Podcasts about charles county

In this episode of Let's Get Fiscal, Charles County's new Director of Fiscal & Administrative Services, Jake Dyer, breaks down the FY2026 budget. Learn how community input helped shape a balanced plan—without raising property or income taxes. Jake also shares the challenges caused by state-level cost shifts and explains how you can stay informed.Stay engaged and discover how every budget decision impacts you.You can find all the Fiscal Year 2026 budget supporting documents, including the  "Budget in Brief" book on the Budget Division's webpage here: https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/departments/fiscal-and-administrative-services/budget-division or you can view the "Budget in Brief" book directly here  https://www.charlescountymd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/28225/638841951672570000Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

In this episode of Cracking the Code, Charles County experts dive into the zoning rules for farm animals. From chickens and horses to zoning districts and HOA rules, learn what you need to know before adding animals to your property. Host Doria Fleisher, Senior Planner Kelly Palmer and County Attorney Liz Theobalds break it all down—property size, care requirements, and how to stay in compliance.Get informed before you build your backyard farm!Schedule an appointment to speak with someone in the Planning and Growth Management Department here:  https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/planning-and-growth-management-appointment-requestRead Article XIII here : https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/planning-and-growth-management-publications/codes-ordinances-and-regulatory-documentsFind out more about the different zoning maps in Charles County, and search any property using the GIS interactive map here: https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/mapping-servicesThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

 This is David Jenkins, your host for Crosswalks, Smart Growth, Stronger Communities, podcast and videos, now available on YouTube, YouTube Music, and Substack.  This is a good summary of the County's required update to the 2026 Comp Plan, including What is a Comprehensive Plan,  2016 Plan background and the timeline for preparation/approval, and the critical public engagement process. References: 2026 Charles County Comprehensive Plan Update, May 2025Charles County Planning Commission 2023 Annual ReportStay Engaged, Charles County websiteCrosswalks YouTube 

Hour 3 of the Marc Cox Morning Show dives into critical national and local issues. Marc discusses the rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses and calls for accountability from left-wing leaders. Congressman Bob Onder joins to debate Medicaid reform, stressing eligibility checks and work requirements to combat waste. Marc also speaks with Mayor Jason Law about his campaign to eliminate vehicle emissions testing in St. Charles County, pointing to high costs and low failure rates. The hour wraps with talk on the renewal of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, border security funding, and the U.S. Treasury's decision to end penny production by 2026.

On this packed episode of the Marc Cox Morning Show, Marc tackles Missouri's Medicaid expansion, weighing financial sustainability and the push for work requirements. He highlights the alarming rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses, focusing on Harvard's protests and international student scrutiny. COVID-19 vaccine debates take center stage, including concerns over VAERS data and potential side effects. Local headlines cover a tornado in St. Louis, a California plane crash, and violence against Israeli embassy staff in D.C. Marc speaks with Nichole Murray about emergency preparedness following the St. Louis tornado, and Benjamin Smith joins to discuss political silence around campus anti-Semitism. Memorial Day travel trends, a San Diego plane crash, and the economics of mocktails are also explored. The hour wraps with quirky news from Minnesota and Missouri. Later, Congressman Bob Onder discusses Medicaid reforms targeting waste and fraud, while Mayor Jason Law shares his campaign to end vehicle emissions testing in St. Charles County due to its cost and inefficiency. The show also covers the renewal of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, border security funding, and the U.S. Treasury's plan to stop penny production by 2026. Marc and Kim preview Memorial Day weekend weather and pool openings, caution listeners about dangerous toys like Jarts, and spotlight community fundraisers supporting tornado victims. Jonah Platt, host of Being Jewish, talks about the rise of anti-Semitism and his podcast's mission to foster Jewish community. The show closes with Jason Cole from Pro Outdoor discussing landscape lighting and a $2500 giveaway.

Planning an event in Charles County?  Learn everything you need to know about public event permits in this episode of Cracking the Code! Planning Supervisor Cindy Bilbra and Deputy County Attorney Liz Theobalds talk about when a permit is needed, how to apply, and why early planning ensures safety for all.https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-managementhttps://charlescountymd.info/appointmentrequestThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

A man is found dead in a Missouri cornfield — and in his pocket, a mysterious handwritten cipher so baffling that even the FBI still can't crack it.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: We explore the unsolved murder of Ricky McCormick, and the mysterious pages of code found in the dead man's pocket after his body was discovered in St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1999. The FBI's top cryptanalysts have appealed to the public for help deciphering the enigmatic scribbles—and you may hold the key.SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Cipher In The Corn” written by Stu Wahlin for Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/hstndhsIf you have info that could help solve the Ricky McCormick case, visit https://forms.fbi.gov/code; you can also write to: FBI Laboratory Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records, Unit 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico VA 22135 - Attention: Ricky McCormick Case=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: November, 2016EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CipherInTheCorn

Today on the Marc Cox Morning Show; Attorney Jeremy Rosenthal joins the show to talk about a New York man facing federal hate crime charges and Tesla vandalism case. Nicole Murray has business headlines, Sue Thomas joins for In Other News. Genevieve Wood, Senior Advisor at The Heritage Foundation joins to talk about government funding for Planned Parenthood is at all time high, department of education. Nick Schroer, Senator District 2 in St. Charles County joins to discuss what is still on the table for this Legislative Session. Christian Kirk joins to share the news that charges will be filed on the man that vandalized his Tesla. Taylor Riggs, Co-anchor “The Big Money Show” on Fox Business joins to talk about tariffs, inflation and more. Pat Byrne with Responder Rescue joins to talk about Muddy River FOOLS Clay Shoot that is happening this Sunday.

Nick Schroer, Senator District 2 in St. Charles County joins to discuss what is still on the table for this Legislative Session.

In this hour Marc talks about President Trump being the middle of his Middle East tour. Genevieve Wood, Senior Advisor at The Heritage Foundation joins to talk about government funding for Planned Parenthood is at all time high, department of education. Nick Schroer, Senator District 2 in St. Charles County joins to discuss what is still on the table for this Legislative Session. Finally, media saw but refused to talk about what they saw with the Biden administration.

After completing a rewarding four-year term on the La Plata Town Council, I'm excited to rebrand and expand the La Plata Ward 4 Update podcast and YouTube channel.Page 2 - The new platform, Crosswalks: Smart Growth, Stronger Communities, will bring fresh stories, expert conversations, and thoughtful insights on the issues that shape how we grow and live — planning, transportation, housing, economic and community development, and more.Crosswalks focuses on how La Plata, Charles County, and Southern Maryland can become more resilient, sustainable, and people-centered. It aims to connect people, share knowledge, and contribute to building stronger, healthier communities by highlighting key policies, plans, and perspectives.I've also launched a new Substack to support this work — check it out and subscribe at: davidjenkins.substack.com or https://davidjenkins.substack.com/Thanks for continuing the journey with me. I look forward to this transitionStay well! YouTube Video

In this episode of Let's Get Fiscal, we dive into Charles County's FY2026 budget process with Doria Fleisher, Jake Dyer and Kayla Hunt. Learn how community feedback shaped funding priorities and how you can get involved. From public hearings to survey insights, this is your guide to how your voice helps shape local decisions.https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/departments/fiscal-and-administrative-services/budget-divisionThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Here's the final update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Marc Cox is joined by Chief Chris DiGiuseppe of the Lake Saint Louis Police Department to discuss the Regional Crime Task Force, a multi-agency initiative launched in St. Charles County and now expanding into western St. Louis County. Chief DiGiuseppe shares insights on the task force's impressive results—including a 44% drop in auto thefts, a 57% reduction in thefts from vehicles, and a 61–62% decrease in overdose deaths—since its inception in response to a 65% crime spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation covers how the task force is targeting not only property crimes, but also drug offenses, weapons violations, and violent fugitives, with plans to expand throughout the entire St. Louis region.

At the St. Charles County 911 dispatch centre, the holiday season had brought an unusually calm night on one of the final days of 2018. But just before midnight, that all changed. A frantic and desperate call came through. Screaming, loud pops in the background and then a single chilling phrase – “he has a gun.”Sponsors -Nutrafol: This Mother's Day, consider Nutrafol – the best-selling hair growth supplement. Use promo code “MORBIDOLOGYGIFT” at: http://nutrafol.com/Acorns Early: Teach children about savings and budging with the money app and debit card for kids. To get started, download the app or visit the website and get your first month on us: https://acornsearly.com/morbidologyAquaTru: Join 98% of customers who say their drinking water is cleaner, safer, & healthier! Use code "MORBIDOLOGY" for 20% off at: https://aquatru.comAir Doctor: Get noticeably cleaner & healthier air with up to $300 off with promo code "MORBIDOLOGY" at: http://airdoctorpro.comSHOW NOTES - https://morbidology.com/morbidology-podcast/PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/morbidologyYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/morbidologyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/morbidology--3527306/support.

