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What do you do when you spend 40 hours on a pinball playfield and the very last coat undoes it all? If you're Ashley Ludwig, you go home, have a good cry on the shower floor, and show up the next day to fix it. In this episode, Greg talks with Ashley, a pinball restoration artist from Rochester, New York, about the Craigslist ad she ignored for almost a year, a decade of figuring things out alone with homemade paint mixtures and a lot of trial and error, and why the best restoration work looks like nobody did anything at all. They also wander into house and techno shows, straw sculptures, stained glass, and what comes next after ten years of doing the one thing she can't imagine not doing. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.instagram.com/ludwigsynopsis/ https://www.facebook.com/ashley.ludwig.758/ Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/the-secret-paint-mix-behind-flawless-pinball-machines-why-am-i-ashley-ludwig. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #AshleyLudwig #PinballRestoration #Pinball #ArcadeGames #ArtistLife #CraftsmanShip #RochesterNY #MakersOfInstagram

What happens when a kid raised by Nashville musicians, bounced between Tennessee, California, and Texas, finally figures out what he was made to do? Greg sits down with Monte Leach, a registered nurse, Navy honor graduate, dad, and self-described "dude" to everyone, to trace the winding road from Austin debauchery and a Christmas tree lot to the ICU in Houston's Med Center. Along the way, Monty opens up about grief, burnout, a late dyslexia diagnosis, a year when his baby daughter saw him as a stranger, and the quiet gift of being able to put his hands on people and help them heal. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.instagram.com/leachtx/ https://www.facebook.com/montgomery.leach.9 Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/nobody-tells-you-a-big-heart-burns-out-on-death-why-am-i-monte-leach. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #MontyLeach #NursingLife #ICUNurse #NavyVeteran #Dyslexia #CallingInLife #NurseLife

What if the Super Mario Bros. theme, a 45-second loop built on the most rudimentary hardware imaginable, turned out to be a great piece of music all on its own? Greg sits down with Charlie Rosen, a Broadway music director, arranger, and two-time Grammy winner who grew up surrounded by his parents' instruments and went on to lead the 8-bit Big Band, a jazz orchestra devoted to video game music. They talk about the 'Bob Ross of music' job of coloring in a song, the thrill of the sitzprobe when a cast first hears the full orchestra, how a 22-year-old pitched a nightclub on a house big band, and why a Sega-versus-Nintendo debate says so much about how music makes us feel. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.charlierosen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/crosenmusic https://www.instagram.com/the8bitbigband https://www.patreon.com/the8bitbigband https://www.youtube.com/@The8BitBigBand/videos Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/he-turned-mario-music-into-two-grammy-wins-why-am-i-charlie-rosen. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #CharlieRosen #8BitBigBand #VideoGameMusic #BroadwayMusic #JazzBigBand #MusicalTheater #Arranger

What happens when a painting pulled from the trash turns into a beloved museum, and the person who agreed to keep the checkbook ends up running it for thirty years? Greg sits down with Louise Reilly Sacco, a lifelong Boston Irish kid, the permanent interim acting executive director of the Museum of Bad Art, and a Fenway Park usher for twenty years. Together they trace the story of Lucy in the Field with Flowers and the artists who call to say "that's mine," and they wander into who gets to decide what counts as good art. They also talk about the green grass opening up at the top of the ramp and the regulars who keep asking, "Where's Louise?" Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.instagram.com/themuseumofbadart/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Museum-of-Bad-Art-100064790228015 Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/a-trash-night-painting-became-a-museum-why-am-i-louise-reilly-sacco. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #MuseumOfBadArt #BadArt #FenwayPark #RedSox #Baseball #Boston

