Rich Conversations

Manuel Novillo is a marine biologist from Córdoba, Argentina. He spends months in Antarctica researching Antarctic fish. In episode 208, he shared his experience and perspective gained from living and working in isolation. He has the following questions:

1. When did you start being yourself in the world?

Karlita Williams returns to the show for her third appearance, joining from Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Rich and Karlita talk New York, their experiences hanging out together, exploring art galleries in Manhattan's Lower East Side, and ask questions to each other from the card game, "We're Not Really Strangers."

Karlita on Instagram

After being assaulted and robbed by three men with Uzi guns, Rich took some time for reflection. Upon talking to family and friends, a question that arose repeatedly was, “Are you going to see someone?” Therapy can be helpful for many after traumatic events. Each day over the last four years, however, Rich has taken the time to objectively look at life. In an attempt to be more open, Rich shares what he considers to be his first official therapy session.

Material scientist Mubashir Mansoor lives in Istanbul. This was recorded June 30, 2022. His fields are physics, gemology, and  metallurgical and materials engineering. He and his two sisters joined us on episode 203. The episode covered a lot of ground including the culture of Istanbul, the Information Revolution which will lead us to multiple other revolutions this century, quantum computing enabling infinite possibilities, why the world’s first trillionaire will come from materials, and the importance of science communication to the general public. Rich answered questions from Mehya and Maryam Mansoor in episodes 237 and 240. Rich answers the following questions in today’s episode: 

1. What would you do if you had infinite resources?!

Follow Mubashir on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/materials_scientist/?hl=en

Scientific Publications by the Mansoors: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maryam-Mansoor

Rich and now 4x guest, Kat Kennedy, planned to record an episode to give their thoughts on Jurassic World Dominion and the Jurassic Park series as a whole. Rich watched it once but, to be even more prepared, he decided to watch it a second time. On a beautiful summer night he walked to the theater. Just a few blocks away from it, an SUV pulled up to a stop sign, the doors flew open, and three men with guns rushed at Rich asking for everything he had. In this episode Rich shares the experience and what happened.

Rich joins Bonelang in their Albany Park studio. On a hot summer day, the boys discuss the importance of balancing their work and personal lives. Samy Sabh and Matt Bones share their perspective and experience as music artists using Spotify. Bones breaks down the streaming and revenue model and Samy shares ways that independent artists can grow in other ways. The two discuss the importance of music artists simultaneously being digital marketing specialists, analytical, and organized. Bonelang shares the experience of their recent tour run with Flobots and what they’re excited for next.

Bonelang’s Spotify

Bonelang’s website

Bonelang’s YouTube Channel

Episode 001. Samy Sabh

Kelly Moran lives in Miami, Florida. In episode 224 we discussed early 2000s Internet culture. Kelly has the following questions:

1. How do you see the internet evolving over the next 20 years?

Our episode description:

1. ASL? Kelly Moran on Early 2000s Internet Culture and Approaching Life with Intention

Do you remember AOL? Do you remember AOL chat rooms? ASL? Our experiences on the internet and our interactions with its culture will indicate our age and the sub generation we belong to more than anything. After 20 years, Rich meets his 7th grade AIM girlfriend in person, Kelly Moran. The two spent countless hours (and years) as teenagers instant messaging with each other. In this episode, Kelly and Rich reflect back on the internet culture of the early 2000s, what their lives were like then, and the Millennial generation’s legacy in pushing the internet frontier forward. Where is internet culture at now? Where is it going? How does one live life with purpose and meaning in the 2020s decade? 

Follow Kelly on Instagram

Watch our full episode

Historian David (Dr. Dave) Rothmund returns for his fourth appearance on the show. David and Rich recorded outside Lincoln Station in Chicago, across from the historic Biograph Theater and marquee sign. The two catch up with each others’ lives from the past year and share where they are now in life. David came up with the idea of Rich Answers. The two discuss how and why that came about. David describes his research and writing for his dissertation. Rich talks about writing fiction and the strangeness of writing in the summer compared to bunkering down during cold months. David is teach a class on the Civil War this summer at University of Illinois, Chicago. The two talk about that time in history and how it seems to be relevant today 160 years later. Rich has gotten more into baseball this year and David is proposing a class on the history of baseball in hopes as a vehicle to get student smore excited about history in general.

1. Rich Answers: Questions from David (Dr. Dave) Rothmund: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF1LHJaSW_A

Episode 109. Historian David Rothmund on Teaching, Researching, Writing, and Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1uYREDshA

Episode 046. Bourbon, Cigars, and American History with Dr. Dave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD71pObHrCY

Episode 025. Generations (American History) with Dr. Dave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJG2RK01kwo

Cousin Frank returns to the podcast after two years. We recorded this episode in Wisconsin outside his garage. He shares his story having brain surgery immediately after being pulled from an MRI machine. He explains what was going through his mind and what actions he took after being shown there was a tumor the size of a walnut in his head. He shares how the experience has changed his perspective, including seeing his daughter grow older. Rich and Frank discuss the rapid advancement of technology “these days.” Rich asks about how to raise children with the proliferation of screen addiction. Frank shares his trip to Memphis and Nashville. Towards the end of their conversation, Frank shares advice on life as someone who has to battle each day with the challenges of having cancer brings

Episode 40. Cousin Frank on Wisconsin Culture

Scientist Mehya Mansoor lives in Istanbul. She’s a gemologist and sapphire specialist. Her field is metallurgical, materials, and geological engineering. She joined us on episode 203 with her two siblings, who are also scientists (We answered questions from Maryam last week). The episode covered a lot of ground including the culture of Istanbul, the Information Revolution which will lead us to multiple other revolutions this century, quantum computing enabling infinite possibilities, why the world’s first trillionaire will come from materials, and the importance of science communication to the general public. Rich answers the following questions in today’s episode: 

A question we forgot to answer for Mehya’s sister, Maryam last Rich Answers was: What advice would you give your younger self?

1. When was the last time you painted and what did you paint?

Follow Mehya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitely.creative.scientist/?hl=en

Scientific Publications by the Mansoors: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maryam-Mansoor