Uli Who

Welp.....we're back! Tony, Jeff & I get into all things political, a little of the fire service and just three dudes having a talk. So good to be back!

What's a rational conservative to do in the Trump Era, where bullying is the norm and facts are massaged to fit your narrative? Well, that's what Justin Hollis and I began to explore as two friends landing on different sides of the line who actually have more in common than not. In this first episode we talk about modern politics as little more than professional wrestlin'. Enjoy the show, with a musical interlude from my good friend Brandon Moore

Born in Veracruz, Mexico and having traveled quite a bit in her early years, Dani Tea brings a creative flavor to the 417 in a pioneering way. She's the owner/operator of Springfield Aerial Fitness, having brought "the circus arts" to the area in 2016. She's a passionate performer, a tireless advocate and has a deep and abiding love for possums and EDM music. Please enjoy an conversation with my good friend, and as she would say....."stop hating on people out there trying"

Your favorite guest and one of mine, Jeff Butler, is back with a year-end wrap up for 2023 wherein we cover it all; from politics national and international to the fans of Taylor Swift to his novella "The Ahavah Decision" no stone is left unturned. Along the way we get silly on white wine and cocktails and discover our tenuous connection to the band "The Highwomen" and Jeff's love of all things bougie.  Break song provided by Zach Bryan*  *I do not own the copyrights to this song, but I DID buy it!

Brady Wormington, aka "The Worm", is a former coworker, musician and one of the more interesting cats I've met. If anything, his stories about international travel will be enough to get your passport renewed! Enjoy a longer episode of the show, thanks for tuning in!

Mike Holmes (aka Mike The Intern) is an absolute treasure trove of so much knowledge.....from Japanese album covers to KC Chiefs minutiae, from conspiracy theories about Ohio's "trash" reputation to the anti-Semitism of Roger Waters, if it's a subject of interest, he's well-versed. We hit it all in this fun romp, with music provided by Mike's own band "Muzzle", playing "The First Guy I Ever Punched" on the break. Enjoy the vast mindset that only Mr. Holmes can paint so clearly! Cheers!

On a fun and sloshy romp, Six Foot Katie The Shady Lady and I talk about all things innocuous, from removing a bondage kit from your bedroom before your folks come over to what are the things that make you go "ick" about people. She is NOT a fan of jorts, dating profile pics taken from "below" and I am not a fan of vaping, moms who call themselves "momma bear" online when trying to flex and "I only smoke when I drink" people. 

With all of the chaos going on in Israel and Gaza, I invited Jeff Butler back for the 657th time to try and break down some of the backstory as to what is going on; of course, there are no "easy" answers, but he does a fantastic job of explaining some of the baseline issues. We also discuss a leaderless House of Representatives and how an America-centric lens is a foggy way to look at world geo-politics. It's a great show, you won't wanna miss it! Jason Isbell's "Death Wish" is the soundtrack on the break (I do not own the rights). 

Lane Walden is a retired firefighter from the Springfield Fire Dept. who has a unique perspective on just about everything. In this episode we discuss his early years, the Academy at "The Turdatorium", working out of old firehouses and the importance of some traditions while flying the middle finger to busywork. 

Tony Kelley is a former Battalion Chief for the Springfield Fire Dept., a former coworker, and despite his best efforts, a current friend. In this conversation recorded a while back we talk about leaving the fire service, the current political scene and Tony's unabashed love for convenience store pizza. Enjoy!

WARNING: SUPER GRAPHIC AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SHOW SO, today I sat down with one of my very best friends, the one & only 6' Katie The Shady Lady and we get so very deep into the relationship weeds. We talk about dating apps, upside down pineapples, bizarre sexual behaviors, what I mean by the term "a turtle's butthole" and the virtues of sleeping alone. we even delve into our favorite porn titles, so let's hope your mom isn't listening. This one is a doozy.....so buckle up, buttercup and let's get ready to get dirty. 

He makes a mean biscuits & gravy meal, has a fear of crossing bridges at night and is one of the kindest people you could ever hope to meet. Doug Carter is an attorney, an aficionado of Yacht Rock and a dear friend of mine. Today on the show we talk about stuff you should know, legally.....ie: your estate, what probate is and why Air Supply should be played at your wedding. Along the way he tells of his path towards a career in the law while I enjoy some box wine.  Please enjoy the show!