What does nuisance abatement mean for Charles County residents? In this episode of Cracking the Code, Jarrington Bazemore, Inspection Supervisor, and Liz Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney, explain how zoning regulations help keep neighborhoods clean and safe. Learn about property maintenance rules, common violations, and the enforcement process, plus why talking to your neighbors first can make all the difference. Stay informed and help maintain the beauty of Charles County!How does someone report a residential public nuisance?https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/report-a-structureCalling our inspection telephone line at 240-776-6670, orVia email (pzinspections@charlescountymd.gov), orIn person by coming to the Government Building located at 200 Baltimore Street La Plata, MD 20646 * Before reporting a nuisance we encourage persons to talk with their neighbor(s). A part of being a good neighbor is taking care of your property.  Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Learn how to prepare for and respond to flooding in Charles County with this episode of Ready, Set, Prepare! Join hosts Doria Fleisher, Media Division and Wade Haubert, Emergency Management, along with Beth Groth, Climate Resilience & Sustainability Officer, as they discuss flood risks, emergency response, and ways to protect your home and community. Discover tools like the MyCoast app, floodplain maps, and preparedness tips to stay safe during heavy rains and rising waters. Turn around, don't drown—stay informed and stay safe! https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/emergency-services/emergency-preparedness/nuisance-and-urban-floodinghttps://www.ready.gov/floodshttps://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/evergreen-assets/safelinks/1/atp-safelinks.htmlhttps://www.fema.gov/flood-mapshttps://mycoast.org/mdhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhz-dW9FvJAhttps://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/report-a-structureThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

What is stormwater, and why does it matter? In this episode of Cracking the Code, we break down stormwater management with Matt Karim,  Engineer for Planning and Growth Management, and Liz Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney. Learn how stormwater impacts flooding, property safety, and community resilience, plus what homeowners can do to maintain drainage systems. Discover how Charles County enforces stormwater regulations to protect infrastructure and the environment. Stay informed and be part of the solution!https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/stormwater-management/stormwater-education-and-programsThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

