New Tricks for Old Dogs

The old dogs ramble about the good old days before cell phones. We offer another edition of Ads 'n Fads. We acquaint you with the Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly. We discuss the meaning and application of the wind chill factor. And we explain America's fastest-growing sport, pickleball. Our guest is MICHAEL McDONALD, a guy you need to know if you think you just can't handle the stu...

The Old Dogs wonder how much time and money we're willing to spend trying to be 18 again. Our Chief Aging Officer Kathleen O'Brien gets a notion to write a novel. And once again Jim gets embarrassed again by getting stumped. Again. The Old Dogs conversation is with Ray Schilens, who answers a lot of questions about how the medium of radio has changed in the last 20 years. 

In this, our 100th episode, we look back on all the fun we've had over the last four years. We propose a new kind of friendlier exercise program. We extol the virtues of knolling. We fill you in on facts about our largest state. And we reveal secrets about how people lie with their eyes.  The old dogs conversation is with Mike Vance - a writer, producer and veteran stand up comic with whom we...

The Old Dogs ramble about things we can't explain. Like where did the other sock go? We report on a case of mistaken identity, where the identity was a dummy. We bring you another edition of Ads n Fads. We wonder what's going to become of all those soccer stadiums in Qatar. We relate another fishy fish story. And we explain five things that can't be explained. The Old Dogs conversat...

The Old Dogs ramble about better - or at least different - endings for popular movies. We report on a special government cabinet meeting that took place... underwater. We tell the story of a great-grandmother who finally graduated from college at the age of 90. We bring you more commentary from our Chief Aging Officer. And we muse on that zany new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk. The Old Dogs Conversa...

The Old Dogs ramble about New Years resolutions. We join the debate on how long it takes to prepare Microwavable Velveeta Mac and Cheese. We wonder how a simple word like “huh?” can be found in so many languages. We play another game of Stump the Older Old Dog. We remember Christine McVie, dead at 79, and we offer some thoughts on why we believe in lies. The Old Dogs Conversation is with Roy Meink...

The Old Dogs ramble about all that junk mail we've been getting about Medicare Advantage. We offer the exciting news that bystander pigs can reduce conflict in the pig pen. We present another Old Doggerel. We celebrate America's gift to the world, the Slinky. And we say farewell to the Leap Second. If you were as fascinated as we were by our conversation last time with Deborah Whisnand,...

The Old Dogs ramble about the fascination with so-called reality shows. We disclose a useful term for misunderstood song lyrics. We note the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis. We remember a time when reality shows were really real. We celebrate a guy who gave weary passengers a place to wait for the bus. And we offer a few thoughts on a new kind of sociability as we age. The Old Dogs conversation is with...

The Old Dogs ramble about the early days of television. We bring you another popular Ads n Fads. We fondly remember drive-in movies. We hear from our Chief Aging Officer Kathleen O'Brien. We introduce the latest in personal identification. And we present the case for fewer friends. The Old Dogs conversation is with Sherry Halperin - producer, writer, talent agent and now a writer of fiction d...

The Old Dogs ramble about their influence - or lack thereof - on the Kardashians. We invite you to join us for a cup of coffee at Central Perk. We relate the sad plight of Kim Kardashian, who has alas run afoul of the law. We play another round of Stump the Older Dog - and Jim isn't laughing.  And we reveal some little known facts about Queen Elizabeth. The Old Dogs Conversation is with Margi...

The Old Dogs ramble about... rambling - on the open highway. This ramble was insired by our first podnugget, the first cross-country road trip. We note the passing of Marsha Hunt, a veteran actress and activist who lived to one hundred and four. We take a look at the so-called Takeaway Rembrandt. We get a little salty with the Morton Salt Girl. and we find that great ideas often occur in the showe...

The Old Dogs ramble about the concept of ashes to ashes… we report on a cryptocurrency blunder that made one lady a lot richer… we say farewell to Nichelle Nickols in her final journey to space… we announce the new butter sculptor at the Minnesota State Fair… we lament the release of a new slasher movie featuring, yes… Winnie the Pooh… and we tell the story of a starving artist who traded his pain...

