Fri, 17 November 2006 Yes, we're back! A Life of Play podcast has Brian Mollica on the air with us during this episode. He tells us everything we need to know about having fun at comedy clubs. Leave your feedback below or send us a note. Or now you can call us on the new phone - 201-793-8255 (TALK). And have fun out there people! Comments[30] |
Fri, 20 October 2006  Hey listeners, I've been working at making A Life of Play more friendly, regular and valuable.I think I've done it. BUT, before I load up on the value-packed episodes I'm going to give you one or two more episodes of the Bowl of Cheese podcast. If you like this one, go to iTunes and subscribe or go to my blog get the RSS feed from there. Otherwise, send me and email at ALOP or at BOC and be sure to vote at Podcast Alley. Just do a search for each show. Thanks for listening and there certainly is more to come. See you out there... Comments[21] |
Tue, 17 October 2006 Here's episode ONE of the Bowl of Cheese podcast. I plan to toss a few of these up here while lining up my next expert interviews for A Life of Play.So enjoy and let me know what you think by emailing me or putting your comments in the show notes. If you want to read along with me, go to my blog and look for the post that corresponds with the words that are coming from your speakers. More to come... Comments[27] |
Fri, 6 October 2006 OK. As I sit here this morning I'm contemplating tossing my computer out the window because I played with the iTunes settings and this has caused me to lose one full day of my life. That's right, by adjusting the sound settings downward (so the podcast will fit nicely in a quick download) I hurt my other music. I guess you can't hurt music, but I inadvertently left the settings LOW AND MONO while I imported about 200 of my own CDs so I could put them on my iPod. Now I don't know if this will be noticable when I'm listening, but I suspect it will be and I will have to re-import all this music. Aughhhh! On a nice note, you now have a new episode of A Life of Play podcast to listen to. In this episode I tighten up my thoughts, my voice is better, and I give you a TON of stuff to do over the next week or so. If you want more details on any event, just send me an email, visit this page (the one we're on) and put a comment in the show notes, or call me at 206-973-PLAY. Additionally, give A Life of Play a VOTE at Podcast Alley so we can jump into the top 100 for October. By the way, one of my newest cross promos is with a guy and a gal who do a kid's book podcast. It's called Just One More Book... here's their link. www.russelltours.com www.outdoors.org www.ems.com www.americanhiking.com www.webwalking.com/hiking.html www.14ers.com/peakbag.html home.comcast.net/~garyt1/peaklist.html Until next time - when I hope to have a longer show for you or another jam-packed minicast, I'll see you out there... Comments[14] |
Mon, 2 October 2006 Yup. The first MiniCast of A Life of Play. I chat about hiking and give you info from my personal experience and from GORP.com. And while I planned to make them all about five minutes, this one gets to be about 15 minutes long, so bear with me as I whittle my blathering down to suit the definition of minicast. Thanks!! As with any of our topics on A Life of Play, here are some links to help you learn more. If you have any questions or issues, please contact us via phone - 206-973-PLAY or EMAIL. Or even leave a note for us in the show note comments at the bottom of the page. If you want to appear on A Life of Play - get in touch! We love to talk to experts and planned topics for future episodes include kayaking, travel, Bed and Breakfasts, all about tea, the gun range, art shows, music festivals, triathlon and duathlon, swimming and more. Additionally, give A Life of Play a VOTE at Podcast Alley so we can jump into the top 100 for October. By the way, one of my newest cross promos is with a guy and a gal who do a kid's book podcast. It's called Just One More Book... here's their link. www.russelltours.com www.outdoors.org www.ems.com www.americanhiking.com www.webwalking.com/hiking.html www.14ers.com/peakbag.html home.comcast.net/~garyt1/peaklist.html FINALLY, A Life of play has been reviewed in popular publication. TAKE A LOOK at the review. Write to us, visit us online or call us. AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE this month. See you out there... Comments[22] |
Mon, 2 October 2006 Just a quickie announcement that I've had a cold for a few weeks - hmmm, suspicious that it happened right after Octoberfest!! But now I've just completed my first minicast and have a handful more planned for upcoming weeks. In this first one we cover hiking tips and do a quick recap on my most recent activites. Upcoming shows will cover outdoor and leisure technology, we'll do our comedy show with Brian from the MSR comedy podcast, and a whole lot more. So stay tuned in and subscribed. Thanks and I'll see you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 7:24 AM Comments[15] |
Fri, 15 September 2006 And without a hitch - except for the bumps in my schedule - episode 16 of A Life of Play is up. In this episode, Mike Smith of Harpoon Brewery finishes his comments on beer making, the industry, home brewing and life. It's a fun exchange that I think you'll enjoy. The great thing is that you can meet Mike and the whole Harpoon crew at their Octoberfest happening the end of September in South Boston, MA. Also in this episode I briefly mention toying around with a new format. I'm planning to do a bunch of 'mini casts' of about 10 minutes that will give you pointers on a specific activity and a quick list of events in a certain part of the world. Then, every fourth or fifth episode will be a fulll-length interview with an expert. I think the move will give you more quality interviews and allow me to impart much more knowledge without destroying my calendar. You see, I like to get out and play as much as anyone and my current schedule only allows me one day of play. That's not A LIFE of Play, now is it? Please let me know what you think of the new format. Send me an email, put a comment in the show notes right here, call me at 206-973-PLAY or think really positive thoughts and I'll try to intercept your brainwaves. Until next episode (oh, yes, go VOTE now at Podcast Alley), I will see you out there... Comments[27] |
Fri, 8 September 2006 Hey, episode 15 of A Life of Play podcast is here. In this part one of two, we talk with Mike Smith of Harpoon Brewery about beer and every aspect of tasting, brewing and enjoying this incredible beverage. We've been on a little holiday for three months and this show is a great way to get back into the swing. Visit podcast alley and give us a vote when you get a chance. The show notes for episode 16 will have more links than these, but please go vote at podcastalley.com. Then go see all the events happening at harpoonbrewery.com. Call - 206-973-PLAY or leave a comment below if you need to talk to A Life of Play. See you out there... Comments[18] |
