The Juice with Jeff

The Juice with Jeff #321

On this episode, Leigh McNabb conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, energetic, very fun, and conversational interview with me In Person for Episode #321 of the podcast. This is Leigh's debut/first time on the show and we recorded this episode outdoors at Campbell Recreational Area in Clive.

After our introductions, Leigh asks me a few questions:

1. Let's go down memory lane and talk about how you decided to do this podcast. Besides telling Leigh how this whole podcast got started, I told her about we have made many changes to the show this year and last year to make it as successful as it is now.

2. In talking about how the podcast, I talk in depth about how I've had a fascination and strong interest for electronics and audio equipment since the middle of my Elementary School years back in the mid 1980's. I also talk about how I was involved with KWDM radio during my junior and senior years at VHS and Leigh mentioned once or twice about how she was at VHS too and was part of KWDM during her years there. I then mentioned my being in the J School at Drake majoring in Radio/TV Production during the mid to late 1990's. I go into depth on how I learned so much about radio broadcasting from Brian Dean Christensen during two years on KWDM at VHS. And we bring up multiple things related to radio including EBS/EAS requirements (Emergency Broadcast System/Emergency Alert System), how KWDM finally increased its broadcast power to 100 watts six weeks into my Senior year in October 1993, technical stuff, etc....

3. I know you are a Fred Rogers fan. What would Mister Rogers (of blessed memory) think of the world in 2025?

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday October 5, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 20 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #320

On this episode, Elise Lamb conducts and co-produces a fantastic and really conversational interview with me thru Zoom  for Episode #319 of the podcast. This is Elise's third time on the show.

After our introductions and my comments on how things have been going with the podcast this year, Elise asked me a whole bunch of questions:

1. What are your plans for your upcoming birthday this year?

2. How do you feel about this business in the news connecting between Tylenol and Autism?

3. Talk about Shabbat, your weekly Jewish Sabbath. Do you find great peace in your Sabbath?

4. What is the significance of bread during meals in Jewish tradition?

5. I saw your posts about your upcoming trip to Ledges State Park for the special podcast you'll be doing from there on your birthday. How has the park changed?

6. Are there other state parks you enjoy besides Ledges?

7. What movies have you added to your impressive DVD and Blu-Ray collection since September of last year?

8. What has been the biggest impact in the last year to your life?

9.. Do you have any big plans as we move closer to the end of the year?

10. What is your favorite kind of cake? Do you like candles on your birthday cake or not?

11. Talk about the work which goes on in preparing for the annual Juicys Awards Event?

12. Do you have any other hobbies besides the Juice with Jeff podcasts?

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Monday September 29, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 5 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #319

On this episode, Katie Hoover conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, very festive, and really conversational interview with me In Person for Episode #319 of the podcast. This is Katie's second time on the show and we recorded this episode outdoors at the park behind Crossroads Park Elementary School in West Des Moines.

After our introductions and comments I made on how we have now reached the baseline goal of having at least 50 new episodes recorded this year, Katie asked me the following questions revolving around the theme of Celebrations:

1. How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Any traditions for your birthday? 

2. How do you like to be celebrated?

3 Tell us about a time you were proud of and how did you celebrate?

4. How do you celebrate others?

5. We have recently had some people close to us pass away. How would you want to be celebrated? Have you ever thought about your Legacy?

6. We have been invited to an upcoming Bar Mitzvah. We have never been to a Bar or Bar Mitzvah before, tell us everything we need to know about it, how we should dress for one, what you would suggest for gifts.

I ask Katie to share her thoughts on being part of our Juice with Jeff Family of Interviewers and Co-producers.

Then we have the special on air toast celebrating our reaching the goal of having at least 50 new episodes of the podcast recorded so far this year. We do this toast over Sparkling Apple Cider and a chocolate quinoa crisps treat, and after the toast I thank everyone by name who has conducted/co-produced the interviews with me so far this year by name in order of appearance.

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday September 28, 2025 and it runs 49 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #318

On this episode, Megan Hopper conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, very fun, and really conversational interview with me In Person for Episode #318 of the podcast. This is Megan's debut/first time on the show and we recorded this episode outdoors at Greenwood Park.

After our introductions and comments I made on how the podcast is coming along this year, Megan asked me the following questions:

1. We are still pretty new to the Des Moines area(moved from Colorado in 2020). Tell me some of your favorite local restaurants.

