Podcasts about saratoga springs

Join Mike, Rikki, and Pam as we answer your Listener Questions on today's show!  We talk about the perks of staying Club-Level for a first-time guest, talk about if a guest should add DCA to their Disneyland stay (first-time visit) even though they are doing the Oogie Boogie Bash, give some tips for staying at Saratoga Springs Resort, give our best WDW restaurants without characters, and more! Come join the BOGP Clubhouse on our Discord channel at www.beourguestpodcast.com/clubhouse!  Thank you so much for your support of our podcast! Become a Patron of the show at www.Patreon.com/BeOurGuestPodcast.  Also, please follow the show on Twitter @BeOurGuestMike and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beourguestpodcast.   Thanks to our friends at The Magic For Less Travel for sponsoring today's podcast!

This week's Book Picks comes from Tara Ludwin from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, NY and Manchester Center, VT and we also welcome Kira Wizner from Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY.

On Tuesday July 15, plainclothes ICE agents apprehended multiple people in Saratoga Springs. At the city council meeting that evening, many people came to speak out about the arrests and to question the city officials about their role in the operations. Moses Nagel has a report.

(Jul 18, 2025) A Croghan man caught a record-breaking brook trout in the Adirondacks earlier this month; Saratoga Springs residents are pushing for more resistance against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement action following recent detainments in the city; Clarkson University's ROTC program will soon shut down, leaving institutions without a way to train their young cadets; Hochul is directing her administration to find ways to save money after deep federal funding cuts; NPR's CEO talks about the way forward for public media after Congress passed Trump's rescission package, stripping federal funding from public media stations including NCPR.

In this snack-sized episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg is joined once again by author and podcast host Jo Piazza for a conversation that hits on the real logistics of being a working parent with no time for “manifesting” or gentle parenting platitudes. Jo explains how her background as a tabloid journalist trained her to write anywhere—including from the toilet while hiding from her kids—and how that skill helped her crank out her latest novel, Everyone Is Lying to You, in just three months. They talk about what it actually takes to get creative work done while raising kids (hint: discipline, childcare, and no scrolling), and how Jo structures her mornings around laser-focused word counts. She shares what it was like traveling through Sicily with a 5-month-old while researching a real-life family murder, and why her new dream is a European river cruise where no one has to pack and repack. The two also compare cultural attitudes toward parenting, with Jo recalling how an Italian stranger followed her into a bathroom just to offer her a pillow and a glass of wine. And when it comes to American parenting, Jo offers the most honest take of all: she doesn't gentle parent—because her kids aren't gentle.

Today on the sauna bench, we head to Oslo, Norway, and visit with the folks at Oslo Badstuforening, (Oslo Sauna Association). This is my second trip to Norway in as many years. They say that you never step into the same river twice, and I'll contend that we never sit on the same sauna bench twice. For last year, I took many saunas in the Oslo Harbour, as well as published a Sauna Talk with the Oslo Sauna Association team – and you can listen to that episode which is #99. And this year, I get right back into the Oslo sauna spirit, yet with more focus on the “behind the scenes” history, construction, operation, and warm hearted people who make it all happen. Because frankly, I'm overwhelmed with the Badstu Boom, as it's called. I really dig the Norwegians! The Norwegians They have sauna (badstu) deep in their Viking history. They approach it width depth and culture like the Finns, but with the open minded collaborative artful attention and appreciation of the Brits. AND without the capitalistic franchise money to be made CEO Instagramification land grab of many Americans. Take this Sauna Talk as example. Main guests on this show are Ragna, Secretary General, Oslo Badstuforening. And Aslak, who also has an official sounding title at Oslo Badstuforening, along the lines of “chief operations manager” which could mean loading firewood in the morning and replacing a burned out stove in the afternoon. A few different countries And we get to sauna serendipity also, as Hannah Mary Goodland joins us from Haar Sauna which is located way up north in the British Isles. Haar Sauna is the first mobile sauna in Scotland. Hannah Mary is also in Oslo and so what better than a bunch of sauna business folks from different a few different countries Sauna Talking it out on the bench, while over looking the fjord in Oslo. For those familiar, and for those who keep up with SaunaTimes and sauna travel, Oslo Sauna Association has an every expanding fleet of floating saunas. Each one unique, named after a particular bird, and pretty much guaranteed to have local Oslo residents with a few foreigners sprinkled in for contrast social therapy. For our Sauna Talk, Ragna chooses for us the Seagull Sauna. And you'll soon get to hear why she chose this particular sauna, out of the 24 or so floating nearby. I think about the floating sauna revolution. I wrote about it here over two years ago. And since then, I have written and reviewed several other floating saunas, such as my friends Nick and Jess at Löyly floating in BC Canada, who now have three more floating projects in development. David, of course, from Von Sauna in Seattle, who I met at Sauna Days aboard the Viking Floating Sauna. And has what many report to be incredibly great heat on Lake Washington. But the thing is, floating saunas are all over the place in Europe, and you can check in with Sauna Sam who takes us dockside in Amsterdam, for example. Catching the floating sauna bug Many of these floating saunapreneurs caught the bug and inspiration from their times in Oslo, including the just christened Alex and Gabe's aptly titled Fjord Sauna, the first floating sauna in San Francisco Bay Area. And soon to be launched, we will visit with Kate Butchart, an American who lived in Oslo for seven years, who is introducing Kos Sauna, the first floating sauna to open on Saratoga Lake in Saratoga Springs, NY, scheduled to debut in September 2025. Kos “koos” translates from Norwegian as a concept meaning cozy joy—simplicity that fosters small delights and community. Sound familiar? Well, let's get to it. From the floating sauna bench in Oslo Norway, I am pleased to bring you this episode of Sauna Talk!

The Coaching Club American Oaks is a prominent Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies in the United States. Annually, it takes place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a purse of $500,000. Hear our experts Ryan Anderson from Americas Best Racing and Matt DiLorenzo from Giddyup Bets break down the field and share their best bets for the weekend. Run don't walk to the window. 

Clémence Michallon returns with “Our Last Resort” a twisty tale of childhood cult survival wrapped around a psychological “who done it” set against the backdrop of a luxury resort in the state of Utah. Clémence Michallon will be at a Northshire Bookstore event being held at the Saratoga Springs Library tomorrow night, July 17th, at 6 p.m.

On this episode of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg talks with bestselling author and Under the Influence podcast host Jo Piazza about parenting three young kids while juggling a prolific writing career. Jo shares the moment she realized she was pregnant (it involved an Elton John concert and tequila), why she can't stand chickens, and how her latest thriller Everyone Is Lying to You takes aim at the surreal and insidious world of mom influencers. She opens up about trying to become an influencer herself—complete with a hired photographer, reluctant kids, and affiliate links for water shoes from the school giveaway bin—only to discover that she hated every minute of it. Jo and Ophira get into what postpartum really looks like and how mom influencers perpetuate impossible standards while profiting off our insecurities. They talk about breaking up with Cocomelon, teaching their kids media literacy, and raising children in a house where canceling plans is considered an act of love. Jo also reflects on the burnout of the girlboss era, the fantasy of the tradwife lifestyle, and why the influencer economy is both a trap and a lifeline for modern moms. Her happiest child eats like a roaming dog, and honestly, that might be the parenting win of the year.

Ali H talks amends at Saratoga Springfest in Saratoga Springs, NY in April 2025

This unassuming Disney resort property located next door to Disney Springs has a surprising history you have to hear to believe. From its origins as an ambitious educational leisure concept to its transformation into an upscale vacation property, Saratoga Springs has a little-known history filled with fascinating twists and turns. Unique treehouse suites and modern remnants of the Disney Institute are just a few of the topics we delve into on this week's resort history deep dive. Listen along and join the Dis-cussion on social media @neverlandnavco

Shocking warrant affidavits are revealing what may have happened inside a Utah townhome back in March, when Jessica Orton Lyman and her 8-year-old son Eli Painter were found shot in the head. But as the information in the warrants spreads, Saratoga Springs police are raising the alarm about potential misinformation. Law&Crime's Jesse Weber got the latest from KUTV anchor and reporter Brian Schnee.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you received Depo-Provera birth control shots and were later diagnosed with a brain or spinal tumor called meningioma, you may be eligible for a lawsuit. Visit https://forthepeople.com/lcdepo to start a claim now!HOST:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberLAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokeVideo Editing - Michael Deininger, Christina O'Shea & Jay CruzScript Writing & Producing - Savannah Williamson & Juliana BattagliaGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On July 1st 2025 the government of Saratoga Springs passed an ordinance that made camping and the use of camping equipment on city property a fineable offense. However, community members and activists objected to this ordinance at the public hearing held on July 1st saying that the vague wording essentially criminalizes homelessness in the city. I spoke with Dio Kaufman, a tenant rights advocate and activist who was arrested at the public hearing during their comments, about the events of the public hearing, the effect this ordinance will have on the homeless population, and how this law could be used to target protesters in Saratoga.

In this summer edition of Parenting is a Joke, Ophira Eisenberg catches up with stand-up comic, filmmaker, and war-zone performer Jennifer Rawlings. Jennifer reflects on her years raising five kids while performing for U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sarajevo—often leaving behind toddlers and pull-ups for flak vests and flatbed stages. She shares how her youngest son, now a film professional, co-directed her new special I Only Smoke in War Zones, which captures her real-life experiences performing comedy amid explosions, basketball-court gigs with no mics, and chow-hall sets surrounded by barbed wire. Ophira and Jennifer get real about the guilt moms carry, the emotional labor of parenting adult children, and the horror of seeing your grown kid's partner move into your basement. Jennifer recalls being handed a Kevlar vest mid-set as mortars went off and jokes that her kids were so feral when she returned from 30 days in Iraq, she wasn't even sure she'd been missed. They also talk about how her work in war zones exposed her to young mothers and children missing limbs, fueling a deeper drive to tell women's stories both on stage and in film. And yes—her son did call her in Afghanistan just to complain his brother ate all the Cheez-Its.

In March, Saratoga Spring officers responded to the killing of a woman and her 8-year-old son inside her home. They were found by the woman's 17-year-old daughter who called the police. Now there are new details emerging from unsealed search warrants that offered new details into the murders. Greg walks through the documents and discusses the new information.

Warrants unveil new details in killings of Saratoga Springs mother and 8-year-old son Utah lawmakers rally for plastic surgeon accused of falsifying COVID-19 vaccine cards Changes to SNAP benefits harbor concern for food banks + RFK Jr. vs M&M's Weight loss drugs are reshaping Americans AI used to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The New York City Ballet will be at SPAC in Saratoga Springs from July 9th -12th. We get a preview of this week's performances from New York City Ballet Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford.

