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Unknown Speaker 0:00 You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NV studios on public radio K, u and v 91.5. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education Unknown Speaker 0:29 you're listening to there's no aging in Vegas a one stop shop for all things positive aging in the Vegas valley, and any place within ears reach. This show features topics relevant to adults 50 And over that help them live their lives to the fullest. listeners will meet a variety of residents who've taken the reins of aging and are willing to share their tips and tools for creating a positive mindset and lifestyle. Or starting now. Unknown Speaker 1:03 Hello, and welcome to there's no aging in Vegas. I'm your host Pat land acre and this show is a dream manifested into reality. I've been wanting to do this for a long, long time. You know, I created this show to help older adults embrace and take the reigns of aging and live life to the fullest. And all it really takes is adapting a positive mindset. That's why there's no aging in Vegas because we're too busy living and loving life. Now listen, I'm all about positive aging. I'm an aging specialist. I'm a certified Senior Advisor. I write a monthly column on positive aging for the Vegas voice magazine. And I teach positive aging at UNLV. Ali. And so look, there's many older adults in the Valley who are stuck and avoid even discussing aging. But not my guests. This show will feature Valley locals sharing their positive stories about aging. And we have an amazing guest today who will be sharing his many stories. But before we do that, we are going to talk with AARP is going to have a segment on every show. And they're going to talk about what's happening with AARP their programs. You know they do a ton of stuff. So I really am excited that they're going to be here. And today. I have with me by phone, Risa Paige, she was just at CES and got to see all of the new age technology that's out there. Hey, Risa, how you doing? Unknown Speaker 2:43 I'm doing great, Pat, thanks so much for having me. Unknown Speaker 2:46 Well, you know, look, I as soon as I saw you on Instagram, and you were representing AARP. at the CES, I thought, Oh, my goodness, I gotta reach her and have her come and talk about it on the show. So this is great for my first show. And this is a great segment for AARP. So why don't you tell us about the different things that you saw. Unknown Speaker 3:08 So I had an opportunity at CES, they had something called the AARP H tech collaborative. And in that collaborative, there were 19 tech startups from all over the world. And I saw some amazing things. Like for instance, I saw this wearable ring sort of looks like one of those are arrays that collects like your personal data. Oh, yeah, me being an activity. Yes. But this one was different. It was almost like a remote control. I like to say it was the modern person's clapper. Because you could put it wireless, it didn't take any Wi Fi attachment, there's no app, and you put it over some kind of switch cover or anything that would work electronically. And then you can control it just with your fingers. So if there's some less ability, say with hands and joints, and all that it made it really easy to just have it on your hand and just hit it on and off. Unknown Speaker 4:09 So like the old Clapper, the back in the day that turns your lamp off. Unknown Speaker 4:14 Yeah, exactly like that. But no rewiring needed nothing at all. So it was very simple, easy to use. And it could be moved from location to location. So if somebody had somebody, they they were just temporarily housing to help them get back from an injury, or until they could be back in their home on their own. Or it could be useful time like that one switch that you forget to turn off when you get into bed. Unknown Speaker 4:38 Oh, that sounds amazing. What else did you see out there must have been incredible. I mean, I know I was at a conference in Atlanta with AASA. And, you know, they had all this new tech and that was a couple of years ago, but it sounds like it's just it's growing and growing that whole industry. What else did you see out there? Unknown Speaker 4:58 Well, I also saw a couple of things. things that are aimed for helping people who have hearing issues. One of them was a super neat pair of glasses. And actually, they can even include a prescription for distance lenses, or you can just buy them regular, but what it provides is you put these glasses on, and you immediately get closed captioning. So you're hearing conversations, and they can even be from the side behind in front. So they were really, really incredible. And something very similar that also was along that line of helping people with hearing disability is, for many folks, when they do have a hearing