The Next Best Thing

John William Schiffbauer, former Deputy Communications Director for the New York Republican State Committee, makes his 3rd appearance on the show to discuss politics, the state of the Republican party, and what to expect in this election year. Hear why, despite Jonathan’s best efforts, he remains a loyal Republican to this very day. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn! And follow the show, as well as the host, on Twitter! @NextBestRadio and @jonblerner!

After just five years of success and dominance, most of American football fans seem to have turned on the Kansas City Chiefs. Right after the 2019 season, when KC made it to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years, the news was all about the upstart Chiefs, and a feel-good story about how a franchise that had been so snake-bitten for so long was FINALLY getting their chance in the sun. A mere 5 years later, everyone outside of Chiefs Kingdom seems to have turned on us. In this episode, Jonathan explains how many decades of utter misery Chiefs fans had to endure to get to this point, and why everyone else should just shut up and enjoy watching something they'll almost certainly tell their kids about one day. Also in this episode, Jonathan delves into a recent news story about a 9-year old Chiefs fan who dressed up for game, showing his abundance of spirit, and got accused of doing BLACK FACE. Hear why that, and the complaints about the team name are so utterly misguided. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn! And follow the show, as well as the host, on Twitter! @NextBestRadio and @jonblerner!

An emotional episode, where Jonathan walks you through his day, which began by being unexpectedly laid off from his lucrative job at Spotify. Other items covered include Mark Cuban's announcement that he'll be leaving Shark Tank after season 16, and a ridiculous story about a 9-year-old fan of the Kansas City Chiefs who has been put on blast for simply wearing face-paint. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn! And follow the show, as well as the host, on Twitter! @NextBestRadio and @jonblerner!

On Oct. 12, 2022, the FDA announced there was an official, nationwide shortage of Adderall, a stimulant commonly used to treat ADHD. Over 8 months later, and nothing has changed. Folks laugh about all of the housewives, or over-medicated toddlers who are "tweeking without their Addy!" but as the shortage languishes on and on, and more and more people struggle to function without their medication, we're starting to see just how many people this impacts, and why the extreme limitations and regulations there are regarding how the drug is manufactured, and how much a pharmacy can order of the drug per month, are antiquated and counter-productive. On this episode, Jonathan is joined by Snezhana Kostornova, who was interviewed by the New York Times for a piece they did on the crisis last year. She and Jonathan share what their experiences have been like as people who have been clinically diagnosed with ADHD, and rely on Adderall to function at full capacity. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn! And follow the show, as well as the host, on Twitter! @NextBestRadio and @jonblerner!

In 2020, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. It was a record at the time, with no close second. Then in 2021, 46,661 people died. Year-after-year America sees more citizens killed by guns than countries like Canada, Australia, France, England, Germany, and Japan COMBINED, and it just keeps getting worse. The deaths are tragic and heartbreaking, but the responses? The empty words and LACK OF ACTION is absolutely infuriating. Enough is enough. Until steps are taken--LAWS ARE PASSED--to fight the scourge that is gun violence in America, nothing else matters. The time has come to be a one issue voter. Mental health, the Second Amendment, "hardening" schools--they're distractions, and asinine. Stop debating, and GET ANGRY!! Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn! And follow the show, as well as the host, on Twitter! @NextBestRadio and @jonblerner!

Losing a parent is truly a unique form of pain, grief and loss. Our parents guide and protect us. They take care of us when we're sick, pick us up when we fall, and provide unconditional love. No matter how old you are, no one is ever truly ready to lose a parent. This is the second episode in our series of conversations Jonathan has with others who have had to say goodbye to their Mom and/or Dad far soon. How they've learned to cope, what they miss the most, and other things you can never prepare for. In this episode, Jonathan chats with his friend and colleague, Reuben Mullins, about the loss of his father. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

Often called the city of dreams, New York City can also be the city of nightmares. Every single street is steeped in history, and in the four-hundred-plus years of construction, destruction, and rejuvenation, you're bound to hear more than a few legends and tales of the supernatural. In this episode, we reveal all of the most haunted buildings/locations in the Big Apple. Most of them are open to the public, too, so by all means--check them out. If you dare. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

A kid comes out of the closet as...something other than straight...but uses it to remind the world that if you were born white, you need to sit down and shut up at all times. Is this really where we are now?! Join Jonathan as he reminds us why stuff like this isn't progressive, it's just DUMB. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

Jonathan met Trevor Dutch in the Summer of 2012, when they were both hired to ride bikes around New York City, in custom made suits, for the USA Network and Mr. Porter. 9 years later, Trevor still gets hired for his looks--Jonathan does not. He's also been lured to the political right. In New York City? Let's find out why... Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

Join Jonathan as he takes you through the nightmare that is moving in New York City, discusses one of the latest victims of CANCEL CULTURE, and reviews the 2019 sequel to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining--Doctor Sleep. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

Chuck Schumer has been a steady, loyal Democratic soldier for what, 94 years at this point? More than that, he seems like a nice, sweet old man. You know who isn't a nice, sweet old man? Anyone who has ever gotten things done as the Senate Majority Leader. In this episode, Jonathan reviews a recent, long-form interview Chuck Schumer did with Rachel Maddow, and explains why Democrats should be concerned. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher is back, baby! After going on hiatus for 2-3 months, one of the best, smartest political talk shows around kicked off season 19 with an absolute sack of shit. That's right--the jokes weren't funny, the interview was infuriatingly superficial, and at times it felt downright awkward! Unlike some on the "regressive left," who claim Bill Maher isn't woke enough to tolerate, Jonathan is a huge fan! And as a huge fan, he's got a lot to say about about how shitty this episode truly was. Catch new episodes of The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10:00 Eastern on Radio Free Brooklyn!

