That's Life, I Swear
Every Wednesday, join Rick Barron as he unravels the intricate threads of life's most captivating stories. From heart-pounding political dramas to the awe-inspiring challenges of climate change, he explores the topics that shape our world and define our era.
But this isn't just another talk show. Rick delves deep into the human psyche, examining our beliefs, behaviors, and the obstacles we overcome. He celebrates our triumphs and embraces our imperfections, uncovering the profound lessons hidden in everyday experiences.
The episodes are a journey of self-discovery as he shares stories that mirror our collective identity. These tales aren't just entertaining – they're a reflection of who we are, who we were, and who we aspire to be. They carry the weight of our ancestral legacy, the fire of our dreams, and the depths of our pain.
With each episode, you'll confront your deepest anxieties about yourself, your place in the world, and the future that awaits us all. In understanding these complexities, you'll find inspiration, connection, and perhaps even transformation.
"That's Life, I Swear" isn't just a podcast – it's a weekly rendezvous with the extraordinary nature of ordinary life. Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts, and join Rick on this unforgettable exploration of the human experience. After all, that's life, I swear.
Episodes
311 episodes
Dismantling of USAID was Cruel and Jaw-droppingly Stupid!
Expertise is invisible until it's gone. The most important systems — disease surveillance, early warning networks, on-the-ground aid presence — look like nothing when they're working. Supporting links1. &n...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie—a book that redefines the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney as something far more intimate than collaboration.supporting links1. &...
The Storm You Won't See Coming
What makes the OOI shutdown so alarming is not just what it eliminates, but when. The global oceans are in a period of historically anomalous change. Supporting links 1.
Interview #34 Rick Barron: What's Life Trying to Teach You? | A wisdom conversation
SummaryI had the pleasure of being interviewed by Skip Lineberg, host of the podcast: The Main Thing.Content below is courtesy of Skip Lineberg. Rick Barron has lived several remarkable chapters. He served our c...
Interview #33 Darya Katkavets: From Belarus to California: A Journey of Cultural Discovery
SummaryIn this episode, Rick Barron interviews Darya Katkavets, who shares her journey of immigrating from Belarus to the United States, exploring cultural differences, adaptation challenges, and insights into cross-cultural commu...
Built Last Year, Gone in a Minute
We cannot control where the storm goes, but we can control how prepared we are, how we respond to a crisis, and how we help one another rebuild afterward.Supporting links 1.
Interview #32 Kristina Townsend: Open Hearts, Minds, Doors, and Wallets
SummaryIn this episode, Rick Barron interviews Kristina Townsend. Kristina shares her unique journey through sports, international travel, and social impact, illustrating how sports can foster understanding and reduce extremism. D...
Career: Is That Even a Word Anymore?
The deepest takeaway might be this: we've built an economy that's extraordinarily good at generating corporate profits and extraordinarily bad at distributing the experience of those profits to the people doing the work.Supporting lin...
The World Cup’s Other Hydration Break= Beer Run
The real lesson here isn't about World Soccer rules, marketing gimmicks, or even alcohol; it's about how people instinctively turn any structured pause into a personal challenge. .Supporting links1. ...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
In this book review, you’ll explore the life of someone who wanted to change the world. This is the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacsonsupporting links1.
How 59 Seconds from a Bugle Calls a Community Together
Learn how John Hersh, an ordinary man with a trumpet, transformed a personal routine into a beloved neighborhood tradition by playing taps at sunset, rain or shine.Supporting links1.
Book Review from Rick’s Library: The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The central argument of The Guns of August is both simple and terrifying: the First World War was not inevitable. supporting links1. Barbar...
Limitations aren’t the end of a life — they’re the shape of it
Learn how even when a body is broken, a life — rich with skill, love, memory, flavor, and collaboration — can still be fully, fiercely lived. Supporting links1.
How One Podcaster Is Reshaping France's Reckoning With Its Past
Learn how if a society refuses to examine its darkest chapters, those chapters don’t disappear — they just wait for the right conditions to return. Supporting links1. Philippe Collin [
Interview #31 Mariah Bonner: From Baltimore to Buenos Aires - Her Musical Journey
SummaryIn this episode, Rick Barron interviews Mariah Bonner. A former ballet dancer, movie actress, writer, and now international singer. Join us as Mariah Bonner shares her inspiring journey of moving from the U.S. to Argentina,...
Pointing the Way: The Genius Behind Your Gas Gauge
Jim Moylan may not have achieved the fame of Henry Ford or other celebrated inventors. His name won't appear in most history books or innovation courses. But millions of drivers benefit from his insight every day. Supporting links...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: First Principles, By Thomas E. Ricks
Learn how the book, First Principles, by Thomas E. Ricks, teaches that the intellectual foundations of American democracy are as consequential as the political events that accompanied them—and that understanding those foundations is cr...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, By Walter Isaacson
Learn how In The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, Walter Isaacson dissects the famous line from the Declaration of Independence—“We hold these truths to be self-evident…”—and asks us to see it not as a relic, but as a living id...
Book Review from Rick’s Library: Coming Clean by Liz Fraser
Learn how Coming Clean is a powerful reminder that recovery is relational. It’s not just about the person with the substance use issue but about everyone whose life becomes entangled with it. supporting links1...
Enough Already!: America’s Breaking Point with the U.S. Congress
Congress is historically dysfunctional right now — by nearly every measurable standard, from shutdown length to laws passed to member departures. Supporting links1.
My Wife and I Had a Plan, and Then
Learn how you can plan your life with precision—and still lose control of the outcome. What you never lose is how you respond. Supporting links1.
2026 Midterm Elections: Votes Counted…Maybe
Learn how Trump’s biggest threat may not be winning more votes in the 2026 midterm elections; it may be exploiting loopholes, fear, and institutional weakness to cling to power.Supporting links1.
3D Printing Paradise: How Tech Is Saving Our Environment and Surfboards
Learn how the most powerful innovations frequently emerge not from abstract problem-solving but from personal experiences of frustration or failure. Supporting links1.