aid, they have to get adjustments done in a doctor's office or a clinic. And this offered, where there was a 24/7. And it could be adjusted right in your home, you didn't have to take that trip. Or even better, let's say you go somewhere that you usually aren't, and you're having trouble with the adjustment. Because as many of us know, you might have your hearing aid adjusted in an office, but then you get into a different setting. And you're not hearing at the quality that you want to hear. So they have a 24/7 support. But it you can reset at any time. And then even when you got back home, you could call again and get it reset. Unknown Speaker 6:17 You know what that is fascinating because I had a friend, Unfortunately, he passed but he I used to take him all the time to get his hearing aid adjusted. He could have just done that from home, like through his phone or his computer. Unknown Speaker 6:32 Yeah, exactly. They have it connected with an app. And so they get a reading, and then they can work with you over the phone. It was really incredible. Well, Unknown Speaker 6:40 look, what else did you see? I'm jealous. I didn't go, what else did you see out there? Unknown Speaker 6:47 Well, I also saw a couple of things that one was, there was lots of artificial intelligence. And one that was really kind of cool. It reminded me of when you would watch Star Trek, and they could get into their little zone there and have that to kind of zoom them to another place. Well, it was very similar to that it was a holographic communications platform. And you weren't really beamed up. But you could be beamed 3d and replaces. So let's say that there was a special occasion, and you had something special in your life that you really wanted maybe to perform a wedding ceremony, but they could not come to where you are, you would be able to use this technology so that a 3d, almost like a hologram, but it's really you could be part of it. So I just thought that was amazing, because it can help bring families closer together, and really changing the industry for sure. Unknown Speaker 7:49 Wow, that's all so amazing. I wish I had way more time to talk about it. So how much how much fun did you have out there? I mean, I know you saw stuff other than the age technology. Unknown Speaker 8:03 I did, I saw all kinds of things for you know, for children, I have to say that the whole display that has to do with automotive was it's always incredible to see anything that might be coming down the road in tech for your automotive, especially for safety. And I have to tell you, the electric bikes display from all over the world, Germany and Korea, and the US was incredible. I visited that twice because you just couldn't take it all in. And it really, it really kind of chomping at the bit for me a little bit that I think I want an ebike Hey, Unknown Speaker 8:38 I love it. I you know, I'm like I said, I'm just jealous that you were out there. And next year, I'm gonna make sure I go as well. And Risa, thank you so much for taking time to join us today on the show and tell us all about this fantastic stuff. I know that you are one of the big time volunteers with AARP and you do a lot of stuff and you go a lot of places. And I'd love to have you back to talk about some more of the products are not products but programs and different innovations that AARP is a part of. And I will place on my website, there is no aging in vegas.com. I will put all those references and companies so people can go check them out and check out their websites themselves. But again, Risa, thank you so much for joining us. Unknown Speaker 9:26 Thank you so much, Pat. It was really a pleasure. I was delighted to do Unknown Speaker 9:29 it. All right. I appreciate you. I'll see you somewhere in Arp. Unknown Speaker 9:34 All right, stay safe. Unknown Speaker 9:36 Thank you very much. Ron. Yes. What did you think of all that stuff? Unknown Speaker 9:41 I thought it was wonderful. The CES show is an amazing show comes here every year and wow does it put some business and money into the market, but all the things they see over there just phenomenal. It really future. Unknown Speaker 9:53 And I used to be able to go a lot because I had a show in Denver and so I got that opportunity. but I you know, one thing I know for sure is that AARP has always been right there at every intersection of technology and aging. And now we hear about some of these products is just absolutely amazing. But of course, Ron did not come here to talk about AARP necessarily. He's here because he is my first guest on the show. I Unknown Speaker 10:21 appreciate that. Thank you very much for having me today. Well, Unknown Speaker 10:23 you know, I had you because I knew that you knew what you were doing. And you would rise out, you know, you're right. You'll be here to take over