Podcasts about World Trade Center

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, what is in the president's mail-in voting executive order? It ensures voter integrity and the requirements are common sense, yet Democrats and their media lie about it as an effort to stop women and people of color from voting and call it a grave threat. The Democrats and their slip-and-fall lawyers always seem to be on the side of the cheaters but claim they are just looking out for the rest of us. This executive order is perfectly legitimate. Also, a leaked CBC memo instructed reporters ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 not to refer to the attacks as terrorist attacks, instead describing hijackings that led to passenger jet crashes in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Manhattan that destroyed the World Trade Center. If 9/11 is not terrorism then terrorism does not exist. The left and Islamists in media allow this insanity to spread like poison.  Later, people aren't reading books, especially young people, so they lack independent information and don't understand the history of socialism; they aren't taught it and are instead taught that socialism is fantastic. Many do not know what happened in the Holocaust or the Civil War's massive battles to preserve the Union and end slavery, nor why the Electoral College or the Senate exist. As a result they listen to Rasputin-type figures and radical anti-American faculty with tenure become the only source they have, leaving them without enough knowledge to push back. Afterward, the Democrats did everything they could to stop Ronald Reagan from pursuing the Strategic Defense Initiative, which led to Patriot missiles, among other life-saving technologies. The media regurgitated the Democrats' talking points, and mocked Reagan and "Star Wars."  The Democrats, the media, and the Woke Reich isolations opposed significant increases in our defense budget, which has been shrinking as a percentage of GDP for some time. Meanwhile,  Barack Obama and Biden changed names on forts, ships, mountains. They changed nouns and pronouns. But Trump changes names to promote America and these same people lose what's left of their minds. Finally, Jon Husted calls in to discuss his Senate run against Sherrod Brown in Ohio. Brown tries to portray himself as a moderate but he's a liberal. Husted says the Democratic Socialists are taking over the Democratic party. They want to make us less free and take more control over your money and your future. Husted supports President Trump's polices on the border, trans athletes in women's sports and so one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this special edition of the podcast, marking the 25thanniversary of September 11, 2001, we welcome JEFFREY ROBINSON—international bestselling author, investigative journalist, and one of the most accomplished storytellers working today. The author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, ROBINSON's remarkable body of work includes The Laundrymen: Inside the World's Third Largest Business, biographies including Grace of Monaco: The True Story, and an extraordinary library of investigativeand narrative nonfiction. A native New Yorker who spent 37 years in Europe as a writer and investigative journalist, ROBINSON now lives in New York City.ROBINSON joins us to discuss his powerful and timely newbook, Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11 (ST. MARTIN'S PRESS), published for the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. On that terrible morning, four commercial aircraft were hijacked and used incoordinated terrorist attacks: two struck the World Trade Center in New York City, one crashed into the Pentagon, and UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought back. Nearly 3,000 innocentpeople lost their lives in the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, a tragedy whose impact continues to be felt a quarter-century later.Drawing upon the testimony of more than 60 eyewitnessesto history, many of whom had never previously spoken publicly, ROBINSON takes readers inside the crucial 368 minutes that followed the attacks. From AIR FORCE ONE and the skies over America to the PENTAGON, NORAD, the WHITE HOUSE, military command centers, and communities suddenly overwhelmed by diverted aircraft, Ash and Honor offers a gripping and often astonishing account of the confusion, courage, fear, and split-second decisions that shaped one of the darkest days in American history.In our conversation, ROBINSON sheds new light on the actions and responses of PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, the SECRET SERVICE, DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD, military and aviation officials, and those charged with protecting the nation amid unprecedented chaos. We discuss extraordinary moments aboard AIR FORCE ONE, including a classified phone call between RUMSFELD at thePENTAGON and PRESIDENT BUSH in the air—and the startling moment when PRESIDENT BUSH gave RUMSFELD permission to shoot down a suspected aircraft, a revelation that may surprise many listeners.What exactly happened, what information was believed atthe time, and how close did the nation come to an even more unimaginable decision? That is one of the remarkable stories we explore in this compelling conversation.As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we remember with profound sorrow the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that day, the families whose lives were forever changed, and the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice whilerushing toward danger to save others. We offer our sincere prayers and deepest condolences to all who continue to carry the pain of that terrible day, and we reaffirm a simple but enduring promise: we will remember, we will honor, and we will never forget.Email this podcast: byrnedesk@gmail.com

8/28-9/3: “32 Frames: A 9/11 Mystery”, a new documentary film, is in theaters for one week only, in NYC and LA. A journalist (Jon Walczak) receives 32 new photos of 9/11 from a camera found in the rubble of the World Trade Center — and uses clues in each frame to ID the photographer. For more information, go to 32frames.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Hingson was hosting a training session in his offices on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower on the morning of September 11, 2001. As he reached for some paper, Hingson felt and heard a muffled explosion and the tower bent drastically before snapping back into place.Of course, it was American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the tower - the first of four planes hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists as part of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.Hingson was born blind but knew every inch of his office and the North Tower. Soon he, his guide dog, a colleague, and everyone else in their office began the long descent to the ground floor.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Hingson explains why he was so meticulously prepared for an emergency, how he quickly got a clue abut the cause of the explosion as soon as he entered the stairwell, and what it was like going down 78 floors with countless other people as the firefighters started to make their way up the stairs.Hingson also shares escaping from the World Trade Center only to discover the South Tower was also on fire and what it was like getting caught in the dust storms from both towers collapsing to the ground near him.Finally, Hingson details the fantastic performance of his guide dog, Roselle, that day and how his experience and Roselle's actions actually led to a career change as an author and public speaker.

On this edition of The Adult in the Room, Victoria Taft breaks down major geopolitical escalations, unsealed counterterrorism intelligence, and cultural updates: Operation Economic Outcast & Iran SITREP (Edmond Fitton-Brown): Former UN Sanctions Coordinator and FDD Senior Fellow Edmond Fitton-Brown analyzes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's "Operation Economic Outcast". Fitton-Brown details the secondary sanctions squeeze on China and the UAE, the historic collapse of the Iranian rial past 2 million per dollar, domestic fuel and water shortages in Tehran, and the strategic vulnerability of Al-Qaeda's high command sheltered inside Iran. Al-Qaeda's Post-9/11 Nuclear Plot (Michael Leibowitz): Former Guantanamo Bay prosecutor Michael Leibowitz joins the show to discuss his new book, Second Wave. Leibowitz reveals the classified plot led by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan to smuggle nuclear weapons into U.S. commercial ports via a wealthy New York businessman. He also details why 20th hijacker Mohammed al-Qahtani was released and explains the structural physics behind the World Trade Center collapse. A Tribute to Dolly Parton: Victoria reflects on the life, songwriting genius, and literacy legacy of the late Dolly Parton following her passing. Enes Kanter Freedom & The WNBA: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom attends a WNBA game in Chicago wearing a shirt defining biological womanhood, sparking a viral confrontation. F-18 Ejection Video Analysis: A review of bodycam footage showing a Marine Corps pilot recovering after ejecting from a $72M F/A-18 jet in Yakima, Washington. The Finishing Move (Spencer Pratt's Viral Rant): Victoria breaks down Spencer Pratt's viral monologue dismantling true-crime "mommy-sleuth" TikTok culture, the romanticization of violent criminals like Luigi Mangione, and the erosion of baseline societal morality

Retired Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno joins Jay Horwitz to share his extraordinary story of survival from September 11, 2001. Jimeno recalls arriving at the World Trade Center, surviving the collapse of the Twin Towers and spending 13 hours trapped beneath the rubble before being rescued. Will also discusses the long physical and emotional recovery that followed, the making of Oliver Stone's World Trade Center and the support he received from the Mets while hospitalized. Twenty-five years later, his story remains a powerful reminder of courage, sacrifice and the importance of never giving up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Red Apple Media Owner & Operator John Catsimatidis joins Sid & Friends in the Morning for his weekly Monday morning appearance to begin counting down to WABC Radio's annual Gala, being held this year on the 25-year commemoration of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Step into the urban campfire of late-night radio with host Walter Sterling on The Other Side of Midnight. In this mind-bending hour, Walter and his callers dive deep into a wild mix of fringe theories, cover-ups, and corporate plots. From the disappearance of ancient healing church bells and the lost civilization of Tartaria, to AI-driven human elimination plans and World Trade Center gold bar secrets, this episode tackles the weirdest corners of history. Along the way, Walter explores how standardized education was designed to build workers rather than thinkers, the legacy of ESPN founder Bill Rasmusen, and the hilarious, chaotic differences between how boys and girls pack for college dorms. It's a late-night journey where the truth is stranger than fiction and every conspiracy is just another campfire story waiting to be told.

Surviving 9/11: A Story of Providence, Courage & RemembranceIn this week's Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus and Melanie meet with Daniel Geraghty, who shares his deeply personal and harrowing account of surviving the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.Daniel was a newlywed, transitioning from military life into the corporate world, and working near the World Trade Center. On that September morning, he was preparing to make his way to Tower 2 for business. A seemingly insignificant series of delays—including an unexpected breakfast with his mother-in-law and spilled coffee on his shirt and tie—changed the course of his life. Those few extra minutes meant Daniel was not inside the South Tower when it was struck at 9:03 a.m.When Daniel emerged from the subway near the World Trade Center, he encountered chaos unlike anything he had ever experienced. Sirens filled the streets. Paper rained through lower Manhattan. Looking toward the Towers, Daniel witnessed the North Tower engulfed in fire and people desperately signaling from above.Then the second plane struck.Daniel recalls the tremendous fireball, the concussion, flying debris, and thousands of people running for their lives. Believing he might die, he still found himself unable to ignore a woman who had fallen in the stampede—until another stranger appeared, lifted her from the street, and carried her to safety. It is an image of humanity and courage that has remained with Daniel ever since.Daniel's story is more than an eyewitness account of one of America's darkest days. It is a powerful reflection on survival, providence, service, courage, and the weight of being given another day. For thousands, September 11 remains a story preserved only in remembrance. Daniel knows how close he came to becoming one of them—and why he remains profoundly grateful that his own story continued.In This Episode, You'll Hear: The seemingly ordinary delay Daniel believes saved his life. His transition from the Army into corporate life in New York City. What Daniel witnessed as he emerged from the subway near the World Trade Center. His firsthand account of the moments before and after the second plane struck. The internal struggle between his military instinct to run toward danger and the realization that he needed to get away. The unforgettable acts of courage and humanity Daniel witnessed in the streets. The emotional burden carried by those who survived. Daniel's reflections on gratitude, remembrance, and why September 11 must never be forgotten. This is an intense, moving conversation about a day that changed America forever—and one man's extraordinary experience of being just minutes away from a very different fate.Listen in as Daniel Geraghty takes Marcus and Melanie back to September 11, 2001, sharing what he saw, what he survived, and the moments that continue to live with him more than two decades later.Support Dan:-  IG:  https://www.instagram.com/dan_getready?igsi=c2R3MjlhN2p0OWg3- Order his book here —> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MJTCQKD?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_mwn_dp_4245V5E8YA3SXW7RTZG4&bestFormat=trueSupport TNQ  - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13  -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquitSponsors:  - Navyfederal.org     - Dripdrop.com/TNQ- vinted.com/TNQ  - davidprotein.com/TNQ- quo.com/TNQ   - mengotomars.com [Team Never Quit]  - bubsnaturals.com [Promo code TNQ]   - mizzenandmain.com   [Promo code: TNQ20]   - masterclass.com/TNQ  - ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ]  - Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes  - meetfabiric.com/TNQ  - Prizepicks (TNQ)   - armslist.com/TNQ   -  PXGapparel.com/TNQ  - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ   - shipsticks.com/TNQ   - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}   - Tonal.com [TNQ]  - greenlight.com/TNQ  - drinkAG1.com/TNQ  - Hims.com/TNQ

