November 25, 2025 • 25 mins
Bloomberg Report. Thom talks with the new Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cristian Măcelaru. Julie Isphording discusses the Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day Race.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
W all right, once more, we say good morning to
Dan Schwartzman from the Bloomberg newsroom in New York City. Danny,
how much investment in the US is President Trump going
to bring in?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It sounds like a ton. Well, that's an interesting question, Tom.
President Trump has to proclaimed he's brought the US a
historic investment boom, drawing pledges he says is going to
reach twenty one trillion dollars by the end of the year. Now,
the White House's own list of projects, though, falls a
bit short of the president's claim. A Bloomberg Economics analysis
of those numbers shows the actual investment promises are substantially smaller.
(00:36):
So who knows. He likes to proclaim a lot of
big numbers. And I guess we'll find out soon enough
what the actual number will be.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I reckon we will. Meanwhile, Ford is still going green.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, remember Montreota just said we're not going to left
Uker staying hybrid and people laugh at him. Well, guess
what good luck buying a hybrid to Toyota. They sell
like hotcakes. Now, Ford, though, they're sticking by their green
goals despite the political wins, with other automakers rolling back
or downplaying their climate efforts. Ford has tightened its supply
chain emissions targets and says it remains committed to quote
Big Pictures sustainability goals. America's second largest automaker has aimed
(01:13):
to be carbon neutral across its vehicles, manufacturing facilities, and
supply chains no later than twenty fifty, with a set
of interim targets kicking in earlier now. Ford says more
than seventy percent of the electricity used in its global
manufacturing operations last year was carbon free. I guess it's
a good thing, but must be costing them a fortune.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I think you're probably right on the money there. Speaking
of money, our futures today.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
They've now shifted back to red now that Dow and
the S and PR let's call it slight me down,
so essentially, you know flat. The NAZAC though getting a
bit better, but that's now down a tenth of one
percent from Bloomberg. Dan Schwartzman on news Radio seven hundred WLW.
All right, I eight eleven on the Big One. Welcome
to the morning show here on seven hundred double l W.
(02:01):
And today we have a special guest with us today,
first time on the program the new music director of
the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Okay, now I'm going to give
this a shot. I'm going to give this a shot.
Christian Macho laru am I clothes.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That's perfect, perfect, Gosh. I feel so much better now. Hey,
thanks for taking the time today. You know, you have
led orchestras all over the world and now you're coming
to our city. So welcome to our city. And how
have things gone so far for you?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Wonderful? Thank you. You know, I discovered not just a
world class orchestra, but I believe the Cincinnati. I discovered
the city that is so passionate about the arts. It's
so passionate about culture, also about being able to create
a community that really fosters world class musicians and artists.
(02:59):
And I was very impressed, and I'm so happy to
be here.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
When you think about the CSO Sound identity, all those
kinds of years, the reputation through the years, what qualities
would you like to I guess nurture bring forward.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Well, it's an orchestra that, of course, as you said,
has an incredible tradition that is really centered around the
wonderful recordings that the entire world knows of the orchestra,
and this sound, this really beautiful, cohesive, unified sound that
defines the orchestra, is one that I hope to build
(03:39):
on and to find ways that we can diversify our
styles and to play all genres of music. And I
don't just mean, you know, to focus on one small
little niche, but the orchestra actually offers so much for everyone,
and my goal is to be able to extend this
to all the limits available.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
You know, it's interesting you bring that up because, like
a lot of things in life, right, you've got the
quote unquote traditionalist with orchestra, right, but you also want
to have something a little bit new, a different sort
of innovation, if you will. How do you balance those
two things? Christian?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Well, you know, the interesting challenge for an orchestra that
performs music by artists and composers that have died, some
of them, most of them two hundred years ago, is
to find a way you need to keep it fresh
and to keep it new, which is why we balance
everything that we do, as you mentioned already. But also
(04:39):
at the same time, I think we have to understand
and acknowledge the fact that all art at one point
was new and it was fresh, which is why, like
this week, for example, we are pairing our concerts this
weekend with a brand new composition written by a composers
that is alive and well asa and which focuses on
(05:02):
American tradition and American folklore. And at the same time
we pair it with an incredible symphony by Athony Voischak,
who of course lived in the last part of the
nineteenth century and who was so important in defining American
sound and American tradmission. So this is really truly how
(05:23):
I see it, as a beautiful representation of both keeping
in line with the tradition and satisfying that the needs
that our audience has, but also challenging ourselves and the
audience in discovering the new voices of today.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
You know, I always find it interesting when you talk
about symphony Christy Anna, and it kind of you to
join us here today. You're always I would imagine, trying
to another sort of you know, balancing act. There is
how you approach building concerts that feel exciting and accessible
for people that have really enjoyed it for a long time,
while at the same time, what would you say to
(06:01):
those people who are like, you know what, I'm going
to give the symphony a try brand new listeners. In
other words, I.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Will encourage them to come to one concert. Don't commit
ten concerts. I think, just come to one concert and
if you have never been to a symphony call. I
think people are more intimidated by what is behind the
doors rather than the music itself. Because the music, as
soon as they hear it, I can guarantee you they
(06:29):
will be able to recognize things that they hear every day.
