In this Tuesday episode of Simple Joe, I’m checking in with Paris, France, celebrating birthdays including Peter Sellers, Patsy Cline, Pink, Martin Freeman, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Wiz Khalifa, and Gaten Matarazzo, and looking back at moments in history including the founding of St. Augustine, the national launch of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. I also mark Star Trek Day, National Actors Day, National Date Nut Bread Day, and National Iguana Awareness Day before getting into Tuesday’s Random Questions. This week’s questions take me into the difference between real knowledge and opinions picked up online, places and experiences still on my bucket list like the Grand Canyon and skydiving, my completely irrational inability to watch The Exorcist, why I’d choose Spanish if I could instantly learn another language, and the cords, cables, and old wrestling magazines I’ve held onto far longer than practicality would suggest. It’s a good example of why I like Random Questions: you never quite know where one simple question is going to take the conversation.

• What is something people often mistake for intelligence?
• What ordinary experience somehow still remains on your bucket list?
• What fear makes no logical sense but still gets to you?
• If you could instantly become fluent in one language, which would you choose and why?
• What possession have you kept far longer than makes practical sense?

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In this Labor Day episode of Simple Joe, I’m talking about slowing down, getting a few things accomplished over a long weekend, and why something as simple as detailing a car can sometimes feel surprisingly therapeutic. We check the weather in Las Vegas and Cincinnati, celebrate birthdays including Grandma Moses, Paul Brown, Buddy Holly, Gloria Gaynor, Julie Kavner, Chrissie Hynde, Corbin Bernsen, and Diane Warren, and look back at moments in history including the first submarine attack, the first Miss America pageant, the opening of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the launch of ESPN. Then it’s time for Monday’s Interesting Headlines, with stories about dark matter, a 106-year-old scuba diver, a rescued kitten with its own bobblehead, remarkably clever pygmy raccoons, and a Viking-age silver hoard discovered in a garden. Along the way, I wander into raccoon intelligence, an old bobblehead yard-sale story, buried treasure, Labor Day, salami, New Hampshire, and the idea that a good holiday is really about spending time with people you love and making memories worth keeping.

Monday Interesting Headlines

Scientists make potential breakthrough in search for dark matter Oldest male scuba diver celebrates 106th birthday Rescued kitten inspires bobblehead Critically endangered pygmy raccoons observed making their own paper toys Man discovers Denmark’s largest Viking Age silver hoard while digging a terrace in his garden

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

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In this Sunday episode of Simple Joe, I start with the incredible complexity of human vision and the idea that each of us may experience the world a little differently, before checking in with Torrington, Connecticut, celebrating birthdays including Jane Curtin, Jeff Foxworthy, Macy Gray, Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, and John Wall, looking back at moments in history like the opening of Piggly Wiggly, the premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, the television debut of Star Trek, and Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive-games record, and recognizing a few September 6 celebrations. Then, in Faith Connections, I ask a much more personal question: Which thief on the cross are you? Looking at Luke 23 and the two criminals crucified beside Jesus, I explore the difference between demanding that God prove Himself by fixing our circumstances and simply turning toward Jesus with trust. I admit that I often recognize myself in the first thief, wanting God to solve the problem, give me direction, or make things work the way I want, while I’m trying to learn the surrender of the second thief, who simply asked Jesus to remember him. We talk about grace, unanswered questions, faith when circumstances do not change, and the reminder that we do not have to clean everything up or understand everything before turning toward Christ. My faith is deeply important to me, and this conversation left me asking whether I am approaching Jesus with demands or with trust, and maybe that is a question worth asking yourself today too.

Email me at joe@thesimplejoe.com or send me a text at 513.399.6468. Just say hi, I would love to hear from you.

You can get Simple Joe T-Shirts and other cool stuff at thesimplejoe.com/store

Check out what I'm reading at thesimplejoe.com/reading

If you share the show on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please use #simplejoeismyfriend; you might get a free t-shirt!