The Juice with Jeff

The Juice with Jeff #245

On this episode of the podcast, Hannah Sznes conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Hannah's debut/first time on the podcast and we recorded this episode at Greenwood Park in Des Moines.

 

We had a deep two way conversation on a whole bunch of topics during the interview such as concerning the podcast and the multiple ways this year is the MOST AMAZING YEAR and BEST YEAR EVER we've ever had and are having with The Juice with Jeff, about my being autistic and neurodiversity, about how exciting it is for Hannah and I to see each other for the first time in almost five years, about my near lifelong fascination with audio equipment and electronics along with the Radio/TV production experiences I had during my high school and Drake days, about Greenwood Park, and about my being a Cinephile and my significantly impressive DVD film/TV Show collection. Hannah shares her thoughts and comments regarding all of these topics.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday September 1, 2024 and it runs an EPIC 1 hour and 52 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #244

On this episode of the podcast, Carrie Lewis conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, really unique, and very conversational interview with me thru Zoom. This is Carrie's debut/first time on the podcast.

 

We had a deep two way conversation focusing on College/University Admissions, the process of applying to colleges, and things concerning the experiences I had during my Drake University years. Carrie asked me the following questions:

1. Did you go thru a traditional college search?

2. What do you think were the most important factors for you in your college search? As I answered this question, I explained to Carrie about the Disability Resource Center at Drake and the accomodations they arranged for me to have for some of my tougher classes.

3. Are there any examples you can think of specifically having to take the initiative yourself to go get additional support from the Disability Resource Center or from any of your professors?

4. As far as transitioning from living at home to living on campus (most of the time), tell us about your experience when you lived in the dorms at Drake with some of the specific challenges as well as some of the learning opportunities and your takeaway experiences from that.

5. Tell us about the other connections you made in addition to the staff members and Amy Desenberg-Wines and how do you go about finding or making those? It's during this part where I also share with Carrie the significant changes and major renovations that have taken place in Meredith Hall (especially with the J-School audio and video production facilities on the basement level). I share my experiences of recording an in person interview last October where Sandy Henry and I tour Meredith Hall and other parts of the Drake campus to discuss all the changes.

6. Looking back and knowing what you know now, is there anything you would change about your undergraduate experience?

7. As someone who grew up in Des Moines and went to Drake; in going thru the "Parks Circuit" over the last 3-1/2 years, were there any surprises that you've discovered as you recorded/record these podcast episodes?

8. For others who are searching for colleges/universities that may have special needs or are looking for support services, what advice do you have regarding things for them to consider as they're looking at their college search?

9. Is there anything else in thinking about your Drake experiences that you want to share?

 

Carrie shares her thoughts on the answers I gave in responding to her questions. And to wrap up the interview, I ask Carrie to share any exciting or special things that have been going on in her life since we last saw each other almost five years ago?

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday August 25, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 11 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #243

On this episode of the podcast, Ali Harms conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, outstanding, really fun, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Ali's fifth time on the podcast (4th in person) and we recorded this episode at Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Downtown Des Moines.

 

We had a deep two way conversation on a whole bunch of topics during the interview such as the multiple ways 2024 is the MOST AMAZING YEAR and BEST YEAR EVER we've ever had and are having with these podcasts, Ali shares with us a couple special exciting things she's been up to this year in her life, I re-share the story on how Ali and I met and moments we've had together besides these podcast interviews, we each share our favorite quotes from Mel Brooks super hilarious film Spaceballs, and I perform a whole bunch of my voice impersonations for Ali: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Louie Armstrong, Jim Morrison singing a Doors take on the Toys R. Us Jingle, my Barry White deep speaking voice, and I perform (for the first time in quite a long time) my The Simpsons medley of voices. Ali asks me how I became interested in doing voice impersonations.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Thursday August 22, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 26 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #242

On this episode of the podcast, James Alsup conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is James' second time on the podcast (first time in person) and we recorded this episode at Campbell Recreational Area in Clive.

