In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I’m coming to you from Daytona Beach while checking in on the weather for our friends in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We start with the strange realization that hamsters actually live in the wild, then roll through birthdays including John Houseman, Tommy Lasorda, Toni Basil, Debby Boone, Andrea Bocelli, Joan Jett, Bonnie Hunt, Ronaldo, and Tom Felton. We also look back at the first issue of National Geographic, the first Farm Aid concert, the premieres of Friends and Lost, and celebrate the first day of fall, Ice Cream Cone Day, Hobbit Day, Elephant Appreciation Day, White Chocolate Day, and World Narcolepsy Day. Then it’s Tuesday Random Questions, which takes me from careers I once considered and times I’ve felt out of place to childhood foods, the perfect dinner, and why I think life is better when you’re willing to take a few measured risks. And tomorrow for Wildcard Wednesday, Karen joins me to talk about how our vacation is going and the memories we’re making along the way.

Tuesday’s Random Questions

• What is a career you once seriously considered?
• When have you felt completely out of place?
• What is a food you hated as a kid but love now?
• If calories, health, and price did not matter, what would your perfect dinner be?
• What is one risk you are glad you took?

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On this Monday episode of Simple Joe, I start with the wild story of former Yankees outfielder Rubén Rivera taking a bat and glove from Derek Jeter’s locker, then we head to Tokyo, Japan, and Daytona Beach, Florida, for the weather. Florida rain sends me down a vacation-memory rabbit hole involving an upside-down attraction, a spinning tunnel, and a finger that may or may not have been broken. Birthdays bring Stephen King, Bill Murray, Faith Hill, Alfonso Ribeiro, and a few memories of my own, while today in history gives me the perfect excuse to explain why George Clooney still owes me a quarter. World Alzheimer’s Day gets more personal as I talk about my dad, my family’s experience with dementia, and why protecting our memories matters so much to me. I also celebrate gratitude, pecan cookies, miniature golf, and then dig into five Monday Interesting Headlines involving an incredible estate-sale find, a seriously overdue library magazine, everyday heroes lifting a car, a humpback whale in the Sacramento River, and a record-breaking Slim Jim. I wrap things up from my second day of vacation with a reminder I’ll probably never stop repeating: memories are better than stuff.

Monday Interesting Headlines “Painting purchased for $30 at estate sale expected to fetch up to $250k” “Magazine from 1894 is finally returned to New Hampshire public library” “These bystanders lifted a car to save a woman who was trapped underneath” “Humpback whale spotted in Sacramento River near Rio Vista” “Nearly 430-foot Slim Jim breaks world record in Omaha”

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In this Sunday episode of Simple Joe, I’m recording from Daytona Beach after one of those first vacation days that starts with travel, errands, a missing-wallet panic, rental-car trouble, and finally, a chance to sit down and look at the Atlantic Ocean. That quiet moment became today’s Faith Connections conversation about something simple: God made a world worth enjoying. I talk about the peace and awe I feel watching the ocean, why I make a point of seeing the sunrise while I’m here, and how easy it is to rush through life without noticing the beauty that’s been around us the whole time. We look at Psalm 104, Genesis 1, and 1 Timothy 6 and think about gratitude, creation, and the idea that not every beautiful moment has to become productive or turn into a self-improvement project. Sometimes it’s enough to stop, notice what God made, enjoy it, and say thank you. Along the way, we also celebrate birthdays, look back at a few moments in history, recognize some unusual September 20 celebrations, and start the show with Ryanair’s once-proposed idea for standing-room airline tickets.

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In this Saturday episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about using the beginning of fall as a chance to reset without turning life into another giant self-improvement project. I share some of the things I hoped to do this summer that didn’t quite happen, especially riding my bike and getting more exercise, and why I’m choosing to look at fall as another opportunity instead of treating those missed goals like failures. We talk about simplifying the rest of the year, deciding what still matters, letting go of what doesn’t, getting the house ready for cooler-weather gatherings, making time for friends and family, using vacation time before the year ends, and taking better care of ourselves before the holidays arrive. There’s also plenty of room for pumpkin pie, chocolate-chip snickerdoodles, and enjoying the season without turning food into an enemy. My challenge is simple: take a few minutes this weekend to think about what’s working, what isn’t, and what one or two things you’d like to reset before the end of 2026. The year isn’t over, and there’s still plenty of time to finish what matters, simplify what doesn’t, spend time with people you love, and make this a really good fall.

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In this Friday episode of Simple Joe, I’m getting ready for a couple of weeks in Florida, so I’m having some fun with a Top 10 list of things to do in Florida that aren’t Disney or any other amusement park. And yes, Disney people, we’re still friends. I talk about why Florida means more to me than theme parks, share some of the places and experiences that make the state worth exploring, give a personal plug to Fun Cat Sailing in Ponce Inlet, and explain why Daytona Beach has become such an important place for me because of all the memories I’ve made there. I also love the idea of watching the sunrise over the Atlantic and then crossing the state to watch the sunset over the Gulf in the same day. Along the way, there’s plenty of conversation about birthdays, Black Sabbath, KISS, Rice Krispies Treats, tradespeople, manatees, snorkeling with a barracuda nearby, and even whether I finally need to get Apple TV just so I can watch Ted Lasso. Mostly, though, this episode is about getting out, seeing something new, spending time with people you care about, and remembering that great memories are worth a whole lot more than more stuff.

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In today’s Simple Joe, I’m talking about one of those stories that makes you wonder how something could possibly find its way home after nearly three decades. Two metal-detecting enthusiasts at Great Sacandaga Lake in New York discovered a high school class ring that had been lost for 28 years, then went out of their way to track down the owner and return it. That leads me down a few shiny-object roads about metal detecting, why these guys might make a pretty great reality show, things I’ve lost over the years, and whether I’d even care about an old class ring until somebody suddenly told me they found it. Along the way, we celebrate birthdays including Hank Williams, John Ritter, Jim Cornette, Patrick Mahomes, and more, look back at a few moments in history, and somehow manage to work free queso, country music, apple dumplings, pawpaws, and professional house cleaners into the same episode. I’m also getting ready to head to Florida for a couple of weeks, and tomorrow’s Friday Top 10 is inspired by the trip: the Top 10 Things to Do in Florida That Aren’t Disney.

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I’m sharing the results of the Simple Joe listener survey and talking about what you told me you enjoy most about the show, what surprised me, and what I learned from your feedback. Friday’s Top 10 remains a clear favorite, but I was genuinely surprised by how much you enjoy the Interesting Fact cold opening, along with Random Questions, Today in History, Daily Celebrations, Featured City weather, and the variety of having different formats throughout the week. Some features, including Cincinnati weather, Personal Development, Prove Me Wrong, and Faith Connections, received more mixed reactions, and I talk about why I still value having a show where every day doesn’t have to appeal equally to everybody. The part of the survey that meant the most to me was hearing so many listeners describe Simple Joe using the word “friend.” That’s exactly what I want this podcast to feel like: two friends talking about interesting things, ridiculous headlines, Top 10 lists, serious subjects, random questions, and whatever else comes up. I’m not planning to tear the show apart and rebuild it. Instead, I want to keep what’s working, keep experimenting, listen to your feedback, and make Simple Joe better without losing what it’s supposed to be in the first place: a friend on the other side of the microphone.

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In this Tuesday episode of Simple Joe, I start with a Cincinnati surprise: Penn Station East Coast Subs may sound like it belongs in Philadelphia, but the first location actually opened in downtown Cincinnati in 1985. From there, I check in with listeners in Clark, Central Luzon, Philippines, celebrate birthdays including Tommy Lee Jones, Oliver Stone, Pete Carroll, Dan Marino, Jimmy Carr, Tom Hardy, and Prince Harry, and look back at Lost in Space, the first issue of USA Today, and the registration of Google.com. We also celebrate National Double Cheeseburger Day, International Dot Day, and National Felt Hat Day before getting into Tuesday’s Random Questions. Those questions send me into some personal territory as I talk about treating the internet as a tool instead of real life, what my childhood bedroom says about my love of heavy metal music and alone time, the increasingly funny story of breaking both arms while trying to jump a tennis net, what early fatherhood taught me about responsibility and simply showing up, and the wonderfully disgusting experience of playing Bean Boozled. I also preview tomorrow’s Wildcard Wednesday, when I plan to share the listener survey results that helped shape the direction of Simple Joe.

Tuesday’s Random Questions

• What piece of advice would you give someone spending their first day on the Internet?
• If your childhood bedroom could talk, what story would it tell about you?
• What memory seems funnier every time you tell it?
• What season of life taught you the most?
• What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

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In this Monday episode of Simple Joe, I kick things off with the strange story behind the word “maverick,” check in on some beautiful September weather, and celebrate birthdays including Clayton Moore, Walter Koenig, Sam Neill, Nas, and Amy Winehouse. I also look back at Francis Scott Key and the origins of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” celebrate the anniversary of The Golden Girls, and find a few excuses to enjoy cream-filled donuts, hoagies, Virginia, and coloring. Then it’s time for Monday’s Interesting Headlines, where I wonder about cockroach milk and nose blowing, a class ring recovered after 28 years, a Costa Rican man claiming to be 119 years old, somebody solving 211 Rubik’s Cubes on a pogo stick, and a story about an act of kindness that changed a stranger’s life. That last story gets me thinking about random acts of kindness, tipping generously, and a holiday tradition where friends and I pool money to leave a surprisingly large tip for a restaurant server. I wrap things up talking about my weekend with my daughter and grandkids and the reminder that spending our resources creating great memories with people we love matters a whole lot more than adding more stuff to our lives.

Monday Interesting Headlines

• “Scientists studying cockroach milk and nose blowing win LG Nobel prizes for quirky science”
• “Long lost class ring found 28 years later under a rock at a lake by metal detecting enthusiasts”
• “Costa Rican man, 119, seeks recognition as the world's oldest person”
• “Nova Scotia man solves 211 Rubik's cubes while on a pogo stick”
• “Cumberland native goes viral for kindness, changes a stranger's life”

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Jason K. Pargin video mentioned in the episode: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1773997103632262

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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• What is something people often mistake for intelligence?
• What ordinary experience somehow still remains on your bucket list?
• What fear makes no logical sense but still gets to you?
• If you could instantly become fluent in one language, which would you choose and why?
• What possession have you kept far longer than makes practical sense?

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Monday Interesting Headlines

Scientists make potential breakthrough in search for dark matter Oldest male scuba diver celebrates 106th birthday Rescued kitten inspires bobblehead Critically endangered pygmy raccoons observed making their own paper toys Man discovers Denmark’s largest Viking Age silver hoard while digging a terrace in his garden

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

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Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Tuesday’s Random Questions

• What family tradition would make absolutely no sense to an outsider?
• If you could permanently delete one minor inconvenience from daily life, what would it be?
• What is your ideal way to waste an afternoon?
• If you could automate one part of your life, what would it be?
• If you traveled 500 years into the past, what modern knowledge could you actually use?

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Along the way, we celebrate birthdays including Frank Robinson, Van Morrison, Richard Gere, Debbie Gibson, Zack Ward, and Chris Tucker, look back at moments involving baseball history, Michael Jackson’s Bad, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., and Princess Diana, and find a few reasons to celebrate National Trail Mix Day, National Eat Outside Day, National South Carolina Day, and National Zoo Awareness Day.

I also talk about my recent appearance with Karin on Connecticut Curt’s Geekin’ on Travel podcast to discuss our trip to Portugal.

Then Monday’s Interesting Headlines return with robots, archaeology, record-setting blobbing, prehistoric bone-crushing dogs, and a Picasso discovered in a vacant apartment.

Most of all, this episode is about being back together, making great memories, and remembering that memories are better than stuff.

Monday Interesting Headlines

• A robot sprinter shatters a 100-meter record again as sparks fly at China's robot competition
• Neolithic sculpture of a man riding a leopard discovered in Turkey
• 'Blobbing' jumpers launch man 92 feet into the air to break record
• Tracks and tooth marks reveal bone-crushing dogs at Nebraska supervolcano ashfall site
• A landlord was cleaning out a vacant apartment, then found a lost Picasso

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Today I wanted to share a quick but important update with you. I’m taking a short break from the show so I can fix some structural and process issues behind the scenes and make sure Simple Joe is smoother, more focused, and more valuable for you going forward. This isn’t about stepping away from what I love. Spending this time with you every day truly is the highlight of my day, and that’s exactly why I want to get this right. I’ll be back very soon, so please don’t unfollow or unsubscribe. If you’ve ever reached out to me before, there’s a good chance I’ll be in touch to ask for your thoughts and input on the show, and if you haven’t, I’d love to hear from you now. Having listeners from all over the country and the world still blows my mind, and every message means more to me than you probably realize. For now, hang tight, stay subscribed, and know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m just making things better so the time we share together each day is even more meaningful

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Show Notes

In today’s episode of Simple Joe for Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, I kick things off with a mind-bending fact about chess and just how unimaginably large the number of possible games really is. We check in on the weather for Charlotte, North Carolina, and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate birthdays including Joan of Arc, Rowan Atkinson, Eddie Redmayne, Kate McKinnon, Nancy Lopez, Howie Long, and Eric Trump, and take a quick look back at history with New Mexico becoming the 47th state and the debut of Schoolhouse Rock! on ABC. I also highlight today’s celebrations, National Cuddle Up Day, National Shortbread Day, and Bean Day, before diving into my favorite part of Tuesdays, Random Questions. These questions take us into everything from courtesy on the road to sleep, introversion, reality itself, and what advice we might want from our future selves. As always, I wrap things up with a reminder to make memories, stay connected to the people you love, and remember that memories are better than stuff.

Today’s Random Questions

- If you had to add one ridiculous but harmless rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?

- Would you rather be able to instantly fall asleep anytime you want, or never need sleep at all?

- What do you think people misunderstand most about you, even people who know you fairly well?

- What is something you are absolutely convinced about, even though you know you could be wrong?

- If you could ask your future self one honest question and be guaranteed a truthful answer, what would you ask?

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On today’s episode of Simple Joe for Monday, January 5, 2026, I kick things off with a truly unsettling but fascinating look at Victorian-era post-mortem photography and how long exposure times made the stillness of the dead appear sharper than the living, which leads to a broader reflection on memory, time, and how differently we capture moments today. I share the weather for Brussels, Belgium and Cincinnati, Ohio, reflect briefly on winter, family time, and disappearing snow, and celebrate birthdays for Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Bradley Cooper, Clancy Brown, Chuck Noll, January Jones, Bob Eubanks, Irene Cara, Walt Frazier, Pamela Sue Martin, and Marilyn Manson. We take a quick trip back in history to January 5 with James Watt’s improved steam engine patent and Henry Ford’s groundbreaking five-dollar-a-day wage announcement, then recognize National Bird Day, National Screenwriters Day, National Whipped Cream Day, and National Keto Day, including a personal note on why keto works so well for me. As it’s Monday, I also share today’s Interesting Headlines and ask you to let me know which one you’d like me to dig into on Thursday.

Today’s Interesting Headlines:

• A forgotten shipwreck reveals a perfectly preserved 19th-century time capsule
• Teen inventor creates a low-cost device that turns air into drinking water
• New brain scan can reveal thoughts without spoken words
• A man has visited every country in the world without ever boarding a plane
• Retired mailman finally opens a collection of letters people asked him to keep

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe for Friday, January 2, 2026, I start with one of those facts that makes you stop and think, trees in the Pacific Northwest are actually connected underground through fungal networks, sharing nutrients and even warning each other about pests and disease, which turns into a fun, slightly philosophical conversation about what it really means to be “alive.” From there, I share the weather for Allentown, Pennsylvania and Cincinnati, Ohio, and we move into a very specific, very opinionated Friday Top 10 list, the Top 10 Keanu Reeves movies. This list came out of a New Year’s Eve conversation with friends and covers everything from early, unsettling films like River’s Edge to action classics like Speed, cultural icons like The Matrix, and the undeniable pull of the John Wick franchise. Along the way, we hit birthdays, including Alan Hale Jr., Jim Bakker, Christy Turlington, Taye Diggs, and Dax Shepard, a historic moment when Georgia ratified the U.S. Constitution, and a mix of celebrations like National Science Fiction Day, World Introvert Day, National Buffet Day, and Swiss Cheese Day. It’s reflective, conversational, a little quirky, and exactly the kind of episode that eases you into the new year by reminding you that curiosity, good movies, and shared moments still matter.

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Today, on the very first day of 2026, I start with a quirky fact about a town in Norway where it’s illegal to die, which turns into a reminder that the world is full of strange, practical problems we never think about until we have to. I talk a little about ringing in the new year with friends, coming into the day slower than usual, and why I actually enjoy the daily rhythm of recording this show, even when it runs late. We check the weather in Beijing, where it’s already tomorrow, and back home in Cincinnati, then I reflect on birthdays from today in history, including J.D. Salinger, Betsy Ross, Paul Revere, Barry Bonds, and Fats Domino. I also acknowledge the Emancipation Proclamation taking effect on this day in 1863 and spend some time thinking about what New Year’s Day really means, not in terms of big resolutions, but small, intentional changes that focus on relationships. For Thursday’s story feature, I dive into a Science News article by Nikk Ogasa about an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting the Moon in 2032, and why stories like that don’t scare me as much as they give me perspective, shrinking everyday worries and reminding me how meaningful our lives really are. I wrap things up by encouraging you to rest if you need to, make a great memory if you can, and spend time with the people you love, because memories are better than stuff.

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On this New Year’s Eve episode of Simple Joe, I share a surprising detail about the iconic Times Square ball and how much larger it is than many of us imagined, then spend Wildcard Wednesday reflecting with you on what it means to intentionally de-digitize our lives. I talk about an eight-hour flight where I chose boredom over screens, what happened when I stopped filling every quiet moment, and how that experience reminded me of the difference between wandering and wondering. I walk you through the small but meaningful changes I’ve made, like locking apps, wearing an analog watch, and creating space for deeper focus, rest, and creativity, without rejecting technology altogether. Along the way, I share the weather for Pipe Creek, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio, recognize birthdays including Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, John Denver, Donna Summer, Tim Matheson, and Val Kilmer, reflect on Arthur Guinness signing a 9,000-year lease in 1759, and celebrate New Year’s Eve itself. As we look toward 2026, this episode isn’t about big resolutions or drastic overhauls, it’s about choosing intention, allowing room for quiet, and stepping into the new year with more presence and curiosity.

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On today’s episode of Simple Joe, I share a fun and quirky Guinness World Records fact about the world’s largest rubber duck collection, owned by Charlotte Lee, and somehow connect it to Cincinnati’s own rubber duck regatta. We check the weather for Rabat, Morocco and Cincinnati, Ohio as the year winds down under cloudy skies, celebrate notable birthdays including LeBron James and Tiger Woods, and look back at two fascinating moments in history, the opening of America’s first modern freeway and the debut of color television. It’s also the Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute and Baking Soda Day, which sparks reflection, humor, and a few real-life examples from my own kitchen. As always on Tuesday, we dive into Random Questions that take us to some unexpected and entertaining places, and I invite you to play along and see where your own answers take you.

Today’s Random Questions:

• If animals could talk, which animal do you think would be the rudest?
• What everyday object do you think future generations will find confusing or amusing about how we used it?
• What food do you love that you fully admit makes no sense to love as much as you do?
• If you could instantly become the world’s best at something completely useless, what would you choose?
• Would you rather only be able to whisper for the rest of your life, or only be able to shout, with no in-between?

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On today’s episode of Simple Joe for Monday, December 29, 2025, I start with a surprisingly relatable fact about how most people have legs that are slightly different lengths and how the brain quietly compensates without us ever noticing, something I definitely relate to more than I realized. I share a few personal reflections, talk through the weather in Redford, Michigan and Cincinnati, Ohio, and celebrate birthdays for Mary Tyler Moore, Jon Voight, Ted Danson, Paula Poundstone, Patricia Clarkson, Jude Law, and Myles Garrett. We take a quick look back at two moments from this day in history, including the creation of the first modern wooden bowling ball in 1862 and the infamous Woody Hayes incident during the 1978 Gator Bowl. I also recognize International Cello Day and Still Need to Do Day, both fitting as the year comes to a close. To wrap things up, I read through five intriguing Monday headlines and ask you to let me know which one you want me to dig into later this week.

Monday’s Interesting Headlines:

• An asteroid could hit the moon in 2032, scattering debris toward Earth
• Gut bacteria shaped by your roommate’s genes, study finds
• Scientists confirm a tree in Chile is over 5,400 years old, possibly the oldest on Earth
• Japanese man completes 1,000 consecutive days of eating only convenience store meals
• Scientists recreate ancient Roman concrete recipe that gets stronger over time

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I settle into the calm of the day after Christmas with a surprisingly humbling thought about honey and the quiet, unseen work behind the simple things we often take for granted. I reflect on family traditions, missed holiday plans due to illness, time spent with my grandson, and that familiar stretch between Christmas and New Year where life slows down just enough to think ahead. We hear the weather for Hermitage, Tennessee and Cincinnati, Ohio, recognize notable birthdays, revisit a few fascinating moments from history, and talk about Boxing Day and National Thank You Note Day, along with why gratitude still matters. Today, we'll explore my Top 10 Podcasts of 2025, a personal look at the shows that lived in my ears this year, based on real listening data, repeat plays, enjoyment, and personal development value. I don’t give the list away here, you’ll have to listen for that, but I do share why podcasts matter to me and how the right voices can help us learn, laugh, slow down, and think a little deeper. It’s a reflective, easygoing episode about curiosity, connection, and remembering that the conversations we carry with us often mean more than anything we unwrap.

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Today is Christmas Day, and I’m really glad you’re here with me. I kicked things off with a wild fact about the longest recorded polar night at the northernmost inhabited places on Earth, more than 65 days without seeing the sun at all, no sunrise, no sunset, just different shades of light and dark, which honestly messes with your sense of time and turned out to be a perfect lead-in for today’s conversation. I welcomed you into the episode the same way I’d welcome you into my living room on Christmas morning, talking about Santa, family traditions, notes left for kids, and how meaningful this day can be when we slow down and spend it with the people we love. We checked the weather in the North Pole and Cincinnati, Ohio, two places experiencing Christmas in very different ways, and I walked through today’s birthdays, including Cab Calloway, Rod Serling, Jimmy Buffett, Sissy Spacek, Annie Lennox, Ricky Henderson, and Justin Trudeau, along with a couple of notable moments from this day in history like the appearance of Halley’s Comet and the premiere of To Kill a Mockingbird. The heart of the episode is a deep dive into a question almost all of us have asked, why time feels like it speeds up as we get older, where I explored a recent study and broke down how our brains segment life into events, how those mental boundaries change with age, and why fewer distinct moments can make entire years feel like they fly by. I wrapped things up by encouraging you to notice more moments, soak in today, and create memories that actually stick, because even if time feels like it’s moving fast, the moments are still there if we pay attention. Thanks for spending part of your Christmas Day with me, I really appreciate you, Merry Christmas, and remember, memories are better than stuff.

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On this Christmas Eve episode of Simple Joe, I share the accidental but heartwarming story of how NORAD began tracking Santa in 1955, a simple mistake that turned into a beloved tradition. We check in on the weather for Honolulu, Hawaii and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate birthdays and historic moments from December 24th, and recognize Christmas Eve, National Eggnog Day, Last-Minute Shopper Day, and Universal Human Solidarity Day. For Wildcard Wednesday, I take on a very serious issue: coffee mugs. I make the case that we all own way too many mugs, explore why mugs became the default appreciation gift, and suggest that time, experiences, and shared moments send the same message without overflowing our cabinets. As always, I wrap things up by encouraging you to slow down, make great memories, and remember that memories are better than stuff.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I start with a strange and fascinating idea: astronauts say space smells like hot metal and seared steak once they’re back inside their spacecraft, which leads me to wonder how something so empty can still leave a trace. We check in on the weather for Perth, Australia, where Christmas week brings intense heat and sunshine, and for Cincinnati, Ohio, where winter feels surprisingly mild this year. I celebrate birthdays ranging from Otis Redding to Eddie Vedder, reflect on the lasting impact of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and the release of Titanic, and acknowledge Festivus along with a handful of lighthearted December 23 celebrations. The heart of the episode is Tuesday’s Random Questions, where I think out loud about courtesy, overengineering, small competitions we don’t even realize we’re in, and whether life would be better with background music or a perfectly timed laugh track. As Christmas approaches, I end with a reminder to slow down, resist the pull of stuff, and focus on what really lasts: time, laughter, love, and memories with the people who matter most.

Tuesday Random Questions

• Why do you think people apologize to inanimate objects when they bump into them?
• What food do people pretend to like because it feels socially unacceptable to dislike it?
• What is something humans clearly overengineered that probably did not need that much thought?
• Why do you think people feel oddly competitive about things that do not actually matter, like parking spots or grocery checkout lines?
• Would you rather have background music follow you everywhere you go, or have a laugh track play at random moments in your life?

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Today on Simple Joe, I’m thinking about how some of the earliest radio broadcasts are still traveling through space, carrying music, voices, and stories far beyond Earth, and what that might mean about the things we put out into the world. I share the weather for Poughkeepsie, New York, and Cincinnati, Ohio, reflect on birthdays of notable figures like Connie Mack, Diane Sawyer, the Gibb brothers, and Ralph Fiennes, and touch on moments from history including the first commercial Christmas lights and the premiere of Schindler’s List. I also celebrate National Date Nut Bread Day and dive into Monday’s Interesting Headlines, riffing on curiosity, technology, focus, time, and communication. As we head into the days leading up to Christmas, this episode is about wonder, perspective, and making space for good memories with the people who matter most, because memories are always better than stuff.

Monday’s Interesting Headlines:

• A man accidentally returns a library book 60 years late and pays less than five dollars

• Engineers create a battery that can charge in under one minute

• Researchers say background noise may actually help some people focus better

• New study explains why time feels like it speeds up as we get older

• Researchers develop headphones that translate speech in real time without internet

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I start with a quirky and fascinating fact about how the music we hear can actually change the way food tastes, which leads me into a lighthearted riff about tomatoes, preferences, and how context shapes experience. From there, I share the full three-day weather forecast for Lebo, Kansas and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate today’s birthdays and notable moments in history, and recognize the first day of winter along with World Meditation Day. The heart of the episode is a Christmas-themed Faith Connections reflection called The Gift That Didn’t Look Like a Gift, where I talk about how the Messiah arrived not as a king, but as a baby, and how God’s greatest gifts often come in humble, unexpected packaging. I reflect on how perspective changes everything, how some of the most meaningful gifts in life don’t look impressive at first, and how quiet, unremarkable moments can turn out to be life-changing. I wrap up by inviting you to reflect on the gifts you may have overlooked, encourage you to make memories over collecting things, and remind you that even in the busiest season, the greatest gifts are often the ones that arrive quietly.

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In today’s Saturday episode of Simple Joe, I explore the surprisingly powerful idea of a “Done for the Day” list, inspired by my recent rereading of Effortless by Greg McKeown, the follow-up to Essentialism. We talk about why traditional to-do lists often leave us feeling overwhelmed and unfinished, even when we work all day, and how defining what “done” actually looks like can change the way we experience our work, our energy, and our rest. I share reflections on deadlines, productivity pressure, and why work expands when we don’t create clear finish lines, along with real-life thoughts on vacations, unfinished projects, and the mental weight of carrying too much forward. Along the way, we cover the weather in Antioch, California and Cincinnati, Ohio, birthdays, historic events, and today’s celebrations, including International Human Solidarity Day, National Sangria Day, and National Fried Shrimp Day. This episode is about simplifying effort, choosing what truly matters, giving yourself permission to stop, and ending the day with clarity instead of guilt, so you can rest well and show up better tomorrow.

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Today on Simple Joe, I start the show by venting about how much I hate paper cuts and why they hurt more than they should, before easing into a reflective Friday episode focused on slowing down and heading into some well-earned downtime. We hear the weather for Jerusalem, Israel, and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate December 19 birthdays including Cicely Tyson, Maurice White, Jake Gyllenhaal, and more, and look back at historic moments like the publication of A Christmas Carol and Zanzibar’s independence. I also talk through National Hard Candy Day, National Emo Day, and Go Caroling Day, sharing a few personal stories along the way. The heart of the episode is a thoughtfully researched Top 10 list of gifts that create great memories, from starting traditions and surprise days off together to shared experiences, meaningful places, and my personal favorite, a photo book from the previous year, which has become one of the most meaningful gifts I receive. It’s a reminder that the best gifts aren’t expensive or complicated, they’re the ones that turn into stories, connection, and memories that last far longer than any object.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I start with one of my favorite kinds of stories, the kind where curiosity changes everything, like how the microwave oven was invented by accident when Percy Spencer noticed a candy bar melt in his pocket. From there, I share the weather for Sterling, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate birthdays including Keith Richards, Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, and Billie Eilish, touch on moments in history like the Mayflower arriving at Plymouth Harbor and the debut of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and recognize National Bake Cookies Day. The heart of the episode, though, is a story that stopped me in my tracks, a skydiver in Australia who ended up dangling 15,000 feet in the air after their parachute caught on the tail of the plane they had just jumped from. I walk through what happened, how the pilot and emergency crews stayed calm under unimaginable pressure, and why experts believe this rare incident likely came down to timing, airflow, and early parachute deployment. It’s a story about fear, patience, trust, and steady decision making when things go wrong in ways no one expects, and a reminder that sometimes courage looks like hanging on while others do their job.

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Today’s episode of Simple Joe (Wednesday, December 17, 2025) comes to you from Cheyenne, Wyoming, where I kick things off with a mind-blowing fact about how fast your brain processes images, then roll into the 3-day weather for Cheyenne and Cincinnati before hitting birthdays like Eugene Levy, Bill Pullman, and Sarah Paulson. We also look back at the Wright brothers’ first powered flight and the debut of The Simpsons, celebrate Wright Brothers Day and National Maple Syrup Day, then dive deep into a Wildcard Wednesday topic that hits home for a lot of us: digital addiction, doomscrolling, dopamine, and how social media algorithms quietly steal our focus. I share how even “harmless” scrolling, like comedy clips, sports highlights, and faith content, can turn into hours on autopilot, and I talk honestly about a tool that’s helping me create friction and intention again, The Brick, which you can find at getbrick.app.

The Brick: getbrick.app

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Today’s Simple Joe episode for Tuesday, December 16, 2025 kicks off with a knuckle-cracking truth that made me laugh, because I am a master knuckle cracker and I have heard the arthritis warning my whole life. I also want to say thank you, because a bunch of you checked on me when yesterday’s episode came out late, and that meant more than you know. From there, we roll through the weather for Council Bluffs, Iowa and Cincinnati, then hit birthdays for Beethoven, Arthur C. Clarke, and Billy Gibbons, plus a couple standout moments from history including Bangladesh’s international recognition and the return of Apollo 17. We also celebrate National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day and National Ugly Sweater Day, which turned into me asking what weird thing you’ve tried dipped in chocolate and admitting I am about to join the ugly sweater crowd whether I am ready or not. Then we get into Tuesday’s random questions where I riff on laugh tracks, unnecessary purchases I weirdly love, the movie line I quote constantly, the small “rules” I break at work, and the minor inconveniences people overreact to, especially the post-landing airplane shuffle.

Here are Tuesday's Random Questions

• If your life had a laugh track, what everyday moment would trigger it the most?
• What completely unnecessary purchase have you made that still makes you smile every time you use it?
• What movie scene do you quote far more often than you probably should, even if no one around you gets the reference?
• What small, harmless rule do you regularly break that feels way more rebellious than it should?
• What minor inconvenience do you think people dramatically overreact to, but you secretly find funny?

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I’m late today, but I’m glad you’re here with me for Simple Joe on Monday, December 15th, 2025, where we start with a wild little reality check that the average person spends about six months of life sitting at red lights, and I admit I’m still working on not reaching for my phone every time I’m bored. We check in on the weather in Phoenix, Arizona and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate International Tea Day, Cat Herders Day, and National Cupcake Day, and then I roll into Monday’s Interesting Headlines, the quirky, weird, and fascinating stories that make me say, “What in the world is that about?”, and invite you to tell me which one you want me to dig into by Thursday. If you like fun daily podcast episodes with feel-good curiosity, oddball news, and a little slice of real life, you’re in the right place, and I’m grateful you’re listening.

Monday’s Interesting Headlines

• Skydiver dangles 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane’s tail in Australia
• Drone drops steak and crab legs for a prisoner feast, but South Carolina guards find it first
• Decades-old palm trees in Rio de Janeiro flower for the first and only time
• Runaway reindeer sparks emergency rescue operation
• Police recover a swallowed Fabergé pendant after a 6-day wait for it to reappear

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Today on Simple Joe, I’m wrapping up my three-part Why I Believe series by sharing why I openly identify as a Christian. I talk about the Voyager Golden Record and what it says about humanity, then we move through the weather in Southfield, Michigan and Cincinnati, celebrate a few birthdays, and reflect on history and National Monkey Day. The heart of today’s episode, though, is an honest conversation about community, church, and what it really means to live out faith alongside other people. I explain why following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey, why accountability can be a gift, how the Christian church has supported me when life has been hard, and why hypocrisy in Christianity does not negate the teachings of Jesus. This episode is not about having perfect answers or blind certainty, but about choosing a way of life that produces meaning, generosity, forgiveness, and hope for believers and non-believers alike.

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I’m back home from Sacramento and settling into a Saturday rhythm while we check the weather in Santiago, Chile and Cincinnati, Ohio, and then lean into a personal development question that hits just about everybody: how do you do more of what you love to do, especially when you’re not even sure what that is yet? In this episode, I riff on petrichor, that famous smell of rain, and it gets me thinking about how much meaning can hide in small, everyday details if we slow down long enough to notice them. From there, I walk through practical, real-life clues for discovering what you truly enjoy, like paying attention to what gives you energy, what makes you lose track of time, what you naturally did when you were younger, and what keeps resurfacing even when you put it down for a while. I also talk about letting go of the pressure to find one big “calling,” giving yourself permission to enjoy things without turning them into a label, and taking small, low-stakes steps toward the activities that make you feel most alive, because sometimes the best direction in life starts with a simple experiment and a little attention.

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Today’s Simple Joe episode for Friday, December 12, 2025 is a fun one, starting with the surprising fact that honeybees can recognize human faces, and I share how bees always seem to find me, plus a little warning that they might remember you if you have ever bothered their nest. I’m wrapping up my last day in Sacramento, and we take a quick trip down the road with the weather in San Francisco, where it stays beautifully consistent all weekend, then we contrast that with a cold Cincinnati forecast that includes snow and a deep freeze. From there, I run through today’s birthdays, including Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Bob Barker, Mayim Bialik, Connie Francis, Sheila E., and Sarah Douglas, hit two major historic moments from December 12, and celebrate National Gingerbread House Day, National Ambrosia Day, and National Poinsettia Day. Then we get into the Friday Top 10 feature, counting down the most famous lines in movie history, talking through why these quotes have stuck with us for decades, plus a few honorable mentions that deserved a nod, and I wrap it all up with a reminder to make a great memory heading into the weekend, because memories are better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I start with the wild idea of a 75-second echo in an abandoned oil tank in Scotland and use it to talk about how some moments, and some kindnesses, linger a lot longer than we realize, then I share the weather in Cebu City, Philippines and back home in Cincinnati before celebrating birthdays, a few bits of history, and fun observances like International Mountain Day, National App Day, and National Bagel Day. From there, I dig into the powerful story you chose: an 88-year-old Army veteran and grocery store cashier whose life was turned upside down when his pension disappeared and his wife got sick, and how one creator’s kindness on TikTok helped spark more than 1.7 million dollars in donations so he could finally retire. As I walk through Ed’s story, I reflect on what it means for us, you and me, to notice the “Eds” in our own lives, to pay attention to the tired cashier, the neighbor who keeps going, the friend who is always caring for someone else, and to look for small ways to be generous in this season and beyond, because moments like these remind us that memories, compassion, and human connection really are better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I share the fun origin of voicemail and a few memories of old-school answering machines, give you the weather for Bethel, Ohio and Cincinnati, celebrate birthdays like Dorothy Lamour, Dan Blocker, Susan Dey, Raven-Symoné, and Cincinnati’s own Joe Burrow, and mark Nobel Prize Day, Dewey Decimal System Day, and National Lager Day while I talk a bit about libraries and my favorite beers. Then for Wildcard Wednesday I dig into the truth behind the popular myth that we only use 10 percent of our brain, what modern brain imaging actually shows, why the idea of “hidden potential” is so attractive, and how our real limits often come from fear, habits, distraction, and lack of attention instead of unused brain power. If you want a thoughtful, encouraging reminder that your brain is fully online and that growth comes from courage, focus, and intentional choices, this episode is for you.

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Today I talked about the world’s first commercial robot, Unimate, and how amazing it is that industrial automation started way back in 1961, then I shared the weather for Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati and walked through today’s birthdays, historic events, and celebrations. Since it’s Tuesday, I dove into five random questions that took me from life’s simple pleasures to skydiving dreams and even what kind of Yelp review my pets might give me. As always, I encouraged you to reflect on these questions yourself and to find a way to slow things down, appreciate the moment, and make a great memory today. Here are the questions from the episode:

• What’s a simple pleasure you think people forget to appreciate?

• What’s a moment in your life when time seemed to slow down in a good way?

• If you could borrow anyone’s voice for a day, whose would it be?

• What’s something you’ve never tried but think you would genuinely enjoy?

• If animals could give Yelp reviews of humans, what rating do you think your pets or neighborhood animals would give you?

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I riff on the wild story of the Centennial Bulb that has been glowing in a California fire station since 1901, then hang out with you for some brutally cold weather in Allentown, Pennsylvania and back home in Cincinnati, a run through rock legends and pop icons like Jim Morrison, Gregg Allman, Sam Kinison, Kim Basinger, Marty Friedman, Sinéad O’Connor, and Nicki Minaj, plus a few fun celebrations like National Brownie Day, National Christmas Tree Day, National Lard Day, and National Blue Collar Day. I also share five intriguing headlines and ask you to help me choose which one we should dig into for Thursday’s show, all while reminding you to make memories with the people you love because memories are better than stuff.

Interesting Headlines from this episode:

• 88-year-old veteran who went viral on TikTok surprised with over 1.7 million dollars

• Dick Van Dyke once thought he swallowed his dentures only to find his dog Bootsy Poppins chewing on them

• Trucker with 5 million accident-free miles wins custom semi and $50,000 as the 2025 Road Warrior Champion

• Couple of 25 years prove perfect match as wife donates kidney to husband

• New underwater tool lets ecologists ID fish from their sounds, 46 species so far

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I pick back up my “Why I Believe” series and share why I believe in Jesus, after first talking about the world’s oldest customer complaint, my time in Sopela, Spain, and a few fun bits like cotton candy, letter writing, and birthdays. I apologize for missing this part of the series last Sunday and explain how today’s Faith Connection builds on the previous conversation about why I believe in God at all. From there, I walk through why the historical Jesus stands out to me, looking at extra biblical sources like Tacitus, Josephus, and Pliny the Younger, and why the resurrection is, in my view, the best explanation for the explosion of the early Christian movement. I talk about how the teachings of Jesus actually work in real life, meeting deep human needs like acceptance, forgiveness, meaning, hope, identity, and belonging, and how a God who suffers with us can be trusted. I wrap up by sharing how following Jesus is the most honest way I know to live, and I point listeners to resources like Lee Strobel, William Lane Craig, C. S. Lewis, N. T. Wright, and even some early Ravi Zacharias work for those who want to explore the historical Jesus, the resurrection, and Christian faith more deeply.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Saturday, December 6th, 2025, I start with the world’s quietest room at Microsoft’s headquarters and use it as a springboard to think about how much noise we live with and how strange real silence would feel. After a look at the weather in Auckland, New Zealand, and my hometown Cincinnati, along with a quick pass through a few birthdays, historic moments, and today’s observances, I dive into a personal development conversation about reading, how I grew up not really loving books, struggled with comprehension, and then had my life changed when I discovered personal development books like Unlimited Power and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I share how reading has become one of the most powerful tools in my life for wisdom, encouragement, and self-education, how I build a simple daily habit with my Kindle, a comfy brown chair, and a 20 minute timer, and how books like The Bible, The Rhythm of Life, Essentialism, Supercoach, The Psychology of Money, and Atomic Habits have all left fingerprints on my life. I talk about reading as nourishment instead of homework, about choosing books that excite you, and about how both nonfiction and fiction can help you understand yourself and the world better. I invite you to start your own small reading habit today, connect with me on Goodreads, maybe even read alongside me, and use books as a way to make your life better, deepen your conversations, and create great memories with the people you love, because memories are better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Friday, December 5th, 2025, I start with a fantastic fact about hummingbirds and their incredible wing speed, sharing how fascinating and fun they are to watch at a backyard feeder. I walk through the weather for San Luis Obispo, California, and Cincinnati, then celebrate notable birthdays like Martin Van Buren, Walt Disney, Little Richard, Frankie Muniz, Art Monk, and Margaret Cho. I highlight the historic end of Prohibition in 1933 and note today’s observances, including International Volunteer Day, World Soil Day, and International Ninja Day. For Friday’s feature, I dive into a clean and family-friendly look at some of the funniest town names in America, exploring what makes them charming, unique, and so much fun to talk about. I close the show with my usual encouragement to make today epic, spend meaningful time with people you love, and remember that memories are better than stuff.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I share a fascinating fact about why bananas are naturally radioactive, walk you through the weather in Portland, Maine and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate birthdays like Jeff Bridges, Marisa Tomei, and JAY-Z, and highlight fun observances including National Cookie Day, National Sock Day, and Wear Brown Shoes Day. I even tell a funny story about accidentally wearing one black shoe and one brown shoe to work. For our Thursday Feature, I dive into an amazing ScienceDaily headline about scientists discovering a cancer-fighting compound in Amazonian scorpion venom, exploring how nature continues to surprise us and why breakthroughs like this give real hope. I wrap up with a reminder to make great memories with the people you love, because memories are always better than stuff.

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In today’s episode, I start with the idea that Earth is the only planet in our solar system whose English name does not come from Greek or Roman mythology, and I have a little fun with the fact that our name basically means “dirt”. In contrast, all the other planets get fancy god names. I share the weather for Las Vegas, Nevada, and my hometown, Cincinnati, along with a quick story about never having been to Las Vegas or really spending time in a casino. I walk through birthdays for Bobby Allison, Ozzy Osbourne, Daryl Hannah, Julianne Moore, Katarina Witt, Brendan Fraser, and Amanda Seyfried, then touch on key historical events like Illinois becoming the 21st state, the first modern neon lamp, the tragic The Who concert stampede in Cincinnati, and the very first SMS text message. I also talk about Make a Gift Day, Let’s Hug Day, and National Green Bean Casserole Day, including my strong opinions on how green bean casserole should be made. For Wildcard Wednesday, I roll out a “Change My Mind” segment on what really counts as a sport, walk through my three specific criteria, test a bunch of activities against them, and invite listeners into the debate. I wrap up by reminding you to focus on making memories with the people you love, because memories are better than stuff.

What is a Sport?

• There must be a clear, objective score that does not depend on judges or opinion.

• Something must be thrown, struck, or tossed as a central part of the activity.

• There must be credible potential for injury that is a normal, accepted, and sometimes strategic part of how the game is played.

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I start with a mind-bending fact about neutron stars, where a single teaspoon of their material would weigh more than a billion tons on Earth, and let that set the tone for just how mysterious and big this universe really is. I talk through the chilly weather in Tama, Iowa and back home in Cincinnati, celebrate a few birthdays like Lucy Liu, Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Cathy Lee Crosby, and Aaron Rodgers, and touch on history with John Brown’s execution and the first permanent artificial heart. I have some fun with National Fritters Day and National Play Basketball Day, including a little riff on what really counts as a “sport.” Then I lean into Tuesday’s Random Questions.

• If you could instantly master any everyday skill that most people overlook, what would it be?

• What's a small decision you once made that unexpectedly changed the direction of your life?

• If you had to describe your personality using only objects found in a grocery store, what items would you choose?

• Coffee mug, travel tumbler, or glass jar, which one are you drinking from for the rest of your life?

• Beach sunrise, snowy morning, or rainy afternoon, which one would you choose every time?

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In today’s episode, I talk about this wild thing researchers discovered — sea lions can actually clap underwater, and loud enough to sound like a whip cracking. I share the weather for my friends in Bangkok, Thailand, along with what’s going on here in Cincinnati. We look at today’s birthdays, including Lou Rawls, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Wally Lewis, Sarah Silverman, DeSean Jackson, and Zoë Kravitz, and I touch on Rosa Parks’ historic stand back in 1955. We also go through today’s celebrations like Antarctica Day, National Pie Day, Eat a Red Apple Day, and National Christmas Lights Day. And since it’s Monday, we check out a handful of Interesting Headlines that caught my eye:

• At one wildlife preserve, turkeys are for cuddling — not stuffing — this Thanksgiving
• Scientists may have detected hints of dark matter in a surprising gamma-ray signal
• Humans might be able to “breathe through the gut,” according to unusual new research
• Scientists turned Amazonian scorpion venom into promising cancer-fighting compounds
• Northern Lights unexpectedly illuminated a coastal town much farther south than expected

I wrap things up by asking which headline you want me to dig into for Thursday’s show, and I leave you with a reminder to spend time with the people you love because—no matter what day it is—memories are always better than stuff.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I talk about the incredible power of lightning, explore the weather in Berkhamsted, England, and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrate birthdays like Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Ridley Scott, and Ben Stiller, and look at historic events, including the first international football match and the Sylacauga meteorite strike. I highlight celebrations like Computer Security Day, National Mason Jar Day, National Moose Day, and National Mississippi Day, and then dive into a full Faith Connections conversation about what Christian generosity really means, especially when it comes to caring for widows and orphans and the people today who fill those same vulnerable roles, like single parents, foster children, the elderly, immigrants, people with disabilities, and anyone without a support system. I also share practical reflections on sacrificial giving, presence over provision, and stepping into someone’s story with compassion. It is a good one, and I hope it brings encouragement, thoughtfulness, and maybe a challenge to live generously today.

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In today’s episode of the Simple Joe Daily Podcast, I kick things off with the wild fact that honey never spoils, even after 3,000 years in an Egyptian tomb, then share a quick Knoxville memory before giving you the full weather for Knoxville and Cincinnati, running through today’s birthdays, historic events, and celebrations, and diving into a personal development talk about choosing progress over perfection, how perfectionism can freeze us in place, why small imperfect steps matter more than perfect plans, and how tiny bits of action can create momentum, reduce overwhelm, and help you build a life rooted in consistency and honesty instead of fear and waiting for the “perfect moment.”

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe for Friday, November 28th, 2025, I talk about one of the craziest space facts I have ever heard, that one day on Venus is actually longer than one year on Venus, and what that would mean if we tried to live or even schedule life there. I share a little bit about how I am recovering from Thanksgiving, including my wife and I keeping our Waffle House breakfast tradition alive, and my plans to rest through the long weekend. You will hear the weather in Hudson, New Hampshire, and back home here in Cincinnati, Ohio, then we celebrate some very cool birthdays, Ferdinand Magellan’s big ocean milestone, the first American automobile race, and the very first Grand Ole Opry broadcast. I also talk about National French Toast Day, International Jaguar Day, electronic greeting cards, and Giving Friday in the UK, along with my strong opinions on French toast versus pancakes and waffles. Then I dive into the Top 10 Soups Fall Edition, suggested by listener Andy Hoffman, where I walk through the difference between soups and stews, count down from tomato basil all the way to pumpkin soup at number one, and give my honest take on each one, including Andy’s favorites like French onion and loaded baked potato soup. I wrap up by inviting you to text or email me, skip the Black Friday madness, spend time with the people who love you and who you love, and remember that memories are better than stuff.

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Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. Today I talk about the very first Thanksgiving meal back in the autumn of 1621 and how it probably had lobster, eel, goose, and five deer from the Wampanoag instead of turkey. I share the weather for Delmar, New York and here at home in Cincinnati, and then we dig into the headline you chose from Monday’s Interesting Headlines: a wild new “zap the ice” technology that uses electricity instead of heat to clear your car windshield in seconds. I walk through how it works, why it could change winter mornings for all of us, and why it might even be one of those quiet investment game changers. I also spend time reflecting on Thanksgiving itself, talking about family, friends, gratitude, awkward holiday dynamics, and why today is such a powerful day to make memories with the people you love and the people who love you. And of course, I tease tomorrow’s Top 10 List, suggested by listener Andy Hoffman: the Top 10 Most Popular Soups, because it is fall and soup season is definitely here.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I share a quirky little nugget about a Swiss inventor who built a fully functional clock made entirely out of cheese. Then we look at Thanksgiving week weather in Lansing, Michigan and here at home in Cincinnati. I celebrate a few big birthdays, including Charles M. Schulz, Tina Turner, Dale Jarrett, and Peter Facinelli, and we have some fun with National Cake Day, National Jukebox Day, and the wonderfully conflicting Anti Obesity Day as I ask you to choose your winner between cake, pie, and cookies.

From there, I tell a personal story from a long flight between Manchester, England and Orlando, Florida, where I made an unusual decision in our always connected world: I turned off every screen, put both of my phones away, refused Wi Fi, and let myself be completely, intentionally bored. Out of that came some honest reflections about doom scrolling, the way the algorithm mirrors our behavior, and what happens to your mind when you finally stop feeding it constant stimulation. If you have ever felt glued to your phone or forgotten what it feels like to simply sit and think, this one might speak to you.

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I kick things off with the fascinating fact that the very first website ever created, Tim Berners-Lee’s text-only page at info.cern.ch, is still online today just the way it looked in 1991, and I geek out a bit by “visiting” it in real time. I share the weather for my friends in Moscow, Russia and back home in Cincinnati, then we celebrate some big birthdays like Joe DiMaggio, Ricardo Montalbán, Annie Lennox, Ben Stein, John F. Kennedy Jr., Amy Grant, Billy Burke, and Christina Applegate, touch on Alfred Nobel patenting dynamite, and mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Blasé Day, and National Parfait Day.

It’s Tuesday, which means Random Questions, and today’s lineup will make you think. Here are the ones I pulled:

Random Questions:

1. If you could erase one everyday inconvenience from the world, what would it be?
2. What’s something you’ve never tried but secretly think you’d be really good at?
3. If your life had a theme song for today, what would it be and why?
4. What is one ordinary object you think will be obsolete in 20 years?
5. If you could instantly learn the entire history of any one country, which country would you pick?

I share my off-the-cuff answers — some surprising, some personal, some a little philosophical — and invite listeners to think through their own. I wrap up with reminders about Wildcard Wednesday, how to share your thoughts, and of course, a nudge to make today epic, because memories are better than stuff.

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Today I talked about a lake in Australia that is naturally bright pink and still a mystery to scientists, and I had fun imagining what it would be like to actually jump into a bright pink lake. I shared the three day weather for Brooklyn, Wisconsin, and Cincinnati, and then dug into Monday’s Interesting Headlines where I peruse the news for fun, odd stories worth talking about. Today’s headlines included a smart keyboard helping Parkinson’s patients, a new way to defrost cars using electricity instead of heat, a teacher who created a compliment hotline, a self healing phone case that fixes scratches in minutes, and a tiny robot that can fold laundry the size of a postage stamp. I closed the show with today’s birthdays, historic events, and National Sardines Day, plus a reminder to make great memories because memories are better than stuff.

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In this Sunday edition of Simple Joe, I kick things off with a fun fact about the world’s first computer password (spoiler: it wasn’t about security), then dive into a personal reflection on how I manage my own passwords. I share the weather forecast for my friends in Melbourne, Australia, and Cincinnati, plus a quick travel recap from my time in the UK and Spain. You’ll hear today’s birthdays including Miley Cyrus (and a correction from yesterday), key historical events like the debut of Doctor Who and the first jukebox, and celebrations like National Espresso Day and Eat a Cranberry Day. Then I begin a three-part series on my faith journey. Today’s focus: why I believe in God. I walk through my transition from relativism and atheism to theism, using reason, science, morality, and personal thought to explain how I landed on belief in a Creator. Whether you’re a believer, skeptic, or just curious, this episode invites thoughtful reflection on truth, purpose, and what we believe about the world around us.

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Today I talked about the quirky truth that “queue” is the only English word where one letter does all the work, and the rest just ride along, which made me think about how real life sometimes feels the same way. I shared that I’m finally flying home after a long trip and then walked through the weather in Riverside, California and back home in Cincinnati. I celebrated birthdays like Rodney Dangerfield, Terry Gilliam, Billie Jean King, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Miley Cyrus, remembered the anniversary of JFK’s assassination and the release of Toy Story, and highlighted today’s celebrations like National Adoption Day, Start Your Own Country Day, and Go For a Ride Day. For Saturday’s personal development topic, I dug into the question, “What would you do if you were brave?” and explored how courage isn’t the absence of fear but choosing action despite it. I encouraged listeners to take one small, brave step toward the person they want to be, make a great memory, and remember that memories are better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Friday, November 21st, 2025, I kick things off with a wild fact about a fully functional acrylic grand piano from Japan, then share a personal experiment where I skip the weather and talk about the place I have called home for the past week, Chester, England. I walk you through why Chester feels like every American’s idea of what England looks like, from the Roman walls and amphitheater to The Rows, the Christmas market that feels like stepping into a postcard, and a super friendly Liverpool street vendor who hugged me when he heard I was from the States and far from home. I also tell you about my favorite spot to eat in town, The Coach House Inn, with its warm atmosphere and killer cheeseburger, and touch on birthdays like Goldie Hawn, Björk, Michael Strahan, and Carly Rae Jepsen, plus a few historic notes and celebrations including World Television Day and National Gingerbread Cookie Day. Then I wrap it all around a fun Friday feature, the Top 10 Weirdest Things People Collect, from airline sick bags and hotel soaps to belly button lint and potato chip shapes, and finish by reminding you to collect memories more than stuff and to spend time with the people who love you and the people you love.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I kick things off with the wild fact that your smartphone has more computing power than all of NASA had in 1969 when they sent humans to the moon, which gets me thinking about why we haven’t gone back. From there, I share the weather for St. Paul, Minnesota and Cincinnati, Ohio, and talk a bit about my travels from Madrid to Manchester and the nudge from Karin that got me on the mic today. I run through notable birthdays like Robert F. Kennedy, Richard Dawson, Joe Biden, Bo Derek, Mike D, Joel McHale, Dierks Bentley, and Josh Turner, plus the quirky historic event of the yo-yo’s first U.S. patent. With National Absurdity Day and National Peanut Butter Fudge Day on the calendar, it’s already fun, but the big feature is the listener-picked story about Bunny the talking dog, a sheepadoodle using a digital soundboard to ask questions, express emotions, and spark debates about cross-species communication. I walk through the science, the skepticism, the emotional moments, and the possibilities as this technology develops. I wrap up by inviting listeners to share their thoughts, text me, spread the show on social media with #simplejoeismyfriend, and remember that memories are better than stuff as we head into the holiday season.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I kick things off with a wild fact about the microscopic universe hiding in a teaspoon of soil, then share the weather in Tampa, Cincinnati, and here in Madrid. It’s Wild Card Wednesday, and I sit down with my UK correspondent and good friend, Kevin Curtis-Allen, for a fun and fascinating conversation about British food, pub culture, tipping differences between the US and UK, breakfast traditions, baked beans, Greggs sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, cottage pie, clotted cream, and the wonderful quirks of life across the pond. We compare coffee habits, talk about accents, supermarkets, desserts like sticky toffee pudding and spotted dick, and even dive into memories of Sunday roasts and strong Yorkshire tea. Along the way, we share some laughs, swap stories about travel and culture, and wrap it all up with Kevin’s podcast recommendations and my usual reminder to make great memories with the people you love.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, I’m coming to you from a little town in Spain, riffing on the crazy idea that spider silk is five times stronger than steel and wondering why we are not building everything out of it yet. I share the weather for my friends in Dublin, Ireland, and back home in Cincinnati, then celebrate birthdays for Alan Shepard, Mickey Mouse, Linda Evans, Kevin Nealon, Oscar Nunez from The Office and its spinoff The Paper, and Owen Wilson. We look at a few key moments from this day in history, including the William Tell legend, the debut of Steamboat Willie, the introduction of push button phones, and the tragedy of Jonestown, and I touch on National Princess Day, National Apple Cider Day, and World Vasectomy Day with my usual mix of awkward honesty and humor. For Tuesday’s Random Questions, I talk about what I would have a one day clone do for me, why daily exercise would change my life, my dream of mastering the harmonica, how much I miss neighbors playing outside at night, and the quick classes I could teach on ChatGPT, business development, and personal growth. I wrap things up by sharing a bit about exploring Spain, grabbing a photo at a bullfighting arena, and reminding you to skip more stuff, make more memories, and create experiences with the people you love, because memories are better than stuff.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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On this episode of Simple Joe for Monday, November 17th, 2025, I kick things off with a wild fact about sea cucumbers that can liquefy and regrow parts of their own bodies, then share the weather for my friends in or near Naples, Maine, and back home in Cincinnati while I’m recording on the road from Madrid, Spain. I talk about bouncing between hotels and trying to keep the show going while traveling to Manchester and Chester, then celebrate birthdays for Shelby Foote, Rock Hudson, Peter Cook, Martin Scorsese, Danny DeVito, Lorne Michaels, Rachel McAdams, and Tom Ellis. I mark the patent for the Heinz ketchup bottle and wonder why ketchup explodes every time you open it, and I run through today’s celebrations: National Homemade Bread Day, National Baklava Day, Guinness World Record Day, National Hiking Day, and National Black Cat Day. For Monday’s Interesting Headlines, I share five quirky stories — a Japanese town deploying a giant robot to scare off bears, a farmer setting a Guinness record with a six-foot broccoli stalk, a bumblebee-sized pollination robot, a Welsh dog using a digital soundboard to ask for treats, and scientists developing reusable “jelly ice” cubes that never melt — and invite listeners to vote on which one I should dig into on Thursday. I wrap up by asking you to share the show using #SimpleJoeIsMyFriend, reminding us that we don’t need more junk as the holidays approach, and that memories are always better than stuff.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I start with a fun fact about just how long a wooden pencil can write before it finally runs out, and then take you through the weather in Singapore, Cincinnati, and right here in Chester, England. We celebrate a few birthdays, look back at important moments in history, and have some fun with today’s national celebrations, including Fast Food Day, Button Day, and Entrepreneurship Day. Since it’s Sunday, I spend most of our time talking about trusting God with the unknown—why it’s so hard, why we try to control outcomes, and how passages like Matthew 6:34, Jeremiah 29:11, and Proverbs 3:5–6 challenge us to let go of tomorrow and walk with God today. I share honestly about my own struggle to trust God when I don’t know how things will turn out, and offer encouragement for anyone in a foggy or uncertain season. It’s a reflective, honest, and calming Sunday conversation about faith, fear, uncertainty, and learning to trust God one step at a time.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe for Saturday, November 15, 2025, I kick things off with a wild fact about how the average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in their lifetime, which got me wondering how that adds up in steps and miles. I share the weather for Columbus, Cincinnati, and here in Chester, England, before celebrating birthdays like Ed Asner, Sam Waterston, Petula Clark, and Kevin Eubanks, along with historic moments like the launch of the NBC Radio Network and the opening of the very first Wendy’s in Columbus. We also mark National Raisin Bran Cereal Day, National Philanthropy Day, and National Drummer Day. The heart of the episode is a personal development reflection on the idea that today is your chance to do the do-over you’ll wish you had done 20 years from now. I talk through the small steps, simple choices, and brave beginnings that can rewrite your future. I wrap up with a reminder to create great memories, spend time with the people you love, and remember that memories are always better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Friday, November 14th, 2025, I kick things off with a wild little bit of history about the very first vending machine from ancient Egypt and Hero of Alexandria, then bring you along for the ride as we check the weather in New York City, Cincinnati back home, and right here in chilly, rainy Chester, England while I prep for my next stop in Madrid. I celebrate birthdays for King Charles III, Condoleezza Rice, Yanni, Adam Gilchrist, and Cory Michael Smith, then walk through a handful of meaningful and quirky observances like World Diabetes Day, International Girls Day, National Seat Belt Day, Pickle Day, National American Teddy Bear Day, and National Bundt Day. From there, we have some fun with Friday’s Top 10 List: the Top 10 Things That Prove You’re Old — everything from making sound effects when you stand up, to injuring yourself sleeping, to that soul-crushing moment when your favorite songs show up on the oldies station. I wrap up by inviting you to share where you see yourself on the list and reminding you, as always, that memories are better than stuff.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Thursday, November 13th, 2025, I kick things off with the wild idea of the “immortal jellyfish,” then share a personal travel win as my lost suitcase finally catches up with me here in Chester, England. I walk through the weather in Dallas, Texas, back home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and right here in Chester, before celebrating birthdays like Robert Louis Stevenson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Gerard Butler, Aisha Hinds, and Dev Patel, along with World Kindness Day, Sadie Hawkins Day, National Start a Rumor Day, National Actors Day, and National Indian Pudding Day. The heart of the show is a fascinating story about a tiny brain-connected implant that helps people with advanced macular degeneration read letters and words again, a hopeful breakthrough that shows how adaptable the human brain really is. I wrap up by reminding you that safe does not make good stories, to spend time with the people you love, and that memories are better than stuff.

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On today’s Simple Joe for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, I kick off with a wild tidbit about the first alarm clock only ringing at 4 a.m., then bring you the 3-day forecast for Tirana, Cincinnati, and Chester where I am right now. It’s Wildcard Wednesday, so I dive into tipping culture, tipflation, the history of gratuities, when to tip, and where tipping makes sense. I share my own tipping rules and a few complaints about those awkward tip screens. We celebrate World Pneumonia Day, Happy Hour Day, and World Quality Day, and mark birthdays for Grace Kelly, Wallace Shawn, Neil Young, Nadia Comăneci, Tonya Harding, Ryan Gosling, and Anne Hathaway. Plus, Pudge Heffelfinger’s first pro football payday, Oregon’s exploding whale, and Disney’s Fantasia premiere.

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I’m recording today’s Simple Joe from a hotel in Chester, England after a marathon travel day from Cincinnati that included a wrong-gate scramble in Atlanta, a just-in-time Virgin connection to Manchester, and a lost bag that somehow ended up in Paris. We start with a fun fact about the Eiffel Tower growing six inches taller in summer, then move into the weather for North Charleston, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Chester, England. I share birthdays for George S. Patton, Jonathan Winters, Stanley Tucci (65), Demi Moore (63), Calista Flockhart (61), Scoot McNairy (48), and Ty Sheridan (29), look back at the Mayflower Compact of 1620, Washington becoming the 42nd state in 1889, and the World War I Armistice in 1918, and celebrate Veterans Day, Education Day, and National Sundae Day. In Tuesday’s Random Questions, I talk about what it might be like to live a day as an ant, why patient driving would make the world a little better, and why I’d rather travel to the future than relive the past.

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Did you know the world’s deepest mailbox sits 10 meters underwater off the coast of Susami Bay, Japan? Installed in 1999, divers can actually mail waterproof postcards — and yes, they’re collected and delivered by the local post office. In today’s episode, I dive into that fun fact, share the weather for Oakland and Cincinnati, and celebrate birthdays including Martin Luther, Richard Burton, Roy Scheider, Ellen Pompeo, Tracy Morgan, Brittany Murphy, and Miranda Lambert.

We look back at history with the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps, the premiere of Sesame Street, the invention of the windshield wiper, and the launch of the first iPod. Today’s celebrations include Vanilla Cupcake Day, World Science Day for Peace and Development, and National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day — seriously, go toss out that old takeout container.

And for Monday’s Interesting Headlines, we’ve got a fun lineup:

• Scientists discover quantum oscillations inside an insulating material.
• A new map reveals the ancient Roman road network was twice as large as we thought.
• Quantum computers are solving real-world problems.
• An Australian man adds 2,251 middle names for a Guinness World Record.
• Scientists successfully test a new implant that helps blind people read again.

As always, I wrap up with a reminder to make great memories, spend time with the people who love you, and remember — memories are better than stuff.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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In today’s episode of Simple Joe, I share a simple but powerful way to study the Bible using the S.O.A.P. Method: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer — while reflecting on Philippians 4:8, which encourages us to focus on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. I explain how this approach helps Scripture move from the page to the heart and turns Bible reading into a real conversation with God. We’ll also celebrate National Scrapple Day, Go to an Art Museum Day, and National Louisiana Day, and I talk about the first computer “bug,” which really was a bug. Plus, we look at a chilly forecast for both Iowa and Cincinnati and recognize a few well-known birthdays including Carl Sagan, Lou Ferrigno, and Nick Lachey. It’s a thoughtful Sunday episode about slowing down, focusing on the good, and remembering that memories are always better than stuff.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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On today’s episode, I kick things off with the world’s tiniest park—Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, then we check the weekend weather for Falkenstein, Germany (cool, mostly cloudy with light showers possible) and Cincinnati (milder Saturday, colder with snow chances Sunday into Monday). We celebrate birthdays for Bram Stoker, Joe DiMaggio, Bonnie Raitt, Leif Garrett, Gordon Ramsay, Parker Posey, Tara Reid, and Jack Osbourne, look back at Benjamin Franklin’s first American library, Montana’s statehood, Röntgen’s X-ray discovery, and Led Zeppelin’s fourth album. We mark National STEM/STEAM Day, National Parents as Teachers Day, World Pianist Day, and have some fun with Tongue Twister Day (“Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward”). I also share my upcoming Europe trip plans and dig into minimalism, how clearing clutter, dialing back the phone, and choosing experiences over stuff can open space for peace, focus, and better memories. If you’re trying a small step toward simpler living, I’d love to hear about it, and remember, memories are better than stuff.

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I kick off with a wild winter fact: the world’s largest snowflake reportedly measured 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick in 1887 at Fort Keogh, Montana, and I wonder out loud how anyone verified it back then. Then I welcome you to Simple Joe for Friday, November 7, 2025, share the weekend weather for Bridgton, Maine (cool, a little wet today; warmer and cloudy Saturday; breezy and cooler Sunday) and Cincinnati, Ohio, and roll through birthdays for Billy Graham, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Rivers, Christopher Knight, Adam DeVine, Gage Munroe, and Erika Alexander. In “This Day in History,” I highlight the first air-freight flight (Dayton to Columbus, 1910), Jeannette Rankin becoming the first woman elected to Congress (1916), Lewis and Clark sighting the Pacific (1805), and Magic Johnson’s 1991 HIV announcement. For celebrations, I riff on National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day, Notary Public Day, and World Smile Day. The feature is a fun countdown of Top 10 Jobs That Sound Fake but Are Real — from Professional Sleeper and Dog Surfing Instructor to Snake Milker and Professional Mourner — including what it actually takes to qualify for each gig. I wrap with my classic reminder to make the day epic and choose memories over stuff.

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On today’s Simple Joe for Thursday, November 6, 2025, I kick things off with the wild fact that the shortest commercial flight in the world is a 1 minute 14 second hop between Westray and Papa Westray, then I chat Toronto, Ontario’s three-day forecast and tip my cap to Blue Jays fans after that epic World Series, share birthdays for Sally Field, Maria Shriver, Ethan Hawke, Pat Tillman, and Rebecca Romijn (roe-MAYN), mark historic moments from the first college football game and Art Modell’s move of the Browns to Baltimore, and note today’s celebrations, National Nachos Day, National Basketball Day, and World Paper Free Day. My Interesting Story digs into the verified case of a man in Nagoya who used the Demae-can app’s refund process to score about 1,095 free meals, a reminder that even in a digital world honesty matters and there is no such thing as a free lunch. I also mention my upcoming two-week Europe trip

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I dive into the strange, often misunderstood history of Daylight Saving Time, why we started changing the clocks, who really benefits, and whether we’ll ever stop doing it. Spoiler: it wasn’t for the farmers. I’ll talk about how the idea traces back to Ben Franklin’s joke, how wars, politics, and business interests shaped it, and why most experts say it doesn’t actually save energy anymore. Along the way, I share a few personal thoughts about naps, power naps, and my own preference for standard time. It’s Wildcard Wednesday, and we’re going deep into how we got stuck changing time itself, and maybe why it’s time to stop.

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In this episode of Simple Joe for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, I talk about one of the strangest creatures on the planet—the octopus. With three hearts, blue copper-based blood, and almost alien intelligence, these fascinating animals make me wonder if they’re really from Earth at all. From there, we head to the weather in La Banda, Argentina, remember birthdays like Walter Cronkite, Loretta Swit, and Matthew McConaughey, and look back on the day Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb. We celebrate National Candy Day, Use Your Common Sense Day, National Skeptics Day, and Love Your Lawyer Day before diving into five random questions that range from impractical purchases to meals that remind me of home. It’s a fun, curious, and thoughtful Tuesday reminding us once again that memories are better than stuff.

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I open today’s Simple Joe podcast for Monday, November 3, 2025, with a wild chess fact about more possible game iterations than atoms in the universe, then share gratitude for the heartfelt feedback on yesterday’s “Face of Innocence” episode. We hit the Gallatin, Missouri weather before diving into Monday’s Interesting Headlines, including a monkey escape on a Mississippi highway, mysterious googly eyes on public art in Oregon, a 38-year-old in Japan who snagged over 1,000 free meals via a delivery-app loophole, the centuries-old cannon-like boom at Seneca Lake finally explained, and a neuroscience startup’s six-pound smartphone case to curb screen time. If one of those quirky stories grabs you, text me at 513-399-6468 or email joe@thesimplejoe.com and I’ll feature it on Thursday, and remember, memories are better than stuff.

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This week’s episode of Simple Joe hit me hard. It started lighthearted, talking about the first use of “LOL,” but it ended with a story I can’t shake—a photograph of a four-year-old boy named István Reiner, smiling as he entered a concentration camp. In this reflection I share how that image broke me, how it awakened something deep about compassion, evil, and the fragile beauty of innocence. It’s about seeing humanity in one small face and asking what we’re supposed to do with feelings that won’t let go. Because sometimes one photograph can do what a thousand sermons cannot—it can remind us what it means to be human.

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On today’s episode of Simple Joe, I kick off November by talking about why we need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. After sharing the fun fact that a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance, I dive into a lighthearted reminder that nobody’s paying as much attention to us as we think—they’re too busy living their own lives. I give weather updates for the Isle of Wight in the UK and my hometown, Cincinnati, and celebrate All Saints’ Day, World Vegan Day, National Cinnamon Day, and National Calzone Day, and highlight birthdays like David Foster, Lyle Lovett, and Tim Cook. From laughter and humility to dancing in the street, this episode is all about letting go of ego, finding joy in imperfection, and remembering that memories are better than stuff.

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It’s Halloween, and we’re diving into a sweet one today — the Top 10 Halloween Candies! From chocolate classics to chewy favorites, I’m counting down the treats that make trick-or-treat night unforgettable, with a few surprises along the way. Plus, I’ll share the weather in Olathe, Kansas, a look back at historic moments like Nevada’s statehood and Martin Luther’s bold move, and of course, the birthdays of folks like John Candy, Peter Jackson, and Willow Smith. It’s a fun, candy-fueled Friday packed with trivia, nostalgia, and the reminder that memories are better than stuff.

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On today’s episode of Simple Joe, I start with a wild fact about how the average person sheds 50 to 100 hairs a day, and how that hits a little too close to home after raising three daughters with long hair. Then I take a look at the weather in Ashburn, Virginia, where rain will taper off this afternoon with a high of 65 and a low of 46, and here in Cincinnati, where it’s a cool, breezy 50 with rain in the morning and partly sunny skies heading into Halloween. I celebrate birthdays for John Adams, Michael Collins, Grace Slick, Henry Winkler, Kevin Pollak, and Nia Long. I look back at some big events that happened on this day, like Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast, the completion of Mount Rushmore, Muhammad Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” victory, and the devastating landfall of Hurricane Sandy. It’s also National Candy Corn Day, Checklist Day, Buy a Donut Day, Create a Great Memory Day, and Pumpkin Bread Day, so grab a donut and make a memory. For Thursday’s Interesting Story, I dig into the eerie yet touching tale of Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri, where thousands of intricate hair art pieces, including strands attributed to Lincoln, Monroe, and Elvis, are being sent to major museums after Leila’s passing. It’s a story about legacy, connection, and how even something as strange as a lock of hair can carry love across generations.

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In this episode of Simple Joe, I talk about one of my favorite things—clouds. Did you know a single cloud can weigh more than a million pounds? I share why I love watching clouds, especially with my grandkids, and how they remind me to slow down and look up. You’ll hear the weather in Richardson, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio, plus birthdays for folks like Dan Castellaneta, Winona Ryder, Richard Dreyfuss, and Bob Ross. We’ll celebrate National Oatmeal Day, World Stroke Day, Internet Day, and National Hermit Day. Then in Wildcard Wednesday, I dive into the question, Are there really uncontacted people in the world? I explore tribes in the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, and the Andaman Islands who live in complete isolation by choice, what their existence teaches us about respect, simplicity, and mystery, and why some corners of life are still sacred.

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• If you could go back to any age for one day, what would you do differently?
• What’s a truth you believed ten years ago that you no longer believe today?
• If your life had a theme song right now, what would it be?
• Would you rather have a pause button or a rewind button for life?
• What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever been completely sure about that turned out to be wrong?

Tomorrow is Wildcard Wednesday, and I’d love your ideas for what I should riff on next.

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Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-305e07 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Simple Joe.

I’m back with a fun, oddball Monday’s Interesting Headlines and the weather from Torrington, CT.

This week’s headlines:

• A comet showing mysterious light patterns that have scientists scratching their heads
• A Museum of Human Hair finding a new home
• France releasing a croissant-scented postage stamp that instantly sells out
• A luxury car for toddlers complete with leather seats and a subwoofer hitting 28 mph
• A man in a full cat costume spotted crawling up a hill and growling at dog walkers

Share your favorite headline for Thursday’s deep dive!

Connect with me:
Email: joe@thesimplejoe.com
Text: 513.399.6468

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