You know, on the street, in the buses and car
on the radio. You hear the music that we perform
all the time. So I think the courage is to
walk through the doors of our incredible music hall and
then to see what lies on the other side of
(06:50):
the doors. And I think a lot of people will
be surprised to discover that it's actually very easy, accessible, normal.
It shows beauty. Of course, there is a small ritualistic
part entering a concert hall, like you would enter a
church or any public buildings. Really, you have to enter
the respect and with an understanding that you are part
(07:13):
of You know, twenty five hundred people that are attending
the concert, But it doesn't require any knowledge other than that.
It just requires an open heart and an open mind
and open ears. And if you just follow along with
what goes on there, I think you will be so
pleasantly surprised, and even more importantly, you get to connect
(07:37):
with other like minded people that are looking for beauty
and are looking for a few moments of peace and
tranquility and entertainment and happiness, and we all share the
same those same moments.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Together, all right now, Christian, every conductor, every single one
of you guys, has a unique style upon the podium.
What are they going to see out of you?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well, I people tell me that I'm very energetic on
the podium. I like to be involved in the middle
of it all. And my concept about being a conductor
is that I'm less in charged and more leading, meaning
that I have to be, as I tell my conducting
(08:25):
students at times, that sometimes you're the quarterback, sometimes you're
the coach, but sometimes you're the ball itself, you know,
and you have to find a way to really navigate
between the different needs that the orchestra has a different
seconds in the program. But I tend to be very
energetic on the podium and very physical in my in
(08:47):
my movements.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Well, good, we'll look forward to that, you know, just
so people get to know you a little bit outside
of music. What other I guess hobbies interests keep you
kind of grounded.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I love the Actually, nature is a big passion of mine.
I love to be out in nature and to see things.
I love traveling and discovering places that speak of people's identities.
And I'd really really deeply interested in just finding stories
about people. It's something that I've always loved. I come
(09:23):
from Dominia myself, and I've traveled the world, and I
would say I have learned more about myself by discovering
other people then I would have done it if I
would have just stayed at home, you know. And I
think the beauty in life really truly comes from the
people that you meet and the connections that you make.
(09:46):
And for me, music is really the language that does that.
So it combines both my job and my passion for
music with my hobbies of finding more about life. I
like to know, I like to understan and things, and
they are really intertwined.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
All right, tell me one thing before I let you go.
In the short time you've been in Cincinnati, you've enjoyed
what the most.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Oh well, I spent quite a bit of time around
the music hall, and also I live in over the Ride,
so I just I love walking around. I love the beauty.
Uh you know, I'm a big scan of colors, so
I love just turning on the street corner and seeing
the beautiful architecture with very bright colors. It's something that
(10:37):
could a smile on my face. Then the food that
I've been discovering, you know, going to different restaurants I make.
I have a list that I that it keeps growing
of places that I need to see, you know, from
the best fight chicken, you know in the gas station,
to really the most sophisticated restaurants, and I enjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, we are so blessed and lucky to have you.
Christian here is the new conductor and head of Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra. Welcome to town, and thank you for your
time today. It's been a pleasure having you with us.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Thanks you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
This report is sponsored by Loew's Love's Curly Black Friday deals.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
From the Latest Money News, Go Ahead and Tingle Away.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
This is the Boomberg Money Minute on seven hundred WLW.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
This is a Boomberg Money Minute shares a cold soaring
of the pre market. They've raised their full year outlook
for the second straight quarter. It's a sign that CEO
of Michael Mender is helping to stabilize performance at the
struggling retailer. They now see net sales declining in a
range of three and a half to four percent for
the full year. That's actually a smaller drop than the
projection offered in late August. In Vidio's feeling to heat,
(11:53):
their shares dropped, and report that Meta is and talks
to spend billions of dollars on Google's AI chips actually
erodes invidious position as the gold standard for big tech firms.
Alphabet shares rose, the company's on track for a four
trillion dollar valuation, and Apple's eliminated dozens of sales roles.
