Bald, Blind, and Buddies

Rob Rosen joins John Boland and Timothy Cordes to talk about his new book Crimes of Omission: Distorted Justice: The Media’s War on Truth. Rob uses a recent example from NPR to show how what is said is as important as what is left out and explains how his book explores this theme with critical stories over the past 2 decades. We discuss the reasons for media’s focus on something other than truth....

Timothy Cordes and John Boland discuss the concept of “right to repair.” Tim explains how the Digital Millenium Copyright Act allows companies to lock consumers into exclusive arrangements where they are beholding to the company for repairs. Consumers become licensees instead of owners. The Buddies discuss how John Deere recently settled a $99 million class action suit from farmers over this issue...

Timothy Cordes and John Boland dive into the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini story. John asserts that people’s business that does not impact their work should be theirs alone, and John bemoans our Victorian culture. The Buddies agree that Dianna Russini’s relationship could have compromised her journalistic independence, and they note the currently abysmal trust in the media. Tim offers a set of an...

After a week in which J.D. Vance told Pope Leo XIV to be “careful” with his theology, Timothy Cordes and John Boland spend time on the Vice-president.   John acknowledges that evil happens when others enable it and is frustrated with otherwise highly capable people like Vance who perform that role.   Tim notes that Vance has been committed to his ambition throughout and swapping ideologies in serv...

We first review the University of Wisconsin Board of Regent’s recent firing of their president and John explains the fundamental nature of academia We launch into understanding why we like sports and the sports we like hitting on growth, excellence, violence, and group cohesion. , John shares why he likes Baseball as a simultaneously individual and group effort. They both muse on the draw of golf....

After trivia where Tim gets a sports question right, John Boland and Timothy Cordes launch into quick hits from the news. The Buddies review the Idaho bill limiting bathroom access to one’s biological gender. John comments on the Supreme Court’s recent trend of carving out religious exemptions while the Buddies address the recent SCOTUS decision on Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy.” Tim conne...

After trivia, the buddies begin with a re-imagining of A Few Good Men with a tech executive on the stand. They review two key adverse rulings against social media companies in New Mexico and Los Angeles. John asserts the primacy of individual choice and responsibility. Tim points out that there should be a higher standard for children. Tim reviews what addiction is and whether people can be addict...

We welcome University of Notre Dame football players Frank Stams and Wes Pritchett, members of the 1988 National Championship team, to the show to reminisce and share their thoughts on Coach Lou Holtz. The two expand on Lou’s leadership, vision, attention to detail, and consistency. Wes explains how he came to appreciate Lou more as he grew into a man with his own family. He recounts Lou’s Three R...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes welcome Lauren Zelt of Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) to Bald, Blind, and Buddies. Lauren expands on the hidden costs of lawsuit abuse highlighting staged accidents and unnecessary medical procedures as examples. She reviews state successes in beginning to address these problems. Tim and John wonder if there are ways to hold the lawyers who perpetrate...

This episode has mature topics including sexual violence. Dr. Schlesinger, a forensic psychologist and expert in criminal behavior, explains what we know, don’t know, and how we know what we do about serial killers. He reviews the role the Silence of the Lambs played in sparking interest in the topic and who is drawn to media on true crime. We speculate on why that may be. Dr. Schlesinger dispels...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes address the Ring Doorbell Super Bowl ad, privacy controversy, and fallout. The Buddies begin with NFL trivia and Tim take prides in his “dumb” home. John and Tim discussed how the Ring Doorbell ad was supposed to warm hearts, but it had a chilling effect. Tim reviews history of Ring’s troubles. John explores tradeoffs between convenience and privacy. John uses the Na...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes reflect on Valentine’s Day, lessons from Cherion Koshy, our last guest, and ease into trivia. The Buddies review Professor Susan Ostermann’s appointment to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and the objections of Catholic bishops because of her pro-abortion advocacy. The buddies discuss whether Professor Ostermann’s pub...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes welcome Cherian Koshy, author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making to the Bald, Blind and Buddies podcast. Cherian Koshy describes the benefits of generosity considering that “generosity is the new green juice.” The Buddies and Cherian examine the gaps between the how and why of giving and how strategies can make giving easier for those predisposed to...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes first review news from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin finally flees the fly-over fields for Columbia University. Next, The Buddies dive into College Associated Minor League (CAML) sports trivia. John and Tim reflect on the appeal of sports and the Superbowl. They examine the choice of Bad Bunny for the half-time show considering th...

This is a timely, must-listen-to episode. John Boland and Tim Cordes interview Edward Davis who was the Boston Police Commissioner during the Boston Marathon bombing and manhunt. Edward Davis describes how he saw federal and local agencies worked together towards common goals. He shares what it was like contributing to the movie Patriot’s Day and how a certain scene connects with the real events....

After touching on the College Associated Minor League (CAML) football championship, John Boland and Timothy Cordes launch into CAML football trivia. We preview upcoming guests including Ed Davis, the former Boston Police Commissioner. John marvels at the absurdity of the Buddies needing to talk about the U.S. seeking to acquire Greenland, and they compare it to a bad Hollywood plot. They review Gr...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes address the fatal shooting in Minnesota. John describes the powerful video, and they consider what threat a driver poses. The Buddies review RFK Junior’s new dietary guidelines, finding much to agree with in it. John poses a trivia question about the worst college football team of all time. John and Tim review the U.S. action in Venezuela highlighting that Nicolas Ma...

John and Tim talk with Dalia Al-Aqidi who is challenging Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth congressional district. Dalia talks about her appreciation for America, illegal immigration, and terrorism. Dalia discusses her opponent, and we demonstrate the power of civil discussion when she and John discuss the Iraq war. Dalia chimes in with her whack-job and heroes of the week. Related to this podcast:...

John and Tim muse on saying “Merry Christmas.” We review Christmas tree trivia. Then, John and Tim launch into a ‘clip show,” drawing on times when they surprised each other with heterodox opinions on China and the Department of Education. They share moments from interviews with Bob Ricks, Lisa Ekman, Gina Bennett, and Wes Pritchett. The Buddies play pieces related to Charlie Kirk and hope as well...

After a podcast update and a round of trivia, John and Tim play what do those song lyrics really mean. Then, the buddies explore a damning report from UC San Diego describing how a growing proportion of its admitted students are unable to do even middle school math. We touch on grade inflation, elimination of standardized testing, and the longer education complex. We explore technology in the clas...

We discuss Senator Mark Kelly’s video urging troops not to follow illegal orders and the related blowback. How is Trump using presidential authority differently and what might constitute an illegal order. We pass through the looking glass into a world of an AI voice clone of John. Tim’s whack-job is anyone who cares about Lane Kiffin’s next coaching gig, and John does not understand why people fol...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes each share three observations that give them hope. From the Catholic Church to the New York Football Giants, and from politics to universities. They praise ingenuity and the American spirit which is refreshed by immigrants.   John and Tim recount heroes who have saved lives, enriched lives, and creatively looked out for others.   Referred to: James Harrison, whose ra...

John Boland and Timothy Cordes discuss the pending release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents, acknowledging the evil that Epstein and his facilitators perpetrated.    We ponder if the wealthy operate under different rules and why. We discuss complicity and opportunism both first ignoring Epstein and now scrutinizing the files. We discuss the dangers of moral relativism and wonder about any further...

Timothy Cordes and John Boland dive into lawfare, the use of law for political ends. But first, they give an update on College-Associated Minor League Football. They try to interpret a U-2 song lyric, and John offers baseball trivia.   Tim and John try to define lawfare. Tim asserts that part of the problem is the vagaries of federal law and the power of the DOJ making anyone vulnerable. John is a...

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