On this episode of Nemo Nation, Dave Nemo and Jimmy Mac sit down with Dean Croke, ex owner-operator, 2 million miles over the road, and Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics. Dean also owns “The Grumpy Pete,” his custom Peterbilt show truck. Together they reflect on the anniversary of Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” a song that has become part of trucking and maritime history.

Listen as they share stories of life on the road, the impact of Lightfoot’s music, and why this song still resonates with drivers today.

Connect with Dean Croke at DAT Freight & Analytics:

https://www.dat.com/

Follow Dean on X:  / deancroke 

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This week on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome birder, author, and inclusivity advocate Dexter Patterson — co-founder of Wisconsin’s BIPOC Birding Club and host of the Bird Joy podcast.

Dexter joins us to talk about his new book, Birds of the Great Lakes (Timber Press / Hachette, out October 7, 2025), a fun and accessible guide to identifying over 100 bird species that make the Great Lakes region such a rich and vibrant ecosystem. With a passion for conservation and community, Dexter shares how birding can connect us not only to nature but to one another.

From stories about his early birding adventures to his mission to make the outdoors more inclusive, this conversation is full of inspiration and heart. Whether you’re a lifelong birder or just looking for a peaceful new hobby, Dexter’s joy is contagious.

Learn more about Dexter’s work and upcoming projects at https://www.wiscobirder.com/home, or follow him on social media at @wiscobirder on Facebook and Instagram.

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On this episode of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome Dr. Anton Grosz, author of Handbook for a New Consciousness: The Next Step in Human Evolution. At 85 years old, Dr. Grosz brings decades of insight as a phenomenologist, interfaith minister, and hospice chaplain to explore one of the biggest questions of all: What does it mean to truly be conscious?

Dr. Grosz shares his life’s journey — from a profoundly atheistic upbringing to a transformative near-death experience that led him to discover spirituality and the concept of “New Consciousness.” He describes this as an experiential realization that my “I am” and your “I am” are the same Universal “I AM” — a truth that transcends gender, religion, and culture. Through deceptively simple exercises and reflections, Handbook for a New Consciousness invites readers to experience unity from the inside out, bridging intellect and intuition in ways that can heal individuals, communities, and even the planet.

Jimmy and Lindsay dive deep into Anton’s ideas about how this awareness could mark the next step in human evolution, why recognizing oneness doesn’t erase individuality, and how New Consciousness might be the bridge between science and spirituality.

Learn more about Anton Grosz and his work:

Website: https://www.antongrosz.com

Facebook:  / anton.grosz 

Handbook for a New Consciousness: The Next Step in Human Evolution available now wherever books are sold.

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

On this powerful edition of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac welcomes Pastor Lee Otto — a decorated U.S. Army veteran, spiritual leader, and Regional Ambassador for Sierra Delta, an organization dedicated to empowering veterans through community and canine partnerships.

Lee shares his remarkable story of resilience — from serving with the 1st Infantry Division and enduring multiple combat injuries during his tour in Iraq, to earning the Bronze Star Medal, three Purple Hearts, and numerous other honors for bravery and leadership. Today, he continues his mission of service as the Campus Pastor at New Life Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, where he offers faith-based guidance and hope to others.

In this heartfelt conversation, Lee discusses the impact that Sierra Delta has had on his own mental health renewal and on the lives of countless veterans. He explains how the organization’s philosophy of living an E.P.I.C. life — Empowerment, Purpose, Innovation, and Community — helps veterans rediscover their sense of meaning and belonging after service.

Learn more about Sierra Delta’s mission to serve our nation’s heroes:

https://www.sierradelta.com

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

On this edition of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with Thomas Cullen, Federal District Judge in Roanoke, Virginia — and now debut novelist — to discuss his new young adult novel, Charlie-Man. Known nationally for his career in public service, Cullen surprises many by turning to fiction with a deeply human story about friendship, loss, and finding purpose.

Set in 1994 at a Southern prep school, Charlie-Man follows Charlie Stewart through his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia. With his future uncertain and his heart set on rekindling a romance, Charlie leans on his best friend, Beau Miller — a star athlete whose charm hides a darker side. As Charlie confronts anxiety, grief, and the universal struggles of growing up, he learns about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to come of age in the American South.

Jimmy and Judge Cullen talk about what inspired a sitting federal judge to write a YA novel, the unique atmosphere of Southern prep schools, and why coming-of-age stories continue to resonate across generations. Cullen reflects on his own high school experiences, the importance of mentorship, and how his background in law informed his writing and understanding of human character.

Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen is available now on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Man-Th...

Learn more about Thomas Cullen and his work in public service and storytelling in this thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation.

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

This week on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler hit the highway of flavor with bestselling author and culinary traveler Linda Ly—known to many as Garden Betty. Linda joins the show to talk about her brand-new release, The Route 66 Cookbook, published by Quarto Books.

As America gears up for the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Linda takes listeners on a mouth-watering tour of the Mother Road—sharing the stories, people, and recipes she discovered while retracing one of America’s most iconic journeys. From diner classics and local favorites to Indigenous, German, and Mexican-inspired dishes, The Route 66 Cookbook is both a love letter to American road culture and a reminder that every stop along the way has its own story to tell.