Thu, 7 September 2006 After a glorious summer break (or what you might call 'holiday' in Europe), the staff of A Life of Play is back at the computer getting shows ready for the next nine months. Right off the bat we will be interviewing Mike Smith from Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA. Then it's off to part two of Mike's interview and great discussion of making your own beer. Show 16 will be all about comedy and comedy clubs with our old friend Brian Mollica. And we expect show 17 to cover the interesting sport of tree climbing. So, hold tight for a few more days and then get ready for the fun. See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:14 PM Comments[21] |
Mon, 10 July 2006 This week we spoke with MaryBeth Bond of Gutsy Traveler.com. Here are the interview questions and a few links to help you find out more about travel. What's your name, position and how did you become a travel expert? What are two or three things people must know before they plan a trip? Your current project for National Geographic Books is a women's travel book. How does travel differ between the sexes? Or, what do women look for in a destination or travel experience that men might not be aware of? What challenges do women face when trying to arrange a vacation with other women? How have traveling attitudes changed over time? (weekend to paris instead of full weeks; travel for one particular goal (museums or spa) as opposed to "hop on the bus and see the whole country"? What resources do you suggest to my listeners when they are planning a vacation? How does travel within the US differ from international travel? What are the current hot spots? How can women, or anyone, take a trip cheaply? What are the pitfalls that swallow up your travel budget? What's your favorite travel destination? What was your best trip ever? Gutsy Traveler Travel and Leisure Kayak Send us an email with show ideas or feedback. Vote for A Life of Play. See you out there... Comments[20] |
Fri, 7 July 2006 Hey, Listeners. This is just a quick note to let you know I've been on vacation and didn't plan ahead well enough to keep A Life of Play stocked with shows for the past two weeks. Well, going forward, I hope to change that. Right now, I'm working on the show for July 12 and also trying to put a few others in the can so we don't experience a gap like this in the future. As a quick recap, I've been doing bike related stuff, some travel and a lot of Tour de France watching. Get out there and enjoy yourselves and I'll have A Life of Play ready soon to guide you in your adventures. If you'd like to be interviewed on the show, just send us an email and we'll get you on! Until then, see you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 6:46 AM Comments[58] |
Thu, 29 June 2006 Hey, listeners. Here's the latest promo snippet for A Life of Play. Hope you like it! See you out there... Oh, yes - Episode 14 should be up by tomorrow. We're doing a simple feature on all the different things people do on the 4th of July. Comments[18] |
Wed, 21 June 2006 Hi Listeners! In ALOP number 13, we speak with Aidan Doherty of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) about kayaking. I know I've been promising this interview for a while and it definitely lives up to expectations!! Here are the questions I asked Aidan and then there are some kayaking links below that. As always, leave me a comment in the show notes, send me an email or call me and leave a voicemail - 206-973-PLAY. And JUNE is not over yet, so if you haven't voted, please go now and do so. Thanks!!!! Questions: How did you get involved in kayaking? What does a novice need to know -- how do you get into the sport? Tell me a little about kayaks and other paddle craft. Where can you kayak? What must you have when you're out on the water? Talk about whitewater for a moment. How good a kayaker are you? Where are the best places to go in the world? What other forms does kayaking take as a sport -- say Olympics, etc.? Exercises to prepare yourself physically? Talk products for a second? What else should people know -- racks, transporting, navigation? Links: www.ems.com www.thule.com www.outdoors.org www.kayak.com (I know, this is a travel aggregator, but it has the word kayak in the name and you can use it to get cheap airfare to kayaking destinations) www.canoekayak.com See you out there... Comments[22] |
Wed, 14 June 2006 WOW. I've got some friends who hike like maniacs every weekend, but none of my friends have yet signed up of a hiking journey like the ones offered by Bill Russell of Russell Tours. That's where they're missing out! Mr. Russell and I spoke for about 20 minutes the other day and his interview is chock full of details on the amazing things about hiking at home (whatever continent you're on) and abroad. We cover the essentials and talk about equipment, fitness, resources and what is included in a hiking tour. As with any of our topics on A Life of Play, here are some links to help you learn more. If you have any questions or issues, please contact us via phone - 206-973-PLAY or EMAIL. Or even leave a note for us in the show note comments at the bottom of the page. If you want to appear on A Life of Play - get in touch! We love to talk to experts and planned topics for future episodes include kayaking, travel, Bed and Breakfasts, all about tea, the gun range, art shows, music festivals, triathlon and duathlon, swimming and more. Additionally, give A Life of Play a VOTE at Podcast Alley so we can jump into the top 100 for June. www.russelltours.com www.outdoors.org www.ems.com www.americanhiking.com www.webwalking.com/hiking.html www.14ers.com/peakbag.html home.comcast.net/~garyt1/peaklist.html FINALLY, A Life of play has been reviewed in popular publication. TAKE A LOOK at the review. Comments[18] |
Fri, 9 June 2006 Wow. After a bit of a struggle trying to manipulate my schedule to match with a guest, I just scrapped that idea and put together a question and answer session for you. The A Life of Play Q and A covers a handful of common questions about fun things we all might like to do in our free time. Here are a few of the links I mentioned in the show. And remember to POD THE VOTE when you get a chance. Also, feel free to send your emails to us when you can, to suggest new guests, new topics and to send in questions for the Q and A show when we do our next one! Thanks and I'll see you out there... www.thetraveldoctor.com www.atlantickayaktours.com www.paddling.net www.travelandleisure.com www.canoekayak.com www.budgettravelonline.com www.kayak.com www.orbitz.com www.priceline.com www.expedia.com Comments[50] |
