This Just In

Some people retire and slow down. Brad Kaplan just changed the scenery.

Brad started in radio, but as a young man he took an extraordinary flyer: he landed in Israel and found himself building a television career in the middle of the war-torn Middle East. He became a network photographer and editor, eventually moved to CNN as an editor, and later brought that experience to FOX 4 News in Dallas, where he became a highly respected photographer and editor.

Now Brad is retired—but apparently nobody told him retirement is supposed to involve sitting still.

He spends his time traveling the world, taking epic walks across Europe, Mexico and Southeast Asia, exploring new places largely on foot and continuing the sense of adventure that took him to Israel all those years ago.

On the new This Just In, we talk about the remarkable road from radio to the Middle East, CNN and FOX 4—and why, after a lifetime spent chasing stories, Brad Kaplan is still chasing adventure.

It’s a fascinating conversation with one of the good guys.

Like and Subscribe to his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@MildlyAdventurous

Stephen Narisi is an award-winning journalist who has worked with broadcast news networks and top ten television stations as a reporter and producer. He was a staff producer for NBC News and a contributing producer with ABC News, CBS News, ZDF German Public Television, and N-24 German Network. He has traveled the country and world covering natural disasters, presidential campaigns and conventions, terrorist bombings, major trials, and drug epidemics. He was embedded media during the 2003 Iraq War. 

Join Richard Ray, Bryan Lochhead, and Steve Narisi for a great conversation about news coverage, journalism, and war stories.

Our special guest today is Rebecca Aguilar. She is a legend with 7 Emmy’s and a remarkable career as a reporter in TV News spanning 4+ decades. She is now helping others and inspiring young journalists. The conversation spans the early years growing up near Detroit, Michigan, and the eventual move to KDFW – TV in Dallas, Texas, with amazing stops along the way. Join us as we explore the amazing life and career of Rebecca Aguilar. 

Check out Rebecca on LinkedIn and subscribe to her newsletter.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/msrebeccaaguilar/

7x Emmy Winner | Bilingual Reporter | Founder, #CallingAllJournalists & Latinas in Journalism | First Latina/WOC President of SPJ Nat’l | NAHJ Hall of Fame | Keynote Speaker | Media Watchdog | Consultant

Richard and Bryan set the wayback machine to 1986. Richard was in New York City for the unveiling of the repaired Statue of Liberty. President Ronald Reagan was there too and said, "Let the fireworks begin." A spectacular day with memorable moments.Rich and Bryan talk about other cool 4th of July shows including the famous Addison, Texas Kaboom town.

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THIS JUST IN — New Episode

Witness to Death

What is it really like to watch someone die at the hands of the state?

This week, Bryan and Rich take you behind the walls of Texas’ execution chamber for one of the most personal and thought-provoking conversations we’ve ever had.

Rich was one of the media witnesses to three lethal injections. Together, we discuss what the public never sees, the role of journalists inside the death chamber, the emotional weight of witnessing an execution, and whether Texas has found a way to carry out the ultimate punishment as humanely as possible.

This isn’t a debate filled with politics or shouting. It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes look at capital punishment from two journalists who have been there.

Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Like and Subscribe, it really helps us. linktr.ee/texson

On this episode of This Just In, we visit with Ryan Davis, whose remarkable career in television news often put him high above the story — literally.

For years, Ryan covered breaking news from a helicopter: car chases, disasters, crime scenes, floods, fires and moments when the story was still unfolding by the second.

And if you watched coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing, you almost certainly saw his work. That unforgettable aerial shot that helped anchor the nation’s understanding of the devastation? Ryan was hanging out of the helicopter window for hours, camera in hand, chronicling history from above.

It is a conversation about adrenaline, instinct, danger, journalism, and the rare ability to stay calm while flying over chaos.

You don’t want to miss this one

THIS JUST IN — WACO: THE FINAL CHAPTER

Thirty-three years later, the images are still unforgettable. The flames. The gunfire. The end of a 51-day standoff that shocked the world.

In the third and final installment of our Waco series, Richard Ray shares firsthand stories from the last day at the Branch Davidian compound — including the unexpected tip that sent him racing to the scene before dawn and put him in position to witness the FBI’s final operation as agents began punching holes in the building and pumping in tear gas.

Plus, other untold behind-the-scenes stories from the siege, the fire, the aftermath, and how the events of April 19, 1993, continue to influence America more than three decades later.

We decided to rewind and refresh episode 3 of the TJI podcast to reach more listeners.

The Fiery End: Day 51 at Mt. CarmelWhen FBI tanks began knocking holes in the wall and inserting tear gas at Branch Davidian compound outside Waco at 6am on Monday April 18, 1993 only a handful of journalists were there.The vast majority had left the previous Friday, convinced the standoff would drag on for weeks. But Richard Ray was party to a tip by a government agent that something big would happen that morning. That something big turned out to be a tragedy beyond comprehension when - as Rich reported live during the noon news - a fire began. What follows is an eyewitness account of why and how it all happened.

Find us on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcastshttps://linktr.ee/texson

In this episode, 65, Richard and Bryan decided to revisit episode 2 of the TJI podcast, The Waco Siege. It is a story that lives on and had all the elements of high drama, sex, guns, law enforcement, cults, and news coverage that didn't quit for weeks. Richard Ray was there and gives us his first person view of the situation. The podcast rewind will continue in the upcoming weeks with "The Fiery End" and "Untold Stories". Episode 65 is sure to reach a wider audience. Comments are always welcome.

You can find the TJI podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube (http://bit.ly/4fD6UsH)

This week, the tables are turned on the “This Just In” Podcast.

As Rich prepares to board a plane for Africa on another mission trip — literally flying as this episode drops — Bryan takes over the host chair and puts Rich in the guest seat.

For the first time in a long time, Rich opens up about HIS story:

How a small-town kid from Minnesota with big dreams broke into the TV news business

 The early years of climbing the ladder in broadcasting

The moments that changed his career forever
And how more than 20 years of mission work around the world has transformed the way he sees life, success, and purpose.

A different kind of conversation this week on “This Just In” with Rich and Bryan.

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