 

After talking about how it was so exciting for us to see each other for the first time since 1997, we proceeded to talk about how both of us continue to take Covid and other airborne viruses/infectious diseases really seriously, James shows us several pieces of Covid protection technology he has, we discuss a few ways Des Moines and Central Iowa have changed since the 1990"s (we both went to Drake University during the mid to late 1990's), we then talk really heavily about classic and vintage films and I explain to James how deeply passionate about those movies which were designed and initially presented as Roadshow Theatrical Presentations, and we end with my talking about the other things which bring me the most joy.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday August 18, 2024 and it runs 55 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #241

On this episode of the podcast, Sarah Graf conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, outstanding, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Sarah's second time on the podcast and we recorded at a park that's really close to the Cedar Bridge section with The Bridges of Madison County.

 

We start off the podcast by describing the environment we are recording from and Sarah shares a story from her participating in RAGBRAI during the last full week of July 2024. Then I talk a bit about the history of Cedar Bridge. Sarah then asks me to talk about how what I've been up to that is along the lines of my passion for Mister Rogers Neighborhood and Fred Rogers o.b.m.

 

And then we spend most of the rest of the podcast discussing my passion for vintage and classic films and my tremendous TV Show and Movie DVD Collection. We go even deeper in talking about the movies which were designed to be shown as Roadshow Theatrical Presentations than we ever have during previous episodes of the podcast.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday August 11, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 17 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #240

On this episode of the podcast, Kara Sparks conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Kara's second time on the podcast and we recorded this one outdoors at Riverview Park along the Des Moines River.

 

Kara and I talked about a bunch of different topics like a bit about the amazing year we've had with The Juice with Jeff podcasts so far this year, the River Bend neighborhood in Des Moines, Riverview Park and it's history including how for a long time (until the mid to late 1970's) it was an amusement park, the neighborhood I grew up in and the parks I went to as a child and teenager, several of my favorite parks nowadays, our thoughts on this year's weather, learning about a body of water called an oxbow that's smaller than a river, I give Kara a "crash course" on a few Jewish concepts like what a minyan is and the two to three sets of formal Jewish prayer daily, a bit about our favorite types of humor and laughter where I quote lines from both the Airplane 1 and Spaceballs movies, and about movies (including telling Kara a bit about my impressive huge TV Show and Movie DVD Collection.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Friday August 9, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 8 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #239

On this episode of the podcast, Jen Beaty conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, outstanding, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Jen's debut/first time on the podcast and we recorded this one outdoors at Greenwood Park in Des Moines.

 

Jen and I have a deep conversation on multiple topics, including stuff about these Juice with Jeff podcasts and the milestones we've already had with the show during this year, memories and highlights from our Crossroads Park Elementary/Indian Hills Jr. High/Valley High School years, health issues Jen and I have dealt with (including my almost 9 year journey with Acromegaly), what both of us are looking forward to during the remainder of the summer, and we each share something about our perspective religions. I talk about traditional Judaism's perspective on the requirements for non-Jews who choose to convert to Judaism along with a little bit about the Mikvah/ritual bath, Jen talks a little bit about her being a Greek Orthodox Christian.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Wednesday August 7, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 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, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #238

On this episode of the podcast, Ethan Adato and Sophie Homonoff conduct and co-produce a fantastic and conversational interview with me in person. This is Ethan's debut/first time on the podcast and Sophie's fifth time on the show (not counting cameos during several other episodes). We recorded this one in the Staroselsky Clubhouse room at Caspe Terrace in Waukee.

 

The interview is divided into two parts with Ethan conducting the first part and Sophie conducting the second part.

 

ETHAN'S QUESTIONS:

How did your family get to Iowa?

What was life like for you growing up in Iowa?

After graduating from Valley High School, did you go to college/university or

did you go straight into the workforce?

Let's say Jeff that you became our next United States President and you won the Election. "President Jeff", what are some of your policy changes that you are going to make?

 

SOPHIE'S QUESTIONS:

I didn't know you worked at the former Pickle Barrel deli. What was your favorite meal there?