Management notified the effected workers over the past couple of weeks.
(12:16):
The move is especially notable because revenue at Apple has
been growing at the fastest clip in years, and stock's
coming off a strong two day rally in the S
and P five hundred. I'm John Tucker Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Alrighty, it is a forty on your Tuesday morning, This
rainy Tuesday morning, but here to brighten our spirits brings
a smile to our face each and every Tuesday. As
our friend Julie Isfording, former United States Olympian and for
the final year, the CEO of the Thanksgiving Day Race
(12:56):
in downtown Julie, you ran in this thing when you
were sick sixteen years old.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yes, I have a huge history with this race, and
as a runner, it was my favorite race. And then
I got the privilege, the gift to be the race
director after I retired from running, came back from the Olympics,
and it was sort of the next season of my life.
And Tom, I think both great things that happened in
(13:24):
my life, being in the Olympics, training for the Olympics,
and being the race director of the Thanksgiving Day Race
for the past twenty five years. I stepped down in
June this year, so I'll just be a volunteer this year.
Both ethers are so similar in my life. They both
challenged me, they changed me, and I poured my heart in.
(13:48):
I poured my heart into each of those and I
kind of walk away not with a sense of relief. Tom,
I thought I'd be so relieved. I don't have to
worry about weather and about you know, the police, the medical,
the Secret Service. I thought i'd be relieved, but what
(14:10):
I feel is like everything, like a sense of greed,
a sense of letting go. But I think the feeling
I feel most is a sense of gratitude, like thank
you for the volunteers for volunteering, the sponsors for sponsoring,
the police for policing, my family for participating. So all
(14:33):
that made me realize I was just pretty much an
orchestra director. I was the lucky one that got to
put everyone together on one starting line, in the chaos,
in the messy, in the most thankful day of the year,
all together and and be part of something that is
(14:55):
so much bigger than myself. So it's so weird because
I got the family text, you know, for Thanksgiving Day dinner,
and I texted back it's like, I'll be there. Well,
I've done that in twenty five years, And the whole
family is putting little hearts on my text because you know,
(15:17):
it'll be nice to sit down at the dinner. But
at the same time, they were a part of the
race too, they were there with their volunteering or running,
so it goes to show you that it's not just
a run, it's just something so iconic and so traditional
(15:37):
and such a gift in my life that it's no
wonder I feel so much. But most of all what
I thought, you know, I fell in love with it.
To be very honest, I'm in love with this race,
but now it's kind of a different kind of love.
It's a form of gratitude and just more of a softness.
(16:02):
And it's hard to.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Explain share with us because I was talking about you
coming on the program, and you come on every Tuesday
for those that don't know, maybe just joining us for
the first time. We talk about health, and we talk
about gadgets as far as things that are out there,
trends that are out there, all that kind of thing.
But you know, at the end of the day, life
is so much, if not entirely, it's about the people
(16:27):
you come across, and in your role with the race,
you were so actively involved in not only the planning
and execution and so forth, but getting to know some
of the stories as you look back, and I know
there's thousands of them, but is there anything that just
stands out in your mind? Someone, some charity, they were
(16:49):
running for relative, family, friend, they were running for anything.
Stand out.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Well there, it's hard to twenty five years. I think
some of the really neat things for Cincinnati itself is
when we had the hundredth anniversary of the race. That's
the year the starting line was so full of people,
seventeen thousand people that the starting line we couldn't get
(17:19):
everyone over the starting line and the finisher started coming in.
So that was one of those miraculous moments. I don't
know how we did it where we were able to
move people aside get that finisher through, and that became
an historical day for Cincinnati on a national scale. I mean,
that was on the national news and that made us
(17:40):
all proud because that's a sense of community of our
city is really really special. Another kind of miracle along
the race was the year that a gentleman coded. He
had a heart attack on the course, and lucky for us,
the ambulance was ten yards away and there was a
(18:02):
seventeen year old boy who stopped his race, helped get
that ran to the medical got the medical person there,
saved their life, and later that day he was at
Christ Hospital and had a quadruple bypass and his wife
said to me, I went to visit him. His wife
said to me, this race saved my husband's wife because
(18:26):
he was his arteries were so closed. He could have
had a heart attack at the Thanksgiving Day dinner table
and he wouldn't have had the help he needed. So
that was really cool. The neat people I worked with
over the years, I mean I got to work with
the Secret Service, squat the police are probably my favorite
(18:48):
people to work with because the demands on them. You know,
we need at least sixty five people to man that course,
you know, and this is this is off time. So
for them to show up year after year and just
be such a part of it, we always got compliments
about them. And of course a special tribute to Western
(19:10):
and Southern mister Barrett Keith, a one who truly truly
invested in the race and made it what it is today.
