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The Open Championship delivered a weekend of golf overshadowed by a rules controversy, and Sir John Dempsey is back on the show to help sort through it.

At the center of it all: Bryson DeChambeau, hit with a two-stroke penalty for stomping down grass around his ball in the rough, then reportedly threatening not to finish the tournament. We talk through why the penalty was justified, how DeChambeau’s reaction played out in real time, and why so many of his fellow pros — Rory McIlroy chief among them — weren’t shy about saying what they really think of him.

Also in the discussion: Golf Channel’s “Live From” crew — Rich Lerner, Brandel Chambly, Paul McGinley, and Eamon Lynch — and why their chemistry makes for some of the best golf commentary on television. Eamon Lynch in particular gets a well-earned shoutout for calling out DeChambeau’s “victim mentality” without pulling a single punch.

Amid the controversy, there was also a genuinely great story: Ryan Fox, the unassuming New Zealander who nearly gave up the game a few years ago, tied the all-time major low-round record and held his nerve to win the Claret Jug. We talk about what made his win so satisfying to watch.

And because no golf conversation is complete without it, they compare notes on their own recent rounds — including a personal-best that didn’t last, and a white-knuckle back nine.

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Trump’s prime-time address on election security was supposed to be a big moment. Instead, it may be the first time one of his media narratives has visibly and immediately fallen apart.

Colby Hall — founding editor of Mediaite, now writing “The Morning Frame” on Substack — tries in vain to make sense of it. The short version: John Solomon, the journalist Trump tapped to dig up proof of election interference, produced declassified documents that instead show the years-long Biden-Burisma corruption story he himself popularized back in 2019 originated as Russian disinformation. The guy hired to expose the conspiracy turned out to be a central character in one.

Fox News’s own internal research team reportedly flagged Solomon’s reporting as unreliable years ago, why Hannity and Fox & Friends handled the speech’s aftermath so carefully (or just ignored it entirely), and Colby’s read on why this particular narrative didn’t stick the way Trump’s usually do — his “classic rock problem,” as Colby puts it, of playing the same song so many times people stop hearing it.

There’s a more serious thread underneath the noise: reporting suggesting the administration wants to nationalize control over how midterm elections are run, and what that would mean for a system built specifically to be too decentralized to corrupt. Plus, there’s the World Cup, where Trump got literally cropped out of a photo he wasn’t supposed to be in.

Colby’s smart, funny, and doesn’t pull punches — even about his own role in building the outrage-driven media ecosystem he now critiques. Give it a listen, and go subscribe to his newsletter, The Morning Frame, at colbyhall.com.

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For years, John Howell and John Dempsey shared a microphone on Chicago radio. These days, they’re more likely to share a tee box.

In this episode of As I Was Saying, the longtime broadcasting partners reunite to relive a recent golf getaway to Naples, Florida—complete with spectacular shots, spectacular collapses, questionable rules interpretations, and plenty of laughs at each other’s expense.

Along the way, they discuss what it’s like to improve your golf game later in life, the value of good instruction, why Florida without air conditioning would still be a swamp, and the simple pleasure of spending time with lifelong friends.

The conversation also turns to this week’s Open Championship, golf etiquette, Phil Mickelson’s latest controversies, and why the game’s traditions are worth protecting.

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James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington are names every American recognizes. But what if one of the most influential Founding Fathers has largely disappeared from history?

John Howell sits down with author and constitutional scholar Jesse Wegman to discuss The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution. Together they explore the remarkable life of the Scottish immigrant who helped shape both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, introduced the words “We the People,” championed direct democracy long before it became reality, and ultimately died in obscurity despite serving as a Supreme Court justice.

Their conversation examines Wilson’s influence on Jefferson, his revolutionary arguments against Parliament, the debates that shaped the Constitutional Convention, his ahead-of-his-time views on popular sovereignty, the Electoral College and Senate representation, and the financial collapse that erased him from America’s collective memory.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there are still untold stories from America’s founding, this fascinating conversation reveals why James Wilson deserves to stand alongside the nation’s most celebrated founders.

