Were You Still Talking?

Joel Albrecht

It's about people, places, arts, food, culture, putting positive energy in the world, how all of us have something to say or maybe we don't, drugs, exercise (or exorcise, if you spell it wrong!), laziness, motivation, breathing! The connection we all share on the planet and quite possibly getting away from the pedestrian level of consciousness. Music by Jon Griffin.

  1. MAR 15

    Empowering Narratives: Insights from Kay A. Oliver

    Episode #117 Empowering Narratives: Insights from Kay A. Oliver Storytelling, working in Hollywood, leaving Hollywood to go her own way, and championing women's resilience are just a few of the things we talked about on this episode. Kay A. Oliver, is a dynamic storyteller holding degrees in Radio/TV/Film from California State University, Fullerton, and an MBA in Business. With over 3 decades in entertainment, spanning studios and TV stations, she produced, wrote, and directed films. Defying gender biases and the notion that female-centric stories lack marketability in Hollywood, Oliver leaped into authorship, championing women's resilience and intelligence in her novels. Characters, often professionals such as archeologists and anthropologists, navigate life's challenges with humor despite their imperfections. Passionate about storytelling, Kay's literary journey began with the success of "Disturbed Tombs," evolving into a compelling series. Fifteen books later, Oliver is still winning awards for her stories.  Her latest, "Fear Struck," won two literary awards just months after its release.  Honored in Marquis' Who's Who in America 2024, Oliver's legacy as a legendary storyteller is cemented. 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    1h 31m
  2. #115 – With George Siegal – Built to Last Buyer Beware

    FEB 26

    #115 – With George Siegal – Built to Last Buyer Beware

    Episode #115 – With George Siegal – Built to Last Buyer Beware This engaging and important conversation on buying, renting, building or updating your home is filled with real world information you need to know. Not just about what to ask your insurance agent, but about things you can do to prepare for the unexpected. Here is the giveaway for this episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TkzZTJ4usVBcude7T7hMT9zv_z1vnlgL/view?pli=1 More about my guest: George Siegal (Writer-Director-Producer) began his career in front of the camera as a weathercaster, newscaster, sportscaster, and feature reporter. He worked in major markets around the U.S. including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Detroit.  More recently, Siegal started the documentary film company Move the World Films to take advantage of his many years of news background to highlight important issues to mass audiences around the world. He wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning documentary film The Last House Standing (a wake-up call for homeowners to understand the hazards that occur where they live, and to know how their house will hold up when disaster strikes) and License to Parent (which offers insight into the troubling issue of bad parenting and presents a path to improve it).   Please support the film: https://movetheworldfilms.gumroad.com/l/kaywco?_gl=1*1acusx4*_ga*NDkzNDEwNDEwLjE3NDM2MjUxOTU.*_ga_6LJN6D94N6*czE3Njg1MTE3MDkkbzEwMSRnMSR0MTc2ODUxMTc5NiRqNDkkbDAkaDA. 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    1h 17m
  3. FEB 16

    #114 – With Bob Alper – They Really Let You Do That?

    Episode #114 – With Rabbi Bob Alper – They Really Let You Do That? Fun conversation with Bob Alper, world's only practicing rabbi/stand-up comic (really). We talked about his start in comedy, the Jewish comedy of the year contest, totally clean comedy and much more. From Bob: Key Message / Core Story: Maya Angelou wrote that people forget what you say, and they forget what you do, but they never forget how you make them feel. My calling – and my rabbinate – is trying to make people feel good, whether through my formal performances, often before hundreds, or when I encounter someone checking papers and licenses at a car rental lot. I enter their lives for a few moments and hope to lift their spirits through my humor. There's a reason why Sirius/XM satellite radio plays Rabbi Bob Alper's comedy bits many times daily, often sandwiched between Bob Newhart and Jerry Seinfeld. Bob's background – he served large congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary which prepared him well for a thirty-five year comedy career with delicious material presented in a way that's intelligent, hilarious, and 100% clean. The New York Times put it succinctly: Bob "…had the audience convulsing." From Hollywood's IMPROV to The Montreal Comedy Festival to Toronto's Muslimfest (really), Bob's unique brand of humor has a universal appeal. Get more info: https://bobalper.com/ 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    53 min
  4. FEB 8

