WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.320 --> 00:00:08.000 It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZY, Boston's news radio. Well, 2 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:10.519 thank you very much to call a good evening everyone. 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:12.839 The red light goes on and we are on the 4 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:15.000 air and it is Yeah, it's a little later here. 5 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:16.839 It's eight oh eight. My name is Dan Ray. I'm 6 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:19.760 the host of the aforementioned at Nightside with Dan Ray. 7 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.199 Rob is back in the control room, all set to 8 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:26.519 do a great job tonight for everyone here on Nightside. 9 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:30.320 No phone calls until nine o'clock. We have four really 10 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.280 interesting guests with interesting topics and backgrounds, and so let's 11 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:36.759 just dive right into it. By the way, later on tonight, 12 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:39.719 we will beginning at nine o'clock talk about the hearings 13 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:43.399 in Washington today where Mayor Wu Mayor Michelle Woo with 14 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.240 Boston and three other big city mayors were on the 15 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.560 hot seat, the verbal hot seat, and we'll talk about that. 16 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:51.679 We get to all of that, but not until after 17 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:55.280 nine o'clock. Joining us is comedian TJ. Miller. TJ. Miller, 18 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:56.719 Welcome to Nightside. How are you, sir? 19 00:00:57.320 --> 00:00:57.759 I love it. 20 00:00:57.799 --> 00:00:58.960 I love being on Nightside. 21 00:00:59.000 --> 00:00:59.799 I never get to do. 22 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.040 Well. You're working too hard. That's what's going on. You're 23 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:06.799 probably at clubs and stuff like that. You got a 24 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:11.280 tour coming into East Providence, Rhode Island, the crowd Sorcerer Tour. 25 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:14.200 I think I know what those three words mean, but 26 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.920 I'm sure there's a theme hidden in those three words. 27 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.599 Tell me how you named it the crowd Sorcerer Tour. 28 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:22.159 Well, I thought it's funny. You know, a lot of 29 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.879 people are doing crowd work right now, and I don't 30 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:27.719 really do traditional crowd work. I talk more about the 31 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:31.400 audience and kind of get my material from them, and 32 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:34.159 so I just thought that was a fun play on words. 33 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.400 And also, just like you know, it's partly implying like 34 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:39.560 you're going to be a part of the show. So 35 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:43.719 every single time I do stand up, whatever the audience is, 36 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.560 they're going to be a part, an integral part of 37 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:49.799 the show. So every show is different. They're completely part 38 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.120 of it. And it's been really, really fun this entire time. 39 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:53.719 It's great. 40 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:58.519 Now, I've watched you and I've noticed that as a 41 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:01.400 matter of fact, you walk out there and it's very improvished, 42 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:03.680 which is a lot of fun. And you also have 43 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:05.439 to be on your toes and all of that and 44 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.159 have some fun with the audience. What percentage of the 45 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.439 people at one of your shows is happy to be 46 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:17.240 kind of outed a little bit as an audience member 47 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.120 or whatever you you've you've spot something on them or 48 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:23.400 you ask them a question. And what percentage of people 49 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:26.039 like are kind of covering up and hiding their face 50 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.400 when you're trying to get their catch catch their eye. 51 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.960 I can pretty quickly tell if somebody doesn't really want 52 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:36.360 to talk to me or be talked about buying. But 53 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.879 I actually say probably ninety five percent of people are 54 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:41.759 sort of exciting the first thing, go oh, what's going 55 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:44.080 to happen with it? But then once they realize all 56 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:46.560 the attention is on them, they kind of like it. 57 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:48.680 I think people like becoming a part of the show. 58 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:53.120 So it's great. And also I'm not like, I'm not like, 59 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:59.240 look at it like stupid out there. Yeah. So I think. 