Ep. 36: City Council Member & Mayor Pro-Tem Leah Basile

Ep. 37: Private Investigator Eric Peterson

Private Investigator, security entrepreneur, former police officer, and self-described “fixer” Eric Peterson from Peterson Investigations joins us to talk about keeping you and your family safe, his career providing security for celebrities, how just because you saw where your favorite celebrity had for dinner, that doesn’t mean you’re friends, how no one uses “The Club” anymore, getting to know your neighbors, the current state of police relations in our country, and how to get out of your next speeding ticket. [Note: At one point in this podcast we discuss mass shootings and safety and security at large public gatherings. This was recorded edited before the events in Las Vegas transpired. Bret personally believes that all assault rifles, large-capacity magazines, and automatic weapons should be outlawed for personal use. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the horrible events in Las Vegas.]

Ep. 36: City Council Member & Mayor Pro-Tem Leah Basile

Lake Forest City Council Member & Mayor Pro-Tem Leah Basile joins us to talk about local government, getting things done in your city, getting involved wherever you can, parenting, being a good listener, and doing the right thing no matter the consequences.

Ep. 35: Advertising Executive & Political Activist Jarred Romley

Advertising executive/“Social Media Charlemagne” and political activist Jarred Romley from Anyone Collective joins us to discuss his career in advertising, how it is and isn’t like “Mad Men,” how you get to the core of an idea and interpret that message, the state of our nation, listening to each other and trying to find common ground, raising daughters in this modern world, the human beauty of getting to know your neighbors, and how we can make America kind again.

Ep. 34: Pizza Chef & Entrepreneur Craig Buscemi from Pizzami Buscemi

Pizza chef, entrepreneur and veteran paratrooper Craig Buscemi from Pizzami Buscemi joins us to talk pizza, pizza and more pizza, becoming a certified “pizzaiolo” in Verona, Italy, our shared love of motorcycles, his road from making pizza, to selling houses, to jumping out of airplanes in Italy, and back to pizza, dough secrets, our favorite toppings, food truck mechanical issues, why real pizza makers hate ranch, and much more.

Ep. 33: Program Manager/"Problem Solver" James Ridgers from Blizzard Entertainment

Program manager, self-described problem solver, and “English Guy” James Ridgers from Blizzard Entertainment joins us for a remarkably wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about about solving problems, happiness, compassion, helping out wherever you can, how not all gamers are griefers and trolls, choosing what to believe, coming to terms with your failures, not being late (ever), his newfound love of wine, and much more. After the credits roll at the end, there’s another bonus conversation where we do a deep, deep dive on British music (“BritPop”) in the mid-90s, the political and cultural atmosphere behind the music, how an era’s music always reflects the anxieties of the time, and how the social media age has changed how we express ourselves and thus the art we make (or don’t make).