Sometime ago I had the pleasure to have as a guest a gentleman named Rob Wentz. Rob appeared in episode 212 on March 8, 2024. Recently Rob introduced me to a man he described as amazing and definitely unstoppable. That introduction led to me having the opportunity to have today, Ken Kunken, the man Rob introduced me to. Ken's story is atypical to most. He had a pretty normal childhood until he went to Cornell. Rob was pretty short, but he loved all things sports and active. In his junior year he participated in a lightweight football game against Columbia University. On a kickoff he tackled an opponent but broke his neck in the process. Immediately he became a quadriplegic from the shoulders down. As he tells us, his days of physical activity and sports came to an abrupt end.   I asked Ken how he dealt with his injury. As he tells me, his family rallied around him and told him they were all there to help with whatever he needed to continue in school and to move on with his life. They were true to their word and Ken did continue to attend school after nine months of hospitalization. He secured a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. He went on to get a Master's degree from Cornell in Industrial Engineering and then a second Master's degree this time from Columbia University in Psychology as he decided he really wanted to “help people especially those with serious disabilities” rather than continuing in the Civil Engineering arena. Ken then secured a job that led to him becoming a successful rehabilitation counselor in New York.   Ken wasn't done growing nor exploring. After two years working in the rehabilitation field through circumstances and advice from others, he went to Hofstra school of law where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1982. He then went to work in the office of a district attorney where, over 40 years he progressed and grew in stature and rank.   Ken tells us how his life changed over time and through the many jobs and opportunities he decided to take. Twenty-two years ago, he married Anna. They ended up having triplet boys who now all are in school at the age of Twenty.   Ken is as unstoppable as it gets. He refused to back down from challenges. He is now retired and loving the opportunity to be with his family and help others by telling his story.     About the Guest:   In 1970, while a junior in Cornell University's College of Engineering, Ken Kunken broke his neck making a tackle on a kick-off in a lightweight football game against Columbia University. Ken sustained a spinal cord injury at the C 4-5 level, rendering him a quadriplegic, almost totally paralyzed from the shoulders down. Ken spent more than 9 months in various hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. While still a patient, Ken testified before a United States Senate Sub-Committee on Health Care, chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy. In 1971, almost 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ken returned to the Cornell campus, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering. Ken estimates that he had to be pulled up or bounced down close to 100 steps just to attend his first day of classes.   Ken is the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell University. Upon graduation, Ken decided to change his career goal. He wanted to work with and help people, particularly those with disabilities. Ken went on to earn a Master of Arts degree at Cornell in education and a Master of Education degree at Columbia University in psychology. Ken is the first quadriplegic to earn a graduate degree from Cornell University. In 1977, Ken was hired by Abilities Inc. in Albertson, NY to be its College Work Orientation Program Coordinator. Ken coordinated a program which provided educationally related work experiences for severely disabled college students. He also maintained a vocational counseling caseload of more than 20 severely disabled individuals.   While working at the Center, Ken became a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor and made numerous public presentations on non-discrimination, affirmative action and employment of the disabled. In 1977, Ken was named the Long Island Rehabilitation Associations “Rehabilitant of the Year” and in 1979 Ken was the subject of one of the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale's nationally syndicated radio broadcasts “The American Character”. Wanting to accomplish still more, Ken enrolled in Hofstra University's School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1982. Ken then went to work as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, Long Island.   Ken was promoted a number of times during his more than 40 years with the District Attorney's Office, eventually becoming one of the Deputy Bureau Chiefs of the County Court Trial Bureau, where he helped supervise more than 20 other assistant district attorneys. In addition, over his years working in the Office, Ken supervised more than 50 student interns.   In 1996 Ken received the Honorable Thomas E. Ryan, Jr. Award presented by the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County for outstanding and dedicated service as an Assistant District Attorney. In 1999, Ken was awarded the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award presented by the Hofstra Alumni Association, Inc. Beginning in 2005, for nine consecutive years, “The Ken Kunken Most Valuable Player Award” was presented annually by The Adirondack Trust Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, NY, in recognition of Ken's personal accomplishments, contributions to society and extraordinary courage.   In 2009, Ken became a member of the Board of Directors of Abilities Inc., and in 2017 he became a member of the Board of Directors for the parent company of Abilities Inc., the Viscardi Center.   In 2020, Ken was inducted into “The Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame,” as a member of the class of 2019.   In December 2023, “The Kenneth J. Kunken Award” was presented by the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, for the first time, to an outstanding Nassau County Assistant District Attorney who personifies Ken's unique spirit and love of trial work, as well as his commitment and dedication, loyalty to his colleagues and his devotion to doing justice. The Award will be presented annually.   In March 2024, Ken was named one of the Long Island Business News Influencers in Law. Ken retired from full-time employment in 2016, but continued to work with the District Attorney's Office for the next eight years in a part time capacity, providing continuing legal education lectures and litigation guidance.   For years, Ken has tried to inspire people to do more with their lives. In October 2023, Ken's memoir “I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story” was published. In 2003 Ken married Anna and in 2005 they became the proud parents of triplet boys: Joey, Jimmy and Timmy. On June 23, 2023 the triplets graduated from Oceanside High School, fifty-five years after Ken had graduated from the same school. Ways to connect with Ken:   https://www.facebook.com/ken.kunken https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566473121422 https://www.instagram.com/ken.kunken/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-j-kunken-b4b0a9a8/ https://www.youtube.com/@Ken.Kunken https://bsky.app/profile/kenkunken.bsky.social   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.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hello once again, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. I am your host, Michael hingson, and today we have a fascinating guest, I believe. Anyway, his name is Ken. Kuan, kunken. Am I pronouncing that right? Yes, you are. Oh, good. And Ken, in 1970 underwent a problem when he was playing football and doing a tackle on a kickoff. Namely, he broke his neck and became a quadriplegic, basically from the shoulders down. I'm sort of familiar with the concept, because my wife, from birth was in a wheelchair. She was a paraplegic, paralyzed from the t3 vertebrae down, which was like right below the breast, so she was able to transfer and so on. So not quite the same, but a lot of the same issues, of course, and we're going to talk about that basically, because when you're in a wheelchair, like a lot of other kinds of disabilities, society doesn't tend to do all they should to accommodate. And I can, can make that case very well. Most people are light dependent, and we have provided reasonable accommodations for them by providing light bulbs and light on demand wherever they go, wherever they are, whatever they do, while at the same time for people who are blind, we don't get the same degree of access without pushing a lot harder. And people in wheelchairs, of course, have all sorts of physical issues as well, such as stairs and no ramps and other things like that. And I know that Ken's going to talk some about that from university days and my wife Karen face some of the same things. But anyway, we'll get to it all. Ken, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And I think your wife, Anna is visiting with us also, right, right? Thank you. Michael, so Anna, welcome as well. Thank you so Ken. Why don't we start if we could by you telling us sort of about the early Ken, growing up and all that from being a child, and tell us a little bit about you.   Ken Kunken ** 03:40 Okay, well, if you're going back to my childhood area, Yeah, it sure is. It's quite a while ago, but I was born in 1950 and that happened to be in the midst of the polio epidemic, and unfortunately, my mother contracted polio and died when I was less than one month old. So I have an older brother, Steve, who's two years older than me, and my father brother and I ended up moving in with my grandparents for a few years before my father remarried when I was four years old. A long shot. But what's your birth date? Right? My birth date is July 15, 1950 on   Michael Hingson ** 04:23 February 24 1950 So, okay, was was just kind of hoping there was the possibility, right? Anyway, go ahead.   Ken Kunken ** 04:30 So, um, during my father's second marriage, that's when my sister Merrill was born. She's 10 years younger than I am, but unfortunately, that was not a happy marriage, and it ended in a divorce. And when I was 18, my father married for the third time. So you know, growing up in a household with a number of individuals seemingly coming and going was a little different than most people's   Michael Hingson ** 04:57 households when they were growing up. How. Was that for you?   Ken Kunken ** 05:01 Well, you know, it was nice in the sense that I got involved with a lot of different family members in my extended family. I'm very close, growing up with my grandparents, with aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as my sister and brother. And you know, I had the opportunity to interact with a lot of different people. It was difficult during my father's second marriage, because it was not a happy marriage, and, you know, it worked out in everybody's best interest when that ended in divorce. But I look back at my childhood, and I just basically call it as a very happy childhood?   Michael Hingson ** 05:42 Oh, good. Well, so no real major traumas, certainly differences, but no real harrowing kinds of things that just threw you into a complete topsy turvy at least as far as you're concerned, right? Yeah. Well, then you decided to go to Cornell, as I recall, and I know Cornell has a, I think it's a master's program, but an advanced program in hospitality. So did they feed you well at Cornell?   Ken Kunken ** 06:13 Yes, they had a very good system and fed us very well. And they have a program in hotel management, right, which I was not involved in, but there was a lot of good food at Cornell when we were there.   Michael Hingson ** 06:28 Well, that's that's always important, you know, you got to have good food at UC Irvine. We were okay. Food wise. I was on the food committee for the dorms, actually, and the food was all right, but when they had steak night that they always made a big deal about the steak was usually pretty tough, and so we we had sometimes that the food wasn't great, but they had a great soft serve ice cream machine, so lot of people took advantage of that. But anyway, so when you were at Cornell, you played football,   Ken Kunken ** 07:01 right? I was on their lightweight football team. It's for people that were smaller than the heavyweight team. When I was playing, you had to weigh 154 pounds or less two days before the game. So most of the people had played on their high school teams was too small to play on the varsity college team, but it was a varsity sport. Most of the people were very good athletes and very fast, and it was very competitive sport.   Michael Hingson ** 07:35 So tell us about that and what happened.   Ken Kunken ** 07:38 Well, during my junior year, I was injured making a tackle on a kickoff in a game against Columbia University, and when I tackled the ball carrier, I broke my neck and damaged my spinal cord, and as a result, I'm a quadriplegic. I'm almost totally paralyzed from the shoulders down,   Michael Hingson ** 08:01 and so, what kind of effect? Well, that clearly that that was pretty bad news and so on. So what kind of effect did that have on you, and how did that shape what you did going forward?   Ken Kunken ** 08:15 Oh, it totally changed my perspective on everything about myself. I mean, growing up, my life seemed to center around sports. In high school, I played on the varsity football team. I wrestled on the varsity wrestling team. I played on four different intramural softball teams. I worked on the summer as a lifeguard. Everything in my life revolved around athletics and being physically active. Now, suddenly, I couldn't be physically active at all. In fact, I am totally sedentary, sitting in a wheelchair, and I need assistance with all my activities of daily living now.   Michael Hingson ** 08:54 So what did you do when the injury happened and so on? So how did you deal with all of that?   Ken Kunken ** 09:01 Well, it was a really difficult adjustment to make. I mean, suddenly I became dependent on everybody around me, because there was not one thing I could do for myself. So it was very difficult knowing that now not only was I dependent on others, but I had to be more outgoing to be able to have asked for help when I needed it, which was difficult for me, because I had always considered myself a bit of shy person, a bit of an introvert, and now I needed to be more vocal with respect to all of my needs. So I swear, go ahead. Well, I spent the next nine months and 20 days in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers, and it was really, really difficult getting used to my new physical condition.   Michael Hingson ** 09:52 But at the same time, you could have taken the position that you just hated yourself and you just wanted to I. Make life end and so on. And it doesn't sound like that was the approach that you took.   Ken Kunken ** 10:04 Mike, I was so fortunate that I had a very supportive family who were with me and helped me every step of the way. In fact, they basically assured me that they would act as my arms and legs to make sure I could still do everything I wanted to do in my life   Michael Hingson ** 10:22 doesn't get much better than that, having a real supportive village, if you will.   Ken Kunken ** 10:27 Right? I was so fortunate, and you know, I think that helped me be able to do many things in my life that most people thought would not be possible for someone in my condition, and I was able to do it because of the help I received from my family.   Michael Hingson ** 10:44 So what did you major in at Cornell? Let's say, before the injury.   Ken Kunken ** 10:50 I before my injury, I was majoring in industrial engineering, okay? And you know, after my injury, I went back to school and continued my studies in industrial engineering and actually obtained my degree, a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering.   Michael Hingson ** 11:08 Now, what primarily is industrial engineering?   Ken Kunken ** 11:12 Well, you know, it's kind of a technical aspect of dealing with men, material, machines, and, you know, most likely working at a business where there are a lot of different people working there, where you would try and find out what the best way of people to operate, whether it be in a factory or just in a large business setting, when you're dealing with technical aspects of the job. But I never actually worked as an engineer, because, following my degree, based on the recommendation of one of my psychology professors, I stayed at Cornell and pursued a career in counseling. And I find that a lot more suitable to not only my physical condition, but what I really wanted to do. Because, following my injury, I knew that what I really wanted to do was to devote my life and career to helping others.   Michael Hingson ** 12:08 So you very well could have made the same switch and made the same choices, even if you hadn't undergone the accident,   Ken Kunken ** 12:17 absolutely and hopefully, I would have, because I found it a lot more enjoyable, and I believe it taught me a lot about dealing with people, and it made me feel very good about myself to know that I was still in a position, despite my disability, where I could help others.   Michael Hingson ** 12:40 So you stayed at Cornell and got that master's degree in counseling, which, which really gave you that opportunity. What did you do after that?   Ken Kunken ** 12:50 Well, to increase my counseling credentials, I then went to Columbia University, where I obtained my second degree. This one was also in counseling. That degree was in psychological counseling and rehabilitation, and I decided to look for a job in the rehabilitation counseling field. And now that I had two degrees from Cornell and one from Columbia, three prestigious Ivy League degrees, two master's degrees, I didn't think I'd have much difficulty securing employment, but to my dismay, no one would hire me. This was in the mid 70s, and everyone seemed to feel I was just too disabled to work.   Michael Hingson ** 13:32 Now, why did you go to Columbia to get your second degree, your masters in rehabilitation,   Ken Kunken ** 13:39 you know? And incidentally, it that was the school I actually was injured against during the football   Michael Hingson ** 13:44 I know that's why I asked the enemy, right?   Ken Kunken ** 13:47 Yeah, but I actually applied there for my doctorate, doctorate in counseling psychology. And initially I didn't get into that program, but they invited me to participate in their master's program, and said that they would reconsider my application when I finished that degree. Now, I thought that was a special letter that I got from them because of my injury, and I thought they just wanted to see me that I could do graduate work. As it turned out, virtually everybody that applied for that program got a similar letter, and when I first met with my advisor there at Columbia, he said, you know, if you didn't get in the first time, you're probably not going to get in even when you graduate. So since I had nothing else to do at that point, I enrolled in the master's program, and I completed my second master's degree. And you know, at the time, even my advisor was pessimistic about my work prospects, wow, just because of my ability, because of my disability, and despite. Fact that here they were training people to be rehabilitation counselors and encouraging people to go into that field, they felt that due to my disability, I would still have a very difficult time gaining employment,   Michael Hingson ** 15:14 which is as ironic as it gets,   Ken Kunken ** 15:17 absolutely, absolutely and I was just very fortunate that there was a facility on Long Island called abilities Incorporated, which was part of what was then called the Human Resources Center. Is now called the Viscardi Center, after its founder, Dr Henry Viscardi, Jr, and they hired me to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for other individuals who had severe disabilities.   Michael Hingson ** 15:46 I'm a little bit familiar with the buscardi Center, and have found them to be very open minded in the way they operate.   Ken Kunken ** 15:54 They were terrific, absolutely terrific. And I was so fortunate to get involved with them, to be hired, to work for them, and, you know, to be associated with all the fine work they were doing it on behalf of helping other individuals with disabilities.   Michael Hingson ** 16:13 So was it primarily paraplegics and quadriplegics and so on, or did they do blind people and other disabilities as well.   Ken Kunken ** 16:21 They did a lot of different disabilities, but they did not work with people that were visually impaired. For that in New York state, there was a special agency called the commission for the visually handicapped that helped people with visual impairments, but we dealt with all different types of disabilities, whether people were hearing impaired or had not just spinal cord injuries, but other disabilities, either from birth or disabilities that they developed through diseases. And as it turned out, I was probably one of the most severely disabled of the people that I dealt with.   Michael Hingson ** 17:02 Well, but you were also, by any definition, a good role model.   Ken Kunken ** 17:06 Well, I was fortunate that I was able to help a lot of different people, and I felt that when they looked at me and saw that I was able to work despite my disability, I know it encouraged them to do their best to go out and get a job themselves.   Michael Hingson ** 17:24 And of course, it really ultimately comes down to attitude. And for you, having a positive attitude had to really help a great deal.   Ken Kunken ** 17:34 I think it made all the difference in the world. And I was very fortunate that it was my family that instilled that positive attitude in me, and they gave me so much help that after a while, I thought I'd be letting them down if I didn't do everything I could do to make something out of my life.   Michael Hingson ** 17:53 So what did you do? Well, not only   Ken Kunken ** 17:57 did I go back to school and complete my education, but I went to work and, you know, got up early every day, and with the aid of a personal care attendant, I was able to go to work and function as a vocational counselor and help others in trying to achieve their goals.   Michael Hingson ** 18:17 Now, were you going to school while you were doing some of this?   Ken Kunken ** 18:20 No, I finished my second okay, and now was able to work full time.   Michael Hingson ** 18:27 Okay, so you did that, and how long did you work there?   Ken Kunken ** 18:32 Well, I worked there for a little over two years, and you know, my duties and responsibilities kept expanding while I was there, and one of my duties was to speak at conferences before groups and organizations concerning affirmative action and non discrimination for people with disabilities. And often after my talks, I would be asked questions, and while I would do my best to respond appropriately, I was always careful to caution the question is that they should really consult with a lawyer about their concerns. And I guess it didn't take long before I started to think, you know, there's no reason why I couldn't become that lawyer. So after a little over two years, I decided to leave the job, and I went to Hofstra University School of Law.   Michael Hingson ** 19:20 So now what? What year was this?   Ken Kunken ** 19:24 I left the job. I started the job in 77 I left in 79 when I started law school.   Michael Hingson ** 19:32 Okay, so you went to Hofstra,   Ken Kunken ** 19:35 right? And while I was at Hofstra through my brother's suggestion. My brother was working as a public defender at the time, he suggested I do an internship at the district attorney's office. So after my second year of law school, I did an internship there during the summer, and I found a new way. I could help people and serve the community as a whole, and I really enjoyed that work. So when I was in my third year of law school, I applied for a full time position with the district attorney's office, and I was very fortunate that the district attorney was a very progressive, self confident individual who based his hiring decision on my abilities rather than my disability.   Michael Hingson ** 20:27 Wow, that had to be, especially back then, a fairly, as you said, progressive, but an amazing thing to do, because even today, there are so many times that we get challenges and too many things thrown in our way, but you had someone who really thought enough of you and obviously decided that your abilities were such on the job that you could do   Ken Kunken ** 20:51 it. I was very fortunate to have come in contact with the district attorney at the time. His name was Dennis Dillon, and he seemed to know that when I'd go to court, a jury was not going to base its verdict on my inability to walk, but rather on my skill and competence as an attorney. And thanks to the training and guidance I received in the office, I became a very confident and competent, skilled trial attorney   Michael Hingson ** 21:22 well, and it had to be the way you projected yourself that would convince a jury to decide cases in the right way. So again, kudos to you.   Ken Kunken ** 21:33 Thank you. Well, I certainly did my best to do that, and at the time that I applied for this job, I didn't know of any quadriplegics that were trial attorneys. May have been some, but I didn't know of any. Certainly there were none on Long Island, and certainly no assistant district attorneys at the time that I knew of who were quadriplegics.   Michael Hingson ** 21:59 Now, of course, the question that comes to mind is, so was the office accessible?   Ken Kunken ** 22:05 No question. And you know, let me just go further by telling you that my first day in court, I couldn't even fit through the swinging doorways in the courtroom. They were too narrow to let me get through to get to the prosecutor's table, because my electric wheelchair was too wide.   Michael Hingson ** 22:24 What did you do? Or what happened?   Ken Kunken ** 22:27 Well, eventually they had to take off the swinging doorways and the screws and bolts that kept them in place, but usually I had to go very roundabout on a long way to get to the back of each courtroom and go through the back, which was really difficult. And one of my assignments happened to be to our traffic court Bureau, which was in a neighboring building on the second floor, and unfortunately, there the elevator was broken. So after three days, I was actually received my first promotion, because they didn't know when it would be fixed. But eventually I was able to get into court, and I did a lot of litigation while I was   Michael Hingson ** 23:10 there. How did judges react to all of this?   Ken Kunken ** 23:15 You know, it was very new to them as well. And you know, there are times when you needed to approach the bench and talk very quietly, you know, to so the jury wouldn't hear you, and it was very difficult, because benches are elevated, yeah. And I had difficulty approaching the bench or even turning my head side enough to look up at the judges and then for them to hear me. And sometimes they would have to get off the bench, and, you know, meet me on the side of the courtroom to have conferences and but for the most part, I thought they were very supportive. I thought they appreciated the hard work that I was doing, and I think they tried to be accommodating when they could.   Michael Hingson ** 23:58 Did you ever encounter any that just were totally intolerant of all of it,   Ken Kunken ** 24:02 sure, you know, many of them were very impatient. Some of them had difficulty hearing and when I was trying to look up and talk to them without the jury hearing, some of them had trouble hearing me because, you know, they were much higher up than I was in my wheelchair. So it was very challenging.   Michael Hingson ** 24:23 I was involved in a lawsuit against an airline because they wouldn't allow me and my guide dog to sit where we wanted to sit on the airplane, which was in direct violation of even the rules of the airline. And when it went to court, the judge who was assigned it was a federal judge, and he was like 80, and he just couldn't hear anything at all. It was, it was really too bad. And of course, my and my wife was was with me, and of course, in her chair, so she wasn't sitting in a regular row. And he even grilled her, what are you doing? Why aren't you sitting in a row? And she said, I'm in a wheelchair. Oh, yeah, it's amazing that hopefully we are we have progressed a little bit from a lot of that the last thing. So, yeah, the lawsuit was 1985 so it was a long time ago, and hopefully we have progressed some. But still, there are way too many people who don't get it, and who don't understand nearly as much as they should, and don't internalize that maybe we're not all the same, and we can't necessarily do everything exactly the same every single time,   Ken Kunken ** 25:35 right? And you know, I had the added misfortune of having my injury 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, and that made an enormous difference for not just people in wheelchairs, but people with all different types of disabilities.   Michael Hingson ** 25:53 So how did you, in general, learn to deal with people's perceptions of you, rather than the reality? Well, that is a lot. Yeah, there are lots of perceptions, right?   Ken Kunken ** 26:07 You know, many people think that because you have a physical disability, that you must also have an intellectual disability. And people would often come into my room and wherever I was, whether it was when I was first in the hospital or later at the office and speak to the person next to me and ask them questions about me, as if I couldn't speak for myself, yeah, even as if I wasn't even there. And it took a while for me to be more outgoing and convince people that, yes, they can deal with me. You know, I can still talk and think. And I think whenever a jury came into the courtroom for the first time, I think they were very surprised to see the prosecutor as somebody with a disability who was sitting in an electric wheelchair.   