2. I love cottage cheese and heard you do too! How do you like to eat it? What do your eat with it?

3. I love to read, do you enjoy reading? What do you read?

4. What are your go-to movies or TV shows you could watch again and again? 

5. My son is 6 years old, autistic, non-verbal, sensory processing disorder. I have seen it to be true that he actually is most adversely affected by his sensory sensitivities. Can you explain from your perspective what that is like when you go out into the world daily? 

6. My son loves to carry around 1 toy exclusively. It goes everywhere with him, whatever his special interest is currently.  did you have special interests as a child? What were they?

7. What are some things you wish your family (parents or siblings) knew or understood more about you?

8. What kind of supports or resources would've benefited your family as a whole growing up with autism?

Megan provides her answers to the first 4 of the questions. We wrap up this episode with me performing a bunch of my voice impersonations for Megan.

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday September 21, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 16 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #317

On this episode, Lindsey Smith conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, and very conversational interview with me thru Zoom for Episode #317 of the podcast. This is Lindsey's second time on the show.

After our introductions and comments, Lindsey asked me a bunch of questions related to museums and artifacts. And then halfway thru the podcast, she asks me to talk about my intense passion for The Blues Brothers.

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Friday September 19, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 12 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #316

On this episode, Bryan Hall conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, and conversational interview with me In Person for Episode #316 of the podcast. This is Bryan's debut/first time on the show and we recorded this episode at his office.

After our introductions and comments I made on how the podcast is coming along this year, Bryan asked me the following questions:

1. What does the podcast mean to you, and what hole does it fill in your life?

2. You and I both share an "idol" with Fred Rogers o.b.m. Talk about what Mister Rogers would be doing and saying if he were alive today in terms of the negativity that is going on in this world and how he would try to help people thru this particular period in history?

Bryan shared a thought or two about Mister Rogers during this question and the importance of kindness and I shared how I'm super passionate about Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and also the 2019 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie.

3. What is your perspective on mental health?

4. What stress like for you? How do you know when you're getting stressed and you need to spend extra time listening to music or watching your DVD/Blu-Ray collection?

5. What are some artists/bands/album you love listening to when you want a quick pick me up that makes you feel better after a stressful day? I go into detail with the types of music I love.

6. And for the rest of the podcast, Bryan asks me to pick a few numbers between 1 and 200 from a book called The Book of Questions by Dr. Gregory Stock and he asks me the questions corresponding to the numbers I chose.

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Wedneday September 17, 2025 and it runs 42 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #315

On this episode, Dana Mintzer Leman, Shirley Beedon, and I facilitate and co-produce our fantastic, superb, super special, and really conversational interview with me for Episode #315 of the podcast. This is Dana's 7th time and Shirley's 4th time on the show, and we recorded this super special episode at Springbrook State Park near Guthrie Center.

After our introductions, we did a mix of two things during the podcast recording session. I gave a fairly detailed commentary of the various things we saw at Springbrook, the several trails we walked on, and I provided the history behind the buildings/facilities there that we got to see. Dana and Shirley offer commentary from time to time throughout the podcast.

At various times, Dana and Shirley also asked me the following questions related to the seasons

Which season feels most like "you" and why?

Do you prefer heat or cold when it comes to a season?

How far do you walk when you take your walks?

If you have to choose between dealing with extreme hot weather or extreme cold weather, which one would you choose?

Considering milder seasons, if you were to have one endless season; what would you choose and in doing so what would you miss? 

If life were like one endless season. which would you choose and what might be lost?' Would you rather have a milder spring, milder summer, milder fall, or a milder winter?

What is your favorite thing to do and what season do you prefer to do it in?

In your own life, what Springs have you experienced times of renewal or starting over?

Can you tie in Shirley's question about experiencing times of renewal with the Jewish High Holy Days coming up?

What is something you have had to let go of in your own life the way trees let go of leaves?

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Saturday September 6, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 16 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #314

On this episode, Bonnie McHugh conducts and co-produces her fantastic, superb, very fun, and really conversational interview with me for Episode #314 of the podcast. This is Bonnie's debut/first time on the show, and we recorded this episode at Greenwood Park in Des Moines.

