Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

What would it take to spend 28 years chasing one goal? Today on Simple Joe, we're exploring the incredible story of Karl Bushby, a British adventurer who set out in 1998 to walk around the world and is finally approaching his hometown of Hull, England. We're talking more than 30,000 miles across 29 countries, crossing the frozen Bering Strait, swimming the Caspian Sea, and even swimming the English Channel, all without using transportation to advance his journey. Could you imagine dedicating nearly half your life to one adventure? I'm not sure I could have kept going! We also celebrate Bob Ross's birthday, which gives me a chance to share how we won a painting by one of his direct students while on vacation. Plus, we've got Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Orndorff, Black Tuesday, the debut of the ballpoint pen, National Cat Day, and much more. And as we think about Karl's remarkable journey, there's a reminder that great memories don't necessarily require 28 years or a trip around the world. Sometimes they're waiting to be made right where we are. Because memories are better than stuff.

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Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

I was there, and I didn't even know it! On this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, I'm sharing a pretty funny story about witnessing one of the biggest University of Cincinnati football upsets in years and having absolutely no idea what I was watching. I went to Nippert Stadium with my son-in-law, Seth, and two of my grandkids to watch the UC Bearcats take on Texas Tech for Homecoming. Cincinnati won 37–24, the fans stormed the field, and I thought everybody was just really excited about Homecoming. Turns out Texas Tech was undefeated, ranked number eight in the country, and we'd just witnessed a HUGE upset! But there's something more to this story than football. It got me thinking about perspective, context, and how often we experience important moments in life without realizing just how special they are until later. We talk a lot about being present and living in the moment, but what happens when you're completely present and still don't understand the significance of what's happening around you? Sometimes you know you're making a great memory, and sometimes you don't find out until afterward. Either way, memories are better than stuff!

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

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Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

In today's episode of the Simple Joe podcast, we're getting into five Random Questions that take me down some interesting roads. We start with the surprising history of potato chips, a little Navy Day recognition, and some October 27 celebrations before I get into the questions. I remember the freedom of riding my ten-speed bike all over Cincinnati as a kid, talk about why I'd love to spend six months in Portugal, and look back on the friendships that made working at Ponderosa one of my favorite jobs ever. I also remember a boss named Mark who taught me that you can hold people accountable, have high expectations, and still treat them with kindness. And then there's my imaginary food truck, where pizza and soft-serve ice cream would definitely be on the menu. It's a conversation about independence, good people, great memories, and the experiences that stay with us. I'd love to hear how you'd answer these questions, too!

1. What was your first real taste of independence?
2. If you could live anywhere for exactly six months, where would you go?
3. What coworker do you still remember years later, and why?
4. What was the best boss you ever had actually good at?
5. If you had to open a food truck tomorrow, what would you serve?

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

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Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

In this Monday, October 26, 2026, episode of Simple Joe, we're heading to Jerusalem, Israel, and starting with the surprising true story behind Mary Had a Little Lamb. Yes, Mary Sawyer and her lamb were apparently real! We're celebrating birthdays for Pat Sajak, Keith Urban, Seth MacFarlane, Cincinnati's own Bootsy Collins, and Jon Heder, which gives me an opportunity to defend my love of Napoleon Dynamite. We also revisit the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, where I explain why I prefer the movie Wyatt Earp over Tombstone, even though Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday was outstanding. Plus, NASA discovers water on the sunlit Moon, and we celebrate National Pumpkin Day, National Mule Day, National Tennessee Day, and Austria's National Day. Then it's time for Monday's Interesting Headlines! We've got a possible astronomical connection to Van Gogh's Starry Night, a stuffed animal rescued from a storm drain, a combative bird at Chicago's airport, a man's 28-year walk around the world, and a mysterious century-old safe discovered in Michigan. Which story should I explore for Thursday's Story Behind the Headline? Text me at 513-399-6468 or email joe@thesimplejoe.com and let me know!

