PILLARS PODCAST 🎙

Eric is a long-time friend of mine and as I have admitted many times -- I love talking tennis with him.  So I sat down in Delaware and he in New York -- both of us looking at the great Atlantic and both of us with tennis on our minds -- Eric's mind with a lot more to pull from, and that's why I pick it.  With an historic US Open final a couple hours away -- I hope you enjoy the the pre-game show!!!

Thanks, E$ -- that was fun!!!

Annette is on the board for the wonderful organization, OSTD, or for long -- Operation Seas The Day -- which helps to make the days of wounded vets by hosting them and their families at the beach for a week.  For the week after Labor Day, members of the super generous and patriotic Bethany Beach community volunteer their homes for families affected by war to come and stay and heal and laugh and love with each other and other families down by the seashore.

Unfortunately, COVID has claimed another innocent and beautiful tradition and OSTD will be back in star and stripes and ready to host come summer 2022. 

However there are still things to be done, should be done, will be done -- and Saturday, 9/11, will be the day!!!  Saturday from 10 - 5 on the Bethany Beach Boardwalk, the town will host their annual art festival and OSTD will be on the bandstand selling lit merch -- that's lingo for beautiful clothing. OSTD will also be hosting a toast and tribute to vets near and far tomorrow (9/11) evening at 7PM complete with a USO tribute band -- creatively named, WWIIunes.  I encourage one and all to descend on the Bethany Beach Boardwalk tomorrow for the art by day and the toast and tribute by night.  What better way to spend 9/11!!?

For more cool and special information and ways to help and volunteer, please visit the OSTD website as seen below:

https://operationseastheday.org/#

In episode 2 of the Paul and Billy show Paul tells his cool story — from Little Flower to Georgetown Prep to Princeton and UPenn — from the east coast to the west coast and then back again.  Paul has achieved a lot — and with a lot, a lot has come to be expected — and Paul answers that call.  Paul excelled but might not have been able to attend Prep without a scholarship — and the same could be said for Princeton.  Because of this, Paul works and gives to make sure that kids today can have similar opportunities that he had when he needed them.  What unknown power might lurk in a young man or woman that if only given the opportunity, the world could be made better.  Paul believes in this hope and lives this mission.

I hope you enjoy our conversation!!!

Happy Sunday!!!

NOELLE AND UNCLE BILLY ON YOUTUBE!!!

I am taking a stab at add the visual element to the Pillars Podcast!!!

I think my audio could be better, but alas so goes the process of creation!!!

Thanks, y'all!!!

Billy & Noelle

Paul Haaga is our neighbor in Bethany Beach -- Sussex Shores to be specific and he wears the zip code on his chest like he wears his heart on his sleeve.  Paul and I have an in depth talk about what moves him -- and his current gargantuan of keeping Facebook in check while honoring the First Amendment's freedom of speech.  We talk about Paul's role as the chairman of the board championing oversight for responsible Facebooking.  And we talk a lot of life along the way -- January 6th, bi-coastal living, striving to land your last job as your first job, lessons to be found in obituaries, listening to your own voice (not your parents), celebrating failure, HUMOR, linear algebra.  Thanks for tuning in and THANK YOU PAUL.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!!!

BE A PILLAR!!!

Tom is a PILLAR -- there is no doubt.  With Tom's vim and vigor, guts and gumption we give the Salty Dog Classic it's proper due.  We talk about the history of the tourney and about fathers & sons and about Peyton (our young man from the Washington Jesuit Academy whom we sponsor) and about the tourney's future and about GENERATIONS -- how important are the stories of those who come before us -- and how important it is for them to be told.  We can both see a PILLARS project ahead!!!

Thank you, Tom, for your passion -- you inspire.  And what started with me doing the talking quickly turned to Tom doing the hosting and me trying to do good with the telling of the salty tale of the DOG!!!  Tom, you are a good host -- what a pleasant & important conversation we had -- thank you!!!

BE A PILLAR!!!

The Salty Dog will turn 16 tomorrow.  At the time, I was 23 years old and Linda 21 years young.  We sit back in Studio East to talk memories of the DOG.  We tells stories and talk history and charity and the beginnings of the DOG with Poppa G and generations!!!  When I say generations I mean that the tourney started with a father & son and that is what has sustained it.  It is a beautiful thing to play golf with your father (or mother) and to do it at the beach for charity -- now that is some sandy, sunny, sudsy, silly, surreally, insaney, SALTY fun!!!

ERIC KNAUS is THE GREAT ZUCCHINI and HE IS AWESOME!!!  Eric is the number one child entertainer in the DC area and is well known beyond our little bubble.  What makes Eric AWESOME is that he has a HUGE heart and a very sharp brain. 

I have book that adorn my studio, and I am not talking about those.  Eric's brain understands people -- maybe better than anyone I have ever seen -- this is his genius talent.  Eric walks into a room of kids and they are instantly happy -- it is an unspoken power.  Eric has the rare ability to know that one kid in a sea of kids that needs a little extra attention.  Eric quickly administers and the kid is better. 

Eric is a big, gregarious bundle of love.  And if you have the privilege to be in his presence, you will feel it.  Kids most always see truth -- that's the best testament right there!!!  Enjoy our conversation, like I did, and if you want something further, below is an award-winning article written on Eric -- it is truly a phenomenal read on a truly phenomenal man!!!


https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2006/01/22/the-peekaboo-paradox-span-classbankheadthe-strange-secrets-of-humor-fear-and-a-guy-who-makes-big-money-making-little-people-laughspan/6b97ebc5-1c67-4c61-8509-5baf0157cc40/

Julie is an Olympian!!!  Julie represented herself, family, and country in the 2012 Olympics in London.  Julie has always loved to dance and that is most likely why rhythmic dance was her Olympic thang!!!  

Julie is local and has always been, but before coming back to the Nation's Capital's umbrella, Julie was in California listening to her post-Olympics inner-voice.  Julie has been back east for two years and it didn't take much time for Julie's Olympic talent to shine.   Julie is the head coach at the ever-popular, ever-elegant, ever-raging, ever-intense, ever-inspiring Orange Theory of Tenleytown.  Check it out, check Julie out, and the awesome coaches of Orange Theory, and in particular, OT of Tenleytown!!!

Enjoy!!!

PS -- Thanks to #1 SIS, Linny, for making the connection -- I truly had a ball and learned a lot -- thanks to Linny & Julie!!!

Philip and I have not had much interaction, but sometimes not much is needed to connect.  I have been a gadfly on the St. John's campus ever since graduating from their masters program some 10 years ago.  Philip has been a tutor at St. John's College for almost 50 years.  He is recently retired, but is still a fixture on campus and this summer finds him leading Summer Classics seminars on the seeds of astronomy and American poetry.  

Phil most always wears a yarmulke -- his faith is an important part of Phil's life, but I never knew that he converted from Christianity to Judaism.  We talk begin talking about religion and move to Colorado, Oxford, Prague, Germany, Santa Fe, St. John's and then back to religion.

Philip, it was a true treat to sit down with you and talk about what moves you.  You are a pillar unto yourself and that is why people see you and feel you as a pillar of community!!!

Cheers.