Simple Joe

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. In today's Faith Connections episode of Simple Joe, I'm kicking off a three-part series called Jesus Alone, and I want to try something a little different. I'm a Christian, and I believe Jesus is much more than a great teacher or philosopher. But what if, just for these conversations, we set aside the miracles, the resurrection, and the theological questions and simply look at what Jesus actually taught about living a good life? Whether you're a Christian, an atheist, or a skeptic, I think there's something worth exploring here. In Part One, we're talking about how we treat other people. We'll look at Jesus' teachings about loving your neighbor, treating others the way you want to be treated, loving your enemies, and showing real mercy through the story of the Good Samaritan. We'll also talk about reciprocity, resentment, boundaries, and why we shouldn't let somebody else's bad behavior determine the kind of person we become. Is it possible to live with less scorekeeping, more generosity, and more compassion without becoming naive or letting people walk all over us? I think Jesus has some remarkable things to say about that. And maybe the question isn't just whether Jesus was a great teacher, but whether we're willing to actually listen to what He taught. I'd especially love to hear from you if you're not a Christian. Does this philosophy of life make sense to you? Text me at 513-399-6468 or email [email protected]. Let's have a conversation. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. Come take a walk with me on this Saturday evening edition of Simple Joe. No script, no agenda, just a conversation as I wander around my Cincinnati neighborhood and share what's been going on in my life. I'm talking about the importance of good friendships, my regular Saturday morning conversations with Curt and Clay, and how artificial intelligence is changing the way we work and live. But the real fun comes from a late-night family game night at my niece's new home, where we played a couple of hilarious games called Medium and Boo and Yay. Somehow, I ended up on the floor howling like a dog, rubbing my belly, and patting my head. There's even a little life lesson in there about taking small steps and learning from feedback. Along the way, I'll share a few thoughts about surrounding yourself with good people, finding opportunities to help others, and not taking yourself too seriously. Because when it comes down to it, spending time with people you love, laughing together, and making great memories matters a whole lot more than buying more stuff. Memories are better than stuff. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. Are some of the most beloved sitcoms in television history actually overrated? On today's Simple Joe, I'm counting down my Top 10 Most Overrated Sitcoms, and this one might get me in trouble! We're talking about shows that became cultural phenomena, won awards, attracted millions of viewers, and earned devoted fan bases. But were they really as good as everybody remembers? I'm looking at popularity, critical acclaim, consistency, and the difference between a show's reputation and its actual entertainment value. Along the way, we'll talk about nostalgia, shows that overstayed their welcome, and why being enormously successful doesn't necessarily mean being great. I'll also confess which beloved sitcom I deliberately left off the list because I just couldn't bring myself to include it! Plus, we're talking ancient crayons, birthdays, historic events, National Nachos Day, and my appreciation for a great saxophone. I'd love to hear which sitcoms you think are overrated, which ones deserve their legendary reputations, and where you think I got it completely wrong. Come hang out with me for a little television controversy, some laughs, and another reminder that memories are better than stuff. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. Would you take a job walking robot dogs for $20 an hour? That's a real opportunity a San Francisco robotics company called Dimensional was advertising, and today on Simple Joe, we're digging into the story behind the headline. These aren't robotic pets. They're part of an effort to teach artificial intelligence how to navigate the real world, and apparently, that's a lot harder than it sounds. We'll talk about what these robot dog walkers actually do, why the robots sometimes have to be carried home, and how AI and robotics could eventually change the way we work. I'm not afraid of AI, but I do think we need to pay attention to what it means for our jobs and our future. And yes, I'd take that robot dog walking gig! We also get into my favorite way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for traveling, the pressure of picking out donuts for everybody, birthdays, history, and a little more. It's another day of curiosity, conversation, and thinking about where technology might be taking us. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. It's Wildcard Wednesday, and today I'm throwing down a challenge: Android phones are better than iPhones. Prove me wrong! I've got a Samsung Galaxy S24 for my personal phone and an iPhone for work, so I've spent some time in both worlds. I'm making my case for Android with more choices, better prices, greater customization, Google integration, and the freedom to make my phone work the way I want. Of course, I've got a little fun to poke at the Apple faithful, their loyalty, their ecosystem, and what I lovingly call the Apple cult. But I'll give Apple credit where it's deserved, and I'll even admit that my own Android loyalty might be getting in the way! There's one problem that really hits Grampy Joe where it hurts: my grandkids have iPads, and communicating with them isn't always easy. I'm looking for a good Android-to-iPad messaging solution, and I'm offering a free Simple Joe T-shirt to someone who can help me find one! So whether you're Team Android or Team iPhone, I want to hear your argument. Text me at 513-399-6468 or email [email protected]. Let's have some fun with this! Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. It's Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and today on Simple Joe, we're visiting Creston, Iowa, celebrating birthdays, and looking back at a little history involving Chevrolet, Godzilla, and The Wizard of Oz. I've got a question about just how long Godzilla's legs would have to be to walk through the ocean, and I'll tell you why I didn't watch The Wizard of Oz all the way through until I was in my 40s. We're also celebrating National Sandwich Day, which gives me an excuse to talk about my love for a good old-fashioned bologna and cheese sandwich. Then it's time for Tuesday's Random Questions, and this week gets interesting! I'll tell you how I convinced my middle school science teacher that a piece of dried rubber cement was actually a cow's eye, explain why I'd give up television before music, and share a few recurring family jokes that might sound a little strange without the proper context. We'll also imagine Idris Elba playing me in a sitcom about my life and try to figure out which completely ordinary historical moment would be worth visiting in a time machine. It's a fun, sometimes ridiculous, and occasionally thoughtful conversation about childhood memories, our everyday habits, and the strange things that make us who we are. Come hang out with me, and don't forget to send me your answers! Tuesday's Random Questions What is the most convincing lie you told as a kid? If you had to give up either music or television for a year, which would you choose? What recurring joke would appear in the sitcom version of your life? What actor would be wildly miscast as you but hilarious to watch? If time travel existed, what boring historical moment would you want to observe? Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. Today on Simple Joe, we're talking about something you probably didn't know about the Olympics: they used to award gold medals for art! We're also celebrating birthdays, including Daniel Boone, Burt Lancaster, David Schwimmer, and Nelly, plus National Deviled Egg Day, which reminds me of the time my daughter made one giant deviled egg from an ostrich egg. Then it's Monday's Interesting Headlines, and we've got some strange ones! A robotic hand that walks on its fingers, a million-dollar lottery ticket sitting forgotten in somebody's wallet, a company paying people to walk robot dogs, a 4,000-year-old dog's paw print, and a miniature T. rex relative that sold for an unbelievable $47.3 million. I've got plenty of questions about these stories, and I want to know which one you find most interesting. Text me at 513-399-6468 or email [email protected] and help me choose which story we'll explore on Thursday. And remember, memories are better than stuff! Monday Interesting Headlines Swiss researchers unveil robot hand that walks on its fingers $1M Powerball ticket spent two months in oblivious winner's wallet San Francisco company offering $20 an hour to walk robot dogs A Dog Left a Paw Print on This Mud Brick 4,000 Years Ago. Archaeologists Discovered It in the Rubble of a Bronze Age House Miniature T. rex relative sells for $47.3 million at auction Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. I'm trying something a little different on Simple Joe today! Instead of sitting behind a microphone, I'm taking you along on my Sunday evening walk for an unscripted, stream-of-consciousness conversation. We talk about the challenges of keeping a daily podcast going, the Friday Top 10 Halloween candy episode that never got released, and whether this walking-and-talking format might become a regular thing. I share some stories about volunteering with Karin in our church's pre-K class, watching football, and my ongoing backyard patio project involving concrete-filled planters and Edison string lights. We also get into podcasting friends who've inspired me, reconnecting with old coworkers, and how sometimes a simple lunch with a friend can mean more than we realize. This one's a bit of an experiment, and I'd love your feedback. Do you enjoy this kind of casual, unscripted conversation? Should I do more episodes like this? Text me at 513-399-6468 or email [email protected]. And remember, spend time with the people you love, make some great memories, and never forget that memories are better than stuff. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. What would it take to spend 28 years chasing one goal? Today on Simple Joe, we're exploring the incredible story of Karl Bushby, a British adventurer who set out in 1998 to walk around the world and is finally approaching his hometown of Hull, England. We're talking more than 30,000 miles across 29 countries, crossing the frozen Bering Strait, swimming the Caspian Sea, and even swimming the English Channel, all without using transportation to advance his journey. Could you imagine dedicating nearly half your life to one adventure? I'm not sure I could have kept going! We also celebrate Bob Ross's birthday, which gives me a chance to share how we won a painting by one of his direct students while on vacation. Plus, we've got Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Orndorff, Black Tuesday, the debut of the ballpoint pen, National Cat Day, and much more. And as we think about Karl's remarkable journey, there's a reminder that great memories don't necessarily require 28 years or a trip around the world. Sometimes they're waiting to be made right where we are. Because memories are better than stuff. Email me at [email protected] 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!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here. I was there, and I didn't even know it! On this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, I'm sharing a pretty funny story about witnessing one of the biggest University of Cincinnati football upsets in years and having absolutely no idea what I was watching. I went to Nippert Stadium with my son-in-law, Seth, and two of my grandkids to watch the UC Bearcats take on Texas Tech for Homecoming. Cincinnati won 37–24, the fans stormed the field, and I thought everybody was just really excited about Homecoming. Turns out Texas Tech was undefeated, ranked number eight in the country, and we'd just witnessed a HUGE upset! But there's something more to this story than football. It got me thinking about perspective, context, and how often we experience important moments in life without realizing just how special they are until later. We talk a lot about being present and living in the moment, but what happens when you're completely present and still don't understand the significance of what's happening around you? Sometimes you know you're making a great memory, and sometimes you don't find out until afterward. Either way, memories are better than stuff! Email me at [email protected] 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!