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As artificial intelligence becomes woven into nearly every aspect of modern life, one question is growing louder: Who makes sure AI can be trusted?

John Howell sits down with James and Chase Malackowski of AI QA Global to explore the rapidly emerging world of AI governance. They explain why businesses, investors, and regulators are increasingly demanding independent oversight of AI systems rather than relying on companies to police themselves.

The conversation examines the legal and ethical challenges surrounding AI, including who bears responsibility when AI makes mistakes, how poor data can produce biased or inaccurate results, and why governance standards must evolve as quickly as the technology itself. The Malackowskis also discuss the “Chicago Principles,” a framework designed to establish measurable, auditable, and accountable standards for AI deployment.

Along the way, they explore why Chicago is uniquely positioned to lead the effort to create AI trust standards, how younger generations are approaching AI differently, and why organizations should think carefully about where… and where not… to use artificial intelligence.

It’s all about finding a way to balance innovation with responsibility as AI transforms business and everyday life.

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At four years old, a boy was dropped on the docks at City Point, Virginia, unable to speak a word of English except his own name. He’d been taken from his family on an island near Portugal, abused at sea by superstitious sailors looking for someone to blame for a storm, and abandoned with nothing but the clothes on his back. That boy grew to six foot six and 260 pounds, and became one of the most fearsome soldiers of the American Revolution.

John Howell talks with retired Admiral John T. Palmer about his new book, George Washington’s One Man Army: The Life, Legend, and Battles of Peter Francisco. Palmer traces how an indentured blacksmith’s apprentice, inspired after eavesdropping on Patrick Henry’s “give me liberty” speech, fought in ten major engagements, took six wounds, and by most accounts personally dispatched more than twenty enemy soldiers with a bayonet and a six-foot broadsword commissioned for him by Washington himself. They cover his single-handed defeat of nine of Banastre Tarleton’s dragoons, the half-ton cannon he reportedly carried off the battlefield at Camden, being left for dead in a pile of corpses after Guilford Courthouse, and how he later ran into a burning Richmond theater and pulled out more than thirty people, then asked that his name be left out of the papers.

Palmer also digs into why a soldier Washington personally credited with saving “perhaps the war” vanished from popular memory, what Francisco’s story says about the man behind the myth, and how the book’s structure moves between the generals’ strategy and the up-close reality of one soldier’s fight.

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Hitler believed ancient Greece belonged to Germany. Not metaphorically — he genuinely came to believe the ancient Greeks were proto-Germans, racially pure ancestors whose civilization gave the Third Reich its rightful inheritance. So when the Wehrmacht occupied Greece in 1941, the Nazis arrived not as conquerors but as heirs returning home. They planned to stay for a thousand years. They were in no hurry to dig anything up.

That assumption bought just enough time for a remarkable group of people — Greek curators, American archaeologists, and even one conscience-stricken German — to hide the treasures of ancient Greece from one of history’s most systematic campaigns of cultural theft.

Stephan Talty’s brand new book The American School of Spies tells the story of how scholars became saboteurs, how Wild Bill Donovan recruited the right men from the right dinner parties, and how a quiet academic named Rodney Young ended up bleeding on the Albanian front before running Greece’s wartime spy network from Cairo. It’s history that reads like a thriller — because it basically is one.

Big John Howell sat down with Talty to dig into all of it: Hitler’s obsession with antiquity, the elaborate schemes to keep the Germans from looting the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Operation Honeymoon spy gambit that helped protect D-Day, and the backroom negotiation that saved Athens from a deliberate flood. Plus: what really happened in Paris, what Rodney Young did after the war, and why Matt Damon keeps getting these calls.

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If you were anywhere near a radio in the late 1970s or 1980s, you heard Jerry Hey — even if you didn’t know it. From Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall and Thriller to Earth, Wind & Fire, Al Jarreau, and countless film soundtracks, his horn arrangements defined an era of pop and R&B. Those laser-bright brass hits and immaculate horn lines became part of the DNA of American music.

