The Tom Barnard Show

They say you should never meet your heroes.  This is especially true if your heroes are celebrities.  Sidebar: if your heroes are celebrities, get different heroes.  They say power corrupts, and there are few more powerful than a Hollywood A-Lister.  "Corrupt" doesn't begin to describe them.  Still, they're an interesting spectacle once they inevitably self-destruct near the end.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dying young is less common than ever.  That's a good thing.  Despite this, life insurance remains nearly ubiquitous.  Depending on your outlook, it can be a safety net in the worst case scenario, it can be a complete waste of money, or it can be a bargaining chip.  Yes, you can sell life insurance policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can't say anything these days.  And by "you" we mean "anybody".  Specifically we mean Judy.  Being a comedian is hard when the only opinion that won't get you cancelled is milquetoast corporate sloganeering.  It's not the funniest stuff in the world. Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble - amzn.to/2XLDHmgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What were you doing when you were 23?  Maybe living with your parents?  Working a part time job at Sizzler?  How about carrying burning white phosphorous out of a bomber plane with your bare hands?  Depending on your answer to that question, we can surmise whether you grew up during wartime or not.  Jon's grandpa did, and he's also part of the small group of people who've ever won the Medal of Honor. Beyond Valor: A World War II Story of Extraordinary Heroism, Sacrificial Love, and a Race against Time - amzn.to/3fMbAd9See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We take a lot of things for granted.  Middle names, for example.  Years ago, you were lucky to have one.  There are children in Africa who don't have middle names, so don't let yours go to waste.  Even surnames are a relatively new invention.  Also a relatively new invention?  America.  We've got the landmarks to prove it.  Not all of them are great.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Old age can be two things.  It can be the end of your physical prime where you do nothing but mourn the fact that you can't play football any more.  Or it can mean you've had more time to learn and gain experience than anyone younger than you.  Which one you pick is up to you.  People tend to respect the old masters. Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life (Global Perspectives on Aging) - amzn.to/2DET759See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we have a buffet of topics from Count Crowley with actor David Dastmalchian to Kevin Ring who is totally against mandatory minimums. We also visit with David Itzkoff who wrote a book on the life of Robin Williams which it's almost been 6 years since he's been gone. R.I.P Robin...thanks for the laughsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom and Doug are joined in studio by Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. We talk all things politics from the race in the 5th, Biden's likely VP pick and the possibility of legalization of marijuana in Minnesota. Tom decides to start the 'Shut Up" political party and contemplates a run for Governor. We went the entire show without mentioning automobiles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The electromagnetic spectrum is a strange thing.  One could even say curious.  It's how we see.  More importantly, it's how we microwave leftovers.  But go too far in either direction and things get dangerous.  Radioactivity, for example.  You don't want that.  There is one more bit of the spectrum even worse for your health than gamma rays: radio waves.  It's more of a mental health thing than physical there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are certain cultural norms that seem omnipresent.  For white women, it's dance.  We have three of them on the show - plus one in the chat - and they're all closely related to the industry.  Coincidence?  On the other hand, two of them worked at KFC, so maybe there's something to be said for synchronicity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

KQ has a new program director.  And by "new" I mean "six months ago".  Who knew?  Now you know, because he's on the show today.  Florence is too, who rather than being a program director is a nanny.  The Windy City Nanny, to be specific.  You've probably heard people worry about childcare in the age of COVID.  She's here to assuage some of your fears.  Only some of them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kids say the darndest things.  Adults commit the darndest crimes.  It's a dangerous pipeline.  First they're spouting anachronisms, next they're shooting someone for not doling out Whoppers fast enough.  A more appropriate reaction might have been to sue for false advertising.  It's called fast food.  To serve it slowly must be against some law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Companies all over the world are racing to be the first to put out the COVID-19 vaccine.  That is not a good thing.  FDA regulations and trials exist for a reason.  You know what else exists for a reason?  The concept of liability, which at least one vaccine company is now immune to.  That's why it's best to move to the arctic wilds and become a bear.  Bears can't get COVID-19.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you've been in the show business as long as Steve, you'll meet some people.  Not too many of them are bad.  Except this guy.  And this other guy.  Oh, and this guy here.  Also these other guys, they're all awful.  Okay, so maybe show business has a pretty bad track record.  You know what doesn't have a bad track record?  The Sopranos.  Steve and Michael Imperioli are Talking Sopranos every week at https://talkingsopranos.simplecast.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every day, we talk aimlessly for two hours.  That's why we support the filibuster: without it, we wouldn't have jobs.  Costaki, on the other hand, uses a finely crafted, laser-precise monologue as his tool of choice, so he's safe in any era.  Except for disaster-heavy eras.  Those aren't great.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It takes a special someone to overcome anything that is thrown their way. Whether it's climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, impersonating a huge star from the most famous band ever or living with a deep dark secret throughout your life and persevere through it allSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Ryan Jr. returns as a guest and we talk about the history of cars and the future of sales.  Who invented air conditioning, cruise control, airbags, the turbocharger, and how does a young man whose only previous job experience was Chili's sell 90 cars in one month?  You'll have to listen to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wanna see a bad movie?  You're in luck.  And not just in a sardonic, "all movies are bad" kind of way like usual.  Apparently Greyhound isn't great, which is what tends to happen when you make approximately five billion World War 2 movies over the course of a few decades.  It's like brevity being the soul of wit but on a generational scale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's on TV?  Nothing.  Sports, but it's a fake season so nobody cares.  What's in theaters?  Also nothing.  As far as we know they're not even open.  What's on the internet?  Everything, except people are too focused on COVID and BLM to care.  One could say it's not a good day to be an entertainer.  Except for podcasts.  It's always great to be a podcaster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're from Wisconsin, we've got an option for you.  His name is Derrick, and he has been deployed to every country in the universe.  While he was doing that, he learned a few things about leadership.  For example, most leaders are horrible at their job.  The old saying is that if you want something done right, do it yourself.  Hence, he's running for congress in Wisconsin's 3rd district.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.