The Scribble with Jeremy Bradley

"Just because you have a phone, doesn't mean you need to be a content creator." That's how Jeremy Bradley opens the show this week. JB has said countless times that he has no interest in social media, however, this week he says there's an exception to his objection. It's when it comes to people broadcasting their relationship drama. He notes there's always a big, official announcement when a relationship starts and an official statement on social media when it ends. And, in between: the ups and downs are fascinating to watch play out. JB maintains he'll never publicly post birthday wishes or ooey-gooey lovey-dovey messages to his husband because, as he says, "our relationship isn't performative for an audience."

It was a simple question that had Jeremy Bradley confused and then slightly offended. For a guy who never holds his tongue (or worries about offending people) did one question turn the tables on him? See if you would have felt the same way in that situation. Plus, JB circles back to the discussion about cellphone use from last week's episode. There was lots of conversation about how people use their devices and their pet peeves of others.

There's at least one in every group. It's the person who's not enjoying the moment and is constantly looking at their phone. The addiction is real! Jeremy Bradley talks about his amazement that people sleep with their phones and it's usually the first thing they look at when they wake up. He goes on to talk about how workplaces should restrict phone use just as schools do with kids. JB shares a story about how phone use became a rule in his house. Later, he wonders why people have to clutch their phone as they walk down a sidewalk or through a store -- or worse yet, seeing people vacationing on the beach staring at their device. How many hours of hand-time does your phone get?

As you get older you tend to care less about what people think about you. At times, you probably don't hold your tongue and say what you want. Jeremy Bradley is at that point and has made observations about his life as he gets older. He identifies key personality traits that have changed over time and how he views people in society. 

You had "the time of your life" -- was it recently or a memory from the past? Is life as enjoyable for you now as it was when you were growing up? It depends on when you grew up, according to Jeremy Bradley. He talks about his childhood and how he would stay in his teenage years forever because it was an innocent and fun time. (He'd never want to be a kid in today's world.) JB recounts the friendships and memories that got him through childhood. Now, in his 40s, JB said he wouldn't mind being stuck in the past with the way his life was back in the day. Is it the same situation for you?

Everywhere you go people are discussing politics. It's understandable given what's happening in the world (especially the United States). But for Jeremy Bradley, who's never participated in nor had an interest in politics, it's getting to be a bit much. JB explains how, as a Canadian, he watches from the sidelines people having emotionally -- and sometimes violently -- charged confrontations about politics in the U.S. He talks about how Canadians feel about politicians and politics and it's vastly different than with Americans. (Shocker, right?) "We've never had anyone throwing mashed potatoes at someone at Christmas because of a political argument," JB says.

Relationships are always fun to discuss because you learn about how couples live and either relate to them or secretly think to yourself, "Wow, my situation is so much better." Jeremy Bradley talks about giving relationship advice when there isn't a definitive way that unions should work. He says people ask about his marriage and try to compare the setup to their own situation, though he reminds them everybody is different. Later, he addresses a common relationship question that he thinks is a setup for drama. 

Telemarketers, spammers, texters -- all out to scam you. But do you fall for it? Or have you caught onto their tricks? Calling you from overseas, mispronouncing your simple name, asking for details about your account: do you give in? Jeremy Bradley questions why people are so easily swayed when contacted out of the blue. JB notes how when customers call into a company for their product or service, customers have to provide excessive information to verify it's legitimately their account. Why don't people on the receiving end of unsolicited calls put those same protections in place for themselves? Later, JB talks about scammers who've tried to take advantage of his companies. 

People love to read but it's toxic stuff on social media that makes them feel insecure, hate filled, depressed, lonely -- and everything else that screws with their mental health. Jeremy Bradley reflects on a time when kids were encouraged to read books and were excited to dive into the pages of a fascinating story. As adults -- and even with kids today -- not so much. Later, JB talks about odd behavior with people on social media. He wonders how trolling online and randomly posting nasty comments to pages is entertaining for people. JB shares a story from his e-commerce store where the comments section is out of control for absolutely no reason.