About the Iowa Jewish Historical Society: Do you have any memories or thoughts about the Jewish Historical Society Museum at Caspe?

If you knew you only had a year left to live, what are some things you would want to do?

Is there anything else you want to tell us? During this part, I ask Sophie to share memorable moments in her life during this year so far, about the numerous changes that have taken place at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin over the last couple decades. And then I talk more in depth about how this year has been the MOST AMAZING and BEST YEAR EVER so far for these The Juice with Jeff podcasts with the multiple milestones and then Sophie shares her comments on what i said concerning the 2024 Juice with Jeff Season.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Thursday August 1, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 6 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #237

On this episode of the podcast, Dana Lain conducts and co-produces a fantastic, superb, outstanding, and very conversational interview with me in person. This is Dana's debut/first time on the podcast and we recorded this one outdoors at Greenwood Park in Des Moines.

 

During the interview, we go deep into depth into two topics:

 

1. We spent a significant portion of the interview talking about the Iowa State Fair with Dana asking me some questions related to how in the past I have been a huge fan of our State Fair, how between 2013 and 2019 I enthusiastically attended the fair once or twice during each of those years, my favorite things about the fair from those summers I went, my favorite foods I would eat when I went to the Fair during those summers, some things about I know about the history of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the things I enjoy about Iowa PBS' coverage of each summer's State Fair, and the concerts I went to during the fair in the past. 

I talk a bit with Dana about two books related to the Fair that I purchased back at the fair itself during 2017/2018/2019 which go into detail about various aspects of the fair; and how I re-read these books every August during the 10 Day State Fair period. These books are A Great State Fair by William Fried rocks and Bill Riley Sr (of blessed memory) On the Air and  At The Iowa State Fair.

Dana and I have a two way conversation about various aspects of the fair and there are a couple moments where Dana shares her favorite things about the fair, her favorite State Fair foods, and concerts she has attended at the fair.

 

2. Then the second major topic we discuss during the interview is about these The Juice with Jeff podcasts about the show's history, the purposes of the podcast, how the show has come quite a long way the last several years and how we have really ramped things up with the podcast this year in multiple ways, the multiple milestones we have accomplished this year with The Juice with Jeff, recruiting many people to conduct and co-produce the interviews with me, why doing these podcasts is extremely important for me and how super passionate I am about the show, the annual Juicys Awards event we do in December each year, the multiple things that are unique about the show, etc .. We wrap up the podcast with Dana sharing her thoughts on these podcasts.

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday July 21, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 40 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!

The Juice with Jeff #236

On this episode of the podcast, Cecilia conducts and co-produces a fantastic and really conversational interview with me thru Zoom. This is Cecilia's first time on the podcast.

 

Cecilia's conversation with me is divided into two parts:

 

1. Cecilia and I have a two way conversation about her Taltrix: Surviving the Gauntlet. I share my thoughts on the book and how I see several similarities between the Harry Potter series of books and Taltrix: Surviving the Gauntlet. Cecilia also shares some things about her book as well.

2. The remainder of the podcast is spent talking about how we both grew up in Des Moines and central Iowa, and how we saw each other at synagogue and Jewish community events during our childhood and teenage years. I talk in detail about the significant changes that have occurred in the Des Moines Jewish community over the last several decades (e.g. Central Iowa's Jewish community facility named Caspe Terrace being built in the early 2000's, the former Beth El Jacob synagogue building having to be sold to a Christian Orthodox church in early 2017, Tifereth Israel having to tear down its 1930's main sanctuary building and 1955 religious school building in 2009-2010 and re-configuring/remodeling its 1970's building to have nearly everything for the synagogue plus a new Mikvah/ritual bath addition).

 

This episode of the podcast was recorded on Sunday July 14, 2024 and it runs 1 hour and 18 minutes long. Our opening and closing theme music is provided by Oleg Kyrylkovv courtesy of Pixabay. Funding for this podcast is provided by RandomKid, Ann Kaatz LoBue, Fran Parr, Sarah Stokes, and Renee Whisnant. Enjoy!!