The Old Dogs philosophize about political advertising. We introduce the concept of tree-mail. We bring you another edition of old doggerel. We hear from our Chief Aging Officer about how time seems to be gaining on us. And we amuse you with some medieval cures for common ailments. The Old Dogs Conversation is with Jim Martinez, a guy who has made it possible for thousands of sight-challenged liste...

The Old Dogs reminisce about the good old three-ring circus. We bring you another Ads and Fads. We  celebrate a postal worker, on the job since 1952. We invite you retire to your very own Scottish island. We familiarize you with familiar scenes from the movies. And we wonder about a modern circus that has no lions, tigers or bears... oh, my! The Old Dogs Conversation is with Allen Roth, a Hollywoo...

The Old Dogs Ramble about THE HEAT... Driving for Two... A note from Sandra Cavallo Miller...  Breaking in the Royal Shoes...  Old Doggerel #13 – Password Purgatory...  A Really Cold Case Murder...  A big Payday for Expert Witnesses. The Old Dogs Conversation is with Michael Hernan of Inishmore Island, County Galway, Republic of Ireland.

The old dogs ramble about the price of gasoline - is it affecting you? We have breaking news about an old bust. We present another commentary from our Chief Aging Officer. We explore the history of knock-knock jokes. We praise the wisdom of Swiss laws governing guinea pig ownership. And we talk... about listening. The old dogs conversation is with Lynette Ross. A pastor who has taken a winding but...

The old dogs discuss some of their favorite peeves about crutch words. We follow that with a podnugget on the same theme. There's also another of our beloved Old Doggerels, a celebration of the great jazz bassist Ron Carter, and an edition of Stump the Older Old Dog . The Old Dogs conversation is with Deirdre Virvo, a real-estate specialist who has been pioneering a boutique approach to assis...

In this episode the Old Dogs happily dwell on the subject of happiness. We bring your attention to the world’s very first speeding ticket. We take you back to a time when not all warriors were men. We introduce another bit of Old Doggerel. We share some practical ways in which you can improve your happiness. And we explain why it’s so hard for older folks to learn a language. The old dogs conversa...

In this episode the Old Dogs speculate on the possibilities of aging in place. We marvel at the mystery of marrying in the metaverse. We bring you another Ads n Fads. We enlighten you with archeological discoveries that have change our view of the world. We coin another bit of Old Doggerel. And we report on the latest opinions about aging in place. The Old Dogs Conversation is with Ted Swindley, a...

The Old Dogs ponder the legal and ethical ramifications of using genetics to help solve cold cases. We follow that with a piece on crowd funding genetic research. We present another bit of Old Doggerel. We list five things you may not know about airline cabins. We encourage you to avoid clichés... like the plague. And we acquaint you with a gentleman who can speak 24 languages. The Old Dogs conver...

The Old Dogs ramble about... rambling - that is, the tendency for many of us to let our minds wander. We discuss the true definition of that everyday word, "jiffy." We get our latest report from Kathleen O'Brien, our Chief Aging Officer. We present another Old Doggerel. We marvel at the research people are doing on the language of pigs. And we dig into the phenomenon of the wanderin...

The Old Dogs speculate on hiring a stranger to sit with us and do nothing. We report on the odd ways people have defaced works of art. We find something all US Senators can agree on. We present another edition of Old Doggerel. We give you a lesson on how not to shoplift a crossbow. And we give an in-depth look at the Japanese practice of hiring strangers to do nothing with us. The Old Dogs convers...

The old dogs ponder why some people get goldfish... and then get rid of goldfish. We bring you another edition of Ads 'n Fads. We ask the question all America is asking, namely, where is spell check when you need it? We report on the growing problem of goldfish in Minnesota lakes. And we acquaint you with a few weird state laws still on the books. The Old Dogs conversation is with MARLIN MURD...

The Old Dogs are feeling vulnerable about online scammers. We're pulling for an Olympic tug-of-war event. Old Doggerel No. 5: The Cane Mutiny. Christopher Walken: still quiry at 78. Internet scammers are targeting seniors. A hundred ways to improve your life without really trying.  GEOFF CAMERON came rather later to the podcasting game when he started experiencing issues with his eyesight. Ra...

More Old Doggerel, more Stump the Older Dog (he wins), much puzzlement about goldfish that are taught to drive, and not much help understanding the Metaverse. Our conversation is with comedian Rich Shydner, who proves that he can be hilarious both standing up - and in front of a computer.