He's the owner of local hot spot breakfast pub "Early Bird", teller of tall tales and a man who once got tipped a boat by a loyal customer. Tune into this hour and a half of life in the restaurant industry complete with cocktails. Cheers! If you like the show you can support it here: https://bit.ly/UliWhoPatreon

It's time for a reunion of friends on the podcast! Today I get a chance to talk to one of my closest friends of 35yrs., Mr. Erik Van Wingerden; we met as freshmen at Cate School, a college prep boarding school in Carpinteria, Ca., and have remain bonded since then, even when we don't see each other for years at a time. I really enjoyed his visit to The Ozarks, and appreciated him taking the time to sit down and ramble with an old friend. Music on the break is by none other than Mr. Bob Marley, a little "One Love" in keeping with Erik's take on life! Cheers! Find the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, wherever you're downloading shows; if you'd like to support the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review.  If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

Oh boy.....the phenomenon of Ted Lasso has left the building and if you're a fan you're likely as bummed as us that it's happened. Today I sit down with my friends Kelly Cardin and Jeff Butler to dissect one of the best shows ever to hit the airwaves.  Along the way, we talk about Cormac McCarthy's passing, rage Tweeting, Jason Isbell's new album and Jeff's desire to constantly divide his fire crew's loyalties. It's a fun one....enjoy! Music on the break provided by the one & only Jason Isbell, "King Of Oklahoma" from his latest album "Weathervanes". I do not own the copyright to this music.  If you're enjoying the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review.  If you'd like to •financially• support the show you can do so HERE. Thank you!

My good friend Dylan Page is headed home, back to North Carolina. He's gonna be closer to family, friends, and his roots and for that I cannot blame him. Sure gonna miss that guy, though. So here's a final podcast with my guy, complete with some Yellowcard (I do not own the rights to the song) and some fun musings. Cheers, amigos, and smooth sailing!

WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SUBJECT MATTER REFERENCING SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SENSITIVE TOPICS This is a tough one today...my good friend Michael came by the studio to talk about a very precarious subject: toxic relationships. We were both slightly nervous about broaching the material since we, as Gen X'ers, were told that we just don't air our laundry. But we both feel this is an area that needs to be addressed.....because there are more of us out there than we might think. Strong language, strong topics and some pretty sensitive conversations. Buckle up.  If you'd like to support the show, please consider signing up and subscribing, spread the word! If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE.  Thank you!

Butler's back! Tune in to episode #201 to get my good man's take on Ukraine, Grant Wistrom, the best cheeses in life, staged moon landings and Ron DeSantis' special flavor of populism. Along with some humblebrags, we have a lot of fun along the way. It's always fun to have Jeff on the show, I think you'll enjoy it too! Musical break provided by The Avett Brothers (I don't own the rights, just bought the song) "Head Full Of Doubt".    If you're enjoying the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review! Please share with your friends, if you think they'd enjoy perspectives from all kinds of folks who have stories to tell.  If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support this show, you can help out right HERE.  I really appreciate it!

WELCOME TO #200 AND THE 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! What better way to celebrate 5years of The Uli Who Podcast and show #200 than to bring back my first guest Grant Wistrom! As an owner of Revival 98, a cannabis dispensary here in Springfield, he helped to kick off my retirement by enjoying some jazz cabbage and meandering conversations. I really appreciate his friendship, those of our listeners, our sponsors, musical guests and the like! Big thanks to Brandon Moore for being down with the music since Day 1! Also, enjoy some Uncle Tupelo on the mid-show break. I don't own the rights to that song.  If you want to financially support the show, you can do so HERE

Here we go with part 2 of Eli & Jeff's epic trip to Ukraine to document humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country! Today we learn about KFC's in Ukraine, the score to the movie and terrible realities of life in a war zone. It's a long episode, but I was spellbound the entire time! Here is a link to the trailer: https://youtu.be/awB-dTkbpNA You can support their efforts on their gofundme link here: https://gofund.me/f3241b29 Thank you!

