kimball Kjar and Head Coach Chris Latham explain the circumstances surrounding the development of Major League Rugby (MLR) here in Salt Lake City.Kimball explained the unique dynamics of the "single entity" business structure, which encourages colloborative competition, and how the league, staff, players and stakeholders are getting by, which isn't that much different than the rest of us. Day to day, that is.Coach explained his path to stardom, taught us a few things about the game and explained how Wikipedia isn't always accurate. This show was cool because it (seemed like it) took only 90 minutes, was filled with non-stop action, and only had a ten minute break at half-time.We hope to see the Warriors back in action soon! 

Today’s show went like clockwork.Michele Evans dialed in from her cabin in Montana and spoke about self-sustenance. Michele is the CEO at Garden Project where she produces the diet for 2 people for one year on the smallest amount of land possible. She provides a springboard to mastering your health, wealth and happiness.Scott Paul, CEO at Wooly, and Ian Sagstetter, Head of Marketing Strategy at Graphite Systems, joined me for the second hour and explained themselves, so to speak. (They each seemed to have a lot of explaining to do.)I explained why I’d like to “spring-forward” permanently.Good times!Photo credit: Trevor Bobyk

Bryan Horn joined me and spoke "mildly" about his experiences leading up to a turning point in his life, and "proudly" about his accomplishments since that time. After borrowing student loans to pay for college and law school, Bryan decided that the law business wasn't his business. So, he went into another business (banking), only to discover that it too was just the same old business. He's written a book entitled The Customer Service Revolution and is now offering his services to help you keep your business in business.www.thecsrevolution.comRaymond Opheikens joined me for the first hour and spoke "loudly" about smashing guitars, . . . and "humbly" about putting them back together again. Ray is the Repair Department Manager (fancy name for Luthier) at Guitar Czar and frontman for "Roll the Bones" a Salt Lake City "Rush" cover band (THAT HASN"T PLAYED IN 2 YEARS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD) who's considering getting the band back together. www.guitarczar.com 

I start the show by discussing a few historical Utah scandals, and examining a more recent (Olympic sized) one involving several Utah governmental agencies and claims that they defrauded the federal government through the procurement of Judicial Assistance Grants which they (we) may not have been entitled to receive. Jan Garbett joined me the second hour and explained why she should be Utah's next Governor. Jan "started and still actively runs an award-winning multi-million-dollar home building and construction company. In addition, Jan is a philanthropist, community activist, arts advocate, proud member of her church, human rights champion, and has been honored and recognized by the United Nations for the non-profits she has created and continues to develop."Jan wants to change things in Utah. And, she seems to have all the right stuff, . . . including a heart.Good luck Jan! 

An untimely sandstorm enveloped (Ret.) Colonel DJ Reyes’ helicopter during the very first phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, causing it to crash land. He survived that horror, as well as many other engagements, throughout his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. DJ is now committed to raising awareness for those veterans suffering from the effects of war. He’s lobbying lawmakers to nationalize Veterans’ Treatment Courts throughout the U.S. We discussed his military service, burn pits, agent orange, history and the importance of caring for our soldiers.Thankfully, my second guest, Vincent Scarsella, hasn't had to fake his own death. (Not yet, at least!) Vince was a military lawyer (JAG), prosecutor in Erie County New York and served 18 years with the 8th Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee where he went after bad lawyers. He’s now an author who has turned his legal experiences into a collection of books with the “Lawyers Gone Bad” series. The fourth book of the series – Pardon Me – will be coming out soon.Thank you DJ and Vince. Great stuff!

Today's show was like a virtual step back in time! I graduated from John S. Burke Catholic High School a long time ago (1985), but some things never change. The school's co-principals now, Janice Obremski Clark and John Douthit, are making sure of it! Janice and John share their insights into what it takes to keep our school competitive and prosperous, both now and into the future. We spoke about the challenges facing educators/administrators, teacher turnover (or lack thereof), mental health, private tuition and whether the additional cost is worth it, which they think it is. Keep up the great work Janice and John!Go Eagles!R.I.P. Uncle Pat!

Super Bowl XV Champion Burgess Owens has been running his entire life. He ran while studying marine biology at the University of Miami. He ran for nearly a decade in the NFL in NYC and Oakland. And, now he's running for U.S. Congress, Utah, 4th District. (Apparently when he's not running, he's writing, lecturing, motivating, rehabilitating, etc.) We discussed his amazing life, the importance of family, education, socialism, Colin Kaepernick, Kobe Bryant, Facebook, the confederate flag, symbolism, history, etc. I tried pressing him on a few issues, and he pressed right back with his philosophies, life experiences and outlook. Toward the end I repeatedly tried to get him to share a memory of his single greatest play, but he kept avoiding the questions and just rambled on about being part of a winning team. Typical politician!Good luck Burgess, but be careful with the hand-checking because you don't want to get called for pass interference this late in the game, and the rules have changed since 1981! 

