The Juice with Jeff

The Juice with Jeff #94

On this episode of the podcast, Sarah Graf conducts and co-produces an outstanding and fantastic audio interview with me in person. This is the second time that Sarah has done an interview with me for the podcast.

 

There are several different topics that Sarah and I talk about including: How we have both been handling the Covid-19 pandemic, our thoughts on what's going on with the pandemic these days, a few things and tidbits concerning the podcasts, how Sarah and I have both learned quite a lot about Zoom over the last 18 months.

 

Sarah asks me to talk more about Neurodiversity and my being autistic, and I spend a few minutes talking about this. Sarah herself talks a little bit about being a trauma survivor and how it has affected her during this part of the podcast. I also address the importance of being able to engage in what's called "Stimming" whenever I need to, along with how important it is that we love, accept, cherish, and respect everyone as they are for who they are. And we define what real friendships are during this part of the podcast as well.

 

I also talk with Sarah about how music helps me deal with stressful situations and go into detail describing what my favorite kinds of music are. Both Sarah and I each talk about a couple things we've done over the last 18 months. For instance, for my birthday last year on October 19, 2020; we did that birthday celebration on Zoom where 22 of my friends joined me for that. 

 

Starting at around the 45 minute mark, Sarah spends about 15 minutes or so talking about several of the things she's done during the Covid-19 pandemic, and then she also goes into detail talking about the trauma she has gone thru, what she has learned about trauma, and advice she has for people in dealing with trauma (including recommendations for books that she believes can help guide people on handling trauma). Then we talk for 18 minutes about the importance of us needing to speak up and speak out about multiple issues such as social justice, doing all we can to get the Covid-19 pandemic under control, and several other extremely important issues.

 

And then for the last 15 minutes, I perform the following voice impersonations for Sarah: Fat Albert, Mushmouth, The "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" announcer, the singer/composer Barry White o.b.m., Audrey II the Plant from "The Little Shop of Horrors", Tom Bodett, former President Trump, former President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris, U.S. Senate Minority Leader McConnell, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, the late Jim Morrison (The Doors), Fred Rogers o.b.m., King Friday, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and Mr. McFeeley. And then Sarah and I share our last thoughts to wrap up the podcast.

 

This interview was recorded outdoors at Riverview Park in Des Moines, IA on Sunday September 26, 2021, and it lasts for 1 hour and 33 minutes. As is the case with all of "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #93

On this episode of the podcast, Stephanie Hankenson conducts a fantastic and outstanding audio interview with me thru Zoom.

 

Stephanie and I went to Valley High School - WDM together at one point in time. While we have been staying in touch thru Messenger and each other's FB posts, the recording session for this podcast was the very first time in 30 years that Steph and I have gotten to have a real time conversation and hear each other's voices live!! 

 

Here are the topics that Stephanie and I brought up during this interview:

1.  After we did our introduction and shared how excited we were to talk with each other and hear each other's voices for the first time in 30 years, we spend 2 or so minutes sharing thoughts concerning the horrific and tragic events that occured on 9/11/2001.

 

2.  Then we spent nearly the entire rest of the interview talking about friendships, various things regarding the podcast, and sharing memories from our VHS days.

 

There is quite a lot of two way conversation during the interview and Stephanie shares her thoughts on some of the topics that are brought up.

 

This interview was recorded on the night of September 11, 2021 and it lasts for a total of around 1 hour and 27 minutes. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #92

On this episode of the podcast Laura Grisamore conducts and co-produces an outstanding and fantastic audio interview with me thru Zoom, and this is the third time that Laura has done an interview with me for the podcast.

 

We did this interview thru Zoom, and there are several different topics that Laura and I talk about on the show:

 

1. We start off the podcast by my talking with Laura about how the whole podcast series is now part of a non-commercial, non-profit organization called The Juice with Jeff Inc. As part of the new organization, there is a 9 member Board of Directors and Advisory Committee that helps and guides me with suggestions for questions the friends who interview me should ask me about during the interview recording sessions if the friends interviewing me or I need additional ideas for topics, PR/Marketing suggestions in terms of how to market my podcasts, names of additional friends they think would be interested in interviewing me for the podcasts, and things like that concerning my podcasts. Laura herself is one of the 8 really good friends that is on The Juice with Jeff Inc.'s Board/Advisory Committee.

 

2.  Then Laura and I share some thoughts concerning the podcasts.

 

3.  Laura then talks about some fun and exciting things that she's been up to. I talk with Laura about my dogs and the things they have been up to.

 

4.   Laura asks me to talk about several Jewish religious holy days and festivals that I will be observing over the course of the three weeks following the production of this podcast. I explain to Laura in as "Layperson" a way as I can about these Jewish holy days and festivals and it takes up 50 minutes worth of the podcast.

