Well friends, it has been a while hasn't it!? So much has changed since I last recorded an episode and took a very unexpected break so that I could MOVE BACK TO CALIFORNIA! If you hadn't heard already, Dr. Roben and I bought a 12 acre farm near where we grew up in San Jose. The place is beyond amazing and we are hard at work to turn it into the place of our dreams. I have uploaded a number of video's documenting the process on Youtube. With a lack of decent internet and even worse cel...

Episode 24 - Amanda Weiler took a class in high school which changed her life forever when she learned to SCUBA dive. After working in some pretty delightful spots around the world doing research, she eventually made her way to Chicago where she began volunteering at and then working at Shedd Aquarium. She is now working as a dive officer at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. Instagram - scubamanda Music Father John Misty: “Fear Fun” “I love you, honey bear” & “Pure Comedy” Iratio...

Episode 23 Melani Hoffman was born in Flint, Michigan and as a young adult settled in Chicago alongside her brother. She went to college but it just wasn't for her. She worked in bars and restaurants and quickly worked her way up to management. Melani moved from Chicago to NY and spent several years learning about beers and at the same time running a small theater. A move back to Chicago gave her the opportunity to open her own bar, The Green Lady, a phenomenal beer-focused bar located at 33...

Episode 22 - David Kovac is an incredibly charming and talented actor turned magician who keeps busy entertaining and emceeing at the world-famous Magic Castle. David talks about growing up Buddhist, getting slapped by The Cat in the Hat, how his wedding was almost ruined until some wonderful friends came together to save the day, and how the graceful Neil Patrick Harris spent an evening with his sister while she was flying solo at the Magic Castle. http://www.davidkovac.com MUSIC Shirley H...

Episode 21 - Ellen Joyce grew up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, a classic south side Irish neighborhood. She went to school at Eastern Illinois University and earned a degree in Public Health Education and then went to graduate school at University of Illinois for the same. At 25 Ellen moved back to Chicago when her mother had a stroke and she took the test to become a police dispatcher. Two years later she got the call that she was hired. This was in 1998 and 22 years later s...

Episode 20- Samuel Sake https://www.tesfacuisine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tesfaethiopiancuisine/ https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicagos-beloved-ethiopian-restaurants/d1f87d9d-4355-4116-9dad-bc08c2ab5e54 Born and raised in Moyale, Ethiopia in 1990, Samuel moved to Chicago in 2005 speaking about six words of English. Listen as he recounts his amazing first time experiencing snow fall and cold, the hilarious time he was asking for a rubber in a high school class and how we met when he bega...

Episode 19 - Today I interview vocalist Kenny Williams. Since the age of 5 when he began singing into a hair brush, the sound coming out of Kenny’s mouth has made people stop and listen, whether he was on a Broadway stage, performing on a cruise ship, or as lead singer with the Platters. http://www.kennywilliamssings.com https://www.instagram.com/kennywilliamssings/ Music Gregory Porter Lianne La Havas https://www.whatcanyoutellme.com/ https://www.instagram.com/whatcanyoutellme/ http...

Episode 18 - Carnival Owner Bill Johnson Fantasy Amusement Company https://fantasyamusements.com/ http://www.showmensleague.org/ https://www.oaba.org/ Listen to Bill Johnson talk about how, as a child growing up in 1960's Chicago, he stumbled upon a carnival where he was hired to pick up baseballs at one of the games. While working odd jobs in his young adult life Bill always made his way back to the carnival. When he was 24 years old Bill bought his first ride for $20,000 and today own...

Episode 17 - Chris DeRose is currently living in Billings, Montana and working as a reporter with KTVQ and the Montana Television Network. Chris started his professional career in Chicago back in 2007. Coming to the Windy City just after college, Chris studied improv and sketch comedy, as well as writing and acting at world famous theaters like The Second City, iO, and Comedy Sportz. He quickly became a staple in the Chicago comedy scene and even help to found the musical improv g...

