What an honor to have the McAuley patriarch Alec "Big Al" McAuley and his two sons, Sean & Tim, in the studio for a trip down memory lane about music, sports and sports legends, and most of all, about love & family.

The spotlight was on Big Al by design, and he did not disappoint. He brings us back to his life growing up the eldest of 10 children, playing high school basketball with Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and his connection with the one-and-only Henry "Hank" Aaron. He tells the story of baby Sean arriving four weeks early and how he and the love of his life, Jane, delivered Sean in their apartment with the help of their Italian landlady. “Here a-comes-tha-baby!”

Fast forward to present day, Big Al and Jane just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary only a few short weeks ago. Congratulations you two lovebirds!

Sean and Tim take us back to their glory days on and off the football and baseball fields at Cornell Big Red in the late '80's. The McAuley brothers each share their perspectives on why music matters, and why it matters so much to the entire McAuley family.

Join us, and let's see where the energy takes us!

Swingtown music.apple.com/us/album/swingtown/1440842616?i=1440842907

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar youtube.com/shorts/xtXXTvmSHrQ?si=…

Hank Aaron youtube.com/shorts/…?si=…

Here We Go Again open.spotify.com/track/…?si=87cc639f14434732

Blackbird / Isabella McAuley (4 years old)

Cotton Fields (Sean, Tim, Big Al, and yours truly)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

After a brief hiatus, it's great to be back!

I'm joined by my friend Matt “Pooch” Kiernan and his band of brothers - Bernie “Bonzo” Kiernan (his actual brother), Scott “Deece” DeSimone, and Matt “needs-a-nickname” Catania.

Matt and I recently become fast friends through our mutual love of music, our love of our family, our passion for golf, and a new shared friendship with his brother and their two closest friends of over 50 years. I'm honored to call them all my friends now.

Matt is my co-pilot in this interview and he helps us navigate our way through the late 70’s to the present with recollections of having to choose between disco and polyester suits, or rock n’ roll. Each of the guys have similar but unique perspectives on which music mattered, and why. Their tastes ultimately spanning the likes of U2, The Clash, Matchbox Twenty, and…. wait for it….. Twisted Sister.

We close with tributes to those we lost along the way, and we pay tribute to their legacy and to the love they still bless us all with today.

Join us, and let's see where the energy takes us!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

This one-on-one conversation was a while in the making, and so well worth the wait.

Being a longtime customer of Grateful Fred and a fellow Deadhead, I’m honored to have hosted the founder of what I consider to be one of the premier Grateful Dead product producers in the country, Grateful Fred, Stephen McMennamy - https://grateful-fred.com/collections/badges

The episode is in no way intended to be an “infomercial” for either Grateful Fred or the podcast (I invited Stephen to be my guest, no strings attached), but more so it’s my way of sharing the story of a true entrepreneur, his love for the Grateful Dead, and how his passion to fuel his creative energy has reached new heights that he never dreamed possible.

Last but not least…. who is Fred anyway? Tune in. You won’t be disappointed :)

Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us!

Grateful Fred

St Stephen 4.27.71

Tweezer 2.28.02

Wondering

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

My friend, John Macario, returns to the show and we pick up right where we left off back in late 2024 when he first shared his amazing story.

It’s been 19 months since John lost the love of his life and fellow Deadhead, Meg, at age 52 to complications following a liver transplant. We catch up on how he and their 12-year old daughter, Gloria, are doing facing the world together as the dynamic duo. John shares how single parenting is going, and how every now and again he gets out to fuel his soul with live music, including the likes of Bulgarina-American pianist, Kristina Marinova. Marinova’s recent solo release, The Bus Came By and I Got On, is unlike any Grateful Dead music that I have ever heard before and is a must-listen.

In honor of our beloved Bobby “Ace” Weir, John insists that we tune into NPR’s Tiny Desk with Bob Weir & Wold Brothers, where Mikaela Davis sits in on harp. Their rendition of Birdsong is simply magical and instantly transports the listener with its first few notes.

We wrap up with John’s story of Gloria’s early love of Jerry Garcia, and how at just 5 years old she became attached to Jerry Garcia Band’s 1980 rendition of After Midnight. “More Jerry, Dad!” How cool is THAT, I mean really.

Finally, John reveals for the first time how he got the nickname I never knew even existed - “Spiff”!

Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us!

Morning Dew / Kristina Marinova
Smells Like Teen Spirit / Nirvana
Please Don't Bury Me / John Prine
Birdsong / Wolf Bros
I Know You Rider / Grateful Dead
After Midnight / JGB

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

In Part II of the continuing celebration of Bobby Weir and his life well-lived, I’m joined by lifelong Deadheads, Ted “The” Bahr and Paul “Nud” Schmitz. Nud kicks off the conversation by sharing his thoughts on Bobby’s one-of-a-kind “rhythmic-lead” style, and how this unique approach to the guitar was unlike any rhythm guitarist. We walk through the early days in the mid-60’s when, as Nud puts it, Bobby “couldn’t play very well, and couldn’t sing very well either” through his mastery of the axe by the early and mid-70’s.

Ted brings his Top 20 Bobby Songs to the table for discussion and debate (similar to a recent “spirited conversation” that I had on The Great Debate episode The Great Debate ) acknowledging that some songs on the list aren’t technically Bobby songs at all. Being a self-described “picky Deadhead”, he’s unafraid to admit which songs he’s heard enough of and which Bobby songs still give him joy with each listen today.

Join us once again, as we celebrate the well-lived life of Bobby “Ace” Weir, and let’s see where the energy takes us!

Bobby
Easy Wind
Passenger
Brother Esau
Feel Like a Stranger
The Other One

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

Bobby Weir - October 16th, 1947 - January 10th, 2026

This one hurts, and feels very much like the closing of a chapter. Yet at the same time, we CELEBRATE. We celebrate the amazing life of founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bobby Weir, and we kick off with two lifelong Deadheads - both previous podcast guests - Tim “Tmac” McGuire and Kevin “Camp” Campion.

Tim leads the way, recalling his early days admiring Bobby’s peaceful energy, his kindness, and lightly poking fun at his Daisy Duke short shorts, purple Polo’s, ponytail, tennis sneakers, and half-calf socks. We talk about how we tend to learn more about those we love after we lose them. And Tmac reminds us of the “SAY YES, DON’T WAIT” motto that he and I live by, and why that mindset matters.

In the second half of the episode, Kevin, brings us back to how Bobby tackled Bob Dylan songs without missing a word, yet would somehow forget a lyric in staples like Truckin’, and he reminds us of Bobby’s philanthropy, his humility, and his spirit.

Join us, as we celebrate the life of Bobby “Ace” Weir, and let’s see where the energy takes us!

Hell in a Bucket 09.12.87 Cap Center

Hell in a Bucket reprise 09.12.87 Cap Center

Sugar Mags 03.21.86

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

As much as unexpected and tragic loss tests the human spirit, sometimes it can become the catalyst for good. And that is exactly the mission that my friend, Erik Larson, has embraced after suddenly losing his best friend, Greg Kline, in August of 2020.

Greg had a motto that he lived by, Get Busy Living, and Erik embodies all that is about getting busy living. But now, he’s also embodying getting busy GIVING.

Erik Larson, who many refer to as “The Swede” because of his Scandinavian good looks and impeccibly styled blond hair, decided he had a story to tell. A story of his three nephews, who become wildly successful in the business of crypto currency, but the oldest brother, Billy, isn’t satisfied with materialism and modern “things of this world” and decides to travel the world in search of his true purpose in life. Ultimately he discovers that purpose in a life devoted exclusively to God. And in one of the most remote areas of the world no less - Mt Athos, Greece - where orthodox Christian monks have been serving God for over a thousand years. This otherworldly devotion requires the avoidance of “distractions” such as money, women, and even family.