60 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:03.400 What I'm saying is you're having fun with them, and 61 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.759 you're you're you're laughing with them, You're not laughing at them. 62 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:07.599 I think would be a way. 63 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:10.439 Yeah, And I and I think, you know, I always 64 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:13.120 try and like lift up the ladies and he's the 65 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:16.759 guys a little bit, and it's just really fun time right, 66 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:18.840 It's kind of all in good fun. I really do 67 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.240 believe that. I think my audience sort of understands that 68 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:25.719 also and then come to expect it. So some people 69 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.759 do sit in the front road just to hope that 70 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.479 I'm going to talk about and they'll say that to 71 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:31.439 me afterwards the meet and greet. I wanted to be 72 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:34.599 I want you to make fun of my hair, you know, Yeah, you. 73 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:36.800 Know there's a there's another comedian who I've seen do 74 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:40.159 a lot of that. Do you are you? And Matt 75 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.039 Rife is his last name? Matt Rife close you know 76 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:43.439 what I mean? 77 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:46.159 I assume yeah, of course, ye, it is Matt right. 78 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.439 And he's excellent. I mean he's really, really, really good. 79 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:54.120 And I just I was what I was wondering at 80 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.360 this because I see some similarities in you guys, and uh, 81 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.520 I'm just wondering if it's a competitive thing or if 82 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:02.439 it's kind of Hey, he's doing his thing, I'm doing 83 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.479 my thing, kind of a new creative comedians. You guys 84 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:08.400 are not jay letoo Johnny Carson, but you're you're very 85 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.199 you guys are kind of similar. 86 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:13.719 I think that's a really really good point. Actually, the 87 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.639 Leno and Letterman analogy. Wow, I know talking about that. 88 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.800 But he's kind of a fan. He had me on 89 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.480 one of his shows that I think maybe is going 90 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.240 on nats Wix, and he's sort of he's just really 91 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.199 really quick. And I think what happens is there's about 92 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:35.839 ten comedians or so, maybe fifteen, but definitely ten comedians 93 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:40.279 who can improvise an entire hour. Yeah, and I think 94 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:42.279 maybe part of the reason he's a fan is I'm 95 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.279 one of the comedians. But I think he's super quick. 96 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:51.600 There's another comic, Big Jay Oakerson, who he can he can, 97 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.920 he can do crowd. He's like David tel David l 98 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.439 can do the same thing. But he and I sort 99 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.360 of were in this group of comedians and we both agree. 100 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.680 And you know, he is very very fast and very 101 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:05.000 very funny. But yeah, I mean I think speaking it's 102 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.720 just speaking to Yeah. I think there's no competition. I'm 103 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.600 just kind of like I'm doing my thing. He's doing his, 104 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.920 just two very different styles, and you know, I respect him, 105 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:18.120 he obviously respects me. 106 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.319 So let me let me run. Let me run you 107 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:23.600 back in the in the throwback machine here with the 108 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:26.439 time back machine. At what point in your life do 109 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:30.959 you think you sort of thought to yourself, I could 110 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.800 I could make a live in standing in front of 111 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.079 a crowd and having some fun with him. When did 112 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.879 you first think that you could be a comedian, which 113 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.360 you obviously are and a very good at. 114 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:47.199 I think I think about the time that I realized 115 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.800 that it was really funny. I just I like making 116 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:52.240 people laugh, and so I just rubbed him in class, 117 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:56.360 and it was into that whole thing and uh, you know, 118 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.360 class clown and all those sorts of things. But I 119 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:01.680 think it was much more about realizing, oh, I'm making 120 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:04.720 all these kids laugh some comics ghos because I wanted attention. 121 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.680 I love the attention. I think it was more, Wow, 122 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.040 I can really make people laugh and have a good 123 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:12.800 time and be happy, and to that call of my eye. 124 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:15.759 Probably I don't know, in junior high school or something, 125 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:20.120 and then when I. 126 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:22.439 Was about to real junior high school teachers must have 127 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.160 loved you. 128 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:28.800 Yeah hardly, Yeah, they were they My parents were trying 129 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.680 to feed me riddle in and all that stuff. 130 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:33.759 So let me ask you this. Have you ever had 131 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:36.720 a junior high school teacher show up for one of 132 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:40.360 your shows and say, hey, remember me, I'm missus Smith, 133 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:42.639 I was just a f with great homeroom teacher or 134 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:44.600 something that ever had an experience like that. 135 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.959 You know what, I haven't. I'm closer to my high 136 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:52.199 school teachers. But you're right, no teacher has ever said, hey, 137 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:53.519 you might laugh. 