Tony on the Mic

On this episode, I get to actually see what real life Tinder page looks like, and we discuss LIVE if Anna should swipe right, and why or why not. The ladies tell me some things that are “Vagina repellant” – a term I never knew and could have gone my whole life without hearing… We answer how many pet guinea pigs is too many, how often you should update your profile picture and information and what is your responsibility to somewhat resemble your current picture. How much revenge is too much? 

In this jam-packed episode of ADD – we wonder why the eggplant became the go-to suggestive emoji over the heavily favored banana, compare notes on how to spot an actual hooker, and how  the “ordering process” in a brothel look like. We talk about a few uncomfortable taboo fetishes that Anna has been offered to participate in. What are some deal breakers on you profile, and wonder if etiquette still matters in today’s world of dating – do you dress up a little? Be on time? Open the door? Pick up the check… And why these two ladies do not care about your favorite sports team and probably don’t want to camp in the wild… spoiled? They are also a little mean in my opinion to Bill and a couple other dates of Anna’s...

On this week’s installment of ADD – Adult Dating for Dummies, we meet Anna and scratch the surface of her recent dating history. We hear about “Special K” she only uses his first initial for some semi anonymity. We discuss door opening etiquette, good, safe places to meet on a first face to face or “IRL” that’s what the kids call in real life, date. Spoiler alert, an under-construction house with covered windows and plastic tarps everywhere is not a good idea… but that does not stop Anna! I explain what a Masshole is and why it is not as bad as it sounds. We do a PG-13 introduction to “foot guy.” And basically talk about first dates and how much you should share before hand, expect during, and reveal after. 

So grab a quart of Ben and Jerry’s and a cozy blanket and give us a listen o this week’s episode of ADD! 

Hey folks, for those expecting a scintillating interview episode, this is a brand new project, launched under the Tony on the Mic banner. ADD – Adult dating for Dummies. We talk about the new dating frontier – dating apps and how to meet someone in 2024. I am happily married and so naïve to what is out there, I mostly sit mouth wide open as I hear about the wild wild world on online dating, intimate pics, sliding into DMs, swiping, how to choose a profile pic and more. I also get a disturbing bit of info about the brazen-ness of today’s on-line males and share a now infamous photo of a shirtless me with a cat in my lap, trying to look… sexy? 

Please reach out to the show if you have any horror stories, funny stories, tips or tricks for navigating this crazy new marketplace. It will be an interactive show! In the meantime, tune in, like comment, share and tell your friends. Then get in on the fun! 

Today I am joined by San Diego Running legend Paul Greer. He has a new book out – Going the Distance – Strategies from the first stride to the finish line. It is one tip per page over 250 pages – that helps improve, starts, strides, shoes, breath and more! Whether you are just getting started or you’re a seasoned runner, the man the Union Tribune called the Pied Piper of San Diego Running has lots of stuff to make you better! He has run with the Bulls 5 times, (Pamplona, not Chicago) climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro AND Mt Whitney 13 days apart, he is the President of San Diego Track and Field. He has a sub 4-minute mile and was an Olympic team finalist. His credentials are impeccable, and his adventures are amazing. I could list them all, but that is what Google is for! Or you could just listen! 

Today my guest is - when you think Bubbles, think Meadow Perry! One of the 124 most prominent bubbles magicians in the world according to OIBA! She was on the CW Masters of Illusion, did a week at the world famous Magic Castle in LA, and got a shout out from Penn Gillette of Penn and Teller! We talk about the genesis of bubble magic, how she got into bubble magic and push back against the notion that it isn’t “real” magic – I mean really? Are there wizards somewhere doing “real” magic? We talk about her theater nerd days in high school, life on the road with kids, and how does her best to never be approached on the road. I remember how our first meeting was completely forgettable for her… I mean, she completely forgot who I was… Also her kid interrupts, so we take a break, we discuss the difference between men and women in the industry, and we talk last meal stuff.

Today my guest is author and inspirational speaker Jonas Royster. He overcame a troubled past, including a few incarcerations, gang banging and a severe alcohol addiction. He is releasing his second book, with 4 more in the pipeline. He is also doing motivational speaking, trying to use his story, struggles and success to point out a road map to what is possible for those in his similar situation. We talk sky-diving, bungee jumping, being a foodie and how to act – and not act when in prison. Check out his book on Amazon “Bangin’ – the Making of a Y.G.” and his next offering “Quotes Off The Wall – 31 Days to Break Bad Thinking habits and Embrace positivity” out August 12th 

Today my guest is Lorraine Bardeen, VP and Chief Technology officer at Microsoft! We discuss her journey through life and Cornell (ever heard of it) that led her to Microsoft. We discuss her life through high school and college, and why there are many people in her rolodex she would call before Bill Gates if she needed a tire change. She defends Clippy, the original AI Microsoft assistant, ranks her sisters, and lists keys to success, hiring and what she looks for in a potential fast tracker. She validates my adherence to Atomic Habits. Check out her inspirational and informational blogs on linkedin!

Today my guest is Author Kitty Zeldis. Once an aspiring bun-head (ballet dancer,) she went from publishing almost 40 children themed books and short stories and her last novel, The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights was about a Jewish Prostitute in New Orleans… We cover her journey from one to the other, and lots of stuff in between. She talks about rejection letters, balancing editors and her own vision, and gives some great advice to aspiring writers. How writing novels damaged her reading them, she is often caught up evaluating and rationalizing things in the book that she is simply trying to read and enjoy. She has finally mastered emojis, but fears it may be passe and too late to be cool. 

BJ is Married! We sit down and catch up with everybody’s favorite bachelor as he settles down with his long-time love Andrea. We talk about the planning, the execution and the whirlwind that is a wedding. We discuss his podcast revival, the intrusive nature of the internet and its listening – all the time. We set the over under WAY too low for the amount of times he would cry. Is syncronicitious a word? Spoiler alert – no. Is Sapiens a real book? Spoiler alert – yes. Chef Andrew and the group at the Make café and the good work they do. (check them out at www.SDmake.com ) It is a great time, as it always is when we sit down to talk. Listen is as we talk about Juliette Lewis’s band, the simultaneous North Park music festival, Aunt Cindy and Aunt Anne’s wedding, and more!

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Today my guest is a relaxed, recentered and rejuvenated Erica Benisch! She just got back from a week at the famous and exclusive Golden Door Spa in San Marcos – as recommended by Oprah! Door to door shuttle service, daily in-room massage and endless activities. But the most impactful part was getting in touch with herself and accessing years of pent-up baggage and trauma. With daily yoga, meditations and access to various therapy explorations she was able to recenter and continue her journey in life and motherhood. She also did archery, fencing, tap dancing and more! We talk about the process, shout out her kids and I learn to pronounce her last name – after 20 years or so! 

Today – My guest Jayden Lombardo just returned from completing the most famous, and some say most daunting marathon: the Boston Marathon, 26.2 grueling miles through the streets of Boston, culminating at Heartbreak Hill! He joined 30,000 other runners and finished just before the rain came down in buckets. I pity those who finished later. We learn why the Unicorn is the official symbol of the Boston Marathon, why I call him Quadzilla or the Quadfather, and how he managed to spend an entire week apart from his girlfriend Schmoopy. He enjoyed his first trip to Boston and saw the sites including learning about the Salem Which Trials, the kings church and fun facts about the Rhode Island state capital. We sample and rate another Whisky and I recall a good chunk of the famous poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” from elementary school – not bad for an old man! 

My guest today turned down Oprah, the first time she called, but did Tony on the Mic on the first request! She is Pam Smith and she is fascinating. She had a genealogy friend and they were working together for a few years. They discovered one of her friend’s people, owned – as in slavery – her people. How would your react? She tells us about the emotional whirlwind and how it all reconciled. Spoiler alert: after some tense moments they are still friends 30 years later.   She is a long time civil rights activist who has worked with Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama and met Stokely Carmichael by accident! She lived in Africa for a few years, and lived in a monastery (not quite like Sister Act or Sound of Music I found out.) She has lived in the DMV, Chicago, Portland Oregon, spreading seeds of hope and racial reconciliation at every stop. Way too many cool stories for one podcast so we will have her back! 

