The Mason Minute

Throughout our lives, we have been warned that salt is not good for us. And as we get older, we understand the nuances between the salt shaker and sodium. While salt contains sodium, other products also contain the mineral, so we have to pay attention to them. My doctor has warned me that I need to start looking at cutting out all sodium from my diet. I’ve never been a salt user, so that’s the easy part, but the hidden sodium in almost everything we eat will be the challenge. I’m not sure I can get rid of all of it, but we’re already trying to reduce what I eat. And, like many people with the same issue, I’ve learned one thing. If it has flavor, it has… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

How much do you know about the food you give your pets? Back in my Radio days, I learned a lot about cat food when I was spokesman for one of the big brands. But as much as I learned about cat food, I still don’t know a lot. And when it comes to dog food, I know even less. It’s been a long time since I had a dog, but I can’t even remember what we fed it or why. I keep seeing TV commercials telling me that kibble is bad for a dog. A lot of these upstart, fresh brands talk about it in a bad way. As I learned with cats, while we want them to eat the best food, they like what they like… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

Let me ask you a serious question. Are you happy? In all honesty, I don’t know what that means. The term is so vague and so personalized. I don’t think we all see happiness equally. One thing that most of the world will agree on is that Americans aren’t very happy. And this just isn’t a recent development. It’s something that’s been going on for years. In terms of happiness, the United States ranks only 23rd worldwide. Number one, you ask? It’s Finland, for the ninth year in a row. Why are the Finnish so happy? I’m sure we can give plenty of examples of why Americans aren’t very happy, but this information is fascinating… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I know that people can be split into two groups: coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers. I guess you could say the same thing about tea. Although I know some people who love iced tea but avoid hot tea. When it comes to tea, I’m all in. There’s something about brewing tea that is calming. I’m sure it goes back to my younger days when my mother would brew tea for me when I wasn’t feeling good. I don’t drink it as often as I want to, because to do it right takes time. And I don’t always have the time I’d like. But I read something the other day about hot tea that concerns me. For years, we’ve heard how good it was for you, but now there’s something to be worried about… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

Fifteen years ago today, the first episode of The Mason Minute debuted. I hung up my headphones after leaving the radio business in 2006. But I never imagined taking on a project like a podcast. And most podcasts only last a few years. And I think about that fact often. But in all honesty, I never thought I would do this for even a decade, let alone 15 years. Now, I can’t imagine not doing it, and even though it’s only 60 seconds long, the time it takes to create, edit, and produce each episode is more involved than you might imagine. And while I know the world would go on without this podcast, I can’t imagine going on without it… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I’ve always been amused that nearly every fast food restaurant sells a fish sandwich during the Lenten season. I understand why they do it, but I always wondered why they took it off the menu after Easter. Of course, the most popular fish sandwich is also my favorite fish sandwich, the McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish. I always figured they sold the majority of their Filet-o-Fish during Lent. But that’s not the case. I recently read that while about 75 million Filet-o-Fish sandwiches are sold during the 6+ weeks of Lent, over 200 million are sold outside of Lent for the rest of the year—that’s almost three times as many. That’s amazing… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

If you spend any time at the grocery store, you’ve likely spent an ample amount of time looking at expiration dates. I understand the need for them, but I’m honestly confused about why some products need one. For example, the other night I was getting ready to put on the nose strip I use to keep my airways open while I sleep. I’ve used them for years, but didn’t realize they had expiration dates until recently. Why? What part of this product can expire? I understand when food needs them. But they’re just products marked with those dates, and it makes me wonder… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I’ve had many unique experiences throughout my life. But until recently, I’ve never been shamed by a social media platform. Technically, they weren’t successful, but they tried. A couple of weeks ago, when I slowed down the Mason Minute at my doctor’s request, Facebook messaged me to say I was now posting 30% less than I normally do. They were trying to make me feel guilty for not posting every day. I’m not sure what they hoped to accomplish. But they tried to make me feel guilty for not posting on social media, which was a first. Now, if they paid me to post every day, they could try to shame me, but I do this of my own free will, so I don’t know what they were thinking… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

We’ve had some very strange weather over the last couple of weeks. It’s been both hot and cold, sometimes in the same day. I’ve had to switch from heat to air conditioning and back to heat in the span of 24 hours. We’ve experienced record highs in the mid-80s, and now, on Monday, it won’t even reach 45°. My body is very sensitive to temperature these days, and it’s been tough for me. I can be freezing one minute and then almost sweating the next. I’m sure climate change plays a role in this. But I wonder if there’s something we can do to make it easier to heat and cool our houses, so we don’t have to switch between heating and air conditioning… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

With all of the doctor visits I’ve had over the last couple of weeks, losing weight has been a major topic of discussion. They touch on the typical points: reduce fat, cut carbs, and cut out both sugar and salt. I try to avoid most of those things, but I do admit I enjoy having a bagel with cream cheese every morning. But the doctor wants me to give that up. So he suggested substituting English muffins. And while I don’t mind them, they’re nowhere near as tasty as a bagel from the bakery or even the grocery store. And I don’t think the doctor wants me to get that muffin from McDonald’s. I don’t think Egg McMuffins are on the diet either… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I have big feet. I’m not saying this to be boastful; I’m just stating a fact. I’ve had big feet since I was a kid. But I never thought they would keep growing. My father has worn the same size shoes for as long as I can remember. My feet grew a couple of sizes into my mid-20s. But over the last few years, they’ve continued to grow. Part of the problem is that our feet flatten out as we get older. But this isn’t only a width issue. The bigger issue is that I now wear a size 16, which is almost impossible to find in stores. They’re easier to find now thanks to the Internet, but all 16s aren’t alike. And that causes me a lot of frustration… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