What does it say about someone that they'd want their fantasy waiter to look progressively more shipwrecked as the meal goes on? In this Fantasy Restaurant warm-up, Lara Dale builds a wonderfully specific, slightly chaotic feast, honey mead in a Renfair stein, green chili pot stickers, a seafood linguine where every bite is a surprise, and green tea ice cream eaten one slow spoonful at a time. It's a fun, funny little window into how Lara savors things, before the real conversation begins. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://tripletoneaudiopost.com/ Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/she-eats-green-chili-like-it-s-her-morning-coffee-fantasy-restaurant-lara-dale. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #FantasyRestaurant #LaraDale #FoodTalk #GreenChili #ComfortFood #SlowDownAndSavor

Have you ever wondered who makes the sound of a footstep sound sad, or a pomegranate sound like something you'd rather not think about? Foley artist Laura Dale joins the Why Am I Podcast to talk about the invisible art of building a movie's sounds by hand, from a wet chamois cloth to a broken Colt .45 that has appeared in nearly every gun scene she's done. Along the way she shares how a dancer's sense of timing became her craft, how a lucky last-minute call led her to a master Foley artist, why indie filmmakers should never skip room tone, and why she believes there's no such thing as a small project. And yes, she makes a very persuasive case for New Mexico. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.footvoxstudio.com/ https://tripletoneaudiopost.com/ Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/her-secret-weapon-is-a-wet-chamois-cloth. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #LauraDale #Foley #FoleyArtist #SoundDesign #NewMexico #IndieFilm #BehindTheScenes

What can a fantasy meal tell you about a person's whole life story? In this warm-up round with Marissa, three ice cubes are non-negotiable, pasta fagioli is a straight line back to childhood, and strawberry shortcake shows up every single birthday without fail. It's a playful, surprisingly tender bite-sized appetizer before the full conversation on Why Am I. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://linktr.ee/Calltimetheatrepod https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_eccentric_14/ https://www.tiktok.com/@eclectic_eccentric_14 Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/why-her-drink-order-always-needs-three-cubes-fantasy-restaurant-marisa-helene-mast. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #FantasyRestaurant #FoodMemories #ComfortFood #StrawberryShortcake #PastaFagioli #WarmUpRound #GetToKnowMe

Did you know a dog can smell a diabetic emergency coming twenty minutes before your glucose monitor catches it? Terry Cadle has spent forty years training dogs, from field trial champions to diabetic alert and seizure alert dogs, and he joins Greg to unpack the surprisingly simple psychology behind it all. Along the way they get into fatherhood, small-town roots, life on the road delivering dogs across the country, and the quiet moments that make it all worth it. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.riversedgeda.com/ https://www.facebook.com/riversedgedogacademy/ https://www.instagram.com/riversedge_dogacademy/ Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/why-this-trainer-never-says-a-dog-s-name. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #TerryCadle #DiabeticAlertDog #DogTraining #ServiceDogs #AnimalPsychology #CollegeStation #FamilyStory

What does your dream meal say about where you come from? In this Fantasy Restaurant warm-up, Joe Iconis builds a menu that's part sophistication, part childhood memory, from a Manhattan on the rocks all the way to his grandma's West Virginia-Italian pasta with anchovies. Along the way there's talk of cheesy pop tarts, bottomless bread cornucopias, and the perfect ratio of cookies to fruit, all of it circling back to family, comfort, and the joy of a really good cheese plate. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://mrjoeiconis.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mrjoeiconis/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjoeiconis Find more info at https://whyamipod.com/episode/his-cheese-smells-like-trouble-fantasy-restaurant-joe-iconis If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #WhyAmI #Podcast #JoeIconis #MusicalTheater #Songwriting #Creativity #PerformanceArt #Broadway

What if your whole life could be mapped out in a single meal? In this Fantasy Restaurant warm-up, Martin builds a menu entirely out of memory - a dark and stormy from a Decatur bar, saline-injected wings from a long-gone college dive, a bacon-loaded salad from his family's Wisconsin cabin, and a milkshake that doubles as the backdrop for the day he quit a job. Along the way we get a mini tour of a life split between Indiana roots and Wisconsin summers, and a reminder that the best comfort food always comes with a story attached.Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person.Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.mattressclarity.com/author/martencarlson/https://open.spotify.com/show/2SjwX9XW4VYQMAH3ZhBJAGFind more info at http://whyamipod.com/.If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod#WhyAmI #Podcast #MartinCarlson #FilmFanatic #MattressReviewer #PassionProjects #CreativeProcess