I learned from our guest this time that only about %1 of Americans serve in the military. For most of us, our understanding of the military and military life comes from what we see in the movies, watch on television and sometimes from what we read in books. Our guest today, Rob Richard, has served in the U.S. army for over 20 years and is now about to be fully retired from the life that he has come to know. Rob's upbringing was in a military family. I asked him if all that he had learned and seen growing up prepared him for a life in the military. His somewhat surprising answer was “no”. We spend much of this episode learning from Rob what his life was like. We get a glimpse into a military world that is significantly different than what we see in the movies and elsewhere. Rob offers us many great insights and helps us see a side of leadership that we all could learn from. Rob has visited 31 countries both for pleasure and work. What I like most about my time with Rob today is how he has used his military time to learn and develop an understanding of others much less himself. I think you will find Rob's observations poignant and useful in many ways. About the Guest: Rob Richard is a retired Army officer and a native of Southern Maryland. With 20 years of military leadership experience, he has served two combat tours in Iraq during the mid-2000s at the height of the war and several tours in Korea and Germany. Rob spent over six years as a Logistics officer in various Special Operations Units and 14 years in Conventional forces, gaining invaluable experience in both specialized and general military operations. His military experiences range from tragic and harrowing events to comedic tales of misadventure as he navigated his career through the bureaucracy of the American war machine. Rob's career has taken him around the globe, visiting over 31 countries for both work and leisure. He holds a Master's degree in Leadership and Management from Webster University and a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Towson University and completed the ROTC program through Loyola University of Baltimore. He is a dedicated husband and father of two. An alumnus of The Honor Foundation, Rob has successfully transitioned his elite military service to the private sector. The Honor Foundation serves as the premier career transition program for U.S. Special Operations Forces, helping to create the next generation of corporate and community leaders. Ways to connect with Rob: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-j-richard About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Well, hi everyone. I am Mike Hingson, your host here on unstoppable mindset, and we're going to have, I think, a lot of fun, as we usually do, and we love to anyway, I tell all of my guests who come on the podcast that the only rule that we have for unstoppable mindset, and it's a hard and fast rule is you got to have fun, so it's important to do that. Our guest today is Rob Richard. Rob has been in the military for these the last 20 years, and he is retiring, so I'm anxious to hear all about that, and any stories and other things that he wants to tell. But he's he's an intriguing individual. It's been fun chatting with him and preparing for this. So Rob, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here.   Rob Richard ** 02:08 Thanks, Michael. It's, uh, it's honor to be here. You know, last night I told my son, um, a little bit about your backstory, and then I was coming on here, and he was like, Oh, that's such an honor to talk to him. And he said, wow, they picked you, dad, really? And I was like, I was like, I guess, I guess he wants to speak with me. So it's an honor talking to you, and I appreciate your backstory. And my son, you know, learning about history in America over the past, you know, 20 years or so, being nine, he was very, you know, thought it was very honor for me to speak with you today. And I agree. I concur. So thank you very much for having   Michael Hingson ** 02:36 me. Well, I don't know, as a matter so much a matter of picking my belief is that everyone has a story to tell, and I believe that we're all more unstoppable than we think we are. And the problem is that we grow up mostly not really learning to have as much in the way of self confidence, and I mean that in a positive way, as opposed to just an ego, but self confidence and self respect as we should have, and all too often, were were encouraged not to really think as strongly about our capabilities and ourselves as we should. So my goal with unstoppable mindset has always been to give people an opportunity to come on and tell their story and help all of us realize that we're more unstoppable than we think we are. And I think that's really pretty important to do. So I Well, one of these days we we have to interview your son, and that ought to be fine. He's   Rob Richard ** 03:36 going to achieve great things. He's more kids, so it takes after his mom. So Well, there   Michael Hingson ** 03:41 you go. Well, I suspect that you have something to do with it too, sure. Well, tell us a little bit kind of about the early Rob growing up and all that sort of stuff.   Rob Richard ** 03:51 So I come from a military family. My father was in the army, and he's from New Jersey originally, but my maternal family was based out of Baltimore. My grandfather, paternal grandfather, was also in the military. I spent most of my formative years in Southern Maryland, in Charles County, Maryland, which is a distinctly unique place. It's about, you know, 45 to 50 minutes south of DC. So there's a bit of this sort of rural kind of where the south starts right the Chesapeake Bay and the lower Potomac River, a culture of nefarious characters and great fun growing up there. But I was close enough to DC to be around that that sort of government culture quite a bit. Also had a few formative years in Alabama and Alaska as well, moving around so that shaped a lot of who I was living in the South in the in the 80s and early 90s. And then, of course, you know, I went to college in Baltimore, very closely connected to that city, based on my maternal family's connection. There huge oils fan. I love the city of Baltimore. Brother was a police officer there for a while. So I'm a Maryland guy through and through. I'm from there. Very proud of it. I went to college at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. Ah. Where I did the ROTC program through Loyola College, and that's pretty much the gist of me. I think that growing up where I did around the folks that I did, the interesting characters, the type of youth that I had a little bit wild and and sort of free for all that sort of Gen Xenu youth, of just kind of being let, let go to my own devices kind of help shape who I am and help shape my character greatly. So that's pretty much my early start in life.   Michael Hingson ** 05:26 So there was kind of no doubt that you were going to go into the military. Probably family expected it, and you grew up expecting it, I guess.   Rob Richard ** 05:36 Well, you know, I to be honest, I never thought much about the military until I was going to go away to college, right? And so my dad was like, hey, you know, the ROTC program is a great way to give yourself an opportunity right out of college, and they pay for everything. So Truth in Lending, I probably joined the army more for financial reasons out of the gate than, you know, family patriotic reasons. They're certainly part of that. And obviously, when I was in ROTC, the second year, 911 obviously happened. And so I knew that my future was kind of written for me, with a lot of strife going forward as a military guy. So I knew probably around 2021, that's kind of what I wanted to do. But it wasn't always that way. There was a lot of other things I wanted to do growing up, and it just kind of, for whatever reason, that was the shining light that kind of, you know, directed me towards, you know, serving. So I ended up doing that for 20 years, and here I am now. So   Michael Hingson ** 06:30 Well, there you go. Well, on the other hand, if there were other things that you wanted to do, did you get to do any of them in the military? Did the military give you up an environment where you were able to stretch and grow and maybe do some things that that you wanted to do, or maybe that you didn't even think you were ever going to do.   Rob Richard ** 06:48 Yes, I think, you know, one of the great things that that the military offered me was a chance to, I love getting in front of audiences, and I love to tell a story, and I love to tell and, you know, and tell a joke, and tell the things, and do these sort of things. So as a leader, you have to develop a great sense of communication, a great sense to relate to people who come from different backgrounds and and, you know, different places than yourself. And I think the military, being a leader in the military, in particular, you know, the branch of service that I served in the Army, as a logistician, I got a chance to really work with a lot of different types of folks and a lot of different groups of people. And it let me kind of see just all walks of life. And then I kind of mentioned we sent our pre question was, I've been to 31 countries for fun, you know, not just for work. I met my wife in Germany. She's was an American soldier as well. I've got a chance to see the world. The world. The military gave me that privilege. They gave me that opportunity that a lot of people just don't get, you know, I've gotten to see all kinds of things and go out and see the world. So I was very fortunate. And so I guess meeting new and interesting people, seeing the world leading young men and women in combat, is very important to me. It's something that I, you know, never really thought I would have a chance to do growing up, and there's, there's no war now, there was one. So, yeah, I got a chance to do, do these things for many years over so I'm very thankful to the military for that,   Michael Hingson ** 08:11 just the military, and this is just just popped into to my head. So it's just a curiosity, does the military overall tend to evolve as society evolves. I mean, it's not a stagnant kind of a thing. I would assume. I   Rob Richard ** 08:27 think it's a little bit ahead of the game, but I don't necessarily think they're ahead of the game, because it's necessarily the righteous thing to do, but it's almost a business decision, meaning so they desegregated units before most of America, you know, in our general populace was desegregated, but that was more of a decision because they they needed to have people work together, right? Because they had wars and to fight and and things to do. So I think the military is often ahead of the curve when it comes to, you know, desegregation, when it comes to, you know, moving people forward that don't have the backgrounds that are necessarily totally accepted by society at the time. So I think they're a little ahead of the head of the game when it comes to to those sort of things. So I think they generally keep pace with society, yes, if not a little bit ahead.   Michael Hingson ** 09:11 I'll tell you why I asked. It just was something I was thinking about as you were talking. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and for what that was worth on all sides. But during that time, they instituted and had the draft and they even developed a lottery system to decide who was going to go first. And my lottery number was fairly low, but when I turned 18, I fairly quickly got a letter saying you are classified one, a which was the classification where you could be drafted into the military. And I knew that that wasn't going to last being blind, and that they would figure that out, and they did, but I've always thought for me and. And others, they missed it. Why is it that a blind person couldn't find opportunities to serve in the military? It doesn't necessarily mean that we have to be in in the middle of a war zone. There are certainly other aspects of working in the military that a blind person could do, and yet the military kind of never really took advantage of that. Now there are a few people who were blinded in in wartime or because of one thing or another with terrorists, and so they're in the military. They started in the military and then they continued. But it still is true that you don't find real opportunities for blind people to serve in any aspect of the military. And I had a company that I formed back in 1985 and one of the main people who helped me was a retired colonel from the Marines, and he even said there is no reason why there there aren't opportunities available for people who are blind and think tanks and doing other kinds of things that are outside the regular war zone. So it's kind of fascinating, but I think it's an interesting and relevant thing to think about that clearly there are opportunities that ought to be available. Does that make sense?   Rob Richard ** 11:23 It does. I agree. I think one, the one thing about being a soldier at any level is there needs to be a commonality and a standard of that people can do a baseline thing, right? So there's physical fitness assessments, there's things that people need to do based on, you know, certain levels of training, whether it's shooting or going out and doing all these things, that there needs to be a baseline where everyone's kind of even So certain things that I worked in recruiting, uh, ironically enough, for two years, and certain things that are just qualifiers take away from the universal, uh, set that people need a universal set of skills, that people need to be a soldier in general. So there's avenues and different things that you can do with a disability or with things that are would mitigate you from serving in the front lines. But a little bit of what we'll talk about is in these previous wars, not everybody that was necessarily considered a frontline soldier, you know, was, was certainly not negated from from facing combat. And we can, we can talk about that, expound that a little bit, but I think that every person needs to have a basic set of skills. And there are certain things that, if you are blind or if you do have a disability that would, you know, take away from your your ability to do things that are a standard set of things, like, even as a senior officer or a senior non commissioned officer, you still have to take a certain physical fitness test, you still have to, you know, go out and shoot your weapon. You still have to do things that require sight, that require a certain level of hearing. Once you take away from that commonality that everyone has, now you're looking at someone who's not brought into the field and accepted as a soldier of commonality. Does that does that make sense? Or   Michael Hingson ** 12:59 you make an assumption, though, that isn't necessarily so. For example, there are a number of blind people who do shoot their hunters and so on. And so the issue is you have to separate out the skill from how you exhibit the skills. So, for example, right, shooting at a target, if there is a, if there is an auditory cue that allows me to aim at the target, can I learn to shoot at a target and and likewise, yeah, but I hear what you're saying, but I think at the same time, the reality is that that there are, there are certainly options, and what we really need to do is not leave out intelligent minds that might very well be able to contribute to what we do. And that's kind of what prompted the question,   Rob Richard ** 13:58 Oh, I agree, too. And I think that when you see the recruiting crisis that in particularly the army is facing, there needs to be avenues that bring other folks in who might not have the traditional physical skill set that other soldiers have, and allow them to serve. I agree with that, and that's something, I think, especially modern technology, that could be something to be brought into the fold in the future, to be looked at. But I do think, for like, I worked in Special Operations for, you know, for several years, you know, as paratrooper these sort of things. There are certain things that you must have this physical acumen and things that you must be able to do in order to accomplish those tasks in those schools. And, you know, the different training assessments that you have. So if there's a separate place that people can go and have those technologies available to mitigate anything that perhaps their, you know, disability might stop them from doing, I think that's certainly something to consider and something to look at going forward. So that's a great point. Like, I appreciate you bringing that up. I never looked at it that way, to be honest. So I always thought about this linear way of looking at. That you have to have these certain physical attributes to serve. But that's great. I that's a good way to look at it. So it's   Michael Hingson ** 15:06 well and I think, I think it's important to look at what attributes are are necessary to have, but But I also think that a lot of times what we can discover is that exhibiting those attributes may not be the same for one person as opposed to another, but the point is, we can still exhibit the attributes. So it's an interesting thing to, you know, to explore. Great. So tell me about the you know, and I realize that you're speaking for you and your observations and so on. But tell me a little bit about the crisis. You mentioned that, and I read it elsewhere. Tell me a little bit more about the crisis that we're really exhibiting today.   Rob Richard ** 15:46 So I worked in the Dallas, United States Army recruiting Dallas for two years. I was executive officer there, and I was also a time operations officer. And so I got to see the big picture of how the army does recruiting. And even then, in the height of the war, when the what they call the numbers was up and recruiting was was pretty good, still, they struggled to to link up the kind of bridge where they call it military civilian gap, right? So there's a couple different things I think that we need to take into consideration here. Number one, I think about only 1% of the nation serves right? And a large percentage of those folks are like myself. There they are legacy people, people who have a connection to the military. So I think the first thing to do is you have to bridge that military and civilian gap, and you have to look at why aren't people joining the military, right? And I'll be honest with you, the the army itself is terrible at branding in comparison to, say, the Marine Corps, right? Things like uniform and commonality of identity, the Marines do that way better, I think, than the army does. Right? As far as like, we have this certain set of things that we go with are always kind of changing their motto and go in different directions. But in general, there's also a population of people, because we just hit on it. Now you talk about, you know, having something that's going to stop you from serving. There are a large number of people who just don't meet the criteria. It's actually harder to get into the United States Army than it is to go to a four year university. So you're talking about physical fitness requirements. You're talking about legalities. You know, people getting in trouble with the law that disqualifies them from service, prior drug use, things like that, things that are looking at packing away and taking away for waivers. But the number one biggest thing is, I just think society societal differences on how civilian people and the military are connected. I think people just have a general misunderstanding of what the military is. They have a general misunderstanding of what it is to serve. And I just don't think that in our in our current society, that enough people are willing to step up and do it because life is too comfortable, and that's my personal opinion. That's not necessarily, you know, the Army's opinion. That's my opinion. Do you   Michael Hingson ** 17:51 think that it also has to do with how the military is portrayed, like in movies and TV shows and so on? Does that enter into it at all? Yes, I think, you know, we think so, and that's why I asked, I think   Rob Richard ** 18:04 so. And I like to get your take on what it is that when you say that, is it the is it a negative portrayal? Is a good portrayal. If you look at how certain wars are portrayed, right, you take it away. World War Two was portrayed versus, say, Vietnam, right? They're not portrayed totally different ways, right? You look at the modern war, and often veterans are painted this picture of a tragic experience, a tragic a tragedy, right? There's often this experience that is okay. This is a person that had a tragic thing happened to them. The war is something that was they went through and now they have this ailment, or whatever it is. It's often framed as that, but it's more complex than that. Yeah, a service is more complex than that. And I think that another thing is people don't understand that most military folks are middle class by the time they hit a certain age, right? So by the time you are excuse, by the time they hit a certain rank or time in service, they have middle class, you know, houses they live in a certain way of of a certain lifestyle that the army and the military in general affords to them. And I don't think people understand the financial and monetary benefit that you get for from the military. I don't think that's clearly articulated as a as a form of, hey, this is something I want my kid to do. You know, there's a lot of this, not in my backyard, type, but hey, that's great. Thank you for your service. But I don't want to serve, right? There's a lot of that that goes around in American society, I think. And I don't know if that resonates with you or if you agree, or Yeah, I   Michael Hingson ** 19:23 do understand that. I certainly don't disagree. I think that there is a lot of merit to that. What, what strikes me, though, is that there is a great misunderstanding. You know, if you watch some of the TV shows that are on when they talk about the military, it's, it's kind of a romanticized sort of thing, but the the and the the tragedy of veterans and so on, certainly there, there's a lot of that is focused on that at the same time when. We, when we go back and look at it, what, what caused that tragedy? What did? What did we not do as a society, to say, Bring a veteran home and be able to completely integrate them back into or bring them fully into society? And that's something where I think we as a as a society, do miss the point that where is much to I don't I want to use the word blame, but be responsible for integrating people back in because clearly, one of the things that I think is true about the military, and I don't think it's a bad thing, is that it is a particular kind of lifestyle. It's a very regimented lifestyle, and that's okay. But now, when you bring people, say, who have been to war and who have seen things back into society, there are, there is a lot more that we probably really ought to do to make sure that we're helping people get back into into the world that we're most of us are used to, and the fact that we don't understand what the world was that they were in, sort of contributes to us not really knowing how to bring them back into it.   