November 8, 2025 • 37 mins
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! For one of our segments this evening, we talked about a couple of old Christmas Tree Shops signs that will be auctioned off for a good cause!
Veterans Eat Free! Tuscan Brands Serves over 30,000 Veterans for Veterans Day!
Guest: Chris LaBella – VP of Operations for Tuscan Brands
Old Christmas Tree Shops signs to be auctioned for good cause: "Own a piece of Cape Cod history"!
Guest: Tara Cronin - Director of Resource Development at Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod
Why Having A Fun To-Do List Is Brain-Changing Medicine! The Neuroscience of a Bucket List: Getting the Most from Your Brain and Life.
Guest: Dr. Jeffrey DeSarbo - Neuro-Psychiatrist & Author
Global Partners Puts Its Energy to Work Supporting Families Impacted by SNAP Benefit Reductions.
Guest: Dylan Robinson - Corporate Citizenship Manager, Global Partners
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's night with Dan Ray. I'm telling you eazy Boston's
news Radio WORL.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good evening everyone, Thank you Madison. We are heading toward
the weekend, and if you stick with us for the
next a little less than four hours, we will get
you right to the cusp of midnight. It's as simple
as that. We'll get you all the way till eleven
fifty eight. I don't want to mislead you and suggest
that we're actually going to get you to Saturday morning. No,
we're gonna come up up two minutes short, so just
(00:27):
bear with us. We have some interesting guests tonight, and
we are going to have four interesting guests here where
the first guest is a little bit of a communication
problem at the moment, but Jane Stokes, my producer, is
going to take care of that very easily, well very quickly,
(00:48):
I'm sure, and I will deal with some issues later
on tonight we're going to talk with a historian and
a professor named Mike Niagel about what's going on down
in the Caribbean with US warships around and also a
lot of activity taking out what the administration says our
(01:10):
drug running boats. Professor Nigel is the author of a
book called Chasing Bandits. He has an expertise about how
the US has dealt over time with problems in our hemisphere.
We'll also talk later on tonight with doctor Chloe Carmichael.
She has written a book on free speech and how
(01:33):
important free speech is. So we'll get to all of that.
But our first guest tonight in the eight o'clock hour
is Tara Cronin. Tara is the director of resource development
for Habitat for Humanity, a great organization down on Cape
cod and Tara is going to tell us how you
could well, I guess you could own a piece of
(01:55):
Cape Cord history. Tarah, I'm a little confused. Have you
folks taken possession of these signs from the old Christmas
tree shops? And are you going to auction them off?
Good evening and welcome to Night Side, Tara. I'd love
to hear this story.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Hi, thanks so much for having me. Yeah, it's really exciting.
We are in possession of two twenty seven foot long
original Christmas Tree shop signs from the original Hyannis location.
So we have them. We think they are beautiful. There's
lots of people excited about them. We've been getting called
about them and emails about them. We haven't quite decided
(02:34):
how we're going to use as a fundraiser yet. Pretty
soon they'll be hanging at. We have two restores, one
in Yarmouth and one in Foulmouth, and they sell new
and used home goods and they're open to the public
and all the funds help raise proceeds for Habitat and
build more affordable houses. So pretty soon we're going to
move the signs right to the restores, put them up
on the walls. Everybody will be able to see them,
(02:56):
be excited about them, and then I think we're probably
gonna do some sort of an online auction.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Any idea when that is likely to take place. We're
talking about sometime in the new year.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I wish we could do it right now because it's
so fitting with the holidays coming up, but I think
it's going to take us a little bit of time.
I think we want to build some excitement and really
think about how to do this right. I mean, there's
only two of them, so probably not right away. We're
going to need a little bit of time to think
about it now.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I was never someone who spent a lot of time
in old Christmas tree shops, I know that they were
really quite the rage and a lot of people. I
used to see them driving over the bridge to the cape.
How many old Christmas tree shops? And again you're with
habitat for humanity, so I don't expect you to be
a historian, But how many old Christmas tree shops were
(03:44):
spread around New England? Because I assumed they were only
in New England at their height, you know what.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I don't know how many they were, but I know
there was three right in like my kind of general
area that I used to hit. There was one in Hyannas,
and then one and Born like as you went over
the bridge, that's.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The one I used to see all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Absolutely they had like a windmill, a thatch roof, and
then and so it was old fashioned and kind of
cozy looking. And then there was one at Hyennas and
that one was really cute and it just had like
a really cool like vibe. It was just really interesting.
If you could see it, you'd know what I was
talking about.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So what's what There's always a story here? What is
the story behind the story of getting the signs? Were
they offered to you or did some very perceptive person say,
you know those signs uh could be used for something
or maybe even used as a fundraiser. How did you
come into these signs? I assumed they were given to you.
(04:43):
You weren't You didn't purchase them.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
I hope I didn't steal them.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So we actually Wendy, our CEO and president, a couple
of weeks ago, was like, hey, you know, they're remodeling
the old Christmas Tree shops in Hyenna and there used
to be this huge clock tower there and it had
dolls on it and it rang on the hour. It
was really interesting and it was this huge piece of
just cape cod and she said, they're dis mantling it.
(05:11):
I wonder if we could get our hands on that
and maybe use it as an auction item. It would
be really neat, you know, one of a kind thing.
So I called over to the property manager and said,
do you have any plans for that big old clock tower?
And he was like, you know that beings one hundred
feet high and what are you going to do with it?
And we were laughing about it. And it was actually
(05:32):
in pieces at that time and it just wasn't a
good fit. You know, it was just really wasn't going
to work out. And then about a week later he
called back and said, hey, you know what I do have?
I have these two twenty seven foot signs. Would you
guys be interested in that? And we jumped at it.
We were like, yes, yes, we're sure we can find
somebody that's interested in this. And we always need to
(05:52):
raise more money, so we're always thinking like, what's a
cool item that we can auction off, you know, what's
a cool event that we can have, and just always
have that kind of on our minds, and I think
just something original. It just makes us really excited. So
it was a little bit of both a little bit
of us reaching out and then them reaching back out
and just being so generous and remembering us and thinking
(06:13):
about us. And I think it's a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Since I have you tell me, how is Habitat for
Humanity on Cape Cod doing. I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
We are a great affiliate. We are doing great. We
have built nearly two hundred homes right now. We're building
in Dennis and in Wellfleet, and pretty soon we're going
to be building in Brewster, Picasset, Falmouth. I think we've
got forty houses in the pipeline. We build lots of
affordable homes for local families to build with us, and
then they purchase them and they are able to stay
(06:44):
on the Cape because I don't know if you know,
but the average price of a house on Cape Cod
right now is probably around seven hundred thousand dollars and
I don't know anyone that can afford that. So we
build houses that are affordable for our local school teachers, nurses, landscapers.
We want to keep them on Cape Cod. And that's
what we're all about.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Well, that's great, and you're right. Cape Cod is a
very special place and special places where people want to
get to or to spend some time at, and that
it's good for Cape Cod. But it's tough for people
to get a piece of the cape as it were.
But you have two pieces of the old Christmas tree
shops keep us posted. If people want to send a
(07:25):
donation to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, is that
allowed or does everything have to go through Habitat from
Humanity at a central location?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You know, I'm so glad that you asked that we
actually have to raise all of our own money. So
we raise all of our funds ourselves and our houses
cost way more to build, even with volunteer labor. They
cost a lot more to build than we sell them for.