As America approaches the 25th anniversary of September 11, retired NYPD Detective Sergeant Mike Codella joins Tudor Dixon to share his extraordinary firsthand account of surviving the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Codella was off duty when the first plane struck, but after realizing America was under attack, he raced to Lower Manhattan and ran into the South Tower to help evacuate people. Moments later, the building began to collapse around him. Codella recalls being thrown by the force of the collapse, waking up surrounded by complete darkness and silence, and eventually finding his way to safety. He also remembers returning home that night to discover his family believed he had died at Ground Zero—and reflects on the remarkable unity, courage, and patriotism Americans showed in the days after 9/11. Tudor and Codella discuss why younger generations must be taught what happened on September 11, the importance of remembering the first responders and ordinary Americans who became heroes, and whether America has forgotten some of the lessons learned after the attacks. They also examine Codella's decades fighting crime in New York City, Rudy Giuliani's approach to policing, the consequences of soft-on-crime policies, and Codella's upcoming book, The Evil That Walked New York, which explores some of the darkest criminal cases and mysteries he encountered during his career.Never forget September 11, 2001—and never stop telling the stories of the people who lived it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scattered Steel: The Afterlife of the World Trade Center (Cornell UP, 2026) traces the extraordinary journey of the twisted remnants of the World Trade Center. When the Towers fell on September 11, 2001, nearly all that remained was pulverized concrete and contorted steel. Dr. Samuel and Dr. Max Holleran investigate how fragments of these skyscrapers became modern relics, scattered across all fifty states and beyond, built into hundreds of local memorials in firehouses, parks, and plazas, providing new and creative ways to grieve and remember. Drawing on years of research and interviews with artists, city officials, and first responders, the authors reveal a semi-improvised process that transformed industrial debris into sacred objects. They explore the aesthetics of rust and ruin, the rituals of transport and dedication, and the cultural tensions between grief, patriotism, and public art. From a quiet town square in Wyoming to a monumental glass "book" in Padua, Italy, these memorials tell a story not only of loss but of how communities far from Ground Zero took a piece of the tragedy—and made it their own. At once deeply human and sharply analytical, Scattered Steel asks urgent questions: What does it mean to sanctify matter? How do memorials shape collective memory in an age of global, and highly visual, trauma? And what happens when the symbols of tragedy become part of everyday landscapes? This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Schaap talks about putting together "Living On: The Michael Cammarata Story" about a Staten Island little league player who became a firefighter and was killed on September 11th in the World Trade Center. Mike Lupica talks Mets and Mark Walter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Love: Lessons for Living with Extraordinary Courage–Even After the Worst Day of Your Life by Tim Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593981391 Fftim.com “A powerful reminder that true courage is measured not in strength but in service to others . . . Tim Brown doesn't just tell a story of survival—he delivers a blueprint for leadership under the most extreme circumstances imaginable.”—Gary Sinise “I was profoundly moved by Tim's story of resilience, faith, and enduring purpose.”—Admiral William McRaven, from the foreword Decorated FDNY firefighter, 9/11 survivor, and expert emergency manager Tim Brown shares the lessons he's learned about grief, resilience, sacrificial love, and transforming pain into purpose. Would you be able to stand again after the worst day of your life? How do you keep serving and leading when the task is heavy and the cost is high? On September 11, 2001, FDNY firefighter and emergency manager Tim Brown was inside the World Trade Center complex when the towers fell. Nearly one hundred of his friends and colleagues were killed. He lived—and vowed to never forget. Then came September 12. And every day after that. Days spent first surviving, then grieving, then learning how to transform pain into purpose. Drawing on decades in fire service, disaster response, and national security, as well as on the lessons learned from the fallen heroes, Brown distills the principles of sacrificial service that he forged in the midst of pressure, trauma, and great personal cost. In The Greatest Love, you'll learn: • How to re-discover purpose by finding your sacrificial why • What nine therapists missed about managing grief—and the process that finally worked • Why establishing the DNA of sacrificial service in your life is key • How to connect with your brotherhood and leave a legacy Sacrificial service is the greatest love any of us can show. This means carrying the load when no one is watching, putting service before self-protection, and not letting your loss dictate who you become. Step beyond survival and into a life marked by purpose, resilience, and grace.

In Episode 290 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I speak with FDNY firefighter Scott Miller about his career and his experience on September 11, 2001. Scott was working the night before 9/11 and remained at his firehouse that morning because the incoming crew was unavailable. He describes watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center, realizing New York City was under attack, and the chaos that followed. He also discusses the collapse of the towers, Ground Zero, the recovery operation, FDNY communication problems, the firefighters who never came home, and the brotherhood that kept the department moving forward. Scott shares additional stories from his 25-year FDNY career, including the Father's Day fire, backdrafts, and the realities of working inside burning buildings. This is an important conversation about courage, sacrifice, brotherhood, and remembering the firefighters and first responders who gave everything on September 11th.

Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. Blind from birth, Michael couldn't see the destruction unfolding around him—but at his feet was Roselle, his trusted guide dog.Michael Hingson joins Ric Bratton on This Week in America to discuss his #1 New York Times bestselling book, THUNDER DOG: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero.As chaos engulfed the World Trade Center, Michael and Roselle began the long journey down 78 floors and toward safety. While terrified people, falling debris and uncertainty surrounded them, Roselle remained calm. Michael trusted her, Roselle trusted Michael, and together they demonstrated an extraordinary partnership in one of the darkest moments in American history.But Thunder Dog is more than a 9/11 survival story. Michael shares powerful lessons about trust, teamwork, faith, overcoming fear and refusing to allow blindness—or any perceived limitation—to determine what a person can accomplish.Ric and Michael discuss what happened inside the North Tower that morning, the remarkable bond between Michael and Roselle, how they relied on each other to survive, and how Michael's experiences have shaped his message in the years since September 11.The conversation also explores grief, loss and healing, the assumptions people make about blindness and disability, and why telling our stories can help create understanding and meaningful change.Praised by legendary broadcaster Larry King for celebrating "the power of the human and animal bond," Thunder Dog is an unforgettable story of courage, partnership and the extraordinary trust between a man and his guide dog.This Week in America with Ric Bratton is heard on more than 100 radio stations and podcast platforms worldwide, bringing listeners informative and inspiring conversations with authors, experts and thought leaders.For listeners interested in September 11 history, 9/11 survivor stories, guide dogs, blindness and disability awareness, faith, resilience, courage, overcoming adversity and the human-animal bond, don't miss Ric Bratton's compelling conversation with Thunder Dog author Michael Hingson.Keywords:  Michael Hingson, Michael Hingson interview, Thunder Dog, Thunder Dog book, Thunder Dog Michael Hingson, Roselle guide dog, Michael Hingson Roselle, 9/11 survivor, September 11 survivor, World Trade Center survivor, World Trade Center North Tower, September 11 2001, 9/11 stories, Ground Zero, guide dog, guide dogs, service animals, blindness, blind author, disability awareness, human animal bond, faith and trust, courage, resilience, overcoming adversity, survival story, inspirational story, New York Times bestseller, Ric Bratton, This Week in America, This Week in America with Ric Bratton, author interview, inspirational podcast 

Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. Blind from birth, Michael couldn't see the destruction unfolding around him—but at his feet was Roselle, his trusted guide dog.Michael Hingson joins Ric Bratton on This Week in America to discuss his #1 New York Times bestselling book, THUNDER DOG: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero.As chaos engulfed the World Trade Center, Michael and Roselle began the long journey down 78 floors and toward safety. While terrified people, falling debris and uncertainty surrounded them, Roselle remained calm. Michael trusted her, Roselle trusted Michael, and together they demonstrated an extraordinary partnership in one of the darkest moments in American history.But Thunder Dog is more than a 9/11 survival story. Michael shares powerful lessons about trust, teamwork, faith, overcoming fear and refusing to allow blindness—or any perceived limitation—to determine what a person can accomplish.Ric and Michael discuss what happened inside the North Tower that morning, the remarkable bond between Michael and Roselle, how they relied on each other to survive, and how Michael's experiences have shaped his message in the years since September 11.The conversation also explores grief, loss and healing, the assumptions people make about blindness and disability, and why telling our stories can help create understanding and meaningful change.Praised by legendary broadcaster Larry King for celebrating "the power of the human and animal bond," Thunder Dog is an unforgettable story of courage, partnership and the extraordinary trust between a man and his guide dog.This Week in America with Ric Bratton is heard on more than 100 radio stations and podcast platforms worldwide, bringing listeners informative and inspiring conversations with authors, experts and thought leaders.For listeners interested in September 11 history, 9/11 survivor stories, guide dogs, blindness and disability awareness, faith, resilience, courage, overcoming adversity and the human-animal bond, don't miss Ric Bratton's compelling conversation with Thunder Dog author Michael Hingson.Keywords:  Michael Hingson, Michael Hingson interview, Thunder Dog, Thunder Dog book, Thunder Dog Michael Hingson, Roselle guide dog, Michael Hingson Roselle, 9/11 survivor, September 11 survivor, World Trade Center survivor, World Trade Center North Tower, September 11 2001, 9/11 stories, Ground Zero, guide dog, guide dogs, service animals, blindness, blind author, disability awareness, human animal bond, faith and trust, courage, resilience, overcoming adversity, survival story, inspirational story, New York Times bestseller, Ric Bratton, This Week in America, This Week in America with Ric Bratton, author interview, inspirational podcast 

Sent Back to School While the Fires Still Burned. Why Isn't Women's Health Covered by the 9/11 Health Program? 25 Years of Political Theater. Twenty-five years on, Washington still frames 9/11 as a story of heroes and villains — and quietly counts on the rest of us to forget the civilians in between. Paul sits down with survivor advocate Lila Nordstrom, who was a high school junior three blocks from the World Trade Center when the towers fell, and who was marched back into that building on October 9, 2001 while the fires were still burning. Her story is not a footnote to the first-responder fight. It is the part of 9/11 the political class worked hardest to bury, because acknowledging it would mean admitting the reopening of lower Manhattan was political theater with a body count. This conversation cuts through the symbolism. Lila breaks down the two-tier structure of the Zadroga Act, why the survivor program forces you to get sick before it will screen you, and why uterine cancer — the only major reproductive cancer still excluded — keeps getting rejected for coverage. She and Paul connect the dots from 9/11 to Flint to COVID to PFAS in firefighter bunker gear, and expose the same rigged pattern every time: leaders choose short-term optics over long-term lives, and then dare exhausted victims to keep coming back to Washington to beg. It is a masterclass in how citizen activism actually works, why it should never have had to, and what independents owe the next generation of Americans who get caught in the next disaster. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

+++ Weitere Infos zu unseren Werbepartnern finden Sie hier: https://linktr.ee/spurensuche +++ Incogni ➼ Hol dir deine persönlichen Daten mit Incogni zurück! Gib einfach den Code spuren über den Link unten ein und hol dir 60 % Rabatt auf ein Jahresabo: https://incogni.com/spuren Außer der Reihe gibt es etwas Bewegendes zu hören. Demnächst jähren sich die Terroranschläge vom 11. September zum 25. Mal. Ein monströses Verbrechen, dem Tausende zum Opfer fielen, ein Tag, der den Lauf der Geschichte in ein Davor und Danach teilte. Ein Team von GEO EPOCHE hat die schrecklichen Ereignisse in einer packenden sechsteiligen Podcast-Serie minutiös rekonstruiert. Sie verfolgt die Terroristen beim CheckIn in Boston, ist bei den Menschen an Bord der entführten Flugzeuge, bei denen, die am Morgen des 11. September ahnungslos zur Arbeit im World Trade Center gehen - und taucht in die Hölle ein, in die sich das höchste Gebäude der Welt kurz drauf verwandelt. Die erste Folge könnt ihr hier kostenlos hören, die ganze Serie gibt es ab sofort hier auf GEO+: www.geo.de/september Dieser Podcast wird vermarktet von Julep Media: sales@julep.de Wir verarbeiten im Zusammenhang mit dem Angebot unserer Podcasts Daten. Wenn Sie der automatischen Übermittlung der Daten widersprechen wollen, melden Sie sich hier: datenschutz@julep.de

www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcastMost people, when they hear "World Trade Center," think of one date. But eight years before September 11th, the Twin Towers were already a target — and the man behind it wanted to bring down both buildings at once.On February 26, 1993, Ramzi Yousef detonated a truck bomb in the parking garage beneath the North Tower, hoping to topple it sideways into the South Tower and kill a quarter of a million people at lunchtime. He failed — but not by much. Six people died, over a thousand were injured, and roughly 50,000 people evacuated through smoke-filled stairwells in what was, at the time, the largest evacuation in American history.In this episode, Eric, Sean, and Jorge dig into the story almost nobody remembers: the co-conspirator who got caught because he wanted his $400 deposit back, the FBI informant whose secretly recorded tapes suggest the bombing could have been stopped, the now-debunked Iraq conspiracy theory that helped shape a war, and the bomb-maker who vanished into Baghdad and has never been found. They also trace the single $660 wire transfer that connects this attack to Yousef's uncle — a man named Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who would return eight years later to finish what his nephew started.This is Episode 163, and the official start of the show's lead-in to the 25th anniversary of 9/11.Patreon members get early access to every episode in this series, plus exclusive bonus content not available anywhere else.

Architect Richard Gage talks with America Unplugged about the upcoming Turning the Tide 9/11 conference, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and the evidence he argues points to controlled demolition of the World Trade Center buildings, including Building 7. The episode covers eyewitness accounts, scientific studies cited by Gage, high-profile speakers and films, and how listeners can attend or stream the event and follow related legal and investigative efforts.

“Obituaries are about life, about the lives that people have lived. Death only figures in one sentence.” — Sam Roberts This is, remarkably, episode 3,000 of Keen On America — three thousand conversations since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010. Fitting, then, that today's guest has written nearly 1,500 obituaries for the New York Times. Sam Roberts is a reporter on the Times' obituaries desk and has a new book about the art of the obit entitled Are They Dead Yet? We recorded this a week before airtime, so I began by asking who's going to die in the interim. He wasn't sure — but noted that the Times keeps 2,000 advance obituaries ready. There are, he added, never enough. Beware, though, the Rockefeller curse. Roberts wrote David Rockefeller's advance obituary, whereupon he learned that three other Times reporters had written Rockefeller advance obits — and all three were dead. (Rockefeller made it to 101.) Borrowing from Citizen Kane, Roberts hunts for the Rosebud moment, the epiphany that defines a life. He hunts for the soul of the subject, not the résumé. Hence his cheerful paradox that obituaries are about life, whereas death only figures in one sentence. As for famous last words, he's a skeptic — most were composed later by better writers. The real ones, he suspects, are “help,” or “get me a drink.” And the obituarist's own Rosebud moment? We have to go back to Brooklyn when he was a six-year-old boy. His father walked him to the corner to watch the Rosenberg funeral procession pass. “I want you to see history as it's happening,” he explained. Half a century later, Roberts got David Greenglass to admit he had lied about the testimony that sent his own sister, Ethel Rosenberg, to the electric chair. From the Times' Portraits of Grief after 9/11, Roberts learned the book's deepest lesson. There are no ordinary lives. Who would you miss more — your mayor or your mailman? Or maybe your obit writer (or even your podcaster)? Sam promised that if he died before airtime, he'd call. The phone hasn't rung. I'm still going too. On to episode 3,001. Five Takeaways •       2,000 Obits, Never Enough. The Times keeps some 2,000 advance obituaries on file, regularly updated — and people still surprise the desk (and presumably themselves) by dying unexpectedly. Print once had a deadline or two a day; now there's a deadline every minute. The occupational hazards are real: three Times reporters wrote advance obits of David Rockefeller and predeceased him — Roberts, the fourth, survived to see his run when Rockefeller died at 101. And the genre changes its readers: “no man who has seen his own obit is ever the same again.” Alfred Nobel, mistakenly obituarized as dynamite's merchant of death, endowed the Nobel Prizes in response — proof that a premature obituary can be the most consequential document a man ever reads.•       The Rosebud Method. Roberts' organizing device comes from Citizen Kane: the Rosebud moment, the epiphany — a teacher, a meeting, an accident — that changed the trajectory of a life and made it worth recording. The model, via The Economist's Ann Wroe, is the soul rather than the stenography: Wikipedia has the chronology; the obituary hunts the essence. Advance obits are never vetted by their subjects — facts checked, yes; the portrait, never — because an obituary is a news story, not a eulogy. And the form's great secret is optimism: obituaries are about life. Death gets one sentence. (Famous last words, meanwhile, are mostly posthumous fiction. The real ones: “help,” or “get me a drink.”)•       Giuliani, Trump, Epstein. The hardest working file on Roberts' desk: Rudy Giuliani — aggressive prosecutor, the mayor who proved New York governable, then a bitter Trump apologist indicted under the same statutes he once used on mobsters. How do you compress that into a lead paragraph? Andrew's suggestion — a narrative of somebody who had a soul and then sold it — requires Shakespeare; Roberts insists on newspaper objectivity, omitting nothing and editorializing never. The Trump obituary already exists (its subject, Roberts guesses, would sue). And context keeps moving after death: Bush the defeated loser became Bush the elder statesman; Epstein's reputation kept falling posthumously. Of the 150,000 people who die each day, three or four make the Times.•       The Rosenberg Rosebud. Roberts' own epiphany arrived at age six, on a Brooklyn street corner where his father took him to watch the Rosenberg funeral procession: “I want you to see history as it's happening.” His family otherwise met death with denial — six months after his father died, an aunt asked how Arthur was doing could only answer “so-so.” The Rosenberg thread ran through his whole career: decades later, for his book The Brother, David Greenglass admitted to Roberts that he had lied about the most incriminating testimony against his sister Ethel — evidence that, truthfully given, would likely have spared her the electric chair. When Roberts assigned graduate students to write his own advance obituary, none of them led with that. He would.•       No Ordinary Lives. From Portraits of Grief — the Times' profiles of virtually every victim of the World Trade Center attack — Roberts drew the book's central lesson: there are no ordinary lives. Who would you miss more, your mayor or your mailman? Carlyle asked whether history belongs to Hannibal or to the anonymous man who invented the spade. The desk has honored the principle in both directions: a front-page obituary for Hercule Poirot (the most famous Belgian, as Andrew noted), and a Jesus of Nazareth obituary written as the Times would have run it in AD 33 — ending, for lack of further confirmation, with the report that he was buried and his body disappeared. No beat generates more reader feedback. “As long as they're reading it, I'm happy.” About the Guest Sam Roberts is a fifty-year veteran of New York journalism, an obituaries reporter and former Urban Affairs correspondent at the New York Times, and the host of the Times' “Close Up,” which he inaugurated in 1992. His many books include The Brother, Grand Central, A History of New York in 101 Objects, and Only in New York. A history adviser to Federal Hall, he lives in New York with his wife and two sons. Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit (Bloomsbury, August 11, 2026) draws on the nearly 1,500 obituaries he has written for the Times. References: •       Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts (Bloomsbury, August 11, 2026). Carl Hiaasen: “Mordantly wonderful.” Roz Chast: “I almost died laughing.”•       The Brother by Sam Roberts — in which David Greenglass admitted lying about the testimony that sent his sister, Ethel Rosenberg, to the electric chair.•...

TEATIME WITH MISS LIZ SERVES: Michael Hingson August 11th | 7 PM ESTTitle:Live Like a Guide Dog: Courage, Trust & Living Beyond FearTagline:Fear may prepare us—but courage, trust, and faith determine how we move forward.Description: On August 11th at 7 PM EST, Teatime with Miss Liz proudly welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and 9/11 survivor Michael Hingson.Blind since birth, Michael has spent his life proving that limitations do not define potential. His remarkable journey captured the world's attention on September 11, 2001, when he and his guide dog, Roselle, safely led themselves and countless others down 78 flights of stairs from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.His inspiring story became the #1 New York Times bestseller Thunder Dog, touching millions of readers worldwide.Now, through his newest book, Live Like a Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and His Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith, Michael shares the powerful life lessons his guide dogs have taught him about trust, resilience, courage, teamwork, and transforming fear into purposeful action.Today, Michael continues travelling the world as an internationally respected keynote speaker, podcast host of The Unstoppable Mindset, and advocate for inclusion, accessibility, leadership, and the extraordinary bond between humans and guide dogs.Join Miss Liz for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, faith, leadership, overcoming adversity, and discovering that our greatest obstacles often become our greatest teachers.Opening: Welcome everyone to Teatime with Miss Liz, where every conversation reminds us that resilience is not measured by what happens to us—but by how we choose to move forward.Tonight, it is my great honour to welcome a man whose story has inspired millions around the world.Michael Hingson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, internationally recognized keynote speaker, podcast host, and advocate whose life has become a living example of courage, trust, and unwavering determination.Blind since birth, Michael has never allowed others to define what he could accomplish. On September 11, 2001, alongside his guide dog Roselle, he safely escaped the World Trade Center, reminding the world that preparation, trust, calm leadership, and courage can prevail even in humanity's darkest moments.Through his newest book, Live Like a Guide Dog, Michael teaches us that fear is not our enemy—it is what we choose to do with fear that shapes our future.Michael, welcome to Teatime with Miss Liz. It is truly an honour to share your remarkable journey. Closing: Today's conversation reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear—it is the decision to keep moving forward despite it.Michael's extraordinary journey teaches us that trust, preparation, resilience, and faith can carry us through life's greatest challenges. His partnership with his guide dogs demonstrates the incredible power of teamwork, while his advocacy continues to break barriers surrounding disability, inclusion, and human potential.Thank you, Michael, for sharing your wisdom, your heart, and your unwavering belief that every obstacle can become an opportunity to grow.Your story continues to inspire people around the world to live with purpose, confidence, compassion, and an unstoppable mindset.Michael Hingson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and advocate for inclusion and accessibility. Blind since birth, he survived the September 11 attacks alongside his guide dog Roselle, inspiring millions through his books, including Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog, and his message of courage, trust, and resilience.#TeatimeWithMissLiz#MichaelHingson#LiveLikeAGuideDog#UnstoppableMindset#TriumphTrustAwarenesshttps://michaelhingson.com/

In Episode 289 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, Chazz speaks with FDNY veteran Tony Bonfiglio, author of Tales from the Tiller. Tony joined the FDNY in 1983 and spent more than two decades serving New York City. He shares his firsthand experience of September 11, 2001, including coming off a 24-hour shift that morning, learning what had happened, returning to his firehouse, and making his way toward the World Trade Center. Tony also discusses the friends he lost, the conditions at Ground Zero, other dangerous fires throughout his career, the brotherhood of the FDNY, and the story behind his memoir, Tales from the Tiller. This is a moving conversation about New York City, sacrifice, courage, friendship, and the men and women who ran toward danger when everyone else was running away.

What does it take to chase your dreams when life throws unimaginable obstacles in your path?In this compelling episode of Off The Block, host Q. Lewis sits down with Brooklyn filmmaker, producer, and tech professional Abe Narvaez for one of the most heartfelt conversations of the season. From navigating the worlds of independent filmmaking and information technology to sharing deeply personal memories of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Abe delivers a story that is equal parts inspiring, emotional, and unforgettable.Abe reflects on the heartbreaking loss of former co-workers in the World Trade Center on 9/11, offering a firsthand perspective on a moment that forever changed New York City—and the nation. He also discusses how those experiences shaped his outlook on life, creativity, and pursuing meaningful work.But this conversation isn't just about tragedy. It's filled with laughs, lessons, ambition, and honest conversations about what it means to build a career across multiple industries while never giving up on your creative vision. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, a creative entrepreneur, or someone looking for motivation to keep pushing forward, this episode has something for you.

Tom O'Connor, Retired Lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department joins Chris and Amy to share his experience responding on 9/11, and how the the Tunnel to Towers Foundation supports wounded veterans, Gold Star families and fallen first responder families. He also previews the World Trade Center steel beam display near Busch Stadium.

Chris and Amy first talk with retired FDNY Lt. Tom O'Connor about his experience responding on 9/11, the mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the World Trade Center steel beam visiting near Busch Stadium. St. Louis County Assessor and Democratic County Executive candidate Jake Zimmerman then discusses his primary victory, the county's budget challenges, rebuilding trust with the County Council and regional cooperation.

Chris and Amy recap Missouri's primary election with Michael Kelley, including Wesley Bell's win, Steve Ehlmann's victory and Jake Zimmerman's successful County Executive campaign. Sarah Fenske discusses the election results and the St. Louis-based “Betting on the Wedding” app, while Jen Siess breaks down CITY SC's playoff push and Marcel Hartel's future. Retired FDNY Lt. Tom O'Connor shares his experience responding on 9/11, the mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and details on the World Trade Center steel beam visiting near Busch Stadium. Zimmerman also joins the show to discuss St. Louis County's budget challenges, regional cooperation and his campaign for County Executive.

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino calls in to throw her hat in the ring of loud voices speaking out against Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending this year's 25-year commemoration of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center.

He lost nearly 100 friends on September 11th.Twenty-five years later, he says he has a wonderful life.In this episode, I sit down with retired FDNY firefighter and 9/11 survivor Tim Brown, who was inside the World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks and came within seconds of dying when the South Tower collapsed.We talk about the final conversations he had with the friends he never saw again, the prayer he whispered while holding onto a steel column as the building came down around him, and the grief that nearly broke him in the years that followed.But this conversation isn't just about 9/11.It's about how you survive the worst day of your life.We talk about why Tim went through nine therapists before finding the right one, the small habits that slowly pulled him out of darkness, and why he believes, "It will get better if you just hang in there."Tim Brown is a retired FDNY firefighter and the author of The Greatest Love, a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and humanity he witnessed on September 11, and the lessons that helped him build what he calls "Tim 2.0" 25 years later.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Loss and gratitude(00:37) Tim's role at WTC(02:08) Humanity in evacuation(03:57) Goodbye to Chris(07:04) Captain Hatton farewell(08:20) Elevator rescue attempt(15:00) South Tower collapse(17:45) Praying in darkness(21:08) Marriott survivors escape(26:47) Why he wrote the book(28:24) Tools for grief(33:27) Suicide hope message(36:04) Get off the X(41:09) Brazilian joy story(45:05) Avoidance and roses(48:07) Where to find book(49:09) ClosingJoin the Move Your Mind Community:go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunityConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Tim:https://fftim.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KMOX's Beth Coghlan goes in depth with Stephen Siller Jr. about his dad's story and the Tunnel of Towers Foundation.