There's no doubt in my mind that he, I think
was the person, you know, my mentor the person I
truly looked up to. And then of course the charities,
(19:32):
Oh my gosh, the they are Cancer Center keep going,
twenty five Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Girls on the run Alzheimer's.
These are all local charities. But here's something great about
the charities, Tom, they also volunteer. So you know, we
had young like doing the water stop. We had keep
(19:55):
Going twenty five manning the split where the five k
and ten case. We had girls on the run at
packet pick up. We had big brothers, big sisters manning
the starting line. So you're getting that just is that
I was just the girl that kind of put everything
together and got everyone to fall in love with the
(20:16):
race as much as I did. So that was really
you know, that's those are the people. And you notice
the more we talk, the more the memories creep up.
We used to have packet pick up at the running spot,
that old little store and o'brienville. We're twenty five years
later now it's in TQL Stadium, So so much has
(20:38):
changed about our city and how much better it's gotten,
and I think the race has grown with the city.
And it's funny how you can sort of sit back
and be at peace with what has happened the future
of the race and that the race is in really
good hands, and that brings me a sense of east
(21:00):
and gratitude as well.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
All right, now I'm going to dig into actual race day.
I've run this before. I wish I could run it now,
but this hip issue I'm having is just not allowing
me to do it. So I'm really bummed about it.
But for the first timer that's heading down there tomorrow,
you know they're nervous, They're wondering about the weather, They're
(21:23):
worried about parking. How early should I get there? So
if you just had some words of advice for the
first time or tomorrow running of this maybe it's their
first race of this kind. Ever, what would Olympian Julie
Isfording say to them?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Okay, so we have to go with this beautiful spirit
of Thanksgiving, meaning I'm going to have a great time
no matter what. So if you go with that, get
there an hour early. It would be great if you
picked up your pocket today or tomorrow TQL Stadium so
you don't have to worry about that. It's going to
(22:04):
be cold tomorrow on race day morning, so gloves. I
think i'd wear tights, a nice sweatshirt, pin your number
on the front of the shirt. Bring a fun person
to run with, a family member, a friend, someone you
can do it with. Be aware of the chaos. One
(22:26):
of the most neat memories you will remember is when
they sing the national anthem. You'll be lined up on
the start You'll be with all these people and you'll
hear the national anthem and the world will be still
for one moment, and in that stillness you will be
(22:47):
so thankful. You're on your feet with all these people
doing what you love to do. You're moving, and it's
a beautiful tradition. The second thing you will always remember
member is finishing the race. So I highly recommidze.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Finish line we go, right, yeah, we.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Do, because I don't think we celebrate enough. Celebrate being
on the starting line on the most thankful day of
the year, so you're healthy and strong enough to be there,
but then celebrating those last youth steps in to that
finish line where you say to yourself self, I am
(23:34):
outrageously wonderful and put your arms in the air and
really smile, because they do take lots of really good
pictures of the finish and you want to pretend that
the whole thing was so much fun and it was
no exercise at all. You don't have to be in
a hurry to finish it. And the other thing, for
you know, little things like parking. There's plenty of parking down.
(23:57):
You need to worry about the little stuff, but don't
let it distract you from the big stuff, the fact
that you're healthy and strong and part of a Cincinnatis
tradition that's lasted for one hundred and sixteen years, making
it the old Yeah, it's one of the oldest races
in the country. So it's just one of those other
(24:19):
proud moments where I feel proud of our city and
proud of the police, and proud of the big companies,
especially Ohen. iHeartMedia of course, who keep this race alive
and thriving and growing. And that's you know, It's it's
a certain way to just fall in love with something
(24:41):
that it's so much a part of me and it'll
always be a part of me. But you can fall
in love with something and then you just know when
it's time to step aside. So I stepped aside in June.
So this year I'll be a volunteer at a water
stop for a charity, Young Life, So I'm going to
do that, and then I'm also starting a huge project
(25:04):
with the Art Museum on health and well being, so
I'll still be able to support the city and new ways,
and support the race and new ways, and just fall
in love in a different way. If there's such a tame,
sure there is.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Well, Julie, for twenty five years, you've done an unbelievable job.
You are Cincinnati through and through. So we thank you
for your commitment to this race and so many other endeavors.
