Raising the Standards

Episode 894 - Talking Baseball with Jeff Idelson 21.03.2026 36:37 ↓

Jeff Idelson joined Michael Jacobi and Bill Wolverton. We heard about the Willie Mays Foundation. Say Hey! Jeff and Willie became friends when Jeff was the president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. These days Jeff is busy with Grassroots Baseball .

Episode 893 - Great Museum and Great Hotel 08.03.2026 51:20 ↓

We hear of the National World War Two museum in New Orleans, from the curator, Erin Clancy Curator, as well as of the Eliza Jane Hotel there, from the concierge John Fitzpatrick

Episode 890 - A Bit of Jazz, A Bit of Western, A Whole Lot of Fun 31.01.2026 54:07 ↓

Jacobi had to settle for looking across the studio at Bill Wolverton instead of Rachael Shelton. Everything else was really good. Mark Winkler schooled us on song writing, and talked about the creation of a music video. Hilary Gardner shared stories of her new album, and more. Herb Alpert appeared in the Liner Notes.

Episode 898 - Perfectly Frank 03.01.2026 53:59 ↓

Jacobi and Bill Wolverton were in the studio to pay tribute to Frank Sinatra, shortly after the 110th anniversary of his birth. They were joined in the effort by Chuck Granata , of San Diego's Jazz 88.3 FM - KSDS. His show Sinatra Standard Time is live there every Sunday. Then several stories of life with Sinatra were told by The Man Who Made Sinatra Laugh, Tom Dreesen . Liner notes featured the s...

Episode 892 - A Killshot in New Orleans 20.09.2025 52:32 ↓

Bill Wolverton joins me in studio as we welcome a couple of old buddies. The irrepressible John Fitzpatrick from The Eliza Jane Hotel in New Orleans.   John has been a mainstay on the program for a number of years. Concierge extraordinaire and treasure trove of knowledge about. “The Big Easy.”   Author and raconteur Andy Nottenkamper will talk about his new book, “Killshot” an exciting new work fr...

Episode 890 - The Rythms of Hope: An Interview with Lauren Monroe, Founder of the Raven Drum Foundation 30.08.2025 53:00 ↓

The Rythms of Hope: An Interview with Lauren Monroe, Founder of the Raven Drum Foundation

Episode 889 - Monterey Jazz Festival with guest Managing Director Bobbie Young 23.08.2025 54:40 ↓

Monterey Jazz Festival with guest Managing Director Bobbie Young We heard some music from Gregory Porter. We relived an iconic scene with a young Tom Cruise. Gene Autry fans may or may not want to listen.  

Episode 887 - Live Theater and Great Golf 26.07.2025 54:01 ↓

Bill Wolverton filled in for Rachael co-hosting and putting up this podcast. Noah Lucé of New Canon Theatre was with us to talk about the upcoming play he will direct, Life Sucks. It opens August first, in Moss Landing. Then we chatted with Michael Henderson of TPC Monterey at Pasadera . It's a new name, but the same great facilities and service. Finally, we were treated to a performance by Julie...

Episode 886 - Her Majesty Colleen Bailey and the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce 19.07.2025 53:51 ↓

We heard from Colleen about what has been happening and what is coming up in Salinas Valley businesses. You'll have to listen to the end to hear the list of the five cities in the commerce. There was a great bit of film trivia in weekend liner notes.