The Scribble with Jeremy Bradley

When you've been in the media business for over 20 years, you've heard every possible comment about your work, your life and your appearance -- good and bad. Jeremy Bradley answers the common question: How do you not care what people think about you? It's easier said than does, he says. But JB has a theory that it could be connected to your childhood. How does JB ignore the negative (and even the positive) to live a happy life? Plus, he talks about how he always celebrates his accomplishments whether or not anyone else wants to acknowledge them.

Are companies too needy? They seem desperate for feedback and reviews 10 minutes after the transaction is completed. Plus, it seems like they want more and more personal information from you while providing less and less personal service. Jeremy Bradley goes on another rant about how "customer service ain't what it used to be." (Or is it "customer experience" now?) He talks about how companies are quick to grab your email address or phone number when you want to ask a simple question, yet add you to spam lists before even addressing your query. Later, JB talks about how he put his foot down with a financial institution about soliciting him after becoming a customer. (They screwed up!) Also, do companies really take seriously the automatic surveys sent out after your transaction? JB tells you why it's never made a difference for him.

There are plenty of ways to gamble: slot machines, card tables, sports... voting for Trump. Jeremy Bradley talks about his confusion about casinos and why winning frustrates him. He takes a walk down memory lane to the time of dropping quarters into a slot machine in a room filled with cigarette smoke. (The good ol' days, right?) JB also talks about how he had to pretend he'd never been to a casino when his parents took him gambling for his 18th birthday. Plus, he has a friend who is a lotto snob. The friend buys lottery tickets but only if certain criteria is met. What's the catch? Have a listen. 

Jeremy Bradley talks about how relationships and the dating scene have changed since he was "on the market." He talks about how people have so many complaints about dating apps and relying on social media to meet people that it might be time to take it old-school. JB talks about one of his staffers starting a new relationship and how he sees that it's already headed for trouble. Why? You've gotta hear it! JB talks about how he set the tone for respect and expectations early on in his marriage and how things have been smooth sailing ever since.

Jeremy Bradley has been a trained journalist for 20 years. Earlier this summer on the podcast, he shared his thoughts about the current state of the news media. It's largely distrusted, it's biased -- it's got any number of complaints from the mainstream public. JB talks about how viewers now trust unreliable -- and unverified -- information, over a major reporting outlet simply because of the reputation the MSM has. But, is that the right way to get your information?

Jeremy Bradley is one of the O.G. streaming broadcasters, starting in internet radio over 20 years ago. Now, thanks to podcasts and platforms like YouTube, everybody has suddenly become a broadcaster. JB takes a walk down memory lane about what it took to book celebs on his syndicated radio program and how the landscape has changed. Is it for the better? That's up for debate.

Labor Day has come and gone so you know what that means: back to work and regular life. No more summer, no more holidays, no more beach parties, no more patio parties. Done. It's all done. Sad, right? Jeremy Bradley talks about how his "retirement" life has changed how he gets through the day. Part of it: he doesn't even know what day of the week it is anymore. Do you make the most of your workday even if you don't like your job? JB talks about his happy memories of office life. On the flip side, he also shares what he doesn't miss about the corporate world.

Back-to-school time is here! (Exclamation point or womp-womp? Depends on who you are, probably.) Jeremy Bradley talks about how he loved going back to school as a kid. Naturally, not all kids feel that way. Of course, for parents, it means they get rid of their little nose-pickers and make them someone else's problem for much of the day. But, if that's the feeling, it seems like parents can't stand being around their offspring. You've seen the TV commercial to the tune of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" where the parent gleefully rides the shopping cart as the kids head back to class. It's never made sense to JB. If parenting is so wonderful, why are you so happy to get rid of your kids and pawn them off on someone else? 

Jeremy Bradley has made no secret he couldn't care less about social media. For years, JB says he has no interest in posting constant updates about his life. Having been in newspapers and on the radio for 20 years, he recounts how he's always had a platform to tell people what's happening. Social media, however, is of no interest. JB gets a kick out of people who feel they owe it to their audience to share everything. Everything. And when life is too overwhelming, JB laughs at those who make the big announcement about "taking a break." He scoffs that they'll be able to kick their addiction cold turkey. True, they might not be posting on their page during that time, but JB suspects they're still scrolling and watching from the sidelines. 

Jeremy Bradley is on another rant about "customer experience" nightmares. Is it just a coincidence that many companies have dropped the term "customer service" because "service" is a thing of the past? JB recaps his recent experiences dealing with businesses and compares it to his time working in retail 20 years ago. Back then, employees would "own" the interaction with a customer -- meaning, commit to finding the answer or providing a solution before the transaction was complete. Now, it seems like employees don't take ownership of situations and either pass off the customer to someone else or simply turn them away. JB shares a story about how he busted a phone rep lying and the hell that was unleashed.