Welcome to Simple Joe.

In this episode of Simple Joe, I start with the wild idea of a 75-second echo in an abandoned oil tank in Scotland and use it to talk about how some moments, and some kindnesses, linger a lot longer than we realize, then I share the weather in Cebu City, Philippines and back home in Cincinnati before celebrating birthdays, a few bits of history, and fun observances like International Mountain Day, National App Day, and National Bagel Day. From there, I dig into the powerful story you chose: an 88-year-old Army veteran and grocery store cashier whose life was turned upside down when his pension disappeared and his wife got sick, and how one creator’s kindness on TikTok helped spark more than 1.7 million dollars in donations so he could finally retire. As I walk through Ed’s story, I reflect on what it means for us, you and me, to notice the “Eds” in our own lives, to pay attention to the tired cashier, the neighbor who keeps going, the friend who is always caring for someone else, and to look for small ways to be generous in this season and beyond, because moments like these remind us that memories, compassion, and human connection really are better than stuff.

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