Jeremy Bradley talks to "influencers" and encourages them to view their 15 minutes of fame as just that: fleeting and temporary. Many people with a social media platform see the likes, clicks and cash now but is it something sustainable for the rest of their life? JB talks about his retirement from a successful radio career and how he can look at the current generation of broadcasters (podcasters, YouTubers, TikTokers, etc.) and wonders if most of them have figured out the long-term business side of their content offerings. Sure, free stuff and some money now are great, but will it still be lucrative in 10 years? And can they (read as: willing to) get a "regular" job after? 

Content is king. That's an old saying but it's more relevant than ever thanks to today's social media world. Jeremy Bradley talks about his early days in internet radio that later turned into a syndicated radio company, producing audio programming for outlets around the world. JB encourages people who want to start creating (podcast, YouTube, etc.) to think about their content before launching a platform. It's one thing to say, "I want to do a podcast" or "I want to write a book" but there's a helluva lotta planning before anything should launch. 

It's the day you're going to see social media pages full of flowers, romantic dinners and paragraphs of people professing their love. And it makes Jeremy Bradley want to puke. JB talks about how Valentine's Day went from being a commercial "holiday" to now being a show for social media where people broadcast the day with their partner. (Remember, your partner gave you those flowers today because it's kind of expected. Ditto on the "romantic" dinner.) JB, who's been married for several years, says every day is like Valentine's Day in his relationship because they constantly go for dinners and are together all the time. "People ask why I never post about how much I love him," JB says. "Because I talk to him and don't need to communicate with him publicly on social media. I don't need that attention and validation from the public."

Is it getting worse? Is the quality of customer service at an all-time low? And the new glammed-up way of referring to it as "customer experience" isn't helping most companies. Jeremy Bradley talks about the frustration of big businesses moving away from actual human contact and interaction, and relying more and more on technology to assist customers. Gone are the days of calling an 800-number and having your problem resolved in minutes. Now, it's chat bots and spotty English, irrelevant template replies and plenty of "no"s and "I'll transfer you"s. JB reflects on his time working in customer service and how employees had to own each interaction... because it was their job.

Nobody wants to think about death but it's something that's, well, inevitable. Jeremy Bradley talks about his thoughts on funerals as various family members are battling illness. He shares stories about recent family funerals and how relatives felt about the departed and what it's made them think about life and death. Later, JB talks about a time when he couldn't stop saying the wrong thing at a funeral. He recognized his misstep in the moment, told himself to correct his wording, but every time -- wrong, wrong, wrong.

The old saying is "blood is thicker than water." It's often used to declare that family is -- or should be, at least -- the most important thing in a person's life. But what if it's not? Should someone feel bad about that? Or is it better not to have family in your life? Jeremy Bradley talks about how the closeness of families during the holiday season -- especially broadcast on social media -- seems to be meant to make you feel bad if you don't have the closeness that others do. JB explains why he doesn't buy into that and how not being close with family is OK. Later, he shares about how critical opinions from parents drove him away from family as he got older.

There's so much emphasis on education but it's such a broad term that we need to take a step back on what people, namely kids, are learning. Jeremy Bradley, who has a family full of teachers, looks back at his elementary school through high school years and comments about what he learned and where it's got him in life. For instance, JB talks about his friend graduating high school without knowing the spelling of basic words but had to spend three years studying Shakespeare and other stuff she's never used in the 25 years since graduating. 

Do you remember the first time you saw porn? Or the bigger question is what did/do you consider porn? Jeremy Bradley talks about how his opinions on nudity have changed with age. As he's matured, social media platforms -- ahem, Meta -- seem to be slow on their stance on "nudity" and "sexual activity." Moreover, says JB, the social media giant doesn't even have the same definition of "nudity" as a basic dictionary. Also, JB opens up about his first experiences seeing nudity and porn as a teen.

A new year but same ol' family drama during the holidays. Jeremy Bradley talks about the whispering and gossip at family gatherings and how it's enjoyable to trash-talk relatives with other relatives. It ends up almost being a game of telephone when someone opens up as you sit beside them and you leave the room and tell someone else what you just heard and they tell someone and so on and so on. When there are competitive siblings raising kids, it's delicious to hear how they try to one-up each other to each other and on the side with other relatives.

