Advertise on podcast: It's Rick's Podcast

In this super short episode, I say goodbye and explain the reasoning for my having moved past podcasting as a hobby. Thanks to all who have participated, listened and helped with the show. I'd certainly call it a success, but it's time for me to enjoy other things in life. I am grateful.

Rick does a solo commentary on independence and how we MAY be overdoing our independence. The importance of having a co-host is certainly evident in this episode. No, it is NOT lost on Rick that to speak by oneself about independence having “gone too far” whilst on a podcast show based in conversation is ironic. Some advice that he shares to his students may or may not be applicable to any human struggling and feeling like it’s impossible to have it all. We used to have help and maybe there’s room for that again? Please enjoy.

Matt and Rick do what Matt and Rick ALWAYS do when together… they talk about baseball! If you are excited about Major League Baseball’s free agency and the upcoming 2022 labour disruption -- I mean, the upcoming 2022 season, then this might be a conversation for you!

In this episode, I mourn the loss of Eden, my sweet bullmastiff-angel-of-a-dog, whom we have just put down. I read a heartfelt letter to Eden that I wrote, and I share another sad story of friendship from the park we would regularly visit. A great man, husband, father, friend, child social worker and psychotherapist had also recently died. This episode is a tribute to both and the many lessons they have taught me. I hope you enjoy it.

We discuss: Online High Schooling vs Online Elementary Schooling Keeping things fresh in your teaching career The necessities of teaching with technology and getting better and better at it Things that will not change back to how it was Premier Ford’s use of the ‘notwithstanding clause’ and the ramifications to come The upcoming challenges of the election to come Predictions of how baby boomers will vote Current health care in the home If you enjoy Matt’s take on things, listen carefully for when I get to plug his own podcast channel. I’m sure I’ll be a listener, unless he talks about something I find boring. I’ll just skip those episodes, like many of you do with my show. haha

Rick connects, virtually with his good friend, Amanda Westerman. Amanda is passionate about her family, skating, teaching, reading and the Toronto Blue Jays. The two speak about how their Toronto Blue Jays Season’s Ticket group and the ins and outs of drafting tickets equitably for people who cannot attend the draft. The show notes below contain hotlinks to the various topics they spoke about. Enjoy! The Heydenettes documentary Girls on the Go Running4Home race information Habitat for Humanity Canada Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas by Gill Paul Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis Lover Unveiled by J.R. Ward Modern Manhood: Conversations About the Complicated World of Being a Good Man Today by Cleo Stiller Verbal Judo, The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson PHD. and Jerry B. Jenkins Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Listen in as Rick and his bestie talk about the Toronto Blue Jays’ upcoming 2021 season. The pair obviously LOVE baseball, but their love for the Jays really leaks through. They TRY to be objective as they compare the Jays’ roster to that of the Bronx Bombing New York Yankees, position by position. They also discuss Dunedin, Florida’s new state of the art Blue Jays Development Complex with much anticipation, as well as acknowledging the fruitful rebuild that Jays fans have been negatively vocal about for years. Enjoy!

Spoilers ahead, for sure! Two friends chit-chat about Star Wars’ The Mandalorian (seasons 1 and 2). Anders warns you that if you don’t want to hear his “rambles” about all of the movies (that Rick rudely interrupts) to fast forward to the 22 minute mark or so. Anders is a hardcore fan who discusses Star Wars so passionately, but Rick just likes watching movies and TV. They share some of their favourite movies series and also get into their favourite TV shows of all time. #TheMandelorian #Disney #ItsRicksPodcast #Rocky #IndianaJones

Listen in as Rick and his friend TJ discuss politics from her vantage point as a MPP-assistant to Jennifer French of the NDP in Oshawa. They discuss the role and power of Twitter as a political tool, but PLEASE NOTE that this was recorded on January 2, 2021, more than a week before Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill after he incited his supporters to protest at the Capitol. At the time of this recording, Trump had not yet incited the violence, nor was he suspended or banned from Twitter. Even during editing and publishing (currently 8 pm, on January 16, 2021), it feels almost ominous to hear TJ’s warnings of how powerful Twitter is. She shares some details of her experience from the tragic loss of life of two firefighting students on February 8th of 2015. Adam Brunt and Gary Kendall perished in a high-stakes emergency training situation that TJ was witness to. She opens up about her PTSD and shows her personal growth by shining some light on self-doubt as being a lack of having a purpose. Thankfully, many of us out there have loved ones who remind us of our purpose when we start to lose our way. Making this modest podcast helps to give Rick purpose, so thank you for that. Please enjoy.

Listen in as Matty and Rick catch up and discuss some very exciting opportunities afforded to and ultimately balked at by Rick. Matty was set to be one of the teammates along with Allen Agostino in a race to be Pickering-Uxbridge's NDP Candidate for the 2022 provincial election. Although the opportunity to run was eventually reneged.  After a cool-down period, the landscape changed, as did the conversation. Did you know that you can sync your phone's Youtube account to your smart TV using the "Join using TV Link Code" feature in the Youtube TV app? It's AMAZING! Rick is addicted to watching videos of baseball burnouts and the like. The pair discuss teaching and Matt's family, among other things as well. Enjoy.

Phil and Rick don't really have much of an agenda in this episode, but listeners will get to hear about Phil's hobbies, life during COVID and generally just "catching-up." Phil is deserving of ALL of the credit for getting Rick into listening to the Joe Rogan Experience, which ultimately is how It's Rick's Podcast was modelled after.

Rick talks directly to the teachers (but mostly himself) as the realization that teaching during a pandemic is hard work, and it's okay to forgive yourself for seemingly having less to show for your efforts than usual.  Remember to be nice to yourselves and others. Stay safe, homies!