On the Beat with Joey Roth

I have interviewed Joey Roth several times, but never like this. I have never even seen Joey like this.

Trouble had been brewing within the World Famous Fabulous Idols at Rocket Pro Wrestling. Things erupted at the October show, when he was attacked by the other idols with wife Roxi leading the charge. 

I'm not going to lie and say it's all real. That's not the point. Wrestling fans (well, most wrestling fans) are aware of storylines. The beauty of great wrestling is multi-layered storylines developing over a period of time. The best storylines keep fans guessing.

This is where the current Joey situation is shining. While I saw a break coming within the Idols, I had no idea how it would go and where it would lead. Now we get to see it played out.

Where does Joey go from here? Who aligns with Joey, if anyone does? Does Joey bring in someone new? Of course, there's also the possibility this is one huge swerve. You just never know.

Things will unfold at the Christmas Chaos show December 7, but I am sure the story won't end there. Like a good television show, you'll have to keep tuning in. 

This is one story worth watching. I know Joey well, but I have no inside info. I'm waiting and watching like everyone else.

Our interview can be found at On the Beat with Joey Roth, with the full story on the Joliet Patch. Also, check out rocketprowrestling.com for info and scheduling on all events.

Joey Roth and me in Joliet, IL-November 2024.

Sitori Tanin & Parker Van Buren Aid Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

Loyola University student-athletes Sitori Tanin and Parker Van Buren have done great things on the basketball and volleyball courts (respectively). They recently joined me to discuss something much more important though.

Sitori and Parker have created three tshirts to raise funds and awareness for Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Available in Loyola's NIL store, the shirts depict each separately and one with both of them. They are great-looking shirts and it is a wonderful cause, one very near to their hearts.

Sitori's brother Elliott was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2022. The cause is unknown and the cure hasn't been discovered yet. Efforts like this bring the cure one step closer.

I thank Sitori and Parker for their time and consideration. I applaud them for their effort. I also look forward to watching both play their sports in their upcoming seasons.

Watch the interview at On the Beat with Parker Van Buren and Sitori Tanin. Go to the Instagram pages for Sitori, Tanin and Loyola NIL to order your shirts.

Squared Circle Expo IV

Another Squared Circle Expo is in the books. SCX IV was the biggest and best SCX event yet.

SCX is a major wrestling convention, including a large lineup of wrestlers for meet-and-greets and two full cards of live wrestling. I can't even begin to list the wrestling legends and young superstars I have met over the years.

It is run by the fabulous foursome of Adolfo and Carrie Dorta and Ed and Heather (Owens) Gonzales. I love all of them, but this all started with Adolfo, who previously was a co-organizer of a different convention. It's hard to believe I first met Adolfo in 2011.

Adolfo has always been generous with his time and considerations. He has always shown me great hospitality at the other con and now with SCX.

I wrote more about the convention for Patch.com, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and TheEveryDayFan.com. Also, check SquaredCircleX.com for info and updates about next year's event.

Adolfo Dorta and me in Indianapolis, IN-March 2024.

On the Beat With Savannah Czornomor

I have wanted to follow an athlete from high school to college to wherever the road leads. Recently, I hope to have taken the first step in accomplishing that.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Savannah Czornomor, a senior high school softball player in New Jersey. Savannah committed to Wagner College late last year.

A versatile player, Savannah plays third base, shortstop, outfield and is a right-handed pitcher. She racked up lofty stats and a lot of awards and accolades in her first three years of high school softball and also while playing club ball.

Savannah impressed me with her maturity and poise. Many professional athletes were far less comfortable in interviews. Savannah made my job easy.

Her plans are to continue playing at Wagner College in New York. After that, she isn't quite as certain, but she has plenty of time to figure it out. While professional softball opportunities are limited now, they are much better than several years ago. By the time Savannah leaves Wagner, who knows what pro opportunities there will be.

This is the beauty of this journey. I intend to follow her path wherever it leads. I hope it will be entertaining and informative for all, but especially for young athletes in similar situations.

Check out the interview at On the Beat With Savannah Czornomor. Also, check back here for updates as I follow her journey. Finally, look for Savannah on social media.

Talking Travel with Kayla Drescher

Magician and mind reader Kayla Drescher was the latest guest on my Talking Travel interview series on Global Traveler. Kayla was kind enough to give me her time during the blizzard and freeze over last weekend.

As I told her to end the interview, I first saw her on Penn & Teller Fool Us in 2017. I loved her act. It was one trick, involving two sheets of paper, two scissors and Teller. There was no talking, but a beautiful story was told. It was theatrical magic at its best.

When I saw she started a month long run at Rhapsody Theater on Chicago's north side, I thought it was the perfect time to interview her on GT and also the Chicago Patch (probably more important for the specific performance run). Kayla was as delightful as the act I saw on television.

She discussed her start, the difference between magic and mind-reading, the challenges video technology brings and more. On the travel end (to keep my GT big cheese happy), she talked about adjusting to audiences in different cities, where she loved performing, cities on her bucket list and more. Of course, she also talked about performing in her hometown.

It was a fun interview which came together quickly. I appreciate Kayla's time and consideration.

The interview video and recap is on Global Traveler at Talking Travel with Kayla Drescher. Also, get more info on Kayla at magicinheels.com. Lastly, please subscribe to the Global Traveler YouTube channel for all sorts of interesting travel content (and to help my job security LOL).

Talking Travel with Taylor McQuillin

My latest guest on Talking Travel on Global Traveler is Olympian Taylor McQuillin. As winter invades Chicago and GT partners with the Olympics, it is a great time to talk softball, the Olympics and travel and Taylor is the perfect interview guest.

We start with Taylor discussing what adding "Olympian" to her title means to her. That's an amazing accomplishment and one she will always carry with her. She can forever add "OLY" to her name, title, signature and resume.

We moved onto a serious topic. Suffering from Duane Syndrome, a condition that left her blind in her left eye, Taylor overcame the problem to excel on the mound. Ever positive, she even explained how it helped her become an even better player through more communication and understanding the roles of other teammates.

Of course, we had to discuss her travels. She talked about growing from a rookie to a young veteran in Japan. While she eschews the veteran label, she had enough experience there to tell fun tales and to guide younger players. She is comfortable enough to simply go exploring in Japan, a decision which brought her to many interesting new places.

 I have had the pleasure of watching Taylor play in Athletes Unlimited. She's an ace on the mound and an incredible person off the field. I loved this interview, because it revealed the many sides of Taylor.

The full recap is on GT at Talking Travel with Taylor McQuillin. All of the Talking Travel interviews are on the GT YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to the channel (it's free) for all of the travel content. Also, go to TayBeeSoftball.com for more info on her camps, clinics and instruction.

On the Beat with Jerry Kramer and Bob Fox

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer and author Bob Fox. The two men recently collaborated on Run to Win, Jerry's latest book.

A native of Montana, Jerry starred at the University of Idaho, before being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 4th round of the 1958 NFL draft. Jerry went on to play guard for 11 seasons with the Packers. He also kicked for several seasons.

Jerry played 130 games in his career, racking up quite a few awards and accolades. Among them, he made three Pro Bowls, five All Pro teams, the Pro Football Hall of Fame team All-1960s Team and more, culminating in his 2018 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Run to Win isn't Jerry's first book. He has written a few, starting with Instant Replay in 1968.That book focuses on the 1967 season, including the famous Ice Bowl, a game Green Bay won with one iconic block by Jerry. Instant Replay was one of the first sports books I ever read and remains one of my favorites.

Now, Run to Win is joining that book as one of my favorites. Jerry and Bob did a fantastic job in telling more of Jerry's story. Also included are fantastic pictures.

Jerry and Bob talked about the book in our interview, but mostly Jerry told some great football stories. It is those kind of stories you will find in the book. Jerry is a legitimate NFL legend.

Of course, I had to ask Jerry about Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus. Jerry had a great answer. At 87, Jerry is as sharp as ever.

This was such a thrill for me. Not only is he an HOFer, he is a Green Bay legend. As a Chicagoan, there is no better rivalry in all sports than Chicago versus Green Bay. I will always love my Bears, but I respect the Packers immensely, especially men like Jerry.

The video is at On the Beat With Jerry Kramer and Bob Fox. Look for Run to Win at any major book retailer.

On the Beat With John St. Augustine

Last month, Ironman, the autobiography of legendary Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley, was published. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing John St. Augustine, longtime fan and friend of Hundley and the co-author of Ironman. That interview is at On the Beat With John St. Augustine.

When I was growing up watching the Cubs, I could always count on Hundley behind the plate. Although he started with the San Francisco Giants, Hundley joined the Cubs in 1966 and remained their starter through the 1973 season. During that time, he caught 947 games, but that includes 1972, when an injury limited him to nine games. Over a four year stretch, he averaged 153 games. He also caught 160 once, which still stands as an MLB record, one that will probably never be broken. Hundley was indeed an Ironman.

As a youngster, St. Augustine first met Hundley while seeking autographs. Little did either know how their lives would become intertwined years later.

Fast forward to a fantasy camp, an idea that Hundley actually started, the two met again. St. Augustine had a great camp, but more importantly he developed several friendships, most notably one with Hundley.

A few years ago, after a bit of prodding from St. Augustine, Hundley decided to finally write his book. His handpicked co-author was St. Augustine, a wise and natural choice. Together they worked diligently, but with a real passion, to bring the full story of Hundley's life and career.

I can proudly say I play a very small part in this process. St. Augustine contacted me after I interviewed Jody Davis, another former Cubs catcher. I put him in touch with Davis and also George Castle, my former colleague and longtime friend. St. Augustine and Hundley were even kind enough to include me in the book's acknowledgements, for which I am very grateful and somewhat shocked.

The book is destined to be a "must-read" for any Cubs fan, but also any baseball fan in general. In addition, even historians will love it for much of it's backdrop is during the turbulent 1960s.

For more information, go to Lulu.com. You can also get an autographed copy directly from St, Augustine if you contact him on Facebook.

Squared Circle Expo IV Is Coming

Sting! Kane! Ted DiBiase! Mike Rotunda!

So started the announcements from Squared Circle Expo. With a first four like that, I know this is going to be a wrestler list  The announcements will keep coming and I will keep updating them here and on the Indianapolis Patch.

SCX IV runs March 29-30 at Wyndham West in Indianapolis, Indiana. It starts with a meet-and-greet on Friday afternoon and ends with a full night of wrestling on Saturday.

In between are two great days of mingling with other fans and friends, meeting a bunch of great legends and current stars, checking out cool merch and a lot more.

I expect about 60 wrestlers in the celebrity lineup, but there will be countless wrestlers there as fans. I meet many indie wrestlers who come because it is a great event. Keep your eyes opne if you go, because you might see some big names from the indie scene.

For more info, go to SquaredCircleX.com. Check back here for updates and recurring coverage.

Kane and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2018.

On the Beat With Hardcore Heather Owens

I recently made my debut on the Cincinnati Patch when I went "On the Beat" with Hardcore Heather Owens to discuss Power! Pride! Pro Wrestling!: A Drag & Wrestling Extravaganza! Longtime friend, (semi( retired pro wrestler and Co-Chair of Cincinnati Pride Athletics Committee, Heather is the perfect person to get the scoop on this cool event.

Power! Pride! Pro Wrestling! brings together the world of pro wrestling with the LGBTQ+ community. It features five wrestling matches and three drag performances. There's also great drinks, because it's held at Rhinegeist Brewery and great food from the Wild Side Caveman food truck.

I have known Heather for about a decade, having met at Resistance Pro Wrestling. She's one of the coolest, sweetest people, except in the ring, where she earned her "hardcore" moniker. Either way, Heather is the best. If she is involved in something, it's going to be good.

The interview is on the Patch at Power! Pride! Pro Wrestling! For more info and tickets, go to CincinnatiPride.org.

Rocket Pro Wrestling Returns!

Rocket Pro Wrestling returns today. The World Famous Fabulous Idols Joey Roth and Roxi Heart are not scheduled to be part of the show, but I'm betting they will make an appearance.

The pair remained tight-lipped about the possibilities, but history states Joey and Roxi will not sit on the sidelines. They are always part of the action.

I wrote more about the actual show on Rocket Pro Wrestling Returns on the Joliet Patch. Almost every match is a title match on a loaded card.

Why aren't the WFFI on the card? Last season ended with a betrayal and the WFFI seemingly down. Anyone who knows them, knows they don't stay down long and things are never as they seem with them. Joey and Roxi always have aces (yes, several) up their sleeves. Saturday, some of those aces should be revealed. I can't wait t see what happens.

I will be "On the Beat" as always. I'll be getting more interiews and info, which I will recap here and on the Joliet Patch.

Watch the interview at On the Beat With Joey Roth and Roxi Heart of Rocket Pro Wrestling. Check RocketProWrestling.com for info and updates.

Jay Bradley and HP Cares For Cooper

Earlier this month, I attended a special weekend in Highland Park, IL. Hosted by Billy Corgan and the National Wrestling Alliance, HP Cares For Cooper and NWA Powerrr Television tapings made for an amazing weekend. A more detailed recap of my weekend is on the Highland Park Patch.

There were several old friends I wanted to see at the events. I saw all of them, with varying levels of engagement due to time and situation constraints.

One of those people was Jay Bradley. When I was involved with Resistance Pro Wrestling, Jay was one of the first faces of the company. Jay was an excellent wrestler, who probably would have won the title if he didn't have other wrestling commitments.

Jay's parents were two of the first folks I saw that weekend. It was great catching up with them. I kept a close eye on them after the shows, because I figured Jay would eventually go to them, which he did. I took that opportunity to grab Jay for a quick chat and picture. I knew he was busy with them and his duties at the show. I was happy for that moment.

Go to NationalWrestlingAlliance.com for more info on Jay and the NWA. Check back here for my recurring wrestling coverage.

Jay Bradley and me in Highland Park, IL-July 2023.

On the Beat With Cody James

Continuing my pre-event coverage of two special National Wrestling Alliance Highland Park shows, I interviewed Chicago area wrestler Cody James. The full story is at NWA Comes to Highland Park for Special Weekend.

Although he started his wrestling career later than the average wrestler, Cody has made up for lost time by wrestling for several companies all over the area. This weekend though, it's all about the NWA. More specifically, it is about the NWA and Highland Park.

Last year, there was a horrific mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade. Eight year old Cooper Roberts was shot in the back, resulting in surgeries, rehabilitation and ongoing medical costs. Saturday's HP Cares for Cooper is a fundraiser benefitting Cooper and his family. Many of the NWA's top wrestlers will be there.

Sunday, the wrestling fun continues with two Powerrr television tapings. Like Saturday, again many of the best NWA has on its roster will be present.

This weekend is significant for the NWA and the Highland Park community. NWA President, HP resident and businessman Billy Corgan organized the weekend to bring together his community.

For more information, go to NationalWrestlingAlliance.com. Check back here for more coverage.

On the Beat With Missa Kate

I love covering all sorts of pop culture events, but I especially enjoy spreading the word on important causes. Next weekend, on July 8-9, the National Wrestling Alliance is putting on two very special events.

On Saturday, the NWA presents HP Cares for Cooper, a fundraiser for Cooper Roberts, a youngster shot in the back during the horrific mass shooting last year in Highland Park, IL. On Sunday, there are two NWA Powerrr television tapings.

While both days promise excellent wrestling action, the focus is really on raising funds for the Roberts family to help with medical expenses of Cooper and his twin Luke, also injured in the shooting. Saturday is a free event, but donations are encouraged.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Missa Kate, one of the wrestlers slated to appear. "Chicago's favorite sweetheart" is one half of the NWA Women's Tag Team Champions (along with Madi Wrenkowski). She discussed her 127 day title reign, wrestling in her home area and more, including the Highland Park events, of course.

This will really be a wonderful event, pulling together the Highland Park and wrestling communities. I applaud the NWA and Billy Corgan (NWA President and Highland Park resident). I will be "On the Beat" all weekend and reporting back here.

Check my interview at On the Beat with Missa Kate on the Johngy's Beat YouTube channel. Check NationalWrestlingAlliance.com for more info on these events and other NWA news. Also, go to TheEveryDayFan.com and Patch.com for more of the story.

On the Beat With Maddie Kapsimalis of Dayton SB

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Maddie Kapsimalis, who finished her second collegiate season on the softball diamond. It was a special interview for several reasons.

Although Maddie played her high school ball at Glenbrook South in a nearby suburb, I had not seen her play in person until this season when her Dayton Flyers played at Loyola. Maddie's father Greg and her godfather Chuck Gekas are longtime friends, which made it even more unlikely I had not seen her play.

Maddie had a stellar season, batting .358 after flirting with .400 for most of the season. As great as that season was, Maddie had even better stats in high school, where she put up a .407 average to rank her seventh all time in Illinois. She accomplished all of this while coping with type 1 diabetes.

A age six, Maddie was diagnosed with T1D, but that did not deter her from an athletic career. She set a goal to be  a two-sport varsity athlete and she achieved that goal in her sophomore year. She went on to Drexel and then Dayton, putting up impressive stats along the way. Maddie speaks openly about dealing with T1D, but she has dealt with it so long, it is part of life. Maddie's courage and the difficulties T1D brings should not be minimized or overlooked.

The Flyers finished with their second-most wins in program history. The future looks bright for the team and Maddie. Entering her junior season, Maddie will assume a bigger leadership role, while continuing to put up impressive stats at bat and on defense.

Maddie discussed all of this in our interview. Soft-spoken and humble, Maddie is special on and of the field. Despite my loyalty to Loyola, I love watching players like Maddie and teams like Dayton. You can't help but like them. I already look forward to Dayton's next trip to Loyola.

I wrote more about Maddie and her career on TheEveryDayFan.com. Check the story and interview, along with all the great sports coverage on EDF.

Check the interview at On the Beat With Maddie Kapsimalis on YouTube. Go to DaytonFlyers.com for more info on Maddie and the Flyers.

On the Beat With Dawn Montefusco

Let me introduce you to my longtime friend Dawn Montefusco. By trade, Dawn is a Transformational Writing Coach, a poet, a story-teller, author and more. At heart, she is an intellectual, free-spirited lover of life. Her titles and qualities combine to make her one of the most unique people I have ever known.

I serendipitously stumbled upon Dawn through her blog about 20 years ago. Since then, we have kept in touch and followed each other's life and work. We never actually talked though, but that changed earlier this week when I interviewed Dawn. The cause of that momentous occasion is the release of her book “Cracking the Resistance Code: How to Break Through the Fear of Uncertainty and Write Your Book.”

In our interview, Dawn discussed her path to becoming a Transformational Writing Coach. While she has the education to merit the title, she also has life experiences which allowed her to hone her skills.

Already an award-winning author and poet, a series of events led her to write “Cracking the Resistance Code.” Dawn talks about the journey, including her battle to crack her own code along the way. Dawn isn't a teacher throwing out sterile formulas to success. She shares her proven techniques and strategies to help the reader break through mental roadblocks. The book itself is the proof, because of what she encountered and overcame in the writing of it.

Dawn is an amazingly positive person, but there are a few poignant parts in the interview when she discusses her low points. Rather than keep her down though, Dawn always found her way back. Those experiences shaped Dawn and ultimately led to “Cracking the Resistance Code.”

In the book, Dawn promises you will discover:

• How to identify your resistance styles and what triggers them
• Techniques to keep you writing instead of second-guessing yourself
• How to successfully overcome overwhelm, anxiety, and the fear of “writing it wrong.”
• What it takes to tap into flow and inspire your inner muse
• Dramatically increase your writing productivity and output
• Why embracing uncertainty is the key to being an unstoppable writer

You will also discover a lot about yourself and about Dawn, too. 

This book isn't just about writing though. The basics shared by Dawn can be applied to all aspects of life. As I state in the interview, this is so Dawn. She didn't simply write an author manual. That wouldn't be Dawn. While it is a writing handbook, it is so much more than that.

At 60 pages, “Cracking the Resistance Code” is a short book. Again, so Dawn. Right to the point, not wasting the reader's time, Dawn packs everything in tightly. If you want flowing prose, read her poetry (also highly recommended).

“Cracking the Resistance Code” releases today. Even better, it is only $.99 through May 6. You will not find better advice or a better deal.

For more information, go to DawnMontefusco.com. Watch our interview at On the Beat With Dawn Montefusco.

The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 62: Professor Kliq

On The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 62: Professor Kliq, Tommy and I welcome a very special guest. Professor Kiq is a very familiar guest or more precisely, he is familial. Professor Kliq is the alter ego of Mike Else, Tommy's younger, musician brother.

Mike lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and child. As Professor Kliq, he is returning to Chicago for a special performance on May 5.

Tommy and I wanted Mike on our podcast for a long time and this was the perfect opportunity.

Mike is a great guy and super talented. I have met him several times and interviewed him, too. It was always fun with him.

As much as I like Mike, there is nothing like the brotherly bond. I know how much Tommy loves and respects his brother.

Lending his thoughts, Tommy said, "I have had the unique privilege of seeing my Brother “Professor Kliq”… Grow from a young teenager dabbling in the art of electronic music, to see the commodity he has become. He has released several albums, he has scored documentaries, video games. Television shows and more! I am extremely proud of him, and am honored to have the unique perspective of seeing it unfold from the front row."

Honestly, it would be worth it to me just to see Tommy's face at the show. It will be a special night for the Else brothers and I can't wait to witness it.

On the Beat With Jody Davis

Yesterday, I had the thrill of interviewing Jody Davis, former catcher for the Chicago Cubs and a key part of their magical 1984 season. Now residing in Georgia, Jody was kind enough to share his thoughts on his career, bringing me back to my younger days of watching him at Wrigley Field.

Jody was originally drafted by the New York Mets in 1976. While still in the minor leagues, Jody was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1979 season. Almost exactly one year later, the Cubs drafted him from St. Louis in the 1980 Rule 5 Draft. 

In 1981, the Cubs made Jody the starting catcher, a position he would hold until being traded to the Braves late in the 1988 season. During his time with the Cubs, Jody was named to two All-Star teams and won a Gold Glove. A key part of the 1984 National League East champion Cubs, Jody earned a special place in the hearts of Cubs fans.

Jody gave the Cubs their best and most consistent catcher since Randy Hundley. He was easily the best Cubs catcher of my lifetime and second only to Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett in the storied history of the franchise. 

Late in the 1988 season, the Cubs were moving into a new era and traded Jody to the Braves. Although the Braves were his home state team, Jody and his legion of fans hated to see him leave Chicago.

Jody retired after the 1990 season, ending his career with 877 hits, 127 home runs, 490 RBI's and 364 runs scored. He cherishes his time with the Cubs and is enjoying life hunting and fishing.

Recently, Jody jumped on social media with a Facebook page and twitter account. Once I saw his pages, I reached out asking for an interview. 

The interview started with Jody discussing baseball cards, including a funny note on his first and an interesting bit of trivia on his favorite card. Jody talked about his time with the Cubs, the fun of the 1984 season, Harry Caray singing about him and leaving the team. He also talked about what the Cubs Hall of Fame would mean to him, joining the world of social media, connections with former teammates and more.

Clearly the Cubs Hall of Fame would mean a lot to Jody, but it would also be a huge deal for Jody's fans. Jody's 121 HR's are second only to Hartnett among Cubs catchers. Jody and Hartnett were also the only Cubs catchers at the time to surpass 20 homers in a season more than once. In 1984, Jody finished in the top ten in MVP voting. In the postseason, Jody hit .389 with a 1.202 OPS. His 4.2 WAR in 1986 is ninth all-time among Cubs catchers.

I hope Jody knows how exciting this was for me. I am a writer and interviewer, but I will always be a fan. I greatly appreciate Jody's time with the Cubs, especially the 1984 season.

As I told Jody in the interview, one of my prized possessions is a game-used bat of his. While at DePaul, I took the el train after classes to attend games. (Tickets were a lot cheaper and easier to get back then.) I befriended the bat boy and asked for Jody's cracked bat, which he gave me. (The sports memorabilia craze hadn't hit yet.) It was a beautiful black bat used by Jody in a game. How cool was this!?

Fast forward about 40 years and here I was interviewing one of my favorites. It was an amazing and surreal experience for which I am very grateful.

I thank Jody for his time and consideration and for fantastic memories from his career. I also thank Patty for facilitating the interview.

To get all the info and updates from Jody, follow @JodyDavisMLB on twitter and Jody Davis on Facebook. Check TheEveryDayFan.com for more sports coverage.

On the Beat With Staci Layne Wilson

I am always looking for interesting people to interview and I found a fascinating person in Staci Layne Wilson. An author, filmmaker and more, Staci discussed her entertainment parents, her start, finding her own path and more, including her latest projects.

The interview is on the Johngy's Beat YouTube channel at On the Beat With Staci Layne Wilson. I wrote about the interview on the Chicago Patch.  I'd like to use this space to tell my thoughts on the interview and Staci.

When I first saw Staci on social media, I was intrigued by her story. I did some research and really became fascinated by her books and movies. I contacted her about the interview and she graciously accepted my request. It came together very easily and quickly.

Staci is the daughter of Don Wilson, a founding member of the Ventures, and Buni Bacon, a model and actress. I didn't know about her mom, but I was a fan of the Ventures and of her documentary on the Hall of Fame band. I had no idea Staci had so many interesting books and films.

She has done so much in her professional career and her personal life, I couldn't possibly cover it all. I hoped to skim the surface a bit and give everyone a look at her. The interview flew by and I hated to see it end. She had such a good vibe about her. I learned a lot in the interview and my appreciation grew even more.

For more info on Staci, go to StaciLayneWilson.com and Rock-n-Roll-Nightmares.com. Find her books on Amazon and Audible.

The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 59: Lauren Traut

On the latest episode of The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast, Tommy Else and I interviewed Lauren Traut, managing editor at Patch. This interview was about a decade in the making.

I first met Lauren at a south suburban summer fest. She was promoting the Patch news sites. As a longtime veteran of such fests during my many years at Lerner Newspapers, I immediately had respect for Lauren.

I had recently started contributing to the Patch and Lauren was kind enough to give me a tshirt. I started following Lauren's work with the Patch.

I quickly learned how passionate she was for journalism and her communities. Her dedication was impressive. She was a credit to the world of journalism.

I approached Tommy about asking Lauren to join us for an episode, I mentioned her deep love of real journalism. In an age where fast news and superficial stories are the rage, Lauren is old school in all the best ways. She entrenches herself into every community she covers. She earns respect from her readers and the folks she covers, even when they have different opinions. Tommy quickly agreed. We wanted to share Lauren's story with our audience.

Although I briefly chatted with Lauren at that summer fest years ago and occasionally exchanged comments on social media, I never had the opportunity to really talk to her about what drives her. We talked about her start, her career, the current state of media and much more. We also asked Lauren about horses and the Illini, two of her other passions.

Lauren is what every journalist should strive to be. Actually, she is what I wanted to be so many years ago, before my career got sidetracked elsewhere. Tommy and I thank Lauren for her time and consideration. We also thank her for doing what she does so well.

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel at The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 59: Lauren Traut. Also, check out Lauren on the Patch.