After our introductions, Bonnie asked me the following questions:

1. Why are you a podcaster and what led you to decide to do these podcasts?

2. If everything went according to plan, where do you see the podcast going five years from now?

3. What goes into the editing and post production for the podcast?

4. If you could pick anyone to recruit for future episodes to interview you, who would they be and why?

5. What was the thought process behind having different people interviewing you for each episode of the podcast?

6. What is your favorite Saturday Night Love skit or sketches?

7. Let's say you are going on a road trip somewhere and you are responsible for putting together the playlist. What would be the first song on your road trip playlist?

8. If someone wants to start their own podcast, what advice would you give to them?

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Friday August 29, 2025 and it runs 46 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #313

On this episode, Tiffany Welch conducts and co-produces her fantastic, superb, pretty fun, and really conversational interview with me for Episode #313 of the podcast. This is Tiffany's third time on the show, and we recorded this episode at Walnut Woods State Park south of West Des Moines.

After our introductions, Tiffany asked me the following questions:

1. She first asked me to give a brief history of Walnut Woods State Park and how it came to be.

2. Do you have a Superpower or Superpowers? What Superpower(s) do you wish you had?

3. Do you care about shoes? What matters to you with shoes?

4. Tell me more about how your 50th birthday year has been going? During my answer to this question, I talked about the super amazing and EPIC 1-1/2 years we've been having with the podcast and other things related to the show.

5. What made you want to do a podcast in the first place? And of course I went into the history of the podcast and how we've come a long way with it over the last few years.

There are a couple times during the podcast recording session we are walking to various parts of Walnut Woods and describe what we are seeing as we walk.

6. Do you have any specific memories of parks and playground equipment from when you were a kid?

7. Are there other podcasts you admire besides Juice with Jeff?
For a couple of the questions, Tiffany shares her answers to them. I share various things related to the podcast at several points during the interview. And a few side topics are brought up as well such as tidbits about Walnut Woods facilities.

8. What are you planning to do during Labor Day Weekend?

9. Tiffany and I also briefly talk about a couple things going on with Iowa Politics

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Friday August 29, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 25 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #312

On this episode, Lisa Pringle-Chmelka conducts and co-produces her fantastic, superb, energetic, very fun, and really conversational interview with me for Episode #312 of the podcast. This is Lisa's debut/first time on the show, and we recorded this episode at Walker Johnston Park in Urbandale.

We started off the podcast with my sharing how the last time I saw and chatted with Lisa in person was back in 1994 when we graduated from VHS and how I am so excited to spend time and catch up with Lisa for the first time in 31 years. I also recapped how we are doing with the total number of episodes recorded this year versus how many episodes we ended up doing during our Historic and Record-Breaking 2024.

Here are the questions that Lisa asked me during the interview:

1. What is something you learned from an interviewer that has really stuck with you, something you learned from somebody that you don't forget?

2. Has there been something during an interview recording session (or when you were editing) that was funny or a funny thing that happened during the interview? I answer this question by sharing with Lisa a couple different funny or hilarious moments which occurred when we recorded various in person interviews, such as when Micole, Josh, and Jill conducted and co-produced their super amazing interview with me for Episode #289, all four of us were laughing really hard several times during the podcast recording session.

3. I made a comment about how I have ordered and purchased quite a lot of DVD's and Blu-Rays from Amazon and this transitioned to my showing her several pictures of what my super impressive and colossal DVD/Blu Ray Collection looks like. Then I talked about my intense passion for the Roadshow Theatrical Presentation type of movies and taught Lisa about what Roadshow Theatrical films are, etc...

4. Do you have favorite movies from your collection, including the Roadshow Theatrical Films?

5. Of the DVD's and Blu-Rays you have in your collection, do you know the total number that you have?

6. You have had a lot of guests on the podcast, who would be your Dream Guest to have interview you? I gave Lisa several examples of local celebrities that have interviewed me on the show over the last couple years. I brought up several side topics related to this question such as the Basement Dwellers series of interviews we recorded this year and the equipment we use for recording the podcast.

7. I know you have the jazz trio music at the beginning and the end of each episode of the podcast. Did you have that, did you know about that, was that music created for you? Tell me more about that.

And I share a couple more things with Lisa related to the podcast to wrap the episode up.

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Tuesday August 26, 2025 and it runs 1 hour and 3 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Lisa Krain, and Wendi Roush. Enjoy!