Podcast 219

Skype Call In. Still getting great response to the ‘Road Trip’ or ‘On The Road’ podcasts chronicling the Bob Davis Podcast’s journey from Chicago to Phoenix, through Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. With all the major news going down these days; The resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder, the airstrikes in Syria and Iraq and an election, one would think people would want to talk about the issues. Nope. There’s still a definite ‘escapist’ bent in people’s minds. Maybe because of the dying summer. Maybe because we know winter is coming again in the Upper Midwest. Some great conversation about travel experiences, when we were young, and old. Memories of heading to Florida from Chicago in the ‘way-back’ of the old Chevy Wagon, by way of Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida. What does travel when you’re very young, especially travel by car across the country, teach a person about life, and travel in the future? You learn to chill out and take it as it comes, because trying to batter your way through, really doesn’t work on the road. Bonus discussion about social media and the tools the Bob Davis Podcasts can use to get calls into the podcasts. Do you use Skype? FaceTime? Yahoo Chat? Some other tool? Let us know. Too bad we can’t stream on FaceBook or Twitter. Still — the main reason to do these ‘call in’ podcasts is to be prepared, and let listeners know the Bob Davis Podcasts is prepared to give you a chance to share your opinions and views, when a major story breaks, as one inevitably will, that people are burning to talk about. (New software makes the calls sound even better, which is one reason we love us some Skype). Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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Podcast 214

North Dakota. The final On-The-Road podcast takes us through Montana to North Dakota. When you travel, especially in a car, you get philosophical. Subscribers to the Bob Davis Podcasts suggested a trip to Williston, for a first hand look at what ‘Fracking’ has wrought. One does not have to go to Williston to see the effects of development and economic growth in North Dakota. Everything is new. Kicking off some musing about the different ways the American West Developed, how the West uses its resources for economic growth. The sheer geographic size and scope of Western States is truly impressive, not to mention innovation and opportunity from the coffee stands and whitewater outfitters in Moab, Utah to brand new service stations, franchises, apartment buildings, hotels and office buildings in North Dakota. While North Dakota leads the nation in economic growth and energy development, it is just one state. The whole trip through the so called ‘Mountain West’ definitely leaves a visual impression, but it also serves as a reminder of just how majestic the United States is, and how much potential there really is. From trains, to smaller cities all over the west, in states so large you wouldn’t even know there is growth and development, and innovation everywhere. One can’t help but wonder how much more potential for growth would exist if people enjoyed an easier path to following their dreams. The Minneapolis Tribune and New York Times don’t like North Dakota’s oil boom, but then again, the establishment ‘back east’ has never been comfortable with the diverse economic interests ‘Out West’ that have struggled with development, exploitation of natural resources, agriculture and ranching issues, for over one hundred years. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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Podcast 213

The Haunted Diner. On the road again, heading back up 15 North from Flagstaff, Arizona to Butte, Montana. At a stop in Pocatello, Idaho a server at Elmer’s Diner informed me it was haunted. Hear the story and get a brief audio ‘tour’ of the kitchen and freezer where the offending spirit ‘lives’. It’s a big, wide country. That’s the message that is being continuously reinforced in this road trip covering Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. There is great diversity in our people, and our pursuits of happiness. There is still great untouched potential in The United States. When a person gets out and really sees the country, that potential is obvious. Too bad pundits, politicians, commentators and others are too busy flying in their private jets. They might be surprised by what they see. The ‘On The Road’ podcasts are being received very well, but to avoid every podcast being simply a ‘travelogue’ the effort to add topical content continues. The three big stories are Scottish efforts to break away from the British Commonwealth, the rapidly unraveling Obama ‘strategy’ to ‘degrade’ and ‘defeat’ ISIS, and the media’s penchant for making predictions about the election outcome, before it actually happens. The story line on the Scots is; The independence movement proves people are tired of ‘nation-states’ (even though the Scots are essentially forming a new one). Perhaps it suggests people are getting tired of federal governments attempting to control our lives; and when we have a vote, we vote to shut the federals up. It’s not funny, but the President’s troubles with the ISIS strategy are only just beginning. After the President promised ‘no troops on the ground in Iraq’, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is suggesting there could be troops in Iraq. Meanwhile, the US is sending troops into Africa to battle Ebola? Finally, more and more ‘pundits’ (the same people who fly around the country on private jets rather than get down among the people) are convinced the US Senate will change leadership in November. What did your momma say? “Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch!”. The Republicans need to win 6 senate seats, and 7 would be nice for a solid majority. Many of the key races they have to win are neck and neck. If Republicans want a wave, they’d best get all hands on deck to make it happen. Just sayin’. Finally a UFO encounter on a lonely dark road in Hamer, Idaho? Sponsored by Autonomous Cad. Thanks to Gamers Cafe and Casino in Butte, Montana for an awesome Chef’s Salad, and very fast (and free) WIFI. 

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