138 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:55.160 Maybe they're all kind of. 139 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.120 Ashamed, not a shame of they're embarrassed if they were 140 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:00.759 so mean to me. And now I make a living 141 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:04.639 off that very thing. 142 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.120 A couple of other quick questions, I don't get to 143 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.959 talk to you know, professional comedians, and people need to 144 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:12.959 understand it is a hard job being an entertainer. 145 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:13.560 Uh. 146 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.480 Therefore I was radio five nights a week. I don't 147 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:20.040 have to have people laugh. I try to make people think. Uh, 148 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.279 and and we engage in some more a little bit 149 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:24.839 more serious stuff. So I'm really enjoying having our conversation 150 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:30.000 with what you here explain to my audience quickly what 151 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:31.959 life is like on the road. I mean, if you're 152 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.040 on a tour, you're you're in this city. If you're 153 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.519 going to be in Providence, Rhode Island this Friday night 154 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.560 and Saturday, will give that a plug at the Comedy 155 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:46.079 Connection in East Providence. So it's going to be I 156 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.920 love it. I love it. Okay, So how how how 157 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:51.199 many months a year, how many weeks a year are 158 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:54.399 you out there working your craft in front of a 159 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:55.560 live audience on tour? 160 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:59.439 Well, you know, you say, what's it like on the road? 161 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:06.040 I think the I say this. I think that it 162 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:11.120 depends on your outlook. So I think some people and 163 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.600 they're like, oh god, it's so hard being on the road. 164 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:18.000 And I don't, you know, necessarily know what to you know, 165 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.279 It's just it can be really hard, They'll say. I 166 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:23.279 think if you like traveling and you think it's interesting, 167 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:25.920 and you do it right, like it's a practice enough 168 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:29.120 to get good at it, like a Buddhist practice or something. 169 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.399 And I think, once you do that, I find it 170 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:33.519 really fun. I get to meet all kinds of people, 171 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.759 you know. I know more, I really like America. I 172 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.679 think America is very interesting, and so I like going 173 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.639 all over the country. And then I have really great 174 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:45.200 audiences and it has not that hurt. The only two 175 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.440 of things that are hard is it's hard to eat healthy, 176 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:50.919 especially when all the comedy companies serve like fried food, 177 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.600 not all of them, but a lot of us. And 178 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.600 you get all that for free, and it's delicious, of course, 179 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.440 and it's tough being away from my wife. I really 180 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:03.840 like my wife. She's a very cool individual. It says 181 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.440 between those two things that say, that's the hardest stuff, 182 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:10.279 and yeah, the rest of it is just gravy. But 183 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:12.279 it's it's a grind for sure. 184 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:14.960 Yeah, you know, I'll tell you people don't understand that. 185 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.879 They see and they figure it's a great easy life. 186 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.320 It's not an easy life. You got you gotta you 187 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.279 gotta be up every night when when I start my 188 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.440 show and eight oh six or eight oh eight, whatever 189 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.120 the time it is. You got to be pumped up. 190 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:31.039 Every show has to be your best show ever because 191 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.080 if when you lose that, you're gonna lose the audience. 192 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.480 I don't think you're going to lose that. TJ. Miller Okay, 193 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:41.720 his crowd Sourcer Retort, Comedy Connection, East Providence, Rhode Island. 194 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:43.600 By the way, you're on a Boston radio station where 195 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:47.120 we're heard in thirty eight states. DJ OVERHL No. 196 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.240 This is a great opportunity to range you. 197 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.039 Oh no, no, no problem. Wanted to have you on 198 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.440 and uh, we'll have you back at some point if 199 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:57.600 you if you swing through Boston, I we do everything 200 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:02.080 remotely now after COVID, so I'm everything's on the phone, 201 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.840 so anytime you want to be back, you give me 202 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.159 a call. I I enjoyed the content, thank you. 203 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.720 I mean, I played the Wilber Theater when I'm in Boston, 204 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:13.240 which is, yeah, correct venue. But I have some people 205 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.960 go to my show in Rhode Island and they were 206 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:20.360 from ASU. Yeah we went and saw you in Boston. 207 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.440 It isn't that an incredible theater? And they go, yeah, 208 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:26.480 but we didn't have the best steeves. We kind of 209 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:31.240 brought late. And you know, we we loved the show 210 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:33.399 in Rhode Island a lot more because it's more like 211 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:37.200 what you do. It's a smaller venue. You know. We 212 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.799 love the you know, the crowd interaction that you have, 213 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.600 and yeah, it's like that. 214 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:46.600 It's you know what TJ is like watching a game 215 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.480 at Fenway Park. I don't care if you're if you're 216 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.759 not a baseball fee and you love the intimacy of 217 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.759 Fenway Park as opposed to some of these other stadiums 218 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:57.279 where you need to set of batailers to to see uh, 219 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.919 to see home plate. TJ enjoyed the whole Thank you much. 220 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:06.919 My friend enjoy East Providence, Rhode Island. Okay, we'll have 221 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:11.519 we'll we'll we'll talk again. I think you and I 222 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.799 got a connection here. I was on the road a 223 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:17.000 long time as a TV reporter. Now I'm not on 224 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:20.639 the road, but I'm kind of envious of your ability 225 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.399 to get out there and meet people. That's what. I'm 226 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:26.519 very much like you in the sense that I enjoy people, 227 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:30.200 and that's real important to my success and as certain 228 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.399 it's important to yours as well. 229 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:35.679 So I gotta agree. Yeah, the irony just really quickly, 230 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.759 Guarany is I'm very you know, envious of you because 231 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:42.440 you sort of it's not at all a nine to five, 232 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:46.480 of course, not even close, but it's a it's more 233 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.360 there's more stability, and you get to kind of be 234 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.159 in the same place for longer. I don't envy that 235 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:54.320 your audience is silent, you know, I think that would 236 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.919 be very difficult. But I really always say, because I'm 237 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:00.120 a voiceover guy too, you know, I did bigger how 238 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.519 to train and drag and all that stuff. I really 239 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.879 respect radio because you guys are essentially improvising. Yeah, you 240 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.519 have guideposts, but you're improvising for hours you know. 241 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:14.759 Yeah. Well, but TJ. Once at nine o'clock we blow 242 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:16.799 open the phone lines and we have people calling from 243 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.000 all over the country. 244 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.000 And that would be so fun. 245 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:23.200 Oh absolutely, I have people. You name a state, you 246 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.960 name the city, and I give the name of someone 247 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.720 I've maybe never met him or her. But let me 248 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:31.200 tell you there are people you know. You know, some 249 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:36.440 of my my most loyal fans are people in Florida, Laurie, 250 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:39.320 and Idaho. There's a whole bunch of people all around 251 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:43.559 the country that you know, and so there's some similarities 252 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.279 as well as some dissimilarities. Tej and I enjoyed it 253 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.159 a lot. Best of luck in from peas Father's Rhode 254 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:52.320 Island at the Comedy Connection this Friday and Saturday night. 255 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.080 Thanks so much, my friend. We'll talk again. 256 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.360 Great, thank you. 257 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.840 All right, we come up. We're going to talk about 258 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:02.480 this month, amongst others, is National Ladder Safety Month. We'll 259 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:05.519 be back. I think everyone will understand that one really easily. 260 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.879 We'll be back right after this one night. Side Now 261 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:11.919 back to Dan Ray live from the Window World Night 262 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.840 Sin Studios i WBZ News Radio. All right, Well, March, 263 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.480 of course is the beginning of spring. Spring training baseball 264 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:24.679 is underway for real flowers in some parts of the 265 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.039 country start to spring. But it's also just as importantly 266 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:32.000 National Ladder Safety Month. With me is Mike van Vree. 267 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:35.360 He's the director of product safety and engineering with a 268 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:39.759 major US ladder manufacturer. Let's get that one out of 269 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:43.919 the way. What is your major US ladder manufacturer. Let's 270 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.000 let's make sure you get credit here. 271 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:49.480 Mike, Well, Dan, thank you so much for having me. 272 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:54.480 I am I'm with lous Ladder in Louisville, Kentucky. 273 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:58.679 I've been to Louisville, Kentucky. It's a beautiful city. Red 274 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.600 Sox used to have a long, long time ago, a 275 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:03.519 Triple A minor league baseball team in Louisville, Kentucky. 276 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.759 And those Triple as seem to change affiliation. 277 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.519 I've noticed. 278 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:11.519 Yeah, they do. They change a lot. No, I'm taking 279 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.919 you back to like the fifties and sixties when they 280 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:17.320 were in Louisville and then they were in Minneapolis and Toronto, 281 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:21.120 and they move around a lot, trust me, But ladders don't, 282 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:25.480 except when I try to climb up one. What's the 283 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:28.519 biggest thing. Obviously, we know you should never walk under 284 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.080 a ladder particularly on Friday the thirteenth. But what's the 285 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.840 biggest safety tip you can give people? Because look, people 286 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.720 are going to use ladders, you know that as well 287 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.480 as I do. And it can be dangerous once you're 288 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.159 off the ground. 289 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:46.600 But that's it. The energy potential energy, as we say, 290 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.600 when you're at elevation. 291 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.080 Yeah, So what's the big thing is that that people 292 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:56.360 don't sit the ladder on firm ground and they get 293 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.720 on the ladder and the third step up, boom, there 294 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.559 they're flying through the air. What what can you tell people 295 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:05.840 that will other than let the professionals do it? Like 296 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:08.480 most guys, wives will say get off the ladder. You 297 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:11.279 know that's my wife yells at me. But hey, you 298 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:13.759 got to change a light bulb on an exterior light, 299 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.879 I'm going to use a ladder. What what dance could 300 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.720 we take get from you there? 301 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.080 There's there's quite a few things that I could I 302 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:23.480 could certainly talk for a long time on the subject. 303 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.080 I've I've worked in this industry for a while so 304 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.039 have have seen, uh seen quite a few things over 305 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.960 those years. But you know, you bring up the footing 306 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:37.759 of the ladder, having it, having it set properly on firm, 307 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:44.240 solid ground, level ground, and that's that's I'm absolutely a consideration. 308 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.159 I think one of the one of the things that I, 309 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:51.080 I guess I try to highlight whenever we think about 310 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:55.320 ladders and ladder safety is well. People sometimes make fun 311 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.639 of the labeling on ladders. It is uh. It is 312 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:03.519 covering those base and reminding people of things that you 313 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.120 probably know but can certainly help you to avoid getting 314 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:12.759 yourself into trouble. And so I definitely recommend paying some 315 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:16.320 attention to those to those warnings and instructions. A ladder 316 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.799 is a tool like many others, and and people kind 317 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:22.159 of have an expectation that it's just a ladder and 318 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.759 I should know how to use it, and generally you 319 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.120 do that. There's some I guess just to hit some 320 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:33.000 steps maybe to take when you're when you're getting the 321 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:35.080 ladder out. I can I can certainly run through a 322 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:39.679 few things to consider all ears well, you know, I 323 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.080 guess these are again all things that are on the ladder. 324 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.679 And I'm not going to, by any means try and 325 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:48.039 regurgitate all of that. But there's really four key points. 326 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.440 You want to choose the right ladder. You want to 327 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.679 inspect it once you have chosen it, you want to 328 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:55.960 make sure that it's in good working order, that it 329 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:03.480 hasn't been inadvertently damaged by somebody else, for example, And 330 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.279 then you need to set it off properly. And the 331 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:09.440 final thing is to use it safely. And so just 332 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.440 kind of running through each of those just a little bit, 333 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.440 just very briefly. On the selection, you want to make 334 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:21.000 sure that you are choosing the ladder that is going 335 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.359 to work best for the job. Is that a step ladder, 336 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:27.519 is that an extension ladder, a leanable ladder? And then 337 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:31.720 what material is it made out? If you're working around electricity, 338 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.359 you want to be sure you're using a non conductive 339 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:38.559 fiberglass ladder. Aluminum is a great material if you don't 340 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.559 have electrical hazards to worry about. And then you want 341 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.079 to make sure that the height of the ladder is 342 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:48.559 going to give you safe access, and that the load 343 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:53.279 capacity is appropriate for the weight of your weight and 344 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:56.759 any tools, equipment and such that you might be using. 345 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.680 So one thing about a step letter, even if it's 346 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.960 like a six foot step ladder, never be dumb enough 347 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.759 to go to the top of the ladder instand a 348 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.839 top the ladder because. 349 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.160 Well, it's good. Good to hear you've gotten that message. Yeah, 350 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:15.079 we certainly have had for many decades now labels on 351 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:18.400 the top step and the top camp not to stand 352 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.759 on those And people ask me why is that, And 353 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:24.559 the reason is because you can lose your balance. That 354 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:29.000 portion of the ladder structure is there to give you support. 355 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:32.519 So whether that's holding onto the ladder with your hands 356 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:36.480 or whether that's leaning into the ladder, bracing into the 357 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.079 ladder with your legs, your body, that sort of thing 358 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:42.720 while you're working that that is there so that you're 359 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:46.039 not just balancing on your feet alone, and so you 360 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.960 don't want to get too high. 361 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:51.599 That is so so important. Hey, Mike vanvrie, I enjoyed 362 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:57.960 the conversation National Ladder Safety Month, and it's called Louisville Ladder. Yeah, 363 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:01.400 I know, I certainly am familiar with Louisville Slugger, but 364 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:04.680 now I know someone with Louisville Ladder and I like that. 365 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.480 Thanks so much for being with us. 366 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.079 Thank you so much. Dan, You have a wonderful evening, 367 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.079 you too. 368 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:12.160 Mike, have a great weekend coming up. All right, we 369 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:14.519 got the news coming up when we get back on 370 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.720 top of doctor Tracy Woodriff. She's a professor of reproductive 371 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:22.279 Sciences at the University of California at San Francisco, and 372 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:26.160 we're going to talk about somethings really that's important. Black 373 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:31.839 plastic cooking, spatchuelas and all of that. They have high 374 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:36.279 levels of flame retardants, but they can be somewhat dangerous. 375 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.079 We'll get into all of that with Professor Woodriff right 376 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:41.480 after the break here at the bottom of the hour. 377 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.440 My name's Dan Ray. This is Nightside. By the way, 378 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:46.759 get the new and improved iHeart app. I've got it, 379 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:49.559 and you can also get it on presets, So you 380 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:54.400 make your first preset WBZ, which means anytime, any place, 381 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:57.000 anywhere in the world. You can listen to us three 382 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.240 hundred and sixty five days a year, twenty four to seven. 383 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:02.119 Coming back on night It's Night Side with. 384 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.759 Boston's news Radio. 385 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:09.680 Thank you, Nicole. We're about to introduce you to doctor 386 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:13.079 Tracy Woodroff. Doctor Tracy Woodruff, Welcome to Nightside. How are you? 387 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.559 I'm good? 388 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.000 How are you were great? 389 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.519 You own University of California at San Francisco, Professor of 390 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:25.119 Reproductive Sciences, Beautiful City, San Francisco, and there's recently as 391 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.559 sometime in January, it's the rain finally stopped out there. 392 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:32.079 You guys were getting delused with it last week and. 393 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:35.319 We were, but it's beautiful right now, so we want 394 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.079 to come visit us. 395 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:40.559 Oh yeah, my daughter's out there, so that's why get 396 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:43.400 get out that way. So I'm going to talk about 397 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:48.559 the problem with black plastic utensils. When we say black 398 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:52.079 plastic utensils, we're talking about the things that people use 399 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:56.480 with at the stove when they're cooking materials I assume, 400 00:20:56.519 --> 00:21:00.720 and they're they're plastic. And what's the problem. 401 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:04.839