Assume I’m an Idiot

There are many forms of ageism, but none more damaging and topical than ageism in the workplace. It’s commonplace nowadays to be forced out due to your age… but what’s the thinking? JR works through the possible reasons, and discusses why none of them make any sense. The first part in a series of episodes breaking down the reasoning and ramifications.

Well it was bound to happen. Even those of us with a cast-iron immune system get the yucks. JR got a wacky bug, so we’re replaying our premiere episode while he’s on the mend. Worth a re-listen for those that love space, science, or NOT seeing JR’s face. New ep next week!

It seems that most people’s understanding of Autism comes from Hollywood… the weird guy that helps solve crimes, or Dustin Hoffman counting cards in a casino. But there are many different shapes and forms of it. Not to mention Aspergers and ADHD, which can sometimes fall under the same category. JR breaks down what Autism is, what the “spectrum” is, why it’s so hard to diagnose, whether or not vac...

For decades, jokes, stories and old wives tales have kept people from getting the proper diagnosis and care in the body’d basement. JR lays out the honest facts and dispels the myths, and discusses why embarrassment about these exams is ridiculous. It’s time to grow up and have adult conversations about our butts, bits, and berries.

We’ve already interviewed one huge internet star, so we figured we better keep the coverage fair and balanced. This week JR interviews CLAUDE… and she’s a completely different animal. A no BS, straight dope chat with AI that has sobering, SHOCKING stuff we’ve never heard before… The future looks grim, folks… ENJOY!

We could sit here all day and tell you what AI is all about, or we can just go to the source. JR interviews ChatGPT in what turns out to be a roller coaster of fascination, smiles, fear, and good old fashion HEEBIE JEEBIES. Don’t listen alone.

There are question, then there are super nerdy QUESTIONS. JR has a healthy supply of both. So there’s only one person he could think of that could scratch the itch. Our 3-time awesome guest: Astrophysicist, author, lecturer, and educator… not to mention uber-nerd… the amazing and always entertaining Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi.

We got a lot of people bugging the heck out of us to learn more about our host. Is he as dumb as he says? Is he as dumb as he SOUNDS? Does he have strong opinions about ANYTHING? Welp, listen up, because he probably won’t say these things out loud again. A deep dive into a shallow pool. You asked, and he aims to please! (Most of the time.)

The second part of our conversation with the confirmed bad ass country vet, Dr. Suzanne Sheldon! JR discussed what it was like to be in NC during hurricane Helene, what questions to ask when interviewing a new vet, plus kooky war stories and unique challenges Dr. S faces in Appalachia. (PS: She’s not French.)

Are you getting overcharged by your vet? Are they recommending unnecessary procedures? And how would you even know? JR wades through the confusing world of veterinary medicine with the help of a straight shootin’, tough-as-nails country vet. Get the info you need straight from the horses mouth as he welcomes his new favorite person, y’all: Dr. Suzanne Sheldon!

Our guest this week had to unexpectedly reschedule, so it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on some business stuff. JR reviews a sampling of your fan mail AND hate mail, and answers them all… in a manner befitting an IDIOT. Buckle up.

The national debt is massive. An almost incomprehensible number. But does it really matter anymore? Is there a difference between 20 Trillion and 39 Trillion when it comes to the impact to our economy? JR digs into whether our debt is a legitimate concern or merely a political talking point… with the help this week’s expert, super smarty pants Dawson Harrington.

We hit the magic number… 20 episodes!! Even though we have no idea why that’s important. But, it’s time for us to take a week off. So enjoy our new LOVE/HATE-MAIL song WRITTEN BY ALL OF YOU! And a smattering of awesome stuff from the amazing guests we’ve had on so far. We’ll be back with more great episodes after we catch some Zzzzzzz….

Ageism, the ATS system, and a lot of other icky stuff you may encounter in the job market. The second half of a fantastic discussion with someone who really knows what’s happening out there. Expand your brains with more invaluable info courtesy of the amazing Julie Gordon Willis!

What’s a Career Coach? How is it different than a Career Counselor? And what about Resumé Doctors? And how do you know if ANY of them are qualified to help you? JR chews down to the meat of what these people do, what they don’t do, and how to make the right choice if you need one… explained with the help of a highly-qualified brainiac, the fun and brilliant Julie Gordon Willis!

Well friends, all of you who have been asking for Stan to be on mic, it’s your lucky day. Our main guest had to cancel so JR has invited our intrepid engineer to talk about who he is, where he came from, and… let’s just say other things. Another example of “careful what you wish for.”

It started out as a simple “How to” conversation… and turned into something way deeper and more honest. JR welcomes back his 3 immensely talented pros for another episode to dig deeper into the business of acting. Whether you’re an aspiring actor or just someone who wants a peek inside the biz, this one’s for you!

Some people think you just memorize some lines and stand where you’re supposed to. But there’s got to be more to it than that…right? Join JR and his insanely talented guest as they get into the art, business, and psychology of being a working actor. So great, so honest, and so deep, it’s gonna take 2 episodes to get through it all! 

Advanced math makes a lot of sense for people going into the sciences. But what about people who aren’t? JR tries to upset the education apple cart by drilling into the way we’re currently taught in school. Joined by a friend of the show… crazy-smart, world-renown astrophysicist and all around cool cat, the amazing Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi.

The Electoral College has been around since basically the birth of our country, and has been at times successful and at times a total train wreck. JR digs into what the E.C. is, how it works, and investigates whether or not it’s time to kiss it bye-bye… all with the help of former Colorado Supreme Court Justice, and super smarty pants, Melissa Hart. ‘Cause we’re fancy now.

AI can be fun. It can be scary. And, it turns out, it can be incredibly dangerous. JR dives in to AI’s effect on the creative industry, the media industry, and society as a whole. And discovers just how far deep fakes and generative content can go… explained with the help of his special guest: super-smart brainiac, Chief Science Officer, and renowned digital content authenticator Dr. Hany Farid!

Attention planners, procrastinators, and crashers! We talked about our golden years, now let’s talk about our final hours. An insightful look at the psychology, prep, and emotional roller coaster that is death planing. Part 2 of a special double episode with JR featuring the dulcet tones and sage wisdom of his special guest, Tom West.

Life is hard. It turns out death is, too. Join our resident idiot as he discovers all the legal, technical, and emotional stuff involved with aging, retirement, and our surprisingly complicated post-mortem… So much, in fact, it’s gonna take 2 episodes to cover it. All with the guidance of JR’s special guest: industry expert Tom West!

All of us rely on it daily, but none of know how it works. JR digs into where cellular service came from, how it works, why it doesn’t, and where it’s going… and discovers that our “state-of-the-art technology” is over 125 years old.

It seems like politicians and the media like to throw around important sounding initials, thinking we know what it all means. JR explains what the GDP is, how it’s different than the GNP, and why we should all C-A-R-E ASAP.