Michael Hingson ** 26:56 I know once we went to a restaurant, and of course, having a family with two people in two different disabilities, went to this restaurant, and we were waiting to be seated, and finally, Karen said the hostess is just staring at us. She doesn't know who to talk to, because I'm not making eye contact, necessarily. And Karen, sitting in her chair is way lower. And so Karen just said to me, Well, this lady doesn't know who to talk to. So I said, Well, maybe we can get her to just ask us what what we want and what help we need. Are carrying on the conversation. Got this, this nice lady to recognize. Oh, you know, I can talk with them. And so she said, Well, how can I help you? And we both kind of said we'd like to sit and have breakfast. Oh, okay, and it went well from there. But it is, it is a challenge, and people have crazy perceptions, I know, going down the stairs at the World Trade Center on September 11, when I encountered the firefighters coming up for a while, they blocked me from going because they decided that I needed help, and they would, they would ask me questions, like, we're going to help you. Is that okay? And I said, No, it's not. But they always talked loud, because if you're blind, you obviously can't hear either, right? And it was difficult to get them to deal with all of that. And finally, I had to just say, Look, I got my friend David over here, who can see we're working together. We're fine, and they let us go because I had a sighted person with me, not that I had the ability to go downstairs, even though I had to help keep David focused sometimes, and also, there's no magic for a blind person to go downstairs. You know, you go down the stairs, you hold the rail, you turn left there, in this case, and you go down the next batch of stairs. But people don't recognize that. Maybe there are techniques that we use to deal with the same things that they deal with, only in a different way.   Ken Kunken ** 29:03 Absolutely, and that applies to work as well. I mean, people assume that if you can't do a job the way most people seem to do it, who don't have a disability, they automatically assume you're not going to be able to function at all at the job. Yeah, and a lot of times, it takes a lot of convincing to show people that there are other ways of approaching a problem and handling a work situation.   Michael Hingson ** 29:27 One of the common things that we as blind people face, and it happens in schools and so on, is, Oh, you don't need to learn braille that's outmoded. You can listen to books that are computer generated or recorded and so on. And the reality is, no we need to learn braille for the same reason the sighted people learn to read print, and that is, it's all about learning to spell. It's learning about sentence structure and so on, and it's learning about having better ways to be able to truly enter. Interact with the text as I tell people, I don't care what anyone says, you will not learn physics as well from recordings as you can by truly having access to everything in a braille book, because you can refer back easier, and they've done some improvements in recording, but it's still not the same as what you get when you do Braille, which is the same thing for you reading print, or any other sighted person reading print. You read that print because there are various reasons why you need to do that, as opposed to learning how to just listen to books recorded anyway,   Ken Kunken ** 30:36 right? Well, I had the added misfortune of being injured well before they had laptop   Michael Hingson ** 30:41 computers. Yeah, me too. Well, I yeah, not. I wasn't injured, but yeah,   Ken Kunken ** 30:46 right. So trying to do my schoolwork or later work at a job, you know, it posed even more challenges. Now, of course, having ebooks and being able to use a computer, it's made a big difference, not just for me, but for many individuals.   Michael Hingson ** 31:04 Sure, do you use like programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking to interact with the computer?   Ken Kunken ** 31:10 You know, I tried that, and I had a lot of difficulty with it. I know you need to train it. And when I first tried it, which was in its infancy, it just wasn't responding well to my voice, so I don't use that. I've been fortunate with that with advancements in wheelchairs, my wheelchair now has a Bluetooth device connected to my joystick, and I could actually move my left arm a little bit where I could work the joystick and move the mouse on my computer, moving my joystick. You   Michael Hingson ** 31:45 really might want to look into dragon again. It is just so incredibly different than it was years ago. I remember when Dragon Dictate first came out, and all of the challenges of it, but they have done so much work in developing the language models that it's it's a whole lot better than it used to be, and, yeah, you have to train it. But training isn't all that hard nowadays, even by comparison to what it was, and it gives you a lot of flexibility. And I am absolutely certain it would recognize your voice without any difficulty?   Ken Kunken ** 32:22 Well, it's good to hear that they've made those advancements,   Michael Hingson ** 32:26 and it's not nearly as expensive as it used to be, either. Well, that's good   Ken Kunken ** 32:30 to hear. I know when I first tried it, it was incredibly frustrating, yeah, because it wasn't responding well to my voice, and   Michael Hingson ** 32:38 it was like $1,500 as I recall, it was pretty expensive right now, it's maybe two or $300 and there's also a legal version of it and other things like that. Yeah, you really ought to try it. You might find it makes a big difference. It's worth exploring Anyway, okay, but be that as it may, so you you dealt with people's perceptions, and how did you, as you continue to encounter how people behave towards you, how did you keep from allowing that to embitter you or driving you crazy?   Ken Kunken ** 33:15 Well, you know, certainly at work, I needed to go in a jacket and tie, and I found that when you're wearing a jacket and tie, many people treated you differently than when you're just wearing street clothes. So I think that certainly helped that work. But I later became a supervisor in the district attorney's office, and people saw that, you know, not only could they talk with me on an intellectual level, but they saw I was supervising other assistant district attorneys, and I think that convinced a lot of people pretty quickly that I knew what I was doing and that they should treat me no different than they would any other lawyer, Assistant District Attorney.   Michael Hingson ** 33:59 Yeah, well, and it is projecting that confidence in a in a positive way that does make such a big difference,   Ken Kunken ** 34:08 absolutely. And I think when people saw me at work, one of the things that I appreciated was I never even needed to mention again that somebody with a disability could work, and not just at an entry level position, that a very responsible position. I was convinced them, just by showing them, without ever having to mention that somebody with a disability could do this kind of work.   Michael Hingson ** 34:35 I never bring it up unless it comes up, and a lot of times, especially when talking on the phone and so on, it never comes up. I've had times when people eventually met me, and of course, were themselves, somewhat amazed. I'm a blind person and all that I said, nothing's changed here, folks. The reality is that the same guy I was when you were just talking to me on the phone. So let's move forward. Word. And mostly people got it and and dealt with it very well.   Ken Kunken ** 35:08 Well, I used to have a lot of people, when they meet me for the first time, were very surprised to see that I was in a wheelchair. I never would say, Boy, you didn't sound like you were disabled. Yeah, right. And I think they were very surprised when they met me.   Michael Hingson ** 35:23 I've had some people who've said that to me, Well, you didn't sound blind on the telephone. And so depending on how snarky I feel or not, I might say, Well, what does a blind person sound like? And that generally tends to stop them, because the reality is, what does a blind person sound like? It doesn't mean anything at all, and it's really their attitudes that need to change. And I know as a keynote speaker for the last 23 years, just by doing the things that I do, and talking and communicating with people, it is also all about helping to change attitudes, which is a lot of fun.   Ken Kunken ** 36:03 You know, Michael, when I first went back to college, I was approached by a student on campus, and when he asked if I was Ken kunken, and I responded that I was, he asked, aren't you supposed to be in the hospital? Now, you know, I was very tempted to say yes, but I escaped. Please don't tell anyone. But you know, it even took a while to just show people, somebody with a disability does not need to be permanently in a rehab facility or a hospital or staying at home with their families, that there's an awful lot somebody could do and to be seen out in public and show people that you can work, you can go to school, you can do basically what everybody else does once you're given the opportunity.   Michael Hingson ** 36:55 Of course, being spiteful, my response would have been, well, yeah, I should still be in the hospital doing brain surgery, but I decided that I didn't want to be a doctor because I didn't have any patients, so I decided to take a different career, right? Oh, people, yeah, what do you do? And we all face it, but the reality is, and I believe very firmly and have have thought this way for a long time, that like it or not, we're teachers, and we do need to teach people, and we need to take that role on, and it can be difficult sometimes, because you can lose patience, depending on what kind of questions people ask and so on. But the reality is, we are teachers, and our job is to teach, and we can make that a very fun thing to do as we move forward, too.   Ken Kunken ** 37:44 You know, Michael, I found most people really want to be helpful. Yeah, a lot of times they don't know how to be helpful or how to go about it, or what to say or what to do, but most people are really good people that want to help. And you know, the more they come in contact with somebody with a disability, the more comfortable they will feel   Michael Hingson ** 38:04 right, and they'll learn to ask if you want help, and they won't make the assumption, which is, of course, the whole point.   Ken Kunken ** 38:14 You know, Michael, when you leave the job the district attorney's office, you would go through what they call an exit interview, where they would ask you what you thought was the best part of the job, what you thought could be improved. And I'm so happy and proud to say that I was told that a number of assistant district attorneys said that one of the best parts of their job was meeting and getting to know and working with me. And the reason why I wanted to highlight that was I know they weren't talking about me being Ken kunken, but me being somebody with a disability. Because unless they had a close relative with a disability, people rarely came in daily contact with somebody with a disability, and for them, it was often a revelation that they found helped motivate and inspire them to work harder in their job, and they were very appreciative of that,   Michael Hingson ** 39:12 but they also learned that the disability wasn't what defined you. What defined you was you and your personality and what you did not necessarily exactly how you   Ken Kunken ** 39:24 did it, absolutely. And I think it was also a revelation that working with me did not involve additional work for them, right? I was able to carry my own weight, and often was more productive than many of the people I was working with. Right?   Michael Hingson ** 39:42 Well, and I think that's a very crucial point about the whole thing. When you became a lawyer, did that change your view of yourself? I mean, I know it was a kind of an evolution that got you to being a lawyer. But how did becoming a lawyer and when go. Answer, and getting the law degree and then working in a law office. How did that change your perceptions and your attitudes and outlook?   Ken Kunken ** 40:06 You know, it really changed it a great deal, because I had people look at me with a very different eye when they were looking at me. You know, I enjoyed my work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor very much. And I encourage people to do that work. But I felt that there were people that looked at me and thought, you know, he has a disability. Maybe he could only work with other people had disabilities. And I was very proud of the fact that when I became a lawyer, I was working with very few people that had disabilities. Most of them were able bodied. And I wanted to show people that you're not limited in any way with who you're going to work with and what you could do. And I think it's so important for people to keep their perceptions high, their expectations high when they're dealing with individuals, because just because somebody has a disability does not mean they cannot perform and do as much as virtually anybody else on the job   Michael Hingson ** 41:14 well, and you clearly continue to have high expectations of and for you, but also I would suspect that the result was you had high expectations for those around you as well. You helped them shape what they did, and by virtue of the way you functioned, you helped them become better people as well.   Ken Kunken ** 41:38 Well, I certainly tried to and from the feedback that I've gotten from many of the people I worked with, that seemed to be the case, and I'm very proud of that. In fact, I might add Michael that two years ago, the district attorney, now her name is Ann Donnelly, actually started an award in the district attorney's office that's given out annually that they named the Kenneth J kunken award. They named it for me because they wanted to recognize and honor the outstanding Assistant District Attorney each year who displayed the work ethic and the loyalty and devotion to the office as well the person in the wheelchair, right? And I'm very proud of that,   Michael Hingson ** 42:25 but I will bet, and I'm not trying to mitigate it, but I will bet that mostly that award came about because of the things that you did and your work ethic, and that the wheelchair aspect of it was really somewhat second nature. And far down the list,   Ken Kunken ** 42:41 I'm very proud of the fact that that seems to be the case and and one of the aspects of that award was they talked about the effect that I had on my colleagues, and the beneficial effect that that was Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 42:56 because the reality is, it ultimately comes down to who you are and what you do and and I'm not, and again, I'm not mitigating being in a wheelchair or having any kind of disability, but I really, truly believe ultimately the disability isn't what is not what defines us, it's how we are and what we do and how we behave in society that really will be what helps us make a mark on whatever we're involved with,   Ken Kunken ** 43:28 right? And I think for some, as I say, it was a revelation to see that somebody with a disability had the same needs, wants and desires as everybody else. We were certainly no different with respect to that right.   Michael Hingson ** 43:43 So how long did you work as a lawyer and in the district attorney's office?   Ken Kunken ** 43:49 Well, I worked there full time for more than 33 years, and then I worked there in a part time capacity for an additional eight years. So all told, more than 40 years I worked there, and in fact, I'm one of the longest serving Nassau County assistant district attorneys that they've ever had.   Michael Hingson ** 44:09 Now, why did you go back to part time after 33 years?   Ken Kunken ** 44:15 Well, there are a number of reasons. You know, I I thought that due to some health issues, I wanted to play it safe and make sure that I locked in my pension, because I thought there would be a bigger payout if I retired while I was still working than if I died while I was working on the job. As it turned out, my health issue seemed to resolve itself, but I decided that, you know, retiring, when I did, gave me some more time to spend at home with my family, and I really appreciated being able to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 44:53 That's a very admirable thing. Can't complain about that. So what keeps you going?   Ken Kunken ** 45:00 What keeps me going now is my family. Just so your listeners know, I'm married to the wonderful woman that's actually sitting to my right right now. My name is Anna, and we're actually the parents of triplet sons. We have three incredible boys, Joseph, James and Timothy. They're now 20 years old, and they're currently sophomores at three separate colleges in upstate New York, and they're the light of my life. I couldn't be more proud. And they're what keeps me going these days.   Michael Hingson ** 45:33 What colleges?   Ken Kunken ** 45:36 Well, James is going to the State University of New York at Morrisville, where he's studying renewable energy. Timothy is pursuing a dual major at the SI Newhouse School of Communications in the Maxwell School of Public Policy at Syracuse University. And my son Joseph is actually attending my alma mater, Cornell University, where he's majoring in mechanical engineering.   Michael Hingson ** 46:06 And do they all go watch football games on the weekend? I mean, given the fact that least a couple of those are at schools with good football   Ken Kunken ** 46:13 teams, right? But you know what? They never wanted anything to do with football. But they are all physically active, in great shape, and in fact, all of them have pursued the martial arts, and all three of them are second degree black belts in Taekwondo. And they've all even worked as instructors in the Taekwondo studio here in Long Island.   Michael Hingson ** 46:35 So dad has to be careful, though they'll take you out, huh?   Ken Kunken ** 46:39 You bet. In fact, I've got my own three personal bodyguards when   Michael Hingson ** 46:43 I got right, you can't do better than that. And and Anna, which I'll bet is more formidable than all of them   Ken Kunken ** 46:53 on, is incredible. I mean, she is just a force that is unstoppable. She's incredible.   Michael Hingson ** 47:01 Well, that's cool all the way around, and it's, it's great that you, you have a good neighborhood around you to support you, and I think we all need that. That's that's pretty important to to deal with. So with your job and all that, now that you are retired, I don't know whether you have much stress in your life, but how do you deal with stress? And how does stress affect you and or does it make any difference with a disability?   Ken Kunken ** 47:30 It sure does. It's an interesting question, because before my injury, one of the ways I would deal with stress would be out of the football field, yeah, you know, being physically active, running into an individual, you know, to tackle or block, that was a great way to relieve some of my stress. Once I had my injury, I no longer had that outlet, so I had to find different ways of dealing with it. One of my ways was, you know, trying to sit outside and sit in the garden or by water and, you know, just enjoy nature and try and relax and clear my mind. But now my best stress relievers are my three children. I'm spending time with them, watching all that they're doing. I find that the best way of me to be able to relax and relieve any anxieties that I have?   Michael Hingson ** 48:23 Well, I think there's a lot of value in doing things that keep you calm and focused. I think that is the best way to deal with stress. All too often, we don't think or be introspective about ourselves and our lives, and we don't really step back and get rid of that stress mentally, and that's where it really all comes from. I mean, I know people have physical manifestations of stress and so on, but I would submit that typically, stress is so much more an emotional thing because we haven't learned how to deal with it, and you clearly have   Ken Kunken ** 49:02 it took a while, but yeah, now I have my family to help every step of the way, and that includes relieving the stress that I've under.   Michael Hingson ** 49:10 Yeah, and stress is important to get rid of and not have around. It will help you live a whole lot longer not to have stress I just went through a week ago and op was, you know, an operation to change a heart valve. And people keep asking me, well, Weren't you worried? Weren't you stressed over that? And my answer was, No, I had no control over it really happening to my knowledge, I don't think that I've been a very poor eater, and all of my arteries and everything were good. And so no, I wasn't stressed, even when I first learned that there was an issue and wasn't an emergency room for over 24 hours, mostly sitting around, I chose not to be stressed, and it was a choice. And so I just listened to things around me and became quite entertained at some of the people. People who were in the emergency room with me, but being stressed wasn't going to do anything to help the process at all. So I refuse to get stressed.   Ken Kunken ** 50:09 That's great. And you know, I think this finally retiring has helped me deal with stress as well, because working as an assistant district attorney, there can be a lot of stressful situations in the office, and it's, it's nice to finally be retired and be able to enjoy all of my activities outside of the office.   Michael Hingson ** 50:33 What would you say is probably the most stressful thing that you had to endure as an attorney? You were, I mean, you did this for 40 years, or almost 40 years? So what? Well, actually, yeah, for 40 years. So what would you say is the most stressful thing that you ever had to deal with?   Ken Kunken ** 50:50 Well, I had to rely on, you know, my memory, because it was difficult for me even turning pages of a book or pulling, you know, pieces of paper out of a file, and there was a lot of paperwork that you get to be familiar with, whether they be grand jury testimony or prior witness statements. And I had to rely a lot of my memory and through the help of student interns or paralegals or secretaries, and it was very difficult. And I might add, you know, just to give you one anecdote, one day after I had convicted a defendant of, you know, felony, you know, he was a person with a lot of prior involvement with the criminal justice system, and I was about to go down for his sentencing, he jumped in the elevator with me, and now we're alone in the elevator riding down, and here I am with this person that I convicted of a serious case, and I'm about to recommend that he go to an upstate prison. And he approaches me and says, I have a proposition for you. If you don't send me to jail, I'll agree to work as your personal care attendant for a year, which really struck me as odd. I mean, he must have thought that working for me for a year would be the equivalent of going to prison for a few years. But fortunately, the elevator door opened and I politely turned down his request and went to court, and he was sentenced to two to four years in an upstate prison.   Michael Hingson ** 52:28 Still was creative,   52:30 right?   Michael Hingson ** 52:33 So in all of your life and all the things you've done, what are you most proud   Ken Kunken ** 52:36 of, well, but definitely most proud of my family life? I mean, as I indicated, I'm married now, married for more than 21 years now, my three boys are sophomores in college and doing absolutely great, and make me proud every single day. But I'm proud of the fact that I was able to go back to school, complete my education and work at a job and earn a living where I was able to support myself and able to purchase a house and live now with my wife and children and lead as just about as normal a life as any other family would lead.   Michael Hingson ** 53:18 Now being married to Ana is that your first marriage? It sure is. So there we go. Well, I hear you and but you guys met late, and I'm going to step out on a limb and say it proves something that I've always felt, which is, you'll get married when the right person comes along, especially if you're mature enough to recognize it,   Ken Kunken ** 53:41 you're right. And I was very fortunate that the right person came along in my life, and we have a very happy marriage that I cannot picture life without him right now,   Michael Hingson ** 53:56 my wife and I got married when I was 32 she was 33 but we knew what we wanted in a partner, and when we first met each other, it just sort of clicked right from the beginning. We met in January of 1982 and in July, I asked her to marry me, and we got married in November of 1982 and so we were married for 40 years before she passed. And you know, there are always challenges, but, but you deal with it. So it must have been really an interesting time and an interesting life, suddenly discovering you have three boy triplets.   Ken Kunken ** 54:31 You know, it really was well, you know, when I decided to get married, she told me that she wanted to have my baby, and not just any baby my baby, she said she wanted to see a little pumpkin running around our home. And this really seemed impossible at the time. I had been paralyzed for more than 30 years, and I was already in my 50s, but we looked into various options, including in vitro fertilization and. And we're very excited, excited to learn we could still, I could still father a child. So we pursued it. And you know, through good fortune, good luck, and I guess somebody smiling on us from above, Anna became pregnant with triplets, and I couldn't be happier to have these three wonderful boys in my life.   Michael Hingson ** 55:21 So did becoming a father change you? Or how did you evolve? When that all happened,   Ken Kunken ** 55:26 it sure did. I mean, you know, it went from me being number one in honors life to suddenly being number four after all, three boys got the attention they needed, but it was wonderful for me to be able to help shape their lives and guide them so that they would develop the right character and values and learn the importance of helping others throughout their lives, which they do, and It's I think it's made me a better person, being able to help and guide them. That's cool.   Michael Hingson ** 56:07 Well, the the other thing I would ask is, if you had a chance to go back and talk to a younger Ken, what would you say? What would you teach them so that they would maybe make mistakes that you made?   Ken Kunken ** 56:18 Well, I'd say there's an awful lot you could still do in life, even without your physical movement, and sometimes it takes a lot of patience and a lot of self reflection, but to realize there's an awful lot you can do and that they need to keep their expectations high for themselves as well as for others, and to realize that just because something has not been done before doesn't mean they cannot do it now. They've got to find different ways of approaching problems and handling it and developing some self confidence in themselves and their ability to deal with difficult situations.   Michael Hingson ** 57:03 How did the Americans with Disabilities Act improve all that you did and make your life, especially on the job, better?   Ken Kunken ** 57:12 Well, it, you know, made facilities so much more accessible. When I first went back to college, there was not one ramp or curb cut on the entire campus. On my first day back in school, I had to be either pulled up or bounced down close to 100 steps just to attend my classes, and as I indicated, in the DAs office, I couldn't even fit through the swinging doorways to get in the courtroom. So it made it tremendously easier to not have to deal with all the physical challenges, but it also made it better for dealing with other people and their attitudes about dealing with people with disabilities, because thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, you see more people with disabilities out in public. So people are more used to seeing, dealing, interacting with people, and seeing what they can do and that they're just like everybody else. And as a result, people's attitudes have been changing, and I think that's helped me as well, in many different ways.   Michael Hingson ** 58:20 Cool, well, you have written a book about all of this. Tell me about the book.   Ken Kunken ** 58:27 Okay, I actually started writing a book when I was still in the rehab facility. Not long after I was hurt, a friend of my aunt Lorraine's by the name of Albert meglan visited me in the hospital and thought that one it may help me deal with my depression by talking about what I was going through, but also inform other individuals what a spinal cord injury was like and what's involved with rehabilitation. So he used to visit me in the rehab facility one day a week for a number of weeks for me to start writing a book about my experiences. And then when I went back to school, I started working on it on my own, but I would pick it up and stop and start and stop again over the course of 50 years. And then once I retired, I had more time to sit down with my wife, and I would dictate to her, and she would type it on her laptop computer until we finally finished my memoir, which is called I dream of things that never were, the Ken kunken story, and it's published by a company called 12 tables Press, and they could learn more about my book by going on my website, which is kenkunkin.com and I might add that where I got the title of my book was six months after my injury. I was asked to testify before a United States Health subcommittee chaired by Senate. Senator Edward Kennedy. And eight days after my testimony, Senator Kennedy sent me a glass paperweight in the mail that had an inscription on it that the senator said his late brother Robert Kennedy liked very much. And the inscription read, some men see things as they are and say, Why I dream of things that never were. And say, why not? And that's where I got the title of my book. I dream of things that never were.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:28 Yeah, that's cool. And where can people get the book?   Ken Kunken ** 1:00:35 Well, it's available on Amazon. It's also available at the Cornell bookstore, and if they go on my website, Ken kunken.com spellkin For me, please. It's K U N, as in Nancy. K e n that tells of a number of ways that they could purchase the book, both the hardcover book, it's also available as a Kindle version as an e book, and just recently, we put it out as an audio book as well. And they could learn all about it by going to the website, but certainly it's available on Amazon. If they wanted to order in bulk, they could contact my publisher directly, and he could help them fulfill that type of order. Cool.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:22 That is great. So now the real question is, are there any more books in Ken to come out?   Ken Kunken ** 1:01:28 Well, this book took me 50 years to I know you got to go a little bit faster. So no, I think I wrote down everything that I wanted to convey to people in that book, and now I'm actively just promoting the book like you. I've spoken at a number of different events as a motivational speaker, and you know, the book has given me a way to get m