John Howell sits down once again with longtime friend and trumpeter Dave C. Norman for an insider’s conversation about Hey’s life, sound, and legacy. The two met years ago at Berklee College of Music and have been talking about trumpet technique, embouchures, and the peculiarities of L.A. session life ever since. Norman, who stepped away from the music business for a time before returning to it, has spent decades studying the art of brass performance and recently released a new instructional book titled The Quiet Trumpet.

That title, as Howell jokes, might seem ironic coming from a player known for “high-velocity trumpet playing,” but Norman explains it perfectly: “It’s a guide for attaining maximum output with minimal input.” His philosophy — that control and finesse at soft volumes build the strength needed for big, soaring tones — mirrors the precision that players like Jerry Hey brought to the studio. For Hey, raw power was never enough; the brilliance came from how it was channeled.

From there, the conversation takes listeners deep into the golden age of the Los Angeles studio scene. Norman recalls the traits that separated the “first-call” players from everyone else: punctuality, professionalism, versatility, and the ability to read anything put in front of them. And, of course, the chops. “Time is money,” he notes. “You’re in, you’re out, and it’s got to be perfect.”

They name-check a Mount Rushmore of brass legends — Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Malcolm McNabb — but Hey looms largest. Norman describes how Hey’s partnership with Quincy Jones and Gary Grant in the 1970s and ’80s revolutionized the role of horns in popular music. Their section’s blend of precision and energy powered hits by everyone from Michael Jackson to Toto, producing a sound that was both muscular and melodic, instantly recognizable and impossible to imitate.

Howell and Norman geek out over the details — mic placement, mouthpieces, recording techniques — and the gear that made those sessions sing. Norman even recalls visiting Hey’s home studio, where rows of pristine trumpets and mouthpieces lined the walls like sacred relics. “These are finely tuned pieces of equipment,” Norman says. “You don’t just drill them open with a power tool.”

But beyond the gear and technique, the heart of the discussion is about artistry and timing. Was Jerry Hey lucky or just that good? Norman’s answer: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” Hey, he says, was the right man in the right place with all the right tools — a perfect storm of talent, discipline, and creative instinct that no digital sample can replicate.

Howell floats an idea for a “Howell-Norman Productions” national tour — live trumpet clinics with Hey as the headliner, complete with VIP tickets, hotel suites, and merch tables. Norman laughs, but he doesn’t entirely dismiss it. For trumpet players, after all, the chance to sit in the same room with Jerry Hey might be worth every penny.

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Trumpet geeks, jazz fans, and anyone curious about the creative grind—this episode is for you. John Howell sits down with longtime friend and powerhouse trumpet player Dave C. Norman to talk range, tone, studio politics, teaching, and why “higher, faster, louder” isn’t the destination.

Dave’s story arcs from Ithaca to the New England Conservatory and Berklee, to resort bandstands in New Hampshire, to a left turn into the business world—and then a triumphant return to music on his own terms. Along the way he’s recorded leader albums (from blazing tributes to lush ballads), published method books, created 700+ trumpet tutorials on Facebook, and developed a philosophy he calls “The Quiet Trumpet”—centered on sound, control, and musical honesty.

What we cover

• Great chops vs. great musicianship: What separates technical gymnastics from moving people’s souls—and where players like Chet Baker, Herb Alpert, and Chuck Mangione fit in.

• Finding (and keeping) the high register: Resistance, slotting, equipment choices, and why muscular “jam-it-on” playing burns out chops over time.

• Play soft first: How mezzo dynamics, breath attacks, and classical fundamentals unlock control—then power.

• LA studio realities: Politics, pecking order, contractors, and the unglamorous truth about how subs and reputations are made (or unmade).

• Lead vs. classical skill sets: Why versatility matters—and when to hand a passage to the player whose name is really on it.

• Recording horns that punch through a mix: Distance from the mic, “room” vs. “hugging the capsule,” and what Jerry Hey taught a generation.

• Choosing the road you actually want: Turning down name-band glamour to build something lasting under your own banner.