 

5. And then we spend the remaining 25 to 30 minutes of the podcast talking a little more about these podcasts (i.e. The interviews for these podcasts being conducted in person versus the interviews being conducted thru Zoom), and then various thoughts both of us have concerning where we are in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

There is quite a bit of two way conversation during the interview and Laura shares her thoughts on some of the topics that are brought up.
This interview was recorded on September 3, 2021 and it lasts for a total of around 1 hour and 40 minutes. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #91

On this episode of the podcast, Meghan Malloy conducts and co-produces a fantastic and superb audio interview with me in person. 

 

We recorded this interview outdoors at Walker Johnson Park in Urbandale. Meghan asked me questions focusing on several different topics including:

 

1. How she and I met, along with my involvement in 8 of the annual Hanukkah parties that Jarad Bernstein and Lilianna Wiesman-Bernstein would hold

 

2. My love of karaoke and the karaoke system that I have, along with the occasions where my karaoke system has been a part of various events that I've participated in.

 

3. Concerts that I've gone to in the past, and also the Broadway musicals that I've gone to at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.

 

4.  Changes that have taken place in Des Moines over the years.

 

5.  My thoughts on the pandemic, and what special things I'm looking forward to doing once things with the pandemic significantly approve (i.e. Covid cases sharply decreasing, the overwhelming majority of the population is fully vaccinated, etc..).

 

There is quite a bit of two way conversation during the interview and Meghan shares her thoughts on some of the topics that are brought up.

This interview was recorded on August 16, 2021 and it lasts for a total of around 47 minutes. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #90

On this episode of the podcast, Julia Franklin conducts and co-produces a fantastic and outstanding audio interview with me in person. This audio interview was recorded outdoors in the partially enclosed (with open air sides) shelter house structure at Crossroads Park in West Des Moines, IA.

After I give some introductory remarks, Julia asked me questions focusing in-depth on several different topics including:

1. How Julia and I met each other at a play called "Brilliant Traces" that was performed by a group called TheatreMidwest in January 2020. Julia did scenery and design work for the play, and we talked a little bit on what "Brilliant Traces" is about. Then I talk quite a bit with Julia about how I'm interested in the performing arts and how I periodically enjoy going to musicals and plays.

2. Then Julia asks me to talk about my love for doing 100+ voice impersonations. We start this part of the interview off with telling Julia about how/when I became interested in doing the voice impersonations and the several professional voice impressionists who have influenced me, Then I perform 35 of my voices for Julia: Fat Albert, Mushmouth, Michael Buffer (the "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" guy), Barry White o.b.m., the Levi Stubbs o.b.m. version of Audrey II from the musical version of "Little Shop of Horrors", Tom Bodett, Forrest Gump, Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Tweety and Sylvester, Trump, Obama, Biden, Romney, Mr. Burns/Smithers/Homer/Marge from "The Simpsons", Bert and Ernie, Big Bird and Snuffleupagus, the two announcers on "Soul Train" and Don Cornelius, Jim Morrison o.b.m. singing The Doors' version of the "Toys R' Us" jingle, Fred Rogers, King Friday, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, Daniel Striped Tiger, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and Mr. McFeeley.

3. Then Julia asks me to talk about my intense passion and love for Fred Rogers o.b.m. and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. I explain to Julia in great depth about how I became interested in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Fred Rogers, and the multiple reasons why I have an intense passion/love for Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; and I also talk with Julia about the "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" movie.

4. Then we wrap up the interview with my discussing with Julia about I'm really passionate about things like friendships, quality over quantity, Neurodiversity, and Autism Acceptance.

There are several points during the interview where Julia shares her thoughts on the topics that have been brought up during the podcast. This interview was recorded on Friday July 9, 2021 and it runs 1 hour and 25 minutes long. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #89

On this episode of the podcast, Ann Kaatz LoBue conducts and co-produces a fantastic and superb audio interview with me. This is the second time that Ann has done an interview on "The Juice with Jeff"; except that while the first interview Ann did with me in August 2020 was done thru Zoom, her second interview with me was conducted with me IN PERSON.

During the interview, Ann asked me to talk about things that basically revolving around three topics: our friendship, the Covid-19 pandemic and where we are at this point with it, and memories from our years (during the mid 1990's) in the J School as Radio/TV Production majors at Drake University, and there was quite a lot of two way conversation throughout the interview.

This interview was recorded on Monday June 28, 2021 and it runs 1 hour and 8 minutes long. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #88

On this episode of the podcast, Ann Morris conducts/co-produces a fantastic audio interview with me in person, and this is the second she has done an interview on "The Juice with Jeff". During the interview, a bunch of different topics are brought up such as:

1. Any opportunities I have had to go out in public during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as occasions I have been able to get together with friends since I have gotten the Moderna vaccines and being my being considered fully vaccinated as of late March 2021. We also talk about a couple other things concerning the pandemic.