Richard Gage is an architect who has been in practice in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years, which include very large fire-proofed, steel framed structures. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the founder and former CEO of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. Richard, along with his wife Gail, continue to conduct his research in to the collapse of the 3 World Trade Center skyscrapers independently. His website RichardGage911.org is a treasure trove of information -- technical articles, white papers, videos, and documentaries dealing with 911 and much more. On his site, his film series -- Crime Scene to Courtroom -- is an ongoing series that presents an in depth account of the demolition of the 3 buildings.  Also this year is 911's 25th anniversary. In remembrance o that day, Richard has organized and will be hosting a 4-day conference in Manhattan from September 10 to 13. Entitled  "Turning the Tide", the conference is hosting a stellar group of researchers and speakers, many who have appeared on this program, including Denis Kucinich, Roger Waters, James Corbett, Danish demolition expert Niels Harrit, Bret Weinstein, Jimmy Dore, and dozens more.  For more information about the conference and registration visit TurningTheTide911.org       GARY... IN ADDITION TO LATER SPEAKING ABOUT THE CONFERENCE, RICHARD WANTS TO BE CERTAIN TO HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THE DEMOLITION OF THE 3 BUILDINGS.     TOPIC:  The official 911 Commission Report -- what are the most important conclusions of the report that the evidence clearly refutes?     TOPIC:  The many ways that the NSIT that was responsible for carrying out the investigation was compromised and failed to follow any genuine science-based investigation into the collapse of the buildings. Include suppression of evidence such as melted steel     TOPIC:  The evidence of foreknowledge of an attack on the WTC     TOPIC:  Foreknowledge and warnings given to people on the ground of a collpase of Building 7 before the demolition TURNING THE TIDE CONFERENCE - September 10 to 13 in Manhattan ... TurningTheTide911.org   Film Series -- CRIME SCENE TO COURTROOM at   RichardGage911.org

Hour 3 of the Thursday Bob Rose Show, on actor James Woods' rant against NYC's Muslim mayor, who leads the city that lost the World Trade Center in an attack by the very religious ideology that wants to invade the US and kill ‘non-believers. Plus, all of the morning's biggest news stories for 7-30-26.

Social Security Commissioner and IRS Commissioner Frank Bisignano joins Lisa Boothe for an in-depth conversation about modernizing America's largest government agencies, eliminating fraud, and bringing private-sector innovation to Washington. Drawing on decades of leadership at Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, First Data, and Fiserv, Bisignano explains why he left the corporate world to serve in the Trump administration, how technology is transforming Social Security, and what Americans should know about the future of Trump Accounts for children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 2099, Jack and Miles are joined by co-hosts of Good Science, Gil Ozeri and Anthony Atamanuik, to discuss… As RFK Catches Sh*t From Trump--America Breaks New Health Record (For Measles), Are The Thousands Of 9/11 Families Who Want Mamdani Banned From The 25th Anniversary In The Room With Us Right Now? White House COKErespondents Dinner? And more! Measles Cases Hit New Record in U.S., as Vaccination Rates Wane US measles cases reach 35-year high Marking the 25th anniversary | National September 11th Memorial & Museum Jon Stewart and Pete Davidson Plan Another All-Star Comedy Event to Benefit 9/11 Charities, 25 Years After the Attacks 9/11 tribute tour 'Steel Across America' makes stop in Salt Lake City Steel beam from World Trade Center makes stop in San Francisco ahead of 9/11 25th anniversary A 9/11 Charity Provides a Financial Safety Net to a Giuliani Firm The truth about the viral 9/11 petition targeting Mamdani Families of 9/11 victims want to ban Mamdani from sacred 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero: ‘unwelcome guest’ Petition from 9/11 families asks NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend remembrance ceremony 9/11 families demand NYC Mayor Mamdani be banned from memorial Mamdani Responds To 9/11 Victims' Families Wanting Him Barred From Tribute Elite class solidarity looks like Kristen Welker laughing it up with white nationalist Stephen Miller. LISTEN: Butter by Apollo BrownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Question Everyone Asks, a 9/11 Hero's Powerful Story, and the Tallest Listener Challenge You Won't Believe!What's the first question people always ask when they find out what you do for a living? That simple question sparked one of the most fascinating conversations yet on The JB and Sandy Show. Listeners called in to share the assumptions, curiosities, and downright funny questions they hear every day, leading to stories from heavy equipment operators, firefighters, and more. One of the most unforgettable moments came when retired firefighter Don shared his personal experience responding to the World Trade Center attacks. His emotional recollection and honest discussion about how those events continue to affect his health created a powerful and heartfelt moment that stopped everyone in their tracks.The laughs kept coming as JB uncovered a surprising secret about Sandy and Tricia's streaming habits, sparking a hilarious conversation about shared passwords, subscription overload, and the lengths families go to save a few bucks. As JB joked, “Are times that tough at the McIlree house?”The crew also launched a new Book of Records challenge, searching for the tallest and shortest listeners in Central Texas. The calls delivered plenty of laughs, unexpected contenders, and one listener who proudly claimed a spot thanks to her 4'11" frame. Plus:A winner is crowned in JB & Sandy's Minute to Win ItListener shoutouts from near and farWhy one caller ditched Wi-Fi, streaming services, and social media altogetherAustin barbecue talk, including a surprising annual shutdown at Franklin BarbecueA heartfelt listener call about the joy of hearing JB and Sandy back on the radioMemorable Moment:"I'm just so happy to have you back." A listener's emotional call reminded the team how deeply radio connections can last across generations.Whether you're here for the laughs, the stories, or the unexpected moments of real life, this episode delivers all three. Enjoyed the show?Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who always gets asked the same question about their job!

Matt McQueeny sits down with longtime digital experience leader and Optimizely MVP Janaka Fernando for a conversation that travels across continents, decades, and the evolution of the web itself. Janaka shares the remarkable story of a life shaped by movement and adaptation: born in Canada, spending his earliest years in Sri Lanka, leaving during the country's civil war, growing up across small-town Ontario, Philadelphia, and New York, and eventually building a life and career in England. The conversation explores identity, immigration, parenthood, nostalgia, and the surprising ways our early environments continue to shape us. Janaka reflects on becoming a father at twenty, starting his technology career during the earliest days of the commercial internet, working in internet cafés, and visiting the World Trade Center only months before September 11. Matt and Janaka also trace the evolution of digital experience—from dial-up modems and early web development to enterprise content management, personalization, experimentation, and agentic marketing. Janaka explains his path from developer to technical pre-sales, consulting, EpiServer, Optimizely, Made to Engage, Valtech, and Altudo, while offering a thoughtful perspective on why Optimizely continues to resonate with enterprise marketers.

Join an active community of RE investors here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersen 

