talkin' 'bout Our Generation
Friendship
With this episode, we return to our series on Friendship, with a really amazing assembly of listeners and guests giving their thoughts on this vital topic.
We are updating this episode in the context of the horrible fires that have devastated many beautiful parts of Los Angeles. Thousands of homes and businesses have been reduced to ashes, hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated, and as of this moment, 13 people are dead.
This episode – recorded before this disaster – is about Friendship, in the voices of our listeners and guests. There’s a strong connection between then and now – in countless situations in this catastrophe the friends and neighbors have reached out to help one another, if only with a hug. That’s real friendship, to be there when your friends need you the most.
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You’ll hear that in the comments to follow.
talkin' 'bout Our Generation
​As of December 10:
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At least five separate wildfires ravaged Los Angeles and Southern California.
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The county medical examiner reported that at least 13 deaths are connected to the fires, with that number expected to rise.
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The Palisades Fire alone has burned through over 17,000 acres of land in two days.
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For context, the entire island of Manhattan is 14,600 acres.
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Officials say at least 12,000 structures have been destroyed, with the devastation from the Eaton and Palisades fires ranking among the worst in California history.
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The Palisades Fire continues to grow, burning homes in Mandeville Canyon Saturday, with evacuations ordered for parts of Brentwood and the hills of Encino and Tarzana. More than 12,000 structures remain under threat.
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As of mid-day January 10 , the Palisades Fire, the largest in the area, was about 22,660 acres with containment at 11 percent.
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The Eaton Fire northeast of Los Angeles was at 14,100 acres with containment at 15 percent early Saturday.
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Tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire devastate parts of Los Angeles County.
To put it all
in perspective
We have listed several reliable charities where you can donate to help the thousands of people who have lost everything in this disaster.
Help Us Fight
the "Epidemic of Loneliness"
It is bad enough to evacuate as you lose your home, but especially hard on the elderly, and those living alone. Try to imagine yourself in that situation, surrounded by smoke and flame, hoping the fire department will come carry you out.
In America, there are millions of our fellow citizens, friendless and alone.
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an alert about "An Epidemic of Loneliness" silently spreading through our generation that threatens our health, our happiness and our longevity.
If you're not feeling it yourself, you can bet you know someone who is,and we can help.
Read about how we're combatting this serious threat on OURGENPOD through our outreach, and episodes like our "Friendship Series" and help out if you can.
Please lend a Hand!
We are in serious financial trouble at OURGENPOD. We are facing eviction from our home of 36 years, and fighting off debtors. The reasons behind this are complex -- but painfully real.
We feel quite guilty asking for help while so many have lost everything, but we have no choice. We hope you can understand -- if we are not here, we can't bring you this podcast, or do any other positive thing.
It is what it is.
So, we hope you can lend a hand and
help us keep this podcast (and us)
going. Our purpose is to bring people together, create a virtual community where we can share what we care about, and hopefully help
lonely people find fiends and feel like less alone.
We hope you agree that OURGENPOD is a cause worth supporting.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
A few accolades from our Guests & Listeners ...
"Julian and Rob provide such a great service for the 55 Plus demographic. It is so under-served with good, cool, hip information and opportunities, and they do just that.”
Michael Shrieve
Musician, Drummer for Santana at Woodstock ‘69
Member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Guest on Episode 9
"I love the last episode on friendship! I had been thinking about that very
topic after my mother passed recently; Who was there for me and who wasn’t and why.
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"The Woodstock episodes were also interesting. Brought me back to my teen years and how my mother wouldn’t let me go with my neighbor! Imagine that!
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"Best of luck with future podcasts!"
Silvia Gambardella
Subscriber
"I am so glad I had a chance to listen to your Thanksgiving episode - It was thoughtful and timely and personal - really nicely done, I thought. When have any of us really read the Mayflower Compact and reflected on its true meaning and what they wanted to achieve? Or considered the intolerable conditions on the voyage? Or that a woman's significance was simply as someone's spouse...? Or related their hope for their future with what they would think of the country today? Or what our ancestors would think of US?
"So much to think about."
Gail Zetter
Subscriber
“I just want to let you know that the most recent episode of the podcast really knocked it out of the park.Dr. Shrand’s cure for incivility is indeed an excellent prescription for some of what ails our society.
Julian’s interviewing skills are excellent. He truly LISTENS to his guests and responds with thoughtful examinations and questions. Your podcast is always enlightening and makes me stop and think about matters that underly the angst that many of us feel daily. Solutions to big problems are not easy to find. But episodes such as the one with Dr. Shrand and the earlier one with CATHERINE RYAN HYDE certainly gives us all food for thought. Keep up the good work, gentlemen. We, your audience is listening. And remember, kindness is contagious.”
Eric Seedman
Subscriber
The State of Civility in America Series
“Civility is a value I care about. It’s the heart and soul of the original “Pay It Forward” idea,and is a central theme in my other 43 novels as well. We hear a lot today about the decline of civility in America, but what I feel we need is a more positive approach. How can we do better?
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"So I was honored to be the first guest on talkin’ ‘bout Our Generation’s’ series on “The State of Civility in America.” My interview with Host Julian Simmons was positive, friendly and thought-provoking, and I look forward to hearing future episodes. I believe this podcast is serving a very valuable service, the kind I envisioned when “the Pay It Forward Movement” first took hold. I encourage everyone to listen and lend their support to this timely and important podcast.”
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Author of the NYTimes Best-Selling Book,
“Pay It Forward”
Guest on Episode 11
"My readers often tell me that my characters make them think more about how we treat others, and how they can be a better person. Of course I’m thrilled if I can nudge my readers toward a kinder, more caring way of treating one another.
"I just want to say in support of your podcast ... the fact that you guys are taking on civility in a historic and liminal moment that has allowed rampant incivility to take over so much, I think what you're bringing to the conversation is important. And just as importantly, I think the fact that you are finding ways and finding people to come on to talk about civility is something that is fresh, because we're swimming in so much of its opposite and people will hear this and, and hopefully it will stimulate a movement to create civil spaces in our society."
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Dr. Shepherd Siegel,
Author of "Tricking Power Into Performing Acts of Love"
and "Disruptive Play: The Trickster in Politics and Culture."
Guest on Episodes 14 & 16
“I just finished listening to podcasts three and four. Each podcast is getting better and better. It's great. Although not a hippie, my friends and I were all about the music in college. My kids cannot believe that I loved Hendrix and Santana as well as John Sebastian and Lovin’ Spoonful. There was a real sense of community and caring for one another, and caring for the earth as well. I clearly remember the very first Earth Day. Thank you for your efforts to promote community and a sense of camaraderie among us,Julian and Rob. This podcast reminds us how being gentle with each other is a good thing.
Thanks!”
Arlene Wong
Subscriber
Wow. I just finished the podcast with Carol Green and Richie Havens. I'm just leaving this message because I want the producers directors to understand how awesome it was for me to be taken back to that time. You know, peace, love, and freedom, which I hadn't thought about in so many years, it's kind of relevant to today. So, I'm feeling good. It reminded me that we can still hope and believe and have faith that it's all gonna turn out okay in the end. So, thanks. Looking forward to the next podcast!
Suzette Fowler
Subscriber