So if you go to habitat Capecod dot org, that
donation will come right to Cape Cod. So you want
to go to Habitatcapecod dot org and donate online. It's
(07:58):
really good that you brought that up.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thank you well. I want to bring it up because
they also want to make sure that people know that
the donation that they make to Habitat for Humanity on
Cape Cod will actually help Habitat on Cape Cod. Uh
and there will be that all that fund he will
go to you. Tara. Great to talk with you. I
think it was an innovative program. When you get to
(08:21):
the auction whenever it is, let us know and we'll
give you a little more publicity.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Okay, great, I can't wait. I'll keep you posted. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I don't talk to you. Merry Christmas with your old
Christmas tree shop signs. It'll be a special special Christmas.
You can put them in your living room and celebrate
Christmas with the old Christmas tree shop signs. Okayom, thanks Derek,
talk soon all right when we get back, we will
(08:49):
be talking with Chris Labella. He is the vice president
of operations with Tuskin Brands, really good restaurant, and they
are reaching out this weekend. I'm not we're going to
get the specifics to veterans and they are offering free meals.
Come and have a meal with Tuscan Brands and we'll
(09:11):
explain it with Chris Labella on the other break. Later on,
we're going to talk about with a neuropsychiatrist and author
about why having a fun to do list, you know
you have the other type to do list. I'm talking
about a fun to do list is brain changing medicine,
the neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from
your brain and life. And then we'll talk with the
corporate Citizenship manager of Global Partners. Dylan Robinson will join
(09:35):
us and talk about an effort that Global Partners is
making to help support families who have been adversely impacted
by the SNAP benefits. I shouldn't say reductions at this point.
Apparently they will get their the money on their cards
for November, but they certainly have had a few tough
days here of anxiety, and I suspect that knowing global partners,
(09:58):
they will do the right thing, continue along to help
people in the upcoming weeks. We'll get to all of that,
I promise, as well as a couple of topics. During
the nine ten o'clock hour and of course twentieth hour,
we will have a specific question and I'm going to
tell you in advance what I think the specific question
is going to be. I'm going to ask you where
(10:19):
you intend to retire to and why or where have
you retired to and why. I think we might get
some interesting answers on that during the twentieth hour. Tonight
back on Nightside, right after these quick messages.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray, Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Well, we thought we were going to have them off
the top of the show, but better late than never.
Chris Labella, vice president of Operations for Tuscan Brands. Chris Labella,
Welcome to Nightside. How are you?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm great? Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I have eaten at your restaurants. It is a really
good restaurant. I love Italian food. Know that you have
a lot of food, a lot of Italian food on
the menu. How many Tuscan restaurants are there now in
New England, and to the best of my knowledge, you
still remain in a New England operation.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Correct, Yes, we are solely in New England.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
We have about eleven.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Locations between Boston and all the way up to Portsmouth,
so lots to do, okay.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
And you're growing. It sounds to me. I mean this
is a you haven't been around for fifty years, as
I understand.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Correct, No, we opened actually, you know we're gonna be
talking about Veterans Day, so you know, we actually opened
our first restaurant, Tuscan Kitchen here in Salem, New Hampshire,
in twenty ten and we opened to the public on
Veterans Day where we hosted our first Veterans Day luncheon.
And as the company has expanded, so as that program.
(11:53):
Our newest edition is the Tuscan Village in Salem if
you haven't heard of it, one hundred and seventy acres
mixed use three of our restaurants, about a bunch of
other restaurants, just the place to be in southern New Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Sale in Salem, New Hampshire. Okay, So tell us about
this tradition that you that you do every year. Who
is eligible and what is the what is the day
and the time. Let's let's make sure nobody misses this
opportunity if they want to take advantage of it.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So, like I said, the inception was twenty ten, and
you know it's grown every year. We hold you know,
we host veterans plus a guest every Veterans Day between
eleven and three o'clock at four of our location. So
we do it here in Salem at the Artists in
Hotel where our Tusking Kitchen is. We also do a
Tusking Kitchen in the seaport in Boston, tiscona chophouse up
(12:44):
in Portsmouth as well as Tuscan, Seagrill and newbury Port.
So we try to hit sort of all areas Boston,
North Shore, Salem and all the way up in Portsmouth.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
And all someone has to do is show up and
identify themselves as what what sort of identification are you
looking for for someone who's walking in the door with
you know, the spouse or a loved one. As I say,
you said, they obviously can bring a guest, So what
(13:13):
what what do you look for? What? What does someone
have to present that that that you folks accept as
proof of someone being a veteran.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
You know, all we ask is that you give us
a call beforehand and set up a reservation, so you
can call any one of those locations once again, Tusking
Kitchen and Salem, Tusking Kitchen, in the Seaport in Boston,
Tuscan Seagrel new very important Toscana chop house enforcement. So
give us a call beforehand, make a reservation day of
you know, you can bring in a military idea if
(13:43):
you want to, but we're just really happy to host.
We'd love to see some smiling faces and we're you know,
something that we get a lot of fulfillment out of.
So we're not really checking IDs at the door or anything.
We just asked for those reservations ahead of time.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, And does this apply to military personnel who maybe
on active duty right now? Do you have to have
been retired from the military.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Absolutely? Active active duty is great. Yeah, we really, you know,
we we try to We just like to have a
good time and host you know, some really great people
that have served our country or are currently serving our country.
So yeah, we're happy more than Maria.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Really sure, and all branches are welcome, you know, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines,
Coast Guard. Have I missed anything?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
No, Absolutely, everybody's welcome. You know, if you're if you're
doing something great for our country or have done something
great for our country, we want to just do a little,
you know, a little something from US at Tuscan brands
to say thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
And then what about members or former members of Army, Reserve,
National Guard organizations? Are they welcomed as well?
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well, that's that's that's fabulous. I saw a number here
that said you have served over thirty thousand veterans. Is
that the cumulative number over the years. Oh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Absolutely, I mean we do. I would say we do
a few thousand at this point every year between all
the locations, so compound that by fifteen years, there's definitely
definitely more than thirty thousand for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah. Well, that's that is what the press release says.
But that's great. So again, we're talking about Veterans Day
Tuesday the eleventh, from eleven am to three pm, and
all you're asking veterans, former military personnel who have served
the country to give a call to any of these
(15:40):
four Tuscan restaurants and make a reservation for yourself and
a guest, give the locations one more time so there's
no confusion. I don't want my listeners who may have
served in the military calling the wrong Tuscan restaurants. So
let's go slowly with the location. Is this one in Boston,
(16:01):
right in the seaport.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
So even if they even if they happen to call
one of the wrong locations, they'll happily guide them to
the right ones.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
But yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Tuscan Kitchen in the Seaport district of Boston. Yep, Tuskan
Kitchen here in Salem where it all started fifteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And you said that one is inside that one is
actually inside a hotel or associated with a hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Yeah, Tuscan brand. So this is our first hotel as
a brand. It's called the artists In Hotel. It's right
in the middle of Tuscan Village here in Salem. That's
a Marriotte property and we have two restaurants within it
as well as our events center. So really awesome, really
awesome place. Great for a staycation, business, travels, you name it.
It's a lot of fun. So we love showcasing it.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And then the last two I just want to identify.
