In this episode of Dessert Island Discs, host Jon Bruford interviews Tom Nieman, a prominent figure in the gambling industry. Some might call him a legend…

They discuss Tom's musical influences, favourite albums, impactful books, and memorable movies. Tom shares valuable life lessons, emphasising the importance of self-confidence and continuous personal growth. The conversation is filled with anecdotes from Tom's life, including his experiences in the pinball industry and his love for music and literature.

Things we talk about, in a list:

1. Self-confidence must be self-generated, not reliant on others.
2. The game of life is never over; keep proving yourself.
3. Everyone counts, and every voice matters.
4. Life's unpredictability is akin to the bounce of a football.
5. Continuous learning and engagement are key to staying young at heart.
6. Music and literature can profoundly shape our perspectives.
7. The impact of cultural phenomena like The Beatles and The Who is timeless.
8. Movies can evoke deep emotional responses and reflections on life.
9. Personal experiences can lead to unexpected insights and connections.
10. The importance of having short-term goals to maintain motivation.

Choice quotes:

1. "Everybody counts or nobody counts."
2. "You either know it or you don't."
3. "The game is never over."

Chapters (add a bit on though, because we put a 30-second music intro on the front)

00:00 Introduction to Tom Neiman and His Journey

02:53 Musical Influences and Album Selections

05:40 Exploring the Impact of The Beatles and The Who

08:35 The Evolution of A Star is Born

11:17 The Significance of 'Pinball Wizard'

13:49 Books That Shaped Tom's Perspective

16:32 Detective Fiction and Character Development

27:46 Movies That Resonate with Tom

29:31 The Art of Storytelling in Film

34:28 Exploring Iconic Movies: Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile

36:50 The Unconventional World of Tommy

37:16 The Significance of Pets in Our Lives

39:50 The Symbolism of Objects: Life Lessons from a Football

42:29 Desserts and Nostalgia: A Sweet Escape

44:09 Life Lessons: Advice Across Generations

In this week’s episode of Dessert Island Discs, host Jon Bruford interviews Tracy Cohen, probably best known for her time in the industry working with TCSJOHNHUXLEY, and who now represents the European arm of the Association for Gaming Equipment Manufacturers.

Tracy shares her personal favourites in music, books, movies and more. The conversation explores the significance of these choices, reflecting on their impact on her life and career in the gambling industry. Tracy discusses her love for artists like Stevie Wonder and George Michael, her favourite books including 'I Am Pilgrim' and 'The Churchill Factor', and her cinematic preferences, particularly 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. The episode highlights the importance of curiosity and personal connections in shaping one's tastes and experiences. In this engaging conversation, Tracy shares her thoughts on various movies, including her favourites like 'The Intouchables' and 'Keeping Mum.' They discuss the impact of personal recommendations and the cultural significance of films. Tracy also reflects on her experiences with pets, her love for cheese, and the wisdom gained through life experiences. The conversation culminates in a discussion about the advice one would give to their younger self and the importance of living in the moment.

The one quote that sums up this episode:

"Age is just a number."

Chapters, give or take 25 seconds:

1. 00:00 Introduction to Dessert Island Discs
2. 04:25 Tracy Cohen's Musical Choices
3. 15:12 Exploring Books and Literature
4. 20:50 Curiosity and Knowledge
5. 25:10 The Joy of Reading and Kindle Experiences
6. 29:06 Exploring Favourite Movies
7. 36:25 The Impact of Family in Film
8. 44:37 Music That Resonates with Family
9. 47:46 Pets and Childhood Experiences
10. 48:36 Pet Ownership and Family Dynamics
11. 51:19 Comfort and Warmth: The Hot Water Bottle Debate
12. 52:04 Dessert Preferences: Cheese vs. Sweets
13. 57:25 Advice Across Generations: Wisdom from the Past
14. 01:01:56 Living in the Moment: Embracing Life's Joys
15. 01:06:25 The Importance of Family History and Legacy

The Gambling Files presents our delightfully off-the-wall podcast where luminaries, leaders and people that think are invited to share their journeys with us, using mile- or touchstones from their lives to mark the path.

Today we’re joined by Axes.ai’s Earle G. Hall as he shares his life experiences, musical influences, and the books that have shaped his journey. From his childhood in Newfoundland to his reflections on music by Journey, Supertramp, and Vince Gill, Earle discusses how these elements have contributed to his personal growth and understanding of purpose. He also delves into the impact of significant books, including 'The Road Less Traveled' and 'The Book of Secrets' by Deepak Chopra, highlighting their transformative effects on his life. In this engaging conversation, Earle G. Hall shares his profound influences, including Wayne Dyer and Bruce Lipton, and reflects on the movies that have shaped his life, such as 'Fandango' and 'Top Gun.' He discusses the lessons learned from 'Apollo 13' and the importance of innovation and ingenuity. Earle also highlights the healing power of pets, particularly his dog Stirling, and emphasizes the need for fun and joy in life. The conversation concludes with a thoughtful exchange of advice between Earle and his younger self, focusing on the importance of embracing differences and having fun.

