Reconnecting with John “Spiff” Macario

Back in the Studio - with Matt “Pooch” Kiernan & Friends

After a brief hiatus, it's great to be back! I'm joined by my friend Matt “Pooch” Kiernan and his band of brothers - Bernie “Bonzo” Kiernan (his actual brother), Scott “Deece” DeSimone, and Matt “needs-a-nickname” Catania. Matt and I recently become fast friends through our mutual love of music, our love of our family, our passion for golf, and a new shared friendship with his brother and their two closest friends of over 50 years.  I'm honored to call them all my friends now. Matt is my co-pilot in this interview and he helps us navigate our way through the late 70’s to the present with recollections of having to choose between disco and polyester suits, or rock n’ roll.  Each of the guys have similar but unique perspectives on which music mattered, and why.  Their tastes ultimately spanning the likes of U2, The Clash, Matchbox Twenty, and…. wait for it….. Twisted Sister. We close with tributes to those we lost along the way, and we pay tribute to their legacy and to the love they still bless us all with today. Join us, and let's see where the energy takes us! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

Grateful Fred's Visionary & Founder – Stephen McMennamy

This one-on-one conversation was a while in the making, and so well worth the wait.  Being a longtime customer of Grateful Fred and a fellow Deadhead, I’m honored to have hosted the founder of what I consider to be one of the premier Grateful Dead product producers in the country, Grateful Fred, Stephen McMennamy - https://grateful-fred.com/collections/badges [https://grateful-fred.com/collections/badges]  The episode is in no way intended to be an “infomercial” for either Grateful Fred or the podcast (I invited Stephen to be my guest, no strings attached), but more so it’s my way of sharing the story of a true entrepreneur, his love for the Grateful Dead, and how his passion to fuel his creative energy has reached new heights that he never dreamed possible.  Last but not least…. who is Fred anyway?  Tune in. You won’t be disappointed :) Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! Grateful Fred [https://grateful-fred.com/] St Stephen 4.27.71 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/st-stephen-with-tom-constanten-live/307793698] Tweezer 2.28.02 [https://music.apple.com/us/album/tweezer-live/304211780?i=304211804] Wondering [https://music.apple.com/us/album/wondering/401360783?i=401362138] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

Reconnecting with John “Spiff” Macario

My friend, John Macario, returns to the show and we pick up right where we left off back in late 2024 when he first shared his amazing story.  It’s been 19 months since John lost the love of his life and fellow Deadhead, Meg, at age 52 to complications following a liver transplant.  We catch up on how he and their 12-year old daughter, Gloria, are doing facing the world together as the dynamic duo.  John shares how single parenting is going, and how every now and again he gets out to fuel his soul with live music, including the likes of Bulgarina-American pianist, Kristina Marinova.  Marinova’s recent solo release, The Bus Came By and I Got On, is unlike any Grateful Dead music that I have ever heard before and is a must-listen. In honor of our beloved Bobby “Ace” Weir, John insists that we tune into NPR’s Tiny Desk with Bob Weir & Wold Brothers, where Mikaela Davis sits in on harp. Their rendition of Birdsong is simply magical and instantly transports the listener with its first few notes.  We wrap up with John’s story of Gloria’s early love of Jerry Garcia, and how at just 5 years old she became attached to Jerry Garcia Band’s 1980 rendition of After Midnight.  “More Jerry, Dad!”  How cool is THAT, I mean really. Finally, John reveals for the first time how he got the nickname I never knew even existed - “Spiff”! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! Morning Dew / Kristina Marinova [https://music.apple.com/us/album/morning-dew/1819140598?i=1819140610] Smells Like Teen Spirit / Nirvana [https://music.apple.com/us/album/smells-like-teen-spirit/1440783617?i=1440783625] Please Don't Bury Me / John Prine [https://music.apple.com/us/album/please-dont-bury-me/300997257?i=300997414] Birdsong / Wolf Bros [https://youtu.be/4l_gUwdPrNY?si=u6yNV0vr3iSSsbhA] I Know You Rider / Grateful Dead [https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-know-you-rider-live-at-veneta-or-8-27-72/680077190?i=680077202] After Midnight / JGB [https://music.apple.com/us/album/after-midnight-live/1138993521?i=1138993709] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

ACE - A Tribute to Bob Weir, Part II with Ted “The” Bahr & Paul “Nud” Schmitz

In Part II of the continuing celebration of Bobby Weir and his life well-lived, I’m joined by lifelong Deadheads, Ted “The” Bahr and Paul “Nud” Schmitz.  Nud kicks off the conversation by sharing his thoughts on Bobby’s one-of-a-kind “rhythmic-lead” style, and how this unique approach to the guitar was unlike any rhythm guitarist.  We walk through the early days in the mid-60’s when, as Nud puts it, Bobby “couldn’t play very well, and couldn’t sing very well either” through his mastery of the axe by the early and mid-70’s. Ted brings his Top 20 Bobby Songs to the table for discussion and debate (similar to a recent “spirited conversation” that I had on The Great Debate episode The Great Debate [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-the-energy-with-anzo-friends/id1719166141?i=1000735538470] ) acknowledging that some songs on the list aren’t technically Bobby songs at all.  Being a self-described “picky Deadhead”, he’s unafraid to admit which songs he’s heard enough of and which Bobby songs still give him joy with each listen today. Join us once again, as we celebrate the well-lived life of Bobby “Ace” Weir, and let’s see where the energy takes us! Bobby [https://youtube.com/shorts/2e5yQhEO0fQ?si=QbcbvE_KJy0F-h6a] Easy Wind [https://music.apple.com/us/album/easy-wind-2020-remaster/1510748182?i=1510748189] Passenger [https://music.apple.com/us/album/passenger-live/291317313?i=291317357] Brother Esau [https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-brother-esau-single-b-side/663700579?i=663700926] Feel Like a Stranger [https://youtu.be/O-wqBHc7IWU?si=m5oXz02tWOR4NDvp] The Other One [https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-other-one-live/307802500?i=307802866] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

ACE - A Tribute to Bob Weir, Part I with Tim McGuire & Kevin Campion

Bobby Weir - October 16th, 1947 - January 10th, 2026 This one hurts, and feels very much like the closing of a chapter.  Yet at the same time, we CELEBRATE.  We celebrate the amazing life of founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bobby Weir, and we kick off with two lifelong Deadheads - both previous podcast guests - Tim “Tmac” McGuire and Kevin “Camp” Campion.   Tim leads the way, recalling his early days admiring Bobby’s peaceful energy, his kindness, and lightly poking fun at his Daisy Duke short shorts, purple Polo’s, ponytail, tennis sneakers, and half-calf socks.  We talk about how we tend to learn more about those we love after we lose them.  And Tmac reminds us of the “SAY YES, DON’T WAIT” motto that he and I live by, and why that mindset matters. In the second half of the episode, Kevin, brings us back to how Bobby tackled Bob Dylan songs without missing a word, yet would somehow forget a lyric in staples like Truckin’, and he reminds us of Bobby’s philanthropy, his humility, and his spirit.   Join us, as we celebrate the life of Bobby “Ace” Weir, and let’s see where the energy takes us! Hell in a Bucket [https://youtu.be/A486jSYdH78?si=8PBxB70UWyCZwe6n] 09.12.87 Cap Center Hell in a Bucket reprise [https://youtu.be/A486jSYdH78?si=8PBxB70UWyCZwe6n]09.12.87 Cap Center Sugar Mags 03.21.86 [https://youtu.be/3uG0ZI0FGQo?si=VelGUhYdG-TxXrJ3]             https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357