I know we talk every week, we laugh a lot,
we joke a lot, but I know I'm speaking for
all of us here in the Tri State when we
say thank you, And so with that, have an awesome
(25:39):
Thanksgiving
W all right, once more, we say good morning to
Dan Schwartzman from the Bloomberg newsroom in New York City. Danny,
how much investment in the US is President Trump going
to bring in?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It sounds like a ton. Well, that's an interesting question, Tom.
President Trump has to proclaimed he's brought the US a
historic investment boom, drawing pledges he says is going to
reach twenty one trillion dollars by the end of the year. Now,
the White House's own list of projects, though, falls a
bit short of the president's claim. A Bloomberg Economics analysis
of those numbers shows the actual investment promises are substantially smaller.
(00:36):
So who knows. He likes to proclaim a lot of
big numbers. And I guess we'll find out soon enough
what the actual number will be.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I reckon we will. Meanwhile, Ford is still going green.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, remember Montreota just said we're not going to left
Uker staying hybrid and people laugh at him. Well, guess
what good luck buying a hybrid to Toyota. They sell
like hotcakes. Now, Ford, though, they're sticking by their green
goals despite the political wins, with other automakers rolling back
or downplaying their climate efforts. Ford has tightened its supply
chain emissions targets and says it remains committed to quote
Big Pictures sustainability goals. America's second largest automaker has aimed
(01:13):
to be carbon neutral across its vehicles, manufacturing facilities, and
supply chains no later than twenty fifty, with a set
of interim targets kicking in earlier now. Ford says more
than seventy percent of the electricity used in its global
manufacturing operations last year was carbon free. I guess it's
a good thing, but must be costing them a fortune.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I think you're probably right on the money there. Speaking
of money, our futures today.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
They've now shifted back to red now that Dow and
the S and PR let's call it slight me down,
so essentially, you know flat. The NAZAC though getting a
bit better, but that's now down a tenth of one
percent from Bloomberg. Dan Schwartzman on news Radio seven hundred WLW.
All right, I eight eleven on the Big One. Welcome
to the morning show here on seven hundred double l W.
(02:01):
And today we have a special guest with us today,
first time on the program the new music director of
the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Okay, now I'm going to give
this a shot. I'm going to give this a shot.
Christian Macho laru am I clothes.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That's perfect, perfect, Gosh. I feel so much better now. Hey,
thanks for taking the time today. You know, you have
led orchestras all over the world and now you're coming
to our city. So welcome to our city. And how
have things gone so far for you?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Wonderful? Thank you. You know, I discovered not just a
world class orchestra, but I believe the Cincinnati. I discovered
the city that is so passionate about the arts. It's
so passionate about culture, also about being able to create
a community that really fosters world class musicians and artists.
(02:59):
And I was very impressed, and I'm so happy to
be here.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
When you think about the CSO Sound identity, all those
kinds of years, the reputation through the years, what qualities
would you like to I guess nurture bring forward.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Well, it's an orchestra that, of course, as you said,
has an incredible tradition that is really centered around the
wonderful recordings that the entire world knows of the orchestra,
and this sound, this really beautiful, cohesive, unified sound that
defines the orchestra, is one that I hope to build
(03:39):
on and to find ways that we can diversify our
styles and to play all genres of music. And I
don't just mean, you know, to focus on one small
little niche, but the orchestra actually offers so much for everyone,
and my goal is to be able to extend this
to all the limits available.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
You know, it's interesting you bring that up because, like
a lot of things in life, right, you've got the
quote unquote traditionalist with orchestra, right, but you also want
to have something a little bit new, a different sort
of innovation, if you will. How do you balance those
two things? Christian?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Well, you know, the interesting challenge for an orchestra that
performs music by artists and composers that have died, some
of them, most of them two hundred years ago, is
to find a way you need to keep it fresh
and to keep it new, which is why we balance
everything that we do, as you mentioned already. But also
(04:39):
at the same time, I think we have to understand
and acknowledge the fact that all art at one point
was new and it was fresh, which is why, like
this week, for example, we are pairing our concerts this
weekend with a brand new composition written by a composers
that is alive and well asa and which focuses on
(05:02):
American tradition and American folklore. And at the same time
we pair it with an incredible symphony by Athony Voischak,
who of course lived in the last part of the
nineteenth century and who was so important in defining American
sound and American tradmission. So this is really truly how
(05:23):
I see it, as a beautiful representation of both keeping
in line with the tradition and satisfying that the needs
that our audience has, but also challenging ourselves and the
audience in discovering the new voices of today.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
You know, I always find it interesting when you talk
about symphony Christy Anna, and it kind of you to
join us here today. You're always I would imagine, trying
to another sort of you know, balancing act. There is
how you approach building concerts that feel exciting and accessible
for people that have really enjoyed it for a long time,
while at the same time, what would you say to
(06:01):
those people who are like, you know what, I'm going
to give the symphony a try brand new listeners. In
other words, I.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Will encourage them to come to one concert. Don't commit
ten concerts. I think, just come to one concert and
if you have never been to a symphony call. I
think people are more intimidated by what is behind the
doors rather than the music itself. Because the music, as
soon as they hear it, I can guarantee you they
(06:29):
will be able to recognize things that they hear every day.