Jimmy and Lindsay dive into the creative process behind the book, the nostalgia of Route 66’s roadside cuisine, and what it means to rediscover the U.S. through its kitchens, cooks, and communities.

Learn more about the book and explore Linda’s culinary adventures:

Website: https://gardenbetty.com/

Instagram: @ gardenbetty | @ quartobooksus

More from Quarto Books: https://quartoknows.com/

Book Preview (PDF): https://quarto.ent.box.com/s/n85f0dhf...

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

On this episode of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome Randall Statler, Executive Creative Director of ATLAS 9 and Partner at Dimensional Innovations, the Kansas-City-based design firm responsible for this groundbreaking immersive experience. ATLAS 9 is a massive 45,000-square-foot interactive art and entertainment venue built around the story of a 1990s movie theater that magically transformed and started bringing film scenarios to life. 

Randall walks Jimmy and Lindsay through the creative journey behind ATLAS 9: how the vision began, the technology and storytelling techniques used, what a guest can expect when they step into the transformed theater, and how trucking and transportation logistics played a role in making such a large-scale experiential venue come together. With his years of experience leading immersive installations, Randall also discusses how projects like this draw on the transport, event staging and mobile operations world—making it relevant to listeners who spend their lives on the move.

Links to learn more:

Website: https://www.atlas9.com

Instagram: @atlas9.kc (also on X/Twitter and other socials)

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

In this edition of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler sit down with author and creator Don Martin to talk about his powerful new audiobook, WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO?: Why We’re Lonely But Not Alone — a deep, witty, and eye-opening exploration of loneliness in the modern world.

Don, known for his hit podcast Head on Fire and his viral TikTok presence, brings humor, honesty, and humanity to a conversation that hits home for so many. Together, they unpack what loneliness really is, why it affects nearly half of American adults, and how factors like technology, identity, and community design shape the way we connect.

Don shares what inspired his deep dive into loneliness during the pandemic and how WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? takes listeners through history, culture, and science — from the birth of the word “loneliness” in the 1800s to today’s struggles with social isolation in the digital age. The conversation also explores the health impacts of loneliness, its unique effects on marginalized communities, and what it truly means to build “third places” where people can gather, belong, and thrive.

Listeners will come away with hope, humor, and a renewed sense of what it means to be human — and why we need each other now more than ever.

Learn more and connect with Don Martin:

Website: https://bydonmartin.com

TikTok, Threads, Instagram, X: @bydonmartin

Listen to WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? — available now wherever audiobooks are found.

Road Gang Radio is part of the RadioNemo Network — celebrating the stories, people, and conversations that keep America moving.Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

On this edition of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome Avery Ballotta, vocalist and fiddler for the celebrated Brooklyn-based folk-bluegrass trio Damn Tall Buildings. Known for their soulful melodies, tight harmonies, and dynamic live shows, the band has captured hearts across the country — from street corners to national stages.

Avery talks with Jimmy and Lindsay about the band’s journey that began more than a decade ago with busking and blossomed into a full-fledged musical career that’s earned attention from The Boston Globe, No Depression, and more. The conversation dives into the trio’s unique chemistry, the roots of their sound that blends folk, bluegrass, old-time, and jazz, and how members Max Capistran and Sasha Dubyk met at Berklee, got married, and went on to create a community-focused music school in Brooklyn.

Listeners get an inside look at the stories behind the songs, the passion that drives Damn Tall Buildings’ music, and how their creative process stays grounded in authenticity, friendship, and fun. The episode also explores Avery’s role as a fiddler and vocalist, the band’s songwriting evolution, and the energy they bring to every performance — both on stage and in the studio.

Learn more about Damn Tall Buildings and listen to their music:

Website: https://damntallbuildings.com

Instagram:  / damntallbuildings 

YouTube:    / @damntallbuildings 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5P4aV...

Read their press and listen to more:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W...

Road Gang Radio is part of the RadioNemo Network — celebrating the people and stories that keep America moving.Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

On this episode of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler take a joyride through the history of one of the world’s most beloved performance cars — the Volkswagen GTI — with award-winning automotive journalist Russell Hayes, author of The Complete Book of Volkswagen GTI: Every Model Since 1976.

Celebrating 50 years of the “original hot hatch,” Russell takes listeners behind the wheel of a true icon — from its humble beginnings as a backroom project to its status as a global symbol of affordable performance and driving fun. He discusses how the GTI evolved across eight generations, what makes each era distinct, and how it’s managed to stay relevant through decades of changing automotive trends.

Russell also dives into VW’s racing heritage, the engineering breakthroughs that shaped the GTI, and how models like the Scirocco, Corrado, and Golf R32 fit into the bigger picture of Volkswagen’s performance story. Whether you’re a lifelong GTI owner, a collector, or someone who just loves a great driving story, this is a conversation packed with insight, nostalgia, and speed.

The Complete Book of Volkswagen GTI: Every Model Since 1976 is available October 28, 2025, from Motorbooks and Quarto Publishing. Learn more here:

https://www.quarto.com/books/97807603...

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!