Rob Richard ** 21:16 I agree. I agree. I think one of the things about special operations, where I worked for the past seven years, is they do a really good job of helping veterans, like, transition out of the military, whether they've had four or five years, or whether they've had, you know, 20 years, like myself, they have great programs. I told you. I completed the Honor Foundation, which was, you know, did a great service for me, helping me trans. Help Me transfer into civilian life and help me prepare for not in the corporate world, but just life in general. I think the military is getting better at that. I certainly think that our modern day era veterans were treated far better than, say, Vietnam veterans who came home. Yeah, you know, I really do believe that. I know my grandfather was a Vietnam vet, and I know there were times where, you know, he couldn't wear his uniform anywhere, or there's just people weren't treated with the same level of respect that I was. I always felt that when I came home, right, not necessarily the integration piece, but the fact that, you know, being a veteran, I always felt that I was thanked, or at least it's somewhat some way, even though it might seem patronizing that I was at the very least welcomed home and welcomed back and people appreciated, you know, whether they've experienced it or not, appreciate what I had been through, and we're very grateful for the most part, as to where in Vietnam, they certainly weren't. I think we've gotten better as a society about that. But where does that take you in, in the real and Reality of Things, right? Is it? Is it better veterans care, better mental health awareness, you know, things that I think they're working on? I certainly don't think we do a great job, in general, providing mental health for soldiers outside of special operations, right outside of the elite units that get elite care to access a lot of what military mental health care is is simply just getting you to go back to do your job, right? But when you leave the military, then the behavioral health, mental health care, it should be about getting you back to being a, you know, a human that is going to enjoy and live life to the fullest, right? So there's a difference, right? One's kind of make you a person who's going to go back to work and do is, you know, run the machines and run the papers as a as George Carlin would say. And the other is going to help you kind of be a normal human that fits into society, and that's the difference, you know? I think, well, the   Michael Hingson ** 23:25 other, the other aspect of it is that in the military, it is a very regimented sort of thing, and most of the time, there are people above you, and you realize they make the decisions, and we just carry out the orders. And now being back in the mainstream of society, you are more responsible for doing a lot of those things for yourself. And again, that's something that we need to teach people how to do.   Rob Richard ** 23:52 Again, sure. Well, I would, oh, go ahead, Michael, go ahead. No, go ahead. I was going to say I tend to disagree with that a little bit. I think people have a stereotype about military folks. You know, I you know most military people after, I said, as I mentioned before, after they hit a certain time and service a certain rank, their life is somewhat individualized. It's not necessarily a control that's a good point. Yeah, it really much is, I live in my own house. I don't live on post. I don't wake up every day and go to listen to listen to the bugle at five o'clock in the morning. You know, I think there's a misconception that soldiers are robots. When they are individuals with families, they are individuals, you know, that live lives outside of the military. Is it regimented? Yes. Is it a lifestyle? Yes. But I do think there's a misconception that the military is this completely controlling organization that has every facet of your life under control, and that's just not the case. You know, like I said, it's a it's just not really the case of how most military folks are. And there's so many great minds and artists and people that have all these great ideas that serve in the military, that are very bright and articulate and all these things. There's just a misconception about what a veteran is, I think. And I. Think that's another thing that when we tie in service and why people will and won't join, is the misconception. I mean, how many veterans do most people know? Do they have an uncle or a cousin or somebody that serves and that's something that we miss? You know, it's not exactly all the things that you see in the movie, you know, the guy on the street corner with the fatigue jacket and the one arm missing asking for money, that's that's not really most veterans. That's not really most of us. I think that's a misconception. Michael, that's just my take. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 25:24 and I, and I certainly didn't want to imply that it's so regimented that everybody's a robot, but, but I, but I, but I do think that until you get to that level that you were talking about, and I think that's a very valid point, it's probably more regimented than than a lot of people absolutely are used to. But by the same token, it still gets back to what level of support do we really give people when they when they come back, and the fact that there probably is a lot more that we could do. But you, you said something that prompts another question. And I think I'm well, I think I know the answer to this, but I'll be curious to see what you say, and that is, you're right back in the days of Vietnam veterans came home and they were they were spit on, they were not treated well, and so on. And it's a lot different today. Do you think that September 11 had a lot to do with that?   Rob Richard ** 26:20 I do. I think that people became, I was a young college student in the ROTC program, not quite in the military just yet, but I think that that event was the single catalyst to people realizing that, you know, we came together as a nation, more so than any other thing in my lifetime, ever after 911 so we came together. Now the wars that followed subsequently were very controversial, right? And they were something that divided the nation, but that particular event, you know, made the nation come together at writ large, more than any other event in history. So I think that that that kind of triggered people to be more understanding and appreciative of the military and the things that they would go do right, regardless of the political landscape, of what the wars would follow. People were very grateful. So I think 100% that 911 was a catalyst for people to be more patriotic, more supporting of the military. You know, enlistments were up. People were left and right, looking to join during that time frame, at least the first five to six years prior to the wars kind of going on, becoming quagmire, if you will. So I think so. I think you're right,   Michael Hingson ** 27:30 yeah, well, and I also think that the whole issue with the wars that followed, unfortunately, politics got much too much involved with it. So after September 11, should we have gone into Afghanistan to go after Osama bin Laden? That's one thing, but then, but then we decided to go into Iraq and go after Saddam Hussein, which was a totally different thing. And I still, yeah, and I still believe that that made no sense to do, but we did Sure, and we took our eye off the bin Laden ball, which is part of the problem. So unfortunately, politics gets too much into it and and that, in part, comes from the low bar that we have for politicians. So what do you do?   Rob Richard ** 28:19 I agree with that, yeah, we can agree on that. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 28:23 it's, it's a it's a challenge, you   Rob Richard ** 28:25 know, here's something I'll say on that, as far as I think when you serve in in I was, I'm a wreck veteran, so I've been to Iraq. I spent 15 months of my life there. And I will tell you that when you're there, you know, and I went there kind of a starry eyed sort of young lieutenant, just with the delusions of how things were going to go. So it's really a movie character on those sort of like character Oliver Stone movie, and what I saw was quite different than the reality of what I thought I would see. But I will tell you this at the end of the day, regardless of the political implications of the wars and the meanings behind them, when you have the American military machine together, right? And however chaotic it is, or however things are, I can hang my head on the fact that I was able to lead my soldiers, men and women, young people from you know, like The Rolling Stones of that great song, the salt of the earth, right? Say, say a prayer for the common foot soldier. Those were my guys, the common truck driver, mechanic and people that you know join the military for a certain purpose, whether it's money for patriotism, whatever, when asked to do this mission, regardless of its political implications, they did it. They did it well, and they did it to a level that's impressive and something that is beautiful to watch in action and that I'll always be proud of. Yeah. So if Aaron ever says, hey, you know, you serve these wars, and they're this, that and the other. I don't think when you're there, you think too much about it. That's the Coming Home part. That's the that's the thing you face later. When you're dealing with, you know, whether it's PTSD or these other sort of issues, that's when the philosophical question is to be answered. When you're there, when you're in the fight, that is. This, you doing your mission, you and your guys, the old adage, adage of left and right, that's what you're doing, and that I'm proud of, and that I can think our military did a great job. Right. Losing the war in the political sense is far different than losing the battles right in the actual militarily sense. So that's just something I hang my hat on. And I think that if we overlooked that as a society, and we overlooked that as a culture, that the wars are just this negative thing, and they were kind of, you know, excuse my language, or kind of, Bs, whatever. Yeah, we're overlooking the accomplishments of the actual people that were asked to do these things, right?   Michael Hingson ** 30:32 Well, and also well, and ultimately, let's, let's take Afghanistan. You know, we have we were there for a long time. Should we have been there as long as we were? I think that's a question that you can you can discuss and debate, but at the same time, the ultimate thing we were looking to do was to deal with Osama bin Laden, and we did that. But then we did continue to stay, and there were reasons for it. Should we have or should we have been smarter about withdrawing again? Those are all discussions that one could have. But I think that ultimately, it seems to me, you know, if people said, and people ask me, Well, did we lose the war in Afghanistan? I don't know that we lost the war, but I think the politicians didn't help but I think that the military did what they were supposed to do. I   Rob Richard ** 31:24 agree. But, you know, I the the general who said this escapes me, but it was not a 20 year war. It was a one year war fought 20 times. Yeah. So when you so you have these wars, you have a different general, a different you know, whatever it is, come in and they all have a different take on how we're going to accomplish this goal. But both those wars, whether it was the one I fought in Iraq or the one in Afghanistan, you know, they there were no real clear objectives for us. They were one year at a time, little hash marks of trying to accomplish these small goals. And we were never given a clear picture of what victory looked like, very similar to Vietnam. So I think that's, I don't think that's put on the that's not put on the backs of the common veteran. That's put on the backs of the politicians. Yeah, that was that, I was sure that's put on. I The generals too. I think so they, they owe their, you know, by that time you hit to that, that level, it's, it's a political level. And I think they're, they owe an answer to that. You know, my personal opinion, me as a retired Army officer, I think they owe an answer to that.   Michael Hingson ** 32:23 Well, we don't necessarily have the same kind of generals as we had with a patent or even a storm in Norman Schwarzkopf. You know the Sure, sure.   Rob Richard ** 32:31 Well, there's some very particular generals out there. Some good there are. But I there are, I think, I think those wars were never, never given clear, clearly defined objectives by any political figure, and that makes it impossible to what you would traditionally call a win, right? Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 32:48 I do. I do. I know exactly what you're saying, and it makes and it makes perfect sense well for you. So you joined the military. Did you think that you were going to be traveling the world and seeing 31 countries and doing all the things that that you did, or was any of that a surprise to you? No,   Rob Richard ** 33:05 I'll tell you. So when you're in college and you're ROTC, you you know, or West Point, or whatever you're, you know, I was an ROTC guys. So you have West Point, you have OCS, your different commissioning sources, you're, you're branched a certain whether it's infantry or armor or whatever, I was a transportation branch. So I thought I, you know, I got stationed in Germany, my first duty assignment. And, you know, I had two deployments to the Middle East during that time. It was about a six year stint. And I never thought that I would have this amazing fun, adventurous and it's a family show here, adventurous show. Adventurous life that I had, that that that I was given. I thought I would just end up at some base somewhere in Texas, and barbecue on Sundays, drink more lights, watch football like everybody else. I never thought I'd have this great life. I never thought I'd travel the world in Gallivan so I'm very fortunate in that way. And I just, I don't think most people picture that, but when you get your first what they call assignment, your duty station, and it's Germany, and my second one being Korea, traveling all around Asia. You know, with my, my awesome wife, I I'll tell you, I never thought I would have that, to be honest with you, that's never something that crossed my mind. That level of adventure and fun, it almost kind of mitigates some of the things that you had to go through in war. It almost makes it like they kind of balance each other out, I think, well,   Michael Hingson ** 34:19 and traveling to and traveling to Germany, of course, got you your wife.   Rob Richard ** 34:24 Yes, true, yeah. So we met. You were both soldiers, and just, you know, we, we met by by sheer chance, and that's something that I look back on, and I'm always very thankful to Uncle Sam for that. So,   Michael Hingson ** 34:34 yeah, there's, there is that. Did she stay in the military?   Rob Richard ** 34:38 No, she got out. So we, we were in Korea, and then I got stationed to go work in recruiting in Dallas. And she made the decision that, you know, I was a little bit further along, a little bit older. And she made, we made the decision that, hey, the dual military thing is very difficult. That is one of the, I think, most difficult career choices you could make, is to have two service members in especially once you hit the senior levels. And so we decided, hey, you know. I'm going to stay in, she's going to get out, and she's a very successful entrepreneur, doing very well with with some things that she's got going on. So I think we made the right choice, and she gets to be mom and be this amazing mother. So I think that's something, I think collectively, was the right decision. Well, that that worked. How old? How old are the kids? I got a nine year old, my son, Alex, and then he's about to be 10, and then my daughter, Evie, named Evangeline, after a song by the the band the Great, the band Yvonne Hill, she is six. So they're, they're still pretty young. A lot of give me, give me a handful here. Well, that's,   Michael Hingson ** 35:34 that's fine, you know. And we'll see who, who does better and who handles who better? The kids handle you guys, or you handle the kids better. We   Rob Richard ** 35:43 were on a pretty tight ship here, Michael, so at least my wife does. I'm going to push over, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 35:49 Well, there you go. Well, but it, but it's, but it is interesting to to be able to see a lot of the world. And I, you know, I've, I've had the never been to Germany. I've been to Korea and spend some time there. And that was a lot of fun. I've been to Japan and to some places. I've been to the Netherlands, but not to Germany, when actually, in about a month and a half, no, actually about a month, I'll take my first trip to London to speak. Oh, wow. I've been to Ireland, but never to London. And then it's fun to go through the logistics of being able to take a guide dog to London and doing all the things to to clear the dog. I think it's a lot more work to get him ready to go than me, but we'll cope. Yeah, but it's, but it's, but it is fun. And I, I think there is so much value in seeing so many different places around the world and all that we can learn. I think that we take way too much for granted, and we we think that we're so much better, sometimes than than other places. And in some right, some ways, our country and our society works better, and some ways it doesn't necessarily do that, but I don't think it's my place to judge, but rather to go and learn and bring back knowledge and put it to use.   