It's a new year and people seem to think all of their problems from the past 12 months will suddenly go away simply because the calendar turns a new page. Who are they trying to kid? Jeremy Bradley talks about his unique way to celebrate the year behind him. It's a moment of reflection to have some laughs about what happened. Let's be honest, everything in your life on Tuesday, Dec. 31, will follow you into Wednesday, Jan. 1; the new year doesn't change your life.

Are holiday traditions something to uphold or is it OK to change things up? Jeremy Bradley talks about overcoming the pressure -- and imposed guilt -- for wanting to break family tradition and do his own thing during the holiday season. JB talks about getting enjoyment out of different experiences than what had always happened in his family for 40 years. But, not everyone in a family welcomes such change -- in fact, they might take offense to it. JB discusses how putting your own feelings and comfort first isn't as selfish as people might make you feel.

Finders keepers, right? If you find something in public, is it fair game to keep? Jeremy Bradley talks about how he's recently discovered items and decided -- after a fair amount of time waiting for the original owner to reclaim -- that he could take them. Is that the right thing to do? JB talks about an L.A. TV news anchor who was arrested for "finding" and "taking" headphones at an airport security checkpoint. Perhaps that's a different scenario than discovering an item in an open field with nobody around. Would you take it or leave it?

During the pandemic, many people started home businesses for extra income -- or just something to do. That's definitely something that can test your relationships with family members. What about going into full-time business with your partner? Jeremy Bradley shares his experience working with his husband and how it affects their personal and professional relationships -- because those end up being two different things. Is it a good decision to spend all day working with your partner and then all night living with them? JB talks about how it plays out in his house... and office, respectively. 

In a world full of "influencers," Jeremy Bradley still struggles (maybe refuses) to understand the fascination with the social media concept. JB recalls the time he was called an "influencer" simply because he has an audience. Are "influencers" given too much credit these days? Or, are the audiences too easily influenced simply because someone is popular? (Spoiler: numbers don't equal credibility!) JB shares his first encounter with "influencers" and his takeaways about their present and their future. He also wonders if these people think "influencing" will be their job forever because of the ego rush they get from their "power." (Do people really stay at the same job for 30 or 40 years anymore? Not usually.) So, what's next when the "influencing" is over? Can they resort to working for someone or are they too caught up with being in charge?

At what age do you start to embrace your age? Jeremy Bradley wonders if it's a gender difference or even dependent on your sexuality. JB says as a gay man in his 40s he's expected to feel -- and possibly viewed as -- over the hill. But, does he? He explains how even in his 30s he never shied away from telling people how old he was. Later, JB talks about how he doesn't relate to the gay community and largely distances himself from it because of how it's changed since he was, well, "in his prime."

It's one thing to enjoy the comfort of your own backyard, it's another to see the world and experience as many things as you can. Jeremy Bradley talks about his travel like and how it's completely different than what his Brazilian husband experiences. Part of the fun, he says, is seeing someone else experience new cultures and lifestyles. Exploring them together as a couple is even wilder. JB shares how one of his Brazilian employees experienced the ultimate culture shock (in a good way) with some of the things most of us in North America might take for granted.

Americans are funny. This week's presidential race proved to the rest of the world that comedy is alive and well. Canadian Jeremy Bradley talks about how it's fascinating as an outsider to watch such a divided nation go through another roller coaster presidential campaign. He also reads social media posts from people who are so disgusted by the thought of another Trump administration that they're swearing off social media. (They're only depriving themselves of their daily habit/addiction, right? That kind of self protest isn't going to change anything.) JB also shares how the Canadian mindset surrounding politics is completely different and almost not understood by outsiders.

They say you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. But does that include online reviews? How much merit do they get in your mind? Jeremy Bradley shares his thoughts about online reviews and also his experience with decision making. JB talks about "gig work" and how people rely on apps but also why he's suspicious about testimonials for service providers. Why? He had a major strikeout that's soured him on finding help online.

