I Used to be Somebody

We're ending 2023 on a very high note with Dewey Forward. He was a highly regarded concert promoter and nightclub owner that organized over 4,000 concerts. He's worked with with groups like Pearl Jam, REM, Donovan, Bon Jovi and countless others. Dewey started and owned Peabody's DownUnder in Cleveland where he created the precursor to the House of Blues concept. After living the crazy music and restaurant business for over 40 years, he now owns and operates the iconic Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop. He's a great storyteller and just funny as hell. What a great way to wrap up year! • More about Dewey Forward and the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop: https://www.chagrinfallspopcorn.com/about • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Dewey-Forward-Interview-Night-Club-Owner-Pivots-to-Popcorn-Shop • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/promotion/retirement-planning-guide • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • I Used to be Somebody World Tour -- First Stop Tuscany: https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour • Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

Carl gets his Sideways fix in with his interview with Bob Wolfe. In the movie, actor Paul Giamatti plays a serious Pinot fanatic. In real life, Bob Wolfe is one of the foremost Pinot Noir experts. In fact, people simply refer to Bob simply as The Pinot Guy! There is something for everyone in this fun-filled interview, besides Pinot Noir talk. You'll learn what it's like to grow up in a tiny rural farming town, working on a nuclear submarine, and even what it's like to get a 4:30am call with Donald Trump way back in the day. Bob is totally forthcoming about finding himself at a crossroads in his life. He's figuring out how to step away from the day-to-day of his successful wine business, while also embarking on a completely new second act as a professional pickleball instructor traveling the world. You're going to love this pinot to pickleball story! • More about Bob Wolfe: https://oregonpinotnoir.com/about-1 • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Bob-Wolfe-Interview-Pinot-Guy-now-Pickleball-Guy • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/promotion/retirement-planning-guide • I Used to be Somebody World Tour -- First Stop Tuscany: https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour • Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

We've all been on vacation to some wonderful places in the world and said to ourselves, "I wonder if I could live here?" That is as far as most of us go. Jed Smith -- actually did it! He made the move to Italy in his mid-50's and has thrived there ever since. Jed transformed himself from marketing exec into an accomplished painter, photographer and writer. He loves his new-found Italian culture and lifestyle so much that now he helps others who are interested in moving to Italy. He has truly an inspirational story of a boy who grew up in the South with little confidence and now has taken on the world! • More about Jed Smith: https://italywise.com/contact • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Jed-Smith-Interview-Creative-Marketing-Exec-Thrives-in-Italy-as-Artist • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/promotion/retirement-planning-guide • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey COMPASS: https://www.mikeownbey.com • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • I Used to be Somebody World Tour -- First Stop Tuscany: https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour • Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

This is one of the best interviews we've ever had. Talk about an unlikely story! Dat Truong grew up in Vietnam and at 5 years old escaped just days before the fall of Saigon. He had careers on Wall Street and Silicon Valley but it wasn't until he moved to Portland, OR that he found his way to a life that he feels truly fits who he is today. What is "Grandma's Secret"? You're going to need to listen to find out! • More about Dat Truong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/datlinkedin • Lela's Bistro: https://www.lelasbistro.com • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Dat-Truong-Interview-High-Tech-Exec-to-Best-Pho-and-Grandmas-Secret • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/promotion/retirement-planning-guide • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey, COMPASS: https://www.mikeownbey.com • I Used to be Somebody World Tour -- First Stop Tuscany: https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour • Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

It took 72 episodes, but Carl finally got a politician on the show. And he got a big time Congressman in Steve Israel. He was an eight-term congressman out of New York who is proud to have been a bi-partisan representative who brought both sides of the aisle together. Since leaving congress, Steve has been a political commentator on CNN, MSNBC and HBO and the author of two critically acclaimed political satires. In 2021, he became a first-time entrepreneur and launched a new dream job--as the owner of an independent bookstore, Theodore's Books in Oyster Bay, NY. Former Congressman Israel is very candid about his political life. He is devastated that his district in New York is currently represented by the infamous George Santos. And he sheds some light on the antics of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis while they both were in Congress together. Steve ran for office 8 times and won 8 times(!) and has managed to retain his great sense of humor. His slogan when leaving office was "unindicted and undefeated". • More about Steve Israel: https://government.cornell.edu/steve-israel • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Steve-Israel-Interview-Eight-Term-Us-Congressman-Now-Cool-Bookstore-Owner • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey, COMPASS: https://www.mikeownbey.com/ • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die/ • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

We have a celebrity sighting this month on the show......Maxine Clark. She is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. At age 48 she became a first-time entrepreneur and founded Build-A-Bear Workshop. Within just a few years, she took her company public on the New York Stock Exchange. Most importantly, she's had a big impact on millions of children and adults from their Build-A-Bear experience. What makes her story even more amazing is what Maxine is doing now her 70's... • More about Maxine Clark: https://clarkfoxstl.com/team/maxine-clark • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Maxine-Clark-Interview-Build-A-Bear-Mega-Founder-Turns-to-Social-Entrepreneurship • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey, COMPASS: https://www.mikeownbey.com • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

This is a super fun interview with popular NPR radio host and talented interviewer Donna Apidone. Her commitment to her work became a lifestyle, waking up at 1:30am and getting to the studio by 3am and hosting CapRadio's Morning Edition. But, 21 years of hosting the show in a 8 x 8 windowless studio and being consumed by the news led her to a world of meditation. And she is excited now for a new journey and helping others along the way to a calm and complete life. • More about Donna Apidone: https://www.donnaapidone.com • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Donna-Apidone-Interview-Popular-NPR-Host-Now-Helps-New-Audience-Find-Purpose • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey, Compass Real Estate: https://www.mikeownbey.com • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

Who moves to Sedona, AZ in. their 50's and without any experience in the hospitality business, builds a luxury hotel? Steve Segner did! The same guy at 21 years old buys his first pet store while he has another day job. And then ends up becoming a pet biz mogul, by starting a line of regional pet stores and creating and selling one of the first all-natural healthy pet food lines. Whether it's the pet industry or building the El Portal, a top end adobe style hotel -- Steve is the poster child for our (Un)Retirement good life! • More about Steve Segner: https://elportalsedona.com/the-story-of-el-portal-sedona-hotel-by-steve-segner • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Steve-Segner-Interview-Pet-Biz-Exec-Reinvents-Himself-Builds-Luxury-Hotel • Sponsored by Mike Ownbey, Compass Real Estate: https://www.mikeownbey.com • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

What a fun interview with the founder of UGG boots! At 29, Brian Smith left the accounting world and Australia and headed to the beaches in Malibu to surf and look for the next big thing. Ever heard of UGG sheepskin boots? He first targeted surfers and surf shops. You need to hear about the super-crazy ups and downs Brian faced into building a new cultural movement and a brand that is today a billion dollar operation. • More about Brian Smith: https://briansmithspeaker.com/about-brian-smith • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Brian-Smith-Interview-Founder-of-UGG • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how-to-retire-and-not-die • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe

Carl plays therapist in the tiki bar with guest Doug Villhard, as Doug talks about his mom who was disappointed if he got an A- on a report card. We think it all turned out OK, since Doug and his business partner recently cashed in on the sale of their software platform company for $30 million. Doug's story is an amazing one, which includes the fun fact that Doug and his wife actually started a high school. Who does that? He has found a new passion in his (un)retirement life by teaching 400 MBA students each year on how to create and innovate to make their budding entrepreneurial dreams come true. • More about Doug Villhard: https://dougvillhard.com/about • Episode Content: https://pickleballmediahq.com/blog/Doug-Villhard- Interview-Big-Time-Entrepreneur-Pays-It-Forward • Sponsored by How to Retire and Not Die: https://garysirak.com/how- to-retire-and-not-die • Sponsored by Capital Advantage: https://capitaladvantage.com/podcast • Subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter for free: https://pickleballmediahq.com/contact/subscribe