In this episode, I talk with Jack Dieteman, a Gen Joneser whose memoir, As the Wheels Turn, Skating, Dating, & Long-Distance Love (köehlerbooks, c. 2026) is being released September 22, 2026. The book takes place during the late 1970's & early 1980's, when Jack was in high school and just after he graduated. In this conversation, we discuss how the book evokes the era of our high school years, how the book came to be written, and the need for modern authors to promote their own books. A lot of music from that era is featured in the book, especially in the scenes set in a roller rink. You can type in As the Wheels Turn in a Spotify search, & that should lead you to the playlist from the book. The playlist has over 150 songs, and is 9 hours and 43 minutes of music. I really enjoyed the book and this conversation with Jack.

We begin Season 2 with a listener who contacted me because he feels so strongly that he is a part of Gen Jones. Matthew voices frustration he has felt being lumped in with Baby Boomers his entire life. Born in 1959, Matthew traveled the world in the Navy before settling in Portland to raise a family.

In this interview, I talk to a 64-year-old man from Fji. In some ways, this man’s experience growing up was the most different from the other people I interviewed in 2023. He grew up on the 2d largest island in Fiji, where they did not have broadcast television until the 1990’s. The world was changing exponentially in the South Pacific, as Fiji gained independence from Great Britain in 1970, and other Pacific island nations followed.

Some comments on accents and terminology: Our interview subject has lived in New Zealand for decades, and speaks with a NZ accent. Also, when he speaks of Itaukei people (sounds like, in U.S. accent, ee-tau-kay), he is referring to the indigenous population of Fiji, who comprise about 54% of the population. British brought in Indian people as indentured servants in the late 1800’s, and their descendants now comprise about 38% of the population. Finally, our interviewee references two coups – one in 1987 and one is 2000, that created division amongst the people of Fiji that is now beginning to heal. Although born and educated in Fiji, our interview subject emigrated to New Zealand to pursue advanced studies and stayed to build a career. First a lawyer,now a law professor, he lives in New Zealand but does what he can to help the people of Fiji.