In this rare and incredible telling of a tale Jeff Weeks and Eli Davidson, two coworkers sit down in the studio to talk about their efforts to document humanitarian efforts in war-torn Ukraine. It's an incredible story, and this is only Part 1: how they got there. Please consider supporting these guys as the move forward to bring this story to life.....you can do so HERE.  Thank you and enjoy part one.....and here's the sizzle! https://youtu.be/awB-dTkbpNA

It's the VALENTINE'S DAY episode with the one and only 6' Katie The Shady Lady! Get ready for a round of VomCom as we tackle everything from Beef Wellington to deal breakers in dating. It's a fun hour with a musical interlude by Charlie Crockett (I do NOT own the rights to this song, but DID purchase it!). Enjoy, with my compliments.  *If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE! Thank you so much!

My good friend Brittney Lumos dropped by the studio while in town and we decided to jump down the mental health rabbit hole and covered approximately 1598 subjects over an hour and a half. From conspiracies to the lame setup of a sitcom model to how we treated people during COVID vs. now, there were few stones unturned. Please enjoy this time with my good friend Britt! Find the "Bitchin' With Brittney" podcast HERE! If you'd like to support the show FINANCIALLY, you can do so HERE! 

This show's a long time coming; many of my coworkers never could imagine Chad "I'm The Entire Package" Sullivan and I getting together for a podcast. But that's the thing, right? We can be polar opposites and still find friendship and common ground. He arrived to the house with a dead raccoon in the back of his truck and more stories than you could possibly imagine. Please enjoy some Inside Baseball with one of my favorite coworkers.  Musical Interlude: The Domino Kings "The Only Thing She Left" If you'd like to support the show FINANCIALLY, you can do so HERE. Thank you!

From Massachusetts to Louisiana to Georgia, California, Missouri and Mississippi, there aren't too many corners Jefe Martinson hasn't explored or lived. He's a playground equipment designer, homebrewer and owner of the best moustache in the 417. But chiefly, Jefe is one of the kindest most thoughtful souls I've ever met, and I think you should hear his story. Enjoy.....I sure did! Cheers! *if you'd like to FINANCIALLY support this show you can do it HERE. Thank you!

He's been a German translator, a magician, a brewer and done stand up comedy; he's also a Stage 4 colon cancer survivor. Meet my friend David Howell. In this long form interview, we get to peek behind the curtain and learn about this resilient, charming and unabashedly vulnerable person who has a perspective much deeper than belies his 32 years. We enjoy a conversation over some Narrow Gauge Brewing beers and a lot of off-the-rails sidebars. Please enjoy! *If you're interested in supporting the show financially, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

2022 is finally about done, and it happen soon enough for me. It's been a struggle this year in many, many ways for many OF us and I thought I should give you a glimpse as to why the podcast has slowed down a bit. It's a monologue, it's a ramble, but it feels good to get off my chest. Thank you for listening.

He's got more layers than a complex onion, a creative juggernaut and one helluva good guy: meet Mike Underlin. He's been making viral videos from way back in the early YouTube days, and has most recently uploaded a video to TikTok that has more than 3 million views and was featured on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. From being compared to dressing like Jeffrey Dahmer to a weird love of Four Loko, Mike is one of a kind and today with Dane as a co-host, he reveals his origin story. Enjoy! If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!  

He's been my mentor in cooking, a man of great integrity, a proud father & husband and an all around badass: please meet my friend Jay Miller. He'll demure with "I just sell door knobs", but the depth of this man is revealed within moments of him letting you in the metaphorical door. We share a love for music, food and metal work, although he is my superior in each category. He's the one I turn to when I look for a true compass pointing towards doing the right thing, and my respect for him is without limit. Please enjoy this show talking about our love of these hobbies!

Kelly Cardin is a friend, former co-worker and intellectually curious individual who seems a perfect guest to talk about burnout, retirement and how we face this relentless march of time. Please enjoy the show, and some songs by both Ryan Bingham and Charlie Crockett (I do not own the rights to this music).  If you'd like to *FINANCIALLY* support the show you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

Hey friends. I apologize for the 27 days its taken to get a new show out; sometimes we just burn out on life, on work, on our very own selves, and we need to take a moment. Here's a short explanation....I'll see you soon!

In what can only be described as his millionth time on this show, Jeff Butler and I decide to tackle the big issues; issues such as what's shaking with the Royals (the British kind, not KC), reviewing movies such as "Maverick", what it's like to be around a nuclear reactor in a submarine and East Coast vs. West Coast fire department styles. Along the way we enjoy some Booker's bourbon and a Boulevard beer that's nearly two years out of date. It makes for a good time. Cheers! *if you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

We're back with another Behind The Beer With Lear! Today Ryan and I sample two new(er) beers brewed at Mother's Brewing here in Springfield, something from Rockwell Beer Co. out of St. Louis and a very odd collaboration at the end. Along the way we talk about mental health, dreams of disappointing Dave Grohl and how to consume 8 hotdogs in a row. Cheers! *If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you very much!