A bestselling computer book and a mayor's office may seem worlds apart, but Dan Gookin's path connects them through curiosity, clear communication, and public service. I talk with the DOS for Dummies author and Coeur d'Alene mayor about making technical writing useful, challenging industries that resist new ideas, and finding success by improving work others do poorly. Dan also shares why he entered local politics, how transparency and community engagement built public trust, and why responsible leadership often means asking the questions others overlook. We close by exploring political division, religious freedom, social media algorithms, and the need to reduce online anger without losing the internet's benefits. Highlights: 00:06:48 - Why leaving your comfort zone creates growth. 00:11:07 - How doing something better can become a business. 00:12:39 - Why writing for beginners changed computer publishing. 00:27:06 - How transparency concerns led Dan into politics. 00:37:30 - Why responsiveness helped Dan earn public trust. 00:54:49 - How social media fuels anger and division. About the Guest: Dan Gookin is the mayor-elect of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, having won election in November 2025 after serving on the City Council since 2011. Known as a fiscal conservative, outspoken advocate for government transparency, and a committed budget hawk who asks tough questions, he is often described as “the lone voice of reason” on the council, consistently championing the public and the “little guy” against bureaucracy. Gookin views his public service as protecting individual rights. He prides himself on listening to all perspectives, welcoming alternative viewpoints, remaining open to new information, and never being a rubber-stamp vote. Professionally, Gookin is known as a writer and online trainer. He has been writing about technology since the early days of personal computing, combining his humor with a passion for gadgets to create informative and entertaining books. He authored the groundbreaking DOS For Dummies in 1991—the world's fastest-selling computer book at the time and the title that launched the iconic For Dummies series, now a publishing phenomenon. With more than 170 titles to his credit, over 12 million copies in print, and translations into more than 30 languages, his popular works include PCs and Laptops For Dummies, Android For Dummies, Word For Dummies, and C For Dummies. He maintains two helpful websites, wambooli.com and c-for-dummies.com. He creates online courses for LinkedIn Learning on diverse topics, and in 2020 published Running for Local Office For Dummies. Gookin graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a BA in Communications/Visual Arts and minors in cognitive psychology and theatrical design. He put his creative talents to work as artistic director of the Lake City Playhouse, where he designed sets, lighting, and directed many productions between 1997 and 2002. First and foremost, Dan considers himself a father who raised four boys in Idaho. Gookin resides in Coeur d'Alene with his wife, Brie, along with various children and pets. In his leisure time, he enjoys woodworking, playing the piano, riding his bike, cooking, gardening, and making lists of things he enjoys doing along with occasionally annoying those who think that they're important. Ways to connect with Dan**:** LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-gookin-46995713/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dangookin 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/ 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  00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hello there, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. I am your host, Michael Hingston, and today we get to chat with Dan Gookin. Do you know who Dan Gookin is? Probably not, but you will by the time we're done. But I will tell you one thing about Dan. He was elected mayor of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in November of 2025. I think Dan, you're the first political person as such that we have had on, which is kind of cool. I'm really honored to to have you here, and and we can spend the the whole time picking on on other politicians, but there's no need to do that. I mean, what good does it do? It's a waste of time. But I want to welcome you to Unstoppable Mindset, and Dan, thanks very much for being here. Dan Gookin  01:44 Thank you, Michael. Thank you for having me on. Michael Hingson  01:46 Well, this will, I think, really be a lot of fun. I'm sorry that you guys aren't getting a lot of snow up there. My brother-in-law has been keeping me posted on the lack of snow, so today here we're expecting a temperature at about 70 degrees. Last week it got up to 39. So I don't know. There's something going on with the climate. Dan Gookin  02:10 Something. Michael Hingson  02:11 Yeah, whatever it is. Speaker 1  02:13 Well, there was a name for that. Michael Hingson  02:15 Yeah, yeah. If if there were enough people, would only believe it. But that's another story. You are right. Well, thanks very much for being here. Why don't we start? Tell me about the early Dan growing up and all that. Speaker 1  02:31 So I grew up in San Diego, California. Good place. I still say San Michael Hingson  02:35 Diego has the best weather in the country. Speaker 1  02:38 They do. It's changed a little bit as everything has, but I escaped from there back in 1991. Went up to Washington State because I was doing some work with Microsoft, and then decided that that was Seattle was another big city. So we kept looking east and finally landed in Idaho in Coeur d'Alene because it's pretty. Michael Hingson  03:01 It's a nice area. So you you did your schooling and all that down in San Diego. Speaker 1  03:06 Yeah, I graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in communication visual arts. That was in 1983. Michael Hingson  03:13 Cool, wow. I've spent many a a day down in San Diego. I lived in Vista for six years, so I'm familiar with the area. Yeah, I liked Vista. Vista was a nice place to be. You Speaker 1  03:24 did a radio show out of Vista. Did you for a while? Yeah, computer call-in show. So that was way back. Michael Hingson  03:32 What did you discuss, or just anything dealing with computers? I Speaker 1  03:36 was editing a magazine, a local computer magazine at the time, and we purchased an hour, and so I would drive from my home in Tierra Santa all the way up to Vista to be in this little tiny radio station, where we would do call-ins. And sometimes people would call in, and I would help them solve their computer problems. And sometimes I had to talk to myself for Michael Hingson  03:57 an hour. And and and did you get answers when you talk to yourself. Speaker 1  04:02 No, but I got really hoarse. Ah, okay. Michael Hingson  04:04 Well, you know, just just checking. Well, that's cool. Well, I guess we could tell everyone that, among other things, Dan is also the author of a number of books, including DOS for Dummies. I still like DOS. Thank you. I I like DOS. I've just always enjoyed it. Although, I have to admit, Windows has progressed a whole lot more. But I always liked DOS. Speaker 1  04:27 Yes, it was good, and and it was its complexity or its a rudeness, I shall say. Yeah, that's a good. Sold the book because you had to type. You had to know the commands in Windows. You can kind of look and point and do all this stuff, but in DOS, you had to know the commands and type the commands, and people wouldn't-they couldn't remember. There were all these options, and so we sold a lot of books doing that. It's still, like I said, I I like it too. I like the command line because it's faster if you know what you have to type. Yeah, it takes less time to type. Than it does to look around, point and shoot with the mouse. Michael Hingson  05:04 Yeah, there are a number of blind people on some list serves that I am part of that every so often something regarding DOS comes up, which is I think kind of cool. Speaker 1  05:15 Yep, hasn't gone away. It's it's still lurking in there somewhere. Michael Hingson  05:19 It is still a kind of the basic underpinning foundation of a lot of Windows, isn't it? Speaker 1  05:25 Well, Windows actually does run on top of it still. If you if you when you start a program in Windows, you're actually issuing a text command. So inside there is a long text command that is issued that gets everything running. It's just that you're configuring that from a graphical perspective, Michael Hingson  05:44 right? Yeah, but but it is still running. DOS essentially runs under Windows, which is which is something that is is relevant. So I guess we could blame that on Bill Gates, Speaker 1  05:57 or credit him. I don't know. Michael Hingson  05:58 Or yeah, yeah, one of the other. Well, so you you graduated, you moved to Seattle. As you said, it is a big city, although you know it's kind of hard to fight Pike's fish market. Speaker 1  06:11 Well, there's there's the fun and charming parts of of Seattle that I really enjoyed. So I mean, I can't say that you know it was a horrible city. The thing I admired about Seattle the most was that Seattle would occasionally not take itself seriously, and I liked that it had a sense of humor and that people there were generally good natured. San Diego was a little bit more uptight, you know, fair weather fans, that kind of stuff, where Seattle was more of a community, and I admired that greatly. Michael Hingson  06:43 And there used to be a lot of rain up there. Speaker 1  06:45 Not as much as people say. That's kind of their reputation. The Pacific Northwest we do have. So I moved from Southern California where you have 360 days of sun a year to Pacific Northwest where you have 180, so it was kind of a shock from that point of view. It's mostly like today; it's overcast. It's just there's no sun, so that's the big difference. Michael Hingson  07:10 And then you moved up to Idaho, and and how many days of sun or not sun are there a year? Speaker 1  07:16 Oh, still about 180. 180. Uh huh. But it's you know so you get used to it after a while, and when the sun comes out, you're all happy, and it's like, look, the sun's out, everything's pretty. Michael Hingson  07:27 Yeah, fair. Yeah. So when you were in San Diego and so on, what did you want to do or be when you grew up? Speaker 1  07:36 So originally, I wanted to be a doctor, and then I had the misfortune of being in a hospital, and I said I don't ever want to be back here, and changed my mind and figured I would be a writer. So for years I started writing and submitting things to magazines, trying to work on books and stuff. I mean I wrote a few books, and they say that you have to get about a million words of junk out before you actually are a good writer. So I I worked on that for a long time, and got to the point where I I actually had a reputation with some of the editors in the magazines who would write me back personal notes instead of the generic you know dismissal, and so that was working really well. But then what happened in 1984 was I wrote something for the local computer flyer, and they liked that, and it got published, and that was what really started the career for tech because tech wanted people who knew how to write, so that was good timing. Michael Hingson  08:35 Yeah, so many technical manuals are just so boring. I really wish people would learn how to write more interesting books. Of course, I say that about textbooks as well. I am of the opinion that having a master's degree in physics and having read many a physics book, the and there are so few of them. The best books are the ones where the authors have put some actual personal stories in to draw people in with human interest parts of the science, and I wish more people would do that. Speaker 1  09:03 And that was my point too. It was like these books are dull and boring. And the problem I had because I was writing computer books at the time, I had a computer book literary agent. There is such a thing, and it's it's backwards in that industry though, because the publisher says what they want a book on, and then they have you write the book on the topic, and so I was doing that for many years. But I did not like the fact that they would edit my books to make them dry, and the editors would actually complain to me and say, "There's too much personality in here. You can't have this. It was like it was like they thought that was a built-in feature of the book, and my protest was, "Well, no. Let's make them interesting. Let's use real life examples. Let's have some personality in there. Let's have some interaction with the with the reader. And they didn't like that until DOS for Dummies came around, and the publisher was willing to change the paradigm. Michael Hingson  09:55 Jeez, yeah, it's so unfortunate. They they think they know. Everything there is to know, and the reality is they don't. Speaker 1  10:04 That's the way it is with just about any industry. You know that I think the corporate mentality is kind of to resist innovation, even in the most innovative industries, until something crazy comes along. And I think that's why in Silicon Valley you had all these startups. You know, if you look, if you trace the lineage of a lot of the big companies, they started at other big companies that were unwilling to do the crazy ideas these guys had, and so they went off. I mean, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak left Hewlett Packard and started up Apple Computer, and I'm pretty sure there's probably been some engineers from Apple Computer who've left and started up their own company and becoming Michael Hingson  10:43 well. And Bill Gates is essentially the same way. It's it's he started out doing something, but he attracted people's attention by some of the other things that he did. Speaker 1  10:53 Yep. Michael Hingson  10:54 And that was was very relevant. But I I hear what you're saying. It makes perfect sense because people just don't like to be innovative and don't like change, and and that's unfortunate that we have so many people that just, as much as they talk about the fact that change is everywhere, they don't like it. Speaker 1  11:10 No, it's well, I think yeah, we we get in our comfort zone, and you don't grow out in the comfort zone. So I like to challenge myself and do interesting things like become mayor, and you know you leave your comfort zone. And what what can I do here, or how can I do this better? Michael Hingson  11:26 Yeah, well, and that makes makes perfect sense. Well, what got you started writing about technology? Just because you were writing that that one article there, or those articles that got interest on the part of a publisher, or what? Speaker 1  11:41 What got me started was that I got paid. Ah, Michael Hingson  11:44 good point. Speaker 1  11:45 You know, they they paid me, and then you know, as as someone who was you know using a computer at the time, and they were called microcomputers, and they were really primitive compared to what we have today. Oh yeah, I I used it to write. So, and the the problem with that was that the the documents, the manuals that we talk about, were so dry and boring, and eventually, all of a sudden, it would dawn on me: it's like, well, this is what it's trying to say. So why don't they just come out and say it this way, or why don't they use an analogy and try to explain it in that manner instead of coming at it from this hardcore technical? And that was what really turned off a lot of people, so it motivated me to want to do it better, and that's kind of what I tell the kids, like my kids. I say you should start up a business. That's really the best way to get successful is start up your own business and become famous like that. And they're well, what business should I start up? I said that the easiest way is to find something that you like, something that's being done poorly, and just do it better. Yeah, and that's really a lot of the the creative, insanely genius stuff that's happened throughout the world is just someone who does something routine but does it better. Michael Hingson  12:52 And that's really the operative part about it, and and the real key. I think you're you're absolutely right. Find something that people aren't doing well, and by the time you get creative enough to figure that out, you're well on your way. Speaker 1  13:05 Yep. So that's that's what I did. Michael Hingson  13:08 Yeah. And so you started going off and and writing a variety of things. What what actually got you to write Dos for Dummies? What specifically? That's first of all, I love the the title of all the Four Dummies books. I think it makes sense. But what got you started in writing DOS for Dummies directly? Speaker 1  13:27 Well, I I knew that there was an appetite out there for beginner computer books, but the publishing industry would not publish beginning computer books because they said beginners don't buy computer books. And I explained to them, well, your problem is you don't write beginner computer books. You write something and you call it, you know, the easy guide to whatever, but the content of it is not written for a beginner. Maybe the first chapter is very condescending and patronizing, and then the rest of it is just technical garbage. So I said you have to keep that tone throughout the entire text. You have to identify who it is you're writing to, as who's a smart person who may just not get it, and explain it to them, and just keep going. And that was the problem. So I I did originally called it the Idiots Guide for DOS, which was based after the Idiots Guide to Volkswagen Repair. My dad had a copy of that, and I thought, well, what a brilliant idea. Michael Hingson  14:20 Yeah. Speaker 1  14:21 And so the publisher saw me speak at a conference, and where I was bemoaning the fact that the books were so boring, and they kept editing out my personality. And then went to to him, and and he's like, "This is great. Your outline that you have for this book is perfect. Except we want to call it DOS for Dummies. I thought, like a lot of other people, that was condescending and patronizing, but that it's an alliteration, so that's what they go with. And then he said to make it a reference. Don't make it a tutorial because, and this is brilliant, these people don't want to learn anything; they just want to do their job. Yeah, that makes sense. So that was and that was it, and we put a lot of humor in it. You know, people would tell me that they'd read the book on the subway, and you know, you'd see someone laughing reading a computer book. That's weird, but there would just be enough humor, and I'd use Mad Magazine as my inspiration. So it was kind of like us versus the nerds, and and that was what really founded the whole thing, and I tell you what, it caught on. I did not think it would. There was no way we were planning on writing a book that would sell, you know, 8 million copies. We were just thinking, well, this is going to be fun. Let's just do this, get it out of our system, and then go back to writing boring books. Michael Hingson  15:36 Made the publisher very happy. Speaker 1  15:39 Oh yeah, they were printing Gold bricks, yeah. Michael Hingson  15:43 That, of course, was the real key. Well, that started a brand, didn't it? Speaker 1  15:47 Oh yeah, they did. There was no intention to do that, but then they they followed that up with Max for Dummies and a bunch of other titles that were just very popular at the time. AOL for Dummies, you know, Windows for Dummies eventually came out, and that was the King for Dummies book. But yeah, they have and they have it on all topics. I've even so as someone who is you know starting in government, I got Robert's Rules for Dummies, which you know you've been to a meeting, you know they follow Robert's Rules, which is very dry and boring, but it's it's important. And Robert's Rules for Dummies is a good example of a For Dummies book because it explains everything carefully. Lots of humor in there, and so there's a lot of them. Wine for Dummies was another one that I really liked. I thought they did a good job. Golf for Dummies. There's a there's on every topic. There's a For Dummies book. Michael Hingson  16:37 How many of them did you write? Speaker 1  16:40 Only wrote the ones with my names on them, but probably about 40 separate titles. So over the years, most of them have been rewrites. So technology changes. So there have been 16 editions of Word for Dummies, and 13 editions of PCs for Dummies. There were four editions of DOS for Dummies. So you're you're always writing new editions, so all totaled 180 separate titles. But individual titles, without not counting multiple editions, right? About 60. Michael Hingson  17:09 Wow. Speaker 1  17:10 Yeah. Yeah, Michael Hingson  17:10 and I can appreciate that that books like Word for Dummies or even iPhones for Dummies has to change over time. Speaker 1  17:19 Yeah. Well, some of them. I mean, I've been doing a kind of a review on on YouTube. I've been doing short videos highlighting some of the goofy images that I put in the books over the years. And way back about 20 years ago, I think I was updating these titles once a year. They would say, "We need a new version of this. We need a new version of this. And at the time, technology was just. I mean, they were cranking out new stuff all the time. Michael Hingson  17:44 So, who's written AI for Dummies? Speaker 1  17:47 I don't know, but that is a title, so I wouldn't be Michael Hingson  17:50 surprised. Speaker 1  17:51 It should write itself, though. You think about Michael Hingson  17:53 it. Yeah, you you know, they they really should do that. It should write itself. Speaker 1  17:56 Someone told me once that they they they wanted to do a manual in my style, so they directed AI to write something in the style of Dan Gukan, and apparently AI can do that. So, am I going to get paid? I don't know. Michael Hingson  18:10 Well, that's another story, of course. Yeah, but still, it it is a it's a it's a great franchise. It's a great brand all the way around, and I know different people have written different different kinds of books like that, but still, the the fact is we need that in the world, and and I agree with you, especially that it's good to put humor and personality into it. And I really wish more people would do that. I really wish that would go into the the textbook world, but it hasn't yet. Speaker 1  18:37 No, that's that, and that's a different planet. I tried to break into that world, and that academia is is it's different. It is weird. Michael Hingson  18:44 Yeah, there are just not that many people who can get away with it like Richard Feynman did with some of the things that he did in physics, and even there, his his books were a little boring at times. But still, Speaker 1  18:56 he was awesome. His of course, his his autobiography is a lot of fun. Michael Hingson  19:00 Yeah, surely you're joking, mr. Fineman. Speaker 1  19:03 Exactly. Michael Hingson  19:04 Adventures of yeah, it is. I I keep it around. I've got an audio copy of it, and every so often I will go back and read parts of it. It's a it's a great book. Speaker 1  19:14 He's kind of an inspiration to me, especially in the area of government. And one of the parts of his book where he was on the panel that was reviewing textbooks for, I think, the state of California, and he noticed that one of the books was blank; it was empty, and he was the only one on the panel who did it. And I kind of echo that often in government because I'm occasionally the only person who actually reads some of the material they provide. Yeah, and and those kind of moments are classic. I love those. You know, when you can say, "Well, as everyone notices, you know, page 14 is blank, and they all madly flip to page 14, like, "Oh my gosh, how did you find this? Well, I, I did my job. I read the thing. Michael Hingson  19:54 I had a roommate in college, and we at that time we were using the Berkeley Physics series. I don't know. Whether that even still exists anymore, but different professors from Berkeley wrote various books, and the guy who wrote the book on waves, I had a roommate who was reading that book, and he searched vigorously to try to find a single misspelling of a word in the whole book. Wow! He finally found one. He said there really was one in the book. Kind of makes you wonder if that was deliberate, but but he actually found one. But it took him most of the quarter we had the book to find it. But but he did. Speaker 1  20:33 Excellent. Yeah, I got to say that's that's an art form. I used to work in a publishing house, and we would pore over books looking for spelling errors and mistakes and punctuation and all this stuff and of course you don't find them until the book's actually printed. Michael Hingson  20:46 Of course not. Yeah, yeah. Now it's it should be easier, but it's not, and they still don't come out until the book is already published and it's out there, and then you find out what isn't right. Speaker 1  20:58 Right. Michael Hingson  21:00 I suppose that gives the publisher an excuse to republish the book and make more money. Speaker 1  21:05 Well, yeah, it depends. It's if it is selling. If it doesn't sell, then obviously the the mistake's going to linger out there. Of course, with digital copies, they can update it right away, but not with a print book. Michael Hingson  21:17 Yeah, nowadays there's so many print books that are done pretty much on demand, so that if you want a copy, unless it's just something where they're selling literally millions a month, the book is available on demand. Although there's a little bit of a lag time to get it, my book Thunderdog, which is the story of Roselle and me in the World Trade Center, is is still selling pretty well, but it is more printed on demand by Thomas Nelson than now Harper Collins. Speaker 1  21:46 Yeah, Michael Hingson  21:47 and I understand that as long as it's available, I'm not going to complain. Speaker 1  21:51 And they and they they prefer to sell it that way as opposed to printing out 5000 copies they have to store somewhere. So Michael Hingson  21:56 right, yeah, they don't have to pay for storage and they just print it, and so it takes an extra week to get somewhere. That's fine. We can cope with that as long as it's available, and then that's all that really matters. Speaker 1  22:08 Yeah. Michael Hingson  22:09 But you've written a lot of books. How come so many? Because they're not all for dummies. Ah, okay. Speaker 1  22:16 Well, it just you know that was my profession, and that's what I did. And so, and I had a good agent who would find me a lot of work, so yeah, they would come up and they would want me to write a book on this or that, and a lot of it was because at the time in that industry I had a name and a reputation. I'm also very fast, so and that that kind of surprises people. In fact, there's some someone who accuses me of having a ghostwriter, which I do not. It's just I've been doing it so long, and you know, when I started, my agent said that he said the more you do this, the faster you'll get, the better you'll get. So, whereas in the original book, the first book I wrote took about six months to to write. I've written books in less than a month. It really depends. It depends on the topic, how well I know the topic, but also I do a lot of organizing with an outline, and so I will will work with an outline almost until it's down to the paragraph level, and then that makes it really easy to write the book, especially a technology book where there's a lot of cross references, and this sequence, you know, assuming someone's reading it front to back is really important, so you got to make sure that you touch upon things and do it in the right order. And then that's so yeah. I just got really good at it, which annoyed a lot of my fellow authors because as I was writing and I would get faster and faster, the contracts would start demanding the books in a more expedient manner, so other authors would complain to me and say, "You know, I have to write this book, and they're only giving me three months to do it. They're blaming me because I can do it in three months, and they figure everyone can do it in three months. So that was fun. Michael Hingson  23:54 Have you had books that someone asked you to write where you really didn't know much of anything about the subject, and you had to spend more time researching it, or you just spend time researching it, but you still did that very quickly. Speaker 1  24:06 Yeah, when I first started, that was pretty much the case. In fact, I talked with a guy who he had written the like the best-selling DBase three book. So DBase was a database way back in DOS, and it was the most popular database program, and he wrote the number one best-selling DBase three book that everyone who used that that program would buy, and he told me that he knew nothing about it when he signed the contract. So the the process of writing the book involved this intense deep dive into finding out what it is the program does, and then working on that. Of course, in those days, the books, the software came with a manual, so it was possible to go through the manual and see what the thing was capable of, and maybe get a few hints about that. But the books were not just a rephrase. The manual; they were a little bit better, the project oriented, whatever. So there was one one book that I did on a program called Super Card for the Macintosh, and it was the it was the there was no documentation, and I could call up the developer and I could ask him. So that was that was a tool I could use if I had access to the developer. I could call them up and I could say, "Okay, so I'm I'm doing this. What can you tell me that's like a secret or that is not obvious? And they love to share that stuff. Sure, I just write it all down, and then that that'll make the book better. If you could get through the the gatekeepers and get into where the nerds were, then you could get a lot of good information, and they were happy to share it. I did a few books on OS two that were like that, where I finally was able to escape into the lab and ask them. And the the guy they were so friendly, and they're like, "Oh, you got to tell him this, this, this, this. You know, we we couldn't put this in the manual. You have to tell him this, and so you write a great book. But of course, OS two, no one used it, so no one bought the book. Michael Hingson  26:05 Yeah, yeah, OS two was not one of those things that everybody loved. If Speaker 2  26:13 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the unstoppable mindset community. Michael Hingson  26:46 I remember when I was a student at UC Irvine. I wasn't an information computer science major. I was physics major, but several people took ICS one, two, and three, which was a three quarter course, or well, it was a year course, and the the book they used was Introduction to