Standout moments

• “Great vs. great.” Dave draws a crisp line between technical fireworks and musical storytelling—and argues for listeners’ hearts as the real adjudicators.

• The accidental double C. A studio take on “Blue Birdland,” one bold target note—and a surprise ceiling-breaker that wasn’t the plan.

• Doc’s advice still rings: Train like an orchestral player; tone and time are transferable superpowers.

• The “Quiet Trumpet” mindset: Breath attacks, centered sound, and lyrical control before volume—and why that’s the long game for endurance and longevity.

• Studio etiquette 101: Seniority is real; knowing where to sit (and when to slide down a chair) is part of the gig.

For trumpet players (bookmark this)

• Range is an extension, not a destination. Build low/mid-register control first; let high notes serve the music, not the resume.

• Manage resistance. Your embouchure, mouthpiece, leadpipe/receiver, and horn bore all shape how partials “slot.” Tweak one variable at a time.

• Breath > brute force. Practice breath attacks to check setup and response without “cheating” with the tongue.

• Mic distance matters. Give the horn four-plus feet so the sound can form; let the room work for you.

• Classical fundamentals pay rent. Transposition, soft playing, and consistent tone open more doors than one party trick ever will.

Dave’s current projects

• Forthcoming book: The Quiet Trumpet — a practical treatise on building the sound in your “mind’s ear” and discovering the setup that makes it real.

• Tutorial library: 700+ bite-sized lessons and demonstrations on Facebook (search: “Dave C. Norman”).

• Horn of choice: A custom 24k gold Bell Trumpets build that can purr like a flugelhorn down low and sting up top when asked.

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Every once in a while, an interview comes along that feels like a scene from a political satire—but it’s not fiction. It’s 2025.

In this week’s episode of As I Was Saying, John Howell is joined by longtime contributor Colby Hall, founding editor of Mediaite, to break down the strange spectacle of Donald Trump’s recent “peace summit” with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. On paper, it was billed as a high-stakes geopolitical reset. In practice, it looked more like a red carpet rollout for a dictator and a bizarre press conference full of grievance spirals and reality-TV posturing.

Hall calls it Trump’s "face-plant" moment—a moment when the optics couldn’t have been worse, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

Topics Include:

• Trump’s miscalculation: setting expectations sky-high, then delivering nothing

• Putin’s victory lap: from red carpet applause to photo ops with zero concessions

• Narrative failure: how Trump’s media machine lost control of the story—for once

• Foreign policy or reality TV?: Hall’s sharp take on Trump’s understanding of diplomacy

• GOP pretzel logic: Rubio, Hannity, and the shape-shifting defense of Trump’s every move

• The MAGA unraveling: disillusioned callers, confused influencers, and a fragile coalition

• The Epstein elephant: how shutting down the "client list" narrative might backfire on Trump

• Gavin Newsom’s trolling: yes, they talk about the parody trifecta: Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, and Tucker Carlson as Newsom’s heavenly spirit guides

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Big John Howell welcomes back bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove to discuss his book Dead Air: The Night That Orson Welles Terrified America. The conversation dives deep into the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which convinced listeners that Martians had landed in New Jersey—and sparked chaos from coast to coast.

You can listen to the original radio play in its entirety on Auditory Anthology:

Hazelgrove paints a vivid picture of Welles at 23, already a prodigy with a voice and presence that commanded attention, running his Mercury Theatre troupe like a symphony conductor. Drawing inspiration from the Hindenburg disaster broadcast, Welles tore up his script, rewrote it in a breaking-news format, and used long stretches without disclaimers to create a frightening sense of realism. Listeners who tuned in late heard “live” reports from Grover’s Mill and panicked—crashing cars, flooding police switchboards, and even taking up arms against water towers mistaken for alien machines.

