PILLARS PODCAST 🎙

SUNBACK has forever been synomous with Christmas! Early 20th century, Mr. Eric Sunback’s father had an affinity for the Christmas tree because it reminded him of his native Sweden. In 1956 young Eric sold his first tree for 25 cents, and from then on Sunback’s life has been all Christmas trees — going on to establishing two premier Christmas tree lots in the Washington DC area! If you’re any kind...

Tom and I have been friends for years down by the Bethany seashore, and he  just authored his second book -- WINNERS LOSE, TOO.   It has been a three year process -- rather the process of a lifetime well spent!  Tom loves athletics and has played and coached sports his whole life!  For 40  years Tom has also been a psychotherapist.  Tom brings his rich life experience and a love of writing to humb...

Andrew Hasser is a graduate student at St. John's College -- reading and discussing  the classics!  Andrew is also a US Air Force Veteran.  Recently retired, Andrew reflects on his time in the military, his time in Afghanistan, meeting his wife in the overseas, traveling Europe, Thanksgiving in Germany, the St. John's experience, and plans to sails the watery parts of the world. Thank yo...

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for Peter Lynch to represent your neighborhood (if you live in the ANC 3/4 G-05 neighborhood of NW-DC)!  In Peter's words from his website : I am a native Washingtonian, high school English teacher, who grew up in this ANC. The citizens of SMD-05 include my wife, brother, nieces, friends, and long time neighbors. Chevy Chase, DC is home and it would be an honor to serve this...

Tommy Morrison is a 18-year-old senior who is headed to University of Texas next year to play some big-time golf!  I have known Tommy since the grade school halls and fields of Mater Dei (Bethesda, MD).  It was a pleasure catching up with an old student of mine and to hear Tee-it-high Tommy's journey in the game of golf and life.  Tommy is more than an outstanding and promising golfer — he is...

NICK MCEVOY went to Mater Dei, Gonzaga, and Penn State -- where he was a lacrosse star and stud on and off the field.  It was in the Nittany State at Happy Valley where he was turned on to THON - - a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Nick with be squaring off in a boxing match to raise money so that hopefully, with the...

CONNIE KEMPER is a longtime friend of mine (and also a longtime fan of the podcast), and in January, pulled the big trigger and made the big leap o'er continent and 'cross ocean to the island paradise of Hawaii.  However, it has not been all rainbows and surf breaks.   Connie is from South Korea, so Hawaii trends closer to her home soil, yet Connie has called DC home for most all of her...

Bob Kemp was a great man of family, faith, athletics -- just to name a few!  Unfortunately this great man's life -- like too many -- was cut short way too soon.  Fortunate for us, however, Bob left a legacy of love in his wake. Since Bob's passing in 2014 -- CJ, his six siblings, and his mom have orchestrated the premier fall-ball lacrosse experience at our alma mater -- Georgetown Prep....

For the 111 episode, I had the championship pleasure of talking with Timmy "LAXRAT" Connolly (and to everyone out there -- ask Tim about LAXRAT -- she's good-to-great, backed in and ready to go -- with maybe even a better story)! Timmy and Dan "CAPT. UNDERPANT" Bernardi won the 17th annual Salty Dog Classic in a big kinda way.  Not just because they are both large and have...

Bastian & Alex are a couple of the finest of the SSBP -- Sussex Shoes Beach Patrol.  As the Summer finds her way to a big finish, Bastian, Alex, and I talk competitions, workouts, the SSBP family, saves & safety, zinc-oxide on the nose, PBJ's, weather, surf, and safest and most fun shore on the beach! A big thank you from we to you for keeping us safe and inspiring us through your har...

MAZ loved everyone and everyone loved MAZ.  Some people just have a way about them -- the world and life seems to come easy -- and I'd venture to say this is largely because MAZ  was in a total, beautiful harmony with the universe -- doing exactly what he was placed on this marbled rock to do -- teach, mentor, inspire the next generation of young men and women.               "With a pure...

Finn is a rising “Youngster” — as in a sophomore at the Naval Academy.   Before the academy on the Severn of Annapolis, Finn went to Georgetown Prep and Mater Dei.  Thanks, Finn, for sitting down while overlooking the great Atlantic to tell your story and speak your passion about service to our awesome nation on our beautiful birthday — the Fourth of July! 🇺🇸-❤️-💥

Ladies & Gentlemens, it is Wimbledon season -- so grab your strawberries  & cream -- or you bacon and eggs -- and let's enjoy the white out on grass on this distinctly American weekend (a little bit ironic -- yeah, I really do this 😉)! Fire up the 'cast and gain some behind the lines insight into this 150 year old tradition, for Mr. Eric M. Brancaccio, he knows his tennis, and t...

Emma Jane Goodman is an incredible artist.  By means of using the word incredible -- I quite literally mean that I cannot believe the things that flows from the pencil, pen, brush as Emma lets dance her hand, fingers, wrist -- art imitating life imitating art -- this is beyond my purview of understanding -- and that is why it was such a treat and honor to have Emma on the podcast to help color the...

This is US Open Week and with all this talk about the LIV Tour, Bob Dolan and I talked nothing about it and all about the golf of this country and arguably the biggest tourney on our soil -- THE US OPEN.  Also Bob is about half-way through his last year as club professional at Columbia Country Club.  I remember way back to when I was 13 years old in 1995 when Bob took over the reigns from Bill Str...

William Seamus Hughes passed away from Pediatric Glioblastoma.   The Willie Hughes Foundation is determined to make sure this does not happen again to any other other boys and girls. Pediatric Glioblastoma is underfunded -- this is how we fund it and end it!!! WILLIE'S SUMMER-FEST MISSION The mission of the Foundation is to raise funds to find treatments for pediatric glioblastoma and other a...

St. John’s College High School of the Nation’s Capital is the #1 ranked boys program in the nation.  The Johnnies are undefeated and if they win their league tournament, there are very much in the conversation for best high school lacrosse team ever assembled. . . . . I taught Jackie and Luke when they were in middle school.  It was a great treat to talk well into a spring evening with these two f...

Fritz Brogan went to Georgetown University, played football, studied political, law, and business — and has never left since — rather I should say Fritz has never stopped since opening his first restaurant — Gin & Tonic.  After plenty of those (G&T’s) for he and I over the years, Fritz has gone on to bigger and broader things in the Nation’s Capital.  Through the Mission Group, six restaur...

Chris Remington was a friend to everyone, and, above all, THE family-man. Joe was one of Chris’ best friends. This Friday (4/22) we all will gather to play golf and tell stories and laugh and sip Chardonnay and hug and love — all in the memory of Chris. If you cannot make it Friday, I hope you considering giving to THE REMO CLASSIC! 🥂 

For our 100th episode, we give you MATT BRESLIN — The President of WINNERS LACROSSE . . . . . WINNERS Lacrosse offers a variety of programs throughout the year (ages 5-14) for DC and Tampa area youth to learn the game of lacrosse and the character skills that come along with playing sports. All of our boys and girls programs are free and we provide all necessary equipment. Matt and I have been fri...

Greg Lecker is the started at the famed and fabled Columbia Country Club and the author of the Thursday newsletter "Red's Roost" -- which speaks to the tradition, news, culture, legend & lore of our club and the beautiful game.  Greg also is a frequenter of Augusta National -- he tells stories from both sides of the ropes when we sat in the studio about one year ago today! Happy...

Kate Snedeker’s father was diagnosed with GLIOBLASTOMA about this time last year. Kate is a college sophomore and in the fall and with her father undergoing cancer treatment, Kate put love into action and started GRAY FOR GLIOBLASTOMA FUND — which is recently= gained non-profit status, and whose end goal is to raise money and awareness so that Glioblastoma is put to an end.  In the words of Kate f...

Arch Campbell is a movie maven and local legend and he was so kind to carve out a little time with little ole me durning the most revered season of the Oscar! Thank you, Arch, and cheers to CODA!

King Richard is Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams.  He had a dream and a vision, he executed, and help sisters become the two best tennis players of all time.  I hope you enjoy my words. Mov. Me -- A Sunday Soliloque for Friday!

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."