Computer Programming by Ken Ingram. And what was fun about that was that on the first day of class, the professor would come in and he'd say, "Okay, I want you to read chapter one of information of introduction to computer programming by Ken Ingram. It's the textbook we're going to use. I want you to read that before our next class. And of course, most everyone had not touched the book prior to that. And what he didn't say was that that first chapter took up half the book. Speaker 1  27:40 I like it. Michael Hingson  27:43 Yeah, I know. Wasn't that? And I, I, I heard about it. I, I never did get the book, and I didn't get it transcribed into Braille. But I thought that was cute. Chapter one was half the book. Speaker 1  27:53 No one would have suspected chapter one's an easy chapter. It's four pages. Right, supposed to be right. I think it was like Michael Hingson  28:00 180 pages. It was amazing. Michael Hingson  28:03 I'm not sure whether Ingram had a sense of humor or what, but anyway, there you go. But yeah, that that was kind of kind of amazing. So you you wrote all these books and you continue to do that, but somewhere along the line, you got interested in doing things in politics. What was that all about? Speaker 1  28:25 Well, that was frustrating. Not Michael Hingson  28:28 bad, Speaker 1  28:29 because I. So I think a lot of people are kind of interested. They follow politics. If I call up my mom in San Diego, she has to complain to me about you know the mayor of San Diego and what the city council is doing and and it's it's common it's just I think I think the most most people who are active in in their community know a little bit about politics or whatever and in my case I had just moved from the county here near Courtland and then I'd moved into the city, and I had heard that there was someone was buying up properties in my neighborhood, and I thought that was curious, and I wanted to see if this was something that you know are they going to tear down houses? What are they going to do? So I started researching using the the county website to see who was own who owned these properties, and it was a place called the Lake City Development Corporation, and I thought, well, I need to find out what that is, and it turned out that was an urban renewal agency that was formed by the city of Cortland, and I started reading the statutes and I started reading their minutes and finding out what it is they do, and while on the surface it sounded really fun, there were a lot of curious things that I didn't like. A lot of non-transparent things, a lot of things where you know they're spending public money on what I thought were frivolous things, and so I started asking questions. I started coming to meetings, and they're missing. Was that they pushed back, and so I just something triggered me, and I had a red flag, and I just started going after it. We started, we formed a group of people who were all interested in this, and we would meet regularly and go over what was going on with the government. We'd find issues regarding transparency and spending, and lots of interesting stuff. Never really anything nefarious. Never anything that would. But just a lot of stuff that, as we let the public know about what was going on, they would become outraged and they would say, "Wait a second! They're spending millions of dollars on this, and you know, with property taxes so high, and what is this, and why is it affecting me? And and so I went to the city council meetings here in Portland, and I was frustrated because no one else seemed to get it. And I would look at them, and they would have some issue that would come up, and everyone on the council-there were six members on the council-they would all vote in unison, and no one had asked a question. And I would say, "Well, wait a second, why aren't they asking a question about this, or why aren't they concerned about this, or what about the side effects of this? And so I started writing articles for the paper. I eventually did videos and to speak to various groups and such because I was like, we got to hold government accountable. So I ran for office in ran for the city council in 2007, and I lost. And then I ran in 2009, and I lost, but only by like 29 votes. And then I was done at that point. I really didn't want to do it again because running for office is a pain. Michael Hingson  31:33 Yeah. And Speaker 1  31:34 then they had this huge thing where all of a sudden they were going to redo a park without a public vote, and I wanted a public vote. Lots of people wanted to vote on it, but no, they were going to do it, and they didn't care what the public thought. So they made me run. They made me run a third time, and I won. And I've been on the city council ever since. And then, of course, well, since last November when I got kicked up to the mayor seat, which is where I'm sitting Right now, strange journey. Michael Hingson  32:04 Well, yeah, but on the other hand, there is something to be said for transparency, and there's somebody something to be said for somebody who really wants to look out for what what people want and what people are doing. I I got involved. Well, I've not run for public office, but I've been very much involved in political kinds of things because I've been involved in the blindness world since early 1970s, and the National Federation of the Blind has had for well now, gosh, more than 50 years or around 50 years, what used to be called the March on Washington. Now it's called the Washington Seminar, which is a an event that takes place every year, where several 100 blind people descend on Washington and go off and visit legislators. And the idea is to really get them to understand what the needs of blind people are and try to get them to vote on issues that directly relate to issues concerning us, and sometimes they do. Although it's gotten a lot harder to get things passed, especially in the last eight or nine years. But still, that it it has to be done. But I remember, among other things, I was living in Massachusetts when I first started going, and among other things, we we went and saw the Speaker of the House, who was Tip O'Neill at the time, which was kind of fun. And what an interesting, what a charismatic guy! Didn't matter what party he was with; it was a charismatic guy. And we also visited people like Senator at the time Paul Songis, and what was interesting about him was we we talked about our issues, and it was the end of the day, and then suddenly he said, you know, I'm not going anywhere for the next few minutes. Do you guys have time? And we ended up just talking for about an hour and a half about his view of of and our views of what Massachusetts needed to do, not only for blind people but just in general, it was just fascinating. There weren't very many politicians who would do that. Speaker 1  34:08 That's awesome. Yeah, I liked him. I liked Tungus a lot. Michael Hingson  34:12 Yeah, I wish he'd been able to run for president, but he got cancer, and that's that's unfortunate. Yeah, but because I think that he's one of those people who would do what really needed to be done and do it the right way. Speaker 1  34:26 In other words, the people who never win. Yeah, that's unfortunately Michael Hingson  34:31 really the case, isn't it? Speaker 2  34:33 Yeah, Speaker 1  34:33 yeah. Michael Hingson  34:34 But but you got to do that. Speaker 1  34:36 Yeah. Michael Hingson  34:38 So you you know, but you you hopefully you'll make a big difference, and maybe you'll be able to get people to believe in climate change. Oh, did I say that Speaker 1  34:48 this year? Nah, Michael Hingson  34:53 not unless you predict snow when it actually comes. Speaker 1  34:56 That and that and that's the key. Yeah, Michael Hingson  34:59 yeah. No, I understand, but it but it is fascinating. I you know I I enjoy the concept of politics. I enjoy people who really have a vested interest in making government go well, but it is so unfortunate that we don't see that much of it, which is just too bad. Speaker 1  35:18 There are a lot of good dedicated people out there. I think so. Of course, the the problem is is you know, like they say, politics is sports for the uncoordinated, and it's drama for the ugly. But the the thing is, the people who really do a good job, who are out there doing what you want them to do, they don't get the headlines. It's the noisemakers. It's the extremists. It's the people who are going to have some obnoxious opinion because that that gets everyone's attention. You know, the the guy out there who's doing the job, who's putting in the time, representing the citizens, and making his community a better place. You know, you're never going to read that guy in the paper, unfortunately. Michael Hingson  35:59 Yeah, and that's also part of the problem: is that the media looks for all the drama rather than really looking to to represent the the average citizen and what they truly want and need. Speaker 1  36:10 So those don't the actual the things don't make headlines. In fact, it was a it was really funny. There was a guy who was elected to the state house from this county, and one of his campaign platforms, he was going to repeal all the useless laws, all the things that are still on the books. That you know, just we don't need those laws anymore. They're old. They're outdated, and he did that for about a week, and it doesn't make headlines. So here he is, you know, doing this, doing the job that you think they they would want to do and making government more effective, no one cared. I remember there was one year where we actually we cut property taxes here in the city, and I thought, wow, everyone's going to come up and say thank you. No, no one did. So it's like, what's the motivation? If you go, they say, I want you to be I want you to be my mayor and I want you to work to cut that budget and so you cut the budget and then no one says thank you. Michael Hingson  37:08 We got Tom Steyer here in California who wants to become governor and he's talking about all these things that he's going to do. He's going to get electric utility rates lowered by a significant amount. He's going to encourage and bring competition to the electric grid industry, and he talks about lowering housing costs by building a million homes and doing so many things. And every time I hear his campaign commercials, the thing that I keep asking myself is, haven't we learned anything? And no offense to Donald Trump, but Donald Trump made a lot of promises that we're not seeing. Steyer is making a lot of promises that he has yet to say how he's going to pull any of them off. Speaker 1  37:56 Oh yeah, and that's and that's the thing is you got to. There's so much. There's only so much you can do. But you can you when you campaign, they can say anything. Of course, I know they might as well just say free ice cream and ponies for everyone. Michael Hingson  38:07 Yeah, and and that's almost essentially what's happening. And I'm not saying that he'd be a bad governor. I I haven't researched him enough, but the commercials just don't do anything to make me thrilled because he's not saying how he's going to do any of it, and and that's what I really want to know. Speaker 1  38:25 Yeah, I didn't when I when I ran this campaign, I didn't really promise anything that was sexy at all. I said, you know, I'm going to work on a policy manual. I'm going to increase the amount of information and transparency, and it was like nothing that you want to put on a bumper sticker, but I still won. I mean, there were people who were in the race who were promising this and that, and they were going to do this and all this stuff, and somehow I eked it out. Michael Hingson  38:51 Why do you think you won? Speaker 1  38:52 Name recognition, Michael Hingson  38:54 okay, Speaker 1  38:55 and that's and that's pretty much that's a lot of what politics is is is just the the name recognition. You can win on that. I also do have a reputation. I mean, being on council for 14 years and being often called the lone voice of reason, like I said earlier, I'm the one who asked that obvious question. Yeah, and people are in the audience are going, "Well, thank you. Someone's finally asking what what they wanted to ask, and so there was there was that, and and I also, you know, I I do return my emails. I answer the phone calls. I make sure that I'm I'm available. So you know, and I think that that reputation kind of spread itself around that that I would be responsive. It didn't mean that I actually did anything because the you know the powers are really limited. So if someone wanted you know they want to put in a stop sign somewhere, I'll go visit them, and we'll look at the thing, and we'll look at the traffic data, and all this stuff. But there may not be a stop sign there. Still, I showed enough time that I paid attention to them, and I responded to them, and you know, we'll see what we can do. That's the best you can say. Michael Hingson  39:55 And if it didn't happen that there was a stop sign, but there was a good reason for it. I would suspect that you would be the kind of person who would say, "Here's why it didn't happen. Speaker 1  40:03 Right, exactly, and and to explain that for and a lot of people don't understand things like that because it's easy to get defensive with government because sometimes it can be so colossally stupid. Yeah, but but it's just as long as you have that explanation, and sometimes it's it's really it's refreshing because then they hear the answer and they're good with it, so we have a problem here with there's noise on the freeway because they're expanding the freeway, and a lot of people are upset, so they call city hall, but it's not our project; it's the state highway district. So you know, it's like I can do only what I can do, but it's still you know, if you're the only elected official who bothered to reply to them and told them, you know, I hear what you're saying. I'm going to do whatever we can. Sometimes that makes people happy. They may not be happy in the big picture, but at least they got a response. Michael Hingson  40:48 And when you discover something that's relevant, I'll bet you are the kind of person who would then initiate another letter saying, "Here's why it didn't work, or "Here's why it will work. Speaker 1  40:59 Right, and I do follow up. So I did. In that case, I wrote a letter to the governor and said, "You know, is there anything you can do? And then I forwarded the letter on to the person who had contacted me and said, "Okay, this is the best I can do. Let's let's see what he can do. So yeah, Speaker 1  41:14 yeah. Michael Hingson  41:15 I'm I'm curious. You mentioned that property taxes did get lowered once in Cordellane, but nothing. No one ever did anything with that. How come? Speaker 1  41:23 Well, no. It's just we we did. We we kept them. You got you got them lowered. Michael Hingson  41:27 But but why didn't anybody pay attention to that? Speaker 1  41:30 No. Well, see, I'm sure they paid attention to it. We are only one entity on your property tax bill, so there's there's a few. Ah, good Michael Hingson  41:39 point. Speaker 1  41:39 We might have been the the one who kept it down, but the other ones may have kept it up. And then there's all the the formula is really complex, and so it could be that you know their assess property assessment went up, a lot of other things that would have happened that would have affected it. But like I said, I mean we made a big to do about it, saying hey look we worked, we cut the budget. We kept it flat for all you guys, and then no one said anything. But you know that that's it's discouraging, but it doesn't discourage me from continuing to try because I'll always try. Michael Hingson  42:12 You can only do what you can do, but at least at least you're doing it. Yeah. Now, if you want to live in a state where the taxes are very interesting, move to New Jersey, yeah, where we lived, the the taxes every town, every city had its own property taxes. You could live on a street, yeah, you could live on a street where you had a property tax of some amount, and if you walked across to the other side of the street, the property tax would be twice what yours was because the border runs right down the middle of the street. Speaker 1  42:45 That's crazy. Michael Hingson  42:47 We thought it was. Yeah, we thought it was kind of interesting, but we fortunately never had too horrible of property taxes in Westfield. But still, we heard about some other places that had some some horrible property taxes, but you know it's it's what what you have. Speaker 1  43:07 Yep. Michael Hingson  43:08 So you were in the city council for 14 years. What made you decide that you were going to run for mayor? Because you had to do that. You had to make that decision. Speaker 1  43:17 Yeah, didn't want to. You know, wasn't on my on my dance card to like, oh, next step up is going to be mayor. It was more of there was frustration that I had because the the past couple of mayors, good men, good people, but I always wanted to do more. I mean, being on the council, it was frustrating because I wanted a little more leadership out of the center seat wasn't seeing that, and then I worked earlier last year. I called up a bunch of people to see if they'd be willing to do the job. You know, good strong community members who would be provide the leadership and had the name recognition required to do the job, and no one wanted to do it. So I was like, okay, well, I'll I'll see if I can do it. I still have two years left on my council term, so if I lost, I'd still be part of the process. But there ended up being four people in that race, so it was pretty crowded. Which to me, you know, if if you're running if you run unopposed, it's pretty much a sign that people kind of like the way things are going. They're not they're not upset with you. Generally, if you have one opponent, you're considered that you know oh well good you know I get to compete for for the job or someone else is unhappy. But if you have a lot of opponents, it generally means that the public isn't happy with what's going on and they want to see some change. So there were four people in the race. I won with like 38% of the vote, so that's wow, Michael Hingson  44:45 yeah. Well, but clearly you're different than a lot of people. For example, you're a member of the Kootenay County Republican Central Committee, and yeah, and they sued you for defamation. What was all that about? Speaker 1  44:59 Well. So we had an episode here where the first of all the local Republican Party decided that running partisan races wasn't enough; that they wanted to get involved with nonpartisan races. And in Idaho, a lot of the local offices are nonpartisan. So city council is nonpartisan, school districts are nonpartisan. You know, water district, highway district, all these smaller local offices, and we have a community college here called North Idaho College. And the Senate committee decided that they would start to what they call rating and vetting candidates to determine who was the most conservative. And while a lot of Republicans appreciate that and they want to know who the real conservative is. The central committee realized that it was a way for them to exercise political power, because when people would get their recommendations, that would be the person who would win. And so they got power mad, and in my opinion, they hijacked the trustees of our local community college, and pretty much almost ran the thing into a ground. It was the it's the only college a community college in the history of the country that's ever been put on probation for disaccreditation due to board governance. Normally, when you disaccredit a college, you're disaccrediting it because of financial reasons, or something else, but or academics. Never, never has it happened that the board has been so crazy that the the ACL ACCU whatever it is the accreditation agency for community colleges has said, "What we're gonna we're gonna pull away your credentials, and all your students will not be receiving college credit. So, I mean, what what this board did that was endorsed by the local Republican Party, the extremists on the party, they they fired the president for no reason. They they started running up the bills, increasing the athletics budget. The board meetings were just pure chaos. Employees would leave. The local high schools stopped their their co education programs. It was just crazy. Wow! And and a lot of people didn't really understand what was going on. So I did a YouTube channel called Kootenay Rants, and Kootenay is the name of our county. Michael Hingson  47:20 Kootenay, yeah. I said Kootenay. Sorry about that. Speaker 1  47:22 It's no, it's okay. It's it could be either way. Who knows? Up north, they do say Kootenai, so we don't know. But anyway, this really got under the skin of the central committee because I pinned the blame on what was going on at the college on them, which is was justified, and I would not make anything up. Instead, I would just put in highlights from the meetings and say, "Here's what's happening, and here's the crazy stuff. You know, trustees yelling at members of the audience, making fun of them. You know, interrupting people, saying just weird, strange things. I mean, it just-it was odd. It was so bizarre, and so it was easy for me to make these videos. My background is in communications, and I know video production, so I was able to put together these videos on a YouTube channel, and you know, hundreds of people in the county would start watching them, including the central committee that did not like that I was exposing what I consider to be their corruption and their the the fact that I think they were responsible for this and they didn't like that so they accused me of defamation basically mean tweets because I would tweet about them and their nonsense and it was like they they made a big to do out of it because I was running for re-election for city council, so they came to a city council meeting to serve me, and you know recorded it and put it up on the internet and all this other stuff that that was just crazy. But my insurance company fortunately decided to represent me, and they just they thought the the suit was without merit. They don't say frivolous. They say without merit. Without Michael Hingson  49:04 merit. No, yeah. Speaker 1  49:05 And so yeah. And so eventually, now the suit is over, and I figured I would either win in court or it would be dismissed. But the insurance company settled, and I it was against my wishes. I said no. I said don't settle with these people. But the insurance company did settle, and I made sure that, as part of the settlement, that they would not say that I agreed to it, or that I said I was wrong, or I apologized, or anything. No, the insurance company just didn't want to waste any more money, so they decided to settle. They wrote a check. I don't know what it cost the central committee. As a member of the central committee, it has never been reported to the committee how much money they spent on that? Because it's it's pretty much the the Republican Central Committee of Kootenay County is pretty much a tyranny run by one guy and a personality cult, and there are members of the committee. There are some good Republicans such as myself on the committee who do believe in transparency and limited government and all those Ronald Reagan things. But there are these extremists on there who are just nutballs, and so there's a group of us here called North Idaho Republicans who are working to counter their insanity. And we've done a good job, but we need to do more work, and that's the story of the KCRCC. And they sued me for defamation. Michael Hingson  50:21 That's kind of crazy, though. Nevertheless, Speaker 3  50:23 of course. Michael Hingson  50:24 And it's only kind Speaker 1  50:26 of that. I wasn't laying awake. I mean, occasionally someone would call me up and they would say, "So what's the case? What's the what's happening with a lawsuit? And I'd say, "Well, a lawsuit. I said, "Oh yeah, that's right. They're suing me. I mean, it was never really. I was never obligated for it. Michael Hingson  50:39 Yeah. Well, so just out of curiosity, since the Republicans were doing this, where were the Democrats in all of that? Speaker 1  50:47 Well, we don't really have a lot of Democrats. That's Michael Hingson  50:49 what I was wondering. Yeah, Speaker 1  50:51 and so and and I always used to joke. I would say that the the Democrats, the Kootenai County Democrats, are looking for a new meeting location, and if anyone has a spare closet, got it. You let them know. No, they're they're all they're all very nice people. Michael Hingson  51:05 Yeah, Speaker 1  51:05 but they're they are in an extreme minority, and unfortunately, they they do try. So last time they had a body for every seat up for election, but they don't really come close. And it's a lot of it comes down to name recognition, but you also have a lot of red blue state refugees who come here. You have a lot of COVID refugees who came here, and so Idaho is very red. Kootenay County is very red, and it would take a tremendous amount of effort to to have a Democrat win here. We do have Democrats in the legislature, not a lot, but we do have them, and the the National Democratic Party is unwilling to spend a lot of money here because they know they're going to lose. So that's what I hear from them. But they are they are generally nice people. I mean, like you said, you if you wanted to vote for me here and you're a Democrat, I'd happily accept the vote. It's a nonpartisan position. We don't deal with those big divisive issues that you know that you you see on the news. Yeah, we're pretty much community-minded people, and I appreciate anyone who is. I do fight the KCRCC because I don't see them as community-minded, and that's one of the issues. Michael Hingson  52:18 Yeah. Well, it's it's unfortunate that that people are that way, but I I see it all too often in so many different ways. I mean, we face it with even in the blindness world with so many things where there ought to be major improvements and there ought to be defenses of the civil rights of blind people. For example, some of the rideshare programs don't do a lot to train their drivers about the fact that in reality they're obligated to take blind people with guide dogs, and oh, there's there is a fair amount of that, and it's and and the companies aren't willing to do anything about it, and we have to keep fighting it, which is just too bad. But there's just so many stuff, and there are so many people who just have these hidden agendas, or they just what it really comes down to is we don't want anybody telling us what to do, Speaker 1  53:09 right? Michael Hingson  53:11 And that's what it really comes down to. So, do you find that that religion gets into any of it at all, like with the conservative Christian movement or any of that, Speaker 1  53:24 there well, there's I do not like the politicization of the church. Michael Hingson  53:29 Yeah, Speaker 1  53:30 my favorite quote on that is that politics poisons the purity of the church. So I think we should keep the separation of church and state as much as possible, but there are you know politically motivated, politically active pastors, and I just I I think that's that's not the proper role of religion. I know that that there's kind of a battle going on in the far right about you know how much religion or how much that should should should be involved in politics in the public arena. In fact, there's a little across from the Costco up here. There is a little yard sign in front of some business that says "Vote Bible, and I always think that's kind of. I mean, I understand what the sentiment is, and I would always want to think that the people who we elect are good moral people. You know, Adam said that our Constitution is best suited for a moral people. I don't believe that means that there's morality in the Constitution. I believe there's morality in people, Michael Hingson  54:32 right? Speaker 1  54:33 And we do want people who have good ethics and good morals in public office, and it's very obvious when that doesn't happen. But I do not think. I think the purpose of our Constitution and the First Amendment is to ensure that we all have the the right to enjoy whatever religion we want, and we don't want to pick favorites. And so, what I see with a lot of these people is that they want to pick a favorite. Michael Hingson  54:55 Yeah, Speaker 1  54:56 they they not only want to pick the first religion, but they want. Everyone to go to the same church and the same service and sit in the same pew. Yeah, and that's not going to happen in any church. It's not going to happen in any denomination of any church. And then, and see, that's the other question: is if you know if you're going to insist that this is a Christian nation, it's like okay, but which denomination is it? Catholic? Is it Protestant? Is it Mormon? I mean, I you know you tell me because it's just going to be this incredible knot of worms, which is why I think the genius of the founders was that you know the the clause about religion is is two things: it gives you the freedom to exercise your own religion, and it also restricts the government from declaring that there's a religion. Yeah, and I think the far right kind of misses that when they when they take the message of we like moral people in office, but to dictate the morals to someone else is wrong. Michael Hingson  55:52 You know, I and it was Tolstoy who once said the biggest problem with Christianity is that people don't practice it, and I I see that so often. It's it is so unfortunate, but it is Speaker 1  56:03 there. Yeah. So that is a tough one. Michael Hingson  56:07 So if you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? I'd Speaker 1  56:12 get rid of the internet in a heartbeat. Specifically, social media. I think the the problem with social media is it amplifies our immaturities, and that is a huge issue. the The solution to that is to make the the publishers responsible for the content. So, in other words, Facebook could be sued for anything that someone puts on Facebook, and that would terrify Facebook, but it would terrify them to the point that they would actually regulate themselves and and start dialing back. I mean, I can say 20 years ago or so, when I whenever I was first on Facebook, I would go on there and I would see my kids, and they'd be playing a ball game or they'd be over at a friend's house. You'd see birthdays, vacations. It was just kind of like it was a social thing. You go on there now, and it's politics, and it's like this person deserved to be shot, and it's just-it's so-it's so extreme, and it's so rude. And you know, some of the stuff they said about me is not very nice, but I think that if we're going to solve one problem in the world, we really need to dial back all the animosity that's on the inter