You know, on the street, in the buses and car
on the radio. You hear the music that we perform
all the time. So I think the courage is to
walk through the doors of our incredible music hall and
then to see what lies on the other side of
(06:50):
the doors. And I think a lot of people will
be surprised to discover that it's actually very easy, accessible, normal.
It shows beauty. Of course, there is a small ritualistic
part entering a concert hall, like you would enter a
church or any public buildings. Really, you have to enter
the respect and with an understanding that you are part
(07:13):
of You know, twenty five hundred people that are attending
the concert, But it doesn't require any knowledge other than that.
It just requires an open heart and an open mind
and open ears. And if you just follow along with
what goes on there, I think you will be so
pleasantly surprised, and even more importantly, you get to connect
(07:37):
with other like minded people that are looking for beauty
and are looking for a few moments of peace and
tranquility and entertainment and happiness, and we all share the
same those same moments.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Together, all right now, Christian, every conductor, every single one
of you guys, has a unique style upon the podium.
What are they going to see out of you?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well, I people tell me that I'm very energetic on
the podium. I like to be involved in the middle
of it all. And my concept about being a conductor
is that I'm less in charged and more leading, meaning
that I have to be, as I tell my conducting
(08:25):
students at times, that sometimes you're the quarterback, sometimes you're
the coach, but sometimes you're the ball itself, you know,
and you have to find a way to really navigate
between the different needs that the orchestra has a different
seconds in the program. But I tend to be very
energetic on the podium and very physical in my in
(08:47):
my movements.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Well, good, we'll look forward to that, you know, just
so people get to know you a little bit outside
of music. What other I guess hobbies interests keep you
kind of grounded.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I love the Actually, nature is a big passion of mine.
I love to be out in nature and to see things.
I love traveling and discovering places that speak of people's identities.
And I'd really really deeply interested in just finding stories
about people. It's something that I've always loved. I come
(09:23):
from Dominia myself, and I've traveled the world, and I
would say I have learned more about myself by discovering
other people then I would have done it if I
would have just stayed at home, you know. And I
think the beauty in life really truly comes from the
people that you meet and the connections that you make.
(09:46):
And for me, music is really the language that does that.
So it combines both my job and my passion for
music with my hobbies of finding more about life. I
like to know, I like to understan and things, and
they are really intertwined.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
All right, tell me one thing before I let you go.
In the short time you've been in Cincinnati, you've enjoyed
what the most.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Oh well, I spent quite a bit of time around
the music hall, and also I live in over the Ride,
so I just I love walking around. I love the beauty.
Uh you know, I'm a big scan of colors, so
I love just turning on the street corner and seeing
the beautiful architecture with very bright colors. It's something that
(10:37):
could a smile on my face. Then the food that
I've been discovering, you know, going to different restaurants I make.
I have a list that I that it keeps growing
of places that I need to see, you know, from
the best fight chicken, you know in the gas station,
to really the most sophisticated restaurants, and I enjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, we are so blessed and lucky to have you.
Christian here is the new conductor and head of Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra. Welcome to town, and thank you for your
time today. It's been a pleasure having you with us.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Thanks you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
This report is sponsored by Loew's Love's Curly Black Friday deals.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
From the Latest Money News, Go Ahead and Tingle Away.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
This is the Boomberg Money Minute on seven hundred WLW.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
This is a Boomberg Money Minute shares a cold soaring
of the pre market. They've raised their full year outlook
for the second straight quarter. It's a sign that CEO
of Michael Mender is helping to stabilize performance at the
struggling retailer. They now see net sales declining in a
range of three and a half to four percent for
the full year. That's actually a smaller drop than the
projection offered in late August. In Vidio's feeling to heat,
(11:53):
their shares dropped, and report that Meta is and talks
to spend billions of dollars on Google's AI chips actually
erodes invidious position as the gold standard for big tech firms.
Alphabet shares rose, the company's on track for a four
trillion dollar valuation, and Apple's eliminated dozens of sales roles.
Management notified the effected workers over the past couple of weeks.
