That's Life, I Swear
Every Wednesday, join Rick Barron as he unravels the intricate threads of life's most captivating stories. From heart-pounding political dramas to the awe-inspiring challenges of climate change, he explores the topics that shape our world and define our era.
But this isn't just another talk show. Rick delves deep into the human psyche, examining our beliefs, behaviors, and the obstacles we overcome. He celebrates our triumphs and embraces our imperfections, uncovering the profound lessons hidden in everyday experiences.
The episodes are a journey of self-discovery as he shares stories that mirror our collective identity. These tales aren't just entertaining – they're a reflection of who we are, who we were, and who we aspire to be. They carry the weight of our ancestral legacy, the fire of our dreams, and the depths of our pain.
With each episode, you'll confront your deepest anxieties about yourself, your place in the world, and the future that awaits us all. In understanding these complexities, you'll find inspiration, connection, and perhaps even transformation.
"That's Life, I Swear" isn't just a podcast – it's a weekly rendezvous with the extraordinary nature of ordinary life. Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts, and join Rick on this unforgettable exploration of the human experience. After all, that's life, I swear.
Episodes
298 episodes
How One Podcaster Is Reshaping France's Reckoning With Its Past
Learn how if a society refuses to examine its darkest chapters, those chapters don’t disappear — they just wait for the right conditions to return. Supporting links1. Philippe Collin [
Interview #31 Mariah Bonner: From Baltimore to Buenos Aires - Her Musical Journey
SummaryIn this episode, Rick Barron interviews Mariah Bonner. A former ballet dancer, movie actress, writer, and now international singer. Join us as Mariah Bonner shares her inspiring journey of moving from the U.S. to Argentina,...
Pointing the Way: The Genius Behind Your Gas Gauge
Jim Moylan may not have achieved the fame of Henry Ford or other celebrated inventors. His name won't appear in most history books or innovation courses. But millions of drivers benefit from his insight every day. Supporting links...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: First Principles, By Thomas E. Ricks
Learn how the book, First Principles, by Thomas E. Ricks, teaches that the intellectual foundations of American democracy are as consequential as the political events that accompanied them—and that understanding those foundations is cr...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, By Walter Isaacson
Learn how In The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, Walter Isaacson dissects the famous line from the Declaration of Independence—“We hold these truths to be self-evident…”—and asks us to see it not as a relic, but as a living id...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: Coming Clean by Liz Fraser
Learn how Coming Clean is a powerful reminder that recovery is relational. It’s not just about the person with the substance use issue but about everyone whose life becomes entangled with it. supporting links1...
Enough Already!: America’s Breaking Point with the U.S. Congress
Congress is historically dysfunctional right now — by nearly every measurable standard, from shutdown length to laws passed to member departures. Supporting links1.
My Wife and I Had a Plan, and Then
Learn how you can plan your life with precision—and still lose control of the outcome. What you never lose is how you respond. Supporting links1.
2026 Midterm Elections: Votes Counted…Maybe
Learn how Trump’s biggest threat may not be winning more votes in the 2026 midterm elections; it may be exploiting loopholes, fear, and institutional weakness to cling to power.Supporting links1.
3D Printing Paradise: How Tech Is Saving Our Environment and Surfboards
Learn how the most powerful innovations frequently emerge not from abstract problem-solving but from personal experiences of frustration or failure. Supporting links1.
Scaling Back after a Divorce
The story doesn't romanticize divorce, but it doesn't flatten it into pure hardship either. There's grief, adjustment, and — eventually — something that's genuinely your own.Supporting links1.
Book Review from Rick’s Library: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Learn how life is cumulative, and correspondence—whether via letter or through care, presence, and reflection—helps us make sense of it. supporting links1.
What Happens After You Kill the Iran Nuclear Deal?
In global politics, you rarely get solutions; you get trade-offs. The enduring lesson is this:Every path carries risk—the real challenge is choosing which risks you’re more willing to live with. ...
David Miliband: The Politician Who Quit to Save the World
The deepest takeaway, perhaps, is simply this: a life shaped by history's worst chapter can still choose to be defined by its best instincts. Supporting links1. Eco...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: Lucky Every Day by Chip Silverman
Learn how Dianes’ story is not merely about sports or even about cancer—it's about the human capacity to find meaning, purpose, and even joy in the face of devastating circumstances. supporting links1.&...
And For Best Picture, The Oscar Goes To: YouTube!
Learn how this is a story about institutions that define culture, don’t get to stand still. The Oscars’ pivot to YouTube shows that legacy alone doesn’t guarantee relevance — adaptation does. To remain meaningful, even icons must loosen their g...
Margaret Gipsy Moth: A Fearless CNN Camera Operator who Covered Conflicts Across the Globe
Margaret “Gipsy” Moth’s story resists any simple moral—but that’s exactly where its power lies. It forces us to sit with uncomfortable truths about courage, purpose, and the cost of bearing witness. Supporting links1.&...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson
No Ordinary Assignment offers lessons that extend far beyond journalism, though it is indispensable reading for anyone who practices or admires the craft. supporting links1.
Book Review from Rick’s Library: 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Learn about the most devastating financial collapse in history—the Great Crash of 1929—through the lens of Andrew Ross Sorkin’s electrifying new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation.<...
Betty Reid Soskin: The Ranger Who Rewrote American Memory
Learn how Betty Reid Soskin understood that simply being seen—as an elderly Black woman in a ranger’s uniform—challenged assumptions about who belongs in American institutions. Representation isn’t symbolic; it’s transformative. ...
Born Here, But Are You American?
The birthright citizenship battle before the Supreme Court teaches several profound lessons that stretch well beyond immigration law.The Wong Kim Ark decision is 128 years old. It has survived every political storm since 1898. And yet he...
The Mountain’s Verdict: You have only 10 minutes to live
This story teaches us that risk can be managed, but never eliminated.Supporting links1. 2026 Lake Tahoe avalanche [Wikipedia]2...
Ringo Starr ‘With a Little Help From His Friends’
Learn how Ringo Starr was often underestimated within The Beatles, yet the band’s sound would not have been the same without his feel, timing, and restraint. Supporting links1.
WhatsApp vs iMessage: Why Americans Are Switching
Learn why Everyone's Using WhatsApp Now: Group Chat Features iPhone Users LoveSupporting links1. WhatsApp New Features 2025-The Ultimate Guide to Pra...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: Apple:The First 50 Years by David Pogue
The central lesson of Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue’s book, reminds us that the future isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something that gets built, one idea at a time.supporting links1. &nbs...