Bryan Miller looks a little different than he did when his dad Larry asked him to manage the Miller Motorsports Speedway years ago. Bryan recognized, and appreciated, the great sacrifices his parents made to bring the Larry H. Miller Enterprises (Utah Jazz) into fruition here in Salt Lake City, but he also came to realize that he doesn't have to make the same sacrifices in order for him to make his unique contributions. Bryan now serves as a personal coach, a board member of the LHM Companies and Executive Director of Culture in the family biz. As he and his family know full well, it's hard to make money, but it may be even harder to give it away.  I'm grateful to corporate gratitude expert Kristin Petrucci for introducing us and sharing her message. I think it resonated with Bryan. I know it did with me!Go Jazz!

Salt Lake County Counselwoman Aimee Winder Newton is running for Governor of Utah. Aimee and I discussed Utah history, public lands, education, mental health, real-estate development, the 2nd Amendment and a few other miscellaneous items. Aimee also shares some personal details about her family life and what is motivating her to seek political office. Thank you Aimee for sharing your great insights and compassion for the people of Utah. Keep fighting the good fight! Check out aimeeforgovernor.com to learn how you can support her campaign.Lindsey Petersen, Director of Operations at The Tyler Robinson Foundation, joined me for the second hour and explained how Imagine Dragons is helping families impacted by pediatric cancer. Thanks for sharing as much as you could Lindsey! I'm looking forward to hearing about what Imagine Dragons has up its sleeve for 2020. 

James William Peppe shaped up as a "New World Man" who wants to run a big machine - the United States of America. James is a moderate/conservative Texas business/family man who believes he has what it takes to bring our country together, so he's seeking the 2020 Republican Party nomination. James and I discussed a broad range of issues including our divisive political climate, immigration, Presidential character, ethics, the ability to compromise and preserving our public lands. James also explained his college ties to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, as I selectively dropped Rush song references throughout in honor of the great philosopher, Neil Peart.   Good luck in the "limelight" Pep and thanks for sharing your insights! As a liberal NY'er (or am I a conservative Utah'n?),  I think you may be 1/2 right!Go Yale!!R.I.P. Professor Peart. 

Mo Evans started “bucking the system” at a young age, and continues to do so today. In 2001 Mo left college, declared for the NBA draft and hosted a party on draft night, which seemed reasonable considering he was projected to go between 15th and 25th in the first round. But things didn’t go as projected when his name wasn’t called that night. That didn’t stop Mo from working his way into a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, dominating in Europe for a couple of years and then returning to the NBA for a decade. Mo served as Vice-President of the NBA Players’ Association and explains his role in the 2011 lock-out, as well as the “business” of (NBA) basketball.Thank you Andy Kriegh for the introduction. Best of luck with The Beautiful Lives Foundation and your hoop dreams!Go Jazz!

Despite his efforts, Bryce Weiler can’t escape the “stigma” associated with being inspirational. Bryce was born blind, but has found his way through life, in part, by asking for help. He’s now asking individuals and organizations to help The Beautiful Lives Foundation so that disabled people can share in the performing arts.Charlie Brignak joined us as well. As one might expect, Bryce has inspired Charlie too!Thank you for your vision Bryce and good luck!

Utah magician Elias "Lefty" Caress joined me in the studio. We quickly established that he was a "good magician", and not a bad one! Lefty left his career in banking and started doing magic at the ripe old age of 25. He trained with my legendary cousin, Jeff (Magnus) McBride, at the McBride Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas. We had a great conversation, . . . but I was disappointed I didn't find any money in my pocket after the show. And, . . . come to think of it, he didn't even offer to convert my $1 bills into $10 bills. Hmm, . . . on reflection . . .  Lauren Brill, co-founder of The Unsealed, joined us for the second hour. The Unsealed is a movement that encourages people to see the world through diverse perspectives, creating more compassion and unity among us. Happy Birthday Lauren and thanks for sharing your great stories. Unlike Lefty, there's no second-guessing your character.

I visit with Utah Jazz legend Greg Ostertag from his home in rural Texas. Greg talks openly about playing alongside Stockton/Malone and relying too heavily on his God-given talents (7'2", 280 lbs.) alone.  Greg shares some great memories, as well as a few regrets, before he had to go ref a J.V. game, restore a few historic buildings and feed his chickens. Sounds like a good life.Thanks for sharing your lessons from the game Greg! 