Thu, 8 June 2006 Hey, Listeners! Hope you're enjoying ALOP number 10. I think it was a great topic and I've already signed upm on Geocaching.com and found a few places near my home to explore. But that's not why I'm writing. I just wanted to reassure you that Episode 11 will be up soon. I had a horrid fever earlier this week and was unable to do my interviews. SO, I expect that I'll get the show up tonight (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday) and you'll be set with some quality podcast entertainment for the weekend. Thanks for your patience. Call me at 206-973-PLAY, email me at alifeofplay@gmail.com or just leave a comment below. See you out there... HEY - don't forget to POD THE VOTE. Each vote gets us closer to being in the top 100 and once we get there, whoooo boy. Then fame and fortune follow. Thanks! Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:45 PM Comments[10] |
Sun, 4 June 2006 Hey. Sorry for the delay in getting this info up. Chris LeBrun was great in our podcast episode 10. Here are a few of the links he talked about. By the way, most are at Geocaching.com which is an AMAZING site to go to for info on this pastime. I've already set up an account. www.geocaching.com/faq/ www.geocaching.com www.upne.com/1-58465-334-5.html www.brillig.com/geocaching/ www.geocaching.com.au/cache/gch9c8 Got any ideas for an upcoming show? Send an email, stop by the site (you're already here) and put a comment down below. Or give me a call with your comments - 206-973-PLAY. FINALLY, go and POD THE VOTE. That means go vote for this podcast. The better ratings we get, the more exposure and the better content we can provide. Link to the voting area is HERE Thanks and I'll see you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 8:39 PM Comments[7] |
Thu, 1 June 2006 Chris LeBrun and I spoke for about 20 or so minutes about Geocaching. We covered the ways people can get involved (it's easy) and the fun that this amazing activity offers anyone who wants to get out and have some fun in their free time. In fact, Geocaching can even be done from the comfort of your car if you're a complete LAZE! And new technology like better GPS units and GoogleMaps have attracted many more people to this 'sport'. The best resource that I've found so far is Geocaching.com - a site that introduces you to the caches in your area and to a whole community of cachers. Show notes are pretty sparse so far because I was in a rush to get this show on the air, but I'll be adding links to a subsequent post so you can find out more. For now, just enjoy. Put a comment down below - call me at 206-973-PLAY or email the show. And I'll see you out there... Comments[5] |
Wed, 31 May 2006 Just a heads up that episode 10 of A Life of Play podcast will get here. I’m still trying to get our guest speaker to call in. I anticipate the interview will take place tonight (Wednesday) and the show will be up by Thursday morning. This week, we’re exploring the wonderful world of exploring. That’s right, orienteering/geocaching – whatever you call it, it’s fun! As always, if you have comments, put them below. If you want to hear your voice on the air, call us at 206-973-PLAY (7529). And if you want to reach us via email sent a note to alifeofplay@gmail.com I’m planning to start getting shows in the can more regularly so that I can go out there and play. So if you know an expert who wants to be a part of A Life of Play, also contact us in one of the ways listed above. In coming weeks we’ll be doing shows on: Completing your first charity bike ride; hiking; kayaking; Golf Tournament organization; a totally question and answer session about outdoor and indoor fun things to do (send in your questions today); photography; art shows; the gun range; and more. Until later, I’ll see you out there… Category: podcasts -- posted at: 7:15 AM Comments[9] |
Wed, 24 May 2006 Here we go with the holiday weekend!!! In episode 0009, we speak with Phyllis Cambria of Party Plans Plus. She guides us through a variety of ways you can host a great Memorial Day, or any occasion party. Here are the questions I asked of her and below are some links she provided for finding out more. By the way, her site is a treasure trove of info on all sorts of parties. Cambria and her partner have written numerous books and speak to audiences regularly about this topic. What is your name? What's your expertise? How did you begin in this business? What's the history of entertaining/have holidays - at least in the U.S. - created a market for leisure products and people like yourself? What should everyone know about putting on the perfect event? How do these steps apply to creating the perfect cookout? What should people have on their Memorial Day cookout-shopping list? How long does preparation take for a perfect event? What emergencies (weather/too little ice) do people have to be prepared for? How has the cookout changed since the invention of the charcoal grill? What recipe ideas can you provide that are simple and popular? How do you create the right atmosphere for mingling and memorable experiences? These days people have many circles of friends. How can you safely bring these different groups together? Talk for a moment about being a guest at a cookout or backyard party. What's the etiquette? Tell me about the most memorable event you've planned in your career. What else do listeners need to know? How can they contact you? partyplansplus.com www.usmemorialday.org/ www.marthastewart.com/ www.vegweb.com/ www.weber.com/bbq/pub/recipe/grilling101/ Contact Phyllis Contact A Life of Play Pod the Vote - hurry See you out there... Comments[18] |
Mon, 22 May 2006 Hey, listeners. Episode 9 will feature a professional party planner and genius when it comes to functions. We'll mine her vast knowledge for great tips on how to put on the best Memorial Day or any occasion barbecue. Show should be out by Wednesday so you can plan your weekend! And, as always, leave your comments below, give us a call -206-973-PLAY (7529) or send us an email. We could also use some more Podcast Alley votes before the end of the month. Just head over to http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=23888 and put in a vote for this podcast. See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 3:12 PM Comments[8] |
Fri, 19 May 2006 Here's A Life of Play - Episode 8 for May 17, 2006. We speak about throwing Boomerangs with Hurlin' Will Herlan. **There will be a bonus clip from this episode right here on the Website. Our interview went over by 15 minutes so you'll get that final 15-minute segment here-unedited for FREE! Thanks for listening. See you out there... Comments[15] |
Thu, 18 May 2006 Here's the missing 14 minutes from the Herlan tapes!! Please bear with the recording. It's just 14 minutes unedited of the great stuff Hurlin' Will Herlan and I talked about this week. We discuss the World Cup of Boomerangs, events in St. Louis, Seattle and San Fran. We talk about hotbeds of Boomerang activity like Ohio, Massachusetts and more. I just couldn't fit it all into our regular 30-minute episode...so enjoy! Download it by clicking on the DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK below...or if I've done something wrong, it will show up in iTunes. We'll see. See you out there... Comments[7] |
Thu, 18 May 2006 In Episode 0008 we speak with Hurlin' Will Herlan, a boomerang enthusiast from Seattle who has been involved in the sport for 29 years. We talk about what it takes to get into throwing boomerangs, the history behind the 'weapon'/stick, and some neat intricacies like the community, the nuances and the prominence (THERE'S A WORLD CUP!!!). Enjoy the show - put your comments in the show notes - or send us an email - alifeofplay@gmail.com Here is the question list I used for Will's interview. Links provided by Hurlin' Will are down below. What's your name and what's your sport? Where are you from? How did you get into boomeranging - what's the jargon/slang for this? Is it classified as a sport or a pasttime? What events are there? How do you play as a team? What's the history of boomerangs? What's the history of the sport? What's it cost to get involved? Where do you buy equipment? What do people wear? Who plays? How do you find other players (what's the term for that - rangers?) Where is it most popular? What's the future going to bring? What other sports do you play? Where has boomeranging taken you? What else can you tell me? Here are the suggested sites from Hurlin' Will http://www.usba.org http://www.geocities.com/hithg_boomerangs/home.html http://www.master-designs.com/ http://www.flight-toys.com/boomerangs.htm http://www.theboomerangman.com/ http://www.coloradoboomerangs.com/ http://www.rediboom.com/englisch/bauplane/index.html http://www.boomerangpassion.com/english.php See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:13 AM Comments[7] |
Thu, 18 May 2006 Just a heads up that the show is on its way.
I've had an email snafu and that has taken some of my attention this week, but Episode 0008 will be up tonight (THURSDAY).
I will be posting show notes in a second.
Thanks for your patience.
See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:10 AM Comments[8] |
Fri, 12 May 2006 Each month, Podcast Alley tabulates votes for the most popular
podcasts. I'd like to gain some ground and I can do so with the help of
my loyal listeners. Just head over to http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=23888 and put in a vote for this podcast. And feel free to contact us at alifeofplay@gmail.com. Thanks! See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 2:13 PM Comments[6] |
Thu, 11 May 2006 Episode 0007 is all about computer gaming on the Macintosh and the PC. Here are some of the questions we asked Bruce Morrison from Freeverse this week. You can find more info about the company and about gaming online at www.freeverse.com. Remember, monkeys on fire aren't very friendly. Who are you and what is Freeverse? Is gaming that big a pasttime? How do you compete with XBox and PS2 and other forms of distraction? What's your best game? How many games do you produce? Do they cost anything? How long should a person be prepared to dedicate to playing a game? How addictive are they? How did you get into the industry? What's the future hold for online gaming? What are you competing with? Talk to me about virtual reality and how it might play a role in the future? What are the benefits of gaming (reflexes, intelligent problem solving) What are your favorite games of all time? How do other countries compare in their online gaming saturation? If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? What real world things do you participate in? Tell me anything else about Freeverse, gaming or you. Where can listeners get your games? And for other gaming resources, try the following links: Xbox.com Linden Lab - Makers of Second Life Quarter Arcade Inside Mac Games Playstation If you have an idea for a show - just send an email or put a comment in the show notes below. Or, if you want your comments on the air, leave us a voicemail at 206-973-PLAY (7529). See you out there... Comments[10] |
Wed, 3 May 2006 Here's the Karri Norton interview on Wine. Get out there and host your own wine tasting party and find ways to have more fun with wine. Send your comments to us via phone - call 206-973-PLAY (7529) and leave a message; via email at alifeofplay@gmail.com or via the comment field at the bottom of each entry on this page. See you out there... Comments[7] |
Wed, 3 May 2006 This week we talked with Karri Norton of Seattle about wine. Here are some of the questions we asked as well as some links to wine resources that you can use when planning your next - or first - wine event! ********************************** What makes a wine desirable How does trend drive wine popularity (Shiraz) Many people saw Sideways - how close to real is the wine world depicted in that movie What are the basics of tasting wine What about spitting it out What do you look for - in the taste Is wine an acquired taste or should it just taste good to you the first time you try it Do we do something to wines here that other countries don't Are other types of wine frowned upon (fruit wines) The wine I had in France was great - no matter if it was $2 a bottle or $30 a bottle - why Should people take a class on wine tasting or just venture out on their own What are your favorites What's the next great thing in wine Tell me about cork vs screwtops vs boxes and bags How long does a wine tasting take, what should people bring What's the best nugget of info you can give listeners about wine ********************************** Karri's blog - which covers wine and many eclectic topics - can be found here. Other links of note: Wine Spectator Geerlings & Wade 2 B A Snob So You Wanna Know About Wine If you have comments about the show, leave them below or send an email to alifeofplay@gmail.com. See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:05 PM Comments[6] |
Wed, 3 May 2006 If you need to reach A Life of Play and don't feel like leaving a comment here or sending me an email (see link to the right), then you can call and leave your comments at A Life of Play's new Skype number. There's an answering machine there to take your comments and then with your permission, I'll play some of them on a future episode. The number is (206) 973-7529, that's 206-973-PLAY. See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 9:04 AM Comments[6] |
Mon, 1 May 2006 Episode 0006 is in production and should be up by Wednesday morning. We're finalizing our interviews with a wine tasting guru and we're trying to get our expert in Italy AND our expert in California to be on at the same time.
If we're unsuccessful, you'll at least get to hear one of them. As always, if you have comments or suggestions, send them to A Life of Play. See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 5:33 PM Comments[9] |
Mon, 24 April 2006 Rock Climbing is an amazing sport and this week we speak with Zavi who walks us through the basics and gives listeners a taste of what you might want to know before trying to scale a monstrous rock. Resources this week include: www.rockclimbing.com/ www.climbing.com/ www.climbing.com.au/ alumnus.caltech.edu/~sedwards/climbing/ www.abc-of-rockclimbing.com/ www.joshuatreerockclimbing.com/ And even another podcast that has 100 full episodes on rock climbing!!! www.podclimber.com/ ALSO, as I mentioned in the podcast, I was at the Boston Independent Film Festival and saw some great shows this past weekend. Here's the link to that event and a few other film festivals... www.iffboston.org/ www.filmfestivals.com/index.shtml www.tribecafilmfestival.org/ **Tribeca starts this week!!!! If you've got an event to share, just write to me alifeofplay@gmail.com with your adventure recap, comments and ideas for future shows. Leave comments here on the show notes. And check back to A Life of Play each week for another great adventure in having fun. See you out there... Comments[2] |
Mon, 24 April 2006 Here's the official, A Life of Play promo clip. It's 47 seconds long, but is finished and ready for use. Comments[6] |
Mon, 24 April 2006 A whirlwind tour. The last week was more like an adventure in the wilds of urban lifestyle. I had a birthday, saw the Boston Marathon, went to a Red Sox game (they won via walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th), rode my road bike (2 hrs on real roads), rode my mountain bike with a group of local riders for 2+ hours over trails that are in phenomenal shape (see the Wompatuck link below), saw a bunch of movies, won $40 in poker and interviewed a guy from St. Louis for this week's topic - Rock Climbing. PHEW!! As a reminder, this podcast has been made possible in part by the contribution of time and tips provided by Peter D'Angelo of http://www.petersmactips.libsyn.com and http://www.podcastingmacstyle.libsyn.com - head over there to listen to my ongoing interviews with Peter and to hear the advice he's given me on making A Life of Play more successful. A Life of Play podcast is now in its fifth episode and I'll be including show notes in the next post. We talk with Zavi from St. Louis about Rock Climbing. If there's something you want us to explore - send us an email at alifeofplay@gmail.com or just leave a comment on any post. And please share your adventures with us. People love to hear what other people are doing because it gives us all great ideas on stuff to do in our free time. Thanks! See you out there... alifeofplay@gmail.com Category: general -- posted at: 1:19 PM Comments[11] |
Tue, 18 April 2006 Show notes are posted in the previous post. BUT, as a quick recap we
talk with Brian Mollica of the All-In Poker Podcast on My Sports Radio.
Then we talk with Kathleen Rogers, the president of the Earth Day
Network. Show is about 35 minutes long and will help you find ways to have fun in Vegas and on Earth Day around the world. Finally, let me know if the format works for you and if the audio is OK. This podcast is for you the listeners, so help me make it a fun experience for you...just like our topics that are here to help you have the most fun you can in your free time. See you out there... Comments[10] |
Mon, 17 April 2006 A Life of Play episode 0004 will be out sometime on Tuesday - again a day ahead of deadline - and features two great interviews. We first hear the second part of Brian Mollica's chat with us about the fun you can have in Las Vegas. Brian tells us about learning poker online and also gives a hot tip about how you can get an $8 meal at one of the best known restaurants in the world. Then, we talk with Kathleen Rogers of the Earth Day Network. She comments on how Earth Day has progressed from its first showing to where the event is today. We also talk about different things you can do to make a difference and the resources available to find events and fun things to do in your neck of the woods during your Earth Day celebration. Send your comments and suggestions for future shows to alifeofplay@gmail.com. Here are a few links to the resources we talk about during our interviews with both Brian and Kathleen. Also, I've listed the phone number for the congressional switchboard where you can call to do two things: Ask your congressperson to allow online poker in the United States, and ask that same congressperson to support initiatives like Ethanol and other environmentally friendly ways to save our planet. They can be reached at 202-224-3121. Links: http://www.mysportsradio.com http://www.earthday.net/ http://earthday.net/resources/2006materials/EarthDay-in-a-Box.aspx http://www.earthdayny.org/ http://www.kayak.com And, as always, if you have links you want posted or info you want covered, just toss it into the comment field for all to share. Thanks for listening and I'll see you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 10:50 PM Comments[15] |
Thu, 13 April 2006  This is the photo that's up on iTunes right now - right next to the A Life of Play podcast.Well, I've enlisted the help of a talented designer to help create a new logo for the show and we're going to put it on all sorts of schwag that we can give away to listeners. All we need is your participation. As you know, each show we give away a prize for the best weekend adventure email OR best "hey, you should do this topic" note. So send your emails in to alifeofplay@gmail.com and listen for your name on the air. Episode 0004 is coming up on April 19! Until then, see you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 2:22 PM Comments[5] |
Wed, 12 April 2006 Each month, Podcast Alley tabulates votes for the most popular podcasts. I'd like to gain some ground and I can do so with the help of my loyal listeners. Just head over to http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=23888 and put in a vote for this podcast. Thanks! See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 1:07 PM Comments[6] |
Mon, 10 April 2006 The link to Brian Mollica's All-in Poker Podcast is: http://boards.mysportsradio.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45 See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 3:44 PM Comments[9] |
Mon, 10 April 2006 A great interview with Brian Mollica from the All-In Poker Podcast on MSR (My Sports Radio). We talk about Las Vegas, stand-up comedy and the game of poker. A Life of Play episode #3 is the first of two episodes with Brian Mollica. Here are the questions we asked Brian. He was a lot of fun to talk to and gave some great tips on having fun in Las Vegas. What's special about Vegas Tell me about gambling in Vegas Talk about the casinos You do a poker podcast on My Sports Radio...what's the fascination the world has with poker right now Is it the same game everywhere or are there variations How easy is it to learn Where should a person play if they're just starting out What's the whole thing about online gaming and playing poker online Tell me about your other life - outside of podcasting - as a comedian How does entertainment tie into your proximity to Vegas Do you play the clubs or hotels in Vegas What other things can people do if they jet down to Vegas for a weekend How much money will people need What's the easiest way to get in and out of the city How often have you come upon bodies - it seems like CSI finds them all the time Talk for a moment about comps and how 'normal' people could stay for free What's the story about the $1 buffet Is Vegas dangerous Is a weekend long enough Anything I've missed about enjoying yourself in Vegas LINKS FOR GETTING YOURSELF TO VEGAS AND LEARNING ABOUT GAMBLING AND POKER Vegas Map Vegas Vegas Online Poker School Casinos Handmade Poker Chips Learn the Odds Hey, if you know of any great Las Vegas links or links to poker sites, drop them in the comments section here. Also, hit me with an email and tell me your best gambling adveture and I might read it on the air. Send it to alifeofplay.com and include your mailing address so if we choose you as the best adventure, we'll mail you a nifty gift. See you out there... Comments[10] |
Sat, 8 April 2006  Here's a photo of me volunteering for the NCAA Women's Tournament Hoop City in Boston. Remember, you too can take advantage of volunteering to have great experiences like seeing pro athletes, musical icons and other famous people. Volunteering can also get you access to great vistas and locations around the world. Write to me at alifeofplay@gmail.com to tell everyone about your best volunteer adventure or your brush with a memorable vista or person. See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 4:26 PM Comments[4] |
Sat, 8 April 2006 Hey Loyal Listeners. A Life of Play caught up with Brian Mollica - a Las Vegas based comedian and poker podcaster for a 40 minute interview this week. During the interview we talk about gambling, comedy, secret tips about Las Vegas attractions and just random chatter. In trying to keep A Life of Play to 30 minutes or less, I've broken the interview into two parts. So, Episode #3 will have the first part of Brian's comments and then in Episode #4 we'll wrap up with Brian and then delve into Earth Day and all the celebrations going on around the world for that event. Episode #3 will appear on iTunes and here on LibSyn on Wednesday, April 12, 2006. If you have show ideas, comments, questions or neat stories to tell - send them to me at alifeofplay@gmail.com. AND instead of little trinkets for prizes going forward, we're creating an A Life of Play logo design and will be making T-shirts and other higher-end merchandise for you guys!! Stay tuned and I'll see you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 1:06 PM Comments[10] |
Wed, 5 April 2006 We explore golf in all its glory. From getting into the game to the
Masters to rules and codes, to how you can play golf for free - or at
least very cheaply. A Life of Play makes golf one great sport that's fun in your free time. John Dvorak probably plays golf, but I'm not sure about Mr. Gervais. The link to the show is below left or you can subscribe using the button on the top right of this Show Notes page. The song credit for A Life of Play - Episode 2 is: Another Day in The City by Classic Tragic Hero. Comments[8] |
Wed, 5 April 2006 Holy cow. 50 minutes on golf. Well, it is fun and you’ll learn some valuable stuff. Future episodes will be back down to 30 minutes or as close as I can get to that. Here’s what we talked about this week: Visit my blog – www.bowlofcheese.com You’re already here at the show notes, but send me an email about the show alifeofplay@gmail.com Peter D’Angelo of www.podcastingmacstyle.com has been indispensable in this endeavor. Golf is a great sport, it’s a lot of fun and here are pointers to get into it. Reasons to play golf – Social, Fitness, Relaxing/Scenery, Challenge Social: meet people, make business connections, go to tournaments, call local country clubs to see what their tournament schedule is, play in leagues, get friends involved Fitness: incorporate Tai Chi or other exercise while waiting for others on the course, carry your bag, walk the course (pick hilly courses), go to the driving range, practice practice practice. ALSO, use other forms of exercise to ensure that you’re in golf shape. Scenery: It’s all around you, great golf destinations http://www.golfdestinationsonline.com/ bring a camera with you, relax and enjoy the outdoors http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/index.html http://www.travelersdigest.com/best_golf_courses.htm The Challenge: play against yourself first, wagering, games within games, sportsmanship, scoring, etiquette, unspoken rules, manners. Etiquette: dress code, conduct, rules, pointers http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules.html Great ways to play for free or cheaply: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=23657 Tour a new property, get invited by corporate clients, work a tournament, work at a course, stay at places that have free golf, sneak onto the course, play off season, play odd times Ways to see the pros: Volunteer at an event, raffle for tickets http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=200001 OTHER stuff: New format Letter from Tom Walker Masters History http://www.masters.org/en_US/index.html What equipment (balls mostly) will change your game (practically none - just buy for price unless you're a 14 or lower.) Stuff you need: Sunblock Clothing Shoes little necessities for your bag Tricks of travel - put all your dirty clothes in with your bag on the way back. Why do golf balls have dimples? http://science.howstuffworks.com/question37.htm GET A PRIZE FOR WRITING IN: Next week it’s either a deck of cards or a coffee mug. alifeofplay@gmail.com Episode #3 will be either Brian Mollica or a surprise culinary expert to talk coffee and coffee houses. Thanks for listening. See you out there… Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:14 AM Comments[9] |
Sun, 2 April 2006 Just a heads-up that episode #2 of A Life of Play will be out this Wednesday (that's the plan), and the topic is: Getting Excited About Golf We'll cover cool golf tips for the golfer who wants to get more fun out of the game. Ways to lessen the load on your wallet and still play some amazing courses. The best ways to see the pros. What equipment will help your game the most. And much more. If you have a golf experience you'd like to share, just send me an email with the details. If I read your email on the podcast, I'll send you a sleeve of golf balls to help you get ready for this season. See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 9:31 PM Comments[8] |
Fri, 31 March 2006 Hey listeners. Just wanted to let you know that future show notes will be easier to read as I'll be putting them up in plain text. Some listeners were also wondering where the link was to download the first episode. Here you go... Subscribe at iTunes This will bring you to iTunes where you can subscribe. Thanks for listening. Send me comments on what you've done this week for fun. And send me your requests for future show topics! The email is alifeofplay@gmail.com See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 10:49 AM Comments[20] |
Fri, 31 March 2006 To know me is to love OCD. Actually, I won't disparage those who have an existence controlled by this odd and sometimes ridiculed condition. I just wanted to note that I SOMETIMES get a little focused on the minutae in my life. On a side note, if you're wondering if you have OCD tendencies I have made it possible for you to find out. I called a doctor friend of mine and he created - http://psychcentral.com/ocdquiz.htm - a nice little OCD quiz for you to take if you're worried. Continuing, the focus in my life right now is podcasting. For me it's a developing pursuit that has already seen me create my first podcast-related blog entries and my first episode. But it's now 7:36AM. I've already had my delightfully prepared eggs and grits. The sun is streaming through the window and I actually saw a - http://www.nps.gov/miss/features/birding/brdwatch/gallery/cardinal.html - Northern Cardinal on a tree outside my living room window. None of this deters me from frequently checking on iTunes Music store to see if they have put my feed up OR from making notes in my http://www.pocketmod.com about upcoming subjects. I guess there are more important things than a podcast, like providing a - http://www.rabbit.org/fun/net-bunnies.html - random photo for MaoTseKhayteeUnderhill, or making sure the entries on Bowl of Cheese are linked to fun stuff, but I can't think of much more than that. Looking ahead, I am changing the podcast format and will start with a couple emails, a recap of things I did between podcasts, maybe a news snippet. Then I'll go into the body of the podcast and do the rambling or interview about fun things you can do with your free time. Finally, I'll wrap up with more listener emails and suggestions for upcoming shows. I'll also provide resources, credits and links in this closing segment. For more info, or to read this entire entry again, go to http://www.bowlofcheese.com. More to come... Category: general -- posted at: 7:48 AM Comments[11] |
Fri, 31 March 2006 http://www.nemba.org/ New England Mountain Bike Association
http://www.imba.com/ International Mountain Bike Association
http://www.uci.ch/ Union Cycliste Internationale
http://www.railstotrails.org/ National Rails to Trails Conservancy
http://www2.trekbikes.com/ Trek Bicycle Company
http://speedgoat.com/ Speedgoat Bicycles
http://www.globepequot.com/globepequot/index.cfm Globe Pequot Press
According to pedalinghistory.com, bikes have been around since 1817. They evolved from a two-wheeled straddle mobile to the velocipede (like a tricycle design, but with two wheels instead of three), to the High Wheelers of the late 1800s. The first bikes that really resemble today’s machines were created in the 1880s and 1890s. They had pneumatic tires and incorporated a chain driven design. These days, bikes can have up to 30 gears and can weigh as little as 17 pounds. More likely, your current road bike weighs in the vicinity of 23 pounds and has 27 gears; while your mountain bike weighs around 27 pounds and also has 27 gears. Mountain bikes also feature suspension in the front and sometimes rear. If you don’t have a bike, I have five words of advice for you. Go to a bike shop. The staff at the bike shop might be making $7 an hour, but they eat, drink and sleep bikes and can match you with the bike of your dreams a billion times faster and more accurately than the bike and grill assembler at Wal-Mart. Let’s go over bike buying for a second and then we’ll get into bike and body prep for the spring. Bike buying is easy if you know what you want. Get a pen a paper out (you can pause me for a second while you do so. Please DON’T get out a pen and paper if you’re driving or riding a bike right now). OK. When buying a bike you need to know the following. **And you need to tell the bike shop guy or girl because they need this information to get you onto the right bike. 1 – How much are you going to ride your new bike? Don’t overestimate your riding habit. Tell the truth. If you try to impress the bike staff by saying you’ll ride every day, they’re going to get you a different bike than if you tell them you’re going to ride once when camping in the middle of the summer and then probably a few times in the spring and a few times in the fall. 2 – Where will you ride the bike? Paved roads, bike paths, smooth trails in the woods, rocky trails in the woods, down ski slopes. Pick a few, but again, be honest. 3 – What is your level of skill in handling a bike? If you’re a complete novice, you won’t want a twitchy, racing style bike. If you’ve been riding quite a bit and know how to control your bike, you’ll want a more responsive bicycle. 4 – Finally, what is your budget? This is a tricky question because you want to have money left over in your bike budget for a helmet, lock and other accessories. You also might not want to spend your entire budget. So, make it clear to the salesperson that you want to explore the most affordable option in the bikes that he or she recommends. Be aware that most shops have some models that are left over from previous seasons that can be purchased for a discount. A word about discounts – don’t expect much of a discount on a bike. Our society is so focused these days on getting a deal, that some buyers feel gypped if they don’t save 20% on a purchase. Well, the margin on bikes is abnormal when compared to other retail outlets. You typically pay 50% over dealer cost for most retail products and that’s why stores can offer huge sales that seemingly go on every day of the year. Bike dealers are more stingy. They only offer their shops a mini margin to work with, so your neighborhood bike shop is making very little on the price of a bike. The places you can negotiate are on accessories, upgraded parts before you pick up the bike, a helmet and even on energy gels and snacks. If this is all making you nervous and you’re now thinking you might just go buy a pair of sneakers and take up jogging again. Realize that it’s not 1978 and that it’s not that frightening to venture into a bike shop. If you’re worried, go in and don’t even talk to the help. Just tell them you’re just looking and spend about 15 minutes getting familiar with some of the prices and designs of the bikes. Or you can get a skilled bicyclist to go shopping with you. If you don’t have a friend who rides, check the Web for resources like New England Mountain Bike Association – NEMBA.org; International Mountain Bike Association, IMBA.org; or the League of American Bicyclists. You can also check out Craigslist for local biking clubs under the activities section of the site. Now, here’s how you get ready for the season. You’ve got your new bike or your old bike and it’s March. You’ve enjoyed a winter full of candied yams and pig meat and your body has acquired some additional space and girth. Here are the steps. If your bike is brand new, focus on your body. If you bike is older and has a cobweb or two on it, get that to the shop for a seasonal tune-up (should cost around $65) and then concentrate on your body. etc. Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:24 AM Comments[6] |
Thu, 30 March 2006  This is the image that will accompany my podcast - at least for now.
See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 1:40 AM Comments[12] |
Thu, 30 March 2006 We cover Mountain and Road biking for the beginner.
Some comments about purchasing a bike as well as the things to do as you get ready for a new riding season.
We also discuss upcoming episodes and give you the opportunity to help us shape the show the way you want it.
This is all about having fun in your free time. By the way, the music used in the show was from http://podsafeaudio.com/. The specific two songs in the episode were: Traveller(part 2) by Victor Stellar and Another Day in The City by Classic Tragic Hero. Comments[16] |
Thu, 30 March 2006 Shoot me an email at alifeofplay@gmail.com if you have suggestions for other topics than the ones listed here. Also let me know what you think of the podcast so I can make it more enjoyable. Episode #1 will be up on iTunes shortly. It's about 26 minutes long and I welcome your comments about sound, content, format and music. By the way, the music used in the show was from http://podsafeaudio.com/. The specific two songs in the episode were: Traveller(part 2) by Victor Stellar and Another Day in The City by Classic Tragic Hero. Upcoming Topics for A Life of Play..... Gambling in Las Vegas Shooting Guns Kayaking and Surfing in Hawaii Planning a Trip to Europe Playing Bocce Creating the Best Cook-out Ever Taking a Cruise Golfing the Carolinas Completing a Charity Bike Ride Putting Together a Romantic (or any) Scavenger Hunt The Joy of Sushi and definitely more more more. See you out there... Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:25 AM Comments[14] |
Tue, 28 March 2006  From travel and outdoor activities to spectator events and simple evenings at the theater or museum, A Life of Play brings out the fun in your free time.
Look here for news related to my podcast - about 20 minutes featuring a different fun activity or event each week. And we'll have interviews with experts who can ensure that your fun runs rampant.
See you out there... Category: general -- posted at: 6:12 PM Comments[11] |
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A Life of Play by Jeff Cutler
Jeff Cutler conducts interviews, covers events and meets people.
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