That's Life, I Swear
Every Wednesday, join Rick Barron as he unravels the intricate threads of life's most captivating stories. From heart-pounding political dramas to the awe-inspiring challenges of climate change, he explores the topics that shape our world and define our era. But this isn't just another talk show. Rick delves deep into the human psyche, examining our beliefs, behaviors, and the obstacles we overcome. He celebrates our triumphs and embraces our imperfections, uncovering the profound lessons hidden in everyday experiences. The episodes are a journey of self-discovery as he shares stories that mirror our collective identity. These tales aren't just entertaining – they're a reflection of who we are, who we were, and who we aspire to be. They carry the weight of our ancestral legacy, the fire of our dreams, and the depths of our pain. With each episode, you'll confront your deepest anxieties about yourself, your place in the world, and the future that awaits us all. In understanding these complexities, you'll find inspiration, connection, and perhaps even transformation. "That's Life, I Swear" isn't just a podcast – it's a weekly rendezvous with the extraordinary nature of ordinary life. Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts, and join Rick on this unforgettable exploration of the human experience. After all, that's life, I swear.
Episodes
Learn how the April 2025 blackout in Europe was not just a technical failure but a social x-ray. It revealed the fragility of systems we think are unbreakable.
1. Carrington Event [Wikipedia]
2. Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal [APNews]
3. Power Outages and Other Emergencies [Ready Gov]
4. 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout [Wikipedia]
5. The Iberian Peninsula Blackout — Causes, Consequences [Baker Institute...
History isn't neat, and it shouldn't be. Ken Burns dismantles sanitized narratives by showing how the U.S. was "forged in violence"—a fact that doesn't diminish the nation's ideals but strengthens our understanding of them.
Supporting links
1. Ken Burns [Wikipedia]
2. Ken Burns [Website]
3. Ken Burns [YouTube]
4. Ken Burns [Facebook]
Find out what Rick Steve's learned in 1978, at the age of 23, when he embarked on the famed Hippie Trail, traversing countries like Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.
supporting links
1. Travel Guru Rick Steves Say His Prostate Cancer Is a 'Thrilling' Journey [PEOPLE]
2. Rick Steves on the "Hippie Trail" Trip That Changed Him [Conde Nast Traveler]
3. Rick Steve's Europe ...
This is the story of a very old violin that stored a secret—one that lay hidden for 80 years. This instrument was crafted behind barbed wire in the Dachau prison camp, by a prisoner fighting to survive.
Supporting links
1. Franciszek Kempa [Wikipedia]
2. Dachau concentration camp [Wikipedia]
3. Violin Crafted in the Infamous Dachau Death Camp [Yeshiva World News]
4. How a Violin is Made [Simply for Strings]
5. Violin...
Learn how Trumponomics offers a powerful lesson about the difference between rhetoric and reality in economic policy — and the critical importance of strategic coherence in national industrial planning.
Supporting links
1. Kyla Scanlon: “In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work” [The Daily Show]
2. Understanding Trump's Tariffs [Kyla Scanlon/YouTube]
3. Trumponomics [Youtube]
Summary
In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Barb Demorest and Patti DeFreeuw, the founders of the Knitted Knockers Organization.
They share their personal journeys with breast cancer and how it led to the creation of a nonprofit that provides free, hand-knit breast prosthetics to women who have undergone mastectomies.
The conversation explores the emotional impact of receiving a kni...
Summary
In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Andy Unruh, the creator of the Amazonica, an innovative musical instrument designed to make music accessible to everyone.
Andy shares his journey from a career in nuclear engineering to developing a unique instrument that allows people to play music without years of practice.
The conversation delves into the challenges of design, the philo...