After getting out of the hospital last week, the one thing the doctor wanted me to do was take it easy. I figured that would be a simple thing to do. I quickly found out it wasn’t so simple. Even when I’m relaxing, I’m often multitasking. That’s how my brain works, and I’m trying to slow down. Things have been tough. I joked with the doctor and told him he didn’t have to worry about me running any marathons. But while I could work, and drive, and do most things without restriction, the rules were simple: take it easy. I’m not as active as I was years ago, and even over the last few years, I’ve slowed things down. But I didn’t realize just how difficult this new task would be… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

When I was in the hospital last week, I got caught between two different departments that didn’t communicate. It felt like the right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing. And I wondered where that phrase came from. It’s actually an adaptation of a Bible verse. Matthew 6:3 says, Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. And the verse indicates that charitable action should be done in secret to avoid hypocrisy and the pursuit of public praise. Of course, my version is the modern-day version of that phrase. Where one team doesn’t know what the other one’s doing, and that doesn’t work in a hospital, the office, or a myriad of places… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

The Mason Minute is coming up on its 15th anniversary. We’ve done it day in and day out for almost the entire time. When a couple of friends convinced me to grab a microphone again after retiring from radio, I decided to do the podcast three or four times a week just for fun. But within the first week, I knew it had to be a daily thing. And we almost hit the 15-year mark. But if you pay any attention, we’ve missed the last three days at the doctor’s orders, due to some unforeseen circumstances. But what’s amazing is that up to this point, I never had anything in nearly 15 years that forced me to miss a day. Sadly, all that luck finally caught up with me… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I know the world is filled with entitled people. Or should I say, people who feel entitled? But have you noticed how the number keeps growing daily? I’ve had my moments throughout the years where I thought I was special. But it didn’t take long to learn that I wasn’t. We used to have a running joke about waiting for people to say, “Do you know who I am?” Sadly, that joke isn’t funny anymore; it’s often true. And this isn’t just enough knock on the world of politics or celebrities. Everyone feels this entitlement. Okay, maybe not everyone. But so many more people than ever before. I’m sure much of the hatred we are seeing in the world today is part of the reason it feels so extreme. I’m truly worried… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

I doubt that this will shock you. But every time the winter Olympic Games happen, there’s a huge interest spike in winter sports. Things like ice hockey, skiing, ice-skating, and even curling get people hyped. They get so caught up in the games that they want to start experimenting with and trying those sports. But there’s a problem we’re starting to face. Climate change is affecting the amount of ice and snow worldwide. That means these winter activities become more costly and offer fewer opportunities. It doesn’t matter whether you can find an indoor or outdoor rink; creating and maintaining the ice costs a lot of money. And global warming isn’t helping…​ Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

We all deal with anger to varying degrees. But somewhere along the way, we’re told that venting our anger can help get past it. I don’t remember when I was first told to find ways to express my frustrations. Of course, we told screaming and yelling aren’t the answer. But the quicker you can let go of it, the better off you will be. But a recent study from Ohio State University says that venting your anger is the wrong approach. Instead, you need to find ways to manage it using calming tactics. The goal is to calm down, so activities like meditation, yoga, or even calling a time-out are better for you… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

There are many controversial issues in the world right now. And vaccines are definitely included in that polarizing list of subjects. That fact hasn’t stopped Stanford researchers from working on a new vaccine. This nasal spray vaccine could protect against coughs, colds, and flu, as well as bacterial lung infections and perhaps allergies. We’re a long way from seeing it happen, as testing in lab mice is still going on, but this is a totally different way for vaccines to work. For hundreds of years, vaccines typically fought one thing and one thing only, which is why there were so many different vaccines. But this vaccine is meant to be different. Meant to be a game changer… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

We all have different reasons to look forward to the weekend. And I often think it has to do with where we are in life that determines why we’re looking forward to it. When you’re younger, you’re just looking forward to getting a day off. Later, perhaps going out on a date, to a concert, or just to hang with friends. Then you get older, and you’ll look forward to having time to travel, relax, or even sleep late. I think I’ve reached the point in life where sleeping late is the highlight of the weekend. If you do, it’s a great weekend. That’s literally the highlight. It means I have nothing to do, and at one point in my life, I would’ve been upset. Now I look forward to it… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex

Do you still have a printer along with your home computer? Or perhaps I should ask if you even have a home computer anymore? I got my first printer, a dot-matrix model, back in 1989. And while it was fun to have access to that technology at home, the cost for ribbons and ink kept rising. Over the years, I’ve gone from dot matrix to inkjet. But sadly, the expensive printer I have now is out of ink. It dried up a long time ago. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t use the equipment for a few years. Who prints anything anymore? Of course, I needed to print something for the first time in a long time yesterday. It’s actually cheaper to go somewhere and make the copies… Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPandoraDeezerBlubrryBullhornCastBoxCastrofyyd.deGaanaiVooxListen NotesmyTuner RadioOvercastOwlTailPlayer.fmPocketCastsPodbayPodbeanPodcast AddictPodcast IndexPodcast RepublicPodchaserPodfanPodtailRadio PublicRadio.comReason.fmRSSRadioVurblWe.foYandex