The Swede shares how Billy, now known as Brother William, embraces his new reality, all the while his brothers, his mother, and his girlfriend know nothing about his whereabouts or the new life he now lives. They become determined to find Billy and to “save him” from a life that has every sign of being a cult.

Based on a true story, Cold Storage includes it all. Wealth, family, mystery, love, faith, and in the end, peace.

Erik wrote Cold Storage, available in print and soon in audio, to support his new Get Busy Giving nonprofit foundation. As quoted on his website www.getbusygiving.net, Get Busy Giving is inspired by:

“...seeing what real generosity looks like. Our town has rallied around families in need, supported local causes, and lifted people up in ways that pushed us to do something of our own. So we built Get Busy Giving, a nonprofit run by six grateful friends who want to turn inspiration into action. Our mission is to support causes that matter, build connections, and encourage others to step up for their neighbors. Greg Kline’s saying, “Get Busy Living,” reminds us to live with purpose and heart. Get Busy Giving is our way of carrying that spirit forward.

All proceeds from Cold Storage and related merchandise go directly to Paws of War, supporting the life-changing bond between rescued dogs and those who serve in the military and first responders.”

The 6 grateful friends referenced above include Greg & Melissa Kline’s three children - Tommy, Mikey, and Gracie - and Erik & Meredith Larson’s three children - Anna, James, and Jack. Together they comprise Get Busy Giving’s board of directors.

And to steal one more line from Erik’s website:

"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka

So join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us!

www.getbusygiving.net

getbusygiving@getbusygiving.net

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75EQYtN4axmGWGIpK0iA6p?si=HwSv9dsdRb2YC8yWVyFIBA&pi=od6v0bOgSDOyZ

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357

Huntington, Long Island - home to so many of the amazing people that I am lucky to call my friends and family - continues to create new bonds and new friendships. In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, I could not be more grateful for those connections.

Thanks to a few of those lifelong friends, I’ve been recently connected to a fellow Huntingtonian, a fellow music-lover, fellow golfer, fellow genuinely happily married man and fellow father-of-three daughters. A friend that truly gets what it means to Get Busy Living. I’m proud and fortunate to call my guest, Rich Gray, a new friend and I’m excited to share our conversation.

Our conversation covers ground dating back to the early ‘80’s in New York City when Rich was Lead DJ “spinning records” at the successor dance club to Studio 54, Danceteria, where he helped fuel the shift from disco to more alternative dance music. As fate would have it, Rich met a woman at Danceteria who would ultimately turn out to become “the future Mrs. Gray”, though if you ask Janet, aka Mrs Gray, there may be some debate as to when exactly their fate was sealed ;)

Rich shares insights into music and a lot of bands that I have never heard before, which is one of the things I love most about Exploring the Energy, namely getting enlightened to new and wider horizons of music. In the words of our beloved Billy Campion… “Hey man, there’s a lot of music out there.”

So join us, and let's see where the energy takes us!

Cotton Fields / Credence Clearwater Revival

https://music.apple.com/us/album/cotton-fields/1440950503?i=1440950717

Don't Go Back to Rockville / R.E.M. https://music.apple.com/us/album/dont-go-back-to-rockville/1442454230?i=1442454641

Cousin Dupree / Steely Dan

https://music.apple.com/us/album/cousin-dupree/297597608?i=297597647

Roadhouse Blue / Doors https://music.apple.com/us/album/roadhouse-blues/511578072?i=511578100

Saint of Circumstance / Grateful Dead https://music.apple.com/us/album/saint-of-circumstance/663697282?i=663697477

You're the Best Thing / Style Council https://music.apple.com/us/album/youre-the-best-thing-12-inch-version/1851028801?i=1851029447

Christmas Must Be Tonight / Goose

https://music.apple.com/us/album/christmas-must-be-tonight-live/1667827844?i=1667828935

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357