Other topics include:

• How fear, media, and timing combined for a “perfect storm” of nationwide panic

• Why newspapers may have amplified the chaos even more than the broadcast itself

• The parallels between 1938’s gullibility and today’s “fake news” ecosystem

• How the stunt catapulted Welles to Hollywood—and into Citizen Kane fame—while also sparking calls for stricter radio rules

Hazelgrove argues that War of the Worlds wasn’t an accident—it was the first great media stunt in history, carefully designed to push the limits of radio. And, he says, it remains a cautionary tale about how fear and misinformation can spread faster than the truth.

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Big John Howell reunites with longtime friend and Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson—his final guest before an unexpected radio exit two years ago. The conversation picks up right where it left off: a deep and often funny exploration of Illinois politics, redistricting reform efforts, and the enduring legacy of Mike Madigan.

Pearson walks listeners through the latest attempt to change how legislative maps are drawn in Illinois, including why past efforts failed, what makes this one different, and the political realities of getting it on the ballot. They also discuss the philosophical divide within the Democratic Party, the role of gerrymandering in driving extremism, and whether J.B. Pritzker will stand by his earlier promises for independent mapmaking. Along the way, there are tales of Madigan’s downfall, old-school ward politics, and even a few words on the upcoming Bears season.

Other topics include:

• Why redistricting matters to voters (even if it sounds boring)

• How partisan mapmaking contributes to national division

• What Rick Pearson really thinks about Madigan, Pritzker, and reform

• Whether Fair Maps Illinois can beat the odds and make history

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In this episode, Howell is joined by mortgage industry veteran and radio personality David Hochberg for a wide-ranging—and fiery—discussion on the state of the U.S. economy, the independence of the Federal Reserve, and the political smoke screens obscuring the truth.

When Trump Met Powell
The episode opens with a breakdown of Donald Trump’s attempt to browbeat Fed Chair Jerome Powell with fuzzy math and outdated construction numbers during a public exchange. Hochberg, who has originated more than $15 billion in loans and hosts Home Sweet Home Chicago on WGN Radio, doesn’t mince words: Powell didn’t flinch, and Trump came off looking underinformed at best. The whole exchange, Hochberg says, is part of a broader pattern of intellectual dishonesty—where truth is secondary to the spectacle.

What Happens If the Fed Folds?
As the conversation moves from political theater to economic substance, Hochberg warns of the risks if the Fed is perceived as bowing to presidential pressure. While consumers might enjoy lower credit card and mortgage rates in the short term, the global investor class—those who buy U.S. debt—could view such moves as signs of instability. The result? A surge in long-term interest rates and a major blow to the credibility of U.S. financial institutions. As Hochberg puts it, “That steel-toed shot to the teeth” won’t just be metaphorical.

Tariffs, Talking Points, and the Cost of Goods
The conversation turns personal when Hochberg and Howell share how tariffs are already affecting everyday Americans. Small business owners, like Howell’s wife, now face tripled import costs, which inevitably get passed on to consumers. Howell compares the situation to playing golf against a better opponent and demanding strokes. “Tariffs are the compensation,” Hochberg says, “but don’t pretend we’re not paying for it.”

Bull Markets and Middle-Class Squeezes
Despite a booming stock market and rising home listings, Hochberg sees signs of a more complicated story. More homeowners—particularly divorced or downsizing individuals—are selling to pay off debt or cash in equity, not necessarily upgrading. The economy, he says, may be technically strong, but that strength isn’t felt evenly. “If you're in the investor class, Trump is great for you,” he says. “If you’re middle-class or from a red state with systemic issues, you’re getting squeezed.”

Final Thoughts and Flugelhorns
In true Howell fashion, the show ends with a curveball: Who’s a bigger loss to humanity—Chuck Mangione or Hulk Hogan? For Hochberg, it’s no contest. “Gotta go with the horn guy,” he says, citing Mangione’s jazz brilliance and cultural legacy. As the episode closes to the sound of Land of Make-Believe, Howell notes the tune feels strangely appropriate for a political moment built on distraction and denial.

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John Howell and longtime Chicago radio colleague John Dempsey return to their old-school roots in this episode of As I Was Saying, with a delightfully meandering conversation conducted via rotary phone and powered by dry wit, deep knowledge of golf, and just the right amount of mockery.