Episode 16 - Greg Ellis talks about his career that starts with graphic design and ends with a transition from cutting vegetables to hair. Greg shares his story- the importance of family and why he went from working for James Beard award-winning chef Charlie Trotter to running his own restaurant, and ends with becoming a barber at the renowned Belmont Barber Shop. www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme Instagram @Beaconstreetb...

Episode 15 Benny Glossop is a combatives instructor and mixed martial artist who holds black belts in Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as being a former professional fighter in American Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA. In episode 14, you heard Bennys incredible story of growing up in Illinois farm country and how at the age of ten a fateful decision to walk back over to the town carnival one evening left him 30 seconds from death after he was, not hit, but run over by a truck.&...

Episode 14 Benny Glossop is a combatives instructor and mixed martial artist who holds black belts in Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as being a former professional fighter in American Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA. Today, in part 1, you will hear Bennys incredible story of growing up in Illinois farm country and how at the age of ten a fateful decision to walk back over to the town carnival one evening left him 30 seconds from death after he was, not hit, but run over by a ...

Episode 13 Pilot Jason Seaman www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme Grew up in Southern California playing baseball throughout college as a left handed pitcher and after multiple shoulder injuries realized he could not play any longer. Received his BA in Fine and Applied Arts- Photography. After college began bartending and waiting tables, partying and “going nowhere in life". Started looking for hobbies to fil...

Episode 12 If you have seen a show on Broadway in the last 20 years its quite possible you have seen Aaron J Albano. We go back to the beginning of his career and talk about all of the shows he has performed in and some of the lessons he learned along the way. www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme https://www.instagram.com/aaronjalbano/ https://twitter.com/aaronjalbano Currently stuck in Toronto with the Hamilton the Mu...

Episode 11 Today I interview my absolute most FAVORITE person on the entire face of the planet, Doctor Emily Roben. She is an emergency room attending at Lurie Childrens Hospital, she was a field hockey goalie at Stanford University (on a scholarship!), she is an incredible artist and crafter, and she is the best wife and best friend a person could ask for. www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme https://www.instagram.com/ranch...

Episode 10 I first learned about Deborah Niemann as I started to research chickens and goats for our backyard and found myself reading her website, Thrifty Homesteader. Then I connected with her, not realizing she was the same person, to buy a pig (to eat)- she raises her own meat and produce and I bought some incredibly delicious pork from her, the whole pig to be exact, from her 32 acre farm, Antiquity Oaks. Recently I learned she has a podcast dedicated to goats, For The Love of Goats. Th...

Episode 9 Tony Grebmeier is a former radio DJ who is now running, Ship Offers, a multi-million dollar company he started with his best friend and a company that he nearly lost when he was close to a million dollars in debt, separated from his wife and kids, addicted to alcohol and drugs, and on the verge of suicide. Tony talks about the changes he made in his life and how you will now find him speaking around the world and helping others to live their best life. And as you will hear, he is th...

Episode 8 This is part 2 of last weeks episode with Veterinarian Dr. Ellen Boyd. If you didn’t already listen to episode 7 then go back so episode 8 makes sense. www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme Randy “Big Swole” - Baptized people and did acts of strength for Jesus In Seattle has first baby, Malcolm, while writing PhD dissertation. Moved back to Chicago to be closer to family, started working in contract vet servic...

Episode 7 There comes a time in every podcasters life when they have an important decision to make. I had to ask myself, what is the best way to proceed forward when my guest and I have so much to talk about that I can’t squeeze it all into 75 short minutes. So I decided to make this interview into two episodes! You are going to have to wait until next time to hear the rest of her story! www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @wha...

Episode 6 Clown Jeff Jenkins, when he snuck backstage at the circus as a boy a chance encounter with a clown led him to his own life in the big top, Jeff talks about rescuing and training pitbulls and in many ways their owners, and he shares his incredible focus on making the city of Chicago a better place for everyone by working to improve its schools, and its parks. www.whatcanyoutellme.com instagram @whatcanyoutellme facebook @whatcanyoutellme twitter @whatcanutellme Born and ...