#18: Failing The Foreign Service Officer Hiring Process

Once upon a time, I was interested in becoming an FSO (Foreign Service Officer) with the US Department of State. I passed the FSOT (Foreign Service Officer Test) but that was, apparently, not good enough. Episode Transcript Failure is… something I am very familiar with. If you’ve ever listened to this podcast at all, or if you’ve even looked at the titles of these episodes, … Read more

#15: I Took Ancestry’s DNA Test. Here’s What I Discovered.

Like many people, Americans, especially I have been chasing down my ancestral roots for several years. I’ve already recorded one episode on this topic. Number five from Ireland to America, if you haven’t already listened to it, but this episode is a little bit different. It’s about taking that one step further. Ancestry.com the most famous and most well-funded genealogical research, right. At least available … Read more

#14: Becoming an EMT for Absolutely No Reason At All

Many years ago, when I was a teen, I think 16 or 17, I took a trip to Waco, Texas with my sister. We spent a couple of days visiting friends. And as part of the trip, I ended up attending Baylor university for a couple of days as a sort of tag, along with one of my friends who had just enrolled the student … Read more

#13: Six Days in San Francisco – A Ring Cycle Review

Like many opera fans. I have spent years trying to attend as many live operatic performances as I can. This often requires traveling to different cities or States either by plane or by taking a long road trip. So far, I’ve been able to see several operas by a few respectable companies, including the Houston grand opera in Texas and the Los Angeles opera in … Read more

#12: Wagner’s Ring Cycle – The Greatest Story Ever Told

(Photo credit: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera). You’re listening to Micron. A one-man podcast with weekly episodes about life, learning, laughter, and the people who make this world an interesting place. I am your host, the writer, editor, and producer, the man with the mic… Ron Stauffer. Micron is a podcast by me, but it isn’t about me. It’s about what I’ve seen, lessons … Read more

#11: The Impact of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle

You’re listening to micron a one man podcast with weekly episodes about life learning laughter and the people who make this world an interesting place. I am your host, the writer, editor, and producer the man with the mic. Ron Stauffer micron is a podcast by me, but it isn’t about me. It’s about what I’ve seen lessons. I’ve learned things I’ve tried or discovered. … Read more

#10: Food Service Files – The Italian Restaurant

This is part three in a three episode series. About my time working in the food service industry. In the past, I worked in three different roles at three separate establishments. I was a waiter at a 1950s themed diner, a banquet server at a hotel and conference center and a bus boy at an Italian restaurant at each establishment. I gained valuable life experience, … Read more

#09: Food Service Files – The Hotel

This is part two in a three episode series. About my time working in the food service industry. In the past, I worked in three different roles at three separate establishments. I was a waiter at a 1950s themed diner, a banquet server at a hotel and conference center and a bus boy at an Italian restaurant. At each establishment, I gained valuable life experience, … Read more