The Guru Learns

Feb. 8, 2026 An emotional conversation with a 101 year-old holocaust survivor Jack Waksul.

As a young boy in Yeblinsk, Poland, Jacked Waksul was only 13 years old when Germany invaded his homeland. He lost his entire family during the Holocaust and survived by hiding alone in the woods. After the war, he immigrated to the United States, where he went on to build a successful life and career. In this deeply moving podcast episode, Jacked shares his story with Tom Drake. He speaks about living each day wondering if it would be his last, being forced into slave labor camps, and the overwhelming moment when freedom was finally restored. This is a powerful and emotional conversation featuring firsthand memories from someone who endured—and survived—one of history’s darkest chapters.

Jan. 17, 2026 New Episode- A Conversation with Albert Gad from Diamonds International.

> In this episode, The Guru of the Seas, Tom Drake, sits down for an engaging, informative, and educational conversation with Albert Gad, CEO and President of Diamonds International. Albert shares his remarkable journey, which began at just 18 years old in the wholesale diamond business and grew into the global enterprise it is today. Diamonds International now operates more than 125 jewelry centers throughout the Caribbean and Alaska. > > > From wholesaling diamonds to becoming a De Beers sightholder, opening a manufacturing facility in Namibia, and expanding beyond island retail into luxury boutiques aboard cruise ships, Albert’s story is one of vision, growth, and innovation in the fine jewelry industry.

Jan. 10, 2026 The Guru talks with the "Control, Alt, Delete Guy" Dr. David Bradley

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Bradley, the computer scientist whose work at IBM helped shape one of the most famous commands in modern computing: Control-Alt-Delete. Drawing from his years inside IBM, Dr. Bradley shares the unexpected story behind how this now-iconic keystroke came to be—and how small engineering decisions can ripple across decades of technology use. The conversation is guided by Tom Drake, who brings a thoughtful, curious perspective shaped by his own experiences and encounters with remarkable people. Together, they explore not just the technical history, but the human side of innovation: curiosity, problem-solving, and the stories that emerge when brilliant minds reflect on the paths they’ve taken. This episode is part of an ongoing journey—conversations with interesting people telling interesting stories—where technology, history, and personal insight intersect in surprising and memorable ways. ----------------------------------------

Jan. 5, 2026 A conversation about the evolution of the scrap processing and recycling industry with Steve Shulman of Shulman Company Inc.

In this episode, I had an engaging conversation with Steve Shulman, president of Shulman Company Incorporated, for an in-depth discussion on scrap processing and recycling in the United States. We talked about the real state of the scrap business today — from regulatory challenges to the critical role recyclers play in conserving and reusing our nation’s resources. It’s an industry that does essential work every day, yet rarely gets the credit it deserves. As the logo says, “Because even the guru can learn a thing or two” — and this was definitely one of those conversations.

Dec. 27, 2025. A conversation with novelist Len Camarda about what it takes to put out a successful book!

Tom Drake, “The Guru of Seas,” sits down with author Len Camarda to explore what it really takes to write a book. After retiring from a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry—and after completing several short stories—Len decided to take on his next big challenge: writing a novel. What began as a single goal quickly turned into a remarkable achievement. Len didn’t just complete one novel—he finished three, with more possibly on the way. This podcast is an honest, insightful conversation between someone who has always wanted to write a novel and someone who actually did it—three times. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but struggled to find the motivation or confidence to start, this episode is for you.