WARNING: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC DISCUSSION OF DEATH, INCLUDING SUICIDE IN THIS EPISODE. If you wanna get told how it is, you need to talk to this man: please welcome back Mr. Mike Abbey, former firefighter, Army vet and all-around cantankerous cur to the show. Turns out Mike also has an extensive and thoughtful approach to the dark humor of the fire service and in life, as summed up in his words "everybody's walking a tight rope right now." We share some bourbon gifted by a few friends and take time to discuss everything from 9/11 to get a fishing lure caught in, well.....you know where.  *If you would like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!*

She's a program director for local rock station Q102 with strong opinions on cremation and living in the snow-country; welcome back my friend Shadow, proof positive that dynamite comes in small packages. Enjoy an hour of two old friends talking about a life in radio, interviewing stars and her dream of being put in a mausoleum one day. Cheers! *If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you! **STRONG LANGUAGE**

The original title of this show was supposed to be "Tasty & Simple", but I don't think that does justice to this man who's life and experiences have been anything but; meet Mark Phillips. He's a friend, co-worker, all around raconteur and one of the better storytellers I know. Tune in for a wild hour and a half of tales of drumming with Travis Barker, hanging out with the Dropkick Murphys and growing up on the North Side of the 417. Cheers! *if you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!*

He's back again for another round behind the mic: my best friend and former coworker Scott Deckard gives us his take on aging, death, suicide and legacy. Although morbid sounding in description, he gives a thoughtful perspective to what it means to head towards our own mortality. Please enjoy! If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

Erin Washburn has a wealth of experience in dealing with those who might need our help the most.....homeless teens. From The Rare Breed to Great Circle to Taney County Children's Division to Foster Adopt Connect, she has been involved in a myriad of aspects when it comes to dealing with one of our most vulnerable populations. We spend an hour talking about her journey, how she found that path and the importance, after all, of being kind. Please enjoy the show! *If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!*

In THIS edition of Short Attention Span Theatre, we meet a VERY talented musician and incredibly inspiring human, Mr. Doug Dicharry. Doug's talents have taken him all over the world, and he's back in the Ozarks, fine tuning several musical projects, not the least of which is "Dance Monkey Dance!", his one-man band with SEVEN instruments being put on full display. This long form interview spans everything from anxiety, therapy, mouth kegels to touring with ZZ Top and the need for ska's return.  For MORE of his music and great content check out dancemonkeydanceband.com or click HERE Here are the breakdowns of the music: "Runnin' To The Sun" 1:41-5:45 "Gypsy River" 40:49-43:54 "Don't Dig Up My Graveyard" 1:49:14-1:52:23 *If you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!

*Note: this podcast deals with the topic of addiction and is peppered with very strong language.* Few interviews I've done has had the kind of impact this conversation with Kenya did; she is a survivor of the kind of addiction few of us can truly understand. From her early days as a self described "brawler and dealer" to the pregnancy that has kept her clean since Feb. 9 2004, Kenya has seen and experienced more than many of us will ever know. The best part? Her takeaway from all of it has been to exhibit grace in her daily journey. Please enjoy this riveting conversation! Enjoy Brandon Moore's "Good Fortune" from 32:54-37:30 If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you very much!  

When I first heard Phillip Wright speak in the early 2000's, I was BLOWN AWAY that a man preaching could break through my cynical veneer; I've since maintained that there's no better, more authentic speaker than Phillip, and for YEARS I've been trying to get him on the show. Tune in for a conversation that will speak to the heart and blossom in your soul, hopefully......and this is coming from an avowed agnostic!  *if you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

"Not very many people can do this. The rewards are great-but so is the responsibility. Don't fuck it up. You can do this. Later buddy" So went the last passage in a note sent to me by a man I've considered a mentor in the fire service and a friend in life; meet Mike Abbey. He's salty, jaded and funny as hell, but beneath all of that is a caring soul who continually surprises me with the depth of his heart. He retired from the FD 17 years ago, and I still look to him for guidance and support. So please enjoy a very family-unfriendly conversation peppered with tales of the way it used to be in the fire service with my good friend! *If you'd like to financially support the show you can do so HERE. Thank you!!

