Before I recap Season 1 of Grateful Dad & Friends and provide a brief glimpse of Season 2, it may prudent to share why I launched this podcast in the first place.
The purpose of GD&F is to be a gift. A gift to my guests, and a gift to their friends and family. Let me explain….
A few years back, on my way to Lake Champlain, I was driving with my parents and I had an opportunity to “interview” my father about his 35-year experience in the family business. I recorded that conversation on Voice Memos on my iPhone and the audio quality is mediocre at best but the content was gold, and having Dad’s voice will forever be timeless, and priceless. I wish I had recorded more of those conversations.
And when I lost my brother, Tom, among a whole host of emotions that one would have after losing their hero, I realized that the few voicemails that Tom left for me in the weeks leading up to his untimely death, would be some of the few treasures that I have hearing Tom’s voice. I wish I had more of those treasures.
My hope is that the conversations that take place on GD&F will be a gift to those who know and love each of the guests that I am lucky to call my family and my friends
Season 1 guests ranging from neighbors, including my inaugural guest Mr. Fred Weiss… and former clients, such as Cary Crane… both of which went to the legendary ’72 shows at the Academy of Music, the ’73 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen and ’77 at Englishtown Raceway.
David McQuaid, one of my newer friends, who tours the country catching shows with his family in his retro-decked out school bus, appropriately named Sugaree, recapped some of his tales from the golden road and an encounter with NBA legend and lifelong Deadhead, Bill Walton.
We spoke with Cornell Bouse, an attorney and property owner by day and lead singer by night. We learned about his thoughts and views about Elvis, and among other topics, his plans and evolving wake-list for his own funeral.
We sat down with Ted Bahr, collector of some of the country’s most vintage psychedelic posters proudly displayed at The Bahr Gallery.
I introduced my friend, Rob Diestel, aka Monkey Man and we learned about his 20-year passion project, a musical that he wrote called Growin’ Up Asbury Park, weaving in characters from Bruce Springsteen’s most influential ballads.
We spent time w/ my sister, Kathy Staib, and our mutual friend Rainer “TITAN” Jenss and heard about how and when they got on the bus and how Rainer is facing a life-threatening disease with the ultimate in courage, in class, and in grace.
We talked music and a little shop talk with my nephew/business partner, TJ Staib and my COO, John Gulino and shared what we think we do well and what we could probably do better at our five-generation, family label printing business.
The Ryan brothers, founding members of indie rock band The Bogmen, spent some time with me and painted the picture of the evolution of their music and the related cultlike following.
We went back to the late 60’s and early 70’s with Richard Sutton, who shared his experiences living in communes and who was in the heart of the scene leading up to the infamous fundraiser concert that the Grateful Dead performed to save the Springfield Creamery from extinction.
Rob Barraco, keyboardist for Dark Star Orchestra, was kind enough to take the time to share his journey from wedding band performer to joining Jeff Matson in the Zen Tricksters, and then The Other Ones, The Dead, Phil & Friends, and ultimately Dark Star Orchestra. We learned what life is like on the DSO tour bus and what’s on tap in 2024 for the band.
Last but certainly not least, the four most special women in my life – my wife Margaret aka Margs, and our daughters Hannah, Hope
Before I recap Season 1 of Grateful Dad & Friends and provide a brief glimpse of Season 2, it may prudent to share why I launched this podcast in the first place.
The purpose of GD&F is to be a gift. A gift to my guests, and a gift to their friends and family. Let me explain….
A few years back, on my way to Lake Champlain, I was driving with my parents and I had an opportunity to “interview” my father about his 35-year experience in the family business. I recorded that conversation on Voice Memos on my iPhone and the audio quality is mediocre at best but the content was gold, and having Dad’s voice will forever be timeless, and priceless. I wish I had recorded more of those conversations.
And when I lost my brother, Tom, among a whole host of emotions that one would have after losing their hero, I realized that the few voicemails that Tom left for me in the weeks leading up to his untimely death, would be some of the few treasures that I have hearing Tom’s voice. I wish I had more of those treasures.
My hope is that the conversations that take place on GD&F will be a gift to those who know and love each of the guests that I am lucky to call my family and my friends
Season 1 guests ranging from neighbors, including my inaugural guest Mr. Fred Weiss… and former clients, such as Cary Crane… both of which went to the legendary ’72 shows at the Academy of Music, the ’73 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen and ’77 at Englishtown Raceway.
David McQuaid, one of my newer friends, who tours the country catching shows with his family in his retro-decked out school bus, appropriately named Sugaree, recapped some of his tales from the golden road and an encounter with NBA legend and lifelong Deadhead, Bill Walton.
We spoke with Cornell Bouse, an attorney and property owner by day and lead singer by night. We learned about his thoughts and views about Elvis, and among other topics, his plans and evolving wake-list for his own funeral.
We sat down with Ted Bahr, collector of some of the country’s most vintage psychedelic posters proudly displayed at The Bahr Gallery.
I introduced my friend, Rob Diestel, aka Monkey Man and we learned about his 20-year passion project, a musical that he wrote called Growin’ Up Asbury Park, weaving in characters from Bruce Springsteen’s most influential ballads.
We spent time w/ my sister, Kathy Staib, and our mutual friend Rainer “TITAN” Jenss and heard about how and when they got on the bus and how Rainer is facing a life-threatening disease with the ultimate in courage, in class, and in grace.
We talked music and a little shop talk with my nephew/business partner, TJ Staib and my COO, John Gulino and shared what we think we do well and what we could probably do better at our five-generation, family label printing business.
The Ryan brothers, founding members of indie rock band The Bogmen, spent some time with me and painted the picture of the evolution of their music and the related cultlike following.
We went back to the late 60’s and early 70’s with Richard Sutton, who shared his experiences living in communes and who was in the heart of the scene leading up to the infamous fundraiser concert that the Grateful Dead performed to save the Springfield Creamery from extinction.
Rob Barraco, keyboardist for Dark Star Orchestra, was kind enough to take the time to share his journey from wedding band performer to joining Jeff Matson in the Zen Tricksters, and then The Other Ones, The Dead, Phil & Friends, and ultimately Dark Star Orchestra. We learned what life is like on the DSO tour bus and what’s on tap in 2024 for the band.
Last but certainly not least, the four most special women in my life – my wife Margaret aka Margs, and our daughters Hannah, Hope