We trade game-day habits for music that still stings, moving from 70s “soft rock” to the art of tribute songs and a blunt take on Neil Young’s platform politics. Along the way, we face quitting smoking, stubborn weight, and an awkward line that teaches better restraint.

• why live sports lost their appeal and value
• what makes 70s pop writing durable and precise
• Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s lyric craft
• why Candle In The Wind and Vincent endure
• how platform boycotts reshape how we hear music
• the mess of citizenship, morality clauses and hypocrisy
• quitting smoking and the shock of midlife weight gain
• heat, steps, and realistic fitness trade-offs
• a daycare misstep, social fallout and owning mistakes

All Blade content is at bobtheblade.com

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I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

Janice Joplin just wasn't around enough. The Queen, she's, you know, she's got gray hair, she's probably 75 years old, I saw her on some interview and she's hilarious. She came out of the 60s, 70s, 80s, all of that completely unscarred, unscathed. Who is the queen of rock and roll?

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

A single word—no—can feel like freedom. When a waiter asks if Pepsi is okay and you finally say it isn’t, the moment lands with more weight than a drink order should. That tiny rebellion opens a door to bigger truths about preference, boundaries, and why we’re so quick to trade what we want for what’s convenient.
If you’ve ever argued over Coke vs Pepsi, muted a commercial mid-chorus, or curated your watchlist like a vault, you’ll feel seen here. Hit play, share with a friend who has strong opinions, and leave a review telling us the one preference you’ll never compromise.

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

I'm trying to get the ball across the plate, and the third baseman comes, he walks by me, he says, "where's your ass, man? You got no ass. You've lost your ass." And I said, "haven't you? I'm trying to get the ball over the plate, and you're telling me I have no ass." When the older we get, the more we lose our ass. You know, it's different with women. You know, our whole metabolism slows down and all their fat in their body goes into their butt, you know, and all of our fat body goes into our stomach. And then I lifted my shirt up to them and said, "there's my ass. Now back to third base, third baseman."

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

The money I made over the years, I made $8,000 a year working full-time at WHSL in Wilmington in 1980 to 1983.

$8,000 a year.

I couldn't eat. Eviction notices on my door constantly. But I had the time of my life, man. I am telling you. The time of my life. I got a job at WRDU after that. 1984, I think.$17,000 a year.

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

I'm gonna tell you, I did it right. I did. I sit here today, many, many years later, after being in radio, I was there 32 years, 32 years, something like that. I really believe I played every single song that I love so much in my life, somehow or another.

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.

Incomparable because each and every time I look at this one, she's perfect. The word is mesmerizing, which I will use until they come up with another one, besides "stunning". The most mesmerizing girl on TV and after 50 years she replaced (IT WAS CLOSE!) the former Mos Beautiful, a position she held until I turned into my sixties. I had a radio career, keep whatever you are drinking while on the air at least six feet from the console. The guy that spilled his tee and honey drink on there opened a world of history when the console roof was lifted to fix it.

Support the show

I always appreciate your support, I am very clear in my understanding of how unclear I really am of myself
and the kaleidoscope in my head makes me laugh.