(12:16):
The move is especially notable because revenue at Apple has
been growing at the fastest clip in years, and stock's
coming off a strong two day rally in the S
and P five hundred. I'm John Tucker Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Alrighty, it is a forty on your Tuesday morning, This
rainy Tuesday morning, but here to brighten our spirits brings
a smile to our face each and every Tuesday. As
our friend Julie Isfording, former United States Olympian and for
the final year, the CEO of the Thanksgiving Day Race
(12:56):
in downtown Julie, you ran in this thing when you
were sick sixteen years old.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yes, I have a huge history with this race, and
as a runner, it was my favorite race. And then
I got the privilege, the gift to be the race
director after I retired from running, came back from the Olympics,
and it was sort of the next season of my life.
And Tom, I think both great things that happened in
(13:24):
my life, being in the Olympics, training for the Olympics,
and being the race director of the Thanksgiving Day Race
for the past twenty five years. I stepped down in
June this year, so I'll just be a volunteer this year.
Both ethers are so similar in my life. They both
challenged me, they changed me, and I poured my heart in.
(13:48):
I poured my heart into each of those and I
kind of walk away not with a sense of relief. Tom,
I thought I'd be so relieved. I don't have to
worry about weather and about you know, the police, the medical,
the Secret Service. I thought i'd be relieved, but what
(14:10):
I feel is like everything, like a sense of greed,
a sense of letting go. But I think the feeling
I feel most is a sense of gratitude, like thank
you for the volunteers for volunteering, the sponsors for sponsoring,
the police for policing, my family for participating. So all
(14:33):
that made me realize I was just pretty much an
orchestra director. I was the lucky one that got to
put everyone together on one starting line, in the chaos,
in the messy, in the most thankful day of the year,
all together and and be part of something that is
(14:55):
so much bigger than myself. So it's so weird because
I got the family text, you know, for Thanksgiving Day dinner,
and I texted back it's like, I'll be there. Well,
I've done that in twenty five years, And the whole
family is putting little hearts on my text because you know,
(15:17):
it'll be nice to sit down at the dinner. But
at the same time, they were a part of the
race too, they were there with their volunteering or running,
so it goes to show you that it's not just
a run, it's just something so iconic and so traditional
(15:37):
and such a gift in my life that it's no
wonder I feel so much. But most of all what
I thought, you know, I fell in love with it.
To be very honest, I'm in love with this race,
but now it's kind of a different kind of love.
It's a form of gratitude and just more of a softness.
(16:02):
And it's hard to.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Explain share with us because I was talking about you
coming on the program, and you come on every Tuesday
for those that don't know, maybe just joining us for
the first time. We talk about health, and we talk
about gadgets as far as things that are out there,
trends that are out there, all that kind of thing.
But you know, at the end of the day, life
is so much, if not entirely, it's about the people
(16:27):
you come across, and in your role with the race,
you were so actively involved in not only the planning
and execution and so forth, but getting to know some
of the stories as you look back, and I know
there's thousands of them, but is there anything that just
stands out in your mind? Someone, some charity, they were
(16:49):
running for relative, family, friend, they were running for anything.
Stand out.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Well there, it's hard to twenty five years. I think
some of the really neat things for Cincinnati itself is
when we had the hundredth anniversary of the race. That's
the year the starting line was so full of people,
seventeen thousand people that the starting line we couldn't get
(17:19):
everyone over the starting line and the finisher started coming in.
So that was one of those miraculous moments. I don't
know how we did it where we were able to
move people aside get that finisher through, and that became
an historical day for Cincinnati on a national scale. I mean,
that was on the national news and that made us
(17:40):
all proud because that's a sense of community of our
city is really really special. Another kind of miracle along
the race was the year that a gentleman coded. He
had a heart attack on the course, and lucky for us,
the ambulance was ten yards away and there was a
(18:02):
seventeen year old boy who stopped his race, helped get
that ran to the medical got the medical person there,
saved their life, and later that day he was at
Christ Hospital and had a quadruple bypass and his wife
said to me, I went to visit him. His wife
said to me, this race saved my husband's wife because
(18:26):
he was his arteries were so closed. He could have
had a heart attack at the Thanksgiving Day dinner table
and he wouldn't have had the help he needed. So
that was really cool. The neat people I worked with
over the years, I mean I got to work with
the Secret Service, squat the police are probably my favorite
(18:48):
people to work with because the demands on them. You know,
we need at least sixty five people to man that course,
you know, and this is this is off time. So
for them to show up year after year and just
be such a part of it, we always got compliments
about them. And of course a special tribute to Western
(19:10):
and Southern mister Barrett Keith, a one who truly truly
invested in the race and made it what it is today.
