In yet another tell-all rollercoaster ride of a podcast, host Jon Bruford gets into the details with guest Gary Green, musician and casino operator among many, many other things. Gary’s colourful life takes in meeting the likes of Johnny Cash (and this comes with some great stories) and Tupac Shakur (yes, more great stories) and in this episode he weaves these incredible stories into his choices to accompany him as a tropical island castaway.

Gary shares his top picks including favourite albums, impactful books, classic films, his number one dessert and invaluable advice that have shaped his journey. And much more, of course!

What we talk about, but in a list:

• Gary's three albums include Johnny Cash's Live at Folsom Prison, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Green River, and Pete Seeger's Rainbow Race, each reflecting significant phases of his life and musical influences.
• His chosen books span from Mario Puzo's Fool's Die to the practical Kung Fu Exercise Book by Sophia Delta, ending with Karl Marx's Das Kapital for intellectual stimulation.
• Films that Gary would take include The Godfather, Casablanca, and Tombstone, each representing different facets of storytelling and history.
• His pet Matthew, a loyal cat from 1972-1980, symbolizes companionship and nostalgia.
• The object Gary would choose is a guitar, essential for creation and solace.
• For dessert, he opts for German Chocolate Cake, a sweet taste of comfort.
• His advice to his younger self: "Don't let making a living get in the way of living," emphasising the importance of balance and authenticity.
• Conversely, he recommends that his older self remind the younger to "be kinder" and "chill out," reflecting growth and self-awareness.
• Gary shares an extraordinary story of meeting Johnny Cash through his mother-in-law and participating in Johnny’s guitar pools, illustrating a life of unexpected encounters.

Chapters, but you might want to add a good 30 seconds on to this because of our awesome intro music:

• 00:00 - Welcome to Dessert Island Discs with Gary Green
• 02:25 - Selecting Johnny Cash's Live at Folsom Prison as the first album
• 08:18 - The influence of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty
• 12:23 - Pete Seeger's Rainbow Race and political folk influences
• 17:01 - Mario Puzo's Fool's Die and gambling psychology
• 19:23 - The significance of the Kung Fu Exercise Book and physical health on an island
• 22:23 - Karl Marx's Das Kapital as a challenging mental exercise
• 24:02 - The versatility of film choices, including The Godfather and Casablanca
• 32:33 - Favorite pet, Matthew, and object: His guitar
• 44:26 - Dessert choice: German Chocolate Cake
• 45:23 - Life lessons: Advice to younger and older selves
• 50:28 - Personal growth stories: overcoming anger and physical injuries
• 65:30 - Memorable experiences with Johnny Cash and learning from iconic figures
• 70:19 - Reflection on societal issues and influential communities
• 75:33 - Appreciation for John Waters and the importance of cultural icons

Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygreen/

Where we publish all our stuff: www.thegamblingfiles.com

Our other podcasts:

Addiction: An Hour with Auer - https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

The Gambling Files - https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/