This week's episode is a special live recording from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, where Heather sits down with author Casey Mulligan Walsh to talk about her deeply moving memoir, The Full Catastrophe. Orphaned by twelve, the only surviving sibling, and later a mother navigating divorce and the unraveling of her family, Casey opens up about the grief that shaped her life—and the unimaginable loss of her firstborn son, Eric, at age twenty. With raw honesty and powerful spiritual reflection, Casey shares how she's found meaning through the pain, and how love, resilience, and hope carried her through her family's darkest moments. This conversation is a testament to surviving the unimaginable—and learning how to live again. FIND CASEY: https://caseymulliganwalsh.com Northshire Bookstore: https://www.northshire.com Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven: ❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/ ❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/ ❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ ❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this in-studio Parenting is a Joke fav episode, Ophira Eisenberg sits down with comedian, Daily Show correspondent, and guest host Desi Lydic to talk parenting, performing, and prompter disasters. Desi recounts the surreal moment her Daily Show hosting debut began with a backwards teleprompter—and how the audience's reaction helped her recover instantly. They talk about raising thoughtful boys in today's world, from navigating gender norms and emotional literacy to Desi's personal favorite parenting guru (spoiler: it's Dr. Becky). Desi opens up about auditioning for The Daily Show while four months pregnant and the support she received from the show's female leadership. She shares what it's like juggling her son's passion for NBA jerseys, Pokemon trades gone shady at after-school care, and managing the “mental load” of parenting—even with a very involved husband. Plus: how her Southern Republican parents record every Daily Show appearance, and why her son yelling “Big Daddy!” at school was a much bigger problem than any F-bomb. Also: yes, she'd rather her son be a boxer than an NRA exec—as long as she gets to Vaseline his face before the fight.