Monday Interesting Headlines

• New study traces van Gogh's famed 'Starry Night' to an actual night sky from 1889

• Public works employee rescues stuffed animal from storm drain

• Exotic bird flies into Chicago airport, fights with passengers

• Mapped: British man’s incredible 28-year quest to walk around the world as he arrives back in UK

• A mysterious, century-old safe was found in rural Michigan. Here's what was inside.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

How many things have we heard about food that we just accept as fact? Today on Simple Joe, I'm counting down my Top 10 Food Myths, and some of these surprised me! We're talking about kitchen habits, food safety, childhood warnings, cooking techniques, and a Thanksgiving tradition that may have gotten a bad rap. Along the way, I share a few of my own questionable food habits, including my love of crispy, almost-burnt food, and discover that some things I've done my entire life might not be such great ideas. We're also visiting Salt Lake City, Utah, celebrating birthdays including Johnny Carson, Pelé, and Weird Al Yankovic, remembering the introduction of Apple's original iPod and the first appearance of the Smurfs, and enjoying a few unusual holidays. Plus, I share a listener's story about getting to pet a cougar, wonder about a strange little corner of Minnesota, and talk about why making memories with people we love matters more than stuff. Which food myths have you believed all your life? Give today's episode a listen, then let me know what I missed!

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

A real black bear walks into a California library, raids the staff snacks, and helps itself to a jar of honey. And it happens on the exact 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh! In today's Simple Joe, I'm digging into this wonderfully strange story from the Mammoth Lakes Library, where an unexpected visitor wandered through the bookshelves, enjoyed a few snacks, and left without damaging a thing. We explore the remarkable coincidence, the history of Winnie-the-Pooh, and what the library staff had to say about their uninvited guest. I also talk about a few of my own encounters with wildlife and wonder what strange animal experiences you've had. Plus, we've got birthdays, historic events, unusual celebrations, and an interesting story about VH1 playing the same song for an entire hour. And as we get closer to the holiday season, I share a reminder about what matters most to me: spending time with people we love, because memories are better than stuff.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt!

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

What happens when a bunch of guys head to a Christian men's conference and somebody dares me to jump over a tennis net? Well, I broke both of my arms. Both of them! On this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Simple Joe, I'm telling one of my favorite stories from years ago. It starts with a game of HORSE, cheap gym shoes held together with duct tape, and a little too much confidence. From there, things get ridiculous. There's a makeshift sling made out of cheesecloth, an unexpected church visit, a chewing gum disaster during communion, and a doctor who delivered the unforgettable news that BOTH of my arms were broken. And somehow, that's not even the end of the story. We've still got two brightly colored casts, a speeding ticket, and a Dremel tool involved. It's a story about pride, questionable decisions, and how sometimes the moments that don't go according to plan become the memories we talk about for years. And after all these years, I still think I could've cleared that tennis net!

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

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Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

Today on Simple Joe, it's Tuesday's Random Questions, and we're going in some interesting directions! I'm wondering whether rhinoceroses would be the rudest animals if they could talk, why I hope I'll still be riding roller coasters when I'm in my 80s, and whether we could ever bring back those old metal lawn darts. We also get into the Dunning-Kruger effect, why we sometimes think we're better at things than we really are, and one of history's biggest mysteries: how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. Along the way, we're celebrating birthdays, remembering the legendary Tom Petty, talking about The Office, and recognizing everything from chicken and waffles to Sasquatch Awareness Day. It's a little funny, a little thoughtful, and exactly the kind of conversation where you never quite know where we'll end up. I'd love to hear your answers!

Tuesday's Random Questions

• If animals could speak, which species would be the rudest?
• What is one thing you hope you are still doing when you are very old?
• If you could bring back one discontinued product, what would it be?
• What skill do you think everyone overestimates in themselves?
• If you could know the exact truth to one historic mystery, which one would you pick?

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt!