Explore every episode of the podcast Simple Joe
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Worry About It! | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:22:31 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In this episode, I’m talking about something I’m pretty good at doing: worrying about tomorrow before tomorrow even gets here. Even while I’m on vacation in Daytona Beach, I can find myself thinking about what’s happening back home, what’s going on at work, what we’re doing tomorrow, and all the things that could possibly go wrong. I tend to catastrophize, and if somebody tells me, “Hey, can we talk tomorrow?” my brain can write an entire three-act tragedy before I have any idea what the conversation is about. So for Faith Connections, I’m looking at what Jesus really meant in Matthew 6 when He said not to worry about tomorrow. I don’t think He was telling us not to plan, prepare, save money, think ahead, or be responsible. There’s a difference between planning for the future and mentally living through every terrible version of it before it happens. We’ll look at Jesus’ words about worry, the birds and the wildflowers, Proverbs 16:9, and making plans while remembering that the Lord determines our steps, and James’ reminder that none of us really knows what tomorrow will bring. I also talk about why communication matters, why people tend to go negative when there’s no narrative, and the point where useful planning becomes worry that accomplishes absolutely nothing. Maybe the question isn’t, “What could possibly go wrong tomorrow?” Maybe it’s simply, “What can I actually do today?” Make the plan. Do what you can today. Trust God with the parts you can’t control. And stop trying to live tomorrow before tomorrow gets here. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Do You Put Your Shopping Cart Back? | 26 Sep 2026 | 00:35:01 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In this Saturday episode of Simple Joe, I start with the surprising story behind Ric Flair’s adoption before checking in on Vienna, Austria, and Daytona Beach, Florida, then move through birthdays, historic events, and a few of today’s celebrations. But the heart of the episode is a Personal Development question: Do you put your shopping cart back? That simple question leads into the so-called Shopping Cart Theory and a bigger conversation about character, responsibility, kindness, and whether we move through the world as a net positive. A recent walk on the beach, where I watched someone stop to pick up trash that wasn’t hers, made me think about the tiny things we can do that nobody notices or rewards us for: returning the cart, picking up garbage, helping someone, letting somebody merge, defending someone who isn’t in the room, offering encouragement, or simply making life a little easier for the people around us. Maybe becoming a better human being isn’t mostly about dramatic gestures. Maybe it’s about a thousand small decisions to leave people, places, and situations just a little better than we found them. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Top 10 Real Laws That Sound Completely Made Up | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:24:44 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In this Friday episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about 10 Real Laws That Sound Completely Made Up, including triangular margarine in Iowa, nighttime seaweed restrictions in New Hampshire, greased-pig contests in Minnesota, Kentucky’s anti-dueling law, Little Rock’s after-hours sandwich-honking rule, Indianapolis horse speed limits, Carmel-by-the-Sea high-heel permits, and California’s very specific rule about what happens when a frog dies during a frog-jumping contest. I also share a little vacation update from Daytona Beach, including our great night with Connecticut Curt and Margita at California Grill, Disney fireworks, Tinkerbell, and plans for a sunset catamaran cruise. Along the way, we celebrate birthdays, look back at a few moments in history, recognize National Daughter’s Day, National Quesadilla Day, National Lobster Day, National One-Hit Wonder Day, and World Pharmacists Day, and I share my own favorite one-hit wonder. Then I wrap things up with a preview of tomorrow’s Personal Development Saturday: Do you put your shopping cart back, and other little things help make you a good human being? 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Thar' Be Whale! | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:23:43 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In this Thursday episode of Simple Joe, I start with a look at the cultural impact of Julia Child before checking in on the weather in Overland Park, Kansas, and Daytona Beach, Florida. I celebrate birthdays including Jim Henson, “Mean” Joe Greene, Phil Hartman, and Kevin Sorbo, look back at a few historic September 24 moments, and somehow work my way through World Gorilla Day, National Punctuation Day, National Horchata Day, and the wonderfully named National Mofongo Day. Then it’s time for The Story Behind the Headline: a humpback whale named Rio that traveled roughly 60 miles inland into the Sacramento River system. I dig into how a whale gets that far inland, whether a humpback can survive in fresh water, how researchers were able to identify Rio by its tail, and why officials wanted people to give the whale plenty of space. The story also sends me down a few side roads involving Star Trek, Delta Dawn, Humphrey the humpback whale, my daughter once spotting what she thought was an otter in our backyard, and what I’d do if a humpback suddenly surfaced next to my fishing boat. And as always, I wrap things up thinking about making memories, staying connected, and making today worth remembering. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Daytona Beach - Three Days In | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:46:24 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, Karin joins me from Daytona Beach for a vacation update covering everything from the first few chaotic hours of the trip to the simple routines that are making this vacation so good. We talk about my airport wallet panic, the rental car that immediately started throwing warning lights, finally settling into the condo and letting the sound of the Atlantic wash the stress away, and my daily obsession with getting down to the beach early enough to watch the entire sunrise develop. We’ve already spotted dolphins, eaten at Crabby Joe’s, explored the coast around Flagler and Beverly Beach, dealt with a malfunctioning elevator, and discovered that sunscreen in your eyes can put a serious dent in an otherwise relaxing afternoon. More than anything, Karin and I talk about the way we like to vacation: schedule a few marquee things, but leave plenty of empty space to relax, wander around, read, listen to music, sit by the pool, and see what happens. Still ahead are dinner in Orlando with Connecticut Curt and friends at California Grill, a possible Fun Cat sunset cruise, our continuing hunt for affordable Garth Brooks tickets, a possible SpaceX launch, and maybe even an Atlantic sunrise followed by a Gulf Coast sunset. It’s only the beginning of the trip, and so far the ordinary moments have been every bit as memorable as the things we actually planned. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:25:09 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:25:31 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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” 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| God made a world worth enjoying | 20 Sep 2026 | 00:36:31 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Are you Ready For Fall? Let's Go! | 19 Sep 2026 | 00:29:50 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Top 10 Things to Do in Florida That Aren’t Disney | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:36:05 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Two Guys, a Metal Detector, and a 28-Year-Old Mystery | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:25:22 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Your Survey Results | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:21:33 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:26:54 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:23:07 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Does God Care About the Little Things? | 13 Sep 2026 | 00:29:08 | |
In this Sunday episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about one of those faith questions that keeps coming back to me: Does God care about the little things? We know we can take the big stuff to God, like illness, family problems, major decisions, and difficult seasons, but what about the ordinary things that fill most of our lives? The drive to work, a deadline, chores around the house, spending time with our kids and grandkids, finding a parking spot, a hobby, a golf game, or even putting together a podcast? In today’s Faith Connections, I look at Luke 12, Matthew 6, and Colossians 3 and think about what it means that God knows us so completely that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. I don’t think God caring means every little thing turns out exactly the way we want it to. I think it means the ordinary parts of our lives matter to Him because we matter to Him. And maybe there really isn’t a category called “too small for God.” I also talk about how those tiny choices, habits, responsibilities, conversations, and acts of patience can add up to something much bigger over time. So today, think about one little thing in your life that’s weighing on you, and maybe give that to God too. Most of life is made up of little, ordinary moments, and maybe that’s exactly where a whole lot of our faith gets lived out. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Great News! You Can Become Someone Else! | 12 Sep 2026 | 00:28:52 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about a simple idea that really stuck with me after I saw a short video from Jason K. Pargin: you can just become somebody else if you want. We spend a lot of time describing ourselves as if our identity is fixed. I’m not athletic. I’m not a reader. I’m not creative. I’m shy. I’m not entrepreneurial. That’s just who I am. But what if it doesn’t have to stay that way? I talk about how real change can start with very small actions, and how those actions create evidence for the person you want to become. If you want to exercise, take a walk. If you want to write, write a paragraph. If you want to be more encouraging, encourage somebody. If you want to start a business, take one real step. I also talk about why changing can feel fake at first, how other people can sometimes keep us tied to an older version of ourselves, and why I’ve found that keeping some goals quiet can be more effective than announcing them before I’ve actually done the work. The question I keep coming back to is this: What is one small thing you could do today that the person you want to become would do? You don’t have to completely reinvent yourself overnight. Start small. Create some evidence. Then do it again tomorrow. Eventually, the person you wanted to become may not feel like somebody else at all. It may just be who you are now. Jason K. Pargin video mentioned in the episode: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1773997103632262 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! Support Simple Joe by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/simplejoe | |||
| Top 10 Foods That Are Better as Leftovers | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:35:55 | |
On this Friday episode of Simple Joe, I’m having some fun with one of my favorite subjects: food, specifically my personal Top 10 Foods That Are Better as Leftovers. I talk about the strange joy of discovering forgotten food in the refrigerator, the gamble of wondering exactly how long it’s been in there, family dishes that have become traditions, childhood food memories, and why Thanksgiving leftovers deserve a category all their own. Along the way, I share the ridiculous true story of getting my doctor to put my dislike of green peppers into my permanent medical record, plus the story of unknowingly having a surprisingly personal airplane conversation with Ludacris. We also start with Saturn’s bizarre little “squirt gun” moon, celebrate some notable September 11 birthdays and anniversaries, and take a more serious moment to remember the September 11, 2001 attacks and the memories that day still carries. It’s food, nostalgia, laughs, memories, and a refrigerator full of questionable decisions, which feels pretty much like Simple Joe. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| He Was Building a Patio and Found 40 Pounds of Viking Silver | 10 Sep 2026 | 00:19:42 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I’m heading to Saskatoon, Canada, for the weather before celebrating birthdays including Arnold Palmer, Roger Maris, Don Muraco, Joe Perry, Randy Johnson, and more. I also look back at the first recorded drunk-driving arrest, the television premiere of Gunsmoke, and the release of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” plus National TV Dinner Day, International Makeup Day, and National Waffle Week, which naturally gives me an excuse to talk about my love of Waffle House. Then, for The Story Behind the Headline, I dig into an incredible discovery in Denmark where a man doing ordinary yard work while building a terrace uncovered the country’s largest known Viking Age silver hoard. We’re talking more than 40 pounds of Viking silver, roughly 700 objects and fragments, coins from England and the Islamic world, pieces of jewelry, silver bars, and even a tiny Thor’s hammer that had been buried for around a thousand years. I explore what the treasure tells us about Viking money and trade, why someone may have buried such an enormous fortune, and the big question I had after hearing the story: does the homeowner actually get to keep it? Spoiler alert, Denmark has other plans, although he should receive a finder’s reward. It’s one of those stories that makes you wonder what might be hiding underneath your own backyard, and whether maybe you and a friend need to grab a shovel and start making some memories. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Secret Unlocked: The Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:25:18 | |
On today’s Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about what happens when even a veteran podcaster forgets to hit record, runs out of space on the recorder, and has to trust that the third time really is the charm. We check in on the weather in Canton, Michigan and Cincinnati, celebrate birthdays including Colonel Harland Sanders, Otis Redding, Joe Theismann, Tom Wopat, Hugh Grant, Adam Sandler, Michael Bublé, and Michelle Williams, look back at moments in history involving California statehood, the creation of NBC, Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show, and John Lennon’s Imagine, and celebrate everything from teddy bears to Wiener schnitzel. Then it’s time to introduce a new Wildcard Wednesday feature called Secret Unlocked, starting with something near and dear to my heart: how to make the best hard-boiled eggs. I share the method I’ve developed after making hundreds of them, including what eggs peel better, how I use my Instant Pot, stovetop timing, the importance of an ice bath, and the little membrane trick that can make the shell slide right off. It’s practical, a little ridiculous, and exactly the kind of everyday thing I love talking about with friends, so if you’ve got your own foolproof hard-boiled egg method, I want to hear it. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:22:36 | |
In this Tuesday episode of Simple Joe, I’m checking in with Paris, France, celebrating birthdays including Peter Sellers, Patsy Cline, Pink, Martin Freeman, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Wiz Khalifa, and Gaten Matarazzo, and looking back at moments in history including the founding of St. Augustine, the national launch of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. I also mark Star Trek Day, National Actors Day, National Date Nut Bread Day, and National Iguana Awareness Day before getting into Tuesday’s Random Questions. This week’s questions take me into the difference between real knowledge and opinions picked up online, places and experiences still on my bucket list like the Grand Canyon and skydiving, my completely irrational inability to watch The Exorcist, why I’d choose Spanish if I could instantly learn another language, and the cords, cables, and old wrestling magazines I’ve held onto far longer than practicality would suggest. It’s a good example of why I like Random Questions: you never quite know where one simple question is going to take the conversation.
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:23:50 | |
In this Labor Day episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about slowing down, getting a few things accomplished over a long weekend, and why something as simple as detailing a car can sometimes feel surprisingly therapeutic. We check the weather in Las Vegas and Cincinnati, celebrate birthdays including Grandma Moses, Paul Brown, Buddy Holly, Gloria Gaynor, Julie Kavner, Chrissie Hynde, Corbin Bernsen, and Diane Warren, and look back at moments in history including the first submarine attack, the first Miss America pageant, the opening of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the launch of ESPN. Then it’s time for Monday’s Interesting Headlines, with stories about dark matter, a 106-year-old scuba diver, a rescued kitten with its own bobblehead, remarkably clever pygmy raccoons, and a Viking-age silver hoard discovered in a garden. Along the way, I wander into raccoon intelligence, an old bobblehead yard-sale story, buried treasure, Labor Day, salami, New Hampshire, and the idea that a good holiday is really about spending time with people you love and making memories worth keeping. 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 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Which Thief on the Cross Are You? | 06 Sep 2026 | 00:29:37 | |
In this Sunday episode of Simple Joe, I start with the incredible complexity of human vision and the idea that each of us may experience the world a little differently, before checking in with Torrington, Connecticut, celebrating birthdays including Jane Curtin, Jeff Foxworthy, Macy Gray, Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, and John Wall, looking back at moments in history like the opening of Piggly Wiggly, the premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, the television debut of Star Trek, and Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive-games record, and recognizing a few September 6 celebrations. Then, in Faith Connections, I ask a much more personal question: Which thief on the cross are you? Looking at Luke 23 and the two criminals crucified beside Jesus, I explore the difference between demanding that God prove Himself by fixing our circumstances and simply turning toward Jesus with trust. I admit that I often recognize myself in the first thief, wanting God to solve the problem, give me direction, or make things work the way I want, while I’m trying to learn the surrender of the second thief, who simply asked Jesus to remember him. We talk about grace, unanswered questions, faith when circumstances do not change, and the reminder that we do not have to clean everything up or understand everything before turning toward Christ. My faith is deeply important to me, and this conversation left me asking whether I am approaching Jesus with demands or with trust, and maybe that is a question worth asking yourself today too. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Why do we stop doing the things that we love? | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:31:27 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about a personal development question that has been on my mind since returning to the podcast after a seven-month break: Why do we stop doing the things we love? I love podcasting, creating, working with audio, and putting something into the world that did not exist before, yet when the process became frustrating and time-consuming, something I loved quietly disappeared from my life. That got me thinking about other things we enjoy but somehow stop making time for, from riding a bike and playing an instrument to writing, painting, building things, or simply doing something creative. We talk about the friction that gets in the way, competing priorities, the guilt of feeling like we should always be doing something else, and the difference between easy leisure that consumes an hour and meaningful activity that leaves us feeling like we actually participated in our own lives. I share why finishing a podcast, riding my bike, or even detailing a friend’s car can leave me with the satisfying feeling that I made or improved something. Most importantly, I encourage you to acknowledge something you genuinely love without immediately judging whether it is productive, practical, or perfect, and then take one small step toward doing it again. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Top 10 Clean Stand-Up Comedians | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:24:26 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I kick things off by thinking about how something as ordinary as the refrigerator completely changed the way we live, shop, and organize everyday life, before checking in with Reading, Pennsylvania, and Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrating birthdays including Paul Harvey, Tom Watson, Damon Wayans, Mike Piazza, and Beyoncé, and looking back at moments involving Kodak, the first live transcontinental television broadcast, Mark Spitz, Google, Kelly Clarkson, and Steve Irwin. Then it’s time for Friday’s Top 10 as I count down my Top 10 Clean Stand-Up Comedians, featuring Tim Hawkins, Jeff Allen, Henry Cho, Leanne Morgan, Greg Warren, Dusty Slay, Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Regan, and my number-one pick, Nate Bargatze. Along the way, I talk about why I appreciate comedians who can get huge laughs without depending on profanity or shock value, share some of my own favorites and podcast recommendations, and give honorable mentions to Ryan Hamilton, Joe Zimmerman, and Brad Stein. As we head into the weekend, I also encourage you to find some way to make a positive impact on somebody, create a memory worth talking about, and remember that 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. You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Lost Picasso Found in Trashed Apartment | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:20:57 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I’m starting with a look back at the rough-and-tumble early days of passenger air travel before checking the weather in Falkenstein, Germany, and Cincinnati, Ohio. We celebrate birthdays including cartoonist Mort Walker, actress Eileen Brennan, Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine, Charlie Sheen, and Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, then look back at Richard the Lionheart’s coronation, Frederick Douglass’s escape from slavery, and NASA’s Viking 2 landing on Mars. I also revisit a childhood memory involving Welsh rarebit and Gomer Pyle, talk about the very humbling experience of bowling when everybody is watching, and then dig into Thursday’s Story Behind the Headline: the remarkable discovery of a missing Picasso hanging behind a bedroom door in a trashed Milwaukee apartment. The artwork had disappeared from a gallery eight years earlier, was worth tens of thousands of dollars, and somehow spent years hiding in plain sight before a landlord found it while cleaning up after an eviction. The story leaves plenty of unanswered questions about how it got there, who originally stole it, and what happens to it now. Along the way, I wonder about the valuable things people unexpectedly discover in thrift stores, yard sales, old houses, and maybe even their own homes, and I wrap things up with the reminder to make the day memorable for yourself and somebody else, 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. You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Stop Being Afraid of AI | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:44:36 | |
In this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about artificial intelligence and why I believe AI is ultimately just a tool, a very powerful one, but still a tool that we should learn to use instead of simply being afraid of. I share some of the ways I’m already using AI for research, organizing ideas, planning trips, solving problems around the house, developing business ideas, drafting emails, improving my work, and most importantly, defeating the blank page when I know there’s an idea in my head but I haven’t quite figured out how to express it yet. We also get into the legitimate concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, including jobs, privacy, data centers, energy and water use, misinformation, and the possibility that technology could make us intellectually lazy or even replace some of the human interaction we desperately need. My approach is simple: use AI to help you think, not to tell you what to think. Let it do some of the heavy lifting, but continue asking questions, verifying important information, staying curious, spending time with real people, getting outside, creating things, wandering, wondering, and living your actual life. I also talk about how AI has helped me rethink the Simple Joe production process after what was supposed to be a short break turned into seven months away from the show, allowing me to spend more time on the creative and human parts of podcasting that I love. Technology is going to keep changing, jobs and skills are going to change with it, and none of us knows exactly where artificial intelligence ultimately leads. But I know which side of that change I want to be on: learning the tool, understanding it, questioning it, and using it to create more room for the things only human beings can do. And if the robot overlords eventually take over anyway, I would just like the record to show that I’ve always been very nice to AI. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:23:37 | |
In this episode of Simple Joe, I’m celebrating Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with weather from Ashburn, Virginia, birthdays, history, celebrations, and another round of Tuesday’s Random Questions. We celebrate birthdays for Rocky Marciano, Conway Twitty, Lily Tomlin, Barry Gibb, Dr. Phil McGraw, Gloria Estefan, Nathan MacKinnon, and Zendaya, then look back at the first female telephone operator, the extinction of the passenger pigeon, and Pioneer 11 becoming the first spacecraft to visit Saturn. National Forgiveness Day gets me thinking about letting go of grudges and giving and receiving forgiveness, while National Burnt Ends Day reminds me just how much I love good barbecue, and National Hotel Employee Day brings back memories of working as a bellman at the Ramada Inn in Blue Ash, Ohio. Then the Random Questions take me everywhere from the family phrase “Help me up, Carl,” to traffic and self-driving cars, naps and afternoons at Kings Island, automating exercise, and what useful modern knowledge I could actually bring with me if I traveled 500 years into the past. As usual, the questions wander into some unexpected places, but that’s part of the fun. Tuesday’s Random Questions
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | I'm Back! | 31 Aug 2026 | 00:21:46 | |
I’m back! After about seven months away from Simple Joe, it feels great to be behind the microphone again and even better knowing you’re here with me. In this episode, I explain a little about the long break and save the full story of what happened with my workflow for another day. We start with elephants apparently having long-distance conversations that humans cannot even hear, then visit Sayville, New York, a place that kept showing up in the Simple Joe listening numbers throughout the break, and I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone listening there. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Please Listen | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:02:18 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:17:45 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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? You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:18:11 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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:
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Top 10 Keanu Reeves Movies | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:18:45 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Prepare For Impact? Asteroid Could Strike the Moon in 2032 | 01 Jan 2026 | 00:12:59 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| De-Digitizing Life | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:17:58 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:24:11 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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:
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:17:26 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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:
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Joe's Top 10 Podcasts of 2025 | 26 Dec 2025 | 00:28:09 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Merry Christmas | Why Time Feels Like It Speeds Up as We Age | 25 Dec 2025 | 00:18:30 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Prove Me Wrong: We Have Way Too Many Mugs! | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:18:32 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:23:20 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:19:49 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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:
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| The Gift That Didn’t Look Like a Gift | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:13:30 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| The Power of a "Done For the Day" List | 20 Dec 2025 | 00:25:22 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Top 10 Gifts That Create Great Memories | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:26:30 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Terrified Skydiver at 15,000 Feet | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:16:23 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Why We Keep Scrolling: Brain Chemistry, Algorithms, and Lost Focus | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:20:28 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Tuesday's Random Questions | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:24:28 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Monday's Interesting Headlines | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:20:51 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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
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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| Why I'm a Christian | Part 3 of 3 of Why I Believe | 14 Dec 2025 | 00:16:37 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||
| How to Do More of What You Love | 13 Dec 2025 | 00:18:06 | |
Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. 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. 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 Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt! | |||