Rob Richard ** 37:04 I agree, it certainly makes you a better person as as a collective right to understand. You know, America's a great place, and I love this country dearly, but there are many things that that we can learn from other cultures. You know, we work so hard here in Germany, and I tell you about three o'clock, they take off and go have a beer and relax a little bit. You know, there's, and they still, they managed to run a very efficient society without the hustle culture that we have. And I, I am a stern capitalist. I love to work hard. But there's something to take away from that. You know, there's also, on the other side of the spectrum, in Korea and Asia, they work even harder than we do, right? So there's, there's a level of where to meet in the middle, and looking at these different cultural things. And, you know, it's just, I just very fortunate to have seen all that, and take a little bit from each one and kind of develop my own life, and these are gonna teach my children and stuff. So that's, that's great. I think I love London, too. The   Michael Hingson ** 37:54 founder of the National Federation of the Blind was a blind constitutional law scholar, Jacobus tembrick, who was at UC Berkeley, and one of the things that his wife told me, I never did get to know chick 10 Brook, but I knew his wife, and she said that he could go for long periods of time, because he would take what we now call a power nap for 20 minutes, and then he could get up and work for hours. And we don't encourage any of that, and I think it's truly unfortunate, because there's a lot of value in having a little bit of downtime that then keeps you able to keep moving a lot more than you think you might.   Rob Richard ** 38:33 No, no, I agree. I think that's something in the military they focused a few years, the past couple of years, on, which is, I don't know it's, maybe it's all for not but focusing on on sleep, you know, wellness and overall spiritual you know, thing that's going on here, trying to get everybody together in this sort of triad approach of wellness, sleep and physical fitness and stuff. And sleep is so important to being a successful leader. You know, one hour of sleep versus four makes all the difference in your decision making. Makes all the difference in your ability to lead, your ability to persevere through problems. So slaves huge, you know, even it's only four hours, yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 39:12 and but again, even during the day, taking a half hour and resting your eyes and then coming back gives you energy to continue, and we don't. We don't do enough of that. So I'm, I'm all in favor of exploring and and doing more to to deal with sleep and wellness and looking at other ways to help us move more effectively and more efficiently during the day. I agree. Yeah, so it makes sense well, now your career as a logistician and so on, as you said, is pretty unique. What what made it so unique, and why do you feel that that really helped shape you into what you are, and where do you think this is going to take you going forward?   Rob Richard ** 39:58 So I think a lot of times. When you are again, we talk about conditioning source. So when you go into the military, a lot of guys, they say, Okay, I want to be an infantry person. I want to be an armor guy. I want to be special forces, whatever. There's many different avenues that you can enter the military. And I think coming in initially as a transportation officer. You know, I went to Iraq, and I had these sort of experiences that, I think, again, we talk about movies, they're often overlooked, right? So I was in Iraq for 12 months. My first deployment, I was a platoon leader. I had 60 soldiers. I went on well over 60 plus missions that are, what are called convoys. So I was putting in these dangerous, arduous situations and these things that that could result in grave violence, and these sort of things that I experienced, and that my soldiers experienced, that gave me a unique out outlook on life, right? And I think that because of our underdog persona in nature, as logistics guys, you know, it's all a big wheel, and there's all these folks that make it work, right? And so as an underdog type character, and having these sort of salt of the earth type soldiers, it's given me a unique perspective on people, a unique empathy. I think a lot of military guys are kind of seen, seen as cold and stern, these sort of square jaw type characters. I don't really think I'm like that at all. It's giving me a unique perspective to grow and to be more loving and empathetic, to be a better dad. I think just serving that type of field and that type of profession is very different. It's also a little more diverse than, like, say, your standard, like Special Operations Unit, which is a lot of square jawed white guys from the Midwest, you know, as to where logistics, there's a much more diverse profile of people from all over, you know, from Jamaica or Puerto Rico, from every different state, from these, these different types of folks. And I really had a chance to just work with people who are different, who built my level of love and empathy overall. And I think being in the branch and the field that I was in really helped shape that for me. And then just, I don't think I would have had the experiences say I had been, you know, I mean, I went to airborne school when I was 38 so I did the paratrooper thing. I served in Special Operations units, airborne units, this sort of thing. And I'm honored to have been with those. But I think if I hadn't started in these sort of, like working class type units, you know, out of Germany, you know, under equipment, under trained, I really learned to persevere through things without the best of everything, right, without the best training, without the best you know, given the best tools to go accomplish, you had to accomplish more with less, right? And I think that really is a lesson that you can't really get necessarily in other fields and other branches of the military. I really think what I got assigned to do really helped me persevere through things and become a better person overall. And I don't know if that answers the question. But I think that's kind of, you know, the uniqueness of it that makes it different. And most people, again, haven't had the opportunity to travel and see the things I have. And I just think that, you know, I'm very fortunate in that realm. So I just think overall, holistically, my life has been better because of the job that I got. And to be honest with you, I mean, it's great to be an infantry guy, but a supply chain manager, professional supply chain manager, really does prepare you a little better for the corporate world. So in the end, it kind of helps you transition to the civilian thing that you can do and gain monetary advantage. So I think it all worked out. I   Michael Hingson ** 43:16 think it does probably just with the little that I know about it and understand about I think it does probably better prepare you, because the jobs are fairly similar to what you'll find in certain aspects of the corporate world, which is kind of important. And I like your idea on your analogy of doing things with less. I think a lot of us, especially for those of us who are blind, for example, and people with disabilities in general, oftentimes we have to deal with less, just because society hasn't emphasized making sure that we have alternatives that give us the same chances and opportunities as others do. So we have to deal with less like I work for accessibe. And so accessibe is a company that, among other things, helps makes websites more inclusive for for people with disabilities. Well, the bottom line is that people creating websites don't do things that they could do to make websites more usable and accessible right off the bat. And so the result is that we have to get creative in figuring out how, if it at all possible, we can use a website, and some we can't, because there's just no way, no way to have information that works. But there are also any number of websites that are accessible enough or have enough information that is a friend of mine once said, we can muddle through and make it work, but we do have to deal with those challenges, and I think it makes us better, because we face the challenges and we work through them.   Rob Richard ** 44:54 That makes perfect sense. That does Yeah. And   Michael Hingson ** 44:56 so you having to do that same sort of thing. Sometimes it it makes you a better person. It makes you probably more of a resilient person, but at least it makes you a more inventive person, because you don't take some things for granted.   Rob Richard ** 45:11 Yes, and you know, I think people when they have an idea of a soldier or a leader, I think emotional intelligence and empathy are something that people don't associate with the military. But when you're when you're a young, 24 year old lieutenant, all the way up through, you know, being a more senior officer or senior leader, you have so much of your life that is assigned and tasked to helping others and taking care of people. Their problems are your problems, right? You learn so much about the human condition through serving in the military that I don't think it can even compare in any other walk of life, you know, say, maybe being a first responder or something along those lines. But when you're with somebody in this this situation is arduous and dangerous for 12 months, you know, going on all the way through a 20 year career, you can't put a price or a value on how much experience you get of developing an emotionally intelligent approach to things, right? Some people, I think anybody who doesn't struggle with decisions as a human right, it goes through the experience of war and serving in the military. I think very rarely do you not come out of that with a real profound understanding of the human condition, right? And I don't think anything else could give you that, as far as a profession. And I think understanding people becoming more loving, it might not seem like something from a military guy to say, but loving empathy, you know, understanding the these, these folks and different types of people. I think it's a beautiful thing to be honest, you know, and I feel very cherished that I've had to have that opportunity to become a better human. Again, things aren't necessarily associated with like a military man who's straightforward and, you know, talks in a certain way. And again, some people aren't like that. Some people kind of go through, you know, self absorbed, like any profession, just about themselves. But I think a good military leader. You know, the army a leader, and particularly officers, we always eat last, right? So when I went to Airborne School at 38 years old, as an old, older guy, I was the second oldest guy in my class, the highest ranking person in my class, and so I ate after 200 soldiers, I let 200 people go in front of me, right? And that's not to be hubris or to brag about something, but that's just what you're supposed to do as a leader, to get to show that, hey, I'm here for you guys. You guys eat first, right? You always leaders, always eat last. There's that old adage. And I just think the regular world is not necessarily, the regular civilian world isn't necessarily that way, you know? And I think that's something that really made me grow as a human and to be a better person. So Well, I've always   Michael Hingson ** 47:40 felt, having worked in the corporate world, that a good boss is a boss who doesn't boss people around, who recognizes that leadership means sometimes you give up leadership to somebody else when there's a specific thing that you figure out they can do better. But also I believe that my role is to add value to each and every person who works for me, and I have to figure out with them how to add that value, but for the people who get it, it makes everyone a lot more powerful. And I mean that in a positive sense, it makes them a lot more productive and a lot more efficient. I think that that good leaders figure out how to do that, and that's important to do. Well, I wholeheartedly agree. So I'm curious about something. I keep coming back to it in my brain. So I'm going to ask in places like Israel, where everyone, at some point needs to go into the military, and goes into the military. And I understand why that happened. We don't do that here. How do you contrast, or what do you think about the contrast in those two methods of dealing with the military? Because then I asked that because you talked about the crisis, I'm not convinced that everyone should necessarily have to go in the military, but it's an interesting discussion to have.   Rob Richard ** 49:01 I kind of, I, you know, I like the way Korea does it. Korea has a societal conscription sort of program, right? So you can either join the military, you can be a paramedic, you can be a policeman. I don't necessarily think we need to go to that level, but I think there should be some general level of civic service, right? You have to have some level of commitment. And I think that not everyone, especially in our current society, is cut out to be in the army, to be in, you know, to be in the armed services, but there should be some level of civic conscription where people have to serve for maybe a year or two in somewhere. I really do believe in that. It might sound a little bit draconian libertarian, but I think it's something to look at. I think it would make people better humans. Because nowadays, like, there wasn't World War Two, there was a general understanding that we have a universal effort, that we're going forward as a nation. There was such a connection to the military service, and everyone chipped in, you know, everyone chipped in and all the time, and I don't think that really is the case. Everyone is going in their own direction. Shouldn't we're not going in a general direction. It's good for the country as a society, and without some sort of civic inscription, I don't know if that's possible people to truly understand what others go through, right? And so I agree. I think that we should have some sort of level of of civil civic service, not necessarily level of the draft, but right, not quite like how Israel does it, but   Michael Hingson ** 50:20 yeah, so, and I think that makes a lot of sense, and I think that also it's a great learning experience, yes, which is a part of what I think you're also suggesting, and I think that that makes a lot of sense, that that brings you into being a more well rounded individual as you go forward. And I think that it's important to do that, and we need to figure out some way to do that.   Rob Richard ** 50:46 No, I agree. I think that, you know, when you're in Israel, is a homogenous society, very similar. People have similar religions, similar takes. Our society, when you look at as a whole, is completely different than any other society in the world, as how different we are in the many cultures that we have in a collective approach to civil service, I think could help, I really do think could help something to unify us. Again, not quite to the 911 unification type, right, but somewhere where we can come together as society and say, Hey, we got a common purpose here. Let's go forward with it. You know, so   Michael Hingson ** 51:18 Well we, we were so unified after September 11, and I can point to specific political things that damaged that and took away from the unification and so unfortunate that that kind of thing occurred. And we have, there are other aspects. I mean, we also now have this technology where everyone has so much instantaneous access to so much information, some of which is real and some of which is false, but still the the fact is, we have access to things that we didn't before. And you mentioned World War Two, I collect old radio shows as a hobby, and I listen to many of the shows in the World War Two era, and listen to how all the actors, all the people on those shows, were part of the story that helped pull the country together, and everyone was committed. Yeah, there were challenges. Yeah, there were problems, but people really did come together for the most part, and worked because we knew it's what we needed to do, and that's the operative part. We knew what we needed to do. We needed to be unified, and if we weren't, that was a problem.   Rob Richard ** 52:36 Oh no, I agree. I think, though, there's a fine balance between unification and then a controlled narrative that takes people away from a independent free thought, right? One of the things we've gotten away from is independent free thought. There are two sides to everything. There's my side, your side, and a good collective would be great, but that you still have to have that, that approach to independent thought, right? And I also think something's missed about the military, if I could expound a little bit, is that many people in the military here are some of the world class cynics. You know, they're not necessarily these, hook, line and sinker, follow suit, type of folks. They're just the they're very aware of their situation and sort of what's going on. And they're very like, okay, is this really the deal here? You know, people are very skeptical. They're very they have a lot of free thought, a lot of independent thought. They're very politically engaged in what they think, and very go after things and have articulate points that that they clearly think of, as opposed to just like, Oh, we're all we all think the same. You know, that's a misconception about the military. We don't there are people of all different facets and walks of life and and think completely different on every issue under the sun, and that's important. So I think having a collective civic response and duty to things is great, but we start to keep our independent thought as a nation in a society.   Michael Hingson ** 53:53 I think the other part of that, though, is that we need to learn again, to be understanding of people who have a different position than we do, and we need to stop saying, Well, you're wrong, and because they think we're wrong, whoever they and we and you are. And the reality is it's it's more than just having the independent thinking ability and opportunity, but it's being able to talk about it and people who truly can, again, learn so much because you you learn to understand why people think the way they do sometimes or a lot of times. And that's important too.   Rob Richard ** 54:36 Yes, absolutely, I agree 100% so   Michael Hingson ** 54:40 logisticians are generally not part of when you watch movies and so on, they're not typically what's featured. What? Why is that? Or how do we get the logistics world a little bit more understood? And I know that that goes beyond the military, but you know, nevertheless, yeah.   Rob Richard ** 54:59 Yeah, well, so again, I think you're looking at what in this. This is to take nothing away from anyone. So when you look at most of the majority of TV shows and books, and rightfully so, I'll say rightfully so, so much of it is about special operations, yeah, frontline soldiers, what you would call, you know, in World War Two, there was a linear Battlefield, so there were two entities facing each other, face to face in a situation, but over the past 20 years, and even all going all the way back to Vietnam, they weren't linear battlefields. They were battlefields where all these support type soldiers, whether it's communicators or truck drivers, mechanics, even cooks and these other people, are combat veterans. They are facing combat. They have dangerous and arduous tales of heroics that need to be told often. You know, especially in particular in convoy operations throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. I think it's overlooked because it's well, it's not sexy, it's not what people want to see. It's not the conditioned thing of what people are supposed to see. But I think it can often be talked about in a humorous way, like we, I think you and I, we talked a little bit about mash, right? And that's about doctors, Army doctors who are support personnel and enablers. And there's a comedic approach to it. It's not all just serious, stoic, you know, movie sort of nonsense. It is a, it is a comedic approach to a real topic, and it covered it gracefully. You know, Hogan's Heroes, these sort of comedic shows that we all had, that we were elected, who understood, and that we love McHale's Navy again, another one. I think that logisticians and support folks are often overlooked because it's just not what is considered to be cool. But there are stories about war, about these brave and courageous things that people have done, and I've witnessed with my own eyes that I think is an interesting and fun story, not fun, but an interesting story that needs to be told so that legacy doesn't drift off into the wind, like the gun trucks in Vietnam, right? There was these things that were developed. A great documentary on Smithsonian about