the show. But you know, Ron, you are so all over the whole entertainment industry, and you keep that industry alive through your show. And so I think that's fantastic. And that's why I wanted you to be here. Ron, just to give you a little background, he was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. He was in the military. He was a disc jockey for a long time. I think you've kind of floated in and out of that DJ thing for a minute. Yes, Unknown Speaker 11:03 I did. I started that was 15 years old and my first DJ job and then other things happen. And when I was in the Air Force, I wanted to be with Armed Forces Radio, but they decided they'd be better as a jet mechanic. Boy, I wouldn't want to get on one of those planes that I fixed. Unknown Speaker 11:18 I was just thinking that myself in all honesty, but you've worked with Motown and Barry Gordy back in the day, you've been a DJ several times. The thing that really kind of fascinated me I did tickled me actually, was that you passed out to for one coupons for the Mint for the buffet. Now, how much were those? What was the value of those back then? Unknown Speaker 11:40 Well, that was my first job in Las Vegas, was sitting, standing on the corner of Fremont Street, right by the mint Hotel, which is now the horseshoe. Yeah. And it was two for one buffets. But the buffet was $1.99 499 and 699. And that was a long time ago, those prices no longer. Oh, Unknown Speaker 11:59 no way. We wish I mean, that's the day of the dollar 99 steak and eggs and stuff Unknown Speaker 12:04 even less than that at some places. Unknown Speaker 12:07 You're absolutely right. But anyway, so you got really into advertising and ran an agency for a while. And then you started investing in television stations and radio properties of north. And then you got hired by Circus Circus. And that seems to be when it kind of your life kind of took a turn. Unknown Speaker 12:25 Well took a big turn because that started a whole new career. But up till then I was a DJ than an advertising agency executive, and a broadcast station owner up in Reno. And then in 1991, I got a call from the same guy who hired me 20 years earlier, to pass out to for one buffet coupons. His name was Mel Larson. And he asked me if I'd like to be the marketing director and entertainment director of the Edgewater hotel in Laughlin, Nevada. And I said nobody goes there, who goes to Laughlin, he says, jump on my helicopter, we flew down there and I got the job. Unknown Speaker 13:01 Well, I mean, it's obvious because you spent so many years in marketing and working with different hotels and casinos and everything. And, you know, you kind of took all that. And maybe you realize, hey, you know, I know a lot of folks in this town, I could turn this into something and you started helping people produce things. And, you know, I mean, I know a lot of us who have who are very creative. Eventually we have to find that outlet. And it looks like your outlet was certainly producing other people and helping them along. You created a consulting company back in 2008. That's when you started producing TV shows, radio shows. And now you are the host of the most and this is no joke people. Most watched live entertainment radio show in Las Vegas. That's now in its fifth year. And that is Vegas, live entertainment radio. This show that you can listen live to every Saturday on five at five o'clock is like an online live happy hour. I'm telling you with some of the valley's entertainment royalty legends and leaders, either posting on Facebook what they're saying hi to people are calling in. And then he does a big shout out, I think to everybody in the world at the beginning of the show, but it's just a lot of fun. Did you come up with that concept for that show initially? Or did it just kind of transform into that? I Unknown Speaker 14:35 wanted a show that had live live entertainers on there actually sometimes even play live. I wanted that kind of show when I say the most watched live entertainment radio show, you know it's a radio show. So being the most watched live one is is the interesting comment. It's because of Facebook Live. And that creates over 1000 to 1500 views each and every show. Yeah, every sale was my concept. I like a little bit of music, but It's an entertaining show. It's not about anything negative, it's totally positive. And it's there to help local entertainers succeed. Talk about what's coming up in their future. And the show is open to everyone who's in the entertainment business locally famous or not. Yeah, Unknown Speaker 15:14 no, that's absolutely true. And the best thing is, is like a lot of the people will come on and sing their latest thing. Clint Holmes was on there singing to his Unknown Speaker 15:23 own song. Oh. Unknown Speaker 15:27 bopping to his own song. If I recall Unknown Speaker 15:29 fairly. Clinton was on with us. Yeah, Unknown Speaker 15:33 she does a lot of stuff too. But Unknown Speaker 15:34 there's Vegas royalty right there. Unknown Speaker 15:36 You know, they're there. When I look at my whole show is about positive aging. And when I look at people like that, still just out there doing their thing. And, and Kelly, I know for a while she was producing a lot of other people over at the Sterling club, Sterling club. Thank you, and just staying active. And that's the one thing I really noticed. Because like I said, I'm all about positive aging. And I look for cases where I see positive aging, just running over and on your show, and your attitude and everything about aging, and giving people a platform who might feel they've been forgotten. You give them a place for people who are sitting in the corner lonely as they age, you give them something to tune into. I just think you're very kind. Well, you know, I'm gonna blow your head up. You're not even going Unknown Speaker 16:28 to be able to leave this out of the door here. I Unknown Speaker 16:30 know what you're doing to me. But I have some questions for you, my friend because I said this is all about positive aging. And I wanted to get your take on a few things because you've known people over their lifetime, some of them and I wanted to really find out from you. You know what you've seen in terms of how people age, but the first thing I want to know is you get to Vegas, what's your first experience? My Unknown Speaker 16:55 first experiences a Vegas experience for sure. I had just gotten that job we talked about earlier, the passing out two for one buffet coupons. I also had a job inside the hotel, teaching gaming, which is something I had no idea so they taught me we met teaching what kind of gaming gaming table gaming, how to play the slots. In the showroom there at the Mint hotel was called the Merryman theater and I had a table there crap table and all that. And I was I didn't know how to gamble, but yet, I had to do that. So I learned real quick. But here's what I did first lesson I learned. I'm in Vegas. Oh, wow. Vegas, you know, and I'm going to become rich. So I get a paycheck. And I go inside my property. You can't we couldn't gamble. We had to go across the street to the golden nugget. And I put my paycheck on the line. I said, Okay, I'm gonna when I put down for red, it comes in red. I doubled my paycheck. Oh my god, I'm a millionaire. I'm gonna get rich. I want to did it again. It doubled it again. Oh, my goodness. I can't stand it. This is great. And then I bet on red one too many times course. And next thing you know, I have no money. I blew the entire paycheck. And I've got two weeks to go to the next one. The lesson learned. Don't gamble. In your own properties. Don't gamble in your own business. You can not win unless you are just something else. And it kept me from doing that. I'm not a gambler. Even though I ran several properties, Unknown Speaker 18:24 cashed your check first and just take a portion leave the rest. Unknown Speaker 18:29 Don't Don't do don't do that. Better yet. Just Unknown Speaker 18:31 don't put your check on the past line. Unknown Speaker 18:34 So my first experience was a Vegas lesson. Yeah. Well, you Unknown Speaker 18:37 know what, I think that's most people's experience when they get here. You know, some Unknown Speaker 18:43 winners out there. Some people win. Unbelievably often i It's hard to imagine Unknown Speaker 18:47 they're you. You're absolutely right. And you wonder what in the heck are you doing? And either they're not telling us their secret? Or there is none? There was just your day. That's what I've always said every Unknown Speaker 18:58 pull the handle the the the odds are exactly the same. Yeah. There is no one machine that does better than the other. Unknown Speaker 19:05 I am sure I know. There's one at the end resort. That's pretty you know, Unknown Speaker 19:08 I know how it works. They can change the odds they open the front door change the prom trip the programming. Yeah, Chip. And pretty soon it's a it's a 92% payback instead of 101. Well, you Unknown Speaker 19:19 know, we all wish we could understand how that all works. It's a lot. That's all. Well, let me ask you. So as I said, many times the show is about how aging looks in his in his lived in the valley. And especially in the entertainment community, because that's what we tend as residents to see the most are the faces of those people. What have you noticed about how people age in the valley? Unknown Speaker 19:45 Well, this is a very upbeat, modern, aggressive, fun town. It's a little tough to grow old here because you keep reminded how much fun it is and you don't want to grow old. But I've noticed that peach people here Ah, pretty gracefully. People I've known for 50 years I see them now, of course, we all get older, we get heavier, we lose our hair and all that happens. But as far as I'm concerned, so what? So what you've got to keep going, you got to get something done, you've got to do what you love. And right now being on the radio and producing radio and TV shows and other things. That's what I love. I'm never gonna get old doing this. Just yesterday, I was out looking for even new business. So my honey kami says to me, you know, you're 80 years old. I said, I just can't stop. Yeah. I don't feel that. I don't feel that at that age is just a number. Yeah, it's a number. And I'm at. But so what? I don't feel that whatsoever. I feel like I'm 40. And but I'm fortunate to have good health, to have all my mental facilities. Well, we think so. Well, some people don't think I do, but for sure. I think I do. And, and I'm enjoying life as much as I ever did. Without a doubt. Yeah. Unknown Speaker 21:00 So you know what I found? Because I do, I'm around a lot of older adults. I call seniors, a lot of people don't like that word. But I figure hey, we've earned it. That's the loftiest title you can get. And I always wonder why is senior, so good. For everything except aging, you can be a senior vice president that was good. A senior in high school, that's good. But you know, seniors taken differently. But I have discovered it's really about mindset. And when I coach people about mindset, and how to shift it so that they're positive and embracing aging, and then they kind of get it when they figure out that they hold the reins to their own aging experience. And then it's like, oh, okay, you know, and they figure it out for themselves. And it sounds like you've done that a long time ago, Unknown Speaker 21:49 I subscribed to the Clint Eastwood way of thinking every morning, he says, and I say, don't let the old man in today. That's a great, that's what he says, I don't let the old man in and neither do I. Unknown Speaker 22:02 That's a great way to think I mean, because you have to have something you wake up in the morning and say, Okay, this is my purpose. This is my passion. This is what I'm going to go out there and seek today. And a lot of people just wake up and don't realize that they hold the reins to their own aging experience. So anyway, you and I talked about that forever, but I'm gonna move on. And I want to know, when you visit a place like the Neon Museum, I mean, all the years you've seen signs come and go and you know, everything else. What kind of memories flood back for you? Unknown Speaker 22:34 Well, there's two signs down there that three, three signs. First up is the Sahara sign that's there. The one that I gave to the Neon Museum, the boneyard, they call it I donated it to them. How did wait a minute, how could you donate the Sahara, because we were taking it down to replace it with a new one back in? That's right, because you were working. I was the marketing and entertainment director of the Sahara from 2003 to 2008. So we wanted to put a new marquee up a new sign. And it was the long one that spell Sahara, lengthwise, everybody knows it. We're gonna take it down was behind the hotel. It was in the parking lot behind the hotel on Paradise. And what we can do with the sign I said, I'll call the Neon Museum and they will come and get it. I donated it to them, they came and picked it up flatbed truck and they tore it down there. Before the before that I was the general manager of the Greek Isles, which was the Debbie Reynolds hotel. And the both of those the Greek Isles sign is down at The Boneyard and so is Debbie Reynolds Hollywood hotel sign is down there. And there's a lot of memories at the Neon Museum. Unknown Speaker 23:44 Well, especially for you because I mean, you were walking those streets you were running. Right? I mean, seriously, you know, and then you walk through someplace like that. And I just can't even imagine how many different scenarios popping up. Unknown Speaker 23:57 The last one is the Blue Angel. Are you familiar with the Blue Angel? Is that now by the way it's it's it's at the it's at a location they took it to the Neon Museum for a while. And now they put it back is one of those memories signs that standing where the old blue angel hotel was motel The reason why I remember it. I stayed there when I first moved to Vegas, and it was $25 a week. Unknown Speaker 24:21 Oh Lord, that would be wonderful, wouldn't it? You Unknown Speaker 24:23 can't even get $25 in resort fees anymore. It's all more than that. Unknown Speaker 24:27 Or a buffet coupon to change the Unknown Speaker 24:31 face or no? A $50 $60 When they were Unknown Speaker 24:34 $6 and we don't even have that many places that even do pandemic Unknown Speaker 24:38 shutdown. So those Okay, so Unknown Speaker 24:41 after all you've seen and done which experience stands out the most or which one is the most endearing? Well, I have to Unknown Speaker 24:47 say they were all great experiences. I've never had a bad job. I enjoyed everything I have done. I've done what I wanted to do. But I have to say finally getting to a major strip property even though I will worked for Circus circus and was the marketing director for all seven of the properties at the time 1993 When they owned all seven, seven properties, and that was a corporate job, but being the entertainment director at the Sahara following so many famous people who had that job, yeah. It was probably the best fun I had. And it was the most enjoyable to myself as far as how I felt about things. It was a good job. Yeah, I Unknown Speaker 25:27 mean, you know, look at all the people that you met. I mean, you've you were telling me Cher Diana Ross, right. Michael Jackson, Sinatra, Dean Martin. I mean, you name so many I can't even keep up. The Unknown Speaker 25:42 one I like to say is the everyone knows the adventure dome behind the Circus circus property. The pink building. Yeah. In 1993, I was the marketing director for Circus Circus. I got a call from Michael Jackson's people. And he wanted to come and see it, but he wanted to buy out the whole day. So no one else would be in there. But him and the people he brought. I agreed to that. And I spent the day with him walking through the place. And he bought the whole day and he brought some of his kids with him. And they did everything they wanted to do. They had a great time. I spent about six, seven hours with Unknown Speaker 26:17 Wow. Wow, what a unique experience. Unbelievable. Unknown Speaker 26:22 I met Elvis twice. I was in his suite at the at the International at the time. Yeah. Second time I met him was at people's the Hilton and it was just shocked. That was a disc jockey. Then here in Vegas at KR A M Radio 1340. And we got invited to everything. And I was there at the show in 1972 up in the suite and sat with him and talked to him face to face for at least 30 minutes. And he was the humblest, sweetest nicest person. You can imagine it was amazing. Now Unknown Speaker 26:50 are you going to write a book? Unknown Speaker 26:52 I've written a book that takes me up to my Vegas days. I just have to go chapter two, or actually chapter 70. I don't know about that. It's tough to get them published. You got to Self Publish. Yeah, I have great stories. I'm going to do something when I'm not doing what I'm doing now. Yeah. Unknown Speaker 27:09 Then we'll never see the book people I'm telling you because he ain't gonna never stop doing what? Unknown Speaker 27:14 On the radio when I drop? Well, real quickly, Unknown Speaker 27:16 Ron, what is different about Ron gear today than when you arrived? Well, Unknown Speaker 27:22 it's the same guy in my own mind. Same ambition, same desire to succeed. Same, try to help everybody try to be positive, try and go forward. Get rid of all the gossip and the BS that we hear in Vegas, a lot of that goes around and pay attention to what you're trying to do. And that's to go forward all the time. Always looking for the next big thing. And that's what I do. What's the difference? Now? I'm not much. I'm still looking for the next big thing even at my age. You Unknown Speaker 27:50 know, me too. I mean, I just never stopped even when I thought I was stopping. I just keep I turned the next day I wake up, I come up with another idea of something I want to work on. But Ron, thank you so much for being my inaugural guest. I knew I pick the right dude for this. And wait, I Unknown Speaker 28:05 got another hour. I Unknown Speaker 28:06 really I wish I had another hour I would keep you talking. But unfortunately, I can't do that. But anyway, I want to thank my audience for joining me on this first episode of there's no aging in Vegas, I appreciate you. And I always want you to remember that aging is living. Always remember that. So I will see you next time. For the show. We'll be on February 25 at 8:30am. And I would appreciate you on a Sunday joining me. That's a lot. I thank you, Ron. I appreciate that. And Ron, you can find him on KKMZQ Unknown Speaker 28:48 am 670 Every Saturday evening at 5pm live and in real time and on Facebook Live on my page Unknown Speaker 28:57 and it's a party folks. Don't miss it. Trust me on that. So I will see you not see you but I will talk to you next week. Thank you so much for joining me. Unknown Speaker 29:07 sponsorship for this program is provided by AARP Nevada. AARP Nevada helps more than 345,000 members live their best lives. AARP Nevada offers news information and resources on the issues that matter most to older adults including fraud, caregiving, and Social Security. For more information or to volunteer please visit aarp.org backslash Nevada Transcribed by https://otter.ai