My guest is Author / teacher MacArthur Shaw! He has written and published his first book, Adventures in Subbing, the life and times of a classroom mercenary. It is loaded with tales from the various schools and classrooms. It is also loaded with adult language – he pulls no punches. We talk about the various times we have been punched in the mouth for being a smart ass in our lives, and agree, it needs to happen to more smartasses. We talk about Smashmouth – unrelated – and a tribute to Shock G from Digital Underground! He also talks about his days of fencing and bartending and doing stand up comedy. 

Today I have a return guest Lori Biesel of Starseed Galactic enterprises! We talk about the power of high vibrational frequency music, and how it can help is so many areas – youtube it! We talk about getting in touch with the Source, and achieving balance in your life, but mostly we discuss her first Ayahuasca trip! A three-day guided trip of meditation, yoga and hallucinogens, into the depths of her consciousness. The light, the visions, the freedom, the puking… If you have never tried this, I am not sure if this will make you more or less likely to consider it, but I think I might try it. We talk about doshas and dietas, and how the practice of Ayurveda can balance your diet and physical and spiritual sectors to make everything work in harmony.

Today we revisit a real-life transgender man, who is asexual, and a woman who is not interested in having sex. We learn about the trials and tribulations, challenges in school and at home with family. We talk about labels and the problem some people in society have accepting other’s lifestyles, choices and identities. We learn all kinds of new words and definitions. We ranked best friends, laughed childishly at the planet Uranus for childish reasons. We touch on Drag Queens reading to kids and find out if Al Capone and the mafia owned and ran gay bars. My bug zapper goes on a massacre in the background, and Duke (my dog) takes over the episode.

So, I got a tattoo, my first tattoo. I decided to interview a well rated tattoo artist for the pod, and what better way than to do it while I am in the chair! I talk about how it hurts mostly, but I get to ask questions I have always wondered. Is there anything you won’t tattoo? What is the longest continuous tattoo session? Should I use a pain killing gel, or is pain part of the process? Do you tattoo drunk people? Have you ever tried to talk someone out of a tattoo? We meet his business partner Soda Pop, I barely cry and am thrilled with the tat. See, I say tat now because I have a tat. Those of us who  know, know. It’s a lifestyle. He also mocks me a bit for thinking I understand the lifestyle after one, fairly innocuous tattoo… 

The sound is not as good as usual, as the phone picked up all the background noise. Maybe we can get Sky into the studio and really dig into this! Anyway, I get introduced to a great new band, that sounds like a great old band. The soundtrack to my tattoo is Durand Jones and the Indications – check them out. 

My day at Disneyland with Patrick Mahomes. Isabella got some discount (but still expensive) tickets to Disneyland a few months back through her work. We set the date, scheduled coverage for work and planned an awesome day! We had no idea that when Kansas City won the Super Bowl, and Patrick Mahomes exclaimed “I’m going to Disneyland!” that we would be there together and forever intertwined in history. Hear about our great day and our embellished account of the details. Tony on the Mic has a policy of honesty and transparency, so I came clean at the end about what was real and what was enhanced. Disneyland is awesome and my cousin Gary helps me revisit a great day at the happiest place on Earth. 

Today I am so excited to take another step in my life / spiritual journey. I sit with Three “Spirit Livers” (people who live in the spirit. *Trademark, Tony on the Mic.) We talk about getting in touch with our feelings and actual honest, inner desires. We talk meditation, positive outlook, manifesting and determining what we really want down deep, versus what we think we are supposed to want, and sometimes say we want. We lay some simple groundwork for you to start a journey and set the foundation for self-introspection. I try to overcome deflection, procrastination and excuse making. We touch on ayahuasca and “trips” (yeah, I am not there yet) and the need to challenge your own status quo and comfort zones – I am trying hard to do that. And it is NOT a midlife crisis, it is a step in the connective journey to a higher power! 

Today my guests are ultra Marathoners – Jayden Lombardo and Jake Ennis. They recently put a 50-mile race under their belt, and have qualified for the Boston Marathon in April. After that, they set their sites on an Iron Man triathlon and/or a 100 mile race. Hear about the training discipline, the diet, the ambitions, injuries, and insights they gain while doing this grueling activity. They get very personal… some might say TOO personal, in the details they share. Hear the horrors and hazards of running for 13 hours straight – for the “short” 50 mile races. What do they think about, why they don’t listen to music while running, and learning to prevent chafing. We also talk about hate following the liver king, Jayden’s pending proposal and Jake’s single life (he is available!)