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Marc & Kim discuss everything from drive-thru Ash Wednesday services to the heavy snow hitting parts of Missouri. Marc reflects on President Trump's speech, highlighting his blunt take on wasteful government spending and why his unscripted moments resonate. Jeff Monosso breaks down the growing crisis in U.S. air traffic control, exposing staffing shortages and DEI hiring concerns. Taylor Riggs from Fox Business joins to discuss Trump's manufacturing boom, tariffs, and the "gold card" idea to retain top talent. Plus, a deep dive into the campaign sign theft targeting conservative candidates in St. Charles County and why the left is panicking ahead of April's election.

Marc & Kim break down Donald Trump's powerful State of the Union-style speech, from his fiery remarks on border security to the Democrats' cold reaction, including their refusal to applaud a 95-year-old hostage's mother. Jeff Monosso exposes the crisis in U.S. air traffic control, revealing staffing shortages and the role of DEI hiring policies. Taylor Riggs from Fox Business joins to discuss Trump's economic policies, the impact of tariffs, and the "gold card" plan to keep top talent in the U.S. January Littlejohn shares her shocking story about her daughter's secret social transition, sparking a deep dive into the fight for parental rights. Plus, the theft of conservative campaign signs in St. Charles County raises alarms ahead of the April election. #Trump2024 #ParentalRights #AirTrafficCrisis #Tariffs #StolenSigns #FrancisHowell #ElectionInterference #VoteRed #KilmeadeLive