The recent events and the ongoing challenges facing our federal government are producing urgent questions and uncertainties. In response Rep. Paul Tonko invited the public to a Town Hall on Monday, June 16th at Hudson Valley Community College. The goal of this Town Hall goal was his offer to hear the public's  concerns and thoughts on how to move forward and to ensure these voices resonate loudly in Washington. Hudson Mohawk Magazines Andrea Cunliffe brings you this on site report. Congressman Paul D. Tonko is an eighth-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 20th Congressional District in the Capital Region, including the cities of Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Saratoga Springs.

Happy National Hydration Day. Erin gets sent a Prime Hydration package. Erin takes her kids to a nostalgic trip to a local fair with rickety, dented rides.Q&A tackles DNF'ing a marathon (wear it proudly), Reebok's discontinued 9-inch Lux shorts (no pockets for women!), and running breaks, weighted vest walks are Erin's fix.  Erin announces her “Seeing How Strong I Can Get By Doing The Least” series, a 30 day minimal effort plan. Erin reveals she's writing a book with local co writer Amy (Shoutout Amy), due spring 2027.  Her kids play a “wombat game,” mimicking wombats' butt smashing prey killing tactic on bouncy balls. Erin binges HBO's American Paul, a reality show about Logan and Jake Paul's family, hooked by their relatable marriage and kids phase despite their unhinged dad.Sports talk heats up: Ashton Hall, the viral Saratoga Springs water guy, loses four races to streamer IShowSpeed, who raced Noah Lyles and wants Usain Bolt to coach him for the Olympics. Clara Adams, a 400m state champ, gets disqualified for spraying a fire extinguisher on her shoes post race (a nod to Maurice Greene), sparking outrage over track's prudish rules. Coco Gauff's French Open win comes with a tiny “teacup” trophy, not the massive one shown on TV, baffling Erin and Mike. Chess boxing, a 2003 Berlin born sport alternating chess rounds and boxing knockouts, gains a cult following via TikTok. Grand Slam Track's LA event cancellation shocks the duo, who loved the electric Philly event; Michael Johnson cites financial strategy for 2026, but rumors swirl about investor issues.In the “In This Economy” segment, Erin rages at Klarna's name and predatory buy-now-pay-later model, with users defaulting on debts. The US penny faces extinction by 2026, costing more to produce than its worth. Aldi faces a lawsuit from Mondelēz (Nabisco) for copying Wheat Thins, Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Nutter Butter packaging. A heartwarming No Bad moment features an Amazon driver invited to a Memorial Day cookout by a hospitable family, loading his plate with chicken and corn amid mamba sauce chats, 19.4M views prove its viral charm.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb, celebrated for two prior Oprah Book Club selections, returns with the third Oprah pick, “The River is Waiting.” The new novel follows a young father grappling with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.Wally Lamb will discuss the book and his work on Wednesday night in Saratoga Springs, New York at 6 PM at the Saratoga City Center for a Northshire Bookstore Event.

Cousin Ethan Kartchner visits Devin and Sarah in their home in Saratoga Springs for the interview.Ethan, the 8th of 9 children in the Kartchner family, learns his cousin number and then talks about memories of extended family, especially the Andelins, and even a closeness he's felt with Grandpa Andersen as an adult.Devin and Sarah ask Ethan several questions about stories that they'd heard about him from Ethan's siblings and father. From being obsessed with The Price is right, splitting his pants on Prom night, busking in Idaho with his viola, and living on the beach with Jordan on the beaches of Hawaii for a month.Ethan then shares his experiences of being a model, actor, producer, and director and the challenges and rewarding moments that he's had through this unique path. He then talks about the importance of family relationships and keeping those strong.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/my-99-cousins/donations

Send us a textHi everybody and welcome to the last episode of this Attendance Bias mini-series, in which we previewed each venue Phish will play during their upcoming summer 2025 tour: We just took a look at a new venue to the Phish world: Forest Hills Stadium. Today, we turn our attention to an old favorite; a venue that has been a part of the Phish conversation longer than some fans have been alive, literally.Today, I am joined by family: My sister in law, Liz Ratto, who coincidentally is not only a Phish fan who has been to SPAC several times, but is also a resident of Saratoga Springs! When planning out this series, I was a little nervous about this episode, because Phish has been playing this venue for so long, who knows what new information we could provide? But the answer is: a lot! Liz gives some great pro tips for not only attending the show, but things to do around Saratoga while you're in town for these three nights that close the tour: July 25, 26, and 27.Phish has a long history at SPAC, but an even longer history in Saratoga. But lets hear it from the locals. Join me and Liz to hear how to make the best of Phish's final run of tour in Saratoga

We are living in tremendously uncertain times and this month's guest, artist Yvette Molina, reminds us through her expansive work of the relationship between justice and care. Yvette is Mexican-American of Chippewa of Turtle Mountain descent who is currently artist-in-residence at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her collaborative exhibition, A PROMISE TO THE LEAVES, centers the four elements: earth, air, water, fire, and a fifth presence, the cosmos. By focusing on these ancient, essential forces, Molina invites us to remember that humans, plants, and all earthly beings are composed of star matter and sustained by the elements. Her work encourages us to understand care as inherently relational. Care for one another, human and non-human alike, is care for ourselves and all of creation.Yvette's artistic practice is rooted in community engagement and activism - through processional banners, ritual, storytelling, costumes, collage, painting, and sculpture. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Stockholm Fringe Festival, the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Arsenal Contemporary Art, SPRING/BREAK Art Show, NADA FAIR, and the Legion of Honor and de Young Museums in California. She currently lives and creates in Oakland, California.Nyá:wen to Indigenous Screen Office for supporting these important stories! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of Main Street Matters, host Patrick Keiser explores one of the most transformative forces in retail: community. Through real-life stories from Saratoga Springs, NY, to Lincoln, IL, Patrick highlights how independent retailers across the country are coming together to collaborate, support one another, and create thriving downtowns.You'll learn why “community over competition” isn't just a motto, it's a strategy. Whether it's co-hosting events, sharing staff, or simply offering a listening ear, small retailers are proving that unity builds strength, resilience, and growth.This episode also spotlights One Night, One Heart, an upcoming nationwide fundraising event during the Dallas Total Home and Gift Market, which supports retailers recovering from natural disasters. Discover how you can get involved and be part of a movement that's redefining what success looks like on Main Street.✅ In this episode: Real-world examples of collaborative retail success Why shared community is the future of independent retail The impact of peer support during crises Details about One Night One Heart and how you can participate Practical ways to connect with and support fellow store owners If you're a store owner, sales rep, or retail enthusiast looking to build a stronger, more connected industry, this episode is for you.