The jumping-off point is PGA star Scotty Scheffler’s latest major win and his evolving place in the sport’s history. Dempsey calls Scheffler one of the greatest golfers since Tiger Woods—despite the criticism that his calm demeanor makes him “boring.” But Howell and Dempsey find plenty to admire: Scheffler’s humility, faith, and perspective on the game, not to mention his long-standing preference for wearing pants on the course, even as a child in sweltering Texas heat.

What follows is a wide-ranging discussion that includes:

• Why comparisons to Tiger Woods are unfair—and inevitable

• The Scheffler soundbite that sparked headlines and his response to the media's clickbait culture

• Whether COVID or charisma brought more people into the game

• Shane Lowry’s frustrating penalty at the Open—and the silliness of some golf rules

• And yes, who is more attractive: Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods?

From there, the episode detours into the new Apple TV series Stick, starring Owen Wilson and featuring cameos by real-life golf icons and Jim Nantz. Howell, a fan of the golf content but skeptical of the show's melodrama, grills Dempsey about romantic subplots and storyline predictions—many of which Dempsey nails with uncanny accuracy. And yes, Happy Gilmore 2 comes up, along with Shooter McGavin, of course.

The pair also share personal tales from the links, from Dempsey’s recent 86 to Howell’s wardrobe faux pas, and muse about an upcoming outing at Grand Geneva—kilt optional, pressed shorts preferred.

Through it all, they find something grounding and admirable in Scheffler’s worldview. In an era where fame and flash often dominate sports, Scheffler’s consistent message rings out: faith and family come first, golf is third.

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In this episode, John Howell catches up with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall to unpack the latest twist in the long-running Jeffrey Epstein saga, and how it’s now boomeranging on the very MAGA media figures who once amplified it. Hall calls it a case of “Frankenstein politics”—you build the monster to go after your enemies, but eventually it storms your own castle.

With the FBI memo officially debunking the existence of an Epstein “client list,” prominent Trump allies like Pam Bondi and Dan Bongino are now backpedaling—leaving their conspiracy-hungry audiences confused, angry, and increasingly disillusioned. For the first time in years, cracks are showing in the foundation of the Trump media machine. And Colby Hall has receipts.

In this episode:

• Why MAGA influencers are suddenly quiet about Epstein

• The politics of weaponizing conspiracy theories—and losing control of them

• Pam Bondi’s disappearing “list” and Trump’s brush-off moment at a press conference

• How media loyalty, ad revenue, and audience outrage collide

• Tucker Carlson vs. Mark Levin: The new civil war on the right

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In this episode, John Howell reconnects with Wayne Naus for the first time in more than four decades to talk trumpet technique, life on the road with Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson, and the unforgiving beauty of big band music. Wayne shares stories from his Navy days, teaching at Berklee, and surviving the Buddy Rich “bus tape” era (yes, he was there—and yes, he remembers everything). If you’ve ever tried to find the perfect mouthpiece, blown your chops in the first set, or dreamt of nailing a double high C, this one’s for you.

We also get Wayne’s reflections on why he eventually walked away from the trumpet and how his creative journey continues today—this time at the piano, with his jazz ensemble on Cape Cod and recordings like Touch the Spirit.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• Touring with Buddy Rich and what it took to survive the bandstand (and the bus)

• Trading fours with Buddy on Big Swing Face

• The art of the warm-up and why every room felt different

• Playing alongside Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval, and Lynn Biviano

• Why Wayne gave up the horn—and how he found new inspiration behind the keys

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Michael Madigan held power in Illinois longer than most political dynasties last. In his 36-year reign as Speaker of the House, he didn’t just shape legislation—he shaped the state. But as this week’s episode of As I Was Saying makes clear, the story of Illinois' “Velvet Hammer” is equal parts political triumph and cautionary tale.

John Howell sits down with veteran Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long to talk about his definitive book on Madigan, the man who once stood atop the state’s Democratic machine—until the federal indictments came calling.

What emerges is a story so rich in backroom dealings, Shakespearean irony, and old-school machine politics that you’d almost forget it’s real. Almost.

Had Madigan stepped aside in 2013 to let his daughter Lisa pursue the governor’s mansion, history might have painted him as the Democratic kingmaker who turned Illinois blue. Instead, his refusal to yield may have sealed both of their fates—and opened the door for federal prosecutors.

Ray revisits the wild midnight legislative session in 1988 when Madigan and then-Gov. Jim Thompson literally stopped the clock to save the Chicago White Sox from moving to Florida. Spoiler: the actual time was 12:03, but Springfield doesn’t always operate in our reality.

Long details how Madigan evolved old-school patronage into a system of private influence, positioning allies in lobbying firms and rewarding loyalty—all practices that eventually ensnared him in scandal.

Madigan took the stand in his own defense, insisting his tacit responses were the product of a strict childhood, not complicity. Judge John Robert Blakey didn’t buy it. His verdict? “You lied, sir.”

Post-sentencing court filings revealed Madigan’s net worth at $40 million—a staggering sum for a career public servant. And while that figure didn’t come out during trial, it now hovers over his legacy like an asterisk.

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Every once in a while, we like to take a break from politics, media, and general doomscrolling to focus on something a little more relaxing: professional golf, meltdowns in the rough, and the faint glimmer of hope that maybe—just maybe—there’s still time for a couple of radio guys to qualify for the PGA Tour.

This episode is a special post-U.S. Open debrief with John Howell joined by longtime friend, golf nut, and former newsman John Dempsey. Together, they dissect JJ Spaun’s surprise win at Oakmont, the weekend’s soggy conditions, the U.S. Open's signature five-and-a-half inch rough, and who didn't handle the pressure quite as well (looking at you, Rory and Wyndham).

We also get one of the more unusual golf stories you’ll hear this week: a hole-in-one from Dempsey involving a thinly hit noodle-brand ball, a confused crowd, and a CVS run just hours before a major championship round. Yes, really.

Don’t expect a lot of sympathy for LIV guys who missed the cut. And if you ever wondered what John Howell’s sand game looks like under pressure, now’s your chance.

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Every so often, we break format on As I Was Saying—no pundits, no headlines, no breaking news—just Big John Howell dispensing the kind of no-nonsense life advice you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode, I (Keith Conrad, executive producer and reluctant Reddit spelunker) take the reins and serve up a series of real-life advice questions pulled straight from the internet’s most chaotic therapist’s couch: the r/Advice subreddit. From relationship turmoil involving suspicious texts and overzealous raccoons, to drunken lawn ornament theft and feline codependency, John weighs in with the kind of clarity, candor, and occasional chaos you’d expect from a guy who’s seen it all in radio—and survived getting body-slammed by Dan Hampton.

There’s wisdom in here, somewhere. Also ribs. Definitely ribs.

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Part of the mission of As I Was Saying with Big John Howell was to create space for the kinds of conversations John rarely got to have during the decades he spent in terrestrial radio—conversations that aren’t dictated by the news cycle but by personal passion and genuine curiosity. This episode is a perfect example of that.

In this installment, John reconnects with his longtime friend, drummer and music educator Mike Arturi. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to tour with a Hall of Fame band, manage a band of your own, or get performance direction from Chuck Berry in a hotel suite 90 minutes before showtime, this episode is a ride worth taking. Mike shares some incredible stories from a life on stage—including gigs with Badfinger, encounters with rock royalty like Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and his ongoing work with The Lovin' Spoonful.

But what makes this episode truly special is the personal history between John and Mike. These two go back over 35 years, and their shared adventures—managing a band together, opening for country acts at block parties, and even questionable wrestling matches with Hall of Famers like Dan Hampton—add a warmth and authenticity that’s rare in podcasting. It’s part rock history, part reunion, and part love letter to a life in music.

And yes, there’s tape—vintage recordings of their band, stories from the road, and even a rare snippet of John on trumpet (you’ve been warned).

-Keith Conrad