It's Halloween time again. Is your response: "Yaaaaaaaas" or "who cares" though? Jeremy Bradley talks about how his reaction has changed over time. He recalls trick-or-treating with his brothers and later how he began celebrating Halloween as a homeowner in his community. Perhaps it was the first year that set him off from making it an annual event. Is Halloween the same in your neighborhood as it was when you were growing up? JB shares how it's completely different where he lives.

Dreams really do come true. That's how it feels with Air Canada's Dreams Take flight. Jeremy Bradley has been a media guest for 12 years as the charity gives kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Disney for the day. Yes, for a full day. JB talks about how the fun begins at 2 a.m. at the airport in Canada, continues on the plane and the adventure gets into full swing at Disneyland in California. It's literally 24 hours of pure magic as the kids experience the park like not many get the chance to. 

Is it reality shows? Is it dating apps? Is it social media? Is it ADD? Is it all of the above? Jeremy Bradley wonders why so many relationships are failing nowadays. JB talks about how social media has given people unlimited access to almost literally everyone in the world. It's no longer about finding someone near you because everyone is reachable. But because of that easy access, JB wonders if people will always be on the lookout for something/someone better -- just as they would be for their next job or car or house. Plus, reality shows have become so mainstream that dating and competing for affection (or "temporary TV love" as JB calls it) sets unrealistic expectations for romance. The needy and insecure contestants on Bachelor shows now use terms like "validated"/"validation" and "you make me feel seen" and JB says they're not emotionally stable with themselves if they rely so heavily on someone to boost them up.

It's nearly impossible to get through a day without having some form of interaction with another person. Whether it's at work, at school, driving, on the bus, shopping, on social media -- you just can't escape. Jeremy Bradley talks about how ridiculous-acting people make him want to hide out and never come in contact with anyone -- sometimes ever again! JB explains how customer service is maddening, how inconsiderate neighbors can make life hell and how (some) businesses ain't gonna take your crap. He shares examples of all of the above!

If you've ever been fired unexpectedly you probably went through a series of emotions: sadness, embarrassment and fear. You were sad because you formed friendships with co-workers and wouldn't see them anymore. You were embarrassed because the entire staff knows what happened and then you have to figure out how to address things on social media if you share every detail about your life. And then you were likely fearful about finding a new job, finances or what to do next. Jeremy Bradley talks about his work history and how getting fired is what motivated him to become an entrepreneur -- and ultimately retire at 39 years old.

It feels like an 'I told ya so' moment for Jeremy Bradley on the podcast this week. Earlier this month he commented on how Americans are encouraged by their political leaders to 'fight, fight, fight' and then as soon as there's another attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, there are calls for people to chill out and settle down. (Though a few days later they're leading the chants again, but whatevs.) As JB previously noted -- and does again today -- the whole mindset of an American political campaign is about the fight-fight-fight. JB draws the comparisons between Canadian and American mentalities and vast differences in civility in the respective countries.

Send us a textJeremy Bradley celebrates 500 episodes and 10 years of hosting The Scribble podcast. Having been in broadcasting for 20 years and getting his start on local radio, JB shares his insights into being a successful host. Sure, the broadcasting landscape has changed but the fundamentals of content creation remain the same. JB offers tips and suggestions about formulating a broadcasting plan and outlines the proper steps to launch a podcast. Have the logo and title before even brainstorming your first few episodes? Red flag. JB explains how to get the pieces in place for a smooth launch. Also, are too many podcasts incorporating video? Does it lend anything to the content? Are you proficient with video editing or will it add countless hours of work for each episode? In the end, is it worth it? JB addresses it all in episode 500!

Send us a textElection season... er, year... er, four years is in full swing. Jeremy Bradley talks about how the American political campaign is never ending. The next campaign starts right after the latest president is sworn in. JB explains how, as a Canadian, politics is a completely different vibe. Canucks barely know when the next election is, let alone who the candidates are in their neighborhood. Americans, are hating their neighbors and getting into family fights and excommunicating those who disagree with them. JB notes that while American politicians call for calm in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt, candidates are still encouraging voters to 'fight, fight, fight.' As JB asks, "How is that ever a non-violent word in this context?"

