Category: Trivia

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Top 5 Trending Slang Words on Tola Talks – Ep #215

In today’s Tola Talks, Rich discusses the top five trending slang words of 2025, exploring their meanings and cultural significance. The conversation begins with a light-hearted introduction and transitions into a detailed examination of each slang term, including ’67’, ‘girly pop’, ‘Chad’, ‘rage bait’, and the dead rose emoji. Tola also provides context and examples for each term, reflecting on their origins and usage in contemporary language. The episode concludes with a shout-out to his threo favorite women’s volleyball teams, Purdue, Indiana and Nebraska, emphasizing community and support.

Watch now and discover: → The slang ’67’ is a nonsensical expression popular among teens. → ‘Girly pop’ is an affectionate term that can refer to anyone. → ‘Chad’ has evolved from a stereotype to a more positive term. → ‘Rage bait’ refers to provocative online content designed to elicit anger. → The dead rose emoji signifies heartbreak and has gained popularity recently.

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Be Grateful & Enjoy the Ride, Top Thanksgiving Movies on Tola Talks – Ep #210

On today’s Tola Talks, Rich reflects on the challenges of experiencing Thanksgiving without his parents, emphasizing the importance of gratitude even in difficult times. He shares personal struggles with physical health and resilience, encouraging listeners to find strength in their own challenges.

On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, Rich details the 10 most streamed movies over the past three years. He also gives a positive and poignant film review of the most streamed movie starring Steve Martin and the late John Candy, the amazingly funny and heartfelt dramatic comedy, ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’. To finish off this 20th live-streamed episode of Tola Talks, Rich talks about the journey in life being more important – and fulfilling – than the end result, as well as lists the Top Five things he’s grateful for today.

Watch now and discover: → To 10 Most Streamed Thanksgiving Movies over the past 3 years. → Film review of the #1 streamed movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles. → Famous quotes from Carl Friedrich Gauss and the legendary actor, Frank Langella. → What are you grateful for? → What is Rich Tola grateful for?

🎧 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations…and thanks for watching!

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Marjorie Taylor Greene, Term Limits for Politicians and the Smartest Animals on Tola Talks – Ep #209

On today’s Tola Talks, Rich gives shout-outs to his new subscribers and viewers plus his two favorite women’s volleyball teams: Nebraska Cornhuskers and Purdue Boliermakers…and hopes they meet in the NCAA championship final on December 21st. He also shares his insights on various topics including Marjorie Taylor Greene and reasons why she’s NOT running for the Presidency, political commentary, America’s troubled education system, plus trivia about the Top 10 Intelligent Animals second to humans.

The conversation begins with the shoutouts and transitions into Marjorie Taylor Greene with a discussion about the need for term limits in politics. Rich also emphasizes the challenges faced by America’s educational system, particularly regarding declining teacher salaries and unfavorable student learning outcomes, e.g., low Math & Reading scores. This episode also explores the intelligence of various animals, highlighting their unique abilities. Finally, Rich shares some fitness motivation plus his upcoming content for listeners.

Watch now and discover: → The Nebraska Women’s volleyball team is predicted to win the national championship. → Term limits for politicians could bring fresh ideas and accountability. → America’s education system is facing significant challenges with stagnant teacher salaries. → Dolphins are considered one of the most intelligent animals, while Pigs have cognitive abilities comparable to a four-year-old child. → Rats exhibit empathy and problem-solving skills, Orcas are super clever and have complex social structures, and Ants demonstrate remarkable collective intelligence.

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Words are Powerful & Meaningless on Tola Talks – Ep #201

In today’s episode, we talk about the recent elections in NJ, VA and New York City, emphasizing the importance of local governance and the need for cleanliness and safety in urban areas. I also discuss yesterday’s Gallup poll revealing public fears about safety and walking a mile at night, share personal experiences from various cities I’ve lived in over the past 40 years, plus highlight the significance of words in communication. I also delve into insights from my book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher, addressing challenges in America’s broken educational system and the need for accountability in schools. I conclude with a call for politicians to stand behind their words and make meaningful changes.

And for everyone who says they workout, do what you say today and get your workout in! Peace – R

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Transgender Conversion Therapy on Tola Talks – Ep #195

In this episode of Tola Talks, Happy Friday was always an adventure in Kindergarten when I taught during COVID. I also pay tribute to Christopher Reeve and MLK, Jackson Browne and the Hoover Dam (Happy Birthday to both), plus I discuss the important issues surrounding transgender rights and conversion therapy. The conversation is filled with insights, humor, and heartfelt memories, making it a rich listening experience. Thanks for tuning in!

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Summer’s Over Party!

Back in NYC circa the late 1990’s my cronies and I would begin every Labor Day weekend with a blow-out celebration called the Summer’s Over Party. A party it was, to officially celebrate the end of summer – which meant everyone on Wall Street and every other business would get their vacationed butts back in the office to start making money again.

The fact that our little Summer’s Over Party lasted the entire weekend as well as every subsequent weekend until Thanksgiving really didn’t matter (what can I say, we liked to party). Our real intent was to celebrate the beginning of something very good that was about to happen, or perhaps even exceptional.

So let’s get ready to celebrate the following happenings that are definitely very good and are no doubt worth celebrating:

  1. Serena Williams rockin’ the US Open at the ripe young age of 40 while drinking from the Fountain of Youth. And you can too, just read my book.
  2. Inflation is subsiding and the mild recession we’re already in will start to wane.
  3. The oppressive heat across the US and the world will subside. It has to because time goes quick and Winter’s fast approaching.
  4. COVID and/or the fear thereof will subside to the point where everyone on the planet – including those fear-mongering politicians – won’t really care or pass judgment on someone like me who isn’t vaccinated (which should have been the case from Day 1 of this controversial pandemic).
  5. Stocks and Cryptocurrencies will rebound in our investment portfolios before year’s end and we’ll all have a jolly good Christmas. And if you don’t yet have an investment portfolio, get started now…prices are cheap! Another prediction, albeit I’m a long term BULL so what can I say.
  6. Everyone on the planet will embrace my motto, Another Day – Another Workout, and get with a daily fitness program. Trust me, it’ll change your life and keep you drinking from the Fountain of Youth. Just like me and Serena. And if you could use some much needed inspiration, just read my book.

And finally here’s something I learned a long time ago that keeps rearing it’s paradoxical head: Never say Never. Like when it comes to Nomad Living. Let’s just say it’s time for me to head back east again – this time driving – to spend time with family plus add another dozen US cities to my noteworthy collection. What can I say…it’ll definitely be fun!

Happy Labor Day everyone…get your workout in and enjoy the party!

Peace – R

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YogaStyles of Rich and the Almost Famous

Yoga…anyone, anytime, anywhere.

YogaStyles of Rich and the Almost Famous is where History meets Yoga throughout the streets of Chicago. Made in 2016 to highlight the benefits of yoga and the amazing historical sites and sounds of the Windy City, we visited more than 60 Chicago landmarks and tourist attractions and taught yoga to a bunch of courageous residents who’ve never tried yoga.

Special thanks to my amazing crew including Rhonda Carlson, Angie Lee Chastain, Aron Rosenthal, Alex Halstead and John Draughon, as well as The Namaste Five cast of yoga students Lauren Accardi, Vika Lvova, Amy Johnson, Laura Moschel and Monica Bright. And to all the ‘almost famous’ people we taught throughout the city and on the campus of Northwestern University, as well as StreetWise Magazine and Julie Youngquist, Comedian Kat Herskovic, prAna and the City of Chicago, you rock!

Thanks for watching everyone, and have an awesome day! Peace – R

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Tola Talks Pilgrams, NYC & Thanksgiving Day Idiots

On a special Thanksgiving Day show and Throwback Thursday, Tola Talks about the first-ever festival in 1621 between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians that established the national holiday, plus the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Rich also talks about two time Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow, NFL legend Gordie Howe, and RIP tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee and Margaret Thatcher, plus the number one animated film of all time, Frozen, and the GYST Award to 6 disrespectful idiots in NYC. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

All the best from Tola Talks

 

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Tola Talks Infested Bodies, Bette Midler & Ariana Grande

Tola Talks about respect & class (Bette Midler vs. Ariana Grande), Natasha Bedingfield & Tina Turner, Ferguson & senseless deaths from protester violence, the 10 best shopping deals on Black Friday, plus football (soccer) great Leo Messi and the Get Your S#!T Award. On WTF Wednesday, Rich talks some WTF news including a man whose body got infested with worms after eating raw sushi in China. Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks

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Tola Talks w/ Author & Past Life Specialist Noreh Millar


Tola Talks past life flashbacks, deadly viruses, sex clubs in NYC and the new detective-mystery novel, Detour on the Road Home. On Throwback Thursdays, Rich interviews Author Noreh Millar…who also takes us back to her version of 1942 and her latest detective-mystery novel, Detour on the Road Home. Watch weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks.

Tola Talks' Rich Tola with Author and Past Life Specialist, Noreh Millar.
Tola Talks’ Rich Tola with Author and Past Life Specialist, Noreh Millar.