Cancer is capsizing Americans' finances. It’s bad enough to be diagnose with cancer, but to then be slapped with the immense cost of medication required to help you stay alive is another.
supporting links
1. Cancer, bankruptcy and death: study finds a link [Fred Hutch Cancer Center]
2. Medical Debt and Cancer [American Cancer Society]
3. She was already battling cancer, then the bill collectors came [NPR]
4. How to ...
Many people today are confronting a stark reality: the looming retirement crisis in America. Picture this – a significant portion of our seniors, after a lifetime of hard work, find themselves barely scraping by in their ‘golden years’.
supporting links
1. America Has a Retirement Crisis. We Need to Make It Easier to Save [PEW]
2. SECURE 2.0 [Principal]
3. Will Your Retirement Income Be Enough? [Investopedia]
4. American...
Summary
In this enlightening conversation, Rick Barron and Cydian Kauffman delve into the critical issue of water safety and the looming crisis of water scarcity, known as Day Zero. They explore the complex factors contributing to this crisis, including climate change, infrastructure challenges, and the importance of proactive measures such as water testing. Cydian shares insights from her experience in the water treatment industry,...
Summary
In this discussion, Ian T Darley shares his experiences and challenges during his ambitious journey to walk 7,000 miles around the UK. He reflects on the physical and mental hurdles he faced, such as dealing with inadequate footwear, lack of water, and the emotional toll of being away from family. Ian emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resilience, drawing inspiration from his Olympian friend, Karen Dark. Despite s...
Summary
In this episode of 'That's Life, I Swear,' host Rick Barron speaks with Pam Sandrock, creator of the No Knockouts podcast. They discuss Pam's journey through a life-altering cancer diagnosis, her philosophy of resilience, and the importance of sharing personal stories.
Pam emphasizes the significance of embracing life's challenges, the therapeutic nature of creativity, and the value of building dive...
Show notes
Learn how UN experts confirm famine in Gaza City as war, Israeli aid restrictions, and collapsed infrastructure push millions into Starvation and acute malnutrition.
Supporting links
1. Tom Fletcher [YouTube]
2. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification [Wikipedia]
3. UN experts warn that over [UN Organization]
Contact That's Life, I Swear
- Visit my website: https://www.thatslifeiswear.com
- Twitt...
In this enlightening conversation, Ashok Rajan shares his remarkable journey from India to the United States, highlighting the challenges he faced while pursuing his education and building a successful career. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, resilience, and the dignity of every job, reflecting on how these experiences shaped his values as an entrepreneur and leader. Ashok also discusses the significance of hope and perse...
Show notes
Learn how a library was deliberately built on the borders of Canada and U.S.A, as a symbol of shared community, showing how physical lines on a map can foster unity rather than division.
Supporting links
1. Haskell Free Library and Opera House [YouTube]
2. Haskell Free Library and Opera House [Website]
3. Haskell Free Library and Opera House [Google Maps]
Summary
In this enlightening conversation, Rick Barron speaks with Bryanna Mehling, founder and CEO of Bright Peak Consulting. Bryanna shares her journey from personal challenges to becoming a life and leadership coach, emphasizing the importance of communication, self-awareness, and relationship building in both personal and professional settings.
The discussion explores the evolution of coaching techniques, the joy of witnessing c...
Lee Saedol, one of the greatest Go players of all time, is defeated by AI. His shocking defeat wasn't just a game-changer—it was a glimpse into a future that may not have a happy ending.
Supporting links
1. Go game [Wikipedia]
2. AlphaGo [Wikipedia]
3. Google DeepMind [Wikipedia]
4. The Story of AlphaGo [Google Arts & Culture]
5. 8 years later: A world Go champion's reflections on AlphaGo [Baduk News Al...
Summary
In this episode, Rick Barron interviews Lauren Van Dyne, a recruitment manager and podcaster, about her experiences as a mother during the COVID pandemic. Lauren discusses her podcast, 'The Mom-demic Diaries,' which aims to provide a space for mothers to share their raw and unfiltered stories of parenting during such a challenging time.
The conversation explores themes of connection, isolation, grief, and resilienc...
The world’s population is expected to grow by more than 2 billion people in the next decades and peak in the 2080s at around 10.3 billion, a major shift from a decade ago, a new report by the United Nations said Thursday.
The report—released on World Population Day—says the global population is then expected to decline to around 10.2 billion by the end of the century.
Supporting links
Cass Elliot's life was a testament to the power of talent, perseverance, and authenticity. From her early days in the folk scene to her meteoric rise with The Mamas & The Papas and her solo career, she left an indelible mark on the music industry.
1. Cass Elliot [Wikipedia]
2. The Mamas & The Papas [Official site]
3. The Mamas and the Papas - Top Hits [YouTube]
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