Gary Lucas joined me from NYC before departing to Europe to perform a salute to Jeff Buckley’s "Grace" album. Gary speaks about his roots and unique ties to Canada and China. Gary has been working with my friend Meredith Collins, co-founder of Hookist.com, where fans share the songwriting experience with artists like Gary. DJ Joune, official DJ of the Utah Jazz, joined me for a couple of segments and shared his remarkable story. DJ was born and raised in Haiti, and is now living his dream here in Utah. Don't forget about me when you buy your first airplane DJ!Next, Tyler and Savannah from Encircletogether.org explained the resources available here in Utah. Encircle acts "as a beacon of hope where LGBTQ+ individuals can find understanding, information, and support within their families and communities."

Paralympic Champion Chris Waddell joined me this afternoon and we discussed his amazing life. Chris was a college athlete (Middlebury College) in 1988 when he fell while skiing and sustained a back injury which rendered him paraplegic. Within a year of the accident he was back on skis (mono-ski) and continued to be part of the Middlebury College ski team. Chris went on to become a highly decorated paralympic champion in both the winter AND summer paralympic games. In 2006 Chris retired as a professional athlete and embarked on a journey to deliver a new message by creating a re-newed identity. He summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2009 and re-discovered himself. His story is truly inspirational and a testament to the human spirit. Thank you for your "failures" Chris. You're quite a loser! 

“Talk with Ted – A Show About Nothing”Episode 50 – Let’s Get Updated, James Hadlock, Chase Hansen and Pete MillerAired: 11/12/19, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake City, Utah.This was a busy (overbooked) show, but Skye Lazaro and I managed to piece it together. We discussed mental health, Veterans’ Court, homelessness, fishing and the Huntsman Foundation’s enormous (150M) gift to the University of Utah toward the treatment of mental health.James and Alicia Hadlock joined us for the first hour. They founded BluNovus, a Utah company which proactively addresses mental health in the workplace by helping HR departments better understand how to deal with people in crisis and addiction.Chase Hansen returned to update us about Kid Labs and his efforts to eradicate homelessness. Chase introduced us to Jesse Campbell (Executive Director at Life on the Line) who explained how fishing changed his life and how he’s using it to change other lives as well.Finally, Pete Miller joined us from Ohio and explained how he was creating a network to help veterans, law enforcement and other first responders with PTSD, TBI, suicide and Veterans’ Treatment Court. 

Aired: 11/5/19, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake CityWeber State University English Professor Rachel Anne Cox joined me to discuss her new dystopian novel A Light from the Ashes in which "society has devolved into a pre-industrial agrarian world devoid of electricity and personal freedom." We discussed history, literature, censorship, Fahrenheit 451, teaching, writing, publishing and politics.My buddy Andy Brown joined me for a couple of segments and we discussed Bitcoin’s past, present and potential future.

Aired: 10/29/19, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake CitySkye, Drew and I had a great time "shooting the breeze" as my father used to say. Skye is a trial lawyer at Ray, Quinny & Nebeker in Salt Lake City. Drew is the State Vice Chair for the Utah Veterans Democratic Caucus, and a co-host of "Comic Church" which airs Saturdays at 11 on 1640AM. We discussed medical marijuana, wild horses, the BLM, veterans’ issues, PTSD, politics, advocacy, legal reform, paying college athletes, access to justice and a few other miscellaneous things. Thank you Skye and Drew for sharing your insights on what turned out to be a great show. Let's do it again sooner than later!

Aired: 10/22/19, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake CityCivil Rights Lawyer Harriet Hageman, of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, joined me this week to discuss her lawsuit challenging the USDA's authority to mandate that cattle ranchers (and others) utilize radiofrequency transmitters to track their livestock. Harriet explains the rule making process under the Administrative Procedure Act, as well as the effect of President Trump's recent executive orders regarding "guidance" documents. Visit www.nclalegal.org to learn more about this non-profit law firm.

Aired 10/15/19, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake CityThank you Manny Ohonme and Jeff Burningham for joining me this past week and sharing your great stories. Did you know that you can register at www.samaritansfeet.org and they'll send you pre-paid shipping bags so that you can donate shoes to those in need? It's that easy. Visit www.jeffburningham.com to learn more about Jeff and his run for Governor of Utah, including opportunities to show your support.Thanks again Manny and Jeff. Good luck!

Aired: 10/8/2019, 1640AM, Ktalkmedia, Salt Lake CityI had invited Loki Mulholland to join me on the radio yesterday to discuss his mother's early role in the civil rights movement, and I was surprised and honored that Joan herself was able to join us. It was my privilege to discuss their continuing legacy as a pioneering family dedicated to making the world a better place.Millcreek, Utah, Mayor Jeff Silvistrini joined me for the first segment. Jeff and I jointly invited Utah Jazz superstar (and Millcreek resident) Donovan Mitchell out to lunch to discuss local politics and Jeff's effort to support refugees here in the Salt Lake Valley. C'mon Donovan, . . . just have your people contact our people. On me. Go Jazz!!