There's no doubt in my mind that he, I think
was the person, you know, my mentor the person I
truly looked up to. And then of course the charities,
(19:32):
Oh my gosh, the they are Cancer Center keep going,
twenty five Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Girls on the run Alzheimer's.
These are all local charities. But here's something great about
the charities, Tom, they also volunteer. So you know, we
had young like doing the water stop. We had keep
(19:55):
Going twenty five manning the split where the five k
and ten case. We had girls on the run at
packet pick up. We had big brothers, big sisters manning
the starting line. So you're getting that just is that
I was just the girl that kind of put everything
together and got everyone to fall in love with the
(20:16):
race as much as I did. So that was really
you know, that's those are the people. And you notice
the more we talk, the more the memories creep up.
We used to have packet pick up at the running spot,
that old little store and o'brienville. We're twenty five years
later now it's in TQL Stadium, So so much has
(20:38):
changed about our city and how much better it's gotten,
and I think the race has grown with the city.
And it's funny how you can sort of sit back
and be at peace with what has happened the future
of the race and that the race is in really
good hands, and that brings me a sense of east
(21:00):
and gratitude as well.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
All right, now I'm going to dig into actual race day.
I've run this before. I wish I could run it now,
but this hip issue I'm having is just not allowing
me to do it. So I'm really bummed about it.
But for the first timer that's heading down there tomorrow,
you know they're nervous, They're wondering about the weather, They're
(21:23):
worried about parking. How early should I get there? So
if you just had some words of advice for the
first time or tomorrow running of this maybe it's their
first race of this kind. Ever, what would Olympian Julie
Isfording say to them?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Okay, so we have to go with this beautiful spirit
of Thanksgiving, meaning I'm going to have a great time
no matter what. So if you go with that, get
there an hour early. It would be great if you
picked up your pocket today or tomorrow TQL Stadium so
you don't have to worry about that. It's going to
(22:04):
be cold tomorrow on race day morning, so gloves. I
think i'd wear tights, a nice sweatshirt, pin your number
on the front of the shirt. Bring a fun person
to run with, a family member, a friend, someone you
can do it with. Be aware of the chaos. One
(22:26):
of the most neat memories you will remember is when
they sing the national anthem. You'll be lined up on
the start You'll be with all these people and you'll
hear the national anthem and the world will be still
for one moment, and in that stillness you will be
(22:47):
so thankful. You're on your feet with all these people
doing what you love to do. You're moving, and it's
a beautiful tradition. The second thing you will always remember
member is finishing the race. So I highly recommidze.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Finish line we go, right, yeah, we.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Do, because I don't think we celebrate enough. Celebrate being
on the starting line on the most thankful day of
the year, so you're healthy and strong enough to be there,
but then celebrating those last youth steps in to that
finish line where you say to yourself self, I am
(23:34):
outrageously wonderful and put your arms in the air and
really smile, because they do take lots of really good
pictures of the finish and you want to pretend that
the whole thing was so much fun and it was
no exercise at all. You don't have to be in
a hurry to finish it. And the other thing, for
you know, little things like parking. There's plenty of parking down.
(23:57):
You need to worry about the little stuff, but don't
let it distract you from the big stuff, the fact
that you're healthy and strong and part of a Cincinnatis
tradition that's lasted for one hundred and sixteen years, making
it the old Yeah, it's one of the oldest races
in the country. So it's just one of those other
(24:19):
proud moments where I feel proud of our city and
proud of the police, and proud of the big companies,
especially Ohen. iHeartMedia of course, who keep this race alive
and thriving and growing. And that's you know, It's it's
a certain way to just fall in love with something
(24:41):
that it's so much a part of me and it'll
always be a part of me. But you can fall
in love with something and then you just know when
it's time to step aside. So I stepped aside in June.
So this year I'll be a volunteer at a water
stop for a charity, Young Life, So I'm going to
do that, and then I'm also starting a huge project
(25:04):
with the Art Museum on health and well being, so
I'll still be able to support the city and new ways,
and support the race and new ways, and just fall
in love in a different way. If there's such a tame,
sure there is.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Well, Julie, for twenty five years, you've done an unbelievable job.
You are Cincinnati through and through. So we thank you
for your commitment to this race and so many other endeavors.
I know we talk every week, we laugh a lot,
we joke a lot, but I know I'm speaking for
all of us here in the Tri State when we
say thank you, And so with that, have an awesome
(25:39):
Thanksgiving
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