Choice Quotes:

1. "I feel safe with my dog."
2. "It'll all work out."
3. "Have more fun."

Chapters (but add 30 seconds or so, because of the music and dramatic intro):

1. 00:00 Introduction and Background of Earle G. Hall
2. 02:45 Musical Influences: Journey and Personal Reflections
3. 05:34 The Impact of Supertramp on Life Choices
4. 08:24 Vince Gill: Storytelling Through Music
5. 10:51 The Role of Music in Emotional Healing
6. 13:46 Books That Shaped Earle's Perspective
7. 16:20 Exploring the Concept of Electromagnetic Connections
8. 29:40 The Legacy of Scientific Minds
9. 30:44 Exploring the Northern Lights and Scientific Culture
10. 33:45 The Impact of Personal Connections on Success
11. 36:31 Books That Shaped a Journey
12. 44:20 Movies as Reflections of Life Experiences
13. 55:41 Surprises and Unexpected Connections
14. 56:30 Music and Personal Stories
15. 59:40 The Impact of Pets on Our Lives
16. 01:05:37 Choosing Objects and Their Significance
17. 01:11:49 Advice Across Generations
18. 01:19:27 The Importance of Fun and Joy

The Gambling Files Presents… Dessert Island Discs!

It's back, after a longish hiatus, and with a bang. It seemed a good time to bring it back, as UK Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes recently announced he is stepping down from the role to pursue other things.

So here we are.

Andrew Rhodes and his choices for being stranded on a tropical island. He chooses:

1. 3 albums
2. 3 movies
3. 3 books
4. 1 song (not on the albums)
5. 1 pet (from any time in his life)
6. 1 object
7. 1 dessert
8. 2 pieces of advice.

And that's it. Easy peasy!

Meet Jen Bowman of IGT fame. Jen talks us through her choices to take to a deserted tropical island:

• 3 albums
• 3 books
• 3 movies
• 1 song
• 1 pet
• 1 object
• 1 dessert
• …and one piece of advice to give her younger self.

Have to say, this episode is completely worth it just for the pet part. Brilliant. Anyway, you can find the RSS for the offshoot here: https://feeds.captivate.fm/tgf-did/

And it's available at all good podcast outlets. Probably the dodgy ones too. And if you have a guest suggestion, we are all ears. Fintan especially, that's why he keeps his hair all bushy.

In the interests of full disclosure, our guest this episode is a bit quiet in my opinion, but she says it's probably just Jon being too loud.

Anyway, it's another industry thought leader for our second proper guest on Dessert Island Discs as we welcome RG and player protection specialist Dr Maris Catania to the hotseat.

Dr Maris chooses her three key albums, three books, three movies, one pet, one object, and one dessert, all of which need to help keep her sane on this deserted dessert-laden tropical paradise. Oh, and she has one piece of advice for her younger self. If you've met Maris, you'll know the conversation could go just about anywhere…

Enjoy the episode – and feel free to contact us to nominate someone as a guest, or even throw yourself forward. All you have to do is be interesting!

So the thing about this is, it's about people, not about work – and I can absolutely guarantee that there will be something surprising in every episode. The industry is all about personal relationships, and this podcast is about the amazing people we meet every day in the gambling world.

We're learning as we go, as ever, so for now I won't put what they've chosen in the show notes, you can listen and find it out. But Alex was full of surprises! My favourite part though, was his advice for his younger self.

And discovering he likes musicals.

Get on it!

In this inaugural kind-of episode, Fintan is the guinea pig; or maybe he's the hamster, and I'm Richard Gere, if you believe those scurrilous long-dormant rumours.

I'm just slipping this out quietly on a weekend because it's kind of our proof of concept thing – the new podcast offshoot, and I want people to understand the format before we use actual, real people in it.

So this is Dessert Island Discs, where our guests are stranded on a tropical island and all their basic needs are taken care of. They now have to choose the luxury items that come with them (or that wash up on the beach, maybe).

They get to choose:

• 3 albums
• 3 movies
• 3 books
• One song (not on the albums)
• One pet
• One object/thing
• One dessert
• One piece of advice for their younger selves, and they choose when to receive it

Our guests are top-level gambling industry execs, thought leaders and any other buzzwords we can come up with while we think outside the box on this one.

Some guests will drop things from the list because they don't apply – maybe they didn't have a pet, or don't read for pleasure. But mostly, it's what's up there.

Fundamentally, this is about people, not about work.

Dessert Island Discs bears absolutely no relation to any shows anywhere else with similar-ish names that have been running for many decades, and you're a fool and a communist if you think it does.

Love some feedback on the idea, suggestions for guests, that kind of thing; remember, this episode zero is just so you can see what it's all about. Also thinking we might do this as audio-only. Who knows?