HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette

On this episode of HODGEPOD, host Rob Fredette interviews Elizabeth Mikotowicz, an artist, author, and advocate who shares her journey from escaping domestic violence and struggling with prescription opioids to being incarcerated on federal drug charges. Elizabeth discusses her time painting murals in prison, the failures of the criminal justice and mental health systems, and the challenges of re-entering society.

She explains how art and writing became tools for healing, the importance of prison reform and protections like PREA, and her current activism and creative work, including her book No Justice, Just Us, available on Amazon and major e-book platforms.

Historian and Author Keith B. Wood joins Rob Fredette to discuss his new book " The Memphis Showboats, The USFL Team and the City's Fight for Major League Status", exploring the USFL team's impact on the city, memorable players and coaches, and Memphis's long-running bid for major-league football.

They cover the research and interviews behind the book, the Liberty Bowl crowds, the USFL vs. NFL conflict, and the lasting nostalgia and legacy of the Showboats in Memphis sports history.

Rob Fredette interviews author Beth Pellino Dudzik about her multi-book Perfection Saga, the journey from a 25-year idea to a self-published series, and the realities of indie publishing.

They discuss Beth’s integration of original songs and AI-generated music videos for the fictional rock band Perfection, her rock ’n’ roll influences, concert memories, and plans for future books and music.

Rob and Beth also discussed Rock and Roll while doing rapid fire on 10 groups.

Hosts Rob Fredette interviews co-authors Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess about their military careers, the writing process behind their novel" Night of the Bear" , and the real-world aviation and geopolitical experiences that inspired their realistic Cold War–style thriller.

They discuss combat flying, ferrying jets worldwide, co-author collaboration, character development, and upcoming projects including the sequel "Red Tide "and personal memoirs.

Host Rob Fredette interviews Debbie DiMaggio — Amazon bestselling author, TEDx speaker, top 1% real estate professional and creator of the "Mindset in Motion" method. They discuss her five-step approach to achieving goals, the marathon that inspired her book and TEDx talk, and practical mindset strategies for business, real estate, and personal growth.

The episode also covers market insights for buyers and sellers, lessons learned from failure and pivoting, Debbie’s charity project "Debbie Runs the World," and actionable tips to activate purpose, build resilience, and turn goals into momentum.

Episode 170 of HODGEPOD: Rob Fredette talks with violinist, composer and filmmaker Yale Strom about his musical life—from childhood lessons and orchestra days to klezmer, rock crossover and global influences.

Strom discusses his novel "The Autobiography of the Offenbacher", the violin’s role in preserving culture and memory (including stories tied to the Holocaust), his documentary work, encounters with figures like Steven Spielberg and Leonard Nimoy, and performs a short live piece.

Rob Fredette returns from hiatus to host Zach Randles Friedman a two‑podcast creator. They discuss Zach’s journey from pharmaceutical communications to podcasting full‑time, how he finds guests, and the day‑to‑day of producing five‑plus episodes weekly. Topics include near‑death experiences and mediums, remote viewing and missing‑person cases, AI’s role in creative work and research, and life in Boston — a wide‑ranging conversation about storytelling, belief, and the future of media.

Rob Fredette shares a personal tribute to Eddie Andelman, the pioneering host of Boston's beloved Sunday-night "Sports Huddle," remembering his influence on sports talk radio and his place in the city's sports history.

He recalls working with Eddie at WHDH, memorable moments like picking up Kevin McHale at Logan and competing in a hot dog safari, and how Eddie's warmth, humor, and talent made the show must-listen radio for decades.

Eddie Andelman was Sports Talk Radio before it came into our culture.

Bruce Stock, a Canadian veteran, public affairs veteran, and novelist, joins Rob Frenette on HODGEPOD  to discuss his career, his novel about a rare ambidextrous pitcher who transforms baseball, and memorable experiences—from serving at Rideau Hall and peacekeeping in Bosnia to briefing Dan Rather and writing a heartfelt letter from the Canadian flag to Old Glory.

Hello, everybody. This is Rob Fredette with the podcast HodgePodge, and welcome back for another episode. My guest today is Jared Maxwell, author of "The Last Gunfighter" and "Wolfhound Dawn", a veteran who served nine years in the Army (35 months in combat) and 11 years in law enforcement. We discuss his experiences from enlisting after 9/11, intense deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan — including the Korengal Valley — airborne training with the 82nd Airborne, SEER survival doctrine, and how those experiences shaped his fast-paced novels focused on PTSD, survival, and moral conflict.