Our Town With Host Andy Ockershausen - Homegrown History

Tom Quinn on the service provided by the Special Operations Warrior Foundation ~ "So whenever today, if you’re a Navy Seal, or Army Special Forces, or Ranger, or Air Force Combat Air Control, or a Marine Special Ops, you know that you have our enduring promise that we will educate your children if you don’t come home. And it gives them a great deal of confidence going in to the hotspots that they go into." Tom Quinn - Former Director, Federal Air Marshals Service and Ret. Secret Service with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, this is Our Town, and I have a great pleasure to talk to the great Tom Quinn today. For those of you who don't know, he is a man, the first one started with the Air Marshals. Tom Quinn led that effort to put air marshals on airplanes. Is that right, Tom? Tom Quinn Re-enters Government to Head Up New Federal Air Marshal Service Tom Quinn: That's right, Andy. I came back into government to stand up the Federal

John Matthews, WMAL News Director, on the benefits - all of these years - getting up and being at work by 4:30 in the morning at the latest~ "I don’t know what morning drive traffic is like and I don’t know what afternoon drive traffic is like and I consider that a blessing. I love the hours that I work. And that’s when decisions are made. The decisions except for breaking news, the decisions on stories that you’re hearing at 6:00 at night were made at 5:00 in the morning." John Matthews, WMAL News Director, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, Andy Ockershausen with a special guest who's really not special. He's a big part of the woodwork here at WMAL, he's a big part of the station and it's success, a big part of my life because I've known him since he was a kid, and I hired him at WMAL, it's maybe one of the biggest mistakes I ever made, but I lived with it for years and all of a sudden John Matthews became a star. John, welcome to Our Town. John Matthews:

Richard Wiley on what's next in high def TV ~ "Ultra high definition is great. Then there's an even ... double that, coming up in Japan. Super high vision. So, it's just going to keep going. The only problem is, there's only so much that the human eye can absorb." Richard Wiley Chairman Emeritus Wiley Rein LLP and Former FCC Chairman, with Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and we're introducing to our podcast one of the more famous regulators in the history of broadcasting. The man was a Commissioner, he was a General Counsel, he became Chairman of the FCC. He is one of the most important people in the history of broadcasting, and we're so delighted to have Dick Wiley here in Our Town. Richard Wiley: Andy, thank you. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be with you once again! And we're still clicking, you know? Andy Ockershausen: You're clicking, I'm clicking, thank God Janice keeps me clicking. But Dick, you've had such an illust

Eshauna Smith on how it is that Urban Alliance students are able to compete in the workforce~ When they take on the Urban Alliance internship, they are working nine months of their senior year. It is 600 hours of work. It is every day after school. They're going three hours a day during the school year, and then in the summer it becomes a full-time job. They do this during their senior year where there are many other obligations and things, everything from college applications to prom to all kinds of senior dues. They make a huge commitment, and they follow through with it. Eshauna Smith - CEO of Urban Alliance in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Speaking to an absolutely gorgeous young lady who has one of the high profile jobs, to me, in Our Town, and that's Eshauna Smith, the head, the CEO of Urban Alliance, or The Urban Alliance, I think is the correct pronunciation. Is that right, Eshauna? Eshauna Smith: It's Urban Alliance. Andy Ockershausen: I don'

Al Koken on what started his career ~ "All because I jumped out of an airplane." Al Koken, Capitals Reporter and Host, NBC Sports Washington, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is a special, special treat to me on our podcast, a man, and I know that's a cliché and I'm going to say it anyway, needs no introduction, but he likes it. So I'm going to introduce you to a wonderful, wonderful great broadcaster, Smokin' Al Koken. Al Koken: We're using my biblical name then? Is that what we're doing? Andy Ockershausen: Who came up with the "Smokin'"? Glenn Brenner and a True Badge of Honor - "Smokin'Al Koken" Al Koken: It was given to me, and I wear it with a true badge of honor, by the late great Glenn Brenner. Andy Ockershausen: Glenn did that? Al Koken: When I was working with him at Channel 9, it was back in the day. Remember when the third-string quarterback held the clipboard, as opposed to being inactive? Glenn called me the clipboard guy. If he was on vacation, Ken Mease

Bob Milkovich on the good fortune to have have worked for top-notch "Flagship" companies~ "I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have come here and worked and met people like you, and Ernie Fears, and Tony Renaud at WMAL. And then I went to work for Oliver Carr Company. And then I was able to go and work for Goldman Sachs. Then from that I went to First Potomac Realty Trust and now I'm with Rand* Construction and Linda Rabbitt." Bob Milkovich, CEO of Rand* Construction in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, this is Our Town, and this is sort of like nostalgia day for me and for Janice and for Ken, because, one of our great, great, I mean that, great, great friends, from the early days of the success of the greatest radio station in the world was a man named, a young man named Bob Milkovich, who I had heard of and discovered when he was a quarterback for the University of Maryland. Len Klompus told me about him. At the same time he had us hire Ken, not Ken, Ken Beatrice. He ca

Patrick Burke on the toughest thing he ever had to do in his career ~ "Tell somebody that their child or their husband or wife or a loved one wasn't coming home because of a traffic fatality. And that's 100% preventable. It still is, these incidents, and there's so much more we can continue to do to make sure that people aren't drunk driving or paying attention to what they're doing on the roads." Patrick Burke - Executive Director Washington DC Police Foundation and host Andy Ockershausen during in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm so, so, so happy for a lot of reasons to welcome a very important man in the city of Washington and Our Town, a public servant. I mean, he has been in the police department or connected with it for 27 years on the force. But even since he left the force he's been still in law enforcement. He's just a terrific guy, an important part of Our Town, and a member of the ... He was [sic] the Executive Director at the Washington DC Pol

Bobby Goldwater, Innovative Sports Executive and Consultant, on when he realized he could come up with a strategy to bring a Major League Baseball team back to Our Town~ "The first five people, Andy, that I met with inside baseball, did not know a basic fact about Washington DC and the light bulb goes off, this is a marketing project. I can do that." Bobby Goldwater, Innovative Sports Executive and Consultant, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and a conversation with a very dear friend and a very important person to me and to Our Town. His name is Bobby Goldwater. Many, many times. I have thought to ask you this question, are you related in any way to the Arizona Goldwaters? Senator Barry Goldwater Distant Relative Bobby Goldwater: Yes. I am told, that there is a distant relation. My sister, once upon a time did a family tree. We are, this is what she told us, fourth cousins twice removed, from the Arizona Goldwaters. I never met S

Sue Palka, Fox 5 DC's Chief Meteorologist, on what makes a successful on-air weather forecast~ "It's a combination of a teaching experience, from my teaching years, which were only about seven years. I remember that you have a main idea that you have to deliver, and I feel like I've failed as a forecaster if you don't know the weather when I'm done." Sue Palka and Joe Palka with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. It's such a pleasure. I mean, it so sincerely to have two of my favorite people in broadcast and life in Washington, DC, Joe and Sue Palka. Welcome to Our Town! Sue Palka: Andy, I know you say that to every guest, but we are delighted to see you because you're the real star of this podcast and we are so excited. Joe Palka: That's true, how many people say to you that you are my hero, Andy, and you continue to be my hero, you really do. Andy Ockershausen: It sounds like hero worship, but it's true. They don't worship me, the

Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff of the City of Alexandria, VA, on the 1998 Woodrow Wilson Bridge jumper negotiations ~ "We went out there. Derek Gaunt’s talking to the guy. As a team leader my responsibility is to watch him and sort of manage what’s going on. Anyway, we’d been out there about six hours, sun went down. We got a little cold, but it was a threat that he’d had a gun. That’s why we backed off." Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff of the City of Alexandria, VA and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm delighted, I say that all the time Dana, but I really mean it in your case because you approached me and we were at a Heroes meeting and you brought up WMAL and the fact that you grew up with it, and that impressed me more than your badge and more than your stars because you are part of Our Town. I'm so delighted to have you with us. Dana Lawhorne: Thank you for having me. What an honor and a privilege. My life is complete. Andy Ockershausen: As

Steve Buckhantz on one of the biggest scoops in Washington football history~ "I broke it and it was before it was supposed to come out. But it did and it was a fabulous day for us, for all of us because it was just so filled with adrenaline." Steve Buckhantz, TV Play by Play Announcer for Washington Wizards in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Janice said to me one day, "Andy, you're a has been, but maybe you could get back into action by doing a podcast." And I said to her, "What is a podcast?" That was it, seriously Steve. Two years ago, and she put me on the road to recovery. Janice is a- Janice Iacona Ockershausen: So do you want to introduce Steve so people know who you're talking to? Andy Ockershausen: I'm sorry. Buckhantz needs no introduction. I thought everybody knew he was here. I told everybody he was. Steve Buckhantz: If it were TV they'd know, but radio has no pictures. Andy Ockershausen: Ste

David Blair, Entrepreneur and Political Activist, on his experience running for political office for the first time ~ "It's an incredible experience. It's a life changing experience and the amount of gratitude that I feel for having been through that process, no regrets with running. It was that phenomenal...It was the hardest thing I've done. I ran a public company for 15 years and I thought that was hard. . .." David Blair, Entrepreneur and Political Activist, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And I am so delighted to welcome a young man to Our Town, who I met on cold morning for breakfast at a place in Bethesda, and welcome to Our Town, David Blair. David Blair: Thank you Andy, it's great to be here. David Blair's Experience Running for County Executive Andy Ockershausen: It was such a great morning 'cause Doro Koch and Eric Shuster, Eric said "you gotta come and meet David Blair". I didn't know you from the man in the moon

Hillary Howard, Reporter, Co-anchor, WTOP, and "It's Academic" Host on what it means to her to host "It's Academic" ~ "I really am. It's an honor to be a part of a legacy program with those wonderful people who produce it, and the kids. And that we're giving props to education. Knowledge is sacrosanct."

Lew Strudler credits the late George Michael and Ken Beatrice for much of the success of the Caps 1982 "Save the Washington Capitals" 30-day campaign~ "If it wasn’t for the two of them at that particular period of time, who every night got on the air for that 30 days. They came out to The Capital Center at that point, helped us when we were doing all kinds of special events to get the city involved, especially the corporate city..." Lew Strudler, Vice President Global Partnerships, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and I've had the opportunity to talk to a man I've known for many, many years. A big part of WMAL incidentally, never as an employee, but as an in-house important friend: Lew Strudler, Vice President of Global Partnership for Monumental Sports. Lew, you could've knocked me over with a feather when somebody told me that. That's your title. Lew Strudler: That is my title. Andy Ockershausen:

Neal Augenstein on how he views his job, as a reporter ~ "Story telling is just what we do. Reporters have to boil things down to make it so anybody can understand it... if I could figure out the simple things. If I could understand something, if I could ask enough questions so I could understand the concept, it will be something that I could pass along to the audience. That's what I've tried to do. I don't mind looking like an idiot, and asking my question, if I can come away from there being a temporary expert on whatever it is." Neal Augenstein, Reporter and Tech Editor WTOP, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and I am so delighted. I say that because I mean it. To talk head-to-head, person-to-person with a man that I've listened to on the radio for so long, and has the most memorable voice, and that is a supreme compliment, Neal Augenstein.Neal Augenstein: Thank you, Andy. Has it really been that long t

Joanne Alper, Retired Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Arlington, certified Mediator Supreme Court of Virginia, and trailblazer for women in the legal profession on private mediation in divorce cases ~ "But it's still more humane than throwing it all up in front of a judge who's a stranger. This way these people make their own decisions. So I've become a huge fan of the process." Hon. Joanne Alper (Ret.), Trailblazer, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have greatest, greatest news for you that has ... I hope you're regular listeners because you're gonna hear from a unique, wonderful, special individual and a very dear friend, who happens to be a sitting judge, but she doesn't sit any more because she's too busy now. But Joanne Alper is a legend in Northern Virginia legal cycle. Joanne Alper: Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: What do you think of that? Joanne Alper: Well, that's ... I never thought of myself as a legend. Andy

Bill Lord's underlying reason for writing, "50 Years After Vietnam: Lessons and Letters from the War I Hated Fighting"~ "I think a lot of us retired and thought, 'I've to get this off my chest.' Because remember, I got back from Vietnam on a Friday and started school again on the next Monday. I put it out of my mind. Honestly, I didn't talk about it much at all. Lots of people didn't even know I'd been to Vietnam." Bill Lord, Author and Retired News Director at WUSA and WJLA, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. One of the great privileges we have in Our Town is to talk to a lot of people who've made a great impression on Our Town. May not have been natives, but they've been here long enough almost to be involved with natives. The gentleman with Bill Lord. Bill Lord wrote a book called "50 Years After Vietnam" and it's a fabulous book, I read an excerpt from it, and I want to talk to you about ... you started your war here at Cha

Steven Portnoy, CBS News Correspondent covering the White House, on WMAL's influence in Our Town while under host Andy O's direction~ "But it speaks to the influence that the radio station had in this marketplace. I mean this radio station was listened to inside the White House. Harden and Weaver were part of, I’m sure, Ronald Reagan’s morning." Steven Portnoy - CBS News Correspondent and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I've been ordered to do a great intro for this man, but he doesn't need a great intro because he's a great broadcaster and a great radio guy and I'm so delighted that one of the WMAL graduates has made it big, big, big time is Steven Portnoy of ABC. That's the American Broadcasting Company, which is now Disney. Welcome to Our Town, Steve. Steven Portnoy: Thank you sir. It's good to be with you. I should amend that. I was with ABC for many years and now I'm with CBS. Andy Ockershausen:

Dave McConnell on women in politics ~ "They have gotten a raw deal in politics, in the Senate, in the House, for a long, long time and I'm glad to see things are changing." Dave McConnell, Capitol Hill Reporter for WTOP and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: I'm Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I'm getting a wonderful, wonderful, opportunity to talk to an old friend. He's really not old but he's been around longer than I, almost as long as I have, Dave, which is pretty spectacular. Dave McConnell, the star of WTOP, the number one reporter on the Hill. You've been there longer than anybody. Dave McConnell: I probably have by now on the radio television side. I think there are a couple of print guys that have longer times in than me. Hill Reporting | Joe McCaffrey Andy Ockershausen: You have ingrained yourself so much into that Hill, and I have been a fan of yours since. Thank God you got that good WMAL training before you went out on the street and work with a lot of profes

Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo, St. Patrick's Catholic Church Pastor and DC First Responders' Chaplain, on his experience at the historic church in Washington DC ~ "It's been an amazing experience and to this day, I have been there since 2004. I will work around in the church every so often by myself and I look around and I look after the heavens, and I say to the good Lord I still can't believe you put me in charge of this. So he has a great sense of humor. " Reverend Monsignor A. Salvatore Criscuolo and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and this is our first opportunity to talk to this gentleman on the air, and I'm so delighted, because the Reverend Monsignor Salvatore is today with us and he is the head man, I say the head man, the head priest from St. Patrick's. I think St. Patrick's could be the oldest Catholic church, is that correct? St. Patrick's Church - Washington DC Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: It is, Andy. It is the first