Get the inside scoop on how the OPC tours came to life, including the key role Balanced Body played in making them happen. Lesley and Brad share what it's like to be on the road, how they stay grounded during tour season, and why reflecting after each stop matters. This episode is packed with community, purpose, and behind-the-scenes fun. Whether you've joined a tour before or are curious about what it's like, you'll love hearing what's in store for this year.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How the Balanced Body partnership made the OPC tours possible.Highlights from past tours and how they've evolved.Navigating unexpected changes and pivots while on the road.The small routines that keep Lesley grounded during tour season.Why reflecting after each tour helps improve the next one.The real impact of showing up in person and building community.A behind-the-scenes look at this year's OPC tour plans.Episode References/Links:Balanced Body - https://www.pilates.comContrology Reformer - https://beitpod.com/reformerContrology Spine Corrector - https://beitpod.com/spinecorrectorContrology Folding Mat - https://beitpod.com/foldingmatOPC Tours - https://opc.me/tourOPC Host - https://opc.me/host If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/ Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/ Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Brad Crowell 0:00  You have to be able to be fluid enough to make changes in the moment when something isn't working or isn't making sense, or not necessarily in the moment you have to catch it, you can assess it after the fact and do the post mortem.Lesley Logan 0:15  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:58  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It second half of the how did these tours come to be? And Brad is back as my guest. So this is a different kind of cadence, I guess you'd say. Brad Crowell 1:10  Yeah, you know, we're shaking things up a little bit. Lesley Logan 1:11  So we're not answering any of your questions. We're not going to talk about the Be It Action Items we shared with you. Brad Crowell 1:16  But we are going to talk about that amazing guest you had on this week's episode. Lesley Logan 1:20  Oh yeah, yeah. We're talking about you, Brad. Brad Crowell 1:22  It was me. Lesley Logan 1:23  And also, if you want to come to the tours, opc.me/tour, no matter when you hear this, you will always be able to see what upcoming tour there is or you'll get on a waitlist for the next one to come out. But basically, we do two tours a year. So we left off with how we started talking with Balanced Body about our tours.Brad Crowell 1:42  Yeah. So I remember we were at a POT, I think. Lesley Logan 1:46  In Monterey in 2020. Brad Crowell 1:48  No, I think it was before that. I think it was in Chicago, even before that. Lesley Logan 1:51  Well, there was a Chicago one that I talked to them and I planted the seed, that was in 2019. Brad Crowell 1:54  Yeah, but that's the one I was talking about. So we started talking to Balanced Body years prior to their participation, and I remember the conversation with their team. I just remember looking at their operation and literally watching them back a tractor trailer up to the convention center and commenting and going, Wow, you guys have tractor trailers. And the response was, we have three. I was like, you have three tractor trailers? They're like, yeah, look where do you think all these Reformers are gonna go? And they were loading case after case after case of things into the thing. And I was like, wow, it's so much work for you guys to go on the road. And they said, yeah, for us to put on these POTs, it is a massive enterprise to do. Many, many, many people, lots and lots of money. It's so much coordination, so much effort, you know. And I jokingly said, well, you know, I think we can help you guys out with that. And that didn't really come to anything, but I, in my mind, I was like, we could do it for half, you know. And then we got the van, and then we were talking with Ken.Lesley Logan 2:56  What happened is they changed, on the Contrology, they changed how you can do the wheels, the side wheels, how you can tighten them or not tighten them, and they change it to make it easier for people. And so I said, we're all, we're driving to the POT Monterey anyways, because we're gonna have a booth there as well because we had a booth in the October one which was when you kind of planted that seed. Brad Crowell 3:15  Yeah, and for us it was only what eight hours, at this point we've driven across the country multiple times. They're like, yeah, we'll just drive. Lesley Logan 3:20  I said, oh, I'll bring my Reformer. And we weren't even staying at the hotel where the event was. We were just down the street, just because of, like, I needed a really big room. Brad Crowell 3:27  Yeah, you had to do a weekend workshop thing. Lesley Logan 3:29  Yeah, I had to, like, host a weekend event and so we needed a big room. And so I had my assistant at the time, like, literally scoping pictures of rooms and we're like, there's no way we can make this room work, because the beds right there. So we had to stay about a mile a half away from the venue. And so Ken Ubered over. Brad Crowell 3:45  Ken is the owner of Balanced Body. Lesley Logan 3:47  Yeah, so get this, Ken Ubered over to our hotel, during setup of his humongous convention, to change the little silver situation that goes on the back of my carriage, to change the wheels out. Brad Crowell 4:01  Yeah, he brought us wrenches.Lesley Logan 4:02  He just brought a wrench, brought a credit card, so we had also brought our Nespresso machine. Brad made him a cup of Nespresso and so he fixed he like, this is, this is what.Brad Crowell 4:11  We're just chilling out, you know, and he's working on this Reformer, we're just chit-chatting. Lesley Logan 4:16  And then Brad's like, oh, man, I'll take you back to the venue. Brad Crowell 4:18  Yeah. He's like, oh, I'll grab an Uber. I was like, no, you will not grab an Uber. I will drive you, you know. And of course, I wanted him to see the van. Lesley Logan 4:26  Yeah. So he got in the van. He had to see how big the van was. He had just seen that we brought the Reformer. Brad Crowell 4:31  Yeah, yeah. Obviously, we brought the Reformer. But he said to me, oh my gosh, I always wanted one of these when I was in my 20s. I always just wanted to drive around the country. And it's so cool that you guys are doing this, and that's when I got a chance to say, well, this is, you know, we do go on tour, and we are taking, we're already taking a Reformer with us, so that we can show off the Contrology Reformer, right? And he was like, wow. And so, you know, I didn't like full blown pitch him in that moment, but it was like one major seed planted, because he could see it, feel it, touch it, understand it, in a way that wasn't us trying to pitch the vision. He could be in the vision.Lesley Logan 5:09  Yeah. So they actually signed on with us for our first ever summer tour. And so we got to do the west coast because we'd only ever done the East Coast and the middle we'd never done the west coast before we'd pulled them. We want to do a West Coast tour. So we actually did our first West Coast tour. It wasn't very long. It was kind of like a short and sweet thing. I know. We did Las Vegas. We did Los Angeles. Brad Crowell 5:31  Well, somewhere in there, we missed the 2022 winter tour. But we, 2020. Lesley Logan 5:36  Oh, yeah, we did a '22 we did a 22, you're right, we did do a 2022 winter tour. And that got bigger, got back up to the size. Brad Crowell 5:41  Yeah, that was like eight or nine. So we have Cleveland, St Louis, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, Greensboro. Yeah. So. Lesley Logan 5:48  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That one, that one was really great, actually, because we got back up to our 2019 numbers and so we were able to say, okay, so we've had four tours, and so we're able to show them like, look now that COVID allows us to do this. Look at these nine cities. What if we, so we did our biggest tour ever, which was the West Coast tour. We didn't do Los Angeles. We started at Las Vegas. Did we even do Las Vegas? I know we did Riverside. Brad Crowell 6:10  For the summer tour? Lesley Logan 6:11  Yeah. We did Redlands. Brad Crowell 6:13  Redlands, Long Beach. Lesley Logan 6:14  Long Beach. Brad Crowell 6:14  Bakersfield. Lesley Logan 6:15  Bakersfield. Brad Crowell 6:16  Central Valley, Hanford, Fresno. Lesley Logan 6:18  Yeah it was near Fresno. Brad Crowell 6:19  Modesto. Lesley Logan 6:20  Modesto. You guys were hitting some of those great I-5 cities. Brad Crowell 6:23  So that's five. Yeah, we did Fairfield. Lesley Logan 6:25  Yes. And we did Sacramento. Brad Crowell 6:27  Sac. Lesley Logan 6:27  And then we did a tour of Balanced Body, even though we've done it before with Ken, we did a tour so that our OPC members could see how it's all done. It was so fun. They do amazing work at Balanced Body, just being great on the environment. Then we did. Brad Crowell 6:40  Bend. Lesley Logan 6:40  Bend, Oregon. Brad Crowell 6:42  Portland. Lesley Logan 6:42  Portland. That was so fun, too, Seattle, and then. Brad Crowell 6:46  Spokane. Lesley Logan 6:47  Spokane and then we dropped down, had a couple days off in Idaho. And then we got all around St George, Utah. Brad Crowell 6:54  So we did 11 stops. Lesley Logan 6:55  11 stops, it was our biggest one, and it was so fun. And we got to see how hot it could get. So then the van got a fan. Brad Crowell 7:05  We also did that whole tour in two weeks. Lesley Logan 7:07  In two weeks. Brad Crowell 7:07  It was like 16 days. Lesley Logan 7:09  It was really. Brad Crowell 7:10  It was zipped through 11 stops in 16 days. Lesley Logan 7:13  It was, yeah, there's a heat wave. So I was not, I was okay with zipping through. Then, because of that went so well and Balanced Body was so great with that that they joined us for our winter tour in 2023 and then we really able to like. Brad Crowell 7:26  But that's when I think things really blew up. Lesley Logan 7:27  Yeah, I don't think it was our, it was our biggest tour, for sure. It beat the 11 cities, but it wasn't our biggest, biggest. Then, last year, you want to go through them? Brad Crowell 7:36  Sure. We did Vegas, St George, Denver, Lawrence, Kansas, St Louis, Missouri, Cleveland, Ohio, Saratoga Springs. That was a private event. Boston, t hen Providence, private event. Brooklyn. We had to cancel New York City because nobody was in town. Hershey, Pennsylvania, Greensboro, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, Miami, Sarasota, that's the first time we did the inside of Florida. Then Austin, Dallas, Albuquerque, Sedona. So by far, this was the largest one of the 19 cities. Lesley Logan 8:10  Yeah, then we did a summer tour with the Midwest. Because if you've noticed, we've been skipping Chicago for a while. So we have been alternating the West Coast, with the Midwest, and so this is how we decided, like, okay, so you need to know, after every single one of these tours, we reflect about, like, what went well, what cities went well? Will we go back, how the people like it, how much effort was it, how great was the host? You know, if we love the host, obviously it's amazing for us to want to go there. If the host works really, really hard, then, of course, we want to continue to work with them and support them. But we also discovered that my voice, as I get older, my voice can only do. Brad Crowell 8:47  I don't think it's just because you're getting older. We had you working nine days in a row, literally teaching class nine days in a row. By the ninth day you were fried. Lesley Logan 8:56  And some of these studios, they're acoustic. Brad Crowell 8:58  You're not a day older than 29, love. Lesley Logan 8:59  Thanks, baby. Some of these students, the acoustics are not awesome for that, because you have to get your voice to carry and all these things. And so, at any rate, you'd think, well, Lesley, don't you teach all day? No. No, I don't. No, I don't. In fact, when I. Brad Crowell 9:14  Come on, you do talk, you do talk most of the time, but like this is different than trying to yell in a warehouse, you know, like. Lesley Logan 9:20  Yeah, and get people's attention in a warehouse, for sure, some of them have music going on, the whole thing. So, at any rate, we've made changes to the tour. So you'll notice with tour schedules since summer of the Midwest. Brad Crowell 9:31  Well, that, so the Summer Tour was only 13 stops, but we did it in 16 days. Yes, we were flying through. Lesley Logan 9:36  We made changes that we can only do max six days in a row before a day off, five is more ideal. Brad Crowell 9:42  But this was a major change for us, where, whereas, like, all right, we have to be very intentional about the breaks that we're putting in. Because one, things Lesley mentioned at the beginning was, how does she maintain her consistency? How does she maintain her you know, how do you do that stuff? Lesley Logan 9:57  So these tours, because I don't want to do them, because it's a job. We actually truly enjoy doing the tours. We have so much fun. I mean, I get to hug hundreds of people. It's so great. And it really, actually makes me go, oh, I wanna teach all the time. And then I'm actually like, no, actually, I really love my life, but I love that I get to see so many of you that I only see on like, I only get to read words on the internet. I get to see you in person. I could touch you and like you're three dimensional and all the things. We really love doing it, we also want to be able to be as present as possible. And so after every tour, we always reflect back, do we have enough time in that city? Do we have enough time to do this? You guys, I must work out so I do not teach all these people Pilates, and I don't get workouts in. And so every schedule we have to make sure that five days a week, I have time at a gym. I have time to move before I'm teaching giving me space to go the gym at 11pm at night is not space to work out. Also, I have to make sure that I get to have seven hours of sleep, very important. So all the things that I preach about prioritizing myself first, those things happen on tour. Brad Crowell 10:57  People always ask us how do you maintain your routine when you're completely jacking up your routine?Lesley Logan 11:02  Yeah? Well, you can speak to this. You guys use a really cool app that plans out everything, because he'll kind of drive late at night while I'm sleeping, so I can go to bed early, and I'll wake up and it will say like you're working out from this time to this time. Then you're driving here to get coffee, and then you're driving here to do this thing, and so that I have time to do my thing for myself while you're sleeping.Brad Crowell 11:22  Yeah, so we take shifts, because just the nature of our brains and our bodies, I usually stay up late. Lesley usually gets up early, especially when, when it was the COVID trip that was crazy, like the van almost never turned off. We just kept going. Lesley Logan 11:36  We were so nervous about touching anything. Brad Crowell 11:37  I sleep, you drive, and while you were sleeping, I would drive, and we'd just go, go, go. Lesley Logan 11:42  That was very different. That was also just like a very different time in the world. We were, like, afraid. We still wondered if you got COVID from gas station handles and we were going to see people at Christmas, and we had to do like, a three-day hangout at your parents' house.Brad Crowell 11:55  But the point is that we were overlapping on purpose while one was sleeping, the other was driving. Now it's a little less. The maximum amount of driving that we're trying to do in a day is, like, no more than eight hours. And that's still a lot, you know, so we've started to slow it down, which has since then made the tour longer, but it makes it a lot more enjoyable so.Lesley Logan 12:17  We also get to like, see places now, because and we have the dogs, well, now we just have one dog. We should tell them funny stories about the dogs before we wrap this episode up. But we like make sure that they get walks, and we take it through really beautiful habitat preservations that allow for dog walking. We get to see some really cool thing.Brad Crowell 12:33  We stopped in Kansas by, like, one of those big tank memorials and threw the ball. I mean, you know, like this, all these things that we do. Then the Winter Tour 2024 with the support of Balanced Body. And we had some other sponsors, too. Yeah, we had 21 locations, 21 stops. But in order to meet these new requirements of no more than six days in a row of teaching, how do we drive eight hours or less a day? How do we make sure that we've got time to do some workouts. By the way, we're interested in seeing White Sands National Park on this trip. Can we do that, you know, like stuff like that. How do we work all that in? Well, it ended up making, making the trip 34, 35 days. But we actually went the longest. We drove 80, over 8000 miles. Lesley Logan 13:17  Yeah, we got to go to some great places. And also, if you're like, this sounds so amazing, guys, everything works out for you. Just so you know, pretty much every tour there was a dud city.Brad Crowell 13:24  Oh yeah, we had to cancel. It would have been 22 cities on the Winter Tour, and we, unfortunately, had to pull one because we just had no one participate.Lesley Logan 13:33  And we and talk about like the last time was that perseverance, we paid people to scour emails and Instagram handles for three hour drive away to be like, okay, well, what if we get these people from this state to come in? What if this people from this state come in? They could do with this. Brad Crowell 13:47  I mean, I would drive and just call, literally, I would call studio after studio after studio. Lesley Logan 13:51  And we had people say, and it was a lovely house. And she's like, no, people are just last minute. We're like, girl, it's 48 hours before. This is as last minute as we, no, we're not driving up there. So again, we don't take it personally. It sucks. We always do reflect, like, what could we have done better? Was it the time of day? You know, we've had cities that have done really, really well two years in a row, and then have a dud year, and we're like, oh, what happened there? And it's like, oh. So this next Winter Tour, we're flipping two cities because we're like, oh, you know, we did them before Christmas and then after Christmas. And this year we switched that, and that didn't go well for either one of them. So you start to learn the seasons of things, and you have to know that it's not personal, but the reflecting after every tour really helps us make each tour even better. And we're six weeks, five weeks away from our eighth tour, and it's gonna be epic. It's gonna be amazing. It almost feels like a vacation.Brad Crowell 14:38  A little bit more time-condensed, so we're a little over three weeks, but we're at doing almost 19 stops. So that's, that's intense. Lesley Logan 14:46  Three of them include Canada.Brad Crowell 14:48  Yeah. So we're, we're doing our best here to get to do our first international tour. I mean, we are going, so. Lesley Logan 14:55  We're going. Just so you know, these tours also are a huge investment. There's a reason why we have a sponsor with Balanced Body. They really help us actually be on the road for that long because when you're on the road for that many weeks, you're having three plus meals a day on the road. All that adds up money, the gas, depending on what state you're in, is insane, right? So there's that we do. We try not to use a hotel at this point because we have the van, the investment we've made in the van, you know, to make it so we can live in all of that kind of costs money. And so there are things that have failed on tours where, like, like, those stops that haven't made money or haven't, haven't, had been canceled, but having a sponsor that allows us to, like, really be on the road for that long, so that we can do these stops and we can see all of you, but to get to Canada, we're investing thousands of dollars to make it happen.Brad Crowell 15:41  Yeah, had to pay an attorney to help us with paperwork and it was like. Lesley Logan 15:44  Because you can't just work wherever you want to work. You can't just do that. So we're super, super excited to be one of the first people that actually do a big Pilates event. There have been other Pilates events in Canada. I don't want to discount those ones that are happening in Balanced Bodies in Montreal.Brad Crowell 15:59   It's like, it's the thing that's exciting about this is it'll be our first international tour. Lesley Logan 16:03  Yes, yes. I know people are like, when are you going to do a European tour? So I used to think it was like two years away after what we're doing for Canada. You guys, I gonna tell you right now, that's a five year plan. Because, like. Brad Crowell 16:13  Yeah, we so we're thinking about, how could we do this, you know, in Europe and Australia. Because, like, eventually for us, that's the vision. We want to go see those places. We want to spend the time, I think, for us to drive around Australia, to do it right, it's going to take us five to six weeks of driving, like, that's a lot. Lesley Logan 16:28  And we're going to have to rent a van there. We're certainly not going to take one. I was thinking about put some magnets on it. But also, there are actual laws about what we can do, and we don't do these things quietly. So, so if you live in Australia or Europe, and you want us to do tours there, you should definitely reach out. We keep a list of people who love to host. And we do need hosts. These tours, they happen when there's hosts. But also, and that goes for anyone in the States as well. You can actually put your place on there. But also, we're gonna need legal help, because, like we're talking immigration attorney help, which is not cheap, by the way, very expensive, so that we can actually do these things. So what we thought would be like in two years, I'm realizing, is probably a few years in the making. But we want to make this happen. We want to be part of it. That's why we're actually telling you the behind the scenes on how these tours work. So opc.me/tour is where you go for tickets, but opc.me/host is where you go to apply to be a host. Okay, so funny stories about the dogs. First of all, we used to do these tours with three dogs. Brad Crowell 17:29  Three. Lesley Logan 17:30  And then Gaia's last tour was Summer Tour 2024. Brad Crowell 17:33  Well, her first last tour. Lesley Logan 17:35  Her first last tour was Winter 2022. Brad Crowell 17:38  So, was it winter? Lesley Logan 17:40  Oh, yeah, Winter Tour 2022. Brad Crowell 17:42  It was Winter Tour, you're right.Lesley Logan 17:43  And then it was, her first last tour was Summer 2023 then her second last tour was, was winter 2023 and then. Brad Crowell 17:52  Her actual last tour was Summer '24. Lesley Logan 17:53  You guys, before we started, she, you guys, she did not want to go. We were, the van was loaded up, the boys were in it. The boys, because the boys, once we start loading the, putting stuff up to load in. They are like, in the van. Brad Crowell 18:03  Yeah, they do not want to be left behind, so they're sitting in the van watching us. Lesley Logan 18:07  It is hot as fuck outside. And they're like, no, I need to be in the van. I'm like, okay, but the doors are wide open. I can't be in the van. And they're freaking out. They're, they're just, you know, very nervous. And she, so we have the whole van loaded up. The boys are in the van. We go Gaia, and she comes and looks at the door.Brad Crowell 18:22  She comes out onto the front porch, stares at us. Lesley Logan 18:26  And she goes back inside. Brad Crowell 18:27  Turns around and goes back in the house. She's like nuh-uh.Lesley Logan 18:30  And we forced her, we forced her to go on this tour. And she was at this point, sleeping 20 hours a day, just anyways, she was having a hard time with her back legs. We're carrying her everywhere, which we've been doing the last two tours. Brad Crowell 18:41  And we had to lift her in and out of the van. Lesley Logan 18:42  Lift her in the van, and then, okay, so on this her on her final, final, last tour, she had an accident in the bed, and that was really unfortunate, because we're on the road now. We've got a dog, but that has to get washed. We don't always have time for a, like, a wash and, like, I don't know what you call this, like a fluff and fold. So I'm in Kansas City teaching a class, and while I'm teaching, Brad leaves to go bathe her. So he finds a place that he can bathe her, and he has to leave because it's hot out. He has to leave.Brad Crowell 19:12  So the timing of things, we have a very tight timeline. Lesley Logan 19:16  He leaves the car running with the dogs in the van and the boys. Brad Crowell 19:20  Wait. So, hold on. You're teaching the class. You're teaching the workshop. I have, literally, I have 90 minutes to get up and out, find a place, turn it around, wash the dog, get back. Right?Lesley Logan 19:34  Yeah. So he pulls up to this dog place. Brad Crowell 19:37  Well, the first one I pulled up to, it says on Google Maps that they have a thing in there to wash them. They don't. And I was like, are you, are you kidding? I just wasted 10 minutes coming all the way over here, and you don't have what I need. Lesley Logan 19:49  Yeah, so, so then he now has to go the next one, right? So he goes to the next one. He leaves the car running because it's hot out. It's like 90 something degrees. He leaves it running. And the boys are in the passenger seat, watching Brad take Gaia into the van. They're not okay with this. The pack is not together, somehow, though, while he's washing Gaia, so she's in this tub. Brad Crowell 20:10  So they're in the van, I'm in the store. But the the van's running so that the AC could be blasting. And August. Lesley Logan 20:18  Pressed the window button. Brad Crowell 20:19  He goes to the driver's seat, and shoves his nose, but he touches, he steps on the window button, and the window goes down, and sure enough. Lesley Logan 20:27  Jumps out. Brad Crowell 20:28  Two dogs jump out of the van. Lesley Logan 20:29  And they go up to the store, which has those doors that open by themselves. Brad Crowell 20:32  So before that happened, I'm in the back of the store, and I'm washing Gaia, right? She's covered in shit. All of a sudden, up at the front of the store, I hear, oh no, oh no, right, and this now there's multiple people yelling oh no. And then this lady's running down the store, and she's yelling, hey, sir, sir, I think your dogs just got out of the van. I'm like, holding the hose, and it's one of those timer things. So, like, I'm like, all right, I guess I'm gonna have to get more of that once I figure this other thing out. So I throw the water that's already it's still coming out. I just throw it and like, I'm like, Gaia, you stay. And she's looking at me, like, how could I possibly go anywhere? Right? And so I'm running out towards the van right at the same exact time the double doors of this big dog store open, and both August and Bayon come running into the store.Lesley Logan 21:21  Yeah, they ran into the store. So thankfully, they ran into the store and not, like, down the street. I don't even know what we would have done. At any rate.Brad Crowell 21:28  Yeah, I was, like, I was, because there was a parking lot. Like, there was hundreds of cars. It would have been terrible. Lesley Logan 21:33  Yeah. So they ran into the store, so Brad has to get them. Brad Crowell 21:36  So now I got all three dogs in the back, in the dog washing area, because I'm like, screw it. You guys are with me now. We're just gonna all hang out here. Finish washing Gaia. I blow dry Gaia down. And they were like, hey, can we get you a leash? Because the leashes were in the van. It wasn't like that, you know, so, and I was like, that would be so helpful. So they helped me, like, get the dogs on a leash. And, you know, we troop out of it, and everyone's happy because, you know, the dogs came to be with the pack. Lesley Logan 22:04  Yeah, so. Brad Crowell 22:06  Oh, and then I had to zip back just in time for the end of the workshop so that I could do the raffle. Lesley Logan 22:10  And I'm like, wrapping up this workshop, and he's not there. And I'm like, where the fuck is he? Because I can't, I don't know what I'm raffling off like I had to check people into this next thing. I had no idea this was going on. Anyways, oh my God. So this tour we. Brad Crowell 22:24  Chaos. Lesley Logan 22:25  This tour will be not chaotic. Future tours will not be chaotic because we have one dog. Brad Crowell 22:30  Yes, he's very chill. He just wants to lay next to you.Lesley Logan 22:33  He's very chill. Just wants to lay down. He wants to just be there. So I think it was so this is where we're at. No more shenanigans. Real easy. Roll in, roll out. You guys. We have two tours this year. We have a summer tour in the West Coast, into Canada. Please tell your friends, come make a trip out of it. We're doing some really cool cities. We're going to places you're going to want to travel to, and obviously, East Coast, the South check our Winter Tour list. And if you are living anywhere in the world and you want a tour stop, feel free to go to opc.me/host but opc.me/tour get tickets for you and your friends.Brad Crowell 23:06  If you want a tour stop, meaning you would like to host us, go to opc.me/host. If you would like information about the tour itself, go to opc.me/tour.Lesley Logan 23:16  And all of the classes and workshops are for all levels, so your friends and your family can come. These are not made to be only for teachers. There are CECs for the teachers. And again, our headlining sponsor for these next two tours is Balanced Body and Contrology. Oh, and now we have a contour kit, because we're bringing a Reformer, a mat and a Spine Corrector, so you guys can try those things out.Brad Crowell 23:40  Not a chair? Lesley Logan 23:41  No, we didn't buy the chair. Brad Crowell 23:42  Oh, I thought we did.Lesley Logan 23:44  No, we talked about that. Brad Crowell 23:44  All right, failed. Well, that's fine.Lesley Logan 23:47  I would love another chair. But we discussed that. Brad Crowell 23:50  It is big. It's just a lot.Lesley Logan 23:53  We discussed it. It was not the right thing to buy it until the van's more set up,Brad Crowell 23:58  Yeah. So anyway, come try out all that fun stuff. So what would you say would be a Be It Action Item for this episode? Lesley Logan 24:06  Oh, just go buy a ticket to our upcoming tour, because you're gonna have the best time. You're gonna be in community. If you feel lonely, or if you feel burnt out, or if you feel exhausted, then you come on this tour and you, I fill your cup. I prioritize you, I answer your questions. You get to see people you pass as two ships. You get to maybe meet up with people you had no idea love Pilates the same way you do. These literally bring people together. And it doesn't matter how you started Pilates, how many years been doing Pilates, if you teach who trained you. I don't give a fuck. Being in community is the be it action item. It's important.Brad Crowell 24:45  Cool. So my Be It Action Item is when it comes to projects like this, don't be afraid to make changes after you've decided this is how it should work, right, because, for example, if we didn't sell tickets to a spot why are we driving there, right? And that's a bummer, and that's frustrating, but you have to be able to be fluid enough to make changes in the moment when something isn't working or isn't making sense, or not necessarily in the moment, you have to catch it, you can assess it after the fact and do the post mortem, right? For example, from the Summer Tour '24 to the Winter Tour '24 we decided you clearly shouldn't be teaching nine days in a row. That is not healthy, right? So therefore we put a hard stop six days maximum on the way out to Philadelphia. We only taught one stint of six days. Everything else was five, four days in a row before we took a day off on the way back from Philadelphia, same thing, we only had one stint of six days because we were making adjustments and making changes. So, yeah, but I still agree with you that you should come join us because of community. It is so important, especially now with our virtual world, with loneliness being higher than it's ever been, with social media not helping any of us actually function in our own lives. Even though we've been sold this story that somehow it's gonna connect us better, it fucking doesn't, and it's just making us lonelier. So what we're trying to do is actually bring together people in real life, so that we can support each other and be around each other, because we need it. So we would love to meet you, come join us on these tours. Brad Crowell 26:22  Yes, all right, loves, until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 26:25  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 26:27  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 27:10  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 27:15  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 27:19  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 27:26  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 27:30  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

