This week on the show I speak with Kristin Dwyer the author of the YA book, Some Mistakes Were Made. Kristin opens up about how growing up with addicted parents in a tough part of northern California formed her as a writer.

The many jobs held by Andrew are seemingly endless.  Fútbol referee, bus driver, buffalo wrangler, medical researcher, dental assistant, general contractor to podcast host are just a few of the hats he has worn.  You can check him out five days a week anywhere you listen to podcasts, on the rePOSTED Podcast https://www.repostedpodcast.com/

Singer song writer Brew Davis joins me on the show this week. Brew plays music that is near and dear to me heart, roots Americana. Brew talks about how a trip to the Bitter Root Mountains in Montana helped to launch this part of his life journey. Brew also is a trail runner and the other half of one of the Appalachian Trails coolest couple. 

In our return to the airwaves I talk with learning specialist and extraordinary educator Karen Olson about the book The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction by Christine Carter. Karen and I talk about trying to teach and raise children in a new age that many of us simply do not understand...but our kids do. 

Sabina Chen is brilliant. She grew up in Massachusetts, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. After high school she went to Stanford University, later would get a bunch of other degrees from other schools. Basically she has a lot of paper on her walls. She now lives in Pelham, New Hampshire where she has become the most powerful democrat in that metropolis (my words, not hers). Sabina has met every Democratic candidate and actually has pictures to prove it. She is an amazing person and a great guest.  

Tucker Shelton is passionate about yoga. He has spent thousands of hours practicing and teaching yoga to hundreds if not thousands of people. Tucker loves yoga, but just as importantly he also has introduced Asheville, North Carolina to a revolutionary style of yoga called Kaiut. In this episode, Tucker talks about growing up gay in Western North Carolina and how yoga helped to transform his life. He takes us on his journey to becoming a yogi and finding Kaiut. If you never listen to another episode do yourself a favor and listen to this one. If you are inspired by Tucker the way I have been it just might change your life. Namaste y'all!

One of the finest minds today, if you are talking about lower tier English football. Sam Negus is a professor of history, a husband and a father, a reader of Cicero...but most importantly he is a lunatic follower of the Derby County Rams. Hear how Sam grew up slogging through the bowels of English football stadiums and somehow eventually finding himself in grad school at Texas Christian University, upon which he transferred (in part) his lun...errrr...passion for sport to the Horn Frogs football team. This is one of the funniest interviews I have done. One of the longest too, but well worth the listen. If you want to hear more from Sam, listen to him on the Futbol and Football podcast. 

This week I have on the one and only Larry '"the Wrench" Olson. I am not even sure how to describe this episode. I wanted to talk about how change is so hard for people and he proceeded to psycho analyze me. Well, after using a box of tissue I do feel better. You will see a little bit more into the things that created me in this episode. Good luck.

Jeff Finger is a good friend of mine. He also happens to be a math teacher at a big public high school and a worship (music) pastor at a church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jeff and I talk this week about how he went from being a good, toeing the line, church kid, to a radical Facebook provocateur. As you know I am fascinated by the things and events that shape us into who we become. Jeff's answer about why he stirs the hornet's nest on Facebook is one of the most interesting that I have ever heard. The song at the end of the episode is a Jeff Finger lick and I hope you enjoy it. 

I was on vacation last week and was going to take a week off but I have been stewing about this subject for a while. Since this show is called How I Got That Way sometimes I am going to give you glimpses whether you like it or not. I am taking a stab at explaining and dissecting the idea of American exceptionalism this week. I see it as a not small part of our national malaise. Let me know what you think at [email protected]