Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

In this episode of Simple Joe for Friday, November 21st, 2025, I kick things off with a wild fact about a fully functional acrylic grand piano from Japan, then share a personal experiment where I skip the weather and talk about the place I have called home for the past week, Chester, England. I walk you through why Chester feels like every American’s idea of what England looks like, from the Roman walls and amphitheater to The Rows, the Christmas market that feels like stepping into a postcard, and a super friendly Liverpool street vendor who hugged me when he heard I was from the States and far from home. I also tell you about my favorite spot to eat in town, The Coach House Inn, with its warm atmosphere and killer cheeseburger, and touch on birthdays like Goldie Hawn, Björk, Michael Strahan, and Carly Rae Jepsen, plus a few historic notes and celebrations including World Television Day and National Gingerbread Cookie Day. Then I wrap it all around a fun Friday feature, the Top 10 Weirdest Things People Collect, from airline sick bags and hotel soaps to belly button lint and potato chip shapes, and finish by reminding you to collect memories more than stuff and to spend time with the people who love you and the people you love.

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