What if a beer on a beachside stool in Maui, watching your own submarine anchored just offshore, became one of the best meals of your life? In this episode of the Fantasy Restaurant warm-up, Brady Drennan orders up a five-course meal that traces his path from a Navy submariner to a self-proclaimed rice-and-salmon purist, with stops in San Diego, Ireland, and a very sketchy roadside shrimp cooler in Texas along the way. It's a fun, easygoing conversation about how flavor, memory, and place get tangled up together, and why the best meals are really about the moment you're in. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/fantasy-restaurant-brady-drennan. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #FantasyRestaurant #NavySubmariner #FoodMemories #SanDiego #KeyLimePie #Guinness #ComfortFood

What does it take to feel at home on a stage, even when you can't quite let loose anywhere else? This episode, Greg sits down with actor, coach, and podcaster Marisa Mast to talk about growing up in a theater household, playing a psychopath in Evil Dead the Musical, and why she calls acting both heaven and home. Along the way they get into vulnerability, self-discovery through character work, the strange magic of a sold-out crowd, and the joy of building a show, Call Time: A Theater Pod, dedicated to hyping up everyone else's passion instead of her own. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://linktr.ee/Calltimetheatrepod https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_eccentric_14/ https://www.tiktok.com/@eclectic_eccentric_14 Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/episode/why-am-i-marisa-helene-mast-theater-performer-and-podcaster. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #podcast #WhyAmI #Theater #ActingLife #EvilDeadTheMusical #CallTimePod #Vulnerability #ArtsCommunity #NicheExpertise #Broadway

Welcome to the warmup exercise for the Why Am I podcast called “the Fantasy Restaurant.” In here, my guests get to pick their favorite: drink, appetizer, main, sides, and dessert…anything goes. Jeff puts together what I would describe as comfort food. It sounds hearty, simple, and delicious. I hope you enjoy this meal with Jeff. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whimsicallambda.bsky.social FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengths Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whimsical.wavelengths/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whimsical-wavelengths/ Web: https://whimsicalwavelengths.com/ Find more info at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://whyamipod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/why-am-i-jeffrey-zurek-volcanologist. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #WhyAmI #Podcast #SciencePodcast #Volcanoes #Geology #Curiosity #JeffZurek #WhimsicalWavelengths

Ever wondered how a kid who was once afraid to connect found his voice on the stages of New York City? In this episode, Greg chats with Joe Iconis, renowned for weaving personal truths into his musicals. Discover how Joe's journey to becoming a celebrated writer and performer unfolded through sheer honesty and a love for the art form. Watch now: https://youtu.be/L--OhdifqWo @mrjoeiconis Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://mrjoeiconis.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mrjoeiconis/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjoeiconis Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #WhyAmI #Podcast #JoeIconis #MusicalTheater #Songwriting #Creativity #PerformanceArt #Broadway

Have you ever wondered what path leads someone to become a professional mattress reviewer? Meet Martin Carlson, a film fanatic who journeyed from a childhood love of Abbott and Costello to an unlikely career in sleep products. Join us as we dive into the world of niche expertise, the delicate dance of balancing passions with practicalities, and the creative process behind Martin's unique career story. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person. Please show them some love on their socials here: https://www.mattressclarity.com/author/martencarlson/ https://open.spotify.com/show/2SjwX9XW4VYQMAH3ZhBJAG Find more info at http://whyamipod.com/. If you want to support the podcast you can do so via https://www.patreon.com/whyamipod #WhyAmI #Podcast #MartinCarlson #FilmFanatic #MattressReviewer #PassionProjects #CreativeProcess