Send us a textIt's becoming increasingly common for people to whip out their phone and record confrontations with others. (After all, A&E has a bunch of shows devoted to the new style of home video montages.) Jeremy Bradley talks about interactions he's had where capturing the encounter would've gone viral. Notably, JB busts people breaking the law and puts them on blast. They clap back and -- believe it or not -- publicly justify their illegal behavior. What are they doing? In the case of a business, not doing themselves any PR or Google review favors! You've got to hear this.

Send us a Text Message.A few weeks ago, Jeremy Bradley talked about customer service nightmares. (It's almost become a yearly tradition on this show.) But, in his latest rant, he spoke from the perspective of a business owner and what bad customers can do to a company. Following up on the negative, JB has advice for entrepreneurs to insist on a positive "customer experience" that involves rapport, engagement and a lot of silliness. He says being way too serious and too corporate is bad for your brand.

Send us a Text Message.They say that cellphones are raising kids nowadays but are they also babysitting parents? Jeremy Bradley talks about the growing concern about parents ignoring their kids so that they can pay attention to their mobile device. JB shares observations from restaurants and shopping malls where kids are desperately trying to get a parent's attention, only to have mom or dad zeroed in on their mobile device -- and nothing else. (It'll be interesting when the tables are turned and the kid is old enough to have a phone and start ignoring the parent, right?) Later, JB shares a story about watching one family where the kids were in control even though mom and dad thought they had the upper hand. 

Send us a Text Message.As a business owner, Jeremy Bradley oversees multiple teams from radio and newspaper production to book publishing to e-commerce platforms. With more and more people starting their own companies, be it for extra income or as their sole job, JB shares some nightmare stories about dealing with lying customers. He reveals some shocking details about the lengths his companies go to protect their reputation and their bottom line. And sometimes it involves criminal charges.

Send us a Text Message.Every family has drama and whispers -- sometimes it's cutthroat, sometimes it's innocent gossiping. This week, Jeremy Bradley shares details about a recent health diagnosis from his parents while outlining why the shocking news isn't affecting him as people might think. What could potentially be a death sentence for both parents has JB shrugging his shoulders. Why is he reacting that way? JB reveals details about a strained relationship that few people know about. Later, JB talks about a relative who's making questionable romantic and life choices. It, too, has family members chattering from the sidelines. But the big question: If you're not close with the relative, should you keep your lips zipped and not offer opinion? JB explains later in the show.

Send us a Text Message.It's OK to not make a big deal about your birthday. That's certainly how Jeremy Bradley goes through life. He turns 42 this week and has no intention of having a big hurrah to celebrate. In fact, he prefers not having any attention from people. But why is that? JB explains the reason for keeping low-key birthdays on his wish list. On the flip side, he talks about the annoyance of people who believe that their birthday entitles them to a day of princess treatment simply because, well, they happened to be born on a certain day of the year. Is he bitter? Listen and find out.

Send us a Text Message.Dr. Ruth, Richard Simmons, Shannen Doherty, an attempted assassination, Bob Newhart, Lou Dobbs -- what a week in the celebrity world. Jeremy Bradley talks about his memories of Dr. Ruth Westheimer when she was a guest on his Valentine's Day episode on syndicated radio and why he thought she might get him cancelled. JB also talks about meeting Richard Simmons and what it was like when he surprised people in a cafeteria. Later, JB talks about the interactions he's had with Republican National Convention performers, Lee Greenwood and Hulk Hogan. Can you believe so much happened in less than one week?

Send us a Text Message.Sounding like a broken record, Jeremy Bradley repeats his belief that "customer service ain't what it used to be." To prove his fact -- and practically laugh at the ridiculousness of the newly rebranded "customer experience" when it's anything but -- JB talks about how businesses that he once enjoyed frequenting are now on his blacklist. Later, he discusses his belief that customer service should be kicked up a notch when someone is working in your home and/or on your property. Or, is customer service customer service no matter where it happens?

