Brew's Cafe

Add to the list of things I learn in podcasting: ROLLER DERBY! I honestly thought this was a fictitious thing... you know, the scantily clad women clawing, elbowing, hair pulling and all as they circle a track on roller skates. Turns out, it's a real sport. Played by real athletes on real teams in real arenas, with real live audiences. And instead of fishnets and hot pants they wear double bullet belts and jungle paint (ok, maybe fishnets too). And hair pulling is a penalty, as is elbowing, clawing and tossing over the railing. But it's extremely competitive and it goes on all over the country. Of course, this is only one of the fascinating things "Rambo" and I cover in this highly informative and terrifically entertaining conversations. Sam is an absolute delight to talk to, as her energy, enthusiasm and joie de vivre is more contagious than an airborne pathogen (which, thankfully, we barely even mentioned!).

Explore the evolving restaurant scene in the Hamptons with insights from PR guru Steve Haweeli. Reflect on the impact of technology on business practices, social media strategy, and brand building. Dive into personal stories of weddings, career evolution in the industry, and new business ventures in Seig Harbor and Amigansett.

As the UNC Tar Heels prepare to play in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game tonight, Tar Heel for life, Matt Doherty, joins me in the cafe and opens up about success-- winning the NCAA Championship with Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Coach Dean Smith and others; failure-- losing his job as UNC Head Coach after only two seasons; and rebounding-- learning from both success and failure to grow in life and in leadership. Matt and I talk in depth about the art and science of coaching, at both the NCAA D1 level and local little league. We cover the joys of winning it all in the Final Four, and the despair of losing it all when the ultimate dream job doesn't pan out, and the lessons we take from both. If you've ever coached on any level, led an organization or team in any way, or had or have a child who plays in organized sports, you're going to want to hear this podcast.

Police Chief Mike Sarlo discusses staffing shortages, community relations, and alternative enforcement programs. He shares the intense experience of approaching a late-night traffic stop. The podcast also touches on sports loyalty, gambling addiction, and police resource allocation during peak tourist season.

Join Laura Euler as she shares her unique view on the real estate landscape of the Hamptons, her favorite Hamptons home in Montauk, and funny 'Worst Listing Photo' memories. Discover her journey through different writing gigs, her podcast origins, and the challenges of social media, including being banned on Facebook.

Would you rather? Be riding down the straightaway at 100mph on a vintage British racing motorcycle and lose your brakes.... or wake up from 5 surgeries unable to move anything but one finger? Randy Hoffman, my guest this week, has done both. After speaking to him, he'd much rather lose the brakes on the straightaway. But he wasn't given a choice, and when he woke up from surgery over two years ago, his life would change in ways he'd never thought of. Join us as we relive the events that changed his life, how he has gradually, painfully, regained his ability to walk, ride a bike and soon, a vintage British racing motorcycle. Oh, and there was also the time he killed someone and then brought them back to life. Seriously. Check out the stories in this fascinating conversation with a living miracle.

Somewhere between Mexico and Cuba, sat down with the world's longest living country punk rocker, Jon Langford of The Mekons, Waco Brothers and Skull Orchard,  and our dear friend, Dave Herndon, communications director for the City of Santa Fe, NM and did a little reminiscing. We were aboard the Outlaw Country Cruise 6, an amazing 6 day adventure featuring, not only Jon's bands, but Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Rodney Crowell and Emmy Lou Harris. It was six days of fun and frolicking with unbelievable live music at all hours of the day and night, as well as food, drinks, sun and fun (none of us braved the hot tubs, but they were available). Join us as we retell some great times at Brew's-- which was a bit of a sleeper cell of the NYC alt-country music scene in the '90s-- as well as London and Leeds in the late '70s, Austin TX in the '00s and a few random tales of foolishness and fun from elsewhere.

Many ideas have been hatched at the Stephen Talkhouse bar at two in the morning. Not many of these have turned out to be good. Only one, however, transformed an organization with a $10,000 annual budget into $400 million operation benefitting tens of thousands of wounded American service veterans. Chris Carney joins me in the Cafe to tell the story of how the Soldier Ride, became part of The Wounded Warrior Foundation and has become one of the most successful veterans' benefit programs in history. Begun as a single, coast to coast fundraising event, Soldier Ride now operates in many states and helps provide life affirming, medical and rehabilitative benefits for American Heroes who've returned from battle with serious injuries. Chris gives us a clear, behind the scenes look at how it all came about, and recounts many of the stories that have happened along the way.

Justin Finney shares his journey as a chef in the Hamptons, from influences to running a kitchen. He discusses being sober in a culture rooted in alcohol and drugs. Topics include culinary inspirations, challenges, housing issues, sobriety, and summer preparations amidst the pandemic.

For the many, many people who miss seeing Alison Burke at the super popular, suddenly closed, Simply Sublime in East Hampton, this episode will go down like one of their famous "mangolicious" smoothies. Alison stops by the Cafe this week and shares her stories: the development of her unique "Alison Burke Yoga" practice, her philosophy toward meditation techniques (relax, you're doing it right!), the joys and stresses of owning a small business in East Hampton, what might be next in the evolution of Simply Sublime, and even a few salty tales from her days behind the bar at Cyril's. Whatever the topic, Alison engages her upbeat, positive attitude, sprinkled with her crisp and ironic yet good natured sense of humor.