2.  My thoughts concerning U.S. politics and the 2020 Election.

3.  Places I have had the opportunity to go when I was growing up, my love of nature, parks, hearing the sounds of birds and various animals, and talking about certain things about the days I went to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin which relate to nature.

4. What tastes I have on a couple things in my daily life

5. How I got interested in radio and various aspects of audio/video production, how I enjoyed playing around with various pieces of audio equipment as a child, my two years being on KWDM radio during my Valley High School days, my video production hobby that I was involved with for quite a while since the late 1990's, and how I am still involved with audio productions thru these podcasts.

6.  And then the interview ends with me performing a bunch of my voice impersonations for Ann: Fat Albert, Mushmouth, Michael Buffer/the "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" announcer, Barry White, Iowa Governor Reynolds, former President Obama, U.S. Senate Minority Leader McConnell, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Forrest Gump, Tom Bodett, Jim Morrison, and Fred Rogers/Mister Rogers. This interview is the very first time that I perform my Jim Morrison voice impersonation where I do a "The Doors" interpretation of the Toys R' Us jingle.

This interview was recorded on Friday June 18, 2021 and it runs 1 hour and 12 minutes long. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #37

On this episode of the podcast, Katie Stageman conducts and co-produces an awesome audio interview with me in person. During the interview, Katie asks me questions on the following subjects:

1.  What is my favorite part about working at DSM Sleep Specialists?

2.  Where did I grow up? I also talk with Katie about the times that I lived outside of Des Moines during those summers where I went to a summer camp as a camper during the summers of 1989 thru 1992 and again as an office staff members during the summers of 1994 thru 1997. And when I told Katie about how I went to Israel for 6 weeks during the Summer of 1993, she asks me to talk about what I did there.

3.  What was my first job after I graduated from college? I talk with Katie in a summary form about the jobs I had since I graduated from Drake University.  

4. And then I perform a whole bunch of my voice impersonations for Katie.

 

This interview was recorded on Friday January 31, 2020 and is around 17 minutes long. As is the case with all of the "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #87

On this episode of the podcast, Jamie Miller Bricker conducts/co-produces an excellent audio interview with me thru Zoom. During the interview, we bring up the following topics:

 

1. When Jamie and I first met back in the fall of 1985. I then talk with Jamie about my synagogue affiliation both past and present, how I became a halakhically observant Jew over the years, the building renovations/remodeling that occurred at Tifereth Israel Synagogue around 2010-2011, and a couple other things about the Des Moines Jewish community.

2. Then Jamie asks me to talk about my job in the medical field. I give Jamie a summary of the types of jobs I've had from 1999 to the present working at various medical clinics. Jamie also asks me to talk about any changes the Covid 19 pandemic has had on my job.

3. Then I do a performance of around 20 of my voice impersonations for Jamie: Fat Albert, Mushmouth, Michael Buffer (the Let's Get Ready to Rumble!! announcer), the Levi Stubbs version of Audrey 2 the Plant from "Little Shop of Horrors". Robin Leach o.b.m., Forrest Gump, Tom Bodett, former President Trump, former President Obama, Senator Mitt Romney, Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street, the KGGO voiceover announcer, Fred Rogers/Mister Rogers o.b.m. X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, King Friday, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and Daniel Tiger.

4. Then for the rest of interview, Jamie and I share memories from the several years we were at Indian Hills Jr. High and Valley High School together. And we end the podcast with my sharing how Des Moines has changed in a couple ways in comparison to the way things were when Jamie and I were kids and teenagers.

This interview was recorded on Monday May 24, 2021 and it's 1 hour 19 minutes long (79 minutes). As is the case with all of these "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!

The Juice with Jeff #86

On this episode of the podcast, Spencer and Stephanie Cox conducts/co-produces a fantastic and outstanding audio interview with me in person.

Stephanie does the interviewing during the first 13 minutes of the podcast, and she asks me the following questions:

1.  What are your best memories from our Valley High School days?

2.  Who were your favorite teachers at Indian Hills and VHS?  Why?

Stephanie and Spencer also shared a couple memories from our Indian Hills and VHS days as well. Then during the remaining 23 minutes of the podcast, Spencer does the interviewing and asks me the following questions:

3.  Who do you think is the greatest band or music group of all time? Along with favorite types of music, do I play any musical instruments, and Spencer also asked me questions about my father playing the piano as a side gig.

4.  How has the Covid-19 pandemic affect your Judaism?

5. What is your favorite food to prepare? And before we wrap up the podcast, Spencer shares with me an idea for a social cooking event where I could get together with several friends sometime in the future.

This interview was recorded on Friday April 30, 2021 and it's 36 minutes long. As is the case with all of these "The Juice with Jeff" podcasts, funding for this podcast is provided by Realty With Ahart and RandomKid. Enjoy!