All your best best and inside information for The Belmont at Saratoga Springs. We have expert analysis from the top handicappers in the game plus a deep dive into the world of horse ownership with Furlong Furlong.

In this special family-filled episode, Kyle and Shannon take you along as they bring Shan's parents to the Most Magical Place on Earth—Walt Disney World!

Francine is sharing the details of her solo adventures in Walt Disney World.  From her time at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to her directional challenges at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.  She wraps up the trip at Saratoga Springs where her and Carrie finally meet up at Earl of Sandwich no less! Hear about the heat, the challenges in the parks and the fun that is always happening at Walt Disney World on this episode. For more information: Mears Connect:  https://pixiedustfan.com/disney-airport-bus-mears-connect/ Vacation Grocery Delivery:  https://pixiedustfan.com/vacation-grocery-delivery-disney/ Find Francine and Carrie online: Website: https://PixieDustFan.com Instagram: @PixieDustFan Carrie on Instagram: @MuppetCrazy Facebook: Pixie Dust Fan  Pixie Dust Fan Facebook group: PixieDustFanGroup Support Pixie Dust Fan by shopping our affiliates Find Pixie Dust Fan on YouTube: Pixie Dust Fan  

In this Apostle Talk interview, Saratoga Race Course Chaplain, Alberto Matos tells his unlikely story of God calling him from a life of drugs and prison, to serve Him and work to help others. Alberto serves as the Chaplain at the horse track, but he also is the Pastor of Aguas Vivas, a Spanish speaking church that meets Sunday nights at First Baptist in Saratoga Springs.Connect with Alberto:518.723.5300alberto@rtcany.orghttps://www.nyrtca.org/https://aguasvivaselim.com/Apostle Talk is a production of Iron Sheep Ministries:Support Iron Sheep Ministries: https://Ironsheep.org/donateListen to the podcast: https://anchor.fm/ironsheepContact Dave & the ISM team: info@ironsheep.orgBe notified of each new teaching, join the email list: http://eepurl.com/g-2zAD

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe talks with Amy Hughes about the journey of hosting a Church Mental Health Summit at her church in Saratoga Springs, New York. Amy shares her experiences, lessons learned, and the surprising connections that made the event so impactful. From building community partnerships to encouraging difficult conversations about mental health, Amy's insights are a powerful reminder of the church's role in fostering healing and hope. Quotes Amy Hughes: "I have never had anyone say to me, 'We wish you hadn't done that.' In general, the feedback is very positive." Laura Howe: "If we don't step outside our comfort zones, we miss out on incredible moments." Amy Hughes: "You cannot do this alone. Gather a team of like-minded people who believe in what you're trying to do."Laura Howe: "It's vulnerable, uncomfortable, and a lot of work, but the impact is worth every bit of effort."Amy Hughes: "Don't assign yourself a single job on the day of the event except to host. It allows you to actually connect with people." Resources https://www.newtownroad.org/ Apply to become a Summit host Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

We welcome back Dr. Susan Sikule of the Just Cats Veterinary Clinic in Guilderland, New York and Dr. Kris Dallas of Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary Services in Saratoga Springs. Ray Graf hosts.

432 - Discover Disney Springs Like Never Before - Essential Disney World Vacation Tips from Orlando Experts! Join Rob and Kerri Stuart for episode #432 of Disney Travel Secrets as they reveal insider secrets for maximizing your Disney Springs experience! Broadcasting from their CMV studio in Orlando, Florida, these Disney vacation experts share game-changing tips you won't find anywhere else. What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Alink Insurance ((303) 752-6479) gives us some tips on reducing the cost of your auto policy and explains why Utah residents are better off with a broker who knows the locale. Alink Insurance City: Saratoga Springs Address: 463 Founders Boulevard Website: https://www.alink2insurance.com

“In an age of seeming isolationism, where some countries tend to isolate, this is such a great way to bring people together. When you're doing music and the arts, all those barriers just fall away. People are just collaborating and having fun. It's such a bridge-building endeavor. I don't mean that to sound cheesy either, because I just think it is really amazing. They end up being ambassadors who go back to their own country and say, “Wow, I had a great time at this festival in America or in the Netherlands.” It ends up being one more step in our way, with our organization, of trying to connect people together in an age when so many people seem to want to hide out and not connect. We're big advocates of connecting, and that's another great reason why I think we love to do this. too.”Today's guests are composer Robert Paterson and violinist Victoria Paterson, the visionary duo behind Mostly Modern Festival & Projects, an organization dedicated to celebrating music by living composers through performance, education, and community outreach.Robert's work is known for its rhythmic energy, emotional range, and inventive themes—from environmentalism and mythology to technology and modern relationships. Based in Saratoga Springs and NYC, he's been recognized with numerous honors, including the Classical Recording Foundation's Composer of the Year at Carnegie Hall and a Grammy® for Three Way. His music is performed by major orchestras and ensembles across the globe and regularly featured on NPR. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Mostly Modern Festival, which takes place in both Saratoga Springs and the Netherlands.Victoria has built a multifaceted career across classical, Broadway, and commercial music, performing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The Today Show. As General Director of Mostly Modern Projects, she leads year-round programming that brings music into hospitals, public parks, and senior centers, while also mentoring emerging artists across the country.Episode WebsiteSeason 3 of Business & Society focuses on CEOs, Sustainability & Environmental SolutionsBusiness & Society is a limited series co-hosted by Bruce Piasecki.

“In an age of seeming isolationism, where some countries tend to isolate, this is such a great way to bring people together. When you're doing music and the arts, all those barriers just fall away. People are just collaborating and having fun. It's such a bridge-building endeavor. I don't mean that to sound cheesy either, because I just think it is really amazing. They end up being ambassadors who go back to their own country and say, “Wow, I had a great time at this festival in America or in the Netherlands.” It ends up being one more step in our way, with our organization, of trying to connect people together in an age when so many people seem to want to hide out and not connect. We're big advocates of connecting, and that's another great reason why I think we love to do this. too.”Today's guests are composer Robert Paterson and violinist Victoria Paterson, the visionary duo behind Mostly Modern Festival & Projects, an organization dedicated to celebrating music by living composers through performance, education, and community outreach.Robert's work is known for its rhythmic energy, emotional range, and inventive themes—from environmentalism and mythology to technology and modern relationships. Based in Saratoga Springs and NYC, he's been recognized with numerous honors, including the Classical Recording Foundation's Composer of the Year at Carnegie Hall and a Grammy® for Three Way. His music is performed by major orchestras and ensembles across the globe and regularly featured on NPR. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Mostly Modern Festival, which takes place in both Saratoga Springs and the Netherlands.Victoria has built a multifaceted career across classical, Broadway, and commercial music, performing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The Today Show. As General Director of Mostly Modern Projects, she leads year-round programming that brings music into hospitals, public parks, and senior centers, while also mentoring emerging artists across the country.Episode WebsiteSeason 3 of Business & Society focuses on CEOs, Sustainability & Environmental SolutionsBusiness & Society is a limited series co-hosted by Bruce Piasecki.

“In an age of seeming isolationism, where some countries tend to isolate, this is such a great way to bring people together. When you're doing music and the arts, all those barriers just fall away. People are just collaborating and having fun. It's such a bridge-building endeavor. I don't mean that to sound cheesy either, because I just think it is really amazing. They end up being ambassadors who go back to their own country and say, “Wow, I had a great time at this festival in America or in the Netherlands.” It ends up being one more step in our way, with our organization, of trying to connect people together in an age when so many people seem to want to hide out and not connect. We're big advocates of connecting, and that's another great reason why I think we love to do this. too.”Today's guests are composer Robert Paterson and violinist Victoria Paterson, the visionary duo behind Mostly Modern Festival & Projects, an organization dedicated to celebrating music by living composers through performance, education, and community outreach.Robert's work is known for its rhythmic energy, emotional range, and inventive themes—from environmentalism and mythology to technology and modern relationships. Based in Saratoga Springs and NYC, he's been recognized with numerous honors, including the Classical Recording Foundation's Composer of the Year at Carnegie Hall and a Grammy® for Three Way. His music is performed by major orchestras and ensembles across the globe and regularly featured on NPR. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Mostly Modern Festival, which takes place in both Saratoga Springs and the Netherlands.Victoria has built a multifaceted career across classical, Broadway, and commercial music, performing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The Today Show. As General Director of Mostly Modern Projects, she leads year-round programming that brings music into hospitals, public parks, and senior centers, while also mentoring emerging artists across the country.Episode WebsiteSeason 3 of Business & Society focuses on CEOs, Sustainability & Environmental SolutionsBusiness & Society is a limited series co-hosted by Bruce Piasecki.

The artists retreat, Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY nurtures talent, offering superb working space and time for artists, an engaged audience for their work, and a vibrant hub where diverse ideas and voices converge to inspire innovation.Since the first group of guests arrived in 1926, more than 6,500 artists have come to Yaddo. Such sustained support has helped launch and sustain some of the most celebrated careers in the arts.Collectively, Yaddo artists have won 83 Pulitzer Prizes, 1 Nobel Prize, 13 Academy Awards, 71 Emmy Awards, 34 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowships, 71 National Book Awards, 500+ Guggenheim Fellowships, and 16 Tony Awards.

Hello to you listening in Saratoga Springs, New York!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.  Over 100 years ago Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, 'We can have a democratic society or we can have the concentration of great wealth in the hands of the few. We cannot have both.” [Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice from 1916-1939]Here we are again. What to do? We organize and work together. If there's no one to start it, you start it. Find your Ordinary Persons, talk with them, listen, have compassion for each other's views, and join together. Step by step your little group of Ordinary Persons can become an Army of Ordinary Persons, maybe even a movement standing up to oppression, greed, injustice. It starts with someone looking around and saying, “I've had it! Enough is enough! This stops now!”The following poem The Low Road by Marge Piercy demonstrates what happens when we organize and work together:The Low Road, by Marge Piercy"What can they doto you? Whatever they want.They can set you up, they canbust you, they can breakyour fingers, they canburn your brain with electricity,blur you with drugs till youcan't walk, can't remember, they cantake your child, wall upyour lover. They can do anythingyou don't stop themfrom doing. How can you stopthem? Alone, you can fight,you can refuse, you cantake what revenge you canbut they roll over you. But two people fightingback-to-back can cut througha mob, a snake-dancing filecan break a cordon, an armycan meet an army. Two people can keep each othersane, can give support, conviction,love, massage, hope, sex.Three people are a delegation,a committee, a wedge. With fouryou can play bridge and startan organization. With sixyou can rent a whole house,eat pie for dinner with noseconds, and hold a fund raising party.A dozen make a demonstration.A hundred fill a hall.A thousand have solidarity and your own newsletter;ten thousand, power and your own paper;a hundred thousand, your own media;ten million, your own country. It goes on one at a time,it starts when you careto act, it starts when you doit again and they said no,it starts when you say Weand you know who you mean,and each day you mean one more."Click to access The Low Road, by Marge PiercySaturday June 14th is No King Day and Flag Day! Get together with some folks, bash the birthday cake fly your flag because our flag is tied to our Constitution and our Constitution is our democracy and in a democracy it is “We the People” - no king.Thank you for listening!  You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and Opt In to stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.

Troy Foundry Theatre's latest production, “Antonio, or What I Would,” is a new exploration of the queerness of the devoted pirate in Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night.” The piece was developed at the Play On Labs with Troy Foundry Theatre in 2024.Written by Brenna Geffers and Shayne David Cameris and performed by Cameris, “Antonio, or What I Would” features Jake Blouch's music performed by Connor Armbruster and will have performances May 31st and June 1st at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, New York.

On episode 615, our pal Amy Rhodes shares the magic of her family's Easter trip to Disney World—staying at Saratoga Springs, hunting for Easter eggs at EPCOT's Flower & Garden Festival, and soaking up the wonder through her daughter's eyes (yes, there were a few tears!). Featuring: Reach Momma and Auntie Judy for trip planning – TravelinTiaras@gmail.com Contribute to the show at www.patreon.com/geekinonwdw Show tshirts available at our Teepublic store Email me at curt.stone@GeekinOnWDW.com

On this Brand Spotlight episode, Alex Quin covers the unexpected resurgence of Saratoga Spring Water, a premium bottled water brand dating back to 1872. Originally celebrated for its distinct cobalt blue bottle and sourced from Saratoga Springs, NY, the brand recently skyrocketed in popularity after fitness influencer Ashton Hall featured it in a viral TikTok video. Alex explains how organic influence, visual branding, and quick social media engagement turned Saratoga into the internet's favorite wellness water almost overnight. He also explores the competition Saratoga faces in the saturated premium water market and how this viral moment opens new opportunities—and new challenges.Episode Outline[00:00] Introduction and setting the stage for Saratoga experience[00:00] Behind the scenes: key moments and memorable interviews[00:01] Reflections on growth, connections, and opportunities[00:01] Big lessons learned from covering events like Saratoga[00:02] Final takeaways and advice for future event creatorsWisdom NuggetsTrust the Power of Visual Identity: Saratoga's distinct cobalt blue bottle made it instantly recognizable and memorable—proving the importance of a strong visual signature.Organic Influence is Gold: The best marketing moments often aren't paid. Authenticity from influencers can spark movements money can't buy.Stay Ready for Virality: When opportunity knocks, speed matters. Saratoga's social media team embraced the attention immediately, maximizing their momentum.Heritage Adds Value: A 150-year history isn't just nostalgia—it's brand trust. Legacy can be a strong competitive advantage if positioned correctly.Adaptation Is Key: Markets evolve, and even century-old brands must innovate and interact with new audiences through modern channels like TikTok.Power Quotes:"When virality knocks, you've got to open the door and fast." - Alex Quin"Competing with giants means every edge counts." - Alex Quin"Your brand's look and quality always matters." - Alex QuinConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, we bring you a May Day special, focusing on labor. The following program of oral histories was conducted by undergraduate students in History 263: American Labor History, a course taught by Professor Eric J. Morser at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, as part of The Saratoga Labor History Digital Archive. Project Credits: Project Manager: Professor Eric J. Morser, History Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York Audio Editor and Narrator: Emma Gill Project Consultant/Community Producer: Willie Terry The project was produced in collaboration with MDOCS Co-Creation Initiative and Hudson Mohawk Magazine. It was supported by the MDOCS Co-Creation Initiative and funded in part by the Mellon Foundation. Special thanks to Angela Beallor Press.

We welcome back Dr. Susan Sikule of the Just Cats Veterinary Clinic in Guilderland, New York and Dr. Kris Dallas of Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary Services in Saratoga Springs. Ray Graf hosts.

In this episode we WadeOutThere with Loren Williams from Saratoga Springs, New York.  Loren grew up in Pennsylvania fishing with his father from the time he was three years old.  At seven, he found an old fly rod, his father's fly tying vise and a book on how to tie trout flies by George Harvey.  Loren transformed these tools into a life long love of fly fishing that spanned from fly fishing small ponds with homespun flies, to long days of fishing and learning from George Harvey and Joe Humphries in the local fly shop in State College, to competing on Team USA, guiding, and teaching.  We discuss United Kingdom style loch fishing from a row boat, techniques for small stream fishing in New York, and why Loren has a special place in his heart for one of our western rivers' native fish.Learn More:Instagram @adiposefanEmail: lorenwilliams595@gmail.comVisit WadeOutThere.com/art for 10% off your first original painting or limited edition print from show host and artist Jason Shemchuk Visit TacticalFlyFisher.com and use Promo Code: wade15 at checkout for 15% off you next tactical gear purchase.Newsletter Sign-Up . Sign up for emails with new podcast episodes, blog articles, and updates on artwork from Jason.

 Who should really stay at Walt Disney World's deluxe hotels? Today, I'm chatting with you like I would my best friend and letting you know the good, the bad, and the ugly behind Disney's deluxe resorts. I'm sharing pros and cons, which resorts are massive, and what building you want to request at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Come find out if these resorts are the right fit for you!  Get A QuoteStart listening to my resort series here!  Episode 143Want the latest travel deals and all my tips for Disney, Universal and Cruising?Join my email newsletterI hope you enjoyed today's show. I'd love to connect with you over on Instagram @mountains_of_magic or Facebook at Fantastical Vacations by Daniele. If you would like help in planning an upcoming Disney or Universal vacation, email me at danielerobbins@fantasticalvacations.com or fill out a quote form to get started planning the magic Get A Quote Want to try fetch rewards and get free gift cards by scanning receipts? Use my code 8G48W to get 2000 points at sign up. FETCH REWARDSMy Website mountainsofmagic.square.siteMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/bring-the-funLicense code: E9BZCTS1O3JRPERX This podcast is not sponsored or supported by Fetch Rewards. Views of the host are her own. 

In this episode we discuss: The perks of Saratoga Springs Resort Using DAS at Disney Changing plans on the fly Doing Disney in just two days Listen to the full episode for all of this and more! Have thoughts on this trip? We'd love to hear from you! Resources See photos from Vicki's trip here Learn more about Saratoga Springs resort here Learn about renting DVC points here Learn about DAS here Get a quote on a Disney Vacation here Double Your WDW Amazon Shop Do you want to be a guest and share your trip report? Never Miss an Episode Subscribe on iTunes Join Julie's newsletter Help the show. Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one because I love your input! Subscribe on iTunes Follow Us! Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Like on Facebook Follow on YouTube Let's Connect Do you have tips you want to share with other listeners? Do you want to be a guest and share your Disney expertise? Do you want to be a guest and share your trip report? Contact me! I'd love to hear from you. Plan Your Best Disney World Trip Ever

On today's MJ Morning Show: Airline attendant warns to lock up your toothbrush in a hotel Morons in the news 6'4" female employee fired from Walmart A $6,000 Buc-ees toy beaver? Fitness influencer makes Saratoga Springs water go viral 67-year-old woman survives car crash, dies in well Gen Z employees are never at their desk Gen Z's aren't taking leftovers home from restaurants Florida woman charged with felony battery with a conch shell Station House BBQ wins 'best Cuban sandwich' at Cuban Sandwich Festival Footlocker brings corporate HQ to Pinellas County Polk County school principal accused of skip-scanning at Wal-Mart Station House BBQ owner Allison Fonseca called in MJ driving on fumes IG post Woman turns down coffee meet-up as a cheap date FAA tower fight ends in arrest Kanye does interview dressed in KKK style outfit, says he didn't want kids so early with Kim 'Coyote VS. Acme' movie finally getting a release Jeffrey Epstein accuser says she has 4 days to live Elon Musk's baby-mama (maybe, one of them...) is upset he's cutting child support Children's jewelry-making kit recalled Missing police officer scam Carbon monoxide deaths 8 foods for brain health according to a neurologist 7-Eleven shooting in Tampa Basketball Final 4 this weekend Jane Doe vs Diddy Airplane data may be kept secret by request by FAA Images and videos from Gene Hackman sealed by judge