#93: Media Mogul Talks Prayer, Hugging Celebrities, Losing His Job, Nutcracker

He hosts 4 podcasts of his own, and is a guest on this one. Wes Carroll stopped by to talk about losing his longtime radio job during the pandemic, being a man of faith and soccer coach and dad, plus breaking a record with thousands of hugs. I start this episode with something personal, my recent experience testing positive for COVID-19, (3:10) then temporary guest co-host & podcaster Jessie jumps in to help introduce our guest. (8:30) The conversation with the talented Wes Carroll starts with (11:05) his role as "Mother Ginger" in The Nutcracker with The Columbus Ballet, for the 3rd year in a row, what it's like on those stilts in a role I've done before too. (17:45) He opens up about faith and God too, from Christmas traditions including Australia...to the COVID pandemic...to losing a job he held for decades, which Wes says God gave him a "heads up" about...to prayer being about listening to God too! (30:18) Wes also like to hug. He set the first Guinness world record for most hugs in 24 hours with 2.004 in the year 2004, a radio stunt and trend that started with Mariah Carey, launching him to hugs with other celebrities like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jewel, Brad Paisley, Julie Bowen. (37:05) He has nearly 30 years in radio and media, now with 4 podcasts that he talks about, one where he interviews celebrities like Zachary Levi and William Shatner. (51:55) He's not as much of a "celebrity" at home where he's husband and dad, also an introvert who gets the energy up to do all this media stuff. (56:10) As a soccer coach, he loves the show "Ted Lasso" as do I. Is he making New Years resolutions for 2022? He ended 2021 with surgery but is alive to listen to this podcast. (1:04:19) The "Parting Gifts" are some wisdom from Coach Ted Lasso, then my closing Prayer. Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Subscribe to it! For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.