He believes in the power of karma, is a multi-award winning tree climbing champion and the owner of a thriving small business that continues to see rapid growth every year; meet Noel Boyer.  Noel has gone from what he called a "branch manager" (stuffing limbs into a chipper) all the way to spending time in Washington DC to advocate for safety standards and other legislative issues around the arboriculture industry. He's one helluva fascinating guy, so tune in for this interview, but be warned.....it's got that good ol' strong language I love so well!  *if you'd like to FINANCIALLY support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!

Roddy Yocum is many things: former railroad engineer, tornado survivor, independent raconteur and a stroke survivor as well. Today he joins me to talk about aphasia, and his journey to healing and rebuilding his neural pathways so he could speak and read again. Make no mistake, though....he's still the feisty rooster he's always been, and that tough, never-give-up spirit is what makes his journey so memorable. Please enjoy the show.  Dallas Jones joins in for a Jason Isbell recording at 25:30 If you'd like to support the show financially, you can do so HERE. Thank you so much!

SO, it's been 34 days since our last show, and while there are myriad reasons, the main one was this: a fire call gone bad in terms of my health, both physical and mental. Today is a monologue going over what it looks like in my own mind and how I hope to return to a full "fit for duty" capacity in the fire dept. with an eye on retirement in the near future. Some beautiful music by my friend Brandon Moore goes along with the show, and we'll return to interviews next week. Thank you for listening! If you want to financially support the show, you can do so HERE I appreciate all the love and support!

In today's installment of the show I'm joined by Jeff Butler where we meander around a wide range of subjects from the recent Roe v. Wade turmoil to Ukraine to our wildly different opinions of a band. All of this takes place over some SBC and Trophy Brewing beers, so you know it's gonna be a good time. Enjoy the show! If you want to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!

Way back in the day I had the privilege of meeting Jonah Kaplan on the hockey rink when he was drafted to the Firefighter's team. He had moved to Springfield to work at KSPR as a reporter, one rung on the ladder of a news journalist's journey. He has interviewed the likes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, Dr. Anthony Fauci and countless others on his way to winning multiple awards. Most recently he was reporting from North Carolina, and before he begins the next chapter he offered up some of his time to catch up. I've missed my friend, and even from a distance, it was so good to catch up. Please enjoy the show! If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you!

Brittney Lumos is the host of the podcast "Bitchin' With Brittney" and also one of my close friends who's currently living up in Kansas City. She was down in the 417 for Easter and we ended up recording a half hour of our mutual idiocy and thoughts on different shows, pet peeves and the like. Tune in for a short time, if at least a good time! If you'd like to support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks!

"Everything is just a little bit sweeter" in Springfield, says today's guest, Mr. Matt Tignor, and this conversation is a great indicator of that. Matt embodies the kind of kindness and worldview that this world needs more of, and while his journey has taken him all over the country, he calls the 417 home and we're better off for it. From his time in the Navy to his time in Ohio, we cover a lot of ground in a hour, and have a blast with it. Speaking of Ohio, the musical interlude is from local musician Mike Henderson, an original titled "Cleveland". Enjoy the show! If you want to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thank you!

In a too-rare take, my dear friend Six Foot Katie The Shady Lady and I decided to just record one of our regular conversations. Over some thunderstorms and delicious coffee, we cover the gamut from an Elton John concert to morning mimosas to how we're gonna move into a 55+ community together soon. Enjoy some random babbling and time with a wonderful woman. 

How do you decipher the language of music from someone who speaks it beautifully and fluently? Well, talk to my friend, Mr. Stevie Newman to start. In a fun interview interspersed with music from two of his bands (The Stevie Newman Band) and (The Domino Kings), Stevie breaks down his particular style of playing and his journey while we enjoy some Crazy For Swayze Hazys and Greene Dragons from SBC. Enjoy the show! Music: 1. Domino Kings "The Only Thing She Left" 00:00-03:00 2. Stevie Newman Band "What I Did" 34:20-37:13 3. Domino Kings "How Does Gone Feel" 1:08:04-1:10:49 If you'd like to financially support the show, you can do so HERE. Thanks a lot!