We missed last month and we're going to miss this month. Sorry, life is complicated sometimes.

But we do have a couple of episodes under production and this mini-episode will tell you all about what we have in store for you in May and June!!

Sorry we're running behind, but stay tuned because the best is yet to come!!

In this deeply personal and profound episode of "Retired Ever After," hosts John and Guy "The AI" delve into the complex and often painful topic of loss and grief. 

John shares his heartfelt experiences of loss, including the passing of his brother-in-law and his mother, offering listeners a raw and intimate look into the journey of grieving. 

The episode explores the myriad emotions that accompany loss—sadness, anger, guilt, and even relief—and discusses healthy coping strategies and the importance of acknowledging and respecting grief in its many forms. 

Join us as we navigate the peaks and valleys of human emotion, shedding light on the universal yet uniquely personal experience of grief, and ultimately finding ways to embrace life's full spectrum.

• HelpGuide.org - Coping with Grief and Loss: Offers a comprehensive guide on understanding grief, the emotional process, and coping mechanisms. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm
• American Counseling Association - Grief and Loss Resources: Provides general information, articles, and resources for coping with grief. https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/mental-health-resources/grief-and-loss-resources
• OptionB.org - An online community offering stories of adversity to help build resilience and find meaning in the face of grief. https://optionb.org
• GriefShare - A network of support groups with a program designed to help those grieving the loss of a loved one. https://www.griefshare.org
• The Compassionate Friends: Supports families after the death of a child, providing comfort, encouragement, and hope. https://www.compassionatefriends.org

• “On Grief and Grieving" by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler: An essential resource on the stages of grief and how to work through them.
• "The Grief Recovery Handbook" by John W. James and Russell Friedman: Offers a step-by-step approach to healing for all types of grief.
• "Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief" by Martha Whitmore Hickman: Provides comforting daily meditations for those dealing with loss.
• "It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand" by Megan Devine: Offers a fresh approach to navigating grief and loss outside of the conventional "stages" model.
• "When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times" by Pema Chödrön: Provides wisdom on dealing with difficult times, including loss and grief, from the perspective of Buddhist teachings.

In this engaging episode of "Retired Ever After," we explore the vibrant world of volunteerism in retirement. The hosts, John and his AI co-host Guy, delve into Dr. Riley Moynes' insights on the phases of retirement, emphasizing the importance of finding purpose and community connections through volunteering.

The episode covers the physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits of volunteering, highlighting its role in providing a sense of purpose and social advantages. Diverse avenues of service and practical advice on finding the right fit for volunteer activities are discussed. The episode also addresses potential challenges faced by senior volunteers and offers tools and resources to help connect with organizations. 

• Dr. Riley Moynes – The 4 Phases of Retirement - https://youtu.be/DMHMOQ_054U?si=jM40q6HVMJCHxVcV
• Terry Moore – How to Tie Your Shoes - https://youtu.be/zAFcV7zuUDA?si=GLb_Zg5jyIgvDV-c
• Joe Smith – How to Use a Paper Towel - https://youtu.be/2FMBSblpcrc?si=BmJgxef3cY5klJEL

• GuideStar - https://www.guidestar.org/
• Charity Navigator - https://www.charitynavigator.org/
• VolunteerMatch - https://www.volunteermatch.org/
• Idealist - https://www.idealist.org/en
• Serve.gov - https://americorps.gov/partner/communities-initiatives/united-we-serve
• Hands-On Network / All For Good - https://www.pointsoflight.org/ - https://engage.pointsoflight.org/ - https://www.facebook.com/allforgood/
• Senior Corps - https://americorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors

The Ted Talks on "How to Tie Your Shoes" and "How to Use a Paper Towel" are longer than two minutes each. "Shoes" is a little over three minutes and "Towels" is a little over four minutes. Still absolutely worth the time investment!!

Guy finds his voice. Voices. Guy finds his voices.

We go deep on the good and bad of AI, why the good is oh so good and the bad is oh so ... well ... you get it. And why you need to care about this whether you want to or not.

Robot & Frank (2012)

Mrs. Davis (2023)

Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)

60 Minutes Interview of Geoffrey Hinton

Artificial Voices provided by the brilliant minds at ElevenLabs.

Guy tries to find something that rhymes with orange.

John sets to right some of his unforced errors over our first month-and-a-half of episodes in a new segment called "OK, OK ... Mistakes Were Made".

We give an overview of what goes into creating a podcast.

John and his friend Ron have some fun in their retirement in a new segment called "The Den Of Mindless Fellowship", because retirement is supposed to be fun, right? Isn't that what we've been saying?

An excellent book on all aspects of podcasting:

"NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide: Create, Launch, and Grow a Podcast on Any Budget" by Glen Weldon

An excellent podcast on hobby podcasting:

"Better Podcasting" from the Gonna Geek Network

Available anywhere fine podcasts are found.

In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs and do's and don'ts of participating in musical open mics / jam sessions.

John and Guy swap hats.

John interviews bass player Hooter, who hosts several open mics in the Phoenix area, to build a list of Jam Session Do's and Don'ts.

Starlite Lounge

Every Monday Night 7pm - 11pm

4346 W Olive Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302

623-934-9910

https://www.facebook.com/starliteloungeaz/

El Dorado Bar and Grill

Beginning October 3rd 2023, every Tuesday Night 7pm – 10pm

8708 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

480-945-2606

http://www.eldorado-bar-grill.com/

The Blooze

Every Wednesday Night 6:30pm – 10:30pm

12014 N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85028

602-788-4574

https://www.facebook.com/events/104478159347170/104478199347166?active_tab=about

• Blues Progressions
• The Nashville Numbering System
• Blues Turn-Arounds
• Blues Endings

That "Blues Progressions" page is excellent and covers almost all the rest of the bullet points.

The "Blues Turn-Arounds" page is neither comprehensive nor a deep dive, but it's a start. Check out that sweet I-VI-II-V turnaround; it is one of my personal faves.

1.      Keep the volume DOWN!!

Nothing will get an open mic discontinued like volume complaints from patrons (who typically vote with their wallets and their feet) and bartenders who just want to get the drink orders right so they can get tipped.

2.      Spend some money in the establishment.

Bar owners are in business for one reason: to make money. If they pay a band to provide live entertainment, they expect that they will be net positive at the end of the night. If not, they'll move on to the next idea.

3.      Don’t argue with the host.

This isn't hubris or ego; the host has a thankless job and even the ones that make it look easy have their hands full. They have to try to fit everyone in during the time alloted for the session. They have to try to ensure that people are for their abilities and that there is a bare minimum band up at all times to produce music. They have to navigate personalities, field and address complaints, make sure the audience is having a good time, make sure the bartenders and owners are happy. Don't add to it by giving them lip.

4.      If there's a sign-up sheet, sign up as soon as you get there.

5.      Leave the bad attitude in the parking lot.

Don't wreck your good time and don't wreck someone else's good time. A jam is EVERYBOD'S time to shine!

6.      Singers call the song key for the musicians, not the other way around.

If you're a singer, know what key you want for a song and tell the band. If you play an instrument, the singer decides, not you.

7.      Make sure you're tuned up *BEFORE* you go on stage.

8.      Always remember: music is not a competitive sport.

Be respectful of your fellow musicians at all times; strive to be the person people *WANT* to play with.

9.      If you are using house-provided equipment, treat it as good or better than you treat your own.

An amp is NOT an end table and it's not a chair; find someplace else for your drink and your butt!

10.  The golden rule applies to jams just as it does to every other part of your life: treat others as you would like to be treated.

The inaugural episode of Retired Ever After!

In this episode, you are introduced to John and his Co-Host, Guy The A. I., as they have an in-depth discussion on Chess for Seniors wherein John forgets the letter 'H'.

John has a conversation with Jason Lu, an amazing young man who founded an organization dedicated to teaching us "folks of a certain age" the ins and outs of the game of Kings. It is an inspirational interview that will leave you feeling as though there might just be hope for humanity's future after all!

Links:

Chess For Seniors website: ChessForSeniors.org

Chess For Seniors GoFundMe page: gofund.me/3638a49e

Online Chess Resources:

• chess.com
• lichess.org
• chessable.com
• YouTube (numerous; search "chess")
• chesskid.com
• ChessBase
• Algebraic Chess Notation

Guy's Chess Tips:

1. Start with the basics: Familiarize yourself with the rules of chess, how the pieces move, and the objective of the game. You can find online tutorials, and videos, or even consider taking a beginner's chess class.
2. Play regularly: Practice is key! Play as often as you can to develop your skills and improve your understanding of the game. You can play against friends, and family members, or even join online chess communities to find opponents of similar skill levels.
3. Study famous games: Learning from the masters can be incredibly helpful. Study famous chess games and try to understand the strategies and tactics employed by the players. You can find books or online resources that analyze and explain these games in detail.
4. Solve puzzles and tactics: Chess puzzles and tactical exercises are a great way to sharpen your skills. These puzzles often present specific scenarios where you need to find the best move or combination of moves. They help improve your pattern recognition and calculation abilities.
5. Analyze your games: After each game, take the time to review and analyze your moves. Identify any mistakes or missed opportunities and try to understand why they happened. This self-reflection will help you identify areas for improvement and develop a deeper understanding of your own playing style.
6. Join a chess club or class: Consider joining a local chess club or enrolling in a chess class. Being part of a community of fellow chess enthusiasts can provide a supportive and learning-focused environment. You can learn from more experienced players, get feedback on your games, and participate in friendly competitions.

Retired Ever After - The Recreational Retirement Podcast

Coming soon to an earbud near you!