On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump rode down an escalator in New York City, stood before a crowd of (mostly paid) admirers , and announced he was running for President. Everyone laughed, no one took him seriously, and life has NEVER been the same. On November 3rd, 2020, for seemingly the first time EVER, his luck ran out. Donald Trump, America's most famous con-man, and two-time loser of the popular vote, became a one-term President. Joseph R. Biden beat his ass, and will be the 46th President of the United States. Join Jonathan as he reviews all that went down on election night (week), and celebrates good times. COME ON!!!

Dan Zimberg is a singer, actor, activist, and die-hard Bernie Sanders supporter. In 2016, he couldn't get himself to vote for Hillary Clinton, so he went 3rd party. Jonathan is bound and determined NOT to let that happen again. In this episode of The Next Best Thing, they work towards finding common ground, keeping their eyes on the prize, and getting Joe Biden into the White House! Catch The Next Best Thing LIVE, everyone Monday night from 10-Midnight, on Radio Free Brooklyn!

Jonathan welcomes his old friend, and fellow Kansas Citian, David Bradley Isenberg back to the show to discuss Black Lives Matter, the recent protests and demonstrations in response to George Floyd's tragic murder, and the 2020 Presidential election. Spoiler alert: they don't quite see eye-to-eye on ANY of them! And that turned into a fiasco in and of itself. Buckle up, folks. Catch The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night from 10-midnight EST on Radio Free Brooklyn!

For nine and a half years, Jonathan Larson worked as a waiter at the Moondance Diner in New York City. His life-long dream was to be a successful musical theatre composer, and he worked tirelessly to make it happen. He won some awards, and the respect/encouragement of Stephen Sondheim, but by 1990, Larson had ZERO shows produced. At almost 30 years old, he couldn't help but feel as if perhaps it just wasn't meant to be. Before calling it quits, he decided to give it one more shot, writing a rock-opera, called RENT. On January 25th, 1996, RENT was headed to Broadway, and things were finally turning around! The night before previews began, Larson came home from rehearsal...and died. RENT would go on to win 6 Drama Desk, 4 Tony Awards--including Best Original Score and Best Musical--and the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran on Broadway for over 12 years, and grossed over $280 million. Jonathan Larson may not be here physically, but his legacy will live on forever. Thank you, Jonathan Larson.

Mike Cannon is a New York City based comedian and a delightful human being. He's currently a regular guest on several Sirius/XM Radio shows, including The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show, and You Up? with Nikkie Glaser, and hosts The Irish Goodbye Podcast with fellow comedian, Mike Feeney. Jonathan sat down with Cannon in February 2020 to discuss his new comedy special, Life Begins, among other things. They discussed the hit 90's sitcom Family Matters, as well as Mike Cannon's actual family matters! Talk about a wide-ranging interview, amirite? Catch The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night at 10pm EST on Radio Free Brooklyn!

On February 28th, 2020, former Vice-President Joe Biden's Presidential campaign was on the edge of collapse. The once front-runner had failed to stand out at the debates, was struggling to raise funds, and had yet to win a single primary. It was the end of the line...until, of course, it wasn't. Within a week, thanks to a decisive win in South Carolina, and some key endorsements, the Biden campaign had a second wind! A week after that, he was the presumptive nominee. In this episode, Jonathan responds (in real time) to the contests that changed everything, and gets real with all the voters of his generation who may not be inclined to support someone who isn't Bernie Sanders.

On January 21, 2020, the New York Times reported that a man in Washington State, said to be in his 30's, had contracted the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. It was the first confirmed case in the United States. Since then, the virus has spread like wildfire, and is now a worldwide pandemic. Life in the United States has changed in ways no one thought possible, and NO WHERE more so than in New York City. Over the course of 19 days, people went from barely knowing what a "coronavirus" was, to being too scared to leave their apartments for fear of catching it. The city that never sleeps has been brought to its knees, and in this special episode of The Next Best Thing, you hear Jonathan lay out all that's taken place, as well as his emotional responses, AS THEY HAPPENED. Part I was recorded on the night of March 9th, Part II (22:21) on the night of March 16th, and Part III (46:00) on March 23rd. 3-weeks worth of corona coverage, all from a front-row seat, inside the epicenter!

Jonathan chats with Mike Welch, former sports talk radio host and current actor/comedian, who calls in from sunny West Hollywood, California, to discuss the pain and anguish they've both known as lifelong fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, who will face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. It's the Chiefs first Super Bowl appearance since 1970, long before Jon or Mike ever existed! Topics covered include: Controversy over team names, logos, traditions, etc. Where in the world is Eric Berry? Alex Smith's role in getting KC to a Super Bowl. What a win will mean for Andy Reid. Kareem Hunt's latest run-in with the law. Predictions for the BIG GAME! Catch The Next Best Thing LIVE, every Monday night from 10-Midnight ET on Radio Free Brooklyn!