Send us a Text Message.Canada Day and Independence Day happened this week and it's a tale of two countries and their respective patriotism. Jeremy Bradley, a Canadian, shares his observations about how the nations celebrate birthdays and, well, everything. Plus, he chimes in on the U.S. presidential debate that the world is still talking about one week later. There are distinct differences in the way voters view politics in both countries. JB outlines has Canadian perspective. Later, JB offers his thoughts on the Donald Trump-fronted Truth Social platform.

Send us a Text Message.Another walk down memory lane for the old folks! Jeremy Bradley responds to conversations with listeners about last week's episode. For people growing up in the 1990s and 2000s, there are distinct -- and perhaps fond -- memories of technology. Everything from dial-up internet and the struggles to get quick access to porn, to giant cellphones that needed a fanny pack to be carried properly. (They sure as hell weren't fitting in your pocket!) JB continues his discussion about an era that's not forgotten by a certain generation.

Send us a Text Message.If you're in your 30s, 40s or 50s, you'll relate to this episode! Jeremy Bradley talks about being a computer owner back in the 1990s and early 2000s. The systems were minimal and basic, and, you know what, they were perfectly fine! JB has a laugh talking about his family's 256 MB computer and having to uninstall programs just to free up space to use a scanner they got for Christmas. Plus, the era of dial-up internet -- with the AOL CDs and the squealing phone lines and the virus fears, JB reflects on how slow everything was back then. Could you tolerate that today? Probably not. Later, he talks about how many VCRs he went through as an avid TV watcher and the pain of finding two minutes of a video clip on the six-hour tape.

Send us a Text Message.It seems like everyone is complaining about money nowadays: how little they make at their jobs, how expensive groceries are, how unaffordable housing is. So, is it a little classless to talk about how much money you make -- as in having a great income? Jeremy Bradley talks about how growing up he and his brothers never dared ask their parents -- or any adult -- how much money they made. It seems commonplace, however, to openly discuss salaries with friends and even co-workers. But, JB wonders if "influencers" flashing up screenshots of their alleged earnings from social media are meant to inspire people or make them jealous.

Send us a Text Message.People often avoid thinking about death because it's seen as a distant event that there will plenty of time to worry about later. Jeremy Bradley talks about coincidental conversations he's had with friends about "the end." He shares how friends have recently experienced death in their respective families and how each situation posed logistical and emotional complications. From those chats, JB said it led to deeper discussion -- and thought -- about their own deaths because oftentimes people start to look at their own life after they've been affected by someone's passing.

Send us a Text Message.The world is still reacting to the Donald Trump hush-money verdict. Jeremy Bradley shares his thoughts as an "outsider" (Canadian) while the world watched on. JB talks about how everything related to American politics is a spectacle and why he thought there would be riots and burning buildings across the U.S. on Thursday night. Later, Pride month is about to kick off and JB shares his opinion about big corporations profiting off the LGBTQ community. He also talks about how it used to be the GLB community, then LGB community, then LGBT community, then LGBTQ community -- and now several other variations to include numbers and characters. Is the changing meaning of "Pride" a good thing or has its original message been lost? (Remember a few years ago when New York City's Pride parade didn't even have a gay man as a marshal but every other diversity box was checked?)

Send us a Text Message.Ain't got time for that. Most people are glued to a communication device for much of their waking hours yet how are they so terrible at, well, communicating? Jeremy Bradley talks about how he only gives people a few chances to get back to him before cutting them off entirely. If they can't even acknowledge his correspondence then he cuts them loose from his contact list. Plus, JB questions why everybody feels the need to be a content creator nowadays. Why is there such a focus on entertaining people and not simply living for yourself? He discusses what it was like when he got into broadcasting and publishing 20 years ago where not everybody had a platform and you needed to have something to say -- and prove your worth -- to get the airtime or page space.

Send us a Text Message.Saying goodbye is never easy but it must be done. And before you think this is about death, it's not! Jeremy Bradley talks about the tough decisions he made when walking away from a lucrative job hosting a syndicated radio show after 15 years. It's one thing to be cancelled and not have an opportunity to say goodbye, but what about when you know the end is near? JB talks about what went into planning his farewell broadcast and how it was nothing like the initial plan. Plus, what's "the KFC story" from the radio show? He explains later in the podcast.