Support the pod and get so much extra content for $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/stiffsockspodBonus eps also available on Apple Podcasts! https://www.apple.co/socks

Send us Fan MailWelcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with the FBI agent who transitioned from FBI Special Agent accountant to FBI SWAT sniper and bomb Tech. My guest on today's show, Barry Black, has been involved in investigating multi-million dollar crimes, from being a SWAT sniper at the Waco standoff, a bomb tech at the Oklahoma bombing, and 9/11. Let's get to know Barry. Barry joined the FBI in 1988 and was assigned to the Oklahoma City Division, where he primarily investigated complex financial crimes. Mr. Black served as an FBI SWAT sniper for several years, including a 51-day deployment to the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993. The following year, Mr. Black was certified as a Bomb Technician at the FBI's Hazardous Devices School. In 1995, he was a first responder to the bombing of Oklahoma City's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and remained a member of the OKBOMB Task Force. As the threat of terrorism grew, Mr. Black was assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he worked with international partners in the global war on terror and trained highly specialized military and counterterrorism units in hostile regions around the world. Domestically, Mr. Black responded to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing, the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, the 2005 bombing at the University of Oklahoma, the bombing of a U.S. Air Force recruiting station, and, in a complex undercover operation, helped thwart a 2017 truck bomb attack targeting a major financial center in Oklahoma City. After retiring from the FBI, Mr. Black became an adjunct faculty member at the University of Central Oklahoma's Forensic Science Institute. He has served as a consultant, keynote speaker, and provided commentary for various national and international media outlets and documentaries. In 2026, his book, Hazardous Devices: Memoir of an FBI Bomb Technician, Accountant, and Sniper, was published by McFarland & Company.  Please enjoy the conclusion of my chat with an FBI agent who has had a law enforcement career that is the stuff of movies and books.  In today's episode, we discuss:·      FBI personnel being kicked out of a hotel in Waco to make room for a basketball team. ·      ATF handing over the scene to the FBI.·      Dealing with the child victims on the scene.·      The Texas Rangers' role in the aftermath at Waco.·      Who processed the crime scene?·      Barry responding as a bomb tech. A few years later, on April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nicholes used an improvised explosive device in a U-Haul that detonated in front of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 and injuring 800 people. ·      Barry's wife leaving the target building two minutes before the detonation of the bomb.·      9/11. What was his role as an FBI master bomb tech, and what effect did that have on you?·      His life after the bureau, as a teacher and author.·      David Koresh was a cult leader. How do you reason with this guy?·      His book, Hazardous Devices: Memoir of an FBI Bomb Technician, Accountant and Sniper.·      His thoughts on the current FBI.All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Please visit Barry's website to learn more about him and his career.Head on over to my website! What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click thSupport the show

