How Did We Get Here

New Year’s Day doesn’t ask for resolutions.  It offers a pause. In this short bonus episode, Jim Richmond reflects on the space between who we were and who we’re becoming — without promises, pressure, or platitudes. Just an honest moment of reflection and a gentle look forward as a new year begins. If you’re starting this year feeling hopeful, uncertain, or somewhere in between, this one’s for you...

When words fail, music often shows up first. In The Bridge , Jim reflects on how music becomes a steady presence during our hardest moments — helping calm the nervous system, hold space for grief, and guide us toward healing when we’re ready. This final episode of 2025 is a quiet, honest look at music not as background noise, but as something that carries us when we can’t carry ourselves. 💬 Share...

On Christmas Day, I wanted to take a quiet moment to slow things down. This short message isn’t about perfection, tradition, or how the season is supposed to feel. It’s simply a pause — a thank you — and a reminder that wherever you find yourself today, you’re not alone. From my family to yours,  Merry Christmas. 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podc...

When life feels heavy, divided, or overwhelming, it’s easy to retreat into ourselves — to feel separate, isolated, or unseen. But sometimes, all it takes is a reminder: We are not alone. Episode 20 continues the mental health series with a quiet but powerful message about connection — to each other, to our experiences, and to the shared humanity we often forget we’re part of. 🕯 One world. One mind...

In the spirit of The Night Before Christmas , Jim offers a different take on the holiday classic. Pull up a chair. Pour a glass of eggnog — maybe two. And step into a quieter moment of reflection. The Night Before Yule is a short, seasonal bonus episode of How Did We Get Here? — an invitation to slow down, set aside the noise of the season, and listen with intention. No spectacle. No rush. Just a...

Episode 19 takes a closer look at the quiet struggles we don’t always see — the internal battles, the weight of unspoken pain, and the limits of what “being there” can fix. Jim shares an honest, grounded perspective on what silence can do to a person, and why connection matters even when we don’t have the answers. What part stayed with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 💬 Share your thoughts on...

Behind every closed door, there’s a story we don’t talk about. Episode 18 explores the memories we carry alone, the weight of silence, and what it takes to finally reach for the “saw” that sets us free. If you’ve ever held something in the dark… this one’s for you. 💬 Thoughts? Share them on IG: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? Send us Fan Mail Support the show How Did We Get Here? — real s...

Most people say “I’m fine” even when they’re not. This episode opens the door to a conversation we don’t have nearly enough — the quiet weight people carry, and why we rarely talk about it. 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podcast about the choices, cracks & crossroads that shape us. Send us Fan Mail Support the show How Did We Get Here? — real s...

On this Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to share something simple — a moment of stillness, a breath, a reminder that gratitude doesn’t always come easy… and that’s okay. Some years, the table is full. Some years, the heart feels a little emptier. But no matter what this year looked like for you, I hope this short message gives you a moment of peace… and maybe a moment of thanks. Whether today is a cele...

In this deeply personal episode, Jim reflects on the life and loss of Iryna Zarutska — a young Ukrainian woman whose final moments shocked the world, and him to his core. The episode is dedicated to the memory of Iryna Zarutska and to those who knew and loved her.   She will not be forgotten.  💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podcast about the choice...

After years of waiting, Jim’s orders for England arrive — and life turns upside down. Between movers, memories, and one unexpected scorpion, the journey becomes more than relocation… it’s a rebirth. 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podcast about the choices, cracks & crossroads that shape us. Send us Fan Mail Support the show How Did We Get Here?...

A normal morning.  A tiny TV at work.  A classroom full of excited students waiting for a lesson from space. Then — 73 seconds after launch — everything changed. Honoring the seven NASA astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice. 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podcast about the choices, cracks & crossroads that shape us. Send us Fan Mail Suppor...

 From a 1973 Chrysler Newport to a black-lab puppy named Fred, Jim Richmond takes you on his first road trip as a newlywed into the heart of Louisiana. In this episode of “How Did We Get Here?” you’ll hear about building a young family in Cajun Country, discovering the food and culture behind the phrase “Pass a Good Time,” and balancing those joys with the discipline of life on one of Strategic Ai...