Ever wondered how laws impact county finances? In this episode of Let's Get Fiscal, hosts Doria Fleisher and Jake Dyer talk with Danielle Mitchell (County Attorney's Office) about the cost of legislation in Charles County. Learn how fiscal analysis helps shape new laws, how state and local policies affect the budget, and why public input matters. Find out how you can stay engaged in the legislative process and ensure your voice is heard.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Join Let's Get Fiscal as we share updates on Charles County's budget process for Fiscal Year 2026.  Hosts Doria Fleisher, (Media Division)  and Jake Dyer (Fiscal and Administrative Services) discuss how funding shortfalls from the state of Maryland may have an impact on Charles County's budget, and why resident feedback is crucial in shaping spending priorities. Want to have more say in where your tax dollars go? Take this fiscal year's second budget survey and help shape the future of Charles County!To learn more about the state of Maryland's budget,  visit: https://dbm.maryland.gov/budget/pages/operbudhome.aspxTo learn more about Charles County's budget process and to give your input, visit : https://charles-county-md.civilspace.io/en/projects/charles-county-government-fiscal-year-2026-budgetThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

In the shadows of Charles County, Maryland, a chilling tale has lingered for centuries—one of loyalty, betrayal, and spectral guardianship. In this episode of Within the Mist, we unravel the haunting legend of the Blue Dog Ghost.According to local lore, a Revolutionary War soldier met a tragic end near Rose Hill after being ambushed for a fortune in gold coins he carried. His faithful blue tick hound was by his side, defending his master to its dying breath. Now, the ghost of this spectral blue dog is said to patrol the site of its master's demise, eternally guarding the treasure that was never claimed.But is the Blue Dog merely a story to frighten would-be treasure hunters, or does its ghostly howling still echo through the hills on moonlit nights? Join Gary and GoldieAnn as we explore Within the Mists of Maryland to tell of historical accounts, chilling encounters, and the eerie connection between loyalty and the afterlife.Music:Lands by Alex ProductionsBattle of the Creek by Alexander NakaradaIt's In the Fog by Darren CurtisDon't Go Inside by Wombat Noises Audio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the shadows of Charles County, Maryland, a chilling tale has lingered for centuries—one of loyalty, betrayal, and spectral guardianship. In this episode of Within the Mist, we unravel the haunting legend of the Blue Dog Ghost.According to local lore, a Revolutionary War soldier met a tragic end near Rose Hill after being ambushed for a fortune in gold coins he carried. His faithful blue tick hound was by his side, defending his master to its dying breath. Now, the ghost of this spectral blue dog is said to patrol the site of its master's demise, eternally guarding the treasure that was never claimed.But is the Blue Dog merely a story to frighten would-be treasure hunters, or does its ghostly howling still echo through the hills on moonlit nights? Join Gary and GoldieAnn as we explore Within the Mists of Maryland to tell of historical accounts, chilling encounters, and the eerie connection between loyalty and the afterlife.Music:Lands by Alex ProductionsBattle of the Creek by Alexander NakaradaIt's In the Fog by Darren CurtisDon't Go Inside by Wombat Noises Audio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

(0:00) SEGMENT 1 - Levi Hart from Reach Reproductive Health talks about the addition of 2 former Thrive locations (Orchard Bend in North STL County & Mid Rivers in St. Charles County) and their mobile clinic as they reach out to save lives at street level once again. (13:02) SEGMENT 2 - We continue the pro-life discussion with Levi Hart from Reach Reproductive Health. (21:14) SEGMENT 3 - Another referendum effort is being launched to deal with all the referendum efforts. Huh? Story here: https://www.missourinet.com/2025/02/04/bipartisan-coalition-launches-initiative-to-ban-lawmakers-from-attacking-the-will-of-the-people/ (32:29) SEGMENT 4 - It's the Darwin Award for 2024...the deadly quest for the ultimate selfie! It has claimed up to 480 lives and shows no sign of ending. Story here: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ultimate-selfie-claimed-480-lives-133625749.html?guccounter=1 NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Levi Hart talks about the launch of Reach Reproductive Health in St. Louis to fill the void and need for pregnancy resources in the metro area. Reach has added two of the former Thrive locations (Orchard Bend in North STL County & Mid Rivers in St. Charles County) along with their mobile clinic as they reach out to save lives at street level once again. THE FULL INTERVIEW IS ALSO AVAILABLE WITH THE FEB. 5 PODCASTS. More information on Reach Reproductive Health here: https://outreachforlife.org/ NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Levi Hart talks about the launch of Reach Reproductive Health in St. Louis to fill the void and need for pregnancy resources in the metro area. Reach has added two of the former Thrive locations (Orchard Bend in North STL County & Mid Rivers in St. Charles County) along with their mobile clinic as they reach out to save lives at street level once again. More information on Reach Reproductive Health here: https://outreachforlife.org/ NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's an update on the Charles County 2025 legislative proposals.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

In this episode, Doria Fleisher, Media Division; Wade Haubert, Emergency Management; and Shawn Jacks, Roads Division focus on emergency preparedness during winter weather. They discuss essential preparation steps for residents, including staying informed via reliable sources like the National Weather Service and Charles County's Citizen Notification System. Also, road-clearing operations, plowing procedures, and safety tips for residents during snowstorms, such as avoiding unnecessary travel and keeping emergency kits in vehicles is discussed.  Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Welcome to Ready, Set, Prepare: Emergency Preparedness in Charles County! In this episode, hosts Doria Fleisher, Media Division, and Wade Haubert, Department of Emergency Services, introduce the series and discuss the importance of  emergency preparedness in our community. Learn about Wade's role as Emergency Manager in coordinating emergency plans, tips for family preparedness, and how collaboration strengthens our response to disasters. Empower your household with knowledge and support Charles County's efforts to stay ready. Don't miss future episodes on topics like financial preparedness and severe weather!Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Tune in to hear Liz Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney, discuss all things related to Charles County Government's zoning and permit practices. In this episode, Pat Parsons, Code Inspection and Enforcement Supervisor, talks about the importance of building codes, inspections, and compliance in Charles County.PGM Webpage: CharlesCountyMD.gov/PGMCharles County Self Service Portal: www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/cssTelephone number: 301-645-0613Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