We said one was up in Salem in New Hampshire,
and one was up in was it Portsmouth?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Ghana Chop House which is up in Portsmouth right in
right and downtown Portsmouth. And then we also have Tuscans
which is on the waterfront New very Port.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
That's great. Well, look, if anyone didn't get those, just
call and I'm sure that they got them because you
were very clear and you did a great job. All
they have to do is call any one of the
Tuscan locations and they will be directed. You just got
to make reservations for Tuesday Veterans Day, November eleventh, between
eleven and three. Really enjoyed talking with you, Chris. You
(17:26):
were late a couple of minutes, but as they said,
you did a great job. Nonetheless, and thanks for what
Tuscan Brands is doing for our veterans. Because there was
a time and when veteran service was not nearly appreciated
in this country as it should have been. And it's
great that a restaurant group like Tuscan is really going
(17:47):
above and beyond. So thank you very much for on
behalf of all the veterans. Okay, thank you.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
We love serving our veterans that have served us, and
you know, we can't wait to see everybody. I've been
doing this for fifteen years now and it's one of
my favorite days every single year. So make that reservation
and come see us.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
Let us do the cooking.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
All right, sounds great. Appreciate appreciate your time tonight, Chris,
have a great weekend. When we get back, right after
the news, we're going to talk about why you should
have a fun to do list, you know, the two
du list that normally someone gives you on a Saturday
morning and says, here's what I'd like you to do today. Well,
this is a fun to do list that you can
make for yourself. And we're going to speak with the doctor,
(18:27):
doctor Jeffrey Disarbo. He's a neuro psychiatrist and author his
book The Neuroscience of a bucket List, Getting the Most
from your Brain and Life. This might be a life
changing interview for some of you. Let's stay positive. Here
comes the news.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio
one one.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Welcome, doctor Jeffrey Disarbo. He's a neuro psychiatrist and author,
Doctor Disarbo, Welcome to Nightside. How are you, sir?
Speaker 4 (18:57):
I'm great.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
How you doing, Dan, I'm doing great. So you're the
neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from your
brain and life is now available. When I think about
bucket lists, I think back to that movie was a
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, if I'm not mistaken, it
was called bucket List, and they were a couple of
(19:18):
old timers doing some things that they always wanted to do.
But this is a different type of bucket list you're
talking about, explain if you would.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Well. In some ways, it's got some similarities and that
it's really about doing things while you're here alive that
but they don't have to be so such extravagant adventures
and risk taking things that they did in the movie.
It's kind that's kind of where that misconception of things.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
There was no risk taking in the movie because I'm
sure that the dangerous scenes it was a body doubles ahead.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
I'm sorry, no, no, you're exactly right. And it's funny
because when I watched the movie, I actually myself just watched.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
It about a year ago.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
It's that and it was like I actually got to
do pretty much everything that they had in the movie,
but not because I have expected end of life coming
suit departure. It's really something. Yeah, it's for children, it's
for adults in their prime. It's a way of thinking.
It's a mentality.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Well, it's interesting. I end every Friday night here on
Nightside with a fun hour. During the week we do
politics and all the tough stuff that you have to do, disasters,
conversations about issues that are so seemingly so divisive. But
I like to on what we call the twentieth hour
because I do five shows a night, four hours a night,
(20:42):
lighting up a little bit. And one of my favorite
issues to do is brushes with celebrity, and I was
going to do that tonight, but once I read getting
ready for the interview with you, I think what I'm
going to do is ask my audience, which has young people,
middle aged people, and older people, where they plan to
retire and why. And I'm going to be interested in
(21:06):
if there's a difference, you know, generationally, as to where
people might aspire to retire to. So I'm not stealing
your idea, doctor, but I'm kind of dealing with it
a little bit. Let me ask you the question I
normally ask people your brush with celebrity who is the
biggest celebrity you ever met? Uh?
Speaker 6 (21:29):
To be honest with you, I haven't had a lot
of brushes with celebrities.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I figure an author and a neuropsychiatrist. I've had people
tell me they met King Charles when he was Prince Charles,
any major athlete you can name. It is amazing when
I do that hour with my audience, the breath and
scope of people that they've met, and the circumstances. But
let's let's come back to your to your your listing. Okay, Well, yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
The people I've met though, are mostly like by some
of my patients, I've had, you know, all kinds of perfect.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Talk about them, and you can't talk about that exactly,
so you're an inherent disadvantage. Okay, fair enough. So my
question on the neuroscience of a bucket list. The suggestion
is that if somebody takes the time in their busy
schedules to sit down and develop a list of some
things that they want to do, not end of life things,
(22:27):
but just the things they want to do, that's going
to improve their outlook on life generally. It sounds to
me that that's that's what you're positive correct.
Speaker 6 (22:38):
Uh? Yeah, essentially when they even when you start to
sit down, you start to turn your brain on in
that way to start thinking about what is it that
means something to me. You start jotting down some ideas
of what you would want to put on a list.
It really starts to trigger different changes in your brain chemistry.
You really dopamine. That's your feel good neurow transmitter, and
(22:59):
it keeps them rain fresh, rewiring itself. That's the process
of neuroplasticity. And that's why, even especially when people are young,
it has a very active and profound effect on brain development.
And when people start to go over the age of forty,
when their neurotransmitters start to decrease, it keeps them active
and it kind of has an anti aging effect, especially
(23:22):
when they're doing new things, things that are different.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Okay, now here's a question that prompts in my mind.
Do you think that the exercise that you're recommending in
your book, The Neuroscience of a Bucket List getting the
most from your brain in life? Do you think that
that is best done by individuals, even if they're married
or with a partner, to be done alone, or is
(23:46):
it better to do it in conjunction with the person
that you share your life with, if such a person exists.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Well, I think actually a category, Like there's multiple categories
in the workbook. I have over one hundred different category
and then thousands of different ideas. So sharing a bucket
list with the person, if you're married or if you're
in a relationship, should be a major part of it.
Kind of deciding on what types of ideas that you
might want to do together if you have similar There's
(24:15):
different types of bucket lift styles. A thrill seeker, a
social adventure a creative explorer, and you kind of want to,
you know, match and take turns at times. But there
may be a few things that you may want to do.
If you know, you get offered to go into outer space,
you may do that. Your significant other might not want to.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know too many of us, even
amongst those living here tonight, who are going to have
that opportunity. We haven't even get back to the moon
since nineteen sixty nine, which is getting on fifty years.
I remember watching Neil Armstrong and I realized that at
that time, I thought, oh, people will be like going
up for a little trip of vacation, in the moon
(24:56):
didn't quite didn't quite work out that way. So you're
book not only gives you some ideas, but you have
it sounds to me like a whole bunch of categories.
So if someone is thinking right now, well, I'm not
going to be able to think of things to do
because I live kind of a regular, you know, nine
(25:17):
to five life, What good would would you tell me
is that this book is going to keep get is
going to activate people's brains as they go through the
book as well.
Speaker 6 (25:28):
Oh yeah, exactly. Actually, like the categories and idea those
are kind of in the appendix section, you know, the
first part of the book, I talked about thinking of
a bucket list in different terms, why it actually is
good for the brain and mental health, how exactly it
does change the brain, and that I hope gives people
a different look at different foundation that motivates them. And again,
(25:50):
it doesn't have to be these expensive trips or wild
adventures bucket list. Things can be found that are free
and in your own backyard.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So well, that's that is so the most important item
that all of us have. It's not, in my opinion, money,
but it's time. And if you use your time wisely.
And even if on a weekend you're going to say,
I'm just going to take a trip to the beach
in the middle of November, it's going to be a
(26:20):
very different experience than what it would be like in
the middle of July. I'm a huge believer that time
is probably the most valuable asset that any of us have,
and sounds to me like people can take advantage of
their time and channel their time if they take the
time to get your book. So how can I get
the book? I assume it's Amazon. Do you have an
(26:43):
author's website? Many of my guests have websites as well.
Do you have an author's website we can direct people.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
To there's an author's website, but I have it's actually
more than an author's website. It's a bucket list, doctor
docto r all spelt out dot com. It's a web page.
It gives, of course, where people can go to connect.
You press the button, you go to Amazon for the
books and stuff, but it also gives a lot of
(27:09):
different types of advice and insight. And if they give
sign up for our newsletter, you know, we don't spam
them or anything, but I do a lot of writing,
and so I you know, more than once a month,
I'll be putting more and more blogs that are really
short articles.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
The advantage by the way of the author's website. And
I've found this. I've done this now for more years
than I get to think about. A lot of people
love to be able to buy the book, not through Amazon,
but to buy it from the author's website, because some
authors are willing to inscribe the book to the person
who's purchasing it, or if they're buying a book for
(27:47):
someone else as a gift. Now, I don't know if
you do that or not, but I know some authors
have been very successful in terms of marketing their writings
by making that available to individuals. I just offered you
that as a as.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
A sub Absolutely no, yeah, I was looking setting that
up for December. This way, anybody who wanted a holiday book,
I could inscribe it for them.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
So see, I'm thinking right with you. I'm here to
help you, Okay, Doctor Jeffrey Distarble, thank you so much
for your time tonight. Hope you have a great weekend
and do something this weekend that's a lot of fun.
That's all I ask you.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Okay, and everyone who's listening have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Bet Thanks very much, Doctor Jeffrey Sharble. The book is
why having a fun to do List is brain changing medicine,
The neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from
your brain and life not bad, not bad. Coming up,
we're going to talk with Dylan Robinson. He's the corporate
Citizenship manager of Global Partners. They are reached out to
us yesterday and they are trying to do something to
(28:48):
support families here in Massachusetts who have been adversely impacted
by the Snap benefit standoff, a controversy, government shutdown, whatever
you will. We'll talk with Dylan Robinson right after the break.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
All right, I think all of us have been aware,
whether we've been impacted personally or not by the shutdown
on Well, I guess you got to go back to
October first, and we're now, and I guess it's the
thirty seventh or the thirty eighth day if I'm doing
my math correctly, and I know that there's been some
movement today on the Snap benefits. There was a federal
(29:30):
judge in Rhode Island who issued in order. Today, the
Trump administration I think has appealed that. They have said
they will make the November snap benefits that are due
to a people who are benefit recipients. They will get
their entire November payment benefit, maybe even as early as tomorrow. However,
(29:56):
before that movement, the Global Partners has put its energy
to work supporting families and with us as Dylan Robinson,
Corporate Citizenship manager at Global Partners. Global Partners is a
big company here in Massachusetts. They do some of the
service Plaza's on the Turnpike. They were in a bit
of a dispute last summer when they were not awarded
(30:19):
the contract and then the company from Ireland which was
awarded a contract stepped aside. They have to go through
the process again, which I think is unfeared of Global Partners,
and I've expressed that. But I want to welcome Dylan Robinson. Dylan,
welcome to nights Side And what is Global Partners doing
at this point? You guys have tried to step into
the breach. The breach may not be as bad as
(30:43):
it was this time yesterday, but you have reached out
in an effort to help tell us about it.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Dan, thank you so much for having me. Global partners
are stepping out to help families who've been hit hard
by the cuts and delays and the food food bank benefits.
So we lost to two part program nearly ninety thousand
dollars in support. We are sending out thousands of gift
cards to food bank partners as well as direct financial support.
(31:11):
So I think this program's pretty cool because the gift
cards will help with immediate needs. I also let them
buy fuel and other things that might not be covered
from SNAP immediately. But also the direct financial contributions go
to the food banks and they have incredible buying power.
I'm not sure if you know this. Food banks for
(31:32):
every dollar you give them, they can buy nearly four
meals per dollar. So we think that this support is
going to be nearly a quarter million meals for those
in need in our communities.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So how does this going to work? Now? So, if
I'm a SNAP beneficiary, if I'm a recipient of SNAP funds,
and either I've received nothing for November, or I receive
some sort of partial payment, or even if I get
a full payment on my card tomorrow, but I'm kind
(32:07):
of in trouble, what do I do? I go to
a food bank and maybe I can get some food
tomorrow that the Global Partners may have provided funds for.
But there's also cards that they can be given to
the Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
So we've partnered with about thirty food banks in the
area where they will distribute the gift cards to their
guests and their community members there. The food banks are
incredible operation that will streamline everything. So if you don't
know where your next meal will be, go online, find
your closest food bank. And there's a chance that not
(32:48):
only that local food bank has received help from us,
but also we've been a large supporter of the Greater
Boston Food Bank over the years, in which funnels money,
if funnels resources to all the food banks from the state.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah, is there a list of the food banks that
have cards. I just want to try to make it
easy with people, and I don't want people to show
up at a food bank and be turned away and
then yeah, yeah field anger and disappointment because this is
a legitimate donation that's being made by Global Partners. I
just want to get the benefit to the folks who
(33:23):
need Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Yeah, So, through our teams that we have, we have
a couple of food banks that were nominated from our employees.
I'll list them off here for you right now. So
do we have Doorways Food Pantry in sekonk Open Pantry
Community Services in Springfield, the south Community Food Pantry in Pittsfield, Massachusetts,
(33:46):
as well as Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry and air
the Old Colony YMCA and Brockton Project just because in Hopkinson,
the Hudson Community Food Pantry and Hudson, mass and the
South Shore Community Action Council and Plymouth and then Raindom
Food Basket, rainnom and Greater Boston Food Bank, which you
(34:10):
know is in Boston. The services the majority of the
eastern Eastern portion.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
YEA, that's certainly across the state, which I think is
great and hopefully people may have caught which thank you.
You read the list very well, very clearly, very plainly,
so people can hopefully identify with that and they can
get down there. I assume that these cards will be
available at some point tomorrow during the day.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
I would hope that is the plan. We got them
all put together this week and they should be in
the mail now, so hopefully we'll be in hands of
guests pretty soon. And the other thing I will say
that the second half of that list, those are our
perishable food partners, so from our all towns, fresh locations
(34:57):
that we have that have you know, fresh food chefs,
incredible ingredients. All of those ones that list off at
the end have been recipients of our food at the
end of the day. So last year those food banks
got over three hundred thousand dollars worth of food product
from us already, and we've been continuing that program throughout
(35:18):
the year.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
So that is food from some of your kitchens on
the mass Turnpike Plaza and elsewhere, and at the end
of the day, as opposed to throwing really good food away,
you make it available to nearby food banks, so pantry
food pantries.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
Yeah, it's an incredible program. You know, when we have
awesome ingredients, awesome sandwiches, we hate to see them go
to waste and want to make sure that our community
members have access to not only food, but also healthy
and fresh food.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Well, I think I think that's great because it's it's
hurtful to think you folks obviously, when you're running a
kitchen somewhere and you have one day you might run
out the next day, you have an overage. At the
fact that the overage does again thrown out, that is
a testament to the wisdom that you have at Global Partners, Dylan.
(36:14):
I appreciate you taking the time tonight. Thanks for stepping
into the breach here and hopefully you've helped a lot
of people who will benefit in the next few days.
Thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Thank you, Welcome, Dylan.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Dylan Robinson, Corporate Citizenship Manager of Global Partners. Okay, that
takes care of the eight o'clock hour. The nine o'clock
hour awaits, and we are going to talk about a
new book, Chasing Bandits, And what is talking about is
what's going on down in the Caribbean. I think the
Trump administration. I'd love to see more information, but I
(36:48):
do understand that means and methods sometimes can compromise when
too much information is made available. We're going to talk
with a historian who's a professor college professor at Nichols
College here in Massachusetts about that very subject. Back on Nightside,
right after the nine o'clock news
It's night with Dan Ray. I'm telling you eazy Boston's
news Radio WORL.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good evening everyone, Thank you Madison. We are heading toward
the weekend, and if you stick with us for the
next a little less than four hours, we will get
you right to the cusp of midnight. It's as simple
as that. We'll get you all the way till eleven
fifty eight. I don't want to mislead you and suggest
that we're actually going to get you to Saturday morning. No,
we're gonna come up up two minutes short, so just
(00:27):
bear with us. We have some interesting guests tonight, and
we are going to have four interesting guests here where
the first guest is a little bit of a communication
problem at the moment, but Jane Stokes, my producer, is
going to take care of that very easily, well very quickly,
(00:48):
I'm sure, and I will deal with some issues later
on tonight we're going to talk with a historian and
a professor named Mike Niagel about what's going on down
in the Caribbean with US warships around and also a
lot of activity taking out what the administration says our
(01:10):
drug running boats. Professor Nigel is the author of a
book called Chasing Bandits. He has an expertise about how
the US has dealt over time with problems in our hemisphere.
We'll also talk later on tonight with doctor Chloe Carmichael.
She has written a book on free speech and how
(01:33):
important free speech is. So we'll get to all of that.
But our first guest tonight in the eight o'clock hour
is Tara Cronin. Tara is the director of resource development
for Habitat for Humanity, a great organization down on Cape
cod and Tara is going to tell us how you
could well, I guess you could own a piece of
(01:55):
Cape Cord history. Tarah, I'm a little confused. Have you
folks taken possession of these signs from the old Christmas
tree shops? And are you going to auction them off?
Good evening and welcome to Night Side, Tara. I'd love
to hear this story.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Hi, thanks so much for having me. Yeah, it's really exciting.
We are in possession of two twenty seven foot long
original Christmas Tree shop signs from the original Hyannis location.
So we have them. We think they are beautiful. There's
lots of people excited about them. We've been getting called
about them and emails about them. We haven't quite decided
(02:34):
how we're going to use as a fundraiser yet. Pretty
soon they'll be hanging at. We have two restores, one
in Yarmouth and one in Foulmouth, and they sell new
and used home goods and they're open to the public
and all the funds help raise proceeds for Habitat and
build more affordable houses. So pretty soon we're going to
move the signs right to the restores, put them up
on the walls. Everybody will be able to see them,
(02:56):
be excited about them, and then I think we're probably
gonna do some sort of an online auction.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Any idea when that is likely to take place. We're
talking about sometime in the new year.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I wish we could do it right now because it's
so fitting with the holidays coming up, but I think
it's going to take us a little bit of time.
I think we want to build some excitement and really
think about how to do this right. I mean, there's
only two of them, so probably not right away. We're
going to need a little bit of time to think
about it now.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I was never someone who spent a lot of time
in old Christmas tree shops, I know that they were
really quite the rage and a lot of people. I
used to see them driving over the bridge to the cape.
How many old Christmas tree shops? And again you're with
habitat for humanity, so I don't expect you to be
a historian, But how many old Christmas tree shops were
(03:44):
spread around New England? Because I assumed they were only
in New England at their height, you know what.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I don't know how many they were, but I know
there was three right in like my kind of general
area that I used to hit. There was one in Hyannas,
and then one and Born like as you went over
the bridge, that's.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The one I used to see all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Absolutely they had like a windmill, a thatch roof, and
then and so it was old fashioned and kind of
cozy looking. And then there was one at Hyennas and
that one was really cute and it just had like
a really cool like vibe. It was just really interesting.
If you could see it, you'd know what I was
talking about.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So what's what There's always a story here? What is
the story behind the story of getting the signs? Were
they offered to you or did some very perceptive person say,
you know those signs uh could be used for something
or maybe even used as a fundraiser. How did you
come into these signs? I assumed they were given to you.
(04:43):
You weren't You didn't purchase them.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
I hope I didn't steal them.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So we actually Wendy, our CEO and president, a couple
of weeks ago, was like, hey, you know, they're remodeling
the old Christmas Tree shops in Hyenna and there used
to be this huge clock tower there and it had
dolls on it and it rang on the hour. It
was really interesting and it was this huge piece of
just cape cod and she said, they're dis mantling it.
(05:11):
I wonder if we could get our hands on that
and maybe use it as an auction item. It would
be really neat, you know, one of a kind thing.
So I called over to the property manager and said,
do you have any plans for that big old clock tower?
And he was like, you know that beings one hundred
feet high and what are you going to do with it?
And we were laughing about it. And it was actually
(05:32):
in pieces at that time and it just wasn't a
good fit. You know, it was just really wasn't going
to work out. And then about a week later he
called back and said, hey, you know what I do have?
I have these two twenty seven foot signs. Would you
guys be interested in that? And we jumped at it.
We were like, yes, yes, we're sure we can find
somebody that's interested in this. And we always need to
(05:52):
raise more money, so we're always thinking like, what's a
cool item that we can auction off, you know, what's
a cool event that we can have, and just always
have that kind of on our minds, and I think
just something original. It just makes us really excited. So
it was a little bit of both a little bit
of us reaching out and then them reaching back out
and just being so generous and remembering us and thinking
(06:13):
about us. And I think it's a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Since I have you tell me, how is Habitat for
Humanity on Cape Cod doing. I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
We are a great affiliate. We are doing great. We
have built nearly two hundred homes right now. We're building
in Dennis and in Wellfleet, and pretty soon we're going
to be building in Brewster, Picasset, Falmouth. I think we've
got forty houses in the pipeline. We build lots of
affordable homes for local families to build with us, and
then they purchase them and they are able to stay
(06:44):
on the Cape because I don't know if you know,
but the average price of a house on Cape Cod
right now is probably around seven hundred thousand dollars and
I don't know anyone that can afford that. So we
build houses that are affordable for our local school teachers, nurses, landscapers.
We want to keep them on Cape Cod. And that's
what we're all about.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Well, that's great, and you're right. Cape Cod is a
very special place and special places where people want to
get to or to spend some time at, and that
it's good for Cape Cod. But it's tough for people
to get a piece of the cape as it were.
But you have two pieces of the old Christmas tree
shops keep us posted. If people want to send a
(07:25):
donation to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, is that
allowed or does everything have to go through Habitat from
Humanity at a central location?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You know, I'm so glad that you asked that we
actually have to raise all of our own money. So
we raise all of our funds ourselves and our houses
cost way more to build, even with volunteer labor. They
cost a lot more to build than we sell them for.
So if you go to habitat Capecod dot org, that
donation will come right to Cape Cod. So you want
to go to Habitatcapecod dot org and donate online. It's
(07:58):
really good that you brought that up.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thank you well. I want to bring it up because
they also want to make sure that people know that
the donation that they make to Habitat for Humanity on
Cape Cod will actually help Habitat on Cape Cod. Uh
and there will be that all that fund he will
go to you. Tara. Great to talk with you. I
think it was an innovative program. When you get to
(08:21):
the auction whenever it is, let us know and we'll
give you a little more publicity.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Okay, great, I can't wait. I'll keep you posted. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I don't talk to you. Merry Christmas with your old
Christmas tree shop signs. It'll be a special special Christmas.