Once upon a midnight dreary... 🕯️ Step into the shadows for a haunting Halloween treat — a dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s timeless classic, The Raven , performed by Jim Richmond. This special bonus episode invites you to slow down, dim the lights, and lose yourself in the rhythm and melancholy of one of the greatest poems ever written. Whether you’re a longtime Poe fan or hearing it for the...

 Sometimes the scariest stories are the ones that actually happened. In this true account from the mid-70s, a quiet weekend alone turns into something unforgettable when a phone starts ringing… from upstairs. What started as a lazy Saturday soon became a mystery that still sends chills decades later.  This is Who Was Calling? — a true story you won’t forget. 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @t...

He disappears without a sound… then reappears like he never left. From ancient myths to late-night stares, Mr. Ash’s eyes seem to see more than the rest of us ever could. Join me as we explore the mystery, the folklore, and the quiet moments that make you wonder — what do our pets really see in the dark? 💬 Share your thoughts on Instagram: @thehowpodcast61 🎙 How Did We Get Here? — a podcast about...

An island in the Aegean. A quiet night watch. And a figure seen only through the starlight scope. Four guards. Four sightings. One legend. Join Jim Richmond as he recalls one of the eeriest legends from his military years — a night watch where the line between duty and the unknown blurred forever. 🎙️ How Did We Get Here? A podcast about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us. Send us Fa...

 From a small-town graduation to Air Force Basic, Jim Richmond thought he knew where life was headed. In Aim High , he shares the early choices, the shocks and losses, and the curveballs that sent him to places he never expected — and how those moments shaped who he became.  Air Force, Basic Training, Tech School, Small Town Life, Thurman Munson, Military Stories, Life Lessons  💬 Share your thoug...

In 1973, George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees and changed the face of baseball forever.  That same year, a young kid with a transistor radio and a Joe Pepitone glove fell in love with the game — not just the wins and losses, but the voices, the legends, and the dreams it carried. From Phil Rizzuto’s “Holy Cow!” calls, to backyard games that ended with broken fingers and big what-ifs, th...

 This short, light-hearted episode breaks from the heavy stories as Jim shares his “One Shoe Theory” — a roadside mystery turned playful life lesson — guaranteed to make you smile every time you spot a lone shoe on the highway.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show How Did We Get Here? — real stories about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us. 

On September 11th, 2001, the world stopped.  And for me — everything changed. In this special reflection, I share where I was that day, what I saw, and how it shaped the choices that followed. My story isn’t unique — it’s a story shared by so many. But maybe hearing it will remind you that if those memories still haunt you… you’re not alone. Episode 6 of How Did We Get Here? is not just about hist...

In this episode, Jim looks at the badge from two angles: the pride of putting it on for the first time, and the weight it gathers with every call, shift, and hard lesson learned. This isn’t a takedown or a tribute piece—it’s a human look at who we think we’ll be, who we become, and what it costs to carry both. Highlights Rookie shine vs. seasoned reality—what changes and what shouldn’t The differe...

 One night on patrol led to a murder trial, a guilty verdict, and years later, the shocking truth that my testimony had played a part in both a wrongful conviction — and a man’s release.  In 1986, a routine night on patrol turned into a case that would follow me for decades. My partner and I watched a young woman step into a vehicle — not knowing it would be the last time she was seen alive. What...

In this rare reflection, Jim Richmond pauses to acknowledge the tragic loss of two children and the wounding of many others at a Minneapolis school. With empathy as a father and grandfather, Jim asks a hard question: When is enough going to be enough? This is not a regular episode. It is a moment of grief, solidarity, and the reminder that answers exist—if we are willing to face them. uQulA8Q64NNS...

 "After a near-death experience left me fighting to recover, I learned the hard truth about second chances — and how even the smallest steps forward can change everything."  Life doesn’t always give us do-overs.  But every once in a while, the universe hands you one — whether you’re ready or not. In this episode, I share the story of the day everything changed. The day I woke up in a pla...