    #113 Jill Chalsty: Packets of Hope & Life Skills That Change Lives

    Episode #113 – Jill Chalsty: Packets of Hope & Life Skills That Change Lives In this episode, I sit down with Jill Chalsty — author, educator, filmmaker, and founder focused on bringing life-skills education to students around the world. Jill shares the heart behind her memoir, Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery, and how a global journey became something much bigger than travel — it became a mission. We talk about resilience, healing through service, and why teaching practical life skills can shape not just individuals, but entire communities. Jill's story is personal, global, and deeply rooted in hope. In this episode we talk about: ·         The journey behind Packets of Hope and how travel became transformation ·         Why life-skills education, communication, empathy, and conflict resolution matters now more than ever ·         Turning personal hardship into meaningful impact ·         The ripple effect of empowering young people with tools for real-world challenges ·         Hope as action — not just a feeling, but a choice About Jill Chalsty Jill is the founder of the Community for Education Foundation and has helped bring life-skills programming to educators and students in nearly 200 countries. Her work focuses on equipping people with practical tools to navigate relationships, decisions, and adversity with confidence and clarity. Her memoir, Packets of Hope, shares the story behind that mission — and it's available free, making her message accessible to anyone who wants to read it. Learn more about Jill and access the memoir here: 👉 https://www.packetsofhope.com/ Why you'll want to listen This conversation is thoughtful, encouraging, and grounded in real experience. If you're interested in education, service, travel with purpose, or stories that turn hardship into impact, Episode 113 delivers. 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    1h 7m
  5. FEB 2

    #112 with Douglas Lynam: From Monk to Money Manage

    Episode #112 – Douglas Lynam: From Monk to Money Manager & Enneagram Insights In this episode I sit down with Douglas Lynam whose journey spans from monastic life to the world of finance. Douglas shares how his early years as a monk shaped his perspective on work, wealth, and what it means to live intentionally. We then pivot to his experience as a money manager, exploring why he believes capitalism — for all its flaws — may still be the best system we've got when understood and applied wisely. Along the way, Douglas brings his passion for the Enneagram into the conversation, offering insights into how personality patterns can influence how we think about success, purpose, and relationships. In this episode, we cover: ·         Douglas's transition from monk to money manager — what changed and what stayed the same ·         How monastic discipline informs his approach to finance, focus, and daily habits ·         An honest discussion about capitalism — its strengths, weaknesses, and why it might still be our most effective economic system ·         Enneagram insights — how understanding personality types can clarify motives, blind spots, and growth paths ·         How inner work and outer systems intersect in life, money, and leadership About Douglas Lynam Douglas brings to his work a rare blend of contemplative training, financial expertise, and personality psychology. He's deeply invested in helping people navigate both inner patterns and external structures — whether that's through money, meaning, or self-understanding. Learn more about Douglas and his background here: 👉 https://www.douglynam.com/ Why you'll want to listen This episode is for anyone curious about life transitions, thoughtful perspectives on capitalism, or the practical value of the Enneagram. It's grounding, thought-provoking, and full of insight from someone who's walked contemplative halls and financial floors — and come back with stories worth hearing. 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    1h 34m
  6. #111 Gil Gillenwater: Hope, Borders & Helping Without Handouts

    JAN 13

    #111 Gil Gillenwater: Hope, Borders & Helping Without Handouts

    Episode #111 – Gil Gillenwater: Hope, Borders & Helping Without Handouts In this episode, I sit down with Gil Gillenwater — author, traveler, and humanitarian — to talk about his book Hope On The Border and the life experiences that led him to write it. Gil has spent years working in Mexico and along the U.S.–Mexico border, where he's seen firsthand what meaningful help actually looks like. We talk about service that empowers instead of enables, the realities of cross-border work, and the personal cost of choosing to show up in difficult places. Gil also shares stories of intense and sometimes scary travel encounters that shaped his worldview and reinforced why hope isn't passive — it's practiced. In this episode, we talk about: ·         What inspired Hope On The Border and the stories behind it ·         Working in Mexico and navigating cultural, emotional, and logistical challenges ·         Helping people without taking away their dignity or self-reliance ·         Scary and unpredictable moments while traveling — and what they taught him ·         Why real hope shows up through presence, not handouts About Gil Gillenwater Gil works with communities in Mexico through Rancho Feliz, focusing on connection, empowerment, and long-term impact rather than quick fixes. His approach centers on listening first and serving in ways that respect people's humanity. Learn more about Gil and his work here: 👉 https://ranchofeliz.com/team/gil-gillenwater/ 🎙️ Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht – actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Want to be a guest on Were You Still Talking?? Send Joel Albrecht a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17479536339826768613f136d Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/wereyoustilltalking/

    1h 3m
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

It's about people, places, arts, food, culture, putting positive energy in the world, how all of us have something to say or maybe we don't, drugs, exercise (or exorcise, if you spell it wrong!), laziness, motivation, breathing! The connection we all share on the planet and quite possibly getting away from the pedestrian level of consciousness. Music by Jon Griffin.