You can put them in your living room and celebrate
Christmas with the old Christmas tree shop signs. Okayom, thanks Derek,
talk soon all right when we get back, we will
(08:49):
be talking with Chris Labella. He is the vice president
of operations with Tuskin Brands, really good restaurant, and they
are reaching out this weekend. I'm not we're going to
get the specifics to veterans and they are offering free meals.
Come and have a meal with Tuscan Brands and we'll
(09:11):
explain it with Chris Labella on the other break. Later on,
we're going to talk about with a neuropsychiatrist and author
about why having a fun to do list, you know
you have the other type to do list. I'm talking
about a fun to do list is brain changing medicine,
the neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from
your brain and life. And then we'll talk with the
corporate Citizenship manager of Global Partners. Dylan Robinson will join
(09:35):
us and talk about an effort that Global Partners is
making to help support families who have been adversely impacted
by the SNAP benefits. I shouldn't say reductions at this point.
Apparently they will get their the money on their cards
for November, but they certainly have had a few tough
days here of anxiety, and I suspect that knowing global partners,
(09:58):
they will do the right thing, continue along to help
people in the upcoming weeks. We'll get to all of that,
I promise, as well as a couple of topics. During
the nine ten o'clock hour and of course twentieth hour,
we will have a specific question and I'm going to
tell you in advance what I think the specific question
is going to be. I'm going to ask you where
(10:19):
you intend to retire to and why or where have
you retired to and why. I think we might get
some interesting answers on that during the twentieth hour. Tonight
back on Nightside, right after these quick messages.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray, Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Well, we thought we were going to have them off
the top of the show, but better late than never.
Chris Labella, vice president of Operations for Tuscan Brands. Chris Labella,
Welcome to Nightside. How are you?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm great? Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I have eaten at your restaurants. It is a really
good restaurant. I love Italian food. Know that you have
a lot of food, a lot of Italian food on
the menu. How many Tuscan restaurants are there now in
New England, and to the best of my knowledge, you
still remain in a New England operation.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Correct, Yes, we are solely in New England.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
We have about eleven.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Locations between Boston and all the way up to Portsmouth,
so lots to do, okay.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
And you're growing. It sounds to me. I mean this
is a you haven't been around for fifty years, as
I understand.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Correct, No, we opened actually, you know we're gonna be
talking about Veterans Day, so you know, we actually opened
our first restaurant, Tuscan Kitchen here in Salem, New Hampshire,
in twenty ten and we opened to the public on
Veterans Day where we hosted our first Veterans Day luncheon.
And as the company has expanded, so as that program.
(11:53):
Our newest edition is the Tuscan Village in Salem if
you haven't heard of it, one hundred and seventy acres
mixed use three of our restaurants, about a bunch of
other restaurants, just the place to be in southern New Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Sale in Salem, New Hampshire. Okay, So tell us about
this tradition that you that you do every year. Who
is eligible and what is the what is the day
and the time. Let's let's make sure nobody misses this
opportunity if they want to take advantage of it.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So, like I said, the inception was twenty ten, and
you know it's grown every year. We hold you know,
we host veterans plus a guest every Veterans Day between
eleven and three o'clock at four of our location. So
we do it here in Salem at the Artists in
Hotel where our Tusking Kitchen is. We also do a
Tusking Kitchen in the seaport in Boston, tiscona chophouse up
(12:44):
in Portsmouth as well as Tuscan, Seagrill and newbury Port.
So we try to hit sort of all areas Boston,
North Shore, Salem and all the way up in Portsmouth.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
And all someone has to do is show up and
identify themselves as what what sort of identification are you
looking for for someone who's walking in the door with
you know, the spouse or a loved one. As I say,
you said, they obviously can bring a guest, So what
(13:13):
what what do you look for? What? What does someone
have to present that that that you folks accept as
proof of someone being a veteran.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
You know, all we ask is that you give us
a call beforehand and set up a reservation, so you
can call any one of those locations once again, Tusking
Kitchen and Salem, Tusking Kitchen, in the Seaport in Boston,
Tuscan Seagrel new very important Toscana chop house enforcement. So
give us a call beforehand, make a reservation day of
you know, you can bring in a military idea if
(13:43):
you want to, but we're just really happy to host.
We'd love to see some smiling faces and we're you know,
something that we get a lot of fulfillment out of.
So we're not really checking IDs at the door or anything.
We just asked for those reservations ahead of time.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, And does this apply to military personnel who maybe
on active duty right now? Do you have to have
been retired from the military.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Absolutely? Active active duty is great. Yeah, we really, you know,
we we try to We just like to have a
good time and host you know, some really great people
that have served our country or are currently serving our country.
So yeah, we're happy more than Maria.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Really sure, and all branches are welcome, you know, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines,
Coast Guard. Have I missed anything?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
No, Absolutely, everybody's welcome. You know, if you're if you're
doing something great for our country or have done something
great for our country, we want to just do a little,
you know, a little something from US at Tuscan brands
to say thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
And then what about members or former members of Army, Reserve,
National Guard organizations? Are they welcomed as well?
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well, that's that's that's fabulous. I saw a number here
that said you have served over thirty thousand veterans. Is
that the cumulative number over the years. Oh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Absolutely, I mean we do. I would say we do
a few thousand at this point every year between all
the locations, so compound that by fifteen years, there's definitely
definitely more than thirty thousand for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah. Well, that's that is what the press release says.
But that's great. So again, we're talking about Veterans Day
Tuesday the eleventh, from eleven am to three pm, and
all you're asking veterans, former military personnel who have served
the country to give a call to any of these
(15:40):
four Tuscan restaurants and make a reservation for yourself and
a guest, give the locations one more time so there's
no confusion. I don't want my listeners who may have
served in the military calling the wrong Tuscan restaurants. So
let's go slowly with the location. Is this one in Boston,
(16:01):
right in the seaport.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
So even if they even if they happen to call
one of the wrong locations, they'll happily guide them to
the right ones.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
But yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Tuscan Kitchen in the Seaport district of Boston. Yep, Tuskan
Kitchen here in Salem where it all started fifteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And you said that one is inside that one is
actually inside a hotel or associated with a hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Yeah, Tuscan brand. So this is our first hotel as
a brand. It's called the artists In Hotel. It's right
in the middle of Tuscan Village here in Salem. That's
a Marriotte property and we have two restaurants within it
as well as our events center. So really awesome, really
awesome place. Great for a staycation, business, travels, you name it.
It's a lot of fun. So we love showcasing it.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And then the last two I just want to identify.
We said one was up in Salem in New Hampshire,
and one was up in was it Portsmouth?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Ghana Chop House which is up in Portsmouth right in
right and downtown Portsmouth. And then we also have Tuscans
which is on the waterfront New very Port.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
That's great. Well, look, if anyone didn't get those, just
call and I'm sure that they got them because you
were very clear and you did a great job. All
they have to do is call any one of the
Tuscan locations and they will be directed. You just got
to make reservations for Tuesday Veterans Day, November eleventh, between
eleven and three. Really enjoyed talking with you, Chris. You
(17:26):
were late a couple of minutes, but as they said,
you did a great job. Nonetheless, and thanks for what
Tuscan Brands is doing for our veterans. Because there was
a time and when veteran service was not nearly appreciated
in this country as it should have been. And it's
great that a restaurant group like Tuscan is really going
(17:47):
above and beyond. So thank you very much for on
behalf of all the veterans. Okay, thank you.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
We love serving our veterans that have served us, and
you know, we can't wait to see everybody. I've been
doing this for fifteen years now and it's one of
my favorite days every single year. So make that reservation
and come see us.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
Let us do the cooking.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
All right, sounds great. Appreciate appreciate your time tonight, Chris,
have a great weekend. When we get back, right after
the news, we're going to talk about why you should
have a fun to do list, you know, the two
du list that normally someone gives you on a Saturday
morning and says, here's what I'd like you to do today. Well,
this is a fun to do list that you can
make for yourself. And we're going to speak with the doctor,
(18:27):
doctor Jeffrey Disarbo. He's a neuro psychiatrist and author his
book The Neuroscience of a bucket List, Getting the Most
from your Brain and Life. This might be a life
changing interview for some of you. Let's stay positive. Here
comes the news.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio
one one.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Welcome, doctor Jeffrey Disarbo. He's a neuro psychiatrist and author,
Doctor Disarbo, Welcome to Nightside. How are you, sir?
Speaker 4 (18:57):
I'm great.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
How you doing, Dan, I'm doing great. So you're the
neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from your
brain and life is now available. When I think about
bucket lists, I think back to that movie was a
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, if I'm not mistaken, it
was called bucket List, and they were a couple of
(19:18):
old timers doing some things that they always wanted to do.
But this is a different type of bucket list you're
talking about, explain if you would.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Well. In some ways, it's got some similarities and that
it's really about doing things while you're here alive that
but they don't have to be so such extravagant adventures
and risk taking things that they did in the movie.
It's kind that's kind of where that misconception of things.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
There was no risk taking in the movie because I'm
sure that the dangerous scenes it was a body doubles ahead.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
I'm sorry, no, no, you're exactly right. And it's funny
because when I watched the movie, I actually myself just watched.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
It about a year ago.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
It's that and it was like I actually got to
do pretty much everything that they had in the movie,
but not because I have expected end of life coming
suit departure. It's really something. Yeah, it's for children, it's
for adults in their prime. It's a way of thinking.
It's a mentality.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Well, it's interesting. I end every Friday night here on
Nightside with a fun hour. During the week we do
politics and all the tough stuff that you have to do, disasters,
conversations about issues that are so seemingly so divisive. But
I like to on what we call the twentieth hour
because I do five shows a night, four hours a night,
(20:42):
lighting up a little bit. And one of my favorite
issues to do is brushes with celebrity, and I was
going to do that tonight, but once I read getting
ready for the interview with you, I think what I'm
going to do is ask my audience, which has young people,
middle aged people, and older people, where they plan to
retire and why. And I'm going to be interested in
(21:06):
if there's a difference, you know, generationally, as to where
people might aspire to retire to. So I'm not stealing
your idea, doctor, but I'm kind of dealing with it
a little bit. Let me ask you the question I
normally ask people your brush with celebrity who is the
biggest celebrity you ever met? Uh?
Speaker 6 (21:29):
To be honest with you, I haven't had a lot
of brushes with celebrities.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I figure an author and a neuropsychiatrist. I've had people
tell me they met King Charles when he was Prince Charles,
any major athlete you can name. It is amazing when
I do that hour with my audience, the breath and
scope of people that they've met, and the circumstances. But
let's let's come back to your to your your listing. Okay, Well, yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
The people I've met though, are mostly like by some
of my patients, I've had, you know, all kinds of perfect.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Talk about them, and you can't talk about that exactly,
so you're an inherent disadvantage. Okay, fair enough. So my
question on the neuroscience of a bucket list. The suggestion
is that if somebody takes the time in their busy
schedules to sit down and develop a list of some
things that they want to do, not end of life things,
(22:27):
but just the things they want to do, that's going
to improve their outlook on life generally. It sounds to
me that that's that's what you're positive correct.
Speaker 6 (22:38):
Uh? Yeah, essentially when they even when you start to
sit down, you start to turn your brain on in
that way to start thinking about what is it that
means something to me. You start jotting down some ideas
of what you would want to put on a list.
It really starts to trigger different changes in your brain chemistry.
You really dopamine. That's your feel good neurow transmitter, and
(22:59):
it keeps them rain fresh, rewiring itself. That's the process
of neuroplasticity. And that's why, even especially when people are young,
it has a very active and profound effect on brain development.
And when people start to go over the age of forty,
when their neurotransmitters start to decrease, it keeps them active
and it kind of has an anti aging effect, especially
(23:22):
when they're doing new things, things that are different.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Okay, now here's a question that prompts in my mind.
Do you think that the exercise that you're recommending in
your book, The Neuroscience of a Bucket List getting the
most from your brain in life? Do you think that
that is best done by individuals, even if they're married
or with a partner, to be done alone, or is
(23:46):
it better to do it in conjunction with the person
that you share your life with, if such a person exists.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Well, I think actually a category, Like there's multiple categories
in the workbook. I have over one hundred different category
and then thousands of different ideas. So sharing a bucket
list with the person, if you're married or if you're
in a relationship, should be a major part of it.
Kind of deciding on what types of ideas that you
might want to do together if you have similar There's
(24:15):
different types of bucket lift styles. A thrill seeker, a
social adventure a creative explorer, and you kind of want to,
you know, match and take turns at times. But there
may be a few things that you may want to do.
If you know, you get offered to go into outer space,
you may do that. Your significant other might not want to.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know too many of us, even
amongst those living here tonight, who are going to have
that opportunity. We haven't even get back to the moon
since nineteen sixty nine, which is getting on fifty years.
I remember watching Neil Armstrong and I realized that at
that time, I thought, oh, people will be like going
up for a little trip of vacation, in the moon
(24:56):
didn't quite didn't quite work out that way. So you're
book not only gives you some ideas, but you have
it sounds to me like a whole bunch of categories.
So if someone is thinking right now, well, I'm not
going to be able to think of things to do
because I live kind of a regular, you know, nine
(25:17):
to five life, What good would would you tell me
is that this book is going to keep get is
going to activate people's brains as they go through the
book as well.
Speaker 6 (25:28):
Oh yeah, exactly. Actually, like the categories and idea those
are kind of in the appendix section, you know, the
first part of the book, I talked about thinking of
a bucket list in different terms, why it actually is
good for the brain and mental health, how exactly it
does change the brain, and that I hope gives people
a different look at different foundation that motivates them. And again,
(25:50):
it doesn't have to be these expensive trips or wild
adventures bucket list. Things can be found that are free
and in your own backyard.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So well, that's that is so the most important item
that all of us have. It's not, in my opinion, money,
but it's time. And if you use your time wisely.
And even if on a weekend you're going to say,
I'm just going to take a trip to the beach
in the middle of November, it's going to be a
(26:20):
very different experience than what it would be like in
the middle of July. I'm a huge believer that time
is probably the most valuable asset that any of us have,
and sounds to me like people can take advantage of
their time and channel their time if they take the
time to get your book. So how can I get
the book? I assume it's Amazon. Do you have an
(26:43):
author's website? Many of my guests have websites as well.
Do you have an author's website we can direct people.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
To there's an author's website, but I have it's actually
more than an author's website. It's a bucket list, doctor
docto r all spelt out dot com. It's a web page.
It gives, of course, where people can go to connect.
You press the button, you go to Amazon for the
books and stuff, but it also gives a lot of
(27:09):
different types of advice and insight. And if they give
sign up for our newsletter, you know, we don't spam
them or anything, but I do a lot of writing,
and so I you know, more than once a month,
I'll be putting more and more blogs that are really
short articles.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
The advantage by the way of the author's website. And
I've found this. I've done this now for more years
than I get to think about. A lot of people
love to be able to buy the book, not through Amazon,
but to buy it from the author's website, because some
authors are willing to inscribe the book to the person
who's purchasing it, or if they're buying a book for
(27:47):
someone else as a gift. Now, I don't know if
you do that or not, but I know some authors
have been very successful in terms of marketing their writings
by making that available to individuals. I just offered you
that as a as.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
A sub Absolutely no, yeah, I was looking setting that
up for December. This way, anybody who wanted a holiday book,
I could inscribe it for them.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
So see, I'm thinking right with you. I'm here to
help you, Okay, Doctor Jeffrey Distarble, thank you so much
for your time tonight. Hope you have a great weekend
and do something this weekend that's a lot of fun.
That's all I ask you.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Okay, and everyone who's listening have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Bet Thanks very much, Doctor Jeffrey Sharble. The book is
why having a fun to do List is brain changing medicine,
The neuroscience of a bucket list, getting the most from
your brain and life not bad, not bad. Coming up,
we're going to talk with Dylan Robinson. He's the corporate
Citizenship manager of Global Partners. They are reached out to
us yesterday and they are trying to do something to
(28:48):
support families here in Massachusetts who have been adversely impacted
by the Snap benefit standoff, a controversy, government shutdown, whatever
you will. We'll talk with Dylan Robinson right after the break.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
All right, I think all of us have been aware,
whether we've been impacted personally or not by the shutdown
on Well, I guess you got to go back to
October first, and we're now, and I guess it's the
thirty seventh or the thirty eighth day if I'm doing
my math correctly, and I know that there's been some
movement today on the Snap benefits. There was a federal
(29:30):
judge in Rhode Island who issued in order. Today, the
Trump administration I think has appealed that. They have said
they will make the November snap benefits that are due
to a people who are benefit recipients. They will get
their entire November payment benefit, maybe even as early as tomorrow. However,
(29:56):
before that movement, the Global Partners has put its energy
to work supporting families and with us as Dylan Robinson,
Corporate Citizenship manager at Global Partners. Global Partners is a
big company here in Massachusetts. They do some of the
service Plaza's on the Turnpike. They were in a bit
of a dispute last summer when they were not awarded
(30:19):
the contract and then the company from Ireland which was
awarded a contract stepped aside. They have to go through
the process again, which I think is unfeared of Global Partners,
and I've expressed that. But I want to welcome Dylan Robinson. Dylan,
welcome to nights Side And what is Global Partners doing
at this point? You guys have tried to step into
the breach. The breach may not be as bad as
(30:43):
it was this time yesterday, but you have reached out
in an effort to help tell us about it.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Dan, thank you so much for having me. Global partners
are stepping out to help families who've been hit hard
by the cuts and delays and the food food bank benefits.
So we lost to two part program nearly ninety thousand
dollars in support. We are sending out thousands of gift
cards to food bank partners as well as direct financial support.
(31:11):
So I think this program's pretty cool because the gift
cards will help with immediate needs. I also let them
buy fuel and other things that might not be covered
from SNAP immediately. But also the direct financial contributions go
to the food banks and they have incredible buying power.
I'm not sure if you know this. Food banks for
(31:32):
every dollar you give them, they can buy nearly four
meals per dollar. So we think that this support is
going to be nearly a quarter million meals for those
in need in our communities.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So how does this going to work? Now? So, if
I'm a SNAP beneficiary, if I'm a recipient of SNAP funds,
and either I've received nothing for November, or I receive
some sort of partial payment, or even if I get
a full payment on my card tomorrow, but I'm kind
(32:07):
of in trouble, what do I do? I go to
a food bank and maybe I can get some food
tomorrow that the Global Partners may have provided funds for.
But there's also cards that they can be given to
the Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
So we've partnered with about thirty food banks in the
area where they will distribute the gift cards to their
guests and their community members there. The food banks are
incredible operation that will streamline everything. So if you don't
know where your next meal will be, go online, find
your closest food bank. And there's a chance that not
(32:48):
only that local food bank has received help from us,
but also we've been a large supporter of the Greater
Boston Food Bank over the years, in which funnels money,
if funnels resources to all the food banks from the state.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah, is there a list of the food banks that
have cards. I just want to try to make it
easy with people, and I don't want people to show
up at a food bank and be turned away and
then yeah, yeah field anger and disappointment because this is
a legitimate donation that's being made by Global Partners. I
just want to get the benefit to the folks who
(33:23):
need Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Yeah, So, through our teams that we have, we have
a couple of food banks that were nominated from our employees.
I'll list them off here for you right now. So
do we have Doorways Food Pantry in sekonk Open Pantry
Community Services in Springfield, the south Community Food Pantry in Pittsfield, Massachusetts,
(33:46):
as well as Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry and air
the Old Colony YMCA and Brockton Project just because in Hopkinson,
the Hudson Community Food Pantry and Hudson, mass and the
South Shore Community Action Council and Plymouth and then Raindom
Food Basket, rainnom and Greater Boston Food Bank, which you
(34:10):
know is in Boston. The services the majority of the
eastern Eastern portion.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
YEA, that's certainly across the state, which I think is
great and hopefully people may have caught which thank you.
You read the list very well, very clearly, very plainly,
so people can hopefully identify with that and they can
get down there. I assume that these cards will be
available at some point tomorrow during the day.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
I would hope that is the plan. We got them
all put together this week and they should be in
the mail now, so hopefully we'll be in hands of
guests pretty soon. And the other thing I will say
that the second half of that list, those are our
perishable food partners, so from our all towns, fresh locations
(34:57):
that we have that have you know, fresh food chefs,
incredible ingredients. All of those ones that list off at
the end have been recipients of our food at the
end of the day. So last year those food banks
got over three hundred thousand dollars worth of food product
from us already, and we've been continuing that program throughout
(35:18):
the year.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
So that is food from some of your kitchens on
the mass Turnpike Plaza and elsewhere, and at the end
of the day, as opposed to throwing really good food away,
you make it available to nearby food banks, so pantry
food pantries.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
Yeah, it's an incredible program. You know, when we have
awesome ingredients, awesome sandwiches, we hate to see them go
to waste and want to make sure that our community
members have access to not only food, but also healthy
and fresh food.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Well, I think I think that's great because it's it's
hurtful to think you folks obviously, when you're running a
kitchen somewhere and you have one day you might run
out the next day, you have an overage. At the
fact that the overage does again thrown out, that is
a testament to the wisdom that you have at Global Partners, Dylan.
(36:14):
I appreciate you taking the time tonight. Thanks for stepping
into the breach here and hopefully you've helped a lot
of people who will benefit in the next few days.
Thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Thank you, Welcome, Dylan.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Dylan Robinson, Corporate Citizenship Manager of Global Partners. Okay, that
takes care of the eight o'clock hour. The nine o'clock
hour awaits, and we are going to talk about a
new book, Chasing Bandits, And what is talking about is
what's going on down in the Caribbean. I think the
Trump administration. I'd love to see more information, but I
(36:48):
do understand that means and methods sometimes can compromise when
too much information is made available. We're going to talk
with a historian who's a professor college professor at Nichols
College here in Massachusetts about that very subject. Back on Nightside,
right after the nine o'clock news
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