(6:05am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Upcoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee comments on the Israel/Hamas ceasefire agreement. St. Louis City Comptroller Darlene Green is asking Mayor Tishaura Jones to declare a state of emergency because of how many roads remain iced-over after almost 2 weeks following the snowstorm. FL Gov. DeSantis has selected the state's AG Ashley Moody to replace Sen. Marco Rubio as he takes over as Secretary of State. Capt. Andrew Cruz from the LA County Sheriff's Office comments on their arrests in the SoCal wildfires. Local police say a man who was in the country illegally sexually abused and assaulted multiple people. 37-year-old Ahmad Rayahi was working as a rideshare driver when the assaults happened in St. Charles County. MO Sen. Eric Schmitt comments on the government's spending problem. Confirmation hearings are underway today for SD Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Dept. of Homeland Security. Blues beat the Calgary Flames again 4-1 at Enterprise Center to sweep the rare 2-game series. Up next: facing the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City on Saturday night at 8pm CT. Farewell to legendary Milwaukee Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker. He was 90. He played with the Cardinals in 1964/65 including the World Series championship team in '64. He was the backup catcher. He was well-known for his comedy and storytelling. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. The Milwaukee native announced Brewers' games for 50 years. (6:20am) In many parts of St. Louis City, many streets are still snow and ice-packed, almost two weeks after the snowstorm that hit our area. If it's not a main road, it hasn't been plowed. Story here: https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/st-louis-emergency-snow-and-ice-on-roads-comptroller-darlene-green-mayor-tishaura-jones/63-f44b3a3c-6292-45a1-baff-818ca8703688 (6:35am) Bill Flaig from American Conservative Values ETF talks about whether your political and personal values should be reflected in your investments. More info here: https://acvetfs.com/ (https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/acvf) (6:50am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Upcoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee comments on the Israel/Hamas ceasefire agreement. St. Louis City Comptroller Darlene Green is asking Mayor Tishaura Jones to declare a state of emergency because of how many roads remain iced-over after almost 2 weeks following the snowstorm. FL Gov. DeSantis has selected the state's AG Ashley Moody to replace Sen. Marco Rubio as he takes over as Secretary of State. Capt. Andrew Cruz from the LA County Sheriff's Office comments on their arrests in the SoCal wildfires. Local police say a man who was in the country illegally sexually abused and assaulted multiple people. 37-year-old Ahmad Rayahi was working as a rideshare driver when the assaults happened in St. Charles County. MO Sen. Eric Schmitt comments on the government's spending problem. Confirmation hearings are underway today for SD Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Dept. of Homeland Security. Blues beat the Calgary Flames again 4-1 at Enterprise Center to sweep the rare 2-game series. Up next: facing the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City on Saturday night at 8pm CT. Farewell to legendary Milwaukee Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker. He was 90. He played with the Cardinals in 1964/65 including the World Series championship team in '64. He was the backup catcher. He was well-known for his comedy and storytelling. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. The Milwaukee native announced Brewers' games for 50 years. NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(8:05am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Upcoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee comments on the Israel/Hamas ceasefire agreement. St. Louis City Comptroller Darlene Green is asking Mayor Tishaura Jones to declare a state of emergency because of how many roads remain iced-over after almost 2 weeks following the snowstorm. FL Gov. DeSantis has selected the state's AG Ashley Moody to replace Sen. Marco Rubio as he takes over as Secretary of State. Capt. Andrew Cruz from the LA County Sheriff's Office comments on their arrests in the SoCal wildfires. Local police say a man who was in the country illegally sexually abused and assaulted multiple people. 37-year-old Ahmad Rayahi was working as a rideshare driver when the assaults happened in St. Charles County. MO Sen. Eric Schmitt comments on the government's spending problem. Confirmation hearings are underway today for SD Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Dept. of Homeland Security. Blues beat the Calgary Flames again 4-1 at Enterprise Center to sweep the rare 2-game series. Up next: facing the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City on Saturday night at 8pm CT. Farewell to legendary Milwaukee Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker. He was 90. He played with the Cardinals in 1964/65 including the World Series championship team in '64. He was the backup catcher. He was well-known for his comedy and storytelling. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. The Milwaukee native announced Brewers' games for 50 years. (8:20am) We discuss possible names for the NHL's Utah Hockey Club. The Blues face them on Saturday night in Salt Lake City at 8pm CT. (8:35am) Missouri Lt. Gov. David Wasinger talks about legislative issues with a focus on illegal immigration, pro-life issues, economic development and tax reform. (https://ltgov.mo.gov/david-wasinger-sworn-in-as-missouris-49th-lieutenant-governor/) (8:50am) We discuss Kristi Noem's confirmation hearing today for Dept. of Homeland Security. She should be quite an improvement over Mayorkas! NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a brief update on the January 14, 2025 County Commissioners meeting.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Let's Get Fiscal is a monthly series featured in “Inside Your County Government” that focuses on all things related to Charles County Government's budget and finances.  In this episode of Let's Get Fiscal, the focus is all about snow removal in Charles County: the costs, operations, and how residents can help. Co-Hosts Jake Dyer, Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Doria Fleisher, County Administrators Office, are joined by Shawn Jacks from the Department of Public Works, to break down how the county budgets for snow events and ensures roads are clear and safe. They discuss the process for preparing for storms, the use of contractors, and the importance of resident engagement.  To find out more, visit:  https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/roads/snow-operations or call the Roads Division at 301-932-3450.Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Founded in 2024 by Main Street Book's owners Ellen and Andy Hall, and their daughter Emily Schroen, the Main Street Books Literacy Foundation donates new books to elementary schools with students from low income families in St. Charles County. The Halls and fellow founding board member Shana Youngdahl discuss the nonprofit's origins, and its approach to providing access to book ownership and related experiences that engender positive reading habits to last a lifetime.

In Hour 2, Mike Elam talks with St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder and St. Charles County Executive Steve Elhmann about the upcoming January 7 council meeting and the election of new council leadership. Harder discusses the council's bipartisan efforts and significant budget challenges, while Elhmann highlights the need for regional cooperation, focusing on the success of St. Louis for St. Charles County. The conversation also touches on concerns about Lambert Airport's finances, the ongoing challenges of St. Louis Public Schools, and the difficulties local governments face in retaining employees due to compensation issues.

Tune in to find out from Litter Control Superintendent Meg Romero the many ways you can reduce, reuse, and recycle everything from wrapping paper and greeting cards to extra holiday food and those gifts that you just don't need. Note about terminology: throughout this episode, you will hear the terms “accepted/acceptable” and “not accepted/not acceptable” in regards to items that cannot be recycled.  We wanted to provide a clarification on exactly what this means.  Even though certain items may be marked as “recyclable” on the label, the recycling facility that processes items collected in Charles County through curbside recycling and at our recycling locations may not be equipped to process those items.  When items are not able to be processed, this has a negative impact on operations by slowing the sorting process and potentially contaminating other acceptable materials.  The Environmental Resources Division asks that residents use the website https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/environmental-resources or Charles County Recycles app to determine what items can and cannot be processed to Keep Charles County Beautiful!Thanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

In this episode of The Stream by AASHTO, we explore the novel Blueprint for Arterials that is a partnership between Missouri DOT and East-West Gateway Council of Governments and is a collaborative vision on how to design ideal roadways - especially arterials - that meet the needs of an ever growing urban and suburban landscape in Missouri. Covering topics such as improved access, safety, and mobility, the Blueprint will ensure that MoDOT builds roads to satisfy all users. In this episode, Bernie Wagenblast interviews the following: - Paul Hubbman, Senior Manager of Corridor and Long-Range Planning, East-West Gateway COG (the MPO for the St. Louis region)- Tom Blair, Missouri DOT, District Engineer for the St. Louis District- Amanda Brauer, Managing Director of Roads and Traffic, St. Charles County, MissouriEpisode NotesMore information on AMPO can be found here: AMPO | Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Tune in find out how you can get more engaged and have a voice in Charles County Government's Climate Action Plan with Climate Resilience and Sustainability's Beth Groth and Noelani Brockett.  For more information about this topic, visit: https://charles-county-md.civilspace.io/en/c/climate-actionThanks for listening. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe. We're also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

In this episode, Bridget Haney and Zack Palitzsch, co-curators of "Covering the Bases: The Evolution of Baseball in Missouri," discuss the exhibit's creation, their favorite sections, and oral history clips in the SHSMO collections from baseball legends. Episode Image: Jenkins Sons baseball team, date unknown [Irene Whitley Marcus Collection (K0452), SHSMO] About the Guests: Bridget Haney is a historian for the State Historical Society of Missouri. She earned a PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia. For her dissertation, she focused on Black girlhood in Kansas City in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Bridget completed her master's degree in history at the University of Central Missouri with an emphasis on 20th-century African American history. She also received a bachelor's degree in history and English literature at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Zack Palitzsch is an archivist at the State Historical Society of Missouri's St. Louis Research Center. He grew up in St. Charles County, and received a bachelor's degree majoring in English literature at Missouri State University as well as a master's degree in library and information science from Indiana University. 

On this busy Election Day, Marc Cox reports on long lines and issues across St. Louis, Lincoln, and St. Charles counties. Elections Director Kurt Barr addresses challenges such as two precincts receiving incorrect ballot cabinets, which were swiftly relocated to ensure voter access. He discusses the protocol for malfunctioning tabulators, including the use of an emergency slot for ballots. Despite a strong early voting turnout of 25%, Barr forecasts an overall turnout of approximately 75%, similar to 2020, estimating 150,000 to 160,000 voters in St. Charles County alone.

IN THIS EPISODE: We explore the unsolved murder of Ricky McCormick, and the mysterious pages of code found in the dead man's pocket after his body was discovered in St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1999. The FBI's top cryptanalysts have appealed to the public for help deciphering the enigmatic scribbles—and you may hold the key. Plus, I'll share stories that originally aired in 2016 – the first few months Weird Darkness even existed! Why? Just for nostalgia!SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Cipher In The Corn” written by Stu Wahlin for Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/hstndhsIf you have info that could help solve the Ricky McCormick case, visit https://forms.fbi.gov/code; you can also write to: FBI Laboratory Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records, Unit 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico VA 22135 - Attention: Ricky McCormick Case“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe“Dead Sleep” was written by Annie Wilder (From the book “House of Spirits and Whispers”) “Phone Call From The Dead” was written by Luisa, donated by MyHauntedLifeToo.com “The House By The Cemetery” was written by M.J. Hill “The Old Man” was submitted anonymously, donated by MyHauntedLifeToo.com Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: November, 2016CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-cipher-in-the-corn/