In this episode, I interview my friend, Sarge, also known as James Robinson.

Sarge is an 80-year-old Vietnam vet and a jazz musician. His wisdom goes well beyond his years. There aren't many of his ilk left in the world, and he should be heard and respected. Now, one does not simply have a quick chat with Sarge. His stories take time to develop and are full of teachable, and often funny, moments. In the first half of the interview, he tells the story of his connection to Malcolm X. Also, his friend James Hunter was at the recording, but didn't want a microphone. You may hear him chiming in on the sideline.

Sarge's Battalion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Mobile_Construction_Battalion_Seven

Abyssinian Baptist Church
https://abyssinian.org/about-us/history/

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
http://www.dbonhoeffer.org/

A Great Day in Harlem (Photo)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Great_Day_in_Harlem_(photograph)

A Great Day in Harlem (Documentary)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109934/

Summer of Soul (Documentary)
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/13/1015347905/summer-of-soul-questlove-1969-harlem-cultural-festival

Tommy Simmons
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/norwichbulletin/name/thomas-simmons-obituary?id=19323944

The Other Malcolm - "Shorty" Jarvis (Book)
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Malcolm-Shorty-Jarvis-His-Memoir/dp/0786440570/

The Baldies
https://newyorkcitygangs.com/?page_id=192

Hoyt-Schermerhorn Department Store
https://untappedcities.com/2014/05/02/daily-what-remnants-of-a-lost-department-store-in-brooklyn-hoyt-schermerhorn-subway-station/

Henry Adler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Adler

In this episode, I interview my friend and bandmate, Cedric Mayfield.

Ced is a reed instrumentalist, a master of the clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, and flute. He got his start in the Air Force Band and then moved to New London CT to be in the Coast Guard Band.

In addition to getting to play with him with the Franklin Brothers Band, I had the pleasure to record an album for him and his band, Epitome.

He's got a great story, and the music.. well... it speaks for itself!

Cedric Mayfield's Bio
https://www.uscg.mil/Community/Coast-Guard-Band/personnel/mayfield/

New London Big Band live at Birdland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbuuTCDAsFU

Things We Said Today (Franklin Brothers Band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRP8bwGRMFo

Epitome - Appreciation
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Q6R8GN/

100 Days 100 Nights (Nichelle Rollins)
https://youtu.be/CAu-z3pvLu0

Franklin Brothers Band Live Videos
https://franklinbrothersband.com/#video

Carl talks to Jonathan Stark, an innovator and deep thinker who in 2011 discovered how to pay for Starbucks products with a picture on his phone. He is a champion of value pricing. If you are an independent provider of your services for an hourly rate, you need to listen to this. Jonathan's method has changed my life for the better, and my customers have never been happier.

Jonathan Stark: Value Pricing Bootcamp
https://jonathanstark.com/vpb

In this episode, I interview my old friend and funny guy, Randy Judkins.

Randy is a unique inspirational speaker and has presented his creative programs on laughter, change, stress, self-esteem, and teamwork for professional groups, schools, and companies in over 25 U.S. states, Canada and Europe.

Randy has appeared in a handful of television commercials and independent films in his native state of Maine. Randy has instructed at the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey's Clown College in Florida and has served as a character consultant for Tri-Star Pictures. The Juilliard School of Drama in New York City hired Randy to teach a series of master classes in character and physical comedy.

In 2002, he founded the comedy trio, the Maine Hysterical Society. They have been called 'The best variety comedy act in New England'. He guides specialty food tasting, and walking tours in downtown Portland, and has co-guided professional hiking tours in Acadia National Park.

Randy served as Master of Ceremonies twice for the Patrick Dempsey Challenge Banquet for Hope and Healing, [and cycled the 100-mile course the next day]. At one time he ran in the Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race while juggling three balls the entire 6.2 miles. He finished the race in under an hour and he did not drop a ball.

Randy Performing in 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4um9RTVQclE

Down East Juggling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbXSPIdNNKY

Clementine (Carl performing with Randy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSEn66X6BM

Spinning Plates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifzydlr98w0

Tony Montenaro
https://mimespokenhere.com/

Benny & Denise Reehl on the Today Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP3mt8N6ir4

Oddfellow Theater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uTlX_tB9Ow

The Wizards of Odd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdPw3lSQc18

Maine Hysterical Society
https://www.facebook.com/people/Maine-Hysterical-Society/100063447228651/

Now you're talking Down East OFFICIAL Music Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_o8bP8nU-9A

Bert & I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t451Ruf4XDI

Bert & I: Which Way to Millinocket?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6V2Ew1M0sE

Bert & I: Which Way to East Vasselboro?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jn61NUd0q8

In this premiere episode, I interviewed my good friend Dan Greef from England.

I met Dan in 2018 through the Keto community and we became good friends.

I asked him to define a handful of British slang (and a couple of non-slang) words and phrases, and hilarity ensued.

I shared a song (New England in the Wintertime) that I wrote in 2001 (I think) inspired by being in a cozy house with family and a group of friends at a low-key New Year's Eve gathering in Connecticut. The forest was blanketed with several inches of snow while the fire roared inside. It was magical.

New England in the Wintertime

We found ourselves in peril out where the best relief is just to freeze

The snow hangs on the gallows. The nuthatch wings to a warmer gentle breeze

Where evergreens stand like soldiers amid the smell of comrades set ablaze

And tiny bombs of white fire rain down upon us from the canopy

The backlit woods before us, we lead our horses into paradise

The blood-red moon adores us. The souls of old friends keep us occupied

The path will always be here if only covered by the fallen snow

We come to Roselyn lake and the cold air scrapes our faces to the bone

The ice has thinned in places. My horse reminds me and sticks to the shore

The stillness is disarming. We start to believe there is no danger here

The evening sun is falling. It melts away in crimson and golden tones

At dusk, we reach the cottage. Our bodies beaten from the wind and snow

We'll ring the bell at midnight. Its tarnished bones will come to life again

There's nothing better than to be with friends In New England in the wintertime

Dan's Website:
https://deliciouslyguiltfree.com/