Mark explains why the Air Force One jet, which was a gift from Qatar, wasn't used during President Trump's recent overseas trip. He talks about Iran's latest threats against the United States and reports that the new military actions ordered by the President could last about seven weeks. Immigration and communism are expected to be major talking points for Republicans, especially as immigration issues heat up in several states. Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. They talk about the new Rolling Stones album and Bon Jovi's recent comeback, suggesting that maybe other classic rock artists could return as well. Broadway is also seeing strong sales in Manhattan.  Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z. Mark interviews Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for Governor of New York. Bruce gives an update on his campaign and fundraising. The guys also get into Governor Hochul's approval of several energy and electric rate hikes, which could mean higher bills for many New Yorkers, and recent changes to state tax revenue policies.

Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z. Mark takes your calls!  Mark interviews Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for Governor of New York. Bruce gives an update on his campaign and fundraising. The guys also get into Governor Hochul's approval of several energy and electric rate hikes, which could mean higher bills for many New Yorkers, and recent changes to state tax revenue policies.

Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z.

Mark explains why the Air Force One jet, which was a gift from Qatar, wasn't used during President Trump's recent overseas trip. He talks about Iran's latest threats against the United States and reports that the new military actions ordered by the President could last about seven weeks. Immigration and communism are expected to be major talking points for Republicans, especially as immigration issues heat up in several states. Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. They talk about the new Rolling Stones album and Bon Jovi's recent comeback, suggesting that maybe other classic rock artists could return as well. Broadway is also seeing strong sales in Manhattan.  Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z. Mark interviews Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for Governor of New York. Bruce gives an update on his campaign and fundraising. The guys also get into Governor Hochul's approval of several energy and electric rate hikes, which could mean higher bills for many New Yorkers, and recent changes to state tax revenue policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark breaks down changes among New York City politicians and how these shifts have impacted President Trump's financial and tax cases. American Express is planning a new headquarters at the World Trade Center. Mark also dives into Legionnaires' disease in the city. Mark discusses whether City Comptroller Mark Levine could be a future mayoral candidate, and highlights a new viral trend among Generation Z. Mark takes your calls!  Mark interviews Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for Governor of New York. Bruce gives an update on his campaign and fundraising. The guys also get into Governor Hochul's approval of several energy and electric rate hikes, which could mean higher bills for many New Yorkers, and recent changes to state tax revenue policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richie Steadman hosts with Ethan today while Alex is on vacation. Val Cameron from the KSL Movie Show kicks off the hour with Movies that Stink. Then in the Three Things — a wildfire forces evacuations in American Fork Canyon, construction begins on the final World Trade Center tower nearly 25 years after 9/11, and Play-Doh is officially coming for adults. Jet fuel prices have plunged, but Delta says don't expect cheaper flights — we break down why. A 21-year-old West Valley man gets arrested for allegedly slapping a kid playing ding dong ditch (yes, 21). KSL Meteorologist Devan Masciulli joins us in studio to talk triple-digit temps, heat safety, and whether the monsoon season will save us.  Plus, Utah's statewide read-a-thon could mean pajama day at work, BYU is asking fans to cool it on the rivalry with Utah, and Richie makes the case that "Holding Out for a Hero" is the most popular song with Utah roots. We ask AI to weigh in.   KSL Brightside streams live weekdays 12–3 PM. The YouTube-exclusive live stream runs from 12–1 PM, with radio plus YouTube from 1–3 PM.

For many, September 11th is a shared, historical tragedy. But for today's guest, it is a personal anniversary - the day his father died. David Ferrugio was twelve years old when his dad was killed in the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, his grief continues to unfold - from recently sitting with his father's forensic file at the 9/11 Memorial to hosting his own podcast, DEAD Talks, where he invites people into honest conversations about death, grief, and what it means to keep living.  In this conversation, David reflects on carrying his private grief through such a public loss. We talk about what it was like to be so young when his dad died, the memories he's held onto, and the new stories he's discovered through other people who also knew his father.  David talks about the ways grief found expression before he had words for it - from watching footage of the attacks over and over, to blasting Linkin Park while wearing himself out with a punching bag, to eventually finding his voice through podcasting and writing.  We discuss: What he remembers about 9/11 and getting the news his father died  Sitting with his father's forensic file twenty-five years later   Carrying personal grief through a public tragedy How memory, trauma, and grief intersect Finding connection through stories about the person who died   Why grief doesn't always begin with words  The role of movement, music, humor, and curiosity in living with grief  What talking with hundreds of people about grief has taught David about compassion, uncertainty, and hope   Learn more about David, his podcast DEAD Talks, and his upcoming book, You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live.  Note: This episode contains some salty language. Listen with care. 

Happy 4th of July. Here is Critical Incidents newest episode. If you want to be featured, email us at Criticalincidentspod@gmail.com I sat down with retired FBI Special Agent Seamus McAlerney to tell the inside story behind Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos. A former bank auditor who was told he'd never make it into the Bureau, Seamus landed on the legendary C-10 squad as a brand-new agent in 1998 just as a botched World Trade Center robbery cracked open one of the most significant organized crime cases in FBI history. Assigned to arrest violent DeCavalcante soldier Anthony Capo, the rookie agent chose respect over intimidation, played a patient game of mental chess, and did what no one in the family's 100-year history had ever done: he got a made member to flip. Seamus takes us deep into the real-life world that inspired The Sopranos - the panel of bosses, the Queens strip club, the murders, and a consensual recording of mobsters watching the show and naming which characters were them. Along the way he breaks down how cooperation actually works: proffers, "eating the indictment," the Witness Security Program, RICO and its predicate acts, and why numbers beat letters when it comes to a plea. He also shares the human cost — contracts on his witness and on law enforcement, losing his father mid-case, 9/11 grinding everything to a halt, friends lost in the towers, and a White House commendation for dismantling not one but two crime families at once. A masterclass in patience, teamwork, and the principle that carried his whole career: persistence beats resistance, and credit will find you. Get the book at ⁠flippingcapo.com⁠, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The racially charged Karmelo Anthony murder trial comes under the national spotlight as his trial begins amid fresh controversy over jury selection, Progressive Democratic candidate Adam Hamawy is cruising toward a House seat even though he once testified on behalf of the terrorist mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Will Democrats embrace him? And a new Justice Department indictment levels explosive allegations against the Southern Poverty Law Center. Reporting from Megan Basham. Plus, we speak with Audrey Fahlberg and Tyler O'Neil. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.- - -Ep. 2824- - -Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3- - -Today's Sponsors:Comcast - Learn more about how Comcast is investing in a more connected America at https://ComcastCorporation.com/investmentQuince - Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to https://Quince.com/wire for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada too.Zoc Doc - Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/WIRE to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. - - -Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacymorning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices