We begin Season 2 with a listener who contacted me because he feels so strongly that he is a part of Gen Jones. Matthew voices frustration he has felt being lumped in with Baby Boomers his entire life. Born in 1959, Matthew traveled the world in the Navy before settling in Portland to raise a family.

In this interview, I talk to a 64-year-old man from Fji. In some ways, this man’s experience growing up was the most different from the other people I interviewed in 2023. He grew up on the 2d largest island in Fiji, where they did not have broadcast television until the 1990’s. The world was changing exponentially in the South Pacific, as Fiji gained independence from Great Britain in 1970, and other Pacific island nations followed.

Some comments on accents and terminology: Our interview subject has lived in New Zealand for decades, and speaks with a NZ accent. Also, when he speaks of Itaukei people (sounds like, in U.S. accent, ee-tau-kay), he is referring to the indigenous population of Fiji, who comprise about 54% of the population. British brought in Indian people as indentured servants in the late 1800’s, and their descendants now comprise about 38% of the population. Finally, our interviewee references two coups – one in 1987 and one is 2000, that created division amongst the people of Fiji that is now beginning to heal. Although born and educated in Fiji, our interview subject emigrated to New Zealand to pursue advanced studies and stayed to build a career. First a lawyer,now a law professor, he lives in New Zealand but does what he can to help the people of Fiji.

In this interview, I talk to a 66-year-old woman from Victoria, Australia. Like several of the other folks I interviewed in 2023, her primary career was as a law professor before she retired in 2024. Unlike some of the others I interviewed, however, this woman had a very positive experience with religion as a child, and attributes her experiences in her church, along with her parents, and her education, as instilling her with values involving giving back to others, tolerance, and love – values that have stayed with her throughout her life. She has devoted her professional life to studying criminal law systems internationally, examining prison systems, violence against women and children, and human rights.

00:00:13-Introduction of episode

00:00:52-Introduction of guest

00:01:41-Identity & childhood

00:05:10-Education

00:19:28-Employment

00:30:10-Major national or international events

00:35:42-Education

00:41:10-Employment

00:51:40-Shifts in cultural attitudes

01:05:10-Climate change

01:07:15-Middle East

01:08:27-Parenting philosophies

01:14:50-Closing thoughts

01:15:19-Outro

In this interview, I talk to Tonya Krause-Phelan. Like GDM, Tonya was raised on a farm, but while GDM was born in 1954, putting her closer to the baby boomers, Tanya was born in 1962, 8 years later, putting her closer to Gen X. Much of what Tanya said resonated with me. She always felt like an “other” growing up in rural Jackson County, Michigan. I felt like an “other”, too. Tonya describes how those feelings led her to make some unconventional choices for a woman at that time. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

GDM was raised on a farm in western Illinois, spent years in the Peace Corps in various parts of Africa, married a fellow Peace Corps volunteer, and settled into a career in New Zealand over 30 years ago. She has dual U.S.-New Zealand citizenship. Born in 1954, the youngest of four, she feels like a solid Baby Boomer, not so much part of Generation Jones. Let's find out why.

In this interview, I talk to Dan from Montana. Dan was born in South Dakota, moved a lot when he was a child, and lived most of his life in the American West. When he retired a few years ago, he and his wife set out to travel the world. Dan’s observations of life in the Western U.S. reveal an America that became more corporate and less personal, yet one which offered technological advancements that allow him to expand his horizons in the world.

00:00-00:27 Introduction to episode

00:31-00:57 Introduction to guest

00:58-5:27 Childhood

5:36-14:50 Education

14:58-30:50 Employment

31:03-37:51 World or national events

38:00-46:34 Family life

46:43-51:09 Shifts in cultural attitudes

51:15-55:33 Technology in personal life

55:43-1:03:06 Word association & final thoughts

In this interview, I talk to Cheryl Green.  Cheryl is a recently retired referee of the Disputes Tribunal in Hamilton,  New Zealand.  She was born and raised in New Zealand to English parents who thought of themselves as working class.  She was told that people like them didn’t attend college.  Following a somewhat non-traditional path, she eventually got a college degree and became a lawyer.  I know Cheryl personally, and I find her to be extremely organized, enthusiastic, and fun. 

In this interview, I talk to Michael Jensen.  Michael is one-half of the husband & husband team of writers behind the popular travel blog, Brent and Michael are Going Places (www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com), where they chronicle their lives as digital nomads where they’ve been living in the larger world for the past several years.  Michael begins his story describing the importance of books as an early inspiration in his life.  He describes how it feels to navigate the world as a gay man in his young adulthood, his work life as a writer, and his concern about public discourse in America. 

0:00-Introduction to episode

0:36-Introduction to guest

1:22-Childhood

6:15-Education

17:11-Employment

25:22-Major cultural events

33:20-Family life

38:33-Technology

43:32-Shifts in cultural attitudes

51:09-Final thoughts

54:59-Outro

Kim's suggested playlist:

World of Imagination, Gene Wilder

Leaving on a Jet Plane, Bob Denver

Poetry Man, Phoebe Snow

That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick & friends

Come Together, The Beatles

The Times, They Are A'Changin', Bob Dylan

Don't Stop Me Now, Queen

We Are the World, USA for Africa

Fly Like an Eagle, Steve Miller